When Slim pulls up beside the hauler, Chop waves his signal flag out the window in a line, then a tight circle pointing backward at a low angle.
The symbolism is clear: Match speed, stay even, back a little...
The directions, while clear, didn't make sense until the trucker's arm drew the flag in and came back out clenching a K-BAR combat knife, which he made an "x" slashing motion with.
Rescue plan set, they sped forward to snatch the victim out of the clutches of the crazies.
Slim hops back into the cab of his mustang breathing a sigh of relief at the fact that that he didn't have to hand the keys over. He gives Chop the thumbs up, signalling he understands the game plan perfectly. As he turns the key in the ignition the V8 roars to life.
"Here we go, hold onto your seat Stinker . " he mutters.
Estelle lets out a long breath through her nose that she didn't even realise she'd been holding. "Hope he's got a good plan." She mutters as Chop's truck starts to pull away. She hops back onto her bike and takes off after them, the hole in her jacket over her heart flapping in the wind.
The crazies have worked themselves up in a frenzy over their latest accomplishment. They're so busy running around in circles and letting out their guttural screams that they dont notice you guys until you raise over the last dip in the road and are almost right on top of them.
They scream in panic and half of them scatter from the road running for the cover of the debris and desert. Several more step off the road and ready their melee weapons for attack. One, with more bravery then sense, runs into the middle of the open road and throws his crescent wrench at the haulers windshield.
The wrench smashes against the front of the hauler making a slight ding in the armor but doing little else.
In an octane instant you are right in the middle of them, Tenebrous is dangling directly over your chosen path.
Seeing the impromptu rescue arriving, Tenebrous pulls himself up to the rope with a strong abdominal contraction. He pulls his knife out from his boot sheath, timing the movement of the vehicles. At the right moment he cuts the rope, makes a half-turn in mid-air, then lands on the hauler lightly. As the truck moves on he looks back towards the crazies and flips them all off. Sitting down on the roof he waits for someone to address him, not wanting to suddenly jump inside...
As Slim's car is nearing the site, Stinker lets loose a short burst from his own assault rifle at the crazies, in the vain hope that they'd have enough wits to duck behid the bridge railing.
Lucas hates wasting bullets, but he hates the crazies even more. It was crazies who kidnapped him as a kid, and later was saved by a nomad pack!
Slim holds the wheel steady as Stinker let's loose a burst of suppressive fire. He scans Chop's hauler intently, looking to see if he managed to catch the hanging man.
Sid holds fire, unsure what the general consensus is on wasting bullets, especially when said bullets belong to someone else. He keeps his eye on the crazies, waiting to see if there is a drastic change in their tactics.
There is a loud sickening 'thump' as the reinforced push bumper of the hauler makes impact with the crazy standing in the middle of the road. The impact sends his limp body flying through the air and thankfully to the left where it smashes into the underpass wall. At least you wont have to clean up your undercarriage.
As the hauler passes directly underneath Tenebrous the stranger cuts himself free with his own knife, does a semi somersault in the air and gracefully lands like a feral cat on top of the moving hauler. With a move like that it makes you wonder if the stranger even needed rescued.
Stinker's short burst has mixed results as half of the group of crazies run from the gunfire and the other half charge right at the moving vehicles. What they are going to do against the moving steel is a mute point as you are long past their melee weapon range as they pour into the middle of the road trying to chase the distancing vehicles on foot.
As the vehicles race under the overpass two crazies, with the combined intelligence less then a box of rocks, swan dive over the edge of the bridge and attempt to land on the vehicles below.
With pitiful accuracy and timing the crazies bellyflop onto the pavement below leaving smashed red cantaloupes where their heads once existed.
Estelle, taking up the rear on her motorcycle, slows almost imperceptibly, bends down and scoops up a scoped rifle and crossbow laying on the pavement where it fell from Tenebrous dangling upside down.
In an octane instant it is all over and the underpass is behind you leaving behind some very astonished waste of the wasteland.
Chop Shop drives the hauler a good several miles from the overpass, eyes scanning the debris on the side of the road looking for secondary ambush.
Waving a flag to slow the group, he pulls the hauler to a stop and taps the top of the hailer to see if the stranger comes down, holding a pistol in case the guy wants to act crazy.
As the hauler comes to a stop and the driver taps Tenebrous carefully climbs down. Holding his hands low and out from his sides it is obvious he is holding no weapons; I thank you for the timely rescue, my late companion and I were ambushed by the crazies. I hate to think what my ultimate fate would have been." When he speaks he seems to instinctively pitch his voice low although it is easy enough to hear.
Looking around Tenebrous spots Estelle and his retrieved weapons. He gestures in her direction; I thank you for retrieving my friends, Whisper and Smite. Might I have them back, it is not often we are apart? Return them to me and my services are yours." The looks on his face appears to be worry as he waits for Estelle's response...
"They'd have probably eaten ya. What brings you out this way? Know anything about those pillars of smoke?"
Slim slows his mustang to a halt, slipping it into neutral and letting the engine idle. He draws his pistol and opens his door, listening in to the conversation over the thrum of his 8 cylinders firing intermittently. " Let's hope this guy was worth the effort... " he murmurs to Stinker, slouching back into his seat.
Lucas aims his rifle at the stranger, looking for any sudden movements when he gets his weapons. Assuming that Tenebrous doesn't go all kama-crazee, he says: 'Ey, Milkyway, better hop into that rig so's them sunrays won't pierce ya'. No time for introductions, we've got daylight to chase.
Estelle grins as they pull over to the side of the road, clearly pleased that it went so smoothly and no one was hurt. She studies the weapons she picked up, more curious once she finds that they have names. Given a sniper rifle and a crossbow, and the names Whisper and Smite, she thinks she has a good idea of which is which. She looks to Chop for confirmation, before handing the weapons over slowly. "Lucky we came along when we did." She says. "You wounded? I'm a doctor. Well, closest thing we got, anyway."
Tenebrous looks over at Chop Shop at his question; "I have no more idea about those smoke pillars than you do, we had just been travelling to do some scavenging. Having the opportunity to get a long look at them upside down I am curious."
Tenebrous happily collects his weapons from Estelle, nodding in gratitude. He looks himself over, secures Whisper and Smite across his back, then looks at her; "Wounded? No, surprisingly not. A bit bounced around and bruised not to mention one hell of a headrush from being upside down but otherwise no worries."
At Stinker's words he grins, pulling his protective goggles down over his eyes and drawing up his hood. He is wearing some strange camouflaged suit over his other clothes, made of some rubbery looking material. He moves to enter the hauler; "Fortunately this suit is handy against the sunrays albeit a bit warm. Anyhow thanks again and I will chase the daylight with you all...we can get better acquainted as we roll."
Chop looks at Slim, then fires up the engine.
Holstering his pistol, Slim closes his door. "Buckle up! Let's roll!" he exclaims to Stinker, slamming the mustang into first gear and revving the engine.
Moving at a good speed the ruins of a former world pass by you uneventfully after the rescue (?) of a very capable stranger. As you enter the mountains to where Fish Camp lies ahead, you're forced to slow your speed as this is slow go curvy two lane roads. On a plus note there is no debris or ruined buildings on the side of the road as this is the mountains so ambushes are slim here. The few cars that once littered the road have been pushed off the sides where they plummeted down the mountain. There is salvage opportunity down there you realize but difficult to get to.
About a mile into the mountains you round a corner to find an armed roadblock blocking the road. They have a white flag flying and appear to be waving you down.
Chop slows the hauler down to a stop a good distance back, and waits for someone from the block to approach, or one of his comrades to act.
Slim slows to a halt and exits his mustang. He approaches Chop's window. "I'm happy to head on over and see what's going on up there, might see if I can hitch a ride with Estelle and we'll go together. You guys can keep an eye on things from here. " he says, looking to Estelle for approval.
Estelle nods at Slim. "Yeah. Be less menacing for just us two to ride up. Gives you guys time to turn and run, or even smash through it, things go south." She frowns. "Not expecting that, but, well, you know." She scoots up further on the motorcycle seat and pats behind her. "Hop on."
"Stink, you drive the chariot if things go sour. Look after her for me." Slim says with mock sorrow in his voice. "Feel free to take a shot or two with this if you have to." he motions to the long rifle as he hops on the pillion seat of Estelle's bike. "I've never ridden two up with a pretty lady before, let's take this slow alright?" he says to Estelle with a wink.
Lucas takes the rifle from JJ solemnly, nods, and says: You know I'll handle her with respect, should it come to that... Then confidently adds: If the push comes to shove, we can probably take them on!
The roadblock is manned by about a half dozen men armed with assault rifles. They have a barricade of cars blocking the road complete with a sandbag bunker. If push comes to shove the hauler could probably ram right through their barricade but the steep drop off to the left makes you apprehensive.
Estelle slowly drives up the barricade where she is greeted by a very capable looking gentleman who walks out from the barricade to greet Estelle and JJC. He is armed with an assault rifle in good condition and has a pistol and a knife on his side. He is relatively clean and his clothes are in good condition. Whoever this is he isnt a scavenger or a wasteland monger er. The roadblock looks organized and not hastily put up.
Cautiously he walks up to the bike and speaks. Sorry guys. This road is closed. We dont want any trouble but we can't let you pass
He looks behind you at the hauler... If you dont mind me asking; you guys look pretty well put together. Where are you from?
Estelle visibly tenses up, but doesn't reach for a weapon. "Could ask you the same." She says, flatly. She cocks her head towards the road, "Why's it closed?"
Let's just say this part of the world is about to become a hell of a lot safer. Fish Camp is going to be under new management.
" New management?" Slim asks quizzically , his hand casually falling to the butt of his pistol. He eyes off the roadblock, and those manning it.
Lucas uses Slim's Mustang's driver-side door to give him a steady platform to aim the rifle at the man doing the talking.
Estelle had heard tales of other places that had promised similar, and had heard about some of the things that happened to those places. "Safer for whom." She mutters, without expecting an answer. "Hardly seems sending us off road, or through an alternate path, is keeping us much safe."
"Can't say I'm looking to get shot, but people are depending on us. Seems like you're probably not keeping them safe, either. So," she cocks her head, "Young denizen of Fish Camp, what do you propose we do?"
Fish Camp? We're not from Fish Camp. We are from Three Rivers. Like I said. Fish Camp is going to be under new management. Things are going to be a lot safer and there will be a lot less attacks on innocent people around here. I'm sorry for any hassle we may be causing you but we cant let you pass.
Say he asks, What do you have in that trailer? Maybe we can use it and come to a mutually beneficial agreement for everyone
Three rivers. Another peaceful settlement to the east that is part of Pleasant Valley's routine trade routes. Most of you have never been there before but it was a regular stop for the previous long range team. What the heck is going on? Three rivers is a peaceful settlement.
Sid keeps his eyes on the surrounding horizon, watching and getting a little antsy.
"How's this sound for a deal? You let us pass and in return we won't fill you with holes or run you over. Last I checked nobody owned this highway, and your empty promise of safety an' better conditions ain't worth a pinch of salt. We're heading through to Fish Camp, one way or another." Slim spits, his smile quickly turning to a scowl.
Seeing Slim frowning through his scope, Stinker takes the loose air out of the trigger, and holds his breath while aiming at the speaker dude's chest...
Not liking the time this is taking Tenebrous takes careful aim at one of the men behind the barrier, figuring the one Slim and Estelle are talking to can be handled by them if things go to s#*!. He whispers to Smite, almost in prayer; "I believe in you, I know we can do this. May you guide my shot if things go south so I can defend my new-found companions."
Chop Shop sits in the driver's seat and looks at the scene ahead for clues as to what is going on.
At what JJC says the man's demeanor noticeably changes and Chop Shop notices the guy make a slight wave of his hand at his side. At that a man on an atv takes off from the roadblock and rides around the corner and up the hill out of sight but no doubt to get reinforcements. Everyone behind the road block takes an aggressive stance with their assault rifles and start aiming them at you guys.
Nobody has to die today he says, but we cant let you into Fish Camp.
Estelle tenses up further as the man asks what's in the back of truck, knowing how scarce certain resources were getting, and how much one would sacrifice of themselves for their community. She raises up her hands between the two men. "F!*~ it." She says, "Look, kid. You can speak about safety and mutually beneficial arrangements until you go blue in the face, but your actions speak entirely of mistrust and control."
"There aren't many allies to be had out in these parts, and our people have been on good terms with Three Rivers in the past. Maybe we never had each other over for dinner, but there was a mutual respect of two groups doing their best to survive without screwing each other."
"You guys wanna go and give up on that, and stop being people, there's plenty of roadrats you can join up with. Hell, you might be better suited to the crazies - we passed a community of them earlier, might be just your style - not giving a s*%+ about the living that aren't a part of their mess of insanity."
"Meantime, I've been through Hell too many times to get killed rabid dogs that someone shoulda put down already. We'll find a way around." She gives a mock salute. "You've been very helpful."
The guy looks at Estelle, thinks about it and says;
I dont know who you guys are or why you want to pass so bad but I'll save you some trouble. We have the road blocked off on the other side too.
There is a whole heap of trouble heading your way. You can take that hauler back the way you came from or you can sit here and wait and take your chances with when the boss shows up.