John

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

The door opens from Milliways onto the tumbletown ruins of what used to be an industrial area on the fringes of Arlington. The temperature is summertime-warm, the air dry; the last rains to pass through here are long since gone. Overhead, a scavenger bird or two circles, visible only to people who know what they're looking for. A breeze listlessly stirs the air, kicking up brief dust-devils along the shattered ruin of the local roads. Beyond that, the place is quiet in the way that only emptiness can bring.

"This is where I came in," Ellen says over her shoulder. "Like I mentioned the other day, it's about a day's travel to the Fort Bannister region from here. There's still some pre-war asphalt laid down here but pretty soon it all gives way to open sand and scrub. The nearest radiation source is a hundred yards northeast of here, and we're not going in that direction, so unless my Geiger counter goes off without warning we should be all right."

Comments

Re: Team Delta

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I was assuming we would try to work the concrete off in the process of getting his stuff," Ellen says. "There's not much use for armor without one leg."

Re: Team Delta

[aeons_crackshot]

"True enough," Annabelle replies. "We ought to be able to move it, between the two of us."

Re: Team Delta

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"You had better not get stupid now of all times," Ellen says sternly to the man as she moves to get a grip on the concrete. "I'm just saying."

"I won't! I won't! I promise! I'll be good! I'll go north and- and- I'll leave the Wasteland! I promise!"

"Good. Keep that up," Ellen says, and gestures to Annabelle to join in when she feels she can.

Re: Team Delta

[aeons_crackshot]

It's amazing the kind of temporary reform that can be induced by the potential of violent death and seeing your commander turned into green goo.

Annabelle's ribs twinge as they maneuver the concrete off his leg. "I think if we just move it a bit this way...." she says to Ellen.

Re: Team Delta

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Ellen nods, and there is some grunting and heaving, and eventually the concrete is heaved off.

The Talon immediately starts taking off his armor on his own and handing it over. If it gets him out of here alive? He's about ready to do anything these women say.

"Once we're done with this, we're going to get that woman out," Ellen murmurs. "And then we're going topside."

Re: Team Delta

[aeons_crackshot]

Cooperation is his best bet for survival at this point, no doubt about that.

"That sounds good to me," Annabelle says in response. She's still keeping an eye on the mercenary, just in case he has a sudden attack of fatally stupid.

Re: Team Delta

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Fortunately, he doesn't. He looks, in fact, as if he's had quite enough today. Also as if he needs to change the shorts he had on beneath his combat armor.

Ellen just shakes her head and gestures towards the doors; they're all getting out of here together, just in case.