The warship? Fuck it, it was sinking by now. Any crew not currently being eaten by Vorn were jumping ship...which may not have been the best of ideas, considering how many irradiated sea creatures their might've been. Let's just say some giant sharks would be glowing tonight. Still, they weren't doing enough damage to this thing, and Jack personally couldn't bring the heavy guns to bear on it for some reason. Or could he? He decided to make a call...
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And now, the full Frank VS Scott fight, in all its awesome glory.
At the speed he was dropping, it was hard for Frank to tell where exactly he hit. It was somewhere centered, though. He knew that, because the moon buggy flew apart around him as both he and the black powersuit were thrown into a tumble a marginal distance away from their personal goals, that being the rubble pile containing the MGB. FalloutScott tumbled farther because of the way the seat flew out and parts of the buggy were scattered forward-ish. The rocket engine was separated from its fuel source and both of those landed not too far from either of them. Scott's Rage-type spider drones were lighter and flung a bit farther, left and right of Scott's position as the two men got up with enough space in between them to be just inside normal speaking range. Scott looked back at what hit him, a custom-made Brotherhood Paladin who was also recovering from the crash. The black-with-yellow-highlights Enclave engineer was not pleased.
FalloutScott: Ack! Frank Rose, hell an' damnation to all things vehicular! I might've known!
"...You've heard of me?"
(Scott's Uber-Sledge, the nastier version of the super sledge, rested at his shoulder now.)
FalloutScott: Aye, I read the reports. Ya think you could leave maybe a wee tricycle intact in the wasteland, laddie?
"I despise tricycles. You learn to ride a bike by falling off it. training wheels are for chumps! Nobody gets through life Scott-free."
The Scott-man tilted his head now.
FalloutScott: Wait, YOU heard of ME?
Beat. What? Frank was confuzzled now. Somehow, they who wear powersuits can convey this to others with powersuits, at least.
"I've never heard of you."
[Perception]The man had highlights to his armor, like boob and schmuck. This man's were yellow as opposed to Boob's orange, and schmuck's blue.
"Are you affiliated with FalloutBoob and Schmuck perchance?"
FalloutScott: Oh, so ya go out callin' me by name with a proper look at me armor, and ya wonder who I work with! The name's Scotty McLaylen, Fallout Sector's top engineer in the Enclave, ya dafty! Yer Brotherhood's been away from the 'clave so long that you've forgotten simple obvious things!
"I never mentioned your name. Or if I did it was coincidental. You could be named "And" or "The" it's not my place to judge. My parents gave me the middle name "Danger" after all."
FalloutScott: Should've tried 'Vehicular Homicide' Rose. Seems ta' fit. Whaddya want, with yer fallin'-outta'-the-sky-and-hittin'-mah-ride, then?
"I interrupted a very important errand regarding a large robot to deal with you, so I'd appreciate it if you'd just comply and I could let you live."
"1. Are you responsible for the lunar robots?"
"1.5: If so, could you kindly shut it down?"
FalloutScott: It's funny ya mention errands, on account of the one I was gettin' to. So, to put simply, laddie: {1} Aye, I did that. {2} Learn ta' count, ya no-account roughneck. And {3}, not really. I didn't design them for shutdown. I designed 'em ta' be hell for whoever found 'em. Guessing that was your lot, after all. Ya really shouldn't ought to poke yer nose where it doesn't belong.
"Our nose belongs everywhere. I left Boob's crotch looking like a used bannana peel, do you really want to find out what I'll do to you?"
Frank had never seen a real bannana peel, but he'd seen them in cartoons. Scott's giving him a
WTF?! look now.
FalloutScott: Ya know, I may have a thick accent, lad, but even I'M having trouble with that one. Boob's crotch? Banana peel? What the fuck are you on?
"FalloutBoob. Orange highlighted armor? Speaks some Espanol? Has a massive dent in his crotch in the shape of my knee? Ringing any bells?"
FalloutScott: Oh, BOB! *Shrugs* He got better.
"I'll have to fix that."
Frank walked over to one of the robots, but of course the Enclave elite had something to say about that.
FalloutScott: I do the fixing 'round here.
Both of the four-legged spider-robots responded by firing on the custom Brotherhood man with AP ammo from miniguns. They had had MORE than enough time to right themselves after the impact and had been waiting on a signal from Scott to open fire. Scott, in the meantime, was dropping out two more and going for the rocket engine now, picking up the fuel source on the way. Frank went to kick down one of the robots and then take a flying leap at Scott, but he only thing he met was a well-placed Uber-Sledge to knock him away. Honestly, he has that hammer for a reason. For the record, an Uber-Sledge is an even-tougher hammer based on an older model Super Sledge with the old sonic gun technology to enhance the hits. Frank was homerunned. The three other drones continued to follow BoS member with gunfire as soon as he was out of the area around Scott, who now reached the rocket engine and appeared to be messing with it. Tinkering... From wherever Frank landed, there was an audible "Ow.", as his armor was raked with minigun fire. He leapt out to pogo-jump on the Scott's drones.
It's a'me, Frankio! Frank crunched spider-drones with his displacer feet, given the fact that such small and convenient minigun-using spiders couldn't be TOO well-armored and act as items in Scott's inventory. Their ammo and power supplies burst underfoot like impromptu mines, and then he went for Scott...who backed up with the rocket engine and fuel source configured in a way that couldn't be good for the receiving end. The man had changed the thrust power into fire-shooting power, and thus a high-powered flamethrower unit was fired at the oncoming Frank! How? Well, you see FalloutScott's main trait is [Miracle Worker], the man with the machine expertise. However...
[HEADING=3]
"HOBOKEN!!"[/HEADING]
Frank's plasma fist is made out of spiky plasma pistol parts. Still workable as a trio of plasma pistols, pointed into the interior of the rocket. Past the ignition, where it's full of flammable fuel. Well, kudos to Frank for detonating a large flamethrower device after charging right into the flames and then shoving a hand in there too while naming a city as his attack name. Yes, detonating. The device exploded and threw both of them across the landscape where they pick themselves up for the second time in only a few short moments. Both of their suits would be smoking from the burning, though it was a little less obvious of Scott's because his suit was ALWAYS black.
FalloutScott: Oh, so ya do equipment too? How's it that yer suit even works, ya gremlin?
"Take something that works, attach it to something else that works. It's my central design philosophy."
FalloutScott: Aye, and it's not bad at that, but what I don't get is how come you're still alive after making everything explode. Granted, this was just a wee explosion 'ere, but you get what I'm saying.
[Perception]That explosion had drawn some attention. Attention in the form of a vertibird with a brotherhood paintjob.
Well, that was probably a bad idea on their part. Given how many Enclave vertibirds have exploded in this RP, it makes sense that Scott would be able to whip out a Railspike Rifle and fire two shots at the engines of said vertibird, penetrating them and causing it to crash.
FalloutScott: This is a fight between men, lad. If you let your friends interfere, I'll sic the big man on the Citadel right here an' now. That's a promise.
"Big man?"
FalloutScott: Ah what'd ya THINK the top engineer was coming out here for? To get me suit waxed?
"Knowing that with certainty would require being aware of every event in the wastes. I'm brilliant, not omniscient. By the big man do you mean the building robot?"
FalloutScott: Aye, Metal Gear Box. Big marvelous killer robot. I see you've met.
"I was heading off to finish the job I started. Like most things, it will be done with a large explosion. Which piece of it will you send after the Citadel? The largest one that's no smaller than a baby's fist?"
FalloutScott: Oh, so it's an explosion ya be wantin'? I think I can accommodate, Mr. Smarty-Pants. I can't be havin' ya take on me favorite invention without him sayin' so.
Scott patched in his channel on radio and keyed in a startup system on his suit's wrist-comp. They weren't exceptionally close to the building rubble, but somewhere in there the MGB's startup sequence had begun. Frank, you've just been put on a time limit. Have fun!
Frank responded to this by basically rushing him. Granted, it was a jet-packing, displacer-feet-running, kind of a rush...but that was basically what it was. He decided to tackle FalloutScott.
[HEADING=3]
"GIANT SACKS PATRIOT!"[/HEADING]
Normally, when one sees a big running man in armor charging at them while said man is being loud as all hell, you would expect the target to merely sidestep and allow said battlecharger to fly on by rather comedically. However, Scott was not really a combat expert. He was an engineer. He brawled well enough and he could certainly shoot, but he was by no means an expert in this sort of field. He was hailed more for his technical expertise. So, after he was a bit distracted by his work, he looked up in confusion and said...
FalloutScott: Giant sack of wh-
CLANG!
This may be due to the two different mindsets, but the weird shouting Scott heard as he was hit thing didn't register as anything but garbled nonsense, so no sooner had he finished work than the heavyset black armor was hit and the two rolled as per tackle-plus-Newton rules. We'll waive the Captain Kirk fighting music and just bring you Scott whipping out one of his high-powered cutting torches to stick it in Frank's side and switch on. The green plasma flame of the precise cutter would be almost effective as the rose-cutter. He was also cussing a long string and ramming his powersuit knee into Frank's powersuit groin as long as they were this close. The tumble would stop with them both on the ground in this tussle.
[Unarmed] Muay Thai was the martial art of using eight limbs instead of the traditional four. The additional four striking parts came in the form of knees and elbows.
"TIGER KNEE!"
Frank's spur shot his bladed knee into Scott's crotch at phenomenal speeds. Ordiinarily, this would be horrifying to watch, except perhaps that this was the absolute-worst person to try and shove a bladed-knee into. Oh, Frank makes contact, but he doesn't get the oomph behind it. Scott's powersuit seemed rather tough, now that we think of it. Probably because he's an engineer and not a combat expert like Jack or the other Fallouts. It shouldn't be surprising that the man who heralded to be the top man of the machines down at the Enclave base would have an even tougher suit than the others, mechanically-speaking. Frank's leg was suddenly caught in a vice that is Scott's own legs. He's also being plasma-cut in the side as stated, which must've caused a breach by now. He has the moves, but Scott is a tank. Getting near the guy on the ground was a REALLY BAD IDEA. Scott now pulled back his unoccupied fist and attempted to force it into Frank's mask HARD to break it. Frank...chose to ignore this.
"If you're not left handed, you will be!"
Deciding instead to deal with the arm using the plasma cutter burning him instead, he improvised a cross-punch with his plasma-spiking hand at the elbow pit of Scott's occupied arm. It's a little awkward trying to do that in close proximity with plasma cutting through his suit and Scott aiming for his head, but Frank manages to score the hit and the flinch of the elbow points the plasma cutter more towards his armpit. Definitely hurt something there, though it hasn't met flesh yet. Of course, this is all academic when the lights go out.
SMASH!!
Huh? Yeah, remember how Brotherhood-type suits have that goggle-and-breather look? Well, they ARE made to filter out the wasteland's impurities, use vision filters via the gear attached to the helmet, and so on. Much as Frank was upgraded, those would have remained still. So, the suit's eyes and breather would still be kind of important as Scott gave them the poke of doom. Being an expert, and with his suit's strength besides, he could mess up the whole mask with ease. This is even despite the fact that the goggles are thick and - according to information - have a wire mesh behind the glass to reinforce it. Frank probably should have done similar to Scott, given that even on an
Enclave powersuit, the face has to be the weakest part of the whole machine,
especially the eyes. But unfortunately, Scott invoked Falcon Punch first and managed to separate himself from the now-blind Frank as there was this far-off rumble-ZAP sound... Yeah, it seems that Metal Gear Box was blasting its way out with its ray guns. Now, as the man picked up his dropped equipment and headed for the rubble, he received a sudden call... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSP_n_BIe0w]
FalloutScott: Yes, Jack!
-Scott, tell me you've got the Box back online.-
FalloutScott: Aye, he's having a fit gettin' free, but he's awake.
-What? Oh good. Patch me through to his command line-
FalloutScott: Aaand...done.
-Good. This is an executive order, authorization FalloutJack. Recognize voice-print and powersuit code. Unlock nuclear warhead capabilities now.-
WHAT?! Oh shit... The giant robot surfaced just enough now and - on Jack's orders - opened one of its compartments on the back-mounted rack. Then, a moment later, the tactical nuclear missle launched...out to somewhere at sea. Scotty watched this going on, though he had forgotten Frank for a moment. After all, Frank wasn't
dead or anything. He had only to either take off his helmet OR switch to his auxiliary scope, the one Brotherhood agents use to look over walls through their helmet's HUD to avoid headshots. Even still, it was a sight to see...if he could.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The missle launching would be noticed for miles around. It kind of had to be, since it was actually a lower-altitude strike. The Citadel would see it, as would anybody who didn't have a bunch of buildings in their way (so that actually leaves out the DC Ruins people). They saw it at the Empire of Dave, and so too would Doctor Bastion, the Uber-Mutant, who was King Konging his way around Old Onley while trying to deal with David Davidson.
"AN ENCLAVE NUCLEAR MISSLE?! YOU FINALLY DID IT! YOU BLEW IT UP, YOU BASTARDS!!!"
Neverminding that he didn't know what the hell the target even WAS, he was kind of distracted with his Charleton Heston impersionation and got sniped in the face from a window not three stories above him, causing him to lose his grip and fall. Yeah, that was gonna hurt. It wasn't Empire State enough, though, so the battle would continue...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dealing with Ferdinand was something that the boys in the BoS decided to hand off to Evan as the two of them discussed Ferd's apparent appearance there and his...weird comments. Don Quixote? Radiation super powers? What the hell was this guy on? Heh...that might've been the problem. Evan decided to test that theory, actually, and pulled out his own kit.
Evan: Listen, guy. I know the temptation to take those wild cocktails out there is strong, but you have to fight it. I should know. And
you should know the only 'super power' granted by irradiation to humans is ghoulification, which hasn't really been a boon to
them.
We don't even need to go into details on the amount of animal and plant life that's been affected by the rads. They were STILL analyzing that Scarecrow-thing he brought back... Evan decided to take a quick blood test of Ferd and find out with his- Okay, not with his Pip-Boy. William still had it...and he was gone. Well, there was still his computer. He did a quick test while Dudley was...talking in his sleep...and found no chems.
Evan: Well, you're clean, anyway. So! What can the Brotherhood of Steel do for a weirdo like you?
Just then, another Scribe - this one in uniform - ran in with an important message.
"The Enclave just launched a nuke!"
Evan: Oh, god no... Where? Where did it hit?
"That's the weird part. It went out to sea."
Evan: It...err...WHAT?!
Using his computer and the information of where the nuke came from, Evan punched up some numbers to determine flight path and, yes, it did indeed go out to sea. What the hell were they trying to hit? No, nevermind that... These people were dangerous. There was only one place that nuke could have come from, and that was the giant robot everybody saw. He turned to the big man again.
Evan: Say, Ferd. Wanna go capture an Enclave VIP?
Uh oh... He's got that devious look in his eye...
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The museum robots were no match for Talion and Laura. Unlike those two, these machines were improvised hell-makers for anyone they crossed. A normal human opponent would be in trouble, even in powerarmor. However, a frigging cyborg justice man was a bit more than that. He blasted away and either out-fought, out-tanked, or out-tactics'd the automations. When FalloutScott worked on these things, he didn't make 'em uber-advanced or anything. He made them shoot anything that wasn't one of them that moved and armed them up with equipment he'd killed off of super mutants. So, Talion made his way in deeper and found the pinned-down Brotherhood members, who were having trouble moving around because of a couple injured party members who - while they'd received field medical treatment - were slowed down from suit damage causing a fault in mobility. However, as the cyborg approached and didn't appear to be drawin its big gun on them, Edwards took advantage of the situation.
Edwards: Concentrate your fire NOW!
They fired at the robots, all of whom had taken immediate notice of Talion - big walking tank that he was - and reduced their numbers even as the big guy would fight them. They would shoot around him, just to make sure. Once the immediate fighting stopped, Edwards looked around. The Lunar Lander was out of sight, but he could hear it maybe a couple rooms away in a presentation hall or something. He ordered a cease-fire for the moment.
Edwards: Identify your bionic butt and don't spare me the details!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The Garys seemed to want Nicole to enter the Super Duper Mart with them. This was emphasized by the fact that the one calling her had handed her a...strange badge. It looked like a modified police officer's shield with the word "GARY!" burnt into it with a torch or something. Holy crap... They DID just make her their chief! Inside, there was some bustling about, as a number of Garys were setting up targets that looked like blue-haired females who wore red dresses. Among them all, a few very-confused characters who had stopped in here for a break. Of course, Nicole wouldn't know a damn thing about them, but they were the same people who had appeared from a glitched room somewhere north of the DC Ruins.
Jonesy (The Human Shaman), Coyote (The Cybered Elf), Speck (The Big Cyclops), and Joe Slayer (The Orc Shaman-Mix) were all sitting around a table, having previously been playing a few rounds of poker as they rested up at an improvised table. Nearby were three resting forms that looked like...large horned canines of some sort. Now, they were looking at all of this a bit weirdly. This world was strange, even to them!
Joe: The hell's going on?
Jonesy: Dunno. I'll ask. Hello? What's all the hub-bub?
"Gary!"
Jonesy: No no, Jonesy.
"Gary?"
Jonesy: Jonesy. Jo-Nes-Y.
Speck: Yer talkin' a different language, fella.
Jonesy: I'm gonna try something different.
He seemed to concentrate just then - his eyes going distant for a moment - and then return to normal after a few moment.
Coyote: Well? What'd you see?
Joe: Any easier than the dragon?
Jonesy: Yes, alot. They're clones, and they're at war with another batch of clones, the Garys against the Sylphys. And apparently...they've elected that woman their new leader.
Joe: Don't get any funny ideas, chummer. We're in deep enough as is.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
While a Walrex is not exactly the fastest critter on land, it could be said that any sea creature willing to flop around on land to get at their prey was a tenacious bastard indeed. That is precisely why Crawver Senior, Dr. Crawver's biological father, was still on their trail even after they were on the retreat. He was an animal, a crazed irradiated killer, and he had stamina like you wouldn't believe. Some of this might've actually been Dr. Bastion's fault, but we'll never know, as Bastion is out playing the Fallout version of Rampage. Anyone who was left behind would find themselves stomped flat under its floppy weight or gored by those huge damn tusks. Thus, did the trials and tribulations of Abraham and Dr. Crawver - and their followers - continue under the ire of the Cult of the Great Wet Ones.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At last! Marlon and Danielle were in Rivet City and on their way to see Morgan Bloom, the Gentleman Ghoul. They were inside when the nuke went flying, though, so it was the ship's comm-tower that caught the news. That would soon filter down into the rest of the city. It was a sign of something ominous. However, there was one piece of information that Rivet City could gather that nobody else at the moment could. With an unobscured view of the sea and a really good telescope, they could see that out there was...some kind of ship or something. They were firing on something out in the ocean. An enemy? Rivet City called that one in to GNR, and the BoS lady and the Van Graff would soon hear...
"This is Threee Dog! Aaaaaaaooooooo!! Coming to you with an important news flash, children! It has been reported that a nuclear missle has been fired out to sea, presumably by the Enclave. Reasons why ARE sketchy, but one source indicates that there is - or should I say WAS - an unknown vessel out on the waters. Now, who could the boys in black be firing on that needs one of THOSE things? More news as it develops. And now...music!"
It was only matter of time before a couple of men who bore the 'GG' symbol of Bloom came up to Danielle and Marlon.
"We were told you were planning to see Mr. Bloom on some sort of business. He's on the bridge right now. Follow us when you've settled afairs here."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
With the coming and going of Charlie Cannon, things in Megaton began to calm down, thus allowing Larry to get to work on his designs. The Thorns of Rose had gone and stocked the young traveller wanting to join the Brotherhood up with some gear and he was already on his way. the shack he stopped off at was not, however, out of ranger of the Megaton spotters. This is important because after he had decided to rest up there, something weird and troubling happened. It started with the sight of something
large-ish - big and muscular - moving around, possibly a super or a
duper mutant. And then, the music started...
The spotter called down say there was some weird mutation out there, wreaking havoc! The first that Charlie would know of it was, of course, the music, followed by the at-first muffled tones of an Elvis-like voice going
"Whoa...MOMMA!" as a car was thrown at the top-half of the shack, taking out the roof and part of the wall! What was it? It was this big muscular mutated blonde-haired guy in sunglasses, a black shirt, and blue jeans! It faced him and let out a loud shout of-
"Hey, kid! Gimme a dollar!"
-and charged!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Time passed for Alice after she went to sleep. Time passed and things moved on. She might've heard - at some point - an Elvis Presley song wander by outside along with some heavy stomping, but it didn't involve her, so no worries. She was allowed to sleep, properly, rest her eyes without disturbance...for a while. It was hours later when there was a...hissing down. Didn't sound normal. It wasn't snakes and it wasn't those freaks from back west that were lupine reptiles either. It was something else, something different... There were footsteps outside, and also...orange flashes of light as a spitting sound was heard. Was that a fire or something else? The first she could see of it was just barely through an old window, a humanoid form with a fat-and-round head and a pointy hat. It looked like a Scarecrow [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrNoMUQsgDw], made more obvious that the hissing down coincided with an orange blaze where the face lit up like a jack-o-lantern! These things had been reported by GNR before, strange walking plant-things! There must be a bunch outside...and some of them want IN.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes, it seemed that after a day of really hectic and trying stuff for Team Lucy to deal with, there was once more a weird issue to deal with. What was it? Well, after a brief tussle in the dark, Sylph had revealed the presence of a...of a... God, I don't even want to say it: A SYLPH CLONE!! Yes, that's right, a clone of Sylph, known pretty much as a 'Sylphy' because of its insistance in using only that word as a means of speech. It was, therefore, the Sylph-equivalent of a Gary... Dear lord in heaven, what did that mean for the bus-launcher?! Well, we'll find out soon enough, because just then...the sniper from before came and asked Constance to follow her. How strange... Well, we'll leave these guys to handle this and move over there! After all, Talon Company isn't coming just yet, right? Uhh...right?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Someone tapped on Constance's shoulder from behind. She would find that it was the sniper from before, who was kind of looking from the Sylphy scene to her right now. She spoke with a Texan accent.
"Say, could I borrow you for a moment?"
Constance was standing with her Shotgun in hand and finger on the trigger, ready to blast a sizable hole in the chest of the strange... new comer... that appeared like an exact twin of the poly-persona-possessing Sylph, this one possessing what could be described in polite company as a rather acute speech impediment.
"I... um... sure." The American Enclave Scout of America said exuded Constance's desire to throw her hands up to the skies before fleeing as far as possible from this Herd of Carnies before falling behind the strange sniper with the Texan accent. Whatever the Sniper had in store for Constance, it could not have been as surprising as what had just unfolded in front of her.
The sniper led her to a different building that was in only somewhat better shape than the last that she'd been seen sniping from. They had to leg it through a window on account of the blocked doorway.
"I happened to notice you've got these ears like radar dishes and I thought 'Well, that'll come in handy with the thingy that's launching the raiders around. Figure I get an idea of what's going on over there before I even get in eyeshot of it. Safer, ya get my drift?"
They were going up, up, up...to the roof for the best vantage points. Scout Sorrowfeld was hit with a sudden bout of paranoia at the Strange Sniper's comment regarding her ears. To most people, Constance's cat ears appeared to be adornments mounted on top of her head and yet, the Strange Sniper knew that Constance used her ears to see. The paranoia was quickly brushed to the side however when Constance remembered the accuracy that the Sniper had displayed earlier, a display that revealed that the Sniper was keenly observant of her surroundings. Besides, the Texan Sniper's idea was sound, even though the American Enclave Scout of America already knew what it was that was launching the Raiders and Scavengers skyward, Constance had no idea what was causing this mass die off.
"That was quite the shooting exhibition." The Scoutish Cat-Girl commented as they reached a landing and hopped over a broken gap in the stairs. Truth be told, Constance was quite impressed by the Strange Sniper and would have ranked her third in Constance's list of best Sniper's ever, behind Miss Natsuki Manriki and her Father, Mister Cornelius Jack.
"And that was some damn decent athletics earlier."
Yeah, the sniper had seen her doing THAT before, which was kind of hard to miss when you think about it. They were a number of stories off of the ground when they came up to the roof, high enough that Lucy would've had to use her scope to get details, which would've been hard from the ground unless they were closer to the edge. The sniper looked at the ruined surroundings of the area now, then seemed to decide on something before turning to Constance.
"Before we get down to brass tacks, I wanna make sure of somethin'."
And at this, Constance could see a smirk developing now as the sniper dropped the fake accent.
"Aren't you #411's kid?"
THAT VOICE! WHERE HAS SHE HEARD THAT VOICE BEFORE?
A thought had passed through Constance's mind regarding what could have and could not have surprised her more than what had transpired with the Clown College that was roosting in the small Camp that American Enclave Scout of America Constance Sorrowfeld had built far below her and the Sniper's current position. She was sorely mistaken. The statement had been made as Constance stepped onto the rooftop and had so preoccupied her mind within that moment that her right foot made as if it was about to mount another step and for one horrible second, the Cat-Eared Scout thought she might plant her foot through the exposed and rotted boards of the roof. Stumbling forward, the Scout quickly regained her composure as she realized a number of things. First, the Texan Sniper had been aware of the function of Constance's Cat-Ears. Second, the Sniper had intimate knowledge of the Enclave roster, specifically the numerical designation of her mother. Thirdly, the voice...
"Y... Yo... I... You.... I... can't... I can't ... be... bel... believe... oh... my..." Constance stammered as she beheld Miss Natsuki Manriki standing right in front of her. The wide-brim hat and visor were removed to reveal the horned, pink-haired and lavender-eyed appearance of the Diclonius same. Of course, color was a serious issue for Constance, but she would have no doubt to the identity even if she somehow forgot a face or a now-non-Texan voice, as the two removed items were being held by vectors, which she COULD see.
Natsuki: Sorry about the subterfuge, cadet. Low profiles and all that. I'm keeping an eye on this madhouse and it's good to have a little cover, I think you'd agree.
She waited for Constance to recover now. It took a serious moment for Constance to stop doing her best spastic imitation in front of the most legendary member of the Enclave ever but it was not like the young girl could help it. Firstly, Miss Natsuki was an example of what people like Constance could achieve despite their limitations, though Constance was wrong since Miss Natsuki had full control of her vision. Secondly, Miss Living Legend Natsuki knew of Constance, even if it was not by name.
"S...Sorry." The Young Enclave Scout dressed in a Brotherhood of Swine uniform apologized after regaining her composure,
"Yes, Miss Natsuki, ma'am, a little cover is definitely a good thing."
"No need to apologize, Miss Natsuki, ma'am." Constance added before looking into the distance towards the location of her transport and the source of the flying Raiders. She was not trying to be rude but getting on task was the one thing that kept her from making a display of herself by worshipping the very ground that Miss Natsuki Manriki stood upon.
"I'm sure you're already well aware that the source of the flying Raiders is the American Encalve Scouts of America's Short Bus Transport, Miss Natsuki, ma'am," The Cat-Eared Scout said as she focused her "vision" on the bus, a process that involved her cat-ears reconfiguring themselves to focus the radio and sonic waves they emitted into a narrower area.
In the distance, Constance saw not only her Transport, but she saw a madhouse of a different kind. It seemed that the Doppel-Sylph was not alone. There was an army of them surrounding the Short Bus. A horde of Sylphys. Focused in as she was, the young scout could see that some of the Sylphys were on the ground, bowing and worshipping the Short Black Enclave Bus while others were carrying captive and stuggling Raiders high above their heads towards the Bus' Driver's seat, where they would be placed and launched into the sky.
"Oh my." Scout Sorrowfeld muttered as she watched another Raider being flung high into the sky. Natsuki was now using the visor she'd had on before - in fact, a compact version of the Enclave powersuit HUD - to look up #411's statistics, because while she knew the woman's real name - Charlotte Sorrowfield - she only recognized this particular Enclave Scout because she had certain identifying characteristics. She'd just gotten it when Constance began to talk about the short bus.
Natsuki: Actually, I wasn't lying about wanting an idea of what's going on before getting into view of it. I spotted you and knew immediately what your implants could do in these circumstances, which pretty much leads us to the here and now. That said...
She gave Constance a Look. You know the kind. It said 'Pay attention here'.
Natsuki: Drop the 'miss' and 'ma'am', alright? It's either 'Natsuki' or 'Lieutenant', the latter especially when in polite company.
And with that, the Look vanished and she was back to business as usual.
Natsuki: Anyway, if that's one of our vehicles and people are getting launched...
As if on a cue, there be flying raiders, once more.
Natsuki: ...then that means it's a hydraulic ejection system being way misused. You got a fix on who's doing it?
The Sorrowfeld Scout was quite enamored by the fact that Miss Natsuki Manriki was actually asking for Constance's help. Finally there was something that Constance could scratch off her bucket list, though she would have been quite happy if Miss Natsuki had asked her for a cup of coffee. Constance was so ecstatic about the situation that she only felt mildly embarrassed by the "Pay Attention Here" expression that Miss Natsuki gave her.
"Yes Miss... I mean Lieutenant Natsuki." The Scout responded professionally as if trying very very hard to make a good impression with her idol,
"You remember the second Sylph that entered the camp before we left? It doesn't look like she's the only one. There're a good number of them surrounding the Transport and loading Raiders onto the ejection system."
Scanning the surrounding area, The Young Sorrowfeld noted a makeshift pen that held a number of Raiders as well as Vault Dwellers... each of whom looked identical.
"There's a group of others... um... worshipping the transport."
She nodded at the mention of the second Sylph, the 'Sylphy'. That put a rather uncomfortable feeling in the Diclonius' mind, as it sounded a bit too familiar to her. As an operative of the Enclave, she of course knew what the local Vaults contained, as a rule. When Constance reported the worship of the bus, Natsuki was somewhat surprised, but then when she mentioned other worshippers...
Natsuki: I have a bad feeling I know what's going on, but I scarcely want to put it to words, only that I know for a fact that Vault 108 has an out-of-control cloning machine.
She now put back on her disguise, as well as her fake accent, which she picked up from her father when he was talking about the initial Lobo incident.
Natsuki: Well, let's saddle up and move on out!
She began to head back downstairs and get around to the area of the bus...
------------------------------
The trek to the site of the Enclave transport was relatively short as Natsuki and Constance were able to keep their presence secret from the local Super Mutant Populace, not that they had to worry as many had been chased off by the Blue Haired Devils that had taken up residence around the Enclave Short Bus. While most people who lived in the Wastelands would hesitate to move about the skeletal remains of the the once thriving District of Columbia, neither the full fledged member of the Enclave nor the Enclave wannabe had issue traversing the rough and uneven terrain.
"How are there so many of them and why, of all things, did it have to be that Sylph girl?" The American Enclave Scout of America asked her superior officer and idol as they walked, closing in on what sounded like chanting.
"Syl-phy! Syl-phy! Syl-phy!"
Not that they really needed stealth. You know Natsuki. See a mutant, slash it up. However, the distinct LACK of super mutants was almost as bad as their presence, especially as the chanting came into range. Natsuki answered Constance's question in full now.
Natsuki: Well, it seems that the people of Vault 108 developed - of all things - a cloning machine, one which seemed to produce nothing but a bunch of guys named Gary would could only SAY 'Gary'. What went wrong, we may never know, but the whole Vault was overrun and the people were either killed or fled to the wasteland. Then, at some point, I think the machine overloaded and Garys began to surge out into the wasteland en masse.
That pretty much brought us to current events, minus the Sylphys. Natsuki only had one theory on that front, though.
Natsuki: Someone must've reprogrammed the machine with her DNA.
Constance frowned in the darkness as she moved to a higher position to get her bearings relative to the chanting and to see if there were any of the Crimson Chanters near enough to pose a threat. Despite Enclave scout's opinion that Sylph was about as stable as a bramin missing its two right legs, she had noticed the signs of a recent skirmish back at the camp...which brough up another interesting question.
"If you don't mind me asking, Lieutenant Natsuki, what's the importance of the group back there that you were sent to monitor them. If you'll excuse this American Enclave Scout of America's opinion, it seems like wasted resources when your talents could put to good use elsewhere." The Young Cat-eared girl said, letting a bit of her Natsuki fangrrl out. Keeping her head behind cover, Constance checked the surrounding areas, allowing only her ears to be exposed.
"I mean I did see that Lucy woman's weapon was of Enclave design... is she a deserter?" Scout Sorrowfield asked, satisfied that none of the Blue Haired Devil Girls were near.
The Diclonius was stealing quick glances with the visor she had with her when the Scout asked her about business.
Natsuki: Well, I'll tell you, scout, but it IS confidential. Lucy Black is one of our unwitting Assets. She may think she's a rebel, but in reality she and her friends are going to lead us to the Enclave Underground, who are basically remnants of the old guard that didn't want to follow Number One.
Oop! There was a Sylphy doing cartwheels into a wall.
Natsuki: We have a friend of hers and we have it on good authority that her mother's penned up with the EU, so that and William's bomb collar is going to draw her inexorably towards each other. Of course, that's going to take a while and I needed to stretch my legs, so I thought I'd see what happened to them in the meantime while Talon Company's heading in and the Brotherhood thinks Lucy's a traitor to their cause.
The Diclonius was snickering just a little at this. Constance felt more than a bit honored that the revered Miss Natsuki Manriki (ma'am) had confided in the Scout with Classified information, the sensation caused the Cat-Eared Scout to swoon on her feet a bit, almost causing her to topple over were it not for the fact that Constance was keenly aware of her proximity to her childhood heroine. Catching herself, Scout Sorrowfeld twirled her left ear over to Natsuki to make sure that she had not noticed the Scout's sudden lack of balance and battle again weak knees. Constance was a member of the American Enclave Scouts of America and her professionalism would be maintained, with or without the cooperation of her knees.
"I can't believe that there were people foolish enough not to follow Number One." The Scout said quickly, her mind unable to think of anything else to say as her ears caught sight of a trio of Sylphys playing Double dutch. The closer they got to the Sylphy Camp, the stranger things were bound to become.
As if summoned by the though, Constance found herself face to face with a Sylphy that dangled upside down from an exposed pipe attached to the ruined ceiling above herself and Lieutenant Natsuki.
"Sylphy?"
*CRACK!!!*
A vicious right hook from Constance sent the Sylphy tumbling to the ground but not before letting out a yelp of pain.
"SYLPHY!!"
Standing still, Constance hoped that the cry had not brought them any unwanted attention.
Natsuki: Yeah, you'd think after faulty presidents and crazy computers, they'd listen to a guy who can organize.
For the record, no, Natsuki didn't notice Constance fangirling around her. Too busy watching these Sylphys. Her vectors would be on standby, just in case. And yet, it was the Enclave catgirl who whacked the first target, causing it to tumble and yell out. However...if any of the others were paying close attention, it wasn't obvious. These girls were rough-housing and making noise all over the place. The Double Dutch ones were suddenly breaking out in 'London Bridges Falling Down', replacing the words with 'Sylphy'. Natsuki decided to try something. She picked up the downed Sylphy with her vectors and put her on her feet, then - with a shrug - spoke to her.
Natsuki: Uhhh...Sylphy-Sylphy?
Complete shot in the dark. NO IDEA how it was gonna turn out. Whatever Natsuki said, it seemed to have an effect on the entire populace of Sylphys as the sound of what could have been hundreds or thousands of chattering, jabbering mouths suddenly went quiet enough that you could hear a nearby bloatfly recite the bloatfly pledge of allegiance.
"I pledge allegiance to the Queen and her entire state of Bloatiness and to the kingdom for which she stands, one kingdom under her bloatiness, indivisible with garbage and filth for all"
The silence did not, hoever, last forever as there was a sudden uproar of Sylphys at their voices rose up as one and the two Enclave members found themselves surrounded on all sides by a sea of Sylphys that looked ready to rip the two apart limb from limb.
"SYl-PHY! SYL-PHY! SYL-PHY!"
Well, Natsuki's first foray into the language of the Sylphy was a flop. For all she knew, she had just told them what her hovercraft was full of eels. Distinctly possible, but not proper conversation by any means. In no time, they were surrounded by Sylphys and one Bloat Fly who strangely knew how to speak english. Natsuki was about to go to work when Constance asked her not to.
"Wait. Don't attack them." Constance said suddenly as she listened intently to the chanting. Underneath the seemingly simplistic vocalulary was something else... words spoken in harmonics.
"Put them in the bus! Put them in the bus! Put them in the bus!" The Sylphys were chanting.
Natsuki: Wait, don't tell me. You actually understand them, don't you?
This, she picked up from both the look of intense concentration on the girl's face...as well as some of her father's ability to break the fourth wall.
Natsuki: Well, if I'm not killing anyone, you'd better make a diplomacy check and fast.
"Well, I kind of understand them." Constance admitted.
"Put them in the bus!" was obviously an over simplification of what the Sylphys were saying as they had the same tendency as the original Sylphee to personify and over describe any and every object that was mentioned in a simple comment. That being stated, the Scout was able to determine through body language that the Sylphys wanted her to get in the Enclave Transport... namely they pointed towards the Short Bus.
"[Alright! I'm going I'm going]" The Scout said in Sylphyan before heading towards the Black Armored Enclave Transport knowing that nothing was going to happen to her due to the pneumatic ejection security system The Sylphys were another issue entirely.
"Miss Natsuki, ma'am, if something happens to me, use the distraction to get out of here and say hi to my mom. It's been a while since I've seen her." The scout said as she got on the bus and sat in the driver's seat. Natsuki expected the scout to put that newfound ability to good use. However, as the girl headed over, what she said struck the Diclonius rather hard. Natsuki may be a career soldier, but she was not without a soft-spot. Constance's words were touching and also kind of sad. It made Natsuki think of her own mother. Not the human one, the Diclonius, Lucy. She did not speak as the catgirl was taken to the bus, only nodded.
Code:
"Enclave Pneumatic Ejection Security System online. Scanning Subject. Subject is female. Disabling Security System."
The Bus chimed as the engine started. Looking out the door, Scout Sorrowfeld saw the seething mass of Sylphys with their sky blue eyes staring at her. Nothing happened, of course. The short bus was hers, and it soon recognized its owner, disabling the security system. The Sylphys were in awe... Natsuki smiled and parted the crowd to approach the bus herself as Constance inquired what to do next.
"Okay... now what?"
Natsuki: you know, Constance, I think you have some definite talent. I'm thinking 'The Girl Who Would Be King' of the Sylphys, for openers. You game?
Oh, but that was quite a mischievous grin...
"King of the Sylphys?" The phrase was a bit of a shock since she found the original, let alone her many clones, to be terrifyingly unpredictable... who knew if she could be relied upon for anything other than distraction in a battle scenario. These Sylphys, while perhaps having enough intelligence to walk upright... most of the time... would be useless for tasks that required abstract thought. Perhaps she could send them to the town of Minefield for mine clearing duty... the old fashioned way. Constance was being rude, the Scout finally realized as she turned to Natsuki. There was a grin on the Diclonius' face that seemed to tell the younger girl that everything was going to be alright and not to worry. Smiling weakly, Constance finally nodded.
"I'm up for it. Us American Enclave Scouts of America are always prepared for anything."
Famous last words, Constance my dear.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Vorn did not appreciate the nuke to the face. When the strange helicopters - Familiar too! - bore down on him, they were not so bad. They were hurting, but he was gaining strength and stability. The devoured lives and the energy supped from their very cores were good nourishment. It was only when the choppers left and the missle came that things went a bit out of control. The missle was fast, but not fast enough. Vorn wanted to knock it out of the sky and absorb its energy as well. Alas, it could not be done. Upon geyser-spitting at it to halt its progress, the thing triggered and a massive explosion would light up the waters east of the Capital Wasteland. Surviving Red Army Ghouls would find themselves stranded as their ship and - seemingly - the monster blew up.
However...Vorn did not expire.
The ritual had allowed him to push against the dimensions, project more and more of his essence into the world, and that had been the unstable and incomplete Vorn. The nuclear warhead was more than enough to silence it, but it means that he was displaced back to the place of power, to hang as a perpetual horrid-and-squid-faced stormcloud over the cult's home base, the Dunwich Building...
"ALL HAIL VORN!! ALL HAIL VORN!! ALL HAIL VORN!!"