Sara Weaver
Sandy Coves Inn, Salem, Massachusetts - early to mid afternoon



Sara blushed ever so slightly at Celeste’s hospitality, she wasn’t expecting someone like her to be out here in this backwater of a town. It had been such a long time since Sara had met someone as genuinely charming as Celeste, for the wasteland did not favor those of her disposition. Still Sara was caught off guard by the woman’s kindness. It appealed to a part of Sara that she so desperately wanted to embrace but she didn’t trust it. She was afraid to show anything that could be perceived as weakness but Celeste seemed innocent enough, and with no one but the robot around Sara was willing to give it a chance.

“Um, it’s nice to meet you Celeste…I’m Sara.” She cracked a grin that showed more embarrassment than joy. “I appreciate the offer, those look really good, but I just ate not too long ago and I don’t want to get sick.” Sara eyed up the scones on the counter, she had never heard of them before but they truly looked delicious. She didn’t like that she had declined the offer but the meal she ate for breakfast overpowered her curiosity. Plus her body was still coming down from the encounter outside of town, food was the last thing on her mind at this point. Not wanting to draw things out any longer than she felt was necessary she undrew the straps on her caps purse, even though Sara felt like she could talk with Celeste for hours. “You said 24 for three nights?” Sara took the caps out and placed them in her hand, counting silently with her mouth before placing the final amount on the counter. “There’s 50 there. Don’t worry I can count. Figured it’s only right that I repay you for your kindness. Also if it isn’t any inconvenience to you I’d prefer if I dealt with you instead of the robot. Nothing against it, I’m just not comfortable around them. I can continue to pay you extra for it if it helps you out?”

After placing the caps on the counter Sara got a rush of nervousness, like she didn’t know what to do with her hands, or her feet, or anything really. She wasn’t accustomed to feeling shy, or nervous around people. What was wrong with her? Before Celeste could say anything a knock on the door interrupted them, and man called out to them. Sara took a mental note of her weapons and her hand casually rested close to her handgun.

Celeste immediately looked at Sara and paled, almost shrinking behind the counter. "...another, um, friend, of yours?"

At the sight of Celeste’s fear Sara shifted her body in front of Celeste to guard her from an attack. “No, but I’ll take care of him if things go bad.” Sara leaned against the counter her hand still resting close to her handgun while her newly plundered sword and knife hung from her belt. Before the robot opened the door Sara shot a wink at Celeste. “Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen to you.” As the man entered he immediately struck Sara as a threat. She remembered him from before, she didn’t know much about Steve but what she did know told her not to be too trusting of him.

“Greetings ma’dam, Rook and Fēi nǚhái” Steve said as he winked at both girls. “Like I said outside I was coming up here to find out who was building that wall, whoever’s building that is making a mistake with the three doors.... Anyway getting back to topic I heard some gunfire and came to investigate but it seems you killed them already...or at least this group"

“....and I’ll take care of the next group that makes the mistake of showing up too. In the meantime I’d suggest you keep those eyes up and turning, wink at me again and I’ll set them spinning.” Sara was still coming down from her adrenaline rush so she was more aggressive than usual, but she would’ve said the same thing regardless. It was just something about him, she definitely wasn’t going to let her guard down around him.

FRIEDA RICHTER - Salem Clinic - mid afternoon

Frieda stood fast at the door to the church, watching everyone and everything that went by. Not so much as a radroach reared its head while she watched.

Guard duty wasn't one of her typical posts, but she'd done it often enough. Holy shit was it ever boring, though.

Her attention was broken by a young man, pale as paper, clambering over to the church entrance. He saw her and pleaded, "Please get me the doctor...I need him quick..." He saw a bin by the door, and threw up again.

Frieda stepped away, recoiling with both her hands up. "Whoa there, bub. Seems a bit too early to be puking due to drinking...or did you drink out of the ocean, or something?" She raised a finger to her own lips, the combination of the actual vomit in front of her and the idea of drinking ocean water, made her feel queasy.

Arthur spoke from beside her. "What's wrong? Are you sick? Or is it venom?" He sputtered out, trying to get whatever information he could.

"Oh! You're...awake," Frieda murmured, wondering how she hadn't notice he had walked up behind her. "He's sick, all right -- wait, did you say venom?" She looked at the patient, then back at the doctor. "He did just come from the direction of the water. Only poisonous wildlife ever documented were some advanced mirelurks, but if our friend here were running from one, it'd be in our sights by now. ...oh, dear," she sighed, moving her feet out of the way once more as the young man heaved into the bin. "Look, ahh, why don't you...bring that, yes, there you go," she cooed, placing the bin firmly into his hands, "and seat yourself just over here so the doc can get a look at you, hmm?" Frieda guided the man to the nearest chair.

Rick Noel - Salem Clinic
Rick just about finished puking his guts out, when he looked at the guard lady, "I am...I am not drunk alright... though admittedly i kind of look it right about now...seriously will you...will you fet... will you fetch the doc..." He felt another hurl coming, but nothing came out, he was running on empty, but it still hurt like hell.

The doctor appeared from a doorway and spoke from beside the guard, "What's wrong? Are you sick? Or is it venom?" He sputtered out, trying to get whatever information he could.

"Oh! You're...awake," She murmured, wondering how she hadn't notice he had walked up behind her. "He's sick, all right -- wait, did you say venom?" She looked at the patient, then back at the doctor. "He did just come from the direction of the water. Only poisonous wildlife ever documented were some advanced mirelurks, but if our friend here were running from one, it'd be in our sights by now. ...oh, dear," she sighed, moving her feet out of the way once more as the young man heaved into the bin. "Look, ahh, why don't you...bring that, yes, there you go," she cooed, placing the bin firmly into his hands, "and seat yourself just over here so the doc can get a look at you, hmm?" Frieda guided the man to the nearest chair.

"No... not venom...should've listened to Doct...Doctor Volkert," he replied as he took a seat, with the bin in his hand. "He told me not to eat irradiated food...now it's time to pay the piper." Rick turned to face the doctor, he cocked his head and narrowed his brow, the man before him seemed familiar. "Doctor do I know you from somewhere?" He leaned in closer to the doctor, unaware of the stench of his breath, and whispered in his ear, "Mankind"

Dr. Arthur West - Salem Clinic

"No... not venom...should've listened to Doct...Doctor Volkert," he replied as he took a seat, with the bin in his hand. "He told me not to eat irradiated food...now it's time to pay the piper."

Arthur froze at the name, and gave the man a scrutinizing glare. A look of recognition crossed his face as he realized he'd seen the man before. Although he couldn't place the name, the face was certainly familiar to him. It would have been easier to recognize him if he'd been wearing a labcoat...

"Doctor do I know you from somewhere?"
"Uhh...well," Arthur stuttered, "I've..made my rounds around The Commonwealth. Perhaps you've seen me in another settlement?"

The man then leaned in closer and uttered a single word, "Mankind"

His breath was horrid, and Arthur visible winced, but he also couldn't help but give a look of surprise. He tried to hide his reaction but didn't exactly do a good job of it. Instead he stood up, cleared his throat and tried to sound as professional as he could,

"Yes well...obviously he's suffering from some severe food poisoning," He announced, "Probably brought on by some unwholesome meat or spoiled vegetables. Nothing to worry about I can treat him in my office."

Arthur then helped him up and began escorting him gently towards the staircase, making sure to keep the bin close at hand in case the man had the urge to vomit again, "Uh...oh yes.." he said, remembering something and turning back to Frieda, "Thank you for the lunch Ms. Richter it was very much appreciated. If you don't mind holding down the fort here a bit longer while I treat this man, I'd be grateful. I'll..uh...just be a moment."

Once the pair were up the stairs and Arthur had helped him to sit down, he then disappeared to the mezzanine for a few seconds before returning with a small box, which he was carefully cradling. He sat down in the chair opposite of the newcomer and revealed the emblem on the side, before opening the box and handing one of the precisely packed pills to the man.

"Here," He said, "Its a light one. Supplement 23. Easy on the stomach and should help some of the upset. You absolutely should have listened to Dr. Volkert by the way," a slight smile crept on his face, "He's an excellent physician. Undoubtedly the best in The Commonwealth and possibly the world at this point. He was a good mentor. Our immune and digestive systems just aren't able to handle the surface food...and may I say..I don't think we're missing much..." He gave a light chuckle at his own joke.

"Oh...I forgot," He said, clasping his hands together, "The rest of the phrase. Sorry...I don't get to interact with well...anyone...from back home much anymore. Not in person anyway."

He sat up and spoke the next words very carefully, perhaps even reverently,

"Redefined....Mankind Redefined," He offered his hand, "Dr. Arthur West, Bioscience Division."

Rick Noel - Salem Clinic - Mid Afternoon
"Yes well...obviously he's suffering from some severe food poisoning," He announced, "Probably brought on by some unwholesome meat or spoiled vegetables. Nothing to worry about I can treat him in my office." The doctor excused himself from the guard woman, and they headed upstairs. Rick took a seat on a nearby chair and waited.

The doctor returned with a box, he took a seat on the opposite side, and showed him the side with the Institute’s emblem on it. He opened a box and gave him a pill, "Here, it’s a light one. Supplement 23. Easy on the stomach and should help some of the upset. You absolutely should have listened to Dr. Volkert by the way," a slight smile crept on his face, "He's an excellent physician. Undoubtedly the best in The Commonwealth and possibly the world at this point. He was a good mentor. Our immune and digestive systems just aren't able to handle the surface food...and may I say. I don't think we're missing much..." He gave a light chuckle at his own joke.

“I should’ve realized we wouldn’t really be used to it, but come on, you have no curiosity at all towards the food? “ Rick remarked.

“Oh...I forgot," He said, clasping his hands together, "The rest of the phrase. Sorry...I don't get to interact with well...anyone...from back home much anymore. Not in person anyway." He sat up and spoke the next words very carefully, perhaps even reverently, "Redefined....Mankind Redefined," He offered his hand, "Dr. Arthur West, Bioscience Division."

Rick stood up and shook his hand, “I knew I recognized you from somewhere Dr West. My name’s Rick Noel, briefly worked under SR… prior to the incident…” Rick sat back down with his stomach feeling like it was beginning to settle. “Though I see point of avoiding food, we need to blend in after all while we are out here.”

Rick reached for his bag and pulled a bag with nutrient bars, paste and pills, “I mean, I was sent out on a long term scouting mission, I need to get used to food out here… can’t run back to the vault all the time. You must be needing some food supplies if you been travelling all over, I have plenty here take some.” He extended the bag to the doctor, offering some of the supplies he had.

Brandy just stared blankly at the picture of Ace and the woman who she assumed was his wife. She wiped her nose then sat up, neatly placing the picture on the nightstand. She looked at the clean gold ring on her thumb, she slid it onto her ring finger and held out her hand, the ring much too large for her finger hung loosely. Maybe someday. She sat the ring down next to the picture frame and sighed. Though Ace hadn't been gone too long, it felt like forever. She wanted to ask him about the two items, but she had lost her nerve. Walking over to Ace’s desk she pulled open the top drawer, there were three other pictures of the woman in there, she brushed away a tear and picked up a pencil and paper and write Ace a note.

Dear Ace,
I understand why I embarrassed you last night when I kissed you in the diner. I had no idea that you were married, none at all. You have never mentioned it, and I never thought to ask. I feel like a complete fool, I am sorry. I will leave you alone, I can't break up a marriage, that's not right.
Brandy
P.S. She is very beautiful.

Brandy placed the note on the bed where Ace would surely see it. She took one last look at the picture and walked through the appliance room to the cellar door. The door was heavy, but she managed to open it with some effort. Pausing to listen for a moment, she didn't hear anymore gunshots. She quietly shut the cellar door and bee lined for her house.

“Hey kid, why the long face?” asked Waylon startling her a little.

“I...um...I’m sorry Waylon, I don't really want to talk about it right now if that's alright?”

“Hey, no problem, hope whatever it is gets better. See ya later,” Waylon continued to the house next door to Brandy's, the horse was in a pen with a brahmin grazing on a small clump of grass. He walked up to the door, thinking it better to do than just taking the horse. He knocked on the door, “Hello?”

Brandy would have really liked to check out the horse, she watched it chew some grass then unlocked her front door. She left it open as the screen door slammed back shut behind her. She opened up the windows to enjoy the ocean breeze and also to keep it cool while she used her oven. She ran upstairs and tore her clothes off, putting on a sky blue summer dress and her glasses. Grandma always said cooking helps because you help others to have a meal. A small smile formed on her lips as she walked to the kitchen. Her apron was hung next to the fridge and she put it over her head and tied the back before she grabbed an empty container, flour, two eggs and some seasoning she had in the cupboard. She decided she was making fried chicken for Frieda and herself. She began mixing the ingredients together and pulled a container with the chicken she had dressed the other day. She rolled the pieces in her batter and put them on a plate as the cooking oil came to temperature.

Dr. Arthur West - Salem Church Clinic

“I should’ve realized we wouldn’t really be used to it, but come on, you have no curiosity at all towards the food?"

"Curiosity, yes," Arthur chuckled again, "But only to an extent. I admit some of their cuisine is....interesting, but most of it is just downright horrific. Mutated animal meat and crops or ancient barely preserved irradiated foodstuffs. Its a wonder they haven't all died out yet. Their digestive tracts must have adapted to become iron..."

“I knew I recognized you from somewhere Dr West. My name’s Rick Noel, briefly worked under SR… prior to the incident…..Though I see point of avoiding food, we need to blend in after all while we are out here.”

"SRB huh?," Arthur remarked with a curious look, "Yes...that makes sense. My lab frequently had contact with some of the agents over in SRB. I'm sure we've rubbed shoulders before but I couldn't place the name. But yes, unfortunately I agree, I try to eat the food when I can to avoid suspicion and to try and get used to it as much as I can. Its slow going however."

“I mean, I was sent out on a long term scouting mission, I need to get used to food out here… can’t run back to the vault all the time. You must be needing some food supplies if you been travelling all over, I have plenty here take some.” He extended the bag to the doctor, offering some of the supplies he had.

Arthur took the bag gladly and examined it, becoming wide-eyed at the nutritional content within, "Holy smokes.." He whispered hungrily, "Thats...quite the cache. I've been getting low on supplements. I was even considering writing in and requesting a resupply, even though I was never really out here in an official capacity per-sey."

He sat the bag aside and turned to Rick eagerly, "Speaking of which, how are things back home? Dr. Fillmore is still Director is she not? Is the rebuilding effort proceeding well?"

Ace Makovich - Mid Afternoon- Diner
Ace laughed as the synth called itself Abel, “Right…Adam’s favored son…the good son...right. Well if Barney is willing to accept you, who am I to oppose?” He cracked his knuckles, he looked as everyone in the diner stared at him.

Adam sat down and cleared his throat, "Hey, uhhh, sorry to bother whatever is going on here, but are you open? I just want some chow, sir."

“Yeah, we are open… Betty help the gentleman out. I need some air.” He said as h opened the hatch leading to cellar.

“Whatever, leaving me alone…again.” Betty replied with an attitude.

“That’s what I hired you for. Find out if the toaster would like anything, I’m sure there’s a can of motor oil for it somewhere.” Ace replied as he made his way down the ladder.

Betty turned to Adam as she smacked so gum, “Whatcha having old man?”

Ace walked over to his room but it was empty, with Brandy nowhere to be seen. There was a note on the bed, so he sat down and read it. He shook his head in disbelief, he had forgotten of Reggie's picture on his nightstand along with the wedding band.

He grabbed the picture and laid down on the bed staring at it, smiling. He ran his fingers over where Reggie stood on the picture and gave it a light kiss, softly murmuring that he missed her. She had been good to him but he abandoned her, left her behind. He always wondered how she was doing, and if she thought of him. Well if she did , he figured, she'd probably want to kill him.

Ace placed the picture back on the nightstand, got up off the bed and made his way out the cellar door that led outside. He figured the most likely place Brandy would be at is her house. As he approached he was right as he could smell her cooking wafting from an open door.

He let himself inside and he could hear flattering coming from the kitchen, as well as Diamond City Radio. Ace walked towards the kitchen and Brandy stood there preparing food, unaware of his presence. He walked over to her and placed his arms around her waist. She let out a yelp and dropped an egg on the floor as she turned around. As she saw him, her eyes started to glaze over with tears and she backed towards the counter away from him.

He move closer and took her hands, "You should've just waited for me Brandy. Reggie is long gone history, hell I haven't seen her in almost 4 years. I'm not with her anymore. I wouldn't lie to you." He kissed her hand, "Ever since I saw you arrive to town those few weeks ago, I haven't been able to keep my eyes off of you. I want to be with you...please believe me..."

Rick Noel - Clinic

Rick looked at the doctor and nodded, "Yes, of course she remains in charge. We wouldn't be where we currently are withuot her. The smartest decision the directorate could've made was select her for the possition, especially after Father screwed...I'm sorry, I am out of line and should not have said so." Rick lowered his head, speaking ill of the directorate and its leaders by someone of his level was unheard of, at least until he had a doctorate and had proven himself.

He cleared his throat, "But regardless, yes construction is smoothly progressing. The entrance and its security have been completed. No unwanted pest will be able to enter the vault, perhaps we can do better this time...Luckily we have plenty of generation 1 and 2 synths to do some of the hard labor, after all, many within our ranks have never done any sort of physical labor."

He looked at his gun and the though of the man he had killed returned. Luckily the supplement was working and he no longer felt deathly ill, though he felt the death of the man would linger on in his mind. He was lost in thought and had not been able to hear what the doctor was saying to him.

"I'm sorry doctor I tuned out for a bit... a lot on my mind. What's troubling I don't remember reading any sort of reports of a hooded group of surface dwellers living near these area. Prior to coming I was at Dunwich Borers, and they were doing the most weird thing. They were chanting or something before an obelisk or idol. It seemed they were worshiping it. They spoke a language I could not understand."

He paused for a bit to try and recollect the ones he and Mary had fought. "i stumbled across a young woman named Mary, and as soon as I wonder two of them in their hoods attacked us. They shouted something "PH´NGLUI SOTH!" At first I thought it might be latin, but i was never good in language class, and tuned out most of the dead languages they made us learn. Mary said it wasn't, possibly a made up language. It's all odd, to me it makes no sense."

"In all honesty it reminded me of something out of those old fiction books located in the library. You know the ones that had cults and worshiping of other worldly beings... I think some surface dweller read a book and took it to be true rather than fiction... I think next time I return to the vault I'll peruse the digital library where all those books are located."

Adam 'Trails' Wilford- Ace's Diner

Adam stood there, waiting to see if he could enter properly until Ace spoke,“Yeah, we are open… Betty help the gentleman out. I need some air.” He said, heading to a hatch. “Whatever, leaving me alone…again.”, the girl, Betty, said moodily. Ace didn't seem to be in the mood for taking lip, “That’s what I hired you for. Find out if the toaster would like anything, I’m sure there’s a can of motor oil for it somewhere.” he said, descending down the ladder. Betty turned to Adam as she smacked so gum, “Whatcha having old man?”. Adam seemed confused before he remembered why he'd came here. "Right. Coffee, black if it ain't too much trouble, ma'am. Maybe a side of Brahmin steak too". Adam walked over to an old classic red swivel seat at the faded countertop and put his head down on the counter, arm over his neck trying to fight off a headache and tiredness. When he looked up again, he looked over to Betty and asked, "So whats with the head chef there and that fuss? And what's he mean 'android'? That some kind of robot?", he hiked a thumb to the guy nearby, "He don't look like no RobCo product I've ever seen."

FRIEDA RICHTER - Salem Clinic -- mid-afternoon

"Yes well...obviously he's suffering from some severe food poisoning," Arthur announced, "Probably brought on by some unwholesome meat or spoiled vegetables. Nothing to worry about I can treat him in my office."

"Ah. Yes, I've...seen that before, once or twice," Frieda replied, cryptically.

Arthur then helped him up and began escorting him gently towards the staircase, making sure to keep the bin close at hand in case the man had the urge to vomit again, "Uh...oh yes.." he said, remembering something and turning back to Frieda, "Thank you for the lunch Ms. Richter it was very much appreciated. If you don't mind holding down the fort here a bit longer while I treat this man, I'd be grateful. I'll..uh...just be a moment."

"I -- wait a sec --" she called after him, watching him retreat up the stairs with the patient. She rubbed her brow, wondering if it were necessary to drag the poor wretch all the way up the stairs for a glass of water and some dry crackers. But, what did she know? She already admitted the most she knew about first aid involved bandaids and deep breaths. Frieda thought he might be avoiding her, to some degree, but that didn't seem unusual to her, either. Just yesterday she all but told Steve to fuck off when he asked her where she was from, and all she wanted was a cigarette.

A cigarette.

The craving smashed into her like a load of bricks. She walked out the main entrance and lit up almost immediately. Frieda eyed the pack and frowned. Had she really smoked half of them, since last night?

She reflected on the fact she still had no money, and no way to buy Brandy dinner, let alone barter another pack of smokes off her. How was the supply back home so endless, and up here, she couldn't keep up with her own vices?

Addiction is a powerful thing.

The scuffle of a pair of booted feet going by caused her to look up and regard Barney Rook puffing on his own cigarette. "Hey!" she called to him. He looked over, raised an eyebrow, but continued walking. "HEY!!" she repeated, daring to take two steps out of the clinic. "I need to talk to you, but I can't leave. Can you come over here, please?"

Barney chuckled, but complied. "What do you want?"

"Look. I need money. You need people in your militia. We all need a safe clinic. Do you agree?"

Barney shrugged. "I guess. Why?"

"I want you to put me on the payroll, as clinic guard."

Barney took a drag of his cigarette. "That ain't on the list. We need folk to keep out the riff raff and the wildlife, not stand around in front of others who're pukin' and bleedin'."

"Yeah, well," Frieda took a step towards Barney, putting her entire essence much too close to him for either person's comfort. "Have you met the doc? He isn't exactly...calloused, let's say. Kind of 'Vault fresh,' if that means something to you? And besides that, I don't think he knows which end is the business end of a gun." She made a point of sizing up the man in front of her, in an attempt to appear intimidating. "You know what happens if he ends up hurt, or worse? We go from having a competent medical professional in our midsts -- who, by the way, refuses to take any money for treatment he performs -- to hoping none of us get so much as a scratch out here in the middle of Massachusetts."

Barney blinked. "Middle of where?"

"The Commonwealth," Frieda quickly corrected. "So, are you gonna pay me, or not?"

"Suppose I could put you on probation," Barney mumbled. "The doc is important, that much is true. An' I guess we'll find out if you're as good as worth payin' soon enough."

Frieda internally rejoiced. "I won't let you down, sir," she rattled reflexively.

Barney rubbed the back of his neck. "See that you don't," and with that, he'd shuffled off.

Score one for me, she thought to herself with a smile. Frieda re-settled herself against the doorframe, twirling the scissors.

Eliza Weaver
S&W Weaponry, Salem, Massachusetts - early to mid afternoon



Eliza toyed with the revolver Shelby gave her as she got a feel for the new weapon. Flipping the cylinder out and the back in before she got a feel for the weapons heft. “I suppose it'll work until I get mine back. If someone didn't steal it by now.” Eliza sat the revolver down alongside her chair and pulled her hair up with a groan. She was exhausted still but now that they were relatively safe at Shelby's all Eliza wanted to do was enjoy her company. It may as well have been years since they had seen each other last, but Eliza couldn't help but feel a crushing sense of shame sitting in front of Shelby.

When they last saw each other Eliza was a drastically different woman. She was in her prime, especially after meeting Shelby, she was the hope that Eliza had given up on. Shelby was the third and final chance, she couldn't stand to watch this relationship fail. Eliza met Calypso before they departed from Vegas she certainly wasn't someone Eliza would intentionally cross but she didn't fear her, not then. She didn't fear anyone back then, and she especially didn't fear Calypso now. Eliza clenched the blanket that covered her exposed lap in frustration.

She turned her head to face Shelby as she exhaled in an attempt to calm herself down. “Shelby...if you want to move on and forget about Calypso and the shit she did to you I understand but keep this in the back of your head. Bad leg or not, you say the word and I'll hunt that bitch down.” Eliza shifted her weight in the chair causing her to moan. “I might be a washed up but I'm still a Rider.” She moved her hand back to the cluster of dog tags, clenching them tightly. “We've got a debt to settle back west anyway.”

Flashes of what Bragg did to her, she winced in pain just like she did during the act. Even with that fucker buried Eliza still couldn't get over the fact that her baby sister would send him after her. She caused it to happen. Eliza wanted to forgive her but she couldn't. She'd been betrayed too many times and it cut deeper every time, this time was the last. She couldn't move past this one, it hurt too much. All she wanted to do now was curl up in a ball and cry herself to sleep so she could escape it all. Her fist unclenched and the dog tags fell onto her lap. As much as she didn't want to admit she was so much more vulnerable now than she ever was. “Shelby I'm really sorry but do you think we could lay down somewhere?” It was obvious that something was bothering Eliza but she was too ashamed to say what it was.

Eliza turned her head to face Shelby as she exhaled, “Shelby...if you want to move on and forget about Calypso and the shit she did to you I understand but keep this in the back of your head. Bad leg or not, you say the word and I'll hunt that bitch down.” Eliza shifted her weight in the chair causing her to moan. “I might be a washed up but I'm still a Rider.” She moved her hand back to the cluster of dog tags, clenching them tightly. “We've got a debt to settle back west anyway.”

Shelby's eyes widened and she spit out a mouthful of water the waved her hands, “No, no, no, no Hun. I've been away from her for awhile and nothing has happened, let's not stir up a hornets nest, please. We can just live a low profile life here in Salem, we don't have to hide, but we don't want to raise a shitload of attention either. I had contacts of my own that I could've kept doing business with, they would rather seal with me than that bitch anyways. We don't need that shit anymore, your Riders, The Jaded Empire, we don't need any of that.”

Eliza's fist unclenched and the dog tags fell onto her lap. As much as she didn't want to admit she was so much more vulnerable now than she ever was.“Shelby I'm really sorry but do you think we could lay down somewhere?”

“Um...sure ,” Shelby replied, she could tell by Eliza's face and actions that she was either in pain or something was tearing her up inside. “Waylon has a couch in his office right back here.” It took Shelby a minute to try to get Eliza back in the wheelchair as carefully as she could, she then wheeled to the office door and it was locked. “Fuck me, hang on,” she turned and kicked the door a couple of times before it broke open. She pushed Eliza over by the couch and helped her to the couch.

Shelby took a breath, “I never noticed the doctor give you a stimpack, I have a couple, do you want to try one and see if it'll help you limp around easier?”

Betty - Diner - Mid/late Afternoon
Betty looked at the man in disbelief, her face showed just as much. "Either you've been living in a cave for too long, you're out of town or you 're just having me on about not knowing what a synth is. Shit, the Insitute that used to exist till the Minutmen General blew it up, created them. Good for nothing eggheads with too much time on thir hands."

Betty, walked over to the coffe maker and poured Adam a cup, "Don't be Ma'aming me, old man. Do I look old to you." She looked in an old mirror on the wall, making sure she hadn't aged and that she hadn't noticed. *If this place has a doctor, i better check in one of these days. For some reason I don't feel sick of radiation, but was deep in it. How could I've been so stupid.*

She walked over to stove and grill, and started preparing him a steak. "You see the institute created things like him to look like us and replace us. You can't even tell em apart from human beings...well this one you can casue it's face is all messed up, blus when was the last time you saw a person with a red eye?"

"Well, the institute is gone and all we have left are these left overs." Betty added, "As for Ace, well that old man doesnt seem to like them much, maybe he lost someone he knows to them...lots of people did...lots of people... here ya go, steak as asked. Looks like you need a nap sir, or some more booze."

Dr. Arthur West- Salem Clinic

"Yes, of course she remains in charge. We wouldn't be where we currently are withuot her. The smartest decision the directorate could've made was select her for the possition, especially after Father screwed...I'm sorry, I am out of line and should not have said so."

Arthur gave an understanding nod of his head, "Normally I'd be adverse to speaking ill of a past Director, especially one as revered and important as Father. I might even chastise you for it..but..well...I have my own reasons for being disillusioned with Father's actions. He was...he wasn't the man many of us thought he was. I know that perhaps better than anyone alive currently."

Rick cleared his throat, "But regardless, yes construction is smoothly progressing. The entrance and its security have been completed. No unwanted pest will be able to enter the vault, perhaps we can do better this time...Luckily we have plenty of generation 1 and 2 synths to do some of the hard labor, after all, many within our ranks have never done any sort of physical labor."

"Mmm..yes..most haven't lifted anything heavier than a pencil," Arthur agreed, "That's one thing I miss most of all out here: no Synths to help me with some of the menial work. If I had just one or two Gen-1's here I'd be able to get so much more done."

It was then that Arthur noticed that something was clearly troubling Rick. He seemed...scared. Not unusual for someone out on the surface, but Arthur had to wonder what sort of thing would make an SRB Agent frightened. They, perhaps more than most, understood the kinds of horrors one could find topside.

"I'm sorry doctor I tuned out for a bit... a lot on my mind. What's troubling I don't remember reading any sort of reports of a hooded group of surface dwellers living near these area. Prior to coming I was at Dunwich Borers, and they were doing the most weird thing. They were chanting or something before an obelisk or idol. It seemed they were worshiping it. They spoke a language I could not understand."

"i stumbled across a young woman named Mary, and as soon as I wonder two of them in their hoods attacked us. They shouted something "PH´NGLUI SOTH!" At first I thought it might be latin, but i was never good in language class, and tuned out most of the dead languages they made us learn. Mary said it wasn't, possibly a made up language. It's all odd, to me it makes no sense. In all honesty it reminded me of something out of those old fiction books located in the library. You know the ones that had cults and worshiping of other worldly beings... I think some surface dweller read a book and took it to be true rather than fiction... I think next time I return to the vault I'll peruse the digital library where all those books are located."

Arthur raised an eyebrow at Rick's explanation of what he'd seen. It was odd..to be sure..but not the sort of horror he'd been expecting the man to describe. There must have been more to this group he'd encountered than what he was describing...or perhaps there was something else he couldn't describe.

"Well..I wouldn't worry about it too much," Arthur said finally, "I've traveled enough of The Commonwealth to know that there are all sorts of groups of surface-dwellers that have the oddest of quirks. For instance, there's a religious cult that worships radiation like its some kind of god: 'Atom' they call it. They practice their faith by well...irradiating themselves. Its bizarre. With that in mind, I wouldn't find it at all strange for a group of zealots to have their own made-up language and be using it to worship whatever phony-baloney wasteland spirit or mutated monster they call a god. Perhaps they even stumbled upon pre-war fiction books and are using some twisted sci-fi author's vision as fuel for their psychotic fantasies. Who knows? The surface is a quagmire of the strange and the absurd, that's for sure."

"In any case," he sighed, "Are you feeling better at least? We should probably return to the first floor before Frieda starts to get suspicious. She's not like the others...she's quick witted,capable, and has military experience. I'm also certain she's beginning to suspect that I'm not just a misplaced Vault Dweller. She told me she used to be an officer in The Enclave. As an SRB Agent, I was hoping you could tell me more about them. All I know is what I've read on the dossier that Father gave me. How do you think she'd react if she learned we were with The Institute?"

CELESTE BROWN - Sandy Coves Inn -- mid-afternoon

A tall man with a moustache sauntered in after Archie had opened the door. “Greetings ma’dam, and Fēi nǚhái” Steve said as he winked at both women. “Like I said outside I was coming up here to find out who was building that wall, whoever’s building that is making a mistake with the three doors.... Anyway getting back to topic I heard some gunfire and came to investigate but it seems you killed them already...or at least this group."

“....and I’ll take care of the next group that makes the mistake of showing up too. In the meantime I’d suggest you keep those eyes up and turning, wink at me again and I’ll set them spinning.” Sara replied with a confident tone.

Celeste quivered and hoped no one noticed. She cleared her throat. "I believe Rook is building the wall. Archie showed him to the roof but I, ah, haven't seen him, since. He might still be up there." She gestured towards Archie. "Could you show Mr. ... ah, what was your name? Up to the roof?"

"Absolutely, manager! Mind the stairs, this way, please..." Archie turned and went up the stairs branching from the foyer.

“Robot do you know when those atom losers moved into the crater? How many there are? If they are attacking travellers on the road Might be a good idea to clean them out before they start causing trouble for the town...”

"Manager Celeste has named me 'Archie', which is just fine, sir. Now, a crater, did you say? Last I knew, the moon was inhabitable to most aerobic life forms. Did that change with the Great War?" His voice faded as they ascended higher into the inn.

Celeste turned back to Sara and gave her a warm smile. "Well, now! Where were we? Oh, yes!" She looked at the bag of caps and opened it, carefully counting out twenty-four. "I appreciate your gesture, but I couldn't possibly let you just over pay. Someone else might think they could under pay as a result, hmm? Please don't be offended. It's not personal." She closed up the pouch, stood on her tip-toes, and tucked the excess back into Sara's hand from across the counter.

"So! Let's find you a room, shall we?" Celeste purred with delight. She came out from behind the counter and walked towards the stairs. "Right this way. You'll find the rooms have been freshly scrubbed and all the linens are crisp and fresh!" Celeste sauntered into the hallway. "Please, take your pick on a room. They're all available, so whichever one you like will be just fine!"

Rick Noel - Clinic - Mid/Late Afternoon

"In any case," he sighed, "Are you feeling better at least? We should probably return to the first floor before Frieda starts to get suspicious. She's not like the others...she's quick witted,capable, and has military experience. I'm also certain she's beginning to suspect that I'm not just a misplaced Vault Dweller. She told me she used to be an officer in The Enclave. As an SRB Agent, I was hoping you could tell me more about them. All I know is what I've read on the dossier that Father gave me. How do you think she'd react if she learned we were with The Institute?"

RIck had to think for a bit, he recognized the name Enclave, they weren't a major group in the Commonwealth, otherwise he'd known them for sure. He snapped his fingers as he remebered the name, "They are a curious group Dr. West. They believe themselves to be descendants of the old world government, the true "remants" of the US government. Long ago we had contact and they pretty much demanded we submit to their authority."

He got up off the chair and slowly walked towards the stairs with the doctor. He continued with what he knew, "However, we did share a common enemy, the Brotherhood of Steel. I always though they were destroyed by them... I guess there were survivors very much like us, after their pressumed destruction."

"To be honest I doubt many outside their high echelons and intelligence services knew of us. Aside from Brotherhood, we probably were the one other group that could stand against them. " Rick stopped for a moment, "They hate anyone outside the Enclave...they would never be amon us "mutants" as they put it... If she's here, it could mean she left the organization or was kicked out, though a secretive organization might have killed her rather than let her go."

"In all honesty it's up to you Dr. West whether or not you tell her background, considering she might be suspicious. Just do not tell her of Vault 88. As far as these surface dwellers are concerned, we were destroyed and survivors were scattered through commonwealth." Rick and Dr West soon reached bottom of stairs and made way over to the blond woman, while he was throwing up he hadn't really gotten a chance to look at her, her steely grey eyes, "Whoa... I mean... thanks for the help earlier before, i may have been a tad rude. Rick noel, happy to meet you."

Sara Weaver
Sandy Coves Inn, Salem, Massachusetts - mid-afternoon





Fortunately for Steve the bot escorted him up the stairs and away from Sara. She did not care for him at all, especially after the wink. With the mood she was in right now she was ready to snap. That was her problem with fighting, once she started she couldn’t stop. Even now she was itching for a fight, except Celeste’s attitude was helping to calm her down...making Sara feel extremely awkward in the process.

Celeste turned back to Sara and gave her a warm smile. "Well, now! Where were we? Oh, yes!" She looked at the bag of caps and opened it, carefully counting out twenty-four. "I appreciate your gesture, but I couldn't possibly let you just over pay. Someone else might think they could under pay as a result, hmm? Please don't be offended. It's not personal." She closed up the pouch, stood on her tip-toes, and tucked the excess back into Sara's hand from across the counter.

“Oh...umm, okay.” Sara nervously scratched her head, with an embarrassed grin in response to Celeste’s refusal to take her extra caps. When Celeste placed the extra caps into Sara’s hand she felt her heart flutter and her body shivered, especially in places she didn’t feel were appropriate. Sara gave out an extremely nervous chuckle as Celeste walked away from the counter and towards the hall. For a moment Sara was unsure of what to do as her mind was being bombarded with alien sensations.

"So!Let's find you a room, shall we?" Celeste purred with delight. She came out from behind the counter and walked towards the stairs. "Right this way. You'll find the rooms have been freshly scrubbed and all the linens are crisp and fresh!" Celeste sauntered into the hallway. "Please, take your pick on a room. They're all available, so whichever one you like will be just fine!"

Snapped out of her daydream by Celeste’s wholesome tone Sara suddenly realized that she was left standing dazed at the counter, with the spare caps piled in her sweaty palm. “Uh, sure that would be great!” Sara quickly grabbed the rest of her caps off of the counter and stuffed them into her coat pocket before she made her way over to Celeste, trying to compose herself and hide the sudden rosiness in her cheeks. “Really any room would suffice. I’m not that picky.” The duo carried on down the hallway as Sara perused the rooms, unsure of which one to pick. She said she wasn’t picky but she was faced with too many options and couldn’t easily decide for herself. After a few moments of contemplation she settled on one. A quaint little room like all the others tucked alongside the stairwell to the second floor at the end of the hall.

“This one will work.” Sara walked inside sitting her pack on the ground, with her rifle resting alongside it. She was rather elated at the site of a clean bed, and a room that wasn’t covered in filth or soaked from a morning rain. Removing her jacket and flannel Sara hung her jacket over the back of a nearby chair and hopefully realized before Celeste did that her figure was visible through her t-shirt so she hastily put her flannel back on and buttoned it up. Playing off the fear of almost exposing herself to Celeste, she sat down on the edge of the bed with a rather audible sigh of relief. She’d never sat on anything more comfortable in her entire life. “I feel like a queen!” Sara awkwardly giggled as she rolled her sleeves up past her elbows on her flannel, revealing the tattoo on her forearm. As Celeste stood in the doorway to the room Sara pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail, the sides of her hair had clearly been shaven at some point but had regained most of its length. “So where do we go from here?” Sara inquisitively cocked her head towards Celeste as she un-bloused her pant legs, and began to unlace her boots.

FRIEDA RICHTER - Salem Clinic -- late afternoon

Frieda idled at the doorway, glancing occasionally over to Summer, who remained lights out. How much time had gone by? It felt like a while. Was it really worse than food poisoning?

Speaking of food, a delicious smell was in the air, its origin unknown. Frieda looked towards the diner, but there didn't seem to be an excess of steam coming from its exhaust. Someone in town was cooking. Her stomach growled. It occurred to her she had given away her lunch but didn't eat anything in its stead.

There were footsteps behind her. She turned to see the doctor walking back through the clinic with the patient, who seemed to have made a complete and full recovery. Some colour had even returned to his face. He drew up to Frieda, the two were of a height, and he looked right into her eyes.

"Whoa..." he seemed to recoil, then caught himself, "I mean... thanks for the help earlier before, i may have been a tad rude. Rick noel, happy to meet you."

Frieda smirked. "I suppose I have had worse first encounters, and maybe that's saying something." She nodded. "It's Frieda. Glad to see you upright. Are you new to town, or do you live nearby? I just got in yesterday, so I haven't met everyone just yet. I don't mind accompanying you, if you're still feeling...off."

She turned to Arthur. "Oh, and, good news! I've decided to work here for you, full time. Security guard-slash-assistant." Frieda paused, finally realizing how bold it was for her to assume. "That is, if you're okay with that. You look like you could use an extra set of hands, and I just thought...ahem." She fidgeted, then, feeling awkward. "If it's agreeable to you, then I'll be sure to carry my gun much more often. I could even go get it right now, if you want?"

Steve cooper- The Hotel- Mid afternoon

“....and I’ll take care of the next group that makes the mistake of showing up too. In the meantime I’d suggest you keep those eyes up and turning, wink at me again and I’ll set them spinning.”

“Aggressive? I like that.” Steve said as he purposely winked at the woman again “and sure you, me and few others in town could take out the next group of stragglers that wander into town but what if they come in force Fēi nǚhái?”

Church has gotten alot more aggressive since the brotherhood kicked them out of DC

The small curvaceous woman who’d been hiding behind the desk cleared her throat. "I believe Rook is building the wall. Archie showed him to the roof but I, ah, haven't seen him, since. He might still be up there." She gestured towards the robot. "Could you show Mr. ... ah, what was your name? Up to the roof?"

“Steve, Steve cooper pleasure to meet you Madam.”

"Absolutely, manager! Mind the stairs, this way, please..." the robot turned and went up the stairs branching from the foyer.

“Robot do you know when those atom losers moved into the crater? How many there are? If they are attacking travellers on the road Might be a good idea to clean them out before they start causing trouble for the town...”

"Manager Celeste has named me 'Archie', which is just fine, sir. Now, a crater, did you say? Last I knew, the moon was inhabitable to most aerobic life forms. Did that change with the Great War?"

Why would I be asking about the moon...?

“No not the moon robot, the crater just outside of town by the lighthouse.” Steve groaned at the robot “fuck it... Command override vocal audio house, Robert access core programming"

No wait Robco didn’t make Mr. handy robot, crap what’s the code for them again?.... Should have written them all down...

“Forget it, just take me to the roof robot... although quick question, are you the only robot here? Does... Manager Celeste have other robots?

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OOC: @Callyx I'm not sure what rooks doing on the roof so left it vague.. will edit or remove this part if you decide to have rook leave before steve shows up.

Reaching the roof Steve spotted rook “Rook, the short madam downstairs... Celeste I think her name is said your building the wall? Good idea but you’re making a mistaking having three doors... We don’t have enough people yet to defend them all and will just make it easier for raiders to get in.”

Steve then walked over to the edge “Should have two doors at most, the main entrance on the road and side door on the beach.” Steve stated as pointed to places he though the wall doors should go.

Could also have a drop down ledge but need to figure out the right place to put that... maybe on the northern part of the wall?

“Apart for that looks like you’ve been doing an good job on the wall.... err Good work Rook.”