I woke up to the foggy sounds of gunshots. Not exactly the alarm clock I was used to, but effective, all the same.
Had to move quick, so I did. Those scorched sons of bitches were crawling all over the train yard - decisively more difficult to attack them when you’re alone and there’s four of them. I see now why that pretty stranger brought me along.
Found a pub on my way out, skeletons seated around a table, frozen in time. I hope whatever they were eating was good (though, by looking at the happy hour menu, it’s doubtful). The kitchen was disappointingly empty, besides some sugar and spices. It would have been too much to hope that there would be actual food waiting for me. Though, I did find a shotgun and a handful of ammo behind the counter. Surprised no one else found it before me, what with the kitchen picked clean like it was. I’ll have to practice aiming with it later.
Followed the road back towards the Overseer’s C.A.M.P. Had to abandon the road halfway there - protectrons and huge, lumbering mutant giants with far more weapons than me were using it, too. Quiet feet took me around and away, back past Slocum Joe’s and into the warm embrace of the Overseer’s little “slice of home”. (I am sorry she left it, but glad all at once).
Unrelated: boiling water is an awful practice. You can feel the rads burning you every time you scoop up dirty water from the river. Still, it’s necessary. It’s easy to get so damn thirsty out here. The air is just so -dry-.
I’d kill for a water fountain or a humidifier.
The road to the Flatwoods was dotted with a few mutated dogs and mole rats. Does every creature out here look like their skin has melted? How close was the nuke to us? Or did they migrate over here? I don’t like thinking about it.
Regardless. The town was empty, other than some more of those burned ghouls (I’m already getting better with my machete). Overseer left another holotape, this one insisting that we find the “Responders”, a group of volunteers trying to help survivors of the Great War that were stationed there. It’s eerie that all that’s left are corpses and echoes of their lives on holotape.
I sat and listened to each and every one twice.
I think I liked Kesha the most. She had such a kind voice, with the sort of gravely tone that comes with just enough age and experience. Wisdom and warmth.
I brought her body inside the church with the others, draped a stained tarp over them. (I’ll give them all a proper burial when I have the Overseer with me).
The training proved helpful - I gathered some recipes and plans, more weapons and ammo, some junk that I can scrap for materials. Also got one of those jumpsuits that pretty girl from yesterday was wearing. Maybe she was one of the original group (though, looking at the state of the corpses that are left, I find that unlikely).
Volunteer access proved helpful in the terminal - looks like their main HQ was at the airport, which was getting overrun by enemies. After one more go-over of the area and I made my way back to her C.A.M.P. Boiled more water and worked on scraping my junk. I think I’ve almost got enough to make a small settlement of my own.
I’ll give that a try tomorrow. For now, I’m going to see if I can make “Appalachilli” with canned dog food. Mother, if only you could see me now.
