While Damian broke off in the direction of the engine, Derek had headed toward the back car. He ended up taking up on the third to last where the lack of railings made the platforms easy to breach. Fortunately they were picking up speed enough that people were beginning to shy back.
Suddenly someone leaped at the ladder going up the side of the leftmost car. Derek shifted his rife and was just on the verge of kicking the man down when he caught a good glimpse of his face. He'd never really personally interacted with the younger man, but Derek still recognized his god-brother (if that's what he could be called).
"Zaebis’, chuvak," he cursed as he offered a hand to help drag Richie fully onto the safety of the platform, "I thought you'd been on board."
@Morrigan
As he caught the signal from Red, Derek nudged his shoulder back into his brother, "Here we go," he murmured as he shifted his rifle in his arms. They helped the last few they recognized aboard, then Derek moved to block the entry.
Down the line Marcianus' rangers were doing the same. The rumble of the crowd began to grow as people realized they were being left.
Derek braced himself as people started trying to force their way aboard, having no choice but to use the butt of his rifle to force some of them back as the old machine rumbled to life and began to move.
"Would you take me in? I'd pay for the guide service," Derek half smiled as he offered, "we're still a good ways off from the station I had decided to head for, and there's a lot of threat from bandits and mutants between us and there."
"Well, I was planning to start angling back home sometime today," he answered, "but I was forced off course before the storm rolled in. Was hoping I could find access to one of Hanza's station, sell off what I have and maybe hitch a rail car back to Polis."
@HalesTheComet
"It's a shame salt is getting so difficult to find on the surface anymore," Derek nodded, "it'd perk up a lot of dishes."
He glanced toward the door as it rattled a bit, soon determining it was only the wind. Outside their shelter the storm was really beginning to howl. It almost seemed to shake the walls, but fortunately the structure seemed to be holding up just fine.
"So where are you headed to?" he asked conversationally, just in case this turned out to be one of the long storms.
@Morrigan
Derek thanked her as he took the strip she passed to him. He started to gnaw on it while he shrugged his pack off and rummaged, "These would actually be pretty damn good if we could risk a fire in here," he said as he pulled them out, "my god mother is a great cook. They're done up and seasoned, so better than just a plain cold spud," he shrugged as he handed her the slightly bigger of the two.
@HalesTheComet
"You're right," Derek nodded, giving a faint smile. He felt like they were safe. It wasn't the first time he'd hunkered down from a storm near mutants, "I've got a couple of cold potatoes if you want to share," he offered.
@HalesTheComet
"Eh, I always had to be guarding station gates," Derek answered with a crooked smile, "details can make all the difference."
He couldn't help but hear the rumble of her stomach. It was amusing in the moment. There they were, hunkered down in a dark room to ride out a storm - their stomachs not much caring about circumstance.
Derek shifted a bit as he looked to the door, "That looks sturdy enough," he answered after a moment, rolling his shoulders, "I don't think that watchman is hunting, anyway. Just looking for shelter. But worst case, I can stop it before it gets through easy enough," he said as he slowly shifted the strap of his rifle off his shoulder, sliding the weapon to lean beside the desk.
@HalesTheComet
"Your pack, mostly," Derek gave a faint smile as he motioned toward it, then back at his own, "rigged up to sort and carry as much as possible, easy as possible."
@HalesTheComet
"Oh, just a few days," he answered, realizing what she meant and swiftly moving to correct her, "I'm doing a little Stalking to bring in bullets. By some miracle my family all got out alright," he clarified.
Although it wasn't a miracle so much as his brother-in-law had been a Reich trooper for many years. The man's knowledge of their tactics had saved a lot of lives. Derek had shed much of his thinly veiled animosity toward the man since then.
That wasn't information one shared freely, though.
He shifted in place and took another sip from the canteen, "We got lucky. Right now my folks are in Polis trying to convince them to do something but... I don't think anyone has high hopes about that," Derek grimaced and shook his head once, "anyway, what about you? If I had to guess you look like a Stalker yourself."
@HalesTheComet
There was a tension in the air at Polis that was thick enough that it felt like you could cut through it with a knife. Everyone knew the train was expected to leave the station that day. Those that were approved to be on it were packed and ready to go, while others that wished to go but were denied were preparing in other means. You could see in the eyes of the people the anticipation of what was to come.
Those that were chosen filled the train as much as Violet and Red believed they could handle on the long and arduous journey and those they felt could help them, those they believed they could actually help their futures if there was something out there.
Though, they could have been equally dooming it.
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The chosen boarded the train and got settled with their meager amounts of belongings before the rush would happen and the rangers and soldiers that had decided to come with, were having to protect the entrances to the train.
It was like a ripple in the crowd as the last few were starting to board, there was a surge of disgruntled Polis citizens that wanted to strike out and try as well.
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This event is a GMed event. I will wait one day before adding on the next parts that happen which gives you 24 hours to respond how your character reacts in this situation (whether they are leaving, staying or one of the people trying to get onto the train that was denied).
I will react and provide story or difficulties for anyone that is involved.
Derek adjusted his mask as he looked up toward dark, swelling clouds on the horizon. They were moving in fast, seeming to darken with each passing minute. A steady breeze whispered between decrepit buildings, accompanied by increasingly frequent gusts of powerful wind. It was growing increasingly difficult to tell the difference between howling winds and howling watchmen.
He was still some eight kilometers from any accessible station entries. Bad luck combined with an admittedly poor decision made under duress had taken him off course. He still had his bearings, but he wasn't in the best of positions in the moment.
He shifted on his knee as he hunched behind the burned out shell of an old car, peering out across the street to determine whether or not it was safe to cross. There was no more sign of the demon he had been observing previously. Hopefully it had retreated to its roost to weather out the encroaching storm.
Derek knew he needed to take shelter himself. Finding somewhere secure was always a problem here on the surface. It was one made even worse now that he was in a less familiar area. Before, he had always done his stalking near Oberon. He was rarely in the vicinity of Polis.
Still, there was a shop front across the square that seemed to have potention. Once he had determined it was safe to move, Derek tucked his rifle in against his chest and started briskly for the next object of cover.
By the time he reached the store front the winds had increased to a steady howl as they lashed between buildings, throwing debris all around. Derek ducked inside and switched on his headlamp, peering around as he crept deeper to clear the building.
@HalesTheComet