@CloseEnough

"I'll see what I can think up for a cooling system, for now I'll start in on setting up the backpack. You get any ideas, shout em out"

Brick cracked open the backpack and dumped the ammo belts out onto a nearby workstation.
'Separate and set those up for sale in the shop later' he thought. He stole a glance at the Power Converter blueprints to check the measurements.
"Ok depth is fine, more than enough length, but that width.... hmmm" he muttered aloud "Gotta cut some space here, and here, heat sink's ok...."

His body took over at that point, going through the motions he'd been performing for years. His mind turned inward.

'Three sets of wiring, where does the catalyst spark come from though? Battery cell plus a switched fuse? Could work, given I limit the cell to 2.7 volts....

Rey sat up quickly with his forehead drenched in sweats. His breathing was heavy and his heart beat was racing. He eyed his surroundings and calmed down after a couple of seconds. "Another bad dream," Rey muttered under his irregular breathing. There was nothing hostile around him, but he decided to scan the area again. Nothing, thank God. This was another sleep uninterrupted by the creatures of the wasteland; a blessing that Rey never takes for granted.

Rey happened to be in the shade that was given to from an abandoned building; however, he could still tell it was immensely bright. The sun was probably at his highest so there was the assumption that it might be the afternoon. Climbing up to his feet, he stretched his legs and arms out. Afterwards, he dropped down to the floor to do a quick set of ten push-ups and sit-ups. A daily routine he does to ensure his body never loses its mojo.

"I really need to find a sleeping bag. A blanket or something," Rey complained. He adjusted his neck and popped it after his uncomfortable sleep. He strapped on his backpack and started walking forward. "Now to find out where the hell I'm at."

@Crossfire

"Well than I'll start working on the power core, and fusion cells, lets see here, fusion core, unwelded still..." Mumbles escaping her she began to go through the pieces using mostly touch. Her chair a bit too short for the job yet she seemed to be able to get by on memory alone. Hands small enough to get through the smaller compartments without so much as a scratch everything in the back began to neatly and carefully stack up across the table.

"I'll have to say Brick you really know what your doing. Last time I was able to work with someone this experienced was when the brotherhood of steel came over." Setting down the tools she wiped her brow, skin stained with oil and grease she gave a smile. "Ah there we are, now just got to put you back together and you should be feeling right as rain."

Already looking through the ammo, sheets and finally the power converter, a whistle escaping her as she began to see the shape it was in. "Wow someone took care of you when you were a minigun, got to count myself lucky." Reaching over to grab the blue prints she looked up in curiosity, "so, I got my knowledge from books, how bout you?"

@CloseEnough

Brick was working away as he listened to Aurora talk, matching wires to positive and negative terminals to carry the juice through Fuago. He froze up when she asked about his past.

'This is it then, kid seems trustworthy, I'll tell the truth'

"I was trained by my father, he was with a group called the Gun Runners, but before I get into that, I have to tell you a secret, don't get freaked out or anything, but my boss? Forge? He doesn't really exist, a carefully constructed lie to protect myself and the people living here. When I came down here, I saw how rough life can be out in these parts, folks ready to do bad things at the drop of a hat, anything to get ahead. Don't get me wrong, it's like that everywhere in the world, at least, all the parts I've been to in my life, but something about the raiders here, they seem more savage than usual, maybe I'm just crazy. And, I mean, I'm not the most physically imposing guy around, so I created Forge, and built up his reputation to scare those kind of people off. So any stories you might've heard are probably true, but I hope you can understand why I did it, and that you'll forgive the secrecy"

Brick stopped working, laid down his tools, and walked over to a small fridge in the corner, talking as he went.
"So the Gun Runners, in short, are weapon dealers. They generally move into an area, set up shop, and slowly grow a business. Weaponsmiths, like me, are trained in dozens of different methods and techniques for repair and modification, and we try to learn techniques local to the region, bring it back to others to add to our knowledge base. I'm still working on growing the business yet, haven't even mentioned the name Gun Runners 'til now. Hey, you want somethin? Got a few bottles of purified water here, few bottles of stronger stuff if that's more your style, and there's some food too if you're hungry"

@Crossfire

She was in the process of taking out the back of fuago, the entire circuit board coming out in neatly tagged wired onto the table like a dissected abomination. Looking up at the words the red head stared in confusion and shock. Her hands still working in memorized paths on their own as she stayed silent till Brick, forge..was done.

"You sound like my sister. Shes been known to crossdress so her clients can't track her to me." A smile on her face she held out the fusion core to grant more space for a cooling system. "You don't have to worry about me telling anyone, remember I'm locked up in my garage and I find no reason to do so, your helping me and just trying to make a living."
Shrugging her shoulders she looked out to see that Chase was still standing guard. "If he knew though, well I don't think that would be a good thing...."

Getting back to work she blinked at the offer, "Oh umm, nah I'm fine, less distractions if I don't have to focus on eating. But thanks for the offer." She was keeping her head down, going through the patterns and wiring that she jotted down time after time.

----

Hour by hour, piece by piece. Auaroa found herself smiling at the work. Tired eyes scanning what was looking to be a beauty that could throw her weight around. "You are indeed a favourite." Wiping her brow she looked over at Brick, a grin on her face as though she were a child that had just about finished her chores. "Just have to get the backing on and she should be set right?

About to continue, the woman whipped her head around. Looking at the door that separated them from the rest of the shop. Something was off, a scurry, a noise, her gaze focused she kept her ears keen, waiting to hear something else to betray that something was off.
One
two
ten
twenty

"Must be my imagination..."

Reese glanced over the man that had cut their conversation short, though Reese didn't really mind, it wasn't like there was too much else he wanted to say, he mostly got his thanks out of the way, besides whatever they were working on wasn't any of his business and he doubted that even if he knew what was going on, he couldn't really help, best he could do with a gun was take it apart and put it back together, anything intricate like energy weapons and best he could do with this is fire and reload them.

Not wishing to distract them, Reese quietly slipped out of the building, shifting his shoulder a bit as he tried adjusting to his rifle not being on his back, he sometimes had to do this before whenever he got it fixed, but he still didn't like being without it, hopefully it would be repaired for him soon and he could get it back the next day or so.

He decided to have a look around the town, wanting to see what it was like, he sure hoped the bonus part of this adventure would pay off, though he knew finding anyone who knew something about him was a shot in the dark, he had to at least try. He couldn't help but smirk a little as he thought about it in his head, he felt like a broken record thinking the same thing over and over again, though there wasn't much else to think about, a person's identity, who they were was all they really had, not material possessions nor all the caps in the world, but who they are, what defined them and when that was missing, well it was like missing a part of yourself.

________________________

“You sure he came this way?” A large, bulky man wearing a leather vest, having a scar running across his face asked.

“Y-Yes boss, we saw him walking this way, looked like he got picked up by someone, don't think he went anywhere else.” The familiar bandit that had attacked Reese earlier responded.

“And tell me again, what happened, just to refresh my memory.” The leader responded back.

“Well...y-ya boss, that doctor fella' had came over to me, Liv then went around him and we held him up, he was talkin' to us bout taken his stuff save for some tools or something, then he said he was tryin' save us, I asked from who and he said himself then grabbed Liv and stabbed her in the leg...” He trailed off as he saw the anger filling up in their leader's eyes.

“Continue Ral...” The Large man spoke with a growl.

“Right boss, well Liv accidentally shot me and he took the opportunity to run and then hid among some cliffs, we didn't know where but he took out the other two and then shot my hand...he could have killed us but he didn't, he told us to choose a different way to live and then...well we came back to you.” He answered back nervously.

“So tell me, how did you allow such a thing to happen?” He asked, not looking at Ral as he looked at the town in the distance.

“We...were careless, we thought all he had was that rifle,” He responded, pausing for a moment before adding, “Boss, I know you are upset with us and that doctor fella' but should we go after him, I mean he had opportunities to kill us all, he didn't however and...” He trailed off again when the man glanced back at him with a glare.

“No one attacks us and gets away with it, there's only two options for people we come across, take their things or capture them, he disrespected us and that we can't allow, you're lucky I don't cut off that hand of your, your incompetence sickens me.”

“I-I understand boss, just he's really good with that rifle of his and it'd be bad if he killed you.” Ral answered back, he knew he had threatened Reese to do just this, but now that he had time to cool down, he knew how lethal Reese was and was worried what would happen if their leader was killed by him.

The bandit leader turned around, picking Ral up by his neck with one hand, glaring at him, “You think such a fool could take me down, do you think I would fall so easily?!” He asked in an angry tone, Ral gripping at his arm to be let go.

“No boss...I just...am thinkin' bout your safety.” He spoke with a strain, there were eight other bandits with them, including Liv, though they knew how violent their leader was, they didn't say anything and merely looked on.

“He will beg for his life before me and then I will slowly crush his skull til there is nothing left, do you understand?” He glared at Ral who struggled to nod before being let go, gasps and coughing coming from him as he finally was able to breathe again.

“You all know the plan right?” The leader asked the other bandits with him.

“Yes boss, we find that man and bring him to you.” Liv responded.

“And what of the others in town?” He added.

“If any of them try to get in the way...we kill them.” She spoke with a grin.

“Good, now let's get going, I hate to wait.” He spoke loudly to all of them, eventually all starting to move towards the town.

It took the small group of bandits at least ten minutes to approach the town, managing to sneak by the checkpoint area that wasn't as secure, all of them quietly dispersing throughout the town. They looked all over, through alleys that they could find and shops that were open, eventually Liv recognizing the red cap Reese was wearing, just a few meters ahead of her and then whistled like a bird, the signal to alert the others that he had been found.

They quickly made their way to where they heard the sound coming from, some blending in with the small crowds that were there, the leader though didn't bother, not that he could, he was fairly larger than a lot of the people around him, so it wouldn't do him much good, that and he wasn't one to hide. Without even saying anything, he quickly started to charge Reese, his heavy footsteps stomping into the ground, causing Reese to turn around when he heard the thunderous footsteps, only having enough time to cross his arms in front of his chest as the man's large fist slammed into them, causing his feet to slide back against the dirt ground.

He winced a little as his body finished absorbing the hit, though it was better that it was his arms rather than his chest or head. “You mind telling me why you attacked me?” Reese asked a little angrily, not knowing why, to him at least, he was randomly being attacked by a man he did not know.

“That's just a taste of what you'll expect from me, should have known better than to harm my people.” The large bandit leader spoke.

Ral appearing next to him, “Yeah, told you that you'd regret it.” He grinned, seeing how his boss seemingly had things under control and he didn't see Reese's rifle with him.

“Attacked? I defended myself from your thugs and I suggest you and them leave, we're square as far as things are concerned.” Reese really didn't want to fight close quarters, especially not against a towering foe such as the man who had punched him.

“We'll be square when you're dead.” The leader growled, starting to charge again, Reese quickly pulling out his knife and started to dodge some of the punches, slashing at the man's arms when he could though he didn't seem to care, he just kept on coming, eventually hitting Reese across the face, sending him skidding against the ground though he quickly recovered.

'Jeez, the guy hits like a Super Mutant,' He thought to himself, though he was caught off guard by one of the other bandits who managed to sneak behind him, putting her gun to his back.

“Now now, you've had your fun but the boss doesn't like to play around.” She taunted.

Reese glanced back at the female bandit, not liking that he was caught off guard. She was ready to take his knife from him, noticing this by her arm holding the gun had lowered a little and quickly slammed the back of his head into her face, knowing it was risky but rather potentially get shot than become a fish in a barrel. She cried out in pain as she held her face, Reese quickly kicking her in the stomach, grabbing her gun as she dropped it and keeled over.

The rest of the bandits quickly emerging from the group of people and started to shoot at him, Reese knowing he was out numbered, started running before being grazed on the right arm and hit in his right shoulder, back to the gun shop where he dropped off his rifle, he didn't want to lead them there, but he needed his weapon, if he could get that, then he could lead them away from the town and hopefully incapacitate them, he'd need to take care of his new wounds, but they were non lethal, they'd just be burning until they could be patched up.

“After him!” The bandit leader shouted as the nine bandits that he lead started to chase after Reese, figuring they had him and now were getting to enjoy the chase.

..

@CloseEnough @Sohtem

Brick had finished up his contribution a little early, and decided to start in on Reese's rifle. he had been working for a little under an hour, and by that point had more or less figured out the issue. In fact, he only just selected a new barrel from the pre-mades he kept lying around, and was deciding if he was gonna cut it shorter, or add an extension and a compensator when Aurora spoke up.

"Yeah, just gotta add the special ingredient, attach the backing and she should be ready for testing. So, lets see here......"
As he scooted over to the workbench, he grabbed a couple of tools and moved in to place the final circuit board in place, he did a couple of quick welds to secure it in place, then began to string the last wires into place.
"Ok, close 'er up and let's recap one last time" he said as he started to sort away tools "So first I wanna say, if you're ok with it, I wanna be there at the Vault for this, not just to help operate it, or do any on-site repairs if needed, but I feel like I need to see this through to the end. I can have someone here watch the shop for a few days. So, you think on that"

He took a sip of water before continuing "As for Fuago.... Ideally, we'll have three people on hand to operate her. Someone strong enough not only to hold the thing up, but to also carry the backpack here with the power converter inside. Someone will need to monitor the backpack, switch out battery sources if needed on the fly, because the cooling system is good, but there's no guarantees with a weapon like this, we need to be 100% vigilant for any signs of an early meltdown. And lastly, you need someone on standby position, to monitor everything. In fact, I think there's just enough space here under the barrel to fit some kind of handle, maybe we can add an extra operator, to help shoulder the weight and aim" He started pointing out specific components "We start off over at the Tesla converter stored in the backpack, whoever's monitoring that will use this trigger to spark up battery terminal A, that current flows into the energy cells here on the left hand side of the converter. Is it 100% safe to use laser pistol ammo as a battery? Not really, but that's really the best option given our time limit. Those cells will power up the tesla converter, which is more or less a conduit for raw electrical power, it sends energy up these wires and into Fuago's main circuits, moving through what would be the microfusion cell loader on a regular laser rifle as a catalyst. That sends power into the fusion core, and as you intended when you designed this beauty, the fusion core begins the firing sequence. That's phase one. Once the fusion core hits 50%, we fire up battery terminal B, which sends a fresh supply of energy from both the energy cells on the right hand side, and the Electron Charge Packs which will be loaded into the lower chamber of the Tesla converter. That energy stream should be enough to maintain the fusion core through the firing process. When everything is spent, and the fusion core goes below 20% we hit this switch to blow the energy vents, and hope that door comes crashing down. Shouldn't be any risk to the operators, as long as they don't mind the heat. Fuago won't go through a nuclear meltdown or anything, but the insides will be pretty crispy, if everything inside the casings aren't smoldering cinders by then."

Brick was visibly out of breath. Talking at such a quick rate for so long about this passion project had this throat absolutely parched. He downed the rest of the bottle of water then finished off his speech.

"I don't know about you, but I'm pretty tired. I've got a spare room here if you wanna rest for a few hours, just through the side door and down the hall, on the right. I'm gonna finish off my work on this rifle before I call it a night but by all means..."

BANGBANG! BANG!

The gunshots rang out clear across the small settlement.
"No! Not now!" Brick cursed to himself as he dashed out into the shop, he fished around for a few items, then ran clear across the house to grab his own personal weapons from his bedroom. He then ran back into the workshop.
"Ok Aurora, remember what I said about Forge's reputation. Well, you might've heard, but Forge killed a customer yesterday morning. He was an asshole, also more than likely a raider. Definitely connected to some bad dudes at least. I think that's them at any rate, This here's a standard 10mm pistol, it's fully loaded, here's a few extra clips, hold onto those. And here's a sawed off double barrel shotgun. Anyone comes in here that's not me, Chase, or my friend Travis who escorted you into town, then open up on em. I gotta go help. you know how to use a gun right?"

-----

"That must be it" the raider said, as he overlooked the town "Hardy said it was around here, mostly some shacks, and a little house on the hill. Scuzz, what do you think?"
The man named Scuzz stepped forward, decked out in leather armor with your average decorative armor pieces made of rusted metal and rough canvas
"Hardy never come back from gettin the stuff. He e'ther dead, or captive in there, tellin 'em all bout us. If he alive, we go in and I gut him myself. If not, we find the son bitch what kill him and cut his head off, then we have fun"
The well spoken scout named Numan spoke up "We should move in quietly, knives first, then pull the guns.
"Good idea" Scuzz said "Move"

The band of raiders, numbering around 10 moved across the open plains towards the lonely hill where Davenport stood. Numan got there first, silently infiltrating the outer perimeter. He saw movement nearby, and posted up on a corner. One of Brick's guards, a stocky balding man named Arthur came into view, carrying a combat rifle at the ready. Numan dove into view and quickly slashed at Arthur with his knife, catching him in the jugular and opening his throat wide. Unable to speak, Arthur dropped to the ground, clutching at his throat. He bled out in under 30 seconds. Numan picked up the rifle and handed it off to Scuzz, who had just caught up, searching the body, he found a pistol and a tiny revolver concealed in pockets. He handed off the pistol to another raider, then checked the revolver. Fully loaded.
Moving forward, Numan spotted the main street of town. Despite the late hour, there were still a few stragglers hanging around. His eyes were drawn to a fully decked out OBR Rifleman, patrolling the street. Looking upwards, he spied the house on the hill, an armed guard standing out front. Some chaos was erupting a little further down the street, seemed like a fight or something was breaking out, whatever it was, someone took off running. He whispered to his companions "Soldier in the street, and a redhead up on the hill, he must be guarding that guy Forge's house. I'll get the soldier, Scuzz, you hit the guard up there, rest of you get ready"

He sighted up on the soldier, tilted his head slightly to see Scuzz moving to position. He exhaled slowly and took a couple of shots. Scuzz fired right behind him.

BANGBANG! BANG!

@Crossfire

Eyes keen she wacthed as Brick explained everything bit by bit, a calculating look in her gaze she moved over as she began to weld the peics back. "There she is, right as rain, should be a good idea to be bringing in the weight to the shoulder. Steadier aim, oh man if we mess up even a fraction we'll ether loose her or that vault. It gets melted the wrong way and fuago turns off too early that door might slide and lock unnaturally. That happens and we won't be able to move her the right way again. Than there is the idea that if someone reads her wrong than she would melt without anyone seeing till its too late."
A worried look only began to take place with a smile. "well than guess we shall have to be careful. Yeah, sis is not gonna like it but i guess I had to come out of the shadows sometime. Gonna need your help with this, and your one of the only people I trust with fuago right now.

About to take him up on the offer for sleep she opened her mouth to speak, the sounds of gun shots cracking through the air sharper than any bladed whip that she could ever craft. "Shit are you serious?" Worry on her face she felt a pistol being shoved into her hands. Was he serious? There were people after him?
"I have no business working with weapons if I can't use em. Here your gonna need this." She reached into her pockets, saving the thing for a rainy day and it seemed to be pouring outside she produced a steam pack. "Won't make you immortal but might save you in case you get shot. Just don't do that okay?"
She was already wheeling away, testing the balance of the gun she made sure the aim was set before finding some cover. She was no use out there, might as well try not to get caught.

Chase on the other hand saw the chaos, a curse escaping him he loaded his gun, eyes narrowed at the sight of brick. "She safe?" That was all he wanted to know, both theri lives depened on it. Already he saw the cause of the shooting, a growl escaping his throat he held his weapon, the force of the blast in his hands causing him to grit his teeth.

[b]Bang![b]
A yell of pain escaping him, Chase began to feel the liquied running down his arm, warm and crimson in color bubbling from his arm. "God fucking damnit who are these guys!?"

@CloseEnough @Sohtem

"Damn it!" Brick exclaimed, remembering Reese's rifle. He turned on his heel and began reassembling it as quick as he could.

'Barrel's gonna have to go standard length for now' he thought as he secured it to the receiver. He locked the trigger mechanism in place and brought the gun close to his head, he pulled the trigger.

click

Sounded about right. He tested the empty gun twice more before he was satisfied with how it sounded. Everything was in place and ready to go, he reloaded the gun and slung it over his shoulder.

"Stay safe" he told Aurora as he accepted her gift and walked out of the workshop.

Out in the storefront, Brick immediately noticed blood on the window.
'Shit... is he?'
He grabbed some ammo for Reese's rifle, then produced Hardy's Tenderizer from below the counter.
"They're here for you I think" he told the weapon "I guess I'll give you to them, business end first"
He went outside and checked on Chase. He was bleeding from the arm, but otherwise ok.
"Here, help me with this" they flipped the couch over and used it as cover "Aurora's in the back, I gave her a couple guns, but probably best if you stay up here to keep her safe. Wait here"
He crawled back inside, went over to the gun cabinet and produced an assault rifle. He put it next to Chase when he got back outside.
"Here, in case you run out. I gotta get down there, find that guy Reese and then get to work. Cover me!"

He jumped out from their makeshift cover and dashed off into the chaos, hoping he would find the maan he was looking for, before trouble found him...

@Crossfire

Grabbing the riffle Chase let out a grin. "Bit of an upgrade." He was already aiming, looking through teh scope and counting them off. "Looks to be five or six, right on the main street outskirts, big son bitch leading them through I think." A sigh escaping his lips he loaded the gun, a satisfying click entering his ears. "Well than try not to die."

Aurora was inside, eyes closed and listening to the fire outside. "One, five, ten" shot after shot went through the night. A curse escaping her as she kept low only to hear a different door creek open, it wasn't the front, the back, a celler? was there a window here? Licking her chapped lips she took in a breath, her hands carefully grasping the pistol as she waited, folding her torso to try and vanish in with the chaos of the work room.
A figure emerging she could smell the gun powder and alcohol, a twisted face he gave at the sight of weaponry she held her breath. There was no doubt about what he was, he was already making a grab for fuago, mentioning a boss.
Bang, Bang!

Her chair rolling across the floor and hitting the back from the force the red head found her air lost. "Oh shit..." Shes never killed a person, yet the body slumped to the floor like a rag dog, the same way she saw her sister deal with anyone who came near their settlement. "Fuck..."

The foot falls of a new marksmen ran across the road. Shes been tracking them for hours, the prints of Chase and his damn Brhaman leading Eden all the way to Devenport. "Oh no"
She could hear the fire, slinging her riffle she brought it to her golden gaze, breath at a stand still as she waited to see who was friend and who was foe. "Where are you"
Her sister had to be in there. Somewere Aurora was in there and she was going to be getting her back.

Rey yawned letting out his morning breath. He stretched his arms wide open; he hadn't done much walking, but the lack of sleep did give him some drowsiness. The atmosphere around him was boring; every where around him just stood broken structures and grass growing out of the pavements. There was no beauty he could find in the aftermath. The sky still looked hopeful though.

Rey wiped his humid forehead; the sun's heat was beginning to make things difficult. He sighed and kept on moving. With enough walking, he might find something worth while. As he continued his trek, he stopped and found a tipped over trashcan. The adventurer was quick to scan the surroundings around him. He wanted to be cautious before he chose to start looking for treasure.

Rey kneeled down to the knocked over trash bin. He began ravaging the litter for valuable items. His hands were shoveling mushed up pieces of food and balled up pieces of paper. Rey then got excited once his hands touched glass. "Jackpot?" He wondered. Rey grabbed hold of the object and his face played a smile.

"I can't believe it," he pulled out a Nuka Cola bottle. The bottle was still intact and unopened. Rey hurriedly took off his backpack and unzipped it. "Have to save this for a special occasion," he muttered as he placed the drink item in his container. He placed the straps over his shoulders and proceeded to keep walking. "Wow, I still can't believe."

@Crossfire @CloseEnough

Shots continued to ring out as bullets just narrowly flew past Reese, he kept going through alleys and making any turns he could, both to avoid being shot further and to lose a few of them that were on his tail, figures that bandits would have a grudge when they instigated the aggression first, Reese couldn't help but think if it would've been better to have killed them, then he wouldn't be putting the town in danger because of something he'd done.

He was nearly to the weapon shop he had dropped his rifle off at when he heard another set of gunshots ahead of him, he was wondering if those were additional bandits, but it didn't make any sense, seemed like they were mostly after him, he doubted even they would be so blind as to randomly kill people just to get to him, they didn't seem to do that before. He glanced over at his wounded arm, seeing the small amount of blood trickle down it, he was going to need to take care of that, he had a feeling that he might be rolling around in the dirt against these bandits, he couldn't risk an infections, but now wasn't really the time, he needed to get to his rifle and then take care of the bandits.

Ral, Liv, and the bandit leader paused for a moment when they heard gunshots ringing out just a bit further ahead of where they were sure Reese was, “Was that us?” The leader asked, not knowing if the rest of his people were that far ahead.

“Uh...I don't think so boss, most of them are spread out near us or behind us, we didn't have anyone stationed up ahead.” Ral responded.

“We'll need to be careful, either he has some friends with him or there's another party at play.” He growled as he examined the area around them.

“Right boss, but do you really think but do you think if someone else is here, they're after him?”

“I don't know either way it's both good and bad for us, let's hurry up and continue after him before he manages to slip us.” The leader responded, his heavy footsteps once more stopping into the ground, his second and third in command right behind him.

Reese was starting to fatigue a little, both from the running and from his minor wounds, but he couldn't give up, not when there was a danger in the town, though he didn't know about the second one. He had a feeling though that these bandits after him weren't going to be easy, well mostly the leader, but still, from the few he had counted, it seemed to him like there were about ten bandits, even if they weren't skilled enough with a gun, they still had firepower on their side, something Reese couldn't fight directly no matter how good he was.

He eventually spotted a who looked to be carrying his rifle, he recognized him as Brick, the man that had took his transaction, though Reese was a little curious why he was out here with it, he certainly couldn't have heard about the bandits already, maybe the gunshots were heard, he had no idea, he did know though that he head to quickly get his gun. Though a man had jumped down from the roof near him and landed in front of him, halting him in his tracks and then tried stabbing him, Reese quickly shifted his body from the attacks, using the gun to parry some of the attacks he couldn't avoid before unfortantely slipping up and was stabbed in his shoulder near his still fresh gun wound. He winced and gritted his teeth, that's all he needed, another wound near the same spot.

He pistol whipped the man across the face as he was pulling his knife away and the shot him blindly, hitting him in the stomach and then keeled over, Reese didn't have time to check if he wounded him fatally or not, he had much more pressing concerns and continued to make his way towards the man with his rifle.

“Hey! Brick right? I need my gun, some bandits are after me!” He shouted to the man as he ran towards him, glancing back and seeing some figures in the distance starting to catch up, 'Damn, I thought I would've had more time before they caught up,' He thought to himself as the distance grew between the man hold his gun and Reese himself.

“I think I see him up ahead boss.” Ral spoke with a bit of short breath as they continued to shorten the distance between the two of them.

“Good, all this running is irritating me, no pathetic being escapes me.” He growled as he glared at the target they were approaching.

@CloseEnough @Sohtem

'Oh great, two parties of raiders, one after me, one after him, this is gonna end well'

"Good thing the work was finished up early huh? Let me know how the barrel feels, I can shorten or even lengthen it assuming we both survive this" Brick unslung the rifle and handed it over "She's fully loaded, and here" he handed over a couple of loaded magazines "20 extra rounds on the house, let's get these bastards"

Brick frantically scanned around to make sure the coast was clear.
"They killed one of the soldiers that was posted here. There are two more, but they're gonna need our help. That guy Chase is up at my shop covering us, and the three bodyguards we employ are around somewhere, hope they're ok"

A gunshot rang out nearby, and Brick saw a body drop just ahead of them, it was a local woman Brick had seen around. She was still alive, trying to crawl away, but a raider rounded the corner after her, and stood over her, gun aimed at her head. Brick wasn't fast enough on the draw and...

BANG!

The raider slumped to the ground, the back of his head blown wide open. Brick was relieved to see Joe poke his head into view.
"You're ok?" Brick asked "Where's Travis and Arthur?"
"Travis is round the back of the inn, he's making his way around the alleys with a couple of armed civvies. Riflemen are holed up in the tavern. I haven't seen Art"
"Ok, you get over there, and get them out here, we need all hands. If we can funnel them into the main street, maybe we can trick the two groups into fighting each other, even if they don't, Chase'll have a clear line of sight, we get a shooter on the roof of the inn to provide overwatch, then we rally our forces into the street, cut em off on both ends, finish the rest of em off" He looked up at his companions "Think that'll work?"

@Sohtem@Crossfire

"One..two, four..."
The whisper words of a woman stood a bit away from the chaos before her. A golden gaze going straight through the scope of her rifle , breathing at ease but mind in utter turmoil at the though the trail to her family is growing smaller and smaller. "She's in there, she has to be."

And that means that through the shots and screams of raiders, somewhere her sister, her sister who can't run away on her own in trapped. Licking her chapped lips she tightened the leather band around her mane tighter, slinging the weapon over her back her hand gripped the hilt of her blade before she began to move.
The sounds of gun fire were routine for her. Crouching low she began top pick out who was friend and foe. A woman on the ground only to be saved by another, two males trying to come up with a solution to their problems. Yet even than she left them, moving like a predator stalking it's prey she left them alone.
A raider rounded the corner, a laser pistol in hand looking to have been looted from something. She was quick, turning on the ball of her foot she pivoted around him, the same motion causing her sword hand to rise and almost comeplatly remove his head. She could have killed him from a slice that would take a lot less effort.
But she was angry.

Building by building she moved till she caught sight of a familiar face. Her gate extending she ran to Chase yet she did not even ask if he was okay as he kept the other's in his sights, letting off a round to save another. "Where is Aurora." Watching his face pale slightly she clicked her toung waiting for a response. "In the back, the owner gave her some weapons and hid her so be careful."

Without a word she was moving through the shop, a back door showing a dim light causing her pace to quicken. "Aurora, its me Eden, don't shot okay?"
She was already opening the door, the sound of a click for loading entering her ears only to see the red head in the back. Eyes wide and hands at ready she lowered the weapon, the body of a raider at the other side of the room. Eden did not even spare a glance at him she bounded to her sister, engulfing the girl in a hug and breathing in. "I thought I lost you."
"I'm fine sis, really, Brick and everyone were great at helping me out, and we managed to get fuago up and running. We just got to clean out the raiders."

"We're going home."
Disbelief on her sisters face Eden refused to budge. "We're going home, I can carry you back undercover, no one has to know." Yet all Aurora done was shake her head.
"I'm not leaving, besides you mess up and we both die. And I'm not leaving Brick without paying and I'm not leaving Chase to get shot."

"He's already shot."
"That makes it worse!"

A groan escaping the older woman she almost seemed to glare at Aurora. "Your ridiculous, you sneak out, make me think that someone took you. I track you all the way out here and this entire time your just enjoying yourself without even thinking of what might happen. What if something happened to Chase? You would be stuck, with no way to get home and eventually killed or sold."
She didn't wait for a response, if her sister won't leave till everything is done than she'll just take care of it and forget it ever happened.

Chase looked over his shoulder only to find the woman leave. "What are you doing?" Without saying a word she took out her blade, declining down the steps and into the fire zone. "Are you fucking kidding me Eden! These guys aren’t no death claws or whatever crap you killed with that thing!"
She just kept moving, and within moments she rounded a corner and vanished. Stealth was her ally, and it always will be. Under the cover of chaos she took cover, seeing the others that were making a plan she rolled her eyes, flicking her blade to find that it was still full of irradiated blood.

@CloseEnough @Crossfire

Reese quickly grabbed his rifle, loading a magazine into the gun and then readied a bulled into the chamber, aiming down the scope he saw some figures in the distance, he started to fire a few shots near them, hoping to scare them off, he didn't want to kill them but would if he had too. No doubt at the current moment, his morality was probably being more of a liability than an asset but he couldn't just abandon who he currently was just to defeat an enemy.

“Look, just go on ahead back to the shop, I'll try and scare a few of them off here, if the rest of them keep coming, I'll lead them back to the shop and hopefully they'll fight each other. If you see anyone injured, bring them there or somewhere close-by, I'll try to treat them, I'm a doctor of sorts.” Reese responded, not really too focused on the man that had saved the woman, though he did notice him, as long as he wasn't being shot at by him, he'd ask questions later.

He saw a few bandits starting to go from cover to cover, trying to avoid being shot by his rifle, he couldn't stay here much longer, his rifle was tuned for medium to long range, they were starting to get so close to where the magnification of the rifle would be a hindrance, though he had to try and make sure everyone in the area of the town he was in had escaped, two groups of people wasn't something he wanted to take on, but he'd at least try to help.

“Whoa!” Ral exclaimed as some shots narrowly missed him, a few of the bandits behind him on the left he was on, the others were on the right with Liv.

“Boss, be careful, looks like that runt got his rifle back.” Ral shouted to the leader who took a little cover himself, he may have been strong and large, but he wasn't so foolish as to charge at someone with a rifle.

“Get Sheila.” Was all the large thug said to Ral, quickly the word passing down until they came running with with a square piece of metal, the size of the man's chest, Reese having stopped his firing for a short time, curious as to what they were doing.

“Now you're gonna get it!” Ral shouted with a grin, eager to see his boss use what hadn't failed them before yet.

The bandit leader then strapped it onto his him, thrusting it forward and then the spring loaded locks disengaged, more metal pieces unfolding out of what was a fairly substantial piece of metal. Eventually when all the pieces were done, what looked like a large sheet of metal was strapped to his arm, Reese didn't like the look of that, it could easily protect most of his body or the man's comrades but on the bandit leader himself, it just covered the majority of his torso, save for a bit around his arms and legs.

Quickly the leader started to charge with the shield, Reese, once again firing at him again, the shots either bouncing off the shield or piercing areas where the bandit was either grazed or not hit at all. He suddenly heard multiple clicks from his gun, indicating that he was out of ammo in that magazine, he quickly ejected it, ready to go into his bag for another when the man had rammed him with the shield, Reese only managing to brace it by seconds with his gun pressed up against the metal before an extra shove sent him skidding against the ground.

“Course they would have him as a leader, makes sense I don't get the easy ones.” He spoke to himself under his breath with a smirk, though he didn't find it funny, he knew his only course of action, he had to try and lead them to the gun shop where the other group of thugs were at.

“You'll not get past Sheila, she's a tried and tested ally.” The bandit grinned to the injured Reese who slowly got to his feet.

“Yeah...I can see that, how about you guys just leave, last chance, don't make this town suffer for a vendetta that doesn't need to exist.” Reese responded in shallow breathes.

“You will be hunted until I get to feel your skull crack underneath my boot.” He growled back, Reese not showing it, though he was nervous, the man looked like he had the strength to do it.

Reese slowly reached into his bag, slipping out another magazine and then slammed it into his gun, getting ready to fire at the man whilst hopefully being able to retreat. Unfortunately before he was able to, Ral thought he'd be helpful for his leader and said, “Here doctor fella', save yourself from this!” Throwing a live grenade at him, this was Reese's only chance, he knew he could and had to do it.

“No! You fool!” The bandit leader shouted as Reese quickly took aim at the object in the air, firing a shot before it landed, exploding the grenade prematurely, sending up a cloud of smoke and dirt, Reese having been knocked down by the concussion of the explosive. He quickly got up and then started to run for the shop, only hope now was that he could get there and the two groups would be distracted with each other instead.

The leader got up after having been unprepared for the explosion, tossing his shield to the side, “After we get him, you best pray I'm still not mad enough to want to crack your bones too Ral, got it? Now get the others and follow, I'm going on ahead after him.” The leader starting to charge in the direction Reese went.

“R-Right boss.” Ral spoke nervously.

“Best watch it Ral, boss might not favor you anymore you keep disappoint him.” Liv taunted as she and the other bandits started to run behind their leader.

“Shut it Liv or I'll take care of you right 'ere and now.” He growled as he started to run with the rest of the group.

Reese glanced over his shoulder seeing the leader not too far behind as well as the other bandits behind him, he wish he could move a little faster, but his injuries and fatigue were starting to get to him, but he wouldn't give up. He started to see the shop as the distance closed, though he was sure the bandits were too far behind him, though he didn't dare look back a second time, he was sure that if he did he wouldn't like what he saw and would no doubt make a mistake and get caught by them.

He quickly went between some buildings, in and out of different alleyways try to at least avoid a few of them, for the time being it seemed he had lost them, though his back was turned as he was slowly walking backwards, trying to make sure where he just came from didn't have any additional bandits following him, unaware he was about to bump into the brown haired woman that was Aurora's sister.

@Sohtem@Crossfire

Eden had watched the entire thing with a calculated gaze. Her hand gripped the hilt of her blade with calming strength. "One, two, six, eight" every time she counted the chances there seemed to have been more than the last. "Two groups...two targets..." A click of her toung she rummaged through her bag, grabbing a wrap and covering her hand before gripping the blade again. She even nicks herself with the thing and she would end in a painfully long death.

Eyes set on the leader she cursed at the sight of a new weapon. The thing was big, covering most of him and his allies but the more she studied the more she began to work everything out. She many not know how to make them, but the Reen sisters knew their way around weapons one way or another, Eden could already see soft spots, joints in the armour around his arm.
Looking for cover spots that would lead her to the leader she was about to take off again only to hear the footsteps of another. With not a breath of hesitation she swung, her aim a bit over baring as it went right over his head. She was not trusting, and she was not having it. Bracing her arm she slammed it to pin his throat to the wall, turning her hand so that the dull edge was giving a deadly promise as she looked him up and down.

While Aurora was a kind little thing with freckles and pale skin, Eden seemed to be a shadow of the younger woman. Tanned skin that was decorated with scars, her mane starting to turn to dreads and her form made of muscle that looked to have tasted all that was the wasteland. The only thing that stayed the same was their eyes, while one was kind the other seemed to pierce, yet they were still that golden gaze.
Without a word she tried to get him to drop his weapon, a growl escaping her throat. He didn't seem to be one of the bandits, but she had not survived this long by being trusting. "You, never saw me"
Her voice was hoarse from ill use, something that seemed to be that of the gravel that she walked upon.

@CloseEnough@Crossfire

Reese had been surprised when someone behind him had swung a blade just above his head and managed to get him pinned up against a nearby wall, he thought he had been careful but apparently not, she looked a little similar to a bandit, at least to him, but then again a lot of people in the wastes dressed like that, so it wouldn't be fair of him to judge her like that, though in current circumstances, he was going to get the upper hand back first and then get some information.

He noticed she tried getting him to drop his weapon which he carefully did against the wall he was pinned up against, he had no idea who she was, but she was clearly a threat to him at the moment and he didn't really have the time to be dealing with her, not when the bandits were after him, perhaps she was with the other group of people attack, but he had to make a move now, it was going to be risky but he had to do it.

With a quick motion he went to grab her and with the blade and then slam his elbow into her side to try and recoil her a little and then twist and pin her right arm up into her back, unless she had any kind of military training, he was sure he could get her with this maneuver, he knew a few other tricks as to immobilize people, though he hoped he wouldn't need to use them.

“Quickly, spread out and find him!” The bandit leader shouted as he and his thugs looked around the area.

Two travelers that had been passing through when they heard the commotion drew their weapons, starting to fire upon the bandits that were searching the area, a small gun fight erupting between them and three other bandits, no doubt other towns people were going to either hide or try and fight the intruders in their home.

“Incoming!” Ral shouted as he and Liv got behind cover, “Nothing like a shoot out to get the blood flowing before a kill, huh?” Ral grinned excitedly as he poked out of cover, shooting at the two travelers firing at them.

“Just don't mess up anymore, remember why were really here.” Liv spoke loudly to him, trying to get here voice over the sound of gun fire, it was like a small war-zone at the moment.

“You just make sure you stay alive, I mean you did get taken down by just a knife last time.” He chuckled, firing once more at the two people shooting at them, managing to hit the man in the shoulder.

Liv just giving him a glancing glare said, “Yeah well at least I didn't foolishly chuck a nade at a man who could clearly do what he did.” Soon she too started firing again upon anyone that dared tried to fight them, they weren't after them, though that didn't mean they were opposed to killing anyone who get in their way.

@Sohtem

It was fast, she felt her arm go behind her and on instinct alone she swung her head up as hard as she could. A pair of goggles strapped to her skull for that vary reason, feeling a connection she brought her leg behind her, twisting it around the male's and gaining enough momentum to free herself from the retaliation.
Her blood boiling she put her grip to her blade, using it as a set of knuckles she slammed it down, aiming for his face before moving away. It was a waste of blood to use the actual blade on him. He didn't shoot, and thats what kept her from trying to kill him. About to walk away though she shot her head up when she heard a roar.

The smell of bodies and gun fire was attracting something thinking it could gain an easy meal. A grin crossing her lips she stood up, listening again. A sigh escaping her she slung her blade over her shoulder. "Ground's not safe, you should run." Yet the information was not given from kindness, as she spoke she kept a glare one would give to the bane of their vary being.

Quickly she began to scale the wall, the splintering wood had some holes for foot holds that allowed her to reach the roof. The sight before her looking to be a blood bath she found her own running cold when she realized just how close the weapon's shop they were. "Aurora..."
She had to work and she had to work fast, taking cover she laid on her belly, bringing the scope to her gaze she put her sights on the leader's shoulder, holding her breath she calculated the distance.
Bang!

@CloseEnough

Reese had been surprised she managed to slip him, quickly blocking her attack though not without causing some stress on his already injured shoulder, he had been worried about this, before he had been running on adrenaline and whilst that had at least distracted him from the pain, it didn't really fade, he was only just now actually feeling it starting to calm down a little.

He was ready to pull his knife out when he heard too heard the same roar she did, glancing up at the sky, trying to pinpoint it before glancing back at her when she spoke, he noticed her glare, though he wouldn't let it intimidate him. He was about to ask who she was when she started to run, but he realized he couldn't waste any more time with her, they had just scoped each other out for the most part, right now he had to get to the weapon's shop and help the others, though he was also curious about what the sound was that he heard.

Shaking his head head he grabbed his rifle, slung it on his back and then started to run, hearing a shot ring out nearby where he was, he quickly started making his way towards the shop, using more alleys and the such until he was nearly there, now all he had to do was get somewhere high and preferably far enough away for him to use his gun, though the distance he could manage, he preferred to not be so close.

The bandit's and their leader heard a loud roar in the distance, they too glanced around the town for a moment, unsure of what that sound was, though they knew it wasn't something good.

“B-Boss, what was that?” Ral asked, looking a little worried as the fighting temporarily ceased with people in cover, trying to discern the sound that they heard.

“Doesn't matter, we just need to fin-” He stopped mid sentence, feeling a pinch as a bullet dug into his shoulder, though he didn't seem to be bothered by it and begun to look around to see who it was that shot him, eventually seeing the slight shimmer of the scope, he pointed to the building, “We need to find that fool, but first, I'll take care of the pest that was that was unfortunate enough to injure me.” He growled, getting the shield from one of his bandit comrades again after they had picked it up previously.

He extended it once more, the length of it blocking most of his body once more, the only thing being able to be shot were parts of his arms and legs, though they'd be grazes at the very best if he was shot at again and began to charge towards the building the woman was on, he wouldn't let anyone injure him and get away with it. Though his camp was currently small near Davenport, his gang owned that territory and he would show what that means, though his was big and his footsteps were rather heavy, he did manage to make good speed and was gradually closing the distance between the two of them, once he was close enough, he'd throw the shield away and use his fits to deal with her.

“Wow, didn't think anyone would actually hit the boss, been a long time since that's happened.” Liv chuckled a little.

“Yeah, but I think he likes when it happens, someone like that might give him a challenge, though perhaps he's just settling for whoever it is, though he won't see, it's clear he was impressed with that doctor.” Ral responded.

“The one he shot out of the air? Yeah I have to say, even with a smaller gun that would be difficult, but we can't sit around here having a shoot out, not to mention whatever that thing is we heard, we need to get to that guy and hold him for the boss,” She answered back to Ral and then looked to the other bandits that were still with them, “Two of you stay here and handle these guys, we're going to continue to head down this way, it's the last place he was headed.” She spoke and then she along with Ral and four other bandits started to head in the last direction Reese was going.