FourtyTwoYeah I've only got a couple things things left to take care of before we can jump ahead. Probably handle it in 1 post, 2 maximum.
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That Hockey Guy
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@Sohtem @CloseEnough
"Yeah, I'll grab some tools, in case we need to do any field repairs to Fuago. I'll need an hour or two to get some things straightened away here, then we can head out" Brick told Chase as he walked by "Reese, can I have a word up at the shop in about 20 minutes? You'll see me heading back up there"
He proceeded on to the tavern, and began to scan the faces of the patrons. He spotted the men he was looking for and walked over.
"Mr. Dante Bullock, Mr. Victor Starr" he said in greeting "Can I sit with you?"
"Hullo Brick, pull up a chair" Starr said. The pair were merchants and handymen who had set up shop about a month ago. Theirs was one of the structures destroyed in the previous nights attacks.
"Sorry to hear about the shop" Brick said as he slid into a chair "But, I come with good news. My boss wants to make you both an offer"
"You can stop with that story" Bullock said "Everyone in town knows you're Forge"
"Well as long as the story sticks, I guess. Lasted longer than I thought. Regardless, I've got an offer. I'm looking to expand, you guys are in need, so how about coming to work for the Gun Runners?"
The next 10 minutes were spent explaining who the Gun Runners were and how they operated, as well as negotiating terms of employment for Bullock and Starr's contract. By the end of his speech, he had the two convinced.
"Well boys, glad to be in business with you both, why don't you come by the shop at noon. Like I said, I'll be gone for a week or so, and I wanna give you a quick overview of the place before I head out"
"Sounds good Forge" Bullock said, taking another drink from his mug.
He went to the bodies, neatly arranged down around the side of Angie's inn. He wanted to remember their faces, and honor their sacrifice for the town.
"Thank you all, thank you for..." he stopped as his eyes locked on a familiar face. His customer from a few days ago. George Cantwell. Brick was speechless as he saw the young would-be soldier lying dead in front of him.
'No. This isn't right. I fixed your gun, I gave you a way to survive. You were supposed to survive this. Continue the Legacy! No! It's not right!
Tears began to form into his eyes. He didn't notice Travis walk around the corner.
"Boss, you ok?"
He choked back his tears and spoke in an uneven voice "Where's his gun? Did he kill any?"
Travis tugged at his holster "I picked it up last night, was gonna carry it up to the shop for you"
"Did he kill any?" Brick repeated
"Mags empty, but theres no real way to know for sure"
"No! Thats not how it works! Its not right. It's not right"
An idea swam into clear view in his head.
"Listen to me Travis. Go to the raiders, and look them over, any of them tagged with roughly 9mm sized shots, you make a note of it. I'm leaving for a while, Joe's in charge, he's gonna have a job for you, send you out on a supply run. When he does, you need to bring this pistol to the Cantwell family in Elizabeth City. Do you understand me?"
Travis knew better than to question his employer's apparent madness "Yeah, absolutely boss"
Brick wiped his face and walked back to the street, he began to make his way up to the shop, nodding at Reese as he passed by.
"Yeah, I'll grab some tools, in case we need to do any field repairs to Fuago. I'll need an hour or two to get some things straightened away here, then we can head out" Brick told Chase as he walked by "Reese, can I have a word up at the shop in about 20 minutes? You'll see me heading back up there"
He proceeded on to the tavern, and began to scan the faces of the patrons. He spotted the men he was looking for and walked over.
"Mr. Dante Bullock, Mr. Victor Starr" he said in greeting "Can I sit with you?"
"Hullo Brick, pull up a chair" Starr said. The pair were merchants and handymen who had set up shop about a month ago. Theirs was one of the structures destroyed in the previous nights attacks.
"Sorry to hear about the shop" Brick said as he slid into a chair "But, I come with good news. My boss wants to make you both an offer"
"You can stop with that story" Bullock said "Everyone in town knows you're Forge"
"Well as long as the story sticks, I guess. Lasted longer than I thought. Regardless, I've got an offer. I'm looking to expand, you guys are in need, so how about coming to work for the Gun Runners?"
The next 10 minutes were spent explaining who the Gun Runners were and how they operated, as well as negotiating terms of employment for Bullock and Starr's contract. By the end of his speech, he had the two convinced.
"Well boys, glad to be in business with you both, why don't you come by the shop at noon. Like I said, I'll be gone for a week or so, and I wanna give you a quick overview of the place before I head out"
"Sounds good Forge" Bullock said, taking another drink from his mug.
He went to the bodies, neatly arranged down around the side of Angie's inn. He wanted to remember their faces, and honor their sacrifice for the town.
"Thank you all, thank you for..." he stopped as his eyes locked on a familiar face. His customer from a few days ago. George Cantwell. Brick was speechless as he saw the young would-be soldier lying dead in front of him.
'No. This isn't right. I fixed your gun, I gave you a way to survive. You were supposed to survive this. Continue the Legacy! No! It's not right!
Tears began to form into his eyes. He didn't notice Travis walk around the corner.
"Boss, you ok?"
He choked back his tears and spoke in an uneven voice "Where's his gun? Did he kill any?"
Travis tugged at his holster "I picked it up last night, was gonna carry it up to the shop for you"
"Did he kill any?" Brick repeated
"Mags empty, but theres no real way to know for sure"
"No! Thats not how it works! Its not right. It's not right"
An idea swam into clear view in his head.
"Listen to me Travis. Go to the raiders, and look them over, any of them tagged with roughly 9mm sized shots, you make a note of it. I'm leaving for a while, Joe's in charge, he's gonna have a job for you, send you out on a supply run. When he does, you need to bring this pistol to the Cantwell family in Elizabeth City. Do you understand me?"
Travis knew better than to question his employer's apparent madness "Yeah, absolutely boss"
Brick wiped his face and walked back to the street, he began to make his way up to the shop, nodding at Reese as he passed by.
@Sohtem @CloseEnough
"Oh yeah here" Brick dug out the stimpack and laid it in Aurora's lap "Give it to your sister, or Chase, or Reese, or hell, whoever needs it" He began walking back towards the shop "Offer's still on the table for you guys"
Brick woke up on the floor of the workshop. He must have passed out before making it to either of the beds, or the couch. Someone had found him like this though, and stuck one of the couch cushions under his head. He groaned as he felt a jolt of pain through his stiff shoulder. The wound had clotted over, making the cloth bandage stick to him like glue. He pushed himself to his feet and walked outside, stopping to grab a bottle of water on the way.
"Oh, good mornin" Joe said, greeting him at the door "How's the shoulder?"
"I'll live" Brick replied. He nodded down towards the town "Whats the damage like?"
"Not counting raiders? About 25 casualties. Population of this place just dropped by about half"
"Arthur?"
"He was one of them, yeah. The OBR Riflemen, 7 or 8 of the guys who helped us fight, and the rest were civvies"
"Shit. This is all my fault"
Joe rounded on him and looked him square in the face "You stow that shit right now. Right now. This isn't on you"
"I killed Hardy, drew them here"
"Even if you didn't, somebody would've come eventually. That other group wasn't here because of Hardy, they were just doing what raiders do"
"I can't help but feel responsible"
"We all feel responsible kid. The question is, what are you gonna do about it?"
"We'll move forward. More guards. Build up some real walls. And someone to mind the shop while I'm away. How's the clean-up going?"
"They dumped the raiders outside town, planning to burn em. Dragged that creature out there too. Douglas and Dan are preparing graves"
"That's good. You ok with being in charge of things here for a week or two?"
"I guess so"
"Spoken like a true leader" Brick said as he walked down the porch steps and headed off.
'Check in on everyone, then to find Bullock and Starr'
"Oh yeah here" Brick dug out the stimpack and laid it in Aurora's lap "Give it to your sister, or Chase, or Reese, or hell, whoever needs it" He began walking back towards the shop "Offer's still on the table for you guys"
THE NEXT MORNING
Brick woke up on the floor of the workshop. He must have passed out before making it to either of the beds, or the couch. Someone had found him like this though, and stuck one of the couch cushions under his head. He groaned as he felt a jolt of pain through his stiff shoulder. The wound had clotted over, making the cloth bandage stick to him like glue. He pushed himself to his feet and walked outside, stopping to grab a bottle of water on the way.
"Oh, good mornin" Joe said, greeting him at the door "How's the shoulder?"
"I'll live" Brick replied. He nodded down towards the town "Whats the damage like?"
"Not counting raiders? About 25 casualties. Population of this place just dropped by about half"
"Arthur?"
"He was one of them, yeah. The OBR Riflemen, 7 or 8 of the guys who helped us fight, and the rest were civvies"
"Shit. This is all my fault"
Joe rounded on him and looked him square in the face "You stow that shit right now. Right now. This isn't on you"
"I killed Hardy, drew them here"
"Even if you didn't, somebody would've come eventually. That other group wasn't here because of Hardy, they were just doing what raiders do"
"I can't help but feel responsible"
"We all feel responsible kid. The question is, what are you gonna do about it?"
"We'll move forward. More guards. Build up some real walls. And someone to mind the shop while I'm away. How's the clean-up going?"
"They dumped the raiders outside town, planning to burn em. Dragged that creature out there too. Douglas and Dan are preparing graves"
"That's good. You ok with being in charge of things here for a week or two?"
"I guess so"
"Spoken like a true leader" Brick said as he walked down the porch steps and headed off.
'Check in on everyone, then to find Bullock and Starr'
@CloseEnough @Sohtem (OOC: Last one from me for tonight, everyone else good with jumping to the next morning for our next posts?)
Brick nodded at the young woman.
"Maybe a day or two to get everything straightened away here, but I agree 100%, we gotta get Fuago over there just as soon as we're able to travel"
He looked over to Joe "Wanna run on ahead to Angie's? Get Travis to help you bring Reese down there. If he hadn't bought himself a bed already, tell Angie to set him up on me, and if he has, then she's to give him back his caps when he wakes up"
"Stuff that wound" Joe said as he passed by. For the 2nd time in as many hours, Brick followed the medical advice of the bodyguard, leaning down to tear a strip of fabric from a dead raider's sleeve. He held it tight against the gash in his shoulder and turned back to speak to Aurora.
"You and your sister can stay up at the shop. My bed should be plenty big enough for you guys. Chase can have the spare bed if he wants, and I can grab the couch. Reese'll be fine down at the inn, but I don't trust the general population of this place when it comes to matters of dealing with women respectfully. Not that I have any doubts about your skills in that area, but it'd make me feel better personally. Hell, its the least I can offer after everything we've been through tonight"
Brick nodded at the young woman.
"Maybe a day or two to get everything straightened away here, but I agree 100%, we gotta get Fuago over there just as soon as we're able to travel"
He looked over to Joe "Wanna run on ahead to Angie's? Get Travis to help you bring Reese down there. If he hadn't bought himself a bed already, tell Angie to set him up on me, and if he has, then she's to give him back his caps when he wakes up"
"Stuff that wound" Joe said as he passed by. For the 2nd time in as many hours, Brick followed the medical advice of the bodyguard, leaning down to tear a strip of fabric from a dead raider's sleeve. He held it tight against the gash in his shoulder and turned back to speak to Aurora.
"You and your sister can stay up at the shop. My bed should be plenty big enough for you guys. Chase can have the spare bed if he wants, and I can grab the couch. Reese'll be fine down at the inn, but I don't trust the general population of this place when it comes to matters of dealing with women respectfully. Not that I have any doubts about your skills in that area, but it'd make me feel better personally. Hell, its the least I can offer after everything we've been through tonight"
@Sohtem @CloseEnough
Brick had one bullet left when it finally went down. He wandered over to the nearly dead beast and listened for a moment to its whimpers sneaking out through labored breaths. It's jaw went limp as he stuck his hand its gaping maw inside to retrieve Eden's blade.
"May as well put it out of it misery" he said, drawing the blade across its exposed throat. With a horrible squish, the flesh separated and flopped apart. If the thing wasn't killed immediately, it would be in a matter of seconds.
"Fuck it, might as well make sure its gone" he said as he knelt in close and jabbed the revolver's barrel right up against its eye and pulled the trigger, emitting a wet sounding bang. Satisfied, Brick moved to help Eden out from under the thing, as Joe came over to help Reese.
"So" he said, hoping to lighten the mood ever so slightly "What're we doin' tomorrow?"
Brick had one bullet left when it finally went down. He wandered over to the nearly dead beast and listened for a moment to its whimpers sneaking out through labored breaths. It's jaw went limp as he stuck his hand its gaping maw inside to retrieve Eden's blade.
"May as well put it out of it misery" he said, drawing the blade across its exposed throat. With a horrible squish, the flesh separated and flopped apart. If the thing wasn't killed immediately, it would be in a matter of seconds.
"Fuck it, might as well make sure its gone" he said as he knelt in close and jabbed the revolver's barrel right up against its eye and pulled the trigger, emitting a wet sounding bang. Satisfied, Brick moved to help Eden out from under the thing, as Joe came over to help Reese.
"So" he said, hoping to lighten the mood ever so slightly "What're we doin' tomorrow?"
@Sohtem @CloseEnough
Brick redirected his aim downwards towards the beast's stomach and pulled the trigger until the shotgun clicked empty. The beast had backed off just enough for him to make a dash of it. With pain ripping through his arm, he pushed himself to his feet and stumbled back a few feet. He reached across and pulled out his revolver.
'Just you left now. Arm's useless, can't reload' he thought as he brought up the handgun and began shooting. Up above, Joe was definitely earning his pay as he continued the stream of hellfire from the minigun.
"Damn thing's gonna go down any second" he said out loud, even though he knew no one could hear him. It was more a reassurance to himself than a comment to be heard.
Brick redirected his aim downwards towards the beast's stomach and pulled the trigger until the shotgun clicked empty. The beast had backed off just enough for him to make a dash of it. With pain ripping through his arm, he pushed himself to his feet and stumbled back a few feet. He reached across and pulled out his revolver.
'Just you left now. Arm's useless, can't reload' he thought as he brought up the handgun and began shooting. Up above, Joe was definitely earning his pay as he continued the stream of hellfire from the minigun.
"Damn thing's gonna go down any second" he said out loud, even though he knew no one could hear him. It was more a reassurance to himself than a comment to be heard.
@CloseEnough @Sohtem
Brick saw Eden go down and panic began to set in, he raised up the minigun and frantically pulled at the trigger, only to be greeted with a rough grinding sound.
"SHIT!" he yelled "It's jammed!" He saw the creature close in on her location, then saw it roar and back off a little. Eden still had some fight in her it seemed. Brick rushed to clear the jam, then he fed another belt through the receiver.
"Joe" he said, moving to hand over the minigun "Give me the shotgun. Take this and cover me. Aim carefully, because if you shoot me in the back, I'll fucking kill you"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" the older man asked
"Something stupid I'm sure" he replied as he leaped down to the ground and began running across towards the beast. The minigun roared back to life behind him and he saw the beast turn, crimson blood flicking from its wounds. Brick had little time to aim, so he just started shooting, blasting the creature twice in the knee. He saw it take a swipe at him, so he jumped back, narrowly avoiding being torn in two. Or so he thought. Searing pain tore through him as he dropped to the ground, one of its claws had ripped down his right shoulder as he dodged, leaving a nasty gash through which blood began to flow. Brick saw the creature moving in for the kill, so he let instinct take over. He jabbed the butt of the shotgun into his wound and began firing in the general direction of the monster's face.
Brick saw Eden go down and panic began to set in, he raised up the minigun and frantically pulled at the trigger, only to be greeted with a rough grinding sound.
"SHIT!" he yelled "It's jammed!" He saw the creature close in on her location, then saw it roar and back off a little. Eden still had some fight in her it seemed. Brick rushed to clear the jam, then he fed another belt through the receiver.
"Joe" he said, moving to hand over the minigun "Give me the shotgun. Take this and cover me. Aim carefully, because if you shoot me in the back, I'll fucking kill you"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" the older man asked
"Something stupid I'm sure" he replied as he leaped down to the ground and began running across towards the beast. The minigun roared back to life behind him and he saw the beast turn, crimson blood flicking from its wounds. Brick had little time to aim, so he just started shooting, blasting the creature twice in the knee. He saw it take a swipe at him, so he jumped back, narrowly avoiding being torn in two. Or so he thought. Searing pain tore through him as he dropped to the ground, one of its claws had ripped down his right shoulder as he dodged, leaving a nasty gash through which blood began to flow. Brick saw the creature moving in for the kill, so he let instinct take over. He jabbed the butt of the shotgun into his wound and began firing in the general direction of the monster's face.
@Sohtem @CloseEnough
Brick sized up the weapons on the table in front of him.
"Outfitted the 50 cal with a bipod a while back, should minimize kickback, but we only got 4 rounds for it, so make it count. Everything else should be good to go, I recommend moving out one by one. I'll head around to the left, get up on the first shack there and draw its attention. When the path is clear, someone else come out, draw it away from me, I'll reload, re-position, and resume fire. Wish me luck"
He hefted an ammo backpack over his shoulder and strapped it on. With a reassuring nod to his comrades, Brick grabbed one of the miniguns, eased the door open, and headed out. He saw the beast trying to get at Eden and hoped she could hold out for just a minute longer. Making it to his destination, Brick saw Joe crouched nearby, he waved the bodyguard over.
"We finished off the raiders that kept fightin' and I sent everyone still standing back inside Angie's, told em to barricade it and keep guns at the ready"
"Good man, help me get this minigun up on the roof"
The two of them were easily able to shove the weapon up overhead, Joe interlocked his fingers and gave Brick a boost up, then the weaponsmith leaned down to return the favor. After one last check over, Brick was ready. He bellowed out as loud as he could.
"HEY UGLY!! COME GET SOME!!"
And with that he opened fire. BRATATATATATATAT The barrels churned and pumped out bullets like torrential hellfire. Brick smiled as he saw the beast recoil and spin on the spot. It roared and began to dash rapidly towards the source of its annoyance.
'Now for phase two'
Brick sized up the weapons on the table in front of him.
"Outfitted the 50 cal with a bipod a while back, should minimize kickback, but we only got 4 rounds for it, so make it count. Everything else should be good to go, I recommend moving out one by one. I'll head around to the left, get up on the first shack there and draw its attention. When the path is clear, someone else come out, draw it away from me, I'll reload, re-position, and resume fire. Wish me luck"
He hefted an ammo backpack over his shoulder and strapped it on. With a reassuring nod to his comrades, Brick grabbed one of the miniguns, eased the door open, and headed out. He saw the beast trying to get at Eden and hoped she could hold out for just a minute longer. Making it to his destination, Brick saw Joe crouched nearby, he waved the bodyguard over.
"We finished off the raiders that kept fightin' and I sent everyone still standing back inside Angie's, told em to barricade it and keep guns at the ready"
"Good man, help me get this minigun up on the roof"
The two of them were easily able to shove the weapon up overhead, Joe interlocked his fingers and gave Brick a boost up, then the weaponsmith leaned down to return the favor. After one last check over, Brick was ready. He bellowed out as loud as he could.
"HEY UGLY!! COME GET SOME!!"
And with that he opened fire. BRATATATATATATAT The barrels churned and pumped out bullets like torrential hellfire. Brick smiled as he saw the beast recoil and spin on the spot. It roared and began to dash rapidly towards the source of its annoyance.
'Now for phase two'
Brick considering firing on the raiders as they made their escape, but decided he'd rather save the bullets. He instead turned his attention to the beast. It wouldn't be long before it finished its feast and decided on a dessert.
"Ok, I got a couple of miniguns, should be enough rounds between here and the back room to top them off. We've got a fully operational gatling laser, and one badass 50 caliber anti-material rifle. Not many rounds left for it, but it'll definitely put a hole or two in that thing. Let's load up and finish this"
"Ok, I got a couple of miniguns, should be enough rounds between here and the back room to top them off. We've got a fully operational gatling laser, and one badass 50 caliber anti-material rifle. Not many rounds left for it, but it'll definitely put a hole or two in that thing. Let's load up and finish this"
@Crossfire
Oh man I'm sorry, live out on a ranch but its also a half hour drive to the city so I am blessed. Just have to say if you get the chance, take it I missed half the movie from laughing so much.
Definitely will! Been looking forward to it for a while now!
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