@Renee - some of your thoughts might be right...
@TheCheshireKhajiit - more will become clear in the future...
@Acadian - only time will tell...
@SubRosa - could be...
_______
VIII
When Lucy West woke up the following morning, Cory Costner was already gone. Gone to Arefu she found written on a paper on the night stand next to her bed. “Watch yourself out there, Cory.” Lucy kissed the paper.
As she went to the Brass Lantern for her breakfast, Jenny Stahl, the cook, told her that the pretty stranger who arrived yesterday, saved Lucas Simms’ life in the morning.
“Oh, you mean Cory?” asked Lucy. “Why? What happened?”
“Just look at yourself,” winked Jenny. “You already know his name. And don’t think I haven’t seen you two going to your shack yesterday…”
“Quit it, Jenny,” smiled Lucy. “What happened with sheriff Simms?”
“Fortunately nothing happened because your Cory intervened.” Jenny made sure to accentuate “your”. “It turned out that Mr. Burke, you know that man in fine suit who came to town not long ago, wanted to bribe Cory to rig our bomb!”
“It can’t be!”
“Well, it sure can. But your Cory informed sheriff Simms about it. However, when the sheriff wanted to arrest Burke, the snake tried to shoot him in the back! He’d succeed if Cory wouldn’t intervene and shoot Burke first. Nova told me all of it, she was there.”
“Oh my God, he saved us all, Jenny, do you get it? If Burke asked someone else, he might rig the bomb and we’d all be gone.”
“Sure, I get it. Sheriff Simms rewarded him heftily, from what I’ve heard. Okay, baby, these were my news,” Jenny put some fresh mutfruits in front of Lucy. “Now what happened the previous evening between you and that sweet stranger, eh?"
Jenny definitely wouldn’t call him sweet if she knew that the man, who saved Megaton and was now walking towards Arefu, would kill two women on this very day.
The first would be Silver, a whore who escaped from Moriarty’s saloon a while ago. The hero of Megaton wanted to have some fun with her first but she would fight back like a wild yao-guai so he would cut her throat quickly and efficiently.
The second one would be a lone hunter named Maggie who would try to fight back as well but the hero of Megaton would overpower her and after some fun, cut her throat too.
Two cards were dropped on this day, a rare event.
The hero of Megaton was surely the sweetest man around.
_______
Helpful stranger
With the sheriff
"Watch out, sheriff!"
Life saver
Grateful sheriff
Silver
The dark side of the "hero"
One for Silver...
...one for Maggie
Full Version: The card killer
Well I was right about Silver, I knew she would be next, because she lives kind of on her own and stuff.
Card Killer must be stopped! I wonder if there are any chapters coming in which somebody begins to piece together all those cards. Somebody's gotta be following the kid by now.
Card Killer must be stopped! I wonder if there are any chapters coming in which somebody begins to piece together all those cards. Somebody's gotta be following the kid by now.
QUOTE(Lopov @ Sep 29 2017, 07:32 AM) 
@Renee - some of your thoughts might be right...
@TheCheshireKhajiit - more will become clear in the future...
@Acadian - only time will tell...
@SubRosa - could be...
_______
VIII
When Lucy West woke up the following morning, Cory Costner was already gone. Gone to Arefu she found written on a paper on the night stand next to her bed. “Watch yourself out there, Cory.” Lucy kissed the paper.
As she went to the Brass Lantern for her breakfast, Jenny Stahl, the cook, told her that the pretty stranger who arrived yesterday, saved Lucas Simms’ life in the morning.
“Oh, you mean Cory?” asked Lucy. “Why? What happened?”
“Just look at yourself,” winked Jenny. “You already know his name. And don’t think I haven’t seen you two going to your shack yesterday…”
“Quit it, Jenny,” smiled Lucy. “What happened with sheriff Simms?”
“Fortunately nothing happened because your Cory intervened.” Jenny made sure to accentuate “your”. “It turned out that Mr. Burke, you know that man in fine suit who came to town not long ago, wanted to bribe Cory to rig our bomb!”
“It can’t be!”
“Well, it sure can. But your Cory informed sheriff Simms about it. However, when the sheriff wanted to arrest Burke, the snake tried to shoot him in the back! He’d succeed if Cory wouldn’t intervene and shoot Burke first. Nova told me all of it, she was there.”
“Oh my God, he saved us all, Jenny, do you get it? If Burke asked someone else, he might rig the bomb and we’d all be gone.”
“Sure, I get it. Sheriff Simms rewarded him heftily, from what I’ve heard. Okay, baby, these were my news,” Jenny put some fresh mutfruits in front of Lucy. “Now what happened the previous evening between you and that sweet stranger, eh?"
Jenny definitely wouldn’t call him sweet if she knew that the man, who saved Megaton and was now walking towards Arefu, would kill two women on this very day.
The first would be Silver, a whore who escaped from Moriarty’s saloon a while ago. The hero of Megaton wanted to have some fun with her first but she would fight back like a wild yao-guai so he would cut her throat quickly and efficiently.
The second one would be a lone hunter named Maggie who would try to fight back as well but the hero of Megaton would overpower her and after some fun, cut her throat too.
Two cards were dropped on this day, a rare event.
The hero of Megaton was surely the sweetest man around.
_______
Helpful stranger
With the sheriff
"Watch out, sheriff!"
Life saver
Grateful sheriff
Silver
The dark side of the "hero"
One for Silver...
...one for Maggie
A twofer! Boy, Khajiit can hardly wait to see what his plans for Lucy West are!
The Hero of Megaton must be stopped!
Wow, I don't believe CK has a good side in addition to his bad side so I'm just wondering what his game is right now. Does he want to have a safehaven base or does he plan to leave some calling cards there as well? Hmmm....
@Renee - in today's story some of your questions will be partly answered.
@TheCheshireKhajiit - Lucy doesn't yet appear in this story but in the next one she does.
@SubRosa - but who will stop him?
@Acadian - I don't think he has a good side either.
_______
IX
“Thanks, kid. You’re alright.” Evan King, the self-proclaimed lawman of Arefu, patted young Cory on the back.
“Wish there were more people like you in the wastes, helping people and such.”
“Glad to help,” smiled Cory and lit a cigarette.
“Are you taking Ian to Lucy in Megaton?” asked King.
“I wanted to but he insists on staying here. I’ll tell Lucy that he’s safe, though. They’ll both have to bear with the death of their parents.”
“They’ll get over it with time. In the wastes you have to learn to get over things quickly because you never know how long you’re going to live. Right, kid?”
“I guess so.”
“Will you be staying with us for a while?” asked Evan and lit a cigarette himself.
“Just tonight. Tomorrow I’m heading back to Megaton.”
---tomorrow night---
"Gentlemen and ladies, boys and girls, prepare to be astounded, bedazzled, and otherwise stupefied! I am Three Dog, your master of ceremonies!” the most popular DJ of the Capital Wasteland greeted his audience. Dorothy, the lone scavenger, turned the volume up. The young man next to her stirred in sleep. Dorothy often listened to Three Dog’s reports, not to mention the great music he played on the radio.
"I've been getting more and more reports of murdered women in the Capital Wasteland,” Three Dog continued with a dramatic voice. “But there’s more – there were tarot cards found next to their bodies. Especially in the south of the Capital Wasteland. Regulators tell stories of the man known as the card killer who kills women, then leaves cards behind. If the stories are true, it now seems that the serial killer came to our parts. All the ladies out there – don’t trust anyone you don’t know, stock up on ammo and be very, very careful.”
Music followed, the Ink spots and their song Maybe, so Dorothy turned the volume slightly down and huddled up to the kid she had just had sex with. Don’t trust anyone you don’t know, the Three Dog was warning her too, but Dorothy just ignored his warning and had sex with a complete stranger. But if he was the guy in question, I’d already be dead by now, wouldn’t I, thought Dorothy.
But she was wrong. The kid next to her was merely waiting for her backpack to be more away from her – if he attacked her now, she might grab for her gun and surprise him. He needed to lure her away from her backpack and her weapons.
“I like this song,” said the kid.
“Oh, you’re awake. Sorry if the radio woke you up.”
“It’s okay. Do you like this song?”
“Yeah. All songs from the Ink Spots are great. Wish they played them more often.”
“How about a toast to us? I’d fetch some wine from that fridge but my leg still hurts from that mole rat’s bite…”
“Oh you poor baby,” smiled Dorothy. “I’ll get it, don’t worry.”
No you won’t, thought the kid and put on his kindest smile.
As Dorothy stood up, still naked, and moved over to the pre-war fridge, leaving her backpack with weapons behind her, the kid silently stood up behind her. He put on his jacket and slowly pulled out the knife from one of its pockets. He went after Dorothy and as she turned around to see what was happening behind her, the knife was already too close to her neck to survive.
The following day Cory Costner returned to Megaton.
_______
He's alright
Meeting Dorothy
Sex with goggles
Behind you!
Too late!
Death card
@TheCheshireKhajiit - Lucy doesn't yet appear in this story but in the next one she does.
@SubRosa - but who will stop him?
@Acadian - I don't think he has a good side either.
_______
IX
“Thanks, kid. You’re alright.” Evan King, the self-proclaimed lawman of Arefu, patted young Cory on the back.
“Wish there were more people like you in the wastes, helping people and such.”
“Glad to help,” smiled Cory and lit a cigarette.
“Are you taking Ian to Lucy in Megaton?” asked King.
“I wanted to but he insists on staying here. I’ll tell Lucy that he’s safe, though. They’ll both have to bear with the death of their parents.”
“They’ll get over it with time. In the wastes you have to learn to get over things quickly because you never know how long you’re going to live. Right, kid?”
“I guess so.”
“Will you be staying with us for a while?” asked Evan and lit a cigarette himself.
“Just tonight. Tomorrow I’m heading back to Megaton.”
---tomorrow night---
"Gentlemen and ladies, boys and girls, prepare to be astounded, bedazzled, and otherwise stupefied! I am Three Dog, your master of ceremonies!” the most popular DJ of the Capital Wasteland greeted his audience. Dorothy, the lone scavenger, turned the volume up. The young man next to her stirred in sleep. Dorothy often listened to Three Dog’s reports, not to mention the great music he played on the radio.
"I've been getting more and more reports of murdered women in the Capital Wasteland,” Three Dog continued with a dramatic voice. “But there’s more – there were tarot cards found next to their bodies. Especially in the south of the Capital Wasteland. Regulators tell stories of the man known as the card killer who kills women, then leaves cards behind. If the stories are true, it now seems that the serial killer came to our parts. All the ladies out there – don’t trust anyone you don’t know, stock up on ammo and be very, very careful.”
Music followed, the Ink spots and their song Maybe, so Dorothy turned the volume slightly down and huddled up to the kid she had just had sex with. Don’t trust anyone you don’t know, the Three Dog was warning her too, but Dorothy just ignored his warning and had sex with a complete stranger. But if he was the guy in question, I’d already be dead by now, wouldn’t I, thought Dorothy.
But she was wrong. The kid next to her was merely waiting for her backpack to be more away from her – if he attacked her now, she might grab for her gun and surprise him. He needed to lure her away from her backpack and her weapons.
“I like this song,” said the kid.
“Oh, you’re awake. Sorry if the radio woke you up.”
“It’s okay. Do you like this song?”
“Yeah. All songs from the Ink Spots are great. Wish they played them more often.”
“How about a toast to us? I’d fetch some wine from that fridge but my leg still hurts from that mole rat’s bite…”
“Oh you poor baby,” smiled Dorothy. “I’ll get it, don’t worry.”
No you won’t, thought the kid and put on his kindest smile.
As Dorothy stood up, still naked, and moved over to the pre-war fridge, leaving her backpack with weapons behind her, the kid silently stood up behind her. He put on his jacket and slowly pulled out the knife from one of its pockets. He went after Dorothy and as she turned around to see what was happening behind her, the knife was already too close to her neck to survive.
The following day Cory Costner returned to Megaton.
_______
He's alright
Meeting Dorothy
Sex with goggles
Behind you!
Too late!
Death card
Well that was a nasty bit of business (par for the course where CK is concerned)! Khajiit loves how Dorothy left on the goggles, lol (gotta protect those eyes from flying fluids!). This one would hate to be the one who stumbles in and discovers the grisly scene with Dorothy's severed head!
Yeah, she shoulda listened to the Three Dog. 
I was wrong this time. I thought he'd go after that one lady who lives up on the bridge where the West family is.... or was. I forget her name, but there's a lady who's kind of b!tchy. Not her.
I am predicting that the Card Killer is rather nondescript. He looks ordinary. No distinguishing features. No facial hair, especially. No scars or moles, freckles, etc. But he's got a rather kind face, and also boyish and cute. He's too innocent-looking. Even Three Dog can't warn people enough about this guy.
I was wrong this time. I thought he'd go after that one lady who lives up on the bridge where the West family is.... or was. I forget her name, but there's a lady who's kind of b!tchy. Not her.
I am predicting that the Card Killer is rather nondescript. He looks ordinary. No distinguishing features. No facial hair, especially. No scars or moles, freckles, etc. But he's got a rather kind face, and also boyish and cute. He's too innocent-looking. Even Three Dog can't warn people enough about this guy.
So having protected sex means wearing goggles! Who knew?
Aww, even her goggles didn't protect poor Dorothy.
I'm still wondering if CK is using Megaton as a safe base of operations or if he has sinister plans for there as well.
Three Dog needs to play 'I Need a Hero!'
Aww, even her goggles didn't protect poor Dorothy.
I'm still wondering if CK is using Megaton as a safe base of operations or if he has sinister plans for there as well.
Three Dog needs to play 'I Need a Hero!'
@TheCheshireKhajiit - flying fluids!
@Renee - his face is kind, I think, and cute too. He has some facial hair but not much.
@SubRosa - Deeno, one of my more evil characters in Fallout, was killed by mirelurks because he was careless. Cory is more clever and often avoids combat if possible.
@Acadian - yes, "I need a hero" sounds like an appropriate song for the Capital Wasteland right now.
_______
X
Sheriff Simms recognized a potential when he saw it. Young Cory Costner who saved his life about a week ago, now contributed to the safety of Megaton again – he successfully disarmed the undetonated atomic bomb that was lying dormant in Megaton for many years. Sheriff Simms also noticed that Cory and Lucy West have become closely acquainted as of late, so an offer to the kid was made…
“Say, Cory, our town could use someone like you. To be honest, I need a reliable deputy, someone that’d protect the town and its surroundings. Any chances that you’d stay with us? There’s a free house for you right above us.” The Sheriff pointed in the direction of the small house placed above the Brass Lantern.
“Besides, I think that Lucy West would be very happy to have you stay here with us. With her. What do you say?”
Sheriff Simms expected a negative answer because according to his experience good people always came and left, but surprisingly Cory said: ”Gladly.”
Sheriff Simms firmly patted him on the back. “That’s awesome, kid. Say, you ever heard of the Regulators?”
“I met some of them, mostly in the west,” said Cory and lit a cigarette. “You’re one of them, aren’t you? I recognized your coat.”
“Indeed I am. And it’s good to hear that you’re familiar with us – not many people are left to maintain peace in the wastes so people like us, the Regulators, are very much needed. Besides, we’re always looking for new recruits that’d contribute to the greater good. I’d like to invite you to our ranks, to make you an official lawman of the Capital Wasteland. What do you say?”
The same answer as before: “Gladly.”
“Great, kid. You aren’t tough to persuade, are you?” smiled Simms.
“Depends on the offer.”
“Well, I’ll sure be happy to have you around. Now to make things official, you’ll need to travel to our HQ in the Capital Wasteland and enlist there. I’ll mark the location on your PipBoy. Once there, talk to Sonora Cruz, she’s our leader in these parts. You’ll show her the note which I’ll write for you and then you’ll officially join us.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Good to hear. There are all sorts of psychos out there to deal with, but while I can’t truly blame mutants and feral ghouls, raiders I sure can, so that’s what Regulators are mostly about – dealing with the worst of human race has to offer. There are also some sly killers at work from time to time like that card killer, ever heard of him?”
“Nope.”
“Well, right now he’s somewhere here in the Capital Wasteland but what scares me is that I found one of our former citizens dead in Springvale a while ago and there was the [censored] card next to her body.”
“What card?”
“Oh sorry, you said you don’t know him. Well there’s some sick [censored] roaming the wastes, preying on lone women. He [censored] them, then cuts their throats and leaves cards next to their bodies. Sick, isn’t it? Such corpses were lately found in the Capital Wasteland, mostly in the south and who knows how many more haven’t been found yet. Some of our fellow Regulators that came from other places, told me of similar killings, so looks like the killer isn’t staying in one place for too long. What I’m saying is that while raiders are easy to track down and kill, guys like the card killer can be a tough nut to break, know what I mean?”
“Sure.”
“But enough of that now, I’m sure you’ll meet your own share of killers in the career that’s ahead of you. I’m going to write a message for Sonora now and you can leave to our HQ whenever you feel ready, alright kid?”
“Sounds good.”
Sheriff Simms patted the soon-to-be-deputy on the back again, then left for his house. As the kid lit another cigarette, he looked at his own reflection in the drinking glass in front of him. Becoming a deputy wasn’t in his plan, but the offer was too good to refuse.
_______
Lucy West
Disarming the bomb
Lucas Simms
The deputy's shack
Lucy visiting
Dining with the sheriff
@Renee - his face is kind, I think, and cute too. He has some facial hair but not much.
@SubRosa - Deeno, one of my more evil characters in Fallout, was killed by mirelurks because he was careless. Cory is more clever and often avoids combat if possible.
@Acadian - yes, "I need a hero" sounds like an appropriate song for the Capital Wasteland right now.
_______
X
Sheriff Simms recognized a potential when he saw it. Young Cory Costner who saved his life about a week ago, now contributed to the safety of Megaton again – he successfully disarmed the undetonated atomic bomb that was lying dormant in Megaton for many years. Sheriff Simms also noticed that Cory and Lucy West have become closely acquainted as of late, so an offer to the kid was made…
“Say, Cory, our town could use someone like you. To be honest, I need a reliable deputy, someone that’d protect the town and its surroundings. Any chances that you’d stay with us? There’s a free house for you right above us.” The Sheriff pointed in the direction of the small house placed above the Brass Lantern.
“Besides, I think that Lucy West would be very happy to have you stay here with us. With her. What do you say?”
Sheriff Simms expected a negative answer because according to his experience good people always came and left, but surprisingly Cory said: ”Gladly.”
Sheriff Simms firmly patted him on the back. “That’s awesome, kid. Say, you ever heard of the Regulators?”
“I met some of them, mostly in the west,” said Cory and lit a cigarette. “You’re one of them, aren’t you? I recognized your coat.”
“Indeed I am. And it’s good to hear that you’re familiar with us – not many people are left to maintain peace in the wastes so people like us, the Regulators, are very much needed. Besides, we’re always looking for new recruits that’d contribute to the greater good. I’d like to invite you to our ranks, to make you an official lawman of the Capital Wasteland. What do you say?”
The same answer as before: “Gladly.”
“Great, kid. You aren’t tough to persuade, are you?” smiled Simms.
“Depends on the offer.”
“Well, I’ll sure be happy to have you around. Now to make things official, you’ll need to travel to our HQ in the Capital Wasteland and enlist there. I’ll mark the location on your PipBoy. Once there, talk to Sonora Cruz, she’s our leader in these parts. You’ll show her the note which I’ll write for you and then you’ll officially join us.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Good to hear. There are all sorts of psychos out there to deal with, but while I can’t truly blame mutants and feral ghouls, raiders I sure can, so that’s what Regulators are mostly about – dealing with the worst of human race has to offer. There are also some sly killers at work from time to time like that card killer, ever heard of him?”
“Nope.”
“Well, right now he’s somewhere here in the Capital Wasteland but what scares me is that I found one of our former citizens dead in Springvale a while ago and there was the [censored] card next to her body.”
“What card?”
“Oh sorry, you said you don’t know him. Well there’s some sick [censored] roaming the wastes, preying on lone women. He [censored] them, then cuts their throats and leaves cards next to their bodies. Sick, isn’t it? Such corpses were lately found in the Capital Wasteland, mostly in the south and who knows how many more haven’t been found yet. Some of our fellow Regulators that came from other places, told me of similar killings, so looks like the killer isn’t staying in one place for too long. What I’m saying is that while raiders are easy to track down and kill, guys like the card killer can be a tough nut to break, know what I mean?”
“Sure.”
“But enough of that now, I’m sure you’ll meet your own share of killers in the career that’s ahead of you. I’m going to write a message for Sonora now and you can leave to our HQ whenever you feel ready, alright kid?”
“Sounds good.”
Sheriff Simms patted the soon-to-be-deputy on the back again, then left for his house. As the kid lit another cigarette, he looked at his own reflection in the drinking glass in front of him. Becoming a deputy wasn’t in his plan, but the offer was too good to refuse.
_______
Lucy West
Disarming the bomb
Lucas Simms
The deputy's shack
Lucy visiting
Dining with the sheriff
F5... F5 ... F... Ah there we go.
The devil's right in front of them all now. Not only that, but even though Lucas hopes he sticks around, the CK's also got a legit reason to travel again. So here we go again.
The devil's right in front of them all now. Not only that, but even though Lucas hopes he sticks around, the CK's also got a legit reason to travel again.
So here we go again.
If power corrupts, what does it do to someone who is already corrupt? Khajiit is afraid the CK is about to unleash a nightmare on Megaton!
The wolf is now guarding the sheep pen!
Wow! Cory may find himself on the trail of that dastardly Card Killer! Oh the irony! 
Darn, I'm starting to kind of like Lucy. That means she's probably gonna be found with a card, eh?
Darn, I'm starting to kind of like Lucy. That means she's probably gonna be found with a card, eh?
QUOTE(Acadian @ Oct 19 2017, 01:19 PM)
Darn, I'm starting to kind of like Lucy. That means she's probably gonna be found with a card, eh?
I'm guessing she won't be. She lives too close around other people, and stays within Megaton at all times. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't just see her getting offed while "Cory" is around, and then he expects people not to suspect him. He's too smart for that.
Maybe I'm wrong though.
Thanks to all of you that are still faithfully following the card killer's tale. Today's story features a twist of sort and the card killer's plans get disrupted.
Also, in the following story late scavenger Violet and her tamed yao-guai are mentioned again so in case you need to refresh your memory, I recommend reading story V again, at least the beginning.
_______
XI
Sonora Cruz welcomed the newest member among their ranks, briefly explained him the rules of “regulating” and handed him the duster that’d identify him as a lawman of the Capital Wasteland.
The legend among the regulators, Sonora Cruz was considered one of the toughest women of the wasteland – numerous good-for-nothings tried to take her life but every single one of them met his death at the hand of Sonora. She wasn’t a woman to mess with and in her long career of a peacemaker she acquired what she called a sixth sense for people.
And she sure as hell didn’t like Cory Costner. “He’s trying too hard to be cute. I don’t like his pleasing smile at all,” thought Sonora. But when Cory was putting his jacket down, Sonora got another, even better reason not to trust him – in the inner pocket of his jacket she noticed a yellow radio head set. Such sets were extremely rare, and so far Sonora Cruz saw only one in her entire life, and it belonged to her friend Violet, who roamed the wastes with her tamed yao-guai Willy. And by now it was well-known that Violet was found dead with the card next to her.
“Hey, Cory! Where’d you get that yellow headset?”
She noticed that he “froze” for a second, like her question unsettled him.
“I bought it from a scavenger,” he answered and the kind smile was gone from his face. “Why?”
“Did you? And was that scavenger a woman?”
“No, a man. But he told me that this headset belonged to some dead woman. Some well-known scavenger. He wanted three hundred caps for it.”
“Did he now?” The disbelief in her voice was hard to miss.
Well he got me now, she thought. Maybe he’s talking the truth, maybe some scav found Violet’s corpse and took her radio set, then sold it to this guy. But if he’s lying…then we’ll have to keep an eye on him.
“The late scavenger was a good friend of mine,” continued Sonora, her eyes firmly fixed on Cory’s. “She also had a lovely pet – a tamed yao-guai called Willy. Did you ever see a tamed yao-guai, Cory?”
“No,” he curtly replied and Sonora sensed that she’s making him slightly nervous.
“Well this friend of mine had this particular radio set. Probably the only one around that’s yellow.”
“So I reckon you want it?” he asked.
“No, no, just keep it. I wanted to be sure, you know. She was killed by the card killer. You familiar with the guy?”
“Lucas Simms told me about him.”
“Good. Then you wouldn’t mind if my guys search you thoroughly, would you? We have to be careful these days with the killer on the run. This guy's really sick, you know? I bet he has a small d!ck so he has to please himself by having sex with his victims before killing them. I bet he has all kinds of complexes, maybe he was even molested as a child.” Sonora's eyes never left Cory's and the same could be said for his. "Anyway, back on topic...you don't mind if Ernesto and Johnny search you, right?"
“No problem,” shrugged the newest regulator though Sonora sensed that she unsettled him.
Sonora’s two henchmen searched Cory but didn’t find any cards.
“Satisfied?” asked Cory.
“I’ll have to be. Alright, kid, good hunting out there. I’m looking forward to hearing about your deeds. I bet there will be plenty.”
“Hope you’re not mad about the headset. I believe it brings me good luck so I always carry it with me since I bought it.” The kind smile was back.
“It’s alright, kid. Now let’s see you at work!”
Cory put his new hat on, nodded in goodbye and left the shack. A distance east of it he approached the raider which he killed on his way to the shack, and took a set of tarot cards from his pocket.
“You’re as good as dead, Sonora Cruz.”
He clenched the cards. It always made him nervous when people were asking too many questions. Even more nervous as they talked about his complexes! His!They were the one with complexes! All of his victims deserved it! Deserved it right through their necks! Wh0res! All of them were wh0res! Stupid headset! Why didn’t he get rid of it?
“F**k you, Sonora.”
He clenched cards even more, tearing some of them.
This wasn’t what he was planning.
“Why did I even accept this stupid role of a deputy?”
He was careless and now it were better if he left the Capital Wasteland. Too bad, he could see himself living with Lucy. He wouldn't harm her, she was better than others, she cared about him. He felt good with her. He really intended to try and stop his killing habit and live an ordinary life with Lucy but this bleeding b!tch Sonora Cruz ruined everything. She's going to pay! Many, many of them are going to pay! Nobody f***s with the card killer.
Disturbed more than ever, the newest regulator headed northeast. He should return to Megaton but he wanted to enact his vengeance on the first woman he'll come across. If he hurries, he should be in Megaton by tomorrow. By then he would think of another plan.
_______
Sonora Cruz
Lucy West
Also, in the following story late scavenger Violet and her tamed yao-guai are mentioned again so in case you need to refresh your memory, I recommend reading story V again, at least the beginning.
_______
XI
Sonora Cruz welcomed the newest member among their ranks, briefly explained him the rules of “regulating” and handed him the duster that’d identify him as a lawman of the Capital Wasteland.
The legend among the regulators, Sonora Cruz was considered one of the toughest women of the wasteland – numerous good-for-nothings tried to take her life but every single one of them met his death at the hand of Sonora. She wasn’t a woman to mess with and in her long career of a peacemaker she acquired what she called a sixth sense for people.
And she sure as hell didn’t like Cory Costner. “He’s trying too hard to be cute. I don’t like his pleasing smile at all,” thought Sonora. But when Cory was putting his jacket down, Sonora got another, even better reason not to trust him – in the inner pocket of his jacket she noticed a yellow radio head set. Such sets were extremely rare, and so far Sonora Cruz saw only one in her entire life, and it belonged to her friend Violet, who roamed the wastes with her tamed yao-guai Willy. And by now it was well-known that Violet was found dead with the card next to her.
“Hey, Cory! Where’d you get that yellow headset?”
She noticed that he “froze” for a second, like her question unsettled him.
“I bought it from a scavenger,” he answered and the kind smile was gone from his face. “Why?”
“Did you? And was that scavenger a woman?”
“No, a man. But he told me that this headset belonged to some dead woman. Some well-known scavenger. He wanted three hundred caps for it.”
“Did he now?” The disbelief in her voice was hard to miss.
Well he got me now, she thought. Maybe he’s talking the truth, maybe some scav found Violet’s corpse and took her radio set, then sold it to this guy. But if he’s lying…then we’ll have to keep an eye on him.
“The late scavenger was a good friend of mine,” continued Sonora, her eyes firmly fixed on Cory’s. “She also had a lovely pet – a tamed yao-guai called Willy. Did you ever see a tamed yao-guai, Cory?”
“No,” he curtly replied and Sonora sensed that she’s making him slightly nervous.
“Well this friend of mine had this particular radio set. Probably the only one around that’s yellow.”
“So I reckon you want it?” he asked.
“No, no, just keep it. I wanted to be sure, you know. She was killed by the card killer. You familiar with the guy?”
“Lucas Simms told me about him.”
“Good. Then you wouldn’t mind if my guys search you thoroughly, would you? We have to be careful these days with the killer on the run. This guy's really sick, you know? I bet he has a small d!ck so he has to please himself by having sex with his victims before killing them. I bet he has all kinds of complexes, maybe he was even molested as a child.” Sonora's eyes never left Cory's and the same could be said for his. "Anyway, back on topic...you don't mind if Ernesto and Johnny search you, right?"
“No problem,” shrugged the newest regulator though Sonora sensed that she unsettled him.
Sonora’s two henchmen searched Cory but didn’t find any cards.
“Satisfied?” asked Cory.
“I’ll have to be. Alright, kid, good hunting out there. I’m looking forward to hearing about your deeds. I bet there will be plenty.”
“Hope you’re not mad about the headset. I believe it brings me good luck so I always carry it with me since I bought it.” The kind smile was back.
“It’s alright, kid. Now let’s see you at work!”
Cory put his new hat on, nodded in goodbye and left the shack. A distance east of it he approached the raider which he killed on his way to the shack, and took a set of tarot cards from his pocket.
“You’re as good as dead, Sonora Cruz.”
He clenched the cards. It always made him nervous when people were asking too many questions. Even more nervous as they talked about his complexes! His!They were the one with complexes! All of his victims deserved it! Deserved it right through their necks! Wh0res! All of them were wh0res! Stupid headset! Why didn’t he get rid of it?
“F**k you, Sonora.”
He clenched cards even more, tearing some of them.
This wasn’t what he was planning.
“Why did I even accept this stupid role of a deputy?”
He was careless and now it were better if he left the Capital Wasteland. Too bad, he could see himself living with Lucy. He wouldn't harm her, she was better than others, she cared about him. He felt good with her. He really intended to try and stop his killing habit and live an ordinary life with Lucy but this bleeding b!tch Sonora Cruz ruined everything. She's going to pay! Many, many of them are going to pay! Nobody f***s with the card killer.
Disturbed more than ever, the newest regulator headed northeast. He should return to Megaton but he wanted to enact his vengeance on the first woman he'll come across. If he hurries, he should be in Megaton by tomorrow. By then he would think of another plan.
_______
Sonora Cruz
Lucy West
Ha ha he got nervous, the little punk. Good episode, scoundrel. Sonora's not going to get hurt, I bet. He can't go there. If he does, he really is losing his cool. 
Bahahaha looks the CK met a worthy opponent!
Uh oh, Deputy Kevin Costner may have gotten in over his head with Sonora! I wonder which one will end up with their throat slit?
Woot! It is great to see the CK rattled - and Sonora is awesome. Once alone, he reveals that Sonora likely has him pretty well pegged. Maybe he's rattled enough to screw up. We can only hope.
@Renee - don't bet too much on Sonora's not getting hurt.
@TheCheshireKhajiit - he did indeed.
@SubRosa - maybe neither.
@Acadian - Sonora's words definitely changed a lot of what the card killer had in plan. For better or for worse, that yet remains to be seen.
_______
XII
As Crow, one of the four wandering merchants in the Capital Wasteland, and his loyal bodyguard Natasha were approaching the Temple of the Union, a safe haven for runaway slaves, they immediately noticed that something was terribly wrong. Outside there was a dead brahmin and next to it lay the corpse of their friend Crazy Wolfgang, another wandering merchant.
“Ready your weapons,” Crow ordered his bodyguard as he checked his late friend’s corpse. “He’s still warm so whoever did this left recently…or is still here.”
They slowly approached the ruined three-story building called the Temple of the Union and found the main door surprisingly unlocked. At all times escaped slaves kept the door tightly locked and only when trading, the merchants were let in, so Crow was positive that escaped slaves faced the same fate as his poor friend Crazy Wolfgang.
“I bet slavers sniffed the place out,” he told Natasha.
Crow first found Caleb Smith’s corpse in his bed, his throat cut. The next one found was Simone Cameron, her throat cut as she was sitting at a table. In a common room were corpses of Hannibal Hamlin and Bill Seward. And when he was more and more convinced that it was slavers who slaughtered their former “property”, he found the corpse of the youngest escaped slave – Alejandra Torres. Next to her corpse was a card depicting death.
“[censored]! It wasn’t the slavers, Natasha. It was the card killer!”
Not far from the Temple of the Union the killer was hiding behind some tree, inspecting Crow’s actions from a safe distance thanks to his scoped .44 Magnum. It wasn’t in his habit to kill as massively, he only wanted Alejandra but after Sonora Cruz pissed him off with her questioning, he needed to unleash his wrath on someone. Besides, if he had killed only Alejandra, it wouldn’t be difficult for other escaped slaves to put two and two together about the card killer’s identity – the seemingly friendly Regulator called Cory Costner who came to their temple this very day, pretending to be on a lookout for slaves. So unfortunately for Alejandra’s friends, they had to be removed too. And when he was done with them, Crazy Wolfgang and his stupid bodyguard came to the Temple to trade, in other words they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. A shame, he didn’t have anything against them, but he couldn’t afford to leave witnesses behind.
Despite mass murdering the card killer didn’t feel much better. Sonora Cruz ruined some of his plans and he had no doubt that regulators will spy on him as he’ll be performing his duty in or around Megaton. So maybe it was time to “die”. He “died” a few times before to elude those that found him suspicious. And then when he “dies”, Sonora would get what she deserves.
_______
The Temple of the Union
Of course he is on their side
Dining with former slaves
Action
Another card victim
Unlucky merchant and his bodyguard
Crow's caravan approaches
@TheCheshireKhajiit - he did indeed.
@SubRosa - maybe neither.
@Acadian - Sonora's words definitely changed a lot of what the card killer had in plan. For better or for worse, that yet remains to be seen.
_______
XII
As Crow, one of the four wandering merchants in the Capital Wasteland, and his loyal bodyguard Natasha were approaching the Temple of the Union, a safe haven for runaway slaves, they immediately noticed that something was terribly wrong. Outside there was a dead brahmin and next to it lay the corpse of their friend Crazy Wolfgang, another wandering merchant.
“Ready your weapons,” Crow ordered his bodyguard as he checked his late friend’s corpse. “He’s still warm so whoever did this left recently…or is still here.”
They slowly approached the ruined three-story building called the Temple of the Union and found the main door surprisingly unlocked. At all times escaped slaves kept the door tightly locked and only when trading, the merchants were let in, so Crow was positive that escaped slaves faced the same fate as his poor friend Crazy Wolfgang.
“I bet slavers sniffed the place out,” he told Natasha.
Crow first found Caleb Smith’s corpse in his bed, his throat cut. The next one found was Simone Cameron, her throat cut as she was sitting at a table. In a common room were corpses of Hannibal Hamlin and Bill Seward. And when he was more and more convinced that it was slavers who slaughtered their former “property”, he found the corpse of the youngest escaped slave – Alejandra Torres. Next to her corpse was a card depicting death.
“[censored]! It wasn’t the slavers, Natasha. It was the card killer!”
Not far from the Temple of the Union the killer was hiding behind some tree, inspecting Crow’s actions from a safe distance thanks to his scoped .44 Magnum. It wasn’t in his habit to kill as massively, he only wanted Alejandra but after Sonora Cruz pissed him off with her questioning, he needed to unleash his wrath on someone. Besides, if he had killed only Alejandra, it wouldn’t be difficult for other escaped slaves to put two and two together about the card killer’s identity – the seemingly friendly Regulator called Cory Costner who came to their temple this very day, pretending to be on a lookout for slaves. So unfortunately for Alejandra’s friends, they had to be removed too. And when he was done with them, Crazy Wolfgang and his stupid bodyguard came to the Temple to trade, in other words they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. A shame, he didn’t have anything against them, but he couldn’t afford to leave witnesses behind.
Despite mass murdering the card killer didn’t feel much better. Sonora Cruz ruined some of his plans and he had no doubt that regulators will spy on him as he’ll be performing his duty in or around Megaton. So maybe it was time to “die”. He “died” a few times before to elude those that found him suspicious. And then when he “dies”, Sonora would get what she deserves.
_______
The Temple of the Union
Of course he is on their side
Dining with former slaves
Action
Another card victim
Unlucky merchant and his bodyguard
Crow's caravan approaches
QUOTE(Lopov @ Oct 27 2017, 12:32 PM)
Sonora Cruz ruined some of his plans and he had no doubt that regulators will spy on him as he’ll be performing his duty in or around Megaton.
That's right. Card Killer is as good as caught, pretty much, because Sonora's gonna start asking questions, right? She'd better.
I like how the Crow Crew all knew who was responsible right away, or at least suspected as much.
I will say goodbye early to Cory. His day is coming.
I wonder if Sonora will sniff out the murder of the Unionists and connect it to The CK. The proximity and timing make things look bad for him.
Wow, he is getting braver, bolder and bloodier. Seems Sonora really pushed his buttons. If he was thinking clearly, he would have disappeared into the desert shortly after meeting Sonora. Seems he may be stumbling into his own undoing by keeping his profile high.
QUOTE(Acadian @ Oct 27 2017, 05:23 PM)
Wow, he is getting braver, bolder and bloodier.
Sloppier though, for sure. He's losing his cool.
QUOTE(Renee @ Oct 27 2017, 03:23 PM)
QUOTE(Acadian @ Oct 27 2017, 05:23 PM)
Wow, he is getting braver, bolder and bloodier.
Sloppier though, for sure. He's losing his cool.
I thing you are spot on right!
What a nice discussion you all had. 
Today's story was supposed to be much longer but I have a busy week and I didn't find time to edit and extend it. But I still think it's better to post it in its original form than wait another week to write more.
_______
XIII
The new deputy was well-liked among Megatoners. Though he was tasked with patrolling the vicinity of Megaton which meant that he usually left in mornings and returned in evenings, he made sure that the annoying preacher who kept rambling next to the now disarmed pre-war atomic bomb, preached no longer. The deputy kindly escorted him back to his church and advised him to preach there instead of in the middle of the town.
Walter, the local repairman, was glad to find out that the deputy wasn’t just handy with a gun but helped him fix some rusty pipes when he wasn’t on duty.
Jenny Stahl was glad to have him around in her bar, the Brass Lantern, because Jericho would leave her alone when Cory was around.
But the happiest was Lucy West who shared the bed with the new deputy. Though sheriff Simms gave him his own shack, Cory spent most nights at Lucy’s place.
Sonora Cruz, on the other hand, wasn’t as excited about the new deputy as Megatoners. Only a few days after he left the Regulators HQ, news of dead slaves at the Temple of the Union reached her. To her it made perfect sense that Cory Costner was behind it. Still, it was too damn obvious and surely Cory, if he was the card killer, would know that she would get even more suspicious. Unless this was his way of mocking her – her henchmen found no cards on him and as such she couldn’t accuse him of any crime but maybe the murders of escaped slaves were meant as revenge or as a warning to her.
In the following days she sent some of her regulators, disguised as simple travelers to travel in and around Megaton. When all but one, a young Regulator named Belle, returned, Sonora sent more guys to search the area around Megaton. It wasn’t long when her decapitated body was found by an abandoned barn west of the town, the card of death in the pool of blood next to her body.
Sonora knew it was time to act.
_______
Worthwhile
Lucy West
Belle
No one escapes from the card killer
Caught
Removing witnesess
The signature
Today's story was supposed to be much longer but I have a busy week and I didn't find time to edit and extend it. But I still think it's better to post it in its original form than wait another week to write more.
_______
XIII
The new deputy was well-liked among Megatoners. Though he was tasked with patrolling the vicinity of Megaton which meant that he usually left in mornings and returned in evenings, he made sure that the annoying preacher who kept rambling next to the now disarmed pre-war atomic bomb, preached no longer. The deputy kindly escorted him back to his church and advised him to preach there instead of in the middle of the town.
Walter, the local repairman, was glad to find out that the deputy wasn’t just handy with a gun but helped him fix some rusty pipes when he wasn’t on duty.
Jenny Stahl was glad to have him around in her bar, the Brass Lantern, because Jericho would leave her alone when Cory was around.
But the happiest was Lucy West who shared the bed with the new deputy. Though sheriff Simms gave him his own shack, Cory spent most nights at Lucy’s place.
Sonora Cruz, on the other hand, wasn’t as excited about the new deputy as Megatoners. Only a few days after he left the Regulators HQ, news of dead slaves at the Temple of the Union reached her. To her it made perfect sense that Cory Costner was behind it. Still, it was too damn obvious and surely Cory, if he was the card killer, would know that she would get even more suspicious. Unless this was his way of mocking her – her henchmen found no cards on him and as such she couldn’t accuse him of any crime but maybe the murders of escaped slaves were meant as revenge or as a warning to her.
In the following days she sent some of her regulators, disguised as simple travelers to travel in and around Megaton. When all but one, a young Regulator named Belle, returned, Sonora sent more guys to search the area around Megaton. It wasn’t long when her decapitated body was found by an abandoned barn west of the town, the card of death in the pool of blood next to her body.
Sonora knew it was time to act.
_______
Worthwhile
Lucy West
Belle
No one escapes from the card killer
Caught
Removing witnesess
The signature
Yeah, see, he just made some huge blunders. His ego's getting all hurt and stuff, and he's out of control, the [censored].
Oooh! Someone's in trouble! Khajiit suspects the CK will find a way out it though.
I know what CK should do to survive but I'm glad he's not doing it.
Yeah, I'm cheering for Sonora!
Yeah, I'm cheering for Sonora!
Hopefully Belle will be the last of the CKs victims.
@Renee - he may be losing control but today's story shows that he's still quite intelligent.
@TheCheshireKhajiit - when in trouble, you gotta remove the trouble.
@Acadian - cheer some more and maybe your wish will be granted.
@SubRosa - unfortunately she won't be the last.
Today's story is slightly more 'complicated' than others, particularly to those haven't played Fallout before. I tried to write it as clearly as possible but if there are some questions, I'll answer them.
_______
XIV
Lucy West’s happiness was short-lived.
Before Sonora's regulators would come to Megaton to question the new deputy, Cory Costner died.
Killed by the same unknown man who killed Leo Stahl, another Megatoner, earlier that night.
When sheriff Simms passed her the sad news, Lucy wanted to kill herself and probably would if her friend Jenny Stahl, late Leo’s sister, wouldn’t be there to comfort her. Jenny lost a brother and Lucy lost a boyfriend – how could life be so cruel? It was sheriff Simms who found the mutilated corpse of his young deputy close to Vault 101.
“I’m sorry, kid,” Simms was on the verge of tears, standing next to what remained of young Cory. “I’m sorry that I ever invited you into our ranks. You’d be alive now if it weren’t for me.”
On rocks above the sheriff the young man who was presumed to be dead, was watching the sheriff through the scope of his magnum revolver. His plan had worked as intended and deputy Cory Costner died that day.
Earlier that day he noticed a young man eating in the Brass Lantern. He was about the same size as him and had a similar skin tone. The young man’s name was Slim and he was a wastelander who just briefly stopped in Megaton to buy some supplies. Deputy Costner offered him five hundred caps if he’ll run out of Megaton at exactly 11 PM, then meet him outside Vault 101. An odd request, especially from a lawman, thought Slim, but first of all the pay was too good to refuse because the deputy gave him half of the promised sum in advance and second, it was supposed to be a test of sort for some other lawman, or so the deputy said. “All will be explained later,” said deputy Costner and handed Slim two hundred and fifty caps.
At exactly 10:55 PM deputy Costner sneaked into the water processing plant of Megaton. There Leo Stahl, the town’s drug dealer, was waiting for potential customers as he did every night. Instead of some junkie, deputy Costner waltzed in and without saying a word, shot Stahl in the head, killing him on the spot and then took all his drugs. As he came out of the water plant, he yelled that Leo Stahl’s been murdered and that he’s going after the killer. He also ordered the closest citizen who happened to be Old Walter, to wake up sheriff Simms.
Deputy Costner ran out of the town, through Springvale and met with Slim right outside Vault 101, as agreed.
“I did my part, deputy. Not sure I get it but as long as I…”
Deputy Costner didn’t bother to reply, instead he shot Slim in the head, from much closer distance as he shot Leo, turning Slim’s head into a bloody pasta. He quickly undressed and put his duster on Slim’s corpse, then cut off his limbs. He carried his corpse to the road below Vault 101, tossed it on the ground next to his distinctive regulator hat and rifle.
Then he ran back up and hid behind the rocks, waiting for the sheriff to come. Simms fell for the trick and why wouldn’t he? The plan was foolproof.
Wastelander Slim who came to Megaton that day, was probably a junkie and was supposed to buy drugs from Leo Stahl. Something happened between the two of them, they argued and Slim killed Leo, then stole his drugs. Deputy Costner was close enough to hear the shot and promptly ran after Slim who was spotted running out of Megaton, confirmed by three witnesses – guard Stockholm, beggar Carlos and robotic deputy Weld. A few minutes later deputy Costner ran out of the town as well, going after the killer. Unfortunately the deputy was careless and Slim obviously ambushed him by the vault. But it wasn’t enough just to kill him, he cut off his limbs too, probably as a message not to follow him.
That was how Simms explained the sad events of the bloody night the following morning and that’s what Megatoners believed. As the sun was rising over the sad town, a distance south of it the man presumed to be dead, already decided for a new name – Chester. It would be his last fake name in the Capital Wasteland because he was planning to head west soon. It was fun while it lasted but he was getting bored of the Capital Wasteland already. Only a little more time needed to pass for the story of his sad death to get around and the it will be time for the final act of the card killer.
***
In the following days news of Cory’s death reached Sonora Cruz, the leader of the regulators. Lucas Simms himself went to report the sad news.
“Whoever did it, hacked my deputy to pieces,” said Simms, saddened.
“Did he? And what did you find on his corpse?”
“Was I supposed to find something special?” Simms was confused.
“Just tell me what did you find, Lucas,” patiently said Sonora Cruz.
“His rifle and his hat were next to the body but there were also cigarettes, stimpaks, some snacks, a few keys…”
“Was there a yellow radio headset?” Sonora interrupted him.
“What? No, no headset. Why are you asking me this?”
Sonora said nothing but leaned back in her chair. The unknown murderer killed the deputy yet he didn’t take his stimpaks but the yellow radio headset.
I believe it brings me good luck so I always carry it with me since I bought it, said Cory as he came to enlist, she remembered his words very clearly.
“I’d ask you a favor, Lucas,” continued Sonora. “Search his house in Megaton and send me a message if you find a yellow radio headset. No questions, just do it, alright?”
The following day a courier delivered a message to Sonora – there wasn’t any trace of a yellow radio headset found in the late deputy’s house.
Sonora Cruz was concerned – it could be that the late deputy gave the yellow headset to someone else as a gift, it could be that he lost it but it could be that he staged his own death. With the blown-up head and chopped body who can say for sure?
Sonora Cruz had a good reason to be concerned.
_______
Wastelander Slim, the unsuspecting victim of the deputy's plot
Death of Leo Stahl (to avoid confusion, Leo and Slim are similar to each other but Slim has a beard)
Deputy Weld...
...witnesses Slim running out of Megaton
"I did as you wanted."
Useful no more
Mutilated body
Watching "his" corpse
Simms at the scene
Sad sheriff
Nothing personal but...
...the killer needs new armor
@TheCheshireKhajiit - when in trouble, you gotta remove the trouble.
@Acadian - cheer some more and maybe your wish will be granted.
@SubRosa - unfortunately she won't be the last.
Today's story is slightly more 'complicated' than others, particularly to those haven't played Fallout before. I tried to write it as clearly as possible but if there are some questions, I'll answer them.
_______
XIV
Lucy West’s happiness was short-lived.
Before Sonora's regulators would come to Megaton to question the new deputy, Cory Costner died.
Killed by the same unknown man who killed Leo Stahl, another Megatoner, earlier that night.
When sheriff Simms passed her the sad news, Lucy wanted to kill herself and probably would if her friend Jenny Stahl, late Leo’s sister, wouldn’t be there to comfort her. Jenny lost a brother and Lucy lost a boyfriend – how could life be so cruel? It was sheriff Simms who found the mutilated corpse of his young deputy close to Vault 101.
“I’m sorry, kid,” Simms was on the verge of tears, standing next to what remained of young Cory. “I’m sorry that I ever invited you into our ranks. You’d be alive now if it weren’t for me.”
On rocks above the sheriff the young man who was presumed to be dead, was watching the sheriff through the scope of his magnum revolver. His plan had worked as intended and deputy Cory Costner died that day.
Earlier that day he noticed a young man eating in the Brass Lantern. He was about the same size as him and had a similar skin tone. The young man’s name was Slim and he was a wastelander who just briefly stopped in Megaton to buy some supplies. Deputy Costner offered him five hundred caps if he’ll run out of Megaton at exactly 11 PM, then meet him outside Vault 101. An odd request, especially from a lawman, thought Slim, but first of all the pay was too good to refuse because the deputy gave him half of the promised sum in advance and second, it was supposed to be a test of sort for some other lawman, or so the deputy said. “All will be explained later,” said deputy Costner and handed Slim two hundred and fifty caps.
At exactly 10:55 PM deputy Costner sneaked into the water processing plant of Megaton. There Leo Stahl, the town’s drug dealer, was waiting for potential customers as he did every night. Instead of some junkie, deputy Costner waltzed in and without saying a word, shot Stahl in the head, killing him on the spot and then took all his drugs. As he came out of the water plant, he yelled that Leo Stahl’s been murdered and that he’s going after the killer. He also ordered the closest citizen who happened to be Old Walter, to wake up sheriff Simms.
Deputy Costner ran out of the town, through Springvale and met with Slim right outside Vault 101, as agreed.
“I did my part, deputy. Not sure I get it but as long as I…”
Deputy Costner didn’t bother to reply, instead he shot Slim in the head, from much closer distance as he shot Leo, turning Slim’s head into a bloody pasta. He quickly undressed and put his duster on Slim’s corpse, then cut off his limbs. He carried his corpse to the road below Vault 101, tossed it on the ground next to his distinctive regulator hat and rifle.
Then he ran back up and hid behind the rocks, waiting for the sheriff to come. Simms fell for the trick and why wouldn’t he? The plan was foolproof.
Wastelander Slim who came to Megaton that day, was probably a junkie and was supposed to buy drugs from Leo Stahl. Something happened between the two of them, they argued and Slim killed Leo, then stole his drugs. Deputy Costner was close enough to hear the shot and promptly ran after Slim who was spotted running out of Megaton, confirmed by three witnesses – guard Stockholm, beggar Carlos and robotic deputy Weld. A few minutes later deputy Costner ran out of the town as well, going after the killer. Unfortunately the deputy was careless and Slim obviously ambushed him by the vault. But it wasn’t enough just to kill him, he cut off his limbs too, probably as a message not to follow him.
That was how Simms explained the sad events of the bloody night the following morning and that’s what Megatoners believed. As the sun was rising over the sad town, a distance south of it the man presumed to be dead, already decided for a new name – Chester. It would be his last fake name in the Capital Wasteland because he was planning to head west soon. It was fun while it lasted but he was getting bored of the Capital Wasteland already. Only a little more time needed to pass for the story of his sad death to get around and the it will be time for the final act of the card killer.
***
In the following days news of Cory’s death reached Sonora Cruz, the leader of the regulators. Lucas Simms himself went to report the sad news.
“Whoever did it, hacked my deputy to pieces,” said Simms, saddened.
“Did he? And what did you find on his corpse?”
“Was I supposed to find something special?” Simms was confused.
“Just tell me what did you find, Lucas,” patiently said Sonora Cruz.
“His rifle and his hat were next to the body but there were also cigarettes, stimpaks, some snacks, a few keys…”
“Was there a yellow radio headset?” Sonora interrupted him.
“What? No, no headset. Why are you asking me this?”
Sonora said nothing but leaned back in her chair. The unknown murderer killed the deputy yet he didn’t take his stimpaks but the yellow radio headset.
I believe it brings me good luck so I always carry it with me since I bought it, said Cory as he came to enlist, she remembered his words very clearly.
“I’d ask you a favor, Lucas,” continued Sonora. “Search his house in Megaton and send me a message if you find a yellow radio headset. No questions, just do it, alright?”
The following day a courier delivered a message to Sonora – there wasn’t any trace of a yellow radio headset found in the late deputy’s house.
Sonora Cruz was concerned – it could be that the late deputy gave the yellow headset to someone else as a gift, it could be that he lost it but it could be that he staged his own death. With the blown-up head and chopped body who can say for sure?
Sonora Cruz had a good reason to be concerned.
_______
Wastelander Slim, the unsuspecting victim of the deputy's plot
Death of Leo Stahl (to avoid confusion, Leo and Slim are similar to each other but Slim has a beard)
Deputy Weld...
...witnesses Slim running out of Megaton
"I did as you wanted."
Useful no more
Mutilated body
Watching "his" corpse
Simms at the scene
Sad sheriff
Nothing personal but...
...the killer needs new armor
The CK conceived and executed a good plan - smart. Happily, however, it looks like Sonora is also smart. Clever of her to remember the yellow headset and connect what its absence on the corpse could mean. You're doing some cool plot weaving here!
QUOTE(Acadian @ Nov 10 2017, 11:21 AM)
The CK conceived and executed a good plan - smart. Happily, however, it looks like Sonora is also smart. Clever of her to remember the yellow headset and connect what its absence on the corpse could mean. You're doing some cool plot weaving here!
Khajiit agrees; very smart! He almost got away with it too!
The CK is a clever rascal. But I think he's met his match in Sonora.
Yea see, I was gonna say -- If it's just him running out of the water processing building and saying 'Leo's been shot!" it's too obvious how this happened. Then all they'd have to do is link the caliber size of any guns in Cory's possession to whatever killed Leo (circumstantial evidence). Then, IF they have the capability to check rifling marks from bullet to gun, and IF the bullet in Leo's head is still intact, now Cory's in jail (forensic evidence).
Circumstantial evidence builds suspicion, but cannot often be used in court in its own. It's just not enough. But forensic evidence like rifling marks on bullets is indisputable.
So that's why Cory got that Slim kid to run out of there. Well, Cory is smart, but not that smart! He should maybe have set Slim on fire. There is no DNA testing in the Wasteland, they're just too backwards for that, I'm assuming, so that won't be a prob. But all Lucas would have to do is have Lucy identify the body. She's seen Cory naked (I'm assuming) and they all know it by now (I'm assuming). So she'd know any particular marks on Cory's body like freckles, birthmarks, tan-lines, whatever.
Of course, Lucas Simms might not be as bright a sheriff as we'd like.
This sort of idea might not even occur to him. They just assume it's Cory who's been found. Wow, no body identification? Don't they watch CSI? 
Kidding.
Well at least Sonora Cruz is on top of things. Heh, maybe she should be named Sheriff!
Circumstantial evidence builds suspicion, but cannot often be used in court in its own. It's just not enough. But forensic evidence like rifling marks on bullets is indisputable.
So that's why Cory got that Slim kid to run out of there. Well, Cory is smart, but not that smart! He should maybe have set Slim on fire. There is no DNA testing in the Wasteland, they're just too backwards for that, I'm assuming, so that won't be a prob. But all Lucas would have to do is have Lucy identify the body. She's seen Cory naked (I'm assuming) and they all know it by now (I'm assuming). So she'd know any particular marks on Cory's body like freckles, birthmarks, tan-lines, whatever.
Of course, Lucas Simms might not be as bright a sheriff as we'd like.
This sort of idea might not even occur to him. They just assume it's Cory who's been found. Wow, no body identification? Don't they watch CSI? Kidding. Well at least Sonora Cruz is on top of things. Heh, maybe she should be named Sheriff!
@Acadian - thanks! The card killer thinks that Sonora might not be fooled so easily so it's better to take some precautions...
@TheCheshireKhajiit - maybe he'll get away with it totally.
@SubRosa - we'll see about that soon...
@Renee - one of your suggestions made me chuckle the other day as I read your reply because it's included in today's short story.
_______
The Interlude II
“That…that’s not him.”
Lucy’s words shocked Sheriff Simms.
Sonora Cruz was right when she didn’t trust the scheme and asked Simms to show remains of his body to Lucy West, the only person in Megaton who saw Cory Costner naked, to recognize him.
“What does this mean, Sheriff?” asked Lucy, crying. “What is this…?”
“I…I don’t know, dear.” Lucas Simms was embarrassed as well. “Go home and rest now, I’ll…I’ll send the word to Sonora.”
“Is Cory still alive?” cried Lucy. “But why would he do this to me?”
To this Sheriff Simms knew no answer until today but when Sonora told him of his suspicions about the card killer’s true identity, Simms began to have his own doubts.
“Sonora must know of this immediately.”
But by the time the messenger departed from Megaton and headed for the Regulators HQ, the card killer was already there. He intended to leave the Capital Wasteland but not before throwing the final card, this one next to Sonora’s corpse.
@TheCheshireKhajiit - maybe he'll get away with it totally.
@SubRosa - we'll see about that soon...
@Renee - one of your suggestions made me chuckle the other day as I read your reply because it's included in today's short story.
_______
The Interlude II
“That…that’s not him.”
Lucy’s words shocked Sheriff Simms.
Sonora Cruz was right when she didn’t trust the scheme and asked Simms to show remains of his body to Lucy West, the only person in Megaton who saw Cory Costner naked, to recognize him.
“What does this mean, Sheriff?” asked Lucy, crying. “What is this…?”
“I…I don’t know, dear.” Lucas Simms was embarrassed as well. “Go home and rest now, I’ll…I’ll send the word to Sonora.”
“Is Cory still alive?” cried Lucy. “But why would he do this to me?”
To this Sheriff Simms knew no answer until today but when Sonora told him of his suspicions about the card killer’s true identity, Simms began to have his own doubts.
“Sonora must know of this immediately.”
But by the time the messenger departed from Megaton and headed for the Regulators HQ, the card killer was already there. He intended to leave the Capital Wasteland but not before throwing the final card, this one next to Sonora’s corpse.
I'm hoping this means he hasn't yet killed Sonora and there may still be time for her to kick his butt!
But now I'm hanging... wondering what that messenger will find...
Heh, getting Lucy to ID the headless body was a good idea, as Renee mentioned earlier. Isn't it fun when a reader is thinking along the same lines as you?
Looks like we will see the CK draws an inside straight, or if Sonora cashes him out...
Oooh, khajiit is imagining that the CK is skulking around the HQ, hiding in the shadows, and waiting for his opportunity to strike! Will Sonora be ready for him? We shall see!
QUOTE(TheCheshireKhajiit @ Nov 15 2017, 11:15 PM)
Will Sonora be ready for him? We shall see!
Bingo. This one just said it. I think she will be, in some manner.
We have to consider there are three CK chapters left. The next one is going to be longer. That's going to be the 'showdown' one, between Sonora and 'Cory.' I think Sonora already knows what's going on, but does she know what's going to happen?
That's weird that they'd use a messenger when they've got ham radios. Yeah, none of these work in the base game (or nobody uses them) but still.
@Acadian - Sonora hasn't been killed (yet).
@SubRosa - the regulator vs the card killer!
@TheCheshireKhajiit - Sonora shouldn't be underestimated but neither should be the card killer.
@Renee - there were supposed to be three chapters left indeed but I cut one (I became like Bethesda, cutting things out before the final release) and I merged the today's story into one chapter so...
...what's ahead is the final story of the card killer. And for a change, this entire story and pics are taken from the perspective of Sonora Cruz.
_______
XV
Rusty was young, quick and agile and as such served as an ideal messenger. In the Mojave he’d probably be called a courier but in the Capital Wasteland the word “messenger” was more popular. He exceled at sneaking and managed to slip by even the most dangerous creatures without being seen. Lucas Simms stressed out the importance of his mission – carry the news about deputy Costner to Sonora Cruz – as fast as possible. That wasn’t a problem for Rusty, he was a quick runner. He ran all the way from Megaton to the Regulators HQ, occasionally sneaking past some raiders and vicious dogs, but only when he made it close to the HQ, his running gradually slowed down until it became cautious walking. Something wasn’t right there. He spotted dead brahmin from the distance but that didn’t alert him, perhaps they were old and just died, but as he got closer, he saw a bunch of bodies outside the HQ. None of them seemed to be moving…at least that’s what he thought at first. Yet as Rusty got closer, carefully walking towards the shack to see if he’d recognize any bodies, someone’s hand firmly grabbed him by his ankle…
***earlier that night***
Sonora Cruz was awakened by silence. An odd thing to wake someone up, but until tonight there was never silence in the regulators headquarters. Except now it was.
Ernesto should be walking downstairs, he was on duty inside the shack tonight.
But she didn’t hear any footsteps.
Even a faint smell of cigarettes that was always present in the shack when Ernesto was on duty, was gone. Earlier this day Sonora gave him some of her own cigarettes because as usual, Ernesto was out of them.
But she didn’t smell any cigarettes.
The radio was silent as well – the radio which wasn’t supposed to be silent because Ernesto liked listening to the GNR when on duty. But the only thing Sonora heard was silence – dead silence.
Did Ernesto step outside to talk to Johnny and Silvia? Unlikely.
Sonora got up from her bed and immediately noticed something at the entrance to her room. A small black figure – what was it? Before thinking she grabbed for the 9 mm gun next to her bed and pointed it in the direction of the…
Sonora wakes up
The little man
...…garden gnome? Yes, that’s what it was – the garden gnome. Sonora quickly checked her gun – it was loaded alright. Even if this one wasn’t loaded, Penelope was, but still, it was better to be sure.
Who put the gnome there? Definitely not her henchmen, they never joked in such a way.
Something was wrong this night. Something was very wrong.
Carefully she stepped over the garden gnome and out of her room on the first floor, then slowly leaned over the wooden fence from where she had a good view of the ground floor. Her eyes immediately shifted to the left to the radio and as she had correctly assumed – it was turned off.
Not a sound
Except that - silence. Sonora felt like she could almost touch it.
“Ernesto?” she asked the empty shack.
No answer, not that she expected any.
For the first time a startling thought crossed Sonora’s mind – the card killer. Did he come for her?
Sonora dealt with many dangerous lowlifes and until tonight she wasn’t afraid of the card killer because he usually preyed on hapless victims but what made her scared, was that there was no sign of her henchmen – they were tough guys, all of them, they’ve been regulating the wastes for years, and if whoever was after her, killed them, then she better be careful. Her sixth sense was telling her that her henchmen were dead and that their killer intentionally placed the gnome to her room to be the first thing she would see as she would wake up. Obviously someone wanted to play some game with her.
‘Alright, bastard, let’s play’ Sonora was encouraging herself, as she was slowly stepping down the stairs, careful not to step on some concealed trap.
Beside the main room on the ground floor there was only one small room, which served as a storage. Just like the main room, that one was empty too. Ernesto’s ashtray next to the radio wasn’t as full as usual which meant that he was probably…gone for quite a while.
Emptiness
Only one thing remained for her now – she had to step outside. And she better does it quick because the killer is probably expecting her to cautiously crawl out.
Head-on Sonora kicked the door so they opened wide with a loud sound, then jumped outside, clutching the gun. As she landed, she almost tripped over a pile of…
…three bodies.
Ernesto, Johnny and Silvia, her dead henchmen. Shivers ran down her back– they were lying on each other, dragged together to ensure that they’ll be the first thing to see when coming outside.
Sonora stepped back, quickly looked right, then left…left, that’s where he was. Crouched behind the freshly slain brahmin. Waiting for her.
He is here
Evil in waiting
Though he was wearing the raider-like leather helmet which covered the upper half of his face, the familiar kind smile was playing on his lips. The smile which she disliked as soon as she saw it but it was thanks to this smile that many innocent women were killed. The card killer was here and he definitely didn’t come to talk.
Didn't come to chat
“’Hola senora Sonora,” he stood up, and Sonora saw a bloody knife in his right hand – one of the last things which his victims saw and her late henchmen as well.
“Die, bastard!” yelled Sonora without a second though, aimed and pressed the trigger but all she heard was a dull click and no bullet left her gun.
“Too bad,” smiled the card killer and boastfully stepped over the dead brahmin. “I could have slit your throat as you were sleeping. But it was so much fun to switch ammos with blanks. To see your reaction. To see that you’re lost. Guess what happens now, Sonora Cruz? Guess what happens now?”
Yet now a sly smile appeared on Sonora’s face, causing the killer to momentarily stop. “I bet you will never guess,” she said and threw the 9mm gun on the ground, while at the same time quickly pulling another gun from the inner pocket of her jacket.
This was no ordinary 9 mm gun, this was her own modified version of a 10 mm gun, Sonora’s favorite weapon called Penelope, the last thing which many lowlifes heard and saw. She always slept with Penelope next to her heart and once again this habit proved to yield a good result. Now the kind smile was completely gone from the card killer’s face.
“Guess what happens now, punk?” Sonora repeated the question, aimed, fired and…
…missed!
The bastard was fast, she didn’t expect him to react so swiftly, as he leaned right when she fired. As a result, there he was now, already at her.
The card killer attacks
He fiercely swung his bloody knife, cutting a deep wound in Sonora’s right cheek. The pain was immense but Sonora fired again, the aim was bad but she hit him in the left shoulder. The killer staggered, obviously surprised by the powerful blow from Penelope but before she could fire again, he again jumped at her, slitting her forehead, nose and part of the left cheek.
Penelope at work
Sonora was used to pain but the killer’s knife was obviously coated with something that stung like hell and was making her legs weak.
‘Poison! His knife is poisoned.’
He never stops,
until he kills...
who he...
wants!
She tried to run away but because of blood running in her eyes and her weakened legs, she fell over some rock. Without faltering, the card killer was behind her and stabbed her in the back. Only thanks to her thick vest which she was wearing beneath her duster, her life was saved this time.
‘Get hold of yourself!’ she encouraged herself yet words won't be enough and Sonora Cruz knew that very well.
Penelope vs Knife
Who laughs now?
Because there won’t be the next time if she won’t react fast enough. She tried to stand up but the card killer kicked her in the head, turning her over. This time her nose ached, and blood came pouring out. It was broken, no doubt but that was the least of her worries.
‘He’s playing again. He thinks he already got me.’
If she deceived him for a few more seconds that she’s already defeated, her last plan might work.
“Already on your knees, Sonora?” mockingly asked the card killer. “I am disappoint. I expected more. I hope you won’t be disappointed if we don’t have sex? I’m just not in the mood tonight and your bloody face isn’t of much help either.”
Still on her knees, arms clutched around her belly, Sonora Cruz did what she saw as her last chance. Her powerful gun obviously wasn’t enough to penetrate the killer’s armor, just like her, he was probably also equipped with some thick vest beneath it. Yet in her pocket there were two special bullets – capable of piercing even the thickest armor. Such ammos couldn’t be found in the Capital Wasteland but she hailed from the west and in the Mojave such ammunition was a fairly common sight. She already spent most of such bullets on some powerful enemies, so only two remained. She obviously stood no chance against the killer in melee combat, he was too damn quick and agile yet Sonora knew that her next bullet must hit the target – or she will be gone for good, in the same place with the card killer’s other victims, wherever that was. No mistakes allowed this time, Sonora Cruz. In a matter of seconds all regular bullets were out and Sonora put two armor-piercing ones inside.
“Alright, Sonora…” the card killer mocked her again. “Time to finish…”
That was when Sonora quickly turned around and fired. Straight to his chest. But…
…the card killer merely staggered.
‘How can this be?’
Yet a second later blood came pouring from beneath his armor like a small yet torrential waterfall.
He bleeds
“You b!tch,” he yelled and coughed up some blood. This was a good sign for Sonora Cruz. The bastard bled after all.
She expected him to fall but unbelievably the card killer gathered his strength to make another run-and-jump at her. And she had just one more armor-piercing bullet.
It was nor or never.
As he got close to her, once again faster than she expected, and his knife cut another fresh wound on her left cheek, Sonora fired her last bullet.
The killer staggered again, looked at Sonora and smiled.
But as he smiled, more blood came pouring from his mouth.
“Die, damn you, die!” yelled Sonora and tried to stand up yet her legs wouldn’t allow her.
The final round
Sonora's last chance
Bang!
“That’s not…” the killer faltered back. “…possible. I…am…invulnerab…”
"No, you ain't!" victoriously yelled Sonora and as the card killer was falling back, a deck of cards flew from his jacket, and as he landed on the ground, cards strew all around him like signatures which he left behind one too many times.
The fall 1
The fall 2
The fall 3
Among cards
“Dead among cards,” sighed Sonora and crawled to his body. Her face probably looked worse than a used pre-war cutting board and her back ached horribly but there he was – lying in front of her, encircled by the very cards he loved so much.
Even before Sonora removed his leather mask, she knew who was behind it - the same man who enlisted as a regulator a few weeks ago. If she only listened to her sixth sense more closely, some people might still be alive.
Masked
Unmasked
When he came to recruit...
Getting more dizzy with every passing second, Sonora managed to put an ordinary bullet in Penelope, aimed at the killer’s face and fired – turning his head into a bloody mess. He was dead before, she knew it, but it was better to be sure.
***back to the present***
“Help…me. Please,” Sonora barely had any strength to talk yet when she sensed someone walking close to her, she knew this might be her last chance for survival. She was bleeding, she was poisoned and she definitely didn’t want to end like the last of card killer’s victim. She grabbed the stranger’s ankle whoever he was, it could be a raider for all she knew, but fortunately it was Rusty of Megaton.
A few minutes later as Rusty’s stimpaks were already having an effect as was his antivenom, Sonora Cruz made sure that the killer’s corpse was still there, next to her. And it was, still encircled with its damned cards. The price was high but the wasteland was safe at last.
_______
In the following days news of the card killer’s demise spread over the Capital Wasteland. The young man, who went under many different names and whose real name would now never be revealed, neither would be his motives, if there were any at all, was dead for good. Some like Lucas Simms couldn't believe how easily they fell for his life. Some others like Lucy West, still refused to believe the truth. Susan Lancaster from the Tenpenny Tower, however, wasn’t surprised at all – she linked the young stranger to Millicent’s death immediately but why would she care as long as he paid for her sex services.
The remaining ten killer’s cards were taken by Rusty to Megaton yet it wasn’t long and they caused a huge interest among various wasteland collectors of rare items. Immediately recognizing an opportunity to earn some proper caps instead of small fees which he got paid as a messenger, Rusty left Megaton and traveled across the Capital Wasteland, selling the cards of death at ridiculously high prices yet some devoted collectors were prepared to pay for them no matter the price.
Sonora Cruz was recuperating from her injuries and though deep wounds on her face would leave her scarred for the rest of her life, she considered it as a punishment for not reacting quicker because she knew that she could at least save some girls if she only acted against the deputy of Megaton earlier.
When Lucy West found out that she was pregnant, it was just another reason to leave Megaton for good. Many people avoided her since the card killer’s identity was revealed and Lucy still stubbornly refused to believe the truth. Pregnant and sad, she left Megaton, and traveled to Arefu where she moved in together with her brother Ian.
For most wastelanders, though, life soon returned to their old habits, and the card killer became just another fading memory in the dangerous wasteland.
@SubRosa - the regulator vs the card killer!
@TheCheshireKhajiit - Sonora shouldn't be underestimated but neither should be the card killer.
@Renee - there were supposed to be three chapters left indeed but I cut one (I became like Bethesda, cutting things out before the final release) and I merged the today's story into one chapter so...
...what's ahead is the final story of the card killer.
And for a change, this entire story and pics are taken from the perspective of Sonora Cruz._______
XV
Rusty was young, quick and agile and as such served as an ideal messenger. In the Mojave he’d probably be called a courier but in the Capital Wasteland the word “messenger” was more popular. He exceled at sneaking and managed to slip by even the most dangerous creatures without being seen. Lucas Simms stressed out the importance of his mission – carry the news about deputy Costner to Sonora Cruz – as fast as possible. That wasn’t a problem for Rusty, he was a quick runner. He ran all the way from Megaton to the Regulators HQ, occasionally sneaking past some raiders and vicious dogs, but only when he made it close to the HQ, his running gradually slowed down until it became cautious walking. Something wasn’t right there. He spotted dead brahmin from the distance but that didn’t alert him, perhaps they were old and just died, but as he got closer, he saw a bunch of bodies outside the HQ. None of them seemed to be moving…at least that’s what he thought at first. Yet as Rusty got closer, carefully walking towards the shack to see if he’d recognize any bodies, someone’s hand firmly grabbed him by his ankle…
***earlier that night***
Sonora Cruz was awakened by silence. An odd thing to wake someone up, but until tonight there was never silence in the regulators headquarters. Except now it was.
Ernesto should be walking downstairs, he was on duty inside the shack tonight.
But she didn’t hear any footsteps.
Even a faint smell of cigarettes that was always present in the shack when Ernesto was on duty, was gone. Earlier this day Sonora gave him some of her own cigarettes because as usual, Ernesto was out of them.
But she didn’t smell any cigarettes.
The radio was silent as well – the radio which wasn’t supposed to be silent because Ernesto liked listening to the GNR when on duty. But the only thing Sonora heard was silence – dead silence.
Did Ernesto step outside to talk to Johnny and Silvia? Unlikely.
Sonora got up from her bed and immediately noticed something at the entrance to her room. A small black figure – what was it? Before thinking she grabbed for the 9 mm gun next to her bed and pointed it in the direction of the…
Sonora wakes up
The little man
...…garden gnome? Yes, that’s what it was – the garden gnome. Sonora quickly checked her gun – it was loaded alright. Even if this one wasn’t loaded, Penelope was, but still, it was better to be sure.
Who put the gnome there? Definitely not her henchmen, they never joked in such a way.
Something was wrong this night. Something was very wrong.
Carefully she stepped over the garden gnome and out of her room on the first floor, then slowly leaned over the wooden fence from where she had a good view of the ground floor. Her eyes immediately shifted to the left to the radio and as she had correctly assumed – it was turned off.
Not a sound
Except that - silence. Sonora felt like she could almost touch it.
“Ernesto?” she asked the empty shack.
No answer, not that she expected any.
For the first time a startling thought crossed Sonora’s mind – the card killer. Did he come for her?
Sonora dealt with many dangerous lowlifes and until tonight she wasn’t afraid of the card killer because he usually preyed on hapless victims but what made her scared, was that there was no sign of her henchmen – they were tough guys, all of them, they’ve been regulating the wastes for years, and if whoever was after her, killed them, then she better be careful. Her sixth sense was telling her that her henchmen were dead and that their killer intentionally placed the gnome to her room to be the first thing she would see as she would wake up. Obviously someone wanted to play some game with her.
‘Alright, bastard, let’s play’ Sonora was encouraging herself, as she was slowly stepping down the stairs, careful not to step on some concealed trap.
Beside the main room on the ground floor there was only one small room, which served as a storage. Just like the main room, that one was empty too. Ernesto’s ashtray next to the radio wasn’t as full as usual which meant that he was probably…gone for quite a while.
Emptiness
Only one thing remained for her now – she had to step outside. And she better does it quick because the killer is probably expecting her to cautiously crawl out.
Head-on Sonora kicked the door so they opened wide with a loud sound, then jumped outside, clutching the gun. As she landed, she almost tripped over a pile of…
…three bodies.
Ernesto, Johnny and Silvia, her dead henchmen. Shivers ran down her back– they were lying on each other, dragged together to ensure that they’ll be the first thing to see when coming outside.
Sonora stepped back, quickly looked right, then left…left, that’s where he was. Crouched behind the freshly slain brahmin. Waiting for her.
He is here
Evil in waiting
Though he was wearing the raider-like leather helmet which covered the upper half of his face, the familiar kind smile was playing on his lips. The smile which she disliked as soon as she saw it but it was thanks to this smile that many innocent women were killed. The card killer was here and he definitely didn’t come to talk.
Didn't come to chat
“’Hola senora Sonora,” he stood up, and Sonora saw a bloody knife in his right hand – one of the last things which his victims saw and her late henchmen as well.
“Die, bastard!” yelled Sonora without a second though, aimed and pressed the trigger but all she heard was a dull click and no bullet left her gun.
“Too bad,” smiled the card killer and boastfully stepped over the dead brahmin. “I could have slit your throat as you were sleeping. But it was so much fun to switch ammos with blanks. To see your reaction. To see that you’re lost. Guess what happens now, Sonora Cruz? Guess what happens now?”
Yet now a sly smile appeared on Sonora’s face, causing the killer to momentarily stop. “I bet you will never guess,” she said and threw the 9mm gun on the ground, while at the same time quickly pulling another gun from the inner pocket of her jacket.
This was no ordinary 9 mm gun, this was her own modified version of a 10 mm gun, Sonora’s favorite weapon called Penelope, the last thing which many lowlifes heard and saw. She always slept with Penelope next to her heart and once again this habit proved to yield a good result. Now the kind smile was completely gone from the card killer’s face.
“Guess what happens now, punk?” Sonora repeated the question, aimed, fired and…
…missed!
The bastard was fast, she didn’t expect him to react so swiftly, as he leaned right when she fired. As a result, there he was now, already at her.
The card killer attacks
He fiercely swung his bloody knife, cutting a deep wound in Sonora’s right cheek. The pain was immense but Sonora fired again, the aim was bad but she hit him in the left shoulder. The killer staggered, obviously surprised by the powerful blow from Penelope but before she could fire again, he again jumped at her, slitting her forehead, nose and part of the left cheek.
Penelope at work
Sonora was used to pain but the killer’s knife was obviously coated with something that stung like hell and was making her legs weak.
‘Poison! His knife is poisoned.’
He never stops,
until he kills...
who he...
wants!
She tried to run away but because of blood running in her eyes and her weakened legs, she fell over some rock. Without faltering, the card killer was behind her and stabbed her in the back. Only thanks to her thick vest which she was wearing beneath her duster, her life was saved this time.
‘Get hold of yourself!’ she encouraged herself yet words won't be enough and Sonora Cruz knew that very well.
Penelope vs Knife
Who laughs now?
Because there won’t be the next time if she won’t react fast enough. She tried to stand up but the card killer kicked her in the head, turning her over. This time her nose ached, and blood came pouring out. It was broken, no doubt but that was the least of her worries.
‘He’s playing again. He thinks he already got me.’
If she deceived him for a few more seconds that she’s already defeated, her last plan might work.
“Already on your knees, Sonora?” mockingly asked the card killer. “I am disappoint. I expected more. I hope you won’t be disappointed if we don’t have sex? I’m just not in the mood tonight and your bloody face isn’t of much help either.”
Still on her knees, arms clutched around her belly, Sonora Cruz did what she saw as her last chance. Her powerful gun obviously wasn’t enough to penetrate the killer’s armor, just like her, he was probably also equipped with some thick vest beneath it. Yet in her pocket there were two special bullets – capable of piercing even the thickest armor. Such ammos couldn’t be found in the Capital Wasteland but she hailed from the west and in the Mojave such ammunition was a fairly common sight. She already spent most of such bullets on some powerful enemies, so only two remained. She obviously stood no chance against the killer in melee combat, he was too damn quick and agile yet Sonora knew that her next bullet must hit the target – or she will be gone for good, in the same place with the card killer’s other victims, wherever that was. No mistakes allowed this time, Sonora Cruz. In a matter of seconds all regular bullets were out and Sonora put two armor-piercing ones inside.
“Alright, Sonora…” the card killer mocked her again. “Time to finish…”
That was when Sonora quickly turned around and fired. Straight to his chest. But…
…the card killer merely staggered.
‘How can this be?’
Yet a second later blood came pouring from beneath his armor like a small yet torrential waterfall.
He bleeds
“You b!tch,” he yelled and coughed up some blood. This was a good sign for Sonora Cruz. The bastard bled after all.
She expected him to fall but unbelievably the card killer gathered his strength to make another run-and-jump at her. And she had just one more armor-piercing bullet.
It was nor or never.
As he got close to her, once again faster than she expected, and his knife cut another fresh wound on her left cheek, Sonora fired her last bullet.
The killer staggered again, looked at Sonora and smiled.
But as he smiled, more blood came pouring from his mouth.
“Die, damn you, die!” yelled Sonora and tried to stand up yet her legs wouldn’t allow her.
The final round
Sonora's last chance
Bang!
“That’s not…” the killer faltered back. “…possible. I…am…invulnerab…”
"No, you ain't!" victoriously yelled Sonora and as the card killer was falling back, a deck of cards flew from his jacket, and as he landed on the ground, cards strew all around him like signatures which he left behind one too many times.
The fall 1
The fall 2
The fall 3
Among cards
“Dead among cards,” sighed Sonora and crawled to his body. Her face probably looked worse than a used pre-war cutting board and her back ached horribly but there he was – lying in front of her, encircled by the very cards he loved so much.
Even before Sonora removed his leather mask, she knew who was behind it - the same man who enlisted as a regulator a few weeks ago. If she only listened to her sixth sense more closely, some people might still be alive.
Masked
Unmasked
When he came to recruit...
Getting more dizzy with every passing second, Sonora managed to put an ordinary bullet in Penelope, aimed at the killer’s face and fired – turning his head into a bloody mess. He was dead before, she knew it, but it was better to be sure.
***back to the present***
“Help…me. Please,” Sonora barely had any strength to talk yet when she sensed someone walking close to her, she knew this might be her last chance for survival. She was bleeding, she was poisoned and she definitely didn’t want to end like the last of card killer’s victim. She grabbed the stranger’s ankle whoever he was, it could be a raider for all she knew, but fortunately it was Rusty of Megaton.
A few minutes later as Rusty’s stimpaks were already having an effect as was his antivenom, Sonora Cruz made sure that the killer’s corpse was still there, next to her. And it was, still encircled with its damned cards. The price was high but the wasteland was safe at last.
_______
The epilogue
In the following days news of the card killer’s demise spread over the Capital Wasteland. The young man, who went under many different names and whose real name would now never be revealed, neither would be his motives, if there were any at all, was dead for good. Some like Lucas Simms couldn't believe how easily they fell for his life. Some others like Lucy West, still refused to believe the truth. Susan Lancaster from the Tenpenny Tower, however, wasn’t surprised at all – she linked the young stranger to Millicent’s death immediately but why would she care as long as he paid for her sex services.
The remaining ten killer’s cards were taken by Rusty to Megaton yet it wasn’t long and they caused a huge interest among various wasteland collectors of rare items. Immediately recognizing an opportunity to earn some proper caps instead of small fees which he got paid as a messenger, Rusty left Megaton and traveled across the Capital Wasteland, selling the cards of death at ridiculously high prices yet some devoted collectors were prepared to pay for them no matter the price.
Sonora Cruz was recuperating from her injuries and though deep wounds on her face would leave her scarred for the rest of her life, she considered it as a punishment for not reacting quicker because she knew that she could at least save some girls if she only acted against the deputy of Megaton earlier.
When Lucy West found out that she was pregnant, it was just another reason to leave Megaton for good. Many people avoided her since the card killer’s identity was revealed and Lucy still stubbornly refused to believe the truth. Pregnant and sad, she left Megaton, and traveled to Arefu where she moved in together with her brother Ian.
For most wastelanders, though, life soon returned to their old habits, and the card killer became just another fading memory in the dangerous wasteland.
The end
Nice epic battle to end the story! For a minute there, Khajiit wasn’t sure Sonora would survive. Glad she did! Nice work Lopov, Khajiit really enjoyed this story!
You had me on the edge of my seat as well! So good to see the CK get his deck shuffled!
It was also good to see that unlike the goons that Eulogy sent after Rattler, Sonora made sure the job was finished.
It was also good to see that unlike the goons that Eulogy sent after Rattler, Sonora made sure the job was finished.
What a nailbiter of a battle! So glad to see CK lying in a pile of bloody cards and that the magnificent Sonora survived!
Well done, Lopov!
Well done, Lopov!
Okay, so THAT'S him??? Okay yeah I can see this! He looks like an evil Brad Pitt or something.
You know what? Those shots are all creepy, but the creepiest are definitely the ones taken in VATS.
Ha ha DIE you Brad Pitt-looking mother trucker DIE! And time for some Jaeger shots for all of us.
Well good job for moving this story to completion, scoundrel. Looks as though it took a lot of organizing to get all those shots and match them up with the words.
How on Earth did you get the story from Sonora's perspective though? ... Never mind, I don't want to know. That part really has me mystified, but it's also good to keep some mystery going,
.
You know what? Those shots are all creepy, but the creepiest are definitely the ones taken in VATS.
Ha ha DIE you Brad Pitt-looking mother trucker DIE! And time for some Jaeger shots for all of us.
Well good job for moving this story to completion, scoundrel. Looks as though it took a lot of organizing to get all those shots and match them up with the words.
How on Earth did you get the story from Sonora's perspective though? ... Never mind, I don't want to know. That part really has me mystified, but it's also good to keep some mystery going, .
Thanks all!
Evil Brad Pitt, lol.
There isn't any big mystery behind the final scene but I'll include it in spoilers just in case...
Evil Brad Pitt, lol.
There isn't any big mystery behind the final scene but I'll include it in spoilers just in case...
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