November 5th, 2284, 4:32 PM

Cape Dezhnev, Abandoned village of Naukan, Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.


Captain Ingram strode the plains and hills that made up the area just some distance away from Cape Dezhnev, he was tired, and yet... Happy. Finally, the end was in sight. Where the second foot of his journey started. Cape Dezhnev. Where the NCR had dropped him off to find the source of a signal which sent him across the Pacific to Japan. And now, he was almost "home". Home being wastes of North America. It truly was amazing, how he managed to get to and back, alive nonetheless. "Captain Ingram! Are we almost there?!" Okonogi yelled, she and Kirie were a slight tad behind, Ingram and he checked his pipboy. The map said he was, thankfully. "Yep, Okonogi! We're almost there! There's some old ruins we'll set up camp for a bit in!"

The ruins Ingram was referring to were an old village Inuit village that was abandoned long ago before the War, though despite it's age, the village in the distance still looked liveable. "So. Almost home, huh?" Yuuko said as she looked to Ingram and he smiled under his helmet. "Yeah. ...Look." Ingram said and motioned off towards the village to a radio tower. "That wasn't here when I was dropped off. And look at what's attached halfway." Ingram said as he lifted his binoculars to his helmet's eye pieces. Halfway up the radio tower was an NCR flag. The building next to the tower was fortified with sandbags. "Think they're tryna tell us something?" Ingram said aloud before turning his head to Yuuko of whom stood at his left. "I think getting back across will be a lot easier." Yuuko said with a smile on her face before Kirie and Okonogi caught up.

"What's that?" Kirie asked, obviously talking about the outpost. "It's NCR. And if it's inhabited and not just a special gift from the higher ups for me, you girls will get to have another taste of the NCR, like how you did before we set out with those nuka colas and all." Ingram said before he started towards the fortified outpost and knocked on the door. After a couple minutes of no response, he opened the door for himself and saw the inside was fully decorated with NCR and other wasteland trinkets. An NCR flag on the opposite side of the room, some weapons, furniture, a generator could be heard out behind the house. "For the time being, girls. ...Welcome home." Ingram said as the three followed him in with Yuuko coming in last to see everything. A holotape player sat off to the side on a coffee table with a NCR military service rifle leaned up against the coffee table, a few boxes of 5.56 ammo, a working fridge as everyone went around and explored the house. Ingram found a comms room with a working Ham Radio and turned it on, taking his helmet off he put on the headset next to it and began scanning the bandwidth for signals, he found one. An NCR military one.

"Major Griggs! I'm surprised you've not been eaten up by a snow Yao Guai!" Ingram said, a smile on his face as Okonogi, Kirie, and Yuuko looked into the comms room to see who Ingram was talking to. "Captain Ingram. We were told to expect to hear from you, I'd thought it would've taken a short time for you to get back. We heard your mission was a success, congrats." Major Griggs could be heard on the other side from the speaker and Ingram put down the head set, speaking into the Microphone. "It wasn't easy, trust me on that. Anyway. I'm ready whenever you guys are. Myself and plus three- I mean two." Ingram said, almost letting slip the unmentioned third that was Yuuko... Well technically there was a fourth as well. Yuuko's "shadow" as she had become known to Ingram. "I see. Two extras then... Maybe three. Alright, well, no need to wait outside or anything. We'll get to you guys quickly. Some settlers showed up a bit after you did and they set up a town on those Diomede islands on the way, so it'll be quicker for us to get to you all." Major Griggs said as Ingram smiled. He was finally almost home. Alaska and those islands were in sight.

"We'll get there as quick as we can but that won't be for the next three days. There's supposedly a huge storm coming in, hence why we abandoned that outpost, it's fortified but still, keep your heads down. We put some winter gear in a chest in the living room. When the storm clears we'll get you guys. Until then button up and keep close. It's gonna be a slight bit cold for a bit, storm's coming in tonight." Major Griggs said before he signed off and Ingram spun around on his chair to Okonogi, Kirie, and Yuuko. "Alright, girls. You heard the man. Keep our heads down, button up, and keep warm. I saw a fireplace in the living room. And some firewood out around the side of the house. I'll go out, get it and bring it in. You girls just keep inside, try some of the winter gear on. We'll be needing it." Ingram said before he got up and the girls cleared out of his way, including Yuuko she'd just sit inside. Ingram put his pack down by the comms station before he headed out to gather the wood.

Ingram shut the door on his way out and checked his Sequoia, fully loaded. Thankfully, a .45-70 was enough to take down most things in the wasteland, which is why he always carried more than enough rounds. Ingram could feel a familiar cold presence with him to his right and he immediately pointed his revolver to the head of Shadow Yuuko, the end of the barrel meeting her forehead. "I told you to keep your ass as far away from me as is humanly possible." Ingram said before he turned his head in Shadow Yuuko's direction seeing her he couldn't help but be somewhat mildly angry.

"You know just like the last time you won't shoot me. You're still concerned about whether or not it'll work. ...And if it does, will it hurt "your" Yuuko." Shadow Yuuko said and Ingram could only shake his head. She was right, that thought still lingered in Ingram's mind and he wouldn't be the one to test it. Risk harming Yuuko. "What the hell do you want then?" Ingram said, lowering his revolver. "I know what you've been planning, and have you thought of what will happen?" Shadow Yuuko said, Ingram knew exactly what she was talking about, he had a plan for when he got back to Nevada.

"Just say what you want and get the hell out of here." Ingram said and Shadow Yuuko shook her head. "You really didn't think about it, you idiot. If you go through with it, Kirie and Okonogi may exist but not as you know them! You could mess up a lot of things, I was stuck in that school long enough to know. If you do what you plan on, you could drastically mess things up! Worse than they already are, and for what?! Because of her?!" Shadow Yuuko yelled and Ingram remained silent for a minute. "You finished?" Ingram said, turning to Shadow Yuuko.

"Because I've thought about it long and hard, I know what I'm doing. And in all honesty. Given we're all stuck in this post-nuclear-war-hell. I doubt. I really doubt. Things could get any worse, honestly, if somehow the war is averted because of my plans then I can live with that. Least Kirie and Okonogi won't end up living for over 207 or so years as ghouls, they'll live a full, happy life. Without a nuclear war prolonging their lives. Now if you're finished, piss off. I'm going to get firewood." Ingram said before he holstered his revolver and went around the house to get the firewood left on the side of it.

Coming back to the front, Ingram didn't see any sign of Shadow Yuuko and went back inside, making his way to the living room, Kirie and Okonogi were in the bedroom trying on clothes. He knew because the chest mentioned by Major Griggs was drug halfway across the floor before it was opened and the clothes were shifted around with a pair of pants and a set of loose socks left between the chest and the coffee table. Yuuko was just sitting in a chair, sat back with her feet up on a ammo crate. "So those two trying on clothes then?" Ingram said to Yuuko, in a low, hushed voice. "Yeah. They're just about finished I think, they kept coming in and out getting pants and tops." Yuuko said with a shrug. "Mhmm." Ingram said as he set the wood to the side of the fireplace.

"So, we're stuck here for three days." Yuuko said, sitting up she put her legs down off the crate she propped them up at. "Yep. Did you check the fridge?" Ingram asked, looking over to Yuuko who gave him a nod. "Alright, good. So it's stocked?" Ingram asked and Yuuko got up, going over she leaned over Ingram. "Yep, fully stocked! There's something called Cram in there, Fancy Lad Snack Cakes, Salisbury Steak, A few actual steaks, some mac n cheese in a box, there's also a box full of MREs, some Nuka cola, a handful of cans of Pork and beans, a few bowls of noodles, some potato crisps, and uh... Something called Sunset Sarsaparilla, there's a couple crates of bottles with em. Also a few odd Nuka colas, like a red glowing one, a blue glowing one, and a greenish glowing one... Also a few bottles of vodka, whiskey, beer, wine, and some water. As well as a few other things of food here and there I've not seen before." Yuuko said and Ingram stood up, Yuuko took a step back as he did so.

"Alright, thanks. Yuuko. How's the bedding situation?" Ingram asked as he made his way to the kitchen, with Yuuko following behind. "Well there's a few bunk beds in the bedroom, looks like there used to be a queen size in there... Also speaking of the beds. There's room for two in each bunk." Yuuko said as if she was suggesting something Ingram knew and he just brushed it off on the outside, letting it slide. "Alright, then that's good." Ingram said, Yuuko pouted as she stood behind him. "I expected a completely different response." Yuuko said before she was quieted by Ingram with his finger put to her lips. "Don't worry about it. Just tired, want to make sure everything's ready for tonight so we... Meaning Kirie, Okonogi, and I don't freeze to death." Ingram said and Yuuko smiled. "Well don't worry, there's a lot of firewood we saw while coming in. We'll be fine... And besides... If you get cold in the night then you have me to keep you warm." Yuuko said and Ingram's cheek's just barely at all turned red. Considering they were mostly hidden by a beard he managed to acquire in his travels.

"I gotta shave... Are there any razors?" Ingram said and turned around to face Yuuko of whom pointed to the kitchen sink. "Alright, thanks Yuuko. I'm just going to shave and I'll be back out." Ingram said before he went over to the sink and picked up the ancient can of shaving cream, looking into the rigged up mirror, he spread the shaving cream across his face and took up a razor, beginning to shave his face...

Meanwhile in the living room, Okonogi and Kirie came out, bundled up in clothes as they looked like they were ready to trek through Siberia in the coming winter, they could hear Ingram yell 'Shit' as he was clearly in the middle of shaving considering that was the only time other than in the middle of a couple firefights they heard him curse. "He's shaving." Okonogi smiled and Kirie chuckled. "Yep. About time, that beard was getting out of hand." Kirie said as she shook her head and looked over to the fireplace, Ingram put some wood in the fireplace itself and left a large pile off to the side away from the fireplace but close enough to just drop it in. "Hmm. Alright he got that done. And given our food supplies we should be fine for the few days." Kirie said as she went over to the couch and sat down on it letting out a sigh.

"I know, for the first time in a while we'll actually be sleeping in a building with all four walls, and doors up!" Okonogi said as she sat down on the couch too. "Yeah, but that was because Ingram was worried about someone getting to us. The NCR knows we're here, and we're pretty much in the middle of scenic nowhere. Not a person or animal around for since we left Vladivostok, save for some birds and a few mutated bears... And some mutated Siberian tigers but regardless. We're safe now. Just have to stay in for three days and we'll be fine." Kirie said, before she picked up a comic book and began reading. "Yeah. I know. ...Too bad we missed Halloween though." Okonogi said with a sigh.

"Halloween? ...Been a long time since we actually celebrated. ...I wonder if they celebrate Christmas in the NCR..." Kirie said and Ingram came in, with Yuuko behind him though Okonogi couldn't see Yuuko. Ingram sat down in the chair he found Yuuko sitting on. Yuuko leaned on the arm rest. "Yeah we celebrate Christmas in the NCR. Most everyone does. Except for those savages from Caesar's Legion. Hell even the Khans and the raider gangs across the wasteland celebrate Christmas.. As I said unless you're born from some tribal village or one of Caesar's slave soldiers, you're free to celebrate Christmas. ...And most do. Hell those guys who came up out of New Canaan all celebrate Christmas and they say it's all about the child of their god. ...I'm not one to debate all that so I just leave it be. To each their own in this life." Ingram said as he held a small cut fragment of a bandage on a cut he got from shaving.

"Oh? Who are these New Canaan guys you mentioned?" Kirie asked and Ingram shrugged. "To my memory they're... Mormons? I think? Some ancient religion from way back when." Ingram said before he took the bandage off and the cut had stopped bleeding. "Ah, I heard of them. ..Kinda, barely remember anything about them." Kirie said and Ingram stood up, tossing the bit of bandage he cut off from a roll to stop his bleeding, tossing it into the fireplace. "Well it doesn't matter much. Regardless, we'll hunker down for the next three days and keep close to each other with this fire. Our generator's likely run on some of the nuclear material that's left around the wastes so we'll be good off for a while, the engineers hauled a fuckload of wood to the side of the house so I'll run out there and get wood when we need it." Ingram said before returning to his seat.

"Alright so I guess we just do that then." Okonogi shrugged and she picked up a wasteland survival guide, looking it over, Kirie did the same with a comic book she picked up just earlier. Ingram got up and went back into the comms room and opened up his pack, taking the journal he took from that Teiichi boy's house and began reading through it, with his Pipboy translating the pages. Yuuko followed Ingram and watched while he read the journal. "Ingram. Where'd you get that?" Yuuko asked, Ingram looked over his shoulder to see Yuuko at his left side while he read. "Uhm... Just got it while scaving through a house in that town below Seikyou?"

Ingram said and Yuuko grabbed the journal, closing it. "That's Teiichi's. You really shouldn't be reading it." Yuuko said as she held the journal to her chest. "Yuuko..." Ingram said as he turned on his chair to face her. "It's just helping me to understand you better, please. Give me it back." Ingram said, holding his right hand out. "I'll consider it. But no. Not right now." Yuuko put the journal off on another table and went back to Ingram. "Besides what more do you need to understand about me other than what I know?" Yuuko asked, crossing her arms. "It's just part of a plan I have. Don't worry about it. We're still far away from New Vegas, and where we need to go is outside of it. When we get there, I promise here and now, I will tell you everything you want to know." Ingram said and Yuuko shook her head.

Ingram was too touch a nut to crack for his own good, Yuuko knew that too well but that's also part of why she had feelings for him, he was the toughest person she'd met in this wasteland, she learned you had to be strong in this new world, if there was anything or anyone stronger than Ingram, she'd yet to meet them, and she hoped she wouldn't. "I'm going to hold you to that promise, you know." Yuuko said with a smile on her face. "Yeah. Yeah I know you will, and I'm counting on it." Ingram said as he held his hand out. "The journal? ...Please?" Ingram said and Yuuko picked the journal back up, handing it to Ingram. "Here. If it'll help." Yuuko said before she sat down on a chair next to Ingram. "Thank you." Ingram said before he went back to reading.

For the next few hours, Ingram, Kirie, and Okonogi were reading books they had, Okonogi brought a few in her pack from Seikyou while Kirie was just reading mostly books just found in the house. Ingram was still reading the journal while Yuuko wandered about, looking around the comms room. "Hmm. We'll if this is right then this'll help a bit..." Ingram said to himself in a low voice, Yuuko heard it and shrugged it off as she looked at a T45d Power Armour helmet that was up on a shelf. "Ingram? What's this strange helmet?" Yuuko asked, Ingram turned around on his chair and saw the helmet.

"Oh. Must either be a scavenged power armour helmet or it's an actual working one. Either way must be left over from when the US occupation forces in Alaska were still there to police the territory. Scavers can find some nice tech sometimes so I'd guess one of the guys that was here decided to just leave that." Ingram said as it began to get cold in the house. "Shit. Storm must be incoming." Ingram said as he got up and went to the door, opening it he got a face full of snowflakes and he shut the door. "Yep, it's snowing." Ingram said, and Yuuko let out laugh.

Ingram shook his head and went back to the comms room putting the journal back in his pack with Yuuko's bones and closed the pack up before he went into the living room and started the fire in the fire place. "You girls got your clothes and all? Storm's incoming and it's gonna get cold." Ingram said as he put the firewood in the fireplace, using his lighter he lit up a piece he put some pitch from the fireplace with and put it in the fireplace, gradually the fire started to burn and it warmed up in the house. "Thanks Ingram." Kirie said as she was wrapped up in a blanket with the winter clothes on, reading her book. Okonogi was much the same. "No problem." Ingram said before he went back to his chair in the comms room.