"Everything was dark... then I saw a light up ahead. Warm and dry... felt safe. Then I opened my eyes... never been so glad to see your ugly faces! But I think I could sleep for a week."

Smoker struggled up, yelped and lurched. "Could I have a hand, please?" he asked, clutching on to the nearest object for support.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #126):

"I was a Ranger before al of this Rowan. That was helpin' what I just did was somethin' totally different. I can only hope that you and I have some sort of destiny to warrant that kind of attention Smoker." Jason said as he gathered his things and got the bike ready to go. "Your welcome by the way and it wasn't me it was the Saints."

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #130):

The miniute Smoker tries to stand, Rowan is helping him.
"Some one bring the Technical over here please and lets get him loaded on toghter shal we"

In reply to Jason Sinclair (msg #131):

Rowan fingers flicker brifly as she acknowledges the above help in her own way.
She looks at Jason "well I was a paramedic and that is what I still am, just with a few extra skills".
"As to destiny, who knows!"
"All i really want is for peace to come again."

Rowan smiles as she settles down beside Smoker so she can continue his care

"John Denver had it right you know"

Its hard to tell the truth
When no one wants to listen
When no one really cares
Whats going on
And its hard to stand alone
When you need someone beside you
Your spirit and your faith
They must be strong

What one man can do is dream
What one man can do is love
What one man can do is change the world
And make it young again
Here you see what one man can do

Peter had gotten into the technical was preparing to move out as Roadkill had "ordered". He saw an odd glow coming from one side but it didn't last long. He blinked a few times. What was that? Someone messing with a flashlight over there?

Rowan called out for the technical and he frowned. Were her legs broken? He sighed and shook his head as he turned it on and then backed slowly up towards her. He stopped and looked lazily out to see if she would get in. Then he saw Smoker. Smoker wasn't dead. Smoker was being helped into the back of his truck. His jaw dropped open and he stared for a long moment.

He finally shook himself and coughed. "Odd fucking way to start the day."

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #134):

"Jane could some one tell road kill I will need to stop and find some incredients durring daylight hourse, that is if he wants smoker fighting fit"
Rowan gets Smoker settled and covered against the night chill with his leg elevated, slightly

"While I feel Smoker should be healed as best as we can we can only spare a little bit to search for the herbs Rowan. Every minute puts someone closer to death. If need be I will go ahead of all of you to make sure that we make our meeting with the scouting group. Too much is at stake to bungle this." Jason says as nicely as possible.

Smoker was barely settled before he nodded off...

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #137):

Ian is thankful that Jason was able to find his faith and was able to bring Smoker back.

In reply to Jason Sinclair (msg #136):

Rowan nods understandingly, "I know Jason. But if I can find the ingreients I can make a politce that will heal his damage, and get him fighting fit"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #139):

"I'll go with you Rowan.   If you show me what to look for then I'll be all the more knowledgeable.  At the very least I can try to help keep guard and/or protect you."

In reply to Jane Guin (msg #140):

"Thank you Jane, Better check with Road kill I think he wanted to move out"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #141):


Jane grumbled but called out for Roadkill.  "Hey Roadkill.  We got time for Rowan to get some herbs?  She needs to restock and we need all the help we can get for healing.  I would go with her and we'd try to make it short."

"Are you guys joking?"

Roadkill turns the trucks lights on and then off again.

"How bout we travel on and wait a few hours for" he pauses "the sun, look I got to take a piss so you quickly look and when I'm back we go"

"When we out of here Jason stay back or ride out front, up to you, Gillies has got it in the dark"

In reply to Roadkill (msg #143):

Jane chuckles and then looks over at Rowan.  "You heard him.  Want to look now or wait for the sun to come up?  I've heard that some herbs and stuff should be gathered in the dark but never knew if that was one of those wives tales or truth.  Your call Rowan."

In reply to Jane Guin (msg #144):

Rowan
Thanks Jane.
"I think day light would be better and less stressful."
"I really do not want to meet one of those creatures in hte dark"
"Hopefuly with tricksters senses and m our searching we can get enough to make several poltices"

Roadkill took his piss, then mounted up his truck. It seemed they would not spend the several hours necessary to find ingredients for Rowan's healing poultices. It would be futile in the pitch darkness, anyways.

Using the driver bot's night vision, they slowly moved out onto the Interstate. It was slow going, and dangerous. Gilles muttered in French. Peter followed the tail lights of the rig, trusting that whatever the more massive vehicle could avoid, the smaller pickup would avoid as well. Still, they traveled at about half speed at best.

Dawn broke and the sun rose ahead of them an hour later, revealing the angry Snake River to the right, dark mountains to their left. It was time to decide to stop for breakfast or keep going. The rain started to slack off, so there was that, and it did leave a clean smell in the air.

They took a short break for a cold meal, then back on the road as dawn broke. Gilles switched off to conserve power. Driving by low-light really took it out of him and he needed Ghost Rock to recharge.

A few hours after dawn travelling along I-84, they sighted the ruins of Twin Falls ahead. The city was across the Snake River on the wide soggy prairie, mountains rising on either side.

The Interstate here was littered with wrecks and they needed to slow down and drive carefully. It looked like the people of Twin Falls had been caught in the middle of evacuating the city when the bombs fell. Rigs were flipped and jackknifed across lanes of crushed traffic, cars were squashed beneath and between SUVs, then caught fire and exploded. A burned bus still held charred skeletons.

Rusted-open and split suitcases and luggage spilled rags onto the cracked and crumbling concrete. Tires crunched over smashed safety glass.

Marshall's Note: I need Drivin' rolls from both Roadkill and Peter. TN 5 for the technical, TN 7 for the rig. Both vehicles have a -1 penalty for poor handling.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #147):

Rowan looks out over the wasteland.
The sight of mans stupidity depressing her.
She turns to Smoker and Jane, " Some where I read that it would take a thousand years to recover from world war 3"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #148):

Jane, in her usual spot by baby, had been looking for anything that might spelled trouble when she heard Rowan speak.  "Yeah, I heard that somewhere but does anyone ever recover from a war. Part of me says I hope not.  Not to sound negative about it, or positive, but I sometimes think that if we can recover then they will just have another one later one.  Maybe if we don't recover or as fast they'd think harder about starting one to begin with.  Or perhaps we should just take those in charge and put them on the front line.  Think that might change their opinion?"

Peter was glad they weren't staying around for the girls to go flower picking and herb searching. Any place you were attacked at by a rogue automaton wanting men's genatalia (even if they were Roadkill's) was a place to be away from as soon as possible!!

He ate in the cab, door shut, not feeling safe after both the dream and the attack. He was relieved to be driving once more when they left. He wasn't excited about the terrain they were driving over, but beggars could rarely be choosers he had found. He kept his eyes out for danger...and salvage!

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #150):

As they neared the off-ramp and interchange that would lead south over the bridge over the Snake River and then towards the ruins of Twin Falls, they slowed as the abandoned and destroyed vehicles got thicker. Overhead on a partially-collapsed overpass, a wrecked semi balanced precariously. This was one of the "hover-tractors" that were becoming more common before the war. Luckily, it didn't topple over and remained there, precariously.

The vegetation, where not scorched or dead, seemed stunted, barely surviving or recovering.

It turned out their contact procedures were not needed. Across the river, they could see the city. At that time, the CB radios crackled.

"Romeo Kilo, this is Jaeger. I authenticate "Sour"."

These were the call signs they'd arranged with Schaeffer. "Jaeger" was Schaeffer, Romeo Kilo was Roadkill. The sign was "sour" and Roadkill would reply "kraut" to complete authentication. By each having a piece of the "puzzle", they knew who the other was.

"Romeo Kilo I hear is great, what's going on, you old sour kraut you. What to do, what to do, I am all yours ja"

Smoker stirred and opened his eyes.

"How're we doin'?"

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #153):

Jane looked down at Smoker.  "You're still alive and we haven't gotten into another fight.  Have had worse days."