I'm not dead! This story isn't dead, I promise. It's the summer now, and I have more time to work on my stories. I am also working on an original story that I am pretty excited about. :] But here is the seventh chapter of LGS! I actually had it all written out, hated it, and rewrote it. I hope you all enjoy it.
I am on tumblr too. If you are interested in following me there I am at .com 3
Chapter Seven
Charon
I was not what one might call "impressed" with my new employer. She looked about as lethal as a puppy, and was about as big as one. She had shown promise with a gun, sure, but ability means nothing in the wastes without a good head on your shoulders. At this rate, she would get her head blown off any second.
Evidence of her poor judgment continued to pile up as she agreed to go out on a suicide mission to find the rest of Reily's Rangers, who had gotten themselves trapped on top of the Statesman Hotel after being ambushed my super mutants. She was ill prepared to walk out the front doors; let alone to make a trip farther into Downtown DC. I got the feeling she had a knack for getting herself in over her head, or had a death wish.
It was highly unlikely the Rangers were even still alive, and anyone who went to rescue them would meet the same fate. Though I had never been to Vernon Square, I knew it was not a welcome place for smoothskins.
Despite all the reasons why we should avoid downtown, I wanted to go. It had been too long since I had been in any real combat. After spending years as an over qualified bouncer and part time courier, I was itching for a real fight.
We left the clinic after promising to rescue the rangers. The other ghouls around Underworld must have gotten word of what had happened because every one of them were staring at us. At me. They gave us a wide birth as we made our way through the crowd. We stopped by Tulip's shop to restock on ammo and medical supplies. We did not speak again until we were out in the atrium where we had some privacy.
She turned on me, "So, this contract compels you to do whatever I say?"
"Yes."
She shook her head, "Look, Charon, I appreciate your... dedication, but I don't want your contract."
She held it out to me. All I had to do was take it, but I could not.
"Take it," she said.
"No."
"Why the hell not?"
I stared at her for a long moment. "What is your plan?"
She blinked, "What?"
"Your plan for rescuing the rangers."
She shrugged, "I... don't really have one."
"Downtown DC is dangerous."
"So am I."
I doubted that. Every time she crossed my path she was hurling herself into more danger. She was going to get herself killed; and since she was my new employer, it was my job to make sure that didn't happen. Though, there was nothing I could do if she insisted on going our separate ways.
I leaned in so I could look her square in the eye, "So am I."
She shot me a disbelieving look, "So, what you're saying is, you want to tag along?"
"Yes."
"Why on earth would you want to do that?"
"You are my employer. It is my job to ensure your safety."
She sighed heavily, running a hand through her dark brown hair. "What the fuck am I even doing," she said under her breath. She looked around the room mumbling to herself. I could only make out every other sentence when suddenly she stopped. She sighed again seeming to have reached a decision.
"Okay, look," she gestured to my contract, "I don't know what you think this says, but let's just pretend it doesn't say anything. We'll be equal partners on this mission. Split what we find fifty-fifty, watch each other's backs, and when this is over, we'll go our separate ways. Sound good?"
I grunted. There was little chance we would even make it to the hotel, let alone through and out of it alive. This was not going to be easy, but, then again, I never was one to half-ass a job. No matter how suicidal.
This girl was going to get me killed.
Since we would not be able to take the same route as the rangers, Riley had given us an alternative path to Vernon Square. Much to my new employer's displeasure, the entirety of our journey would be in the metro tunnels.
"I hate the tunnels," she grumbled.
I did not blame her. The tunnels were dark, they smelled like shit, and worst of all, they were crawling with feral ghouls. Among other things. The dark was not so bad, and I could aggressively ignore the smell, but the ferals always made what was left of my skin crawl.
My employer was quiet for most of our trek through the metro, only breaking the silence to make small comments on our surroundings. She did not complain too much, which was a nice change of pace.
We passed through the first half of the tunnels without too much incident. There were signs of raiders, but either they had moved on or were all killed off. The second half of our journey was a little more exciting. We'd almost made it out when a group of ferals stood between us and the exit, but they were not standing for long.
It was eerie. We should have seen at least one super mutant skulking around.
I didn't like it.
We emerged from the metro to find the square completely empty. A bad feeling settled in my gut. I paused, taking a good look around the square. It was clear that the super mutants had been there once, but had gone elsewhere. Perhaps to the roof of the Statesman.
My employer took a few steps ahead of me, "This doesn't look good."
That was an understatement.
She turned to look at me with sharp green eyes, "Have you been here before?"
I shook my head.
"But there should be something here, right? From what I understand, there's supposed to be an army out here."
I nodded.
She sighed heavily and checked her pistol, "Well, there's no sense in waiting."
I watched her take a few careful steps out into the square, but nothing happened. I scanned the area. There were two buildings on either side of us that were nothing but a few walls, and some platforms. It looked like the mutants had made pathways with some wooden boards they had found. Above us was a bridge that connected the two buildings. It looked like the best place to hole up with a rifle, if you were expecting trouble.
Beyond that was the hospital. It was more or less intact. I wondered if we'd find the super mutants in there for some reason.
It wasn't until my employer was making her way down the stairs to make her way farther into the square that I saw the slightest movement on the bridge above us.
Without a second thought I ran after my new employer, lept off the ledge, and tackled her. She yelped but it was drowned out by the sound of a single high powered gunshot. I hugged her close to my chest and rolled us underneath the bridge and up against one of the pillars holding up the bridge.
That's when all Hell broke loose.
Shots came from everywhere all at once as the super mutants came out from hiding. The bullets began chipping away at the concrete at the base of the pillar. We were trapped.
It was a clever trap, considering I had had no idea super mutants were capable of setting up an ambush. Perhaps they were getting smarter.
And perhaps my skin would grow back.
"Let go of me!" my employer shouted.
I let go of her immediately and she scrambled to a crouching position next to me.
"Well, that was unexpected," she breathed.
"No shit," I grumbled as I peaked around the pillar to get a good look at what we were up against.
There were four on the ground and at least one sniper up on the bridge.
After firing a couple shots off in their direction, I turned back to my employer. "Looks like we're dead before we even start."
She looked up at me and grinned, "Nonsense, my good man. I have an idea!" There was a break in the onslaught, and she came out of cover, fired a few shots from her 10mm pistol, and ducked back down.
"What is your plan?"
"Can you keep them distracted while I make my way over to that building over there?" she asked pointing a thumb over her shoulder.
I nodded.
"Good," she said. "Whenever you're ready, I'll make my way up there and hopefully take out that sniper. That'll give us some breathing room."
'Hopefully' did not sound too promising, but it was better than sitting around waiting to get shot to death.
"You ready?" I asked.
She nodded.
I was about to pull out of cover when she put a hand on my shoulder.
"Oh wait!"
I turned back and looked at her in confusion.
She pulled her pack from her shoulders, rummaged around for a moment, pulled out a small metal orb, and placed it in my hand.
"For good luck." she said with a smirk.
She nodded signaling she was finally ready, and I turned away from her, once more pocketing the grenade.
I waited for a break in the storm of bullets, and when it came I took the opportunity to finally show them exactly who they were dealing with.
"Hey!" I shouted. "Over here, you bastards!" I broke from cover firing wildly into the group of mutants.
They were clearly not expecting such a bold act. I was able to get a couple lucky shots in; killing one and wounding another. The mutants that were still alive looked up at me with dumbstruck expressions on their faces. Or maybe they just always looked like that.
I was careful in counting my shots, and ducked back behind the pillar once I got to zero.
Once again, the mutants opened fire.
My employer was nowhere to be seen, and I fought the urge to go after her while reloading my shotgun. Hopefully her plan would work.
It felt like hours of constant ducking in and out of cover trying to hold them back. If I let them get too close they would overpower me, and I would be dead. But it was not enough.
The other three mutants on the ground were closing in despite their wounds. One was closer than the others, and decided to rush me. In hand-to-hand combat, I had him beat, but he had brute strength on his side along with two buddies with guns at his back.
A humorless smile spread across my face. If I had to die there, I was going to go out with a bang.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the grenade my employer had given me 'for luck.' I was about to pull the pin when I heard the unmistakable sound of a rifle being shot, and the head of the mutant closest to me exploded in a bloody mess.
I grinned putting away the grenade.
Another shot, and another mutant hit the ground.
The third mutant turned in the direction he thought the rifle shots where coming from; and before he could fire at my employer, I shot him once in the chest with my shotgun.
He was bloodied, but not dead yet; so, I kept firing until the son of a bitch was no longer moving.
"Ha ha! You like that?!"
"Charon, are you alright down there?!"
I walked out from under the bridge and looked up to see her waving down at me with one hand and a brand new rifle in the other while smiling like an idiot.
This girl was going to get us both killed.
