AN/ As you have probably discovered already, I like shortening and improvising the game's lines in my stories. However, I kept a lot of Arcade's lines or reused them in new situations simply because they were so good.
Again, I changed some things in the last chapters. If you see something that doesn't make sense, assume it is a reference to something you haven't read (or read the other chapters again).
Chapter Four: Playtime At The Arcade
"Um, wow," the glasses-wearing man leaned in and said, low enough that it wouldn't be overheard even in the small tent. "That was one hell of a sight. Julie can calm an angry mob and resolve the worst dispute, that is one reason why she's the Head Follower around here, and you toyed with her like it was nothing." He gave a wide-eyed huff of disbelief, then chuckled at something once before continuing, "You stage an elaborate show to find out what some random scientists are up to and you call me nosy?" They both laughed at that, then the man went on, "You know, she's not one to hold a grudge, but you might not want to ask her for favors anytime soon. You might find your next med-x a tad bit powerful. Like, maybe powerful enough to knock you smart ass on the ground for a few hours, and your ego along with it." Although he said it seriously, there was a smile on the man's face.
"Eh, I'll apologize. My ego isn't that inflated, I just felt like showing off for a second." His fast brain caught the snare in his logic there, not that he could change what he said. Who was he showing off for? Julie, partially, but the situation wasn't being helped by it so that couldn't be a reason, as a matter of fact he had a motive for the opposite. The only other person in the situation...
Was looking quizzically at him now, not asking out loud the question that was on his face. Jack quickly diverted his eyes, looking around for a change of topic. The two lab coats were still going at it, apparently fully engrossed in talking about something to do with ED-E. Not drawing on anything he said, "So, what's your name?"
"I'm Arcade. I think I heard you say your name was Jack, am I correct?"
With the rush from his verbal victory long gone, Jack was starting to feel something. Why was he nervous all of a sudden? "Yep, that's me. So, um, what do you do here?"
"I'm a researcher here, after all not all Followers are people persons. I look through native plants and try to use them for healing purposes. Things like purified cactus water, and stimpacks from Xandar roots. But, well, nihil novi sub sole."
"What does that mean?" Jack asked, noticing how incredibly intelligent the person in front of him was.
"It's Latin. 'There is nothing new under the sun.' If there was anything miraculous about Agave oil and Mesquite powder, the natives would have discovered it a few thousand years ago." He paused then. "So how much of what you said was true? Are you really looking for the man that did that," he said, motioning to the scar on his forehead.
"Oh, all of it was true. I find it easiest to produce an on-the-spot commotion when you don't make things up unless you have to, so that it is easier to keep the details all in line. I just made some molehills look like mountains." Changing the subject, Jack said, "My turn. So how is it in the Followers? You have any fun around here?"
"We're playing a game?" He asked confusedly. Jack shrugged and he continued, "Um, anyway, I haven't actually done anything in a week or so because I'm out of things to try. It really is very boring here. Then again, so am I, you'd get better stories out of a Freeside junkie."
"I find that hard to believe."
"No, really. Have you ever snorted a ground up Cazadar venom sac? Neither have I, but I can guarantee a Freeside junkie has."
Jack laughed at the comment. "That was pretty good. Do you always deflect personal questions?"
He smiled and said, "Only to obfuscate my past association with a fascist paramilitary organization. I'm kidding, of course. I will deflect personal questions at every opportunity." More chuckling, then, "Really, though, I'm very boring. Maybe you're wondering, 'why hasn't some fine man come and swept thing dashing bachelor off his feet?' It's because I'm boring." This was presented in such an ordinary way, and with so much wit around it, that Jack almost missed the gender swap.
Just then Julie and the other scientist broke up their discussion and came over. With a bit of false enthusiasm Jack asked, "Hey, we get to join the show now? Cool, I thought you were going to stall over there until I died to get out of the deal." The empty stare he received held firm until he rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, I'm sorry for deceiving you, I was curious and just wanted to find out what you were doing." The glare softened but he went on before she could speak, "Well, that and I couldn't pass up the challenge that your skillful dissembling presented."
At his side, he heard Arcade whisper, "You know, overt flirting will get you... uh, everywhere."
Jumping on the first witty sounding thing that came to mind, Jack leaned in and quietly replied, "Yeah, I know, hot stuff, but right now I'm trying to apologize to this nice lady here, can we do this later?"
This resulted in a mixed glance, both amused and speculative, from Arcade. Jack didn't notice because he ended their aside and turned back to Julie, who said, "Um, did I miss something?"
"Yeah, we were just swapping breakup stories. Guys can be such assholes."
Looking from the bespectacled scientist to Jack, "I didn't know you were gay too Jack," she said with a surprised tone. Her anger at him was completely gone, so it wasn't a biting comment.
He was about to reply with, "I'm not," when he stopped and thought about it. "I'm... oh. I guess I don't remember if I am or not," he said slowly and pensively, completely oblivious to the awkward moment he had created. Coming out of his reverie, he said, "Anyway, that's something I can figure out later. What was it you wanted?"
"About ED-E, he is connected to this terminal and we will begin draining information off of him soon. When we do start it will take a few hours before the transfer is complete, and we can't look at the data until then so if you want you can go."
Jack looked confused for a second, then said, "Wait, that kind of information? Like, data? I thought you meant schematics of him or material samples, I didn't know ED-E had anything actually stored on him." He chuckled once and continued, "See? I'm learning stuff already."
The scientist took over fussing about the robot like a mother with a sick child for Julie and she said, "It's been sending a signal on a wavelength that can only be received by enclave-base radio technology. It was also set to play audio when keywords are said, I'll turn that back on if you want." She typed at the computer for a second then said, "For example, 'Poseidon'"
The eyebot then started a voice recording about how he was an experimental prototype made of extra-hard armor. There was also a note about stored information on the 'duraframe' material ED-E was made of and on Poseidon Energy. Then a new voice said something about upgrades, and that any Enclave should help ED-E reach Navarro outpost, it's intended destination.
When it was over Julie said, "We've known all this since Ed-E was reactivated, from the transmissions he started sending. It took us some time to find a way to accurately track his position, and once we did we found he was traveling towards us. About two hours ago we found that he was close to Freeside so I sent two Followers out and told them when they saw an eyebot around, to nudge it and whoever was traveling with it toward me, using caps if necessary."
"That explains a few things. Okay, I'm going to go see this 'King,' guy. Maybe he'll be able to help me out with a few things. Can I get the stuff that ED-E has stored in him while he's hooked up to all that?" Julie didn't answer with words, but pointed to a corner where three suits of the Vault 34 armor were lying. "Oh, thanks." He awkwardly picked up the armor, their combined weight being quite substantial, and started out the tent. As he passed Arcade he said, "See you later," with a smile, but the man stopped him.
"Hey, um, my work is pretty much finished. I can't find anything else that might be useful medically, so, since I'm free, do you want so help with that?"
"Sure. Here," he said, handing two of the apparels over. "It might be easier if you put one on, then you only need to carry the other."
After waiting for arcade to put the dark gray armor on over his white undershirt, then his lab coat back on over the bulletproof layer, the two left the tent. In the courtyard, Jack immediately spotted the person that had given him the 100 caps. He went over and returned them, along with the winnings from the 'bet.' When she tried to protest, he told her that what he had leared here was worth much more, and that her taking the money would make him feel better.
Then they passed through the gates and out into Freeside. Jack took out his 9mm with his free hand, and Arcade responded by pulling a large energy pistol and looking around. "What is it?"
He looked back, seeing the scientist on the alert, and said, "Oh, nothing. I just like having a weapon out if their is a chance I'll be attacked."
They walked the short distance to The King's School of Impersonation unmolested and were nodded through the entrance by a King that was standing guard. Neither of them had any idea what they were about to find out.