A/N: Two updates in two weeks! I'm on a roll!
Yuri found himself awake, lying on a soft, comfortable bed. He didn't know where he was or how he got there, but there was a pain in his head that was emanating in hard, consistent throbs. Curious as to what caused this pain and, furthermore, where he was, Yuri attempted to arise from his bed and find some answers. As he did so, he felt a hand on his shoulder and he quickly spun around and seized the hand of his supposed enemy with a firm grip.
"Whoa, there," the strange new man said, "I'm a friend!"
"Define 'friend,'" Yuri quipped, his Russian undertone slurred by his new head injury.
"My name is Daniel, I'm a medic with the Regulators. I know you probably don't remember much, you were unconscious for a day or so before we brought you here. But I've been instructed to watch over you for the time being, so if you'd like to get up and walk around, I'd be more than happy to help you."
Yuri recognized Daniel's duster as beloging to the Regulators, an organization he'd worked both for and covertly against many years ago. Letting his hand go free, Yuri stood up, regaining his strength from a day's sleep. Daniel offered to help him down the stairs, but Yuri was too stubborn to let some kid treat him like an elderly man. Nearing the front door, he witnessed a familiar face.
"Sam?" Yuri stated incredulously, "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you, Yuri. Apparently a rocket one of those hitmen launched blasted us back and knocked us out. These guys found us and brought us back here, and here we are."
Yuri stood in silence for a moment, memories flooding back to him. He remembered Wolfgang, Tara, Ted, and... the package. It suddenly came to him. The set of nuclear launch codes was now in the possession of whoever attacked them.
"We need to find them," Yuri quipped.
"Who?"
"Those assholes who attacked us, that's who. That attack was too coordinated to be a simple hit-and-run, so we have to assume they came for-"
"The launch codes." Yuri was interrupted by some behind him. Turning around to view this new person, Yuri was surprised by what he saw. He was a kid no older than 25, wearing a black duster similar to that of the Regulators. He stood at '6 "2 and wore a scruffy beard, his skin tanned by several years in the Wasteland.
"We know that whoever attacked you was after those codes, and we know that, with them, they are very dangerous. I am sorry to say that we did find one body at the site, a young man of about twenty three years."
'Ted,' Yuri thought, continuing his silence.
"Our radiomen are monitoring chatter as we speak, and we hope to find something that can lead us to their whereabouts."
"Alright, who the hell are you ? And where am I, exactly?" asked Yuri impatiently.
"Oh, I'm sorry, how stupid of me. My name is Quentin Jameson, I head a squad of elite Regulators known as the Judges. We handle covert ops, assassinations, etcetera. And as for your location, we're in a remote farmhouse about seven klicks south of Union City."
"Union City? I'm surprised you managed to get us this far without attracting attention. And how did you get to join the Regulators? You're pretty young to be heading up a squad by yourself."
"Ah, yes. You see, I was forced out of Vault 101 about five years ago. I-"
"So you're that kid Three Dog's yapped about for months on end. The Lone fucking Wanderer…He said you took on an entire army of 'Clavies by yourself?"
Quentin adjusted his duster. "Yes, that's me. And if you're referring to the incident at Adams Airforce Base, I had help from the Brotherhood of Steel, so it wasn't all me. Anyway, I was forced out here, looking for my father, who ended up dying in an accident with Project Purity. You've heard everything else on the radio, I assume?"
Yuri nodded.
"Well, after the Enclave was finished, I was contacted by the Regulators, asking if I'd head up an elite crew of men. The pay is good, so I couldn't resist. So, one year later, here I am."
A few moments of awkward silence passed before Sam spoke up."Quite the story," Sam said, breaking the silence, "No offense, Quentin, but we need to find our friends and the codes before something goes terribly wrong."
"None taken," Quentin responded, "Our radiomen are doing everything they can right now, but it may be a while before-"
"Captain Jameson, sir!" someone shouted from a room over, "We found something you might like to hear!"
The trio hurried into another poorly-lit room, housing five drowsy-looking men and their radio sets. A young man on the end of the table was beckoning them hurriedly."Over here, sir!" one of the younger radiomen motioned.
"What is it, Evans?" Have we found them yet?"
"Not exactly, sir, but I think we may know who planned this ambush, at least. We intercepted a satellite call between two men, one of whom identified the other as Commander Adrian Jabsco of Talon Company. Here, I'll play the message."
Private Evans replayed the call. Yuri recognized the voice of Jabsco, but not of the other man. This was a Talon job, he was sure of it. The call abruptly ended with the click of a phone."Are you certain this wasn't some sort of elaborate diversion?" questioned This sounds like Jabsco, but why would he place his call on a wide open frequency?"
"I'm not sure, sir. Maybe he thinks that nobody but the Brotherhood has the tech to intercept their communications."
"And they know the Brotherhood won't intervene unless they're directly threatened," added Yuri.
"Exactly. Captain, I can't say with 100 percent certainty that this isn't a trap, but if you're going to act on it you'd better do it soon. This call was placed not too long ago, and, as you heard, the other man gave an indication that he was returning to Fort Bannister."
"Yuri, Sam, what are your opinions?" asked Quentin.
"I agree with Private Evans. Intel doesn't get any more solid than this. I say we mobilize and do this quickly, lest we lose our chance at these villains."
"I'd have to agree as well, Captain Jameson," Sam chimed in.
Quentin pondered this for a minute. He knew he'd be further endangering the lives of his men if this turned out to be folly. However, Quentin also knew that at least two people were being held prisoner by Talon Company, who would do God-knows-what to them if they weren't rescued. Not to mention the launch codes, which they were probably going to sell to someone who didn't much care for the wellbeing of others.
"'Private Evans, tell the Judges to ready themselves and meet me in the den in thirty minutes. I'll explain everything there."
"Yes, sir!"
Private Evans obediently ran upstairs to tell the men of their new assignment.
After walking for nearly three days on and off, pushed to the point of exhaustion, Tara and Wolfgang neared the vicinity of Fort Bannister. Mangled bodies of men, women, and children lined the ditches adjacent to the road, likely to serve as intimidation to any would-be invaders.
"My God," Wolfgang thought "I wish I would've died already." He'd lost track of time, and was disoriented to the point of collapse. His legs ached, his stomach cried for nourishment, and his mind was wondering just how the hell this had happened to him, of all people.
Tara had to choke back vomit as the stench of death reached her nostrils. She, too, was exhausted, and the bodies only added to the desperation she felt.
Nearing the gate, the duo witnessed a tall, brown haired man with a large scar on his face approach from the confines of the fort.
"Panther! Good to see you and your squad return so soon. Commander Jabsco will be pleased to hear of your safe return, brother," the man greeted.
"Glad to see you too, Brooks. Sorry, but I can't delay any further, I have to get this package to Commander Jabsco immediately," Panther responded, a hint of impatience escaping his voice.
"Of course, just let me get this gate open for you," Brooks responded, unlocking the gate.
As soon as it was open, Panther nearly sprinted towards the stairs leading to the CO's quarters.
"Panther, sir!" Nikolai called out "What do you want us to do with the prisoners?"
"Put them in a holding cell, and make sure nobody touches them until I get there!" Panther replied, still hurrying towards the door. Fumbling with the key, he managed to unlock it, and proceeded to hurry towards his commander's office.
Finally reaching it, Panther nearly collapsed from the combined exhaustion of the past three days.
Adrian Jabsco sat up, looking up from his papers to witness one of his greatest apprentices return.
"Catch your breath first; here, take some water," Jabsco said, handing Panther a glass of water. Gratefully drinking every last drop, Panther sat down.
"First things first; the package, please," Jabsco beckoned.
Reaching into his backpack, Panther pulled out a neat, brown folder and handed it to his commander. Carefully checking every page, Jabsco saw that everything was there.
"Good, everything is accounted for," Jabsco said, reaching towards his intercom and pressing down a button, "Attention all members of Operation: Shadowfall: The package has arrived and the mission will go on as planned. You are to report to your designated areas to receive orders and to be equipped. You are to be there within the hour or you will forfeit your spot on this mission. That is all."
"You never told me, sir, what exactly are we planning to do with these codes?" Panther questioned.
"Do not worry, Panther, all you need to know is that you did your job. And because of that, everything will work out in the end. Understood?"
"Perfectly, sir."
"Good. Oh, and one more thing, Panther, the front guard informed me that you brought prisoners with you. Why is this?" Jabsco questioned.
"I...I thought they might of some use, bargaining chips, perhaps. Shall I kill them, sir?"
Jabsco pondered this for a moment. "Not yet. You did the right thing in taking them. Perhaps we could profit from them in the future," he replied.
"If there is nothing else you want from me, sir, I'd like to check on the prisoners," Panther nervously said.
"Alright, you're dismissed, Panther. Give your squad my regards, will you?"
Panther nodded, promptly exiting the C.O.'s office.
"Everything is going exactly as planned," said Jabsco to himself, oblivious to the entire squad of Regulators being deployed to Fort Bannister as he spoke.
And who better to deliver justice than Judges themselves.
A/N: First off, I created Union City for reasons later to be revealed. It will play a role in the story's development, so I didn't just add it for the sake of adding it. It would be located right about where Shalebridge is, just west of Paradise Falls. It encompasses about 10,000 people, compared to about 15,000 in Megaton and 12,000 in Rivet City. Because, realistically, there wouldn't be just 80 people to a city. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, but if you didn't, feel free to tell me through a review, along with some constructive criticism. I'm always open to it.