Chapter 4:The town of lebonworth
(the party can now see the walls of the city)
Amy:wow..this place is huge! why is the sky around here a different color?
Brian:that's because there's a maelstrom on the other side of the city.
Amy:what's a..maelstrom?
Jake:did you sleep through the armageddon, missy? those things are giant radioactive storms. doomsayers like raivyn over there can tap into the things and enhance their powers.
Brian:if a normal person touches it, though, there's a good chance they won't come out that way. it guards the city from behind from bandits, too. some people call it a curse, others call it a godsend.
Will:we're here! time to unload, guys!
Ruth:unload what?
Jake:we left most of our stuff behind when we jetted tha last town! so tell me, will, how do you plan on ruining this one?
Will:.....
Ruth:let's just check this town out..
Brian:hey, where'd nix go?
Will:she's up in the plane.
Brian:that thing's strapped to the semi! is she nuts? why isn't she responding to me??
Jake:don't worry about it. i'm sure she's just malfunctioning.
Brian:that's not funny!
Jake:i thought you hated her..
Brian:no, i don't! she can just get a little..well..
Jake:annoying?
Brian:exactly.
Jake:just forget about her for now. she'll be back down later.
Will:(hops out of the semi)aah, nice seeing you guys without looking in the rear-view mirror!
Ruth:I as well enjoy the change of scenery.
Jake:i'm pretty sure it won't be like this too long.
(crashes and screams are heard) damn, will, you do your work quick.
Will:that's not me!! we gotta go help now!!
(raivyn, will, ruth, brian, and jake run to the source of the noise--a huge spider-like demon that has emerged from the maelstrom)
Jake:damn!! another one! cut loose!!
(Jake charges up a blast while the others draw their respective weapons)
(before they let loose, a nuke blast rips off two of the demon's legs)
(raivyn runs to join up with the group)
(the demon retreats towards the maelstrom)
Raivyn:quick, follow it!! you can't let him warn his buddies!!
Brian:but it's going into the maelstrom! we'll die!
Will:we don't have any choice!
Jake:Hold yer breath, guys..
(will, ruth, brian, and jake push forward into the maelstrom)
Will:...which way is out?
Ruth:every way is out! just move forward!!
(Ruth sees a glowing howling skull heading right for her, but cant get out of the way because of the galing winds of the malestrom. The skull slams into her chest, but her faith in the saints and god protects her leaving her a bit bruised and a little winded)
(they eventually break through the maelstrom, but end up on the other side)
Jake:let's hear it for will's sense of direction! woohoo!
Will:come on, jake, at least I got us through. we'll just walk back around.
Brian:why didn't raivyn come along?
Jake:he was just afraid of that damn spider!
Will:Nevermind! something's coming!
(a pack of mutant wolves rushes up to the party at a blinding speed)
(one latches onto jake's leg)
Jake:aarg!(draws his gun)If yer so hungry...then suck on this!(plugs the wolf in the brain)
Ruth:(slashes a wolf in half)poor misunderstood creatures..
(will and brian focus their fire on another wolf)(the combined hail of fire from two gatling guns practically liquifies the creature)
Brian:eww...
Will:yuck.
(the last wolf runs away after seeing what happened to its buddies)
Will:it's getting dark, we can't go on too long..
Ruth:I guess we set up camp for the night.
(they search for some time before stumbling upon a giant metal creature. as per standard protocol, it's not happy to see them.)
Jake:this is gettin' old!
Will:Let loose, guys!
Brian:such a beautiful machine...i almost don't want to hurt it..
Will:then you're in luck, brian! help us out here! the bullets only dent it!
Jake:that's why you guys need another option!(a brain blast makes a nice hole in it)
(the bullets finally break through the metal and rip through the metallic creature)(the creature spews its entrails all over the gound, then collapses)
Ruth:that was quick..
(Brian rushes over to it and picks up pieces)
Brian:yes! i've been looking for stuff like this..
Jake:what a dork.
Ruth:just let him have his fun. he'll use the parts for something useful, maybe something for you.
(they eventually find one with most of its walls left)
Will:i'll keep first guard.
Brian:i've got second watch.
Jake:i've got third.
(the party sets up camp and one by one falls asleep, with the exception of will.)
(hours later, brian wakes up as he feels nudged)
Brian:alarm? i knew it would come in handy....will?
(will is nowhere inside the hollowed-out building)
Brian:damn...will!! where are you?
(will does not answer..something else does, however. a quintet of giant wolves walking on their hind legs come in)
Brian:werewolves! wake up, everybody!!!
(he pulls out his machine gun)
(he lets a few rounds go into them)
(the first falls over)
Brian:finally, something that bullets can hurt...
(the werewolf stands back up)
Brian:crap...i spoke too soon...
(he pulls the trigger again and sends a few dozen more into the first)
(suddenly, the second werewolf's head explodes)
(the first finally screams out in pain and dies)
(the others moan as they wake up)
Will:i'm glad i made it in time...those things would've ripped you a new one.
Brian:a new what? err..nevermind...anyways, what the hell were you doing leaving the watch?
Will:i was out having a smoke.
Jake:wait, you don't smoke, you idiot! what were you really doing?
Will:I really was, seriously..i don't know why...
Jake:it must've been that stupid damned manitou.
Brian:that's right...i forgot..will's got a demon inside him because he's undead..the same one that possessed him when we met.
Ruth:well, we'll never let you guard us again.
(the second wolf's head creeps back onto its body)(the first one also gets back up)
Ruth:aren't you forgetting something?
Jake:Shit! the wolves! i forgot!
Brian:why don't they die?
(brian's machine gun clip finally runs out)
Brian:damn...this'll take too long to reload..(pulls out another, large junk gun)
Jake:i'll take care of this!(a giant fireball hits the wolves and the enitre room lights on fire)
Ruth:this was the desired effect?
Jake:that's all we need! now we leave!
Will:the stairwell below us is on fire!
Jake:then we head up! maybe they'll give up or die!
(the party rushes up the fire escape)
Ruth:now we're sorta stuck..
Will:let's get over to the next building!
Brian:where to now?
(the party jumps over to the next building, then the next)
(ruth spies a glowing green light from behind a building)
Ruth:let's check out that light first...
(the party slowly approaches it and sees an indian in a green pool)
Ruth:hello? excuse me, sir..
Indian:hello, my friends. It's not often I see visitors. i suppose you're lost?
Ruth:actually, we're just inspecting around here.
Indian:aah. then maybe my friend can help you. the other four here earlier left without him. I would make for the factory over that way..(points)
Will:friend?
Jake:other four?
Brian:Factory???
Indian:yes..oboe, there are some more people here to go with you...
(a large, translucent, slimy blob emerges)
Jake:that's...
Will:oboe?
Ruth:i somehow understand why the other four left him behind..
Will:well, thanks for the help, but i think we had better be on our way..
(the party heads toward the labs, oboe following close behind. Brian, of course, leads the way)
Brian:.....
Will:what is it, brian?
Brian:........
Will:what are you staring at?
(will turns to see the abandoned industrial laboratory)
(it's surrounded by a red haze) is something wrong, brian?
Brian:it.... it's sooo beautiful!!!
(brian starts running toward it)
(jake grabs the back of his coat)
Jake:hold it, buddy. Didn't yer momma ever teach ya to look before ya leap?
Will:jake's right. we should check it out, but be careful about it.
Brian:how do you propose we do that?
Will:err...we walk slowly?
Ruth:brian seems rather strange around machinery..
Jake:yeah, he's nuts, just like that stupid little thing that follows him around..
Ruth:i belive you're referring to nix?
Jake:yeah, what the hell is that thing?
Ruth:well, technically, it's a familiar. But it would seem that to brian that it's much more.. she's his own work..maybe you should ask him.
Jake:yeah..you're right.
(jake walks up to brian, who has still fixed his gaze on the laboratory)
Jake:hey, brian!
Brian:huh? what's wrong, jake?
Jake:nothing, really..i just have a question..
Brian:then ask away.
Jake:what, exactly, is that thing that always follows you?
Brian:oh...you mean nix? well, she's much more than a 'thing'..jake, do you know, exactly, what a junker is?
Jake:yeah, a guy that builds stuff and wears a white coat.
Brian:that's not all there is to a junker, jake. a junker is someone that has a special bond with the hunting grounds.
Jake:you mean like a shaman?
Brian:almost..the biggest difference is, that while a nature shaman talks to nature spirits..
Jake:you talk to junk spirits?
Brian:tech spirits, jake. but talking's only a small part. tech spirits don't really like sitting in the spirit world. they were created by humans, and have a deep inner desire to serve them. I simply build the machines for them to live in, and their will to be useful helps to hold it together.
Jake:that's great, but it doesn't explain anything. I still wanna know what she is..
Brian:she's an incredibly powerful tech spirit living in my greatest invention ever...the Sentient Containment Unit!
Jake:which does...?
(there's now a definite twinkle in brian's eye)
Brian:it's a device made to house a spirit of any type! tech, human, nature, or any other kind! it's the invention i dreamed about since the bombs fell..
Jake:then why does it look like a little girl?
Brian:because nix wanted to be a girl..and it's modeled in part after my instructor.
Jake:your instructor was a little girl?
Brian:of course not. but she always had a youthful sparkle in her eye when she built, like she was a little girl..
Will:hey, you guys, you just passed the lab!
Brian:passed...
(he begins to drool again and jets toward the labs)
(jake grabs his collar again)
Jake:you forgot everything ya just said, didn'tcha, junkboy?
Brian:Said? Who said what?
Jake:Yer hopeless...wait! I can feel someone...
Brian:That's me....you're choking me...
Jake:No, someone else..four of them.
Ruth:It must be the other party that the indian talked about..
Will:Then let's find them!
Ruth:We have to be careful..
Voice:I hear something!
2nd Voice:It's a voice!
3rd Voice:Shit, they must be after us!
4th Voice:Let 'em come and get us!
(The 4 come out, 2 are wielding weapons, ready to kill. another is on a donkey.)
1st voice:Wait! Aggression leads to the dark side!
2nd voice:Guys, hold up! They wouldn't have found us here!
3rd voice:I swear, if it's that goddamned slimy thing, i'll slice him to pieces!
1st voice:Calm! Please!
2nd voice:what's the use...
1st voice:i already sense the dark side in one of them...he can't let it take him over!
2nd voice:whatever..let's talk to them..
Will:hello!
2nd voice:hi there! you wouldn't happen to be after us, would you?
Will:not unless you're a giant spider-demon!
2nd voice:well, then, i guess we're okay...my name's T.C, and this is my donkey, dumbass.
1st voice:my name's luke...luke skywalker.
4th voice:no, it's not! my name doesn't matter...not to you or anyone! we're all going to die anyways..
3rd voice:you can die all you want...do you want help?
unnamed:in fact, yes, i do..
3rd voice:you don't deserve it...anyways, my name's aaron.
luke:you're also being taken over by the dark side..
(brian, jake and will are laughing too hard to respond)
aaron:you've already been taken over by the dork side, you fruit!
Ruth:what's so funny?
Brian:haven't you seen any movies? years ago, before holo-tv, there was this 2-d movie..
Will:this guy thinks he's that movie's hero!!
Jake:that's so freaking funny! did his momma drop him when he was little or something?
T.C.:actually, i think he was watching the movie when the bombs fell...
Ruth:aah, that explains it..
Will:let's check this place out!
T.C.:Good idea...we'll have to get rid of it...
Brian:you can feel it too?
T.C.:It's a temporal warp field...that's why this is the only building standing.
Brian:you're a shaman, aren't you?
T.C.:(nods)yes, and you're a junker. i can feel you have a link with a familiar, but she's been left behind.
Brian:all the other shamans that i've met have attacked me..
T.C.:I have no reason to attack you..the 'war' between tech and nature spirits is overblown..
Brian:i see. so, how will we destroy the building?
Jake:well, we could use the big one..
Brian:the 'big one'?
Will:you told him! you idiot!
Jake:err...it's nothing!
Ruth:you might as well tell them..
Jake:it's a nuke we found while you were shopping...
Brian:a nuke? a nuclear missile?
Jake:err...no...a city-buster..
Brian:are you insane! that's the world's most powerful type of bomb! it'll destroy anything in a hundred-mile raduis!
Will:i told you not to tell him....i knew he'd freak out!
Brian:freaking out is an understatement! we can't juast disassemble it, either!
Ruth:why not?
Brian:the spirit inside it is warped! i'm gonna have to do something about it first!
Will:we'll worry about it later! let's check that building out!
Aaron:yeah! that place must have some bitchin' parts!
Brian:parts? you...you're a junker too?
Aaron:you got something against that?
Brian:errr...no...
(brian keeps his distance from aaron. T.C. Joins up with him)
T.C.:you're a lot different inside from aaron..much calmer.
Brian:that's because aaron's tainted..he's pretty far into it, too...
T.C.:Tainted?
Brian:he's been building too many guns...it's sad...he used to be different, didn't he?
T.C.:yes, he used to be a lot like you...what happened to him? is there any way to reverse it?
Brian:The taint's picked up off of gun spirits...unfortunately, there's no cure for the taint. There's nothing more painful to a junker than watching a friend fall to the taint.
T.C.:what's going to happen to aaron?
Brian:he'll get worse and worse...once it's beyond his control, it's too late.
T.C.:oh...well, let's catch up with the parties.
(they catch up to the others, at the entrance of the buildings)
(the party can now see the walls of the city)
Amy:wow..this place is huge! why is the sky around here a different color?
Brian:that's because there's a maelstrom on the other side of the city.
Amy:what's a..maelstrom?
Jake:did you sleep through the armageddon, missy? those things are giant radioactive storms. doomsayers like raivyn over there can tap into the things and enhance their powers.
Brian:if a normal person touches it, though, there's a good chance they won't come out that way. it guards the city from behind from bandits, too. some people call it a curse, others call it a godsend.
Will:we're here! time to unload, guys!
Ruth:unload what?
Jake:we left most of our stuff behind when we jetted tha last town! so tell me, will, how do you plan on ruining this one?
Will:.....
Ruth:let's just check this town out..
Brian:hey, where'd nix go?
Will:she's up in the plane.
Brian:that thing's strapped to the semi! is she nuts? why isn't she responding to me??
Jake:don't worry about it. i'm sure she's just malfunctioning.
Brian:that's not funny!
Jake:i thought you hated her..
Brian:no, i don't! she can just get a little..well..
Jake:annoying?
Brian:exactly.
Jake:just forget about her for now. she'll be back down later.
Will:(hops out of the semi)aah, nice seeing you guys without looking in the rear-view mirror!
Ruth:I as well enjoy the change of scenery.
Jake:i'm pretty sure it won't be like this too long.
(crashes and screams are heard) damn, will, you do your work quick.
Will:that's not me!! we gotta go help now!!
(raivyn, will, ruth, brian, and jake run to the source of the noise--a huge spider-like demon that has emerged from the maelstrom)
Jake:damn!! another one! cut loose!!
(Jake charges up a blast while the others draw their respective weapons)
(before they let loose, a nuke blast rips off two of the demon's legs)
(raivyn runs to join up with the group)
(the demon retreats towards the maelstrom)
Raivyn:quick, follow it!! you can't let him warn his buddies!!
Brian:but it's going into the maelstrom! we'll die!
Will:we don't have any choice!
Jake:Hold yer breath, guys..
(will, ruth, brian, and jake push forward into the maelstrom)
Will:...which way is out?
Ruth:every way is out! just move forward!!
(Ruth sees a glowing howling skull heading right for her, but cant get out of the way because of the galing winds of the malestrom. The skull slams into her chest, but her faith in the saints and god protects her leaving her a bit bruised and a little winded)
(they eventually break through the maelstrom, but end up on the other side)
Jake:let's hear it for will's sense of direction! woohoo!
Will:come on, jake, at least I got us through. we'll just walk back around.
Brian:why didn't raivyn come along?
Jake:he was just afraid of that damn spider!
Will:Nevermind! something's coming!
(a pack of mutant wolves rushes up to the party at a blinding speed)
(one latches onto jake's leg)
Jake:aarg!(draws his gun)If yer so hungry...then suck on this!(plugs the wolf in the brain)
Ruth:(slashes a wolf in half)poor misunderstood creatures..
(will and brian focus their fire on another wolf)(the combined hail of fire from two gatling guns practically liquifies the creature)
Brian:eww...
Will:yuck.
(the last wolf runs away after seeing what happened to its buddies)
Will:it's getting dark, we can't go on too long..
Ruth:I guess we set up camp for the night.
(they search for some time before stumbling upon a giant metal creature. as per standard protocol, it's not happy to see them.)
Jake:this is gettin' old!
Will:Let loose, guys!
Brian:such a beautiful machine...i almost don't want to hurt it..
Will:then you're in luck, brian! help us out here! the bullets only dent it!
Jake:that's why you guys need another option!(a brain blast makes a nice hole in it)
(the bullets finally break through the metal and rip through the metallic creature)(the creature spews its entrails all over the gound, then collapses)
Ruth:that was quick..
(Brian rushes over to it and picks up pieces)
Brian:yes! i've been looking for stuff like this..
Jake:what a dork.
Ruth:just let him have his fun. he'll use the parts for something useful, maybe something for you.
(they eventually find one with most of its walls left)
Will:i'll keep first guard.
Brian:i've got second watch.
Jake:i've got third.
(the party sets up camp and one by one falls asleep, with the exception of will.)
(hours later, brian wakes up as he feels nudged)
Brian:alarm? i knew it would come in handy....will?
(will is nowhere inside the hollowed-out building)
Brian:damn...will!! where are you?
(will does not answer..something else does, however. a quintet of giant wolves walking on their hind legs come in)
Brian:werewolves! wake up, everybody!!!
(he pulls out his machine gun)
(he lets a few rounds go into them)
(the first falls over)
Brian:finally, something that bullets can hurt...
(the werewolf stands back up)
Brian:crap...i spoke too soon...
(he pulls the trigger again and sends a few dozen more into the first)
(suddenly, the second werewolf's head explodes)
(the first finally screams out in pain and dies)
(the others moan as they wake up)
Will:i'm glad i made it in time...those things would've ripped you a new one.
Brian:a new what? err..nevermind...anyways, what the hell were you doing leaving the watch?
Will:i was out having a smoke.
Jake:wait, you don't smoke, you idiot! what were you really doing?
Will:I really was, seriously..i don't know why...
Jake:it must've been that stupid damned manitou.
Brian:that's right...i forgot..will's got a demon inside him because he's undead..the same one that possessed him when we met.
Ruth:well, we'll never let you guard us again.
(the second wolf's head creeps back onto its body)(the first one also gets back up)
Ruth:aren't you forgetting something?
Jake:Shit! the wolves! i forgot!
Brian:why don't they die?
(brian's machine gun clip finally runs out)
Brian:damn...this'll take too long to reload..(pulls out another, large junk gun)
Jake:i'll take care of this!(a giant fireball hits the wolves and the enitre room lights on fire)
Ruth:this was the desired effect?
Jake:that's all we need! now we leave!
Will:the stairwell below us is on fire!
Jake:then we head up! maybe they'll give up or die!
(the party rushes up the fire escape)
Ruth:now we're sorta stuck..
Will:let's get over to the next building!
Brian:where to now?
(the party jumps over to the next building, then the next)
(ruth spies a glowing green light from behind a building)
Ruth:let's check out that light first...
(the party slowly approaches it and sees an indian in a green pool)
Ruth:hello? excuse me, sir..
Indian:hello, my friends. It's not often I see visitors. i suppose you're lost?
Ruth:actually, we're just inspecting around here.
Indian:aah. then maybe my friend can help you. the other four here earlier left without him. I would make for the factory over that way..(points)
Will:friend?
Jake:other four?
Brian:Factory???
Indian:yes..oboe, there are some more people here to go with you...
(a large, translucent, slimy blob emerges)
Jake:that's...
Will:oboe?
Ruth:i somehow understand why the other four left him behind..
Will:well, thanks for the help, but i think we had better be on our way..
(the party heads toward the labs, oboe following close behind. Brian, of course, leads the way)
Brian:.....
Will:what is it, brian?
Brian:........
Will:what are you staring at?
(will turns to see the abandoned industrial laboratory)
(it's surrounded by a red haze) is something wrong, brian?
Brian:it.... it's sooo beautiful!!!
(brian starts running toward it)
(jake grabs the back of his coat)
Jake:hold it, buddy. Didn't yer momma ever teach ya to look before ya leap?
Will:jake's right. we should check it out, but be careful about it.
Brian:how do you propose we do that?
Will:err...we walk slowly?
Ruth:brian seems rather strange around machinery..
Jake:yeah, he's nuts, just like that stupid little thing that follows him around..
Ruth:i belive you're referring to nix?
Jake:yeah, what the hell is that thing?
Ruth:well, technically, it's a familiar. But it would seem that to brian that it's much more.. she's his own work..maybe you should ask him.
Jake:yeah..you're right.
(jake walks up to brian, who has still fixed his gaze on the laboratory)
Jake:hey, brian!
Brian:huh? what's wrong, jake?
Jake:nothing, really..i just have a question..
Brian:then ask away.
Jake:what, exactly, is that thing that always follows you?
Brian:oh...you mean nix? well, she's much more than a 'thing'..jake, do you know, exactly, what a junker is?
Jake:yeah, a guy that builds stuff and wears a white coat.
Brian:that's not all there is to a junker, jake. a junker is someone that has a special bond with the hunting grounds.
Jake:you mean like a shaman?
Brian:almost..the biggest difference is, that while a nature shaman talks to nature spirits..
Jake:you talk to junk spirits?
Brian:tech spirits, jake. but talking's only a small part. tech spirits don't really like sitting in the spirit world. they were created by humans, and have a deep inner desire to serve them. I simply build the machines for them to live in, and their will to be useful helps to hold it together.
Jake:that's great, but it doesn't explain anything. I still wanna know what she is..
Brian:she's an incredibly powerful tech spirit living in my greatest invention ever...the Sentient Containment Unit!
Jake:which does...?
(there's now a definite twinkle in brian's eye)
Brian:it's a device made to house a spirit of any type! tech, human, nature, or any other kind! it's the invention i dreamed about since the bombs fell..
Jake:then why does it look like a little girl?
Brian:because nix wanted to be a girl..and it's modeled in part after my instructor.
Jake:your instructor was a little girl?
Brian:of course not. but she always had a youthful sparkle in her eye when she built, like she was a little girl..
Will:hey, you guys, you just passed the lab!
Brian:passed...
(he begins to drool again and jets toward the labs)
(jake grabs his collar again)
Jake:you forgot everything ya just said, didn'tcha, junkboy?
Brian:Said? Who said what?
Jake:Yer hopeless...wait! I can feel someone...
Brian:That's me....you're choking me...
Jake:No, someone else..four of them.
Ruth:It must be the other party that the indian talked about..
Will:Then let's find them!
Ruth:We have to be careful..
Voice:I hear something!
2nd Voice:It's a voice!
3rd Voice:Shit, they must be after us!
4th Voice:Let 'em come and get us!
(The 4 come out, 2 are wielding weapons, ready to kill. another is on a donkey.)
1st voice:Wait! Aggression leads to the dark side!
2nd voice:Guys, hold up! They wouldn't have found us here!
3rd voice:I swear, if it's that goddamned slimy thing, i'll slice him to pieces!
1st voice:Calm! Please!
2nd voice:what's the use...
1st voice:i already sense the dark side in one of them...he can't let it take him over!
2nd voice:whatever..let's talk to them..
Will:hello!
2nd voice:hi there! you wouldn't happen to be after us, would you?
Will:not unless you're a giant spider-demon!
2nd voice:well, then, i guess we're okay...my name's T.C, and this is my donkey, dumbass.
1st voice:my name's luke...luke skywalker.
4th voice:no, it's not! my name doesn't matter...not to you or anyone! we're all going to die anyways..
3rd voice:you can die all you want...do you want help?
unnamed:in fact, yes, i do..
3rd voice:you don't deserve it...anyways, my name's aaron.
luke:you're also being taken over by the dark side..
(brian, jake and will are laughing too hard to respond)
aaron:you've already been taken over by the dork side, you fruit!
Ruth:what's so funny?
Brian:haven't you seen any movies? years ago, before holo-tv, there was this 2-d movie..
Will:this guy thinks he's that movie's hero!!
Jake:that's so freaking funny! did his momma drop him when he was little or something?
T.C.:actually, i think he was watching the movie when the bombs fell...
Ruth:aah, that explains it..
Will:let's check this place out!
T.C.:Good idea...we'll have to get rid of it...
Brian:you can feel it too?
T.C.:It's a temporal warp field...that's why this is the only building standing.
Brian:you're a shaman, aren't you?
T.C.:(nods)yes, and you're a junker. i can feel you have a link with a familiar, but she's been left behind.
Brian:all the other shamans that i've met have attacked me..
T.C.:I have no reason to attack you..the 'war' between tech and nature spirits is overblown..
Brian:i see. so, how will we destroy the building?
Jake:well, we could use the big one..
Brian:the 'big one'?
Will:you told him! you idiot!
Jake:err...it's nothing!
Ruth:you might as well tell them..
Jake:it's a nuke we found while you were shopping...
Brian:a nuke? a nuclear missile?
Jake:err...no...a city-buster..
Brian:are you insane! that's the world's most powerful type of bomb! it'll destroy anything in a hundred-mile raduis!
Will:i told you not to tell him....i knew he'd freak out!
Brian:freaking out is an understatement! we can't juast disassemble it, either!
Ruth:why not?
Brian:the spirit inside it is warped! i'm gonna have to do something about it first!
Will:we'll worry about it later! let's check that building out!
Aaron:yeah! that place must have some bitchin' parts!
Brian:parts? you...you're a junker too?
Aaron:you got something against that?
Brian:errr...no...
(brian keeps his distance from aaron. T.C. Joins up with him)
T.C.:you're a lot different inside from aaron..much calmer.
Brian:that's because aaron's tainted..he's pretty far into it, too...
T.C.:Tainted?
Brian:he's been building too many guns...it's sad...he used to be different, didn't he?
T.C.:yes, he used to be a lot like you...what happened to him? is there any way to reverse it?
Brian:The taint's picked up off of gun spirits...unfortunately, there's no cure for the taint. There's nothing more painful to a junker than watching a friend fall to the taint.
T.C.:what's going to happen to aaron?
Brian:he'll get worse and worse...once it's beyond his control, it's too late.
T.C.:oh...well, let's catch up with the parties.
(they catch up to the others, at the entrance of the buildings)
