Lewis
Cautiously turning left on the road knowing we could be seen from either direction.
"Ill keep watch on our rear while you keep us moving" looking back behind us keeping my gun on hand knowing full well the shotgun does not have good range.
Crest family farms are on both sides of the road so we are somewhat safe and should only have to worry as we get closer to the totem lake farm. At Least we will make good pace wont take long. The tree line steadily approaching. After that is unsafe territory that could have an ambush waiting for any unsuspecting traders.
Good thing no raider is dumb enough to sit out here where traffic don't come by often. The steady sound of hooves on the road is calming enough but the excitable look on carters face is terrifying.
Hes probably obsessively thinking about what he would do in a firefight and how he would win. Passing through a small copses of trees that have encroached onto the road taking it very slow knowing this would the best spot to ambush people. Luckily nothing the road clear for another mile all the old cars have already been dragged to help make crest family stables walls.
Passing a bridge that went over a wide river that was luckily enough still standing and in good condition. Must be one of the nearby communities that keeps it maintained. In the distance the shadows of the buildings overlaid themselves highlighting the ruin they are in. admiring the horizon is the only thing that alerted me to the flash of a scope.
"Dive!!" i duck behind the cart flipping myself out of the seat and into the back of the cart. Its a second before a gunshot rings by. Carter responding with his own rifle the sound of him quickly racketing back the bolt sliding in a new bullet from the small magazine in the gun. Taking my shotgun i do quick look around the backside looking through the tree line we passed. Another bullet hits the concrete scaring betty. Carter is quick to respond with his own shot. The brahmin looks ready to run off but carter is already there calming her down his gun still raised.
"I got them don't know if he has any friends i say we move to the left side of the road" he leads the brahmin away behind an old metal railguard. Jumping off one side of the cart into the muddy field my shotgun out ready. Noting no movement along the treeline i return to look towards the city hoping to notice anything different. Carter doing the same but with his scoped rifle.
"Did you get a good look at them?" hopefully we can piece something together.
"Not too much the rifle he had was shit only good thing about it was the scope the person himself was dressed in at least 4 layers of rags draped over his hoody"
"Damn glad who ever they were didn't have anything good theres no place to run to and betty doesn't seem the type to stick around long" i pat bettys side earning myself a look before she goes to eat some of the grass.
"Well fuck 15 seconds of excitement for 30 minutes of stressed out walking and its going to be another 30 minutes of even more stress before we make it" hate being out in the open like this but atleast im not dragging a sled. The sled was a terrible idea should have just forced carter to make his own cart even if it took him months.
"Well lets get moving you stick on the left side behind the cart ill keep leading betty" carter starts bring the brahmins attention back to the road instead of eating. Moving behind the cart my gun across my chest ready. Not the first time this month we have been shot at but it never gets easier.
It doesn't take long with everyone involved rushing to the edge of the rotting city. Taking cover behind a few work trailers and a few stripped construction vehicles left around we both do our best to listen for anything out of place.
A couple train cars up ahead block the view of the building which carter told me is where the man was shooting from. The intersection is also overgrown with vines and some trees that have knocked over the light poles.
"Stick close to my side like always ill keep watch for anyone in the building you listen for any footsteps and keep anyone from coming from behind us" carter begins making his way to the train cars crossing the small jump with no cover.
Next is crossing the street to hug the treeline. I hear nothing but the wind and a few animals that have stuck around. The intersection has mostly been overgrown with plant life so its easy to stay hidden as we make our way to the building. A cement retaining wall greets us as we reach the other side. Most of it crumbling or cracked one section is made in an almost perfect ramp up to the raised platform the building is on. With betty and the cart following behind us from a distance so as to not immediately show our location and hopefully if a firefight starts they might shoot the cart instead of us or betty. Its the more obvious target in the area.
Peaking over the improvised ramp shows an almost empty parking lot with most cars turned over. The building were looking for to our right. This time i take point my gun on a swivel looking for any enemy that was to get the jump on us. Walking up to the very plain building noticing one side has fallen in on itself sliding out into a parking lot. The words ArcJet systems lay in a tangled mess on the ground outside what was once a front door. Its been covered in scrap blocking any entry.
Luckily its not difficult to climb inside through the broken side of the building. Avoiding all the obvious traps and tripwires. Stopping carter from just opening every door he comes across. Walking down the hallway looking for any signs of which window the person shot from. It doesn't take long for carter to find 2 holes in one wall that match his bullets.
The door is sadly closed so its best to find a different route. Don't want to risk triggering a trap though i doubt its well made from the ones i have seen so far. Most of the tripwires were just laying on the ground the attached group of cans also laying on the ground. I suspected maybe they were already disarmed by someone else but no sign of them being cut it looks just like average incompetence that you would expect from a raider.
Always confused me when you go to some farms and they would go on and on about the craftiness of raiders but most raiders are just failed farmers. The big guys who feel like they could do better with a gun in hand so they join the nearest group now they go around swinging wooden boards while they got shot up. Im assuming the tons of used inhalers and needles are one of the reasons for the stupidity.
I was told thats what my got my mom. Got pregnant again decided that with the high blood pressure it would be good to raise it higher with some good jet and psycho. Don't remember much from that time.
Its quiet in the building theres some water thats dripping moss has crawled up the walls where ever theres a lot of moisture. Turning the corner i can see a good hole in the wall to squeeze through. Looks like it was caused by a crashing vertibird the blades ripping through the nearby section of the building.
Carefully stepping through the crack my gun already inside the next room i notice that there was a trap to the door but the expected grenades were on the floor not connected to the trap. Well more grenades is always good. The sniper himself is leaning dead against the far wall from me one bullet hole above his heart another is his left arm.
"Ah yeah took 2 shots his arm kept me from hitting any of his more important shots in the chest and i couldn't get a good lead on where his head was with the scope blocking most sight and him swaying constantly" carter finally makes his way into the room seeing the same thing. The rifle itself is mostly undamaged just covered in blood it barely looks like a hunting rifle with the expensive scope attached. Might even be better then the one carter has.
Around the room is a dirty mattress surrounded by a layer of different drugs that will be added to the stash in the cart. Its been left outside the building betty following carter from a distance. Not too many caps but a few were stitched to the pillow on the mattress. The man himself seemed to carry most of his caps his pockets had a stack of 40.
"No sign of anyone else must have been just this guy. He also hasn't been here too long not enough caps to suggest more then 2 people hes killed" putting the clues together hes also probably from totem farms got angry at someone or stole the scope and took off.
"Should we mention anything or just keep the scope hidden?" carter asks his eyes on the gun.
Shrugging "well we will ask around see if they have a bounty for him or the scope if not then we wont mention anything" seemed reasonable enough. If someone really missed something they would put out a bounty to hunt it down or a person down. Its not the best system around but it gets the job done for most people.
"Sounds good well lets pack everything up on betty we are close" using the door now that we know the chemmed up man didn't know how to set up any trap. Putting the grenades in a satchel on my side along with all the carious drugs. Jet psycho couple stimpaks and even some berry mentats. Outside the sun has already begun its descent.
"Hey carter what time is it" his taylor has a clock.
"Says its 4 oclock so we got time" betty luckily hasn't moved far just enough to start munching on some grass that has grown out of the cracks of the asphalt parking lot. Carter already on his way to take the scope off the gun. Once its off it'll go in the steel box to be locked up with the grenades. The drugs ill put in with the rest of them. Most people buying drugs don't care where you got them.
Finding the right pack is quick with the different colored cloth attached to each one. Putting the caps in with the grenades carter sliding in the scope with the damaged hunting rifle going underneath the carious backpacks.
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"You gonna spend the extra time figuring out the rest of the buttons and switches on TAYLOR" i ask knowing the answer was..
"Yea we have only went through one knob and theres one switch that says mode i haven't messed with it too much since i don't know if it will damage the teleporter" carter is staring at that thing with such longing curiosity. Bet he would have helped make one of these if he was alive before the bombs.
Moving around the parking lot we spot the next building or atleast what once was a building its now mostly rubble with a large crater in the center surprisingly no radiation. Deciding its best to just avoid it altogether we go back to the road. Its easier to get down except for the cart. I feared it would go too fast and would crash. Carter said it would be fine but im not taking chances so i hold the cart as it makes its way down back into the street.
Back on the street going back to traveling instead of hunting down people. The nearby forrest encroaching onto the road is easily seen to be slowed by what remains of the retaining wall. The wind finally picking up the sound of it masking anything else for a few moments. The smell of the enriched soil is nearly overwhelming compared to the more muted smells of the suburbs but soon enough we will reach the settlement and we both can get some rest.
Going uphill with the sled would have been impossible but with the cart and betty we make it to the top no problem. On the left are a few corporate buildings their names still stubbornly posted to their walls announcing who once owned them. The words airship industries stands out amidst the smaller one story officers. To the right is a stationary train its descent down the hill barely prevented if it had stopped just a few feet later. Most of the rail cars seems to have been harvested for good steel leaving the skeleton remains of what once was.
Up ahead what looks like what was a place to buy cars is now filled with craters left from the nuclear engines that most cars utilize the entire place covered in a green haze. Only carter would enjoy walking through that. Avoiding that mess.
Sticking close to the left most side of the road staying near the buildings just in case. The open space ahead not making me feel safe but atleast theres a big sign thats been painted saying "totem lake farms up ahead" all in white so you know its good.
Its sitting right in the middle with four sides 3 of them are painted. Doubt the people coming from the farm need to know that its near. The ruins around us have probably been picked clean long ago good thing they farm so they don't have to scavenge.
A few rabbits tempt carter i can tell by the way he for a few seconds leads betty towards the burrows but then shakes his head. Im still behind the cart on the left side just behind him. Its silly but its who he is and i cant help smiling every time.
Finally in the distance the walls are in sight it wont be long now. The rusted steel coverings that look like railcars shine through the green forest. Looking hard enough i can see the spotter at the top of one of the buildings the wall connects to. The once red roof overhang mostly faded. The sandbags that protect specific portions are new though. Doubt that was part of the original building plans.
Hoping the sight of the obvious trading cart is enough to keep people from shooting at us. Following along a white painted arrow on the road makes getting to the gate simple enough. Said wall and gate seemed to have been built behind a very old metal fence. 2 watch towers stand on either side of the gate with one manned. Along the entire length of the wall is another 2 towers both seemed to be manned. Soon enough the gate swings wide. The man must have been in the other watch tower.
"Come in come in we havent had a trader drop by in a while" the man exclaims in some desperation it seems they need caps for something. Stepping inside gives the same feeling as most settlements. Defensive structures and guard barracks by the gate further in you can spot the growing farm land. A large central building thats bustling with people past the farms. Its what pears to be an absolutely massive complex now that isn't common.
"Welcome to totem lake we have a set courtyard for traders if you don't mind following me ill take you there" the new person came form the small guard barracks more 5 mobile homes strapped together to make a building. His brown hair looks glossy and clean his uniform stands out from the rest of the guards with them having actual armor while the man here seems to be more a suit then actual uniform so he must be important.
"Ah before we head on i would like to state that we are not a start of a trading caravan and only passing through but we do have things to sell" i step ahead of carter knowing its best to take control of the conversation.
"You have new things to trade and thats enough for us lakers folk" he motions ahead towards a dirt path that leads around the farms instead of a straight shot to the large complex. The people around give us many many curious looks and i can visibly see carter shrink under all the stares. Betty seems quiet happy with the attention strutting with each step as much as a brahmin can.
"We would also like to discuss any standing bounties we may be able to do something while we are here in the area" hopefully with this many people theres something we can do on the side. The clouds in the sky protecting most of the farmers in the field from the shade and with hope some good rain. The crops themselves seem to vary with potatoes tomatoes carrots rows upon rows of corn and razorgrain.
"I can bring out a list of bounties later. It seems like you and your friend are admiring our farms!" hes practically vibrating in place ready to go on and on about his home. He seems very excitable
"My friend here really enjoys variety in his meals so seeing farms like this that don't focus on one specific crop must be exciting" i keep the fact we are brothers to myself. Better to be cautious in any situation with strangers but don't forget to be polite. "It is truly an exciting sight to see"
"We have enough food for everyone here and why should we limit ourselves when we can be so much more! I would say we have the biggest farm with the most variety this side of the great maw" personally doubt it but whatever keeps the man happy. Turning to the left i can see a beautiful blue bridge the paint looking almost new i cant see where it goes past the walls but its something so unique to see out here.
"Ah yes the bridge its our pride and joy to have it as a sign of civilization returning if we can waste resources on painting a bridge! We use her to patrol the outer sections of the town never know what can come around in a world like this but the lakers have stayed in our haven since the start and the efforts of our ancestors is proof of what can be done just look around you!" now hes sounding like a cult leader. Maybe thats his profession might be useful to drag more people to stay here. They seem to have enough food and from what i heard they sell a lot too.
Now if its utopia or is there a darker side to this place. Too bad neither of us are staying long enough to find out.
"Now you boys must be from the big old emerald city right? Got that pipboy to prove it so raiders don't get smart ideas about taking the cargo. Heard what some of those people do when they find out one of their own pipboys were taken kept most people here awake at night for months" now the man seems to pay attention to carter. He of course ignores the attention entirely focused on ignoring everyone and leading betty to follow me.
"Ah sorry he is not one to talk much but yes our mothers were fairly important in emerald city but carters mom here wanted him to learn the trade before he takes up as the heir" hopefully the lies stick but you never know how perceptive a person can truly be.
"Now thats an intelligent women to have her future heir start his own trading company before he takes over the big one. They say know your roots and its true if you want to stick to the way things are done you got to know your roots" he nods the entire time making me concerned he might be broken don't think his smile has left his face the entire conversation. Atleast now we are nearing the large complex of what looks like apartments must have housed atleast 200 people.
Haven't seen this many people at once since emerald city. Now thats saying something we been to seetac fairly recently.
"We are many and we still have room to grow there isn't much to stop that around here and none can truly stand in our way" ah theres the red flags. Good don't want to find utopia so quickly in life that would be disappointing. I nod along to appear to agree with him.
"I hope that today is a day we can make many connections with the lakers people to emerald city and its many traders" i hold out my hand for him to shake now hoping this would dismiss him from escorting us to the trading hall ahead. He takes my hand in both of his shaking aggressively.
"Ah i knew i could count on the people of seattle just don't get too comfortable with that china town you know how they are oh and the big families don't want anything to deal with them. You're not with those groups are you?" he asks his smile never leaving his face but his body is now leaning very close to me.
"No no we are just one of the bigger trading groups we specialize in medical equipment. You will notice in todays wares we have a multitude of microscopes and other medicines for sale" i brush him off hoping carter doesn't notice the implied threat thankfully hes distracted by the smells coming from the big warehouse ahead of us.
Entering inside is a wide open space filled with people moving about their day carrying items buying and selling food and tools. A line of stalls from one wall to the other each with their own clerk selling yelling or just sitting there. A blacksmith was at one end working on different metal tools a large furnace heating the space around him. The man thats been with us and i just realized he never gave us his name damn hes good leads us to the opposite corner to the blacksmith.
"This is where you can set up a stall and sell whatever you have"
"Even drugs?" never know the rules of the place until you ask.
"Just don't sell any chems to kids and you'll do fine" he seems resigned with the idea but i can respect don't want to ruin a kids life with the chems to mess up the brain.
"Perfect i shall go and grab you a bounty list i shall be back soon" he practically runs out the building just in time for us to be swarmed by a sudden crowd. Damn him.
"Carter mind pulling some things out see what would sell best" probably the medical equipment we didn't bring out for the crest family. Neither of us thought any of the crest family would want that. The various chems are going to sell quick too i can tell just from looking at a few in the crowd.
"We have chems we have microscopes and whatever equipment your growing lab may need, we also have a few bits of scrap from our travels found from different places across the northwest common wealth!" better to stick with the story and milk it of all its worth. The crowd already trying to scream out what they want.
"I need a line form a line please! We don't have enough for everyone here so it will be a first come first server" theres already over 2 dozen people and i doubt the new of us being here will take long to travel.
Carter takes a deep breath before saying his own piece. "If you have any letter or items you would like to be delivered to bothel crossroads that is our next destination if you have the caps we can do it!" huh smart idea should have done that at crest stables but doubt they would have much to send to a distant place like that.
Selling the alarm clocks was the easiest. Next was some radio pieces we have found. After that it was microscopes. Seems like they had a botanist that studied the different plants and how best to grow them. After that it was all the chems. Only reason it took the longest to sell was that people didn't have that many caps and we had a lot of stored chems from all the dead raider stashes we have been stealing them from. Got us both over 600 caps in total all before the smiling man came back.
"Ah good good you both seem to have excellent bartering skills i can see why your mother thought you ready for the road and the wasteland!" his very loud voice nearly echoing in the trading hall the day nearing its end with the sun just barely peaking out of the horizon.
"Indeed it is why i was brought along to help aid my friend in his endeavors" hopefully the big words will distract him.
"True work and true deeds well here is the requested list i hope that the people can have some of their worries laid to rest with your aid" he seems near solemn even while he smiles. Truly this man is all charisma. Too bad hes dealing with people that don't deal in bullshit. Carter takes the list checking it over. I can trust him to speak in moments like these.
"Ah i thought so we had spotted this man near here his scope was very identifiable we can pull it out and give it to the one who requested the bounty" he points at the name attached to the request for the return of a heirloom scope stolen by a once trusted member of the community. One that provided meat to the table to the people of totem lake. Guess the man spent that nice windfall of caps on all the chems he could raddled any semblance of a sane mind and now hes dead.
"Well thats just perfect i can have one of the guards escort you to them i know the family and its loss was a true pain for them i cant thank you enough" he grabs carter and almost pulls him into a hug. The sudden reaction from carter that physical touch does is enough to keep the man from doing more.
"My apologies for any offense well it seems i must go on my way enjoy the rest of your stay here. To the right near the fields is a temporary housing you can stay there. Don't worry the prices are always fair" god this entire trip is exhausting if i have to deal with him anymore ill drop dead before the end of the night. I can see carter agreeing and he had one conversation with the man.
"Did you ever get his name" i blink at the sudden question before shaking my head.
"No i don't think he will give one if i asked to begin with. Lets just get betty a space and get ourselves a space for the night" walking outside the cart being left secure inside the trader hall. Guess thats the rule around here i don't mind too much since they have a guard rotation that seems to keep watch of everything.
Walking outside the lights shining from every window in the complex is enough for me to see in the night that has arrived. Between the complex and the farms is a small one story building that says temp housing in big lit up letters. Guess thats the place. Leaving carter outside with betty i walk in to see a clerk staffing the front desk looking ready to pass out.
"Good evening i was hoping me and my friend could get a room tonight and a place to keep our brahmin betty?" i walk up calmly don't want to scare her.
"Oh oh oh! Yes uhm one moment uhhh lets see we have space in the back for animals i can rent it to you for 15 caps and for 2 room-
"Oh no it will be 1 we don't enjoy being separated for long periods of time" i interrupt her knowing its rude but best to get that out of the way.
"In that case for 1 room it will be an additional 20 caps if you want breakfast that will be 5 more caps" her nearly monotone voice after her several slurred words was definitely a stark contrast but eh people are weird. Handing over the requested caps i head back outside to tell carter.
Now we are in a secure room we can finally relax. Just got to check the lock put down a couple traps. Lots of cans no space on the floor will be left open cant have people come in sneaking through if every step is on a loud tin can.
"Well nows the best time to get started on the rest of those buttons" im very curious too been wondering at what else it can do ever since we started but ill wait.