#6: Land of the Lost

[buck]

Jonah Hex #6

Land of the Lost

The Governor's office was filled with all manners of relics from the pre-fallout world. Books crammed from corner to corner of the office. Technology long since lost to time. The world still retained forms of some of this technology, but the greatest secrets were died with the generations of the past. Hex and Tallulah spun around marvelling at their surroundings.

“Quite a bit of history in this place. I hunted down a lot of the pieces myself in my younger days. Scavenging the lands as a treasure hunter those were the good ole days, but when you save the day one too many times they want you to stick close by. That's how I got trapped in this hellhole.” The Governor explains as he enters the room.

Hex produces the small package from inside his duster. “Mr. Turnbull sends his regards.” Hex anxious to leave turns and begins to walk towards the door.

“Mr. Hex, I know you to be one of Quentin's best men. I have a job I need done and I’ve already lost three of my men to this menace not to mention numerous tradesmen have either been robbed or gone missing.”

“I'm not interested. I promised my missus a good time in the city. The only thing I had to do while here was drop off this little package for you.” Hex dismisses the man.

“I don't mean for you to do it for free now Mr. Hex. I have quite a lucrative deal for you given your future plans I suggest you at least listen to my offer.” The Governor politely insists.

“It won't hurt just to listen to him, Jonah.” Tallulah offers up.

“I'd listen to the little lady, Jonah.” The Governor replies coolly.

“Let's hear it.” Jonah growls back showing clearly that he is annoyed by the situation.

“I'm willing to pay you twice your normal fee for starters and when you're ready to commit to leaving the bounty hunting behind I will make sure you land in one of the nicer areas of the city on my bill.” The Governor reels off the perks of the job.

“The pay sounds too good to be true, what's the catch?” Hex barks.

“No catch I just believe in paying people what they are worth and making the pay worth the job. I'm not going to lie to you Hex the mission is a dangerous one like I said I've lost three men to this problem already. We've had a string of attacks on the tradesmen that frequent our town. Robbery for sure and abduction and possibly murder. The man who has created this problem is known only as The Junkyard Dog. The last report I got from my men before they went off the radar said that the Dog was preparing for something big which I can only guess is an assault on the city. I need this taken care of right away and I feel that you are probably the best bet Mr. Hex.” The desperation seeps off the Governor's voice.
Hex looks over at Tallulah begging her to step in and tell him no.

“He'll take it.” Tallulah shouts. Jonah turns immediately in shock at the statement agitation clearly on his face.

“Fantastic! I'll have a squad of my finest men ready to ride within the hour!” The Governor says with the pleasure turning his words into soft coos.

“I don't need no men. Chances are they wouldn't be able to keep up anyway. Just slow me down.” Hex growls as he opens the door for Tallulah. The Governor begins unwrapping the package as Jonah slams the door shut.

****

“What was that?” Hex questions Tallulah upset over her volunteering his services.

“Jonah, offers like that don't come around too often. This is what we've been waiting for this is our way out.” Tallulah replies with a bit of anger in her voice.

“Once in a lifetime opportunities only come around once 'cause they usually end in death. You never really have the chance to be offered another one.” Hex answers.

“Jonah, you've faced down everything Turnbull has thrown at you. You've spent years out in the wastelands. Some inbred hick calling himself the Junkyard Dog isn't going to give you any trouble and you know it Jonah Hex.” Tallulah hastily argues.

“I guess you're right, Tallulah.” Hex half-heartedly agrees.

“You're damn straight; I'm right. Before you leave though I want to give you something back in the suite.” Tallulah teases seductively.

****

The air outside of Gateway City is different then out in the wastes near New Turlington. It lacks a bit of the bite that true waste air has. Hex looks around at the refugee camp surrounding the city. Tents dot the landscape trade caravans are set up all around the city. Hex makes his way towards one of the traders who isn't swamped by the refugees.

“How do you do?” Hex puts on his gentler voice as he approaches the tradesmen.

“Better then I deserve and worse then I hoped for.” The old portly gentleman replies with a chuckle and a grin.

“Aren't we all?” Hex replies jokingly

“Well I suppose you're right there. How can I help you today?” the old man asks.

“I'm looking for some information on a character from out there.” Hex points out into the wilds of the wasteland.

“I've seen quite a bit out there so hopefully I can help you out some.”

“I need to learn as much as I can about The Junkyard Dog.” Hex replies as the color drains from the old man's face.

“I know more about him then anybody wishes to actually know. He hijacked my caravan a few months ago and I've just barely gotten back on my feet from that. I ran into him about a day and a half southwest of here. There's an old abandoned Junkyard down there that he runs out of; he's got some dangerous tech.”

“What kind of tech?” Hex questions.

“Robots and mechs mostly.” The old man turns around and begins rummaging through his bins. “I got something that might help you out if you go against him.” The old man begins searching more frantically. “Ahh, here we go.” The man reaches out his palm with about ten rounds in it.

“I got plenty of ammo mister. Thanks though.” Hex replies confusion in his voice.

“Not like these ones here, Mister. These are electro-shock rounds; they release a powerful electric shock upon impact. I've taken down a number of werebears with these; killed them dead.” The old man replies.

“Thanks, how much for the rounds?” Hex asks pulling some gold pieces from his duster.

“Nothing if you're going after the Junkyard Dog. Just make sure one of them hit that thieving son of a bitch.” The old man's words drip with anger.

“Thanks, mister I'll do my best.” The elder gentlemen smiles and waves, as Jonah begins marching into the Wastelands. The Gentlemen turns to his eight-legged mutant ox, “That's a dead man walking.”

****

Like always day turns to night and the wastelands grow more dangerous. Many men have met their deaths during the cold nights of the wastes. Roamers swarm the wastes when the sun dies down the cool night air calls to the undead. Hex has trained his body to go days without sleep. Resting the eyes out here was enough to get you turned.

The moans could be heard from a good distance away. Jonah approached the ravine trying to judge the depth from above as he peers over the edge he feels the death grip of a roamer. The ravine was a lot shallower then Hex was anticipating. As he felt his feet go out from underneath him Jonah pulls out his weapon firing off three shots leaving a few limp fingers around his right leg.

Jonah breathes deeply as he scoots away from the edge of the ravine. Pulling up his pants leg he checks for any signs of scratches. He felt no pain at the moment of the attack due to adrenaline and it was always best to be safe. Hex carefully breaks open a glow stick to illuminate the scene of the trauma. Hex; Jonah traces his leg trying to feel any gashes on it that might have broke through his thick field pants. Jonah exhales as he finds no sign of an infection.

Jonah rises to his feet looking for a way across the ravine; too far to jump for damn sure. A stone bridge protruded over the gap well above the reach of the moaning roamers below. As Jonah reaches the peak of the bridge he can see lights in the distance. The Junkyard is close now. Hex begins reining himself in regaining his focus after the close call.

****

The Junkyard is a massive relic of a bygone era; the wreckage and waste of those from the pre-Fallout World. Memories of the past calling out from the rusty, jagged, mountaintops; each piece of scrap an ode to the former civilizations of the wastelands. Jonah climbs over one such piece of scrap-metal, etched into the surface was 'Delta'. Jonah moves slowly to avoid detection as he peaks his head around a corner he realizes he's being watched cameras pivot around every corner tracking his movements. Microphones emerge from underneath the cameras.

“You are trespassing. Surrender immediately or face the consequences!”

Jonah darts to cover quickly as he hears the roar of engines start up. Jonah peaks over the piece of scrap metal to see a mechanized army powering on. Row after row five wide and five deep a small, but lethal force. Jonah ducks his head back down as one of the weapons begins rapidly firing on the hunk of scrap. Jonah begins moving down as the firing stops. Right as he goes to peak over the pile off junked cars the firing starts up again. This time four guns fire rapidly upon his location. As the firing stops a figure walks towards Jonah obscured by the kicked up dust.

“You've seen you are far outgunned might I suggest you surrender and talk to me about and maybe we can find a way for you to make it out of here alive.” Jonah responds with a bullet that flies over the little man's head; hitting one of the robots. Setting of massive electrical pulse, frying all of the robots. “With aim like that you probably would be better off surrendering.” The man snidely remarks.

Jonah hops out from behind the piece of metal; pulling out his other gun he keeps it pointed at the grinning man. “Wasn't aiming for you Junkyard.” Hex replies with a bit of a laugh as the hollow thud of the mechs hitting the ground makes the man jump. “Now what do you got to eat in this place? We need to have a little conversation.”

****

Junkyard Dog sits in the corner of the room as Jonah breaks into the man's rations. The Junkyard Dog fidgets a bit his stature obviously an indication of why he has a mechanized army. Short and skinny he had no muscle to his body.

“So tell me why does the Governor want you so badly mister?” Hex spits food as he questions the man.

“Why do you ask? Acting like you care. You're a no-good two bit bounty hunter all I am to you is another pay check.” the skinny man screams back at Jonah.

“Well I've recently turned over a new leaf and I've learned to not always judge people off my first impressions. Sometimes the people giving me my orders aren't doing what's right if you know what I mean? So tell me your real name.”

“I'm sorry, sir. My name is Liam Chapman I'm a scientist or I guess I was a scientist back before The Governor decided he didn't like the project I was working on in secret. Wealthy, powerful men never like the status quo being changed up on them.”

“What do you mean the status quo was going to change? What kind of secret project?” Hex puts his food down his interest obviously sparked.

“I was working on a way to return us to the old days. Bring back the wholesome green world we use to have before men like the Governor started making decisions on what was best for everyone. I'd been working on Project Reset in secret while I was building an army similar to the one you just took out with a single bullet. It was a ten phase plan to bring the life back to the wastelands and then eventually get the world back on its feet. Water purification factories, mechanized farmers to grow crops and help regain the soils richness. I'd thought of everything and had unlocked most of the hurdles before The Governor found out. He decided he didn't much like the idea of a world where everyone had access to free clean water and a bountiful amount of food. He couldn't live without the control.”

“So why did you rob the caravans?” Hex mutters

“I needed supplies. The world isn't going to save itself. I need those rations that you're eating. The raw materials built those mechs out there. I can return this world back to where it used to be, but I need time and resources. Two things it appears I have ran completely out of.”

Jonah smirks at man. “I think it's your lucky day. I like to think I'm getting wiser in my older days and I think I should let you continue your work.”

“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!” tears stream down Liam's face.

“I do have conditions; however, first, you can't stay here; find somewhere far away from here and continue your work. Second, don't rob any more caravans. You got plenty of scrap here you can take and get rid of people are always looking for housing options. Last, we got to blow this place sky-high.

****

“All Aboard for New Turlington!”

Jonah and Tallulah hop aboard the train. After collecting the bounty on the Junkyard Dog Jonah and Tallulah enjoyed the rest of the week inside the city a society all its own it was an amazing thing to witness. The explosion of the Junkyard could be seen from Gateway; when Jonah arrived there was no question that he was successful in his mission. The Governor paid right away and turned over a deed to Jonah the same day. Jonah couldn't help, but wonder rather his last two bounties were some sort of sign that he wasn't meant to do more than lead a simple life. Tallulah notices the look of deep thought on his face, “What is wrong with you, love?” Jonah stays lost in thought, “Jonah.” Jonah turns towards her.

Pushing her gently on the bed he responds, “Oh nothing's wrong just thinking of the things I'm going to do with you.”