6:15 AM: Woke to a slight drizzle outside and Preston in my room. He had nodded off in my old lounge chair and greeted me groggily as he rose to his feet. We spoke briefly and I asked about that other settlement which needed help and my concern that I might not be getting over to them anytime soon. He told me that the trader who told him about Tenpines Bluff said they had raiders antagonizing them, not an all-out assault or siege like in Concord…more of an extortion racket. They did not sound like they were in immediate danger. I need to head that way when I'm ready but I feel better knowing it's not an emergency, yet.
Codsworth and I spoke and he gave me a purified water he made! I did not know he could pull moisture from the air and provide it as rations. It takes a day for him to generate one, but that could be useful in a pinch. He also expressed how seeing the Commonwealth destroyed was difficult, that's something the two of us feel the same about. Jun was in my living room as I passed through but in no mood to talk.
It's amazing, the things you get used to given time: horrible food, uncomfortable living conditions, loss of privacy and your own space...unwashed people. I suppose it's part of our strengths as a species that we can adapt. Each morning I wake up and make myself think about what I used to have: Nora and Shawn's faces, my friends and family, our home. I can't let myself forget...
I think I’m prepared to venture back to Concord, hopefully we'll find something we can bring back and plant in the garden. Kept my weapons load out to Nora, my laser musket, a switchblade, and two Molotov cocktails. Feeling good and ready so I switched on Diamond City for some music. Lets get this done.
8:05 AM: Paid a visit to the Rocket's armor workstation on my way by and added some pockets to my chest piece by using some recycled leather pieces, some mole-rat hide I had been tanning, adhesive from duct tape, and some cash. The additions should help me store a little bit more salvage and Codsworth wanted a break from the rain.
Decided to try and make Jet with the ingredients Mama Murphy told me and an empty inhaler that was at the chem station. It looks like it worked...as much as any chemical smelling substance in an inhaler looks like it will "work". I'll let her decided if she wants to test it out. Went ahead and made something I was much more familiar with as well: some adhesive, cloth, empty bottles and a little oil produced two more Molotov cocktails. They helped the last time I was in Concord, I'm glad to have more.
9:37 AM: At the outskirts of Concord, lets see what we can find. "The Wanderer" is playing...oddly appropriate, I suppose I am a wonderer now.
9:41 AM: Score! Right behind the first house, the one I found the bat and Nuka Quantium at, were five gourd and two of what I have been told are “mutfruit" plants! More then enough for Sanctuary and some extra ones if I get hungry. Good start to our scavenging trip!
11:20 AM: There was another house across the street and down a little that was not boarded up, past a rusted playground. It was hard to walk through there…kept imagining the live nora and I will never have. Anyhow I found a toolkit with some tools and a first aid kit with Rad Away, purified water, and two doses of antibiotics! Those could be very useful if I fall ill. Also found some sugar bombs, Instamash, and a can of Cram as well as another Stash of 18 caps. I wonderful ever find a use for these things? Took a few dresses that I found in a suitcase and dresser of the bedroom then noticed that under the empty bed-frame was a safe. Simple enough lock to crack, I think these things are getting easier, and after a minute I was inside. Found some .38 rounds, 10 mm rounds, another other gold plated flip lighter, pistol, shotgun shells and 240 bucks. Not too bad, especially since I realized that I broke down my lighter back at the Rocket and had no way to light these damn cocktails.
12:44 PM: Had a light lunch of Cram and water on the roof of a bombed out three story structure while Codsworth patrolled below. It had been picked over but at least the view was nice from up there, and no one could sneak up on us. Rain cleared but it's still pretty overcast today. Been using my Pip-Boy's light to help me see better.
After my quick lunch I went from roof to roof to see if anything was up there. Made what I thought was a simple jump to a lower roof... Scared the shit out of myself, not hurt but realized I should not take chances like that out here alone. And we don't have any Doctors in Sanctuary, assuming I would even be able to make it back there.
1:07 PM: Found one of those Pulowski Preservation Shelters near a bus stop. It’s fusion generator was still functioning and as I opened it up the familiar "Protection on a budget!” jingle kicked on. It was empty and I stepped inside, then the door slid closed and I heard the female voice state, "Getting hungry? Try a Yawk Brat once this whole thing blows over!" For a few moments I was filled with sheer panic that I was trapped. Just as another advert started playing the door opened and I hopped out. Creepy fucking coffins...I doubt they saved anyone.
In the covered bus stop was an add for Slocum's Joe...I remember coffee from there. God I would kill for a cup right now. Apparently the bus stop advert recordings are still functioning as well, tripped by their motion sensors. Just behind the bus stop I found some doors leading down to the Concord civic access. I've nowhere specific to go at this point, and enough crops for Sanctuary, so I'm going to poke my head in and see what's down there...
1:22 PM: With the green glow of my Pip-Boy lighting the way and my switchblade drawn we made our way slowly down the stairs. Just inside at the base of the first set was a skeleton, dried and brittle. Past some gates I saw familiar movement: quick, dark, and flat on the ground. I snuck up on a lone radroach, that’s what Preston said everyone calls them, and struck. It never saw my switchblade coming as I drove it into it’s caprice with a sickening crunch. Unfortunately another larger one got the jump on me, getting in a few bites. I took it out while Cogsworth killed a third one. As I was harvested their meat I could not decided what disgusted me more: them or the fact I had missed having fresh cooked “meat” over the last few days. Nearby in the hallway I found some duct tape and a flip lighter in a plastic box. Took them as I killed the Pip-Boy’s radio and put away the switchblade in favor of Nora. Found two more skeletons, dressed, next to some more plastic containers, all empty.
2:36 PM: Codsworth pipped up making me jump saying, “Sir. Judging by my navigational sensors we are now directly beneath Concord.” I thanked him for his update and asked him to go silent till I spoke to him. As we pushed on we came to a fenced ledge up some steps. There was a first aid kit with purified water, RadAway, and a stim. There was also a toolbox with some more duct tape and two more flip lighters: one steel and one gold. On the ground next to it was one of those smiling alien toys, took it as well.
2:44 PM: You think I would have learned at this point to either stop poking my head into dark places, or expect the worst. Right after looting the toolbox I looked down through a large break in the fence of the alcove. We were about 5 feet up from the water draining under the streets, and about 50 feet up the tunnel from us I saw something big moving in the shadows. Hopping down I switch to my musket and quietly cranked it. The thing was moving oddly and obviously was not a person, plus I didn't want to take any chances so I decided to fire before it noticed Cogsworth and I. Aiming for what i assumed was its right right arm four hits from the musket did not take it down. Cogs worth had moved in and engaged so I took advantage of his distraction throwing two cocktails. They shattered on what appeared to be a huge bumpy shell spraying fire everywhere. Cogsworth was shouting something but I could not make it out over the clicking sounds the thing was making, his attacks, and the fire. A dozen rounds from Nora later and the thing finally fell with a screech.
As I approached it I saw the biggest God damn crab I have ever seen in my life. Holy shit, the thing must have weighed 300 pounds and was easily bigger than me. I keep thinking I've seen the worst this world has to offer and then it turns around and surprises me again. Having been a big fan of crab before this all happened I took some meat from it and pushed forward into the tunnel slowly. If there was another one I didn't know if we'd survive, but thankfully all there was was only a dead raider. I took everything he had on him and searched the area. Ironically there was a inhaler of jet next to his open hand. Maybe if he had taken a hit sooner he would've survived his own encounter with the crab. Just above his corpse was another, smaller, alcove with a stash of something called “Day Tripper", three more inhalers of jet (Mama Murphy will be pleased!), some Buffout, 14 caps, and a teddy bear. I took everything. A bit further down a hallway which branched off of the passageway I found what appeared to be where he was holding up. I whispered to Cottesworth to stay put in this room, closed the door, and took stock of our situation.
There was a steamer trunk with some 10 mm rounds, some more Jet (this guy either had a problem or was pushing the stuff), a leather right leg and a TV dinner tray. Along with all of that was calibrated 10 mm pistol with a pretty nice grip on it. Maybe I can salvage some of its parts for Nora? Also found issue 10 of a magazine called Taboo Tattoos? Looks like this issue is entitled "Eagle's Nest", with a passable drawling of an bald eagle on its cover that I can only assume is a tattoo someone would want to put on their body.
In the corner was a very dirty mattress, and I found a machete next to which I tucked into my belt after tossing the switchblade in my pack. On a metal shelf nearby were some Mentats, Cram, a can of dog food, deviled eggs, and six empty cans scattered about. He was defiantly held up here for a while. Took some Rad-X from a cooler and tools from the toolbox before helping myself to the .308 and .38 ammo in a tool case on the shelf along with a short pipe rifle. There was a busted computer on top of the shelf as well, but nothing salvageable in its shell.
4:40 PM: I'd like to think I'm a man who knows when he's pushing his luck...so I'm getting back to the surface and heading home. Nice haul today, and even though I'm sure she will be as bitchy as ever, I know Marcy will be pleased with the crops I've brought home.
6:16 PM: Made it home to Sanctuary with no incidents. I handed off all my gourds except one to Marcy. She actually barked a thanks under her breath…at least I think that’s what she said. Reported to Sturgis on our food situation and he was extremely pleased with my progress. Having fresh food would make a big difference for our fledgling community. Next, he told me, we need some defenses. He's right. We will become a target as we grow and find success in our efforts so we need to be ready. I asked what kind of defenses he would recommend and he said: walls, sandbags, even a turret if we could make one. Anything will help and I have some thoughts, but I would need some help from him on a turret. Sounds like a good job to keep me busy tomorrow! For now I'm gonna sort through all this junk and see what I can break down. These weapons alone should provide me with enough parts to modify my weapons.
8:55 PM: I outfitted Nora with a hardened receiver and then headed home to drop the teddy bear and toy alien in Shaun's room. Just tossed them onto his floor…still not ready to go in there. I’m thankful the others noticed and respect what his room means without me having to say anything. They are good people...
9:49 PM: Well, I'm obviously not used to traveling with robots. Apparently Codsworth was incapable of taking the initiative and following me when I left the civic access area. I suppose that telling him to stay and not remembering to tell him to follow me again is a big part of it. Not his fault I suppose, just following my orders and his programming. It wasn't until I was getting ready for bed when I realize he is still down in the sewer. Shit! I'll have to go back for him in the morning, damn robots. Oh well, just finished off my water, the grilled rad roach and a gourd for dinner, time to hit the sack. I’ll head out to retrieve him first thing tomorrow.
Think I'll read this Taboo Tattoos mag while I lie here...
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