A/N: Second chapter! Not sure when the next one will be out though. For future reference, I may include some weapons from Fallout New Vegas. Sorry if this really upsets anyone, but hey this is fan ficiton. I can take some liberties if I want.
Chapter 2: The Town of Megaton
"Name's Lucas Simms, town sheriff. And mayor too, when the need arises." The man with a cowboy hat, law enforcer duster, and drool worthy Chinese Assault Rifle on his back said to Ferna. Ferna tried her best not to look at the gun too hungrily.
At first, the sheriff thought maybe he had finally met a beautiful woman that liked a law man. He then noticed where her blue eyes were really looking and sighed. His heart sank a little. It had been awhile since his wife died, and she was the last woman he knew to actually like a lawman.
He recovered and raised an eye brow at Ferna and said, "One of thoooose I see. You can look all you want, but I won't give or sell this baby and don't even think about trying anything." He then gave a little chuckle as she blushed. "Just stay out of trouble and we won't have any problems."
Ferna shook her head and gave a smile as she looked around the town. She decided she might as well find a way to make caps while looking around here and noticed several leaking pipes everywhere. So after making her way to the Water Processing Plant she was enlisted to repair the pipes. Walter, who ran the place, said he would know when they were fixed by the readings from the different gauges.
Ferna agreed to this job, and after finding a place with some privacy, she put on her Vault 101 utility jumper as she got to work. She figured she might as well look the part. Also it was nice to show off her figure just a little bit again. Security armor wasn't good for that. Ferna also thought it would be fun to see how the locals reacted seeing her around without looking too intimidating.
{-} {-} {-}
"Name's Lucas Simms, town sheriff. And mayor too, when the need arises." Alice looked at the man in front of her as she sat up in her bed and covered herself with the medical bed's sheets and blanket. "Just stay out of trouble and we won't have any problems." With those words the man left the clinic.
Alice blinked a few times wondering why he thought she would cause trouble. She was still recovering from both her injury and her addiction to Med-X. She was surprised how quickly that addiction came about in the end. She thought it would take longer than just a few hours and doses. At the moment she was stuck in this Clinic without her clothing.
Alice wished Doc Church hadn't allowed this Moira Brown person to take off with her clothes. Moira had apparently undressed the unconscious Alice and got her ready before the Doc did his job. Alice was grateful her dignity was at least preserved in that it was another female who saw her in not but her skin. Still she wasn't very happy with this situation.
"I still don't see why you let that woman take my clothes Doc Church." Alice sighed as she lay on her patient bed and looked around the clinic. It reminded her of the asylum, but at least this place had better lighting even if it was from rust holes and tattered curtains. She found the run down and not very clean place to be rather pleasant in a certain way compared to many of the places she had been to before now.
"Because you needed to rest a bit before I could give you the medicine to clear up your Med-X addiction. I figured if you had your clothing right next to the bed you would bolt out of here quickly." Doc Church gave her a 'no nonsense' look.
Alice sighed and decided he was probably right. Doc continued, "However, I didn't expect her to take this long to patch it up." He then gave a chuckle, "I guess she found some way to modify it or something. You really should be thankful to her. Your pretty dress doesn't provide much protection."
"I figured that much quickly. All it took was a simple sword to my shoulder." Alice said lightly.
The Doc just shook his head and gave a soft chuckle as he checked up on a couple more patients. He usually didn't talk to his patients, but Alice was really the chatterbox and asked so many questions that he didn't have a choice. He was glad she at least proved pleasant company and genuinely seemed interested in what he did. Most didn't care for such things.
"Anyways once Moira returns your clothes you may leave Alice." The Doc said as Alice let out a low sigh and stretched, but still made sure she didn't accidentally expose herself while doing so. She went back to the ever entertaining and time consumer activity of counting rust holes and then figuring out what shapes they made.
{-} {-} {-}
Ferna gave a laugh as an old man whistled at her and said he had a leak in his house that needed fixing in the bedroom. "I'm kind of new to this thing. Maybe I should ask Walter to look at it for you?"
The man's face sunk but then he gave a laugh as Ferna did as well. She didn't have too much trouble getting most of the leaks fixed, but one required her to jump down from a roof above and on to a couple of different pipes to reach it.
She finally found a safe way down and found herself in the middle of the town and her jaw fell open. "What the hell?! Are these people crazy?! That is a freaking active nuke!" Ferna thought to herself. She looked around and noticed no one seemed to really care.
Fifteen minutes passed with Ferna staring at the bomb not sure what to do. She didn't pay mind to the preacher from the Church of the Children of the Atom, as he started talking to her. "So you have come far to bask in Atom's glory? One day Atom will bless us all and release us as we each give birth to a billion stars! How great is Atom to give us such a blessing… Praise Atom!" The man just kept talking about the glory and warmth of Atom's glow and didn't really seem to care as Ferna left his side with a confused look on her face.
Ferna decided to go and talk to the sheriff about this bomb. She had a feeling she could disarm it, but wanted to talk to him first. "Name's Lucas Simms, town sheriff…" He started before she cut him off.
"Sheriff Simms… You do realize that bomb is still active right?" Ferna asked quickly not really caring for hearing the intro again.
The Sheriff shifted uncomfortably and said. "Not so loud…." He then looked from the left to the right and said, "Look I know it's still active but no one else does, and I would like to keep it that way. We have a good thing going here and it hasn't gone off yet."
He gave a sigh and said, "However, I do have concern for it. I don't like having a ticking time bomb right in the middle of my town, but no one here would even know how to do anything about it. I mean there was that one guy a couple of days ago that passed through here, but he seemed to have something else on his mind and went straight for the saloon muttering about water and vaults."
Ferna wanted to ask about this man, but decided she wanted to tell him what she came to tell. "Well I could probably disarm it for you."
"You can? That would be great! I would even pay you for it." Simms said to her.
Ferna received some notification on her HUD saying, "Power of the Atom quest added." She wasn't sure about this and chose to ignore it.
She was about to ask Simms something else but he just impatiently said, "So were you just kidding about that bomb?" He acted like she had done something like go to the opposite end of the map before then coming back to fix the bomb. Ferna just shook her head and made her way to look over the nuke.
{-} {-} {-}
Alice was staring at the ceiling when she felt a package land on her bed next to her. Her green eyes looked and saw a young boy who seemed to be related to the sheriff next to her. "Miss Moira asked me to give this to you Alice, and said she wouldn't charge you for fixing it up this time because she got to work on something challenging again. Feel free to visit her for any trade and repairs you wish to do though." He said politely before bowing and leaving.
Alice took the dress out and examined it. It looked very much the same except she noticed it was somehow reinforced without increasing the weight. She noticed the blood stains were still on the apron but she wasn't bothered by this. Stains of all sorts seemed to be the fashion in this place, plus it did give her beautiful dress a certain dangerous appeal she thought.
"Well as I said you are free to go once you get dressed Alice. I wouldn't run off to go and get stabbed quickly though. You might as well look around Megaton while you're here. Who knows you might turn out like so many others, and decide to stay here and find a way to make a living. Many scavenge nearby, but some find other jobs in the town." The Megaton doctor said.
He then gave a humorless chuckle as he said, "With those looks and personality of yours, you might be able to get a job at The Brass Lantern. The Stahl's have been looking for a way to get more customers from Moriarty's while still remaining 'classy' as they put it."
"What do you mean by that?" Alice asked as she looked at him with a neutral expression.
"If you want to know go to Moriarty's and see for yourself." Doc Church said. "Anyways here is your bill. I hope you can cover it without issue. If not we might have to get creative."
Alice looked over the bill. It was about 400 caps. It listed 200 for her wound and 200 for her addiction and a small fee for supplies used. She sighed at this but knew she had enough to cover the costs after her trading with Doc Hoff earlier.
"Well I have enough. Here you go Doctor. Thank you for your services." Alice said as she paid and then changed when he was turned around. She found her undergarments were a bit different from before as she started getting dressed.
They were lighter and she now had a small piece of cloth which caused her to blush while looking it over knowing where it would go. It would cover her intimate areas but it wasn't anything like a petticoat. She also saw a garter belt used to hold up her lighter but more durable stockings. The undergarment getup was nice, but it was much more risque than she would like.
Alice blushed as she finished dressing. She felt a little different than before in them and for some reason she felt a little warmer despite the slight breeze. She just knew her face would be sporting a healthy blush until she got used to these new underwear pieces though.
She also didn't like the fact Bumby would probably be smirking seeing her in the new undergarments. They didn't cover nearly as much as they should she thought. At the same time, she found them easier to move in oddly enough.
She could tell the dress had some kind of padding underneath in parts but it didn't really show on the outside. It also seemed to be made of a different sturdier material as well.
She was glad the padding didn't affect her figure's appearance in anyway. It didn't enhance it nor did it detract from it. Alice was actually rather happy with the modifications Moira made to her outfit. She just needed to get used to feeling a bit more exposed in it, despite no one being able to notice easily.
Alice stepped outside and got a good look of the town before heading to the saloon. She wondered what it would be like in this kind of a world. She also made note to herself to visit Moira's shop and thank her in person while also looking at this Brass Lantern place as well.
While making her way to the saloon, she noticed a girl close to her age with dark red hair staring at some sort of contraption in the center of the town. Alice wasn't sure what this thing was, but since there was also some old guy going on and on about the "warmth and glory of Atom's divine light," she figured it was some kind of religion here.
{-} {-} {-}
After staring blankly at the bomb's insides for a good while Ferna really wondered why it was no one else had deactivated it. Compared to the many reactors they had to deal with in the vault this layout was nothing. She even knew the exact triggering mechanism and how to disarm it permanently from just looking at the thing.
She knew this because the Overseer was one of the many who thought Pip-boy Programmer meant "I can fix and take care of anything!" He had recruited her and Stanley Armstrong to disable and disarm the components of the Commie Invasion Protocol.
When asked about this he said, "Well I figure if those scum haven't gotten into here after 200 years we aren't going to have to worry about it ever. Might as well not let some overly zealous and rebellious kid accidentally blow us all up as a way to show his or her mummy for making them eat their veggies."
Ferna shook her head to clear the memories from her mind. She hadn't minded life in the Vault really. Even Overseer Almodovar wasn't all that bad until he decided she should be punished for what her father did. Also Ferna did miss his daughter, her best friend, Amata a lot already even if she didn't appreciate it when teased about Ferna's dreaming of her.
Ferna finally got to work and after a few seconds there was an audible click and hiss as she removed the triggering mechanism. She then tossed it into her inventory to use as target practice later or something. She did few a sense of satisfaction having completed this task. She also noticed a message on her HUD telling her to report back to Lucas Simms.
Ferna marched back up towards the entrance to the town and smiled at the Sheriff. "I hope that smile means you have some good news." Simms said to her.
"It does. I deactivated the bomb." She then pulled out the triggering mechanism and asked, "Do you want this? I was just going to later use it for target practice or something."
Simms looked at the device and said, "Nah you can keep it. I only hope you make sure no one else ever gets to use it. Anyways have yourself some caps and also. Welcome to Megaton. You can have the empty house over there. Take the keys. It isn't much right now but if you want to fix it up speak to Moira Brown over at Craterside Supply. If you got the caps she can help you out. I sure do feel a lot better with that bomb defunct now. Thanks again."
Ferna stood there with the keys in her hands. She hadn't expected a home for disarming the bomb. She really wasn't too sure how much use she would get out of it though since she was kind of on a quest to find her dad, but she guessed it would be a nice little base of operations or to take a break there some time.
She closed her jaw and asked, "You said something earlier about me being another one to visit Megaton so soon. What did you mean?"
"Well shortly before you came here a young woman about your age with a blue dress and dark hair was taken to the clinic." Ferna sighed to herself in frustration before Simms continued. "Also there was an older man that came through here a couple of days before that. He was the one that seemed to be on a mission and went straight to the saloon."
Simms squinted at her for a second before saying, "You actually look a little bit like him now that I think about it. He also had a blue vault suit on that said 101 on the back."
Ferna got right in his face and said, "Wait! You saw my dad? Where did he go again?"
"Up to the bar. If you go there mind Moriarty. He seems to think he owns this town and can do whatever he pleases, but no one is above the law." Simms said before walking away to make another round of the town.
Ferna ran to the bar and spoke to Walter on the way to get her reward money for fixing the pipes. He even gave her an extra bonus saying she got them running better than they were before. She thought about going into Craterside Supply, but decided to go and get some information from the Saloon first. She figured there might be a gun in the store that would leave her drooling and rather flustered in the store, and that would be before she got in trouble for being too excited.
Once she opened the door she heard a rather lovely accented feminine voice say, "For the last time I will NOT work for you Mr. Moriarty. This is no way to treat a paying customer!" Ferna looked and saw a girl with dark hair and a beautiful blue dress with a white apron sitting at one of the tables with a couple of drinks and something to eat it looked like. She could tell by the flushed cheeks and narrowed eyes the girl was not happy.
Ferna then heard the middle aged man say, "Fine Babe. Have it your way. I was just giving you a generous offer of room and board in exchange for certain services is all. Geez woman…" the man then went into an office behind the bar.
Ferna could have sworn she heard the girl mutter something about "Staying her blade and not making more of a scene." The blue eyed girl then heard a woman give a chuckle from a corner. The woman had light red hair that was short and seemed a little frazzled. She also had grey blue eyes and seemed to be smoking a cigarette.
"What do you want honey? Are you looking for a good time? I'm not usually into women but you and that beauty over there are exceptions. Also I ain't one to complain much if you got the caps." The woman then gave a sultry wink as she took a slow draw on her cigarette.
"Does this mean you're the local…?" Ferna started.
"Whore? Yes. My name's Nova. What can I do for you sweetie?" The prostitute said causally.
"What was that all about between that girl and Moriarty?" Ferna asked while pointing to a slightly disgruntled Alice.
"Oh that! It's exactly what it sounds like. Moriarty was trying to 'recruit' her. Poor thing should have taken him up on the offer. He wants her working for him so if she stays here too long he will find a way to get her. He did it to me. I really could have used the break it ain't easy satisfying that particular itch for all of the men in town here. And some women as well."
The whore took another long draw on her cig, "Good thing I really enjoy sex or it might get to be a problem. Anyways she does have some spunk it seems. A bit naïve in some ways though." Nova gave a laugh, "You should have seen how she flipped when she saw Gob over there. One would think she'd never seen a Ghoul before. Maybe she's from one of them vaults, or grew up in Tenpenny Tower or something."
"Regardless she doesn't seem big on prostitution. I could have sworn she was about to draw a gun on Moriarty when he first offered her a job." The whore took a puff on her cigarette and then exhaled slowly before she continued, "Too bad she didn't. I would love for that asshole to die. Then he couldn't keep holding my debts over my head and adding to them." Nova sighed.
"She really should have taken him up on that offer. He was willing to give her room and board and a small amount of her earnings at first. I wish I had that sweet of a deal." Nova seemed to have a wistful expression on her face.
Ferna left Nova and talked to Gob at the bar. "Gah!? What happened to you?!" She eloquently introduced herself to him.
Gob grumbled at her. "Just my luck another smoothskin that doesn't seem to know a damn thing about Ghouls. I guess I should be lucky you smoothskins don't draw weapons on me here because of the Sheriff and Moriarty. Just don't ask me a million questions like that one did." He then nodded towards the young dark haired girl from earlier.
"I'll try not to… It can't be that bad though. I mean you have to be used to it." Ferna said.
Gob shook his head to her. "Usually it isn't but she seemed completely clueless about many things. I thought it odd because she clearly is fairly smart and witty. It was nice at first actually. After her initial reaction she seemed more curious than scared and asked me lots of questions. It was nice meeting someone interested in me…at first…"
"What do you mean at first?" Ferna asked.
Gob sighed. "Look kid I ain't paid to just talk. That there is Nova's job and usually to later lead you to bed. Unless you buy something Moriarty will have my head. Even if I am 'a sorry excuse of a foul, disgusting creature' I prefer to be alive."
Ferna gave an apologetic smile and said, "My bad sir. What do you got?" Gob pointed to the menu next to him. Ferna looked it over and saw nothing without alcohol. She then gave a determined scrunched up face as she said, "I'll have a whiskey!"
Gob pulled out a bottle and filled a glass before passing it to her. Ferna looked at the glass with intense blue eyes. She was eighteen years old an adult, but dad always told her she wasn't allowed to drink until she was twenty one. She never had a problem with this and listened to him before now.
Ferna was always Daddy's girl and how did he repay her? He left her to die in the vault while he went on some real big amazing adventure. She still couldn't help but wonder what he would think of her if he saw her down the drink. "He lost the right to disapprove of me when he left me!" Ferna mentally yelled to herself.
She then slammed the drink down and felt the burn in her throat. She gave a cough and asked for another. Gob smirked as he gave her a fuller glass. He then leaned in closely and said, "On the house for not shooting me or asking uncomfortable questions."
Ferna took the second again and actually enjoyed the burn a little bit this time. She then asked for another and placed some caps on the table for Gob. As he passed her another she smiled thanked him and asked, "So I was wondering if you remember an older man with a vault suit coming here in the past couple of days."
Gob nodded and said, "I do actually. He ordered a drink and asked to speak to Moriarty about something. I remembered he paid but never took a sip. The two talked quietly for a good bit and eventually he left. You would have to ask the boss for what they talked about. Just be careful. It won't be cheap."
"Could you get him for me?" Ferna asked. Gob nodded and got his boss.
"Well I'll be?! If it isn't the little baby. Come here looking for your da?" He said with a Scottish or Irish accent. Ferna wasn't really sure which it was.
"So you do know about my dad coming here then?" Ferna said. The saloon owner just nodded. "What did you two talk about and where did he go?" Ferna asked eagerly. She mentally winced as she realized she had asked too eagerly, and judging by his grin Moriarty knew he had her.
"I might have talked to him for a bit. But you see information don't come cheap." He then gave a laugh as he said, "Nothing in the Wasteland comes cheap. If you want to know about your da then you better be willing to pay."
Ferna just looked him in the eyes. The man gave a greedy smile as he spoke, "Tell you want. I'm a kind soul. So I will go cheap with you. Either pay me 300 caps or run a few errands for me. Do that and we got a deal understand?"
"No deal…" Ferna didn't like this guy one bit at all. She was not about to give him money for information.
Moriarty just laughed again and said, "Think it over lassy. Have yourself a drink or two or maybe more, so long as you pay. When you are willing to listen to me, the only one who knows where your daddy went, tell Gob to get me again." He then went back into his office again sporting a shit eating grin that Ferna did not like at all.
Ferna ended up just buying the bottle of whiskey and sitting in a corner while she slowly sipped on her drink as she thought over her options. She knew he had computer in that office of his. She was also willing to bet he had all his information on that terminal in some format as well, but probably decently encrypted or something, but she was a Pip-boy Programmer.
Moriarty, from what she had heard, would be the type to have files on everyone that came in here. Maybe even herself and that other girl as well. Ferna's eyes lit up as she thought about that. She noticed the bar was getting more business but not too much if she could somehow get the other girl to distract him she could get what she needed.
{-} {-} {-}
Alice was sitting at her table and was slowly drinking a wine bottle she bought from the bar tender. She didn't understand why there would be problems between ghouls and non-ghouls like he said there was. Sure the crazed ones in the dark places he called "Ferals" might be a threat, but so was she when she was at the asylum and most normal crazy humans were as well.
Alice sighed as she took another sip and thought to herself, "What am I going to do? I would like to actually have a place I belonged, even here. I could limit my adventuring to just every so often, but most of the jobs here I am qualified for are of the nature like Moriarty's offer."
Alice took a long sip as she contemplated her bottle. She also thought that Cheshire was once again right about her willingness to indulge in certain things regardless of addiction potential. She really enjoyed this wine more than she should.
As she took another sip her mind wandered a little more. There seemed to be a lot to this world from what Gob told her, and she wanted to see it. However going alone without a goal or anything even with Cheshire might be a bad idea.
Alice looked up when she heard a bottle thunk down from across her. She looked up expecting to see another man trying to proposition her for something. Instead she saw that other girl who looked to be about her age grinning widely as she said. "So I was wondering if you wouldn't mind doing me a personal favor."
Alice looked her over. She could tell the girl was drunk from her flushed cheeks and she was a little sweaty as well, plus she could smell the drink on her a little bit. Fortunately she didn't seem too far gone though. Alice decided to have a little fun with her.
Alice gave a little smile and said, "I am not usually up for doing 'personal favors' especially for girls even if they are beautiful like yourself." Alice giggled at her own comment and the other girl's blush. Alice guessed the drink was getting to her a little bit as well. She thought the girl's expression was cute.
Ferna blinked and stared off for a bit before shaking her head and saying quickly. "That isn't what I meant!" She blushed more when this dark haired girl giggled at her. Ferna decided the booze was getting to her. She had… images in her mind she usually wouldn't especially about another female.
"What I meant to say… I was wondering if you would help me with a personal matter. Moriarty has some information I need from him." Ferna was about to elaborate when Alice spoke.
"Oh yes about your father right?" Alice said in a more serious tone.
"How did you…" Ferna said and sighed, "You overheard that didn't you?"
"Well it is hardly a large place here, and you two weren't really very quiet. No doubt Moriarty didn't want to be. He seems to be the type that would say something like that to also give the illustrious patrons of his establishment a subtle warning not to get involved. I am fairly certain Gob heard everything your dad said." Alice told her in a low voice.
Ferna frowned at this but she was sure the girl was right. "Will you help me miss? I know you have no love for him. I heard you two arguing when I first entered."
Alice frowned to this. She felt embarrassed someone overheard her earlier. She finally nodded her head to Ferna in the end. "My name is Alice Liddell. What is yours?
Ferna gave a smile as she said, "Ferna… Ferna Lancaster."
Alice gave her a polite shake of the hand and said, "Good to meet you Ferna. How may I help you?"
"Well I need you to distract him… I don't care how. But I need to get into his office it won't take me long to get what I need. Can you do that for me? I will give you 300 caps." Ferna said.
"If I remember correctly he offered to tell you what you wanted to know for that much. Why do you want to pay me that same amount for a much riskier method of obtaining your information?" Alice asked.
Ferna looked over her should and glared at Moriarty's door as she said to Alice, "It is the principle of the thing. I know he is bad news and the fact he won't help a 'desperate' girl find her dad by talking to her for just a few minutes, really pisses me off. Not to mention the other things I have heard about him."
Alice had a small smile. She liked this Ferna girl already. "I will do it. It will take a little time but what I do will be guaranteed to distract him." Alice then walked up to the bar and sat on the stool near his office and started talking to the other patrons at the bar and Gob.
{-} {-} {-}
Ferna wasn't sure what Alice had in mind, but it had been about fifteen minutes now and she hadn't seen any results yet. In fact, Alice seemed to have gathered a sizable crowd of men and women around her. She was even giggling and flirting lightly with the others. Ferna was just glad she hadn't paid her up front, because so far it seemed like Alice wasn't going to be any help.
Ferna was just about to give up when Moriarty came out of his office and around the counter to break up the crowd subtly. He then spoke to Alice and said, "Are you sure you don't want to work for me Lass? We can possibly make a deal. Tell me which parts of the job you don't like and we can work from there."
Ferna stopped listening to him as she realized just what Alice had done. She causally walked over to the other side of the room without getting attention. Everyone seemed interested in what Alice and Moriarty were talking about.
The dark red haired girl smiled as she crouched down and slowly made her way unnoticed to the office door. She made sure no one saw her. Her HUD told her she was "Hidden" but she wanted to make sure Gob didn't turn around to look at her right as she entered the room. The ghoul was just shaking his head and wiping down a glass.
Ferna crept inside and quickly found Moriarty's desk. She quickly put her computer skills to the test. It was a little tougher to hack than she originally though, but once she found the password "lotsacaps" she shook her head and realized she could have probably guessed it.
She saw several files on what looked like every resident of Megaton. She even saw there was a file on her and one on Alice. Ferna looked to the door quickly, and kicked herself for not having downloaded the information right away to her Pip-boy. She wasn't sure how long Alice's distraction could last.
Ferna was about to leave the room when she noticed he had a back door. She decided to go ahead and pick the lock. After all Moriarty might figure out someone hacked his terminal or something, and with as many enemies as he has it wouldn't be too unbelievable they might break into his office. She then decided she would take some of his stuff as well, purely to make the scene more believable.
Once she was finished she stepped back out and nodded to Alice who saw her. Once Ferna sat at their table she started looking through the files she copied from the terminal. Most of them seemed to be about debts and his thoughts about certain members of Megaton. A couple caught her attention though.
Ferna Lancaster: So it seems James' little baby is all grown up now. She is a looker too. It also seems her dad didn't tell her what he was doing and why he left her in that vault. Hell the poor child probably thinks she was born there and her dad and mom were as well.
I would have offered her "special" employment, but she is focused on her dad. I told her 300 caps or take care of some errands for me to learn the information. I hope she chooses the latter. It would be nice to have someone take care of my dirty work for me again. Plus I would get a kick from watching James' little girl doing things daddy would never approve of.
The dark red haired girl was not amused with the entry on herself. Moriarty lost even more respect in her books. This didn't really say much though. He had very little to begin with. She continued reading.
Alice Liddell: This girl is an odd one. I overheard her talking to Gob after she ordered a couple of bottles of our finest wine. She actually asked for it in that manner too. I would say she is some rich bitch from Tenpenny Tower, but she is too clueless for that to be the case, despite also coming off as half-way smart. She also can't be one of them vault people either.
If I didn't believe she was a bit loony I would say see somehow came from the past or something. However, I will say she is quite the Hot piece of ass! Hell, I haven't seen a beauty like her in a long time. Dark hair, pale skin with just the slightest amount of healthy coloring and those green eyes! Not to mention her figure. I always liked them petite girls. Pity most of them are taken quickly by either raiders or slavers.
I have plans for Alice. She turned down my job offer several times. My patience is wearing thin with her, but I would rather have her willingly work for me along with Nova than force her into it. I don't mind doing that though.
Nova is the best refreshment in town. If I add Alice as well I would have myself the start of a harem! Every man's dream! Really though I want her to come to me of her own willingly. I like forcing others to do my bidding, but I bet this Alice girl would be a freak in the bed and very eager if she wasn't forced into it. Now if only I could get that Lucy West as well I would be set.
Ferna paused after Alice's entry and decided she would share it with her helper. It only seemed fair to Ferna. Also she had a feeling she could like Alice, and this would be a great way to start something.
In addition to that, Ferna wouldn't want Alice or anyone else to work for Moriarty. Ferna read the entry she had been looking for finally… after every other entry first… including the tabs. She really couldn't help it. She loved secrets and information.
James Lancaster: So I was working in the office like always when Gob comes and tells me there is a guest to see me. I grumbled but played the part of friendly bar owner and went to see who it was. I was dumbfounded when I saw it was James Motherfucking Lancaster. Last time I saw him he was here with a little baby girl in blankets. She was crying up a storm for a little while that one time, and so I gave him a couple of drinks of pure water on the house just to shut her up.
I then told him about the vault in the area when he talked about wanting to take her somewhere safe to raise her in honor of the dead mother. I pretended to sympathize, but I was laughing at his thought there was anywhere safe in the Wasteland you could get into easily. He said he had skills that would make him valuable to a vault.
In the end, it turns out he was right! He did the impossible by getting into a vault well after the bombs went off that hadn't been completely ransacked and abandoned. But apparently he got fed up with the life or something and left
I think he was crazy to leave that place. They always sounded like heaven compared to the hell out here. He kept going on about finishing what him and his wife started, but he wasn't sure where to start.
I was about to say something when that Three Dog guy on the radio spoke up between songs and went on about fighting the good fight and such. All that same old shit no one cares about.
James decided he needed to speak to this guy. I told him the Galaxy News Radio station was deep in the ruins of D.C. and he would be wise to stay away from there. Place ain't as safe as it used to be before he left for the vault, and that really is saying something!
Ferna now knew where to go next but she also didn't think she should strike out tonight. She did have a house. She could stay there for the night, but first she had to pay Alice. Ferna kept drinking her whiskey, but she was careful with it now as she waited for Alice to come sit next to her.
{-} {-} {-}
It took a little time after Ferna sat back down to end the distraction, but eventually Alice said, "I will really think about your offer sir. I was wrong to have turned it down so quickly earlier. I am having some trouble figuring what to do with my life here, and you have provided me an opportunity."
Alice sat down next to a beaming Ferna and poured another glass of wine. Alice took a sip and gave a smile as she said, "So did you get what you needed?" Alice actually enjoyed playing distraction. She felt a little excited and something else she really couldn't describe.
Ferna continued smiling as she said, "Yes I did Alice. Thanks for your help. Really though your distraction was very effective and interesting." Ferna turned serious as she said, "Before I give you the caps I think you should look at this Alice."
Ferna scooted closer to Alice and held up the Pip-boy to her face. Alice found the thing very curious and amazing, but she failed to see how it was something she should see. "What is this contraption? I don't think it is something I really must see though. I will admit it is amazing." Alice started moving Ferna's arm about to look at the Pip-boy.
The former vault girl blinked a few times before it clicked. "No… I mean the screen on my Pip-boy Alice." She was beginning to understand what Gob and Moriarty said about the dark haired beauty. Alice was odd, but Ferna didn't really mind it. She was just glad to meet someone who also wasn't already a hardened wastelander covered in dust and grime.
Alice gave her an "Ohhh..." look and brought the thing to her face as she squinted and read the entry. As Alice read it with some difficulty, Ferna was glad that she could just pop it up on her HUD to look over instead, and she once again found herself marveling at Pip-boys.
Alice read the entry displayed, and did all she could to keep calm. She slowly released her hold on Ferna's arm and said simply. "Thanks for that Ferna." She then stood up and any sign of her displeasure melted away.
Ferna was wondering what she had just done when Alice knocked on Moriarty's office door and said in a sweet voice, "Mr. Moriarty may I speak with you sir? I have reached a decision about your offer. I think I will take you up on it but first, I would like to discuss the details in private with you."
The owner opened the door and smirked for a second before morphing his smirk into a pleasant smile as he said, "Ah yes. Sure thing Lass." Alice entered the office and both Gob and Nova watched as the door closed.
Inside the office Alice's green eyes turned a little darker, but Moriarty didn't take notice. He was too pleased with himself and acquiring Alice as another working girl. Alice also quietly summoned her blade and held it behind her back out of his sight.
"Well I'm glad you decided to come around. I won't expect you to sell your body, but I think you will eventually decide to do so on your own. Until then Nova can easily take care of those services. Just work her into the conversation and get them interested in her. These fools will pay good money just to experience a night with pleasant company that just listens to them and shares a drink with them. Now I would like for you to start training next week." Moriarty said.
Alice gave a seductive smile and shifted a hip ever so slightly as to draw his eyes. "I appreciate your kindness. Would you allow me to express my gratitude?" She then brought one arm out and walked towards him with a little sway in her hips.
Moriarty gave a smug look as Alice came up to him and asked him to turn around. He did so and soon he felt one of her delicate hands on his chest, and before he could do anything else. His eyes widened as a blade slit his throat and the first delicate hand covered his mouth so he wouldn't make any noise as he gagged on his own blood and died.
{-} {-} {-}
A few minutes later Alice came back out and said cheerfully, "He wants me to start training next week." Alice then sat down next to Ferna and the two decided to share a drink with each other. Ferna was a little confused but she saw a look in Alice's eyes that told her to act normal. She knew something had happened to Moriarty, but she decided he deserved whatever it was.
The two talked together and even shared a giggle or two. Nova came and sat down with the two girls for a bit. They looked at her as she held out her own drink. "Don't worry girls… I'm just taking a break is all. Unless you two lovely ladies wish to join me upstairs."
Alice gave a knowing smirk as she said, "I think I will pass you up on that offer Nova. I am sure Moriarty will want you to coach me eventually. I figure if that time does come then I will be a very common bed partner for you." Alice gave a giggle to this.
The other two weren't sure if Alice was tipsy form the wine or if it was something else. They just decided to leave it be, and enjoy the mood.
{-} {-} {-}
After an hour of pleasant talk Gob went to check on his boss in the office. Everyone in the saloon heard what sounded like some hurried steps and then Gob burst back out and shouted. "That dirt bag, scummy smoothskin is dead! I mean my ex-boss is dead!"
Everyone looked shocked even Alice and Ferna did as well. Ferna really was shocked for a second but then she connected the dots and gave Alice a knowing smile out of the corner of her mouth.
"Really? But how?" Alice asked, playing the part of a normal and shocked patron perfectly.
"Looks like someone slit his throat! They also seemed to have taken most of his valuables. They even used the safe key to clean it out. Odd thing is they put it back on his desk. It also looked like the back door's lock was picked." Gob said.
He then gave Nova a look and after a moment she spoke up. "Alright everyone. I think it is safe to say Gob and I are now running this place. In honor of the recent change of management a round of drinks on the house from the top shelf!" The patrons gave a cheer.
Ferna and Alice were both just shocked at this outcome. Nova brought the two of them some drinks. "Doesn't anyone care that Moriarty is dead? Or at least wondering who killed him?" Ferna asked.
Nova light up a cigarette and gave a chuckle. "Moriarty was a bastard that kept tabs on everyone in Megaton and tried, with varying degrees of success, at controlling them. Hell anyone could have done it and I'm sure Simms will look into it, but only to make sure no one else dies. No one in this town cared about Moriarty. They care about the saloon and the business, but Gob mostly ran it anyways. Moriarty just counted his caps and typed notes on his computer."
Alice was a little concerned, "Will Gob have any problems from the locals?"
Nova took a drag on her cigarette before answering. "Nope. All the locals like him well enough. I will be the 'owner and proprietress' so visitors won't cause any problems, but the two of us will share the business and profits 50/50."
Ferna gave a scoff and dryly said, "It seems you two have put a lot of thought into this Nova."
Nova gave a laugh, "Yes we have. If we actually made money, we might have hired someone to take him out anyways and worked with Simms on the matter. Those two hated each other and fought for control of the town, but Simms actually cares for the town and its people. Moriarty just cared about getting their caps."
{-} {-} {-}
It was late now. Ferna and Alice were both standing outside away from any ears about to part ways when Alice asked, "It doesn't make sense… I didn't touch the back door or the safe. I didn't even know there was a back door nor that it was usually locked."
Ferna gave a laugh. "When I hacked his computer I stole everything immediately noticeable and wasn't in the safe. After that, I picked the lock on the back door. I might have looked through the safe, but I wasn't sure how long your distraction would work. Once I left the office, I wasn't going to chance going back in it. I guess Gob was the one that cleared the safe."
Ferna and Alice both gave a laugh. Alice then said, "It seems we committed the perfect wasteland crime together unintentionally Ferna."
Ferna laughed again and stretched. She then asked Alice, "Why did you do it? I can't picture you as the type to take a life easily like that Alice."
Alice gave a sigh. "I usually wouldn't, but seeing his entry on me and knowing all of the things he had planned. Set me off a bit. He reminded me of something I would rather not discuss. Also seeing those other entries and how he treated Gob and Nova, while I was sitting there and drinking, were what gave me the poke I needed to act."
Ferna gave a frown to Alice in sympathy. Alice then said, "You don't really have anything to worry about Ferna. Unless you too are a foul smelling, loathsome, scum lower than a shell of a human with no heart or soul that wishes to make me a prostitute as well." There was a fire of hatred in Alice's eyes as she spoke.
Ferna was a little shocked at the outburst, but realized there had to be a reason for it. She wasn't going to pry but she did say, "Woah Alice! Be careful with those words. Gob might be upset if he heard some of them."
Alice then gave a smile as she said, "Yes you are right. Using those words to describe Moriarty is an insult to the stereotype placed on ghouls."
Ferna couldn't help but laugh to that and Alice soon joined her. They were both feeling the buzz from their drinks. Ferna finally stopped laughing and said, "That reminds me Alice." She then counted reached to grab her caps. "I still owe you three hundred caps for your help earlier."
Alice looked at Ferna and bit her bottom lip nervously as she said, "Actually about that… I know we haven't really known each other for long, but I was wondering if…" Alice paused what she was saying to look at Ferna. Ferna oddly felt her heart beat a little faster as if anticipating something.
Alice continued cautiously. "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind me tagging along with you on your quest instead. This is awfully forward of me, but I really was serious when I said I wasn't sure what to do with my life now."
Ferna's blue eyes widened. She wasn't opposed to the idea; in fact she actually liked the thought. They had worked well together unintentionally to more or less liberate a town of a horrible wannabe tyrant. However, she wasn't sure about this whole thing.
"Not that I dislike the idea, but are you sure Alice? I am searching for my father and I have no idea where all he has gone. I just know it will be dangerous and I don't know how or when it will end." Ferna said.
Her heart was beating faster. She was really hoping Alice would say she still wanted to come, but she didn't want her coming along without some idea of what might happen. She really had come to like Alice quickly, while they sat together in the Saloon talking. Also Ferna knew it would be a very lonely journey with just two radio stations as company, plus her and Alice did seem to work well together.
Alice looked at her seriously as she said, "Yes I am sure. I haven't been out in all of this for long, and while Cheshire is surprisingly bearable company, it isn't really the same. Besides I have already lost my family for good, if I can hopefully help find yours in even the slightest bit I would be happy."
Ferna almost gave a smile when she instead asked, "Who is Cheshire?"
Alice gave a sigh. "He is a Cheshire Cat Ferna. He is rather large and very scary looking with sharp claws, but he only attacks my enemies. Just be warned, he loves to be very cryptic and mysterious. He also loves speaking in riddles sometimes."
Ferna's jaw dropped as she asked, "So he is a monstrous cat creature that can talk? But won't attack me unless we become enemies?" Alice simply nodded to this.
Ferna gave a chuckle as she said, "Well considering the reports I saw about things out here and the stories the locals have told. That oddly doesn't seem all that unusually. Actually that sounds kind of interesting. Where is he now though Alice?"
"Doc Hoff, he was the one that lead me here and to the clinic, told us it might be a good idea if he wanted outside for me. He made it sound like once the people here got used to seeing me around and trusting me a little bit they might not care if he followed me here, but before that Simms might not like the idea." Alice answered.
Ferna nodded, "Makes sense." The two now companions looked to the night sky. Ferna spoke again after a few minutes, "So where are you staying tonight Alice? I'll come and find you tomorrow before I head off. As much as I want to go now I think I need some rest first."
"I actually hadn't thought about that yet. Maybe I will go and rent a room from Nova and Gob for the night. I think they probably know what we did so they might not even charge me for it. I don't plan on telling them though unless they ask me outright about it." Alice answered as she stretched her arms above her head.
Alice turned around when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Actually Alice. Why don't you stay at my place tonight? I mean we are going to be traveling together for who knows how long, and after disarming that nuclear bomb in the center of the town earlier, Simms gave me a house here. I haven't looked around in it yet but I am sure it has at least one bed."
Alice's jaw dropped and she almost shouted, "That thing was armed?! Gob told me all about the bombs and told me the one in the center of the town was disarmed… Whose idea was it to build a town around an active bomb?"
Ferna gave a nervous laugh. "I more or less thought the same thing. Anyways only a few knew it was armed, but they didn't share that knowledge obviously. Regardless it isn't anymore. I made sure it."
Alice just shook her head and said, "Alright lead the way Ferna. I really need some rest now. This has been one long and weird day… Even by my standards…."
"I know exactly what you mean by that Alice." Ferna said as she made her way to her house. Fortunately her Pip-boy placed a marker on it earlier when Simms mentioned it.
{-} {-} {-}
They made it to the house. It wasn't much but it had two beds and that was all Alice and Ferna cared about. Alice spoke up before they went to bed. "Can we stop by this Craterside Supply place tomorrow? I really want to thank Moira for fixing and modifying my dress while I was recovering in the clinic."
"Sure. I wanted to check it out as well. Goodnight Alice." Ferna said. She also mentally made a note to ask Alice why she was in the clinic in the first place.
Alice blinked for a couple of moments in silence. Ferna was about to figure Alice fell asleep when she heard her softly say. "Goodnight Ferna… and thank you for everything." Alice felt oddly warm saying that and happy. It had been a long time since someone wished her Goodnight.
Ferna Level 3! Daddy's Girl Rank 1 (possible 3): You always listened to almost everything your dad told you as you grew up. While he may have left you angry and possibly feeling as if he didn't love you anymore, His lessons stuck and have come in handy. Each rank gives you +5 science and +5 medicine.
Alice Level 3! Swift Learner rank 1 (possible 3): Alice was always curious, quick witted, and fairly intelligent. She may have spent ten years in an asylum, but the lessons from the many tutors her parents hired for her and her sister were adequate enough that she still knew more than the average educated adult after she was released from Rutledge. Each rank gives you +10% xp whenever xp can be earned.