Fallout: The meaning of Zen
Chapter 1
A Day in the Wastes'
Monday 8:49 PM
*Shit! Shit! Shit! Of all the ways I could have been killed, murdered, and maimed. I'm about to get my throat slit by a 14 year old girl. Now I know this is the wasteland and learning how to fight is important at an early age, but for her to be better than me! I know I am only just above five feet tall and skinny as a twig, with long enough hair to make me look like a girl but I just turned 18 and now this happens' Fuck my life in fact, Fuck this day. That life flashing before my eyes deal hasn't started yet but at least I can relive the crap I went through today before I die O joy*.
Monday 6:45 am
Another day another trip through the waste, I guess it's my birthday too. Happy birthday to Zen, Happy birthday to Zen…. Happy birthday to me. God I don't feel like moving but I only have 100 caps to my name and food is not gonna buy itself. Out the Door I go…ugh, that's strange I could have sworn I had pants on when I fell asleep and the rest of my clothes…which I can't find. O no Please let this be a dream (I know it's not but hey it's either denial or rage.) Since my would be robber has seen to relieve me of my 9mm pistol and the 100 caps…fuck. Well no use staying in here might as well find some new clothes before sun comes up, the Mojave sun would fry me. (I exit the build to find my stolen clothes outside.) Well I'll be damned I guess being two sizes smaller to every full grown adult has its advantages (I put on my brown strap boots, T-shirt, and brown pants.) I guess it would have been too much to ask for the caps to still be in the pocket and my gun to, but how the hell did they steal my clothes off me.
7:30 am
"Go to Vegas they said", "easy money" they said, slept like a common junkie and get robbed. Guess it could have been worse I could be roaming around naked or you know gotten killed, I heard there was a sandman or something killing people in their sleep. Well these things happen when you're stuck in free side…shit, ever since the NCR took over, one would think that the Mojave would be better. It's been two years since their war and so far jack shit has been done and the strip is still closed unless you have a set number of caps fuckers. Well I might as well find some work; bars usually have some type of odd job.
8:16 am
"Hungry, Thirst, Horny the Atomic Wrangler has all your needs." I heard a woman yell on a street Atomic Wrangler eh? I walk in to fine some delightful jazz playing in the background, as I look around I see a strange sight. A ghoul in black leather and a cowboy hat as I approach she says" Howdy looking's free but touching gonna cost ya" I knew at that moment this is probably not the place I should be looking for work. Unfortunately this would seem to be the only place that would receive enough to actually pay somebody for work…shit. Sorry madam but was just stunned seeing a ghoul look amazing while in that outfit. "Yea it does show off the good bits, The name is Beatrix Russell, if you're looking for a good time with a ghoul or in the mood for something usual for the low price of 50 caps I'm all yours" (Ok first things first ew, and second I kinda wonder what it would feel like, maybe I'll put it on my to do before I die list, wayyyyyy at the bottom. I'll be damned if my first time is with a ghoul.) I'm sorry madam but I am just looking for the managers of this place to see if they have any work. "Ha work, you better get use to talking up clients" Right, well it never hurts to keep your options open. So can you tell me who runs the place. "That would be the Garret twins over there attending the bar, talk to James he's the one who gives out the odd jobs." Thank you. "Don't mention it sweetie"
9:00 am
"Hey what can I get for you" Yes, I was wondering if you had any odd jobs that you need done. "Sorry I got nothing" Really nothing, no jobs what so ever. "Now that you mention it there's a shop in free side called Mick and Ralphs they have an upgrade for my-I mean our robot if you can get it for me I'll pay you 25 caps." (Well its better than nothing) 25 for the delivery of precious software well I guess I am just being paid for delivery not protection. "What fine another 25 if it gets here safe" Deal, "Good their store is buy the East Freeside gate can't miss em." Easy money just how I like it *rumble* damn getting hungry I'll make this quick.
9:30 am
Mick and Ralph's I hope their real names aren't Jim and Bob, this place was harder to find then I thought I wish I had a map of free side or something. "Welcome to Mick and Ralph's am Ralph what can I do for you" Yes I'm here for a robot upgrade " I see even after two years he still can't admit it." Admit what? "O nothing listen I have good news and bad news, the good news is I have the upgrade, the bad news is I don't with me." (Face palm) so where is it. "The Allied technologies building" Why couldn't you get it? "Well you see its full of Rad Roaches hate the things so it stays there, the buildings are to the south a ways if your still up to fetching it" You wouldn't happen to have a weapon I could burrow. "Sorry no burrowing weapons here you pay caps like everyone else." Come on I don't have a weapon and the longer you wait, the more distrusting Mr. Garret will be of you. "Fine take this machete." Really you don't have anything that shots bullets. "We do but not for free loaders" *Slam!* Fucking roaches man, fuck… ok just be cool kill few roaches and then walk all the way back…for 50 caps…Fuck!
11:30 am
So hungry...god at least getting here wasn't that hard only had to dodge one group of fiends. *inhales* ok let's do this, here roachy, roachy, roachy I hear creepy crawlies. *Opens back room* Shit! Shit! Shit! It's an ant it's a big fucking ant, Okay, calm down Zen you can do this just believe in yourself. I'll just go in there chop of its head and get paid, no sweat. * Unsheathes machete* Kill get paid, kill get paid Lets go*Thump* (Strange If I recall a Thump sound like that comes from a grenade rif-.) *Boom* Shit everything's ringing, where's the ant? Gotta move I got to *crunch* I Fell Silent as a Boot came down inches from my face. I look up to see a girl holding a grenade rifle. Also since she's wearing a skirt something is telling me this won't end well. "Who are you" she says as she points the grenade rifle at me. I am no one important enough to use a gun like that at close range. She realized what she was aiming at me with and takes a few steps back (something tells me she just found that weapon but let's not piss of the girl with instant death in her hand.) Now then, I'm Zen and you are? "None of your business" okay, okay, (As I get a closer look she seems to be 13 to 14 years old only a few inches smaller than me, and her hair seems to be a variation of the punked hair style and light brown in color, she wears what I can only assume is a custom made outfit on the account that it is red and black open jacket with a t shirt underneath with the sleeves cut off and seems to have heavy knee high boots on.) Hey you weren't stuck in this building where you? *threatens to shoot* Hey listen, first at that distance I'll be killed instantly (did I see a smile) but you would suffer extreme pain from the splash damage until you die. Second, thank you for killing the ant. (I surprised her with that one so much in fact she hit me in the gut with the butt of the rifle and ran out the door) Ok now I'm really Hunger, let's get this over with. I found the upgrade under a terminal desk…hmm robot sex positions…what the fuck am I doing with my life. I searched for any scrap or salvage that was left, found seven bottle caps, also a small closet that smelled like piss but no weapons. While I was at it I Carved up that ant for meat I don't feel like cooking but I can have it for dinner and save some caps. With that done its time to make a delivery…all the way back in Freeside*rumble*…damn.
2:45 pm
In the settlement I grew up in the "Chief" as he liked to call himself always told us "Never leave without a gun or be trained in the art of stealth" since I was shit out of luck on both accounts, I had to walk around a group of fiends on my way back to Freeside. Hunger is drilling a hole in my stomach screaming feed me, and it doesn't help that I have no clean water. Doesn't matter right now focus I'm gonna get paid, In fact fuck 50 caps all the shit I went through. "Hey your back took your sweet time I see" Sorry I was too busy laughing for 3 hours. "What do you mean" O nothing just I was looking through these upgrades. "Hey hush, hush I'll pay you an extra hundred to shut it" Deal, and bring me a Sunset Sarsaparilla and let me see your menu. "We don't serve food here and that will be ten caps" ….Damn it! Back to Ralph's!
3:00 pm
Damn two dead bodies and a asshole charging me with spiked knuckles, I don't want to kill him but I am out of fucks I can give for the day. The charging man took a swift strike to the stomach and died, the fight with those other 2 I assume did a number on him. Kinda feel bad but hey it was self-defense I've only killed one other person before him and yet I feel nothing a mean I feel a little bad, my first kill I was a mess strange how you mind adapts. I looted the bodies for the spiked knuckles, a pool cue, and a switchblade and headed to M&R. The Cue and switch net 5 caps but the spiked I cashed in for 122 caps, why? No clue, but I have money and he has Food! I bought a Brahmin steak some more sunset and junk food, also some Banana Yucca Fruit for the road. Granted I should be pissed at Ralph, but hey, don't bite the hand that feeds you. With my cool 250 caps I went to Mick to find out I can't afford any of his shit and swiftly left the building.
4:00
Holy Shit…Spiked Knuckles Fucking Hurt, leave store get knuckle punched and there's two of them now and one of me. I'm sure they smell the caps on me but I also smell it on them in all the spikey glory. I pull out my machete ready as the one who punched me lunges, I parry his attack and kick him to the ground as the second one charges. I was able to block a punch to the face with my blade but my arm was struck by his combo. I push the second back and the first one gets up and pinned my hurt arm from behind. With my free hand I turned around and cut his arm and kick him into his partner as he's distracted by the blood and cries I move in and slit his throat. The other one gets the point and runs away, his buddy in lying in a pool of blood gargling and my only 1 thought comes to mind. Now I have to choose medical attention or a gun…Fuck.
6:15
O god I am sore, let's see pants, check caps check, food double check. To get healed by the Followers was a lot cheaper than I thought only 75 caps and I still have enough for that 10mm I was eyeing at Micks. Granted it will have almost no ammo but hey it's a gun. I'm Surprised Followers are still in this shit hole after so long but I guess if they didn't use the fort it would be overrun by thugs or junkies. *Yawn* Maybe I'll sleep here till morning "Yea, don't do drugs you told me the last 100 times doc" Hmp, junkies "And I'll say it 100 more a girl your age shouldn't be doing drugs" No it can't be "Just give me a fixer" Hey, good to see you made it out al-(Well shit with take look on her face you would think she saw a ghost ) *punches stomach* "pfft pussy" *cough* nice to see you too. So you two know each other, the doctor said. Yea in a way she saved me from an ant earlier today. "Really" the doctor says with a hint of suspicion. Real- *she tries to punch again but I side step.* Ha! *She drops and sweep kicks me* Well shit. Ok, Ok THAT'S ENOUGH! The doctor screams. Sion here's a fixer try and get some sleep. "whatever" I'm Sorry I really am Sion has issues. Ha this is the wasteland we all have them I won't hold it against her. "Thank you" By the way is it ok, if I sleep at the fort tonight. "Of course it's the least I can do." Why Thank you miss…" Farkas" Thank you Miss Farkas and good night. Hmm Sion eh,…crazy bitch.
8:30pm
*Yawn* (hmm I wonder if they care if I start cooking that ant meat. Damn I feel woozy, shit I never bought any water today). Shit good thing I'm here, sure they wouldn't mind me poking around for a drink.
8:40pm
I guess keeping the water in the fort was a good idea bottoms up…Ah that's good drinking. Strange you would think the water storage would be under heavier guard, or any guard really. Just because it's safe now doesn't mean it's not in danger. Yet I can't shake the feeling I'm not alone "cause you're not"…H-O-LY S-H-I-T damn girl how did you do that "Secret and now that, ask a stupid questions is over I'll be killing you now" Ha Ha Ha good one*pulls out machete* she smirks and draws 2…knives? No spiked knuckles? You have got to be shitting me you have spiked knuckle knives Fuck it. I lunge trying to throw Sion of balance, but she deflects my attack and counters with a jab/slash she nicks my cheek. I slash but I am blocked as I try to recover she moves and strikes with a spiky punch to my stomach. (What the fuck is with this bitch and my stomach.) She then hammer fist my back knocking me to my knees and holds a blade to my throat.
8:50
"Beg for your life and I'll end you quick and easy" Right go ahead "You want the Fun way then" Go ahead my only regret would be not finding out what my name means(and dying a virgin but I won't give her that satisfaction, maybe I should have paid for the ghoul.) So go ahead, *silence* you're boring she says as she withdraws the blade from my throat. Well now that you're not killing me, why were you trying to kill me? "Hmp because of *Kaboom* "sounds of explosions rang threw the air, while gun fire and death cries echoed through our narrow hall.
9:00pm
Mormon Fort is under attack!
