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"Everything starts to corrupt and die at some point. The same happened to humanity."


Saturday, March 2, 2073
Current Time: 6:45pm

Millie



Suraru



Garian Jorell



Cae



Dax Sierra

Dax was sitting quietly on his bed when Terri came to call on him and he gladly invited her in! Though his happiness quickly evaporated as she expressed her sadness. She was worried about them... if they could handle all of this. He had no doubt that they could and he told her so,"Terri... We will be fine. We can do it and maybe even with time we'll get more people to the side of the Gear Angels." He said with a smile and then said in answer to her last comment with a hug,"No one is leaving Terri. I promise okay? We started this together and we'll keep it going together." He smiled at her again and hugged her tighter.

Garian had fallen asleep near the end of his shift when the cheery girl came by. He smiled at her as he stood up and slung his gun over his shoulder, "I wasn't sleeping, merely resting my eyes is all." He told Julia as he ran a gloved hand through his hair, he wasn't wearing the bandana over his face so that it's features were shown, a small scar on his right cheek, he had no worries here amongst the faction group, only when he is on patrol does he wear it. "You sure you can handle the shift? If I was feeling a little groggy, then you'd be out cold." he chuckled, putting a hand on her head before making his way towards the exit, he'll grab a bite to eat and then possibly sleep an hour, that's all he'll need to stay away for several hours more. He liked the station, it provided some cover in case it was attacked and the added defenses they put on it just helped even more. He smoothed out his coat, covered in dirt as he hadn't had a chance to clean it before looking back at Julia one last time before heading into the station.

Cae adjusted her bag, tightening the leather strap that striped across her torso from shoulder to hip. With Fairtown, you never knew when the next thief or mugger would strike. Now, the android fancied herself perfectly competent at protecting herself, but that didn't mean she didn't install a three-layer buckle on her bag to ward off pickpockets. She paused on the cracked street, looking up to the evening sky as people meandered about her. It was only a few minutes until the last hint of vibrant orange and gold would plummet under the horizon, casting Fairtown completely in shadow. Even though the shadows were good for her -- her eyes could see as well in the night as they could at day -- she still preferred the daylight. When night settled over the Great Ruins, everything seemed more... lonely. The android rubbed her chin thoughtfully. The sun would migrate from here, and rise on the other side of the planet. Cae wondered what a morning looked like in China or Japan nowadays, and what wonders and knowledge they held if humans survived there. Communication across the globe was something she wished was possible again, like it had been in the Pre-War era.

Her red submachine gun clicked idly on her back as she looked back down, continuing to walk on. Her tough, rubber-soled red-and-white shoes barely made a sound on the near-ancient concrete. Cae had recovered them in pristine condition from a bombed-out store about a year ago and was elated -- good footwear was hard to come by! Her robotic ears hummed, the antennae swiveling and pivoting as an animal's might. Inside the metallic shell, the bioelectronic hearing mechanisms were actually fashioned after a human ear, which gave her the peerless clarity of an organic ear with the sensitivity of a machine ear: countless times had the android escaped danger by hearing the subtlest of warnings. And yet the sound of bone and sinew clashing together was hardly subtle. Alert, the android looked ahead, wondering what kind of danger there was to be had. Mugging? Revenge beating? Argument between shopkeepers? Concern spread across her face as she powered on, determined to seek out the commotion. An unwritten rule of the Great Ruins was to turn your shoulder to trouble, but Cae could not. For all her traits as a machine, her personality was her strongest gift... and hardest downfall.

She made sure all of the pockets on her distinct red cargo shorts were buttoned before she turned her way toward a crowd that was forming. The android was immediately ablaze with curiosity and just a hint of fear: only a handful of things drew such a spectacle, and all of them were bad. She picked her way gracefully through the mob, careful not to brush anyone too hard, and paused at the forefront. She was expecting a brawl between two grown men (in which case she likely would have left them to their business), but certainly not between a towering guy and a scrawny kid. Disgust made her stomach churn. Cae of course agreed with rules, particularly against theft, but somehow it was becoming easy to forget the rule of law as the months passed by. She tensed, surveying the bruising and bleeding on the boy. Her morals flared: this was no suitable punishment for petty theft.

He's so young! she thought with alarm. The kid certainly wasn't a raider warlord who stole for greed. She couldn't be sure of his reasons, but she knew that a kid wouldn't steal unless he was desperate. He was too thin and dirty to not come from the most afflicted area of society. Cae inhaled sharply, her features dark and outraged. She knew if she walked away now, she'd be brooding for the rest of the week and regret not doing anything.

She stepped forward, impulsively deciding that she needed to stop this, even if it meant offending someone.

"Hey!" she called, shoving the man in the shoulder to ensnare his attention, "What do you think you're doing? Cut that out!" she demanded. She gestured to the boy with a finger, anger visible in her vibrant green eyes.

"Look at him! He's too young to take hits like that!" she said.

Millie walks off the road and approaches the gas station. She's still a distance away, no one should of spotted her yet, especially with the sun setting behind her. There are many things in the road, her silhouette should of blended in. Walking down the side of the road, she gets closer. At this point, she imagines she hasn't been really stealthy, and they've probably spotter her. She checks her Winchester to make sure it's fully loaded with five twelve gauge buckshot. It's common ammo for self-defense and larger game. "Thank god for rednecks" as she says often.
She also picked up some bird shot along her travels, probably six shells left. Half of the amount of slugs she has, but twice the amount of flechette she found on that dead soldier. She left him with his armor out of respect. That left her with fifty-six rounds of buckshot, twelve on her vest, five on her gun, five more in the gun, and the rest of it in her bag.
She silently walks to the side of the gas station. No one has stopped her yet, although normally that's just because they want her to get closer if they are violent. Not everyone is as blessed to have a weapon with eighty rounds of ammunition. With her weapon slinged under her arm for easy access (and because having your weapon drawn can get you shot by normally peaceful people), she creeps to the corner and listens for/to the people.
The sun lingers on the horizon, any minute now it's going to get dark. If they don't sound good, she can sleep around back. There she only has to worry about a stray pisser. Thinking about that, she wished she put her bird shot in there first, so she would only severely wound someone with a direct shot, sending dozens of small pellets into their chest, not kill them with nine large pellets through their chest. That way she could heal the guy and hopefully gain some trust. Actually if she didn't hit anything vital, someone would have an easier time living with the Buckshot...

"Ya, see if you can get me a few body bags for those pricks back there..." Suraru says, and then sighs "Nah, I'll just take another beer. Usually four is when I get drunk enough to not care."
Sometimes, he wishes he were part of a group of Regulators. Just a squad of Texas Ranger like people that stop scum like those. He hopes he gets drunk quickly, because if the bar tender doesn't get here quickly with his drink, he might go off of the raiders and get himself in trouble. He's a happy drunk. One to dull some pain and keep from being too emotional, two to give him a better attitude, three makes him tipsy enough for others to notice, finish four he'll be wasted enough to start singing, and five he'll be too hammered to walk (or dance) straight, followed by him blacking out before six.

Millie




Suraru




Garian Jorell




Cae




Dax Sierra

Oh fuck no, not the cold one. Suraru is one beer too short of a forgiving, let him take it attitude, and three too deep to make the well minded choice of not kicking this guys ass. So of course he stands up, grabs the beer, and gets in the raiders face "You should really ask next time, I might actually just buy you one. Now, let go, of my beer." he says coldly, on the brink of doing something stupider then trying to agress a member belonging to a large group of raiders. Meh, he didn't really expect to stay in town anyways.

Ok, a dumpster looks like a great place to sleep then just out the back. It's more of a hiding place, if it rains or radioactive snow falls I should be safer. Actually I think the radioactive snow was just in Colorado, but it could happen anywhere. So that's an option if they don't seem friendly. No way am I going to reveal myself, it's too risky. Last time I did that things went horribly because I freaking squeaked, and everyone knew I was a girl, and everyone was hitting on me, and I had to leave without a good meal because it creeped me out.
So revealing myself is the last thing I'm going to do. Not going to peek up on the roof; one, that would make too much noise, two, anyone up there would see me. Still, I did hear a man and a women, so they might actually be a friendly couple. Or a dangerous raider couple like in Boulder City, god those two were fucked up, but I don't see intestines strewn about, used as streamers, or bodies perched up for decoration. Then again, it's probably because they haven't found any victims yet. God damn wasteland, everyone is an evil psychopath until proven innocent.
I wonder... If I could just get upfront and peek in the window? No no no, that's a horrible Idea, they might see me! But I must know....

Millie carefully walks the corner and peeks at the front of the store. If the coast is clear, try and peek through one of the windows.

Millie


Suraru

Ok, so what appears to a very agitated group of people, probably scavengers or mercs. The only thing I have to worry about this group are them robbing me. I'd best leave them alone, they don't look very happy, and mad people tend to be a bit mean.
Millie walks back to the dumpster, and watches the sunset. She sits down next to it and pulls out a can of beans, and using her knife cuts a hole in the top. She carves open the top, and shaves off any metal fragments so she won't cut up her mouth and throat again. Then she takes her time eating, only pouring mouthfuls at a time. Assuming nothing happens, she finishes, dumps the can and silently crawls inside the dumpster. She quickly makes herself at home, pushing any gunk away with her feet, and curling up in one of the corners. Might be a cold tonight, but at least she has shelter this time.

Suraru just smiles "You know what, it's be a while since I've been in a good fight, if your up for it, kick me through that door. Looser pays for the next drink." he said letting go of the booze and backing up to the entrance. If he's lucky, he'll be able to dodge if the raider actually tries to kick him, but he's never been good in hand to hand fights. Wresting he can do, but in a fist fight he'll get his ass kicked. Regardless, his mind starts to push the beer out of the way so he can think straight.
Actual plan, grab the beer and run as soon as fists start swinging.

Dax was glad she had was comforted by his hug. He meant what he said and they were so few comforts in the ruin now and the hug of a good friend was one of the best. When she blushed though he paid extra special attention. This was different. She was going to say something important! He listened as she said she came to ask another question as well and then James' loud ass came in ruining the moment! James! Dammit the moment was gone now but he had all day tomorrow with her though. He would get it then for now he was going to find out what James had to say that was so important,"Alright Terri you know where to find me if you need help with that! We certainly don't want to choke to death!" He laughed good naturedly with her and left for the messhall,"Sup James? Whatcha need?" He asked alittle impatiently still peeved that he interrupted them.

Cae glared quietly.

Another one of those examples of human hierarchy. she thought cynically. Although the android rarely looked at humanity from the third-person, the implications were crushing when she did. Humans were tribalistic by nature -- elitist, even -- and in the Great Ruins, wearing the surcoat of a feared group stoked most humans on a power trip. The Division was another one of those power players in the Post-War world that Cae abhorred, mostly for their arrogance and how they took without conscience. Just like raiders, they were greedy. But unlike raiders, they were thoroughly organized and had created created legislation to to govern their actions. Not unlike organized crime in the Pre-War world, she had thought. It was for just a hair of a second when the man grabbed her that she thought she might have made the wrong move; she could topple the man, but he had friends. Perhaps she should have walked away, less she turn the entirety of the Division against her. But then she glanced down at the wounded boy once more, and decided it was worth it.

She was an android, and she was capable. She could weather the Division. But that kid could not. Growling, she tugged against the man's grip, unwilling to submit herself to his intentions. He was a tower of muscle, but she could have broken his fingers easily even if she didn't possess the strength of a synthetic body. Yet before she could do anything to cause a bigger scene, the man was swooped away with speed that surprised even Cae. She shirked, pulling her arm back as soon as the Divisioner's grip wavered. She tightened her posture and raised her hands threateningly: it was a sort of martial arts stance that (to harsh irony) she had picked up from watching a Division soldier fend off a group of raiders once upon a time. Yes, no man was bulletproof, but the android wasn't going to let loose with her machine gun on a busy Fairtown street. Even her synthetic brain needed a split-second to register the proceedings. She scanned the masked stranger with curiosity, surprised that anyone else would intervene, but hardly disappointed.

She was, however, worried that he would have to face the Division, too... at least until he floored his opponent cold with a swift counter.

She was bewildered and impressed. Now here was a guy who knew what he was doing! Cae turned to face him, still on guard. Even though the Divisioner was out, she had the sneaking feeling that he didn't intervene just to be a nice guy. Especially since he apparently considered himself a paragon of caution.

The android lowered her hands nonetheless. At least he hadn't hit her yet. She found his face and body language inscrutable through his gear -- he was abnormally composed, and for the 96th time (precisely), she wished an optical scanning function had been programmed into her. But then she looked down to the kid and quickly skipped over, squatting down beside him with a visage of concern and anger. He wouldn't make it very far without a doctor. She kept close to him, looking up at the stranger defensively.

"I was thinking that this kid would get hurt even worse unless I intervened. That's worth taking a punch for. Divisioners are blockheads, anyway." she said. Cae's policy on doing the right thing was very... hardline.

Millie



Suraru



Cae



Dax Sierra



Claire Jones

Dax sits down in a chair backwards with his arms perched on the back of the chair and he listened with surprised happiness. He hadn't expected James to talk about this. James wasn't the type to dwell on things like that but he was taking initiative. This was good. When he finished speaking he said,"Alright... yeah I suppose we should do something. Time to show the ruin what the gear angels can do. Who can we pick a fight with around here? I think we need to take a raider group. That will show people and make the raiders think twice about harassing us. I trust you guys too... all of you. So I want all of your opinions as well. We need some more members... but they need to be people we can trust." Dax said thoughtfully. James was right. They needed to show the ruin what they could do! How better than to destroy a raider group? It would build a positive image and maybe even some support.

Oh shit, there goes my plan of snuggling with something over my head. How could I be so careless jamming my knife down into the can like that. Millie thinks to herself, looking behind her toward the cans with hunger. And whats worse then me not being able to finish my beans? A gun pointed at me, with a girl expecting me to talk. Millie slowly moves one of her hands over her mouth, trying to signify she doesn't talk.
She waits for a response, regardless if the girl above her understands or not, she keeps one hand in the air, and slowly pulls out a ball point pen from one of her breast pockets. The pen has long ago ran out of ink, but it the metal tip makes a great way to scratch surfaces for communication, a great way that isn't a knife. She holds the pen above her head, so her captor can see it. If she didn't understand before, she should now. Assuming she understands Millie is mute by now, she slowly and carefully walks to the wall, and scratches the word "Food" on it. Of course the girl on the roof can't see it, so she'll have to step down. Millie takes a few steps back from the wall inviting her to jump down and look at it.

Two drunkards who can't fight? Then a fair fight it is!
Of course I'm going to sloppily dodge it. I was hoping to bring it outside for the bartender's sake, but that plan just got thrown out the window as I go to tackle the man onto a table.

Garian nodded his head to Neal before he took any notice to the argument going on. He had listened to the two bicker for some time now, one hot headed, the other narrow minded. One had a point, the other had a plan. He went over to the food and ate some of it before the two had finally noticed him and decided to bring him in on the argument, something he didn't want and regretted immediately coming down from the lookout. He looked at the two before sighing and putting a hand on Riley's shoulder, patting her, "We know we can take their bases, but right now we are overstretched." He told her, trying to keep his face from showing any emotions to her, though a hint of sorrow was there, the fact that they HAD overstretched worried him, "If we push now while we are in this state, they can easily flank us and cut us off from our base, how long do you think we'd last without any supplies coming in?" He moved away from them and started back to his food, "We wait for word on reinforcements, but during that time, we should also recon, look for weaknesses. If we can find a supply route of theirs or even a breach in a defense, we should use that weakness against them while minimizing our casualties. Even though we're going to wait, that doesn't mean we sit idle." He smiled at them, "Especially if a Supply route is nearby, we can grab some fresh food and water, not to mention ammunition and armor." He said and continue to eat now. It had been some time since he was last in the SA himself, before he deserted, he hadn't been here on the Democrat Front, but he knew what to look for to locate a Supply Route.

Cae frowned as she looked over the boy, trying to gauge his injuries. To her displeasure, the stranger's assessment was spot on. It did not matter, though: all it meant was that it was as bad as she thought it was. He would not heal properly without assistance. She glanced subtly at the stranger, wondering just who he was. He dressed in the garb of a traveler or a wanderer of sorts. And not the type that orbited around green zones: that regulator was serious business, and obviously meant to weather hard environments. She tugged her bag onto the floor and fastidiously unwrapped the buckles, procuring a thin blue-white blanket that had been folded up into a square. Cae had no real use for it, but it was a decent barrier to put between her and the hard ground when she rested. Shaking it open, she half-folded it neatly on the pavement and with nearly infinite caution, slowly placed the boy onto it. She didn't want to aggravate his pain, but at least that would comfort him. She stood up, sealing her bag again and putting it on her back.

She observed the stranger for just a moment before her eyes widened with shock.

How? she wondered, blinking silently. A thousand possibilities struck her, but the depth of his knowledge was catching. Most people spotted that she was a machine after a closer look at her ears (which to most people, looked like a headset), but she had never seen anyone do that. How could he have known? Her serial number and basic specifications were in her eyes. With a very particular type of scanner optic, it was possible to read the digital information that had been printed into her synthetic iris, but Cae couldn't believe anyone would do that with a glance. She took a cautious step back, but accepted the supplies after a second of hesitation. Perhaps his intentions were pure, but anyone who could identify her wasn't worth forgetting. She looked down at the boy, who was in obvious pain. As much as she wanted to question the stranger, this was more important. She would track him down later... assuming he didn't find her first. Placing the items in her bag, she very carefully picked up the kid in both arms, trying not to disturb him.

Poverty had thinned him, so with Cae's strength, he was as light as styrofoam. She glanced sidelong and the stranger, and then walked on, establishing a speedy rhythm down the street, into the crowd and around the intersection toward the house of the local doctor. Or, well, witch doctor.

"I will talk to you again later!" she had promised him before she walked away.

As she walked, consciously avoiding other people, she speculated. That was no normal man.

Maybe he's a Collector. she thought. He was enigmatic enough to fit the bill: the one or two people other people she had met and thought to be Collectors were equally stunning. And usually not in a good way. Besides, who else could know so much about androids? Yet if that were not accurate, then Cae only wondered how much else he knew of the Pre-War world. Maybe he could tell her something that she did not know. Particularly about herself. The frown remained on her face as she tried to summon the fleeting memories that hung around on the periphery of her mind, nondescript but taunting her with their presence. She sighed. No dice. It was literally as if there were a barrier covering that part of her memories.

The witch doctor's place came into sight soon enough, and Cae was quick to proceed in. First she'd make sure the boy was safe, then she'd talk to the stranger.