My body hurts like hell; I struggled to get up from all the strain, injuries and wounds caused by yesterday. I don’t know if I can even walk. I checked the wall clock in my room, 0730H, it’s morning already yet it’s still dark. Ren suddenly busted through my door, “RISE AND SHINE ROOKIE!” I was startled. “Could you knock?!” I said with an annoyed tone in my voice whilst trying to get up “Did I startle you?! BAHAHAHA my bad! Anyway…I’m hungry, Let’s go grab breakfast! You know a place that offers good stuff around these parts?”

We went to a small dining place here in the Scrapyard; it’s the only place that offers cooked food after all, “Takami’s Diner Huh?” Ren sounds disappointed. Almost everyone in the Scrapyard gets their everyday meals in this dining place. Life is hard, not everyone has access to edible ingredients after all. “Morning Mr. Takami, What’s on the Menu today?” I said joyously “Morganne! Blessed Day! You don’t look so good honey, What happened?” He replied with an enthusiastic yet concerend tone. I still remember back in my younger days when this place was ran by Mr. Takami’s mother, It’s pleasing to see that both of them share a sunshine-like personality despite the hardships here in the wasteland, come to think of it, they even look identical.

I told Mr. Takami about what happened yesterday, His joyous enthusiastic tone turned into a more concerned one, “I’m really sorry about what happened honey! I’m really grateful to you Caravanners, risking your own life so that us settlers can live! You are truly heroes! Your food is on the house! You deserve it!” Mr. Takami served me my usual favorite, Grilled Mirelurk Meat covered in Tato paste, It’s still delicious as ever, “What will you have miss?” Mr. Takami asked Ren.

“Mister? You don’t look like a Mister to me” Ren replied, I told Ren that was rude but Mr. Takami chuckles “I get that a lot! it’s fine it’s fine” he continues to chuckle “So what can I get for you miss?” He then adds. “What’s the best you have?” Ren replied, Mr. Takami was surprised by such response, he didn’t say a word, he just gave Ren a meek smile and started working. It’s mesmerizing watching him do his craft. Ren and I watch in awe as he moves quickly and efficiently, it’s like being a kid again and seeing Mr. Takami’s mom cook for the first time. Maybe the talent runs in the family.

Not even 10 minutes passed, the food is already served, Mr. Takami didn’t even break a sweat. It was wheat noodles overloaded with various toppings. Ren took a bite, she paused…She then began to devour it. “Hungry are we? You’re quite a messy eater miss” Mr. Takami then chuckles. “DAMN! This’s some good stuff! How come you aren’t married yet?! You wanna wife me up?” Ren replied as she finished her meal. I can’t really tell if Ren’s Joking to the marriage thing. “I love men who can cook well! And I uhh…I have a high paying job! I can provide! I can bring you gifts after every Caravan Run! And err… I got big muscles so I can protect your wimpy ass! And…and…” I’ll be damned, Ren’s really trying to hit on him, Mr. Takami chuckled, he then reached for a tissue and wiped the food debris out of Ren’s lips whilst smiling at her meekly, Ren was stunned, her face was bright red as a ripe Tato.

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It’s sure adorable and wholesome at first, but then Mr. Takami apologized; saying he already has a love interest, though he still appreciates Ren admiration, Ren was bummed by the fact. We left the store after giving our gratitude to Mr. Takami for the free meal, He then wish us luck to our next caravan run.

“This sucks.” Ren said frustratingly. “Cheer up Ren, I’m sure there’d be someone for you!” I replied, trying to cheer her up. “Nah forget about it, Love is the least thing to prioritize for this hag BAHAHAHA” she then hands me some sort of autoinjector device; it looks like a big injection. “Take this rookie, it’s called a Stimpack! it’ll help you recover fast! We got a busy day waiting for us in the ‘morrow” She says. “Alright! I’mma go give the caravan truck some maintenance and tweaks, you should go take a rest! Eat and sleep plenty! I guarantee that you’ll be fine by tomorrow morning! I’ll catch you later rookie!”

I didn’t get the chance to thank her nor ask how to use the Stimpack she gave me. I lie down in my bed as soon as I get home; my body still hurts like hell, I tried figuring out how to use the autoinjector Ren gave while I’m lying on my bed, I rubbed some alcohol in my arm and strapped the machine into it afterwards. I pressed the only button and the strap begins to tighten, the injection gave me an intense amount of pain, though all of a sudden I felt ecstasy. I don’t feel the pain of the injection nor my injuries and wounds anymore, I feel like I’m floating, everything feels so comfortable, I could melt.

It made me fell asleep, it was the best nap I’ve ever had. I spend most of the day lying on my bed; I really wanted to help Ren on getting the equipment ready for tomorrow’s run but she insisted that I should focus on helping my body heal. I’m sure it’ll be another tiring day tomorrow, who knows? I may finally found what I’m longing for or it may be my last caravan run, it’s rather exciting and scary to think about, what might the wasteland has to offer or what might the future holds.

Mr. Darkwaters called us the next morning; He sighed in relief when he saw us “Good, you’re here, we’ve got problems…Big ones.” He said with a concerned yet serious tone. “Problems? How many are we counting?” Ren asked. “Our settlement’s diesel supply is running low; you know how crucial diesel is to us! No diesel means No power! No fuel! No Caravan!” Mr. Darkwaters replied with a concerned and bothered tone in his voice. “I’ve also got a message from Andresborough and Darren’s Town, it’s a rather scary coincidence but the controller chip on the water purification system of both settlements has given up the ghost. Both are broken beyond repair and it’ll be complicated to manufacture another one considering we lack both the equipment and the raw materials needed. No water, No settlement.”

He instructed us to meet someone named Trisha Agarwal in Gabriel’s Ville to further elaborate the mission and be our associate. He sighed as he wishes us good luck and safe travels.