Sunday Dawn

Walt was checking his list of gifts. He'd already sent the fertilizer ahead along with a small Fox Shrine. "Let's see... Pheromone spray and Dr Isly's special accelerated plant growth mixture?" He patted his pocket then then looked in the cargo. "Check and check. Sink Central Intelligence Unit?"

"Present, Sir and may I say that Sir is looking exceptionally sharp today, if sir will permit the compliment."

Walt smiled. "Thank you and you are as well. All cleaned up and looking spiffy. Check. Book Chute?"

"On-line and ready to eradicate sedition!"

Walt nodded. "Right... Good luck with that... check. Sink Auto-Doc?"

"You are, without a doubt, the healthiest son of a bitch I've ever seen. No need for my services in that area. How about a haircut instead?"

Walt smiled. "Not today but thanks for the check-up. Check. Biological research station?"

"I'm the original, certified, rarefied, testified GS-2000 Biological Research Station. Yes sir, I'm a seed-clonin' machine."

Walt grinned. "Jimbo's going to get a kick out of you! Check." He sighed. "Toaster?"

"Ahahaha! I am on-line once again! Tremble, world, before my electric heating coil of doom!"

Walt rolled his eyes. "Ok, hot head. Keep it to a dull roar. Check. Light Switch 01?"

"I'd offer to adjust the lights for maximum concentration levels but you'd need install me first."

Walt smiled. "Kind of you to offer but unnecessary at this time. You'll be installed in your new home shortly I'd imagine." Just like the others, he kept the fact that he already had versions of them thanks to data from his previous adventures that Friday had gleaned. As fun as some of the Sink AI's were It was easier only dealing with one personality that controlled everything. But Jimbo was handy. He and his ladies would figure it out and might even prefer some of them... even the over the top ones were entertaining at times. The Switches were some of his and 3S's personal favorites. Very handy. "Check. Blind Diode Jefferson?"

"Ooh! Yeah! Damn, it's good to be back on-line! Got any new sounds?"

Walt chuckled to the jukebox. "Not just now but if you can hold out for a bit I'm sure there'll be all kinds of sounds for you to sample at the wedding. Check. Light Switch 02?"

"Oh, baby. Want to push my buttons?"

Walt smiled. "No thanks but knowing Jimbo he'll be happy to do so... word to the wise though I'd keep the flirting down just a bit until the honeymoon is over. Check." Walt smiled sadly and opened a box. "Muggy?"

"You got any coffee cups for me now?" The tiny robot asked pitifully.

Walt nodded and swallowed his last sip of coffee before handing the mug over. "Sure do little guy. Enjoy!"

"You've made me so happy!"

Walt smiled and accepted the wonderglue and empty syringes. "You enjoy champ. Jimbo's got a bunch of ladies so they're bound to need a diswasher..." he closed the lid and tied the ribbon. "... at least I hope so little fella. Check."

He checked off the workbench, reloading bench, hot plate, Refrigerator, Nuka Cola and Sunset Sarsaparillia vending machines, Brand-new locker and footlocker and safe. All with extradimensional storage capacity. Jimbo might not want or need them but he'd gotten them anyway. Daisy had said something had happened to Jimbo's place and he'd had to "move home temporarily" but that everything was "just fine". Walt loved Chuck, Dee and the others but they had a tendancy to alternately spoil or brush off their kids problems as no big deal in the oddest ways.

He figured everything was fine but it wouldn't hurt him to have some rugged extradimensional storage containers to pitch his things into if he needed for the time being. Worst-case scenario he didn't need them cluttering up the place and he'd lose some "cool uncle" points for a practical gift... no big deal. He figured he still had plenty of points to spare.

Walt closed up nodding and then made his way to the barns. "Hey, Walt," Sasha said. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

He grinned taking off his jacket. "I just got the presents stored. All that's left is to get changed. Everything else is all set. It's you all that need a hand... besides, you know I love this shit!"

Sasha and several of others laugh. Walt did indeed love "doing cowboy shit". Which reminded Sasha. "Hey so the branding is coming up?"

Walt nodded. "Sure is!" He smiled. It was one of his favorite times of year. "I'll be taking some time off to help. I maybe the "boss" but I don't run the day to day of the ranching sad to say. Even in my grandparents time it wasn't like it was. But technically we co-own alot of the surrounding ranches in the area. Helps keep them protected through a non-profit. They need all the help they can get come this time and it gives me a chance to do what I love, so I'm excited. I really hope I can wrap up my business with RD before then. You thinking about coming along?"

Sasha grins and nodded. "I'd love too! I know several of the others would too. Right?"

Lydia and Aela poked their heads out of stalls they were working in. "That's right!" Pyrrha came by still in her post exercise outfit along with Nora leading horses. "Us too!", "Yeah, I wouldn't miss it!"

Walt chuckled looking at Nora and Sasha. "You two are just excited about the food afterwards," they blushed grinning but Walt laughed. "No worries. I'm the same way! When I was your age I think I might have been worse... pretty sure my folks were sending me round to help to cut down on our food bill."

The others laughed but Sasha looked at him. "How does that make sense? I mean I understand the basic principle but... aren't the recipes you use variations on stuff you mainly learned from them?"

Walt grinned and nodded. "Now you see my argument back in the day! Struggling and poor as we were pretty sure Grandma Kate could only cook in portions that served 12 at a time and up! Grandpa Joe weren't much better and I ain't either! Penny's ridiculous cookie batches are from Grandma Kate's cookbook only she made even more. I think they'd have loved her." He pauses looking around at all of them. "Actually... I think they'd have loved all y'all."

"Awwww," said Yang as she lead two more horses by. "They sound sweet... I don't know much but if you can teach me what I need to know before then, I'm in! Cowgirl me up!" She grinned. "Blake too!"

Blake nodded from just behind her. "Yang's correct. Teach us how to help and we'd be happy to!"

Walt grinned. "Sure thing! I'll teach y'all the ropes."

Blake smiled happily. "I'd like that!"

Blake blushed as Yang called back exciting the stables. "He doesn't mean "those ropes", so you know!"

There's a bunch of laughter. There's a lot of extra hands helping out today. It makes Walt and Sasha happy. Looking up at the old photographs they thought they approved too. Ages ago when it had been a major outfit this was how things were done here. Walt chuckled though looking at the pictures of hard bitten and working men. *The hands are much prettier these days, fellas!* he thought. He didn't hear any old ghosts complaining though so they likely agreed.

"So how many of us are riding in?" Sasha asked. "There's you and me..."

Walt pursed his lips. "I don't know. I know most are getting dressed up fancy and they can ride in the transport. I figure any that want too will have the option. It's not like we'll be taking "roads" there. We can even hitch up a team if we want to do so but I figure most will be in the "truck". How many of yall want to ride in with Sasha and myself?"

Lydia and Aela both raise their hands while the others look like they're thinking. Walt nods. "So only four so far. Might not be worth the trouble of saddling up then."

"Awwww," Sasha said.

Walt nodded. "Hey I feel the same way. If'n you want, we can do it. I'm just saying it's a little silly for four of us to ride in followed by a 12 yards long, 2 lanes wide, 65 ton vehicle that a mess load of folks are going to come spilling out of." Walt shook his head thinking about the ridiculous vehicle but after all the work put into it it was basically an APC... only much, much bigger and it didn't look threatening... unless you were a squirrel or a deer or something.

Sasha nods. "Yeah... I see your point..."

Walt chuckled. "You really don't want to wear a dress do you?"

She shakes her head. "I don't care but it's really not my thing anymore... it feels... weird? I'd rather stay in uniform."

Walt looks at her cocking his head. "Even though you aren't in the military anymore?" He sees her hesitancy and patted her shoulder. "Hey I used to be a soldier myself. I get it. I felt the same way after. You do something long enough and it becomes more than a routine. It becomes a part of you. It took me a longtime to feel like I didn't need to wear a uniform anymore and once I did feel that way... I wondered why I had waited so long to ditch it! Shoot as much as I hate wearing suits and everyone keeps reminding me I don't have to if I don't want, I still do it for the important stuff. They're like the "uniform" for the job in my mind, if that makes any sense... which it probably doesn't!"

He laughed and after a moment Sasha did too. "Thanks Walt. I really appreciate everything you have done for me. You've been great to everyone but..."

Walt smiled and nodded patting her shoulder. "It's what we veterans do. You're one of us now. Granted our experiences are different but... somethings are normal for all of us. We can relate on common experiences... and I'll always be here for you, my friend."

Sasha smiled. Walt was a good guy that way and even better friend. "I'll think about it. Oh... speaking of uniforms and what not what about... gear?"

Walt nodded and everyone else paid attention. He'd been on edge about the wedding and had obviously had a bad feeling. "Nothing obvious. We're guests and they're like family. Wouldn't do to upset the big day because of my paranoia. Wouldn't be "good form"... still if things go bad there's plenty of storage in the truck. Load up what you think you'll need. Senko said she'd hold some stuff in extradimensional spaces for us too... but the same rules apply. Self defense and the defense of others only until told otherwise. Understood?"

"Understood!"

Walt looked at Teddy. The big horse seemed to be looking at him expectantly too. "Aw, shoot. Alright let's go get you some exercise anyway even if we don't take you."

Teddy nodded and Sasha happily called out, "I got your saddle and tack over there already to go!" She smiled at Walt and chuckled. "I just realized. You're like me!"

Walt continued saddling Teddy but he asked, "How's that?"

Sasha grinned. "You were secretly hoping to take the horses so you don't feel like you have to get uncomfortably dressed up!"

Walt grinned and shot her a wink. "Let's finish up and give the horses some quick exercise then breakfast... then final prep and get on our way."

Sasha chuckled. "Sounds like a plan."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM and KL-E-O

Will Return In

Sunday

Coming Soon]