President Stanely Mockerson's Story

(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.

It was late into the night when Mando's men had finished getting all of the slaves into the Commonwealth's hands. Mando's men had been killed by that bitch, and the others had long since stopped trying to find her. Mando now just sat in his RV, smoking a self rolled cigarette that the Commonwealth had provided the tobacco for. His men were sitting around a small barrel fire out in the early morning sun of the desert. Soon it would become scorching how again and that barrel fire would be put out in an instant to keep the men from burning to death in the heat. "Fuck, it's so hot those bastards might spontaneously combust." Mando said to himself as he stood up and folded out the bed from the wall and jumped down onto it, kicking his feet up on the table next to it as he put his cigarette out on the wall. "Fucking deserts...I'm sick of them." Mando whispered to himself as his eyes closed and began to drift off into a sleep, filled with dreams of pillaging and killing to his hearts delight.



***Ricahrd McCarthy***

Richard finished moving the crawler corpse from the house and then went back inside to clean up the blood. He didn't see Darcy anywhere, so he figured he would go upstairs real quick to see her. Richard moved upstairs and as he did he heard Darcy's voice emanating from Alex's room. He walked to the door and smiled as he saw Darcy reading a story to Alex who was already on the verge of sleep. Darcy noticed Richard who just smiled as motioned with his fingers for Darcy to continue. It was so sweet how she did things like that for the kids...it reminded Richard of why he loved this woman. Though she was cranky and mean sometimes, her heart was still good and pure...something Richard's had not been for a very long time. In a way, they completed each other...and Richard felt so lucky that he, of all people, was able to find a love so strong.




***Stanley Mockerson***

Now what was this nonsense! Stanley had just finished talking with Barnaby how he wished to be in Commonwealth where he was not near Slavers and here the man was letting them sleep outside the gates! It was a madhouse in this town, a madhouse ! Stanley watched as the dozens of woman and children slaves poured into the camp and began looking for places to stay until their homes were able to be built in some of the extra plots of land. Stanley hobbled his way over to a group of guards who were just returning from the meeting with Mando, and Stanley marched right up to them "I must say! This is the most insane thing I have ever seen a man do! Who does he thing he is! That crazy boy will not hear the end of this from me, I tell you that right now! Where can I find him!" asked the guards

"Ummm, who sir?" the female guard asked

"Well Mister Turncoat of course!" Mocerson exclaimed like he had been clear about who he was looking for the whole time

"I don't know sir. I haven't seen him since he went back inside." The female guard apologized

"Well this is just perfectly maddening!" Stanley began, then he saw a teenaged girl behind the female guard slightly look around the woman to see Stanley "Well! Who is this?" Stanley asked

"We don't know sir, she is one of Mando's old slaves." The mere mentioning of the animal made the girl cringe with fear, and Stanley took notice of that

"Well I assure you young lady you are quite safe here! Quite safe indeed!" Stanley over emoted his excitement, and the girl wasn't sure whether to be more scared or to be entertained "Tell me, what is your name miss?" Stanley said in a kind voice to the girl who looked shyly to the ground

"Sarah...Sarah McCarthy."

Barnaby had been watching the new slaves enter, glad he had been able to not only add some new labor to Commonwealth, but also get the people away from the nut Ortega. He started walking towards the large group of them, nodding his head to some in a greeting as he went, Winchester now slung on his back with Pippy on his belt. Oy, this certainly had been a long day. Barnaby wondered what had happened to Mockerson during this whole thing. Barnaby kinda hoped the man had suffered a heart attack at the sight of the slavers, but luck was never that good to him.

He stopped not far from the gate, watching the people still file in as he leaned against a wall. It was definetly a nice find, and only at the lost of mostly alcohol and tobacco. Pretty damn good trade off he felt, though he had to admit he was somewhat sad about giving up anything that would limit his cigars. He pretty much needed them at this point...Sighing, Barnaby lift one up and took a long, long drag of it. He let the smoke sit in his lungs a few moments before letting it out in a large puff.

Over the next few days, these new people would, first of all, have to realize that they aren't slaves anymore. Some might disagree, as they will have to work to live within the walled city, but atleast they would get a chance to live their lives afterwards. As for the other important part, these people were going to be put through an orientation of sorts so they could get an idea of how things worked within the city.

He wondered what had happened to the woman Mando had sent men after. If she was lucky, she had escaped them and was let in with a ladder by the guards. In that case, she'd probably be ushered to Barnaby's office so he could atleast be informed of her presence. He stopped as he looked up, swearing as he saw Mockerson talking with the young slave girl from before. Barnaby just hung his head, might as well get done with the jello man's bitching now. Least it meant that Barnaby would get some chance to sleep tonight, hopefully.

Richard came over quietly and wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and kissed her neck gently "Don't cry baby, please. I promise I'll make this work, I'll find a way for us to all be happy." Richard looked at the mess of blood and other destruction in the kitchen. He had tried so hard to give Darcy a life she and the kids deserved...but that was seeming more and more impossible with every passing second. He held his wife tight and wished in his mind for her to not cry, she had cried enough, she had yelled enough and all he wanted was for her to be happy again

"Please...Please don't cry. I'll fix this...I'll fix everything." Richard looked at the side of Darcy's face with his good eye and gave her a kiss "I'll fix this, I will." Richard kept repeating, trying to convince himself that everything would turn out fine...

***Stanley Mockerson***

"Mister Turncoat!" Stanley exclaimed as he saw the man approaching "I hope you realize what you are doing is going against every reason I came here in the first place! I mean slavers right outside! How mad are you Mister Turncoat!" Stanley lectured like he was some sixth grade teacher. But suddenly, he stopped and gave a warm smile to Barnaby.

"However, if your plan has been the reason we have brought so many people into this town and away from those monsters, than I must approve." He looked at Sarah with a kind smile "Though it may be reckless it saved this fine young lady here. Her name is Sarah McCarthy and I do believe she will make a good addition to our work force!"

***Barnaby***

Holy hell, was this man bipolar or something?! Whatever, least he was calming down now. He looked at the ex-slave girl, smiling some and nodding. "Sarah McCarthy, eh? Well nice to meet you, and as mayor of this city let me welcome you to the Commonwealth!" He then let out a puff of smoke while patting her on the shoulder. Turning then to look at Stanley, he removed the cigar form his mouth as he spoke again.

"As for those slavers, they are going to be leaving soon. Our trade is complete so they'll be gone. A man like that isn't going to waste opportunity to gain 'merchandise' sitting around and staring at our walls...Oh, and if it makes you happy, least I prevented him from getting into the damned city like he wanted. Not to mention, I've managed to set up a nice little deal with him."

Barnaby knew this is where the bitch fit would probably ensue, but hopefully he could explain it out. "In exchange for supplies, mostly the tobacco and alcohol thankfully, that man has promised to offer protection against approaching new slavers." He stopped Mr. Mockerson before he could explode. "No, Mr. Mockerson, I don't trust him. So no, I'm not going to start giving our guards multiple days off. They'll have their work cut out for them from now on, as I'm not putting our safety in the hands of that fella out there. His 'protection' is just nice because it means he'll be weeding out any ambitious slavers. Oh! And we'll be getting a discount on new 'slaves' as well as getting them untouched! More people for the Commonwealth!" Barnaby grinned, putting the cigar back in his mouth.

He then looked back at Sarah, walking up closer to her, making sure to blow out the smoke away from her. "So Sarah. As I said, welcome to this city, my name is Barnaby Turncoat and I am mayor here." He held out a hand to her. "I see you've met Mr. Stanley Mockerson, he's president of the actual Commonwealth territories. I also hope Kelsey here, "Barnaby said while nodding his head to the female guard. "Treated you nicely. So, Mr. Mockerson says you'll be a nice benefit too our workforce here, mind me asking what you are good at doing?"

The girl smiled at Barnaby "Well...I can knit...and I know how to shoot...and cook and farm and stuff." The girl said

"And what would you say you are best at?" Barnaby inquired

Stanly's face turned pale. He was able to see past seeing the slavers stay near the walls why they got the slaves from them.....but THIS WAS OUTRAGES! "Mister Turncoat!" Stanley interrupted before the girl could answer "I could look past letting them stay here while he got their slaves...bu-bu-but! This is a madhouse! Letting slavers protect us, and live right outside! And to boot that off we are giving them our alcohol and our tobacco!" Stanley was looked like he was on the verge of tears of frustration

"But the slaves mister Mockerson." Barnaby tried to reason but the president was having none of it

"Getting slaves is one things but at what cost! THIS IS INSANE!" Barnaby exclaimed "What if they decide to get in the walls! What if they send in slaves to sabotage us from the inside!" Stanley stopped and looked at Barnaby as if he had just thought of something of great horror "WHAT IF THEY DRINK ALL OF OUR WINE!"

***Barnaby***

He really must be bipolar then, Barnaby thought. Bipolar or not though, he was not a fan of this fella flipping shit on him. "Ok, Mr. Mockerson. First off, they are not getting into our damned walls and secondly I just told you I am not trusting our safety to them! I just told you I'm going to keep our guards at the ready and they will be running even more training exercises to be ready for a fucking fight." This time Barnaby approached Stanley, stopping close to him and leaning in, "And thirdly, who. gives. a Flying fuck!! About some god damned wine!!"

He shook his head before turning back around. "If you are so mortified at the loss of a chance of getting drunk, then find more ways to get more alcohol in here. But I am willing to part with it if it means we get more resources into this city and don't have to fucking waste manpower to go out and hunt fucking slavers!" Barnaby then walked over to Sarah, looking at her and nodding head in a random direction. "Come on, let's walk and you can finish telling me what you were saying." He said with a smile to her as he started walking.

***Belial***

After the individuals had left, Belial had chosen to continue his hunt. He'd been travelling for a couple hours, which with his immense stamina and speed, meant he could cover a lot of ground fast. Currently, he had managed to find his way to a small town that held and NDO outpost. Friendlies, and it meant he may be able to get information from them about any rebels. He was sure they knew of certain locations, but lacked the manpower to deal with them; Belial however would be that manpower.

Currently he was resting on the rooftop of the outpost, leaning on the edge and watching people go by. He'd taken a hooded coat to wear, using it to cover his head. He still only had the jacket and pants, and the jacket was open in the front, but it made it harder for people just casually glancing around to really get a good look at the mutant. Leaning his arms on the railing atop the roof, he continued to watch the people go by and about their business, sword resting against the railing next to him with the shotgun still on the small of his back.

He was glad the thirst was dormant as of now, mostly because he had eaten some unlucky bloke not long before coming here. He really didn't want to go berserk in the town though, because then the rebels would go on alert at the news of some super freak running about and maiming people.

He turned his head some, oddly drawn to look at a man and woman walking along. He couldn't make out their faces well from the distance, but he could definitely see that the woman was very finely dressed for a place like this. He shook his head, watching them go while he talked to himself. "Damn bitch is just asking for trouble. Not going to be surprised if she ends up dead in a gutter or something..." As he watched, he narrowed his eye. He couldn't help but feel like there was something important about the man, but then again it could just be the thirst driving him to feast. Shaking his head, he continued to watch them go for a few before they were finally out of his sight.