Inspired by Dean Koontz's The House of Thunder
The sensation of light beyond his closed eyes stirred him. Turning his head to the side he realized that his hair was long. He tried to raise his head but it felt as though everything below his head was non-existent. He struggled for a bit more but felt a darkness sweep over him as his exhausted mind gave out.
His eyes snapped open and he couldn't stop the racing heart or the heaving breaths. He had to get up, he had to run, he had to do something!
"Doctor! He's awake! Mr. Evans, it's alright! We gave you an adrenaline shot to see if you'd react, everything's fine!" The name Mr. Evans didn't ring a bell, but he knew that it was a dangerous thing. He tried to tell the unseen speaker that Mr. Evans was bad, but all that came out was a thin creak.
A face loomed over his. His eyes focused on it and he realized that he knew her face. His mind raced as he felt a rising tide of emotions wash over him. Nora? Darkness.
Again his eyes open. He raises his head and nearly passes out from shock when he's actually able to get it off the pillow. Emboldened by his he raises up onto his elbows and eventually makes it to a sitting position. Winded, he lets his head droop and rests there for a minute. MacCready. Startled he picks his head back up, expecting to see him standing there with his…
The thought vanishes. He strains as hard as he can but the only thing he can recall is something about a toy, maybe a toy soldier?
Great, so I got nothing but two names and something about a soldier. Way to go…he suddenly realizes he's not sure of his name. Did it start with a D? Or maybe it was a B? He strains his brain trying to dig anything up but the only thing he can be sure of is that it ends in a K…or maybe a C? Fuck.
A sound from his left drew his attention. A woman wearing a dark blue outfit entered his line of sight, her outfit burning his eyes in the white room.
"Mr. Evans! So glad you're awake!" She hurried over to him and helped him lay back down. Though he fought so long to get up, the support of the bed was a welcome aid to his battered body.
"Wh…ere?" He managed to work his jaw and was rewarded with a shocked look from the spark.
"Where? This is the Massachusetts Bay Medical Center. You're a patient here – have been for a few weeks now. What's the last thing you can remember?"
A smile. Broken, rotted teeth but it's the best smile he's ever seen. He blinks, trying to connect that memory to something or someone else.
"I…can't." He gestures at his throat hopelessly and the nurse nods. "Don't worry honey, I'll get you something that'll help."
She left and returned a short time later holding a cup with a straw. He tried to rise, but the spark put a hand softly on his shoulder and nudged him down.
"Here sweetie, lay yourself down." She pulled out a spoon and scooped something out of the cup. He opened his mouth and she spilled something into his mouth.
The instant he realized it was a piece of ice, his head erupted in pain as images and sounds flashed through his mind's eye.
Ice, frozen. Nora, no no no, NORA! Shaun, why did they take my…SHAUN! White, white everywhere. From the walls to the coats to his hair. No it couldn't be, could it? An explosion, another one. One to start it one to finish it.
"Don't go too far, I like being close."
He realized he was thrashing and writhing as his mind was assaulted with disjointed thoughts and half-remembered memories. He tried to find a way to turn off the flood of memories but it was a prick of a needle that caught his fevered attention. Instantly he felt a numbing sensation sweep his body.
Muscle relaxant. Non-narcotic, low threat risk. Let the drug work through your system, no easily available method to counteract. The thoughts floated to the top of the chaos and suddenly he found clarity. For some reason he knew about muscle relaxants. That he could work with. Keeping his face still, he quickly ran through a self-awareness checklist, how do I know that phrase?
He was in somewhere with access to powerful medication and a need for cleanliness. He was alive, and he needed to find Nora, who was somewhere cold. Shaun was someone important and needed to be found, even more so than Nora. Also, someone name MacCready was involved, most likely an ally, but that was conjecture. Also his name was not Mr. Evans. It was Claire. Mr. Claire.
By the time he finished his list the relaxant had done its job and he felt numb again. He started to panic but then he saw the familiar face again. She parted the gathered people and ran her hand down his cheek, finger trailing along the curve of his chin.
"Oh, honey. I missed you so much!"
"N…ora." He swallowed and tried again. "Nora." Her eyes glistened as she nodded.
"You remember me? Oh thank God, the doctors said you might not!" He stared hard at her face, committing it to memory. He might not remember much, but he knew he missed her. But wasn't she somewhere cold?
"You were cold?" Nora cocked her head and he shook his slightly. "Somewhere cold." Nora frowned slightly and ran her hand again down his cheek.
"Oh honey, you must be thinking of when I got stuck in the snowstorm last year. No, I'm fine. You rescued me, like you always do. You're my brave soldier." His eyes widened. Is that the toy soldier? Was that me? He couldn't be sure, but he felt like he was missing something.
"What's…my name?" Nora's hand stilled and fell to his chest, her palm steady and warm on his chest. "Derek. Your name is Derek Evans."
No, it's not. It's Derek Claire. But why would Nora be wrong about my name? Is she wrong? His mind began racing again and he felt the familiar sensation of darkness creeping upon his consciousness. He vainly tried to raise a hand, but the darkness swept him before he could even realize he'd failed.
A dark room, filled with clutter and smoke. Any sounds I make are swallowed up in the ink running through my fingers. Across the room the sound of metal clanking against itself starts, and I try to follow it. But I keep getting turned around on the flight deck. Where is the Proctor? Why is my noodle bowl taking so long? Normally it's ready before I can even apply the stimpak, the blood oozing down my arm. It was merely a graze and the General must stand strong. A flash of light, robots grabbing me, crying for rescue. One decision to end the battle, one to end the world, one to start a new world. Why am I here? I was looking for the lost kid, wasn't I? The ink flows through my finger, and the child breaths it. Eyes that are lit meet mine.
"You were warned. You cannot win. Father always wins in the end."
The nightmare lifted and Derek fought back the nausea, bile burning in his throat. Rising in his bed he silver light of the moon filtering through the narrow window has turned the blindingly white room a shade of grey. Restless from his nightmare he looked over his body, trying to see why he was so sore and tired.
He counted at least seven severe bruises on his arm, and a finger splint on his left ring finger. What could be a bruise on his chest just above his left nipple, but it was too high up on his chest and he couldn't see it. Wrapped abdomen suggested a bruised or broken rib, and there was swelling on his ankle, and discoloration on his toes. Taking his fingers, he carefully felt as much as his back as he could and was rewarded with several sore spots. Feeling his face he realized there were bandages on his nose and on his forehead in three spots, each spot tender and hot to the touch. Inspection done, Derek lay back down and tried to probe his memory for any hints on what to do.
I need to find out what they want and why I'm here, before I can do anything. But should I talk with them? No.
"I should have never trusted him. The ones we trust the most can hurt us the most."
"But what if trusting them is the key to being able to handle their betrayal? Even if he hurt you, you have friends here, Derek. Trust us to help you."
Dammit, where are you now though? I need you MacCready!
The thought made his mind freeze, the feeling of grief and fear paralyzing him. Derek suddenly realized how alone he was. So preoccupied with his thoughts he didn't hear the footsteps until they were next to his bed.
"Derek? Are you awake?" Nora's voice cooled his mind, her hand a welcome sensation pulling him from his thoughts.
He turned and smiled at her, "Hey."
She smiled and ran her hand through his hair, her finger nails tingling his scalp. A moan of pleasure slipped through him and his eyes fluttered shut.
"You know, I always joked about you sleeping with your barber, I guess you really just like having your hair messed with?" Derek chuckled and stretched as much as his body would let him.
"Hey Nora, how long have I been in the hospital?" Nora's hand continued it lazy circle through his hair but dropped away when Nora started to answer.
"That's a good question. I guess I lost count, to be honest." Derek opened an eye and regarded her coldly, "You lost count?" Nora caught the tone and flushed.
"I'm sorry if you think that makes me a bitch, but I didn't even know you were home! I was trying to put Shaun down for a nap when the phone rings. All I was told was that you suffered injury while carrying out a mission, and that you were being sent state-side for recovery." Shaun? He's here too?
"Did you say Shaun?" Derek rose to sitting again, legs crossed under him for support.
"Yes, Shaun – our son?" Derek nodded, but something was bothering him.
"Did he have white hair?"
"No, he has blonde hair, just like his daddy." Nora sat on the bed facing him and put a hand on his knee. "I know this must be disorienting, the doctors say there's no telling what memories are lost or just temporarily missing. Do you remember anything?"
"Actually, yeah. I had a really weird dream, but I remember a name. Does the name, MacCready mean anything to you?" Before Nora can answer the door opens a man in a doctor's coat strides into the room.
His lined face matches the weary look in his eye. He tells me that what I've been chasing isn't the real thing, its not him. His eyes betray him and I know it before he even says it.
"I am Shaun. I am your son." His silver hair catches the light, blinding in the white room.
The memory washes over him and he almost calls the entrant Shaun but Nora speaks first.
"Oh! Doctor Xavier! Good evening!" The doctor glances at Nora briefly before fixing his eyes on Derek. He's not sure why, but he gets a distinct feeling that Doctor Xavier hated him.
"I'm sorry I was not here earlier, Mrs. Evans. How are you feeling, Mr. Evans?" His clipped tone seemed to carry the same animosity as the doctor's eyes. Overcome by the sudden rush adrenaline Derek's hand groped at his side.
The hell am I doing? Was I reaching for a gun?
"Mr. Evans? How are you feeling?" Derek realized he hadn't replied to the doctor.
"Well, Doc, to be honest? I've felt better. How the hell I get so beat up if I was asleep for weeks?" Nora glared at his tone, but Derek ignored her.
"I apologize for the confusion, Mr. Evans. But you arrived in much worse condition. We were not informed of the cause of your injuries, jus that you were to be treated for them all." Was that a snarl? I can't tell, damn.
"Some of these injuries look fresh though, especially the swelling on my ankles. How can that still be occurring?" Nora looked taken aback, as though she was the one being questioned, not the doctor.
"As I said, sir. The cause of your injuries is unknown. If you were in contact with any chemical agent, high amounts of radiation, a biological agent, or had an unusual diet these could all cause swelling that would persist for weeks, even years." Although Derek wasn't done questioning the doctor, Doctor Xavier began taking his vitals and called for various samples of fluid to test for any of the aforementioned causes of swelling. The process took several hours and once Derek's done with the last blood draw he collapsed on the bed exhausted.
Nora had left earlier to go pick Shaun up from the sitter that was watching him. Derek wasn't sure how he felt about his son. On one hand, he wanted nothing more than to hold him – something his few memories agreed with. On the other hand, though, the idea of holding Shaun was wrong.
Well doesn't that just sum up my life? Do it, but don't do it, dammit. Can't I just have one easy day?
"Blue, with you around I doubt no one in the whole Commonwealth will ever have an easy day!" The sensation of a feminine hand holding his.
"But Blue, we can't give up. I mean, you fought the Institute and won!"
"Yeah, but then Danse went and…God, Piper. I'm not sure how much more weight I can carry on my shoulders."
"C'mon Blue. We're taking a day off! Let's go shopping in Diamond City. No ammo, no guns, just clothes and bars!"
"The Institute?" Derek probed the memory, hoping to shake more loose, but his mind refused to budge. Frustrated, Derek sat up and screamed into his pillow. Frustration spent, he flung the pillow back down. Caught up in the adrenaline rush, he didn't notice it earlier, but he suddenly realized how parched he was. Doctor Xavier had taken off his IV lines, so Derek was now free to roam the halls unhindered.
Padding out of his room, Derek turned left, away from the lights and further down the darkened hallway. He passed numerous rooms, but the lights were all out and he couldn't tell if they were empty or not. Passing a room with a single light on, he looked for any approaching staff. Pressing his rising sense of panic down, he turned the knob and slipped into the room.
The light came from an overhead light over the single bed. Moving in closer, Derek could see the bed was occupied by something. He let himself take one shuddering breath and then moved in to see who it was.
A child, about seven or eight, with dark hair and olive skin. His mouth was open Derek could see that his right canine tooth was chipped, the point missing.
"And I'm just so worried about me boy! He's always gettin' into trouble, that one! Please, mister, you gotta help me find 'im!" The voice he heard was familiar and simultaneously terrifying. Backing away from the effigy in terror, Derek stumbled over a piece of medical equipment and hit the ground hard. The noise rose the boy who slowly rose to a sitting position and began sweeping his head back and forth mechanically.
"No movement detected. Search program ended." The voice from my nightmare! "'You were warned. You cannot win. Father always wins in the end'!"
Scrambling from the room, Derek ran back into the hallway and sprinted as fast as he could back to his room. Throwing open a door at random he entered and was surprised to not find a hospital bed. Instead, there was a series of tables with various items on them. Some appeared to be gun, other were round like grenades. Following the weapon-laden tables, he eventually realized that the room was longer than he expected. He counted at least four doors since he entered, and the room still seemed to stretch another two or three.
This is enough for a whole army! What are they trying to keep out?
What are they trying to keep in? Derek froze, his body humming with adrenaline. He knew that was the right question. The weapons were to keep something trapped inside, not keep something from getting in.
Finally reaching the end of the room, Derek found an assortment of items. There were folded clothes, what could be pieces of armor, and an odd circular piece of armor with a screen on the top. He picked it up and turned it over, pointing the dusty screen up. He wiped it with his thumb and noticed that it had his name underneath the cartoonish drawing. Turning a few knobs, he found himself on an inventory list. Looking through it, he found something called, "Hi Honey!" He pressed play and fell to the ground as the recording played.
"Bye honey! We love you!" The holodisk ended and the Pip-boy fell silent. Sitting in the dark as his mind struggled through the new memories, Derek finally noticed that he was cold. Putting the Pip-boy back, Derek sullen trod through the armory of Institute pistols and plasma grenades. He stepped back into the hallway and found his way back to his room. He crawled into the bed and let the tears wash down his face until sleep took him.
The morning sun didn't wake Derek. He hadn't slept for longer than a few hours, plagued with nightmares and fragments of memoires slowly floating back to his consciousness. Instead, he had spent the night preparing for his move. With most of his memory back, Derek was ready to move from defense to offense. And he knew the right person to put his plan in action.
"Hello Mr. Evans. How are you feeling this morning?" X6 entered the room, studiously pretending to read pages on a clipboard. Derek waited for the door to close before speaking.
"Better than Father felt when I exploded his life work around him." X6's face morphed into a snarl and he began reaching for something under his coat when Derek pulled out the grenade.
"I wouldn't X6. Wouldn't want to hurt Daddy, now would we?" X6 snorted, "You killed Father already. I have no obligation to protect you any longer."
"Now, we both know that bullshit. I'm guessing by my injuries that I fought like hell to not end up here. Yet, I'm receiving excellent care. I'm needed alive." X6 didn't flinch or even react. Derek hoped he guessed right.
"Alright, traitor. What do you want, a way out?" X6 pulled his hand out from under his coat and let his hands fall to his side.
"First, turn off that radio. I know you have one on. Then we'll talk the terms of my being a hostage." X6 reached back under his coat, his hand manipulating something at his side. Withdrawing his hand, Derek pulled the pin on his grenade.
"Now, I'm guessing you'll survive this blast. But I won't. More importantly, my blood won't. No blood, no DNA. And I'm guessing with your pure pre-War DNA blown up and corrupted by the fallout of the reactor, you're hurting." X6's eyes flared slightly and Derek smirked.
"I was copying a Grognak comic, but it looks like I'm on the right track."
"There are unforeseen complications of your cold betrayal of Father's kindness." Derek laughed coldly.
"So, I'm warning you, you piss me off or even irk me, I go down as a pile of irradiated ooze, understood?"
"I accept these terms." Derek put the pin back in the grenade.
"Excellent, now my little puppet, we have much work to do and only about an hour before Nora two-point-oh shows up. Let's get to work."
