Walking right back into the woods just felt amazing. Max talked too Moreno for only two hours but felt as if it's been two days. This was not heaven but it was the next best thing.
Hell even the wild bunny he found tasted like heaven. Poor thing, Max didn't have any small calibers for such a tiny critter he had to use a rock he found on the ground to kill it. At least he knew he was good at throwing rocks.
Finding the "base" of operations for the bandits wasn't as hard as he thought it was, the quick pace he set cut down the travel time so all he had to do was rest and wait for night fall before he attacks. This will be fun. He took out his DKS-501 sniper rifle out and looked in the scoop.
The large tree he climbed up on gave Max a good view of the camp the bandits were staying at, there were at least six tents and one larger that could fit maybe a dozen people. Though Max doubted there were that many in the tent thinking it might just belong to "Brute" and his favorite whore.
Though there numbers are a problem looking at right in the middle of the camp the bandits seem to moving things around, working and keeping things in order. Twenty-seven of them so far he could count. Good numbers.
He could see at least a dozen of them starting to get there gear possibly for another raid, but for some reason only three of them were taking guns not to say the rest were going unarmed, but were bringing melee weapons instead such as swords, clubs etc.
Max wondered why. They didn't look like the typical raider outfits in the wasteland dirty and unkempt, doing drugs and drinking alcohol as if it was leaving the world. These guys he realized were clean and wore uniform, if the matching color outfits he seeing said as much. Such an ugly shade of pink. At least his green armor matched the leaves around him.
They just didn't care. And in the woods that was going to get them killed. Max decided it was best too follow the ones leaving and kill them for the ones in the camp won't have any backup when Max starts hitting them.
Climbing back down he set on a quick jog towards the direction that group was heading towards, he knew he had to be at least an hour away before the gunshots go off. Just in case the bandits in the camp hear the gunshots and decide to head this way in curiosity. Or pack up and leave.
He hid among the trees and bushes, following them silently for an hour and half. He really wished he knew the language .
Keeping himself a good distance away he grabbed one of his frag grenades, pulled the ring counted down and lobed it right in the middle of their group. Covering his ears he heard the explosion and screams of the bandits, he knew now was the perfect time to charge at them.
Standing from his crouching position he pulled the Killer from his side he charged at his dying and injured targets and opened fire on the only two living pair that had guns and opened fired the shells hitting them in the chest leaving blood and body parts flying.
The grenade killed three of them one had a firearm and I killed the other two. Seven left, still distracted got to end this quickly.
Leaving his thoughts behind he gave three more bandits shotgun shells to the chest, but had to step back as another bandit made a blind swipe in his direction in response Max bashed the butt of his Killer to the bandits jaw knocking the woman down he followed by stomping on her face until it was a bloody mess he stood in place a second too long which allowed a particularly skilled bandit to disarm him by giving a nasty three combo punch to his stomach with a fourth blow hitting him in the forearm, which Max was sure if he didn't had armor on would have broken his bone.
Staggering back he notice the woman kicked his gun away and advanced on to his person. Seeing this Max knew it was better to be armed then unarmed right now. With his left hand he reached for his knife and pulled it out and lunged at the woman, who to his surprise grabbed his wrist and twisted not letting the knife go even with the pain he was feeling he stepped closer and harshly brought his heavy size fifteen size boot to her foot.
Max continued his assault by grabbing her neck with his free hand started to crush her throat even with her right fist continued to give brutal punch after punch to his chest when she kicked Max in the crotch he simply closed his legs with gritted teeth to keep her in place, with this new pain he was able to pull his wrist away from her grip and stabbed it in her eye. Only until he got both her eyes did her soul leave her body the only thing keeping her standing was Max's grip. He let go after stabbing her throat.
Pulling his 223. Pistol from his hip holster he looked around the area for the last two. He found them not to far away one man one woman both staring at him in horror. Raiders. Cowards to the bone Max thought coldly.
He aimed at them "Wait please don't shoot!" Max had no idea what they said but he opened fire anyway killing them both two shots to the chest each. Walking around the other bodies he stepped on throats and looted what he could, which wasn't much.
Some package food, water a new knife and a first aid kit. He took there fancy watches and items that, to the best way he could described it handheld terminals. They were weird items which had colored pictures on them of people and places he didn't know about in the background. The technology here he was sure would have made Mr. House Robco. owner cry in envy, if the thing in his hands ever made its way to him.
Max started to rub his head just thinking about the pain in learning how use new and very advance tech. The horror.
After getting rid of the raiding party he backtracked to the camp of the bandits thinking back on his decision of waiting until night fall. He swore, Max wished he knew the language he could have got some information from one of them, for all he knew that group would have returned before nightfall, now they weren't coming back at all. So the other bandits would be on alert all night not knowing what happen to nearly half there numbers. Damn. He still had three grenades two more plasma and another two just pluse grenades.
He knew the plan sneak in the dark and cut the throat who's sleeping and the backs of bandits that were walking around. Simple required skill in stealth he wasn't sure he really had but it was that or just going in guns blazing. At least with the former he will guarantee a few deaths before the real fighting starts.
Finally at the base of the tree he used to spy on the camp he pulled one of the bottles he took from the raiders earlier. He couldn't read a damn thing on it but he twisted the cap off a and took a sniff. He smiled.
XxX
Bran looked at his watch walking around the camp with his friend Tim talking about the group that left earlier. "its night, when the hell are those idiots coming back?" Bran asked annoyed and half worried since his sister was with them.
"Heck they could be coming back in a hour or something don't worry Bran this isn't the first time a group's been late." Tim replied back to his friend.
"You don't think they could have run into the MP did you? Nothing good will come of that we both know it."
"Bran, really calm down there going to get here get some rest I wake you up if you want to see your sis." Tim said to his friend thinking the guy needs sleep for his nerves.
"Alright thanks man see you later."
Bran walked past the other tents to the one he shared with two other people nearly the back but the thought of his sister and sleeping on the ground ag- an arm suddenly went around his neck pulling him back as a knife plunged in his chest three times, Bran had nothing to worry about now.
Max quickly cleaned his knife on the dead man's shirt and pulled him into the tent with the three other bandits and calmly strapped the man's Kukri blade to his pack he didn't want to use most of his time looting the bodies so he silently left the tent staying crouched. If he didn't he was sure they would have spot him they be blind if they didn't.
Besides he could grab them easier like this. They all were so short.
He went around the small camp hoping no one would bump into or find the bodies he left in the tent four people down eleven more to go.
Max stayed crouched as he went around the camp his new knife in hand and power fist loaded he saw two standing and talking near the edges of camp facing the woods no doubt on watch he quietly made the way to them before he heard angry yelling from the camp, and them a boom as one of his grenades went off. He knew at least one person was dead.
He decided stealth was out of the picture and ran full speed towards the two, the one on the right turned but couldn't do anything as the full weight of Max slammed into him harshly knocking him down, Max turned and threw a power fisted punch to the man's temple, his head craved in with no resistance.
He then straddle the man he knocked down and brought down his knife on his exposed neck. Getting up he sheathed his knife and pulled the City Killer from his side and charged back into the camp. Jogging around the camp he aimed at one woman that got out of her tent and fired the Killer the shell hitting her upper torso knocking her to the ground killing here. Another pair showed up one armed with a rifle the other an axe he fired at gun holder twice one shell ruining his leg the other tearing his torso apart, the axe user had a face of shock Max took advantage off he threw a punch at the man's shoulder with the power fist completely turning his left side into a glory mess of blood, flesh and bones.
Six.
He grabbed the double sided axe from the dying man's hand and brought it down to the bandits neck giving him the sweet release of death. He looked over the axe large for a smaller man but perfect for his size had weight and it was sharp, he left it here for now. He come back for it later.
He left this side and went around back he came from to see if he could find anyone else. He turned around one tent and bumped into a woman he was about to step on her foot but she was faster instead she got closer and harshly brought her club into his armored stomach, while not fully prepared for such a blow he kept his grip on Killer solid he retaliated with a power fist to her arm only for it to be knocked aside with her club which she brought the handle to his chin he took a two large steps back it missing and with one hand brought the Killer to her chest and fired knocking her down. He finished her off by stomping on her neck.
Max started to move he was nearly done had to kill five more then Brute and he could get paid. And then back to just wandering.
He fired again at two more running bandits that didn't notice him. A bang rang in the air as rifle hit him in the chest staggering him, he fired his Killer until it empty ending the lives of two others. He stopped slinging the shotgun on his back and pulled the 223. Pistol from his hip holster and found the last one sitting down in front of the fire made near the bandits leader tent with five bottles around him.
No wonder he never moved. He was passed out. Max pushed the man to the ground and stomped on the bandits neck until he believed he was dead. Two stomps killed him, eight was just overboard.
Max looked at the tent entrance aimed his AK-112 and fired three shots at the tent, he heard a female scream then silence. Ok then.
"Come on out brute! Your men are dead its time for you meet them!" Max yelled out annoyed that Brute hasn't come out yet. Or did he? He could have missed him after all.
XxX
Brute woke to the sound of hazel pushing him saying someone was out there killing the others outside. Killing? As if the current agents were capable of killing. They didn't make them the same way all those years ago. Unless that bastard sent one of his freaks out to get him. If that was the case he was dead man.
But he's been one for twenty years now so what?
He slowly got up as some bullets killed Hazel spilling blood everywhere. Damn he liked this bed to. He grabbed one the bottles near him saw it was full and drank it in one go. The bastard outside yelled something but he couldn't understand one thing.
Well it was time to meet him.
Brute put on his pants and boots leaving the darkness of his tent to deal with the freak outside. What he saw surprised him. Instead of being one of those freaks like he first thought it was outside was a boy who looked as if he was barely entering manhood. He was giant to, was his father a monster? Why the boy was taller then seven feet! Unless that project was done.
"So boy mind telling wh-" before he could finish his sentence the boy fired his antique looking gun at him, Brute didn't even bother with dodging he just waved his hand as the bullets hit a thin wall of ice lodging into it.
He saw the boys jaw drop looking at him in awe and shock. Why was he surprised? Brute didn't know it's as if the boy hasn't seen magic before. Has he been living under a rock?
"Well I could see you don't want too talk so let's just get this over with." He moved past the ice wall grabbing a chunk of it for an improvised knife running towards the boy in speed a man of his age shouldn't be able to go. When he got close he swiped his ice across the boys thigh but missed as he took leap backwards he hit back by throwing a punch at Brutes chest but the old man moved grabbed his arm and spun letting Max go in speed that sent him crashing into tree branches only stomping when he lost the momentum landing harshly on the ground.
Max himself was in shock and pain. Magic. Why didn't that old shit Moreno mention this! Brute was old but that didn't mean he couldn't fight he just wasn't expecting him too move with such speed and strength. He spinned him around and sent him at the tree branches. Though he doubted he had the full strength of a supermutant he was obviously stronger then himself, faster and had magic.
He had to keep his distance and when Brute gets close the only weapon he felt safe in using against him would be the power fist. But Max wasn't sure if he could even land a hit. Getting up Max ran into the darkness of the forest pulling out one item he was sure would give him an edge against an ice user.
Brute waited for a minute or two before he figured the boy wouldn't come straight at him. Smart. Most would have just charged at him. He jogged into the forest using his magic he had ice form around his person, thin but it would give him some defense against bullets and the like. He casted a light spell giving him some sight, but the moon wasn't full so he had little to use.
Hearing something breaking behind him Brute sent three ice shard in that direction. He heard no sounds of ice on flesh or screaming so the boy or an animal moved out of the way. Damn where could he be?
He staggered as three round hit him in the side and a branch hit him in the face. In response he sent a dozen shards in the direction the bullets came and moved forward hoping the fucker would jump at him.
And the kid jumped from some bushes firing a shotgun that pushed him back Brute had to bring an ice wall up before the shells broke his ice armor, he never notice the bottle flying in the air hitting a thick tree behind him setting aflame, the fire reaching the branches and leaves burning the tree the fire spreading all around it because of the branches of the surrounding trees were touching. Brute feeling the wildfire on his back decided it was better to get away then deal with the kid.
He was insane after all that Brute was sure of. Who the hell starts a wildfire to kill one man! But before he take off a strong metal item stuck him in the back sending Brute to the floor, Brute rolled away when a shell hit the ground where his chest was at.
Getting back on his feet he stepped closer to the boy arms up in a boxer stance sending ice laced punch after punch to his chest the sharp shards cutting down his impressive armor one chuck at a time, the boy he realized was for some reason not hitting back at all just moving backwards, taking his hits like a bitch. Why?
He got his answer when a boot went up between his legs, followed up with a hit from that metal gauntlet the blow knocking him to the ground again Brute thought annoyed. He was go- before Brute could start thinking of ways on hurting the vault dweller he started to cough as if his lungs has been set on fire themselves. He tried standing up but the coughing and all the smoke in the area he just couldn't. Damn it all! He should have just run. But now look at him. Going to be killed by some brat.
Max looked at the coughing mess of Brute an eyebrow raised surprised that all this smoke was bothering him. Not to say it wasn't getting to him but Max could still breathe. Not wanting to deal with this freak anymore he walked back to Brute kicked him down holding the old man down, ignoring the death grip Brute had on his leg and fired his Killer Until the man's head was a mess of blood and gore.
The job finally done Max looked up at the burning trees around him. A thought crossed his mind that he should really start looting that camp now, before this damn fire burns everything.
Walking away from the dozens of trees burning he indulge himself on his new hobby of collecting stuff both useful and useless. At the end of his looting spree he got more food, water weapons he was going to sell a new bedroll a tougher backpack and a trunk to carry it all in. He looked around sipping on this rather disgusting plain Nuka cola rip-off, he saw the fire just got worse, and he just couldn't give a damn.
He wasn't here to fix stupid shit, even if it was his fault. Max just turned his back on it. Time to talk to Moreno about that Brute fellow and chance to increase his payment. He was cheated after all. Nothing saying about some mage among there ranks. Bastard.
XxX
Max just make camp not to far from the village that Moreno called home going though his stuff what to eat and drink, after finishing his fruit smoking a cigarette fixing his armor the best he could with his supplies he went to sleep. When he woke up his pip-boy alarm went off at six in the morning.
Packing up his things he went back to Moreno's home he knocked on the door loudly to make sure the old man heard him, when the door finally opened a tall red head woman the same height as Tandi stood in the door way wearing green clothing and nice looking boots.
"Hello you must be Maxwell Stone my father was telling me about. You're as tall as he said, if he didn't tell me about you I would have believed your father was a monster. Come inside." The woman's tone was polite but distant leaving Max confused about her comment of his father being a monster. And she spoke English.
Stepping inside he walked to the living room, Moreno seeing the vault dweller said take a seat Max did. Moreno had two glasses he poured them with what he can only assumed to be Whiskey or some other dark drink. He gave one to Max which he could only reply with.
"Its six in the morning."
"I know it is boy." Moreno said and gave the other glass to her daughter who gave a thank you. After that he took the entire bottle for himself taking a gulp that took nearly half the thing. He set it back down.
"Not nearly as good the wasteland stuff. What do you think Maxwell?" Moreno asked the vault dweller.
"Just call me Max, and I don't care about the drink what I want to know why you didn't tell me Brute was some kind of mage." Max asked calmly.
"Well you never asked and somethings just slip my mind. Old age you know?" Moreno said with humor.
"Your memory problems could have gotten me killed if that washed up old man didn't kick the bucket because of a bit of smoke. And a shotgun shell to the head."
"Oh that's right you killed Brute and his outfit what was the pay fifty thousand right? Here you go."
Moreno reached into his pocket pulling out what could only be… honestly Max didn't know what he was looking at. He then pushed it forward to Max and leaned back when it close enough for Max himself to reach. He picked it up looking it over before looked at Moreno the chip then Moreno.
"What the fuck is?"
"Simply it's a credit holder used for large transactions, you would have it scanned with your own DPW." The red head woman said to him, though it went over his head since he had no idea what a DPW was.
"Thank you Miss. Moreno but I have no idea what a DPW is." She then gave her father this look that had him look back at Max and ask. "Did you loot any tech from those assholes?" Max without a word handed Moreno a thick green and rather blocky wristwatch with a screen on it. Moreno took it and handed it to Miss. Moreno who did something with it touching the small buttons and the screen. She then walked to Max and gave it back.
"You can use it now Max just type in some information and its yours. After that just-" And what followed was information Max didn't really understand to the point it took a good thirty minutes even with Miss. Moreno help with messing with the damn thing. "The only other person who had trouble with technology as much as you is my father." She said to Max who only shrugged. With old man Moreno saying he's gotten better over the years.
"So all I have to do is hover over this thing press the scan tool and that's it?" Max asked.
"Yes"
Max did just that he got a notification of fifty thousand into his DPW. Nice. But it just didn't feel as real to him. Digital money. Max just strapped the thing to his wrist. He stood up, there's no point in staying now he has money his weapons and supplies. Time to just wander.
"Hey Max I see you're itching to leave but my daughter has an offer you might like to hear. Can help you with a few problems, such as the language." Max thought about it. The only real problem he had right now was the language. What offer could she give him? Max looked at Miss. Moreno and noticed her posture her standing. It reminded him of the brotherhood, post-war military was she a soldier?
Miss. Moreno stepped forward "Max your new to Gamindustri this world is very different from earth the unknowns in this land is vast and wide new monsters are discovered everyday, magic everywhere our gods walk among us, the humans here if determined enough can become superhuman out stripping these mutants you fought, you saw Brute. Comparing him to others I know he is weak."
"You are weak. But if you agree to become a member of Leanbox's security and defense organization special mission department not only would you be provided with the proper training to face the dangers of this world with a financial secure job health benefits, retirement plans and would also be taught the language which includes learning how to read and write. All you would have to do is swear an oath to our CPU goddess Lady Green Heart, sign a military contract you would be one of her soldiers." Miss Moreno finished her recruitment speech.
Honestly Max agreed with a lot of what she said. He could use proper training, being taught the language would also be a lot easier then simply trying to teach himself. And this Military group just sounded a lot better then the brotherhood.
What was there motto? Reclaim and hoard tech? They didn't help people. Hell when he looked for help from them they sent Max on a suicide mission expecting to either end up dead or never coming back. Boy did he surprise them, Pulling something off that even their knights in power armor couldn't even do. Fuckers.
And besides a contract was worthless, after all he was new to this world he get his training his teaching and then leave what could they do hunt him down, lock him up? He just keep walking until he's gotten so far they give up on spending resources on a single man, even if he was from a different world.
"I join. You got the papers here or were going to a city to make it more formal?" Max said the words sounding to him as if he's willing giving away his life to a cause he couldn't care less about . Which he was.
"Yes the both of us are going to the capital tomorrow morning, but for today your lessons are beginning. Now." Miss Moreno said as she pulled a book from a shelf along the wall. It was a rather thick thing. Damn.
Trying to buy just a little more time before the pain starts he asked a question he forgot to bring up. "I never did get your name Miss Moreno." Max said calmly as she walked closer with his doom in hand.
"Ah. Its Cave now sit down here's a notebook and a pen we have a couple of hours." Cave said to Max and was it just him or did she sound just a tiny bit excited?
He saw Moreno stand up saying he didn't want to see this again and that he would be getting ready for work. Max stared at him as he left leaving him alone to suffer. Maybe he should have tried to learn the language himself.
/
They wandered for weeks. Aimless. No purpose. Dozens of them after the destruction of the cathedral, by that monster that came from the underground. Bear had no idea what to do with his brothers and sisters. The Master who they had followed for decades in belief of his vision of Unity after the dip into the vats, were lost.
So he took those who wanted to travel with him and left, he and the rest could have followed Attis who still hoped for Unity but would never realize it was a fools dream, they could have but Bear himself couldn't decide if fear in the Stranger stopped him or finally realizing what the master wanted was only a dream.
"Bear when are we stop?" Bear turned and looked at his brother who called himself Wrench.
"Wrench we stop when California is nothing but a speck behind us all." Bear told his rather slow brother patiently Wrench was weary after all, even Bear himself this would be the first time in there lives leaving this state and never coming back. What waited them out of California? Nothing but empty wasteland, small community's of humans or the worse fate the Vault Dweller still on a war path against the remnants of the army? Was he still hunting them down? Or did he finally stopped and is now resting in his vault never to be seen again.
Bear very much doubted that. He was one of the few that survived his encounter with the Vault Dweller and Bear would never forget the rampage the Vault Dweller went on killing his siblings.
Turning back around he saw in the distance large barns that still seem to be whole. He knew it was getting dark soon and they haven't stopped in a few days so Bear decided it was better to get rest under shelter for now.
He faced them. " Up ahead is few barns we will rest there for a day now move!" Bear yelled out turning to continue his walk with more speed to his steps. He heard behind him some joys of happiness at being able to rest for, well he wasn't sure was it days or weeks? It didn't matter they could rest now.
When they finally made it Bear made sure the rest had the Brahmin tied up to keep the cattle from wandering. Once that was done he like many others went to sleep.
Bear woke up to the sounds of his siblings yells of a blue sky and bright green grass. And the Fathers voice in his head.
You have come my children
Xxx
A chapter two from me? Magic.
Now leave some reviews people be it love or hate. And Fallout nor Hyperdimension Neptunia belong to me. This is a fanfic.