Interloper II
Sensation returned as my body forced me awake. My eyes drift open and I groan. Pushed past the exhaustion, I sit up on the bed and roll the stiffness out of my neck. A series of pops echo in my ears as the metal segments realign themselves. I stood up and then raised my hands and stretched my back. More pops follow as my reinforced spine snaps back into place.
Ugh, I felt like kicked shit. Better than yesterday, at least. The pain's more manageable now; more akin to workout fatigue than my body on the verge of falling apart. That's good.
Now it's time to explore my new home and see if there's anything valuable. Aside from the footlocker with my stuff, there's nothing in this room. Walked downstairs, I searched the kitchen for anything. I discovered a few small knives hidden in the lower cupboards. In the top drawers, I find a metal bucket stashed with a towel. Still dry too.
Good. I need to find a water source now; my throat feels like old sandpaper grating against itself. Hope there's a well nearby; if not, I can take water from the ponds in that grass area.
Bucket in hand, I left the house and scouted the surrounding area. I found a cobblestone pathway overgrown with tall grass and wildflowers. The path led to a small well in surprisingly good condition. The well looked like a recent addition, even with some vines clinging to the brick-and-mortar.
It'll serve me just fine. I attach some rope to the bucket and lower it into the well. When I pull it back up, a bucket full of crystal clear water greets me. It looks clean enough, with no foul odor emanating from it.
I lifted the bucket to my lips; took a small swig of the water and let it sit in my mouth. There was no metallic taste either, so it should be safe to drink. Bringing the bucket back to my lips, I drank my fill.
I drank enough water until the dry feeling in the back of my throat vanished. With a content sigh, I placed the bucket down, felt refreshed. Now it was time to take a bath. Fishing the bar of soap from my pocket, I placed it next to the bucket.
After a quick glance around, I strip down to my skivvies, laying the various articles of clothing down on the ground. Grabbed the bar of soap, I dunked it into the bucket and began lathering myself up. A faint floral smell filled my nose as the bar traveled up and down my scar-riddled flesh.
Each pass of the bar removed more of the dried muck. But no matter how much I try, there's always more filth to wash out. The grime reached deep beneath the skin. Ingrained too deep to ever be clean.
Lost in thought again, I pulled the rag away, then grabbed the bucket and splashed the water over my body. Got most of the lather off, a second splash got the rest. Now to get dried. Towel in hand, I did just that. The old cloth absorbed most of the water as I pat myself dry.
Clean now. Hope I don't smell anymore. Hard for me to judge on my own. I would have to go out and check for reactions. Well, no time like the present. Got dressed and made sure everything was in its right place. Revolvers were snug in their holsters, and so was my knife. With that, I walked off from the well and toward the inner city.
Next step was to find books and learn about the language and history of this place. I'll figure everything else out after, always best to take things one step at a time.
"Another boring day," she muttered to herself. Xiu glanced around the empty bookstore before she sighed and slumped against the counter. Some days this place was super packed, but others, like today, it was empty. She wondered why that was.
Was everyone just using those phonographs now? Apparently not since people still bought books, but only on certain days. Why? Her boss tried to explain it to her, but she only half listened.
'Get over here Xiu, I'm gonna go on another long-winded rant, and if you don't listen. You're fired!' Or something to that effect. She looked around the empty bookstore. She reached under the counter and pulled out a book she had been reading. Brushing her brown hair over her shoulder as she began reading where she last left off.
And just when the getting was good, the door burst open as the bell attached to it jangled. The sound reverberated across the store as she closed my book and shoved it under the counter.
"Welcome to Zhong's Books and… knick… knacks…" She felt her mouth grow dry as she saw who had stepped into the store. A tall man wearing a black coat over equally black clothes, the fabric designed to absorb as much light as possible. A pair of goggles and a bandana obscured his face, with a wide-brimmed hat covering his head.
Her eyes widened as sweat trailed down her back. In the back of her mind, she thought the man was going to rob her; he had a knife, after all. She could see it sheathed on the man's belt. As he stepped closer, she flinched and closed my eyes and waited… nothing happened.
She opened her eyes and looked around before seeing that he was… looking at the books, humming to himself in thought. "Huh?" She muttered, confused. Was… was this just some random guy who liked to cover his face? Why?
With her glasses adjusted, she got a better look at the guy. And yeah, he was tall, really tall. Taller than most people she knew. And the clothes he wore seemed… foreign, in a way she couldn't explain. She had never seen clothing like it before, it couldn't have been new. That black leather coat looked old like it had been used extensively. Same with those baggy pants and weird boots he wore.
When he picked up one book to study it she saw him take one of his gloves off, his finger traced the paper inside the book. His hand appeared as if an angry firebender had burned it and a rabid animal mauled it soon after. More horrid scars lined almost every inch of his hand. Spirits, what did the rest of him look like?
As she looked at him from across the room he picked out about six children's books and a thick leather journal. And carried them in one hand with ease, as if they weighed nothing.
She blinked before jumping in surprise at the man who was now in front of her. Somehow, he moved across the room without a sound and in the literal blink of an eye. And she noted that he seemed even bigger up close, she had to tilt her head upwards to even look him in the eye.
He then placed a giant wad of Yuan on the desk, so much money that he could buy three times as many books. "S-Sir, that's way too much Yuan, you…" She trailed off to see that he just… vanished.
She stood there for a moment, dumbfounded before she looked around. "What the?" She just kept her eyes on the money the man had left behind. "Who was that guy?"
Oh dear god, I hope that was the right amount of money to give her. Like, shit, who knew paying for something would be so nerve-racking? Well, at least I got some books now, even if I had no way to translate them into English. So I have to wing it and hope for the best.
Jeez. Eh, embarrassment is always momentary anyway. And it's not like she knows who I am. I need to focus on getting back to the hideout. Learn what I can and go from there.
And that would be so much easier if it weren't for these damn crosswalks. Tapping my foot as I watched more of the clunky loud machines lumber past. The people around me don't seem to mind them. Ignoring the noise and that god-awful smell.
More than anything, I've found that they look at me like I'm out of place. To them, I don't belong. They're not wrong. This isn't my city. And these aren't my people. And I don't care about what they think.
I just wish that these damn… it doesn't matter. After waiting a little bit longer the light turned green and the cars came to a halt. Thank god. Crossing the road I separated from the crowd and made my way back to the hideout.
Kept to myself as I walked along the cracked sidewalk, away from the crowds. The battered apartment buildings that surrounded me, looking down on me were filled with life. Lights peeking through curtains and windows, people living inside of the gray blocks. Still not used to that. Never will be, I think.
Others on the street as well, blue-collar types going home for the day. Grease-stained clothes and aching muscles, tired looks in their eyes as they shuffle home. Men, women, and children alike all worn from a hard day's labor. Compared to the grime-covered vagrants and street urchins hiding in the alleyways, they have it easy. At least they have a home to go back to and a steady source of food.
I can empathize with them, the homeless. I know what it's like to sleep in the wild, alone and surrounded by hostile elements. Too bad the civilized folk don't seem to care about them, the tools tossed aside in the ever-onward march of progress.
Nothing I can do to help them, not enough resources to even try. My mind turns blank as I walk. My body's on auto-pilot so I can ignore their pleading eyes.
Eventually, I make it back to base, books in hand as I cross the threshold into the small house.
Glancing around the living room I nodded to myself, nothing changed while I was gone. Good. After confirming that I went upstairs and sat down on the bed. Opened the first children's book I bought and the journal. Pulling out a pencil I had taken I wrote down each letter in the book. Trying to pronounce it as I went along. Key word, trying.
This book is very simple, I think it's the characters of the language itself. Single words for toddlers just learning to read. And there sure were a fucking lot of them. No use complaining, just get it over with. The repetitive motion of copying each character down, making sure to get each line right was mind-numbing. Like I'm back at school, writing an essay on some president or another. Except this time I'm doing so in a foreign language.
Ugh. Fucking Nimrod.
Regardless, I continued with my endeavor until I managed to copy down each character and its English translation. At least, what I believe they mean in English, given the very helpful pictures next to each character. I assume that each character is what the things in the pictures are called. But then again, it might just be a big practical joke they play on dumb kids.
Shaking my head I move on to the next book, this one more of the same but I continue on regardless. Wrote down each character and their presumed meaning next to it in the journal. Wearing the pencil down with each stroke on the paper.
One funny thing I noticed is that both books seem to combine some animals into one thing. Probably to save on paper for pages. But it's fun, kids would like that kind of stuff. Silly combinations like 'Badger Mole' and 'Platypus Bear'. Heh. Who comes up with this? So… wacky…
"... God, I am so bored."
I hate myself for thinking this but something, hell; ANYTHING Should have happened by now. Is this my kidnappers' goal? Just to make me bored out of my mind? Drop me here and then just leave me to learn kindergarten-level Chinese while doing fuck all else? What's their endgame? Why am I here?
Tch. Guess I'll only know when they contact me again. And until then I have other needs I have to attend to. Namely, that my stomach is growling at me. My body demanded I get a meal.
Well, at least now I have an excuse to get out again. I stood up and stretched, with that I left the house once more and slammed the door behind me as I made my way back to the city.
Hidden amongst the crowds I make it closer to my destination, the goal my body desires. I walked towards something of interest I had seen yesterday.
After a few hours of skulking through increasingly familiar streets back to the… Grass area. I soon stood in a line of other people, the smell of fried food filling my nose. No clue what kind of food I would be served, but it can't be anywhere as bad as radroach meat.
Hmm. Long line, but it's the only food 'vendor' I know of in this city so it's my best bet. Glancing back at the grass area or the… 'park' I think it's called. Deeper in I can see the large central pond of the area and a large ornate fountain inside it. Spewing crystal-clear water from gilded fish statues. A pang of envy formed inside me as I watched the clean water flow into the pong
Dozens of civilians walk across the cobblestone walkways around the park, more sitting on green benches dotted across the park. Not a single one noticed the water. Wasn't worth the attention outside a brief glance.
It's… disgusting. Such a tasteless symbol with no real meaning to it. To these people? An empty gesture.
One that almost every single person in the wasteland would kill for. To these people that water is nothing more than decoration. A waste of space just to look pretty. Guess that's the difference, these people never had to struggle like I had to. Like my people had to. So fragrant in their wasteful attitude while others are dying of thirst just across the pond.
Oh well, no use crying over wasted water. The line slowly dissipated, the fountain in the background still mocking me even as I got closer to my goal. Not much I can do about it, not now anyway.
I focused my attention back on the cart, seeing someone order a meal. The woman manning the cart loaded a paper box with some rice and then some mystery meat. I could see the man in front of me pull out four slips of the pink money before handing it to her. Interesting.
With his meal in hand, the man walked off, allowing me to stroll up to her cart. The faster I get my food, the faster I can get back to planning. And leave this eyesore of a city behind once and for all.
The middle-aged woman operating the cart narrowed her eyes as I walked up to her. She crossed her arms as she stared at my goggles, a large frown on her lips. Looking down at her cart I could see a selection of meats covered in some kind of sauce along with a big tray of yellow rice sitting atop the cart.
"Hǎo ba, nǐ xiǎng yào shénme?" Those words came out, a question. Instead of replying I pointed at some fried meat covered in a red sauce and raised my hand, holding up all five fingers. I hope she'll understand.
The woman raised an eyebrow before scoffing and grabbing a paper box from underneath the cart before looking up at me again. "Nǐ yào pèi mǐfàn ma?"
Another question, hmm, I just nodded my head at her. The woman then grabbed a large metal spoon and began filling the box with yellow rice. Once she was satisfied with the amount she had stuffed in, she set the spoon down and picked up some tongs. She then grabbed five pieces of meat and placed them on top of the rice. With that, she closed the box and looked at me.
"Nà jiāng shì èrshí yuán." I nodded at her, pretending I knew what she said before I reached into my pocket and pulled out four slips of the same pink paper. I then handed it to her. The woman nodded and put the money away, allowing me the opportunity to walk off. Food in hand I made my way to one of the benches in the park, steering clear of other people before I found a secluded one.
Far away from any crowds, just a few people here and there. With that, I took off one of my gloves before lowering my mask. Grabbing a piece of meat the sauce clung to my fingertips. I could smell onions, garlic, and some kind of hot pepper emanating from the sauce. I then placed the meat inside my mouth, chewing slowly and savoring the sweet and spicy flavor.
Huh. It tastes like Brahmin but… different somehow. I can't quite place my finger on why it tastes different; what with sauce in the way.
Something to note for later.
Continuing on with my meal, I find my eyes drifting to the pale blue sky. The sun's shining gaze was hidden behind a massive puffy white cloud. So different from the Mojave, the overbearing heat that pierces through even concrete.
This place's weather is more comforting, a small ever-present breeze that cools me down wonderfully. And the heat was just enough to balance that breeze out. It's a pleasant change of pace.
Same with this sauce. I'd have to figure out the recipe for it. And then slather it all over everything when I get back to the Mojave. That tangy, almost sweet aspect of the sauce balanced itself perfectly against the power of whatever peppers used in it; rounded out by garlic, onions, and what I think is ginger.
The rice was nothing to write home about, however; it did prove to be a nice side for the meat. Helps keep the taste buds from being overwhelmed.
Better than the… wait. I'm being watched. I can feel it. Somewhere out there, someone's got their eyes on me. Tossing the box aside, I stood up and glanced around the park for anyone who stood out.
There he was. I got a brief glance at him. A man in a business suit disappeared into the crowd as soon as I saw him. I need to get out of here, there might be more people watching me right now.
Making my way out of the park I kept a brisk pace, still feeling watched as I made it to one of the crosswalks out of the park. And of course, a wall of people was blocking my path. All of them were waiting for the steady stream of cars to stop.
Screw that, I began to pick up the pace, heading into a dead sprint as I rushed the crowd of people. Some turned towards me wide-eyed as I got closer, some flinching as I was practically right on top of them. Tensing my legs I leaped over the small group, my momentum carrying me across as I landed in the middle of the street.
Didn't have time to stop, another car was speeding towards me, the driver dumbfounded at my sudden appearance no doubt. I dove towards the other end of the street, rolling to soften the impact. Now across the street I stood up and continued to sprint away, glancing behind me I could see a brief glimpse of the man following me disappearing into the crowd.
Sneaky prick. I need to make it back and fast, I do not want a confrontation out in the open. Who knows how many other operatives are in the area, my best bet is to make them come to me. Bog them down in close quarters.
Turning a corner I got closer to my hideout but then I paused, shit, so stupid of me. It has to be a trap, they're leading me like a damn dog. Glancing around I saw a manhole cover in the middle of the street nearby.
No cars thankfully so I rushed over to it and lifted the cast iron cover with ease. With it out of the way I jumped on the ladder leading deeper into the sewer. Pulling the cover back into place I then descended down the ladder.
A slight thud reverberates across the sewer as my boots hit the wet concrete below. Glancing around I can't see or sense anyone nearby, I'm alone. Good. I begin heading forward, keeping a brisk pace while being aware of my surroundings.
Keeping my eyes peeled for any sudden changes in the sewer. Hmm, this place is surprisingly well-maintained too. Makes sense, wouldn't do for a 'civilized' society to empty the latrines in random pits.
Wait, up ahead there's a person. Narrowing my eyes to try and make it out in the dark I can see a stairway leading up to a room. Someone moving inside, doing something. Creeping closer to the door I make my way up the steps.
Taking care not to make any sounds as I make it up the steps. Once close enough, I slowly open the door, taking a peek inside. The room appears to be some kind of storage area. Dozens of bottles containing various soaps and chemicals lining steel shelving units. Pushed up against the wall right next to mops and brooms hanging from racks.
Inside was a single man who wore a dirty blue jumpsuit, he sat at a beaten up wooden table and listened to something on the radio. Not music, just a lot of talking about something. A fight, I think. Closing the door behind me the man didn't notice as I entered the room.
Taking careful deliberate steps as I got closer to the janitor, close enough for me to grab him into a chokehold. The man jumps before he begins to struggle, the chair he's on being tossed aside as he kicks his legs wildly. His calloused hands tried and failed to pry his neck free.
After a moment of futile resistance, his body loosens as he drifts into unconsciousness. The man is unresponsive aside from his chest rising and falling slightly with every breath. With that, I drag him to a corner and gently place him on the floor with his back against the wall. I search his body for anything useful, finding a key ring with dozens of keys on it and a matchbook. I pocket both.
With that taken care of I take another look around the room, there are two doors on the opposite ends of the room. The one I just took leads into the sewers and the other one leads into who knows where.
Hmm. Taking the chair I prop it against the door leading into the sewer, hopefully it will delay any stalkers by a moment or two. I then flip the table on its side and drag it to the other door. Hiding behind the table I unholster Sweet Revenge and keep an eye on the door across the room.
Waiting for someone, anyone to try and break through. For many people, this would be agony. The long dreadful wait for the enemy to come to them. It unnerves them. Makes it easier to get sloppy. For me, it's different. There's something exhilarating in the long wait. The building tension until that sweet chaotic release. It keeps me sharp.
I gripped the handle of my revolver, trying to keep my body under control as I kept my eyes locked on the door and my ears open for anyone who may be coming. For any sudden movement.
Three minutes pass, and nothing, not yet. But I can tell someone's there; they're waiting for something or someone. They don't wish to make the first move, knowing the danger of entering a room like this with someone like me in it.
However they… What?! Unsheathing Blood-Nap I sprang to my full height and spun around, thrusting the blade into… nothing?
That's… but someone… someone was there! I knew someone was right there behind me. It… it doesn't make sense. Sheathing both blade and revolver I looked down at the floor. And I don't know what I was expecting. It was a note, another one.
… How? There are very few people that can sneak up on me like that, and most of those people are dead now. So… how? God… I'll figure that out later. Picking up the note I began to read its contents.
"Greetings Courier Six, I know that you require more time to adjust to your new surroundings. However, it is with great dismay that things have become complicated far quicker than anticipated. There is good news, but first, you must strike any would-be puppets of the interlopers. You must kill the triad boss 'Lightning Bolt Zolt' and weaken the Triple Threat Triad. This must be done before the end of the week. His main hideout has been marked on your map back at your home. Good luck Courier.'
Ah, so that's how it is. These 'people' need my skills now and not later. Keeping me in the dark as to the 'why' and 'how' of things. Why does this 'Zolt' guy need to be killed? Same with the 'triple threat' triad, real creative names by the way. But more importantly, why me?
These people have someone who could sneak up on me and get away before I could react. Anyone capable of doing that is more than capable of dealing with some random thugs.
Whatever, not the first time I've done blood work for a shady group. They weren't the first to underestimate me, and they won't be the last. They'll learn too. In time.
There's also another thing to consider, if these sewers are anything like sewers in the U.S there could be a lot of good hiding spots scattered about. Easy to disappear in and out of at any time.
Heh, another project to consider. For now, I better get to work. No longer do I need the man's keys so I just tossed them at his unconscious form and went back to the sewer. It'd be a smart idea to scout this place further, in a city like this the sewers would be the safest place to be in.
Something for later, after a quick glance around I spotted another ladder that led back to the surface. Convenient, well, gift horses and all that. Scaled the ladder with ease and ever so gently pushed the manhole cover out of place. A quick peek around informed me that this cover led to a large parking lot.
A half dozen large trucks were parked here, some enormous warehouse nearby. Those trucks remind me of the ones the NCR would use to transport supplies… if these are anything like those trucks then…
Didn't have to wait long as a worker opened one of the opened one of the truck's cargo holds. Boxes full of brand-new tools and oh-so-precious resources waited for me inside. Heh, lady luck smiles on me once more.
"And you're sure you saw nothing?" He had to ask, just one more time. Still unable to believe what he had been told.
"Yes! How many more times do I have to tell you!? I opened the truck, turned around to grab a crowbar, and then 'poof' everything was gone!" The worker in front of him repeated, getting more annoyed each time.
The officer sighed as he looked at the man before he glanced at his notepad, every witness had said the same thing. They looked away from the truck for a moment and were greeted by open crates with nothing inside them.
Whoever did this must have been invisible. That's the only explanation for this downright bizarre robbery. He glanced at the Future Industries building, the large white porcelain tower dominating the skyline in its corner of the city. From what a manager had told him, they were expanding the building slightly by adding another workshop to meet rising demands.
It must have been someone who knew the shipment was coming, striking at just the right time at the right moment. Could it be corporate sabotage? If it were anything else he'd say yes. But this? It's so… absurd.
Regardless of that, there was something else the officer needs to know. Something important as he looked down at the manifest of all the stolen items. "Who the hell can carry a lathe AND a forge on their back with no one noticing?"
"That's what I'm saying!"
I hate stealing, honest. I felt rather bad about taking everything from the vehicle. However, I needed a lot more than some corporation did. Besides, I'll put everything to good use.
I just need to wait for the molds to cool down. Cast iron takes a while after all. But I've got time. Just need to focus on carving the wood out. Blood-nap shaving off bits of oak as I form one handle for the mold.
It's a time-consuming process, but I'm patient and it's anything but boring. I was shaving off the unneeded parts, forcing it to conform to my needs and wearing it down with each stroke of the knife—slow and deliberate motions.
After I was satisfied, I set Blood-nap aside and grabbed some sandpaper. Smoothing out the rough edges, breathing new life into the wood. Giving it purpose beyond just 'being' something. A tool that serves and asks nothing in return.
Finished with my task, I set the handle aside and got started on the second handle for the soon-to-be mold. Every tool needs multiple parts to function. A hammer needs a handle and vice versa. They complete each other and make a whole piece. Just like how a tool needs someone to wield it, people give meaning to tools.
However, people would not survive without them. Tools give just as much meaning to people. Without the right tools, human civilization would have never formed. We'd still be apes crawling around in caves, scared of the dark and what lies in it.
People and tools are one and the same, without the other they are useless. And then there's… ah, ouch. Holding up my hand I can see a faint cut through the glove, a drop of blood seeping through.
It appears I've accidentally cut myself, too lost in thought, and I let it happen. How silly of me. Looking at the wound, I can see the slight cut on the thumb slowly knit itself together again. My body's weird like that.
Oh well, even if I resist it I'll go back to meaningless musing, regardless. Just need to keep my focus next time. Looking down at the handle it's mostly done, just needs to be sanded like the other one.
Grabbing the sandpaper I once again began sanding it down. Where was I? Ah, tools. People are like tools, they can be used to do anything in the right hands. And if they're broken? They can be tossed aside and replaced. No use for a tool that doesn't do its job.
With the second handle sanded down I set it aside and looked at the sand molds the cast iron is in. Resting my head on my hand as I looked at it, the metal reformed in the fiery crucible. Made to be something new, something better.
Grabbing my stolen hammer I pried the nails of the wooden box free, and with that, I forced it open. The compact sand shifted somewhat without the wood to keep it in place. Brushing the sand aside the rough cast iron mold greeted me. The two blocks are rough and unrefined, but they're almost there. One step closer.
After that, well, I need to plan some more. Know my enemy and if they deserve to die. Maybe, maybe not. One thing's for certain, they're not ready for what's coming.
AN: Hello everybody, it's me, I'm back. Sorry for the long wait, I'll try and be faster with the next chapter. Key word, try, I can't really promise anything since I seem to be stuck in a perpetual rut. But's whatever, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and if you have any questions. Be sure to ask.