As Kirk entered Moriarty's Saloon, the first thing he noticed was a man and a very attractive woman arguing over the radio. Kirk would have focused more on the woman. However, it was the man who caught his attention. He looked...awful. Like a decaying corpse being dried up, with skin and hair falling off. Yet he acted normal and was banging on the radio with a raspy voice complaining like a normal man. With this assestment, Kirk took a deep breath again and took a seat at the bar. He noticed people started staring at him, like he was the freak and not the man behind the bar. Kirk awkwardly fixed his hair and rubbed his face in case he had something there. The woman approached him first, "Well, well, look at you, sweetie. Is there anything I can... help ...you with." She purred at him, getting too close. Kirk had never seen a woman be so forward and alluring at the same time. He gulped and did his best to remain stoic, but he already felt himself getting aroused. "I am looking for someone. Can you help with that?" he asked a bit more shaky than he liked. "Oh. Gob hun, this one is for you. Come find me after if you need other assistance, baby." she said, walking away with a sway that you couldn't ignore. "Alright, smoothskin, how can I help you?" the decaying man called Gob presumbaly asked. Kirk kept his composure and responded, "Hello sir, I am looking for someone, an older man wearing a suit like mine. Has he been here?" Gob stared at him in disbelief. After a small pause, he said, "No one has ever called me sir before. Nor said hello to me like that." Kirk didn't know what to say, so he went with, "I'm sorry to hear that, I'm guessing it's because you look like this? Is it an illness? Have you sought treatment for it?" Gobs jaw dropped and thought, 'Who the hell was this kid? He's so kind, yet so damn naive.' Gob started laughing hard, so hard, everyone in the room stopped talking and watched them. His laugh was ugly and raspy, but Kirk couldn't help but chuckle too. Nova hurried over to Gob and said, "Gob sweetie stop, stop before he hears." He stopped quickly realizing what she meant and nodded to her. She went back to talking to other patrons. "Sorry kid, have you ever met a ghoul before?" he asked. "I have not. Could you tell me about it?" Kirk asked back. "People who were exposed to radiation after the nukes dropped turned into this." he answered. "After the nukes...200 years ago?" Kirk asked, shocked. "Yeah, we have long life spans because of it, but we look like this now." Gob answered. "Incredible." Kirk said. "I like you, kid. I have never met anyone who was so nice to me, tell you what." He said, leaning in close to Kirk. "I will give you a discount anytime you come by." he offered. "You will give him a what?" a man asked behind him suddenly.
Gobs eyes grew wide, grossly wide. He turned to the man and said, "Nothing boss, just telling him I will give him what we have available for purchase." "Now you are lying to me?" the man responded, stepping closer to him. "N-no boss, I-I'm not l-l-lying." Gob answered, cowering away. The man grabbed a bottle off the counter and smashed it over his head. Kirk backed away from the counter and went to grab his pistol from his bag, but a hand grabbed him to stop him. It was a pretty blonde girl, and she looked at him and shook her head. He turned back to watch the man beat Gob against the counter until he fell to the floor and proceeded to kick him for too long. "YOU DO NOT DECIDE TO GIVE DISCOUNTS YOU FUCKIN ZOMBIE!" The man stopped finally and spat on Gob. He approached the counter in front of Kirk and rested his hands on it. "Welcome to Moriarty's lad, I am Colin Morairty, Proprieter of this fine establishment, how can I help you?" he said in calm and strange accent.
Kirk didn't know what to do. He was angry and had a feeling of righteousness coursing through him. However, he doubted acting on that beating was the right call. Nobody in the entire saloon did anything when he beat poor Gob. So this was either an accepted norm or a common occurrence. "I need info, I'm looking for an older man with a suit like mine." Kirk said. "Nova! Stop fucking crying over there and pick this slimy bastard up! Get him back up and working!" Moriarty yelled. Nova quickly went over to Gob and dragged him away, not before Moriarty spanked her though. "Now then, you must be James kid all grown up, haven't seen you since you were a wee one." Moriarty states while lighting a cigarette. "Aye, he was here and now he isn't." He said while smoking. Kirk narrowed his eyes, "What the hell are you talking about? We are both from the vault, never been outside of it." Moriarty started laughing, "We are born in the vault, and we die in the vault right? Well, I knew him way back when, cause he needed to get into your little vault boyo. He was on the run or something with a brotherhood bitch and wanted to go to the safest place in the wasteland. I even gave a toast for you being newborn and all."
Kirk stared at him in disbelief. Unfortunately, his gut was inclined to believe him based on other factors he has learned. But he wasn't gonna let this prick know that. "I don't believe you. Regardless, please tell me where he went." Moriarty glared, "You calling me a liar boyo? You saw firsthand what I do to liars. Now, you think I'm a hypocrite?" Kirk glared back, "You have no evidence that you knew us, so based off that I am not believing you." They stared at each other for a moment, then Moriarty slams his hands on the counter laughing. "Fair enough boyo, you don't have to believe me. It doesn't matter anyway. Now then I will tell you where your old man went for 100 caps." Moriarty offered. 'Fuck', thought Kirk. "I, unfortunately, do not have caps." Kirk stated. Moriarty grinned, " Don't worry, do a small favor for me and we can work something out."
Kirk left the saloon and searched for Stockholm. Thankfully, he ran into him pretty quickly. "Uh oh, didn't go well, did it?" he asked. "He told me to find a woman named Silver and to get his caps from her, then he will tell me where my dad went. He thinks she is in a place called Springvale, do you know it?" Kirk asked. "I do. It's those ruins you went through to get here, but I wouldn't go out there it's getting late." Stockholm said. "That is not far and is just a simple errand. I'll be back quick." Kirk said, walking by him. Stockholm grabbed Kirks arm. "Kid, I know you want to find your dad, but don't rush this. It won't be as easy as it seems. Especially with Moriarty involved. Silver was his old whore and she ain't coming back or giving up some caps that easily for that asshole. Also, gotta think raiders might be close by. The ones that hurt that old man you saved." Stockholm said letting go of Kirk. "What are raiders?" Kirk asked. "Very bad people Kirk, the worst kind. You don't want to run into them." he answered. Kirk thought for a moment. "Fine, is their a place I can sleep tonight... for free?" he asked. Stockholm patted him on the back. "You can crash with me, no charge." he said leading the way. "Thank you kindly." Kirk responded following him.
Stockholm welcomed him in and gave him a Nuka Cola. They chatted about everything and anything. Kirk learned more about the wasteland and mutated creatures to be wary of. It sounded unbelievable, but he knew Stockholm was telling the truth. When Kirk mentioned he was a good shot with a BB gun, Stockholm offered to let him shoot a real rifle tomorrow. Stockholm went to sleep in his room since he was an early riser, leaving Kirk on a makeshift cot. However, Kirk was restless. 'A simple errand, it can't be that hard.' he thought. Kirk grabbed his gear and left for the gate. The night was young, and people were still about, but they paid no attention to him as he made his way out. Luckily, the gate was still up, so he took this chance to leave and headed into Springvale. As he got closer to the ruins, he heard the turbine power up and the gate shut. 'Oh well, I'm sure they will let me back in.' he thought marching on.
Kirk approached the only intact looking house he could find. All he had to do was find this Silver lady and get the caps she stole from Moriarty, not hard, right? He knocked on the door. He heard footsteps and a slam. "Who's there?!" a woman yelled. "My name is Kirk, I'm looking for Silver?" Kirk answered. "Who sent you?!" she asked. Kirk sighed, "Look, all I need are the caps you stole, and I'll be on my way." Another slam was heard. "CAPS, I STOLE?! I EARNED THEM FAIR AND SQUARE. THAT PIG WENT BACK ON HIS WORD, EVEN AFTER I SLEPT WITH HIM TO GET OUT!" she cried. Oh boy, why am I not surprised, thought Kirk. "I believe you Silver, he is a rotten prick from what I've seen. Open the door please, and we will work this out." Kirk offered. The door creaked opened and a pretty girl with platinum hair peeked out. "Whoa." she said, opening th door fully. "What?" Kirk asked. "N-nothing, come in."
They sat at her table with the bag of caps in the center. Kirk eyed syringes he didn't recognize around the house. "Yes, I'm a junkie, but if you did the things I did while working for that pig, you would understand." she claimed, rubbing her arms. "Not here to judge, just here for the caps." Kirk said calmly. "Why are you working for that pig anyway? You don't seem the type to do dirty work." she said, staring into his blue eyes. Kirk explained his situation plainly but was interrupted by a noise at the window. They then heard laughter. Silver alarmed, got up, and grabbed a bat, but then a loud blast blew the door knob off, and 3 men dressed in leather and spikes came storming in at them. Silver screamed, "NO!" and swung her bat at one. Kirk couldn't react in time since the gun was in his bag. One man tackled him to the ground, and Kirk did his best to struggle with him. He looked over and saw the other 2 men overpower Silver quickly. She kept crying no over and over desperately. Kirk had fear wash over him as he lost strength in his struggle and watched as the man on him grabbed a pan and swung it down on his head. Everything went black.