Atomica #3 (Part 2)

ISSUE 3: THIS LOOKS LIKE A JOB FOR SUPER-DUPER MART! (Part 2)

Hopping over a shelf, she found the first of her goals easily. Food aplenty still existed here. One of the raiders approached on patrol. She was dealt with switfly. The room was laid out as a sort of supply and workstation for the raiders. A Laser Pistol in poor repair and several rounds of cells for it were scattered about.

The moment she touched the pistol, The suit somehow absorbed critical components.

ASSIMILATING COMPONENTS.

ADAPTING.

UPGRADING.

POWER TO MAIN WEAPON NOW AT FIVE PERCENT CAPACITY.

Atomica grinned.

Now this, I can work with.

The pod on her left wrist opened.

INSERT AMMUNITION.

She fed her suit the Laser's power cells. It drained them and ejected the spent casings.

Cool.

She made her way to the rear of the store, carefully watching her radar. There were four of them, arguing about some lunatic in a bizarre costume that had been sighted near Springvale.

I'll have to keep an eye out for whoever that is. Could be trouble.

Atomica leapt up onto the shelving opposite the raider scum.

Surrender, evildoers!

Their answer was a hail of bullets and profanity. The blaster made reasonably short work of them, even at its greatly diminished power levels. Four more confronted her at the entrance to the restrooms. Three of them went down as quickly as the first group. The fourth dodged, weaved, and managed to get several shots off.

ACTIVATING OVERCHARGE.

The last one was struck with a beam of such intensity that she was reduced to a pile of faintly glowing ash.

Whoah.

In the back of the Mart, Atomica managed to activate a protectron. It showed her where the medicine stores were before heading out to tidy up.

Her world froze and began to spiral as she read the box labels of the medicines she had found.

Stabilizine.. My.. My pills.. These are my.. No.. Can't go back.. I Can't be...Her.. again..

You know we need our pills. You know it, deep down. Superheroes aren't real. Come on, just take a couple..

I Can't.. I.. My.. Pills...

She began to open the box, completely dazed as spots appeared in her vision. Two tablets, once a day. There were years worth here. Allison would never become Atomica again once she swallowed them. She hesitated briefly.

Lemon, Cherry, or Grape?

The intercom clicked on, bringing her back to the present moment.

Uh oh. More of them.

As Atomica checked her radar, she unconsciouslly slid the case of Stabilizine into a half case of mentats.

Atomica could only smile as she came out to find the Protectron had dropped three of them by itself as they entered. The fourth was up front. Her weapon was still in overheat recharge from the power blast. Atomica took the leader of this cell out the hard way. By the time they were done, she felt nearly as dead as her opponent.

Can't use any of the meds I found.. Moira will want them.

The suit managed to stabilize her, but it was in bad shape itself. She needed to get back to the Sanctuary. First, though, there was work to do.

Out of the wastes came a sight the residents of Megaton would talk about for days after. Allison limping into town, several shopping carts lashed together, full of every last can and bottle that was salvageable from the Super-Mart., The improbable rig was pulled by the dead trader's brahmin, which she gratefully donated to the town.

Moira was overjoyed. Food and medicine aplenty.

“And all you need to get it is either the help of a friendly neighbourhood superhero or enough firepower to liberate Anchorage! And lookie here! You have a broken arm and are close to bleeding out! Goodie! Well. Not so goodie for you.”

Moira fixed her up and cashed her out. As she was leaving, she called out.

“Make sure you tell Atomica we have an appointment!”

A quick trip back to the lair, and Atomica appeared. She was completely unaware of her actions as, in a dreamlike trance, she put the case of Stabilizine into a secure hiding spot. Having spent all her energy, Allison faded back to her small place in Atomica's subconscious.

Atomica spent some time standing by The Confessor, trying to talk him out of his nefarious, if entirely passive, agenda. By the time the afternoon had passed and the spectators had actually grown bored, she was feeling quite ill. Moira was again pleased, even if the suit was a little miffed.

GENETIC DRIFT DETECTED.

MUTATION IRREVERSIBLE.

MUTATION IS BENIGN.

ADJUSTING BIOMETRICS.

Another fruitful day passed in Atomica's never-ending battle for Truth, Justice, and the right to a nice bubble bath. Tomorrow, she was off to find Minefield.