Over 200 years ago the bombs fell on the United States of America. Except here. What happened here was carpet bombing that left most of state scarred but capable. Fires raged in Memphis and some clans built a wall around Kentucky. Mob bosses and rich business men retained control of the cities pushing out anyone in power armor. That was banned. Stimpacks, medex, radaway were also banned. There was even a strict no gun policy enacted by the clubs and casinos that snaked its way out into wherever the bosses could send their men.

For the most part life in the Tennessee wasteland was good. People camped and violence was relatively low, until somebody snuck in a Z-290 processing chip into GC Blues. This started attracting mysterious violence across the state, which the bosses remained quiet.

We knew what was going on but what could you do?

"Well, I guess we should head out this 22 isn't going to fix itself anytime soon."

The 22 highway was still traveled but its concrete grew weak in the years, crumbling in some areas. Last year an entire caravan was crushed, including Sonny's daughter, the head boss in North Brook bar. His men tried fixing it but half were mauled by Curb Hogs - feral radiated hogs that like living in old concrete.

It's advised to carry food specially designed for them called "chick", meat - that's produced in a factory in West Block Memphis by egg heads that's injected with some drug that pacifies them. Sends the whole herd back home to sleep for days.

Whoever invented that crap needs to take it themselves.

We slept off the side of the highway in an abandoned petro building. There was almost no technology left to salvage in the state, although we carried a terminal we stole in Old Diresburg to sell cross border. That was illegal, but we needed the money. The bosses cross investigated everyone who payed for anything in caps. Lucky enough the Chapel in Kentucky paid in gold minted paper. They had melted bars from the old military fort and infused them with a paper printing press. Most of the bosses in Memphis loved these bills. The more they got their hands on the more they boasted about shrinking the accounts of the Chapel mayors.

The Chapels - Montgomery North, Old Lexington and London were well aware their accounts were off. The missing currency became an issue there after the processing chip arrived. Don't know why, don't know how. We, however, were after one point of entry, underground. It was unguarded and one of the last points still not shut down by the clans or the bosses.

Deshawn, Denver and Yula were partners of mine. They needed cash for a place to stay in Nashville and I needed a new Brushgun. I wasn't planning on staying in the greedy cities. I carried a 10mm and the rest a couple of knives. They knew I wasn't a city boy. Out of the cities you could carry if you could get away with it. I carried my deed everywhere I went. Those nosy casino bastards usually turned a blind eye when I gave them my papers. Usually.

By nightfall we approached a monstrous metal wall laced with barbed wire and blood stains. Before we entered the ruined border town there was one lit building. It had a flickering neon sign with people out front smoking - and waiting.

"Single file those are the rules here."

This ghoul actually grabbed us and moved us in line. People wore bags and some even carts with tech wrapped in cloth or plastic ready to be paid - just like us.

My gaze stalled the line for a few seconds only to be met with a scolding from that ghoul.

"Don't worry about that damned wall they can't see you from here, keep moving."

"My fucking legs hurt from all this walking this better be worth it."

The woman in front, eyes damp with dirty crinkled black hair turned at me, rolling her eyes, "I hear they're paying less now. Chapel's got all stirred up about the Memphis Bosses."

"Fuck."

We entered slowly, in what seemed like an hour later we were in a run down hallway with a desk to our right selling cigarettes. 2 packs for 5 or one for 3.50. They also sold Alcohol and the place reeked with urine and whisky. At the end was some lady trying to lower a cart into the cellar with someone trying to grab the bottom in the cellar.

"Good way to get your tech stolen huh?"

"pff if only."

There was a guard next to the cellar door with his arms crossed shaking his head as the lady continued to struggle. They eventually lowered the thing and we continued forward.

"You don't got any guns in that bag do you?"

"No just mine in my pocket." I said anxiously.

"What caliber?"

"10mm." My hands, my body began to tremble. Could be a block agent.

"Okay good. Only thing we're buying is EMF and Energy. What about you three you got nothing on you, you're here to sell?"

"No we're here to.."

"Then get the fuck out of my line you're wasting everyone else's time. Walk single file out the exit."

Fuck, without my partners it's on me to get a good price.

"Your next bud. What is your name?"

"Reese. And those guys were.."

"I don't care about those guys. I'm only askin for you. Go on down."

I hugged the bag and slowly dropped to the dirt floor. It was poorly lit with wooden frames keeping the tunnel up. At the end were UV and white lights where the appraiser and his men were sitting. A sign on the ceiling told us to hug the right side of the tunnnel. Others squeezed their way back, wide eyed, ready to spend their cash. Some flipped their carts sideways dragging them on the floor. We slowly inched our way foreword until it was my turn.

I was nearly blinded. The tunnel opened up as a whole room but that side was pitch black. Blocking the entrance on the farthest edges were two spot lights and two guards. One was a super mutant and the other a Border guard. He wore dark blue combat armor with what looked like a laser rifle, the mutant with only the gun. The appraiser sat in tiny desk chair. He had a combover wearing dirty overalls styling a long black beard and glasses. Next to his him was a tiny desk stacked with papers. Behind him were at least 6 prewar safes.

"What is it you got?"

"uh robco.."

"Robco huh? Where'd you get it?"

"Diresburg."

"Diresburg huh? Let me guess a robot head or a.."

"Terminal."

"Oh Okay lay it out for me."

I slowly unzipped the bag and put in on the ground, screen facing him.

"Hmm, looks good screen isn't cracked. Turn it around for me, carefully now."

I rotated it.

"Okay, now uh if you don't mind I'm going to look at it under the light."

The appraiser leaned out of his chair and dropped the thing onto his lap. He was already under the UV lights and took his time examining it.

Some voice shouted behind us.

"Hey what the fuck is taking so long?"

The appraiser looked up with a blank stare, his mouth open and screamed, "God damn it just fucking hold on a minute!"

"Does it work boss?"

"Plug it into that generator there and turn it on. You, partner just stand to the side I'm going to check this lady's bag while this thing boots up. Don't want to stall before the sun comes up."

I moved to the side with my heart beating a hundred mile an hour. I'm sure the thing works I saw it working before we snagged it.

He checked out the next man and gave him a small stack of bills for what looked like a box of cell casings.

He looked back over at the terminal. "I'll be damned it works. Dolly's huh? You can stand back up from now."

"Yes it was snagged by us at a factory. Dolly's. They were still using it."

"Us or you?"

"Well I guess..

"You huh?"

"Tell you what Mr. Uh.."

"Reese."

"Mr. Reese, you go out there and collect me more and we'll get something special for ya."

"And my pay?"

"Hold up, just.. Stand over here. Behind me. Go."

The super mutant moved out of the way and I stood, hands in pockets behind in the appraiser in that empty cold dirt room. The other guard, human guard, leaned over, "You ain't got nowhere to be do ya?"

I shook my head, "Nah."

"Okay."

I thought of Denver and the rest but what could I do just walk away empty handed?

It was about an hour of sitting against the wall when the appraiser finally got up out his chair, done with the line.

"You good?"

"Yeah."

I stood to attention.

"Sorry about that but to make it short the reason why I kept you was because this is some of the best find we've gotten in a while. You also look like you can handle yourself. Can you?"

My heart began beating faster.

"I suppose so. Didn't know you were hurting on terminals?"

He chuckled, "Well that's just it, we're hurting on a lot of things. You see, I'd like to make you an offer. You ever hear about that Z-290?"

"Yeah. Heard it was a rumor though."

"No. It's not. One of the big bosses you got, Victoria, sleeps with Halden, she's got it in CS Block. Or CS Blues I think it is you call it. I want you to go get that, quietly and bring it back here."

"If you know about it what does it do?"

"Well we think it has something to do with the accounts going completely missing back home. We usually are able to trace the notes down and retrieve them but lately we have not."

"So you think it has something to do with that processor?"

"Exactly. Wow you know more about that than I thought. You ain't from that casino are you?"

"No I'm from out of the city. But rumors fly faster than a rad hawk flies East."

"Alright. Well here's your payment for the terminal. I can get you 600. Normally I'd only give 300 but the other 300 you need to get in that casino."

"What if I loose it?"

"We'll know."

"Husk."

The mutant grabbed my body and I went limp. The appraiser injected my shoulder with a syringe. It fucking hurt.

"That should do it. We'll know if you fucked up truthfully while you make you way there."

"What is this?"

Tracking chip.

"Didn't know you had that tech.."

"Son, the shit I've been handed over the months as an appraiser is well worth our time in making whatever want. Now get to it bud. Like I said, reward is well worth the risk."

"And if I don't?"

"Well then don't. Just don't come back here again unless you have that unit."

"Alright."

I made my way out the hall rubbing my shoulder.

The building guards eyed my exit and I was greeted with the fresh Tennessee air.

Holy fuck where were Yola and Deshawn?

I slowly walked down the road away from building eyeing the dark wilderness. My heart was racing. Very few lights were present and I needed somewhere to camp out. I felt like a walking target. I had enough cash to get myself crucified and falayed.

"Hey! Over here! Is that you Reese?"

"Yeah where are you guys?"

"Down here!"

They were camping off the side in a dried creek.

I approached and sat down next to their dwindling fire.

"Where were you man?"

"You didn't blow our money on cigarettes did you?"

"No man, I got a good price on that he just took forever getting it powered on. Fucked with his UV lightning."

"How much?"

"300."

"Damn that's it?"

Yola interrupted, "Yeah that's it that damned state doesn't pay shit for anything anymore."

"Okay so we all getting 75. Count it up."

"Hope he got the right Bills."

I forgot I had the entire amount stacked into one. I guessed, grabbed what felt like 300 and started counting luckily it was dark, and Denver was sleeping.

"Alright here's 75 for you Yola and let me count yours Deshawn... that's 75 for you."

"Just wait until Denver's awake. Get some rest and we'll part ways."

I had a terrible nightmare about that appraiser. What the hell did I agree to?

"Ah there you are Reese. What you get?"

"He got 300."

"Okay that's not bad I guess. So everyone got their cut?"

"Yeah everyone except you."

"Don't worry I got it, here."

I paid him his 75.

Just like that we were off in our own ways. I headed down South but I had noticed I was begin followed. It was Deshawn. He paced at least a mile behind me this whole time. I decided to trick him. I staged a camp and waited until he moved on.

"Deshawn."

He looked frightened, surprised.

"What you doing man?"

"Well I guess I outta answer since you got that gun pointed at me."

"Then answer."

"I know you got more money than what you're sayin. I saw you counting it while you were asleep."

"Well you ain't having it."

"And what you gonna do shoot me? Anyone that finds a 10mm bullet lodged in someone's skull, the bosses you're lookin for is gonna know who did it. You'll be on their list. They know you own that shit bud. Now give me some and you can walk away and I'll walk away."

Fuck he's right. But I need this to get in.

I shot him anyway. I tried for his thigh and then beat him dead. I pulled the bullet out and buried it down the way.

The Rad Hogs should get to him before any caravan does. Hopefully. I needed to stash my gun back home before entering Memphis. Even with papers the bosses has a 'no no' policy within city limits.

My house was ransacked.