After I accepted, the Khan dismissed and one of his won guided to a room with an old military cot and nothing else. She was blonde, with her hair done up in braids that were looped through gears and bolts as if they were jewelry. As I removed my pack and went to sit on the cot I found that she was still standing at the exit.
You will be collected in the morning. Do you need anything? Ammo? Weapons?
I checked my equipnt, going over what I heard. The black woods would only take a day to get to by car, which is what I assud the Khan ant for to take when he said Id be escorted, so I wasnt worried about the journey itself. The woods themselves were another story. They were a massive deadzone covered in trees with black leaves that glowed softly at night. Id seen the treeline itself, but had never entered it. The rads werent very high, but in spite of that, no one whod entered it far enough for people to lose sight of them, had ever returned. I had always wanted to explore it, but never expected to be compelled to. In any case, it was hard to know what Id need.
Rope. 9mm and .308 ammo, and so fresh water, I answered. So things tended to be helpful no matter the situation one found themselves in.
She nodded, and closed the door, leaving to my preparations and thoughts. I pulled up my investigation screen and entered in the details for the job Id been given by the Khan. The system accepted it. After that I cleaned my guns, sharpened my machete, and went to sleep.
I woke up to the sounds of machine work and revving engines. Spears of sunlight poking through the roof fell onto my face. I sat up and pulled out my notebook. Sleeping on everything that had happened had pushed sothing to the forefront of my mory. I took the map I had of the area out from where I'd had it stuffed in the back of the journal. I looked it over, and grimaced. In the middle of where the black woods sat, was where Id seen one of the dots on the map in the bunker. I wasnt certain of what exactly that could an, but considering the context, it was likely nothing good.
Just as I was slipping my pack onto my back the woman whod led to the room appeared with a small bundle. She held it out to . The supplies you requested.
I turned to look at her and noticed her eyes widened. I realized I hadnt yet pulled up my bandana and goggles. I looked away and fixed that before turning back around and taking the bundle from her. Thank you.
Its as the Khan wills. She gestured out of the room. Please follow to the convoy youll be riding with.
I nodded, and fell in behind her. Id expected another eting with the Khan, but it seed hed spoken with all hed felt he needed to. Just before we exited the tent the woman turned to , and I realized she was holding a small bundle of letters. She held it out to .
One of the other wives wrote this for the last group of children that were taken. The Undertakers left before I had a chance to give it to one of them. Could you make sure it finds them?
I nodded, and took the letters. It would probably be hard to figure out which kid each letter went to, but I could certainly pass them on to the next undertaker I saw on the way to Potts.
She gave a small smile as I folded them into my pack. Id have returned it, but she wouldnt have seen my expression under the bandana anyway. After that she finished leading the way to a large open backed truck flanked by three motorcycles.
A woman leapt out of the truck and in front of us. Her heavy boots made a loud thumping sound as she landed. She was broad with the sides of her head shaved. She had the sa tattoos as the rest of the n with the vehicles, and she was wearing aviators. Coming to kiss goodbye Sara? she asked the woman whod led .
Im afraid the Khan wouldnt like that very much, Angela.
What? He gets as many wives as he wants and they dont get to have any themselves?
Exactly. She gestured at . This is the man youll be taking to the black woods.
I stepped forward to stand in front of her.
You in charge? I asked.
She tilted her glasses back to look in the face. Yeah. Its my truck and these are my boys. She gestured at the motley crew that stood behind her around the vehicles. It was seven all together. They were heavily ard and armored, as was the vehicle which had a massive gun mounted at the rear.
Do you have any information on what happened to the last patrol? I asked.
Angela looked behind and Sara, then back at . Just that it went missing along the edge of the forest. I have the general location down, but nothing beyond that.
She was lying. There was definitely more going on, but I didnt think Id get anything here in the middle of Fette, with the Khans eyes and ears all around us. I just nodded at her and started loading into the back of the truck. I heard Angela make a quip about how I seed friendly, but that didnt bother much, this arrangent was temporary, and we didnt need to be friends in order for to get the information I needed.
After I found a comfortable corner, the rest of the crew loaded on as well. One sat at the gun, one across from , Sara was the driver with another of the n in the passenger seat, and the remainder loaded onto their motorcycles. I listened to the engines roar to life, joining the chorus of engines that humd across Fette. I heard the tail end of a joke from one of the cyclists and laughter all around. After that we started moving, out of Fette and heading north.
We were almost halfway to the black woods by late afternoon, and I was questioning my decision to walk everywhere more strongly than I ever had before. The sa distance wed passed wouldve taken days. Sure, unlike the convoy I wouldve been alone and much more likely to be attacked by raiders or radded out animals, but maybe the ti I saved would be worth dying over.
We were passing under the remains of an overpass deep in the heart of a swamp that had almost completely eaten the remains of the road. The modified wheels of the vehicles easily passing over the difficult terrain. As we went to pass under another raised section of road, a womans voice cut through the sound of the engines.
Help! Please!
I pulled myself up to look over the railing of the truck, holding my hat in my hand to keep it from flying off as I did so. A little way ahead of us were several won, standing under a road sign waving at us. They looked disheveled, and around them were the smoldering remains of several vehicles similar to the ones we were in.
Our convoy slowed to a crawl and I could just barely make out a muffled conversation from the cab of the truck I was in.
Its not on the main path, but uh, I wouldnt mind having a group of won like that feeling grateful, I heard the man in the front with Angela say.
I could just make out a sigh, and the truck started moving toward the won. Ill do it, but only because I dont want to hear you boys bitching about missing out for the rest of the ride, said Angela.
I hadnt expected any stops on the trip, and as we got closer to the won pleading for help my teeth began to itch. They were wearing rags, but in spite of that they seed well fed, and all of them were being very careful about how they were positioned as we approached. Aside from that, the whole thing slled off, literally. The burning coming from the cars slled like a wood fire, and even though my senses were clouded by exhaust, I could swear I slled more won than I could see among the group. I readied my rifle, and lowered myself to where I was directly behind Angela.
This doesnt look right, I think we should keep moving, I yelled over the engine.
I heard a snort. What, is your dick dead too?
As if to answer her joke a shot rang out and the man sitting next to her in the passenger seats head exploded into a red mist.
Fuck! yelled Angela, but instead of braking she slamd on the accelerator.
The won in front of us all went from crying out for help to pulling out guns and firing. I held on tight as Angela ramd the truck we were in straight into two of the won, rolling over them with a grueso bump of the tires.
One of the n on motorcycles was lit up, but another managed to slide his bike into so cover and quickly draw a pistol to lay down so fire.
I popped up and started activating my abilities and firing, trying to thin out the ambushers as quickly as possible. The continued movent of the truck and the surprise wed created by ramming right into them surprised them enough that we were able to avoid the hail of gunfire that wouldve nailed us if wed taken even a second later to react.
One of the other n in the cab with jumped onto the heavy machine gun on the back of the truck and started firing as Angela continued to drive, moving from running over the first two ambushers to driving us in a circle, keeping us moving while we laid down fire.
It wasnt long before the ambush broke and scattered, the won fleeing in all different directions. I managed to tag a few more, as did the rest of the n in the convoy, and soon there was no more sign of them. I made a quick headcount. Wed lost three n from the convoy.
I watched as the remainder of them collected a single piece of jewelry from each of the n who died, and then shifted their riding order. One took a place in the passenger seat after removing the body there and two others took over the motorcycles of the dead. After that there was a quick search for any loot and we were on our way again. I had seen the Iron Horde in battle a few tis, and what always impressed was how they handled losses. There was a system in place based on where you rode in the horde, and when those of a higher rank died, the lower ones moved up. The horde believed that made them stronger, those that survive prove their strength by living. Live long enough, and even the position of Khan beca theoretically attainable.
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