Fallout Game Merchant 2.0-Chapter 76: Kidnapped

Bran, the recon sniper who replaced Boone in the narrative, heart sank when he found the house empty. His pregnant wife's belongings were untouched, but the lingering smell of sweat and iron told him everything he needed to know: The Legion had taken her. Rage bubbled inside him, but he forced himself to stay calm.

He rushed to the T-Rex sniper nest and peered through his scope. In the faint moonlight, Legion banners fluttered atop the distant hills. His trained eye spotted movement: a Legion raiding party, traveling light and fast through the snowed road.

They were heading south en route to Cottonwood Cove, notorious for its slave trade and Legion patrols. If Bran didn't act fast, he knew what fate awaited his wife—and his unborn child.

Bran clenched his jaw. He couldn't go alone. Not against a Legion raiding party. He had the skills, but the numbers were against him.

His only hope was Six.

He sprinted through Novac's streets, boots pounding against the cracked pavement, ignoring the worried glances from locals. As he reached the fortified gates, he saw the B1 Battle Droids, their cold, mechanical eyes scanning the perimeter. Despite their formidable presence, he knew they weren't enough—not for what was coming.

Bran stormed into the War Bus, rage and panic in his eyes, his words tumbling out in a rush.

"They took her! The Legion—They knew my schedule. They grabbed her while I was on break! They knew exactly when to strike. They're hauling her to Cottonwood Cove!"

Six stood up immediately from reviewing the holographic map of Novac's outer perimeter, he locked eyes with Rebecca, Boone, and the rest of the crew. Everyone knew what had to be done. Raul cracked his knuckles with a weary sigh.

"Damn Legion, always making things harder."

Cassidy checked her shotgun.

"Well, what're we waiting for? Let's hunt those bastards down."

Six looked up, his expression cold and calculating.

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"How many?"

"Twelve, maybe twenty. Light armor, moving fast."

Six leaned back in his chair, processing. The Legion had grown bold, exploiting the gaps in his defenses. They had watched, waited, and struck at the precise moment. This was a personal attack—not just on Bran, but on his growing influence in the Mojave.

The War Bus roared to life, its reinforced armor plates rattling with the sound of the massive engine. Bran sat in the co-pilot's seat, his knuckles white on the edge of the dashboard as Boone gave him a sharp nod of solidarity. Boone, himself no stranger to the actions caused by the Legion, understood the fire in Bran's eyes.

ED-E floated above them, chirping anxiously, while Rebecca stood at the deck, grinning in anticipation.

"Let's see if those Legion gonks can outrun bullets."

Raul shifted the vehicle into high gear, and the War Bus hurtled down the snow-covered trail toward Cottonwood Cove.

"Suit up."

Six ordered.

"We launch in five."

The interior lights flickered ominously as they powered up their T-R80 Knightmare armors, stashed in the back.

The War Bus skidded to a halt on the high ridge overlooking the snowy road. Six tapped multiple buttons, activating the Neutron Jammer, causing the slave collars to malfunction and jam their signals. The side hatches soon opened with a metallic hiss. Landspinners deployed from the underside of their suits, giving them high-speed maneuverability, even on treacherous terrain.

Each member slid into their T-R80 Knightmare armor, its black and gray metal plates glistening in the winter light.

The T-R80 Knightmare models—though a step down from Six's T-80 Terminator Knightmare armor—were still formidable. Their equipment glinted as they prepared for combat.

Rebecca ignored most of the Knightmare's weapons in favor of her preferred toy, her Punisher's 50-caliber minigun, heavy but devastating.

"I like to keep it personal."

She muttered with a grin as she hoisted the monstrous weapon.

ED-E scouted ahead, transmitting the Legion's exact location.

"Camp... near... road."

The bot reported.

"Eight men... One has... Banner... Caesar's insignia."

Six's eyes narrowed. This wasn't just a random raid. The Legion had deliberately targeted Bran—likely as part of a broader plan to destabilize Novac.

"A Legion gorilla operation."

Six muttered.

"They're trying to send a message."

Bran tightened the grip of his weapon.

"We'll send a message back."

The War Bus plowed down the snow road toward the Legionnaires camp. In the distance, they could see a convoy of Legion soldiers, with Bran's wife struggling against her captors. Her muffled cries reached Bran's ears, igniting his fury.

"Let's end this."

Six growled. With a signal from him, everyone launched off the War Bus using their landspinners, skating at high speeds down the slope toward the Legion convoy.

Rebecca was the first to engage, her Punisher's minigun spinning up with a deafening buzz. A cascade of 50-caliber rounds shredded the Legion rear guard before they even knew what hit them.

Boone and Bran were a deadly pair, their VARIS rifles sending precision shots through Legion helmets and armor. The particle rounds melted through flesh and metal alike, dropping targets with pinpoint efficiency.

Raul charged forward, utilizing his Slash Harkens to latch onto a Legion soldier, yanking him off his feet and sending him flying into the snow. With a quick flick of the wrist, Raul disengaged the grapple, and the man tumbled lifeless to the ground.

Cassidy activated her Blaze Luminous shield, deflecting a Legion officer's machete before countering with a Maser Sword slash that split the man from shoulder to hip.

"Not so tough now, are ya?"

She sneered.

Bran, fueled by rage, skated ahead of the group, his T-R80 armor moving with fluid speed. His Slash Harkens shot out, hooking into the lead Legionnaire's back and jerking him off his mount. The soldier screamed as Bran reeled him in and thrust his Maser Sword through the man's chest with brutal precision.

Legion reinforcements surged forward, but the crew's coordinated assault overwhelmed them. Boone and Bran provided sniper support, Raul and Cassidy dealt with close-quarter threats, and Rebecca swept entire squads aside with her relentless minigun fire. Six, in the thick of it, was like a force of nature, using every weapon in his Terminator's arsenal to dismantle the enemy, as his visors glowed red.

Bran reached. In one swift motion, he cut her free, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"I've got you. It's over."

He whispered, though his hands were shaking with the adrenaline of the fight.

Bran stormed through the remnants of the camp, his heart pounding as he searched for his wife. He found the wagon where his wife and others were bound, gagged, bruised but alive, clutching her swollen belly in fear. She like the others had slave collars around her neck that were shut down.

"Bran!"

She cried, relief flooding her face. He rushed to her, cutting her bindings and slave collar, and pulling her into his arms.

"I've got you."

He whispered, his voice cracking.

"You're safe now."

From behind him, Rebecca called out.

"We've got company!"

Retracting his helmet, Bran kissed his wife on the forehead, then gently pushed her behind the cover of the wagon.

"Stay down."

He murmured.

Rebecca spun up her Punisher's minigun again, a sadistic grin creeping across her face.

"Let's send these fools back to Caesar."

More Legion soldiers emerged from the trees, desperate to reclaim their prize.

"Everyone, on my mark. We hit them fast."

Six said calmly, his Terminator armor whirring as he leveled his VARIS rifle at the reinforcements. He activated V.A.T.S., time slowing as he calculated every angle of attack.

The blaze of gunfire, particle beams, and minigun fire erupted once more, tearing through the snow and the enemy ranks. The Legion never stood a chance.

With the last Legionnaire down, the battlefield fell silent. Bran carried his wife back to the War Bus, his heart heavy with relief and gratitude. The crew gathered near the smoldering wreckage of the Legion convoy, taking a moment to catch their breath.

Rebecca, still grinning, leaned her Punisher on her shoulder.

"That was fun."

Boone gave Bran a small, knowing nod.

"They took her once. They won't get the chance again."

Six, standing at the edge of the battlefield, stared down the snow road toward Cottonwood Cove.

"Legion's gonna know we were here. They'll come looking for payback."

Cassidy snorted.

"Let 'em. They'll just end up like these poor suckers."

Bran turned to Six, his voice filled with quiet determination.

"I owe you, all of you. If you ever need me again, I'm there."

Six gave him a curt nod.

"You don't owe us anything, Bran. We look out for our own."

The War Bus roared through the snow-covered landscape, its reinforced wheels crunching over ice and debris as they made their way back to Novac. Inside, the atmosphere was a mixture of exhaustion and quiet relief. The adrenaline from the battle slowly ebbed, leaving space for the reality of what they'd achieved—and what still lay ahead.

Bran sat with his wife cradled in his arms, brushing her hair away from her face. She was still weak from the ordeal but managed a tired smile, resting her head against his shoulder.

"You came for me..."

"Always."

Bran whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He kissed her forehead, the tension in his body finally easing, though a burning anger against the Legion lingered beneath the surface.

Rebecca leaned her massive Punisher against the sidewall, stretching her arms with a satisfied groan.

"I missed this kind of action. It's been too long."

She shot Six a teasing smirk.

"Next time, we need something bigger than just Legion goons."

Cassidy chuckled, slumped against the War Bus's rear compartment.

"You say that now, but don't come crying when one of those Deathclaws decides to hitch a ride."

"Please."

Rebecca snorted.

"I'll use them for target practice."

Boone sat quietly at the front, his gaze distant as he watched the snowy road blur past. Seeing Bran reunited with his wife had stirred old memories—of the things he'd almost lost, and the mistakes he'd made trusting Manny. Raul, sitting beside him, gave a low grunt.

"You look like someone who's about to crawl into a whiskey bottle."

Boone cracked a small, humorless smile.

"Might beat thinking too much."

ED-E beeped softly, hovering around the crew, its mechanical eye flickering in a soothing rhythm.

Six, always scanning for threats, sat near the front console with his arms crossed. His Knightmare armor folded neatly in the storage compartment below, ready to deploy again at a moment's notice. His sharp gaze remained locked on the snowy horizon. The victory was satisfying, but he knew the Legion wasn't going to take this loss lightly.

"They'll retaliate."

He muttered, as if reading Boone's mind.

Boone nodded without looking over.

"They always do."

Rebecca joined Six at the console, nudging him playfully with her elbow.

"Let 'em try. We're ready for anything."

Her confidence was infectious, but Six's expression remained serious.

"Maybe. But we need to hit back harder. No more running. We take the fight to them next time."

His voice carried the weight of someone who'd fought too many battles—and knew that more were inevitable.

The first signs of Novac appeared over the horizon—Dinky the T-Rex standing tall and weathered against the gray winter sky, like a silent sentinel waiting for them to return.

Bran exhaled deeply, relief washing over him.

"Almost home."

He whispered to his wife, holding her close.

As the War Bus rolled into the quiet town, the familiar sights of Novac's old motels and empty streets welcomed them back like an old friend. Locals peeked out from doorways, their wary eyes scanning the heavily armored vehicle and the battle-worn crew inside.

The War Bus came to a halt just outside the motel, its engine settling into a low hum. Six stood, glancing at the others.

"We'll regroup here. Take a few hours to stretch your legs. But don't get comfortable."

"Comfortable?"

Raul grinned, sliding his revolver into its holster.

"We live in the Mojave, boss. Comfortable's not in the vocabulary."

Bran helped his wife down from the War Bus, his expression a mixture of relief and silent determination.

"Thanks again."

He said quietly, meeting each of their gazes with genuine gratitude.

Rebecca gave him a lazy salute.

"That's what we do, soldier. Now go take care of your wife."

As Bran escorted his wife toward the motel, Six leaned against the War Bus, arms folded across his chest. Rebecca joined him, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

"You think we've bought enough time?"

She asked.

Six shrugged.

"Long enough to make our next move."

Boone stepped down from the bus, his expression unreadable.

"The Legion's coming. They won't stop after this."

Six nodded slowly.

"Then we don't stop either."

As the snow began to fall lightly over Novac, the crew knew that their journey was far from over. The Legion's defeat today was only a temporary victory. War was coming—and they'd need every resource, every weapon, and every bit of strength they had to survive it.

But for now, in the quiet peace of Novac, they had each other—and that was enough.

Rebecca gave Six a playful nudge.

"So, what's next? More Legion-killing, or do we get to blow something up this time?"

Six gave her a rare, fleeting grin.

"Both."

The War Bus sat idle in the snow, ready for the next mission. And as the crew settled in for the night, they knew one thing for sure: together, they were ready for anything.

Level: 19

NAME: Six XI

GENDER: MALE

STRENGTH: 25

PERCEPTION: 16

ENDURANCE: 35

CHARISMA: 17

INTELLIGENCE: 16

AGILITY: 20

LUCK: 18

-----------

BARTER: 100

ENERGY WEAPONS: 36

EXPLOSIVES: 36

GUNS: 100

LOCKPICK: 39

MEDICINE: 100

MELEE WEAPONS: 39

REPAIR: 100

SCIENCE: 100

SNEAK: 39

SPEECH: 85

SURVIVAL: 39

UNARMED: 39