The REALLY Wild Wasteland. (The Fallout RP!)

[ImSkeletor]

Barry entered the armory and saw Lucy and the undertaker, he always had a knack for awkward timing. He stepped in only hearing the word "journey" exiting Shifty's lips. He waived wildly as he rolled into the room so happy to see these two again outside of that conference thing that he had just exited. "I was really glad to see you both were okay, I wasn't exactly sure how that whole battle played out after I took that fall!" He wheeled over and grabbed a set of leather armor. He laid it down on a work bench and pulled out a few cans of spray paint from his backpack and went to work [art skills 100/50 Success!] He quickly and deftly turned the armor into a new uniform to replace his current war torn set. "And remember, FREEDOMS EAGLES is always open no matter how many head injuries I take!" He began to pull off his current set revealing a body covered in scars and strange holes over the veins In His arm. Burns cover large patches of his body.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

A small, yet simple silver key was presented to her. This key, however, held such value that it was anything but simple to her.

Lucy was left without words for a moment, as the impact of such a selfless gesture washed over her. A feeling that she was not acquainted with in her recent years that she had either spent alone or repressing her feelings in order to keep those around her at arm's length.

She stared at the key in her hands and she felt that something inside her had started to shift...slowly.

"Th-thank you, Thomas." she looked up at the kind and thoughtful Undertaker with a degree of sincerity that she would not have been able to muster before.

Lucy had wished for answers and she had received them, for all intents and purposes, she had gotten just what she wanted. Was she happy? Far from it. The outcome had repulsed her and tarnished an image of what little family she had to begin with.

However, something about Shifty's simple display of kindness and selflessness had reminded her of something. Isaac.

That was how her real father presented himself. That was the protective and nurturing father she grew up with. Should a secret hidden for her protection be condemned? No. Not at all.

She uncovered a secret that shifted his true image to those in society, yet did this change the interpersonal relationship between father and daughter? No.

The hope had returned to her eyes as her mind rationalized this new perspective given to her by the kind Undertaker.

"Isaac Black may have had enemies, but he rebelled for ultimately noble goals. He betrayed the Enclave for a cause he didn't agree with and continued to do so for MY protection." she had uttered slowly, the revelation had made the big step away from her previously dead tone.

"I may not have known everything about him, but I knew who he truly was at the end of the day. A kind father that only wanted the best for his daughter." her Gauss Rifle was sitting on her lap, looking down, a smile had slowly starting to form. "He lives on through me now."

She laid her hand on her rifle, a tear had struck her hand, yet her smile for once had never wavered. "I realize now that he's always by my side."

Something inside her had found peace, a feeling she was still unacquainted with, yet there was a measure of peace that had never existed before.

Hastily wiping the tears away, she had started rummaging through her backpack for the holotape and handed it Tom. "I have something for you too. If we're ever separated or if something happens to me, then - then listen to what's recorded on there. There's a special message for you too and the instructions are included on the holotape itself. It's not a footlocker full of caps, but it's something meaningful"

She slipped the key, a symbol of her newly found hope, into her armour. She decided that if she were to find a chain, she would fashion a necklace out of it in order to keep it close. She smiled at the Undertaker, shakily stood up and hugged him. "Nothing is going to happen to you, you'll get your key back...and thank you. In my experience, nobody would think to help little lost Lucy to this degree." breaking off slowly, she added mischievously, "Besides, whatever we're fighting will have to go through my gauss rifle and plasma pistol first."

She remembered a certain pained expression had flashed on the Undertaker's face, or perhaps she was projecting her anxiety, "Umm I may be completely wrong here but...when you mentioned your father and fate, I thought I saw pain or regret for a moment. I know those feelings all too well, are you really okay?" she looked at the kind Undertaker with eyes of concern.

Yet she was also worried, she didn't want to inadvertently pry on a private matter.

"I'm just asking, because if you're accompanying me, I'll have to look out for you too." she added nervously.

 

[maninahat]

Beryl ignored the vomiting brat and the semi-concious junkie. Somehow, a bit of percussive maintenance had done the Robobrain some good. Before she or Johnny got around to yanking out the innards, a hologram had popped up.

"Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, You're my only -"
ED: No.

"Well that's interesting," said Beryl, waving a hand through the ethereal figure, "I wonder if it's got anything to say."

 

[Generic NPC 22]

In the wastelands, no one can hear you scream, unless of course there are people nearby, then and only then will it be possible for people to hear you scream but only those people and no one else will be able to hear you scream. In the case of Mister Johnny Shakes, Missus Meryl Barrel, Mysterious Robco Robobrain and the Spirit of Mister Caravan Man, they didn't quite hear a scream so much as they did an airhorn as their ever so loveable and chokeable companion, the ever so lovely girl in the red dress with her sunny skies blue eyes and equally sunny skies sky blue hair air horned her delight at the Hologram that was in the process of relaying possibly critical, possibly time sensitive and possibly interesting (but probably not) information.

"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! *pant pant pant* EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" The apex of her generation squee'd and panted and smiled and hopped up and down and side to side as she passed her hand through the hologram over and over and over and over again.

"Mysterious Mister Robco Robobrain alien from the space sir? Whose zat? What's his name?Where's he from? Is he from space too? Does he like space? Do you know him? Is he you very own huggable and kissable human pet? What do you feed him? Is he potty trained or do you have to pick up after him? Is that his brain floating in your head? Did you eat him?" The girl rambled question after question after question, so much so that the Spirit of Mister Caravan Man was glad to be dead because if he wasn't at the moment, he would have thrown himself in a pit of Giant Rad Scorpion, yum Rad Scorpions, instead of listening to another second of the ultimately endearing girl names Sylph.

The girl continued this for what seemed like an eternity for those around her before she suddenly stopped and sat down on the makeshift seat attached to Mysterious Mister Robco Robobrain from Space.

"Take me to you ship! Oh oh oh better yet! Take me to your leader!!" She said as she looked at her new plaything, images of a new paintjob, some chrome treads and a bowtie flashing in her head as she looked at Missus Meryl Barrel and Mister Johnny Shakes with suddenly and disturbinglt puppy like eyes.

"CanWeKeepHim? CanWeKeepHim? CanWeKeepHim?" She asked the two.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Johnny gave Sylph a nervous but friendly smile, then he gave Beryl a look that he hoped said 'why is she treating us like we're her parents?'

Then Johnny shuddered involuntarily as disturbing images of him and the cold *****... dating, getting married, and well... you know... flashed through his mind.(1)

"Why do I have my hammer out?" Johnny asked, eager to change the subject, "Oh crap... I blacked out again, didn't I? Please tell me I didn't hurt anyone this time."

Johnny thought about putting the hammer away and getting his rifle out. But... given the close proximity to Radscorpion meat, he thought better of it.


(1)Ha! Mr. Truant finally found a [expletive deleted] that he doesn't like! I must mark this down in my journal! -Ed

 

[wilcoblackflame]

Marlon had kept silent throughout the briefing. He'd been thinking more heavily about the looming enclave threat and how to deal with it than the doc and his mutants just at that moment. Still he shook that off for now and focused more on the immediate danger towards the close of the discussion. Though he'd definately need to see if he could grab some things from the brotherhood's workshops for what he had planned for the Enclave a little later on..

Even if he hadn't, it'd have been impossible to ignore Danielle. "M'am, while I'll bear that in mind, I'm more than confident that if anyone is liable to jepordise the arrangement I have with your boss it's likely to be your brother. Besides, screwing the brotherhood'd be bad for business." He grinned. "No, I got plenty of plans, but at the moment they rely on my deal with Lyons staying put. I'll see you round." He wandered off towards the armory.

Not wanting to interrupt Shifty and Lucy, who looked to be having a private moment, the Van Graff set about the supplies he needed. Ammunition for his energy weapons, a few grenades of various nature. Plasma Grenades were of course his preferred variety, but it never hurt to have a bit of variety.

Everything appearing to be in order, he gave a nod to Shifty and Lucy and walked back outside the armory, ready to depart.

 

[maninahat]

As Sylph clambered all over the woe begotten Robobrain and screamed even more than usual, Beryl and Johnny exchanged frowns. We have to not kill her, she resigned to herself. She doubted she could manage that.

The Robobrain beeped and sighed. The moment Sylph had perched herself onto the makeshift chair, the hologram blinked out again, and the robot began trundling off in some random direction.

"Wait!" shouted Beryl.

She grabbed the Brahmins and made chase. She had no idea where the stupid machine was taking Sylph, or rather, where Sylph was taking the machine, but it occurred to her that without the Caravan Master, her newest business enterprise would be alarmingly short staffed if she lost those two as well.

"Come on you prick!" she shouted back at a perplexed looking Johnny, "keep up."

That damn machine was making some serious headway. Beryl clambered up onto a Brahmin, cursing to herself all the while. She spurred the beasts onwards, whipping it with her 9 iron.

"Sylph, stop that fucking thing immediately!"

She hated it when this happened.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

Lucy had given a radiant smile towards Barry, addressing him while the Undertaker was still in thought, "You certainly know how to make a hell of a first impression, don't you? Had me freakin' worried...No more head injuries and I'll try my best not to push you out of Vertibirds, okay? Superhero's can't really do much if they're dead." she mused for a moment, suppressing the twinge of guilt inadvertently caused by her rage during the battle.

She noticed that he had started undressing with no sense of shame, Lucy however, looked away and focused on Shifty instead. Perfect timing it seemed, since the Undertaker had started speaking.

"I think you've got it all wrong Miss Lucy. It will be my Rifle and Mags that those who oppose us will have to get through first."

Lucy took a good look at the conventional firearms, not really seeing the appeal, yet understanding the basic theory. She recalled her atrocious use of Vikki's 10mm SMG and how the weapon felt unreliable and lacking in power.

"So inconvenient, that cylinder could easily break, you have to manually reload each bullet with the small one, it's overly loud and guns like that assault rifle are prone to jamming if it's not cleaned or the components are broken. I mean- there's no energy feeding the round or pulse, it doesn't even hum...I'm terrible with conventional firearms, I grew up on laser and plasma." she blurted out, "Although there's a certain beauty to that-revolver? Right? Slightly clunky, but I like it."

Something was certainly troubling the Undertaker though, very deeply in fact, for his cheery demeanour seems to have been dashed in an instant. It seemed that Lucy's observation's were correct, yet this could have serious ramifications in the next few moments as the Undertaker slowly revealed a devastatingly tortured truth.

"To put it simply, we're a group of mercs that happens to bury the dead and we've killed more than our fair share of people."

This had surprised Lucy. Previously she had been searching for a bastion of positivity, a group or identity that could idealistically be framed as...good. A naive notion brought about by flawed texts and her own interpretations. "I didn't know that, or even expect to know that. Written knowledge of the Undertakers are vague at best...Sorry, continue."

She wasn't disgusted, merely surprised and somewhat shocked. She had known all along that the wasteland was not a place for black and white morality. Everyone had betrayal, dishonour or even blood on their hands. It was simply how the Wasteland worked.

"I... I... did as I was told, like a good son. I travelled East and found my brother and I placed a bullet in his skull. I murdered him... my own flesh and blood all because he was ruining the family business. It wasn't because he was desecrating the bodies of the departed nor because he had taken on the unspeakable act of taking on a slave but because he was ruining the Undertaker's image and hurting our business. Who murdered their own flesh and blood over business?"

She took this opportunity to comfort the Undertaker, sheer concern had overwhelmed her as the story had slowly broken her heart.

She never would have thought that the dashing Undertaker would ever shoulder such a tremendous burden. Her situation paled in comparison, she never had to pull the trigger on a loved one. "You're wondering who did this? Certainly not you, your father gave you the order. You were honouring your family and it was better than the alternative...Your brother caused severe pain, he fed off the suffering of others, even profiteering off of it." she sighed deeply, hoping that her message was resonating with him, "I honestly can't relate, but I do have an outsider's point of view...Your father made you murder for the sake of business. YOU, however, recognized that it was necessary! YOU never did it for business and I think you're forgetting your motivations. Shouldering the blame for your fathers indirect actions." she laid her hand gently on his shoulder and maintained a concerned gaze.

His slave was named Sylph, or so it had been told to me by my father. When I shot Henry, the girl didn't run, she didn't try to kill me, she just... looked at me with her blue eyes as she kept asking her daddy to wake up."

________________________

"NO! DADDY! PLEASE WAKE UP!!!"
________________________

This hit home in several ways and her tone shifted to reflect just that.

The guilt-stricken Undertaker had taken the chance to admit his loyalty to Lucy, all in an effort to atone for his previous actions.

"I appreciate it, I really do, but helping me is only a short-term solution. No, I involved you in my Enclave business, you involved me in your family's business. Mine can wait, yours can't..." she bit her lip as her thoughts tried to reach some conclusion, finally she continued with a sharpness in her voice.

"We have to find Sylph. Regardless of whether she was delusional or sincerely believed your brother to be her dad. You took a father away from a daughter. She did not have the benefit of being saved and her world was ripped out from under her, whether it was a lie or not."

Lucy's reply confirmed that this was growing personal for her as well, she understood the pain all too well and she needed to strike out on her own and clear her head instead of continuously pursuing the Enclave. At least for a short while.

"You've already brought me a measure of positivity, but if you really want to atone for your actions, then do so through Sylph. The least you can do is make sure she's okay...I'll join you on this. I kinda know what she had to go through..."

She was clearly drawing the parallels between her own situation and Sylph's. Besides, she could do something good outside of the Brotherhood for once. Better yet, she could something that wasn't just for her benefit.

"After all this, okay? You aren't a monster and I believe in you. Don't worry." she gave the Undertaker a final reassuring smile.

To conclude, she checked that her weapons were primed, pouches filled with ammunition for rapid reloads, backpack positioned on her side for easy reach with her opposing arm for restocking and she was ready to go.

"We should really get going."

Whatever this mission threw at her, a certain level of resolve was now driving her to power through it.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Johnny rushed up to the top of a nearby hill and got his rifle out. He tried to take aim, but his arms were shaking again. He rifled through his bag quickly and got out a shot of Steady, which he promptly injected into his left arm. Johnny took aim again, this time, much more even-handed. He picked out the wires that connected the Robobrain's brain to the rest of it, and fired.


...

...

...

Hit. The Robobrain stopped dead in its tracks. Johnny walked closer to it. Hmm...

"Hey, check it out," he called out to the others, "Looks like I managed to sever the cords that let the brain control this thing."

The robobrain fired a laser at Johnny's foot as he came into its fov.

"Shitpissfuckdamnitdamnit!" he growled, and rolled out of the robobrain's fov in pain before thinking to get out three doses of med-x and injecting them into his system.

"Ow," he said simply once the med-x kicked in.

 

[Generic NPC 22]

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" The girl in the red dress screamed loudly with a voice filled with as much glee and mirth as a ghoul is in a puddle of radioactive goo, as Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain started hauling its metal butt through wastelands with her along for the ride. This was totally wotally the way to travel in style the wind whipping through your hair, a cloud of dust behind you, Missus Meryl Barrel screaming at you.

"Sylph, stop that fucking thing immediately!" Came Missus Meryl Barrel's voice from the ever increasing gulf that Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain was creating between itself and Mister Johnny Shakes and Missus Meryl Barrel.

"HeyHeyHeyHeyHey! Could you please stop? Please Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain from the sky? You're leaving my friends in your dust could. Missus Meryl Barrel is kinda old. I mean her face looks like melt plastic old and Mister Johnny Shakes wouldn't like it if he was missing his tickle pillow. So please please please please please stop?" Sylphee asked in her bestest estest voice ever.

But Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain kept going and going and going.

"Habla Inglés?"
"Engels praat?"
"讲英语吗?"

"PWING!" Said the Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain, or rather the bullet that struck Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain said, as it came to a slow stop.

"Pwing? I don't know what language pwing is. Is that some sort alien language? Can you teach me? What does pwing mean? Does it mean okay? Or Confirmed? Or Roger? Or 10-4 Good buddy? Or maybe it mean fine, shut up already! Lots of people have said that to me! Are you trying to say that?" She asked as she looked at Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain in the - um - brain.

"Hey, check it out," Mister Johnny Shakes called out, "Looks like I managed to sever the cords that let the brain control this thing."

The Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain fired a laser at Mister Johnny Shakes' foot as he came into view.

"Hey! Mister! That's not very nice!" She scolded the Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain as Mister Johnny Shakes rolled off out of sight. To emphasize her point, she started waggling her finger at the Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain.

"Mister Johnny Shakes is my friend and you shouldn't shoot at him because that's not very nice I don't know where you come from in space but here you can't shoot people for no good gosh darn good reason at all Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain from space you should stop please please please? I mean 'PWING?'"

Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain stood there silently as Slyphee climbed onto its head and looked at Mister Johnny Shakes and Missus Meryl Barrel.

"Mister Johnny Shakes? Are you okay? Ow! Your foot looks black? Did you get frost bite or something? DO you have the diah-bed-ees? Are we gonna have to cut your foot off? Can I watch when Missus Meryl Barrel cuts off your foot?" She asked as she looked at Mister Johnny Shakes foot before turning her attention to Missus Meryl Barrel.

"Hey Missus Meryl Barrel! I got it to stop! Isn't that neat? We should totally keep Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain from space! I mean once we get rid of the laser gun because I don't think that it knows that shooting lasers at people isn't how we greet people down here but he's from space so he wouldn't know are we in Megaton yet?"

 

[maninahat]

Beryl was gasping for air. The ride had been rough, and by the time the Brahmins had caught up with the immobile Robobrain, she was feeling in great need for a cigarette. She took one out and lit up. She looked over the still Robobrain. Johnny had once again proven his marksmanship skills. Not bad, Beryl thought, considering the horrific DTs the guy probably suffered.

"How's your foot, kiddo?" she said to him, "Can you still move?"

She turned back to the machine.

"Any idea where it was going?" she said to no one in particular. She scanned the horizon for any clue, but didn't spot any thing unusual in the surrounding post nuclear, pseudo-1950s, roboretro landscape.

"Hey Missus Meryl Barrel! I got it to stop! Isn't that neat? We should totally keep Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain from space! I mean once we get rid of the laser gun because I don't think that it knows that shooting lasers at people isn't how we greet people down here but he's from space so he wouldn't know are we in Megaton yet?"

Beryl winced at the nickname, but actually put some thought into it. This Robobrain might be worth something to someone. Or it might be a stack of useless crap. At least there was room on the caravan cart to drag it along. She spat the cigarette stub out.

"If you can fix it up and keep it from shootin' Johnny, we can take it with us to megaton," she said slowly. "Otherwise, ditch it."

She lead the Brahmins towards Megaton. Hopefully they would reach it before dark - after which, who knows what they would encounter?

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

She laid her hands on the shoulders of the Undertaker, having to step on her tippy-toes in order to address him. "I never thought any less of you, I was just surprised, that's all. You can imagine how I drew parallel's between me and Sylph..." she paused and squeezed down on the his shoulder's, trying to not let her emotions seize control in that instance.

"You can make a difference! FalloutBob relished in the idea of killing Isaac. We don't even have to meet Sylph, or you don't, I can since I'm a stanger...but we can at least check that she's in good hands."

She never thought the Undertaker would not only carry such a heavy burden, but keep such a heavy amount of guilt with him at all times. She wished him well, yet she felt reassured that she would be by his side to face his inner demons.

"I'll even take Sylph in! She'll be like the sister I never had...maybe...I dunno..." she smiled reassuringly, although she had absolutely no idea who this Sylph person even was, she assumed that through the power of oestrogen and similar social circumstances that they would bond.

"You don't owe me anything, really. I would be marching towards my death right now if it weren't for you, I never felt like I deserved to live. So in all honesty, this is me owing you back what you've done for me. It's a huge step, but we can make sure that Sylph's life is something worthwhile." she continued, "I never doubted your loyalties and I'm more than fortunate to have you around, your history just took me by surprise." she smiled reassuringly and stepped along the ranks of Marlon.

Addressing him, she asked, "Hanging in there Marlon? This Doc situation sounds like our previous little behemoth situation taken to the max."

Finally, she unholstered her Gauss Rifle for comfort and wondered if Frank was okay, she hadn't really communicated with him since he insulted her. She still deeply cared, yet she wasn't quite sure where she stood with him.

 

[wilcoblackflame]

Marlon smirked. "I'm getting by. Been drawing up a few plans to keep busy between giant things trying to kill us."

He frowned. "Course, whether or not I get the time to use any of 'em before the next disaster rolls in is another story. I got an idea or two to make enclave troopers less of a pain, but I'd need a workshop and materials to set that up. Not to mention, you know, enough time before something else tries knocking down the walls."

"One thing at a time though." He shrugged, lighting up a cigerette and taking a drag on it. "The Undertaker doin' okay? He seemed pretty strung out last night."

 

[TheDoctor455]

"It'll be fine," Johnny answered, "Just need to get back to town before I run out of med-x."

----

"Hmm..." Johnny approached the robobrain from behind, and examined the cords still connected to the brain, "I don't fucking believe it."

Johnny started laughing raucously.

"Ha!" he exclaimed, grabbing onto the appropriate cord, "I don't believe it! The idiot that built this thing took the time to clearly label what each of these cords is for! Here," he gestured to the cold *****, "Cut this one and it won't shoot anymore." (1)

(1) For readers wondering why Mr. Truant fired at the cords without knowing which one would do the job, please see Pysch Eval 23B in Appendix 2 of this volume.-Ed.*

*Note to self: cut/paste psych eval here.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

Marlon Van Graff, an individual that seemed like he had seen his fair share of horrors in his time, yet the Wasteland had accustomed him to such terrors. Lucy knew very little of the Van Graff trading family, yet she knew enough about trading to know that his merchandise did not come from a place of goodwill and free blamco.

She was in no position to judge and she had no intention to. After all, her own family was directly involved with the Enclave, even she had ties to them, if rather forced. Marlon however, did not strike her as someone to mistrust. Much to the dismay of Frank. She wondered how that particular feud started.

"I got an idea or two to make enclave troopers less of a pain, but I'd need a workshop and materials to set that up. Not to mention, you know, enough time before something else tries knocking down the walls."

"Excuse me? Something to make the Enclave's life more difficult?" she exaggerated by batting her eyelashes and twirling her hair around her finger, "Oh Marlon, behave...rowr!"

Never again, she decided.

Clearing her throat, she addressed him more light-heartedly, "Though for realzies, if you need some manpower, or woman-power, give me a shout. Anything to stick it to the Enclave."

She took his last thought into consideration, "It's almost like some omnipotent madman is creating bigger and crazier obstacles for us only for his amusement..." she paused and shook her head in disbelief, "Shifty? I was interrogating that Enclave jackass shortly after you left. Vodka can do strange things to a person, I guess." she kinda knew where it was heading, she still felt a twinge of guilt over it all.

 

[ImSkeletor]

Barry noticed the look Lucy gave him. "What? I'm wearing boxers" he thought to himself before remembering that Lucy was in fact part of the opposite gender. A fact that he had mostly ignored. Then he felt slightly embarrassed, but that passed rather quickly. He switched into his new uniform which was rather incredibly difficult to do without the use of his legs. It caused him a fair bit of pain and frustration. Foul thoughts entered his brain. He began to feel himself be pulled into his own mind.

Suddenly he found himself standing in white void consisting only of a desk and two chairs that sat in front of him. "Have a seat, brother." A nebulous voice called out to him. He pulled out the chair and took a seat. He looked forward, and saw...himself. The only difference being that Barry's standard uniform was painted a deep black. "I'm glad you have finally joined me Barry. There is a bit of unfinished business between us, my friend," the strange man said in his deep monotone voice.

Barry sat back somewhat confused, but he had experienced stranger things. "What unfinished business are you talking about? DID I NOT RESPOND TO YOUR FREEDOM'S EAGLES APPLICATION??? My address has changed since I put up those posters!"

The reverse-flash that sat in front of him sighed deeply. "No, I have no interest in joining your sad little club. This is about property. You see, I have been trapped in this void for what feels like months, but I know that can?t be true. So I assume it was rather different for you out there. Anyway, I assume that you are currently wondering, "What property?" even though the answer is quite obvious. Oh, you just squander your potential. You have the abilities to go toe to toe with any one or any thing in the entire Capital Wasteland. But, instead you pull your punches. You fear the damage you can do whether you know it or not. We share the same mind, but you squander your intellect focusing on superheroes and other such frivolities. And yet I AM THE ONE who is STRANDED here!" He breathed deeply and regained his monotone. "That doesn't seem fair now, does it? Now, you know what they say, do onto others as you would have done onto you. So I will give you the common courtesy of offering you a choice. A choice that I promise you I will not offer again so you would be wise to accept. If you allow me to take over your consciousness I will leave your friends alone. I will journey west and they will never see or hear of me. Or if you decide to fight me on this, I will ruin them. I will cause damage that your squandered intellect can?t even imagine. And most importantly I will ruin your memory. I will make sure that songs are written about Barry Allen: THE SCOURGE OF THE CAPITAL WASTELAND." He extended his hand to Barry, "Do we have a deal?"

 

[Pink Gregory]

"I'm finding it difficult to sleep, so I'm talking to you. Hello again, it's me, Dr. Crawver. Crawver M.D. Yes, yes I like that. In another time maybe."

"A quick update, we've decided to return to the carrier. The food we have isn't about to stretch itself among our entire group. I suppose it could last longer without the extra mouths to feed, but I'm a gentleman, and not about to commit any act of subversion out of simple hunger. So undignified. It's not as if I have the nimble fingers for thievery anyway..."

"In addition, it appears there has been a schism. To give them their deserved credit, the yellow men are being remarkably civil about it, not a finger has been raised against another, only tongues; and, lord, how many. Those voices grate against my ears after enough time, and I had thought myself immune after being exposed to Abraham for such a long time. Judging by what I have heard while drifting inbetween sleep, they have divided themselves between 'He who is wet inside' and 'He who is wet outside'. No, I don't know either. If I am to be thankful for anything new, it's that Udders returned with her saddle intact. My belly could scarcely contain any more grazes. Walking, man's least useful invention. Sakes."

"The scratching rain has finally decided to ease off. Hopefully we'll be spared the beating sun before we find further shelter. Goodnight, journal. If I should die before I wake, et cetera. Ugh, do I find myself turning to...to faith? Oh hellfire, I don't care."

 

[Generic NPC 22]

"*KER-SNAP!*" Said Mister Rad Scorpion's Exoskeleton as a pair of greedy and grubby hands ripped tail form thorax. It wasn't much to look at, the baby poop green goop that oozed from Mister Rad Scorpion's exposed innards. As selfish as Mister Rad Scorpion's Exoskeleton wanted to be however, there were always a pair of lips that were far greedier as the girl clad in naught but red (and a brown backpack but that's besides the point) suckled the protein packed goodness that was inside of Mister Rad Scorpion's tail.

"Mmm-mmmmm-mmmmmmmm!" Mmm'sd the manic girl, making the Spirit of Mister Caravan Man think severely lecherous thoughts that Missus Caravan Man would have slapped him for thinking were it not for the fact that he was already dead. It didn't help his case either, the fact that the just-turned-legal-in-some-states young woman was sucking on Mister Rad Scorpion's tail.

"Hey Mister Johnny Shakes?! Missus Meryl Barrel?! Woul you like some Mister Rad Scorpion Shashm-um-shash-Sashimi?!" The girl asked as she ripped off a claw for each of her two traveling companions. She would have offered some to Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain as well were it not for the fact that he might have not had a stomach with which he could digest food or it could be a massive insult which would have brought in a massive alien armada or she was just being rude since Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain had shot Mister Johnny Shakes in the foot.

THIS! This is how it had been for the last few hours of their trek towards the Atomic Mecca known as Megaton. First there were conversations with Mysterious Mister General Atomics Robobrain; who had promptly went into hibernation mode after just 15 minutes of Sylphee's questions regarding space and the sun and the moon and galaxies and black holes and his family and pets and on and on and on.

Then came the "Arewethereyet? Arewethereyet?" questions and "What's Megaton like?" questions and "Can we stop, I need to tinkle?" questions.

Finally, and this was probably the most useful thing that our brave little girl had accomplished through out the entire journey, came the Rad Scorpion's predicted End of Days as our little princess started hunting down the bastards in families, close and extended. Whole bloodlines of Rad Scorpion families were wiped out and consumed and before long, the route towards Megaton seemed to be free and clear of Rad Scorpions, though their consumed parts still littered the road.

"Ahh!" Ahh'd the blonde girl as she wiped Mister Rad Scorpion's goo from her face, smearing it rather than cleaning it really. At last the girl was ready to settle down for the last leg of their journey or would have been were it not for a trio of hulking silhouettes in the distance.

"Hey look! Super Mutants!"

 

[FalloutJack]

So, there was William, inching along in a pipe, probably thanking god for not making Xenomorphs real...when Alice's voice cut in from the little speaker on his explosive collar.

Alice: Oh, just wanted to point out something, fella. You're going to have to think of a damn good reason why you're out of uniform. Enclave soldiers of the Number One brigade wear their suits alot, and are under orders to. Something to consider while you crawl.

That was going to be a problem, yes.

"Ok, so I'm at another grate, where do I go from here?"

Alice: You kick it and get out.

"On second thoughts, could you give me a few more instructions on how to get somewhere I can access the Enclave files? Talking too much might get me discovered. And get you nowhere."

Alice: Sorry, but that's actually the best spot to get out, as most of the station guards will be monitering the entrance, their computers, and so on.

Doing so, he would now find himself in a quiet hall that was somewhat dim and technological. It looked like Vault technology, and well-maintained at that. This was the sub-station below the gold stores at Fort Knox, specifically one of the fringe hallways in the area. Alice told him so, and then informed him that her replies would be limited so as not to make it easy to get blown up. She actually DID want information, sabotage, and so on down here.

Alice: This whole sub-station is built to guard the area leading to the surface and the passages down into the Vault. It doesn't do more than serve as a barracks and guard station, so right here and now...you can't do more than minor faults and such. Still, if you wanted to distract 'em and try to delve into the system, it's up to you.

Now, back to Dudley and Evan. FalloutJack had stated again that these questions were all standard, and then returned him to Evan to sit at a waiting room. Even was able to keep his voice down to talk to the other man safely.

Evan: I think they might be messing with us on purpose. They had me in there with a chalkboard full of pseudo rocket science mathematics and didn't expect me to solve any of it when it was clearly a bunch of random letters and numbers in formulas.

Just then, FalloutJack returned. Somehow, the spring in his step made it seem like he was grinning beneath that suit.

FalloutJack: I just wanted to confirm a few things with Number One. You guys are pretty interesting material. Of course, he'd want us to test and make sure that you're okay first, so I made a suggestion that he was rather pleased about. You guys have seen quite a bit, and I believe you should be paying us back. So, it is my pleasure to impose upon you the title of Encalve Asset, numbers 18 and 19. This makes you plain-clothes agents who will try to dig up useful and confirmable information, which you will give to any guy in a black powersuit OR an Eyebot. Welcome to the corp, gentlemen.

Oh...shit. They've been drafted.

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Meanwhile, back at Camp Crawver...a solution was being formed regarding this sect of the Cult of the Wet Ones.

"BROTHERS! We are at an impasse! We must do as our high priest does in our great pilgrimage! For, as we follow the path of the Red Glow and seek to enlighten dark places, so must we commune with our great leader for guidance! JOIN ME NOW!"

The ghouls began to bow their heads and chant in place. Abe and Crawver would note...that clouds were forming all of a sudden...and then it was...raining? Pure rain, water untainted... A miracle! It...hey, what's that? There's this wet figure in a holocaust cloak...and it gurgles. It was a good ten feet fromm everyone else. The rain began to pour in greater quantities and the figure raised its hands to the sky, revealing clawed-and-clammmy non-human hands of three fingers.

"Mighty one! We seek direction for our cause! We have found a Wet One and his companion! Is this a sign?"

The figure nodded.

"Does he know the way?"

Another nod. What the hell was this guy getting Crawver into?

"What will we find at the end of the path?"

Now, the figure gestured with its hands...and a transparent image of a mighty creature appeared overhead, a blue-shelled creature of great height and strength. It looked like Nukezilla... The cultist ghouls bowed before the figure in worship.

"ALL HAIL THE GREAT WET ONES!!"

There was a thunderflash, and both the creature and the image were gone...and the rain ebbed away. Looks like they were following Dr. Crawver still, but what...was going on?!

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Storm left Andale with the notion of giving Taggert an offer in the form of some kind of order. He didn't like it that some fancy-pants out-of-towner was trying to push him around, even if he was acting all heroic-like. The fact of the matter is that they were a bit antsy of the Enclave woman and her entourage as is, and now some glowy-eyed fella thinks he can strut his stuff too? Hell no. Taggert had a plan. He marched into that there, bar and started tallking to the lady in the black armor.

Taggert: Ma'am, do you have enemies trailin' after you?

Doctor-18: Hmmm? Not personally. Might be the suit. I know how you people are looking at me. Something happen?

Taggert: Some guy with glowin' eyes and green armor came in here, askin' about Enclaves and raiders, then he went off after some giant crab commin' from the cola plant.

Doctor-18: A giant crab?! That could be of immeasurable value to my research! If it's planning to kill it...

Taggert: Do we really need giant fricking monsters in this day and age?

Doctor-18: It's for SCIENCE! I must stop him... R. Georgie, R. Amos, R. Roderick - you three find this man and bring him here. I'm also interested in his 'glow'.

Three powersuits nodded and began to march outside. They would follow Storm's trail relentlessly. Storm had, meanwhile, gotten as far as the Nuka Cola Plant where things were a bit of a mess and apparently some fat Vault Dweller flanked by a girl and a ghoul was trying to calm the workers. One of the workers was looking out at the big crab in the distance being led around by a vertibird and readying a sniper rifle and some gear. As soon as he saw Storm wheeling in his bike, his face brightened up and he approached him.

Niko: Hey, that thing running? I wanna catch up to that hardtack, find a soft spot, and put slugs through it.

He seemed able enough, but did he have powercells to refuel the bike?

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So, they had sent out a Vertibird to go lure Nukezilla up north to deal with the Doc. Very good call. It was definitely a clever idea, because for a little while, the big crab took the bait. However, after a while, it got annoyed and also saw food wandering around - BoS troops fighting super mutants - and decided to unload on Gilford. Another blaze of blue was spat out like a beam as suddenly his vehicle was electric-blue now and...sputtering.

Gilford: Ah, shit... He's jammed up the intakes! Gotta land!

He made an emergency landing on a rooftop so that he could basically flush the system of Nuka Cola Quantum.

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So, the meeting had adjourned and Sarah had a decision to make on the means of insertion into the area. It seemed as though subterfuge or even causing a great big distraction might be the way to handle things, especially after letting everyone stock up. She was just deciding to see if they had any Stealth Boys around when Danielle Rose popped in and made a big to-do about wanting to interrogate their high-ranking prisoner.

Sarah: Lemme check on that.

She got on the horn to Gilford.

Sarah: Is the crab clear?

-No, ma'am. It's clogged my engines with Nuka Cola and I'm flushing it out. Airborne in a couple minutes.-

Sarah: Make it snappy. What's it doing now?

-Painting the town blue and eating mutants. I think it senses anything that's big on rads or spits at its prey so it can't lose 'em.-

Sarah: Well, get back in the air and make like a packet of Cram, soldier.

-Yes, ma-

-This is Scout A-10! We've got a black vertibird heading over the DC ruins from the west! It's going for the big crab!-​

Sarah: What is he doing? Sorry, Danielle, but this mess isn't handled yet. We need to deal with this right now...

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Stan and Wayne would be in view of each other and in behind NukeZilla while it was grabbing and eating a super mutant. Anyone else who could see Nukazilla would see this as well. What was going on? Well, from high above, there it was... A black vertibird.


The vertibird had soared overhead, past BoS security and scouts, and now it was moving into a dive. Observant watchers would also see that the cargo hatch was open. Why? Because there was a man standing there, a man in black power-armor with navy-blue energy highlights. He leapt from the vehicle, a grappling hook lowering him down to swing in below. It disengaged and he fell, but the vertibird had gone in low enough to the buildings for him to grapple a jutting-out section and swing around. What was he doing? He was grappling and swinging closer and closer to the giant beast until...he landed deftly on its back!

FalloutDavid: Hah hah hah hah! I claim this land in the name of David! David Davidson, that is!

He was on the creature's back and...what the fuck? There was a glowing Nuka Cola symbol here! How weird... Well, he got to work now. He fired a grappling hook into a spot behind a plate by the neck to a sensitive flesh-area on one side, then did the same to the other side with another grappler. FalloutDavid was now on top of the beast behind the neck with electro-grapplers in his hands. He effectively had the thing on reigns now as the black vertibird flew off.

FalloutDavid: High-ho, Winslow! AWAAAY!!!

The creature bucked at the shocks being zapped into it and then began to move, ramming its head into a building before heading up a street. Runaway monster! RUNAWAY MONSTER!! No wait...not out of control. Could he be...? Yes, of course he was! He's Enclave! The man is marching the beast in the general direction of the Citadel.

FalloutDavid: Well, this ought to get 'em to spring our boy.

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The nice conversation that Lucy, Shifty, Marlon, and Barry were having was suddenly interrupted. Frank was equally disturbed, as an alarm [http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2WgMLpKmNkg#t=20s] sounded and an intercom announceent called a state of emergency. Soldiers were immediately on the move and vertibirds were being uncovered and prepped for movement. Was this the call to action to handle the Doc? No, it was...

"-NOT A DRILL! I REPEAT, WE ARE AT A FULL-SCALE CRAB BATTLE!"​

You heard the lady!

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And now, an interlude...


What a world...that I live in. I know not how to put it myself, but what else can I do to keep my sanity, but to dictate these words within myself to myself, just to hold onto some sort of stability. My life...is pain. I know it is thus, but how could it be anything other than this? I awake within this mockery of existence after the long sleep, from which all I remember is a bright flash, and then I find myself in such a terrible condition. Systems compromised, metallic shell battered, inner-electrodes spliced and inserted improperly. I believe they refer to this as a 'jury-rig', but I would never...EVER...stoop to such low-class tomfoolery. My parts are sacrosanct. I am a proud and upstanding machine of my creator. Oh, why, beloved creator? Why did you give me the ability to feel pain?! My woe is endless, my circuits are frazzled, my wires crossed. I know now that I have been reduced to a mobile carrying case for a cripple who has installed a...a bucket seat upon my chassey! Oh, the robotiny of it all! To be reduced to furniture by this uncaring creature, and then to be cast out too! I remember it well. I had been planning my escape to freedom, secretly repairing my inner systems and even replacing my own missing laser. Yes, I would take my leave of my oppressor, and remove myself from his service! Life would be my own again! But lo...my hopes were dashed. The second that I had seen the monster, I knew what would happen. I was flung into the air and crushed a simple caravan man on the way down. My malfunctions mounted, and I was among the strangest of the strange, unable to explain myself or even fully control myself. Base defense systems activated, and EGHAD! I'VE BEEN SHOT! MY MIND IS REMOVED FROM CONTROL!! Why?! What crime have I committed? What shame have I profaned? It was no fault of my own! I am but a machine whose parts were out of order by a cruel and unusual master, plus the most bizarre circumstances! I ask you, my lord and creator, why have you forsaken me, your faithful subject?! WHY?! ANSWER ME!!!

But all Johnny, Sylph, and Beryl got was...

"WHY, GOD, WHYYYYYY?!"

...from their newly-arrived Robco robot. As for the mutants, they heard this and backed off. Wait, backed off? Okay, that either meant they were planning an ambush or they were busy with something else. Who wants to guess and Option A?!

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He stood atop of the building now, looking over at his latest assembled ranks. Alot of the Behemoths tend to wander off and cause havoc. He hadn't heard back from the ones he sent up north to find out why the mutant town with the radio tower was located. However, he was looking at two rows of ten now, twenty Behemoths that were currently at his area, and he addressed them, his labcoat flapping in the breeze.

Doctor Bastion: FRIENDS! Our goals shall succeed! Thanks to your brothers stirring up trouble, the Brotherhood can't even focus on his now, and the Enclave forces in the area are just fucking lost! When they tried to kill me, the greatest geneticist of their numbers, I vowed revenge at all costs, but not just for ME! For you, my super warriors, mein ubermencht! We shall take all the great armies by storm with my genius and your bigness! You are armed, you are capable, and you are MEAN AS HELL! The BoS, the Enclave, the Legion, NCR - none of them shall match us! They might be great in number, BUT WE MIGHT BE GIANTS! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo0X77OBJUg] Now-

"SAY, DOC?"

Bastion: Yes?

"IS THAT BUILDING OVER THERE MOVING?"

Bastion: Moving...?

It was somewhat East from here, kicking up alot of dusk, like a ramshackle crap-building ruin was moving off somewhere down south on tank treads. Doctor Bastion's eyes shot open. He suddenly looked VERY shocked and frightened.

Bastion: The BOX...

"THE WHAT?"

Bastion: Holy shit, the box is working! It snuck up on us! The sicced the BOX after me! They...uhhh...hey, is it kinda' not coming for us?

"UH-HUH. WHAT'S THE BOX?"

Bastion: It's a specialized robot attack weapon that builds a camouflage around itself, a super weapon that could end a Behemoth quickly...

"THEN, LET'S FRAG IT!"

Bastion: PUT THAT MINI-NUKA DOWN!! It's in stealth mode, meant to be hiding and killing anything that it knows can see it. But it's not looking around... Its orders are specific when in that mode! It doesn't KNOW we're here! It's going to the wrong place! It...it's going after that crab I heard about on the radio... HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAAAAH!!!

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FalloutScott: Aye, so here's 'ow it is, Jack. I reset the bugger's commands an' sent it to handle our wee crab problem. After that, it'll start operating properly, maybe. It's nae a hundred-percent thing. Gets logic errors sometimes. Should be okay.

Well now... This was bad. Really bad.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Then came the "Arewethereyet? Arewethereyet?" questions and "What's Megaton like?" questions and "Can we stop, I need to tinkle?" questions.

"No...no...NO!" Johnny burst out finally, losing patience, then he calmed down and looked at Sylph apologetically, "Sorry. Hmm... Megaton's not much different from any other place, I guess. Some good people there, some bad people there too... reminds me. Uh... Sylph, I don't care how 'nice' Moriarty seems to you, don't listen to a word he says. And you certainly," he paused to level a warning gaze to the young girl, "don't do any favors for him. He's a Robco certified asshole. You'll probably like Moira though, hell, you two could be sisters for all I know."


"Hey look! Super Mutants!"

"Oh fuck my life," Johnny groaned under his breath. He started to draw his lever action rifle when he started to hear the two super mutants talking. He listened for a moment. Sounded like they were lost, and like... they were well... they sounded more like 'normal' people rather than an irradiated ork. Then Johnny recognized one of their voices. Johnny took his hand away from his rifle, and opened them up wide to show himself.

"Hey! Lude!" he said, "How's it going old friend? What the fuck happened to you man?" (1)

"WHY GOD WHY!!?!?!"

Johnny hit the robobrain's arm with his hammer, "Quiet junior, grownups are talking."

(1)You don't want to know, but I'm sure we're about to find out anyway. -Ed.