I Stand Alone


Previously...

"Revy lets go" Rock shouted as he started climbing up the wall with relative ease. Revy soon followed after she emptied her clips trying to get one more kill in and failed making her more angry than she already was.

Rock was nearly half way up the wall when he felt vibrations in his rope he quickly realized that someone was cutting his rope. He quickly swung over and grabbed Revy's rope before letting go of his own line. Less than a minuet later the rope he was once climbing fell to the dark depths of the vault below. Not wasting any more time Rock launched himself up by several feet on Revy's rope traversing the length of the line far greater distance than climbing alone.

With one last pull Rock launched himself out of the vault and into the air above the five looters that were still near the entrance. Before he even landed on the ground Rock drew his sword and aimed it at the one who was trying to cut the rope. Rock skewered the man through the back of the head before cleaving through the two unfortunate looters next to the now dead man. Rock quickly leaped towards the final two looters slicing through one's torso while stabbing the other in the collarbone and pinning him to the ground.

Rock slowly brought his face to the squirming looter who was trying and failing to get Rock's blade out of his shoulder "Now I want you to tell me everything you know or I'll make you suffer a pain so great that you'll wish for the sweet release of death, do I make myself clear?" Rock asked in a very quite voice that one would almost mistake for a whisper if they were listening.

The looter quickly nodded and started sweating profusely as he saw the look in Rock's eye's that showed nothing but pain and death if he didn't cooperate. In a matter of minuets rock learned all that the man had to offer who he was working for, where his comrades were located, why they were there and over six different hideouts that they used in the nearby area.

When Rock had all he needed he pulled his sword out from the looters shoulder. The man had a look of relief on his face even after Rock decapitated him. Revy would finally exit the Vault less than five minuets after Rock finished his interrogation, it was only then that he filled her in on who they were dealing with.

Now...

Rock and Revy caught up with Dutch and Benny who were over a half a mile away from the Vault armed and ready to face any of the unwanted raiders that had reared their ugly faces. Rock and Revy were quickly filled in on the events that transpired while they were below ground.

The Raiders arrived on the scene two hours after Rock and Revy descended into the vault. Dutch and Benny were barely able to make it out of there alive as they fled the Vault's entrance. Thankfully for the two of them the raiders decided to let them flee as they sent a small platoon down the Vault.

After that was made clear Rock and Revy told Dutch and Benny what they discovered and how they were able to escape from their new "friends" and what they happened to learn from them.

"They call themselves the The Brotherhood of Aryans, from what I was able to gather, from the man I interrogated, they are a para military group that made a deal with Warlord to gather the contents of this Vault in order to gain entrance into the city." Rock told the rest of the group as he wiped his blade clean of blood.

"Yeah from what Benny and I were able to tell they are packing some heavy firepower, they have mini-guns and .50 cal Ma Duce's mounted on their vehicles and they have plenty of RPG's to blow us sky high!" Dutch added as he took a long drag from his cigarette. He was lucky that his military training paid off when the bullets were flying over head and the rockets were hitting the ground and exploding far too close for comfort. The experience brought up several memories during the war that got his blood pumping and the adrenaline flowing through his body.

After a few minutes of comparing notes and counting the number of men they were up against, they overlooked a large outline of the enemy encampment near the Vault. They marked the number of men who were stationed at the different sectors of the camp and what they were armed with. What vehicles had turrets and how many tents and RV's were set up in the area and how they were placed.

"Alright so what Balalanka wants is currently in their hands and that is not good for our reputation, now Benny can set up the beacon to help her men find our location yet it will take time for them to arrive so what I'm thinking is we hit them when it's dark and drive them far enough away until the cavalry arrives to retrieve the goods from the Vault" Dutch said as he started drawing up a plan on the map

"Revy and I can hit them on these two points here, while you and Benny guard the beacon. Once these bastards are gone we can move in and secure the Vault." Dutch said as he finished the plan of battle and looked at Revy who was staring blankly at the map.

Revy looked at the crudely drawn map and memorized every detail without a second glance. She was still pissed off at the conversation she and Rock had in the Vault. His words were like venom to her especially in this day and age, there was no room for weakness and sympathy in her world. Rock was nothing but a relic living in this new age of power and death. She hated him for that, she hated every ounce of his being for that and if given the chance she would put a bullet through his brain just so he wouldn't be in her world anymore.


Revy and Dutch left Rock and Benny behind with the Lagoon as they slowly made their way towards the large camp carrying a large arsenal with them. Dutch carried a large bag full of ammo clips and shot gun shells for his M60 Winchester Machine Gun and his Remington Pump action Shot Gun. Revy carried her favorite M-79 40mm Grenade Launcher and twelve rounds along with over ten clips of ammo for her twin Cutlasses that clung to her sides.

They moved quickly and quietly across the sandy dunes that surrounded the loud and active camp that was celebrating some grandiose event as they waved the Nazi colors and Confederate flags over several trailers. Dutch set up his Machine gun at a perfect vantage point that allowed him to see the "happy campers" below and great cover from enemy fire.

Revy circled around the camp loading her grenade launcher as she ran to fulfill her desire for blood. Revy made her way closer to the camp spotting a group of eight men surrounding a campfire drinking a variety of alcoholic beverages. She smiled a wide toothy grin as Revy saw that none of the men surrounding the area had weapons on them.

(Play Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson)

She aimed the barrel of the grenade launcher at the group of men surrounding the campfire and pulled the trigger sending the round to the center of the group. When the round landed the explosion killed all of the men and sent all eight of them flying several feet back. Revy quickly loaded up a second round and aimed at the nearest vehicle and destroyed it in a fiery explosive spectacle that set much of the surrounding camp and on fire.

Revy fired another round at a group running frantically trying to react to the attacks from the devil woman. After firing the third grenade Revy dropped the launcher carelessly on the ground and drew her cutlasses from their holster's and cocked them each before holding them at her sides.

She slowly made her way through the camp shooting men left and right with ease and deadly precision. She no longer had a toothy grin she had a moments before, she now had the look of a stone cold killer killing men without even showing any joy or rush of adrenaline. She only felt a great rage that was boiling deep within her as she remembered Rock's words.

They made her disgusted, his words of sentimentality, honor, love, they were pipe dreams in this day and age. Rock was a relic from the old world and would die if he kept his current mindset, if it had to be by her hand it would rid the world of one more fool. Revy imagined that every man she killed was Rock and it made her more even angrier as she made her way deeper into the camp clearing entire sections without having to try.

Dutch looked down upon the carnage, with his binoculars, as Revy killed men left and right with cold and deadly efficiency. He had seen her like this only a few times before, but he knew it was when she was beyond rage. The first time was shortly after he picked her up all those years ago from the streets of New York, the second time was shortly after Benny joined the team and the final time was after the world the once knew was officially gone. Each time it was a blood bath with little to no survivors and if he didn't stop her.

Revy walked past the dead bodies that were piling up around her after emptying her clips for the either time that night. She didn't know how many men she had killed all she knew was that it was more than fifty. It didn't calm her to see this many men dead, it only made her more angry with each step she took towards her next victims. The only thought on her mind was "Who is going to come tempt death next?" as she reached for new clips for her Cutlasses.

(End Song or keep listening it's awesome)

Just as she grabbed her new clips she heard someone running towards her causing her to jump back and get ready to face this new foe. Out came a man who stood over six foot six wearing a dusty yet well kept Nazi officer's uniform with the emblem of an officer gleaming in the bright firelight.

"So you're still alive little girl? I compliment you on your audaciousness. The name I have carried proudly since birth is Thrix Standford I am the acting Captain of The Brotherhood of Aryans and you a nefarious grave robber this is clearly the most fated of confrontations. For the sake of those who died for the Union You shall atone with your blood!" he yelled as he drew a golden Luger from his holster for her to see flashing it off. Revy could have cared less as she slowly loaded her cutlasses.

"Behold! Witness this mighty gun I wield! I call it the Eisen Reich Luger Special! The barrel is the Luger artillery long and the frame is harden carbon featuring a thick grip and a two bullet chamber it is one of a kind this weapon is simply too destructive to be labeled as simple refereed to as specialized and Man stopping! I am the only one on Earth capable of taming this terrible gun! WAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Are you afraid? There's no way you're not, now witness the awesome power of-" "BLAM!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Revy yelled after shooting the ranting captain in the chest careful to miss his vitals before continuing her rant. "Didn't you see I wasn't even listening? I mean were you trying to sell me the damn gun or what?"

"You fucking coward..." Thrix said in a raspy voice as he tried getting up off the ground only to be stepped on by Revy who aimed her gun straight at her head.

"Now it's my turn to talk. Here's a little advice if you can hit your target pretty much any gun will do, now that's one to grow on say hi to the Furer for me would ya!" She said as she put a bullet through his skull scattering his brains on the ground.


"How do you think they are doing?" Rock asked Benny as they looked at the destruction from a distance. Less than an hour had passed and Rock was on edge feeling as if he should be there in the middle of battle with them.

"Heh this is the first time you've had to wait on the side lines right?" Benny laughed as he leaned back in his chair opening up a beer can to sip on while he waited patiently for the fighting to end. "No I have to admit this is the first time I haven't taken part in a fight since I was just a boy" Rock confessed as he sat down on the ground next to Benny as he took a drink from his water flask.

"Well you'll get used to it even when we aren't fighting guys with guns Revy and Dutch take care of them by blowing them away with whatever is at their disposal. I mean honestly no offense but what could you do with just a sword?" Benny chuckled as he gulped down the rest of his beer.

Just as Rock was about to retort he felt something that was extremely familiar, something that only a man with years of training and dedication could feel. Rock quickly got up and ran towards the fighting going on leaving Benny behind worried that he accidentally antagonized a man who wanted to feel relevant in the world. 'I hope I arrive there in time' Rock thought as sprinted across the dunes kicking up dust all along in the process.


Revy slowly made her way past several more dead bodies as she came across a long RV that was covered in armor and antennas. When she arrived at the door she began firing in through the window hoping to hit anything inside. When she opened the door she saw six men cowering on the floor two of them clutching their sides from the wounds they received.

"Where is the weapon's stash?" Revy asked coldly pointing her gun straight at the closest man. "I-I-I don't kn-know we are just the mechanics we are barley let out of the trai- BANG! ARGH!" Revy shot the man in the leg when she didn't get the answer she wanted.

"Unaffiliated slaves and non combatants mean nothing to me so I'll ask again where is the weapon's stash?" Revy's tone getting more and more violent as the seconds past by aiming her gun at the forehead of the man she just shot.

"I don't know I swear!" the man yelled hysterically as the barrel pressed harder against his forehead, the cold metal sending shivers throughout his body. "Wrong answer" Just as Revy was about to pull the trigger her gun was knocked away from the cowering men by the butt of a Shot Gun. "Revy what the hell are you thinking?" Revy looked up and saw Dutch glaring at her as she knelled on the ground.

Dutch grabbed hold of Revy and dragged her out of the RV by her arm and slammed her into the wall. "Dutch what the Hell's your problem, I was just doing my job Dutchy bloodbaths are what we do best isn't that right?" Revy asked sadistically without any hint of remorse for the dozens of lives she took.

"A gunman is a professional a shooter is someone who's got issues, I do not remember hiring Charles fucking Whitman! If you wanna go out an kill like crazy you are free to do so but if you loose your shit I die to, So keep it cool or go find a fucking tower and shoot up an entire city."

"Fucking Great now you're gonna preach to me to? Spare me the bullshit Dutch!" Revy yelled as she slowly reached for her other gun.

Dutch did the same reaching for his .44 magnum at his side "What do you expect Two Hands I'm your employer after all"

They both quickly drew their weapons and turned to the opposite sides of the trailer and fired their guns killing six men who thought they could sneak up on two of the deadliest gunmen they would ever face in their short pathetic lives.

"Wow that actually worked" Dutch said after the men were all dead. "Yeah, didn't think they'd be that stupid" Revy responded as they reloaded their guns.

"So Dutch what's on the agenda?" Revy asked casually as if their previous banter had never occurred as they slowly walked past the dead bodies of the "foolish soldiers" Revy thought. "The commander he's here somewhere and when we find him we'll get some answers and whatever it is Rock said they stole.

After a few short minutes of walking with almost no resistance from the raiders who probably were smart enough to know not to mess with these two walking embodiment of death. "So have you cooled down Revy? Dutch asked Revy as they made their way through the camp.

"What do you mean?" She asked annoyed as they made there way slowly past more tents and vehicles in the camp.

"Well in case you haven't noticed you get Whitman fever every time we get a new crew member the exact same thing happened when Benny first came aboard."

"Not digging to deep is our style don't you agree? I'll finish the job dot you worry." Revy responded casually "You better our you wont be able to support your way of living. I'll head to the southern part of the camp you keep heading west and see if you can't find the weapons stash or the commander got it?"

"Yeah yeah I got it" Revy replied annoyed once again by Dutch's constant nagging as she made her way deeper into the camp.


Rock made his way into the camp and saw that there were scattered bodies everywhere. 'Looks like they have themselves preoccupied with these goons" he thought to himself as ran through the camp. Rock kept heading west feeling his opponent getting closer and closer with each stride soon he would meet his opponent head on and if Heaven was on his side answers.

After a few minutes of running through the camp Rock arrived at a very large tent on near the edge of the Camp surrounded by three large Humvee's and two armored trucks making any attack from the rear nearly impossible. Rock didn't need years of training to tell him that this was his destination.

"Who Dares to attack my army?" yelled a booming voice from the inside of the tent. The voice would have made any normal man coward in fear at the mere sound from afar, Rock however didn't even flinch his will hardened by determination and vengeance.

"I, Rokuro Okajima, challenge you" Rock replied as he prepared to face his hidden opponent. As soon as the words left Rock's mouth the tent flap opened reveling a seven foot man with a diamond tattoo near his left eye holding a large Iron Tetsubo club that was just as tall. The man looked down upon arrogantly Rock judging his stance and appearance, and chuckled at what he saw.

"You honestly seek to face me with a mere blade such as that HA! This is my Tetsubo it has crush over a hundred swords in my hands and can crush ten man with one blow you would be foolish to try facing me, so why don't you surrender peaceably and leave or I'll be forced to introduce you to death himself" The Commander laughed as he swung his Club onto his shoulder.

"The only man that shall die is you" Rock said as he quickly drew his sword and readied himself to attack. "Huh? Well if you really want to die let's go!" The Commander yelled as he swung his club with the force of a freight train at Rock hoping to finish him in one blow. The club smashed into the nearest car crushing the engine and launching it back five feet.

To the Commander's surprise there was no body crunched nor blood splattered everywhere. When he looked over he saw Rock bending backwards then quickly stood straight up defiantly in the face of the large man. The Commander raised his club once again and quickly swung it down with the force of a artillery shell falling to earth. Rock merely sidestepped the attack and swung his sword slicing through the left shoulder of the commander in one quick motion sending it flying, followed by a large fountain of blood.

The Commander didn't realize his arm was gone until he saw a large puddle of blood surrounding his feet. Turning to his left he saw Rock only for a brief moment as the sword sliced through his knees sending his face down into the puddle of his own blood. The Commander screamed in agony as the pain finally registered throughout his body cursing Rock and his parentage before he finally yelled something that caught Rock's attention.

"...And Fuck that Russian Whore who sent you!"

"What did you say?" Rock asked taken aback by what was just said.

"If she wants a war with the King then she will die for it with this act of war! My King will slaughter her men and place her head with those who have dared to challenge him in the past!" The Commander screamed his face covered in his own blood as he tried using his one good arm to keep him up just enough to face Rock.

"Who is your King and why does Balalaika wish to fight him?" Rock asked frantically helping the Commander up so that he may learn some answers before the man died. Only one name escaped his lips before the Commander died in Rock's arms it was a name of a man that Rock sought after for the past five years. "Shin..."


Rock made his way back to Benny long before Dutch and Revy returned from clearing out the rest of the camp. He asked Benny not to mention the personal mission that he went on into the camp to the rest of the gang despite the great amount of evidence of his disobedience left by the dead man missing three limbs. Benny merely nodded and awaited the return of Dutch and Revy as the night went on.

Two hours later Dutch and Revy would return to confirm that the camp was cleared out of all threats and went to sleep until the following morning. Revy gave Rock the cold shoulder for the morning that came all to quickly for them. When they woke up they were greeted by the sight of ten military transports all bearing Balalaika's standard the Russian flag with a black scar in the middle signifying it was her army that arrived.

What was an even greater surprise to everyone, excluding Rock, was the arrival of Balalaika herself in the leading military trucks with her officer's coat hanging off her like an intimidating cape showing both her rank and power over her men.

Balalaika greeted Dutch with a smile as she lit her cigar and took a long drag savoring the taste of both the cigar and the victory she claimed. "Good day Dutch. I'm glad that you and your crew were able to secure the Vault for us I hope you didn't have to much difficulty doing so" Balalaika asked looking at the burning remains of the enemy camp off in the distance.

"It was nothing we couldn't handle though I would like to know what it was they wanted aside from the standard weapons and supplies?" Dutch asked politely knowing he'd be pushing his boundaries if he didn't tread lightly asking questions of Balalaika.

"Since you fought a large force of men I didn't expect to arrive here I belief you deserve an answer" As Balalaika reached into her coat pocket for an item. Rock didn't say anything aloud but he didn't believe for one second that she had no clue about the small army arriving at the Vault entrance.

Balalaika took out a small object that looked like a green computer disk that was cracked down the middle "This is what I've been looking for."

"A stupid disk? That's what we were after a GOD DAMNED DISK!" Revy yelled as she stomped forward pointing at the damaged disk.

"This disk is the key to truly rebuilding the world we once knew" Balalaika replied calmly. "This Disk held valuable information on the location of several locations such as this yet as it was damaged a new one was required to give us the location of even more of these Vaults spread out across the Wasteland. This will help us stock up on more supplies and if fate grants us luck, a device that can turn radioactive soil pure once again."

"What is the name of this device?" Benny asked as he leaned in further as he listened closely to what Balalaika had to say.

"The Omega device. It was a secret device that was in the works under the Allied governments fearing the use of Nuclear weapons would lead to Massive Nuclear Fallout across the earth that would kill almost all life on Earth. The idea was to take hundreds of these devices and clean the soil by removing the radiation and turning it into usable energy for the people rebuilding civilization across the new world. Yet before they could create enough to fix the world well... you know the rest." Balalaika paused as she took a drag from her cigar that was only half its length.

"There is hope if we are able to find just one of these devices we can build hundreds of them and rebuild the world anew" She announced with energy and fervor getting the lagoon company energized and on board with her plan. All but one.


After Balalaika finished her speech Rock approached her after the rest of the crew left to prepare the Dune for departure. "Nice speech you gave, I almost believed that you wanted to save the world" Rock said smoking his cigarette while he talked to her with an arrogant tone.

"Yes it was nice Rock." She replied calmly as she finished off the rest of her cigar.

"Well you won't mind me asking how going to war with another city will complete your goal" Rock asked bluntly.

Balalaika was taken aback only briefly before answering with a smirk "I see, so you discovered that Shin sent these men"

"Yes and I am surprised to find that you haven't attacked him sooner since you have the man power to do so" Rock stated as he leaned back on one of the trucks.

"We have had some difficulties when fighting him yet with your arrival and the stash of supplies that you have found we are on our way to defeating him" Balalaika replied as she started for the door of her jeep.

"Wait! You said that after I helped you with this mission you would tell me where Shin is!" Rock yelled as he held the door open with his left hand concealing his right hand on his sword hilt. What he didn't expect was the cold metal of a Russian manufactured pistol on his forehead.

"You misunderstood me I said when you have finished aiding me then I would reveal to you the location of Shin, until then you will do what I say and when I say it or you will find a bullet in between your eyes with your head on display and you will never find Him or your woman that he holds captive!" Balalaika said with an evil smile on her face. After Rock backed up slowly and released his sword hilt Balalaika drew back her gun and returned it to her coat pocket and turned to face the front of the vehicle.

Just before she closed the door in Rock's face she spoke one final time but didn't bother to face him "Also do not tell the rest of your crew about the foreknowledge of the army's arrival or you will find yourself on display for all those entering and exiting the city of New Roanapur."

After the door was slammed shut in his face Rock slowly made his way back to the Dune and began contemplating on what just happened. He could not believe that he was so close to saving the woman he loved and now so far away. It was as if each step forward he took three strides backwards.

'I'm sorry Yuria. But you must wait a little longer while I finish completing the whims of the Devil' Rock thought to himself as he sat down in the back seat of the Dune praying to whatever God existed to keep Yurai safe and alive until he was able to save her from the clutches of Shin.


As Balalaika rode comfortably in her leather seat she looked at the new disk that was found by her men off the corpse of a dead soldier unscathed by the world harsh world. "Do you believe any of them suspect what the disk truly holds?" Balalaika's Lieutenant asked as he drove the jeep through the wasteland.

"No. Dutch is a loyal soldier and his lap dog Benny willing to do anything to save the world and Revy, well she enjoys the "benefits" of going on the missions I give her" she said with confident tone to reassure her second in command.

"They are not who I am to concerned with" the Lieutenant replied.

"Do not worry about the swordsman I have him under constant surveillance and I have information that he desires, he wouldn't dare harm me unless he would loose the one chance at saving the woman he loves. That is his one weakness and it will keep him in line for as long as I need him."


Well Guys what did you think? I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and I will look forward to your feedback. I will hopefully release the next chapter soon after I finish my final see you guys later.