A Gamma World of Eroc tale part 1

A Tale of the early adventures of the Gammapocalypse Metal Band. 

The trader flipped the sign to open, and parted his Spongebob curtains to reveal his much too meager wares. Business needed a boost and it looked like things were perking up.

Four wanderers were awaiting the traders call to barter, and they looked ripe for adventure as well. A human sized rat in a scruffy lab coat paced back and forth in front of a red wagon with a canoe balanced on top. Shadar couldn't help but notice how the rat-man covetously eyed a slighty scratched and dinged laptop computer that was leaning on the lower step of his trading post. It was then Shadar realized the laptop was not alone, a small 4-6 week old kitten was staring back at the rat as it flexed very sharp claws in and out of its tiny paws.

"I don't need a wagon Rat! I travel on paw and through the trees!" the little cat growled, "Besides I couldn't pull that thing anyway!"

Just then Shadars attention was drawn away from the bickering ani-mutes to the arrival of what he had heard only rumors of.....  the Gammapocalypse of sound, fury and fire! The METAL WAGON.

This large dual horse drawn wagon of rusted iron and alloy creaked to a halt. At the reins was a frail looking human in a snazzy nehru suit, at his belt was a combination tamborine/razor sharp Chakra. The man's wild shock of hair stood out giving him a "mad" scientist look, that was accentuated by the pair of dark welders goggles hiding his eyes. Riding in the rear of the wagon wreathed in flickering flame was a deformed hideous creature. It's overly large head and mouth full of razor edged teeth seemed out of place perched on pot-bellied clawed hand and foot body of a child. A pair of bat-like wings flexed slowly back and forth from the mutants shoulders. Shadar felt uncomfortable as the unblinking eyes of the "demon" gazed at him.

Rumors had come from Hillsboro in the south that a group of Gammarauders in a METAL wagon had destroyed the gang of Tangh the Space-pig. Shadar had never given the story any credit till now. He still wondered at it's validity as there were only two occupants of the wagon, when the stories had spoken of at least 5 members in that band.

"Good morning my friends, welcome to Shadar's emporium of fine goods. Let us barter shall we?"

Shadar waved his arm at the rack of goods he had on offer. A half-dozen coloring books, an electric toothbrush, digital camera, flint & steel, a bottle of Pinot Noir, a charged radio cell phone, crowbar, a pack of light ammunition, 4 days worth of trail rations, 3 bottles of "dirty water", and a bottle of "pure" water.  This was going to be tough.

Surprisingly the demon hopped off the wagon and tossed an M-16, toy dump truck, and an unopened box of diapers at Shadars feet. "All that for some ammo and a ration pack, trader." whispered the demon in a voice that made his skin goose.

"Me-Ow wants the image stealer in exchange for this useless crap!" pushing the laptop towards the trader.

The Rat cringed as the computer slipped from his grasp, Shadar knew he had that one on the line now. The Shock haired man tossed another radio cell phone down and asked for rations and the "pure" water. The day was looking up.

Fifteen minutes later Shadar was a canoe and little red wagon richer; he knew some folk in town these items would be good for, and the rat-man or "Von Schtupp" as he kept asking to be called finally had the Laptop in his verminite paws.

"My friends.", Shadar cooed. "Might I interest you all in a bit of Scavenging? A benefit to yourselves and I. There is a location nearby, but I have not the time or manpower to partake of this task. I offer you the opportunity, bring back as much as you can fill in your wagon and I will pay you now with my remaining rations and water. As well as give you the first three picks of the junk you return with. What say you?"

The four wanderers looked at each other. "Me-Ow is ready!" screeched the little cat.

Von Shtupp said he was ready to explore, and was in search of more scientific knowledge anyway.

 Shadar's directions had been hastily scrawled on a tattered Sunoco Road Guide. Following the the old "Ave" west out of town to "Ol' Dixx", then a bit south to a "silver street", then west again and the group emerged from the overgrown bush into the ruins of a place called "MARHT".

The demon eyed the horizon, "Well, I haven't killed anything yet today. What do think Spectra?"

The man in the Nehru suit turned to Shadar, "Looks like you just hired the Band."

 The weed choked field in front of the building was filled with rusted hulks of vehicles long since scavenged. There were two entrances to the ruin. The northern most entrance was blocked by a mountain of shopping carts stacked and strung together with old cable and barb-wire, while the southern entrance looked clear. Me-Ow scouts out the north entrance and using her "radio-head Alpha" tells the group it is blocked.

 Demon and Spectra settle the horses as Von Schtupp meets Me-Ow at the southern entrance. Me-ow scurries up the rats back as he approaches the darkened entry peering over his shoulder. A hissing sound follows the opening of the sliding doors as the scent of mildew and rotting cloth overwhelm the duo. Joined by Demon and Spectra, the entire party enters the darkened interior of the MARHT. Scavenging among the old shelves, Me-Ow and Spectra catch a shadowy silent shape drifting down from above!

 A large Blaash swooped by firing a rad-blast causing our heroes to scatter for cover as a second one dove in for attack!

Von schtupp took that moment to don a pair of night-vision goggles, Spectra threw his Chakra with deadly accuracy and Me-Ow launched herself from a shelf-top onto the second insects back! Demon cut loose with a few fire-bolts and a blackened moth crashed to the floor a few ailes over. Me-Ow slashed into the carapace of the second moth causing it to crash as well. Von schtupp deemed the radioactive bug would make a good snack and dug in.

An hour later, the group had scavenged 4 glow sticks, a lighter, pair of bolt cutters, steel handcuffs, an umbrella, 15lbs of "Junk Salvage" a random assortment of bottles, cans, dolls and other sad and useless relics. As well as 10lbs. of "Scrap Salvage" rusty pipes, metal signs, and other chunks of metal in useful sizes and shapes.

 Feeling lucky the group heads deeper into the ruin when a skylight in the roof shatters raining glass and debris upon them! They are stunned by a screeching noise that assaults their ears as a pack of green flying barracudas descend!

  "RUIN FISH!" shouts Von Schtupp, "Demon your fire bolts won't work on them!"

Scowling, Demon un-slings his chainsaw bass guitar and pulls the rip-cord. RUUUM, Ruuum !