leanonstuff | PSL post for daughterless

PSL post for daughterless

[The NCR had sent Norman to the Vault because the area was surrounded by Fiends, and he was damn good at blending among the various "criminal" groups around the Mojave. No way an ordinary NCR trooper would be able to get inside without being attacked. And according to their intelligence, exactly what was inside was of such great importance that they couldn't possibly wait to go after it just in case Caesar's Legion got wind of it and acted first. Norman was searching for a box of special bottles that appeared to be beer or vodka bottles, but were actually filled with a chemical that, when introduced into a water supply, could spread a deadly bacteria that would wipe out anyone who drank the contaminated water for at least a month.

Unfortunately, finding the bottles was turning out to be far more difficult that Norman had anticipated. He'd gotten into the Vault in the first place by wearing old, torn and dirty clothes that could pass as those a typical raider or Fiend might wear. He'd even bought a few chems from them to help gain their trust (and to use them later, though he planned to tell the NCR that he'd disposed of them instead). The Vault seemed to be empty of Fiends, luckily, but he wasn't too optimistic that he wouldn't eventually run into ghouls or worse.

10mm pistol in hand, Norman opens the door to the Vault infirmary, hoping he might have some more luck locating the bottles in there.]

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Joel. [Short and to the point. Joel's got a bit of a reputation in these parts as a gun runner and smuggler, but he's never posed enough of a problem for any of the local authorities to really crack down on it, or him.

Jayden's not a name he recognizes, but no real surprise there, no reason why he'd know every Tom, Dick, and Harry this side of the Mojave.]

You run with any of the local groups round here?

[The man's dressed like a Raider, but if this last encounter was anything to go by, definitely not one himself. Camouflage is as good a way to get through this area as any, but pretty ballsy all the same; he'd be in for some real trouble if one of the Fiends figured it out.]

[Norman hasn't heard of him, but that's no surprise either. It's pretty rare to get names among the less than lawful types; usually they go by code names. It doesn't really matter either. Even if Joel were to commit crime after crime before him, his only priority now is bringing those bottles back to McCarran.]

I'm a bit of a loner, actually.

[He doesn't feel safe choosing a group just in case Joel is enemies with them. And since there are plenty of loners around the wasteland, it probably should be too difficult to believe.]

What about you?

[He definitely doesn't come off as a gang member. Again, the possibility that he could be a Legion spy crosses Norman's mind. They're really good at blending in. He'll have to be careful.]

Mostly freelance. I'll clear out the odd cave here and there for some extra caps.

["Freelance" is as good a euphemism as any for the string of deliveries, pickups, and the occasional shootout that constitute his current line of work. As for the other man's claim to be a loner, well... maybe, and maybe not. There's nothing really about him to indicate otherwise, but Joel just has a sense that there's something more to it. Well, maybe the feeling was just 'cause most of the other loners he'd met before had been either huge assholes or completely bugfuck crazy.

The door of the Overseer's office is locked by a keypad and computer terminal. Joel eyes it uncertainly-- he's no good with tech-- and then his gaze shifts toward the round window to the office (bulletproof?) and then back toward Norman.]

I don't reckon you know your way around old tech like you do locks.

Figured as much. You didn't strike me as a gang member.

[Norman has admittedly not been working too hard to keep up much of a facade around Joel, since he clearly isn't with the Fiends, Vipers or any other outlaw gang. Maybe that's a mistake, but it's too late to change it up now. As long as if he is Legion, he doesn't suspect that Norman could actually be NCR.

When they approach the office, he frowns at the terminal before going for the door. Damn... this is the type of lock that can't be picked, even by an expert like himself. He gives the terminal a quick try, but that's also way beyond his hacking abilities.]

Damn! I think we're gonna need to find a key to get inside.

[And that means... to the labs they must go. Norman gives the door a dirty look before turning back to Joel.]

Let's go to the labs. ...You're still up for this, right?

...Seems like it might be more hassle than it's worth.

[Joel's also less than enthusiastic about the prospect of the science labs. Fuck, this job is getting to be more trouble by the minute. Still, he doesn't like giving up on a job unless absolutely necessary-- it's bad for business, and bad for his reputation.

He doesn't know if Jayden's got anything else in mind, but he's just looking for a few old bottles of booze. Maybe they could stick to looting the domestic areas like the kitchen or the maintenance levels and avoid the potentially dangerous parts of the vaults altogether.]

Maybe we could avoid the lab altogether, stick to the safer parts as best we can.

Yeah... maybe.

[But Norman's gut tells him that something of such importance isn't going to be somewhere particularly safe. But really, can he go at those places alone? He was expecting Ghouls, yes, but not whatever it was they faced. And it bleeds acid? Shit!]

But then again, you and I both know the really good stuff isn't gonna be in the safer parts.

[Maybe he can appeal to this guy's sense of danger. He must have one, if he came here in the first place.]

Yeah, it's risky. But we could really strike it big here! Imagine being able to buy a place to live, settle down comfortably. Seems like it's worth the risk to me.

[People trying to talk him into anything immediately gets his hackles up. Joel gives Norman a long, flat look.]

Sure sounds like a lot of goddamn risk for some shit we don't even know. And here I could've sworn I just heard you say something about self-preservation.

[And up until just this moment, Jayden hadn't seemed like the stick-your-neck-out sort to him. His eyes narrow.]

You got something you wanna tell me?

[Well, this isn't good. Norman might actually have to give him a little to keep him hooked.]

Look. [He sighs, putting on a worried expression.] you know the Khans?

[Rhetorical question, of course. Everyone in the Mojave knows the Khans.]

I may have fucked them over on a big deal, and they found me afterward. My choice was to either get what they wanted outta here, or die. So I might as well risk my life here than leave empty handed.

[And now, to try and sweeten the deal. Norman's expression turns more desperate, in a hopefully convincing way.]

Listen, if you come with me, I'll let you have first dibs on everything we find except what the Khans want. That's all I care about, okay?

That ain't my problem. [His voice is flat. Joel isn't about to risk his own life for some schmuck who got on the wrong side of the Khans. Figures that the guy had another motive in trying to talk him along-- hell, Joel's not so much surprised as he is annoyed.

His offer, though, is enough to give him some pause-- but it's still not enough, in the end. Bottles or not, Joel doesn't doubt he'll be able to scrounge up enough, at least, to make a little cash on the side. And he isn't sure if whatever they might kick up poking his nose into the lab or the office is gonna make it worth the hassle of more of those things.]

You want me to play along with your crazy plan, then I'm gonna need five hundred caps up front. And first pick of the loot. [He pauses for a moment, then adds:] And no more goddamn lies. [He doesn't doubt that Jayden is going to lie to him some more, but at least he'd have an excuse to shoot him if he went too far.]

Otherwise, you're on your own.

Nice to see a caring soul in the Wasteland.

[He responds with an equally flat tone. Not surprised either, in a place like this it's always been every man for himself. That's why they need the NCR to come in and bring some order to this chaotic landscape. At least NCR troopers watch each other's backs.

Norman squints at Joel when he makes his demands.] 500? Do I look like I have 500 fucking caps on me? I'll give you 150 and some NCR bills I have on me. Anymore than that and I won't be able to eat if this mission turns out to be a bust.

That's reasonable, isn't it? Imagine what kinda weapons might be down there... and you get first dibs. You help me with this, and you'll be sure to get great karma.

[He snorts at that.]

Karma, my ass. Make it 250 and keep the bills.

[Joel's opinion of the NCR can be summed up with more or less one word: HA. They're only good for keeping the Legion from breathing down all their necks (and lately not even that), their overarching goal of governing the Wasteland a pipe dream at best, criminally stupid at worst.]

You can take it or leave it.

[Why so chaotic neutral, Joel?]

You're an asshole.

[But nonetheless, he digs through his pack for the necessary amount of caps. The NCR had made sure to supply him with plenty in case he needed them for whatever reason, and this certainly qualifies as a good reason to use them.

Collected, he shoves the caps into Joel's arms.]

Now you better not take off.

[Norman can't believe he's hiring this guy. He's supposed to do this job on his own. But... he wasn't warned about the bullshit in here! He's supposed to be utilized for more stealthy jobs, not the type to go in guns blazing against difficult to kill monsters.]

[Being nice doesn't keep you fed >:|]

Hey, I ain't the one lyin' out of his ass about why he's here.

[Joel pockets the caps, then straightens up. He doesn't even really consider this a proper hiring-- more like bribery so he doesn't up and ditch the guy at the first sign of trouble. And this whole damn thing stinks of trouble.]

So what'd they ask you to fetch?

[It keeps him fed. Or it would, if he was telling the truth about his situation. The NCR keeps its employees fed, so he actually has no worries there.]

I had just met you. I wasn't about to share personal information like that with a stranger until I could trust them a little.

[Hiring, bribery... doesn't really make a difference to him. As long as Joel proves reliable, it'll be a worthy expenditure of caps.]

Just some ancient, pre-war bottles of booze. Guess there's some sorta legend around them by now, kinda like the star bottle caps, that makes them worth a boatload. I don't really buy into any of that crap, but if a couple dusty bottles will save my life, I'm not about to complain.

[Joel is checking his knife, testing the blade to make sure that the monster's acid blood hadn't ruined the edge when Jayden tells him what he's after. He nicks himself, and swears a little under his breath as he stows the knife away, making damn well sure nothing shows on his face as he turns back to the other man. This can't be a coincidence. Something must have tipped off both the Khans and his client, and now they're both racing to get at the prize. A couple of fucking bottles of booze.

In the part of him that is dead and ruthless and doesn't give a damn about anything or anyone, he half considers just shooting Jayden outright and going off to finish the mission. Nothing personal, but a job was a job, and what would be one more corpse in some old vault? But... Joel isn't that person anymore, not quite. And Jayden's focus on accessing the Overseer's office-- what if he had more information about finding the target? The bottles first.... and then Joel would see how this plays out.]

...Alright. Fine.

[He releases a low breath, and rolls his shoulders.]

So where to next? The labs?

[Joel does a good job of keeping his thoughts out of his expression, and Norman doesn't suspect they might be after the same thing. If he did... well, he might be having the same considerations as Joel, but for different reasons. His superiors had made it crystal clear that these bottles aren't to get into anyone else's hands, no matter the cost. But as long as his new 'partner' here doesn't need them, he supposes it shouldn't be a problem.]

Could be that the bottles are so special because they did some experiments in drink mixing down there.

[There's a hint of humor in his voice; gotta make a bit of light of this situation, horrible as it is.]

But yeah, the labs. We tread lightly and stick to the shadows... and I think we'll be okay.

Edited 2013-10-29 23:13 (UTC)

Yeah? Anything's got to be better than that piss they call beer in Vegas.

[He'll play along for now, but when the time comes, well, Joel has every intention on grabbing those bottles. But getting to them... that probably isn't going to be a cakewalk either.]

We'll see about that.

[Setting off for the labs, Joel is twitchy, staring down into every shadow and empty room. But the vault is quiet... actually kind of creepily so.]

Have you been to the Strip?

[His initial thoughts are no, Joel probably never has enough caps on him at one time to afford the 2,000 credit check, or a passport. Then again, if he does enough risky jobs, who knows?]

Guess we will.

[As they pass open rooms, Norman does his best to hurry past them without looking inside, not eager to find something else staring back at him. Fortunately, they make it to the labs without any further incident. Clutching his pistol again, Norman activates the door to the labs, and lets out a slow breath when nothing immediately attacks.]

All clear.

[The room is a mess. All over the place glass is shattered, as if someone or something went off on a rampage. There are also a few glass cages that are broken open, and it doesn't take a genius to figure that the creature they found probably came from one of them. But there are three there... and all are broken. Not a good sign.]

I'm gonna check for locked safes. Watch the door, will ya?

[He starts sweeping the room for safes, eventually finding one on the wall behind a large desk, and one in the floor as well. Without wasting time, Norman gets to work first cracking the one in the wall.]

I've been there twice, both times business.

[More like both times making damn well sure he got paid for his troubles. Joel takes in the ruins of the labs, the glass cages, and heaves a sigh as he crosses his arms, leaning against the wall as Jayden gets started on the safe.

Despite the bored look on his face, he's keeping a careful eye out on the entrances and exits of the lab.]

Find anythin' yet?

Gotcha.

[Business on the Strip could mean a lot of things. He isn't going to bother inquiring further.

This lock is moderately difficult, and inside he finds some research notes. Nothing useful.]

Not yet. Let me check the desk and the floor safe.

[The desk proves extremely difficult to unlock, which Norman is hoping is a good sign. He actually breaks a couple bobby pins before he has it open, at which point his eyes light up at the sight of a small, copper object.]

There's a key here. Could be for the Overseer's office.

[He pockets it, then goes for the floor safe. Inside are a nice pile of chems.] Got some stims and Med-X here if you want any.

[Meds are always good. Joel makes a 'gimme' gesture, indicating for Jayden to toss him some of those stimpacks. Trying to be casual, he asks:]

So you got a lead on those bottles in the Overseer's Office?

[He's about to go on, see how much additional information he can talk out of the man, when he catches something out of the corner of his eye-- more of a blur than anything else, too quick to pin down.]

Wh--?

[Norman tosses over a couple of the stims and collects a few more of the Med-X for himself. One thing he sure as hell isn't about to reveal to Joel or anyone is his addiction to the stuff. In fact, while he's ducked down behind the counter seems like a great time to have a hit of it. It's been awhile now, and he can already feel some of the shakes he gets when he doesn't take it often enough.]

Uhh... [He hesitates with the needle in his arm, but pulls it out once he feels the chem coursing through his system. That's better.]

Not too sure, but it seems like our best bet.

[Discarding the used Med-X, he rises to his feet and looks over to Joel. He looks startled by something.]

What's wrong?

[What's he still doing behind that counter...? Joel's too distracted by the whatever that had just gone past the doorway. Had he imagined it?]

Thought I saw--

[The words die in his throat as what he saw comes barreling straight through the door. Another monstrosity like the first, this one is more cat shaped, and the skin on its hairless, long-legged body looks like it was pieced together from dozens of human faces-- blinking eyeballs, noses, a tongue, sticking out.

It's fast, too. Joel's gun is up and out as soon as it clears the doorway, but it dodges the first of his shots with ease, leaping to the side and ramming into a nearby desk from the force of its speed. Joel shoots and misses again, swearing.]

Fuck!

[Norman dives right back behind the counter when whatever that new monster is comes barreling into the room.]

The fuck-!?

[He also starts shooting at it, and one of his bullets hit but doesn't seem to do too much. Oh god... what the fuck are they supposed to do now?

Norman looks around frantically, and spots a couple gas tanks near the far wall. If they could shoot them while the monster is near...]

Gas tanks, Joel! We need to get it near them!

[And how the hell are they supposed to do that? As Norman starts shooting, Joel takes advantage of the moment to pull the combat shotgun out of its holster. Drawing in a deep breath, he sights down the barrel as the monster comes charging at him. This time, he can't fucking miss.

BANG goes the shotgun, and this at least makes a dent in the creature, throwing it back with the force of the blast. The recoil's a bitch-- Joel grunts at the impact as he shifts, trying to get a better angle. He doesn't want to get any closer to the monster OR the gas tanks if necessary, but maybe the gun would be enough to drive it that way.

It's scrabbling to its feet as Joel approaches, taking aim and shooting again.]

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ngl, i laughed at the karma bit

I had to

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