The Duchess Gambit pulled into Point Lookout early the next morning. Tobar walked out of his cabin and breathed in the salty, ocean air. Sure, it had a hint of radiation to it, but it still smelled like home. The ferry man eyed the rickety, wooden door across from him. That girl was in there, sound asleep. She owed him 300 caps for this trip, but he preferred if she used other methods of payment…
Tobar opened the door as quietly as he could and let his eyes adjust to the slight darkness in the room. The girl was asleep all right but she wasn't alone. A ghoul sat behind her with his arms tenderly around her waist. The same ghoul he forbade from coming aboard with her. Yet, there he was with his rotting face buried in the crook of her neck. She looked serene leaning against the freak and Tobar was disgusted. This was his boat. He made the rules.
Tobar reached for his gun when the ghoul stirred. Charon stood quite suddenly and Ava tumbled from his lap onto the cot, not fully awake. Charon began to tense up and he unleashed a horrific, feral snarl that sent shivers down Ava's spine.
"What the fuck are you doing in my room?" asked Ava, glaring at Tobar. Charon did not wait for an explanation and lunged forward, almost tearing the ferry man's arm from its socket. Ava grabbed Charon's arm, holding him back just long enough for Tobar to barricade himself into his cabin. Charon continued his snarls and lashed at the door.
"Charon, stop!" Ava cried. She knew he wouldn't lay a hand on her, so she pushed herself between him and the door.
"Hey, hey. It's all right. That fucker didn't hurt me. I was with you," she said in a soothing voice as she cupped the side of his face. Charon reluctantly stopped himself from tearing down the door to Tobar's cabin and instead concentrated on Ava's face.
"Don't turn feral on me, okay? I need you," she said quietly. The ghoul nodded. Ava calmly gathered their things and handed Charon his respective weapons. Walking out onto the dock, warped from years of waves crashing against it (or perhaps ferries), Ava was amazed to see things she had only seen pictures of in books.
"Is that a, damn it what is called…something wheel?" said Ava to herself.
Charon forgot some times that Ava had come from a vault. She could be so deadly with a weapon, so cunning and fearless, yet she had never seen even a quarter of what he had in his lifetime. Not even something as normal as a ferris wheel.
"Ferris wheel. You sit in those baskets and the wheel turns, allowing for a view of the area," Charon explained. He looked past Ava and pointed to a large mansion by the cliffs. Smoke seeped from the mansion and into the cloudy morning sky.
"Come on, we should check it out. The girl might be there," said Charon.
Ava was pleased with Charon's sudden urge to lead, and she followed him past the rotting boardwalk and through the murky swamps. Pools of muck bubbled with methane gas. A bubble popped near Ava and singed her armor. Charon pulled her away before she could be injured further.
"We're a long way from home. Treat everything here as a threat," said Charon. He heard a noise in the distance and looked up with his finger ready on the trigger of his gun. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah. Sounded like laughter, didn't it?" she answered.
Yards ahead of them, a head popped out of the tall marsh grass. It was a man, or at least some semblance of one. He brandished a rusty axe over his shoulder and laughed once more. Charon pushed Ava behind him and took aim.
"I'm not entirely helpless you know. Pretty sure I was doing fine before I met you," she complained. Ava pouted, sticking out her full bottom lip out slightly and added a whimpering noise to boot. Charon stared at her mouth for a few seconds before returning his attention to the man who was now running towards them, swinging his axe.
"Would you quit your bitching? I'm trying to aim here. As I recall, I am in the lead regarding our game. I would like to keep it so. And stop pouting like that! It's distracting," he muttered. Two shots were fired and the man was down in the grass once again.
"You know, you're an asshole. Why the hell do I keep you around?" said Ava with a joking grin.
"It's obvious, Smoothskin. I am the better shot."
Ava groaned and looped her arm through his. "Not this again!"
As they continued their walk towards the mansion, Charon looked down at Ava out of the corner of his eye. He noticed that walked closer to him than usual, so close that the hilt of his combat knife dug into his side because she was pressed against him.
Something is going on here. A woman as gorgeous as Ava should NOT be this close to me all the time, thought Charon.
"What do you think we'll find in there?" asked Ava as they stepped over the body of the man Charon had picked off. He was grotesquely deformed, with a large head and a protruding pot-belly.
"Probably more inbreds like the one I just killed. Be careful," he cautioned.
It wasn't long before they reached the mansion overlooking the sea and lighthouse. It must have been an impressive home back in its heyday but it now stood dilapidated and rotted.
"We should storm this place and keep it as a summer house," said Ava.
"Too fancy for my tastes. Tenpenny Tower is over indulgent enough. You know us ghouls, we like the dark and dank to make our homes in," Charon said. Ava really did enjoy his sarcasm. He was almost charming at times.
"I guess I'll have to learn to like the dark then if we stay together," she answered casually. Ava walked into the courtyard of the home while Charon scanned the area for any threats to them. There seemed to be a mob headed in their direction. They had to get inside the house, and quickly.
"You!" shouted a voice. "You two aren't Tribals! Get in here and help me fight these bastards off!" That voice…Charon had heard it before. It was almost as if hearing it turned on a switch inside him. Images quickly flashed through his head. Charon as a poor child. The slavers. A scientist looking down at him with pity in his eyes. The same scientist walk into the Ninth Circle, shaking hands with Azrukhal. Ava grabbed Charon's arm and yanked him into the mansion and out of his thoughts. She wasn't sure who the Tribals were, but they sounded like a threat and the mansion was now a place of safety, even if only for a few minutes.
Inside the mansion, turrets had attacked and killed two painted men holding double-barreled shotguns. Ava and Charon cautiously walked into the foyer. Charon stopped dead in his tracks as he caught sight of the man, or rather ghoul, who had called them inside. Two mangy dogs stood on either side of him.
"Desmond Lockheart?" asked Charon carefully. Ava looked at the ghouls with surprise, Charon in particular. The look on his face confirmed that he wasn't expecting to ever see this other ghoul ever again. Charon looked absolutely livid, to the point that Ava was convinced he would go feral at any given moment.
"Who the fuck wants to know- shit, Charon!" growled Desmond. The two ghouls immediately raised their guns and within seconds, were engaged in a stand-off.
"Ava! Go hide, now!" barked Charon. Ava refused and stayed by his side, glaring at Desmond. If Charon had a problem with someone, she would make it hers as well.
"Charon, I know you want nothing more than to kill me right now, but this place will be overrun within a few minutes. If you want this Ava here to live another day, I suggest we put aside our differences and kill these fuckers," Desmond said quickly. Charon nodded and lowered his gun while Desmond did the same.
"Come on, I think they're just outside the next room," said Desmond.
The ghoul named Desmond pulled open the doors and his dogs began to growl loudly. A group of painted humans Ava assumed to be Tribals broke through a wall across from them and began to shoot. Desmond's dogs jumped forward and began tearing into the closest enemy they could. Charon was the first to step into the room and finish off anyone who was still standing. He looked back as the dust settled, making sure that Ava was not injured. Desmond marched into the room and kicked open the next set of doors leading into a large, formal dining room. The sound of wood being crushed inwardly was heard from upstairs and Desmond hissed in anger.
"They're coming from upstairs! Go up there and block off where they're coming in from. I'll keep watch down here," ordered Desmond.
Charon and Ava rushed up the rotting, wooden steps two at a time up to the second floor of the house. At the top of the staircase, a Tribal broke through a door on the left, slamming into Ava. Charon grabbed the back of her armor, yanked her by his side, and shot the man twice. Ava ran ahead through a nursery while Charon finished off another Tribal that had appeared. She saw a rope dangling from the ceiling and she tossed a grenade towards a gas tank that stood behind it. The explosion shook the house violently.
Charon found an intercom on the wall and slammed his fist on the button. "West Wing is secure. What else?" Charon said angrily.
"The East wing is being breached. Hurry the fuck up! I don't feel like dying today, I have shit to do!" shouted Desmond. Charon kicked open a door and it opened into the foyer. Ava was breathing heavily as she tried to keep up with her ghoul. He had never-ending stamina, it seemed. Desmond pointed to a door as another group of Tribals came storming towards them. They were quickly disposed of. Ava and Charon walked through the door with their guns raised. Part of the hallway was blocked off by a pile of desks so Ava went down the opposite hallway instead. There was a loud creaking noise and the antique floor gave away beneath Ava's feet. Charon leapt forward to grab her hand but just barely brushed the tips of her fingers as she fell.
"AVA!" screamed Charon as he looked down into the hole. He saw Ava sit up slowly and cough as the dust cleared the air. She had fallen through the first and second levels of the house and crashed into the basement. At least she did not appear to be hurt too badly. "I am coming down!"
Ava saw that she had fallen all the way down to the basement. Strange mannequins surrounded her, completely nude, and with blank, unseeing eyes. A loud bang on the door caused her to ready her rifle. The door burst from its hinges and Ava fired seven rounds into a Tribal's chest. She picked up his shotgun and strapped it to her back as she made her way through the kitchen. The body of a Tribal was thrown into the kitchen, knocking over several pots and pans. Ava aimed at the doorway but it was only Charon. She jumped over the counter and leapt straight into his arms. She could feel his heart beating through his chest and she savored its beats.
"I almost shot you!" she said. Charon gave her a squeeze before letting her feet hit the floor.
"Please, you could not shoot your way out of a paper bag," he said with a smirk that Ava caused her own heart to miss a few beats. They went back up the stairs, found the source of the Tribals in the East Wing and tossed a grenade towards the source of the gas. Just as the grenade left Ava's hands, Charon noticed the gas had reached them. The fire from the blast would engulf them both. Charon shoved Ava through the door and slammed it shut behind him, the wood burning his back and hands from the blast. She wordlessly placed a hand on his chest in thanks. They rushed back to the foyer and Desmond met them at the top of the steps.
"We're about to get hit hard. Charon let them funnel through the front and side doors; kill every fucker that walks in. You have his back, Smoothskin?" asked Desmond.
"I always do," she answered. There was a fierce gleam in her eyes that Charon had never seen before. It was lovely, he decided. It suited her just fine.
"Good. I'll snipe them from up here; the dogs can handle any stragglers." The Tribals attacked from all sides at once it seemed. Ava glanced over at Charon and he seemed absolutely determined to kill them all. He was the most frightening human being when he was in kill mode. Nothing else mattered to him, it seemed, unless it involved her. Charon saved most of his aggression for any foe attacking Ava. The front door came crashing down and Ava pulled Charon back.
"Mini-gun!" she shouted in his ear. The ghoul looked up and saw the Tribal's head get knocked back by a single shot. Desmond had gotten the shot, and the fight was over. Bodies littered the foyer and Charon grinned at Ava. It made her heart jump again. He, Charon, was really doing this to her. She couldn't fucking believe it. She was a sucker for a ghoul, a ghoul that had some serious anger issues but protected her without any regard for his own life.
"Kind of reminds me of the messes we make back at home," he said. "There is no better or deadlier team than us." Ava smiled but immediately frowned when Charon's face grew dark the moment Desmond walked down the steps. She was worried about the tension between the two ghouls. Charon already had his gun ready in his hands.
"So, my heroes huh? Think you came in and rescued me just in the nick of time? Hmpf. Hardly. Had it all well in hand. Didn't even have to use the failsafe. That would have fucked up the paintings though, so just as well that you two are here. This asshole here already knows me, but you don't. The name's Desmond," said the ghoul as he extended a hand to Ava. She did not take it and stood closer to her ghoul instead.
"You always were an ungrateful little shit," said Charon.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure we just saved your life," Ava added.
"No, but you helped me out and that's something. Tell ya what. I'll share some tips on making the final stand," said Desmond.
"I bet it's nothing I can show her. You don't impress me. Never did," said Charon with a scoff.
"I didn't ask your opinion, fuck face. I'm talking to your Mistress!" snapped Desmond. "Anyways, I think I can give you some work dealing with these Tribals." Charon seethed, gritting his teeth so hard his jaw ached.
"I'm not his Mistress. I freed him the second I bought his contract, so I'd watch how you talk to him if I were you. What do you want us to do? This better pay good," she said.
"Just you, gorgeous. Not Charon. Pay attention when I speak. Those mud-lovers want me dead, and they haven't extended the common fucking courtesy of telling me why. They fear ghouls, which is why Charon can't follow you. Infiltrate their commune inside the Ark and Dove cathedral and dig up the dirt about me. Be a good little girl, and 'Ol Desmond will give you a treat. No need for violence…yet."
"Get to the reward," said Ava impatiently. She didn't like the way Desmond had worded it and the way he was staring at her didn't exactly help either. Charon was holding his shotgun so tightly, Ava thought he might crush it.
"The only reliable currency in the world: information. You provide me with valuable information from the Tribals and I will pay in kind. Unless you had something else in mind…" said Desmond.
"Unless it is caps, she doesn't want anything else," said Charon.
Desmond looked at Charon with surprise. "You speak for her? How bold…for a slave."
"He can speak for me if he wishes, just like I can speak for him. You don't have to be an asshole and I don't have to fucking help you," said Ava. "Before I even think about this, I need to know if you've seen a girl named Nadine. My age, crazy orange hair."
"I've been around a long god damn time. The last time I knew a bird named Nadine, I still had skin. There was a girl nosing about here a few weeks ago but she ran before I could…introduce myself."
"Give me a second then." Ava pulled Charon aside and quietly asked, "What the hell is your beef with him anyway? I don't want to come back and found out that you've killed each other. I can't exactly function in life without you now. You've ruined my damn life," she said before flashing a smile.
"This is no time for jokes. Why must you aide every single person who asks it of you?" Charon asked sullenly.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle," she stated.
Charon stared at her, stunned. "Plato, Ava? Really?"
"I never took you to know anything about philosophy," said Ava. Charon shrugged and muttered something about him being old and reading.
"Look, I give you my word that I will tell you my history with him when time allows. Go ahead and do this for Desmond. It will buy me time to get information from him, if you are all right with it," explained Charon. Ava nodded and looked back at Desmond, who was petting one of his dogs.
"Why should I work for you?" asked Ava.
"What's the difference between you and I kid? What makes a gifted killer like yourself into a rock-hard bastard like Charon and myself? The answer is TRAINING YOU IGNORANT FUCK! I've got a hundred years of experience on you, and don't you forget it!" shouted Desmond.
Charon let another vicious snarl escape his throat. "Do not fucking talk to her like that!"
"It's okay. He's just pissed because he has to send a pretty little girl like me to do his dirty work. Pathetic. I'll be back in a few hours. Behave. Both of you," said Ava. She gave Charon a quick hug and turned on her heel, walking out the ruined front door and leaving two angry men behind her.
"So," began Desmond, "If you're done staring at the Smoothskin's ass, I have some good fuckin' whiskey in the cabinet over here. I'm feeling generous today, if you haven't noticed."