More or less in the same voice as Hawkins, Killian states in a voice of flat command, or possible demand "Baths. For everyone. No exceptions." while wrinkling his nose - something that may remind people, those who are at all inclined to dwell upon such things - that his sense of smell is several hundred times better than that of most anyone else and he's been cooped up in the truck with them for the last day or two. "After that. Shit, I have a couple of charged E-clips left, I'll be six to ten thousand in the hole just reloading the ones I have. Another sixty-five thousand, give or take just fixing my armour. Assuming prices here are anything like the ones at home."

Oh, we all very much stink, Nutball agrees.  But we need to hose this place down and get some air freshener, too.  Otherwise baths will do not good.
Maybe we can find an E-clip charging unit to add to this rig?  Also a TV and a PDD player with some movie discs.  He then turns to the side, as if addressing someone.  No.  We can't get a pool built.  No basketball court either.

  Book nods in agreement as each of his teammates speak in turn.  "Shucks friends, it sounds like we have ourselves a right and proper plan."  he responds, his smile even bigger than before, if that were somehow possible.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:15, Sun 12 Dec 2021.

Having been subjected to the swamp and having now special sense regarding smell Jen had come to ignore the funk from the fetid water they had travelled through.  But the talk of it brought it to the fore front of her mind and now it made itself aware.

Yeah.... So a place that does baths and then food.  When we get the mountaineer fixed we can have it detailed at the same time.  Get the filters switched out as well to make sure nothing remains blowing about the air conditioning system.

Peering out of a window at the streets they were travelling in Jen would keep a look out to see if there was a public access network booth or something of that sort where information could be gotten, after all doing a quick database search would be faster in finding the places they wanted to use, or...

..How about the next person we pass I'll ask them if they can direct us to a place that does baths or a data terminal?

  "I like that idea!"  Willy said with his signature grin.

Hawkins steered the big ATV alongside a nearby kiosk and opened the side hatch window.

The smells of onions, peppers, and sausages of some type frying on wooden spits filtered through the window. The sounds of the street; passing conversations, rumbling engines, trotting horses, and a hundred voices shouting out the benefit of the goods or services they represent. A skinny man with a collection of knives hanging around his waist atop a stained leather apron stepped around his grill and peered into the open side window.

"Hey, in there. You need some lunch?" The man asked into the portal. "For five FedMags each I have the finest bronto-sausage kebabs on the street."

 More or less the moment the window cracks, Killians ears perk up and swivel towards the scent of frying, his head following about a half-heartbeat later... Although he's just a touch too dignified, or at least well engineered to actually make a move towards the scent of food.

Ooooooooooooooh!  Those smell gooooooood, Nutball exclaims.  I want one!  C'mon!  Let's try 'em!

Jen breaths in as the strong scent of cooking reaches her nose and she smiles.  Leaning from the window and offering a little wave.

Sure we'll have a round, so far that's three wanting. Glancing back in turn to Douglas, Theresa and Hawkins questioningly, You guys want some?  Oh, by the way. Attention turned back to the vendor along with a friendly smile, Just arrived in town, does this place have a public information network with terminals?  If so where are they, and also do you know a place that does baths?  Rolled in from the swamp and in need of cleaning up, you know how it goes.

Hawkins held up two fingers.

Once the man starts handing out the food on a stick Theresa reaches out to accept one, then just sticks the whole thing in her mouth like some kind of magic trick, pulling out the perfectly clean stick, even the cooked on bits are gone.

As if nothing strange had just happened she turns her attention outward to the rest of the open air market, or at least the other nearby food vendors the merchant mentioned.

”There are no doubt many interesting places we can find food from, but before we get into any complex or risky activity we really should find a repair shop.”

The man stares at Jennifer's feline features for a moment, then catches himself, and begins handing out kebabs into the opened side panel. He smiles, it will be a good afternoon at this rate. After spending a few moments listening to Jennifer's questions he responds, and cleverly offers chilled local beers into the window to wash down the kebabs.

"Yes, ma'am, you can get on local wifi or radio comms and connect to the public info grid. Just query Huntsville nine-one-one." He said smiling and figuring up the bill. "There are a number of public access baths. The most common are the pit stops. Those are like a refueling station with overnight parking, a small store, pay as you go bathing facilities, pay as you go laundry, a restaurant, and sometimes a game room or public three-d room. Say, you fellas need a real city guide. My cousin Vic is one the best in town."

 "He'll probably get kickbacks from the businesses he guides us to, but it's not a bad way to find what you're looking for." Killian states quietly as he reaches out to take his kebab, sniffing it once and finding it quite unobjectionable, then starting to daintily bite pieces of meat off the end of the skewer, one by one.

  When questioned about food, Douglas responds with an even bigger grin, almost salivating visibly.  "I'll take three if you please, & don't spare the beer neither!"  Once the food is in hand, he looks positively joyous.  "Thank you kindly!  Hoooo boy!  These look as good as they smell!"  He immediately begins to devour them, thoroughly enjoying the fresh cooked food & cool beer.
  As the rest continue the discussion, Douglas continues to eat & drink, responding to both Theresa & Killian by giving a hearty thumbs up & loud hums of approval.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Wed 15 Dec 2021.

Nutball, having raised the bottom of his mask to reveal burn-scarred mouth, chin, and neck, is tearing off chunks from the kebab with big bites of his sharp teeth.
Holding up a hand, he indicates a desire for two more kebabs and a beer.
Very tasty.  The meat has been marinated for five... no, seven days, in a dry rub of salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, brown sugar, cayenne, and a hint 9f cinnamon.  Then, hickory smoked for at least twelve hours, he muses between bites.
When he receives the other two kebabs and the beer, he takes a drink to wash down the food and clear his palette.
Hmmmm.  Interesting.  A fragrant pilsner with lower acid, and a floral, woody, and spicy flavor profile.

In reply to Nutball (msg # 681):

  Douglas looks surprised, almost stunned, at Nutball's analysis of the food & beer.  He stares for a moment, blinks, regains his usual cheerful expression, gives Nutball a friendly nudge with his elbow, then continues eating & drinking.

"That guy must be crazy." the says after listening to Nutball's analysis of the food. "The meat is put through a grinder with fat on it for flavor. We add a little salt, sage, paprika, and chili pepper in the processing. Then it goes into the tubes and sealed in plastic wrap. I cook them sausages fresh, not less than three days old. It's just bronto meat. And that beer is brewed in a steel barrel. The same on I boil the onions in. It's made fresh daily, cools over night. Geesh, where does that feller eat?"

Hmm, thanks, you give us Vic's contact info and we might get in contact for the guiding.  Thanks for the food.  It sure will keep us going.

Jen flashed a bright smile, cradling a kabab and beer.  A direct connection would be better for her to work with really, but it would do and they could find out places to get things sorted.  Alternatively there was the guide that would know places.  Drawing back inside and letting Hawkins handle the payment for the food.

Hawkins leaned out the window slightly.

"How much Dibbler?"

"Forty-two." He said. "I ain't particular so long as it is FedMag, Coalition, or Worth script or credited on one of their banks. Down the block about fifty meters on the left is a shop, Mesa Verde Tours. Al in there is a local bawd. Knows all the dives, amusements, and whatch-need shops in town worth knowing. He ain't cheap though. And there is a public library around the corner two blocks up on the left. Cheap local net access. I use it myself."

"Thank ya."

He paid the man 45 Coalition credits and then closed the window and continued onward.

Ok, public library to get the location of one of those pit stop places to get cleaned up.  Will grab some info on armorers and vehicle workshops for repairs and replacements.

Chowing down on the food, enjoying the hasty meal.

Then we can look at where we go from here, like see if we can sell some of the stuff we got.  I can take a closer look to see if I can gat any of it working. she shrugs, Don't know about you guys but I sort of want to look into a way of getting home.  I've got folks I miss.

In reply to Jennifer Long (msg # 688):

  In between bites of food & swigs of beer, Douglas somehow finds time & room to respond with clear speech, "I second that.  My folks fret enough for me as it is."

 "For me, I'm not sure that it really matters... But... I suppose home's where I know. And on the outs or not, I still feel an obligation to do what I can when I can to protect the CS." Killian admits, finishing the last of his kebab and running the skewer through his jaws before wiping it off and tucking it away.