There Will Come Soft Rains (Aussie & Queenie)

[The Australian]

I don't want to set the world on fire...

Malcolm Friedman and his patrol partner, Michael Livingston, walked along the desolate and dry desert. Both men knew the likelihood of a raider attack was slim, but they did their duties to the fullest. Malcolm aimed his torch at the carcass of a long-rotted away car. He recognized the design as a sedan, and could see the faint markings of bullet holes. Continuing on his patrol, Michael turned back, "Hey, Malcolm, it's nearly three in the morning. Should we call it a night?"

"Sure. We've been out here for three hours. Let Harry and Ben handle our patrol." Malcolm agreed, and they both went back to their town. It wasn't much. The buildings were made out of either whatever things they could pick off of boats, cars, and wood, or simple adobe buildings. The town had a barrier made of primitive trenches, and some barriers. As they passed into the town, the pair entered a rather large building on their left as the entered the town. This was the garrison building.

It's interior was rather quaint. It was one of the three adobe buildings in the town, the other two being the school house, and the town hall. The floor was made of wood covered with some cheap carpets, and the room had some tables, boards, and walled-off section which was the armoury. The armoury contained the heavy weaponry like the heavy-machine-guns, and explosives. Malcolm walked over to Harold Porter and Benjamin Kirk, who were sitting at a table, smoking.

"You sorry sacks, your turn for the patrol." Malcolm scoffed, as the two rose, grabbed their weapons, and left the building. Michael walked over to Malcolm

"The captain says we can go on home," He said, as he took of his hat and wiped his grey hair. Michael was around 55, and one of the older men in the town, but physically, he could outrun Malcolm, "I'll see you tomorrow, Malcolm."

Malcolm left as Michael talked to one of the militiamen for a bit. Michael had been a father-figure to Malcolm. As he walked through the town, he reached a small house made of wood with some pieces of steel put together. It wasn't much, but it was home. He pushed open the green door and took off his tan Stetson hat, and put it on the rack that was next to the door, he smiled and said "I'm home."

He took in the view as he closed the door. There was a small living room, with an old and worn green couch with a coffee table, a kitchen which doubled as a dining room, and a corned off section where the bed was.

[Queenie]

Pandora didn’t have to be up for another few hours. Her alarm wasn’t going to go off until about 6:30ish, but when Malcolm came home, she sat up in the small bed that was in the cornered off room of the house.
Their current place wasn’t as big as her old home, but at least it was something. It had all the comforts of her parents’ house, just missing her parents in the picture. Which, for Pandora, was a good thing. Being sheltered all her life had led her to hate her parents and caused her to move out on a whim, when Malcolm mentioned it to her. She didn’t hate her parents as much as she claims she does, but she hates the fact they just wanted to keep her safe. Her and mother still gotten along, and if it weren’t for her mother, Pandora wouldn’t had the money to help out things.
She starred at the wall for a moment, then down at the blankets then threw them off to go greet Malcolm. It was cold early in the morning, her toes numbed the instant they touched the floor. She walked out, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“You’re home early.” She stretched and yawned as she walked over to greet him. “Didn’t want you hanging around ? Or did they get tired of you whinning and complaining about being tired?” She teased lightly.

[The Australian]

Malcolm put his rifle against the wall next to the rack and took off his trench coat and hung it up. He laughed at her teasing, "Michael and I decided it was time for Harry and Ben to take our patrol for once." He gave her a small kiss on the cheek, "And, because I wanted to be back home."

Malcolm had an ever-present infatuation with Pandora. He didn't know whether or not she felt the same, so he kept it to himself. Pandora had been his friend since what seemed like forever, and didn't want to fuck it up.

[Queenie]

She giggled and blushed as his lips placed themselves on her cheek. Her heart sped up a bit but she was able to play it off. "Oh, so Ben and Harry are finally doing their jobs properly now? This is actually a shocker. I think I might have to go down and see this for myself." She ran her fingers through her short chocolate brown hair. She looked up at Malcolm with a small smile. She felt her heart speeding up again, but once again, felt the need to shake it off. There was no need to ruin a friendship.

"It's quite early for me, but I'll put some tea and something to eat on for us. I'm sure you're pretty hungry, hrm?" She replied as she turned and head towards the small kitchen they had.

[The Australian]

"Indeed, I am." Malcolm walked over with her to the kitchen. He had slept in the day before, so he could pull in the early morning shift today. He knew it might put a strain on Pandora, having to adjust her schedule on whether or not he patrolled during the day, or during the night. But, he could tell she didn't mind much, "What are we having?"

[Queenie]

"Well, um." She opened the fridge to look. All they had was a couple of eggs and some meat. "How about some eggs, meat and toast? I need to go out after work and get more food." Pandora pulled out what she could, placed it on the counter, then turned to him. "You relax a while and I'll have everything ready in a bit. Then we can head back to bed."

[The Australian]

"Sounds good." He said, walking over to the couch and sitting down, putting his feet up and looked around. There wasn't much in way of decoration. He had made sure of that. After having a two-hour lecture on the dangers of raider attack, he didn't want any real sentimental items besides something that could be carried in a backpack. As if some Supreme Being had heard him thinking, he could hear gunshots, rapid ones that had to be close. Then shouting.

A door swung open, and there stood the figure of Michael, with his Winchester repeater in his hand and a backpack "Grab whatever you can, you two." He said, with urgency in his voice as more gunshots rang out, "The Khans are attacking, and the militia won't be able to stop them. We've got to run. Now!"

Malcolm knew Michael. And Michael wasn't a man to run away. But, there he was. Malcolm rose from the couch and ran into their bedroom. He grabbed a picture of him, his father, and his mother, and grabbed Pandora's picture, and handed it to her as he ran into the kitchen, "Grab all the water and food that you can, put it in a pack, and come with us."

Malcolm put on his trench-coat and his Stetson, grabbed his rifle, and checked that he had his pistol and survival knife, and went to grab his backpack. In it, there was extra-ammunition for his pistol and rifle, along with maps and medical supplies.

[Queenie]

Pandora froze on the spot for a moment. And starred at the picture Malcolm handed her.

This was actually happening. A raid on the village. This had never happened before and it slowly freaking her out. But, she didn't want to show fear in front of Malcolm, so she took the picture and ran back into the bedroom. Grabbing a backpack, she came back in and stuffed in as much food into it. Then headed back into the bedroom and grabbed her two hand guns, putting them into slings on her legs and then placed the switchblade on her belt. She grabbed the ring necklace off her nightstand before heading back out to meet Malcolm.

"Right, I'm ready to go." She replied nervously.

[The Australian]

Malcolm grabbed her hand as Michael looked nervously out the doorway. As the trio rushed out of the house, there were people rushing out of their houses with rifles, swords, and whatever they could find. Those three were the only ones headed against the crowd. It didn't take long for them to reach the north exit of the town, which was one where the Khans neglected to attack. The Khans' tactics revolved around one strong and hardhitting blow, and they had chosen the western entrance. As they sprinted through the sands, Michael finally stopped when they reached a small oasis of trees and bushes, which marked the farthest anyone from the town had really ever gone. They had ran at least three miles in what had seemed like ten minutes. As the shots finally died out, the worm face of Michael turned to Malcolm,

"I've got all the food that's in my backpack saying we're the last survivors of Caliente." He muttered grimly, and turned to face the rising sun, "I suggest that we either find a way to cross the Colorado, take the Colorado down south, or simply go west. It's your choice, Malcolm."

Malcolm thought for a moment, "How about we go find a boat? If we can't, then we'll just head west and scrap that idea."