"Kirk, glad you made it back! I got some things ready for ya!" Moira said, grabbing some gear behind the counter. She placed pieces of his armor, his lever action shotgun, 10mm pistol, and his back pack on the counter. "These are good to go for ya, but I need more time with your rifle and suit."
"Thanks Moira, you got anything for the survival guide?"
"I sure do!" she exclaimed pulling out a big folder. "Okay, I need you to scavenge for food, break a limb and generally be wounded, and got a few other idea I am still working on."
Kirk stared at her incredously, "Breaking a limb and being wounded? What do you expect me to do stab myself? Jump off your railing outside and break my leg? Moira what the hell?"
"No silly, just the next time you are in a fight for your life, just try to...limp back over here and I will patch you up..."
Kirk gave her a look and motioned her to say the words he wanted to hear, "With..."
"...with Doc Church." she added with a sigh.
Kirk nodded looking away, thinking on it. Moira held her arms out, "I'm not saying you have to break your leg, just saying if it happens...well just remember it would be good data for the guide."
"Alright, what's this about scavenging for food?" Kirk asked, bluntly.
Moira pouted, "Ya know, you used to be much happier to help me out with my guide. That trip turned you into a grump like everyone else around here."
He didn't realize his demeanor had changed so much. She was right, he was happier to help her in the beginning. He wanted to help her out, because it was teaching him things as well.
Kirk put on a smile, "You're right I am sorry. You have helped me out a lot since I've come out here. So, how can I help with getting food for your chapter?"
"That's the Kirk I know! So, the main goal is to help wastelanders get an idea on where they can find resources. Food is important but if we can get data on where to find meds, or ammo, then that would be a huge benefit to the chapter!"
Kirk thought of his recent trip and realized they didn't do much scavenging locations for resources. They had packed everything they needed, and looted who they killed. He then remembered the scrapyard where he found Dogmeat. The dead merchant they found, had a lot of different resources. He could make note of that later for her.
"Do you have a location in mind that I can search for resources, or just if I happen across it the next time I head out there?"
"I do have a location, I think would be a perfect for you to check out. Not too far from east from here, close to the edge of D.C. is an old Pre-War grocery store called Super-Duper Mart. It would be perfect for you to check out!"
"Wouldn't any old Pre-War spots be scavenged by now?"
"Not necessarily! Any old person can make these places into a home or hideout. You can see what they have stashed away! Also you would be surprised on what these people miss!"
"Alright, I'll head out in the morning, can you show me on my PIPBOY where to find it?"
Kirk left and headed to Gob's, he needed a drink after the Lucy debacle. When he entered he wished he hadn't since Lucy was at the bar, drinking and crying. Silver was consoling her, when they both turned to look at them. Lucy got up crying and ran up stairs with Silver following her, give Kirk a judgmental face.
Kirk groaned and sat at the bar, where Gob immediately handed him a glass of scotch. "Heartbreaker." he said, in a joking manner.
"Gob, please." Kirk said annoyed, taking a drink.
"Alright. My bad, but you really hurt her it seems." he said.
Kirk kept quiet as he tried to enjoy his drink. "You ever heard of a Super Mart or something close by, near D.C.?" he asked, trying to change the subject. "Hmm, yeah but not much about it why?"
"I'm supposed to see if I can find resources in it for Moira's guide. Just wondering if it's occupied or anything."
"I'd ask Jericho, he usually has good knowledge of anything in the surrounding area." Gob advised, cleaning a glass.
Kirk nodded finishing his drink and leaving. He entered the clinic and Doc if he could see Jericho. He opened his door and shut it behind him.
"What the hell did you do to piss off Luce?" Jericho asked, laying in bed.
Kirk groaned. News travels fast from Gob's bar. "I don't wanna talk about that. I have a question about the Super Mart nearby."
"The Super-Duper Mart? What about it?" Jericho asked, sitting up. "Moira wants me to scavenge it for resources. The survival guide I'm helping with has a chapter about finding supplies like food and meds in locations. Is it occupied? Are their any threats nearby?"
Jericho chuckled, "That woman is gonna get you killed doing this stupid book. I don't know what's in there, we stay clear of D.C. We only monitor the outskirts of it for threats that may come out, like Super Mutants. The only thing I have ever seen near it is one of those floating robot things that spout Enclave bullshit."
'Enclave? Why does that word sound familiar?' Kirk thought. "Thanks. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, but that prick won't let me out of here. Can't even fuckin smoke even THOUGH HE IS!" he raised his voice, to make sure Doc heard. "Shut the fuck up!" he yelled back.
"Bastard." he grumbled. "Why? You want me to come with you on another suicide request for the kooky lady?"
"No, I'm going by myself."
Jericho looked at him with shock, "Well, don't die out there." He laid back down with a groan. Kirk said his goodbyes and head home. He was greeted by Dogmeat jumping around, seeing Kirk enter and Wadsworth yelling at the dog to behave.
"Wadsworth would you kindly prepare some water overnight for me in the morning, I'll be going on a hopefully quick trip tomorrow."
"Gladly sir, while you are gone, could I suggest letting me shop for a bed for your new companion? It would help with the...fur situation."
"Good idea, here are some caps, buy him the best you can find." Kirk said, showing Dogmeat some attention. He had dinner, did a quick workout, and went to bed for the night.
In the morning he geared up putting on some of the armor pieces from his suit over a white t-shirt and some cargo pants. He loaded up ammo in his shotgun and pistol, realizing he didn't have a decent pouch or way to carry shotgun shells still. He made note to look into that later. He took the silencer for the 10mm with him as well and made sure he left room in his pack for any resources he would find, and brought a spare empty duffel bag just in case. Dogmeat whined when he told him to stay home and headed out.
He didn't want to tell anyone else of his outing, he wanted to do this by himself. He can't keep relying on others forever. This will give him a true idea of how ready he is to go to D.C. He followed his PIPBOY marker east, passing ruined houses and cars on a damaged road. It seemed like this road will take him straight to it, so he stayed on it. He passed what looked like an old farm in shambles, but had dead brahmin outside it. Kirk decided to take a closer look and found that the brahmin were butchered for the meat on them. The smell and flies around the corpses was pungent and they looked fresh. Kirk looked around and saw no threats or people nearby. Could be just other wastelanders killing them for food.
However, these brahmin were penned up. Fresh water was also available for them in a nearby trough. Kirk readied his shotgun and went over to the house. The door was laying on the ground. It looked like someone was trying to repair the house, scraps of wood, metal, and various tools laid about inside. He also found some food and a bullet casings laying about. Blood spots were on the ground too.
Kirk surmised that maybe someone was trying to start up a farm here and got attacked. They took them and killed the brahmin. Raiders? He made note to report this to Sheriff Simms when he got back. The house was practically looted, nothing for him to grab so he moved on down the road. In about an hour he saw the outskirts of D.C. Tall ruined buildings was all he could see, but he knew this must be D.C. He saw the back of what he assumed was Super-Duper Mart and walked up to the back corner of the building. He heard a strange robotic voice and looked ahead. He saw the same type of floating robot he came across when he first exited the vault.
'This must be the place.' Kirk thought as he slowly approached the corner ahead, seeing ruined cars in a giant open lot. He heard laughter and talking as he got close to the corner, so he readied his shotgun. He peeked around the corner and saw a big fire with slabs of meat cooking over it. His heart started racing a bit when he saw two raiders cooking it. He could tell because of their spiky and revealing clothing. Kirk looked away and tried to stay calm.
He knew he might run into trouble, he wasn't naive, but raiders still give him the same feeling of dread. He hated this feeling and wanted it to stop taking over him. He could run back to Megaton and get help to clear them out. He heard a door open and peeked back around, seeing a raider step out adjusting his pants. "One of you want a round with the farmer bitch? She is free." the one exiting asked. "Hell yeah I do, take over the cook, would ya?" one said tossing him a poker and walking in.
Kirk's face contorted in anger, and he pulled out his pistol, attaching the silencer. He noticed pillars he could use to try and sneak up on them. He quickly made his way up to the raider, going pillar to pillar, staying as a silent as he could. When he got to the pillar closest to the raider, one asked, "Did you hear something?"
Kirk swung out from cover and shot the closest one twice in the back, and as he fell the other went to shout but Kirk shot him in the throat. Blood flew out of his mouth, and then Kirk put another round in his chest. They both fell over dead. That was close, they heard him when he wanted to get a bit closer. He looked at the meat piled next to the fire. This must be from the butchered brahmin he found earlier. So these are the bastards who attacked that farm. He suppressed his fear that was starting to build again, and entered the building.