Cool News (plus Angel's Pip-Boy Diary #17) · 12:21pm Jan 8th, 2016
art by Nevaylin
More of Angel’s Pip-Boy Diary below the break. But first, some fun Fallout: Equestria news:
Yesterday, Equestria Daily’s “Pony History of the Day” celebrated Fallout: Equestria and the creativity of the Fo:E community. If you missed it yesterday, check it out!
Also, for your enjoyment, the first Fo:E SFM video of 2016.
Also, OfficialFirestreak♥ has opened the year with a new Fallout: Equestria soundtrack piece. Enjoy!
Angel's Pip-Boy Diary
Day 35
Day 35 – Morning
November 27, 2287Forget the geriatric ogre slayer. I have the new headliner for GNR’s fall programming…
Nick Valentine: Synth P.I.
Trust me, it would have been absolutely brilliant! This guy has stepped right out of the pages of Science Fiction Noir.
I can’t even begin to enumerate all the things that have gone through my mind since I first saw him. But one thought rises above the others: I like him!
Or, I guess, I like his programming. In terms of artificial intelligence, he redefines what I thought they could do. Of course, Codsworth has been doing a fair bit of that. But Valentine is beyond that. He (or, I guess, technically “it”) is like dealing with a real person. And a fascinating one. In a way, maybe even better than one. Valentine really is like a character from a noir novel brought to life, infused into something not quite human.
Valentine has been solid in every fight with Skinny Malone’s men. And I love “his” post-battle humor.
Turns out, Valentine and Skinny had some sort of past which is why Malone kept him in one piece. Darla was the real piece of work. But while Valentine talked to Skinny, I slipped some of the Daytripper drug that I found the other day, and used the edge to convince Darla to turn on her man. Both of them died in the ensuing firefight, and I can’t imagine anyone being too broken up about that. Although Valentine notes that giving Darla’s parents the news is going to be awkward. I wonder if they knew the kind of person their kid was? My pre-war money is on “denial”.
A few side notes: there is far too much loot here to carry, even between the two of us. I have moved everything into a master stash that I will come back for later. It will require several trips, and I suspect it will take most of a day.
A fair portion of what I have collected is out of nostalgia for a shinier, more comfortable past. This Vault holds what may be the cleanest plates left in the world. And the pillows in here are amazing. I can’t understand why Skinny Malone’s men weren’t using them. I may eventually tear the beds out of here. Bunk beds would be a real boon given the limited space that I have to work with in Hangman’s Alley.
I also found a bloatfly meal in a cooler inside a locked storage room. That made me pause for a moment. I’d somehow gotten to imagining that all locked rooms, safes and storage containers that were part of a pre-war facility had been locked for the last two centuries. It was obviously a silly notion. Plenty of folks in the post-apocalyptic Commonwealth can pick locks.
There is also a safe down here in the Depot that I will have to come back for once I’ve sharpened my skills a little more.
I… I nearly lost it when we reached the nursery. Just seeing all those cribs. Oh God…. Shaun… Shaun was so tiny…
Day 35 – Afternoon
November 27, 2287Valentine is a treasure. The job back to diamond City was great. Along the way, V. gave me lots of good advice and info. Notably, he can chat will jogging. Doesn’t get winded. I’m jealous.
Valentine’s been gone for weeks. He doesn’t know about the anti-synth paranoia that Piper’s paper has drummed up. I was a bit worried as to whether Diamond City will welcome him (it?) back. I’m still worried if it is safe for Valentine to stay here right now.
Upon our arrival, I took the chance to come clean with Danny, the guard. Then I took care of a few chores (particularly getting a wood shipment from Moe – the first of what I suspect will be very, very many).
Ellie is happy to see Nick back. She gave me caps and a hat in thanks, and then slyly suggested that I could be Nick’s new partner.
I had a long sit down with Valentine. It was good to finally tell someone what had happened to Nate and Shaun, and have them listen – not sympathetically, but analytically.
Who would have imagined that the first person whom I would be able to engage with on an intellectual level would be a robot? Should that be person or “person”? Either way, I like Nick Valentine. He’s perceptive, discerning and charming. He is the detective I only dreamed of having the chance to hire when my law practice grew profitable enough to stop having to do the investigative work myself.
Valentine didn’t come to the same medical conclusion that I did, but he came to a few that I had missed. In the end, he laid out suspects, and swiftly narrowed it down. The Gunners, a group of high-end mercenaries, were likely the hired gun for the job. Based on my description, Valentine believes that the man who shot Nate was a Gunner named Kellogg.
As for who was behind it, the obvious suspect is the Institute.
I learned that early synth models stripped whole towns for parts and massacred the inhabitants. With a history like that, a lot of the hatred and fear directed towards synths shoots into sharp focus.
To the best of his understanding, V. himself is a prototype – a middle model between the synths like those Danse, Preston and I fought in ArcJet and the models that can pass as human. Unfortunately, he has no personal knowledge of the Institute’s location or mechanizations. The synths have a built-in memory block or wipe that removes that knowledge from lost or escaped synths.
(And my mind is focused on Shaun and Kellogg right now, so I’m ignoring the mental avalanche of conclusions that tidbit wants to unleash. I had encountered that synth trying to get to Bunker Hill, so I knew that could happen. I hadn’t imagined escaping synths were a common occurrence in the Commonwealth. There are so many things that says about the possible sentience and sapience of these synths, that they should yearn for freedom and be able to rebel; and there are just as many things it says about the Institute’s power and limitations that they are unable to prevent it.)
Kellogg lived in Diamond City for a time, which is why Valentine could connect him to my description. He also had a boy with him who was about ten years old. Could that have been Shaun?
We’re on our way to Kellogg’s house to try to learn more.
New Perk: Locksmith Rank 3
Day 35 – Early Evening
November 27, 2287I’ve gotten enough practice picking locks that I deem myself no longer rusty. I’m back where I was at the height of my game. And that was enough to get Nick and I into Kellogg’s old house.
V. has a keen eye. He immediately recognized the place was too small, and had me looking for a switch within a minute. My eyes aren’t half bad; I found it. The switch opened a secret room with some leftover belongings, most of which was utterly inconsequential.
However, Kellogg has a fondness for a very particular type of cigar. We are hoping that Dogmeat can play bloodhound and track him by scent. It is an extreme long-shot. The scent is, at best, weeks old. And it is raining outside. But if any dog in this post-apocalyptic world can pull off a miracle, it is my dog. He’s magic.
No, seriously. We exited Kellogg’s abandoned house and Dogmeat was waiting outside for us in the rain. How did he know? And how did he get here from Sanctuary on his own. He would have had to start the trek hours before I learned about Kellogg. Dogmeat is magic.
There is a small part of me that actually wants this to be for naught. The trail, Kellogg, it all offers me an illusion of hope. But I know better.
Shaun may lionize me or demonize me. But to him, I am merely a concept. Maybe a curiosity.
I carried him in my womb for nine months. I gave birth to him. Nursed him from my breasts. For me, that was just weeks ago. For him, it has been a lifetime. He has never known me. I have never truly been his mother.
I have lost Shaun. All I really have left is a dream of a reunion, and the possibility to get justice… or revenge… for Nate.
Day 35 – Late Evening
November 27, 2287Nick is with me on this. We’re chasing Dogmeat, who most definitely is on the trail of someone, presumably Kellogg. As we passed, a Diamond City guard commented “Nicky is good people.” Factory-made or not, I’m inclined to agree.
We are headed…. HOLY!!!
What the hell was THAT?! Something just fell out of the sky. It didn’t look like any sort of aircraft. (Not that there seem to be any working air vehicles anymore.) Was it a satellite?
The… thing… seemed to be falling north… ish. With all of the buildings, it was really hard to get a good barring. Nick thinks we need to check it out, in case someone was hurt. He may be right. It certainly didn’t look like anything manned that our side created, but it could be some sort of Chinese tech. And even if it is just a satellite, there could have been people where it came down.
Dammit! Someone is crying out for help! They’re close by too. I’m being pulled three ways…
Okay, I’m telling Dogmeat to stay. We’ll pick up the trail again as soon as possible. Hopefully, the rain won’t wash it away. The crashed… whatever it was… will have to wait. I only have the most general idea of where it went down anyway. The cry for help is immediate and urgent. That has to take priority.
Day 35 – Night
November 27, 2287…aaaaand it was a trap. There was nobody dying. Just a bunch of raiders who thought luring me into an ambush was a good way to get rid of the gal who has been taking out the raider gangs of the Commonwealth.
That’s gone well for them so far. For having done this now, I really wish I could kill them all twice. Only one left, their leader Demo. (I’m assuming that is supposed to be short for Demolition and not Demonstration. The latter would lack the intimidation these gang leaders seem desperate for.)
There is a huge pile of stripped bodies in the basement. Settlers and traders that Demo and his crew have been murdering. I hate this guy so much.
And down he goes.
Hardware Town is exactly the sort of store the name suggests. I’ll have to come back and loot this location some other time. There is a ton of stuff here that could be used to help Hangman’s Alley and Oberland Station. Perhaps all of the Minutemen’s settlements.
art by Celestiawept
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
I never saw a thing falling out of the sky, and now I'm curious.
Oh Angel how I love your style! Though do be careful with the Daytripper and the like. Don't let the wasteland get you into the Drug trade! Nothing worse than trying to talk people down or handle society without needing a fix.
Heh. If ogres, robots, and magic dogs blow Angel's mind, just wait until she sees the aliens.
I heard that if Nick is your companion, sometimes raiders won't attack you because they actually know Nick. I don't know if that's true or not.
I do hope you get the chance to play Nick's Companion Quest, it'll definitely make for good material for the Diary.
I still think the pony history for that was put together rather badly, can't blame Seth I guess since he isn't part of our "cult".
Awesome. I love your work, even these diaries.
Someone likes wearing the Silver Shroud's costume, I see. Also, the SFM was pretty cool.
Rush and Pony on!
T4E
3672424 The Silver Shroud costume.
Well meeting Nick was an interesting insight to Angel's developing feelings about A.I.'s. Should be interesting to see how that develops as she meets more robots and Synths of the commonwealth. One thing that keeps coming to mind is her past life was during a period when robots were common enough for the average family to by one if they saved up enough. So it should be interesting to see how this continuing developing progresses and meets other robots and Synths.
Magic Dog? Sounds legit. I wonder if bethesda is ever going to fix that exploit with the cryolator? Technically, I think they shouldn't, sometimes it's neat having a companion that is a little unpredictable and it's fun trying to think about how a character did that.
Finally, I caught up.
First of all, I want to apologize for ignoring these blogs for so long. Fallout 4 is more addictive than Jet.
"Oh, I'll just finish this quest... and check this building... and try this new gun... then mod it and try again... wait, is it night already?"
Kkat, you are amazing. =) I don't know how you're doing it, but I read Angel's diaries and I can't get enough of them. Thank you, thank you so much.
That said, I can't help but notice that Angel is oddly familiar.
Stealth? Check. Long range weaponry (including a rifle that sets things on fire) and careful shots? Check. Goes above and beyond call of duty to protect everybody in need? Check. Picks locks with ease? Check. Uses drugs that enhance one's smooth-talking? Check, check, check.
BTW, can I ask you a couple of questions about your playstyle and mods?
I may be wrong, but I think you meant Nate
You want to go to
Big TownHardware Town? Of course you do!3673012 Thanks! Fixed.
Alien crash already? You got that extremely early. For me, more than half the game passed before it happened. Also, I can't wait to see Angel's reaction to a living alien. Please let it happen next diary!
Agreed.
Finally bought myself a copy of this game. So far I am not disappointed. Only surprised at how bad my skills have gotten at this game.
Searching for Valentine was the most difficult mission I've had to do seeing as I forgot to stock up on supplies before heading out. I seriously walked out of there holding nothing more in my arsenal than a submachine gun with low ammo, which I couldn't kill anything with to save my life, and a sludge hammer. Rule of thumb learned: Rely on the sludge hammer. 
I haven't seen the spaceship thing though.