Thread 11

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1166753-welcome-to-grayditch/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1168688-welcome-to-grayditch-2/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1171370-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-three/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1173590-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-four/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1175996-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-five/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1180591-welcome-to-grayditch-6/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1191672-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-7/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1202993-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-8/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1214910-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-9/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1230406-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-10/

Remember http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1168631-welcome-to-grayditch-ooc/page__view__findpost__p__17212081 -- Don't forget to have fun.

OOC pvssyr goes http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1247504-welcome-to-grayditch-ooc/

Bob Dobbs

His House – Evening


"Righto, Mr. Dobbs" Tom said as he got up and followed him towards the front door. Bob was opening the door when Tom said something that took him totally by surprise. "I remember you from Raven Rock…you were a engineer, right?".

Bob stopped dead in his tracks, the door knob in his hand, as it dawned on him what Tom had just said.

That [censored]! She ratted me out because I wouldn’t [censored] her! No, wait….I didn’t even explicitly tell her I was in the Enclave, much less that I was in a Combat Engineer company. She couldn’t possibly have known that….I didn’t even tell Brandy. The Brotherhood? No…they would have dragged me off already. Moriarty? Nahh….who is going to shoot themselves in the leg just to talk to me? Nope…the only plausible answer is he’s another Remnant.

Bob looked out the door…no one was near or seemed to be heading for the house. Bob closed the door and threw the deadbolt, then turned to face Tom.

“Delta Company, First Engineer Battalion”, Bob replied, “What about you?”

Bob sighed.

“This morning, the town was hit by at least two squads of Verti-Assault troops, commanded by ‘Death or Glory’ Masters”, Bob said quietly. “They massacred half the town before we managed to put up some sort of resistance. The Brotherhood showed up in time to make off with the weapons and armor of the dead troopers….typical. What’s really ironic is they hauled off the town busybody who sees Enclave spies under every bush on suspicion that he’s a Enclave spy. Needless to say, the Enclave isn’t real popular around here. We need to be real careful about where we talk of this…only a couple of them know. Brandy…the girl I carried in here….knows, Sue doesn’t….as far as I know”.

“I don’t know exactly what they came here for”, Bob continued. “It had something to do with a scientist that ran off and they think was holed up in this town for a while. I just hope the Brothers don’t come back here and start looking for him or what he was working on”.

“Anyhow”, Bob said. “Let’s go get that bullet out of your leg”.


Ryler’s Clinic – later

Bob dropped the extracted bullet in the pan, then turned to closing up the wound.

“You know”, Bob said as he disinfected and closed up Thomas’s bullet wound, “I’m a plumber by trade, but since I got here all I’ve done is either shoot people or patch them up. The vitamin M holding up OK, or do you need more?”

Once the wound was closed properly, Bob bandaged it up.

“You’re good to go, Tom”, Bob said. “Once I get this crate open, I’ll get you some antibiotics…should be sometime tomorrow”. Bob checked on Ryler, he head been beaten so badly Bob was not confident he’d even make it through the night. If he did, Bob decided to send him to Dr Preston in Rivet City….he wasn’t even remotely qualified to care for him. Bob then checked the other rooms to make sure he and Tom were alone. Then he stacked up several tin cans in front of the front door so it couldn’t be opened without him knowing it. He then turned on Ryler’s old Radiation King AM radio. It crackled to life…

AM seven-fortyyyy….the time is 19:30 hours, and this is AM740, the Voice of Toronto. In the news today, the Palace confirmed that Army positions on the Ottawa front had been shelled by the Quebec People’s Army, and that our forces were returning fire. Casualty figures have not been released as of this time. The Palace further stated that RCMP Intelligence Branch had not noted any unusual QPA troop movements and believe this to be merely a staged border incident to strengthen the hand of the Progressive faction at the upcoming 47th Party Congress….

Bob gestured for Tom to follow, they went into the kitchen. Bob found a pint bottle of whisky and two glasses….and poured drinks for Tom then himself and then sat down.

“So Tom”, asked Bob as he sipped at his whisky. “We've got a few minutes...what’s your story?”

Brandy - Home - evening


Brandy heard someone behind her, “Oh no you don’t”, Bob said as he scooped her up and started towards the house. “You aren’t going anywhere until you’re dried out."

Brandy giggled at first, "Sue can help you with that," she laughed like an idiot, "Bob, I have to check on Ryler." Bob stopped and Brandy struggled weakly to get free, it was made difficult by the numbness she was feeling from the chems. A boiled spaghetti noodle could have put up a better fight than she was.

Sue handed Bob a little tin and a note, "Oh noooo, I'm not taking any of that," she shook her head and pointed, "you guys give me stuff that makes me sick, and I hate throwing up, it's gross."

"We'll discuss this when you and Jeeves get back". Bob said, "she cannot be left alone". Bob began to carry Brandy back home, she tried to fight some more, but eventually gave up, knowing that she was in no way escaping Bob. He stopped and spoke to a man with a half metal face, that silenced any, and all, of her protests quickly.

Brandy gently bounced on Bob's shoulder while he went up the stairs and to his bedroom. He helped to peel off the leather armor given to her earlier by Shelby. Brandy stood there in her bra and panties, she looked down to a spot on the front of them, she pointed and in a serious manner explained, "Bob, Sue made me do that earlier," she leaned by Bob's ear and whispered, "don't worry, its not pee OK?"

Bob led her to the bathroom, putting her in the shower, Brandy gasped at the shock of the cold water. While inside the shower, she peeled off her soaked undergarments. Slowly she began to return to reality. Bob helped her out of the shower, her hair dripped all over the floor. He popped open the tin and made like he took one too in order to get Brandy to actually take one. It had no sooner hit the pit of her stomach and it brought everything back up. Brandy lunged for the toilet, vomiting violently while Bob held back her hair. Brandy sat on her knees hugging the toilet, dry heaving hard when Sue and Jeeves came in, she looked up wearily.

"Go, all of you, I don't want you to see me like this," Brandy hung her head and began to sob, "I didn't mean to, I couldn't help it, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she yelled and continued to sob. Bob spoke with Sue then left, Sue gently put her hands on Brandy's shoulders to comfort her.

"I'm OK, I'd like to lay down," Brandy told Sue. Sue struggled with Brandy's dead weight, her legs had fallen asleep and her body numb. Sue wrapped a towel around Brandy's glistening wet body and took her into Bob's room. Reaching the room, Sue shut the door behind them and helped Brandy under the warm covers of the bed, knocking something off in the process.

Sue tucked Brandy in, she had curled up into a weeping ball of embarrassment. Sue bent over picking up what she had knocked off the bed, it was a white teddy bear with a little pink ribbon wrapped around its small chest. Sue placed the white bear by Brandy, Brandy pulled it to her nuzzling it before she reached to Sue. Brandy ever so lightly tugged at Sue's waist, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Sue, I know I let you down," Brandy sniffed as she looked up with half closed eyes full of tears, "will you lay with me, hold me?"

Sue cooper - One of Bob's Bedrooms - Evening

Tucking Brandy into the bed, Sue bent over picking up the white teddy bear with a little pink ribbon wrapped around its small chest and placed the white bear by Brandy, who began Nuzzling the little bear…

Think I should leave her to sleep for abit

Sue turned to leave the room and give brandy some rest when she ggently tugged at Sue's waist. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Sue, I know I let you down," Brandy sniffed as she looked up with half closed eyes full of tears, "will you lay with me, hold me?"

Poor brandy, I guess I could do that until she falls asleep…

Sue stroked Brandys hair and gave her a kiss on cheek as if saying Yes….

Sue walked over to a chair that was in corner,taking of her leather jacket Sue placed it and her shotgun on chair before walking back over to bed. Climbing onto the Bed she cuddled up to brandy...

I love you brandy

Sue began to stroke Brandys hair as she waited for Bob return so that they could go and get revenge of that annoying Drug dealer, who had done this to brandy....



ooc: short post

Charon. Grayditch streets. Evening.

"Watch out ladies, Zombie Alert" Charon sighed and ignored the bearded man with sparkling blue eyes. He was used to comments like that, he'd had two centuries to get used to it. Two centuries of mocking and disdain. He wanted to pull his shotgun right there and then and blow the bigot's head off, but he was in a rush and didn't have time to deal with him now. The ghoul took note of the man's face, taking care to remember the guy's features ready for retribution upon his return. He passed by the bigot and turned his attention to one of the young women in the group he'd been talking to. "Amelia Kovac?"

"That's right." She replied, eying him suspiciously.

"Got a message from the boss. Town's yours now. He's pissed and he's holding you and Harold responsible. If I were you, I'd do a better job than the previous head of security. That's it, that's his message. I better get moving again, still have other business to deal with on his behalf." He didn't give Amelia time to reply as he brusquely turned and stalked away. Charon was already sick of this town, he was eager to get the mission underway, to put some distance between himself and this town of bigots and morons as soon as possible. But before he could do that, he'd have to inform Calypso that he was taking her protegee with him. She wouldn't be happy about it, but once she found out that Joe had sold her and Harold out over the safe, he was pretty sure she'd go along with Moriarty's plan. It was a gamble, he'd heard plenty about her and judging from her reputation she was just as likely to kill him as help. But then, that was why the boss was sending him in his place wasn't it?

"At least I know she won't eat me. I'm past my use be date." He grumbled to himself as he entered the ancient bank. Charon paused in the lobby for a moment, slowly running his eyes across the walls and doors of the huge room. He ignored the young woman and her elderly companion for the moment and crossed to the corridor with the word, Vault, stenciled above it and peered along it's length at the huge steel door. One of the bars had been snapped from the large round handle in the center of the door and now lay discarded on the floor. Other than that, the door seemed secure and undisturbed, the boss would be pleased to know that his money was safe until he could send someone with the code to retrieve it. Satisfied with this he turned back to the pair he'd seen talking in the lobby. He was surprised when he realized that the young hoker's customer was the old timer, old by human standards at least, that had accompanied him on his way to town.

"Hello Stanley." He rasped as he approached the pair. "Good to see that you wasted no time getting settled in, I just need to borrow your new friend here for a moment, don't worry though, you'll be able to get on with your... Party in a moment." He turned his attention to the hoker with cornrowed, blonde and black hair. "I need to speak with your boss. Can you tell me where I can find Calypso? Or Shelby?"

Tomas - Grayditch, Bob's House - Evening

Bob stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Tom. He turned to Tom and said "Delta Company, First Engineer Battalion”.

“What about you?” he asked.

"I was a soldier in Bravo Company, I was a sergeant I think"

“This morning, the town was hit by at least two squads of Verti-Assault troops, commanded by ‘Death or Glory’ Masters”, Bob said quietly. “They massacred half the town before we managed to put up some sort of resistance. The Brotherhood showed up in time to make off with the weapons and armor of the dead troopers….typical. What’s really ironic is they hauled off the town busybody who sees Enclave spies under every bush on suspicion that he’s a Enclave spy. Needless to say, the Enclave isn’t real popular around here. We need to be real careful about where we talk of this…only a couple of them know. Brandy…the girl I carried in here….knows, Sue doesn’t….as far as I know”.

“I don’t know exactly what they came here for”, Bob continued. “It had something to do with a scientist that ran off and they think was holed up in this town for a while. I just hope the Brothers don’t come back here and start looking for him or what he was working on”.

"I figured they would've come here for something like that, those Brotherhood boys haven't changed it seems" he said shaking his head.

The Enclave and Brotherhood were old enemies is doesn't surprise me thought Tom.

“Anyhow”, Bob said. “Let’s go get that bullet out of your leg”.

"Yes diffidently" agreed Tom following Bob to the clinic. It was the same place Tom went to earlier.

A couple of minutes later the bullet was out.

“You know”, Bob said as he disinfected and closed up Thomas’s bullet wound, “I’m a plumber by trade, but since I got here all I’ve done is either shoot people or patch them up. The vitamin M holding up OK, or do you need more?”

"No, no I'm fine" assured Tom.

Bob told him to wait as he had to get some crate of antibiotics open and then he went over to a unconscious man that Tom didn't notice when he came in earlier then Bob returned with two glasses of whiskey he offered one to Tom, he thanked Bob and took the drink.

“So Tom”, asked Bob as he sipped at his whiskey. “We've got a few minutes...what’s your story?”

"Well I was born out west past Raven Rock, my ma and pa were in the Enclave so as you can guess I was drafted in. I thought it was great you know, serving the government and saving America. But after this" said Tom indicating his arm and face, "I saw the true nature of the Enclave. I was revolted with what I belonged to. So I deserted and have been in Canterbury Commons all this time. What about you Bob? What was your time like?"

Ikky. His clinc. Evening.

"I will." The woman calling herself "Shelby" called back to the skinny chemist, then dashed through the door out onto the street, still rubbing her forehead from where she collided with the door frame.

"See that you do." He bellowed after her as the door slowly swung closed behind her. "I bet she doesn't." He added to himself, still talking aloud in the empty room. "It's a good deal, chems for booze, either way people can get hooked on it, which is of course the best way to guarantee repeat business." The chemist began to pace the floor of his new new clinic, pulling some paper and some more of the Vegas Baby from his pocket and rolling himself another joint. "It'd be good to have a partner too, especially a pretty little thing like her, she could be the acceptable face of the business. Y'know, I never understood that. Why is booze more acceptable than my product? I mean sure, jet can kill you, but usually it's quicker, cleaner and far, far cheaper than pickling your liver. I guess it's just another thing that got carried over from the beforetime, most of the survivors were OK with booze but not drugs and even now, two hundred and one years later, that is still the opinion that prevails." He licked the paper and finished rolling, before sticking the joint in his mouth and lighting it. "It makes me sad." He took a toke and continued pacing again.

"It really does, it gets me down. I mean, have people actually looked around? The entire world has gone to [censored], it really has. Half of these chumps couldn't even imagine the things I've seen in my time with raiders." He paused for a moment, taking another puff while a wistful, reflective smile creased his face. "Those boys and girls really know how to party. But my question is, why, in a world that is so [censored] up, would anyone not want to be on some form of drug? The chance to forget for a while, to see something that looks better than all of this..." His voice trailed off as he lost the train of thought. He held the joint up and looked at it for a few moments, watching the smoke curling from it. "This really is good [censored]. A couple of tokes and all your cares disappear, in a puff of smoke." This play on words bought on a fresh fit of hysterical laughter, causing the dealer to double over, clutching his stomach. The laughter had almost subsided and he was almost able to breathe properly again when he heard a scream from the street.

"RUN!!! They're going to kill us, RUN!"

He was fairly sure that the voice belonged to "Shelby". Ikky had no idea what the young woman was seeing, but he was pretty sure that whatever it was, it wasn't actually there. This bought on another bout of laughter as he imagined her fleeing from an army of super mutants, or a swarm of bloatflies, or a deathclaw in a dress. "NO MORE DRUGS FOR THAT WOMAN! He bellowed, pointing at the closed door. "She's had enough. For today at least, I might let her try some turbo in the morning. She still needs to make her shine, if I give her that then maybe she'll get a batch ready in time for me to put some on my sugar bombs at breakfast time." As he was talking Ikky picked the bag Jericho had bought with him and began to pack up the various items that made up his lab.

"Can't leave this down here now. I don't know if that was Brandy, but even I'm not high enough to believe she's Shelby. Whoever she is, vigilante man will hear all the noise she's making and probably come looking for me." With a sickly, squelching noise, he peeled his lab coat from the wall once more and put it back on. "And since he looks like he could be more dangerous than trying to give a yao guai a reach around, I guess I should take steps to be ready." He picked up two large syringes and filled them with enough med-x to overdose an alpha deathclaw, then slipped them into his pocket before transporting his equipment upstairs and beginning to assemble his lab once more in one of the house's bedrooms.

Shelby - The Elusive Rose - Evening


Shelby listened as Stanley explained about his life, growing up fishing, the university, his brother, and how he embarked on his own fishing business. She gradually sipped straight out of the vodka bottle, enjoying the simple conversation with no strings attached. Stanley finished off his beer, "That is it in short, I have had a lot of exciting things happen on my travelling with my company but I'll be keeping rambling for ages, I'll probably be dead by the end of my talking."

Shelby giggled, "Well Stanley, that certainly is interesting for sure. I remember having fish fillets for dinner in Saskatchewan growing up. I had a problematic childhood, one that I would rather forget. I was born in Saskatchewan Canada in a small settlement called North Battleford. But, once Calypso came to town and I joined her, I have seen alot to. Sure, I'm just 26, but boy have I traveled."

Just then, a large ghoul with patches of red hair walked in, right past Shelby and Stanley as he looked around. Shelby watched him carefully as she continued talking with Stanley, "I make custom melee weapons," she pulled up her staff and hit the button, the blades shot out from each and lit up in a hissing fury of flames. She hit the button again and the blades retracted back into their resting place, hidden nicely from prying eyes. She had hoped the ghoul noticed, she didn't really feel like having to fight the strong looking walking piece of rotting flesh.

"I just have not been able to set up shop yet, not that it matters, it seems like the usual group of settlers. They prefer guns to sword any day, and that doesn't exactly bode well for my side business," Shelby gave a nervous laugh while eyeing the approaching ghoul.

"Hello Stanley." He rasped as he approached the pair. "Good to see that you wasted no time getting settled in, I just need to borrow your new friend here for a moment, don't worry though, you'll be able to get on with your... Party in a moment." He turned his attention to Shelby, "I need to speak with your boss. Can you tell me where I can find Calypso? Or Shelby?"

The hairs on Shelby's back stood on end, she kept her poker face though, who the [censored]? How does the piece of rotting meat know us? Shelby stood up, the ghoul was much taller than her, she had her staff in her hand with her finger itching to produce her means of defense, "I'm Shelby, Calypso is busy right now, what do ya need?" Shelby thought for a second, "we don't service ghouls I'm afraid." She whispered.

Stanley SHard
-The Rose
---Evening

Shelby told Stanley that she has been travelling to, and that she's trying to sell custom melee weapons. Stanley wanted to respond but then he saw the ghoul he saw earlier walk up to them.

"Hello Stanley." He rasped as he approached the pair. "Good to see that you wasted no time getting settled in, I just need to borrow your new friend here for a moment, don't worry though, you'll be able to get on with your... Party in a moment."

Stanley then realised he was most likely in some sort of Brothel and Shelby was then a prosttute. He should have known, but he actually didnt care.
He felt the urge to say something to Charon about them not hooking up but it would only sound stupid so he kept shut.

He turned his attention to Shelby, "I need to speak with your boss. Can you tell me where I can find Calypso? Or Shelby?"

Shelby stood up, the ghoul was much taller than her, she had her staff in her hand with her finger itching to produce her means of defense, "I'm Shelby, Calypso is busy right now, what do ya need?" Shelby thought for a second, "we don't service ghouls I'm afraid." She whispered.

Stanley could see she was nervous about something and he was thinking about cutting in. But I'd look stupid. So he just silently, just to be sure reloaded his gun and kept it in his pocket with his hand gript thight around it. He'd wait and if there really was trouble he could still cut in.

Bob Dobbs

Ryler’s Clinic – Evening

"Well I was born out west past Raven Rock", Tom said. "My ma and pa were in the Enclave so as you can guess I was drafted in.”

“Same with me”, said Bob. “I am from Illinois…a bunker complex the Enclave had built under Vault 50 so the Chinese wouldn’t notice it was there and nuke it. When we were kids, we’d play in the derelict Vault above….their experiment didn’t go very well”.

“I thought it was great you know, serving the government and saving America. But after this" said Tom indicating his arm and face, "I saw the true nature of the Enclave. I was revolted with what I belonged to. So I deserted and have been in Canterbury Commons all this time. What about you, Bob? What was your time like?"

“I was a mushroom like you….all of us, really…kept in the dark and fed bull-[censored]”, said Bob. “Growing up was pleasant enough, but when I turned 18, I got a message from President Eden informing me I had been ‘selected’ to serve in the Combined Forces. They needed cannon fodder after the ass-kicking we got out West, you see. The folks were so proud I was going off to help bring back America…they had no idea what the Enclave was really about. None of us did”.

“Anyhow”, Bob continued after picking up the bottle and pouring himself another drink, “I and a couple others got picked up by a Vertibird and flown East to Raven Rock and testing. From there I was sent to Adams AFB for training and ended up in the Engineer Battallion. Being a soldier wasn’t so bad, but near the end I started to have questions. They asked me to draw up an assault plan for Vault 101...the vault outside Megaton…so we could take it over after the attempts to convince the Overseer to open it up failed. To help in planning, they gave me the file on Vault 13, a control Vault out West that the Enclave had taken over in ’41. Reading it gave me the creeps. Much of it was redacted, especially the parts on what the ultimate purpose of the operation was, and what was done with the Vault Dwellers. The final straw, though, was at the Purifier”.

Bob took a sip from his drink and continued.

“We….my squad and I…went in with the assault team to secure the facility and get it running”, Bob said. “What we found there were just a bunch of civilians…harmless. Well, except for the Vault Kid…but my men and I were lucky enough not to have to tangle with him. The Colonel barges into the control room and demands they hand it over. When they tell him to get stuffed, he shoots one of the scientists to bully the rest. Her name was Janet....Janet Kaplinsky. Half the people in the Wasteland cannot even read, and he shoots down a trained scientist like she was nothing? Meh. It didn’t even work as the lead scientist reacted by flooding the control room with radiation and killing himself and everyone else in there but the Colonel. Then all hell broke loose as the Vault Kid shot his way out and escaped to the Penta-..heh, the Citadel with all the scientists.

Bob took another drink.

“From there”, Bob said wistfully, “It was all down-hill. The Brotherhood kicked us out of the Purifier, and chased us up and down the Capital Wasteland…one day we’re at yet another Rally Point in the ruins of yet another town, and we hear over the radio that the Brotherhood is overrunning Adams AFB. Then we get a last message that the Vault Kid himself was in the Crawler and had wiped out the Sigma Squad…then nothing”. Bob sighed. “We knew then it was over, but we spent a week trying to find someone in the chain of command anyway. When we didn’t find anyone, we split up and went our separate ways. I jumped some Raiders to get an outfit and weapons then buried my armor and worked as a free-lance merc until I could get enough caps to afford decent equipment. Then I signed on with Rivet City security and got a job helping the Brotherhood escort water caravans….hide in plain sight, as it were. Got tired of the constant fighting though, so I dug up my armor and traded it to the Vault for decent tools and other things then came here to set up a shop as a tradesman”. Bob smiled ironically. “But of course, since I got here, I’ve done nothing but fight. I guess that is how it is in the Wasteland.”

Brandy - Bob's house - evening


Brandy had dozed off while Sue held her and stroked her hair, her stomach turned again, waking her up immediately. Brandy sat straight up, seemly startling Sue, she clapped her hand over her mouth and rushed into the bathroom. She dry heaved hard, but having not eaten at all today, nothing came up. She rinsed her mouth out in the sink and splashed water on her face, her head still spun, but not nearly as bad. At least she could focus some more now, Brandy found some clothes, albeit rather big on her, and dressed herself in red sweat pants and a white T-shirt.

Brandy walked over and sat down next to Sue, leaning her head on Sue's shoulder, "I'm sorry Sue, you should know, I think I made a deal with Ikky. Pretty sure I told him that I would trade my moonshine for his Jet, but I can't remember for certain, my head hurts," Brandy rubbed her temples, "I'm going to go get a glass of water from the kitchen," Brandy kissed Sue on her forehead and left the room for the kitchen.

[censored], she's following me downstairs, have to get her to leave me for just a second so I can get out the door. Brandy thought of what she may be able to try to get Sue to leave her out of sight for just a second. Brandy stopped on the steps, turning to face Sue, "Sue, would you please get my hair tie from the bathroom?" Brandy asked, exaggerating as she blew a couple of stray strands of hair from her face. Sue nodded, turning to fetch the hair tie, "thanks Sue," Brandy started back down the stairs, looking over her shoulder until the moment Sue was no longer in view.

Brandy then bolted for the door, holding the waistband of the large sweats up she fumbled with the door handle. Once the door opened, Brandy barreled down the street, holding up her sweatpants all the way to the clinic. She slammed through the door, falling down and moaning at the sharp pain she felt from her plasma burn on her leg. She took a deep breath then rolled onto her side and looked up to see Bob and the cyborg man staring at her, "Oh [censored], I had to check on Ryler Bob, I just had to."

Brandy gingerly got to her feet, hiking up the sweatpants, "I borrowed some of your clothes, hope you don't mind Bob. I know you are probably pissed, but I promised to help Ryler." With that, Brandy made her way to Ryler's side, she watched the life support monitor, it had slowed since she last observed it. A tear escaped down her cheek, and she frantically turned to Bob motioning with her hand, "isn't that supposed to be going ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump?" She pointed out the obviously slow heart rate, "can't we do something Bob? I know that can't be good, it should be faster."

Brandy held her hand over her own heart while she watched the monitor, her lip quivered, she looked back at Bob, "IT IS, it is supposed to be faster, is he going to die?" Brandy turned and dry heaved into the wastebasket at the foot of the gurney, she let her tears go, "he's not going to make it is he Bob? They beat him to badly didn't they?" Brandy just sat down on the floor, a mess of emotions, coming back down from her high, and scared for her friend who never did anything but try to help others.

Despite the attempts of Bob and Sue, Brandy refused to leave Ryler's side, "I made him a promise, and after all he had done for the people here, he deserves that." Brandy pulled some cushions from an old chair and placed them on the floor next to Ryler's gurney. " I know I'm far from perfect, but there is one thing that I am, I am good at being a friend, most of the time anyways, and if Ryler is going to die, I won't let him die alone." After stating her case and standing her ground, she ended up falling asleep on the dingy, makeshift bed.

Morning

Brandy's eyelids glowed as the sun began to rise and poke it's nosy rays of light through the window of the clinic. She rolled onto her back and rubbed her eyes, she could see Ryler's hand hang lifeless over the side of the gurney. She stretched, releasing a big yawn, she slowly got up to check on her friend. She instantly noticed the greyish tint of Ryler's skin, "Ryler?" Brandy touched his hand, it was cold, her eyes shot to the life support monitor. The line lay motionless across the bottom of the screen, the other numbers that Cole had read now were all zeros. Brandy smacked the side of the monitor, "NO, oh no," the sight jolted her awake. Brandy turned to Ryler and shook him, "NO, NO, RYLER, WAKE UP RYLER, NO, WAKE UP!!" Brandy shouted through her sobs, "Oh Ryler, please wake up, WAKE UP!!"

Brandy held onto his cold hand, bring it to her face, "Ryler, I am so sorry, you never deserved this, any of this." Through her deep breaths and tears, Brandy looked at the monitor. Her face twisted with anger, "YOU!" She screamed, letting go of Ryler's hand and punching the machine causing her to wince. "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP HIM, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEPED WHEN HIS HEART STOPPED BEATING!!! " Brandy hit the monitor and kicked its stand, "YOU PIECE OF [censored]" she hissed as she yanked the monitor, cords and all from the stand, throwing it to the floor and stomping on it, "YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEEEEEPED" she yelled in a sobbing rage before she picked it back up and threw it through the front window.

Brandy shuffled her feet back to the gurney that her friend lay on free from the pain of the cruel wasteland. Ryler's promising life had been cut short by greed, and a lust for power and control. Brandy held his hand, laying her head on his chest, "you were one of the kindest people I have known, why did this have to happen to you, it's not fair." Her words were barely recognizable through her heavy sobbing, she ran her fingers through his hair. An anger that Brandy had never experienced coursed through her entire body causing her to shake, she carefully pulled the blanket over his body. She turned and doubled over, "IT'S NOT FAIR."

One of the life supports cords brushed her shoulder, "You didn't do your job." She whispered, repeating the words as they gradually got louder. Brandy tore at the cord, dumping over the stand, she started screaming and throwing the fallen items around, "You should have beeped, woke me up so I could help Ryler, at least I could have tried instead of sleeping while he died." Brandy kicked the stand, bring another wince from her barefoot, "[censored] you, [censored] YOU!"

She staggered outside, the monitor lay in pieces on the already broken and bloodstained street. Brandy wept as she slowly went towards Bob's house to deliver the bad news. But up by the diner she saw a man, even through her tears she could see the man's pink scarf and feather sticking from his hat.

"Is anyone alive, here? I'm a doctor, I can help! Hello? Anyone? Anyone alive?!" The man called out, Brandy picked up her pace, in hopes that he may be able to help. Her toe was bloodied from kicking the stand, her barefeet slapped the pavement more rapidly the closer she got to him.

Brandy cleared her throat, "do you think you can help my friend Ryler?" She pointed with her marked up hand from punching the monitor, her chest rose steeply before she blurted out, "I think he is...dead, but maybe, just maybe you can still help him. Will you please see if you can, please?"

CODY DIRKHEIM ** outside GRAYDITCH ** morning

Cody's sneakered feet made soft thuds as he walked along the ruined highway in the direction he'd been told would lead him to Grayditch. The travelling surgeon was clothed plainly in some faded jeans and a t-shirt underneath a simple beige jacket, and carried two very full, and very well-travelled large duffel bags.

Anyone glancing toward him would have assumed he was just like any of your average wasteland traveller, except for the fact he wore a black fedora accented with a bright pink feather, a matching pink silk scarf tied around his neck, and a shiny black plastic belt was looped through his pants around his waist. A long, silver, dangling woman's earring hung from his right ear.

The morning dawned bright, and Cody's mood was equally sunny. The redhead had entertained a fantasy of setting up his own practice and finally quitting the nomadic lifestyle he'd enjoyed for the past decade. He was ready to be the town doctor and have people come to him, in an office he had arranged to his liking, rather than being the one to have to go to the gore. He'd been, what felt like, everywhere and had seen everything. For him, it was time to plant some roots and stay in one spot for a while.

He had no interest in finding a woman and starting a family, though he would not turn down the opportunity to shack up with the right gentleman...if such an opportunity came along, that was.

Cody smirked to himself as he thought about such a romantic notion. It was the kind of thing you saw in old pre-war magazines and ads, the happy couple snuggling up together in front of the nuclear-battery powered electric fireplace. He didn't consider himself much of a sap, but sometimes, on those lonely nights...

He gave his head a quick shake and continued walking. He estimated he was to arrive in Grayditch shortly, having followed the directions that had been given to him down to the exact detail, but the scene ahead confused him. Smoke was rising from the settlement in a few places, and there was evidence of a fire fight. Cody frowned and readjusted his bags on his back.

He approached the town cautiously and wondered if it were some obnoxious joke to have been sent there. Blood stains and energy weapon burns were seen on the walls and ground, and bodies of civilians were sprawled in various positions in the street. He saw what looked like the shell of an old Dot's Diner had been bombed to [censored], and briefly wondered about the sign that said WELCUMMING CUMITTY that seemed to have been attached to it at some point.

Raiders, most like. Heavily armed ones. I wonder that anyone is left alive...

Cody dropped the duffel bag containing his clothing and other personal belongings and hurried over to the first body he could see. He deftly opened up his medical supply bag, pulled out a stethoscope, and leaned over the woman checking for vitals. The woman was dead. He glanced up and around the crumbling town and called out.

"Is anyone alive, here? I'm a doctor, I can help! Hello? Anyone? Anyone alive?!"

Cody reached down and closed the dead woman's eyes. He heard the sound of skin on pavement and looked up to see he was approached by a young woman with dark hair, and a scar over her eye.

It's not a ghost town after all!

The woman stopped in front of him and cleared her throat. "Do you think you can help my friend Ryler?" She pointed with a recently injured hand, her chest rose steeply before she blurted out, "I think he is...dead, but maybe, just maybe you can still help him. Will you please see if you can, please?"

Cody nodded and zipped up his medical bag, leaving his stethoscope around his neck. He quickly slung his personal bag over his shoulder, before picking up his medical supplies and motioning to the young woman to lead the way. "I can examine your friend, honey. I can't make any promises, but I will do my best. What happened to this place? Just yesterday I found my fabulous self in Megaton being told Grayditch could use a surgeon, but this place is bloodier than a Mole Rat slaughterhouse."

Cody raised an eyebrow when he saw the destroyed life support monitor smashed to pieces on the ground next to the clinic door. The moment he entered, a familiar smell instantly hit Cody's nostrils. He immediately frowned and hoped the young woman didn't notice and would begin to freak out. Cody pulled the sheet past the patient's face and his optimism quickly tanked.

"Ryler, can you hear me? I'm a doctor, my name's Cody Dirkheim. Still with us?" He slipped the earphones of his stethoscope into his ears and gently began to examine Ryler for any sign of life, though he was certain he wouldn't find any. The temperature and colour of the man's skin indicated he had expired a number of hours ago. A glance at Ryler's hands showed they had begun to curl ever slightly, something only he as a highly trained medical professional would have noticed at all.

Cody exhaled slowly. He could tell that this man meant something to the young woman, which would make it difficult for her to take the news. Nonetheless, he couldn't lie. "He passed away many hours ago. I'm sorry...there's nothing I can do, now." He reached over and hugged the woman around the shoulders. "Take comfort in the fact he passed away peacefully, though. If only our friend in the street could have been so lucky."

"Do you want me to bandage up your hand?" Cody asked. "Is there anyone else you know that needs some patching up? You folks have been through one hell of an ordeal. I mean, I've seen my share of action, but my panties don't ever stay dry, if you know what I mean. I'm sure your friend here was very brave."

Brandy - clinic - morning



The man nodded, zipping up his bad, he quickly slung his other bag over his shoulder, he motioned for Brandy to lead the way, "I can examine your friend, honey. I can't make any promises, but I will do my best. What happened to this place? Just yesterday I found my fabulous self in Megaton being told Grayditch could use a surgeon, but this place is bloodier than a Mole Rat slaughterhouse."

"Oh thank you," she wiped her nose with her sleeve, "The Enclave happened, they came in yesterday morning and just started killing people, I'm not sure why though." Brandy started to lead him back to Ryler's clinic, while she tried to regain control of her emotions.

"Ryler, can you hear me? I'm a doctor, my name's Cody Dirkheim. Still with us?" Cody said as he slipped the earphones into his ears and examined Ryler. Cody exhaled slowly, "He passed away many hours ago. I'm sorry...there's nothing I can do, now." He reached over and hugged Brandy around the shoulders. "Take comfort in the fact he passed away peacefully, though. If only our friend in the street could have been so lucky."

"Its not fair, all he ever did was try to help others, he was a good person," Brandy's tears dampened Cody's jacket.

"Do you want me to bandage up your hand?" Cody asked. "Is there anyone else you know that needs some patching up? You folks have been through one hell of an ordeal. I mean, I've seen my share of action, but my panties don't ever stay dry, if you know what I mean. I'm sure your friend here was very brave."

Brandy sniffed, she looked at Cody, "I'm not sure that I know what you mean, but my name is Brandy...Brooks. Ryler was brave, and always helpful, he patched me up a few times. He will be missed." She looked at her hand, returning her gaze to Cody, tears speckled the lenses on her glasses, "sure, and there are a few people that need some medical attention. Since Ryler passed, that means both of the towns medics are...dead." Brandy pressed her face against Cody's shoulder once more, sobbing at the loss of Ryler.

She gathered herself, wandering over to the cushionless and sat down, "can you look at my foot to? I kicked the stand over there after I realized Ryler was..." Brandy sobbed rather than saying the word, "I have to tell you, I don't have a single cap to my name. But, I'm sure, my girlfriend Sue or boyfriend Bob will pay you whatever you need." Brandy leaned towards Cody and whispered in his ear, "Sue can't talk, she speaks Lewinese with her hands. I don't have my book with me, so if she doesn't write it down, I don't know what she is saying."

Brandy leaned back, throwing her head back on the chair with her arm over her head, her sobs slowly died down. She began talking as Cody tended her wounds, "I suppose I better get started on Ryler's casket. We can use a surgeon, doctor type, like I mentioned, both of our medics were...aren't with us anymore. You will need to talk to Tap, she kept track of who lives where and that sort of stuff. Can't miss her, she's the only bald woman in town, she will probably be at the diner going through the debris like yesterday."

Crimmer - The Citadel - evening


The vertibird dipped suddenly, Crimmer braced herself at the aircraft's sudden movement. She did not like flying she found out, not one bit, she could not wait until her feet were back on the ground. Ranos ranted about Mirvin, half in English, half in Spanish, Crimmer had no problem shutting everything else out. The one thing that consumed her mind was, when would they crash? She thought for certain that would be the case with each jerk of the machine. Thankfully, by way of vertibird, they arrived at The Citadel in no time.

They were greeted by some more Paladins, and Elder Lyons himself, who motioned towards Crimmer. The Scribe on his left approached, "I am Scribe Penhollow, I have been assigned to oversee the work on our new..."

Crimmer threw up her hands, "WHOA, hold up."

Scribe Penhollow stepped back, a look of confusion of his face, Crimmer grit her teeth and poke the middle-aged Scribe in the chest, "Your prototype? Yours?" She laughed, "I don't think so. Just because I am building a prototype long range plasma rifle here, does NOT make it yours. I worked long and hard to design this, and it is mine, ALL MINE. I am simply sharing it with you people, and by the way Paladin Arani, where's my Pip-Boy 3000?" She folded her arms and annoying tapped her toes.

"What Pip-Boy 3000?" Arani looked over the list, Crimmer had scribbled it on the bottom before they took off, "oh now you just wait."

Crimmer smiled devilishly and touched the button on her Pip-Boy 2000 she had said would blow the schematics to bits, "it's not my fault that you left room above your signature, wouldn't want to wast paper would we?"

"Elder Lyons," Arani started, Elder Lyons held up his hand.

"If indeed this young woman can create such an unique weapon that would greatly help our cause, I see no reason to argue about such things."

"Very well Elder Lyons, I will take my squad back to the barracks unless you need further assistance?"

"No no, we will be fine Paladin Arani, take your squad and settle yourselves. Do meet at my chambers for the interrogation of Mr. Wilson though." Elder Lyons excused Arani and his squad, Arani nodded in acceptance of the order. "I will adhere to your requests Ms. O'Connor. Please," Elder Lyons held his hand out towards the interior of the Citadel, "do follow Scribe Penhollow, he will introduce you to the other Scribes in the energy weapons section, as well as show you to you quarters."

"Thank you Elder Lyons, it is nice to see someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship," Crimmer followed the balding Scribe, disappearing inside the inner ring. They way that Scribe Penhollow walked, his right stride long than his left, it reminded Crimmer of a scooter they had studied at the University. It was a lesson in prewar children's toys, so she decided that she would call him Scoot. Scoot showed her the quarters she was to occupy during her stay at The Citadel, she quickly took care of her things, "So, Scoot, about this Pip-Boy."

"Scoot? Ms. O'Connor, I am afraid that I do not follow your logic." Penhollow asked, after Crimmer's explanation, he found it rather amusing, and a pleasant change from the stuffy attitudes found throughout the Citadel, he accepted the new nickname. "I shall take you to see Knight Captain Durga, she can be challenging sometimes, so heed the warning."

"Well, I'll just let you do the talking then," Crimmer winked at Scoot, "otherwise I may run off at the mouth."

"Very well, once I have acquired your Pip-Boy, I would like to begin working at once." Scoot replied.

"Me too, I have waited a long time for this project to become a reality. I will write down what we will need." Crimmer picked up a notepad and pencil from an end table by her bed and wrote down the pieces needed to build her rifle, "that should do it, if you don't mind Scoot, I'll rest until you get back, I have a feeling this will be a long night."

Scoot left Crimmer's quarters to retrieve the necessary components as well as her Pip-Boy 3000. She had accomplished two things today that satisfied her, irritate Paladin Arani and essentially screwed him over, and got her new Pip-Boy, not even counting the fact that she was gaining the chance to build her dream weapon. Crimmer nodded off until Scoot returned roughly an hour later. A cable hung from his hands, "What's that cable for?"

"To transfer data to your new Pip-Boy 3000 Ms. O'Connor," Scoot passed Crimmer the new toy. She quickly figured it out, it wasn't too much different to operate than her Pip-Boy 2000 was. Scoot jumped back as Crimmer began to take off the old Pip-Boy, "what's the matter with you?" She asked.

"We were informed that your Pip-Boy would detonate upon removal."

"Meh," Crimmer shrugged, "I was just [censored]ting Arani, all I did was load my plans onto it, which are now erased." She added, "this belongs to James, the guy that's getting interrogated ya know? He let me borrow it." The Scribe chuckled, motioning Crimmer to follow him to the laboratory. Crimmer's eyes went wide upon entering the massive lab, in the center, the charred remains of Liberty Prime stood aided by scaffolding. An older Scribe approached the pair.

"Ah, you must be Maureen O'Connor?" The elder Scribe asked.

"Yep, that be me," answered the perky redhead.

"I am Scribe Rothchild, I understand you have created, or planned out a rather unique weapon. One that will aid the Brotherhood is defending the Capital Wasteland from the remaining Enclave forces."

"Yes, something that I have waited to build for some time," Crimmer was having a difficult time hiding her excitement.

"I also understand that you studied under Dr. Oscar P. Grafton?" Said Scribe Rothchild.

"Yes, I did," Crimmer stood straight at the mention of her professor, "I learned quite alot while I studied under him. But, I was unable to graduate, a war broke out and some of us fleed. I can build weapons and various other things, but combat? It's not for me, my size limits my abilities to be effective."

"I see, come, let me show you the facility in its entirety," Scribe Rothchild began showing Crimmer all she needed to know in order to make full use of the laboratory. After her tour, Crimmer told Scoot what else was needed to produce the prototype rifle, he left to gather the items while Crimmer disassembled the two plasma rifles before her. So eager to take full advantage of this opportunity brought before her, Crimmer worked diligently well into the night. Once Scoot had to wake her as she fell asleep on the workbench, she figured it a good time to return to her quarters.

"How do I get to the courtyard Scoot?" Asked Crimmer, her assigned Scribe showed her to the courtyard so she could get a breath of fresh air before she retired. It was roughly three in the morning, the night air was brisk and refreshing. She overheard two Paladins who must have been on guard duty talking about Virgil, how stupid he was, that he was a monster, and other such slanderous words. This did not sit well with Crimmer, not one bit, she stomped towards them.

"So, you two think you're sooooo much smarter than Virgil huh? Well, I've got news for you, he hasn't lost his mind like these wicked east coast bully mutants. Secondly, I would wager that he is FAR smarter than both of you combined, maybe that's why you wear those heavy armor suits? It helps to cover up your arrogance and stupidity. Just think for a second, Virgil has been around probably before the Brotherhood ever even existed. I'm sure he has seen more than we will ever see, and that he has knowledge beyond your comprehension. The next time you call Virgil, who speaks clearer than you two [censored] bigot morons, think about that. I mean, if you are capable that is, next time you feel like stating your bigotry aloud, if I hear it, I'll put my boot in your ass." Crimmer turned and went back to her quarters to get some sleep.