Postapocalypse Now

[Scorpio]

"Now." I whisper. "Now we plan ahead."

I slip my last few darts into Baileys pocket. Hopefully Y'ami didn't use all of his.

"Okay guys." I drop my revolver and speargun. "Guess you got us."

[Khallos]

OOC: right, i know this post is rubbish ,but still... sorry guys x3 I feel a bit like a Godmodder now

Khallos smiled behind his mask, although the metal scowl on the outside betrayed nothing. "Wise choose. Four, Five, Retrieve the equipment..." He nodded, and two of the Metal Men clunked out, one of them gathering up the scattered bits of M.C.o.L.M equipment while the other went to his fallen comrades, grabbing them by the collar and dragging them along behind him like dolls.

"But what of the survivors, One? Do we take them too?" Khallos thought for a moment... "Hrmm.. No... Heh, after all.. if we take them all, how will there be any left in the future? Forced breding only gets you so far..." He gave a harsh metallic laugh, and then recomposed himself, jerking his head backwards to indicate for the other two to leave. "Still. cant have them Following us..." He muttered, gauntleted hand reaching for a tube on his belt.

Hopefully the flashbang would give them time to run away rather unceremoniously, dragging the fallen behind them

[Ms. Cleo]

OOC: "Godmodder?"

Damn. I think while dropping my Kampilan and two of my three pakal knives, leaving the one hidden behind my back in its place, just in case. Wish I hadn't used up all those darts Jack gave me earlier.

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light. After a few moments of gripping our burning eyes on our knees or all fours, we regain our composure and see that our adversaries have disappeared.

"Shit," I curse while standing up, still hurting from the flashbang. "They were our ticket outta this maze. We gotta find em, else we'll be wandering around these caves for days."

[Scorpio]

ooc: What is Godmodder Khallos?

ic:
I rub my eyes and gather what equipment they left, one bloody revolver. At least I still have the ammo belt.

"Relax guys, they've left us a breadcrumb trail."

I point out the trail of gas from the leaking armour tank.

"Or I could spark it up right now and blow them to kingdom come."

This suggestion meets looks of disapproval.

[grigori]

OOC: A godmodder is someone who "plays God" in an rp, and does things like give themselves a tank, like something Tom would do. Khallos really isn't, so don't worry about it, pal.

"Well, I hate to say it, but that's probably the easiest and safest way out of here, so what the hell, let's follow 'em." Bailey looked around for the other dead Zannonite's weapon, where he had gotten the rifle. "12 gauge, double-barreled, wide choke. It'll do." He slipped the rest of the poor bastard's ammo in his pocket and followed Jack and Y'ami.

[Khallos]

Khallos' men would have Hotfooted it to the surface, not really noticing the breadtrail that they were leaving behind them ,more focused on getting out of this hellish place - after all, Barbecuing mutant rats was only fun for so long, and they had a schedule to maintain.

"Ey'up lads!" Khallos said, pulling his helmet off as he headed over to the Meatwagon. "All packed up?" He peered into the dingy slaves quarters, at the cages stacked high on top of one another, filled with Zannonites or mutants and, in several cases, both. It seemed the mutants were waking up faster too - Bad news for the still sleeping and undeniably tasty Zannonites, but hey, it saved on food bills.

"Aye boss... Hehe, we fulfilled our quota in one raid, Thats pretty good!" Khallos raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Oh? Hehe, excellent.. right, anyway." He hopped down signaling for the others to raise the hatch on the back, the bulkhead slowly starting to raise up and seal the prisoners off from the outside world. "Lets get back to the outpost, eh? Heh, Beers on me, you guys earned it." He grinned, nodding to the pilot. "Take 'er away, Boys."

And, as the Meatwagon and the rest of the Convoy drove off, Khallos started to walk back to his van, MG slung over his shoulder, paying no mind to the unconscious Zannonites lying around.

"...And though i walk through the valley of death i fear no evil, for I'm the evilest damn bitch in the valley. Hehe."

[Ms. Cleo]

OOC: This is devolping into a VERY interesting story! Haven't come across an RP like this since the original IS.

"Damnit, I want my goddamn sword back!" I mourn the theft of my Kampilan as we come across a bat-like creature in the caves while on the breadcrumb trail.

Brandishing my Pakal knife, I slash at it discouragingly as it backs the three of us back into a cliff. I look down to see a misty, black abyss. Just as it readies an aerial swoop towards Bailey, Jack aims for its head and fires, and it falls to the floor and slumps over.

"Well that was easy."

Suddenly, it rears up and screeches, stabbing our ears with its piercing cry.

"Aaagh!" I yell while holding my ears shut. "Kill it! Kill it!"

Jack finishes it off, the final gunshot reverberating throughout the tunnels. Just when we think we're safe, we hear a faint screeching from somewhere further down one of the tunnels similar to the cry of the bat monster we just killed.

We then hear a distant flapping of wings, too numerous to discern what quantity, coming from all directions - up, down, left, right, the holes in the wall, that crevice inside the face of the cliff opposite. Everywhere but the tunnel the metal men escaped from.

"We gotta haul ass, dawgs."

[Scorpio]

We sprint after the trail, batting off the smaller bat things crawling out of the walls at evey turn.

"I think that's daylight."

We exit the caves in time to see a convoy of trucks and vans heading towards the horizon, the bat things mass at the cave exit, but then slink away from the light.

"So." I take a look around, we must have come out of a different side of the mountain. "Where the hell are we?"

[Khallos]

Khallos finally reached his Van, whistling idly and fumbling for a few moments for his keys, sticking them in the side-door and pulling it open. He didn't have to bother with Landmine security like the locals - partly because he was arrogant, but mainly because he knew that this van was worth more than he was to the Contessa. And rightly so, he mused.

Reaching for a nearby rag and giving the barrel of his MG a quick clean, Khallos started disassembling it - only to pause when he heard a batlike shrieking from over the next ridge. "...Hmm?"

[grigori]

"We're on the other side of the Mesa, I remember it when I drove up. My truck should be about a quarter mile that-a-way. " He points of vaguely to the right. "Problem is, where to go. I just came from somewhere I don't want to go back to... not a problem for you, of course, the locals here seem to like you just fine." Bailey grinned. "Well, I best be headin to my truck, I swear to God if they took my anti-tank gun..." He began walking, staggering slightly. He stopped.

"You dun need rides, do ya?"

[Ms. Cleo]

"Sure as shootin', I reckon." I patronize, my prejudice somewhat playfully eeking out a bit.

We head to Bailey's truck, while me and Jack debate about where's the best place to find our ride.

[Scorpio]

"Well, we could head back to Zanon". I suggest. "Take everything not bolted down. and find my truck on the way."

I look around trying to gain some direction.

"Probably that way. Maybe."

[grigori]

"Alright then. If I can just find the damn truck..." He continues walking along the cliff wall until he comes to an opening between to of the larger rock faces. Through it, about 500 meters away, is the pickup, sitting idly with it's contents intact. "Thank God. C'mon, guys, I know the way to Zannon from there." He enters the opening. "Speaking of it, what ever happened to the Zannonites? Those metal bastards would have had to run into them at one time or another..."

[Khallos]

Khallos would have started up his Van and headed off after the convoy boys, only taking the more "Scenic" route.. after all, he was supposed to be the more inconspicuous one. Speaking of which...

There was a group of 3 people walking down the road. Hmm. Slowing down a little, Khallos unrolled his windows, approaching them at around a running pace.. but not saying anything yet, just half leaning out and oggling them. After all, without his mechsuit (now safely stashed under the chassis) He wouldn't be recognisable...

[Ms. Cleo]

"No idea, but we should be on our guard. Trust me, us Zannonites don't go down this easily. All those guys in the cave were probably just pledges." I theorize while walking down a narrow pathway through the mountains to Zannon with Bailey and Jack. "They were actin' too stupid to be pro Zannonites."

"What's the difference?"

"There's 13 levels of Zannonites, each waaaay more powerful than the last: Talims, the amateur pledges we encountered in the caves. I don't even consider those retards Zannonites; the Galok, Zannonite grunts, the ones we've been figthing in town all day; Then there's the Ix, a highly-trained albeit ragtag cell of sergeants, renowned for their combat prowess and independence. They a hardcore bunch of muthaf*ckas. Each Zannonite outpost employs a handful of Ix."

"Wait, I thought you said this settlement was just a small group of outlaws." inquired Jack.

"Well umm...I haven't been totally honest with you Jack." I confess. "Actually, there's thousands of us."

I scratch my head awkwardly as Jack gives me a look.

"Yeah...anyways, as I was saying, after the Ix there's 6 higher levels of officer, I forget their titles. I just know they're a crapload more valourous and disciplined than the Ix. They're pale in comparison to these guys; next we got a stealthy and crafty level of Zannonites called Visayan, who utilize their advanced inventions against their enemies. They're sneaky litte bastards who we haven't encountered...yet; Kris, VERY dangerous hitmen; the Al Dhono Elite Guard, the guys designated to protect the Zannonite council. Al Dhonos are trained from birth to do just one thing--destroy. Bred to kill, not to care. Though they're house guards, they're employed in battle should the situation call for it. They's some f*ckin' super-soldiers or some shit. HOPE we never cross paths with them, or we're as good as dead. Trust me; Then finally we got the Dahons. No one knows about them. All I heard is that they're some f*ckin' experiments or sump'm, real death dealers."

"And before you just shrug and scoff 'whatever'," I caution Bailey and Jack about judging the Zannonites on the low-level peons we faced today, which would cause underestimation on their part. "Put it this way---I'm an Ix."

[grigori]

"Alright then... we'd better keep our eyes open. I already feel like we're being watched..." Bailey heard something at his 6. "Car!"

He raised his shotgun to his side as Khallos's vehicle moved up.

[Ms. Cleo]

OOC: Sorry, I edited my previous post like 4 times, cause I wasn't happy with it. It's final now, I promise.

IC:

The car screeched to a halt beside us. We go into defensive stances as the reflective window rolls down.

"Who're you, and where the hell did you come from?" I ask with my kampilan pointing at the man in the car.

[Scorpio]

I draw my revolver and point it through the open window.

"Hey, hold down guys, I know this guy from the last town."

I lower my gun.

"So how..." I didn't learn the guys name "You...been?"

[Khallos]

Khallos raised an eyebrow behind his mirrored glasses, eyeing the weapon interestedly... although, only in with the same interest a stamp collector has for the rare hungarian blue =P

"Hmm? Uhh, im Khallos..." He said, before looking over his shoulder for a moment and nodding. "...I came from back that way...." He turned back to the rather more polite gent. "Oh? Ohhh.. yeah. Hehehe. weren't you that guy who started that ruckus on mainstreet? Hehehe... I been ok... how bout you?" He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "That mess back there your work too?" Although.. odd, he was pointing AWAY from the zannonite settlement, not towards it...

[Ms. Cleo]

"What?" I demand agressively while pointing the blade towards his throat. "How'd you know the name of the clan?"

[grigori]

Oh damn...

Bailey checked his shotgun. There was no way this was gonna end well.

He something move out of the corner of his eye, near his truck. Nothing was there when he looked over, but he was damn sure he still felt like he was being watched. No, this wasn't gonna end well, but probably not because of Khallos.

[Scorpio]

"Guys, could we all calm down for a minute?"

I didn't feel like getting in any more fights today. I holster my revolver.

[Khallos]

OOC: What? Dude, whats going on x.x I never mentioned the name of the clan, i just jerked a thumb over my shoulder towards it...

[Ms. Cleo]

OOC: Ok, this is a problem. So like, should I edit it?

[Khallos]

OOC: Yeah, might be an idea... Heh.

[Ms. Cleo]

OOC: Screw it, pretend it never happened.

drkhallos said:

He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "That mess back there your work too?" Although.. odd, he was pointing AWAY from the zannonite settlement, not towards it...

"...They started it." I retort in a bratty tone before pointing my Kampilan down from the guy.

"So," I sigh as I sheath the blade. "What brings ya out here, anyways?" I inquire nonchalantly while barring my hands and stretching out my arms upwards, the night sky radiating an eerie orange illuminosity from the fires raging in Zannon.

[Khallos]

Khallos laughed again at the mans little comment. "Hehe, oh? Violence is not the answer, mate..." He paused a moment, wiping his nose with the back of his gloved hand and giving a sniff. "Me? Im just passin' through is all on me way tah the next bar... but, hrmm. Oi decided to stop and take in the view. Well.." He glanced into the back of his junk filled van. "...And pick up a few things. Waste not want not, after all..."

Khallos glanced towards the settlement and raised an eyebrow, cocking his head a little. "...Now i know that aint no sunset... them folks is gonna be mighty sorry when the raiders descend down this place." He sniffed again, "Apparently" Having not passed through the Zannonite settlement yet. "...So whaddya you guys doing out in the back 'o beyond?"

[Ms. Cleo]

"With all due respect sir, that ain't nun a ya goddamn business." I snap kinda politely, still not trusting the man or his motives. "But we'd certainly appreciate a lift to the other side of the mountain so we can get to Jack's truck."

A distant rumbling and echoing shouts give foresight to approaching raiders attracted by the fires. It should take them a little while to navigate the hills up to Zannon, but time is still precious.

[Scorpio]

"So how about it Khall?"

My truck better be untouched.

[grigori]

"Alright guys... I'm gonna go get my truck."

Bailey walked began walking towards it, about 50 yards away. He thought he saw more movement, but when he looked he could only see rocks among the cliff walls.

Must be my imagination. Or the desert heat. Or both.

It put him at unease though. He shouted over to the others, who were still talking.

"Hey guys! You okay over there?"

At that moment he saw the movement again, close to his right side among the rocks. He fired his shotgun, hitting the rock, and felt a large whoosh go by his head as a bullet streamed by, hearing the shot a split-second later.

"AMBUSH!"