Two Years Later Late Fall. 2041.
In the town of Homestead, A University Campus with a wall and homemade shops, Kyle is shoveling dirt and planting crops, listening to music on his Ipad. He continues to shovel until he finds a skull underneath the ground. Kyle then removes his gloves, revealing his wedding band is missing. He unravels the dirt and picks up the skull, before examining it. After his planting of crops, Kyle walks over to a shop where a middle aged Caucasian-American man smiles at him.
Zach: Hey, Kyle....
Kyle: Hey....
Kyle places a bag of founded items, such as bullets, watches and other objects on the table as Zach examines them.
Zach: How'd your find go today?
Kyle: Same ol, same old. Trying to find some stuff to trade in. Trying not to die along the way.
Kyle: Hmm...it's all good for 80 caps.
Kyle sighs.
Zach: Sorry, son. It's all I can give for you've given me...but I could give you an extra ten for that skull you've got....and the bracelet.
Kyle: The skull you can have....the bracelet's not for sale.
Zach: You'd be walking out with 100 caps.
After a long respectful eye locking, Zach nods and hands Kyle his caps.
Zach: Still holding on to hope, huh?
Kyle: Yeah...you could say that.....How's Liza and Zoe?
Zach: Liza's doing okay....working late shifts with you has really been getting her mind off of stuff. Trying to get back to the old world.
Kyle pulls out a stuffed animal out of his bag.
Kyle: Here...for Zoe.
Zach grabs the stuffed animal.
Zach: How many caps you want for it?
Kyle: Nah...consider it on the house.
Zach: You want to deliver it to her yourself?
Kyle smiles.
Zach: Yeah. That'd be nice.
Zach turns and shouts to his wife and daughter, Liza and Zoe.
Zach: Zoe! Could you come here, sweetie?
Zoe runs over to the pair of adults with Liza walking up to them.
Zoe: Hello, Kyle.
Liza: Hi, Mr. Desipich.
Kyle: Hey, sweetheart. I found this recently for you.
Kyle presents the teddy bear to Zoe.
Zoe: Wow!
Kyle: Here you go! From me.
Kyle lends Zoe the teddy bear.
Liza: Well, that's very nice of you, Kyle. Thank you.
Kyle: Don't mention it.
Zach: What do you say, sweetheart?
Zoe: Thank you.
Kyle sits in his room, glass of alcohol on the table and both his hands folded together. He looks at his where his wedding ring used to be, thinking about Sarah. Kyle picks up a note written by Sarah, saying "Kyle....I'm sorry to do this to you, but I need time. I need to recover from this...and I need to do it alone. Please, don't let this destroy you. You're still the same man I will always love. Love Sarah".
Kyle sighs and puts the note down. Meanwhile, in the streets of the ragged town, a bruised Shawn is walking.
Shawn: Fuckin bullshit.
Shawn make his way to Kyle's room. Shawn pulls out the key from under the rug, unlocks the door and slams it shut. Shawn walks over to the table, which had a full bottle of whiskey and an empty glass, Shawn pours a glass to see a white rag next to it. Shawn picks it up and looks up to see Kyle walking out of the living room.
Shawn: Hey, man.
Kyle: Hey, man....
Shawn holds up a glass of whiskey.
Shawn: Want a drink?
Kyle: No...I don't want a drink.
Kyle turns his back to Shawn.
Shawn: So, I have some good news for you.
Shawn takes a sip of the drink.
Kyle: What happened, Shawn?
Kyle turns back to Shawn.
Shawn: East End District.
Kyle lets out a sigh.
Shawn: Hey, dude, we had a delivery to make.
Kyle: Yeah, We had a delivery to make.
Kyle gestures between him and Shawn.
Shawn: Well, dude, you wanted to be left alone and do your own errands, remember?
Shawn brings a rap up to his face and starts to dab at the fresh bruise on his face.
Kyle: So you decided to go by yourself?
Shawn snickers.
Shawn: I'm not suicidal yet, dude. Caleb went with me.
Shawn grunts as he turns his head.
Kyle: I'm gonna guess. The whole deal went to shit and the client went off our food. Is that right?
Shawn: Deal went off without a hitch. Got enough caps to last us few months-easy.
Shawn turns to look at Kyle and he holds up the caps to show him.
Kyle: You want to explain this, then?
Kyle gestures to the bruises on Shawn's face.
Shawn and Caleb were on our way back, and we got jumped by these three fuckers, alright? Yeah, they kicked our asses for while...but...Look, I managed.
Kyle: Are these fuckers still alive?
Shawn smiles.
Shawn: That's funny.
Kyle: Did you at least find out who they were?
Shawn: Yeah, they were nobodies who wanted our caps. They don't matter....
Kyle: If they don't matter, then why do you keep going out and trying to get us caps that don't matter in the end.
Shawn: Dude.....trying to live....trying to find anyone else....is just....hard enough...
Kyle and Shawn sit down on the couch.
Shawn: Couldn't find any leads on my brother....or her.
Kyle sighs.
Shawn: Kyle, it's been two years.....maybe you should accept the fact that Sarah...
Kyle: She's not dead, Shawn...neither is James...Jenny....
Shawn: I'm not saying they are, but....maybe they don't want to be found....look, man even she is alive, it ain't gonna being her back.
Kyle sighs, raising his head.
Kyle: If they don't...I wouldn't blame them. All we've done....all I've done is bring them death, pain and misery.
Shawn: You know; I often think that if I ever find Jenny again, how am I going to be able to tell her about what happened to her Dad?
Suddenly, Caleb enters the room.
Kyle: Where the fuck were you?
Caleb: Was on my way back to ice my bruises and I got approached with a good job opportunity and--
Kyle: Why don't your bruises as bad as Shawn's?
Shawn: Uh....I was the one doing the most fighting. Caleb was doing the restraining.
Kyle: What?
Caleb: Anyway, I was on my way back and I got approached with a job.
Shawn: From who?
Caleb: Dodge.
Kyle: Leader of the Takers Dodge?
Shawn: What's he want?
Caleb: Well, he wants all three of us at the bar in the city...so let's get to it.
Kyle, Shawn and Caleb enter a bar and immediately, Caleb points to a Caucasian-American man with brown hair and a black and blue leather jacket.
Caleb: There's our guy.
Kyle, Shawn and Caleb walk over to the man's table.
Dodge: Shawn. Kyle. Excellent to see you three here.
Kyle: Dodge.
Dodge: Please, sit....
Kyle, Shawn and Caleb sit in front of Dodge.
Shawn: See that's healed up.
Dodge: Heh. Funny. So, you three so called wasteland heroes are now working as smugglers.
Dodge looks at Kyle.
Dodge: Speaking for the great Kyle Desipich....
Kyle: Did you call us over here to talk about our past or did you want to make a deal?
Dodge: Straight to the point. Always so eager, Kyle...wonder if that eagerness is why your wife left you. No disrespect.
Shawn: Dodge....
Dodge nods.
Dodge: Right. Apologies, by the way. I need your help.
Caleb: With?
Dodge: I need something smuggled and I need professionals to do it.
Kyle: How about you just tell us what we're smuggling.
Dodge: Can't...
Shawn: Why not?
Dodge: It's complicated, alright? You can't know until you see for yourselves.
Kyle: Complicated, he says.
Shawn: Say we do this for you. What's in it for us?
Dodge: Caps.....loads of em...and weapons...and then some. That's why you do these sort of jobs, right?
Kyle: We do regular jobs....not smuggling shit don't know details about.
Dodge: Exactly. You're Kyle Fucking Desipich! Legend of the Wasteland!
Kyle: I'm not a legend.....I'm just a man of flesh and blood like everyone else who's still alive on this discarded earth.
Dodge smiles.
Dodge: Who are you, just to be a man? You, Desipich, who led a band of rapist, murderers and thieves against a bloody battle against Kronos. Who sacrificed his own city to flood the Condemned out of their tunnels. Who lead your friends across the wasteland to eradicate the Krens from the face of the Earth. Your name should be spoken in reverend tones or terrified whispers. If anything, Kyle Desipich, you are less than just a man.
Kyle: I didn't do any of this for the glory....
Dodge: And that is what makes your great...and just the right man for the job.
Caleb: Say we do say yes to this job....what's the catch?
Dodge sighs.
Dodge: There is one catch. I've also asked the Reapers for their help.
Shawn raises his head.
Shawn: Fucking A. The Reapers?
Kyle: So, you're not only asking us to risk our lives for one fucking precious cargo, which you refuse to give us any more info about? You're asking us to risk our lives with the Reapers, a gang of fucking butchers and cutthroats. Lead by smiley; Colm.
Dodge: I actually asked his daughter....luckily, you don't have to worry her and your wife going at it. Look, I'm not asking for any fucking favors. Just come see tomorrow in the alley for what I need smuggled. If not, fuck it. I'll ask someone else.
Kyle, Shawn and Caleb share looks, before Shawn shrugs.
Shawn: Alright....
Kyle: We're in.
Caleb: That's what I'm talking about.
Kyle: But I want to make one thing clear. You pay us what you're offering.
The next day
Sunlight shines through a partly boarded up window as Kyle wakes up abruptly, almost gasping for air. He then sits up in on his bed, mixed with dreams of his daughter and wife, still vividly swirling around his head. He places his head in his hand then felt cold metal in his hand, before he raises his head up and looks down at his left hand, the leather bracelet Ashley had made for him. He then looks at the necklace Rose made for him. Kyle sighs as he looks at his pendant, thinking of Rose and he and Sarah's last argument before their divorce two years ago then balls his fist into a fists and leans his forehead against it. Before he can gather his thoughts, Shawn and Caleb enter his room.
Shawn: Kyle, you up?
Kyle: I am now.
Caleb: Lynn and her brother are here.
Kyle sighs.
Kyle: Fucking perfect.
Kyle walks into the living room to find a Caucasian-American woman wearing a biker jacket and a bandana, digging into the fridge.
Kyle: Lynn!
Lynn raises her head up and hits the top of her head on the fridge.
Lynn: Ow, fuck! Goddammit!
Lynn rubs the top of her head.
Lynn: Shit....
Kyle: What the fuck are you doing in our fridge?!
Lynn: Looking for something to eat....or drink.
Shawn: Well, don't. We haven't been on a descent run in weeks.
Lynn: No shit....
Kyle: Come on! Get the fuck out of our fridge! Out!
Lynn: Alright. Alright. Jesus....
Kyle: Lynn....how's your Dad? Thought he'd be coming with you.
Lynn: Told my Dad I'd handle this. Me and my brother.
Lynn walks up to Kyle fiddles with the bracelet then raises his head, glaring at Lynn, as she notices this then scoffs.
Lynn: Still trying to find her, huh? Face it, Kyle. She's gone. Get the fuck over it.
Shawn: Lynn....Back off.
Kyle: Yeah, you're not here to talk about my missing wife.
Lynn snorts a laugh.
Lynn: Missing? Remind me again, how long has it been again? Two years? She's probably dead at this point....just like her sister who made that silly little bracelet for you, right?
Kyle closes his eyes and turns his head away, the painful memory playing in his head.
Caleb: Lynn! We said enough!
Lynn sighs.
Lynn: Anyway, this job we're doing with you for Dodge...is paying really well for both of our groups.
Kyle looks up at Lynn.
Lynn: So let's get to it.
Lynn gestures for the three men to follow her, and the two head of his apartment. It was breezy and with leaves, slightly. As they walk out, a brutish-looking man in a biker jacket comes up to Lynn.
Roscoe: The fuck you took you so long?
Lynn gives Roscoe a firm look.
Lynn: You may be the big brother, Roscoe, but Dad put me in charge of this and you need to worry about yourself.
Roscoe: Yeah, Dad put you in charge, but that's just to make you feel like you had power and out of power.
Lynn: No, he did it, because he knows out of the two of us; I know how to actually get shit done.
Roscoe: Yeah, with your mouth...I prefer to get shit done with the quick and painful way.
Caleb: Jesus, would you two put a sock in it for fucks sake? Let's get going.
The five walk away from the apartment compound and into the main street. Passing through an old run-down office building, that was used for make-shift home for some of the citizens in the area, Kyle, Shawn, Caleb, Lynn and Roscoe make their way to a secret passageway leading down into a cellar. Fortunately for Kyle, Shawn and Caleb, their weapons, including Kyle's Zeus Corps machete, Shawn's rifle and Caleb's 12 gauge shotgun, were still down there and they grabbed it. Eager to get the job done, Roscoe points out the exit to them as Kyle, Shawn, Caleb and Lynn gear up.
Lynn: So, Shawn. You're a man of potential. My offer for you still stands.
Shawn scoffs.
Shawn: No, thanks.
Lynn: Come on. Tough guy like you. Former Zeus Corps solider...no...personal attachments. You'd make a decent Reaper.
Caleb: You mean be apart of a gang of bloodlusting cut throats and rapists?
Lynn: See, this is why I never went to you, Caleb. You always judged before you got to know us.
Shawn: Please, we know your kind, Lynn. Second, I still got a brother out there. I gotta find him.
Lynn scoffs.
Lynn: You're just like Desipich. Chasing a ghost you know is dead. Kinda disappointed. My Dad's offering you leadership of your own Reapers in case you change your mind.
Roscoe: There's already leadership.
Kyle laughs.
Roscoe: Yeah, laugh it up, Desipich.
The five begin to talk down the passage way. Finally, the group makes it to the end of the passage way and climb up through a hole in the floor that leads into an abandoned liquor store, entering the ghetto parts of the city. Roscoe pulls out his walkie-talkie and calls out to his henchmen, asking him if they were nearby. Kyle, Shawn, Caleb and Lynn give Roscoe a look and he shrugs.
Roscoe: In case this turns into a clusterfuck.
Lynn: Jesus Christ, Rosc.
Lynn rolls her eyes before she orders everyone to follow her out of the store. The section of the ghetto was a shanty town, built into an old alleyway. They notice that there were very few people around. Confused, they walk down the alleyway and turned a corner, only to be greeted by a group of men with bullet proof armor and their guns by their side.
Shawn: Great. Welcoming committee.
The four continued on through the rugged settlement and come up to an old school bus. On the other side, they run into none other than Dodge.
Dodge: Lynn.
Lynn: Dodge.
Dodge: I see your Dad couldn't make it.
Lynn: He thought I should tend to this little job.
Roscoe: We should tend to this job.
Caleb: What are you doing here?
Dodge whistles, almost like she was giving someone a signal. One of the thugs, which Kyle realized was a badly disguised Taker, goes up to a nearby shack and knocks on the door and out walks, a blonde teenage girl.
Shawn: You're recruiting kind of young, huh?
Dodge: She was trying to steal food from our corridors. Got caught after our meeting....but it's more than that.
Kyle: Great. So....where's this thing we're smuggling?
Dodge: Well...
Dodge gestures towards the teenage girl.
Shawn: You gotta be fucking kidding me.
Kyle: Jesus Christ...
Caleb angrily points towards the girl.
Caleb: You want us to smuggle this girl?
Kyle: We smuggle goods, Dodge. Not people.
Before Dodge has a chance to respond, Roscoe and a bunch of his and Lynn's Reapers get out of the transport bus, they passed through earlier and march towards Dodge.
Roscoe: What the fuck is this? I thought this was gonna be a simple fucking job!
Dodge: Look, it's hard to explain..
Roscoe raises his gun and at Dodge which caused the Takers to raise their guns at Roscoe then the Reapers aim their guns at the Takers. The sun starts to set as the two groups keep their guns trained on the other, creating a stand-off. Kyle, Shawn, Caleb and the teenage girl step back. However, by intention or by accident, a Taker soldier fires his gun and kills one of the Reapers. The quiet shanty town was now turned into a warzone as both sides start to fire. Kyle, Shawn, Caleb, Dodge, Lynn and the girl began to run for safety and make it to another alleyway as the sound of gunshots play off in the distance.
Lynn: Jesus Christ! What the fuck, Dodge?
Dodge: What? Me? That was your dumbass brother's fault! You should've let your Dad handle this!
Lynn: Yeah, but you lied about the job and that was one of your men who started it!
Caleb: Only because your dumbass brother had to pull out his guns! They were protecting themselves!
Kyle: Everyone shut the fuck up! Right now, we gotta focus on getting the hell out of here!
The sound of gunshots stopped. One of the Reaper's comes up to the alleyway and aims his gun at Dodge, who was quick as he pulls out his gun and fires at him, killing him. Boiling with rage, Roscoe comes up around the corner, rifle drawn at Dodge.
Roscoe: You motherfucker! This is on you! You planned this! To kill our people!
Roscoe gets closer to Dodge, but Shawn and Caleb restrain him.
Shawn: Dude, hey! Chill out!
Caleb: Stop! This isn't his fucking fault!
Dodge: Hey, boy! This wasn't the plan!
Roscoe pushes past Caleb and Shawn, but Lynn steps in front of him.
Lynn: Roscoe, look! We can still do the job and use the payment to replace all of those men. They were just disposables anyway.
Roscoe: You think Dad's gonna be okay with that?! Get the fuck out of my way, Lynn!
Roscoe shoves his sister out of the way then aims his rifle at Dodge. Before he can pull the trigger, Kyle pulls out his pistol, and not really knowing why, shoots Roscoe point blank in the head. The gunshot catches the others off guard, but Dodge, and the girl began to run away.
Lynn: NO! ROSCOE!
Lynn goes to the body of her dead brother. Kyle, Shawn and Caleb unsure of what to do, stand there.
Shawn: Kyle! What the fuck?!
Caleb: Oh my god.
Shawn: What did you do?!
Kyle: I..I...he was gonna...I just fucking reacted, okay?!
Suddenly, Reapers are heard closing in.
Caleb: Shit! Reapers!
Shawn: Kyle, come on! Come on, man! Fucking move!
Kyle: Lynn....I...I'm sorry...I'm...
Lynn: Get away from me! Get the fuck away!
Lynn continues to cry over her dead brother as Kyle, Shawn and Caleb take off into the dark alley. With Reapers on their heels, Kyle, Shawn and Caleb dodge trash, barriers and decrypted cars until they finally reach the river. The Takers were standing on one of the few remaining jettys, getting into a small boat. Dodge sees Kyle, Shawn and Caleb and yells for them to get into the boat, immediately. Hearing the sounds of Reapers coming and their angry voices over Roscoe's death, Kyle, Shawn and Caleb run out on the jetty just as a group of Reapers come out of the corner and began to fire at them, Dodge, using his baseball bat with nails and barbwire, hits several Reapers with it, killing them, but after he hits one in the head, he reflectively shoots Dodge in the abdomen.
Kyle: Dodge!
Narrowly escaping, Kyle, Shawn and Caleb throw themselves onto the boat and the Taker accelerates the boat, taking the up the river towards inland. Reapers continue to pursue them from the riverside with an armored APC, but are forced to stop at a destroyed bridge. After leaving the danger zone, Dodge turns to Kyle, Shawn and Caleb.
Dodge: Well, boys. We're in deep shit now.