The metal gates that protected the community inside let out metallic screeches as levers tugged and the doors gave way, moving to the side to allow the newest arrival in. Dipper limped into the settlement, the dust he kicked up tickled his grazed leg causing the wound to sting. Right….he needed to get it cleaned, and fast.

Before he could look around his surroundings a man made his way over to him. Dipper turned his head looked the guy up and down. He seemed to be wearing some sort of green trench coat with a cowboy hat one could get at a dollar store, complete with a fake sheriff badge. His dark skin looked rough as if he had just walked out of a sandstorm, and in this world Dipper didn't have a hard time believing that was the case.

"Name's Lucas Simms, sheriff and mayor if the need arises. You looking to cause trouble?" The man rose an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest, no doubt judging Dipper and how hard he would be to take down if things got messy. The younger boy gulped and rubbed the back of his sweaty, dirty neck.

"I came for supplies, n-no need to get rough." He let out nervous laughter and tried to not let it show how much he was sweating, the man's gun looked clean and ready to fire, by the time Dipper grabbed his weapon he would already have a bullet to the brain, covering the metal walls behind him with pink matter.

"You treat my people nice and don't cause any trouble and you're welcome to stay as long as you like. Anything I can help you with?"

Dipper went to shake his head but paused, he had no idea where anything was in this place. The buildings were crafted out of sheets of rusted metal and stairways showed that there was just as many buildings above that had been built into the side of the crater…..wait...crater?

"Is this place built into the side of a hill or something…?"

"Nope, just built around an old undetonated nuclear bomb."

"...i-is that all?" He gave a weak laugh that faded when he saw Lucas frown. "Y-You're serious!? Are you people CRAZY?!"

"The only harm it has done is radiate the puddle of water it's in. I don't dare touch it but I mean, it hasn't gone off in 210 years what makes you think it will now? Though….it is troublesome warning every newcomer...tell you what,. If you can turn it it off there may be some caps in it for you…. May help me sleep better at night. Just keep it between us two for now. The Church of Atom worship that damned thing."

"Keyword may…" Dipper groaned and rubbed his temple. "Look I'll consider it..just….can you tell me where Moriarty's Saloon is?"

"Oh that place….can't miss it. Head up..and up..it's the building on the highest ground. Its two stories tall and covered in neon lights. Can't miss it."

"Thanks….." He paused. "Have you seen or talked to a man named Ford? Older guy?"

"Too many people come in through here I can't keep track...your best bet would be to ask around."

"Okay..right...thanks"

Dipper let out a sigh and limped past him. He had been about to ask where medical supplies would be located but it wasn't hard to find out. Right past the sheriff had been a metal building plastered with old medical posters that he had seen a billion times at his doctors office. The word 'Clinic' was flashing with dying purple neon lights.

He pushed the door open and peeked his head in and cried out.

"Hello?"

"Less you're on death's door I'm busy."

Dipper furrowed his eyebrows and walked in. The so called doctor was sitting down on a chair reading an old dirty magazine, turning his head towards Dipper with an annoyed expression.

"You sure about that?" Dipper huffed.

"Are you a doctor?"

"No… but-"

"Then you don't know if I'm busy being a doctor."

"L-Look I just need my leg patched up."

"100 caps."

"I guess universal healthcare was too much to be expected…"

"Look do you have the money or not?"

Dipper paused before slowly digging into his bag and pulling out the mentats he had gotten from the corpse earlier.

"Would these work…?"

The doctor raised his eyebrows and grabbed the packet, counting the white pellets inside before nodding. "Let me see it."

Dipper sat down and rolled up the pant leg and winced looking at the wound. There was a thick red scab that looked like if he made one wrong move it would break and cause the bleeding to resume.

"It's not infected, you can thank your lucky stars for that." He said as he grabbed what looked like a needle of sorts had Dipper not known better. The device in the doctor's hand was a handy little thing known as a stimpack. They were like needles, containing a highly effective healing medication that, when injected, would help the body in healing minor wounds to an incredible amount. The invention of them had saved countless lives, especially during the fights in the war….

The war…

Dipper looked around at the rusty walls of the building and felt a flicker of rage ignite in him. The war was the reason the world was a giant shitshow. It had been called the 'Resource War' before the bombs dropped and he briefly wondered if that was the name they used now…

It didn't matter.

The war had been a struggle between dying nations to get the last bit of resources from a drained planet no matter the cost. Oil was worth its weight in blood and, despite the attempts of a few world leaders order, world peace soon fell into chaos and desperation. Allies turned on allies and battles were fought.

Dipper had done his best to stay informed despite the mass censoring of news done by the government. Everyone knew that the chinese had invaded Alaska, in fact that's where his father had server using the new power armour. Power armour was the pinnacle of military infantry. They basically turned the user into a walking tank armour wise at the cost of mobility… well that had been the case with the T-4Dd versions, he had little knowledge about the newer models. But then again, did it really matter? New or old the world was ruined...

Dipper gave a small snort that turned into a yelp when the doctor jammed the stimpack into his leg before proceeding to wrap up the wound.

'Try not to get shot up again and be easy on the leg. Will scar but otherwise good as new… Now get, I don't have time for idle chatter."

Dipper just nodded, getting up and wincing. He grabbed his backpack and went out the door. Now he had to find that Saloon… Compared to the journey here this should be a piece of cake…

Right?