Andale. A picturesque town in the middle of nowhere. Two families, upholding the values of a long dead world, lived in the undamaged houses. They were too bright, too bubbly, too welcoming. It was all off.Ā
Standing in the kitchen for one of the families, whose names have long since left my mind, I tinkered with their radio. As I worked, I talked the men through the hows and whys of my actions. I just had to keep their attention for a little long. Cyrus would have the answers to what was really going on in this place before long.Ā
In my peripheral vision, I saw him emerge from the shed, lean against the wall, and loose all the contents of his stomach. Dogmeat followed immediately behind him, Standing guard at his feet. I didnāt know what heād seen. I knew I should have checked it out. He was still new to the wasteland. He didnāt know the kinds of monsters that hid behind smiles.Ā
One of the men said something, a comment on my talent for a woman. I finished fixing the radio.Ā
āIām terribly sorry to have stayed as long as I have. Me and my friend really must be going.ā I made a move for the door.Ā
Stopping dead as a gun was leveled at me.Ā
āListen stranger, I couldnāt help but notice your friend was poking around in Billās shed. Do you think he found what he was looking for in there.āĀ
āProbably, didnāt seem overly impressed with it-ā
āYouāre sick bastards.ā Cyrus finished my sentance as he walked into the house.Ā
The man with a gun, turned to Cyrus and leveled his gun at him. āIām disappointed in you stranger - so quick to judge us. Did you ever stop to think that I have a family to support here?ā The other man had drawn a weapon, aiming at me. ā āJudge not, lest ye be judgedā as the good book says. Honestly, how many people have you killed?ā He stepped forwards, āThe only differecne between us is that Iām bringing home bacon for my family.āĀ
Cyrus, with some vomit still around his mouth responded before his brain had kicked in. āBringing home the bacon? Those are people, not bacon! What the fuck?āĀ
My hand grasped the small pistol on my belt, this was going to get ugly.Ā
āHey, Iāll have none of that language in this house!āĀ
I almost laughed. āSeriously, Youāre talking about eating people here, our fucking language is the problem. What is wrong with you people?āĀ
āI donāt think I like your tone, young lady. Thereās nothing wrong with me, weāve lived this way for decades.āĀ
I caught Cyrusā eye. He nodded. We both knew this couldnāt continue. The wasteland was full of monsters, but this was disturbing. I gave a small nod back. Preparing for the fight at hand.Ā
āWe donāt care, Jack. You have to die. You and your sick little town.āĀ
āWell, I guess we know where our next meal is coming from -ā He didnāt finish his sentence. Cyrusā gun smoked.Ā
The next day, we had made it to Megaton with plans of repleishing our supplies when Butcher Pete began to play over the radio. Cyrus suddenly looked queasy and turned off his pipboy radio.Ā
āThat was too soon.ā he joked half heartedly.Ā
I smiled. He was right, but seeing him atleast attempt a joke was nice. Wasteland Justice was not a pretty thing. But those people had been deserving of it more than most.