Authors note: apologies to anyone. Had a recent relapse and heavy exam period, so been lagging behind a bit of my writing. I am already working on a separate novel that I started from years back. The following chapter is from the point of view from Valeria. I'm trying to work on my first person view now. This chapter is primarily the sole survivor meeting the three main leaders of the gangs. Thank you.
As I drop the bloody mess that was the mans' face, I look around the stages that overlooked the bumper car ring. The crowd slowly left the area, and only three raiders were left standing in the stands, glaring at me while the man behind the metal door continued on.
"Look, she killed Colter. She's the new over boss now. She deserves our respect." The man behind the metal door at the opposite end of the ring spoke to the three raiders that stayed behind while the others left. He was interrupted by one of the raiders.
"She'll get respect when she earns respect. We all agreed on this plan of yours, but what makes you think this vault dweller is up to this?" a raider woman with blonde hair began to speak back at the man. I for one, being irritated enough as I was, wanted to know what the hell was going on. I had enough of this bickering back and forth. So, me being the patient type, pulled my .44 out of my side holster.
"look! We all agreed to do this…" the mans' little speech was cut short after I fired off a round into the glass where he was standing. It was hysterical seeing the surprise on his and the others faces. Especially the man I almost put a bullet thru.
"Say guys, I know you seem to love to talk to one another about rambling crap, but I'm still waiting to figure out why I haven't killed you all." I spoke with a sarcastic tone, but tried to hide my blatant irritation, not really winning that battle.
I stood there for a few more seconds, waiting for any reply, but I guess they didn't care much for that; therefore, I pointed my pistol toward one of the three raiders that stood there staring down at me. If there's one thing I hate, is pompous assholes who think they are better than me.
"I'll say this again." Now my anger really starting slip out of my mouth as I seethed with irritation. "One of you tell me what the hell I am doing here and why, or ill torture each and every one of you. The way I'll do it will make what I did to poor Colter here seem like a fucking pleasure cruise." As I pointed with my loose hand down to the bloody mess of a man, one guy up in the stands looked to the others. He had a mustache that you might see on a portrait of a world war I officer or something. I hated men with those. Seems like they are wearing rats on their lips.
"What the hell is a pleasure cruise?" the man spoke with great confusion running thru his face.
"Ha. I like this one, she's got attitude." A woman ignored the mans question. Her face was covered by a plate of metal. I didn't even wonder how she could see anything. I kinda always admired how raiders, being as insane as they are, always had the fashion sense of a lobotomized monkey.
"Alright everyone, get the hell out here, and I'll show the new over boss around." the man behind the metal door spoke to the others as they began to leave the ring, bickering to themselves to where I couldn't hear them entirely.
I was contemplating on humoring these raiders before I massacre each and every one of them. I mean, they not only put me thru this crap, but it was crap where I wasn't truly fighting anyone. That, I could not let stand. That is, until I saw who was behind the door.
The metal door swung open, and a man came walking out to greet me. He carried himself the same manner as Nate did before the bombs fell. He walked up to me with his back straight, shoulders straight and a cold grin. I could tell he was up there in years, but he was weathered. A man that appeared to be thru hell and back.
"Let me welcome you to Nuka world boss." He spoke with a stern voice, and his voice carried throughout the ring. He smiled at me with a wide grin, and I couldn't help but hesitate to start yelling.
Before this, I wanted to shout my frustration before pulling the gun on everyone that put me through that crap, but now I see the man behind the fence, I couldn't help but at least listen to his proposition.
"Look, I know you're probably wondering what's going on, so I'll try to explain. What happened here was no accident. This little play was planned for a while. You killed Colter, and now you are our new over boss." He spoke with strength and conviction. I knew that this raider was different from the others.
"Let me introduce myself. The names Gage, and we spoke earlier when you arrived and in the locker room…" I cut him off before he could say anymore.
"Look…" I held my hand out while I interrupted him mid-sentence. I thought of what I wanted to say for second. "I remember you saying who you are, and I figured as much. All I want to know is why I haven't killed you and everyone else here yet." I spoke while giving him a sincere stare, trying to emphasize my point as I was pissed off.
"Oh believe me. I was wondering if you'd allow me to say anything as well. If you humor me, I guarantee you that you won't refuse this offer I have planned." He spoke with confidence, and his eyes displayed an anxiety and joy.
"Will there be caps and fighting?" I interjected, wanted to see what was in store. The anticipation made me quake as I waited for him to respond.
"Oh believe me boss. There will be plenty of both… that is if you are whiling." Gage responded with a wide open grin, seeing that I as well seem to want the same goal as he. "Follow me boss, and I'll explain everything." He motioned me to follow through the door, and I decided to keep pace with him, still keeping a firm grip on the handle of my .44.
Gage opened the door for me, that kind of confused me as him being a raider, but I walked through the open door anyway. I took in the sight of a run down building that looked like an old circular arena, and two various types of people. One type was in rags. The person was welding metal to attach on an open metal beam. That seemed strange to me, but to each his own right? The second type of people I saw carried what l look like Chinese rifles, and ordered the ones in rags around.
Gage looked at me with his one eye, and saw that I was confused by all of what was going on around the park. I've never seen raiders actually using slave labor. They usually kill everyone and live in the ruins, or leave the settlers be to collect caps or ransom on occasions. As I thought to myself, I noticed a familiar face near the second entrance to the park.
"Harvey?" I shouted out as I saw the man that led me to this hell hole. Granted, I did know something was going to happen, but damn. At least he could have told me in detail about this place. "I have some words for you." Regardless of what I was expecting or not, I wanted to punch or hang someone.
"Oh shit." Harvey caught a glance of me in the distance behind these two merchants whispering to each other. What their conversation was had no bearing on me. I just wanted to give that turd of a man a piece of my mind.
"Oh… h-hey boss. I hope that…" Harvey was about to say something to me, but I interrupted him with head-butt to his scared and beaten face.
Harvey hit the ground, and blood began to pour out of his nose. As he laid there gripping his face, I was about to connect my boot with his body before I too was interrupted in my attempt.
"Hey boss. Maybe you can mingle with the locals some other time, but I need your attention now." I heard gages' voice over the moaning that came out of Harvey as he squirmed on the ground. "I want you to meet the three leaders of the gangs who make up this gaggle of psychopaths." He continued to speak, so I just decided to let it all go. At least, I'll let it go for now.
As I walked up to Gage, I casually smiled at him and whispered to where only he could hear. "Interrupt me again like that Porter, ill forget the fact that you're the only reason I haven't killed everyone yet." I didn't like it when someone interrupted me before, and I'll be damned if I'll let this man do it to me, regardless of how he reminds me of Nate.
Gage gave me a worried look, and then sunk his head toward the ground, staring at the dirt while we began to walk. The first place we came across looked like an old outdoor theatre show. The entrance was covered in colored animal skulls and various stuffed teddy bears. To say that it was trippy would be a understatement. Gage told me that he wouldn't go in because the leaders would want to talk to me personally one on one. That part I could understand, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this man was hiding something more.
I proceeded through the door, saw various animals walking around with what appeared to be, their masters training them. It was kind of like an animal fashion how on jet. Of course, if that jet was laced with pycho or something. I walked further toward the back of the area, and saw man sitting on a red velvet throne chair. He appeared comfortable, so I thought to myself to try to make this uncomfortable for him.
"Well well. Isn't it the new over boss, gracing us with her presence. I and the pack have been waiting patiently for you, and I must say, you are quite the figure." It was the man with the WWI style beard. I was wanted to shave that damn thing from his face so bad, but I decided to listen to him anyway.
"We all wanted to get rid of Colter for a while, and now we have you. You better not mess this up, or I'm going to skin you and that good for nothing raider Gage." The man babbled on, as if he was trying to scare me or something. These raiders seemed to act like a pack of animals, so I guessed that an alpha was established. I aimed to knock it down a notch.
"Talk that way to me again, I'll be the one skinning you alive in front of your pack. I didn't want to be the new over boss, but I'll be damned if I let a man like you talk like that to me. You understand?" I spoke with a sinister calmness, but sneaking in a word of caution. I guessed it worked because he lost his stupid grin he sported eve since I arrived.
"woah waoh, slowdown there boss. Not in front of me boys." He motioned in front of me to look around at the other members of his gang. "I understand whole heartedly, and I think you and I are the same. You want to get shit done. The names Mason if Gage hasn't told you already, and I look forward to what you can do." Mason motioned me out with his words, and i proceeded to leave, grinning to myself at my small victory.
I exited out of the wet dog smelling cesspool they call a den, and met back up with Gage. He seemed to be relieved and shocked at the same time when I told him what happened, but lectured me anyway on how things should be run around here.
"You did what? You threatened the alpha in front of the whole pack?" he was surprised of course, but he sported a grin on his face. "I must say boss, you either have very big balls, or just completely nuts." He spoke while shaking his head. "At least it went your way, but now we have to talk to the other two leaders before we can get anything done." He finished talking, and we proceeded down a rugged gate way made of wood and metal.
I was relieved to hear him not lecture me on how I, this new over boss, should be running things. I kind of liked Gage. He seems ambitious enough, but as I said before, I don't really like those who talk down to me. As I walked behind him as he led the way, I couldn't help but notice the ripples of muscle that strengthened his back. Under his dirty white shirt and raider metal armor that clung to his torso, I could make out a few scars here and there. This man has seen things, and he's been in a fight or two. Just the kind of guy I like. Kind of sweet too in a way. Hell, holding a door open for a lady in this time is a rarity. I mean, I know that I'm not like most woman, but being treated like a lady every once in a while doesn't hurt.
My concentration broke when Gage announced that we've arrived to our next stop. An old fashion dinner and theatre it looked like, but was weathered and worn down. Kind of homey if you were a full time raider. Trash and debris littered the wooden floor, and I saw two raiders that stood out among the rest. One was a woman with blonde hair, and man next to her with long brown hair.
"Well now, if it isn't the new boss herself." The blonde woman spoke with a sass. Her blonde hair waving in her face, and a small bun wrapped behind her head. I couldn't help but remember she was the one going on about respect and everything earlier in the ring. All I did was smile as I thought of ways to carve her face off.
"Yeah that's what everyone has been saying lately. I kind of like the idea, but it's too soon to guess if I will take the offer, or I'll just blow everyone away here and now." I spoke with a sarcastic smile. I knew she must be a smart gal, so I let her figure out if I was serious or not. While speaking, I couldn't help but fumble around with my .44 strapped to my hip.
"I guess we will find out wont we? Depends on what you think is the most important thing in the world besides killing and terrorizing low life peasants." The woman said to me, hiding a smirk as she spoke.
"Um…" I thought to myself, and pondered on what I was going to say next. "Collecting more Nuka cola bottles?" I replied back to her in a sarcastic tone, hoping to see if shed understand it or not.
"Oh great! Another nut job, just what we need." The man next to her with brown hair spoke before the woman could say anything back. As he said that, it did kind of tick me off that a random dude decided to interject in a womans' conversation.
"That was sarcasm nitwit." I motioned toward the man who just interrupted me, and the woman broke out in laughter.
"Well brother, seems we have a sarcastic Nancy on our hands. I like her." The woman pointed to me to emphasize her gesture. "The names Mags, and this is my brother. I and the other miscreants you see here are the operators. We value caps, and a lot of it." Mags spoke, and I couldn't help but become hot inside at her words. A gang that kills for money.
"Now I know what you think of course." Mags continued on as I thought in my head about killing everyone. "The caps are an award for the various deeds we do. Unlike those bastard Gunners, we fight to get the caps. Those idiots fight for caps." She finished her speech with a devilish grin, and I knew that I felt the same way about it all. Killing and fighting is one thing, but caps is its own reward worth some measure.
"I think we can work this whole thing out. I guess we can wait and see what you can bring to the table, over boss." Mags finished, and I didn't say a word back. I just smiled at her, gave her and her brother a hard felt handshake, and proceeded to walk back outside to Nuka world.
As I walked back outside, I didn't even notice that Gage didn't even walk inside with me, he was waiting for me to return. He was smoking a cigarette, and his metal plate that covered his right eye hid a giant scare. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened, but I just strolled up to him to ask for a drag of his lit cig.
"How'd it go in there boss?" Gage asked me without even looking in my direction, staring off into the clouds beyond. His face lit with a smile, and puffs of smoke escaping from his nose and mouth.
I could only admire Gage as I stood there. A man who seems to have so much riding on such a gambit, he is still able to just look in the distance and wonder. In such ill times, it's been awhile since I've seen someone smile that wasn't a result of maniacal lust of killing or sheer lunacy. Granted, I know those cooks of the Church of Atom seem like a joyful bunch, but I know that is just the gradual frying of their brain cells as radiation strips their fabric.
"Well, I'm sure you already know that Gage." I finally answer him as he begins to stare at me like I am a feral loon. I guess I only have myself to blame for that, considering my thoughts wonder all over the place. "Mags seems to be on my side, but her brother is a different story." I said to him, not ignoring the fact that I insulted the man right in front of his sister.
"Oh yeah?" age responded with a sly question. His upper lip contorting into a grin, and i knew he thought of something. "Well, the moment you think these miscreants actually like you, is the moment you find yourself in deep shit." He spouted on, throwing what was left of his lit cigarette away into a small statue in the middle of the town square where we stood.
"I never said they liked me. Simply the fact that they seem to be on board with me being here. Considering I killed the number one hated man here." I shot back with my hand on my hip, and whipping out a gold plated zippo lighter out of my side pocket, smiling at him while motioning for a smoke.
Gage smiled at me, knowing he was defeated on that regard, but gave me a cig out of his pocket. The mans' rough physic betrayed his cunning intellect. This man was a thinker, and that's another quality that I loved to have in a man. I could only imagine what his grand scheme of things will play out in its entirety.
"Come on, there only one more person you need to see before we get this crazy train on the rails." Gage began while lighting my cigarette for me. "Next up is the disciples. I know, a little cliché for a raider gang, but believe you and me, Nisha and her gang don't play around." He pointed in my direction as to motion me to follow him, so I did as I listened.
"What can I expect for these disciples?" I asked, curious as the foreboding he presented with mention of this Nisha. Gage couldn't seem to help himself but to smile and laugh.
"Well, let's just say that you wouldn't want them on your bad side." Gage began to talk while heading toward the fizz top mountain I saw earlier. "The bloodier thing are for them, the happier they will be. I'll just put it like that." He spoke cryptic to the last bit, so I couldn't help but wonder if ill like this bunch.
We walked past an old dilapidated pond with a fountain on the fat left side. The water was somewhat clear, and an operator raider appeared to be searching for something in the muck water. I didn't pay much attention to that as something else caught my attention. A display of blood and gore where bodies where in full display with barbed wire and metal spikes sticking out of the dead bodies. They took what looked like an old globe statue, and perverted it to their liking. Typical raider art work if you ask me.
"There you are boss, the door that leads to the leader of the disciples." Gage interrupted my thoughts with a hand directing toward a set of double doors leading into a side building. "I'd go in with you, but I think Nisha would rather hang me rather than speak to me." He grinned at the prospect.
"What happened between you two?" I asked, wanted to know, but at the same time, didn't want to hear a full story.
"Well, I'm the one who thought up this mess to be honest with you. Getting the gangs together and all, and Nisha's disciples are a blood thirsty bunch. They don't exactly work well with others if you understand my meaning." Gage spoke cryptic to me, but I know what he was saying. He has a lot riding on this little scheme of his. Getting the gangs together, and then having to get rid of the tumor that almost destroyed them.
I proceeded through the metal doors that lead to the gangs' main area, and was met with the stench of copper and rust. A smell I knew too much of. Bodies hung from the ceilings, and heads stuck on pikes with entrails littering the ground blow them. There, I met what I could only assume was Nisha, the leader of these savages that love to make grotesque art work.
"Well look who decided to visit us last." The woman spoke. Her face was covered with a metal plate with sharp blades on the side, and her outfit a set of ragged cloths and metal breast plate. "I can only assume Gage brought you up to date on what has been going on." Nisha continued with a smile.
"I assume you are Nisha. I heard a great deal about you. Gage has brought me up to date…" I was cut off by her before I could finish my sentence.
"Gage is the one who brought us all together. Claiming that we can take this settlement if we teamed up. Now, we are at each other's throats, and Colter was just a blundering idiot. Just like the rest of those pigs." Nisha motioned about the other two raider gangs. I guessed that she wasn't too fond of the prospect of raider gangs joining forces.
"I take it that you aren't fond of Gage. Perhaps if he failed his little gamble, you want to make him pay no?" I spoke, seething venom from the rude interruption I had to endure. I barely know the man, but he did help me out with that fat turd Colter. I waited for a response with my hands on my hip, gently patting my holster. I guess she understand my stance because she changed the subject.
"So, now I got a good look at you and how you handle things, I guess this can work out… in a long run." Nisha said, seeming to choose her words carefully. She lloks over her shoulder to a man that had a similar outfit, and nodded toward him. He responded with a grunt, and she looked back toward me.
"Seems that we got off on the wrong foot. I see who don't like to take shit, and I have a lot of shit to give. Just promise us that there will be plenty of fighting and blood, and we can make this happen. What do you say?" Nisha seemed to understand that both of us seem to have strength, but have very little patience.
"Of course I'll do my best, but I can promise you all the fighting and blood you can imagine. I never make a promise I can't keep." I responded to her suggestion, and he parted way, but not before I took in the sight of the man that stood next to her. A big burly man with metal face plate and wire mess on his arms. A sight to see I must say.
I walked back outside thru the double doors, and I saw Gage waiting for me. He was leaning on a metal pipe, rusted and sticking out of the ground, he was smoking another cigarette.
"So, I take it things went well in there as well? You are in one piece after all." Gage spoke, confident in what the answer will be. Smiling, smoke steamed out of his mouth as it hung open a little but to show his teeth.
"What? Having doubts about me Gage?" I spoke with my arms out in a motion of surprise. "I think all the leaders are on board. Now, all I have to do if finish this little scheme of yours, and that's it." I couldn't help but giggle a little bit at the notion of controlling not just one gang, but controlling three of them.
"Just don't make promises you can't deliver on boss. These guys aren't exactly the forgiving type, if you catch my drift." Gage spoke to me in words of caution, and I knew he was serious.
"Don't worry Gage." I replied to his words to ease his mind. "By the way Gage, you can call me Valerie." I gave him a sheepish smile, and I walked off toward the large mountain shaped building that stood before me, lighting my smoke along the way. I could feel Gages' eyes on me all the while, and I knew that this will be a beginning of an interesting arrangement.
"One last thing boss." Gage spoke to me as I was walking away. "Let me show you your new digs. It was originally Colter's, but I think you'll like it." I ignored the fact that I told him he can use my actual name rather than this Boss business, but I decided to humor him none the less.
I followed him without saying anything, and he led me to a scaffolding that seemed to lead up to the near top of the building. He and I got in the small wooden frame of the car, and hoisted us up to what appeared to be an old run down restraint and bar that over looked the park.
I was standing there, admiring the scenery that overlooked the main stretch of the park. Off in the distance, I could see dilapidated houses, and a rundown park. As I stood there, I was interrupted from my thoughts by Colter.
"So boss. I wanted to give you this." Gage spoke as he carried a small case next to me, and he opened it with a wide grin. "It may not be much, but I think you'll like it." He continued on as I looked at him.
Gage presented on of the most beautiful pieces of weaponry I've seen in this gods' forsaken place. An old style Russian 7.62 Kalashnikov. The one before those Chinese dick heads started messing around with its design and effectiveness. I admired the design, and I knew a small project I needed to do before I started on anything from here.
"Hey Gage, you have any tools or spare parts lying around in this place I can use?" I asked the man, not knowing nearly as much as him, but couldn't hold back a wide smile.
"Sure thing boss. Anything you need, and you think you need any ammo as well?" Gage asked in reply, but I think he knew the answer to his own question.
"Oh you better believe it Hun. Plenty of ammo." I looked at Gage with a mischievous grin, thinking of the fun I'm going to have in the near future.
