Neomerica: Chapter 3: Of Allies and Agents

Neomerica: Chapter 3: Of Allies & Agents
    Approximately a month after the battle at 042's temporary base nothing interesting happened.  Well other than the rainbow portal, the blue police box, and the random appearance of Flight 19.  But none of these had any affect on our adventures so we'll just act like none of these happened.  The only thing of importance is we were in the Californian Desert.  It was hot, dry, and sandy.  The heat dried out our throats and made life unbearable.  But we eventually made it to Sacramento and Neomerica's main base of California.
"Really," Rose said, looking at the base, "our californian headquarters is in a railway museum?"
"What's your point?" I asked, "I said they had a pre-war means of transport.  I never said what it was.  With that we entered the base.
    In the base there were people running about taking working parts from old engines to see what they could do with them.
"Aaron!"  their leader yelled running up to hug me.
"Wally!"  I responded doing the same.
Let me explain Wallace Oakes and I are old friends.  We were the best of friends back in the day.  When I became Neomerica's leader I sent him to California.  He is, was, and always will be the greatest mechanic I've ever known.
"It's been too long buddy.  Tell me how is Oregon?  I'll admit sometimes I miss the eternal rains."
"Well our base was taken over by raiders and if it wasn't for CB's quick thinking the cult would have us in their grips right now.  So I think we'll stay away from there for now.  Back on subject."
"You're here about Project R aren't you?"
"Yes.  Might we please see the head builder for it?"
"That would be me," came a deep voice.
Into the room stepped a creature like I'd never seen before.  It was huge yellow-green and covered in muscles.  It had on an engineer cap with goggles on the top and was wearing overalls but no shirt.
Upon his entry Gunner yelled "ORC!" and pulled out his gattling gun.
I should probably explain the concept of orcs.  Orcs are mutants (mainly from Nevada) we call them orcs because well they look like them.  Yellow-green, huge, muscle filled.  Most act like them roving in gangs looting and destroying settlements just for fun.  But there's also a lot of orcs who've held onto humanity and not gone crazy.  They make powerful allies.
"Calm down," Wally said.
"CALM DOWN?!  CALM DOWN!?  THERE IS A MUTANT IN HERE AND YOU'RE TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN!?"
"Hey Casey wouldn't harm a fly.  He just wants to help work on Project R."
"Casey?" Ashling asked, "you named a mutant?"
"I'll have you know," Casey replied, "I named myself.  I may be an orc but I still have my humanity.  I named myself after one of the greatest engineers and heros ever 'Casey Jones' well that was his nickname.  His real name was John Luther Jones.  But no one who knows the legend calls him by that."
"Casey is a true blue trainiac.  He learned all he could in Nevada.  So when he heard about this museum he got a move on it," Wally said.
"I am the head researcher, builder, and the only person qualified to be the projects engineer," Casey said proudly.
"Wait?" CB asked, "are you saying Project R is what I think it is?"
"That depends," Casey replied, "do you think it's THIS?!" while asking this he pulled off a tarp made of a bunch of tarps sewed together revealing an railway engine about twice his size with stripped parts from other engines making it whole.  But the base, what it was before the war was a Union Pacific Big Boy.  
"Are you joking?" Gunner asked, "please tell me there's a motorcycle or something in there."
"Hey," I replied, "they did exactly as I asked."
"Wait what?" Rose asked, "you told them to build this?"
"To rebuild society you start with the wheel and the iron horse is what tamed the west.  It's the beginning of transport and in turn what we need to rebuild life as it was pre-war."
"Indeed," Casey said, "someone else who understands their importance.  Come now I'll show you what it has."
With that he led us into Project R.
"This is the engine," Casey said, "it's base was a Big Boy but we've modified it.  We fixed it with other part's and we also made it to run on-"
"Nuclear samples from Nevada,"  I interrupted, "or in all honesty anyplace with sufficiently irradiated materials."
"Yes.  Come now let us continue."
We all passed the lead lined tender.
"Please be careful," Casey asked, kindly "the nuclear stockpiles are only safe for mutants such as myself."
He opined the next door.  "Here is the passenger car,"  he said showing us the lovely quarters, "The car itself is a Bi-level Amtrak superliner, the furnishings are from multiple luxury cars.  All in all it's pure concentrated class."
We continued, "Here is the weapons car."
Gunners face perked right up, "Did you say weapons car?" he asked sounding like a kid in a candy store.
"Why yes we have a stockpile of weapons from baseball bats and pistols to chainsaws and flamethrowers.  Ammo for it all, armor plating, even turrets on the roof.  We converted it from a RT-23."
"Can I sleep in here?" Gunner asked hopefully.
"Absolutely not.  We worked way too hard on the passenger car," Casey replied spite in his voice.
"Casey just let him this is his territory he belongs surrounded by weapons," I replied.
"Very well Gunner can stay with the weaponry."
Gunner then did something I'd never expect from him.  He made a sound that can only be described as a squee.
We continued to the next car this one was filled with medical supplies.
"Here is the medical car," Casey proclaimed, "we didn't need to do much to it it was already a car from a Lifeline Express hospital train."
Roses face filled with glee.  "I'll just stay in here alright?"
"Another person not wanting to stay in the passenger car?  What did we do wrong?"  Casey asked quizzically.
"Nothing but I could probably do more good in here.  It would mean immediate medical attention because I wouldn't need to run through the weapons car."
"You have a good point.  Alright you can stay in here."
"Thank you."
We continued to the last car.  "This is the caboose.  We used an extended style caboose specifically for comfort CB. Truth be told you were the only person we had expected to stay outside of the passenger car."  Casey proclaimed.
"Huh?" she asked confused, "why'd you single out me?"
"Simple the caboose was where the conductor kept contact in other words the communications center."
"Right works for me."
"So," I said, "in other words me and Ashling are the only ones actually in the passenger car?"
"I wish could. But I belong in medical it's who I am."  Rose said, with a firm voice.
"It's alright I understand.  Let's get back out and see how Wally's doing."

We exited Project R and began a conversation with Wally.
"So you like Project R?" he asked.
"Indeed that's why I ask if we may use it.  We need it," I replied.
"Well of course you can it was built for you after all.  But there is a condition."
"What?"
"You'll need to take Casey with you."
"Well we were planning on it anyway he's one of the nicest people I've ever met.  Also we kinda need him to drive it."
"Well then it's settled."
However the celebration was short lived.  Once we agreed some men in armored suits broke through the window.
"Neomerica," one of them said, "you're under arrest."
"No not now," I said, "Agents you gotta be kidding me."
    Before I continue I'm going to teach you about Agents.  They were a little pre-war experimental super soldier clones containing the greatest aspects of the world's greatest people.  They were never finished but the war gave their pods the final kick they needed.  And thus one of the world's biggest threats were born.  Funny how men in suits used to be an irrational fear now look at one wrong and you're doomed.  Basically if their sent for you you know you've done something wrong.
"AGENTS?!" Gunner yelled confusedly, "YOU'RE KIDDING US!?"
"I'm afraid not," one agent (clearly their leader) said, "Neomerica has been declared the biggest threat we were dispersed for elimination," he stopped and looked at me, "Hello mister Glory.  You're still alive?  I've got to say I'm quite surprised."
"And I'm surprised you're alive Agent L.  You guys can survive collapsing buildings now?"
"Indeed but," he said raising his hands, "you can't survive bullets.  Can you?"  With that all the Agents rose duel pistols.
"I've been waiting for this," Gunned said raising his gattling gun.
"No," Wallace said, "you six get to Project R we'll hold them off."
"But," I proclaimed.
"No buts It's been an honor commander but this is where me and my team will take our stands.  NOW GO!"
With that my team with our new friend Casey boarded Project R.
"ALL ABOARD!" Casey yelled picking up a radioactive sample and throwing it in the furnace.  Project R began to move.  As we were leaving I looked back and saw the museum go up in flames.
"WHAT THE?!" I proclaimed puzzled.
Casey replied, "We were working on weaponizing some of the older engines that were beyond repair.  They became mobil fireballs we were going to tow them.  But I guess they set them off.  That'll take out some agents if not at least buy us some time."
I looked staring into the flames realizing one of the greatest men I'd ever known had given his life to save me.  And as his name right he was burning in the inferno to save others.  I looked and honored him as we headed east towards the frozen tundra of Arizona.