Fallout: Rise of the Lone Wanderer: Book One

by M. P. Pubs

  Marcus saw his chance and fired his 40mm grenade launcher. Three shells rained down into the lobby, finishing the off the last Super Mutants. Everything was finally quiet, and Marcus ran over to Charon. "Let me see your shoulder."

  "It's just a scratch." the ghoul replied.

  "Marcus pulled out his first aid kit. "Bullshit! Let me see it."

  Charon relented and allowed Marcus to dress his wound. On the other side of the platform, Butcher was treating Donovan's leg. "You're lucky. The bullet missed the bone and went straight through the cafe muscle."

  Donovan grunted. "Oh yeah, I'm really blessed!"

  Reilly slapped him on the shoulder. "We're alive, that's what matters." She walked over to Marcus' group. "How is he?"

  Marcus finished applying the bandages and helped Charon up. "He's fine. What about Donovan?"

  "He'll live...thanks to all of you. What do you say we get the fuck out of this hotel?"

  Marcus let out a sigh of relief. "Sounds good to me."

  Reilly led the group outside the Statesman Hotel's main entrance. They stopped for a moment to observe the sun rising in the distance. All of them breathed a little easier as they took in the view, and all of them were thinking the same thing: we make it.

  "We did it, Reilly." Butcher said as he helped Donovan outside.

  Reilly smiled. "It's like I told you, no matter how random things may seem there's always a plan." She reached inside her armor and pulled out a large cigar, which she placed inside her mouth. "And I love it when a plan comes together!"

  * * *

  The Ranger's Compound was on the eastern edge of downtown DC near Seward Square. At first glance there was nothing but a collapsed building, but a large steel door at the base of the rubble led down to a bunker. It was small, but more then adequate for the Rangers. In the center was a small planning room, to the right was the living quarters and kitchen, and to the left was the armory. Once everyone was inside, Reilly passed out bottle of purified water to everyone (except Charon, who prefered the radiated kind).

  "I want to thank all of you for helping me bring my guys home."

  "It was our pleasure." Marcus said. "We fought beside the Brotherhood once and I must say you guys would give them a run for their money."

  That compliment brought a smile to Reilly's face. "Speaking of money, I can't pay you for what you've done but there's something I want to give you." She walked into the living quarters and reappeared a minute later with a set of green armor and a combat helmet. "Here, take this armor. As far as I'm concerned you're a Ranger now, so wear it with pride, kid."

  Marcus was so overwhelmed by the gesture that he didn't know what to say. The armor was beautiful, and if offered much more protection then the advanced leather armor he'd been wearing. "I will, and thank you." He took the armor and ducked into the living quarters to put it on. While Marcus was doing that, Brick presented a gold coin to Clover. "This is my lucky piece. I want you to have it."

  Clover was more then a little surprised at the gift. "Thank you." She took the coin and studied it. On one side was the Ranger's emblem: a four leaf clover and two crossed swords. On the other side the words "Luck of the Irish" were engraved. Clover looked up at Brick. "But...won't you be needing this?"

  Brick gave her a dismissive wave. "Nah. Besides, I got Eugene and that's all the luck I need."

  Butcher approached Charon and presented him with a rather impressive looking combat shotgun. "Donovan wanted me to give you this. It was his when we first started out, but he rarely uses it anymore. It's his way of saying thank you for saving us."

  Charon stared at the shotgun for a few moments before he slowly reached up and grabbed it. He looked down it's barrel, examined the stock and looked down it's sights. On the side of the barrel the word 'Terrible' had been engraved. It was a beautiful weapon, and for a moment Charon almost choked up. "Tell Donovan thank you." the ghoul managed to say.

  Marcus came out wearing the Ranger armor and helmet. "So, how do I look?"

  Brick let out a whistle, and Clover walked up and began to caress the chest plating. "Very nice, suga. But I think it looks better off."

  Marcus grinned and they shared a kiss. "Here, I want you to wear my old armor. It will protect you better then...that."

  Clover stepped back and presented a little pose. "Don't you like seeing me in this, lover?"

  Marcus looked her up and down. There was no doubt the skimpy raider armor did her body justice. "Yes, but I'd much rather see you in one piece." He held out the leather armor. Clover pouted. "Please Clover, for me?"

  Clover sighed and finally took them. "Alright. For you."

  Marcus patted her behind as she walked past him. While Clover got dressed, he made his way into the planning room and found Reilly smoking her cigar. "Thank you again for the armor."

  Reilly took a drag from the cigar. "It's the least we could do."

  "Listen um, what do you know about Talon Company?"

  Reilly was surprised by the question, and it showed. "Let me give you some advise: stay away from them. They give us mercs a bad name."

  "Well I have to. You see there's a pretty big bounty on my head."

  Reilly let out a sigh. "I know, and that's why you'll no doubt run into them. My advise: shoot first. But hey, you're one of us now so I'll spread the word that if anyone messes with you, they'll have a problem with us."

  Marcus was grateful for the reassurance. "Thank you. You mind if we grab a bite to eat before heading out?"

  "Of course, consider this your home away from home. And listen, since you get around so much I have a job for you. As you know we map the DC area for a contractor. If you let me download all the places you've discovered from that PIPBOY of yours I'll pay you in caps."

  Marcus liked the sound of that. "Sure thing. In fact I have a few locations for you now."

  "Excellent! Let me down load them and I'll get you your caps." The whole process only took about two minutes, and Reilly gave Marcus about three-hundred fifty caps.

  "Say Reilly, who is this contractor that wants to map the wasteland?"

  Reilly shook her head. "I really don't know much about him. He's some big-whig from up north. I thought it was someone in the Commonwealth, but I think he's somewhere in Pennsylvania. Anyway, let's eat."

  * * *

  After a hearty meal (and a few beers), Marcus, Clover and Charon said goodbye to the Rangers and headed out into Seward Square. They were walking down a small path between two apartment buildings when a man sporting an AK-47 and eye patch walked out of the rubble and stood twenty feet in front of them. Marcus recognized him immediately - and his blood ran cold. 'Jericho!' he thought."

  "Well, well it's the 'goody-two shoes!" Jericho mocked.

  Marcus tightened the grip on his tri-beam rifle. "Well hello Cyclopes. What the hell do you want?"

  Marcus could see Jericho's good eye twitch. It was obvious he'd heard that insult before. "Moriarty wants a word with you."

  Marcus starred the ex-raider down. "Really? Well you could tell Moriarty to kiss my ass!"

  A sinister grin appeared on Jericho's face. "He figured you'd say that." He put his fingers to his lips and let out a whistle. At least two dozen raiders appeared in the windows above, and four more appeared behind the trio.

  "We could do this two ways, kid: the easy way, or the hard way."

  As she stared at the trap they had walked into, Clover suddenly remembered the gold coin Brick had given her. 'So much for the luck of the Irish', she thought.

  Chapter 12: An Offer I Can't Refuse

  Jericho and his raiders escorted the trio into the first floor of an abandoned building, where Moriarty was waiting with Sister. The raiders had stripped Marcus and his companions of their weapons, but the fact that they had the rest of their gear and were not bound gave him hope that this was just a social call. Besides, Marcus figured if Moriarty wanted him dead, he would've done it by now. Jericho pushed Marcus into the small room where only a wooden tabl
e seperated him from Moriarty. Clover, Charon and two raiders were a couple of steps behind him. The rest of Jericho's crew was waiting outside.

  "Well, well," Moriarty began, "you've made quite a name for yourself. What does that fool on the radio call you? The Lone...Wanderer? Ha!" He glanced at Clover. "You don't seem very 'lonely' to me."

  Marcus got right down to buisness. "What do you want, Moriarty?"

  "Well after what you did...you're head on a pike!"

  Marcus braced himself and he could hear Charon stir behind him.

  "But I've learned that the only thing more inspiring to the un-washed masses then a hero, is a DEAD hero. So I not be makin' a martyer out of ya today."

  Now Marcus was confused. "Then why did you put a 3000 cap bounty on my head?"

  Moriarty laughed. "You really think I'd pay that much for you? The contract I put on you was 1000 caps ALIVE! You stirred up a hornets nest between your 'holier then thou' shit and taking down Eulogy. Someone else put that bounty on you."

  "I would gladly cut your throat for free." Sister chimed in.

  Marcus glared at the ex-slaver for a few moments, but Clover had not stopped staring at him since she'd been brought in; and there was murder in her eyes. Moriarty continued. "So your luckly I found you first and not Talon Company. I have a lot of influence with them, but their first loyalty is always to the highest bidder."

  Marcus tilted his head in Jericho's direction. "And what about these raiders?"

  "Their loyalty is to the man who keeps the jet and pyscho flowing. Enough small talk." Moriarty placed both fist on the table and leaned in until he was inches from Marcus. "You took something of mine without payment. Normally I'd hang ya from the walls of Megaton, but I need someone of your talents. Which is why I'm gonna give you one chance to repay me for your slight."

  Marcus' face hardened. "I am not killing anyone for you."

  A sinister smile crossed Moriarty's face. "I figured as much. After all you're 'The Wasteland Saint'! No, I need you to rescue someone for me." The mob chieftain reached into his pocket and removed a picture of a young red headed woman. "This woman goes by the name...Cherry." Moriarty's voice strained on the last part. "She is being held by this pig named Dukov. He runs a brothel slashed casino along the banks of the Potomac. You bring her to me, unharmed, and I'll consider your debt paid."

  Marcus stared at the picture. The woman was quite beautiful, and looked to be about his age. "Who is she to you?"

  "That's none of your concern. All that matters to you is that this is the only chance I'm given ya to repay your debt."

  Marcus stared back at the photo and focused on the woman's eyes; eyes he had seen before. "She's your daughter, isn't she?"

  Moriarty tensed up, but he didn't respond. Marcus looked at the picture again and nodded. "Yeah...she has your eyes."

  For a moment Marcus could sware that Moriarty chocked up. The chieftain stood up straight and crossed his arms. "Her real name is Jessica. She ran away a year ago and fell into the company of that fat pig! I'd have Talon Company do it but they're only good at breaking shit. And these raiders...even if they managed to get her out of there they'd rape and murder her before ever reaching Megaton. That's why you WILL do this for me."

  Marcus took a quick glance around the room. Charon was behind him to his right, and Clover was on his left. The two raiders were behind them with 10mm submachine guns, and Jericho was standing to Marcus' left. Both Moriarty and Sister were standing on the other side of the table. "If I refuse?" Marcus asked.

  Moriarty's eyes narrowed. "Then none of you will leave this room alive."

  Marcus took a deep breath. "Charon. Now!"

  The ghoul sprang into action and before anyone knew it, both of the raiders were on the ground. Marcus elbowed Jericho in the face then overturned the table, which sent Sister and Moriarty against the wall. Clover grabed the stunned Jericho from behind and placed the knife she'd hidden to his throat. Sister went for his 10mm pistol, but Marcus punched him in the jaw, then twisted the pistol from Sister's hand, breaking his wrist. Marcus stepped back and shoved the pistol in Moriarty's face, and the gangster stared down the barrel defiantly. No one moved or said a word for a few tense moments. Finally, to Clover and Charon's surprise, Marcus lowered the pistol. "I'll get your daughter back...but only because you asked so nicely." He turned to Clover and Charon. "Let them go."

  The ghoul immediatly put down the submachine guns he'd aquired from the two raiders, who were still groaning on the floor. Clover sighed and removed the knife from Jericho's throat.

  "Fucking bitch!" He screamed as he raised his AK.

  "That's enough!" Moriarty yelled. "I tell you who to kill and when!"

  Jericho lowered the rifle and stormed outside. Moriarty turned his attention back to Marcus. "You have four days. If you try to fuck me and run, or if one lock of hair is harmed on me daughter's head, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth."

  Marcus picked Cherry's picture up off the floor. "I bring her back, and you leave me and my friends the hell alone."

  Moriarty nodded. "Jericho will give you back your weapons."

  Marcus placed the pistol on the floor and turned to leave. Sister, who was leaning against the wall nursing his broken wrist, lunged for the weapon. "Die motherfu..."

  His words were cutoff by Clover's knife being plunged into his throat. The former slave girl stared into the ex-slaver's eyes as he gasped for breath, until finally the life was drained from them. Clover was as cold as ice as she withdrew the knife and wiped the blade on Sister's sleeve. Everyone watched in silence as she walked out of the room.

  * * *

  By nightfall the trio had stopped and taken shelter inside an abandoned resturant. Judging from the cordinates on Marcus' PIPBOY, they were about three hours from Dukov's place. They had decided on a goodnights sleep before making any rescue attempt. Since part of the resturant's roof was blown out they built a small campfire behind the counter. Barely a word had been spoken since their encounter with Moriarty, and the same akward silence filled their camp. Finally Marcus couldn't take it anymore. "Clover. What happened with Sister back there?"

  Clover shrugged. "He was going to kill you so I killed him first." She flashed a coy smile. "So I guess you're back to owing me two, lover."

  Marcus continued to press. "Yes but, you seemed to...enjoy it."

  Clover stared into the fire. "Sister was at Paradise Falls with Eulogy...and Eulogy would let his friends have their fun with me from time to time."

  Marcus reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder. The more he learned about Clover's past, the more his heart would break. "I'm so sorry."

  Clover placed her hand on his and forced a smile. "It's okay, he was the last of the Paradise Falls crew. Now it's over."

  Marcus carefully placed a finger on her deactivated slave collar. "Is it?"

  Clover didn't say anything. She simply pulled his hand down and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight." She laid down on her bedroll and closed her eyes.

  Marcus sighed. He looked over at Charon, who was busy cleaning the Terrible shotgun. "Those were some pretty good moves back there. Where did you learn all that?"

  Charon continued to clean his gun. "A very long time ago."

  "Could you teach me?"

  Charon stopped his cleaning and looked up. "Now?"

  Marcus shook his head. "No, I'm exhausted. As soon as we finish this job."

  Charon began to put his shotgun back together. "Why did you agree to do this? Why not kill Moriarty when you had the chance?"

  "Believe me I wanted to, but you heard'em: I took down Eulogy and now there's a 3000 cap bounty on my head. I can only imagine what it would be if I took down another mob boss. I figure it's better to get at least one of them off my back."

  "And you think you can trust this man?"

  "No, but his daughter seems very important to him and that maybe all the edge I need."

  Charon finished assemblying his gun and stood up. "I wi
ll take first watch." He turned and began to walk away but stopped after only a few feet. "Is it true?" He asked without turning. "Did you kill Eulogy?"

  Marcus stared at the ghouls back for a few moments before answering. "Yes."

  Charon looked over his right shoulder. "Good." He walked towards the resturant's front entrance and stood his post. As Marcus snuggled up next to Clover, he wondered how in the hell he kept getting into situations like this.

  * * *

  By noon the next day they had made it to Dukov's Place. The large building on the banks of the Potomac reminded Marcus of the Statesman Hotel. It was surrounded by a barricade with signs saying "Anyone who draws a weapon will be shot." Marcus, Clover and Charon stood at the entrance, and it sounded like quite the party was going on inside. One of the two mercenaries standing guard approached them. "If you want to get in you'll have to hand over your long rifles. Side arms are okay but DON'T draw them for any reason, got it?"

  Neither of them like the sound of that, but if it was the only way to get in...

  "Alright." Marcus said. He handed them his tri-beam and grenade launcher. Clover turned in her assault and sniper rifles, and Charon turned in the Terrible shotgun. This left Marcus with the only two fire arms; his .44 and sawed-off shotgun.

  The guards let them pass and they walked through the double doors to Dukov's Place. The first floor lobby had been converted into a casino complete with poker, krap tables, roulette, and slot machines. Dozens of people were inside playing games, drinking at the bar, or mingling with various prostitutes. Off in the corner a band was playing rock music and a few couples were dancing on a small dance floor. The scene reminded Marcus of the Mos Eisley canteena in the orginal Star Wars film, and a smile appeared on his face.

  "What is it, suga?" Clover asked.

  Marcus snapped back to the here and now. "Nothing...just...what a party, hu?"