Chapter Text
10:00 PM
IN NOVAC
“Ghoulia Yelps, you made it through the Mojave. I knew you had it in you.”
Hearing Victor praise her making it to Novac brings a smile on her face. Said smile gives way to a tired frown given the hectic day she had and waves ED-E off. The memory of Nipton that ended with her receiving the ripper wound courtesy of the now slain Vulpes remains fresh in her mind. Ghoulia walks besides Victor and slumps on the ground and clutches her head.
“Hey pardner, you need to unwind there for a moment?” The cowboy securitron asks as he looks at the shaken zombie with unusual concern in his voice.
[“Why is the wasteland like this?! Raiders, Legions and all manner of hazards waiting to assault me like i got a target on my back!”] Ghoulia rants with vitriol in her groaning. [“So far, the only good people i encountered were those peaceful townsfolk in Goodsprings, Primm and the NCR. I am a teenager, how do teenagers survive here?!”]
Ghoulia looks at Victor as he turns around to her while the picture of his friendly face manages to slowly calm the irritated zombie down. “If a teenager is new to this wild west, then they’d do everything in your power to scrape by. And seeing that you made it all the way here, i am confident you can survive the dangers this wasteland has to offer and achieve your goals.”
Victor’s encouragement is what Ghoulia needs as the stressed zombie unwinds down from all the misfortune she has encountered on the way and stands up. Now cheered up, Ghoulia grows curious regarding the town she has arrived in and turns her gaze towards the securitron with anticipation with questions about the town she is in.
[“Can you tell me about Novac?”]
“Nothing much, i just arrived here recently.” Victor tells Ghoulia as it spots ED-E returning to her. “What’s that eyebot following you?”
Ghoulia looks to ED-E before looking back to Victor. [“I fixed it back in Primm. Eddie saved me from certain death many times so i owe him my unlife.”]
“Glad the eyebot helped you out.” Victor nodded as they finish their discussion.
With their chat finished, the two decide the first stop would be the lobby of the motel to their right and leave the securitron be. A brief walk later and the duo arrive at the door, Ghoulia is about to open the door when said door opens in front of her and hits her in the face. A woman emerges from the entrance and looks at Ghoulia with remorse.
“My apologies dear, i just finished my shift for today. Didn’t meant to bash your face in.” The woman apologizes after opening the door and accidentally bashing her face in. Ghoulia responds with a thumbs up, letting the woman in front of her know that she isn’t bothered by the door hitting her in the face.
[“I’m all good. What is this place even?”]
“This is the Dino De-lite Motel, a place to hire a motel room until the next season. I am it’s proprietor of the motel: Jeannie May Crawford. But you may call me Jeannie.” Jeannie introduces herself as a nagging suspicion falls over Ghoulia. Though she dismisses the suspicion for now.
[“Nice to meet you Jeannie. I am Ghoulia Yelps.”] Ghoulia shakes her hand with the proprietor as she [“Whats this about a next season anyways?”]
“People hire a motel room until next season. When it’s next season, heck i don’t know. Could be weeks, months or even years.” Jeannie May answers as she turns her attention to a more important question. “Are you going to hire a room?”
[“I will if you tell me how much a room costs.”] Ghoulia responds as her interest in hiring a room grows by the second. Something that Jeannie May notices and capitalises on as she goes back into the lobby and returns with the key to the last remaining motel room with the intent to hire it to the zombie in front of her.
“One hundred caps and the room is yours.” Jeannie May advertises as she dangles the key in front of the zombie, aware that Ghoulia wishes to buy the keys to a room. Much to her delight, Ghoulia responds by bringing out her bag of caps. One counting of caps later, and Ghoulia is the proud new owner of a motel room. Upon given the key and directions to her new room, Ghoulia and ED-E leave Jeannie May be as they immediately head towards their new room. Well, ED-E swiftly flies to the top left as Ghoulia internally curses her rigor mortis as she slowly makes her way to the top.
(“You could have floated with me to our new room instead of zipping there.”) Ghoulia moans to ED-E in annoyance as she finally finishes climbing the stairs. ED-E awkwardly laughs in response upon seeing the annoyed zombie make her way up the stairs, though she gets over it quickly when she puts the keys into the doors and opens the door to her new motel room.
(“This motel room serves me well, let’s hope the Legion doesn’t break in, kill me and scrap you for caps.”) Ghoulia tiredy muses to ED-E and while looking at the eyebot. Upon spotting a bed, Ghoulia gives ED-E a single glance before flopping on the bed.
(“Good night Eddie.”) Is all Ghoulia can tiredly groan before falling asleep. ED-E looks at the slumbering zombie as she smiles in the relative safety of Novac.
“Good night pal.”
IN GHOULIA'S DREAM
“Urk.. why am i. Oh, i am dreaming again. Explains me speaking like a normie, or a non zombie ghoul”
Ghoulia stands up from her bed and sees light and smoke emanating from under the door. Worry springs in her mind as she softly puts her ear on the door. She hears the footsteps outside and decides to put her ear at the door to listen for signs of hostile wastelanders.
“For the Legion!”
The revelation that it’s the Legion who is currently sacking Novac causes her to silently panic. It’s bad enough that the Legion sacked Nipton but being determined enough to chase her all the way to Novac is something she can’t internally handle. Ghoulia curls up as she breaks down.
“Why, why does this happen to me?” Ghoulia nervously whispers as she is on the verge of tears. As she is crying, she hears the sounds of the footsteps lessen, and eventually disappear. Signalling her to stand up. Upon standing however, Ghoulia sees Benny exiting the toilet. The man in the checkered suit then turns his head around and spots Ghoulia staring at her. With a chuckle, Benny moves to greet the shocked zombie.
“Hey pal, do you remember me? It’s the guy who shot you in the head.”
“You. What are you doing here!?” Ghoulia growls in anger upon seeing Benny, who can only chuckle upon seeing the indignant zombie.
“Me? I am here to remind you why you are travelling through the Mojave Wasteland.” Benny answers Ghoulia’s angry question while holding Maria.
“That being to repair my Interdimensional Transporter?” Ghoulia tries to guess Benny’s answer as Benny shakes his head.
“To take revenge on me.” Benny chuckles while pointing Maria to his head. He then pulls the trigger and shoots himself in the head as Ghoulia watches it all unfold. To Ghoulia’s shock and dismay, this doesn’t kill him as he continues to talk to the suprised zombie. “This satisfies you doesn’t it?”
“You shot me in the head! Of course this satisfies me!” Ghoulia shouts with growing anger at the now rotting Benny. The confirmation that Ghoulia desires his gruesome death oddly pleases the half rotting Benny.
“Then you are going to like this.” The rotting Benny smiled as Ghoulia senses the disorted venom in Benny’s voice. “Hey fellas, i got Vulpes’s killer right here!” Benny shouts as multiple legionaires enter the motel room. Ghoulia can only watch in horror as multiple thrown spears pierce her abdomen. One spear even manages to sever her left arm, leaving Ghoulia barely clinging to unlife as she watches Benny and the Legionaires circle around her.
“Do you fellas mind if i get a shot in?” Benny asks as the Legionaires nod in approval. Prompting the bone and flesh Benny to aim Maria to Ghoulia’s head with a smug grin on his face. The last thing Ghoulia sees is Benny shushing her before firing Maria into her face.
7:58 AM
IN THE NOVAC MOTEL ROOM
With her nightmare ending up with her death, Ghoulia wakes up in a nightmare induced fright. Swiftly checking if her limbs are attached, relief is her response when she finds out that her left arm is still attached to her. Though the memory of her nightmare remains in her mind as she suffers a panic attack.
“Ghoulia, you okay there pal?!”
ED-E rushes to the frightened girl to comfort the panicking zombie. Seeing ED-E rush to help her calms her down a bit. Ghoulia decides to tell ED-E about her nightmare.
(“A nightmare Eddie. That guy in the checkered suit shot himself, decayed in front of me and brought the legion into this room. They speared me and the guy shot me right after.”) Ghoulia groans to the eyebot everything she remembers.
“Yikes, i am glad it’s just a….. Ghoulia?”
ED-E watches Ghoulia collapse in her hand and floats to the zombie who is about to cry. She then hugs the eyebot. “Easy there buddy. It’s all going to be okay.”
(“I just want the nightmares to stop Eddie.”)
ED-E looks at the sad zombie and contemplates what to say. “Look, i’m sorry if i don’t know what to do about it. But if you ever need to talk about your troubles, say it and i’ll be here in a jiffy to cheer you up.”
Taking a look at ED-E, Ghoulia can’t help but give ED-E smile for his comfort as she calms down from her nightmare. (“Thanks pal, that helps alot.”)
With the nightmare behind her, ED-E floats back with curiosity as it watches the door. “Shall we explore this town?”
(“Gladly. But first, let me check my zombie translator to see if it needs to be charged or if i have to repair it.”) Ghoulia nodded as she checks her zombie translator. Opening the device, Ghoulia checks the wiring and electronics inside her zombie translator. After everything is okay, Ghoulia closes off her translator as she checks if the thing is charged. An annoyed look emerges on her face as ED-E sees the zombie in front of it facepalm.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” ED-E asks with a tinge of deadpan in it’s voice.
(“Energy is dead. I gotta find a way to recharge it.”) Ghoulia deadpans in turn as she looks towards the eyebot. (“Think you can donate some of that energy of yours?”)
“Nope” ED-E responds bluntly.
(“It was worth a shot. Unless i find a way to recharge my zombie translator, i am effectively mute.”) Ghoulia frowns as the duo exit the motel room. Upon exit, the duo are greeted by an older woman. ED-E floats on guard facing the unknown old woman when Ghoulia gestures to ED-E to let the old woman in front of her talk.
“Howdy there, i saw your eyebot. Where did you even procure it?”
Ghoulia nods to ED-E, letting it know to talk in her stead. “I was repaired in Primm by this brilliant girl. And i travelled with her ever since.”
“Curious, a talking eyebot. Haven’t seen them talk. Nevermind that, i haven’t introduced myself. I am Daisy Whitman, your neighbour on the opposite side of the motel.”
Ghoulia gestures to ED-E holding a bag of caps. Understanding what she wants, ED-E floats and speaks in her stead. “My companion needs to offload some obtained loot. Is there a place where she can do that?”
“Well, the general store is in that giant dinosaur in front of you, headed by Cliff Briscoe. He got weapons, ammo, food, caps. What you need, Briscoe likely has.” Daisy informed, though she leans forward to the zombie as she begins to warn her. “One word of caution though, dont let him rope you into buying those Dinky the T-Rex toys.”
Ghoulia nods in appreciation (and amusement) as she knows where to barter now. The duo bid Daisy Whitman goodbye as they head towards the general store. Ghoulia briefly nods towards Victor who waves back as she spots two people arguing.
“What’s your problem Manny?!”
“Boone, you haven’t been focused on your job. If you can’t keep Novac safe, you will lose not just your job but your home too.”
“I know Manny, but every day goes by when i am no closer to the bastard that sold my wife to the Legion.”
Manny clutches his head in frustration. “Look, you and i like to sleep soundly. And we can’t do that with an unfocused sniper.”
Ghoulia and ED-E awkwardly wince as the two snipers are arguing up a storm. Cliff Briscoe soon joins the duo watching the argument between Craig Boone and Manny Vargas unfold.
“Those are our snipers protecting this town, but ever since a bunch of Legion kidnapped his wife. Boone hasn’t been himself ever since. Poor guy.” Cliff sympathized as the trio walk up the stairs towards the general store. Once they are inside the store, Cliff Briscoe welcomes the duo.
“The situation with the snipers aside, welcome to my general store. I got some Dinky the T-rex toys i’d like to sell. They’re 1 cap each.” Cliff nodded while gently shoving a Dinky the T-Rex Souvenir Toy towards her.
I can see why Daisy Whitman warned me about his obsession with selling his T-Rex toys.
“I believe she’d rather browse your goods than buy some dinosaurs.” ED-E corrects him as Ghoulia confirms with a nod. Cliff sighs as he shows his wares to the zombie in front of her.
“Nobody wants them darn T-Rex toys.” Cliff dejectedly sighs as Ghoulia browses his wares. She spots some scrap and electronics and points towards them. Understanding she’d like to look at both scrap metal and scrap electronics, Cliff grabs some of the scrap each and puts them on the counter.
“I ask one cap for some scrap metal each. Same goes for some scrap electronic.” Cliff Briscoe nodded, which causes Ghoulia to raise her eyebrows in suprise to how cheap they are. The reveal that scrap metal and scrap electronics cost one cap each prompts Ghoulia to grab her pouch of caps. She quietly groans to the eyebot who proceeds to relay her wishes to Cliff Briscoe.
“She’d like to buy all of them. Metal and electronic alike.” ED-E translates Ghoulia’s desire to buy scrap from Cliff Briscoe. Shrugging, Cliff sells Ghoulia all the scrap metal and electronics he has. Though disappointment lingers in her mind when it’s not enough scrap for her liking. Ghoulia moans something to ED-E who continues to talk for her.
“Do you know a place where to buy scrap metal and electronics in greater quantities? The amount of scrap you are selling is uhmmm…. lacking.”
Cliff sighs before nodding to the duo. “Old Lady Gibson is your woman if scrap is all you want. She sells them in greater quantities. She’s not far north from this town, you can recognize it by the scrapyard.”
With a thumbs up from the zombie, the duo bid Cliff Briscoe goodbye as they deposit the recently bought scrap metal and electronics back in their motel safe. They then head outside and not soon after, leave the town to head north towards Gibson’s Scrapyard. Their brief journey north is fortunately uneventful enough they make it to the scrapyard with no problems. Upon arrival, they are greeted by a group of barking dogs. The woman whom Ghoulia swiftly identifies as Old Lady Gibson comes outside and calms down her pets.
“Sorry about that, my dogs do this sometimes. How can i help you?”
Ghoulia nods towards ED-E who begins to speak to Gibson. “Hello there, my friend here would like to buy some scrap metal and scrap electronics. How much for each?”
Just like with Cliff Briscoe, Ghoulia is delighted to learn that scrap metal and electronics are one cap each and grabs her pouch of caps. One shopping spree later, Ghoulia has bought enough scrap metal and eight scrap electronics to not only repair the damage ED-E has suffered, but build a charger for both a zombie translator and a ICoffin.
As they leave the scrapyard and make the trek back to Novac, ED-E suddenly freezes up. Ghoulia grows worried when ED-E refuses to respond. She is about to inspect the eyebot when….
“Subject E: Diagnosis complete. Begin recording.”
(“Eddie, what the hell? Are you okay there pal?”) Is all Ghoulia can moan in suprise to the log ED-E is playing. Ghoulia lets the log continue to play as she grows curious to what the log has in store for her and worried about her eyebot friend.
“My name is Whitley. I’m a researcher at Adams Air Force base. Until recently i was in charge of the Duraframe reinforcement project for the combat model eyebots.” ED-E continues to play it’s log while Ghoulia stares in shock.
“Eyebot Duraframe Subject E is both the prototype, and the last functional model in this test group. I was prepared to make several significant upgrades to the machines. However, as the project was cancelled and all Duraframe assets are being diverted to Hellfire Armor. I am sending this model to the Navarro Outpost.”
(“Subject E, Hellfire Armor, Navarro. What the hell this?”) Ghoulia groans as she hears foreign information out of the eyebot’s shell.
“If you are listening to this log from one of our Enclave Outposts in Chicago, give this unit whatever repairs it needs so it can continue to Navarro.”
Ghoulia stares at ED-E in shock after hearing it. ED-E unfreezes not soon after, much to Ghoulia’s uncertain worry. She begins to moan to the eyebot just to be sure it’s back to normal.
(“Eddie, you okay there pal!?”)
ED-E responds back, letting her know that it’s back to normal. Much to her relief. “I.. i don’t know. I was translating for you and next thing i knew, i froze and i randomly replayed a log i never knew i had in my memory drivers.”
“Speaking of which, said memory drivers has uncorrupted a bit. Parts of my past have opened up!” ED-E rejoices.
(“I can see that. How much?”) Ghoulia notes, glad ED-E is happy.
“A majority of my memory drivers has gotten uncorrupted. But parts of it is still out of reach, i hate it!” ED-E rants in brief frustration at the gaps in it’s memories, but it calms down before Ghoulia begins to comfort it.
“On a unrelated note, i now have sudden access to music. Would you like me to play some?” ED-E offers to Ghoulia who nods to the eyebot. Her approval prompts ED-E to play some music. The music that Ghoulia swiftly recognizes as Let’s Go Sunning. The irony isn’t lost on her as the music playing right now matches the region they find themselves in.
(“Aggressively fitting choice of music by the way.”) Ghoulia moans as she can’t help sport an amused look at ED-E. The townsfolk likewise listen with amused smiles as the duo soon make it back to their motel room for ED-E to ponder on it’s newfound knowledge and Ghoulia to think up a design for her soon to be charger for her translator and ICoffin.
She quickly gets the design down but soon gets stumped on how to power her charger and turns to ED-E. (“Hey um, i got the design down. But how should i power my charger?”)
ED-E floats to Ghoulia to pitch in it’s idea “You could charge it with Small Energy Cells.”
Ghoulia looks puzzled with ED-E as it proceeds to explain what Small Energy Cells “I keep forgetting you aren’t from this universe. SEC or Small Energy Cells are ammo for laser pistols. They look like bundelled batteries. You can include that in your design.”
(“How do these cells look like?”) Ghoulia moans as she doesn’t know what they look like. ED-E directs her to look at her inventory. Shrugging yet obliging the eyebot’s request, Ghoulia searches through her bag when she picks up what she believes to be a small energy cell. Upon showing it to ED-E, it blares out a few beeps. Letting Ghoulia know that she has a SEC in her hands. She briefly looks at the small energy cell before an idea springs in her mind on how to make her charger.
(“I know how to craft a charger. And i think i saw a workbench on our way back.”) Ghoulia groans with some determination before exiting the building and heading towards the workbench opposite of the motel, with ED-E floating not far behind.
NOVAC WORKBENCH
12:00 PM
(“Glad to have repaired you good as new. But i hope that hours of crafting hasn’t gone to waste.”) Ghoulia nervously groans as she looks to the now repaired ED-E and looking back at her newly crafted charger.
“You only live once bud. Try it!”
Prodded by ED-E, Ghoulia inserts a small energy cell into her charger. Ghoulia closes her eyes and puts her zombie translator on it. When nothing bad happens. She slowly opens her eyes to discover that her zombie translator is charging, much to her delight. She takes her new invention back to her motel room and puts it on her bed. Ghoulia then turns her eye to ED-E.
(“Well, when my translator is all charged up. I have some things to take care of here.”) Ghoulia groans to ED-E.
“And that is?”
(“First off, to obtain any leads on that normie who shot me in the head. And secondly, i want to know what that spat was between those two snipers.”) Ghoulia groans.
“So while you are charging your device, what are you going to do in the meanwhile?”
(“Barter at Briscoe’s and nap..”) Is all Ghoulia was able to moan when a beeping is heard from her zombie translator. Making her way, suprise is all she feels when the zombie translator is already all charged up.
(“That’s some potent SEC. What are these things made of?”)
“The wonders of two hundred year tech, my friend. So are you ready to get your goals here fulfilled?”
Ghoulia stands up with confidence in her smile while grabbing her now charged zombie translator and charger. (“I’m all ready to solve the secrets Novac holds.”)
To be continued…..