Scorched Earth

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1

In the middle

of the 21st century,

Mother Nature finally unleashed

her fury in a cataclysmic event

known as the Cloud Fall.

Ice caps melted so

quickly that entire cities

were wiped out within months.

Once the rains began, it was

flooding on a biblical scale.

It destroyed almost

the entire planet.

Pockets of respite

on high ground

allowed those few who

survived to start again.

50 years after the

Cloud Fall, two things

essential for survival that had

been taken for granted for so

long are now rare commodities--

Air and water.

In this new barter economy,

there were two currencies--

Water tabs to purify poisonous

rainwater and pure, powdered

silver, an essential

component in air filters

that can delay eventual

death, like black lung.

New and rudimentary

authorities began to keep

people safe as possible.

Vehicles that burned

fossil fuels, or belchers,

were illegal.

Those that drove them

were guilty of the most

heinous crime possible.

The new authority offered

rewards to bring these outlaws

to justice and bounty

hunters roamed the wasteland

looking to claim those rewards.

Ah!

No!

What are you doing?

I can't survive out

here without-- ugh, ugh.

Sometimes I

think you don't even like me.

She's picking me up and dragging

my ass across the wilderness

Seriously, what the f***

is up with a coffin?

Whoa, Womack, when did

you get so sensitive?

Oh.

OK, OK, just take me in.

Just take me in.

I've had it.

Just take me in.

Come on.

Chavo, where's Chavo?

East, east, they're on the east.

She got wind of some

pilgrims down by the docks.

See you next time.

No.

There's no next time, Gage.

That is the point.

Hey, where are you going?

Aw, look at that.

It stopped raining.

Drinking water?

That's it?

But I helped you.

Gage, I'm going to die out here.

Looks like you're

going to need it.

There's a burner on the way.

But I helped you!

I helped you, Gage!

Where are you going?

I'm going to die out here.

Gage!

Suck wind and die, Gage.

Damn it.

Look at you.

Who have we got here?

Aw.

Look at how pretty you are.

Sh.

Look, we have an advance permit,

issued by the

territorial authority,

guaranteeing us safe passage.

We are on a pilgrimage.

And if we don't make

our destination,

a bounty will be

issued for your head.

Oh I'm sorry.

I didn't know.

I feel stupid.

Forgive me.

Well, I bid you all a good day

and wish you a safe journey.

Thing is, if you all

disappear without a trace,

how they going to know

who to put that bounty on?

There's no authority out here.

Now if the rest

of you cooperate,

you just might live

to see another day.

And you-- what's this?

Silver.

Well, that's an

unexpected surprise.

I'm going to grind

this up and put it

in my own personal air filter.

And I'm going to think

of you every time

I suck a fresh breath.

Get the usual--

Filters, water, tabs.

I know someone paying top

dollar for able bodies.

Hey, who's out there?

Hey, Chavo.

God damn it.

Go to hell, Gage.

I will, I promise.

There's two ways

we could do this.

That's one of them.

Hey, hey-- she's over there.

Go around.

Go!

Where the hell are you going?

Oh, big mistake.

Nobody runs out on

you, right, Chavo?

Look, scumbag, I'm just trying

to get by like everybody else.

Thing is, you've been

a really bag girl, Chavo,

and that makes you very

attractive to a scumbag

like me.

Listen, I'll let them all go

if you give me a walk, Gage.

Nothing compared to

what I could get for you.

You know that.

I'll blow her head off, and then

I'll kill the rest of them.

I'll do it, you know I will.

And then you can tell

that to the Authority.

You hear me?

Loud and clear.

Thank you so much.

I'm really going to need

you to stay out of my way.

Not necessary.

Damn it.

No, I just lost half a bounty.

Well, I'm sure once we

tell your employer what

you did here, they

will reinstate

the full value of the reward.

Wow, man, you really

are as naive as you look.

Where are you going?

You've got to help us get

him to medical assistance.

Not my problem.

A warm welcome to the two newest

members of the community of New

Montana.

There are viable hempseed that's

going to be critical for us

in the years to come.

Is saying that there will be no

spike in toxin levels expected

this week, but that's

still no excuse

to be leaving a

sealed environment

without a backup breather.

So one last thing,

we've been getting

reports of increased

outlaw activity

in the surrounding areas.

So keep an eye

out for strangers,

not just for yourself,

but for your neighbors.

The Territorial

Authority wants us

to report potential activity--

Meeting adjourned.

Gage.

You can count it, if you want.

There's only water tabs in here.

Where's the powdered silver?

Yeah, the Authority

didn't send any.

I don't know why.

Water and air scrubbers running

for the rest of the month.

Right, so the

Authorities set the bounty

at 300 tabs and two grams

of silver for Chavo,

and then doesn't

send the silver.

I mean, you could

tell me the truth.

You'll get what's owed.

I just need a little more time.

You've got enough to get by.

And health of the hardworking

people of this town.

Really?

Tell me, what are you

going to do when all

the belchers have been retired?

I'll come looking for you.

You're just trash

like the rest of them.

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