Aiden waited for a few more seconds. hunching over he held his side cringing in pain. Boone walked over beside Aiden with his arms crossed.
"you need to see a doctor." Boone said as he glanced over at Aiden.
"No,... no no i'm ok, really." Aiden said holding his sides.
"You need to see the doctor" Boone replied grabbing Aidens arm pulling it over his shoulder holding him up.
"Y..your right, can i ask you a favor."
"What is it." Boone replied propping Aiden up.
"Would you mined getting the doctor and bring him to the room, im going to go inside and rest for a bit." Aiden asked gathering himself and holding himself up on his own.
"Sure, it'll only be a few minutes." Boon muttered as he headed around the corner to retrieve the doctor.
Aiden made his inside slowly opening the door finding Cass and Selene just getting up. they were looking at him with a strange expression wile rubbing there eyes. Aiden slowly took a seat in the chair trying mot to make his injuries hurt even more then they already were.
"What happened to you last night?" Cass asked as she looked like she had a bunch of questions for him.
Aiden Looked at them both with a soft sigh before answering her. "Well, I helped out the night sniper with a little problem he had and, while i was doing that i took on a super mutant by myself."
They both were silent for a few minutes looking at each other before turning back to Aiden. "You took on a super mutant alone, why would you willingly do that." Selene replied softly.
"It was late and if i didn't do anything at that moment then the farmer would have lost another Brahman." Aiden replied.
"Well, next time don't go off doing stuff like that alone ok." Selene said running her fingers through her hair trying to fix it.
Cass looked over at Aiden for a few seconds thinking. "I had a question, this Project Purity, what is it exactly."
"It's a water purification project to bring fresh drinkable water to the waste's, we completed it in the Capital Wasteland. The finished product we called it Aquapura, it's purer the purified water with no radiation." Aiden said wiping the sweat from his forehead before Boone came in with a woman in blood stained clothes.
"Here is the doctor you requested." Boone said as he leaned against the wall crossing his arms.
The doctor came over to Aidens side as she looked him over, she used her index, and middle finger together and applied pressure around his ribs and along his chest.
"AAahh, damn it that fucking hurts you know." Aiden replied gripping the arms rests on the chair.
"Oh, you will be fine, I have seem worse but it will take a few days for you to heal properly." After a few more minutes of examining him she handed him a few Med-x's, and a couple of Stimpaks, then she was on her way.
After the doctor was gone a man stopped the door from closing. Boone looked over at him, from his expression it looked like he knew him but didn't say a word to him. Aiden then sat up looking at the man, he was wearing what looked like the same as you would see on a mercenary wandering the wastes, and he also wore a baret just like the one Boone wears.
"Hi there" Aiden said holding onto his sides. "Who are you and what do you need?"
"What's going on, man?" He asked as he looked around the room then back at Aiden. "I'm Manny and i'm on security detail here, I was on my way to start my shirt up in the Dinosaurs mouth when i over heard you saying you took on a mutant by yourself is that true."
"It is but i'm prity banged up because of it, why do you ask." Aiden replied as he slowly rose to his feet.
"I see, Maybe you might be able to help me out with something. The old rocket test site up the road, most of the people here have been getting stuff from there to sell to trader, but lately we have been getting a lot of Ghouls coming from there. Now no one is able to get in there now." Manny said as he fixed his baret.
"And what exactly is it you want me to do about it." Aiden replied as he wrapped some old bandages around his chest tightly.
"Well they gotta go, or this place will be a ghost town before long. Doesn't matter what you do. Just as long as the Ghouls are out of there, that's good enough for me."
Aiden sighed as he finished tieing his bandages. "Alright, we will see what can be done about the Ghoul problem at the test site."
"Thanks, it would mean a lot to me. when you finish come find me i'll be either up in the Dinosaurs mouth or in my hotel room it's on the bottom floor." Manny said waving goodbye as he headed out heading up to the Dinosaur as Boone glared at him untill he was out of site.
"Alright, I guess we should get ready to go to the rocket test site." Aiden said as he through on his leather jacket, shortly throwing on his duster over-top of his jacket. Once he picked up his pack he cringed a bit before throwing it on his back. "Let's get going while the suns up."Aiden said picking up his rifle slinging it over his shoulder.
Aiden and the other's headed west toward the Repcon Rocket Test Site. The trip up the cracked street was quiet till the sound of gasping, gurgling type growls filled the air. The run down overpass slowly came into sight as a hazy greenish yellow glow was coming out from behind the rubble.
"Glowers." Aiden said as he drew his rifle making sure it was loaded.
Boone and Cass drawn their weapons as well as Selene held her rifle as she shock slightly. The glowing Ghoul slowly walked around the corner as it emitted a heavy radioactive mist, it slowly turned it's head looking towards everyone. As soon as it locked it's sight on them, it let out a light growl like scream as it charged at then. Aiden and Boone Aimed their rifles at the Ghoul. It began to run faster, Aiden and Boone waited till it got closer just as it got in close enough range a shot rang out behind them as the glowing one dropped in front of them. They both turned around and saw Cass holding her rifle up.
"What, you two were taking to long." Cass said as she slung her rifle back over her shoulder.
After they made they're way up to the entrance of the test site they found that it was filled with Feral Ghouls. After the long winded fire fight they had managed to take out the Ghouls in the area surrounding the main entrance. Once inside they were screeched at by a man through the intercom system.
"Hey, over here are you listening? Go to the big room on the east side of this building and take the giant metal staircase all the way up. And hurry." The gravely voiced man said as the intercom shut off and nothing but static could be heard.
They fought they're way through the building trying to find the metal stair case. Tons of Feral Ghouls would come around every corner growing and screaming, the ringing of gun fire echoed through the hallways. After three hours of searching through the wrecked halls and and dead end rooms with collapsed ceillings they finally reached the staircase.
"AAAhhhh, is doing this really worth it." Aiden said as he and the rest of his companions followed him across the rusted catwalk. "Once this is all over im going to treat every one to a drink when we find a bar."
"That sounds good...I could use a drink after this." Boone grunted as the clunking of the butt of his rifle hitting the railing rang out through the empty room.
After the long climb the reached the covered landing at the top of the stairs, they were once again greeted by the gravely voice from before over the intercom again. "Alright, smoothskin's, i'm letting you in. You better watch yourself's. I sure as hell know i will be." He said as the intercom shut off just as fast this time as it did when they first heard it. They could hear the door unlock as they approached it.
Aiden pushed open the door and on the other side was a fair skinned, balding middle-aged man in a white lab coat was waiting for them. "God, But are you ugly! Get upstairs and talk to Jason before I throw up just from looking at you all."
"Whoa whoa whoa, wait a minute why are you talking like that you're not a Ghoul." Aiden blurted out as he confronted him.
"Your pranks won't work on me, smothskin. They won't work on Jason either." The man said grinning. "So, stop wasting my time, go waste Jason's." He then turned and walked away disappearing deeper into the building.
Aiden and the other continued down the barely lite hallways as the sound of computers ticked and buzzed though-out the room. Once they reached the stairs the clanking of their rifles lightly bumping the bits of broken railing and plaster along the wall. Soon they finally reached the top of the stairs, standing there was a bright glowing Ghoul wearing a red dress suit that was ripped and torn in areas.
"Ah, hello wanderer. Please forgive us for our humble surroundings. Our true home awaits us in the Far Beyond. Have you all come to help us complete the Great Journey?" The Ghouls said as he crossed his arms awaiting they're answer.
"I'm Aiden, and this is Boone, Cass, and Selene. If you don't mind me asking but who are you." Aiden asked as he adjusted the strap on his rifle.
"I am Jason Bright, the prophet of the Great Journey. All the Ghouls you see here are all members of my flock. We were all on schedule until one day when the Demons showed up."
"Wait, what was that about Demons?" Aiden asked looking at Jason curiously.
"The Demons appeared from nowhere... except, it'd be more accurate to say that they never actually appeared at all. The Demons are invisible. Where one of them stands all one sees is air shimmering, like sunlight on water. They set upon us when we were on our way to worship one morning. We had just entered the basement. My Flock fought bravely, and killed a few, but at such cost. Nearly half of us died or wen't missing. The rest of us retreated up here. One of the Demons raved at us, but haven't tried to attack us since. Still, their demonic presence brought all progress towards the Great Journey to a standstill. But now, you have come, once again the Creator has sent a human to help us across a insurmountable obstical" Jason replied uncrossing his arms.
"A demon, raved at you." Boone grumbled propping himself up against the wall.
"Yes, over the intercom. Threats of death should we step outside, guarantees of safety should we stay locked away. It went on for hours, and did not always make sense. But that was the first day, since then, silence. Will you drive the Demons away wanderers.
"We will see what we can for you Jason." Aiden said as he stood there.
"Praise the Creator, Bless you wanderers, Bless us all. Once the underground has been rid of Demons, preparations for the Great Journey can resume." Jason replied in excitement.
"Is there a key that we will need to get into the basement." Aiden asked while getting his pack set up.
"Yes, here you go wanderer. And thank you again for assisting us in our journey" Jason said as he reached into his pocket pulling out the key to the basement placing it in Aiden's hand.
Once the key was in hand Aiden and the others made their way back down the way they came, the bodies of the Feral Ghouls they have killed on the way in littered the floor. At the bottom there was a door that had been kicked in, a mutant layed dead face down in the dirt as a Feral Ghoul layed squished under the kicked in door, as they walked up the ramp around the corner and down another small flight of stairs was the door to the basement. There was a splatter of dried on blood stretched across the front of the door that lead to a small pool on the floor.
Aiden opened the door crouching as he then quietly made his way past all the terminals, and work stations finally making it to an open door. Aiden peeked around the corner as he looked to the left he could see two corridors and a door, as he then turned his gaze to the right he saw a light shimmering as something walked around the corner. He motioned them to follow him closely going to the left. They moved as silently as the could keeping their rifles from clanking against the walls, as they passed the first corridor they came up to the second one. Down the small hallway was a door. Hoping there was supplies he stood up once he knew he was out of site and opened the door, the screeching of the the steel grinding against it's self echoed through the corridors as the mechanics twisted and turned before finally finishing and sliding open.
Aiden walked in slowly making sure to see if the room was safe for his companions to enter. Upon entering the room in a quick flash of light a Super Mutant appeared out of nowhere grabbing Aiden by his duster lifting him off the ground slamming him into the wall.
"Look Antler, we have a visitor? An Assassin, more like i say we kill it Antler, for safe's sake!" It said as Boone, Cass, and Selene ran in drawing they're wepon aiming them at the Mutant. The Mutant looked around the room watching them as they aimed at him before looking back at a Brahman skull on the table. "Wh-whats that Antler, but..bu aww ok Antler i'll ask" He said as he set Aiden down on the ground stepping back as he cleared his throat. "Ok, uh hi human why you come here."
Aiden tried to gather himself as Cass And Boone helped him to his feet, Selene stepped forward as she addressed the Mutant.
"We are here on behalf of the Ghouls." She said calmly trying not to anger him.
"Humans who are friends to Ghouls? Suspicious. You mean the ones upstairs. Antler used intercom, told them stay put, but they want to come down in basement anyways? I can not allow. My kin are...not right in head like I am. They attack you on sight. Ghouls too. They crazy. Your Ghouls friends will have to wait. you must help us find what Antler brought us to get." He said walking back over to the desk in the center of the room.
"Ok.. maybe we can help you out, what do you need done." Selene replied standing her ground.
"Good, Antler brought us here for a reason...why was that Antler? Right, piece of paper, shipment invoice. Hundreds of stealth-boys, sent here, a long time ago...But stealth-boys must be in room we don't search yet - the one we can't search."
"Why can't you search that room." Aiden asked as he finally regained his footing.
"A Ghoul, but not squishy like the others. This Ghoul is tough. I thought Antler said to send my kin into that room, but three died. Ghoul is crack shot and set traps too. After I realized, I heard Antler wrong. So i locked the door, keep kin out and wait for Antler to tell me what to do. Then you come along, Antler say you are solution."
"OK we will find the stealth-boy stockpile for you." Selene replied adjusting her pack getting ready to head out.
"Good, Antler says we leave as soon as we get not be expecting you, he not shoot at you, maybe he will. Return here when you have found Stealth-boys. But we keep this one as collateral,to insure you return and not take off with Stealth-boys." He said as he walked over grabbing Aiden by his duster and pulling Aiden towards him.
They didn't want to leave him but headed out down the hall with the key in hand. For the first hour all Aiden could hear was that guy talking to that skull, he sat on the floor holding his side before jabbing a stimpak in his side, the pain slowly began to subside making sitting there a little bit more tolerable.
After a few hours have gone by the group had returned to the room as they were greeted by the Mutant again. "Antler, sings for stealth-boys. Have you found them?
"No, the stealth-boys are no longer here." Selene replied holding her arms to her sides.
"Liar! the invoice said stealth-boys are here! Antler read it out loud to me!" He said yelling at the group.
"I'm sorry, on a terminal in there shipment invoices logged on it said the stealth-boys were sent here, but due to a shiping error it was sent to this location by mistake and was sent back." Selene said trying to keep her distance from him as Boone and Cass held they're weapons ready if he decided to attack.
"But invoice note said stealth-boys were here, why can't that note be true?" He paused for a moment to look over at the skull. "Hm, what's that Antler? ...But humans could be lying, trying to steal stealth-boys for themselves. Aaaww Antler, you trust to easy. Your lucky day humans. Antler believes you. Nightkin will follow new note for stealth-boys. Better be there." He then screamed over the intercom in the basement alerting his kin to leave with him to follow the new note as he carried the skull with him as he left.
The trip back up to the top of the building were Jason and his flok were held up was just as long as it was coming back down. Once back inside they walked up the flight of stairs going across the room to a closed door slowly swinging it open as Jason was sitting in his chair in the corner of the one waiting. When Jason noticed them walking in he stood up and approached them.
"Is the way clear wanderers?" Jason asked hopeful there was good news.
Selene gave a big smile as she looked over at Jason. "Yes, they way is clear. The Demons are no longer down there."
"Praise the Creator! And Bless you wanderers, the way is clear, I will lead my flock to through the basement to the sacred site. I hope you will come find us wanderers there is much to be done." As Jason finished he ran off gathering his flok together as they all ran down through the basement to contiune they're work on the preparations for the Great Journey.
Aiden and the others spent hours helping them finding all the parts they needed to prepare the rockets for their journey. upon completion they have been able to Finnish they're rockets and was ready to launch. The others went outside to test site building to watch as Aiden through the switch. With a few quick adjustments Aiden made sure that they were able to make it as close as they could to their desired destination. Within minutes the rockets took to the night sky soaring through the sky's over Novac disappearing into the darkness.
The road that lead down to the Repcon test site was no longer infested with Ghouls. It was quiet, and some might say peaceful as the four finally arived back at Novac. The sun was just showing it's self from over the horizon, it's rays were shinning bright from behind the Dinosaur as they were just about to enter the main gate n they're way up Manny was just leaving his room getting ready for to start his shift. He saw that they have returned and smiled as he approached them.
"Hey! did you have any luck with the Ghouls. I'm counting on you?" Manny asked crossing his arms.
"The Ghouls are no longer at Repcon, and will no longer be a threat to Novac." Aiden replied rubbing his eyes a little.
"Really, unbelievable man, I knew that wasn't gonna be easy. But I had a good feeling about you all." He said as he glanced over at Boone as he was leaning on the side of the fence with his arms crossed. "You guy's looked like you have been through a lot."
"Um, I was wondering. You wouldn't know how we would be able to reach Boulder city from here would you?" Aiden asked slinging his pack back up on his shoulder.
"Of course man, you just head up route 93, just keep following the road north." Manny replied lowering his arms.
"Thank you, thats all im needing to know for now." Aiden said breaking a smile as he looked at his group. "Come on every one, the sooner we get to Boulder City the sooner we can get those drinks i promised."
Everyone nodded as they followed Aiden out of town. The road was long as the took Manny's directions and followed Route 93 north, two hours have come and passed sence they had left Novac, the most they have seem was a stray tumbleweed here and there until over the horizon they spotted what looked like a small trading post in the distance. Siden looked through his binoculars checking to see if he could see anything. Upon inspection of the area Aiden noticed a flag flapping in the light breeze it bared a picture of a two headed bear with a red star just to the left of the bear. There was a sign just over what looked like a small bar, it read the 188 Trading Post.
