Adventure Time © Pendleton Ward/Cartoon Network
Fallout © Bethesda/Interplay
Aiden stared with wide eyes and a slack jaw. What was once Marceline,
was now some kind of Bat Beast just as big as the lizard monster charging at them.
"m-ma-Marcy?"
The Bat Beast briefly turned to look at Aiden, showing its bat-like face.
Aiden stared at its inhuman eyes... and saw some hint of the woman she knew.
The Bat Beast frowned, before turning back to face the charging lizard beast.
Both creatures roared before colliding into each other, and engaging in a fierce battle.
The Lizard Beast tried to slash at the Bat Beast, but the dark fur of her torso was too thick to penetrate.
The Bat Beast instead grasped the curved horns of the Lizard Beast, and steered it in a perfect circle.
The Bat Beast threw the Lizard Beast into the wreckage of a car and proceeded to strike at it with lightning fast movements.
The whole time this was going on, Aiden just stood frozen. Not out of fear this time, but in shock and awe.
He knew that as a Vampire, Marceline could most likely turn into a bat
like in those old horror movies, and comic books that he read as a kid.
But he wasn't expecting Marcy's bat form to look anything like this.
She was twice the size of a bear, and literally manhandling this... Dinosaur looking thing!
Aiden was then jolted from his thoughts once the Lizard Beast got an opportunity,
and performed and uppercut with it's own head, stunning 'Marcy' for a moment.
It then whipped it's reptilian tail, knocking Marcy off balance.
As it pinned the bat creature down, and looked ready to bite her... Aiden had an instant reaction.
((*BLAM!, BLAM!, BLAM!*))
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER, YOU MONSTER!" shouted Aiden, firing his 10mm Pistol.
This distracted the Lizard Beast, who now forgot all about its opponent
and now set its sights on the small human that was just annoying it with its bullets.
"uh-oh." spoke Aiden, now realizing his error in judgement.
The Lizard Beast roared and lunged at Aiden, who did his best to evade the beast.
But he wasn't fast enough, as the creature managed to grab him.
"AAARRGH!" cried out Aiden, feeling his bones cracking in the grip of the giant reptile.
Dogmeat then lunged, clamped it's jaws onto the lizard beast's neck.
Unfortunately, the dog was little match for the giant reptile, which grabbed the dog and threw both it, and Aiden several feet away.
it was then at this moment that Marcy (still in her Bat Beast form)
tackled the lizard beast from behind and sunk her claws into its softer underbelly.
Wasting no time, she bit into its neck with her massive fangs that manage to pierce its scaley hide.
The reptile let out a shriek as its blood was slowly drained, reducing it to a withered husk within moments.
(("SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"))
The Bat Beast let out a screech of triumph as it tossed the remains of her fallen foe away.
a soft whine, however, restored her clarity... and she looked where Aiden and Dogmeat were.
a look that could only she shock and fear instantly formed on the Bat Creature's face
upon seeing the dog licking the face of the downed human, trying in vain to get him up.
The Bat Beast leapt over... and quickly shifted back into the familiar form of Marceline.
"Aiden... AIDEN!" exclaimed Marceline, scared.
Aiden groaned, wincing in pain on the ground. "oh... G-GOD. ev-ever... rry... thh-thing... HURTS!"
Marceline knelt down and tried to tend to Aiden, but he yelped like an injured animal just from being touched.
"AAH!"
"SORRY!, I-I didn't mean... oh Grob, whadda I-"
Marceline looked around, but found that not only was her satchel missing, but Aiden's rucksack too.
This was NOT good, as apart from all the supplies that they had gathered today
All their StimPaks were also packed in them, which Aiden desperately needed RIGHT NOW!
"Oh, Grob!, or Glob!, or Golb!" stammered Marceline, panicking.
Marceline was at a loss of what to do.
She could search for the lost pack and bag, but Aiden needed help RIGHT NOW
and couldn't afford to wait for her to search the area to find their missing inventory
Not to mention the very real threat of more of those Zombies lurking nearby,
which also meant she couldn't leave Aiden where he was to go look for them anyway.
Should she take him back to the Red Rocket?
It would be safer, but there were no medical supplies back there.
And since touching Aiden only caused him more pain, it wasn't worth the risk moving him.
Shelter would be better, but Aiden NEEDED healing.
("frock!, if only my Vampire Powers worked in reverse...") thought Marceline, angrily.
("even my demonic powers are useless. I can only DRAIN the life from others, not HEAL them.")
Never had Marceline hated the fact that she was a Half-Demon Vampire more than right now.
((*ARF-ARF!*))
Marceline looked at Dogmeat, who was making loud barks.
The Dog was acting fidgety, and sprinted off before stopping to look back at Marceline.
"you... You want me to follow you?" inquired Marceline.
((*WOOF!*))
It seemed crazy to entrust a dog over something as dire as this.
But Marceline knew from personal experience that sometimes
Dogs were smarter than people give them credit for, and knew what they were doing.
"okay... we'll follow you." said Marceline, who then looked down to Aiden.
"aiden... I need to carry you. I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt."
Aiden looked up at Marceline like she was an angel sent from heaven. "do... wa-what you m-must. I... t-trust you."
Marceline frowned as she knelt down and tried her best to slip her arms under Aiden as gently as possible.
But regardless of how careful she was, Aiden still winced and hissed air through his teeth.
Aiden was trying hard to suppress his pain and not make any noises that would upset Marceline.
But as she lifted his body up, she couldn't stop himself from letting out a sharp yell of agony.
"AAARRGH!"
Marceline grimaced, feeling her undead, demonic heart ache at Aiden's suffering.
though she had mastered suppressing her emotions well after 1000 years of life,
she still possessed human compassion and empathy for other people, even if she didn't always show it.
"it's gonna be okay, addie." whispered Marceline, her voice soft. "...you'll be okay."
Marceline floated up and followed Dogmeat as he ran past some buildings and exited the town.
As Marceline flew into a vast, open field. she looked down at Aiden...who was still wincing in pain.
Wanting to give Aiden (as well as herself) some comfort, she began to vocalize in her throat.
Music was the one thing that always calmed her in times of great stress, and she hoped it would do the same for Aiden.
Eventually, words formed in her mind and she started to sing to Aiden in a soft, almost angelic voice...
"I walked across, an empty land... I knew the pathway like the back of my hand.
I felt the earth, beneath my feet... Sat by the river and it made me complete.
Oh, simple thing... where have you gone? I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when... you're gonna let me in. I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin.
I came across, a fallen tree. I felt the branches of it looking at me.
Is this the place... we used to love? Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?
Oh, simple thing... where have you gone? I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on.
So, tell me when... you're gonna let me in. I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin.
And if you have a minute, why don't we go. Talk about it, somewhere only we know.
This could be the end of everything. So why don't we go, Somewhere only we know?
...Somewhere only 'we' know."
Marceline briefly looked at Aiden, who while still wincing in pain, was breathing steadily.
He looked up at Marceline... and forced himself to smile at her, despite his physical agony.
Marceline smiled back at Aiden. though a tear formed in her eye, She then continued her song.
"Oh simple thing... where have you gone? I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when... you're gonna let me in? I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin.
And if you have a minute, why don't we go? Talk about it, somewhere only we know.
This could be the end of everything. So why don't we go?... So why don't we go?...
Ah-ah-ah... Ah-ah-ah...
This could be the end of everything... So why don't we go...
...Somewhere only we know?
...Somewhere only we know?
...Somewhere only we know?"
It wasn't long until Dogmeat led Marceline into what she could only describe as 'The Countryside'
She followed the dog into an open field that seemed to go on for miles.
Looking ahead, Marceline noted that she was going in the direction of old an Transmission Tower.
Dogmeat barked as he sprinted ahead straight towards the rusted landmark.
Marceline resisted the urge to go faster, worried that the increase in speed would injure Aiden further.
Eventually she approached the tower... Where she found what looked like a farm of some kind,
with a wooden, makeshift shack built around the base of the metal tower.
It was clear to Marceline that this was no ruin, and someone actually lived here.
(*CHIK!*)
Marceline's sharp ears twitched at the telltale sound of a gun clicking.
She looked, and saw a middle-aged man aiming a shotgun right at her.
"That's close enough, Stranger." spoke the Farmer "What is your business here?"
Marceline was both relieved and alarmed to see this. She quickly knelt down in an attempt to not appear threatening.
"please sir... I m-mean you no harm. b-but my-, He's hurt...
We were attacked by... SOMETHING!, I don't know what. I... I don't know where else to go."
Before the Farmer could give a response, a middle-aged woman wearing a sunhat approached... with Dogmeat.
(*ARF-ARF!*) Dogmeat ran over, and licked Marceline on the cheek.
It was at this moment that the woman (most likely the Farmer's wife)
marched up, grabbed the barrel of her husband's shot gun and pulled it down.
"Put that thing away, Pa. They ain't no threat to us." said the Woman.
"You sure, Martha? That girl looks mighty strange ta' me." retorted the Farmer.
"Landsakes, Johnathan. Ev'ry one in these parts look a little weird." argued the woman.
"sides, Look how Ol' Bandit is taking to her. You know that dog never does that with just anyone."
This was apparently enough to convince Johnathan, who lowered his gun.
Martha then walked up to Marceline, and looked at her with a very grandmotherly face.
"Sorry 'bout that, hon." spoke Martha, her voice tender. "my husband can be jumpier
than a long tailed cat in'a room fulla rock'in chairs, sometimes."
Marceline forced herself to chuckle. "ye-yeah, I get it. can't be too careful."
"Now, let's git you and yer' boyfriend inside."
Marceline blushed at the woman's statement. However, Aiden's groaning convinced her to not bother correcting her.
Instead, she rushed Aiden towards the shack with Dogmeat close behind.
Johnathan and Martha opened the door, allowing the Vampire Queen inside.
If not for the current situation, Marceline would've noted how cozy it looked inside.
She sprinted over to a long couch and gently laid Aiden down upon it.
Aiden winced as pain shot through his body again. Marceline then gently caressed his face.
"it's gonna be okay, addie. these people are going to help you."
"p-p-people?..." muttered Aiden, apparently confused over his surroundings.
Martha walked up with a bag in hand.
The woman opened it, revealing a variety of medical supplies. She grabbed a single StimPak, and injected it into Aiden's arm.
"that should fix th' worst of it." began Martha. "Let me know if there are any other ailments."
Aiden hissed through his teeth, groaning as he felt his bones cracking again.
He then let out a gasp as his body went numb... and then let out a sharp breath of relief.
"Aiden?" spoke Marceline, concerned.
Aiden opened his eyes and looked up at Marceline.
...he then smiled weakly.
"hey marcy..." spoke Aiden, his voice weak.
Marceline immediately hugged Aiden. "thank grob you're okay!, I was so scared."
"can't say it was fun for me, either." spoke Aiden. "where... are we?"
"Zimmerman Farm." spoke Martha. "I'm Martha. Th' old coot with the shotgun over there is mah' husband, Johnathan."
Johnathan topped his trucker hat to Aiden.
"We also have some youngins, but they're asleep."
"Guess again." said Johnathan, looking up.
Everyone looked to see two small children staring down from some makeshift stares.
"Dadgummit, WHY ain't you two in bed!?" spoke Martha, sternly.
"Can't sleep." spoke a young girl.
"Whose That, Mama?" asked the young boy.
Martha sighed. "Alright, come on down. Ya'll might as well meet our guests."
Aiden and Marceline watched as the two young children scampered down the stairs and approached.
Each were dressed in raggy farm clothes, which reminded Marceline of how SHE used to dress when she was a child.
"Okay, these are our kids..." began Martha. "Tommy & Mary, both are 7. Twins."
Tommy and Mary waved timidly. Aiden did his best to wave back (and Marceline did the same.)
"And what are your names, if I may ask?" spoke Martha.
"Oh. well, my name is Marceline. And this is Aiden."
"That suit... Yer' one of them Vault Dwellers, ain't 'cha?" spoke Johnathan.
"yeah... You could say I'm all that's left." spoke Aiden. "Marcy found me on ice, and let me out... that was only a day or so ago."
"on... Ice?" said Tommy, confused. "Why were you in a Refrigerator?"
Both Aiden, and Marceline nearly laughed at the boy's choice of words.
"I wasn't in a fridge EXACTLY... But, I suppose it was something similar." explained Aiden.
"My mom put me in so I would live to see the day when the world would heal itself."
"Heal itself?" spoke Martha, who was now confused as well.
Aiden paused, unsure how to explain this.
"Aiden is older than he looks." began Marceline. "He may look 18, but he's actually 216 years old.
He was only a child when the bombs dropped 219 years ago. When I found him, he had been frozen for 198 years.
His... mother did that so he would survive the fallout... she wasn't so lucky. i'm... I'm all Aiden has now."
The Zimmerman family all stared at Marceline and Aiden.
"Damn. So you're like one of them Pre-War Ghouls." spoke Johnathan.
Aiden stared at the man, genuinely confused. "Ghouls?"
"Yeah, they're everywhere in th' Wasteland." spoke Martha.
"They used to be human, but the radiation from the great war mutated them.
At first glance, they resemble Zombies from old horror movies. But they is nothing undead 'bout them."
"I think we might've ran into some of them recently." said Aiden.
"In that case, they must've been Ferals." spoke Johnathan.
"Not all Ghouls act like zombies. Some are just like you and me, and CAN be reasoned with.
But even the 'normal' Ghouls can turn feral if they take in too much radiation, which can rot out their brains."
"One of them bit me... should I be worried?" asked Aiden.
"Naw. Like Ma' said, they ain't like the Zombies from those old movies." explained Johnathan.
Aiden let out a relieved sigh. "thank god. I was worried I might turn into one for a moment."
"Just steer clear of radiation hot zones, and you won't need to worry about that." said Johnathan.
"And Rad Storms." added Martha.
Marceline and Aiden looked at the woman. "Rad Storms?"
"It's a type of weather pattern that sometimes happens in the Wasteland." began Martha.
"There exists regions of the Wasteland called 'The Glowing Sea',
They are the impact sites of the pre-war bombs that created the Wasteland as we know it.
Once, the Glowing Sea encompassed ALL of the Wasteland. But it eventually receded to the craters
However the raw radiation of the Glowing Sea sometimes sweeps over us in the form of Rad Storms.
When they happen, the sky is blotted out by a thick, green fog. a harsh wind blows, and an emerald lightning storm fills the sky.
The radiation it creates is weaker than in the Glowing Sea itself, but it can and will poison you if you don't take shelter from the storm."
Aiden's eyes were wide in shock at hearing this. "Jeez... is that REALLY the world we live in now?!"
"Wow, you really are a Vault Dweller." said Johnathan (a hint of distain in his voice.)
Martha motioned Tommy & Mary to go upstairs, which they did with reluctance.
Aiden moved on the couch, trying to get more comfortable. He groaned slightly, which made Marceline tend to him again.
"you okay, Addie?" said Marceline.
"ye-yeah... I'm just feeling a little sore is all."
"Can I ask what it was that injured you that badly?" asked Martha. "You mentioned Ghouls, but even a horde of ghouls couldn't cause that much damage."
Aiden looked at the woman. "there was some... Giant, Lizard Thing.
It looked like a cross between a Dinosaur, and a Man and had curved horns growing outwards."
"My God... That sounds like a Deathclaw." spoke Johnathan, dread in his voice.
"That certainly sounds like a proper name for whatever that thing was." said Marceline.
"It... grabbed me. It's grip was so strong, I felt every bone in my body crack!" continued Aiden, his voice shaky.
"Count yer'self lucky then, boy." said Jonathan. "Most people who run into Deathclaws suffer worse than broken bones."
"What even ARE those Deathclaw things?" asked Marceline.
"No one really knows. What we DO know is that they are the Apex Predator of the Wasteland." explained Johnathan.
"They mainly nest in th' Glowing Sea, but have been sited in other parts.
I ran into A LOT of them when I was prospecting in the Mojave. Them, and Radscorpions."
Aiden winced upon hearing the word 'Radscorpion'. And if what he knew of Radroaches was any indication,
then they certainly sounded like type of creature that he DID NOT want to encounter anytime soon.
Marceline put her hand upon Aiden once more before looking back to the Zimmerman couple.
"could you do one more favor for me?"
"Of course, dear. what is it?"
"In my rush to get Aiden medical attention, I left our supplies back in Welch." explained Marceline.
"I need to go back for them. So, could you please look after Aiden until I get back?"
"of course." said Martha.
as Marceline rose up, Aiden grabbed her hand. "be careful, marcy."
"hey... It's ME, remember?" spoke Marceline, grinning.
"I know, but... just come back safe, okay?"
Marceline smiled. she then leaned down, and gave Aiden a kiss on his head. "I won't leave you, Addie."
Aiden smiled back at her. "promise?"
Marceline drew a cross over where her heart was. "Promise."
Aiden exhaled and laid back down. Marceline then gripped her Axe-Bass and prepared to head out.
"I'll try and make this quick." said Marceline to the Zimmerman's. "Thank you for all you've done for us."
"of course, dear. If there is one thing this family believes in, it's Hospitality." said Martha.
Marceline nodded, and then finally left the shack with Dogmeat.
Once gone, Johnathan looked to Aiden. "that girl... she isn't human, is she?"
"PA!" exclaimed Martha, aggravated.
"Just asking a simple question, Martha." said Johnathan.
"If I say "Yes"... will that be a problem?" spoke Aiden, his tone wary.
"Depends... Is she dangerous?"
Martha glared daggers at her husband.
"well, that depends... Are You?" answered Aiden, half smirking.
Johnathan scowled, but let out a defeated sigh and walked away.
Martha then turned to Aiden. "I'm really sorry about that."
"It's fine... I get it." spoke Aiden. "That's just the world we live in now, isn't it?"
Martha nodded... but then looked at Aiden again. "May I ask you another question, young man?"
"sure."
"What were you and your girlfriend doing in Welch? That's a Ghost Town."
Aiden blushed at Martha's statement (but for whatever reason, decided to ignore it.)
"we were gathering supplies to prepare for a long journey." explained Aiden.
"We're headed for Stadia City, which is a LONG ways away from here."
"Good Lord, STADIA!? That is a long way to travel on your own." said Martha.
"yeah... We haven't gotten off to a good start." admitted Aiden.
"I mostly blame myself. If Marcy wasn't always saving me from danger, she'd probably be halfway there by now."
"Perhaps. But you must mean a lot to her given how desperate she was for us to help you." said Martha.
"I'm not sure why... I need her a lot more than she needs me." spoke Aiden, monotoned.
"you SURE about that?"
Aiden looked at the woman... and then noticed the large hat she is wearing.
"Can I... ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you... have another hat like that? Marcy has a... skin condition: the sun burns her.
She could really use a hat like that when we're travelling, or at least an Umbrella."
Martha looked up at her hat. "Hmm... I'm not sure. If you give me enough Caps, I might be willing to part with it."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Caps? you mean like... Baseball Caps?"
Martha's expression changed. "You mean you don't know what Caps are?"
"I'm not really sure what you mean by Caps." admitted Aiden.
"Nuke-Cola Caps." explained Martha. "They are the primary currency of the Wasteland."
Aiden widened his eyes. "OH... I see."
"So, you don't have any caps?" inquired Martha.
"sort of... I did collect some Nuka-Cola bottles in the Super Duper Mart earlier." explained Aiden.
"It isn't a whole lot, but... I guess it counts as having Caps."
"oh, you poor dear... You really aren't ready for the Wasteland."
Aiden sighed sharply. "apparently not."
Martha frowned, feeling very bad for Aiden.
[Much Later]
It was Sundown when Marceline finally returned to the Zimmerman Farm.
She was carrying both Aiden's Rucksack, and her own Satchel.
And despite her beyond human strength, were still pretty heavy to carry.
Upon opening the door, she saw Aiden was asleep and still laying on the couch.
Smiling, she dropped their bags and approached Aiden.
Resisting the urge to wake him, Marceline took a moment to look at Aiden's sleeping form.
"dang, you look so adorable when you sleep." spoke Marceline. "I almost don't want to wake you."
Marceline gently touched Aiden's face, brushing some stray hair from it.
She smiled at him, before leaning down and planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
Marceline then looked around, and noted how everyone else appeared to had gone to sleep too.
Not feeling tired, she decided to explore the farm for a bit before taking a quick nap.
But first she walked over to her satchel and opened it up.
Taking out four StimPaks, she walked over to a dining table and laid them down on an empty plate.
Marceline then quickly wrote a note on a scrap of paper and laid it on the plate.
The note read: [Thanks for Helping Aiden.]
Marceline then patted Dogmeat on the head before leaving the shack.
She floated upwards, levitating above the shack halfway up the Transmission Tower.
Hovering in place, she took a lounging posture and began to strum the strings of her Ax-Bass.
She looked up at the sky that was turning dark, with the moon glowing in the distance.
a cold wind blew as the deathly silence of the Wasteland was broken by her own music.
Marceline closed her eyes and again, let her music paint a picture in her mind.
And as usual, her mind drifted back to Ooo and all of her friends and loved ones that were out of reach.
Her mind then focused on the one she loved most of all: Bonnibel.
She shed a tear as images of the Pink Princess of the Candy Kingdom faded in and out.
But after awhile... images of Aiden started to fade into her mind as well.
They started out merged with Bonnie (almost as if Bonnie and Aiden were there together.)
but eventually, Princess Bubblegum and all of Ooo faded away... and all that remained was Aiden, and the Wasteland.
"Wise men say... only fools rush in. But I... can't help... falling in love with you." sung Marceline, softly.
"Shall I say, would it be a sin?... If I... can't help... falling in love with you.
Like a river flows, To the sea, so it goes... Some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, Take my whole life too. For I... can't help... falling in love... with you."
Marceline then stopped and opened her eyes.
she exhaled as she stared off at the distant moon that was now shining bright.
"I'm sorry Bonnie..." spoke Marceline, softly. "I'm so sorry that I'm stuck here... so far away from you.
It's my own stupid fault. I can admit that. I'll get back to you... I swear I will.
But... I fear it will take me awhile. so wait for me, girl. I'll come home one day."
Marceline then swallowed hard. "I've... met someone. Someone who I've grown to care for... like I care about you.
please don't think... of my f-feelings for him as a... b-betrayal.
I still love you Bon-Bon. I will love you even long after the sun itself implodes!
but... I think I might love him... too. I wish you could meet him, I am sure you'd like him.
He's a bit of a nerd like you (*chuckles*) well, his Mom certainly was. You would've liked her, too."
Marceline paused as she stared at the night sky.
"If what I am feeling IS wrong... then I hope you can forgive me." continued Marceline.
"I will find a way to get back to you, Bon. but, until then... you will have to share the rent with another in my heart."
Marceline strummed the strings of her Bass as she continued to stare at the night sky.
However Marceline then noticed distant movement down below.
Holstering her Axe, she focused her vision and saw what looked like a group of people approaching.
"what on earth is-"
The group then stopped, giving Marceline a better look at them.
They looks like humans, but they were wearing scraps of metal that looks spiky.
One of then lifted up what looked like a Bazooka... and aimed it right at the Shack.
"oh, you motherf-"
With a boom, the bazooka fired a rocket.
[To be Continued.]
[Author Notes]
This update came faster than I thought it would be.
For starters, I hope readers liked the brief battle between Bat Marcy and a Deathclaw.
I know it seems that the Deathclaw lost a bit too easily... But, remember: This IS Marceline we're talking about.
and if a Deathclaw can be killed by peppering it with a Minigun for a few minutes,
then a Vampire/Demon who can shapeshift will certainly bring it down eventually.
The introduction of the Zimmerman Farm was based a bit on the Abernathy Farm from Fallout 4
(one of the first farms you may encounter in that game,
which isn't very far from the Red Rocket Station.)
The Zimmerman Farm serves as a Exposition Stage to dump some more Fallout lore,
AND to have Aiden and Marceline meet some actual people who are friendly
(this won't last. In fact, the Zimmerman's may be the nicest people that "M&A" may meet.)
And yes, I did make a reference to everyone's favorite Fallout game 'New Vegas'
when I had Johnathan mention "Prospecting in the Mojave" (which DOES have a Deathclaw problem.)
For any fans of my fan pairing of Marceline and Aiden, I will get their romance started eventually.
but for the moment, I decided to pepper some of that in with Marceline having her own moment
where she muses on her current situation and comes to terms with her feelings for Aiden.
(as well as mentioning Princess Bubblegum again,
and establish that "Bubbline" is still canon in this continuity.)
and yes, I did end on yet another cliffhanger.
And yes, those are indeed Raiders
(It was only a matter of time before the "gun fodder" showed up.)