Community:Fanfiction/Nuka-Ghouls

'''the following is a wip fanfiction idea by Black Devil. Viewer discretion is advised'''

Background
After John Caleb-Bradberton perfected the Nuka-Cola formula, he advertised it as "addictive". A common marketing slogan, but the world was unprepared for just how true that statement was. All across the United States and beyond, wherever Nuka-Cola was to be found, so were Nuka-junkies, as they were derisively called. Addicted to the sweet, sugary taste of a Nuka-Cola, they developed deep cravings and splitting headaches when seperated from their beverage of choice. Before the war it was treated as just something of a dark joke, despite several attempts by congressmen and ministers across the world to get Nuka-Cola banned, claiming it was just the tip of the iceberg, and that long-term effects of addiction were entirely unknown, and potentially dangerous. Unfortunately for those after the war, their concerns proved to be prophetic....

General Characteristics
While they may be dismissed as merely ghouls who got dropped in a bucket of paint, those who did that would dangerously, and ignorantly, misjudge the situation. The unique blend of artificial chemicals and dyes in each bottle of Nuka-Cola has accumulated in the bodies of these addicts, combining with background radiation to ghoulify them in a way similar, yet distinct from most other ghouls. For one thing, there is no distinction between "feral" and "sane" Nuka-Ghouls. As long as they are supplied with Nuka-Cola, Nuka-Ghouls are as rational as any less irradiated humans in the wasteland. But, should they start to suffer withdrawal symptoms, they will quickly lose their sanity and revert to an animalistic state akin to feral ghouls. The key and most tragic distinction however, is that unlike feralism the withdrawal can be entirely reversed by simply consuming more Nuka-Cola, which causes them to regain their sanity, often accompanied by depression and horror at the acts they had done before. Physiologically theres also some key differences resulting from the excessive buildup of carbonated beverages in their systems. They have a more bloated appearance than other ghouls, giving them more of a portly appearance. The excessive carbonation can also be used as a defensive ranged attack, vomiting radioactive fluids at their target. Most Nuka-Ghouls only use this ability while suffering from withdrawal however, due to how gross it is. Nuka-Ghoul bodily fluids contain a simply staggering buildup of sugar, giving it a pungent sweet aroma that also has the affect of attracting other Nuka-Ghouls, especially those suffering from withdrawal. It is however, rather repulsive in flavor, which is why Nuka-Ghouls don't tear each other to pieces in a vampiric frenzy. One other curious fact about Nuka-Ghouls is that as their addiction progresses, they become addicted to just a single flavor of Nuka-Cola, or a specific blend of them. This is why theres such a great variety in them, classified into various types with chemical blends granting them drastically different and highly unusual abilities, and distinct colorations. These abilities appear to be doubled in strength by freezing conditions, much to the alarm of Canadian and Alaskan wastelanders. Stories of Nuka-Ghoul groups being killed in the summer and coming back from the dead for vengeance in winter are all too common around campfires throughout the wastes, which may go some way to explain how they remain prevalent despite being created from an ultimately finite resource.

Variants
Nuka-Ghouls are divided into many different types, often also known as flavors. Below is the list of all known types and their various idiosyncrasies.

Nuka-Cola Ghoul
The most prolific of all Nuka-Ghouls, and often just called Nuka-Ghouls, Nuka-Cola Ghouls are the end result of a Nuka-Cola addiction. The chemicals in the drink cause them to gain a permanent regenerative state, healing flesh and restoring stamina. However, while impressive to humans, it is the weakest such effect of all Nuka-Ghouls. Nuka-Cola Ghouls are dyed a dull dark brown, which has caused trouble for wastelanders without keen perception.

Nuka-Cherry Ghoul
Nuka-Cherry Ghouls are the end result of an addiction to Nuka-Cherry, and are a vivid red in color. Their regenerative abilities are 2 and a half times as potent as a regular Nuka-Ghoul, and they also uniquely have a small explosive kick to their vomit attacks, and explode like nuclear grenades when killed. Luckily for the rest of us, Nuka-Cherry was a rather divisive flavor, resulting in most Nuka-Cherry Ghouls being limited to parts of the East Coast, and in more limited numbers the Midwest, Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.

Nuka-Quantum Ghoul
The Nuka-Quantum Ghoul is one of the most terrifying of all Nuka-Ghouls, being a true equal of the regular Glowing One variety of ghoul. Glowing a bright blue (though some insist it has a purplish hue), the Quantum ghoul is intensely radioactive due to a buildup of Strontium-90, making it one of the only ghouls thats actually dangerous for others to be around even while sane. They have an incredible ability to heal from injuries, 10 times as powerful as those of a Nuka-Cola ghoul, and recover their strength just as rapidly. They also have a significantly greater amount of stamina over all, making them very difficult to tire. Nuka-Quantum ghouls are rare, and invariably always end up being the leader of their local community of Nuka-Ghouls, commanding great respect from others. Those who do follow them probably shouldn't stand close to them however, as Strontium-90 is a powerful explosive, with reports of Nuka-Quantum ghouls exploding more violently than a Mini Nuke upon death. How they manage to achieve this yet still have the possibility of resurrection is unknown, and frankly, alarming. Nuka-Quantum ghouls also have highly explosive vomit, with the Brotherhood of Steel comparing it to a rocket launcher. Despite the rarity of Nuka-Cola Quantum, their regenerative abilities and the fact Quantum in itself is highly radioactive means there's more Nuka-Quantum ghouls than there really is any right to be.

Nuka-Quartz Ghoul
Nuka-Quartz ghouls are an unusual type of Nuka-Ghoul, mainly restricted to the West Coast, with scattered groups existing on the East Coast. These ghouls, already highly distinctive as glow a bright white (occasionally with a bluish tint), also have a hardened "crust" on their exterior, giving them a rocky or a cyrstalline look, when they polish it. This material is highly durable and resistant to weapons fire, making the Nuka-Quartz ghoul a dangerous combatant. In addition, their vomit has lots of jagged flakes of crystal in it, which tear into flesh and cause heavy bleeding. Nuka-Quartz ghouls also have very good night vision, making them highly accurate against their foes day or night... though given how bright they are its debatable if they are ever truly in the dark. Nuka-Quartz ghouls dont have much in the way of health regeneration, only 50% more than a regular Nuka-Ghoul, although older Quartz ghouls can have triple the durability and regeneration of younger ones. They also possess simply staggering amounts of stamina regeneration, to the point of nearly being perpetual motion machines. Even the vaunted Quantum Ghouls have only has two fifths as much stamina. Quartz ghouls are more weakly exploding though, on par with a Nuka-Cherry ghoul.

Nuka-Victory Ghoul
The third member of the "lightbulb" trifecta of glowing Nuka-Ghouls (at least, that most people know about), the Nuka-Victory Ghoul glows a bright orange, making it very easy to identify. They are usually encountered alongside Nuka-Quartz ghouls for reasons that arent known yet, though the fact the two drinks were only ever sold in the Southwest and by select retailers on the East Coast does explain it somewhat. Nuka-Victory ghouls are somewhat lackluster compared to the Quantum and Quartz ghouls however, as they are the only one actually flawed, with very, very poor perception of their surroundings. They also dont explode like the other two. What they are though, is nearly impossible to kill, with regenerating abilities over twice as powerful as the Quantum ghouls. They also have a slightly increased reserve of stamina, but its only half as much of an effect as the Quantum ghouls, and they completely and utterly lack any stamina recovery abilities, meaning their ability to fight and run for extended periods is more or less the same as any normal person. Bizarrely, despite known examples of addicts coming from the NCR's fringes having no idea what a government even is, they are all intensely patriotic to American ideals, and reports of an Enclave sect run by Nuka-Victory ghouls (and the odd Nuka-Ghoul that was actually a former Enclave soldier, as they are known to have kept a large stock of the beverage) remain at large, though their base has not been discovered, and the NCR themselves treat this idea as a joke at best, or rampant conspiracy at worst.

Nuka-Clear Ghoul
200 full years after the Nuka-Cola Corporation itself was bombed into oblivion, disturbing reports have been coming out the Capital Wastes, The Pitt, Point Lookout, and even as far north as Ronto, of a new variety of Nuka-Ghoul, who drank bottles of Nuka-Cola Clear, which have been produced in limited numbers since the formula was recovered from D.C.'s Nuka-Cola manufacturing facility. Much of what is known about these ghouls remains rumour and hearsay, for the simple fact they they are entirely invisible. No one can even guess as to how many there are, what other abilities they have, or in most cases who they even are really.

Nuka-Cranberry Ghoul
A unique type of Nuka-Ghoul originating from West Virginia, Nuka-Cranberry Ghouls are a dull red in color, often causing them to be confused with Nuka-Cherry Ghouls. However, they are physically much less impressive than them, in fact being slightly less imposing than a regular Nuka-Ghoul, as while they have some regenerative abilities, they lack any extended endurance. They are however exceptionally skilled and experienced laborers, making them a boon to any group that can acquire the exclusive flavor needed to keep them fed.

Nuka-Vampires
In 2097, dwellers from Vault 76 beat the deadly Scorched Plague by mass-producing Nuka-Cola at a local Nuka-Cola plant, that was mixed with their Scorched-resistant blood. Unbeknownst to them however, this led to drastic consequences down the road, as later the first of the Nuka-Vampires started to appear. While they generally look identical to a normal Nuka-Ghoul, they have a deep thirst for blood as well as Nuka-Cola, which has allowed them to spread beyond West Virginia as they don't require only the original formula to survive. As long as they mix a diet of blood and plain Nuka-Cola, they can keep their sanity wherever they go. Notably Nuka-Vampires possess a virtual immunity to diseases, as the yeast in the sugary fluids they ingest has also mutated to become an incredibly effective immune system. They also possess incredible healing abilities, however unusually they are not passive, but instead have to be "activated" by drinking either Nuka-Cola or blood. Once their body absorbs it, they can heal from seemingly ANY injury, even death, giving them a supernatural mystique even amongst other Nuka-Ghouls. They have encouraged this reputation, employing spooky and somewhat overelaborate blood rituals when they aren't in combat. Even immortals need their jokes it would seem.

Nuka-Dark Ghouls
Nuka-Dark Ghouls are those who had been addicted to Nuka-Cola Dark. They are a bit of an outcast sect even amongst Nuka-Ghouls due to their alcoholic proclivities, causing them to band separately from Nuka-Ghoul communities. Although a particularly ambitious Nuka-Ghoul leader may overlook this and use them as fierce close combat shock troops, as surprisingly for a ghoul they possess immense strength and endurance. Their black coloration also makes them good at night operations, although they tend to be too loud and clumsy for true stealth missions. Unlike other Nuka-Ghouls they do have some crippling weaknesses however, namely, they are completely blind, and lack the passive healing abilities of other Nuka-Ghouls. They also dont gain any benefit from being in cold weather, though it's entirely possible to find them swimming in a frozen lake in their underwear simply because they feel like it.

Nuka-Grape "Ghouls"
Nuka-Grape addicts are an odd lot, not simply because of their bright purple complexion. No, it is because although they share much in common with the Nuka-Ghouls, they are, in fact, not ghouls. Instead they are merely bright purple humans, mutated slightly due to the chemicals in their drinks, but still human. They hang around Nuka-Ghoul communities mainly due to their similarities, and due to the fact they tend to be the best at finding Nuka-Cola. The relentless teasing by regular, non-purpley humans tends to drive them away from regular society as well. One should not underestimated them however, as they are in fact one of the stronger varieties of Nuka-Ghoul, with a healing factor 5 times as strong as the basic Nuka-Ghoul, and stamina recovery 4 times as strong. Most notably, and this is mainly why they aren't ghouls, they have the incredible ability to purge all radiation from their systems. Unlike Nuka-Orange Ghouls, they can be irradiated, but their bodies simply purge it out again with incredible efficiency.