Professor Clyde groaned as he was awakened, feeling sore about all overs, but alive.
"We were starting to worry that you wouldn't make it." A slender man in a dirty looking labcoat commented. He had warm eyes, though they looked a bit tired as he looked over Clyde. "How are you feeling?"
Dracos
"Disoriented," the professor replied, slowly sitting up and putting a hand to his head. "Where am I?"
Darx landed his wings a bit sore as he stepped into the quiet little town. A sign on the edge indicated he'd arrived at New Brunswick, whatever that was. There were a few people wandering around and six buildings that he could see that made up this little town.
In the center was a pretty big stone building with what looked like a sign hanging on the side of it. Near it was a smaller metal building, a bit rusty, but probably the tallest building in town. A couple of midsized houses were near the edges of this. A little aways was some factory like building, the nearby stream, probably the town water source, running into it. On the far edge is another midsized building, though hard to see from here.
Dracos
Clyde:
"You're in the town of New Brunswick. We found you a bit outside, wavering and sick. I had you brought in here. My name is Dr. Simmons. You are?"
Dracos
So Leets was left standing in the middle of New Brunswick by himself. He was standing near a large building with a sign on the front proclaiming it to be the "Gecko's Tongue". It was kinda warm, but at least he was at a town now and not wandering around a desert.
Dracos
Darx gives a hiss and walks to the stream, kneeling down and taking a handful of water, sipping it, then standing back up, looking around.
After a moment of thought, he walks towards the stone building.
"New Brunswick... Canada?" Clyde blinked a few times. "And I'm Professor Clyde Hornsby. Thank you for your help, doctor."
Leets calmed down from his earlier outburst, intent on studying his new surroundings a bit more thoroughly. Though the desert town wasn't as impressive as the sprawling city he had grew up in, it certainly had a charm the other was lacking.
He eyed the building before him, mouthing the name curiously. "Sounds like a pub," he muttered, approaching it until he was standing right outside its entrance. He looked over the building again, for a hint of its purpose.
Darx:
The water doesn't taste right. It leaves Darx's stomach feeling a bit sick at the drinking. Walking up to the large building he notices a sign on it indicating that it is the "Gecko's Tongue".
Dracos
"Canada? No, just New Brunswick." The man shrugged. "Where are you from? Don't look like you're from around these parts."
Dracos
Darx makes a digusted face as he holds his stomach in slight pain, looking up towards the sign. He thinks for a moment, then heads inside, taking a look around.
Shuk:
It did, in fact, look like a pub. Closer he could see a few wanted signs by the sign. Some blonde haired guy. A big ugly mutant. Hum, some note? Tarrasque sighted? Looked kind of gibberishy. Some other guy was walking up, tall with long black hair and...gray wings? He seemed to be walking inside.
Dracos
"I don't think I am, no," Clyde replied, the events of the past... however long it's been coming back. He pulls out his pocketwatch to check the date, if it's even still running. "I don't suppose you know where Philadelphia is?"
Leets blinked, unsure if he really did see a gray-winged man enter the bar...
A start to a bad joke, he mused, and against his better judgement, entered the pub as well.
Clyde:
It's still running and in fact is only showing a few days later than the last time he checked it.
"Phildelphia? Nope, never heard of it."
Dracos
Leets and Darx:
The two entered the pub in short order.
It's a nice place really. pretty large, plenty of tables, though most seem to be filled. There's a bar with a middle aged woman in a brown blouse in the back with tired eyes running the place, several doors hinting at rooms and a fireplace with a reasonably nice large empty table near it, which would be nice for some quiet and thinking. At the left of the room, there seems to be a few games of poker going on. Halfway between the entrance and the fireplace is an old man in a gray robe with a mishappen hat and a red bird by his side, telling some stories to little kids.
Dracos
Jan:
It's good to be back in New Brunswick! Arriving back, this little town you know at least there's no real need to watch your back.
Dracos
You can see everything Darx did in the firs tpost.
Leets glanced around the pub curiously, feeling a little nostalgic about the last time he snuck into one. It was the more financially beneficial moment, though not that it was a particularly favorable experience.
"Definately not," he muttered uncomfortable at the memory, repressing a shiver. Drunkards really do hit on anything with legs.
His thoughts returned to the present, and he tried to listen in on the few conversations in the pub. Particularly the old storyteller, as he seemed interesting.
Ryder:
Heading along, your body is pretty sore as you reach this sort of metal factory at the edge of the small town, the stream heading into it.
Dracos
Jan Smith scrunched his face a bit in distaste as he finally arrived in town, a little heavier in his wallet from his last job, but feeling not all that pleased with it.
He hated going to New Reno. Feeling like having a drink, he made his way to the Gecko's Tongue.
Entering the pub, he raised a hand in familiar greeting to the storyteller before making his way to the barkeep. "Hey Sally, how's tricks?" He easily began to converse with the woman as he took a seat near the bar.
Drax, Jan, Leets:
"Quiet. Your usual, Jan?" She commented, polishing a mug.
Leets headed over, sitting down at the empty table. The man seemed to be telling a story about dragons and a knight.
Dracos
"It's better when it's quiet." Jan nodded to her question. He looked around the room and spotted the new guy. "Huh. Never seen that one before. He barely came in?"
Darx ignores the others, taking a seat at a table off to the side.
"Hrmm...I need to figure out where I am.."
Leets listened to the old man's tales with mild interest, until he noticed the winged man sitting off to the side. He sobered, wondering if there were any grain of truth to the stories.
And the next thing I'll know, there'll be giants and wizards too, he groaned, half expecting his dire prediction to come true with his current experiences. He sighed, laying his head down on the table wearily, not noticing his new sword slipping from his limp fingers.
He did however, flinch when its noisy crash mixed with the din of the pub and catching the attention of the nearby customers.
"Sorry," he murmured conscienciously, reaching down and picking up his wayward weapon.
Jan paused mid-sip as his senses suddenly seemed to clear up, if only slightly. His eyes immediately snapped to the previously empty table as he spotted a teenager pick up a rusted blade off the ground.
'What the heck just happened. I didn't see him a second ago.' Wiping the small frown off his face, he made his way to the kid.
"Sally, two drinks for our new guests! On me, of course." He said to the scarf clad youth as he took a seat at the table with him.
He flicks a wing and turns towards the sound of the dropped weapon and the voice.
"Drinks? I think I'll pass." He turns in his chair and looks at them.
"But maybe you can give me...information." He rests one hand on the hilt of his sword, smirking slightly. "Where is this place?"
"Uhm... thanks," Leets said, smiling unsurely at the kind gesture. He glanced at the well dressed stranger, mentally tallying the merits of liberating his pockets before forcibly beating down that habitual thought. Mustn't aggravate the nice man unless he turned out to be like the traveller earlier.
Darx:
The couple of thugs that Darx sat with glared a bit, indicating his presence was kind of unwelcome at the table. "Not a place for baring weapons, stranger."
Jan, Leets:
Sally headed over with a smile, bringing two mugs of ale along and placing them on the table. "On your tab as usual, Jan."
Dracos
Darx gives a soft laugh. "Oh? And who's going to stop me from doing it, hmm? You two inferior fools?"
Jan nodded to Sally, even as he rose and made his way towards the trio about to start fighting. "Please, gentlemen. Miss Sally has more than enough to worry about without you three fighting."
Going to work, he began to try and pacify the two local ne'er do wells, patting the two on the shoulders as he continued. "We must always act with grace and civility when dealing with people that don't know the lay of the land. Don't you two agree?" He asked with a charming smile, even as he slipped the two a bit of 'drinking' money, as he pulled away before they became even more infuriated.
He quirked a head at the winged man. "Especially when our guest may well have just arrived from the end of his world." He said as he focused on the very otherworldly wings.
Darx gives a smirk as he rises from his chair, keeping one hand on the sword hilt, his wings twitching.
"Fa...fair enough. I'll take care of these two another time." He quickly moves to another seat, taking deep breaths, and sits, eyes closed as if lost in thought.
Jan nodded to the two local ruffians as he moved to sit back down at his own table, leaning back slightly in his chair as he loosened his tie a bit in thought. Looking over first Dax, and then the scarf wearing boy, he continued.
"So, how close was I to the truth? You seem pretty shaken up." He reached over and began swirling his drink slightly, enjoying the musical twinkling of the ice tapping the glass.
"Why am I not surprised?" Clyde replied with a sigh, closing his watch. "I'm very grateful for the assistance - is there anything I can do for you in return?"
"Oh no, I wouldn't ask anything of someone who just recovered from illness. Here." The man handed clyde two bags. One Clyde recognized as his, the other was simply a casual sack.
Dracos
Ryder dragged himself towards the factory, muttering to himself, "Great Ryder... just great... big giant spooky factory that may or may not have enemies in it and you're completely wiped out... real genius you are..."
The factory is not actually all that large. Kind of small really.
He spots a door in it though. He also spots the rest of the town around these parts.
Dracos
Ryder looks at the door, all foreboding and empty... and turns to look at the rest of the town before making a decision.
Ryder;
In the center was a pretty big stone building with what looked like a sign hanging on the side of it. Near it was a smaller metal building, a bit rusty, but probably the tallest building in town. A couple of midsized houses were near the edges of this. On the far edge is another midsized building, though hard to see from here.
Inside the factory, he could hear some cursing.
Dracos
Hearing the voices made Ryder visibly relaxed... Sure, he may be walking into a fight, but there's a chance at least that the people on the other side could be friendly. He'd rather take a 50% chance over a 0% chance.
And with all of those thoughts, Ryder pushed the door...
And was witness to the odddddest sight perceived by man. An old fella, his skin hanging off his bones, a bit greenish. Swearin' like only an engineer can. His foot, hard booted, kicking at a machine.
Dracos
Ryder, already a little woozy and under questionable health from the heat, journey, and lack of rest, looked about ready to wretch at the sight of the decripit engineer... Ryder did lurch over, but managed to keep whatever was in his stomach.
After regaining his composure slightly, not much, but enough to ask a question, Ryder said, "Uhhh... hello."
"Eh?" The guy stuck a finger practically all the way in his ear and scratched as he stood up, then turned around. "Who in tootin' taaarnations are you?"
Dracos
"I'm... I guess I'm still Ryder Angel Hakubi..." Ryder paused after that. Why use that name? What is so special about it? I mean, his Mother is all fragments and memories, he saw that as someone tried to kill him using that form... so why stay a Hakubi?
More thoughts for another time...
"Yeah, I'm still Ryder Hakubi... and I guess I'm new here... wherever here is..."
"Uh...what? Uh, whatever Ryder something or other. Look, there be bigger problems than that you dungus!" He shook a wrench in ryder's direction.
Dracos
A sigh... "First person I meet is an idiot... just great."
Otherwise, Ryder replies to the old coot with a "OK... what's the problem?"
"See this?" He pointed with his wrench. "It's the water filter. Without it. No clean water. Everyone gets sick if they drink the natural stuff here. Partially irradiated and all. Anyhow, the filters going bad. now, i can fix it. But I need parts from the city. It's got maybe another fifty hundred days in it 'fore it goes bad."
Dracos
Ryder's posture and appearance went right to hell as the old coot talked... "People... get sick... if they drink the water?"
And with that, Ryder began to lace in a series of profanities that would make the coot proud... but will not be reprinted here for the sake of youngins.
The old man blinked, watching the odd show. "Well, least ya can swear."
Dracos
Ryder slowly wound down his profanity-laced rant and got back to business... well, as close as a business look as he can get when he found out that he may or may have not killed himself with his first actions on the planet.
Anyway, Ryder looked at the old man and said, "People get sick off of drinking the water... fuck, that's exactly what I did when I woke up too..."
"eh, a bit won't hurt yah. Just give ya a bit of a stomach ache." The man shrugged. "it's drinking it for a while that'll do the real damage."
Dracos
"Thanks again, sir,"Clyde said, accepting the two bags. He quickly takes a look inside the second sack before getting up off the bed.
Clyde:
He finds within it, a week's worth of food, some small change, and a wood lion, masterfully carved.
Dracos
Ryder's look, if one could hear words from a look (and only the Babelfish could do that), would have been saying "..."
Since we do not have the ability to understand body language fully, the old coot had to wait for Ryder to mention, "Oh... alright..." before that thread could be wrapped up.
"Back to business... you say you need parts?"
"Yup. Filter parts. Culd get 'em easy at the city, but not here. The city folk don't like der here either. Hard to get 'em."
Dracos
Clyde shoulders the sack. "Any advice? I've never been here before, so I have no idea where to go or what to do."
Ryder sighed... Always getting into trouble... Why? For some greater good that in some small corner of him he gets sick at? Oh well, ignore that part of Ryder, that's just the crazed loon that destroyed Pluto without a sweat...
"You said you've got about 4 or 5 months left on these parts?"
Clyde:
"Hmm... Yeah, i guessed you weren't from around these parts. Check at the inn, the gecko's tongue. This boy, Jan? He was in your position a while back and should be able to help you if he's in town. If not, well, here."
He went to a set of boxes and shuffled through. "A small map. Covers the local spots."
He handed it to Clyde.
Dracos
Ryder:
"Yea, at best. It's gonna be rough."
Dracos
"How far is this city?"
Ryder:
"It's to the north. About a week's journey." The engineering scratches his scraggily face.
Dracos
"I'm guessing you can't go because you need to stay here and keep the filter functional, right?"
"That's right. You looked like a smart, if crazy, kid!"
Dracos
"Many thanks, Doctor." Clyde tips his hat to the man and heads out of the office, looking for the aforementioned inn.
"Crazy's relative... I think I'm the normal one and everyone else is crazy... But that philosophy is for another day."
Ryder sighed... He knew he was getting into trouble he knew he wasn't going to like. Damn that nice part of him saying that it was the right thing to do... Why can't be be like the guy that set up a communist regime in Crystal Tokyo?
Oh yeah... he died.
"If I knew what I needed to get and how to get them... would you trust a stranger with that knowledge?"
Clyde:
Heading out, he quickly spotted the Gecko's Tongue, the largest building in town.
Dracos
The guy scratched his ear again. "What knowledge? To go get them? You mean what parts to get?"
Dracos
Ryder nods slowly. "Exactly... what parts to get."
Clyde squares his shoulders and heads into the building. Wonder what this place is like.
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out the world's most grimey sheet of paper.
He then reaches for a pen...pulling it from his ear. Then he began writing and then stuffed the sheet into Ryder's hand. "Here, give it to one of the techies there. They'll know what's what!"
Dracos
Ryder sighed... He knew one flaw in his plan...
"Sir... you know I'm new here... do you know anyone that could be a guide or somethin'?"
Darx looks up, eyes on Clyde as he enters.
Clyde:
Walking in, you see a calming bar scene. A middle aged woman walking back behind the bar. A bunch of relatively full tables to your left, some with people playing poker. To your right, you see an old man with a red bird nearby that he's petting telling stories to young children. There's a large table by the fireplace with three folks sitting down starting to talk. His eyes could guess that something just happened here, since some of the folks near the door look a bit unhappy.
Everyone but Ryder and Clyde:
You see a middling tall man step in, dressed unusually as if stepping out of the eighteen hundreds. Brown of hair and gray of eyes, he looked around with a perceptive sense to his eyes.
Dracos
Clyde stepped up to the bar, giving a nod to the woman now behind it. "Pardon me, ma'am, I'm a bit new in town. A question, if I may; do you know of anyone here who could use someone with mechanical skills?"
"Huh. Odd colored eyes." The suit clad man noticed before turning to the two others at his table. "My name's Jan Smith, by the way. Was my guess right?" Jan asked of the two at his table as he took a leisurely sip from his cup. He wasn't so sure of the boy, but his senses had never lied to him before, so something had to be off with Scarf.
Not everyone was as colorful as Wings, afterall.
Ryder:
"Hum, could try the inn. Lot's of travelers hang out at the Gecko's tongue."
Dracos
Clyde:
"Well, Greg might. He runs the water plant." Sally responded, not knowing much about these mechanical things.
Dracos
Ryder smiles at the old man, "Alright... Is there anything else I need to know... uh... I never did get your name..."
Ryder:
"Greg. Greg Alpenshen. Dr Greg Alpenshen." He scratched his nose.
Dracos
Ryder nodded... "Alright Greg... you've got your courier."
"Thanks...good boy, good boy."
Dracos
Leets greeted the winged man warily, distracted by his otherworldly looks and the entrance of the eccentric looking stranger who looked as if he stepped out of the history books. He waved to the stranger invitingly, since he looked as lost as he and the winged man probably felt at the moment.
Leets then froze in midwave as he remembered the conversation Jan Smith had when he prevented a fight. "Excuse me? What do you mean 'destroyed'?" he demanded, staring incredulously at the Negotiator.
"So, you said the Gecko's Tounge? Thanks Greg..." Ryder said as he pocketed the list, making a mental note to copy it down onto better paper later.
And with a small wave, Ryder turned around... and promptly remembered that his muscles were hurting.
"Owww...."
"Destroyed, gone forever, kaput. This is the world after the end of it all, the Wasteland. People just show up out of the blue here from time to time. Some people I've talked to arrived here when their home worlds were destroyed, others were just minding their own business when they got here. Suffice to say, no one's ever managed to get back home."
Taking a long drink from his glass, he shrugged. "So, that's how it goes."
"Eh, what's that lad?" Greg heard his owie.
Dracos
"Forgot... how sore my muscles were... I kinda just got here after all..."
"Eh, well you can get a room at the Gecko's tongue too. Rest yourself there and such."
Dracos
"B-but, wait, never?" Leets repeated lamely, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
Ryder nodded... "Gotcha. Thanks for the advice, I should do that..."
And Ryder finally left, giving the old man a wave before dragging himself down the street, though at a much quicker pace because of the time he spend standing still allowed for some healing in his muscles.
Ryder:
Heading down it, he couldn't miss the Gecko's tongue, what with it being the largest building in town.
Dracos
Ryder dragged his way into the town, and towards the Gecko's Tounge...
Finally reaching it, he took a deep breath and pushed in.
Opening the door...
A ragged looking fellow stepped in. He had blue hair...with red bangs and green eyes...
He looked like someone worked him over but good.
Dracos
Jan took one look at the man...
And whistled him over. "First annual meeting of the odd ducks over here! We're taking new recruits today, and if you sign up right now we're giving out complimentary squeeky bath time toys you can hold and squeeze lovingly. Naming them George is optional."
Despite his words, he wasn't being sarcastic at all. Well, maybe a little, but after this day, who wouldn't be? But beyond all else, he deliberately made it so it was more of a joke than anything else.
Raising an eyebrow at the odd introduction, Ryder grins and says, "Woah... no way... I don't join any club that doesn't give me a free t-shirt and mug with my membership. Sorry, rubber duckies are cool and all, but seriously... where is my free t-shirt and mug? I'd even take a cup of tea at this point, as much as I hate it."
Ryder's not normally THAT sarcastic, but when brought about with wit, he responds to it... He did make a speech based all about how a group of people coming to meet him forgot the torches and pitchforks, but he doesn't remember that.
Clyde glances over at the rather noisy table off to the side - a rather odd collection, it seemed, but then there was little here that WASN'T odd.
"Sally, bring the man a cup of tea." Before she could say anything, he added. "On my tab, of course. He looks like he needs a biscuit with that too." Leaving the man to get served for now, he turned back to address the scarf wearing boy.
"Never knew the my own personal apocolypse would turn out to be so interesting." He quipped as he set aside his drink to look at the him curiously. "So, what's your name? And how'd you get here?"
Leets recovered his wits, watching the volley of wit being played by Jan and the newest oddity. Though I guess that applies to me as we, he groaned mentally.
He glanced to Jan again, blinking at his question. "Err, my name? People just call me 'Leets'."
"Well then, Leets, as I was saying... once you wind up here, you're stuck. Most of the people that've tried to leave the Wasteland kept failing spectacularly, and pretty much gave up eventually. All we've done since then is build up a mock up of society."
"...but what if we don't have any useful skills for this place?" Leets asked hesitantly, reluctant to bring up his somewhat shady experiences.
"Hm? So far we've been pretty lucky here in New Brunswick about that, but we can arrange something for people who want to learn."
Leets nodded slowly, digesting the new information. A new start did sound appealing compared to what he had to do back home.
"So what is it that you do then, Mister Smith?"
"I'm a negotiator. You kinda saw what I do a few minutes ago." He explained as he leaned back in his chair once again. "I help arbitrate as an informal third party between groups of people for mutually beneficial solutions. Since we live in such a hostile world now, the last thing we want is even more bickering between ourselves, so I try to do the best I can."
"So what jobs are available for people like us?" Leets asked curiously.
Ryder sighs and pulls up a chair at the table... Sure, he may not know anyone, but at least they look friendly...
"Water. The town's water supply is in trouble as far as I know. They've been looking for help getting parts together, man power to fix it, couriers. The works." Jan nodded to the man with the different colored hair in greeting. Half turning in his seat, he looked at the oddly dressed man still conversing with Sally at the bar.
"You might want to lean in and take a listen, sir. You look like a scholarly type. Maybe you could help us out too?"
"Don't see why not," Clyde replied, rising from the bar and heading over to listen - but not sitting yet, the table is already fairly crowded.
Ryder looked up from where he was zoning out as he hear Jan talk about the water problems. "He's right... I just talked to this old coot in a factory not far from me. He gave me a list of parts to get in the city, told me I could find somebody to help here."
"Well, I can help you carry some of the parts," Leets offered, looking at his satchel and wryly added, "Since I'm apparently equipped to be a courier at the moment."
"Did he give you any details on what type of parts?" Clyde inquired, his curiosity increasing. "Or any information on what the problem with the water is?"
The old man launched into a new tale as they were talkin, starting over the legendary hero Ark and his quest to save the world.
Dracos
Ryder nodded, pulling out of his pocket the list Greg gave him...
"Yeah," he said, "he gave me this list..."
Clyde took the list from the man, scanning it to see what sort of materials were needed. The parts needed would also help to identify the problem.
Well, it was a bunch of help. The writing was awful and Clyde didn't recognize any of these things.
Dracos
Clyde squinted at the paper, turning it sideways. "I can't even read this. Do you have any idea what the problem with the water was?" He hands the paper back to Ryder.
"I can field that one. The water around these parts are irradiated, and it has to be filtered for safety." Jan nodded.
"I'm not sure what you mean by irradiated, but I'd assume it's some form of contamination. What exactly would you need to filter it with?" Clyde asks.
Darx simply sits, watching and listening to the people, thinking things over with himself.
"That...is a bit beyond my area of expertise. You could go talk to the engineer that runs the filtering system, if you'd like. Since the multi-colored haired man seems to know him, it'd be for the best. I know for a fact we'll need to go to either Vault City or New Reno for the parts, though."
Ryder suddenly felt queasy as the day caught up with him.. collapsing against the table.
Dracos
Leets blinked, watching the spikey haired man slump facefirst into the table.
"...and that," he began, indicating the scholarly man, "Is one reason why you shouldn't drink the water."
"So it would seem," Clyde replied, rather taken aback. "Will he be all right?"
"I don't know," Leets admitted. "It depends on how much he drank."
He turned to Jan questionably. "Is there someplace we should take him?"
"I'm not sure, usually depends on how bad they look when they pass out. Doesn't look too bad to me, though. He isn't convulsing or anything. The guy likely drank a bit more than a handful." He turned to Sally. "Could you get the guy a room to sleep it off? I'll pay."
Sally nodded. "Sure, Jan." She went, picking Ryder up and dragging him off to a room.
Dracos
"Anyway, we should go see the filter techie. I doubt we'll have a strong position to argue from if we don't even know what parts we need, and where to specifically get them from. We'll get to know each other along the way and I'll tell you whatever you need to learn."
Getting up, he shook his head as he ran the costs of this day alone. Oh well, hopefully things would go better for him if this next job was pulled off. Making his way towards the exit, he slipped the old storyteller a five for the awfully dramatic tale he was telling. Didn't run into people who could pull it off with such a straight face these days.
"Great work with the kids there. You should come by more often." He complimented the man as he made his way out.
"Enjoy your Journey, Jan....and remember...it's in how you make it not where you're going." The old man responded cryptically.
Stepping outside they heard a drunken call. "Gots some, alms for the poor?"
Farnham. The drunk. Crazy ol' bugger, as Jan recalled. Always saying something 'bout going to the tower.
Dracos
"Farnham, you disgusting drunk, how are ya?!" Jan patted the bum on the shoulder as he waved the others by so they wouldn't get guilt tripped into giving the man money.
Leets frowned a bit at Jan's actions, and was tempted to give something to the old man regardless, but decided against it. At the moment, he did lack whatever passed for currency in this new world.
Sighing, he slip past the two.
Jan waited a moment while they headed on.
"Eh, I'm not thwat bad.." He slurred with a sort of grin of recognition.
Dracos
"Of course you're not. How about you go inside and help the storyteller put the fear of god and the towers in the kids? Last thing we want is them wandering out by themselves."
"ah, thank ya muchly, Jan...I pay ya back one of des days...I will..." He stumbled off.
Dracos
"Seems to just be that kind of a day." Jan shrugged and made his way off after the others.
They arrived outside the water filtration factory. For values of factory that was smallish metal building.
Dracos
Leets glanced up at the small and seemingly dilapidated factory building, quickly finishing his mental mapping of the landmarks closest to the path they had taken.
"For such an important building, there's not much to look at," he commented, keeping in mind to stay as far away from the stream as he could.
"Not much to look at, is it?" Clyde commented. Stepping up to the door, he knocked briskly. "Is there anyone here?"
They promptly heard a loud swearing followed by some banging around and yet more swearing.
Dracos
"I'll take that as a yes," Clyde remarked with a grimace. He opened the door and stuck his head in to see what can be seen.
Greg, at least Clyde thought it was greg since it was the only humanoid like thing in the room, was yanking at wrench.
Dracos
"Greg! Come over here, I brought you some help to fix the filtering system."
"Eh?" The grimy mutant turned around, looking over them. "Okay...who are ye folks?"
Dracos
"We're, uhm, I guess you can say we're new to this world," Leets answered unsurely, trying not to stare at Greg's odd skin coloration. It's going to take a bit of work to get use to this...
His skin sort of hung in a grim fashion from his face. "Ah, outsiders, gotcha."
Dracos
Leets nodded mutely, swallowing a bit of bile that rose in his throat.
"We were... hoping you could clear up what you wanted us to go get for you," he said, looking at Jan who was holding the list.
"Last guy you sent out seemed to have drunk too much irradiated water and passed out in a humorously ironic fashion. Since we can't read your chicken scratchings, mind helping us out here?" Jan smirked.
"My writing ain't chicken scratch. It genuuine engineeer scribble, you smart aleck youngster. Anyhow, it's not that hard..." He then rambled off a list of four strange mechanical things Jan had never heard of.
Dracos
"Can you tell us what they look like?" Leets interrupted. "For those of us who never heard of those things, that is."
"Well, Uh... I could...but better you just pass it on at the city." He shrugged, wavering on detailing it.
"I have some experience with machines," Clyde offered. "Can you at least describe what the parts DO? I can probably find something that will foot the bill if I can get that much."
"Ah suppose. Now the Geogumbulator defibulirator is the most important part, separating out the ionic composition of the radiation from the water, that needs the geigermicrosyntronic to scan out where it is and what to replace so it doesn't take too much power. The irridescient superglicky shields it so nothing gets out while it's working. And the water filter filters the water so it tastes good. Anything else you guys need to know?"
Dracos
"Which town will we find these parts in?"
"SHouldn't be hard to find in VaultCity." Greg scrached part of his face.
Dracos
"Okay. The only one that can probably get us help with that is the Mayor, then." Jan finished writing the list of parts down. "We should go touch base with him now."
He turned and started towards the exit. "Thanks for the help, Greg."
"Naw, thanks Jan." He returned to yanking at the wrench.
Dracos
"Thank you then, Mister... Greg," Leets smiled politely, steadily inching towards the door now that their business was concluded.
They left, heading for the smaller metal building in town that was Dr. Simmon's house and headquarters. They'd arrived standing outside.
Jan remembered that while Simmons was a nice sort, he did despise noisy visitors.
Dracos
"You two wait out here for a bit while I talk to the Mayor about this situation. Dr. Simmons might freak out if you did your suddenly appearing trick, Leets."
Leets blinked, staring at Jan's departing back oddly. "My wot now?" he asked, confused.
Heading in, Jan found Dr simmons in his labcoat, going over some paperwork.
Dracos
"Excuse me, Dr. Simmons."
Simmons looked up. "Ah, Jan, back from your travels? How've you been?"
Dracos
"As good as anyone can be in the wastelands, Doctor." Jan smiled. "I met the most unique group of individuals at Sally's pub today, though. I have a few of them waiting outside because I felt they'd put you off, but I think they could help us fix the town's filter."
"Unique...The filter problem, something happen with it? I haven't yet heard we had a problem with it."
Dracos
"Greg wanted us to go to Vault City to get these parts." Jan showed the mayor the list. "And it seems that already one of the newcomers to town fell ill to a mouth full of the water. I'll take the job of fetching these items for you, if you'd like. I'll take a bit less than my normal fee if you also pony up costs for parts."
"eh, everything just breaking down, isn't it?" He considered. "fine, though you should want it to be fixed too."
He got up.
Dracos
"Hey, I would take a bigger hit if I weren't working with others. Y'know my M.O. I'm not about to shoot myself in the foot over greed. They, however, aren't going to care as much about town loyalty since they're new to the wastelands."
He looked at Jan a bit and nodded, heading over and unlocking the safe, pulling out some funds and giving it to Jan. "Here, don't waste it, some of it's for the parts."
Dracos
"Don't worry about it. It's safe with me." Jan took the money from the mayor and made his way out.
Leets glanced up from where he was doodling in the sand, noticing Jan exit the building.
"So should we stock up first or just get going?" he asked, standing up and brushing his pants clean.
"Best to stock up. But first, here. I'll give you each a bit of your cut now before the work begins." Jan passed out a fair amount to Clyde and Leets.
Leets glanced at the offering unsurely, getting used to the idea of actually having a job. "Thanks..." he said, finally taking his share from Jan's outstretched hands.
After giving Clyde his share as well, he finished. "We'll all get our other shares when we finished. Standard procedure."
"All right," Leets nodded, pocketting the money inside his jacket. "Lead the way then, Mister Smith."
"Where exactly is this Vault City anyway?" Clyde asked, pocketing his share of the funds.
"Vault City is far north east of here, past a weird tower. They're real paranoid bastards, though. We'll have to get a passport to get allowed in from New Reno. That's past the tower too, but north west of it."
"Sounds simple enough of an errand." Leets shrugged, slinging his possessions over his shoulder. "Shall we be off to stock up then, or is there something else we need to do?"
"Best get stocked up. It's a long trip. C'mon, I'll show you to the general store." Jan lead the way.
Heading into the Gecko Tongue, Jan was quickly able to catch Sally's eye. She was standing behind the counter. He could just ask for what he needed and see if she had it in stock.
Dracos
Jan quickly placed his usual order for supplies for when he went out of town. "Best make that a triple order, and ditch the razors for the kid's order." He looked up over where the rooms were. "How's that guy doing?"
"Sure thing, got the cash I hope? And he's slowly coming around." Sally responded, starting to get things together.
Dracos
"Ha ha, looks like water isn't the only thing in short commodity," Leets laughed dryly at Jan's supposed humor, accepting the supplies from Sally. "How much is all this worth?"
After they paid, Jan smirked. "If you think that was bad, wait until you hear me with a flute." Once they were outside, he took a moment to arrange everything in his traveling sack.
He shook his head in amusement. "Geez, from one trip to another. And back to New Reno, at that. Was kinda hoping to not go back for a while. Anyway, we should be in New Reno in a few days, hopefully." He led the way out of town.
"Do you think you'll be able to appraise the quality of the parts, professor?" He turned to ask the oddly dressed man. "I've never seen an outfit like yours, where do you come from, anyway? And y'know what, because of all this chaos I've forgotten to introduce myself. Name's Jan, what's yours?"
"Professor Clyde Hornsby," Clyde replied easily. "And I can at least examine them to see how well they're made. I'm not sure how much of it I can understand. Somehow I doubt any libraries are going to be on our itinerary any time soon, unfortunately."
"I think Vault City might have that kind of stuff. If I may ask, what year are you from?"
"A right pleasure to meet you, Professor Hornsby," Leets greeted, stuffing his new supplies away as he listened to the conversation.
"1873," Clyde answered. "What year is it now, then? I assume I've been moved to some point in the future."
"In your case, yeah. About a hundred years or so."
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at all the changes, then," Clyde mused. "Even in the last fifty years - for me at least - science has gone through some major advancements."
"Well, you probably just need to learn the basics of electricity to be adaptable. The wastelands themselves keeps the towns from being at the same technology level. We've regressed to city state levels." Jan shrugged.
Ryder:
You awaken with a groan in bed...your body feeling still a little sore, but better.
Dracos
Ryder looked up at the ceiling with a pained look on her face... "Oh Kami-sama... I feel like I've downed three Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters. What day is it anyway?"
Ryder rolled out of bed and painfully hit the floor. Of course, since he had hit the floor without being prepared for it, it would be painful.
Ryder:
Yeah, that'll wake one up. Not fun. But It'll wake one up. Though it left him no more oriented in his little hostel room.
Dracos
Ryder sighed as he rolled onto his back. "Damnit, I'm really getting sick of waking up in pain..."
Sitting up, Ryder took notice of where he is.
He was in a hotel room. it was sparsely decorated with a single window and a single door and a small, but comfortable bed.
Dracos
With a sigh, Ryder looked at the bed loathingly... So beautiful, so comfy... and yet its height caused him quite a bit of pain.
After wishing that the bed would somehow grow a mouth so it can choke on a pretzel and die, Ryder stood up wobbily and feebly pushed his way out of the room.
"Ah, you're up." Sally commented from the bar as he stumbled out. "Though if that's how you're walking, maybe you should just stay in bed."
Dracos
Ryder smiled weakly as he stumbled down the stairs. "Yeah, I feel like I've had about 3 or 4 Gargle Blasters and then decided to try and fly the harder way than usual. The whole "throwing yourself at the ground and missing" thing... it works, but it's a pain in the butt..."
Ryder took a seat at the bar. "Water please..."
She served him up a cup. "Your room was on Jan, by the way."
Dracos
Ryder took a sip of the water. "It would mean a lot more to me, not that it doesn't already, but it still would mean more if I knew who this Jan guy was. It's still a nice thought though..."
"He was the guy at the table with you earlier. Something of a traveler. Picked up some paper you had when you collapsed."
Dracos
Ryder had been drinking the water while Sally had been commenting on Jan's apparant identity... and of course, in true comedic fashion, as soon as Sally comment reached him about the paper, he coughed a bit and performed a nearly perfect spittake. Thankfully for him and probably the entire "party" as it would, he didn't hit her with it.
"Where'd he go?"
She tossed a cloth at him. "Clean that up and I'll tell you."
Dracos
Ryder nodded and got off the stool to clean the water up... Of course, nobody doubts that he would have felt better had he not have fallen face first onto the floor.
And people wonder why Ryder was known as a lightweight...
"He said he was headed off on a trip a bit ago. If you hurry you might catch him."
Dracos
While cleaning up the water using the universe's most important item for any traveler, Ryder mentioned, "Well, do you know in which direction he was heading?"
"nope," Sally responded.
Dracos
"Bugger..." Ryder said as he finished cleaning up the water and stood up woozily.
"Nice towel you've got here... sturdy, well made... I'd keep a hold of this towel if I was you. You never know when you'll need a towel... Trust me."
"Um...right." Sally took the towel back. "Look, they probably are heading north. To vault city or reno."
Dracos
"Good... Good... Thanks for the info." Ryder said as he slumped his way out of the bar, still a bit woozy and probably not feeling any better thanks to the repeated headshots and facefirst dives he's taken, but who in that situation would?
Regardless of Ryder's current inability to throw himself at the ground and miss, he still made it out of the bar almost intact.
Jan was just about to lead the trio out of town into the desert, when he happened to glance over Leets shoulder. "Well, who do we have here. Look, he's up on his feet already. Guy's tougher than he looks."
Ryder blinked as he looked from side to side, not seeing anyone important... Oh, wait, there's that group that he was sitting with before his brain realized that perhaps his body needed to rest a little.
Carefully taking each step so his body would continue to assume his body's health was Somebody Else's Problem, Ryder moved towards the group.
"Hey. We haven't formally introduced ourselves, at least not before you passed out because of the water. My name's Jan Smith, did Sally tell you we were heading out to help fix the filter?"
Ryder felt an urge to say something... "I don't know why, but I suddenly have an urge to tell you that my name is Valentiez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz Gombigobilla Blue Stradivari Talentrent Pierre Andri Charton-Haymoss Ivanovici Baldeus George Doitzel Kaiser the 3rd. Could you tell me WHY I just had that urge?"
"Do you have any shorter name we can call you? Or at least we can remember?" Leets suggested, assuming the spikey-haired man's introduction was a joke.
"You can call me Leets, by the way. It's the only name I know of in any case."
Ryder posted a faint smile. "I do... and the big long one isn't my real name, just something I had an urge to tell you..."
"My real name... names if you really want to call it that, is Ryder Angel Hakubi, and because I used to have trouble with it in certain areas of the galaxy, I would use Ryda Seraphim Hakubi and claimed I was a cousin of Ryder's to get out of bar tabs on planets where 20 year olds aren't allowed to drink..."
"Galaxy?" Jan blinked. "Um. Anyway, Ryder, now that you're feeling better, do you want to come along with us to fix this town's filter? It was originally something you were going to do, so you can cut into the wages when we're done."
"Trust me on this one... every one of us has got alot of stories to tell, so let's just hear them on the way, ok?" Ryder mentioned, a rather roundabout way of saying yes.
Jan nodded. "Wait here, I'll fetch you some supplies before anything else." He darted into the general store for a minute or so, then came back out with a fresh pack.
"Compliments of Sally, says she threw in a good, dependable towel for you. Whatever that means." He handed it to Ryder and headed out of town, expecting the others to follow.
"Hey, I never forget where my towel is... except for when I've died, but I don't remember any towels the first time... oh well." Ryder mentioned as he slung the pack on his shoulder... and then his body remembered again that it was hurt and he fell into the dust.
Ryder sighed and got up, putting the pack on much slower this time, and then walked out, muttering something about biology and the desire to destroy it's rules.