Chapter 04: Short Charge Heroes
Disclaimer: Neither Fallout or Goblin Slayer belongs to me.
Author Notes: I'm looking for a Beta Reader, anyone interested can PM me.
/Guild Hall-Border Town/
"Well this is certainly a welcome change of pace from the usual fare," Thought the Courier as he looked at the guildhall and the ambient of friendly professionalism that permeate it. Because if he knew something well from both experience and his teacher's lessons was that having a good team was paramount to complete a job. Because no matter the situation it was always good to have someone watching your back, more so if they were professionals.
And while it sucks that he had to be on the same level as the rookies, he knew that in no time he will rise up through the ranks thanks to his experience and his luck because if there was a thing he knew for sure was that sooner rather than later he will be involved in some crazy shenanigan that will rise up his reputation and position in the guild. Just like in The Mojave.
But that was for another time because right now he needed to find a job to get started. So he went to the board to find a job when he saw him.
He was a man dressed from head to toes with a cheap armor that while certainly wasn't pretty it was functional because It covered all the vital points, while not sacrificing his mobility. Many would have dismissed that person as some rookie but he knew better, that man was a professional.
So without further ado, he went and greeted the man. After all, it wasn't like because of meeting and possibly befriending the man his fate and that of the world would suddenly be changed forever…
(Much later in life he would laugh at his own stupidity when he looked back to this memory because he really needed to learn to not test his luck)
"Hello there" greeted The Courier with a friendly tone (or as much as he could with his helmet muffling his voice, the adventurer looked at the person that greeted him and saw a man using some kind of light armor with a duster over it, his face was covered in a strange helmet with two red glasses where his eyes were and he was armed with one of those strange weapons the people in the caravan were armed. Though he didn't recognize him from there.
"He must be from their same land" Thought Goblin Slayer, though just like the Courier he noted that the man in front of him while being a porcelain adventurer was someone that has the presence of someone used to do this kind of job (like him and the other Silver Adventurers) "Hello" was the simple answer from the silver ranked adventurer to which the mailman from the Mojave couldn't help but smirk behind his helmet because this man reminded him a certain sniper from the Mojave.
"I'm Courier nice to meet you" he introduced himself to the killer of goblins who just like him kept his helmet on his head hiding his face, although if one could see his face you would most likely see a neutral expression.
"Do you need something?" asked with a flat tone Goblin Slayer and while most people would find that tone rude, The Courier didn't mind, because he knew that the man wanted to help him, besides he really liked that serious and direct attitude after dealing with the usual shiftiness of some of the people of the wasteland.
"Nothing much, I was just wondering if I could join you in your quest? Because I'm kind of new here and I would like to gain some experience in this area" answered Courier truthfully, something that Goblin Slayer noticed, though the mysterious background of the newcomer didn't surprise him too much after all people from all the races and backgrounds joined the ranks of the guild on a daily basis.
"No problem, do you have everything ready for the quest?" asked Goblin Slayer to the new adventurer who nodded after checking something on the strange device he had attached to his wrist.
"I have an FN-Fal and three extra mags for it, a Beretta and four extra mags for it, a Bowie Knife, ten stimpacks, seven healing powders, 2 frag grenades, a flashbang, and 5 antidotes, that's good enough right?" asked the Courier after telling him what he has in his inventory, Goblin Slayer nodded because although he didn't know what was a Fal or a Beretta he supposed those were some kind of weapons similar to the one that Merchant gave him, which mean that they were weapons for medium to long-range which made them almost useless in the cave where the goblins have their lair because in the most of the combat was close and personal.
"I don't think those weapons are going to be too useful because we're going to a cave to kill goblins" Goblin Slayer told the Courier who smirked under his helmet and replied while palming his rifle.
"Don't worry buddy, this isn't my first shootout in a cave" to the man's words Goblin Slayer nodded and told him before leaving the hall "In that case, we depart immediately" Courier smiled behind his helmet because something told him that he will definitively enjoy working with that man.
/Sometime later on the road/
As cold as stone, they march in darkness
Enslaving the young and killing their fathers
But soon they'll know the path they've chosen
Has carved their fate in stone
In blood and tears, a thousand times
We rise against, we'll always hold the line
Of reckoning
"Interesting gadget" commented Goblin Slayer to his companion who was playing a song on it and was sitting in front of him in the carriage that was taking them to the village in which their quest will be taking place, Courier couldn't help but smile at that and stopped the music "You wouldn't believe how much" answered the man as he did the last check-up in it, "I could manage one for you if you're interested"
"No thanks, it could be taken by the goblins" answered the Adventurer to which the Courier shrugged and finished checking his Fal "If you say so, though I highly recommend you getting a Pipboy because they are extremely useful because they let you see your health status, your inventory, it has a radio, a satellite map and a Geiger counter" explained the courier the functions of the gadget attached to his left wrist.
"Is that so?" was the only answer of Goblin Slayer to which the Courier laughed a bit "Indeed" the silver ranked adventurer nodded at the words of his companion, though his next words surprised Goblin Slayer.
"Though I am surprised to see someone as consumed by vengeance as me" Courier commented as he took off his helmet and light a cigarette. The adventurer looked at his companion surprised because after all these years the only person that knew him that well was Cowgirl and his master, though looking at the man take a drag from his cigarette he could see the grey eyes of the Courier and understood that yes, they were quite similar in that regard.
Because his eyes were a pit that showed an immense rage and hatred against those who took what they valued most in the world and the cold and dark determination to make them pay in the most painful and excruciating way possible. No, they weren't the same because his red eyes showed the sheer need to slaughter any goblin that crossed his path in the most brutal and efficient way possible, the eyes of the courier were almost the same though hidden under a veneer of civility, almost like if he learned to tame his inner demons.
"The trick is not to tame your demons" replied the Courier as he threw what was left of his smoke and put back on his helmet "but to just keep them on a leash until it's the moment to set them free"
"That has helped you?" asked interested Goblin Slayer, to which the Courier mused for a moment before answering as he remembered the time in which he lost any hope of having a normal life "Without a doubt" was the answer of the Mailman from the Mojave.
"I see" was the only answer of the Slayer of Goblins to his companions as he meditated his words, meanwhile The Courier kept quiet as he remembered the words his teacher told him a long time ago "
Never tame your demons kid, that's a useless endeavor, just keep them on a leash. Because if you don't you will be eventually consumed by them" those were his teacher's words on the matter so many years ago and while he could admit that old bastard was right in that regard, it was also true that each day was getting harder and harder to keep them chained.
/Sometime later in a cave outside of a village/
Courier and Goblin Slayer were outside of the cave the Goblins took to make their nest, from what the villagers have told them the goblins moved in recently and had only stolen some farm animals and grains, though it wouldn't take too long for them to try to abduct a woman to breed.
So they have to act fast to get rid of them. Which means getting inside the cave and kill every last one of them. Even the babies.
Or at least that's how Goblin Slayer explained it to The Courier who remembering the little bastards he killed in that village a little while back and the information his new partner gave him about them, he knew it was the only good method to deal with them. Because while they may be the bottom-feeding bitches of the monsters, the adaptability and the high breeding rates of the goblins made them a very real latent menace, so the fact that they weren't taken seriously by nobody baffled him "
Though I suppose that's another case of people ignoring a problem until it fuck them in the ass… quite literally in this case" Thought Courier wryly.
"Are you ready?" asked Goblin Slayer to which Courier nodded "Good, then I go in the front and will cover the rear" The Courier took off the safe from his rifle "Let's do it" were the words of the Mailman from the Mojave as he and his new companion went inside the cave.
Once inside Courier activated the Night Vision in his helmet, thanks to that he saw the pair of goblins just ahead of them hiding in what was an obvious ambush so he aimed his rifle and pulled the trigger.
BANG! BANG!
The .308 Cal. Bullets transformed the Goblins heads into a fine red mist without too much trouble, they didn't even have the time to scream before falling to the floor dead "Good job, that's two of them" commented Goblin Slayer as he nodded at Courier's handiwork "And there is still a lot to kill yet" answered Courier.
"Let's finish this" was the only answer of Goblin Slayer who resumed walking followed by Courier but in that moment two goblins jump at them from their sides. But Goblin Slayer reacting quickly hit one with his shield sending him flying to the ground where he finished it off with a stab in the chest, meanwhile, the Courier took off his sidearm and shoot the other twice killing it instantly.
"That was close" commented Courier as he put his Beretta back in his holster "They are fools but not stupid" replied Goblin Slayer to which Courier could only nod in affirmation because if they weren't paying attention they would be dead at this very moment
"It's scary to think what these little fuckers could do if they somehow end up making a nest in a Pre-war facility or god forbid it a Vault" Thought the Courier as he once again took his Fal.
"Nevertheless we still have a job to finish" Said the Courier who alongside Goblin Slayer went deeper into the cave, after all, they still have Goblins to kill.
"GROOOOBBB!"
The Goblins roar shook the cave and the rest of the goblins appears before them commanded by Hob who consumed by the rage and hatred against the adventurers that had irrupted in their lair and killed their brethren with the intention of killing them in the most sadistic and painful way they could come with their devious minds.
"How kind of them to save us time from looking for them" said Courier with a bloodthirsty smile hiding his helmet "Don't underestimate them" was the only thing that Goblin Slayer said as he prepared himself for the imminent battle against the 16 Goblins.
"Cover yourself because I have something ready to ruin their parade" said Courier as he took one of his frag grenades and threw it at the Goblin horde, falling right under the feet of the Hob where it explodes transforming it and the nearby Goblins into bloodsoaked masses of flesh and bones "rest in pieces" commented Courier while Goblin Slayer went after the remaining goblins (that weren't no more than six at this point)
Goblin Slayer decapitated the Goblin in front of him before throwing his weapon to another goblin impaling it with the blade before dodging the attack of another one and cutting his neck with the sharp border of his shield. Meanwhile, Courier wasn't falling behind either because using his assault rifle he was picking out the goblins that were either trying to run away or sneaking towards his partner.
"That was an interesting weapon, how it's called?" asked Goblin Slayer to Courier who just like him was finishing off the goblins that were on the floor either wounded or playing dead because that was certainly an interesting weapon and could be useful when dealing with goblins, "That's a Frag grenade, it's an explosive that when goes boom throws shrapnel to every direction and as you can see transform living beings into mincemeat" was the answer of the Courier as he was finishing off a goblin with his pistol.
"I see" said Goblin Slayer in a meditative voice, something that Courier noted who after killing the last of the goblins on his side said to his partner with a friendly tone "I can teach you how to use guns and explosives Goblin Slayer because I can tell that more sooner than later you will need to know how to use them to deal with these little bastards"
"In that case, I'm grateful though I don't know how to pay you back for the favor" answered Goblin Slayer to which Courier just shrugged his shoulders "just take me to a place where the booze and food are cheap, good and the working staff aren't assholes"
"I see, then I know the perfect place," Goblin Slayer said making the courier smirk under his helmet "Perfect because I'm starving"
/Meanwhile in a Mansion outside of the Capital/
A man in his 30's with brown short hair, dull black eyes dressed with only his pants watched from the window of his room in the mansion he recently purchased how his servants were bringing the merchandise that he will soon put to auction for the Principal crime syndicates of the kingdom, meanwhile in the room an old rock song was playing at full volume on the stereo which was without a doubt one of the favorites of the man
"this situation was unexpected but I certainly don't mind how it turned out" thought the man with a satisfied smile on his face because since he mysteriously appeared in this land his luck certainly improved.
I'm ahead; I'm a man
I'm the first mammal to wear pants, yeah
I'm at peace with my lust
I can kill 'cause in God I trust
It's evolution baby!
At that moment he looks back at the bed where two women were sleeping with only the sheets covering their modesty and couldn't help but smirk satisfied for the fact that he left those two chicks exhausted after all the debauchery they did in the bed and that certainly stroked his ego "I will certainly give them a great review, damn I may talk with the Madame, heck I may buy them from her" said to himself the man absentmindedly
Though that would be on a later date because first, he has to prepare everything for the coming of the syndicate representatives so he could show them all the merchandise he has on sale, which certainly would make him someone important in the criminal underworld.
After all, with the weapons and the drugs, he was going to sell them his power and influence will certainly grow which was obviously part of the plan, something that he will certainly enjoy while he harvests the rewards.
After all, what kind of smuggler would he be if he didn't that?
I'm ahead, I am advanced
I'm the first mammal to make plans, yeah
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher
2010, watch it go to fire
It's evolution baby!
Do the evolution!
Come on, come on, come on
Author notes: Uff this chapter was a pain in the ass to write that's for sure! Now we're on the part of the story to which I wanted to come; the Courier and Goblin Slayer meeting and team up to kill goblins as god intended! You guys don't know the headaches I got to finish off this damn chapter because I have it for months on standby thanks to a frigging writer's block so this is the best I could come off, I know that the fight was too quick and easy for our pair of murderhobos but you have to remind yourself that those goblins just moved to that cave and there wasn't a shaman or a woman to breed so they were easy to deal with (it doesn't also help that the Courier threw a grenade at their feet) though don't worry because things will gonna get harder to our heroes because this was the final part of the tutorial, because thanks to Smuggler the bad guys are gonna get all the cool toys from the wasteland, besides anyone that have ever played Fallout knows that a grenade and an assault rifle aren't going to help too much against some of the critters that live in the wasteland if you don't have a plan to deal with them (The PTSD I got from cleaning Quarry Junction wasn't easy to get rid of)
Next chapter most likely will be a slice of life in which Courier and Goblin Slayer begins to form their bromance thanks to their mutual interest in killing things with sheer creativity and the power of weaponrized autism XD
And before someone ask yes High Elf Archer screamed in horror to the heavens for no apparent reason because deep down she knew that something horrible (according to her) had happened somewhere in the world.
Songs used in the chapter in order of appearance:
The Reckoning - Within Temptation
Do the Evolution – Pearl Jam