The Wanderer, the Eccentric, and the Diva

Finishing The Guide Part Two~

We’ve only been walking ten minutes and I’m already about to grab Pinkie and strangle her, she really gets on my nerves with how much she talks.

But that got all quiet when we got into the subway tunnels, no matter how many times I go through here, more ghouls tend to show up, along with the occasional raider or mutant, nothing I can’t handle of course but it’s annoying getting interrupted mid conversation by bloodthirsty Ghouls. However it does wonders to keep one’s anger in check. After that I really didn’t have the twitch every time Pinkie spoke...till a minute later when she started back up.

“Pinkie will you be quiet! I swear only time I hear silence from you is when we are fighting or you're not in the room!” I cracked finally, blurting that from the front of the group.

I expected Rarity to yell at me, but the both of them said nothing as we continued on. I felt kinda bad, but that didn’t explain Rarity, every time I complained about Pinkie’s talking Rarity was quick to defend her, so what was different now. I planned to ask them at the next stop, I didn’t need them breaking down while we were out at least if that was what was going on.

After another twenty minutes we resurfaced and had taken a wrong turn, we ended up a lot closer to the Mall than I wanted and we’re deeper in D.C.

“Son of a bitch…” I muttered as I lowered my Pip-Boy.

“What’s wrong?” Rarity asked to my left.

I looked to her, “We took a wrong turn, it was my fault really…we’re deep within D.C. fairly close to the Mall. I spun on my heels heading back down into the Metro, “Maybe if someone didn’t keep distracting me by playing eye spy…” That got some laughs from Pinkie and Rarity. As I was about to push through the gate, I heard a few blasts of laser fire and the screams of super mutants. Probably nothing...Brotherhood scouring the area… I heard a Vertibird and I started moving quicker with more purpose.

“We need to hurry.” I told them, my tone quiet and harsh.

“Alex what’s that sound?”

“Something we don’t want to deal with. Now get moving, we need to get out of here.” I ushered them back into the metro and prayed they wouldn’t follow us.

After backtracking and finding the right way to go, we end up at Anacostia Crossing, a few bodies littering the entrance, black combat armor adorning the bodies. I didn’t look at them as we walked by however Pinkie had stopped, as I didn’t hear her bouncing or the fact that it was all to silent and Rarity seemed to be able to walk like a ninja.

“Pinkie?” I looked back and she was looting the bodies, well at least trying to.

“I can’t find anything on these guys…” She sighed, I guess she wanted to impress me perhaps?

“You wouldn’t I took what was useful to me when I killed them a few weeks ago.”

“Shouldn’t they have decomposed?” Rarity asked, I was taken aback that she was adapting quickly, she seemed like the one to fret over dead things.

“They probably have already started...we can’t see under the armor so decomposition may be bad under there. Otherwise they might not be, there skin was more than likely cooked when I killed them with my Flamer…”

“A Flamer?”

“Shoots fire, well it sprays fuel that is lit on fire near the tip of the barrel but that’s deeper than anyone really needs to know.”

“Then why do you know it?”

“I’m an expert in all things big and heavy, using them and keeping them in good condition.”

“So you like heavy mares hmm?” She snuck in.

“Good one...you're still a sadistic bitch though.” She rolled her eyes and we continued on, Pinkie falling back into her bounce pace. Surprisingly quiet for bouncing but whatever, enough gunfire makes you only hear the loud stuff. We walked over to the tower that led up to the bridge across to Rivet City, we passed by Doc Hoff who just stared in what I thought to be a look of am I really high or am I actually seeing this. Pretty much my reaction when I heard them talk...so yeah.

“Alright I have to warn you, the security around here are a bit rough, and some of the people may not take kindly to you trying to talk with them. So just keep your heads down and let me do the talking unless you are asked a question.” I explained as we climbed the tower and started across the bridge, passing Carlos the usual poor wastelander that sits at the top of the tower begging for purified water. I had given him a pretty decent amount, but he still begs. He has nothing, and I don’t know if he’ll accept any caps, or if I had any to spare really usually I have to keep all of my caps for repairs and to buy anything and everything I need. When we reach the two entrances leading to the different parts of Rivet City, I knew the security was eyeing us. They knew I was reputable enough, that anyone with me could be trusted but seeing two ponies, in armor and with guns probably spooked them a bit.

We entered into the Marketplace and I headed straight for Flak’s, catching him as he was walking out.

“Hey Flak! Did you get any new power armor pieces yet?”

“Nope.”

“Damn...Alright, any five millimeter ammo?”

“I have three hundred rounds left.”

“I’ll take them.”

“Alright it’s five hundred and thirty seven caps.” I reached down to a small bag tied to my leggings. Quickly pouring out it’s contents and counting out the needed caps. He kept his eye on the two ponies as they looked at various things about the shop. “What’s up with these two?”

“I found them out near the Super-Duper Mart out near Megaton, it’s a fairly long story how they got here and really neither of us have the time. By the way do you perchance know anything about Rivet City’s history?”

“No I don’t. You could go try and talk with Bannon or maybe Belle down at the Muddy Rudder.”

“Thanks Flak.” I whistled getting the attention of Pinkie and Rarity, who fell back in behind me as I walked back through and down to the Muddy Rudder.

Entering the place I could have swore I saw a flash of a jacket I had back home...and very few people had it. I walked through the bar the two ponies going off once again and I stop at the bar.

“Hey Belle.”

“Welcome back. What’ll it be?”

“Scotch” She turned to grab the drink, “also I wanted to talk to you, about Rivet City’s history Flak told me to talk with you or Bannon and I really don’t like talking with Bannon.”

She turned back setting the bottle down, “What makes you think I know anything about this dirty old tub?”

“I don’t know you run the bar around here. I really don’t have any sound logic for this, I was just following a rumor it’s worked well in the past.”

“Well it so happens I do know a bit, but you could learn a lot more if you found Pinkerton.”

“Who?”

“The old coot who lives in the broken bow.”

“He lives in the bow?”

“Yep, he’s got some kind of set up there’s a door with a bridge but the things locked and nobody has been able to get it open. You could always try and see if one of the doors under the water is unlocked.”

I sigh and look at her, “You have got to be kidding me…” She shook her head and I let out yet another sigh. “Alright thanks for the info…” I take a quick swig from the bottle and reach down to my pouch grabbing a few caps and tossing them to the bar. “And thanks for the drink.” Walking off, my eyes scanning for Pinkie and Rarity. I find them, but I find them talking with none other than…

“Butch!” I can’t help but exclaim as I walk up to the group.

“How you doing Alex?”

“Good. Considering, but what I’m wondering is what are you doing here?”

“Looking for a place to go, start up a new gang, you know...the usual.”

“I can’t help like I’ve missed some bigger talk and I’m only getting the short version…” I looked at Rarity and Pinkie who had smiles on their faces. “Well we shouldn’t keep you busy we have to head out anyway. Come on you two.” I wave my hand and start back towards the exit, hearing a bit of a whisper exchanged between Rarity and Butch, I can only imagine what was shared, and really I probably don’t want to know. It was nice to see Butch again, sure he was an ass for the longest time, but he’ll be different soon enough, the Wasteland tends to change people, not always for the better but I just have to hope. We left the main piece of Rivet City and started back towards the shore. I kept my eyes locked on the broken bow, hoping I really didn’t have to swim to get inside.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, life just loves to give me fuck yous. This time in the form of a locked door at the end of a bridge leading into the broken bow, and Rarity pushing me off the side with her magic, “Well have fun Alex, don’t forget us when you get inside!”

I hit the water like a ton of bricks due to the power armor, practically dropping to the bottom. Getting my bearings from that drop I start to swim towards the broken edge, hoping to find a way inside.

I found a way inside, had to swim through a few corridors and what not, oh and kill two Mirelurk Hunters that were sitting at the staircase I needed to go up, but otherwise easy time getting in, you know besides being soaked and in heavy armor. Looking around I found the door that led outside, at least I thought it was, I had to go through a few traps and they were more setup so you wouldn’t notice them coming from the way I was going. Looking about the room the door was situated in, I finally found a switch and got the door open, ushering the waiting ponies inside as we headed deeper into the bow, in the search for the enigmatic Pinkerton.

We found him in a back room lab, he was a crazy old coot but he gave me what I needed after a little persuasion, which I failed at only to be saved by Rarity and the cuteness that is Pinkie Pie. I swear if she had been anymore cute Pinkerton would have had a heart attack right there.

The walk home was uneventful, a few passing mutants that I pointed out to the girls, some more ghouls. I had to admit, when I wasn’t killing anything and just walking, the Wasteland could be kinda calm and nice, at least that little bit that I had slaughtered the inhabitants of earlier. We got back home and I turned over the info to Moira, getting that bit finished we headed back home and settled in for the night, with a bit of a party. Not much of one, Pinkie complained she had lost her party cannon on the way here and so she didn’t have everything she needed but she tried her best and I still had fun, invited some people to come as well. I think half the town came, at one point I think I even saw the Confessor chatting with Moriarty, the Confessor looked drunk and well Moriarty...was being Moriarty. I danced around with Pinkie and Rarity, we all had a good time, and by the time it was over, well tomorrow was going to be a hell of a wakeup.

Post Chapter Statuses:
Rarity, Alex, and Pinkie leveled up!
Rarity~ Level 4
One new perk~ Scoundrel Lever One: Speech - 45 Barter - 35
Pinkie~ Level 3
One new perk~ Swift Learner Level One
Alex~ Level 13
One new perk~ Size Matter Level Three: Big Guns - 85

One step closer to finishing the Guide, everyone had fun and got to know each other outside of the 'formal workplace'! Good for them!