Tales from the Wasteland, Vol. 1-2

Celeste yawned as she shut her front door creakily behind her, turning the flimsy lock. It wasn't very protective of a door, but it wasn't like there was much to protect inside. Busted up wood furniture, dirty dishes... Then again, it wasn't like the Vault had pure luxury. Luxury... A life that was well before her ability to remember much. Celeste smiled, shaking her head. Not only had the Vault life been turned into a nightmare, but she had been stranded in the Wastes, left for dead. By some unforeseen blessing, she had been found and recovered to Megaton.

Many wouldn't see it as much, but in the Capital Wasteland, it was a sanctuary. Celeste had only heard of its construction, but it hadn't evolved much since. Walls of steel, apparently scavenged from anything possible. The sky was visible above the limits. The ground of the city was an immediate hill from the front gates, the many surrounding buildings built much like Celeste's own abode atop metallic scaffoldings linked by stairways. It wasn't much, but it had everything needed... A humble store, clinic, bar, and someone that cared enough for the citizens to call himself the town sheriff and, when needed, mayor: Lucas Simms. Celeste hadn't had much interaction outside of their initial meet when she came to in the clinic, but he seemed nice enough. He introduced himself and told her she was welcome so long as she didn't stir up any trouble. Celeste was far from doing such a thing, especially for a town that took her in with no questions asked.

The rest of the town's people were relatively nice, and Celeste would know. She had brought her studies from the Vault in medicine with her to the town and been Doc Church's right hand in the clinic. Everyone treated her with kindness, as a whole. Sure, there were the couple of ornery guests, but it came with the job and they at least gave her thanks. Most of the patients she dealt with had radiation poisoning. In the Wasteland decimated by a nuclear holocaust, it was no surprise. Funny enough, most of the patients came from town, particularly from the Church of Atom. It was a small group, but they all shared one major aspect as far as Celeste could tell: the worship of the nuclear bomb resting in a small pool in the center of town.

The very monument made Celeste shudder. She looked to her right as she stepped down the ramp to the dirt road and saw the bomb itself. The church leader was ankle-deep in the puddle, arms raised as he continued to spout on about "the power of atom and all its glory". Sometimes she could hear him late in the night, but it was never enough to keep her awake, thankfully. Standing in, and even at times drinking, that water was what brought so many radiated patients to Doc Church's clinic. The massive nuke was not just eerie to Celeste, it was downright terrifying. Lucas Simms had always promised that there was no need to worry. There was never any major concerning activities in town, so it would really be better to assume it maybe inactive and of no burden.

"Celeste, good to see you this morning. Thank you for coming in so early." Doc Church looked up from his notes as Celeste walked into the clinic. "You alright? You look a little... tired." Doc Church rubbed his snow-white beard, not really giving Celeste a chance to respond, "The nightmares of that night, hm?"

Celeste smiled sweetly and dropped her shoulders, "Guilty as charged. Really, though, I'm fine." She regained her composure, "What did you need?"

Doc Church looked over his shoulder to the shelf of medication behind his desk, "Notice how bare this looks? I've been well-stocked for quite some time, but shipments have stopped recently due to some issues with shipment. Normally we get our supplies from Rivet City through traders, but some violent activity has kept the traders away from Rivet City for a while until the problem gets taken care of by the proper authorities... Unfortunately that's all the info I got, but long story short... we're hurting." He continued to stroke his beard. "I... sincerely hate to ask this of you, but you're one of the few I trust, much less think are up to the job. Simms is so busy keeping up with the town and the citizens are too meek, drunk, or drugged to do much..."

Celeste took the compliment fully. His trust was something hard-earned, as she had seen his interactions with many patients. Unless you really got to know Doc Church, he was nothing short of a short-tempered old man. Celeste got the same treatment when she started working with him, but something about him opened up to her in that time.

Doc Church continued, "There's an old super market not far from here. I can't guarantee there's anything there, but it's worth a shot. I talked to Stockholm, and he said he hasn't seen any activity near there for the past couple of days aside from traders and a couple of Eyebots circling nearby."

Celeste wasn't too familiar with Stockholm aside from being the sniper at the front gates of the cit that taught her a thing or two about shooting. He was normally perched high above on a catwalk. "You mean the Super a Duper Mart?" Doc Church nodded.

Celeste was familiar with the place, at least vaguely so. She and her parents went at least weekly for their shopping needs. The thought of memories of her family brought a lump in her throat, but she held it back. Another time, perhaps.

"I only keep solace in sending you with the knowledge that it isn't far. If you see any signs of trouble, you come straight back, okay?" Doc Church's eyes looked right at her. Celeste smirked, noting that he never really formally asked her to go, but assumed she would. Of course she would. He smiled slightly, "There's a hunting rifle and some rounds on the table in the next room, as well as a Stimpak just in case. Hopefully you won't need any of them, but..."

"It's is the Wasteland, after all." Celeste finished the train of thought for him. Celeste was already walking into the next room, spotting all the supplies Doc Church mentioned neatly displayed on the dirty table. "Don't worry, I studied with Stockholm on the mole rats outside of town." She walked back to the door after slinging the gun over her shoulder and pocketing the rounds and Stimpak into her satchel. "Any sign of danger, and I come back. I'll run in, ransack what I can from the pharmaceutical areas, and be out."

Celeste opened the door. "Please be careful!" Doc Church called after her. She gave a thumbs up over her shoulder before the door shut behind her