Book 3 Chapter 58: No Evidence

Book 3 Chapter 58: No Evidence

After leaving the bunker I made my way into the nearest deadzone to take stock. I kept flexing my fingers and toes, counting them to make sure everything was where it should be. I would work my attention from the bottom of my feet through to the top of my head, where the conspicuous absence of the hat Deux had just given me could be felt. I noticed that the scars on my back were still there, and still ached though at this point I had to assume that the pain was a phantom memory of when theyd been caused rather than anything real. While I did all of this, I ate almost the entirety of what food Id brought with me, and drained a full canteen of water. The ambient radioactivity in the air that I was taking in helped to ease my hunger and thirst, and assisted with the recovery of my energy, but I needed both to recover.

I considered my options. If this first bunker had been trapped, then there was a distinct possibility that the others were as well. If I went to explore them, then I would be putting myself at risk, deep in enemy territory. There was also the chance that the bunker Id just been in was being monitored somehow, or at least routinely checked. By walking into the trap that had been laid for me, I couldve alerted all of the Remnants to my presence. At the same time, I had no information on what had been in that bunker. Nothing aside from the fact that it was physically large, and the Remnants didnt want anyone to have even the slightest idea of what it was. That, of course, meant that I needed to know what it was.

Once I was done eating, and regained enough strength I got up and moved. It was possible that even if Id notified the Remnants of my presence I may be able to move quickly enough to avoid the majority of potential trouble, though that was a long shot considering the care with which the trap in the first bunker had been laid.

It didnt take me long to reach the second bunker. The three were in a cluster, and I managed to reach this one by nightfall. Just like the first one, I smelled no one nearby, and saw the signs that, while the bunker had been active, it no longer was. This time I tread much more carefully, keeping my eyes scanning for threats and inhaling deeply for any signs of traps or forces hidden in ambush. I detected nothing, just like the first time, but that only made me more wary. The earth in front of the bunker looked fresh, as if it had been recently dug up.

My cerberus was out of ammo at this point, and I tossed it down, crouching behind the downed drone as the last one tried to circle around and from there I simply walked in a slow circle around it as the drone tried to flank me. As it tried to target me it got closer and closer, so all I needed to do was wait until it was within reach of my sword. Once it was, I leapt at it, and drove my blade deep into its chassis, disabling it before it managed to get even a handful of shots off.

With the last one dead, I made my way away from the bunker entrance, and started heading toward the third bunker. I was now nearly out of food and water, my explosives were used up, and I was completely out of heavy las-power. This one was the furthest from the other two, and on the furthest edge of STAR territory. I was surprised to find, in fact, that this one was located in a deadzone. I thought myself lucky, thinking that would make it more likely to be intact, but was disappointed to find that wasnt the case. There was no subtlety this time. No trap. Just a massive crater where the bunker would have been. Perfectly circular, leaving no hint to what might have been.

I walked the edges of the crater, feeling the presence of a massive amount of radiation. It was clear that the initial blast rivaled the power of one of the old nuclear explosions that had made up the opening salvo of the war that had created the wasteland. The radiation itself was at the same level of the deepest parts of the cut, where the wyrms resided.

The only hint this bunker gave me, was a number of tire tracks leading away. Clearly, the remnants had thought whatever was within the bunker warranted risking the rads. There was nothing for me here. My teeth itched as I thought of all the possibilities of what the Remnants might have got their hands on. I brought a hand up to pick at my teeth, and started walking again.