Deadman Book 2 Chapter 2: Pilgrim

It made sense that the man who ca across The Cut would be a fellow deadman. The radiation in that area alone would cause any human who got near it to have their skin lt off. Leah, and Matthews led out of the tent and through the camp. We arrived at a tent that was guarded by roughly a dozen STAR soldiers. Leah gave them a nod and one of them pulled the tent flap aside to let us in.

Inside was a small dical cot, a few chairs, and a small table. A man in a white coat sat on a chair next to the dical cot, on which rested a deadman. He had large bandages wrapped around his chest and stomach, and his breathing was ragged. He slled both familiar and different from the deadn Id t in the past. There was the usual dirt sll, and irradiated tinge, but beneath that was sothing sickly sweet I didnt recognize. It may have been the rot of the wounds, but I wasnt quite sure.

The man in the white coat looked up at us. He suddenly took a turn for the worse. I tried to treat his wounds, and he seed to stabilize, but Im not sure how much longer he has. Hes also grown less coherent.

I moved toward the doctor and gestured for him to stand and move, then I sat next to the deadman. His eyes were yellow and half lidded, and his breathing was labored.

I leaned closer. Can you answer so questions?

His eyes drifted up to and widened. A ChosenParadise. I mustve been so close, he whispered. His voice was raspy and I could see dried blood on his teeth and chin.

How did you get here? How did you cross the cut?

He suddenly shot up and grabbed , bringing his mouth close to my ear. Through the forest of teeth, across the tal wastes, walk without rhythm as you cross the abyss, they will notice you otherwise, the black sand whispers and seeks fla, do not give it what it wants. Follow this path and you will find paradise.

I listened carefully as he spoke, resisting the urge to push him off as he grabbed . His manner of speech reminded of the way the Kaijin would sotis speak in riddles and taphors. I knew directions when I heard them and I imdiately pressed them into my mory.

When he was done speaking, the man fell back into the cot, and began convulsing. I stood up and got out of the way so that the doctor could get to him, and moved to stand next to Leah and Matthews.

Interesting that he doesnt seem to have the sa level of regenerative abilities that you exhibit, said Matthews, watching the scene unfold dispassionately.

I clenched my teeth a bit. I wasnt surprised that she knew, I had already assud Leah wouldve told her leaders everything about , Potts, and anything else theyd asked, but I still found it grating. Were all built differently. Its more impressive that he made it across The Cut without it. Did he have any weapons on him when he was found?

Leah nodded. A spear, knife, and a well worn rifle.

I nodded. That little kit indicated that most of the dangers in the Cut were environntal, or could be avoided without violence. I stood and watched as the doctor struggled to stabilize the deadman dying on the cot. I had the impression that hed been waiting to see another deadman before giving in. Id seen it before. A person would hold on to life for just long enough to say one last thing, take a final shot, or spit blood in their enemies face before letting go. I felt an obligation to stay there, and stand watch, as he went. He was an explorer, like myself, and whatever ideology had led him to seeking paradise across The Cut, I respected him for accomplishing what no one else had managed. It was unfortunate that my side of the Cut was no paradise, and considering thats what he risked to leave his own side, I imagined it wasnt exactly a happy place to be either.

After around fifteen minutes of watching the doctor struggle to keep the pilgrim alive, Leah and Matthews left the tent. After ten more, it was over. The doctor sighed heavily, shook his head, made a note on a clipboard and left the tent without acknowledging . I moved over to the body and slid his eyelids back over his black eyes, then I left the tent.

Matthews was gone, but Leah was still there sitting and reading her newly acquired communist romance novel. I moved over to her.

The bunker on the other side. Whats so important about it?

She closed her book and looked up at . Its where the Rebuild Arica System was developed.

Really? Not in DC or up in space?

She shook her head. There were distribution and control points in multiple areas, but it was developed and distributed from that facility to begin with.

Why do you need there? What am I ant to be looking for?

Salvation. I told you before that we have partial system control.

I nodded.

Well, lets just say partial is generous. The biggest edge we have is the ability to send ssages to one another.

I blinked, I had assud with them being remnants of the forr US governnt they had a bit more control than that. Why are you telling ? I asked, it seed like the kind of information theyd prefer to keep private.

I promised honesty from our agreent on, and Im trying to honor that. The cabinet doesnt yet understand the realities on the ground. They think they can whip anyone into their side with a bit of patriotism and so advanced tech. Itll take us a long way, but well need more than that.

So, entering the bunker, how does that help?

Its not completely active. Were not sure why, but only the lowest levels are functioning. Dozens of jobs and abilities are locked without the higher levels online.

And these higher levels will give you more control? The idea of that made very hesitant to help.

She shook her head. No. Not until we earn them. If the system had gone fully online right away when it was ant to, wed have been able to sweep up whatever we wanted, now it would be available to anyone, wed have so advantage, but it would be limited. Still, we think its our best chance. Everyones best chance.

I adjusted my hat, sliding my fingers across the brim. What would be in it for ? For Potts?

What would you want? Were not exactly in a great position to negotiate. As far as I know youre the only person who could possibly get across the Cut.

I smiled, showing my teeth and eyeballing one of the armored remnant soldiers standing nearby. I can think of a few things, and Im sure that Potts can too. Is there any way you can have an agreent drafted that we can alter?

She nodded. We can.

Get that for now, and set aside a suit of power armor, at least to start.

I watched so calculations play out behind her eyes before she nodded. Fine. Ill get the docunt for you.

I nodded, satisfied for now. In truth, I'd always planned on making an attempt to cross the Cut. Id collected maps from the other side, learned what I could from those whod gone close to it before, and generally yearned to see sothing more, but it had always been sothing out of reach. With my new class, my new abilities, and experiences things were different now, I felt like I had the strength to make the crossing. If I could guarantee myself so extra loot and so benefits for Potts for doing a job I wanted to anyway, all the better.

When do you think youll be able to start? She asked.

Ill need to wrap so things up in Horde territory. Dealing with the Widows would probably take priority, then getting the agreent to Potts. Ill also need more information from the rest of you. Knowing where the Pilgrim was found for instance may help plot my route.

She nodded. Understood. Ill get that docunt now, and then Graves and I can transport you back to the outside of Jasper. Ill leave you a way to contact us.

Having all my demands and requests t so easily was a little jarring to . It made how important this was to the Remnants all the more clear, which made all the more suspicious. Still, this was a situation in which I had all the power. Id be working alone, entering the bunker alone, and whatever happened or didnt happen would be up to to explain. Their desperation put all the odds in my favor.