[luke trodden]

Thread Twelve

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/

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1253622-welcome-to-grayditch-thread-11/

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

[Kortniie Dumont]

Brandy - Tent party - Evening

Brandy and Sue were sliding around on the makeshift dance floor to the music, sharing kisses back and forth as they swayed about. Brandy would look back towards the table where Bob had sat down, she noticed James coaxing Clark up and to the dance floor. She seemed somewhat nervous; Brandy gave her a reassuring smile before Sue pulled her face back to hers. A couple of moments later, Brandy heard Clark, she sounded upset just before she stormed off with James in pursuit.

“Wonder what that’s all about?” Brandy looked at Sue, “That poor girl, she sure is having a bad day, I thought coming with us to the party would help cheer her up a little.”

Just as Sue was about to lead Brandy back to the table to talk to Bob, Cole walked over to them. Cole had no sooner got close when three gunshots sounded off, they must have been close because they were quite loud. Cole’s arm suddenly shot in front of Brandy, causing her to jump again as he screamed out in pain. He fell to the floor clutching his arm; Brandy fell to her knees and hovered over Cole.

“Oh my God, oh my God, what can I do, what do I do?” panic filled her face. She brushed back Cole’s hair, pressure, apply pressure, she swallowed as she started to apply pressure to Cole’s arm. Tears started to fall from her eyes, “I need some help over here, somebody!!!”

“Here,” a hand holding some rags was thrust in front of Brandy’s face. It was Jade, she looked strung out on something, “Take’em your hand won’t soak up the blood.”

Brandy looked down, her hands were drenched in Cole’s blood, and she started to wrap his arm as carefully as she could. “I…I don’t know what to say,” She finished tying off the rags around his arm then hugged him, “Thank you…” Brandy kissed Cole’s cheek, she tried to comfort him, “Can anyone treat a bullet wound?” Her mousy voice was over ruled by the shouting of others, “Jade, can you find someone who can treat his arm, see where Cody is maybe?”

Brandy ran her hands through his hair; she reached over and picked up his fedora, sitting it by his head. She just did her best to calm Cole down; there wasn’t much that she could do to help his apparent pain. She scooted up next to him, resting his wounded arm across her lap, she gently rubbed his arm and shoulder, and she went from that to rubbing his head. “You’ll be alright, I’ll make sure you get what you need,” she brushed her hand on his cheek and gave an unsteady smile with her glassy eyes.

[Chantelle Walker]

Bob Dobbs

Diner – Evening

"Dance?", asked Clark. She appeared to be dumbfounded by James’s invitation.

“Go on”, Bob said affably, “It’ll be fun! James here is harmless…mostly.” Bob winked at her.

"Uh - er - sure...", she said as she got to her feet and James led her out onto the dance floor.

Man, that kid sure was sheltered in whatever Vault she came from…I wonder what [censored]-up experiment they got saddled with.

Now alone at his table, Bob began to look around. The crowd was a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar people. Calypso was holding court in one corner, a succession of people sidling up to talk to her then either leaving or getting drinks. Near her was the blonde James had been talking to, she was talking to a scruffy looking mercenary. The female merc and her friend that Bob had seen earlier walked in, stopped to talk to Calypso for a minute then got drinks and sat by the first merc. Soon they were all laughing and joking as she told them some sort of story. In another corner, the Brotherhood detachment sat. The pilot had one of Calypso’s girls on his knee, and someone had lured Elizabeth out onto the dance floor. Brandy and Sue were out on the floor, dancing and making out…occasionally they would look his direction.

Bob poured himself another scotch.

Tomorrow is going to be a [censored] day….all those people still need to be buried and we’ll have to start watching for Talon Company [censored]s. And we still have to retrieve that armor before somebody finds it.

Bob started hearing noise from the dance floor, and turned to look.

"Jeez”, said James completely dumbfounded, “I was just askin' Cl-"

"Fine!", she shouted. "You want to know, James? “My name is not Clark. I lied. I got to DC by walking. The government dikes thought it'd be fun to see how much [censored] people'll take before they whack off the head of the guy in charge. Not gonna say which one it was, because I'm not a [censored]in' traitor."

"Happy, Wilson?", she spat, then spun on her heel and darted out of the tent. James followed her, pleading apologetically for her to come back.

Jesus Christ...this kid has a lot to learn. I’d better see what I can do.

Bob got up and began to walk to the front of the tent after them. He was taken completely by surprise when three shots rang out in rapid succession. Two holes appeared in the fabric of the tent in front of him. Bob reacted immediately by crouching and drawing his .45 auto and charging it in the same fluid motion, then holding it in front of him at the ready. To his right he heard cursing, he took a quick look and saw the chem peddler, Ikky, holding the top half of a bottle in a mixture of annoyance and amusemant. The mercs, and the blonde with them all drew pistols and made for the tent flap, even as Calypso barked an order at them. Bob also noticed one of the Brotherhood initiates dragging Elizabeth out the back of the tent while the rest drew weapons and headed for the front as well. As Bob had already been on his way he made it outside first, hearing James shout, then another shot rang out.

Bob looked around, sweeping the area with his pistol. James was standing before him, the .45-70 revolver he had given back to him in his trembling hand. About fifteen feet ahead was Clark, standing there like a spot-lighted deer.

“James…Clark!”, Bob said. “Are you alright? Where did the shooter go?”

James turned around slowly, one hand on his abdomen. Bob could see blood beginning to seep between his fingers. With a odd little grin, he began to walk back inside, letting go of the revolver so he could hold his stomach with both hands. The blonde guided him back inside, calling out for a doctor.

The scruffy looking merc looked at the other two.

“Philip”, he barked, “Get the boys, I’ve had enough of this [censored]. If Moriarty’s clowns can’t do their [censored] job then we will do it for them. Put two on the West Gate, send the rest to me. Get moving!”

Phillip ran in the direction of the West gate. The scruffy merc then looked at Clark.

“Which way did he go?”, the man asked Clark impatiently. “Did you see what he looked like?”

But Clark, with the same “deer in the headlights” look, ignored him and walked back into the tent without saying a word.

“She’d better get a clue if she plans on living long”, the merc said exasperatedly. He then looked at Bob. “How many rounds you have for that?”

“Fourteen”, Bob said.

“Get a bigger gun”, the man said. “We’re going to find the [censored] and deal with him.”

One of the Paladins loped up, suited up in his T-45d suit.

“What happened?’, the Paladin asked. “Elizabeth said someone got shot”.

“Some [censored] opened up on the Diner with a pistol”, the Merc said, “Could you go to the East gate and keep anyone from getting out that way?”

“Will do”, the Paladin said. He then bounced away, heading for the East Gate. The other Brotherhood troops headed back to thier little camp to get their armor back on and get heavier weapons.

“I’ll be right back”, Bob said. He then sprinted to his house to get a rifle and some armor.

Storming into the house, he found Jeeves with the two Eye-Bots. They floated above the dining room table serenely while Jeeves was plugged into the Enclave terminal, characters scrolling down the screen with lightning speed.

“Good evening, sir!”, intoned Jeeves. “I’m repairing the damage those beastly Enclave types inflicted on these programming and memory of these poor robots. They rather cruelly disabled most of their higher functions in a crude attempt to use them as drones.” The inflection of Jeeves’s voice then changed…going from his synthetic English accent to a flat Midwestern accent.

“Unimaginative and brutal hacks!”, Jeeves said contemptuously in his odd accent. “Every bit as short-sighted and stupid as their founders. It’s no wonder they’ve been effectively wiped out by Wastelanders twice in the last forty years.”

“Huh?”, asked Bob, astounded by the way Jeeves was talking. “How did you know about the Enclave’s war with the NCR?”

“Why Mr. O’Reilly mentioned it…he was talking to some gentlemen that also were from California”, Jeeves replied in his usual voice after a brief pause. “You look upset….is there something I can do for you?”

“I need to get my rifle”, Bob said. “someone shot James, we need to track him down”.

“Shot Mr. Wilson?”, Jeeves said, “How awful! “I’ll send the Eyebots out to look for suspicious persons right away, then I’ll fetch you your rifle and armor.” The two Eybots began to move, heading for the door as Jeeves got Bob’s Tac Vest and Chinese Assault rifle.

Bob ran back to the tent, putting his web gear on as he ran. Armed men were beginning to appear in the streets. He approached the scruffy merc.

“I’m ready”, Bob said. “What do you need me to do?”

[Roanne Bardsley]

Ikky. The tent party. Evening.

Barry pointed at the different people crowding the tent telling the chemist their names as he went. Ikky almost choked on his drink as the bearded man pointed to the women on the dance floor, he recognized them from the previous night, the quiet dancing one and "Shelby". As it turned out his suspicions were correct, Shelby wasn't her name, she was the Brandy that he'd been ordered to not sell to. That was it then, he couldn't claim ignorance once the heavily scarred vigilante that'd joined them questioned him. Either she would have to get someone else to buy her [censored] for her, or she'd have to tell Big Bob to mind his own business. As much as Ikky wanted to make money, he had no intention of actually getting shot for supplying some junkie. He rummaged in his pocket for a moment and pulled out an ultrajet inhaler and took a quick hit to calm his nerves.

Some of the others in the room appeared to be unknown to Barry, since he didn't name them. There was a child, accompanied by a freakishly tall man and a fellow in a dapper looking suit. The suit stopped to talk to the woman that Barry had named as Calypso for a moment, before walking away from her. Calypso talked to the child next before walking away across the room. Ikky's eyes followed her as she moved, the jet coursing through his system causing her to become the single most graceful and enchanting creatures he had ever seen. The air around her shimmered a little as she passed through it, he slipped his hand into his pocket again, probing to see if he had enough caps to proposition her. The chemist froze when she reached her destination however, a sudden wave of terror washing over him when he saw that she was talking to the vigilante who'd confronted him. That was enough to cause Ikky to jerk his attention away from her again instantly.

Ikky turned back to his bearded companion. "I really don't know Barry, there are so many faces in here. Perhaps I should just prop up the bar, well the table that's being used as a bar, for a while. Y'know, do a little people watching. You really wouldn't believe the kind of things you can see while you're watching." As Ikky was saying this he was watching a large pink sentrybot with polished golden trim slowly trundling through the tent flaps. "Of course, it does help if you take a couple of "consciousness enhancers" before you start. You see much more interesting things that way." He reached inside his labcoat and pulled out a small foil pack which he dropped onto the table beside him. Reaching for it Ikky slowly folded back the foil, exposing several bright red blocks. "Take this stuff for example." He popped a piece into his mouth and began chewing, grimacing a little at the bitter flavor before washing it away with another swig of his cocktail. "Afterburner gum it's called. I picked up the recipe..." He paused and held up a couple of fingers, his expression going a little vacant as he muttered a couple of numbers to himself. "A while ago, that was it. I was making my way through what's left of Texas when I first found it. It's great stuff, try some if you like. It has all kinds of different effects. The euphoria is the the best, you chew a little and all your problems melt away. But you'll also be faster, stronger..." As he was talking Ikky's glass shattered in his hand, spraying drink and shards of glass in all directions. "You learn telekinesis... Wait... That's a new one." He stared at his hand, too stunned to even notice the glass protruding from his palm, or the blood that was running between his fingers. "YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TRY SOME BARRY." He hopped onto the surface of the table, kicking glasses and bottles to the floor. "WE COULD BE [censored] SUPERHEROES WITH THE POWERS IT WILL GIVE US." Suddenly, he experienced a rare moment of clarity. "Wait, that was gunfire." He dived from one table and quickly crawled beneath another with a shrill cry of. "Save me Barry."

[Jack]

Barry Burton - The Tent - Party Pooped

Ikky glanced around at the people Barry had pointed out; watching Calypso for a little longer before quickly snapping his head away.

"I really don't know Barry, there are so many faces in here. Perhaps I should just prop up the bar, well the table that's being used as a bar, for a while. Y'know, do a little people watching. You really wouldn't believe the kind of things you can see while you're watching." Ikky remarked, reaching into his lab coat and taking out a small packet of something, dropping them onto the table.

"I hear that, friend. But if I'm doing any watching I usually want to be leaving with a woman at the end of the night." Barry grinned, taking a swig of vodka.

"Take this stuff for example." He popped a piece of the gum from inside the packet into his mouth and began chewing, grimacing a little at the bitter flavor before washing it away with another swig of his cocktail. "Afterburner gum it's called. I picked up the recipe..." He paused and held up a couple of fingers, his expression going a little vacant as he muttered something to himself. "A while ago, that was it. I was making my way through what's left of Texas when I first found it. It's great stuff, try some if you like. It has all kinds of different effects. The euphoria is the the best, you chew a little and all your problems melt away. But you'll also be faster, stronger..."

"Nice, drugs aren't really my thing though..." Just as Barry finished the sentence a shot rang out in the distance, Ikky's glass exploded; some of his blood spraying Barry's face.

"Jesus!" Barry shouted, quickly grabbing the packet of afterburner and diving to the ground. "Screw it!" He grunted taking two pieces of the gum and shoving them in his gob, quickly pulling his H&K45, the adrenaline that rushed him was almost instant, everything seemed to be going in slow motion for a short time. Barry glanced up to see Ikky dancing a top the bar, kicking over glasses as he went.

"YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TRY SOME BARRY! WE COULD BE [CENSORED] SUPERHEROES WITH THE POWERS IT WILL GIVE US."

"Are you [censored] nuts! Get down you crazy bastard!" Barry boomed as the tent went nuts.

"Wait, that was gunfire." Ikky snapped, diving from the table and quickly crawling beneath another with a shrill cry of. "Save me Barry."

"No shizznick, Sherlock!" Barry laughed uncontrollably at the shrill cry of Save me, Barry! Quickly snapping out of it, remembering the gunshot, he was going in fast forward, he was moving too fast for his brain to keep up.

"Just stay down! No more shots have been fired..."

At that moment James; the man he had been working for came into the tent, he had been shot, along with another guy Brandy was with.

"These people are wounded, you got any Med-X? Actually, who cares. Man, I need a fight!" Barry chirped, his eyes wide and alert. He quickly opened and closed his hand; clenching it into a fist and breathing heavily.

"I'm so..." Barry quickly rubbed his face, shaking his head. "So... I'm so [censored] pumped right now man!" He bellowed, standing up and looking around the tent, the two injured were being looked after. Barry still walked up to James, Sue and another strange looking guy were with him, trying to bandage him up. Despite this he was drifting.

"Excuse me, mate." Barry smiled at the mercenary looking dude, lifting Jame's head, tapping his cheek with his palm before giving him a sharp but not too painful slap.



"Stay awake... I should be able to get you some of this good [censored], trust me, it'll liven you up." Barry grinned.

"Did you see anything? Did anyone see the shooter? I can help, I have two guns, quite a decent bit of ammo and DAMN! YOU BETTER [censored] BELIEVE I'M READY FOR A FIGHT!" Barry simply grinned, holding his head up and trying to keep Jame's attention.

[sw1ss]

James Wilson – not sure and not sure… to much blood lost…

“Sue.. some bastard.. shot me..” James said, his speech slowing and his eyelids fluttering more and more downward……

As the doctor guy and Sue began to treat James wound, Clark or whatever here name was now came over with a glass of water. "James, you gotta drink some water. Water'll help," she said as she the glass close to his mouth…

did she just to kill me? No... she wouldn't be helping

"He's gonna be okay, right?..."

Just then out of nowhere a guy came up and pushed the doctor man out of way before shouting at James "[censored], someone get him some Stimpack! Come on James, don't pass out man! I know that hurts but block the [censored] out!" Aaron yelled.

“You… kn-knocked the doctor….. Over” James slowly replied

The man then applied bandages to James before smacking him a few times, which caused Sue to look at the man angrily. Although the doctor man got back up soon enough and took over from the angry man who went and picked up James pistols , placing in on the bar…

"Th-at’s my gu…"

"SOMEONE GET HIM SOME [censored] MEDS!" he shouted

“I am” the doctor man said as he injected James with a stimpack “I haven’t got any drugs but these stimpack should make him stable for now…” He added on….

"Anyone shot?!"Clark said who had been oddly quiet since then or at least James hadn’t heard her say anything

Yes me…

"You guys need help getting him up, or anything? We got a hit over here, too."

“No, no. James is fairy stab- the doctor man said although James was distracted by Larry coming over that he did not hear what

“Stay awake... I should be able to get you some of this good [censored], trust me, it'll liven you up."

“No, drugs bad for me.. Sue sh-show doctor pills” James said. Sue nodded and pulled out the heart pills from James’s pouch and gave them to the doctor man…

Larry then began to shout stuff at James "Did you see anything? Did anyone see the shooter? I can help, I have two guns, quite a decent bit of ammo and DAMN! YOU BETTER [censored] BELIEVE I'M READY FOR A FIGHT!" as

“Quiet Larry…”James said, Sue then put her finger on her lips as if showing Larry to sshhh!

“Hey you, can you help James get up? I think it would be best if we move him out of here” the doctor said to Larry

“Yes Larry, help me up “James said, shortly after Larry & Sue helped James get up. Larry then helped James walk over to the angry man at the bar “thank you… that guy their looks like he needs help too..” James said pointing at the poo hand guy hiding under the table....

Making their way to the tents door, Sue stopped to help Brandy with guy who was injured whlist they contuined. Reaching the door, they walked outside where several armed men and Bob were talking in groups.

“hey *cough* hey” James said to get their attention although Larry may have said something as well…

“attacker was in from that way” James said pointing in the alley ways direction “ Bring him back alive is poissble, me want to know why he shot at me” James said, he had sufficiently perked up now but was still very weak…

He then turned to Larry “ can you take me home? I want to rest whlist bobo & scuffy find who shot me…”

Ooc: “Larry” is on purpose, not spelling mistake.

[Baylea Isaacs]

Barry Burton - Grayditch - Larry! Mudatucking Larry! Seriously? Not cool dude.

Barry could barely keep track of what was happening as he spoke to James, too much crap was happening; it seemed the whole damn tent was talking. Despite this he did annoyingly find himself being called Larry by James half a dozen times. After Sue and a couple of other people had helped patch him up; minutes later he walked outside. Barry followed silently; his H&K45 still in his hand. James pointed out the direction of the shot, telling the small crowd of armed men outside the tent where to start looking before turning back to him; asking whether he would take him home.

"I may be drunk, and you may be my boss; but trust me friend, I'm no where near drunk enough to think your a chick yet. Give me a few hours though; you wouldn't believe what I've woke up with in the past." Barry grinned, the awkward silence carrying on for what seemed like an age before he burst out laughing.

"Of course Ill take you home, mate. But if you call me Larry one more time my .44's going to make that wound look like a bloody splinter." Barry chuckled, Wrapping Jame's arm around his neck and starting off down the road.

"Why does every party I go to end with gunshots..."

[Maeva]

Monroe

Diner – Evening

Monroe watched the square sprint towards a large house, presumably his, then open the door and go in.

“Seen this guy before?”, Monroe asked Vikia. “I’m guessing he’s a merc or something.”

“His name is Dobbs”, Vikia replied. “According to Louis he’s the guy who pretty much took over the Rose during the Enclave attack….placed the mines out front. He could be trouble.”

“Dobbs…”, Monroe mused. “That name came up over in Megaton the other day. He apparently led the attack on the Raider gang that used to be in the old school in Springdale. There were three dozen of them in there…you’re right, he could be trouble.”

“Keep an eye out”, Monroe continued, “I’m going to try to take one more crack at that kid and see if she saw something.”

Monroe ducked back into the tent, noticing the Vault Kid watching anxiously as Edward worked on the square….Calypso had referred to him as Wilson… who had been shot outside.

“Hey kid”, Monroe said as gently as he could, “You didn’t answer before…did you see the guy that shot Wilson?”

She nodded yes.

“Did you get a good look at him? Could you describe him?”

She nodded no.

“Did you see the way he went?”

She nodded yes and walked back to the front of the tent. Once at the entrance, she pointed in the direction of the wrecked Diner, in front of and to the right of the tent.

“He was in the Diner, eh?”, Monroe said, “Thanks.”

Now at least, he had a place to start. Monroe got a torch and cautiously walked up to the shattered Pre-War metal building. He didn’t expect to find the shooter still there, but it didn’t hurt to be prepared. Finding the place empty, he began to look around.

Hmm…sounded like a pistol. Doubt as it was a revolver as the shots were too quick. If whoever had been shooting was good enough to rip off shots with a wheel-gun that quick they would have put Mr Wilson down, so most likely it was a automatic of some kind. Which means….

“There you are”, said Monroe smugly as he bent down and picked up a shell casing from a ruined stall near the wall facing the tent. It was still a little warm. Monroe sniffed at it, it had been fired recently. He turned it over and looked at the headstamp, it was marked LC and 76. The caliber wasn’t stamped on the casing, but Monroe knew from long experience that it was a 10mm. The primer sealant was still intact, so it wasn’t a reload.

Pre-War 10mm ammo…government issue, to boot…not terribly helpful as the Capital Wasteland is swimming in ammo just like this. Won’t be enough to finger the shooter by itself, but it’s something to look for, I guess.

Monroe heard a noise and turned to look, noticing the Vault Kid had followed him and was now nosing around the Diner as well.

“Hey kid”, said Monroe, showing her the expended cartridge and pointing out where he found it. “This came from the shooter’s gun...found it over here. See if you can help me find the other two.”

[courtnay]

-"Aubrey"
--Evening; The General Area of the Diner and Tap's Tent

The commotion within the tent wasn't dulling, but people had begun to organize themselves beyond gasps of shock and panic. Aubrey still felt twitchy, uncertain how to handle the problem, and ready to jump at the crack of a stick.

When she gave a glance from everywhere else, back to Sue and James, the mute lady was given a bottle of pills, with a label suggesting it was heart medicine. She heard enough of the conversation as she looked to the scene to understand James must have had some heart problems. How was he even alive, with heart problems?

"Did you see anything? Did anyone see the shooter? I can help, I have two guns, quite a decent bit of ammo and DAMN! YOU BETTER [censored] BELIEVE I'M READY FOR A FIGHT!"

The girl's longer, curlier bob flew up slightly as she jerked her attention to a strange man, who seemed...off. He had been there already - how hadn't she noticed him before? Feeling so uncomfortable in her footing, and a little distraction, hadn't ever been such a problem. She noticeably shot her eyes wide open for a moment in surprise.

"Quiet Larry..."

"Uh," she glanced to James - looking overwhelmed, weak, and weary -and softly threw in, "I saw the motion of 'em runnin' off - somewhere toward the Diner. Didn't get a good look, and with how dark it is..."


Another stranger, though from earlier, entered shortly after - as the doctor continued to handle James' wounds. Aubrey was quick to answer, hoping the answer was worth something.


By then she had put down the glass, and anything her hands had been doing to help keep James stable let the others take over so that her teeth could dig into the tan back and the fingers. Or so that those fingers could pull at the ends of that fancy green shirt she still wore, endlessly and mercilessly.
And then the tall teen hovered by James as he was guided outside by a small group, eagerly joining in carrying him whenever she was given the chance - putting special care not to jostle him or stress him more than he was. When they loosely joined another, with Bob being the only familiar face, James seemed...energetic..about it. His tired face lookin' just about ready to smile. Her right brow arched up, refusing to fall, as Aubrey almost stared with an odd look to the sudden energy from a person who shouldn't have even a hint of it.

“Bring him back alive is poissble, me want to know why he shot at me."
He then turned to Larry “ can you take me home? I want to rest whlist bobo & scuffy find who shot me…”

"Bobo and Scuffy?" She muttered.


Larry, apparently, wasn't Larry. After Aubrey silently frowned at an attempt at humor, finding it painful and inappropriate, he said, "Of course Ill take you home, mate. But if you call me Larry one more time my .44's going to make that wound look like a bloody splinter." Barry chuckled, Wrapping Jame's arm around his neck and starting off down the road.

The tall brunette reluctantly let her grip slip of James', a terribly guilty and pained look on her face - her brows low and pressing enough, her forehead creased enough, that one might think she were crying without a good look at her eyes. "Sorry" didn't pass through her lips fast enough, and she just silently glanced to the two for a moment. She could check on him later, surely. It would all be fine. He was so damn casual about it, half the time, that how wouldn't it be?

After a long pause, her thin frame turned to where the rubble was, where that same stranger had been. He must have decided to look through all the rubble after she pointed the way the criminal went.

Trying to look about the scene, she turned to the large group of what must have been some militia formed on a whim. Carelessly, ungracefully, she interrupted whatever they were in the middle of to pipe up, "Hey, any of you got an extra gun for me?"
She took one step closer, "I'm no nurse, so I'm joinin' this lil search and investigation. Think it might be nice to have a good gun just in case; got a pistol."

She couldn't below she was lowering herself to Wasteland technology...but, as bitingly painful as it was to think, it was probably better than even her recently made gun.

After that, she headed slightly northeast to where the scene had been at, roughly, and looked for the details that she could. There were a mess of footprints, a few smeary imprints from people shuffling or playing with their feet, all about the area. Where they were, in the [censored], dusty "earth," they were vague and had little to define them. But, as Aubrey bent forward and crouched, and scanned the land, she managed to detect where her footprints were - and where the murderer's were, after. The footprint's seemed...average? Smaller than average? Aubrey had no real idea, there, but they weren't gigantic.

She did her best to avoid further damage to the "scene of the crime," and trained her ears, her eyes, her nose for anything at all. After tentatively looking about the edge of the Diner's damage, still not safe to be all that near, she shot her eyes at another interruption. The same guy, again, looking at the same scene.

“Hey kid”, said Monroe, showing her the expended cartridge and pointing out where he found it. “This came from the shooter’s gun...found it over here. See if you can help me find the other two.”

The fifteen year old smoothed her body out into a stand again, from a half-crouched position, and crossed her arms as she observed the casing. Only the briefest pause before she started, "The shooter [censored] up, wobbled the aim or somethin'. I guess you missed all the ruckus back at the tent? One shot hit some guy's glass - he went on about superheros, or somethin', before completely freaking out about his glass exploding - ten seconds late. Think he's got some minor wounds from that. The other hit the guy that's supposed to be doing this thing. Mr. Private Eye f-"

Her past issues with him didn't mean the guy was bad, really...And the guy had gotten it pretty bad in the arm. She bit her thumb, looking down for a second, before shifting the focus back to the bullets.
"The bullet hit his arm - not sure if it went through or got jammed in there, but Brandy was helping him. I think. Um...Know her? Nice, tall, pretty brunette-lady? Got this weird burn on her chest tonight, you can see it cause of the dress."

Her mouth opened up to describe the detective guy, and then the thought pestered her too much:
"...Are you from...around here, new arrival at all? I haven't met you before."

[Franko AlVarado]

James Wilson – going home

“Can you take me home? I want to rest whilst bobo & scuffy find who shot me…” James said…

"I may be drunk, and you may be my boss; but trust me friend, I'm nowhere near drunk enough to think your a chick yet. Give me a few hours though; you wouldn't believe what I've woke up with in the past." Barry grinned, the awkward silence carrying on for what seemed like an age before he burst out laughing.

“I didn’t mean to [censored]… I meant for sleep” James said chuckling slight “but can you take me home?” James asked…

"Of course Ill take you home, mate. But if you call me Larry one more time my .44's going to make that wound look like a bloody splinter." Barry chuckled, Wrapping James’s arm around his neck and starting off down the road.

“ wait you’re names not larry?”James asked as they walked down the street…

After Barry reply and once they reached the door of James new house, James pushed open the door and they walked inside, past the large oak table which now had various item scattered over it and to the staircase at the back of room.

Reaching it Barry let go of James who turned to face him. “Thank you Barry, before you go looking for the attacker could you go and get the doctor for me oh and if anyone needs me tell them I’ll be up in my room” James said.

James slowly made his way the staircase and then into his bedroom, walking inside he took of his and belt and placed it on the side before taking his 44. Magnum out.. James climbed onto his per-war queenside bed

Hope they find that bastard who did this, that was a nice shirt

James simply sat there on the bed waiting for the others to find the attacker, his magnum resting near his right hand, just in case someone
bad came in….

Perhaps I should put a shirt on, it’s cold…

ooc: James shall be sitting on his bed until someone comes to vist or tomorrow if no-one comes

[Flash]

Barry Burton - The New Gun Shop

"Wait, you’re names not Larry?" James asked humorlessly as they walked down the street.

"No! No, mate. My name is most certainly not Larry, it's Barry. Like, Barry the Butcher, or Barry the Baptist." Barry chuckled, pushing open the door to the gun shop and leading James inside.

"Thank you, Barry. Before you go looking for the attacker could you go and get the doctor for me... Oh, and if anyone needs me tell them I’ll be up in my room." James finished.

"Wait, what doctor? Where does he live?" Barry responded quickly.

"Ask for Edwardo back at the tent, he'll be there."

"Alright, keep your gun close. Whoever shot you more then likely knows you, this is a small ass town, so they probably know where you live. Be careful, Ill be back in a few minutes.

Barry left, walking back to the tent and fetching Edwardo, who had been trying to keep people calm and checking whether anyone else needed medical attention; when he was satisfied nobody did he left with Barry; shortly arriving back at the shop.

"He's upstairs Doc, I'm going to guard the door, just in case the gunman gets brave and wants to finish the job." Barry smiled, withdrawing his handgun and taking a seat opposite the door.

[Agnieszka Bak]

-Toby
--Evening; Tap's Tent

The shooting had cleared, Toby rose from cover, and his mouth perked a nasty, rotten grin. Some people had gotten shot, and one of them was James. As the Texan aimed a bullet for the attacker, yelling loudly - being as full of [censored] as always, acting as if he could take on the shooter if they just came back - Toby's eyes directly flew to find a dead Brandy. His generally dull, gray eyes had fired up with something reminiscent of excitement or hope, until he saw the pathetic, obnoxious [censored] unscathed. Not even a scratch. The [censored].

"So close to a perfect day," he complained, not bothering to hush himself. He leaned on the bar with his two arms, glancing as a whole group of dumb asses were dispatched to save the Cowboy dunce. He gave another smirk, "You'd think, if luck were so kind, why it wouldn't deliver a more finishing blow - do the job no one else seems to be able to."

"Why not spend some time on people who might be useful?" When he gave a better look to Ikky, slightly jumpy due to how absolutely - and familiarly - insane he was, his grimace suggested he slightly regretted his own words. "Well, at least one of them is of more use. And, really, it's not hard to beat the Cowboy in ability or helpfulness, since that'd mean you weren't the one always making things worse."

He caught a glance of Girly attempting to patch up the guy on the floor, and arched a brow as she gave the man a kiss. She was freaking out and thanking him for some reason, whining and pathetically hunched over the guy as Brandy was prone to do.
There was a hint of a coarse, brief laugh, "Did we just spark a new playground-crush? I thought the princess already had a couple of princes. Or was that kiss to make his boo-boo all better? If you're going for that, you might as well just put those lips on his dike, Girly. Much more effective."

The ditz, still inappropriately horrified about something commonplace - usually something one could handle - in the Wasteland, actually responded with something other than more blubbering and stutters. She managed to shoot a dirty look his way, maybe - gasp - even while looking directly at his eyes! It was amazing, unbelievable, shocking. It was hilarious:
"That was rude, I'm just trying to help Cole."

Toby didn't even twitch uncomfortably at that, he just smirked in a sarcastic and vicious, almost spiteful way.
"Well, maybe, if you had some ability other than to look cute to all the boys and girls by being the most pathetic, stupid [censored] ever, you could actually treat his wound properly - instead of kissing him on the cheek."

Sue, Brandy's dog, came up to help her with "Cole" before Girly even had a chance to react.
The scraggly man was still one of the few armed, with a gun in his holster, and he seemed to check his surroundings - just to make sure no one was about to try and bother him. This time he was ready to throw a bullet their way. Almost eager about it.

"Hey, mute, did your trio just become a quartet? It seems Girly might just have an eye on a new man. Hope you don't mind splitting your share of her from a half to a third. How many hours would you get - if she sleeps eight hours a day..would that be five?" His grin was more purely amusemant, unlike the venom he practically gargled earlier, toward Brandy. Albeit there still was a big, twisted [censored]-eating grin mocking the two..or three.....or four?

She turned to look at him, suddenly looking fiercely angry. He had been going for shock, but that was about the second best thing he could hope for.

"Maybe if you're lucky, that shooter'll come back and whittle down all of Girly's options by five or so, and you won't have to worry 'bout it."

She gave him a weird, hard stare, flicking him the middle finger after an interesting pause - Toby smirked some more. Time to focus on Brandy, who no doubt fumbling to think of yet another "comeback" that was amusingly pathetic, or an inability to respond in any other way that curling her body together like a kicked dog, tail between legs. Maybe she'd cry.

Slap!

Bam! He whipped his arms and slammed his hands against that jack ass's torso, forcing him back, the moment that hand touched his face. Shouting, screaming, above the crowd, "WHO THE [censored] DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!! [censored] off!"
He only saw it was James' little doctor-friend as he screamed, and his eyes set wildly on his face. He arched toward him right after, dangerously and threateningly - as if daring the man to touch him again - pushing his tense shoulders up. That smirk had given way to an inhuman, yellow-toothed snarl long ago. There was nothing - absolutely nothing - on his face but rage. The [censored] just slapped him; Toby wanted to gouge the doctors eyes out with his own thumbs. His throat should have felt a scratchy burn, but he didn't feel anything other than a need to put this guy in place.

'You think you can treat me like I'm below you? Just slap me and get away with it?'

He vaguely noticed that the doctor's face was alarmed or unsettled, silent for a moment as Toby gave an unending, vehemently malicious and wide-eyed stare. Toby didn't even recognize anything else existed.


"People are dying here and all you can [censored] doing is insult & mock the people helping?" he finally began, "I don't give [censored] what this girl does in her pirvate time but you, making jokes about attacker coming back and killing us? How do you know the attacker was after James?

"Might have been confused in dark? or from a distance? Might have been after you... won't be laughing then will you? How'd you like if you were shot and we just joked whlist you died on the floor?..... so either start [censored] helping or [censored] off!" Edward said before he began to leave to help someone else.

"[censored] you," he spat, "I don't have to worry 'bout that Godsend shooting me, they're clearly out for all the crap that needs to be thrown away, and that's just great! They're doing the work for me!! That idiot wouldn't be a problem, especially for me, if you'd just let him die!"

His thin body shook, ready to explode, as his hand suddenly took hold of his gun and seemed to try and crush it. Before he actually used it, he let go to snap a brief yell and throw a glass bottle of alcohol on the ground slightly toward Edward's general direction. Letting the glass and red liquid splatter and fly from the crash. A quiet, meager appeasemant released with the sharp clank of it all splitting apart. It didn't make the sting of the slap disappear, in any way, though.

"Go get shot - all of you - I really hope you do."

[Andy durkan]

Monroe

Ruined Diner – Evening

The Vault Kid stood up, and came over, crossing her arms as she stared intently at the shell casing.

"The shooter [censored] up, wobbled the aim or somethin'”, she said after a short pause.

“Possibly…I suspect a lousy shot, or maybe keyed up on chems”, Monroe replied. “It happens. Or maybe he was just rattled by the presence of witnesses…namely you…and lost his nerve and just popped a few shots and ran. Unless we catch him alive, we’ll probably never know”.

“This casing”, Monroe said, “came from Pre-War military 10mm ammo. The “LC” is for the arsenal that made it, Lead City or something like that, and “76” was for 2076, the year the ammo was made….one year before the war. There is literally tons and tons of this stuff floating around, stashed in bunkers and other places all over the Capital Wasteland. In some areas too isolated to use bottle caps they even use them as money. Alone it doesn’t mean [censored], but depending on what the other two casings look like it could give us a suspect.

“ I guess you missed all the ruckus back at the tent?”, Vault Girl said. “One shot hit some guy's glass - he went on about superheros, or somethin', before completely freaking out about his glass exploding - ten seconds late. Think he's got some minor wounds from that.”

“Let me guess”, Monroe replied, “The guy who smells like he took a bath in fresh brahmin [censored]?” Short-Stuff had given him a earful about that guy already…she suspected he was cooking up Jet in his house and wanted him run off before he burned the block down. “If I were you, I’d stay clear of him…I suspect he’s a chem head”, Monroe added.

“The other hit the guy that's supposed to be doing this thing. Mr. Private Eye f-"

Monroe guessed she meant the Deputy…Cole he believed the name was…one of the few of Joe’s men who didn’t disappear when the Enclave [censored]s showed up. He, that Super Mutant, and Mr. Possessive...who was flat-out nuts...were the only ones known to have done any fighting. The Vault Kid clearly didn’t like him…Monroe wondered why.

"The bullet hit his arm - not sure if it went through or got jammed in there, but Brandy was helping him. I think. Um...Know her? Nice, tall, pretty brunette-lady? Got this weird burn on her chest tonight, you can see it cause of the dress."

The pretty brunette….so her name is Brandy.

Monroe had noticed her….as she had been on the dance floor making out and grinding with some dark haired girl it was nearly impossible not to. She came in with the dark haired girl and Dobbs…apparently he was tapping them both.

Horny old bastard…if we need leverage over him, it’ll come from those two. A man might face his own death calmly…but when it comes to those he cared about getting gacked instead, he might not be so brave.

The Vault Kid opened her mouth to speak again, then paused like two different thoughts were trying to get out at the same time.

"...Are you from...around here, new arrival at all?”, she finally blurted. “I haven't met you before."

“Got here a couple days ago”, said Monroe. “My name is Monroe…I work for Linda.”. Bob pointed in the direction of the shop. “She just bought the clothes shop over on the next block, from some guy named Jimmy Johnson. She’s a tailor by trade, and a pretty good one. You ought to stop by if you need clothes or alterations."

Monroe looked her up and down. He saw Dobbs had emerged from his house, now wearing a old police flak vest and carrying a Chinese Assault Rifle, and was heading towards him. Other men were coming down the road from the direction of the Rose…probably the boys.

“So what’s your name, kid?”, Monroe asked. “Let’s find those other two cases then see if we can find that [censored]head.”

[Elizabeth Davis]

Lt Henry Pierpont

Fort Bannister – Parade Ground – 1700z (12:00pm EST) October 23, 2266

Maggot 4627,”, bellowed Commander Jabsco. “FRONT AND CENTER!”

“Sir, YES, Sir!”, answered Maggot 4627. The recruit stepped forward, then marched smartly up to the reviewing stand, climbing the stairs then stopping and turning to face the commander and his assembled senior officers. Snapping to attention, while balancing the bag he was carrying, he saluted as stiffly as he could.

“Maggot four-six-two-seven reporting for duty as ordered, SIR!”, barked the recruit.

“Four-six-two-seven”, Jabsco said, letting the PA system carry his words across the parade ground rather than the power of his voice. “Seven days ago, you were given a mission…to demonstrate your commitment to follow the principles a Talon Company operative is expected to live by...and to prove yourself worthy of the honor of joining our ranks.”

Jabsco paused a moment.

“Have you accomplished your mission, Maggot?”, asked Jabsco.

“Sir, yes, sir!”, barked the recruit. “This recruit requests permission to present the proof that he has accomplished his mission, SIR!”

“Granted, maggot”, growled Commander Jabsco as he gestured at the table next to him.

The recruit stepped forward, and reached into the bag. He then pulled out a severed human head, gripping it by its long greasy brown hair. It was the head of a man, of approximately 30 years of age, it’s blue eyes staring blankly into eternity. He placed it on the table, then dumped the rest of the contents out on the table. One item was a pistol belt, still containing a revolver in the holster, another was a wide brimmed hat. The final item was a bloody leather coat. Jabsco stepped forward and picked up the coat, shaking it so it fell to it’s full length. A appreciative murmur spread amongst the officers behind Jabsco as the realization spread that it was the leather duster of a Regulator.

Jabsco nodded in approval, and placed the duster back on the table.

“You have done well, recruit”, Jabsco said approvingly as he walked up to the recruit. “But there is one more thing you need to show us. Where is your weapon?”

The recruit drew the combat knife from the scabbard at his belt, then reversed it so he was holding it butt first.

“Sir”, said the recruit. “This recruit presents his issued weapon to you as ordered, sir!”

Jabsco took the knife, then held it up to read the number stamped on the tang.

“Sixty-four”, said Jabsco aloud. A NCO nearby consulted the clipboard he was carrying.

“Weapon sixty-four was issued to Maggot 4627, commander”, the NCO said.

“Very well”, replied Jabsco. He then turned to face the recruit. “You were given a mission. To go forth, armed with nothing but your wits and your issue weapon, and within seven days return, weapon in hand, having taken the life of another. You stand before me now, obedient to my command. Therefore, I, Luke Jabsco, Commander of Talon Company, do proclaim that you have passed recruit training”.

You left us as a maggot”, continued Jabsco after a short pause “and returned to us a soldier. As is our way, each recruit receives a new name upon his graduation. This is to mark that the maggot that entered these gates to begin training is dead, just as the man you slew is dead. In the place of that maggot is a man, and a soldier, ready to kill and die for the honor of Talon Company. I name you Henry Pierpont, by that name you will be known to your Brothers in Arms forevermore. Now, repeat after me:

I, Henry Pierpont, do swear upon my honor

My eternal allegiance to Talon Company

To hold the interests of Talon Company above all others, even myself

To obey the orders of the Commander, and those he places above me without question

To faithfully execute the contracts lawfully entered into by the Commander, or those he authorizes, by any means necessary, even at the cost of my life

So help me God.

The recruit repeated the words, swearing the recruitment Oath of Talon Company.

“By the power invested in me as Commander”, said Jabsco, “I award you the title of Private 1st Class, and proclaim you a full fledged Operative of Talon Company”. He then held out his hand and grinned. “Congratulations, soldier…Welcome aboard!”

Pierpont reached out to take Jabsco’s offered hand, but he was suddenly moving as slow as he was swimming in molasses. At the same time, Jabsco seemed to backing away.

“Lieutenant!”, he heard a voice say. “Lieutenant! Wake up, sir!”


Jury Street FOB – 0500z (11:00pm EST)

Pierpont opened his eyes. Above him was a shadowy form.

“Lieutenant”, said the shadow. “It’s 2300, the staff meeting is in 30 minutes!”

Pierpont sat up and dismissed the orderly. For a moment he reminisced about the dream….his passing out ceremony when he graduated Talon Company’s brutal recruit training nearly twelve years ago. It had been the proudest moment of his life….now it reminded him of what they had lost.

He’s dead….really dead. Killed by the [censored] Brotherhood in the middle of our home.

Pierpont shook those thoughts from his head and quickly got dressed and prepared to go report to the Commander. He would be reporting on ‘recruitment’ efforts for the upcoming operation to re-take their main base from the damned Brotherhood of Steel. Much of his report was not good news…early on they had good success with grabbing Wastelanders to bolster their ranks, but now they avoided the area around Bannister like the plague, necessitating ranging further and further away to get the bodies they will need for the Plan. That was causing problems.

Once dressed, he lit a lantern and checked his notes, making sure everything was in order. He then put his notes into a briefcase, and put out he lantern and left. Walking towards the command tent, where the commander takes his briefings, his nose crinkled in disgust as the wind carried the stench from the cattle pen at the edge of the base.

Savages….it’s like they are trying to stink on purpose. Once this is over we’ll have to beat a sense of hygeine into the survivors when we start their training.

Pierpont saw the Sergeant in charge of the cattle pen.

“How’s the meat doing, Sergeant?”, Pierpont asked. “Hopefully they are behaving better than they smell.”

“Quieter than usual”, the Sergeant said. “Luther beat up a couple of them pretty bad earlier so the rest are being good.”

Pierpont grunted and moved on. Luther was one of the prisoners, the biggest and strongest of them. They had captured him early on, due to his size he had made himself Boss of the other prisoners. Backed up by a few of the tougher prisoners, he ran the prison cage with a iron fist, distributing the food as he saw fit and keeping them in line. Pierpont saw him as having promise…if he survived the upcoming battle he would recommend he be placed in the first recruit class to be properly trained.

Crossing the compound, Pierpont entered the Operations tent. Most of the other senior officers were already there…being fashionably late earned a beating in Talon Company…chatting and listening to the radio. Pierpont took his seat and waited. As the second hand on the clock on the wall of the tent swept across 12, a cry went out.

“ATTENTION ON DECK!”

The assembled officers stood up and sprang to attention as the Commander strode into the room. He had been third in command before the Brotherhood attack, as he had been supervising a contract in Maryland he wasn’t killed like Jabsco and most of the senior officers were.

“As you were”, growled the Commander as he took his seat. “Let’s get this show on the road…what do you have for me?”

[Gemma Archer]

OOC: The 'Few Days Later' is not forcing the RP to shift up time, I'm setting up my character from there, and the 'few days' segment will be the present by the RP's timeline.

Justin Mieux- The derilect nightclub.

Just arriving from the luxurious Tenpenny Tower, he took a puff of his cigarette in the dim, barely lit nighclub. He'd noticed a contingent of guards at the official town gates, but he wasn't one for questions, or 'orders', so he crawled into town by scaling an old fire escape. His target was an old, once famous Pre-War nightclub, a club his idol Dean Domino once sang in. Justin played at arrogance, but it was all a ruse to hide the childlike curiousity of the world he held. "Huh, looks like the cleaning crew hasn't been in for a couple nights." he quipped to himself, kicking the boards that were over the door out of the way. He quickly and quietly locked the doors from the inside and started to explore.

His eyes, shielded by his dark tinted Aviators, went into their own world as he fantasised, looking about the derilect room as the dirt and damage started to vanish, his eyes taking in men in tuxedos and suits, women in beautiful dresses, dancing the night away to the band on stage, waiters with trays of wine and champagne offering a drink, the walls beautifully panelled and decorated. Almost immediately, he fell out of his nostalgic dream at the sound of something clashing to the floor. Justin quickly unholstered his .45, his nerver jolting, he slowly clicked across the old worn wooden dance floor, his dress shoes rythmically tapping to each slow footstep. He found the source to be a tin can, and a mole rat in the corner. Justin, a deep lover of animals, got to his knees and clicked his tongue to his teeth. "Come here little guy, are you hungry?" The creature remained apprehensive and huddled unsure what to do. Ever so slowly, he inched toward the mole rat and reached a gentle hand to pet it. "Hi there little guy, see, I'm not so bad." He smiled and his heart leapt as the critter had accepted him as friendly. "Now. How did you get- ah, floor vent to the basemant over there." He smirked once more, "You're a hungry little bloke eh? Here." He opened his suitcase and tossed a few pieces of Fancy Lad snack cake on the floor to it. Turning his attention away, he went back to the dimly lit, dangling chandelier and looked around and sighed heavily, "We've got a lot of work little guy." He said, dropping the suitcase on the floor with him, "We're home."

A few days later-

Through some great fortune, Justin's work was halved by the nightclub's basemant being stocked with renovation supplies, it was furthered more when he found a Mister Handy cleaning robot with it's powered down access terminal beside it. Unfortunately, the building was lit on borrowed time, with his unwillingness to leave until he finished the interior, Justin was unable to replace the blown fuses of the electrical fuse box and instead was using old Fission Batteries to jury rig light and power to the various machines inside. Looking at the unchipped and clean walls and floors of the nightclube, he looked up at the close but not quite state of the current club. The walls were cleaned, but faded. the floors were swept and polished, but the faded golden 'T' in the center was well worn with neglect and time. The tableclothes were in near perfect conditions minus the moth holes. Over All, by Pre-War standards, it was a 3 star club, but Post-War? It was just under par with Tenpenny Tower, who had the resources to keep clean and spotless. Ready to open up the 'Tropical Room' once more, he opened the doors and took a deep breath, wondering how the town would react, and fired a flare gun straight into the air in lieu of fireworks. He hastily dragged some old velvet ropes (Naturally worn of course) and put them up to form a queue beside a check in podium. "Let's hope we do well in this venture Domino." Justin said, looking down at the mole rat he named after Dean Domino, and pet him on the head lovingly.

[Lakyn Ellery]

Edward Conagher- evening – Various places


"People are dying here and all you can [censored] do is insult & mock the people helping? “Edward said "I don't give [censored] what this girl does in her private time but you, making jokes about attacker coming back and killing us? How do you know the attacker was after James?” Edward said.

He had just walked up to this annoying guy, who was mocking and joking about the attacker coming back and slapped him around the face this guy whoever he was needed to be taught a lesson…

He continued his speech. "Might have been confused in dark? Or from a distance? Might have been after you... won't be laughing then will you? How'd you like if you were shot and we just joked whilst you died on the floor? So either start [censored] helping or [censored] off!" Edward said before he began to leave to help someone else.

The man shouted something as Edward left but he didn’t pay any attention to what he said as when to help one of calypso girls. This was when “Larry” or Barry as he introduced himself had come back to get him for James.

Satisfied nobody else needed medical attention, Edward left with Barry and walked down the street to James houses, it was a short journey
only four houses down the road, walking inside Edward noticed there was a rather lot of stuff including a plasma rifle stacked up on right side of room and parts of main table, which also had a chemistry set on it.

A chemistry set interesting… perhaps that how he got the Nitroglycerin pills? Must have had this condition from birth…

"He's upstairs Doc, I'm going to guard the door, just in case the gunman gets brave and wants to finish the job." Barry smiled, withdrawing his handgun and taking a seat opposite the door.

“That seems like a good idea, if their local they probably heard about James survival already”

Edward walked up the stairs and knocked on door “Hello James, it’s Edward” he said..
“Come in” James replied

Edward walked into the room and saw James on the bed, walking up to him Edward began to check James wound, heart rate and state after a few minutes he was positive James was okay and would survive. He had however lost a lot of blood so was weak and abit drowsy.

“Looks like you’re gonna be fine Mr Wilson, I would however like to give you some blood since you have lost quite a bit, do you know if theirs hospital nearby where I can find some blood packs & equipment ?”

“Ryler clinics, the building across the street. There might be some there.. “James replied “Enclave might have brought some too, although Bor..broth..brotherhood took most of their boxes” he add on.


“well thank you James I’ll go and have a look around and come back” Edward said as he left James bedroom and walked back down stairs
“James is fine although I’m gonna go and look for some Blood packs in Ryler’s clinic, I’ll be back in a bit” Edward said to Barry as he walked out the door and across the street to the building…

Walking inside it Edward was somewhat shocked to discover a recently dead person on a life support machine, he like many others was probably one of victims of enclave attack.

Edward wondered what the enclave could have possibly wanted within grayditch…. Could it Perhaps it was linked to the attacker? Was the attacker In fact was an enclave member who had evaded death or capture? The town was fairy new with new people arriving every day, get some clothes and they could easily diguise themsleves as a new arrival....

Although why would the enclave want James dead? Or use a Gunpowder pistol for that matter, it was fairly common knowledge that enclave was energy weapons buffs with the Brotherhood getting most off their equipment, like the Vertibirds from the enclave after their mini-war….

Well hopefully the guys can find the attacker and we figure out why they went after James..

Edward spend a couple of minutes looking around the clinic and found several blood packs along with some other useful medical equipment and packed it all inside his backpack before leaving the clinic and walked out the clinic.

Suddenly there was shot into air followed bright flashing flare into the sky, someone had just fired a flare gun although who? And why from over there?
Something fishy is up, better go and have a look

Edward drew his sawed off Over/under shotgun and made his way over to building the flare had come from. Edward loaded his shotgun with pre-war stun rounds which he used when enslaving talon mercs or similar heavy armed people….

If it is the attacker I don’t want to kill him just yet…

Approaching the building Edward saw that someone had put up some old velvet ropes to make some sort of check in queue or some sort…

What in the world?

He then noticed there was man, a bit shorter that Edward wearing a Business suit. Next to the man there was small Mole rat which he seemed to have domesticated by the man, a very hard task indeed.

Edward lowered his shotgun and approached the man and his Mole rat “eer Hello I’m Edward Conagher… I don’t know what you’re doing here? But there was attack in dinner, someone tried to kill Mr Wilson… don't suppose you saw anything?

[Alyna]

OOC: For the record, his ability with animals is a reference to the 'Animal Friend' perk, but I won't go randomly adding Yao Guai into the story, I just thought the mole rat would add a note of uniqueness to the character.

Justin took in a slow puff of his cigarette, the flare gun in the other hand, and eyed the man curiously. Exhaling in the opposite direction so as not to blow it in the mans face, he nodded his head with courteously, the thick tinted aviators on his face never moving. "Ah, nice to meet you Mr. Conagher. I'm Justin Mieux, but Mieux will do. As for your....incident, no I'm afraid not. I won't lie, I snuck into town, had my eye on this place, The Tropical Room, was a Pre-War club of fame you know, even Dean Domino preformed here a few times. But I'm literally new in town, didn't even know there was a diner here. But, enough rudeness. Come in with me, we'll have a gentlemen's chat." He pushed open the doors, which he'd replaced with panelled doors he'd found in the basemant. The doors formed a golden 'T' on the door, obviously Pre-War.

Justin walked through the doors into the lobby, the gentle hum of the air conditioning, powered by it's own seperate fission batter, hummed gently, cooling the room of the heat of the Wastes. Justin looked around subtly with his shielded eyes, his heart feeling love in the slow nurturing he'd done to scrub and clean the floors, he escorted Edward across the dancefloor, the old T, though faded, still shone as spotlights on the ceiling corners gently lit it. "Welcome to the Tropical Room," Mieux said, obvious pride in the re-open building, "So, Mr. Conagher, care to enlighten me about the recent events in town? Perhaps help me understand what I should know? I just got here from Tenpenny, and even then, I'd only lived there for a year. Hold that thought," He turned his head as he sat down on a bar stool with a plush red cushion and backing, the words 'The Tropical Room' on the back of the stool. "Winston, two glasses and a bottle of.....2054 Vineyard Americana please?" The old Mister Handy responded ubruptly with a polite 'Yes, Sir' and hovered to the basemant cellar. After a few moments of silence he came back up and hovered to the seat at the polished mohogany bar, placing the two glasses and bottle at their spot on the bar. Justin nodded, "Thank you Winston." Focusing back to Edward, he pulled a club branded ashtray, and doused his cigarette, gentle piano jazz playing on the speakers in the club, he slowly poured each glass full and handed Edward one. "Feel free to spread word of the club around town pal." Mieux grinned and huffed a light laugh and turned his face back to seriousness, "So, about this town, this 'Grayditch', what's going on around here and what should I know?"

[Ysabelle]

Aaron Blades-Grayditch-Evening

Aaron looked around, his heart was pounding, his vision was blurred. He walked away from James who was getting medical attention and walked over to his scotch. He picked it up and chugged it all. The liquid burned his throat, caused his eyes to water. His vision was so blurry he couldn't see straight. Aaron saw people leaving, he wanted to follow them. He choose not to because he was not a good shot while drunk. He saw another man on the ground, Cole. Aaron was going to walk over there but when he did he tripped and landed on his face.

"[censored]." Aaron said while closing his eyes, he was tired and drunk. He looked around one last time, James was leaving with someone, Aaron couldn't tell who. He rolled over and looked at the tent roof. Aaron stood up and followed Barry. The person that helped James heal his wound was also in front of him. Barry led James into a building and stayed in there for a moment. Barry came out and spoke with the person. Calling him "Doc" Barry sat down as the Doc went in. Aaron walked over nearly falling, "Barry! You guarding James? How is he?"

[Lucky Girl]

OOC: Since Edward has only been in town for roughly a day, he doesn't know much from before yesterday, only what Three-dog has said over the radio about the town and what calypso people have told him so is not 100% accurate….

Also I can edit the thing about Joe out if you like but Edward was there, I checked it.

Edward Conagher -Talking to Justin - Night time

"Ah, nice to meet you Mr. Conagher. I'm Justin Mieux, but Mieux will do. As for your....incident, no I'm afraid not. I won't lie, I snuck into town, had my eye on this place, The Tropical Room, was a Pre-War club of fame you know, even Dean Domino preformed here a few times. But I'm literally new in town, didn't even know there was a diner here. But, enough rudeness. Come in with me, we'll have a gentlemen's chat." The man said before he pushed open the doors….

Who is dean domino? And snuck into town for a club? Guess he thought he could surprise everyone with a secret opening of a club… Not sure how the others will take to this but he seems nice…

Edward followed Justin into what appeared to be a lobby and then across a dance floor which had an old fade “T” on it. There also appeared air conditioning in the room, a nice change from the wasteland heat, especially with Edward Overcoat…

I’m surprised no-one moved in here earlier… probably because it was opposite side of town…

"Welcome to the Tropical Room," Mieux said in obvious pride in the re-opening of the building, "So, Mr. Conagher, care to enlighten me about the recent events in town? Perhaps help me understand what I should know? I just got here from Tennpenny, and even then, I'd only lived there for a year.

Tennpenny tower man… well that means he’s either rich or very skilled at something…. Although I’ve never heard of someone leaving the tower, apart from that one guy.... wonder if he got kicked out…

Edward was about to answer when Justin butted in “Hold that thought" he said before sitting down on a stool and callout "Winston, two glasses and a bottle of.....2054 Vineyard Americana please?"

An old Mister Handy when and brought two glasses and bottle at their spot on the bar. Justin thanked the robot before he slowly poured each glass full and handed Edward one…..

“Thanks but I don’t drink…” Edward replied as he pasted the drink back but then pulled a cigarette out of his overcoat pocket “got a light?” he asked…

"Feel free to spread word of the club around town pal." Mieux grinned and huffed a light laugh and turned his face back to seriousness, "So, about this town, this 'Grayditch', what's going on around here and what should I know?"

“Well I only got here myself yesterday Afternoon but there was attack on dinner like I mentioned. Some gunman did a hit and up on place, injuring several people before running of. seems like attack on Mr Wilson, not sure why however. Maybe we find out more when the attacker is caught

also has a heart porblem but best not tell anyone until i talk to James ab'out it

In fact a bunch of people are searching for the attacker right now, not sure how they’re gonna take your little stunt or the fact you snuck into town although given the whole club thing, I doubt they will think you are the attacker…

Let’s hope I’m right…

“Now yesterday morning; just before I arrived, the enclave decided to attack the town! God only knows why but somehow they were all killed by townsfolk and brotherhood soldiers, although several citizens were killed in the fighting& explosions” Edward said before doing the sign of the cross on his chest.

“Guess you’re lucky no-one lives on this of town or they might have found you, Louie said they dragging people out onto the streets and shooting them….” Edward said sadly as he took a puff of his smoke…

“Not sure about much before that, three dog mentioned something about a raider attack and how they got revenge in Springvale, then there was some caravans when disappearing in the area but nothing major I don’t think, Mr Wilson, my boss Calypso or some guy called “bob” seemed to been here for a while so they probably know more than I do.

”oh one thing I do know, Rennie who I have been informed was the “ chief of security” ran away during the enclave attacks but before he did he broke into the old bank safe and stole some stuff that belonged to my Boss calypso… may god have mercy on him if he’s ever caught… “

Best not tell him about how crazy Miss Calypso is… or the fact she might eat him…

“I best be going to back to Mr Wilson soon, he was badly injured but no doubt some others will come to investigate that flare but before I go I do have a question Ab’out that guy you mention, Dean Domino? Who was here? some sort of celebrity?”

[Max Van Morrison]

Bob Dobbs

Diner Ruins – Evening

“What do I want you to do?”, the scruffy merc asked, “Give us a hand in finding the other two shell casings”. He held up the one he found. “The shooter used a 10mm, this one’s Pre-War.”

Bob went inside and began to look around with Clark and the merc. After a moment the other two casings were located. The merc compared the head stamp markings on the casings.

“All three are marked LC – 76”, the merc said. “Probably came from the same box, so if we catch someone with a 10mm with this ammo loaded in it, they had better have a alibi that holds up.”

A group of men came running up…it was Philip, with the rest of the Crew.

“Trouble Man’s on the gate as you said, Boss”, said Philip, as he tossed Monroe his Automatic Rifle. “Any idea who we’re looking for?”

“Whoever it was ran that way”, Monroe said, pointing SW in the direction of the street that was between the street the Rose was on and the one all the squares lived along. “The shooter was using a 10mm pistol.”

“Somebody go rack out that broad Moriarty put in charge”, Monroe said, “It’s time she started doing her job. Once she and what deputies are left are rounded up, we’ll go door to door and see if we can find this guy.” Monroe then put his arm around Philips’s neck and walked away with him and said something to the man Bob couldn’t hear. Philip then grabbed another merc and they jogged back the way they came.

“Let’s see who in that tent has a gun and can help out”, Monroe said, “then we can star---what the [censored]?”

From the south end of town, a loud pop was heard then a red flare shot up into the sky, and gently began to drift towards the earth.

“[censored]”, barked Monroe, “This might be an attack!” Monroe pointed at three of the mercs. “You, you, and you…go back up the Paladin on the East gate. The rest of you, stay with Vikia and do what she says”. Monroe then turned to face Bob. “Dobbs, you come with me.”

Bob and Monroe moved down the street cautiously. As they reached the end of the inhabited part of town, they saw lights coming from a old multistory building that was part of the town walls.

“Does someone live there?”, asked Monroe.

“Not that I knew of”, replied Bob. “But it’s not like this town is well patrolled…someone could have moved in and we’d never know if they kept quiet. Hardly anyone ever comes to this part of town.”

“Let’s check it out”, said Monroe grimly. Together, the pair approached the old building. As they reached the collapsed overpass, they could see poles with faded velvet ropes on them leading from the front door, which unlike the windows, had the boards removed. “You’ve gotta be kidding me”, Monroe said disbelievingly.

“Whatever this is”, Bob said, “I don’t think it’s a Raider attack.” He then walked through the rope line to the door. “Let’s go in and find out what’s going on.”

Covering each other, Bob quietly opened the door and he and Monroe entered, finding themselves in the lobby of what had once been a fancy restaurant or nightclub. The area they were in had been recently cleaned. Bob could hear the gentle whir of a air conditioning unit. Framed posters along the walls showed various Pre-War singing acts, Bob recognized many of them from the extensive music and film libraries he had access to in his days in the Enclave. All were for various appearances at a place called the “Tropical Room”, presumably the name of this place.

“You’re right”, said Monroe, looking around in astonishment. “This isn’t Raiders at all…somebody moved in here and wanted to get our attention.”

Bob felt something brush up against his thigh and a snuffling noise. He looked down and saw the unusual sight of a mole-rat walking in a circle around his legs like it was a cat. After a couple of passes, the mole rat snuffled again and trudged off, towards a door with a sign above it marked “Main Ballroom”.

“It likes you”, Monroe said with a chuckle. “It’s obviously a pet, let’s follow it and see if it will take us to its owner.”

The mole rat stood up on its hind legs and used its weight to push open the door, then shuffled through. Following it, they found themselves in a large ballroom. Arrayed around the room were tables, all with clean linen covers. In the center of the room was a dance floor, with a large T painted on the floor lit up by spotlights in the ceiling. At the far end, was a large and luxurious bar. Sitting at the bar was two men, one both recognized as Edward, the other a young man in a Pre-War suit and Authority Glasses. Behind the bar floated a Mr. Handy.

Bob lowered his rifle. Clearly, whoever this man was, he wasn’t looking to cause trouble. The merc…Monroe…seemed to agree. The two of them followed the mole rat up to the bar.

“Evening”, said the merc to the man in the suit. “I’m Monroe, and this is Bob Dobbs…we saw your flare and came to check it out. I don’t know if Edward here told you, but there was a shooting in town a few minutes ago. Someone shot the local gun dealer and a deputy. If you wouldn’t mind, we’d like to ask you a few questions about that.”

[Justin]

Justin Mieux- The Tropical Room

Mieux quickly whipped out his .45 pistol, his voice full of seriousness. "I didn't think I'd be found so soon." His eyes were hidden, but his face clearly was very serious. Mieux grinned on the inside, the air clearly filled with tension as the two men who came in held their weapons up in response, then suddenly snorted aloud and holstered his pistol back in his suit jacket. "I'm sorry, terrible time for a joke like that, but I couldn't help it." He obviously didn't put to much care into the fact he could have been shot outright. "No hard feelings gentlemen. How about a drink as a....'reintroduction'?" Mieux offered a glass to the man who did most of the talking. "Here Mr....Monroe was it?"

Justin brushed off a spec of dust on his black suit jacket and looked back up, then down once more. "Domino! I wonder where you went little guy." He got on his knees and kissed the little mole rat on the forehead and started talking to it like a baby. "Who's my little mole ratty watty! You are!" He rubbed his nose on it's head and remembered he wasn't alone. Clearing his throat, and getting a tad red cheeked, he said a little flushed, "Heh, sorry, I'm very affectionate of my Mole Rat. I found him in here a couple of days ago. You know, I'm surprised this place was all boarded up." Mieux grabbed the bottle of wine and glasses, and moved over to a four seating table and brought the three men to the table. "Shoo Domino, go do something else." He looked confused for a moment at Monroe. "Mr. Monroe, what's all this about the Enclave? The Enclave's been dead, what, fourty....fifty years? Well, back home anyway." Quickly trying to deflect the possibility of 'Where's 'Home'?' he quickly smiled politely, removing his shades to reveal clear olive green eyes. Putting the shades on the table. Mr. Dobbs, Mr. Monroe, I'll be happy to satisfy your every curiousity. What would you like to ask?" This time there was no warm inviting smile, this was clearly a cold, business, but polite face. The face of a man who was all business now.

[Benji]

Bob Dobbs

The Tropical Room – Main Ballroom – Evening

"I didn't think I'd be found so soon.", the man said coolly as he reached inside his coat and produced a pistol . Both Bob and Monroe raised their rifles and a Mexican standoff began.

Is this guy nuts? At this range our rifles will tear him apart. Though that’s no 10mm…looks like a .45.

“Friend”, Monroe said quietly as he leveled the massive BAR at the man’s chest, “do you really think you can get all three of us before Bob or I splatter you all over your freshly mopped floor? I don’t think the odds favor you”.

Just as the tension became unbearable…Bob saw Monroe’s finger begin to tighten on the trigger of his BAR…suddenly the man snorted and holstered his pistol.

"I'm sorry, terrible time for a joke like that, but I couldn't help it", the man said. “No hard feelings gentlemen. How about a drink as a....'reintroduction'?" The man offered a glass to Monroe. "Here, Mr....Monroe was it?"

“Don’t mind if I do”, Monroe said as he cradled his BAR in the crook of his left arm and accepted the glass. “My friend here might like one, too.”

The man then stood up, and looked down at the mole rat.

"Domino! I wonder where you went little guy." The man got on his knees and kissed the little mole rat on the forehead and started talking to it like a baby. "Who's my little mole ratty watty! You are!" He rubbed his nose on it's head…then suddenly remembered he wasn’t alone and got self-conscious.

"Heh, sorry, I'm very affectionate of my Mole Rat”, the man said as she straightened up, red faced. “I found him in here a couple of days ago. You know, I'm surprised this place was all boarded up."

“People only started to resettle here about a month ago”, said Bob. “There were plenty of houses…a big place like this is hard for one man alone to maintain. Eventually people would have come in here to scav.”

The man grabbed a bottle of wine and glasses, and moved over to a table with four chairs and gestured for them to join him. Bob and Monroe took a seat once the man did.

"Shoo, Domino”, he said to the mole rat, “go do something else."


"Mr. Monroe”, he said, “what's all this about the Enclave? The Enclave's been dead, what, forty....fifty years? Well, back home anyway."

“They attacked this town yesterday morning”, said Monroe. “I was out of town running an errand for my employer so you would have to ask Bob here for the specifics. But the Enclave fought a war with the Brotherhood of Steel over the Water Purifier down at the old Jefferson Memorial building just last year…I’m surprised you seem unaware of that.”

Suddenly seeming eager to change the subject, the man quickly smiled politely, removing his shades to reveal clear olive green eyes, and then putting them on the table.

“Mr. Dobbs, Mr. Monroe, I'll be happy to satisfy your every curiousity”, the man said sharply. What would you like to ask?"

“For my part, I doubt you had anything to do with the shooting”, Dobbs said. “But that pistol of yours may be the easiest way to clear you as a suspect. Would you mind cycling the action to eject a round from it so we may see the cartridge? If you could do that for us we could then move on to more pertinent subjects such as whether you have seen anything unusual recently”.

[Lindsay Dunn]

Justin Mieux- The Tropical Room

Mieux simply made a small shrug and a face of unconcerned compliance, and unloaded the magazine of the .45, and placed each round onto the table one at a time. "Is that what you wanted? Nothing interesting, with the last time I fired this thing, it may just be a set piece at this point, I'm more of a talker than a fighter. It's been three years since I fired this thing." He scratched his nose a little and looked at Dobbs Monroe with slight interest, "As for the Enclave, well, clearly you have never been inside that glorified tower of ego. A nice place to relax in luxury, but, well, it lives in its own bubble of ignorance. Music plays, kind of like GNR, but without the news feeds. It's a method to ensure no 'troubling news' hits. Not as nice as Vegas, but, well, it's nice enough for these parts. Plus, the Enclave is long dead where I'm from, so it is a surprise to hear they're 'alive'." Mieux said with new interest, leaning back in his chair with his glass of wine as the speakers in the club started to go from a gentle jazz instrumental to a Dean Domino song.

[Bigze Stacks]

Brandy - Tent - Evening

"Well, maybe, if you had some ability other than to look cute to all the boys and girls by being the most pathetic, stupid [censored] ever, you could actually treat his wound properly - instead of kissing him on the cheek." Toby spat back.

Brandy fought the tears that wanted to make their appearance, she clenched her fist, "I was trying to comfort him." she hissed as Sue came back to her side.

"Hey, mute, did your trio just become a quartet? It seems Girly might just have an eye on a new man. Hope you don't mind splitting your share of her from a half to a third. How many hours would you get - if she sleeps eight hours a day..would that be five?" Toby asked with a menacing grin. Sue shot Toby a nasty look.

"Errr," Brandy growled under her breath, "I'm sorry Cole, I guess some people just can't help but be ass holes," she glared back at Toby.

"Maybe if you're lucky, that shooter'll come back and whittle down all of Girly's options by five or so, and you won't have to worry 'bout it." Toby continued his verbal assault. Sue looked back at him, flipping him off after a pause in her actions; Toby smirked egging on the argument.

Edward walked up and slapped Toby, "WHO THE [censored] DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!! [censored] off!" The two men began to argue, Brandy had been starting to stand up, but went back to caring for Cole while they argued.

Finally, after a few heated verbal exchanges, Toby yelled back, "Go get shot - all of you - I really hope you do."

Brandy grit her teeth, she could no longer fight back her tears, they were tears of anger, and at that moment, hate. She wrapped her fingers around a half empty fifth of vodka on the ground next to her, knocked or dropped, during the shooting. “We will get you back to Bob’s in a minute Cole, I don’t know where the doctor ran off to, and have no idea where Cody is either. I’m sure Jeeves can help with your arm though.”

Brandy stood up and faced the angry Toby, she raised her arm and threw the bottle at him, the bottle nearly clipped his head as it flew by, “That is enough!!! What have I ever done to you…you jerk.” She stomped closer, Toby’s rudeness combined with her yearning for more jet fueled her, “I have NEVER done anything to you, and ever since the school, you have been nothing but an [censored] to me, why? You didn’t have to go there, you didn’t have to help, I already know that I’m not that helpful in this wasteland. AND, I’m no floozy either, so you need to shut your mouth about that and stop taunting Sue. You can either help us get Cole to someone who can help him properly, or just shut your [censored] mouth right now,” she shoved Toby, “Are you going to help, or just stand there or run off and hide? I don’t remember seeing you anywhere during the Enclave attack,” Brandy tugged down her dress a little to reveal her plasma wound, “at least I tried to help, which is more than I can say for you [censored].’

[sexy zara]

Calypso and Lexy - going hunting - Evening

Lexy pulled her silenced 10mm SMG from her handbag and a hair tie, tying back her hair. She yanked back the action and swept the immediate area. In the meantime, Calypso shouted orders to her crew and Monroe lead them into action. Calypso pulled her dagger from her handbag, “Alexis, we must accompany the girls back to the Rose, GIRLS, do come,” she ordered.

Lexy took point, Rip leveled his CAR and joined them, the girls were antsy as the made their way back to The Elusive Rose. Lexy, Rip, and Calypso kept close watch of their surroundings for anything, or anyone. Of course, I let my hair down publicly for an evening of festivities and someone disrupts my celebration, Calypso frowned. “Alexis, we shall don our armor and go hunt down the person responsible for crashing my party.”

“Sounds good to me,” Lexy huffed as they neared the Rose’s front door. The trio ushered the girls safely inside.

“Watson, Rip, The Rose is on lock down. No one is to enter, or exit without consulting me first,” Calypso went up to her room and slid out of her party dress and into her black leather armor. She placed the dagger on her left hip, her short sword on her right. She slung the tank to her shiskebob over her shoulder and prepped it before rushing back downstairs.

On the lobby’s marbled floor she found Lexy armed and ready, her sniper rifle slung over her shoulder, SMG in hand, “Let’s go get this lowlife Calypso,” Lexy smiled.

“Absolutely,” Calypso smiled, igniting her shiskebob briefly, “Watson, watch the front door, Rip, watch the back door. Linda, do care for the girls in my absence.”

The two left through the front door, “Let us go north then return through the east gates, perhaps we will catch them in a pickle with Monroe’s group.” Making their way past the police station, the two women slowly rounded in an easterly direction.