We had just made it to the next location on the map, all that the Pip-Buck said was that it was called "Raided Caravan Wagon". I still don't know how the Pip-Buck even finds out name's of place's even when they have no visible evidence of what they were. How did it know it was raided? And how did it even know it was owned by a caravan? I figured it would be best to not think about it.

The site had multiple skeleton's of ponies littering the area. Two of which were laying on the road and one was leaned against the wagon itself. It was clearly falling apart and all of the containers were mostly empty of anything that had even a little value. Anything that remained, was either a empty bottle of sunrise sarsaparilla(which I took the caps off) or pieces of scrap metal and paper.

I tended to try to stay away from these kinds of places, never know who could be lurking around.

"I don't think there's anything left to salvage here, we should get moving." I said as I turned to continue walking.

"Wait, ah fund somting." Bait said behind me.

I turned back around to him.

"What?" I asked.

He cleared his throat.

" I...found...something." He said each word a clearly as he could. He started to lift part of the overturned wagon with no luck. I walked over to him and started to help him by levitating it enough for him to get what he said he found. After the wagon was lifted, he started to drag a skeleton wearing multiple items and gear.

It had been wearing a Stable jumpsuit and a broken Pip-Buck. The jumpsuit had the Number 222 on it. It was barely recognizable due to it being mostly shredded. The Pip-Buck was completely non-functional and looked like it would be nearly impossible for a pony with little mechanical skills to fix, I however knew a thing or two about Pip-Buck's. If I were to try to fix it though, it would probably take quite a while though, I wasn't an expert, but I knew enough.

It looked like a modified version of the Pip-Buck 3000, with some added parts to it and a desert camouflage paint job.

I whistled. "That probably looked good when it was new. I should take it and fix it later, might be useful. It would be better to use my own Pip-Buck instead of using yours, right bud?" I said as I then looked at him. I don't think he was paying attention to me. I saw that his eyes were fixated downward at the skeleton. I looked down to see what he was staring at, It was a small red medallion attached to a crudely made necklace made of paperclips. I tried to pick it up using my telekinesis but as I started to levitated it, the skull had come loose, detaching itself from the skeleton and rolled to baits hooves.

We just stood there staring at it for a few second's

"Uhh, mobe we should jut go now. Ah don like skeletons." Bait said as he started to trot down the road.

I looked back at the necklace, the object that was connected to it looked like it had been a talisman from a vault, probably the one the skeleton stable dweller came from. It didn't look like that it was going to work anytime soon. I decided to set it into my bag to inspect it later.

I double checked the area for anything else, but there was nothing. Why was there a stable dweller doing with a caravan? I never have seen many of them around very often, and I haven't seen many nowadays that still wear their jumpsuits. Maybe I'm just over thinking this.

I thought that I should just put it out of my mind for a later time. I took the Pip-Buck off the leg of the skeleton and levitated it into my bag. I had realized that my bag was started to get a little bit full. It wasn't getting heavy, just full, mainly due to it being very small. It was only meant to carry a small amount of supplies, I should find somewhere that sell's bag's and buy one of a larger size. I took the stable jumpsuit off of the skeleton as well, and put it in my bag to the side so that I could clearly see everything else. You are probably thinking," That is kinda weird to take the cloths off of dead ponies." But I don't take just any type of clothing, I mainly only take the stable jumpsuits. I have a thing for collecting them, to try to get one from every stable. I know a friend that knows how to repair damaged or torn clothing, so that helps when I find the unwearable ones. I don't exactly wear them myself by the way, I just hang them on a wall and look at them, like most collections, heh.

I quickly closed my bag and started to follow my companion to wherever he was going, He was headed the wrong direction.

*** *** *** ***

Bait had been moving fast, what he had also done, was go another direction on a road that hadn't been on the map. There had been a fork in the road behind us and he went the wrong way in his attempt to try to get far from the skeleton and was not paying attention..

"Bait...wait...you went the wrong way, we need to turn around." I said between breaths.

"What?" He said as he turned to me with confusion.

"You went the wrong direction, the right path was behind us."

"Oh... rerey?" He said while drooping his ears.

"Yep."

Just as I was turning to go back, I noticed what looked like a radio station on a nearby plateau. It didn't look like it was very far away. Radio station's usually had some scrap metal and tool's. If we went there, we might find enough to fix the Pip-Buck.

"Hmm, How would you like to go on a slight detour bait?" I asked while smiling and raising an eyebrow at him.

"Fine wit me, nutin better to do." He said.

"Kay then, lets go." I said as I started to walk in the direction of the station with bait behind me.

I may have a job to do, but it wouldn't hurt to some side tasks on the way. Doing my own little things along trips was one reason I liked to be a courier, I could always find some extra stuff along the way.

We were a little closer to the station, and on closer inspection, there was what looked to be a trail the went up to the radio station.

"Well that is going to help, I'm not really in the mood to climb sharp rocks a couple hundred feet up." I said as I headed for the path at the bottom of the cliff.

*** *** *** ***

"Em tired, con we rest, please?" Bait said as he stopped and started to lay down.

"Okay, sure, we can rest." I said. I then turned around and sat near Bait. I don't completely know why I thought this was a good idea, so far this is causing more harm than good.

*** *** *** ***

We had continued trotting up the path and finally made it to the station. It was basically how you would think one would look like. The station had a basic looking metal building with cables strung in almost all directions, some of which were connected to what looked like a power generator and and large metal tower that must have been the broadcasting antenna. There was a metal fence surrounding the perimeter of the mountain

I could hear the hum of the generator running. I'm going to guess this place isn't abandoned. I started to head towards the metal door of the station. When I had gotten to the door I decided to knock on it in case someone was there.

I really really really hope that the pony or ponies here are not a group of slavers or something. I gave the door three knock's and waited.

I could hear the sound of somepony inside moving around and hoof steps moving toward the door. Welp, this is it.

I heard the sound of a locking mechanism being undone. A sliding piece of metal opened to reveal the orange eyes of a stallion unicorn.

We both stood there for what seemed like minutes. I decided to break the silence.

"Uh, hello?" I asked

"Yo." He said simply

There was a short pause.

"Who are you and what do you want?" He asked

"Uh." I said again.

"Could you speak up, I couldn't hear you." He said with sarcasm in his voice.

"Uh, I'm a courier, and I was wondering, if you had any tools or spare metal I could have?"

He stared at me and looked at Bait. Bait gave a light smile.

"Who's he?" He asked, looking to me again.

"A friend. He's staying with me while I make a delivery."

He stared at me again.

"Kay you can come in." He said before he shut the metal hole.

I then heard more locking mechanisms begin to be undone before the door opened. The pony was a pale orange color with a black and dark red mane. He was wearing bandages on all of his legs, I think they are meant for show and not actually helping with any wounds. I did see a slit though his ear that had long since healed, but was visibly scarred. A pair of black goggles with yellow lenses was on top of his head above his horn which was slightly cracked and I had also noticed a red Pip-Buck around his leg.
I am really finding a lot of Pip-Bucks lately...

"I didn't actually say that I wanted to come in, I just needed some metal and tools."

"What, you want to stay out there in the wastes where anything could come out and maul you over being inside a clean building where you know it is safe?"

"Okay, but, okay..." I couldn't really argue with that, he had a point.

Bait and I stepped into the building. The floor had old rugs covering it, they looked like they were Pre-War. He had a console with controls and a microphone in the middle of it, must have been to broadcast messages, music or whatever the station did. I looked into the corner of the room to find a sleeping cyan Parasprite.

"You said you needed scrap metal?" He asked me while moving towards a shelf with some spare wire, metal, batteries, lights and other objects.

"Yeah. How did you get that parasprite, I thought they all had mutated into bloatsprites and stuff like that by now?" I asked

"Well, I had gotten it in this stable here." He moved and taped his hoof against a small hatch in the corner of the room.

"There's really a stable here, was there anypony inside it?"

"Actually yes, and they still are, are are 15 ponies total."

"Really!? Why don't they come out?"

"What do you think? Down there, it is safe, it keeps a nice temperature, there is a large supply of food, why would they want to leave?"

"I guess you're right."

He picked a few tools and and metal from various shelves using telekinesis and gave them to me.

"You can use that workbench over there. Please don't touch anything else." He said as he walked to the console, couched under it and started to pull off a few panels and seemed to try and fix some wires and circuit boards.

I walked over to the bench and set the items and the broken Pip-Buck onto it. The screen somehow was intact, but the area around was bent open and exposed circuitry."

"Um, do you have a cutting torch by any chance?" I asked to the busy pony now working on his own project.

He got up slightly and turned to me, he then looked around the room and then pointed at a small footlocker.

"There, but please don't use it for too long, don't have much fuel for it." He asked while getting back under the console.

I opened the locker and picked out the torch with my telekinesis. I started it up, and I began to cut at the broken metal to get it out of the way. After that was done I checked inside for visibly broken parts, there was quite a few that had been sliced almost in half and many wires severed and just dangling freely. I used part of the scrap metal and used the cutting torch on a lower setting to wield them to the broken metal inside. Next I grabbed all of the wires and connected them to their colors, luckily they all had different color, so it was easy to connect them again without attaching them to wrong wires. I used the torch and wielded the wires together with some extras. It took 20 or so minutes to repair the more difficult bits and right them to where they belong. It didn't look like there was anything else to do, but to seal the holes with more metal. After that was done I tried to turn it on.

The Pip-Buck started, and the screen had been set to a default look and had no pony bound to it. Well that is really convenient.
The unicorn walked over to me, he looked like he was talking a break.

"Nice Pip-Buck." He said

"Thanks, um, by the way, what is the number of the stable over there?" I asked, I really hope it wasn't 222.

"The stable? Let me think, It is number 196, why do you ask?" he said while raising a brow.

"Eh, no reason."

There was a small pause between us.

"What is your name, if you don't mind me asking?" I asked.

"Well, you seem like a nice pony that wouldn't use it against me or something, the name is Bass, or Dj Bass if ya want to get to get technical." He said while smiling.

"I guess that would explain why you are here I guess, and trying to fix the console over there."

"Yep, trying to get it functioning again, I can't seem to get it working. It was working fine yesterday, but now it just won't get a signal out." He said as he moved back to it and stated to move items around.

"Oh, I think I found the problem, there seems to be a vital part missing." He said while sighing.

"Funny how the problem is found at the end."

"I've had some, things, coming here and stealing my stuff, I didn't think they would go this far."

Well that didn't sound very comforting.

"What kind of things are you talking about?" I asked.

"How do I put it, these things are small, dragon-like and resemble parasprites. They seem to have the knack of stealing parts from me. I have also seen them around this area. Never really seen them up close yet." He said while shrugging.

"Why would small dragon-like creatures be wanting your equipment? I asked

"Beats me, all I know is they are talking my stuff." He said.

"Say, you said that you were a courier, right?" He asked.

"Yeah? You're going to ask me to get something for you aren't you?" I asked.

"If you would be so kind to, I could pay you a little bit for the trip. If you would do it that is. Do mind that I don't have much."

I was already on one trip to deliver something, this one might be harder for all I know, plus I would have to find the part and give it to him.

"Ooookaay, I'll do it." I said while sighing and looking at the ceiling.

"Rad dude, thanks. Now, the part will be found at West Ironworks, there will be a pony selling the part at a shop called Gears and Bolts, can't miss it, cause it kinda has a giant pair of gears and bolts over the store. The pony is a mare named Shine Tinkerer, tell her that Bass sent you and she should give you a discount, and for that part I need, it a a Flux Wave-Linker, helps to send signals and send them to other stations in the area. Now I won't rush you to do it, take your time but please don't be too slow."

"Kinda eager aren't you? Also just wondering, why wont you do it yourself and why can't you ask one of the stable dwellers?" I asked

"Well as I said before, they want to stay safe, so none want to leave, and secondly I sort of protect the entrance a little bit and, I really don't like the wastes, I don't have any fighting skills, I cant really do much with my telekinesis, can only lift small objects, and I don't have any weapons whatsoever." He explained.

"Ohhh Kaaay, I think I get it, but you really should get out more..." I told him.

"I know..." He said while frowning at looking downward.

"Whelp, I guess I'm on another trip." I said to no one.

"Another trip? Are you already doing something for somepony else? Sorry man, I didn't want to overload you or anythin."

"Naw its fine, its my job after all, though I haven't worked in years." I said

"And one other thing, Whats your name?" He asked.

"My name? It's Striker." I said.

"Well, It was nice meeting you." He said to me.

"So, Bait, are you ready to go?" I looked over to bait.

He had been poking at the now awake parasprite making happy sounding chirping noises at bait and fluttering its wings.

Bait looked at me.

"Uh, ya, I'm reedy." He said as he stopped poking at the parasprite and got up.

"Well, Thank you for letting me use your tools, it was much a appreciated. I'll try to get your item and bring it back when I can." I opened the door and let Bait leave first. After he was out I stepped out a well.

"Your welcome and thank you dude." He said and smiled as he shut the door and locked it.

"Well were back outside again, Lets go before it gets dark." I said as we started to walk back down the path to the bottom of the mountainous hill.

Here we are making another delivery, and we haven't even finished the first one. Whelp, wish me luck, I thought to my self.