Day 15
Sun's just cresting the horizon, and
the fighting's done. And great holy fuck, I'm tired. Me and those
raiders have been playing cat-and-mouse games all night, trading
bullets and chasing each other in the dark. I'd find a hiding place,
lay low for a moment, then pop up and find a target to shoot. I'd get
off one shot, maybe two, and suddenly there'd be two or three
converging or firing on me. So, I'd run, hide, lose them, and then do
it all again. Took out at least half of them that way, either wounded
too severely to keep chasing me or just killed outright. I didn't
come out unscathed, of course. One bullet in my upper thigh, makes it
hurt to run. Couple of cuts and bruises. I'll be limping back to
town, might need help carrying my bag.
Finally, I got their leader. I'll give
him this, he was quiet for such a big man. I had actually managed to
flank my pursuers and get back inside, and I was kneeling down to
brace my shots and use the doorway for added cover. Suddenly, hands
gripped me by my shirt and my hair, lifting and flinging me back into
the cages, tumbling over them. As I shook myself off and scrambled
back to my feet, I heard a voice bellow, “He's mine, boys!”
The bossman stood only a little taller
than me, but quite a bit bigger around. One of those guys with a good
bit of fat, but overlaying a lot of muscle. He wore loose pants, and
open vest, and brass knuckles on each hand. He grinned as
he came at me, flinging the cages and debris out of his way. I pulled
Disc from my belt and braced myself, making sure he saw me ready to
take him head-on. Actually, it was a trick. I got him to come at me,
and then I kicked a chuck of wood at him, and rolled to his side. It
was a desperation move, really. If it hadn't distracted him long
enough, I was still within his reach and wounded already. But it
worked. He flailed his hands up, and I sliced open the back of his
ankle, and then stabbed Disc into his chest as he fell backwards.
I stood there panting for a few
moments, taking stock of myself. Gunshot, sliced up, battered, and
pretty sure at least one cracked rib, maybe two, from being flung
across the room like that. Add to that general fatigue from running
and fighting all night, and I felt lucky to be upright. I only got a
moment to catch my breath, and then I heard footsteps running up
toward the door. I forced myself to stand, and must've looked pretty
menacing. One of the raiders came to the door, obviously not
expecting to see a bloody me standing over his dead boss, weapon in
hand dripping blood. He backed out of the door, hands up, shouting,
“He's killed the boss!”
Apparently they all decided that that
was enough, they'd lost enough guys. I looked outside to see them all
gathering and running off. I mean, a few of them paused long enough
to grab up some stuff, loot their dead buddies, but I was fine with
that and I let them go.That was about an hour ago. I decided to use
one of my Auto-Docs as soon as the raiders were out of sight. I was
weak from blood loss, and in quite a bit of pain. Sat down and
rested, raided the food they'd left behind.
And now I get to see the results of my
labors. Just walked into the old mart ruins after having set off the
flares outside. Planning to take stock now, maybe gather up some
things before the townsfolk get here. Having to use my flashlight to
see, but it looks like there's quite a bit useful here. I'm hoping we
can just strip the place now, instead of having to make another trip
later. Some old bikes over there, I can see a sign over some aisles
that says Hardware. Looks like food's at the other end, gonna see
what's available.
(*footsteps, sounds of rummaging*)
Hmm, most of these labels are too
faded to read...
(*slow footsteps, momentary silence,
low rumble*)
Oh, fucking fuck! Dammitall,
fuuuck...!
(*running footsteps, loud clattering,
static*)
