Chapter 15: Outsiders
Freida's face contorted in a mixture of fear and anxiety, "This has to be the worst plan imaginable."
"It's fine, just eat your brisket and keep an eye out for the guy, who has a mole on their face." With a devil-may-care attitude, Iris casually waves her hand in the air while sinking her teeth deep into the BBQ rib.
Freida lets out a frustrated sigh and casts a quick glance around the room, trying to suppress the disgust they feel bubbling up inside of them. They can feel their stomach churn at the sight of the place Iris had taken them to - it has to be one of the most blatantly racist BBQ joints they have ever laid eyes on.
Confederate flags hang prominently on the walls, casting a shadow over the entire room. The walls are adorned with iconography from the Klan, Nazis, and other fascist groups, paraded around like prized possessions. The very air in the room seems heavy with hate and intolerance, as if the very walls themselves are trying to suffocate Freida. They take a deep breath, trying to push down the anger and frustration that threatens to overwhelm them.
As Freida scanned the room with a growing sense of revulsion, their eyes eventually landed on a young Hispanic girl. She looked no older than her late teens and bore a myriad of scars, bruises, and cuts across her body. Despite her obvious injuries, she made her way through the restaurant, carrying a bottle of wine and a pitcher of water in each hand, dutifully serving the patrons.
Freida had heard the men in the room hurling insults, catcalls, and threats of abuse in her direction as she went about her work. It was sickening. But then, the young woman approached a table occupied by five men who clearly belonged to the Outsiders' raiding division. They were dressed in a mismatched assortment of body armor and other fascist symbols and medals, making it clear that they were not the type of people to be messed with.
As the young woman approached their table, she simply tried to refill one of their cups. But one of the men deliberately moved his glass, causing the liquid to spill out onto the table. The girl flinched, but quickly composed herself and attempted to clean up the mess, only for her wrist to be grabbed by one of the patrons.
"Now look at what you did. You done wasted, good wine. You know how hard it was to go out and get that. All for what? You to go on and spill it." He called out, and then grabs her head with a toothy grin.
"I-I'm sorry" She whimpers out, wincing in pain as he forcibly holds her head up.
He turned her head, so she was forced to look at him, "Well, I will forgive you." He loosened up his hold, allowing her to breathe just for a momentary reprieve before he slammed her head down onto the table with a meaty thud.
"That is, if you lick it clean. Hate to waste good wine."
As the young woman continued to lick the table in a futile attempt to clean up the spilled liquid, the men erupted in laughter, their eyes glinting with sadistic amusement. Freida's heart sank at the sight, their anger building with each passing second. They rose from their seat, their hands clenched into fists, ready to confront the group. But before they could take a step forward, they felt a firm grip on their arm, and turned to see Iris, her expression one of warning. Freida's disgust deepened, but obeyed despite their misgivings.
Once they sat down, Iris spoke, "That's Charles Everett, the first commander, whose home is about a mile south from here. He has a lovely wife and two kids. Lucky for us, they aren't there right now. They are currently selling some of their stolen goods to a place even further south. Now you could go over there and blow our cover or when we leave, we can burn down his house and all his friends."
"This BBQ place too." Freida demands
Iris rolls her eyes, "Of course, that wasn't even up for question. I mean, this rib tastes like sweat and tobacco." she holds it up, flicking it back and forth.
Freida inhales sharply, trying to ignore the sounds of abuse and degradation happening behind them. Their eyes drift down to the plate of food in front of them, still steaming hot, and then back up to Iris, whose eyes are scanning the room at a rapid pace as she eats.
"How do you do that?"
Iris' eyes focused on them, "What? Ignore that?" her eyes flick to the abuse, the young woman finally being released and walking back in shame into the kitchen, "Well I just learn more about them and plan on either stealing everything they love or killing them."
Freida freezes at that upfront confession, "Um no. I mean, flick your eyes like that."
Iris' eyes widen, and she grins, "Practice. When you've been in as many tight situations as me, you are constantly looking for the three E's."
"Three E's?"
"Exit routes, Enemies, and empty spaces."
"Why empty spaces?"
"Well, that's a place where you can hide."
Freida bites into their brisket and her eyes shrink in disgust, "It tastes like beer, butter, and tobacco."
Iris chuckles, "That's their favorite seasonings in these parts.
The two begin laughing and continue eating their food,but there's a palpable tension that makes them both hesitate between bites. After ten minutes, Freida feels a sudden kick from Iris, and they look up to see her eyes fixated on a man who just walked in.
"That's him?" Freida asks in a low tone
"Yep, Daniel Boone, shock trooper and most importantly raider driver."
"So what's the plan, we stay here for another hour and follow him back?"
Iris looks at them in confusion, "You really didn't pay attention, when I explained this?"
"No, and to be honest I stopped paying attention, once you said we were going to Outsider territory. I thought it was a joke until I was being misgendered at the checkpoint that I realized you were serious."
Iris rolls her eyes, and with confidence walks over towards the man, her hips swaying with each step. The man was sitting at the bar, boastfully announcing who he was and demanding alcohol from the barkeeper. Iris approaches him, her demeanor cool and collected, and engages him in a brief conversation that seems to go smoothly. Iris winks at the man, and walks away turning a corner and vanishing from sight.
Freida waited for a few minutes before realizing that Iris was not coming back, and a look of befuddlement fell upon their face, "What the hell was that?"
Freida's eyes darted around the room, trying to figure out where Iris had gone. They scan the faces of the patrons, looking for any clues, but everyone seems preoccupied with their meals. Suddenly, they see Iris standing outside the window, frantically motioning for them to come out.
Freida's eyes widened in surprise. They push their half-eaten plate away, feeling a wave of nausea wash over them, and rise from their seat. As they step out into the warm summer night, they see Iris standing on the side of the road.
"What did you do?" Freida asked, unsure of what had happened.
Iris looks at them, and pulls out a pair of keys, "I picked his pocket while asking about his tattoo."
Freida stands dumbfounded, "When? How? Huh?"
Iris motions for them to follow, as they begin walking through the town.
Freida and Iris walked through the heart of the Outsiders town, taking in the details of their surroundings. The town was an embodiment of the Outsiders' beliefs and values, with farmland stretching out on the outskirts and slaves working tirelessly under the summer sun. The buildings were shoddy, made of scrap metal and timber, either repurposed from established structures or crudely built from scratch.
As they approached the center of the town, the administration building loomed before them. It was always an old government building, repurposed by the Outsiders to suit their needs. This one was particularly unsettling, built out from a one-story police station with wooden extensions doubling its size. The building was adorned with Outsiders symbols and propaganda, proudly displayed for all to see.
Freida looks at Iris, whose eyes just trace across the building, "You are the thief, what's the plan?"
"I really didn't want to see the inside of a prison again." Iris grumbles
"Huh?"
Iris smirks, her eyes glinting with a mischievous glimmer. "Nothing," she says, the corners of her lips curling up into a sly smile. "This is the easy part. Getting in with our gear was the hard part, but luckily these Outsiders don't believe in gun control, so that was a breeze." She starts to move away from Freida, taking a path that skirts around the edge of the building.
"Here's the plan," she continues, glancing back over her shoulder. "You go in loud and cause a distraction. While they're focused on you, I'll slip in and grab one of their cars. Then we'll be out of here before they even know what hit 'em."
"Freida prepares for action and asks, "How much time do you need?"
"Five minutes tops, maybe even less if we're lucky and given they left a window open, I'm feeling lucky." Iris responds, taking a few steps ahead of Freida.
Iris stops and turns back towards Freida. She leans in and whispers, "You're the muscle here, but can you handle it?"
Freida nods confidently and cracks their neck. "No problem," they reply as they lift up their shirt to reveal a small mechanical cube attached to their waist. With the flick of a switch, the cube begins to emit a low humming sound, and Freida's body starts to glow faintly."
Iris looks at it in confusion, "What is…"
Before Iris can respond, Freida interrupts her with a curt explanation, "It's a protection generator from the pre-war military. It has a five-minute charge and I only have three batteries left. So, let's move quickly." Iris nods in understanding before quickly heading off.
Freida takes a deep breath and surveys the entrance, their hand hovering over their shotgun. "Small steps first, then we escalate."
Freida strides up the dirt path towards the entrance of the building, their boots crunching on the gravel. As they approach, the two guards sitting in chairs barely look up from their half-asleep stupor.
"Doug, look at this pretty thing coming our way," one of the guards slurs.
Without a word, Freida draws their shotgun and fires a single shot, shredding both guards and their chairs into pieces. Splinters fly in all directions as the force of the blast ripples through the hallway.
Freida kicks down the door and tosses several smoke bombs into the room, thick plumes of smoke filling the air. Coughing and confusion erupt from within as the occupants try to regain their composure.
"Kill the bastard!" someone screams as bullets begin to fly out of the room towards Freida.
The bullets hiss and crackle as they are repelled by Freida's electric field, ricocheting off the walls and floor in a shower of sparks. Freida remains calm and focused, their eyes darting around the room as they search for their next move. With a quick motion, Freida reaches into their pocket and retrieves a tennis ball, which they hold aloft, the electric field crackles and ignites the fuse. In one fluid motion, Freida tosses the ball into the smoke-filled room, and it arcs through the air before landing with a thud on the ground.
Suddenly, there is a blinding flash of light, and a deafening explosion rips through the room, blasting debris and smoke in all directions. The sound of screams and gunfire fills the air, but Freida remains unfazed, their eyes focused on each shadow in the mist. A twisted smirk plants itself onto their face, as their targets are locked into their mind.
"God, I miss this." Freida speaks in the final moments before hell broke loose.
A grin spreads across Freida's face as they charge forward into the fray, adrenaline pumping through their veins. With expert precision, they draw their rifle and dual wield their weapons, firing with deadly accuracy. The rapid gunfire echoes throughout the room, shattering glass and tearing through flesh. Smoke swirls around them, making it hard to see, but Freida's heightened senses allow them to anticipate every move. The enemies, caught off guard by the sudden assault, scramble to react, but it's too late. Freida's bullets find their marks, taking out one target after another. The sound of shell casings hitting the ground blends with the screams of the dying. It's a violent ballet, a dance of destruction, and Freida revels in it.
"You don't know how great this feels!" Freida yells out with excitement as the smoke dissipates, revealing their targets. They relentlessly fire shot after shot, hitting each one that dares to raise their head. The room is filled with screams of agony, gunfire, and the whirring sound of the generator until there is finally silence. The lobby is now cleared of all human life except for one.
Freida stands vigilant, scanning the area for any signs of survivors. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approaching from the left interrupts their search. They quickly holster their shotgun and reload their rifle in preparation for the incoming threat.
As they brace themselves, a man appears from the hallway and points his gun towards Freida. He yells, "You monstrous whore! What the hell is the matter with you!?"
Without hesitation, the man pulls the trigger, but the bullet is deflected by Freida's shield and ricochets off harmlessly. Freida observes the man's expression shift from anger to fear upon realizing his attack failed.
Freida's disgust boils. "What's the matter with me?" they shout back. "Since I arrived here, all I've heard is hateful language from you ignorant bigots. You deserve every bit of what's coming to you!" With a fierce determination, Freida resumes their attack, their bullets shredding through pillars and desks to eviscerate the survivors. The only thing that stops them is the sound of their generator running out of battery.
"Shit," they mutter, taking cover behind what's left of the police lobby desk to replace the battery.
"I know that sound, the bitch is part of the McPherson Army. Rush her now!"
Rolling their eyes in disgust, Freida drops the battery and rises to unload a barrage of bullets on their attackers, watching as their bodies fall to the ground. Quickly reloading the battery, Freida hears the familiar whirring noise of the generator coming back to life and can't help but smile.
"That's the second thing. I am not even a woman!" Freida screams back at them.
As Freida approaches, one of the Outsiders calls out, "Oh, you're one of them! Them halfsies. Filthy city folks, I tell you, you ain't normal." Without missing a beat, the Outsider tosses a grenade at Freida, who catches it and tosses it back, but it explodes midair and starts a fire instead of killing anyone.
Freida smirks, amused by the Outsiders' failed attempt to take them down. "Yeah, I'm one of 'them'," Freida says, mocking the Outsider's tone. "And I've taken out fifteen of your men already." Freida readies their weapons, prepared for the next wave of attackers.
Freida's heart races as they hear the sound of a car honking frantically behind them. They turn around to see their ride, a beat-up old jeep, parked a few feet outside the door. With a smirk on their face, they glance back at their assailants, who are still firing their guns and shouting curses in their direction.
Freida quickly reaches into their pocket and pulls out several grenades. They light the fuses and toss them down the hallway, causing a series of deafening explosions that shake the entire building. As the blasts echo through the air, Freida sprints towards the car, dodging bullets and shrapnel that fly past them.
With one final leap, they dive into the car, feeling the hard metal seat against their back.
"You really know how to put on a show." Iris states eyes caught on the burning station.
"Just drive!" Freida screamed back, as bullets began to fire at them.
Iris floors the gas pedal, sending the car careening out of there, and onto the open road.
Freida looks out the rear window, watching as the building fades into the distance, engulfed in flames and smoke. The adrenaline is still coursing through their veins as they turn to Iris. "That took more than five minutes." they say, eyes still monitoring the road behind them.
"Sue me. It was hard to find which car these keys went to." Iris retorts eyes laser focused on the road ahead.
The tense atmosphere was palpable as the jeep sped through the deserted streets of the town. Every building seemed to be on high alert, with the occasional Outsider darting out from a hiding spot and attempting to ambush the vehicle. Iris deftly maneuvered the jeep, swerving and running over any obstacle in their way, while Freida took aim with their gun, firing a hail of bullets at the pursuers.
The Outsiders were relentless, their screams and gunshots echoing through the empty streets. Freida's heart was pounding as they scanned the surroundings, looking for any sign of danger. They knew that one false move could mean the end for them both.
Freida's eyes darted to the barricade up ahead, hastily constructed from a jumble of car parts, rusted metal scraps, and shattered glass. The Outsiders, aware of their approach, had attempted to block their escape route. But Freida wasn't going to let them succeed.
"Get ready!" they yelled to Iris, who gripped the steering wheel tightly. The jeep picked up speed, hurtling towards the barricade with alarming velocity. Freida reached for their belt, fingers wrapping around the smooth glass of the homemade grenades.
As they drew closer, Freida ignited their fuses with a quick flick of a match. They aimed for the center of the barricade and launched the explosives, their trajectory a perfect arc through the air.
The grenades landed with a dull thud, bouncing once before coming to a stop in the midst of the barricade. Freida didn't wait to see the result, grabbing and lowering Iris and themself low into the jeep as the blast rocked the narrow street. Debris flew in all directions, scattering across the asphalt and pinging off the metal body of the jeep.
The Outsiders who had been behind the barricade scattered like rats, some injured, others not so lucky. But Freida and Iris had made it through unscathed, their jeep bouncing over the remnants of the barricade and continuing down the road.
As they continued their escape, Freida couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. This was what they were trained for, what they had been waiting for. But at the same time, they couldn't shake off the feeling of dread. They were leaving a trail of destruction behind them, and the Outsiders would stop at nothing to get their revenge.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they made it to the outskirts of the town. The jeep was covered in scratches and was making strange noises, Freida and Iris were exhausted, panting and covered in sweat. Yet they pushed on.
It took twenty minutes before Freida relaxed, and for the first time since they got in the car, said something that wasn't a curse word or 'drive'.
"This was your best plan?" Freida half-asked, and half-stated.
"Well, yeah, the alternative was for you to seduce them." Iris states with a hint of mischief in her voice.
"I prefer this plan." Freida grumbles, slouching into the Jeep's seat.
"Thought so, now…" Iris whips the car off the road, "If I remember correctly, we have a few houses to burn down."
The pair smiled and screamed out as they rode off into the horizon.