03-07-2017, 09:58 AM
The cool air of the air conditioning quickly relieved Chip of the desert heat as she climbed into the car. The vehicle was one Carmelita had summoned for plainsclothes cases, and consequently the grey paintwork and hidden police lights meant it would also serve perfectly well as Chip’s civilian transport. The bulletproof glass and the reinforced bodywork didn’t hurt in the Endless Dunes.
She made her way out of the all too empty garage, driving up the ramp into the sunlight. She navigated through the base, adjusting to the hover vehicle’s quirks, and waved at Al3x as his holographic projector came out to see her off.
Soon she had driven along the main track through the field of traps and out onto the main route to the Town With No Name. The low hum of the engine and the dust cloud kicking up behind her were her only companions as she cruised through the shimmering air. Idly keeping one eye out for trouble, she saw a vulture circling off to one side. It dived down behind a rise, and soon she’d left it behind.
Another half hour went by. A collection of listing wooden beams marked the location of a former truck stop, and a more prominent road that led to town. A couple of men on horseback, possibly couriers judging by the monogramed sacks and the steady pace they were setting, passed her by in the opposite direction, giving her a short nod of thanks as she slowed to avoid spooking the black mares they rode.
A little later and Chip pulled up by the gates by the palisade. A town deputy, dismounting from her horse, walked slowly over, and she wound down the window.
“Afternoon. What bis-i-ness do you have in this hee-yeah town, miss?” The woman’s heavy accent sloughed its way across the desert air, and Chip smiled warmly up at her.
“I’m here to refuel and pick up supplies. I’m headed to Nippur next.”
“Ah right, part of the blee-din’ hearts club ain’t ya. Nowt wrong with that, but take care it don’t get ya killed out there. Have a nice day.” Without a backwards glance, the deputy wandered back to her horse, saddling up in a single slow arc.
Chip waited for the gates to open before driving slowly into the crooked streets of the Town With No Name. She quickly made her way to the scrapyard she’d purchased the original parts for the Fisti-Cuffs at, wondering if there was anything new that might serve as a good way to pass the time that evening.
Leaving the scrapyard with a woven bag filled with scrap electronics and parts, she opened the boot of the car and carefully balanced it in one corner. She closed the boot and locked the car before heading to get food and supplies.
The market was in full swing, a selection of cultures that shared a habitual siesta making the most of the remaining day’s light. Chip wandered amongst the stalls, picking long lasting foods and bottles of water from the town aquifer. An bipedal griffon hawked pharmaceuticals he’d brought here from Carrefore, and she relieved him of his supply of bandages and painkillers; a mage accompanied by some sand golems brought healing potions from one of the Camelot duchies, and she picked up the less expensive variants; a collection of discount clothes made their way onto her hastily purchased trolley.
As she went to pay for a hot potato, the meal finishing off her shopping list, she noticed a little waif of a girl, long drooping points marking her as non-human, staring wistfully up at the hot food. Chip gestured to the girl subtly, and when she forked over twice as much the stall owner gave her an amused look. Leaving the market behind, she returned to the car with the collection in tow.
Once she’d loaded the back seats and the trunk fully, Chip decided to call it a night. The sun had just begun to set, and in the shelter of the Town With No Name’s walls she felt safe enough to sleep in the passenger seat, lowered right down to form a bed. Making sure the door was locked, Chip’s three eyes drifted closed and she slept soundly.
She made her way out of the all too empty garage, driving up the ramp into the sunlight. She navigated through the base, adjusting to the hover vehicle’s quirks, and waved at Al3x as his holographic projector came out to see her off.
Soon she had driven along the main track through the field of traps and out onto the main route to the Town With No Name. The low hum of the engine and the dust cloud kicking up behind her were her only companions as she cruised through the shimmering air. Idly keeping one eye out for trouble, she saw a vulture circling off to one side. It dived down behind a rise, and soon she’d left it behind.
Another half hour went by. A collection of listing wooden beams marked the location of a former truck stop, and a more prominent road that led to town. A couple of men on horseback, possibly couriers judging by the monogramed sacks and the steady pace they were setting, passed her by in the opposite direction, giving her a short nod of thanks as she slowed to avoid spooking the black mares they rode.
A little later and Chip pulled up by the gates by the palisade. A town deputy, dismounting from her horse, walked slowly over, and she wound down the window.
“Afternoon. What bis-i-ness do you have in this hee-yeah town, miss?” The woman’s heavy accent sloughed its way across the desert air, and Chip smiled warmly up at her.
“I’m here to refuel and pick up supplies. I’m headed to Nippur next.”
“Ah right, part of the blee-din’ hearts club ain’t ya. Nowt wrong with that, but take care it don’t get ya killed out there. Have a nice day.” Without a backwards glance, the deputy wandered back to her horse, saddling up in a single slow arc.
Chip waited for the gates to open before driving slowly into the crooked streets of the Town With No Name. She quickly made her way to the scrapyard she’d purchased the original parts for the Fisti-Cuffs at, wondering if there was anything new that might serve as a good way to pass the time that evening.
Leaving the scrapyard with a woven bag filled with scrap electronics and parts, she opened the boot of the car and carefully balanced it in one corner. She closed the boot and locked the car before heading to get food and supplies.
The market was in full swing, a selection of cultures that shared a habitual siesta making the most of the remaining day’s light. Chip wandered amongst the stalls, picking long lasting foods and bottles of water from the town aquifer. An bipedal griffon hawked pharmaceuticals he’d brought here from Carrefore, and she relieved him of his supply of bandages and painkillers; a mage accompanied by some sand golems brought healing potions from one of the Camelot duchies, and she picked up the less expensive variants; a collection of discount clothes made their way onto her hastily purchased trolley.
As she went to pay for a hot potato, the meal finishing off her shopping list, she noticed a little waif of a girl, long drooping points marking her as non-human, staring wistfully up at the hot food. Chip gestured to the girl subtly, and when she forked over twice as much the stall owner gave her an amused look. Leaving the market behind, she returned to the car with the collection in tow.
Once she’d loaded the back seats and the trunk fully, Chip decided to call it a night. The sun had just begun to set, and in the shelter of the Town With No Name’s walls she felt safe enough to sleep in the passenger seat, lowered right down to form a bed. Making sure the door was locked, Chip’s three eyes drifted closed and she slept soundly.