The doctors house was on a hill and Angel checked her rucksack while ambling down in, the sunlight causing more pain. Breathing was still something of an issue and the unnerving feeling of having forgotten something important dogged her brain. The bag was a disappointment, a few caps and battered pistol were the only things that interested Angel and it was thought that somewhere she had a good deal of better hardware than this shit….
No memory of bloody where though.
An exasperated sigh broke free and she nearly didn't see the hulk of the robot until she wandered straight into the obnoxiously cheerful face in the middle of the screen.
"Well howdy partner ! You look mighty fine all things considered."
Angel stepped back, swaying a little before regaining her composure.
"You must be Victor."
"That's right, mighty lucky I was passing by. Glad to see you back on your feet."
Angel felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck, all the internal alarms ringing. Something was off here but there was no logical reason to doubt what the thing or the doctor had been telling her. Better to scope the situation out before making any decisions.
"Thanks for the save, any idea who the guys were that shot me ?"
"I ain't never seen them before, didn't see them do the deed but Miss Trudy may know."
A metal claw waved in the general direction of the saloon across the street, the movement of the head this caused Angel provoked another round of nausea and she bid the robot farewell, watching him roll toward a shack back behind her, Angel made a note to snoop around there later. The rest of the town comprised of a few basic farms, crumbled houses and Brahmin. Thee huge hill at the other end intrigued her, the sign pointing out as a cemetery told her why.
Deciding to check on it after at least two slugs of whiskey and some information, Angel continued across the street to the Prospectors Saloon. Looked like every other shit hole bar but that kinda felt like home. It was cool inside and a dog came quickly up to lick her outstretched hand. Angel gasped.
Dogmeat.
The one and only friend that she had ever had and the only one that, in the end, had stayed around long enough to matter. They had fought through it all, from the first meeting in the Scrapyard and on, past Liberty Prime and beyond into the semi retirement that had eventually forced Angel west. Sub consciously Angel fingered her head, this new scar wiped out an old one that had been one of the few times she had left that damn dog behind and been worse off for it.
In the end, Dogmeat had passed gently and with little pain. They had fallen asleep together propped up outside the Mojave Express office in Primm just before the fateful assignment and the old dog had simply not woken up. Maybe the reckless streak caused by that bereavement had led her to this. Somehow the old dog could be imagined shaking his head and whining at his owners stupidity.
"That's Cheyenne. Don't worry, she don't bite unless I say."
Angel grinned at the woman and shook her hand.
"Great dog. I'm Angel, your doc has been patching me up."
"Sunny Smiles. I heard all about Victor digging you up."
Angel shivered, the unease over the robot returning before she looked around.
"I intend on catching up with the bitch in the suit. I hear Miss Trudy is the one to ask. Is there any work going around here ?"
Sunny paused. The kid looked tough and had obviously had a hard break. She passed Angel a battered rifle and pointed toward a back door.
"Can you shoot ?"
"Not sure since I woke up but I was an ok shot before."
Angel followed the girl and the dog, the beginnings of a plan forming in her mind. This place was a good tactical choice for a friendly port in the storm. If she played the residents right she could score a home and some back up while she regained her strength, pulled together the appropriate arms and equipment before finding the fuck that had shot her and pulling out his innards and setting light to his test…..
Oh.
The thought pulled her to a stop, somehow that smile and that thought were not as repulsive as they used to be. In fact the idea of mutilating and dismembering the people responsible for this was actually sounding like more fun than she ever remembered things being before. Cute revelation.
"Try hitting the bottles up there."
Angel steadied her breathing and ignored the VATS calling from the pipboy. This needed to be done blind, a test to see if her aim had been spoiled by the bullet. Skills with all types of guns had always been her strongpoint, energy weapons were fun but hard to come by. This talent and a good throwing arm with explosives had seen her right so far. She concentrated, taking in the breeze and allowing her mind to clear.
The three bottles exploded one after another, the glass shards dancing in the heat as Angel rapidly rearmed and fired the pistol to take out the last one. Sunny stood a little back, impressed and slightly more respectful. Most people had trouble to hit a barn door this far back.
"If you want work, try the safe in the schoolhouse. No-one here's been able to crack it. I'm going down to the well, try and flush out the local critters. You wanna come ?"
"Thanks but I'm gonna talk to Trudy."
Angel paused again, watching the young woman walk away. The dog close at her heels still gave her a pang but the relief at still being able to take out a target overrode it. The game was back on and now she knew she still had the tools to see it through. There had never been anyone could make her change course before and there wouldn't be now.
With a new sense of purpose, Angel headed back inside.