We had trudged through the mud and muck for hours. Well technically, I trudged while Curie floated effortlessly like an Angle. It had taken seven long days to get to the Ocean. We had to go through Raiders, Super Mutants and if that wasn't bad enough we had to fight freaking Mirelurks. I hate those disgusting, smelly creatures worst of all. They ambushed us the moment we made it to the Ocean. One cutting my arm so badly it took two stimpaks just to close the wound never mind the pain. Thankfully Curie had them ready the moment I was injured.
All this just so Curie could see the Ocean for the first time. When she asked I couldn't say no. I know I have other responsibilities right now. This is important to her so it is important to me. How could anyone say no to those big silver eyes.
When I heard Curie squealed in delight at seeing the Ocean. I would do it all over again just to see her that happy. All the pain was worth it. Her pupils dilated and she practically did a happy dance. Well it was more of a floaty bob up and down thing but it was still cute. Too bad she didn't see the Ocean before the bomb, I'd never got her away from it. I sat down on a nearby ledge and watched her.
I was so sore, every muscle in my body was killing me, it felt good to finally rest. I was just happy Curie couldn't smell me. I miss showers, I miss being clean. I hated smelling of dirt and dead Mirelurks. Once when I was traveling with Piper she asked me what I was planing to do with a bar of soap. I had to hold my tongue and remember this was not the same world I grew up in.
I toyed with my gun, keeping my eyes open for the next thing that wanted us dead while Curie floated up and down the coast. Collecting samples and playing in the tide. She would deny it later of course. She was a robot created for science and that was her sole mission in life. However, I could clearly see her from my spot playing in the water like a 5 year old. My eyes completely fixed on her. Telling myself it was because I needed to make sure nothing caught her of guard, but the truth was I just enjoyed seeing her so happy.
It's quit ridiculous how my life turned out. 200 years may have passed but everything that happened felt so fresh. I woke up in this hell and no one except her understands what it's' like to see it all for the first time. Where she sees beauty, I can only feel disgust and loss. Codsworth was with me before the bombs, but he had plenty of time to adjust to the world as it is now. Curie and I are different than everyone, both of us were trapped in vaults. I was held in stasis but so was she in a way.
I was pulled from my musing by Curie who was whirling around wildly and screaming."Look, come now. Look what I found it's amazing." I jumped up and quickly ran to the robot's side forgetting for just a moment how much pain I was in.
"Isn't it beautiful?" She pointed at the dirt with her robotic arm. I bit my tongue and looked down at the ground and saw only sand and rocks. I tried to hold back a chuckle, because my friend was clearly excited. I had to remind myself everything about this world was new for her. "I need you to pick it up for me and clean it. I lack the dexterity your fingers provide." I bent down and pushed aside the sand and rubble. I paused for a second when I finally found it.
She hovered close to me, and if she could smile she would have. "Isn't it spectacular." I never would have expected this from her. She never struck me as a natural wounder kind of girl, but here she was excited to see it. Sure she wanted to see the world, but I assumed she meant she just wanted to see the technology.
"What is it?"
"You mean, you don't know." A huge grin spread across my face.
"I know a great many things, but nothing in my programming ever covered something so beautiful."
"It's a pearl." I held the tiny shimmering gem in my hand. "Made in the belly of an oyster."
"I do not seem to recall that detail, in my data about mollusks."
"I don't think it really applied much to your old research, the guy who made you probably left it out." She nodded in agreement.
"Still a living creature made that. How absolutely fascinating." She looked down at her robotic arms, a laser in one, a saw in the other and two little clamp fingers on the third. I should have known it then that she would want more in her life than the limits of her body. "What does it feel like?" She got as close as possible, her eye inches from my out stretched hand. I rolled the tiny gem in my finger.
"It's soft and hard." Her tiny claw hand reached up and almost touched it, then pulled away.
"How can it be both soft and hard?"
"I guess I am not very good with words," my smile fell slightly. I held it up to the light so the sun hit it just right and illuminated it even more. I suppose a better description would be smooth and hard. Would you like to hold it."
"No," she said sadly, "I don't want my claw to scratch it. Would you be so kind as to keep it safe for me."
"Of course." I wrapped it in a cloth and placed it in the pocket of my pants next to my wedding ring. It figures in a spot where I only see dirt she found something beautiful. Maybe this world, as broken and destroyed as it is can still be beautiful. Or maybe the world is just beautiful because she is in it.