Well, I've decided to throw this since its been on my mind even longer than Skyrim has been. I did write this particular one out a long time ago, even before the Ghost of the Terminus came to me. I figured I might as well get this out onto the site. Enjoy or don't enjoy.
"War... War never changes. Since the dawn of humankind... when your ancestors discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilt in the name of everything. From God to justice to simple psychotic rage. I was there to see the first murder. I've seen skeletons left in desolate canyons. And I was there to see the mass graves filled with bodies of men who gave their lives in a terrifying war that had engulfed the world a second time."
"In the year 2077, after millennia of armed conflict, the destructive nature of Man could sustain itself no longer. I remember seeing bright, clean urban areas overcome by fiery nuclear waves. I remember how the fallout choked what remaining life had survived. The world was plunged into an abyss of fire and nuclear radiation. But even though Humanity's greatest achievements had been destroyed, it was not as some had predicted the end of the world."
"The apocalypse was simply the prologue to another bloody chapter of human history. For Man had succeeded in destroying, but not himself. And war... war never changes. When things had begun to settle down after the bombings and nuclear winters had ended with the shattered remnants of Humanity poking their heads out of the rubble, the Boss himself sent me, and at least one other I know of down here. In short we were given a list and mission: Protect everyone on the list. Apparently, these were people who would become very important. I didn't question the Boss, even though I hadn't seen the point at the time."
"'Why should we help humanity?' I had thought to myself at that moment. And could you blame me? They had literally burned and destroyed their world! They were nothing more than a self-destructive dying breed with little to no chance of recovering. But since this was from the Big Man himself I went down to what remained of Earth. The first guy on my list was some guy whose ancestors managed to get in one of those vaults made by Vault-Tec, 13 I think. Anyway, the vault's water purification system was failing due to a faulty part or something-I don't remember. So their Overseer sent my charge out into the wastelands looking for a replacement part. He did well enough that I didn't need intervene. When he did acquire the parts he was later sent to find out why there were so many super mutants in the vicinity since their numbers had begun to swell."
"That was when I intervened. He had been overwhelmed by several units from the Master's Army. Super mutants, nightkin, centaurs, and floaters. The last two were such disgusting creatures as I recall. I came to him in the form of a man of Brotherhood of Steel, wearing power armor and carrying a laser rifle. I saved his ass and later on helped him defeat the Master, formerly known as Richard Grey. Grey had become a hideous FEV-mutated creature that had somehow managed to hybridized with other human mutants and computers. It was repulsive to look at. A true abomination of science gone wrong. I helped him destroy the creature, its army and base, and what did the Vault Dweller-that's what he was and what people outside the vault called him-get in return? Exile! That damn Overseer feared his actions would make other vault residents wish to leave and so exiled him."
"Believing he still needed my help, I traveled with him until he gained a following from both people from his vault who had left to join him, and the wastelanders who had come to admire him. Later on they founded a tribe that went by the name Arroyo. I realized that his actions had in fact done some measure of helping humanity. By removing that cancerous abomination, Humanity's remnant was able to grow without any dire threat to oppose it. Shady Sands, a settlement that he had helped would eventually grow into the New California Republic. Human civilization was on the rebound with a good path ahead of it. Seeing his exploits were over, I left his sight and resumed watching him afar now that his tasks were done. After checking him off the list, I looked down towards the next person on my list. Imagine my surprise when the next name was that of his grandson. I watched and waited for the child to be born after the Vault Dweller passed from this world. Several decades later, the boy, christened as the Chosen One was born."
"This one seemed much more promising than his grandfather as the tribe raised him to be their champion and future elder, a position of leadership for the tribe. By the time his training had been complete, Arroyo was in decline. Its only chance to survive was to send the Chosen One out into the Wastes and find the Garden of Eden Creation Kit otherwise known as a GECK. During his little quest I came to as I had come to his grandfather: As a man clad in power armor. Though this time I was using H&K G11. Together we traveled to Vault 13, which had been devoid of a majority of its inhabitants. After acquiring the GECK, we returned to find Arroyo's people being taken captive by the Enclave, a group of military nut-jobs who believed themselves genetically pure and clean of any radiation. And while that may true, their attitude toward other people of the wasteland made them anything but pure. They were corrupt, militaristic, and morally lacking since they used people to test the Forced Evolutionary Virus."
"We tracked the Enclave to their base which had been a Poseidon Energy oil rig. The place had been a fortress and the sheer number of soldiers would overwhelming for just the two of us. Luckily we were not alone. Over the course of our journey we had done several things in different places that would change the Wasteland. Among them had earned us allies in the forms of John Cassidy, Marcus the mutant, and Skynet which was a Robobrain. With their help, we infiltrated the Enclave base and managed get everyone out, but not before battling Secret Service Agent Frank Horrigan. The man was a monster, both figuratively and literally. He had been an FEV experiment. He was like a mutant his size and strength which were enhanced by the power armor he were. Add to the mental conditioning the Enclave gave him and you got a walking talking death machine. It was a tough battle and there were moments that I thought we had lost but in the end we got him."
"He attempted to take us down with him by using a nuclear bomb, but we got away safely before it could detonate. All it did was make our job easier with how many Enclave died. After it was all over we disbanded, and I resumed watching my charge progress on his own. In the end, the tribe and the people of Vault 13 were saved and together, with Chosen One's leadership, founded New Arroyo. With a combination of the tribe's survival skills, Vault-dwellers' technical knowledge, and the GECK, New Arroyo thrived under his rule and grew into a great civilization."
"I wish I could say that was the end. That Humanity no longer needed someone to hold their hand anymore but then I'd be lying. The next one on the list was another human male who wasn't due to be born for another 16 years, in Washington D.C. and he most likely wouldn't be doing anything major for at least another 19 years if he follows the pattern of my previous charges. 15 years would later pass before the Boss suddenly called me. I didn't know what to think. Had my mission been recalled? Was I to be replaced by someone? The Boss wiped away my fears by telling me I had done a great job. I didn't even have a chance to say thank you when he told me that my direct intervention had to be greatly reduced."
"From what he said, human's were beginning to take notice of us. These mysterious people who suddenly appear and began helping these... messianic figures succeed in their quests. I agreed with Him but had to ask Him what was I to do. A human could only do so much before their bodies give under the strain of what they were doing. He stood up from his chair and picked up something off his desk before handing it to me. It was a small syringe filled with a glowing red liquid. I couldn't help but look at my boss in confusion."
"He told me that my other charges had acquire certain... 'perks' while traveling on their journeys. This was not unusual as these kinds of things come from experiences that helped shape them. Skills, tolerances and other talents are often better when practiced. However I was there to make sure they got use those perks after they acquired them. This time though I would not be allowed to stay by my current charge's side. Apparently, the liquid in this syringe was the Forced Adaptation Serum. In short, my next charge would be able to understand things easier, be extra special, and have perks that most humans would never have. This would actually help him when whatever he was supposed to do came up while I wouldn't be fighting by him every step of the way. To add on to that, I would need to wait for the boy to become accustomed to the Wasteland's environment before injecting him with it. Otherwise the serum would have nothing to 'build on.'"
"It was fine by me having to take a step back for a while. But if I was to that, then who would protect the child? I knew he would be born in the Wastes, in some type of settlement, but these places as I've seen are not completely safe. There would be so little chance of survival for him. The Boss informed that I need not worry about his safety. That the boy would taken to a vault that was still in use by relatively normal people. That worked for me."
"When I arrived in Washington, though it was now called the Capital Wasteland, I saw no use for my current apparel and changed it into something more relaxing. Instead of power armor and an H&K G11, I donned a dirty yellow trench coat with a matching fedora. On my hip, my .44 Magnum was fully loaded and holstered. In my pocket, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Hey, I need something to pass the time."
"Finally, the day came when my charge had been born. I was there, during the birth of course. No one notices me unless I want to be noticed, and I hardly ever want to be noticed. I had been hidden in the corner watching as his mother screamed bringing him into this world while her husband supported her. They were good people. A rare commodity in this harsh place. I had forgotten how loud babies can scream. Still it was a good sign that meant he was healthy. His squalling ceased once his father held him. The two new parents seemed so happy that the room brightened somewhat, their tone infectious to everyone in it. Even me. His parents got a look in to see what he would look like in the future. A lady killer for sure. The happiness died quickly as the machines began beeping. The father, James, became distressed as his wife, Catherine started to become weaker."
"They ushered the baby out who immediately started crying again as he was taken away from his parents. Sadness filled me as I felt the flame of life within Catherine die out. James had been distraught. The project he and his colleagues seemed so dead set on seemed to have taken its swan dive with their leader depressed and his wife dead. I thought about applying the serum to the boy but he had not acclimated yet to his environment. James later took the boy southwest, escorted by a dark-skinned woman clad in power armor. I followed them at a distance while making sure that nothing dangerous crossed their path. Several things would've had I not been there. Feral ghouls, super mutants, some mercenaries with a bird's foot on their chests, and even a deathblow at one point."
"There was another thing that I forgot to mention. Despite my sneaking abilities I can't go into vaults. I'm better off outside than in an underground bunker for long periods of time otherwise I'll get noticed. Combine that with the boy acclimating to the environment with a dash of me protecting the group from less than savory characters, I have a small window to apply the serum and that window is getting smaller. It got the point where I thought I wouldn't be able to do but my Boss was looking out for me. The group decided to take a short rest at this settlement called Megaton. It was a nice little place. Could be something greater if things go the right way. But onto business."
Year 2258
So here I am standing in front of Moriarty's Saloon. I'm looking out over the balcony at Megaton admiring the view. I light a cigarette, taking a moment to enjoy the nicotine before blowing out the smoke through my nose. I've been told it makes me look somewhat dangerous, but I don't particularly care. It helps keeps the smoke from eyes and doesn't ruin my enjoyment. I've been thinking over how to get close without anyone noticing me. But all I've got is a mere lie and distraction move.
Wait. Maybe I can use that. I put out the cigarette on an astray on a nearby table before walking into the saloon. The smell assaults my nostrils making want to wince. A mixture of alcohol, sweat, smoke and something which just had to be body odor of some kind. Humans can be so disgusting some times. The first thing to greet my sights was Colin Moriarty. The was a sick a shit in my eyes. True, he and his family had helped secure Megaton and he is perhaps the wealthiest man in town, but he sells chems and women here in this place. He gather's information on people in town and will not hesitate to use it on them in order to achieve his ends. Though perhaps he's one of things that are a necessary for a town like this to be so well built.
I walked up the steps to the second floor and approached 4th room furthest from the stairs. I calmly knocked on the metal door and waited. The sound of heavy footsteps came closer until Star Paladin Cross opened. She was dark-skinned woman with a buzz cut who had a deadpanned look her in dark brown eyes. From what I can tell, this human was a cyborg. Add that with the power armor she was wearing and you got a dangerous soldier. I put on an unsure smile and started my plan.
"Hey, is there a James and a Paladin Cross here?" I asked with faux uncertainty. Cross merely raised an eyebrow in interest so I continued, "Well there's some kind of Brotherhood of Steel guy at the gate asking for you two. Something about a scribe?" She stared at me for a moment before opening the door revealing James and the baby boy.
"Describe him." Cross said. I figured she would ask that.
"He was wearing a helmet, definitely male from the voice. Oh! Armor had the same symbol of yours and he was carrying a laser rifle. Kept muttering about some Scribe called Rothchild." That was enough to get their attention. With that said I left to go back downstairs and watched while sitting at the bar. It didn't take long before the two came down and left the saloon. I walked back upstairs knowing I had roughly five minutes before they got back. No one noticed me going up the stairs. I tried to open the door but it was locked. Should've known they'd do that. Luckily I had some knowledge of how locks worked and this one wasn't complicated. A smile came upon my face as I heard the click signifying it was unlocked.
I entered the room to find the boy on the bed, cooing as I walked up to him after shutting the door. Poor kid. Has no idea what's ahead of him. I took the syringe out and gently, but firmly, took the child's arm. I injected the serum. The little fella cried so loudly from the intrusion. By the time I took the syringe out I could hear the door to the saloon burst open with frantic footsteps following up the stairs. I got out of sight just as the door slammed open with Cross looking around with her energy pistol. James was right behind her before rushing in to see to his son. The boy's wails quieted down to whimpers as his father soothed him. The two adults looked around the room, not seeing me at all.
"I think it's time we head to Vault 101." James said as he stroked his son's head.
"Yes, I agree." Cross replied. The two gathered what they had and left the establishment. I followed them as discreetly as I could, opting to stay a good few dozen yards away. I watched as they got to the entrance and James bid Cross goodbye before entering the small cave. Hearing the vault door open and then close later on from the outside, I knew they had got in. I took out another cigarette and lit it.
"Good luck, kid. See you in a few years." I said as I enjoyed the nicotine before walking away.
Okay, yeah. So I need to get this out. Been doing some combing through my laptop and found this. I thought why not? Hope you like it.