2062
| | Sep/Oct 2062 |
 *PART 3* The next morning, Mellie shook Brooke awake into the gray light of dawn, and the two dressed and shared a breakfast of Brooke’s provisions. Over the smoked mutton and dried fruit, Mellie said, "I was hoping to come up to your farmhold. If this patrol went well enough, then I could've gotten you recruited the normal way." Brooke swallowed a slice of dried apricot and asked, "What's the normal way?" "You go into Somerset, and you tell the people at the Training Facility that you're looking for work, and they'll find a gang that's looking for your skills. Oh! I have something for you!" Mellie dug into her packs on the floor and pulled out a weapon in a brown leather shoulder holster just like the one Mellie wore. Mellie pulled the weapon out of the holster to reveal a double-barrelled shotgun as long as Brooke's forearm. Brooke gasped as her eyes took in the delicate brass wire inlay that wound in barbed patterns over the weapon's stock and lock. They marked the weapon as either an artifact of the world before the Solar Storm, or the work of a master craftsman. Either way, it was far better than Brooke could see a common gangster affording. "Mellie, how did you afford this?" Mellie grinned like an urchin and slid the weapon back into its holster, offering the whole thing to Brooke, who took it with shaking hands. "I didn't have to. It was my share of a pirate group we took out a couple weeks ago. I got a good gun already," one hand went to pat the stock at her shoulder, "and I figured I could break you out of Criddle Hold on this patrol. So I brought Daisy for you." "Daisy?" Brooke asked, then turned the gun over to reveal the name "Daisy" on the bottom of the stock, inlaid in the same delicate brass wire. "Thank you, Mellie. How do I use it?" Mellie gently took the gun from her, and showed her the safety, and how to load, cock, and fire Daisy. A pouch on the strap of the holster proved to contain an even dozen shells. Brooke nodded, and Mellie handed the gun back to Brooke with, "We'll practice more when we get back to Somerset." Brooke nodded, slid Daisy back into her holster, slung the holster over her shoulder, and puzzled out the buckle and straps. When she had the holster buckled on, Mellie led her out to Haven Market’s main square, where the other Fifth Legion gangers were clustered around three cars parked next to the gate. As Commander Orth pulled the shroud off the center car, Brooke jumped at the sight of black scales and huge green eyes, before she realized that the shape was not a giant black snake, but rather a car painted to look like a giant black snake. Most of its surface had been painted with light lines like scales, and a pair of semitransparent electric-green eyes stared out from the armored windscreen. It was low-slung and deadly-looking, with a gun barrel peeking from a slit on the left side of the windscreen, and a pair of hand-wide rockets peeking from under the bumper. Asp was painted in green letters across the drivers' side door. The car looked like a weapon, a blade, an object for killing, and Brooke swallowed a lump in her throat. Her father's farmhold had a handful of cargo Pickups and an armed Chomper for repelling pirates and hunting, but this lithe little car was to that big, armored tank as a panther was to an ox. Commander Orth, inspecting the car with a much more expert eye, looked up and caught her staring, and pointed at one of the longer shapes. "Don't worry, virgin, Asp isn't for you. That's your ride." Brooke blushed at the faint mockery in Orth's tone as she walked over to the shrouded car. It seemed several feet longer than the commander's car, and at least a foot thinner. Mellie patted Brooke's shoulder and pulled the canvas shroud off the car that Orth had pointed to. The revealed car was long and lean, without the broad hood or low-slung deadliness of Asp. It was painted black with blue flames crawling across its flanks and narrow hood. Like Asp, a gun peeked from the left side of its windscreen, and a pod of five smaller rockets was mounted under the front bumper. Lioness was painted in blue letters across the hood below the gun barrel. Brooke glanced over at the third car, on the other side of the Asp. It was the same as Lioness, but for the word Panther and a stylized fang in the same blue paint. Mellie stepped to Lioness' drivers' side and opened the door. "Time to roll, Brooke," she said as she disappeared into the car. Brooke nodded and hurried to open the passenger door. The interior of the car was black plastic panels and brown wool seats. A complicated array of buttons and knobs was mounted in the center console, next to a pair of headsets on hooks. The passenger seat was dominated by the big boxy gun on a swivel mount just inside the windscreen. She slid into the seat and stared at the gun. If she removed the barrel and replaced the bolt and trigger with a hand-crank, then yes, it looked like the nutcracker on her father's manor. But... not very much. Brooke closed the door and ran a finger over the gun's leather-wrapped handgrip. It was the first time in her life she was in an armed car, and she felt herself on the edge of something... more. For the first time, Brooke began to truly believe that there might be life beyond being a farmwife. "Oh, wow." Mellie snorted from the drivers' side as she twisted a key next to the steering wheel, and the car's engine roared into life, and then settled into a low grumble. "Yeah, she's really something, isn't she? Wait 'til we're out on the road. She ain't called a Bullet for nothing." The gate opened before them, spilling the sunrise light into the square, and Panther edged past them through the gate and onto the road. Mellie pulled a headset off and put it on, then leaned over and flicked a switch on the side of the gun, and pulled back the slide with a soft click. "There. Now you're armed. Point it at the bad thing and pull the trigger. Aim low, it tends to shoot high. When you run out of ammo, here's how you reload it." Mellie swung the handle of the gun toward her seat, opened the top plate of the gun, removed the belt of little golden bullets, pulled the box of ammunition off the bottom of the gun, pulled another magazine from the storage area below the dashboard, slotted it into place, fed the bullets into the top slot, closed the plate, and pulled back the slide on the gun. "There. Practice that until I tell you to stop." Brooke nodded and began slowly unloading the gun again, while Mellie drove slowly out the gate.  by Fifth |
 With the major leagues coming towards their conclusion, the current leaders are: Evan Race Ladder - Axles of Evil In addition, the leaders of the minor leagues are: Circuit of Evan Wilderness Rally II League - Joels Bastards  Tyler `Crash` Karr of Cowboys UNLTD died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 2. Tyler `One arm` Small of Renshai died at Gates of Firelight. Raymond Travis of SwordStroke Enterprises died at Telegraph Road. Kimberly Fenn of TotalCarnage died at Northern Desert Circuit. Alexander `Fitch` Abercrombie of SlaughterHouse Bath and Lodgin died at Chaos Canyon. Bill `Whodamanez` Fernandez of SlaughterHouse Bath and Lodgin died at Chaos Canyon. Brittaney `Babalicious` Babineaux of SlaughterHouse Bath and Lodgin died at Chaos Canyon. Mary Elder of TotalCarnage died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. Nathan Schell of TotalCarnage died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. Ben Johnson of Lord of Rockets died at Bombed Luna Road. Brent Lankford of Collision Force died at Bombed Luna Road. Michael `German` Shepard of v.i.n.d.i.c.a.to.r.s. died at Bombed Luna Road. `Dame` Amber Veiga of Road Templars died at Gates of Firelight. `Sir` Walter Clubb of Road Templars died at Gates of Firelight. Freida Earp of Iron Company died at Highway to Hell. `Fix` Erik Nix of Crazy Canucks died at Forever Yellow Skies. Stanley `the Man` Vasquez of Crazy Canucks died at Forever Yellow Skies. Amelia Johnson of Danegild died at Somerset Dirt Racing Track. Howard `Fat Boy` Cook of OlDirty Bastards died at Gates of Somerset. Carl Roberts of TotalCarnage died at Northern Farm Land. Tammy `Tank Gun` White of King of Clubs died at Gates of Somerset. Edgardo Wilson of Lord of Rockets died at Bombed Luna Road. `Iceman` Bobby Drake of Golden Warriors died at Lost Oasis. Jeffrey `Berserker` Edwards of an0maly -CI- died at Northern Farm Land. Tamara `Hot Lips` Young of an0maly -CI- died at Northern Farm Land. Cinderella Fulgham of Iron Company died at Pathway to Darkness. Salvador Smith of Iron Company died at Pathway to Darkness. Christian Thompson of Iron Company died at Pathway to Darkness. `Fish Fingers` William Cabrera of Maxxed Out died at Pathway to Darkness. `Bug-Eyed` Michel Adams of Maxxed Out died at Pathway to Darkness. Nicki `Five` Six of OlDirty Bastards died at Double Down Arena. David `Feels No Pain` Krug of King of Clubs died at Gates of Somerset. Jon Macedo of Discordia died at Ring of Death Arena. Joseph `Preacher` Pace of Roamers of Reverence died at Road to Somerset. Willie `The Gargoyle` Gregory of Roamers of Reverence died at Road to Somerset. Frankie Moore of Roamers of Reverence died at Road to Somerset. Gary Robards of Roamers of Reverence died at Road to Somerset. Maria Courtney of codras died at Somerset Arena. `Dizzy` Desiree Williamson of PA Racers died at Elmsfield Hills Rally Circuit. Paul `Pork Chop` Williams of 69th Battalion died at Gates of Somerset. Denise Goldman of 69th Battalion died at Gates of Somerset. Harold `The Curve` Tucker of Roamers of Reverence died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 1. Sheila Silver of the mad mad crushers died at Once Upon a Town. Odis `Cross` Hartley of WarGasM died at Pathway to Darkness. Billy `The Mick` Flanigan of Womens Auxiliary Balloon Corps died at Dead man`s Road. Laura Secor of Joels Bastards died at Double Down Arena. Lorraine Arehart of Holy Mutant Death Squad died at Oil Slick. Harley Emrich of Holy Mutant Death Squad died at Oil Slick. Malcolm `AC/DC` Young of SwordStroke Enterprises died at Road to Somerset. `SrA.` Jessica Schoen of Hessians died at Texan Rally Circuit - Short. Barney Manley of MADHAT died at Northern Farm Land. Daniel Helgeson of MADHAT died at Northern Farm Land. Percy `Freakshow` Rotter of Cowboys UNLTD died at Via Rupta. Virgil `Gunbelts` Virgil of The Mighty Brain Slug Empire died at Dead man`s Road. Keisha `Whale` Case of No Aiming Just Shooting died at Northern Farm Land. Harvey `Jeffe` Short of No Aiming Just Shooting died at Northern Farm Land. Charles Dickson of TotalCarnage died at The Pit. John `NoPain-NoGain` Germain of Renshai died at Texan Rally. Bernardo Savard of Golden Warriors died at Under a Bloody Red Sky. John Green of Blood Roses died at Under a Bloody Red Sky. Una Lucy of TotalCarnage died at Telegraph Road. Jose Hall of Blood Roses died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. Ivan Wright of The Pikers died at Southern Plateau. Hans Whitten of Revelations died at Lost Trail: Broken Ground. Matthew Phillips of Paladins died at Road to Elmsfield. Harry Nguyen of Paladins died at Road to Elmsfield. Amy Pierce of Paladins died at Road to Elmsfield. Carl `Biter` Barksdale of Justifiable died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop. Nelson Keeling of TotalCarnage died at Road to Somerset. Robert Shimer of TotalCarnage died at Road to Somerset. Esther Pierson of Justifiable died at Northern Farm Land. Joshua Perry of Port Kar Renagades died at Under a Bloody Red Sky. Geraldine `Gore` Vidal of Hitmen Trucking Inc -CTS- died at Shantyville. Sergio Nguyen of TotalCarnage died at Somerset Arena. Stephanie Boehm of The F-Bombs died at Somerset Rally Circuit. Robert Shaw of TotalCarnage died at Gates of Elmsfield. Robert Wellman of TotalCarnage died at Gates of Elmsfield. Ron Slay of Golden Warriors died at Sandy. Kathleen Rivera of Golden Warriors died at Road to Somerset. `Iceman` Steven Bianco of Roads to Madness died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop. Evan Parker of Roads to Madness died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop. Cameron Walker of Iron Company died at Under a Bloody Red Sky. `Jammin` Jose Elson of Fifth Legion died at Gates of Somerset. Francine `Westie` Westendorf of Fifth Legion died at Gates of Somerset. Cynthia Hicks of Blunt Force Trauma died at Ring of Death Arena. Luke Alley of Blunt Force Trauma died at Ring of Death Arena. Alejandrina `Almondine` Almendarez of SlaughterHouse Bath and Lodgin died at Gates of Somerset. Angie Boehm of Angels Of Death died at Ring of Death Arena. Mario `mykrrr` Rodriguez of The Chargers died at Devils Fingers. Theodore `Big Stick` Rinehart of rebelfishes died at Gates of Elmsfield. Matthew `Bleh` Ledesma of Rollovers died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 3. `Bug Biter` Karen James of Raging Scavengers died at Deadman`s Drop. Dominic `Night` Watchman of Rabid died at Once Upon a Town. Sylvia `Grunter` Woodland of Rabid died at Once Upon a Town. Joshua Pendergrass of Rabid died at Once Upon a Town. Brett `The Piranha` Barrera of Rabid died at Once Upon a Town. Cori Wunsch of Justifiable died at Somerset Rally Circuit. Iola Frazer of Blunt Force Trauma died at Highway to Hell. Kenneth Helton of SlaughterHouse Bath and Lodgin died at Gates of Somerset. Edna `Kill Shot` Snow of finger3 died at Northern Farm Land. Robert `Crumbly` Crumley of SlaughterHouse Bath and Lodgin died at Gates of Somerset. Jed `Gimmie a Hand` Fowler of rebelfishes died at Blown With the Wind. Jack Bankston of The Pikers died at Rocket Flats. Mark McWilliams of rebelfishes died at Road to Somerset. Mark Dean of Axles of Evil died at Northern Foothills Racetrack (at night). Alexander `Crazy` Crossen of 69th Battalion died at Northern Farm Land. Richard `Maudlin` Modlin of Justifiable died at Southern Plateau. Charles `Hoss` Hasse of Justifiable died at Southern Plateau. Martin Hunt of Justifiable died at Devils Fingers. David Hughes of Justifiable died at Gates of Somerset. Brian `Large Mouth` Bass of Blood and Iron died at Northern Farm Land. Joe `Hockey-Face` Canaday of Maxxed Out died at Gates of Firelight. Huey Tyree of Holy Mutant Death Squad died at Oil Slick. Robert Devore of TotalCarnage died at Road to Somerset. Bridget Wang of finger3 died at Gates of Firelight. June Carneal of Rogue Traders died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop. Henry Rollings of Wasteland Wheelers died at Somerset Rally Circuit. John Austin of Bandicoots died at Once Upon a Town. Jennifer Lopez of SunBurns died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 2. Viola `CantTouchThis` Hartley of an0maly -CI- died at Dead man`s Road. Roosevelt McGuire of an0maly -CI- died at Dead man`s Road. `General` John Coats of an0maly -CI- died at Dead man`s Road. `Eager` Elsa Strickland of an0maly -CI- died at Dead man`s Road. Felix Timmons of an0maly -CI- died at Dead man`s Road. Kelly Jarrell of an0maly -CI- died at Dead man`s Road. `Black` Rose Bess of Blood and Iron died at Once Upon a Town. Crystal `Cross` Dresser of Blood and Iron died at Once Upon a Town. Wilbur Jackson of The Pikers died at Canyon Joust. Howard McKay of Blood Roses died at Chaos Canyon. `Sir` Thomas Wray of Road Templars died at Shantyville. Renee `firewand` Rhine of Coolerheads died at Pathway to Darkness. Victoria Achenbach of TotalCarnage died at Gates of Somerset. Raul Fontaine of The Pikers died at Northern Desert Circuit. Travis Johnson of Port Kar Renagades died at Gates of Somerset. `Very Bored` Sheila Ward of Maxxed Out died at Scattered Grounds. `The poet` Henry Lawson of Maxxed Out died at Scattered Grounds. Jesus Wade of dark impakt died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. George `Gibby` Gibson of Justifiable died at Forever Yellow Skies. `Miss` Kitty Keene of Crazy Canucks died at Scattered Grounds. Gabriel Lariviere of TotalCarnage died at Northern Farm Land. Elizabeth Hines of TotalCarnage died at Northern Farm Land. Saundra Leach of TotalCarnage died at Northern Farm Land. Darnell Wayne of TotalCarnage died at Northern Farm Land. Russell Halliday of Renshai died at The Dunes Race Course. Alex Elder of Paper Street Soap Co. died at Bombed Luna Road. Heather Hunter of Mungos Men died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Arena. Donald Rochester of Lord of Rockets died at Devils Fingers. Donald `Geek Gun` Poindexter of Maxxed Out died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop. Teresita `Hot Pants` Wilson of finger3 died at Telegraph Road. Joel Mattern of Angels Of Death died at Road to Somerset. Jessie Ricker of Gutter Punks died at Road to Somerset. Richard Fountain of Bad Baby Bunnies died at Road to Somerset. Cris `Jock` Shock of Blood and Iron died at Interstate Mythos. Lorraine `Maxwell` Klinger of Port Kar Renagades died at Once Upon a Town. Daniel Donnell of Blunt Force Trauma died at Somerset Dirt Racing Track. Tammie Walker of Iron Company died at Once Upon a Town. Bradley `Too` Short of Coolerheads died at Gates of Somerset. John Engel of Collision Force died at The Maze. Edward `Fort` Collins of Infinite Justice died at Oil Slick. Daisey Smith of Iron Company died at Gates of Somerset. Edgar `Mister` Tibbs of Rabid died at Chaos Canyon. Matthew `DouceBag` Deutsch of 69th Battalion died at Northern Farm Land. `DR.` Kristin Finklea of Justifiable died at Scattered Grounds. Josh `Soap` Durden of Got Swag died at Pathway to Darkness. Adam `Diesel` McDaniel of Got Swag died at Pathway to Darkness. Diane `The Handy` Houseman of Got Swag died at Pathway to Darkness. Relations between the mutants and anarchists are reported to be at an all-time high following the announcement of an arranged marriage between the daughter of a high-ranking member of Sabretooth with one of Mad Mac`s sons.  |