open Fallout Equestria: Endeavor

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Dashia nods and says, "Do you know what kind of plant it was? Even if we don't have a sample. Knowing the plant would give us a idea of how it could be used. We also have your knowledge of the dispersal system. I say we have more then enough to give mother a idea of what we are dealing with to get her started. Besides if we stay here the night, I am going to ask that new filly a favor and have her eavesdrop on Ricto to learn anything she can about him. His hate looks deeper then just you."

Edited April 25, 2015 by Midnight_Aurora

[Scribblegroove 565]

Virtue

 

Virtue smiled lightly at Dashia. "My name isn't Virtuosity, but like I said, it's what I'm called around here. It is indeed one of my personal traits, and my cutie mark is indeed a result of my musical skills. You could say I'm a 'musician', but what doest that word even mean in the wasteland..." She looked away with a bitter expresion on her face. "No one cares about culture these days." When Dashia mentioned the coordinates of 'cloudsdale', they didn't point towards the ruins of the city that every pegasus holds dearly in their hearts. It actually gave the location name 'Hellhound sanctuary', which she found very confusing at the least. "Hellhound sanctuary? What do you mean home? That sounds like a death trap!" She exclaimed.

 

That was when they walked into Ricto. Subtle and charming as always... or perhaps the opposite of that. Virtue was about to speak up and deal with Ricto her way, when Dashia provided Crackshot with proof in the form of a helmet, and Crackshot carried it along and entered Ricto's house. There was no reason to assume Crackshot couldn't take care of it himself, so Virtue kept leading the way to the medical centre. 

 

When they arrived at the door, she turned around. Dashia and her little friend had gone elsewhere, presumably the shop Chip had been talking about. Crackshot had left to talk to Ricto, so the only two remaining were Ezekiel and the giant minotaur. Doing all she could to hide the discomfort she felt around the giant beast, she laughed. "Well, I doubt you'll be able to go inside..." she mumbled, gesturing towards the door that was made for creatures of pony size, not minotaurs. "Or comfortably at least. I'll ask if Verdant can come outside for you..." She proposed, referring to one of the best medics in town that she knew personally.

 

With that, she entered the building. Not very long afterwards she came outside with a light grey coated unicorn, with bright green eyes and a salt-and-pepper mane. A small brushy moustache was proudly kept on his muzzle. He was wearing a lab coat covered in stains of blood. It was open, and underneath it he wore a silly checkered sweater. He looked at the minotaur for a moment, sighed and asked him without a trace of fear. "What's your problem..."

 

Greshken

 

Without saying a word, Greshken walked along with virtue to the small building that was ponyvilles medical centre. It couldn't be much, since this was a raider town, but it was better than nothing. If they had to they could just buy a bunch of radaway from the place, it would quickent he degradation of rads in his body significantly. He'd rather have a removal procedure however, since that was the quickest way. 

 

Virtue was kind enough to bring Doc Verdant outside for him. He grunted one single sentance when asked what the problem was. "I am suffering from radiation sickness, and I wish it to be removed." Greshken hoped the price wouldn't be too high, but he was certain that he could convince the doctor treat him if he didn't have sufficient caps. Verdant, like-minded with the minotaur, didn't say a word either. He simply went inside again, and came outside with a strange looking injection needle. It was huge, and it didn't look very well-cleaned. When Verdant grabbed Greshken's arm, he hesitated for a moment. To this, Verdant raised a brow. "You aren't scared of needles are you?" he snickered at him. The stare of death that Greshken replied with shut him up immediately. Without flinching, Greshken endured the procedure of purging the rads from his body.

 

Three injections later, and Greshken felt himself heating up. He was sweating considerably more. "What is this? I've never felt a procedure like this before... What have you done?" He asked the doctor. He replied with a smile. "It's a medicine of my own making. It works quicker, and it disposes of the waste through your sweat. You have nothing to fear." he coughed, then placed a rad-meter against Greshkens chest. "There, see! It's already lowered to 400 rads in a few seconds! That'll be 150 bits." He said jovially, holding out his hoof expecting payment. Greshken, still a bit dazed by the sudden overheating of his body, looked at him a bit confused. "Please tell me you do have something to pay with..." he said, his face turning from amused to angry. 

 

Virtue stepped in however. "No worries Verdant, I'll pay for this one." she said, and winked at the middle-aged stallion. "You sure?" He said, a bit surprised with her generosity. "Yes, I've still got four free treatments left right? Make that three then... I believe there are more who seek treatment. They'll come here in a minute I think. I'll pay for them too." Virtue seemed content with herself, but the stallion was confused. "If you say so..." He eventualy accepted, and then went back into the medical office.

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip looked at Dashia. "unfortunately I'm a tech and weapons pony not so much a botanist." He said with a smirk. "i still think it would be best if Greshken can recover, he and I should return to grab it so we can also recover his weapon. While you and the others continue to find your mother." 

 

After hearing her comment about having that new mare spy on Ricto, Chip looked back at her "That's alright, I don't need somepony risking their lives for me. i jsut hope my adventures take me far away from here." He said glancing out the window.

[Unicorncob 5,681]

As Crackshot walked toward Chip's shop, conflicting thoughts raced through this head.

 

Do you really want to go back to how you used to be? A mare's voice questioned.

Think of how fun the old days were. No rules, no complications. Another voice argued. Sounding like a younger, livelier...almost more bloodthirsty version of himself.

 

You're becoming a good pony, do you want to throw it all away?

You'll be a boss again. A town of ponies at your command, and you can lead another huge raid!

That isn't you anymore. You have real friends; a real team. Do you really want to betray them for this guy?

 

He clenched his eyes shut and shook his head, trying to empty his mind before walking into Chip's shop's door.

Nopony was around, so he simply walked behind the counter and sat himself on the stool, levitating the bottle of whiskey from before and proceeding to empty it into his mouth.

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Dashia asks, "Where is the doctor's place? And if your wondering, I have connected the leg to the power source of my light flight armor. It functions enough to allow for preasure on my leg but not enough for use in combat."

 

Dashia got ready to head out, placing the power armor in her pipbuck's storage system. "I am not leaving anything this time. You should do the same."

Edited April 25, 2015 by Midnight_Aurora

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Ezekiel offered some of his own caps to the procedure and tried to talk the doctor down a little.

 

"Certainly with other ponies with injuries on there way to your office, you could charge lower and still make a tidy profit." [barter 49]

 

Whether it worked or not Ezekiel turned to Virtuosity. "While the doctor performs his task, I'm sure there are questions you would like to ask."

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip looked at Dashia. "The doctor is straight ahead from my shop past the inn. I think I'm going to spend a little more time here, maybe maintain a few more weapons." He said looking around the floor with his weapons lying everywhere.

 

"Unfortunately I don't have a choice, I can't carry all this with me since I don't have a pipbuck." He said as he headed downstairs.

 

Once downstairs he found Crackshot sitting behind the counter. "What's up Crackshot, you don't look youself, Anything i can do to help you out?" He asked sincerely concerned about what may be eating at Crackshot.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Chip Circuit

[Scribblegroove 565]

@@Steel Accord

 

Virtue

Verdant looked at the Zebra for a moment. [barter 65]"I have a monopoly on medical supplies and procedures. Why would I lower my prices? Everypony comes to me anyways! I'm not in for making a tidy profit, and I'm not keen on trusting random ponies. You'll pay full price! You should be glad Virtuosity pays for you instead." With those words he went inside again.

 

Virtue looked at Ezekiel. "Don't mind him. He can be trusted, he's just not very reasonable." She smiled, and inspected Ezekiel. "Don't you need your wounds tended to as well?" She asked him, a little confused that he didn't ask Verdant to treat him as well. "Well... If you think you don't need it. I did have some questions though... About spirits. They interest me, but I never really understood what they were, or how they came into existance. I saw one once... It was terrifying, but beautiful at the same time. Can you tell me about them?" She asked him, smiling lightly, curious, but somehow also a bit shy, as if she wasn't sure what to expect from the zebra, and if she'd like the answers he would give her.

 

Greshken

Still sweating and breathing heavily, Greshken felt the radiation sickness decreasing. He'd be at full capacity again in no time. For now, he still felt awfully sick though. As if he had a terrible fever.

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Dashia headed out noticing Chip and Crackshot. She says, "if you need to I can store your stuff in my pipbuck. Mom and the others may have more."

 

She then proceeds to head where she was told the doctor would be the clanking of the leg could be heard. But as she had said the gears in it let her move her leg more normally. As she approached the doctor she sees the others. She goes over to Aile first and asks, "Aile, are you ok?"

[Unicorncob 5,681]

Crackshot leaned forward with his elbow on the counter, forehead in his hoof. The whiskey was calming his head down a bit, but he still felt rather conflicted.

Perhaps he wasn't as over his old self as he thought he was...

 

He perked up at the familiar voice, and looked up to see Chip standing face to face from him.

He wanted to know what was wrong. But did he really want to know?

 

He decided to wait until Dashia left to share the news.

"Ricto made me an offer. He said he'll make me second-in-command of the town, if I take you out of town and kill you."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Ezekiel was a tad hurt by the harshness of the rebuff. It was just a friendly haggle, not a threat or shakedown. He tried to take Virtuosity's words to heart.

 

"My injuries are minor, a sprain and a burn. The others have it worse, I can wait my turn." He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a sparkle cola bottle filled with a green sediment. He lightly tapped a small amount on to his hoof. "To answer your other question though, why tell . . . when I can show?" He blew it into the air. In the haze, ghostly images appeared that matched the Shaman's words.

 

"Ponies long ago held Celestia and Luna as holy, zebra joined in too, revering and loving their glory. With their voices silent and the world destroyed, the ancient spirits arose to fill the void. Fire, water, chaos, and light, new spirits have arisen too such as of radiation and mechanical might. Pray to the goddesses, I do, but more so that they may return soon. The spirits are all around us every day, for those who can barter with them, we can walk the hidden ways." The images disappeared but the mist remained, awaiting it's new appointed visual aid.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

As Dashia left the shop Crackshot spoke up telling Chip that Ricto wanting Crackshot to kill him.

 

Chip's eyes widened at his statement, his heart pounced in his chest at the thought that Crackshot may actually consider the deal. "You're not going to are you? I don't know about you but even though I haven't known you long I've considered you to be one of my only friends." He said looking behind as he took a step backward.

 

Chip looked back at Crackshot and noticed his pendant. "On another note, I hope this doesn't tempt your decision. But what would they think, haven't they acted as your guiding voice? I doubt they would approve." He said pointing his hoof at Crackshot's pendant.

[Scribblegroove 565]

@@Steel Accord

 

Virtue

"That's amazing!" She exclaimed, excited by both the shaman's story and his trick with the green sediment. "I knew that the spirits came into existance because of the apocalypse, but I never knew they actually filled the void of spiritual power! How do those spirits work? Are they sentient beings or do they have an entirely different perception of this world?" For a moment she paused, not sure if she was supposed to ask this question. "Are there... spirits of darkness too? Spirits of the shadows? Or is it just the basic elements of the world..."

[Unicorncob 5,681]

"I know!" Crackshot snapped, glaring at Chip, before softening his expression with a sigh, "I know."

 

He glanced down at his pendant, taking it in his hoof for a moment.

 

"Look, I have an idea," he spoke up, glancing back up to Chip, "we walk out of town and fake your death, I go back and get close to him, and I find out a few things."

 

He narrowed his eyes at the other unicorn. "He doesn't hate you for no reason."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Scribblegroove,

 

"Yes." He gave the mathematician's answer.

 

Again the mist took on various shapes to illustrate Ezekiel's point. "Morality is seen by mortals along different hues. Spirits don't see black and white, rather oranges and blues. Spirits have no death, no bodies, so then, they see us as we see them, truly alien. Don't mistake them as new, they were denizens before lords, surely you remember the spirit of chaos, Discord." The shape of the grinning Draconequis appeared before shaping away.

 

"The spirits are archetypes of ideals and emotion, but in our world, these can cause commotion. Spirits of hate manifest as cold, the chillier it becomes the more a pony holds." The image of a windigo appeared. "You ask for spirits of shadow and dark, this betrays a mortal view of morality stark. Spirits of fire, are spirits of rage, but whether righteous indignation or simple wrath, to the spirit, it's the same." The image took the form of a fire with a roaring draconic face, and two ponies, one a raider and the other a security pony.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip looked at Crackshot with a sigh of relief. "I don't think it's a good idea, what if he learns it's a sham? He will kill you, also that involves just leaving me in the wastes with no where to call home." He said worryingly since he didn't want others risking themselves for him. "Besides that would take time and if we're to stop this virus time isn't something we have." 

 

Chip walked closer to Crackshot no longer fearing he'd be shot down. "Most importantly, I'm not worth that type of trouble or risk." he said looking at crackshot.

[Unicorncob 5,681]

"Didn't you mention going back for the minotaur's cannon?" Crackshot inquired, remembering Chip and Dashia's conversation from before, "We'll go with him, and I'll return alone while you go on ahead to grab it."

 

He took a swig of whiskey before continuing.

"Meanwhile, I'll get close to him and find out why the hell he hates you so much. I'll meet you just outside town after dark and give you an update."

 

At Chip's last comment, he glanced down at his pendant and back up.

"I'm gonna be honest here; you're the most decent pony I've met in a good number of years, especially here."

[Scribblegroove 565]

@Steel Accord

Virtue watched with a look of Childlike wonder and amazement in her eyes. The shapes and motions in the mist had all of her attention. When the draconic image of fire appeared, she stumbled back slightly, since she had been fully consumed with the strange shapes in the smoke. "Wow..." She sighed, taking a moment to think.

 

"But..." again she hesitated. Was she gong to tell this Zebra secrets about her past like a hopelessly gullible little filly? No. "Hm... nevermind." She fell silent for a moment, but then another question urged her to ask more. "If the spirits took the place of Luna and Celestia, is therea possibility that they appear in your dreams?"

Edited April 25, 2015 by Scribblegroove

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip kept his attention on Crackshot and grinned at his comment. "Thanks, you're not too bad yourself granted a little rough around the edges." He glanced behind him for a second. "True we might return to pick it up and retrieve that virus plant so Dashia's mother can inspect it so perhaps we can find out more about it. But I'm not even sure Greshken is recovered enough for the trek there let alone carrying the weapon back."

 

Chip looked back up at Crackshot. "I'm guessing you have your mind made up about this huh? So I'd be wasting breath on trying to talk you out of it?" He asked letting out a sigh of defeat.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Scribblegroove,

 

"Nature abhors a vacuum," An image of Princess Luna appeared, standing regally over many ponies sleeping peacefully. "without her protection, any spirit can enter dreams as you or I would a room." The image of Luna disappeared and specters of all shapes and sizes appeared to frit about where she stood, and the ponies' expressions turned to ones of fear and unrest. 

[Unicorncob 5,681]

"There's no other way to do this," Crackshot said matter-of-factly, looking Chip square in the eyes, "You can't go out there alone. We'll see how Greshken is feeling, and if he's able to go, you two can go grab that cannon."

 

He glanced out the window, toward the direction of Ricto's house. "I'll deal with that son of a bitch."

[Scribblegroove 565]

@Steel Accord

Virtue seemed a bit confused now. As if she didn't expect that answer. "But it's bit like everypony is constantly having nightmares. I mean I have trouble sleeping sometimes but I can't remember a spirit intruding my dreams..." For a moment there was doubt in her mind. Perhaps there was this one time...

 

"But besides appearing in dreams, which I assume is a rare occurrence. Is there any other way..." Virtue stepped a bit closer to Ezekiel, again showing this strange shyness and concern, as if nopony else was supposed to hear this. "To perceive spirits. I know you can see them, but would I be able to feel their presence? Their emotion?" There was hope in her eyes. As if this question had been a burden of hers for a long time.

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip let out another Sigh, "Fine, we'll do it. just I guess I finally get to move out of this place then since I won't be able to come back without endangering you." He said as he walked back upstairs. 

 

Once up stairs chip removed a few floor boards revealing a safe that he kept his bits stashed in. He opened it pulling his money out, after counting it he had 1098 bits. Chip then grabbed a new saddlebag he had hanging on the wall removing his old ripped up saddle bag from his back replacing it with the new one and placed all of his possessions in it. He looked around the room and saw his dad's rifle on his bed. "I can't leave that behind, that and these goggles is all i have left to remember him by." He muttered to himself taking the rifle in his magic.

 

Chip attached the rifle to his back along with his energy rifle and went back down stairs. "I'll go find Greshken to see if he is alright to travel." He said as he locked the door to his upstairs.

 

Chip departed his shop heading toward the doctor's since that mare Virtuosity was wanting to lead them there. As he passed by the Inn he realized he needed something that would hold that virus plant, something air tight. Chip walked inside the Inn and went up to the counter. "hey do you have any glass jars with the lids on them lying around?" Chip asked looking around.

 

The bartender nodded and walked into the back soon returning with a glass jar setting it on the counter. Chip took the jar placing it in his bag "thanks." he said before walking out of the Inn and heading to doctor's.

 

once there Chip found Greshken standing outside the doctor's so Chip walked up to him. "Well you're looking not so sick, think you are able to carry that weapon if we were to go retrieve it? i also need to gather the virus plant as well for Dashia's mother." He stated looking up at greshken.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Scribblegroove,

 

"The way is through one's heart, anypony can see spirits, even those who don't practice my art. The affinity though is not without it's price, it helps, but requires no ceremonial rites. Do you think it strange how spirits are rarely seen yet they are more now than ever? That is because there was something in the old world widely felt but now has been severed. Whether goddesses, spirits, or wraiths, one thing widely for lack in the Wasteland," He put his hoof on her chest, " . . . is faith."

Edited April 25, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Unicorncob 5,681]

"Nopony said you had to leave," Crackshot commented, watching Chip gather his things, "just come back after dark and make sure he doesn't see you."

 

Nonetheless, he followed the unicorn outside. He entered the bar with him and ordered another bottle of whiskey while Chip got a jar.

 

They met Greshken outside, and Chip explained his plan.

It'd be better not to blab out his own plan in the middle of the street for a spy to hear.