Darkwind - Viewing Topic: The girl who crossed the Badlands

Valiance
The Vanguards
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Joined: Jan 15, 2008

The Mercenary rolled up to the fortified wall of the Badlands Truckstop. As it weaved its way into the compound, he could hear the dull slapping of rubber against the dusty, rocky road.

A girl got out. No, he thought, a woman. She must have been in her mid-twenties. Not many live that long anymore. Fatigue shadowed her face and her dark hair was matted with sweat and dust. She pulled off a pair of stitched leather gloves and chucked them in the car, then cracked the knuckles of each finger one by one.

?Tough ride?? he called. The Merc's armour was shattered. Holes riddled the rear and sides, and his practiced eye could make out the epicentre of rocket blasts. The decals ? a red V over a medieval shield ? were almost indecipherable, between the damage and the volcanic dust that covered everything that fought its way through the blasted wilderness.

She snorted. ?No, it was a breeze.? She loosened the leather jacket she wore. Underneath it, a flash of red, a blouse perhaps, drew attention to the honey-hued skin at her throat. ?Just like Howard said.? She mimicked a male voice, young, charming. ? ?Jake's gang used to run the wilderness all the time. You?ll manage. Just put your foot down and nothing can touch you.??

She turned and then kicked the nearest tyre. Shreds of rubber hung loose of the twisted, deformed rims. ?Well, Charlie?s gang must have had better kit than this piece of garbage. Dune tyres, off road stuff.? She looked accusingly at him. ?Those aren?t roads out there,? she said, pointing north. ?They?re lava flows. Molten rock turned solid. Razorsharp.?

He stared to the North. ?Yeah, it?s unforgiving place, alright. ? He turned back to look at her, but knew the answer before he asked the question. ?This your first run??

The girl looked at the point of exhaustion. ?Yes,? she said, the anger draining from her as if he had pulled a plug. ?But I can?t stop. These documents have to be in Firelight tomorrow.?

Stefano straightened and looked her in the eye. ?You?ve no choice. The mechanic?s busy right now, and you?ll need a rest before you set out. Besides, it?ll be dark soon, and the Badlands are no place to travel at night.?

He took her arm, and she seemed grateful for the support. ?Come on in and have a bite to eat, something to drink. I?ll sort out the Merc for you, and you?ll be right as rain in the morning.?

?Thank you.? She ran her fingers through knotted hair, then self-consciously patted it into shape. ?I don?t even know your name.?

He knew she was hooked. ?Names? Names are just labels. But round here, most people call me Jet.?

......................... vet combat1 wv ped1 northernsummer
Posted Jan 29, 2008, 2:02 am	Last edited Feb 26, 2008, 2:13 pm by Valiance

Dr Mathias
Wasteland Extravaganza
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Joined: Oct 9, 2007

'Mad' Hattie and a few other members of the Extravaganza stood around their vehicles, which were pointed at the gate and ready to go. Some were making sure the cargo was stored, others just relaxed, drinking some of the potent Mezcal brewed in the region.

Linda Brown walked over to the battered Merc and looked it over. "Maybe we should wait a bit... whoever shot this bucket up might be pissed off and waiting for someone else. We have valuable cargo and the Doc will be right miffed if those bastid Arachnids knick it."

"Well now Firefly, just hold your horses. We drive this route all the time and every trip is a bitch. One car ain't bad, we've both been surrounded and shot to hell but we always make it."

Hattie glanced over at the newer members of the Extravaganza, still excited and bantering about the last trip. "This last run was a breeze compared to others, but the way back is gonna be rough. We got greenhorns for one plus that big Boxer, which you know is a slug on wheels."

"So, we're gonna wait on those nutty pirates the Doc hangs with, they'll get us through easy enough."

Hattie smiled. "Just make sure you buy some cookies if they ask ya to."

'Firefly' Brown nodded toward the girl walking off with Jet. "Too bad about that dove there. That Firelight run I did was the best driving this side of Evan's ever seen, and my car was like a sieve and rolling on axles when I pulled into town."

"Maybe she'll make it." Hattie mused. "Getting to Badlands takes some guts. She may have what it takes. After all, you learn a lot when the reaper has breathed down your neck, and he sure breathed on her today."

......................... vet combat1 ped1 wv cont
Posted Jan 29, 2008, 5:29 pm