I think this chapter might be even shorter than the last one. Who knows. Either way, it's done. Think they're still all pretty much in character, or what their character would likely be like.

Either way, here you go.


Fish POV

I made my way back towards the campsite, wooden boards under one arm, and some canned beans in the other. Was lucky to find what I had, and felt rather satisfied with the gets. I've gone weeks without much food at all before, so anything at all was great nowadays. I sighed, my mind wandering back onto that other mutant.

She'd said her name was Crystal, though that might not be her real one. Either way, it gave me something to refer to her by, which I suppose was good enough. She seemed less hostile than most other mutants I've come across; and while that could have initially just been because she was hurt, I even handed her my gun without her turning on me. It would have been so simple, but she didn't.

Perhaps I'm just being hopeful, but I might have just found a friend. And a friend would make it a lot less lonely out here.

...

I heard laughing, as I approached the small campgrounds. It was her. She was still here. I sighed in relief, glad that my blind faith had paid off. As I continued walking, I heard another voice, completely different than anyone I've ever met. I couldn't make out what he was saying from here, but his voice sounded very strained and coarse. I placed down the supplies I'd been carrying, and peered around the corner. I was surprised and slightly disturbed at what I saw.

Next to Crystal, sat another mutant with part of it's skull poking out it's head. The skin seemed like it had started melting off it's head, but stopped before reaching too far down. He was wearing a ripped lab coat and some torn black dressy pants; he was clearly the voice I'd heard, as there was no one else here. I took a deep breath, and stepped around the corner.

"Um, hello." I had made sure not to interrupt him, as I had no idea if he was hostile or not. Both of their heads turned to look at me, and I did my best not to cringe at his deformed face. He turned back to Crystal.

"This the guy who owns these med-kits and such?" She nodded, her eyes drifting to the wood and food I was holding.

"Uh, yeah; hey Fish. I let him use some of those extra kits you had; that's not a problem, right?" I shook my head, making my way over towards them. She seemed in a somewhat brighter mood than earlier.

"Um... no, I have way more stockpiled around here. I'd just like to know who 'he' is." Said mutant raised his hand slowly, giving me a weak wave.

"I go by Melting, since it fits me and I can't be bothered to remember my old name." He coughed a few times, before clearing his throat. "Hope you don't mind me hanging around here for a bit. Need to rest up before I continue on my journey." I sat down on the tree stump my guitar was leaning against.

"Journey?" He nodded. "Where are you headed? There's nothing left."

"What; you guys haven't heard of the Nuclear Throne?" Both of us just stared at him, not getting the reference. He seemed baffled. "No, seriously; you actually haven't heard of the Throne? The myth of the wasteland?" Crystal rubbed the back of her head.

"I mean, I might have heard about it in passing, but like I told you, haven't really had a conversation that didn't involve the words 'kill' and 'murder' in a good few years." He sighed.

"The Throne is a mythical structure located in a place called the Palace, inhabited by guardians made of pure radiation. It's said to grant the person who reaches it some kind of unimaginable power. Only one mutant's said to have ever made it; the Proto Mutant. That was a long time ago though, only about a year after everything went to shit. The Throne is there to claim for anyone who could make it, but that's the hard part. The path to the Palace is suicide to try and take. Hasn't stopped hundreds of us from hopping through those portals popping up to try and make it there." I blinked.

"Why do you want to risk it? You don't seem like the kind of person who's craving power." He looked off to the side.

"Hopefully heal my body. Then I wouldn't have to spend every moment in pain." I crossed my arms.

"You think that reaching this 'throne' could do something like that?" He shrugged lazily.

"I don't know. But I don't have much to live for as it is right now." I went quiet for a minute, thinking to myself. Crystal asked him something else, but I didn't really hear it. A few moments later, I spoke again.

"I'm coming with you." He stopped mid-sentence, and turned to look at me. A small grin formed on his face.

"Sure, why not. May I ask your motivations though? What are you going to do with all that power?"

"...I'm going to bring order to the Wasteland." He stared at me for a moment. And then he started laughing.


I think that the description I have there of the throne is pretty accurate. Basically lots o' power to the one in command of it. I'm sure it'd be enough to at least heal melting's body. And yes, all the characters will come into play at one point or another.