FFF - Road Warriors

Chastity hits the pavement hard and you slam into the side of a rusted car. You black out for a second, then come to, seeing QT zapping another bandit. You reach for your rifle, but find it in pieces.

Chastity isn’t moving. Groaning, you roll onto your back. Everything hurts.

A burly bandit erupts from behind QT, hitting her with a shoulder check that throws her against another car. Her laser pistol hits the ground with a crackle, breaking. He grabs her hair and slams her face against the metal, raising his spear to plunge it into her back.

You lift your magnum and thumb back the hammer. He hears the click and looks. Your hand is shaking, but you won’t miss at twenty feet. The shot is loud and the recoil is heavy, sending shockwaves up your arm. The bandit falls with a scream. You shoot him a second time, and that quiets him down.

QT rushes to Chastity and grabs the Glock, alert for more enemies.

But all you hear is ringing in your ears from the shooting. You groan again. QT rolls Chastity over and checks her.

“She’s alive,” she reports. That’s a relief.

You hiss in pain as you sit up, picking the tiny .32 slug from your vest and tossing it aside. Something’s wrong. You’re hurt, but not by the bullet. It was the impact. It hurts to breathe. You can move, but it’s not good. Your hand is skinned by your landing, too.

You drag yourself upright and lean against a car, keeping a lookout with your magnum while QT takes care of Chastity, but there’s not much you can do for her. She has a cut on her head, but it’s the knock to her head that’s the real problem. QT bandages your hand. She’s not hurt, at least.

“We have to get her to shelter,” you groan, your eyes on Chastity.

“You can’t even get yourself to shelter. I don’t think anything’s broken, but you should be resting,” QT says. “Here. Use this.” She offers you an inhaler.

“What is it?”

“Does it matter? You need it.”

You roll your eyes and use the inhaler. It does nothing for the pain, but you do feel more energetic. You sense that this drug will help you heal more quickly.

[ Chem – TOUGH GUY: Recover from wounds faster. Temporary endurance boost. Temporary libido boost. Has side effects if you are addicted. ]

This is necessary to move Chastity, but before that, you need to see what you can scavenge. You survived that ambush without casualties, but you are done in for the day. This will cost you time. Your rifle is destroyed and so is QT’s laser pistol. Your Kevlar has taken some damage, but should still provide some protection to your thorax.

The bandit on the overpass had a usable hunting rifle. You take that and give QT your magnum. That one female bandit’s .32 revolver will have to be your sidearm for the time being. The bandits being poorly equipped allowed you to win the fight, at least. They have some chems and caps, but little else. No more grenades.

QT says that the bandits should have a hideout somewhere. You find it under the overpass: a metal door that leads down some steps to a few connected concrete rooms. The space is sparsely furnished, but there are tables and mattresses to sleep on. It doesn’t smell good, but it’s shelter. There’s water here, and some food that makes your Pip Girl’s Geiger counter click feverishly.

The chem allows you to help QT carry Chastity into the hideout and put her on a mattress. You secure the door, unstrap your Kevlar, peel off your sweaty Vault Suit, and sink into a creaky chair with a sigh, mindful of your bruises. QT does the same. She takes a drink of water from a canteen, then hands it to you. You drink and look at Chastity, who lies in the glow of a few candles.

Things aren’t great. But you’re all still alive.