Disclaimer: I do not own Rifts or related settings. Rifts and all associated copyrighted and/or trademarked materials are the intellectual properties of Kevin Seimbeida and Palladium Books. I am using these published works without permission and for no intent of profit. I am just telling the story of my gaming campaign.

  February 2, 102 P.A.

  The ruined skyline of Weston loomed before Jed Carter like the jagged teeth of some monstrous beast. Crumbling ruins of buildings pierced the fog-filled sky, their skeletal frames casting long shadows over debris-strewn streets. Nature had reclaimed the city, with weeds bursting through cracks in the pavement and vines snaking up the sides of buildings. The air hung heavy with the stench of decay, a constant reminder of the world that was lost.

  Jed emerged from the shadows of an alleyway, his hand instinctively gripping the Wilk’s 447 laser rifle slung over his shoulder. The familiar weight of the weapon brought a small measure of comfort in this desolate wasteland. His backpack, filled with the tools of his trade, rested comfortably against his spine. The Bushman armor he wore hummed quietly, its advanced systems monitoring the environment around him.

  He took a deep breath, tasting the acrid air on his tongue. The distant sound of gunfire echoed through the empty streets, a grim reminder that danger lurked around every corner. Jed’s muscles tensed, ready to react at a moment’s notice. He’d survived this long by staying alert, and he wasn’t about to let his guard down now.

  Stepping out into the dilapidated street, Jed raised his laser rifle to a ready position. His eyes scanned the skeletal husks of buildings surrounding him, their windows shattered and walls covered in graffiti and grime. The sun beat down relentlessly, its heat amplified by the surrounding rubble. Sweat trickled down Jed’s back, but he ignored the discomfort, focusing instead on his surroundings.

  As he picked his way through the debris, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Jed froze, his finger hovering near the trigger of his rifle. A figure, cloaked in rags, darted across the street and disappeared into a darkened doorway. Jed’s heart rate quickened, adrenaline surging through his veins.

  He focused his gaze on the spot where the figure had vanished, straining to make out details in the dim light. It appeared to be a humanoid, thin and gaunt, dressed in tattered clothing. Their movements had been quick and erratic, suggesting they were either frightened or in a hurry. Jed’s mind raced, considering the possibilities. Friend or foe? Desperate survivor or dangerous predator?

  “Hello?” Jed called out, his voice echoing through the empty street. The sound felt alien in the eerie silence that had settled over the ruins. The figure froze, their back still turned to him. They remained silent for a beat, then slowly turned their head to look at him over their shoulder.

  Their face was hidden in shadow, but Jed could make out a pair of wide, frightened eyes. A trembling hand rose, bony finger pointing in a direction further down the street. Then, without a word, they turned and vanished into the darkness of the doorway.

  Jed’s brow furrowed as he considered his next move. The figure’s behavior was odd, to say the least. Were they trying to help him, or lead him into a trap? In this world, kindness was often a luxury few could afford. Still, his curiosity got the better of him.

  Following the direction of the figure’s pointing finger, Jed’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a group of four figures emerging from the shadows a block away. They were dressed in similar ragged clothing, but their movements were less frantic. They seemed to be scanning the area, eyes darting from side to side as they approached.

  One of them carried a long, rusty pipe, while another clutched a makeshift spear fashioned from a sharpened piece of wood. Their intentions were unclear, but their presence was undeniably threatening. Jed’s grip on his laser rifle tightened, his palms growing sweaty inside his gloves.

  “Hello?” Jed called out again, his voice cutting through the tension in the air. The group of figures stopped in their tracks, their eyes locking onto his position. The one with the pipe raised it threateningly, while the others tightened their grip on their makeshift weapons.

  A raspy voice called out from the group, “Who goes there? State yer business!”

  Jed’s mind raced, weighing his options. These people didn’t seem interested in a friendly chat, but he wasn’t eager to start a firefight if he could avoid it. He’d seen too much bloodshed already.

  A tense silence hung in the air as Jed waited for a response. The group of figures continued to eye him warily, their weapons still raised. After a few moments, the figure with the pipe spoke again.

  “We asked ya a question, stranger. Who are ya, and what brings ya to these parts?”

  The others in the group murmured in agreement, their eyes darting between Jed and the figure with the pipe, who seemed to be their leader. Jed took a deep breath, steadying himself before responding.

  “Jed Carter,” he said, his voice firm and unwavering. “And you should leave. Go back the way you came.”

  A low chuckle emanated from the figure with the pipe. “Jed Carter, eh? Well, Jed Carter, we don’t take kindly to threats around here. This is our territory.” He gestured with the pipe to encompass the surrounding ruins. “We’re just scavengers, trying to survive. But we ain’t afraid to fight for what’s ours.”

  The others in the group shifted their stances, their weapons held tighter. They seemed emboldened by their leader’s words, their initial hesitation replaced by a newfound aggression. Jed’s finger inched closer to the trigger of his laser rifle, his muscles coiled and ready to spring into action.

  “Now,” the leader continued, his voice dripping with menace, “you got two choices. You can turn around and walk away, or you can stay and face the consequences. What’s it gonna be?”

  A cold resolve settled over Jed as he raised the Wilk’s 447 laser rifle. The familiar hum of the weapon’s e-clip filled his ears as the targeting reticule danced across the group, highlighting each figure in turn. Time seemed to slow as Jed took a calm breath, his training taking over.

  With a squeeze of the trigger, a searing beam of energy erupted from the rifle. The world exploded into chaos as the laser lanced through the air, striking the leader square in the chest. He crumpled instantly, the pipe clattering to the ground as his lifeless body collapsed.

  The others reacted with a mix of shock and fury. One lunged forward with a cry, spear raised high. Jed pivoted, bringing his rifle to bear on the charging attacker. Another precise laser blast met the figure mid-stride, his charge ending abruptly as he fell to the ground, a smoking hole in his chest.

  The remaining two scavengers, their bravado shattered, turned and fled. They disappeared back into the shadows from which they came, leaving their fallen comrades behind. The echoes of the laser fire faded, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.

  Jed lowered his rifle, his heart pounding in his chest. The smell of burnt flesh and ozone hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the violence that had just transpired. He took a shaky breath, trying to calm his racing pulse. This wasn’t the first time he’d been forced to take a life, but it never got easier.

  As the adrenaline began to subside, a pragmatic instinct took over. Jed approached the fallen scavengers cautiously, his rifle still at the ready. The leader’s body lay sprawled in the middle of the street, the pipe resting a few feet away. The other lay crumpled beside a toppled statue, his makeshift spear now useless.

  Jed carefully searched their pockets, his fingers probing for anything of value. He found a few meager scraps of food, some rusty metal bits, and a tarnished silver locket containing a faded photograph of a young woman. The locket was the only item of any potential worth.

  He pocketed the locket, its weight a subtle reminder of the lives he’d just ended. The scraps of food and metal bits held little interest for him, so he left them where they lay. As he stood, Jed’s gaze lingered on the faces of the fallen. They were just trying to survive, same as him. But in this harsh world, survival often came at a terrible cost.

  The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ruins. The sound of gunfire in the distance had ceased, replaced by the eerie quiet of the desolate city. A cool breeze whispered through the broken buildings, carrying with it the scent of decay and the faintest hint of ozone.

  Jed stood for a moment, the weight of his actions heavy on his shoulders. The initial shock of the encounter had worn off, replaced by a sense of grim determination. He knew that in this harsh world, survival often necessitated violence. But the cost of that survival weighed heavily on his conscience.

  With a heavy sigh, Jed shouldered his rifle and continued his exploration of the ruins. The sun dipped further below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. The shadows lengthened, obscuring details and deepening the sense of unease that permeated the air.

  As he made his way down a rubble-strewn street, a flickering light caught Jed’s attention. It emanated from a partially collapsed building, barely visible beneath a tangle of vines and debris. The light seemed to be coming from a basement window, a beacon of life in the desolate city ruins.

  Curiosity piqued, Jed approached cautiously, the events of the earlier encounter still fresh in his mind. The light flickered again, casting dancing shadows on the crumbling walls. He moved towards the collapsed building, his footsteps muffled by the debris underfoot.

  As he reached the edge of the collapsed structure, Jed carefully picked his way through the rubble, his rifle held at the ready. He found a relatively stable section of wall near the basement window, offering a vantage point to peer inside.

  The basement was dimly lit by a flickering oil lamp, revealing a spartan room furnished with a makeshift bed, a crude table, and a few shelves lined with assorted junk. A figure sat hunched over the table, their back to him. They seemed to be tinkering with some kind of device, their hands moving with practiced precision.

  Jed leaned in closer, straining to make out more details through the grime-streaked window. The figure was a woman, her hair pulled back in a tight bun, her face etched with lines of concentration. She was dressed in a worn jumpsuit, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing grease-stained forearms.

  The device she was working on appeared to be some kind of radio transmitter, its wires and components spread out on the table before her. She muttered to herself as she worked, her fingers deftly manipulating the delicate parts.

  The sight of someone engaged in such a technical task in this ravaged city was both surprising and intriguing. It suggested a level of knowledge and resourcefulness that was not often encountered in these desperate times. Jed’s mind raced with possibilities. Could this woman be a potential ally? Or was she another threat to be wary of?

  Before he could ponder further, Jed found himself calling out, “Hi there!”

  His voice startled the woman, causing her to jump and spin around in her chair. She clutched a screwdriver like a weapon, her eyes wide with alarm.

  “Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice raspy from disuse.

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  The oil lamp on the table flickered, casting her face in a dramatic interplay of light and shadow. Her eyes, though wary, were intelligent and alert. Despite her initial fright, she seemed more curious than threatened.

  “I’m Jed,” he replied, keeping his voice calm and steady.

  A flicker of recognition crossed the woman’s face, her grip on the screwdriver loosening slightly. “Jed? As in Jed Carter, the Wilderness Scout?”

  She lowered the screwdriver, a tentative smile forming on her lips. “I’ve heard stories about you. They say you’re a survivor, a man who knows how to navigate the wilderness.”

  She stood up, revealing a lean figure clad in the worn jumpsuit. Her eyes, now less guarded, assessed him with a mix of curiosity and hope.

  “I’m Sarah,” she said, extending a hand. “Sarah Connor. And I could use some help.”

  Jed’s eyebrows raised slightly at her words. Help was a rare commodity in this world, and offers of it even rarer. “Great,” he replied, a hint of interest in his voice. “I could use some help too. Maybe we could help each other.”

  A genuine smile spread across Sarah’s face, a rare sight in these harsh times. “I like the way you think, Jed Carter. It sounds like we might just be able to help each other.”

  She gestured towards the radio transmitter on the table. “I’m trying to get this thing working. It’s a long shot, but I’m hoping to reach out to any other survivors out there. Maybe find some allies, some hope in this desolate world.”

  Her eyes met Jed’s, a flicker of desperation underlying her determination. “I could use someone with your skills, Jed. Someone who knows how to navigate the wilderness, how to avoid the dangers. In return, I can offer you a safe haven here, a place to rest and regroup. And maybe, just maybe, we can find a way out of this mess together.”

  She paused, gauging his reaction. “What do you say, Jed? Are you in?”

  Jed considered her words carefully. The offer was tempting, no doubt about it. A safe haven was hard to come by in this world, and Sarah’s technical skills could prove invaluable. But something else was on Jed’s mind, a primal urge that had been gnawing at him for far too long.

  “I’m looking for someone with your skills too,” Jed said, his voice low. He glanced down at his crotch, then back at Sarah. “You help me, then I help you?”

  The implications of his words hung heavy in the air. Jed watched as Sarah’s expression shifted, her initial warmth replaced by a look of disgust that quickly morphed into cold fury.

  “You think that’s how it works?” she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. “You come in here, gun in your hand, and then think you can just proposition me like some kind of... of...”

  She struggled to find the words, her anger momentarily overwhelming her. Then, with a visible effort, she composed herself, her voice hardening. “I’m not some damsel in distress, Jed Carter. I’m a survivor, just like you. And I don’t need your ‘help’ if it comes with strings attached.”

  She picked up the screwdriver again, pointing it at him with a steady hand. “Now get out. And if you ever try anything like that again, I’ll put this through your eye.”

  The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats. The flickering oil lamp cast long, menacing shadows, adding to the sense of impending violence. Jed felt his muscles tense, ready to react if Sarah decided to make good on her threat.

  “So you don’t want my help that bad then?” Jed asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

  Sarah’s grip on the screwdriver tightened, her knuckles turning white. “I said get out,” she repeated, her voice low and menacing. “Before I make you regret ever stepping foot in here.”

  The threat was clear, and the determination in her eyes left no doubt that she would follow through if necessary. The situation was escalating rapidly, and the potential for violence hung heavy in the air.

  Jed raised his hands in a gesture of peace, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Alright then, Sarah. If you change your mind, I’ll be around.”

  He backed away slowly, keeping his eyes on Sarah as he retreated towards the window. Once outside, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Sarah alone in the dimly lit basement.

  The sun had almost set now, casting the ruins in a deep twilight. The air was still and quiet, the only sound the distant howl of a mutant creature echoing through the empty streets. Jed paused at the edge of the collapsed building, turning back to look at the basement window. Sarah’s silhouette was visible in the flickering lamplight, her figure tense and alert.

  A plan began to form in Jed’s mind. He raised his voice, projecting it towards the window. “I just thought you’d be safer with me than with those four guys looking for ya.”

  A moment of silence passed, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the wind. Then, he heard a muffled curse from the basement, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the window.

  Sarah’s face appeared, her expression a mixture of anger and grudging curiosity. “What guys?” she asked, her voice low and urgent.

  Jed saw his opening and seized it. “You know, those four guys, with the weapons, searchin’ all over around here for ya,” he explained, his voice laced with false concern. “They asked me if I had seen a woman matchin’ your description, but I told ’em ‘no’, and they went off lookin’ some more.”

  A look of surprise and then concern washed over Sarah’s face. She leaned closer to the window, her eyes searching Jed’s for any sign of deception. “Four men? With weapons? Looking for me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What did they look like?”

  Jed seized on her interest, embellishing his tale with vivid details. “They were a rough-looking bunch,” he said, his voice carrying clearly through the still air. “Ragged clothes, makeshift weapons. One of them had a long pipe, another a spear. They seemed desperate, hungry. And they were definitely looking for someone.”

  He paused, recalling the details of the scavengers he’d encountered earlier, weaving them into his fabrication. “The leader was a tall, lanky guy with a scraggly beard. He had a nasty scar running down his cheek. Another one was shorter, stockier, with a shaved head and a missing tooth. The other two were harder to make out, but they all had that same desperate look in their eyes.”

  Sarah listened intently, her expression growing more troubled with each detail. When Jed finished, she took a step back from the window, her eyes downcast in thought.

  “I think I know who they are,” she said softly, almost to herself. “They’re raiders, scavengers who prey on the weak. They must have seen me come into town and followed me here.”

  She looked up at Jed, a new resolve hardening her features. “Thank you for warning me, Jed. I owe you one.”

  Jed saw his chance and repeated his earlier offer, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. “Well, like I said, I just thought you’d be safer with me than with those four guys looking for ya.”

  Sarah considered his words, a flicker of conflict in her eyes. She glanced back into the basement, then back up at him. After a moment, she nodded slowly.

  “Alright, Jed,” she said, her voice firm. “You’ve made your point. I could use someone to watch my back. But don’t think for a second that this changes anything. We’re partners out of necessity, not friendship. Understood?”

  Jed felt a surge of triumph at her words, but it was quickly tempered by disappointment. He had hoped for more than just a partnership of convenience. Still, he wasn’t about to give up so easily.

  He shrugged, allowing a hint of disappointment to creep into his voice. “Well, I ain’t goin’ with ya, Sarah, with you givin’ me the cold shoulder like ya did. A man’s got needs, ya know, and I wasn’t tryin’ to force ya or nothin’... just makin’ things mutually beneficial is all.”

  Sarah’s eyebrows furrowed, a mix of confusion and irritation clouding her features. “Mutually beneficial? You think offering me protection in exchange for... that... is a fair trade?” She scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You wilderness scouts have a strange way of looking at things, don’t you?”

  Jed felt a flicker of frustration at her continued resistance. Didn’t she understand the harsh realities of this world? He decided to lay it out plain, hoping to make her see reason.

  “It seems pretty fair to me,” he said over his shoulder, his voice carrying a note of challenge. “We are out in the wilderness with God-knows-what out there; danger at every turn. I have the equipment and skills to survive it... do you Sarah? What is a person’s life, or the comfort of safety worth?”

  He watched as Sarah’s expression softened slightly, his words seeming to sink in. The reality of their situation, the harshness of the wilderness, and the lurking dangers appeared to weigh on her. She took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging slightly.

  “I... I understand what you’re saying,” she admitted, her voice a mix of resignation and pragmatism. “And I’m not naive enough to think that survival out here is easy. But that doesn’t mean I have to like the way you go about things.”

  She paused, seemingly weighing her options. “Look,” she said, “I appreciate the offer of protection. And I won’t deny that I could use your help. But I have my own way of doing things, and I’m not going to compromise my principles just to stay alive.”

  She took a step closer to the window, her eyes meeting Jed’s with a newfound determination. “If we’re going to work together, Jed Carter, it has to be on my terms. We help each other, we protect each other. But there are lines I won’t cross, and I expect you to respect that.”

  Jed felt a surge of disappointment and frustration. He had hoped that the threat of danger would be enough to sway Sarah, but it seemed she was more stubborn than he had anticipated. For a moment, he considered pressing the issue, but something in her eyes told him it would be futile.

  Instead, he turned away from the window, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Good luck, I guess then, Sarah,” he said, his voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and warning. “Compared to other people you’ll meet out here, I’m a downright gentleman. Well, I guess I’ll be seein’ ya, maybe... if ya don’t get eaten, captured, killed, raped, enslaved, and any number of other awful things that can happen to a person out here.”

  He waved dismissively over his shoulder as he walked away, the sound of Sarah’s exasperated sigh fading behind him. The sun had now fully set, plunging the ruins into darkness. The flickering light from Sarah’s basement window was the only beacon in the oppressive gloom.

  Jed navigated the debris-strewn streets by feel, relying on his Wilderness Scout instincts to guide him. The air was thick with the scent of decay and the unsettling sounds of the night. The distant howl of a mutant creature sent a shiver down his spine, reminding him of the dangers lurking in the darkness.

  As he walked away from the ruined building, Jed turned his attention to finding suitable shelter for the night. The thought of sleeping out in the open, exposed to the elements and the predators of the night, was unappealing. He recalled seeing a series of hills on the outskirts of Weston, their slopes dotted with rocky outcroppings that could potentially offer shelter.

  Using his knowledge of land navigation and wilderness survival, Jed set a course towards the hills, hoping to find a cave or overhang to protect him from the elements. The journey was fraught with danger. The darkness obscured his path, forcing him to rely on his other senses to navigate the treacherous terrain. The sounds of the night were amplified, each rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sending a jolt of adrenaline through his veins. He kept his laser rifle at the ready, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

  After what felt like an eternity, Jed reached the base of the hills. The rocky slopes loomed before him, their jagged edges silhouetted against the starlit sky. He began the arduous climb, using his hands and feet to scramble over loose rocks and fallen debris. His muscles burned with the effort, but he pushed on, driven by the need for safety.

  As he ascended, a faint glow caught his eye, emanating from a crevice in the rocks. Curiosity piqued, Jed approached cautiously, his finger hovering over the trigger of his rifle. The glow intensified as he drew closer, revealing a warm orange light flickering within. The air around the opening was warm, and he could hear a faint crackling sound emanating from within.

  Peering cautiously into the crevice, Jed saw a small chamber illuminated by a campfire. A lone figure sat huddled beside the flames, their back to him. They were wrapped in a tattered blanket, their head bowed as if in deep thought or prayer.

  Jed’s mind raced, weighing the potential risks and benefits of this discovery. Was this figure a fellow survivor, seeking refuge from the dangers of the wilderness? Or were they something else entirely, a threat lurking in the shadows? The encounter with Sarah had left him wary of other survivors, but the promise of warmth and shelter was tempting.

  He inched closer to the crevice, straining his eyes to make out more details. The figure remained oblivious to his presence, their attention focused on the flickering flames. The firelight danced across their form, revealing a gaunt figure dressed in layers of worn clothing. Their hair was long and matted, falling over their shoulders like a tangled veil.

  Jed couldn’t make out their face, but their posture suggested a weariness that spoke volumes about the hardships they’d endured. Their shoulders slumped forward, and their hands, resting limply on their lap, were scarred and calloused.

  A faint scent of woodsmoke and something else, something vaguely metallic, wafted from the cave, tickling Jed’s nostrils. The crackling of the fire was the only sound that broke the silence of the night.

  For a long moment, Jed stood frozen, torn between the desire for shelter and the instinct for caution that had kept him alive this long. In the end, caution won out. He decided not to intrude on the stranger’s solitude, backing away from the crevice. The warmth of the fire faded as he moved further from the cave, the chill of the night air seeping into his bones.

  Jed continued his ascent, scanning the rocky slopes for any other signs of shelter. The climb was arduous, the loose rocks and treacherous footing making progress slow and difficult. He slipped and slid, his Bushman body armor protecting him from the worst of the scrapes and bruises.

  After what felt like an eternity, Jed reached a plateau overlooking the city. He paused for a moment, catching his breath and surveying the landscape before him. The ruins of Weston stretched out below, a sprawling testament to the devastation wrought by the apocalypse. The sight was both awe-inspiring and depressing, a stark reminder of the world he now inhabited.

  As Jed scanned the plateau, he noticed a shallow depression in the ground, partially shielded by a large boulder. It wasn’t ideal, but it offered some protection from the wind and the prying eyes of any creatures that might be lurking in the darkness. Exhausted from the climb and the day’s events, he decided to settle for the night.

  Jed spread out his bedroll in the depression, the uneven ground a minor discomfort compared to the alternative of sleeping out in the open. He positioned himself with his back to the boulder, giving him a clear view of the surrounding area. His laser rifle lay within easy reach, a constant companion in this harsh world.

  As he lay down, the weight of the day’s events settled upon him. The encounter with the scavengers, the tense exchange with Sarah, and the long, arduous climb had taken their toll. Jed closed his eyes, the image of the lone figure by the fire flickering briefly in his mind before exhaustion finally overtook him.

  In the quiet of the night, with only the distant sounds of the wasteland to keep him company, Jed Carter drifted into an uneasy sleep. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers, and perhaps new opportunities. But for now, in this small pocket of relative safety, he allowed himself a moment of rest in a world that rarely granted such luxuries.