18+ Secrets of the commonwealth

[Daryl Dixon]

Jack munched on the fancy lad snack cakes in the garage with greedy delight. Brutus approached the truck stop with no sense of caution, footsteps loud as usual.

"Brutus try give lady roach, she complain. Brutus not happy. Brutus not think she deserve radroach."

"I'm sure it's not your fault, you did all you could."

"Brutus try so hard for human."

"She'll come around. I'll give her some leftover mole rat meat I cooked up earlier, she doesn't have to know where it comes from."

"Brutus eat roach since Boss find new meal for girl?"

"Go ahead."

Brutus then ripped the roach in half and gorged on the feast, bug guts dripping. Jack was used to smells and sights far worse, but super mutant saliva landing on his face wasn't charming.

Jack wrapped up the remainder of his snack cakes and brought his gear down from the truck stop. The morning was brisk and dew settled on the grass. He arrived at Courtney's house, knocked on the door frame and walked inside.

He dropped the mole rat meat on the coffee table. "Don't ask what it is." It was the leg and thigh of a cooked mole rat. "Just dig in and don't complain. Be grateful you aren't eating bug for breakfast. If you behave, I'll give you dessert." He held up the snack cakes like she was a child. "You'd love stale, 200 year old cake."

He sat down on her couch and gave her an impatient look.

 

[T. Rakinson]

As dim moonlight passed over his campfire at the outskirts of the decrepit neighborhood, Rufus spontaneously flew awake, his face contorted by shock and pain. It felt as if he was being burned alive, the decayed under-tissue that substituted his skin flaring with pain all over. The agony suddenly caused the Ghoul to cry out, his civilized demeanor shattering as he failed to outwardly mask the unexpected torment he was suffering. The scavenger desperately tried to look around for some miraculous escape from his predicament whilst writhing on the ground, but the pain and darkness of the night impaired his vision.

Suddenly something bony grabbed his left hand, and the burning began to diminish in that region of his body. Focusing on the relief given by this unknown remedy, Rufus was then caught by surprise as it began to tug at him, before bracing himself for even more pain as he was dragged way from his campfire. Unable to form any coherent words for his helper, the Ghoul gradually fell unconscious, his body shutting down once it could take no more.

***
​

Rufus woke up in a completely unfamiliar location, propped up against what felt like a metal barrel at his back. The sun's kindly warmth had now supplanted the bitter night he had suffered through, yet now the scavenger felt something else in the air that seemed to be having a soothing effect on his body.

As he sat up and began to survey his new surroundings, a lithe, hunched figure crawled out from behind a barrel, that Rufus quickly recognized as his feral companion.

"Jackal... where are we?"

Jackal winced at his companion for a moment, looking as though he was trying to understand the query. He then turned and stood exclusively on his feet in a hunched position, and then flicked his wrist in the direction of a hillside that Rufus could hardly see in his seated position.

After overcoming his brief surprise at the Feral's action that was reminiscent of a hand gesture, the intelligent Ghoul pushed against his supports until he could once again stand. It was now apparent from a battered old house that could be seen atop the hill from his position that they were not far from Sanctuary at all.

What subsequently drew the scavengers attention was a faded symbol painted onto one of the broken barrels that currently faced him. Though weathered, it clearly symbolized that whatever had originally resided in the drum had been radioactive. Looking around, Rufus noticed now several more barrels had spilled out of a submerged vehicle behind him. All of them were branded with the same warning symbol, and they had all been leaking radiation for what appeared to be for some time now.

Realization dawned on the Ghoul. He reached with open hands towards his gas mask, and after a moment's hesitation removed it. His face stung for a moment, but was then normal once more. He felt no ill effects from his exposure, on the contrary; he actually felt refreshed and energetic now, as if the background radiation had been fueling him up overnight.

Slowly turning away from the barrels to look at his companion, Rufus began to speak, with no regard for his listeners ability to comprehend his words. "Did you know that I wou-"

He was speaking to thin air however, as Jackal had already scampered off after an animal fleeing in the opposite direction of Sanctuary. Emotionally uplifted by his new discovery, Rufus made the decision to return to the group in Sanctuary, before returning to his campfire at the neighborhood's outskirts.

***

"You'd love stale, 200 year old cake." Rufus could hear Jack's sarcasm from outside the household, and smirked at the wastelander's humor before proceeding into the building. He had decided to keep his mask on, now simply valuing the privacy it offered over the protection.

Upon entering the main room he found Jack and Courtney seated on a couch, though neither of them seemed to be enjoying the others company. He quietly moved over to an intact table chair and sat down, then spoke up once the room went quiet.

"Well, 'Sanctuary' is a bust-" he threw a brief glare at Courtney "-So I 'bin wondering if you lot had any plans I could get a stake in." He paused for a moment, then carried on. "I got the materials to keep your gear in good shape and I'm a good shot. As for Jackal.., Well, he's a fine tracker and hunter, and that machete of his 'aint just for the wildlife."

 

[Wolfbane]

The faint sound of singing could be heard from the downstairs of the Lexington Red Rocket station. The singing was accompanied by the actual song in question playing on a radio sitting on a steel shelve surrounded by clutter of screws, springs, and a diagrams of various ideas with arrows and blurbs written around each picture.

"The trip will be fine. In my rocket 69!!!!" she spun around in her chair sliding as the song ended in a jam

Just inside by the door is a trip wire across the door connected to a self made pneumatic flechette launcher in a blind-spot of the door and if anything crosses it, five thin, sharpened metal rods shoot out killing or seriously maiming the intruder. If they get through that a pressure plate trips a shotgun from above the counter, hidden in a hole amongst the ceiling itself.

To the side of the counter was an inconsicious fallen shelf on top of a pile of garbage. The shelf seemed innocent enough; what paint it had was a bland green, dirt covered the rest along with chips and numerous scratches. However, what you can't see is two metal arms that raise and lift it via a switch revealing a workshop with everything a tinkerer needs; both a weapon and armor workbench, a power armor station with a bipedal frame hanging from it.

Sparks made sure there was airflow coming through the hidden vents and continued her work in the sound of her radio.



"Slinger! Get up or we're moving without you," Kenzi kicked the sleeping leg of Slinger and toss him his hat, making the lazy gun fighter sigh and stretch. The Rangers will arrive at Bunker Hill, with or without him. They do not need any help from the caravan led by a man that Kenzi wants to shoot more than once as well as dump on the side of a road. She slipped on her breastplate and threw her jacket one signalling to Vex to do the same. Her 9 was cocked back pushing in a new bullet and slid into her hip holster just before she snatched her rifle from the tree stump it was leaning against. They were getting closer and closer to their target, their sister in arms, their friend, Paz. All Kenzi wanted to do was put her face in the ground. She looked at Vex and nodded with anger and determination. Most times she would blow someone off who left her life but Paz was their teammate. The bitch didn't even say goodbye; no note, no message, not a damn thing. She had to know; why? What happened that made her leave without asking for help? They killed for each other and would do just about anything to help her. No one gets left behind, and yet they were left behind.

Vex shot a glance at Kenzi who was had a look of sheer anger. A look he hadn't seen in a long time. Pushing that from his mind he got up and dawned his armor and gazed upon the new wastes. They were far from home and yet it all seemed normal; a junkyard of living long gone, people who want to kill you for fun and take whatever they have on you. It's all the same yet totally different. Somehow they miss the Mojave. They have no friends here, not really. Slinger is a gunfighter for hire and Riley, or Paz, is a former comrade. The only thing they have is questions, but soon they will have answers sooner than later.

It had been a few hours of walking before they arrived at Bunker Hill. The gate was blocked by the head of the market and once they were vetted they set foot in the historical landmark. Without much notice Slinger made his way towards a shady character and waved his hat as a goodbye. The Ranger scanned across the area and snapped on to a wired lookin vendor who was waving them down with so much jitters that Vex could feel the copious amounts of drugs flowing through her veins. The two walked over to the woman and was handed a piece of paper outward, against the orders of the Irish merc. There was no real why she would find out and Cricket needed to inhale soon, the damn shakes were getting to her.

"You! You look like her! Here is a note of writing she wanted you to have. It has some words written across it but I couldn't read it because of the fl*ffING SHAKES. You want any guns? pl*ps to blow up people and plant trees!!!"

Without having time to respond Cricket quickly walked away, twitching her head and rubbing her arm red mumbling nonsensical words of a hooked up junkie. Vex opened the note up and turned it around a few times before recognizing that it's a piece of a map and a time written on the back. They have a time, a place but not a clear way of where theya re going. Silence was kept between the two before Kenzi growled loud enough for the people closest to them to stare before their eyes met the firey brown eyes of the blonde attached to them.

"I'm killing her. That's it. fl*ff the questions, fl*ff the clues and fl*ff the riddles!" Kenzi quickly pulled out her knife and tried to cut the paper in half, missing it as Vex holds it above her head trying not to laugh as she tries to stab it from the ground.

"Look, we need this whether you like it or not. If you cut it up now we'll be pl*ps out of luck. Let's just discuss the plan and maybe get something to eat and drink, yeah?" The piece of paper was tucked inside his pocket and they began to peruse the market as a sort of down time.


Red hair hung on one side of her face as she looked at the map and sighed knowing that she got screwed when taking this job. They are making good time but its the fact that she was so hopped up on bloodlust that she didn't think how much of a pain it would be to march across the wastes to go to a plant on the other side of The Commonwealth. If her old team followed leads and if Vex figured the riddle then they are making their way to Bunker Hill just as they are on their way to this damn plant. What they would do if they found each other was not clear, but she will cross that bridge once she gets there. The job that they are on their way to was pretty simple; clear out the place and make radio in. Judging by the map they were getting closer and should get there in a few hours. The Raiders stationed there should prove no trouble whatsoever. If they do then its her men that will pay for it, not that she really cares all that much. Or maybe she does? She stopped wondering a while ago and she'll figure out what exactly to feel once it happens.

"Innit odd how raiders took the plant over? From fl*ffin' ferals and greenies?"

"You worry to much, Paz. Ferals aren't too bad and Super mutants can kill each other over stupid pl*ps just like we can. Not to mention that report is as old as all hell. We are already making our way so no need to worry about it now."

She folded up the map and nodded at her Sargent and they proceeded onward to the goal. Bunker Hill was a ways away from the plant, but they should get there in time and hopefully be done with it just in time for her to deal with her past. Once they are done with the trash no one will disturb the reunion, not unless the raiders are in fact in force. There was something not sitting well with her. Call it a gut instinct. The thought was put in the back of her head for the time being to put focus on making their way to the plant.

 

[Simus]

The leg of strange meat Jack presented to Courtney looked like something you'd feed to a dog. It was some sort of tan, smooth flesh that almost looked like rubber. There was even a small claw still attached to the foot of it. If Courtney had to guess it looked like the leg from some giant mole rat but if those bitey, crap-filled little bastards had survived humanity's nuclear fluffup then this place was truly hell. Jack hadn't even given her a plate or utensils. He'd just thrown this hunk of meat onto her coffee table, without even checking what was on it. Courtney had cleaned it off as best she could with a sponge and the last bit of an abraxo box but she couldn't help but roll her eyes at his carelessness.

Still, at least this was dead and at least it didn't smell like that god awful radroach. "Thanks." She said. "It's not bacon and eggs but it's several million times better than that bug." She smiled at the snack cake he held up to her, as if she were a child being bribed by chocolate to eat her vegetables. She picked up the leg and chomped into the thigh. It tasted like rubbery chicken and chewed like gelled fat but again, it was better than bug. After a few minutes she had eaten down the claw and bone and was relatively satisfied.

"Can I have my cake now daddy?" She said with sweet scarcasm, giving him a big insincere smile that turned into a grin. As she looked up though she noticed the guy in the gas mask was back and standing in her doorway. He hadn't bothered to knock but hadn't invited himself in either.

"Well, 'Sanctuary' is a bust-" he threw a brief glare at Courtney "-So I 'bin wondering if you lot had any plans I could get a stake in." He paused for a moment, then carried on. "I got the materials to keep your gear in good shape and I'm a good shot. As for Jackal.., Well, he's a fine tracker and hunter, and that machete of his 'aint just for the wildlife."

Courtney was slightly annoyed at the jab he just took to her neighborhood but given his context it made sense. The place really did look like plops. "You said your name was Rufus right? I think Jack has plans to go to a Diamond City. I guess I don't have a problem with you coming along so long as Jack's okay with it." She didn't comment on his describing of his skills. She was always skeptical of people who advertised their skills before using them. They would probably have plenty of opportunities for him to show off and then she'd believe him. "Anything I should know about this place we're going by the way?"

 

[Daryl Dixon]

Courtenay rolled her eyes, clearly not impressed with the feed. "Thanks." She said. "It's not bacon and eggs but it's several million times better than that bug."

200 year old yum yum devilled eggs aren't great either, sweetheart. He wanted to say.

"There we go. Optimisim."

She took a big bite into the thigh and kept at it until there was nothing left but bone and claw. "Can I have my cake now daddy?" She said with sweet scarcasm, giving him a big insincere smile that turned into a grin. "Don't call me that." He said, smiling. Daddy? That's the worst thing he's ever been called. It was funny though. Then they noticed Rufus in the doorway.

"Well, 'Sanctuary' is a bust-" he threw a brief glare at Courtney "-So I 'bin wondering if you lot had any plans I could get a stake in." He paused for a moment, then carried on. "I got the materials to keep your gear in good shape and I'm a good shot. As for Jackal.., Well, he's a fine tracker and hunter, and that machete of his 'aint just for the wildlife."

"You said your name was Rufus right? I think Jack has plans to go to a Diamond City. I guess I don't have a problem with you coming along so long as Jack's okay with it." Jack was oddly touched at Courtney's comment. "Anything I should know about this place we're going by the way?"

"Goodneighbor. Jack has plans to go to Goodneighbor. Diamond City is just a stop on the way." Jack looked to Rufus. "I don't like the idea of bringing a crowd but...Hopefully you balance out the odds."

He looked to Courtney. "No offence Courtney, but taking you out there lowers my life expectancy drastically. Maybe Rufus can counter that a bit. And please, don't call me daddy." He tried to keep a straight face, but had to smile the moment he said the word. "Such a bad word."

He felt oddly good about feeding the girl, she probably wouldn't of eaten were it not for him. But was he really doing this, taking up with two strangers across the Commonwealth? Last time he made friends he ended up with a knife to the face.

In all honesty, he wouldn't mind seeing Goodneighbor again. Despite all the time thats passed since his last visit, it was always going to be home. He wanted to see Daisy himself too, she had always been around. She was as familiar to him as the town itself.

"You should like Diamond City after the trek it'll take to get there. I hope you remember what it was like walking through a war zone because it's on your front door now."

He stood up. "Lets not waste daylight. Everybody pack your things and meet up at the bridge." He placed the snack cakes on the table. "Don't eat it all at once." He said, leaving the building.

 

[T. Rakinson]

A quarter of an hour later Rufus was making his way to the bridge leading out of Sanctuary, where the group had agreed to rendezvous so that they could leave. After taking a few steps onto the wooden overpass he stopped and spun round to get a last look at the abandoned suburbia. Despite his lack of profitable discoveries in the area, he was grateful for the brief respite the place had offered, and wondered if he'd ever return.

The rest of the group gradually congregated at the meeting point. Jack arrived shortly after the scavenger, and they gave one another a brief nod, neither having much to talk about before the journey had even started. Brutus showed up next and went to stand by his human companion, which left Rufus pondering as to whether he'd ever befriend the Super Mutant. He eventually spotted Jackal gulping down some water a hundred yards or so down the river, and after a chirp from his car keys the Feral scampered over.

Orson and Courtney were the last to arrive, both of whom were in less of a rush to leave the suburbia behind. The two seemed to be keeping up a hurried discussion, taking turns to glance at the others as they walked down the street. The conversation ended with Orson giving a respectful nod, and the two improved their pace until they too were on the bridge.
As the six of them finally converged Orson spoke up, explaining his plans to break off from their company once they reached Concord. Rufus looked at Courtney, guessing that this was what they had been talking about and wanting to know who she'd be joining, but it was the security officer that explained for her.

"She still want's to travel with you lot. Don't fail her, or in time you'll have me to answer to." he said, still sounding weary of the group. Rufus didn't blame him; even by the wasteland's standards, they must have looked like an odd bunch to travel with.
As the day commenced the group set off, passing the Red Rocket station and making their way downhill into the town of Concord. Orson went on ahead to scout the area, but came pack with the news of only a few mongrels that had been eating some Raider carcasses, and who were now also deceased.

"You should have a safe passage through the streets now." Said the officer in a concerned voice. Rufus remembered that this place was meant to be a thriving settlement, and for a moment considered offering the man some help in finding his community, before realizing what a fruitless endeavor it would be for him. Once they reached a crossroads in front of some run-down museum, Orson finally made his departure, shaking Courtney's hand and wishing them all the best of luck. Once he disappeared out of view the Ghoul made his way over to an old store and began to loot some forgotten tin meals, as well as filling an empty but sealable can with some fertilizer he scooped from a packaged bag. He left most of the store's contents, not wanting to rob the settlement in an act of unnecessary greed.

Jackal had also wandered in after him, but seemed to find nothing of interest, having only come in due to a preference for Rufus' company over the others. He had only had time to scrape a few handfuls of meat from the Raider corpse he had tracked down, but was seemingly in no rush to find another meal as the two exited the store together.

After the five remaining companions had gathered once more and consulted their maps briefly, they set off again, leaving the town behind as the sun was reaching its peak in the sky. They passed a few notable locations on the way, and Jack mockingly gave Courtney a running commentary on what he thought the function of each place had been, making for some humorous descriptions. Courtney did not engage with him for the most part, although she too seemed to be interested in her surroundings; he imagined she was comparing the area to the way it had looked centuries ago. The scavenger stayed quiet, focusing his view ahead. He wasn't used to being out on the open road during his travels, and disliked the feeling of exposure it came with, although his previous traversal of the route reassured him slightly that there were no ambushes waiting for them.

As the afternoon wore on the town of Lexington gradually grew more visible on the horizon; the large Corvega Assembly Plant in particular dominating the townscape. The Ghoul shivered at the sight of the menacing structure, remembering how its hefty complement of Raider occupants had chased him and Jackal off the last time they had been here. He strode ahead of the group to a hill overlooking the town, unfamiliar with its contents after having previously navigating around it. The place looked quiet from this distance, but that didn't fool him; Lexington had an infamous reputation for its unculled Feral Ghoul horde. He did spot several appealing features as well though; a Super-Duper Mart that could hold quite a wealthy bounty, and another Red Rocket gas station that seemed fairly intact and defensible.

Returning to the others, he gave them an ultimatum, although he spoke mostly to Jack, whom he felt was in charge of their ragtag group. "Lexington isn't as friendly a town as Concord; there's gonna be trouble if we're too loud. I'm talking Feral's and maybe some Raiders from Corvega snooping around. But the Boston Commons are still at least a day away, so there's no point going much further today. Do we look around for accommodations in town or should we camp out here?"

 

[Simus]

"Over here's the Red Rocket Truck Stop. Decent salvage, pretty good workspace and always a good place to sleep."

"I used to get coolant here on my way to work. On particularly lazy days I got breakfast here. Snack cakes and Nuka when I was in a hurry."

"You people used to drive to work? You mean in those cars that explode after a well-placed grenade?"

"I don't think any of the cars you've seen would pass a safety inspection at this point. It HAS been 200 years after all. Trust me, they were safer back then."

"Still seems nuts to me. What'd you do if you crashed into another car? What happens in an accident? Sounds like a fluffing death sentence."

"SOUNDS LIKE WHEN FUN BEGINS." Brutus bellowed. "CARS FUN TO SHOOT. THEY MAKE THE BIGGEST BOOMS!"

"Like I said, they were safer back then."

***

"Over here's the Drumlin Diner. Trudy and her boy run the place. They're both decent sorts but rumor has it the kid's sampling jet from a chem dealer who hangs around."

"Sorry for Trudy then but that's kind of Ironic. They had good burgers here but rumor always had it they had a little side business in back. Daytripper, mentats and, for some particularly crazy rumor mills, psycho from the C.I.T labs. Any of those still around?"

"Around? Heh, epidemic's more like it. Used some of that crap when I was younger and it was damn stupid. Still, good money if you can find 'em."

"You mean plopsty as this world is there are still drug dealers?"

"Probably more than when you were around."

***

"And last but not least we've got this old building called the Corvega Assembly Plant. You're gonna tell me it was some old pre-war mech factory you worked at right?"

"Nope. This was just a car factory. I never even drove a Corvega, I had a Prymoth. Plus I worked as an accountant at my sister's department store."

"Thought you said you were in the army."

"This was after the army. I was discharged after I got pregnant with Peter."

"Did they really use those green paper notes people keep finding as money?"

"Yep. They were called dollars. Easier to carry than caps and they didn't jingle in your pants. Who ever thought of the idea of bottle caps as currency anyway?"

"From what I've heard it started back in some place in California called The Hub. Back in the NCR. You ever heard of California?"

"Are you serious? plops yes, I was born in California! I grew up there! The only reason I didn't go back there after the war is because Nathan got a job here in Boston as a mining supervisor and my sister Sarah opened up a department store! How does California look these days? What's this NCR like? Do they have any influence out here? Do they even know people are alive out here?!"

Before Courtney could continue her barrage of questions Rufus turned to them after sending Jackel off to run around. They were in front of an old Super Duper mart Courtney used to shop at and the sun was getting low in the sky. They needed to set up camp soon and bed down for the night. After all the sounds Courtney had heard the night before in Sanctuary she didn't want to sleep out in the open.

"Alright folks, we're done for the day." Jack said. "Where do you guys wanna set up camp? We've got several choices in the area and Lexington's only about an hour away if you really wanna push on."

"Lexington isn't as friendly a town as Concord; there's gonna be trouble if we're too loud. I'm talking Feral's and maybe some Raiders from Corvega snooping around. But the Boston Commons are still at least a day away, so there's no point going much further today. Do we look around for accommodations in town or should we camp out here?"

"Out here's probably best then." Courtney said, looking around. "I'd say this Super Duper Mart's a good spot but considering all the holes in the walls and every single window in the place is broken it doesn't look very defensible. Plus I can see from here how cluttered the place is inside. We'll have a tough time getting out in an emergency and I know from experience there's no back door. Just an old loading dock in the back where the supply trucks used to make deliveries and I could tell from fifty feet away coming down here that that gate was rusted shut."

Jack smiled at her. "I'm impressed kid. You're catchin' on pretty quick."

"Kid? I'm 237 years old wise guy. If I hadn't been in a freezer that whole time I'd be your long lost ancestor."

"Just an expression Courtney. Old or not Brutus and I know the area better than you do. You learn quick though and you've got good tactical sense. That army taught you well, I can see that just in how you carry yourself. How 'bout we hunker down in that old red rocket truck stop up by that hill. It's a good defensive position and well sheltered. Brutus and I have used similar building and they seem to hold up pretty well."

"Fair enough. Lead the way then."

The five of them headed up to the truck stop. By the time they had gotten up there it was almost dark and they noticed something very suspicious. The lights were on. That meant there was power somewhere that turned them on when it got dark and that meant someone was living here. When Jack moved to open the door to the auto center he witnessed another surprise. The door was locked.

"Why would it surprise you that someone lives here?" Courtney asked. "Like you said this place is a well built structure."

"We're a long way from any settlements kid. It's dangerous and uncomfortable for people to settle down without an established town to go to. The only people who stay out here willingly and survive with any comfort are gangs of raiders and this truck stop could very well be one of their hideouts. We're gonna have to bust this door down and clear the area the old fashioned way."

"Hold on a second." She said, stopping him before he could blow the knob off. "If someone really lives here we can't just bust their door down. For they know we're the raiders. Let's try something a bit more subtle."

Courtney took off her hat and removed a bobby pin from her hair, letting her hair fall down around her shoulders. She put her hat back on, bent the bobby pin into an L shape and put the zigzagging end gently into the keyhole. Getting out a screwdriver from her pack she gently moved the keyhole around against the bobby pin. A combination of army training and enthusiasm for covert spy gadgets had taught her how to use a bobby pin as a lockpick and over the years she had become fairly good at it.

"...Come on, just a little to the left...that's it..." The locked opened with a small *click* "There we go." The doorknob gave a turn of compliance but Courtney didn't open it all the way. Just enough to clear the deadbolt so she could push it open.

"We're in, but I recommend we send in someone to scout the area and see what we're really dealing with first. Any of you guys feel like a little snooping around?"

"I DO IT MISS COURTNEY!" Brutus yelled. Jackel ran beside him and was jumping up and down while making a sound that almost sounded like barking. Clearly he was enthusiastic about going in there.

"Well, it looks like we've got two volunteers and I honestly think they'd be best suited for this. Jack? Rufus? You've got any objections?"

"I suppose not, so long as we're right behind them. I don't know Jackel here well enough to really trust him and, well, you've seen Brutus. He's a little trigger happy."

"YOU MEAN I NOT GET TO SHOOT THINGS BOSS?!"

"Only if they or I shoot first pal. You know about that rule."

"YOU'RE RIGHT. SORRY BOSS."

"That's okay. No harm done yet. Rufus? You got any problems with this?"

 

[Wolfbane]

Blue eyes stared down at the work table with intent, focusing on her favorite weapon; her pipe rifle. One might be confused as to why she loves her rifle so and the reason is customization; any and all parts. Her finger less gloved hands felt up every curve and surface trying to see what else could be done to it. She reached over to the right of her and pulled out a polished pipe with port holes at the tip and was placed by the rifle. Sand paper traveled along the body and grip of the gun, roughly scraping it into something more appealing. Five bullets found their places in slots attached to the body by the selector switch he had installed to make it select fire. Problem was it only worked half the time. So either it stays full auto for a good while or it stays in single fire for a good while. Sparks scratched her head and tried to figure out which mode it’s stuck in now but didn’t want to go up and shoot in the air attracting ferals. She guessed it didn’t matter too much because she wasn’t in immediate danger. It’s not like there was going to be a shootout right outside her home. Her baby is growing up right in front of her eyes. Her hands interlocked and bridged, popping them all in the process. It was almost complete and ready to use.


Now it felt much smoother and user friendly than before. Tape was tightly wrapped around the wooden angled handle until it felt snug. Wood was used mainly because it can be tooled, marked, taped and drilled into adding anything else she thinks of. She can form it to her hand and no one else’s if she so desires; making it harder to kill her with her own weapon. Plus it can be easier to repair. If it by chance break or snap then maybe she’d switch to metal. The recoil controller is metal with a spring wrapped around it attached to a padded butt with black taped to hold it all together. Now that the wood was smoothed out she took apart the rifle simple piece by simple piece and yanked one of her bandannas out of her pocket and engulfed the parts, cleaning them in the process. Oil was applied piece by piece until satisfaction. With all the pieces cleaned and oiled the radio was turned a little higher while she hummed and fit the pieces in correctly, constructing the rifle once more. Sparks wrapped her hands around the current barrel, scuffed, scratched and dinged to all hell and slid it out to be placed in her scrap pile. Then the new longer and polished barrel was locked in place, the rifle looking more and more respectable. A small scope was laid next to it and was going to be screwed on, but she decided against it and eventually stored it in her pack. Now the magazines were next; a clamp was snapped onto one side a full magazine and the other was snapped on the side of a second mag that was being filled with ammo. A knife popped out from under her wrist and tore into cloth which was wrapped around the barrel to shield it from glare. Retracting the blade, her fingers tugged at another knife and put it in its place and close the clamp encasing it. What she loved about the bayonet was that it doubles as a standalone knife. All she has to do is unclamp it. Most aspects of her rifle have two or more different uses. Mind of a tinkerer, she supposed. Finally, she cleaned the trigger guard and now her baby was ready to take on the world. This whole contraption was built by and for her, every detail designed with her in mind and no one else. The other weapon she relies on was her grandfather’s laser pistol which only had a photon agitator and a comfort grip. Her other contraptions could wait for later times. She has all day after all. Despite her age and size, she is a mean little pl*ps with all her toys and gear.

Meanwhile outside, Jack and the group made their way closer to Lexington and the Red Rocket station residing in a town filled with ferals as well as the Corvega Assembly Plant being chalked full of hoped up and pissed off raiders.

"We're a long way from any settlements kid. It's dangerous and uncomfortable for people to settle down without an established town to go to. The only people who stay out here willingly and survive with any comfort are gangs of raiders and this truck stop could very well be one of their hideouts. We're gonna have to bust this door down and clear the area the old fashioned way."

"Hold on a second." She said, stopping him before he could blow the knob off. "If someone really lives here we can't just bust their door down. For they know we're the raiders. Let's try something a bit more subtle."

Courtney reached under her hat and into her hair and pulled her bobby pin out, her water-falling down and draping over her shoulders and put her hat back on as she bent the bobby pin and retrieved a screwdriver out of her pack and began to put her skills she learned in the survival training she had learned during her time in the service.

"...Come on, just a little to the left...that's it..." The lock opened with a satisfied click, making Courtney nod in approval. "There we go." The doorknob gave a turn of compliance but she didn't quite open it all the way. Just to the point past the deadbolt so she could push it open.


"We're in, but I recommend we send in someone to scout the area and see what we're really dealing with first. Any of you guys feel like a little snooping around?"


"I DO IT MISS COURTNEY!" Brutus yelled. Jackel ran beside him and was jumping up and down while making a sound that almost sounded like barking. Clearly he was enthusiastic about going in there.


"Well, it looks like we've got two volunteers and I honestly think they'd be best suited for this. Jack? Rufus? You've got any objections?"


"I suppose not, so long as we're right behind them. I don't know Jackel here well enough to really trust him and, well, you've seen Brutus. He's a little trigger happy."


"YOU MEAN I NOT GET TO SHOOT THINGS BOSS?!"


"Only if they or I shoot first pal. You know about that rule."


"YOU'RE RIGHT. SORRY BOSS."


"That's okay. No harm done yet. Rufus? You got any problems with this?" With Rufus agreeing the two non-humans made their way into the station while being weary of what may pop out and kill them, which could be anything at this point; A fellow brethren of Jackal or maybe just a raider. One can never be too careful out in the wastes. What they also didn’t know was that a bunch of scared and fresh Brotherhood Of Steel initiates who are on their first patrol and always have kill orders out on non-humans. As the two mutants enter the station slowly, the ferals above them were getting antsy due to all the noise and movements that were happening while the squad down below were talking and turning their head at every sound. Slowly the feral group made their way down towards the station and caught sight of a giant green monster as well as Jackal, who was their brethren. The ghoul ran as fast as it could before tripping a pneumatic trap that released sharpened metal needles, getting the ghoul in the head and sticking to the wall like a picture. All the commotion above could be heard from below, distracting Sparks away from her work with a growl before hearing not just one ghoul but multiple outside followed by a loud grunt and gunfire from a massive being. The chair was gently pushed to the side as she got up and limped to her legs and gloves. She hooked her harness to the chains as she snapped and locked her legs in place, pumping air in them while she checks if everything is in working order.

The remaining ghouls ran frantically toward the commotion, crashing out of windows and either running towards the commotion or crawling. This made the initiates begin to rapidly fire their laser rifles while Brutus fired on the ghouls running for him. One lone ghoul stepping on one trap started a chain reaction that was not going to end well for more than one party. While the surface was turning into a skirmish the girl at the bottom slipped her gloves on and grabbed her weapons while securing her tool belt on her legs and going up to the surface while the all three groups engaged each other.

“Damn it, I hate ghouls!” She popped six rounds, three for both ghouls by her before she was spotted by this new group, who now had their guns aimed at her just as she had hers aimed at them, creating a standoff all the while the initiates were firing at the ghouls buying the two new groups time to point their weapons at each other while they throw questions back in forth.

“Nice! You not only drew the damn ferals out and the god damn BoS out, you drew them TO MY HOME! You know, the only place I have!” Before she could vent even further the sound of laser rifles got closer and closer. By the time the home wreckers cleared out the area around her station, they met arms with the Initiates who were in front and behind them, using what they had just learned. As the initiates closed in, Jack and Brutus made a run for it seeing as how they were closest to the other door, leaving the group behind.

The group was then rounded up as well as confiscated their weapons, which made Sparks that much more irritated. When a cocky initiate went up to Sparks grabbing for her metal legs, she smirked and yawned, testing the stones and patience of the whelps.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. What if you pressed the wrong button or pulled the wrong wire? We all could be blown up sky high. I doubt you want that since you just joined Electronic Hoarders Anonymous. I mean, you could try but you may also lose a hand. But here, have my gloves. That way your overlords will be happy.” She slipped the safety lock on subtly, making sure they can’t get in it until she figures out a way to get out of their soon to be confinements.


It had been some time before Paz and her squad had made it to Four Leaf to clear it out for another pile of caps, which is exactly what she needs; caps and death. All they had to do was clear it out, simple as that; In and out with minimal damage and maximum carnage. Will it go as planned? Only time will tell. The door opened with a noise, light hitting every dark corner for only a minute lighting it up before going back to holes and slats of sunlight brightening the building.

“Alright boys, let’s get to work. The intel says that the greenies were taken out by raiders and raiders alone. If that is the case then we have some hardcore fl*ffin’ killers in here with us so be on your guard. Luckily we’re the baddest killers of them all but no need to get too cocky." Footsteps echoed off old grey machines just as their reflections were smeared from the dust. Green eyes snapped at the tables and conveyor belt, noticing outlines from the guns and hands of the raiders. Where did the fighting actually take place? Was it further in or was there no fighting at all? Whatever the case was she had to push on and see to it that the location was cleared of any hostiles.

“Let’s check deeper. The aftermath must be hidden from first glance; which is smart considering. If you see any raiders feel free to engage.” Each person checked their respected firearms and continued on into strangely empty plant. Time when this was for fish was long gone, now it’s one of the many hideouts for one of many things that would kill you. Personally, she wouldn’t have it any other way. No standing law outside of Diamond City, if someone steals from you steal it back or shoot them, if someone threatened you, beat them, if someone tries to kill you, shoot them dead. Pretty damn simple in her mind. No grey area to muddle the image. After all, this is how she makes a living. If this was a time of laws then she’d be dead and under or in solitary. Luckily for her, that will never be the case. She can kill as many people as she damn well pleases. Lost in thought, she didn’t realize what she had just step in; a rope tied from a beam with a counter weight made from the shell of a machine. It tugged and constricted her leg and for a split second it donned on her.

“IT’S A TRAP GOD DAMN IT!”

She tried to reach for her Ringer but instead it slipped out of her holster. Now her hand gripped the 10mm pistol, saving her .45 for back up. Her body violently jerked upwards while shot after shot was expelled the higher she went. Everyone else planted behind cover and began to engage, lighting the place up with hellfire and sinking holes in various surfaces which Paz was surrounded by. The screams of the Irish merc was drowned by gunshots.

If she wanted down she needed to shoot the counter wait and hope to hell she wasn’t going to get shot while she let her guard down. Three shots were planted in a raider while another was sunk into the lock on the counter weight hitting it but not breaking it. Now the assholes shooting at them focused on her, missing her each time and peppering the wall adjacent to her. Like a pendulum she began to swing back and forth until she coiled up and hooked an arm around the chain to steady her while she took shots at the lock finally setting her free with a loud bang and large gust of dust. Her feet frantically pushed across the floor as she hammered the trigger down range.

How the fl*ff did they know? Was there a traitor in the midst? Was this their comms tapped? Raiders don’t know how to do recon let alone the concept. The real culprits who tapped them are sure to be better armed and trained. The question was when and if they are going to show up? The chill of the machine on her bare skin comforted her in the firefight.

Now all she needed was her sawed off, which was dead in the middle of a killzone. Even being trained and skilled, it was a suicide move. The thought of them being ambushed boils her blood due to her always dropping a trap, not the other way around. Paz’s ears began to twitch at the sound of the clips falling on the ground and chatter amongst the group. She calmly counted the number of dropped clips and wait for a moment before popping out and reaching for her shotgun.


“Why don’t we settle this over some drink, boyos. I promise I won’t bore your fluffin’ heads in.” an excited laugh came out of her lips as she shot blindly emptying the clip on the floor in exchange for a fresh one.

"Not a chance, Gunner. You are fluffed and you know it. You’re out numbered and I doubt one of you little stupid pricks can take us all out.”

“You don’t reckon so? How about we test that theory?” But before she could make a move the sounds of laser rifles came from behind the raiders who were fighting the new threat giving them time to move up. They hauled ass towards the bastards shooting them and fired upon the combatants. It was a blood bath; Flashes of red beams and lead filled the air as the warriors screaming over the gunfire in their tongue. These raiders were simply wiped out now that they didn’t have an upper hand. Now with them dead and gone her squad focused on the team. One by one her team was dropped. For just a moment she froze as she saw the outline of the enemy. Nothing around her mattered, no bullets or rouge beams, oh no. What mattered was who was sending those beams down wind. As they fired and held their ground the opposition was nearing closer, their grouping getting tighter. It wasn’t look good for them; men down, ammo running out and now this. As she turned to her right she realized she was the only one. As she popped up she froze for a moment when she saw who it was.

“Brotherhood Of Steel...” was uttered through gritted teeth as hands slipped her pistol back in its holster then gripped at her knives. She jumped ran to the side and scurried to the right and left and she stuck the lightly armored knight in the belly withdrawing and lounging towards the next. With a spin she deflected the gun away from her and sank her blade into the neck of the enemy. Having two less combatants on the field made her chances of surviving from nil to slim. A lost and pl*ps eating grin crept on her face before being twerked and pulled up by the face, a steel hand wrapping around it. The hand tightened around her skull, slowly condensing it before being thrown back creating a loud noise and a big dent in the wall. Struggling, Paz got up with a bloodied smile as she twirled her knives around.

“You’re going to have to make sure I’m dead.” A laugh could be heard through the in helmet voice comm before the Paladin signaled the scribe to fire, burning a clean hole in her leg, making her cry out in pain and buckle to the floor. What little blood that didn’t burn pooled under her.

“Drop your weapons. You’re finished.”

“I’ll fluffing drop them alright, you twat.” She chucked one knife at the scribe and the other at the Paladin as a distraction before trying to send as many bullets at them as possible. Only dents were left in the armor as the T-60 clad soldier as the scribe was hit in the shoulder. Then the Paladin marched over to her and picked her up by her throat causing blood to cover his hand.

“How about I snap your neck like a rat? You’re not even worth the effort.”

“Do it then, jackboot. You know you want to. Your master won’t be too happy about it though.” The smile turned into a scream as she felt a second hole go through her leg.

“Damn it we need her to walk! If anyone fires I will personally discharge you with a shot to the belly. The man’s helmet turned as she cackled with joy, almost in an inhuman tone.

“You don’t fluffing get it, do you tin man? You pisspots have no idea who the fluff I am! I don’t give two plopss what you’re going to do to me. Hurry up and act important instead of dying in my Mojave.” More blood covered the man’s hand and helmet as he withdrew his hand from her stomach, breaking a rib upon impact.

“For you, little rat. I’d rather wing you here and make you crawl out with your hands. Unfortunately I can’t. We know who you are and that is the only reason you are still breathing. Move out team, we’re done here. Let’s head to the RZ and make this piss poor deal.”