Trial by the Blues
Chapter 6
In his amazement, Tom's knee's felt as if they couldn't support themselves under the weight of his body. His knee's trembled and they collapsed as
He gazed outward to this great and beautiful land full of life and color. The scene was nearly tear jerking. Not since the days before the Great War
Has the world looked this beautiful, This populated, and this clean. Only in the dreams of many wastlanders back where Tom was from can image this
Place... It was a paradise. There were huge puffy white clouds that clung to the sky. The sky itself looked clean and blue instead of that dull greenish
Color that it was usual to see. He sighed as the wind fluttered through his hair.
"Have I died and gone to heaven...?" He said to himself. The wind was cool and refreshing. The air smelt clean and amazing. Yet there was one
Question in him mind; Where was he? In all this amazing atmosphere... He felt a huge part of himself inside feeling empty... He remembered the great
And amazing times where he was from... the Wasteland. His friends in the N.C.R.; He wanted to at least say one last thing to them before the
Incident happened... it was far too late now. He slowly got to his knee's and he saw that Taokaka who was standing right behind him suddenly
Disappeared. Where was she?
"Tao?" He called out.
No Response.
"Tao? Come on... Don't leave me alone out here!" He felt himself incredibly tiny in this new environment. The buildings were huge and there were
Men and Women absolutely crowding the streets ahead of him. It was almost as if there were too many folks confined in this space. He didn't know what to do but he
did what he did best.
Wander.
"Hey! Watch where you're going, buddy!"
"Ugh! Excuse YOU!"
"Get out of my way, Fool!"
Tom hunched his shoulders and looked down to the ground muttering the only words he could at that situation.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry about that"
"Jesus Christ, Sorry!"
He hasn't been in this new environment for over ten minutes and already he began to hate the people here. They're all a bunch of assholes he thought. Rude and
Disrespectful.
He walked by himself and took some time to examine the surrounding area.
The are looked new to Tom. Not in the sense of memory but in the sense of condition. They were not peeling or crumbling as buildings were back in the wasteland.
They looked nice and pristine with lots of neon lights that work. The setting was very oriental and many stores were around the sidewalks. The his right he can see a
Massive statue of a figure sitting down in a criss-cross patter with his hand up. He'd never seen anything like it. This town pleased his eyes yet left many questions
Unanswered. He had no idea where he was and he felt incredibly foreign and unwanted there. Too many people bothered him and it felts as if hunger and thirst
Wasn't an issue. Another reminder crossed his mind; How would he buy things or communicate with the locals?
"God this is stressful..." He thought. "Where the hell is that damned cat?" He spoke to himself.
"Right here, meow!" She grabbed his waist and gave him a jolt.
Tom jumped and yelped out in surprise. His skin turned from tan to white.
"Wahh! Jesus Christ you friggen maniac! You almost gave me a damn heart attack!" His faced flushed with anger and he grit his teeth.
The Cat woman simply giggled.
"I lost you, Dusty Guy! Tao was looking for you everywhere!" She grinned at him.
" Everywhere?, Tao? It's only been around four minutes." He thought she was bluffing.
" Yup! You are a very distinctive person!" She smiles.
" What is that supposed to mean? You are a very distinctive person too!" He pinched his nostrils in frustration. He did not like when people got the jump on him.
She cocked her head backed and hissed at him gently.
"Hiss! What are you trying to say, Meow?" She said as she placed her paws on her hips. Tom looked at her and held his hand out.
" Nothing. Forget I said anything." He looked at her and then around the area. "Were you not going to show me to Miss Litchi's clinic? She told us to visit her some-
Time. I want to get there before the sun falls." He said as he looked up into the sky. She suddenly perked her ears up in excitement
"Meow! That sounds like a great idea, Dusty-Guy!" She smiles and licks her lips. "She can make us some of her heavenly, warm and delicious meatbuns!"
He stared at her for a moment.
" Yeah, Sure. Let's get going, alright?" His patience was growing thin. She grinned and jumped eagerly.
" Meow! Let's go! Follow Tao!" She then said as she sprung off again. This time, Tom stuck close to her as she led him through this foreign place.
They pass through a busy crowd of men and women along the way. He heard the whispers of some of them. They were talking about him.
"Who is that man?"
"He looks like an old-world soldier... pah...dressing as the men who destroyed our land..."
" His clothes are caked in dirt! How filthy!"
These words made him feel uneasy. He knew that the people did not like his presence at all. At least he felt safe with Tao. He saw dozens of signs and neon lights as
He progressed to the clinic of Litchi with Tao. He found them all awe inspiring and beautiful. Signs like these were incredibly rare and he only saw a couple of working
Ones. They were all barely wroking though and cracked with age. But these were in pristine condition and they shined brightly and with a mechanical buzz. He enjoyed
Them alot. The aroma in the air was also something that wasn't forgettable. The aroma was intoxicating. The smell of fresh food cooking was something that always
Brought Tom's spirit up. The food smelled cleaner, fresher and more spicy. Spice was something that not a lot of wastelanders owned. Spice was something for the
Rich to consume. But he smelt it everywhere and he couldn't wait to taste the new food here. A part of him would never leave his cravings for Fancy-Lad Snack cakes,
But he wouldn't mind giving a few up for a good hearty meal from here. Tao occasionally stopped to see and drool over the cooking food at the stands.
When she did, Tom grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
"Come on, toots. We don't have all day." He said as he walked on a little ahead while watching her."
When he caught her attention she frowned and she led back in ahead. "Meow... Tao is so hungry..."
After some time of examining the stands and stores as they made their journey, They finally reached a tiny building that was connected to an apartment complex that
also housed a busy restaurant which aromas made Tom's stomach growl. He held it and pushed it in.
"Grr... dammit..." He said to himself.
" Here we are!" Tao said with excitement in her voice. She opened the door and she hopped inside the clinic. He looked around inside as he stepped inside. The aura
felt nice and safe. it was definitely a clinic. He saw rows of beds and medical equipment strewn about and an office that was placed next to a very fancy looking
window that had a rigid and squarish design to it. The view out of the window showed a lush green area that was occupied by a lonesome tree. There was also
Another friendly scent in the air. He couldn't describe it but whatever it was it made him quite cheerful . The clinic also had its own kitchen in which Tao was in.
He explored the building briefly before he passed the Kitchen. He couldn't believe his eyes.
" Boobie Lady!"
" Gah!" A frightened shrieked reaches Tom's ears. " Stop that, Tao!"
Litchi's face flushed red with embarrassment as she felt her upper body violated by the paws of chaos. The paws of Tao.
She had her paws pressed firmly against her breasts. Squishing and kneading them at her own pleasure. Her facial expression full of pure content. Her tail flicked
gently as she continued.
Tom couldn't take it no longer. He had to intervene in between this foolishness. He came in like a sandstorm and pointed at Tao as if she was a dog.
"You! Off of her. NOW DAMMIT!" His voice heaved with a loud and gruff voice. " Don't make have to force you off you crazy cat-woman!" He rolled up one of his
Coat sleeves as if threatening to do an action against Tao.
Her tail darted in an erect pose and hissed at Tom causing him to flinch.
She laughed triumphantly at him while she let go of Litchi's chest.
"Ha! Two for flinching Dusty Guy!" With incredible speed she hopped towards him and slugged his arm twice. He gasped and grunted holding his arm in pain.
"Raghh! What the hell? That hurt!" He rubbed his arm in pain. Litchi chuckled softly and stared at him.
"Hehe... It's good to see you alive and well Mr. Valdez." She smiled and turned to Tao. "Now Tao if you behave yourself I will get to work on those steamed buns for
you, Okay?" Tom did not understand nor heard of meatbuns. He thought she was talking about a Brahmin Burger.
The cat woman grinned happily and jumped in excitement!
"Yay! Meatbuns for Tao!" She was in fact very cheery and jumpy.
Litchi looked at Tom.
"Would you also like a batch of them, Thomas?" She asked him. He didn't know but he did not want to refuse her graceful hospitality. He nodded and bowed his head
down gently.
"Yes Ma'am. I never tried these before so I'm really curious to see how they taste."
Litchi smiled at him.
"Well before we get to making them lets see on how you are doing shall we?" He pulls out a notepad and pencil and begins to scribble down noted.
" How are your ribs? Does it hurt to breath? "
Tom again inhaled and exhaled again. " No ma'am I breathe fine. My ribs are still a little sore but I can manage. A little pain never hurt anybody." He smiled softly.
She writes this down and nods.
"Do you have any trouble sleeping at night? DO you occasionally wake up in the middle of the night? Your eyes seem tired." He rubs the wrinkles under his eyes and
nods softly.
"Unfortunately ma'am yes I do. I've just been really stressed lately. Maybe because I'm having a difficult time adjusting to this new environment. Also the fact that I
Never told you about, The reason I didn't want to talk about my family was because my Best friend and my Wife recently were killed..." He paused and looks down in
pain.
Litchi stops writing and frowns at him.
"I'm deeply sorry for your loss Mr. Valde-"
"They weren't killed... They were STOLEN from me." He snapped out loud. Tao flinched herself and hid behind a chair. "Those damn savages! Those Legion mutts!
They took them! They stole my life away! They stole friend away! THEY STOLE HER AWAY!" He growled and grimaced while he spoke. His voice trembled softly. But
Finally, He was done. His hair hung over his face. He sat back up and swept it back. His eyes were moist.
"I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me... I just... I miss them..." He said in a low solemn voice.
Litchi bowed her head and remained silent for a moment. Tao peaked from the chair and lowered her ears in sadness.
"Meow... Dusty guy is crying... Tao doesn't like it when her friends cry." She said.
At the comment Tom looked up at her and he smiled softly at her.
"...Thank you Taokaka...and Thank you Litchi for holding your ground."
Litchi nodded.
" It's fine, Mr. Valdez. Im truly sorry for your losses. I too had lost someone in the past as well..." She frowns.
He looks down.
"I'm sorry for your loss as well."
She looked up at him and bowed her head.
"Thank you, Mr. Valdez."
After a long silence Tao interrupts the silence with a question.
"Booby lady? When will we be making the meatbuns?"
Litchi looked up and turned around to face her with a smile.
"Oh! I nearly forgot about them! Will you help us prepare them, Tom, I could use an extra hand since my assistant isn't here."
Tom smiled a bright smile for the first time in ages.
"Yes Ma'am Let me see what I could do." He got up "Excuse me ladies..." He says while rolling up his sleeves. "I have a recipe that I wan't to try out... You gals ever had a Wasteland Omlette?"
To be continued