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Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.13 20:30:00 - [1] - Quote Jason walked down the I-15 away from Sloan. He pushed up the glasses on his face and squinted a little as a gust of wind blew up a small whirlwind of dust, a tumbleweed trailing behind the wind across the old road. A duffel bag hung over his shoulder, clinking every now and then with its multitude of contents. He had been at Sloan for a week, patching up everyone after they had barely made it out when the Deathclaw's moved in. He even had to patch up the pet molerat. He frowned as he thought about the fact that he would have to loop around again to get back to Freeside, a trip that could take days. At least there were stops along the way. He adjusted the white jacket with the Followers of the Apocalypse logo on it as another gust of wind blew past him. When he was confident the wind had calmed down he opened the book in his hand - On the Way People Think. It had been lying around Sloan and had caught his eye only because it was so out of place. He had never been particularly interested in psychology but he had begun reading it and found himself interested enough to continue reading. It was not particularly thick, perhaps a little over two hundred pages, but he had been reading it quite thoroughly. It was mainly an introduction to the topic of social psychology it appeared but it piqued his interest enough to want to go over what books the fort had back in Freeside. He looked up from his slow reading to look around again, pushing the glasses up onto his nose once again. He kept his eyes out for the Powder Gangers, a group of escaped convicts in the area. Seeing no danger his eyes drifted slowly back down to the book. [Race: African American Looks about 20 if that. Little shorter than average. Traits: Good Natured, Four Eyes Tagged: Medicine, Science, Repair S: 4 P: 8 (with glasses/ 6 without) E:4 C:6 I: 8 A:5 L: 6 ] Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.13 21:03:00 - [2] - Quote In retrospect Jason should probably have left the next morning, but an anxiety to get back to Freeside had overtaken him, especially since he was beginning to run dangerously low on Mentats. Still, he had seen the abandoned shack of a pre-war skydiving business on his way to Sloan a couple of weeks ago. Unless the Powder Gangers had taken some dynamite to it it should still be there. He would stop there for the night. It would at least keep him safe until the morning. Hopefully He placed the book in the duffel bag over his shoulder and continued walking. He would be there shortly. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.13 22:15:00 - [3] - Quote Jason saw the old shack in the distance. He fished a handheld computer from his jacket pocket - a Pip-Boy 2000 he had gotten off of a merchant who had no real idea what he had gotten his hands on. Jason checked the time. It was sometime after nine unless the clock had messed up again; it was the one thing that would not keep accurate settings. [Perception 8] Jason squinted a little at the shack. Something seemed off but he could not quite put his finger on it, perhaps due to his inexperience[Survival 13] travelling around. Perhaps something was out of place, or the lack of light caused the shack to look more ominous than it really was. There was an explosion in the distance, no doubt the result of Powder Gangers playing with their explosives. Still Jason reached for the Stealth Boy he kept strapped to his belt, ready to activate it at a moment's notice, as he approached the shack. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.13 23:08:00 - [4] - Quote Jason panicked, releasing what could only be described as the most undignified scream to ever pierce the air as he activated his Stealth Boy, not that it helped since he was already in his attacker's grip. Even the laser pistol he had as a last resort was useless. If he hadn't eaten as recently as he had he would have probably emptied his bowels. "Please don't hurt me! I have some caps! I-I... have chems... uhh uhh..." Jason fumbled for words searching for anything that would prevent his attacker from cutting his throat. He thought of the blood. Oh God the blood. "I'm a doctor! I can help you! I can fix things! Please don't kill me!" Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.13 23:48:00 - [5] - Quote Jason stumbled to the ground as he was shoved inside the shack, the shock of his fall was enough to disrupt the Stealth Boy, deactivating it. Jason clung to the duffel bag and shuffled into the corner back against the wall watching his captor. The man had a strangely poetic way of speaking; symbolic, rife with metaphors. Jason almost wished he had accepted the dynamite from Sloan as payment as he pondered how he might end up getting out of this. He found himself wondering if Julie was worried. It was after all the first time he was out on his own given his condition. As if on cue he winced as a pain, no doubt brought about by the stress of the situation seemed to pierce his skull with the force of an atom bomb. He wondered if he'd be able to take a Mentat without getting shot. Jason adjusted his glasses and squinted in the darkness to see the man who had captured him. The man wore what appeared to be a ranger's armour while the other looked much like many other wanderers he'd seen clad in leather. The one who had captured him spoke, inquiring about why he was so far from Freeside, though strangely he referred to it by its pre-war name. Not wanting to risk confrontation he winced through the pain of the encroaching migraine. "Quarry Junction was infested by Deathclaws. A traveller who stopped by the Fort in Freeside told us about it and how people had been injured. I offered to come check on them but I had to loop around south in order to not get ripped to pieces. I... I'm on my way back now." Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 00:15:00 - [6] - Quote Jason took the opportunity at his captor's consent to reach into his jacket and bring out a tin of mentats. He shook it lightly, rattling it. As he opened it he looked up at the man. How pitiful did he look; a doctor, a Follower clearly shaking from an addiction. Still... "It's not what you think," he said simply. The man no doubt would mistake his words for some addict's excuse and partially it was. Still Jason had no need to explain himself to someone who attacked him, yet he just did, partially. Jason shook his head lightly. Contradictions. His head was flooding. He swallowed the Mentat. He shook a little, fighting himself as he looked at the tin in his hand. "Only one," he whispered to himself echoing Julie's words. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 01:10:00 - [7] - Quote There was no way Jason was going to fall asleep in this shack with these guys. The one who had checked his bag seemed a little suspicious. Still Jason didn't care as the Mentat was kicking in and his thoughts were becoming more cohesive once again. He leaned against the wall and looked at his books, the psychology book was there. He listened to the ranger's words. "The Mojave may have done that already," he muttered to himself. He reassembled his items he had in his duffel bag and sat against the south wall. He set up the small desk lamp on the floor next to him, powered by a fission battery, preparing to do some reading, and maybe some transcribing of notes. He looked up at the ranger who had captured him as he presented him with a cure to the addiction. "It's... not that simple," Jason stated. "I actually need them for a... umm medical problem. On some rare occasions a lesser evil is needed to combat a far worse one." He looked at the man's chems. "But thank you for the consideration." He looked back down at the book; page 56 of 227. If he didn't sleep he could get another hundred or so pages done. Chances were they wouldn't let him leave but he could make the most of it. Still he would be keeping his eyes open. He removed his jacket to rest behind his head as he read, revealing the laser pistol hanging off his hip. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 01:58:00 - [8] - Quote Jason held the tin of Mentats in his hand. "I did not have the pleasure of choosing the first demon. An angel saw fit to give me this demon" - he shook the tin, causing the pills inside to rattle - "to protect me from the first one. Quite frankly, I've chosen to employ it gladly and will live with it." He put away the tin and frowned with a memory. "If you'll excuse me I have some reading to do." He pushed up the glasses and continued reading. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 12:24:00 - [9] - Quote True Adamance wrote: [Speech 30] "You mentioned travelling through Sloan and before that Fort Freeside. Is that where you come from?" [Speech ??] "That still doesn't explain what you, a fellow practitioner of medicine, was doing on the road? We'll be here to morning unless we want to deal with the Powder Gangers, Radscorpions, or whatever else is out there. Care to share?"[/i] [[Jakar you decide if the Speech cheek succeeds]] [Occurs before morning] Jason looked at the other man. He wore a satchel with a red cross indicating he was some kind of doctor, or perhaps got the bag from aother doctor and was merely using it. Strangely he wielded a spear. Tribal? Jason's mind reeled with the knowledge he had of Caesar's Legion being formed from tribals, but their people were proud of their colours and way of speaking. [Speech Success] "You're not from the Mojave are you. Well, I'm from Freeside. It's a small town, I suppose you could say, that's attached to Vegas. There's an Old Fort that the Followers of the Apocalypse, uses as a headquarters for research and as a hospital." [Speech Success] Jason had nothing to hide as the man asked his questions. If it kept him from meeting the business end of a gun, or spear in this case he would answer his questions. "Well, like I said last time I was out here I had to loop around south since Quarry Junction is full of deathclaws. The people in Sloan were a little worse for wear. It took time unfortunately so one of them apparently died from injury before I arrived." Jason frowned. "The others were a little out of it. Enough time had passed that I had to re-break a someone's fibula to set it properly." Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 13:49:00 - [10] - Quote 103 pages. His estimate had been correct. He rubbed his eyes. A Nuka-Cola would help keep him awake about now, but he did not have any on him and he had been too anxious to fall asleep. Instead he stood, slowly stretching his locked joints. He had barely moved during the night, especially when the tribal began cleaning his weapons. He checked the time on his Pip-Boy. Time for another Mentat. After taking the pill he packed up. The fusion battery, the lamp, the books. He made sure he had everything just in case he had missed one of the others in the tent, grabbing something while he was focused on reading. Not like there was much he could do to confront them if they did. He removed a lunchbox from his bag and removed a strip of Brahmin jerky from the set he had received from Sloan and chewed on it. He pushed up his glasses again. He really needed to get a strap for them or something. He put back on his jacket and strapped on the bag and slowly moved towards the door. "Good morning I suppose," he said to the men who had previously captured and interrogated him. ((Honestly with so little information it would be okay to make assumptions within reason. I mean I never could afford the DLC and couldn't get my hands on the GOTY Edition so I know very little. I had to look up Abbey of the Road on the wiki to know what you were talking about. Honestly I like to think since it's an RP we can be more flexible than sticking purely to Fallout's formula in terms of skill usage. If we were dealing more with pen and paper and dice, it would be a little stricter but as long as actions are within reason I think it's okay. If you ever need some ideas on how to go about it I once read some of the RPs on Bethesda's forums. Those guys make it work pretty well, though I haven't looked recently. As a side note: loving the character interaction.)) Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.

Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 21:11:00 - [11] - Quote Jason looked at the group. The ranger and the wanderer were outside. The gunshots that he had heard were most likely related to the Gecko that the man was carrying with him. Jason chewed some more on the Brahmin jerky; someday he had to learn how to properly cook for himself instead of relying on the food of others. The two men were talking, seemingly about their names. They're travelling together and haven't even told each other their names? Was this normal? "I assume I'm travelling with you?" he asked none of them in particular, or all of them at once. Jason squinted a little in the morning light as he looked south down the I-15 toward Primm. At the moment it was out of view. He continued to chew on his jerky and took a sip of water from his canteen as he waited for an answer and for the ranger to cook the Gecko meat. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 22:22:00 - [12] - Quote Jason considered the ranger's offer and for a brief moment the thought of activating his Stealth Boy and walking away crossed his mind. However that would, on some level, make him irresponsible since he could offer some assistance to these people. He hoped he wouldn't regret the decision. "I suppose I'll travel with you. Just don't expect me to kill anyone." Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 619	Posted - 2015.06.14 23:24:00 - [13] - Quote Jason looked to the tribal who introduced himself as Eddie Chambers. "Jason Carter," he introduced himself. "If you're not careful the side effects from the prevention can cause a pound of another problem entirely," Jason stated a little too knowledgeable about the idea himself. Jason looked at the ranger. The man was a little cold, even for one of those legends he heard so much about. Had something happened to make this man so or was that simply how he was? He was surprised when they didn't make the stop at Primm, but Jason was unwilling to risk a confrontation with the ranger who had seen fit to put a knife to his throat the night before. The place looked a little off as they passed around it. The streets were empty, a fact that unnerved him. Had something happened? The Mojave Outpost. Jason had never really seen it. The large statues he had seen in the distance turned out to be that of an NCR Ranger shaking hands with a Desert Ranger. The ranger himself seemed a little upset about it. With the negative ideas about it in his head from the ranger, Jason realised quickly that it was enough to steel to build a shelter or two for people who might need it. Even now in the setting sun, the long shadow cast by it provided quite a reprieve from the oppressive heat. "If you don't mind I would like to check for some more medical supplies, maybe some raw materials." The caravans were backed up. Jason didn't have a great deal of caps, but he wondered if he could convince one of the caravan merchants to part with some supplies cheaply since they didn't seem to be able to move on. Some sales are better than no sales right? He might have to look into one of the books or magazines he carried to come up with a good strategy to approach this. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 620	Posted - 2015.06.15 00:29:00 - [14] - Quote Jason looked at the ranger as he spoke - Max was it? What books had this man's mind consumed that made him speak the way he did? Jason wondered as the man walked off. After an inquiry to one of the patrolling soldiers Jason found his way to what was the general store of the area though it also served as the barracks and bar. Jason was not the type to drink, though whiskey and vodka could make for some pretty good impromptu disinfectants. After a few minutes of haggling Jason managed to get some more Brahmin jerky, some trail mix and a bag of medical supplies. Sitting there, Jason realised he had not actually taken a look at the laser pistol that was supposed to protect him for a while. He took a seat at a table to the side and placed the weapon there. After rooting around for his smaller tools he began inspecting it. The lenses and focusing crystals were fine, but he still made sure they were fixed firmly in place. Everything else seemed to be set in place and calibrated properly, though he could not be sure unless he fired the weapon. He then pulled out the book he had been reading and continued. Page 160. He was so focused on reading that he barely noticed the ranger coming in seeking to leave the Mojave Outpost already. Wouldn't it make sense for them to stay the night? It would most definitely be night before they reached Nipton. Jason rose from his seat as Eddie called him. "I'd rather he didn't," Jason responded to Eddie's statement. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 620	Posted - 2015.06.15 00:48:00 - [15] - Quote History. Jason turned the singular word over in his head a few times. Post traumatic stress perhaps? No he didn't seem to suffer any of the symptoms, except maybe being a little jumpy. Perhaps he simply holds some grudge, an object or event over which he obsesses? It was becoming clear the man wasn't really a ranger, or at least an NCR ranger as Jason knew them to be. The man was... volatile, was the first word that came to mind. The next word was 'vindictive'. Jason turned his head around looking for the mercenary, Lucas. Were they going to leave him behind? Jason pushed up his glasses once again. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 620	Posted - 2015.06.15 01:28:00 - [16] - Quote "I suppose," Jason stated. "I can't say I like admitting it but he needs an outlet. The unfortunate part is the only outlet for the way he's behaving might be shooting a definitive enemy." Jason frowned. It was a hypothesis much like the ones he was trained to make, but he didn't like making it. It was as though he was asking for trouble just so the ranger might have a way to vent. He just hoped that whoever got in the ranger's way wasn't an innocent. He followed on behind them as they made their way down the hill and onto the road towards Nipton with Eddie. The moon was visible now and a coyote howled in the distance. A minute later another one howled in response. Jason sighed. "I really hope this guy doesn't get me killed," he said quietly. He checked the time on the handheld Pip-Boy. Time for another Mentat. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 620	Posted - 2015.06.15 02:07:00 - [17] - Quote Jason winced a little as he walked along. He was getting a headache. How? he wondered Was it because he had not slept the night before? He had taken the Mentat hat should stop it from coming on right? Still he kept pace fighting through it. Hopefully they would reach Nipton and he could finally take a break in the town, if he could rent a room to sleep in without being solicited by someone. There was chittering off to his left as they walked down the road. Ants? He had remembered seeing a colony in the old dried up lake bed. The chittering was distant so he doubted they would be a problem. "He's going to kill you, you know." Jason's heart skipped a beat as the voice entered his head and he almost tripped on the road. The Mentats weren't working. He fumbled for the tin in his jacket and swallowed. "Can't shut me out forever," the voice stated mockingly. Ahead of the ranger Jason thought he saw something by an abandoned destroyed building at the side of the road in the moonlight; the silhouette of a person ducking behind the wall. Was it a trick of the light or his mind? Visual hallucinations were not a symptom of his. ((Anyone up for some combat? Be reasonable though.)) Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 620	Posted - 2015.06.15 03:45:00 - [18] - Quote Jason fell to the ground as Eddie tried to wave him and the mercenary back. He picked a direction away from the oncoming fire toward the other destroyed building across the road from the one the raiders or bandits or whatever they were were pouring out of. A bullet impacted the wall as he scrambled over it. Unfortunately no ambush would be complete without someone coming from a different angle and Jason had the misfortune of running into that someone. The raider almost seemed surprised to see someone come scrambling over the wall so suddenly but not surprised enough as he raised his 9mm pistol to shoot. Jason's hand clutched a piece of rubble and he threw it. There was a thump as it connected. The man shouted, cursed and raised the pistol again. Jason threw another rock. This one was lucky enough to knock the gun out of his hand. The man cursed as it fell into the shadow of a wall, drawing his knife to attack. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 622	Posted - 2015.06.15 12:54:00 - [19] - Quote "Follower, eh? I almost feel bad," the raider stated, brandishing the knife in the moonlight. Jason knew he should run, activate the Stealth Boy and just run. Still fear paralysed him. "If you're not going to run, you have to kill him," the voice stated. It was louder now, the migraine was pounding. He felt as though his skull was swelling. "Kill him!" As the man lunged Jason ducked out of the way of the blade and reached for the something, anything. Rather than his hand finding the laser pistol that was caught between him and the ground, his hand closed around the familiar, slender form of a scalpel in one of his pockets. He pulled it out quickly, the sheath of the small blade flying off as the man reached out his free hand to stop Jason from skittering away. Jason kicked and scrambled to his feet, his bag behind him on the ground. He winced, "Don't- don't make me hurt you," Jason stated pushing out the echoing voice in his ears. "Kill him. Kill him. Kill him! Make him bleed!" "You can't hurt me," the raider stated confidently and lunged again. Jason stumbled back as the blade caught him across the shoulder. The man stood over Jason holding the blade, ready to plunge it into him. ((So just so you know I already have an idea what's going to happen but I'm cutting off at certain points so other things can happen during the time, or as a precaution in case something someone else does might intervene whether directly or indirectly.)) Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 623	Posted - 2015.06.15 23:45:00 - [20] - Quote Jason stabbed the raider standing over him in the leg with the scalpel aiming for s specific location and with the amount of blood that came out of the wound, Jason knew he had found it - an artery. The knife clattered to the ground as the man dropped it, stumbling to the backward to the ground and clutching his leg. "Don't stop now!" the voice edged on. Adrenaline pumping, gunfire in the distance, the voice, lack of sleep. Jason kicked the man in the head snapping his head back. The raider clutched at Jason blindly no doubt dazed by the sudden vicious attack by the Follower. Jason hesitated. "Don't stop. You want to see him bleed don't you," it was more of a statement than a question. "No. Stop it!" Jason hissed. "Do it! Do it!" The voice echoed from all angles. Jason looked down at the man, straight at his neck, where his carotid arteries were. "Right there," the voice noted, almost innocently. Jason reached down, stopped, retracted his hand. The man was recovering from the kick to the head and was trying to crawl away looking for something to use as a weapon no doubt. "He'll kill you. Carve him!" "I'm sorry. It's the only way to make him stop," Jason stated as he crouched, reaching down covering the man's mouth with his gloved hand and drew the scalpel under the man's jaw across his neck slowly, ensuring he cut both arteries. Blood spilled from his neck. The man gagged disgustingly. Remaining crouched, Jason retracted the scalpel and looked at the man struggling to live beneath him. He looked at the scalpel dripping with blood. "I-I..." The blood. "Just a taste couldn't hurt right?" he asked the voice. "No one's going to know," the voice stated. Jason knew if it had a face it would be smiling but he couldn't help it. He knew he should stop. He could stop. He reached into his jacket with his free hand and removed the tin. It rattled a little. He looked into his hands. The tin? Or the scalpel? "Well clearly the meds aren't working." "I'm sorry Julie. Just a taste." With that he pushed the blood covered scalpel into his mouth. Euphoria. Amazing. Coppery. His mind was clearer. "Good job. Jason pulled out the scalpel and threw it to the ground and began shaking his head. What? No! They couldn't know! They can't know! He shook out two pills and swallowed. Wiping the blood from his mouth he drew his laser pistol and looked over the crumbled wall to see what was happening. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.

Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 624	Posted - 2015.06.16 00:09:00 - [21] - Quote True Adamance wrote: ((I kinda want to retconn being a surgeon...... such a redundant T.A.G at this point.......)) ((Here's what I'm getting from these characters. If we run into a mechanical lock or anything requiring explosions. We're ******. If I'd known doctor would be so popular I would've gone with my Brotherhood of Steel or travelling swindler characters.)) Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 624	Posted - 2015.06.16 00:17:00 - [22] - Quote Jonny D Buelle wrote: ((Please Stand By)) ((Quoting this before he changes it. 4/10 needs Oldie Goldie's music. Oh.... beginning to think we need OOC thread. )) Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 624	Posted - 2015.06.16 00:27:00 - [23] - Quote ((Made an OOC thread)) Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 624	Posted - 2015.06.16 03:17:00 - [24] - Quote Jason watched as Eddie reappeared dragging a body. The gunshots had faded and it was now more quiet that the moments before the ambush itself. It unnerved him. He looked back at the dead man. Blood pooled around him. "Good job," the voice repeated its earlier statement. The voice was fading a bit. Quieter. The Mentats were kicking in. He had definitely taken too many. The mental overload would be significant unless everything calmed down. A nap would be perfect. Seeing that everything was calming down he stood up just enough to move again and taking cautious steps made his way across the road to Eddie. He looked at the body that Eddie released. Blood had soaked into the man's shirt. Jason looked away. His left hand opened and closed uncontrollably and he put his right hand, still holding the laser pistol, against it, pinning it to his side. It was then that he realised the cut he had gotten from his scuffle with the raider. Was now a good time to treat it or was there still more to happen? "You-" Jason cleared his throat. "You okay?" he asked Eddie. Lucas and Max seemed to be finished dealing with what was left of the ambush. Jason inhaled deeply and breathed out. When the adrenaline rush wore off he was probably going to pass out. He listened. The only sounds he could hear were chittering in the distance and the horrible pounding in his ears. The voice had stopped talking. Still, those who died caught his eye and more notably the red liquid glinting ever so slightly in the moonlight. Jason sucked in a breath and averted his eyes, waiting to hear a response from anyone. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 625	Posted - 2015.06.16 12:52:00 - [25] - Quote Jason noted the wound on Eddie's back and the blood that came off on his hand when he touched it. Jason inhaled deeply watching the man collect his medical supplies which had strewn across the road during the fight. "You should let me look at that. It'll want cleaning." Jason twitched a little when Eddie raised his voice to the ranger. Jason looked around nervously for anyone who might be around. He made out the figure the ranger mentioned just out of view. It was probably the Mentats that allowed him to see him. He took off his duffel bag and placed it on the ground near in the shadow of the wall. "Eddie could you clean this for me?" he asked taking off his jacket to show where the knife had caught him in the shoulder. "I could do it myself but it's a better guarantee when someone else does it." Looking at the ranger Jason stated. "We should really rest soon." Jason needed to stop not only because he was tired but because he knew that when he came down off of these Mentats he was going to be quite out of it, not only counting the addiction; technically he was overdosed. His mind was too sharp. The chittering in the distance was louder than it should be and he was acutely aware of the slightest breeze and every step one of his companions took. His mind, with nothing to focus on, was noticing everything. At least the voice was silent. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 628	Posted - 2015.06.17 02:34:00 - [26] - Quote Jason helped Eddie with the ranger's wound. He was still a little shaken and his eyes occasionally drifted across the road. At Lucas' mention of scavenging he looked a little longer at the ruins where he had tried to hide and had been attacked. When Eddie had finished patching up the ranger, Jason took a look at the surgeon's back. The cut caused was a line across the man's back, but the shirt had no real damage. "This is a gunshot wound?" Jason inquired as he found the hole where the bullet went through at the beginning of the wound. "Amazingly lucky." [Medicine 40] Jason took a clean rag from his bag and poured alcohol on it. "Grit your teeth," he stated as he began cleaning the wound. Having dealt with some of the worst that Freeside could throw this wound was not much and the Mentats kept him focused. After that he told the Eddie to remove the shirt so he could bandage him. As Jason bandaged Eddie, he listened to the ranger's tale. Jason hesitated when he heard the ranger mention his history from the Legion, but as a Follower he knew that people could change so while his doubts did exist he could believe him. When Jason finished bandaging Eddie he drew a syringe of Me-x from a sealed cased, sterilised the needle and injected him with a minor dosage. He put another dose of Med-x into the surgeon's hand. "Just in case the pain gets too bad." Jason then removed his jacket and took a seat to allow the surgeon to take a look at his shoulder. He found himself captivated by the ranger's story and a lot of pieces fell into place, especially the way he spoke. He'd known Caesar's Legion to have a very strange flair in their speech. The inquisitive part of him flared, spurred even more by his Mentat-overdose induced laser focus. He was almost tempted to grab a pen and notebook from his bag to take notes. Of what he wasn't entirely sure, but there had to be knowledge to be had here somewhere. Knowledge of the Legion's methods, the tribes they absorbed. Anything. "I've heard stories of the Legion, from travellers, refugees, the occasional NCR soldier. You're actually from the Legion..." Jason wasn't sure what to ask first or how to phrase those questions that actually completed themselves before being replaced by another question in his mind. None of the questions seemed appropriate for the current situation however so he settled for a statement instead. "That explains some of your behaviours actually," he said quietly. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 630	Posted - 2015.06.17 04:23:00 - [27] - Quote Jason touched the cut on his shoulder. Tender, but shallow. He wondered if he should suture it or just clean it and put on a bandage. The adrenaline had worn off now and the blood had dried on his shirt. The adrenaline crash was hitting him and he was feeling fatigued. He stifled a yawn. The Mentats however were still keeping his brain active. He pushed up his glasses onto his nose. [Medicine 50] "Or you could bandage your leg tightly, stick it in a brace,put your weight on your other leg and go to sleep." Jason yawned. The lack of sleep and the overactive brain was making him antsy. [Science 40]"Stimpaks work by increasing metabolic and regenerative processes. This requires energy and while Stimpaks have several proteins to perform the process energy still needs to come from the body. In other words it'll hit you like an adrenaline crash if you decide to use that Super Stimpak." "Also, I don't think there are any fire ants in Ivanpah anyway." He cleaned the wound on his shoulder with a clean rag and some alcohol, then bandaged it. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 630	Posted - 2015.06.17 11:16:00 - [28] - Quote Jason narrowed his eyes. He had some respect for the ranger and was probably even more afraid of him now that he revealed that he had once been Legion. Still he found himself wondering if this man was really going to argue with a Follower clearly trained in medical procedures about this situation. Jason knew what he was saying was true, since he had been helping a doctor research the use of Radscorpion venom derivatives as an alternative for certain treatments. Still, he was tempted to just stick the man with enough Med-X to shut him up and put him to sleep. To find a radscorpion now would be a pain, and a waste since the wound and fracture would heal just fine if he just relaxed a bit. Jason gave a sideways glance at Eddie, then, overwhelmed by a bit of snark opened his mouth to speak. "You really just want to stick yourself with that Super Stimpak don't you?" It had to be the Mentats. Right? "Look," Jason sighed. "Why waste the bullet on the Radscorpion, or waste the Super Stimpak when a bandage and brace will just keep everything in place and you can ease off the leg. I'd recommend a crutch or a cane but I can see you're not the type. If you're as tough as you say and something happens stick yourself with the damn stimpak and go nuts." After a second he added. "If you want a consolation injection I can stick you with a regular stimpak and you can have a lollipop." Had to be the Mentats. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 631	Posted - 2015.06.18 02:25:00 - [29] - Quote Jason, taking Max's silence as consent dug into his bag and produced a medical brace, essentially a ring of straps with a couple of solid pieces of metal to keep it in place and a bandage. With the ranger's consent Jason tied the bandage as tightly as he could muster and then placed the brace tightly in place. It would be a little uncomfortable and the discomfort might cause him to keep the weight off of it. With that Jason stood up as the talk of scavenging was brought up. It would be remiss of him not to check the body. That was probably only a part of the reason. He walked across the road, yawning and putting his hand to his mouth. He tried to avert his gaze from the body but a subconscious slip drew his eyes to it. The man's blank stare was pointed upwards toward the sky, his hands still at his throat. Jason searched in the shadow of the wall for the 9mm pistol. His hands found it leaning against one of the larger pieces of rubble in the wall's shadow. He sighed. He would have to check for ammunition. He patted down the man's pants and found a magazine for the pistol. He would have to move into the light to check how many bullets it held. A stimpak was also in another pocket. He walked away, releasing the breath he had sucked in as he checked the body while holding everything in his hands. As he took a seat by the fire. He gave the stimpak to Eddie. "I have a decent supply already." He looked at the 9mm pistol. He had used one like it before when he was learning to defend himself but he was definitely not an expert and he personally preferred laser weaponry anyway due to the lack of recoil. "Anyone want this?" he asked about the pistol. His hands moved over it, not with the practiced rigor of a soldier but with the finesse of someone who knew how to look for the nuances in design, finding catches and releases. The magazine in it was full, if you counted the one in the chamber. The extra magazine held seven rounds. He placed the weapon and magazine on one of the bricks they were sitting on, lay his bag under his head and covered himself with the lab coat. "I really need to sleep," he said. The Mentats had reached their peak and as focused as his mind was it was trying too hard to work on nothing. He was at the point where he was trying to count every step of the ants he could hear, the breathing of his companions. He wondered about the person Max had noticed. He sat bolt upright with the revelation. "What about the guy you saw?" he asked Max. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 632	Posted - 2015.06.18 03:24:00 - [30] - Quote "Sleep," Jason responded simply to Max's question. He took it the man knew what he was talking about and rolled over to fall asleep. Jason's sleep was fitful. An overactive mind could conjure many things, including disembodied voices and the ghost of a dead raider whose voice gargled on his own blood. It was... jarring to say the least. Jason awoke at one point to find himself standing across the road by the body, or rather falling as when he awoke his legs gave out from under him and he almost fell directly on top of the body. He stood up quickly and looked around. Had anyone noticed? He stumbled back to the camp and lay down again as though he had simply gone off to take care of biological functions. Hopefully the rest of the night would be uneventful. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.

Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 632	Posted - 2015.06.18 12:11:00 - [31] - Quote Jason blinked a few times at the light, when his vision didn't completely clear he realised his glasses were missing. He looked around and found them discarded next to him where they had fallen off of his face. He put them, blinked again and then groaned at the headache. "Don't you sleep?" He removed the tin from his jacket and swallowed one of the pills. He was starting to run dangerously low. Nipton, being the town of debauchery that it was would most likely have some. He pocketed the tin and sat up. "Hydra?" He took up one of the bottles, opened it and smelled it. He drew back from the smell of it. How the Legion came up with this disgusting thing he would never know. What really made Jason wonder was how something so disgusting could be addictive. He held his palm flat against the bottle neck turned the bottle over to let some of the drink touch his palm and then turned it back. He licked his palm and drew back again. Potent, but not the most potent he had seen. The problem with Hydra was that since it was one of those trail remedies it lacked the precise measurements of other medicine and so every one was made differently from person to person, even bottle to bottle. "I think it should be fine, though you could stretch it a bit so it doesn't put too much strain on your body." He put down the bottle and took a sip of water to wash the taste from his mouth. He could see into the dry lake now during the day. A line of ants trailed, pulling meat from the carcass of a dead Brahmin off in the lake. On the other side of the road, where the other wrecked building was, was another expanse of desert stretching on. A crashed plane lay buried under a couple centuries' worth of sand and dust. Jason stretched and pulled some Brahmin jerky from his bag and began chewing on it to get something in his stomach. He looked over to Max sitting across from him and held out his hand, offering a strip of jerky. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 632	Posted - 2015.06.18 22:05:00 - [32] - Quote Jason retracted his hand and continued eating his jerky in silence. He listened to Luke speak to Max talk as Eddie went off and returned with some food to supplement the protein of is steak. He listened to the others speak and was inclined to agree with Eddie. In fact it had even occurred to him, but had been against bringing it up. Before agreeing with Eddie, he was distracted by Max's observation. He looked up quickly and stood as he saw the pillars of smoke. "What the...?" Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 632	Posted - 2015.06.18 23:24:00 - [33] - Quote Jason chewed his jerky ponderously as he listened to the exchange. He was being quiet partially because he didn't want to get involved and partially because he felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to his spine. He watched the smoke at Nipton, rise, growing thicker and thicker as the minutes ticked by. He was against going headfirst into danger, or rather he wanted to avoid this situation altogether. He was a Follower of the Apocalypse. By definition he arrived after the hell had moved on. A cynical outlook to be sure but one that could potentially keep him alive. Still, if people were injured he had to help them. He sighed. "I'll help Eddie bury the bodies. If something happens the two of us might slow you down anyway." As Eddie retorted, Jason finished his jerky and took a drink of water. When he was finished he pulled on his jacket and followed Eddie to the spot the man had picked for the graves. "I'll... gather the bodies," Jason said as he began dragging the bodies together starting with the closer ones. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 632	Posted - 2015.06.19 01:45:00 - [34] - Quote Jason helped Eddie as best he could, placing the bodies into the graves as Eddie dug them. It was strange burying people who meant him so much harm, but they were souls who could not be saved; they deserved some kind of closure. As he dragged the final body, the farthest away from the graves, he pushed it in having grown exhausted from pulling them. He listened to the prayer Eddie gave and there was a moment of silence after Eddie asked him if he had anything to say where he was not entirely sure if he could conjure anything in his mind. There were no books that prepared him anything like this. "I don't know any structured prayers but..." He exhaled trying to find words in his mind. He remembered the one definite funeral he had attended when he had been younger, but the memory was a clouded by time and struggles. Every other second he opened his mouth to start but said nothing, unconvinced of whether he could actually say anything. Eventually he settled on a short phrase he had heard, perhaps from that same funeral that stuck out in his mind. "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." He continued, a little emboldened by the jump start. "I knew not your names nor your hopes but I pray that as we commit you to the earth what peace avoided you in this life you may find in whatever next life exists." Jason exhaled. It was awkward no doubt, but it had been the best he could come up with. He frowned, his thoughts a little muddled. "I don't even know what to think sometimes. Everyone deserves closure but this is... I'm a Follower... I can't help but wonder if they could have been saved at some point." He touched the patch on his lab coat and frowned when another thought entered his mind. "What do you do with those who can't be saved?" he muttered the question. The answer to the question was in the graves before him. He knew it, but he couldn't accept it. Everyone could be saved... Couldn't they? Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 632	Posted - 2015.06.19 12:42:00 - [35] - Quote Jason listened stone-faced to Eddie's reply. Jason wasn't sure if even Eddie believed what he was saying, but he appreciated the answer, though he was not sure he believed it. He had seen the worst of Freeside; those accepted help and those who would rather take from others what little they had, like the bodies now in the graves before him. These were the kind of people who caused the problems the Followers tried so desperately to solve. Were they really worth saving? Everyone was worth saving. It was something he knew, or thought he knew. Yet now he wondered, after defending himself from those kinds of people, if it was entirely true. He had not stopped frowning. This would bother him until he found his own answer, or grew so sick of wondering that he simply gave up. He waited a few more seconds in silence before continuing on behind Eddie trying to focus on something else, anything else. Nipton. The trip walk was a low point. No words were spent, at least from Jason as they took the walk to the town. He remembered when he had passed through. The town was a den of debauchery. There were decent enough people if you could find them but Jason had been solicited from the time he stepped into town. The innkeeper was nice enough and polite but the night air was filled with the sort of sounds you would expect from what he had heard of Gomorrah. The pillars of smoke had grown incredibly thick now and were it any later in the day, the sun might have been blocked by the black smoke in the air. More people were in danger no doubt. He hoped that in some way he could help them. "I hope Max and Lucas are okay," he stated out loud. He didn't want to have to bury people he was slowly coming to care about. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 633	Posted - 2015.06.21 22:56:00 - [36] - Quote The walk to Nipton was silent, the only real sounds coming from footsteps and the wind blowing dust across their path. The smoke seemed to grow ever more ominous as they approached. The crackle of fire became a constant with screams punctuating the air every so often. Occasionally a single shot would pierce the constant of the crackles and staccato screams, bringing everything to a rest only to rise again as the shot echoed away. Jason stopped in his tracks by the fourth shot. This was different than the gunfire he sometimes heard in Freeside when the Kings fought rabble or a couple of groups got into a minor shootout. This was execution. Jason flexed his left hand nervously, cold sweat forming on his brow. "I... think we should avoid this Eddie," he stated. "Luke and Max would know better than to take on anyone who could hold down an entire town." He held his palm open at his side, fingers spread apart. This was a bad idea. He knew it. Another shot punctuated the air. Jason's hand closed into a tight fist. He couldn't help these people. Whatever this was it was orchestrated chaos. "Do you see them?" Jason asked, hoping they had stuck to the outskirts and were simply observing. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 633	Posted - 2015.06.22 02:38:00 - [37] - Quote Jason nodded, though Eddie was too struck by the chaos to even notice. Jason fought back a tear. The chaos he heard, the wails of the damned were the kinds of things the Followers stood against, but there was nothing he could do about it. He almost wanted to simply turn around and just head back to the Mojave Outpost maybe even back to Sloan and past Quarry Junction. The growls of Deathclaws somehow seemed less menacing now. At least those abominations you expected such violence from. Only humans could wield weapons as they were here. As Jason followed Eddie around the town, he was tempted to just activate his Stealth Boy and run, but he couldn't do that to Eddie. His hands shook more with every crouched step, with every scream, with every punctuating gunshot. They skirted far around the town, taking far longer than a trip through it would have, at one point crossing the railroad that ran north-south just east of the town. The heat was oppressive and the smoke thick. Whoever was doing whatever they were doing were focused on their... task, if it could be called that. It was unlikely they would be seen and the heat of the Mojave tended to warp sights in the distance. By the time they reached the other side Jason was sweating far more than he ever had, not from the heat but from sheer terror. They climbed the hills rather than move into sight of the town, finding foot- and handholds wherever they could. He was by no means an expert climber, or hiker, but Jason quickly was coming to learn that fear granted a person a great deal of skills and abilities they thought they didn't have. He took the more well travelled Eddie's hand as he was pulled onto the ridge and immediately dropped low onto the rocky ground, preferring not to give the occupiers of the town something to see. Jason looked back and caught the sight of a red flag. He couldn't see the symbol on it but he did not have to, he had heard the description enough times. The mere colour spoke volumes. The colour of blood. Caesar's Legion. Were they really so far beyond the river and the Dam? "Keep moving," Jason said to himself. "Keep moving. Keep moving." He crawled away from the ledge, muttering the words to himself. He had been focusing so hard that it was only now that he noticed the pounding in his ears from the horrible migraine that had come upon him. He ignored it but still embraced it just a little. It meant he had not been shot. They scrabbled down the hill back onto the road. "This is too much," he said releasing the breath he held for the hundredth time. He looked up at the sun, how long had they taken on their path? He didn't know nor did he care. They were alive but they couldn't stop yet. Not until they got as far away as possible. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." he said looking at the town and turning away to walk the road toward Novac. No one deserved that. Up ahead two familiar silhouettes on the road. Max and Lucas? Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 636	Posted - 2015.06.22 23:50:00 - [38] - Quote Jason was in a trance now. He walked along the road, eyes glassed, head pounding. He shook with every step. Since he left Sloan he had been unable to help anyone. He was sweating. The oppressive heat, the overbearing stress. It beat on his shoulders, threatening to push him to his knees, make him give up. He trudged on, following the road. He had to get home, back to Freeside. Julie would have an answer, one that he could believe. He hoped. "You could have helped them," the voice stated, piercing through the migraine. "How?" Jason muttered. "You could have helped them." "How!?" Jason screamed, breaking the silence of the valley. "I couldn't help them... You're lying..." Jason was on his knees now. How could he help them? Legion would have slaughtered him as they did so many others. They were the kind of people the Followers resented, bullies existing and acting purely to get their way. Jason rose, he had no answer. Ahead the others were arguing. Jason couldn't quite hear what they were saying. "Followers of the Apocalypse." Jason for a brief moment wasn't quite sure what the voice meant, but it dawned on him slowly. They followed NCR's apocalypse. The result of their bloated expansion. Legion was no better were they? Simply another group seeking expansion and domination. Just another apocalypse to follow. "They are all cancer..." Jason said rising to his feet. He stumbled on, past the others. "All cancer..." "Yes... All cancer." Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 636	Posted - 2015.06.23 10:48:00 - [39] - Quote Jason stopped, looked at Eddie or maybe through him. His eyes were glazed over and there was a sporadic twitch in his left hand. "They're cancer Eddie... Bloated, growing... Disgusting... Undeserving of our help. They should be made to bleed." Jason's face twisted in disgust. He blinked a few times. His eyes came back, focused on Eddie, but his hand continued to twitch slightly. He continued to speak, his voice calmer, the anger still there but the tranquility of revelation lined his speech. "People like that don't deserve a second chance." He looked down at the ground for a few seconds. Saying it out loud eased the burden a little but it did little for him, knowing there was still nothing he could have done. He remembered the tin of Mentats and reached for it in his jacket pocket. Removing it, he looked inside. Hopefully someone in Novac had some to sell. He swallowed one. It would be a short while before it took effect. "Can't stop," Jason said, continuing along the road toward Novac. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 637	Posted - 2015.06.24 00:17:00 - [40] - Quote Jason's pace was not leisurely, settling just below a brisk walk, but his steps were even, deliberate, almost trance-like as he walked along the road, guided by the others. Every now and then his thoughts would become coherent again only to be shattered a second later by the memory of Nipton. At one point he became coherent enough to know that they would pass that Ranger Station just after the sun set, with Novac barely maybe an hour and a half after that, provided that nothing stopped them. After the thought was finished the screams overwhelmed him again and he shut out everything once again. "Can't stop..." he muttered as he continued walking. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.

Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 637	Posted - 2015.06.24 23:48:00 - [41] - Quote Reality came back into focus as Jason heard his name. He blinked, breathed deep. He still lacked full control. Words wouldn't come. This was another brief moment of clarity, but it was becoming better as the Mentats kicked in but he could feel himself shutting down. He needed to stop. He nodded his response to whatever it was that Eddie had said, hoping that he wasn't agreeing to take a bullet to the head. "Snakes slither in the cracks," the voice said. Jason's eyes suddenly came into focus. It was a warning, a strange flag of caution that more often than not would be passed off as a hunch by most but was definitive fact accompanied by some strange insight where his disembodied mental passenger was concerned. Jason wasn't entirely sure what was meant by the cryptic warning but all he could determine was... "Something's wrong..." he said to Eddie. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 637	Posted - 2015.06.25 03:03:00 - [42] - Quote "Knock knock," the voice whispered in Jason's left ear as Eddie, exasperated, turned to the one approaching with the makeshift sword. Jason, still a little out of it turned to his left as a leather boot hit the ground and the flash of steel in the moonlight caught his eye from a nearby dried bush. He stepped back just in time to avoid getting the axe buried in him, though it still struck him across the chest, tearing his shirt and labcoat. Its wielder was a woman, quite taller and more muscular than Jason. She swung again, catching him in the shoulder. Jason's mind was immediately back to reality if it wasn't completely before, as the impact cut into his previously bandaged shoulder, eliciting a scream of terror and rage from him. "Get the axe!" Jason scrambled away as an overhead swing came down impacting the road and digging up a few flecks of it. "Kill the cancer!" [Nerd Rage! Unlocked] Jason felt an overwhelming rage come over him. This woman was one of those people. No better than Caesar's Legion she wanted to kill him, to wound and hurt the world. As she swung again Jason rolled. Her reached for his laser pistol, yanking it off the belt and opening fire. Beams found the woman's side and she screamed angrily as she swung again, the lasers barely finding any real place to do damage on her leather clad body. He ducked under the swing and shoulder charged her with his good shoulder, laser pistol still in hand. She fell backward onto the ground, dropping the axe and surprised by the sudden surge of strength from the shorter man wearing the Followers uniform. His left arm and chest hurting, he dropped the laser pistol, grabbed the fire axe from the ground, finding the strength in his left arm to hold it with both hands and swung down at the woman. Her eyes wide, she rolled, getting caught on the leg by the axe and screaming as she stumbled to her feet. "The snake slithers away wounded. Kill the snake! Kill the cancer!" the voice echoed from all directions, its statements overlapping each other but the intent clear. The rage in Jason's eyes mirrored that intent. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 638	Posted - 2015.06.25 23:14:00 - [43] - Quote Jason's attacker tried to duck left, Jason followed. She stopped, reversed direction, twisted the wounded ankle and fell over. She had barely tried to get up when Jason drove the axe into her leg eliciting a scream that caused distant coyotes to howl in response. Lifting the axe again Jason drove it into her chest. There was a disturbing crunch as the axe drove through her chest, silencing her permanently. He removed the axe and looked at it, shaking. He drove his left thumb along the curve of the blade covering it in blood, then put it in his mouth. The euphoria washed over him and he turned his head to look around. "The snake is dead. The inevitable result of her actions. Her blood strengthens you." Jason looked around for more attackers. None came. His chest and left arm hurt horribly but the taste in his mouth carried a strength with it. He wiped off another set with his thumb and put it in mouth as he held the axe at his side. It was only prudent that he kept it. He dropped to his knees and checked the few pockets on the woman's armour and found a bottle of Buffout. Explained a lot. He rose again and stumbled over to Eddie. He was burnt out. It was too much now. The muddled thoughts were gone. Even the voice was oddly silent. He was running purely on adrenaline at this point. "I really need a nap," he managed to slur to the surgeon. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 638	Posted - 2015.06.26 02:06:00 - [44] - Quote Jason staggered over to his laser pistol, reattached it to his belt then moved to his duffle bag. He slumped to the ground next to the bag, rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand and licking his teeth. Should he be worried? He thought he should be. Maybe he didn't have enough energy to be worried about it now. He looked down at his ruined shirt and the tears in his lab coat. He had extra shirts and could fix the lab coat. Tomorrow. Maybe. He yawned. How could he be so calm after that fight? He knew he should be worried. He was burnt out. He looked at the axe again. Save for the blood it was relatively clean, standing the test of time. On the other side of the axe blade appeared to be something akin to the pick of a pickaxe. He shrugged. Worry about that later too. Eddie had said something about food. Real food. "Real food...?" Jason repeated. "This is real food," the voice stated to him matter-of-factly. Jason found himself agreeing and sighed. He reached into his jacket for the tin to find the pocket torn away. He squinted in the darkness to find the tin just barely noticeably on the road. The clasp had flown open and it was empty of the few remaining pills. It was far too dark to find them on the road. Jason groaned. The pain from his wounds was encroaching now. "How far is Novac?" he asked softly. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 638	Posted - 2015.06.26 02:32:00 - [45] - Quote "The packless wolf approaches, barking and baring teeth," the voice observed. Jason looked over to the approaching Max, wielding his two revolvers menacingly. Jason groaned loudly. He was becoming jaded now, as though for the moment all emotion were removed just to protect his mind from caving in on itself. He leaned back. "I really can't take much more of this." "He means to kill you." "I can see that." Jason sat back up. "Listen Max. I've got a cut in my chest and my left arm is one sudden movement away from being in a sling. I can barely feel anything right now, I'm pretty sure my head is supposed to feel like it's in a vice but it doesn't and I have no Mentats to focus my mind with. Can this please wait until after we get to Novac and I patch myself up?" Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 638	Posted - 2015.06.26 03:18:00 - [46] - Quote Jason twitched more from the sound of the shot than the bullet actually striking near him. He looked over to Eddie, then back to Max. "He speaks your guardian's name. Threatens your life and threatens to say he did it. He speaks as though everything were so simple. Even your people know that the pieces of the world are not so cleanly coloured." Jason looked up at Max. "You're riding with me. I die. You die. Can you speak to him?" "You've never granted me such freedom. I'm not sure it will work." Jason sighed. He almost wished it was a split personality rather than schizophrenia, though the other could potentially be worse. Still the voice and him were the same. Sort of. Maybe? Julie had told him this but still he doubted it. Many times the thoughts he could truly identify as his were contradictory to the opinions of the voice. Perhaps it was the urgency and importance of the situation that resulted in this uncanny synthesis of thought. "You do not know me Max. You tell me to repent for something that I could never control? It's the reason I had the Mentats in the first place. You are no better than the Legion you claim to have left. You speak of repenting yet spurn the weak, you claim your strength yet use it for nothing more than some petty revenge. The fact is despite your self righteous bullshit you've never done a good thing in your life. I have helped people, sacrificed so others could eat, saved lives. The only thing you can do is take them. At the end of the day you're no better than Legion or NCR. All you can do is take. You've never given a thing in your ******* life. You tell me I'm an abomination? The next time you find a mirror look in it and tell the monster looking back at you 'Hi' for me." Jason struggled to get to his feet, clutching his chest. "And you are not worthy to speak Julie's name," Jason spat. He fell back into a sitting position, his body too worn out now to stand on its own. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 638	Posted - 2015.06.26 07:46:00 - [47] - Quote Jason stood again, propping himself on the axe. He exhaled. The pain was getting worse. Eddie said Novac was a couple miles. That would be something like forty minutes if he manged to keep pace. He looked at the Ranger and his pistols. "You are a coward Max. It's as simple as that. You can't cope. Could never cope. Caesar's Legion doesn't care about you. You'd be strung up. Made an example of. Shown what happens to those who try to leave the Legion. NCR? Well as bad as you think you are, multiply yourself by a squad and you can guess the result. Your God? After all I've done for people I would appreciate it if he could understand that he **** me into the Wasteland this way." He searched through the duffle bag and removed a dose of Med-X. After injecting himself he slung the bag over his good shoulder and began walking toward Novac, axe in hand. "I really need a nap." "He could shoot you in the back," the most direct statement the voice made all night. "I am well aware and quite frankly, I'm too tired to give a ****." Jason stumbled, then struggled to get back up. Maybe he should have tried bandaging himself first. He pushed on the axe to get back to his feet, continuing on in the dark. As he walked, or rather stumbled, he listened for the coward's shot. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.06.28 22:03:00 - [48] - Quote Jason ignored the ranger, eyes watering under the pain as he walked steadily to Novac, trying to move as quickly as possible but stumbling every time he tried to move too fast. The ranger had passed him, going on his way to Novac as well. He could hear Eddie behind him. Jason was out of breath when Novac came into view and he almost collapsed at the door to the front desk of the motel. "Oh dear. What happened to you?" she asked, coming around the desk. "Can..." Jason coughed. "Can I... get a room?" "You poor thing. The room you rented when you were here before is still available," she said running back behind the desk to grab the key and put it in his hand. Jason inhaled to get enough breath to speak. "Thank... you." He dragged himself to the second room on the bottom floor, pushed open the door and fell onto the bed, forgetting about Eddie, or Max or anything else. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.06.29 01:59:00 - [49] - Quote Jason dreamed of Julie that night. She simply sat there while he lay with his head in her lap and screams of the damned bombarded him from every direction. At one point the dream collapsed, to be replaced by the members of the Followers telling him how much of a monster he was. Eventually the voices gave way to the screams again and eventually a haunting yet paradoxically tranquil silence as he floated in some untold endless abyss. He awoke as the light filtered through the cracks in the heavy leather curtain covering the window. He rolled over to feel something cold on his back. The axe. He slowly sat up, groaning as every part of him ached. The bag with his supplies had fallen off the bed, or perhaps been knocked off with his violent sleep. He managed to get himself off the bed and into the bathroom where he looked himself over. Blood had dried on both his torn lab coat and the mangled shirt beneath. "The packless one will tell your guardian?" Jason jumped, startled by the voice. He wasn't sure if the voice was making a statement or asking a question. He looked at his hands, they were shaking. Withdrawal. He was out of Mentats but there was some Fixer. He contemplated for a moment then, with a shaky hand, popped two of the pills into his mouth and downed them with some water. "I... No." He removed his lab coat and shirt and began fixing himself up. The blood had dried during the night, perhaps even before he got to Novac since very little were on the sheets. He cleaned himself up. Sterilising the wounds, suturing them as best he could and bandaging them. He injected himself with a small enough dose of Med-X that he would at least be able to walk without feeling like he would fall to pieces. "You seem unsure." "Knowing a name doesn't mean you know the person. He's never set foot inside the fort. I'd have seen him." Jason tore up the shirt, discarding the dirty pieces and retaining the cleaner parts for rags and bandages. The lab coat, he began to stitch, back together. "Even if he did tell her anything, Julie knows me. She's not going to throw me out or hate me because some delusional ass with a superiority complex says so." "He claimed flies on the walls of our home." "They have a very textbook way of walking. Arcade pointed out one to me. They never stick around however. Modern medicine is an affront to them and they would never use it to heal others, merely pop in to 'buy supplies' so that they could observe then leave." Jason filled the bucket in the bathroom with water and Abraxo Cleaner then submerged the lab coat in the mixture. A bath later he pulled on a clean shirt from his supplies and wrung out his lab coat as tightly as he could, before throwing it over his shoulders. It was still cold from the bit of water in it but no doubt it would dry on his shoulders as the day went on. He stepped out into the morning light, squinting. His first stop was the Dino Bite Gift Shop where he managed to trade a few of his medical supplies for a laser rifle and some microfusion cells,, deciding to have some more substantial protection. The rifle itself was in decent condition but he would look at it later to see if anything needed to be done. His second stop was the diner where he would try to get some breakfast before the Fixer made him too nauseous. "He claims to have become packless before the bull's herd reached the dam yet knows of the locations of flies?" It was another half question, but one that made Jason spit the piece of Brahmin steak from his mouth as though he had just been slapped in the back of the head. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.06.29 23:36:00 - [50] - Quote Jason pondered what he was going to do after apologising to the owner of the diner for his behaviour. He sat, chewing slowly, trying to reason out Max's statements. "He overstated," the voice observed. [Intelligence 8] "Most likely," Jason responded under his breath. "The Fort is in no way strategic. To waste resources there would be stupid at best. There are more likely to be spies at McCarran and on the Strip itself than the Fort." Jason finished his meal, paid and returned to his room to take inventory of his equipment. He checked his materials and newly acquired defenses. The laser rifle was set to the appropriate settings and calibrated properly... at least theoretically. Only actually using it would tell. He cleaned the axe of blood and looked it over. A clean blade that could probably use some sharpening. It was more of a tool than a weapon. He had plenty of medicine: Stimpaks, Med-X, some radiation supplies, bandages and disinfectant, a few tins of Fixer, one of which he was using now and a couple bottles of Buffout for when more extreme treatments were necessary and people needed a boost. He exhaled. No Mentats. No bloodpacks. He frowned at the lack of both. Having either would be preferable to having none. "Unfortunate." "Shut up. It's your fault," Jason said, replacing everything in his bag. "Can I really be blamed for your cravings, driver?" Jason ignored it. There was no way those cravings were his own. It had to be his passenger's. He left the room. He was unsure of what to do. He had to get back to the Fort. The road was most likely a lot clearer heading that way than it was down south. He wondered where Eddie and Lucas were. Perhaps he could interest them in coming to the Fort. Lucas would be a good bodyguard to have around and another doctor would never go amiss. He would probably have to explain last night however. He frowned at the thought. He was frowning too much. He slung the duffle bag over his bag, slung on the laser rifle, put the laser pistol on his belt and slid the axe into a strap on the bag at the side and stepped out to look for them. Jason looked around for them finding them pretty quickly outside. He approached the two of them. "Morning guys," he greeted them. "I don't know where you two are headed now since I think you were supposed to only help Max this far." Should he tell them that Max was probably a Legionnaire still? Not now. It was better to focus on the positive. "But I was wondering if you guys would be willing to come to the Fort in Freeside. We could always use another doctor and another guard would be a good thing to have. I can't promise the best pay, but room and board is pretty much a given." Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.

Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.06.30 02:46:00 - [51] - Quote "Well any help will do honestly. Even if you help for a little while it'll be good. Maybe we could learn from each other as well." Jason tilted his neck a little, stretching slowly, the stiffness from his wounds and the night before still weighing on him. As his thoughts drifted there for just a brief moment piercing screams entered his head. He tried to blink as he normally would, and rubbed his ear a little, as though physically pushing them from his head. "What about you Lucas?" he asked refocusing his thoughts. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.06.30 23:47:00 - [52] - Quote "You'll have to talk to Julie about the specifics, but I'm sure you could work something out." Jason looked around for a second. "I don't think anyone needs anything fixed so everything should be fine for me. Just let me return the key to my room." He turned away, walking quickly to the front desk. Before he got to the door the voice spoke to him. "They were talking about you." Jason tried to ignore it but as he got to the door he looked back. Were they really talking about him. No. He was getting paranoid. The voice was trying to get to him. Or maybe it was telling the truth. He shook it off and stepped inside. "Oh dear. How are you feeling," the old lady, Jeannie May said before he even finished getting through the door. "I'm better. Thank you so much for the room." "That's fine. You fixed up the power for the gift shop last time you were here. You can keep the room." "Thank you, but it's still better if you keep the key." "Of course." She took the key and hung it up on the wall. "Thanks Jeannie." "Bye dear." "Blood and a half on this one's hands. Jason almost responded immediately in protest, but caught himself before he said something aloud. He stepped outside. "Such a nice woman, why would you say that?" he whispered quietly. "Because it's true." Jason avoided frowning as he approached the Lucas and Eddie again. "I suppose I'm ready if you guys are." Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.07.05 23:36:00 - [53] - Quote Content that the others were ready. Jason adjusted the glasses on his face and walked out of the motel to turn and walk past Dinky to head north. No-Bark, as he was called, stood under the old gas station speaking animatedly with an old garden gnome. The road by the overpass next to the large dinosaur statue ran north south as Highway 95 all the way to New Vegas while the road east continued on to Nelson. Jason looked up at the dinosaur as they passed it, squinting in the sunlight. He could just barely make out the sniper rifle poking out of the dinosaur's mouth. He had never interacted with either of the two snipers who apparently inhabited the town and quite frankly he had no desire to. The road north was clear and in the growing heat it seemed to stretch on for an eternity, thought it always seemed to do that. As they walked along the road, they could see HELIOS ONE to the east, easily one of the most noticeable structures in the Mojave for miles, not counting New Vegas. As they walked, the voice would occasionally chime in, often providing some strange though insightful thoughts that Jason had to try very hard not to attempt to answer for fear of the other two noticing. Though it was more difficult when the voice would make a commentary about his companions, most notably about how strangely calm Lucas could be and the dangers of Eddie potentially knowing what he was. They steered clear of the old wind farm to the east as they walked when they noticed that several cazadores inhabited the area around it. It would be close to dusk when they reached the 188 Trading Post. Jason sat at one of the picnic benches and rubbed his head. His migraines were not as bad as they could be but it was painful and he lacked the Mentats to fix it. He sighed and took another dose of Fixer and rubbed his eyes as he looked into the distance at New Vegas. Home was pretty close. He looked at Eddie. "If you don't mind me asking. What do you intend to do when you get to Vegas? I hope you don't plan on trying to get in to Vegas. You need at least 2000 caps to get in, or a passport and only NCR issues passports." Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.07.06 00:31:00 - [54] - Quote "The Little Church of the West? What's that? I've never heard of it." Jason took a drink of water from the water bottle he carried with them. He had never heard of such a location and he was curious about old world relics though more the technological kind. He remembered Cerulean Robotics in Freeside. He would be anxious to get back in there, provided Arcade no longer needed him for the Radscorpion Venom research. Still he wondered what would drive a man from the east to come so far. "How far did you come from?" Jason asked intrigued. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 639	Posted - 2015.07.08 21:42:00 - [55] - Quote "Massachusetts..." Jason repeated. He had heard the name before, or maybe read it. He wasn't sure. He read so many books he could not be expected to remember everything. Maybe one of the books in the Followers Library. He would have to check the books at the Fort to see if there as anything there. More studying to do. "A place of silicon, steel and history," the voice chimed in casually. Jason frowned. It was becoming an annoyance now. He had never heard of this little chapel. He wondered if it was still standing. If it was in Vegas, there was a chance it would still be standing, but then he'd never been on the strip so it was possible there were abandoned buildings. "I've never actually seen the monorail myself. Or rather I haven't seen the train itself. You can see the track when you pass McCarran." Jason looked at the people at the trading post. A girl in a brown hood sat on the edge of the overpass, feet hanging dangling over the edge. Every now and then she kicked her feet and whistled. Jason looked from his seat and could just see the kid called the Forecaster down below. Jason had not interacted with him when he passed through on his way to Sloan, having only heard about him from Michelle, co-owner of the trading post just before he departed. "Could you guys give me a sec?" he asked, getting up and walking down the overpass. "Hi," he said approaching the kid. "Hi, mister. Hope you're doing fine today." "Debatable," Jason answered. He crouched, getting on one knee to look at the sitting child. "What do you do down here." "Get away." Jason twitched a little at the whisper in his ear. "I sell thoughts." Jason raised an eyebrow. "Thoughts?" "Well you see when I take off my medicine -" he pointed to the apparatus on his head, "- I get thoughts about things, or people or places. Want me to think about you?" "Will it cost anything?" "A hundred caps." Jason sighed. He was trying to avoid using caps, especially the little he got from Sloan, though he did have some extra from his trade back in Novac, maybe he could make up the difference with Sloan's payments. He sighed and dug through his bag. "Get away! Get away! Jason put his hand to his head as the voice screamed at him. "You okay mister?" "Just a headache." Jason produced the caps and put them on the ground in front of the boy in a bag. "You get headaches too? My medicine stops that," he said, before he began to take off the apparatus. "Don't do it!" The moment the child took off the apparatus, Jason's head felt like it caved in on itself. The voice's protests were drowned out by a torrent of jumbled voices as though he were in the middle of a crowd where each person shouted about something different yet at the centre of it all was the Forecaster's voice, clear as a summer sky in the Mojave. He clutched his head as a wave of pain unlike anything he had ever felt came over him. "We're similar... but different... One body, two minds... A passenger with you... whispering in your ear. A curse of blood. Not his. Yours. You try to hide from it, a solution in a tin. You can't hide in the tin right now... He can speak to you. You're afraid he'll say too much. You're good. You help people. You're afraid that'll change. Trials come. After the trials, pain. Something's changed. Forecast: Gradually worsening conditions." Silence. The voices stopped. Jason looked over at him and saw the apparatus back on his head. The world was tilted on a side. The kid's face was slightly twisted as though bent around some random point in Jason's vision that changed every time he blinked. "You okay mister? Hope I didn't say anything weird." Jason stood, knocked the caps towards the Forecaster and walked away. He couldn't find it in himself to speak while the voice whispered endless streams of meaningless words. The world tilted farther as he walked, reaching illogical angles. Jason found himself back at the picnic bench with Eddie and Lucas. He looked at the two of them one after the other then turned to the side of the bench and threw up. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 640	Posted - 2015.07.09 03:50:00 - [56] - Quote Jason sat up and wiped his mouth as Lucas said something and went down to see the child. Jason frowned. What happened? It wasn't just what he said, it was... something else. Something powerful enough to act on his own mind and make the world twist into something unnatural, or was it his sickness, his unhealthy mind translating a situation into something it could not quite handle. He found himself wondering if his knowledge or maybe even acceptance of his schizophrenia somehow made it different than if he had never been made fully aware of it for what it was. Was it schizophrenia though? Or was it something else? Could schizophrenia suddenly make the world warp and twist and bring on a sudden influx of thoughts? Thoughts. "Thoughts." "Thoughts." He thought it. The voice said it. He said it himself out loud. Was the crowd of voices his schizophrenia or something else? It could not be something else, that would be illogical. Would it? "I'm here. To you I'm real, to others I am elusive. Am I illogical?" The statement was true, the question made no sense. Jason almost answered out loud with Eddie near him. He frowned. Too much of that happening. The things the kid said. He knew about the voice but his wording... As Jason pondered, Lucas returned and Eddie went to see the kid as well, making a snarky comment regarding throwing up. Jason couldn't help but crack a smile; a small movement at the corner of his mouth. If only it was as simple as what the kid said being the cause of it. He could have blamed the Fixer but even that seemed unlikely given that he hadn't thrown up before while they were walking and he had just taken the second dose for the day. "Too many questions. No answers?" Was it another half question? Was the voice playing with him again? "I warned you." The voice knew something. Maybe? Or was this just another one of his unusual insights? A hunch that once again turned out to be correct. Too many thoughts. Too many questions. Jason dug into his bag and pulled out the book he had been reading. He had not read any since Mojave Outpost. He checked the marked page. 195. He would finish before he went to bed. Unless they weren't sleeping here. He pulled out the fission battery and lamp, connected them and began to read in the light. Something else to focus his mind on. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.
Jakar Umbra Altyr Initiative 641	Posted - 2015.07.13 23:29:00 - [57] - Quote Jason looked up at the sound of his name, then looked back to the book. So close to finishing. He should finish. He looked over to the beacon in the night that was New Vegas. He could not tell them what really got to him. The fact that somehow, when he removed that thing on his head Jason's mind seemed to explode. Still how did he know? And more importantly, the things about the future... Trials? "I'm..." Jason swallowed. "I'm not sure if I'm more afraid that he knows things he shouldn't know about the past... or the fact that him knowing somehow lends credibility to whatever he says about the future." Jason swallowed again. The kid's final words echoed in his head. Gradually worsening conditions. Author of Umbra's Short Stories Sisters of EVE Initiate.

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