Chapter 3 (GreyWolfVT, sulldawga)

[Rukellian]

The Doc nods. "At the time, that was most certainly true. It was when you two were gone that he approached me at the settlement."

"The townsfolk there did not take too kindly to strangers like me. Guns pointed and everything." The ghoul adds on as he listens to the exchange between the doc and Seven.

"Right, it took awhile for us to realize that our ghoul in a trenchcoat was not going to shoot the place up, or kidnap anyone. It was the opposite in fact. He came to help, under the pretense of mutual benefit. You see, he knew about my serum," the doc looks towards the ghoul with a stinkeye, "somehow, and wanted my help in making more of it. He offered to assist in finding my son and bringing him back from the raiders. Then he would help escort us to the Sothern Docks where a safe place was waiting."

The doctor shakes his head. "I thought him crazy at first, trying to deceive us or something, but when my boy did come back, with you two, some of that doubt disappeared. When he said he was a friend of yours, I had no reason at the time to suspect otherwise, so I left shortly after. And now here you two are!"

[sulldawga]

Zeke says, Well, Doc, we're just happy you and your boy are safe and happy. I can't say we're friends with Mr. Ghoul here but we're not enemies either. If you're content with being here and working with him, then we'll probably just move along. We only came out here because we thought you had been kidnapped.

[GreyWolfVT]

Seven "Well Doc I can't rightfully say we're friends with the fellow. However he did have a chance to shoot us when we went to get your boy from the raider camp and he opted to shoot at them rather than us. For that I'd say I owe him my thanks. This being only the third encounter with him I can't rightfully say we're friends, but for the most part he has proven twice not to be an enemy." pausing for a moment "So long as he aint tried ta kill us, and he's taking good care of you an the boy I'd say he's continuing that trend of not being an enemy. Which is fine by me." with that he tips his hat to the ghoul "However I don't think we've caught the fellas name either. I'm wonder just what exactly is goin' on in this place."

[Rukellian]

The doctor nods, understanding the situation a bit better now. "It certainly would look like a kidnapping, since you two aren't actually friends with this ghoul..."

The ghoul in the yellow trenchcoat, in response, simply raises his hands, the universal gesture that he's unarmed. "Yeah, the lie was necessary. Sorry doc, was the only way I could persuade you to come with me. But now that you know our situation down here, think you could look past that?"

The doctor shakes his head, clearly not liking being deceived. "I'm doing this for my son, not you or your group. The fact that both benefits from the end result are pure coincidence and luck."

The ghoul shrugs, satisfied with this answer and starts to walk away to a back room.

The doctor goes on to explain to Zeke and Seven that he used to work in a nearby vault. Some pretty unethical stuff went down in that place, and he isn't proud of his part in it; however, one good thing did come out. A cure, or a vaccine. Whatever you want to call it. If he could make more of it, the people around us would no longer have to suffer from the ill-effects of radiation, become immune to it, with a few perks.

"The ghoul said that if I make more of this serum, he'd get me and my son on a boat and head towards a land beyond, one that wasn't as heavily bombed. He has maps, he showed me. Problem is, others want the serum as well, and we think the 'family' is starting to sniff out our operation here. Knowing them, they will probably want the serum for themselves."

"You two have done more than enough for us, and if you leave, I'm sure we can take care of ourselves, but if you stick around and make sure we are able to accomplish our goals, I'm pretty sure we can compensate you for your efforts, if not me than the ghoul. Sounds like he's got connections."

[GreyWolfVT]

Seven "Where was that vault you used to work in? We recently visited one and found some interesting things within. Appeared someone was playing with something along the lines of what you speak of but it turned out worse creating more ghouls rather than saving folks from radiation."

[Rukellian]

The doctor replies in a whisper, making it clear that Seven is speaking too loudly about this. "Yeah, that's the place. Try not to alert everyone around here to it, okay? If they find out I made more ghouls in the process of finding a cure, breaking the minds and bodies of men, well, I don't know what they would do to me. Won't be pleasant, that much I can tell you."

[sulldawga]

Zeke says, Tell me more about the Family.

[GreyWolfVT]

Seven "Alright must have been a different vault Doc." he says trying to cover up the conversation giving a wink to the Doc to indicate such.

[Rukellian]

The doc nods with relief when Seven catches on and goes along with it. When asked about the Family, his smile turns into a blank look. "You know, I don't know much about them myself, other than that they are just as dangerous as raiders, maybe even more so." The dock worker chimes in, with the absence of the ghoul around, to fill things in for those talking.

"The Family, you don't want to cross them. You know them old war flicks, back when everyone still had electricity and personal televisions? Yeah, there was a movie called the Godfather. Organized crime, the sort that wears suits and packs serious heat in instrument cases. They have the docks in their pockets and no one does business here without them knowing about it and having a hand in it, except us, cuz' we haven't been found out yet. So long as you pay your protection money, they are a civil bunch, real 'gentlemen'-like."

[sulldawga]

Zeke asks for a few minutes to discuss matters with his partner.

So, what are you thinking? It looks like the Doc and his kid are ok so I don't see any reason to stick around here, unless you think this scheme of theirs will make enough caps that we want in.

I'm thinking we get as much info from the Doc as we can about that Vault, go back and clear it out, and use it as our base of operations for scavenging the whole area, maybe even building a town for ourselves where people can be safe, raise families, start thinking about rebuilding civilization instead of constantly fighting for survival.

[GreyWolfVT]

Seven vaguely familiar with mafia and western films chimes in "Yeah I know about the mafia of old, though i preferred westerns myself. The family is organized then like the mafia of the past. Raiders are more like the old stories i heard about biker gangs, more chaotic and less controlled. I aint aiming to get killed by no goodfellas. I'd rather we not cross the Family at all. That's a hornets nest I want no part of. So then question is what are we doin here and how can we help?"

[Rukellian]

While you two are here, it is brought to your characters' attention that the markets in the Southern Docks sometimes come up with valuable items and parts. Wouldn't hurt to check it before you turn around and head back to your safehouse and/or home settlement. Zeke made it clear that he is interested in helping rebuild civilization, using the vault they found as a foundation for the new settlement. The Doc, in exchange for keeping his involvement in vault's activities secret, will offer you any information you want or need to get the vault up in running again. It can be safe to assume that he wrote it all down for you and gave the notes to either Zeke or Seven.