On the afternoon of the second day of traveling with the Caravan driver, De Writer, the four companions, De Writer himself, AJ, Rusty, and Kara, pulled into the walled community of Albany. Rusty pulled her hood up over head, worried that the people wouldn't be accepting of... non-humans.

De Writer chuckled. “You don't need hide who you are here, Rusty.” He smiled and used one hand to gesture to the gathering crowd.

Rusty looked at the crowd and saw humans, ghouls, and half-ghouls. She blinked. “Everyone lives here?”

“More or less, for the most part.” De Writer said as he gently pulled his donkey, and his wagon, to a halt. “But yes, this community is very welcoming to those who have nowhere else to go.”

Rusty hopped down off the front bench, as De Writer did the same. As she looked around at the crowd, a young half-ghoul boy walked up to her and smiled. “Whoa. What kinda mutant are you?”

“Jeffy!” A female ghoul, clearly the boy's mother, gently chided her son. “Don't be rude.”

Rusty smiled and shook her head. “It's okay, Ma'am. I get this a lot.” She looked down at the boy, and smiled, “It's tough to explain what I am. See, I came from a faraway Vault that experimented on making animals more human like.” She shrugged.

“So neat.” Jeffy said in awe.

AJ walked up to her, with Kara on her back, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Come on, Darlin'. We got 10 gallons of water to offload.”

Rusty followed AJ to the back of the wagon. The two girls pulled the cloth cover back, and started handing out 1 gallon jugs of water to the gathered group. They were met with cheers and thanks.

De Writer walked up to them and started to help them.

“Are you their only source of water, De Writer?” Rusty asked him as she handed out the last jug.

“Sadly, yes.” De Writer nodded. “There is a stream just outside of town. However, it's controlled but a group of Raiders. No one wants to fight them.”

Rusty's fur bristled. “Where are they?”

An elderly woman with grey and white hair, walked up to her. “The raiders? Just on the other side of the river from us, about a quarter of a mile. Fortunately, our walls are too thick and too tall for them to invade our town. That, and the river is too deep in for them to cross.”
Rusty thought for a second. “If you had to guess, how many of them are there?”

“Well, they have five Raiders watching the river at all time, on the opposite bank. They work in shifts.” The Elder answered as she shook her head. “So we can't draw from the river, or fiz our water pipe and collection system.” She sighed. “There is a main camp, with at least 15 more.”

Rusty looked at AJ. “I have to do this.”

AJ nodded. “I know ya do. Just come back in one piece. You don't have your suit this time.”

Rusty smiled warmly. “I'll be careful.” She turned to to the Elder. “Which way?”

She hummed. “I know I can't stop you, Um, Rusty was it? I can see the fire in your eyes. Just make sure you get them all.” She pointed West. “Just head West. You'll see the smoke.”

Rusty made sure her rifle was loaded, and then shouldered it. She then ran to the 10 foot wall, and easily scaled to the top of it. She crouched on top of it for a moment, waved to the townsfolk, and then jumped down.

A few of the crowd gasped in shock and surprise.

AJ scoffed and chuckled. “Yeah. She likes to show off.”

On the other side of the wall, Rusty landed softly, and readied her rifle. She then focused, remembering what Atropos had told her – that she could bend the light around her. Slowly, Rusty watched as she activated her natural stealth field. She crept towards the river, using trees and rocks to help hide her as well.

She came up to the river, and used the scope on her rifle and scanned the other side of the river. She saw the small Raider camp and the five raiders about 50 feet away.

She took careful aim, held her breath, and...

“So, yeah...” A gruff male raider said, as he stood up. “I blew that villagers-”

Whatever he was about to say, didn't make it past his lips as his neck exploded, dropping him instantly.

The other raiders grabbed their weapons and stood up as well, looking everywhere.

“Sniper!”

“Where are they?”

“That shot came from across the river!”

“What? No way! That's fifty-” The Raider suddenly dropped as they were shot through the heart.

“Where the fuck are they?” A female raider shouted. “They're dropping us like flies!”

“I don't-” A male raider was saying, when an invisible blade, covered in blood, popped through his throat from behind him.

The two remaining Raiders watched in shock as Rusty appeared in front of them as the Raider she skewered dropped to the ground. Her rifle was slung on her back and her blade claws where unsheathed.

“You got two options. Fight me, and die. Or, drop your guns and run.” She growled, showing her fangs. “Choose.”

The two remaining female raiders looked at her, and then at each other.

“Uh...” The first one, with spiky pink hair, gulped. “We're gonna run.”

“Right...” The second one, with no hair, nodded. “We ain't that stupid.”

Rusty smirked. “Smart choice.” She sheathed her claws. “Before you go.” She nodded over her right shoulder. “How many more of you are there?”

“Uh, t-ten.” Pinky answered. “Our boss, R-Ripper... can't miss him... if you beat him in a one on one fight, the others will give up.”

Rusty nodded. “Thanks for the tip.” She thought for a second. “Take me to see him.”

Baldy blinked. “Uh... really?”

“Yes.” Rusty answered. “Now.”

Pinky gulped. “Sure. Okay. F-follow us.”

The two female raiders lead the assassin to their camp. As they approached the camp, a tall male raider, in full raider armour, walked up to them. He was holding a mean looking chainsaw knife.

“Hey! Why ain't you guys at the river?” Rusty assumed that this was Ripper. “And who the fuck is this?”

“I'm Rusty.” Rusty smiled. “These two girls were nice enough to bring me to see you after I killed three of your Raiders.” She smirked. “So, I'm here to challenge you one on one.”

Ripper blinked and then started laughing. So did the other gathered Raiders. Except for Pinky and Baldy.

“You gonna challenge me, you... uh... cat thing?” Ripper said as he stopped laughing. Rusty didn't waiver. “Sure. No guns. Melee only.”

Rusty handed her rifle to Pinky and then unsheathed her arm claws. Ripper grimaced and revved his chainsaw. The gathered raiders formed a wide circle around the two combatants.

“Ready, Cat?” Ripper asked as he lifted his chainsaw above his head.

“Oh, yes.” Rusty said. She ran at him, and in a blink of an eye, had her claws buried in his stomach.

“Hrrk!” Ripper grunted as he stopped revving his weapon.

Rusty looked up at him. “Two choices. One, I pull straight out, and you might live for a few days. Or, I swipe left and right, cut you in half, and you die right now.” She twisted her wrists a quarter of an inch.

“Straight out!” He yelled. “Please!”

Rusty sheathed her claws. Ripper dropped to his knees and dropped his weapon. The other Raiders were silent as they looked at Rusty in shock and awe.

Rusty placed her hands on his hips. “I'm the leader of this Raider band. Anyone got a problem with that?”

No one moved or said anything.

Rusty looked at Pinky and held out her hand. Pinky ran to her and gave her back her rifle.

“Right. From here on out...” Rusty said as she slung her rifle on her back, “You guys stick to this side of river. The town folk stick to their side, and are allowed to get water from it. Got it?”

The raiders nodded in unison.

She looked down at Ripper. “Don't make me come back. If I do, I'm killing each and everyone of you.” She nodded to Ripper. “Patch him up. Make him as comfortable as possible.”

“Uh, Boss?” Baldy asked. “You... you just gonna let him die?”

Rusty nodded at Ripper's chainsaw knife. “I see twenty marks on that weapon. That means he's killed at least twenty villagers.” Baldy nodded. “So, yes. He dies. Slowly.”

She turned on her heel and left the Raider camp. Sometime later, she walked into Albany through the front gate. She was immediately surrounded by the townsfolk. De Writer, AJ, carrying Kara, and the Elder pushed through the crowd.

“So?” The Elder asked, “What happened?”

“I challenged their leader, and won. I warned them to stick to their side of the river.” Rusty answered. “Your town can fix the water collection pipe again.”

The crowd cheered.

AJ hugged her with her free arm. Rusty noticed that she was wearing a new looking, brown, stetson Cowboy hat, “You're amazing. You know that?”

Rusty blushed heavily. “I-”

She was cut off as AJ kissed her passionately on the lips. “I don't know anyone else who would have done what you did.”

“I agree with AJ.” De Writer said as the two parted. “You remind me of a great warrior I once knew. She was selfless and always stuck up for the little guy.” He nodded in approval. “Never asking for a reward in return, and only killing if needed.”

Rusty blinked and smiled. “Thanks, De Writer.”

AJ looked at Rusty. “So, uh, while you were gone, I met some folks that could help us get to Ronto, you know, so we don't have to walk all the way.”

“Really?” Rusty asked as the crowd dispersed.

De Writer nodded. “She did. Two lovely women, one of which is a blacksmith and mechanic.”

Rusty blinked. “Oh. Okay. Where are they?”

AJ pointed to a group of tents. “Just over there. They come to town once a week to trade. They live about a half-mile away at a former car garage.”

De Writer smiled. “Go meet them. I have some more trading to do.”

Rusty held out her hand. “Thanks for the ride, De Writer. And for everything else.”

The old trader shook her hand. “A pleasure, Rusty. Best of luck to you, AJ, and Kara.”

The girls parted ways with De Writer, and headed to the group of tents. As they approached them, Rusty spotted to girls. One was 6'2 with silver hair, and a red bang. Her companion was easily 7'2 with long red hair with silver bangs. She was dressed like a mechanic. Rusty assumed that she was the one AJ mentioned. Rusty also noticed that they both had wide, pointy ears.

“Howdy, girls.” AJ greeted them. “This is Rusty.”

The shorter girl smiled and puffed on a pipe. While she was shorter then her friend, she was still taller then Rusty, and even AJ.

“Nice to meet you, Rusty.” She greeted, not really looking at Rusty. The cat girl realized that she was blind. “I'm Silver.” She gestured with her grey eyes to the taller girl. “This is my wife, Vixen.”

“Call me, Vix.” Vixen said with a shy smiled. “So, uh, AJ mentioned that you guys want to get to Ronto?”

Rusty nodded. “Yeah. There's a village that De Writer told us about.”

“Well, we can help you guys get there, if you want.” Silver said. “Vixen and I have been fixing a car over the last year.” She puffed on her pipe more. “We just need a few more things to get it ready.”

“Like what?” AJ asked as they all sat down next to a fire.

“Well, we only have four tires and only three wheel hubs.” Vix explained. “We kinda need four. Also, we need a fuel pump.”

“Oh. And you'll be willing to just... give us the car to get to Ronto?” Rusty asked.

“Not exactly.” Silver said. “See, we have a means to fuel it. Well, part of a means. We grow our own maize. And, we came across part of a formula to make a fuel using maize. Problem is, we don't know how to finish the recipe.”

AJ thought for a second. “I do. See, I used to be a scientist. Before I left... we were working on a means to make bio-fuel.”

Vixen and Silver shared a look and the looked back at AJ.

“Okay. We'll make you girls a deal.” Vix said with a smile. “Help else track down the parts we need, and help with the fuel... and we all can go to Ronto. Okay?”

AJ and Rusty nodded.

“Okay.” Rusty said. “You girls have a deal. Where can we find these parts?”

“That's a little tricky...” Vixen said with quirked mouth. “Let's get back to our home, and we'll explain things further. Okay?”

“Sounds fair.” AJ smiled.

“Lead the way.” Rusty said.