Fallout: Legend

The Prologue

The hum of the Purifier echoed through the control room. Kurt overlooked one of the main terminals, scanning the data that was streaming in from the latest test. His ocean blue eyes scanned it before shooting his gaze back to the clipboard in his hand. He had nearly ten pages now of test data. The years hadn't been the best on the Purifier, with the power starting to mysteriously fail and batches of water containing small traces of radiation. Kurt didn't trust anyone else to examine it. Besides that, most of the members who originally worked on the project were either dad or had moved on with their lives. Now it ran for him and him alone, constantly trying to find the precise reason as to why the power was failing and whether or not it was having a direct effect on the radiation levels.

The sound of a door closing finally broke Kurt from the data. Turning around he saw Harkness slowly moving up the stairs to the control room. He gave a nod, "Harkness."

The synthetic human gave a friendly smile in return, "How's she running?"

Kurt let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the streaming data. "Honestly," he started whilst shaking his head, "I don't know." He sighed again and extended an arm to the main panel to end the test. "There's nothing wrong with the power supply itself, but something in the water itself."

Harkness raised a brow as he approached Kurt's side. He eyed the data trying to make sense of it. "I'm no scientist, but how come the water is only now becoming an issue?" Kurt nodded in agreement, it was hard to believe the Purifier would run for eight years without any major issues. It ran into rough patches however they were simple things that the Brotherhood scribes could handle. It wasn't until several months ago that the water began causing problems.

"Anyways," Harkness started, "I'm not just here to check up on the Purifier." He shifted himself, now facing Kurt. Harkness couldn't help but feel bad for his old friend. He had gone to hell and came back to tell about it. Though the visible scars and light brown hair and short beard already starting to grey. If you didn't know him you'd assume he'd be in his late thirties, when in fact he was merely twenty-seven. Harkness shook his sympathies aside and meet his gaze. "I think you should go and see the old man."

Kurt immediately turned and starting walking away, "That isn't gonna happen."

"He wants to see you," Harkness begged as he followed. "He doesn't have much time left and he really wants to see you..."

Kurt shook his head and chuckled, "Why? So he can send me on another suicide mission?" He turned and shook again, "I can't fight their war for them anymore, I have my own shit to deal with here. The Purifier isn't theirs, it's my father's. He's just going to have to die with that and that's that."

"And what about Sarah?" Kurt turned and began walking again. "What about your father?" Kurt stopped and sighed. "Your father would be right there with him until it was over. He wouldn't let his own needs get in the way."

Kurt turned and walked up to Harkness. "My father would abandon his own child for his own needs." Harkness frowned, cursing at himself silently for not remembering the grim circumstances of the past. "I'll see him," before Harkness could speak Kurt shook his head, "But just once."

The giant metal gate of the Citadel slowly opened. Kurt hadn't been here in nearly six months, not since he asked Elder Lyons to pull out of the Purifier. Though Lyons understood, he wasn't sure if the rest of the Brotherhood did. He could feel their eyes glue to him as he walked down the narrow entry way towards the courtyard. As he walked about the courtyard the gunshots of training privates came to a halt, everyone turning to see the Lone Wanderer. He didn't stare back, he pressed on through the courtyard and the two rings until he came to the conference room.

He remembered Lyons always having a weekly meeting, usually just to go over the weekly reports and discuss any further actions that would need to be made in the next week. However small this meeting may seem, it was the one time all the commanding knights were together. Kurt took a deep breath as he could hear all the familiar voices inside. Exhaling, he opened the door and walked in.

Suddenly it went quiet. Dusk, Gallows, Church, even old Tristan, all the knights Kurt had fought and bleed beside all went silent as the door behind him closed. At the far end of him was Sarah, who was as shocked to see him as everyone else. Then from the door behind her walked in Elder Lyons, a cane firmly in his grip to support himself. He gave Kurt a warm smile as he sat down. Looking at everyone else, who were still occupied staring at their unannounced and unexpected guest, he chuckled. "Please," he clearly spoke in his old wise voice, "Let us sit and meet." Everyone sat, whispers being shot around while Kurt stared blankly at a now, clearly, angry Sarah. "I shall be the first to properly say it," Lyons said, now turning his gaze towards Kurt, "Welcome home son. I know many of your comrades may not say it now, but I assure you that we have missed you and are glad you've found your way here."

He swallowed his fear and smiled back, "It's good to be here." He could hardly get the words out. He was clearly uncomfortable and many of the knights began to realize the immense pressure they were putting on him. They all started to greet him again, the shock finally worn off.

Lyons seemed pleased and turned his gaze to Sarah. "We need to talk," she said firmly, "After." Kurt's smile from the welcome back quickly faded. Her words cut through his happiness like a knife. He nodded with apologetic eyes. She turned to her father and smiled gently, "Please father, you said you had important news."

The elder nodded and began to examine everyone. "About twenty-hours ago we received a troubling transmission: a small contingent of our brothers from the West Chapter have appeared on the outskirts of the Capital." As he said this everyone began to eye one another, Kurt himself beginning to show some concern and attention. "They have come here asking us to aid them in a final assault on the Enclave."

"The Enclave?" Kurt asked, everyone turning heads. "I thought we finished this at Adams."

"Apparently not," Lyons explained, "It seems as though that the Enclave didn't come here complete; they left behind a fraction of their numbers in Nevada for reasons unknown. Until now the West Chapter hasn't been able to find them. Now that they have they want us to help finish them off."

"Excuse me sir," Knight Commander Gallows interjected, "But why the hell would they need our help? Don't they have the numbers still?"

Lyons shook his head in sorrow, "It seems their situation is dire with several conflicts ensuing that's dwindled their numbers."

"I want to send a small team back to Nevada with them," the room exploded with everyone arguing over whether this was the best course of action, "SILENCE!" The old voice still could boom with the room immediately dying. "The team will not assist in any combat, it will merely observe the situation and then the team leader can decide whether to aid them or not." Everyone started eying one another all wondering who would be selected to lead this mission.

"I'll do it." Everyone turned to Kurt. "I can lead the team." Lyons smiled but before he could speak Kurt raised a finger, "On one condition: you provide me with resources to fix the Purifier and this is my last mission for the Brotherhood, forever."

"If this is what you wish, very well." The elder turned his attention back to his other commanders. "Gallows, Dusk, and Colvin will accompany you. You'll meet the West Brotherhood at the old radio station in the north. They will guide you back to Nevada. It's a two week journey, ensure you are packed accordingly for that journey. You can resupply in Nevada before returning but I'm sure that goes without saying. If the situation seems good take it, otherwise we'll see you sooner rather than later. Meeting adjourned."

Everyone stood and began to talk amongst themselves. Kurt brushed past everyone and followed both Lyons and Sarah out their private door and into Lyons' main office. As Kurt closed the door behind him, leaving behind the now loud conference room, he was greeted by a slap. Grabbed his jaw he let out a small moan, "Ah! The hell!"

"The hell?" Sarah yelled back in question, "The hell with me the hell with you? You vanish for six fucking months and then just come waltzing back in?!"

"Sarah-"

"You're an asshole! You fucking kick us out of the Purifier?"

Lyons walked over and put a hand on his angered daughter's shoulder. "Sarah, relax my dear. Kurt has a choice just as we have ours." He patted her, her breathing now calming, and he made his way over to his desk.

"Sarah I'm sorry," Kurt breathed, "But I had to go. I am sick of fighting, I'm sick of the bullshit the Wasteland throws at me. I just want to finish what my father started and then die happy."

"Then why'd you volunteer? Just to be a jackass?"

Kurt shook his head, "You know why," he explained, "I need more supplies to get the Purifier started and I don't have any caps to buy it. I do this job then I get my supplies and I can finally walk away." Sarah lowered her head. Kurt walked over and placed his hand gently on her cheek. She peered up at him and their eyes locked. "Sarah I can't keep fighting."

She nodded and rested her hand on his before turning away. "I'm sorry too." She turned and quickly pushed by him, leaving the room and him.

"I'm glad you are helping."

Kurt chuckled and turned to Lyons. "Did I do this all wrong? Leaving, wanting to leave after this?"

"You are a brilliant young man," Lyons smiled, "Your father would be proud of the man you've grown into, I know I'm proud of you son. You've earned a rest, one day Sarah will understand." Kurt let out a sigh and nodded at his mentor. "I haven't been there myself in many years, but New Vegas has several good bars."

"I'll keep that in mind," Kurt smirked in response.

Two Weeks Later...

Emma's emerald eyes looked out over the vast Mojave Wasteland. New Vegas sat below her, countless tourists walking the streets drunk with her securitron army keeping order. Behind her many guests laughed and enjoyed the music. Emma turned and took a sip of the drink in her hand. The Lucky 38 has been open for three months and had drawn many tourists. The lounge was filled with gamblers and drinkers all enjoying the spoils of New Vegas.

Emma walked through the crowd, greeting the regular high rollers and introducing herself to the new ones. As she finished her rounds she walked back towards the elevator and returned to her private room. As the elevator door opened she walked in to find Boone waiting. "Emma, something important just got to us."

She walked past him and into the kitchen, "What is it?"

Boone followed her in and watched as she started to cook some food. "Scouting reports say that there is movement at the old Dam Camp." Emma stopped dead and turned to see Boone's face. "We don't think it's the Legion," he assured her, "But their wearing power armor and have some advanced tech."

She thought for a moment, "Brotherhood?"

"Veronica asked around, they haven't had any scouts out that way."

"Boomers?"

Boone shook his head no, "Pearl has everyone working on Project Talos."

Emma was at a loss. In the six years since winning Vegas' independence from House, Caesar, and the Republic, Emma had built a strong military in the newly formed New Vegas Republic, NVR. Being the first president of New Vegas, she had paved a bright path forward by eliminating the fiend threat, gaining strong allies in the Brotherhood and Boomers, and by uniting the New Vegas families. If this wasn't anyone they knew, it could only mean trouble. "Get a team together, let's go and investigate." Boone nodded and quickly dashed out. Emma wasn't sure what to expect, but her gut was telling her this would end in peace. Her gut was rarely wrong.

End of Chapter...

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the prologue to this little epic I have planned. If you have any constructive criticism feel free to leave a review and if you enjoyed please Like and Follow for all the latest story updates. This is an original story I've wanted to write for awhile and it's gonna be a long journey, I hope you join me on it.