01/02/2287
GNR disappeared, just static now... I wonder what happened. Gonna need to finish that long-range receiver maybe I can pick up the broadcast again. Aubrey was disappointed by its disappearance as well, I could see it on her face. Maybe she'll be willing to work on it? I know her left arm isn't much use to her right now but she wouldn't need to do any heavy lifting.
D**n eye still not working as well. I've been cleaning it daily like the other one, but I just don't know what else to do... It is strange to be able to touch my eyes and only have a slight irritation... it's not right...
01/05/2287
Aubrey has been working on the makeshift laser rifle, she called it a laser musket. Apparently, it is used by a group called The Minutemen who used to be a big organization in the area but recently has shrunk down to small groups of armed vigilantes. Based on what little she told me about them they weren't structured well but their hearts were in the right place... Anyway, she thinks she can fix it up for me. Honestly, a rifle would be nice to have for hunting... never liked laser weapons though that could just be the fact that they are far too bright and unmistakable which clashed with the way I did things. The fact that they tend to blow up occasionally is only a minor part of the issue.
01/06/2287
I was down by the lake getting some water when a group of four (3 men 1 woman) jumped me. I actually saw them coming but they didn't seem interested in what I was doing, just seemed to be passing through so I mostly ignored them. Didn't take my eyes off them or turn my back though which probably saved me in the end. I quickly killed the first man who lunged at me by stabbing him in the chest with the kitchen knife I always carry when I come down here. He was swinging one of those retractable batons... idiot literally threw himself at me dealing with him was as easy as a simple sidestep even with me being ankle-deep in the water. The next two came at me with makeshift clubs and the third tried to get on my flank. The three were hardly a threat with no actual training only relying on their weapons and numbers to win. I easily snapped the second one's leg and shoved him into the water, then throat jabbed the other man while he had his pipe raised above his head then snapped his neck when I got behind him. The guy in the water came back up with a short-barreled hunting rifle and tried to shoot me... thing jammed on him though and so I kicked him in the side of the head and he fell back into the water. The woman though was harder, she wasn't a good fighter but she was faster and smart enough not to fight me in the water. Once I hit her a few times she was on her knees and before I knew it she was begging for mercy... I shot her in both knee caps and then stuck the Webley in her mouth and shot her lower jaw off. I also dragged the one drowning in the water onto the shore and put a bullet in the back of his head. Then I went home with the bucket of water and the rifle... I can still hear the woman's cries of pain even back at the retirement home, quite an achievement for someone missing half their face. I know Aubrey saw the whole thing... she sleeps next to one of the few good windows and can see the water, she didn't say anything but the fact that she isn't looking me in the eyes when we talk says a lot.
01/07/2287
Used the cart to move the bodies' good ways off and threw them on a fire... the fact that they had a gun yet decided to attack me with clubs makes no sense to me, were they trying to take me alive or something? I don't know... My eyes are working properly again... not just properly but rather well, the colors aren't mixed up or missing and the pain is gone.
The monster is trying to come back... I won't let it, it can't beat me.
01/08/2287
Well, may have pulled something the other day my arm is killing me. Can't let it hold me back though, we're running low on food and it's still cold as hell outside. I was actually considering an attempt at fishing but the Pip-boy says there's a good amount of radiation in the water which would make anything living in the water dangerous to eat... I guess I'll just try for Bunker Hill. They may have some food for sale.
Started collecting scrap, tools, garbage, and really anything that we could do without in one of the old bedrooms. Aubrey gave me a hand by pointing out things that she knew I could sell versus things that would cost more to transport. I'm glad she isn't holding what happened yesterday against me... apparently, she understood my actions as they attacked me, she just doesn't like needless violence and was upset with the ones who attacked me. A rather odd way to look at things in a world where just about everything is trying to kill you, but hey to each their own I understand how she feels constant fighting and killing can be exhausting to anyone. Though I am pretty sure there is more to it.
Started piecing together some new clothes to help carry tools and equipment. My hope is to make myself look like a typical scavenger and less like the soldier that I am. Aubrey thinks it looks alright, but she might just be saying that... the fact that I care actually bothers me really, never really cared about my appearance before. Anyways it will help to have tools with me while I'm out and about, may even find some replacement ducting for the parts that can't be salvaged.
01/09/2287
I'm off to Bunker Hill today. Aubrey's staying behind to hold down the fort, her health and strength has improved but her left arm still doesn't function well. I left her the Webley and the remaining 10 .38 rounds as she can handle the smaller weapon well enough even with just one hand. She intends to finish the receiver for the radio and the adapter so it can connect with the fusion generator safely. After that she didn't say, I'm sure she'll keep herself busy while I'm gone. At best I shouldn't be gone more than a day and a half. The two-headed cow Venison is going to tow the cart full of supplies I intend to sell. I hope nothing attacks me though... this rifle and the N99 are the only things I have to defend myself with and I don't have much ammo for either one.
01/10/2287
Made good time actually, had to take a longer route to get to the hill as Aubrey informed me there are raiders and super mutants(?) on the direct route. Apparently, the route I took follows part of the one the caravans frequent to get in and out safely. Quite a few vendors as well though from what I understand the number changes depending on the time of year and in general simple chance, you can have as few as one or two or as many as thirty at any given time. I talked to several trying to sell what I had one though Deb, I think, was a dumb**s who "doesn't barter" at a trade hub... I can't even begin to understand how someone that stupid can survive in a place like this with such an idiotic mindset. Ended up selling what I could, which to be honest was almost everything I had, though many of them were more interested in my "brahman" "brahmin" "bramin"?... whatever my cow, and sometimes the cart itself. Bought a good amount of supplies as well, though this was a bit harder at first... they all noticed the eyes, and that caused many to refuse to acknowledge me, some even said they wouldn't sell to me over it. Though some older man actually discussed the subject about my eyes and I explained they were replacements for my old ones after an accident several years ago. After that, a lot of the merchants who refused to even talk to me seemed to open up and happily pushed their merchandise on me. I wonder why he helped me...
01/11/2287
Got back to the retirement home this morning, left rather early, and now that I know the route it was a bit easier to make. Ended up talking to one of the smaller caravans about their route and apparently, they pass nearby and for a small fee of 400 caps, they would alter their route slightly to pass by every few weeks. Talked them down to 260 after I realized the new route would actually shorten their trip, convinced them I could keep the area relatively safe and provide business when they come through, and later when I get things fixed up more, possible room and board. They told me to expect them around the 26th of each month as that is when they typically pass through the area. So with that setup things are looking up. I got a good amount of food, a lot of which isn't two hundred years old, along with some anti-biotics for Aubrey, and some useful parts to repair the furnace.
Aubrey was happy to see me, she got the radio receiver and the power adapter working now I just need to get it up to the roof. I had a few spare caps and bought another pair of radios one standard AM/FM and a HAM radio. After I get the receiver setup I will get started patching up what's left of the holes in the building and cleaning the place up of the debris. Later I will get started on the ducting so that I can actually run tests on the furnace, I'm glad Aubrey got some more work done on that as well while I was gone. She didn't even know what the thing was until I explained it to her she was excited about the concept.
01/12/2287
GNR's back, I got the receiver up and working yesterday but we still couldn't pick anything up from them. Yet today at about oh nine hundred the radio burst to life and Three-Dog started howling and celebrating their return... so it wasn't just us being too far away. Though I am surprised how clear the station is coming through, not an ounce of static I know the tower was supposed to reduce it and allow us a clearer signal but it shouldn't be that clear. The DJ though did explain that they had to go offline unexpectedly due to a Brotherhood operation and they needed to do work with the station's signals, but the payoff was a second tower. Maybe that's it, they might have simply set up a tower that was a bit closer to the Commonwealth, I don't know that seems odd still as they would have had to set it up pretty d**n close by for the signal to be so clear. Either way, it doesn't matter to me much, a good DJ and some good music are really all I care about.
I was eating lunch while Aubrey tinkered with the wreck that she calls a computer she had me drag in here from the lobby when Three Dog started talking about an Urban Legend of a man known simply as the Lone Wanderer. This guy seems to just appear out of nowhere and assist those in need, or provide judgment over a dispute. The way he talks about this guy it sounds like he honestly believes him to be an immortal paragon of a being who has risen above mere men... hero worship, not really a bad thing when you consider that Three Dogs whole thing is to spread hope and anything or one that can bring it should be discussed even if it blows their achievements out of the water. Whatever helps folks sleep at night I guess. Talks like the man is real even I wonder if there is some truth to it.
01/14/2287
So today I was out collecting wood for the fire and ended up running into a man and a woman... well run into isn't quite correct as they approached me. The two looked malnourished, sickly, and exhausted they were practically holding each other up. The two ended up asking if I had a room they could stay in or some food and water I'd be willing to trade. Before I could even respond to them the two started listing off what they had to offer... which was admittedly quite little, they even listed their own... bodies. I walked them back to the retirement home and sat them down outside and asked a series of questions about them such as their names and where they came from. After they finished answering I went inside and talked to Aubrey about them. Everything seemed fine and she told me to do whatever I want it is my home. So I did something I hope I won't regret, I told them they could stay as long as they like but only as long as they pull their weight. Also, I took their gun and ammunition as well. Some sort of scrap thing looks like junk but it works none the less.
I let them have the two rooms at the end of the hall because the wall separating them had been knocked out so they will have some space. Then I showed them where the bathroom is and when we ate. After that I gave them a few bottles of water and a couple blankets... the furnace wasn't running yet so there isn't any source of heat in the room, which meant they were going to have to make do without for the night. Though in my defense I did patch the holes in there and it had a functioning door so the room was still warmer than outside so they should be fine. I left them one of the oil lanterns we have in case they need it. Aubrey ended up making some sort of stew which the two ate... quite rapidly, had to force them to slow down several times I don't want them throwing up everything because they ate too fast.
Their names are Bethany and Kyle and may or may not be married, all I understood about their relationship was that they were a couple. Also, both appeared to be younger than Aubrey possibly teens or really early twenties. I really hope this doesn't bite me in the a** but honestly if they try anything I can kill them fast enough.
01/15/2287
Well, Kyle has been helpful, well at least as much as he can be. He ended up spending the whole day following me around and giving me a hand whenever he could. Even spent a few hours carrying buckets of water up from the lake for the purifier, though it took him a while as he struggled to get just one full bucket at a time. The saddest part is as he worked I could tell he used to be far stronger, I could see it in his build and on his face... I saw that face on so many back during the war, people who lost limbs or suffered severe physical trauma looking at themselves and knowing they couldn't do something they use to do with ease... he was trying though, and could get back to his old strength in time. Bethany though spent most of the day sleeping but once she woke up started cleaning and organizing. On one hand, it was useful but on the other hand, she didn't do much, took me a while to realize she was in far worse shape than Kyle. With the help though I got the daily chores done a bit faster than normal which allowed me to work more on the furnace. If things go well I should have it working by the end of next week then I can work on the ducts.
Aubrey got started on the second wall heater, she intends to hook it up in their room to heat things up for them. She's going to use the fission battery because we simply do not have enough coated wire to connect it to the fusion generator. It won't work as efficiently but it will be an improvement.
Aubrey's shoulder looks better but the infection is still there... I'm going to need a proper doctor for this, but with the temperatures these days I can't move her anywhere and I doubt I could convince a doctor to come here. I guess I will just have to keep working with what I have for now.
01/17/2287
The furnace is hooked up but now I need to finish cleaning out the ducts so I can run some tests. With Bethany, Aubrey, and Kyle doing the daily chores for me I have been getting this done a lot faster... though there is a catch, we're running out of food a lot faster. I'm hoping we can last another ten days on what we have but I'm thinking we're going to have to go to Bunker Hill again.
So good news, Kyle knows how to hunt. I do too but with his help, I can actually get something bigger, Aubrey and Beth are going to stay behind and keep working on cleaning the ducting while we're out.
Got ourselves one of those strange-looking two-headed deer, Kyle showed me how to butcher it and what to cut out and toss and how to do it. Glad to have him... it won't stop the food shortage but if we keep trying for more we can balance things out for a few more weeks.