Nameless Man (FE Fanfic)

[Major Scientist]

Author's note: This is a largely experimental piece that will eventually use the names of other people on the forum, with their permission. And yes, I realize others have used some of these plot devices and scenes before...

It was a cool night in the desert; the new moon phase cast everything in a inky blackness only broken by lights on the ground, both man-made as well as natural.
The young man in his early twenties felt like his head was going to shatter from all the pain he was in. Already his memories, including the reason why he was even here, had bled out into the tan desert sand along with most of his blood. All around him were hooded men dressed in black robes and chanting, or were they merely talking amongst themselves? It didn't matter, his hearing was gone and darkness of another kind had just claimed his perceptions...
The next morning, a crusty old scavenger poked around the rubble left by a recent campsite. The feeble elder nearly jumped when he pushed aside some debris and found a still breathing man with long chestnut brown hair... and more gashes then a CHOTA practice dummy. But he was still alive and the scav knew just who would pay for such a healthy individual.
Dr. Viva of LifeNet had just sat down in his bunker for lunch when he heard a knock on the rusty old blast door. With half a sausage in his mouth, he shouted at the door. "Come in already, I have work that needs to get done!"
Toothless Lou, the scavenger that he sent out to poke around in the camp north of Viva's bunker, opened the door and smiled. "I got one, he has a Traveler branding on his arm!"
Dr. Viva shrugged. "Eh, toss him in the back, I'll extract his DNA for samples later."
Lou shook his head. "No, this one's still alive."
"You're joking! Put him here on the desk." Viva promptly shoved the half-eaten meal to the side. Lou obeyed and the young man was unceremoniously dumped on the cleared space.
"Let me check to see if he has any other ID." The portly doctor began to rummage around in his pockets, finally producing a dog-eared scrap of paper. Viva barely made out the two words on the parchment, "DESTORY JUDGES!", before the young man came back to life, tore the paper out of the doctor's hands, and passed out again.

To Be Continued

[Monty]

I had hard time following the story but I'm blaming my english so I like it :)

[Daratach]

Cant wait to read more...

[Major Scientist]

Thanks. Okay, here we go.

The young man woke up with a splitting headache, his eyes out of focus as the pain dulled. As he looked around at his surroundings, Dr. Viva stared back at him from behind his desk. "About time you came to. Listen stranger, don't get any fond ideas. I didn't save you to please some higher power, your blood had some value in my research. Now, before we get any further, I'd like your name."
The young man understood him perfectly even though he didn't know how. As for who he was... he blinked once, then twice. "I... I don't know."
Dr. Viva laughed. "Yeah right, I heard that one before."
"No, no, I seriously can't remember anything, not even my own name."
The LifeNet scientist sighed and swore. "Aggh, I suppose it can't be helped. Look, I don't know what your beef with the Judges is and quite frankly I don't care. I'm also not sure they're the ones who left you out in the desert but that is a Traveler branding they put on your arm. It means 'traitor' or something similar. Basically, you're marked as a undesirable by that faction and it's probably in your best interests to keep that covered. Not to mention giving those damn merchants a wide berth."
The nameless man noticed the distaste his savior had for these Travelers and decided to keep it in mind. Meanwhile Viva sighed and continued.
"In any case, I'm Doctor Viva of the LifeNet corporation. And since I don't feel like saying "Hey you!" until you finally remember your name, I guess I'll call you Judas. Don't ask me why, it just suits you for some reason."
"Judas, hmmm..." the young man mused. "Yes, I suppose that name will do till I get my mind back."
"Good, now Judas if you don't mind I have a job for you." The doctor replied omniously.

[Lord Stimm]

i like it keep up the good work:)

[Major Scientist]

Judas nodded and sat down in a rickety old folding chair to listen to the doctor. "I'm listening, it's not like I have anything better to do." He said nonchalantly.
Viva smiled and nodded. "Frank and to the point, you definitely weren't a Lightbearer before getting conked on the head. Look, to be honest I have no idea what you can do to pay me back so I have a little test made out of a few errands that need to be done..."
Judas nodded, listening attentively, Dr. Viva huffed and continued. "Listen, this bunker is less then twenty kilometers from a little village by the name of Clinton Farm. I happen to need a few things from town and the area around it, I don't care how you get them so long as it doesn't come back to me. Just... just do whatever comes natural for you. Maybe that will break the fog you're in."
The amnesic man shrugged. "Alright, just give me the shopping list and I'll be back in a flash."
Viva grinned and handed Judas three things; a piece of notebook paper, a hand-held radio, and a loaded revolver.
"The radio has a range of two hundred kilometers and is keyed to my specific frequency, the paper has the items I want, and hopefully you won't need the gun. The stairs to the surface are out that door and straight. And Judas, do come back alive."
The blank youth nodded and took off towards the surface, to a new day in this fallen earth....

[Stedfast]

Very interesting continue :)

[Makiaveli]

Yea what Sted said :)

[Major Scientist]

College started up again so this will take a backseat to my school work

With a huff, Judas opened the rusted bulkhead doors and pushed the sand that covered it aside. The midday sun greeted him with a blinding glare, causing him to shield his eyes from the bright light. A hot wind blew down past him into the tunnel.
"Damn that hurt." He grunted when his eyes adjusted and he could finally look around.
Outside wasn't much to see, just a lot of sand, tumbleweeds, and the occasional cacti. Small desert birds dug their nests into the water-rich plants and a small clump of houses could be seen from where he stood on the hill. Off to his left, a pile of rusted machinery and scrap metal beckoned to him for some reason. He was about to start walking towards the rubble when his radio beeped.
"Would you kindly shut the door and throw some sand over it? I'd like to stay hidden from those luddite CHOTA freaks if you don't mind!" Viva sternly requested over the radio.
Judas sighed and did what he was asked. The hatch shut easily and the warm desert wind did the rest for him. With a shrug he turned back and headed for the junk pile. Unfolding the doctor's list, he silently read off what he was supposed to bring back.
1. New servomotor for the auxillary generator. I've lost main power and the backup doesn't look like it will last much longer either.
2. Replacement motherboard. How do they expect me to work with a faulty computer? Better make that one a priority before the current one dies.
3. Fuel for nuclear-powered primary...
Judas's brain may have been put through a blender but he still managed to remember what radiation was. He prompty buzzed the doctor on his radio.
"Uh, excuse me Dr. Viva. You want nuclear fuel?"
"Yes, the fifty-year fuel cycle for my primary generator just expired. Don't worry about the purity, my reactor can extract some power even out of discarded fuel rods..."
"That's not the problem. You want me to pick up a irradiated piece of metal. You do realize I'm only shielded by a pair of jeans, leather work boots, and a wife-beater t-shirt right? That's not even acknowledging the bigger problem of finding useable fuel!"
"Well, ask the locals and see if they know anything. As for protection, maybe you could build a little rob..." Judas switched the radio off in disgust, the day was just getting better and better.
As he passed over the last hill, it became clear to him that the junkyard was a lot bigger then it looked, easily half a acre of scrap metal. Several generations of farm equipment lay rusting at his feet, a lot looking fairly unsalvageable. He groaned and climbed down the hillside to see what he could find.
"I don't even know why I'm bothering with this first. I'll need a blowtorch if I want half..." His foot kicked something round and metallic on the ground, cutting him off midsentence. He looked down and saw a rusted propane torch head. Gently he picked up the worn brass fixture and looked it over, adjusting it to make sure it wouldn't break on him. To his surprise, the device was in a perfectly useable condition.
With a smile on his face he continued rummaging around for a canister to hold the fuel in, eventually finding a empty steel flask-shaped bottle that worked perfectly. Now all he needed was some fuel...
Looking around, he spied a cracking plastic bottle with a transluscent, golden-colored fluid. Picking it up so he didn't spill a drop of the mystery substance, he could make out the words "100% pure vege... oil."
Smiling as he finished putting the components together and fixed up his new torch so that it would light, he felt a faint flicker of a memory. Of the intense heat of a furnace and the steady rythm of a hammer pounding metal. But as suddenly it appeared, it was gone and Judas realized that while he was in his flashback, he had cut a prime piece of metal perfectly and turned the torch back off....
"Okay, I just built a working blowtorch out of substandard parts and cut a slice of good steel with the crappiest fuel known to man. Who am I?" He asked himself with a bit of hesitation.

To be continued....

[Makiaveli]

McGyver Lives!!!

[Major Scientist]

Yeah, that would work. If Richard Dean Anderson looked like Dante from Devil May Cry that is. :p I personally was thinking more of a cross between MacGuyver and Doctor Who, with a little BA Barricuda (Mr. T) thrown in for good measure.

Judas had gotten over his shock and went to work picking over the rest of the scrap. Mostly it was some loose nuts and bolts, a few lengths of discarded electrical wire, and some random scraps of metal. Not much if anything he could trade with.
Sighing, he turned and headed for Clinton Farm, hoping his luck would improve.

[andreeon]

damn good the story is on my favorite list would like more to read.also you have very good writing skills good read.

[Major Scientist]

Oh wait until the fight scenes come in. :D
Judas had no sooner passed the outermost house in Clinton Farm when he heard the screaming. Almost instinctively the revolver was in his hand when his ears picked up the sickening moan that followed.
Moving his way further into town, he finally spotted the Infected zombies. Without even bothering to check to see where the civilians were he drew a bead on the leader and fired. The zombie closest to him tilted his head back from the recoil as Judas scored a hit at his neck. Within five seconds he had emptied the gun and was left with two zombies trying to rush towards him. Two more gunshots rang out, down the last of the Infected mere feet from Judas.
A smile crossed his lips as he turned to face the shooters, two Clinton townsfolk. "Nice timing."

[andreeon]

more more...who are the people and what else will he find?

[Major Scientist]

Roughly two hours later, Dr. Viva had another knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Judas walked in holding a cardboard box full of stuff. "This is pretty much everything you wanted, minus the nuclear fuel of course." He offered in explanation.
Viva looked over the offerings, at a loss for words. "How did you get it?" He asked finally.
"People tend to be generous if you help keep zombies from overrunning their homes." Judas answered flatly.
"Well..." Viva began, rummaging through his desk. "Here, take these extra bullets and these directions to the nearby towns. If you bring back the fuel for my generator, I'll pay you well."
Judas nodded and started to turn away after pocketing the extra ammo and dog-earred paper map, but Viva stopped him. "I almost forgot, put this on." He handed the young man a strange looking collar, similar to ones he saw on a few people in Clinton Farms. Viva shook his head and explained. "It's keyed to your vitals. As soon as you flatline, a clone with all your memories will appear here. Just... don't tell anyone else about it okay?"
The long haired man nodded and slipped it on then left the way he came. Back up on the surface, he headed back over to Clinton to decide where he wanted to go.

In the center of town, three men dressed in hooded black robes with crosses around their necks stood in prayer. One, the leader, faced the crowd of curious onlookers and spoke in a loud, proclaimation tone. "Citizens of Clinton! We are the Judges and we have cometh to purify your community of sin!"
Judas just stood in the background, ghosts of a memory returning to him. One of fire, screaming, and the thunderous roar of hooves, each horse carrying one of these robed men as they tore through... Westfall.
The leader began to list what the Judges defined as sin. As he continued on, the crowd lost interest and began to return to their regular routines. Soon, only Judas stood in front of them, his hand drifting lazily to his loaded revolver.
From beneath his robe the Judge smiled. "Hark stranger! Do you wish for salvation?"
Judas opened his mouth, his voice bitter and sarcastic. "Father, and I use that title mockingly, I know what redemption your people push and I know I want nothing offered at the barrel of a gun. You are not dead only because I need you to carry a message, the village of Westfall shall be avenged."
The Judge laughed. "Vengence from a village choked on the sin of gluttony? Tell me stranger, why does someone as lean and able-bodied as yourself care for such a place."
"Because it is not sin to have a home in a community where the women are voluptuous, the men are stout, and the children have no want of food. Liar, greed is why you burned my home to the ground, we offered you much of our bounty freely but you still wanted all of it! Father, your faith sings of Judas the betrayer. Well, I am Judas the betrayed. Remember the name, for you will be hearing it again soon." Judas replied over his shoulder as he disappeared into the desert, leaving no sign for even the best tracker to find...

[Major Scientist]

Several of the villagers had heard Judas's song and dance about the evils of the Judges before he disappeared. The three Judges themselves appeared unmoved as they began to leave Clinton Farm. Only the sheriff, who was patrolling the edge of town for more Infected with his deputy, saw them behave any different.
As they left the village's edge, the three men in black robes began to fan out and follow in the general direction Judas took. The ground was hard from the long drought Clinton was struggling through and it was difficult to get more then a general sense of where they were going. The three muttered nervously amongst themselves, only the leader seemed to be at ease.
"A drifter from Westfall, I thought your attack purged all elements of sin Brother Robert?" One of the Judges turned to his peer.
"Indeed Brother Joseph, those who did not fall beneath our rightous fires fled." Brother Robert replied haughtly.
"Some fled? Brother, if there are more then just Judas-" Brother Joseph said only to get cut short by Father Robin holding up a weathered hand.
"The survivors of Westfall are of no concern to us, they are few and their hearts are divided between the godless local prattle pushed by the Techs, the Vistas, the Travelers, and the Lightbearers. It would take an act of God to get them to stand together against us again."
The two Brothers said nothing but Father Robin could sense that they had their doubts as the three of them continued along until coming to a road that led to Oiltown.
There, on the worn and ancient asphalte, were a pair of dusty footprints made by Judas's work boots. As they led out onto the road, the foot prints turned towards Oiltown, disappearing in the general direction of the ancient oil refinery....

[Major Scientist]

Three days later
As Judas walked over the last ridge, the sight of a walled city and a windmill farm towering over it greeted him with a strange sense of deja vu. He checked his map again, this had to be Oiltown. With a sigh he walked forward, wishing he could shake the feeling of familiarity about this place...

After a few minutes talking with the local watch, Judas managed to get inside and felt the nostalga wash over him like a warm tide. Little things started becoming clear, tiny things he did or fiddled with. This... was home. Or at least a home away from home.

[Stedfast]

Interesting read hmmmm ;)

[Major Scientist]

Oiltown, the drone of machinery was music to his ears. Judas smiled as he traded away all of his salvage for better tools and some supplies, perhaps now he could finally get to the important task of figuring just who he was...

[Tomb]

Author's note: This is a largely experimental piece that will eventually use the names of other people on the forum, with their permission. And yes, I realize others have used some of these plot devices and scenes before...

oh oh oh.. :D Swell!

[Craft Enzo]

he got ideas from STALKER...

[Major Scientist]

oh oh oh.. :D Swell!

That might have to fall through though.

he got ideas from STALKER...

I assure you that I haven't done anything lame like give the character a command to kill himself.

[Tomb]

That might have to fall through though.



*awaits next part of story*

[Tomb]

*awaits next part of story*

'You do? I'm doing the same!

[Major Scientist]

Judas felt a little more at ease with the familiar weight of a pack strapped to his back and his revolver strapped to his side. The main marketplace in Oiltown was full of people harking wares from all over the Canyon. Surly Enforcers checked their ammo before heading out on patrol and shifty Travelers sat by displays of goods of questionable quality.
Judas had managed to get his hands on a worn cotton cloak someone left in the trash, covering both his arms with the light fabric and keeping that branding he still didn't fully remember getting hidden out of sight. Just as he was starting to see about getting a second gun, a course voice called out to him.
"Hey Johnathan! Haven't seen you in ages, how have you been buddy!" A tallish Traveler exclaimed while slapping him on the back.
Judas reflexively checked to see if he still had his wallet as he looked over the wasteland trader. The woman was fairly fit, athletic, and dressed in light desert clothing. A huge, overstuffed backpack gently peaked over her veiled head.
"Ummm, excuse me do I know you? The desert sun gets to a person after awhile." Judas offered as a apology, not quite remembering if this woman was friend, foe, or merely someone who mistook him for someone else.
"Come on John! It's me, Randomistic Halo." The merchant replied, giggling in a way that untensed his mind.
"Ah yes, I remember now. It's really has been a long time hasn't it? Weren't you on some sort of caravan off to make a big score." Judas replied as bits and pieces of his memories started to come back before drifting off.
"Damn straight! We made wheelbarrows full of chips on that one. Come on, let me show you what I have for sale." Halo motioned and lead on.
Judas hesistated, but the sight of three hooded desert travelers at the gates pushed him on. One person he knew he could take, but three was still iffy. So with a deep breath, he bowed and entered Halo's yurt.... The inside of this tent was spartan yet looked quite comfortable. Her husband and child were off to the side in the family living space while Halo's wares hung from the supports or lay to the side.
"It's been wonderful, we saw so many places and met so many interesting people on our travels. You'll have to tell me all about what we missed while we were gone."
Outside, Judas could hear the familiar voices of the three Judges talking. He knew now that Halo the Traveler would have been someone who would have helped him, but he looked over to her family and made his choice.
"I'm sorry, I have to get going. However, if you have any guns or more ammo for this..." He said while holding up his hoistered revolver. "I'll be happy to make a quick purchase."
The female Traveler nodded and dug through a small crate she kept near the back of her stock, producing a second revolver and twelve more bullets. Halo's eyes went wide when Judas put down about three feet of thin copper wire, a slightly tarnished silver ring, and a marvelously preserved stuffed toy. "This is pretty impressive, but you're still a little short."
Judas sighed, focused on where he would possibly keep his chips, then took off his right boot and shook it hard. Two fifty dollar poker chips fell onto the table as the scav replaced his boot. Halo shook her head and smiled. "Alright John, I'll let this go but you owe me next time."
Judas thanked her, took his new gun and the bullets, and immediately left. No sooner had he left then Halo looked up and saw a weathered looking old man in priestly robes enter her shop. "Hello miss, have you seen a man who calls himself Judas?"

[flora]

Good to see an update :)

[Major Scientist]

Yeah, school's kind of a pain and I have a few clubs/social obligations to keep me from turning into a total trogolyte but I still haven't entirely forgotten about this.

[Major Scientist]

Halo looked back at the elderly wanderer with unassuming eyes. "Who?" She asked as a second "priest" slipped in behind the old man and whispered into his ear.
"Nevermind, that man you were just trading with, did he say where he was going?" Father Christopher asked again.
The desert trader did not get to where she was by being stupid or by not listening to that nagging suspicion that occasionally came up to tell her when a person was not trustworthy. She looked back at him with a glare.
"May I ask why?"
"He's wanted for a serious crime against my people. I am traveling to make sure he recieves God's judgement." The worn Judge then adjusted his collar, the process "accidently" dislodging a faction pendant around his neck.
Halo saw this but said nothing about it, merely motioning for her family to stand back, her eyes darting towards a prized sword she had bought from a trader who had claimed to have bought it from a faraway land across the ocean to the west. She seriously doubted that it was authetic but it was sharp, heavy, and looked real enough to persude a would-be theif to try another merchant. But before the situation could go anywhere else, two heavily armed guards appeared behind Father Christopher.
"Is there a problem?" They asked politely, Halo noticed their shotguns were loaded and ready to be used.
The two Judges said nothing and quietly bowed out of the tent. The town watch nodded politely to the woman before returning to their posts. When the yurt was quiet again, Randomistic Halo looked to her family as they looked back at her.
"Pack your things. I think Depot 66 sounds like a nice change of scenery don't you agree?" She said while starting to slowly close up shop.

-----

Having finally worn out their welcome, the three Judges watched the Traveler caravan depart Oiltown. If their mark had indeed slipped out of town it would have to be with these nomadic traders. But which one was Judas the Betrayed....

-----

Judas/Johnathan watched the hills from behind the hood of a cotton cloak he had bartered for with the last of his trade goods. Hopefully the Travelers would pay for his services. Nervously the man itched the rag he had tied into a crude "bracelet" over that branding he still didn't remember the story behind. Maybe in the next town there would be someone who could help him fade if not completely remove the damn thing.
In any case, he didn't have a lot of options, he still wasn't sure enough of himself to try traveling the desert alone. And even if he was, those pistol rounds would only get him so far. What I wouldn't give for a good rifle... He thought to himself as the caravan made its way towards the next town, the evening sun promising some relief from the intense heat of the day...

[Tomb]

Dear I say it`? Oh yes I do..


http://imagezion.com/images/retrokenshin/moar.jpg

[Makiaveli]

Dear I say it`? Oh yes I do..


http://imagezion.com/images/retrokenshin/moar.jpg

Why? ;)

[Major Scientist]

Why? ;)

Because apparently someone likes this little yarn. :rolleyes:

On the night of the second day of traveling, disaster struck. While getting water for the horses, a flock of praire chickens charged and attacked, badly injuring two of the mounts and several of the caravaners. After a tense fight; the group resumed travel, moving at a much slower pace, to Depot 66. The entire group was revealed as the sun rose in the horizon, shining the early morning light down on the wasteland community beneath them.

[Tomb]

Still waiting for more.

[Oriin]

Nice read thank you

[Tomb]

Major Scientist: Do I have to hit you? :(

[RamonSterns]

Major Scientist: Do I have to hit you? :(

NO ONE LOVES YOU. NO oNE!

[Tomb]

NO ONE LOVES YOU. NO oNE!

I'm not the one with a stick up my avatars rare end.. :(

[Major Scientist]

Major Scientist: Do I have to hit you? :(

I've been busy, I've actually gotten a job this summer and it's taking up alot of my time

[Tomb]

Yes. You have. Your job is to write here.. :(