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[color=35b8aa]”So where are you from stranger?[/color] 

[color=darkorange]”The next city over.”[/color]

[color=35b8aa]”You came this far on foot? You must be one of those AB types then. Did you come for business or are you just looting?”[/color]

[color=darkorange]”I need to replace a window in my house.”[/color]

[color=35b8aa]”Hey, I guess that makes you a window shopper then!”[/color]

[color=darkorange]”...”[/color]

In a strange turn of fate, Dallas was currently linked up with the party in the pickup truck. Their leader noticed Mr. Navy Seal holding him at gunpoint and called the guy off immediately. Apparently the strangers had been attacked by bandits a few days ago, which had made their bodyguard a little paranoid and trigger happy. As a form of apology for troubling Dallas, the scavengers offered to give him a ride in their technical for a while. The big revenant was now laid down in the back of the truck keeping the gunner company. Her cringey sense of humor was testing his patience, but she was nice otherwise. Dallas wasn’t that worried about them trying something on him where he was. He could easily jump out of the back of the vehicle. 

The tires hit a bump in the road causing Dallas’s head to bang against the truck bed. He cursed and threw his bag behind his head to use as a pillow. The roads were cracked from disrepair and full of garbage. He would actually rather be walking right now, but staying in a group would keep the weaker Lost off his ass until he got what he came for. 

After about fifteen minutes of slow, bumping driving the truck gradually braked to a halt. Dallas lifted his head to look at the machine gun lady.

[color=darkorange]”Why’d we stop?”[/color]

[color=35b8aa]”I don’t know. Let me find out.”[/color] She grabbed the radio clipped to the front of her vest and pressed a button on the side. [color=35b8aa]”Beard, everything looks clear out here. Why aren’t we moving?”[/color]

[b][i]“Sky says she saw something. Lots of movement a quarter mile ahead of us. Home team is recommending we stop while she comes back for another sweep.”[/i][/b]

[color=35b8aa]”Well, there you have it big guy. You can still hoof it if you like?”[/color]

[color=darkorange]”I’m in no rush.”[/color] Dallas stretched his arms out and closed his eyes. It sounded like they had someone watching over them from the skies, so he was more comfortable with letting his guard down. The weather out here felt nice - the wind kept his skin feeling nice and cool. It was hard to resist the temptation of falling asleep right here, right now. His eyelids were already starting to close on their own. Because of that, he didn’t see the moment when the gunner lady got hit in the chest by a beam of energy. She practically collapsed on top of him, unconscious. Her radio was blowing up with traffic.

[b][i]”We’re being engaged! Contacts 12 o’ clock! Everybody dismount!”[/i][/b]

Dallas pushed the human off and got up to peek over the side of the truck bed. It looked like they were right in front of a bridge crossing, though he had no idea what river it was. Trees and buildings were blocking visibility all around, but several humanoid figures could be seen on the other side of the bridge, one of which was throwing beams at the truck. It was exactly like the infernal that Vincent had killed a couple days ago. The human passengers had gotten out of the vehicle and were taking cover behind any wrecks and debris they could, as well as the unfriendly revenant in the ski mask. They put some rounds downrange and took out a line of thralls charging across the bridge, but an uncountable number of them were swarming across the narrow passageway. Dallas could hear someone shouting:

“Someone get on the fifty!”

[color=darkorange][i]Look at ‘em all go. As usual, those freaks have no concept of self preservation.[/i][/color] He jumped behind the mounted gun and pulled the trigger on anything he could see moving on the other side of the bridge. The sound of gunfire was deafening without any ear protection. Dallas could barely hear the others as he swept the barrel left and right. The infernal was still throwing energy attacks, but its accuracy left something to be desired. The first strike must have been a lucky hit. 

Then without warning, the bullets stopped coming out of the gun. Dallas kept trying to pull the trigger, but all he heard was a clicking noise. He pulled open the feed tray cover and saw that the weapon still had ammunition left. 

[color=darkorange]”This thing is jammed!”[/color] He called down to one of the humans to his left. The bearded man looked over his shoulder at Dallas and slung his rifle before crawling over to the truck. 

[color=2c978c]”Let me take a look at it!”[/color] The man reached a hand up and let Dallas heave him into the truck bed. While the guy tried to clear the jam, Dallas grabbed his battle axe and jumped off the car. He would have to help these people out or they’d run out of ammo before all the Lost were dead.