It didn’t take long to get to the government kiosk. Atlas grinned as he watched the settlement screen, the flashing "Settlement Razed" notification giving him immense satisfaction. "Portal Crushers, grab all the loot. What you grab is your plunder. We're going home," he commanded.
"What do we do with them?" asked Isabella, indicating the captives from Cell Block 21.
The captives, looking weary and beat up, were the remaining crafters and labourers from the settlement. The warriors stationed there had all been brutally put down by the Portal Crushers.
Atlas addressed the group, "People of the settlement, we’re the Portal Crushers. Yesterday, the leadership of your group attacked our settlement. Today, we’ve taken our revenge. You have two choices: you can come with us, or we can leave you here. The choice is yours."
‘I know I should just kill them all; leaving a group of possible bandits isn’t a good idea. But the point of the Portal Crushers is to save as many people in the wasteland as possible. Seriously, most of these remaining members don’t look very tough. None of them even put up a resistance. Is this another one of those merciful decisions that’ll bite me in the ass?‘
"We’d like to come with you, sir, if that's okay?" said Ambrose, an older man with gray hair. "Most of us are refugees that came in recently and don’t have any loyalty to Cell Block 21."
"That’s fine. We won’t enslave you, but you won’t become official members of Fort Bone. If you can find a job in town, you’ll become residents," said Atlas.
"That’s a fair deal," Ambrose said.
‘Anything is better than staying in this shithole with Klempkin and Shaniqua.‘
The Portal Crushers continued plundering swiftly during the conversation, snatching up everything they could lay their hands on. They activated their return tokens, ready to teleport back to Fort Bone.
"Yeehaw!" Alexander shouted, his voice full of exhilaration. He might have lost his beloved John Deere hat, but this victory was worth the trade. The successful raid filled him with pride, making the loss feel insignificant.
That loss was quickly mitigated when Hank said, "I believe this belongs to you," pulling out the beloved hat he had found inside the government kiosk area.
‘‘‘‘‘
POV : TRACTORS AND FREEDOM SETTLEMENT
The attack on Tractors and Freedom was not going well for the warriors of Cell Block 21.
Distracted by the "Settlement Razed" notification and their failed attempt to teleport home, Cell Block 21's forces lost momentum. The Tractors and Freedom fighters seized the moment, rallying their remaining men. With renewed vigor, they pushed back against the invaders, their desperation turning the tide of the battle.
"Retreat! Retreat!" Klempkin shouted as he saw the tide turning against them. The remaining soldiers of Cell Block 21, their confidence shattered, turned and fled into the wilderness, leaving behind the ruins of their failed assault.
"Find out who those assholes were," yelled Daryl. Tractors and Freedom loved tractors and freedom. They didn’t love getting raided.
‘‘‘‘‘
After returning successfully from their attack on Cell Block 21, Atlas and his group were in great spirits. The tension and adrenaline that had fueled them during the raid had finally given way to relief and satisfaction. Atlas gathered the Portal Crushers together, a triumphant smile on his face.
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"Portal Crushers," he called out, his voice carrying across the camp, "they came to take our camp, and we returned the favor. This is a day for our success. Let’s celebrate!"
"Yeah!" yelled Isabella, her fists pumping in the air.
"Fucking right," said Stu, his usual intensity now channeled into a rare moment of satisfaction.
"It’s been almost two weeks of constant fighting and struggling. Battles to survive—against monsters and against men," Atlas continued. "For the rest of today, why don’t we declare it a holiday? Everybody, just do what you want to do. Hunters, if you want to go hunt, you can, but you don’t need to. If you do go out, make sure your groups are at least groups of ten."
The camp buzzed with excitement as Atlas’s words sank in. The Portal Crushers, exhausted from their relentless pace, erupted into small conversations, their spirits lifted by the unexpected reprieve.
"I can’t believe it! Finally, a break!" Isabella exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Man, I’ve been dying to check out the new tavern," Wang Bo added, rubbing his hands together. "A couple of drinks to unwind after all this madness sounds perfect."
Amber grinned, nudging Barbara. "You up for some shopping? I hear the new upgraded capacity just restocked the vending machines."
Barbara nodded eagerly. "Absolutely! I’ve been eyeing some new gear, and maybe we can grab a bite at the food machines too. I haven't had a proper meal in days."
Stu, always the hothead, was unusually calm as he chimed in. "I’m hitting the bathhouse. I’m long overdue for some serious relaxation. Maybe I’ll even try out that massage service everyone’s been talking about."
John, grinning from ear to ear, caught Lark’s hand. "This sounds like a fantastic idea. Let’s take this mini holiday and enjoy ourselves for once. We’ve earned it."
Lark squeezed his hand back, smiling. "Let’s make the most of it."
"One last thing. When I say relax for the day, I mean it. Tonight, we’ll activate the ManaDome of MegaAwesomeness. We haven’t used it in a long time. We all need a night of peace and rest," Atlas said.
"Fort Bone on three!"
"Fort Bone!" they yelled in response.
As the Portal Crushers dispersed to enjoy their newfound freedom, the camp buzzed with an energy it hadn’t seen in weeks. After countless battles and struggles, they had earned this day of rest—a day to celebrate their victories and reclaim a bit of normalcy in a world gone mad.
Atlas watched his group celebrate, a rare sense of peace washing over him.
‘This is a pretty good day,‘ he mused. ‘No crises staring me in the face, no need to think about every move as a matter of life and death. I just want to take a day off too. When was my last real day off? Watching Soy Sauce in Space?‘
He strolled around Fort Bone, absorbing the lively atmosphere. Tourists and visitors buzzed with excitement, the town thriving under his leadership. He couldn't resist poking his head into the government kiosk center, grinning as he watched the coins accumulate. His inner Eager Beaver happily chortled as the numbers went brrrrr.
As he wandered, Mave approached him with a knowing smile. "Atlas, have you forgotten our promise?"
Atlas blinked, caught off guard. "Promise?" It was clear he had.
"You promised to be the new high priest for the Coven Clique," she reminded him.
‘Right,‘ Atlas thought. ‘I still don’t know what that really means. But I assume this means we’re in an informal alliance.‘
"Good," Mave said, satisfaction in her voice. "Since you’ve declared it a holiday and there are no pressing matters, you’ll have to come with us."
Atlas nodded, albeit hesitantly. "Oh."
Mave took his hand, guiding him into a secluded grove within the settlement's borders. The grove was shrouded in mist, ancient oak trees standing as silent sentinels around a stone altar. The Coven had spent some tokens to buy this from the PortalApproved vending machines. The remaining members of the Coven Clique, clad in flowing robes, stood in a circle, their faces solemn and serene. Mave led him to the center, where a wreath of intertwined vines and flowers was placed upon his head. The witches chanted in low, melodic tones, invoking the spirits of the earth, air, fire, and water. As the chanting grew louder, Mave handed Atlas a carved staff, its wood etched with intricate runes. The group raised their arms in unison, welcoming him as their new high priest with a shared sense of devotion and reverence.
Atlas, feeling the weight of the staff in his hand and the energy of the ceremony, couldn't help but whisper, "That was unexpected."
Mave smiled softly, taking his hand once more. "Well, there’s one more thing you need to do to truly take over our group." She took his hand, along with the hand of another witch, Nova, a black-haired beauty, and led him back to a quiet patch of flowers, where they shared a very private celebration, marking Atlas’s official rise as the high priest of the Coven Clique.
‘This really is the best way to end the day,‘ thought Atlas as he lay in the arms of the witches. ‘Tomorrow, I can continue building my empire. But tonight, I should enjoy my success.‘