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Top of 22W4-Q7BE-H2-3G4E Settlement.
High walls covered the dilapidated settlement, It had a single castle of steel in the middle of the settlement, stainless black walls reaching as high as 20 meters and the big black gate, decorated with frost-wolf insignia, that could be seen from the main gates of settlement to the steel castle.
This was the home of the leader of the settlement. Just seeing such paradise on this hell made one envious of the status of those living there.
The wolf insignia was proof that the leader has killed one of the mutated beast, frost-wolf, even if it one of the weakest, it was still a mutated beast. This insignia was the proof of the leader's strength, and hence his ability to lead others in this hell.
Dog like mutated beast were chained near the steel castle, they were kept to keep away the unwanted visitors away. Even though they are weak in combat, they have a sleek and strong body with the highest olfactory senses, long paws, sharp claws, excellent eyesight and a sense of hearing. It is a war beast that powerful people liked to keep to show their mightiness, even though they can't even hunt for themself without a pack, but is particularly suitable for tracking. They were called screamers, they were known to produce different high pitched sounds when they were found the prey or were calling for help.
All the other buildings were patched-up mix-match shacks such that a building may be made of huge pieces of rusting metal pieces, something like plastic or polymer, even huge machines hollowed out, to work as a house.
Several vehicles could be seen along the road. All had different degrees of modification, but one common thing among them was that no vehicle had wheels. they were all using levitation technology.
The settlement covered an area of at least 6 kilometers and made on alleviated land. It had three faces, maybe to decrease the number of sides to defend. One one side a steep slope of about 5 meters, which added to the height of wall was facing the . The blanch color on the steel walls, due to splashing of blood, time and time again had made the walls seem brown. Though the huge walls didn't seem very illustrious, they gave a feeling of safety and security.
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Top of the wall.
peew..peew .. peew
Laser guns were being continuously being fired, from top of the wall of the settlement.
Wall of the settlement was the only other buildup other than the central manor, to be fully made properly, that is, it was not a mix-match of multiple articles, such as other shacks in the settlement.
"John, John, get me extra batteries and some coolant fast, " Mack Shouted in his p-com.
peew..peew .. peew
"Aaaah"
peew..peew .. peew
"Shit the venom hit Hal," someone shouted in com.
"Medic, Medic," Gunner shouted.
"Shit, shit, shit"
peew..peew .. peew
peew..peew .. peew
"John, fu*king John, wherein the nine hells are you. My gun is overheating, you retard, Get here asap, " Shouted Mack in his p-com.
"I am coming, just a sec. There are no extra guns left in the extras, just use someone's else," John's voice crackled in p-com back.
"You fu*king telling me, to use a dead man,s equipment," shouted Mack.
His face turning shades of color in excessive anger, change in breathing.
A young man around 22-23 can be seen running up the stairs, carrying a huge backpack on his shoulders, while his hand was full, holding different items. This was John.
"Old man, don't waste time, just through away the rifle-of-a-bomb in your hand, if you don't wanna die in as a glorious human fireball. A heating laser rifle is no longer a rifle, but a time bomb," shouted John on in his p-com. "Take any gun or bombs from dead and use them, you are no longer a half-elite, say about chivalry if you can make it out alive after this wave."
"Even a child wants to teach me now, how low have I fallen," grunted mack, as his voice crackled in p-com.
John stepped over the last steps in a lightning-fast manner and reached the top of the wall. Without even looking sideways, or catching his break he continued towards the left of the main gate on the eastern side, where mack was stationed.
The walls were covered with hundreds of people and at least tens of body, though it was not crowded, you had to watch out for those down the wall, and their venom.
This was a reality for those not living in the city. They had to brave frequents waves of those things. John was also like them, born and bred under such conditions in fire and blood. Living in such conditions brings that wild flair in your bearing, that makes you charming to the girls at their age in city, but to those living wasteland, oh sorry vast land as called by those living in cities, it was just brutality of day to day life.
Filing your stomach with good food, 2-times a day and drinking less radiated water, living to see sun next day is already a blessing, and visiting a woman to spend your lonely night and relief stress. Who cares about how you look or have the time for such a thing.
"Old man, what are you doing, just pick up the gun from Brian, just pick up his gun, or do you wanna die," shouted John almost hysterically, when he saw a bending Mack hesitating over if he wants to pick up the gun, next to dead Brian."Old man, I will myself kill you, if they cut the income over you wasting time, by standing still".
While shouting at the middle-age man, John reached Mack's position and dumped all the things he was carrying.
Hearing John, Mack no longer hesitated, and picked up the laser rifle and returned to shooting those things down the wall.
"I have brought all the remaining batteries no matter what, from the armory, even the grandest, venom gas grenades, inflammatory medicines, laser, and venom medi-kit," said John, removing the backpack from his shoulders. "I have also brought two 5-liters and several 1-liters coolants pack."
After looking left and right and observing, the situation stretched and warmed-up.
John sneakingly observed those around himself, dead more than alive to see if they had something valuable, while also keeping a lookout for captains.
Captains were only so in name, they were just the lowest level dogs of the central manor, but during attack-waves such as now, they had authority over punishment squads.
Punishment squads were authoritarian and mostly had huge influences, at least in lower level settlers in this settlement, and they had the authority to determine the life and death of those on walls in attack-waves. They were an execution squad for deserters.
John noticed that at least 6 people were lying atop the walls unmoving nearby. Just as he was deliberating over if should move over and collect some trophies, he saw the man next to old Mack giving him a sly look.
The man moved his hand to side and showed him three fingers on his hand. Seeing the gesture, John almost cursed out aloud, the bugger wanted 30% of spoils, by just standing over there.
John furiously shook his head and showed his five fingers on his right hand, meaning to say that he was only going to give just 5% to him.
The man on the side didn't get angry, just made two and then five with his fingers, meaning 25%.
But John was not going to taken advantage of, he changed his fingers to show six, meaning 6%, and so the negotiation continued. After John reached 13%, he didn't back down stubbornly and at last, the man agreed.
After a successful negotiation, John made his move. His pair of hands came to life, such that his hands were making miracles.
His hands moved comparable to pros and cleared all the six bodies in no time. Fast as lightning he moved all his fruits near Mack.
Mack saw all this from the corner of his eyes, disgust could be seen in his eyes, but he did not move to stop or berate him.
John also saw the disgust in Mack's eye, but he didn't stop or even hesitate a bit. John was born in the lowest strata and seen all kinds of darkness in life. He was not high and mighty like Mack, even if previously, and hence no reservation to even defile or loot from the dead bodies.
John's eyes were gleaming while calculating his spoils. Though most of the armor had been corroded, two were still fine. He got 5 working and 1 somewhat damaged compound-hand computers. They will sell like hotcakes. A lot of guns, batteries, grenades, and bottles of coolant. But most important of all was, that he even got a pocket watch with chain, 'hehehehe, this will sell for a lot,' thought John.