We made our way out of the facility, and for the first ti I was able to see the damage Id done through clear eyes. There were dozens of corpses. Throats were ripped out, heads exploded by shotgun rounds, and even so cleaved nearly in half. I hadnt realized it until this mont, but I mustve been absolutely covered in blood. Leah didnt say anything, but I made sure she was walking in front of as we moved, so I was certain she saw everything Id done. Hell, when shed t in the room with V my mouth had probably still been dripping with blood.
I made a point to pause at several of the bodies, looting them for anything I could use, and keeping a special eye out for any more advanced tech. I nabbed three of the laser rifles, one that looked like a pistol version of them, and a few other small pieces of tech I didnt recognize including two that looked like so kind of giant wristwatch.
When we made it outside I found the sun blinding. I pulled my hat down to shade my eyes and looked around. Graves was starting to move again, but slowly. He dragged himself from the crater that had been made by the explosive. When he reached Leah he pointed at and gave her a thumbs up.
She nodded, I agree. She looked around the battlefield. He knows what we are now. V had a long conversation with him before I managed to reach them.
Graves tensed, but she held out her hand.
Dont worry. Hes on our side as long as what were doing benefits or at least doesnt adversely affect deadn. Right? She looked at .
Right.
Lets move to the rally point. rcy should be waiting for us. Im sure shell want to know how her gifts perford.
Should we do anything else about the factory? I asked.
Leah shook her head. No. The rads deeper in are so high that I doubt anyone else will be moving in any ti soon. Besides, the bombs rcy was able to plant and activate shouldve crippled the place for quite so ti. It would take months to get it back up and running. Even besides all that V still only had it at limited functionality. For now, we just need to et up with rcy and then check on how well the settlent assaults went.
We walked until the gas station base camp wed made ca back into view. Leah let out a whistle, and one was returned that indicated that traps were ard and it wasnt safe to proceed. We paused there for so ti and then there was another, distinctly different whistle, that let us know it was safe to move forward.
We made our way in and found rcy at the center table of the station once again. She was grinning, and missing the eyepatch shed had on earlier showing only a hole where her eye had been.
Graves gestured to his own eye when she saw him.
Oh! I lost it when so of the rcs found . I had to use the bomb I keep in my socket to take care of them. Lost the patch in the fray. Her eyes drifted to . By the prophet, what happened to you?
I grimaced a bit. Dont worry. Its only about half my own blood.
Our friend here made it all the way into the factory and to V before I could.
Really? Did you show that traitorous bastard what a real servant of godly Arica can do?
Leah nodded. We all did.
Oh! How did the bomb I gave you all perform? Did it help with the drone?
Graves gave her a thumbs up.
I nodded. It scrapped it. Left a pretty intense crater too. Wed both be dead without it.
rcy smiled. Good news all around then!
Im going to take a few minutes, then we should clear out and move toward STAR forces.
I shook my head. Im going to head back to Horde territory. Ill travel with you part of the way so we can have our chat.
Leah nodded. Her smile not shifting a milliter.
With that she went to a corner and closed her eyes as Id seen her do since wed been traveling together. I realized now, with the information Id gotten from V, that she was monitoring different people when she did that. Taking the ti to see what they were doing as if she was looking through their own eyes.
I took this chance to start looking over my remaining notifications.
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned a rank in Pistol! Good job exercising your 2nd andnt rights
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned a rank in Investigation! Here in the US we have the right to question everything, except freedom!
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned ranks in Long guns! Good job exercising your 2nd andnt rights!
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned ranks in lee Weapons! From Bowie knives to Picketts charge, the US may have been too advanced for swords, but its spilled blood for freedom!
Excellent work Marshall! Youve successfully perford a secondary goal of your job Combat! Youve earned 60 Patriot Points!
Excellent work Marshall! Youve successfully perford the primary goal of your job Completing Investigations! Youve earned 400 Patriot Points!
Congratulations Citizen! Youve earned a level in Marshall, Justice is an Arican tradition. You have received 1 Strength, 1 Intelligence, and 1 Perception.
Congratulations Citizen! Youve earned a level in Marshall, Justice is an Arican tradition. You have received 1 Strength, 1 Intelligence, and 1 Perception.
5th level also unlocks
Federal Authority: You cannot be affected by the abilities of others unless you choose to be
Between the fights, the investigation, and the points V had sent before I died, it was the single biggest haul Id ever received, not including the tech and other salvage I now had. The auto-leveling unfortunately cost more points than I would prefer, leaving with only a pittance. The Marshall levels cost more than the Postman ones did, but they certainly had more benefits to them. The fourth level was the first one I didnt receive a new ability, and while the fifth level ability was very specific, it was also incredibly useful, especially with what Id just learned from V. reaching that level and attaining that ability may have even been his goal, he mightve thought I was more likely to try and shed blood than find a way to look beyond the imdiate situation. Cant bla him, I thought much the sa myself. With that ability I should be able to resist being monitored by Leah, or being sent those notifications about removing my access to the system. Though now that I knew they were empty threats, that point was moot.
After wed all had so ti to recover Leah opened her eyes and gestured for to et her outside. I followed, careful of both my position and weapon placent as I followed. This could still all be a ruse, though the fact that Graves stayed inside indicated she likely wasnt planning on offing . Still, I was feeling raw. I'd made a tentative agreent based on what she and V had said, but I didn't have all of the facts. Besides all that, the decision of who to ally the Deadn with wasn't exactly mine alone. I needed information, and assurances.
Once we were far enough away, Leah started to talk. Ive spoken with my people, the Remnants. They agree that having you continue to work with us is beneficial, and they see a lot of value in working with deadn in general. Overall though, they see it as a practical issue. Why bother the deadn in their territory if it's a place we can't survive in ourselves anyway?
Howd you talk to them? I asked.
All agents can talk to one another across distances through the system.
Where are they? These Remnants?
Leah moved a hand involuntarily to the scar on her neck while looking up at the sky. Very far, but closer than youd think. At the mont though there aren't enough of us in the area to move things forward by force, that's why I've been focused on infiltration and research. What I have prepared will give your leaders more definite specifics on everything, but the short of it is what you've already heard, we are the remains of the legitimate US governnt, from before the bombs fell. We have partial control of the system, and access to tech you couldn't even imagine.
Like your thermal scope, and Graves' suit?
Exactly
And in this deal your leaders have prepared, Undertakers will be able to work freely? Deadman children will not co to harm?
She nodded. Ive secured just that promise.
My trigger finger itched a bit. This had a lot of potential, but I didn't exactly trust the woman who'd been using to explore so of the most dangerous places in the wastes...though admittedly I may have wound up in those places myself eventually. Exploration was always part of my plans. And what do you and yours want from us?
I want you to deliver so docunts to start. We dont have any contacts who even know where Potts is. We have theories, but so deadzones block out my ability to view what people are doing, particularly if theyre closer to the Cut.
So, you want to act as a ssenger?
She nodded.
Well, at least its a job Im used to.
She pulled out a tal cylinder. Place your thumb here. she said, indicating a finger sized square. I complied, and she pressed a button on the back of it. This cylinder is radiation and explosion proof. It can only be opened with your unique biotric signature. I have the initial agreent laid out in basic terms, as well as more general information. Do you have anyone with the lawyer profession in Potts?
I nodded. One of our honored dead has both the attorney and judge job.
Hell be able to formally accept or decline it, or even alter it, and well be notified when he does. She handed the cylinder. I look forward to continuing to work with you.
Just keep things honest from here on and we wont have any trouble. If you aren't...well you saw what I did in there, and I'm just one Deadman." I was taking a big risk, but for now that risk was only on . If things went south at this point, the only one who'd wind up dead is . If things worked out though...it would be worth it. Either way though, I'd have to hedge my bets a little, and I already had a few ideas on how to do that.
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