Sam's Home.
"What's that noise?" Morty asked as him and Sammy ceased their arguing when they started to hear gunfire from nearby.
The others quieted down and payed attention. Sure enough they could make out gunfire coming from the direction of the trainyard, and maybe up the hill as well. The ogre sisters outside tensed up and kept their eyes peeled up the hill for anything coming this way.
"What do you think that is?" Clive asked.
"I don't know. But whatever it is we shouldn't get involved." Sam said.
"Why not?" Clive asked.
"Because whatever it is I doubt any of us are prepared for it. Especially if its who I think it is." Sam said with a bitter hated look on his face.
"So what do we do?" Sammy asked.
"We take this chance like we stole it." Morty suggested.
"To do what?"
"To leave, duh!" Morty explained.
"What do you mean leave? We can't just leave while whatever that is, is happening!" Clive said.
"Why not? You think the Feds or even the National Guard are going to sit by and let a firefight break out this close to town?" Morty reasoned.
"Can't believe I'm sayin' this. But I agree with Morty." Sam said.
"Wait you are?" Morty asked a little skeptically.
"Don't get used to it. But if we're goin' to leave town without the possibility of bein' followed now's the chance to do it." Sam explained.
"But couldn't we help out or do something?" Clive asked, more than a little uneased at just picking up and leaving when people might need help.
"Believe me. We wouldn't be able to help. Our best bet is to leave and hope the National Guard and Feds can deal with it."
"And if not?" Clive asked.
"Then it wouldn't much matter if we did or not now would it?" Sam asked dejectedly as he moved to pack up and use this window for everything it was worth.
Clive still didn't like it. But Sam had a point. There wasn't much they could do that the National Guard couldn't do better right now. Didn't make him feel any better about it though. Just running while people were probably fighting or dying so close by.
But it looked like he was the only one as the rest of them were quick to pack up what they needed and made their way to their vehicles. Sam, Millie, Greg, and Sammy made for Sam's truck. Morty, Henrietta, Urga and Orga to his Cadi. Which left Clive and Kilpa to his car.
They barely started their cars when military vehicles sped by on the main road going towards the trainyard as well as speeding up the hill. The three vehicles took the chance and sped away as fast as they could in an effort to exploit the situation.
The town wasn't much better off as people, local and newcomer, were all looking towards the mountains with fear and worry on their faces as they prepared for whatever might be happening. Which made Clive feel even worse. Leaving the colony was already bad enough with him worrying about the Big Families laissez-fairing it into the ground. But to leave when there was a genuine threat?
He hated feeling useless. Part of him wished he had Morty's army and could order them to help out. Or maybe Jeb's power. But instead he was a regular old human engineer. Which amounted to a fat lot of good in the current situation as all he could really only do was hope and pray. Then again, he kinda hoped and prayed that they'd get a chance to go and see Jeb and this is what he got. Maybe he should be more careful when praying from now on. He might just get what he prayed for.
If the others were as depressed as he was with the situation their driving didn't show it as they sped along the road swerving around cars, military, and construction vehicles when they could. They reached the intersection that would lead them to Jeb's and quickly turned north and gunned it.
Clive held his breath as they neared the checkpoint. He could see the men in black Kevlar staring in the direction of the railway but they made no effort to go assist in whatever was happening. Though it was enough of a distraction that they barely had time to react when the three vehicles were upon the checkpoint.
They shouted some surprised commands or shouts of surprise but by the time they thought to turn their guns on the vehicles they were already past the checkpoint. Clive'd be a bit more worried if they had cars or something of their own to chase after them with. Which they probably did, but not at the checkpoint itself it seemed. Or maybe there was but they couldn't see them.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Clive glanced around at the nearby trees and such in an effort to spy any car or truck that was about to pull out and stop them. Block their path and halt whatever chance they had at spending Thanksgiving with Jeb. But as they drove on and the sounds of gunfire from the trainyard and shouts from the MiB got more and more distant the more Clive started to relax. The other two seemed to calm down as well as they slowed their vehicles into a more appropriate speed.
They did it, Clive thought after a few minutes of nothing happening. They actually managed to get out without anyone following after them. He just hoped it was worth leaving at such a shitty time and hoped people were ok.
-----
Ulrin burst from his quarters and beheld his clan under assault! Creatures, robed figures, and bestial men did combat with his fellow dwarves and human laborers that fought beside them. Ulrin rumbled angerly as he found himself once again beset by enemies. In this world for a few weeks and already he has to lead his kin into battle.
He would also have words with the human Jameson who made no mention of these creatures and people when explaining threats during their negotiations, Ulrin thought as he drew his blade and charged into the midst of battle with a cry!
He slashed his blade across the chest of one of the bestial men. Sending the beast retreating back with a primal roar. Ulrin and the nearby dwarven warriors pursued the manbeast, making sure not to give it any quarter to retaliate. A well aimed swing of a hammer caught the creature's hooved leg, crippling it long enough for Ulrin to plunge his blade into its bestial throat. A quick swipe was enough to send the things head rolling across the ground as blackened ichor spurt from the wound as the body fell down twitching.
The dwarves gave a rallying cry as they moved to engage yet more foes. They can cheer and celebrate once battle was over, Ulrin thought as they headed towards where the worse of the fighting was taking place. By the train tunnel.
When he got there he found many of his warriors still engaged in combat with all manner of their foes. Worm-headed hounds, purpled robed humans, and bestial men all fought savagely against dwarven warriors, laborers, and rune priests.
Ulrin rushed to the side of a familiar rune priest with golden locks a few shades lighter than his own.
"Brother. Surprised ta see you out o' your chambers ta fight."
His brother, as well as head rune priest, barely grunted as he slammed his glowing runic hammer into the head of one of the wormdogs.
"Surprised ta see you as well. Thought you'd be too busy countin' your coin ta do battle."
"We did tha' durin' Daele and look how tha' turned out." Ulrin said as he slashed his blade through the arm of a robed human before disemboweling him with another slash.
"Aye. I doubt Tha Stone Father will give us another chance." His brother muttered as he parried the dagger of a robed human.
"Aye. This is our home now. We'll not give it up so easy." Ulrin declared as he charged one of the bestial men that carried a crude stone and bone club.
Before blade could meet club though, he heard a command ring out.
"GET DOWN!!!"
He barely had time to even consider why he would do such a thing while in the middle of combat when a crack of thunder rang out in a frenzied chorus. The bestial man's chest and head exploded as something ripped through him. But it didn't stop as Ulrin threw himself to the ground and beheld the destruction wrought upon his foes. Robed men, wormdog, and bestial men all were cut down with ease as thunder and fire flew over his head.
What few remained by the time it stopped retreated to the tunnel. Leaving their dead where they lay. Ulrin got up and followed along with the rest of his dwarves to pursue them. His brother arrived at his side and used the glow of his hammer to illuminate the tunnel. They followed after the retreating fiends as best they could. But they barely made it past where the wall of rubble was when they encountered solid stone. His brother turned his hammer this way and that, but their foe had simply vanished into the darkness from whence they came.
Ulrin rumbled as he, his brother, and his men slowly retreated from the dark tunnel and back into the gloomy daylight. There Ulrin saw what had lain waste to his enemies. The National Guard as the local humans called them. One of them rode atop some sort of metal carriage like all humans of this world seem to favor. Atop it was mounted a large thunderstick though, the barrel of which was still smoking as the carriage moved to another part of the hub to assist with combat.
It was one thing to hear about what the thundersticks of this world could do from the human Skeeter. It was another to bare witness to the sheer destruction that it could cause. He was sure if he had even a handful of those weapons his clan would have no fear of any enemy ever again.
"Brother. Lost in thought?" His brother asked as he walked up beside him.
"I am. Many things will need ta be made ta make sure our clan survives this new world." Ulrin rumbled as he ordered his men to post a watch on the tunnel.
His brother rumbled though.
"What did you have in mind?"
Ulrin rumbled as he stroked his beard as he watched the figure known to him as the Major General of the National Guard spot him and begin to approach. He barely turned his head towards his brother.
"Once tha runery is finished. Begin golem production. Begin training more rune priests as well. Much o' our new home will need ta be fortified against future attacks such as this."
His brother bowed his head and marched away as the Major General marched over to Ulrin.
"Are you and yours alright?"
"Aye. Though we'll give thanks ta your men and assistance none tha less." Ulrin declared.
"Not necessary. Though I was really hopin' that this didn't happen."
"Aye. But tha' is tha nature o' combat is it not?"
"It is. But this is somethin' I can't help but think was avoidable." The Major General said.
"It never is. It's only a matter o' when and where." Ulrin stated.
"Maybe. Regardless. Now that I am here. I would ask if perhaps your attitude has changed in light of recent events to give us access to the railyard to move in supplies?"
"No." Ulrin stated quickly and firmly.
The Major General's eye twitched but there was little else to show that he was disappointed.
"I had hoped perhaps-"
"I have lost far too many dwarves and coin ta such agreements. I'll not lose more. If you want access you pay like all others."
"I see. Then I shall return when I am able." The Major General said in a strained voice and turned to march away.
"Hold human." Ulrin called out before the Major General could get too far.
The Major General turned back towards the dwarf as he stroked his gilded beard.
"I'll not grant you access without pay. But perhaps you would be open ta a trade?"
The Major General cocked a brow.
"Oh? Such as?"
"You and yours can have access ta tha rail. Fees waved."
"In exchange?"
"I would ask two things. One is negotiable. Tha other is not."
"Ok. Speak your terms then." The Major General said.
"Your weapons. I would inquire if they or their plans are for sale?"
"Is this the negotiable part?"
"It is."
"Then no. The weapons themselves are not for sale. At least not in their current condition."
"And their plans?"
"Negotiable." The Major General countered.
Ulrin gave a rumbling laugh.
"Fair enough. What I ask next however is not negotiable."
"And that is?"
"I desire transport. Ta your town o' Pittsburgh."
"Really?"
"Aye. This is non-negotiable. You want access ta tha trains. I desire ta go there and conduct business for mah clan."
"Can't you go there yourself?" The Major General asked.
"I would. But it would seem tha' mah trains happen ta befall some sort o' problem whenever we wish ta leave. I hope tha' your trains would be a might more... reliable." Ulrin stated.
The Major General looked at Ulrin for a moment and turned back towards the town for a moment. Then he turned back towards the dwarf and marched over and stuck out his hand.
"In return for access to your trainyard. I'll see to it you can go and do business in Pittsburgh."
Ulrin shook the man's firm hand. Despite the attack, and obvious loss of life and property, this might've turned out in his favor, Ulrin thought as he was already thinking of what he might wish to do once in Pittsburgh.
Ulrin turned back towards the mountain as the Major General departed. He stroked his gilded beard as he glared up at the dark mountains. So the mountain wishes to keep its treasures does it, he thought. No matter. Dwarves were masters of mountains and he'll not let this stop him and his people from claiming the riches beneath it!