The watch around Tylers wrist read 15:17 as him and five of his men drove their motorbikes an ATVs into Apple Valley, CA. Leading the way he'd bring his bike to a stop at an intersection in the middle of town - his fellow rebels quickly following suit.
The desert community of Apple Valley was nothing more than a ghost town now, balls of tumbleweed an abandoned vehicles littered the streets and rubble from damaged buildings was strewn all about.
"Lovely place" Mila let out sarcastically before running her hands through her long blonde hair. The bullish 20 year old Second Lieutenant was Tylers "right hand man" and close friend all in one. Mila secretly wanted more from their relationship but Tyler honestly viewed her like the younger brother he never had. She easily fit in as one of the guys and made a point to go over and beyond in terms of showcasing that she could hold her own.
"Yeah, just the kind of place I'd like to retire to one day." Tyler responded with a smirk before scanning the area for what they had driven nearly 2 hours for.
"There!" a young man by the name of Mikey would call out as he pointed to a four story building that was half destroyed a hundred or so yards to their right.
"Are you sure that's it?"
"Matches the spot on map Lieutenant"
Mila sighed and then kicked the stand on her bike out. "Great, this should be a breeze finding the parts we need."
"Don't be such a downer, our odds could be worse." Tyler muttered before kicking his stand out as well.
They had driven nearly two hours from their base in search of a parts factory. The generator providing them electricity back home was in need of repair - along with several other things here and there, so a small list was made and off they were sent to collect parts only found in handful of factories within the state. If they failed here their next venture would take days, not hours.
"Okay listen up, me and Mila are going to get to parts for the generator, three of you should be able to manage the rest of whats on the list while one stands guard out front. If you can't find the exact part written down on the list get something similar to it, understood?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, an after grabbing what little firepower they came with the group of six - all wearing camouflage pants, and varying black tops - began a brisk but cautious walk to what was left of the parts factory.
The heat was miserable to say the least, but such misery was also a blessing seeing as how the Scums have a dislike for the extreme heat that occurs in the early afternoon. So with the low likely hood of encountering crawlers, and the fact that the nearest Watchtower was tens of miles away, their biggest threat would be a roaming Mech or group of bandits.
Tyler stopped and scratched the back of his head once they reached the opening where the front doors once stood. A quick survey of the area later he'd look towards the guy chosen to stand guard. "Keep your ears and eyes open for everything, but Mechs are the only things I could see possibly sweeping by here other than bandits. We don't have the firepower or tools to take one down yet alone a line of them, so make sure you go unseen."
The young kid named Fin, no older than 16 or 17, nodded and went to salute but quickly had his hand knocked down by Tyler, who couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Relax, we're out in the middle of the desert, you don't have to be so formal."
"Smashed parts here, smashed parts there, crashed in wall over yander-"
"Okay I get it Lady Optimism."
The two would go back and forth at each other for nearly ten minutes before coming across and caved in roll-down gate, which led to a large store room that was nearly untouched.
"Jackpot!"
"Wow, lucky us. Now here's to another ten or fifteen minutes trying to find what we need."
"It shouldn't take that long."
"Oh really? Why not, do you know this place like the back of your hand suddenly?" Mila would ask with a cocky smirk.
"No but I can read."
Tylers grin grew as he pointed up to the hanging signs with his assault rifle, his friends smirk turned into an annoyed pout however an after a quick roll of her eyes she'd began to walk down the center isle. "Hardy har, I'll get the Voltage Regulator and you can get the parts needed for the Cooling and Exhaust Systems mmkay?"
Both went down their respective isle cautiously with their weapons ready at the aim, however with all the noise the group was making it was doubtful any Crawlers were lurking inside since they would of more than likely confronted the group by now.
Within a minute Mila was beside Tyler with the Voltage Regulator in her backpack, and with her help Tyler got the parts he needed stuffed into a duffel bag.
Walking back towards where the other three were was uneventful, and the entire trip was beginning to appear uneventful until Fin suddenly came running across the factory floor - distress clearly showing in his face.
"What! What is it?" Tyler asked sternly as he dropped his bag to the ground.
"M-mechs sir!" Fin whispered nervously. "Lots of them, half a mile West of our position!!"
"Wonderful." Mila spat, before the sound of the marching Mechs became noticeable.
"We won't make it to our bikes in time, come on!"
Tyler directed the group into an intact office off the side of the front entrance and made everyone hit the floor. Within couple minutes of him shutting the door Apple Valley was crawling with Mechs.
"It's no big deal, they're just passing through! It's no big deal!" Fin kept whispering to himself, but after several minutes it became obvious to everyone that the Mechs were not just passing through.
"They're looking for something."
"Or someone! Maybe we were tracked!?"
"Maybe if they were coming up from the West Mila, but the East? They can't be here for us..."
"Then what would they be here for!?"
"I don't know."
The group would stay down on the floor for a short while before Tyler decided to peer through the tattered blinds on the office's only window.
"Can you see 'em? How many? Do you think-" Before Fin could finish both Mila and Tyler would shush him with dirty looks.
"1..3..5!? Why so many out here in the middle of no where?" Tyler wondered to himself, before kneeling back down on the ground.
"Maybe they see our bikes!? They know we're here! I don't-"
"Fin, shut up. Did you not notice all the other abandoned vehicles and bikes strewn all over the place? Odds are good they won't give two shits about ours."
"Tyler's right, problem is it's been nearly half an hour and they're still out there."
"I know, seems they're looking for something specific, lets just hope it's not in here."
Another half hour would pass before the sound of the Mechs began to distance itself away from the group.
"Hold this."
Tyler would hand his assault rifle to Mila before heading to the office door.
"I'm gonna make sure they're leaving and verify in what direction for good measure. Stay here until I get back!"
"Wait, I can-"
Before Mila could offer to help her friend was gone.
Climbing to the top of a badly battered building wasn't the brightest thing to do but it was Tylers only way of getting a good vantage point. Spotting all five Mechs going back the way they came was a relief well worth the risk, an after taking a long look around Tyler would make his way back down to the office.
The time now stood at 16:50.
"Coast is clear, come on!" he'd say as he walked back into the office, slung the duffel bag over his back and grabbed his rifle from Mila.
"They're gone?"
"Yeah, heading back East the same way they came. If we leave now we can get back an hour before sunset."
The group quickly gathered their things and left the office. They'd jog back to their bikes in record time start 'em up almost in unison.
"We can't afford to loose time, so unless you spot a Scum or some bandits don't bother bringing up stopping."
"What If I have to take a dump" one of the guys asked sarcastically.
"Shit your pants then."
"Hey now! Well what if he we see a pretty thing on the side of the road a lot nicer than blondey here? It's been a while."
"Mikey you look like shit, I doubt she'd want anything to do with ya, but sure, if we actually see a chick on the side of the road waiting for ya we can stop." Tyler joked, before kicking his kickstand back against the bike and taking off in the direction they had come from originally.
The desert community of Apple Valley was nothing more than a ghost town now, balls of tumbleweed an abandoned vehicles littered the streets and rubble from damaged buildings was strewn all about.
"Lovely place" Mila let out sarcastically before running her hands through her long blonde hair. The bullish 20 year old Second Lieutenant was Tylers "right hand man" and close friend all in one. Mila secretly wanted more from their relationship but Tyler honestly viewed her like the younger brother he never had. She easily fit in as one of the guys and made a point to go over and beyond in terms of showcasing that she could hold her own.
"Yeah, just the kind of place I'd like to retire to one day." Tyler responded with a smirk before scanning the area for what they had driven nearly 2 hours for.
"There!" a young man by the name of Mikey would call out as he pointed to a four story building that was half destroyed a hundred or so yards to their right.
"Are you sure that's it?"
"Matches the spot on map Lieutenant"
Mila sighed and then kicked the stand on her bike out. "Great, this should be a breeze finding the parts we need."
"Don't be such a downer, our odds could be worse." Tyler muttered before kicking his stand out as well.
They had driven nearly two hours from their base in search of a parts factory. The generator providing them electricity back home was in need of repair - along with several other things here and there, so a small list was made and off they were sent to collect parts only found in handful of factories within the state. If they failed here their next venture would take days, not hours.
"Okay listen up, me and Mila are going to get to parts for the generator, three of you should be able to manage the rest of whats on the list while one stands guard out front. If you can't find the exact part written down on the list get something similar to it, understood?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, an after grabbing what little firepower they came with the group of six - all wearing camouflage pants, and varying black tops - began a brisk but cautious walk to what was left of the parts factory.
The heat was miserable to say the least, but such misery was also a blessing seeing as how the Scums have a dislike for the extreme heat that occurs in the early afternoon. So with the low likely hood of encountering crawlers, and the fact that the nearest Watchtower was tens of miles away, their biggest threat would be a roaming Mech or group of bandits.
Tyler stopped and scratched the back of his head once they reached the opening where the front doors once stood. A quick survey of the area later he'd look towards the guy chosen to stand guard. "Keep your ears and eyes open for everything, but Mechs are the only things I could see possibly sweeping by here other than bandits. We don't have the firepower or tools to take one down yet alone a line of them, so make sure you go unseen."
The young kid named Fin, no older than 16 or 17, nodded and went to salute but quickly had his hand knocked down by Tyler, who couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Relax, we're out in the middle of the desert, you don't have to be so formal."
"Smashed parts here, smashed parts there, crashed in wall over yander-"
"Okay I get it Lady Optimism."
The two would go back and forth at each other for nearly ten minutes before coming across and caved in roll-down gate, which led to a large store room that was nearly untouched.
"Jackpot!"
"Wow, lucky us. Now here's to another ten or fifteen minutes trying to find what we need."
"It shouldn't take that long."
"Oh really? Why not, do you know this place like the back of your hand suddenly?" Mila would ask with a cocky smirk.
"No but I can read."
Tylers grin grew as he pointed up to the hanging signs with his assault rifle, his friends smirk turned into an annoyed pout however an after a quick roll of her eyes she'd began to walk down the center isle. "Hardy har, I'll get the Voltage Regulator and you can get the parts needed for the Cooling and Exhaust Systems mmkay?"
Both went down their respective isle cautiously with their weapons ready at the aim, however with all the noise the group was making it was doubtful any Crawlers were lurking inside since they would of more than likely confronted the group by now.
Within a minute Mila was beside Tyler with the Voltage Regulator in her backpack, and with her help Tyler got the parts he needed stuffed into a duffel bag.
Walking back towards where the other three were was uneventful, and the entire trip was beginning to appear uneventful until Fin suddenly came running across the factory floor - distress clearly showing in his face.
"What! What is it?" Tyler asked sternly as he dropped his bag to the ground.
"M-mechs sir!" Fin whispered nervously. "Lots of them, half a mile West of our position!!"
"Wonderful." Mila spat, before the sound of the marching Mechs became noticeable.
"We won't make it to our bikes in time, come on!"
Tyler directed the group into an intact office off the side of the front entrance and made everyone hit the floor. Within couple minutes of him shutting the door Apple Valley was crawling with Mechs.
"It's no big deal, they're just passing through! It's no big deal!" Fin kept whispering to himself, but after several minutes it became obvious to everyone that the Mechs were not just passing through.
"They're looking for something."
"Or someone! Maybe we were tracked!?"
"Maybe if they were coming up from the West Mila, but the East? They can't be here for us..."
"Then what would they be here for!?"
"I don't know."
The group would stay down on the floor for a short while before Tyler decided to peer through the tattered blinds on the office's only window.
"Can you see 'em? How many? Do you think-" Before Fin could finish both Mila and Tyler would shush him with dirty looks.
"1..3..5!? Why so many out here in the middle of no where?" Tyler wondered to himself, before kneeling back down on the ground.
"Maybe they see our bikes!? They know we're here! I don't-"
"Fin, shut up. Did you not notice all the other abandoned vehicles and bikes strewn all over the place? Odds are good they won't give two shits about ours."
"Tyler's right, problem is it's been nearly half an hour and they're still out there."
"I know, seems they're looking for something specific, lets just hope it's not in here."
Another half hour would pass before the sound of the Mechs began to distance itself away from the group.
"Hold this."
Tyler would hand his assault rifle to Mila before heading to the office door.
"I'm gonna make sure they're leaving and verify in what direction for good measure. Stay here until I get back!"
"Wait, I can-"
Before Mila could offer to help her friend was gone.
Climbing to the top of a badly battered building wasn't the brightest thing to do but it was Tylers only way of getting a good vantage point. Spotting all five Mechs going back the way they came was a relief well worth the risk, an after taking a long look around Tyler would make his way back down to the office.
The time now stood at 16:50.
"Coast is clear, come on!" he'd say as he walked back into the office, slung the duffel bag over his back and grabbed his rifle from Mila.
"They're gone?"
"Yeah, heading back East the same way they came. If we leave now we can get back an hour before sunset."
The group quickly gathered their things and left the office. They'd jog back to their bikes in record time start 'em up almost in unison.
"We can't afford to loose time, so unless you spot a Scum or some bandits don't bother bringing up stopping."
"What If I have to take a dump" one of the guys asked sarcastically.
"Shit your pants then."
"Hey now! Well what if he we see a pretty thing on the side of the road a lot nicer than blondey here? It's been a while."
"Mikey you look like shit, I doubt she'd want anything to do with ya, but sure, if we actually see a chick on the side of the road waiting for ya we can stop." Tyler joked, before kicking his kickstand back against the bike and taking off in the direction they had come from originally.