Susan's Paradise

Susan remembered the first time she saw Paradise Falls. The statue of a man carrying what appeared to be torch of white flame could be seen for miles. She later learned it was something called an ice cream cone but to this date Susan had no idea what that was. Seeing it certainly brought a smile to Jayne's face stating how he didn't think he would ever see it again at one point on this last journey.

The statue was surrounded by low level red bricked buildings, most seemingly derelict and boarded up. They walked along the broken road to a barricaded section guarded by two heavily armed dark skins. As they approached they acknowledged Jayne and asked who his new friends were.

“One new slave. One new slaver,” Jayne told the man.

The guard looked Susan up and down.

“Think she'd look better with a collar round her neck personally.”

Susan didn't step back but just examined the man who wanted her enslaved. These kind of people respect strength or at least that was her hope. She showed no fear.

“That's what I thought at first but trust me, this bitch has character. She'll do well here.”

The guard hadn't taken his eyes of her.

“Best be right. Boss doesn't like newbies and it's your neck on the line if you're wrong,” and then looking at Jayne. “Go on through. Put the slave in general holding for now.”

The three moved on through a corridor of more barricades and burned up cars, through the blue doors into the main area.

There was a flurry of activity through those doors into the open air courtyard, mostly men dressed like Jayne with a couple of women mixed in. They didn't stay out long but turned left and through doors with a sign saying 'Lock and Load' nearby.

It looked like some kind of shop, with an assortment of junk and weapons scattered around the place. Another, young dark skinned man in fine clothing was behind a counter full of more junk.

“Honey,” Jayne says to Susan. “This isn't the boss but he is da main man here in Paradise Falls. Anything you need you come to him. Want to use a slave held up in the pens for a night. You ask him. Need your weapons fixed or a new supply of collars. He's da man.”

He reaches out his arm and shakes Susan's hand.

“ Welcome to Paradise Falls young miss. I hope your stay will be a pleasant one. The names Jones,” he tells her. “Eulogy Jones. And most of what this little bitch says is true, including the fact that I'm not the boss. Yet.”

The man turns to Jayne.

“You two should report in,” Eulogy tells him. “Archie's been wondering about you. You were due back a few days ago,”

“Yeah well, I ran into a little bit of trouble.”

“Oh,” Eulogy looks at Susan.

“Markus and his crew.”

Eulogy leaned over his counter excitedly.

“Did you get him?”

Jayne shook his head.

“Almost got me. Barely escaped with my life.”

“Well,” he was disappointed. “You two better report to Archie, all the same.”

Jayne turned to leave.

“What about her?” Susan asked about Anna.

“Leave her with me,” Eulogy smiled, looking at the young slave. “I think she could use an induction course before going in the pens.”

---

The adult Susan Lancaster, some twenty years later, had not yet seen the statue of Paradise but knew it would be on the horizon soon and a feeling of dread rising, different to the one running naked through the dangerous wastelands gave her. It was getting dark now, but you could always see Paradise falls in the night, a shining beacon in a desolate waste. She knew her next meeting with Eulogy Jones would not be as pleasant as the first and found herself wondering what Eulogy did to Anna that night. She never did get the full story. But it was her own well being that pressed on her mind now. She had seen Eulogy angry before and was not eager to be on the receiving end of his wrath. But twelve years had passed sine they last saw each other. Maybe, she rationalised with herself things won't be so bad.

Seeing the statue again made her throw up, twice. She began to cry, couldn't help herself. She couldn't remember the last time she cried.

“Do you have children?” he had asked her.

“Yes.” she told him.

“And wouldn't you do anything to protect them?”

The collar began to beep again. How long had she been here, crouched over looking her former home. She wiped her eyes, stood and looked intensely at what would soon her hell. Part of her wanted to stand fast, die where she stood. If anything else that bitch who enslaved her wouldn't get paid.

But she couldn't. All the times she's thought about it she's never been able to go through with killing herself. She's never allowed herself to be killed. There was still hope. Hope for freedom, hope for vengeance.

She pressed on, jogging until the collar stopped beeping. Lancaster was close when the collar kept beeping, on the path to the entrance. She recognised the first man at the gate as Grouse.

“I'll kill you, you bitch!!”

“You're in no position to make threats to me fucker. Just be grateful I let you keep the other eye.”

He stood when he saw her and a small part of Susan winced, amazed she had any shame left.

“Well, well well. If it isn't little miss pretty,” Grouse said with the biggest smirk on his face.

She stopped and looked at him with contempt. Within arms reach he suddenly grabbed her by the chin and pulled her closer, studying her face.

“I see you still have both your eyes,” Grouse said, a patch over his left eye socket. “That's been something I've been meaning to correct.”

He had taken a knife from his pocket and held it to her left eye letting it stay there for a while. For a moment Susan really believed that he was about to cut it out of her now.

Slowly he ran the knife down her face pressing just hard enough not to cut her. She gulped as it passed her throat and he continued to run it between her breasts, over her belly button and stopped at her vagina.

“Ever been fucked by a knife little girl?”

She didn't cry, she didn't tremble and she didn't doubt that this man wanted her to suffer before she died.

“The things we're going to do together,” he laughed, pulling away. “When Eulogy's done with you, I've got plans for that pretty little eye socket of yours. Not to mention your cunt. But for now you better get to the pens. I trust you remember where they are.”

She nodded and needed no more prompting to run past him down the fortified street towards the main compound. Relieved to still be alive, she was also thankful to be ordered to the pens and not to Eulogy first.

Inside she kept her head down as she made a b-line to the other end of the courtyard to the slave pens. There were plenty of slavers around, more so than in her day. A lot of dark skins, and quite a few women too. There were also more slaves walking around, docile and seemingly following a few steps behind from their masters. It seemed much more like a social club than a place of business now. She tried not to look at any of them, but watched her feet, hoping her dirty blonde hair would cover her face.

She was almost at the pens when a soft hand held her at the shoulder.

“Susan?”

She knew that voice and turned to face Carolina Red. A young slaver when she last saw her, with quite the vicious streak the red headed woman had aged well.

“Ma'am,” Susan answered, not sure how to address her, but it obviously pleased her.

“You don't have to call me Ma'am,” Carolina laughed and waited for a slight look of ease from Susan before adding. “Call me mistress.”

Despite the smile, the warmth from Carolina's face had vanished in an instant, replaced by the cold hearted bitch she knew well.

“Yes mistress.”

Carolina's smile widened, taking a good look at the slave now.

“So, let me guess. You've met the vault dweller?”

She nodded.

“You may speak slave.”

“Yes, mistress. How did you know it was her.”

Carolina ran a hand over Susan's naked breasts.

“Let's just say she has a certain style about her,” Carolina answered. “You come in here unaccompanied and completely naked.” Her hand moved south. “That and not many have the nerve to enslave someone at Tenpenny's. Not even me.”

“That's what I was counting on,” Susan answered, before adding. “Mistress.”

Carolina smiled as her hand felt around where moments ago a knife had threatened to penetrate.

“You're wet,” Carolina commented. “You think you might actually enjoy yourself here?”

Susan didn't answer. If she was wet then it was sweat, not anything else. She had been running for the better part of the day, raped and her body threatened. It definitely wasn't anything other than sweat.

“Well, I'm sure Eulogy will want to see you before you hit the pens. He might even make you one of his dancing girls if you're lucky though Cutter would probably have to fix your face first. Come on now.”

“Yes mistress.”

Head down, Susan followed the slaver into the old cinema, now clearly marked “Eulogy's Pad”. It looks like, she thought to herself that she won't be so lucky after all.
---

The place looks a lot different from when Arkansas ran things when Susan first arrived in Paradise falls. Then it was clearly a place of business. A large imposing desk in the centre of the room where Arkansas sat behind, two armed guards at either side of him. More guards patrolled both inside and outside the building and many gave a quizzical eye to the teenage girl as she stepped inside with Jayne.

Walking in for the first time as a slave she saw it populated with both slavers and slaves alike. A lot of scantly glad women were seeming to have a good time and no slave collars in sight. There were slaves dancing around though, one on a car but most in cages. They were all so young and Susan somehow doubted that she would be added to their number.

Instead of a guard post, a bar had been set up in the front lobby and in the main room, where once stood the desk there was now a large red heart shaped bed. A young un-collared white girl seemed to be enjoying herself on there with a man Susan didn't recognise.

Her eyes wondered around and with so much activity going on, no one had spotted her yet. To most she imagined, she was just another naked slave. Slavers after all don't always have the longest of lifespans.

She spotted Eulogy Jones at the same time as he spotted her and he made the way over to her. He looked her over a few times and smiled, remembering times past.

“Welcome to Paradise Falls young miss,” he said echoing his first words to her. “I hope your stay will be a pleasant one.”

He looked over at Carolina.

“You got her?”

Carolina shook her head. “The Vault dweller. But I thought you'd like to see her right away.”

“And right you are,” Eulogy smiled. “I've been looking forward to this day for a long, long time.”

Eulogy took a good look at her.

“I see you still have both your eyes. Grouse must be in a good mood,” Eulogy told her. “Unfortunately I've sold Clover and I know she would like to have some fun with you in your current state. But her mistress and her do pop by from time to time so I'm sure you'll have your reunion eventually.”

He continued to look at her, feeling her.

“It's tough to know what to do with you, but don't worry. You won't be sold any time soon. We'll probably have to run a train on you tomorrow. Think I'll sell tickets. But tonight; I'll let you rest in the pens, get your strength up. And, ah; there's another reunion I think you might enjoy,” he turns to Carolina. “Take her to the pens.”

“Come slave,” Carolina spoke, and they were off.

There were three active slave pens, two outdoor ones, and one inside. The open pen on the left hand side held kids. Susan recognised their clothing as ones from Little lamplight. Had the slavers broken through the towns defences or were these caught out in the field? Susan knew Lamplight had started patrols since her day. The other open pen in the centre was populated by adult slaves and there must have been at least fifty in their. The indoor slave pen was to the right of them and you had to go through the centre one to get to it. That was where Susan was taken into.

Carolina never came in, simply pushing her in and locking the door after her. No lights, and only a small barred window it was dark and seemingly empty. After finding her footing, Susan sat against one of the cold brick walls and looked around. She wasn't alone. There was one other slave, crouched against the far wall. Also naked, he looked heavily beaten and bloodied. An old man and as her eyes adjusted she recognised him.
---

“Mister Arkansas,” Jayne said, the young and free Susan Lancaster by his side in what was now Eulogy's pad.

The man known in Paradise falls as either Arkansas or Boss sat behind the desk as he normally would be, a beverage in her hands. Susan remembered the hot drink smelling nice. He looked up at them from the reports on his desk.

“No slaves in the building Jayne, you know the rules.”

“She's not a slave,” Jayne answered. “This is Susan Lancaster. She's a new recruit.”

The man, not so old then, studied her as Jayne continued. “She saved my life back in the wastes and has already brought in a slave. Eulogy's looking over her now.”

“Did she?” Arkansas said sceptically. “And does she speak too?”

“Yeah I do,” Susan answered deciding be to polite would be the wrong way to go.

“I see,” he said nodding. “You come from little lamplight dear?”

“Yes, Mister Arkansas. But don't call me dear.”

“I'll call you whatever I damn well please young miss,” he snapped at her. “You lamplighters. So sheltered. So spoiled. Well, until you're forced out of course. Then your just meat.”

“I'm not sheltered Mister Arkansas and life in lamplight isn't all a bed of roses,” she replied seeing he wasn't buying it. “I admit, I an ignorant of your ways here but I'm a fast and keen learner.”

“And she has the appetite,” Jayne added. “She enslaved her best friend for a ticket in here.”

Arkansas nodded again.

“Your best friend?”

“Yes sir?”

“I tell you what. Get us into little lamplight and your hired. Shouldn't be to hard for you should it?”

Susan shook her head. “You're exiled when you come of age,” Susan explained. “And I wasn't the most popular of gals when I wasn't. There's no way back in.”

“Disappointing,” Arkansas said. “But I guess you would reach a fair price on the open market.”

Susan didn't tremble, didn't shake despite wanting too, but stayed stoic and statuesque thinking of ways she might be able to trick herself back in. But then there was her child. As long as Lamplight was safe so was she. Lamplight wasn't an option.

“What about Big Town?” Jayne interjected.

“What about it?” Arkansas asked.

“We've been able to pick 'em off one or two at a time when they go out for supply runs but Susan would be allowed straight on through to the settlement. And once there...”

“Do you have any objections to enslaving the residents of Big Town miss Lancaster?”

She shook her head.

“None what so ever sir,” she answered and it was true. There was no one who left she had any particular fondness too. Anna had been the closest thing she's ever had as a friend.

“Good,” Arkansas said. “I have a large order for slaves for the Pitt and this should go a long way in fulfilling the order. Okay then. Jayne. Put a team together. I want Big Town enslaved by the end of the week. Come back with at least ten slaves or you're both volunteering for the Pen, is that understood?”

“Yes sir!” they answered in unison.

“Dismissed.”

Susan turned to leave but Jayne remained still.

“Sir, there is something else. I had a run in with Markus and his men on the field. That's why I'm late coming back.”

“I want to hear all about it,” Arkansas answered, his tone turning more serious than before. “Wait outside young Lancaster. There's no need for you to hear this.”

Susan, a little nervous having temporarily lost her guide stepped outside and took in the air. For the first time since leaving little Lamplight she was alone, if only for a little while. Alone with her thoughts.
---

“Hello boss,” Slave Lancaster said quietly in the darkened room a few minutes after being in there.

The man coughed.

“Been a long time since anyone called me that. Especially you Susan.”

He sounded weak, tired.

“How did they get you?” she asked him.

“Not easily. I put up quite the fight, killed dozens of Eulogy's goons. Paying for it now though. In the end it took just one. Some girl from the vaults.”

“I think the same bitch got me too boss,” Susan answered. “In Tenpenny's of all places.”

“I heard you were holed up there. Good plan. Should have changed your name though.”

“Don't think it would have helped. I think a trader recognised me a few months ago. I should 'ave killed him. Or moved on.”

“Shoulda, woulda, coulda,” Arkansas replied. “The important thing is, how do we get out of here?”
---

They never spoke after that, and Susan cast her mind back to her first night in Paradise Falls.

Jayne had spent over half an hour in the cinema building before coming out. Susan didn't move from her spot against the wall of the building until he did. She observed the people who passed, trying not to draw attention to herself. She tried absorbing every detail of the buildings around them and the open air eatery across the way.

When he returned Jayne spent the rest of the time, showing her what and where everything was. There was lock and load where they'd already been. This was where supplies such guns, ammo and slave collars can be bought as well as other equipment like batons and dart guns designed to subdue the victims.

The barracks stood opposite, where most of the slavers camped when staying over night. The doctors was next to that, where a doctor nick named Cutter and his daughter stayed. Jayne explained the daughter was being trained to continue the trade. He was a good doctor he told her, but a little too high on the moral high ground for a place like this. His daughter apparently didn't seem to have any such restrictions.

There was an open door café opposite Arkansas and then beyond those two buildings were the slave pens and training areas. There was also a house there for Arkansas' favourite slaver. Right now, and since time began Jayne told her, that was Flak. He's quite the mean son of a bitch.

“Where do you stay?”she asked.

They were drinking beer in the open door café at one of the tables near the bar. Only one other of the dozen or so tables were occupied.

“Tonight and whenever I'm in town I sleep in the Barracks. But believe it or not, I actually have a house in Megaton.”

“Megaton?”

“I forgot you don't know much about the wastes. Well, there's several different places people have settled here in what we called the Wasteland. There's Lamplight and Big town you already know about. Up north there's the Kingdom of Tom. Further north there's a place called the Pitt but you don't want to go there. There's Shady Sands, Old Olney; that's a good place to hunt. Canterbury commons is to the east. Megaton's down south, as is Girdershade, Grayditch, Arefu, Evergreen Mills, Tenpenny towers and Rivet City. There's also various vaults some of which are open, others aren't. Vaults are...”

“I'm familiar with vaults,” Susan interrupted before adding quickly. “Read about them.”

“Cool. Most are inaccessible but there is vault 107 in the south east. Quite a distance mind you. They opened their doors about thirty years ago and have settlements both inside and outside the vault. It's not really much a viable target as it's quite far and secure but it's a good place to trade and relax for a while. There's a few other places as well, but most are too difficult to get through like the citadel to even think about. A lot of places are tough actually otherwise they'd already be gone. Evergreen Mills is a raider base and our main competitors. Probably don't want to go there for a while though.”

“A lot of places.”

“Yeah, but most of our livestock comes from travellers and smaller hideouts, and I personally never enslave in or around Megaton. You don't shit where you eat and all that. Tomorrow we'll go out hunting. Get you trained up for your big audition and maybe find you a place to live.”