NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Bargain
At Burton's office, Burton is sitting on his couch, smoking a cigar, before he grabs the picture frame which holds a photograph of James, and Shawn as children. He gives a warm smile.
Burton: My boys. I pray that you're safe.
His radio buzzes as Zeus Soldier calls him.
Zeus Corps Soldier: Sir, I have rumors saying that Sergeant Barnes has destroyed Cratersville.
Burton gives a distraught look. The scene transitions to Burton angrily walks into Barnes' office as Ryan is in there, yelling at him as well. Barnes is standing against the wall with his arms crossed.
Burke: I told you we need my brother alive!
Barnes: Oh, relax, Doc! Old coot wasn't even there.
Burton: But my brother and son were. Did you ever think of that? You disobeyed a direct order!
Barnes: I'm pretty sure they made it. Hell, I mean...they may have not...they are low class....
Burton: "you're pretty sure they made it". What about Desipich?
Barnes: As for Desipich, he attacked our own soldiers to defend the wastelanders in that town....as far as I know, he's dead. In a world like this, family doesn't matter...I learned that when I killed one of my brothers....yeah.....now there's just two of us left.....
Barnes smiles.
Barnes: And I'd do it again if I had to...for this world....for this company..... I'm loyal to this company and its rules, unlike you and the doctor here.
Ryan: What the hell are you talking about?
Barnes goes to the desk and grabs a disk.
Barnes: Courtesy of the Prime Kronos Facility. It shows surveillance footage from all of the Kronos Facilities....even the inside....amazing.....I got a look at it and part of me...wanted to puke.....
Barnes inserts into the player as the video shows Ryan and Burton in the facility's computers. It also shows them hacking the capsule to Dante's pod.
Barnes: like I said, I'm loyal. I get it though, doc. It's your brother after all.
Ryan and Burton are shocked that Barnes has figured out about their deviancy and betrayal.
Burton: Sergeant, as your superior office, I'm telling you to give me that disk and walk away.
Barnes: And as your Commander, General, I believe I outrank you.
Burton: "Commander"? What?
Barnes: I forgot to mention.....the Prime Administrator had me promoted...and you two (Walks up to Burton and removes his medals) fired. You are no longer in command of the Zeus Corps Military.....it's mine now.
Barnes turns to Ryan.
Ryan: Take all your toys and leave this facility.
Before Ryan can speak, another Zeus soldier and Epps walk in and grab Burton and Ryan on the shoulder.
Barnes: It's tragic. You two would risk your jobs for a fucking old man, your big brother, who you say could be the cure of the world. Yet, you feel sorry for the world.....the world has killed itself, doc....something tells me....you won't last out there...
Barnes to Soldiers.
Barnes: Get them out of my sight.
Epps: Yes, sir. Dr. Fenix. Mr. Burton.
Epps smirking.
Epps: Sorry about this "sir".
Ryan and Burton are escorted out as Barnes sits in his chair with his feet on the table. Meanwhile, in the ruins of the city, at a barricaded small town, a man is sitting post guard with a rifle. The sign on the barricade is labeled "shit-canned". He suddenly hears a noise near some bushes and aims his rifle at the bushes.
Shit-Canned Guard: Hey! If you're a Blood Hog or human, speak now! Otherwise, I'll blow your fucking head off!
A hand is raised from the bushes as Kyle steps out with his gun in the air.
Kyle: Hey! Hey! Relax! Whoa, man! It's just me, man!
The Shit-Canned guard smiles upon recognizing Kyle.
Shit-Canned Guard: Desipich! Fuck, man.....
The Shit-Canned Guard lowers rifle.
Shit-Canned you almost got your fucking head blown off...Blood Hogs past here a few days ago and---
Kyle: Look, I'd love to talk, but uh....
Dante, Killen, Sarah, Walter, Bart, Ashley, James, Colin, Jacob, Nora, Nathan and Justin step out of the bushes.
Nora: Hi....
Walter: Sup.
Shit-Canned Guard: Hey, these guys don't look like soldiers...
Kyle: They're not....where's Oden?
Shit-Canned Guard: O-Dog? in town. Usual spot. Go on in.
The guard pulls on a lever that opens the gate as the Cratersville survivors enters town. The pedestrians stares at the Cratersville survivors walking in town.
Shit-Canned Pedestrian # 1: Your guns won't help you out here, asshole.
Shit-Canned Pedestrian # 2: hey! Hey, dog! I'm talking to you, doggy!
Bart: Blow me!
Killen: Let it go, Bart.
Bart: The fuck are you? My dad?
Kyle: Bart, is it? Word to the wise of someone of your mentally, right especially to the likes of you. These guys in this town are old gang members, drug dealers.....bloods, crips, GDS. So if I suggest you keep that "nigger" shit in your head cause that's the shit that will get your ass whooped...or killed. Then again, go ahead and call one of these guys that. Cause honestly I'd love to see a white inbred racist piece of shit like yourself get shot.
Bart: I wasn't being funny.
Colin: Bart, dude, seriously, shut the hell up. We've already got someone overhearing you.
Nathan: do you think this Oden guy will help us?
Kyle: For his sake, he damn well better, but whatever you do, don't shoot...these guys really don't give a damn that we have a minor with us.
Dante: what do mean?
Kyle: Ashley's under age.....another thing too (noticing an approaching drug addict) keep your caps close.
The drug addict approaches the Cratersville Survivors.
Drug Addict: Hey! Hey! Desipich! Man! How you doin-
Kyle: Get the hell out of my way, Melvin.
Drug Addict: No. No. No. It's-it's my son, man. I need to get him something that costs a few caps. You wouldn't happen to have any, would you, bro? Please.
Kyle: I do, but I'm not giving you any and neither are my group.
Drug Addict: C'mon, man. Please.
Kyle: What? So you can fuck me over and buy heroine again? Screw off.
Drug Addict: Please. Man. I-I'm beggin you from the bottom of my heart, bro. I'll pay you back.
Kyle: (sighs and then pulls out a knife, putting it to the Drug Addicts throat) You owe money to Oden. That's not my problem. I have a business with Oden. So if I have to slit your throat and leave you bleeding out in the damn street, so be it. I'm going to say this once.....get out the fucking way.
Drug Addict: Come on, bro. Please.
Kyle pushes the Drug Addict out of the way as the Cratersville survivors proceed as the Drug Addict tries to talk to the group, but is ignored. Dante stops.
Drug Addict: Hey. Do you have any caps, bro? Please!
Kyle: Dante!
Dante walks over to the group as he speaks to Kyle.
Dante: We should've given him some caps.
Kyle: You can't be serious.
Dante: I am.
Kyle stops as he walks over to Dante.
Kyle: Look, man. I've been coned once and I'm not going to fall for it again. That bag of shit or in his case, meth, is a goddamn liar. His son is dead and his baby mother won't give him the caps he owes to Oden, who will kill him if he doesn't pay in time. He's a goddamned liar.
Dante: We should've given him a chance at least.
Kyle: Old man, you want to give your caps to a druggie, be my guest, but we need those caps to get the truck.
A moment.
Kyle: I thought not.
The Cratersville group walks away.
Killen: See what I mean? Soldier types are outright dicks.
Kyle: I heard that.
Nathan walks up to Kyle as they talk.
Nathan: Let's get one thing straight, dude. I don't trust you and if you try anything to betray me or this group, I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your head.
Kyle: Your dad was brave. I'm sorry for your loss.
Nathan: Don't let this situation fool you. We're not friends, soldier.
The Cratersville survivors still move through the town. They spot a drunk talking to them and pedestrian selling dead animals such as rats, squirrels and rabbits. Sarah and Nora look away in disgust. The group spots a man sitting down on some wreckage and socializing with others. The Cratersville Survivors walk by both injured guards as they then walk over to Oden's throne and approaches him.
Dante: You got this, man?
Kyle: Of course, I do. I won't let you guys down.
Oden: see that's the shit niggas want to deal with, but you see-
Oden spots Kyle and stands up.
Oden: Hey! Desipich! Burton! What ya'll doin here, man?
No supply drops in the few weeks, dog. I'll let you know if I heard anything....
Oden then whispers to Kyle.
Oden: I don't want people seeing me with you, a'ight? Doesn't make me look good on business days, especially with Zeus Corps Soldiers, you know what I'm sayin, nigga?
Kyle: give me that truck of yours and I'll give you 500 caps.
Oden: Say what? Be for real, man.
Colin: We're serious. We need it to get to California. We just got our town blown up.
Oden: Was that what the explosion was, nigga? Sorry to hear ya'll motherfuckers having problems, G, but I'm not giving you my ride, yo.
Oden turns, but Kyle grabs him by the jacket.
Kyle: You owe us! owe me! for Howardson! It's time for you to pay up that favor, right now!
Oden's guards cock their guns back as Dante, Colin, Nathan and Walter pull out their weapons.
James: Oh, shit.
Ashley: Uh, hey, is this part of the plan?
Nora: Dude, seriously, let's just fucking go.
Oden raises his hand as his men stand down. Kyle releases Oden as Dante, Colin, Nathan and Walter lend down their weapons.
Oden: All right....all right, nigga, shit, I'll do it. One condition though: make it 1000 and you go get the truck. Yo group stays here as back up. We just ran out of men a few days ago and we could use the extra ammo, man.
Nathan: 1000 caps?! are you fucking high?!
James: And we stay here? With your group?
Oden: Hey, nigga, these are yo problems. Not mine. 1000, motherfuckas. Take it or leave it. Unless, y'all are willing to sell us one of these white girls here. (looks at Ashley) I mean this little here.
Nathan: The fuck is wrong with you, man?! This is my goddamn sister! She's a kid!
Oden: relax, man. I'm just fucking with you. I ain't no pedophile.
Nathan aggressively advances at Oden, but is restrained by Colin and Walter.
Walter: Dude, we not here to start a fight that we can't win, man. Just chill!
Nathan: Well, we don't half a thousand caps.
Sarah: Well, I do....
Sarah pulls out a bag of caps.
Nathan: That bag is so we can move to a different place.
Sarah: Nathan.... I think at this rate we have to do anything to get us to that factory....
Kyle: Done.
Oden: And what about them? They staying?
A short pause.
Kyle: Of course.
Walter: What the fu-?
Nathan: What the hell?!
Kyle: Told you I had a plan.
Kyle winks to Nathan.
Oden: My caps-
Kyle: are staying with me in case you try something. I'll get your truck. Keys?
Oden hands Kyle the keys to his truck.
Oden: You got smart over the years, nigga.
Kyle: Glad you noticed. So where is it?
Oden: In the city and Merrit's gas station. Why don't you go fetch it?
Oden laughs, before Kyle turns to the group.
Kyle: It's just temporary.
Nathan: Better fucking be.
Kyle: Don't worry. This truck was his getaway.....Killen, Dante and I will go get the truck.
Killen: I'm sorry. What?
Dante: Yeah, what?
Killen: Why us, man?
Kyle: I'm not going to get in the fucking dark alone...and I need someone to watch my back.
Killen: Fuck.
Dante whispers to Killen.
Dante: you sure about this?
Killen: Don't worry. We'll be fine.
Justin: I'll go with you guys.
Kyle: We don't need a forth wheel, asshole.
Justin: Yeah.....I just don't feel like standing around waiting for something to happen.
Kyle: Fuck it....strength in numbers.
Dante, Kyle, Justin and Killen head towards the exit as the Shit-Canned Gate closes.
Jacob: This is bullshit.
James: Good plan.
Nathan: You being serious or sarcastic?
James: Both.
Colin: Hey, have some faith. He'll get us out of this.
James: Why do you trust him, man?
Colin: Because trust is something he's earned, James. Something you don't have.
James: Are you fucking serious, man? You'd trust a Zeus Corps soldier over your own nephew?
Nathan: Hey, you two. Enough. All we can do is wait and hopefully pray that Desipich's plan works.
Walter: Yo, his plan blows.
Walter catches a drug addict attempting to take his pistol.
Walter: Hey! Get the fuck off my gun, man!
Walter punches the Drug Addict in the face, scaring him away.
Walter: Fuck is wrong with you?!
Nora: This is going to be a long night.