AuzThunderfoot Interstate 80 - Between West Wendover and Aragonite
The engine woke with the fury of a wounded deathclaw, as Thunderfoot woke it. One mile away from him, he knew his opponent would do the same. Then, the shot rang through the silence, and with a roar, he gave power to the wheels, as the red bike broke lose. Speed was gained quickly, as Thunderfoot could hear the cheering and chanting behind him. Yet his eyes were on his front, where the cloud of dust came towards him. His enemies bike must have been heavier and slower, most likely with sickles on his wheels and plates of armor on it.
The mile shrank more and more, as he finally could see his enemy and his eyes grew in fear.
"A Trike..."
He was taller, broader and stronger then he, and for a moment, Thunderfoot felt the fear that his fellow companions had for the road-captain he was facing. Holding his handles with one hand, he reached for the lance, bound to his back. The roaring sound of the trike easily muffled out any sound in the surrounding, yet Thunderfoot easily could tell that there was no way he could head on approach it without being crushed by its heavy frame. Cursing under his mask, his heart began to pump so fast in his chest, that for a second he felt like it would shatter. He could see the face of the old road captain, his lance pointed right at him, barley hundred meters away. He would impale him, and if not, easily crush his bike with his heavy vehicle, shattering his bones on the ground below, rolling over his body with high speed and leaving him to bleed out on the asphalt, broken and defeated...
Then he was passed him, the lance still in his hand, Thunderfoot had turned the bike in the last moment, to evade both his enemies lance and the glittering sickles on his wheels. Far in the distance, he could see the men of the road-captains chapter, howling at him, and most likely cursing him for not taking the first attack, yet Thunderfoot knew better. Speeding down the highway towards him, she knew, that if he would cross the one-mile, he would be free for them to shoot at, killing as a coward, fleeing the duel. He would have to face the trike again, yet his mind already formed a plan. Reducing his speed, he turned his head, seeing that the Trike already had began its process of turning for a second attack. Hitting the break, the wheels squealed like a dying brahmin, yet finally his bike halted, close enough to the end of the mile, that he could spot the hissing 80s behind the thin line of oil.
"FACE THE CAPTAIN, YOU COWARD!"
Thunderfoot ignored them, as he turned his bike, the lance heavy in his right hand, made of metal and decorated with ribbons of countless colors. Its tip had been sharpened, yet its length would never be enough to allow him to impale his enemy, without crushing his bike on the armor of the trike, or being impale himself by the lance of his enemy. Pulling off the mask from his face, he spat out, before once more giving life to the engine and roaring down the mile, towards his enemy. Fear pulsated in his chest, as he screamed it out, hoping to land a lucky strike on the wheels this time. The distance melted in seconds, and once more, Thunderfoot could spot the face of his enemy in front of him.
"FOR THE ETERNAL HIGHWAY!"
Thunderfoot stood up in the saddle of his bike leaning sideways as he tried to once more move his bike past the trike, yet this time, his enemy had changed his tactic. Taking cover behind the armor in the front, he did not even used his lance, but simply tried to crush him with the superior weight of his vehicle. Thunderfoot screamed, as he tore the handles to the side, trying to evade, yet this time, there simply was to little time. The sickle bit cold and hard into his leg, and the sudden impact made him lose his balance. Falling forward, his chest collided with the handles in front of him, as the spear, still locked into his arm and shoulder slided over the ground. Sparks flew, as the friction tore his arm backwards, before a nasty snapping noise followed.
He was able to let go of the lance, yet the pain was incredible. Gasping, a numb coldness filled his mind, as the bike began to stagger, then leaned far left. Seconds felt like an eternity, and the wold turned darker...
He did not felt his good remaining hand moving forward, as he suddently once more held onto the handles, his bike back straight, roaring towards his own men, who´s fear he could spot in their pale faces. Glaring at them, he tried to give a re-assuring war-cry, yet all that left his mouth was a dry croaking, as he stopped his bike before the line of oil, this time on his own side.
Looking on his shoulder, he could feel, rather then see, his dislocated arm pulsating like on fire, while his leg bleed heavily. He had still been lucky, for the sickle had been easily able to tear his leg straight off. Far in the distance, he could hear the triumphant horn of the trike. Spitting out, Thunderfoot turned his bike around once more, before reaching for his belt. Only his club and tomahawk remained, and with a grunt, he pulled out the later. The pipe with nails in it felt heavy in his good hand, yet it gave him a satisfying feel to once more wield a weapon. An idea had peaked in his mind, and with a kick, he gave his bike once more life, roaring back for the next confrontation.
This time, he would not lower his speed, but give full throttle, as the trike approached. Guiding the vehicle with one hand, while still holding onto the tomahawk was dangerous, yet the Trike took the challenge as Thunderfoot knew he would have. Once more the dust flew around them, as both duelist knew that this would be the last confrontation. The Road-Captain raised his spear, if as an insult or a salute, Thunderfoot could not tell, he clearly took him off guard, as he made no sign of moving out of the trikes way. Taking the left side in this exchange, the Trike driver suddenly seemed to realize that Thunderfoot was not carrying a lance, yet it was to late to move away. Trying to hit him with his lance, Thunderfoot pushed himself back, raising the front wheel of his bike, before letting go of the handle.
Then he threw the tomahawk, before he felt the trike pass, and the sickles of the wheel cross inches below his feet. Then, the two duelist had passed once more. Pushing his weight back forward, Thunderfoot took back the handle of his bike, and lowered the speed, before halting his bike by hitting the breaks. Trying to catch his breath, he looked over his shoulder, and his heart stopped, as he saw the trike still moving forward with the same old speed. The tomahawk seemed to have missed, and he would be left only with his club...left to be crushed on the one mile.
Then the trike drifted off the road, down into the sand, until the wheels finally rolled out....
Now, it was the screams of celebration from his men that broke the silence...
Vagari the Slave Interstate 80 - Camp of Thunderfoots warband / The night before
The meat of the molerat was bloody and though, yet the chapter had lacked time to roast it for the full day. Taking camp on the hill, Thunderfoot had ordered that half the Brahmins of the last raid should be left alive, so that they could trade them in for gasoline and water at the next chance, but had ordered his men to hunt. Today had been a lucky day, and at least some of the fires had meat over them. Vagari thanked the heavens for the chance, as he eagerly digged his teeth into the meat, sitting on the ground near the fire, close to his master, who glared into the flames.
"And you are sure about these numbers, Shinji?" The concern in his masters voice was hidden, yet Vagari could hear it. Yet this was a situation to be worried, so it was not out of place. "I am! 500 men have arrived this morning, i have counted them." Shinji, as if wanting to prove his point, raised the leg he was eating, as he loudly chewed with his mouth open. "Close your mouth, and learn to count." The engine whisperer muttered as he himself took a a swing from his bottle of beer. "There is no way that the Khans would send 500 men to support Shout-Thunder!"
Spitting out some skin, Shinji grinded his teeth, yet then himself drowned his anger with a sip of beer. With a sigh, the slave coughed, before placing his meat on his plate, before raising his own voice."500, in addition to Shout-Thunders own 300, that makes 900 Warriors against our,what 200? I know little of war and bravery, as proud and educated Shinji quite often reminds me but may i inquire how we plan on beating such numbers?" The engine whisperer grinned, as Shinji seemed to almost choke on his beer, before throwing the slave an angry glare. "By binding you to the front of my bike and letting you soak the bullets! Rotting bastards!" The slave snapped his teeth like a mechanic trap, before once more pulling out some meat from his plate.
Thunderfoot was still glaring into the flames, his own food untouched. "We dont have to fight them. We can still evade them for now, and the border is not far! Khans wont risk the wrath of Vegas. There is good money over there as well! Rich caravans, soft travelers and gamblers. Not like the scraps we can pick of the Khans trade routes.." The mentioning of Vegas woke something in Thunderfoots eyes, as the young leader of the Exiles shaked his head. "Vegas would ruin us, sooner or later! Be it by sending their metal-men on wheels after us, or...men venture into Vegas, and it turns them sick! The place changes them, makes them weak in spirit and body. Now, i can choose not to go there, but what if the offer comes when i am starving? Will i be strong enough to deny the lights of Vegas for the honor of our ancestors? No, we wont go to Vegas, not yet!"
Shinji gave an approving grin, as he leaned forward. "South then? The legion has been bloodied, and their eyes are elsewhere! They dont have the tech Vegas has! We can slip past their guards, take what we want and if they want a battle...they shall have one! We shall cut the bulls balls off and throw them back at them!" Hammering his hand against his chest, he looked around, at the rest of the warriors who were granted a seat on the fire of the leader. Some nodded and grunted in approval. "It would mean to abandon the highway! And then what? You want our souls to forever roam the lands, seeking the path to the stars? Besides, i do not plan on becoming a petty raider like so many other road-captains."
Silence took over the group, and Vagari raised his voice once more. "You still have an army to back your words up, Thunderfoot. If you were to approch Shout-Thunder and surrender, i am sure he would grant you clemency! As far as i understand he was a lieutenant of your father AND holds the Khans trust!" Vagari had expected a storm of outrage, yet what he got was a hissing like an swarm of cazadores. "The Outlander-Slave is right, Chief." The engine-whisperer threw in, placing his bottle at his feet. "I remember Shout-Thunder, he loved you father like a brother. If you ride to him at dawn, and present him your sign, he will give you one of his own, and allow you to ride behind him! He is a kind man...but he has taken the khans gasoline, and will execute his justice for what we have done!"
Shinji jumped up, the plate falling from his lap, as the bald black man was stomping towards the chief. "Talk of surrender? Is that what your father would want to hear? Let these wreched women cry as much as they like! We still can ride west! With 500 Khagante warriors there is no way that they could catch us!" The engine whisperer sight, as he looked at the meat in the dust and at the beer pouring into the dirt. "Our fuel wont last further then Oasis! And our water is already almost gone. Sure, we can always leave the walker behind, but even then, we wouldnt even get close to the border! Which..." The sentence needed not to be finished, as everyone knew, that the NCR would never again tolerate any 80s in their territory.
"There is a third way, besides running and surrendering! A way nobody of you seems to be able to see!" Thunderfoot rose from his seat, before walking closer to the fire. "I can challange Shout-Thunder to a one-mile duel!" Silence followed, with Shinji grinning into the round, while the engine-whisperer took a sip from his private flask. The other Mem-bar warriors began to mutter with each other. "May i inquire why Shout-Thunder should accept such an duel? He has no reason to do so." The mechanic clicked with his tongue, before kicking up some dirt in the direction of the slave. "You should shut up about matters you dont understand, slave! Shout-Thunder will accept...but you wont want him to, Thunderfoot! He has fought more of these duels then he can count, and he never has lost a single one. He is a fearsome warrior, and as strong as a super-mutant! Boy, there is no shame in surrendering to such an opponent! He will treat you like a son, IF you show him repentance."
The chief said nothing, as he kept staring in the flames, before nodding to Shinji. "I want you to ride as fast as you can to their camp, and shout out my challange so that all can hear it! Nobody shall claim ignorance over it! Tell them that Thunderbirds son, is coming for a traitors blood..." The Engine-whisper coughed, as he spat out some of his booze. "You want to call him a traitor? Friend of your father or not, he will kill you for this insult!" Thunderfoots hands formed fists, as he turned to the engine-whisperer. "He is a traitor! He has taken the Khans gasoline, and lead his chapter in his name. If he would have pissed on my fathers body still warm, it would have not been a greater insult! Now, i am going to pray.."
With that, the young chief walked off, calmly as water, yet the old slave could see the shiver in his arms. He would not pray, but most likely empty his bowls in fear. He was afraid of what was to come, yet he did it anyway...once more Vagari could tell, that Thunderfoot had the makings of a great leader, yet also of one who would most likely die tomorrow.
Thunderfoot Interstate 80 - Between West Wendover and Aragonite / This very day
The injection of the Stimpack numbed the pain a little, as Vagari was pushing the arm. Yet still, Thunderfoot broke his promise not to scream, as the dislocated shoulder was pushed back in place. Gasping, he looked at his slave, almost falling from his bike. "C..cant you put in some more of it? The..the pain is a nightmare." The slave grinded his teeth, before looking into his masters face. "I may put some of it into this empty head of yours, trying to see if i can wake a single cell in your brain! You should get off this bike and lay down..now hold still.."
Thunderfoot still held onto the bloody sign of the I80, which he had cut from the body Shout-Thunder. The old road Captain had been dead when he had reached his Trike, his tomahawk still embedded in his neck. Closing his eyes, Thunderfoot could not help but feel regret over having to kill this man, recalling him from a time that felt like an half-forgotten dream.
The sharp pain on his leg brought him back, as this time he did fell from his bike, as the slave was pushing the hot metal against the wound, after he had injected the rest of the stim into the wound. "HIGHWAY ABOVE...RIDING ETERNAL...NEVER FEEL PAIN AGAIN...AHHHHHH!" A strong arm helped him back on his feet, as Shinji lifted him back on his bike. "The Khans are getting ready to attack! Even if Shout-Thunders men are not with them, they still outnumbering us 2 to 1...lets get out of here, now!"
Maybe it was the fever, or the adrenaline, but as Thunderfoot was looking over to the warriors of Shout-Thunder, he simply could not turn his back to them, even with the Khans approching from the south. Once more, he woke the engine of his bike, shooting back onto the highway. His right shoulder was numb and swollen, and he could feel his leg pulsating as if it would fall of any moment. Yet the single mile was easy to cross. Hundreds of 80s, Mem-bar warriors and Prospects alike, glared at him. Would they attack him? Thunderfoot was not sure, yet for the moment he felt fully immortal. Slowing his pace, he raised the sign he had taken from Shout-Thunder and presented it to his own chapter. "YOU SEE THIS? THIS IS SHOUT-THUNDERS SIGN! HE DIED ON THIS MILE, BY MY HAND!"
He was not sure what he had expect, yet it was for sure not silence. Turning his bike, he once more drove by, as he could see the cloud of the Khan warriors getting bigger and bigger, the first shots being fired in the air. "HE DIED LIKE A TRUE 80! HE DIED WELL.." The words felt like hot Irons in Thunderfoots mouth, as he croaked them out, still not seeing any reaction from the men in front of him. All the confidence from his victory fell from him. Had he been a fool? Why would they join him? He was not his father, and the Khans had given them so much. A bitter cold ran over his back.
The first bikes turned, as some of the warriors in front of him turned away from him, some even spatting out in front of his feet, while others still glared at him. "I AM GONNA FIGHT THE KHANS! BE IT ALONE IF I HAVE TO! BUT I DO SO AS AN 80! YOU CAN RUN OFF NOW, AND SOON TOSS AWAY YOUR SIGNS, AFTER YOU MARRIED KHANGANATE WOMEN...AND SEE YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP AS ANYTHING BUT WHAT YOU ONCE WERE!" It was desperation and fear that drove his words, yet suddently a single cheer came from the mass in front of him. "Fuck it, i am with you!" A single prospect broke off from the group, and rode towards him, before taking place behind Thunderfoot. "Whats your name, friend." Thunderbird still felt his heart pumping, as he fought not to fall out of his saddle. "Burned-her-hair...please dont ask.."
"Burned-her-hair! I will give you a true warbike after this is over! And for the rest of you...YOU WANT TO TELL YOUR ANCESTORS ONE DAY, THAT THIS WAS THE DAY WHEN YOU ABANDONED THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED YOUR BACK ON THEM? THE DAY THAT YOU DID NOT CHARGED WITH THE SON OF THUNDERBIRD? SO BE IT....BUT FOR THEY WHO WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THEIR ANCESTORS EYES, I SAY ONE THING...10 slaves for the man who brings me the first Khan head!" Now there was cheer, and suddently the feeling of immortality returned. Raising his good arm, Thunderfoot waved his own men in the distance, before hundreds of engines roared up like one.
Thunderfoot had only a single slave to his chapter, and he would not give that one away, but as he watched his horde roar past him, into battle, he knew, that after all this, he would be able to solve this problem as well!
