"What kind of offer?"

"An opportunity to become a Red Scarf!"

"What's a Red Scarf?"

"Eh? I suppose it makes since that you don't know about us kid, growing up so far out in the wastes. The Red Scarf Mercenary Company is the largest and strongest band of mercs operating primarily in the south east corner of the wasteland, called the Drylands. Which we are in the outskirts of right now, if you didn't know."

"Of course I knew that!" Marcus says embarrassed that he didn't.

"Ha ha of course, of course! Anyway's if you don't plan on staying in Dirt Mound now that a third of it has burnt down, you can come with me, and try your hand at being a merc. I'll be honest with you Marcus. It will be hard, and dangerous work were you will have to put your life on the line regularly. That being said you will be provided with the best training and resources the Drylands have to offer, not to mention a heavy paycheck."

Marcus thinks hard about what Wolf said as he looks at the carnage around him. Bodies of townsfolk and raiders alike line the streets, the smoldering wreckage of the wall and buildings in the distance. Alice's cold body lying motionless on the ground, and finally at Wolf. A man more intimidating than any Marcus has seen, wearing clothes and carrying weapons probably worth more than the entirety of Dirt Mound combined. Mick always said that the wasteland was a dangerous place, that at any moment your life could be lost. But clearly nowhere is truly safe, even living in somewhere like Dirt Mound nestled in the corner of the Wastes can be deadly. With that thought Marcus looks in Wolfs eye.

"If I join the Red Scarfs, Will I become as strong as you?"

Wolf Smirks.

"If you survive long enough, and your determination doesn't falter, then I believe you can, yes."

"Then I accept your offer."

"Good choice kid! Like I said this is an 'opportunity' to join the Red Scarfs. There will be a two year long training regiment, were you will learn more than just how to fight and shoot. The training will be difficult, but i'm confident you'll do just fine seeing how you survived today. Now first things first." Wolf takes the satchel off of Alice, then walks over to the side of the road and picks up the rifle she dropped and hands them to Marcus.

"Here kid, Mick and Alice didn't have any other family, so I think they would want you to have this. The rifles name is Fang, a gift I gave Mick as a retirement present. Able to take the head off a raider at 800 yards under the right conditions, it will perform well, especially for a new blood like you. Now go on and gather anything you want to bring. When your done head to the North Gate, my crew 'The Wolf Pack' should be finishing up and meeting back there."

"What about you?"

"I gotta few things to talk about with this 'Mayor' Abe, one of them being selling Mick and Alice's house for you."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"What do you mean?"

"They won't be needing it anymore, and the town will just nullify the deed anyway, better to sell the house before things settle. Should get about five thousand credits for it."

"Five thousand!?"

"I'll hold on to it for you until you complete your training. Trust me, you'll have a way better idea on what to spend it on after your done."

"Okay, makes sense to me."

"Alright go on, I'll meet you by the North gate in about a half hour."

As Wolf watches Marcus duck down an alleyway and out of sight, he makes a short whistle. A woman appears beside him, wearing similar clothes, and scarf, but with a black coat with brass accents instead of a leather jacket. A stylised insignia of a wolfs head is imprinted on the left shoulder of the jacket.

"Moon, keep an eye on the new blood for me."

"Sure thing captain, i'll let you know if anything interesting happens." And with that, the woman disappears.

Wolf starts walking up the street with a grim look on his face. Arriving at the town center he looks at the largest building, the mayor's residence. A metal fence outlines the property, with a grass lawn, and cobblestone path leading to a pristine two story house. There are two guards standing at the front gate. Wearing desert camo fatigues, plate carriers, and full visor helmets, they are obviously mercenaries, and not normal guards. Wolf spots four more in the ground floor, and six in the second floor of the house as well.

Not a single trace of fighting anywhere near the house, no dead raiders gunned down from range, not even a singed patch of grass on the lawn, and yet the surrounding businesses and houses seem ravaged and looted. Wolf starts walking towards the front gate, one of the guards hold out his hand demanding he stop. Ignoring the guard Wolf reaches the gate and raises his foot.

*BANG*

The gate flies off it's hinges and into the yard, tearing deep grooves into the grass. Wolf makes it halfway to the house when he is surrounded by six guards, with six more in the second floor windows, all pointing there rifles at him.

"I don't care if you are a Red Scarf, you will turn around and leave immediately!" One of the guards says.

A burst of killing intent rockets out of Wolf's body, a low growl echoes in the surroundings making it hard for the guards to breath and make their legs tremble.

"Money isn't worth it if your not alive to spend it, now move!"

The guards drop their weapons and back away. When they do Wolf senses a presence in the second floor and directly jumps through the center window. Landing in the mayor's office he sees a rotund balding man in a fine suit, currently sweating bullets with his back against the far wall.

"W-wait a moment sir Red Scarf, there is no need for violence, we can surely work something o-"

Wolf closes the distance and slams his fist into the wall next to Mayor Abes head.

"Work something out? Like how you worked something out with those Raiders? MY FRIEND DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"Im sorry! IM SORRY! Please don't kill me, I'll give you anything you want!"

"What I WANT is the location of the raiders base of operations, i'm sure you know. Right?"

"Yes, yes I know! There base is hidden away in Razor Tusk Valley to the west of here!"

The mayor points to a location on a map hanging from the wall.

"I also want ten thousand credits. Five thousand for my friend, and five thousand for his wife."

"WHAT!? But that's all of my... f-fine fine I'll do it."

The Mayor taps a few button on a device on his wrist and looks back up at Wolf with a pained expression.

"There you should have received it."

Wolf finally pulled his hand out of the wall. He then took two steps back and pulled out his plasma pistol from its holster and pointed it at Abe.

"Wait, please, I thought we had a de-"

*FLASH* *Thump*

A month later eye witness accounts near Razor Tusk Valley depict a barrage of artillery shells raining like fire from the sky.

Turning Razor Tusk Valley.

Into what was later called Raiders Crater.