This is no Zombie Apocalypse, this is the kind of Apocalypse where civilization collapse to Anarchy. Terrorists that successfully created the lawless world.
Governments from various sectors failed to defeat the terrorists and the end they got either get them killed or forced them to ally to the terrorists.
The world has been terraformed with lumber and oil largely drained until economy collapse. The once necessities are now valuable products such as meat and vegetables. The united currency are now bottled purified water.
Bottled purified water can only be made by people that have access to water purifiers that purify contaminated water around the world. After all, the anarchists and opportunists didn't care about the environment that caused the water to be contaminated with various disease carrying bacteria. It is still possible to barter with other products, just that bottle purified water is the very important necessity that it became the most valuable than any other products.
Million population have died from cholera. Million population have died in wars. The world continues to deteriorate as civilization continues to ruin it.
As for living in slow life, in this world it sucks. To effectively farm is to have good quality soil and water. To effectively ranch you need a farm. To effectively earn money you need both ranch and farm. To buy the stuff that you need you need to earn money from your ranch and your farm. And you cannot exactly do it peacefully with opportunists wasters roaming around.
"Shucks, don'tcha had in yer mind dat surviving tis trashy planet need to have weapons? No?"
This is the introductory of this chapter's protagonist, Hale Timberborn. Age around his 20s, has decent height around 6' and just have enough weight to sustain himself. Personality wise, he basically lost his mind since he HAD to work to survive. He is lazy in nature but knowing doing nothing leads to death and dying is not in his bingo card, Hale forced himself to work. Him doing what makes him uncomfortable decrease his mood to the point he got snarky. He is addicted to cocaine so usually he has some with him.
Hale works as a grunt. He is working with an Underboss doing manual labors like construction or transport. He gets daily payment of coals or alcohol, which are used for purifying water and cooking suspicious meat. He can't deny that this job sucks.
Hale wears a red jumpsuit, some leather paddings, and carries around a baton for self defense. He can only use a firearm if one of his job requires him to, like bodyguard. Ever since he started being a grunt in his prime age of 18, Hale gained much more experience fighting off the world's unforgiving elements and nefarious characters that wanted him dead. His specialty is lockpicking and awareness.
Lockpicking was one of his first thing he learned from his teenage years as an urchin. Stealing for chump change of scraps he could eat. He hated doing that for survival so his morality was considerably damaged. Awareness was from him being constantly being vigilant around his surroundings, often spotting treasures that are hidden under rubbles. These two skills combined ensures that in his travel when he comes across abandoned loot boxes, he could easily lockpick them and get what are inside.
His reputation is considered low considering he has been doing this job for a long time. That is to say, by his nature, chooses easy jobs that have low risk management, such as scavenge hunts.
Here is how he is now involved of this chapter's story.
One day, in a barren wasteland, a group of looters drive around searching for supplies they were asked to obtain by any means necessary. They drive in a jeepney, the one vehicle that is capable traversing the grainy ground.
One guy asked, "What it we looking what?" The driver answered, "Bloodly hell I know. Might be cogs for all I care." The guy wielding a combat pistol ordered, "Client said no questions asked. We do this or we don't gey payroll." All agreed.
They eventually stopped in ruins where they could find what they need. The armed man said, "If you see a teensy weensy box, bring it back here. The box should have tree on it or something." All nod and begin searching throughout the rubbles.
One particular guy seems to have some idea. He quietly sneaks some of the parts like bolt nuts into his pouch. "Hey! Watcha doing there weirdo?" asked the curious scavenger. The one collecting the nuts said, "I'm diggin ya fool. I lift tis metal outta here." It is believable so the curious scavenger didn't question it. He then asked, "Do ya need help with tat?" He then replied, "Yes, come and help me with this."
They begin rummaging the debris. While they are doing this, the scavenger introduces themselves. "Names Durran Hamilton, wanna share yers?" he politely asked. "Names Hale Timberborn."
They're hallway done with the rummaging. Durran asked, "So, have ya heard tat Misollini's been done by raiders?" Hale seems to have heard about that rumor. Lately, because of the fallen ecomomy, the resources are now free for all for the taking. And most corporate sectors chose to monopolize such resources that weakened the community under their heels. He isn't surprised by the fact that uncontented people chose to fight back against the corrupt tyrants.
But the fact that the community called Misollini has been fallen meant that the raiders killed people and looted all the resources. Its an never ending cycle of stealing. "The twats wil have ther buttz get bitten by karma." said Hale sarcastically.
They finally finished rummaging through the pile of trash. Both of them smiled. "Wat bloody luck is tis?" said Durran while holding a certain object. A small box with a tree logo on it. Looking closer, Hale noticed that the box has a crank. His smile turns to a frown. "Ya goof, tat aint wat we want. Tat's a toy." said Hale to Durran. Durran's eyebrow is raised and asked, "How do ya know tat?"
Hale holds the box and inspects it. Fiddling around with the crank, the box lets out a tune. Durran lets out a weak giggle. "We waste time wit tat thing." said Durran. Hale looks around and he is positive so he said, "It certainly aint here. Let's look elsewhere."
They leave their searching spot when suddenly, shouts that said, "Guns!".
They're followed by actual gunshots. Hale and Durran are in trouble since they're in scavenging mission and they aren't allowed to use guns for protection. "We need Captain right now." said Durran. "C'mere." said Hale. Hale picks a wall that they can crouch walk under.
Gunshots still ring out. "They must hav found Captain. Wat bad luck." said Durran with nervousness. Hale replied, "Don't act so down yer doofus. We can sneak by dem."
They do in fact have batons forged with crude steel. They're light weight disposable weapons that can break someone's bones with one good swing.
"Move slow. Don't get spotted." said Hale. They went to corner and heard some stomping sounds. Enemy or ally. Hale points to the other corner and says that someone should lay in wait. That someone is Dorren. Dorren nods and goes in position. Few seconds later, someone shows up and its a stranger wielding a crude slugger, a handcraft pistol cannon that launches metal slugs.
Hale grabs the stranger before they could react. The grapple is successful and the stranger tries to break free. Dorren swings his baton across the stranger's face, shattering their jaw and cheekbone. Dorren frequently bashes the stranger with the pommel until their face is completely crushed. Hale lets go and the stranger drops dead to the ground. "Bloodly hell Dorren. Don'tcha hit wildly wit yer dam stick. Ya almost hit me." said Hale, complaining that he felt the force of the blow while holding the stranger down. "It worked aint it? Don be a pussy boi. We best leave tis place." said Dorren as he picks up the crude slugger.
"Next time, I will be the one doin the killin." said Hale. Dorren shrugs his shoulders. Now that they have the means to defend themselves from a distance, they decide to find the jeepney. Perhaps some of their team might have arrived safely, or so they thought.
While sneaking around, they see a peculiar body that they find familiar. "Dam, Ross died. His babe will be depressed as hell." mumbled Dorren. While Dorren isn't looking, Hale manages to grab Ross' radio and stuffed it in his sling pack. "Sorry bud, but I need tis more than ya do." said Hale in his mind. He looks at Dorren and says they need to leave. Dorren clicks his tongue and begins leading the way.
They eventually run to more enemies and they're firing hot slugs towards them. Dorren shoots back at the enemies. One slug shattered someone's shoulder. Dorren hides and looks at Hale and said, "Go around the back. Try to get ther attention. I shoot em with ther backs turned." Hale understands. He said, "I'll do. Don'tcha die on me."
The plan begins. Dorren is occupied dealing with the enemies that are shooting at him. Hale, sneaks around the back, using holes in the walls to go around. Hale accidentally meets one of the enemies. The enemy threatens Hale into dropping their weapon. Hale, being crafty that he is, grabs a nearby chair and throws it at the enemy. The enemy fires their slugger but it hits the incoming chair, shattering it on impact. Hale follows through with a baton throw, hitting the enemy by their shoulder that causes them to get flinched.
Hale jumps on the enemy and begin punching him to the face. The enemy responded with blocks and noticed that Hale didn't lock him with weight. The enemy uses their knee to hit Hale away from him. The slugger is nowhere to be seen so, the situation turned into a fist fight.
With the enemy on top, they begin punching Hale. Hale blocks two strikes and missed one that hit his face. The enemy continues to pummel Hale until Hale manages to catch one of the punches. "Yer gonna pay for that ye son of a bitch!" shouted Hale as he pulls the arm towards him, causing the enemy to lean closer enough for him to grab their shirt and throws a hook punch across their face. The punch caused the enemy to stumble.
Hale grabs a handful of dust nearby and throws it at the enemy as they're recovering. The dust enters their eyes, causing the burning sensation. His scream alerted some of his allies, allowing Dorren to come close and shoot them fast.
Hale sees the glint of his dropped baton so he kicks the enemy down to the ground and grabs the baton. The enemy tried to grab Hale but Hale is unforgiving as he smacks their hand with a smash. Hale continues to smash them until they tucked themselves, trying their best to endure all the agonizing pain they sustained. It didn't take long for Hale to find the dropped slugger. The enemy is terrified and before they opened their mouth, Hale blasts their face off, leaving only their jaw.
Hale gathers the ammo for the slugger. The inferior design of such weapon could mean that the ones that are attacking were... "Of all people we ran to they gotta be food bandits. Dem they won't stop huntin us now."
Food bandits are just a term for the desperate group that resorts to killing for killing. There are two class of food bandits, those that are cannibals, and those that do not. And its easy to tell that these enemies are not cannibals. But most food bandits have strong camaraderie and they get grudge to those that killed one of their brothers and sisters. They are so used to fear that they tolerated it and in replacement for hunger, anger gives them energy to fight for survival.
Hale is now armed with a gun. He goes around the back to see enemies coming to his way. The plan has failed. They knew Hale is somewhere near them. As soon as Hale fires of his first shot, they will realize that Hale had killed one of them, fueling their anger. No use to negotiate them, nor threaten them by getting a hostage. They will be out for blood.
"Yer bloody bastards should taste yer steel!" Hale shouted as he fires his slugger, hitting one of the enemies by their helmet. No kill yet, but they are now pissed. They shouted and begin firing at Hale. "Bloody hell dis slug sucks ass!"
Hale is right. This crude slugger is so inferior that it is not even an effective weapon than the ones he was provided when he works as a bodyguard. It is a strange wonder on how the food bandits became a menace with this poor quality contraption.
Someone from the enemy got shot from another angle. Its Dorren. Their attention has now been divided. Hale and Dorren begin their assault and rush towards the bewildered enemies. "Eat some of dis!" Dorren shouted. "Die ye rats!" Hale shouted.
The enemies shoot back and manage to hit Dorren by his shoulder. Hale holds something metallic and shouted, "Grenade!"
With a strong throw, the metallic and cylinder object flies to the air towards the enemies. They panicked at the sight of the object that they ducked behind cover and lay flat on the ground and covered their head.
Clang!
Its not a grenade. The enemies are confused and tried to check but they get their face blasted off because Hale already reached their location. "Fooled ya with de old school trick." Hale proudly said. The enemies is defeated by Hale's trickery of using cans and shouting grenade to fool them. The fact that its a hot sunny day added to the illusion of the trick.
"Ye snake. Good work ye shit." said Dorren as he patched his wound with rags. "Ye all won't get away with dis!" shouted by the cornered bandit. Hale shoots off the bandit that spoke. All got frightened. "Ye bloody murderer! Ye got no heart!" shouted by one that appears woman. She too, has been executed.
"Dem. Why did ye kill them?" asked Dorren with unease. Hale takes a sigh and said,"Listen all around ye. Do ya hear our leader? No? Because he ded. I aint gonna look for some stupid box just to die here, ya dig?"
Dorren keeps his ears open. The battle is over. The people are all there. "Shit yer right." said Dorren. He reloads his slugger and helps Hale executing the enemies. The screams of terror fills out the air of the barren wasteland.
Hale begins looting their bodies for supplies. Dorren finds this strange. "Are ye newbie or sumthin? Yer must be poor like shrooms." asked Dorren wondering why Hale is bothering searching their bodies. Hale playfully clicks his tongue and answered, "Ye never know they carry sparks with dem. Useful for cookin or smokin weed." Spark is a lighter. Dorren understands the logic. "Yah we aint gonna get payed. Still, robbing them feels a disgrace by robbin ther dignity too wat not." said Dorren with a disdain look on his face. Incoherent yes. Dorren's mind is occupied with worry and anxiety.
Hale finished searching their bodies. They get more ammunation. Hale rather pities the food bandit upon not finding food in their persons and seeing their skinny build. One could conclude that these people are just desperate. But Hale won't tolerate those that harm him. He too, wants to live a peaceful life. But with the way things are, the world is hell to everyone.
"C'mon, we need the cap's keys. We never go with the jeep with no key." said Hale. Dorren nods and said, "Yah man, I follow."
They go searching for the keys for the jeepney. It didn't take long for them to find his body. "Steward Rumford, too bad ye died just like that." said Hale with pity on the captain. Dorren picks up the key stuck on the belt. "Got it. We good to go?" asked Dorren as he shakes the key. Hale shakes his head and said, "No, wait."
Hale loots the captain's body, only taking the handgun and its magazine. Not alot of bullets left but still better than the sluggers. Hale also dips his finger in the bullet holes, making his hand dripping with blood and draws a Christian Cross on the captain's forehead. Dorren realizes this and instinctively pray for the captain to pass on peacefully to heaven, if heaven exists.
"Never thought ye be faithful eh." said Dorren with a smile. Hale lets out a laugh and said, "I only done it to respect the cap."
They indeed pay their respect. "Let's go back. I'm parched from de stress." said Dorren while touching his sore throat. "Yes, lets." Hale agreed.
They track the jeepney and they are able to drive it. Their destination is a small community up north owned by Water Merchant Association. Dorren is the one behind the wheels and Hale counts the loot and estimate the bargain he can get with them.
Dorren asked, "Are they enough for water and lunch?" Hale answered, "Just about enough to get by. We need jobs with clear conditions." Dorren agrees with Hale. He said, "True, true, client was douche for making the job clear vague as hell."
The two have survived the ambush of the food bandits. Two casualties happened, to Ross Mcgee and Steward Rumford. The job is a fail as they did not recover the box that were asked by the client. Thanks to them having low reputation, no one knows them enough to care.
Hale Timberborn and Dorren Hamilton are now working together to survive this ordeal. If they can reach the small community, they have the chance to regain what they lost. They now drive under the sun and hope for the best nothing goes wrong.