Duck and Cover

Excellent - good, long story is exactly what is needed for that fan fic. All other stories here are short ones... When you are begining to feel interest it is over already. Story shouldn't have only quests - this is not a comp game, show some ordinary events, give some jokes... This will make story veeeryyy long. Look at my story - I described only several quests and wrote 15 chapters... Well, to tell the truth this is not so much, as it sounds. One quest must consist of 15 chapters... anyway, You are writing a story. I only give an advice... I am waiting for good news.

Chapter 16 - Light and Dark,
Hide and Duck.

Dark streets of the unwelcome city greeted our heroes. Neons lights fulled their souls with fear and hatred. It's unnatural, false light gave them feeling of emptyness. All this place was like a big hole, where were flowing all dirt of the wastes. Jet-heads, prostitutes, drug runners, all sorts of thugs and mercenaries could be met there. It was a fine place to get a lot of action. This town was rather big and it could be difficult to find there somebody. Craig understood it, when he saw this town in the distance - long trail of half-destroyed pre-war buildings like a bleeding wound of the past were sparking by it's dark glory... New Reno was welcoming them.

Car stoped and some fella with golden tooth immidiatly came closer:
"Hi, I am Jimmy..." - our friends didn't notice him. They were too busy to talk with another drug dealer. To find chosen one or Brian in this town was a difficult task... well, Chosen one was quiet famous and it wouldn't be very difficult - the other case was to find unknown drug-addicted... at least Craig thought that it would be like it... but sudden words attract his attention:
"Hey, are you the same guys, who dealt with Silent Morton - good work. This bastard took one pack of Jet from me and didn't pay..."
"How did YOU know about it" - Craig appeared before him as quickly as a thunder. This man was shocked by such interest to his small person:
"I... I..." - he looked around and fell back a little. - "I mean nothing bad... I..." - he tried to run away, but he was not so quick. Kath was standing before him with grim smile:
"Don't worry, we willn't hurt you much." - Fred was in good mood. He laughed evily and came closer. May be he had a dangerous look many years ago, but now he looked like old harmless freak... by other words, he was the one, he looked like. Drug dealer relaxed a little and looked at ghoul. He didn't see his kind often here. Ghouls tried to avoid this parts... too many of them were buried alive or were taken into slavery. They were a good workers in the old radioactive mines...
"I know who you are, guys. News are spreading fast in our parts... And it is difficult not to notice Nigthmare of Modoc, Terror of the Vault city... group of heroes, such as you. Ghoul as leader, great Tod as driver... Even your car - wings of terror - is known by every alive soul here" - Tod looked at this guy and smiled happyly:
"We are so famous now. Like Chosen one himself... I wonder who is inventing all this names for us?"
"Yeah, great... What we really need here is fame." - Kath looked around nervously. Smart asses didn't live here long. They were either leaving or finding it's final rest on golgotha - local graveyard, very "beatiful" place. Many of it's dwellers were coming there on their own foots, but wasn't able to leave it.

"So, what can you tell me about these guys?!" - Craig began to feel interested looks of nearby people... It was annoying... and troublesome.
"You mean Chosen one and that fella... Brian, yes?... Weeell, I hear a lot of rumours... but it is dangerous to chat a lot here..." - he looked at Craig and smiled with his golden tooth. Ghoul grined and smiled too - his smile was not so sparking - several rotting teeth, remained by some miracle in his teethless mouth:
"Do you know that sometimes I am called flesheater by my friends... I am sure that you wonder why? Do you want to find it out?!" - Jimmy looked at him and answered:
"You don't scare me, old freak. Pay as everybody else and put your sorry ass away from my street. I am working for Mordino's..."
"I'll deal with him, but now I have you..." - Craig changed a little. His voice became quieter, his moves became more hurry... there appeared strange, mad gleam in his eyes...
"Great... Now we have a madman as a leader... What wonderful news we'll find tomorrow" - Kath sighed deeply and looked with disgust at ghoul, who was doing rather bad things with Jimmy...
"It looks like he was hitted too much into the head... Don't leave me alone with him any more." - Tod said seriously and showed all, he ate at breakfast on the street. The sight was not very pleasant.

Craig looked at his frightened friends and smiled grimly:
"Yes, I am called flesheater by someone, but this guy really pissed me off. At first Gecko, than slavers, now this one... We must show that we are bad!" - Chris looked at unconscious Jimmy near him and answered quietly:
"Believe me, you proved it already to everyone..." - he turned away with haste. The sight was not very pleasant - ghoul was standing in cloths, covered in blood. Fresh drops of it were falling from his lips. Several remained teeth had the marks of flesh on it. It's tongue was dancing in lust of new blood... Crippled Jimmy was lieing near him.
"You'd better visit psychiatrist... Vault city has one" - Chris said.
"This is called twin nature..." - Kath came closer - "In old times it was dangerous sickness, but now it is quiet usefull. Don't worry, he is harmless for us... At least we know what we need. Let's go..." - Our friends looked at Craig nervously and followed Kath. Ghoul was coming the last. He was rather confused yet.

"He said that Chosen one was seen lately near Mordino's casino... Inforamtion about Brian more likely will be there too. They are dealing with drugs and slaves" - Craig said. He was the same again. There were seen no signs of that another ghoul... that beast. Craig surely knew how to deal with him.
"You said casino?!" - eyes of Fred lit up happyly. Everybody else looked at him grimly and Tod added:
"Slaves are major business of every family down here... Such golden goose can't leave in one hands."
"Yes... but Mordinos are the largest slave drivers here. Surely they know a lot about all trading down here... Don't worry, Cree. We'll find him." - Cree looked at his bloody cloth in horror and fell back. Craig sighed and smiled:
"I understand. Wasteland is not a pleasant walk..." - the talk was over. They were heading to the Large building, seen nearby.

Tod stoped for a while near onestored building and smiled dreamly. There was sign about something, like "Cat paws"... but Kath was not sure. They entered large casino, called Desperado... Tod followed them with haste.

A waves of light, oceans of sounds... gleam, sparks, noise of money, cries of winners, moans of losers... and a lot of guards. This was the casino - an ordinary sight... Craig sighed nervously. There were too many people. Well, nobody was interested in them - another group of losers to lost all his money there. One of the patrons of the casino smiled and invited them to join the table. Fred came closer, but got hard kick from Kath and returned indignant:
"Hey, what's your problem? I only want to win some cash for my old..." - nearby guard laughed evily at his words and turned away. Kath said nothing, but looked at Craig. Her thoughts were seen in her eyes. Fred became pale and shuddered:
"Errr... May be some other time. I feel that my luck is bad now." - Craig looked at him and smiled nice:
"It is good to see, that you are so clever... at least sometimes you are." They crossed the main gambling hall and came to the ladder, leading upstairs.

There were a lot of guards... Too many to guard this point. The head of the family was located somewhere near. Craig looked around - the ladder was guarded very good, though it looked like everybody could enter:
"I doubt that they will be able to leave it so easily..." - he muttered. Ghoul looked at Chris and noticed that he was thinking about the same. His eyes were counting the guards... about 30 men. There were more guards than visitors. Chris looked at ghoul and said quietly:
"This is suicide. We willn't leave this casino alive..." - Ghoul smiled calmly and answered:
"You are right as always." - he turned to his other friends. - "You'd better leave this place for now. I and Tod will go to talk with mr. Mordino... I hope that his luck will help us now too." - he looked at Tod. He was busy with his booz as always and didn't care much about everything else. Than ghoul looked at Fred. This one was a favorite son of bad luck. Craig praied that nothing would happen again and all would be fine. He looked around and said loudly:
"It's time to go!"

Fred and all other company left the casino. They looked grimly at Craig with Tod and left them alone. They had a strange feeling that they would see them not so soo. Oh, it was a smiple feeling nothing more. All will be fine - Kath shoke her head and led them to the north. She knew that there were another casino, run by Bishop's family. It was safe enough for everybody, who behaived themself nicely. It would be a good place to wait for news...

Tod looked at the ladder. This promised nothing good. He stoped for a while, thinking what is he doing:
"Er... Craig... may be you will tell me why are we doing this suicide?" - ghoul looked at him nervously and answered:
"Because we are heroes..." - he went upstairs.
"Well... that's enough for me" - Tod muttered and followed him. His dear bottle of booz was with him.

Kath were leading her friends by the dark streets of unfriendly city. She was there only several times, but was able to remember the way. Dark, unhealthy maze of half-destroyed buildings was changed by light streets, full of people and noise. Many caravans were mading short stops there to get a supply of drugs, weapon... slaves. Guard in a day could become drug-addicted, ordinary citizen, merchant or slave. Nothing was sure on these streets. Kath looked at her friends - they were following her. She smiled to herself:
"Almost a squad" - she muttered to herself, leading them futher.

The second store of that building was not so terrible, as it could be. There were no dark persons, no dead men or someone's guts. An ordinary store, full of people. Some of them were common citizens, others were guards or members of Mordino family. They were coming up and down and looked like didn't notice our friends.
"Well, not so scary yet" - Tod noticed and drank some from his bottle. Craig was not so sure in it. He saw dark looks of the guards, he noticed frightened eyes of the common people. Something was not so easy. Ghoul answered nothing to his friend and led him to the main quarters. This was the place of Big Jesus Mordino himself - head of Mordino's family.

"So, if Bishop is the coolest boss here, why do we need this morons, Mordinos..." - Fred asked Kath, coming near, too loudly.
"Shut up, you fool." - she whispered angryly. It looked like nobody heard it. They were coming closer to the large building... VERY large building. Fred thought that he had never seen something higher. This building had three huge stores! He was so impressed, that even forgot about Kath. So she had to push him to attract his attention:
"Bishop is mean beast. He will kill you as easy, as baby and will send pieces of your body in all sides of the desert. Nobody deal with him without serious reason. If we'll annoy him with our little "quest" our torn guts will be a food for geckos... So shut your fucking mouth up and sit still. If you'll make at least one move in his casino, I'll kill you myself..." - her voice became dangerous. - "Am I clear?" - Fred looked at her and laughed nervously:
"You are such a joker, Kath..." - dead silence was an answer to him. - "Ok, ok. I shall sit still... I undrestood you."
"Good..." - she was pleased

Craig was passing through the doors. They were guarded very good. There were guards at every door, but nobody tried to stop them. It was a bad sign. They were waited... Ghoul swallowed nervously and looked at his back. There were no exit. Men were standing in the doors and were preventing them to leave. There were smiles on his faces, but his eyes were cold. They were ready to use their guns... Blasted fame made them too famous... He looked at Tod. This old man was in his small drunken eden and didn't care much about all this stuff. He left it to Craig to deal with it. Ghoul grined and continued his way. There were only one door left. It was ordinary door, but it kept a small secret. There were somebody, who was waiting for them... Who was waiting for the Nightmare of Modoc and Saviors or Redding? Big Mordino was waiting for a new bunch of heroes to fuck...

Chapter 17 - Claws of Doom

Craig entered large room... It was an ordinary rent room to sleep - a bad, two bookcases, table, several chairs... Walls of that room had marks of several fights. There were bullet marks - large and hollow holes - and marks from some sort of laser weapon - holes with small and exact edges. This room looked like normal, but it was like a battleground. All sorts of weaponry could be seen nearby. There were about 10 men in the room, so there were no chance to flee it. One of them - short and fat guy - came closer and sighed deeply:
"So, you've finally arived..." - he smiled warmly, though one can noticed deadly coldness in his eyes. An old man looked at his guests - he noticed bloody clothes of ghoul, he looked at Tod, playing with booz - "yes, you are they" - he noded with satisfy...

Kath stoped for a while, looking around. This casino was huge. It was located on the first floor of this building and was impressive. Our friends were standing indoors, waiting her. Several bouncers grined at them, but said nothing. Their huge bodies could tear apart even deathclaws... It could be a bad idea to make them angry. Kath looked at the casino again and led them in.

"So, you are the one, I was told about..." - an old man looked at ghoul with disappointment and invited him to sit. Craig followed him with unwillingly, but he understood, that it was not in his interests to anger him:
"To tell the truth I am little disappointed. I was waiting battle battered veterans from the underground bunckers of the Brotherhood... or Enclave..." - he looked again at ghoul and smiled meanly - "though your work with my boy is majestic. I've never seen person, capable to do something like it... I know Tod good enough. His service is always welcome, but you are a fresh horsy in my stables, eh?" - men around him began to laugh evily. An old man smiled and came closer to him:
"Ok, I think it's time to give you official greeting. Mordino's family follows the rules - I am Big Jesus Mordino, head and papy of whole bunch of losers you see here... and several of them down there and whole southern part of the town. If noticed mean son of bitch in the bar downstairs so this is my boy..." - he began to laugh and his men followed him. It looked like that our heroes visited him in a good time. Craig looked closer and noticed faint odour of something chemical... Jet...

Bishop's casino was largest, richest and cheapest in town. Gambler could become a rich man in a night, but then he usually found his place on Golgotha. This casino was the den of cheaters. Casino patrons tried to cheat gamblers, gamblers tried to cheat patrons... all was the same. Kath stoped for a while - a lot of light, a lot of noise - some strange fella in the other hall were perfoming some action. It seemed to be funny, so she joined him. Her friends took their own business. Chris came to one of the guards and began to talk with him quietly. Fred sat still near Kath and looked jealously at Cree, who was playing with machines once again. All was calm.

Tod looked around. They were in the grip of Mordino's... and this old fool was even anger, than usual. Drunkard knew him a little. His young days on the south didn't spend useless for him. Big Mordino was really pissed off, when he was so kind with his guest. If they were begining to play a shit with him, he was showing them what does it mean to be fucked like mad brahmin... Sweet memories of the past. Tod shuddered and returned to reality:
"I didn't know that you began to play with your own stuff, senior..." - he said quietly, but an old man heard him. He laughed again:
"I see that Tod is as sharp as always. I thought that I would never see your ass again. I thought that you was gecko's shit old time ago... It is good that I was wrong and now can perform all I promised to you." - Craig looked at him nervously. This old drunkard was much more troublesome, than he looked like. What surprises he hold yet.
"You are too kind for me, senior..." - Tod looked with hope in his bottle, but it was empty. It gave him courge - "May be you will give me a last drop of booz? Your soul always was as your ass, smooth and kind..." - this talk was becoming more and more strange. Craig noticed dangerous gleam in the eyes of the men nearby, but Mordino was pleased:
"That's why I like you, Tod. You are always thinking about booz, than about your skin... A good diffrence in the pack of losers as they are. With such fools you'll have to take a Jet!" - he looked at his men angry. Real temper finally shown his claws. An old man was turning on....

Fred came closer to Kath:
"Errr. Miss... May be you will allow me..?" - he noticed blade of short dagger, pointed in his arm and heard a quiet whisper:
"I am not a kind girl for such losers as you are. If you think that I play with you, remember ghoul with his vicitm... I don't promise that it will be the same, but I'll try." - she looked at him with treat and returned to her place. Fred sighed unhappyly and sat back.

"Blasted morons, fucking idiots, crap of the past..." - he looked tiredly at Tod and relaxed a little. - "Do you know what these fools do? They lost Myron... MYRON?!" - he growled again with treat. One of the guards came closer:
"What the problem, boss? We will find another lab rat..." - loud gun shot was an answer to him. Big Mordino drew powerful looking shotgun:
"Who else have brilliant ideas?" - his men looked at him grimly and became silent. He smiled evily:
"Goood... Very good... So, Tod, what brought you to me this time? Another round of booz for poor people of the north... couple of packs with my medicine for unhappy souls of the south. You know that only price is lowering my abilities..." - Tod looked at him and answered:
"This ghoulish guy is my leader now. You'd better talk with him. uhhh, my head..." - Big Mordino smiled, threw him a new bottle of booz and turned to Craig. His voice became cold and dangerous:
"What can Big Jesus Mordino do for a friend of his friend?" - Craig understood that he was dancing on the edge of the blade and swallowed nervously.

"What the difference between supermutant and ghoul? Supermutant is green, ghoul is skinless at all..." - an auditory was going to kill this comedian, but it was just fine for Kath. She was siting there and listening endless waterfall of his stupid, sometims moronic jokes. Kath didn't care about it, she was waiting for news. She knew that Craig would look for them here. They have agreed about it earlier... she only hoped that he will be able to walk by his own. Many visitors of Mordino were had to drag away... Young woman looked around. The time stoped in this den of unreal light and noise. False smiles of casino patrons, bad looks of nearby guards, endless whining of the gamblers:
"Hey, honey, you looks like advanturer type. Want to get some action?" - one old freaky guard came to her. She looked at him coldly and turned away. It was going to be a problem - usually these guys were getting what they wanted. Well, Fred was satisfed with it - he was able to leave her finally. His luck was calling for him... and the doom was waiting for our friends. Something terrible, as always were going to happen. Grand sign of it appeared in the air - Tod is in the town. This rumour was flying throught the streets as dark omen...

"You need to find who?!" - Mordino stoped for a while and began to laught madly. His men tried to join him, but their laugh was false and nervous, so they became silent soon. Big Mordino turned to Tod again:
"Do you want to say that you are another follower of that fool? Does your booz steal your last brains or what, Tod?! What a foolish quest you took this time..." - he continued to laught. An old drunkard smile happyly. He tried to answer something, but he was surely unable to split something from his empty head, covered by drunken fog. He muttered something about good booz, smiled something and returned to his bottle. Mordino sighed deeply and looked at Craig sadly:
"Long time ago he was my best friend... and my best boy. Drunken master was his nickname... Yes, he liked to drink, but he was able control it... And now. Blasted time, it breaks even strongest ones... So, you are looking for a slave from Broken Hills... I heard about him - very troublesome person. If it was in my hands, I would kill him immidiatly... But he was captured by free lancers, so more likely that he would find his way to the slavery pits of the south. They like such morons, as he is... he is jet-head by the way, so it will be easy to control him... I don't know what's your interest in him, but in the name of old days. Who could think that Big Jesus Mordino, head of terrible criminal family, was so sentimental..." - he sighed deeply - he had some sorts of breathing problems - and continued:
"About chosen one... this is easy. This fool leaves enough tracks to be found even by cripple and drunkard. I mean you, don't challange your brains. NCR or San Francisco... this two places are surely for all kinds of heroes. Bunch of rightous bastards, who knows how to live... Ok, good luck. I need a lot to deal with. Blasted miners stoped to ship ore... problems with production of Jet... other families began to show claws. After the visit of this chosen one large load of shit was moved and soon it will cover us all" - he sighed tiredly and moved with his hands. It meant that the meeting was over. Craig couldn't believe that he was leaving that den. It was surely one of the worst his ideas. He looked nervously at Big Mordino and thanked him quietly. They left him alone as quickly as possible, Tod stoped for a while to buy booz and they left casino in search for their friends. Life was beatiful again.

In the window of the second floor of the casino appeared dark shadow. It looked after our friends for some time, before they disappeard from they sighed. This man sighed deeply and answered:
"You'd better praise to your fucking ghoulish god, kid, that somebody is interested in your sorry ass..." - shadow disappeared.

"Hey, baby... you want to offend me?!" - the guard was drunk, but strong enough. His friends were coming near too. Thier grining faces were showing, that it will be a good show.
"Hey, this chic is pretty one. May she can entertain our customers. What will you say boss. Can she dance?" - threw one of the guards to the other one.
"Oh... all these mindless bitchs. You know that they are all the same..." - He came closer and smiled meanly. He pushed drunk guard away from his way and said - "You are lucky, girl. You've got a job in Bishop's casino. You'd better move your ass quickly. I am tired of that freakish comedian." Kath looked at him coldly:
"You will see how can I move..."

Chris looked at some sort of meeting in the other hall. He left the guard and came closer. Some drunken fella was offending Kath. The other one was coming with much more clear option... It was not so good to visit this casino. Chris prepared for it. It was going to be all sorts of problems.

Cree and Fred - they began to win and lose, and win and lose - bad and good luck were shining them. Fred have never seen something like it - his carma must be very high, if he was so lucky to day. He pull the beam and heard funny noise - another jackpot. Luck was playing with him. By his past he knew that it will change soon, but it was good for him for now. Fred was happy... Cree couldn't say the same - she began to feel suspicous looks of nearby guards, jealous cries of gamblers, confused looks of casino patrons... Suddenly she heard sounds of fight and loud crack, as something was exloding, but this sound was quiet...

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

"Gather around me, my children and I'll tell you about the deeds of days far passed..." - very old man was siting in a small room. Couple of young children were siting near him. He was very old, his skin had marks of hard life and many trials... An old man was coughing hardly, but he was quiet strong yet. Children were listening him... because he was going to tell them thier favorite story. They were listening him without interrupting all the time; they didn't dare to do it and they were consumed by this story. An old man began:
"This story happened long time ago, when our young world had fresh marks of long-passed war yet. Evil and good alike arose to fight in the heart of madness and death. Plains of mother were covered by lifeless wastes as remainder of forgotten sins... and new blood were covering it's sands as sacrifice to a new gods of the wastes.

I was a young boy in that time and lived in a city called New Reno. It was worsest collection of dirt, sins and hatred in the wastes. Corruption and hatred ruled freely there and nothing could stop it. Heroes and villians were raising alike in this time to fight for good. Many great deeds and exploits were made... But one remains unforgettable. I only heard about it from my friends, but this is true - these were heroes in that time, known as drunken heroes..." - one of the children smiled, but became serious immidiatly, as soon as he noticed unpleased expression on the face of an old man:

"Most of his deed are forgotten... most of the people are not believe that they even existed. So much rumours appeared about them, but I shall tell you the truth. I am one of these people, who remember rising of NCR, who remember times of Chosen One, great hero, forgotten by most in our times... I am the one, who saw famous Tod as I see you... But it is not concerns my tale. This is a subject for other time. Today I shall tell you about claws of doom... Or how the great villian was torn by darkness, his consumed himself...

There was a great villian in New Reno long time ago. He was named Bishop. Shadow of his crimes could consume the sun, his evil nature had no equals... Men and beasts alike followed him everywhere. His soul was tormenting all alive creatures of his cursed kingdom. People tried to fight him, but were consumed by his dark influence. Some believe, that he was deamon and had body shell... Though his powers were great, he couldn't deal with everybody by himself. He often used heroes of the past to serve his dark goals. Many followed him, many tried to fight, but he was always stronger. They all felt to his feets... All, except one...

The day was dark as night of sorrow,
And our friends were had to follow.
In darkest day, in hopeless hour
The darkness was a victory our...

This is a short poem of unknown author. I think it says about our heroes... drunken heroes. There were seven in darkness of night: Kath the noble, knight of brotherhood, fighter of the light, Craig the feared, enemy of all darkness, Chris the wise, his knowledge and wisdom changed the wastes, Fred the dark, his presence gave the victory to the rightous and death to the darkness, brother and sister as shadow and light, Brian the terrible and Cree the fair, they crossed all wastes in search of good and left unnamed heroic deeds in it's pass. They are known and feared by all minions of evil... And finally Tod the drunk, he had a long life, who changed the wastes by his own will. Terrible powers of the unnamed god died with him... They entered New Reno in dark hour, when darkness was the strongest. They followed the streets, consumed by sin, they looked in the face of fear and hatred... and won. They met evil in it's den, in it's darkest hole and challanged it.

The fight was terrible, it continued for many hours. Sometimes it seemed that there were no hope, but our heroes didn't stop. They fight for good, they fight for life, for light, for all, that is valued by good people... Enemies were arisen all the time a new. Bodies of dozens enemies were covering the cursed earth, their dark blood were flowing as a repayment for all their evil deeds... but they were losing. Finally even darkness itself gave it's powers to help our heroes. As wounded beast, it was wailing and calling for help... darkness consumed confused enemies of our heroes and fear stroke their black heart. They began to feel the terror, they were doing and left the terrible place of fight... When darkness was cleared, there were no heroes left. They disappeared like a morning fog, like a dream... Nobody saw as they left, they departed unnoticed, as ghost... But their deeds didn't go unnnoticed. Bishop returned half of it's lost power, he rebuilt his casino, began to torture people again... But New Reno was never the same after it. Drunken heroes showed the way to fight for... and we followed them..." - an old man became silent and fell to sleep. Children left him alone and went to play on safe streets...

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

Our heroes were runing up the street. Kath were runing one of the last. There were seen large wound on her leg, large track of blood following her. But they couldn't stop - Bishop's man could follow them any time. They all were wounded by the fight and felt themselfes not better, than Craig. Fred got the worst of them - it looked like that all bullets wer flying in his side. All guns were exploding specially near him. He was covered with blood, but looked rather healthy. He survived even worser stuff. Fred smiled and said:
"It was fortunate, than light shut down. I wonder what has happened?" - Cree looked at him nervously:
"Who cares? We need to run away and wait a little. I thing that Craig will be..." - suddenly she stoped and looked forward. Everybody else did the same and noticed a couple men before them. They were waiting for them with loaded guns and evil smiles:
"Well, well, well... what do we have here. Is it not your beloved sister, Brian?" - leader of these men asked bloodstained person, lieing on the ground - "And you didn't want to tell me where is it. How sweet that we found her too... and couple of new slaves... Boys, we are departing. It looks like it will be hot here soon" - his men laughed evily...

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

I like this chapter. May be this chapter sounds rather pompious, but I like it all the same. I think that this one is one of my best here...

Part 5 - From the south to the End...

Chosen one was sleeping - a long road was waiting him behind. He made a long journey and needed a rest. His work was done, his problems were solved, but new arose like dust of the desert... Small fire was dancing on the wind, night was singing it's quiet, well-known song of every traveller... It had no words, but the essence of peace and calm... Chosen one did all, he had to do. He was sleeping now...

Song of the Dream

The road is coming to the end
And many calling you a friend,
But blood was shed not once for long
And foes are looking for your song.
In every step you found death.
The crimes are looking in your depths.
The soul was shaken by your deeds,
But time has come to find your peace.
And final steps are meant to do
And final song is waiting you,
But these steps are hardest ones,
And only strongest will survive.
Beneath is lieing way of steps,
But new is waiting ones, he makes.
And final move, and final song
This all is lasting years long.
Your friends and foes have joined you,
And song will sound once a new,
And greatest deeds will come to life
And end will meet you like a wife...

Part 18 - Endless March through the Wastes

Brian was following slowly after the large amount of slaves. Their iron well-used collars were making quiet and sad cry... And wind was following them. Slavers were nearby, looking after them. They were not very good guards, but very good hunters. Brian looked at free space before him - some time ago there were another slave. She tried to run away... Well, bullets are flying faster...

They were coming slowly to the West. Brian found that he was in slavery caravan not so long ago. Broken Hills lay not so far to the East... His goody friends sold him into slavery for a pack of Jet. Bastards... Brian knew, that there was risk, but he didn't think that they will dare to do it. Slavers didn't take him in the past, but it looked like that they had difficult times... They lost a lot of "goods" in the north, some guy killed a lot of their kind. Now they were taking all dirt, they met, filling their empty cargo. Brian was unlucky enough to visit them in that time:
"Blasted motherfuckers... I doubt that they will get a lot for a drug-addcited." - young man smiled. This thought made him smile and he got a strong blow into the chest:
"I see that you are happy, Brian... Let's see how will you sing after several days in that blasted desert." - one of his former friends grined and kicked him again. Brian looked at him angryly and muttered quietly:
"At least I got rid of Cree. Her whining is all what I need for a full happyness right now..." - he smiled evily.

The caravan was heading slowly to the West... to the New Reno. Hot days and cold night... endless wasteland, full of scorpions... trial of steps ahead. All this stuff was nothing for Brian. He was tormented only by one thing - Jet... In the nights he tried to break the collar and made free. Rusty iron was weak enough, but he was too weak for it. Jet addiction was draining all his strength - physical and emotional alike. He struggled with it as long, as he could, but it was stronger than he was. Jet... to feel it flowing trough his veins again... to feel it's powers... to feel it's smell... Brian saw it all the time. Dreams were full of it, his days were spending in constant battle. He tried to remain conscious, but drug was calling for it. He had to go... he had to follow. Caravan of slaves was heading to the West...

Brian didn't know how many days had passed. He wasn't sure that he is alive yet. Day and night were alike for him. When he was said to go he went, when he was said to sleep, he slept. Brian didn't feel his body... Jet was all, he was interested in. But even this was not constant - he began to lose it. Soul couldn't feel it all the time and began to fall a sleep. His mind was covered by fog.

The sand... hot sands of the wastes were like a cold snow for him. Brian was coming slowly through it's reaches. He didn't see anybody else, he didn't care about it. He only went forward... to the west... where the sun was raising all the time.

New Reno - these words were firing in his memory as constant place of hatred. Jet, criminals... all he heard about this city was bad. Brian wanted to go there when he was free. Now he was slave and watned nothing... except Jet. May be they would be good enough to give him some Jet when they would be selling him... He sighed deeply. He couldn't fight any more... Young man looked around tiredly... Black sands, ruins of destroyed buildings... filth of the earth. New Reno was somewhere ahead.

"Hey, this slave had a sister, didn't he?" - Brian heard a low voice, addressing to him. The fog left a mind for a moment and he looked around. Two slavers were standing near him and discussing something with mean smiles. Caravan made a stop near outskirts of New Reno. From the talk of them Brian understood that they were heading to the south-west... There were some sort of temporary slaver's base down there. They need supplies and new amount of slaves in New Reno...
"I tell you - this one had a pretty little virgin... I remember her sweet ass..." - words were flying into his mind without any connection. Brian didn't think that they were talking about him. He didn't think that he even existed... He didn't remember anything...
"Cree... Her name was Cree..." - these words of slaver sounds alien for him. Brian didn't remember anything... and didn't want to. He understood that it was nothing good for him.

"Do you remember her..?" - the sweet voice of slaver began to sound with treat... - "where... is... she..?" - his words like a sharp blade was tormenting his mind, bringing memories of the past... With memories returned pain... and Jet... how he wanted to get Jet.
"I told you. You willn't get anything from this jet-head any more..." - there were heard the voice of slaver. Another one answered him:
"Don't worry - I have enough time..."
"Ok, but don't hurt the slave too much... I'll need him to sell him..." - the voices disappeared in the coming darkness. Only pain remained - blunt, endless pain. He remembered Cree - that foolish girl was worrying about him all the time... May be she will be finally free after his death. He closed the eyes...

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

It was a night... Quiet and cold as always, but there were seen no sky. It was covered by clouds... There were coming another desert storm. This year was rich on it. Brian looked around. He was alive... and felt himself not so bad, as he could - several marks on the hands and chest. Nothing more. It looked like he lay unconscious for several years. He felt himself hungry and looked around, looking for food. It was a good sign... by his past problems he knew that it was a first stage of post-jet addiction... Soon enough he would feel it again, but now he should find out as much as possible. He remembered all, that happened with him in the past and wondered that he is still alive. He didn't eat anything all that time... So he was captured not so long time ago. How long it was? Brian tried to remember, but couldn't concentrate. He sighed deeply and sat up on the rough bed. Iron collar of slave was felt even worser. He could feel all it's weight now... Brian sat up and looked around.

They left New Reno already. There were seen no signs of it. Endless Wasteland surrounded them. Caravan stoped for a while and was making a break. Somewhere far to the West were seen a lot of bonfire... the point of their journey was there - slaver's market. Brian sighed and began to search for food - he could do nothing else.

It was dark - most of the slaves were sleeping. There were seen no slavers... and it was understandable. Where would they run - there were no signs of life for many miles. It was suicide. Brian stood up and walked a bit. He found remains of some breakfast and ate it quickly. He was as hungry. When he ate a little, he began to remember something else... something of that stuff, that happened with him in the town.

He remembered dark streets, long walk to the north, some voices more... and pain. Brian remembered something new! He looked around agitated and saw several new slaves... They were sleeping, resting from the long walk:
"Welcome to our little company, Cree..." - Brian muttered quietly.

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

Tod was standing near the place, where they had left the car and was cursing all that blasted town. Craig was standing nearby and was looking around grimly on the place where were their car not so long ago. Now there were nothing... their friends disappeared too. Craig was troubled by it. He looked around in search of help. In the distance he noticed Jimmy. He was conscious already and watched at them horrifed... it looked like he didn't want to help them. Everybody else were not interested in them. They were excited by some other news. Ghoul came closer to a group of several prostitutes and overheard them:
"It is terrble - so many potential customers are killed... This is outrage!" - was wailing one of them.
"And casino... such a great place is damaged... poor we... Where shall we work now?" - cried the other one.
"Oh yeah, Bishop's scum deserved it... I heard that they tried to fuck one chic out of the city... Now we willn't have competition for a long time. Well, I don't think that they'll play with their boys with us for a long time too..." - there were heard another voice. Craig decieded to ask them about it. It looked like that it was some sort of problems... Fred business without doubt:
"What has happened, ladies?" - they looked at ghoul with disgust.
"What your business, freak? Leave you sorry ass or..." - one of them began to cry, but suddenly stoped. She noticed Tod under his back and became pale:
"Are you C-C-C-raig..?" - she began to stammer. - "I-I d-d-didn't w-w-w..." - she didn't endure it and fell unconscious. Her girlfriend tried to help her. She smiled broadly and said, looking at him nervously:
"Sorry Sisy for her speech. She is moronic bitch... May be you will tell us what do you need and we'll try to help... and please. Don't eat her skin. She need it for a customers..." - Craig looked at her grimly:
"What were you talking about?"
"Nothing interesting... another bar fight." - she shruged her shoulders. Another girl interrupted her agitated:
"Another bar fight?! Have you seen IT?! This is outrage... blood and guts are everywhere... Bishop is in rage. He killed two of his personal guards for their cowardness. They were hiding all the time upstairs..."
"What has happened?" - Craig began to lose temper again. Girls noticed it and began to fall back.
"Band of heroes... your friends, I suppose... atacked Bishop's casino. I don't know why they did it, but they willn't live for long to tell it to their children. Your neck is in danger too, by the way..." - ghoul looked at his stuff, that was his neck long time ago and grined:
"You'd better take care about your neck. What do you think about nearby slavers or Chosen one? - girls laughed quietly:
"The same stuff, as the most - only rumours. Hey, we are simple prostituts. What do you want from us?"
"You know something... You must know something or I'll stick in this town for a long time!" - this treat was very effective. Ghoul noticed horror in their's eyes:
"Than Tod will remain too..?" - this was the last point. One of them steped forward:
"Ok, I know something about slavers... They are so talkative in the bed. They don't know what tongue is used for..." - all other girls smiled, but ghoul didn't get it. He looked at her with waiting. She sighed and contined:
"There is some sort of slaver's market to the south-west from here... They are gathering every two years or so... You will find there all sorts of slaves, you want. I don't know where is it for sure, but it will be difficult to miss... So that's all?!" - she looked at him nervously.
"May be..." - he looked at them for a while, but than shoke his head - "nooo, it's not a time. Tell me where is my fucking car and may go..."
"And you will leave New Reno..." - one of them smiled. - "Hey, boy" - she called one boy - "Do you know who took the car of that skinless man..." - young boy came closer. He was almost undetectable from this street, Craig could only wonder how did she know that he was there. This boy was looked like another load of filth on that street, but in closer examination it showed that he was there... under the large amount of junk and dirty clothes. It looked like that the boy couldn't talk, but he nodded as he knew something. Ghoul came closer to him and said quietly:
"Who took my car?" - boy looked at him with horror and pointed at Jimmy, who noticed it and began to run.
"Is he the one..? Than I'll have a little TALK with him again..." - his words disappeared in darkness. There were no ghoul on the street any more. Only Tod left, cursing this city all the time...

Chapter 19 - Way to slavery

Craig stoped for a minute and looked at Tod. His friend was waiting him with a strange feeling:
"What the matter, Tod?" - he asked. He was worried by this strange behavior. An old drunkard had a serious expression on his face:
"This is becoming serious, pal..." - Tod looked around with caution - "Our friends disappeared... I have a feeling that something is wrong... I don't know what to do?" - ghoul came closer and noticed that an old man was excited. There were difficult to notice something in the darkness of the night, but he was agited for sure:
"What's the problem, Tod? I am sure that they will be able to take care about themselfs - have you seen Kath in action... or Chris? Have you heard about that stuff in New Reno? More than likely that they will catch us soon. They simply hid for some time. Bishop's men will hunt for them for a very long time... It will be safe for us to travel along. Let's find Brian and than will begin to find them... or may be we'll meet them there too. Who know, may be they are seeking for slave's market too?" - Tod looked at his friend and nodded lightly. He wanted to say something more, but kept silent. It looked like he wasn't sure in it. That's why he said quietly:
"Let's go... My er... our car is in hands of thiefs."
"As you wish, my friend!" - Craig noticed smile in his eyes and sighed easily - "I hope that Jimmy said the truth..."

Several small building were seen in the distance. They were standing on their own from all other buildings. There were seen large sign - "Posidon Oil" near it... pre-war old gasolin station... Another relic of the old. Craig smiled, thinking about some memory from the past. But his smiled soon faded. He noticed several men in one of the buildings... the tracks of their car were leading into this building too.

The men all around were not interested in their new guests - another bunch of beggars or thugs. They could deal with them. Large black men in red skirt looked at new comers tiredly. Not so long ago they got a new stuff to work with and it was not so bad, as it looked like. The only problem was to start the engine. T-ray, it was his name, tried to do it several times, but it was dead... That guy, Jimmy, swore that the car was working:
"I'll get him for this..." - he muttered and cried to the guest - "Hey, who the hell are you? Clear our shop or I'll have to make you..." - he looked at the old man, coming to him, and became pale:
"WHAT?! It's you druken... er, I mean, Tod... I think that I've dealt with Mordino long ago. I know that you are not working for him without improtant case... I'll help you if I can..." - Tod looked at him grimly and whispered quietly to Craig:
"Deal with him yourself... If I begin to talk with him, I'll broke his neck..." - he noticed answer in the look of his friend and explained quickly - "I had some business with him lately... no matter, get us a car and let's leave this fucking town." - Ghoul nodded and turned to T-ray.
"What a hell you doing here?" - he said quietly and with treat. T-ray looked at him coldly:
"Shut you fucking mouth, ghoul. I am talking with mr. Tod"
"Mr. Tod... hehe, I like it. Did you hear him, old man. He don't want to talk with me!" - Craig turned to Tod and than returned to him - "If you don't want to talk with me, may be you want to talk with Mordino himself?!" - his eyes shone like two edges of razor blade... There were deadly coldness in his voice. T-ray felt that it was not a simple treat and laughed nervously:
"You should say from the begining that it was so important. Nobody visit chop shop for serious matter - hordes of heroes, looking for their "lost" equipment, several bitches, who wants to be fucked... Er, how can I help you, mr... Craig... if I remember correctly. I think it was you, who had a little talk with poor Jimmy lately..." - he lower his voice and muttered for himself. - "I'll get his hide for pointing this madman in my side. I'll cut out his fucking eyes..." - he looked at Craig again and smiled broadly:
"What can T-ray do for you?"

"You need this piece of shit?!" - he stoped for a while, listening for his own words; he couldn't belive it - "Mordino couldn't be interested in it. Only some kind of heros will run after it... and it is ours. We found it, lieing useless on the street. Now we want to take several good parts and threw away this useless junk..."
"Now listen me, PUNK... You will give it to me and will say "thank you". If you are disagree, I can easily point several of my friends in your direction. They will make you to cry it for several days, until you'll die from agony. But than I'll return your sorry ass to life and make you crawl back from..." - Craig was coming more and more agitated. Workers of this shop began to look at him with worry - to have mad Mordino men here was bad business, but to have here the guy, who did this sick stuff with Jimmy was worser:
"Ok, ok... Stop for a while... I get it..." - T-ray looked nervously at his men. - "Give him his "car" and tell to Mordino that I need no problem with him... "Thank you"" - he looked at Carig evily and left them.
"Fine..." - ghoul smiled with satisfaction.

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

Brian came closer to the sleeping ones. He couldn't believe it. May be it was another dream of his sick mind... another play of Jet addiction. He looked at them... it were they. His friends... and his sister. They looked like that they were in fight with pack of mad deathclaws... Large fresh scars, clothes, covered with blood... They felt in hands of slavers by great cost. Brian smiled meanly - he noticed iron collars on their's necks:
"Another bunch of would-be heros will clean someone's ass..." - he muttered. He came closer and tried to wake his sister, but some dark shadow atacked his furiously... He tried to defend himself, but this beast was too quick, it's claws were sharp and deadly... it's eyes were glowing by anger and hatred.

"What a hell is going on?" - Kath said angryly. She was pissed off without it. She felt into the hands of filthy slavers, she was like helpless when it was needed the best, now she even couldn't get a rest. Young woman looked around and noticed that all her companions woke up too and were confused and angered not the less... What was the source of that terrible noise?! Kath tried to stand up and felt coldness of steel on her neck. Rough metal were hurting her skin - slaves collar... they'll pay for this... with time. Kath looked at the place where were seen shadow of something dark, shaking in the darkness.

Cree woke up immidiatly. She had a bad day... her night was even worser. She didn't want to think about it and tried to lost all thoughts in the dream... but it following her even there... mean looks of the slavers, their rought hands, their rude talks... Cree stood up and looked around. She heard loud cries of angry slavers, confused moans of the slaves. It seemed that she knew the voice that woke her up. Cree looked at the place, where were lieing her brother and shuddered. His bed was empty, there were seen some strange shadow in the distance. She ran there with all haste and even didn't notice that she was chained to the her friends... but soon chain ended and she felt pain on the neck. Slave's collar... this one was new and strong. It looked like that this slaves were valued by his "owners". She felt to the earth and moaned quietly from pain. She felt that some creature came immidiatly to her... it's soft steps were heard clearly. It's quiet growling sounded relaxing:
"It's you, Lucky... What is it?" - she asked and sniffed. Brian appeared from the shadow and smiled grimly - she was like a child... this world was not for her.

Brian was trying to throw away large and heavy enemy form his neck and suddenly realised that he was free. There were seen neither enemy... nor collar on his neck. It was lieing broken near his feets. Brian stood up and looked around confused. The caravan was awakend by his cries. Slavers were coming angryly from their tents and looking around with sleepy eyes. Slaves were muttering unhappyly... Suddenly Brian noticed his sister. She was trying to help him... but she was helpless. She tried to be a big girl, but her brother knew her good enough. May be he should run away, but where he would run? He sighed deeply and ran to her.

"It's... it's you..." - she tried to smile, but her eyes were full of tears. Her lovly cat were siting near her and were protecting from all harshes of the world. Brian even caught himself that he was jealous to this furry ball. It made her happy, though Brian couldn't do it. He stoped near her and became silent. He even didn't know what to do. He had no words... and no words were needed. He tried to say sorry, but couldn't he had left no words... or strenght. Brian was telling it so many times in his dream, but now he was silent...

Kath came quickly to Cree and noticed dark shadow near her. If it was another slaver, she would break his head. She came closer angryly and suddenly stoped... Brain! He was free. His iron collar was shining in the light of small bonefire in the distance. How could he do it? Well, they had no time for questions. She came closer to the Brian and whispered something to him. At first he listened her without any interest, but than his face changed. There appeared surprise. Finally he nodded to her and took something from her hands. His eyes flashed with determination... he looked at the camp - the several slavers were coming to them unwillingly. Brian turned away and began to go away, but suddenly stoped. He turned to his friends, looked at them and met with Cree by look. His quiet words wasn't heard, but she understood what he wanted to say. She nodded to him and smiled quietly. In a moment Brain disappeared in the darkness - he could die there... he would die there for sure, but what was left for him? Young man was walking into the Wastes... Only his whisper were travelling trough the blows of growing winds. It was coming another desert storm...
"Forgive me..." - were heard his untold words...

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

Tod looked to the West. It were bad news... dark clouds were gathering there. Strong wind was blowing in his face... and his bag was half-empty. Blasted workers had a good luck with his treasure. When he found out it, they were far away from T-ray and his shop. If it happened some time earlier they would feel the wrath of drunken master. But now Tod had to look forward grimly. Another storm was coming - it was strange to see it in this part of year... usually it were happening in the summer or first brick of autumn, but this one was really strong... Tod grined and push sleepy Craig:
""Terrible" Craig, look to the West... What do you think about it?" - ghoul tried to notice something there, but with his weak eyes he couldn't notice a horde of brahmin near his nose. But he looked there for a long time propely searching all the sky, what was something very unclear for him and finally said:
"I see nothing terrible, except that it is too dark now..." - Tod smiled. He was waiting something like it:
"You are dam right, pal. Storm is waiting us on the west... strong one. Even I noticed it with my blind eyes. All sky is covered by dark clouds, I heard peals of thunder... May be we should turn to the south and drive round it..." - Craig looked at him and answered:
"Too late, friend. We have little time left... And we willn't be able to do it. Storm will catch us anyway. May be I am blind as a molerat, but I hear clearly. This wind is promising a strong storm... very strong. I hope you value your ass and will take care about it. Soon you will need it to survive... Storm will throw all it's strength on it soon and will try to fuck... Let's go..." - Craig looked at Tod and smiled with his teethless smile. An old drunkard smiled him in response, drank a half of the bottle with booz and drove to the west. Their small car was nothing against huge mountains of clouds, that were seen above them. They were consumed by it. Quiet hum of his car disappeared in growling of growing wind... Wasteland became quiet, waiting for coming storm...

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

"Hey, why should I go hunting for him. It was your slave..." - two slavers were standing near the broken collar of the run away slave. It seemed that it's gleaming was laughung at them... At least the unfortunate slaver thought about it. He looked grimly at the new slaves, siting nearby and smiled evily:
"Don't worry, "friends"... This asshole will find his death on the edge of my knife..." - than he turned to his friend again:
"Listen, the strom is coming. It will hide all tracks. Nobody will survive it anyway. This is useless..." - his friend looked at his and grined.
"This scum killed two of our kin... torn them apart, though I don't know how did he do it. He could barely move... Anyway, boss wants his head. So you'll have to catch him..."
"But... who cares about these guys..? He killed them. What the problem? We'll get more booty." - the slaver didn't want to give up.
"If you have any complains, go and tell about it to boss. I don't want to disturb him now... when he is with this new slave... Kath, I think."
"Ok... I'll do it..." - slaver looked grimly at his friend and muttered something. Suddenly terrible cry was heard in the camp... The cry was heard from the biggest tent. Everybody looked at it with surprise, but the unfortunate slaver smiled grimly:
"I suppose he had tasted the teeth of this fiend already... I hope that he will try to fuck Cree with her blasted cat too. I still has marks of it's claws..." - he went away, preparing for a hunt. It would be a difficult one. Storm was coming closer with every minute. It was felt in every blow of the wind.

Chapter 20 - Price of Freedom

Cree had never seen so much people in her life... black and white, men and women, human, ghouls, supermutants... and all other sorts of slaves and mutated beasts... There even were several deathclaws. They were captured alive by musterious northern hunters, wearing skins of strange animal and powerful looking large weapons. Their large muscle bodies were covered by tattoes, their sun-burnt skin had marks of many fights... they were powerful and noble fighters and looked strangly among all other filth of slavery world. They tried not to look around or talk with somebody else. So they were standing with their "goods" on the market and were waiting for customers... and it was a great demand for such powerful beasts.

Cree looked around, but there were nothing more so interesting. Slaves and slavers alike, money... loud cries and screams... poor people and slave drivers from all sides of continent. Black slavers in colourful cloths and strange decorations from the far south, where earth is green and alive... in all it's meanings. It is feared for thier terrible beasts and plants. There were rumours about alive forests, eating human's flesh... Mysterious huge hunters from the north, wearing furry clothes. There were rumours that some of them, calling bersercers, were capable of dealing with yetti - terror of the north. Huge and bloodlust white bears. There were slavers from not so mysterious places - slavers from the south towns of NCR. They have joined it, but couldn't deal completly with slavery... or were simply bribed - Junktown, Hub... several ghouls-slavers from the Necropolis... Chris pointed to several strange persons in combat armour and whispered to her:
"Our friends from Vault city are here too. They are buying "servants" from all sides of the Wastes. They think that they help people to get better conditions of life, but instead they are making slavery to prosper. Blind fool don't understand it..." - he grined it and return to his place. Their turn to be sold in the auction were coming.

Kath looked at Cree and smiled. This girl was siting and watching at all these people like this show was started specially for her. There were seen interest in her eyes, she didn't see life:
"And did YOU see it?" - Kath asked herself and grined. She began to talk with herself - first sign of old age or weak mind... though she was not more than thirty years old. Young woman smiled to herself and looked around, thinking about what can be done. They were waiting it's turn near one of the podiums, where trading were taking place... They were located in the large tent - the storm was wailing outside, but it was calm here. A lot of torches and lamps were lighting up the tent. There were a lot of people there - slavers were entering the tent with slaves, customers were leaving it with their "buyings"...

Fred was siting on it's place and was watching on a long line of slaves. It was making shorter with every round of trade. They were left as a most good prize... and because they were chained by one chain - the best one. Fred tried to break it, but it was foolish. He couldn't handle it's iron grip with all his weak strength... even his bad luck was useless here. This place had so black carma, that he was helpless baby there. He had nothing more to do, as looking at his would-be owners... masters of mines and small kingdoms, owners of small farms and large manufactories... well, nobody was interested in him. They all were looking on these two young female slaves... and on this strange animal. It looked so nice... Well, somebody could be interested in this strong fella - Chris. he looked rather arrogant, but a week without food will make good worker from everybody. Nobody was interested in old and weak fella. Who need him? Slave driver was worried about it - he didn't like to kill the slaves, but if he willn't be bought...
"Hm, may be I should sell him with one of these chics..." - he thought, but he had little time to think about it. A new round of trade was coming...

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

Brian was coming to the south. Once again he felt the "call of Jet". He was coming without sense. He was coming without thought... he was only coming. And it was good. The storm was raging around him. The desert changed into hell. The fire of cold wind was tormenting his lungs and skin, the cold breath of hot sands were peircing his body with arrows of pain... There were seen no dirction to go - darkness of storm consumed all the light. Sand, raised by storm, was draining it from the air... and was draining life from Brian. But he was going... nothing worser could happen. Mad whailing of the storm was drowning all other sounds. Brian couldn't say where was north or south, he couldn't determine what time was now, he couldn't say where he was... all was left in this hell of sand. He was coming to the south... and didn't notice shadow, following him.

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

Tod looked at car and sighed helplessly. It was going to happen - he heard strange humming in the car, but was hoping that it would work for some time more... Well, his hopes were broken. Tod looked at lifeless car and sighed again. At least they were near their point of distination - the slave's market was seen on the horizon. Dark shadows of huge tents were seen for miles. Only dark clouds of growing storm was seen better... and was heard much more clearly. Strong blows of wind were bringing sounds of this market - cries of the brahmin, talkings of slavers... The trade was going to happen. It looked like that all was ready.

Craig returned from his scouting. He was draging two dead bodies after him. Thier poor condition showed that ghoul was VERY pissed off, so he even didn't ask what it was for. He took the cloth of the dead man and began to put it on. Craig did the same stuff - he looked at Tod and said grimly:
"These two deserved everything I did to them and even more..." - Tod looked at him and kept silent. He surely began to like him less and less - "Their cloths will help us to enter the campt... and their tattoes..." - he gave to Tod piece of skin with tatto on it - "... will help us to stay unnoticed..."
"Craig, you are sick. Did somebody tell you about it?" - Tod took this ghastly stuff with digust.
"As you wish, Tod... I've been in such places, where it was a normal attitude..."
"I too, Craig... I was there too..." - Tod muttered grimly and put this stuff on his forehead...

They left a car and two disfigured bodies where they were. They were not so concerned about hiding it. Storm will be there in a few hours and bury all signs of their appearance. There were no chances that accidental patrol will find it. They were too far away from the camp of slavers. Our friends looked at each other and came to "make shops"

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

"It's our turn..." - Kath muttered quietly. Her friends were thinking about the same thing. All looks were amed at them. They were valued like goods... like brahmins... like slaves. It was unpleasant feeling when dozens of people were looking at you like at thing. They were not interested in human, they were interested in slaves. Cree looked at them with disgust and tried not to watch at them... not to notice the looks, they were throwing in her side... her cat was following her and this creature attracted even more interest - mysterious terribly mutated rat, as it was called. Even northern hunters were interested in it. They looked confused on this small creature and were trying to understand what it was. It surely was not the rat...

Kath and all other friends were led to the podium - place, where slaves were selling. Large amount of traders were attracted by this last trade. It was one of the last deals on the market... most of slave drivers had finished already their business and were counting the profit or joined this last auction. The rules of it were simple enough and used by everybody in known world - who would pay the higest price would take the slave. The customers were waiting when the auction would begin. Finally the gong was sounded and all was started:
"Ok, now we will learn what's the price of freedom." - dark humour of Chris wasn't very funny here. Cree tried to smile, and she could make only grin. Kath and Fred looked at him angryly and turned away. This wasn't very funny for them at all.

"Five brahmins for this old fella and girl with her mutated rat..." - cried slave dealer with disappointment. He hoped to get at least ten brahmins for her... but this old scum made them all nervous... and all these rumours about her beast. Superstitious fools didn't want to pay for it - so these bastards from the north got them almost for free... They looked like mindless morons, but they had something more, than bears and tattos in their heads.
"An excellent strong slave from the north... he is good fighter, smart teacher, hardworking worker, patient servant..."
"Oh please, you are flattering me..." - Chris smiled and looked at the auditory with smile. They looked at him with confusion - it looked like that Chris liked all this stuff.
"Blasted slave... I'll lose several brahmins with his jokes." - He gave a signal to a guard nearby and Chris was hit in a chest. He caughed a little, but smiled soon and thanked a guard for his help in cure of his ache in back:
"Two brahmins... Anybody..?" - asked slave driver hopelessly. He was losing all hope. He should cut off the tongue of that slave, but who knew that he would be so "smart-assed" - all time before now he was grim and silent as everybody else... Now he only Kath left, but after the case with her last slave-driver there no hope left that somebody will buy her, except for taking care about bramins... or some sadomasochist, but there were little hope that it will be so lucky. He looked into the auditory and noticed that northern guys wanted to buy Chris too. Northern bloodsuckers surely knew when it was coming a good deal. They bought Kath too and left with satisfied look waiting for their slaves to come... The auction was finished.

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

"So, what's the plan, Craig?" - Tod looked at ghoul, watching after the auction. They had finally found their friends in one one the large tents. It was rather hard - there were a lot of people there, but Tod noticed them near one of the podiums. Now they were standing near the enterance and we waiting for something. Tod couldn't understand what was the point of it... The storm had already begun. It was surely one of the most terrible storms in his memory. Tent was endureing barely against terrible blows of air. It's beams were cracking and moaning every second, but were fighting with it...
"I don't know - may be we should break the beams and using the chaos ran away..." - Craig was confused. There were too many people down there. There were no chance to escape alive.
"Yeah, great plan - our friends and we will be killed first by them... We need to wait while all will end and than we'll try to fight them from a smaller caravan. It will be easier..." - Craig looked at his druken friend with surprise.
"You are right, Tod. You'd better drink lesser. Sometimes genious thoughts are visiting you head..."
"Who want to think, will think in any case..." - muttered Craig quietly.

"Great, Tod... Simply GREAT. Look at this fellas. How do you think we are going to fight with them. One of them will kill easily dozens of us..." - Craig looked with despair at leaving northern hunters.
"I know a way... I'll find a way" - said Tod quietly. There were seen laugh in his eyes. It looked like that he was making a great joke for them... not very good joke... bloody joke - Tod laughed meanly, so even Craig shuddered...

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

I think it's time to make a final move - chapter 21 will be my final one. I am tired. At first I liked to write the story, but it drained me completly. To tell the truth my last chapters are not the best ones... the first ones too, but there is no difference. I used rather harsh stuff now. It is not used widely in half-serious stories, I think. But it wasn't I, who created world of FO. I only tried to follow it... Anyway, my last chapter will come soon. It appeared now, but it is deleted by my fucking comp AGAIN.

I think I must thank you, Lia. I wrote this story for you. Without your interest I would stoped at chapter 14. Thanks. I hope you enjoyed it... Now I'll finish a story and will make a long sleep... Uhhh, I really tired...

Chapter 21 - The final - Run for your lifes

Brian woke up... The sand was covering his eyes and body. For a second terrible thought visited him, that he was buried alive. He began to shake hands in panic, trying to make free and noticed that he was in a small pile of sand. He dug himself out easily and looked around. Brian noticed with big surprise that he was in the borders of some large city. It's white buildings from white bricks and yellow stones were very similar to the building of Vault city... Brian looked around - he was standing in the wastes on the old road, leading to the south... there were seen some sort of bar there and enterance to the city... In some distance to the west were seen small shop... and further Brian noticed sighs of storm. Black clouds were crawling slowly by the gray sky to the south. Storm was raging far to the west and only echo of it's fury was heard here - hot sand, quiet cracks of thunder... blow of strong winds. It reminded Brian about the recent times... The hell he came from. He was in the heart of the storm - only now he began to realise that he had no hope to survive... but how managed to do it? Or how did he get here - any city was in dozens of miles from the place he had been... Brian grined - he had no time left to think about it. His sister was somewhere down there... and his friends too. He looked at the sky - it was difficult to determine how much time had paased, but Brian thought that it was the same day yet... though it sounded wierd. Nothing could survive the fury of desert storm. Brian even didn't think about travelling through it - it was suicide. Man and beast, robot and animal - sand were consuming all alike.

Brian looked at the shop nearby - some guy there could tell me about what he needed. He was sent after help and he hoped to find it here. He looked at something, lieing in his hand and smiled. It's coldness reminded him that it was not a dream... or nightmare. He tried not to think what was happening with Cree now. What would happen with her if he wouldn't be able to help her?! He tried not to think about it, but this thought was tormenting him even more, that worsest Jet-addiction...

Short shop-owner looked at the shelfs of his small shop and smiled happyly. He had a good shop down there - a lot of weaponry, a lot of ammo. He was able to satisfy needs of most his customers. It was his pride and hope for the future... and very profitable business. For a small portion of one's luck he could give to the customer various selection of tools of death. Short fella smiled - he liked his work, he liked all the goods, that surrounded him. He took care about this weapons as his own children... Shop owner looked at the courtyard of the city and noticed young man, coming to his shop. It was another ordinary customer - torn clothes, dirty faces, tired expression. He was another traveller, who visited this fine vity. NCR - this town was a good bait for all sorts of heroes, villians, thugs, mercenaries or guards. They all had a great interest in good weapon and this shop had customers every day. Of course, many wanted to take something without permission - these lasy bastards from the city didn't want to help someone, who liked to operate in free lands... far away from curious looks(He had several strange client too). So he had to hire his own guards... They were not the best, but knew their job good enough.

Shop keeper sighed and looked at the new customer, coming closer. He looked a bit usual. There were nothing unordinary in him... may be his look was rather harsh, but nothing more could attract attention to him. This fella saw a lot of strange guys - groups of heros, fulled of strange beast - grey smart deathclaws, ghoulish creatures, strange small supermutants, large unseen robots with guys in black strange armours... He heard all strange stuff of the world. He couldn't be surprised by anything and was waiting for a first question, what would be surely asked - "What do you know about this place?" - shop owner sighed hopelessly. It looked like that this guy was interested only in chatting. He looked too poor to trade for something. Hm, may be he was one of slavers... These scums were located to the north and were attracting all filth of Wastes... as NCR do. Well, if they had enough money, he was glad to trade with them too.

"What do you know about this place?" - an immortal question was asked. Shop keeper smiled and answered quickly as he was reading the text:
"NCR - New California Republic... Capital of southern territories as Hub or Junktown... northern territores are limited only by several small kingdoms and small towns. But our great town is growing..." - he stoped for a while and looked at him with smile - "So, I answered your question. Are you satisfy. Can I return to my business..." - yes, this guy was not interested to buy anything. Short fella understood it already - Brian didn't look at majestic shelfes of the small tent, where the shop was located. He was not impressed my magnifisense of it's glory. Well, it was only another mindless traveller - he couldn't appreciate beaty of weaponry. Shop keeper looked at him with pity and turned away. He was kind enough to answer his question and now he was busy with something else.

Brian looked at this guy and understood that conversation was over. Several guards, standing nearby proved it with harsh lookes.
"I hope that people here are not so "friendly" - he muttered and left them alone. Now he was headed to the south - there were a bar. Brian was sure that he will be able to find some sort of information down there. He had to be hurry. Time was leaving with every minute...

This bar was not any different from any other bar - place to drink and fuck someone's sorry ass. Bunch of guards, drunkards, traders... several slavers and ghouls. This town surely attracted all sorts of scum. They were tryin their luck here and there, looking for a work or possibility to spend earnd money... not so bad place to stay. Brian looked cautionly at slavers, but they were not interested in him, so he joined a small company of drunkards in the one of the corners of bar. He had several coins and it was enough to make them happy. Bottle of booz and Brian had several friends there...

Some time passed, but Brian tried to pull some information from these drunk morons. They were muttering something about weather, Tandi, Vault 13, but there were no useful information for him. It was as difficult as pull water from the rock or earth. He sighed tiredly and looked around. All was the same - quiet talks, loud laugh, noise of gulps and drinking booz:
"I wish Tod were here... He was able to conquer every bar..." - he said quietly and looked to the West. Suddenly he heard loud steps near the bar - in a few seconds tall slaver entered the bar:
"Welcome back, Brian. I sold you into slavery, but you was so ungrateful that you ran away... Well, I'll catch you and shall get my reward. Boys, get him..." - in a few second several slavers rushed at him. He was able to dodge them and atacked their leader. He was the one, who started all this shit in Broken Hills. Now he appeared here... His ass would never see the light again. 14mm pistol flashed in the air. Tall slaver hit Brian strongly into the chest and laughed:
"You are a quick one for a Jet-addicted. I wonder how did you manage to survive the desert storm. Even your hunter was stoped by it, but you are here and so soon... I don't know why did you come here, but you willn't leave this place alive. You will be killed specially for him... pain and suffer will be your nicknames... Boys, get him to the base - we'll start party tomorrow. We need to wait our special friend..." - slavers laughed meanly and left the bar. All other visitors looked at him with interest, but show was over too fast. So they returned to their drinks with disappointment...

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

"Well, it was easy enough... as I said" - Tod looked at dead bodies of several northern hunters. They were lieing in their tent and all our companions were standing nearby. They all looked with surprise at Tod and Craig appeared from nowhere. They didn't believe that it was true, until they were freed from collars. Cree began to talk first, as soon as collar fell to her feets. It looked like that she became the same person - there were no despair or hatred seen:
"Did you see it? They killed each other... they were fighting was madmen..." - she looked with horror at overfigured bodies, lieing in the pile of destroyed chairs. Their bloodcovered bodies... the marks of fists and teeth on them... torn cloth... expressions of rage and hatred were seen on their dead faces... signs of guts and brains from crushed skulls. Well, the battlefield was not very pleasant sight.
"I always like northern people - strong and smart, but so "hot"..." - Tod laughed evily. Craig looked at him and asked seriously:
"Where did you learn all this stuff? I've never thought that somebody would fight like this for a several coins..."
"Oh, you don't know their traditions - to steal from a friend is a crime worser that murder... Now I threw pocket of one hunter into the belt of the other one... results are impressive..." - Craig looked at him and muttered:
"You learnt a lot in New Reno..." - he helped to free Chris and he said evily:
"This drunkard couldn't learn it... Tell me, Tod, Have you ever heard about "Art of War" or San Francisco? One old fool down there is learning dangerous fighting arts and deadly knowledge to filthy drunkards..." - Tod stoped for a while and looked at Chris. Eyes of an old man flashed with danger, but in a second he smiled happyly and laughed drunkly:
"Err, Safarisco... arts of sorrow... nope. I don't think so. Though may be I was there... I've been in many places." - He took his bottle and began to party... Chris looked at him grimly and turned away.
"Hey, may be you should ask what are we doing here?" - Craig asked Kath, when he was making her free. She looked at him coldly:
"I should ask you why were you waiting so long to visit us? I began to think that would be swallowing radioactive snow for the whole eternity..."
"Hey, he saved us! Don't push him" - tried to help him Cree, though he noticed the same question in her eyes too.
"I couldn't catch you in time... Where is this Jet-head?" - Cree became pale:
"Brian... He left" - she looked with worry into the darkness of the exit. The storm was raging outside - no sounds were heard from there except it's wailing. The tents of other slavers were nearby, but there were heard nothin from there. Strom drowned all sound. Chris came closer to the exit and looked into the darkness - all was calm, though there were bad news:
"We are in ass - if we leave the tent, storm will kill us. It is too strong..." - he looked at his friends and added - "Even strongest of creatures like deathclaws try to remain in their nests in such weather. This is suicide to anybody to travel in such weather... and this storm is strongest of all, I've seen." - Craig looked at him and smiled:
"And what are you suggesting? Wait here until we'll be cooked like fucking gecko..?"
"Why not? Nobody noticed us yet?" - Kath said. - "Let's wait until storm will stop and leave..." - Tod noticed something in his drunken rage:
"They will hunt us easily. They are good in tracking slaves... Storm is our only hope to run away. It will hide our tracks..."
"And our bones..." - noticed Fred and joined Tod in his party. They began to drink and didn't make a sound for a long time. Chris looked at Tod and said:
"He is right... but leave the tent is impossible. Storm..." he became silent. It was an interesting situation. Everybody forgot about Cree and she was siting quietly and listening after them. She heard only one words...
"Nobody will survive there... nobody..." - she stood up and said with determination:
"We must stay here. Brian will bring help!" - everybody looked at her with pity. Our companions became silent and Craig tried to calm her:
"Cree... your brother left to the desert... He ran away, if I understood rightly." - he looked at Kath and she noded him - "He willn't be able to bring help in time... We must help ourself by our own." - he looked at her. He thought that he had said everything right, but noticed that she even didn't listen him. He was watching after the strom - her eyes, full of horror, were with her brother now... somewhere in the terrible reaches of this cursed sands. Craig sighed deeply and returned to his place. He looked at Kath and asked her:
"Have you seen any transport device down here? We need to get out..."
"NO. We should wait... er, I mean that the best transport here is all-mighty brahmin's chariot. We need to wait the ending of storm." - ghoul looked at her attentivly. She surely knew something, but was keeping it. Her eyes were gleaming with strange light, her lips were dancing as she was ready to laugh... Strange reaction on this fact that they were in death trap:
"What do you know about it, Kath? This is serious and not some fucking game. If you know some way to save our skins, tell us..." - Kath looked at him seriously:
"We should wait us. Brian will bring help. I can nothing else to tell. I have no right." - she noded with light smile to Cree and she quietly sniffed. She tried to smile, but there were seen tears in her eyes. Chris was much more harsh:
"Who will help us? Who in interested in slaves - NCR police, Brotherhood of Steel, some heroes?! Don't make me laugh - no help will arrive, because Brian is dead. His remains are gnawing by scorpions already..."
"Shut your bloody throat, scum" - Kath cried angryly and came to Cree:
"Don't worry. Brian IS alive. He will get help, I can assure you" - Cree smiled, but quiet crying was heard all the same. Craig looked at Chris and sighed - it was little too harsh. Chris said nothing and came to the exit of the tent. He began to watch after the storm.

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

Slavery... Free city of NCR... no drug, no slavery... Brian grined. Were they joking or really believed in all that shit. Who cares? Slavers lived quiet nicely here near the borders of their beloved city. What was behind their borders didn't concern them. Slavery, unlegal trading of weaponry... who cares about it. Brian looked around - he was placed into the small cell. Around him in similar cells were seen other slaves - tribals mostly - good "wares"... quality. Brian grined evily and spited to the feets of coming closer leader of slavers. He only laughed and said:
"You needn't hurry, pal. Your psrty will begin tomorrow. Now you have time to pray... or piss in your pents from fear. Our executionor is good. Nobody complained about his work... to tell the truth nobody was able to do it" - this joke seemed funny to slaver and he laughed loudly. Brian looked at his back evily - they feel themselfes here even more free, than in Den. There were put high tech here - computers, strange unknown lockes... slaves were here the best... guards had the best the weaponry. They were strong and sure of themselfs...

Jet... Brain began to feel again calling of Jet. This drug was tormenting him greatly. He was fighting all the time to remain conscious... but something was tormenting him even more. Cree... his sister was like alive now before him. He was trying to protect her... all his life he was fighting all harshed of the world, to bring a smile on her face. And now he was helpless piece of drug-addicted... he was useless. He could do nothing. Brian looked forward and noticed her. She was somewhere there... and was calling for him. She needed him and he couldn't help her when she needed it...
"If something happen with her, I'll never forgive it to myself..." - he muttered quietly.
"Oh, everybody, look here. It looks like big boy is crying..." - slaver stoped near his cell and looked at him with gaze, full of tender. Brian looked at him coldly. He could rape him alive, but he simply smiled - he would wait his turn.

Something was happening! Gun shots, cries of slavers. The leader of them had left lately and couldn't take part in fun. Brian sighed with pity - may be NCR finally decided to clear this den of filth, but didn't catch the boss. Young man looked around, hoping to see squad of policmen, breaking through the fence... he hoped to see bands of heroes, rushing forward to save the poor souls... but he saw nothing - empty street. Some fool was fighting slavers alone... like chosen one himself. Brian thought evily - one of the slavers ran near him and threw to him angryly:
"Don't worry, pal. This problem will be dealt quickly - one of our old friends. Soon you'll join him..." - slaver ran into the building where were heard shooting...

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

Chris was standing near the exit and was listening the wailing of the wind. Suddenly he heard another sound - it was quiet, but clear - something big was moving near them. In darkness of the strom were seen nothing, but he was sure that it was something. Chris began to lose temper of that constant mystery. Some beast was following them for several weeks... and it looked like he knew who it was. Only deathclaw could dare to walk in the Wasteland during the storm. This one was strange - he was simply walking around, as he was waiting for something.
"He is waiting when we'll leave the tent. He felt the blood..." - he muttered and turned to his friends. He wanted to share this new with others, but they were too excited to hear this news too... Tod and Fred were still drinking, though all booz ended. So they began to drink "air" - they were in such condition, that there were no difference. Kath and Craig were siting and looking at each other. Sometimes it seemed that they were looking similar... Chris grined evily, he surely was watching too much in the darkness if he began to see such shit. Cree was siting alone and was looking somewhere behind her... He wanted to help her somehow. Chris felt that he owned her a little, but decided to do nothing. It will be only worser. Chris decided to return to his post - deathclaw... may be it was the same, who followed them near Vault city, was somewhere there...

Suddenly our friends heard loud and clear call:
"Nordis... Nordis?! Where are you, northern frozen ass?" - several slavers were coming to the tent... to their tent. Everybody looked with worry at Craig. He lost his thoughts for a moment and looked around with confusion. What should they do?
"Let's wait. May be they'll leave..." - he muttered the first thing, that visited his mind. His companions grined, but said nothing. There were no other ideas.

"Nordis, your slaves are..." - the voice of the slavers were heard more clearly. They were near the tent. Craig praid that they didn't want to enter, but... Chris fell back and warned everybody with fast move. The enemies were near... at the enterance. Our friends took weapon, that they could find in the tent and prepared - several pistols and knifes... soemthing more serious were taken away. Craig took 10mm pistol and looked at the darkness of the night.

For some time there were seen nobody - only happy cries of drunk slavers. They didn't hurry to enter the tent. Criag even began to think that all will pass. But than first unsteady figure appeared from the storm... than another... and more...

Craig was waiting with horror when they will come. There were at least dozen of slavers here. They were drunk, but were more than ready to fight. Their weapons were hanging eagerly on thier belts. He and his friends hid in the shadows above the tent. They lower the light of the fire in last hope that slavers will go away, but it was hopeless:
"Hey, you, big bad northern boy... are you sleeping?! "hic" It's time to get up..." - slaver came closer to the pile of dead bodies and tried to push it. his friends remained near the enterance and began to laugh. Finally their laugh was interrupted by cry of surprise:
"It's blood!" - slaver cried, looking at his hand...
"It's time...." - whispered Craig quietly, there were no time left to waste.

Gun shots... cries.. wailing of the storm... all was alike in that time. Nobody of our friends could remember the details of this fight. All, what can they said was that that it was dark... and cold. Unclear figures in the dark light of storm, coming from enterance. For a short period of time the darkness was cleared by gun shots and enemies had seen each other clearly. Craig noticed great surprise and hatred on their faces... in a second tent became dark again. Sounds of falling bodies told them that their shots were succesful, but several slavers were alive yet... and all camp knew now what had happened...

"Quickly, we need to get out of here" - Chris cried and was forced to fell back. Drunken slavers could shoot not so bad too. No they were hiding in the shadow too and were covering the enterance with mad fire. They were waiting for a support and knew that they would get it soon. Craig was cursing this blasted tent, but they couldn't leave it through the exit. It was blocked by slavers. They were traped... and even if they would run away where would they go?! He looked at Kath in the darkness and noticed that she was wounded. He didn't see her, but by her heavy breath and quiet moan he understood it:
"Lay down... your play is over..." - he muttered quietly, but got an angry reply:
"I'd better kill myself, than got into the hands of that filth again. I am capable to deal with several more of their kind..." - Kath growled and took a knife. Her gun was jammed...

Cry of pain and horror stuned the opponents. They looked with terror as huge shadow of darkness appeared from nowhere. This beast were coming closer, waving by his paws as mill of death. And death got a good score in that night - huge claws of terrible size were crushing and cuting slavers with incrediable speed. Though it was dark, Craig felt the warm smell of blood and faint odour of guts... This thing with loud growl was coming closer...
"Humans... leave this place... follow me..." - was heard rought, unsteady voice. Deathclaw was SPEAKING with them. Craig looked at confusion at Kath:
"This is a help, you were talking about...?" - he asked, but she was confused too... and her wound were hurting much.

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

Brian was waiting grimly when the body of this fool would be thrown away through the door to the trash. The shots stoped... there were heard no cries... there were heard nothing. Dead silence was runing through the place. Brian looked at surprise at other slaves. May be they killed each other by accident...

Suddenly in the door way appeared lonely figure... This man was in battered combat armour. It was covered in blood in several times. He was hanging smocking gun and was going slowly to them. Brian looked at him with horror - what could it be? Who is he? He didn't look like hero or villian. No rightous expression on his face, no signs of arrogance... an ordinary traveller. What was he doing here... in this cursed place?

"Go.. run for your lifes..." - cells cracked quietly and opened. This man was able to make them free... Brian wanted to thanks him, but he needed a lot to do... and Jet confused him a little. He run... he run while he can. He run through this terrible building, full of dead bodies and blood. He run through hatred and pain. Brian needed to find help:
"Hold! Where are you going, pal?" - two hooded figures stoped him on the street. All slaves were runing in all side, but these two stoped exactly him. Anger began to grow in him:
"Go away, fools... No slavers or their lackey will stop me..." - one of thr figures laughed quietly:
"I've never been blamed in slavery yet. Well, we all had to meet with it some day." - this guy wasn't going clear his way and Brian tried to break through.
"Easy, pal" - this figure grabed him easily. Brian couldn't move - "I think you'll have to have a small chat with us... for the sake of your sister... Cree, I think."

They were heading to the south down the street. They entered the city and Brian began to noice that they were looking at him strangly. He heard quiet talks:
"Are you sure that he is the one... she will never... well, may be, you know her." - Brian didn't know that slavers were allowed in NCR. Well, he didn't surprised to anything... They stoped near one of the buldings. It looked ordinary - no signs or other decorations... They entered calmly.
"Oh, it's finally you, Brian. I heard about you and your er... exploits. Quiet impressive... Ok, closer to the matter. We have little time left - you have something to give us." - Young woman in combat armour was waiting for them in the lrage room near the large table. Brian grined.
"I have only filth for such slavery scums as you are..." - young woman sighed:
"It looks like Jet is making his work. Poor soul couldn't tell slavers from rangers... Brian, look around. Life of Cree and all your friends is in your hands now..." - Brian fought with himself and looked around... It was some sort of mechanic department. Parts of brocken cars, rusty junk... rangers?! Brian stoped for a while, remembering something. This woman... she was the one Kath described... and others... there were some kind of meething. There were a lot of people in all sorts of armour and weaponry. Brian had finally remembered and said:
"The one you seek is sending greeting, this line will help to finish deal... the locals are in the trials of north. Password is "run for your lifes..." - he said the words, that Kath said to say him to this woman and gave him this strange pin... Now he was giving pin to this woman. She smiled and said loudly:
"Friends, today we'll have a large hunt. Drunken heroes and Kath have finished the deal... We have finally found slave's market..." - loud cries of greeting drowned her voice.

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

Our heroes were following the beast. Deathclaw was leading them through darkness of the storm. No direction were seen in it. Sand and mad wind made them blind, as molerat, but they were going. It was their only chance. Fred looked at this beast and muttered:
"Leading us to their nest to feed his lovely children... He even didn't want to drag our dead bodies". Though it was noisy aroun here, deathclaw heard him and answered:
"I don't like people... to eat too... Keep silent... or find the road on your own..." - his companion looked at him grimly and he quickly shut his mouth.

They found it's shelter in a small crack of the earth. It was filled with sand for a half, but there were free space... Deathclaw led them there and left without any word.
"It looks like he didn't like humans much." - Tod noticed loudly and smiled. He was happy, as always.
"Hey, who can blame him. He lost his parents in accidental fight with humans..." - from the shadow of this small cave appeared two figures. Our heroes didn't have time to look around properly and didn't notice them. But now they saw them clearly - young man... or boy... and young deathclaw... or boy. It looked like that they were the same person. They were talking about the same thing, they were thinking alike, the same fire was gleaming in their eyes:
"Hi, Tod. After your visit, we decided to travel a little too. Redding is good place, but so boring. Tim is agree with me and joined us... That large deathclaw, you saw..."
"Another familiar" - moaned Fred - "Is there at least somebody, who don't know Tod?"
"Nope, I don't think so - and now you are even more famous. You know, I even didn't thank you for awakening me... and sharing your booz." - Tod looked at this young fella. He remembered his dream in Redding. So that's what was happening all the time - bunch of heroes. His companion looked at him with surprise. It looked like he would have to tell the story from very begining. Fred moaned terribly. Young deathclaw said:
"Nope, may be I'll start and you will wash a throat. It was a long way..." - Tod didn't answer - he was drinking... Cat of Cree was growling quietly, greeting it's old master...

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

The morning was coming slowly to the wastes. The storm was passing slowly. It was raging yet, though the air became lighter. The sun was rising, though it looked as white tooth in this strange air... Craig looked to the West... somewhere there were head gunshooting. There were a large hunt. He smiled and looked at Kath:
"You like a small girl. With your stupid secrets you almost killed as us all. Was it so difficult to tell that Rangers will come soon." - Kath looked at him and answered with confusion:
"To tell the truth, I didn't know that they knew about our moves... All this stuff with our journey became too famous. Rumours... blasted rumours... And I didn't know that deathclaw saved Brian. Without him he would surely died..." - Chris smiled and looked at young deathclaw:
"Your large brother was very useful... he helped us in Modoc, he saved our skins here... thanks..."
"Yeah, thanks..." - Brian muttered and looked at large deathclaw, standing near him. This thing smiled and showed mouth, full of fucking sharp teeth...
"You are... welcome..." - young woman came to the heroes, siting near their cave:
"Ok, this business is over. Have you heard the news? Chosen one is down here. I think it was a point of you visit..?"
"Damn yes! Show me this hero" - cried Tod - "I want to see hero in flesh."

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

Epilogue

Large amount of people gathered to see famous drunken heroes. They were almost as famous, as their leader. Tribals were looking at our companions with admire, vault dwellers were greeting them with warm smiles and cries. They gathered in main hall of their new city. The building was just built as town hall. In the middle of it on the large chair was siting their leader... It's tired look reached the drunken heroes and he smiled a little - an outstanding event for him:
"Greeting, advanturers... I've heard a lot about your exploits... Welcome..."

The grandparty was taken in that time - citizens, rangers and several old friends of chosen one joined our friends in that business. They were signing, eating, having fun - hard live was forgotten for some time. Tomorrow would come tomorrow, but now was now... They were happy. Everybody was happy - even Chosen One, always serious and grim, was cheerful now. The booz was flowing endlessly, freid geckos were unlimited... He was telling about fun events, he passed. Our friends were talking about their advanturers... There were laugh. Suddenly Chosen One stood up and demanded silence. When it became silent he began sing. His loud rought voice was not good for signing, but it suited well somehow for his song... may be because he felt every sound of that song. This was a beatiful... and harsh as life itself. Chosen One sat to his place and everybody nodded with approval. Party continued. Tod came to Craig and whispered quietly:
"So, pal, where are we heading now? To the east... or north. What quest shall we take now?" - Craig was drunk and smiled happyly:
"Who cares... "The road is open"... I need to find cure for my people... Brian got cure from Jet, but he wants to fight for good... by forces of darkness... Kath wants to visit her homeland... Chris... who cares?! We are coming to the south! Right?" - Cries of approval supported him.
"Good" - Fred muttered. "I always wanted to search for a holy treasure of great Vault Dweller..."

The party was runing to the deep night... and in the morning Drunken heroes left the city. They were coming to the south. The first advanture ended, but the life was begining... Chosen One was watching after them from the distance. He said nothing, though his lips were whispering the song, he was signing on the party... Tears were sparking like dimonds in his eyes and were dancing on his smiling lips...

Song of Chosen One

Your way is ended, quest is over,
The road is lieing all behind.
The time has come to finish story
And joined reality and life.
The song is sung and deeds are over,
The home is waiting you behind.
Though story ended, it's not game over.
The road is runing all the time.
You left your home is search for glory.
Though all you had found, were pain and sorry.
But in the end the song is yours
And road is runing all time forth.
My song is over, your's begins
And future looks at it through hills.
My time has come to join tails,
But you should check that it's now fails.
Your future is waiting you, heroes of drunkness
And holy booz will conquer the forces of darkness.

The end

Oh, I dreamt to finish it for a long time, but now I feel sadness... Story is over. That's all, folks... Thanks for attention, Lia. I have finally wrote finished long story... I am waiting for your story. Once again sorry for my mistakes...

So, what do you think about it? Any comments? I've finished this story and ready to hear terrible truth.

Ok here is the truth...You are a great Fanfic writer and no one can deny that!

Characters, places and plot all worked together extremely well. *Smiles and nods* You have deserved your rest and soon in the future i expect you to start another story/stories. Maybe you could try different styles, do experiments and so on. But there´s no hury on doing those yet. you can now spend much more time on developing and experiments. Im doing that developing right now so that´s why you can expect long delays on my upcoming chapters

Im honoured to see that you have dedicated some of your chapters to me. Thank you.

Maybe you could join up to Elara´s course.. i joined too and i wish to learn much from her

I wish to thank you once again and i wish to see lot´s of new stories from you You have the the golden pencil my friend. Dont loose it 8)

I'll try Thanks... It's good to hear. I wish I could write slower, but any wait is making me crasy... I need to write - express my thoughts... About styles you are right. Right now I am looking for a fresh ones. Do you know DragonLance seria. I tried to use it's style now and now think about something new... Yes, you are right... Another blasted story... Any advices..? Of course, I'll visit Elara, but to tell the truth, I am not agree with several of her thoughts. She is decalring it as absolute truth, what is little overratting... Anyway, new point of view is always welcome. I'll join the project, if I'll find out how this blasted thing(my comp) works... I've read a little about Elara and I am impressed... though I think that several moments must be cleared a little

Thanks again, Lia. I am embarassed by your kind words... "Follower leaves for a small rest - 2-3 days, not more...

Damn... I tried twice already to registrate in vault-tech forum, but all is useless. I try to post my usersname or password and this blasted thing is writing that it is inactive... Sad news So, I'll try to do once more later... but it look like that I can't join the Project, Lia

No probs lad