Saviour, Tag SteelR

[Golgotha]

Hours passed as Eddy was dragged towards Bucket-Town. Cold. Mind numbing. All senses congealed and blurred into one grey monotone, he sensed only that his death was being unfairly stolen from him, but a glimmer kept appearing suggesting this was for the best.

More time passes. A doctor's voice, a hacksaw, shrieking voices and then the glinting monstrosity disappears, something jabs the midget's arm. A drip, moisture pours into his blood. Aqua vitae. "We made it then!"
"Oh shut up!"
Morning broke into the dim room, a blinding whiteness overcame Eddy and he delved into some bed covers he had not known existed. He was dripping with sweat but had slept through the night with few fits. He had heard a man's voice asking questions in a worried tone and another voice, hard and cold yet reassuring putting both parties at ease. What had happened? He blinked twice and rubbed his eyes. Shifted. Collapsed, with little strength to even lift his head up, but a man was watching him, Eddy raised an arm but couldn't find his weapons so he simply relaxed and croaked,
"Morning stranger, am I in a hospital?"

[Steel]

The night had been long and tiring; it's entirety being spent dragging the stranger across the dunes. Even in the cold night air Jake's body had fallen victim to intense dehydration, fatigue, and drenching loads of sweat on more then one occasion. Sixteen years in the Swamps had been nothing compared to the night before. The Swamps were just as hot and humid, sometimes even worse then the desert had been; but he had never had to drag someone throughout a whole night back home. His body ached under the weight of the larger man, who's name he didn't even know. Jake's right arm, shoulder, pectorals, and side were no longer on fire; instead the taut and depleted muscles had gone numb.

Using all his willpower, Jake, let his grip on the stranger loosen as the man slid lightly into the dust. A groan slipped from the man's lips, his damaged rib grinding against the rough ground. Jake knew it wasn't good to let the man just lay there, but he had no choice. Exhaustion was setting in, already he could barely focus on the shapes dancing around his vision; hallucinations of a tired mind. One moment he was on his feet staring down at the man, the next his eyes were staring up at the starry, glowing sky. In just seconds his eyes closed; drifting off to sleep in mere seconds.

(TIMESKIP)
The light seemed incredibly bright. Opening his eyes the slightest was pure torture. He began to stir on the small cot he had spent the last night on, letting out a groan as he moved his arm. Something, most likely the muscle had been strained carrying the stranger the night before. Again he tried opening his eyes, allowing vision to return to his world as his eyes adjusted.

The room was rather small and bare for the most part. Each wall had nothing on it; no windows, no decorative items, not even a cabinet or desk. Besides the cot, a small shelf with papers and a small bottle sat near the door. Jake stood and got to his feet, noticing a small bandage covering part of his arm. Slowly, he reached for the cloth, stripping it off his flesh to see what happened to be beneath it. A small, circular hole, no larger then the tip of a needle had appeared on his flesh. Probably whoever had brought him here gave him painkillers, or at least something similar.

At that moment a man walked into the room; a smile crossed his face as he saw Jake had woken up. "Ah, I see you're up" He said, pausing as Jake drew his survival knife from it's hidden shoulder holster. Without speaking Jake used the weapon to indicate for the man to raise his hands. He nodded and remained silent, giving Jake a chance to take in the man's appearance. He was on the short side, no more then five seven, and had little body weight. Probably some sort of scientist, maybe a doctor. Then it dawned on him. This man was probably a doctor for the some hospital, one that had been kind enough to take him in for the night. Lowering his knife with a feeling of guilt, Jake began to speak.

"Sorry about that, I'm just a little jumpy. You some sort of doctor?" Jake asked, raising his eyebrows questioningly at him.

"Yes." The man answered coldly, obviously not accustomed or amused having a knife drawn on him. "Your stuff is in the next room if your looking for. You and your friend need to have a talk, both of you owe us for the medical treatment we gave you. Your buddy is actually lucky to be alive." He finished before turning to leave the room.

Silently Jake followed the man, sheathing his knife in the process and walking into the next room. The first thing he noticed was his shotgun resting against the far wall. Without checking the rest of the room, he scooped up his shotgun and returned it to his belt loop. With his weapon back, Jake turned to face the rest of the room. Seeing the stranger from the night before begin to stir in his bunk.

"Morning stranger, am I in a hospital?" The man asked, completely unaware of where he was.

[Golgotha]

Eddy sat up confused, this man wasn't so strong looking, but had he dragged him here all by himself? A complete stranger showing so much compassion for someone of the brink of death was unheard of in the Wastes and Eddy had only ever known hatred and perhaps mild kindness if a monetary transaction was involved. He was definitely on a bed, good thing to because even on this old mattress his bones ached and his muscles burnt. He noted the rib that had poking out of his body had been reset while he was asleep, probably best. Now there was a thick bandage reeled across his stomach and lower chest, surprisingly clean yet blood was still seeping into it, albeit at a far slower pace. Lord, must've lost two whole pints of blood! Eddy kicked the voice out of his head and tried to swing a leg over the bed side but he was exhausted.

"Name's Eddy stranger, I suppose I should thank you for dragging me here, I mean, if it were me I'm not going to lie, I would looted you and propped you up against a rock," He looked away awkwardly, "Anyway, yeh, thanks...listen, do you know where we are? I've been travelling towards Bucket-Town for almost eleven months now, if we're there, I need to tune up my gun."

[VictorHyde]

Cain walked across the lonely wasteland night, it was an uneventful night till he saw a strange trail in the dirt. Cain leaned closer to the strange trail, and noticed that someone was dragging something heavy to a location new to him, He fancied it was only a few hours old and his curiosity grew. Thoughts rushed to Cain's mind, he wondered what happened. Cain then elected he would uncover the mystery of what happened here.

(Time skip)
In a few hours the trail led Cain to a small building. The building had a sign on it but Cain could not read it. In a few moments Cain decided to enter the building. After a minute Cain walked in quietly and heard some on speak: "Morning stranger, am I in a hospital?"

[Steel]

So the stranger's name was Eddy, somehow it seemed to fit well with the less battered face that was now looking at him. "I suppose I should thank you for dragging me here, I mean, if it were me I'm not going to lie, I would looted you and propped you up against a rock," Eddy continued before looking away from Jake, his eyes cast towards the ground in a look of shame. After a short moment he returned to speech. "Anyway, yeh, thanks...listen, do you know where we are? I've been travelling towards Bucket-Town for almost eleven months now, if we're there, I need to tune up my gun."

Jake thought for a second, realizing for the first time he might not be in Bucket Town. When he had gone hunting molerats he must have traveled a solid five miles, and dragging Eddy had messed with his sense of distance. They could have been minutes or miles from town and Jake didn't have the slightest clue. Before he could answer Eddy that he had no idea where they were, the doc decided to step in and answer.

"Actually you are in a small settlement about a mile southwest of Bucket Town." The man said, coolly eyeing both men. "That gun of yours, should be the least of your concerns. Both of you owe me for the medical treatment you received last night, whether you pay or not is your choice; I guarantee you will have done something for me by the time you get back on the road."

Jake nodded slightly, understanding the man's viewpoint even if he disagreed with the man's attitude. Then the doctor was off speaking again, "Who's the big guy, he with either of you?" He said, pointing to a man who had appeared at the entrance of the hospital. The man could have been a foot taller then Jake, probably alot heavier too. Jake just hoped all these problems could be solved and he could get back on the road.

(OOC: I'll leave how to deal with the Doc up to you guys.)

[Golgotha]

Eddy looked to Jake for guidance, his mind was still pretty fucked up and he wasn't sure that he wanted to pay the doc, well that and he hadn't the cash available, speaking of cash and stuff...where was all his equipment?
"Erm, I dunno, I haven't got any hides for you doc but how am I gonna help you like this, it'll be a day before I'm out of this bed!"

It was then that Eddy noticed the big bloke staring shyly at him, he was in no mood to be shocked and he uttered something he immediately reckoned he'd regret, not that he felt like apologising, "Yes, this is all of me, bet I look like a bloody ant to you Little John, I got nothing for you, what do you want?" Even when his mind was clearing he couldn't speak fully comprehensibly, he needed a damn beer.

[VictorHyde]

Cain looked towards the doctor, "The name's O'Hara" Cain then turned to the Ant, "Listen closely, Injured men die easily."

Cain felt confident that some of his speech got through to the Ant, he could have probably beaten him, but there was a more interesting situation occurring. Cain was curious of how these men were going to pay the doctor. Cain hoped there was a mission of sorts where Cain could gather some equipment or hides, but then he wondered how could he join them if there was a mission?

[Steel]

The air seemed incredibly tense; the doc seemed ready to blow up if Jake and Eddy didn't do something to pay him back. Besides that, the large newcomer and Eddy seemed to be in a small mental sparring show, nothing to insulting, at least, not yet. Sighing slightly, Jake made his way over to the small couch occupying one of the walls. He let his body drop onto the old piece of furniture and stretch out on the worn fabric.

Slowly Jake began to speak, "Doc, thanks for all you've done. I would pay you back but" he said, pausing as he tried to find the right words. "But, I don't have much to give you right now," he bluntly continued. "Me and Eddy here can do something, but it will likely take a day or more before he can get around to doing much."

As he finished addressing the doctor, Jake looked over at the large man who had recently appeared in the room. "So, O'Hara is it? What's your story in all of this?"

(OOC: Yeah a short post but there's not a lot going on so it's mainly dialogue.)

[Golgotha]

A broad smile broke out across Eddy's face,
"Shit I like you guy! Look at this, fucker gonna beat up a crippled midget," Eddy extended a bruised hand to the man and continued, "Eddy, Eddy Gauss."
He tried to sit up again and this time he was successful, surely he'd be standing soon.
"Any of you been to that Carnival? It's fucking nasty, who knew those kind of places were still going? Who pits a super mutant against a midget? Fuck!" He realised he was starting to rant and clasped his head in his hands.

"So Doc, what needs doing, you got a task for us or something?"

[VictorHyde]

Cain spoke towards the paitent named Jake "i was curious, when i saw a trail in the ground. i thought it could lead to something interesting. it appears i was right." Cain then spoke to Eddy, "I like your spirit, you're willing to fight god if you had to". Cain felt tension coming from the doctor. Cain wondered how things would have went if he wasnt there. Would the doctor have attacked them or vice versa? Cain decided he would side with the paitents if shit went down. Jake seemed fine and Cain liked Eddy.

"If there is a task I want in, Doc."

[Steel]

(OOC: Ignore this somehow double posted.)

[Steel]

So O'Hara would be helping them out. Jake couldn't say the man wasn't imposing, but maybe he was too imposing. He himself had only taken a second to realize that the man seemed friendly enough, though, other folks might not take so kindly to the nearly feral, seven foot, drifter currently occupying the other side of the small clinic. His story was fairly simple, after all Jake wasn't surprised he and Eddy had been very easy to track, having no way of moving stealthily and being bogged down by the weight of carrying the other man. Before Jake could reply to O'Hara, the doc began speaking again.

"Okay you three, I'll give you until noon. Then if you friend over here," he said pointing to the still bedridden Eddy. "Isn't back on his feet, he'll be kicked out. Understood?"

At this Jake got to his feet, leaving the comfort of the old couch. His fists were clenched in anger, his mind filled with thoughts of the doctor's greed and corruption. "Doc" he said as calm as he could manage. "I know you need money, but is it really worth throwing away someones life over a day of treatment? What if you got drug in here with no money and got thrown out for not paying?" His voice growing steadily more angry as he spoke. "We'll do your little job for you..... After Eddy's back on his feet. Otherwise we can just leave now and take most of your supplies here with us. What could you do to stop us?"

The doc looked visibly shaken as he struggled to find the words to speak. The man obviously not wishing to deal with the pair of large wasters who had weapons within an easy reach. "Fine!" He finally replied, his voice nearly a shout. "I'll give you until tomorrow then you can do as I say, or get out! And if you try and take anything, and I mean anything, I will get the Rangers to come after you." Without warning he stormed out of the building, leaving the room suddenly quiet.

(OOC: I don't have an idea for a job at the moment, if you guys have one feel free to post it.)

[Golgotha]

Eddy felt shaken by the camaraderie exhibited by Jake, he simply sat there, feeling stupid that he couldn't do anything to help his defendant, he truly was helpless without his trusty machine gun. Passions beat about the room which stirred with electricity and a thick static atmosphere, the men, all seeming to exude the eminence. When the doctor left Eddy placed his boots onto the floor and lifted himself up into a sitting position but suddenly a bolt of pain ripped through his chest and he fell back, eyes clenched, hands in spasm. No way he'd be able to do anything until tomorrow at least, it was only now that he realised one eye was so swollen he could barely see through it and it hurt to try and close his eyes. It also explained why everything was flickering and blurry.

"Jake, err, thanks...I don't really know how I can repay the doctor...or you for that matter, maybe I'll be able to stand tomorrow but I don't know what I am going to do now, if we need to fulfil this 'quest', I won't be able to make it too far from this building...I seen a broken rib before and I find it a little odd that a trained medic would expect a man to move about in just one night, and that's with your persuasion. I think we need to be a little careful around this character."

[VictorHyde]

Cain wondered what was the doctor's deal. Why did he save both of them? He could have taken their gear and left them for dead but he didn't. It wasn't out of the kindness of his heart, because the doc was starting to be illogical about eddy's wounds. then, before Cain could speak Jake spoke. "I know you need money, but is it really worth throwing away some ones life over a day of treatment? What if you got drug in here with no money and got thrown out for not paying?" His voice growing steadily more angry as he spoke. "We'll do your little job for you..... After Eddy's back on his feet. Otherwise we can just leave now and take most of your supplies here with us. What could you do to stop us?"

Jake was right on that. This man wasn't that well armed as far as Cain could tell, in fact Cain could have probably kill the man in a minute. Once the doc exited the room eddy spoke. "Jake, err, thanks...I don't really know how I can repay the doctor...or you for that matter, maybe I'll be able to stand tomorrow but I don't know what I am going to do now, if we need to fulfill this 'quest', I won't be able to make it too far from this building...I seen a broken rib before and I find it a little odd that a trained medic would expect a man to move about in just one night, and that's with your persuasion. I think we need to be a little careful around this character." Cain was now truly wondering what is up with the doc. "well boys stay on your toes. Im going to camp near here so ill be back in the morning."

[Steel]

The slow burning sensation of anger began to subside from Jake's mind, being replaced with a gnawing suspicion against the doctor. Eddy's began to speak the moment the door closed shut behind the doctor,"Jake, err, thanks...I don't really know how I can repay the doctor...or you for that matter, maybe I'll be able to stand tomorrow but I don't know what I am going to do now, if we need to fulfill this 'quest', I won't be able to make it too far from this building...I seen a broken rib before and I find it a little odd that a trained medic would expect a man to move about in just one night, and that's with your persuasion. I think we need to be a little careful around this character." His words confirming he thought something was wrong with this guy as well.

"I agree, something is up with this guy." Jake replied as he began looking through the desk resting against the couch. He picked up a small bottle of pills, squinting to read a small note on the side. For use with keeping patients unconscious for up to 5 hours. "Speak of the devil, check this out Eddy." He said passing the small receptacle to the injured man.

As Eddy and O'Hara looked over the evidence Jake began searching for something that might get Eddy out of here early. Med-X, bandages, or even some psycho could get Eddy on his feet for a few hours; long enough to get to Bucket Town if it was really only a mile or two away. Finding nothing, Jake began looking for something else. Maybe another room, or even a different cabinet; finally he noticed something.

"Hey O'Hara before you go, check out that hatch over there. Might be a basement or something like that, chances are there might be some meds in the basement we can use to get out of here." Jake said motioning towards the almost hidden cover in the corner.