Chapter 44: Duo

Chapter 44: Duo

Nico placed a hand on the rope she kept at her waist. Its my job to bring you back to Potts, not let you galavant around pretending to be a hero.

I shook my head. Im not being a hero, Im being a Marshall. Thisll earn me points. Besides, were starting to get pretty close to Potts as it is. What if these raiders switch tactics from laying traps to ambushing Undertakers?

Nico took her hand off the lasso and picked at her teeth. I could see the wheels turning, but I was also pretty certain I had her convinced. There was a reason she chose to be a postman, rather than staying in Potts. She was like me. Liked the action, couldnt bear to stand still for too long. She just happened to be a bit more grounded about it than I am. Still, if I could give her even a half-decent reason to go for a scrap, or trek through an unknown deadzone, shed take it.

Ill send you half the points I earn

She let out a reluctant sigh. Fine. Lets do it.

I fought back a smile, thinking that if she saw one she might change her mind, and instead just nodded. We began walking toward the coordinates theyd given us. Each of us keeping our senses open and scanning to ensure that the trap wouldnt be sprung earlier than the coordinates. Eventually, we found ourselves off the main path we were taking through deadzones and down to a series of side roads that worked their way off an old exit and through several small neighborhoods.

We were nearly to the point wed been given on the radio when I started to smell the scent of gunpowder. I looked over at Nico who nodded at me. She pulled a small pistol out of her jacket that had a silencer on it, and held a combat knife in her other hand. We began circling around the point carefully. It was in the center of a cul-de-sac, and so we found ourselves weaving through dead trees in a wide circle around it until we started to find our targets.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

There were a number of women arrayed on the rooftops, all with their guns ready, but laying down and generally at ease. I counted around a dozen, and a few more were in the center, looking unarmed and friendly, but I could smell the gunpowder on them from where I stood. I looked to Nico to start picking targets with her, and found that she was already gone.

I didnt bother looking around for her, if she didnt want to be found she wouldnt be. I decided instead to pick my own targets. I moved to the nearest of the houses quickly and quietly, drawing my sword. I figured I could take a few of them out before the others were alerted.

I nodded and began going body to body, picking up ammo, usable weapons, and a few other odds and ends as I went. I received the usual notification,

Excellent work Marshall! Youve successfully performed a secondary goal of your job Combat! Youve earned 60 Patriot Points!

I shot thirty of the points to Nico. Shed earned them. All of the bodies that were surrounding the house Id taken cover in had their throats cleanly slit, or a single bullet wound to the heart or head. Overall shed actually done more of the work than I had. I felt a little embarrassed at that. Id just recently been in situations fighting giant mutant bears and assaulting a heavily defended compound, yet the first time I worked with a fellow deadman theyre the ones doing the heavy lifting. That being said I knew that If Id gone in guns blazing I was sure I would have outperformed Nico, even before becoming a Marshall I was better in a straight up fight than she was. Nico never got into a fight like that though, more cautious than I was, more suited to the shadows.

I finished my looting, noting as I did that almost all of the women had a small tattoo of a spider somewhere on their person. It looked like there was a new gang in play in the wastes. The tactics they used reminded me of the encounter Id had with Angela on our way to the black woods. I could only guess how many foolish men theyd managed to kill and rob so far.

Once Nico was done, I led the way back to the route wed been taking. I felt refreshed overall. There had been a time not too long ago when I wouldnt have taken an unnecessary risk like that, but things were different now. After I was done in Potts, whatever decisions they made or lectures they gave me, I didnt see myself reverting any time soon.

When we were back on the route, Nico and I exchanged some gear based on what type of ammo we used, or what we thought was worth more points.

So you get sixty points for every combat?

I nodded. More for completing investigations. Those tend to be a lot trickier though.

A class that rewards getting into fights. Seems youve found your calling.