Chapter 23 – Feeling the Heat
The team gave Malden a wide berth. That morning, on approaching the town from the South, Nate had spotted some Super Mutants outside Medford Memorial Hospital. It was Cait who then spied some Gen 1 Synths approaching on a patrol from the east of the town, on a direct intercept course with the Super Mutants. A few silenced shots from the team, into each group, ensured the meeting would go with a bang. A Super Mutant Suicider detonating his mini nuke in the middle of the Synths gave the team the distraction they needed.
In order to get to Parsons, the team would first have to turn East and then cross over the Saugus river at the old iron works. Knowing that a raider group was occupying the site, the team had plans to give the site a miss. That was until they came across Doc Weathers and his caravan on its way down to Bunker Hill. As the team and the Doc's caravan stopped for a midday break near Greentop Nursery, he told the story of the oldest of the Finch boys, who recently ran off to join this new raider group set up at the iron works. The Doc stating that the family were keen to have him back. Not wanting to pass up a chance at a few more caps, the team agreed to stop off at the farm and hear what the family had to say.
Nate and the girls arrived at the farm, which was nestled below a still standing part of the Boston Expressway flyover, at just after five in the afternoon. After initially being mistaken for raiders by the family, Abraham Finch, the father, detailed their predicament. He told the team that a group of raiders from outside the Commonwealth had moved in. Calling themselves the 'Forged', they had taken over the old ironworks, and that they were not friendly at all.
He went on to explain, "That bastard son of mine, Jake, snuck out in the middle of the night to join them. He grabbed my grandad's old sword. It's the closest thing I have to an heirloom. I don't guess you'd be crazy enough to try and get it back for me? I've got caps, if that's what you want."
"What about your son, Jake? You don't care what happens to him?" Asked Piper, letting a little of her obvious contempt for Abraham seep in.
"I didn't raise my boys to be raiders. As far as I'm concerned, he's dead to me." By the way Abraham softened his tone on the last few words, Nate doubted that.
"Can you tell me anything else about the forged?" Asked Nate.
Abraham nearly spat, "they're led by a guy named Slag. Came in from outside the commonwealth a few months back and started recruiting. Mostly they've just been strong arming folks, but with how quick they have been growing it's just a matter of time till the raids get worse."
"What kind of a sword are we looking for?" continued Nate with the questions.
"One of them old pre-war swords, rigged up to shoot flames from the blade. Probably why Jake thought they'd let him join. So, what do you say?" Abraham asked back.
Nate looked at the girls who all nodded, "Yeah, we'll take it. Mind if we camp here for the night and head out tomorrow?" Nate confirmed, although he was convinced they would say yes, as he had just agreed to help and he was sure the pay would be minimal.
"They don't look like they will be able to afford much," Cait moved over to Nate when Abraham had left.
"I know but I like the idea of taking these raiders out and I am sure the iron works will be good for a decent haul." Nate looked over to the shadow of the iron works in the distance.
"I just like the idea of helping," Curie chimed in as she joined them.
Outside the front of the farmhouse was a large fire and cooking spit, which Abigail, Abraham's wife explained is kept there for the passing caravans. For the cost of keeping the fire going, she explained, they got guaranteed regular visits and the extra guns that protection offered. It was Nate and his team that were grateful for the fire at that moment, and more grateful when Mrs Finch produced a mutfruit pie she had recently baked. From her treatment of Nate and the girls, they could all tell that she was keen to see them succeed in bringing her son back.
The next morning they awoke at sun rise and were ready to go just as the sun started to cast daylight on the factory. Before the war the iron works was a National Historic Site, but the manufacturing side of the plant was upgraded and re-opened during the Sino-American War. The main building was an imposing four storey structure with several chimneys and a Skip Bridge, like an external conveyor belt, that carried the iron ore, coke or limestone into the blast furnace. There were also several small buildings on the roof and scattered around the parking lot. The team had moved around to the west of the building and were approaching it from the main road that ran past the side gate. The same road then headed off up to the Slog, which was the Middlesex County public swimming pool before the war but is now a tarberry farm run by Ghouls.
Getting into a position to be able to view the building but not be seen, the team spread along a bank to the right side of the road, Nate scanning the building through the scope on his rifle. He could see at least two figures on the roof and another two down to the left of the main building and in the parking lot. The Forged had started a huge fire in the middle of the car park, which looked like it was constructed mainly of tyres. Nate quickly gave orders, with Curie and Piper assigned the two in the parking lot, with Cait and him taking the two on the roof. Recently the team had acquired some rifle silencers from Arturo and these additions had proved invaluable in several skirmishes since.
Switching his tactical radio to open, he took aim on one of the targets on the roof. "I'll take Mr Right," he stated softly, tracking his target.
"Aw, and the other one just lit a cigarette, what a waste," Cait answered back.
"You other two ready?" Nate asked.
"Uh huh," confirmed Piper.
"Yes." Responded Curie.
"Five, four, three, two, …..." Nate commanded as he waited the final second before squeezing the trigger. His target fell backwards and didn't move. On the other side of the roof the raider with the freshly lit cigarette grasped his neck and fell forward off the roof, not making a sound.
"Uh oh!" exclaimed Piper, "We got company!" Nate switched his radio back to receive and scanned over to where Piper was now pointing with her own weapon. Nate could see three more raiders running through the gates and towards their position. Two of them carrying what looked like small portable flame throwers.
"Do not let them get close," Nate barked, although that order was blatantly obvious to the girls. None of them wanted these flamers to get within range. They all opened up on the nearest target and that raider fell, her gas canister below her weapon exploding as she hit the dirt. Of the other two, one had a small handheld ripper, which was a short blade chainsaw, about the size of a dagger. The other had the second flame thrower. The team split again, with Curie and Piper taking the raider with the ripper and Cait and Nate the other flamer. Once the two targets were down the team stayed in their ambush position, hidden by the earthen bank for a few minutes, to be sure there were no others.
It was Nate who broke cover first, signalling to the team to form a stack behind him. The girls all closed in, Cait first followed by Piper, with Curie bringing up the rear. They patrolled slowly towards the building, through the large front gates and past a delivery truck with a huge propane tank on its back. Nate was amazed that hadn't gone up in the recent fire fight. Passing around the left of the building, the team moved into the main parking lot and up to the reception building. Off to their left were two temporary trailer kiosks joined together to form a canteen.
As they were patrolling silently, Nate tapped his head and with two fingers signalled off to his left, towards the mobile canteen. Giving the team the signal that he wanted the last two to split off and go and clear that trailer canteen and the rest of the carpark. Cait, who was directly behind him, missed the signal as she was scanning to her left, over towards the fence line. Piper caught the second part of the signal, Nate holding up two fingers, and moved to form two lines as they entered the reception. Curie also seeing the second part, followed Piper's lead. As the team entered the building, they fanned out to make a semi-circle around the double doors leading into the ironworks.
Nate held up his hand signalling stop and turned to look at Piper, "Was there…" he began asking, when from behind, there was a burst of machine gun fire from outside the door they had just come through. Nate was hit twice in the back and was thrown forward, landing hard up against some lockers in the corner. He wasn't moving.
"Nate!" Cait shouted and ran towards him, with Piper and Curie instinctively turning and firing their weapons into the assailant. The raider died before he hit the ground, shaking like a rag doll as rounds smacked into him from a short distance.
Cait dropped to her knees, releasing her weapon and cradling Nates head and shoulders. A small amount of blood flecked the corner of his mouth.
"Is he breathing?" Curie cried out as she ran to where Nate had landed.
"I don't know, I don't know," sobbed Cait as she tried clumsily to sit Nate up.
"Lie him down, gently," Curie took control.
Piper, seeing that Cait wasn't helping, came over and gently pulled her away. "Let Curie work," Piper tried to assure her friend.
"But how did," Cait pointed to the outside door, "I didn't see…" she turned back to look at Nate, tears in her eyes.
"How is he," Piper asked, still holding on to Caits arm.
Curie was listening at Nates mouth and then his chest. "Help me get this off," She looked up to Piper, as she began unclipping his chest webbing. Piper knelt beside Curie and they soon had all Nates equipment off him, resting him back with just his Sirius suit on.
"He is not breathing, but I don't know why," Curie exclaimed, "There are no puncture wounds so…" she trailed off. Then as if struck by an idea she swung a leg over the top of Nates body and straddling his waist, she began giving him CPR. She looked over to her bag, "Grab me the trauma pack will you." Piper immediately began looking through Curie's medical supplies. Finding the small canvas pack, she pulled out the needle located at the top of the red vial strapped to the side of the pouch.
"Find a vein and insert," Curie ordered as she continued her compressions. Piper attempting to pull arm loose from his now unzipped Sirius Suit.
"Help me will you," Piper called over to Cait, who was staring wide eyed at the team trying to save Nates life. "Cait!" Piper shouted again.
Snapping out of her trance, Cait rushed over to help Piper and soon they had his suit down far enough to pull his arms free. Piper then deftly attached a temporary torniquet to Nates upper arm and began searching for a vein. "Got you, sucker!" she smiled and slipped the needle in. Curie immediately stopped her compressions and gently got up from kneeling over Nate.
"We just have to wait now, as this thing should kick in quite quickly." She nodded to the entrance to the forge. "Perhaps we should keep an ear open for any visitors coming through there." She suggested.
Piper, seeing Cait not moving from Nates side, stood up. "I'll get it," She raised her eyebrows at Curie and nodded to Cait.
"We will be fine," responded Curie to Pipers unasked question.
The seconds ticked by and then, as if someone had thrown a switch, Nate took in a gasp of air and tried to sit up.
"Not so fast, monsieur. You have just been knocked unconscious and the drugs I have given you need time to work." She placed her hand firmly on Nates chest pushing him back down.
"We … need … to cover," Nate again trying to stand, was pointing to the double doors going into the building.
"Piper has it, and you will do yourself more damage if you get up now," Curie applied a little more pressure on his chest, "you don't want me to get cross now, do you?" she asked, cracking a smile.
Nate and the other girls smiled at that, "Ok," Nate accepted Curie's request and stopped trying to stand, "I'll lie here for a bit."
"The drug I have just given you will make you feel better before you really are, so you will need to take it easy for a little bit. Why don't you stay here and we will go and get Jake." Curie suggested.
Nate looked around as if still trying to figure out where he was. "What the fuck just happened, was that a shooter from outside?" He asked, wincing as Curie started to examine the areas hit by the machine gun bullets.
"Yes," Curie answered, "They are dead now." She stated flatly.
"But what about clearing the canteen and carpark?" Nate glowered at Curie and Cait.
"Ok, try to sit up now," Curie had her hands on his back as Cait helped.
"How," Nate winced again, "Did you miss that."
Cait and Curie looked at each other. "I guess we didn't think to check," Cait shrugged, "but don't worry about that now, the most important thing is that you are ok." She smiled as she wiped a tear away.
"Don't worry!" Nate sounded angry, "I signalled for you two," he weakly indicated Curie and Piper, "to clear the carpark and the trailer. OW! Fuck that hurts!" he jerked as Curie finished applying some ointment on the bruised areas of Nates back.
"Sorry," Curie said softly, "But it would be easier if you stayed still."
"I want to know what the fuck happened, ladies." Nate wasn't happy and wasn't going to let this one drop. How could the girls have cleared the carpark and canteen and yet missed this extra raider.
"Shhh …" Piper held up her hand. "Shit!" she exclaimed, "someone is coming." She grabbed her rifle and moved back from the door.
Curie leaned close to Nate, "It is my fault, I know, I should have been watching behind at all times and I wasn't. I relaxed too early and completely forgot to cover the door when we entered here."
"right, let me get my…" Nate tried to stand and reach for his rifle. Over balancing and feeling woozy, he nearly toppled over head first.
"You stay there and stop trying to be the hero, we have got this," Cait put a reassuring hand on his arm. Nate shelved his anger at the fuck up that caused him to be shot and switched to the here and now.
"Ok, I'll hold here and shout if you need some help." Nate looked at Cait. She smiled back and it was hard for Nate to remain angry at her, or any of the girls when they did that, but especially Cait.
Piper, who was the closest to the door took lead and held her hand up for quiet. The team froze. Piper waited for a short while and then stepping back, fired a burst of automatic into the middle of the door and then kicked it open. The raider she had just hit fell backwards and Cait took out the other raider that could be seen as she came running down from a walkway on the right. Piper then entered and broke left and out of Nates view with the other girls following. Nate had to admit, they did look good when they were fully switched on.
Nate heard a short burst, and someone scream. It was a male voice so nothing to worry about. Another male was shouting, the scorched now fully alerted to the girl's presence. Another burst of fire, this time a little further away and a short cry followed by a sickening thud, as if the casualty had fallen from a height.
"They are here," a woman's voice rang out, not one of his team, "There, over there, I can see …" the shouting was ended by three shots, as one of the girls had switched her weapon to single shot. They were obviously engaging targets at a distance now.
Nate tried to stand again, this time there was less nausea, and he wasn't as unsteady on his feet. He bent down to try to pick up his rifle, and although his side and back hurt like hell, he was able to complete that task as well. Things were looking up, he thought to himself. In the distance he heard another burst, telling him the team were making their way through the structure, heading towards the blast furnace.
There was a sudden explosion. "Fuck, where did that come from?" Came a surprise shout over the radio, "I am cut off I think." It was Piper's voice, "the walkway has just collapsed when that idiot threw the grenade."
"Make your way up to the roof, there are running boards up there that will allow you to get across and join us," came Curie's voice in response. "We will cover you," she stated.
'Right' thought Nate to himself, 'time I got involved.' Picking up his chest rig, it suddenly felt so heavy that he dropped it back on the ground and decided to fly light for the moment, detaching his small radio. He then removed two magazines from his ammo pouches and slipping them into his pockets of his Sirius suit, he headed off into the iron works main building.
Stepping over the bodies of two of the scorched, he moved swiftly up towards the far end of the building. Nate crept up on to a gangplank that looked like it led off to the left and up to an office complex of some sort. Automatic gun fire from further down the far end of the building told him the girls were still encountering some opposition.
"I am pinned down," Piper's voice came over the radio, her tone betraying some real concern for her current situation.
Nate looked up and could see the running boards that the girls were talking about earlier. He calculated that by climbing from his current position he may well be able to get up to them without being seen. That was if he didn't fall, he thought to himself, as he was still feeling decidedly odd since being given Curies special mixture of god knows what. Deciding to risk his drowsy state, he began to climb, the urgency in Piper's voice pushing him on. Yes, the girls were going to get one hell of a blistering when he got his hands on them next for missing that raider in the carpark, but he was not about to let any harm come to them in this god forsaken hole.
Nate began the climb slowly and after a few close calls he half crawled and half pulled himself up on to the boards. Not the most graceful of climbs, but he was safe and in the perfect position to help Piper. Lying in the prone position and taking up his rifle, he spotted Piper crouched behind an oil drum on a small piece of walkway, now hanging on its own in the middle of the roof. Below her was one of the large vats of molten metal. Since the grenade had taken out all but two of the braces from the walkway, her position looked very precarious.
Looking beyond her, he could see Cait and Curie flat up against a wall on the ground floor, below a set of stairs that would take them up to the entrance of the blast furnace. Above them were two scorched guarding the same entrance with another two up on the second part of the gangway that Piper was on. Nate could see the girls were in a tight spot. The problem he had now was which target should he hit first? If he took out the two raiders on the walkway, then the other two could take cover and vice versa. Then he had an idea.
"Piper, keep still, I'm behind you," Nate whispered into his mic, "Cait and Curie, on my mark run forward until you are underneath the walkway with the two raiders. As soon as you get there empty a magazine each up underneath them. The metal of the walkway will stop some bullets but not all."
"We are pinned down, genius, if we show our arses now we will get them shot off by the two above us," Cait shot back a snarky comment.
"No, you won't, I have them." Nate responded, "Plus, I think we have had enough of our party getting shot for one day, don't you think?" Nate couldn't help being sarcastic. He slowed his breathing and took aim at the first of the two standing by the furnace entrance. They were shifting back and forth in front of each other, so he knew that if he was careful, he might be able to get them both at the same time. He waited and slowed his breathing. "Stand by, ladies." Nate warned. The two raiders crossed briefly, and Nate let off a shot, a small puff of pink mist the only sign he had struck the first one in the head. When they both dropped, he knew he had hit them both, the bullet travelling through the first raiders head to strike the second. "Now!" he shouted. The girls ran to the position Nate had indicated and began firing up above them to the walkway housing the two final raiders in this part of the factory. Sparks flew and ricochets could be heard but Nate could see both of them hit multiple times.
"Cease fire," he ordered, and the girls stopped firing. "Well done, that's all of them in this part, just the blast furnace left," he stated as he stood and waved at Piper, "you ok?" he asked over the radio. He could see her nod as she began to make her way down to the ground floor to join Cait and Curie. Choosing to use the ladder this time, Nate also made it down to the girls.
"How are you feeling?" asked a concerned Curie, "you shouldn't be walking about yet let alone coming to our rescue… again."
"I'm fine," Nate forced a smile. He was starting to feel very unsteady on his feet and his vision was closing in from the sides.
"My knight in shining armour, strikes again, thank you Blue." Piper placed a hand on his arm. Looking at his pale complexion, she also took on a concerned look. "Are you sure you are ok?"
Nate rubbed his face with his hands, which cleared his vision and shook his head, "Yeah, just a bit spaced out, but I'm fine, I really am." He stated, only half believing what he was saying. "Come on, let's go get Jake."
The team formed up outside the huge doors of the blast furnace. They could hear sounds of raised voices from within but couldn't make out what was being said. Seeing that there was no other way in and knowing the boss of the group as well as Jake was in there, Nate decided he would open the door and just wander in. What could be the worse thing that happens, he had already been shot once today, he thought to himself.
The double doors opened just in time for a plea and a scream to be heard as the leader of the scorched used Abrahams heirloom to decapitate a prisoner that was kneeling next to him. He casually dropped the remainder of the body into the main pool of molten metal. The room was a series of steel walkways surrounding a huge vat of glowing liquid metal, the super structure either side of the huge vat stretching above them and up to the roof. The walkway had stairs both sides going up to a second floor. Slag was stood on the floor above, over the other side of the vat. There were two scorched stood this side of the molten metal and one stood close to Slag. They were all carrying flamers. Jake was closest to the team as they entered. He was stood next to another kneeling prisoner, and it looked like they were getting ready to dispatch him as well.
"If he tries to leave, kill him," ordered Slag as he dropped the head he had just severed into the molten pool in front of him. Looking over to Nate and the team, he said, "you must be pretty strong to make it here."
Nate, feeling crappy and in no mood for posturing, opted for the straight-talking approach. "It was easy." He replied.
"Most of them were never going to be worth forging in the first place," Slag continued, "see Jake, here's someone who might actually be worth my time, unlike you."
"But I brought everything that you asked me for," Jake responded.
"Stealing things from your family farm doesn't actually prove your strength, boy." Slag snapped back. "Although this wonderful sword you brought me does put me in the mood to give you one last chance to prove your worth, whaddya say?" The boss of the scorched continued. "Kill that prisoner and prove that you aren't completely useless."
"You said we would be raiding outside of the commonwealth. These people aren't even a threat to us." Jake pleaded.
"Prove to me you can kill," Shouted Slag. "It's him or you."
"Oh god, what do I do?" Jake looked at Nate.
"Walk away Jake, you don't have to do this," Nate answered him firmly.
"Please let me go," Pleads the settler on his knees next to Jake.
"What's it gonna be Jake," taunts Slag.
"You're right, I don't want to do this," Jake decides, speaking softly. He looks up to Slag, "I don't want to join the forged, I just want to go home."
"Last chance, Jake, if you don't kill the prisoner before I count to three, it's over." Responds Slag, clearly enjoying the moment. "One," he began counting. Nate caught out of the corner of his eye the girls slowly bringing their weapons to bear on the different targets in the room. "Two," he continued, "Three," the last number shouted. Then all hell broke loose.
Curie, who was over Nates left shoulder fired at one of the two forged on the same level as them, killing the raider in a burst of automatic gun fire. At the same time, and on Nates right, Piper lunged and grabbed Jake, pulling him back as she fired her rifle, holding it with only one hand, pointing it towards the second raider on her level. That raider also died in a hail of bullets. Cait, who was behind Nate and Piper, aimed her weapon over the other side of the molten metal lake and up to the two remaining scorched members. Two head shots dropped the raider on the right leaving Slag to Nate. As Slag was wearing power armour, Nate knew this would take a little bit of time, thankfully the idiot only had a sword in his hand. Nate began the duel by firing at Slags head, trying for a lucky strike. Even though Slag wasn't wearing a helmet, the angle of Nates shots upwards, meant they all bounced off the breast plate of the power armour. Nate saw his only chance was to run up the stairs and meet Slag face to face. He took the steps two at a time and bounded up to the second floor, followed close behind by Cait. Piper and Curie started undoing the binds on the surviving settlers hands and seeing to Jake.
Nate arrived at the second level and again fired a burst into Slags armour before stepping back to block a vicious blow from the flaming sword. "Down!" shouted Cait from behind, and instinctively Nate dropped down on one knee. Cait vaulted over Nates back, using his shoulders as a springboard. She flew over the top of the amazed looking Slag, impaling her dagger into his right eye, and landing on her feet on the other side. Slag tottered for a moment and then collapsed in a heap, the flaming sword slipping from his hand.
"Now that was impressive," Nate blew out a breath, "can I watch that again in slow motion?" he smiled.
"Nothin' to it," Cait threw a smile back. "Sorry, I know running up your back in its current state must have hurt." She grimaced.
"I'm good," Nate lied, but witnessing that move was worth the pain.
The team made quick work of stripping the dead scorched of anything useful. They then searched the remainder of the complex and found a few items of worth stored away in a red steamer trunk, obviously Slags own stash of weapons and armour. As soon as they were done and loaded up, they headed back to Finch's Farm. Nate carried as much as he could but twice on the short walk back, he had to stop to catch his breath. When they arrived back to the farm, the family were delighted. Abigail Finch had a few stern words with both father and son and soon the family were fully reunited. Abraham offering the team the sword as payment for the return of his son, and for ignoring him and returning Jake back alive.
As the family celebrated Nate made his way to their temporary camp and sat heavily on his bed roll. Cait came over to help him off with his kit. Curie joined Cait and was soon fussing over him, ensuring he was comfortable and checking the huge bruises that had appeared on his back and sides.
"Right," Nate stated weakly, "we need to have a discussion about what … happened … earlier," He lay back, releasing a deep breath as he sunk into the soft folds of his sleeping bag. By the time Piper had joined them, and the girls had stashed all their kit, a sound of soft snoring came from the sleeping figure of their commander.
"I am not looking forward to that discussion," Curie said softly.
"Nah, he's just sore, that's all," Cait dismissed. "So, we didn't check behind us, no big deal, we can't be everywhere all at once." Piper and Curie glanced at each other nervously, they were not convinced.