Lions in the Wasteland

Blast from the Past

The Caravaner had never pushed his brahmin and wagons so fast through the tangle of buildings that was known as the heart of the Capital Wasteland— Former Washington D.C. The buildings usually held raiders, slavers, super mutants, centaurs and about a thousand critters that would kill you and suck the marrow from your bones without a second thought, but not today. The road was lined with bodies of all of the above and more he hadn't seen or knew could be killed; all pulled to the side of the road to let the wagons pass on towards Rivet City. The number of bodies must have now been in the hundreds; some adorned by single gun shot wounds to the head or chest, some with slashes across vital points where arteries came close to the skin, and some with parts of themselves physically torn from their bodies by some immense strength that no human ought to possess.

Had the Caravaner not personally seen the mysterious man, with a name he hadn't caught, go off to clear the way for them he would have guessed a regiment of the Brotherhood's giant armored soldiers had come through here. He was now regretting being so abrupt and rude to the man, he was without a doubt the most valuable gun his caravan had ever carried.

It wasn't long before they finally rolled up to the platforms that gave access to Rivet City, one higher up giving people who were on their feet a way to get in on a more easily extended bridge and one lower allowing access to people and Caravans who were mounted on animals, wagons, or vehicles.

As they made their way up the platform the mysterious masked man who had fought all the way here, single handedly, was standing there leaning against the railing casually— as both lower and upper bridges extended across. After gaping slightly at the man who looked like he had just been watching the water instead of killing everything that stood against him for the last seven hours, the Caravaner yelled back at the other wagons that they had arrived and for the passengers to take the injured man up to the highest walkway to get him medical attention.

Dismounting, the Caravaner walked over to the railing next to the former passenger of his to stare at the sun finally dipping below the horizon. Watching as the group of passengers carried the wounded man inside the ship to the medical bay. He hadn't missed how they looked at the man who had single-handedly ended every threat the maze of buildings had in store for them, some with fear, some with doubt, some with admiration, and some that just looked at the ground ignoring him.

"You know, everything that happened today, that was some kind of miracle or your some kind of warrior either way if you ever need a ride, you will have a place on my caravan son." The Caravaner said to the large man still looking at the darkening sky and the ship looming— large and dark with pinpoints of lights spread across it making it seem like another piece of the night sky. Turning towards his Wagon as the bridge to cross to the loading bay was getting closer the Caravaner asked half over his shoulder without looking fully back, "By the way, I never did catch your name, who are you exactly?"

"I am just a lone wanderer, trying to make the wasteland a little bit better." The man's rough voice stated in a conversational tone.

The Caravaner reach his wagon and stopped dead in his tracks, making the obvious connection to the GNR broadcasts. He then whipped around to find the legendary Lone Wanderer gone without a trace, as if he was never there at all. Looking around for a second before shaking his head in disbelief, "Had the Lone Wanderer on my Caravan the whole time and didn't even know it." Following his words he threw his head back and let out a deep laugh at the absurdity of it all.

He got on his wagon and began to urge the brahmin forward before saying, "By the way, the name is Olin, and that offer still stands; if you ever need a ride I can provide one!" then he added with a smile. "After all you've done for me and those people I'll at least give you a small discount!" His words caused the edges of Leo's lips to pull upwards under his mask.