Normal Days
"Some days are just bad days, that's all. You have to experience sadness to know happiness and I remind myself that not every day is going to be a good day, that's just the way it is!"
Dita Von Teese
BANG!
"God damnit."
"You need to aim a little higher, we're about 500 meters from it."
"Well now it's running off."
Nage and I were on our bellies atop a small hill not far from Tersha. Nage decided to show me the ways of sniper marksmanship by taking me hunting. I missed a large molerat and now it's run off.
Day 15 in the wasteland. We returned to Tersha from Paxton with the need to resupply, only to realize that the Washington Federation has successfully annexed Tersha after disputing it for so long. Knights patrol the town more often, especially at night.
Those aren't Knights Nage said to me earlier.
Nage explained that those troops were in fact Military Police, despite looking the same as Knights: The Military Police are not part of Revolutionary Order, they directly follow the Federal Congress from back in their lands. While Knights often fight to expand the hand of the Federation, The MPs often come in later to control the recently 'freed' areas.
They enforce the new Tax law that has been placed on the town, and even started a Federal Court.
The reason why we're still in Tersha is because we came to realize that we may not have enough caps to make a full trip to Worcester. Food wasn't an issue, I knew where a stash is back in Barre.
Ammo, repairs, armor, and medical supplies were the issue at hand. My medkit was all used up and only had a few stimpacks to my name. My jumpsuit's bullet-proof vest has been severely damaged since the Battle for Paxton, and I'm running low on shells for my shotgun.
To cover the expenses, Nage and I decided to take the time to go hunting for Molerats and Deerbuck for their hides and meat to sell.
Nage and I moved to a new position and caught up with the molerat that ran off, He gave me his M40 sniper rifle and we both laid back down on the dirt.
He was showing me how snipers work best as a pair, he had binoculars and was estimating the distance for me.
"Keep distance and how high we are to consideration, unlike energy weapons, bullets have weight and will drop down over a distance."
I looked into the snipers scope, the crosshairs were aimed at the Molerat's abdomen, which was eating some dead grass.
"Aim high, we're about 600 yards from it...slow your breathing and pull the trigger when you exhale."
I did as he told me, I slowed my breath and carefully positioned the crosshair's center slightly above the molerat. As I exhaled I pulled the trigger.
BANG!
"Annnd it's down. Nice shot, Ken." said Nage.
I smiled. This was the fourth attempt of the day, and it took alot of patience but at least we finally got some game.
We went to collect our reward and began hauling it back to Tersha.
It was about midday when we returned to Tersha, the guards in the front entrance were replaced with Military Police.
They let us through into the town, with the Federation in control, they were able to ship in more goods and troops from across the lake. However most of the goods are usually sent to the front, the federation's caravan enterprises occasionally visit Tersha to trade goods.
"Let's go cash this in with the butcher." said Nage.
We walked along the busy street, the market stands were still lined up but some were shut down because they didn't meet the Federation's "standards".
Passing an alleyway, we saw two men with their bodies planted on the wall and hands being cuffed by Federal MPs, a sight that's becoming more frequent since the annexation.
The Butcher shop was open with skinned and gutted game hung behind the counter. The bucher, a large bald man wearing an apron covered in animal blood, was chopping meat chunks.
"Oh it's you two again, whatdoya got for me this time?" said the Butcher as we walked in.
"Just one for today, might go again later." Nage replied as he hauled the dead molerat at the counter.
"Ah well, it's large. So that'll add in for a few caps."
The butcher went under the counter to give us our payment, about 50 caps.
"You know, you boys are kinda keeping me stocked for regular business." said the butcher.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Lately, the MPs has been making 'requisitions' for fresh meat. They say they're sending it to the front but I saw them cooking em at their quarters, bastards... They pay a bit, but it doesn't really cover the expenses... they won't pay any more than they are though.."
"Then just stop selling to em" said Nage.
"I'm more worried for the shop. I heard not selling to the MPs was what got some of the stands to shut down. I'm worried they'll think I'm not up to their 'Standards'"
Just then, a lady walked into the shop with a note on her hand, she walked in front of Nage and I. Unlike some people I met, she actually said "Excuse me" as she stood infront of the counter.
She had brown hair that would actually match the same color as Mako's hair, and seemed to be as short as Leo back in the vault. For some strange reason, I felt like I seen this woman before...
"What can I do ya for, doll?"
"I got a meat order for the Grill'n Kill, here's the request." She said passing the note to the butcher.
The butcher took a look at the note, and frowned.
"I'm sorry miss, but the MPs took the last of the bovine meat. We got none left until further notice."
"Oh... Well... I guess we can settle with Molerat meat and maybe some Deerbuck."
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
"It's fine" she said, passing a sack of caps to the butcher. The butcher counted the caps but took a handful of them and passed it back to the Lady.
"This should remove the expenses for the Bovine, again I'm sorry we ran out."
"Oh... Well, thank you." she said.
She turned around to head out the shop, but she immediately stopped when she saw me. "Hey... Hey I saw you before!" she said.
Nage turned to me surprised, but I was just as surprised as he was. Who is this woman?
"Yeah yeah, that was you. Back at the Grill'n Kill!"
"I-I'm sorry h-have we met before?" I said. great response, Ken.
"Yeah...! Well...no. I was in some deep trouble but I saw you getting up to help"
Then it hit me, she was the waitress that was being roughed up by that guy demanding caps. I remember losing my appetite that night when the pub owner pulled out a submachine gun and totally blasted that guy away.
"You were that waitress that got all roughed up!" I yelled, coming out of my quick flashback. I said that louder than I though, even the butcher flinched at my sudden yelling. My face quickly reddened.
"That was me, you were gonna do something till this guy pulled ya back down." She said while giving an angry glare at Nage.
Nage raised his hands to show innocence, "Hey now. I might have saved Ken's skin by pullin' him back down. Besides, your boss did all saving."
"Hmph. Well I actually recognized you because of something else."
"Something else?" I asked
"I heard, that a Vault Dweller went into that Paxton Warzone, and in just two days: ended the battle there."
"What...! M-me? I mean... I took part of it bu-" I was mumbling when Nage decided to Interrupt me.
"What he means to say is, how'd you recognize him because of some story you heard."
"Well, put the puzzle together genius. Vault dweller shows up in pub, ain't no one seen a Dweller in years, Dweller spotted in Paxton, Same Dweller returns to Tershsa."
"Well then how do you know a Dweller ended the conflict?"
"I work in a Pub, sir. We hear alot of gossip. Knights were coming in the pub, returning from Paxton, and all they kept talking about was the Vault boy that pretty much saved their lives."
She turned to me with a smile on her face, I was still red at this point.
"I just wanted to ask if you wanna come to the pub sometime, I wanna hear about what happened over on Paxton"
Did she just asked me out?
"U-Uh...S-Sure, I'll come by later tonight." I said in a very stammering fashion.
"That works, I work on nights so I'll likely be on my shift then. I'll see ya then!" she said in a rather, happy tone. She walked pass Nage and I out to the main street.
"Did she just asked you out?" said Nage..
Later we went to a market stall that sold ammo for cheap then went to a store that sold armor.
"I think we made enough so you can buy some new armor, it's time to get out of that Jumpsuit, Ken."
I liked my jumpsuit, it's bright blue and yellow color made me stand out from the crowd of people who often wore darker clothing.
Standing out could get you killed Nage said. I scoffed and agreed.
We walked up to the merchant who was a woman with dyed red hair, I knew it was dyed because her roots were brown.
"What can I do for you boys?"
"He needs some new gear, and maybe some repairs for his shoulder guard." said Nage
"Alright, I can repair that. Do you know his size?"
"Ken?"
My Jumpsuit is one size fits all... I had no clue that there were different sizes in clothing...
"I... don't know." I said.
"Oooooo, I get to measure this one!" she said happily, I gulped.
"Huh, alright. Ken, let her get your measurements so she can get you the proper armor." said Nage.
"Follow me, hun." she said.
I looked at Nage who only smirked, I followed her into the back room where there were several sewing machines and other tailoring goods all hung about. Pieces of leather were on tables along with buttons, cloth, sheets of metal and even a tiny welder's kit.
"Alright then, take off your shirt." Uh oh
"W-What!? C-Can't you just measure me with it on?!"
"I need to properly measure your body, hun. Oh come on, I don't bite." With a shade of red across my face I slowly unzipped my Jumpsuit and unbuckled my vest.
"So you're really from a Vault huh? I can tell... your skin is as clean as a newborn Bovine."
"M-My vault jumpsuit and Pipboy didn't give that away?"
"Hun, I don't look at a man's gear, only his eyes." she said as she began to pull off my jumpsuit, i quickly jumped.
"W-Wait! This jumpsuit covers from neck to toe!"
"Really!?" She said excitedly
"S-Stop that! Can't you just cut off the upper part or something?"
She chuckled a bit. "Sure thing, just turn around ok?" I did as she told.
She pulled out a sharp razorblade, I held on to my lower jumpsuit so that it wouldn't fall when she finishes cutting. She poked a hole in the jumpsuit at waist level and began to cut, "So hun, you got a girl?."
"W-What..?"
"You know! A girl! Member of the opposite sex? "
"..."
"Ok... guess not, anyone at home then?"
"..."
"Someone who misses you, or wonders where you are? I know a Vault is like a different dimension compared to this place..."
"I never had a chance with women, miss..."
"Oh? And why not? You're kinda cute if you ask me."
"T-Thanks...?"
"Tell me, why don't you have a chance with women?"
"I... Well...I'm n-not good at... social stuff."
"You're talking me me. That's a start."
"Well... I stammer alot..."
"I think it's adorable, is there anyone that likes your stammering at home?
"N-No..."
"Anyone who likes you at all?"
"..."
My silence got her to stop cutting, she was a bit more than halfway. She looked at me in the eyes, I tried to avoid but her glare was so gracious I couldn't resist.
"You meaning to tell me, that no one is thinking of you right now? From what I know you're the only one out of your Vault."
"I never had a way for friends either..."
"Family...?"
"..."
A staggering silence occurred for a moment, she continued cutting.
"Is that why you left?"
"What?"
"You think you have no one, so you left?"
There were only two people in my life that I actually cared for in that vault, before the invasion that is...
My mother, the drunk. Who likely found out about my disappearance and is going on a drinking binge once more.
And Liam, possibly my only friend on the Vault, we talked often during duty but not really alot off duty. I usually remain alone in my resident room.
The Tailorist finished cutting the upper part of the jumpsuit off, I held on to my newly made pants so that they wouldn't fall.
"I'll fix you a buckle so those pants won't fall down."
"D-Do you always talk to your customers like this?"
"Not always, for starters, some people actually know what size they are."
"Yeah.. sorry for that. They don't have sizes in the Vault."
"People come here to get new armor, I provide, but I can tell when someone has a problem. Remember what I said? 'I don't look at a man's gear, only his eyes' and I saw yours. I saw you were stricken with something."
"Just by looking at me?"
"It's a talent, I know."
She finished the belt, she walked over to me and managed to use the Jumpsuit's utility belt as a way to hold the actual belt to my waist. She completely converted my lower jumpsuit into trousers.
"I don't even know anymore."
"What?"
"You asked me if that was why I left... I don't even know anymore."
She gave a concerned look, "Come on, let's get your measurements."
Later she used a measuring tape to get my waist and torso measurements.
"Alright, hun. I'll fix something special for ya, you can wear this tunic so you don't go out shirtless. Heh, unless you want to..."
"No-No. I like having a shirt, thank you!"
She smiled, and I gave her one back, although mine seem quite faint.
We left the Tailor shop after she told us that she'll have an outfit ready for me later tonight, as we left Nage kept nudging my arm saying that I've already attracted two ladies so far, and that he was impressed.
This made me felt uncomfortable, but I shrugged it off and laughed it out.
...
The Military Police, and the Order's Knights are two, very different people.
At first, the Knights came thinking this place had a bunch of savages. but after a while of fighting along these 'savages' they came to be friendly amongst them.
Unfortunately, this can not be said the same for the Military Police. A Knight friend, who had just returned from Paxton told us more about the MPs. Apparently, they live a more privileged way of life: The training is not as rough as Knight's training, the often get first pick of the supplies that get sent to the front lines, and they themselves are never sent to the front lines.
The MPs who not only bring, prejudice and hate toward the inhabitants here, they bring their "laws, and protection" which puts them in an uneasy role on Tersha's streets.
We were on our way to the ammunition stall when a patrol of the Federation's MPs walked up to us. The pair weren't wearing the power armor most of the MPs wore, but they had the same insignia of the Federation's flag and combat helmets with the white letters 'MP' on it.
"Name." said one of them, holding a clipboard. The other stepped around to our side.
"Sorry?" said Nage.
"I said, Name."
"Nage."
The MP flips pages over and looks up Nage's in.
"Right, Nage. The citizen tax was two days ago but you haven't paid yet."
"Oh, I didn't get the memo." said Nage.
Nage was lying of course, he decided not to pay the Tax seeing as we really needed caps to buy our supplies, we only just manage to afford to get new armor for myself.
"Do you guys just randomly check on people like this?"
"Your due is 100 caps, you and your friend too."
"How do you know he hasn't payed already."
"Because we collect the taxes, and I would remember if a Vault Dweller payed for his citizenship."
"We don't have 200 caps right now."
"You have until the morning to pay your due, otherwise we'll come to some home eviction."
"You don't know where I live..." snared Nage
"Well, we can find out." said the MP as he walked away with his counterpart.
Nage waited until they were out of hearing range. "Assholes, it wasn't this bad in New York..."
"What do you think they'll do if we can't pay?" I asked Nage.
"They'll break into our house and take our stuff as payment I guess..."
"That's not fair..." I moaned, this whole 'Tax' issue is really preventing us from getting any real supplies.
We walked down the road back to our shack, "It wasn't this bad in New York... They're doing alot more patrols and arrests around here than there..." said Nage.
"Something must have happened, the Federation seems really desperate for what's out here." he continued.
The river that separated the Federation from Tersha now constantly hosts barges of troops, supplies and occasionally vehicles being sent across. A new harbor was constructed and it is heavily guarded 27/7!
No one who isn't uniformed is allowed anywhere near the harbor, they have a "Kill on Sight" line where if someone passes into the harbor at a specific distance, they are authorize to kill them!
I walked up to the mirror in our shack and came to look at myself. Wearing a dirty beige tunic with my newly made Jumpsuit pants. I've never seen my boots look so dirty before; layers of dirt and mud stain the once clean black leather. My face, by now will have a much darker tone with all the sun I'm getting. Hygiene is always on my mind. Nage tells me that the only thing I need to worry about are my teeth, feet and smell.
Using fresh water to clean yourself sounded pretty wasteful to Nage and to other wastelanders. Nage himself, only bathes once or twice a week!
"And you'll have to travel to a town with a bath house." he said to me.
Most people don't have working bathtubs or showers, so there is actual business in the bathing market.
We waited in the shack for a while, resting our bodies after many hours of laying on our bellies and tracking game. Nage says my marksmanship skills need more work but he says I'm a fast learner.
Fifteen days ago I never even heard about a sniper, they are meant for long range situations. For a place like a Vault, that is hardly ever needed. There is so much taken account when sniping... distance, wind speed, what kind of bullets I'm using, movement of target...
Still, I'm not good.
A little later we decide that we may as well eat at the Grill'n Kill to meet up with...
Huh.
I don't think I've gotten her name yet... Did I even asked for her name?
...I suck with women...
...
We walked up to the grill, luckily the lady was waving at us so I wouldn't need to ask for her without knowing her name.
She sat us down in a two seater booth, "business is slow today, boss is nice enough to give me a break with you guys."
The grill wasn't as packed as it was when we first ate here, two or three people were sitting at the bar and a trio sitting in the corner booth. The trio looked very shady, they wore cloaks with hoods over their heads, though I can clearly see their armored vests through the sides of the cloaks.
The woman must have caught my eye, "I'll talk about those guys in a bit... you guys want anything?"
I ordered a Bovine soup while Nage ordered some kind of smoked...gecko meat.
A moment later, she returned with our orders including her own. She pulled up a chair and we began to chat.
"I don't think I've ever gotten y-your name." I said.
"Oh! Sorry! I just sorta dropped this meet up with you and never even gave you my name." she said.
"It's Audi"
"Nice to meet you" I said.
"What's your name? The Knights always talk about 'that dweller' but never mention a name."
I gulped, have that many people talked about me? Nage didn't seem interested in our conversation, he just started digging into his smoked Gecko. "Ken" I said abruptly.
"That's an important name" she said.
"Why is that?" I asked. I recall Makos talking about names like mine being reserved for more important people.
"Well, no one around here is named 'Ken' but I know in the Federation it's treated like a title."
"Even if it's just a shortened version of my real name?"
"What is your full name then?"
"Kenneth Mierson"
"See? That name sounds like some Federation Bureaucrat"
"What's your full name" I asked.
"It's just Audi." she replied.
"You don't have a last name?"
"Not many people do..."
We later shifted the conversation about The battle for Paxton. I explained that It really wasn't All me that won the fight. Though, Audi still insists that I played a very major role during the whole thing, seeing that I convinced Gerro to side with the Knights.
"And I sniped!" added Nage with his mouth full of gecko, he quickly went back to his meal.
"It's good to know that the conflict in Paxton is over at least, they say they're rebuilding it now."
"Yeah."
We paused our conversation for a moment to eat a bit of our meals, by now Nage is already done with his meal and made another order. Audi, deciding to change the subject, shifted the conversation to a more... darker request.
"Ken?"
"Hmm?" I said raising my head from the bowl
"Was it hard?" she said, I was confused by what she meant.
"What do you mean?"
"You know... going from a protected Vault, to a hellish world out here. I would probably gone insane..."
I stopped eating my soup, "Yes, it was hard. I nearly vomited just by looking up. How infinite the ceiling was... the blinding sun... But I think the biggest change was the people. People here are very different."
"Vault life is definitely alot safer than being out here, I bet. Which is why I wonder why you even left home in the first place, Ken."
"I... Rather not say. There has been some... Home issues."
"Oh. Ok, that's fine. Sorry I didn't mean to ask something so personal."
"It's fine."
After a short pause, she brought up a request to not just me, but Nage as well.
"You guys, I have a... well... not a favor, more like a-"
"Just spew it, lady." Nage said interruptingly
"Those three hooded men at the corner booth."
"Yeah?"
"Those are the men my boss didn't kill after she blasted away the man who was hurting me."
"Knew it." said Nage.
"Huh?" Audi and I said in unison.
"Oh, the hooded guys too. But I knew she didn't invite us here because she was interested in ya Ken, she invited us so that we can do a hit job for her."
"That's not true, I swear to you...!"
"Listen, those guys are always in this place. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner... It's like they're staking this place out... It's suspicious."
"Get the MPs on it, we're not cops lady"
"That's the thing! The MPs won't do anything just because we think they're up to something, they won't do anything until they actually do something or if we turn up with evidence."
"Not really an efficient way of finding criminals." I said.
"What does this have to do with us?" I asked.
"Because no one else will help me, but I remember seeing you trying to help. I'm not asking you to Murder them. I'm asking you to get evidence from them, so the MPs can handle it."
I looked down at my bowl, an infiltration job? Are we to break into these guy's place and find evidence?
"What's in it for us?" asked Nage. Audi sighed.
"I'm putting in two hundred caps for this."
...
"Deal." I said.
"Woah what?" said Nage.
"Thank you so much, Ken. I know... It looks like I'm asking a lot from you both, but I'm just really scared at what these men might do."
The men in the corner booth finished their round of drinks and all left the Grill, not without one of them eyeing me down. He had sun tanned skin with what appears to be a purple tattoo on the side of his head, I couldn't make out what shape it was.
We finished our meals, and began to leave ourselves. Audi gave us another big thanks and told us the dinner was on the house. We left the Grill and made our way to the Tailor.
"Now, Ken. I don't suppose you did any infiltrating work back in the Vault." said Nage.
"Uhh.. No, I haven't." I replied reluctantly.
"Jeez... I haven't done infiltration since my Ironbow days, and even that was done from a long range so I can hit high level targets..."
"I know how to pick locks" I said. I remember rereading that lockpicking magazine out of boredom, I've learn everything that's to be learned from it.
"That may actually be useful in our case. We sneak in, find whatever evidence we need, then leave."
"I hope that's enough."
"The payout is 200 caps, so we can pay out our Taxes. When is it due?"
"Tomorrow morning..."
"Shit."
"We may have to do this job tonight..." I said.
"Let's go get your new armor for starters?"
"Yeah, let's."