The Badlands: Part 5 -- - - - V O X -

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Date Posted: 16:06:19 08/06/99 Fri
Author: Maveric
Subject: The Badlands: Part 5

Here's part five of the Badlands. I'd like know what everyone thinks of the story so far.

***
Murphy and Red arrived in Levelland, knocking over a road sign as they sped to the aid of Romeo Dare. Most of the small town was still asleep at this hour and the roads were all but deserted. Red still didn't know what was going on, and his host seemed too preoccupied with searching to fill him in on it. Murphy frantically looked up and down each street as they passed. "Keep an eye out for Romeo" he said to Red. "He should be in his Lightning." Red joined in, doing his best to scan the area for Romeo Dare, but his curiosity got the best of him.

"Look Murphy, don't leave me in the dark. What the hell is going on?" Red asked finally. Not looking away from the road, Murphy brought Red up to speed. "This area is run by a two-bit creeper named Led Sled an' his gang of thugs. We been trying for months now to shut �em down but nothin's worked. Then we thought of havin' Romeo go under cover to take �em out from the inside" Murphy explained. "This mornin' a group of vigilantes was goin' to lure the gang away from the car garage they use as a base. Romeo was supposed to stay behind and let me sneak up so me an' him could set the charges and blow the place up. It looks like somthin' went wrong and he got found out. To top it off, Iah couldn't make it there to help him �cause Iah went out to stop that raid on the Gas for Cash. Now ol' Romeo is in a heap o' trouble."

Just as he said this, they came over the top of a hill that overlooked Led Sled's garage stronghold. Murphy stopped the truck the pulled out his binoculars to better survey the situation. There were three vigilante cars exchanging fire with four of Led Sled's gang. It was hard to see them as they zipped back and forth across the desert, their tracers glowing dimly. On the other side of the compound from the fight was Romeo Dare, squatting next to his parked Dover Lightning. It looked like he was still trying to set up the explosives while the other vigilantes tried to hold off the gang. While they were all good at what they did, they were out numbered and Led Sled held the upper hand.

Murphy slammed his fist down on the steering wheel. "Aw shit! It's worse than Iah thought." His mind raced to come up with a plan. Then he turned to Red. "Look friend, Iah hate to do this to ya, but I need ya to take the wheel and do your best to fend off them creepers while Iah help Romeo set the charges." Red was stunned. "I...I don't know how to fight. I've got no idea how any of this shit works!" he said, waving his hand at the mess of toggle switched and buttons. Murphy looked him square in the eye. "I know you can fight, you have it in ya. You took out two creepers unarmed, so don't hand me that crap. As for drivin' the truck, all ya need to know is use this switch to lock onto a creeper, and use these buttons to fire the hardpoints. That's all ya need to know. It's that simple. Are you in?" It took only a second for Red to decide. He knew that people were going to die if he didn't act. He really had no choice.

Red jumped out and ran around to the driver's side. Murphy slid over to make room and Red climbed into the driver's seat of the truck. Within a few seconds they were barrelling down the slope of the hill headed towards the compound. The feeling was alien to Red. Murphy's truck was a far cry from Red's own car, and he could feel the immense power he was wielding with the arsenal this vehicle had. As they drew closer to the fray, Red had to dodge some of the pot shots and stray fire coming the battle. When he got close to Romeo's Lightning, he hit the brakes and they slid to a halt.

Taking his sawed-off, Murphy jumped out of the cab. "Good job Red. Ya got us here alive. I'll help Romeo with the explosives here an' you do yer best to cover us with the other vigilantes. When you hear my signal over the CB, get as far away as ya can. It's gonna be one mother of a blast." Red nodded. "I got ya. Try to hurry. I don't know hold long I'm gonna hold up out there." Murphy nodded back. "You can do it son." Red turned away and flicked on the radar. Seven blips lit up on the screen. The gravity of the situation struck him and he started to doubt if this saw a smart thing to do.

"I guess this is my baptism my fire" he laughed nervously. Red revved the engine and gritted his teeth. Nothing about today made much sense and he was getting sick of being dragged into situations against his will. Looks like he was getting first hand experience at being an autovigilante, whether he wanted to or not. He felt a surge of adrenaline and his fear all but disappeared. In an instant he launched himself headlong into the battle.
***

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Replies:

Re: The Badlands: Part 5 -- SHIFFS, 19:40:36 08/07/99 Sat