Introduction
It's been about 247 years since the bombs were dropped. The planet that we once knew and loved was destroyed. A crumbling civilization fought to survive, but it soon became evident that survival was no longer possible for those that weren't living in the underground world known as Pandora. Those who were able to escape the blasts are probably the only ones alive. There are rumors that people on the topside, those that weren't locked away in a vault, have started to undergo a gruesome change. Can you say... radiation poisoning? It has, without a doubt, altered the DNA structure within the human core. People are no longer people. Anyone who didn't seek refuge within an atomic structure or vault was screwed. They are no longer human. They want you. They want your flesh. Your blood. Your brains.
Most people would try to leave. But that might not be so smart. At least in Pandora you're safe. Right? Well, perhaps. But the outside world is more vast and you're likely to discover adventure topside. But the people of Pandora try to keep you below. They scare you with horrors and gruesome tales. Truth is... they might be lying....
The basics...
To be honest, you don't need to know anything about the series to play. In fact, it might make things... fun. However, if you want to brush up on your skills and such, I recommend that you Google Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas. Just remember, this story is set in Texas, USA. More specifically, it'll be around the Dallas area. I, for one, am not from the area so I plan on getting myself nice and lost. But, don't you worry, there will be NPC Guides that will assist you along the way. And if you get lost, you can always shoot me a PM. In all honesty, I don't think it really matters how you get from point A to point B, so long as you get there and can kinda mention some details. Now you don't need to say you took a hard left at the tree with the dick on it. Just do what you can and have fun!
In the end, just remember that this is a survival game. Just know how to wield a gun and you'll do fine. Feel free to run into danger and, if you want, kill off your own character. You can always make another!
Dictionary of terms...
BLOOD -- A wasteland group of thugs. BLOOD uses human sacrifices for their program called KNIGHTHOOD. Most fail these experiments, but some have lived. Essentially, BLOOD injects your blood with a toxic virus that should kill you. If you magically survive, you're given two more series of this virus. If you live past all that, your blood was collected as you contained something called the DNA-V (DNA + the Virus) sequence. BLOOD worked on an anti-virus for future subjects. Essentially, this new anti-virus guaranteed higher survival rates. But why does this all matter? BLOOD sought to use their KNIGHTHOOD to form and army and storm the government.
BLOOD becomes the KNIGHTHOOD -- After successfully injecting wasteland humans with this anti-virus, they created a breed of super-humans whose bodies didn't require food or water to live. Sure, they needed the occasional nutritional supplement, but they could survive for months without water or food.
KNIGHTHOOD becomes the Knighthood of Blood (KoB) -- The KoB is still trying to overthrow the government of Texas. However, with each passing day the KoB begins to notice that perhaps Pandora is the issue. Pandora has been plaguing minds with these false lies above the over world. To prevent Pandora from purging all those on the topside, KoB converts their efforts to now destroy Pandora.
Knighthood of Blood GOD Program -- GOD is a six-year program that creates super-soldiers. Humans are ripped apart to have their limbs and organs replaced by metal or plastic parts. It's a gruesome product, but the yield is phenomenal.
Pandora -- The underground vault system of Texas. Pandora is ruled by a group of leaders called the Pan-D's. They are elites who believe the underground is the only place to live. They spread lies about the wasteland above and are trying to turn people against the humans who live in the wasteland. Rumor has it, Pandora is working on something that could change the world again (as a double secret, let's just say it's nuclear in nature and, if they launch the project, Texas will be leveled... again).
Texan Government -- Just as Pandora has its rulers, so does the wasteland. The Texan government leaders are called the Feds. These Feds are people who survived the nuclear fallout by surviving in a fallout shelter. These people are trying to rebuild life. They've faced much interfere with BoK, but as of late the BoK has been leaving the Feds alone. They fear what is really happening and hope that they can create something strong enough to prevent another nuclear fallout.
Enclave Red Ops -- These are the boys and girls that know the truth. They're the elite of the elite. They're the grandchildren of the pre-fallout days in the United States. They know what caused the war and they are simply looking to help maintain life until the next war. Although they don't trust the Knighthood of Blood, the ERO will not interfere with the KoB's operations. It's believed that, in time, the ERO will kill all KoB members and steal their research, gear, and information. There's no proof though. Just a bunch of rumors.
Sigma Institute -- A mysterious organisation descended from the Enclave rumored to exist in the distant north. Their forces are said to be fearless super-soldiers wielding the most advanced technology ever seen by mankind. If there is any truth to their existence, it remains yet to be seen; most Wastelanders simply treat them as a ghost story used to scare children who wish to explore the wastes.
Ghouls -- These are the poor folks who weren't able to find decent shelter. Exposure to the radiation has transformed them into a ghastly creature. Don't fear them though! They are still human in nature. They can think, love, and feel. Granted, they could still decide to eat you....
Other Fallout related stuff...
It is safe to say that you will need to reference the links in "The Rules" section when you're creating a character. But as after as everything else goes, you can use this guides (if you want). Weapons and armor -- in case you want to give yourself a Fallout look. Ammunition is going to be up to you. Don't have a MILLION shotgun shells, but don't always have one round left. It's up to you to determine how much you have. With regards to items, those will be given to you when stumbled upon. Let's say you open a desk. If you've got decent LUCK built into your character, you might find a Nuka-Cola. This will hold true to your abilities to heal, steal, etc. I'll let you be the judge of your capabilities. Just be realistic, okay?
Oh, and thanks to FalloutRomanae, we'll be adding a BONUS SKILL slot to our characters. A maximum of three BONUS SKILLS are allowed. Skills that could fall in here could include, but are not limited to, the arts, military skills, martial arts, entertaining, and/or anything else you can think up. The more creative, the better!
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 14 authors
Brigitte rubbed her eyes and drew her green shawl closer around her shoulders, over her long blue nightgown. He'd caught her while finishing out her last couple hours of sleep before breakfast and air prep, which slowed her understanding just temporarily. "Excuse me?"
The tall man repeated his statement. Her tired mind sought to connect his words with anything she'd ever heard before, anything at all--and then it finally hit her. Slasher. Some called him a false prophet. Some called him a mutilator. Some called him a flesh-eater. Some called him soulless. Some called him evil.
But to have the person who called him "lover" in these safe walls?
"I'll do something about it," she clocked back fast. She flashed a stressed but grateful smile, reaching out to touch his arm in warm acknowledgment before she shut the door, frantically pulling off her shawl and slipping out of the long nightgown. She dashed into her bedroom and pulled her clothes on, having no time to think or reflect as she headed up to Bonita's floor. She didn't need to think. She knew.
The next thing Brigitte knew, through her hastened haze and worry, Bonita was standing in her doorway, lips pursed as she listened to Brigitte hushedly tell her what Lyki had related to her. After a long moment of contemplation, she sighed. "Mr. Jervis is a lucid fellow. He wouldn't lie about something like this," she said aloud as she gestured for Brigitte to enter, "but, Brigitte, you have to know that we're safe in these walls."
"No, we're not," Brigitte said, images of the stories that other visitors over the years had told her of the horrid man's exploits.
"Brigitte, he's not going to come inside," Bonita insisted as she gestured for Brigitte to sit at the table. What had been breakfast was clearly cleaned away just moments ago. "May I offer you anything? You're up awfully early."
"No, Bonita," Brigitte barked back, partially fueled by what was, in fact, a little bit of morning hunger, "we're not okay in here. We're setting up a meal opportunity for him if he's in the area. He'll stalk around. He'll prey on visitors who need our help and want to come to us."
"Brigitte," Bonita said a little strainedly, "I suggest you calm yourself right now."
"No, Bonita, don't tell me to calm down!" Brigitte shouted, slamming her fist on the table and standing.
Bonita jumped to her feet and pointed toward her door. "If you're not willing to understand, then I'm not willing to argue with you," she jarred back icily, raising her voice to exceed the volume of Brigitte's voice without shouting. "You have work to do and I have better things to do than argue with a little girl who has no other place to go."
Brigitte's jaw dropped. She stared and blinked for a moment, then bristled as she started toward the door. "Fuck you, Bonita," she growled.
"What was that?!" Bonita spat back, clearly shocked.
Brigitte slammed the door behind her and made off for her room. She wanted nothing more than to track down the new visitor and find a way to get her far away. It wasn't personal. She didn't know Bandit. She knew nothing about her at all. In all eventuality, it was possible that Bandit was a pleasant human being worthy of knowing, but it wasn't Bandit that was the problem. It was the cannibal.
The tall man repeated his statement. Her tired mind sought to connect his words with anything she'd ever heard before, anything at all--and then it finally hit her. Slasher. Some called him a false prophet. Some called him a mutilator. Some called him a flesh-eater. Some called him soulless. Some called him evil.
But to have the person who called him "lover" in these safe walls?
"I'll do something about it," she clocked back fast. She flashed a stressed but grateful smile, reaching out to touch his arm in warm acknowledgment before she shut the door, frantically pulling off her shawl and slipping out of the long nightgown. She dashed into her bedroom and pulled her clothes on, having no time to think or reflect as she headed up to Bonita's floor. She didn't need to think. She knew.
The next thing Brigitte knew, through her hastened haze and worry, Bonita was standing in her doorway, lips pursed as she listened to Brigitte hushedly tell her what Lyki had related to her. After a long moment of contemplation, she sighed. "Mr. Jervis is a lucid fellow. He wouldn't lie about something like this," she said aloud as she gestured for Brigitte to enter, "but, Brigitte, you have to know that we're safe in these walls."
"No, we're not," Brigitte said, images of the stories that other visitors over the years had told her of the horrid man's exploits.
"Brigitte, he's not going to come inside," Bonita insisted as she gestured for Brigitte to sit at the table. What had been breakfast was clearly cleaned away just moments ago. "May I offer you anything? You're up awfully early."
"No, Bonita," Brigitte barked back, partially fueled by what was, in fact, a little bit of morning hunger, "we're not okay in here. We're setting up a meal opportunity for him if he's in the area. He'll stalk around. He'll prey on visitors who need our help and want to come to us."
"Brigitte," Bonita said a little strainedly, "I suggest you calm yourself right now."
"No, Bonita, don't tell me to calm down!" Brigitte shouted, slamming her fist on the table and standing.
Bonita jumped to her feet and pointed toward her door. "If you're not willing to understand, then I'm not willing to argue with you," she jarred back icily, raising her voice to exceed the volume of Brigitte's voice without shouting. "You have work to do and I have better things to do than argue with a little girl who has no other place to go."
Brigitte's jaw dropped. She stared and blinked for a moment, then bristled as she started toward the door. "Fuck you, Bonita," she growled.
"What was that?!" Bonita spat back, clearly shocked.
Brigitte slammed the door behind her and made off for her room. She wanted nothing more than to track down the new visitor and find a way to get her far away. It wasn't personal. She didn't know Bandit. She knew nothing about her at all. In all eventuality, it was possible that Bandit was a pleasant human being worthy of knowing, but it wasn't Bandit that was the problem. It was the cannibal.
Null
Null listened cautiously to the young woman's words as she argued with Aegis' leader, taking note of everything he heard - it was of vital importance to understanding the power structure around here. In every unit, there were nuances that were not immediately obvious; for instance, in Sigma, while Cain was only Commander, when he talked, even Smales knew to take heed.
He saw Brigitte slam the door angrily, her temper inflamed by the brief conversation. Null was taken aback at the outburst, uncharacteristically-so - his jaw hung open slightly as he watched her storm away. He'd heard from other soldiers that regular organisations were undisciplined, but to dare to shout at one's commanding officer - there was no punishment for it in Sigma, for it were simply infeasible.
Then again, he mused, was he so different? To be shocked at this was, after all, somewhat hypocritical. He had done something far worse than become enraged with a commanding officer - he had betrayed Sigma. He felt no pang of guilt - only the tiniest bit of loss. In a strange way, he longed for the days before Anna. Back when he had felt pride for what he did. Back when he had belonged somewhere.
He turned to follow Bridget, tapping her on the shoulder as she stormed away from the door. When she faced him again, he met her gaze evenly; even though she was five years his elder, he easily looked to be her age, if not older. A lifetime of brutal training had taken its toll on his body. All graduates were old before their time.
Just another sin on Sigma's hands.
"You have as much a problem as I," Null said, voice calm but forceful. If this persuasion didn't work, he had the potential to be in some deep trouble. He summoned all he knew of Bandit's former lover - he knew little of the man, but understood the basics from his conversations with Terrence. A genius scientist and notorious serial killer in equal measure "Slasher is and remains a serious threat to this settlement. I also have some-" - he paused a moment, wondering if Bandit still had feelings for the psychopath; she would be a far great problem if she did - "-loose ends to take care of with him."
He fell into step beside her as they moved away from Bonita's room; the woman beside him had dressed hastily, in a panic. Sleep still rimmed her eyes - she had not gotten up long ago. She was likely in little mood to discuss matters of war, but he had no clue how close Slasher was.
"I need a team. Roland, Sherman and three of your best men. And access to my power armour. We can hunt him down and - if he is as close as you fear - have him dead before nightfall. However, Bandit cannot know of this. I am-" he paused for a moment, wondering how to proceed. What did what they had done make them? Where did they stand after she had confronted him? Did he have the slightest concern for her well-being at all?
"-attached to her. However, until Slasher is terminated, she is a potential security risk. If this operation is to succeed, she must be kept in the dark." He finished, exhaled, and nodded to her. "Are you with me?"
Brigitte kept her lips pursed, not wishing to air personal business in the stairwell. She cast a couple of sidelong glances to the tall stranger to beg him to zip his lip, but finally resorted to gesturing to him to enter her apartment, pointing at the cluster of chairs in the living room area.
"Are you crazy, discussing that out in the hallway?" she snapped, the strain in her voice breaking through. She did not like arguing with Bonita. And she didn't like facing the truth—that she was someone with nowhere else to go.
The stranger didn't sit. Instead, his cold eyes stared back as he smoothly folded his massive arms in front if his chest. "I heard you discuss the matter well enough out in the hallway," he plaintively spoke back.
Brigitte huffed a little and kicked her boots off. "I can't believe you'd bring our peaceful settlement something so dangerous," she spelled out somewhat shakily. She could feel her blood sugar crashing. Getting emotional on so little sleep didn't feel healthy at all. She trudged toward the kitchen to grab a small pouch of dried fruit. "But you're attached to the person who is attached to the most prolific cannibal in the tri-city area, who would prefer that the rest of us are all disattached. I've heard stories of his ability to break into settlements." She offered him a piece of fruit leather, despite her apparent exasperation. "And now, thanks to you and your attachment, Slasher might be able to stock his pantry at our expense. Nice going."
She pulled off her wrap and set it on the back of her couch, and then shrugged her arms in the air. "You want to go out and fix the mess you guys caused? Sure. I'll keep it under wraps."
"Are you crazy, discussing that out in the hallway?" she snapped, the strain in her voice breaking through. She did not like arguing with Bonita. And she didn't like facing the truth—that she was someone with nowhere else to go.
The stranger didn't sit. Instead, his cold eyes stared back as he smoothly folded his massive arms in front if his chest. "I heard you discuss the matter well enough out in the hallway," he plaintively spoke back.
Brigitte huffed a little and kicked her boots off. "I can't believe you'd bring our peaceful settlement something so dangerous," she spelled out somewhat shakily. She could feel her blood sugar crashing. Getting emotional on so little sleep didn't feel healthy at all. She trudged toward the kitchen to grab a small pouch of dried fruit. "But you're attached to the person who is attached to the most prolific cannibal in the tri-city area, who would prefer that the rest of us are all disattached. I've heard stories of his ability to break into settlements." She offered him a piece of fruit leather, despite her apparent exasperation. "And now, thanks to you and your attachment, Slasher might be able to stock his pantry at our expense. Nice going."
She pulled off her wrap and set it on the back of her couch, and then shrugged her arms in the air. "You want to go out and fix the mess you guys caused? Sure. I'll keep it under wraps."
Null
Null closed the door to Brigitte's apartment, watching her as she moved, furious at his mere presence. It became obvious enough to him that this anger was born of fear; she wanted her life to remain the same, wanted her settlement to remain quiet and safe as always. She was no Bonita - hadn't realised how much things could change, and in how short a time. Too young; in her own lifetime, too sheltered.
She still hadn't seen the winds blowing, hadn't seen the gathering clouds that would rain blood over the desert. All of Sigma's projections pointed to a regional conflict being imminent - he'd written some of those reports himself. Bonita knew it, too - her actions had proved that.
But Brigitte didn't know. Not yet. She was still under the illusion that her life was safe and would remain as such. He wondered if she'd ever held a gun, ever felt hot lead whiz inches from her skull, shoved the corpse of a hacked-apart enemy off her, felt her ally's blood splatter her face. Goddamned civilians...
Still, he couldn't judge her too harshly. She was just that - a civilian. She was one of those whom he'd sworn to protect, if for wholly abstract reasons.
"It's far too late for that now. If you want your life to remain as it is, you're just living a lie," Null spoke, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at the tiny woman, voice like ice. "As long as Slasher lives, your settlement will never be safe - even you must recognise that. I can ensure this settlement's safety by killing him. But to do that, I'm going to need men, weapons and ammunition. Can you, or can you not, provide those?"
She stared back at him. He wasn't listening. "You think I don't see the gravity of the situation?" she retorted. "Of course I know that as long as Slasher is hovering around that he's no better than some bony vulture waiting to pick the flesh off of our bones!" She scrunched her hands up by her ears, her temper fanning fast. "That's why I'm so upset—you two dragged him on our doorstep like two feral cats."
She folded her arms across her chest, not budging as her large brown eyes ambered back at him, unwavering and unblinking. "And, if you've not noticed, I don't deal in combat. I deal in airwaves. What makes you think I can allocate resources to you, much less ask Sherman to cooperate? And do this behind Bonita's back? As it is, I can't in good conscience allow listeners in need think it's a good idea to come to Aegis." She shook her head and sighed. "And didn't you and Bonita have breakfast this morning? Why didn't you ask her then?"
She folded her arms across her chest, not budging as her large brown eyes ambered back at him, unwavering and unblinking. "And, if you've not noticed, I don't deal in combat. I deal in airwaves. What makes you think I can allocate resources to you, much less ask Sherman to cooperate? And do this behind Bonita's back? As it is, I can't in good conscience allow listeners in need think it's a good idea to come to Aegis." She shook her head and sighed. "And didn't you and Bonita have breakfast this morning? Why didn't you ask her then?"
Null
Null stared her down evenly, watching her. She looked so stern, so resolute... for someone so short, she was rather intimidating, he had to admit; there was a kind of drive, a desire to protect her hopeful world from everything outside it. Childlike and foolish it was - like an angry sister standing in front of a younger sibling to protect them from a furious parent. She would fail, inevitably, but the trying was almost endearing in its futility.
"And you think that if we leave, Aegis will be safe?" Null said, staring her down, eyes narrowed at her, refusing to move; he stood rigid, tall, folding his arms to match her body language - almost as though a subtle mocking. "There's a war coming. I know it. Bonita knows it. You'll have heard the whispers coming through Aegis. You are unprepared. Sherman's good - but he's not trained for war. I am."
He turned away to emphasise his next point, making a few steps towards her door. When he spoke again, his voice was a tiny bit lighter in tone. "Your settlement needs me, Brigitte, whether you like me or not. I'm trying to work with you here, to protect this settlement. If you want an easy way out? Run south, and don't stop. Because the war won't."
He turned back from the door, facing her evenly. "You have the connections, the social gravity, to give me what I need - some of it, at least. Bonita's already proved she's unwilling to consider Slasher a threat; that leaves you as the only person in this settlement willing to stand up. I'm offering to work with you."
He sighed, suddenly feeling very tired. He leaned back against the door. "It's your choice. Make the right one."
"I know Bonita, and I know she had no clue what I was talking about when I went up there," Brigitte fired back. "She wouldn't leave her baby out in the breeze like that. I doubt you told her a thing about that!"
She plucked her wrap up from the back of the couch and held it in her knuckles. She felt terrible. "It's not my call whether you're here or gone. Bonita wants you here? Far be it from me to question whatever... deal you two made. But one thing's for sure, I don't feel good about that cannibal being a factor." Brigitte sighed. "And, no. I'm not prepared." She pointed to the massive, deep scar on her shoulder and neck, highlighting it for Null to briefly see. "I know full too well what that's all like."
She plucked her wrap up from the back of the couch and held it in her knuckles. She felt terrible. "It's not my call whether you're here or gone. Bonita wants you here? Far be it from me to question whatever... deal you two made. But one thing's for sure, I don't feel good about that cannibal being a factor." Brigitte sighed. "And, no. I'm not prepared." She pointed to the massive, deep scar on her shoulder and neck, highlighting it for Null to briefly see. "I know full too well what that's all like."
Null
"You're so confident as to who she is, aren't you?" Null said, a hint of disdain in his voice. She was smart, smarter than he'd expected - but he was in this lie now, and he had to push forward. If he resolved this here and now, it would get buried under the weight of preparations for the coming conflict, and he wouldn't have to worry about it.
He felt himself pause a little when she showed him the scar; it was deep and wide, either made by a blunt knife or an animal's claw. From combat, definitely. Maybe he'd been wrong about this girl - maybe she was more like him than he'd expected. As though as an unspoken greeting, he unzipped the jacket of his leather armour, pulling it a little aside, showing her the beginnings of the massive scar down his torso - courtesy of a Deathclaw's talon.
He wished he could show her how much more he understood; after all, the physical was nothing compared to the pain that history could be responsible for. In a strange way, he still regretted that he hadn't a single scar to show from her; contemplated giving himself one, but figured that she wouldn't appreciate leaving that sort of mark. Everything he needed from her was inside his mind.
"I don't want him a factor either," Null said, voice softer now as he zipped his jacket back up. "I can take him out of the picture today, if you help me. But I can't do it alone."
Brigitte rolled her eyes again. "Look, I—good God, what's your name?" she asked, curtaining her long hair back over her shoulders, "I don't even know what to call you. But I have no idea how to get you out to—"
The door knocked, not far away from the dark-haired visitor. Brigitte crossed over to twist a padlock and open. There stood Sherman, as though on cue. "Everything all right, Thibodeaux?" he gruffed, casting a quick look at the other man.
"We're having a heated discussion," Brigitte said, shooting the other soldier a look out of the corner of her eye, "and you're aware that there's a—"
"Slasher," Sherman broke in, "I just came down from Bonita's and she told me." He floated a glance at Null, with a hard-to-read expression. Frustration? Anger? A dark gleeful excitement? "She said to talk to 'John' about it."
Brigitte turned and looked at Null. "'John'?" she asked.
"John, I sure as hell wouldn't mind heading out into the desert," Sherman volunteered, his voice sounding almost... relaxed, in its element, in a way Brigitte had never heard before. "I love hunting me some cannibals."
Brigitte blinked. There. That ought to have washed her hands of having any part in this situation...
The door knocked, not far away from the dark-haired visitor. Brigitte crossed over to twist a padlock and open. There stood Sherman, as though on cue. "Everything all right, Thibodeaux?" he gruffed, casting a quick look at the other man.
"We're having a heated discussion," Brigitte said, shooting the other soldier a look out of the corner of her eye, "and you're aware that there's a—"
"Slasher," Sherman broke in, "I just came down from Bonita's and she told me." He floated a glance at Null, with a hard-to-read expression. Frustration? Anger? A dark gleeful excitement? "She said to talk to 'John' about it."
Brigitte turned and looked at Null. "'John'?" she asked.
"John, I sure as hell wouldn't mind heading out into the desert," Sherman volunteered, his voice sounding almost... relaxed, in its element, in a way Brigitte had never heard before. "I love hunting me some cannibals."
Brigitte blinked. There. That ought to have washed her hands of having any part in this situation...
Null
Null spun as the massive-framed man moved into the room, hand subconsciously going for his knife. He didn't trust anyone, especially not seven-foot-tall security chiefs with a grudge against cannibalism. He relaxed a little when he realised that Sherman didn't have hostile intentions - not towards him, at least - but not much.
Still, the man was welcome, at the very least. Much easier to go straight to the man with the guns, rather than relying on Brigitte to wrangle together a team for him. He'd get a lot more done this way.
"Copy," he nodded to Sherman, glad to be operating with military forces again. Soldiers were far easier to negotiate with for him; there was an understanding that they were all there for the same reasons. No need to wrangle with feelings or ethics - just targets, ammunition and orders.
"Do you have anyone who knows a thing about power armour?" he asked, as he stepped out of the room, with a quick nod at Brigitte, as though to say, Thank you for your assistance -
But you are no longer required.
Brigitte didn't let her eyes leave his, scowling darkly at the tall, dark-haired stranger as he confidently sauntered off with Sherman. Dishonesty did not play well with her, and that's how she perceived the man at the moment--dishonest. He'd obscured the truth about his guest and put the whole facility in peril, and then expected her to simply roll over and accept his request without questioning him. Clearly he was a man used to getting what he wanted, as it would seem, by simply walking up to others and saying what he wanted and expected them to comply.
The nerve.
Sherman allowed Null to walk out of the door ahead of him, and caught Brigitte's eye with a quick wave. He lingered slightly in the doorway and opened his mouth to say something, then seemed to think better of it when he clapped his jaw shut and instead offered a purse-lipped, wavery nod before he stepped out, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
Brigitte rolled her eyes. Men were weird.
She stepped forward to push the heavy wooden door shut behind the two, and pressed her back against the door and leaned her head to look up at the ceiling, rubbing her hands under her eyes and letting out an exasperated sigh. Not even 9 o'clock and what a day so far.
The nerve.
Sherman allowed Null to walk out of the door ahead of him, and caught Brigitte's eye with a quick wave. He lingered slightly in the doorway and opened his mouth to say something, then seemed to think better of it when he clapped his jaw shut and instead offered a purse-lipped, wavery nod before he stepped out, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
Brigitte rolled her eyes. Men were weird.
She stepped forward to push the heavy wooden door shut behind the two, and pressed her back against the door and leaned her head to look up at the ceiling, rubbing her hands under her eyes and letting out an exasperated sigh. Not even 9 o'clock and what a day so far.
Perhaps it was unwise of him to linger and let his ears listen to the muffled words spoken between the parties that soon swallowed the area whole, but Lyki wasn't ready to part with Brigitte just yet. There was something about the stranger (Null) that he still didn't like. He couldn't let this peaceful woman be alone with such a man. Was it the look in his eyes? Or the stone-cold stance that turned him off? It didn't matter. Lyki knew a harden, sullen man when he saw one. Null was no exception. Lyki easily pegged that the guy killed a great many people and had no qualms laying waste to innocent villages like Aegis.
A light rapping came to the door that kept Brigitte's form from Lyki's eyes. Rasping as he drew in a breath, his cough broke free and gave away exactly who he was. Trying to shake it off, his barking stopped.
"Miss Thibo- Brigitte," he corrected himself. There was no point to make things that formal. He was coming to her as a concerned soul, not a man on a mission. Hand itching the back of his neck, he cleared his throat again before he pressed his hands against the door before him. As if he knew exactly where she sat, his eyes looked down toward the floor and his words came. They were oddly sweet, sincere and almost angelic, save for the fact that he still sounded like a chain-smoker.
"I worry for your safety and the safety of Aegis. Last we spoke, I told you that nothing is safe in the mist of war. I spoke of not wanting to die here when war came knocking on our doors." He cut himself off and drew in a long, heavy breath. "I don't want to leave alone. I don't want to... die alone." His fingertips, rubbed raw from fingering the hard door, finally stopped moving. His exhale came. "If things take a turn for the worse, I'm taking you far away from here. With or without your will and blessing."
"I've traveled a lot in my 34 years of life. I've seen a lot of darkness. You've yet to truly experience the wasteland we call home. And I don't know why, but I feel obligated to protect you. Perhaps it's your innocence? Your naive, kind eyes? The tender, gentle voice you share with complete strangers? Whatever it is, I won't let the darkness that made me as I am consume you. I won't let your face fall to the same fate that has succumbed me to a life of false faces and fear."
He had no idea if Brigitte would take kindly to his words and, frankly, he didn't care. He would bound and gag her if he needed to. He would kidnap her from Aegis if it insured she would live another day. She was a rare woman to happen upon. One of light and peace. One without war-torn eyes or blindness caused by darkness or blood. She was a beacon of hope. A ray of light. And probably the only angel left on Earth. She was a dying kind and Lyki was damn sure he wouldn't let her body become manged with the hellish nature of war.
A light rapping came to the door that kept Brigitte's form from Lyki's eyes. Rasping as he drew in a breath, his cough broke free and gave away exactly who he was. Trying to shake it off, his barking stopped.
"Miss Thibo- Brigitte," he corrected himself. There was no point to make things that formal. He was coming to her as a concerned soul, not a man on a mission. Hand itching the back of his neck, he cleared his throat again before he pressed his hands against the door before him. As if he knew exactly where she sat, his eyes looked down toward the floor and his words came. They were oddly sweet, sincere and almost angelic, save for the fact that he still sounded like a chain-smoker.
"I worry for your safety and the safety of Aegis. Last we spoke, I told you that nothing is safe in the mist of war. I spoke of not wanting to die here when war came knocking on our doors." He cut himself off and drew in a long, heavy breath. "I don't want to leave alone. I don't want to... die alone." His fingertips, rubbed raw from fingering the hard door, finally stopped moving. His exhale came. "If things take a turn for the worse, I'm taking you far away from here. With or without your will and blessing."
"I've traveled a lot in my 34 years of life. I've seen a lot of darkness. You've yet to truly experience the wasteland we call home. And I don't know why, but I feel obligated to protect you. Perhaps it's your innocence? Your naive, kind eyes? The tender, gentle voice you share with complete strangers? Whatever it is, I won't let the darkness that made me as I am consume you. I won't let your face fall to the same fate that has succumbed me to a life of false faces and fear."
He had no idea if Brigitte would take kindly to his words and, frankly, he didn't care. He would bound and gag her if he needed to. He would kidnap her from Aegis if it insured she would live another day. She was a rare woman to happen upon. One of light and peace. One without war-torn eyes or blindness caused by darkness or blood. She was a beacon of hope. A ray of light. And probably the only angel left on Earth. She was a dying kind and Lyki was damn sure he wouldn't let her body become manged with the hellish nature of war.
Brigitte couldn't believe her ears. She didn't move her hands from her face as Lyki's words rasped dully but eloquently through the wooden door, her cheeks flushing hot into her palms.
Lyki's tip-off in the morning was definitely appreciated, and completely verifiable, as it turned out. His desire to be helpful was evident. But now Brigitte began to question his motivations--was he there completely in the name of public interest, or self-interest? Was he assisting her because he wanted to see all of Aegis protected, or was he only doing so for her protection? It far suited her better to see someone acting in the interest of everyone rather than just one--even if it was her. Sometimes people could do far more damage in protecting just one person; after all, when one person's life matters in one's eyes more than anyone else's, that meant that senseless bloodshed would be justifiable in that one person's eyes. Brigitte blinked. Is that what this was all about?
She could hear the sincere intensity in his voice, not wavering or backing down, despite its weakened, somewhat reedy texture. While another woman may have found it endearing, Brigitte now found it a little terrifying. Lyki's words seemed very pre-meditated, calculated, meaningful--as though it was so painful to talk that his words could not ever risk going to waste. Meaning--he meant every word.
She quietly leaned her neck forward to look down at her feet, tucked into her worn burgundy leather riding boots, desperately trying to think of something to say. Anything. Anything to maybe get him to change his mind, or to reconsider, or to understand just how panicked she suddenly felt, and how maybe that wasn't a good idea, and how, in the end, Aegis wasn't going to allow itself to get into a situation that even remotely called for panic. Aegis was a strong feature for hundreds of miles in the middle of the desert--where other towns had failed, Aegis had not. Where other places lacked technology and medicine and food, Aegis did not. Where did other locales and roamers and Wastelanders rely on opportunities to trade and survive like what could be found at Aegis?
All this talk of the fall of Aegis. Anything was possible, but it was too terrifying to consider.
Nothing. Brigitte closed her mouth. She'd say nothing.
Lyki's tip-off in the morning was definitely appreciated, and completely verifiable, as it turned out. His desire to be helpful was evident. But now Brigitte began to question his motivations--was he there completely in the name of public interest, or self-interest? Was he assisting her because he wanted to see all of Aegis protected, or was he only doing so for her protection? It far suited her better to see someone acting in the interest of everyone rather than just one--even if it was her. Sometimes people could do far more damage in protecting just one person; after all, when one person's life matters in one's eyes more than anyone else's, that meant that senseless bloodshed would be justifiable in that one person's eyes. Brigitte blinked. Is that what this was all about?
She could hear the sincere intensity in his voice, not wavering or backing down, despite its weakened, somewhat reedy texture. While another woman may have found it endearing, Brigitte now found it a little terrifying. Lyki's words seemed very pre-meditated, calculated, meaningful--as though it was so painful to talk that his words could not ever risk going to waste. Meaning--he meant every word.
She quietly leaned her neck forward to look down at her feet, tucked into her worn burgundy leather riding boots, desperately trying to think of something to say. Anything. Anything to maybe get him to change his mind, or to reconsider, or to understand just how panicked she suddenly felt, and how maybe that wasn't a good idea, and how, in the end, Aegis wasn't going to allow itself to get into a situation that even remotely called for panic. Aegis was a strong feature for hundreds of miles in the middle of the desert--where other towns had failed, Aegis had not. Where other places lacked technology and medicine and food, Aegis did not. Where did other locales and roamers and Wastelanders rely on opportunities to trade and survive like what could be found at Aegis?
All this talk of the fall of Aegis. Anything was possible, but it was too terrifying to consider.
Nothing. Brigitte closed her mouth. She'd say nothing.
Sherman averted his attention forward. Something, anything, to take his mind off of a colossal failure of an attempt at a normal social interaction, with the person who was actually least likely to frustrate him in such an attempt. It was much easier to avoid trying altogether, it would seem. Maybe he'd try again later.
"Bruno's our point man on power armor," the tall, broad man answered flatly. The stranger was of no concern to him. At least, not of any threatening kind. His arrival at the compound at this critical time actually was serendipitous--Slasher sightings had indeed been reported by various travelers who reported whispers back to Aegis over nighttime drinking hours. Even that odd duck who'd made a pass at Brigitte a few nights prior confirmed his own sighting just that morning when he'd ventured outside of the wall to meet briefly with a passing caravan. Slasher was a quiet traveler, but those who also excelled at blending into the desert as though they were born in the sand itself had their ways of recognizing the cannibal doctor.
An ex-Sigma would be such a strong asset in tracking Slasher down.
"By the way, 'John,' Bonita doesn't know I'm hunting the cannibal," Sherman gruffed honestly as the two strode ahead, side-by-side. "Figured it'd be best if I was straight with you. Demonstrate a genuine desire to collaborate on ridding ourselves of a mutual problem. A problem that has the potential to do a vast amount of harm." He glanced over to his right to study the stranger's young but harrowed face, one that looked as though it had borne witness to far more than it ought to have in its time on the earth. He understood all too well. He pointed toward the armory, down a long brick-lined path, easily discernible thanks to its doors, painted a shiny black with a metal lining, intended to direct the sun's heat away from the building itself.
Sherman silently led the way, then approached one of the ebony doors, keying a code into a small touchpad and waiting a few moments for the door to click loose. He tugged the handle open and offered the door to Null, leading the way inside. One down the long hallway, Sherman stood at a small door and gestured inward. "We've got upgrade benches or new suits, if you wish to try 'em on. I've had a hell of a time customizing mine."
"Bruno's our point man on power armor," the tall, broad man answered flatly. The stranger was of no concern to him. At least, not of any threatening kind. His arrival at the compound at this critical time actually was serendipitous--Slasher sightings had indeed been reported by various travelers who reported whispers back to Aegis over nighttime drinking hours. Even that odd duck who'd made a pass at Brigitte a few nights prior confirmed his own sighting just that morning when he'd ventured outside of the wall to meet briefly with a passing caravan. Slasher was a quiet traveler, but those who also excelled at blending into the desert as though they were born in the sand itself had their ways of recognizing the cannibal doctor.
An ex-Sigma would be such a strong asset in tracking Slasher down.
"By the way, 'John,' Bonita doesn't know I'm hunting the cannibal," Sherman gruffed honestly as the two strode ahead, side-by-side. "Figured it'd be best if I was straight with you. Demonstrate a genuine desire to collaborate on ridding ourselves of a mutual problem. A problem that has the potential to do a vast amount of harm." He glanced over to his right to study the stranger's young but harrowed face, one that looked as though it had borne witness to far more than it ought to have in its time on the earth. He understood all too well. He pointed toward the armory, down a long brick-lined path, easily discernible thanks to its doors, painted a shiny black with a metal lining, intended to direct the sun's heat away from the building itself.
Sherman silently led the way, then approached one of the ebony doors, keying a code into a small touchpad and waiting a few moments for the door to click loose. He tugged the handle open and offered the door to Null, leading the way inside. One down the long hallway, Sherman stood at a small door and gestured inward. "We've got upgrade benches or new suits, if you wish to try 'em on. I've had a hell of a time customizing mine."
Her silence was not reassuring and bothered him more than it probably should have. She was just a random human he grew fond of. He couldn't let her life dictate his life. Still....
His hand rubbed the door. God dammit, why were some women so impossible! If Brigitte wouldn't willingly come with him, he wouldn't have a choice but to stay behind and keep her safe. She was weak in comparison to those who had at least ventured outside a few times. And with the soldier (Null) there, he knew most of the Aegis Guard could be mowed down. He couldn't even think about a Slasher-Bandit team. They were known for unorthodox fights and for leveling entire cities on their own.
Everything was just getting worse. It was all going to hell.
The worst part of it all? They were in hell to begin with and now they were just falling further into the abyss. The light of salvation was fleeting and falling from reach. In no time, Aegis would be a hopeless pile of ash without a story to share. Aegis was nothing in comparison to some of the bigger cities and no one would mourn their lose.
"Very well," he finally spoke. "You can entrust your life with soldiers who have never faced war. Or, better yet, why don't you just partner up with the monsters you let in."
And with those cold, taunting words, he turned away. If she wanted him, she could find him. He would go to the bar and have a drink before heading home to pack up his things. There was no sleeping her anymore. It was time to move on and get the hell out of this war. He wanted to live another die. Not die tomorrow.
His hand rubbed the door. God dammit, why were some women so impossible! If Brigitte wouldn't willingly come with him, he wouldn't have a choice but to stay behind and keep her safe. She was weak in comparison to those who had at least ventured outside a few times. And with the soldier (Null) there, he knew most of the Aegis Guard could be mowed down. He couldn't even think about a Slasher-Bandit team. They were known for unorthodox fights and for leveling entire cities on their own.
Everything was just getting worse. It was all going to hell.
The worst part of it all? They were in hell to begin with and now they were just falling further into the abyss. The light of salvation was fleeting and falling from reach. In no time, Aegis would be a hopeless pile of ash without a story to share. Aegis was nothing in comparison to some of the bigger cities and no one would mourn their lose.
"Very well," he finally spoke. "You can entrust your life with soldiers who have never faced war. Or, better yet, why don't you just partner up with the monsters you let in."
And with those cold, taunting words, he turned away. If she wanted him, she could find him. He would go to the bar and have a drink before heading home to pack up his things. There was no sleeping her anymore. It was time to move on and get the hell out of this war. He wanted to live another die. Not die tomorrow.
As she lost sight of Null, her head turned toward the sky. She had to do it. She had to leave and she had to hope that she could return. But in the daylight? Was it wise to really seek him out now? No. No, that was foolish. She had to wait until the blanket of night and figure out a way to escape without being caught and, of course, return without being seen. For this, she would need to scope out the place and that would take all day.
Moving from roof to roof, her eyes gazed at the fortified structure. This place, Aegis, was nothing special. Sure, it had a brigade. Yes, it had a nice, solid wall. But it lacked all else. It lacked the true meat of war. This place was so under the radar that it shouldn't fall into war. It lacked the hardened criminals of war. Aegis had soft people. No, they were tough, but they weren't her kind of tough.
Smirk on her face, she recalled a time she watched Slasher gnaw a man to death. "I bet these poor saps couldn't endure that sight," she mused.
It made her laugh. Just hours ago she wanted nothing to do with Slasher and now? Now, all she wanted was to find him. He was the one who made her strong. The one he taught her how to survive. She could eat flesh, if she needed to. Slasher taught her how to cook it up and season it to mash the human-taste. She wouldn't do it though. She just couldn't succumb to such wild ways. Slasher was the feral one. She was the classy one.
Wandering the streets now, she wondered if this little outpost would work for her escape. She would just need rope and a ladder.
Wait! What if she brought Slasher in here! What if... no, they would never trust him. But they should. He could evaluate their situation. He was a scientist! Her blue orbs landed on her wraps and bruises. "A better doctor, too." Smiling, she exhaled. "But I can't put you through that. You need to go home." Hand on her heart, she frowned. "And maybe I should run away with you."
She looked a tad odd just talking to herself, but the weathered look in her eyes seemed to remove doubt of disillusion from those nearby. Sure, she looked insane but at least she wasn't talking to nobody. She was just conversing with herself.
"Bleh, what is a woman to do."
Leaning up against a street vendor's cart, her azure eyes locked with the shopkeeper. "What would you do? If you knew a ton of people could be in danger, would you sacrifice their lives to please your own heart? Or would you leave and walk away from something that could have been amazing and beautiful."
The person just blinked. "I feel like there's more to this story than those two options," the woman responded.
"Why yes. I want to stay to get to know this guy better. I worry for his life and I want to be with him to see if we could ever be. But I know if I stay, I'll endanger everyone. And yet, if I go, I might not ever see this man again. And I 'm not sure I want that."
"Why would you sacrifice the city if you stay with your man?"
"My... partner... I'm not sure he would like me hanging around another guy."
"Whoa, two men! You're quite lucky. I can't even get one. But I think the answer is pretty simple, dear. Which do you like more? Who do you want to die beside? If today was your last day to live, who would you want to spend it with?"
Her question was so right on the money, but Bandit wasn't sure where her heart wanted to land. Was it with Null? The pretty-faced soldier who was soft yet strong? Or the man who risked his life, killed, and fought for her? The one that wanted her more than he wanted anything else in life.
Was Null even interested in her? She rubbed her arm and looked away from the vendor. "I'm not even sure the man in the city likes me."
"That doesn't matter. You go after whichever one calls your heart. You might not be able to decide now. You might just have to wait. But you'll know who it is. If they were both to die and you could only save one, you'll run to the one you want most. Maybe that time hasn't come yet. And, until it does, you'll never know. You just need to be patient and wait for a sign. When it comes, stop at nothing to be with him."
"Thanks," bobbing her head, Bandit pulled from the streets and hulled herself up on a bench away from everything and everyone. Why was it so hard to chose?
Moving from roof to roof, her eyes gazed at the fortified structure. This place, Aegis, was nothing special. Sure, it had a brigade. Yes, it had a nice, solid wall. But it lacked all else. It lacked the true meat of war. This place was so under the radar that it shouldn't fall into war. It lacked the hardened criminals of war. Aegis had soft people. No, they were tough, but they weren't her kind of tough.
Smirk on her face, she recalled a time she watched Slasher gnaw a man to death. "I bet these poor saps couldn't endure that sight," she mused.
It made her laugh. Just hours ago she wanted nothing to do with Slasher and now? Now, all she wanted was to find him. He was the one who made her strong. The one he taught her how to survive. She could eat flesh, if she needed to. Slasher taught her how to cook it up and season it to mash the human-taste. She wouldn't do it though. She just couldn't succumb to such wild ways. Slasher was the feral one. She was the classy one.
Wandering the streets now, she wondered if this little outpost would work for her escape. She would just need rope and a ladder.
Wait! What if she brought Slasher in here! What if... no, they would never trust him. But they should. He could evaluate their situation. He was a scientist! Her blue orbs landed on her wraps and bruises. "A better doctor, too." Smiling, she exhaled. "But I can't put you through that. You need to go home." Hand on her heart, she frowned. "And maybe I should run away with you."
She looked a tad odd just talking to herself, but the weathered look in her eyes seemed to remove doubt of disillusion from those nearby. Sure, she looked insane but at least she wasn't talking to nobody. She was just conversing with herself.
"Bleh, what is a woman to do."
Leaning up against a street vendor's cart, her azure eyes locked with the shopkeeper. "What would you do? If you knew a ton of people could be in danger, would you sacrifice their lives to please your own heart? Or would you leave and walk away from something that could have been amazing and beautiful."
The person just blinked. "I feel like there's more to this story than those two options," the woman responded.
"Why yes. I want to stay to get to know this guy better. I worry for his life and I want to be with him to see if we could ever be. But I know if I stay, I'll endanger everyone. And yet, if I go, I might not ever see this man again. And I 'm not sure I want that."
"Why would you sacrifice the city if you stay with your man?"
"My... partner... I'm not sure he would like me hanging around another guy."
"Whoa, two men! You're quite lucky. I can't even get one. But I think the answer is pretty simple, dear. Which do you like more? Who do you want to die beside? If today was your last day to live, who would you want to spend it with?"
Her question was so right on the money, but Bandit wasn't sure where her heart wanted to land. Was it with Null? The pretty-faced soldier who was soft yet strong? Or the man who risked his life, killed, and fought for her? The one that wanted her more than he wanted anything else in life.
Was Null even interested in her? She rubbed her arm and looked away from the vendor. "I'm not even sure the man in the city likes me."
"That doesn't matter. You go after whichever one calls your heart. You might not be able to decide now. You might just have to wait. But you'll know who it is. If they were both to die and you could only save one, you'll run to the one you want most. Maybe that time hasn't come yet. And, until it does, you'll never know. You just need to be patient and wait for a sign. When it comes, stop at nothing to be with him."
"Thanks," bobbing her head, Bandit pulled from the streets and hulled herself up on a bench away from everything and everyone. Why was it so hard to chose?
The setting changes from Aegis to Texas, USA
In the barrenness of the Texan Wasteland, a lone man walked, accompanied only by the gun on his back and the guns on his hips. A long, brown greatcoat and a dark grey cap shielded him from the rays of the slowly setting sun, lending him a somewhat mysterious look as he gazed out over the wasteland ahead, glancing from side to side.
"You are quite sure that what you detected was not a singular anomaly?"
The howling wind tugged at the edges of his greatcoat, eddies of dust swirling around his boots as he continued to walk at a sedate pace, eyes scanning the horizon. A burst of white noise from the radio held in his grasp, and a response blared out at him near instantly. The voice, static-marred as it was, was still recognizably that of a female - his employer, the slightly reclusive young woman who made a living tinkering with various machines and experimenting with others in her spare time. As he expected, she responded with her usual aplomb, and he had to hold back a wince at the sheer background noise that erupted along with her voice - did the girl's workshop never quiet?
"Of course I am! The readings don't lie, Cross, no matter how much you might wish for them to, just so you can drop back in here, put your feet up, and down another Cola. If it said a bunch of heat sigs went by, a bunch of heat sigs damned well went by! It could be Raiders, you know."
"Yes, I do." He resisted the urge to point out it could just as easily have been a pack of mole rats or feral dogs, and instead focused his attention on his surroundings - a few close calls had taught him that it was best to keep an eye out in case a Raider decided to pop up and spray a few rounds in his direction, or an Ant would rear it's ugly head out of the sand to try and take his leg off. At least here, in the desert, one could see some distance away in all directions, unlike those pre-war ruins he'd had some time scavenging in. Now those, those were nightmares.
"Will keep you updated." he shut off the radio and hung it on his hip. A silence he was more agreeable to settled on him with that, and he continued onward, his path now meandering to the east, towards the setting sun.
He rounded a particular rock outcropping, a good few dozen meters wide, and paused. Onyx eyes flicked over the large, bulky form ahead of him, and immediately flicked to a glint of something, hidden, or at least, trying to hide, in the boulder cluster a few hundred meters to the northwest. Many options flickered through his mind, none of them good, and in the end he settled for the one that seemed the least dangerous.
"...You know, it is rare that one sees other men out so far in the Texan Wastes. You would not happen to be lost, would you?"
"You are quite sure that what you detected was not a singular anomaly?"
The howling wind tugged at the edges of his greatcoat, eddies of dust swirling around his boots as he continued to walk at a sedate pace, eyes scanning the horizon. A burst of white noise from the radio held in his grasp, and a response blared out at him near instantly. The voice, static-marred as it was, was still recognizably that of a female - his employer, the slightly reclusive young woman who made a living tinkering with various machines and experimenting with others in her spare time. As he expected, she responded with her usual aplomb, and he had to hold back a wince at the sheer background noise that erupted along with her voice - did the girl's workshop never quiet?
"Of course I am! The readings don't lie, Cross, no matter how much you might wish for them to, just so you can drop back in here, put your feet up, and down another Cola. If it said a bunch of heat sigs went by, a bunch of heat sigs damned well went by! It could be Raiders, you know."
"Yes, I do." He resisted the urge to point out it could just as easily have been a pack of mole rats or feral dogs, and instead focused his attention on his surroundings - a few close calls had taught him that it was best to keep an eye out in case a Raider decided to pop up and spray a few rounds in his direction, or an Ant would rear it's ugly head out of the sand to try and take his leg off. At least here, in the desert, one could see some distance away in all directions, unlike those pre-war ruins he'd had some time scavenging in. Now those, those were nightmares.
"Will keep you updated." he shut off the radio and hung it on his hip. A silence he was more agreeable to settled on him with that, and he continued onward, his path now meandering to the east, towards the setting sun.
He rounded a particular rock outcropping, a good few dozen meters wide, and paused. Onyx eyes flicked over the large, bulky form ahead of him, and immediately flicked to a glint of something, hidden, or at least, trying to hide, in the boulder cluster a few hundred meters to the northwest. Many options flickered through his mind, none of them good, and in the end he settled for the one that seemed the least dangerous.
"...You know, it is rare that one sees other men out so far in the Texan Wastes. You would not happen to be lost, would you?"
The setting changes from Texas, USA to Aegis
Brigitte anxiously looked through the small glass piece in the door, taking in a deep breath as she paused for a moment to collect herself before she twisted the knob open. She grimaced when she couldn't make out who was on the other side. It had been a long day... it had started by arguing with Bonita, then with 'John,' Lyki's profession to her through her door, and then followed a very uncomfortable shift of radio. She hadn't even made it a point to stop into the tavern after signing off, preferring instead to go straight to her building, trudge up the stairs, and walk into the door. Not even three minutes home, and the door was knocking.
She looked high up and nodded courteously, a little surprised to see who her guest was.
"Sherman."
"Brig." His syllable with simple but purposeful. "… may I?"
"You're welcome to come visit." She walked him inside and he looked around, having never been in her home before for more than just a few minutes. She gestured to the large armchairs in the living room area. "I've put on some tea and I'm happy to bring you some."
He nodded and cast his eyes down to the woven rug, desperately searching for an interesting detail to focus on. He didn't understand why he felt so panicked. Everything else in the world was easy. Getting what he needed wasn't a problem for him. But talking to someone he couldn't just intimidate to get what he wanted? That was a whole other problem.
Which was why he had another strategy.
"Great," he managed quietly as she brought a small tray with a few items on it. "No sugar. No thank you. Just as it is." He let his blue eyes meet her own brown eyes briefly before she blinked and nodded, breaking away awkwardly to find mugs into which to pour hot water from the kettle. He looked around the room and studied the decorative scheme. The eclectic, fun, yet intensely individualistic sense of aesthetic was even slightly intriguing as he struggled to discern details about Brigitte, whom, as he had to be realistic with himself, he barely knew on a personal level. He'd only started to really pay attention to her about ten years prior; before that he knew her as the young kid who came in after she was found at that awful scene. Sherman remembered finding her; it was one of the few times that he'd been truly bothered by what had transpired on a jaunt outside of Aegis. And as much as that experience impacted him, it felt very strange to see Brigitte and her aftermath in the following years. It wasn't until she really began to transition out of childhood that she'd much changed on the surface, which helped in leaving that part of the bitter past behind.
He blinked as he watched the small woman at the stove, her back turned to him. No doubt she'd always wanted to ask him about that.
"I bet you've got questions."
Brigitte gathered the tea sachets and nervously placed them in the mugs. With shaky hands she placed them on the counter not far from the bubbling kettle. "I do," she managed coolly, despite her high anxiety.
He adjusted in his seat, fingers tapping on the armrest of the large green chair. He studied the curiously empty photo frames strewn across the walls. "Perhaps… perhaps I should have come to you much sooner, Brig."
She flexed her hand before lifting the kettle off of the woodfire stove, willing herself to not allow her unsteady hands to spill any of the dangerously hot water from its spout. "I… I'm glad you're here now, Sherman," she responded faux-pleasantly.
He looked over at her to catch her eye from his spot as she stood in the kitchen. "Please, call me Isaiah," he said gently, while still allowing his voice to carry. She blinked, her mouth snapping partly-open in surprise. "Only if you feel comfortable, of course…"
She closed her mouth shut and plucked the two mugs carefully from the countertop and slowly made her way to the center of the living room. "I've been hoping to learn more about what had happened, "she offered tentatively, placing Sherman's mug before him, then sitting on a large chair opposite of him. "I do have to wonder why you're telling me all of this now, instead of telling me earlier. That seems strange to me."
He let himself frown again, almost looking disappointed in a funny kind of way. "Some things some people aren't ready to talk about until later," he said simply. "I doubt any of this would have changed the course of your life earlier if you'd heard it then." That wasn't the reason at all. He knew that.
"I'll be the judge of that," she snipped covertly, scooping a little bit of honey into her steeped teacup as her annoyed eyes challenged him a little.
His eyes darted up to meet hers as he reminded himself to remain calm. "I wouldn't steer you wrong," he reassured her, truly trying his hardest to be his most genuine self. "Besides. Some things I didn't learn until recently." He took in a long sigh as he watched her steady, emotionless reaction. "But… anyhow, your settlement was destroyed by a band of some of the most savage desert raiders known to all of Central Texas. All they cared to do was pillage and kill." He blew lightly on his tea as the fragrant steam breathed into his dusty nose. That felt good. "But the difference with y'all's savage raiders versus run-of-the-mill raiders of the savage persuasion is yours takes money in exchange for allegiance. So it wasn't personal. It was motivated by money. Someone bigger was looking for something at your settlement." He watched Brigitte's wide, nervous eyes as he slowly sauntered into the story. "I've been trying to learn more as time's gone on." Partially true, as he knew.
"You mean you've been actively trying to learn about this?" she interrupted quickly, springing to her feet and pacing into the doorframe of the kitchen, trying to expend a sudden bolt of nervous energy. "And you haven't told me?"
He shook his head. "I told you, none of what I'd known before would have made a difference," he said, "that is, until now."
Brigitte pursed her lip shut and seemed to swallow back a few choice words. She nodded to him politely for him to continue.
"Eventually, I tracked the raider band, four years after you came to Aegis to live with us. You were maybe 15 or 16. They liked to drift in and out of the region, but this time I had the right approach to taking them out. They still took their banknotes with them as they were lighter than carrying bottlecaps. Still hadn't used all of it. I don't think that their payout expected them to keep the bags marked with their emblem. I traced them to Austin and Washington, D.C. … it was not just some run-of-the-mill wealthy patron. It was a far-away kind of deal." He took another sip of his tea. Most of this was true. Even the part about eliminating the raiders. "Someone ran. And hid at that settlement. And got found. And that's why y'all suffered the way you did." It almost bothered him that he was leaving out a very important component of the story at the moment, but he knew that once he revealed it, she'd change her attitude quickly.
Brigitte didn't even hold her tea as she stood in the doorway from the kitchen, hands on her hips, listening to the words come out of his mouth. Her eyes bore into his in an almost abject and disdainful disbelief. "So you're thinking someone on the settlement got everyone killed… was it my family? Was it someone else?"
Sherman kept still. She was smart. "Well, your name really is Brigitte Thibodeaux," he said quietly in an attempt to divert the subject just slightly, pulling a small file from the inside of his long coat. This, this was true. "But you're not registered as having been born anywhere in the South. You're a Yankee. Or a Canuck, perhaps. See there?" He opened the file and pulled out the front page, offering both to her to examine. "You're from Montreal, it would seem. At least, your birth certificate says that. Your dad's a Quebecois type, and your mother was from the South. Enclave scientists assigned together. They ran afoul of the organization about 27 years ago."
"I was very little," Brigitte spoke out loud, just barely audible, thinking of the odd flashback she'd had about a family discussion about "running." It made more sense now. "How long did they run for?"
"Ten years, give or take? Everywhere from staying in Canada on occasion to D.C. to Texas, even some Tennessee in there. Your folks had you on the go with them forever. But it was Texas where they finally got caught up to."
"How did you all even know my name was Brigitte?" she asked warily. "I've always wondered. I never had anything with my name on it until someone made me something."
"I was the one who found your name, actually," he said, offering a trace of a smile. "It was stitched into your coat that we had to cut off when we found you. I wrote it down in my booklet when it all went down so no one would forget you had a name." He shrugged. "I had a brother killed by Raiders. Besides, I liked your name. Brigitte Thibodeaux. It made me think of old neighbors who originally hailed from Louisiana. They had real thick accents and the women sounded like they were telling you campfire stories even if it was late morning sunshine out there." She smiled and rolled her eyes. "You never had a voice like that." Brigitte burst out laughing. "But when all that happened your voice made me want to go and hide. It was awful to find a girl torn to shreds like that. Left for dead. Little girl who didn't do anything to no one." Brigitte's laughter had subsided quickly. Her face drew in very seriously. "One reason I admire you. You don't hold no grudges. You just keep going."
"Oh, no, I hold plenty of them," she corrected mildly, folding her arms around herself and looking down at the ground. "I just don't talk about them much. I'm too scared to go outside these walls. I hold plenty enough against just anything outside."
Sherman tilted his head and laughed a little. "Really? You're afraid of the desert? I thought you were just a regular homebody. No. You're truly terrified, aren't you?" Brigitte didn't flinch in her expression or form. She just watched Sherman, as though she were expecting him to continue talking. He smiled lightly. "It's true. All the more reason to help you now. There's a whole world out there and I don't think you'll be happy forever here at Aegis.
Brigitte froze at the sight of the rare smile. "What are you really here for?" she asked after a pause.
Sherman stood and placed his emptied mug on the table. "Look, I don't want to spook you or anything. For now, keep the file. You have a lot to sort through." He watched her waver only slightly. "But you come find me if you want to talk more."
"Okay." Brigitte eyed the file from afar. It was clear to Sherman that she was dying to dig through it. She waited a long moment before lifting her eyes to meet his. "What were their names?"
He nodded,not skipping a beat before he answered. "Roger and Amandine."
She could almost feel her eyes break open with tears. She held the inclination back, nontheless. "Sh… I mean, thank you… Isaiah."
He smiled broadly. She'd never said his first name before. It sounded like music. "You're welcome, Brigitte." He plucked his hat up from its spot and placed it on his head, then offered a bow and a nod. "Miss Thibodeaux." He exited via the heavy door, pulling it shut behind him. She watched the door for several seconds, then began to rifle through the contents of the file. She'd thank Sherman and sort out her feelings later—for now, there was a new thing to look through. Something she'd never dreamed of having before.
She looked high up and nodded courteously, a little surprised to see who her guest was.
"Sherman."
"Brig." His syllable with simple but purposeful. "… may I?"
"You're welcome to come visit." She walked him inside and he looked around, having never been in her home before for more than just a few minutes. She gestured to the large armchairs in the living room area. "I've put on some tea and I'm happy to bring you some."
He nodded and cast his eyes down to the woven rug, desperately searching for an interesting detail to focus on. He didn't understand why he felt so panicked. Everything else in the world was easy. Getting what he needed wasn't a problem for him. But talking to someone he couldn't just intimidate to get what he wanted? That was a whole other problem.
Which was why he had another strategy.
"Great," he managed quietly as she brought a small tray with a few items on it. "No sugar. No thank you. Just as it is." He let his blue eyes meet her own brown eyes briefly before she blinked and nodded, breaking away awkwardly to find mugs into which to pour hot water from the kettle. He looked around the room and studied the decorative scheme. The eclectic, fun, yet intensely individualistic sense of aesthetic was even slightly intriguing as he struggled to discern details about Brigitte, whom, as he had to be realistic with himself, he barely knew on a personal level. He'd only started to really pay attention to her about ten years prior; before that he knew her as the young kid who came in after she was found at that awful scene. Sherman remembered finding her; it was one of the few times that he'd been truly bothered by what had transpired on a jaunt outside of Aegis. And as much as that experience impacted him, it felt very strange to see Brigitte and her aftermath in the following years. It wasn't until she really began to transition out of childhood that she'd much changed on the surface, which helped in leaving that part of the bitter past behind.
He blinked as he watched the small woman at the stove, her back turned to him. No doubt she'd always wanted to ask him about that.
"I bet you've got questions."
Brigitte gathered the tea sachets and nervously placed them in the mugs. With shaky hands she placed them on the counter not far from the bubbling kettle. "I do," she managed coolly, despite her high anxiety.
He adjusted in his seat, fingers tapping on the armrest of the large green chair. He studied the curiously empty photo frames strewn across the walls. "Perhaps… perhaps I should have come to you much sooner, Brig."
She flexed her hand before lifting the kettle off of the woodfire stove, willing herself to not allow her unsteady hands to spill any of the dangerously hot water from its spout. "I… I'm glad you're here now, Sherman," she responded faux-pleasantly.
He looked over at her to catch her eye from his spot as she stood in the kitchen. "Please, call me Isaiah," he said gently, while still allowing his voice to carry. She blinked, her mouth snapping partly-open in surprise. "Only if you feel comfortable, of course…"
She closed her mouth shut and plucked the two mugs carefully from the countertop and slowly made her way to the center of the living room. "I've been hoping to learn more about what had happened, "she offered tentatively, placing Sherman's mug before him, then sitting on a large chair opposite of him. "I do have to wonder why you're telling me all of this now, instead of telling me earlier. That seems strange to me."
He let himself frown again, almost looking disappointed in a funny kind of way. "Some things some people aren't ready to talk about until later," he said simply. "I doubt any of this would have changed the course of your life earlier if you'd heard it then." That wasn't the reason at all. He knew that.
"I'll be the judge of that," she snipped covertly, scooping a little bit of honey into her steeped teacup as her annoyed eyes challenged him a little.
His eyes darted up to meet hers as he reminded himself to remain calm. "I wouldn't steer you wrong," he reassured her, truly trying his hardest to be his most genuine self. "Besides. Some things I didn't learn until recently." He took in a long sigh as he watched her steady, emotionless reaction. "But… anyhow, your settlement was destroyed by a band of some of the most savage desert raiders known to all of Central Texas. All they cared to do was pillage and kill." He blew lightly on his tea as the fragrant steam breathed into his dusty nose. That felt good. "But the difference with y'all's savage raiders versus run-of-the-mill raiders of the savage persuasion is yours takes money in exchange for allegiance. So it wasn't personal. It was motivated by money. Someone bigger was looking for something at your settlement." He watched Brigitte's wide, nervous eyes as he slowly sauntered into the story. "I've been trying to learn more as time's gone on." Partially true, as he knew.
"You mean you've been actively trying to learn about this?" she interrupted quickly, springing to her feet and pacing into the doorframe of the kitchen, trying to expend a sudden bolt of nervous energy. "And you haven't told me?"
He shook his head. "I told you, none of what I'd known before would have made a difference," he said, "that is, until now."
Brigitte pursed her lip shut and seemed to swallow back a few choice words. She nodded to him politely for him to continue.
"Eventually, I tracked the raider band, four years after you came to Aegis to live with us. You were maybe 15 or 16. They liked to drift in and out of the region, but this time I had the right approach to taking them out. They still took their banknotes with them as they were lighter than carrying bottlecaps. Still hadn't used all of it. I don't think that their payout expected them to keep the bags marked with their emblem. I traced them to Austin and Washington, D.C. … it was not just some run-of-the-mill wealthy patron. It was a far-away kind of deal." He took another sip of his tea. Most of this was true. Even the part about eliminating the raiders. "Someone ran. And hid at that settlement. And got found. And that's why y'all suffered the way you did." It almost bothered him that he was leaving out a very important component of the story at the moment, but he knew that once he revealed it, she'd change her attitude quickly.
Brigitte didn't even hold her tea as she stood in the doorway from the kitchen, hands on her hips, listening to the words come out of his mouth. Her eyes bore into his in an almost abject and disdainful disbelief. "So you're thinking someone on the settlement got everyone killed… was it my family? Was it someone else?"
Sherman kept still. She was smart. "Well, your name really is Brigitte Thibodeaux," he said quietly in an attempt to divert the subject just slightly, pulling a small file from the inside of his long coat. This, this was true. "But you're not registered as having been born anywhere in the South. You're a Yankee. Or a Canuck, perhaps. See there?" He opened the file and pulled out the front page, offering both to her to examine. "You're from Montreal, it would seem. At least, your birth certificate says that. Your dad's a Quebecois type, and your mother was from the South. Enclave scientists assigned together. They ran afoul of the organization about 27 years ago."
"I was very little," Brigitte spoke out loud, just barely audible, thinking of the odd flashback she'd had about a family discussion about "running." It made more sense now. "How long did they run for?"
"Ten years, give or take? Everywhere from staying in Canada on occasion to D.C. to Texas, even some Tennessee in there. Your folks had you on the go with them forever. But it was Texas where they finally got caught up to."
"How did you all even know my name was Brigitte?" she asked warily. "I've always wondered. I never had anything with my name on it until someone made me something."
"I was the one who found your name, actually," he said, offering a trace of a smile. "It was stitched into your coat that we had to cut off when we found you. I wrote it down in my booklet when it all went down so no one would forget you had a name." He shrugged. "I had a brother killed by Raiders. Besides, I liked your name. Brigitte Thibodeaux. It made me think of old neighbors who originally hailed from Louisiana. They had real thick accents and the women sounded like they were telling you campfire stories even if it was late morning sunshine out there." She smiled and rolled her eyes. "You never had a voice like that." Brigitte burst out laughing. "But when all that happened your voice made me want to go and hide. It was awful to find a girl torn to shreds like that. Left for dead. Little girl who didn't do anything to no one." Brigitte's laughter had subsided quickly. Her face drew in very seriously. "One reason I admire you. You don't hold no grudges. You just keep going."
"Oh, no, I hold plenty of them," she corrected mildly, folding her arms around herself and looking down at the ground. "I just don't talk about them much. I'm too scared to go outside these walls. I hold plenty enough against just anything outside."
Sherman tilted his head and laughed a little. "Really? You're afraid of the desert? I thought you were just a regular homebody. No. You're truly terrified, aren't you?" Brigitte didn't flinch in her expression or form. She just watched Sherman, as though she were expecting him to continue talking. He smiled lightly. "It's true. All the more reason to help you now. There's a whole world out there and I don't think you'll be happy forever here at Aegis.
Brigitte froze at the sight of the rare smile. "What are you really here for?" she asked after a pause.
Sherman stood and placed his emptied mug on the table. "Look, I don't want to spook you or anything. For now, keep the file. You have a lot to sort through." He watched her waver only slightly. "But you come find me if you want to talk more."
"Okay." Brigitte eyed the file from afar. It was clear to Sherman that she was dying to dig through it. She waited a long moment before lifting her eyes to meet his. "What were their names?"
He nodded,not skipping a beat before he answered. "Roger and Amandine."
She could almost feel her eyes break open with tears. She held the inclination back, nontheless. "Sh… I mean, thank you… Isaiah."
He smiled broadly. She'd never said his first name before. It sounded like music. "You're welcome, Brigitte." He plucked his hat up from its spot and placed it on his head, then offered a bow and a nod. "Miss Thibodeaux." He exited via the heavy door, pulling it shut behind him. She watched the door for several seconds, then began to rifle through the contents of the file. She'd thank Sherman and sort out her feelings later—for now, there was a new thing to look through. Something she'd never dreamed of having before.
The setting changes from Aegis to Texas, USA
Cain
The low whine of suppressed servos surrounded Cain like a ghostly aura as he walked across the vast night desert.
The heavy leather cloak concealed his armour, and his helm was hooded, concealing it from view - save for a pair of shining orange lenses, glaring out from beneath the shadows. Dark winds blew across the landscape, lit up in a ghostly burnt-orange glow by his helmet's night vision on a quiet, nigh-moonless night.
He didn't see them, but knew they were there all the same; spaced at five hundred metre intervals, weapons in hand, marching across the landscape resolutely. He could almost feel the safeties click off as a figure emerged from behind an outcrop in front of them, dressed in-
How curious.
A battered old Enclave greatcoat, Sigma-issue, the same steel grey as the one sitting in Cain's locker. Second Generation; same as Cain. Practically ancient history by now, yet... it couldn't be, could it? Yet the coat was the same - the same tears, the same beaten-up nature. Only one of those coats could exist out here in the Wasteland, and Cain knew its source all too well.
It was said that ghosts walked on moonless nights, but Cain had always thought himself a little better at ensuring that people were dead than that.
"You would not happen to be lost, would you?"
Wariness echoed through the man's voice, like a wild cat, alert yet calm. A young man - not whom Cain thought he was, or at least, not immediately. Nevertheless, this could be interesting.
He held up a fist for just a moment, ensuring that the movement looked more like swatting a fly than a tactical gesture. Stand down. This man posed him no threat - minimal weaponry, no armour - and so he felt comfortable gleaning a little information from this man. He knew the answers to most of the questions, but if this man was who Cain thought he was...
Well, getting his measure couldn't hurt, now could it?
"I rather am, actually," Cain said, with a sigh. "Say, you don't happen to know where 'Aegis' is, do you?"
"Aegis? Ah, I suppose you must be a wanderer, then."
Cross let his mouth do the talking, immediately flicking through his options in the time it took to say that sentence. He recognized those orange lenses, those which once upon a time his father wore and which he died in. Enclave, no doubt about it. And given his prior experience with them, he had absolutely no delusions about their benign intentions. If they knew of Aegis' existence at all, they knew where to find it. It was but a matter of time. Best to give them whatever information they needed, at least for now.
"You're already walking in the right direction. It's about... three dozen klicks from here, give or take." Cross let his eyes glance up and down the other's form, as any normal wastelander would do. It was rare that anyone would even know of the Enclave's continued existence, and they most certainly wouldn't connect it to that particular model of power armor. Had to keep up the appearance of an ignorant, unassuming waster, after all, especially if they questioned him about the coat.
"Going to be a long slog, no matter how you look at it." he half turned to wave a hand vaguely in the aforementioned direction, trusting in his senses to warn him of any sudden movements.
Silently, Cross took a mental inventory. A bolt action rifle, slung in clear view across his back. Same went for the dual submachine guns on his hips, in plain view. Three grenades, tucked in the pockets of his coat, one hunting knife, tucked away in his boot. Nowhere near enough to take out a squad of Enclave soldiers - there was no way this guy was alone. Three others, at the very least. But he did have those custom smoke grenades Emma had cooked up; in the worst case scenario, he could simply pop one and run.
Talk first. he reminded himself. Talk first, and only make a run for it if absolutely necessary.
Wearing a small, friendly smile on his face that nobody alive outside of Arroyo could tell was completely false, he turned back to the other man.
"Looks like you've come a long way from home. East Coast? Vegas?"
Cross let his mouth do the talking, immediately flicking through his options in the time it took to say that sentence. He recognized those orange lenses, those which once upon a time his father wore and which he died in. Enclave, no doubt about it. And given his prior experience with them, he had absolutely no delusions about their benign intentions. If they knew of Aegis' existence at all, they knew where to find it. It was but a matter of time. Best to give them whatever information they needed, at least for now.
"You're already walking in the right direction. It's about... three dozen klicks from here, give or take." Cross let his eyes glance up and down the other's form, as any normal wastelander would do. It was rare that anyone would even know of the Enclave's continued existence, and they most certainly wouldn't connect it to that particular model of power armor. Had to keep up the appearance of an ignorant, unassuming waster, after all, especially if they questioned him about the coat.
"Going to be a long slog, no matter how you look at it." he half turned to wave a hand vaguely in the aforementioned direction, trusting in his senses to warn him of any sudden movements.
Silently, Cross took a mental inventory. A bolt action rifle, slung in clear view across his back. Same went for the dual submachine guns on his hips, in plain view. Three grenades, tucked in the pockets of his coat, one hunting knife, tucked away in his boot. Nowhere near enough to take out a squad of Enclave soldiers - there was no way this guy was alone. Three others, at the very least. But he did have those custom smoke grenades Emma had cooked up; in the worst case scenario, he could simply pop one and run.
Talk first. he reminded himself. Talk first, and only make a run for it if absolutely necessary.
Wearing a small, friendly smile on his face that nobody alive outside of Arroyo could tell was completely false, he turned back to the other man.
"Looks like you've come a long way from home. East Coast? Vegas?"
The setting changes from Texas, USA to Aegis
Was it the sting of rejection or sheer stupidity? He wasn't sure but Lyki had to do it. He had to save Brigitte for reasons he didn't even understand. No, it wasn't love. Lyki wasn't capable of such kind, tender things. Love was something for man, not monster. If anything, Lyki felt obligated by God to protect her. It felt weird to think that, but it was really the only outcome that made sense. Why else would he risk his life, unless for the soul purpose of redemption?
Venturing out into the wasteland, Lyki had his eyes set on the far horizon. Somewhere just out of sight was the man he sought. Slasher.
Would he die? Likely, but at least he would die trying. He would die trying to keep back the beast that would bring about the end of Aegis. The narcissistic cannibal that would rip into Brig and tear her apart limb by limb. No, eat her alive flesh by flesh.
Shivering at his own mental image, Lyki blinded as he dipped into the great unknown. Steadfast, he marched toward fate.
As the sun got higher into the sky, Lyki began to realize that maybe Slasher wasn't really there. Maybe it was a myth? All a lie Bandit created to keep herself safe. Was that possible? It had to be. There was no way a mad-man would keep a pretty face around, even if she was that pretty.
And then, out of nowhere, a searing, stabbing sensation dropped him. Eyes burning, breath falling faint, he collapsed. Dehydration. It was a real bitch.
+++
Darkness. Darkness, it was all around him. Eyes flitting, he looked around and soon met the warm glow of a dim fire. It wasn't much but it was warm. Moving in closer, he found himself grinning from ear to ear. Had Brig come to save him? A shadow shifted near him. It had to be her.
"Thanks, Brigitte." Turning his head to face her, he offered her a sweet grin.
"Brigitte?" The voice that spoke was ghastly, blood-curdling eerie. It sounded as if it were straight out of one of those olden day horror movies.
Head pivoting slowly, Lyki's eyes widened with sheer horror when he spied the owner of said voice. Sure enough, before his eyes, was the slender, grizzled face of a mad-man. And not just any mad-mad. This was the mad-mad. It was...
"Slasher."
"Eh, I liked the tone you used when you said Brigitte. Almost sounded sincere." The green-orb murderer was mocking Lyki. The look in his eyes were pure ridicule. Any minute now, he would strike and eat the ghoul-man alive. Any minute now, Lyki's scream would ring out across the wasteland. Any minute now, he would...
Offer him stew?
Blinking as the worn bowl was dropped into his hands, Lyki quipped a brow and shifted from the infamous cannibal.
"Don't worry, it's not human." The way the words rolled off his tongue, he almost sounded rehearsed. Was this reaction really that known? Was it something Slasher had dealt with time and time again?
"But you're a murderer. A man-eater!"
"Uh, yeah. If you had to choose between sand and man, which would you eat. I don't eat people because I like to. I eat them when there's nothing else." Pointing to a rather fat pack, Slasher scoffed. "I have three rats in there. I don't need to eat man tonight."
It was unsettling to think that Slasher was being this cordial. What was his plan? What was up his sleeve? He clearly had a hidden agenda.
"You going to eat your molerat stew or not." His voice was starting to take a turn from pride to annoyance.
Looking from his food to the green-eyed man, Lyki gulped. He was famished but scared shitless. Was this really going to be okay? Hesitantly he raised the bowl to his lips. Whelp, he goes nothing, he thought.
When the slightly cooled stew his the back of his throat, Lyki found it impossible to pull from it. Gobbling it down like a ravenous dog, he immediately sought out more. Graciously, he received more and wolfed the second bowl down just as fast as the first.
Belly full, he licked at his lips before smacking on his thumb. "Where did you learn to cook like that?"
"My girlfriend is a horribly picky eater. I have the mask the taste of everything. If it doesn't taste like steak or lemons, she won't eat it." With a dry laugh, Slasher's head turned toward the glow of Aegis. "I wonder how she is." His voice had a sincere yearning to it as his body leaned closer to the establishment. Although miles off, it seemed odd to see a man like he so in love with a bandit like she. Did he even know about Null? He had to... right?
"She's doing better. She was in the infirmar-" his body was forcefully pushed into the sand.
"She was what?!" Slasher's fingers dug into Lyki's neck, making it impossible for the masked man to speak. Finally getting the wind he needed, he finished.
"Yeah, she was fatigued. We brought her back to health. She's safe now."
"Tch, safe? With that man. I think not." Shifting back to his old perch, Slasher twirled a knife in his hands before he tossed it across the fire into a rather normal looking lizard. "That soldier just screams trouble to me."
+++
When morning rolling in, Lyki moaned. The ground was wet. They needed to get out of this piss-pour rain and into Aegis. But how? How was he to doll Slasher up to look like a good man, rather than a murderer?
"Rain?" Slasher's face rolled up to meet the clouds above. "This is an omen for sure."
"Huh?" Turning to the man beside him who was equally as wet, Lyki shrugged. What was he talking about.
"We're in a wasteland. This rain is anything but pure. It's toxic. Toxic rain is a bad omen. Something hails from beyond the gray. Something bad is coming." Turning to Lyki, he planted a firm grip on the man's shoulders. "You need to get me into Aegis. Jessica is in danger."
Venturing out into the wasteland, Lyki had his eyes set on the far horizon. Somewhere just out of sight was the man he sought. Slasher.
Would he die? Likely, but at least he would die trying. He would die trying to keep back the beast that would bring about the end of Aegis. The narcissistic cannibal that would rip into Brig and tear her apart limb by limb. No, eat her alive flesh by flesh.
Shivering at his own mental image, Lyki blinded as he dipped into the great unknown. Steadfast, he marched toward fate.
As the sun got higher into the sky, Lyki began to realize that maybe Slasher wasn't really there. Maybe it was a myth? All a lie Bandit created to keep herself safe. Was that possible? It had to be. There was no way a mad-man would keep a pretty face around, even if she was that pretty.
And then, out of nowhere, a searing, stabbing sensation dropped him. Eyes burning, breath falling faint, he collapsed. Dehydration. It was a real bitch.
+++
Darkness. Darkness, it was all around him. Eyes flitting, he looked around and soon met the warm glow of a dim fire. It wasn't much but it was warm. Moving in closer, he found himself grinning from ear to ear. Had Brig come to save him? A shadow shifted near him. It had to be her.
"Thanks, Brigitte." Turning his head to face her, he offered her a sweet grin.
"Brigitte?" The voice that spoke was ghastly, blood-curdling eerie. It sounded as if it were straight out of one of those olden day horror movies.
Head pivoting slowly, Lyki's eyes widened with sheer horror when he spied the owner of said voice. Sure enough, before his eyes, was the slender, grizzled face of a mad-man. And not just any mad-mad. This was the mad-mad. It was...
"Slasher."
"Eh, I liked the tone you used when you said Brigitte. Almost sounded sincere." The green-orb murderer was mocking Lyki. The look in his eyes were pure ridicule. Any minute now, he would strike and eat the ghoul-man alive. Any minute now, Lyki's scream would ring out across the wasteland. Any minute now, he would...
Offer him stew?
Blinking as the worn bowl was dropped into his hands, Lyki quipped a brow and shifted from the infamous cannibal.
"Don't worry, it's not human." The way the words rolled off his tongue, he almost sounded rehearsed. Was this reaction really that known? Was it something Slasher had dealt with time and time again?
"But you're a murderer. A man-eater!"
"Uh, yeah. If you had to choose between sand and man, which would you eat. I don't eat people because I like to. I eat them when there's nothing else." Pointing to a rather fat pack, Slasher scoffed. "I have three rats in there. I don't need to eat man tonight."
It was unsettling to think that Slasher was being this cordial. What was his plan? What was up his sleeve? He clearly had a hidden agenda.
"You going to eat your molerat stew or not." His voice was starting to take a turn from pride to annoyance.
Looking from his food to the green-eyed man, Lyki gulped. He was famished but scared shitless. Was this really going to be okay? Hesitantly he raised the bowl to his lips. Whelp, he goes nothing, he thought.
When the slightly cooled stew his the back of his throat, Lyki found it impossible to pull from it. Gobbling it down like a ravenous dog, he immediately sought out more. Graciously, he received more and wolfed the second bowl down just as fast as the first.
Belly full, he licked at his lips before smacking on his thumb. "Where did you learn to cook like that?"
"My girlfriend is a horribly picky eater. I have the mask the taste of everything. If it doesn't taste like steak or lemons, she won't eat it." With a dry laugh, Slasher's head turned toward the glow of Aegis. "I wonder how she is." His voice had a sincere yearning to it as his body leaned closer to the establishment. Although miles off, it seemed odd to see a man like he so in love with a bandit like she. Did he even know about Null? He had to... right?
"She's doing better. She was in the infirmar-" his body was forcefully pushed into the sand.
"She was what?!" Slasher's fingers dug into Lyki's neck, making it impossible for the masked man to speak. Finally getting the wind he needed, he finished.
"Yeah, she was fatigued. We brought her back to health. She's safe now."
"Tch, safe? With that man. I think not." Shifting back to his old perch, Slasher twirled a knife in his hands before he tossed it across the fire into a rather normal looking lizard. "That soldier just screams trouble to me."
+++
When morning rolling in, Lyki moaned. The ground was wet. They needed to get out of this piss-pour rain and into Aegis. But how? How was he to doll Slasher up to look like a good man, rather than a murderer?
"Rain?" Slasher's face rolled up to meet the clouds above. "This is an omen for sure."
"Huh?" Turning to the man beside him who was equally as wet, Lyki shrugged. What was he talking about.
"We're in a wasteland. This rain is anything but pure. It's toxic. Toxic rain is a bad omen. Something hails from beyond the gray. Something bad is coming." Turning to Lyki, he planted a firm grip on the man's shoulders. "You need to get me into Aegis. Jessica is in danger."
The setting changes from Aegis to Texas, USA
Cain
"The north, actually," Cain said, with a pleasant nod. Calmly, he removed the helm of his power armour and pulled back his hood, revealing a hard but smiling face and buzz-cut, greying hair.
"The weather here is lovely, you know," he said, with a gesture around them. "It's rather chilly where I'm from. Are you from around these parts?"
Of course he wasn't - the accent made that clear enough. But he'd do well to make small talk, find out if he was truly dealing with whom he thought he was. He despised leaving a job undone, even one as sordid as that which had killed this man's parents.
That said, the data emerging from that situation had been most valuable, particularly for their current task. They'd had no indication of the truth of S6-041's defection, but he could feel it; few Graduates understood it, but Cain had lived long enough to learn how to feel. To learn how people acted. Not killing Null when they'd had the chance had, potentially, been a mistake -
But of course, even further combat data was always convenient.
And such a battle with Null would be truly something for the ages. A war to be remembered - the world had grown so dull and grey, and it lay with the enigmatic yet terribly predictable young man to reinvigorate it.
'Reinvigorate' rhymed rather well with 'incinerate', Cain mused.
View All »Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts that you can organize on your own. They're useful for telling a story that might span long periods of time or space.
There are no arcs in this roleplay.
View All » Create New » Quests
There are no quests in this roleplay.
Game Master Controls
Welcome home, Promethean. Here, you can manage your universe.
Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts from any location, allowing you to easily capture sub-plots which might be spread out across multiple locations.
Add Quest » Quests
You can create Quests with various rewards, encouraging your players to engage with specific plot lines.
Add Setting » 18 Settings for your players to play in
Settings are the backdrop for the characters in your universe, giving meaning and context to their existence. By creating a number of well-written locations, you can organize your universe into areas and regions.
Navigation
While not required, locations can be organized onto a map. More information soon!
Collectibles
By creating Collectibles, you can reward your players with unique items that accentuate their character sheets.
Once an Item has been created, it can be spawned in the IC using /spawn Item Name (case-sensitive, as usual) — this can be followed with /take Item Name to retrieve the item into the current character's inventory.
Mobs
Give your Universe life by adding a Mob, which are auto-replenishing NPCs your players can interact with. Useful for some quick hack-and-slash fun!
Mobs can be automated spawns, like rats and bats, or full-on NPCs complete with conversation menus. Use them to enhance your player experience!
Current Mobs
No mobs have been created yet.
Spawns
Locations where Mobs and Items might appear.
Events
You can schedule events for your players to create notifications and schedule times for everyone to plan around.
The Forge
Use your INK to craft new artifacts in Fallout: Red Texas. Once created, Items cannot be changed, but they can be bought and sold in the marketplace.
Notable Items
No items have been created yet!
The Market
Buy, sell, and even craft your own items in this universe.
Market DataMarket conditions are Quick Buy (Items Most Recently Listed for Sale) |
Open Stores
View All » Add Character » 29 Characters to follow in this universe
Newest
Colonel Cain
"That which exists without my knowledge, exists without my consent."
Isaiah Shadrach "Sherman"
"... come with me."
Cross Connor
"Choices. I had one. I made it."
Bonita Abbott
"You know the rules. Abide by them, or get out."
"Red Eyes"
[WIP] Still working on a few sections.
Roland Brave
Nightkin, Blacksmith, Accidental Mystic
Soluna
IGNORE BY THE HOLY ORDER OF GOD-EMPEROR ZERO
Turquine "Lyki" Jervis
Man is mortal. I, monster, am capable of greater feats. Perhaps I can be the change this world needs....
Brigitte Thibodeaux
"Tell me a story. Tell me about you. I want to know where you come from and where you're going."
Null
"It's not a question of who is going to let me. It's a question of who is going to stop me."
Trending
Slasher
"Need repairing? I can help... <Mutters> ...so long as you don't mind losing a few organs."
Turquine "Lyki" Jervis
Man is mortal. I, monster, am capable of greater feats. Perhaps I can be the change this world needs....
Scarlette
Abandoned -- Ignore
Isaiah Shadrach "Sherman"
"... come with me."
Brigitte Thibodeaux
"Tell me a story. Tell me about you. I want to know where you come from and where you're going."
Roland Brave
Nightkin, Blacksmith, Accidental Mystic
Null
"It's not a question of who is going to let me. It's a question of who is going to stop me."
"Red Eyes"
[WIP] Still working on a few sections.
Colonel Cain
"That which exists without my knowledge, exists without my consent."
Most Followed
Soluna
IGNORE BY THE HOLY ORDER OF GOD-EMPEROR ZERO
Roland Brave
Nightkin, Blacksmith, Accidental Mystic
Turquine "Lyki" Jervis
Man is mortal. I, monster, am capable of greater feats. Perhaps I can be the change this world needs....
Slasher
"Need repairing? I can help... <Mutters> ...so long as you don't mind losing a few organs."
Isaiah Shadrach "Sherman"
"... come with me."
Bonita Abbott
"You know the rules. Abide by them, or get out."
"Red Eyes"
[WIP] Still working on a few sections.
Ameratzu Hitori
Abandoned -- Ignore
Josephine "Jo" LaRoche
Abandoned -- Ignore
View All » Places
56 posts · 5 characters present · last post 2014-10-08 02:53:55 »
Texas, USA Owner: Xavirne
Where our nightmare takes place....
82 posts · 9 characters present · last post 2014-10-06 20:03:36 »
Texas, USA ↪ Aegis Owner: Xavirne
The rules are simple, 1) No harming anyone, unless you're defending yourself; 2) No politicking; 3) Be polite; 4) Abide by the curfew -- nobody in or out between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.; and 5) Rest.
2 posts · 4 characters present · last post 2014-06-20 04:53:48 »
Eastern Dallas Area ↪ Nuclear Fallout Shelter Owner: RolePlayGateway
Located in what used to be the Dallas Hospital.
1 posts · 2 characters present · last post 2014-05-10 16:11:13 »
Texas, USA ↪ Dallas Area Metro Stations Owner: RolePlayGateway
The subway station that connects just about all of the Dallas Area.
1 posts · 1 characters present · last post 2014-04-16 13:27:26 »
Fort Lipantitlan (near Mathis) is the headquarters from the Knighthood of Blood.
58 posts · 0 characters present · last post 2014-04-08 23:03:54 »
Southern Dallas Area ↪ Ceder Crest Ridge Owner: RolePlayGateway
It's rumored that Super Mutants roam here.
1 posts · 0 characters present · last post 2014-04-07 01:30:39 »
Eastern Dallas Area ↪ Garland Bridge Owner: RolePlayGateway
Traders from all over Texas come here to show off their swag. A national broadcasting station can be picked up here -- ANN (American News Network).
3 posts · 3 characters present · last post 2014-04-07 01:23:25 »
Southern Dallas Area ↪ College Park Owner: RolePlayGateway
Overrun by feral ghouls, but it's said to house something of importance.
6 posts · 1 characters present · last post 2012-02-03 23:29:06 »
Southern Dallas Area ↪ Overton City Owner: RolePlayGateway
Home to one of the broadcasting sites -- O Radio.
10 posts · 1 characters present · last post 2012-01-23 22:02:56 »
Eastern Dallas Area ↪ Lemmon City Owner: RolePlayGateway
Your home away from home.
2 posts · 1 characters present · last post 2011-12-30 20:03:59 »
Eastern Dallas Area ↪ Gaston City Owner: RolePlayGateway
An abandoned city. But, for some odd reason, a radio station still plays out of this area -- 13V Radio.
0 posts · 1 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Despite the fallout, Austin is still in-tact and doing pretty well. Austin is the main headquarters for the Texan Federal Government and the Enclave Red Ops (ERO).
0 posts · 1 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Amarillo is swarming with elitist thugs. Although this place is full of humans, these are not the kind of men you want to mess with.
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Southern Dallas Area ↪ Moore Town Owner: RolePlayGateway
A small group of humans live here.
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Eastern Dallas Area ↪ Vault 013 Region Owner: RolePlayGateway
Bitches locked me out....
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Eastern Dallas Area ↪ Shadyside Owner: RolePlayGateway
Do yourself a favor and steer clear of here.
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Texas, USA ↪ Eastern Dallas Area Owner: RolePlayGateway
The eastern portion of Dallas.
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Texas, USA ↪ Southern Dallas Area Owner: RolePlayGateway
The southern portion of Dallas.
Fullscreen Chat » Create Topic » Fallout: Red Texas: Out of Character
Discussions
-
- Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Fallout: RT || The GM's Guide to Playing
by Xavirne on Thu Dec 29, 2011 12:30 pm
- 1 Replies
- 550 Views
- Last post by Xavirne
on Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:04 pm
-
Fallout: RT || The GM's Guide to Playing
Most recent OOC posts in Fallout: Red Texas
There have been no posts in the OOC topic for this roleplay!