Chapters Waking up
“Huh? What’s going on...where am I?” I thought as a freezing liquid left the thing I was in. I could hear bangs and screams. I remember...I don’t remember anything. “What’s going on?!”
“Boss, why the hell are they all frozen?” I heard from outside where I was.
“They’re some failed experiment. Just kill them and clean them out so we can use this place.” I heard from a mare this time.
“Need to get out,” I whined trying to look for some way out of this thing.
“Hey, what’s that sound?” I heard whatever I was in started to bend and buckle.
“Boss, one’s awake!” I heard just as I broke the wall. I was blinded a bit before I could see and saw...three small creatures. I was unsure what they were but they started hitting me, looking scared before I ran off, hurt and confused.
“Get that freak!” I heard behind me as I ran. I ran as hard as my limbs could take me.
“It’s leaving the lab!” One of the others said as I ran past a mirror with caution signs on it and what looked like another me running through it. Many of the things fired at it, shattering it. I don’t even know what I am, or where I was.
“KILL IT!” I heard as things pinged off me. I ran and ran, doors opening for me until I found myself outside. I panted as more of those things turned to me ready to end me.
I growled before jumping up the cliff and running into the wilderness.
On a hill near Raider Site 14
I watched from my sniper nest as a strange animal rushed out of the facility that the damn raiders were taking over. It looked like a heavily militarized cyber dog, that also had extensive genetic enhancements.
“Got something pup?” I heard behind me, looking to see the Ghoulish Zebra that had joined me on this little quest of mine.
“Yeah. A raider attack on the facility we were reconning on, and what looks like a dog.”
“Somebody would have to be alive for it to be an attack. They're just taking over a prewar lab aren’t they?” He said getting up. “And a dog? Really? It’s a damn animal.”
“They were. I heard gunfire and shouts in another language. Whoever they were, They must have been too weak to win against the Raiders.” I huffed.
“Great, so call it into the locals? I mean, we’re not exactly Militia, nor are we NCR.” He said working his assault rifle. “Not our problem really.”
“I doubt they'd bother. The Brotherhood wouldn't care, as it won't benefit them.” I sigh. “The Enclave is still cowering in the skies, and the Minutemares are still reeling from the recent betrayal.” I snarked.
“Point, and still not our problem.” He chuckled. “We should really just leave them be if this is something they won’t bother with. You're still after the Ali...what's it. Seriously, a fourth pony race? What’s gotten in your head about that myth? Not even before the war, there was a single one.”
“It's no myth,” I said. “There was more, three roughly,” I said as I carefully stood, my tail slack as I held up my rifle. “Most of it is Legend, yes, but all Legends hold a degree of truth,” I said as I rolled my robotic limbs, my arms whirring and clicking as my breasts bounced in my armored bra. I knew it was impractical, but teasing the hell out of my foes did help.
“Yeah, and they start at the beginning of pony civilization. They made them up so they could explain the world. “ He sighed. “Look, we’re just going to argue again if we keep this up.”
“Agreed,” I said as I aimed at a raider and popping his head off. The others glanced around frantically, making me grin ferally as they squirmed… Like they did to me years ago. I shivered, firing another shot into another male raider’s balls, making him squeal like a stuck pig.
“Damn, memories again?” He asked, leaning on the wall.
“However did you guess?” I drily said, popping another in the legs as she screamed.
“Well, from the screams. So we looting these assholes?” He asked, loading his weapons. “Some of them are Diamond Mongrels.” he snarled.
“So were the ones who hurt me. Raiders are not known to be picky about who they recruit.” I said.
“I know, but you know my theory on who launched the Great War. The dogs were always threatening the USE.” He told me.
“Hah. I doubt it. It's easy to blame the ones threatening, but never look at the other side of the story.”
“True, but they did have the Missiles.” He reminded me.
“So did the People’s Republic, and USSR.” I reminded him. “And the USE. Three other places. Besides, it was no secret that the USE were after the resources of Yakistan and Saddle Arabia.”
“True, I coincide. But I still hate those things.” He told me.
“It's fine. I hate them too.” I said, taking out a pistol and cocking it, the words, ‘Never Forget’ etched on the side. It was a Ten-millimeter pistol, an old-world model known as a Zenith, with an ergo grip, barrel attached armor penetration system and a suppressor on the APS.
“So move in?” He asked while looking at my ass.
“Yeah,” I said, swatting him on the nose.
“Heh, you know you're going to give someday.” he chuckled as we started to move.
“Fat chance. I'm more likely to meet and Fuck another cyborg wolf than I am to do you.” I huffed.
“Got it.” He said before he shot down a bunch of Raiders. I huffed before taking out several more as I engaged cloak and split off from my ‘Partner’ to deal with more of them in a more… Discreet manner.
I managed to sneak up on a massive Raider, ramming my blades through his chest, ripping him in two as I quickly started shooting the rest of the Raiders, spraying the room with gore and blood as heads burst.
“Kill these fuck wads!” a Raider snarled before my Partner killed him. Most of the Raiders are starting to slowly retreat, though I showed them little mercy as I Shot and stabbed them in a brutal fashion.
“So boss deep in the base like usual?” He said cocking his gun before pulling out a Fat Man.
“Yes,” I stated coolly as I shot another raider, reloading my pistol as I scanned the area.
“So I take the cliffside and fire this at them while you charge in?” He said as I walked towards the entrance. I nodded, before engaging cloak as I entered the room.
“You have got to be kidding me! First, the dog thing getting past you idiots! And now some random assholes!” I heard a mare snarl. “Get the bots up, I want these assholes dead!”
I quietly hacked one as it went online, grinning when I found it was a Securitron ‘Devastator’ model, which started blasting at the raiders with its Gatling lasers and seeker rockets. I snickered at their screams and panicked gunshots, though the mare was able to avoid the Robot’s Assault along with a certain few, making me suspect she was either the leader or the leader's ‘dragon’.
“Someone use the rockets on that thing!” She yelled out. I smirked as I aimed for the one who was lifting the Rocket Launcher, nailing him in the head before he could fire. I quite enjoyed the stupefied expression on her face and was thankful the Church of Sarif was kind enough to allow my Cybernetic eyes to act as digital cameras, just so I could get the look on her face preserved in my mind.
“Sonnova...we need to get out of here. Is that blasted mirror still intact?!” She asked as a raider shook his head. “Fuck. Okay, Kamikaze then.”
I promptly shot more of them, fighting off a strong fit of the giggles as they fell under my bullets and the Hacked Securitron’s deadly payload. Wonder how long it will take for them to figure out that the rest of the robots weren't hacked?
“Got it!” I heard down the hall as the rest of the bots turned on and aimed at me. “Two freakin days but I got the Security on our side!”
Well, Fuck. I quickly avoided the bullets and lasers from the turrets and protectrons respectively, still under my cloaking field as my Securitron started blasting back at the others, buying me time as I shot more of the raiders and threw an EMP grenade at a far-off Protectron that was standing next to the turret controls. A burst of sparks later and the facility went dark. Oops.
“Shit, Night Vision!” The Mare snarled as the raiders seem to be very prepared. Must have looted a military base before coming here.
I growled as I lobbed another grenade, this one a flashbang, sniggering at the raiders when the Nightvision proved as much their undoing as it was their assistance as most were Unable to avoid the Securitron’s wave of death thanks to being blinded.
“Dammit, What the hell?!” the mare snarled as she rolled and grabbed the Rocket Launcher and destroyed my Securitron. I sneaked up on her, then knocked the rocket launcher out of her hands as I broke her leg, decloaking as I did. “FUCKING BITCH!” She snarled as we started fighting.
I quickly overpowered her, slamming her into her back as I broke her arms. She howled in agony as I snapped her remaining leg. She screamed as a Mini Nuke went off at the entrance. I cocked a brow, carrying my helpless target in a fireman carry as I engaged cloak, sneaking out the back way to investigate.
“AHAHAHAH! Come on fuckers!” My Zebra companion yelled as he killed the escaping Raiders. I chuckled as I decloaked, walking up to him.
“Nice job. Hey, got a surprise for you.” I said, dropping the raider at his feet. “Wanna break her in?”
“Okay, no. Just shoot her. I might be a horn dog for your ass, but I don’t rape people, even raiders.” He chuckled.
“Fine. I'll be keeping her as a pet then.” I said as she snarled at me.
“Really? Well up to you. So move on?” He asked.
“Yeah. Can't really salvage anything from here. Bitch mentioned a Mirror, though. She may know more.” I said, cracking my knuckles at the now nervous raider.
“My guys broke them.” She cried.
“Don't care. And I only mentioned one. You know where there's more.” I said, the raider looking like she was about to cry at the slip-up. “Tell me.”
“I...I...Some Freak in the Commonwealth in the north. He kept buying these shitty white mirrors!” She cried in panic.
“Thank you, my pet.” I grinned as I slapped a collar on her neck. “Now heel,” I said, chuckling at the bitter irony.
“How can I do that?!” She huffed as she looked at her limbs.
“I don't care. Your kin did that to me while I was a cub when they broke all four of my limbs. You think these are for show!?” I snarl, pointing at my robot arms. “You're lucky I'll be carting you in this,” I said, dumping her on a little Red wagon barely Big enough to fit her.
“So we’re really dragging her along to the other side of the continent?” The Zebra asked, stowing his Fatman.
“No, Vermillion. We Are dragging her along in our fancy dune racer.” I said, nodding to the two-seater vehicle.
“Yeah, I know Bimbo,” Vermillion said as he jumped into the driver's seat. “Remember I’m the one that fixed her up.”
“You know my name is Velvet. Call me a Bimbo again and I'll peel your irradiated dick like a Banana.” I told him. “You know full well that was what they called me when they used me.”
“Right, sorry. Old habits.” he sighed.
“Hmph,” I said, attaching the wagon to the back of the buggy, strapping the raider in as I did. “You're lucky I don't know how to drive Jack Shite.”
“I know,” he said as we sped off. “So, I’m always forgetting, what Gender are you?” He asked, and knowing that his brain is quite literally rotting, it was an understandable question. He would have such from time to time. It’s also why he sometimes calls me Bimbo and stares at my ass.
“Female.” I sighed, massaging my Brow. I knew that it was pointless to blame him, and I honestly hoped he wasn't going feral. The few I met on my travels made it hard on me.
“Right.” He said as he got back on the ruined roads. “To get to The Commonwealth, we’ll have to go through Yellowstone. So we’ll have to watch out for Legion and Armored Yui Gua.”
“It's Yao Gui. Good try though.” I told him.
“Right.” He sighed. “Also watch the skies for me. Some Eagles got big around that area.”
“Yeah. I remember what few natives call them. Nevermores. Fitting since they've become so savage.” I huffed as I heard the Raider whine. “Oh shut it. We’ be letting you sit with us when we get there! No point letting you be Nevermore bait.”
“Okay, so want to stop for loot on the way? Or just drive straight through?” He asked.
“Loot. We may also need to resupply while we’re at it.” I told him as the buggy and cart bounced, making the Raider whimper. “We are running low on food and you know how we both eat.” I pointed out. “Hope we find a Fusion recycler too while we’re at it.”
“Yeah, also, how do you feel about picking up a dog?” He asked for the hundredth time. God, he always forgets my answer.
“I don't like them.” I huffed, shuddering at the child I was forced to birth at age ten.
“Right...okay sorry.” He sighed, rubbing his head in worry. I patted his back comfortingly. As much as he annoyed me, he was still the closest thing I had to a father figure. “Would you like to learn to drive this?” He asked out of the blue.
“I would, why?” I asked him.
“We’ll start tomorrow.” He said, dodging my question.
“Okay?” I said, feeling nervous. Why was he saying this? Normally he wouldn't allow me to drive.
We drove in silence for the rest of the day. Vermilion seemed...different, but he was still being his usual jackass self. I couldn’t tell what was up with him. The next day he started teaching me how to use a Stick Shift.
*Craeak!*
“Dammit, girl! Gently! You’re grinding the Gears!” He snarled at me as I tried to shift gears and stay on the road. “Your drifting off the Asphalt!”
I whined in frustration as the Raider snickered at my misfortune from our resting area.
“Don't laugh. You'll be stuck with her Driving next time.” Vermillion snarked at her, making her shut up. “Now, girl you need to work up your speed, then shift once you need to. And gently move the stick, but don’t use too little force as to not move it.”
“O-okay.” I mewled as I carefully did so, swapping gears once I got a certain speed. I whimpered as I barely managed to stay on the track while doing so.
“You’ll get it,” he said, rubbing his head again. “Just need practice girl.” He told as I drove. “Be happy I don’t have to explain the more complex rules of traffic laws and procedures.” He chuckled.
I giggled at that. That was probably one of the few good things the bombs ever did. “Thanks, Vermillion,” I said as I started to feel the drive get easier to do now. I shifted gears again, this time focusing on the track as I mentally reminded myself of the gear stick’s position.
“Good, by the end of the month you should have it.” He said with a content smile.
“Thanks,” I said, hugging the ghoul as I slowly stopped the buggy.
“Oh, don’t get so mushy on me girl,” he said as we got out and looked at the Gas Station I parked at.
“I know.” I chuckled as we both checked the building. “Hmm. There's a lot of Private Funnyman's mini-pancakes here.” I said, picking up a package that had the image of a male creature with a silly looking white and red top hat on it.
“Big sale here back in the day.” He told me. “We should be looking to the back for ammo too. You take the cakes.”
“Okay,” I said, stuffing the Cakes into my pocket space and the bandoliers I wasn't storing ammo in. “Let's go,” I said, heading to the back.
“Got it.” He said following me out with more Medical Aids and Ammo. He also had a few more Funnyman’s Cakes. “You’re driving.” He said, loading the trunk.
“Okay,” I said as I found more Ten Millimeter bullets and an old N99 pistol. Not as good as my Zenith, but good for selling once I clean it up. An old pre-war SMG was on the desk, it's owner holding it in hand, three bullet holes in its skull. I noted the rest of the magazine was emptied into the wall. Guess they were a horrible Shot.
“We need to get moving,” Vermillion told me. I nodded, taking the weapon and ammo as I left the room. “Legion’s getting close, seems they’re running with heavy equipment to deal with the wildlife.”
“We need to move.” He said as I started driving us, pausing to get my pet Raider.
Codex
Entry 1:
Alicorns. A mythical fourth race of ponies, it is unknown where the legends of the creator race came from but it has held true in the lore of the old world and current date. They were said to have the powers and traits of all three breeds and be of godly potential. None have been recorded to exist to date.[note] Celestia, Luna, Cadence, do not exist as alicorns, though they may be in the story, Faust is an alicorn, but whether she is alive remains to be seen.]
Entry 2:
The People’s Republic were one of the three superpowers of Equus. Known for its high population and Technological advancements, the People were predominantly made up of a race known as cats, ranging from the smallest, the Houzic, to the largest, the Siberian Tiger, they were one of the three main players in the Cold War before it ended in Nuclear Fire.
Entry 3:
The USSR were a major superpower, and was considered one of ‘The Big Three’. Known for its harsh conditions, Strong Alcohol, and even stronger people, they were one of the rivals of the USE for many years, soon joined by the People’s Republic. They were a Communist nation and had differing Ideas to the USE. The Bears had always believed their way of life would prevail over the Ponies. In a twisted sense, it sorta did, being one of the few places to even have a somewhat functional ‘Nation’ compared to the ragtag remains of the People’s Republic and the constant infighting remnants of the USE after the bombs fell.
Entry 4:
The USE Had one of the strongest economies in the world stage until the Recourse wars. The Inflations of the Buck resulted in many of the normally affordable products to be unbuyable. Even still, they were one of the big three in the Cold War, even with their economy running downhill, they were able to make advancements in nuclear power, Robotics, personal computers, and even the path of the genetic map were not out of their reach.
Entry 5:
Yakistan and Saddle Arabia were two countries in the middle east, known for high sources of Oil, they were targets of The Wolven Commonwealth when the nations of said Commonwealth used up their resources, this began the Resource Wars.
Entry 6:
The Wolven Commonwealth was a group of nations that banded together under the banner of the Wolves of the Great islands. It consisted Of many races, the best known being the Wolves, the Gryphons, and the Minotaurs. They have had a long history of war amongst themselves but that meant nothing in the face of the Great War.
Entry 7:
The Republic of Diamond was a small nation that was used by The People's Republic for courses, they were a loud nation, and very Nationalistic. They were best known to threaten other countries with war, citing Nuclear Assaults during the Great War. It is believed they launched the first volley but is unclear if it is truly the case.
Entry 8:
The New Canterlot Republic, or NCR , Is one of the new Nations, Post War, they have been expanding east of their west coast roots, reaching the Grand Canyon, cut by the Cold Rush River. There they met the Legions of Volves, a group led by Caesar. The NCR is one of the few nations within the remains of the USE that have made progress after the Great War, creating new vehicles, weapons, and armor. They have a small alliance with the Brotherhood of Steel.
Author's Note
okay, new story. still working on my other, but felt the need to write something else to get some creative juices going, also this is a coble with Oberon of Nightwatch and Inferno.
BoS FoB
“We have reports of new activity of Caesar’s Legion. I need a scouting party to look into the region known as Yellowstone, fair warning, it’s the site is over a known superVolcano, so keep explosions to a minimum.” The Cornell told us in our briefing. “You all will have two Armored Infantry with you. Light Infantry will work as main scouts, Armored will operate as support if the need arises. The NCR wants this done professionally so that’s why they asked us, but our second objective is a listening outpost in the old national park. Do I make myself clear!”
“Sir yes sir!” We said as we left to board our Vertibirds.
That was four hours ago.
“Plasma Bomb!” One of my comrades yelled as the Legion kept us pinned down.
“I’m gonna try and draw their fire, flank around them!” One of the Power Armored soldiers said, a Minotaur, as he ran out there, with his Heavy Repeating Laser Cannon, and started firing upon the enemy's’ position. That managed to draw the Legion’s attention, distracting them from the rest of us.
“Snipers! Pick them off!” Our Commander yelled.
“I see them.” The other Power Armor soldier said, a female Gryphon, flying up to a higher position and took them out with her own Sniper. Once taken care of, she provided Sniper Support to her Minotaur comrade, keeping the enemy occupied as some of our scouts snuck around the right and got behind them, throwing Grenades to flush the Legion out, as we killed the rest of those who survived the Grenades.
“Finally, We’re clear.” The Commander said as she looked to me. “Paladins, I need you two to move up!”
Nodding my head, I and the two Power Armored Soldiers moved forward. Scouting the area ahead, and making sure not to get caught off guard. The last thing we need is to get ourselves into knee-deep shit. So far, things were quiet, but that might as well be a bad thing. We were cautious, looking around every corner, through every window of destroyed buildings.
“We’re clear.” The Gryphoness whispered.
I nodded as I called the rest of our forces over, and to have them keep an eye out since we never ran into any more resistances. We set up inside a building and waited, as the rest caught up with us.
“Shit, Sir, Nevermore nest, two Buildings to the south. Looks like they just left to hunt.” The Gryphoness told me as I looked to the nest that took up half a Forest Ranger Barracks roof.
“Fuck.” I cursed as our unit regrouped with us. “Ma’am, we got Nevermore in the area,” I warned our Commander, pointing out the nests to her.
“Great, we’ve got to move to a better spot.” She said as she loaded her weapon. “Grab what ammo you can from the place, but we’re traveling light! Pallidens you may need to leave your power armor.”
“With all due respect, but I’ll take my chances.” The Minotaur replied.
“Same here.” The Gryphoness stated.
“Your choice, but we need to move fast!” Our Commander said as we started marching.
“Sir, the main Legion Base is a Kilometer to the west.” A scout told us.
“Okay, so far so good. Let’s take up residence in there.” She said, pointing to a more suitable building as we got out of sight. “Alright, what is the status of the enemy stronghold?” She asked the scout.
“Well, it seems this group is repairing tanks. They also are getting power armor. Seems to go against the Creed, are we sure it’s Legion?” another scout told us.
“They must be getting desperate, and seeing as there are nests of Nevermore, they’re gonna all the firepower they can muster.” The Commander said. “Let’s see if we can even the odds a bit. We cannot let their Tanks reach operational capacity, so they need to be destroyed.”
“Uh...three are operational.” The same scout said before a tank round hit our position. “SHIT!”
“NOW YOU FUCKING TELL US!” She growled as we were forced to scatter into smaller groups.
“HEAVY FIRE!” One of the Light Infantry yelled as a few scouts were killed by 5mm from advancing Legion heavy troops.
“Fuck! Fervus, deal with the Tank! I’ll handle the Heavy Troops!” The Minotaur said to the Gryphoness, laying down suppressing fire.
“TANK!” A scout said as the shell hit the Minotaur head on.
“AGRH!” He growled, the impact sending him flying before hitting the ground.
“Shit, we need to fall back!” The Commander said before her head was blown off by a Legion sniper.
“Commander down!” A light infantryman said.
“What do we do now!?” Another shouted, already panic and distortion was festering within our ranks.
“Fall back!” Fervus yelled as we started getting mowed down.
“We’re not going to make it!” another scout yelled.
“Not with that damn Tank in the way!” I snarled as I did something practically stupid. I rushed towards it, getting behind it, used all of my Grenades and placing them on the underside of the tank’s fuel, taking it out and launching myself into a building.
In the end, though, my unit was destroyed. I was left for dead, but the Legion was also gone from the area.
“Heh, guess this is a good way to go, Ad Victoriam.” I chuckled, feeling myself bleed out.
“Shit, we really missed a battle.” I heard, as my vision faded. “Hey, this one’s not dead!”
“Grab him. No point letting the man die in this horrible place.” I heard before I blacked out.
One Week Later
“Hey, Private, you still with us?” I heard a familiar voice called out.
“Leave him be, Deus. He’s still recovering, after all, he did just destroy a Tank unit.” Another familiar voice said to the first. “I’m just glad he made it, though I can’t say the same for our unit.”
“Er...what?” I asked, slowly opening my eyes.
“Hey, Fervus, he’s waking up.” The First spoke, as I turned to see the Minotaur and Gryphoness to my left, without their Power Armor on.
“Yes, I can see that, Deus,” Fervus said with a sigh.
“What happened?” I asked them. “The last thing I remember was our unit getting chewed out by Legion forces, I rushed a Tank and destroyed it, and bleeding out after that.”
“Well, at least he remembers that part.” The Minotaur, Deus, sighed before telling me. “Private, as brave and courageous as you are, our unit was still wiped out. Fervus only managed to pull me out and we thought you were dead. The mission was a total failure.” He explained.
“But, how am I still alive?” I asked the two.
“I believe our new friends can tell you that,” Fervus said as the door behind her opened. Moving out of the way, I saw a female Wolf with cybernetic arms and legs and a Zebra Ghoul. “These two are the ones that just managed to pull you out, barely saving your life.”
“Hey.” She said, wheeling a Raider Mare with broken arms and legs in a little red wagon behind her.
“Hey,” I replied. “Thanks for saving me. But what were you doing all the way out there?”
“Trying to get to the Commonwealth.” the She-wolf said. “Looking for a Mirror little miss Raider here had her fellows break.”
“A Mirror?” I asked in confusion.
“They're capable of getting from one place to another.” She said.
“Magic, that archaic old method? Tech could do the same with less power.” Deus said, looking skeptical. “We stopped using such powers when we found out how to use Electricity.”
“You're looking at Teleportation. The travel I was referring to was based more on other worlds. Going from one to another without loss of body.” she said.
“So you’re abandoning our homeworld then,” Fervus said, looking disappointed.
“No. I am planning on helping, but afterward, I'm seeing if the next world is better.” she sighed, a hand on her toned abs.
“Are you sure that is wise?” Deus asked, looking a little concern. “How can you be sure that the next world, whether or not this Mirror works, is gonna be better than ours?”
“It sure is better than being jumped by myogenic Roman knock off or a Raider addled on Chems.” She said, gingerly rubbing her robotic limbs at the joint. “And… I don't want to bear another… Bastard again.”
“It’ll be alright Velvet.” The Zebra told her in a father like way...while staring at her ass.
“Thanks, Vermillion,” she said, hugging him and making me aware she was only in a bra, panties, and a combat harness, plus a few extra bandoliers.
“Well, if you’re really Hell bent on finding this mirror, we’ll help you,” Deus told her. “Besides, we’ve failed our mission, not to mention you saved Private Goraz. It’s the least we could do.”
“Well, we’ll be more than happy to help get you guy a bit of closure.” She said. “And thanks. You guys are pretty decent.”
“We should get moving,” Vermillion said out of the blue. His eyes looked glazed for a moment.
“Right. Any other vehicles survived? We only have a Buggy to work with, and it's a two-seater.” She told us. “It's… Why I ‘Cart’ my Pet Raider around in this.” She added, wiggling the wagon handle as the Raider sniffled.
“Hmm, there might have been a jeep back at the Ranger Barracks, but there are Nevermore nests on one of the roofs,” Deus explained. “Hopefully it still works.”
“Alright. I'll see if I can get rid of them,” she said, taking out a rifle with a suppressor on the barrel. I recognized it as a Steiner-Bisley Alopex gauss rifle, a pre-war relic from a bygone era, the suppressor built to fit around the mouth of the devastating weapon. “I've heard of the Nevermore but never gotten to Eat one. I heard they were quite the Delicacy to many a Hunter, but are a ruddy Nightmare to kill. Can't really use my rifle without zooming in either. Dunno why.” Oh, thank god, she doesn't know about the Weapon's charged Shot function. Those things are a nightmare, capable of piercing a suit of Enclave X-02 advanced power armor in a fully charged shot, two or three to destroy a Chimera tank!
“Heh, you could just use my Fatman.” Vermilion chuckled as the three of us pale. “You don’t have to use my old gun.”
“Well, maybe to flash fry them.” Velvet giggled.
“Where in the hell did you get those weapons?!” Deus asked.
“I’m an old Soldier, used to be Special Forces. Anyrate, I have codes to some of the bunkers and Armories around Canterlot Commonwealth.” He told us.
“Which is very useful. I would have only been stuck with Freya otherwise,” she said, putting away her rifle and taking out a heavily modded Zenith 10mm pistol. “It didn't have the mods when I first met Vermillion.”
“Yeah, now do you ya’ll want a jeep or what.” Vermillion said as they walked out, wheeling the Raider behind them, Who looked stuck between deciding whether to go ‘Whee’ or Cry.
“Okay, let’s get that Jeep,” Deus told us.
We all walked through the terrain till we came back up to the Ranger Barracks finding the Nevermores fighting Deathclaws. We all balked a moment before the Cyber wolf aimed and took out one of the bigger Nevermores, drawing the group's attention to us.
“Fuck! They weren't as distracted as I thought! Vermillion! Nuke Em!” she yelled.
“Okay.” He said blinking before he shot off a mini nuke. The shot was wide but hit close enough to kill the group, Thankfully not taking out any of the jeeps as well.
“Well, good shot, Pops!” she huffed, patting Vermillion on the back as the Raider whined fearfully, the scent of urine telling us she'd pissed herself.
“Thanks.” He said before he walked up to the jeeps. “Let's see what we can build. Out of these jeeps.”
“Yeah.” Velvet said, jogging towards the vehicles and started digging through them. “Hmm, carburetor looks good, battery, engine frame, and the camshaft is toast, I’m afraid,” she said, pulling out the component.
“Frame on this one’s good, Titanium, new model,” Vermillion told us. “I think I can make something with this if take off everything else.”
“Goody.” Velvet said as we walked up, noting that the engine Frame she mentioned ‘Toast’ was thanks to the battery breaking and the acid eating through the Frame.
“Plasma gun on that one. Could use it for a turret.” He told us.
“Good. Capacitors are still good on it too, so we won't need to replace them.” Velvet said, before finding a Large Black vehicle that resembled an old vehicle from before the use of Fusion Cells. “Hey, a Highwaymare,” she said. “Haven't seen one of those since Navarro.”
“Heh, so we got a relic. Could be useful.” Vermillion told her as he took a look over.
“Hee!” she squee’d, hopping on her feet. Seems she likes the Old vehicle. Then again, They were capable of holding Dragons at a certain age in there, and Adolescent Dragons were pretty Large. “I've heard how they're capable of having Hover pads installed! They're amazing!”
“Well, no hover tech here. You would have to raid an Enclave base to get that.” Deus told us.
“Awwww.” Velvet whined as she hugged the Highwaymare, propping a Box with a Straw for the Raider ‘Pet’ to drink from.
“We would still replace the Frame with it, add the gun, and take the Hell Tank’s engine,” Vermillion said making us blink at the tank in the corner.
“Huh. Thought the Highwaymare used a Fusion engine?” she remarked.
“Only Engine around here that’s not stripped beside the Buggy. And that thing’s too light for that. We’ll look for better parts along the way.” He told her.
“Okay.” she sighed as she gently took the box from the raider, the Mare belching.
“You two in power armor, start gutting and we’ll have your Jeep in a day or so. We’ll have to guard this spot though.” Vermilion told us.
“Alright.” My comrades said as they started helping with putting together a decent Vehicle.
“Why should we help?” I asked.
“Want to walk on foot?” Vermillion said before his eyes blanked out. He shook his head again before walking off to look at the small armory. “We got some 55.7mm, and Assault rifles here. Looks like the Rangers were expecting something big here before the bombs.”
“Wonder what It was?” I remarked, looking for a functional terminal as I tried to push what I just witnessed out of my head. I suspected that Vermillion might be going feral, and he was fighting it. I’d never witnessed it myself, but I heard the stories. It was never pretty, and I suspected he knew what was coming.
“Well, we can take a lookie while the big boy and girl get our parts.” He told her as he checked the weapons. “Well fuck me, Feline designs too.” He chuckled.
“Huh?” I asked, looking at the Weapon he picked up. “What do you mean?”
“These are from the People's Republic.” He told her. “Less bulky than the USE design.”
“USE?” I asked, looking at the sleek weapon. “Looks neat… And rather Ergonomic.”
“Yes, but the damn things are rare, really rare. So if a piece breaks good luck on finding a blasted replacement.” He told me.
“Ouch. So just maintain the Weapon to minimize breakage?” I asked.
“Yes. Velvet, anything from the Terminal?” he asked the female dog.
“Hmm, something about the company needing to resupply for the other fronts… These were meant to be shipped off elsewhere, something about negotiations with the other countries… though the date lines up with what I heard from the bombs being launched.” she said.
“Ah, they were just holding them.” He told her. She nodded before a hidden door opened.
“Found a secret room. Think its a store or Something?” She said.
“Most li...holy crap, that’s a lot of Nuka Quantum.” He said. “Um...I think we can...hook this up to the Plasma Gun.”
“It’s a drink,” I asked with a flat look.
“You haven’t seen the devastation of this crap?” Vermillion sighed.
“Hmm. Hope you can save some for drinking. I like it.” Velvet sighed.
“I’ll try.” He said as he picked up most of it walking out.
“So is he alright?” I asked her.
“Maybe. He’s been having Headaches for a while, and sometimes feels like he's not at all there,” she said.
“Shit.” I snarled. “I think he might be going Feral,” I told her which made her angry.
“Don't say that! He's had two hundred years to go feral, and I know he's fit as a fiddle!” she snarled, though I noted her eyes didn't seem to show the same conviction her voice had, and not just because they were cybernetic.
“Alright then.” I sighed as I walked off. She huffed and gathered up the remaining bottles of Nuka Quantum as I left, finding the others working on what would be our New vehicle. “How goes the construction?” I asked.
“Going good, we got the body cleaned and we just need a welder now.” My Comrades told us.
“Good. Found one in the armory.” I said, passing them the welding torch.
“Thanks. Hey, Private Is that Ghoul going Feral?” Deus asked.
“I think so, but the wolf isn’t acknowledging it,” I told him, sighing. “Actually, I think she wants to believe he isn't going feral.”
“Great. We should keep our eyes out.” He sighed. “First sign of him attacking us ferally, orders are to shoot.”
“Copy that.” I sighed, suspecting that may cause her to hate us… If we don't convince her… Or if Vermillion doesn't own up that he's on his last legs. I grimaced. Hopefully the latter happens before then, or we may end up short a Member or three once the ghoul is gone.
“Okay, let’s get working,” Vermillion said, walking over and working on the engine. I looked at him, before sighing.
“Vermillion, how long have you been fighting the Feral state?” I asked, making him flinch.
“Few weeks,” he told us. I blinked. From the stories I had heard of, once someone goes feral, it takes only two days, if not hours to go fully feral. For him to last that long…
“When are you going to Tell her… Tell Velvet what's to come?” I asked him. “She doesn't want to believe you're going Feral.”
“I’m going to as soon as she can drive on her own.” He told us.
Gods, he was almost like a dad already. “How long have you known her for? She doesn't look older than sixteen.” I said as I started assisting with the engine installation.
“Most of her life.” He chuckled as he worked on the engine.
“Hmm,” I said. “So what's with her Pet raider? The One she wheels around?” I asked as I attached the gearbox.
“Honestly she really hats raiders, they...did things to her when she was young. She just wants to see them suffer for it.” he explained.
“Well, at least the Raider’s got better treatment than most others,” I remarked. “Though I guess it's the humiliation.”
“Yeah, like those brainwashed in the Enclave.” He told us.
“Oh Yeah. Those twats. Never met them, but they really caused a lot of problems for the Brotherhood… As well as other places.” I said.
“Yeah, the fact they ran into the clouds…” He just stopped working and started laughing. “Okay, can I tell you something? I honestly think they're further up then the clouds.” He said pointing to the open blue sky.
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“They’re on the moon. We used to have bases up there, hell we had a skirmish with the cats over Helium 3 deposits for an Ares Colony mission.” He told us.
“wha- You're kidding!?” Deus yelped.
“No, The scars on my chest are from a base stealth op. I’ve been on the moon.” He chuckled.
“Shite… That explains why their armor is so Light… It's literally from out of this world.” Fervus said.
“Well the X-0 series was just starting in Mass development when the bombs fell, about….thirteen working suits were scattered across the ITU Campus, and four more in bases around the USE. The latest models are much lighter than those tanks, but they also have more weak points. Find an X-01, you’re the safest you can be if you like weighing a bloody ton and being slow.” He told us.
“So basically, get a Suit if you want to be a Paladin… Maybe I should secure one for the Brotherhood to reverse engineer?” I muttered.
“Just remember that you’ll have a target on your back. X-01 locations have been raided by Enclave everytime they're found from what I hear.” He told us. “At any rate, X-02 and 03 are lighter and provide more adaptability from what I hear, but again less armor to cover the joints. Armor strong on those things a hell of a lot stronger then 01, but the joints are easy to take out.” He said as he moved to another piece of the engine.
“Well, can't really damage what you can't hit, I guess. Seems to be the Enclave’s M.O.” I said.
“Yes, but don’t be comfy with it. War may never change, but the tools do.” He told us as he seemed to finish the engine. “There that should be able to carry you three. How's the armor?”
“Hmm, Much of it is ruined, though we were able to salvage a few plates,” Deus told him. Salvaged some of the Tank armor too.”
“Good. Now for the damn wheels.” He said looking at the wheels. “Still need compressed air.”
“Found a compressor.” Velvet said, walking up. “And a Wolven Combat Rifle. I've called dibs.” She said, hugging the Weapon.
“Okay, bring it over. We still need to get moving.” He told her. She nodded, dragging the air compressor over for us. He quickly hooked up the hose and started filling up the tires.
“So, how long till we’re done?” she asked.
“Ten minutes.” He told us.
“Okay,” she said, slurping down her Quantum. “Need me to do anything?”
“Keep a lookout for Legion.” He told her.
“Will do,” she said, charging around as she stood up and walked off, not far away so she could rush back at a moment’s notice.
“So now we just need to finish the tires.” He said, handing me the pump as he worked on the turret making green turn to blue. “Okay, Quantum Turret fixed up with Nuka Quantum. How're the tires?”
“Seem to be doing fine,” I answered with a huff, pumping air into it as it started to inflate.
“Good, at least we can get moving.” He said, hopping off the turret mount. “You guys going to link up with east coast chapter after we leave?”
“Maybe. We haven’t decided yet.” Fervus answered with a shrug.
“Alright. This is the weirdest group I’ve been in, and I’ve been with the Vault Dweller.” He chuckled shocking us again.
“Seriously?” I asked him just as I finished pumping the tire.
“Yeah, saw the Master myself. Couldn’t help in the fight as I was holding off The Master Super Mutant Army with my old Gause that Velvet is using.” He explained as he poked around the Jeep, inspecting it.
“Sheesh, that must’ve sucked,” I stated.
“It did, the kid lost his dog.” He said solemnly.
“Aw man, now I feel sad.” Deus sighed, looking depressed.
“Sorry. Anyway, yeah, I’m an old fart that had seen some crazy battles, the moon’s bases were my favorite.” He chuckled.
“Again, what is Velvet hoping to find through the Mirror?” I asked him.
“Alice Through the Looking Glass.” He answered. “She’s looking for a dream, unsure if it will be true.” He told us.
“A dream?” Deus asked in confusion.
“A world that is not burned by war. But I keep to the term, War Never Changes, it is always there, even if the tools change, or the field, whether it is with guns or words. Conflict is always there.” He said looking off for a bit.
“So, is the Jeep ready?” I asked him, bringing him back to us.
“Hmmm, right….yeah the Tires are good. Start the engine.” He told us.
Nodding, I got into the driver’s seat and started up the engines, or tried to. On the five turn of the keys, the engines came to life, the rumbling sounds telling us that it was good to go.
“Okay, Velvet, we’re ready to go!” Vermillion told her, getting her to come back to us.
“Gotcha,” she said, dumping the Raider and her wagon into the seat.
“Okay, we in.” The Paladins said as we got moving. Velvet sat into the only chair next to the mewling raider, who'd apparently given up talking so Velvet won't hurt her.
“How're the seats working?” Deus asked us.
“Relatively well,” I told him. “...Sir.”
“Good, well we’ll head to a gas station, hope there’s some fuel left.” He told us as he drove.
Three hours later we found a gas sation and found some Super Mutants firing at what looked like a little girl. It was hard to tell with the fog bank around the Station, but it was creepy with the music of I think Techno blasting in the background.
“What the Hell is going on?” I questioned.
“I have no idea,” Vermillion said as robots started firing out of the fog at the Super Mutants. “Maybe we should just get our gas and leave.”
“Huh, don't those robots look kinda… Kitbashed to you?” Velvet asked, propping up the Raider Mare to let her have a better look. “I think that Assaultron has a Securitron’s leg units.”
“Let’s just get the gas and get out of here,” I said, not feeling safe by standing here and watch the fight go on until we’re dragged into it.
“Well, I think we've already been detected… Give me a moment.” Velvet said, pulling out her rifle and shooting a charging Super Mutant in the hand.
*Krak-Thooooom!*
The Mutant went up in a mushroom cloud, blowing that abomination into meaty chunks.
“Smashy smashy!” A mutant said, rushing us. Two shots from Fervus took him down, thankfully, making it drop the no longer beeping mini Nuke.
“Fucking Suicide Mutants.” Velvet grumbled.
“We got a Warlord on the roof of the Gas Station!” Vermillion yelled, firing his gun.
“Fuck!” Velvet snarled as she scrambled out, her ass getting in my face. “Sorry!” She growled as she got on the roof and started shooting the Warlord.
“I’ll just get the Jeep fueled up,” I said as I got out and checked to see which pump was still working. Finding one with some fuel left, I waved them to drive up and I got to fill it up.
“Why the hell are those robots blaring music?!” Vermillion asked.
“I don’t know!” I answered. “But let’s not worry about that!” I said as I squeezed the last few drops of fuel before it was empty. “Okay, that’s all of it!”
“Robot incoming! Hope it's friendly!” Velvet growled as an Assaultron with a Mr. Handy Thruster drifted over.
“Oh boy,” I muttered, pulling my pistol out as we waited for whatever it was going to do next.
“Hello, what are you doing here?” It asked before doing pot shots at the Super Mutants.
“Uh, getting fuel,” I answered.
“Right-o then.” It said taking a guarding post behind us as the Filly started walking up. Eh?
“Hi.” Velvet said to her, waving.
“Hello.” She said as her glowing pink eyes shone brightly through her hazmat Helmet. “Is bubbles being a bother?”
“No,” the Wolf said, rubbing the top of her Helmet.
“Okay, I’m Butterfly, what're your names?” She asked as she threw a rock at the Warlord.
“Puny child will die!” It yelled as ‘bubbles’ kept it suppressed.
“I'm Velvet, the Ghoul is Vermillion and the Raider is my Pet.” She told Butterfly as she shot the Warlord, ripping his rifle arm off and making him scream.
“Cool. I’m looking for Mommy. Is she here?” Butterfly asked.
“Sorry, but we haven’t seen anyone else,” I answered her.
“Oh, okay. Mr. bubbles let's look elsewhere.” The filly said walking off her small army retreating with her, leaving us with the Mutants and whatever robots that were destroyed.
“Fuck.” Velvet grumbled as she nailed a Mutant Skirmisher in the head. “Well, at least she cut them down nicely!”
“Fucking dammit!” Vermillion snarled as he started killing more Mutants with his rifle. “Do you think they have heavy weapons?”
“Let’s find out,” I said, shooting at some Mutants and killing them, before going over and looting their bodies. For the most part, I found us plenty of ammo, some more guns, and only one heavy weapon.
“You got something?” He asked as he got on the Quantum turret.
“Yep,” I answered, hauling my ass back to them and placing it all in the back. “A lot of ammo, some weapons, and only one heavy weapon,” I told him as I picked up an Assault Rifle and loaded it up, firing it at the Mutants.
“Chaingun. Hey, Minotaur, get this and fire on those suicider.” He yelled at Deus.
“Got it!” He said as he grabbed it and started firing away, mowing down the suiciders.
“Cool, you found a Sniper,” Fervus said as she grabbed it, loaded it up and started taking heads off.
“Why are there so many fucking suiciders!?” Velvet yelled as she swapped to her combat rifle.
“Don’t know. These don’t look like Super Mutants from the West. Think these are east coast variants!” Vermillion yelled the last part, killing off the last suicider.
“By Sarif, Glad that's over.” she huffed, before getting up. “Gonna loot the Robots, see what I can salvage,” she said, walking over to the downed robots.
“How's the fuel going?” Vermillion asked, his hands twitching.
“It’s nearly full, but that was the last of it. Either way, we’re good to go.” I answered him.
“Got some power cells, a few fusion cores, several 5mm bullets and a kitbashed Weapon,” she said, dropping the yellow buzzing weapon into the vehicle.
“Hope that’s safe,” Vermillion said as we started piling in.
“If that’s all, we should get moving,” Deus said with a grunt.
“Right,” Vermillion said as he got Velvet to drive this time. She struggled a bit with the gears, before driving us off. “You’re doing better.” He told her as we got back on the ruined road.
“Thanks,” she said, avoiding a Large rock as she drove.
“We need to get to a place to sleep for the night. Just keep us from crashing till dark.” He told us.
“Okay.” Velvet said as the Raider mewled.
“So what are we doing with her anyway?” Fervus asked as the wolf seemed to be getting better.
“Mostly keep her as a pet. Humiliate her.” She said. “She's terrified of me anyway.”
“Ah.” She said with a nod as we drove.
“I'll still treat her well, but if she even thinks about betraying me…” she somehow popped her joints, a thing that shouldn't normally be possible for a cyborg. The Raider whined, likely coloring her panties a shade of yellow again.
“We may need to get her some new clothes.” I sighed.
“We will,” Vermillion said as we got into one of the small hamlets from the old world.
“We’ll sleep here for the night,” Fervus said.
“I'll take the First watch. My enhancements allow me to need less sleep than most others.” Velvet said.
“Just don’t go a week without it like last time.” Vermillion chided her.
“After spending half an hour trying to shoot a Raider that was standing still and the thirty spankings you gave me as a result, makes that something I would try in a hurry.” she huffed with a blush.
“Good,” he said as we reached a Super Sunmart. “This should have more supplies.”
“Hopefully,” I said as we got out, weapons at the ready and entered the place, checked it out so that there wasn’t Raiders, Mutants, Robots, or anything else that’s gonna try and kill us.
“Strangely clear. Also not looted.” Vermillion said as we walked. “By the PA system outside, I think this place got warning fast and the people fled. But still, why haven’t anyone else but us come through here. It’s on a Highway.”
“Maybe they didn’t make it this far?” Deus theorized.
“So something killed them. Alright still keep a lookout for some animal.” Fervus told us.
“Yeah. No sign of ghouls either. That's good. Last Super Sunmart had a massive group of them… And the one where I got… Used by Raiders got attacked by a Wandering Talking Deathclaw in a massive cloak.” Velvet sighed.
“An intelligent one?” Deus asked.
“Seemed like it. It spared me and took me to the Church of Sarif.” She told us. “I only faintly remember it talking to the pastor before it left.”
“Heard they starting to get less like their feral counterparts. Looking more like Dragons.” Vermillion said as he started picking out food.
“Good to hear. I was… Scared when I heard they were nearly wiped to extinction. I'm glad they're Okay.” She said, propping her rifle.
“Who would have thought, huh?” I commented, looking at the ranges of food. “Do you think this stuff would still be good for consumption?” I asked.
“Not really, but it’s the best choice we have.” He told me.
“That, and Nightmare Night Deviled eggs are known for expiring never. The preservations they put on the food is insane.” Velvet said. “Oh, and if you ever find one of those vending machines with a perfectly preserved cake, try and get it. It's a rare delicacy if you can get it.” She told us. “Surprisingly healthy too.” She added.
“Okay, so we have no fresh food right now?” Fervus asked.
“Pretty much.” I sighed. “This is all we got.”
“Let’s get what we need then hold up in the deli,” Vermillion told us.
“Yeah. Besides, most of it would be cram or whatever growable food in here… Or Nuka Cola.” Velvet said. “The Church of Sarif had a decent production of fresh foods, but the Raiders, and later the Legion kept assaulting the caravans whenever they tried to send food to other colonies and governments.”
“I see,” Vermillion told us. “The main reason we’re having trouble is all the fighting. Even if the fighting is making our progress.”
“Yeah.” She said, opening a tin of cram as she passed us some and a Pack of Deviled Eggs each, even opening one for the Raider.
“So what’s the plan?” I asked as Velvet fed the Raider.
“We just need to have one on watch and rest to sleep,” Vermillion told us. “Velvet’s taking first. I’ll have the second watch.”
“Alright.” I nodded as we went back to the jeep and drove up to one of the buildings, sleeping in one of them for the time being.
“Alright. Night everyone.” Vermillion said as he laid down to sleep in the living room of the old one-story house.
Codex
Entry 9:
The Brotherhood of Steel, is an advanced Military faction based heavily on the old Knighthood system, whose main role is the capture and Reverse Engineering of old world technology and the prevention of Nuclear weapons usage, the higher ranks donning advanced suits of powered armor, with the Entire faction also having a heavy preference for laser weapons, though are still trained with ballistic or explosive weaponry. They have a hatred for the remnants of the Old USE government, known as the Enclave.
Entry 10
The Enclave are known to many since their attacks of The Vaults, the destruction of the Poseidon Oil Rig and their retreat into the clouds after the Failure of trying to take control of Project Purity. The remnants of the USE Government, they are one of the most advanced groups in the wastes, but they are also the smallest in number as of now. Their usage of plasma weapons and frightfully Lightweight power armor has made them a sought-after target by the ballsy, insane, heavily armed or all of the above, for their valuable gear and powerful weapons.
Entry 11
Pre-War Tech: While it is unknown as to how far many Nations got in the Technology Race, the term ‘Nanomachines’ is referenced in Technical Documents. There were even plans for the fourth planet to be colonized, but it is unclear if either came to fruition, but one thing is clear, that Pre-War Tech can be on par with magic at times if one thing is known by the functionality of the G.E.C.K, full name being the ‘Garden of Eden Creation Kit’, being able to terraform even the most barren of lands into a thriving paradise with only a few drops from one of its vials.
Entry 12:
Cybernetics: Originally thought up by Hugh Darrow, and made a reality by Sarif Industries, Cybernetic Research had taken the world by storm, with leg amputees being able to walk again, or the wingless being gifted with flight. Over the years leading to the Great War, the use of it was incredibly popular, some even giving up their healthy limbs just to wear the Cybernetic limbs. While much of the Newer Technologies were lost to the ages post-Great-war, Sarif Industries somehow managed to preserve a majority of their most important knowledge, leading to the Church of Sarif, a religion based around Cybernetic enhancements. It also leads to the still standing Sarif Tower to become the Capital of the New Chicago Coalition.
Entry 13:
The New Chicago Coalition is known for its use of Cybernetically enhanced troops, thanks to their connections to the Church of Sarif, and Mechanized Warfare. They have a small Envoy with the NCR, but not much is known about them as of this writing.
Entry 14:
The Church of Sarif is a Religion built around what was found in a Sarif Cache, revering David Sarif as their god and Adam Jensen as their patron saint. While a majority are noted to have Cybernetic enhancements, the belief of the Church is that choices and beliefs must never be forced on anyone. They have a distaste for the Children of the Atom, and are noted to be highly advanced and willingly pacifistic, never starting fights, but certainly willing to end them if they have to.
Entry 15:
The Children of Atom was at first thought to be part of the Church of Sarif due to a translation error, but was soon corrected as the two religions started to fight. It was soon learned that they came from a region known as The Capital Wasteland and have worshipped the aftermath of the Great War. They are marked as a high threat after several negotiations went south, and utilize weapons based on Radiation.
Entry 16:
The Nevermore is the Mutated Descendant of the Bald Eagle of the Equestrian Continent. They are around ten feet in height with a matching wingspan of Twenty. They Prey on many of the animals in the forest in and around the former Yellowstone National park, one of the few green places of the wasteland as nuking a Supervolcano was thought to be too dangerous. Nevermores are known to fight Deathclaws for food, even hunting their competitors and being hunted in return.
Author's Note
okay here's chapter 2, hope you like it and leave a thumbs up to help promote or not up to you.
POV...The Private
“So what are we planning to do in the east Deus?” Fervus asked our de facto squad leader.
“Hook up with the chapter set up there, after we help Velvet.” He answered with a shrug. “If they don’t take us for deserters.”
“The Brotherhood of Steel probably thinks we’re all dead.” She said with a sigh.
“We did almost all die in that fight. And The Legion is using advanced tech.” I snarled. “What are we going to do about them? We were tasked to stomp them out by the Brotherhood and the NCR.”
“Well we’re gonna have to tell them what happened out there. I don’t think anyone was suspecting them to be packing that much firepower.” Deus said with a sigh.
“I know, but we can’t just let them have it either. What about the Prydwen they’re making? Shouldn’t that work to whittle them down?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t know.” He said with a shrug.
“Anything else we should look into then?” Fervus asked.
“What about whatever left this town so untouched?” I suggested.
“That does raise some questions,” Deus said with a nod.
“Should we look into it?” I asked.
“Might as well, there could be something worth looking into.” He answered.
“Check the houses for Raiders first?” Fervus asked.
“Yep.” He nodded.
We walked out minding the three standing guard. The bot and the Nevermore were a shock till Velvet explained they were from Butterfly. I did notice her walk in and fall asleep.
At any rate, we walked through the houses finding nothing but shed skin of lizards and snakes. Each one bigger than the last.
“Okay, this doesn’t look too good,” Fervus said as we followed the remains to a cave dug in the middle of town.
“Okay let's see what’s going on. No need to let people keep dying.” Deus said, walking in with his weapon at the ready.
“What do you think is down here? Deathclaws?” I asked.
“They don’t shed, do they?” Fervus said, looking around.
“I don’t know. Do all lizards shed their skin?” Deus questioned.
“Not frogs...I think.” Fervus said.
“That’s an amphibian,” Deus told her.
“I really don’t know anymore.” I sighed.
“Can we just check this out?” Deus sighed as we moved in, noticing the tracks looked more and more like snakes. “Doesn’t seem like Deathclaws.”
“So, big snakes, maybe?” I asked.
“Okay, let's just kill them. They seem to be the problem.” Fervus said, cocking her gun.
“Alright.” I nodded as we moved deeper, checking every corner so we don’t get pounced on.
“And here’s the bodies,” Fervus said as Deus revved the Minigun. “How many are down here?” She asked as we found the den...and a single snake...the size of a passenger plane. “Fuck us.”
“Aw, shit,” I stated.
“Okay, open fire! This thing really can’t live!” Deus snarled, firing his minigun on the snake as it works and it hissed.
“Got it!” We said as we started shooting at it as well.
*HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!* It sounded out as it tried to kill us. It swallowed Deus at the moment our rounds started making damage.
Fervus snarled as she moved behind cover with me. As we fought the reptile, the Snake barfed blood, Deus wrecking its insides.
“Okay, let’s keep at it!” I barked out, continuing to put rounds on this gigantic fucker. “Just be sure we don’t hit Deus,” I added.
“I know,” Fervus said as the Snake spit Venom at us.
“Oh fuck!” I shouted as we got out of the way. “I hope Deus is doing fine in there!”
“Worked with him for years, this is the least of the crazy shit the Wasteland has thrown at us,” Fervus told me.
“I’m not sure if I want to know or not,” I said as we dodged the snake’s venom spitting.
“You really don’t.” She said as the Snake dropped dead.
Within the snake, Deus made his way out through its mouth, grunting as he got out.
“Okay, I’m going to need a shower, first chance I get.” He huffed, wiping the saliva off his armor. “Any signs of more?”
“None that I can see or hear,” I said, looking around the cave.
“Looks clear,” Fervus said. “Head back? Or check more of the town?”
“Honestly, I think I hear Butterfly’s bots, so the town’s guarded. Let's go get some sleep.” Deus sighed. “I never want to do that again.”
“Alright.” I sighed as we left the cave.
“I think I hear...a Deathclaw. Sounds like it’s on the other side of town so it just wandered in.” Fervus said.
“The bots will get it.” Deus sighed as we marched back.
“I just want to turn in. That was one fucked up fight.” I said with a sigh, shaking my head. “Right now, I feel like going with Velvet through that mirror.”
“Still have a duty to the Brotherhood Private. Don’t forget what we were trained for.” Fervus scolded me.
“Yeah, I know. I can only hope what she finds on the other side, is worth all the trouble.” I told her, making it back to the jeep.
“I know. And I do see the appeal, but this world is worth saving in my opinion. And one day we’ll reach the moon again.” Deus chuckled. “What Vermillion said...about us actually reaching there...it’s got me thinking about the stars.”
“Yeah,” I muttered as we got into the jeep and drove off.
We reached the house and slowly walked in. Velvet sighed at Deus’s smell but we ignored it and laid down, still in armor and prepared for combat.
POV...Velvet
I whined as I got up, feeling a need to relieve myself. Thankfully, going ‘Number 2’ hadn’t been a problem for me ever since I gained my Cybernetics. I still needed to go for Number one though.
I walked out and found Vermillion sleeping on the stoop. I sighed before I walked to the side and pulled my panties down, crouching down to pee as I emptied my bladder.
“Greaouah.” I heard Vermillion as he got up, but he didn’t look normal.
“Huh?” I whined, pulling up my panties as unease set in, not caring that I was still peeing. “Vermillion? Pops?” I asked nervously.
“Graraaah….Graaah?” He said, looking around aimlessly. He stumbled forward looking around confused.
“Vermillion?” I whined, stepping up to him carefully, my instincts screaming at me to run.
“Grr,grrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” He snarled, charging me with the intent to kill. I panicked, pulling out my gun as I started firing Haphazardly.
“Vermillion! Stop!” I screamed, wanting the perverted Zebra back as the bullets struck him.
“Graaaaahhaa!!!” He screamed, getting closer as the others rushed out, but it was a set of claws that ended him.
“Damn ferals.” A Female Deathclaw said after jump down from the roof of another building.
“Vermillion?” I whined, staring at his body. “Pops?” I whined when he said nothing.
“Velvet?” Butterfly asked, walking up.
“Ah, he just went feral, sorry for your loss.” The Deathclaw said, bowing. I whined, hugging his body as I broke down.
A chattering of something hitting the floor hit my ears. I looked to see it was a holotape. I picked it up, then inserted it into my arm to find out what it was.
“Damnit.” I heard Vermillion said. “Not going to make it, come on, turn on you fucking recorder!” He snarled. “Okay, it’s on. Velvet, sweetie...I...I hope I’ve wandered off by now, or someone else killed me before you...see what I’m turning into. Dammit, I wish I had more blasted time. I’ve lived over two hundred years and this blasted tumor from my forties is finally doing me in!”
For a bit, his speech was nothing but feral growls, before he seemed to calm. “Dammit, Look, I know you can do anything baby. Hell, you helped me stay sane for another twenty years.” He chuckled in sadness. “And I tried teaching you all I knew, and you just soaked it all up. I do wish I had found you sooner, before those….monsters...I never thought I would be a father, even a bad one after his daughter’s ass.”
I squeaked, my ears drooping as it hit me… he was my biological father!? The message was still playing though.
“Dammit, fuck a wolf once and she sends me a message two years later, and one year before she gets killed. You did always look like her.” He chuckled. “Never thought that singing gal would go for a wrinkly mutant like me.” He sighed. “Anyway, I need you to be strong and don’t blame anyone for...killing me. They’re doing me a favor.”
I started to cry as he showed signs of losing his battle with his feral state.
“I...look….please don’t mourn me. I’ve lived a long, crazy...happy life. I’ve seen space, I’ve traveled this land from coast to coast, and Laid with a lot of girls along the way. Some other pre-war ghouls might live longer, but I knew from the tumor in my head that I wouldn’t. I accepted that and fought it for as long as I could...so please, don’t let the past hold you back.” He huffed before hearing the click of whatever recording device he was using.
I whined, blinking The tears away, though I was still crying. I lost my father, and I was forced to end it. I needed to mourn.
I didn't know how long I cried for, but I eventually was able to push myself up. “Goodbye, daddy,” I whispered, hugging his corpse before I stood up. “Is… Anyone ready to go?” I asked.
“We are,” Deus said with a respectful nod. I sighed, before grabbing the Raider’s wagon and pulling the surprisingly silent raider along.
“You are not going to bury him?” The Deathclaw, a black scaled one with one broken horn, asked.
“I would.” I sighed. “But it would mean taking his corpse with us. There was this… A place he mentioned… Where my Mom was buried.” I sighed.
“Where is it?” She asked.
“Four kilometers that way,” I said, pointing north-west.
“I will look for it.” She said picking up his body and walking off in the direction I mentioned. I sighed, watching her go and wanting to follow. Hopefully, she’ll mark the location so I can say my goodbyes.
“We good?” Deus asked climbing into the driver’s seat.
“I think so,” I said as I loaded up the Raider. “So who’s taking the buggy?” I asked, looking at the vehicle Vermillion… Daddy used.
“I will.” The Private told me jogging over to it. I nodded in thanks as I sat in the main vehicle… Wonder what would be a good name?
“When are we going? Till she returns?” I asked.
“There’s an old Army Base. light, no bot.” Deus told me. “We could use more gas.”
“Good.” I sighed, looking at my priced Rifle. May as well keep using it.
“How are you feeling?” Fervus asked.
“Sad. Having to kill the one you consider a father does that to you.” I sighed. “And upset he never told me he was my real father until he turned,” I whined.
“I’m sorry.” She sighed as we drove slowly up the road.
“Don’t. It’s not your fault.” I sighed as I watched the landscape pass by, idly passing the Raider another Box for her to drink from.
“So are her limbs broken? Or…”
“All four of them,” I confirmed. “And I know It’ll take a long time to heal. Why do you think I bound her arms And legs?” I asked her. “And as for feeding, I may hate Raiders for what they did, but I won’t stoop to their level. I may humiliate her, but I won’t starve her or Violate her.”
“Ah.” She said as we moved along. I sighed as I leaned back, watching as we drove out of town and into the open wasteland. The countryside was still rocky from the local mountains but we still were entering the great plains.
“Hmm, I hope we don’t run into Legion.” I sighed.
“Do you know dee way?” We heard from the roof and saw a strange bug-eyed creature.
“No?” I said. “What way do you mean?”
“Do you know dee way to the homeland?” It asked as more showed up.
“No?” I said. “And what Homeland? Where is it?”
“Across the sea.” They told us...this is getting creepy.
“Where the fuck where they hiding?” Deus asked.
“No idea,” I whined, my hand on my Wolven Combat Rifle.
“Hmmmm, They do not know dee way.” One said before they JUMPED OFF OUR MOVING JEEP, and started walking off.
“Okay...that was weird. This is so weird.” Fervus sighed.
“That was disturbing,” I whined, before looking at the Raider, who was sitting in a puddle. “Hope the next place has fresh clothes, my pet has peed herself.” I sighed.
“And we can clean the seat.” Dues sighed as we sped up.
“Yeah.” I huffed as the Raider whined in discomfort. Guess she hated feeling like a Foal in her nappies.
“Well, we’re coming up to the base.” He said as we parked. “I see the gas lines. I’ll fuel both cars up.” He said as Private and Fervus took the watch, leaving me to explore. I started by digging through what the base had in their lockers. Mostly crap, but I did find ammo and clothes.
When I walked down a hallway, I heard a cracking sound, making me trigger Smart Vision, finding the floor was crumbling! Reacting Quickly, I launched myself away from the weakened floor with an Icarus Charge, catapulting myself out of the hazard! I looked at where the floor had broken, finding an open vat of FEV. I shivered at the sight, That was fucking close!
I opened my radio, hoping one of the Ex-Brotherhood members had a radio on them.
“Yeah?” Dues asked.
“Deus, I found a Vat of FEV, almost landed in That guck,” I told him. “It’s under the second corridor, within the base. The corridor is unstable.” I told him.
“I..what! Great, guys, we have a resource and a torch and burn!” He told the others. “No accidents!”
“Thanks,” I said, Icarus leaping across again.
“Hey, you alright?” The Private asked as he walked carefully.
“Y-yeah. Barely avoided the floor. Had I been any slower, I would have fallen through.” I said, grimacing at the thought. If I can get affected, my mutating Body would have reacted badly to my own cybernetics… The same things that gave me my motor functions back… That gave me sight…
I shuddered, that was disturbing to imagine.
“Okay, well it’s best to torch the place now anyway. Only Species to be able to breed after interacting with that crap was Deathclaws.” The private snarled pulling out a Grenade.
“Can’t agree more.” I huffed, taking out some Det Packs and sticking it to the walls.
“Okay, on three, we run.” He told me, pulling the pin. I nodded, charging my systems as I prepared to grab him and run.
“Okay, one two three!” He said tossing the Grenade. I grabbed him the moment the grenade left his hand, running towards the exit as I detonated the Det Packs afterwards, racing the explosion out.
“You okay?” Fervus asked as we landed outside.
“Yeah.” I huffed, dropping the Private. “Hopefully, that dealt with the FEV.” I sighed.
“So, you have gotten you needed?” Deus asked.
“Only Ammo, and an old jumpsuit.” I sighed, before checking the pockets. “Hey, it's got a pair of clean panties. Neat!” I grinned.
“Why would someone have that in their pocket?” Fervus asked as I spotted Butterfly riding Bubbles down the road.
“Well, these are clean… And rather Ranchy.” I said, holding up the silk panties.
“Okay.” She said, getting into the jeep. I nodded, before stripping the Raider’s stained panties, making her squirm as I cleaned her up, then slipped her new panties onto her.
“Can you just kill me?” The raider asked.
“No,” I said, tossing her old panties away. Kinda rare to see a Raider wear underwear not made from skinned victims. Those were cotton.
She whined as her limbs were still broken. “Oh don’t give me that!” I grumbled, putting her back on her Wagon. “You’re lucky I won’t put a shock collar on you.”
“You done?” Deus asked. “Really don’t get why you have that raider.”
“Pet,” I said. “Kinda as Catharsis factor.”
“Okay.” He said as I walked over.
“So, guess we’re off on the road again?” I asked.
“Yes. not much else with the FEV here.” He told us as we started on. “About a week now at this rate. So what are you going to do for this? We’re most likely not stopping.”
“Well, more likely than not, we would have to stop every now and again, if not to use the Loo.” I shrugged, using old world language.
“I know.” He chuckled as we drove down the road. I leaned back, idly scratching the Raider behind the ears as I did so.
“Okay,” Fervus said as old jets passed overhead. “That’s rare to see. Someone got those jets up and running. Where are they coming from though?”
“What I’m more concerned about, is if they are friendly.” I sighed. “Location comes after confirmation.”
“Right, well they don’t seem to have noticed us. Wonder if they have b-” Deus started before a 747 went low overhead before landing at an airport nearby. It had the flag of the Wolven Commonwealth, but there was a Gryphon as well.
“Okay… So they’re of the Wolven commonwealth. Huh, never thought they got through the bombs okay.” I remarked.
“Judging by the damage to the plane, they just got that working. So I think they’re remnants.” Fervus said as we drove by, the guards walking out looking lightly armed. Seemed they didn’t know of the dangers here.
“Well, if they get attacked while we’re here, you think we can assist them?” I asked.
“Yeah, but we should keep moving.” He said as we watched the group seemingly setting up a base.
“Yeah. I did say if we were in the relative area.” I shrugged.
We kept on driving through the area slowly leaving the Airport and moving on to mining town down the way. I leaned back as I watched the view pass us by. I inhaled, then exhaled.
“Well, we still good for food and drink?” I asked.
“A bit. We got a huge supply.” Fervus said handing me some cake.
“Good,” I remarked. “Well, at least we’ll last a Good while.” I chuckled.
“Yeah, good thing we found the market. Even killed the massive snake that's eating the travelers while you slept.” Deus chuckled.
“Yeah,” I said as I fiddled with my Wolven Combat rifle, idly noting the ones the remnants used seemed to be lower caliber and of poorer quality.
“So you think they’re expanding or escaping something?” Fervus asked.
“With how those soldiers were using poor quality weapons, possibly… Unless this is merely a scouting phase, a way of ‘Testing the Waters’.” I said, assembling my gun.
“So we may have an invasion coming then?” Deus asked with a sigh.
“Possibly, but it could be them just checking it out, then coming back.” I shrugged. “I mean, an invasion force would be better armed than that, and have a few decent soldiers there.”
“So exploration then?” Fervus suggested.
“Likely,” I said.
We sat back as Gryphons took off and flew around. Deus watched them carefully as we left the Mining town in fairly comfortable silence.
“So, think the Brotherhood is doing okay?” I asked.
“About...as good as you can get...when chapters were squabbling and unable to eat.” Deus sighed. “With the reforms from the East, we’ve been recovering.”
“Oh,” I said, idly wondering what we may encounter later as I gave the Raider mare another juice box.
“So how is your relationship with the NCR and the Brotherhood?” Fervus asked.
“Mine? Well, I don’t have much issue with the Brotherhood, but the NCR? Well, I don’t like them. There are decent people there, but the ones in power have a stick up their asses much of the time.” I huffed.
“I do agree to that.” Deus huffed. I nodded, fiddling with my guns as I did.
“Yeah,” I said. “As for the Church of Sarif, they are iffy with the Brotherhood, mostly from some of their expectations of being given what the Church protect and use to help people.”
“Well, the tech they use was of debate back before the bombs,” Deus told me. “Though our behavior is not excused.”
“The tech was of debate, but only because of greedy people. From what I got from the texts, Sarif were the ones being legit, trying to better themselves rather than control.” I sighed. “Hugh Darrow was condemned by the Church for a reason. His way of dealing with the problem just made it easier for greedy people to take advantage, as well as falling to jealousy for being unable to have cybernetics implemented into himself.”
“Ah, I’ll report it when we make contact,” Fervus told us. I nodded in thanks as I checked my weapons, before putting them away. “At least we can get the one throffing at the mouth to back off.”
“Huh?” I asked her.
“There’s a group that is just adamant as taking Augs away,” Fervus told me. “But they are not as bad as the Enclave if the rumors were true.”
“So basically, ‘Purity First’ survived the bombs?” I said.
“Pretty much.” Dues sighed. “Not all see it that way, trust me.”
“I know, but just so you know, Purity First was one of those branches of that greedy group I mentioned. They called themselves, the Illuminati.”
“Give me proof and I’m sure the others will crack down on this Illuminati.” He told me.
“Good,” I said, taking out a holotape. “I have several copies of those,” I told him. “If they survived this long, they must have a cryo vault somewhere.”
“Thanks.” He said as we passed a few farms. “You got anything else about the past?” He chuckled.
“Yeah. Did you know there was an undersea research base right under the noses of the Wolven Commonwealth?” I asked.
“Really?” Fervus asked, looking skeptical.
“Yeah. It was more of a ‘City’, though.” I said. “The place was created by this Bloke called Andrew Taurus, who wanted to create a Utopia, where he said, ‘The Artist will not Fear the Censor, where the Scientist will not be bound by Morality, where the weak will not be constrained by the small’.”
“By Faust that’s just...crazy.” Deus sighed.
“David Sarif was said to have called him delusional after getting an invitation into his city. After that, contact was lost, and many search parties went missing afterward. They gave up after the tenth.” I said.
“Ah, must have been crushed by the sea.” Fervus sighed.
“Doubt It. The parties never returned, and the last one sent a final message that sounded like it came out of a pre-war horror thriller.” I sighed. “Only real.”
“Okay, so not a place to look into.” Dues sighed.
“There may be a chance, the nukes would have affected their equipment.” I shrugged. “Not to mention that the wildlife will make it hard for them to detect a new search party since they’ve been hiding long before the bombs fell.”
“So maybe then,” Fervus said. “Pointless though as we can’t exactly go there.”
“Good Point. I’ll put in the general co-ordinates anyway, should anyone be interested.” I said, giving her a holotape.
“Okay.” She said as we fell into silence.
“Okay, we’re about in the Iowa area of the Commonwealth,” Deus said. “We need a map, old or new, that could help us out.”
“Well, we may get lucky in the next area. They may have an old map.” I shrugged.
“Isn’t there supposed to be another park around here?” The Raider spoke up.
“Point taken… But finding a map helps too. Never know if a bunch of Suiciders had decided to gang up on a target. I’m rather certain a lot of them can actually change a landscape if they did.” I shrugged, making a collective shudder fill the Vehicle. That was a morbid thought.
“Right,” Deus said as we passed an abandoned settlement that had been made out of a ranger post, gift shop, several trees, and an underground garage. “Guess we’re in the park, looks like Raiders took these poor bastards out.”
“Hmm. Either the Raiders used Siege tactics, or the Rangers were poorly trained.” I remarked. “I’ll be rather surprised if it’s Siege tactics. Sun Tzu’s the Art of War was banned when the Great War started. Called it ‘Communist Propaganda’, those idiots.”
“Well, at any rate, they may have had a map. Let's take a look.” Deus said, stopping and hopping out.
“Yeah. Hopefully, they have a decent one.” I said as I got out and followed.
“I’ll guard the cars,” Fervus said as Private walked out of the buggy.
“Why does that thing smell so bad.” He asked me.
“The Buggy? Vermil- Dad made it after getting his hands on some old Raider Racers… And we never could get them clean.” I sighed.
“Ah. Smells like piss.” He sighed as he walked. “Damn, this place looks like a truck was rammed into it.”
“I think it was,” I said, kicking a bumper that looked like it had been attached to a battering ram.
“So not siege tactics,” Deus said as we passed skeletons.
“I think we’re good on loot right now,” Private said as he looked at a smaller one. “They didn’t let the kids live.”
“Hmm, well, at least they weren’t used.” I sighed. “I know how much I wanted to die after I was their toy.”
“Morbid.” Deus sighed as he checked a door. “Locked.” He huffed before bashing it in.
“You know I could have picked the lock,” I remarked as I pushed it open. “Let me do it if it’s a Safe. Those things can destroy their contents on a forced lock.”
“Got it.” He said as we looked finding more small remains around a large one. Looked like a school room.
“Looks like they starved to death,” I said, prodding the Small skeletons.
“Someone must have meant to unlock the room from the outside. Looks like the kids eat the adult at some point.” the Private said.
“I think the Adult made them,” I said, picking up a ruler. “Look, It’s got rust on one end, yet is clean on the other. The Adult killed them self to feed the kids.”
“Got a map, old USE,” Deus said, pointing to a map still hanging up. “This station mustn’t have updated it. Alaska and Haywhiny are not part of the map too.”
“Guess not,” I said, Looking it over.
“This is all, just morbid.” The Private said, looking a little sick.
“Suck it up, you’ve seen worst on expeditions as a kid,” Deus told him sternly.
“And besides, I’ve heard the Legion are even worse. It’s like they took a look at a textbook on Roman history, then made use of it without understanding it.” I sighed.
“More like their leader wasn’t very good in long-term planning. He expanded much too fast, and didn’t consolidate his power.” Deus chuckled. “Same’s going on with the NCR.”
“Yeah, though the NCR don’t treat females like breeding stock or pack mules, And at least they’re better organized than the Legion.” I snickered.
“Yeah, that’s pretty sure a good thing. The Legion is falling apart.” The Private said as he grabbed the map. “Anything else?”
“No,” I said.
“Alright, let's get out of here.” Dues said as we walked out. I nodded, putting the ruler back as I followed.
We got back without issue, mostly since there wasn’t any Raiders around.
“Okay, yeah, we’re in Iowa,” Private said looking at the map. “The Ranger post is marked by a star, we’ve got...about a thousand miles between us and Boston.”
“Great, we have a long road ahead, maybe a day more. If our gas holds up.” Deus sighed.
“Yeah,” I said as I sat in the chair and petted the Raider’s head.
“Well, let’s hope it’s calmer in the east than the politics and war in the west.” Deus sighed as we started driving again.
Author's Note
and here's chapter three. hope you all like
One Day Later
“Well, here’s the Commonwealth.” Deus said. “Still can’t believe they call it this. That Trader has to be crazy.”
“We need to get going.” Fervus said as we drove before finding a cliff and a broken Highway.
“Okay...we may have to leave the cars.” Private said as we looked at all the busted Highways.
“Fuck.” I whined, before I blinked. “Wait, if they’re all terrain, why do we have to leave them?”
“Point. Just going to be hell.” Deus said as we started moving off-road. Private whined as the buggy bumped around.
“Quit your whining. I’m more than capable of driving if You keep it up.” I grumbled.
“He’s still green, but good in combat. He did take down a blasted tank.” Deus said as moved down the cliff on a dirt road.
“Well, I’ll try to keep him alive,” I told him.
We drove till we came up to a small lake near a town. “Use that as a home base?” Private asked.
“Yeah, this place is even called Sanctuary.” Deus chuckled as we moved onto the main road.
“Fitting. I think they called this type of road a Cul-De-Sac.” I remarked as we drove. “Hmm, I think I detect a Vault nearby.”
“Eh, we’ll check it out in a bit. Doubt we could get inside.” Fervus said as we drove in, finding a Mr. Handy floating near one house as we parked near a big tree at the end of the cul-de-sac.
“Huh. Wonder if it’s friendly?” I remarked, noting how it wasn’t acting like those other Mr Handy I had the misfortune of encountering.
“We’ll check in a bit.” Deus said looking around. “That house looks like a good spot.” He said walking into a house right of the tree.
“Have to get plates from the other ruins to block the holes, but a good bunk house. We claiming the whole area? Conscripting locals?” Fervus asked.
“Maybe, the base yes, but local...depends on how….welcoming they are.” Deus said tossing out a Kitchen sink.
“Well, at least I have a use for the Micro assembler augmentation for something other than mods.” I remarked, breaking down much of the Junk into resources.
“Bloatfly!” The Private barked, killing a few.
“Got one!” I yelled, shooting one trying to attack him from behind with the Zenith I had named ‘Remedy’.
“Annoying little buggers. Private check the other houses. Fervus, I saw a gas station near by eariler, check it for tools.” Deus orders.
“Okay.” He said jogging off to the other houses as Fervus killed the last fly.
“Okay, Fervus get Velvet the material, then help her patch up the building, I’m checking our cars, and making sure the spark plugs are out so no one can steal them.” Deus said, walking out and leaving me alone.
“Well, may as well salvage what I can. Hmm, that collapsed house looks good.” I remarked, walking over to it as I started breaking it down.
After a bit, the Mr. Hand floated over. “Hello miss, may I help you?” It asked it’s buzzsaw spinning.
“Uh, can you lower that buzzsaw? It’s making me nervous.” I whined as I finished the deconstruction of the collapsed house.”
“I’m willing to help take down these demolished houses for you if you all don’t shoot me.” It told me.
“Well, sure. Thank you… I didn’t get your name.” I told him.
“I’m Codsworth.” He told me as he floated over the rubble and started sawing.
“Ah. My name is Velvet.” I told him. “Velvet Willowmarker,” I added, using My Dad’s surname.
“Hello miss Willowmarker.” He said as he cut and broke down the buildings that had fallen over. Fervus came back with piles of junk, rubber tires, balls, plastic and the like from all the houses, even furniture. She left the house the robot had been in front of alone.
“Thanks,” I told her as I broke down the other Junk.
“We’ll need walls first.” Deus said, “Four beds next, then other items will be built as needed. Basics first.” He took off his helmet showing it his brown fur on his Minituar face.
“Got it,” I told him. “I’ll see what I can build… And see if I can use the Foundations of one of the scrapped houses.”
“Well hold up around the tree for now. Move towars the river in the coming weeks. Layer the defenses, Fervus has some knowledge on makeshift Turrets so she’ll help with that. Scrap will be replaced with reinforced Concrete if we can get our hands on it.” He explained breaking down the junk with Fervus as Private came back with more material.
“Got it,” I said as I started assembling the components for our temporary base.
“Private, help her. Should only take you two four hours at the most, make a gate on the main road. Also any skulls should be mounted near it. As Raider like as it is, it should scare off scavengers should they come looking.” Fervus said. “Don’t need an armed Civi walking in looking for prizes.”
“Alright.” He said, helping me build the scrap walls. We slowly got through work making a rudimentary wall. Once we were done Fervus and Dues had made some beds for us. The two finally got out of their armor. And they smelled like something else.
“Okay, next order is bathing.” Deus sighed.
“I figure.” I sighed, looking at the river. I could salvage the wood, clean it up a little… Maybe assemble parts for a water purifier. “Well, I guess much of these rusted cars are pretty much useless,” I said, giving one a kick.
“Yes, they are,” Codsworth told me.
“Aw Well, better Scrap em,” I remarked as I broke it down into scrap resource.
“Do you wish more help?” He asked showing his flamer.
“I’ll be fine. Melting it means I won’t get aluminium, and I can see a Power Armor station over there.” I said, nodding to it. “Should make modifying your Power Armor easier than working on it without support.”
“Noted, though why the hell is it here?” Fervus asked. “Don’t look like this place has been touched much.”
“Ah, Well, those are normally used for cars, but Master Richard made use of it to train miss Colleen to use his Power Armor,” Codsworth spoke up.
“Alright. Well, we’ll use it now. And anything else around here...we’ll get them in the morning.” Deus said, looking at the sky. “We’ve lost daylight.”
“Got it.” I sighed as the Raider mare watched. “Well, I’ll check around. See if I can gather anything else that would require subtlety to get to.”
“Just be careful,” Deus told me. “And be careful around the Vault. Raiders may have made it a base.”
“Got it,” I told him, cocking My Wolven Rifle as I attached a suppressor I had crafted. “I didn’t live this long by being careless.”
“I know, I’m just reminding you.” He said as he sat down to eat.
I nodded, before I walked off, scanning the area as I did. I noted a small farm due west from Sanctuary and the unknown Vault, an old Power Pylon to the north of the Farm. I kept My gun low as I walked to the Farm, trying not to spook the farmers.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I heard as a girl screamed and Raiders were yelling about protection rations.
“Fuckers,” I growled, sneaking up on the Raiders as I extended My arm blade and grabbed one, stabbing him.
“SYNTH!” the Raiders and Farmers screamed fearfully, the Farmers also aiming at me. I swore, activating My nano Armor as the shots bounced off me, aiming for the Raiders as I popped their heads off.
“There. Hey!” I yelled when a farmer threw a Molotov at me. “What the fuck!”
“GET AWAY FROM US YOU INSTITUTE ABOMINATION!” they yelled shooting at me.
“The fuck is this Institute, you idiots! And what the flying fuck is a synth!?” I snarled.
They wouldn’t let up being so spooked about me being some Synth. I growled as I fired up My quicksilver augmentation and quickly knocked them out. “The Fuck is wrong with those people!?” I growled as I started stripping the Raiders and tied up the farmers, disarming them as I did.
“Hey, you alright?” Private said running up.
“No.” I huffed as I disabled My Titan Nano Armor.
“Um...you could have just run back to us and we could have talked to them.” He said as he looked over the farmers.
“From the way they kept screaming ‘Synth’, they would have followed me.” I sighed.
“That doesn’t sound good.” He said. “Look, we should really get them safe, I’ll guard their farm if they’re this close. We need them on our side for food.”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “Think you can wake them?” I asked.
“Would be best to bring them to Deus, he’s better at this than I am.” He told me.
“Got it.” I sighed as I carried them off to Sanctuary. As I did, I decided to shoot several of the birds, ripping them to shreds as I walked back, scooping their remains up to cook and eat later.
After a while, I entered Sanctuary. “Hey Deus, we Got an issue!”
“Goddamnit, what happened. We heard shots, so I sent the Private.” He said walking up his hooves clicking on the ground.
“These farmers were being harassed by Raiders. I killed one by stabbing him with My arm blade, but then they started screaming ‘Synth’ and tried to kill me.” I sighed.
“Okay...that’s new. Never heard of that before.” Fervus said.
“I’ve heard rumors. Robots so advanced they’re just like us.” He said looking at me. “And they’re not made with Sarif tech. From what I can tell, it’s partly genetic, if what they say is right.”
“I know. They called me an ‘Institute Abomination’ as well.” I whined as I dumped them onto a couch.
“We’ll wait for them to wake up. But seems the rumors were true...or at least true enough to scare the ever living shit out of them.” Fervus sighed.
“Fine. I’ll… Investigate the Vault.” I sighed, walking out with My Rifle in Hand.
“Velvet, it looks they’ll wake up in minutes, get back here.” Deus sighed. “We can just wake them up with smelling salts...or our bodily smells.”
“Fine,” I whined, grabbing My Raider’s wagon and dragging her with me into the house.
“Look I know you’re stressed about...your father dying. Just calm down. Also next time...it may have have been a good idea to just cloak and come back here... Do you have the feature?” He asked me.
“Yes, but I have to break cloak when I use My arm blades or fists for takedowns.” I sighed as I gently hugged the Raider like a teddy.
“Alright then.” He sighed.
“What the fuck?!” One of the farmers said.
“Sir, calm down, we’re friends...with weirder friends.” He sighed. “Look, my companion is a Cyborg, not a Synth, she’s friendly too.”
“I...How can I believe you? She looks like a Gen one and three put together! She might be a prototype!”
“I'M NOT A FUCKING SYNTH! I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS!” I screamed.
“Velvet, calm down. Okay, have you heard of the Church of Sarif?” He asked the Farmers.
“Um...no what is that?” The leader asked.
“Great...well…” Deus then proceeded, with my help, to explain it all.
“I...see. I’m sorry miss.” He sighed. “I...we’ve been hearing so much about the Institute.”
“I know nothing of it. All I’ve known as a cub was the Church of Sarif, and they gave me back the ability to walk and touch after I was a… Toy for Raiders when I got taken by them at Age Nine.” I whined. “I would have been a Quadruple amputee if not for them.”
“Oh...again sorry.” They told me.
“Don’t.” I sighed, stroking My Raider pet’s mane.
“So...can we be untied. And...we’ll help you out if you don’t...do what you did to those raiders to us.” The Farmer leader asked.
“I won’t anyway.” I sighed. “For me to do that would be for me to become like them.” I sighed, cutting their bonds. “Anyway, I’ll see if these are worth eating,” I said, holding up the dead birds.
“Thanks.” The Farmers walked off. I watched them go, before sticking the Birds over the fire to cook them. They just started burning...like plastic.
“What the!?” I balked, dropping the ones I was cooking as an acrid smell filled the air as I pulled up the two remaining Birds And pulled them open to find no meat or bone, but wires and circuits. “Shit! These are spy drones!”
“Great. Okay, note to self, kill birds.” Deus said looking around.
“Burn them for good measure,” I grumbled. “I’ll check out the Vault now. May as well see if there’s loot in there.”
“Okay,” Deus said as we moved out. I followed the path in, finding the entrance… Was set in the floor. Well, that’s quite a unique design.
I looked around, shooting more blackbirds as I did so as I entered a hut. A button was set in a console, with a few boxes of 10mm rounds sitting on a table. Hmm… Never did sell those weapons.
I shook off the thought, pressing the button And waiting, an elevator moving up to where I could get on. I walked out and stepped onto it, finding the Elevator descending. I came into a room with another Vault door.
“Huh,” I remarked as I got to the console. Hmm, normally I would need a pipboy… That is, if I wasn’t a Transmammal.
One hack and I heard the door start to grind open as a Bridge extended. Chuckling to myself, I walked in, finding three Rad Roaches skittering about. I killed them with a few stomps, scraping My feet off as I took the Pipboy off the wrist of a Unicorn Skeleton. Didn’t need it, but I suspected someone might.
As I walked into the place, I heard the loud reports of an unsuppressed N99 pistol, followed by a female swearing with a heavy Wolven Accent. Sounded like one of those ‘uncouth’, what was it, Cockney accents?
Walking through the building I noted ice melting all over. A Cryo Vault?! Shit. I rushed to a terminal, activating it and plowing through the comparatively weak firewalls to find that most of the occupants… Were dead. Some energy surge and a premature deactivation of the Cryo relay had caused the system to fail in all but one of the Pods… A miss Colleen Ardelle… The Surge reminds me of the side effects of Big Mountain’s teleportation system.
“Crap.” The female snarled deeper in as shots rang out. My eyes widened before I quickly commanded the Vault to open the doors, allowing me to rush to where the gunshots were coming from. I soon found a rough collie with white and brown fur huffing as she stood around dead Rad Roaches. I noticed she was wearing a rather form-fitting Vault Suit, which was a stark contrast to the looser Overalls of the other Vaults. “Who are you?!” She snarled, aiming at me.
“My name is Velvet. Velvet Willowmarker.” I said, waving. “And save your ammo. I have No wish to hurt you.”
“I...alright.” She sighed, looking a bit panicked.
“Did something happen?” I asked.
“I...my husband was killed and my baby was taken.” She huffed. I nodded, hugging her and making her squeak. I rubbed her floppy ear in a soothing way to make her relax.
“I See. Let it out.” I whispered to her. “I’ll support you.”
And she started crying, sobbing into My chest as I let her release her grief. I knew it wasn’t healthy to bottle it up. Releasing it now rather than later would help her a lot.
I gently supported her as she cried, as I gently carried her. She was shorter than me by a head, so I was able to get to the Overseer’s office with No real trouble.
“Sorry.” She sighed.
“Nothing to be sorry about. You lost your mate and your baby. You have a right to cry.” I told her. “And even Then, I probably cried harder when I was used by Raiders as their Toy when I was Nine years old. I gained these-” I gestured to My arms, “When I was twelve.”
“I...didn’t need to know that.” She said, looking sick.
“I kinda have to. From what I can tell, you’ve been underground for well over two hundred years.” I sighed. “I felt I needed to warn you.”
“Okay.” She said, still looking ill.
“Still, If you lived just down the Vault, your Robot Codsworth is still there, faithfully waiting for you,” I told her. “He mentioned a Richard and Colleen.”
“I...really...well, I guess I could see him.” She said, weakly getting up.
“Hmm, you’re… Really Squeamish.” I remarked, looking at the Console and hacking it. “Oh, before I forget, here.” I said, passing her the Pipboy. “Think you may need it.”
“Thank you.” She said, taking it and putting it on. I idly noted her fluffy tail wagged a little. Better not mention I took it off a Skeleton.
“Hmm. Seems the Overseer, dick biscuit he was-” Colleen snickered at My wording, “-Made a Cryotic weapon. Hmm, the lock is something I can handle.” I remarked as I picked it.
“Okay,” Colleen said as she walked back into the hall. “I’ll wait for the elevator.”
“Don’t have to,” I said, taking out the Cryolator. “Now we can leave. The place gives me the creeps.” I huff, grabbing some Cryo cells.
“Okay.” She said as we moved out of the Vault and back to Sanctuary. The trip was silent, though she gave me an annoyed look when I shot more of the spy-birds.
“Hey guys, guess What I found in the Vault!” I called out.
“Um..hello.” She said as Codsworth welcomed her openly.
“Okay, well Private’s acting as guard right now. Come on, let’s sleep.” Deus sighed.
“Yeah. C’mon.” I said, scooping up the Raider and hugging her like a teddy as I curled up on a bed I made. “I had to scrap the bed in your House Colleen. It was a wreck at this point, and I know Codsworth tried, but you know scavengers.”
“Sorry miss Colleen,” Codsworth whined.
“It’s alright Codsworth.” She said, taking up a wall.
“Night.” I sighed as I dozed, idly scratching the Raider behind the ear and mentally noting to scrub her down tomorrow, No matter how much she’ll mewl and cry for me to stop. She stinks.
“Night.” They all said, nodding off. I fell asleep shortly after, noting Colleen taking the bed next to mine.
Morning came with the sun shining in My eyes, making me wish it had an off switch. I still dragged myself out of bed, Deus and Fervus already getting up.
“Morning.” I yawned as Colleen stretched, giving me a view of her body. She had a nice hourglass figure, as well as decent muscle, which was showing through the tightness of her suit. Her breasts, when I got a good look, seemed to be minor E-Cup, and her hips were child-bearing.
I gulped at the thought. Due to being ‘Used’ as a ‘Toy’ by Raiders from age Nine to Eleven, and popping out babies that I had been forced to carry in those times, made me scared of most ‘Wastelander’ males. As a result, I ended up preferring either males who are gentle but strong or females who are like Colleen… Most of whom are a rarity.
“Velvet you okay?” Deus asked walking in just getting his jumpsuit on.
“I…It’s nothing.” I sighed, stretching again and hearing my bones pop into alignment. “So… Are we checking out the place? Clean up and look for more stuff?”
“Alright then. We’ll work more on the defense today, get scouting the local and helping the Abernathy’s.” Deus explained.
“Alright,” I said, as I walked out. “I’ll see if we missed anything on our first check. If I find anything, I’ll see if I can salvage anything useful for our defenses.” I said.
“Good. Once done, build some walls for the farmers.” He ordered.
“Will do. Hopefully, the Brotherhood would be more subtle when asking farmers for food.” I told him as I poked around, finding a Chem lab.
“I’m not the one that knocked them out. We would have had Private talk with them once you got back.” He chuckled.
“Actually, I was talking about some farmers I met some years back. They complained how a Branch of the Brotherhood had threatened them into giving them produce, rather than negotiating with them.” I said, dragging the Chem Lab to a more open area. “All because they wanted better defenses more than money.”
“Yeah, not all of us think about charity.” He sighed. I nodded, setting up the Chem Lab as I did.
“Well, I hope to find some Cement bags or Simply Concrete. We need better homes if people are going to be living here.” I huffed, dusting my hands off. “If we’re lucky, we may be able to cobble together a water purifier.”
“I know. Can’t just use the old houses. Sure they’re built well, but their still steel and wood.” He sighed.
“Yeah.” I huffed, before spotting a cellar door, well hidden by long grass. “Found a Cellar,” I called.
“Check it out. Doubt there are mole rats in it.” He said as he worked on his armor. I nodded, opening the Cellar and getting in.
I Found the place was surprisingly well lit, and shockingly spacious. Looked more like an emergency shelter rather than a simple cellar. A safe sat on one side, a gold bar glittering in the light of the powerful lamps. I took the bar, fiddling with the Safe’s lock to find a bunch of bullets, clean water, an old radio and what seemed to be scrap metal. I took what I could find, closing the safe as I checked the shelves.
It was well stocked with prewar foodstuffs, a bag of cement on the lowest shelves along with a few bottles of Gwinnett Stout, and two more gold bars. I was more than happy to take all of the stuff. I could use the gold to craft a few generators and a Water Purifier.
I exited the Cellar, plucking some Mutfruit off some nearby bushes. “Whoever made this, I will thank,” I muttered.
“Too bad Dennies wasn’t thinking about the bombs going off so soon.” Colleen sighed.
“You knew them?” I asked her, propping the Bag of Cement on my shoulder.
“They were my neighbors.” She told me. “Pair of Unicorns.”
“Ah.” I sighed, before looking around. “Well, haven’t got much cement, but it’s a start,” I said as I dropped off what I looted. “So, First things first, Generator,” I muttered as I started making plans. “Then a water Purifier.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Deus said as he walked over to scrap pile and got parts.
I nodded and started forming the designs of a simple generator. I took apart the old radio to get more pieces for it’s construction, finishing the Generator after an hour. “Right… Now for the Water Purifier.” I muttered, gathering up whatever remaining parts I got from the wrecked Cars I had pulled apart.
“I’m back,” Fervus said, dropping a deer. “Got dinner.”
“Oh, a Radstag! Nice!” I grinned. “Got a Nice amount of fat too! None too chewy!”
“Made sure. Kinda happy the Fallout made most of the green eaters shift to Omnivores like us.” She chuckled as Deus smile. “Deus would have to run around looking fruit for hours otherwise.”
“Good. Got some Mutfruit, by the way. Was right in front of the Cellar Shelter.” I said, passing them around.
“Should make for some good produce if we get more people,” Deus said as he started helping me with Purifier, while Fervus and Colleen worked on the deer. The Purifier had to be jury-rigged, mostly since the parts were in poor condition, so it was mostly a Temporary thing until we could find better-preserved components. It was good for around ten uses before it would have to be reworked.
“Alright, should at least last two days,” I told Deus.
“We’ll scavenge from the Gas Station. I’ve parked the damn cars and locked em up.” He said as walked off. “I’ll go see if it might be good for watch post too.”
“Yeah,” I said as I walked back to the Outpost we had made, already hungry. “Let's see what they made,” I remarked.
“We got steaks. Don’t have any pots so we didn’t have the stuff to make stew.” Colleen told us.
“Shame,” I said as I started eating mine. “Hmmm~ Meats tender… Haven’t had Venison this tender for a long time~”
“Thanks. My husband couldn’t grill worth a damn.” Colleen chuckled.
“Heh, let me guess, much charcoal?” I giggled.
“Yes.” She sighed. I nodded, withholding my laughter when I saw she was reminiscing.
“Yeah. What was your child’s name?” I asked her. “I managed to hack the Vault terminals and saw one of the pods had a male Unicorn and an infant male hybrid.”
“Shaun.” She told me. “He was six months old.”
“Ah. Well, I have reason to believe he may be still alive.” I told her.
“Really?” She asked. “Okay, how?”
“Whoever got into the Vault to take your son and murder your husband, used Teleportation Technology. Teleportation Tech, on the Level of Big Mountain.” I told her. “And I suspect this… Institute were the ones.”
“Big what?” Colleen asked. “What are those?”
“Big Mountain is a Pre-War secret Research facility that worked on Technology that was normally considered theoretical, such as Teleporters, Surgery that allowed for Brain, Heart and Spinal removal without killing the patient, and advanced Robots that can make Codsworth look like a Toaster, no offense to him. He’s a nice bot.”
“Oh.” She said still slightly confused. “I think I get it.”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “They did work on Questionable Things too, such as Super Soldier Serums and the like.” I sighed. “Still, A bunch of Farmers called me a Synth, whatever that is, and I from their descriptions of the rumors, are androids that look and seem Organic,” I told her.
“Oh...that’s...crazy. Why is the world so fucking crazy.” She whined as Fervus sighed.
“The Old World ended in nuclear fire, Colleen.” I sighed. “We’re just… Picking up the pieces of this whole mess, in our own way.”
“Hopefully not in war.” She sighed.
“We try not to.” Fervus sighed. “But there is always some deranged asshole who wants to make war for whatever convoluted reason.”
“I see.” She sighed.
“Well, we don’t want war any more than you do,” I told her.
“I know.” She sighed. “God, I’m just a lawyer.”
“I see.” I nodded, eating my steak. “Well, hopefully, you won’t have to kill too many reasonable people,” I said, hugging her.
“Thank you.” She sighed. I nodded, subtly sniffing her. She smelt nice, like some kind of sweet smelling plant.
“Hmm,” I said, sitting back.
“In your pants, for now, wolf,” Fevus told me, making me jump. “We’re not safe enough for that.”
I gave her a withering glare for that, before eating my meal and feeding my Raider.
“Okay, I’ve got another Power Armor Station,” Deus said dragging it in.
“Oh, Goody!” I grinned, before looking out. “Well, guess We’re heading to the town tomorrow?” I asked as I noted the nearby city.
“Yes. You make the walls?” He asked, reminding me of the farmers.
“I was working on the Purifier with you, remember?” I said.
“I know. Just reminding you. We need to get to work soon.” he sighed.
“Yeah. We don’t have a lot of Cement or Concrete, though, so I’ll have to cobble something else to build the walls until we get some.”
“I know. Use the Cement on our base first, we’ll improve others later on.” He told me as he started working some junk walls.
“Got it,” I told him as I finished my meal and grabbed a bag of Cement. Think I had enough to make a decently sized base, at least a little bigger than our current one.
“You work on those, and I’ll cover the Farm. We should have them done by nightfall and in the morning we’ll wall up their farm before we head to town.” Deus explained.
“Got it,” I said, using some steel to reinforce the wall I was making as well as to save Cement. Hopefully, I would have enough to make a decent fortress. I then started setting it on the empty lot that used to be a ruined house before I broke it down into parts. The foundations were still excellent after all.
“Okay, we’ll I’ll hunt down some other game,” Fervus said as Colleen started working on patching up blankets.
“Okay. Good luck Fervus.” I told her, building the new building carefully.
“Okay, got most of the walls done,” Deus said as he got about fourteen done.
“Good,” I said, finishing the lower floors. “Made some of the walls with windows to allow the light to come in… as well as to give a place to shoot from.” I told him, as I started working on the upper floor. I had enough remaining material for a smaller upper floor and a few reinforcements to ensure it doesn’t collapse on itself.
“Okay. Just make sure the main wall is good too.” He chuckled.
“Got it,” I told him as I built up the base we were going to live in. I Made the upper floors with wood and steel to save material, while also reinforcing them so they won’t crumble, then worked on The upper floor, using my Micro assembler to build The stairway inside The house, make it so that anyone raiding this place will have to get inside and face it’s defenders. The bedrooms would be both upstairs and down below, though that was for us to decide where we sleep.
Another room would make a good armory, and if I got more material, a watchtower can be built above the upper room. Turrets would be a definite, maybe a Radar system too if I can get more parts.
“Okay, you got everything?” Deus asked.
“Pretty much done with what we’ve got,” I told the towering Minotaur.
“Okay, let’s get some sleep then.” he sighed. I nodded, having noticed he’d dragged in the beds into their assigned rooms.
“Yeah.” I sighed, taking my bed up to the second floor. May as well act as Watcher if I can’t sleep tonight.
“How’s the other one doing?” Colleen asked.
“Private’s doing well. The Abernathy’s are being good hosts,” he told her.
“That’s the name of the Farmers, right?” I asked.
“Yes. He said one of their girls was almost killed in that attack you stopped...even if you knocked them out.” She chuckled.
“Well, good thing I stepped in at least.” I sighed.
“Yeah. Hey, what do you think of the city?” Colleen asked.
“Raiders, likely, maybe a few settlers there too,” I said, pushing my bed into position.
“Raiders will be easy, and hopefully the settlers as welcoming.” Deus sighed as he laid down.
“Yeah.” I sighed as I put my bed into position. “Where do you want to rest, Colleen?”
“Um, upstairs?” She asked. I felt my heart skip a beat at that, before nodding.
“Alright. Want me to bring up your bed?” I asked nervously.
“Sure.” She said with a thankful smile. I nodded, carefully taking her bed so as to not rudely wake anyone up as I carried it upstairs, noting Colleen was following me. I put a slight sway in my hips as I placed it down where she could sleep.
Author's Note
okay here's chapter 4
