Here it is chapter four of the legend of Grimm. I would like to thank my two reviewers for their time and compliments.
Caesar Vulpus sat on his throne in the large chamber of what used to be the city hall of Cedar City Utah but now was the palace of New Rome. He drummed his finger on the arm rest of the throne as he listened to the men in front of him talk about the expanding Khan Empire and what should be done about. The men couldn't see Vulpus face from the shadow cast by the ceiling of the room and the candles used to light the table.
"Enough for to day I think" Vulpus said his voice deep and raspy as he stood from his throne and walked down the few steps that lead to the floor. The senators all looked at the man that they both respected and feared. Vulpus was not any for his physical charm; his long blonde hair was gone now replaced by scaring and stubble. The once proud blue eyes where red and gave of a robotic like light, his lower face was covered by a rebreather device that kept him alive since his lungs no longer functioned well enough to process fresh air. His six foot four frame was covered in large amounts of muscle, the result of being a ruler who lead his arm from the front when ever possible and one that actually fought in the arena. His injuries where the result of being thrown into a fire by Joshua Grimm Fourteen years prior, though they where covered for the most part by the regal purple robes that some how the empire he had expanded managed to produce.
"Of course my lord, as you wish" said one man. The other senators followed his lead, stood up and bowed to their ruler and filed out of the room. Vulpus walked to a door on his right, the sound of his metal boots hitting the hard floor clanked through out the chamber like a cave. He walked from the doors and saw a servant waiting for him on the other side.
"You, bring me my daughter Antigone. I wish to speak with her" Vulpus ordered the man. The servant bowed respectfully and hurried of to find the rulers daughter. Vulpus walked along the hall and out the door at the end and on to a balcony. The moon was high in the sky as he looked over his capitol city that stretched out in front of his eyes like an ocean of light and sound. New Rome, a diamond in the rough as some called it. Cedar city was untouched by the war and remained intact for the most part. It had running water that was clean for the Colorado River, power from a sun and wind farm that was built by the original settlers from the local vaults.
"Such a city but still it is not enough" Vulpus said to himself aloud. The noise of the door opening drew his attention causing him to turn to see his daughter Antigone. She bowed to who she knew as her father.
"Good evening father" she said standing straight her long brown hair cascading down her figure like a river "you wished to see me?" Vulpus felt his heart melt at the sight of the girl, though the daughter of his sworn enemy he loved her and her bright green eyes showed him nothing but love. Vulpus originally wanted to train her as a centurion but he decided that she should become his successor as time went on; she was very smart, beautiful, and wise beyond her fourteen years. Vulpus held out his arms, the young girl walked foreword and gave the man a tight hug.
"You are so beautiful my love" Vulpus said as the two separated and ran a finger along his adopted daughters cheek "Now come tell me about your day" The two began to walk along the balcony, Vulpus shortening his steps so Antigone would be walking at a comfortable pace for her.
"It was a good day father" she began "first I studied history with my teacher. It was interesting when we got to the NCR. After words I enjoyed lunch with my good friend Arrius and then learned about the city of Vegas, had dinner with the royal court and was enjoying reading a pre-war book by Charles Dickens. Ten you summoned me so here I am"
"What book were you reading?" Vulpus asked the young fourteen year old girl.
"It was called the tale of two cities. I am not that far in the book and enjoy I ominously" she said "if you get the time father, I recommend it"
"You said that what you learned about the NCR was interesting, how so?" Vulpus asked his girl.
"We preach them as our sworn enemy but they are truly not that different from us. They believe in having a law and higher morals, the make sure that their citizens are all free as do we. I don't see why we should fight some one that we could make peace with and have a mutually beneficial relationship with if we just put aside our past" Antigone said. Vulpus stopped and looked at his daughter, his eyes serious.
"The NCR is nothing like New Rome. We don't enforce our will on people nor do we tax them dry" Vulpus said "we hold ourselves to being honest while they are corrupt. We have honor and they lack any what so ever"
Antigone nodded at the statement but in the back of her mind she thought, but that doesn't seem right to me.
"Now come it is time for you to get some rest" Vulpus said. The young girl gave him a hug, squeezing tight. Vulpus put the breather to her forehead, an action that they both came to know as that of when a parent kisses their Childs fore head.
"I love you daddy" Antigone said squeezing again.
"I love you two my dear now go get some sleep" Vulpus said releasing his girl and turning to face the city once more. Antigone walked through a door and into the palace, a voice caught her attention.
"He is not your real father Antigone" said the voice, one she recognized as Brutus. She shock her head and kept walking now puzzled by what the man had said. Brutus however kept along the hall and towards a flight of stairs. He walked down the wooden steps and reached the entrance to the palace and walked from the large double doors past two Praetorian Guard armed with LMG's.
"Evening sir" one said politely.
"Evening trooper" Brutus said as continued down the road at a quick pace. He silently walked through the streets, the people parted for the man as he passed them. The city of New Rome was raging against the dark of light with the neon sighs that pointed to clubs, bars, shops and other places but Brutus's goal was none of the places. He reached a seemingly abandoned building at the corner of tow streets. The area was dark except for light from the few functioning street lamps, the senator tapped on the door in a beat. The door swung open and the man quickly disappeared inside the room. He was quickly greeted by a host of other men that he recognized as senators of New Rome that, like him opposed the new casers rule.
"Has the meeting started yet?" Brutus asked one of the men.
"No but it will soon" said the man that Brutus had asked. The senator made his way to the screen that the others had gathered around and waited for a response from the device. A message flashed across the screen "incoming transmission". The screen was filled with a man who sat in a chair; smoke was around his face as. The dark night was visible out of the large windows in the room that he currently was sitting in; the moon was high in the sky. The man's electric blue eyes storied at the senators of New Rome with intent.
"Gentlemen it is good to see you again, we have much to discuss" said Jason Jagger smiling at the collected New Roman rebels.
Josh and Nikoli exited the Lucky thirty eight, it was now early morning. Jason had graciously given them the guest bedrooms of the presidential suite to stay the night. The rangers walked down the flight of the steps to the main street of the strip of Vegas. Its usual night life had dispersed or in some cases based out drunk in a gutter. One such man was currently being helped to his feet by two securitrons. The securitrons were Jason Jaggers police force across the wasteland; they served under local sheriffs to ensure that justice was served fairly and equally. The once fifty thousand strong army was decimated in the second coming of the legion, while the NCR military in its entirety was used to defend the core the Mojave was left open but the robot defenders protected the citizens. The force suffered many casualties to it from the legions year long war but the robots along with a hastily trained militia fought them back. Now the bots had returned to their original role as peace keepers, Jason had more lethal servants now.
The rangers looked over the PIP-BOY 3000's that now resided on their wrists, the devices knobs and dials made the device some what tricky to get use to using but once one figured it out they never forgot how to use it. The courier turned famous, or infamous depending on whom you where, ruler of Vegas had uploaded some useful data to help them on their quest to reunite the team from fourteen years previous along with six others to undertake the quest bestowed upon them.
"So what is the first step Josh?" Nikoli asked his old friend.
"First we go back to the wrangler and get our supplies and make a run by the gun shop to get some weapons" Josh said as he stopped his step as the gate to Freeside opened "then we go to the Thorn and pick up Jessie" The two men walked through the now open gate and through the guard post, the securitrons watching them the entire time.
"Have a good day sirs" said one as they walked out from the sanctuary of the guard post and into the concert jungle that was Freeside.
"Jessie was always the fighter, go figure he is a gladiator now" Nikoli said his words buried in his thick Russian accent "Always preferred knives and his fists to rifles and grenades"
"True, we did pull him out of some serious shit in bars more time than I care to count" Josh said smiling at the flashback of the good times with the hand to hand expert of the group, Jessie Owens. Josh was well versed in CQC, the hand to hand system learned by rangers, but Jessie was one of the few better but Josh out did him when it came to the quick draw. Jessie's skill with his fists and feet was a legend in the NCR military to this day.
The two men walked along the road always talking about old times, such as pulling Jessie off a man dumb enough to touch his current girlfriend or Nikoli's ability to unlock anything. Josh looked around when he heard quick footsteps head their way but only saw a single man that he recognized quite easily now. He had brown hair, green eyes and wore a trench coat that covered everything he was wearing and a PIP-BOY was on his wrist.
"Jack what's going?" Josh said to his friend. Jack stopped and looked the two over. His eyes narrowed at the two before he spoke.
"We need to talk now" Jack said in a vary serious tone "get to the shop now"
Josh and Nikoli looked at each other, eyebrows raised as if to say what the fuck? The two then turned to Jack, the man had a very serious domineer around him so the two former rangers fell in line behind him. The trio walked down the street towards the gun shop, if I don't get back soon and let Jess know im okay im a dead man Josh thought as he continued down the street in tow behind Jack. They group finally arrived at the shop; Jack opened the door and double check outside before closing and locking the door behind him. Josh and Nikoli grabbed a chair each and sat down facing Jack, Josh looked puzzled while Nikoli looked rather amused by the entire thing. Jack grabbed a chair and sat down facing the two.
"I guess I should start by asking the simple question" Jack said as he undid the buttons on his leather trench coat "What did Jaggers want?"
Josh was rather taken aback by Jacks question; Nikola's face went from amused to suspicious in a second.
"How do you know about that meeting Jack?" Nikoli asked the man who had become something of a mystery in front of them.
"I know because im the one who he called to follow you and lead a team to capture you" Jack said as he lay back in his chair, the SS stealth armor now reviled under his trench coat "and I want in on the mission"
"Wait you are SS?" Josh asked shocked by the new knowledge.
"Yes I am assigned to Freeside, Jason wants me to use my family ties to the Garrets to watch the casino and being the only gun shop in town now days since Mick and Ralph died I know who is buying weapons, ammo and how much" Jack said explaining why he wasn't in the field "but I no longer want to just sit. I know you need to get member for a ten man team to take out Vulpus. I am your number four, besides I own everything in this shop which is a lot of fire power and gear"
"True but what kind of fire power are we discussing?" Nikoli asked in his deep Russian accent. Jack smiled and stood up form his seat and walked over to a panel in the wall. The panel slid open to revile an electric door switch that he promptly flipped, out of nowhere a door opened in the wall next to the switch and Jack held out his hand.
"After you" Jack said to the two who stood up and walked towards the tunnel. Josh glanced at Jack before walking down the pathway through the lightless tunnel. They reached another door that the SS agent promptly opened and walked through. The trio was now inside a large storage area, weapons, ammo and armor lined the shelves and racks.
"Damn, Jack you been holding out on me" Josh said as he took a marksmen carbine without the scope on and shouldered it looking down the sight. Nikoli looked like a kid in a candy shop as he went from shelf to shelf examine each gun like a mother does a child.
"Well, armor is here as well. Most of its combat armor and the like, everything is in good condition as well" Jack said as he grabbed an assault carbine with a silencer, extended magazines and no stock that, just the buffer tube remained "go ahead and take what you want"
Josh looked around and eventually say some black combat armor that he picked up, the plates clanking as he did so. It was different from most of the readily available armor; it had full armor on the arms and legs. The tactical vest that rested on it was connected to the armor, and connection points for extra plating could be seen. Josh nodded his approval and quickly donned the armor, putting his jacket over top of the chest and his loose fitting brown pants over the leg armor. He then placed his special modded 10mm pistol on his hip, its familiar weight came as a comfort to the former ranger. He then started to browse the selection of weapons and ammo, he was always good with his hunting rifle so decided to keep that one with him. He grabbed a few reloads for it and placed them in some of the open pouches on the belt of the combat armor, next he put a few grenades in cargo pockets of his pants. His original selection of the unscoped marksmen carbine became his choice as he slung it up across his back, and loaded more magazines into the vest for his pistol and rifle. Josh looked over to see Nikoli in similar gear but his combat armor had the heavy plates attached to it that the Russian had managed to find in the storage room, he wore his long coat over the armor. Nikoli's weapons of choice were his 12.7mm pistol, a hunting shotgun that was currently slung on the large mans back and a 10mm SMG rested on his hip. The armors pouches and other pockets where stuffed with ammo. Josh smiled at his friend as he placed a combat knife in its sheath on his leg. Jack was busy putting ammo for the assault carbine that he had picked out in to the pouches that adorned the stealth suit he wore. He had also chosen a 10mm pistol as his sidearm that he placed into a holster on his hip, the three looked ready to take on an entire army themselves, and unfortunately that was the case this time once they got the rest of their team.
"All right lets get back to the wrangler and get what ever other supplies we need to get this mission going" Josh said as he lead them up from the storage area.
"I don't thank that will be necessary" Jack said "the Thorn is only a half mile away from here, I say we pack and leave tomorrow for Sloan"
"I agree with Jack, lets go to the Thorn and have ourselves before we dive into this head first" Nikoli said as the door behind the trio of men. Josh nodded his approval to the idea that Nikoli had presented to them.
"Okay, ill meet you guys back at the Wrangler once I go get something" Josh said. The other two nodded and the three exited the doors and went their separate ways, Josh went off down the street and hung a left while the other two head down their current street towards the casino.
"So, what's the history behind you and Josh Nikoli?" Jack asked him his tone showing polite interest. Nikoli laughed at the question, his loud laughter made people on the streets look at the two in a funny manor.
"Our history begins many years ago when he was six, I was seven" Nikoli said "we both grew up in the ghettos of the hub, no parents, no rules, and no future. We ran with a local gang of street rats for many years, we stole what we needed to survive and lived in abandoned buildings that could collapse at anytime"
"That sound like not much of beginning" Jack said as the two walked side by side along the street.
"No but luckily it got much better as time went along. We eventually got jobs and worked up enough money to live in a more legal way, no more running from the MPs" Nikoli said as eyes deep with nostalgia "Josh meet Maria, that's his ex-wife, may she rest in peace, and we ended up moving in with her family from the rundown empty store we had set ourselves up in"
"That sounds weird to live with your best friends girlfriend and the family to boot" Jack said looking perplexed as he did.
"it was awkward at first but the family managed to make enough room, we slept on couches for two year till we turned eighteen" Nikoli said his Russian accent covering his words like butter on bread "then the second war with the legion started and we joined the army, to get a future"
"And how did you become rangers?" Jack said as he held open the door for the Russian man.
"It started as a joke, Moui Droog" Nikoli said as he entered the Wrangler.
Josh walked at a steady pace back towards the Atomic Wrangler; he snapped shut a small case as he walked along. The formers ranger jacket was zipped up to hide the combat armor; it wasn't illegal but drew unwanted attention to himself that he didn't want. I hope see likes it, Josh said as he kept walking down the pathway. It was now midday, his stomach growled at him but the man had a look of determination as he walked. The door to the wrangler opened with a creak as he pulled the aged gate open and stepped into the run down casino. It was midday and already the place had many customers, some at the tables, others just there to meet at a relatively safe place to meet at. The reason most where there was to get lunch and listen to the band that was currently on stage, it played a song called "sex and candy". Josh went up to the bar; Stephan Garret looked up from the newspaper he was reading to see Josh standing in front of him.
"Where is Jess?" Josh asked the bartender.
"She's in her room, and no she is not with a client but she's been worried sick" Stephan said "I would get up there Reaper before she kills you"
Josh nodded and quickly headed up the stairs behind the bar and made his way through the halls till he arrived at Jess, and for lack of his own home, his room. He slowly opened the door, thankfully it didn't make a sound as he did, and he saw Jess sleeping on the bed.
Must have been a late night, he thought to himself as he walked into the room. He shut the door silently behind him and made his way to the dresser and began to take of his combat armor and put back on his shirt, pants and boots. He wouldn't need the armor till later anyway. His stomach growled, he glanced at jess and saw here sleeping still silently, she is so beautiful Josh thought as he looked at the women that he had fell in love with, he beautiful blonde hair, he couldn't see her eyes but she looked so peaceful as she slept soundly in the bed. It seems that some of us can find some peace in this destroyed world that we inherited, thanks a lot world Josh said to himself as he once again pondered what would have happened if the Great War never destroyed the world in one night. The ranger quickly dismissed those thoughts and head back down to the lower floor of the wrangler to get some food for his now roaring stomach. He sat down at the bar, Stephan Garret walked up to him to take his order for his midday meal. Josh listened to the band that played in the Casino, this one was different the song was sad. As the former ranger listened to the lyrics of the piece of music, it was a beautiful song. It fitted his life all too well at this point except he had a new lover; she is no replacement for Maria. I don't think anyone could ever replace her but I love Jess the same way I love Maria Josh thought, the song suddenly hit a fast part in the rhythm but I did little to serve to make the mood of the piece happier.
"Hey, Stephan what is this song called?" Josh asked him his voice flat.
"Its called A way to fall, the band up there wrote it about a first recon solider that was alive around the same time as the second battle of the damn" Stephan said as he placed the food that Josh usual ordered from the restaurant in the Casino "the mans name was Craig Boone"
"I never heard of him, but judging by this song he didn't lead a life of prosperity did him?" Josh asked the bartender.
"No, he ended up killing himself and the officer in charge of the Bitter Springs massacre" Stephan said. Josh looked at his food and began to eat his meal, he pondered about this upcoming decision he was going to make. This mission he could very well not come home from, hell if Jason pays this well I may just join his SS Josh thought but I think it maybe time for a more quiet life after this. Josh quickly finished his meal, paid the bartender and headed back up to his room to see Jess; he opened the door to find her still sleeping form on the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed; he looked at the women as she slept soundly. He brushed some hair out of her face that had fallen over it as she slumbered. The girls faced scrunched up from the touch, she didn't look her twenty-eight years of age. Her complexion was still that of a teenager and her skin was flawless, a rarity in the wasteland. She had only been an escort for the last six years, before that she worked on a farm with her family till it was raided. The only work someone like her could find unfortunately was as a prostitute, it was a sad thought but Josh had decided to change that for the better. Even if I don't make she will still have the money and home, the thought some how comforted Josh that she would e taken care of. Jess stirred finally and opened her sky blue eyes to see Josh looking at her a smile on his face. She looked up the man, his brown eyes looked fondly at her, his hair was getting to long and messy, and the rough beard on his face made him look much older than the thirty six years he had endured in the in forgiven world of post-apocalypse.
"What happened to you last night?" Jess asked him as she sat up, the over large t-shirt she wore gathered around her knees that now supported her.
"It's a long story" Josh said as he got closer to her "but I have time to tell it"
Jess looked at him an eyebrow razed.
"This better be damn good, I was worried you had been hurt really bad" Jess said.
Nikoli and Jack were busy in Jacks room packing up three bags worth of food, water and other essential items to survive in the wasteland for an extended amount of time. The bags held a good deal of food, extra ammo that wasn't in magazines. Canteens full of fresh water filled the mess pouches on the outside of the packs, along with the bed roll and the parts for the three man tent that Jack had was split between the three of them.
"Well, it looks like we are ready to go for tonight. I think that we shouldn't return after we got the Thorn later tonight, it would make us easier to follow or track" Jack said as he closed the flap on the pack to he was currently readying for the week long journey.
"Who would follow us, we would just look like mercs or caravan guards returning to some outpost or something" Nikoli said in his Russian accent.
"True but the first thing that Jason told us when we joined the SS is that you never know who is watching. In fact, I don't know much about this since I haven't been sent on a field operation for awhile, but Jason knows that there is something out in the world that the general populace don't know about" Jack said as he sat on the edge of his bed.
"What are you talking about?" Nikoli asked pondering what Jack had just said.
"Well, first off when we started we looked into what happened to the remnants of the enclave. Most moved west but where destroyed by the brotherhood of steel chapter in DC, we looked into the fate of these men. We found that they had vanished from the base that the remnants had managed to make, no blood, signs of struggle. We did more digging and found some strange things in terminals from the pre-war days. Most of the strange data made references to something, but it was never named, the thing that puzzled the SS, brotherhood, and Jaggers himself was that most of the information we recovered was found in vaults, banks and a private space facility that was run by a company called AERA cooperation" Jack said "We never found enough clues to begin piecing it together, so most of the SS and brotherhood began to send the forces out on other missions then theses data collecting operations. Jason will still send some out every now and then for it"
Nikoli looked at the SS agent perplexed, why would the brotherhood care or even work with the SS, so he voiced his question.
"Why would the SS and brotherhood even care about data found in banks, vaults and other places?" Nikoli asked him.
"The SS was created by Jason Jaggers to be specialized unit that only he commanded, Jason is a Brotherhood paladin, a fact few know. Jason and the brotherhood work together quite a lot, in fact the scribes designed and produce the armor I am currently wearing. The SS expanded and more entities lent support, for example the followers don't pay taxes to the NCR a deal that Jason made, instead they make the life support and medical components of the suit. This armor could keep me alive if I took a bullet to the heart for a few days, so I can complete a mission or get to a doctor. The gun runners made a similar deal with Jason, the man's influence has turned the SS from a brotherhood unit to what it is today, all in ten years" Jack said "we are Jason's personal elite force, and the robots are his army"
"Who will lead the SS when Jason dies?" Nikoli asked the agent.
"Well, many SS don't think he will for a long time. He has access to mister houses medical data, he could find away to keep himself alive a long time without freezing himself with it I believe he already has. He looked damn health for someone supposedly in their seventies, don't you agree?" Jack asked the Russian. Nikoli pondered this question for while; he did look quite healthy for a very old man.
"Yes" Nikoli said.
Jess sat next to Josh on the edge of the bed, Josh had put an arm around her as he told her the story. She had now listened to the story that Josh had told her, she beloved him seeing that he did have a PIP-BOY now and the notes on it proved what he said.
"So you are going on this adventure for revenge?" Jess said in an angry tone at him.
"In a way yes I am" Josh said looking down at the floor "but I am also doing this for my daughter, to bring her home"
"What home Josh? You live in a whore's room at a rundown casino in a ghetto!" Jess yelled at him "she is probley better off with the New Romans"
"No, this wont be our home when we return" Josh said.
"So you asked Jason Jaggers for money and a home for you and your daughter" Jess said as she scuffed at him.
"No, I asked Jason to give you a home and money" Josh said as he pulled something from his pocket, but Jess didn't notice "you see I need some one to be a mother for my Sarah, when she gets back"
"But she will have you Josh, her father" Jess said as she looked into Josh's brown eyes.
"Don't you think I realize I my not come back from this Jess, I could die and she needs someone to comeback to" Josh said as he stood up and then knelt in front of her. He opened his hands to revile a ring in a small case that he presented to Jess, I love you Maria but I love Jess to I hope you can forgive me for using your ring. Josh felt something I his heat that told him that up there Maria was smiling from where ever we go when we die.
"And so do" Josh said.
So, there is chapter four. Please, please leave some more reviews; they are seriously like writing fuel. Till the next chapter