Two Dead Worlds

Chapter 4: Joining the Minutemen

Danny finally got the caps to come by. Darla's parents were given the news about their daughter and that the detective had done everything he could. Since Phantom joined only in the end, without participating in the rest of the case, he got a quarter of the earnings. Fifty caps were enough for him, so the half ghost didn't complain. He could purchase a map and, of course, a bowl of noodles from the local master. It tasted really good, actually, if you don't count the occasional drops of machine oil in the food.

Nick thanked Danny before the latter left the city. They separated on good terms and Phantom thought that that wasn't the last time they meet.

Phantom examined the crude piece of paper once he was on the small square near Diamond City. There were several markings on the map. For example, Boston airport, which was to the North-East, was circled with red marker and signed as 'Brotherhood of Steel'. The same marking was made around the Police department about two miles to the North. Danny didn't have any intention to cross with the guys yet, but Phantom had an intention to go further to the North. The reason was quite simple.

Danny wanted an army, but he couldn't get one at the moment. But, when he was in the city, the half ghost heard that there was an organization named 'The Minutemen'. It was obviously a reference to the American war for independence. They served as a kind of voluntary militia, led by their general. So, they must had had good intentions in their minds - to maintain order in the Commonwealth. However, the Gunners slaughtered them in Quincy. Those who remained scattered, and the ones who managed to get out of there went West.

All puzzle pieces were in place. Desperation, loss of the strict leadership and the bloodthirsty organization breathing down their neck. Everything they needed was combined in one person who was already tracking them down. Danny had an experience no one in the Wasteland could have: the knowledge of logistics, strategic maneuvers and tactical tricks. Phantom hoped that there was enough minutemen to make future advances.

Yet the most comfortable way to get there was through Lexington. The Brotherhood was a few hundred meters away from there, so Danny needed to be careful. He didn't want any extra attention just yet. Furthermore, to make everyone stop noting that he was walking unarmed, Phantom was carrying a half empty Tommy-gun with him. The half ghost also found a black jacket in one of the old shops. Synthetic leather, no radioactive insect would want to eat it. The jacket looked quite neat, and Danny looked like a casual wastelander. Well, maybe he was cleaner than most.

Lexington was completely empty. And it concerned the half ghost, because the place seemed peaceful at the first glance. He entered the small square. There were several abandoned shops, including the magazine one. Too sad that all journals were burnt off, Danny could use some entertainment. While he was rummaging through the boxes, trying to find at least one issue of Grognac the Barbarian or maybe Silver Shroud, Cujo barked.

Danny looked up from the box. "What is it, pal?"

The puppy growled at one of the corpses out of the tiny building. It was dressed in dirty rags. Phantom raised his eyebrow.

"This guy is dead, boy, probably radiation got him."

Suddenly what he had assumed was a corpse slowly rose on the feet in a zombie-like fashion. Its skin had rotten away long ago, and its eyes were bright yellow. Danny's ice blue eyes widened in surprise. The creature then lunged at him with a neck breaking speed. Phantom didn't pull the gun from his back. Instead he charged a blast and fired, effectively ending the zombie before it could get to him. Danny stared at the thing.

"Zombie. A freaking zombie," he muttered. "Shouldn't it obey me, though?" Danny looked down at his dog.

Cujo barked.