Duck and Cover

Awesome! Keep it up...

... oh, and what did you mean with the "hairless skin" part? I am hairy! Really, I am!

Well, actually I mean "human's hairless skin"... your alien form has more hair, but puny human's body don't have it... and your avatar. Can you tell me what does it mean? Some kind of ghoul or something... I can't understand it.

Oh, and thanks for good words, everybody... though the harsh reality can't be hidden. I like to look at the facts and I know my problem. My main problem now is that I don't have enough words . I use words as "to sigh", "to smile", "to grin" too often. Well, right now I try to solve it... no matter. I am talking with myself. Heh, this story will be too difficult. Too many heroes, I suppose. But it will be funny. Storyline will be more difficult than I can even imagine... Every hero has it's own story and every one of them will get his part of the story. And surely paynetothemax will be the star... brightest star. Story, described by different persons... yeah, it is difficult stuff, but an interesting one.

Well, first of all, my avatar is PERKELE. It's a finnish folk synonym for satan/demon/devil. So it's some kind of a fiend, yes.

And you aren't the only one who's running out of words, trust me. I end up with that kind of problems way too often in the DAC Saloon. I hate to admit it, that I might not have as good vocabulary as I think.

SMARTEST MAN ALIVE wrote:And surely paynetothemax will be the star... brightest star.

YAY!! I am teh winner!

Kash wrote:And you aren't the only one who's running out of words, trust me. I end up with that kind of problems way too often in the DAC Saloon. I hate to admit it, that I might not have as good vocabulary as I think.

What's the matter? English not your native tougue? hyuck hyuck...

The wind was blowing slowly, gathering dark grey clouds far away over the mountains. The storm was starting on the Western Pikes and it's breath was felt even here, though it was in dozens of miles away. The quiet muttering of thunder and unclear whisper of the wind was heard in the air... Tall man in the black leather looked far to the West and grinned. This lovely weather was promising a lot of problems. Blasted desert storms could last for weeks or stoped in a few hours... This baby of the Wasteland was very uncertain and deadly, as baby of the Deathclaw. He sighed and turned away. The storm was too far away to say something for certain...

Small group of travellers was coming to the East. Endless way of sand and dead wasteland was seen ahead. No signs of life or any creatures... except raiders, bloodthirsty geckos and deathclaws... and blasted red scorpions. Slavemaster smiled with satisfaction and swallowed another tail of the scorpion. It's poison was flowing lightly from his mouth with quiet hissing:
"You know. I began to like this planet... If this planet has such a tasty creatures with such lovely poison than it means that it has something more interesting..." - He sighed deeply and smiled broader - "Like my dear homeland. When I eat this small creatures, I think about my planet... It has all sorts of such creatures and all kinds of poison can be found there. Death have all kinds and meanings there... this planet reminds me my homeland." - he took another cooked red scorpion and continued his breakfast. The guardian was looking after him grimly, but said nothing. Kashluk smiled to his own thoughts, but remained silent too. He didn't want to spoil the good mood of Slavemaster. This fella don't have it too often.
"So, what are you cooking, pal?" - Dan asked and smiled cheerfully, coming to the eating man. Slavemaster muttered something grimly and looked at him, promising nothing good. Stainless come closer to them and said quietly to Dan:
"May be you'll try to avoid him for some time? You last joke with this napalm grenade was not very funny... Slavemaster was cooked like gecko."
Dan shook his head and looked with sorry at him:
"Come on, Stainless. You know that it was acident. I didn't want to do it, but..."
"BUT you fried my ass very lovely..." - Slavemaster finished, looking very nasty at Dan. Than he took another tail of the scorpion and crushed it with his mouth with loud noise. One could guess that Slavemaster was thinking about one's neck instead of this tail... Two of them returned to their business while the guardian was looking to the East. What was waiting for them there?

Darkness of the night fell on the Wasteland as blanket, putting away all colours and light. Life tried to run away or hide from this constant darkness. Creatures of the night were fearsome and terrible. Names for many of this creatures were lost in time... the others didn't have names at all because nobody was able to look at them and survive their deadly embrace... Stories of the Slavemaster were as cheerful, as always. Small group of travellers was sitting near the dancing flame of the campfire and was listening the stories of the past. They were ready to sleep - they had a long way ahead - but every one of them was telling his own story about the past, the present or the future. The guardian told about the constant war of their race with their neighboors. The meaning of this war was lost in time, but it continued. To tell the truth, this war became even more deadly without any meaning or hope to solve it. The only solution for this war was to kill all enemies or to die... Dan was sleeping calmly near the fire, but sometimes it looked like that he was listening attentivly. His breath was unsteady and hurry. The story of Kashluk was funny and brought back a smile on the faces of the travellers. The mood of the guardian was grim all this days. News from his homeland were coming darker with every new day... Slavemaster was telling about rumours, he heard all around about deadly mutated creatures lived in the darkness. His words made even the guardian to shudder and came closer to the fire, though he tried not to show any signs of fear. Slavemaster only smiled, looking after his friends. His hissing words were dancing in the air with bright tongues of flame as deadly creatures, lurking in the shadow... it was his own nature and he welcomed it...

"So, Stainless... it's your turn to tell the story." - Spazmo said and yawned. He wanted to sleep greatly, but this evening was too damn good. He didn't want to miss a word. The hot fire was whirling on the wood. Cold fresh air of the wastes was full of noises of the night. Sweet smell of the desert grass was felt in the air. Spazmo breathed deeply and the night's cold air rushed into his lungs. His head was whirling lightly as if he took too much of booze. All this sounds and smells were making him... happy. Spazmo laughed lightly without any good reason and looked at Stainless:
"I am next and my story will be great... but first I want to hear your story, my mysterious friend."
Stainless looked at Spazmo sadly and shook his head.
"I am sorry, but I have nothing to say."
"Nothing... Nothing at all?" - everybody looked at him with confusion. Of course, he was a mysterious pal and didn't like to talk about the past... but it was rather rude. Kashluk laughed nervously and looked around:
"This is strange, Stainless. I know you long enough and I am sure that you have something interesting to share with us. Come on, this is a good night. There is no need to ruin everything..."
The guardian looked at everybody and than come closer to the warrior.
"If you don't want to talk, than it is your business. Nobody is going to make you." - he said quietly and looked around with warning. Everybody turned away from his look. Stainless took hand of the guardian and sighed deeply:
"Okey, I have one story... I didn't want to talk about it and tried to forget it, but it looks like that I cursed to look at it again and again. I see ghousts of this story all the time..." - he became silent for a moment and looked into the sky. The stars were gleaming brightly on the clear endless depth of it. Somewhere to the East the storm was raging, but it was quiet and calm here. Night sky was breathing with cold and fresh colours. Some flies and bugs were singing its unclear songs near. Stars were shining brightly in the darkness and reflecting on the steel of his armour with sparks of fire... Stainless touched the covering of his metal armour. The coldness of the Steel gave him some strengthes and he began:
"Long ago this armour had signs of one order. It was called Brotherhood of Steel... I was one of it's members. From the very begining I was supposed to be a warrior, a knight... to fight for the glory of our brotherhood to recreate our future. But I saw my destiny far away... in the sky." - he became silent and looked at the unclear, half-deleted insigna on his metal armour. How long was it, when he left the Earth? Ten years... or may be ten hundred years... Time is running different in different places. Stainless sighed deeply and continued. Everybody was listening for his words with interest:
"I'll tell you a story about young boy. I didn't think that I'll tell it to somebody but I think that the time has come. I am on the Earth... I lost any hope to return here alive long ago, but...

The story is telling about young boy who wanted to fly. It is very ancient and very few know about it. Reflection of it could be seen in my past, but it concerns only me... The boy was called Ikar. He dreamt to fly and every day was looking at the sky. Many times he imagined that he will fly, but he was a simple mortal. Only birds could fly because they have wings. Young boy had only arms... and brain. His father was genious of his people and loved his son a lot. Dedal - it was his name - created wings for his son, but warned that if he will fly too far away over the sky the sun will consume him... The dream of the young boy became true, but the price was high. He has never returned to the Earth and died in the cursed depthes of the sky (if you know legend about Ikar and Dedal, than I am sorry about my change of this legend. I lack words to describe it correctly... and I am too lazy. Anyway, the sense is the same.)"

Warrior became silent and looked into the fire. The bright light of raging flame was seen there. Endless dance of light... endless fight between light and darkness. The sun. Stainless saw so many suns that he almost forgot his own sun. The sun, he was looking after from his very childhood. Now the unknow foreign sunrays greeted him every new day for a whole eternity. Warrior of BOS forgot about the Earth and everything else. This is the essence of universe... and it was a mercy to him. He couldn't bear the heaviness of his past, but now it rushed at him with new terrible strengthes.

"Greetings..." - loud voice interrupted silence of the night. Everybody shuddered and looked at the newcomers. Two unclear shadows appeared from the darkness, coming slowly to the fire. The friends were sitting quietly and were thinking about the last words of the Stainless. Nobody wanted to interrupted the silence of this moment, but this newcomers ruined everything. Spazmo looked at them without any interest and sighed tiredly - another bunch of mutants, who wanted get a rest. Two strange looking mutants were coming to them. He prepared for the sleep, but suddenly noticed that his friends became nervous and prepared for the fight. Spazmo looked around with caution too, but noticed nothing dangerous - there were only two mutants. Nothing more.

One of the mutants - one small puny looking fella - looked at the people, sitting near the fire and grinned:
"Look, Lasse... And I was said that famous group of star-travellers doesn't afraid of simpe mutants." - His large froglike creature laughed lightly and put away the sweat from his forehead. Spazmo noticed fresh blood on his hands and started.
"What do you want, horseman..? And where is the others of your group..." - the guardian asked quietly, looking around with caution. Horsemen of Apocalypse... this grim group of plane-travellers was well-known by their deeds. The leaders and members of the group were different in different time but the results were the same - death, darkness, devastation... Old members died and new ones joined them, but everything was turning into their twisted ways. This membership was promising a lot, but the darkness of their past was turning every purpose into dark ways... Small mutant smiled lightly and answered to the guardian:
"Oh, horseman... Please, call me Pyro. The horses found their end long ago and now we had to travel by our own foots... and can you be little more cheerful? You know, I can piss off." - in his last words sounded warning. His large friend smiled evily... The guardian stood up quickly and showed his weapon:
"If you know about us enough, than you know that we don't seek fight..."
"But we are not going to run from it..." - Spazmo ended. Steel blade sparked in his hands. Heavy silence appeared in the air. Two figures was standing near the fire and was looking grim at small party. Every one of them felt the hatred and warning all around. The fire was hissing and laughing ready to feel the warm fresh blood...

"AH? Pay... paynetothemax... Is it you?" - they all heard a loud cry of Dan suddenly. The man woke up from his unsteady sleep and noticed a shadow in the different way, than everybody was looking in. Dan got up quickly and disappeared in the darkness. In a few minutes he appeared again, leading a young man to the fire... Suddenly he noticed the suspicous persons near his friends and looked at them with question:
"Paynetothemax, were you talking about them? Did you see them, killing each other?" - he asked quietly and his young friend nodded grimly, looking at two mutants. Than he raised his voice and said to the everbody:
"I was sent by Killzig to say something new about... er, our common business. May be you'll let me say before kill each other."
The mutants looked grimly and each other and laughed loudly.
"Sure, why not? We have enough blood for this night. Our ranks are rather empty now, but we will find new members... soon." - Pyro laughed and looked with interest at the guardian. Than his eyes fell to Stainless... His small eyes flashed with inner light and he added quietly - "We have a lot to offer."
The guardian looked at him grimly and than turned to Kashluk:
"Talk with him, if you want, but I don't want to see him or I swear I'll spill one's blood."
"Sure, it will be yours blood" - Lasse added grimly, but the guardian answered nothing. The conflict was over... for now.
"What do you have to say?" - Kashluk asked paynetothemax tiredly, looking after the mutants. Young man looked around with caution and answered...

The sun was rising over the hills far away. The black ashes of the cold fire were the last remains of the camp. The night was quiet and calm. Nobody felt as gentel blanket of it fell on the sleeping people. Tiredness and harshness of the Wastes was forgotten for some time. Everybody was sleeping calmly, not interrupted even by some flies or small animals. Everything was quiet. Only the sun was rising slowly, as if it didn't want to wake the campanions, but it had no choice. Kashluk yawned deeply and opened his eyes. He was listening the silence of the wastes, taking pleasure in it's wild beaty. The sky was coloured in bright red colours and was sparking as billions of diamonds and crystals in the underground caverns of forgotten worlds. Small clouds were crawling by the sky to the West. Warm sand was touching his skin gently. Suddenly he understood that he had to be the guard until the morning, but he fell asleep. He didn't remember how it happened, but it was one of his first faults. Kashluk got up quickly and looked around. Everything was quiet and calm. Everybody else was sleeping too and didn't notice his sleep. He smiled lightly and sighed with relief. Tall man valued his reputation, though he was not so satisfied. Such fault pissed him off.
"How could I fell sleep. I don't remember anything..." - he muttered to himself and shook his head. The mist of the dream was whirling in it yet. His head was heavy, as bag with stones. He looked around again... and suddenly noticed something new... Their new friends. They disappeared... and two beds were empty too. The guardian and Stainless... Kashluk didn't see them anywhere.

Wow, reminds me of "Tretchery on the the Planet of Apes" :) Good going, Follower. I would like to see some more soon!

good stuffs.

Light shadows of the clouds were running swiftly by the slopes of the mountains. Wind was blowing slowly, chasing after the white clouds, running to the West. It was quiet and calm in the wilderness in this time of year... An old ghoul was laying calmly and was smoking, looking after the sky. He liked such weather, when one could think calmly without being killed, robbed or eaten by some nasty guys. He grinned, thinking about something and looked around. All was quiet. The Wasteland was quiet and dead as always. The sun was shining brightly. Hot air was rising from the sand. Cold breath of mountains was coming from the West...

Large stone, on which an old ghoul was sitting, was warmed by sunrays and his old bones were getting rest at least for some time. Chill air of the mountains or dampness of the caves were bad for his health and temper. More than usual, he had very bad temper when he had to roam the wastes with another bunch of would-be heroes, but now he was satisfied. The day was warm and calm. His old bones didn't hurt and all was fine. An old ghoul sighed deeply and smiled - nothing could change this...
"GhettoGoose, come here... We don't have a whole day." - somebody cried with impatient. Old ghoul stood up slowly and looked around grimly. In this moment he was ready to burry somebody alive... and this somebody was coming to him now.
"What do you want, Hammer?" - he asked quietly, trying to hold his emotions. Grim-looking rather old ghoul in leather armour came to him and looked at him with question:
"What's the matter? Did you forget that we want to find that blasted artifact?! How was it called? Lumberg?"
GhettoGoose shook his head tiredly and lay again on the warm rock:
"Relax, pal. There is no need to hurry... Our large friend, Rosh, will scout the territory, will find out some news, will gather more information..." - he became silent and smoking cigaret fell from his hand. He was sleeping calmly and warm sun rays were dancing on his old common clothes...
"Blasted GhettoGoose..." - Hammer muttered and turned away - "Why should we drag this old ass with us?" - he left his alone and looked into the wasteland impatiently. All was quiet. Wind was wailing somewhere in the mountains. Desert storm was raging far to the south. Sand was whirling in the air... Suddenly Hammer heard and quiet unclear noise and turned around quickly. In his hands appeared gun and he was ready to pull the trigger. In a few seconds he sighed with relief and grinned:
"Rosh, if you are really smart, than you'd better try not to make such tricks again. You know, several of my friends have more holes in their bodies than it supposed to be with all this stuff."
From the large rock, on which GhettoGoose was sleeping, appeared dark shadow. It's tall strong figure and large deadly claws were pointing into nobody else, than a blasted deathclaw... terror of the wastes. And Rosh surely was one of the most feared of deathclaws. His strengths, his claws, his teeth... his wits and mouth, full of smart stuff, every raider tried to run away as soon as he heard rumour, that Rosh appeared somewhere down there. Only madmen or really strange people were brave enough to travel with him.
"Hammer, I heard your last words and saw your impatien walk... GhettoGoose is deadly person, so you'd better be quiet near him. I haven't travelled with him yet, but I saw the results of his activety... You are ghoul, but you act like child. Try to be patient and watch after your steps, pal. The Wasteland doesn't like to hurry. Every creature there..."
"Yeah, yeah..." - Hammer interrupted him quickly. He knew that his lectures could last for hours. So he looked at him with interest and asked:
"So, have you found, what we were looking for? Have you gained some info?"
Deathclaw smiled broadly, showing mouth, full of damn sharp teeth:
"Of corse; one can hear a lot at night near one's camp, if he will be quiet... Our common friend, Killzig, doesn't like to share information with everybody, but I was able to learn something... Wake up, my sleeping friend. We have a lot to do and our time is limited."
Old ghoul stood up and looked at him grimly. Than he sighed hopelessly and began to gather his stuff:
"There is no place left in our world for poor old ghoul to sleep calmly." - he muttered. Rosh heard his words and laughed cheerfully:
"You will sleep when you'll die, pal. For now you should be happy, that you can walk and talk..."
"And kill..." - Hammer added with evil smile.
"And listen all this nonsense." - GhettoGoose finished and looked at his new companions grimly... Well, another adventure... another quest... another month of useless travel. Old ghoul shook his shoulders and followed after them.

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

The sun... long time ago it was bringing life and light to our wrold. The land was green and flourishing. Water was peacful and safe... People were kings of the nature. JimboSan looked around and grinned. A lot has changed since than. Wasteland was lieing grimly before him, bringing nothing, but death and starvation. Nature was harsh and unwelcome. Every step could be the last one for the unprepared... He drew his gun and reload it. Raider didn't afraid of living creatures, that dwelled in the Wasteland. He felt fear, when he saw the rage of the nature... It was coming to him.
"Desert storm." - Ruben Rooben Reuben muttered calmly, as if it was a common news and there were no deadly treat to their lifes. Large grey clouds were gathering quickly over their heads, ready to consume them. The air became dark and strong wind was felt in it... and it was only the beginning. JimboSan looked around quickly, seeking for some kind of shelter. This storm was really bad news. Only now he began to notice the signs of the Wastes. They were crying all the time that the storm was coming, but he didn't notice it until it was too late. Desert storm... he closed his eyes and tried to relax. Surely, may be they will be lucky and storm will pass away quickly. But he didn't hope that luck will be mercy for him. Usually it tried to pull him into the mess.
"May be it was not a bright idea to go to the East... into the very heart of the storm." - Ruben Rooben Reuben noticed and looked at his companion. JimboSan was standing quietly and was looking grimly after the dark sky. The wasteland all around was dead. No signs of shelter. No signs of hope to survive... not very good news. There were some ruins not far to the North, but they couldn't give a good shelter. Old walls were crumbled into dust mostly. The old buildings were burried under the sand mostly, but they had little choice. The mountains were too far away to the East. JimboSan didn't hope to reach the safety of their caves alive... too far away. Raider looked grimly at his silent companion and said quietly:
"Follow me."

The wind was raging all the time. Sand was whirling madly all around. It looked like that the whole air is full of fire. Small pieces of sand were biting as bloodlust insects. Blows of the wind were strong and harsh. Its wailing looked like the wailing of the alive creatures. JimboSan was coming to the North. He even didn't want to think what kind of creatures could lurk in this storm. In the darkness and black madness of whirling air could dwell nothing pleasant or safe... and surely he didn't want to meet it. He was coming slowly to the North, where he noticed the ruins of some buildings before this storm fell on them as black wave. JimboSan was coming to the North firmly. Only this idea was burning in his tired and confused mind. Everything else was not important. It looked like that sand was draining strength and life itself from his body... from his soul. The sand was wailing all around. It's hot fingers were touching his skin even through the metal armour. He could walk barely under the heavy embrace of sand. His limbs were as heavy as iron and his every step was like a torture. His gun was pulling him to the ground. His boots were full of sand and weighted a whole tonn. His mind... He looked at his back, trying to find his silent friend, but it was hopeless. There were no chances to find somebody in this raging darkness. He didn't see clearly even his own hands and surely it was impossible to hear something, except mad wailing of the wind. Whatever has happened to Ruben Rooben Reuben, it was his own problems. JimboSan sighed deeply, trying to catch air instead of the sand and continued his way. His lungs were burning, full of sand. His eyes could see nothing and were full of tears. Hot sand was everywhere...

JimboSan wheezed and opened his eyes. Fresh calm air rushed into his lungs with quiet hissing. His eyes were aching, but he didn't care. Calm cold darkness was the best cure for him. He coughed strongly, putting away the sand from his lungs and breathed deeply. Wherever he was, he felt the coldness and damp air of the cave. May be it was some kind of pre-war vault or basement of some building. He didn't remember how he appeared here or what has happened with him. His last memories were whirling sand and endless darkness ahead. Everything else was running from his consciousness.
"You have woken up already. Good." - he heard quiet calm voice and started. JimboSan couldn't seen anything now in this blasted darkness, but he knew this voice... may be too good.
"Ruben Rooben Reuben, Damn. And I thought that I was in hell." - he tried to get up or laugh, but he only moaned slowly. His whole body was aching terribly.
"Lay still. You fell into this place in the darkness and you must get some rest... Stimpacks will heal you quickly, but you need to lie." - quiet footsteps were heard all around. Calm quiet voice was ringing in his brain as song of hypnose. The words were dancing in it's own unknown matter. The colours and sounds of this dark place began to disappear. JimboSan shook his head, trying to put away the darkness and said:
"Damn, Ruben Rooben Reuben, why are you so... er... I don't know, So calm all the time. I have noticed already that you don't react on any event. We almost died this time and you are as calm as always." - he looked into the darkness, trying to find the face of his companion, but he saw nothing. He heard a quiet sigh and calm answer:
"I am as I am. This is my nature... Sleep now. We have a lot to do, before this storm will over. This place gave us shelter, but it is not so safe as you think. When you'll wake up, you'll understand what I mean, but for now sleep. Your wounds are harsh and you need rest..." - JimboSan wanted to ask something else. He wanted to understand what has happened... where were they... what the hell this guy was talking about... but he didn't ask anything. He was sleeping calmly and his friend was standing near him. He was guarding his sleep, looking into the darkness... and darkness was looking at him...

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

"Careful, you, morons..." - large raider growled angryly, looking after bunch of raiders, who was looting another trading party. Occasional bullet flew directly near his head and he even felt the warmth of steel in the air.
"I swear that one day I'll..." - he muttered to himself, cursing every alive creature on this god-forsaken planet. The raider of his talents was wasting his time with common raiders, while his duty was...
"John... JohnPnP..." - somebody whispered in the air. Large radier shuddered and looked around. He was alone. His boys were busy with fight. Gunshots and cries of the dyeing people. Wailing of the fire and wind... Far to the West the storm was raging near the borders NCR. Raider grinned and looked at half-empty bottle of Jet:
"I should kiss your shining face less often." - he noticed and laughed. All this illusions were making his too nervous sometimes.
"John... the time has come." - the words were flying in the air quietly, coming from the silence and noises of battle. They were borning in the sounds of death and bringing nothing, except dark pleasure... Large raider smiled evily. He knew this voice. He knew the man, who was talking with him like this... or may be it was not a man at all, but his imagination. He was not sure in it, but he followed after this voice anyway. It was saying an interesting things sometimes and was promising a lot...
"Master?!" - he whispered with interest - "The time has finally come to spill god's blood... to crush their fucking heads and consume their beating hearts... the time has come?!" - he didn't asked this voice, but only repeated his words, his thoughts. He was waiting for so long to start the hunt, that not it sounded almost impossible... The voice was quiet. JohnPnP felt it's presence near, but it was silent... It was agree with him. Large raider drew his broad knife and looked at the name, written there. The smile was sparking on it's sharp blade. Many has found their guts on it's edge, but the one, this steel blade was created for, was waiting his turn. JohnPnP checked the sharp edge of his blade and than smiled satisfied:
"NachoMonkey... I am coming after you. Killzig and his lackey are the next, but the boots from your hide will warm my legs soon enough." - he hissed, looking after the last survivors of the trading party, killed by his boys. It was good day.

Damn. This is nice. Follower you should of PMed me when you posted it up. I only just stumbled upon it now :)

Excellent work, Follower... And remember - me and Hammer are archenemies to each other, so our clans should have a few fights here and there ;)

Yeah... Hm, Okey...

Okey, Kashluk, my dear american-hater, you will get your portion of Hammer's blood and guts. Not occasional small fights, but the whole great battle for the future. You army is waiting for you... It will be called children of PERKELE. I wish the guardian could join you - he is one of the brightest american-haters on this forum - but he will have an important quest...

And paynetothemax - your army is waiting for you too. The Future of America is in your hands. As I promised, you all will get enough blood to satisfy your tastes... Right now I am waiting the results about Iraq. Surely, the war will start, but I want to be sure. Otherwise, several of my ideas will be useless...

I hope I die a horrible death in your story.

Follower wrote:And paynetothemax - your army is waiting for you too. The Future of America is in your hands. As I promised, you all will get enough blood to satisfy your tastes...

I told you I was hardcore.

VasikkA - you will get your death

I write too slow now. Sorry. I am too lazy, but the current news makes me to laugh. I simply can't think about something else. This war is much more funny than war in Bosnia or Afgan. Iraq with its oil is too tasty piece of pie for everybody. Europe and America are ready to kill each other for part of it... Heh, soon enough they'll share it with each us, but for now... Ok, no matter. In a few days I'll get enough time to spend on this story, but now I really want to know what will happen next with Iraq. This stupid comedy is very funny and terrible. May be human's life would be more valuable if it's blood will be black from oil. Ok, I have enough ideas from general discussion and I'll reflect them all...

"War..." - quiet whisper was whirling in the raging silence of the air. Quiet port-city was full of rumours and worries. People was coming up and down all around the place and there were fear in their eyes. War... War is coming.

Three persons were coming slowly to the West and were looking around with caution. This parts were not the safest route through the mountains. This wastes were full of hubologists, fire geckoes and other far less common or pleasant creatures. Large number of gangs were roaming all around. Like some blasted wolfes, they felt fresh blood and were coming to the New San Francisco from all around. The rumours were spreading fast as desease. Some said that this war would for the gold mines of Redding. The others thought that this war was the personal revenge of NCR... president Tandi, to be sure, but the details were confusive. And it was making the matter even worse. There could be only one thing say for sure - the war will come. It was as certain as death and starvation will follow it. It was only matter of time. The numbers of armies and enemies began to form alliances even now. NCR and it's southern allies... Vault city... several others of small and medium towns all around were taking one part of this war. The other place belonged to New Reno and all criminal families all around. Den, Modoc, dozens of small towns and villages, tribes and several northern large groups of mercanaries. There were rumours that even empire of San Fransico decided to join them, though it was less likely. Surely, they didn't want to deal with criminals and this war could be too deadly for them... but rumours... lust for gold and influence. It was the end of an old world. It was shaking newly reborn world too with its merciless grip... Small trader stopped and looked at the distanation of their travel - large port city was lieing before them. San Fransico was greeting them with fresh smell of the ocean and salty fish. Nothing else was important. War, death, end of the world. All this stuff is trash - business is business and it must go foremost. Ganymedes smiled satisfied and said loudly:
"Great Brahmin's spirit be blessed. We have reached this place safetly. Now we can start real trade. I heard that they had a mighty fine goods here."
Silent guard came to him and grinned:
"The war is near. All the goods are coming to the troops. No good deals."
Ganymedes looked at him sadly and his smile disappeared. Surely, an old trader knew it good enough on his own, but he didn't want to ruin this majestif moment. Well, Lynxer was near to help him to return to reality... Blasted war.
"Blasted war..." - Umpa muttered, as if he was reading the thoughts of his friend - "the war hasn't even started yet, but it brought us a lot of problems already."
Ganymedes looked at his large techno-friend and smiled. May be he was a genius in high-tech stuff, but his trading skills were average.
"Don't be so grim - war is an excellent way to make money. Simply you must know a way to get it. Smuggle goods, sell stolen stuff or military secrets... You know, this war will be a great opportunity for us. I heard that it will be very bloody stuff... Ghost of terrible Reaper is seen again. Shadows of minions of cursed Haplo appeared in the wasteland. Some say that even Killzig himself showed some interest in it... or started it." - Ganymedes became silent and looked around nervously - "Well, no matter. This war, if the rumours are true, will be a great opportunity. Ok, let's go. I am anxious to plunder local shops." - he laughed loudly and went quickly into the city. Two others followed them. Lynxer only stoped for a while and looked at his back. All was quiet and calm. Only the sense of permanent danger was whirling in the air.

War... a heavy, but nutrious subject to write about. I'm eager to see what your twisted mind comes out with, Follower. :) Just watch out for the wolf traps; flaws in the text content and story between the fights might ruin the feeling.

Yeah, you are right, I guess.

The black ashes of the campfire were warm, though the flame died long ago. It was warmed by hot sunrays in the cloudless sky. The endless blue depth of the sky was seen under their heads. There were seen no clouds at all. Only far to the East were seen dark shadows of the storm. Its raging power was bringing worry feelings in every soul of the companions. And there were no peace there at all... Sometimes their looks fell on the empty beds of their disappeared friends and there were seen worry and fear there. What could happen with them? What has happened yesterday? Most of them had blurry memory about last night...

Spazmo was sitting calmly on a large boulder and was sharping his sword. It's mirror blade was shining brightly on the sun and it was seen clearly that it could cut even through hardest rock, but he continued his work. This old blade was his only and best weapon. It was unwise to leave it without care... Near him Dan was playing with some tech mumbo-jumbo. He was checking the oil level of the guns, reloading them, checking their working order... a lot of small and large details were lieing all around near him. Nobody could say for sure what this things were for. It was a job of Dan to keep a level of equipment in this camp. Dan rose his eyes and looked around unsatisfied:
"Blasted wind. This fucking guns are full of sand. The trigger is jammed. Cooling system is full of dust. Oil is polluted with sand... " - he sighed deeply and put away another gun. His quick and steady arms were moving with terrible speed. The weapons were falling apart or appearing in his arms in seconds - "That's why I like simple rifles and guns. They are too simple and easy to repair. Even stupid and blind raiders can handle it. Heavy weaponry is easy too, but too heavy... too much time to spend on it. What I really hate is this high-tech energy weapons. This blasted plasma are going to blast in my face. Laser-collectors system is ready to cut me clearly apart..." - he stoped for a while and looked at the large pile of useless details, lieing all around. Than he grinned and continued his discussion. He was talking with himself all the time, while he was busy with guns. Well, nobody listened him, because nobody could understand half of his mechanical words anyway. They saw that Dan knew his job well. The guns were shoting, the grenades were exploding - everybody were happy, except enemies.
"So where are our brave leaders?" - Dan suddenly asked and looked at the sun. It was high in the sky and was shining brightly. Spazmo looked at his friend with interest and stoped to sharpen his sword for a while. He put it away under his strange uniform and grinned:
"Who knows, pal? Yesterday evening was quite a show for sure. It's a pity that we were brainwashed... thanks to our common friend Pyro. Your dear friend, paynetothemax, could help us in this matter, but it looks like that he disappeared too. Now half of the group is missing and the others don't remember what has happened." - he smiled grimly and looked at Slavemaster. He was sleeping calmly all this time from the morning. Grim smile was seen on his face. One could only guess what dream made Slavemaster to smile. Surely, Spazmo, didn't want even to think about it. He shuddered and continued:
"The guardian and Stainless disappeared. Kashluk hasn't appeared yet. The things are really great... If I'll see this small goblin again, I am gonna..." - the ideas of Spazmo were whirling in his mind madly. He was pissed off. All this stuff was making him nervous. Mystery, unknowness - his people hated all this dark things. Now he wanted to use his anger on somebody. It was overrunning his soul and this blasted question of Dan was asked not in right time. His fury was only growing... Spazmo stood up and looked to the East angryly. His face was red from anger. It was raging as desert storm. Quiet noise of thunder was only the reminder for them. Dan stoped for a while his business and looked at Spazmo with surprise. He saw him in bad mood not too often. To tell the truth, it was the first time, when this guy became pissed off... May be it was a special air of this place or something, but Dan began to notice that everybody around him became too nervous. In the morning they all were sent to scout the local area for their friends or their dead bodies, but they found nothing, except large amount of dried blood. Slavemaster noticed that it was a human's blood and it was rather fresh. There were far too many dead bodies in the wasteland lately. It looked like that people became mad. Dan began to notice the strange behaivor in his friends and even in him too. May be it was a simple imagination, but... He oiled the last gun carefully, checked the trigger one last time and put it away finally. Than he stood up and looked at his work with satisfaction. Nobody could say that he waste his free time - dozen of completly operational guns and several dozen of grenades were lieing near him. They were gleaming grimly in the sunrays. Surely, the wasteland was not the best place for such difficult mechanisms as this guns(sand,dirt, dust and such), but it was essencial to keep them in working order. Dan stood up and put away an greasy skirt with the "useless" free details, left after his repair. Than he looked at raging Spazmo and smiled lightly:
"Everything is fine, mate. Don't worry about all this shit... Everything will be fine." - he spitted to the ground and laughed loudly - "By the way, why are you using the sword? Is it some kind of tradition of your race or something? I really don't think that it is very dangerous weapon against this babies." - he looked at his gun warmly. Spazmo turned to him and his eyes flashed grimly. He came closer to him slowly and said nothing. Something troublesome was seen in his look. With quiet hissing the sword appeared in his hands slowly. The steel was singing slowly in his hands. Sharp blade of shining metal saw many battles and had many scratches, but it was razor sharp as always. Dan grinned and tried to rise his gun, but in a second blue lighting flashed and he felt the coldness of steel near his neck. Sunrays were shining on the sword and reflecting confusion and interest on the face of Dan. He looked at Spazmo with interest, appeared from nowhere and laughed quiet:
"Impressive. It was a good show, pal."
Spazmo put away his sword and smiled too, though his smile was cold.
"I can forgive you your ignorance only because you are unfamiliar with customs of my people. To insult my blade is to insult me. It is part of me... part of my soul." - he looked at his sword and touched it with care. His hands were travelling free by the sharp, metal edge of the sword - "If you were in my world, your words would be the greatest insult... but I spent enough time outside to control feel anger, though it is unpleasant. Anyway, this blade is good and effective weapon - with good training and quick reaction it could be quite useful. Well, you saw the result."
Spazmo smiled and returned to his place. Good mood has finally returned to him. His face became relaxed again - it was the main purpose of Dan. He smiled lightly and looked at his gun. It looked so poor and rude against this sword, but he'd prefer to use gun. Dan sighed and came to Spazmo:
"It looks like that Kash went away too far away. He is late... So, may be you'll tell me a little about your race. It looks like that it is an intersting stuff."
Spazmo looked at the reflection of Dan in his sword. His face became dark for a moment, but than he shook his head and grinned:
"Well, why not? We have a lot of time now..." - he stoped and looked around. All was quiet, but something dark was coming closer. It was not a storm, but something larger... and more terrible. He felt the smell of blood and smoke... smell of war. Spazmo looked around and grinned - there were no reason to run war in this devastated land. There have nothing left to fight for. He grinned again to his thoughts and continued:
"Some say that in the reflection of such swords you can see your true essence... This world, your race is very different than ours, though we looks like you. You value so called "money" and "guns" - we prefer rituals of honour and swords... melee weapons or bare fists, but it is highest form of honour our race. <Sigh> it is difficult to explain for one, such as you. Technology is everything for you. You are gaining your strengthes from mechanisms and power, which it can give. Our people try to focus on ourselves and make even simplest swords to sing in our hands... sword such as this." - he rose the blade in the air and swinged it lightly. The air was singing with the steel blade. Dan simply couldn't imagine what use could it have in real fight, but his neck had memories of it's cold embrace yet and it made him to accept his words seriously. Spazmo continued:
"This sword is something more, than scrap of metal. It is reflection of my mind, my soul... It's like code of law, like bible for me. It holds the shape of my future and reminds me about my past..."
Dan stood up and grinned:
"You want to say that this sword tells you how to live?!" - he wanted to laughed, but noticed the grim look of Spazmo's eyes.
"This sword helps me to live. Nobody tells me how to live. I follow nobody, but my own wishes... It was my wish to leave my people or join this group. It was my wish to have such life. After all, I was banned for this sword. I knew the danger of possesision of it. Life of the true warrior is harsh." - he became silent and looked at his sword. Bright bleaks were dancing there. Sun was flashing thousands of times on it... Suddenly he looked at Dan coldly and finished quickly:
"But this is my personal business. It doesn't concern anybody, except me... If you don't want to get another enemy here, you will remain silent about our talk. Don't ask me and don't talk with anybody else about it. If we'll survive long enough, we'll continue our talk, but for now the discussion is over." - he turned away quickly. The silence fell on the camp. Dan looked at Spazmo calmly, shook his shoulders and began to arm his favourite napalm grenades. The shadows of this guy didn't trouble him. He was not a curious one and surely didn't want to get an enemy such as he:
"As you wish, pal." - he muttered to himself and continued his work calmly.

Tall man in black leather was walking by the wasteland slowly, looking around. The wind was singing quietly near him. The sky was greeting him with it's endless depthes. Dead black trees and half-ruined building all around were watching after him grimly. The common wasteland without any signs of life was lieing around. Kashluk put away his gun and grinned - it was a hopeless business to find somebody there. This place was a grand graveyard for many people. Who cared, if two of them disappeared. There were no chances to find them or their bodies. Kashluk was wandering around only to make sure that everything was done. He could find some tracks of his disappeared friends only by miracle, but the wasteland was not very generous person to give such acts. Kashluk stoped for a while and sighed tiredly - the sun was high yet, but he knew that a lot of time has passed. He was looking around since the morning, but found nothing except bones of long-dead travellers or signs of fresh fight. There were no signs of bodies anywhere. More than likely that local scavangers or rad scorpions have taken care about it already.
"Farewell, my friends, it was a good time to travel with you..." - he whispered quietly and took small portion of sand. Than he released it into the wailing wind and muttered something on the unknown language.
"If you are alive, walk with in one piece. If you are dead, rest in peace..." - he muttered grimly. May be it was some kind of joke, but surely it was a grim one. Kashluk shook his head and continued his way - he has done everything, he could. The guardian and Stainless disappeared without any signs. Pyro and his strange friend vanished too... paynetothemax... Kashluk didn't remember what has happened in that blasted evening, but he wasn't able to find this guy. More than likely that it were Pyro's tricks. He was master to confuse minds or even make people mad. Well, at least they were alive and it was good. Few could survive the meeting with this small goblin. Kashluk grinned grimly and continued his way - at least some of them survived it. The future of them was misty, but they had little choice. Life is running smooth and you must run with it, otherwise you will die under it's foots. Kashluk turned away and decided to return to his friends, left in the camp. They had a business to deal with yet... The track of his own foots were running all the way.

Two dark figures stopped and looked quietly after a lonely shadow of Kashluk. They said nothing, but something dark was coming from them. They were following after the man grimly and the sense of the danger was coming from them clearly. One of them, large, strange looking super-mutant in bloodstained clothes pointed on the lonely traveller and growled quietly:
"He is the one of them... Pyro had a long discussion with them. He is one of his friends."
His rather small friend - human in torn dirty leather armour grinned and coughed hardly:
"Our dear Pyro has a lot of friends, but most of them... "cough", "cough"... are ready to burry him alive. We shouldn't hurry in this matter, my dear Jimmy." - his words were hissing quietly, but there were felt coldness of steel there. Supermutant wanted to say something harsh, but stoped. His blood-covered body was too tried. He had no strengthes to argue with this pal now... but soon. He smiled to his thoughts grimly and looked at his friend-human.
"So, what's your ideas, Jack?"
Human smiled grimly and laughed queitly:
"Let's talk a little with Pyro's friend. May be he will enlighten us a little."
Supermutant smiled evily too and followed after BigJack.

Kashluk was following after his own tracks. He didn't want to look around. His mood was grim. He was thinking about the past. Something like this has happened with him already... long ago. The shadows... the ghost of the past always follow intelligent beings. And they had to listen... to remember... to think about the past and think what could be done, if he would act otherwise. Suddenly he shuddered and looked around. Harsh smile disappeared from his face and there appeared expression of caution. He heard quiet fast footsteps near. He heard the unsteady heavy breath of two persons and felt the smell of thier sweat. They were following him. Without warning he fell to the ground and put his gun quickly. In a second the bullet clicked in his gun and he was ready for a fight. Kashluk rose his head with caution and looked around - if this two persons were raiders, they would be dead soon enough. He rose his gun and prepared for the fight. His eyes were searching the wasteland quickly. Two shadows... two grim figures. The wasteland was full of shadows, but they were hurmless. Two large trees crossed their bodies and made suspcious shadow. The ruins of old building were throwing a large grim shadow on the wasteland. Black carcases of the ruined cars were making... Kashluk turned away. His enemies were somewhere near. He felt them by his skin. All this shadows all around were hurmless - real danger lurked somewhere far near... may be even after his back. He looked around quickly just to make sure that it was nothing, but stupid illusion, but shuddered. Two persons were standing in two feets directly near him and were looking at him with grim smile. Large supermutant in bloodstained clothes was grinning free, his friend in torn leather armour was looking at Kashluk with interest and light smile was dancing on his lips.
"We have a good weather today, don't you think so?" - he hissed quietly and coughed. There were blood on his lips now...

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

"Fifty bottle caps for a flask of water?!" - Slider cried in outrage. This fucking merchant was mad. He wanted to draw his dagger and write on his blasted face everything, he thought about him and his blasted goods. But suddenly he was stoped. Someone's heavy hand in metal glove fell on his shoulder. He looked at his back and grinned:
"Sir_Funkalot, you have appeared just in time. May be you'll help me to deal with one very smart ass."
Man in high-tech metal armour looked at his outrage friend and shook his head slowly:
"We are guests in this humble town, so you'd better behave yourself. Junktown doens't like hard-heads."
Slider put away an arm of his friend and looked at him grimly:
"Than deal with this bastard on your own. I am not going to be cheated by some fu..." - his voice disappeared in the quiet muttering of the street. His shadow disappeared in the crowd. Sir_Funkalot sighed tiredly and shook his head. Surely, it was not the best adventure in his life. All his free time he tried to hold his friends from killing each other or everybody else around them. VasikkA with his hunger for fight and glorious death, paynetothemax with his constant travels... This new grimly looking person in dark armour with laser sword. Sir_Funkalot took his bag, full of bottle caps and looked at grim-looking merchant, standing patiently before him:
"Why is it so expensive?" - he asked quietly, counting money. The trader grinned and looked around. The marketplace was full of people. Dozen of traders here and there were trying to attract the customers. Only this trader with his half empty stock of old goods had only few of them. His grim-looking face and some dangerous feeling around him was making everybody nervous. The trader laughed to himself and answered:
"The war is coming. WaterMerchants want to warm their hands on this stuff and raised the taxes. Large armies need a lot of water supply..." - he licked his lips anxiously. His eyes were gleaming, as he was watching after this sucker... er, customer in high-tech armour - "The prices are high everywhere. You willn't find anything cheap all around, but my goods are best..." - he stoped for a while. Than he looked around with caution and lower his voice - "and I have something more interesting too. Some high-tech stuff or information... something stolen and forbidden. Everything you want for a customer with cash." - he looked at his bag and grinned. Sir_Funkalot became silent for a minute, thinking about this offer. This trader had a suspicious look and had a look of another poor soul, but who knows? May be he really had something interesting.
"What do you have to offer..? What's the point of secrecy?" - he asked quietly. The trader smiled broadly:
"I have a lot of friends, who want to close my little business. Some of them has good reasons; the others simply jealous. My high-tech stuff is great, my information is accurate and trustworthy... my sources are beyond reproach... for a right price. So, how can I help to the glorious brotherhood of steel?"
Trader laughed loudly to his own joke, but his voice disappeared in the noises of the crowd. The usual trading day was running swiftly. All was quiet and calm. Sometimes there were heard angry cries of merchants, who caught the thief or too stubborn customer. Sometimes were heard quiet agitated talk of common people or guards of NCR somewhere near. The rumours about the war were spreading fast.
"Do I know you? I think that I saw you in the small camp not too far to the North from here." - Sir_Funkalot suddenly said. Grim trader shuddered and looked at him suspiciouly:
"I am trader. I must traver in various places... What is it for you, if I were there." - man in high-tech armour felt the cautionness and nervous notes in his voice. This person suddenly became very agitated and began to look around with caution. Than he looked with attention in his eyes and sighed with relief:
"No, you are not one of his boys. I sense no stench of him or his men on you..."
"Who? Killzig's?!"
Trader laughed quietly and answered:
"Killzig is nice and quiet. He prefer to watch, not to act... there are darker powers at work here... but you'd better to stay away from it. So, you are one of Killzig's boys. Heh, let me guess - you want to find this mysterious artifact."
Sir_Funkalot nodded and grim trader suddenly became serious.
"Than you have come to a right person. I know a man, who can help you. He is travelling among the planes and little remains hidden for him. He is a great friend of mein and may be he will help you... for a right price." - he smiled lightly and waved his hand. From the crowd appeared a small boy and looked at trader with interest.
"What do you want, boss?"
"Watch after the goods. We have a small deal to discuss with this person in some quiet place." - trader said and disappeared in the crowd. Sir_Funkalot followed him. Small boy grinned:
"As you wish, mighty Avenger69ie..."

Bitchin'!

keep on scrolling on my scriggittes!

Spazmo wrote:Bitchin'!

Er... does it mean, that you don't like it? Well, sorry... I warned you all that it could be quite messy and unpleasant stuff to be a star. :)

paynetothemax, please, try to use simple words. My english is not the best. I looked into the vocabulary, but found no meaning for "scriggittes".

Extreme ownage, Follower. Extreme ownage. I love how the story is evolving.. and I hope I'll get to fight sometime in the future ;)