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Day 24 - 0830 Hours / 8:30 AM – Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) - Middle Farm Land, Riverside.
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Jake's Updated HUD:
'Summoned Soldiers: 327/1672'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/190'
'Summoned Vehicles: 57/230'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 33/100'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 80/130'
'Vehicles Made: 21/¿Infinity?'
'Power Armor Made: 12/¿Infinity?'
'Exo-Skeletons Armor Made: 7/¿Infinity?'
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The morning mist clung to the surface of the river like a silver shroud, Swirling around the reeds that lined the banks of Fort Hope. The air was crisp, Carrying the scent of damp earth & the distant, rhythmic hammering of Combat Engineers reinforcing the northern perimeter.
Near the riverside of the middle farmland, The atmosphere was different—quieter, yet charged with a distinct, fluid energy.
Jake Maxis stood knee-deep in the cool water, His boots discarded on the muddy bank. He was stripped down to a simple olive-drab tactical undershirt that clung to his 152-pound frame, Showcasing the lean, functional muscle he had cultivated through years of discipline. His short, Spiky blonde hair caught the early light, and his dark green eyes were narrowed in intense concentration.
Across from him stood Katara. Even as a Nikke, She retained the graceful, soulful essence of the Water Tribe. Her deep brown skin glowed in the morning light, And her blue eyes watched Jake with a mixture of professional scrutiny & something softening at the edges—something she hadn't quite named yet.
"Again, Jake…" Katara commanded softly, Her voice like the gentle lap of waves against the shore. "Don't fight the current. If you treat the water like a weapon of iron, It will break your grip. You must be the vessel, not the cage."
Jake took a deep breath, Grounding himself. He felt the pull of his Hydrokinesis ability—a spark in his mind that connected him to the liquid rushing past his legs. He moved his arms in a slow, sweeping arc, attempting to pull a sphere of water from the river's surface.
The water wobbled, Rising a few inches before splashing back down. Jake grunted, his brow furrowed. "It's different than a rifle, Katara. With a carbine, I control the physics. Here... the physics seem to have a mind of their own."
Katara stepped closer, her footsteps silent on the water's surface—a feat of effortless bending. She reached out, her cool fingers lightly touching Jake's forearms to adjust his posture. "That's because you're still thinking like a soldier, always looking for the 'Recoil.' There is no recoil in the breath of the world."
As she moved his arms, Katara felt the heat radiating from his skin. She looked up at him, Noting the "unbreakable will" she had seen in his file, now etched into the set of his jaw. He was humble, Despite the massive MCDF army he commanded; He stood here in the mud, Letting her lead. Her heart gave a small, traitorous flutter. She found herself lingering on the contact a second too long before pulling back, a slight flush dusting her cheeks.
"Focus on your center." Katara whispered, Her tone losing its instructional edge for a moment. "Flow with me."
From the shadows of a large willow tree on the bank, Laura Kinney watched in silence. Her enhanced senses were dialed in—she could hear the steady, Rhythmic thump-thump of Jake's heart, smelling the salt of his sweat & the clean scent of the river water.
She sat with her knees pulled to her chest, Her emerald eyes tracking Jake's every move. Usually, Laura felt like a weapon—something designed for blood and cold efficiency. But watching Jake... it did something to her. He wasn't like the men who had created her. He was "Equitable" & "Nurturing" qualities she saw in the way he spoke to his soldiers and the way he patiently endured Katara's corrections.
She watched the way the sunlight played off his blonde hair. She felt a strange, tightening sensation in her chest—not a wound, but something that felt just as sharp. She didn't understand why her heart sped up when he laughed at one of Katara's jokes, or why she felt a prick of envy at the Water Tribe girl's proximity to him.
He's steady, Laura thought, her claws itching to unsheathe—not in anger, but out of a restless, confusing energy. He's the only thing in this wasteland that feels like solid ground.
Jake closed his eyes, Leaning into the sensation. This time, As he swept his hands upward, he didn't pull; He invited. A ribbon of crystalline water rose from the river, Spiraling around his arms like a living serpent. It was perfect, Shimmering with a light that seemed to reflect his own internal resolve.
"I see it." Jake murmured, a small, charismatic smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I feel the flow."
Katara beamed, Her blue eyes sparkling with genuine pride. "You're a fast learner, Jake. Perhaps too fast. You'll be outperforming your teacher soon."
"Never, I'm sure your still far better then me." Jake replied, Turning his gaze toward her. "A leader is only as good as the people who keep him grounded. Thank you, Katara."
The sincerity in his voice made Katara's breath hitch. For a moment, The training was forgotten, the two of them standing in the quiet rush of the river, the air thick with unspoken words.
On the shore, Laura stood up, her gaze never leaving Jake. She knew one thing for certain: She wouldn't just watch from the shadows forever.
The intimate silence shared between Jake & Katara was short-lived. The sound of lighthearted banter and the rhythmic thud of boots on the dirt path announced the arrival of more observers.
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Time: 10:01 AM
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Emerging from the edge of the farm plots were four women, Their presence instantly brightening the muddy riverside. Leading the group was Twilight Sparkle, Her violet eyes scanning a digital tablet before she looked up, her navy-blue hair with its magenta streaks slightly windswept.
Following closely were Applejack, Rainbow Dash, And Pinkie Pie—all taking a well-deserved break from their respective duties in Fort Hope's administration & security.
Twilight came to a halt, Her breath catching as she watched the ribbon of water dance around Jake's arms. As a Nikke programmed with high-level analytical capabilities, She was fascinated by the physics of what she saw.
"The molecular cohesion you're maintaining is... It's statistically improbable for someone with such recent Tier I activation…" Twilight murmured, Her voice a mix of academic wonder & a shy, personal admiration. She adjusted the fit of her tactical vest, Feeling a familiar flutter in her chest. She had always admired Jake's organization, But seeing his raw, elemental discipline was something else entirely.
Applejack leaned against the trunk of the willow tree, Pushing her wide-brimmed hat back to reveal her honest, earthy gaze. "I reckon I've seen a lot of hard work in these fields, Jake, but that right there? That's some fine-tuned focus. You're sweatin' like a plow-horse, But you've got the grace of a gazelle." She gave him an appreciative nod, Her blue eyes lingering on his athletic frame with a quiet, grounded warmth.
"Whoa! Check that out!" Rainbow Dash interjected, Hovering at the bank with her arms crossed. Her hair was a vibrant cascade of colors, And her eyes zipped back and forth, tracking the water's movement. "Pretty cool, Maxis! But can you make it go faster? I bet I could outrun that stream if you tried to hit me with it." Despite her competitive streak, Her cheeks held a faint tint of pink as she watched him move.
Pinkie Pie, Ever the bundle of chaotic energy, was practically vibrating. "Ooooh! It looks like a giant, sparkly water-snake! Can you make it do a loop-de-loop? Or maybe spray it up like a fountain for a party? It's sooooo shiny!"
Jake offered the girls a charismatic, If slightly exhausted, grin. "Glad you could make it, Ladies. Katara's a tough instructor—she doesn't let me get away with much."
Katara stood her ground, Her expression shifting from the soft moment before to one of professional pride. She noticed the way the newcomers looked at Jake. It wasn't just respect for a commander; It was the same pull she was feeling.
"Alright, Jake. Since we have an audience, Let's show them the 'Flow of the Dragon'." Katara said, her tone gaining a playful edge. "If you can manage the spiral while keeping your breathing steady under their gaze, I'll consider your morning session a success."
Jake took a deep breath, centered himself, and moved.
He swept his leg in a wide arc, The water following his limb like a loyal shadow. He thrust his palms forward, And the crystalline serpent he had conjured split into three smaller streams, dancing between the reeds before merging back into a singular, rotating sphere above his head.
Laura, Still perched in the willow tree, narrowed her eyes. She didn't like the crowd. The "Smell" of the air had changed—it was now thick with the various scents of the Mane Six. She felt a surge of protectiveness, Her claws instinctively twitching in their housings. She didn't just want to watch him; She wanted to be the one standing beside him in the mud.
After a final, powerful motion, Jake let the water drop back into the river with a soft splash. He waded out of the river, His damp undershirt sticking to his chest, emphasizing his physique.
"That's enough for now." Jake panted, Wiping droplets from his forehead.
Twilight stepped forward, Handing him a clean towel she had brought along. "Your heart rate was elevated, But your oxygen saturation remained optimal. You're... you're doing amazing, Jake."
"Thanks, Twi!" Jake replied, His voice humble. "I'm just trying to be ready for whatever the wasteland throws at us next."
As the group stood by the river, The tension of the wasteland seemed to melt away for a brief moment. Between Katara's nurturing guidance, Laura's silent watch, and the Mane Six's spirited encouragement, Jake felt the weight of his "Unbreakable Will" bolstered by the people around him.
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Time: 10:21 AM
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Rainbow Dash didn't just stand there with her arms crossed for long. Her vibrant, Multi-colored hair seemed to practically hum with restless energy as she watched Jake dry off. She looked at the soldiers passing by—men & women in MCDF fatigues, Many of them pausing their work to catch a glimpse of their Commander. The air was thick with the scent of competition.
"Alright, alright, the water tricks are flashy, Maxis." Rainbow Dash said, Stepping forward onto the packed dirt of the riverbank. She began bouncing on the balls of her feet, Her movements blurring with a speed that hinted at her high-octane nature. "But let's see how you handle a target that actually hits back. No bending, no magic—just raw, Close Quarters Combat. You & me. Right here."
Twilight's eyes widened, Her fingers hovering over her tablet. "Rainbow! He just finished an intensive session! His caloric expenditure is already—"
"It's fine, Twilight." Jake interrupted, His voice steady. He handed the towel back to her, His dark green eyes locking onto Rainbow's magenta gaze. A small, Competitive spark ignited in him. "I'm never too tired to train with my team."
The word spread through the ranks like a wildfire. "The Commander is sparring!"
Within minutes, A wide circle had formed near the middle farmland. Combat Engineers dropped their hammers, And a squad of Ground Infantry led by a Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) moved in to maintain a perimeter. Over a hundred MCDF soldiers—Recruits, Privates, and Corporals—stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their eyes filled with reverent curiosity. To them, Jake wasn't just a leader; He was a symbol of their "Unbreakable Will."
Katara stood on the inner edge of the circle, Her arms folded over her chest, a knowing smile on her lips. Beside her, Applejack tipped her hat.
"I'll play referee!" Applejack announced, stepping into the center. "First one to a pinning position or three clean 'Kill-Strikes' wins. Clean fighting only. You ready, Sugarcube?"
"Born ready!" Rainbow Dash smirked, Dropping into a low, aggressive striker's stance.
Jake centered himself. He didn't just stand there; He felt the familiar hum of his Cybernetic Reflexes (Active) kicking in, Sharpening his perception.
Rainbow Dash didn't wait. She moved like a lightning bolt, A blur of color that closed the distance in a heartbeat. She launched a lightning-fast jab followed by a roundhouse kick aimed at Jake's ribs.
Jake felt the world slow down. His Uncanny Instinct (Passive) screamed at him to move left. He pivoted on his heel, The wind from her kick ruffling his tactical undershirt. He didn't strike back yet; He was calibrating.
"Too slow!" Rainbow teased, Spinning for a back-fist.
"Is that right?" Jake murmured.
He activated Combat Focus (Active). For three seconds, Time essentially froze for him. He saw the trajectory of Rainbow's arm, The slight imbalance in her leading foot, and the opening in her guard. With the fluid grace he'd been practicing with Katara, He slipped under her arm, his hand catching her wrist while his other arm hooked around her waist.
The crowd gasped as Jake utilized Unarmed Disarm (Passive) logic, redirecting her momentum. In a single, blurred motion, he transitioned into a hip throw. Rainbow Dash, Caught off guard by his sudden burst of inhuman speed, found herself being flipped through the air.
She twisted mid-air, Landing on her feet with the agility of a cat, but Jake was already there. He slid into a low sweep—PHD Slider (BP-3) logic giving him an unnatural boost in speed—and forced her to jump. As she did, he stood up, his hand stopping just inches from her throat in a definitive "Kill-Strike."
"One…" Jake said, His breathing rhythmic and controlled.
The MCDF soldiers erupted in a roar of cheers. "Go on, Commander!" A Corporal (Cpl.) shouted, Pumping a fist in the air.
Rainbow Dash grumbled, A grin touching her lips despite herself. "Cheap trick, Maxis! Let's see you do it again!"
The next two minutes were a masterclass in tactical combat. Rainbow Dash used her superior human-adapted agility to stay out of reach, pepper-spraying the air with flurries of strikes. But Jake was a fortress. His Regenerative Hide (Passive) took the few glancing blows she landed without a flinch, And his Lethality Calibration (Passive) allowed him to predict her movements before she even made them.
He finished the match with a swift leg-trip & a gentle pin, His knee resting lightly on her shoulder as he held her arm in a secure lock.
"That's three…" Applejack called out, Her voice filled with pride. "Winner: Jake Maxis!"
Jake stood up, Extending a hand to Rainbow Dash. She took it, Huffing but clearly impressed. "Alright, alright. You've got the moves. I guess I'll have to train harder if I'm gonna keep up with the 'General'."
Jake turned to the gathered soldiers. The morning sun hit his blonde hair, Making him stand out against the backdrop of the river. He didn't look like a man who had just finished two hours of grueling training; He looked like a leader who was just getting started.
"Listen up!" Jake's voice projected across the farmland, charismatic & commanding. "Strength isn't just about how hard you hit. It's about how well you know yourself, your surroundings, and your team. We train so that when the wasteland bites, we bite back harder. Get back to your posts! Let's make Fort Hope a place that never falls!"
A thunderous "Hooah!" echoed from the troops as they began to disperse, Their morale visibly soaring. They had seen their leader outmatch one of the fastest fighters in the settlement with ease.
Twilight Sparkle walked up to Jake, Her Moderate Violet eyes shining. "Jake, That was... logically speaking, your performance was 98% efficient. But as a friend... that was incredible."
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Time: 10:27 AM
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From her branch in the willow tree, Laura Kinney retracted her claws with a soft shink. She felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Her "Steady" commander had proven his dominance, And for some reason, that made the restless energy in her heart settle just a little bit more.
The MCDF soldiers returned to their duties, Their spirits bolstered by the display of their Commander's prowess. Jake wiped a few stray beads of sweat from his forehead with the towel Twilight had provided, His green eyes scanning the horizon where the sun was now fully burning through the morning mist.
Applejack, however, didn't move to follow the others. She stayed by the willow tree, Her arms crossed over her plaid shirt, her gaze fixed on Jake with that trademark "Honest" scrutiny that could peer right through a man's defenses. She waited until the others—Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, and even Twilight—had drifted a few paces away to discuss the logistics of the morning's training.
"Jake." Applejack called out, Her voice low but firm. "You got a minute for a straight talk? No tactical jargon, No 'Commander' talk. Just us, Bro."
Jake paused, Sensing the shift in her tone. He nodded, Gesturing for her to follow him a bit further down the bank, away from prying ears. "Always for you, AJ. What's on your mind?"
Applejack adjusted the brim of her hat, Her blue eyes narrowing. "It's about Piper. That reporter girl. On Day 20 & Day 21, that timeline in the book you write down. I heard you two talkin' back then, Over radio. But when she officially 'arrived' and started her interviews for that Publick Occurrences paper of hers, She acted like she'd never laid eyes on you. Played it like she was meetin' the great 'General Maxis' for the first time. Why the charade?"
Jake leaned back against a mossy rock, Looking out over the water. He knew Applejack's Sharp Senses & grounded nature wouldn't miss a detail like that. He also knew he had to be careful; While AJ was his "Nikke" and a trusted member of his inner circle, he still kept the deepest secrets of his Military System—the summoning UI and the cosmic origin of his forces—tightly under wraps. To her, The MCDF was a miracle of organization & technology, and he intended to keep it that way.
"She wasn't lying to be deceptive, AJ." Jake began, His voice calm & affable. "She was changing her own point of view. Piper's a journalist—a good one. She realized that if she walked in here acting like my best friend, Her readers in Diamond City & the rest of the Commonwealth wouldn't trust a word she wrote. They don't know the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force truly yet. To them, We're just a massive, high-tech army that appeared out of nowhere."
Applejack hummed, Processing the logic. "So she was playin' the 'newcomer' to see us the way a stranger would?"
"Exactly!" Jake confirmed, Turning to face her. "A lot of people are scared, or skeptical. They see our Leopard 2A7V tanks and our Vertibirds and they think 'The Institute' or 'The Brotherhood.' Piper needed to detach herself from what she knew about me privately so she could ask the hard questions—the ones the people out there are actually asking. She's helping me bridge the gap between being a 'mysterious military force' and being the protectors the Commonwealth needs."
Applejack softened, A small smile touching her lips. "I reckon I can respect that. It's a different kind of honesty, I suppose. Findin' the truth by lookin' at it from the outside in."
Just then, The sound of a camera shutter clicking echoed from the path above. Piper Wright herself was perched on a crate, Her signature red leather coat vibrant against the greenery. She was scribbling furiously in a worn notebook, Her blue eyes bright with investigative fire.
"And here I thought I was being subtle!" Piper chirped, Hopping down from the crate and sauntering over. Her "Small-Medium" frame moved with a restless, wiry energy. "General, I have to say, that 'Flow of the Dragon' thing? High-tier front-page material. 'The Water-Bending Warrior of the Wasteland.' It has a ring to it, don't you think?"
She gave Applejack a wink—one that suggested she'd heard at least the tail end of their conversation. "Don't worry, Blondie. I'm not here to spill any secrets that don't need spilling. But your General here is right. If I'm gonna tell the story of the MCDF, I have to be the eyes and ears of the folks who haven't seen a 'General' who actually cares about the dirt under his fingernails."
Jake smiled, The "Charismatic" trait of his personality shining through. "Just make sure you spell my name right, Piper."
"Maxis with an 'X', I got it." She teased, Though her eyes lingered on him with a depth of professional respect—and perhaps a hint of something more—that she hadn't quite let slip into her articles yet.
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Time: 10:33 AM
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Jake walks steadily toward his home, With Laura quietly following behind, and Twilight heading briskly to headquarters. Meanwhile, Piper finds Dinah in a bustling makeshift café, and they begin a lively conversation. As Jake reaches his front door, He slips inside & settles into bed, eager to initiate another 'World Simulation' with Laura, who is lying beside him, still drowsily wishing to get a few more Zzzs.
The air in the bedroom was still, the soft rhythmic breathing of Laura Kinney the only sound as she curled into Jake's side, her dark hair splayed across the pillows. Jake reached out, his hand hovering over the 'World Simulation' interface on his HUD. With a final glance at the peaceful sanctuary of Fort Hope, he tapped the confirmation icon.
"Simulation 'Left 4 Dead' Initialized," Neo's voice whispered in his mind, sharp and professional. "Suiting up, Commander. Dropping you into the Mercy Hospital Sector in 3... 2... 1..."
The silence of the bedroom was instantly shattered by the deafening roar of twin T700-GE-701C engines. The smell of lavender and clean sheets vanished, replaced by the choking stench of burning rubber, jet fuel, and the metallic tang of blood.
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The World Simulation: City of the Dead – Simulation Time: 5:13 AM
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Jake Maxis blinked, His vision adjusting to the polarized visor of his new attire. He was no longer in his undershirt; He was encased in a heavy, Tactical Hazmat/Bio-Hazard Suit. The suit was a reinforced charcoal-grey with bright yellow accents, Equipped with a sealed respirator system that hummed softly against his jaw. Over the suit, His MCDF plate carrier sat snugly, loaded with ammunition for his primary weapons.
He was crouched in the open side door of an HH-60G PAVE Hawk. The Night Stalker pilot, His face hidden behind a flight helmet, glanced back and gave a thumbs-up.
"Thirty seconds to the LZ, Maxis!" The pilot shouted over the comms, the PAVE Hawk banking hard over a skyline choked with black smoke. "Roof is hot! I see four non-infected. Dropping you & RTB-ing for refueling. Good luck down there!"
Jake looked down. The city below was a graveyard of stalled cars & flickering neon signs. Hundreds of Thousands of 'Common Infected' swarmed the streets like a hive of disturbed ants. The PAVE Hawk flared its nose, Slowing to a hover over a three-story apartment roof.
Standing near the rooftop's ventilation ducts were four figures, Backlit by the orange glow of a distant fire.
There was Bill, The grizzled veteran, his beret pulled low & a cigarette dangling from his lips as he leveled an M16. Zoey, Her red jacket stark against the grime, clutching dual Glock 21Cs pistols. Louis, In his torn white dress shirt & tie, looking terrified but determined with a UZI SMG. And Francis, The tattooed biker, holding a Mossberg pump-action shotgun with a look of pure disdain.
"Is that... a chopper?" Louis yelled, Shielding his eyes from the rotor wash.
"It's a damn miracle!" Francis barked, Though he didn't lower his gun.
The PAVE Hawk hovered just inches above the gravel surface. Jake leapt from the skids, his boots hitting the roof with a heavy thud. The moment his feet touched the ground, the helicopter pulled away, the pilot's farewell lost in the sudden, eerie quiet that followed the departure of the engines.
"Who the hell are you?" Bill growled, Stepping forward. He squinted at Jake's high-tech hazmat suit & the MCDF insignia on his shoulder. "You're not CEDA. They ran out of town weeks ago."
Jake checked his HUD. Mission: Escort & Extraction.
"The name's Jake Maxis." He replied, His voice slightly distorted by the respirator. "I'm your ride out of this hellhole. But we've got a long walk to the extraction point."
From the stairwell door behind them, a long, guttural howl echoed, followed by the frantic scratching of hundreds of fingernails against metal. The 'Horde' had heard the helicopter.
"Well, 'Hazmat'…" Francis said, racking his shotgun. "Hope you brought a lot of bullets. We're popular tonight."
"Select Loadout…" Jake muttered. He felt the phantom weight of his Overkill perk kicking in, Allowing him to sync three primary weapons to his digital avatar.
He chose a customized Bush ACR-11.1 Assault Rifle with Silentshot Integral Suppessed Barrel - Barrel, FTAC MSP-98 Handstop – Underbarrel, Corvus PEQ Beam-5 – Laser, INTLAS CAS-14 - Optic, 5.56 OVERPRESSURED +P – Ammunition, INTLAS CAS-14 – Optic, And RB CLAW-PSL GRIP – Rear Grip.
A customized Remington 80 Shotgun with SA MX-50 - Muzzle, Lockwood Defender Heavy Barrel - Barrel, Lightbearer Ergo Guard - Underbarrel, Jak Glassless Optic - Optic, And Express Light Bolt - Bolt.
And lastly a customized MP5A4 SMG with FSS Covert V - Barrel, FTAC MSP-98 Handstop - Underbarrel, 9MM SUB OP - Ammunition, Close Quarters Classic Reflex - Optic, And LM Cronus Grip - Rear Grip.
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Mission: Escort (Zoey, Bill, Francis, And Louis) to Mercy Hospital Rooftop for Extraction.
Mission Warning: No Reinforcements will be given! And C&SA–1. Clairvoyance (Passive) - (Medium Range) Has been temporarily weakened!
Effect: The ability to "see" a real-time, three-dimensional map of immediate surroundings, revealing hostiles, traps, and hidden caches within a half-mile radius.
Temporary Effect: The ability to "see" a real-time, three-dimensional map of immediate surroundings, revealing hostiles, traps, and hidden caches within a half-mile radius. But Weakened by 75% — The temporary weakened effect will be removed after the 'World Simulation' is completed.
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Simulation Time: 5:17 AM
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The metallic door to the rooftop groaned, Buckling under the weight of the bodies pressing against it from the other side. The scratch of fingernails on steel was a screeching reminder that in this "World Simulation" the stakes—while digital—felt entirely too real.
Jake adjusted the seal on his respirator. His Clairvoyance (Passive) flickered in his peripheral vision, But the usual crisp, three-dimensional map was fuzzy, like an old television struggling for a signal. He could only see about 100 meters ahead, And the "dots" representing the infected were ghosting in and out.
"Check your sectors!" Jake barked, His voice projecting with an authoritative, military edge that momentarily silenced Francis's complaining. "Bill, You've got the point. Zoey, Louis, stay center. Francis, watch our six. We're moving into the stairwell. If it's not human, Don't let it get close."
"You heard the man in the space suit!" Bill shouted over the growing din, Racking the bolt on his M16. "Move!"
The door finally gave way.
As they entered the dim, Flickering light of the apartment hallways, the smell of decay hit Jake's sensors. Even through the filters of his tactical hazmat suit, Thr simulation simulated the "Cloy" of a dying city.
A group of a dozen common infected—their eyes milky and skin peeling—sprinted down the narrow corridor. Jake didn't hesitate. He raised his customized Bush ACR-11.1. The integral suppressor coughed rhythmic, Muffled thuds. Thanks to his Lethality Calibration (Passive), Every shot was a surgical strike.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Three infected dropped, Their momentum carrying their lifeless bodies into the peeling wallpaper.
"Damn, Hazmat!" Francis whistled, Blowing a hole through an infected's chest with his shotgun. "You're a regular pro. Where'd the army hide you?"
"In a place with better dental than this." Jake retorted, His Quick Fix (N-Perk) kicking in. He felt a surge of artificial adrenaline, His focus sharpening as he transitioned to his Remington 80 Shotgun to clear a cluster of infected blocking the doorway to the next flight of stairs.
As the group moved, Jake felt a strange duality. In his mind, he was here, smelling the gunpowder & hearing Louis's panicked breathing. But in the back of his consciousness, He knew that just inches away in the "Real World" Laura Kinney was curled up against his side, her steady heartbeat a tether to sanity. She was safe, warm, and blissfully unaware of the digital carnage he was navigating to sharpen his skills.
"Smoker!" Zoey screamed.
From the end of the hall, a long, purple tongue lashed out, wrapping around Louis's throat & dragging him toward a shadowed alcove.
"Help! Can't... breathe!" Louis gasped, His heels scraping against the floorboards.
Jake swung his ACR around. His Uncanny Instinct (Passive) provided a 25% boost to his reaction time. He didn't just aim; He calculated the trajectory. One high-velocity 5.56 round severed the tongue mid-air, while the second shattered the Smoker's skull, causing it to erupt in a cloud of green, choking gas.
"You okay, Louis?" Jake asked, scanning the ceiling for more threats.
"I... I think I need a new tie," Louis wheezed, rubbing his neck.
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Simulation Time: 5:23 AM
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They reached the lobby of the apartment complex, The glass doors shattered. Outside, the city was a war zone. Searchlights from abandoned CEDA checkpoints swept the streets, And the distant, terrifying roar of a Tank echoed between the skyscrapers.
"Mercy Hospital is four blocks East…" Bill said, checking his mag. "It's gonna be a gauntlet. The 'Horde' is gonna be all over us once we hit the asphalt."
Jake looked at the four survivors. They were "Fictional" but his Idealistic & Protective nature made him view them as his responsibility. He checked his HUD: 'Summoned Soldiers: N/A (Simulation Solo)'. He was alone, but he had the perks of a god.
"We move in a diamond formation." Jake commanded. "I'll take the lead. Bill, You & Francis provide flanking fire. Zoey, Louis, keep eyes on the rooftops. If we see a Tank, we split—do not let it corner us."
As they stepped onto the street, The "World Simulation" ramped up the difficulty. The sky turned a bruised purple, and the music—a low, haunting cello—swelled. Jake felt the weight of his Overkill perk; He shifted his ACR to his back and gripped his MP5A4, ready for high-speed, close-quarters engagement.
The street was a graveyard of metal & glass, illuminated only by the flickering neon of a nearby "Save 4 Less" and the hellish orange glow of fires further downtown. As the group stepped onto the asphalt, The distant roar of the Horde intensified, transforming from a low hum into a rhythmic, terrifying vibration that shook the pavement under Jake's boots.
"They're coming…" Bill muttered, His eyes narrowing as he adjusted his beret. "I can smell 'em. Thousands of 'em."
Jake checked his HUD. The Clairvoyance (Passive) was still flickering, but a massive cluster of red dots was surging toward their position from the north. The main street was a kill box.
"We aren't fighting them head-on." Jake said, his voice calm through the respirator. "Not out here. We're taking the subway."
"The subway?" Louis squeaked, clutching his UZI. "That's a death trap! It's dark, it's cramped, and—"
"And it's the only way to bypass the three blocks of open ground between us and Mercy Hospital," Jake interrupted, his dark green eyes scanning the environment. "Follow my lead. I'm going to give them something else to chew on."
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Simulation Time: 5:32 AM
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Jake reached for a small, Cylindrical device on his tactical belt. He didn't just throw it; He calibrated the projection frequency through his HUD.
"Holo-Decoy Projection: Active."Neo's voice chimed in his ear.
With a fluid motion, Jake tossed the device twenty yards down the street, toward a pile of abandoned taxis. A shimmer of light erupted from the cylinder, Coalescing into a perfect, 1:1 holographic duplicate of Jake. The decoy didn't just stand there—it began firing a phantom rifle & emitting a high-frequency sonic pulse that acted like a dinner bell for the infected.
"Run! Toward the service entrance!" Jake commanded.
As the survivors bolted for the rusted metal stairs leading into the subway system, A literal tide of 'Common Infected' poured over the barricades. They ignored the living group, Screaming as they tore into the holographic Jake, their claws passing through light & air while the real Jake watched from the shadows of the stairwell.
Inside the mouth of the tunnel, the air was cool & smelled of damp concrete and electricity. The group stopped for a breath near a maintenance cage. Jake looked at Zoey; She was holding her twin Glocks, Her knuckles white. She was a crack shot, but in these tunnels, she needed more stopping power.
Jake reached back, Unclipping his customized MP5A4 from his tactical sling. He pulled five magazines from his plate carrier—60 rounds of 9mm Sub-OP each—and stepped toward her.
"Zoey, Take this." Jake said, His voice softening. "The dual-wielding is good for the street, but in the tunnels, you need to be able to punch through a line. This has a classic reflex sight & better muzzle control."
—————————————————————
Simulation Time: 5:37 AM
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He handed her the weapon, His gloved fingers brushing against hers. Zoey looked up, Her violet-blue eyes wide. For a second, The screaming of the Horde outside & the nightmare of the apocalypse faded. Jake's presence was grounding—an "unbreakable will" that felt like a shield.
Zoey felt a heat crawl up her neck, A deep blush dusting her cheeks. "I... Thanks, Jake. I'll make every bullet count." She fumbled with the magazines for a moment, Her focus momentarily fractured by the commander's proximity before she shook her head & slapped the first mag into the well with a satisfying clack.
"Keep it on semi-auto unless they're on top of you." Jake advised with a charismatic nod. "Let's move. We've got a hospital to reach."
The group descended into the abandoned subway tunnel. The only light came from Jake's tactical rail-lights and the dim, Emergency red-bulbs that still flickered with dying power. Every drip of water sounded like a footstep; Every groan of the shifting tunnel walls sounded like a 'Charger' preparing to strike.
Jake led the way, His Uncanny Instinct (Passive) screaming at him. He could feel the pressure of the earth above them, And the digital ghost of Laura Kinney's heartbeat in the real world felt like a distant, comforting drum.
"We're bypassing the main station." Jake whispered over the comms. "There's a maintenance crawl-space that leads directly into the hospital's basement. We'll come up through the laundry chutes behind the back entrance."
"Smart!" Bill grunted, His M16 leveled at the darkness. "Avoid the lobby. That place was a slaughterhouse on Day 1."
Suddenly, The Field Scan (Active) on Jake's HUD pinged. A single, large dot was stationary just around the next bend in the tracks. It wasn't moving. It was waiting.
The air in the subway tunnel grew heavy with the smell of ozone and industrial-grade disinfectant. As Jake led the group around the bend, The flickering red emergency lights revealed a heavy, reinforced steel door marked with the CEDA logo—a yellow biohazard symbol over a blue shield.
Unlike the rest of the dilapidated station, This door was pristine, powered by an independent humming generator.
"CEDA didn't just leave." Bill whispered, His M16 raised. "They dug in."
Jake stepped forward, His Breacher Specialist (Passive) skill highlighting the weak points in the door's locking mechanism. He didn't need explosives. He tapped into his HUD, And Neo's voice chimed in his ear. "Accessing CEDA encryption... bypassed. Opening the cookie jar, Commander."
With a heavy hydraulic hiss, the door slid open, revealing a hidden supply cache that looked like a high-tech oasis in the middle of the apocalypse.
The room was lined with stainless steel lockers & medical crates. While Bill and Francis scavenged for standard ammunition, Jake's attention was drawn to a refrigerated case containing jars filled with a glowing, neon-green liquid.
"What in the hell is that?" Francis asked, Poking a jar with a tattooed finger. "Looks like radioactive snot."
"It's experimental." Jake replied, Reading the digital readout on the case. "Bile Bombs. It's concentrated pheromones harvested from 'Infected' stomach lining. You throw this, And every Common Infected in the area will ignore us and tear apart whatever—or whoever—gets hit by it."
Jake distributed the jars. He tucked two into his own tactical belt, Knowing these would be the "Equalizers" they needed for the final push.
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Item: Experimental Bile Bomb
Quantity Found: 2 Units
Effect: Forces Horde to attack a specific target for 20 to 30 seconds.
Item: Adrenaline Shots
Quantity Found: 4 Units
Effect: Increases movement speed & interaction time.
Item: 5.56mm AP Rounds
Quantity Found: 420 Rounds
Effect: Armor-Piercing Capability for ARs.
Item: MCDF-Glitched Intel
Quantity Found: 1 Transmission
Effect: Provides tactical data on Boss-class Infected.
—————————————————————
As Louis reached for a stack of first-aid kits, A nearby long-range radio unit—standard MCDF issue, looking wildly out of place among the CEDA gear—burst to life with a crackle of static.
"...Maxis? This is... -Krrrk- ...PFC Miller, MCDF Scout Team 4. Commander, Do you copy? I don't know where I am... everything looks like a video game, but the sensors are reading real bio-signatures..."
Jake froze... His heart hammered against his ribs—a sensation mirrored in the "Real World" as his physical body shifted slightly under the sheets next to a dreaming Laura.
"Miller?" Jake spoke into the radio, his voice urgent. "How are you on this frequency? You're not in the simulation." Jake said slowly.
"I was... -static- ...Investigating an anomaly near the Riverside Farmland... touched a shimmering rift & now I'm perched on Mercy's Hospital's Rooftop. Commander, I can see the entrance! I'm using a drone & There's a Tank down there. It's... it's not standard. It's a Heavy-Plate Mutation."
The scout's voice wavered as more static ate the signal, But the intel was clear.
Intel Received: The Mercy Guardian
Target: Grade-V Tank.
Estimated Health: 8,500 HP.
Special Trait: 'Dermal Plating' — 40% resistance to small arms fire.
Weakness: The lower vertebrae & joints. Fire increases damage taken by 2.5x.
"A glitched radio? And scout?" Bill muttered, Looking at Jake with suspicion. "Who are you talking to, Kid?"
"A friend… Well, A… Service Partner." Jake said shortly, His expression hardening. "And he just told us that the front door of the hospital is guarded by something that makes the standard Tanks look like kittens. We're not going through the lobby. We're taking the service elevator directly from the basement."
The basement of Mercy Hospital was a labyrinth of echoing pipes, Flickering industrial lights, and the heavy, rhythmic thrum of the building's ventilation system. The air was colder here, Thick with the scent of damp concrete and the metallic tang of blood that had long since pooled in the floor drains.
Jake led the way, His customized Bush ACR-11.1 raised, the laser sight cutting a thin crimson line through the swirling dust. His Clairvoyance (Passive) was still a ghost of its former self, providing only a jagged, flickering map of the immediate corridors.
"Elevator's at the end of the hall," Jake whispered over the squad comms. "But we've got a problem. The 'Mercy Guardian'... I can feel it. It's right above us."
As if on cue, The ceiling groaned. Dust & chips of plaster rained down as a thunderous BOOM shook the foundation. It wasn't just a footstep; It was the impact of something weighing several tons. A gutteral, Wet roar echoed through the ventilation shafts, vibrating in the marrow of their bones.
"That ain't no normal Tank!…" Francis muttered, His grip tightening on his Mossberg. "Sounds like a freight train with a sore throat."
"Just keep moving." Bill commanded, his voice a low rasp. "The Saferoom should be right through those double doors."
They burst through the doors into a small triage sub-station. At the far end stood a heavy, Reinforced steel door painted a bright, defiant red. It was the universal symbol of sanctuary in this nightmare. Jake stepped forward, His Breacher Specialist (Passive) skill allowing him to identify the heavy-duty deadbolts. He slammed the door shut behind the group & slid the iron bars into place with a definitive CLANG.
The silence that followed was deafening.
The Saferoom was a cramped, Rectangular office converted into a fortress. One wall was covered in frantic graffiti—names of survivors, warnings about "The Witch" in the boiler room, and tally marks of days survived. A single fluorescent light hummed overhead, casting a sterile, white glow over the supplies piled in the corner.
—————————————————————
Supply Manifest:
Three crates of 5.56mm & 12-gauge ammunition.
Four First-Aid Kits (Sterile bandages & morphine).
A wall-mounted map of the Mercy Hospital elevator shafts.
Two M67 Frag Grenades.
—————————————————————
"Safe... finally safe…" Louis gasped, Collapsing against a stack of medical crates. He wiped his brow, his dress shirt now more gray than white.
Jake didn't relax. He checked his HUD, Noticing his Quick Fix (N-Perk) was still active from the earlier skirmish, his heart rate slowly stabilizing. He looked at Zoey, who was checking the action on the MP5A4 he'd given her. She looked up, her violet-blue eyes reflecting the harsh light.
"You really know your way around a war zone, Jake!" Zoey said amazed, Her voice soft but filled with a new kind of respect. She leaned back against the red door, The weight of the apocalypse feeling just a bit lighter with him there. "Where did you learn to lead like this?"
Jake paused. He couldn't tell her about the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force or the fact that she was part of a 'World Simulation' designed to test his limits. To her, He was just a man in a high-tech suit who had saved her life.
"I've had good teachers." Jake replied, His voice humble. "And I have people waiting for me on the other side. People I can't afford to let down."
In the "Real World" Jake's physical hand twitched under the covers, His fingers brushing against Laura's arm as she slept. The simulation translated the warmth of her skin into a flicker of green on his HUD—a tether to reality.
After a brief rest, The group approached the back of the Saferoom, where a heavy sliding gate led to the service elevator. Unlike the public lifts, This one was a massive, industrial cage designed to haul hospital beds and heavy equipment.
"This goes straight to the rooftop!" Jake said, Hitting the call button. The gears groaned, A high-pitched whine echoing up the shaft. "Once we hit that button, Every infected in the building is going to hear us. We'll be a dinner bell in a metal box."
"Then let's give 'em a show!" Bill said, Lighting a fresh cigarette.
The elevator arrived with a heavy THUD. The group piled in, Their backs to the corrugated steel walls. Jake reached out & smashed the 'R' button. The lift jerked upward, the motor straining as it began the long climb to the top of the skyscraper.
Floor 10... 15... 20...
The sounds of the hospital began to change. The distant moans were replaced by the frantic, screeching wails of the Horde. They could hear them climbing the cables, Their fingernails screeching against the outside of the elevator car.
"They're on the roof of the car!" Zoey yelled, Pointing her MP5 upward.
"Hold your fire until we clear the doors!" Jake commanded, His Uncanny Instinct dialing his focus to the maximum. "We need every round for the rooftop."
The elevator slowed, Its bell chiming with a haunting, lonely tone. The doors slid open to reveal the cool, Night air of the city. The rooftop was a sprawling expanse of concrete, air conditioning units, and a large, glowing "M" sign that flickered in the dark.
In the center of the roof stood a small radio shack.
"There it is!" Louis pointed.
But between them & the radio stood the Mercy Guardian.
The Tank was a mountain of mutated muscle, Its skin reinforced with jagged, bone-like plates that shimmered like obsidian. It was currently lifting a rusted HVAC unit over its head, its milky eyes fixed on the elevator.
"Spread out!" Jake roared.
He didn't use his rifle. He reached for the Bile Bomb he'd found earlier. With a calculated throw, He launched the glowing green jar. It shattered against the Tank's armored chest, dousing the beast in neon-green pheromones.
From the edges of the roof, Hundreds of 'Common Infected'—who had been lurking in the shadows—suddenly went berserk. They ignored Jake's group, Screaming as they swarmed over the Tank, biting & clawing at the mutated giant.
"Now! To the radio!" Jake commanded.
They sprinted past the chaotic brawl. Jake burst into the radio shack, His fingers flying across the dials. He tuned the frequency to the MCDF extraction channel he'd been provided.
"This is Commander Maxis to Night Stalker 1-1!" Jake shouted into the handset. "We are at the Mercy Hospital extraction point! The LZ is hot! Repeat, The LZ is extremely hot!"
"Copy that, Maxis!" The pilot's voice crackled back, clear & steady. "We see your signal. ETA: Seven Mikes! Hold that roof, Commander. We're coming!"
Jake stepped back out onto the roof, The wind whipping his blonde hair. He looked at the survivors—Bill, Zoey, Francis, And Louis—who were already forming a defensive line around the radio shack.
"Seven minutes, People!" Jake shouted, His Charismatic aura boosting the group's morale. "Give 'em everything you've got!"
"Miller!" Jake called out, He quickly found Miller. Jake saw that PFC Miller was wearing his own Tactical Hazmat Suit. "PFC Miller, What are you armed with? And mag count?" Jake asked Miller & he quickly answered.
"I am armed with my MCX Spear-21.1 Battle Rifle, Glock 18Auto Pistol, And lastly my specialized Gustaf M4 Launcher. I have Nine Magazines in total Two Hundred-Seventy Ammo Rounds, Seven Magazines in total One Hundred Twenty-Six Ammo Rounds, And Three Gustaf Rounds." PFC Miller reported to Jake, As Jake nodded.
The night air atop Mercy Hospital screamed with the sound of a city in its death throes. The flickering neon "M" cast rhythmic, bloody pulses of light across the gravel, illuminating the gore-streaked concrete and the desperate faces of the survivors.
Jake Maxis stood at the center of the rooftop, his silhouette sharp against the billowing black smoke of the skyline. He checked his HUD, the timer beginning its final, agonizing descent.
[TIME REMAINING: 07:00]
"Miller! Take the East corner near the helipad! Use that Gustaf if you see a cluster, but save a round for the big guy!" Jake commanded, his voice cutting through the wind. "Bill, Francis—North and South stairs! Zoey, Louis, you're with me at the radio shack. We are the anvil, and those stairs are the hammer!"
"On it, Commander!" PFC Miller barked. He moved with MCDF precision, sliding behind a reinforced concrete barrier. He leveled his MCX Spear-21.1, the suppressed barrel clicking as he toggled the fire selector. "I've got eyes on the lower ledge. They're climbing the walls!"
"Let 'em come!" Francis roared, racking his Mossberg. "I needed a new rug anyway!"
[TIME REMAINING: 06:42]
The first wave didn't come from the doors; They came from the edges. Common Infected scrambled over the parapets like spiders, Their fingers raw & bleeding from the climb.
Jake's Uncanny Instinct (Passive) flared. He swapped from his ACR to his Remington 80 Shotgun with Fast Hands (P2) logic, The transition so fluid it looked like a glitch in the simulation.
BOOM.
The Express Light Bolt allowed him to pump the shotgun with blistering speed. He turned a cluster of three infected into red mist before they could find their footing. Beside him, Zoey let loose with the MP5A4 Jake had gifted her. The 9MM SUB OP rounds tore through the horde, Her aim steady thanks to the recoil management Jake had coached her on.
"Smoker on the AC unit!" Miller shouted, His MCX Spear barking three-round bursts. The 6.8mm rounds punched through the Smoker's bloated throat, sending it tumbling off the roof in a cloud of purple gas.
[TIME REMAINING: 03:35]
The simulation sensed their efficiency and adjusted. The music shifted—a frantic, high-pitched piano trill.
"Hunters!" Bill warned, But he was a second too slow.
A blue-hoodied silhouette blurred through the air, Pouncing toward Louis. Jake reacted instantly. Combat Focus (Active) triggered. Time dilated into a crawl. Jake saw the Hunter's mid-air trajectory, Thr saliva flying from its maw. He didn't fire; He lunged. Using Unarmed Disarm (Passive) logic, He caught the Hunter's wrist mid-flight, redirected its momentum, and slammed it face-first into the gravel before finishing it with a point-blank shotgun blast.
"Thanks, Hazmat!" Louis gasped, His Uzi shaking in his hands.
"Stay sharp, Louis! Scavenger (P4) is active—grab the ammo from the crates I dropped!" Jake shouted. He felt the Quick Fix (N-Perk) surging through him, every kill knitting together the minor tears in his stamina.
In the "Real World" Jake's breathing was heavy, His chest rising & falling in sync with his digital avatar. Beside him, Laura Kinney shifted in her sleep, her hand instinctively clutching the edge of his shirt, her subconscious picking up on the combat-adrenaline leaking through their mental link.
[TIME REMAINING: 01:00]
The roof shuddered. The Mercy Guardian Tank, Finally shaking off the distraction of the Bile Bomb, let out a roar that shattered the remaining glass in the radio shack. It had grown—jagged bone plates now covered its chest like organic armor.
"Miller! The Gustaf! NOW!" Jake yelled.
"Clearing backblast!" Miller screamed. He shouldered the Carl Gustaf M4.
WHOOSH.
The high-explosive round caught the Tank in the shoulder. The explosion stripped away a massive chunk of dermal plating, revealing the pulsing, raw muscle beneath. The beast stumbled but didn't fall. It ripped a massive chunk of the chimney out of the roof and wound up to throw.
"Spread out!" Jake commanded, His Lethality Calibration (Passive) highlighting the Tank's exposed lower vertebrae.
Jake sprinted directly at the beast, Activating PHD Slider (BP-3). He hit the deck, Sliding between the Tank's massive, tree-trunk legs. As he slid, He planted a C4 charge (Synced from his MCDF arsenal) onto its heel.
He kicked off the ground, A backflip bringing him to his feet as the Tank turned.
"Smile for the camera, You big ugly bastard..!" Jake muttered, clicking the detonator.
EAR-SPLITTING CRACK.
The Tank's right leg vanished in a plume of fire. It collapsed to one knee, letting out a mournful, tectonic groan.
00:00: The Cavalry Arrives
The timer hit zero, And the sky didn't just open—it exploded.
From the darkness beyond the roof, The rhythmic thump-thump-thump of heavy rotors drowned out the screams of the infected. A massive AH-64 Apache rose like a predatory insect from the street level, Its M230 30mm Chain Gun slaved to the pilot's helmet.
TRT-TRT-TRT-TRT!
The chain gun sang a song of lead, Stitching a line of explosions across the rooftop. Every infected caught in the spray was erased. The Apache then tilted its nose down, Loitering over the wounded Mercy Guardian. A single Hellfire missile left the rail, Turning the Tank into a funeral pyre of mutated ash.
Following the Apache, The HH-60G PAVE Hawk roared into a hover. Two MCDF Doorgunners, Clad in full tactical gear, leaned out of the side bays with M134 Miniguns.
"GET TO THE CHOPPER!" Bill yelled, Grinning through the smoke.
Jake grabbed Zoey & Louis, Shoving them toward the open bay of the PAVE Hawk. Miller provided cover fire with his Glock 18Auto, The spray of lead keeping the few remaining "Common" stragglers at bay.
As Jake climbed onto the skids, He looked back at the burning roof. The simulation began to pixelate at the edges, the mission complete.
"Commander, Extraction successful." Neo's voice whispered warmly. "Returning you to consciousness. Sleep well... you earned this one."
The PAVE Hawk banked into the sunrise, And the world of the dead faded into the warm, lavender-scented reality of Fort Hope.
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A/Comment: Hi! Ladies & Gentlemen! First of all, People really thought I was going to let Piper act weird without me explaining cool it my fellow humans. I had already planned to explain what she was doing.
Now! For The Important News! As you all may or may not know, This Fallout Fanfic is my own passion project. And I'm feeling brain fogs writing this, And I will still write this story. As what I am trying to say… Feel like when I try to write an semi-normal strength, I end up making them OP… Not that I hate that, Just I feel like all my character has to do is throw something at the problem & win… Ya know?
Anyway, I was think on making a new story later down the road! The 100, TV Hopper, Or My Little Pony