
By: Logan Bowman

Life had been pretty good for him up until that day. Yep, having long
intellectual discussions with Barl.  Good ol' Barl with his "Visualize
whirled peas" sign over the bar. Sneaking after Mouse to find out what he
was really up to. Winning a few crystals at the roach races. Actually more
than a few crystals since he had learned to specially radiate his roaches.
Not that the radiation made them run faster, it was just that they were
smart enough to know that if they didn't win that they would be specially
radiated again.

Yes, life was good... Well, until that day he felt his Dad's Herculean
resting lightly behind his right ear. His Dad had headed him off to the
Main Complex exit, loudly thanking him for volenteering for the HX force
and wanting to be a warrior. Hey what could he say? Well, actually quite
alot, but with his Mom rabbit punching him every time that his lower jaw
started to unhinge made it kinda difficult. Over to the exit they marched.
He saw the sign next to the Main Complex exit asking him if he wanted to
enter the Wastelands. He would have reached the "no" button if he hadn't
minded losing a few fingers to his Mom's Xendrix as it flashed to the
"yes" button. There had been a lot of tears at the final farewell, mostly
his. His Dad had wished him luck and his Mom had told him to "go KILL
something" right before they booted him out of the airlock. And with
the last loving words of his Mom ringing in his ears "Don't come back
until you are a level 5!!", he found himself in the Wastelands.

He spent some time walking around the Complex trying to get back in. Each
time only to be given his radiation count and be booted back out into the
Watelands. He had never heard of that happening before, not even at the
Academy!! Mom must have gotten to them. NO ONE argued with Mom. After a
while he had started to worry about his radiation count and had no doubts
about why his roaches had done so well. Lucky for him he had soon spied a
environmental suit lying near the rocks. Slipping the suit over his
"Overkill is just misunderstood" T-shirt, he had felt better. Not a whole
lot better, because the suit was not the freshest, it was like someone had
put it on once and never taken it off until they made level 10. But at least
he knew that he wouldn't be lonely since he wasn't the only thing alive in
the suit.

He hadn't been out of the Complex before and wasn't real sure when he had
last had so much fun. Prolly when the base Medic had last vacinated him. He
guessed the Medic had still been mad at him for mistaking him for a Hydrite
during the last "All Wastelands Meatdarts tourney". Hey after a few beers it
could happen to anyone!

He had decided that they were not going to let him in for awhile, so he
started to look around to see what other neat stuff he could find out here.
The rations had been the next find. His Dad had always been a little funny
about him eating things off the ground. But he was hungry and just chugged
it down. The next thing he knows is this little guy comes from around
a rock. This little guy is screaming HAHA at the top of his lungs. He
thinks to himself, "gee Mom, what great folks you hang out with when your
not at home". Then the little guy saw him and started to raise his
Trilisam. He shouted out "hey relax, it's only me a HX recruit". The little
guy stopped, thought for a moment and a grin came over his face. He had
been worried for a moment but when he saw that grin, he just knew he had
found a friend. Then he raised his arms and said "Brother!". at the same
time the little guy raised his Trilisam and shot. It had been a miss but he
had no time to think as the little guy came running after him with his
Salanger. The fight was a little one sided for awhile until he figured out
that this guy was serious. Using a few tricks Mom had taught him when Dad
wasn't around the little guy was soon dead at his feet. Without even
thinking he grabbed the medkit, weapons and armor. Smiling to himself he
had thought "So this is what it's all about, I love this! it's almost like
a game".

 ... Thanks Mom & Dad!

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