Miss Vicious , Her saga and story... Options

[Renee]

Hello, it's a rainy Friday night here in Maryland,. Time for comments & questions. Got a headache right now, and really need to lie down. Gonna do the quote thing...

The Master of Dogs seems like he has a pretty well-oiled machine running here. He's got spies in the outside world like Lamont. He's got the tech specialist like Chucky Cheese. He's got bearer bonds, even a Vertibird. He's definitely something beyond just a raider boss. More like a Bond villain.

Yeah, Dogmaster's got it all, it seems, and he wants my toon on his team.

Damn, Dogmaster even has a cleaning person, who actually cleans!

Oh yeah. Folks like Acadian, who haven't played any Fallout 3, don't know the shock of going from bombed-out interiors to Allistair Tenpenny's pristine upper floors.

By the way, I tried to look for a home for Dog which isn't too familiar, yet is also not all torn up and messy, or too science-fictionish (Vault 101, for instance). But there just ain't much in the game, so I had to settle for a duplicate of TenpennyTower03.

Dog has this idea of becoming a politician or something, even I'm not entirely sure of his ambitions. Money is talking, but my gal won't become corrupt in the process, I promise. You shall hear about these two renegades (thieves, actually) tomorrow morning.

I must admit, that I "like" his face too.

You did a great job. Dogmaster's face really captures the essence of what a 23rd Century raider boss might look like. If I'd tried to make him it would've been Fail.

Yes, we use the word 'pacing' as well, for all sorts of activities. Mostly, exercise. "You gotta pace yourself on that treadmill..." etc. Anyway the rhythm is about to speed up again, these next couple episodes. Fast, and (hopefully) faster.

An interesting dialogue between the two - Taneesha is pointing her Tazer at him, while he's discussing wines.

🍷

I really enjoyed Vicious’ observations during her trip to see the Dog – particularly once she got to that coffee shop.

Graci!

Blackmail plus a ton of cash manages to coax Vicious into working for the Dog as a highly paid assassin. What could go wrong?

Hee hee right?

You just have to realize, since you don't play Fallout games, how much harder it is to make money compared to Oblivion or Skyrim. Mirocu and Gunny and their hundreds of thousands of caps ... I'm not even sure how he does it.

Nothing respawns (indoors) in the Capital Wasteland or Mojave, without mods. You clear a baddie location, take all its loot, chems, caps, anything which will earn money once traded, and that location won't a farmable source of income in the future. NPC enemies also don't respawn indoors (outdoors they do, though). Only traders and traveling merchants have ammo for sale, for instance, sometimes. Yet this is hit or miss (mostly miss, if you've got a specialized or rare weapon).

It's not like going into Sercen or Bleak Falls Barrow with seven gold, and coming out with potentially hundreds, maybe even thousands of salable items once we get into town. So what Dogmaster is proposing blows my character's mind. She's been in the habit for years of thinking "dozens" when it comes to money. Yet now she's being offered thousands, and is being led to believe trillions are out there.

Plus, Dogmaster doesn't seem that bad.

I wouldn’t say Dogmaster is ugly, but he certainly has the look of someone who you wouldn’t want to cross. Lopov did a real good job making the face.

Yeah, he did. Sometimes I wish I could Persuade him (or anyone) to help with other stuff! I wanted to make Dogmaster's Suite much more unique, not as "Tenpennyish" for instance, yet I really haven't got the time.

Story shall be up tomorrow morning. Supposed to be partly sunny tomorrow. 🌞



This post has been edited by Renee: Sep 28 2024, 04:03 AM

[Renee]

Episode 65: Barb and Buck


A room was offered to Vicious; she could spend the night if she'd like. Initially she declined.

But after Dogmaster's attention became distracted with other matters and he moved into another room, his newly-hired assassin began to rethink the offer. Which 23rd Capital Wasteland inhabitant wouldn't? Most CW folks, who'd spent their entire lives living in desperate, deplorable conditions while being surrounded by the remains of a once-glorious civilization, might wonder what it'd be like to experience that 'once-glorious' part.

So Vicious changed her mind, then found herself being led by one of the Dog's servants to a room; one of many, with its own bed. And its own private, lockable door. And its own washroom. And its own climate-controlled temperature system (operated by a thermosomething) which blew pre-conditioned air from several vents. Want the room hot? Just turn the dial to the right. Want it cold? Turn it left. Dogmaster's guest had a bit of fun with the thermosomething. Cranked the Fahrenheit as high as it would go (summer returned; she began to sweat!) and then turned it all the way to the left. Three minutes of standing in forty-degree air, and her teeth chattered.

Finally, the bed. After two-plus years sleeping on ratty mattresses and uncomfortable cots, she couldn't help but lie upon the room's 'Queen-sized' bed tentatively at first, as if she didn't belong here.

"I could... get used to this."

Dinner was roasted venison next to something green to one side (called "vegetables"), and something yellow on the other (called a "sauce"). Well actually, Tan/Vicious grew up in the countryside, which means she actually knows what deer, vegetables, and sauces are. But most raiders lived on pre-packaged meals mass-produced in ancient factories.

Miss Vicious, living the good life. "If Bratty and Q could see me now."




Date: Tuesday, October 2, 7:44 AM

The next morning, Dogmaster and a nerdy scientist-looking guy named Cheese Head lead Vicious into a room filled with computers and gizmos and ham radios, where they brief her on the upcoming mission.

She'll be headed to Evergreen Mills, a former metals foundry located several miles to the west. Once there, she'll need to eliminate two "targets", a former Dogmaster grunt named "Cr4nk$haft" and another who goes by "BODDY-BAGZZ".

"That is how they specifically spell their names," Cheese informs in his Midwest accent, after uploading a digital file to Vicious's Pip Boy. "Cr4nk$haft and BODDY-BAGZZ. You can just imagine the level of maturity we're dealing with. You heard either of those names out there?"

"Nope."

Both are thieves, according to Cheese and Dog. Three weeks ago, they'd been fronted a large amount of chems from Dogmaster's considerable stash, yet still hadn't returned any profits. Or maybe they had sent money to the Potomac, but their courier(s) got lost. Or killed, or whatever. Doesn't matter. Cr4nk and BODDY are now on the Dog's *bollocks*-list... which is what happens when morons don't consider their actions.

"Cr4nk$haft specializes in uppers," Cheese informs, "Jet, Psycho, amphetamines, and so on, while BODDY-BAGZZ supposedly peddles the downers: Med-X, morphine, Thorazine, et. cetera. Personally, I feel both have become addicted to their wares...."

"Addicted to their wares," Vicious repeats. ...Like someone I know... "What if they actually have some money and want to pay up?"

"Oh, well in that case, you take their money, of course. Whether or not you then choose to eliminate them is up to you."

Vicious learns she'll be accompanied by two Dogmaster soldiers: a Lieutenant Buck Norris, and his cadet, Barbra Bee. "They should be waiting downstairs."

"Hey, I don't need any help," Vicious protests. "Don't know them. They might get in my way."

Doesn't matter. Dogmaster has given her a couple accomplices, and the Dog always gets what he wants.

"One more thing," says Dogmaster, who comes shuffling into the computer room with wandering eyes, as though he hadn't slept. "Vicious, very important. Got a list of more targets. You are to be on the lookout for any of these three. You listening?"

Miss Vicious nods.

"First, a fellow named Chosen One."

"Chosen One? That's his name?"

"According to sources, yes."

The assassin suppresses a grin.

"Chosen One prefers an assault rifle. For sure, he's responsible for the massacre at Springvale, few weeks back."

"Got it," Vicious pretends to type into her Pip Boy. As though she's got no idea who Cho Zen Wan is.

"Next we got a white female named He-ca-te."

"He-ca-te?"

"Hecate," Cheese chimes in, pronouncing the name correctly. "Probably named after the Greek goddess of lightness and dark and witchcraft."

"Hey! My man's got brains!" Dog claps his nerd on the shoulder. "Hecate is similar to Cho, wanders alone. More of a sniper than a scout, though. Always in black. Black clothes, black armor. Hair is black, usually tied in a ponytail. She also wears glasses, according to raiders who've witnessed her. Carries a M110, very brutal gun. Make sure you don't get caught in her crosshairs."

Vicious has never heard of Hecate, but is glad for the description.

"Finally, a dude named Ronny. Blond hair, blue eyes, wears a duster, might be using energy weapons. Other than that we got nothing. So just take down anyone named Ronny, who isn't a raider."

"Got it," Vicious says. Despite her confirmation, she's got no intention of messing with any of them.

--Cho? He's a friend of a friend.
--Hecate? Just stay out of her way.
--Ronny? Take down anyone named Ronny who's not a raider? Pfft.

"All three apparently be from Vault 101. And all three are hunting MY people!" Dogmaster explodes, causing Vicious and Cheese to flinch.

"All three gonna be dead when I catch 'em," the assassin lies. "Anything else? Anybody else? Can I go now?"



9:30 AM
She leaves the suite, ambles through the coffee shop (canines snarling...) and finds Dog's soldiers loitering outside: Lieutenant Buck Norris and his cadet, Barbra Bee. Both are dressed in the same military uniform worn by other Dogmaster soldiers.

"Hello. You're Miss Vicious?" Barbra greets, extending a hand. "I am Barbra Bee. Call me Barb."

Barb...Bee?

The woman is pale skinned, with pretty blond hair. "Heard lots about you!" she grins.

"Yep, I'm Vicious." As she shakes Barb's hand, she notices the woman's nails are manicured, yet also sharp. Like claws. "Ain't heard nothing 'bout you, but looking forward to working together, I guess."

"I'm Lieutenant Buck Norris," Bee's superior introduces, his voice hoarse. Unlike Bee, who looks as though she's just stepped from a salon, Norris looks battle-hardened.

"Pleased to meet."

"Soldiers are like steel," Norris quips. "When we lose our temper we lose our worth."

Norris is older, perhaps near forty. He has scruffy red hair with a beard to match. He seems to specialize in close-quarters combat; carrying what looks to be an Uzi knockoff, backed with a combat knife, while Barbra prefers long range. She's got a rifle.

"Well look. I don't want to dawdle, okay?" Vicious says. "I'm ready to go."

"Fine with us," Norris says, checking his pack. "Just remember, this is not a race, okay? There is no finish line."

"Um, yeh, okay." Huh??

Barbra concurs with the others, but does something odd. Steps toward Vicious, extends her right hand again. Grins her affable grin while offering her pinkie finger. "Sisters?" she asks.

"Uh, sure. Sisters," Vicious wraps her own finger around Barb's, thinking how odd, a Vow of Sisterhood. Last time she'd made such a vow was ages ago, faraway in the Jehovah Temple. And that was when she was ten or twelve.

Had any red flags occurred at that very moment? she'd ask herself, hours later. If so, she hadn't noticed.

The trio begins walking. As they leave Georgetown West and descend the Metro stairs to Tepid Sewers, several sentries watch their progress; all of them a bit jealous perhaps, and also hungry. Hungry for action, that is, and jealous that they've not being included. They are tasked with making sure Dog's turf remains free from invasion, that's it. Probably never go on raids, anymore. Sucks for them.

Vicious begins to build a rhythm with her steps. This is going to be a long journey, two days of walking for sure. But it's at this moment when Barbra Bee makes a sudden half-turn, blocking Vicious's path, while Buck Norris strides further ahead. Bee's sunny smile is gone.

"So let's get one thing straight." The blonde pauses, seeming to wait until Norris is well out of earshot before she continues. "I'm the one getting credit for this, alright? All accolades for killing both targets shall go to me."

Barb unwraps the rifle from her shoulder, holding it toward the ground. Though she does not point it at Vicious, the implication is obvious.

"Hey whatever," Vicious replies. "I really could care less."

"Furthermore, we know about the money," Barb hisses. "WE'RE the ones getting a piece of that million, once the mission is over."

"Million? What million?"

"Ha! Ha! Nice try. The million Prewar bills Dogmaster found in that treasury vault, DUH! ... We're splitting that, Norris and I. This was OUR mission before your *behind* came along."

"Whatever. Take the money, I don't care. Although from what I heard, there is actually trill--."

---Trillions, she'd almost blurted.

"Huh??"

"Thousands, I meant to say. Only a few thousand down there, what I heard. Not a million."

"Yeah, right. Tryin' to pull a fast ones on me, huh?" Barb steps closer, swiping her manicured claws. "YOU don't mock me, girl. Buck and I, all we gotta do is take your black *butt* out somewhere. Tell Dog you got mauled by a pack of deathclaws. Who's to say something unfortunate like that can't happen?"

"Pfft! As if."

Lieutenant Norris notices his partners have straggled, and is now walking toward them. Barb sees this, and lowers her voice. "Well don't worry, we can't actually kill you. Get more money if you return safely. But heed my words, *witch*. Mess with us, and you'll be sorry."

"But I thought we were sisters!"

Buck Norris finally arrives on the scene, looking confused. "There a problem here?"

"No sir," Barbra lies.
"No, we're good."

"Good. Long journey ahead. Let's take it step by step." He mostly says this to Barb, as though aware she's prone to insubordination.

"Yes sir."

"A bit of advice," Buck adds, speaking to both. "There is no finish line, okay? When you reach one goal, time to find a new one."

"Right."
"Um, err... sure."

They begin to march. Down a corridor, and step through a door without a word. As they do so, Vicious can't but notice something which could be important pretty soon.

"Y'all gonna wear Dog's official armor outside?" she asks.

"Mm hmm."
"Yea."

"Really? You sure?"

"We said yea," Barb's voice is sunny again, but she speaks through clenched teeth. "Is there a prob with what we have on, compared to the... rags you're wearing?"

"Um, it's just that..."

"It's just that what?"

"It's just that... nothing."

Vicious decides to keep her mouth shut. Sure, the raiders who dwell locally along the Potomac might leave Barb and Buck alone. But what happens as they continue further? Toward Super Duper Mart? Up the hill and past Springvale?

Thing is, Wasteland raiders may dress the same, they may also look the same, and act the same. But there are subtle divisions of territory from east to west. Those to the east may know and expect Dogmaster's soldiers, but those to the west probably won't; they'll merely see a couple of dunces travelling their turf, then try to take them down just for the hell of it.

Dogmaster or Cheese may have broadcasted a message from their ham, attempting to alert westside raiders to let Dog's soldiers through, but would these instructions actually be followed? Would these orders (if they'd been given at all) be heard by some half-baked receiver, some junkie in the middle of getting high, who neglects to share Dog's order his/her buddies?

Miss Vicious can't help but wonder, as she follows these fools off the cliff.


------------------------

Dogmaster's Terrarium

Dogmaster's Den

Tan takes a bath

Watchdog plays with dog

Cheese Head

Buck Norris (whatcha all think? )

Barb Bee

Sisters? -- (from Spike TV's "bloopers" reel. She used the wrong finger...)

The Dark Side of Barbie

-----------------------------


Notes: 1). Ronny was Lopov's Lone Wanderer.

[Acadian]

Nice digs Vicious gets for the night!

And once she gets her mission from CheeseDog, she has Chuck and Barbie as sidekicks! Nice job making Buck look like Chuck!

Be on the lookout for Cho, Hecate and Ron. Sure. . . whatever you say, DogDoo. They’re hunting down Dog’s people? If I see them, I’ll see if they need any help or supplies.

Ooh, Barbie’s a bee threatening to sting Vicious. A bit more dangerous that her initial impression of being made of plastic.

I think Vicious’ first reaction of wanting to work alone was probably sound. Again, what can go wrong?

[SubRosa]

I started a rewatch of the Lord of the Rings. One of the interesting things about it is that it is a post apocalypse story. Just as Vicious noted about the CW, the people in Middle Earth are living in the shadow of once great civilizations that have been destroyed. Everywhere you go, there ruins of giant statues, and buildings, and walls, and bits of this and that. All are relics of previous Ages, literally. Even the main battleground of the First Age - Beleriand - no longer exists. It was destroyed in the final war that ended the age and sank beneath the ocean.

Dogmaster has central air? Wow! Seriously, for the Wasteland, that is amazing. One could definitely get used to that.

"Cr4nk$haft" and "BODDY-BAGZZ" I can imagine those two already!

The story behind Crank and the Bagz sounds very familiar. There is a documentary called Cocaine Cowboys that is about the drug trade in Miami in the 80s. All of its talking heads are people who were part of the trade. There was a smuggler, a top level dealer, and an assassin. The way things worked drugs and money never changed hands at the same time. The top level dealer would front the street dealers a certain amount of cocaine, which they would sell. Then a week or so later they would come back with the money for it. Sometimes they got full of themselves and decided they didn't need to pay. That is where the assassin came in. His job was kill everyone like that.

Wait, Dogmaster wants Miss V to kill Cho Zen Wan? Is he crazy?

And Hecate! I can't wait to see who is third. Is it Buffy?

Ronny I don't remember. Was that one of Lopov's characters? Just so long as it is not the Rattler... Ah, I see your note at the bottom. He was one of Lopov's.

Her two new partners are turning out to be a handful. Buck seems to be, well, Buck. Barbie on the other hand, looks like someone who is going to need killing.

Buck Norris has a Chinese uniform! And so does Barbie!

[Lopov]

I LoL-ed often because of names in this story!

Cr4nk$haft and BODDY-BAGZZ FTW!

Don't trust a doll in a uniform!

Good job with Buck's looks!

Dogmaster's yellow suit really stands out.

The story title "Barb and Buck" reminds me of the inn in Riften - Bee and Barb (or similar).

A nice reference to Ronny. He was my first character in FO3 and my first LW back in 2010 or 2011.

[Renee]

@Acadian: I wanted to put more work into Dog's home, which 'Rosa and Lopov know very well as Tenpenny's Suite. Anyway, I wanted to decorate it differently, and make it not so obviously his place, but I haven't got time. Priority is the story itself, and all the GECK stuff happening in the background.

Funny thing is when I was trying to make Buck look like Chuck I didn't think I was anywhere close, because faces always look different in the editor. He doesn't look exactly like Chuck of course, but I gave it my best, and was surprised how he turned out in the game.

They’re hunting down Dog’s people? If I see them, I’ll see if they need any help or supplies

Ha ha, pretty much!

Barb is supposed to have a much different hairdo than what she's got, from ZzJay's Hairpacks, but for some reason her hair is still vanilla. It took two episodes for the dreadlocks to show on some of Cheesedog's guards, though.


Rosa: Nice. I read LOTR in high school, all four main Tolkien editions, and I've forgotten that their civilization has also crumbled. But yeah, I seem to remember past civilization being mentioned by the jobbits here and there.

I imagine it's possible several places in the CW could originally have central air, and I even asked a real-life HVAC acquaintance if it's possible 200 years later. He told me the main thing would be making sure the gases don't leak: natural gas for heat, and whatever gets used in AC. Other than that, the fans might need oil or whatever. Since the CW definitely has electricity, we both concluded it's at least possible.

Yikes, WHOA.... Cocaine Cowboys sounds intense. And from what I've heard, those assassins were sometimes called enforcers. So yeah, Vicious could be an enforcer if she were doing this job in another century.

Yep, Hecate. Did some research in the Characters thread, to make sure I got the right toon person of yours who did the Main Quest.

Rattler will earn one more mention in this story. 🐍


@Lopov: Ha ha ha, I know. I thought of those names long ago, maybe a couple years ago. Cr4nkShaft & BODDY-BAGGZ. When you meet these idiots in the story, suddenly their names will make more sense.

As you know, Dogmaster's supposed to change suits a couple times in the future, according to a couple clothing mods I found. Who knows if this'll happen though.

Ha ha I thought of The Bee & Barb (m'lord) as well.

And yes, I remembered Ronny. This way, each of us three FO3 players have their Lone Wanderer represented. 🤠

[Renee]

LAST WEEK!!! ON... MISS VICIOUS!

Vicious has been hired as an assassin, to take out a couple knuckleheads at a faraway location. She's eager enough for the job, if only to keep her Jehovah's Witness clan free from possible harm. Accompanying her are a couple Dogmaster soldiers: Lieutenant Buck Norris and Private Barbra Bee. Problem though: Vicious noticed a possible issue with the jumpsuits the soldiers are wearing. For whatever reason, she chose not to reveal what the issue could be.

Now... Vicious, Norris, and Bee approach Super Duper Mart from its opposite side. Who's to tell what's become next?


Episode 66: Super Duper Mart

Date: Tuesday, October 2nd

Low Temperature: 60
High Temperature: 74
Humidity: 66%


The moment of truth began a couple miles up the Potomac, just south of Farragut West Metro Station.

"Hey Vicious. Is that a toy gun?" Buck Norris asked. Most everyone gets fascinated by her stunner, which is powerful yet looks rather "cheap". Most folks assume it's a toy which she carries for good luck, or whatever.

She was just about to answer when all hell broke loose. This particular area was known for its opposite warring factions: raiders are often eastside, while mutants sometimes roam across the river to the west. This time there were three raiders and two mutants. Gunfire erupted right away! The raiders blasted their rifles and pistols. While one mutant powered his giant 5 mil 'minigun' from the river's other side, the other launched a missile, which exploded into one of the riverbanks: Bkkshh!!!

Vicious, Barb, and Buck assisted the raiders, firing rounds across the water. Because of this extra help, the mutants didn't last long.

"Yeah! Kick *butt*!" one of the surviving raiders yelped as the battle came to an end.

"That's how gettin' it done gets done, WOOOO!!" Barbra Bee cried.

"Good job ladies," Norris slammed in a fresh clip. "Not to brag, but I once killed eleven out of ten opponents, with just nine bullets."

"You did what?"

"Wait... elven... ten... nine... huh."

The fight was over: Potomac raiders two, super mutants zero.




3:11 pm
But that was a half-hour ago. Westside territory. Now they're eastside.

As the trio crosses the bridge and approaches Super Duper Mart, Vicious surveys the raiders loitering outside the market from a distance, observing with caution. Would those thugs take the soldiers' outfits as reason to break their usual boredom with a bit of action? -- Halfway across, we're still good.

Once again, Norris gets a bit ahead of Barb and Vicious.

"You... are still with us," Barb mutters to Vicious, under her breath. "Why?"

"Just to piss you off."

"Just remember, pack of deathclaws. That's all I gotta say to Dogmaster when he asks why you haven't returned several days from now. I can even take a picture with my Pip Girl® after the unfortunate occurs as proof. Just imagine your carcass all torn up. I can make it happen when Norris isn't around....*witch*."

"That's Miss *Witch* to you, *witch*," Vicious retorts.

"Ain't no Miss *Witch*, you little B----. Just wait until--"

Norris notices his teammates have strayed. He turns around. Starts approaching. "Say Vicious," he calls, his voice a slight Texas drawl. "May I ask why you seemed concerned about our garb?"

Hmm. Is he reaching the same conclusion I did a few hours ago? Should I warn them?

"She's just wondering why she didn't get a snazzy official jumpsuit like us," Barb mutters proudly. There's a smile in her voice, which seems an effort to keep him unaware of her disdain for the newcomer. "Really don't know why Dogmaster decided to--"

"Oh *FLIP*!!!" Vicious yelps. "To the left!"

"It's go time!"
"Die! Die! Die!"

As Vicious had predicted, the market raiders aren't keen on outsiders trespassing their turf. They begin taunting the soldiers from a distance. Split second later, shooting begins. -- If Dogmaster or Cheese had broadcasted a BOLO to leave his soldiers alone, seems the scumbags at Super Duper Mart hadn't gotten the message. They ready their pieces and begin firing from afar!

"Like shooting fish in a barrel!" a female raider screams.

"You all better just give up!" Buck Norris warns. "Guns carry ME for protection!"

Barb retreats to the bridge like a siss, but then aims her rifle from and sharpshoots a Badlander from afar, while Buck sprays 'n' prays with his fake Uzi. -- Vicious? She initially doesn't know what to do, so she hesitates; a rare moment of lapsing on her part. Despite her earlier prediction now coming true, she hadn't been entirely sure what would happen once the soldiers entered westside. And now that everything's gone nutso she pauses, forced to pick a side.

"Call a doctor, I think we got a bleeder!"

She can't defend Dog's soldiers because this'll cause the raiders to fire against her; potentially every single bandit on the way to Evergreen will then become her enemy... and what if Bratty and Q-tip are here? -- She doesn't assist the raiders because if she sides this way, and Buck and/or Barb happen to survive, the mission's trajectory will then become compromised. Chances are the lieutenant and/or his cadet would not just forgive, or forget. Which means Vicious would need to take one or both of them down, as well.

After looking for her friends (Bratty and Q are definitely not here...) Vicious decides to side with the soldiers. Targets a *tart* with her shotgun, and FWOOM! blows the *snitch* down. It takes a few seconds for the nearest raider to get a clue though. Initially he seems confused. Like, why she shootin' at us, if she be one of us? -- And once that clue has been gotten, every raider on the lot is targeting her as well.

As is typical for spontaneous Capital Wasteland rumbles, the fight doesn't last long. Before she knows it, everyone on the Super Duper side has been blasted away or blown to pieces, while only one of Dog's soldiers remains.

"Aw no! No!"

Barbra Bee is down, bleeding onto the parking lot where numerous SDM customers once parked their SUVs and minivans, kids already begging for Sugar Bombs while moms and dads grumbled about the Shredded K their docs had suggested. Barbra Bee is down. Despite the animosity Barb held against Vicious, and despite the threats Barb had made, Vicious cannot help but rush to the cadet's side, checking for pulse, poking the woman's arm with a Stimpak in an effort to revive. But it's too late.

"Dammit!" Vicious screams into the wind. "Dammit, dammit, dammit, ARRGH!" If only I'd just spoken my mind about their stupid uniforms! She can't help but beat herself up... if only, if only..

Buck Norris, a veteran of countless bouts and brawls from even before Taneesha was born, calmly sheathes his 10 mil while Vicious laments. He crouches down beside the hired assassin, puts a hand on her shoulder.

"A lot of people give up just before they’re about to make it," he tells her. "You never know if that next obstacle is going to be the last one."

"Aw, shut up. What's up with all these quotes and quips, anyway?"

Norris doesn't answer. Vicious continues to curse, now fighting back tears...

...But to everyone's surprise, Barb Bee suddenly begins to stir!

"Whoa..."

Perhaps the Stimpak jammed into her arm had a delayed effect. Vicious rushes over toward the woman who'd tried to scorn her, fussing over Barb like an old, fallen friend.

---------------------

"Ditch your jumpsuits."

She finally says the suggestion she should've made hours ago, speaking to Norris because he's the one in charge. Norris looks at her quizzically.

"Not that y'all would've listened to me, especially you," she says, nodding toward Barb, "but that's what I almost said back in the sewers. Ditch the uniforms. Put on some raider gear, instead."

Norris gets it. "It's because we'll appear to be as one of them, huh?"

"Exactly. Most raiders are too high, or too drunk, or coming off a high or a drunk, or they just ignorant. They mind is blasted. They lookin' to rumble, just for the *heck* of it. They don't accept nobody but their kind. They'd shoot their own momma if they jonseing for a cig, and she don't wanna hand over her pack. At least round the Wasteland this is true."

Buck Norris doesn't disagree. "Well then, that's too bad for them."

"It is?" Dang, I had to ask...

"Yes ma'am, it is. Violence is always my last option."

"Uhm seriously dude, you got all these nuggets of wisdom..."

Buck Norris chuckles softly.

Vicious suggests Buck checks the market's trash bins for discarded raider apparel. Sure enough, he finds an armor set typically worn by the Sadist gang in a large Dumpster behind the market. Puts it on while Vicious loots the fallen. Most folks of course, the thought of donning someone else's trash is revolting. But Buck's an old pro. Originally from Florida's Panhandle, he's a survivor; Norris has decades of experience. He'd joined the Alabama Dissidents when the call for such duty arose in his dinky, down-south town at the age of fifteen, and has been a warrior ever since.

"How's this?" he asks five minutes later, dressed in gruesome Sadist chest, shoulder, and leg pieces.

"Looks good."

"Remember this Miss Vicious: (uh oh) Running from your fears can be more painful than facing them."

"Huh, yeah. Actually that makes sense."

"Fear is spelled F.E.A.R., which stands for False Evidence Appearing Real."

"Huh."

By now, it's late in the day; too late to continue travel. Though Norris has more life/combat experience than Vicious, Vicious is now calling the shots, since she's the one who knows where to go. She wants to head into Super Duper Mart, and tells the others they don't have to join her. She wants to see if Brat and Q are here. And they are! She finds both of them in what was once a back office, partying like usual, wasting their Wasteland lives away.

"YO!!! It's VISHIOUSH!!!" Bratty slurs.

The Brat literally slams into her pal, knocking her into a pile of miscellaneous stuff, while Q-Tip drops his smoke.

"Vicious!" Q exclaims. "See I KNEW you'd come back to us! So Rivet City sucks, huh? Knew you'd be back!"

The latest chem on the scene is 'Antagonizer Nectar'. Brat attempts to tempt Vicious with this latest psychedelic treat.

"Yo! It makes you see things!"

So it really comes as a surprise when Vicious tells her the news, that she's not only now chem-free, but also booze and cig-free as well. Bratty refuses to believe it, of course. Follows her teetotaling friend into the women's restroom, pestering all the while.

"Whaddoyamean you don't do chems no more?!"

After a half-hour or so, Bratty passes out. Predictable. Vicious looks over her intoxicated friend with disgust. Pallid face, pockmarked arms, that was ME not long ago.

The next morning, eventually the question arises in Vicious's mind over a package of Noodles: should she reveal Dogmaster's mission to her raider friends? Should she include them, asking them to come along to Evergreen Mills?

In the end, she decides not to.

-------------------------------

Barbie blasts a molerat!

"I don't initiate violence..."

Crossing the Bridge - (Note the message at the top left. I added an invisible trigger on the bridge which removed Buck & Barb from the RaiderFaction.)

Super Duper Mart

Buck Norris, retaliating

Vicious hesitates, but ultimately joins the soldiers' side.

Double-shot - (Vicious hit the guy in the leg, and pretty sure Barbie got him on the chest, from the bridge.)

Mushroom cloud

Speech Challenge was required with Barbie. If Vicious failed, she would've continued in her Chinese suit.

Everyone's a raider now.

Bratty and Q live in SDM

------------------------

Notes: 1). Alabama Dissidents are mentioned, which I borrowed from RaderOfTheLostArk's Fallout: Florida thread. Wherever Rader is.

2). As usual, I had to do the main combat scene several times. For some reason, Barb always ran the opposite direction; perhaps because she has a hunting rifle, and wanted to stay long-range.

3). Buck Norris actually got pwned during one of the fights, but I'd already made him Essential, so he lived. Why? Because even the Essential flag in the GECK is afraid of Buck Norris.

[Lopov]

Not to brag, but I once killed eleven out of ten opponents, with just nine bullets.

Hilarious!

Well, I didn't feel sorry for Barb. But looks like that she was essential as well. I bet that she won't be rude to Taneesha anymore.

Maybe it's better that Tan doesn't share details of her mission with her ex-friends, especially Bratty. Who knows what a mess she'd cook this time?

I like the double shot screenie, such scenes can be hard to capture!

[Acadian]

"You all better just give up!" Buck Norris warns. "Guns carry ME for protection!"
- - Along with the one Lopov quoted, you really have some great Chuck Norris truisms.

Too bad the Bee made it. . . .

Wise of Buck to heed Vicious about the uniform change.

I agree with Lopov that not telling Q and the Brat about her mission is a wise choice.

[SubRosa]

Raiders vs. Super Mutants. Good thing Miss V and company were there. That fight usually goes the other way.

Sounds like Buck did a Deadpool, where he lined up multiple bad guys to take out with a single bullet. TBH, Hecate's shot that I am most proud of was in a random encounter between a Deathclaw and some settlers. The was a settler right between Hecate and the Deathclaw, and they were about to be eviscerated. From long range, Hecate took one shot, and the kill camera kicked in. The bullet passed just inches from the settler's head, went by, and went right into the Deathclaw. One shot, one kill, all in a day's work for Hecate.

I think you got the west side / east side mixed up. The Farragut West Metro exit is east of the Potomac. The Super Duper Market is west of it.

Boy Barbie is really asking for a load of buckshot to the face, isn't she?

Now its Raider on Raider action, as the Super Duper Mart's crew reacts as one might expect to people wearing Chinese Army uniforms.

Antagonizer Nectar! I love it!

So the Brat and the Tip are there at the mart. Good thing Miss V wasn't wearing colors that would have made them instantly hostile. I am thinking keeping her trap shut about her mission was a wise choice. Otherwise word of it would have been all over the Wasteland in no time at all.

[Renee]

Naw, you don't need to be sorry for Barb, Lopov; she had it coming. Honestly though, I think the bulk of what she says is trash talk. Like when two sports teams are opposite, all they can do is trash each other.

Agreed. Not only would it be too much for Bratty to be around it'd be a PITA for me to write!

Yeah, in the double-shot screenie, notice the bus just caught on fire. 🚌 Just after that pic was taken everything went kablam!!


Ha ha right, Acadian? There really is no end to the Chuck quotes online. I really need to watch a couple episodes of Walker: Texas Ranger at some point, as well.

Barb is nothing but hot air, actually.


Yes, that's how Chuck could've pulled that quote off, SubRosa: one of the bullets goes through three bodies... something like that.

NICE, that sounds like a great Hecate moment!

Whenever Vicious puts on raider armor a script fires, which puts her into a faction compatible with raiders, and so I merely stretched this to include Dog's soldiers.


Next story should be up tomorrow morning.

This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 12 2024, 02:54 PM

[Renee]

Episode 67: Evergreen Mills

Date: Wednesday, October 3rd (Our real-life October 3rd is about to pass as this gets written, Thursday instead of Wednesday.)

Game Hours: 93:55:22
Level: 7

Perks: Thief (2), Black Widow, Gun Nut, Intense Training, Scoundrel





The day seemed business as usual before Norris, Vicious, and Barb showed up. Weather was sunny, sky was clear. Just another day.

The raiders of Evergreen Mills, which possesses a working foundry and other industrial facilities, are more ambitious than those of Springvale, Fairfax Ruins, Super Duper Mart, Bethesda Ruins, or just about every other CW raider camp or dwelling. At these latter locations, the hoodlums party hardy day after day until they crash, or it's time to go for a raid. At Evergreen Mills, some of them also work.

Those who are employed build or repair weapons and armor, smelt scrap metals, and/or supply ammo to other establishments. Evergreen also has merchants. It's got a well-decorated barroom, with its very own billiards table and (for those who are in the know) its own brothel.

In the Mills' central outdoor courtyard stands a ginormous, enormous cage, in which they'd somehow trapped a super mutant behemoth, the "steroided" version of mutants found all over the Wasteland; easily double their size. But Buck and Vicious aren't here to get a job, they're not here to get wasted or get laid, nor are they here to gawk at the behemoth like we might watch a zoo animal.

Ah, here we go.

"Yo, looking for Cr4nk$haft or BODDY-BAGGZ," Vicious says to the first raider she meets, a dude carrying a big knife at Evergreen's entryway. "Heard they is here." ... She uses her thuggy voice as she speaks, intentionally messing up grammar to make it seem she belongs.

"Prob'ly inside," the guy replies. Yet another Jersey accent. "Cr4nk's usually at da bar. BODDY can be tougher to find. Usually he sleeps a lot. Shoots his fix, then passes out in one of da shacks."

"Thanks, you rock," Vicious says, handing the guy, who's unwittingly become an informant, a handful of caps.

"If you's gonna go see BODDY, make sure youse wears your earplugs!" the raider cackles.

"Earplugs?"

"Yup," he grins. "You'll see why."

Buck and Vicious confer a bit, then decide it's probably best to find BODDY first. If he is indeed 'passed out in some shack' he'll be easier to deal with, assuming no one else is around.

The way into Evergreen is in an elongated cavern, which contains train tracks that once allowed goods to be shipped to and from. Even after two centuries, a few cars (box cars and a caboose) still stand upon these tracks. Vicious, Barb, and Buck stride through the valley, walking toward the foundry's 'business district', past several armed raiders and traps, as though they're here to buy and get high.

"I’ve always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way," Norris quips, perhaps referring to the frag mines they occasionally disarm and steal. "And you’ve got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles enroute to whatever it is you want to accomplish."

"Uh huh," Vicious and Barb share a smirk. "But you are just a man. Mortal and sufferable like the rest of us. So, what if you can't overcome those obstacles?"

“A lot of times people look at the negative side of what they feel they can’t do. I always look on the positive side of what I can do.”

Barbra stifles a giggle. "You know, that actually makes sense! So instead of being a spoilsport it's better to think positive," she says.

“I think you can learn from history.”

Again, Vicious' and Bee's eyes meet. The dynamics of the mission have definitely changed for both of them. Barb, since her life was saved back at Super Duper Mart, has reevaluated the extra assassin Dogmaster hired, and no longer threatens every chance she gets. Though they're not exactly besties, no longer does she make snippy comments which imply she's going to end Vicious's life, somehow. Mostly, she stays quiet. More professional. For the first time in her life, she realizes how quickly life can end. Perhaps yesterday was her first brush with death, and she'd been viewing herself as indestructible until then.

They approach the behemoth pen, which indeed contains a monster. Now they've got a choice: they can turn left towards the foundry (where Cr4nk$haft likely resides) or they can search Evergreen's outdoor shacks for BODDY-BAGGZ.

"Let's take that ramp upwards," Vicious suggests. "From what I recall there's a shack up top. BODDY could be inside."

"Alright," Barbra Bee agrees.

"Got another idea," Vicious continues. "How 'bout I deal with BODDY, and you can take out Cr4nk$haft? ... And we each provide backup behind the other, just in case."

"Sure," the blonde says. "Let's just git 'er done." It's odd, the way she's suddenly become so agreeable. "But what about the lieutenant?"

Both women turn to Buck, expecting him to share yet another life-gained shard of wisdom.

"I'll just stay in the background, this is your show," he says. "Let's just say Dog has provided for me in ways other than money."

"Um, sure."
"Perfect."

All three of them shake on it, providing solidarity for their plans. They begin walking up the ramp. And it seems the elder Floridan has finally run out of wisecracks when...

"Plus, I'm already too good at this."

"You are?"

"Yeah. It's like this one time down in the Ozarks. Found myself with a grizzly bear in my room, lying on the floor. It wasn't dead, it was just afraid to move."

"Afraid to... whoa."
"What's a grizzly bear?"

They reach the top of the ramp, thirty feet above the ground. As agreed, Vicious ventures inside while Barbra and Buck wait outside.

"Yo?" Vicious calls as she steps through the door. "Anyone here?"

There is. A shape on the bed across the room begins fighting a bit with his blankets. "HEY, CLOSE THAT DOOR!"

"Uh, sure," Vicious answers, shutting the shack's door. "Are you Boddy-Baggz?"

"HAVE I GOT A CRAG, WHAAAT?" the figure stands fully. He's short and wide, built like a fireplug, and he's got a big beard. His left hand is cupped to his ear and he's leaning forward. "SPEAK UP!" he says. "I AM HARD OF HEARING."

"Oh, SORRY. ARE YOU BODDY-BAGGZ?"

"YEAH, I AM BODDY-BAGGZ.... YOU DON'T NEED TO SHOUT! ... AND WHO THE *HECK* ARE YOU?"

"MY NAME'S VICIOUS!"

"YOUR NAME'S SUPICIOUS??!" he strokes his beard. "THAT'S A COOL NAME!" BODDY lights a cig, draws, and blows rancid smoke. "AND WHY IS YOU HERE, SUSPICIOUS?"

The assassin is about to answer when the half-deaf drug dealer interrupts.

"HEY... YOU WANNA BUY SOME CHEMS? ... GOT THIS *clucking* COOL BLEND FOR SALE THIS WEEK. MADE IT MYSELF! IT'S CALLED ANT-AGONIZER NECTAR!"

A-ha!

"ANTAGONIZER NECTAR?"

The shack's door opens just a crack at this moment. Barbra peeks inside. What's with all the shouting? she mouths. Vicious makes a shushing motion with her hands, like not yet!

Luckily, BODDY-BAGGZ isn't aware of the exchange; he's too busy loading an amber-colored liquid into a syringe. The shack's door closes just in time. "COME ON, SHOOT UP WITH ME!" he howls, tapping his arm. "SO, WHAT I DID WAS TOOK THE USUAL ANT NECTAR THAT'S BEEN GOING 'ROUND FOREVER, THEN BLENDED IT WITH NECTAR FROM THE ANT AGONIZER'S ANTS! ... YOU KNOW THE ANT AGONIZER, WHO SHE IS?"

"Nope." So this is the idiot amateur chemist responsible for turning Bratty and Q, along with countless others, into even worse wastecases than usual.

"YOU WANT A SPIKE? WANNA HAVE THE HONORS AND GO FIRST?"

"YEAH SURE," Vicious shrieks, her voice starting to break. "ALTHOUGH HOW ABOUT YOU GO FIRST!"
.
"HOW ABOUT I BUY ITS WORTH?" BODDY asks. "NO, YOU DA ONE DAT BUYS, NOT ME! ... BUT I'M ABOUT TO GIVE YOU A FREEBEE! UNNERSTAND?"

To Vicious's astonishment, BODDY-BAGGZ takes the syringe he'd just prepared, grins like a wolf, and injects it into his arm instead of handing it to her. "Ahhhh......." he sighs as the nectar (poison, actually....) swims his veins. He then begins to make a motion with his hand, pointing vaguely toward a counter as if to say feel free...

...it's at that moment the dealer falls to the floor. Totally zonked!

"Really? ...This is too easy!"

Vicious reaches toward her belt and grabs an item; time to end this nonsense. Her original intention, in fact, was to try collecting some caps from BODDY-BAGGZ first, not to carry out Dogmaster's extermination order right away.

"So you're the one who messed up my friends? How about a little goodbye present." Perhaps no one else on the scene knows how make this stupid nectar, and therefore she's about to put its source to an end, right here and now.

She grabs an item from her belt, pulls its pin, and slips it into BODDY-BAGGZ's pocket. Despite being passed out, he somehow knows what's just happened.

"OHHHHH SHI----"

The rest of the downer dealer's final curse goes unheard while the assassin steps deftly outside, and the grenade in his pocket blows the scumbag to pieces. The explosion within causes the entire shack (and the metal platform they're standing upon) to rumble and shake. For a few moments the trio wonders if any raiders down in the valley will become nosey about this, but they don't. After the assassin returns in the shack a minute later with the soldiers, Buck Norris is impressed.

"When the boogie man goes to sleep, he should check his closet for you!"

Miss Vicious thinks that's just about the best compliment she's ever received.

-----------------

Cr4nk$haft is next. The trio finds one of the doors to Evergreen's foundry, then blunders its way through as they try to locate Evergreen's 'Bazaar', which is where the main living quarters are. It's been a while since Vicious has been here, so it takes a few twists and turns upon the factory floor before she finds the Bazaar's door. They pass by several raiders in the middle of their workday.

"What's up?"
"What's new?"
"Que... pasa?"

None of them know what'd just happened; that half of the Mills' main chem connects has just been executed. A variety of smokes and mists drift through the air while a variety of clangs and sizzles reverberate Evergreen's walls.

Unlike the foundry, which is a standard set of rectangular workrooms, the Bazaar is cave-like. It's an area where Prewar workers once drilled for oils and hacked for rocks, sometimes with their bare hands, occasionally mining rare minerals from underground.

"Follow me."

Vicious leads the way. Finds Evergreen's underground tavern, which is an impressive feat of interior decorating, especially considering it'd been arranged by a bunch of punks.

Barb's in charge, now. As promised, Vicious allows her blonde frenemy leeway when it'll come to deciding what to do with Cr4nk.

"Whatchoo want?" asks a bartender as Barb and Vicious approach the bar's door. "Got hooch on special today."

"Lookin' for Cr4nk$haft, is he here?"

"I'm Cr4nk," a skeevy-looking fellow wearing a black leather jacket grunts. "Who's asking?"

Vicious has no idea what Barb's plan will be when it came to dealing with Evergreen's dedicated stimulants' dealer; whether she'll try to negotiate for the money he owed, or what.

"So. We're from Dogmaster," the blonde begins smartly, seeming to savor the moment.

"Oh you are?" Cr4nk's voice is hoarse, and his movements jerky. Like he starts his day with a handful of Buffout and ends it shooting up Psycho. "And what does that *kitty cat*-*butt* *A-hole* want?"

Unfortunately, Barb is not able to continue whatever spiel she had in mind. "Seems you owe--"

"HEY!" someone shouts. "BODDY BAGGZ got corpsed! He DEAD, blown to pieces! Lookin' for a blonde *snitch* and a redheaded *rooster*!! Dey da ones last seen up at BODDY's shack!"

Suddenly, bullets are flying everywhere! Cr4nk$haft grabs a pool cue and begins swinging while Vicious has no recourse but to aim her Blamhammer and start blasting away. The ensuing melee is both fantastic and frightening; Vicious, Barb, and Buck are right in the middle of it all. They shoot and they fire, while one of the raiders launches a missile which explodes into a cavern wall!! -- The action is difficult to keep track of. Due to all the obstacles and obstructions and decorations in the Bazaar, Vicious gets lost a couple times. Finds herself dealing with a gunner one moment then taking out a sniper the next. Explosion to her right, blood-spray to her left.

Some minutes later when it's all over, when Norris and Vicious recount what happened, and all their adversaries are down, they realize that it's now just them. Barbra Bee didn't make it. She is found lying on a metal stairway, barely recognizable, packed with more rounds of ammunition than even the behemoth outside could withstand. Again, a Stimpak is jammed into her arm, and again Miss Vicious curses and laments and screams, but this time the woman is gone for good.

But after a few prayers and a tearful goodbye, it's time to get out of Evergreen, and they'd better do so as discreetly as possible.

"Sometimes I feel like I've died a thousand times," Norris says later as they leave the foundry.

"Uh huh." Vicious is numb, blaming herself as usual, as though the entire mission's a failure.

"I've been hit and shot and lost consciousness more times than I can count. The Grim Reaper seems afraid to take me."

Vicious says nothing. Looks at her remaining companion.

"So, now's not the time to sleep," he says. "Now we wait."

Right. We wait. Good idea, Buck Norris.


---------------------------------------

She's got braids now -- (Bratty does hair like that Tunnel Snake guy)

BODDY BAGGZ, ASL--- [ahem] asleep!

"SHOOT UP WITH ME!"

BODDY prepares antagonizer nectar

Vicious slips a grenade

BYE BYE BODDY BAGGZ

Cr4nk$haft

Rumbling with a Pool Cue

Blamhammer in Stealth Mode

Buck getting personal

Raiders getting pwned

Objective Complete

--------------------------------------

Notes: I hated the Cr4nk$haft part. Some of the messiest gaming of my 'career'. Glad it's over! On top of the actual fight (and Vicious got killed at least 3x) I had to deal with CTD after CTD. For some reason any time Cr4nky took a bullet the game would crash.

I think there will be five more episodes, maybe six. As the producer, director, and writer of this 'show' I'm way over budget. Spike TV should've canceled long ago, so it's good thing the lawyers were able to intervene.

This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 12 2024, 03:18 PM

[Lopov]

"MY NAME'S VICIOUS!"

"YOUR NAME'S SUPICIOUS??!"



Vicious actually brought BODDY down like a pro! I liked that touche with the grenade.

It looks like that with Cr4NK it didn't go that easy! I assume, that it must have been a chaotic situation, because there are lots of raiders in Evergreen Mills and if only a portion of them came to Cr4NK's aid, it was a difficult situation. He looks cool, BTW, good job with his appearance.

R.I.P. Barbra! At least she died, knowing that she was "sisters" with Taneesha.

No one expected that Buck Norris would die, of course. He doesn't even need an Essential status to survive.

[Acadian]

The two thugs/targets certainly look the part. And Vicious has a new doo!

With Vicious in the lead, the first target just about kills himself. Rather than finish the job with another dose of something lethal to complete the readymade ‘he died of an overdose’ picture, Vicious uses a grenade. Oh well, subtle for another time I guess.

Barbie’s in charge of the next hit. Oh, she went to the same school of subtlety as Vicious. WooHoo! Blamhammer time! Bullets are afraid of Buck, of course, but no such luck for Barbie. Bye Bye Barb Bee – just when she and Vicious were starting to get along.

[SubRosa]

Almost 94 hours of game time? I would have gotten burned out playing the same character for that long.

I love turning that super mutant behemoth loose and watching it tear apart the raiders.

Cr4nk$haft and BODDY-BAGGZ. Oi! Those names really evoke quite the image of their owners.

Buck Norris is a like a fortune cookie. He always has some bit of wisdom to impart.

I had fun playing the Ant-Agonizer with my character Dot. She did the quest with the Ant-Agonizer, and talked her out of being a supervillain. Then Dot took the suit and became the Ant-Agonizer herself, and became a superhero. She even had a random encounter with a kid who asked for her autograph.

She's doing the Shady Sands Shuffle on Baggz!

Well things with the Cr4nk turned out as I expected they would: with a shootout! But Barbie did not make it, this time permanently. No great loss. She was a real pain.

[Renee]

Pfft 90-something hours is nothing. I'm well over a thousand in Cho and Janet's games. Vicious's game is 'low' in hours because most of it is story which moves along slowly over these past 4 years. One thing at a time, rather than freeform gaming, with me sitting there gaming for up to 3 hours per session, doing mostly pre-written missions or random exploring.

Blamhammer time!

Yeah, the scene with Cr4nk$haft sucked. It was beyond chaotic.... it just plain was awful. Live and learn.

Vicious's hair is from Braided Redguard Hair

SubRosa is glad Barbie's gone, which means I must be doing something right! Most folks didn't like Sirdasa and Chamany in Laprima's game either. One thing which wouldn't be good is if an antagonist or grey character gets glossed over.

Acadian & Lopov seem to regard the turnaround Barb was going through. If Barb had lived, I'm not sure if she would've continued being amicable, or maybe gone back to the way she was.

Buck Norris though, he gets to do whatever he wants. As the Gospel of Thomas saying #7 explains: “Blessed is the lion that’s eaten by a human and then becomes human, but how awful for the human who’s eaten by a lion, and the lion becomes human.”

Of course, Didymos Judas never considered the wrath of Buck Norris. Norris would eat the human and the lion, and then 911 would call Norris, rather than the other way around.

He looks cool, BTW, good job with his appearance.

Thanks. Crank has the look of an American hick.

Whoa, Dot convinced her to NOT be a supervillain! Didn't know such a thing was possible. Yeah, the AntAgonizer quest was done by Cho in my gameworld. I really am glad I'd never been spoiled about that; i had no idea what was coming. She's a total comic book character.

I love turning that super mutant behemoth loose and watching it tear apart the raiders.

Believe me, I was tempted!

This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 19 2024, 05:34 PM

[Renee]

Episode 68: Pay Day

Date: Friday, October 5th

Location: east side of the Potomac


"Good evening everybody, everyone, every bot, man, woman, and radrat, this is Three Dog, owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, and you're listening to Galaxy News Radio, the radio station in direct competition with that other radio station, hosted by that other so-called jock who rambles political bull*ship* all day. Yeah... that guy. Rambling and prattling about baseball, and his supposed dog, and a bunch of nonsense which -- trust me -- sounds like prerecorded drivel. Well here at GNR, we only report what's current, what's relevant, what's pertinent.

"And now, some important newwwws.

"The horror who has for many years terrorized the Capital Wasteland known as Rattler, a former misguided brave from the Quonset tribe, has reportedly been killed. Do I hear sighs of relief from every corner of the C.W.? ... Rattler was known to have a fondness for torturing his victims, with his bare hands or with a knife, and then eating their remains right on the spot. Heart? Liver? Brains? All on the menu, folks, uchk!!! Trying not to ralph my lunch, here.

"It's unclear what exactly happened. Some slaves at Paradise Falls, all who were inadvertently freed by the way, say the Ratt man was killed by a Fat Man. Others claim Rattler, who'd become ghoulified at some point, killed himself. Either way, a Pip Boy® device found upon the former slaver's arm had its serial number traced to a former vault-dweller, from that mutiny-obsessed Vault 101.

"In other news, the residents of Big Town have lately been attacked by..."


Vicious turns the volume on her Pip Boy 2500® down. Three Dog's broadcast comes as a surprise to Buck and Vicious, as they trek their way back to Georgetown West. Sky is pleasant, the air is breezy.

"Man. Never a dull moment in the C.W.," Vicious says. "And no more Rattler."

"No more Rattler," Buck confirms.

"Which is too bad. Because now that I'm back out here, wish I could've had my chance to eliminate that slimy snake."

"If I wouldn't've toasted him first." Norris plucks his companion's shoulder. "Or maybe both of us, working together would roast him. Share in the takedown."

"That... would be positively delightful." Her eyes glaze for a moment at the thought, the way most of us would daydream a new home or a lover. "Yeah, we'd both make that *prick*weed pay. I'm down for that."

“Anytime you get two Wasteland legends together, it has to be a classic.”

"Uh-huh. Sounds like another one of your quips, Norris."

“It’s the bullies who are afraid," he answers. "Those are the ones that do all the fighting. It’s not the secure kids that get out there and fight. It’s the insecure kids.”

If anything, talking about the deceased cannibal takes her mind off of Barbra Bee. She'd been mulling the death of her fallen frenemy all day, while Norris seems to have moved on. Vicious reaches for her handheld device, and turns up the volume. Changes the channel from GNR to a new radio station, which'd recently popped onto the district's airwaves. This new station showcases music other than jazz or Big Band or traditional American.

"You think Rattler was insecure, huh? Lord, have mercy."

"Lord have mercy," Norris repeats. "Might I assume you are religious, Vicious?"

"Hey, call me Taneesha, okay? Or just Tan. But yes, I was raised Christian more or less, although I began having doubts by the time I was twelve."

She thinks she might expand upon her doctrinal history, telling him about the Jehovah's Witnesses and their expectations that a Second Armageddon was soon to befall those sinners who still walk the earth. But then she remembers all those doors, slammed in her family's faces as they tried to spread His Word to non-believers. Thinks maybe it'd be a bad idea to mention her former faith. Norris might think she's trying to convert him, even unintentionally.

But then she tells him, anyway. All of it. All the awful things which occurred during her first journey outside of Ellicott City.

“I am religious myself, and I understand your doubts," he says gruffly. "The Apostle Paul did what he had to do to spread the message of God. I realize that is what we must also do. Ultimately, we have to bite the bullet and overcome our shyness.”

"Umm."

“Let’s face it: so much of what we consume is not driven by knowledge, but by basic craving and impulse,” he reckons.

"Are you referring to Rattler? Well, let's just say I'm glad it's never been my craving or impulse, to eat anyone's heart, or their intestines, or..."

By now they've arrived at Dukov's Place, that homely whorehouse in which many debaucheries occur. They're not going into Dukov's, of course. The door to Tepid Sewer lies just beneath the flophouse, on its northern side. Buck Norris opens the door and as a gentleman, holds it for her. Taneesha walks inside, yet Norris does not follow. There's a 'look' upon his face.

"You're not coming?"

"'fraid not, Taneesha. I've been mostly a drifter these past few years, I believe my talents are going to be needed elsewhere."

"You're leaving?!"

"I’ve got a bulletin for you, Tan. I am no superman. I realize that nowadays, but I didn’t always.”

"Well dude, Norris, give me a hug at least."

Buck Norris allows this. The pair of mercs embrace. Taneesha then gives him all the caps she's got on her person, just under four-hundred pieces, before continuing to Georgetown.

--------------------------------------------------------

Back in Dogmaster's Suite, Miss Vicious returns. "Good work, soldier," the Dog and Cheese both congratulate. "Our scout confirms that *drek* Cr4nk$haft and his *kurba* accomplice BODDY BAGGZ have been terminated." Today the Dog is wearing another fly-looking suit, a pink one this time.

Despite her success at 'terminating' both 'targets', the assassin does not share their enthusiasm. Does not feel as though she deserves any accolades. "Hey, I did that only 'cause you two threatened my family, remember? Also, the mission wasn't all fun and games. One of your-all's soldiers didn't make it."

She pauses; their faces are blank. "Are you aware of what happened to Barb?"

"We are aware," Dogmaster answers.

He sips upon one of his Prewar wines, a bottle of Pennsylvania Chablis, Year 2035 (...crisp, acid-driven, with a lean minerality which hints towards citrus...) as though his fallen grunt is not to be commemorated with more than a casual mention.

"But that's not your prob, okay? That a part of it all. You get got? You get got. But you ain't gotten got," his face boxes forth like a schnauzer. "You made it back, as we knew you would. So... it's payday for you, Vicious."

"Whatever."

"I am business," Dog says, ignoring her nonchalance. "Nine-thousand Prewar bills have been delivered straight to your room in Rivet City. Which is for your convenience. 'Cause we wasn't sure if you wanted to live here or not."

The assassin is about to make a sarcastic reply, 'oh how thoughtful...', whatever, but Cheese chimes in first. "Each bill weighs about a gram," he says, placing a note upon a scale which sits on a nearby table (as if to prove his claim). "About zero-point-zero-four ounces each, as you can see. Altogether that'd equate to about twenty pounds if we add eight-thousand ninety-nine more. About nine kilograms."

"But it's not the weight we's concerned about, it's the bulk," Dog sets his glass aside. "Like I said, the money been delivered to Rivet City. It's in a suitcase. We made sure the Rudder's owner, Belle Bonnie, won't let anyone mess with it."

Vicious says nothing. Really, the money at this point is very secondary to her.

She and Norris had stopped in Megaton the day before, looking to unload the burden of loot they'd lifted from Evergreen's numerous dead bandits: dozens of ammo rounds, a small cache of non-addictive chems (such as Stimpaks and Mentats), and so on.

I'll buy whatever you're selling! Moira Brown, proprietor of Craterside Supply, chirped cheerfully.

Curious about the thousand Prewar bills she'd been prepaid pre-mission, Taneesha had exchanged a few bills for a few caps. And was surprised to discover that each bill equated to six bottle caps.

You know... I think I've found a new way to prepare radroach meat! Still tastes like old feet, though...

Which means Vicious has even more cash than she'd originally thought. Her prepayment to take out BODDY and Cr4nk had been a thousand bills, which (after exchange) equates to six-thousand caps. Add the money delivered to Rivet City, that's an additional fifty-four thousand. ... Which means Lamont Stamford was right: she has just become wealthy. Certainly one of the topmost affluent persons in the Capital Wasteland, for sure.

"That is also for you," Cheese points at a large contraption lying on the floor. "For your success at Evergreen Mills." It takes her moment to realize what the contraption is.

"A missile launcher?"

"All yours," Dog's number two seems proud.

"Um. What am I gonna do with a missile launcher? You expect me to lug that around?"

Before Cheese can answer, Dogmaster takes over. "Got another job," he announces. "Need you to take down another *D-bag*, okay?"

Vicious is about to protest; she is DONE being associated in any way with the Dog or any of his minions, especially after losing a comrade. She certainly does not need more money. ...But then she remembers: somewhere north, about forty miles or so, her Witness clan supposedly still thrives, thanks to her cooperation with these mongrels.

"Your next target goes by the name G. Zuss."

"Jesus?" Vicious almost laughs. "As in, our Lord Jesus Christ?"

"No, G. Zuss. Spelled capital G, followed by the letters Z. U. S. And S."

Vicious sighs. "And what is he, a prophet? A guru? You guys must know that I, myself, was raised religious. It'd be a sin, my participation. You ain't got anyone else to delegate this mission to?"

Dogmaster's ugly face somehow becomes even uglier. "Okay, first of all, you are in no position to refuse an order."

Wait, what did he just say? Vicious is about to turn vicious when....

"Second, G. Zuss ain't no guru. He's a slaver."

"A slaver?"

An eight-by-ten black and white glossy gets slapped upon a table, perhaps from the same camera used by whomever spied the Jehovah temple. The photo depicts a man wearing white robes, holding his hands to the sky. Standing behind him are several others, mostly women and children, all of them penned in what looks to be a cage.

"See that?"

Miss Vicious can't help but see. "Yeah."

"Normally, I wouldn't care, honestly. My trade involves mostly guns, money, and chems. But G. Zuss, that's the *pansy* wearing white, has one of my..." -- A surprise occurs as Dog's voice (for the moment) seems to choke. -- "He got one of my children."

"What the.... Wait. You have kids?"

"'course I got kids," the crime boss answers. "I take care-a my kids! And my son's the one sitting to the left," he points. "Right there."

Though the picture is a little blurry, Vicious can see the resemblance. The kid he's pointing to certainly could be related to Dogmaster; he's got the same wicked eyes and the same blocky chin. For a moment, Miss Vicious is baffled. If the boy is indeed the Dog's child, what does he call his father? For some reason she can't imagine the boy calling him 'dad'. Just thinking about that scenario causes yet another stifled laughing-attack.

But one thing's for sure, Vicious strongly disapproves of Wasteland slavery. And G. Zuss, standing before his captives so proudly, looks like one heck of a *male reproductive organ*, a *male reproductive organ* who needs to be taken down.

Vicious doesn't need any convincing. "Where do I sign?"

An hour later she leaves Dogmaster's lair, carrying the missile launcher along with all her other junk. "No way I'll ever use this. What on earth are they thinking?" Strange that Cheese and Dog would make such a fuss about delivering that suitcase all the way to Rivet City, but then reward such a cumbersome weapon.

Outside the guard house is a trash can. Vicious drops the launcher into the can, along with three missiles she'd been given.



--------------------------------

Rattler

Ghoulified Rattler

Norris and Vicious - (note they've ditched their raider armor)

Norris "retaliates" a centaur

"I am no superman..."

Pimpmaster

Cheese Head gives Vicious a missile launcher...

Which goes into the trash

--------------------------------------

Notes: 1). Acadian: there are two main radio stations in FO3. Galaxy News Radio (GNR) plays music from the Big Band era such as Billie Holiday and Roy Brown while Enclave Radio plays traditional instrumental tunes such as Yankee Doodle and America the Beautiful. The "new" radio station mentioned is a mod, of course. When Three Dog mentions Enclave being prerecorded this is (spoiler alert!) actually true. But I won't spoil exactly how.

2). Vicious did release the slaves of Evergreen from their outdoor pen. Two slaves were reluctant to go anywhere ("We'd just get killed in the Wasteland if we left...") while one of them fled. The guy who fled got quickly blown up by a frag mine.

This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 19 2024, 05:55 PM

[Acadian]

Rattler dead? Yeah, but can you believe it is true?

Religious Vicious? Neat how this reminded her it might be appropriate to have Buck call her Tan. And farewell to Buck it seems.

No surprise that Dogbutt would demand another job from Vicious. So, he wants her to free his puppy. Hmm, if she doesn’t want to just take him the fetch out right now, this could have possibilities. Dogmeat is holding those precious to Vicious ‘hostage’ as leverage. Clearly, his puppy is precious to Dogface. Once Vicious gets the puppy in her custody. . . see where I’m going with this?

’Strange that Cheese and Dog would make such a fuss about delivering that suitcase all the way to Rivet City, but then reward such a cumbersome weapon.’
- - True enough, this.

[SubRosa]

To convince the AntAgonizer to go to the Light Side you have to go to Hubris Comics first. There is a letter to the editor one of their office computers that you have to read, where someone gives a thoughtful critique on how the AntAgonizer (from the comics), is not really such a bad person after all, but shaped by events in her life. Then you need to pass a really high speech check when you confront her in her lair. If you succeed, she will give you her armor and knife, and go back to being a regular person in the Wasteland.

Which is kind of sad. I did not want her to stop being a super. Just stop being evil. But then again, I did like playing the good version of the AntAgonzier, superhero of the wasteland.

Love the live report about the death of the Rattler, the most nefarious fiend of the wasteland.

Well if they are talking about base cravings and impulses, Dukov's Place is quite on topic...

So it was time for Buck to Norris off into the sunset. It was a good thing he had no said he was going to retire sooner. If he had, then he would have been killed off by the writer early in the story, and his death used to drive the protagonist into fighting the villain...

No wonder they gave her a missile launcher, they want her to kill Jesus. This must be after he trashed the money lenders in the temple.

He's a slaver? Oh, so this is Supply Side Jesus then.

[Lopov]

The door to Tepid Sewer lies just beneath the flophouse, on its northern side. Buck Norris opens the door and as a gentleman, holds it for her.



Ladies first...to the sewers!