Adventures With The SMG4 Crew

The Wastelands (Part 1/5)

Okay, so... somebody, not naming names, accidentally set off a NUCLEAR BOMB, and destroyed the ENTIRE KINGDOM. Okay to be fair, it WAS a big red button, and... I like pushing buttons. Well that button just HAPPENED to set off the bomb, but I didn't know, did I? No regrets, but I'm also the one who said "Hey this button sets off a nuke, I'm gonna push it."

I don't know how much time has passed since I pushed the button. All time seems to have stopped, there's no electricity anywhere, and whatever happened with everyone who was outside, it's anyone's guess. Okay there's no power anywhere EXCEPT for the super-situational underground bunkers that were funded not by government spending, but by the Princess herself, which I give her credit. Inside of the one under the castle is where I, and only I, lurk around.

Internally, I'm about the same as I always am, but still regretting my decision on an hourly basis. Going from "Yep, you fucked up," to "Okay maybe not the SMARTEST thing I've done, but it helps with the rats in the castle." I'm serious, hours feel like DAYS in a bunker with nobody but yourself.

Now, I'm on a new mission. To find my friends and save this whole kingdom. It'll be grueling and difficult, and I'd probably take a few bullets from survivors and constant attacks from whatever's on the surface, but hey. It's best to try to succeed than to not try at all.

Zipping myself in a more protective "Vault Suit" and flinging my bag over my shoulder, I stepped towards the staircase that led to the outside world and held a hand against the cold metal door. Enough food and water, but not much for weaponry in tow, I shoved the door open and climbed up to the surface. Simply put, everything was DECIMATED.

Me: Well... fuck. Okay, calm down, Jacob. It's just a nuclear disaster, nothing too bad about that, right? Er, yeah, that's right. Nothing... bad. First thing's first, find some weapons. Everything in the castle PROBABLY got destroyed in the explosion, so where's my best bet? Hmmm... the Thrifty Megamart not seven kilometers... was it North? Yeah, North. Should be packed with goods, even if some went bad already.

Sighing in absolute disbelief, I trudged my feet through the barren wasteland and in between bites of bread and sips of water, I tried formulating a plan or two to find all my friends. With any luck, they're all still around, and probably still in bunkers. Just... need a map for where they are.

As the minutes passed, one glance into the sky was all it took for me to see that there was no such thing as a time or weather cycle. It was like the whole world stopping spinning. Scaling a small rock cliff and peering over the top, my sore eyes caught the mighty glimpse of the Megamart. The only place where I could honestly think to look. Or at least start scavenging and venturing.

Hopping down the small cliff and rolling as I hit the ground, I reached on the side of my bag and pulled out the one of the only things left that wasn't restricted by nuclear fallout: a flashlight. Battery-operated, so even if every single power source cuts, it still works. Opening the store door and sneaking inside, I flicked on the light and glanced around at the interior of the Mart. To put it lightly, it was basically the Abandoned version of Thrifty Megamart.

Me: Okay, first things first, food. Let's start looking...

Venturing through the GIGANTIC STORE, I found some of the more valuable resources that anyone could have in any sort of apocalyptic event. Beans are good and can provide protein. The plentiful amount of dehydrated meats are for when I can't cook, water's necessary for life... vodka, that'll lessen wound pain.

Me: Okay, I think... no wait, honey will also do. Burns need time to heal as well, and vodka won't cut it. No, not just any old honey, but medically based. This store's capable of miracles, but I don't think there's any gun racks anywhere.