The REALLY Wild Wasteland. (The Fallout RP!)

[Generic NPC 22]

The Enclave Vault: The Rabbit Hole Tessa's Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's Room

In what would later go down in the history books as the most amazing event in the previous century, the Grey Menace managed to return to Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's room without saying a word and without killing anyone in a randomly tragic accident that was absolutely not her fault at all, swear to God she didn't do anything to cause all those people to die. Instead, she had focused all her attention on trying to hear what Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy and Daddy Johnny Shakes were talking about since it seemed to involve her, obviously since Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy had mentioned her name more than a few times and someone by the name of Mister Under-something. Mister Underbreaker? Mister Undershaker? Mister Underfaker? Mister Underwear Maker?

It seemed rather strange to Diminutive Blue Haired girl that there would be some Mister Underwear Maker in the world that specialized in making Underwear for people. It seemed like a rather dangerous employment option if one of Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's friend was a smoker and his customer had issues with pooting that particular day.

Tossing the random thought into the overly filled Mental Recycle Bin that located in Sylph's brain, the Blue Eyed, Blue Haired Wonder decided that it was definitely time to eat and given that she seemed to be out of her most favoritest food in the world, Sylphee looked inside her Mister Bag-o-Treasures for something that might be edible.

"OooOOoOooOooOooo Mister Jinkies!" Sylphee exclaimed as she pulled out a plastic wrapped bright yellow cream filled sponge cake and unwrapped it from it's wrapper and started sucking out the cream filling, relishing the fact that Mister Yellow Sponge Cake Wrapper was still surprisingly moist. Discarding the Mister Yellow Sponge Cake Wrapper, Sylphee grabbed another of the Mister Jinkies before wandering around Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's room, looking for stuff that looked interesting and would let her pass the time while Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy and Daddy Johnny Shakes finished their talk and that's when the pair of Sky Blue Eyes lit upon Missy Anti-Materiel Rifle, still stuck up in the vent, above Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's bed, where she had been left by Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy.

*BOUNCY! BOUNCY! BOUNCY! BOUNCY! BOUNCY!* Went Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's bed as Sylphee start bouncing on the rather non-bouncy bed getting ever closer to Missy Anti-Materiel Rifle.

"BOUNCY! BOUNCY! BOUNCY! BOUNCY! BOUNCY!" Went Sylphee's mouth as she bounced until Missy Anti-Materiel Rifle was within reach.

"Gotcha!" Screamed Sylphee as her hands latched onto Missy Anti-Material Rifle.

*BLAM!!!!!* Screamed Missy Anti-Materiel Rifle as Sylphee's hands latched onto her and her trigger as Missy Anti-Materiel Rifle fired a shot through the air vents, the bullet ricocheting down the air vent until it blew a hole through Mister Hot Water Heater.

"Oops!"

 

[TheDoctor455]

For his part, Johnny paid rapt attention to Lucy's story. It was fascinating to meet someone else that Sylph had affected in a way not unlike how she had affected him. Through a lot of her telling, Johnny felt himself developing a minor case of hero worship because even though Lucy tried to keep depictions of herself as objective as she could manage... Johnny still thought she came off as an unstoppable badass. Given what little he'd been able to tell from her demeanor so far, he saw no reason not to believe she was just that.

"She is all I have left..."

On hearing that, Johnny's heart melted. He knew exactly how she felt at that point. He wanted nothing more than to give Lucy a big, comforting hug. But, considering they had just met, he decided against it.


"So, Mr Truant...your thoughts?"

Johnny paced through the room, almost completely 'in tune' with Sylph's bouncing on the bed as he thought this through for several moments. When he finally had something to say, he stopped right in front of Lucy, seemingly at random, and turned to face her.

"Having met both FalloutJack and Number One," he began, making sure to maintain eye contact, "I don't think either of them will really care if we take out Natsuki. I honestly don't think you're going to get the kind of revenge you're looking for that way. Plus... I've seen her in combat... she's... terrifying. Seen something like that only once before... in a place I'd prefer never to never revisit."

He realized how odd he must've been coming across, so he backed towards the opposite wall and leaned on it.

"No... to get to them, you'd need to find an asset that they truly value above everything else... and either destroy it completely... or turn it against them." Johnny blinked, surprised at how calmly he was talking about this, "Well, whatever we end up doing, I'm behind you. These bastards have been hunting me for years because of the..."

He cut himself short, not sure if he really wanted to finish that sentence.

"Never mind. Not important. What matters now... is hitting them before they wise up to... well... whatever it is we're going to do now."

He checked every part of his trusty lever action rifle, and made sure it was fully loaded.

 

[The Harkinator]

With the new directions available, William doubled back on himself and started to make some tangible progress through the Enclave base. The warning had been given that Tesla soldiers and replicants would be rife in this area and with his standard armour he would be a little out of place. For now William resolved to talk his way out of any problems that arose, as he didn't feel confident in his ability to obtain a set of Tesla armour.

Bleak, soulless metal corridors gave way to intriguing displays showing data about weapons, armour, creatures and places. This must be a research department! This screen showed analysis of current Enclave weapons and their inner workings, that screen showed the skeletal structure of a Deathclaw and how a control mechanism could be fitted to the skull without killing the creature. Screens of all kind showed the inner workings of the Enclave itself.

This data would be useful, but not enough for the Brotherhood. A terminal must be found and accessed without arousing the suspicion of any personnel milling around. Suddenly a conversation between two researchers caught William's ears, or at least the helmet picked it up.

"Could you get this to the central hub?"

"What is it? What have you been working on?"

"I've been trying to modify the plasma cores on our gear. I've found a way to fix the overheating problem, additional venting and a miniature cooling system can be retrofitted to existing gear to cut out the problem completely."

"Amazing, how's it coming along? You must be almost ready to implement it if we're putting it on the research system."

"It's almost done, but this is going to the central hub, not the command hub. It isn't ready to go into main system just yet. The problem is with fitting the systems on armour. Inside the gun casings the coolant device is safe but it gets vulnerable when mounted on armour and exposed to trauma, anything more than basic impacts stands a high chance of breaking the coolant containment. In addition the additional venting compromises the backplate, trauma testing on that showed a well placed shot could get in through the vents and the existing armour had to be weakened, anybody who got the drop on a squad could take out half of them before anybody knows what's going on. If I can fix those though we'll cut equipment failure by 40% and increase equipment lifetime by 115% by decreasing core degradation."

"Tough stuff eh? But good work, this could really give us the upper hand. We'd be able to direct resources towards other things and won't need to spend as much time sitting around fixing melted equipment, or picking bits of melted human off the gear either."

The second researcher took the disk with the data on and headed off to presumably the central hub. If that was where they stored their research the Brotherhood would definitely want it. William followed him at a distance, careful to look like he was busy when a Tesla soldier passed by. The researcher entered a room with large humming data banks and approached a terminal. William followed him in and closed the door behind them, they were alone for now but he may not have long. Being a Terrifying Presence could help here.

As the researcher inserted the disk into the terminal William spoke up.

"Don't turn around, or you'll find that head will keep spinning." The researcher froze in compliance, "Access the data stored on this terminal, make a copy of it and give it to me." William placed his left arm on the researcher's shoulder, a reminder of his presence. The researcher shuddered and his hands flew across the keyboard, swiftly following orders and placing the Enclave research data on a disk. William took it and transferred it to the Pip-Boy. "Now since we're such good friends tell me where the command hub is."

"Out of this room keep going away from research and you will come to the centre of the base. The command hub is in a room below the main tunnels, take the stairs to the lower level and it's the door with the blue lighting on it."

"Thank you, you've been ever so helpful. But I don't have time to be nice today." William spoke coldly as he put his arms around the researcher's neck and twisted sharply. A sickening sound later and the researcher slumped to the floor, William threw the now empty disk onto the body and left the room, shutting the door behind him. The rest of that data was at the Command Hub, if William could get that he could go home, or at the very least leave the damned base.

============================

Evan was going through his things to retrieve a coil of worn rope from his things to demonstrate the plan to Dudley and Hayes. They would tie the rope into a lasso and snag one of the ghouls, after tying it up and attaching it to Hayes' vehicle they could transport this new variation without trouble or damage to the specimen.

Dudley looked at Evan like he was stupid, "Ya want us to hogtie one of them? What if it don't work?"

"It'll work, I'll make it work."

"If you say so, up for gettin' hitched to this thing creepy guy?"

Dudley still had his charm and tact it seemed.

 

[nuba km]

'Pharaoh, let my people go! C'mon, Larry! We've got the town's back! Let's do this!'

This was not good, Larry wanted to keep rick around as he could prove to be useful 'NO, rick trust me when I say that I am on your side, and that I do what is best for us'

Rick responded in his usual swashbuckling fashion 'but he just asked you to deactivate me, and he dared to insult me'

Larry turned to sam and stared him right in the eyes and said, slowly and firmly 'we are not going deactivate him, are we?'.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

Enclave Vault: Lucy's Quarters...Goddammit Sylph

"No... to get to them, you'd need to find an asset that they truly value above everything else... and either destroy it completely... or turn it against them." Johnny almost seemed like a completely different man to her, "Well, whatever we end up doing, I'm behind you. These bastards have been hunting me for years because of the..."

Lucy's unchecked emotions were radiating violently from her, realizing this, she swiftly put an end to what she felt.
Slowly the anger dissipated and her disposition grew more observational and distant.
Mr Truant had inadvertently given her the perspective she desperately needed and in doing so, had spurred her planning forward.

[hr]

"Why did you do this to me?" Lucy pleaded with her Mother.

Amy Kane looked at her daughter with a twisted sense of pride. "To prepare you, my darling."

[hr]

"To prepare me for this..." Lucy muttered to herself out loud.

Fixing her hair into a strict-ponytail, Lucy engaged Johnny's eyes with a new sense of focus. "Mr Truant, you are a genius..."

Her tone shifted to command the room while she got busy snatching Sylph's rifle from her hands and stuffing it back into the damaged ventilation system. "When I was pulled in here, I was reviewed by FalloutJack himself. I asked about someone important to my family, a scientist that worked with my Father. Turns out that she fled The Enclave the day that the kill-order for my Father came through."

Lucy hoisted Sylph off the bed and away from the ventilation system, she readied her own rifle.

"FalloutJack mentioned that it's possible she fled to something called the Enclave Underground. An organization they haven't found. Now I know this scientist and if anyone has information or the means to hurt the Enclave...it's her."

Lucy stepped in front of Sylph to shield her. "They must be looking for the Enclave Underground and knowing her, that's where she would be. Since I'm an Asset and you two are of questionable status...I say it's a great time to volunteer for a mission with what they think is a disposable team. I just have to pitch the idea to FalloutJack, he knows that I have personal ties to her, giving me an edge...and if she is with the Underground, that's a bonus."

With a renewed sense of drive, Lucy looked over at Johnny with a faint smile, hoping she was finally on to something. "What do you think? Oh, and try ordering food over the intercom for us. I'd like the three of us to get...acquainted while we still can "

Looking over at the ventilation system, Lucy raised and steadied her grip on her Gauss Rifle, ready to activate Beast Mode.

"Invert controls..."

Half of the command caused a small digital screen to be displayed on either side of rifle via a shift in the outer shells components, the display idling at: ("00:59")

"Mr Truant, that weapon Sylph brought in, isn't exactly meant to be in here and that sound was rather loud...would you prefer that I destroy the evidence and tell anyone that comes in that the damage caused was an accident? Or could you rather cover for this mishap and say that your rifle went off while checking it?" The eye-patched female calmly asked.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Johnny blinked at Lucy when she called him a genius. No one had ever called him that before, or acknowledged his... brand of intelligence before. It was his turn to blush. All he could do beyond that was grin like an idiot for a moment, and mutter a 'thank you.'

During her entire speech, Johnny had found Lucy to be an incredible person. Right after he'd made his suggestion, she'd gone quiet for a moment, and to Johnny's eye, it looked like she had some demons in her past as well. He nodded sympathetically when she started her speech proper, he paid rapt attention to her. Lucy seemed to be so determined, so driven that Johnny couldn't help but admire her for it. In terms of motivation, she seemed to be his exact opposite. Where he simply sought to escape his own personal hell, she challenged hers... defied it even. Again, he grinned like an idiot as a silly thought came to his mind: Heh. Bet she'd rip that asshole a new one.

Lucy smiled at Johnny. It had been a long time since anyone... remotely normal had really smiled at him. "What do you think? Oh, and try ordering food over the intercom for us. I'd like the three of us to get...acquainted while we still can "

"I..." he stammered for a bit, "I... yeah that sounds good. You seem like a real badass, I'd love to get to know you better."

He mentally punched himself in the face at that last part; he was afraid it sounded a bit too much like he was hitting on her or something... despite him meaning what he said.

Johnny was about to get on the intercom to order something when... something weird happened with Lucy's peculiar sniper rifle.

"Mr Truant, that weapon Sylph brought in, isn't exactly meant to be in here and that sound was rather loud...would you prefer that I destroy the evidence and tell anyone that comes in that the damage caused was an accident? Or could you rather cover for this mishap and say that your rifle went off while checking it?" The eye-patched cutie asked calmly.

Again, Johnny was a bit floored at someone taking his input seriously. Sure, Sylph listened to him on occasion, but she was so cheerful and energetic most of the time that he couldn't be sure what she was really feeling... or even seeing at times.

"Umm... yeah, I can cover you... I mean... cover this up for you." he suppressed the urge to gulp. He knew how much of a fool he sounded right now, "Yeah... I was just cleaning my lever action here, and that's all that happened."

After some time passed, and no one seemed to be rushing to meet them, Johnny set his rifle down in a nearby corner, and looked up the right extension on the intercom. He told them who he was, and the terrified kitchen staff on the other end told him they'd send three of their best down asap.

"Well... that covers dinner or... whatever this is now," he said, leaving the room momentarily to drag a couple of chairs in the room when he came back. He offered one to Lucy before setting his down next to the bed, and putting a hand on Sylph's shoulder to keep her from bouncing any more. Johnny didn't really need anyone to start making assumptions about what was going on in here... though Sylph doing that might come in handy later... if they really needed a cover story. "Okay Sylph... its time for a..." he paused to search for the right word, "a family meeting."

He gave Lucy a brief smile, and nodded his head slightly towards Sylph.

"Well... first... please, just call me Johnny." he said, "And uh... do you mind if I call you Lucy?"

After hearing her response, Johnny hummed for a minute, trying to decide just how much to tell the cute pirate in front of him. Didn't think he'd really scare her away with much at this point... but she might decide to kill him for some of the shit The Editor made him do. Or just leave him to die at some point in the future. Neither scenario held much appeal for him.

"I uh... don't know where to begin," he ventured, "Umm... what would you like to know?"

 

[Generic NPC 22]

The Enclave Vault: Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's $0.25s

Unbeknownst to the Annoyingly Cheerful MercySylphee, the nervous yet focused nervous Tessa Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy and Enigmatic Vera Daddy Johnny Shakes, the bullet which had shattered Mister Vault Hot Water Heater, causing him to piddle his contents all over the floor, had bought Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy and Daddy Johnny Shakes some time to speak. Due to the recent mishaps that had been occurring within the Vault, from the death of Mister Firing Range Administrator #556 and the release of toxic gasses within one of the Laboratories, the Enclave Technician Staff found itself rather busy for a change, leaving Menial Task Technicians #818, #954 and #3000 the task of collecting Missus Eavesdropping Machine that had been installed in the ventilation system above Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's room, Missus Eavesdropping Machine that lay shattered in the ventilation system one might add.

The three menial task technicians were a rather odd trio in that they were siblings consisting of two brothers and a sister and despite the Enclave's insistence on using numerical call signs, they still called each other by their names, Jacko, Wacko and Dot.

Closing in on the wounded Mister Vault Hot Water Heater, the trio would have started working on Mister Vault Hot Water Heater and avoiding the Second Great Enclave Pneumonia Outbreak were it not for Miss Loose I-Beam falling down on the two brothers' legs as they attempted to get to a better angle on Mister Enclave Vault Hot Water Heater, queuing the Entrance of one of the Enclave Nurses to check on the welfare of Menial Task Technician #818 and #954

#818 and #954: "HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NURSE!"

[hr]

"Okay Sylph... its time for a... a family meeting." Daddy Johnny Shakes said as he lead the Hyperactive Terror towards one of the (again) Duchess BORINGLY! colored chairs that had been setup in the middle of the room.

"F-Family Meeting? Family Meeting?!" Sylphee cheerfully questioned aloud, the words felt like candied Rad Scorpion Meat in her mouth as she sat down excitedly in Duchess BORINGLY! colored chair, her hands carefully placed under her butt so that she wouldn't ruin her first Family Meeting EVER!

"I uh... don't know where to begin," Daddy Johnny Shakes started off asking, "Umm... what would you like to know?"

"Oh! Oh! Oh! If you were trapped in a room filled with Hungry Mister Deathclaws and the only way you could get out was by giving them either me or Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy, who would you give them?" Sylphee asked quickly before Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy could get a question in. Of course Sylphee already had her answer ready, she would have fed herself to Hungry Mister Deathclaws to get both her Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy and Daddy Johnny Shakes out of the Cave of Doooom!

 

[TheDoctor455]

"Oh! Oh! Oh! If you were trapped in a room filled with Hungry Mister Deathclaws and the only way you could get out was by giving them either me or Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy, who would you give them?" Sylph asked with, what seemed to Johnny, an unnerving amount of cheerful enthusiasm. It still amazed him how sweet and innocent Sylph could always look, while doing and saying things that just didn't seem to match that outlook at all. What the hell brought this on? Eh... already know my answer though.

"Well," Johnny sighed, "I'd push the two of you out of its way and let it get me. Its... hardly the worst way I can think of croaking... and fuck knows I've got it coming."

Johnny found himself staring at his feet, not really feeling like trying to read Sylph's or Lucy's expressions. He had no idea how they'd take that little nugget, and he didn't really need to find out immediately. This conversation had been going so well too...

 

[maninahat]

Beryl was in a pickle. Being imprisoned within a tiny metal room, with only a dilapidated street cleaner for company, left her little to do other than smoke the last of her cigarettes. And now they were all gone, and she needed another.Groaning, she looked about her for something to pass the time with. The only other thing in the room was a few empty filing cabinets, and a steel bed frame. Apparently the enclave were under resourced enough to have to stick her in the store room.

She slouched forward in her steel chair, resting her arm on the control levers of the street cleaner. It wasn't even a comfy chair. As she fidgeted about and looked for whatever it was that was sticking in her ass, she noticed the street cleaner's ignition key.

What if I...

She gave it a twist. For a moment nothing happened. Then everything happened all at once. The machine almost exploded. Flames belched out of the vacuum intakes, and the vehicle bucked and squeeled beneath her. In a panic, Beryl flailed at the controls in front of her, but this only made the street cleaner angry. The fusion battery went throbbed beneath her seat, and then almost kicked itself out of the machine. Beryl was launched out of the chair and across the room. She crashed in a heap at the foot of the filing cabinets. By the time she had her wits about her, the machine was trundling around the room on its own accord, slamming into the walls. Beryl let out a shriek as the thing made its way towards her. She rolled underneath the steel bed frame just in the nick of time. The cleaner repeatedly bashed against the frame, the flame throwing hoover reaching out for Beryl beneath.

"Oh for fuck's sake!" cried Beryl in terror, inches away from being incinerated and polished to death. As she kicked herself further under the bed, a golf ball rolled out of her pocket and into the huge hoover intake. There was a great sucking sound, quite like the sounds made by a gob stopper sucking manatee, and then an ear splitting explosion. Apparently incapable of digesting the small ball, the machine let out a horrifying fiery screech, shed itself of a great deal of metal work, and then dashed itself against the store room door for one last time.

The steel door wrenched away, and the chugging, shambling monstrosity finally escaped out of the room. Seeing the exit, Beryl scrambled out from under the bed and clambered over the remains of the door. She had just enough time to see the sweeper disappear out of sight around the end of a corridor.

Beryl straightened her suit and slapped the dust from her hair.

Almost lost my cool for a moment there, she thought.

With nothing better do do, she decided she would need some ordinance. She walked off in the direction towards where she had heard the gun shots. Gunfire meant bodies. Bodies meant loot.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

"So, what do you say, Hayes? Think we can capture one of these things alive and tie it to your car? It'd certainly help US."

He took a moment to ponder the proposition, throwing his hands up behind his head and bending backwards whilst giving off a loud sigh. Looking at the Grasshopper, he imagined the snarling creature bound to the hood like a trophy, probably scuffing the paintwork...
Eventually he conceded to help.

"Man, you science-types always want your 'specimens' alive don't you? Can't just let us honest freelancers have a bit of fun can you..." he griped as he took Evan's length of rope in hand, uncoiling and flexing it between his two hands, checking its sturdiness.

"I'm not sure if this'll cut it as a lasso, however..." he took his knife in one hand, the rope's end in the other, and tied the strongest knot he knew around his bowie's handle, hoping that it'd hold firm. "It could work as a rope dart".

He took his newly-fashioned weapon and swung it in a figure eight around his body, some form of muscle memory seemingly making him at least adequate with a weapon that he had, at least in his knowledge, never handled before. "Heh, what do they say about riding bikes for the first time?"

Evan and Dudley just looked at him bewildered, although they seemed content to just let him do his thing, probably preferring to not question the methods and rationale of a psychopath whom they had only just met. Hayes preferred things this way.

"Up for gettin' hitched to this thing creepy guy?"

Hayes looked at Dudley quizzically; like he had just asked him whether a Brahman had two heads.

"Of course. But I have to warn you, your Brotherhood fellas are footing the bill if this fucker leaves grass stains" he said, eying up Evan in particular. "Now just hold on tight children, ol' Uncle Hayes is just popping out for a spot of hunting. Be back before you can say 'genocide'."

He gave a quick bow, before winding the rope dagger around his shoulder and making his way over to the car. The incandescent automobile purred as he throttled the accelerator.

In a split second the buggy was off, Hayes making it jump straight off the face of the cliff they were on, right into the group of walking plants. He flicked on his headlights to attract their attention, before fixing the steering wheel and accelerator with a mechanism, jumping out the Grasshoppper to leave it in a state of perpetual donut.
A few of the flower-fucks went for the bait, waltzing over to the strobing lights only to be knocked over as the car swivelled to send them flying like a ragdoll.

"Heh, fuckin' creepers ain't so smart..." he mused to himself as the remainder of the horde quickly learned from their ill-fated brethren.

Hayes stood his ground as they inched closer, each turn of the car acting as a beacon for the dead, highlighting his silhouette against the darkness. He spun his weapon in anticipation, carving an arc a meter around him in anticipation.

Proximity alert. Enemies may be closer than you perceive. Please refer to your local optometrist for a full battery of tests

"Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!"

At his invitation, a few of the creatures sprinted forward as they came within Haye's self-imposed boundary. Every one that did was met with a swift spin of his makeshift flail, decapitating two of the plants that came within reach. the blade catching itself within the neck of the third.
The zombie continued to lurch forward after surviving the blow, grabbing on to the rope protruding from its neck, using it as a guide to find its prey. After seeing its intentions, Hayes himself took the rope in hand and yanked with all his strength. The creature toppled over, before being met with a swift kick from a sprinting Hayes, sending its head flying off like a football, hitting another of the beings directly behind it, knocking it over in surprise.

"GOAAAAAAAAAAAALLL!"

He was quick to hogtie his quarry, save more of the monsters appearing attracted to all the commotion. They would just have to wait their turn for another day. Strapping the still snarling beast to the hood of the now still Grasshopper, Hayes returned to his fellows, proudly presenting his trophy to them like a freshly bagged deer.

"See? I told you didn't I? I'm like a killer-cyborg or some shiz"

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

"Oh! Oh! Oh! If you were trapped in a room filled with Hungry Mister Deathclaws and the only way you could get out was by giving them either me or Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy, who would you give them?"

Lucy was amused by Sylph's sudden question, although she wondered what on earth could have spurred such a thought like that in the first place. Was it the armoured Deathclaw that they had discovered earlier? Because that seemed oddly specific.

Oh well, Lucy was more amused by Mr Truan- Johnny's seemingly chivalrous answer, on the other hand -

"I would just shoot it." Lucy muttered nonchalantly. "Deathclaws...like Behemoths, Raiders, Mirelurks...even the Giant ones...don't pose much of a threat when they have their head or limbs blown off."

Feeling more relaxed that she finally had company in a place like this, Lucy set about deactivating Beast Mode and took the opportunity to give Sylph a little apology for stealing her things. "Hey Sylphee, look, I'm sorry I keep hiding your rifle. But I can't have anyone else knowing I have that thing in here, otherwise we wouldn't be having a family dinner together in the first place. So please, only use it when it's an emergency."

Lucy had an idea about how she could make it up to Sylph. After some tugging and tearing at her shoulder-pad, Lucy ripped off the beat up steel shoulder-pad and balanced it on Sylph's own shoulder. "There! When I get you some armour, that's your first accessory."

While waiting for their food to arrive, Lucy moved her chair next to Sylph so they could be facing Johnny. "So, Mr Trua-...Johnny, what makes you think I'm a badass?" Lucy asked quizzically. Truthfully, she was actually perplexed by this assumption, but in no way was she was displeased with it...just the opposite actually.

Speaking of Johnny, Lucy was studying him, much like she was studying Sylph. He seemed like a sharp-minded man with his heart in the right place, if you can get past his particularly 'world-weary' appearance. Pleased with his (mostly) open nature, he seemed to hold a brooding side. However, after her outburst, he seemed more nervous and struggled with finding the right words around her. Was her outburst and display of aggression too intense for a first meeting? It was terribly embarrassing, now that she thought about it. However, she did not want to turn away his company and attempted to assuage her guilt.

"I left a question unanswered." Lucy began lightly as she collapsed into the surprisingly comfortable chair. "Just...tell me about you. Interests, hobbies, dislikes, favourite places to visit in the Capital Wasteland, places you would love to visit." Pausing to smile pleasantly. "Not everything has to revolve around plotting and tactics, you know? In return you can ask me anything, or the same for that matter."

Distracted by a knock on the door, Lucy walked over to the door and discovered an abandoned food trolley outside with what looked like a small steaming buffet. More than enough for three very hungry people. Wheeling the trolley back inside, Lucy made a point to lock the door and blacken the windows for privacy with a touch of the room's keypad.

Taking special care to dish up three dining plates with a generous helping of everything. Lucy took note of the steaming dishes she put together for the trio: Sliced brahmin steak, (to Lucy's immense joy and uttered "Eee!") Blamco Mac & Cheese, mutfruit/apple/pear fruit-salad, spiced noodles and baked potatoes. To compliment the food was a large jug of cold water and three glasses.

Lucy handed Johnny his full plate and utensils and stopped in front of Sylph. Lucy took a deep breath and leaned in tenderly while her hands unclipped Sylph's choker, wrapping the gemmed restraint around her wrist. Standing up once more with Sylph's plate and utensils in hand, Lucy addressed Sylph kindly, but she was clearly nervous...

"When was the last time someone offered you a meal because they wanted to treat you and nothing else? I want to see this side of you around more often, for the little things that matter. So please, eat and talk with us..."

 

[TheDoctor455]

"I left a question unanswered." Lucy began lightly as she eased into the cheap-looking chair, "Just...tell me about you. Interests, hobbies, dislikes, favourite places to visit in the Capital Wasteland, places you would love to visit." Pausing to smile pleasantly. "Not everything has to revolve around plotting and tactics, you know? In return you can ask me anything, or the same for that matter."

Johnny couldn't stop the stupid grin from taking control of his face this time. Nor did he really want to. He also has some trouble with his eyes. Some water was building behind them as he seriously considered how to answer her question.

"I'm sorry..." he managed to choke back the aforementioned watery eyes, "Just... haven't been asked about that stuff in a while. Really unexpected."

Mercifully, Lucy picked then to give a meal to... Sylph's other side. Despite having dealt with this other person before, he knew that shit had a tendency to hit jet turbines around her. Johnny got a little nervous, but somehow, also a bit more relaxed with this side of Sylph around. At least this one didn't act according to whim, at least this side was logical. As long as you didn't piss her off.

"Hi there," he said, trying to hide his building pants-shitting-terror(1), "Nice to see you again. How ya doing?"

A few minutes seemed to pass, and when no response seemed apparent, Johnny turned back to Lucy.

"Well... to answer your question... well... its tough one." he admitted, pausing to take a sip of whatever was in the cup he'd been handed. "I used to love writing and drawing. Haven't had a chance to do that in years but... kinda always wanted to make a comic book or something. Never got around to it. Umm... used to work at a tattoo parlor. Wasn't... that great, but it worked. Sort of. I'm originally from the Boneyard... don't ask me how I got here so young, because I'm not entirely sure myself. I'm very good at bullshitting people though, so... feel free to pick and choose what you take seriously with me... everyone else does."

Those last three words were said in a whisper so quiet that he was sure that no one heard it. He coughed before continuing.

"Er... cool places I've been to in the Capital Wasteland... hmm..." he scratched his chin, "Well, Underworld was pretty cool until some cult took it over. Rivet City wasn't that bad either until... I'd rather not get into that right now. Sorry... I just... don't think that's a story anyone wants to hear right now. Or ever. Uh... don't really know about anywhere I really want to go... so much as some places I kind of... have to get to. There's a certain house I'm trying to find, and based on what I've heard about the Dunwich Building... that seems like a good general area to start looking."

"Heh... dislikes? I hate the Enclave... and well... let's just say I have a stalker on my ass, and he's the reason that the Enclave has been chasing me for the past several years. In all of existence, there is only one being that I despise more than the Enclave... and that is... Beryl. So please, don't call her my wife. She's a selfish, manipulative, conceited, selfish, Sylph-abusing, probably-father-fucking *****." he quickly replaced his sour face with someone much more pleasant, "Likes? Well, I like this rifle." he nudged it with his foot for emphasis, "I telling stories, long walks along the beach at Point Lookout... when the tribals aren't pestering you to become their god or something... strong drinks, and of course..." he sat next to Sylph and brought an arm around her, "I love this little girl to pieces. Both of them. They're like the twin daughters I just couldn't do without."

He looked right at Sylph, and gave her the warmest smile he could ever remember giving anyone. After waiting for her response, he got up and headed back for his own chair, and started cutting up some of the... mystery meat steak.

"So... uh... what do you guys like to do? Anywhere you'd like to go? What's your favorite color? I used to like green, but now... I think blue's my favorite."

He smiled at Sylph again.

 

[Generic NPC 22]

The Enclave Vault: Big Sissy Lucy Caboosy's Room

"When was the last time someone offered you a meal because they wanted to treat you and nothing else? I want to see this side of you around more often, for the little things that matter. So please, eat and talk with us..."

No response was immediately forthcoming from the Frosty Red Princess as she looked at the plated food that had been brought into Lucy Black's room and though she was quite hungry, having only the bitter aftertaste of RadScorpion Meat in mouth, she did not touch her food either. Instead, she listened to Master Johnny Truant's words as if she would be able to glean some sort of meaning from them that was beyond face value.

Truth be told, now that the Undertaker had been taken care of, and Sylph's vengeance was left unfulfilled, Sylph felt rather purposeless and so she sat there, waiting for an order of some kind now that her Father's final orders had been completed, more or less. From the conversational cues that she listened to, it appeared that both Master Johnny Truant and Lucy Black were planning causing trouble for this Enclave. Was this group to be her new target? Given that they had caused her to fail her mission, she certainly hoped so.

"Heh... dislikes? I hate the Enclave... and well... let's just say I have a stalker on my ass, and he's the reason that the Enclave has been chasing me for the past several years."

This admission of Master Johnny Truant's did cause Sylph to feel slightly better, it meant that even if she had failed to kill her Father's Brother, it meant that she could at least take out her frustrations on the Enclave while working to protect her new Master Johnny Truant.

Satisfied that she still had a purpose, Sylph set a napkin down in her lap and picked up a fork and knife from the table, intent on tasting something other than RadScorpion.

"I love this little girl to pieces. Both of them. They're like the twin daughters I just couldn't do without."

*CLANG!*

The sound of the knife and fork hitting the plate in front of the Red Menace echoed through out the rather sparse room as the girl who had been too preoccupied with her own thoughts was reminded of something very important.

"Sorry to have interrupted you conversation, but I need to warn you both about my - better half." Sylph started out as she picked up her utensils and set them aside, grabbing a new set from the cart beside her.

"A word of caution, be careful of how you answer her questions next time." She started off her warning before defining it further, "I wasn't the only one that Father had sought to make like me, there were others as well. When Father would compliment them on how they performed, they would sooner or later have 'accidents' that would render them useless to Father's needs."

In case the warning wasn't clear enough, despite that sunny and bright exterior, Sylphee wanted one thing and one thing alone, approval from her Daddy Johnny Shakes and Mommy Meryl Barrel and if anything stood in the way of that, God help them.

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

It was no secret that Dark Sylph and Lucy Black had left their last conversation on a rather depressing note. During their very first meeting and short reunion/confrontation, Sylph had looked at Lucy with such a murderous glare each time that it was surprising how she hadn't found that wrist-blade embedded in her throat already.

Lucy expected violence, but was met with an icy disposition which only merited the cold glare of her own. Sylph was focussed on Johnny, absolutely wordless to Lucy's gesture of kindness. The tension between the two was suffocatingly thick, so Lucy turned her attention to Johnny as well. Calming down significantly at the sound of his likes and hobbies, fascinated by the world he has seen and endeared by the sheer love he contained for Sylph...with a touch of envy, she had to avert her gaze whenever that happened. He really was acting like a father.

"...I'm very good at bullshitting people though, so... feel free to pick and choose what you take seriously with me... everyone else does."

Lucy had been thoroughly enjoying Johnny's unique brand of storytelling up until he faltered at the end. It didn't seem like he had such a high opinion of himself, which puzzled her when she considered just how big of a heart he had for Sylph. She had to interject here.

"Johnny..." Lucy looked up at Johnny with clear concern present in her expression. "...since we just met, I have been taking everything you've said extremely seriously." Hesitating slightly, she decided to continue anyway. "We both care for Sylph immensely. And while I may lie to everyone else outside this room, I would appreciate honesty between us. My life has had enough lies already."

Lucy paused to let her words sink in...and to savagely finish off her Blamco. She would smile...but Blamco.

"So... uh... what do you guys like to do? Anywhere you'd like to go? What's your favorite color? I used to like green, but now... I think blue's my favorite."

Lucy was halfway through a mouthful of delicious Blamco before she leapt at the questions. "Ummm, I rike leading...Sorry, I used to love reading, target practice, a good conversation, running around with an energy pistol and keeping the local wildlife down around Megaton, sniping and blowing up cars to scare the crap out of raiders, heh, good times."

Lucy took a gulp of water while deciding how she would answer the next question. "I don't know about anywhere in particular, I mean, I was heading to The Underworld awhile back, but now I just want to travel anywhere that isn't near Megaton...provided I have the right company...And I've always had a thing for red."

Sylph suddenly spoke up about her other half, a topic which particularly grabbed her attention.

"A word of caution, be careful of how you answer her questions next time." Sylph started off her warning before defining it further, "I wasn't the only one that Father had sought to make like me, there were others as well. When Father would compliment them on how they performed, they would sooner or later have 'accidents' that would render them useless to Father's needs."

Addressing Sylph firmly. "She already believes me to be her sister. Which makes me curious, how aware are you of everything when your other half is in control. Your one side doesn't remember anything."

Perfect, favoured by one side and a target for the other...

Lucy realized that there was a long way to go with this version of Sylph. However, there was an even greater concern. The burdens of the Undertaker didn't disappear upon his death, it was simply shifted to Lucy.

In essence, for Lucy to truly aid Sylph beyond simple protection and companionship. She would have to make up for the Undertaker's actions. To do so, she would have to evaluate what had inspired Lucy in the first place to ever agree with that man.

-Finding a girl ripped from her father...
-Collateral damage caused by an organisation "tying up loose ends"...
-The insurmountable heartache that these Undertakers have caused over time...

Fundamentally, their methods were no different from the Enclave.

Lucy's expression darkened with a small vengeful grin as she turned to Sylph once more. "These Enclave bastards took my Father, my home and a chance at a normal life. I'm here to do some permanent damage by reaching the right people that can expose their weaknesses. If you'll be joining me...then I have just the thing I would love to assist you with: How do you feel about hunting down the Undertakers and crippling the Slavers?"

 

[Generic NPC 22]

The Enclave Vault: Lucy's Quarters
"Are there any associations or specific behaviour that you want us to avoid around your other half? She already believes me to be her sister. Which makes me curious, how aware are you of everything when your other half is in control. Your one side doesn't remember anything"

The Storm on legs named Sylph didn't answer the questions that Lucy Black posed right away. Instead, she was trying to analyze herself and the confusion that seemed to well up within her. This confusion was not only caused by the sudden completion of her task, though not by her own hand, but by the way that Lucy Black and Master Johnny Truant had treated her with kindness, something Father had never shown her without causing extreme pain afterwards, as well as the fact that she had, without truly knowing why, chosen to warn Lucy Black about Sylphee's penchant towards killing those she viewed as obstacles towards being "Daddy's Favorite."

Change. Sudden and instant change is never a good thing. It causes mass extinctions, when weather suddenly changes. It causes confusion, when the lights go out suddenly in a crowded room. In Sylph's case, she now had to find a new purpose since Father's final orders had been carried out, more or less.

Kindness. The fast that Lucy Black had offered her, not the bright eyed bushy tailed side of her but her, a meal and kind words and had spared her rather than disposing of her in order to maintain her cover with more ease, it was confusing. Sylph expected, as she always had with Father after the first time, to be cruelly abused but from what she saw from both Lucy Black and Master Johnny Truant, the other foot was not coming down.

And finally there was the warning. It was out of character for the Stormy and Intense version of Sylph to outwardly show concern for the safety of another other than her Master. The Brooding Menance knew that Sylphee would never harm Master Johnny Shakes but she would find a way to dispose of Lucy Black in a manner that appeared accidental if she got the chance.

Shaking her head free of the confusion web of thoughts, Sylph turned towards Lucy Black and finally started responding to the question she asked, her voice returning to the same icy tone that it had been when she and Lucy Black had first met.

"Yes. My other half has always strove to be the favorite among Father's 'Children.' Her question regarding the Deathclaws was meant to see who Master Johnny Truant currently favors. If she feels threatened, she will react accordingly. As Master Truant can attest, she may seem like an unlikely killer, but she has killed far more than I." The Dark Sylph stated as she began cutting her slice of Brahmin steak into smaller and smaller cubes before placing her knife down on a napkin and eating.

"As for my consciousness, I am aware of everything that my other part is aware of. The reverse is not true as the tasks that I have been assigned in the past would not suit her - sensibilities." The Girl in the Grey outfit with Blue Hair stated between bites of the steak.

As the trio continued to eat, Lucy Black seemed to mull over some thoughts for a moment before responding.

"These Enclave bastards took my Father, my home and a chance at a normal life. I'm here to do some permanent damage by reaching the right people that can expose their weaknesses. If you'll be joining me...then I have just the thing I would love to assist you with: How do you feel about hunting down the Undertakers and crippling the Slavers?"

"With the Death of the Undertaker that was responsible for the death of Father, I have fulfilled Father's final request. I now serve Master Johnny Truant and Mistress Beryl Craw and their interests." She paused for a moment, an expression of dissatisfaction with her answer cross her face for a moment before she added, "but were they to give me permission, I would hunt down the Slavers Associates of Father and ensure that no other child endure what I did."

 

[TheDoctor455]

Johnny had been listening to Sylph with a growing sense of disgusted horror. The more he heard about her past, even hints of it, the more he wanted to gut the bastards that had taken a little girl and... he still wasn't sure what, but he knew it had to have been terrible.

"With the Death of the Undertaker that was responsible for the death of Father, I have fulfilled Father's final request. I now serve Master Johnny Truant and Mistress Beryl Craw and their interests." She paused for a moment, an expression of dissatisfaction with her answer cross her face for a moment before she added, "but were they to give me permission, I would hunt down the Slavers Associates of Father and ensure that no other child endure what I did."

After Sylph had finished talking... without a single word, Johnny got up, and knowing that he could very well get killed or horribly maimed for the attempt... he got up, walked towards Sylph, and hugged her for a long time. Well, it seemed like a long time. His perception of time being somewhat skewed lately... he couldn't say for certain if the hug lasted a few seconds or several minutes. As he was about to end it, he had an idea... he wasn't sure if it would work but... it was still worth a shot.

"Sylph," he said, looking her in the eye as he stepped back again, "I... I can't tell you what to do. No one should. But... since someone has obviously... well... here goes nothing." He paused to take a few calming breaths, "Sylph, I give you permission to do as you see fit in any situation."

 

[Generic NPC 22]

The Enclave Vault: Lucy's Room

Comfort wasn't something that The Darker Side of Sylph was used to receiving from other people during her existence in the world nor was it something that she necessarily understood too well. As Master Johnny Truant wrapped his arms around Sylph's shoulders, he felt the entirety of the girl's body tense and coil, preparing itself for - something and yet, she did not more during the embrace. She only stood there with her new Master's arms wrapped around her, stood very still, moving not a single muscle fiber until Master Johnny Truant released her.

"Sylph." He said, looking her in the eye as he stepped back again.

The simple movement caused her body to flinch as if she had been struck by an unseen blow as Master Johnny Truant continued to speak.

"Sylph, I give you permission to do as you see fit in any situation."

Were such a thing so simple. Were such a thing even possible under the circumstances, it might have been the first thing since she first experienced the roar of the crowds in the Dark Place that she could have truly felt happy about. Only such things, even something as simple as granting someone the freedom to make their own decisions is seldom an easy thing. Sylph, dropping to one knee from the strain of having had her muscles tensed yet static for so long, could only shake her head as she acknowledged the tragedy and irony (tragony?) of the situation.

"Master Johnny Truant. Just as Mistress Beryl Craw was given a code phrase that placed myself under her 'guidance,' there is also a phrase that was known only by Father that would truly can me." Sylph said as she picked herself up and straightened out her clothing, suddenly feeling conscious of the weakness that she had displayed in front of Master Johnny Truant and Lucy Black.

"Were I to know the code phrase, I might have been able to give it to you as I gave phrase to Mistress Beryl Craw that placed me under her guidance. As it is, Father is dead as is the only other person that might have had enough insight into Father's mind to guess the phrase," And it was at this point that she looked at Lucy Black, "Undertaker Shifty McGee."

 

[Souplex]

"So..we had one of their top goonies under lock and key and missed our chance to put the clown in the ground before he got out of here with that little weasel...Or hell, maybe 2 weasels if you're right about the Black girl."
"We also missed a chance to catch a third rat with Mr. Impotent. It's a shame, I was going to bust out the good stuff on Bob. Most people don't know how to torture. They simply nail a guy's balls to a chair and hope that works. I have far subtler methods. Pain can be resisted with enough will and training, but the stuff I do gets to people."
"The other thing that bothers me is what someone so far up the ladder was doing here. Seems weird to risk one of their best on an attack like that. I mean if they'd really wanted to knock the place over you'd think they'd have sent more goons. Sure it wasn't exactly kiddie gloves but I'd think maybe it was more about seeing what kind of fight the Brotherhood was gonna put up."
"If they're recruiting en masse, it would follow that the majority of their members are untrained incompetent cannon fodder. Their strength comes from their numbers, technology, and the skills of the higher-ups.
"I hope so anyway. Otherwise that means he was here for a reason we don't know about. What's our next move from here?"
[Tactics]"...Elder Lyon's won't like it, and I really don't like it, but we're going to need to make a truce with the Outcasts if we're going to make it through this."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry: "NO, rick trust me when I say that I am on your side, and that I do what is best for us."
Rick: "But he just asked you to deactivate me, and he dared to insult me."
Larry turned to Sam and stared him right in the eyes.
Larry: "We are not going deactivate him, are we?"
Sam: "It's Enclave tech. It could easily kill someone when it gets the chance. Besides, looking at these electronics, they're too simple to have true AI, it's not even sentient."
Moe stepped closer to Larry, and rested his sledge on his shoulder.
Moe: "I'd advise handing it over, for everyone's safety."

 

[TheDoctor455]

"Master Johnny Truant. Just as Mistress Beryl Craw was given a code phrase that placed myself under her 'guidance,' there is also a phrase that was known only by Father that would truly can me." Sylph said as she picked herself up and straightened out her clothing, suddenly feeling conscious of the weakness that she had displayed in front of Master Johnny Truant and Lucy Black.

"Were I to know the code phrase, I might have been able to give it to you as I gave phrase to Mistress Beryl Craw that placed me under her guidance. As it is, Father is dead as is the only other person that might have had enough insight into Father's mind to guess the phrase," And it was at this point that she looked at Lucy Black, "Undertaker Shifty McGee."

Johnny resisted the urge to sigh in frustration. But he did let his anger show.

"Well," he said, forcing his voice to stay calm and failing, "There's only one thing for it... sounds like we need to have a chat with this mother-fucking, shit-eating, monkey-slapping, money-grubbing, child-touching, fish-smacking, cannibalistic mail-order prostituting ASSHOLE!... and make him give us the phrase that'll free you, Sylph."

It was then that he noticed that Lucy and Sylph were probably staring at him... and that he had apparently been pacing again... and judging from the stinging sensation he was getting from his left hand and a sizable dent in a nearby wall, he suspected that he had smashed his fist into it with all of his drug-enhanced strength.

"Umm... sorry," he said, coughing into his hand as he sat back down, "I uh... just really hate the idea of someone claiming to be a human being breaking someone else down to the point of... I don't know..."

He hugged Sylph again.

"I promise I'll do everything I can to make sure that you are finally and truly free, Sylph." he said, "No matter what I have to face in order to make sure that happens."

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

"Well," he said, forcing his voice to stay calm and failing, "There's only one thing for it... sounds like we need to have a chat with this mother-fucking, shit-eating, monkey-slapping, money-grubbing, child-touching, fish-smacking, cannibalistic mail-order prostituting ASSHOLE!... and make him give us the phrase that'll free you, Sylph."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Lucy commanded ferociously, her eye glaring down at Mr Truant in tandem with her boiling blood. "I won't listen to any more of this..."

Perhaps Lucy was just going through the motions of her grief, but she was disgusted that she ever spoke out loud about challenging the Undertaker's in the first place. Slaver's she held no problem with eliminating, but the Undertaker's felt infinitely more personal to her. Lucy held respect for them from the beginning and while no organisation was perfect, she was not going to forsake her values so that she could fleetingly please Sylph.

Shifty Mcgee's name had just been thrown around like it was filth and Lucy would have no part in it.

Staring down the two guests she had recently allowed close to her, she made no attempt to stop the venom seeping into her voice. "Raise your hand if you personally knew Thomas Shifty Mcgee. Nobody? Just me? I thought so!"

Lucy started with Mr Truant. "Bite your tongue now, Truant. Because I think you may have mistaken Henry, her 'Father' for the close friend I had to execute earlier today, Shifty Mcgee." Walking right up to him, her voice cracked slightly when she lowered it. "The Shifty I spent time with, was nothing like his brother. He was kind and thoughtful, he saved my life when I had no-one else and right until the end, he refused the Enclave, kept my cover intact and gave me the very restraint meant for Sylph!"

Turning on Sylph, she knew her words would mean next to nothing with this version. However, Lucy had put herself at great personal danger to preserve Sylph at all costs with not even a hint of gratitude from this girl. Was she really worth it? "Your anger is aimed at the wrong place! A rogue Undertaker treated you like dirt, but the Slaver's are what made you who are in the first place! Frankly, Shifty did you a favour by murdering whatever the hell you called a 'father'. He made a mistake ever leaving you behind. That's why it was my idea to find you and make sure that you were safe after all this Enclave business..."

Lucy could feel the onset of tears as her heart ached for the world to see, her voice however had cracked under the strain of shouting and growling.

"You know what his final words to me were? 'You have to keep her safe'...He is NOT whatever monster you believe him to be." addressing both of them at this point. "Unless either of you know if 'Carbonite freezing' is cruel joke, then I'm all ears."

And with those final words, Lucy was done with yet another emotional outburst, she did have enough energy to grab her nearby rifle and speak flatly to her guests.

"I have taken a great personal risk to my identity here to let both of you close to me without any sign of gratitude. I will not appreciate either of you speaking ill of those I cared for."

After a few moments, Lucy finally cracked as she sat on the edge of her bed. Pulling the eyepatch off and clutching it in her closed fist. It didn't matter that the light had stung her new eye even further while she silently wept to herself.