The group's pipboys could reconnect with ARC.
A.R.C.
"Hmm, It seems the bad weather has past us. At least, the worst has."
"A bit of news now..."
"The dicks of the PRCT seem to have gotten themselves into trouble. Reports have suggested that a lot of their posts have been attacked by well-equipped raiders. Although we... and by that I mean myself, have no clue who these people or what their motives are. but hey... An enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? Or however that saying goes."
"Now. Back to some music. Accentuate The Positive by the late Johnny Mercer. True words if you ask me.
Morgan fussed around Rook, peering closely at his back. "If this ferry guy refuses to give us parts, I'll kill him. Driving a boat aint too hard, right?"
Rook halted when they reached the border of the jungle and flat ground was in sight. No foliage, brush, trees, or any other synonyms Rowan might use to describe a jungle.
"We have arrived. The ferry should be just southwest of here."
The remainder of the journey was a lot less 'exciting'
Eventually things started to open up. But little did they know, that they were being watched...
"Fucking finally." Morgan grunted, happy to be out from the humidity.
The shrubberies rattled as whatever was eyeballing them, took off in a hurry, back into the jungle.
Rook's head turned sharply in the direction of the sound. He watched where it had come from for a moment, before continuing onward.
Morgan continued to remain quiet along the road, which was odd considering it was, well...Morgan.
"You are not making any noise." Rook noted to Morgan, which perhaps sounded like an incredibly rude comment, but he more meant it as 'Why are you so quiet?'
Morgan shrugged. "Tired." She mumbled. "Don't want to annoy you…"
"You cannot annoy me, Morgan." He said, reaching out to the side and wrapping his hand around her wrist.
"Mmm." Morgan sighed. "Can annoy them two tho, can't I?"
"Perhaps, but you do not annoy me."
"S'fine alright?" Morgan muttered. "Let's just...keep moving."
Rook gave Morgan a sideways look that said 'tell me!' but was silent, and continued on.
"I've already told you." She muttered, looking at her wrist. "I'm just trying to avoid trouble."
Rook released Morgan's wrist, releasing he as being counterproductive.
Morgan rubbed her wrist. In truth, he'd gripped it a little too tightly. The Tinkerer sighed quietly and glanced back to the jungle.
Good fucking riddance.
Rook watched Morgan rubbing her wrist and showed visual surprise. Had he hurt her?
"Apologies." He offered, regardless of whether he had or not.
"You weren't to know." Morrgan smiled. "S'ok, Rook."
The neoclassical dome of Columbia Univeristy's Low Memorial Library loomed in the distance.
Morgan looked over to the Library building, sighing at the thought of all the lost knowledge in there...
Rook practically ignored the Library. Unless it suddenly turned into a lasor-shooting-robot and attacked them, it did not interest him.
"Do we know our proximity to the ferry?"
She stuck her wrist up for Rook to peer t the map.
"Shouldn't be much farther."
"We'll probably have to pay to get on it." Garry reminded them, he had some caps on him, enough to pay for all four of them but he'd keep that quiet for now.
Rook and Morgan were dirt poor, he was sure of that. This may take some strength of arm...
Morgan shrugged. "If we can't afford it, he's bound to have something needing done. A favour, or death. Easy choice."
"Urgh... Nobody knows how to pilot that fuckin' thing do they? I swear to Christ, I am not in the favour doing mood..." The Wastelander grumbled, scratching the stubble on his face.
"It cannot be diificult."
In the distance, an old river-ferry bobbed quietly at the shoreline.
"Exactly. I'm sure the four of us can figure it out." Morgan said enthusiastically. "You do have a genius and an Android on hand!"
"Well, I wouldn't call myself a genius..." Garry grumbled, with a smirk as he veered off to his left, slinging his shotgun over his shoulder.
Rook took the lead, approaching the aged boat.
The boat was an old double decked rusty bucket. Most of the windows were smashed and it looked like it could tumble over and capsize any moment.
"This...does not look safe..." Morgan noted, still glaring at Garry behind his back.
"I heard a rumour that a guy in DC had a boat like this... Don't know if it was true though..." Garry grumbled at the sight of it, wondering if it was still sea worthy.
Well, river worthy... whatever...
"It certainly is dangerous." Agreed Rook, but did not falter whatsoever.
No sign of life on the docks.
Morgan threw all ideas of stealth out the window.
"Hello!?" She called out. "Lookin for a ride here!"
At first there was no response. But before they could declare the boat deserted, Morgan's call was acknowledged.
"Ja?" An old voice asked.
"Wad doe ja'want?"
"A lift!" Morgan replied. "To uh well...we'd like to discuss it face to face!"
Rook paused, mid-step, and listened. He looked confused.
"He is a speaking a foreign language I do not possess accentuators for."
"A lift!" Morgan replied. "To uh well...we'd like to discuss it face to face!"
Rook fell silent. Apparently, Morgan understood whatever this man was speaking.
"Heh, nah he's speakin' English, he's just doing it terribly..." Garry explained, stepping back as he watched the proceedings.
The old coot had been eyeballin' them from the upper deck, but before the others could look up and see what he looked like he had already walked off.
A short moment later, he opened the door to the dock, where the others were waiting.
He looked ancient; his hair was short but messy. He shaved, but not often enough as his wrinkly chin and thin neck were covered in small white dots. His left eye strayed away and was clearly lazy. He wore an old yellow fisherman's rubber overcoat with double-breasted button lines. Hi fingers where battered and scared. Seamans' hands for sure.
The old man sniffed audibly.
"Ja?! Oim 'ere"
"Erm...we need a ride to Governors Island." Morgan stated. This wasn't a choice she was presenting. She leaned back, awaiting the imminent protest.
The old man's scary eye widened.
"Governor's ja'say?"
"Poor gall, doent ja'now et's dangeres oit tere?"
"Yes I do." Morgan sighed. "I worked at Sanford for a bit. I know what Liz does." She paused and hung her head.
"I know we aren't likely to come back…"
"Gall, Oi doent give too schits aboot ja... Oi aint goin' tere." The old man said brutally honest.
"Why won't ya?" Morgan muttered. "We'vetrecked through so much shit just to reach this place. You're the only boat in the fucking land!" She growled and stepped forwards.
"It's alright for you! You can leave!"
Rook stepped forward with Morgan, not really for any particular reason.
"Dolly, Teh waters 'round guvnor are filled with old sea mines... Oi'd get blown to pieces if Oi got too close."
"Jesus..." Morgan grunted, turning her head toward the noise for a second before refocusing. "People go to Governors all the time. It's only accessible by the water. There has to be a clear path! Surely an old Sailor like you could find that? B-besides! We can look out for mines for you!"
"You'll get blown to pieces if you don't!" Garry snapped; he didn't climb through a plant's asshole to be turned down here.
Hamilton pushed the manhole up above his head as he resurfaced and began to look around, he got the feeling that things had died down up here. Rook had most likely moved on, possibly looking for him or maybe he'd gone back to stick his head in a battery to try and rejuvenate himself.
Either way, the Wastelander didn't care, so long as he stayed out of his way until the Slaver felt up to facing him again. His wounds had healed, though he still didn't feel great...
He glanced up as he reached Polkowski international, quickly pulling himself out of the manhole cover as he drew his Barretta and looked around for potential hostiles.
Gabriel eats his last piece of beans, and pets his mole rat. He then gets up, walks over to his backpack, and puts it on him along with his hat. "Whiskers, let's go on to a adventure!" The mole rat snorts and jumps up. Gabriel opens his door and goes out of his house with his pet mole rat slowly closing the door.
Gabriel slowly hears voices in the direction of a boat, but dismissed it heading out to Central park wanting to fill his water bottle since it was only half. But he kept hearing more and more voices. So then he decided to go to wear the boat was. While heading there a radroach came across. "Come on boy lets sick him!" Gabriel shouts, shooting the radroach with his revolver, while his mole rat hid behind him.
His pet mole rat couldn't hold it. It ran towards Morgan jumping on her licking her. Gabriel ran over and whistled to his pet. "Bad boy, don't do that!" Gabriel looked up the group of strangers. "Going to the infamous governor island?" He asked them.
"Ja'tink Oim stoopid? Ofcourse Oi now the safe passage, but it takes effort, more effort then Oim willin' to put in" The old seadog grinned smugly, showing his yellowed teeth.
Rook turned sharply, punted the animal off Morgan, drew his shotgun, and prepared to execute the mole rat for the assault.
"Woah!" Garry called out, in shock, pulling Rook's gun away from his target.
"It ain't... dangerous. Not yet!" The Wastelander explained, gesturing to the child.
"Aj, Gapriel!" The old man recognised the boy.
"Ow are ja doin'?" he seemed friendly to the child.
He grabs the pet before the person could hurt his pet. "Woah, woah, buddy, my pet did not mean to bother your friend over here." Gabriel said. His pet walked backwards not wanting to get hurt. Gabriel looked into Rook's eye.
Morgan wiped hr face and stood there fuming at the Seadog.
"Why the fuck not!? We got caps if you want it! We need to get there or the Chineses are gonna kill us all! Do you not pay attention to the radio!?"
Rook glanced from Garry, to the boy, to the Captain, to Garry again, before sliding his shotgun back into its holster.
"Wait, aren't you that crazy lady?" Gabriel said.
"My mom she passed…"
"No, Oi only have a jukebox, don't like the talky-fellow on the radio..." The captain said blunt.
Heather stepped in, it was strange seeing a child unattended in the Wasteland, though his pet probably kept him protected on some level.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked him, looking around for any sign of a parent or guardian.
"I ain't no fucking crazy lady, kid." Morgan muttered with a disgruntled sigh. Children annoyed her and made her feel awkward. She turned back to the sailor. "RIght then, the fuck do I gotta do to get passage to Governors?"
"It's dangerous out here, shouldn't someone be with you who can look after you?" She asked, this made Garry suspicious more than anything, Raiders could definitely use him as a great distraction, the Wastelander subtlety raised his guard.
"I will say this again my family are dead! Okay!?" he answered Heather, obviously irrated him. He looked at Garry, noticing him acting weird. "Oh right, you think I'm with what, bad people? Think I'm suspicious?" He asked him.
"Crossed my mind, yeah..." Garry shrugged, it sounded like a sound tactic to him.
"I'm sorry... I thought that maybe there was someone else who looked after you." The Former Slave explained, with a heavy sigh.
"But it is unusual, someone so young being out on your own."
The old men had distanced himself from the rest, apart from Morgan.
"Well... Ja'could go fetch sometin' for me..." The man reasoned.
Garry turned back to the old man, scowling at the mentoin of a 'fetch job.'
Could you blow me?
"Will you promise to take us to Governors then?" Morgan asked, rubbing her temple as she was near the end of her very short tether.
The old man shifted a bit.
"... Maibe"
After that he spat some flew overboard. He had been holding that one back for a very long time.
"I'm intelligent, I know how to survive, and anyway, my mom taught me to survive too." His pet mole rat emerged from behind him snorting and jumping around, obviously liking Morgan.
"I usually don't like people who draw guns at me or my pet. Ok I don't like you guys either way." Gabriel said, obviously being a smart Alek. Whiskers, his pet then began to go around in circles from everybody to Morgan, all the way to Gary. It then walked back to Gabriel.
"But you haven't even given us a chance yet..." Heather replied, unfolding her arms as she knelt down a little closer to him.
"I'm Heather... Your name's Gabriel, isn't it?"
Gabriel looked up at the bunch. "Governor island? My mom told me that my dad was sent there to never return, and I like to kill those communists, I hate them even more, so take me with you, now..." He said like he was ordering them. His pet snorted, like he was agreeing with his master. "How do you know my name?" he asked Heather.
"How do you know my name?" he asked Heather.
"The Ferryman said it." The Former Slave pointed out, he said something different but she was quickly able to translate, a number of the slaves spoke funny, after getting their teeth kicked in.
Gabriel ignored Heather and walked up to the bunch. "Governor island? My mom told me that my dad was sent there to never return, and I like to kill those communists, I hate them even more, so take me with you, now..." He said like he was ordering them. His pet snorted, like he was agreeing with his master.
Rook, in kind, ignored Gabriel as he stepped forward to the old man.
"I can pilot this vessal." Rook stated, staring him down. "This makes you expendable."
Perhaps he wasn't helping Heather's point.
Morgan placed a hand on Rooks chest, silencing him.
"I need a guarantee before I agree to get anything."
"Well" A grin appeared across the old man's face.
"How much's that boatride worth to ja?"
"A lot." Morgan muttered. "We need to get there, otherwise we wouldn't even be here."
"Well, ten get me stuff from Fresh Grove."
"It's just fruits and vegetables, not a fkkin' GECK" The Old man didn't seem to see the problem.
"Fine." Morgan groaned, unable to comprehend that she has to do some old dudes shopping just to get to Governors Island.
"Can we at least stay here the night?"
"Did you hear me?" Gabe asked them sounding a little aggressive.
"We heard what you said, we just don't care. We ain't taking a kid to Governor, you'll get us all fuckin' killed." Garry growled; he was done playing baby sitter to the little shit.
"Beat it."
"I'm sorry for being a little rude. Just not being used to meeting a group of people..." he trailed off. he looked at his pet and then walked away and started to cry.
"Now look wat ja'did!" The Captain chastised Garry for making little Gabe cry.
Garry shrugged; he'd done worse things than make a child cry.
"I saved 'im in the long run."
"Well, then ja'can jolly well sleep som'where else for t'night!"
The captain replied with clear dislike of Garry and answering Morgan's question in the process.
"Gee thanks a fucking bunch Garry." Morgan sighed, basically facepalming. "Now you can go find us somewhere to sleep, unless you want to go back the goddamned Vault?"
Gabriel began screeching something incomprehensible, in the distance. It would seem that his crocodile tears weren't getting much by way of sympathy from his adoptive family and now he was resorted to yelling and name calling.
"Fuck you, it's not like I did it for no reason, what were you even gonna do, take him to Governor? No, of course not, you were going to go fuckin' berry pickin' for this asshole and then play baby sitter for the world's mouthiest five year old!" The Former Slaver snapped, he was pissed off enough, without this layer of shit to add on top.
"Well this asshole is the only one who knows the fucking safe route through!" Morgan shot back. "Do you want to risk your death? Her death, because you shot some old man in a fucking rage!? Like seriously, that's messed up." She stepped forward, not in the mood for taking any crap.
"Go find us someplace!"
She looked over.
"Oh and the kids gone and fucked off now too. Be happy something went right!"
Morgan rolled her eyes and spun 180, folding her arms.
He closed his eyes and then turned around reloaded his .357 magnum revolver, but did not take it out. He still heard them and ran back to Gary and his pet mole rat Infront of Gabriel. Gabriel came back. "Do not insult my friend..." he commanded him.
"You spoke too soon..." Garry grumbled as the boy returned, completely mishearing the situation, however, Heather rushed over to the boy before the Wastelander could do anything.
"Hey, kid... Don't mind them, okay? They've had their heads inside a giant plant's butt all day, so they're a little cranky."
"I haven't seen anybody out here for a while, just didn't want to be alone anymore…" Gabriel admitted.
"You know, we could use some help if we're going to be picking some fruit for that old man... Maybe you can help us?"
"Sure, oh and one more thing, I want you guys to help me find the man who did this to my stomach." He began, rolling up his shirt to show off a rather… horrific scar.
"I think he is in a group and he had a butcher knife with him or whatever." Gabriel explained.
"Well... We aren't in the habbit of looking for dangerous people, the last time we tried that it didn't go so well." She uttered, slowly standing up and giving him a smile.
"We run into them enough by accident."
"Too bad, I would have given you guys 200 caps..." Gabriel said.
"Where the fuck'd you get 200 caps?" Garry asked, unable to hide his surprise at that.
"Let's just say I am a very great trader, and I got it from someone I know too." he explained to garry. He grabbed his backpack and got out fresh clean water bottle, drank it and put it in his bag. Gabriel then did a little smirk before looking at Gary.
Garry was never the best trader, he was more used to robbing people than trading with them.
"Huh... Thought you'd found it on a corpse or somethin'." The Wastelander shrugged, looking over to the ferry, longingly.
"Oh don't worry, I didn't. Also I got it from my uncle who had a job at Broadway, I always hated that place though, I hated the guard the most, teasing me, and being rude. But anyway you don't want to hear me complain but, sadly he died because of some people..." Gabriel said.
"What people?" Heather asked, wondering what he meant as she hadn't been to Broadway before but from what she'd heard about the place, they don't have problems with raiders, slavers and mutants like most places do.
"Well the people were a android and a woman, but I still don't know who did it." he answered, seeming also confused. Gabriel then started to scratch his head, and turned his pip-boy to the A.R.K. station.
Morgan just sighed heavily and walked off to sit by the bank of the River. Obviously, she never touched it, nor went near the water.
Fucking...people man. So... infuriating!
Rook was very still for a few moments, before following Morgan and sitting down next to her, electing to remain silent for the time being.
Gabriel then looked at Rook and thought he saw metal but quickly dismissed it. Whiskers then was right by Rook and fell asleep on him. Gabriel smiled at the sleeping pet.
Rook glanced down at the mole rat, briefly considering snapping its neck, before realising it was non-hostile and decidedly leaving it be. He turned his attention back to Morgan.
Morgan glanced up at the Molerat and shooed it away before resting her head on Rooks arm.
"I hope Garrys off finding us a place to sleep..."
"That would be preferable. The exposure out here is dangerous. I noticed a standing building on the way here. Perhaps that would serve as adequate cover?"
"Yeah it would, but would it have beds?" Morgan guessed not, and the boat was at least somewhat...safe.
She sighed and cuddled up closer, wrapping her arms around Rooks bicep, practically clinging onto him.
"We could always just camp out here, and not sleep at all..."
Rook glanced over at her, looking down at the side of her face.
"Then you will be exhausted when we depart for Governor's Island."
"Mm I can catch up on sleep on the boat ride over." Morgan shrugged, staring out, over the water.
"But we need to go to Fresh Grove or whatever it is called, first."
"Yes." Rook agreed, leaning his head against Morgan's. He hesitated before speaking again. "Are you afraid, Morgan?"
Morgan stiffened before nodding slowly.
"Terribly so, Rook." She admitted.
Rook gently pulled her into his embrace, running previous failed and succeeded attempts at comfort through his head.
"I am sorry I dragged you into this." Rook said quietly. "I should never have gone to your house."
"Ah, but then, we would never have met." Morgan countered with a weak laugh. "I...I wouldn't have liked that. What I'm trying to say is well...I'm glad you did, Rook."
"But now if you are killed or injured it will be because of my actions."
"Nah, it'll be because I was too stupid tomove out the way..." Morgan whispered.
"You are an exceptional organic being, Morgan." Rook whispered back finally, in a lame attempt at a compliment.
Gabriel then approached Morgan, about as welcome as the Person from Porlock. He looked forward and gave Rook a look like 'Your very suspicious' look. "So why are you guys going to Governor Island?" Gabriel asked the two.
Morgan giggled, her face going slightly red. "You are too, Rook." She whispered.
"We're going to the Island to...er...stop the Chinese."
"I can hear you two, no need to whisper.
The Chinese… I hate them. They killed my dad before I was born, that is why I wanted to go but as Garry said, I might kill all of us but, I could keep lookout if I can come with you guys." Gabriel suggested. Whiskers started to snort and kept on licking on Morgan's arm.
Rook fell silent then, holding Morgan close and looking out at the water, content to let her do the talking.
Morgan eyed Whiskers with some degree of caution before gently pulling her arm back. "Can you keep quiet enough to lookout?"
"Sure, or I can spy and also I could be the heavy guns, but I only have a pocket knight and a revolver so being the heavy gun can't do, so either I could spy or be a lookout." Gabriel babbled to Morgan. Whiskers then licked on her arm again, showing how much he likes her.
Could you not, Whiskers?
Morgan sighed, resisting the urge to call bullshit on this child lifting a gun that was twice his size and weight. "Well...I can't exactly leave a kid out here all alone. Fine, you can be our lookout, but you gotta pull your weight as well, okay? Give us adults our space when we need it."
"I'll try too, although we might get into some arguments since I'm not that good with people, also I know your friend over there is an android." Gabriel then smirked at Whiskers. Whiskers then started to lick her cheek.
"Man...I really need to teach him better..." Morgan sighed, pushing Whiskers away and wiping her cheek.
"Don' fret, kid. I am shite with people too."
"Well, we have something in common, I guess. Anyway, I think we should maybe head off soon." Gabriel suggested. Whiskers then walked over to Rook, and started to lick his cheek.
"We just need somewhere to spend the night right now." Morgan pointed out. "We've had a rough day, and we're all beat."
"Should I keep first lookout since I got sleep hours ago?" Gabriel asked. Whiskers stopped and then went back behind Gabriel.
"We need to find a place first..." Morgan repeated, a little slower.
As Morgan spoke, Heather came rushing over, she stopped by their sides.
"Hey, I think we've found a place!"
"Really Heath? Let's go then..." Morgan nodded.
"Wait... Gabriel, if you're willing to help us, you could talk the ferryman into letting us stay the night." Heather pointed out as they were only in this predicament because of hostilities between the two groups earlier.
He nodded and turned around to the ferryman, though Morgan stopped him.
"Why bother?" Morgan retorted. "If we've found a place, let's just use that. No need to antagonise the guy further."
"Yeah but it's safe here and it's worth a shot, if we already are here. It's obvious that he likes Gabriel, so he's likely to help us if we're looking out for him." The Former Slave pointed out.
"Whatever." Morgan shrugged. "So long as we ain't camping, I couldn't care less." With that, she went back to hugging Rook.
"Of course, he likes me, we go way back but I don't have the time to talk about it." Gabriel said.
"Me neither..." Heather sighed, wishing that she wasn't so left out, due to recent hostilities. She took a seat on the floor and awaited Gabriel's return...
Morgan pulled herself away from Rooks embrace and stretched. Sod it. Garry is the one he hates. I'm sleeping indoors...
"We are resting on this vessel?" Rook asked the party in general, nodding at the boat.
Whiskers then came back jumping up at Morgan and licking at her hands.
"Oh for..." Morgan grumbled, peeling Whiskers off her and plopping him on the ground. "Keep him away from me, or I'll toss him in the river!" She snapped, stomping on board.
"We have permission so... We might as well." Heather shrugged, she was incredibly tired from the climbing effort and just wanted somewhere to rest.
Rook nodded. "I assume there are cots on board." He noted, before advancing on the vessel, climbing the gangplank, and boarding it.
Heather rolled her eyes and wandered on board as Garry followed her in from behind...
Freaking hate kids...Morgan muttered in her head. She swayed as she walked, obviously not a fan of boats.
This really is rickety...
Gabriel then kept on glancing at everybody. Gabriel gave Rook a weird look. "So, we finally going to rest?" He asked everybody.
"I hope so..." Heather uttered, looking over her shoulder.
"We've all done a lot of climbing today... it's exhausting..."
The cots were in the aft section of the ship, as the bow was reserved for deck space and the cockpit. Once Rook discerned this, he headed there.