Chapter Four
"Run goddamn it! Move!" I shouted as I turned and propelled myself down the rocky trail that we had been following. I spared a look back to see that the Talon squad, although they mistrusted me to a degree, were following what I said and were sprinting after me with all they had. Behind them was the large beast that was the bane of the wasteland. Standing eight feet tall with a set of demonic horns and long claws, it resembled an overgrown lizard but was more dangerous than an Old World black bear.
I turned back forward to push my feet harder against the dirt. I could hear the loud stomps of it's feet against the ground as it charged after us and I began to see it in my brain as it got closer and closer to the rear Talon merc.
"Everyone down!" I heard someone shout. Without thinking twice, I let my legs buckle and fell to the ground, sliding along the dirt. The loud stomps roared past me as the Deathclaw overshot us. I saw it begin to skid along the loose rock and dirt as it tried to stop itself and reverse it's direction.
"Move to the right! Run you sons of bitches!"
Pushing myself to my feet, I began sprinting to the right. My breathing picked up pace and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest as the stomping of the monstrosity's feet continued. I began to feel the muscles in my legs burn as we ran but I didn't dare stop. Looking to my right, I saw the Talon squad keeping pace with me, but not on purpose. Everyone was weighed down with some sort of equipment. The one with less equipment, the Talon marksman, was leading the pack but just barely. Hearing gunfire, I looked back at the squad to see the large set man firing over his shoulder.
"Shit! Jump!" I heard the marksman yell. Looking forward, I saw the gap just in time to send whatever power I had left through my legs and to the soles of my feet. Propelling myself into the air, I spared a glance down to see the sharp rocks of the edge of the canyon and to see a Yao Gui staring up at us. It might have been my imagination but it looked confused and startled, all at once. I also saw that our target landing spot was a thin, jutting out rock.
With a thud and some sliding rocks, my feet landed on the other side. Hearing too much sliding of rocks, I looked back to see the large man falling backwards from the ledge. Skidding to a stop, I practically jumped across the small amount of space to the man and grabbed his hand, pulling with all the force I could. It didn't help however, as I felt myself being pulled with him. Two arms suddenly wrapped around my waist and pulled on me as I pulled on him.
I could hear and see the large Deathclaw charging towards us, getting ever closer. Sweating, I pulled with all my strength. Finally, the big man recovered his footing and nodded a thanks. I turned to run, to see cracks forming along the edge of where the skinny jut connected to the rest of the hill. As the big man began to sprint off, I yanked a grenade from his harness.
"Run!" I shouted when the big man and squad leader, who I'm guessing was the one who helped me, turned to give me angered and confused looks respectively. They stayed for about a second before the squad leader nodded and pushed the big man to continue running across the hill. I heard the rock crack some more as it didn't like my weight but I knew that it wouldn't break by itself. Holding the grenade in a death grip, I waited as the large beast charged at me.
It didn't stop in confusion or anything like the movies portrayed. To it, it didn't matter if it's prey ran or not. Food was food. It's powerful legs seemed to rippled with every step. My goggles rested above the brim of my helmet so I felt the dirt and sweat begin to sting my eyes as I waited.
Finally, it leaped into the air. It intended on bringing it's feet down, hard, on my body as it had it's legs up to it's chest. Perfect. Pulling the pin off the grenade, I let it fall onto the crack as I dove away. Hitting the ground on my stomach, I felt the air leave my lungs as my hands covered my head. Holding my mouth open to prevent the shock wave from injuring me more, I listened as the hard thud of the landing Deathclaw seemed to shake my very being. What seemed louder in my ears though was the cracking of the rock face.
With a loud boom the grenade went off. The rock seemed to scream as it broke completely and began to tumble down the cliff. With a deathly roar, I heard the Deathclaw scraping at the rocks as it tried to save itself from death, or at least the loss of it's meal. After a few seconds, and some more thuds, I raised my head to look around. I saw the Talon squad staring back at me but that was the least of my worries as I rolled onto my left side, since my pack prevented me from rolling any farther, and looked at the cliff. Not seeing a massive Deathclaw staring me down with hungry eyes, I picked myself up and walked over to the edge. From the look of the crater it had left, it appeared that the grenade had actually worked it's way into a crack. That fact was probably what saved me from getting peppered by shrapnel.
Looking down, I saw the Deathclaw laying on the ground. Before I could even begin to celebrate, it shakily got to it's feet. After shaking it's head clear, it looked up at me with what appeared to be more hatred than normal. As it began to roar, the large Yao Gui slammed into the demonic creature and began to claw and bite at it.
I would have stayed. I would have rooted on the Yao Gui and hoped it would win. The only thing that stopped me from doing so was someone grabbing me and basically tossing me the other way.
"Come on rook. No point in rubbing it in," I heard a female voice say. Deep in my head, I knew she was joking but my immediate thought was that, that wouldn't be the last time I saw that Deathclaw. The thought was strange but I just felt something deep down that told me I would see it again in the future and that it would remember who I was.
After about a hour or two of hiking, I finally saw Fort Bannister in the distance. I was excited at the prospect that the journey was over and that I could begin the training that would inevitably take place. That excitement caused me to walk a bit taller and with more purpose, compared to before when I was dragging my feet and walking with my head hung low. Soon, my life was gonna change once more. I wasn't going to be Tyler, the boring, geeky teenager, or even Tyler, the random Wastelander. Soon, I'd be Tyler, the Talon Merc.
Sure, I knew that Talon Company were morally wrong and were technically the "bad guys" of Fallout but I had always wanted to see the world from their point of view. Besides that, it was in my best interest to join with them. Less chance of dying without a purpose in the wastes or dying from boredom in a settlement.
That was one thing that had always scared me the most. Dying without a purpose. I had always told my friends that if I was walking one day and had a piano randomly fall on me, that I would die being one very pissed off person. However, I also told them that I would die with contentment if I had lost my life in protecting, or saving, another person's life.
I was brought out of my thoughts by the barking of dogs and the yelling of his 'escort' squad's leader.
"Shut that dog up! He's with us!"
I looked around, finally noticing that we had actually entered the above ground section of Fort Bannister. I was almost overflowing with excitement but my body held it in.
It's the "Eleventh Hour" Tyler. Keep your cool. If they notice how much you know about this place, they'd likely put a bullet in your head than and there.
Swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat, I looked to the angered dogs and back to the other woman of the squad that brought me here.
"Pretty beat up camp," I commented, hoping that my voice was casual. Looking around, I could see the perimeter guards around the base. In a clear, flat area was a platoon doing calisthenics in their gray bodysuits and black boots. I could hear their Platoon Leader, a Lieutenant if their ranks went the same as the military, calling out cadence as the platoon pumped out jumping jacks.
"It gets even better rook," she replied slapping my lone pauldron. I looked to her to see her motioning me to follow. Walking with her, I came upon a crater in the middle of a crumbled building. In the center of the crater was a green army tent with a generator light outside of it and a Talon Merc armed with an American R91 Assault Rifle guarding it.
"New recruit?" the guard asked, looking me over as my escort made me stop in front of him.
"Yep."
"He seems a bit more... prepared than the usual recruit," the guard replied. This caused a small smile to form on my lips, which were exposed since I had pulled my face mask down to around my neck.
"I would be more prepared if I had my assault rifle with me still," I commented, shrugging some. The guard just seemed to give me a look,
"What happened to it?"
"Well-"
"Crazy bastard used it to block a Super Mutant's sledgehammer strike," I looked back to see the big man standing behind us. Before I could say anything, he continued, "He than tried to take on the bastard with a combat knife before he got-"
"Almost won," tossed in my female escort with a smirk being directed my way. The big man nodded,
"Right. He almost won. Was wrapped around the thing's neck and stabbing it in the eye. That was until another one came up and tossed his ass like he weighed little more than a pebble."
"Damn," commented the guard, giving me a another lookover, "Well, Crazy Bastard, it looks like you came to the right place."
I gave a small chuckle before motioning to the two Talons whose squad I had tagged along with, "Just remember to ask them how I saved their asses from a Deathclaw."
A large hand shoved my shoulder, making me take a step forward to keep from falling on my face.
"Don't get too full of yourself," warned the large man. The guard just seemed confused but shrugged it off as he motioned us inside.
"Hurry up and get him to the Green Pen. I think he'll be one of the last to show up."
I saw the woman nod before ushering me into the tent. Entering the tent, all I saw was a manhole jutting from the ground. After a nod from the woman, I pried off the manhole cover and began to climb down the ladder. Reaching the bottom, I blinked a bit to let my eyes adjust to the darkness as I got out of the way of the ladder. The ladder had brought me down into what looked to be the sewer system. However, on the other side of where the ladder was, past a sandbag barricade, lay a metal door.
After the woman reached the bottom, she motioned me to follow her. Approaching the door, she gave the guard behind the sandbags a nod as the door opened for her. Going through it after her, I saw that we came out into a building of sorts. Looking out the window, I saw another building across from mine and a little further down. Following her again, she brought me down via stairs to the level I had seen and through a door.
After navigating the nearly identical hallways, she ended up at a door with a sign next to it. The sign marked the room as the 'Green Pen'. Motioning with her hands to sit still, she opened the door and entered the room. I could only hear her side of the short conversation, however.
"Got another one for you."
…
"Of course... sir," she finished, using the word 'sir' like it stung her mouth and throat to say it. She walked back outside and stood in front of me, shaking her head. I heard her mutter an "Asshole" before she looked at me and motioned me inside.
"Good luck," she than smirked and gave me a slap on the side of my helmet, "Crazy Bastard."
I gave her a small smile and mouthed "Thanks" before getting rid of the smile and entering the room. Inside, I could see over thirty other wasters in random clothing sitting on benches, on cans, on the ground, or leaning against the wall. They all seemed to be looking my way but I paid them little attention. It was the man at the front, flanked by two armed Talon Mercs, that commanded my attention. His boots were somehow shiny, even in the wasteland, and his bodysuit and armor didn't seem to have a spot on them either. Instead of the normal headgear of a Merc, such as a headwrap, a helmet, or going bareheaded, he wore what looked to be an Army dress cap. The dark color seemed to match his armor but it seemed so out of place with his entire get up that it took all I had to keep from laughing.
"Looks like I finally got someone who at least looks like he knows what he's doing!" he shouted, looking around the room at the random assortment of wastelanders. There were both male and female wasters and while some wore nice enough clothing, others were wearing tatters. While some appeared to have joined for the adventured or bloodlust, it was clear that others had joined just to survive. I looked back when I heard the door closing itself. When it was fully closed, I looked back forward to see the ridiculously dressed Merc looking my way.
"That's right! You have made your choice and there is no more backing out! You are now my property until your training is completed!" he said, shouting once more. With the door closed, his voice echoed loudly around the room. I could see tears running down some recruits' faces while others seemed to be staring through everyone. Crossing my arms, I shifted my weight to one foot and looked back at the Merc at the front, willing him to get this over with.
He seemed to send me a hated glare and I inwardly sighed as I realized that I had probably made myself a target of his inhuman aggression. Lucky for me, he just continued his rant.
"My name is Sergeant Kilborn! You will address me as 'sir'! The first and last words out of your mouth will be 'sir'! Is that understood roaches?"
"Sir yes sir." replied the room at random intervals. I was vaguely aware that my voice was among the loudest.
"What the hell was that roaches? All together! And be loud! Make Jabsco himself hear you!"
"Sir yes sir!" roared the room. Most of them had been together with the others being mere seconds off in their timing. Kilborn, however, seemed pleased as he nodded his and looked out across the room.
"It is my job to train you dirty, washed up, undisciplined roaches into cold, calculating killing machines! Tomorrow you will be issued bodysuits, boots, and armor! If you lose your bodysuit or boots, you will be doing push-ups until I say stop! If you lose your armor, you will be doing push-ups until it rains and I see green sprouting up! If you try to steal any of it, you will be shot! Do you understand?"
"Sir yes sir!"
Kilborn than smiled the most malicious smile that I've ever had the displeasure of seeing, "Well roaches. Welcome to your first day of training!" he than paused as he examined all of them. Than his eyes rested on me and his smile seemed to defy physics and grow even wider, "On your feet roaches! And take everything you brought with you! We're going on a little stroll!"
Inwardly, I rolled my eyes. I had watched enough movies and read enough books and fanfictions to know what he meant by 'a little stroll'. As he pushed his way through the crowd, with his guards behind him, and made his way towards me, I couldn't help but groan. As he stopped in front of me, he motioned for one of his guards to open the door as he faced me.
"You ready for some fun, roach?"
"Sir yes sir," I replied evenly.
"What was that roach? Your mumbling," he instigated, putting a cupped hand to his ear, turning his head and leaning in slightly.
"Sir yes sir!" I bellowed, making sure some spit flew onto his face. If he felt it, he didn't give any indication as he straightened his head and nodded, following his guards out the now open door. As I followed them, I began to notice that no one tried to pass me. Even when I slowed down, none of the other trainees made to pass. Not even the ones who I had singled out as being here for the bloodlust.
Just great. Already, I've been singled out. I let out a small sigh, Might as well deal with it since I got nowhere else to go. Well except for Riley's Rangers. If they even started up yet.
My mind than drifted off to think about that. When did the Rangers appear in the wastes? In fact, what time-period was it really? Not seeing any Aqua Pura bottle around, I assumed it was before the Purifier was fixed but besides that, I had no idea.
Fuck me, this is getting confusing. Alright Tyler. First, you just need to get through this guy's definition of fun. Than you need to find out who the hell brought you here and put a bullet through their brain. Than you can go home and sit on your ass.
I felt myself chuckle lightly,
Leave it to me to have my first thought of returning home be about me being lazy.
A/N: Alright. Done with Chapter Four a bit earlier than expected. Always a good thing, right? Anyways, I realize last chapter was kinda short and not really all that advancing with the ploy and for that I apologize and have brought you this chapter to make up for it.
As always, please leave a review telling me what you think of the story, if I'm overpowering him, or of anything else that needs fixing. Even if it's some minute point with the canon, I will change it (if it's true).
No matter if you leave me a review or not (please do), I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the story so far. There is still much, much more.