Chapter 3: Locals and Firefights

Location: Hanover on planet Sera

Timeline: 16 A.E.

After KR-Seven-Zero flew off, we went through the gate and continued to search for more supplies.

Then Sam asked, "Cole, the Lambent are overrunning Hanover. You wanna call it a day?"

Cole replied, "We still got to check out the warehouse and, you know, the stadium."

Baird began, "Oh, of course. The stadium. You're not making a pilgrimage or anything, are you?"

"Hey, I'm just being thorough." Cole replied.

Then as we turn around a corner, we saw some weird yellow liquid emitting vapours, and I asked Baird, "Uh, Baird. What is that stuff?"

"Imulsion. It's a miracle fuel that was discovered before the Pendulum Wars began." Baird answered.

Ruby and I nodded and I replied, "Oh."

After we ran through it, I found Longshot Sniper Rifle and a small crate of ammo, then we heard gunfire from close by. We then ran up to the area and we came in contact with more glowies, which were attacking a settlement.

"Gunker!" Carmine shouted as he pointed to the named glowie.

I pulled out my Avenger and unleashed a bullet storm upon the said Gunker, quickly killing it. Then another Gunker showed up and tossed some hazardous yellow goo at me, but hardly affected me since the power armor is supposed to take hits like it. I killed it with my Avenger and after that, took down some stragglers.

After that, Cole yelled out, "All clear! Now let's go talk to the nice people."

"Yeah, I'm up for meeting new people." I replied.

Ruby said towards them, "Yeah, I haven't seen any friendly faces besides you guys ever since we got here."

Baird replied, "Yeah... can't wait."

Cole replied to Baird, "Remember, we ain't no different from them, Damon. We're all tryin' to get by best we can."

As we approached the settlement, a sniper bullet whizzed on by and made contact with Carmine's helmet. Lucky for Carmine, the bullet was deflected off of his helmet.

"Jeez Louise, what the fuck!?" Carmine shouted as he flinched.

"Whoa! That was close." I replied.

Sam yelled out, "Hey, check fire! We're on your side!"

Ruby asked Carmine, "Hey, Carmine, are you alright?"

Carmine nodded and replied generously, "Yeah, thanks for asking."

The man with a Longshot replied back, "Heh, sorry!"

Then a gate opened and a hooded woman with a Lancer walked out to greet us.

She said, "Well, there's a surprise. The armored wonders turnin' out to save us! And with a few friends in weird outfits and armor."

Me and Ruby looked at our own apparel and then at each other, then ended with a shrug."

Baird replied, "Don't you people ever try gratitude? Just to break up the friggin' monotony of sarcasm?"

Sam stepped up and said, "Don't mind him. Someone stole his teddy when he was little. Is everyone okay?"

The woman replied, "Yeah, thanks for the help. We owe ya..."

But then the woman look towards Cole and replied, "Hey, you're him, aren't you? You're Augustus Cole! Cole Train! What brings you back here?"

Cole replied, "Hey, surprised you remember me, baby! Just passin' through, looking for food. If you got any to trade, the Cole Train would appreciate that!"

I chuckled and muttered, "Even after years of war, I guess some things and people can never be forgotten."

Carmine and Ruby replied, "Amen to that!" with Ralphie beeping along.

The woman chuckles and replies, "All right, come on in. We haven't got any food to spare, but we might have something else you need."

Baird, Cole, and Carmine grinned at each other, well at least I think Carmine is grinning, and the woman replies, "I meant supplies."

Ruby was confused and asked me, "Why did she say it like that, Edward?"

I replied, "You'll know when your old enough."

Then we began to follow the woman through the gate, but she let us go through first. As Carmine walked past her, he said, "Good thing I wear a helmet."

The woman shook her head and followed us through.

"This way, folks!" the woman replied.

Cole then asks the woman, "Hey, we're heading for the stadium. Anything we should know?"

Then we started to hear people talking about Cole as we walk on by. The woman replied, "Well, it ain't empty."

Baird replies, "We kind of guessed as much."

The woman continued, "Let's just say that the boss over there ain't a COG fan. You might just want to take a detour around her."

Ruby and I turned to Carmine and I asked, "Uh, what's the COG?"

"Coaliation of Ordered Governments, or COG for short, is a supernational global alliance on the planet, aside from the Union of Independent Republics, or UIR for short. We're part of the COG as soldiers known as Gears." Carmine replied.

I nodded and replied, "Huh, good to know."

Ruby also nodded, and replied, "So, you're a Gear? That's cool!"

Cole replied to the woman, "Well, where there's people, there's supplies."

The woman replied, "Hey, you're the Cole Train! Maybe you'll be able to work your magic on 'em. Hanover is still your house."

We continued to follow the woman and heard other people chatting...

"Funny how there's a lot more Lambent around as soon as the COG shows up..."

"Must be their fan club. You know who the big guy is, don'tcha?"

"Yeah, but what's with the little girl in the red hood and the large armored man?"

"I guess looks can be deceiving, since they help them out with killing the Lambent."

Then Sam asked the woman, "So, what have you got for us, then? Shampoo, conditioner, a gag for my friend here?" as she motions towards Baird.

The woman chuckles and replies, "Nah, just ammo. It's out in the back."

"Now that's my kind of groceries." Baird replies.

I responded, "Nice! We could use some of that!"

As we continued to follow the woman, a guy said, "Wow! Is it really you, Cole Train?"

Cole waves and replies, "Hey there, how ya doing?"

Then Baird said, "Ugh. I wonder if they've got a bucket I can throw up in?"

I replied, "Hey! These people are getting by and surviving out here. I doubt their top priority is keeping this place clean as possible."

Baird huffed and replies, "True, I guess..."

As we continued to follow, a woman said, "Cole Train... Hi, Cole Train."

Then Baird finally asked the woman, "So... where did you get a hold of it?"

"Well, now, you'd be surprised how much y'all left lyin' around over the years..."

Then two men opened the door for us and the woman said to us, "Not much further."

Then as we went through, people began, "So! Cole Train is back!"

Cole replies, "Hey-ey! How's it goin'?"

Then another woman began, "I can't believe it! It's him! Cole Train!"

Cole also replied, "Nice to see ya! It's good to be back!"

Then the woman opened the garage door and saw a small trailer filled with crates of ammo.

Then the woman said, "There you go. All it's missin' is a bow."

Sam then said, "Michaelson's gonna be well pleased with this. Nice one, Cole."

I replied, "Hell yeah!"

Then Cole turns to the woman and said, "That's real generous of you, ma'am. We appreciate it."

"You are welcome, Cole Train." the woman replied back and then went back into the settlement.

Carmine began, "Yeah, seems your fans still love you."

"It's because my momma taught me some manners, son." Cole replied.

I said to Cole as I pounded my chest with one arm, "Respect, Cole."

Cole nodded and Baird got on the comms and reported, "Baird to KR-Seven-Zero-we got a bumper crop of ammo for pickup."

"This is KR-Seven-Zero, roger that. Uh, heads up, guys. There's some joker on Centennial Bridge taking pot shots from a gun turret. We're givin' it a wide berth. Suggest you watch your six as well."

Baird replied, "Oh, trust me, I'm on permanent guard around these assholes! Baird out."

I thought to myself, 'Huh, might be Raiders or something related.'

Then Cole began, "Okay! Next stop, Cougars Stadium! I'm feelin' lucky!"

Then Cole turned towards a man at the gate and asked, "Yo, by the gate-can you open it up, please?"

The man nods and opened the gate for us, then we saw Cougars Stadium, which was very large. Slightly bigger than the Amity Colosseum back in Vale.

As we exited through the gate, I muttered, "Jeez, that's a big stadium."

Then I heard Cole saying, "'Preciate that!"

Then Baird says to Cole, "You're so good with fans."

Then a stalk came out of nowhere and more glowies popped out.

Then Baird shouted, "Great! More Lambent. Still feeling lucky, Cole?"

I sighed and said, "Let's just take them out."

To be Continued...