In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg #276):

"ya ya colonial. Me and smoker have kept out of this shit and I'm pretty sure smoker feels the same, there is no way we want to get involved. We aren't soldiers and any family we once had have already gone. War killed them!"
Roadkill takes a puff on his ciggy

"I don't care about your shit fest of a war. Some of us just want to live and get by"
Roadkill shakes his head while getting annoyed at being talked down to by another soldier who thinks 'We Are Right'

Roadkill gets into the colonials face and points his finger right at him
"Fight your own god damned war soldier boy! Stop trying to get me and smoker killed!"

This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Thu 26 Apr 2012.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #277):

If anything, Schaeffer seemed amused by the other's denial of reality. He started to pull himself up the ladder, stopping with one foot on the ground.

"Saying I like war is stupid. It's like saying you want Throckmorton to bend you over and fuck you in the ass while choking you with a belt. Metaphorically speaking."

"Nevertheless, war will come, despite my wishes, and you will not escape Throckmorton's control, despite your wishes. You and Smoker could still remain alive, though. As slaves to Throckmorton.

"I suspect you are most upset because you understand I am right even if you cannot admit it."

"Please accept my apologies if the truth causes you... discomfort. Still, we must all grow up, sometime."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:31, Thu 26 Apr 2012.

"Far as I'm concerned, folks that want to brawl are welcome to do so. Just I don't aim on joining in. Like I walk away from bar fights too. All it proves is who brawls better, not who's right or wrong."

Finishing drink and cigarette, Smoker disposes of cup and dog-end, then goes off to attend to the call of nature before wrapping the damp shemagh around his head and getting ready to climb back up to his perch.

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg #278):

Roadkill looks at the colonial with extreme disdain. He stares directly at him

"you sir... you love it. You love war and you know it. You love the conquest... of all things"
He looks in the direction of Rowan

"Hahaha you love it ya"
Roadkill tries to keep it straight but the fact it is blokes talking about blokey things he can't help it. He suddenly gets serious

"I don't know mein freund."
He leans in close to the colonial
"Trejo"
Roadkill shakes his head

Rowan
" Some one once said only the soldier knows the true horrer of war since he is trained to kill and must do so to survive."
"I do not know if I believe that or not and certainly I have no wish to make war on any one"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:02, Thu 26 Apr 2012.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #281):

Jane decided that she'd keep her opinion to herself.  There was enough opinions being thrown around and by her experiences lots of opinions usually meant lots of tempers being tweaked.  She had her opinions but the day was dreary enough with the rain...no need to add further fuel.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #280):

Shaeffer followed Roadkill's glance, then broke into a grin.

"You make war and conquest sound... Freudian. Sexual, even!"

"I think someone is just jealous because a certain Teutonic horde decided not to occupy their Sudetenland. Admit it. You want me. But my heart and body belongs to Rowan."

"Trejo? Not my type. I like them scrawny. In a trucker's hat."

He winked at Roadkill, then chuckled suggestively.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Thu 26 Apr 2012.

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg #283):

Trejo didn't say anything. His flinty black eyes glinted at the mention of the Combine and he rubbed the part of his skull where the headbanger chip was implanted. Waiting to finish what Throckmorton started.

Finishing his gecko kebab, he wiped his mouth on his leather sleeve and remounted his bike.

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg #283):

A rather confused look crosses roadkills face with a slight shudder.
He steps away. "Crazy people"

"Ya Headbangers! And everyone that joined ol' Johnny Reb went willingly. My unit pulled out when Throckmorten went bonzo. I got a Headbanger and almost a Red Hat for being a good tech. Drafting me was a mistake. One I hope to shove up his tin ass along with a round from my new friend." Crichton pats the rifle case lovingly. "When I'm done with this gun you could shoot the nuts off a gopher in Boston from here."

Peter just snorted and stayed quiet. He didn't like the Combine. But he also didn't want to talk about the Combine, really. His eyes slid towards Jane. She had been a Black Hat once. He didn't ask her about it. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. His eyes slid back to the ground. He'd done things he wasn't proud of as well. He was trying to make up for them also. Judge not lest ye be judged. Or something.

"So we're skippin' Junkyard. Cool."

Rowan Blushes
Then hearing peter frowns.
and softly but firmly says

"That might be a mistake, however you look at the situation of a war developing, our survival as a group depends on us knowing what is happening around us."
"Knowledge is not only power it is a matter of survival as well".
"I have no knowledge of the combiine but I certainly have a sever dislike of the Black hats and their methods."
"Thats my opinion for what it is worth"
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:24, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

Having confused Peter and thus avoided escalating the discussion further, Schaeffer climbed up to the rig. When Crichton climbed up he wandered over and sat down.

"I feel bad about arguing with Roadkill and Smoker. I cannot blame anyone for having enough of war, least of those who have never known peace like we have. For wishing it would go away. It also sounds like news of the purge of the gangs hit Roadkill especially hard for some reason."

He indicated Crichton's weapon case. "That sounds like a remarkable weapon. Are you willing to show it to me?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:59, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

Under grey skies that threatened to resume raining, the convoy pulled back onto the road.

Now they were further away from the Combine, they would sleep at a hostel tonight.

With luck, they would make Boise by midday tomorrow.

Smoker huddled down on his perch, still miserably wet, scanning their surroundings and dreaming of somewhere warm and dry.

Rowan from her area with jane.
Says "that was a pity, I would have been interested in seeing what the Scrap yard was like heard a lot about the place"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #292):

Jane had been mostly quiet along the ride.  The talk of black hats still made her uncomfortable but it was in her past and as much as she would like to ignore it that option was impossible.  When Rowan said she had a severe dislike for black hats she finally had to say something.

"Remember not to condemn all people for the actions of some or one.  I believe that there are still some good souls in the black hats.  Just not that many.  Maybe they are waiting for their revelation like I was."

Jane didn't have love for them even if they were her old outfit.  There was one or two that she missed but she knew enough not to inquiry about them and bring attention to them.  She didn't even know if they would have survived the interrogation that had probably gone down after she "disappeared".  She just hoped that either they did and were holding their own or that they died quickly.

In reply to Jane Guin (msg #293):

Ian was listening in to the conversation.  He had some friends that were in the Forces but he did not go down that path.  The issues that he had with the gangs was their lawlessness that they brought to the area.  He spent many hours chasing down some ganger that killed or raped their way to "power".  The Combine was worse in some ways.

Ian keeps watching the road way to make sure that no other surprises come up on the group.

"When we have some decent down time Colonel. This little behemoth is only a prototype for a man portable version of an old idea from a sci-fi movie with some German actor named Shawatzenhager or something like that. Eraser I think it was called." Crichton smiles. "You would like the gun. Not the movie."

Rowan nods.
thinks for a momment, then says
"It seems that in the begining the need to Have units that were under control and not able to run amok, could give arise to such an idea, from what I understand goverments have always been worried over the dea their armed forces might turn on them, for what eve reason".
"But it would seem from what you say that it has gone far beyond that now and that the people attracted in to the armed forces of Throckmorton, are at a level below your self and others I know."
Rowans face becomes thoughful, "I suppose he is running out of good quality recruits,"
"Jane tell me to butt out if you do not want to answer this, but can you tell me why you joined accpeted the control disk and then ran". "I am not asking from idle currosity, but from a desire to learn and understand".
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:03, Sat 28 Apr 2012.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #296):

As the women talked, everyone mounted up and the caravan pulled out onto Deseret Route 89, heading north to Boise. Everyone tried to get comfortable and stay dry. It was a fairly secure stretch of road, at least until they passed out of Junkyard-patrolled territory...

It had stopped raining and the sun started to break through the overcast.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:20, Sun 29 Apr 2012.

Jane thought for a moment on how to answer Rowan.  "I'm not sure I can give a satisfactory answer to those questions Rowan.  First of all I think that I should point out that I didn't accept the control disk.  To say one accepted it makes it sound like we had a choice.  I suppose we did in a way but if we didn't "accept" then our life expectancy would be drastically shortened. Everybody had to have it done to them."

Jane paused for a bit before continuing on in a low voice.  "He made it sound like it would benefit us.  Things like if we got caught it would help against interrogation, and thus give us a chance to live, or help against psionic attacks.  We didn't know it was booby trapped. But why did I join?"

She couldn't remember how much she might have told them before but things needed to be said.  Even if she had told them, some horror stories need to be repeated to make people remember.  She couldn't forget so why should others?  Jane swallowed hard and continued.

"Do you remember before the bombs?  I had a life then.  It wasn't ideal.  A bad marriage but...kids...were good.  That all changed.  Afterwards I was like others.  Wandered around trying to figure out what the fuck had happened.  My routine changed and my mind was trying to deal with it.  My unit split up and I wasn't needed because no money for fuel to fly.  Throckmorton found me and offered a job.  Ya know, I don't remember now if he sought me out or I just happened to be in one of the roundups.  Perhaps my brain still wasn't functioning right but I was happy to have something to do again.

Did you ever known bullies or kids who if they saw ants on the street or if they crossed in front of them, they would step on them?  I found myself like those people.  When I flew everybody on the ground looked like ants.  They were only ants.  Then one day I turned into one of those ants.  I crashed.  It was pretty bad and I thought I had died but I woke up.  I don't know the names of the people who took care of me or who or what they were...except good.  We didn't speak the same language but they...I don't know.  I heard rhythmic words being said over my body and eventually I got better."

Jane stopped and looked down at her feet and when she spoke again it was obvious that she still felt strongly about what happened.  "I tried to tell them to let me die.  I knew it wouldn't be safe for them.  They didn't listen.  Heck, I don't even know if they understood what I was saying.  So when I could I left and scrounged around the wreckage to see if I could get it up and running again.  But you know what?  I knew that even if I had gotten it up and running I couldn't go back.  I wasn't the hawk in the sky any more I was an ant.  What I had done wasn't right and I finally admitted it to myself.  Call it fate or whatever.  It was time to work for the other side and put some things to right.  Perhaps I'm just hoping that before I die I have enough good marks on my soul to offset some of those black marks."

Jane looked over at Rowan and decided it was time to ask her a question.  "My turn.  If you don't mind me asking.  I've heard some people call you a witch.  Don't know if you are one or not.  Either way you've been good to me since I've been here so that's fine with me.  I only asked because I wondered at one time if those people who took me might have had similar beliefs or something.  Would you call it a religion or an occupation or both?  So far you seem to be on the side of good but I'm sure there are others out there who aren't.  Besides if they throw magic at you or something, is there ways to tell good from bad?  No offense is meant you know.  Like you, just trying to learn this weird land we find ourselves in now.  You can tell me to shut up also.  Seems that your little question opened up the flood gates for a bit there."

Rowan looks astonished
" Oh friend why should I be upset, let's see.
"Yes I am a Witch, back before the War I was a paramedic and a practising Witch a member of a small coven."
"Those of us with the gift hid our ability there were way to many people hunting us."
"Okay a witch of the white or the green way believes in the basic goodness of life the world and helping people and creatures, it is both a religion and a way of life".
Rowan wrinkles her nose without even realising it.
"A witch should always ask should I do this?"
"Not can I do this"

"I can spell and make polices of healing, I can talk to beasts, cause a stone to become a powered missile, shield myself from bullets some times, cause beings to fall asleep, and make a person fall in love with me."
"As you can see at least two of those at least to my mind are a little doubtful in their use."
"As to the side of good or evil well you met in the Cathedral power gone bad, though I do not believe from what I was told it was with craft gone bad."
"But then all power is both good and evil, it is the use we put it to and our intentions that govern what and how it is perceived."
Rowan gazes into space for a moment remembering her early lessons, and her teacher speaking.

"Remember Rowan the way."

Rowan recites without even realising it reaffirming her core

Rowan smiles happy with the memmory

"Yes teacher I know," she says softly to thin air.
"Of the 9 that survived the war and scattered across the country, I have only found teacher and she was killed by the evil that inhabitied the Cathedral".
"Home I have none, it lies east of old man river and is the hunting ground of the dead"
"Oh but I do have two good things good friends, and the love of a man.
Yea that is enough for now"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:29, Mon 30 Apr 2012.

That Night

The convoy stayed in a roadside motel on the former border of Deserat and the US that was run as a hostel for travelers on the route from Junkyard to Boise. It was a fairly secure route, but there was still the chance of random Wasteland horrors and marauding Black Hats so there was a perimeter wall and armed guards.

Aside from them, there was a trade caravan (3 trucks and a van) and a dozen pilgrims going to the Temple in Boise. After a simple dinner of squirrel stew, they retired for a well-earned night's sleep.

Peter seemed more shaken that normal the next day when they drove, and for once it wasn't the thought of driving through part of a ghost storm. Well, not ONLY that. The dream had been different, and calling it a dream was being insulting to dreams everywhere. He woke in a cold sweat, shouting no, and tumbled out of the truck. He panted heavily for several minutes before finally getting ahold of himself. It took longer to stop shaking. He didn't cry and didn't wake anyone else up, so that was a small thing to be proud of.

He got ready for the day and tried not to close his eyes for too long.


(OOC: Just wanted to finish this up after the uber-creepy nightmare before going on to the next thread. Thanks Marshall you bastard lol)