Duck and Cover

Chapter 6 - Tour through Redding

An old miner was lieing under the shadow of the sherif's building and looked to the north. The weather was going to be bad - large, grey clouds were gathering in the north and this blasted northern wind blew here. An old mine smiled senselessly and took his pack of Jet - little present from the south. These New Reno's friends were really knid for his sort down here. This stuff could kick one's ass, as easy as mad brahmin in your pants... or rock worms in head. These mutated bastards were eager to eat miner's minds any time... An old miner looked at his tired, horny hands and sighed deeply. He was too old to go the mine any more... and now, when the main mine was closed, it was difficult to find a job. So many young and inpatient workers...

He sucked his Jet slowly and looked to the north. It was going to happen a strong desert storm - nothing else. All sky was covered by dark clouds, the wind became strong, though the storm was far away yet. Dust and sand already whirled in the air, raised by the strong wind. Mothers cried after their children, calling them home. Tired miners returned to their homes to share poor money, they got at the mines. Though the sun was high yet, it was rather dark... and becoming darker with every minute. The clouds were hanging very low, sometimes he though that he could reach it by his hands - well, it was a side effect of the Jet, so he even didn't try to do it. This medicine worked fine, miner felt himself strong and young again. He wanted to run, to dance, to cry... than he noticed that one of the clouds lowered to the ground. It was unpossible - storm didn't begin yet. He had several hours more. May be it was another "joke" of this Jet-stuff. An old miner watched after this cloud for some time and than smiled easily. It was real and not one of the tricks of his mind. The cloud of dust were coming closer, appearing from the small point over horizon to the it's current state. It was a car - an old man saw one of it lately. That time he almost pissed his pants, thinking that storm began. Now he only smiled thinking about that time. All was fine:
"I wonder who is coming? Another hero, I suppose - or may be the same one. If it is true it will be a problem. I should report it to Ascorti..." - an old miner got up unwillingly and came slowly to the nearby building full of loud noises and crying voices.

****************

"I tell you we lost our way." - Brian cried angryly. He looked at Tod, driving a car without noticing him and than turn his look to Craig - "Are you going to bear his foolishness any more?" - an old ghoul looked at him coldly and answered:
"I bear the foolishness of everybody and it suitesme fine. If you are unhappy, you can leave..." - it were harsh words. Brian chnaged his face - his eyes became red, but he kept silent and only angry looked at Tod. He surely didn't like that guy...

"Well, here we are - Redding" - Tod said happy and looked at the bag, lieing under the seat of Chris. They were coming closer to some dirty town, full of tents, half destroyed building and brahmin herbs. Car was runing smoothy - even Brian couldn't complain. One time Tod drove them into the desert storm, but quickly solve the situation. Now it was left behind, but it would came soon any way. They had to find some place to stay while the storm would pass. Craig looked at the Redding ahead and asked:
"What do you know about Redding, guys?" - question was adressed to Tod mostly, but the others could say something interesting too:
"What can be said about it?" - a throat of an old drunkard was unsually dry and it bothered him greatly - "A small mining town full of miners, traders and all other sorts of losers. Oh yeah, now most of them are flying. This new stuff - Jet, I suppose - really kicks one's ass." - Brian and his sister listen him carefully, though they said nothing. Kath was busy with her won thought, so she said nothing more too. Fred slept after the hard day, full of worries - to survive a long journey when your life is in hand of an drunkard... and what is worser, this drunkard didn't drink anything for a day. This is a terrbile trial. Chris looked at Craig and added:
"Redding is main point of many trading routes. His ore is valued by all nearby communities. All nearby powers want to get it and send a lot of supplies in a hope to take some piece of that pie. You will see a lot of problems here. Most of them are created by them..." - he became silent and continued to read his book.
"Yeah, very interesting..." - Craig muttered in a temper - "I wonder how I shall use this "useful" information. Tod - do you know somebody here... any place to stay?" - an old man looked at him with surprise and smiled:
"I know that blasted Wasteland as my own bottle of booz. I spent all my life, traveling through it and there are not many places left, where I haven't been. Redding - a small town, as I said. Nothing unordinary - several mines, several shops, several bars... ohhhhh... er, what was I talking about? Oh, Redding, yes... not so bad place to stay, if you know the right place. There were one fella lately, who converted his graveyard into bar. It was a sight. I am sure that most his customers are changing their roles rapidly... I wonder if he is still here." - by that time car slowly entered the town stoped near the building with large sign on it's wall. This sign read - Ascorti's casino.

Car stoped without any problems - Tod said that he had enough experience already, but others were sure that his clear head without any sign of alcohole made his work too. Anyway, though his hangover was terrible and head was ready to crubled to pieces, Tod stoped the car and our company left it with moans. To spent several days in a car without moving - it was not very pleasant feeling. They stood at the street, covered with dirt and sand and were looking around.
"Welcome to my fair town, any guestes are welcome" - loud cheerful voice was heard - "I am Ascorti, mayor of that town and by your look I can guess that you are travellers... and may be advanturers..." - his sly look watched over the company - "Though I don't think so. Well, may be I am wrong... We have been visited by one hero lately and another ones will be welcome too." - his sarcasm was heard in every word. - "Feel free to ask anything - job, some mercenary business..?" - he smiled. Ghoul looked at the car, thinking that there was sign - "Heros for rent" - but there were nothing, except piles of junk and some other piles of... no matter...
"You are mistaken - we are simple travellers and want to find shelter for a while. The storm is coming..." - said Craig with haste. He didn't want to push his ass in some other suicidal quest again. Noticing the dark look in the mayor's eyes he added with haste - "We need a rest. I am sure that we will be able to help you... and you will help us." - Mayor laughed loudly and answered:
"You are a tricky one. OK, you can rest for a while. I'll fuck your ass soon enough. May be sheriff will join me too. He like to send new-comers to all sorts of dirty work... Visit my casino. Try your luck - one guy there will buy all your stuff. Even this... car?!" - he looked with surprise at this strange construction. He couldn't understand what it was. It had four wheels - that's for sure, but all other stuff was a mystery. Difficult mechanisms were gathered with pile of useless junk, remains of food, some small plants were growing happyly at this rich soil. Even upcoming radiation was nothing to them. Sometimes one thought that they has their one mind... Mayor shook his head, looked at our friends with strangly and quickly came to his casino.

"Strange fella." - Cree said, looking after leaving Ascorti.
"Ordinary asshole." - Brian answered and looked at his pockets - "Damn, I don't have enough money. Hey, guys, want to get some more money?"
"Again?!" - Cree looked at him angryly, but he only smiled. - "It was long time ago, sis. And you know that these bastards in New Reno always cheat with cards. This "Ascorti" fella lookes fair enough. May be..." - he followed her to the casino. Fred followed them.

Kath looked around and noticed, that she was in Redding. She didn't remember why she wanted to get here. Recent torubles made her nervous. Young woman looked around and met by look with Craig:
"So, what now, our leader?" - she smiled, but there were seen sadness in her look. Ghoul looked at her and answered quietly:
"We need several days to rest. It was a difficult journey..." - he noticed displeased look of Kath - "And the storm is coming. We willn't be able to move anywhere, while it is near - too dangerous." - Craig looked at happy Tod, consuming alcohole with terrbile speed - "Easy, pal. With such speed soon you'll remain without your precious stuff... tell me, what bar is safest here? And where can put that car? To leave it here is not the best solution for me."
"Oh, who will be interested in that pile of junk? It even doesn't work if it is not used by Tod." - Kath said and looked at the nearby bar anxiously. Tod looked at her angryly and answered:
"You prefer to go by foot. Fine, you can return to the Den for days. And this babe can throw you there instantly. He looked at his car proudly and anwered Craig's question, noticing that Kath is not interested in talk any more - call of alcohole was well known to her too:
"The best bar around here "hic" is the one, you look at, Craig. It is called Malatute saloon"hic"... and is run by rahter cheerful pal. A good woman, a good booz"hic", a good bed - though if you"hic"... want a safe harbour, you'll better stay at home. This town is full of miners, who want to relax after the hard work day"hic"... and it is rather difficult to stay clear. About car - I'll put it in one"hic"... of nearby half-destroyed buildings. It will be safe enough there... Well, malamute is calling - let's go." He took his bag and came slowly to the bar, staggering in all sides. Craig looked at Kath and Chris uneasily and followed him.

***************

Bar was full, as always. Miners couldn't spend a day without good mug of beer. Though her customers became less generous, because there appeared this new stuff - Jet, but Lou - owner of Malamute saloon - was happy enough. Her business was good enough, she saw famous chosen one. Legengs of his exploits had reached even this small town. Everybody talked about him... or some other useless stuff. Who cares about that chosen one - another smart ass, who want change a world. Young children or old fellas heard the stoires about him eagerly, but Lou didn't care much. She saw him and it attracted new customers. So she told them about his exploits in this town and they bought drink and rent a room for a night. Everybody was happy... Though it looked like that today she would have a problem - two groups of miners gathered together two fight again. It was real pain in her ass. After stuff like this she had repair her bar for weeks, but this asshole - sheriff didn't want to do something. She looked at newcomers and smile appeared at her face:
"Advanturers..! Welcome..."

Craig began to wonder why everybody think that they were advanturers. He sighed deeply and entered, his friends followed him. All people around here looked at them grimly. They surely didn't want their kind around here - goody asskickers could find a good job in NCR or Broken Hills, but this place was happy enough without him. Miners looked at each other nodded each other with dark smiles. It looked like that they'll get fun today. Some of them saw Tod already and it promised nothin good too. His friends from both - Kokoweef and Morning star mines looked at him with eyes, full of "love":
"Er, may be we should leave this place..." - Tod looked around with caution. He was drunkard, but not the fool. It's a pity that some of his friends weren't the same cause. This bar was full of his recent "friends", most of them beared signs of his former visiting to this town. Silence appeared in the bar, but Lou looked like didn't notice anything and smiled happyly:
"Welcome, friends... Welcome" - he voice disappeared in grimly silence of speechless faces.

Oh my god!..A day without drinking!?!? 8O 8O

But still the drunken heroes will continue their journey trough the wastes :drinking:

Of course, they do! Only death and drunken stupor can stop them! Though, Vault city with NO booz ahead. Terrible thing are going to happen.

I think I should tell more about plan of my story - 5-6 parts. Every part describes advantures and events of our heroes in particulare town - about 4 chapters for every part will be enough, I think...

Chapter 7 - Tod's familiars

Our party came slowly to the bartender. Lou nodded them with cheerful smile and offered place to sit. They sat down and looked around with caution. Everybody looked at them with strange feelings - Craig couldn't understand if they want to ask something or kill "somebody". There were dangerous silence in the bar. Miners looked with hatred at Tod, our heroes looked with caution at them - ordinary watchers looked at them both with surprise and interest. Only Lou seemed calm and cheerful:
"What do you want to drink, friends. I see that our small town now is mekka for all sorts of trash... er, I mean terrbile and famous heroes, even you, ghoul, though I don't like your kind down here... I think you are looking for a job? So you are lucky - I have one. Band raiders took a mine nearby..." - ghoul looked at her strange and answered:
"We are simple travellers. We need place to rest... and some infromation. Well, we have enough time for it - can you tell me why these guys over there are looking so "friendly" at us?"
"So, you are no going to save poor and all that stuff..." - she sighed disappointly - "then what a fuck you want here?" - her smile disappeared for a while and then one thought visited her - "You are simple travellers?!" - she began to laugh. Miners looked at her evily and continued their watching.
"You a-r-e travellers..." - she couldn't accept it. She looked at ghoul, middleaged man, Kath than she looked at Tod, who had fallen under the table and slept calmly. It was too much for her and she fell to the floor and began to laugh madly...
"An interesting reaction..." - Chris muttered, while others were taking places after one of tables, where Tod lay. They tried not to pay attention about dangerous looks of everybody around them.

**************

It was a day of Brian. Cards were flying gracefully in his hands. His quick hands and perceptive eye made him king of that evening. This Ascorti's casino was fair?! Brian couldn't believe that such fools live here. Cards, machines - all was fair...

Brian looked at his cards and smiled meanly. He was a bad man to cheat these coots. A young man looked around and noticed with worry look that he was attracting too much attention. Several people stood nearby already, wathciing after him and several more with evily looking guns came closer - local guards. Even Ascorti himself looked like noticed his "luck"...
"You'd better stop, pal" - he said to himself, but he got another card and forgot about everything. He couldn't stop until he found that he was on the edge of someone's blade...

Fred and Cree were playing with bright machines. Their lights and sounds attracted all new-comers. Fred tried to win jackpot and sold almost all his belonging. Though it was not much, but casino's patron was good enough to agree buy his dirty cloth, his old equipment... and it was only begining. Fred only now began to like it. This feeling of player... How could he live without it.
"Hey, man, will you buy my underwear..?"

Cree was busy with another machine. She played slowly and with hard look at her face. Young girl was not interested in play and only looked after Brian... as always. It was their old game - "to steal and run as far away as possible" - he was stealing, she was runing. Cree looked at her brother once again sighed. She was not sure that all would be smooth today...

***************

"Oh, are you travellers..? You are travellers!!!" - Craig looked at the window and noticed that became dark. The storm was coming or it was night already. Who could say?
"You know, this women is laughing far too long... May be she is mad" - Kath looked at her with worry. Lou caught her look and this made her laugh even worser. She was laughing and beating floor by hands... It continued.

"Soo... you are travellers." - Lou sighed deeply and smiled a little. - "To tell the truth I've never seen such trash in my saloon." - Craig looked around at the poor dirty miner, miserable drunkard, lieing outside, muttering and slobbery drug addicted, walking here and there without purpose... He looked at his friends grimly and began to talk with bartender:
"Yes, we are travellers" - he noticed a small smile at her face and sighed...

"Tod, wake up! This is not time to sleep, you foolsih drunkard!" - Kath tried to wake him up. First she tried to use handes, but than she began to use legs. All was useless. Lou was watching after her for some time and than smiled:
"It looks like you are travel with Tod for not so long to know him. He is marvelous masterpiece of drunken art. Look, he will consume all stuff, that can be drunk. He is capable of to stay drunk for monthes. All dependes from his level of drunkness..." - she noticed surprised looks of our companions and smiled - "yeah, I know him. What travaller didn't know great and terrible Tod? Have you ever heard about second destruction of the church of apocalypsose... or about glowing monster of the Glow... or about great butcher of northern wastes? Nope, strangely. You are travellers, don't you?" - she smiled again and called Tod:
"Free drink, Tod. Call of booz is upon you."
"Shut up, Lou. I am ready for another round" - Tod muttered unwillingly and opened his eyes - "oh, it's you again." - he moaned and sat to the chair.
"Yeah, right now I was telling about your great exploits..." - bartender smiled and several miner supported her with laugh.
"You know what I need..." - he answered quickly. When he got a mug of some glowing stuff, he shut up and began to drink. His friends looked at him with interest, so he had to attract from his business for a second:
"I think you have more important business to discuss." - he said angryly and returned to his business.

"Well, how much it will cost to take a room?" - Craig asked, looking tiredly at Lou. His trading skilles were beaten by this bloodsucker with cheerful smile.
"Nothing at all. You are my guestes and friends. By the way where will you go now - the desert demons will be angry for several days." - she noticed his surprised look and added - "I mean aliens. Yes, we - civilized folks - believe too in some bullshit... Anyway, you have no point to disagree, don't you. It will be madness..."
"Don't listen this gecko, Craig. This woman will suck all your blood in half an hour. I know her - we'd better spend several hours with these desert worms, than with this..." - Tod looked at her with disgust. An old man looked almost normal. Sometimes clear mind appeared on his drunken face. Ghoul looked at him, than at Chris and Kath and sighed:
"I know it, friend, but we have little choice. I'd better lose some of my blood, than I shall eat all this radioactive sand and dust of the wastes... Count us in..." Lou smiled again. Her teeth were sharp and white... like one of these nasty creaures, he saw recently in the distance - they were called Wanamingoes by common folks.

*************

"Another round, guys..." - Brian said nervously. Too many people were watchin after him. He couldn't concentrate, he couldn't play propely, he couldn't cheat. He was siting after the gaming table and a large pile of would-be money were calling after him, but he couldn't stop. His hands were shaking, his eyes were blind by bright light. He was almost knocked down by the warm and loud sounds of nearby people. Everybody looked at him. He almost could feel them... It was terrbile. He began to lose consciousness, but continued to play. Somewhere in the distance he heard the known voice:
"Will you take my car?"

*************

Our heroes were siting in the bar and were talking with Lou. They all understood clearly what they want from each other and remained satisfied with it. It was night already and now Craig tried to find out as much information, as possible. It was rather late, but nobody didn't want to go away. They were waiting something.
"What the problems with these guys? Are they always looking at the newcomers, as fire gecko at his fried ass..?" - asked Craig finally, looking around.
"You'd better ask your friend. He is quiet famous in these parts." - she answered with smile. Ghoul looked at her and than turned around to Tod. He caught his look grimly and answered unwillingly:
"A simple misunderstanding with local miners. They didn't like that I had drunk all alcohole." - he returned to his mug and looked around grimly. He felt that something was going to happen. Kath and Chris noticed his look and sighed deeply - another drunk bar fight...
"A simple misunderstanding?" - Lou said it too loud and several miners began to mutter something quitly, but than became quiet for a while. This bartender was pushing them to these fellas, that's for sure - "In that day I realised what does it mean - "lucky bastards". I still have several broken chairs from that times. It was a grand sight. You alone against a whole band of miners with terrible hangover. Terrible fight, blood and broken teeth are everywhere..." - she looked around, waiting for reaction. But all was calm. Lou became silent for a while, but than some thought visited her and she smiled meanly:
"Ok, the deal is done. You will remain here for several days. I'll take no payment. All is fear." - she heard heavy footsteps outside and smiled, waiting for some fun. She whispered to them - "I have free advice for you, guys. Don't interfere into the Tod's businesses - he will deal with these trash easily" - Lou looked at them once again and quickly disappeared in the back room.

Our friends looked at the door, leading to the street, with bad feeling. Something large was coming down here. Old wood were cracking under it's heavy body. Tod looked grimly at his companions, at the nearby people and cried loudly:
"I knew that I'll see you again. "Dangerous" fool - come here. I thought that you had become wiser from our recent talk..."
"When I'll see you grave I'll be satisfy, but now I am not, toad..." - large, dirty covered man entered the bar with loud growling. His mining cloth was torn in many places. His dark, dusty skin had large amount of knife scars. Surely he was veteran of all kind of bar fights:
"It looks like you'll get some more scars today, Dan. Who want to join him - please..." - Tod muttered tiredly. He looked around a whole bar, andd than turned to his friends:
"Wait a little. This is one of my old familiars. It wouldn't be for too long..."

**************

"It's your turn, fella." - said casino patron meanly and smiled. His dirty and yellow teeth shone as gold in this unnatural light of casino. All people around him were smiling. Their breath made him sick, he couldn't control himself any more. He simply didn't notice what was going on aroung there. He was playing. Nothing else was not important. He placed a bet. He took a card... Suddenly he noticed the face - the face of his sister. She was crying. Her eyes...
"Stop!" - Brian put his cards and left the table. It was too much for him. He looked at small pile of money, what had left and smiled. Not so bad - at least he won something. He came to his sister and smiled:
"What the matter, sis - a lot of dust in the air nearby?"
"Yeah" - she muttered quitly and smiled too. They looked around and left the casino. It's air was too heavly for them. Cree looked at her brother, but said nothing... Excited voice of Fred was heard in the distance:
"May be I should sell my servants into slavery... Ghoul will go just fine..."

***********

Chapter 8 - Rat Trap

Tod looked at the entering man. He was tired of this fool. How many times did he spoiled fun to the old man?! Tod sighed deeply and looked around - all was quiet. Everybody else didn't want to interfere - such fight could be quiet deadly. Most of the miners were waiting for fun and were looking at the old drunkard with hatred. They felt themselfes long time ago what does it mean - "wrath of drunken master". But Dan or Dangerous, how he was called by most, was very stubborn and healthy person. He was able to recover from almost every meeting with Tod - Craig looked at this large fella and understood that this will be their last fight.

Dan entered the bar. Storm had already began so he didn't worry that his "friend" will run away. But he was coming with hurry. Who knows this guy? He was waiting for him for two years and prepared properly for it - good iron knuckels to crush his foolish skull, heavy iron boots to smash his bones to the earth, finely looking large metal pipe with several rusty nails - it will help him to beat in some brains into his stupid head. Cold breath of the desert warmed his heart - hatred of past years returned to life. He was ready to kill...

Tod came closer to the Dan and stoped, watching what he will do. His enemy did the same. He knew his mistakes in the past and tried not to atack first. Everybody took their breath, watching after the fight.

Kath with worry look came to the Craig:
"We need to help him. This guy will smash his brains along all this fucking..." - loud growl drowned all other sounds. Her voice disappeared in it. With fear she looked at the battle and... dodged something just in time. Something large and heavy flew directly to her. She fell back and looked at this flying thing with surprise - Dan was standing in the pile of broken tabels and chairs and was looking around confused. He couldn't understand, how he got there. To tell the truth, Kath felt the same feelings. He looked around at Tod, who was standing in the same place, and than looked at Craig:
"What it was?" - ghoul smiled wiht his unpleasant smile and answered:
"I felt the same when I tried to take something from him - this drunkard is not so easy to get. He threw Dan through all bar without any motion. Even you didn't notice anything. Take a seat and get pleasure..." - she looked around in confusion and noticed that everybody else were getting pleasure from the show. So she joined them. Kath looked at Chris and wanted to ask something, but noticed such expression on his face that she returned to her stuff. Chris looked at Tod with grim look. His eyes shone with anger. He was watching after every his move with caution of the snake. Chris was VERY disappionted by something, though he tried to cnotrol himself.

Another atack - Dan was threw away to the other corner of the bar with loud cry. People in the bar were pleased... most of them, at least. Those of them, who was landed by Dan were not very happy, but couldn't express their feelings or something else any more... Tod was standing calmly and drinking his booz. May be floor around him was wet or Dan was too angry, but he even couldn't hit him correctly. Every time, he tried to hit this fella, he missed and hurted himself or somebody else. It looked rather funny - Kath even thought that it was some kind of show, like clowns in these pre-war "circuses", but it was real. She saw that the blood was real, anger was natural and crack of bones sounded more than real.

Dan rushed at Tod again. The fight contined. Bar looked like field of battle. Two windows were already broken, floor was destroyed in several parts, large signes of blood were seen everywhere... but it was not enough. Dan like mad brahmin atacked again and again. People cried in admire, watching after this bloody show... Our companions were watching after every second of this battle. They couldn't believe that it was true. Kath saw enough battles in her short life, but she never saw such hatred. Even these supermuntants, she tracked once, were fighting not so fiercly, than this large guy. He was covered with blood, but continued to fight... if this slaughter could be called fight:
"What is happening?" - she asked Chris with surprise. - "How is he doing it?" - loud noise of cracking wood drowned his answer. But by the expression of his face, Kath understood that it was something unpleasant.

Dan stood up and sighed deeply. All his cloth was covered by blood... by his blood. This moron stood directly before him and looked at him. He had the expression of surprise and confusion, that made his mad. He felt the coming of rage again and tried to stoped:
"I'll get you today, bastard. You were playing with me for too long..." - he threw away broken deformed pipe and took shotgun. Dan wanted to kill this insect by bare hands... but this fella was too quick for him. He couldn't catch him... Well he was quick, but the bullet was quicker. Tod smiled evily and pulled the trigger...

Kath noticed his move and tried to stop him, but she too far away. She finally rememebered something - drunken master - form of fighting art, developed by fans of some forgotten game in the begining of XXI centery. This game was called "football" or something like that - Kath read something about it, but thought that it was some joke. Really, it looked rather funny, but the results were impressive... well, it was her only explenation to this fight. Tod was simply standing, while his enemy was flying through all bar. One time he slided on the floor, the other time he fell because he was knocked out by accident mistake... But now nothing would help him. Bullet will fly directly to the target...

Dan pulled the trigger... than he did it again... and again. This balsted gun jammed. He threw it to the floor and jumped to the Tod. Finally he was able to hit him. An old drunkard lay under his kneels and he could easily broke his spine. With bad smile he took up his fist... and loud explosion was heard. With surprise everybody looked at our friends, than at the door - all was calm. Who shot? Dan was confused too - he looked at his victim, than at his companions, finally he looked at large bleeding wound in his chest fell dead. Near him were lieing remains of his blasted shotgun. It had shot finally.

Miners began to mutter angryly. They were unpleased by such ending. Lou appeared from the back rooms with happy smile, looking at the ruins of her bar:
"I see most of my bar remained. It is good... Ok, show is over. Go home, boys..." - she came to Tod and helped him to stand up. Large motionless body lay at him. When he finally stood up, his companions noticed that he was in drunk stupor. He even couldn't say something. Kath looked at him in confusion:
"Such thing couldn't beat this man." - she said to herself.
"Lucky bastard" as I said. Today he simply entertained our guest. Usually all finishes very quickly - accidental mistake and guy is lieing on the floor with broken neck..." - she looked at drunkard with admire.
"Lucky?!" - cried Chris - "He is lucky, because I haven't killed him yet!" - our companions looked at him with surprise. They didn't see him so angry yet. Craig asked quietly:
"What's problem? Relax..."
"Relax?!" - Craig almost felt the heat of the anger of this man. His fists were ready to crush something - "This bastard will pay for what he did with this fighting style. This sacrilige..." - Chris stoped for a while, thinking about something. "Hm... may be I am wrong. Than this guy is really lucky. It was worsest form drunken fight, I've ever seen..." - he was interrupted by loud cry of one of the miners:
"Hey, guys. One of us was killed and we must watch after?!"
"Yeah, let's avenge for his death!"
"Show is over. It is night already. Go home..." - Lou tried to send miners away, but they were to aggitated. A lot of rut gut, a lot of booz,a lot of Jet, a lot of blood...
"... what... "hic"... another fightttttt... uhhhh... "hic"" - Tod barely stood on his foots and came forward, saw nothing...

"What a hell is going on down here?" - cried loud and strong voice. Fight was hard enough. Miner, aggitated by alcohole, were fighting like madmen. Our friends were not so bad too, espesially Tod. People flew in all side from him. Most of them were drunker, than Tod himself, but it didn't make them less danerous. Kath and Chris were kicking the assed with great success, but Craig was not so lucky. His crumpy body was beatn very hard, but he continued the fight. No dirtdiggers would win him. he was in bad condition, when he finally heard these words. Craig looked at the door way and noticed large figure in the darkness of night. He was standing with crutch and were looking around. He was surely displeased.
"Sheriff. Finally" - Lou muttered and climb out from the table.

**************

All was finally over. Miner went away or were taken to prison. Dan took his rightful place in the dirt. Almost everybody of our friends went to the back rooms to sleep. Only Craig and Fred remained in the half-destroyed bar. Tod was sleeping near under the talbe... as always. He was so drunk, than nobody could wake him up. Night almost ended, but nothing changed. Desert storm was wainling in the street. It's cold wind was felt from the broken windows. They'll have some rest today and tomorrow they will have a difficult day... thanks to Fred. Craig looked at the beatn face of an old man, eating some green stuff from the plate. No, he surely got what he deserved. Ghoul remembered that time, when he entered the bar and said with happy voice:
"I have two news for you, guys - bad and very bad. Bad news is that I sold all our equipment, money, food, arms, car... oh, I sold us all to slavery too. But the very bad news is that I didn't win jackpot..."
Yeah, it was not very funny what had happened than. Even Tod joined the fun - he heard half of that stuff, what concerned his property. He was very disappointed, but finally he was satisfied with "fun" too.

Tomorrow their new master - mayor of that fucking town - will come after them. Well, we'll see who will be the slave. Craig muttered something and drank another mug of beer. Lou was kind enough to leave some of her bar here. They promised to repair everything for free. They'll have nothing else to do anyway. The storm will keep them in this town for several days more. It troubled him. Craig looked in the broken window. The darkness looked at him in response. Sun disappeared for some time, covered by clouds of storm. They were like rats in the trap...

*************

I write lesser with every chapter... It looks like I am tired a little.

Damn, this chapter is worser, than the most of my stuff. I hate battle scenes

Hoho Good story! The drunkard did it again! :drinking: :2gunfire: :drinking:

I suppose that you are tired of my whining, Lia. Sorry. I am only poor soul, who wants to hear several good words. Thanks...

My poor finger It hurts so much to write but I must post chapters... Nothing will stop me, except death, lazyness, good comp game, my work, problems with Internet and so on...

Chapter 8 - Runing through the darkness

"So, here you are, my friends" - Ascorti said and looked at Craig, standing in the bar before him. Ghoul looked at him grimly and answered nothing. All his friends were sleeping yet. It was early in the morning, when the mayor visited them. Two days had passed and all was quiet - calm discussions, quiet chat in the bar. People didn't want to begin fight again. Everybody was satisfied. It all was "so calm before the storm".

Ascorti noticed angry look of him and smiled warmly. He looked at the window behind him and said:
"No, friend... I am not enemy to you. I only want to help. I know that you are seeking Chosen one. Lou willn't be able to help you, but I..."
"What do you want?" - Craig asked quietly and put his loaded rifle on the table to show him that he is not helpless.
"First of all, I want to become your friend. This fella, Chosen one, he was so good and profitable person... You are heroes - I heard about your great slaugter in the bar... oh, great explorers of the Den. Yes, news are runing quickly for those, who pay good... Anyway, I have a proposal to you."
"Go away. Slaves own nothing to their master, except debt of pain..." - Craig growled quietly, but quiet agressively.
"Oh, I though you forgot about that problem... There is no slavery in my town. I simply want to return Fred's debt. You will perform a service to me and everybody will be happy." - Ascorti smiled broadly and came closer.
"I suppose I have no choice..." - ghoul sighed deeply. He noticed several shadows in the windows - guards and lackeys of that bastards. Mayor made a look that he didn't hear his last words and continued:
"I ask only about minor servace. The storm is continueing and you have nothing else to do anyway. So you will do it and I shall forget about your debt." - his voice was soft, but Craig felt iron grip in it. This man surely wanted to send them to anther death trap of all sorts of scum and heroes.
"What do you want?" - Craig asked again grimly.

... "So, do we have agreement?" - all our company were gathered in the bar. Several early drunkards and jet-heads lay nearby and were watching after this stuff with interest. Mayor gave his hand to ghoul and shoke it, though he noticed that it was unpleasant. Well, skinless, flesh and blood flowing arm is not very pleasant thing to touch, but Ascorti was very brave.
"We have agreement - you will be our official saviors and will get some money, food tech support and information."
"So, where will you send our asses now - forgotten radioactive mines to retrive some useless piece of junk... or may be we'll have to save poor girl from hordes of mercyless raiders..." - muttered Fred angryly.
"Shut up, Fred, or you'll get some more" - answered Brian quietly and kicked him easily. An old man looked at him with hatred and turned away.

Mayor continued:
"If you'll need something, ask sheriff - he is located down the street and informed about your... help. To tell the truth we don't have mcuh to accomplish - the chosen one, who you seek was very kind for as. He killed one sick person, cleared the mines from..."
"What do you have in mind? Can you be little more specific..?" - Craig interrupted him. Ghoul lost his temper and could barely stop himself from kill this guy. He was really disappointed by it - only his mind and several guards outdoors stoped him from doing it.
"Yes, your quests..." - Ascorti smiled warmly, thinking about something, and than continued - "Did I mention that you will get a lot of weapon and information for perfoming it..? Yes? Good, I don't want that you see enemy in me... So..." - he noticed hard look of most of our friends and laughed nervously - "err, quests... I have several quests for you. I understand that you willn't be able to leave a town and you need to hurry. It will be quickly and easy - believe me... Our goody sheriff has one mission for you too. His limbs are hurting again." - he smiled to his own thoughts and began to talk about missions...

**************

Craig and Chris were coming slowly through the town. Sand and dust were beating them in the face. Strong chill wind were singing grimly in every corner. Ghoul saw danger in every corner:
""quickly and easy" - he said" - muttered Craig quietly and cursed this blasted peice of shit, known as Redding. They were passing through it for thrid time, looking for group of bandits. Ordinary mission - kill everything in your sight and return to bar with victory... There appeared new band of thugs in the town and he with Chris were sent to deal with them...

Craig spitted angryly, but wind send his stuff back to the owner. It didn't make his mood better. He looked around with hatred. They spent a whole day, looking for nothing. All normal people were sitting at home in such weather, but this fucking sheriff thought that bandits would appear in that day. How clever - instead of selling them into slavery, mayor was going to make them clownes. Craig smiled. There were seen all his fury and tiredness in it. Even air itself became darker, than his thoughts... Who knows what could happen, if they didn't hear loud voice behind them:
"Hand over all you stuff, this is robbery..."
"Oh really" - highwaymen had never heard so many anger, surprise and joy in one voice. It was their last sounds, they heard in their life...

Two dark shadows were standing on the deserted street. Several dead bodies were lieing before them. Air was full of darkness and sand. There were heard sounds of fight, cries of dieing people... or it was wailing of the storm. Nobody could say for sure. Nothing were seen in several steps, even these shadows began to disappear - storm was growing stronger. There were seen only dirty sand, there were heard only cries of the wind, there were felt only smell of fear and death...

Two figures left the scence without any noise and disappeared in darkness of nearby buildings...

**************

"Hey, Cree, may be you should stay? To walk in the mines is not very pleasant." - Tod asked seriously and looked at her. She answered nothing, trying to find the second meaning of his words, but he was sincere, so she left him alone. Brain answered this question, looking at the old drunkard evily. They were standing near the enterance to the mine. It looked like calm and safe down there under the ground. There were no that blasted sand, the air was calm and fresh... well, this mine was not radioactive mostly. All dangerous stuff was kept on down levels... all was fine except one. The words of the mayor were heard in every ominous blowing of the wind:
"...This mine is safe, but people sometimes disappear there - not so many as it was in wanamingo, before these creatures appeared, but it happenes sometimes. The main dwellers of the area are rats and all other kinds of mutated things... Don't worry, even miners can handle them easily... So, my request - there were rumours that there were hidden something valuable down there long time ago... in the times of great war... Tech, weapon, resources... I am sure you, you can find it useful... and I'll get my share... Even if you'll find nothing, no matter - I only want to check it. Easy job, don't you think..? Errr, one more thing; be safe, ok? People say, that they saw strange mysterious creatures... like one-headed brahmin or horses... or even cats. They live there before the war... Well, may be it is all bullshit, too much jet, you know... Anyway, good luck..." - Amusing, how many words can be heard in one blowing of the wind...

Brian, Cree and Tod entered the mine. It was dark and quiet there. Silence fell at them suddenly, it looked like they were consumed by darkness, which surrounded them. Storm was growling somewhere behind them, but all was quiet here... too quiet. They fired torches and went slowly, watching in all sides. It was a whole maze of tunnels and passages. Their darkness looked at our companions unfriendly. Sometimes they noticed unclear shadows there, but all was calm.

Walles of this mine were old, even more older than wooden beams, supporting it. They were cracking and crumbling with dust in every cautionless move. It was rather nervous, but our friends didn't notice it. An old mining equipment lay near the walls, but it was rusty and useless. Water and time did it's work long time ago. It seemed that it was thrown away long time ago... They got the feeling that something was following it... They went faster and began to notice it's quiet breath, it's fast moves... it's bright green eyes in the darkness...

"THIS is a cat?!" - Cree were standing before the small creature and were playing with it. It was rather funny to watch after it... Even Brain smiled. They were runing from this creature all this time. Cat was small furry and very cute... though large claws, sharp teeth and thick... very thick and strong hide made it very capable fighter. Some strange mutation or evelotion created something terrible... but it's essence remained the same. Sure, in it's long life poor cat ate enough mutated rats and pigrats, but it remained goody creature... Cree took it to herself and they continued the way.

They began to meet mutated beastes - rats, moules, pigs, dogs... humans. It was nasty place. They explored all upper levels and now came down. On every step they were finding new beast, protecting it's territory from invaders, in every corner they saw empty barrels that were surely used to contain some nasty stuff... but now it was empty. The time were passing slowly, they thought that they spent a whole month there, but it was only several hours... Brian loaded again his desert eagle pistol and once again cursed that blasted mine, that foolish mayor and that bastard-Fred... He looked at the walls, surrounding him from all sides. Tourch were firing slowly, throwing strange shadows on the walls. The air became very heavy and warm, they felt strange smell, looking like spoiled eggs - they were coming down. This mine were even deeper than they might imagine...

There were no monsters there... well, nobody would live there. Tourchs almost faded - there were not enough air for the fire. These parts were even more older, but it looked like, that they were safer. Beams were good, walles were made from an old brickes, not the bare earth as it was earlier... They began to notice remain of some high tech junk... relics from the war. Most of it were useless even for the heroes, rats and all other sorts of scavangers... Cree looked at her new friend and noticed that it became agitated. Cat began to growl quietly and showed it's claws...

"This is pointless... There is nothing here except radation and dust - it's time to go away." - Brian looked around and spited. Surely, these parts of the mine were old ones. Broken computers, rusty parts of some large mining machines, signs of culture - junk, remains of an old food, empty bottles of nuka cola and all that stuff. Of course, it was interesting to see it, but it was dangerous and useless. There were nothing valuable left - all was scavanged or destroyed. It was time to go away - they began to feel the headache - sign that they had not enough fresh air, they could lose conscious and die there... Brian looked at Cree and smiled - she was busy with her new friend... or toy and even didn't listen him. Suddenly Brian noticed one thing. Not very importanct, but rather stranger thing - Tod, he disappeared...

Tod looked around. He surely became tired of this endless runing. He had a whole bag of booz, rot gut, glowing stuff from Gecko and all other sorts alcohole - he got these treasures from kind sheriff. He knew this fella for some time, even save him once, and now he got what he want. His old bag was waiting him in the bar and was giving him strength to be a hero... but now he couldn't resist the call any more. An old drunkard looked around - these parts were safe enough, so his friends will find a way out without him. So he departed soon after without noticing and went away to find some pieceful place to relax...

"You seeeee "hic"..., my friend... you was "hic" wrong..." - Tod caught his usual condition too soon. He even didn't get enough time to take pleasure. This blasted air in that mine made him drunken already. And now he was drinking booz and it was too much to him. He began to notice strange stuff - one time he saw large lizard-like beast with yellow hide, hornes and huge paws. He thought it was deathclaw, but what they could do there. Surely it was his dream... Than he saw large creature, standing at four legs and making strange sounds. He read about it - it was called horse. But surely now they all were killed for it's meat... He was walking slowly through the darkness of the tunneles endlessly. Poor soul couldn't find good enough place to stop by... Finaly he found a good rock and sat at her.
Bag became lighter a little, but Tod had enough time and booz yet...

Cree looked around nervously:
"What should I do? May be we should go to look for him..."
"We have no time, sis... Who knows what has happened with old fool? May be he lost his way, fall unconsious or he was killed by some beast. In any way we have to get out of here - Let's go..." - Brian didn't allow his siter to anwer something and went away. She followed him grimly.

"And so I've meat that... "hic" thing... It had all sorts... "hic" of weapons and tech..." - Tod was lieing on the rock and were telling the story to another imaginable deathclaw. He heard him quiet attentivly and even asked sometimes questions (even this stuff proved that he was drunken. All deathclaws, he met in his journeys would rather smash his guts and consume his flesh, than do something like that). His story was rather difficult to understand - drunkard is not very good storyteller, but his new friend was patient:
"So, what I was talking about?"hic"
"About robot thing, you found in the ruins of the glow?" - answered deathclaw.
"Oh, yes... "hic"... So... I stood up, took my weapon..." - Tod stood up and showed how he killed his enemy, but fell from the rock to the ground... on the deathclaw. Tod though that imaginable beasts had to flesh... but this one had... Well, it changed nothing. He was interested now by some new stuff. This rock - it was something more:
"Hey fella, you live here for a long time?" - he asked even without waiting for resonse.
"Yes, my pack use this mine for many moons. Nobody use lower levels and there are enough food for everybody... Even for you. You know, we don't have many visitors here - mostly foolish heroes, looking for treasures. We can hide easily here, but I am bored and want to talk a little. Tell me human, what is a life in the outside world..." - Tod lost the meaning of the talk of deathclaw. He surely wouldn't get information, he wanted from this fella. He had to do everything by himself. Tod came closer to the rock and looked at it with drunk eyes. This stuff surely looked like rock - a lot of dirt and dust, it was half-buried by small rocks, but... there were a lot of strange things on that "rock" - a lot of torn whires and broken lamps, a lot of metal things around... And it's shape. It looked like a bed.
"Life sucks, humans are bastards... Only booz is cool in our world" - Tod answered fast to the questions of deathclaw and asked:
"What is this thing? Do you know?"
"This, another reminder of pre-war times... I don't know" - deathclaw looked at this thing without interest and than noticed:
"You know, you are so kind with me. Nobody else don't want to talk with me. They say that I talk too much and that I am too young. I've killed enough enemies of my pack... You are surely the most kind man, I've ever met. What is your booz?"
"You don't know what is booz? Where are you from, guy? You MUST learn how great it is!" - he gave to the deathclaw a bottle and watched as he drank it all with one gulp. An empty bottle crumbled into dusty in his powerful paws - deathclaw growled angryly and than fell unconscious. You'll burn in hell for spoiling good boys, bastard - comment of the author. :roll:

"I wonder how it works" - Tod muttered and hit this thing strongly. At first nothing happened, but than than all stuff began to shine and make strange noises like:
"Cryongenic chamber is damaged... Reopening program is initiated..." - Tod looked at this thing now and noticed something within. It was hollow - there were some stuff down there... He saw it's unclear shadow in murky thick glass. Tod tried to broke it, but it even take a mark. He wonered how to open it, but is suddenly opened. An old drunkard looked there with interest hoping to find at least endless supply of alcohole, but than he sighed disappoinedly. There were lieing only body of some man. An ordinary young man in blue suit... Tought luck. Tod spited to the floor and came closer:
"Hey, man, who are you?"
"Uhhh... what..? What has happened? Who are you? Where am I? Who am I?" - this guys looked even more confused, than one guy, caught with gecko in... rather strange business. Tod threw away from his head all foreign thoughts and said:
"Hey, you surely don't remember anything. So much time without booz. Here, try some of it - it surely will clean your head..." - Tod was so generious today. He had a lot of booz, had a lot of patience... Well, bad stuff is that Tod didn't have enough constitution. He fell uncoscious - too much booz... usual business.

"Hey, Tod, wake up" - well-known voice made him to open eyes. He heard worry voice of Cree, he heard angry muttering of Brian, he heard loud wailing of storm of passing storm. It was a dream... Another dream. An old drunkard sighed deeply and opened eyes. At least his precious bag remained safe. Suddenly he noticed that they were siting at the enterance of mine... and a small cat were playing with his EMPTY bag.
"I found you here, old asshole. I don't know how you get here eariler, than we did and I didn't care..." - angry cry of Tod consumed all sounds, even the sounds of desert storm:
"MY BOOOOOOOZ... You'll pay for it, monsters... DEATHCLAW, I'LL FIND YOU..." - our heroes left cursed mines and came to the bar, carrying crying drunkard away...

*************

A young man sat down near one of the building and began to wait for something. Desert storm was passing and it was good - a good time for him. A young man smiled meanly. Spark of light appeared in the murky air. In a second the fire appeared on the wall of the building. It's tongues were dancing joyfully on the wooden cover of the wall. Man looked at it with pleasure and turned around to run away... and than stoped. With surprise he looked at the sparking blade, cutting his neck. Fire was dancing on it's cover. Cold steel were dancing slowly on it's flesh... This man was pyromant - he liked fire, he liked chaos, he liked... nothing. He was now dead man. It happened quick and soundless. Kath wiped her knife by the cloth of her victim and put away it away. Her job was done - quickly and effective... as always. She smiled coldly and disappeared in the darkness she came from...

Pyromant - this guy burnt several buildings already. She was said to kill him. "No problem" - she said. Another dead thing on her way. Of course, she could left this miserable town, she could hide from these drunken merceneries and lackeys, Ascorti had as guards. She could fuck them all with no eyes... But... She sighed and went back to the bar. The storm was passing - she hoped that all would be finished soon and she wouldn't have stay here for some more time. The storm was passing... Strong wind pulled heavy clouds to the south, leaving small town for it's own. Redding survived another joke of the wastes.

Kath cleaned her new armour from the skin of gecko from the sand. She spent a whole day ouside and felt it almost everywhere. Young woman looked around. The sun was high yet, wind almost stoped, but it could be felt. Sand and dirt were flying in the air yet, raised by storm. Now it were falling to the ground as a rain... or snow... dirty, lifeless snow. Kath grined and continued her way...

**************

Fred were playing with Ascorti in cards. First time he was rather unlucky, but than he began to win - cash, gunes, car, information - he won it all back and felt himself like a king. A day passed quickly, he even didn't notice as the first pair of our heroes returned. Craig looked tiredly at Fred and came to the bar to wash a throat from sand. Ghoul was covered with dirt... and something else, what was covered by dust. May be it was blood. Chris joined him. Than appeared three heroes from the mine - some strange creature followed them. When Ascorti noticed it, he whistled with surprise. He had never seen anything like it. They didn't want to talk about anything too and Fred was too busy with play to talk. Finally Kath arrived - mayor looked at her and smiled to some of his own thought. It seemed, he was waiting for something, but didn't get it, so he sighed deeply and put cards away. Fred was indignated by it, but kept silent - sometimes he was smart enough:
"So, "Saviors of the Redding" I suppose I can name you by that title. All jobs are done - nicely. I wasn't sure, that you would be successful. All these would-be heroes makes me sick, but you surely know how to handle with problems... Ok, you have my gratitude... and small amount of cash. This bloodsucker drained me... Anyway, you are worthy to follow the great Chosen One..." - he said with pomp and quickly disappeared. Only small amount of bucks remaind on the table:
"Quick fella - he even didn't pay for our work." - Tod noticed and grined.
"We got enough... what we really need is information." - muttered Craig angryly.
"Oh, Don't worry - I know where is our savior... Saviors of the Redding. It sounds great. May be we should stay" - Fred looked at his friends and quickly changed his mind - "No, why do we need this forsaken town. Let's go to Vault city! Ascorti said, that this hero is looking for some gecko or vault... well, Vaultcity is the best place to look for, don't you think?" - Craig looked at his companions and said tiredly:
"Vaultcity is ahead..."

***************

Heavy clouds were seen far to the south. Desert storm was coming slowly through the wasteland, runing by strong wind. But it was nothing for aour friends any more. They've left the Redding and came to the east. New dangers and new advantures were calling for them. Nobody came to say good-buy to "saviors of the Redding" - another fools, who want to save world... Citizens of Redding saw them too often. It's a pity that they didn't saw or heard about them any more. Wastes are harsh for unprepared...

An old man was sucking his Jet pack. He had enough money yet to buy a moment of joy. He looked at the sun, coming to the east and noticed small shadow on the horizon. Would be heroes had left their small town already. Good enough, lesser problems, lesser smart asses... He looked around and noticed a small shadow near the building of Ascorti's casino. Somebody was hiding there all that time. He becam curious - Jet made him as perseptive, as an old asshole could be. Than he noticed as Ascorti left his dear casino - was something really unordinary - and talked with this fella:
"What do you want, friend? I need no problems with your bunch."
"You know clearly what I want" - some dirty and evily looking person answered and laughed - "Where is these fellas? You should stop them for a while." - the tone of him was rather agressive. It made Ascorti angry:
"I am not lackey of Mortons. I promised nothing neither you, nor your boss. Clear my casino or your guts will spill through all the street..." - he showed his gun and the man quickly fell back:
"You'll pay for it... fool. First of all we shall deal with them... and than we shall visit your humble town..." - man quickly went away and Ascorti smiled meanly. An old miner thought that he mistaken, but he heard words of Ascorti:
"You will find something much worser, than Chosen one..."

That was a looong one Excellent story again as always 8) I wonder where they go next?

Ok, I've read third chapter right now, Lia... Well, good work. I am waiting for other stuff

Part 3 - Quest for booz

The day was passing slowly. Hot air was all around. Huge, endless desert, large yellow disc of the sun, sand, death, retribution... The wasteland was not very pleasant sight. Reminders of the past, dead hopes of foreign people... Chosen one saw enough of it in his travel... but now he found something new... New life arose from the aches, new life grew up from the radioactive wastes... It's faces were ugly, but everything new have the same face.

Vault city - Chosen one entered this city. Many ancient people thought that it would be the best form of government... New age gave new hopes... and new fear. Cries of the dead and alve were heard in the back. Spirits of the past followed chosen one, as friends... or enemies. He didn't see them, but he felt it by his back. Chosen one stoped for a while, listening for a song of the wind and continued his journey.

Song of the Wind

The night is doming after day,
The day is coming after night,
The seasons runing all the time,
The sun is rising every time.
The winds are blowing through the world
And skies are opened to it's hold.
In every blow, in every noise
A man can heard a song of oldes.
The past have passed and new awaits.
Old roads are stoped and new ones gets.
The clouds of doom are passing by.
The wind of life will never die.
An endless journey through the world.
You saw so much to be behold.
A world is huge; the time will pass.
But you'll return to us... for us.
The older ones, the fresh and youngs
Your hearts are singing as a youth.
The storm will come, the storm will pass
And wind will sing a song for us.
And while it is blowing all the time
You have a hope... at least for a while...

Chapter 10 - Dead, alive and dead again

Modoc... Small dieing town. Nothing will change som quickly - agreement with slags... source of fresh water... It was too late, it was too little. In several years all would change, but now there was hunger... Hunger... people of the wasted knew good enough what did it mean. There were rumours that soon after the great war there was hunger... The great unger as everything else in the that times... great hunger, great fire,great death... Everybody, who survived, lived in broken pieces of the their old world. They were cursed to live and see what they had done. They felt hunger every day, every long night... The time when you are ready to fuck deathclaw to get a small piece of meal... time, when heroes became goats and evil ones are rubbish. Who cares about them until you'll get a food... Small girl looked to the west with hope... Sometimes large caravans arrived from there. Modoc was farming community, but now it was nothing. Caravans got there the only source of food and took everything they want. One time her parents brought her a lot of food and went away. They've never returned. Slaver caravan left the town in that day. Suddenly she noticed small cloud of dust... A car! She saw such thing only once... not so long ago. Great hero of the Wastes visited them and saved... she thought... Well, it didn't looked like it. She turned around and sighed deeply. May be he returned to give them a lot of food. Spark of hope appeared in her face and she began to watch after this car.

"Stop here for a while, Tod. We need to buy some food" - said Craig and looked at the town. To tell the truth he didn't think that they would buy something here - it was dead town. An old ghoul simply tired to sit in this cursed car. His place was so hard...
"I tell you. Somebody following us!" - Brian said nervously. He looked much worser, than usual. He left not much Jet, so he spent it carefully... All sorts of dreams was the results. His siter looked at him with sorry look and gave him her new pet.
"Here, play with her. It will relax you a little."
"I don't want..." - wanted to cry Brian, but noticed grief on her face and became silent. He took her pet and really became less nervous. This small creature surely had some strange magical powers... At least little girl thought about it... Brian sighed freely and left the car:
"I noticed something yesterday... Some large and very quick creature... it followed us. It was not a dream and it was real. I can understand it yet... May be it was Deathclaw... Well, anyway. It doesn't hurt us, so it is good enough."
"I saw something like it several days..." - Kath suddenly stoped and looked around. Several suspicious guards looked at them and grining. - "it is not the place to talk about it. We need some place to rest. I don't feel my ass... this blasted car." - ghoul looked at Kath noded:
"You are right... Tod, what do you know about this place?"
"Heh, even I know this place as my own fleas..." - answered Fred and grined. - "All-mighty Modoc - hope and salvation of all northern towns. Food, supplies, brahmins... Well, it looks like that our savior in total ass". Fred looked around and laughed. Cree looked at him angryly and said nothing.
"Yeah, good town..." - said Tod happy. He lost his bag of booz, but he left another one. So now he was exploring it's reaches. By some miracle Tod was able to drink and talk in the same time - very interesting trick:
"Nothing special can be said. Bunch of farmers and traders... A lot of brahmin. They have one good bar here... cleanest thing in north reaches. That for sure... Oh, we have old Grisham down here. His children are so... errr, kind to the strangers. You should visit him... Ok, I am off to the bar." - he came by unsteady foots to the north. Other followed him. Only Craig remained near the car - as leader of their group, he had to buy all sort of the stuff and talk with everybody here, while his friends were having fun... It is so good to be a leader. Craig grined and entered general store seen nearby.

Ghoul left the store and noticed a small girl. She looked at him with surprise and fear. Skinless, decaying, walking corpse is not ordinary sight. Though this girl was not afraid... or she wanted to eat too much. Craig saw too many things in his life to be troubled by it. He lost his last pity, when he skined alive raider, who slayed his brother for fun... Well, they all have their own problems. Craig sighed and came to the north - he sold a lot of junk and got some food. It was hard - this trader in this town was as pain in his ass - regular and endless problem. The other "small" problem followed him... He didn't care - he came to the bar.

"So, I went downstairs and seeee... "hic" large hall. It is full of monsters and... "hic" - Tod conquered all the bar. He had never had so many listeners. He was surprised and tried to tell his story as clearly as possible. Though if one asked what the story was about, the listener would answer that it was something about Catherdral - his legendary quest to examine ruins of destroyed lair of the master... and accidental destruction of all remaind stuff by second nuclear bomb - "Who knows, why did it"hic" exploded..? May be I shouldn't turned it on..." - he noticed Craig and smiled happyly. All listeners followed his look, but saw nothing interesting - another ghoul. There were a lot of them lately, as so as Gecko was "joined" by Vault city... This drunkard was much more interesting - this dull town offered no fun to the tired travelleres.

The night has come - a good time to leave. Not so many interested ones, safer they will be. Craig looked around. They've just left the bar and were coming to the car. They spent a whole day, by talking pointlessly and now began to dicuss their business.
"I talked with mayor of this town... He treid to pull me to another quest... tricky bastard, but I've learnt what I... er, we need. Chosen one was here several weeks ago. Rumours, rumours, only rumours... This hero leaves only rumours after himself..."
"To catch him is to catch wind" - said Chris and turned away. Kath looked at him and nodded:
"Yes, this fella is quick. What do you know? Is he in Vaultcity yet? May be we should go to the east right now?"
"We must be sure..." - Craig muttered quietly. They knew what was his point to visit Vaultcity, but kept silent. Dark night surrounded them. Only moon were thowing light to the earth.

Two unclear figures came from the shadow of the bar. One of them was rather large, the other one was small and very quick. He was even jumping lightly and nervously...
"Look, boss. It's him! It's him... Let's get them right now!"
"Shut up, Goblin. They looked like assholes, but bunch of bloody bodies tells us to be caution... My brother was a strong fella, but he was killed. They will pay for it... Go call for the guys"

Our companions returned to their car and were preparing for the journey. Tod checked the car and noticed that the energy is low. They would have to buy enery cells there and it is quiet expensive. His driving skills improved greatly, though minor accidents like dead brahmin or dangerous stops in crucial time sometimes happened. The other ones were putting on their armours, were taking their weapons. They didn't want to do it - it was very uncomfortable, but the Wasteland is harsh to the unprepared. Craig looked at Kath. Now she leather armour and looked quiet deadly. Why did she followed them, he wonder... And Chris than.Who was this fella..? This questions tormented him every day. It could be dangerous to travel with them... Well, they were travelling in radioactive coffin with nuclear bomb in it's heart through the radioactive wasteland with radioactive fella, drunkard, jet-head and who know what else. What could be more foolish or dangerous? As an answer to his question, he heard quiet, but very deadly voice:
"I found you, Chosen one... Blood of Mortons will be avanged..." - Fred looked at the group of people appearing from the darkness around them and laughed. He surely liked this stuff. What else would happen next?

All words were pointless. Craig saw it their's eyes. There were only death... Quick, painful, mercyless, silent death. Of course, who didn't heard about Morton brothers - bunch of madmen, ravaging the Wastes. Their works were very impressive - a lot of blood, a lot of guts. They got heavy armpower from somewhere and became the terror of the small town. They didn't dare to atack Vaultcity or NCR, but Modoc was safe enough for them. A good place to finish all the stuff. Ghoul looked at the fella, who was coming slowly to them and understood who he was - Silent Morton. Nobody heard a lot of wrods from him. He killed people without words. Nobody even remembered his real name, even his own brothers... To tell the truth his name was Bob, but it didn't suit him well. Anyway, some fight would be held right now.

Fred didn't want to wait till they cook his ass and with terrible cry rush at them. His horrible puny body was almost unseen in the darkness and it made him even more impressive. Death from nowhere, fury of the darkness. Thugs stoped for a while in confusion. They usually killed their prey quickly and without noise, but this guy. Fred with loud cry ran away - the surrounding was broken. The enemies was in their back. Silent Morton cursed his stupid men and ordered to change foramtion.
"Everybody to me. You will kill each other in the darkness" - he cried angryly, but the time was lost. Fight had already began.

Fred were runing somewhere down there, crying loudly to get help, but nobody was so stupid. Surely, they knew what was happening there. Quiet death, silence of the night - Silent Morton cursed the blasted darkness. He saw nothing. He heard cries of his people nearby. Single shots of 422.mm pistols, long bursts of the combat shotguns were heard. One time the darkness of the night was lighted by flamethrower... and Morton couldn't believe it. Most of his men were killed... slain. Flamethrower made his last shot and threw away from the dead arms. Deathclaw... He saw it nearby. He knew that there were living some beast down there, but he heard it was killed already... No matter, most his men were dead, so he need not be shy to use his M60 "baby". He took it and began to fire all surroundings...

Craig saw what was happening. He saw not so clearly in daylight, but night was his time. Unclear figures or thugs, quick shadows of his friends. An old ghoul took the gun and smiled. It will be easy. He heard quiet work of Chris and Kath. He only heard cries of dead men, mad fire of runing people... fightened whining... Well, it's a hard world. He smiled again and opened fire.

Tod once again heard the same quiet growling near him. It was he - deathclaw from his dream! He came here to steal another bag of booz:
"NO! You willn't get it, deamon of sobriety..." - he muttered quietly and atacked nearby bandit with his terrible bottle of booz. His 10mm pistol lay rusty and useless nearby.

All was over. Morton heard nothing. Silence of the night fell on him. He tried to open fire again, but it was useless. He heard nothing. All was consumed by night. He wanted to hear cries of his men, moaning of his enemies, song of his gun... But all disappeared in great blackness of the night. He felt nothing, though his body was hanged in the air. He was shaking in agony of death. Morton brother was nailed to the earth by terrible claws... He felt as blood is flowing slowly through the wound to the earth. He felt cold and sturdy covering of the claw... He felt nothing. Darkness consumed him...

"So, what has happened?" - Fred asked with surprise. He was standing near one of the bandits, torn apart. Kath came to the Silent Morton and looked with confusion at his guts, seen in the distance:
"Who... what it was?" - she muttered quietly.
"Deathclaw" - Craig answered calmly, though he was very excited. This beast went away, but they would be the next preys of it.

***************

Chapter 11 - Terrible news.

"Where are going, motherfucker?! STOP!!!" - Craig cried madly and tried to take wheel from Tod, but it was too late. Their "brave" car came closer to the primary defensive system of Vaultcity and our friends felt what did it mean to be fried like smart gecko...

Chris heard a lot about such interesting things, but now he was able to see a whole process. Large laser turret stood before them. It's turret were aimed at them. Something bad was going to happen. Chris looked his eyes wide and prepared to see show. Red light appeared at the bottom of the turret. Strange quiet sound attracted his attention. He prepared to feel a terrible pain and fire... Laser was ready.

"Primary defensive system is not operational" - Kath noticed and grinned. "These fella think that they are immortal or what? They will be cleared from the face of the wasteland for no time with such attitude." - she spitted and sat back into the car. Everybody else joined her, except Chris. He looked with interest on this turret and noticed small smoke, coming from it:
"This thing was working right now... Strange..."

"So, leader, what now?" - Craig heard sacrasm in words of Fred and smiled calmly:
"What else can we do, smart ass? Let's go to this fucking city..."
Our company were standing before the large gates, leading into the city... it's first part. This place looked rather poor - several small building from the dirty bricks, a lot of tents and poor people...
"Vault city... a place of a new hope" - Kath muttered with grim smile - "lead us, oh great leader!"

They were coming slowly by the street. All people around looked at them with no interest and returned to their's own business. Guards all around were even less interested with them. They passed near several of them, guarding something, what was like prison, but they even didn't look at them. Well, they needn't worry - their precious laser turrets will defend them from everything... except blasted beggars or stupid advanturers. One of them looked at our friends tiredly and muttered something about people all around.

They stoped before the shop of some smiling guy. Bad sign for this place. It looked like that this sign was laughing after them. The owner of the shop was not better. Shot, smart, cheerful and full of life old man - the worst form of trader, who can sell almost everything to the customer. This man smiled broadly:
"Ah, a new customers... Come in!"

Brian looked at his sister, they were left near the gate. To tell the truth, nobody would allow drug-addicted to enter the city, but he liked to think that he remained here to "protect the car" by his own will. Cree was siting in the car and was playing with a cat. It looked like that this creaute didn't care nothing. Her new friend was with her and nothin else was not important. Cree smiled happyly and continued her play. She was happy. Brian didn't see often smile on her face. "May be it's my fault" - he thought grimly and turned away. She was his siter, but sometimes he thought that they are alien people... Young man tried not to hurt her, but... This stuff hurted his heart as rusty, dull knife. He looked at the large beatiful buidlings, seen in the distance:
"Good place for chosen one... All morons and ambition fools are here" - he said and coughed strongly. He didn't take Jet for two days already. It ended and were becoming even worser.

Tod and Fred left the shop quietly. This fella had a large amount of weapons and all other stuff, but they were not interested. They were looking for another pleasure. All these weapons, covered with grease and dust - they didn't interested it. Tod remembered that there must be some sort of bar nearby. His booz was one of the most asskicking in the whole world. He looked at his almost empty bag and sighed deeply - Fred and Kath began to pay visits to his treasury. He had to resupply it.

Fred came with him, because he wanted to get some fun - bars are the best place for it... and it looked like that "quests" are coming to Tod as flies are coming to shit. An old man smiled meanly. He liked his last idea. He joined Tod and they left the shop, leaving the Craig and Kath to barter with this trader. They looked confused - this fella was tricky and charged large amount of money for his stuff. It was easier for Craig to sell his arm than to get something from him.

Tod and Fred were coming slowly through the poor quaters of the Vaultcity. They saw poor, they saw starvation, they saw death... and as joke, there were seen buildings of great Vaultcity in the distance. There were seen beatiful and magestic world of citizens... after the large fence and strong gates. Not many may pass through it. So they remained in courtyard. Fred sighed - how many things could be stolen there, how many foolish citizens could be cheated..? A terrible cry of despair attracted his attention. He noticed that he stoped for a while and Tod came furhter. So now he had to run to know what had happened. He took a lot of sir in his old lungs and ran.

Tod was standing before the relic of the past, before the brightest memories of his life. He saw how they were going away. All, what has left of his life was pointless. The truth was so terrible, that he couldn't understand or accept it. All his hopes, all his dreams were destroyed in a moment... terrible moment of despair. He came closer to something, before him. He looked before him again and again, trying to realise that it is not truth... The world became dark, all tents around him, all thes people - he heard the cries of dead already. He stood on the kneels and began to cry.

Fred were runing as fast as he could. Terrible moaning was heard from every corner, but it looked like that nobody was interested in it. It was an ordinary sight for this place. An old man was coming closer to the point of his fears with every minute. Crying were heard louder from these parts. Finally he noticed Tod, he was standing on the kneels before some sort of sign and was crying loudly. Fred prepared to know that their world would be destroyed by horrible aliens and came closer to find out what has happened.

"I tell you - you willn't get this beatiful suit of metal armour in exchange for this worthless piece of shit..." - trader smiled happyly and waited the reply. Kath looked at him tiredly and became silent. This guy was beyond her abilities. She wanted to break his thin neck, but tried to control herself. Craig was much more skillful and endured. In his long life he met a lof of such guys, he lived in Geko in day of travel of travel from here for some time, so he even knew this guy. Ghoul smiled and began a long conversation, showing bad and good sides of that shit, he tried to sell to him. Trader found worthy opponent in this fella and tried to sell him this worthless piece of metal shit(armour). It was a loooong words battle. Chris and Kath were standing nearby and were listening with amusement. Even loud cry of despair didn't bother them... an ordinary stuff for these parts.

Fred came to the sign and read the terrible truth, written above. It's sense stroke his mind and heart as poison arrow. Deadly sense of written above were flowing in his body, stealing life and hope:
"Out of business..." - Fred whispered with fear. He heard a quiet moaning of Tod and wanted to join him. Only now he noticed that the bar, located nearby was empty. No chics, no drugs, no alcohole - it was terrible. He fell on his kneels near Tod and growled angryly. Life was mercyless for these two guys.

"Once again... Look at this majestic deseign, it's weapon's abilities, it's view - this weapon is best you can get all around for hundrads of miles. You must thanks me for this opportunity" - Kath hated already voice of Craig. This ghoul made her crasy, she was ready to kill him and his small moronic fiend - brother by trading blood... She left a shop. Young woman couldn't stay there for some more time. It's air made her nervous - even when she found herself on the dirty, full of junk and hatred streets of this cursed city, she sighed easily. She was free. Kath looked around - these parts of Vaultcity were surely not the best. City of citizens were seen in the distance - "Equal for equal" - she muttered, remembering something. Yes, she heard about this city already, but even didn't think that all will be so bad. She heard quiet steps at her back and turned around quickly...

Tod and Fred entered the empty bar. They hoped that at least one bottle of booz remained in it. They searched carefully, they looked in every corner, in every side of this blasted bar - nothing. The hopeless attitude appeared in his eyes. They became disappointed... It was a pity and terrible sight - two drunkards were crawling through the bar in search of alcohole. It was lucky that nobody saw them or they would be shot as madmen... They were disappointed - what can be more terrible, than unsatisfied drankard, espesially Tod and Fred. That deadly couple of lucky bastards will rush all terrors and fears of the wates on the heads of unfortunate citizens of that blasted city. They closed the bar! They will feel the wrath of terrible drunken master...

Kath looked at coming closer Chris and asked him tiredly:
"What do you want? I am not in mood to talk..."
"Than you will listen. I wanted to tell you something..." - Kath looked at him with surprise and began to listen attentevly.
"What do you know about this place, my friend?" - he began.
"Well, dozens of citizens, a lot of guards... trading weapons..."
"No, I ask you about it's spirit... Do you know what does it mean to be hero... chosen one... citizen? Have you already felt it, Initiate?" - he looked at her with interest.
"It's not your business, pal..." - she stoped for a while and than continued - "Yes, I know what do you mean. Brotherhood of Steel is bunch of old morons. They don't see anything befor their noses... I left to..." - she stoped suddenly and looked at the rising sun on the West. - "I wasn't there for a long time... How many things have changed, I wonder..?"
"You left to see a world, you wanted to say, I suppose" - asked Chris with sad smile.
"Yes... What a hell you need it for? I was young, foolish and didn't know life. I wanted to prove myself that I was soldier - not another fool in powered armour... I wanted to understand the world, to see it's current state... I wanted to prove that I was something more, than daughter of one of the elders... It was ages ago. My father is fead, my home is far to the south... my mission is failed..." - she stoped and looked around wiith sorry look. She said more that she should. - "Ok, it's not you business. Don't mess with my life and I willn't mess with you."
"Fair enough" - Chris answered. - "Well, you told me a lot. My portion of secrets is in order."
"I don't care to hear anything. I told you what I wanted to tell. Nothing more."
"Anyway, I want to tell it to you. Maybe you find it interesting." - Chris shoke his shoulders - "Vault city was a good city. It had enough food for everybody. Everybody had enough medical support. All was equal... But it was long time ago. You said "equal for equal"... Yes, you are right. Vault city is not the same, it was... when I left it."
"You are citizen?!" - Kath looked at him with great surprise and said it so loud, that attracted attention of the guards. They only grined and returned to their business.
"I was citizen... years ago." - Chris smiled - "I had another name, I had another life... I left Vaultcity to explore world, search for new Vaults and bring new hope to all the world." - he smiled again. Now he was talking with himself. Middleaged man even didn't noticed Kath - "How long it was? Ten, twenty years ago... Who knows? I was banned... asked to leave politly. I was too agitated for them. Even than I saw where it was going. Servants, fence - they said that it will protect them. They protected themself from all other world and left in their misery... I wanted to change the world, but it changed me. When I returned home nobody waited me, nobody welcomed me - grim looks, quiet whisper... "half-citizen"... Well, I am back. I wasn't here for a lot of time. I wonder if somebody still remember me. No, I don't think so... I didn't talk with nobody about it for a long time, Kath. I don't know why I tell it to you."
"And what now? I must be impressed by it or something?" - Kath answered grimly.
"No, of course no... Ha, ha - I think I know now why I did it..." - he smiled and entered the shop. Kath looked at the Vaultcity, spited to the dirty street and followed him.

*************

You just have to admire it 8)

Kath rox!

I see that Lia finally have joined our small DAC community. It's great. To tell the truth I am little tired of it, so I've come here to fan fic. I like FO, but there is not so much possibilities to talk about it... Anyway, my story is growing too long and I've little time left. I hate to leve something unfinished. I must write faster... Bad news are that I am losing my last readers. Well, I'll cry about it, when I'll finish my story.

Chapter 12 - Search for holy... something.

Booz... blessed water of the old times... fire water of the ancients... Tod stood up from the floor and looked around with unusual concentration. Fred stood near him - they looked at each other and nodded. No words were needed. They knew what must be done! Bar - they noticed that large sign on one of the building in the city, below the fence. They had to be there and they would get there by all costs. Tod came to the customers office and Fred went to the shop to inform others about terrible news.

"I tell you... bla bla bla... This armour is best... bla bla bla... This weapon is worth it... bla bla bla..." - Kath looked at the exit with hope. She thought that it was continueing for several hours, but sun didn't even rise. It was still morning. Young woman sighed hopelessly and looked at Chris. He was standing in the distance and was reading something as always. He was a citizen of that blasted Vault city. She smiled with doubt - surely he was bookworm and arrogant moron, but not so bad and very person and very capable fighter. Kath shoke her shoulders - who knows? May be he said the truth. She looked at the exit once again, dreaming to get to the calm silence of the car. It's engine is humming quietly, wind is blowing into the face and refreshing it's tired skin, car is runing smoothy, leaving this blasted city... All wasteland lies open to her... She opened her eyes - it was a dream, she had never had dreams, but she began to feel it not so long ago. After she join these guys she began to feel life... she began to understand what does it mean not to follow commands, not to live by code of rules. Kath were doing what she wanted, she was going where she wanted - a whole world lay opened for her... at least sometimes. Yes, she felt this freedom feeling and it was great. It was the same feeling, her father were talking about. But she also knew that she would get another feeling, feeling of loneliness, feeling of useless, chaos. Nobody would wait her, nobody would take care about her... Kath sighed deeply, this stuff surely worthed it. Well, sometimes she had to do something she didn't want to do - young woman looked at chating ghoul and trader and grined. She imagined again how she was driving a car... Everybody have a right to dream... even in this post-nuclear burnt and half destroyed lifeless wasteland.

"You want to get to the Vaultcity?" - trader said with surprise and grined. Craig noticed that Chris had frowned, but paid no attention. Ghoul looked at Fred as crasy:
"What do you need there, old man? We know already that Chosen one went to the south." - Fred looked at him angryly and answered:
"You forgot about our small demands - mein and Tod's ones. I mean BOOZ. We can't find it in this blasted place. I am sure that these dear "citizens" had enough of that "medicine". I heard that they trade all sorts of that stuff."
"I don't want to disappoint you, my old friend" - said Chris - "But to get to the Vaultcity is not so easy"
"This is very tricky... alomst tricky as your friend" - trader added. - "I've never met such bloodsucker, as you are, ghoul. Tell me, where are you from? All nearby ghouls are blind coots and you are hell for trader. Are from Necropolis, I heard they have a lot of smart fellas... or may be you are some sort of new ghouls? Another joke of mother nature..." - trader laughed. He surely liked his joke. Craig looked at him frownly and answered:
"I am as abnormal, as you are - shut up and give us our supplies..."
"Oh, your friend is so serious... Sorry, I didn't want to offend you... So, this old man wants to get to the Vaultcity - it's easier to find ghoul in it's reaches. You'd better forget about it. If you want to get alcohole - try New Reno or Gecko. It's stuff will give such pleasant glow to your skin..." - our companions left the shop and stoped near it.
"So, what's now?" - Kath asked the ghoul. Everybody else looked at him.

Craig looked around. He had some unfininished business in these parts and he couldn't leave it so quickly:
"Er..." - he stoped for a while, thinking about what he will say - "friends, we need some time to rest... and this place." - he noticed grining faces of his friends and said - "What a hell, I need to go to the Gecko by personal demands. Will you wait for me for several days?" - he looked at them with waiting.
"No problem. We have enough time... And I can get some more information in Vault city. May be I even shall be able to steal something..." - Fred smiled dreamyly. Kath frowned a little, but said nothing. Brain and Cree surely will be angry, but it's their busyness. Tod didn't care about anything, except his dear booz. Chris... this one looked rather strange. He was happy and unhappy all the same - he smiled for a while, but it faded and his face became frown. Such reaction was a mystery for him. Chris said:

"I'll wait for you here, Craig... but try to hurry..." - ghoul noticed some sort struggle in him - "You will never get to the boarders of the Vaultcity, Fred... Of course, if some citizen invite than it will be another matter." - Kath smiled mysteriously. Craig didn't understand what it meant. He didn't care - his only interest was to get finally to Gecko. He was to inform his people about what he has learn... cure from their sickness can afford only Vaultcity. All other cities don't have enough tech support... It were grim news, but somebody had to do it... He looked at his friends - they would wait for him.

Tod entered the customers office. Some strange old fella in blue suit greeted. His teethless smile and bright young gleam in eyes showed to Tod, who he was talking with:
"Famous unbriber - the man, who don't take bribes. I wonder where is this fella, who was so kind to sell me fake citizenship last time..." - an old drunkard muttered and looked around. There were several servants in this small building, but they were only servants. This head of this office was seen in the far room. He was siting after the large table and was signing some papers.
"This is the man, I am looking for - man with power..." - Tod said and looked around with hope. He came to one of the servants and asked:
"Hey, do you know where is young fella, who worked here?" - servant looked at him without interest and said senseless:
"I have no time to talk... wait a minute. Is it you chosen one?" - interest appeared in his eyes. Tod sighed - this servant surely was not interested to answer his questions:
"Yes, I am Chosen one. Will you answer my question now?" - Tod looked at his last full bottle of booz, remained at the bottom of his bag and continued with great inspiration.
"Oh, great chosen one. Welcome back to Vaultcity, citizen. What are you doing here?" - servant didn't hear his question again.
"Once again" - in his voice appeared the treat - "I am citizen of this city and may be you will be kind enough to answer my question, servant?"
"Yes, yes, yes - of course..." - the face of the servant changed. Instead of admire there appeared fear - "What do you want?"
"Where is the young citizen, who worked here?"
"He was arrested... I think... by your charge. Do you remember it?" - servant looked at old man suspiciously. Than he shoke his shoulders and returned to his work. There were enough strange persons, who visited Vaultcity - who cares if somebody says that he is a great hero.
"Arrested... Damn" - it was all, Tod wanted to know. He forgot about this servant and concentrated on the old citizen. All powers of his great mind began to work, trying to understand how to get to the Vaultcity. He used all his imagination, all wisdom of his many travels and journeys. Finally he invented the way to do it. His great mind solved the problem geniously, as always. With came to the old man with impressive look and said immidiatly:
"I want to get to Vault city!"

Craig was standing near the enterance to the courtyard. The car was standing nearby lifeless. Brian tried to return it to life, but it was useless. This baby didn't want to obey anybody, except Tod. An old drunkard tried to explain how it works some time ago, but who would understand him. The wheel was "that round thing" for him and engine was "this stuff with whires"... and most of his speech disappeared in his drunken mind untold. It was not so surprise that they decided to go to the Gecko by foot - I mean Brian, Cree and Kath decided to join him. Fred and Chris stayed there with disappeared Tod. Fred was waiting near the car - nobody was interested in this junk, but guards could threw it away to clear the gateway and decided to practise in shooting. Their car was a good target for it... Anyway, everything was decided and told. Craig sighed and told quietly to Chris:
"Don't forget about our agreement. If you'll get to the Vaultcity try to find a cure..." - he looked at his eyes and stoped. No words were needed. All was said.

Brian looked at the Vaultcity in the south. They were coming slowly to the Gecko. There could be found Jet... He wiped the sweat from his face. He was feeling himself worser with every minute. Cree was going near. Her pet, this strange creature was following her. This beast attracted too much attention - Brian noticed about is not so long ago, but Cree even didn't want to talk about leaving it. She was more caution in the past... Brian sighed and continued - he didn't think about that Gecko was radioactive junkyard, he didn't think that there could be no Jet, he didn't think that wastes near Gecko were full of crasy old ghouls... He tried not to think about anything - he simply followed Craig. The others did the same. Cree, Kath... they looked forward without doubts

"What's your purpose there?" - asked old man calmly, looking at Tod. He stoped to write for a while and was waiting his answer.
"What purpose?" - Tod looked at him with confusion.
"I see... another moronic idiot, blabing about saving of the world. Vault city have already one of you... heroes. You think you can walk wherever you want. So, you are wrong - leave this place. We need no kind of you down here."
"Hey, I have business here." - Tod said quickly.
"What is it?" - he answered even more quickly and looked at him attentevly.
"Well..." - Tod didn't know what to say - "I have a business... economic question... that must be discussed." - an old drunkard looked around with confusion. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know about it. So he continued slowly - "economic question... it concerns b... I mean it concerns your new citizen... Chosen one..." - it made it's effect. An old man looked at him with surprise:
"What?! How did YOU know about it?" - he stood up and prepared to call guards, but than stoped and whispered quietly, looking at nearby servants nervously:
"Ok, here is your day pass. Go talk with the one, you need to talk immidiatly. She is waiting for you..." - Tod quickly took piece of paper and left the customer office. He didn't care what did he say - his point was achieved. Vault city lay opened before him. He was ready to plunder all his alcohol booty.

"What a..?" - Tod was shocked by this outrage. His booz, his last, dear bottle of booz was taken by mercyless guards when he tried to enter the city. His mind was helpless to accept it, but he had to go forward - the sign of Bar nearby were attracting him with great power.

Chris stoped for a while at the enterance at the customer office. He looked around in search of Tod. He was sure, that will find him somewhere nearby sleeping or with crushed skull, but there were no signs of fight or his friend. Chris prayed that this fella didn't entered the Vaultcity. He was able to get rid the town of the curse of Fred... but plague of Tod could be even worser. Middleaged traveller loved his town inspite of all it's problems and didn't want to see it in ruins. To tell the truth he didn't want to visit this place any more. It looked foreign to him any more. So much was changed... but he had no choice. It looked like Tod was somewhere within... Chris entered the customer office.

"It's you..?" - an old man couldn't believe his eyes. When he saw him last time, he was young inexperienced boy, who looked at the outside world with wonder and fear. His eyes were opened and full of lust for advanture. Now he was another man, though nothing could change him so much, that he didn't recognize his son. That young boy was too excited, so much noise, so mush feelings... He banned him by his own hands long time ago... This boy wanted to leave by himself. An old man only helped him. And than followed endless amount of empty days, pointless waiting... That's why he began to work here. He was waiting... waiting for him. He lost his hope to see him long ago. An old man thought that his bones were burried somewhere by sands of Wastes... but he was waiting. And finally he saw him. What should he say to his son? What should be done? An old man looked at his grown-up son with confusion. In his dreams he knew what to say, but now...
"You need a pass?" - he asked quietly.
"Yes, please..." - Chris nodded grimly. He got a pass and left a customise office without any word. He stoped before the exit and turned around. Their looks met and they understood each other... The first meeting after dozens of years was over. Chris left the bulding...

"I neeed booz" - this words were singing like a song on his lips. Tod was standing near bartender and were talking with her. He was ready to consume a lot of this blessed water... he payed what it was needed, he got a strange looking bottle, he opened it and prepared to sail into the dreamland. Suddenly he felt digusting feeling, like somebody put a mutated cactus in his mouth - water?! This stuff was not booz. It was something else. He looked at bartender with confusion. Tod was too confused to became angry:
"I thought I asked booz" - he wheezed and lost conscious for a while. Than he returned to senses, when he felt another portion of that digusting stuff on his face:
"You'll pay for it too." - bartender said unpleased and put away a cup.

"You don't have REAL alcohole?" - Tod couldn't believe it. He stood confused for a while, looking at bartender like a mad - "Are you joking? This is not possible!" - bartender nodded sadly. I know what you mean. Outside world is under influence of that deadly stuff, but our citizens are free from that curse..." - she lowered her voice and said - "May be I know where I can get several bottles of it. Are you going to pay for it?"
Tod looked at her with waiting:
"Excellent, than listen... I need some work to do..."

Tod was going angryly down the street. He got another task from these bloody parasits... It looked like he performed all dity work of the Vault city - to spy over somebody, to get some porno, to buy some drugs... to fuck some... about the rest of it he even didn't want to think about. These citizens were surely the champions in their own business. Tod sighed tiredly and looked at sunset. Sky was coloured in red. Hot autumn evening was promising to give a cold night. It will be even colder without his booz. Tod continued his way and stoped near the other bar. This one looked like that it was also a hotel. All windows were dark, though it was late already.
"This building is empty - they are fucking me" - Tod thought sadly and pushed the door. To his surprise it opened. He stood and waited for something. An old drunkard didn't want to be found in empty building - local guards were notvery kind to the thiefs. He looked around and decided to left it, but somebody grabed him and pulled into the darkness...
"Damn, it sucks" - he thought grimly...

***********

Chapter 13 - Day of the Drunkard.

Cree looked at the road. It was runing slowly to the north. The journey was safe for now, but she began to feel danger. Her cat was agitated too. It was growling quietly and was looking at her with worry. Something was going to happen. It was night already. They were coming for a whole day and Cree really felt what did it mean to be tired... She didn't feel her legs any more, but she kept going. Young girl didn't want to bother others...

Something was going to happen - Kath noticed it long time ago. It was too quiet - even wolfes stoped to wail. The night was dark. Sky was covered by clouds. There were seen no light. Moon and stars hid in the far reaches of the grey clouds. Light wind was walking nearby. It's quiet humming was heard sometimes. They were coming by the large lifeless plain - though it was dark, they were seen clearly for a long distance. Good target for raiders or some other scum. She looked around with caution.

Brian was waiting for it for a whole day. He spent enough time in the other world to begin feel the voices. They were talking, singing, muttering... they were talking with him, with each other, with themselfes... He was listening, learning, finding out. Darkness of afterlife surrounded him. He was too tired to find differences between fact and fantasy. And who could find it? He began to see it - dark shadows, unclear figures... he heard their unclear muttering, he saw their terrible body shells, he sensed their soul torments. Brian heard what they were talking about... they were talking about them... about Craig. They knew him. This lieing ghoul was one of them. Brian growled quietly, but it was all he was capable of - he was very tired. He had strength only to follow...

Craig was waiting for them. He knew that they would appear soon. They agreed to meet each other near the Gecko. It was too dangerous to meet each other in the town... too many witnesses. Road was runing slowly ahead. Ghoul began to feel well-known faint smell of Gecko - unknown, unclear, but so dear to his heart - this smell made him felt good. Craig smiled and stoped. It was too late, his friends were tired - this place was good enough to make a stop... at least not the worst. Half-destroyed, full of junk and pre-ware rusty stuff road was safe enough place. Safe enough for dead, radioactive desert near half-destroyed nuclear plant. Ghoul felt something else... odour of rotting flesh - he noticed faint light, coming from the West. It could be friends, it could be enemies. Nothing could be said for sure in these parts. Craig looked at his friends - they were standing nearby and were waiting his commands. They understood what was going to happen - several glowing figures were coming closer. Ghouls with nasty looking gun...

************

Chris spent a whole day chasing after the drunkard. He followed him in every step, but couldn't catch. He almost felt the odour of the booz... but this blasted old man was uncatchable like some ghost. Chris stoped for a while and looked around. He was standing in the government district of Vault city. Somewhere near was located council... somewhere to the north was seen large hole of Vault... his home. He knew it's long corridors, it's mysterious deep vaults, great computers. Nobody visited it any more except him. Place, where he spent all his lonely childhood, dreaming about advantures... he sighed. He saw a lot since than, traveled far away and changed greatly. But did he change? Or may be he was the same frightened boy, who was afraid to open eyes. He was runing from the truth all his life or the thruth was runing from him?
"Who cares?" - Brian muttered - "This is not my home. This is not Vault 8 any more... This is Vault city." - he looked around and noticed indifferent looks of nearby servants and citizens. Nobody care about him, nobody was interested in him any more. Chris ought to be disappinted, but he felt some sort of joy, happyness... like a large rock fell from his soul. He smiled lightly and continued to search for his friend... for his real friend.

Tod found himself in the dark building. He felt that somebody grabed him strongly. An old man couldn't move a hand and felt himself like a rat in the jaws of gecko. The one, who grabed him, has strong arms and Tod began to catch air. This embrace was really deadly. He couldn't do anything and only was waiting what would happen.

For some time there were dark. He heard heavy breath of several persons. He heard nervous whispers of somebody. Tod could swear that he heard it already, but he was not sure where it was. Time was passing slowly, espesially in this form. Tod wasn't happy to be in such condition - what they wanted to do with him - mass rape, some other sick stuff. Tod remembered some stuff he saw in New Reno and made sick. He surely was not ready for it without booz. The men in dark building became agitated, it looked like that they tired to wait and began to whisper louder. From thier talking Tod began to understand what they wanted. It turned to be not so bad, but he was to be sure...

Finally happened the stuff, they wanted - in the building entered another man - small, stocky and very meanly. The lamps were lighted in the building - the show began.

************

"Who are you?" - asked one of the coming closer ghouls. Craig sighed easily. If they were sane and could talk, that they were friends.
"I am Craig, one of the followers. I was sent..." - he began to talk, but was interrupted.
"There is no more followers. Great Rat is dead, many of our brothers are killed... Welcome back, Craig, Seeker of the Light." - Brian grined evily:
"I didn't think that you was another mindless fanatic of some religious order"
"I was..." - Craig answered sadly. - "I welcome you too, Tim... and I had grim news too. Great Rat was right... as always. Our salvation is in the hands of our enemis." - several ghouls came closer. Craig joined them for some time and they were discussing something quietly. Nobody heard and didn't want to hear them. They were not interested in it and it was rather dangerous... Ghouls were throwing rather hostile looks in their side. Our friends had to wait. They didn't think that Craig would made something bad. It was pointless, but they were ready for everything. Who knows, what can visit radioactive skulls of these guys...

Chat was continueing very long. Became colder... It looked like it was midnight, though there were seen no moon. Desert wind became stronger. Sand, warmed by sun, became cold very quickly and now our friends felt it. Only now they begin to miss warm, full of strange devices and warm thing, car cabin. Kath looked at ghouls. Craig were discussing something hardly with the rest of ghouls. They were looked a bit mislead, but overall they looked like normal ghouls - skinless, radioactive, glowing in the dark, half-mad and decayed creatures... ordinary sight.

"Gecko is not the same, brother." - one of the larger and more sane ghouls were talking with Tod - "The one, you are seeking, Chosen One - there are rumours that he repaired the powerplant, did something for Harold... he killed the Great Rat, we are all, that remained after that slaughter"
"He was the same..." - Craig couldn't believe that one man could do so much chaos. He couldn't believe that this "bright hero" hurt his people so much! - "This is not possible, I heard only praises of his name..."
"Look around. Even now Gecko is half deserted already - Ghouls are moving from this place. Vault city began to notice us - soon they'll took our homes and not many want to became "servants" or slaves of these arrogant bastards." - Tim looked at his friends sadly.
"But not all is lost, something can be done!" - Craig didn't want to give up.
"All is lost, my friend. Cult is destroyed, people are leaving. Harold try to control it, but it willn't continue for long... We are leaving to the north. I heard that there are a whole cities full of ghouls. We will be safe there... some others are going to the south, to Necropolis. You said that medics could return us our normal bodies... We were waiting for you with news. So, at least now we know that there is no hope on the south. Will you go with us to the north?" - Tim looked at him with hurry. They were looking around nervously.
"No... I must finish my journey... and may be I will find the cure on the south anyway." - Craig shoke his head.
"Than fare well, Craig. I don't think that we shall meet each other again."
"Good bye, Tim" - he answered and noded to him slowly. Group began to go away. Suddenly Tim cried:
"Be safe, my friend. The roads are dangerous now. My people saw tracks of Deathclaw. Some strange fellas in black armour and deadly powerful weapons are travelling through the wastes... I wish you luck." - his last words were barely heard. He went far away.
"Good bye, my friend." - Craig muttered quietly and returned to his friends. They were coming to the south - hottest place for their kind.

"I see you had a sweet chat. It's a pity that Fred remained in Vault city. He will be happy to hear that we spent several days for a dozens of minutes of talking." - Brian growled through the teeth. He felt himself badly, but it only made him even more sacrastic.
"I see that Jet addiction made a good pain of ass from you. You are replacing Fred nicely... Here, take you fucking Jet and shut up" - Craig was surely in the bad mood. A ghoul gave him large pack and grined. Brian became silent and took it... Soon after they began to return to Vault city. They had nothing to do there any more.

************

All building was full of light. There were a lot of people - much more, than Tod thought. He felt himself unhealthy, because he didn't drink alcohole for some time. All those people around him made him nervous - he looked at the window. It was a deep night - he had to return to the gates. Not-citizens couldn't stay in the city at night. But this strong guy was holding him strongly. Tod tried to talk with him, but his embrace became even stronger so he almost swallowed his tongue. An old drunkard decided to wait what will happen than - it was the smartest thing, he could do.

The hall was full of people - there were at least twenty citizens and they all were talking. It looked rather suspicious. The fella, who entered the last, was even more suspicious - Moor, moaned Tod in his thoughts. He heard about that fella, who wanted to open boarders of Vault city, another fanatic. Tod swallowed nervously and began to listen what he was saying:
"...the time has open boarders of Vault city for all, who need. We must embrace the outside world and greet it. My children, do you hear my word?" - everybody around him sighed deeply and the bartender, Tos was speaking the first, said:
"Yes, Moor, we hear you. Now you can sit down and we'll discuss our business."
"Now, the time of words has passed; new era is begining. I saw chosen one, bringer of the new hope... We must act!" - Moor only began to turn on. Bartender smiled and gave him a bottle of... BOOZ. REAL BOOZ... With incrediable strength Tod broke free from his guard and appeared near Moor:
"I hear you words. Amen, brother. Let's share our ideas and mugs in the blessed water!" - everybody looked at Tod with surprise and fear. Even his guard looked at his empty hands and couldn't understand how it happened, he used so much buffout at himself, that he could beat supermutant in armwrestle... Only Moor remained calm:
"I see thruth in your words and accept you. Let's share our wisdom..." - his words disappeared in the gulp of booz. Tod followed him. Everybody relaxed:
"So this is our help?!" - smiled one of the citizens. - "Are you joking? My servant can kick ass of this drunkard."
"It doesn't matter how it looks. We need him to perform a work - nothing more." - bartender answered. It looked like that she forgot about him. But than suddenly she met with him by look and smiled nervously - "And of course he will get some usefull staff..." It was enough for him. Tod joined Moor in his drinking.

Chris was walking quietly down the street. The night was dark and calm. Shadows from large, white buildings were long and safe. A good place to hide for a Chris. He could move as quiet, as a rat, who didn't want to be noticed by deathclaw. Clean bricked streets, silent dark houses, several working lamps... several sleepy guards. Chris was looking for Tod. This drunkard didn't leave the gate. He made sure it several times. It looked like that this blasted old man disappeared in the air. Chris searched the whole town several times already.

"We have a small plan to "embrace with all other world" - bartender smiled with sarcasm. - "Will you help us?"
"He will! He has no other choice" - one of the citizens interrupted her brutly. By red eyes Tod understood that this guy had the same problem he had - drunkard... he looked closer and noticed faint smell of... booz - all these citizens were drunkard. Great power of alcohole united everybody and made equal - man and women, citizens and outsiders, smart and stupid... Tod looked at Moor, who was sleeping happyly in his dish. This fella couldn't drink a lot. An empty bottle lay near him.
"Will you help us?" - bartender repeated patiently.
"Of course I do!" - Tos said with smile. - "To help my friends by the bottle is my holy duty." - the others looked at dirty, torn drunkard grimly.

"So, what is my job?" - Tod asked again. They were going down the street to the gate with couple of citizens. They were wearing some strange stealth devicesand were almost unseen. He could only heard their whisper:
"You must attract attention of the guards and we shall take care about the rest."
"As you wish..." - Tod nodded. He knew that citizens had no chances agaist trained guards but said nothing. Of course he thought that they were going to fight with them - suicidal plan... as always. Tod go what he want - several bottles of sacred stuff to heal his head ache as fist payment. Now he didn't care about what will happen than.

This day was called later the day of terrbile drunkard... and Tod got another nickname for his glory. Another town placed a large amount of money for his head, but nobody dare to hunt him. Terrible things happened. Vault city was never the same after it.

Fred tired to guard that blasted car and left for a walk. It was late, but he liked night - fresh air, not so many people, a lot of free houses with many interesting things. But this time he was unlucky - no booty at all. He stoped near the shop - he was closed:
"Rats. It lookes like this all blasted town is fall asleep." - he came to the custom office, with hope to find at least there somebody. He wanted to talk or cry with somebody.

"Go ahead..." - he heard quiet voice near him. Tod stoped for a while, thinking about what he was doing and than cried:
"Hey you, pissed loads of gecko's shit. It's time to eat, I have a fine load of it here. Go" - in was addressed to guards, standing near the gates. The reaction was very impressive - dozen fo guards ran to him with very clear wishes. Tod stood calmly and looked at coming closer people - he thought about his booz. It will be broken for sure. It was a pity... Suddenly Chris appeared from the shadow and draged him somewhere. He tried to resist, but he was much stronger. Tod didn't saw the rest of the stuff.

Fred arrived just in time to noticed large caravan of some stuff, driving into the Vault city. All guards nearby were knocked down. An old man by single look understood what did it mean - smuggling. These guys near caravan cards looked like thought boneheads of New Reno, bad news... He hid quickly in the shadow of the nearby building and looked after it, looking for something to steal. He had a lot of fortune with unconscious guards that day.

The day after the Vault city was shocked by this terrible incident. But, what was worser... there were found dozens of drunken citizens. Most of them were muttering about kind stranger, who gave it to them. Tod had a lot of fun that day too - he got what he deserved and much more. His supply of booz was really impressive now and wouldn't finish even until New Reno. This was their next point - Chris had little chat with caravn driver and they were kind enough to take them too. They were leaving just now. Craig and others arrived just in time to run away before they were found. Caravan was moving to the south...

**********

Yes, Lia. Kath roxs. I don't like to create some herolike characters, but she is the one and I can do nothing against it.

There isn´t anything that you could do about it..She is a hero and she will be one till the very end

I will try to make my story as longs as yours, even if it kills me i will try atleast!

DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN... MY CHAPTER 14 is deleted. DAMN. I am not going to spent another several hours to post it. Here you are it in brief. I hope you'll forgive me, but shit like this makes me CRASY :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: This is not excuse for my lasyness. I have strength to continue yet. I'll continue to post the story, but it really SUCKS. I HATE my blasted comp...

Part 4 - Road to New Reno

Chosen one is standing on Golgotha

Song of the Victims

The life is leaving to the death.
Our bodies losing our breath.
The heart will never beat again
And voice will only sing in pain.
The track of blood is runin forth.
It fresh and new as sparking north.
The stain of it is runing red.
The faint odour is becoming dead.
And people, following the sun.
The sun is dark for everyone.
The death is glowing in the night
With blood and coldness of the right.
The smell of death surrounds you
Though many singing songs for you.
Your deeds are many, exploits are great,
But they are coloured by lifes of dead.
You live for hope, you follow good,
Though death and darkness are seen in your hood.
Your path is runing through the blood
And way is opened to the heart.

Chapter 14 - To the south

Our companions are travelling to the south and see the destroyed camp of raiders. It is destroyed by chosen one recently.

Lianora Beró wrote:
I will try to make my story as longs as yours, even if it kills me i will try atleast!

You are right. This story will kill you. It will drain you like an apple and will torment you until you finish it. Try to finish it as quickly as possible, it's like a drug. Once you began it you cann't finish it...

Im addicted to my story!! I just have to plan and design it further and firther...that means that it will become longer..So im now writing chapter four...will there be chapter 20???? 8O 8)

Of course it will be . I am waiting all the time

Ok, I had a rest a little from this shit. It really annoys. May be I'll rewrite chapter 14 later, but now I must continue the story... Damn. I am tired... And now this shit with Internet - I couldn't enter it for two hours! How can I write something with all that stuff?!

Chapter 15 - Uranium legends

Lonely ghoul was coming down the street, looking around with caution. He was afraid of something. It was night, winter was coming slowly. It was felt it's cold breath. The night became longer... Sun was coming unwillingly from the west:
"I told him - this place need traffic. Some day a car..." - ghoul looked around nervously and shuddered suddenly. He noticed as some terrbile monster of unknown form with four wheels were coming closer to him. It's two bright eyes were aimed directly at him. Ghoul knew what it was meant:
"CAR... Broken Hills is under atack of terrible..." - he began to cry and didn't notice as appeared under the wheel of that thing.

Everybody was sleeping. Tod looked unhappy at his companions. He wanted to sleep too, but he had to drive. An old drunkard wanted to teach Craig to drive too, but he was too dumb. He even didn't know that "this round thing behind you, with buttons" was a keyboard... completly hopeless. Tod didn't want to give such a man safety of his dear booz. He looked at the bag in hands of sleeping Chris sadly. He didn't wash his throat from their last stop. Than they decided to visit Broken Hills and than went to the New Reno. Tod sighed... it was a long journey.

Craig tried to sleep. These things, he found out in the caravan, didn't leave him. Several strange dreams were tormenting him and even when he was conscious he was bothered by annoying thoughts - he had more questions, than answeres - Who was this chosen one? Ghoul began to doubt that he was a hero. He saw what had happened in the base of raiders. It was terrible... Craig didn't want to rememeber pictures of that terrible place... blood... smocking aches of the dead... bullet marks everywhere... He cried and woke up again - he didn't want to admit it, but he had a nightmare... This Chosen one, they were runing after was surely something interesting... and he was somewhere near...

Tod drove into the streets of Broken Hills. He didn't like to visit this town. There were too many hypocrisy and hatred for him... The place he hated worser, than Broken Hills were only NCR - bunch of self-righteous bastards. Tod grined and looked around. They were coming closer to the downtown of this small town. It was full of ghouls, super mutants and all other sorts humans and it was dagerous to stay there for long. They didn't like each other very much from very begining and Tod prefer danger life of New Reno. At least there all was simple and clear - enemies are everywhere. Kill them before they kill you... Here all was not so simple... Suddenly Tod noticed ghoul before the car. He appeared from the darkness too quickly...

"Errr. Are you okey?" - Tod looked at smashed ghoul with confusion.
"AM I LOOKING OKEY, YOU, MOTHERFUCKER?!" - his answer was. This ghoul was rather excited by it - "why should all driving devices left it's marks on my ass... oh, my poor ass..." - he stood up with help of Tod and went away slowly. He was not seen any more, but his quiet muttering was heard for a long time:
"uhhh, I told them - WE NEED traffic. But who will listen old crasy ghoul..?"

Sun rise was beatiful. It was a pity that this toxic waste dump was located nearby. It's green colour gave a strange stuff to all picture. Chris sighed sadly - great artist died in him. Middleaged traveller stood up and left the car. He came to the shop. Tod left to the bar, as always. Brian and Cree went away some his friends down there and Fred left to explore the town. He saw so many possibilities here. Chris looked at Craig and Kath. They remained near the car and were busy with their own thoughts. Chris shoke his shoulders and left them.

Shop was clean, lovely and absolutly useless... as everything else in this town. Chris sighed deeply - he looked at the stuff that was shown to him and smiled. Most of it were useless crap - this shop keeper thought may be that he was completly dumb to buy it. No, this town wasn't welcome to them. Supermutants looked at him suspiciously, people greeted them with worry look - another hero's crap. It promised a lot of problems - ghouls didn't noticed them at all. They were busy with their thoughts...

Craig looked at Kath hopelessly:
"Do you know how it works? You spent so much time in your high tech bunckers... May be you know what a piece of shit it is..?" - Kath looked at his helplessly:
"This er... car is mystery for me... As it's owner. You must agree that Tod is it's full-rights owner. Only he can handle it..." - Craig looked at her grimly:
"I think you are right... Anyway, you gave me several answeres on my questions - you are member of that fucking brotherhood, no offense..." - he looked at her with worry, but she only smiled:
"You shouldn't. I understand that not many like our organisation... and I understand you. Self-righteous bastards, as always, keeping their dear secrets as candy of the child..." - Craig looked at her with surprise. She surely didn't like these guys much, but didn't want to ask her about it, and continued:
"Now I know that you and our mysterious Chris - former citizen of Vault city... who could think about it - are traveling for fun. You have nothing more interesting to do, than fried your assed on that blasted sun... Ok. Now we have only Tod left. This drunkard is not so simple... don't you think so?" - he looked at Kath, but she said nothing. She was watching after Tod, seen in the window of nearby bar. He was drinking and telling one of his endless stories to bartender and occasional visitors.
"I don't think that he is something serious. Old drunkard, who was lucky enough to survive several quests..." - she said calmly.
"Do you remember our first problem in Den? Do you think it was accidental? It was one chance from million that we would survive meeting with this metal thing... and fighting in the bar. Do you think that luck can save him all the time..?" - he heard well-known and terrible loud words of Tod, coming from the bar:
"Are you insulting me. You will feel the wrath of drunken master!!!" - Craig sighed deeply:
"Luck helps to the prepared people, not to some drunkard. This Tod is not so simple - I tell you..." - In a second from the bar is flew away one large super mutant. He looked around with surprise and left it with all haste.
"Again..." - Kath said with surprise.

"Treasure..." - the eyes of Fred shone brightly. He looked around cautionly and lower his voice. - "I hear you attentivly, partner." He found his way to the small house, full of old ghouls. Most of them were old idiots, but one remained sane... sane enough to tell him about load of cash somewhere near. Fred smiled greedy. Finally he would be able to leave these losers and bought a house somewhere in New Reno. That place was for his kind, the only problem was no find money... and to keep them. That town was full of people, who wanted to share luck with him.
"I listen you, old man..." - Fred began to lose temper. This ghoul was muttering something about booz.
"You know, son - I need to wash my throat... Fullfil my request and I'll tell you about treasure..."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot - run to Den and buy me a good chair. This one hurts. My ass is almost..." - Fred moaned. An old ghoul had endless list of quests - what a luck for a hero. But Fred wanted to get a treasure and really began to lose temper:
"What else do you want, ghoul?" - there were heard treat in his voice, but an old ghoul only smiled:
"Oh, if you asked about it son, I need one more thing... By chance do you have a Catpaw magazine? I heard they have one in New Reno..." - it was his last words. He was runing through all town in search for his blasted quests. Fred showed all powers of unlucky jinxed person. Until now he was kind enough to control it, but now...

Cree stoped near bar and looked in. It had a view that there were a large fight there - tables were broken, chairs were thrown away... but all customers were happy. They surrounded Tod, telling the story. Bratender was standing nearby. He gave him another free drink - Tod began to like this town. May be it was not so bad after all?! Cree smiled lightly and joined our friends near the car. Brian left with his friends... he was discussing something with them.

Fred was runing through the town. He finally found the location of the treasure! The well - this blasted ghoul was so kind to explain all his puzzels. He could be smart enough when he wanted to be the one. An old man looked at the back - large cloud of smoke was rising near one of the buildings. Who knew that these building were so dangerous for fire? He smiled evily - they'll have to look for a new home.

Tod sighed deeply and left the bar. The time had come. He surely would return there, if this town would remain. An old man saw many towns like this one, deserted with time - good intentions are good, but they are nothing if they are not supported by economic interest... He looked around. The sun was high yet, though it began to set . Winter days were short in these parts. Tod began to go and then suddenly run into some fella. He looked closer - Tod was rather tired of his "talk" in the bar - and noticed that it was Fred:
"Where are you going"hic"? - he asked with unsteady voice.
"People round here are rather nervous. I met one short fella near the well who was climbing out of it and asked for help in finding treasures... And you think he helped?! He began to shout and than fell back into the well. I hope he will spent there all his life..."
"Er?" - Tod heard not a word. He was busy, checking his booz. All was fine - the car was ready, booz was safe, head was almost clear from everything. A good time for travel. He looked at Fred with interest, though his eyes were telling the other thing.
"No matter" - Fred muttered and they came to the car.

The air was hot, though there was felt the coming of the night. It's cold breath was felt by everyone - even Tod muttered something about warm booz and fell to the wheel in drunken stupor. Our companions didn't worry about condition of their driver - it was his normal state of mind. They were much more worry, if he was clean and conscious. It meant that he could begin to drink in the most uncomfortable moment... All was fine, except one thing:
"Where is this fucking Brian?" - Craig lost all his temper and looked around. They were waiting for him for two hours. - "Is he sucking his Jet now? Did he decide to make some party for himself or what?!" - Cree looked at him nervously and said nothing. She was worry about him too. Her brother could get in any sort of problems. It was a torture waiting for him:
"I shouldn't left him alone, but his friends told me that they would take care about him..." - she whispered quietly.
"Who are his friends?" - Chris asked suspiciously.
"Well, they were visiting us several times in the Den. They were very funny and cheerful... I don't know exactly who they were." - she looked at him with growing worry - "What do you know about it? Please, tell me"
"Did they have large tatto on their foreheads... Blue strange sign with marks..." - Kath looked at her with sorry.
"Yes... and how?" - she stoped for a while and her eyes became round from fear - "Slavers?!" Chris nodded grimly. Everybody became silent for a minute and than Craig:
"I don't like this Jet-head, but we traveled for a long time and we must help him... How heroic, don't you think..? Anyway, we'll have to continue our journey - our only chance to find your brother, Cree, is New Reno. If these slavers are heading there, we will be able to catch them. Some of criminals there have a hand on it... If they are free lancers of the Wastes..." - he stoped and became quiet.
"Than I'll remain alone" - Cree finished with deadly cold voice.

They left town soon after. Nothing else could be said. Kath went quickly to the palce, where Brain was left and found no signs of him. All was clear. It was a good sign - slavers were experienced ones and could be hired by criminal families... though there were little hope to see him again. Everybody understood it... even Cree though she tried to hide her feelings. She was quiet all the journey to the West... New Reno was runing ahead...

************

Hoho...Chapter 20 8O It´s a challenge but i will try :morning: :drinking: :crazyeyes: :shocked!: :2gunfire: Even if it kills me
But if my story becomes a really long one it means that there will be many different "Adventures" So this Molehunt is the first adventure of the Unit-065


I will write a news flash soon I will reveal the name of the fifth chapter and some other details about the fourth and fifth chapters.