16 October 2077
I slept well all things considered, yesterday dining at my friends' and they let me take the girl too. Away from them i told him of my plans and the people I gathered, while he brought hardware, lots of it. Kevlar vests, assault carbines, rifles, and ammo. I will probably have to hide something on me, the small town will be a few hours away, abandoned but functional, north of the Massachussets Commonwealth. Now I go see my parents and get the remaining friends, don't know if I get out alive so...see people a last time if something happens
"Who is it ?"
"It's me"
She opens the door "Hello ! Long time no see stranger , too busy for us ?"
"Kind of. Can I come in ?"
"Yes. Your dad is fixing something, want to eat here ?" I have other plans but fine I guess, don't know if I get another chance "Yeah I have some things to do before but I'll return later. I passed by to say hello, tomorrow I'm leaving for somewhere"
"I see ... fine, as long as you return" I can feel the disappointment and a tone of hurt
'I said I will, I meet some people so I can stay more after"
"Hmm friends first ? You better not be a communist, I raised you better than that. Come soon" Do they always have to be like this ?
I have found one at home, she doesn't know what her boyfriend is coming with me and may not return. Guess I'll wait him
I passed by the school and saw some kids playing a card game outside, cheering or gripping their hair because of the game. I saw my friend's brothers too, unaware of the danger. Why have these big powers and greedy bastards ruining everything ? Can't they do their fucking wars away from people ? Nooo of course not ! That's all they can do, make people do it for them ! Since always !
When I return to my parents I see my cousin "Yo"
"What you doing here ?"
"Your mom invited me, you never told me about your travel hm ? Going with the chick I saw you with?" That bastard, always complicating things
"You have a girlfriend ? Why don't you invite her ?"
"No ma, she works and I go there after lunch. Isn't it right Daniel ?"
"Whatever"
The creaking of an opening door and a leveled yet jovial voice, dad's, and matching steps coming close "Hello hello, that's a surprise !"
"Hello"
"Hello man"
"Long time you don't visit us, have you been working at least ?"
"I got fired a few days ago, today I'm leaving so ..."
"Fired ? Don't expect me to maintain you, we're not reds here"
"Yah he wishes so"
I kick his leg "Shut up, at least I had a job, legally" That quietens him
"Do you know he's got a girlfriend ? He was always a shy one"
"That's good for your health, just don't get yourself a slant eyed one"
(Huff) "Dad not all of them are dirty commies, some are even Christians. But better to be sure"
"I know, can't trust much people these days, everyone is crazy. Get yourself a loving and red blooded like I did"
"That's what I thought, but not really a problem for me"
"It's ready to eat everyone !"
I didn't have lots to say, just elaborating the previous topics. I feel lighter somehow. I said my goodbyes and we went out
"So this is it"
"Yeah, end of the line"
"Know that me and Des already send someone there and we're getting some company. Come, I'll drive"
He got three, well... rebels , and got me to my car before we left again. They'r the kind of people you expect, vocal , anarchists and merciless and careless in violence. Between them there is friendship, even a sense of belonging but their actions are not what I like. At the diner the rest of them, my friend and the girl. Probably not going to see this place again but I told her we go watching a game and I'll return as soon as I can. At least I don't have to explain
"Thanks a lot, I could not have done it alone. Alright listen, prepare before we go. Friend here got vests and guns, Daniel what you got ?"
"A .45 on me, sawn off and pistols in my car. My guys got SMGs, 10 mils. Des where are yours ?"
"They went yesterday to check, they got the best I could get my hands on, molotovs and explosives. You got some dynamite ?"
"Fuck almost forgot it. What has your friend got ?"
"Anything you want to shoot with. Hey Aaron, you ready ?"
I am bro, got a revolver and pistol , i will help you"
"Thank you... Alright, we got assault rifles , carbines and more. Put your vest on, we leave"
"Let's fuck shit up"
"Ready to kill the authority !"
"Everyone ready ? Last chance" I say
"I'm with you man"
"You help me with the reds, I help you back"
"Let's move ! You guys with me, they go with Daniel. Show those fuckers we don't lay without a fight"
We arrived to the town, it's name straight from a yellow novel , surrounded by the countryside and just no sign of presence. A functional place like this, buildings, roads and even a sign for a station now empty. On the main road there is a truck parked near a catwalk and barriers with a diner in front of them, the parking lot in the middle all surrounded from grey, red and and empty structures. There was a guard post near the truck too, my guess is they are waiting. I park on the middle floor , get out and check everything again
"Where is the rest ?"
"Waiting, you'll see"
"Alright everyone. I'm taking the rifle and go into those buildings - he points the facing condominiums - and cover you. We split up and attack, even if you will not do it precisely know that war has a funny way of distorting the balance. Good luck"
Daniel, Des and their people hide behind cars and pillars while Aaron stays with me, the rest will be up or surrounding us. All grey, monotone, silent and lifeless this is the calm before the storm. They better be ready, can't afford distractions, we are against professionals now
I don't know how long it's been but the moment we heard the engines we knew it was it "They're here, let's end it"
From the lot I saw a car and now that I think about it, the only cars here look dusty but usable. What happened here ? There is nobody save for buildings and cars, like a ghost town, good to live in unless something made it so. From the unremarkable car stepped out four figures, the blonde and suited, two mean looking brutes in cargo pants and shirt and the last, a thin and suited man with glasses. Better be ready to die fuckers, coming our way ...
"Well look who showed up"
"No need to be hasty Mr Dean , you have company I see"
"I got someone watching my back, a brother , but you ? So much for the brave agent"
"They are my assistants, onto the point now. It's a shame really, you have done us a good service, unflinching and always ready. But as my job goes, it teaches us to cut loose ends. You have knowledge that must not fall in the wrong hands. Your acquaintances, your past, we know it's inevitable. You may come with us, or die fighting"
That's it "I want answers first. Why all this, who are you and what the fuck is happening next"
"We know of your curiosity, let me enlighten you. Our situation is bad, the government and us have taken measures for this since decades. Project safehouse or better know as 'vaults' to the public for example. Another conflict is close and unrest, resources shortage , communism and inflation , these are an effect. However in case of taken his is we will leave and Safehouse is one step to consolidate our theories, and protect some of our population. We will use this knowledge gained from them to further our plan, it may not happen before before I die but I trust we will achieve it. We are the Enclave and with our past , we will rebuild the future how it should be"
"But you know that 'should' and 'will' are different. And what plan, use the vaults as experiments to learn from ? Where are you going huh ? The fucking moon ?!"
"As far as you know it is a possibility. We have a pact with the vault tec, many of us are in the elites , and many of the elites are with us. Though someone else has more power. CIT , the army , and science foundations. We will survive and rebuild America , what happens next is unfortunate but needed to begin anew"
"Vault tec among the stars ... oh no you don't ! And of course you exactly know how to progress, taking the system that has destroyed this world to the next ! Can't you see ?! You will make the same mistakes ! You have let it go !" Still stoic , but the needy type is fidgeting
" ... it may be right, however we will correct any errors. The Big MT ? We did it, same as many things that count. We will win and make a better world. This is just a short recap and we have a lot. West tek , Mariposa, look at the situation. They have notified us, people much powerful than we are, a more global Enclave let's say. Then want ? Famine, radiations, war, we know this and this is necessary to begin the cycle"
"The more advanced the science and costumes the lower the morals it was said. Why would YOU be more deserving ? You dragged us to this point ! Humans will survive and you can't stop it !"
"No need to quote authors of dubious nature , we have knowledge and the test will tell more. It may come from above or below but it sadly will ... now are you -"
"I'M OPPOSING THIS ! NOW !"
As gunfire erupts I leap behind a car the moment they got their guns out, yells and shot echoing , I scramble around the car noticig the rushing agent looking for me and as he staggers I rush and tackle him grabbing the gun and grappling , I'm kicked off but taking the pistol with me pointing it as silence return. Minimal effort , yet I'm on edge
"WE FUCKING DID IT !" A hand grips my shoulder, firm and warm. It's Aaron
"We did it bro but I think is not over" A low, hurt and raucous laugh comes from the downed agent clutching his torso "Ha ... right it is ... not over, army is near and you, didn't notice ... hahaha, ha. God bless the Enclave... God bless -" His head violently jerks right and red sprays the ground, brains and skin following. The cause of it, Des, who proceeds to make sure they're dead. The mangled face of the agent, distorted and twisted , bloody remains of a corrupted entity now twitching, mouth agape and blood pooling
"Soldiers bro, take it !" Something cold and metallic is shoved on my hands, an N99. I didn't notice i let the other gun fall, a compact .22 , still not powerful enough. Shots around me , bullets and lasers, I take position behind a pillar and fire at the incoming masses
One, two, three, four, five. Not sure of the kill count as they stumble and recoil
Six, seven, they fall but keep coming
Eight, something hits my chest twice and laser scorch the cover
"THEY'RE COMING IN"
A loud rifle cracks over the shots and I change position following my friends to welcome the hostiles, hiding behind the ramp pillar
Nine, ten, eleven, tweve, click. Click, click, click. Fuck !
"SUPPRESSING FIRE"
Bullets impact and pass over me, two bright objects sail away from me, making horrible screams come to life, silenced by shots until it's quiet. I have no ammo and my hands are shaking, come on get up ! We need to leave !
"Fuck we lost two and more will come !"
"Don't worry Dan. How you holding up ?"
"Good. Time for the big guns"
Yeah , I get to the car hit by stray bullets and and take the bag, pulling out rifles, ammo and an auto carbine for me
"You ok man ? Now it's the hard part" He says loading the rifle
"Yeah yeah, Des where is the rest ?"
They arm themselves better like we did taking ammo and explosives "Waiting. Not over yet. You got shot" Touching my body armour I count four hits, I'm thankful this is the best my friend got his hands on
A rumbling and screech of tires and we split up, only five alive. The vertibird looms closer, big yet almost looking weightless and we shoot as it settles on a high rooftop, two more vehicles stopping and forming a barrier for the soldiers coming out and shooting back. Chipping concrete and bullets flying around, as I duck down two insurgents light up dynamite and molotovs, I focus on the rooftop , firing almost blindly to cover them, as one throws a stick is instantly shot as we cover them and ever more shots come from the rear
Something knocks me down, yet another hard searing and stinging sensation while explosions go off. I'm not very covered by the short wall and crawl to a pillar , no sight of the snipers
"Des ! DES !" He throws some grenades and turns "IS IT THEM ?!" He nods up, the have the high ground but what if they come inside again?! Even more screeching and I rush down clear view of the ramp and floor, shooting at an already shot vehicle hitting the driver and shooting more to retreat and get a grenade, fumbling with it it falls before I use it. That when explosions rock the lot sending shrapnel and heat and the fight rages on
I peek seeing flames and smokes from the car wreck, a wounded soldier shooting before being shot. From outside masked and and dark figures rush in, some bloodied and wounded, with bandoliers and explosives, that more of ours. Relief hits me hard while still being in battle , I give a thumb up and follow taking position when from a truck , a hulking, cold and grey figures along others in green , shooting with heavy guns
"POWER ARMOR APPROACHES"
The advancing hostiles shoot non stop, going on behind the armored figure and shields, some reading something in hand, suddenly bright orbs of fire explode on them creating a wall of fire and greenish mist. Fucking poisonous gas ?!
Coming straight out of it, a nightmarish flaming, imposing bastard and shielded men spraying lots of bullets with hate, the unarmored ones falling forward while more advance from the green tinted inferno. A loud hiss, two, my vision blinded and ground shaking, ears ringing
When I regain vision and hearing three still and bloody people in front of me, on the ground. Blood on my arms, shoes and ground, my hands scratched and shaking, chest hurting from just breathing , I take my carbine and watch and what were and are a mixed bunch as silence return. Kneeling on their friends corpses , promising revenge and fire. Still don't like them, from friends to enemies and now ... Death and war
Still shaking from the adrenaline high, we live, they died, couldn't kill us. Exhilarating and chilling I laugh, hard and feel something hurt
Until my friends come with a badly injured Des and both are battered. My cousin looks at me "You ... ah ..." He motions his face
"What ?" All the rest, and numerous group maybe at least a dozen turn, wounded Des passing out
"Your ... ah face"
"Yeah I have one so ?"
Footsteps behind get their attention aiming at him. My friend with the sniper rifle, far away stare yet angry , cut fatigues, winces when I turn "Ah ... and zombies wouldn't exist they say"
I can feel the stinging, heat and pain in various places my ear wet and something sticking out
"Fuck we gotta go"
Not really pressing on but aware of the injuries we get to the vehicles scorched by bullets, and put the wounded on soon making camp covered by the countryside flora. Med-x, stimpaks, bandages and pain and blood. We all shared it today
I had shrapnel sticking out of an ear and tissue followed by smaller ones on hands, a laser scorch on my side that needed treatment, bullets and bruises mostly stopped by the vest. I thank whatever made me live through this. I have a bullet scar line on my head too, will leave a mark but hey, chicks dig scars. Smaller chipped bullets and burn are treated, almost like a field medic did it, need to congratulate with them, still hurt to have things go through you and get patched up
We will stay here for the day then move on and leave when it's darker