There was a certain wonder to the fallen land of LA. Once a population center now empty and broken. Sometimes Isaac found the sights welcome a reset to put humanity back in it's place let us trim the fat and really become who we should be. An end all be all to the old corrupt governments, a removal of old world ties, a chance to decide again what life was about. The cost was always too high though. Isaac wasn’t sure whether to pity the dead or those left behind. The orphans, the widows, the fathers left with only memories. Isaac knew all the stories. He knew them too well. He sat back unusually quiet looking at the new world, and just existing.
Jack looked to his friend's cold expression it would be best to lighten the mood.
"So, been a while to get this whole band back together. Never get to hang out with you guys anymore. It's been at least a month flare, and DaVinci has to been at longer than that. I know you've met Isaac, hayden, but have you Anna? He doesn't get out much. He runs the archives keeps all that stuff we need to remember safe."
"Heh, really it's a thankless task. I'm happy to do it though. We head the archive, the network, mage studies, supply general education stuff, and maintain the memorial. Lot's of work, but it's all a long term hope. Only matters if you guys keep us going. Maybe then we can make it a better place for the next generation." Isaac went on smiling vaguely at the possibility, "You have anyone else in the Citadel, Anna? It's a lonely place sometimes, so many without anyone left. I'm lucky I met Jack we've been like brothers after fighting through the wastes to get here."
"I had three having one more ain't so strange. Isaac is the strange part." Jack added.
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Mobs. Despite fighting every kind of wasteland monster and all sorts of superhuman or magical shit there was nothing Jack feared more. More often than not it was a band of terrified desperate people doing what had to be done. Mobs had so much power people thrown together kept by fear and hate. Meeting them with drawn guns and powers often just cemented that mentality. With luck they could be met with compassion.
"Wait! We can do better than that." Jack called to comet jumping out of the jeep his bright red duffle with the white cross on his shoulder, "We can offer you something you can't salvage from the wastes. I'm a doctor. If you give my group time to work I'll trade treatments and give you some recipes for natural cures all from plants out here."
The medic looked out at the crowd eyes pleading that this would not end in a brawl, or worse a bloodbath. He wasn't new to the wastes he had as high a kill count as any, but that didn’t change anything. These were people scared people who just want to survive. He was a medic first and foremost. He was there to save life not take it. Sometimes that meant choosing a side a "greater good" though more often "lesser evil." It never got easier being Reaper. Jack wondered how Grim did it all these years.
Isaac had been leading the scavengers up the stairs his ballistic shield, Matilda VII, acting as mobile cover while everyone was ready with weapons or powers behind him. He’d bash open the door push in just enough for everyone to get a good look and then they’d disperse to check the floor. Everyone had something to look for. Isaac did what he did best and took every last bit of electronics for his scrap heap back in the citadel. Most people didn’t have electricity or even a use for this kind of stuff, but the war had gotten lots of it destroyed. The elements weren’t kind to the elements, so Isaac took what he could get cramming them into a duffle bag on his back. He’d rip apart ovens fridges for the wires and switches, any last bit of a clock radio, every last bit could be reused to him. He threw it all in before returning to the stairs going up and up.
When the radio call came in Isaac decided it was time to move things along.
“Meet you on the roof.” He said going to the nearest window and smashing it out with his metal arm before firing his grapple up to the top.
He started scaling the building only giving a short glance below. They were on the far side unable to be seen by the convoy or the boogies. Isaac’s arm reeled him in and he positioned himself on the roof. He had come up behind a short of handyman’s shed on the roof, and hunkered down there checking his tool belt for what would be need to uninstall the panels.
“Alright I’m on the roof." Isaac radio'd in to comet, "This’ll be a piece of cake from here. Just keep the boogies busy. Doesn’t matter if we can’t get these panels home.”
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