America woke up with a yawn and a stretch of her arms. After wiping the crud from her eyes, she looked around for the beautiful redhead that helped her get to sleep last night.
Surprising though, Cassidy wasn't around.
"Maybe she went to her own bed after I dozed off." America wondered.
Stretching one last time, America got out of bed and dressed herself. Then she grabbed all of her weapons and strapped them to her person.
"Boomer!" She called. The canine was not in sight. "Boomer! Where is that dog?"
Heading to the door, she would look for her faithful hound outside. Just as she was reaching for the knob, under her boot she heard a splash.
Looking down, America saw a pool of blood growing from the other side of the door.
She backed up when more blood started to seep from the cracks of the door. There was a loud moan coming from the door and loud bangs and scratches as if someone was trying to get in. Then she heard them: the voices.
"killer, Killer, KILLER, KILLER!"
The blood that started to pool around ignited like oil. America backed up and fell on the bed. Her eyes were glued to the flames and in each one she could see a familiar face. They all looked at her with anger and accusation.
The flesh melted from the faces and became fiery skulls. They shot from the fires like bats from hell and began to circle her. America clutched her ears tightly, trying to drown out their hateful jeers. Their tempo increased by the second, getting louder and louder. No matter how hard she tried they just wouldn't shut up.
Finally, she just couldn't take it anymore. Taking Judgment out of its holster, placing to her head, cocking the hammer and pulled the trigger.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Hey! HEY! It's okay! America calm down it's okay!"
Cassidy tried to get the pour girl under control. The Deputy was flailing her arms around, shaking her head and kicking her legs. Cass grabbed the screaming woman's wrists. She brought her head near America's and just shushed her gently. When she calmed down just a little Cassidy let go of her and started stroking her hair.
When she came down from her panic attack, America started hyperventilating, which slowly was reduced to short, harsh, deep breaths.
"You're okay now. You're safe America."
A response wasn't given. She just tried to relax by leaning into the redhead's body. After a couple minutes passed America had calmed down.
"What happened? You scared me awake there."
"Nothing, just nightmares." America breathed. Her hand was over her eyes. Peeking through them she saw her faithful companion staring at her.
Boomer whined from the end of the bed. His eyes looking up sadly at her in concern from the edge.
"I've had nightmares before, America. Bobo the clown still haunts my dreams to this day. But yours? Only kind of nightmares that make you scream like that are like my Papa's."
America turned her neck and looked at her.
"You got demons floating around in your head girl. You wanna talk about it?"
America opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. When her heart stopped pounding a mile a second, she got off the bed and got changed.
"It's cool." Cassidy sat cross-legged on the bed. "I know it's not easy talking about that shit. Military family." America was actually relieved that Cass didn't try to push and that she didn't hurt the woman's feelings. "How long have you had nightmares?"
"Since the night the peggies attacked." She was surprised how quickly she responded.
Cass whistled. "That recent, huh? I'll be damned, no one would have been able to figure that out with the way you hold yourself."
"I'm tough."
"Hm! No one can deny that. Still though you should talk to someone. My Papa, and Pastor Jerome would listen. Hell, Casey too, that dude's got some weird history from what I've heard him mumble."
"What about Grace?"
"Mmm, she doesn't strike me as the talkative type. Listening sure but I think she has her own problems at the moment."
America nodded. There was a long silence between them.
"OR you could just use a distraction!"
"Distraction?"
"Yeah! Do something for you. Have an hour of fun, doing whatever it is you want to do."
"We're in the middle of a war Cass."
"I know, but sometimes you need to unwind. I'm not saying take the whole day off, just take an hour of your day to do something to take the edge off. Go hunting, fish, make a meal, fix a car or—"
"I've never been to the Clutch Nixon museum."
"Really? You want to see stuff about that weirdo?"
America turned around and narrowed her eyes. "I mean, yeah! The Clutch Nixon Museum, great idea. Though who knows what condition that place is in now."
"Still I'd like to see it. Didn't get the chance to when I first came to Hope County."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"We?"
"Yeah, I'm coming with ya today."
"But what about the lighters?"
"I'll get 'em tomorrow. Right now, this day's all about you."
"Well . . . I'm glad you're coming with, but Grace and I are supposed to lead an assault on the Sunrise Farms today."
"Then after that?"
"Um . . . I guess just fighting the peggies whenever."
"Then off to the Sunshine Farms then to the Clutch Nixon Museum!"
America laughed mirthfully. Cass had such an infectious attitude.
Boomer nudged her hand, making sure she was okay. The dog was the only one that knew she had constant nightmares. Sometimes he'd snuggled up with her during one of her nightly fits. She smiled and scratched his head, telling him that things were fine now.
America scrounged up all her weapons and fastened them to her person. She was about to head out the door until-
"Hey! Don't forget your Star Spangled Basher."
"My wha—" Cass held out the aluminum bat she gave her last night. The one decorated like an American flag. "Really? Star Spangled Basher?"
"What? It's an awesome name, don't you try and deny it."
Rolling her eyes, America took the bat and headed out with Cass and Boomer in tow. They searched for Grace and then headed back out into the fray.
. . .
Chandra thought she had the perfect life. Friends, a hard-working job, an adorable dog, property of her own, a loving husband, and a true God-given purpose.
How blind she used to be! All of that was nothing compared to the true God-given life she has now with the Project at Eden's Gate.
She had never known true happiness until she met the Father.
At first, she was angry with him and his whole "cult" as she used to call them. She still felt shameful of that. Eden's Gate was buying up a lot of property and were looking to buy some of Sunrise Farm's land. Hard times were on them and both, Chandra and her husband, Mike, reluctantly sold.
Little by little they sold more and more. The money was good, no it was great, beyond generous even! But it felt . . . wrong. Soon they were even selling their belongings to Eden's Gate. Mike was upset about it but seemed more content then not. She, on the other hand, was losing patience.
So, one day she marched up to one of Eden's Gate's convents and demanded to see the Father. No one stopped her and more surprisingly, the Father himself came to her.
She laid into him, shouted at him, cursed him, nearly hit him, but she was controlled enough to refrain. When she was all done, she was panting and Joseph just stood there, unfazed.
And then he spoke. Serene was what she remembered the most about his voice. He gently took her by the hand and showed her everything he was working toward. She still remembered all the smiling faces, the hard-working people, same hard-working people like her and Mike, but with more purpose. Not just working for a paycheck. So many people, happy and living freely. Joseph—The Father—revealed his vision . . . and she loved it.
Afterwards, life just wasn't the same. Life felt so unfulfilling without Eden's Gate. All the work she did felt empty, all the friends she had appeared lost and spiteful, even her husband . . . it felt like there was no love anymore. No true love, like what the Father or the Project promised.
So, she went back. Again and again, she returned to them, more different—more fulfilled. Her husband saw her metamorphosis and turned from her—he fought her.
She remembered there were tears when she dropped the worthless wedding band at his feet on the floor of their kitchen. She remembered hearing sobs as the man called her time and again, begging her to return to their meaningless marriage. She remembered the pouring tears as she shot Mike in the heart when he refused to join them or give up his remaining possessions.
A mercy. A favor really, to the man that once brought her happiness. False happiness, but happiness, nonetheless. Better he die now, then suffer in the Collapse. Unlike him, there were no tears. What did she have to be sad about? Her husband was in a better place and she had a true purpose.
The Sunshine Farms were once her pride and joy, now they were just a means to improve the cult. Admittedly, she was a bit sad the place would be destroyed in the Collapse, but she would begin a new life in the New World.
Chandra's reminiscing was suddenly interrupted. Someone shouted and discharged their firearm from over near the burnt house and trailer. She frowned, another sinner was in their midst. Trying to steal from the good people. From the Father!
"Yancy! Where do you got eyes on the target?" Chandra shouted up at the sniper on the barn's roof.
"I see her! It's Deputy Jones!"
Chandra's eyes widened on apprehension. "What?!"
"She killed Oliver, Ben, and Ralph—"
"Take the fucking shot!"
Yancy wouldn't be able though as blood burst from his forehead, making him go limp. His body crashed right in front of Chandra, much to her shock.
"Shit, sniper! Get those sinners all of you!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.
She knew what the Deputy was capable of. The gall she had to arrest her beloved Father Joseph. The nerve to defy the Herald John and even ransack his home. The Deputy knew no bounds when it came to fighting the Project.
Pulling out her .44 from her waistline, Chandra took cover behind some crates, along with some of her brothers.
"Why is that demon still alive after all she's done?" A peggie asked.
"I don't know, but she's not taking this place like she did the Ranch. The Project needs this food."
A peggie's head burst with blood, shot from the sniper's weapon.
"Fuck!"
They stood up and started firing at anything that moved. In their brief attack they saw only two people. The redhead granddaughter of that baby-killer Redler and the ultimate sinner herself, Deputy Jones.
The Deputy poked out of cover and fired her gun. One of her brothers fell dead and then two more from her helpers.
"Down! Down!"
They ducked back into cover.
"Shit! Who's fucking left!?"
"I think me and Fran—"
"AHH!"
Frank was taken down by Boomer and was being mauled to death.
"Frank!"
They couldn't help Frank. Not without getting killed by the hound's masters. His last breath was right after his throat was ripped out by the dog's jaws.
"You sons of bitches!" The peggie rose up to and fired his rifle in a blind fury.
"No, don't!" Chandra tried to warn, but the man was shot in the chest, shoulder, arm, stomach and head. He fell back bloody and dead.
Chandra was all that remained. She was starting to panic, her eyes and mind moved so fast she couldn't think straight. The only thing her mind could think of to do was close her eyes and pray. So, she tossed her gun down and did just that.
"Father Joseph give me strength. Let God smile down on me and give me the power to kill these sinners."
*CLICK*
Her eyes opened and she looked up at two women leveling guns right at her head.
"God ain't hearing you today, lady." Cass said.
"Grace, are we clear?" America asked through her radio.
Between them Boomer was haunched and snarling. He was ready to tear her apart if she made a bad move.
Chandra slowly reached for her gun but felt the cold steel of a gun barrel press against her.
"Don't even try it peggie. Drop it." Cass threatened.
Chandra glowered, but did as she was commanded.
*CLICK*
She turned her head and was now face to face with the woman that has caused so much turmoil. The soul the devil spat out to wreak havoc among the good people of Eden's Gate. Her green eyes burned like ethereal fire in the sunlight. The way she glared at Chandra was filled with so much hatred. Appropriate, considering how sinful the woman was.
Chandra was ashamed to admit it, but the feeling was mutual. The Father taught them that hatred was not for pure souls, but so many had died because of this snake in the grass.
"Deputy!" Chandra growled, unable to hold back her true feelings.
"Grace says we're in the clear." America told Cass. "Which means you're our only survivor."
That hit Chandra hard. All of her new friends, her new family . . . dead?
"FUCK!" She slammed the ground with her fists. "How many more of us are you going to take, huh Deputy?!"
America winced at that but responded in stride. "As many as I have to, to stop all the killing."
Chandra laughed. "That's rich coming from the biggest murderer in the whole damn county!"
Cassidy this time responded in anger on behalf of America. "You're the murderers here! And kidnappers! And mutilators! Paranoid . . . drugged out . . . hippie-dippie trash—"
"That's enough Cass."
"We're just trying to survive and help those see the true light. It's you lot who are stumbling around in the dark, killing a whole lot of innocent people without knowing the facts."
"The facts?" Cass chuckled humorlessly.
"Enough." America raised Judgment to shoot her pointblank.
Grace called though, interrupting them.
"What's going on here? Just shoot the mother-? . . .Chandra?"
"Hello, Grace." Chandra said dismally.
"You know each other?" America asked.
"She and her husband were the previous owners of this place. Till she handed it over to Joseph fucking Seed."
Chandra sprang up and got int Grace's face. The three pointed their guns at her.
"Don't you speak ill of the Father."
"Where's Big Mike Chandra? Where's your husband?"
"Ex-husband. My life belongs to the Father and Eden's Gate now."
"Where is Big Mike, Chandra?" Grace asked with more force.
The group was led by Chandra out into the fields. They followed a dirt road that cut through the crops and ended at a plot of land in the middle of the field. This area was called the Sunrise Threshing, where they would keep the shredded grain. There was a shack, a hay shed, a couple of silos and a garage.
Leaning against a bail of hay was Big Mike. Flies buzzed around his grey skin. There was a little bullet hole right where his heart was and the word "GREED" was carved onto his forehead. Judging from the smell and decomposition he's been dead for a couple days.
Grace kneeled down to look at him and sighed sadly. Reaching out she closed his eyes.
"You did this didn't you?" America accused.
"I did." Chandra admitted without a hint of remorse.
America grabbed her by the hem of her wool shirt. "Why?! He was your husband, wasn't he?"
"Ex-husband. And he refused to cooperate with John. His tithes were becoming littler and littler and he wouldn't even give up his custom truck. There is no place in the New World for selfishness."
"Friends turning on friends. Family turning on family. Spouses murdering each other in cold blood. And you people want me to stop fighting you."
As America continued to berate Chandra and Grace mourned Mike, Cassidy saw something peculiar at the corner of her eye.
A shadow . . . moving slightly on the shadow of the silo. She turned around and saw a peggie lying down on the silo with a sniper rifle. A red dot moved along America's chest.
"Sniper!"
Cassidy rushed the Deputy to the ground. Just as the shot went off, the round impacted Chandra in the chest who was accidentally turned to take the shot.
Boomer was barking in alarm now. Grace was on immediate alert and locked on to the shooter. Cassidy and America started rolling in the dirt, trying to offset the shooter. Singular rounds were shot off, missing the two just by inches.
Grace found her target and fired. The cultist's body rolled off the silo.
"You two okay?" Grace asked.
"I'm okay." America said breathlessly.
"Never better." Cassidy smiled while lying on top of America.
Boomer ran over to his owner and started licking her face, happy that she was alive.
They gathered themselves around the dying Chandra. The round went through her lungs and now she was choking on her own blood. Her eyes stared at the three women, tears streaming down her face. Then she died with a shallow breath. None of them were sure what she was thinking in her last moment. Maybe she felt regret for what she did? Maybe she felt betrayed dying at the hands of her fellow cultists? Or maybe she was just cursing the three?
"Okay, it's official. We need a fucking break."
"What?" Grace looked at Cass incredulously.
"A break! I don't know about you Grace, but that was a little closer than I would like."
"It's a war, Cass. Just another day."
"All the more reason we should do something fun!" She wrapped her arm around America's shoulders. "Which is why I'm taking this girl to see the Clutch Nixon Museum."
Grace looked at America, asking if she was serious. "Deputy?"
America looked down at Chandra's cooling body, blood was still leaking from the wound and mouth, forming a puddle.
"I . . . I could use a distraction, Grace."
Grace stared at America for an uncomfortable amount of time. A minute maybe, but the soldier had some piercing eyes. Just when the Deputy thought Grace would call her out, she was surprised to see her nod approvingly. Understandingly.
"I get. You guys go. I'll stay here and help the folks set up."
Even Cass was surprised. "Ya sure Grace?"
"Yeah. I'm sure."
America smiled. "Thanks Grace. Well, I guess we'll get going then."
"We gonna walk all the way there. I mean its not far, but it is a ways."
Grace chuckled. "Well, if you need some wheels . . ." She looked over at the Sunrise garage.
Opening the garage door, both America's and Cass' eyes widened, and their jaws fell open. Inside the garage was a beast of a pickup truck.
A 2012 Kimberlite TCZ with an amazing custom paintjob. It had a gradient color scheme that went from silver-grey to dark grey, with rectangular streaks of black all over the body, with the crowing detail being the glaring blue eagle on the side. Behind the eagle head were three bands of bold blue that stretched over the tailgate, representing wings.
"You may as well go out in style. I'm sure Big Mike wouldn't mind you taking it."
. . .
America, Cassidy and Boomer took the truck, that they lovingly dubbed: Blue Eagle and drove out to the museum.
The place was a typical one-story building, the color of marble, and had the sign "Clutch Nixon Museum" in big bold letters right over the main door. Red, white, and blue American motif decorated almost every inch of the place, but what really made it stick out, was the ten-foot statue of Clutch Nixon himself, standing out front for all to see, dressed in his daredevil uniform with sparklers spraying out around him.
As they got closer the two resistance members could see a couple of peggies beating the crap out of a black man.
"Well, now that just doesn't seem nice."
"No, Cass." America spun the cylinder of her gun. "Not nice at all." Poking out of the window, America fired Judgement, killing the closest peggie.
Cass picked up the speed and rammed right into the startled second peggie. He was dead on impact.
They got out of the truck and started helping the injured man.
"Oh, thank you. Thank you, for assisting me."
"Our pleasure, sir." America said, cutting his binds.
"You must be with the Resistance." His eyes focused on the deputy badge clipped to her belt. "And you must be Deputy Jones. Oh, I've heard so much about you."
"What's your name, sir?"
"Ah, where are my manners—Darrel Grammar. I'm the curator of this fine American establishment."
"You're a Clutch Nixon fan?"
"Oh, of course! Clutch Nixon is one of, if not the most, amazing stuntman in history! And the most insane I might add. Which is a huge bonus to me, I love psychologically unstable characters." He chuckled but then looked at the dead peggie bodies. "Well, except Eden's Gate, Joseph Seed can go suck a cock."
Cass put her arm on America, leaning against her. "We can agree on that. You'll be happy to know though that America is not just a peggie killer, but she's also a fan of Clutch Nixon."
"Really?" Darrel clapped his hands excitedly.
"Yeah. I was hoping to see his museum actually."
Darrel's mood did a 180 and now he was frowning. "I'm sorry to say, but, because of the cult, the museum has seen better days.
Darrel led them into the museum, opening the big red door, the whole place was completely ransacked. The walls were riddled with holes from weapons fire, glass littered the ground as well as a bunch of photos, papers, and paintings. There were exhibits where something would be displayed for all to see but were instead empty. They were big enough that you could drive the Blue Eagle into them.
"I'm sorry you have to see this place in such a state for your first time. I tried repelling the peggies, but they overwhelmed the place." He pointed to a couple of people lying by a wall, killed by firing squad. "They took all of Clutch Nixon's vehicles and paraphernalia. I can't even imagine what they're going to do with them."
"Probably dismantle them if not use them to attack civilians." Cass said offhandedly.
"OH HO!" Darrel cried.
America glared at Cass for making the man cry. She shrugged awkwardly.
"Mr. Grammar, do you know where the peggies took the vehicles? Did they say anything while you were their captive?"
"No, they just drove off with them. I have no idea where they could have taken them."
"Maybe Nick's seen 'em. He's got a bird's eye view of the whole valley."
"Not a bad idea, Cass." America grabbed her radio. "Hey Nick, ya flying around?"
"If I ain't with Kim I'm ruling the sky! Whatchya need Dep?"
"Have you seen any of the Clutch Nixon vehicles roaming around?"
"No! Don't tell me the Peggies messed with the Clutch Nixon Museum!"
"Fraid so."
"Sonsofbitches! Got no respect for history or culture!"
"I concur, Nick!"
"Hey, Darrel, good to hear from ya. Anyway, I thought I saw the Uncle Sam drive off but I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I saw it head over to the water reservoir."
"Thanks Nick don't worry we'll get it back."
"Damn straight. Oh also, this might interest you, I saw a black car drivin' around that'a way, it's heading in the direction of the Uncle Sam. It had a lot of Peggie crap all over it."
"Why would that interest me?"
"Because I saw it run over several peggies."
"Come again?"
"It's runnin' 'em over! Flattening them. Making roadkill out of any Peggies it comes across. I ain't never seen road rage like this dude. Everywhere it goes it leaves a trail of dead bodies."
"We'll look into it, Nick, thanks."
"Ten-four." He signed off.
"Well, Mr. Grammar, we might just get back some of Clutch Nixon's legacy."
Darrel practically hugged America. "Oh, thank you, thank you, Deputy. I can't properly express my jubilation. Whenever you get them, feel free to drive them around a little. I'm sure Clutch Nixon wouldn't mind a fan of his driving his vehicles. Especially if they were to use them against Eden's Gate."
. . .
Apparently, the reservoir was the location of Clutch Nixon's first stunt. The infamous, flamulous, Baptism of Fire. Where he drove his 1967 Kimberlite ZT all over the place while completely on fire. He would use the water of the reservoir to douse some of the flames before plunging the thing into the lake water. It was said that when he and his car emerged from the water, the TRUE, daredeviling, Clutch Nixon was born.
On the other side of the reservoir, several meters away from the glaring eyes of the peggies, America and Cass were looking through their binoculars. They could see peggies all over the place, moving green crates and barrels of bliss.
"That's a lot of Bliss." Cassidy said. "What the hell are they doing?"
America looked up and saw a couple of peggies haul out the bliss from the warehouse. "Looks like they were storing the Bliss in those buildings. They're dumping the bliss into the water."
"Fuckers. You see Clutch Nixon's car?"
"No and no sign of that black car Nick told us about either."
The growling of an engine suddenly caught their attention. In the distance they could see a dust cloud being kicked up and heading right towards them.
America and Cassidy got up and got ready for a fight. The black car suddenly skidded, kicking up more dust and drifted to a halt a few feet from them. America and Cass coughed from the amount of dust they inhaled. They had to rub the dirt from their eyes to see again.
When they regained their senses, they were staring down the barrel of a pump-action shotgun. Holding the weapon was a young man in his twenties. Dirty Blonde hair that was slicked back, but two strands stuck up on the side giving him the appearance of having little horns. He had handsome features, with blue eyes, a button nose, and chiseled jaw and cheeks. The thing about his appearance that surprised America the most was the fact he was wearing a Deputy's uniform, with a bullet proof vest over it, and the badge pinned to his belt.
"And who are you ladies?" He asked.
Before they could say anything, Boomer ran up to the guy excitedly. "Bark! Bark!
"Boomer?"
Boomer jumped on the guy and started licking his face. The man laughed and pet the happy hound.
"Boomer! You're okay, so good to see you—who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" The dog laid on his back as he received a belly rub.
Seeing the faithful dog trust the guy, the two women put their weapons away. Realizing he was being watched, the young man stood up and asked them a question.
"So, why's Boomer with you ladies?"
America was about to answer, but Cassidy cut in.
"Hold up! You come speeding down the road like some kind of maniac, throw dirt in our faces, point a gun at us, and then ask us who we are? How about you tell us who you are first!"
The guy actually smirked, which pissed Cassidy off more.
"I suppose that's the polite thing to do, mom didn't raise no neanderthal. James Heller. Deputy James Heller."
America raised an eyebrow. "Heller? Wait, you're that deputy that Hudson told me about. The one that's too much of a loose cannon."
"Hudson?" He gave her a once over and saw the badge. "You're the rookie! The one that took my place on the Seed Arrest."
Cassidy looked between the two in confusion. "What are you guys talking about?"
"I was supposed to be the one to go with Sherriff Whitehorse to arrest Joseph Seed, but I was kicked off at the last minute. So, he signed on the rookie instead."
"I was told he was too much of a hot head to be let on such a mission. Hudson said you were more likely to shoot Joseph instead of cuff him." America explained
"So what? Maybe if I was there to shoot him, none of this would have happened." James scowled.
"If you were there, you'd have gotten us all killed." America tested.
"Maybe, but then so many people wouldn't be suffering right now."
"Like you know that?!"
"You don't know that!"
"Enough!" Cassidy pushed the two apart and tried to keep the peace.
America sighed. "Who are we kidding? It doesn't matter who went. What matters is what we do now in the situation we're in." America reasoned.
James crossed his arms. "Yeah. I get that."
"So, what happened? After the cult started their Reaping. Where were you?" America asked curiously.
"I was at the Sheriff's Department." He reminisced. "Almost everyone was nervous about the mission. We thought Whitehorse should have brought more of us, but he said that he didn't want to spook the peggies. Figured bringing a greenhorn was a good way of showing them we meant no harm."
"Wouldn't have mattered. The Marshal was antagonizing enough to be his own army."
"Well, I think the real reason Whitehorse didn't bring more with him is because he wasn't sure who he could trust. Hudson and Pratt were always clean, loyal cops, but everyone else?" He shook his head. "An hour after you guys left, there were shouts, followed by gun shots. Everyone scrambled, taking cover, pulling out their firearm. Cops were shooting cops, and no one knew what the hell was going on."
"Nancy was a peggie spy. She praised Joseph from the radio after our copter crashed."
"Yeah, I saw her leading some of the other dirty cops. I tried leading people out, but Nancy and her backstabbers found us. I was shot and left for dead, not sure about the others, but I think some survived. If they haven't joined up, they're prisoners of the cult."
"John's got Hudson I know that for sure."
"I saw the vid." He continued. "I came too when morning rose. Found the whole Department deserted, bodies everywhere, the armory raided. Bastards even took my car." He balled his hand and pointed his thumb towards the car.
The vehicle was a 1970 Kimberlite ZZT. It was in very poor condition, chipped black paint, dry mud spattered on the front and fenders. It looked like someone had left it in a dump for years and only just now took it out. The peggies seemed to have gotten their mitts on it too because it was covered in their tags. The Eden's Gate Cross was graffitied in red on the hood and "WRATH" spray-painted on the sides.
"As you can see I got it back. Killed a few peggies to get it, but that was just a bonus. I call it "The Cultbuster."
"You might want to get rid of the tags. Nick wasn't sure if you were a friendly or not."
"Nick Rye? How is he? His family?"
"They're fine. They were in a bit of a bind yesterday, but I helped them."
"America here's been a huge influence. She liberated Fall's End, found Grace Armstrong, helped Nick Rye, adopted Boomer, and destroyed a lot of John's things. America's practically a hero." Cass praised, making the girl bashful.
"Falls' End? Is . . . is Mary May alright?"
"Yeah. She's helping lead the Resistance." America answered.
"Heh, of course she would. That woman's a spitfire."
"You've obviously been around, Heller. Where've you been?"
"Fightin' the cult just like you. Though I guess not on the same scale. Been tracking down the cult's Bliss stashes. That stuff empowers them, a shit ton of it in the Henbane. My latest intel told me the cult's got a huge stash here at the reservoir."
"Your intel was right." America offered her binoculars. James took them and looked through the lenses. "The peggies are all over the place, getting ready to dump their loads."
"Is that why you guys are here?"
"Not quite, though we're going to destroy them regardless."
"Our original goal was to get back Clutch Nixon's muscle car." Cass said.
"Those bastards raided the Clutch Nixon Museum?! Oh, now that's too far." He stormed off toward his car.
"Did you have a plan for taking them on?"
"Yep!" He popped the trunk open and started fishing around. America walked around and saw the whole thing filled with weaponry. "Gonna go in there, guns blazing, and destroy all that bliss."
"That's your plan? You're just gonna wing it?! Are you crazy?"
"It's worked out well so far." He pulled out and AK-47 and looked it over. "If you want, I could use a fellow Deputy watching my back." He held out the AK to her. "Come on, Rookie, walk a little on the wild side."
Looking at the gun, America sighed and took it. She turned to Cass. "You stay back in case we need our asses pulled out of the fire."
"Aye aye." The redhead saluted mockingly.
"WOO! Let's do this! Hop in Deputy."
They got in the car, James turned the key and started the ignition. Not even a second after it started, James shifted the stick and shot off like a bullet. America was pushed into her seat by the force of the speed and she nervously put on her seatbelt. As they neared the construction site, James was fiddling around with the radio, his eyes taken off the road.
"James! The road!" She said nervously.
"Just a second. I'm finding my jam."
"James!"
"Ah, here we are." He turned up the volume so everyone could hear it.
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
"Let's ride!"
The Cultbuster sped up another ten miles and plowed into two cultists. The entire site was in a frenzy now, they tried shooting the speeding muscle car. It was so fast though, they barely had time to aim and they missed. All the while, James kept crashing into the crates of bliss, making them explode into green dust.
Black Betty had a child (Bam-ba-Lam)
The damn thing gone wild (Bam-ba-Lam)
She said, "I'm worryin' outta mind" (Bam-ba-Lam)
The damn thing gone blind (Bam-ba-Lam)
I said "Oh, Black Betty" (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
"Protect the bliss!" A peggie shouted.
James crashed into another stack of bliss tanks. "What are you waiting for Rook? Fire at will!"
"This is fucking crazy!" She rolled down the window and fired the AK-47. It was hard to see since they were moving so fast and kicking up a lot of dust, but all she had to do was spray and pray and 8 times out of 10 she hit something.
Oh, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
She really gets me high (Bam-ba-Lam)
You know that's no lie (Bam-ba-Lam)
She's so rock steady (Bam-ba-Lam)
And she's always ready (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
"YEEHAW!" James ran over more peggies, shattering their skeletons on impact. Fresh blood coated the dry dirt on the Cultbuster. He could feel the tires crunch the bastards right under him as the car hitched. A peggie got launched onto the windshield, the impact split his head open. James just clicked the windshield wipers and fluid to clean it off and knock off the peggie. Every time he hit a bliss tank, there was a small explosion that made his teeth rattle. He loved it!
America fired her assault rifle at any strays she could see. Several bursts got a peggie in the head, another in the chest, crippled a third, which James ran over, two more shot in the head, and she was pretty sure she got one guy in the arm, he bled out.
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
She's from Birmingham (Bam-ba-Lam)
Way down in Alabam' (Bam-ba-Lam)
Well, she's shakin' that thing (Bam-ba-Lam)
Boy, she makes me sing (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty
Bam-ba-lam
"That's all the bliss tankers. Let's clean house." He pulled out a .44 Magnum and rolled down the window.
He drove the Cultbuster to the center of the construction yard and drift spin it. The two pointed their weapons outside and fired at anything wearing white. Many peggies fell to the onslaught of bullets, while others were hit and broken by the out of control muscle car.
The last of the peggies tried fighting back, but they were blinded by the dust clouds the Cultbuster produced and were coughing uncontrollably. Making them even easier targets for the two law enforcers.
The Cultbuster finally came to a stop when all the peggies were dead.
"We get 'em all?"
"YAAAAAAHHHH!"
A single peggie ran up and fired a shotgun at the windshield. He was surprised to see the pellets were stopped by the glass. The peggie looked sheepishly at the two Deputy's and slowly put down his shotgun and lift his arms in surrender.
"Nope." He fired his magnum. "Now we got 'em all."
When the coast was clear, Cassidy drove down in the Blue Eagle with Boomer. America and James were standing near the Clutch Nixon pedestal, looking out over the reservoir and saw a ton more of bliss tanks.
"That was incredible!" Cass cheered. Boomer ran up to America and started licking her face. "I ain't ever seen moves like that since the Dukes of Hazard and Fast and the Furious."
"Shucks you're making me blush. Go on, keep talking about my driving skills." James replied cheekily.
Cassidy ignored him though. "I'm glad we got rid of the bliss, but did you find the car?"
"Yeah." America pointed to an open trailer, showing the striped, red, white, and blue Kimberlite ZT.
"Man, that thing is so . . ."
"Cool!" America gushed. Cass gave her a "are you serious?" look "And I get to drive this back to the museum."
"Yeah lucky you." James said jealously. "But first we got to deal with all this bliss. Can't leave it out here for nature to handle or for the cult to come back and finish the job."
Cass looked down in the reservoir. Still a lot more bliss to deal with. "That's a lot of bliss. You just gonna run it over like the rest?"
"Yes." James said slightly annoyed, but not at her question. "That's what the rookie and I were discussing. We don't want that stuff getting into the water. So just running it over may not help. However, the stuff is highly flammable . . ."
"So . . . you're gonna burn it?"
"Kind of." James looked pensively at the Deputy who had stars in her eyes from looking at the Uncle Sam.
"Oh no."
A Few Minutes Later
"This is nuts." Cassidy said.
"I agree, Rook. No one's done the Baptism of Fire since Clutch Nixon himself."
"That is until today!" America revved up the Uncle Sam's engine. It purred like a lion, loud and beautiful.
"And you ladies call me crazy." James muttered.
"Give me a countdown!"
Cass and James looked at each other before obliging.
"3, 2, 1, GO!"
America tossed a lit match and the alcohol they dumped on the car ignited. America sped off into the reservoir.
"Woo! Look at her go!" James commented.
Uncle Sam's tires kicked up a lot of dirt. America was surprised by the amount of power in the old car's engine. Already she nearly lost control a couple of times, it was difficult to keep the machine on road. Like trying to keep a wild horse from bucking off the rider. But her nervousness shifted more to the continuing engulfing flames.
Thankfully, splashes from running over some of the deep puddles kept some of the flames at bay.
She braced as she collided with the first set of bliss tanks. The car jerked from both the impact and the small bliss-explosion. Amazingly, the car was in good condition, hardly a bump or chip of paint. Adrenaline rushing through her veins now, America pressed the gas and went faster.
James, Cassidy and Boomer couldn't help but be filled with excitement. They saw the Deputy swerve on the dirt and hit every bliss tank in her path. The fire was spreading more and each time she hit the tanks, they exploded in bursts of fire, with the bliss dust disintegrating on contact. Then she would hit a large puddle and a bit of the fire would be doused.
The Uncle Sam surfed over a hill and ran over a few bliss barrels, which were like fire works when she ran over them, creating a loud "Bang" sound. Like giant noise makers.
She drifted and headed for a ramp. The Uncle Sam flew through the air, over a hill and crashed into a plethora of bliss crates, creating a bigger explosion then expected, but the car and America were still fine.
From a distance the car looked like a bonfire on wheels. America drove the Uncle Sam back to the construction site, circled around it and headed straight for the highest ramp.
Feeling the heat all around her, America pressed the peddle all the way to the floor. She hit the ramp, flew far and high into the air, looking like a burning comet and plunged into the lake.
James, Cassidy, and Boomer ran to the lake's edge and looked for any sign of America.
"Uh, I don't know much about Clutch Nixon, did he himself come out of the water at the end? Or did his whole car come out?" Cassidy asked.
But like a mighty sea creature, the Uncle Sam crept out of the lake and stopped right in front of them. Water poured and dripped off every inch of the daredevil car. The driver door opened, releasing gallons of water and even a few lake trout.
America stepped out with an astonished look on her face. She was just as soaked as the car.
"America? Sweety? Are you okay?"
At first she didn't say or do anything. Then the grace of a mad smile crept up on her lips.
"I have been reborn."
. . .
After dealing with the remaining bliss at the reservoir, the group returned to the Uncle Sam to Darrel, who was so happy to see it he balled. He questioned why it was soaking wet and had some scorch marks. America explained and instead of being upset such a historical treasure was used recklessly, he was thrilled that someone else had performed Clutch Nixon's Baptism of Fire . . . and lived!
America promised the curator protection and called Fall's End to send some people over to the museum. For their help and for committing such a dangerous stunt, Darrel gifted America a cassette tape of Clutch Nixon's theme song.
The group then headed back to Fall's End. James was surprised to see the town in such a thriving state. People walked around doing whatever they could to help their fellow man. His face seemed to glow when he saw the Spread Eagle's neon sign. A lot of people greeted the Deputy there, with some recognizing James and welcomed him. When the two women and dog walked in he stayed behind for a few seconds longer before going in.
"Mary! Couple of beers please."
"Sure thing, Deputy! I gotta say, you never shirk for—" The blonde bartender stopped when she saw James stand near the doorway.
The man seemed bashful as he looked at Mary, he fidgeted with his cowboy hat, whereas Mary just seemed really surprised.
"Hey, Mary."
"Hey, James."
The bartender went around the counter and hugged the deputy. He was surprised at first, but then he returned the hug.
"I'm glad to see you're alright, James." Then Mary slugs him in the arm. "Where have you been, jackass?!"
James rubbed his arm. "I've been out fighting the cult!"
"So have we!" She hit him again and again. "And the cult would have won if it weren't for America here!" She pointed to the rookie cop.
James looked at America, then back at Mary. "I'm sorry, I wasn't here. Giving you an excuse won't cut it, but please know that if I could have been here, I would have."
Mary frowned still, but her face softened, and she nodded understanding.
"I know you would've James. You're too headstrong to not jump into the fire first." She punched his shoulder again, this time a bit more lightly. "I am happy to see you're alright."
"And I'm happy to see you're alright too, Mary." They both smiled at each other. "So, can I have some of Casey's famous flapjacks?"
Mary laughed, America smirked warmly, and Cass muttered "Men" under her breath.
"Come on, take a seat. You must not have had a proper meal in ages."
"Not from your five-star restaurant."
"Fuck you and thank you. You gals want something?"
"Yes, ma'am." America said.
Mary took all their orders and handed them over to the sole cook of the Spread Eagle, who quickly got to work on creating the food for the hero of Fall's End and her companions. James took a seat next to America and waited for his food, just like the others. Mary went off to take orders from other people.
"You two sure know each other well." Cass said, looking past America to look at the other deputy.
"Mary and I go way back. Went to school together, hung out together."
"Date each other?" America suggested coyly.
"Eh, once upon a time."
"What happened?"
"Fuckin' cult. Her Ma died, then her brother joined them, her Pa followed suit, then I heard her younger brother kicked it just a few weeks ago."
"Shit." Cass said surprised by the amount of death in the Fairgrave family now.
"Yeah. After all that she just wasn't interested in a relationship anymore. I pushed to keep us together, but she wasn't having it." His eyes followed the blonde around the bar and smiled. "This is the happiest I've seen her in a long time. Thanks for helping her Rookie."
America smiled. "Just doing my job."
Cass elbowed her. "You are such a goodie-two-shoes."
A bell rung, followed by Casey yelling "Order up!"
The three enjoyed a good hot meal.
Half an hour later America split from her friends and headed toward the local church. Boomer was the only one who refused to leave her side.
Church was a major thing in her life. Both her parents were always busy, leaving her to her own devices, but her Dad was around enough to take her to church. As a child she didn't see what the big deal was. Her dad taught her the importance of religion. Of faith, believing in something bigger then yourself and if not that, then at the very least taking in the good message to heart.
Getting older she found the bible's stories to be interesting and inspiring in some ways. As troubled as she was in her youth, she never lost her belief in God, nor did she ever let it rule her. Her dad taught her to respect the word, her mother, when she was around, taught her to question it. The bible was thousands of years old. Long enough for evil men and women to corrupt it over time, to bend God's word and the people to their will. Just like Joseph Seed.
Before entering, America shook off her dark thoughts of the Father, not wanting to bring her own evil into the House of God.
Inside, beds were laid out for the people who were injured. Down below she could hear rustling and talking, the people that couldn't fight, like the elderly or the children were kept safe and hidden under the church. Away from the cult and the war. It made her sad how many children had to experience this. How many of them lost family and friends and homes?
'Just another thing to be angry at the Seeds for.'
Dark thoughts crept into her head again, so she shook them off. Jerome had set up the cross again behind the plinth. Bowing her head, putting her hands together, America started to pray.
'Dear Lord, watch over Grace, Cass, Nick Rye and his family, Mary May, Pastor Jerome, and James. Protect them from the wiles and evils of the Seed family as you have me. Give me the strength as you did my mother and father when hard times called upon them. Guide my path as I continue on my journey to fight evil and protect the innocent of this valley.'
"Amen."
"Hello, Deputy Jones."
America spun around and saw the Pastor walk towards her, the good book still in hand.
"Pastor Jerome." She greeted back.
Boomer walked up to the Pastor excitedly, to which he received a nice head scratch.
"Sorry if I was interrupting your prayers. Nice to see even after all you've witnessed, that you haven't lost your faith."
"You weren't interrupting. And if I let people like Joseph and his cult shake my belief, then they've already won."
"You have a strong spirit, America. Undaunting."
"Thank you, Pastor. I'm just trying to stay strong for everyone."
"And we more than appreciate it. But you know it's okay to be vulnerable at times too?"
"Um, yeah. Of course."
"Grace came by, said that you and Cass went off to see the museum."
America was seeing something forming in the conversation and she was quick to get out of it.
"Yeah, it was fun. Listen Pastor, it's always nice to talk with you, but I have other things to do today." Going around him, she tried to leave.
"I know about your nightmares, America."
America stopped dead in her tracks and looked at the Pastor. "How did—who told—"
"No one. Grace hinted a little, but she stayed quiet. You however just gave it away."
America deflated. "It's nothing Pastor Jerome. Just nightmares. Dreams that can't hurt me."
"Oh, but they can, America. I should know, I've had them before. Remember, I served in the Gulf War?"
She rubbed her arm, looking away. "Yeah."
"Listen, we don't have to talk now. You're obviously too concerned about a lot of other things, but don't try to bottle this up America. Unchecked, these dreams could have serious repercussions."
"I . . ."
Suddenly her radio crackled to life. "Hello? Hello?! I hope this is the right frequency. My name is Alex, I'm the leader of a group of survivors that escaped Eden's Gate. The cult has us pinned down at a homestead called Steele Farm. We need back up. I repeat: we need back up!"
"Pastor Jerome, do you know where this Steele Farm is?"
"Yes. It's a little ranch far northwest from here. Get James, he can guide you."
"Thanks, Pastor."
America rushed out and collected her posse. Despite the urgent situation, Jerome was still worried about the Deputy. When she returns, he intended to push more for her to speak up.
. . .
Alex fired his assault rifle at the peggies and quickly ducked back into cover. Him, his friend Hannah, and several other escapees of the cult held out in the garage at some small farm. He had managed to get his hands on a radio and contact the one person he hoped could help.
They had come from the north, from the Whitetail Mountains, after hearing about a safe haven in Holland Valley. They had heard stories about a Deputy who not only escaped the cult's clutches but was putting up a hell of a fight. Even going so far as to challenge one of the Heralds.
The thought of John Seed pissing his pants in anger made Alex smile. It was wiped away when a torrent of bullets nearly hit his head.
"Alex, are you alright?" One of the survivors asked him in worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just barely missed me." He could have sworn some hairs were shot off.
Some of them wanted to check him and make sure, but continuing assault from Eden's Gate brought them out of their worry and back into the fight.
Alex had a strange standing with the people of Hope County. Apparently, they saw him and his friends as heroes for revealing the cult's actions to the world. Brining their intentions to light. As happy as he was to have helped, he wasn't so positive about it. He helped start a war, even though it was something that had to be done, but damn. Just how many died because they and the authorities pissed off the cult?
Hannah crouch-walked to Alex. His eyes were instantly drawn to the bite-mark scar on her face. Jacob's Judges did a real number on her. He felt ashamed for staring at it, but it was just so noticeable. He had his own scars too, from John, but they weren't as severe as Hannah's.
"Alex, I'm not sure how much longer we can hold out."
"I called for help, but I'm not sure if anyone heard me."
"I don't want to die here, Alex . . . but I don't want to go back to Jacob. I ca—I can't go back!"
He reached for her hand and squeezed. "You won't. None of us are going back to the Seeds."
"How do you know?" Her body shook in fear.
"I . . . I don't, but I promise you, they will not get us again. We defied these motherfuckers once, we can damn well do it again."
"Sinners Alex and Hannah." The peggie squad leader declared. "You have led a flock astray. You were shown mercy by the Father himself for your transgressions and you thank him by betraying him yet again?!" He raised up the white bible that all peggies carry on person. "You deny the true path and you corrupt all that you touch. No more!"
From behind the group of peggies walked a flamebearer.
"Oh, shit." Alex said scared. He felt Hannah's hand tremble more.
"All sinners will be purged by the light of the Father!" The flamebearer declared. "Your corpses will be a message to all those who defy the Fat—"
*CLINK!*
*BOOM!*
The flamebearer exploded in a burst of fire killing several of his brethren around him. The group of survivors were shocked to see this and they were even more shocked when two vehicles came rushing up the road. One a black muscle car with peggie graffiti, another a truck with a mounted machine gun in the back.
They crashed into a couple of peggie and slid to a stop on front of the entrance of the garage, shielding the survivors. Out of the muscle car came James, armed with a modified 45/70-T. He leveled the weapon over roof of his car and fired at the peggies. Grace stayed in the back of the Cultbuster, opening the window slightly and a fired her golden MBP.
America was on the back of the pickup truck and fired the .50 Cal. Unleashing a storm of bullets that swept away peggie into death's embrace with one long arc. Cassidy was her driver and fired her AR-C, popping peggies in the head, just like Grace. By her side, Boomer was barking challengingly but he stayed out of the fight.
The survivors watched in amazement as the small group had managed to fend off the peggies. So many fell dead that many realized they were in a losing battle and started running.
"John! John! It's the Deputy again! She's come to save the sinners at the Steel Farm. We need the Chosen! I repeat: we need the—KHAA!" Part of his skull was destroyed by .50 caliber round.
Soon the peggies fully retreat, with the majority of them dead.
"Clear!" America shouted.
"Clear!" James confirmed.
"Clear!" Grace repeated.
"Clear!" Cass cried.
"Bark!" Boomer woofed.
America got down from the back and checked in on the survivors. "Is everyone okay?"
Alex approached and shook the woman's hand excitedly. "We are now thanks to you. We were very nervous there for a while."
"I'm glad our call got through." Hannah said relieved.
"America looked at the two leaders weirdly. "You two look familiar, have we met?"
"Ah! Not personally, but maybe you recognize us from our vlogs?"
She put the pieces together fast. "You guys were part of the group that exposed Eden's Gate!"
"Yeah that's us." Hannah said dryly.
"I thought you were captured by the cult?"
"We were, but we escaped and managed to save a few people along the way. We came down south for shelter." Alex explained.
"This is terrific. You guys came to the right place. Fall's End welcomes anyone looking for refuge from the cult."
The group began to mutter excitedly among themselves.
"Thank you very much. We could use a break. We've come a long way."
"I'm sure."
"Could be a tight fit though." Cass said, looking over to their truck and then at the number of people to transport.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry. We got our own transportation." Alex said confidently and turned to his followers.
A couple survivors pulled a tarp off a vehicle. It revealed a reddish-brown van, with gold decal. It was a 1989 Hierarch Wanderer. A rare van, to say the least.
"Okay, you load up and we'll get you all to Fall's End."
"Look out!"
The Cultbuster sped out of the way just as the truck was riddled with a hail of bullets from the air. It exploded from the amount of damage, forcing the people to take cover. America brought Cass close and shielded her from the fire.
Overhead a Chosen plane swooped down and past them.
"It's the cult's Chosen!" One of the survivors screeched.
"What are we going to do?"
"We're all gonna die!"
"Everyone shut up!" Hannah yelled at the hysterical people.
"Listen up," America quickly took charge, "we don't have much time until that guy comes back around. Load up everyone in the van and follow James to Fall's End. We'll keep you safe from the cult."
"You heard the lady, everyone! Move! Move!" Alex commanded.
One by one they all got into the van. Alex got in the driver seat and Hannah took the passenger seat. While Cassidy made sure all the civilians got in, America was on the horn contacting Nick.
"Rookie, the plane's coming back around!" James warned urgently.
They could hear the plane's engine getting closer.
"Alex, move the van!" America ordered.
He put the van in drive and got out of the garage just before the Chosen blew it up by dropping a bomb on top of it. Cass, America, Boomer, and a few civilians were thrown to the ground by the explosion. They covered their heads as debris rained down.
"Everyone get in the damn van!" America bellowed. The remaining civilians quickly piled in.
Cass hopped in and looked to America. "Come on America, let's go!"
"You guys go on." She replied and pulled off Falls' Ghost. "I'll distract the plane while you guys get to safety."
"What?! Are you crazy? You can't take on a plane!"
"It'll just follow us all the way back to Fall's End. The peggies got beef with me. They can't resist trying to kill me."
"Then I'm staying with you."
"Out of the question, I'll be fine." She slammed the door shut.
"Hey!"
"James! Alex! Get out of here!"
"But—"
"NOW!"
Both the Wanderer and the Cultbuster sped off onto the road and headed for safety. America saw Cass open the back door briefly, before falling back and closing it again.
America turned and faced the Chosen. She quickly headed for the nearest cover, which was the trailer home parked next to the destroyed garage. The peggie's main gun fired, and America narrowly avoided the barrage.
The white plane flew over and America fired Fall's Ghost.
"Distract the plane, I said. They won't resist trying to kill me, I said. Fuck me, why do I have a death wish?"
The fighter plane came back around. With it perfectly lined up in her sights, America fired Fall's Ghost. The rounds hit the plane, its body, and the windshield. But none managed to kill the pilot. America quickly ran before the peggie shot at her again and dropped a bomb where she previously was.
She headed for the forest now, hoping the trees could provide cover and a hiding spot. The two streams of bullets barely missing said it wasn't working.
Another bomb dropped, throwing her back and disorienting her. Trying to regain focus, she saw through bleary eyes that the Chosen was coming back around.
'Shit! Get up! Get up!'
The peggie was about to fire again, but then he his plane was suddenly hit by a barrage of bullets to the side.
"Hello, peggie! I'm Mr. Death-From-Above!"
"Nick!"
Carmina chased after the Chosen, hot on their tail. That first hit was already enough to make the plane smoke and blare warning alarms. He tried to shake him, but the expecting-father was persistent.
Nick lined up his target and pulled the trigger. The gatling gun rotated and a second later shot the Chosen out of the sky. The white plane crashed a few meters from America's position.
She grunted a little from the pain and disorientation as she tried to stand on her legs.
"Nick, oh, am I glad to see you." She winced.
"You doin' alright there, partner? Glad I got here when I did. That peggie was on you like a fly on a cow pie."
"I'm fine, Nick. Just winded—urgh—and just a little bruised. At least the team got away to Fall's End right?"
"You bet, saw them just as I came to save the day."
"You're my hero Ni—ARGH!"
"Deputy?" No response. "America?"
America stumbled a little. She pulled out something sharp from her neck and saw a familiar dart with black plumage.
"Oh shit, not again." Too tired and hurt to fight the drug, her world started spinning. Through her blurry, star-filled eyes she could see a group of people surround her.
"America? America are you okay?! I don't got visual on you. Answer!
AN: For those of you that can't tell, James is actually my male version for Far Cry 5. Where America was an outsider who just came into Hope County. James is a local and knows almost everyone in Hope County.
For those of you that are Prototype fans, yes, he's is named after the anti-hero protagonist of Prototype 2 (how come there's no prototype 3 yet?). But I didn't name him that because of that. I named him James because I'm sticking with the J theme going on in Far Cry (Jason, Ajay, John, Jacob, Joseph). His last name is a bit of a joke honestly. At the start of the game Joseph points out Sheriff Whitehorse, is the white horse that brings about the apocalypse and after that he says, "and it was hell that followed." Heller. It was just too perfect a name, so I said to hell with originality and took the name for my male character.
Six more days until New Dawn arrives people! I'm super excited. I'm hoping to get out one more chapter before I'm busy playing the game.