The REALLY Wild Wasteland. (The Fallout RP!)

[Legion]

Alice silently drew breath as she saw the one eyed girl draw a plasma pistol and shoot the wreckage attached to the Vertibird. She breathed out when they bent down and with surprising strength for her size, managed to haul it off. As Alice struggled to her feet she heard the girl give her name and repeat the offer for a stimpack. Alice leant against the wall with both palms pressed against it as the feeling in the leg that took the brunt of the weight slowly came back.

"Say, you wouldn't happen to know how to get to Rivet City from here, would you?" Lucy asked.
Alice reached down and picked up her fallen rifle and hat. The rifle she slung over her shoulder with the hat being replaced on her head. She looked around for her sunglasses and cursed silently as she saw they'd been broken by the incident.
"No. I'm not from around here. My leg is fine. Thanks."

Lucy looked disappointed and Alice noticed her unconsciously rubbing the forearm where her weapon had previously been attached. Alice slung her backpack off her shoulders and briefly rummaged inside. She found what she was looking for and stretched her arm out towards Lucy. "Here, try this. It's a salve. It will help with that." Alice said, nodding her head in the direction of Lucy's sore arm.

At this point Alice noticed she'd lost sight of the younger girl. Turning round she saw that she'd apparently grown bored with the dialogue and was playing with what appeared to be a tailless Rad Scorpion. It was Alice's turn to look quizzically at Lucy.

I guess she must be used to this girls behaviour. What did she call her, Little Sis Sylphee? They don't look like sisters, but then again, they don't look like regular people either. One carries a custom Gauss Rifle and shot her own pilot. The other is wearing a red dress, has blue hair and appears to think throwing weapons and ripping the tails off of scorpions is perfectly normal.

Alice surveyed the area. With the immediate danger over, her thoughts drifting back to why she was there in the first place.
"The Brotherhood of Steel. Where is their closest base?" Alice asked looking back at Lucy, whom she noticed still had the unopened jar in her hand. "That's not poisonous by the way."

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

Vertibird Crash Site: Saving Private Alice

"No. I'm not from around here. My leg is fine. Thanks."

So the sniper rifle and hat had belonged to Alice. Between the scarf obscuring her face, large duster and the distant attitude...Alice seemed rather intimidating in her own way. Something about her reminded Lucy of Frank, a Brotherhood Knight that she was missing quite a lot lately. She seemed...disciplined?

Lucy retrieved her Gauss Rifle and allowed it to stick to the magnetic components embedded in the layers of her armor on her back. Still holding the jar, she realized that the stinging had already stopped for the most part. Lucy made a mental note to invest in a glove or a wrist-guard when she was near a trading hub again.

"The Brotherhood of Steel. Where is their closest base?" Alice asked looking back at Lucy.

It was Lucy's turn to aid Alice once more, this time she could be more efficient, considering that she had a rough location established by Johnny. All she had to do was reverse the directions if she were heading from Megaton.

Turning to the point where the sun was setting to the West, Lucy pointed towards the opposite direction and held her finger upwards for attention. "Right now, head East. Find a vantage point and see if you can spot a river. Across that river, you'll see a huge fortress in the distance. You can't miss it." Lucy rested her hand on her hip. "That's the Citadel, The Brotherhood's main base."

Lucy narrowed her eye slightly, "The Brotherhood...they won't accept just anyone without good reason." Lucy eased up on coming across as defensive considering how she still held them in high regard. "I'm just saying, it's a war-zone between the recent mutated behemoths, abominations and Enclave attacks..."

Lucy motioned to hand back the jar after giving it a sniff. Weird stuff, but it worked wonders. She had also noticed that by comparison, Lucy was beginning to look like a blabbermouth.

"Are you going on your own?" Lucy's voice suddenly filled with pride. "If they ask, tell them Lucy Black sent you." Lucy smiled at this, but even more so at the next part. "If they even dare hassle you. Tell them Frank Rose is a friend of mine."

Lucy nodded, opened her mouth, hesitated and continued anyway.

"If you make it, can you tell them I made it out of the Enclave Vault safely?"

 

[Souplex]

[Perception]Through the SCOPE, Danielle saw a trio of Enclave attack choppers. They were heading out to sea fast.
No matter how powerful the magnification, and how skilled the shooter, the curvature of the earth presents a distance limit on shooting with direct-fire weaponry, particularly weaponry not affected by gravity. They were already pretty far out, Danielle would only get one shot at this, as they would be gone in the time it took to fully charge another shot.
[Tactics]Whenever there's a formation, the unit in the center is the most protected from harm, and therefore, the most valuable target.
She had her target, but where was the target's softest spot?
Frank had once explained to Danielle that helicopters need two rotors in order to avoid spinning in place. The what she understood. The how; not so much. Something about torque and counter-forces.
The primary rotor's center was not visible from her current position. But as we've established, there's two.
She had her target: The axle/hub of the secondary rotor. Even if it wasn't melted/disintegrated outright, super-heating a part that moves that much couldn't be good for it.
[Energy Weapons]One of the major benefits of lasers over bullets, was that as beams of light, a shooter did not have to adjust for wind-resistance and gravity based on distance. It went exactly where you pointed it, with laser-precision.
[Energy Weapons][Laser Commander][Precision]Danielle took her shot.
"I spin you right round, baby."

 

[Generic NPC 22]

Somewhere in the Wild Wastelands: Around a Camp Fire

The Junior Brotherhood Scouts of Steel Troop Leader, Walter Shmitty, looked at each and every one of the young faces gather around the campfire that burned brightly underneath the full Wasteland moon.

"Gather round youngins, ole Walter Shmitty has a tale for you youngsters. You ever guys ever hear about the haunted Barn?" The Troop Leader said as warmed up to tell his tale. His introduction was met with not a series of smiles that he had expected but a series of groans.

"That story's for Mini Brotherhood Tykes of Steel, not us. I mean you've told that story a million times." Said one scout.

"You expect us to believe that there's a Barn in the middle of Wastes with bird legs that allows it to travel around?" Asked another.

"And inside the barn lives a woman dress all in black that snatches up little children and eats them?" Asked yet another scout.

"Um - yes?" Responded Troop Leader Shmitty, sensing that the tide was turning against him, "How about the story about the Thief, the Assassin, the Mechanic and the Tin woman?"

"YEAH!!" Responded the whole scout troop.

[hr]

Somewhere in the Wild Wastelands: A Barn

Contrary to what the scouts and their troop leader thought, there was a Barn in the middle of the Wastes that traversed the rough terrain on mechanized bird legs. But like most stories told around the camp fire, there were bits of truth and bits of story intertwined. For one, there was not a woman dressed all in black that resided in the barn that stole small children, there was currently a squad of Enclave Heavy Weapons Specialist using the camouflaged Enclave Forward Mobile Head Quarters.

Sitting in front of an array of Monitors, E.D. #209 watched the events of the D.C. Wasteland unfold via a series of EyeBots that had been dispatched from the mobile base that he have been assigned for his observation mission. Around him, his pals, E.D. #300 and #310 were zapping any creature that wandered too close to the Mobile HQ, causing the surrounding area to be littered with piles of ash and puddles of green goo. Behind Mister #209 stood a lone cage, occupied by a terrified ghoul that had been captured for #209's entertainment.

----------Field Report-----------​

Subject: D.C. Observation Report
To: 411@Enclave.org

[hr]

As expected, the Vertibird assigned to ferry the subjects to their drop point was destroyed. All hands lost. It is suspected that the Red Whore subject Sylph was responsible for the loss due to "accidental" discharge of her Anti-Materiel Rifle. Subject Lucy and Sylph have been observed moving towards the crash site where they were able to find a civilian within the Vertibird Crash site.

------------------------------​

Of priority note is the sighting of a member of the American Enclave Scouts of America assisting a known member of the Brotherhood of Steel. The Unknown female Scout Member is roughly 5'9" and is wearing the standard American Enclave Scouts of America uniform, a pair of triangular decorations on top of her head and a tail. There are no Enclave or American Enclave Scouts of America missions scheduled in the area.

It appears that we have a traitor.

Addendum: Since when are we letting weirdos into the American Enclave Scouts of America?

------------------------------​

Personal Note: Did you get the flowers I sent?

----------End of Report----------​

Looking at the central monitors, #209 ordered one of his EyeBots, or Veras as he liked to call them, to zoom in on the RED WHORE. Reaching out to touch the monitor, E.D. #209 ran a finger over the projected image of the Blue Haired ***** and imagined that his finger was a knife and the knife was cutting into the girl's skin.

"I'm gonna cut your face off and wear it like a mask." E.D. #209 said not realizing that he had made the statement out loud until moments later. Turning around, he looked at captured and caged ghoul behind him, a ghoul that was giving him a very odd expression at the moment.

"What?"

"I-I-I didn't say anything!"

"I know what you were thinking." #209 said as he stood up, pausing long enough to grab the bottle of lotion that happened to be sitting next to the monitors for no reason what so ever, really, no reason what so ever.

"Now, where were we?" Enclave Dominator #209 asked as he turned up the music, "Oh yeah. IT PUTS THE LOTION ON ITS SKIN!! IT PUTS THE LOTION ON ITS SKIN OR ELSE IT GETS THE HOSE AGAIN!!"

Spoiler: Goodbye Horses - Q Lazzarus

[hr]

The Enclave Vault: Intelligence Offices

Enclave Intelligence Specialist #411 looked at the two reports that she had received and frowned, an expression invisible to anyone that happened to be in the office with her since she was sstill wearing her Standard Issue Black Enclave Power Armored Helmet as she reread the report that Enclave Heavy Weapons Specialist #209 had sent her.

The other report was from the Troop Leader of the local Scout Troop belonging to the American Enclave Scouts of America.

Subject: Constance Sorrowfeld
To: 411@Enclave.org

To #411:

It is with the sincerest regret that I send you this letter is to inform you that we your daughter, Scout Constance Sorrowfeld, has gone missing. As a valued member of our troop, we can assure you that we will use everything at our disposal to locate and bring your daughter back.

Sincerely,

Scout Master Shmitty Walters

Tossing the letter sent by Scout Master Walters into the electronic recycle bin, #411 purged any and all traces that it had ever been sent from existence before sending E.D. #209 a new set of orders.

Subject: Traitor
To: Superblaster209@Enclave.org

Observe the Scout. Kill her if she does anything to compromise us.

[hr]

Mister Black Enclave Whirleybird Kaboom Site: Saving Missy Private One Legged Alice

"I'm Alice..." Missy One Legged Alice said introducing herself to Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy and Sylphee, who had stopped spinning Mister Stingerless Rad Scorpion around her head and watched as Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy shot Mister Black Enclave Whirleybird wreckage with green stuff.

"OooOOOOooO." Sylphee OooOOOOooO'd as she watched not only Mister Black Enclave Whirleybird Wreckage disappear but Missy One Legged Alice's Leg grow back. Somehow, the face that Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy could make Missy One Legged Alice's leg grow back didn't surprise Sylphee at all since Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy was a genius after all.

"Are you going on your own?" Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy's voice suddenly filled with pride. "If they ask, tell them Lucy Black sent you." Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy smiled at this, but even more so at the next part. "If they even dare hassle you. Tell them Frank Rose is a friend of mine."

"If you make it, can you tell them I made it out of the Enclave Vault safely?"

Sylphee had quietly been listening to the conversation between Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy and Missy One Legged Alice for a moment before she chimed in, her voice sorta less enthusiastic than normal.

"But - But - But we're gonna leave our new friend alone already Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy?" The Red Menace asked as she looked at Missy One Legged Alice, "If we can't take a boat, we could take her to Rivety City and the Mister Citamerdel is close to that." The Blue Haired Wonder Terror added.

"Missy One Legged Alice looks like a nice person and a nice friend. We should at least make sure that she can make it before Missy One Legged Alice gets all gobbled up by Mister Super Mutes!"

"Plus Missy One Legged Alice hasn't met Daddy Johnny Shakes, Mommy Meryl Barrel or Mister Willy Billy yet! Mommy Meryl Barrel knows lots about getting places so maybe we should talk to Mommy Meryl Barrel." Sylphee added her eyes going puppy dogged towards Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy and Missy One Legged Alice at least she did for a second before she spotted the Missy Salve Jar in Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy's hand.

"Do you think Mister Enclave Power Armored Pilot could use some of that?"

 

[Drummodino]

Climbing up on top of the warhead, Charlie tapped on the joints between panels, looking for a place he could pry one loose. He couldn't even imagine how advanced the pre-war tech must be and he was aching to get a good look at it. Maybe he could find something to adapt into his own designs, although he doubted he'd have the materials required for anything too advanced. Still, one wouldn't know until they took a look would they? Succeeding in getting his fingers wedged between two of the panels, Charlie lent back, pulling on it as hard as he could.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING! Whats going to be your next trick walking up to a supermutant and knocking some food out of his hand!

Startled by the booming voice, Charlie lost his grip and overbalanced, falling face first off the bomb and into the pool of water below.

"Ow..."

Looking up and rubbing his face, Charlie noticed the large man he'd seen before striding towards him, chest puffed out, fists clenched and an angry look on his face. Deducing that this was the source of the shout, Charlie scrambled backwards until his back hit the side of the warhead. He also noticed for the first time the crowd of people all focused on him.

"Oh, uh hi everyone."

Looking back to the angry man, Charlie felt a flash of fear.

"Was I not supposed to be doing that? I'm sorry, it's just that I really, really like things that blow up and I've never seen any bomb this size before, and I just wanted to see how it works... I didn't mean any harm I swear, cross my heart and hope to die. I was just curious is all..."

 

[Blast Off To Titan]

While her heroic contact attempted to save her from the Rather Large Mutant Behemoth, Scout Constance attempted all the tricks that she had been taught when trying to start the bus. She tried to pump the gas pedal. She tried jiggling the keys in the ignition. She even hazarded exiting the stalled bus to attempt the usually sure fire method of kicking the machine's engine block but to no avail.

"Then I order you to hoof it on foot to the Brotherhood! Tell them Frank Rose sent you. I also order you to never sing in my presence." Frank ordered as he performed Natsuki's Spinal Shattering Head Stomp, a maneuver that finally landed as planned and caused the Super Mutant Behemoth to recoil in pain, knocking a portion of dilapidated building into the air.

"Roger that, sir." Constance responded, shouldering her pack and weapon in preparation to make what could have possible been a suicide run.

"Good lu-OOOMPHHH!!" The American Enclave Scout of America started to say before a piece of flying debris hit her head, causing the world to spin around the wounded Cat-like girl.

From Constance's point of view, the world became scrambled and incomprehensible as her "cat ears" took the brunt of the damage and that's when the most peculiar thing occurred and as hard as Constance tried, there was nothing that she could do as she began to hear a voice in her head, an annoyingly chipper voice belonging to someone who called himself Three Dog.

"Who... who's Three Dog?" The Drunkenly swaying scout asked as she tried to regain her composure while in her brain, the radar system that allowed her to see worked on repairing itself. As she stood there, the teenage girl felt something wet on her face, something that she hoped wasn't Behemoth saliva. Touching the liquid, she brought it up to her nose and smelled the familiar smell of fresh blood... her blood.

"Sir... I ... um ... I think I'm going to have to take a short nap." The Scout said as she passed out.

 

[The Harkinator]

"I'm in DC, I'm in DC, oh shit I'm in D fucking C!" William shouted from the rooftop, panicking about the bomb collar, they were known to go off in some cases if the collar got too far from the transmitter. Also, he was many miles from his beloved bike. Imagine the hitch hiking he'd have to do to get back to it.

Suddenly conscious of several other things that had happened when he zoned out, such as rejoicing, a vertibird crash and more rejoicing, William realised he should probably get off the roof and rejoin the others. "Wait for me!" He shouted, thundering down the stairwell.

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

Meanwhile, Evan and Dudley had another problem, Hayes was shot and bleeding badly. Without medical attention he would die quickly. Fortunately, Evan was on hand to provide such medical attention, but he could only stabilise Hayes without a dedicated medical facility and a team of doctors. Plans were drawn up quickly as Dudley would have to abandon his bike to carry Hayes while Evan led the way.

It was a hurried departure as the three musketeers sped off down the road, leaving behind many exploded cars, many dead raiders, lots of blood, and standing in the middle of it all looking very much out of place: Dudley's bike.

"Nobody else dies today, nobody else." Evan muttered under his breath.

 

[Souplex]

Frank dove through the air, and made a solid, momentary connection with the Duper Behemoth's torso. At the moment of impact, the plasma injection ate away at the point he impacted, allowing his forward momentum to carry him further into the behemoth's torso.
[Perception][Medicine]Frank momentarily saw what looked like a terribly mutated/warped/distorted heart/lungs before they were eaten by the plasma.
[Agility]Frank landed with all the "Grace" he could muster while sailing through the air with his ventral side towards the ground. That is to say; he made a rather epic belly-flop, and skidded on the ground for a ways.
"Only I could make that look cool."
"Sir... I ... um ... I think I'm going to have to take a short nap."
[Perception] The girl from the shortbus was unconscious, bleeding, and had a decent sized chunk of rock by her. She also was wearing recon armor. It almost made her look like a Brotherhood initiate, but her extra features made any disguise impossible for her to pull off.
[Medicine]Despite what movies would have you believe, being knocked out is super bad for you. If you're knocked unconscious for even a minute, seek medical help. You could have a concussion, brain damage, or internal bleeding. None of those are good things.
[Karma]Frank had to get this girl to a doctor.
The girl had a medical kit on her.
[Medicine]Frank bandaged the girl to the best of his abilities, and stabbed a stim into her neck.
[Perception]The battle had died down, with the residents of Rivet City victorious.
[Strength]Frank hefted the girl onto his shoulder, and made his way for Rivet city.

 

[nuba km]

After larry shouted the man fell of the bomb into the radiated waters below

"Was I not supposed to be doing that? I'm sorry, it's just that I really, really like things that blow up and I've never seen any bomb this size before, and I just wanted to see how it works... I didn't mean any harm I swear, cross my heart and hope to die. I was just curious is all..."

Larry's chest slowly went down, with it a loud continouse groan could be heard...

Larry used one of his hands to rub his eyes before calmly saying 'One, if you don't know if your supposed to being doing that DON'T. touch. the. nuclear. war head. Two, if you really like things that blow up DON'T. touch. the. nuclear. war head. Three if you had seen a bomb of that size before you would either be dead or very dead. Four you have already seen how it works, its called the entierity of the wasteland. Five if you are just courious, read a book and say after me' At this point Larry was standing infront of the nuclear puddle of water and looking the man in the eyes ' DON'T. touch. the. nuclear. war head. Now I am going to go back to my workstation' larry pointed to were he came from 'before I go aorund the corner I am going to look over here. If you are still touching the nuclear war head, you will very soon wish you weren't' without saying another word larry turned around and started heading back to his work station.

 

[wilcoblackflame]

"Gotcha gotcha. I'll see you topside in a few."

They had a game plan now and it looked like it was going to be a good little expedition with Danielle and her team getting the available reinforcements on their side. For now though, it was time to get Durga to cough up the good stuff. As much as he enjoyed the back and forth of a good negociation it probably wouldn't do to keep Danielle waiting.

"Durga right?" he asked, walking into the armory. "Marlon Van Graff. I'm about to ship out with Danielle Rose and her crew and I need some supplies." He paused a moment. "Now Danielle tells me you might feel like holding out on me. Arguing about it sounds kind of fun and all, but I don't have the time for that right now. So how's about I just say "Huggbees" and you wheel out the good stuff?"

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

A rooftop overlooking the Vertibird Crash Site and Hospital from afar.

Spider-bot took snapshots of the newcomers to D.C. area. 4 females. 2 males. 1 identity confirmed.

Spider-bot burrowed it's way underneath a nearby floor tile and was promptly deactivated.

[hr]

Wasteland: Vertibird Crash Site

"But - But - But we're gonna leave our new friend alone already Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy?" The Red Menace asked as she looked at Alice, "If we can't take a boat, we could take her to Rivety City and the Mister Citamerdel is close to that." Sylphee added.

Lucy looked over to Alice, studying her slightly before pointing over her shoulder. "She's right! We've assembled a small group and we're headed towards Rivet City, it's close to the Citadel and you would have an easier way travelling from there. The extra company is welcome and you'll get yourself killed if you're new here." Lucy paused to allow her proposition to sink in and then teased slightly, "So what do you say, Tough Girl?"

"Missy One Legged Alice looks like a nice person and a nice friend. We should at least make sure that she can make it before Missy One Legged Alice gets all gobbled up by Mister Super Mutes!"

Lucy tapped Sylph's shoulder and bent down to whisper in her ear. "Hey! I love how you blew up the Whirl-...Vertibird for me. But you also got Alice hurt in the process. So say you're sorry about what happened or I'm going to steal your backpack, food and your uniform!" Lucy shouldn't have kids, that was for certain.

Getting back up, Lucy stretched and started trudging back up the hill to join the group back at the hospital. That's when she spotted William running towards her. Without hesitation, she waved back and hesitated slightly...mostly because Lucy was standing in between the mess of limbs, blood and the split body of the former Enclave Pilot.

Lucy was reminded of how Gilford of The Brotherhood had survived a crash, so she had assumed that the Enclave would have similar measures. The only reason she had rushed here was to execute the pilot if he had lived. Justified brutality or not...that was becoming less of a concern to her.

[hr]

Fort Bannister: Home to The Talon Company.

This was not an ordinary day for the Talon Company.

- It all started with a duffel bag full of caps. 10 000 caps, to be exact.
- The duffel bag was propped next to the two guards stationed outside with a note pinned to their corpses: ("Pay attention.")
- The computers that they did possess were hacked simultaneously.
- A recent e-mail had dominated every screen across the Fort. It simply read:

"I am pleased to have your attention. This particular female is your current and only priority. She currently travels with five others. Last known location: Somewhere in the DC ruins. I request that a team of six, one for each of her group, be sent to dispose of her. Fail or succeed, you will receive a payment of a further 10 000 caps after I hear that you have completed this assignment. Do not bother contacting me.

P.S. Treat my daughter well, it is her birthday soon after all.

P.P.S. Be wary of what is beneath the abdomens of your foolish guards. It is a terrible place to house a triggered landmine."

- An image of an eye-patched female with a perpetual frown in her young twenties was included in the e-mail.

[hr]

Undisclosed location.

Amy Kane leaned forward to stroke a finger across the still image of her daughter, Lucy Black. "Oh, I have not forgotten about you, my darling little girl. Mommy just wants to 'evaluate' whether you have been raised correctly."

Moving her finger over the image's eyepatch, she whispered after enjoying a shudder of glee. "You look so beautiful when you are in pain."

 

[Blast Off To Titan]

When Constance regained consciousness, the world felt ... strange. It was darkness that was interrupted by intermittent static and though she had no frame of reference, but from the jostling that she was receiving and the information relayed by her inner ear, the disguised Enclave scout felt that she was upside down and that she was being carried by someone ... someone wearing armor.

"M...Mom?" Constance asked in an unsteady voice as she tried to raise her head to look around. No, it was not mom. Mom ... #411 ... would never have carried her. And then she remembered the events preceding her blackout and loss of vision. She must have been being carried by her contact ... Frank was it?

As Frank carried the now conscious girl, he heard her subvocalizing some sort of command, one that caused the world to reappear and Frank's underside came into focus.

"E... excuse me, sir. I think you can put me down now." The Teenager disguised as a Junior Brotherhood Scout of Steel struggled against Frank's power armored grip for a moment before he gingerly placed her back on her feet.

"Whoa." The Scout said as she stumbled for a moment before regaining her balance as she "looked" at her savior and it was there that Frank saw that the girl that he had rescued was blind.

"Thank you, sir. I owe you my life." Constance stated before looking at her surroundings and saw that she and Frank were close to Rivet City, the ship's bow visible over the debris and Super Mutant Behemoth carcasses, "So are we headed into Rivet City, sir? Is there a mission to be done?" She asked as she got into the mindset of a Junior Brotherhood Scout of Steel. best to start now lest she break her and Frank's cover.

 

[Souplex]

Frank was carrying the strange girl from the shortbus on his shoulder to Rivet City.
"M...Mom?"
"I certainly hope not. For a number of reasons."
The girl mumbled something.
"What?"
"E... excuse me, sir. I think you can put me down now."
"All right, but lean on me if you feel unsteady."
"Whoa."
[Perception][Medicine]The girl's eyes looked messed up, but it wasn't a recent injury.
"Thank you, sir. I owe you my life."
"Don't thank me yet, I still need to get you looked at by a doctor."
"So are we headed into Rivet City, sir?"
"Yeah. I'm going to have to carry you for this part. Even if you did have some means of crossing the gap, I wouldn't want you to try it in your condition. I need to speak to some people there."
[Strength]Frank hefted the girl over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.
"Is there a mission to be done?"
"Getting you to Dr. Preston. Although if you could count backwards from one-hundred for me, it would help determine if that hit gave you any brain-damage."
Frank leaped across the gap, and entered Rivet City via the marketplace.
[Perception]Inside, countless Rivet City guards, Fat Cat mercenaries, and Rivet City citizens were celebrating. Merchants were checking on the condition of their stalls, and Councilor Seagrave Holmes was arguing with Morgan Bloom about getting the bridge fixed.
"You're stuck here until the bridge is fixed, it would be easier on everyone if you waived the fee this once."
"I can wait it out indefinitely. You on the other hand will, be dead in about 40-some-odd years. My prices are fair"
Frank hoped Holmes would win this argument, but doubted he would. Bloom held a massive monopoly on construction due to his company's exclusive manufacture of Construction Power Armor before the war. It was essentially Power Armor, with a lot more power, but none of the armor. This mean that servos could be larger due to not having to be protected by armor plating, and that a lot more could be gotten out of the servos due to not having to compensate for the weight of the armor. (5 DT, wearer has +8 strength)
"Dr. Preston?"
"Yes? Ah, I'll see to her right away."
Now that the girl was tended to, Frank began looking for Gabrielle.

 

[Legion]

Lucy looked over to Alice, studying her slightly before pointing over her shoulder. "She's right! We've assembled a small group and we're headed towards Rivet City, it's close to the Citadel and you would have an easier way travelling from there. The extra company is welcome and you'll get yourself killed if you're new here." Lucy paused to allow her proposition to sink in and then teased slightly, "So what do you say, Tough Girl?"

[hr]

NCR Training Exercise - Near Klamath Canyon - [Redacted] Years Earlier​

"So what do you say, Tough Girl?" the girl asked with a sneer. "Gonna go cry to mommy?"
Alice glared at the girl, refusing to respond but unwilling to simply give no reaction. She was used to being teased by the other recruits, but this was something else. She glanced to her side as she felt the rope bite into her wrists. Bound to a tree with her arms behind her back, she had no option but to sit and take the mockery.

"So let's see what you are made of, Tough Girl," the girl said, this time with a combat knife in her hand. She bent down and stabbed it into the dirt just beyond Alice's feet.
"We're moving on to the next area for the exercise soon. we'd hate for you to be left behind," another recruit said, looking around at the rest of the group. "Have fun!"

With that, the other trainees walked off, a couple of them looking back with smirks on their faces. Left alone, Alice immediately turned her head towards the knife. Easing herself down onto her back she let out a hiss of pain as the muscles on her arm stretched painfully. She eventually managed to get the knife's handle between her boots and work it out of the ground.

The tricky part was getting it into her hands. She couldn't see a way to get it behind her and sat there for a few minutes considering her options. Wriggling slightly she became aware that while the rope was too tight to undo by struggling, it was loose enough that she could move around the tree she was tied to. With the knife still by her feet, she carefully stood up straight. The knife know at the base of the tree, she slowly moved around so that she was on the other side of it. At this point she gently lowered herself back down to the ground, her muscles protesting again at the more uncomfortable position.

She picked up the knife between her hands, rotated it into a position to use as a saw and began cutting. A look of pure anger on her face, and her vision swimming in red.

[hr]

Alice stood motionless, staring into the middle distance until her vision cleared. Shuddering slightly at memories best left forgotten, she turned to look back at Lucy and Slyph. "I'm sure I can manage," she replied at last. Indicating the salve she had given Lucy earlier, she followed with "You can keep that as thanks for the help."

Am I really going to do this just because of what that girl said? It's not like she meant anything by it. No, it is more than that. She clearly has an affiliation with the Brotherhood of some kind. She doesn't know the reason for why I am looking for them and I can't exactly tell her either. She's probably going to expect me to die out here on my own too, but I also can't explain to her about my training or experience. Not without the possibility of the NCR finding me or the Brotherhood becoming curious. No. I am best off doing this alone anyway.

With that she began to walk off in the direction Lucy had pointed earlier. Her hat pulled down low over her eyes and her scarf pulled up over her mouth to cover the pained expression on her face.

 

[Drummodino]

"Five if you are just courious, read a book and say after me, DON'T. touch. the. nuclear. war head."

"Don't touch the nuclear warhead... got it."

Now I am going to go back to my workstation, before I go aorund the corner I am going to look over here. If you are still touching the nuclear war head, you will very soon wish you weren't"

Charlie stared after the man as he turned around and marched away from him. Realizing he was still leaning on the nuke, Charlie jerked away from it and scrambled to his feet, feeling more than a little embarrassed. Still conscious of all the eyes on him, Charlie fidgeted nervously, wondering what to do now. Luckily for him Dashwood stepped in to save him.

Come on son, let's get out of here. There's a bar just over there called Moriarty's, you can get cleaned up and then we can get that drink alright?

"Uh... yea that sounds good. Let's go."

Giving the bomb one last longing look, Charlie turned away and hurried after Dashwood.

[hr]

A Short Time Later in Moriarty's Saloon:

You've really got to be a bit more careful you know Charlie? You seem like a honest guy, but try not to scare people like that okay? People can act impulsively when they're nervous, next time you could end up face down in the dirt.

Nodding as he listened to Dashwood's advice, Charlie fiddled with his nuka-cola bottle. He was feeling a lot better now that he'd cleaned up, however he still felt embarrassed and guilty over what had happened.

"I hear you Mr Dashwood, I hear you. I did get a bit carried away I guess... I just find that kind of stuff fascinating. I make my own explosives and I was hoping I could adapt some designs using the nuke as a basis."

"Well son I don't mean to judge, but that sounds like a rather dangerous hobby. Can't you find something a bit less hazardous, like collecting nuka-cola bottles or something? Besides, I'm pretty sure a pre-war nuke would be rather different to your run-of-the-mill grenades."

"Sorry Mr Dashwood, but I just have a passion for making things go bang. Speaking of bottles though, are you done with that? I could use it for a molotov."

Dashwood sighed and handed the youth his empty bottle.

"Just don't blow yourself up alright? Anyways, what do you plan to do now? Are you going to be sticking around Megaton?"

"Well, firstly I'm going to go apologize to that big guy I angered before. I don't want there to be any hard feelings between us. After that... I'm not too sure. I'll probably stay the night here and then move on. I'm thinking of heading towards The Citadel next, I'd love to see the Brotherhood of Steel's main base."

"I don't think that would be very wise son... You probably want to avoid that guy from now on if you want to keep your head on your shoulders."

"Respectfully Sir, I can't just leave things on poor terms like that. I've got to at least try to apologize."

With that Charlie stood up, donned his cap and walked out of the bar. Shaking his head, Dashwood ordered another drink.

"Poor lad's going to get himself killed."

[hr]

Larry's Work Station:

Charlie walked up to the tall man's work area, trying to calm his nerves. The man didn't notice him as he was facing away from Charlie as he tinkered with some kind of glove.

"Excuse me Sir? Sorry I didn't catch your name... but I just wanted to apologize for that incident before. I realize now that it was a rather silly thing to do, and I'm deeply sorry for my actions. No hard feelings?"

 

[nuba km]

Larry got back to his work station and continoued on with his work but it wasn't long till he got interupted again.

"Excuse me Sir? Sorry I didn't catch your name... but I just wanted to apologize for that incident before. I realize now that it was a rather silly thing to do, and I'm deeply sorry for my actions. No hard feelings?"

Larry continoued working on the glove and without turning around said 'I didn't say my name' he carfully attached one of the pads to the tip of the glove before continuing to speak 'Are you sorry that you angered me, or are you sorry you risked blowing up yourself, me, the entire population of megaton and anything as far as the eye can see' Larry put the finishing touches on the glove, attached it to a very weak power supply, porpously so, he rigged up earlier using his recharger rifle 'also I am going to continue staying annoyed at you' Larry turned around, he took off part of his armour on the arm that didn't have the glove on. He turned the glove on and grabbed his exposed arm, feeling the slight shock Larry said 'yup this one works'.

 

[Souplex]

Frank found Gabrielle Rothman repairing the equipment of Rivet City security in her home workshop on the lower deck. Their son; Argyle was asleep on her bed.
"Hello Frank.
"We might as well discuss things now."
Frank removed his helmet.
Did you miss us?
"What happened to your face?
"What are you talking about?"
Frank felt his face.
"Oh."
It's not so bad.
Gabrielle motioned to a second chair by the workbench.
"Could you lend a hand while we talk?"
"Of course."
[Repair]Frank sat down and got to work.
"First thing: Why did you leave?"
"Same reason I came to Rivet city in the first place; seeking my place in the world. I wasn't sure if it was here. I now know it's definitely not as a repairman in Cantebury commons, a repairman in BloomBurg, a member of the Fat-Cat mercenary company, an independent mercenary, or a wandering hobo."
Funny how that list doesn't include the Outcasts.
"Pass me the socket-wrench"
Frank handed her the socket wrench.
"What about Argyle?"
"I'd like to be a part of his life. I don't want him to be raised in the Brotherhood, (You've seen how that messed me up) but when he turns fifteen, I'd like to give him the option of joining the Brotherhood."
"We'll see."
"Lastly; what about us?"
"I'd like to pick up where we left off, but I have certain responsibilities. Once the situation with the Enclave is dealt with, we can try. If I don't return after three months, assume I'm dead, and find someone else.
"I understand."
She gave Frank a kiss on the forehead.
"Now get out there and kick some ass.
"I plan to."
Frank left the room.
And now you understand as I did; your duty is more important than your happiness. Goodbye son.
"I know. Goodbye dad."
[Alloyed Soul]Frank has learned his father's lesson of duty, and has gained his perks!
[Hide of Iron]Frank's armor is practically a part of his body. If his DT exceeds incoming damage, it is completely negated. (As opposed to being reduced to 1/5th as it previously was)
He gains bonuses to movement and agility equal to his armor's penalties. (Since Frank can ignore armor penalties due to the [Second Skin] Perk, he is now faster and more agile in armor than out of it)

[Flesh of Tungsten]Frank gains a large bonus to DT, and his limbs will only break if they receive damage equal to half his health.

Spoiler: Frank helmeted back up, and put on a song

 

[Generic NPC 22]

The Wild Wastey Wasteland:

Sylphee was rather pleased with herself, at least for the moment. That someone had listened to her idea and actually agreed with her, especially since it was someone as smart as Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy, made the Blue Haired Devil smile really really really big. But, as I said before, the feeling only lasted for a minute when Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy took Sylphee to the side and threatened her

"Hey! I love how you blew up the Whirl-...Vertibird for me. But you also got Alice hurt in the process. So say you're sorry about what happened or I'm going to steal your backpack, food and your uniform!"

Of those three things that Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy mentioned stealing, the least important was the uniform. Daddy had left Sylphee without clothing in the middle of nowhere before just to see if Sylphee could make it back home before anyone tried to steal her and do horrible horrible things. Food? Well Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy didn't mention anything about taking away Mister Stingerless Rad Scorpion so Sylphee was rather safe there. But when Big MEANIE Psycho Lucy Caboosy mentioned that she would take away Sylphee's pack of treasures, that was going too far.

"NO! NO! NO! You won't take away my treasure pack you BIG - BIG - BIG MEANIE!" Sylphee exclaimed as she pulled her pack off of her shoulders and gave it a tremendous squeeze to show that Big Meanie Psycho Lucy Caboosy was not going to take her things away from her.

In any case, Missy One Legged Alice must have been mad at her for Mister Black Enclave Whirlybird falling on her because she turned around and started to walk off.

"I'm sure I can manage," Missy One Legged Alice replied at last before walking off in the direction that Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy showed Missy One Legged Alice.

"W-WAIT! WAIT MISSY ONE LEGGED ALICE!!! WAIT!!" Sylphee yelled and started chasing down Missy One Legged Alice before she disappeared, possibly forever and ever.

"I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN FOR MISTER BLACK ENCLAVE WHIRLYBIRD TO FALL ON YOU! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT I MADE MISTER BLACK ENCLAVE WHIRLYBIRD FALL ON YOU! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" Sylphee cried and leaped into the air so that she could perform her patented Red Menace Tackle Hug. Surprisingly, Missy One Legged Alice was quite quick for someone who just got her leg back thanks to Big Sissy Psycho Lucy Caboosy because Sylphee missed --- and started bouncing down mister really steep hill ---

*THUD* "OW OW OW!!!!"
*CRUNCH* "AIEEEEE!!!!"
*WHACK* "OMPH!!!!"
*SPLAT* "OWIE OW OW!!!"

--- before coming to rest at the bottom of the damned hill. Standing up slowly, Sylph looked down at her scraped up body and frowned before looking up at the top of the hill where Alice stood. Violently exhaling a dusty lungful of air, the Red Menace picked up her choker and started walking back up towards where she presumed that Sister Lucy Black would be, passing Alice on the way back.

"I'd listen to Sister Lucy Black if I were you. Unless you think you can avoid the Super Mutant patrols between us and the Citadel." The Blue Haired girl said in a voice devoid of the glee that exuded from her pores earlier before her romp down the hill.

"Hello William Knight. Your head hasn't been atomized I see. I'm glad for you." Sylph said as she passed William Knight and returned to Sister Lucy Black.

"There. I have apologized to Alice. Are you please now?"

 

[Drummodino]

"Are you sorry that you angered me, or are you sorry you risked blowing up yourself, me, the entire population of megaton and anything as far as the eye can see?"

"Um... for risking blowing everyone up? No, wait I'm sorry for that and sorry for angering you."

Sweat trickled down Charlie's back, now wishing he'd listened to Dashwood about staying away from this guy.

"also I am going to continue staying annoyed at you"

Squirming uncomfortably, Charlie kept his mouth shut as the man turned around and grabbed his own arm with the weird looking glove. He noticed that it was rigged up to some kind of basic power supply.

"yup this one works"

Charlie knew he was going to regret this, but he couldn't resist his inquisitive nature.

"Is that some kind of shock glove? What kind of power source does it use? How high a voltage could you run through it?"

Cringing the moment those words left his mouth, Charlie braced himself for another tongue lashing.

"Bloody hell Charlie, just leave this guy alone! What happens if he decides to shock you with that thing huh? Idiot!

 

[Legion]

"I'd listen to Sister Lucy Black if I were you. Unless you think you can avoid the Super Mutant patrols between us and the Citadel." The Blue Haired girl said in a voice devoid of the glee that exuded from her pores earlier before her romp down the hill.

Alice was prepared to break her characteristic silence and let the girl know just what she felt at being spoken to like a child. Especially from the kind of person who thought throwing a loaded rifle around was a good idea. But before she had a chance to open her mouth she caught onto something strange. The girl's voice and demeanour had entirely changed from what it had been like only moments before. There was a coldness to it and she was speaking normally.

"Hello William Knight. Your head hasn't been atomized I see. I'm glad for you." Sylph said as she passed William Knight and returned to Sister Lucy Black. "There. I have apologized to Alice. Are you pleased now?"

If I didn't see and hear her with my own two eyes I'd swear this is not the same person who I was with earlier. Did the fall do something to her? That doesn't seem likely, she got up fine and doesn't seem to be injured otherwise. So what's changed?

Looking at Slyph, Alice's eyes were drawn to the only other difference aside from her change in behaviour. The choker she was now holding in her hand that had previously been around her neck. Turning to Lucy, she finally broke her silence, curiosity getting the better of her.

"What the hell is this?"