Barnaby Turncoat's Story

Barnaby was resting in his office chair, which by his standards was a luxury leather, wheeled seat. Relatively speaking, it was a luxury seat, but in reality it wasn't much. But it was comfy enough for him to lean back in, feet up on his desk with hat over his eyes, snoring away. Running one of the strongest settlements in the Eastern US was...well sure as hell wasn't very easy. Fuck, in hindsight he really didn't know how he managed it but fuck, he had. Of course help from several other survivors made it so and he wouldn't have gotten very far without him.

He often wondered why he was even choose to mayor/govern/rule/whatever-fucking-verb people choose to use. He could think of better candidates, but fuck they choose him and no one was raising any stinks about it. Oh sure, he had to contend with some council members who might say they could do better, but they were usually shut down by the majority. Marty, one of the original members of Commonwealth, always explained it to Barnaby that he was chosen simply because he had the guts to do what was needed. Whether it be telling people off, exiling, hell, sometimes the needed executions for the really bad seeds; they always said Barnaby was the best at handling such things.

Course it wasn't just his capability of doing the cruel but necessary, but it was also because he could balance the cruel with the merciful. He was hardly a man with a mean streak, and he knew he was mostly loved when some people gave him things grown in their gardens or such. It was...odd and it always caught him off guard. Better that he was atleast loved by the majority.

"Gahbah~!!" He jerked awake at random, flailing his arms as he tipped back in his chair. "Oh shit!!" With a heavy thud, he fell back in the seat and was dumped from it, rolling back a moment before coming to a stop. He laid there, blinking and staring up at the ceiling. "Probably a good hint that I shouldn't sleep like that anymore..." He sat up, rubbing his head before looking around, picking up his hat. Placing it back on his head and adjusting it, he then stood up while stretching. Looking around, it had been a couple hours since he had showed up at the office today.

Pulling out a cigar, he gave it a light before he turned and walked to the balcony that was attached to his office. His office was located in the tallest building in the city, and it was nothing to gloat about. All he really had was a fuck-ton of filing cabinets, and he had a rather simple wooden desk. Behind it was the black leather chair, currently on the floor, and on top he had papers, pens, pencils, and other assorted things scattered on the desk. Most important though, besides the cigar box, was Pippy, embedded into the top of the desk. Marty and Julie both complained that using his desk to "store" Pippy wasn't the best of ideas, but that's why he had a piece of plywood to write on!

Walking onto the balcony, which like his office wasn't much to talk about, he leaned on the railing as he looked out into the city. People were walking and going about their business, going to their work and doing whatever else they needed to do. The way it worked in Commonwealth was that everybody had to do their part. It was either work or you don't get your supplies. It was something like food-stamps, you work, you report your hours and what you've done to the nearest supervisor, and then you were given your ration tokens. Wasn't the best of names for them, Barnaby knew that, but he never was very creative...

Everyone fourteen years or older had to start working for their part, course there were still some labor laws. One thing Barnaby did keep a tight leash on was making sure no supervisors abused their positions. He looked down, letting out a puff of smoke before smiling and waving to a family that walked by. He had made sure the supervisors knew just how far their authority went. He'd been the executioner for a few public executions, and Pippy was of course the tool he used. It was vicious, but Barnaby wanted people to know that, no matter your position, you had a part to fulfill and nobody was immune to responsibility. Hell, even he wasn't.

He looked down at his left hand, looking at his ring and pinky finger, both severed at the center knuckle. He too would pay for irresponsibility, and he made sure people understood his own regret the last time a few zeds got through. Nobody was immune to responsibility...

(Intro: Stanly Mockerson. Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRIbUT6u7Q)

The halls of the "Government building" were small and cramped and Stanley was disgusted by it. He would have had none of this nonsense in his office building. He had yet to meet the new mayor of Commonwealth, but he hoped he would do some damn expanding for God sakes. He felt like a sardine in a can, although he was the only one in the hall, and if he heard anybody make a fat joke he would kick their ass up and down this damn settlement. Stanley wobbled his way up to the door, his gut bouncing in his tight suit like a bowl of jell-o. He sighed as he looked around at the decor of the building, such little class this new mayor had, it was saddening to say the least. Well as long as he did his job well, Stanley could care less and just go back to his planning and his luxury house.

Stanley knocked on the door and straightened his suit, and posed with his cane as if he were about to have his picture painted, awaiting the classless man who must be on the other side of the door.

A sharp knock on the door brought Barnaby's attention away from his thoughts. He turned away from the balcony, cigar in mouth still as ge made his way to the door. "Please be Julie with a sandwitch..." he mumbled before he opened the door. Barnaby blinked as his eyes set on the well dressed and portly fellow in front of him. He was far better dressed in his suit, Barnaby wearing a brown jacket over his red vest and a white button up. Other than that Barnaby only had a pair of jeans tucked into a pair of long boots. To top it off, he had a pair of fingerless gloves and his hat as usual.

He stated blankly at the man, trying to guess who it was. Then it struck him, "Oh yeah!" He said with a grin, then it set in and his smile vanished, "Oh yeah..." the man angirly stood there, waiting to be invited in. "Nice to see mister Mockerson! Wish you'd have informed me you were coming. I would have spru~..." Barnaby trailed off as he looked into the room that wasn't the prettiest of places."...well I would have atleast grabbed another chair. Anyways come in, I can always stand!"

Barnaby walked in, the man following and taking the seat Barnaby offered him, after picking it up off the floor. "So, what brings you here to this humble town sir?" Barnaby asked while leaning against his desk next to Pippy, which had also seen better days. The axe clearly had signs of heavy usage on it, with the red paint on the head pretty much worn down and it had plenty of scratches and nicks on it.

Barnaby several times has had to sharpen and even reshape the axe-head. The handle as well was pretty worn down, with several pieces of tape, and twine used to reinforce it. Barnaby though would never abandon the axe so long as it was usable, and it was the only thing he was very, very protective about. People looked at him oddly for it, as he always carried it with him, and he even went as far as threatening people who tried to touch it without his permission. To him though, it more than just an axe. It was a life-line, something he could always rely upon in these nasty times. It had saved his ass countless times, and after so many years it really meant a lot to him. Nobody would take that axe from him without getting beaten to a pulp first.

(Intro song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALhwQKTRAgA)

"Discipline...Loyalty....Sacrifice, these words will mold who you are from this moment on." Scott spoke into the microphone that lay rested in front of him on the balcony of the many new NDO "Capital" buildings that sat as a symbol of 'peace and prosperity' across the entire globe. The dark shadow of the building was cast over hundreds of men and woman dressed in the combat uniform of the NDO that was almost identical to that of the American uniform, aside from the NDO flag that sat menacingly on their shoulders. "You men and woman are the finest this order has to offer, and soon you will be sent to the Russian front to fight the tyranny of Vladimir Putin, the socialist who hides behind a fake Democracy. I will not lie to you, this government you are now fighting to destroy will do everything in their power to stop you. They have used nuclear weapons on our land and their own to stop our advances. But this is all the more proof that the Russian Federation is an enemy to not just Democracy, but humanity as a whole!" Scott was using exaggerated hand gestures as he spoke, his words carrying the weight of a God to these men and women who believed all the lies he spewed.

The flag of NDO was casting it's wicked shadow over the buildings that sat around the capital building, which dwarfed all of them with it's emasculate and unnecessary size. "You men and woman will fight! And you will drive the Russian bear back into it's cave and bury it there where it belongs! Now go forth my brothers and sisters, bring peace, prosperity and democracy to the world!" Scott raised his fist up next to his ear and shouted at the top of his voice into the microphone "For the order!"

The soldiers below pounded on their chests, right over their hearts, with their own fists and shouted back in almost perfect unison "FOR FREEDOM!" Scott hit his own chest with overwhelming pride and joy for the army he had raised. These men and woman were loyal to his new order, and his order was doing well, very well. All of Western Europe was in his grasp, and with very little resistance. This pleased Scott because it meant that most the armies were intact as well, in fact his armies were so strong that with the Russia, China, and several other Asian countries united against him were still not strong enough to defeat them. He had the most advanced and numerous fighting force in the entire world, and he was using it to crush every foe in his path. Soon Russia would be forced to fold into his whim, and multiple middle eastern countries were already falling, or had fallen to him.

Scott had little to fear as of the current moment. Although the civil war in the United States was becoming a thorn in his side. But it mattered little right now, he had bigger issues that must be dealt with first. He had to conquer the rest of the civilized countries and figure out a way to get rid of all the infected that lie therein. Europe was by far the worst infected NDO territory that Scott had conquered so far. The only up side to it was that most of the hordes had moved into the forests that lay all across the continent, all Scott needed to do was burn them down with napalm and he could kill hundreds of thousands in mere hours. America would not be so easy, however, since there is less space for the infected to go in his home country, Scott would have to deal with hordes that number close to the million at a time. It was a thinker all right, but Scott would think of something...he always did.




Jinn? Jinn was in Nevada? Mando had a take a minute to absorb this information, he hadn't seen Jinn in years and now his old friend was coming back to say hello? Fucker probably wanted something from him. Mando's lips curved into a wicked smile as he thought about the havoc he wrecked with Jinn back in the day. Jinn and Mando were like two peas from the same pod, they both killed without mercy and enjoyed it. Will, maybe Mando enjoyed it a tad more than Jinn did but that is beside the point.

Mando put the phone away from his head for a second and snorted his second line of coke, when he lifted his head back up he was shaking and a creepy willy wonka style grin came across his face. This coke was some good shit, he was glad he stole it from those assholes bringing it to the Commonwealth "He is en route to you as we speak. Give us your gps coordinates." the man on the other line said. It was a bad time to sound bossy around Mando just that second, his second line of coke was making him bug out even more and his grip of sanity and reality was beginning to slip over the edge. He was angry...real angry. His dark brown eyes were as small as grains of sand and full of a twitchy rage that was engulfing his every cell.

"The fuck did you just say to me!?" Mando blurted out into the phone, his whole body shaking like a revved up engine from the sudden burst of energy from the cocaine "Bitch, who the fuck do you think you are? Motherfucker you don't tell me to give you dick! You ask me to give you shit with a pretty please and pile of naked pussy on top!" Mando's eyes twitched with furry at the man "You call me Mister Ortega you fucking got that! I don't know you, you're not my friend so you show me some respect or I'll cut your dick off and shove it up your ass!" Mando wasn't even pausing to breath and the man on the other line couldn't get a single word in

"Motherfucker I'll kill you!" Mando sprung from his seat and went over to a map on the wall that he kept so he could always mark where he was "When you get here me and you are going to throw down bitch! You here me, i'm going to kick your ass and then chop your nose off your ugly ass face!" Mando then proceeded to yell the coordinates into the man's ear when he was finished he went back to his cursing rage "So you be there or be square you little bitch!" Mando was just about to hang up when suddenly he stopped and put the phone back to his head, and in a voice as calm as the waters of a lake he said "Oh, and tell Jinn I said, 'sup." then he clicked the end call button.....





"So, what brings you to this humble town sir." The unruly looking man asked as he sat on his desk. Stanley expected the man to look bad, but not this bad. He looked as if he had just walked out of some ghetto casino at his job as a card dealer, with that red vest of his. The fact that he tried to cover it up with such a nasty and disgusting brown colored coat made it all the worse, there was much work to be done here indeed.

"You ask what my business is, yet you have not introduced yourself to me." Stanley said in a unimpressed and slightly unpleasant tone. The man looked a little panicked as he quickly stood at attention and extended his hand

"My name is Barnaby sir, Barnaby Turncoat." Stanley reached his plump hand out and took Barnaby's hand in a tight grip.

"That is much better mister Turncoat." This man had no sense of manners did he? How he ever got elected as mayor here was beyond Stanley, but it is what it is he supposed "Now, as you may know I helped start the Commonwealth many years ago. I hold this place very dear to me." Well the luxury it helped provide him at least. But even a man such as Stanley still had things outside of luxury that he held dear, and the Commonwealth was one of them. Mostly because it was a symbol of his success to everyone who mocked him when he ran for president "I am here to insure that you, as the new mayor, have everything you require." Stanley said in his uptown accent

"Well sir I-

"No, no." Stanley interrupted "Don't say you have everything you need my boy! Because from the moment I walked through those doors I knew you do not." Barnaby gave Stanley a puzzled look as he stood from his chair and straightened his suit once again "You are a man of power now my boy." Stanley said as he put an arm around Barnaby "Even in this world that we live in, men of power must look the part. Because looking the part is where half your power comes from!" Stanley walked Barnaby over to the door of his office and through it open, his arm still around him "You see this my boy? These walls are redecorated with every new mayor, so that every new era can be recognized differently. With every new mayor, the decoration of his halls and the way he portrays himself must remind the people of his ambition, and what he stands for!" Stanley turned to Barnaby and looked him up and down "And the way you are dressed now my boy it would appear you stand for drunken bar fights and sleeping in gutters."




"Well Zanetta!" Richard called to the girl in the back seat "You are now an accomplice to the crime of going against Darcy! We can all be executed together now!" Richard joked as he drove the truck through the dirt path that lead to a back woods section of the farmland where they would burn the remains of the infected to keep the infected from being consumed by animals and giving the family more issues.

"This is so cool dad!" Connor said from the passenger seat

"It is until we get back to the house, then we are going to be in a little bit of heat." Richard replied to his son as he brought the truck to a stop in the middle of a dirt field "Here, we can burn them here." Richard said "Zanetta, mind helping me set up the bonfire?"

***Commonwealth Mayor's office***
Barnaby cringed as the man put an arm around him. Shuddering would have been his preferred method of expressing it, but this guy weighed so much he didn't think he'd even be able too. "Ok then sir..." Barnaby said sliding out of his grip and brushing himself off. "About looking the part. I look like I'm ready to get in, as you said, get in drunken fights and sleep in a gutter." He stood back, letting out a puff of smoke from the cigar and walking over to the balcony once more. He looked back at Stanley, waving his hand out to the balcony. "Please, if you would step out here." Stanley scowled before stepping out, Barnaby following him.

"As president, you want this city to run as strong as it can. Not just because it's strength grants strength to the other territories, but also!" He grinned looking at Stanley. "Also, it grants strength and wealth to you! Now of course why do I mention this? Simple, good sir." He leaned on the railing of the balcony, looking out and letting out a puff. "Morale is the most important part about this city staying strong. When it's people are happy, then they want to work, they want to improve things. Now I understand wanting an aesthetically pleasing office building, which yeah it could probably use some minute improvements. However, sir. These people, they live a hard life, some live in the gutter, some simple homes. The richest workers still are not what we'd call upper-class in the old ways of life."

"Get to the point, Mr. Turncoat." Stanley said, tapping his cane.

Barnaby looked at him, standing up off the railing. "For you, looking high-class as you do works, because you are the complete man in charge, and you deal with us mayors. So you need to look this way to let us know our place." He could see the nod from Stanley, Barnaby wanted to roll his eyes. "But for me, I need to look like the "drunken brawler." First off, it's what I wore surviving this whole mess we call the zeds. So it's very comfortable for me. But also, Mr. Mockerson, it let's these people know that they are being led by a man with experience in not only surviving, but climbing out of the hell-hole that was created. They want to follow me, not because I look powerful or ambitious, but because they know I've fought and survived the same and even worse conditions than how they live. And they respect that. They do what I ask because they trust me as well."

Walking back into the officer, Stanley following, Barnaby took another long drag of the cigar and let out the smoke. He then turned to face the president. "And any resources you are going to give me for improvement will go to improving their lives, not mine. And by doing so, it will not only make them happy, but it will also improve productivity because they are happy! Make sense?"

***Belial***

Belial stood nearby Scott's position. Currently the mutant was not wearing anything other than his pants, arms crossed as he listened to Scott speak to the men and women of the NDO army. Strong willed, determined, disciplined people; all fighting for the new cause. It really amused Belial, to think Scott had made it so far. Of course, it was because of the strong arms of operatives, especially Belial. He had no idea how many people he had killed by this point, and how many were dead because Scott needed cretins out of the way. He smiled, his sharp bottom canines still protruding from between his lips.

For a long time, Belial was Scott's secret weapon. Now though, he was Scott's terror weapon. To the majority of the world's population and people, he was a boogey man. None knew if he actually existed or not, but not the men in charge. To those of power, they knew of Belial's existence, and many had to sleep with one eye open less the mutant devour them. They never knew if they were Belial's next target.

To these soldiers, he still served a couple roles. Primarily, was something of inspiration, or at least an example to follow. In battles, Belial would join the fray and charge the enemy. Sometimes it helped the soldiers by distracting the enemy. At other times, the presence of the blood crazed berserker would even drive the soldiers into something of a similar blood frenzy. This ferocity was often enough to break the enemy, or at the least cause severe casualties. His other form of "inspiration" was the same as before. You turn from the NDO, you die. You run from our enemies, you die. Your life for the NDO, it was as simple as that.

"I will always be here Richard...even if I am different." Zanetta said in voice that hit Richard right in his heart. He loved the girl like a daughter, just like he loved Lilth like his sister. Richard nodded his head as he came in close with Zanetta and Connor and place an arm around them. He squeezed both of them tight, he was becoming an old man every passing year. Next year would be fifty, Richard shook his head with disbelief as he watched the crackling fire burning the corpses away. How had he gotten so old so fast? He didn't feel fifty, didn't look fifty either but those government tests took care of that. At least he wasn't old as his old boss Scott, that bastard much be nearing seventy at least.

"No Zanetta..." Richard began in a low and cold voice "you won't" he loved Zanetta, but if she had ever become like Lilth he would have to kill her. He knew she would understand that, know that he would never let her roam around like a monster if he had anything to say about it. "Come on guys...let's go." Richard said as he began to walk to the truck with Connor in one arm and Zanetta in the other.

"That was so cool Dad." Connor said excitedly as he hugged his father

"Haha, yeah it was alright." Richard said with a smile "I'll teach you more about guns a different day. But right now I have to go take hell from your mother."




For such a barbarian, the man made an excellent point. Perhaps he was not as dumb as he appeared, he would make a great mayor indeed "Well Mister Turncoat, you make a good argument." Stanley said as he hobbled to the balcony, his cane making an irritating click with every step. Stanley looked out upon his old warhorse and smiled "Mister Turncoat." Stanley said as he spun around in a circle, giving the impression the man was about to fall and put a hole through every floor "I am afraid I am here for more than the pleasure of meeting you."

Barnaby gave him an almost exhausted expression as the man continued "I will be using Commonwealth as my new base of operations."

"Base of operations?" Barnaby asked with to little enthusiasm for Stanley's liking "Don't you already have one of those sir?"

"That's quite the point my boy! I did have one, but things have become...complicated." Stanley said as he slowly turned around to look out over the horizon "I was in one of our territories, a small settlement called New Dallas, let me assure you it was anything but. However, it well suited my needs." Stanley coughed violently into his hand "I was doing fine, when slaver activity spiked in the area. I heard it was because of some big refugee camp on the other side of the minefield and they were crossing in small section of land that the mines did not cover. It was then that I realized a few things, our trade routes and our outer settlements are not safe! That is why I have come here, I require the protection of Commonwealth's high walls to safely conduct my planning." Stanley was man of big ambitions, but he was a coward to say the least. In this life or next you would never catch Stanley dead in a fight, he would be behind big walls with his head in a bowl of soup.



The sand flew high into the air like a massive dust storm of death heading for the small settlement that lay out in the middle of the Mojave, like a massive target just waiting to be attacked. It would be Mando's seventh attack today, and just like all the others it would burn to the ground until nothing was left.

"Remember!" Mando said into his radio "Only young girls and children. If they are are male and are old enough to fight back, I want them dead!" Mando through the radio to the floor board of the dune buggy he was in, and then watched as his legion of makeshift war machine tore through the sands towards their target. He left only ten men with the ammo trucks with Jinn, while he took all ten of his trucks with mounted 50. calibers, twenty-five dune buggies with 556 machine guns, his prisoner transports and the bread and butter of his whole fleet, what he called a battle barge. Mando had worked for two years to put together a makshift tank that could be worked on just like any other vehicle, the result was his battle barge. The barge was nothing more than an eight-teen wheeler big rig that, he and his crew had worked on to make an unstoppable war machine.

The barge's cabin was the average cabin for a big rig, but it had been covered almost completely in eight inch steel plates and on the front was a battering ram like plow made to knock through settlement walls. The window shield had also been covered by steel, with only small slits for the driver to see out of. Carried by this monstrous feat of makeshift engineering was an average big rig shipment container. However, it too had been armored with black steel and converted so the sides would fold down and up like drawbridges. Inside were a total of fifteen machine guns that had steel shields welded to the fronts with small slits at about eye level for the gunners to see through. There was room to put around twelve other soldiers on the barge that could be armed with anything from assault rifles to rocket launchers. But by far the scariest thing about this monstrosity was the old German 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz 37 infantry weapon that was place in the back of the truck. Mando had stolen it early on after his release from prison. He found it at an old ww2 collectors warehouse, along with it's owner still trying to hold out against hordes of infected. With some engineers and the ww2 collectors know-how Mando was able to get the artillery operational. The ammo was another problem, but again he was able to pull through and make some ammo cartridges from scratch, using some stolen US military plastic explosives in place of hollow charges. The gun was only fired once to make sure it worked, but since the slavers only have about twenty rounds it hasn't been used since.

The convoy was soon in range of the town, whose people were already beginning to flee to underground caves, while some grabbed their guns and prepared to fight off the coming invasion. "Fire! Let's fucking rock these bitches!" Mando cried with ferocity as his eyes focused in on his prey. The trucks and dune buggies began firing with their machine guns, the bullets tearing through the shanty houses like scissors through paper. The few brave men who stood at the gates, guns ready to fight, were ripped asunder by the barrage of lead that the slavers were unleashing. Their blood flew high into the air and their bodies lay spread across the ground as the vehicles rolled into the small town.

Mando jumped from his buggie and raised his AK-47 assault rifle to a group of older woman who were running for cover. They were much to old for Mando's liking, so they were cut down by a hail of bullets from the maniac. "Whoo! Yes, run bitches RUN!" Mando screamed at the top of his lungs as fired mercilessly into the crowds of fleeing people. A teenage boy came fleeing out of a nearby house, rifle in hand, as a woman's voice called to him to stay inside. He looked straight at Mando, and he froze. He was looking right into Mando's eyes...and what he saw was far from human. The eyes he looked at her not of beast or man, they were of hate, the dark black holes behind the brown irises were filled with the very heart of hatred and rage. The feeling of fear was overwhelming for the boy wouldn't could even raise his rifle. Mando didn't even bother to shoot the armed kid, he simply put his rifle to his side and unsheathed his machete. The boy tried to run back inside, but Mando was already too close, and before he could even realized it he had been decapitated with one foul swoop of the menacing blade.

The cold lifeless body fell to the ground and a blood curdling scream came from inside. Mando quickly ran in, finding too woman in the corner, huddled together as Mando's dark eyes looked upon them. One was older, must have been in her late thirties or early forties, while the other could not be any older then sixteen "Well hello loves." Mando said with a joyful voice as he spread his arms like he was coming for an embrace "Daddies home!" The older woman stood, with a blade in her hand and charged at Mando

"You bastard!" She screamed as Mando grabbed her hand and dug his machete deep into her gut. The woman gave a few dying breathes as her daughter screamed out and ran over, with her own knife in hand. Mando quickly tossed the mother to the floor, with the machete still in place, and grabbed the girl by the throat and pinned her against the wall. The girls grip loosened and she accidentally dropped the knife to the floor "Your a pretty little thing aren't you." Mando said sugary sweet as he eyed her body "Young enough to be ripe, and old enough to screw. You will sell nicely." Mando said as if he were having a normal conversation. The girl tried to spit obscenities at Mando through her tears, but his grip on her throat was too strong "Hmm this looks nice." Mando said as he reached for a chain that was hanging from her pocket and pulled it out. Attached to the end was a pocket watch, that looked to be rather new "Hmm, I don't have one of these." Mando said with interest and examined the watch, he flipped it so he could see the back and saw a small engraving that read property of Richard McCarthy

Barnaby pinched the bridge of his nose, leaning against his desk as he listened to Mockerson. Lovely, oh fucking lovely; this man was exactly who he wanted to be staying in Commonwealth. "Right...well guess I'll have to welcome you to Commonwealth as more of a guest." Barnaby forced out a smile as he looked at Mockerson. Of course, something then donned on Barnaby. It didn't take a psychologist or even an IQ above 70 to tell that Mockerson was about as combat ready as a dandelion. Barnaby began to genuinely smile as he realized that, with Mockerson here, it meant that Commonwealth would more than likely receive even more resources, especially when it came to protection.

Barnaby then stood up off the desk, "Well Mr. Mockerson." He said while extending a hand. "Well let me do so now by officially welcoming you, again, to this wonderful city! I do wish to know that, with your presence here, will there be any change in my position or authority?"

Richard finished his good quickly and then went out in search of Darcy. He didn’t feel guilty about what he did; it needed to happen sooner or later. But he was questioning if he had gone about it the right way. He had…hadn’t he? Of course he had! There was no other way! Darcy wasn’t listening to reason! If he hadn’t done it the way he had, the fight would have continued and nothing would have been accomplished! But, still something seemed wrong about the whole thing; it was probably just because Richard hated fighting with Darcy. After they got married the fighting seemed to die down for a little bit, but then it started spiking. The fights may have been few and far between, but when they were present they were six times as bad as when they were before. Richard for one was damn tired of it all.

He made his way through the sweet smelling air of the farm, through the long blades of grass that shone in the dying summer sun. Soon it would be dark across the US again, and the NIGHTmares would come out to play again. Hopefully none would find their way to the farm like the last two had, or else Richard might have to consider relocating his family.

The cottage was just beginning to come into sight when Richard caught something out of the corner of his eye. Out in the middle of the field, next to the single apple tree that stood high amongst the green grass was the figure of a woman. Richard sighed; it was never a good thing when Darcy went to sit by the apple tree. Richard slowly marched his way across the grass, reaching Darcy in a few short minutes

“Hey babe. Richard smiled as he took a gentle seat beside the woman of his dreams




Stanley gave a patronizing smile to Barnaby as he tapped his cane on the ground “of course not my boy! I trust that you will run this town rather smashingly! Now I will be surviving you, just to make sure everything goes perfectly.” Stanley said, as he looked around the man’s office “I would also like to have a quarters like this to accommodate myself and my belongings. Where would a place like that be Mister Turncoat?”




Mando sat in a chair next to his map on the far side of the wall near the driver’s seat of the RV. His eyes were fixated on the girl he had just forced to perform oral stimulation on him. She sat, her eyes cast over with a fog of depression and trauma from the day’s events. In just a few short hours she had seen her brother and mother killed like animals, and then been forced to do please a disgusting mad man who planned to sell her off to the highest bidder.

The girl starred almost blankly at the dead teenager in the corner, her chest covered in blood and her body motionless. She, was breaking slowly, her own thoughts were tearing her mind apart like a savage animal mauling its prey.

A sudden bang of metal on wood shook the girl from her trance “Do you know why I kill?” Mando asked as he pulled his machete from the table before stabbing it again. The girl still had the eyes of a person whose innocence was forcibly torn away from them. The glaze of uncertainty and suicidal thoughts filled her eyes as she looked upon her captor with an unquenched thirst to see him dead “People think that when I kill, it’s because I like the killing.” Mando continued in a conversational tone

The sixteen year old just listened, the man’s words sticking into her mind like glue. She wanted to know why. Why would someone do these horrible things? She needed to know why the man had taken everything she loved, and then made her do something that she dreamed of only doing for the man she would fall in love with. Why would this beast of a man take everything from a girl he never met? Mando kept stabbing the table, not continuing his speech for a few minuets as he kept trying to kill the inanimate object in front of him. “I don’t kill because I like the killing. I kill because I like the power.” Mando stood from his seat and walked over to the blonde he had killed and crouched down beside her.

Mando stroked a hand through hair and looked into her eyes that were void of any inner light. “The first time I killed a man.” Mando began his voice that of dreamy reminiscence “I felt so…wrong. I hated myself, I felt like I had betrayed everything I was.” Mando has a serious look on his face as he kept playing with the dead girl’s hair “I still remember how that Hajji bastard was laying on the ground…gurgling blood. It was running down the front of his face and getting all up into his turban.” Mando shook his head “I felt so guilty.” Mando stoked his hand down the side of the blondes face and grin fit for the Cheshire cat came across his face “but that was before I realized the power that I felt with every person I killed.” Mando looked to the girl with the same mad grin “It’s amazing, before I learned to embrace the darkness, I was a weakling. But now, every time I see blood flowing on the ground I fell so alive.”

Mando stood up and ran over to the Burnett on the couch and grabbed her face in his hands “It feels like winning a medal every time I take a life! Like the whole world is looking at me in awe!” Mando put a hand on the girl’s throat “when I kill I know that life has finally become fair!” Mando began to squeeze the life out of the girl, her air pipe completely cut off by Mando’s hand “Only the strong can survive in the dark, and I love the dark.” Mando’s eyes were wide open and his grin displayed the entirety of his unclean teeth that have been destroyed by years of neglecting and drug use. The girl’s eyes were beginning to dim as she struggled for air…she was beginning to lose consciousness.

“Boss! Commonwealth is right ahead!” The convoy had made good time, with no speed limits and no traffic the travel time had bee nearly cut in half

Mando released the girl who coughed horribly as she struggled to suck in air “Fucking finally! Pull us up to the front gate.”






Scott sat in his small Paris office, with Belial looking at him in the corner. The mutant’s eyes were burning holes in Scott’s head, which was pissing the man off considering he was trying to focus on war plans.

“Starring at me isn’t going to do a damn thing so speak the fuck up.” Scott growled angrily without looking up from his work.

“I want to kill again! Why are you keeping me here when I could be fighting out there?!” Belial snapped with rage

“Because I don’t have any place that you are needed!” Scott hissed

“If there are people to kill, I’m needed Scott!” Andrew ran a hand through his hair as he sat back in his chair and looked at the beast. It had become general knowledge that Scott and the NDO possessed a paralyzing serum and that they were working on experimental mutation programs. That’s how Scott got some of the countries to bend to his will, he offer the country the serum for control. The problem was that manufacturing of the serum was costly and slow, so if you wanted serum for you or a family member you had to serve with the NDO military. That’s how he got most people to join the Enforcers.

“Fine.” Scott said coldly “If you want to fight so badly, I’ll send you to the States. Go around and search out the terrorist hide outs and get rid of them. Now please leave me the fuck alone so I can work.” Scott said with blank emotion

Belial smiled with victory “with pleasure.”

Surveying, eh? Oh jumping for joy..."Well Mr. Mockerson, I'm sure we could easily set up an office in this building for you. It's the tallest building in the city, which is why it was chosen for the mayor's office, but you'll have to give us a few until we can get it set up as you did catch us off guard." He said with a smile, letting out a puff of smoke. "So my apologies there, sir." Suddenly there was rapid knocking at the door, drawing both Barnaby's and Stanley's attention. Pulling the cigar form his mouth, Barnaby stood up off his desk. "What is it? I'm kinda in the middle of an important meeting here!"

A female voice spoke up, speaking up loudly and with a hint of concern in her voice. "Barnaby I'm sorry, but it's important!" Barnaby recognized it as Julie's voice. Sighing, Barnaby looked at Mr. Mockerson.

"Apologies, sir..." Barnaby said before walking to the door and opening it up. Standing there was a woman in her late thirties, her brown hair reaching the base of her neck. Julie hadn't been one of the original members of Commonwealth like Barnaby and Marty had been. However, she had easily proven herself to be a very reliable worker and helper. Honestly, things may have not worked over so smoothly without her help to organize things. Barnaby was damn glad to have her around. "What is it Julie? I hate to sound like an ass, but this is really an inopportune time to interrupt..." He then leaned in and whispered to her. "Don't get me wrong, I'd rather not be here but still..."

"Barnaby, slavers are approaching the front gate." She had wasted no time letting him no, and Barnaby scowled as the words sunk in.

"Son of a bitch...Alright, get the militia on alert, but I don't want them fully deployed yet. I don't need the people panicking, so just keep the militia on alert but no further. And tell the guards on the walls to be ready for a fight." Barnaby turned and walked back into his office, ripping Pippy out of the desk before heading over to his Winchester leaning against the wall. Picking it up, he looked back at Julie once more. "Nobody fires a shot till the slavers do, got it?! Now get going!"

Julie nodded her head, "Alright Barnaby! Are you going out there...?" She asked him.

Barnaby nodded his head. "I'll do the talking with them. Hopefully we just keep this civil." Barnaby looked at Stanley. "My sincerest apologies Mr. President, however I really need to handle this. You can stay here if you wish, or if you have a place to stay already we can continue this meeting later. I truly do apologize, but these slavers...well you know as well as I do that they are bad news..."

Barnaby quickly walked to the doorway, setting Pippy on the metal hook on his belt, slinging the rifle onto his back as he stepped past Julie who followed after him. "Barnaby, I won't bother trying to stop you form going, so I'll atleast tell you to be safe, ok? please?" she asked.

Barnaby looked at her with a smile, cigar back in his mouth. "Don't worry Julie, dealing with dangerous stuff like this is a usual deal for me! Now get them on alert!" He said before quickly making his way out of the office building. A few minutes later, Barnaby arrived to the front gates of the city, where several guards were standing nearby. All of the guards wore various gear, as standardized uniforms weren't as easy to come around for these survivors. the only real indication they were soldiers of Commonwealth was a simple red and black band that was sewn onto their sleeves, right shoulders, and collars. Barnaby wasn't really sure why black and red had been chosen, but oh well. The soldiers were, however, armed with assault rifles and side-arms as well. Sure they didn't have tanks or even that many armored vehicles, but Commonwealth was more than capable of handling most attackers, even a heavily armed group of brigands.

One of the soldiers stepped up in front of Barnaby, nodding his head. "They are right outside, we are all ready when you are."

Barnaby nodded his head, placing his old pair of goggles over his eyes before adjusting his hat. He wasn't taking any chances, so he held the Winchester in one hand, his other hand resting on Pippy's head. "Let's go and meet them, and remember, they fire the first shot. I don't want to cause any unnecessary violence if it can be avoided."

"Yes sir." the guard said before he looked up at the large, thick metal gates. He brought his hand up, facing his palm flat towards him and brought it sharply towards him. A guard at the top of the gate gave him a thumbs up, understanding the signal and soon the gates slowly began to slide open, grinding any pebbles of rocks that were unfortunate enough to get caught under the doors as they swung open. Opened now, Barnaby and a contingent of nine other guards slowly began to walk out towards the approaching slavers, the guards stop the wall all keeping watch and having their weapons at the ready on the off chance things did turn violent.

"Here we go then..." Baranby said to himself as he rested the Winchester on his shoulder.

(Ignore Richard he is not in this post)



Mando stepped out into the evening air and admired the walls of the settlement. The place was a lot bigger then he had expected, that was a good thing Mando liked big places, meant they had a lot of good shit to fork over. Mando's army of men and vehicles stopped in a semi-circle formation around the gate with the battle barge parked so it's right side was facing the gate. As Mando approached the ten men who had come out from the gate he continued to admire the high walls "Phew, this is a nice fucking wall you people got here." Mando called to the armed men from Commonwealth as he strode up to them alone "I hope things don't have to get ugly here because uh." Mando put his fingers in his mouth and gave out a loud whistle. Right on mark the side of the battle barge dropped open to reveal the eight 5.56 machine guns and the German artillery piece all aimed at the small group who had come from the settlement. Mando grinned "we don't play nice."

Mando strode up to the man in front of the guards who had a Winchester rifle in one hand and an axe in the other "You look like somebody important." Mando remarked as he made his way to the man "My name is Mando Ortega, and I come bearing the finest free labor and pussy the wastes of Nevada have to offer!"

Barnaby was dumbstruck at the sight of an artillery piece sitting amongst a hive of machine guns. He looked at guard with the same confused look, the guard just shrugging before Barnaby turned back forward. "Right...well Mr. Ortega!" Barnaby started "I didn't expect any nice play, but let's see if we can keep ourselves out of any "games". Be a lot of dead folks on both our parts and it help neither." Barnaby set Pippy back on his belt, taking one last long drag of his cigar before flicking it onto the ground and stuffing it out. Placing his hand back on the head of the fire axe, he looked once more at Mando.

"I'm Barnaby Turncoat, mayor of this humble city. And, since you travelled so far, I figure might as well see what merchandise you have to sell! Show what you have, and if it tickles my fancy we can start talking price. Sound good?" Barnaby paused before suddenly sneezing loudly, twitching as he did so. "Fuck that one hurt...ow~..." Barnaby was happy he had ordered the militia be put on alert. Granted with the amount of guns they were facing it wouldn't be easy getting back to the city, but the gates could quickly be shut and this man in front of Barnaby would have to pay with plenty of blood to get at the city.

Granted the fucking artillery piece would give them a good edge, but the slavers were out in the open desert. There was nowhere to hide, and if they couldn't break their way through the gate quickly, they'd have the entire militia bearing down on them from the safety of the walls.

"Hm, baby that's what I like to hear!" Mando grinned cynically as he turned to his men "Hey, bring out the fucking merchandise." The slavers quickly acted and began opening the horse transports and forcing the slaves down the ramp. There were no men, aside from the one that lived from that group of four a while back, just young women who were from the ages of 17 to their mid twenties. There were also many small children, boys and girls, none who were above the age of 10. They piled out, their hands and mouths gagged and bound, and each one was forced on their knees as they were placed into a straight line. There must have been over eighty people in the line, each one bearing the face of fear.

"Please, don't let him take me again! Please help me!" a muffled young voice called from the RV, Mando turned with savage anger in his eyes

"Shut up bitch! I'll come back in there and fuck your face with my knife!" Mando screamed in an absolute rage. His bloodthirsty yelling shot fear into one of the slaves, a young girl in the line, and she took off running in the opposite direction of Commonwealth "Jesus fucking Christ, Shoot her please." Mando called to one of his mean in an oddly calm voice, considering he was just put into a spinning rage. Before anything could be said by either party, the slaver raised an AK-47 rifle and fired a single round into the back of the girl who toppled to her face. When she continued to try and crawl away the slaver put a salvo of six round into the girl, she was no longer moving after that.

Mando turned back to Barnaby with a friendly smile across his face, every child and girl he had in the line crying with fear for their lives "Sorry about that, come look at our stock Barnaby!"

"HELP ME, PLEEEAASSE" the same voice cried from the RV, and Mando gave it a savage glare.




Richard laughed at his wife as he picked her up like he was carrying to a limo on their wedding day. He began the long walk back to the farm house, "You're lucky i'm so strong or I might...whoa!" Richard quickly let his arms drop so it appeared he was going to let Darcy fall, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck in fear

"You asshole!" Darcy laughed out as Richard kissed her gently on the lips.

The two continued to laugh all the way back to the house, where Richard quietly opened the door to the darkened kitchen and sneakily carried Darcy to the bedroom.

Barnaby just watched the man go from a grin to ape-shit without any sign of emotion. Nor did Barnaby respond when the woman was coldly shot dead. Barnaby did glance towards the RV however, then back to Mando. A guard though came up to Barnaby, whispering in his ear. "Sir, we can't possibly deal with this sick fuck..." Barnaby held up a hand though, then looked at the guard.

"Unfortunately Chet, she's the one who choose a really shitty time to try and run. Not much we can do now though. So please, just let me handle this." Barnaby then turned back forwards, looking at Mando then walking calmly towards the many people he had set out in front of Barnaby's group. "Boy oh boy, you really are a busy-body aren't you Mr. Ortega?" He knelt down in front of them, looking at each and everyone of them. Several look terrified, some were crying, others were quiet and just kept their eyes to the ground. Barnaby could imagine they'd be scared shitless at this point, and honestly with his goggles on Barnaby wasn't the friendliest of looking people. Also considering he too had his rifle, missing two fingers, and a battle-battered fire axe.

He looked back at Mando. "I mean no offense when I ask, and nor am I unappreciative of what you have here right now." Barnaby stood up and started walking down the line, looking at the people. "But is this all you have, or have you left more back at your camp for other buyers?"

Mando looked at Barnaby with curiosity. It was a rather strangely asked question, he asked if they were for other buyers, not if Mando had more for him to look at. It could have been nothing, but Mando was a paranoid motherfucker "I can't say the exact number of merchandise I have in my possession." He looked at the captives with savage eyes "This is what you have to work with for now. If you buy, we can always come back with more merchandise. But if you don't then fuck off it's a long trip and I don't think I'd have the motivation to come back." Mando said with a serious look across his face as he turned to Barnaby

"Please!" the same young voice kept crying from the RV and Mando looked to the ground and bit his lower lip, shaking his head as he anger rose

"That's it, i'm going to kill her. I'M GOING TO KILL THIS BITCH!" Mando shouted like a crazed beast as he drew his pistol and began to walk his way to the RV. The girl had heard him and was crying out hysterically now as Mando threw the door open and charged inside. There was the sounds of a small scuffle inside for a few seconds before a young girl was thrown from the RV. Her body flew through the air a few short feet before slamming to the dirt. The gril roleld on the ground a little before she saw the highwalls of Commonwealth. She wasn't sure if these people were much better, but she couldn't stay with Mando.

"Help me please!" She cried to Barnaby before Mando came back out and grabbed her around the neck and put the gun to her head. The crazed slaver had no regard for how he may have looked in the eyes of his customers, for he didn't care. If they were as brutal owners as he was a slaver they wouldn't give a shit about his mistreatment of the slaves, if they were liberals and thought it was awful they would buy to get the slaves out. No matter what, his ludicrous ways helped sell slaves. Not that he was thinking about that when he went into his crazed rages

"I told you to shut your bitch mouth didn't I!" Mando shouted as he placed his finger on the trigger.

Barnaby cocked an eyebrow. Quite the angry individual. Barnaby cleared his throat, before he calmly started walking towards Mando. "I apologize if I asked alittle to much regarding your 'merchandise'. Simply curiosity was all." Barnaby stopped alittle ways from Mando and his soon to be next victim. "Ma'am, I would suggest you cease making noise before he does pull that trigger."

He looked back out at the slaves before back at Mando. Barnaby did steal a glance towards his own guards, all of whom were visibly tense and itching to shoot. Thank goodness they trusted Barnaby or this could all end very, very horribly. "Well Mr. Ortega. I think we can get to business. So, how much a person? I will say now that, we don't have much in regards to money but I'm sure we could find things to trade, if you'd be willing to go that route." Barnaby looked at the crazed individual, refusing to react in any way whatsoever. Barnaby had learned over the years that, often times expressing no emotions or reactions beyond the calm demeanor was most helpful. Hell it was probably the reason this man hadn't snapped sooner. Course it couldn't be, but Barnaby wanted to believe as such so he could at the least feel good about himself.

He did smile though as he spoke again. "and is she included amongst those that you are selling? I mean I think it'd be a shame to kill her when you could still make something off of her."

The talk of payment stopped Mando in his tracks. He let go of the girl and went back instantly to the calmer version of himself "Payment. Let's see." Mando thought for a second as he imagined what a place this big could have. As he thought, Mando reached into his pocket and pulled the watch he had taken from her to check the time.

"Well." Mando said as he put a booted foot on the girls back "I like lot's of things Barnaby. I like drugs, guns and shiny things." Mando smiled cynically "So how bout you tell me how many you want first, then you can tell me what you have and what your offer is. We can work from there." Mando looked down at the girl under his boot as he pressed he foot deeper into her back and forced her completely on the ground "Can't we little girly girl?" mando said in a mockingly sweet tone.

Barnaby looked over the people arrayed in front of him. He had to admit, he was somewhat torn. He really didn't want to go out of his way to hand over guns or such to this man, but then again he really didn't want to just leave these people to this nutcase. For once, Barnaby pulled his goggles down around his neck, looking at them still. Barnaby knew that these people would also make a good addition to Commonwealth as more workforce. The children may have to work earlier than usual, but it wouldn't be too awful.

"Well, Mr. Ortega," Barnaby finally said as he turned to look at the slaver. "Drugs I don't have, the only addictive, and wonderful, substances we have inside these walls are tobacco products and alcohol. As for shiny things..." Barnaby scratched his chin, thinking. "Hm...I'm sure we could find a good number of things. So, how much for all of them?"

Mando thought for a second. This man was a softy, Mando could tell. True owners would only take what they needed and no more, and there is no way with this many people and these high walls that they were in need of better work force. Plus this guy didn't have the look of an owner, so maybe Mando could squeeze something magnificent out of this guy. "Hm, how about this Barnaby. I like you. So I will fill you in on a little something. Slavers are going to start pouring in around this area to get across the minefield and up into Tennessee. The news on the radio is that there a bunch of war refugees up there and that makes for good slaving. Now some of the slavers will be like me, polite business man who doesn't want trouble. But then, there will be the opportunists. They will see your high walls and think, there is some good shit in there, and they will get together with other slavers and they will start attacking this poor little town of yours." Mando paused to let his words take affect "But if you had say, some protection from these guys you wouldn't have to worry about that. You could supply my men with some booze, tobacco and food and in return we will go out of our way to make sure those others guys don't come knocking on your door. Then any slaves we take we will bring right back to you, unscratched for you to buy off our hands. OF course, being the leader of these monkeys, I'd like a nice room in this fine establishment of yours." Mando said once again admiring the walls

Barnaby narrowed his eyes, then began to chuckle. It turned into a laugh as he looked off, before looking back at Mando. "You almost had a good bargain there good sir." Barnaby stopped laughing, his face getting serious. "Fuck. No. To you getting a place in my city." Slowly, and cautiously, he strode forwards till he wasn't far from Mando. He wasn't close enough that either could simply reach out and hit one another, truthfully Barnaby just wanted Mando to know he wasn't intimidated at this point.

Barnaby smiled once more. "Truthfully, a part of me believes you would actually provide a degree of protection. In part for cost of protection, but also because any approaching slavers might start working their way into your business. I'm more than willing to part with booze and tobacco; food wouldn't be freely flowing as I need to make sure the people I'm watching don't starve out. And, you mention bringing slaves here unscathed. Another generous offer in that regard." He was keeping his eyes on Mando the whole time. He would not let this man catch him off guard.

"So, I'll accept your proposal for protection. I will not let you in my city though, but I also want a discount on those slaves you bring me. Now before you get mad, hear me out on this. Granted a discount seems crazy, but if I'm already paying you for protection I won't have as much to spare to even buy the slaves. Cut the cost down, and I'll be able to buy more. Not to mention if you make it so I can actually afford these slaves then you still gain. If I can't afford them, then you've lost a customer altogether. I'm not asking, demanding, or even suggesting that you jack your prices down like it's fucking Black Friday, just enough that I can purchase them as well as receiving protection from any...ambitious slavers." Barnaby stood there, not once having peeled his eyes away from Mando. "Well?"

Mando starred seriously at Barnaby, his eyes then a wide grin came across his face and he started laughing with a booming voice that echoed across the empty desert "You! I fucking like this guy! This guy right here is a funny motherfucker! I like it! Me and you are going to get along real nice you funny motherfucker you!" He let his boot off the girls back and she desperately crawled over to Barnaby and hid behind his legs. Mando knew that this settlement could keep his group nice and supplied for a while, and he would still get to kill the occasional fuck head so this deal would work out nicely. Then when Mando got sick of having to play nice with this guy he could just bust down the door one day "You got yourself a fucking deal my funny fucking friend!" Mando strode up to Barnaby with a grin and stopped when he was just within arms reach of him and spoke in a voice so everyone could hear

"But unless you are going to have some puta come out here and blow my dick everyday don't expect a big discount." Mando eyed one of the female guards with a sadistic grin "But if that is the plan I like her right there!" Mando blew a kiss to the woman who just glared at him.

"Boss! I have somebody coming our way back here!" Roman shouted from behind one of the trucks "It looks like a female!"