I do not own Fallout 3 or any of its characters, unfortunately. This first chapter will be short, but they will get longer as the story progresses. Rated M for sexual themes and drug use. It is my first fic, so please be gentle. Enjoy! :)
Dust kicked up beneath Dolly's feet as she trudged along the dirt road. It had been almost a week since she had left the comfort of her makeshift home in Megaton. Her supplies were dwindling and, after making the mistake of taking on a Supermutant Brute, a few of her weapons lay in pieces within her pack. During the scuffle, she happened to take a few heavy blows to the stomach from a rebar club. At first she thought nothing of it, her armor usually did a good job of absorbing the impact.
But after a few days of traveling, she slowly began to realize she had a few broken ribs. If she didn't get some stimpaks in her system soon, the chances of her ribs healing improperly would rise. The impending lecture from Doc Church almost made her want to turn around head to Rivet City. Every time she came back injured or poisoned, he would shake his head and call her the "worst doctor in the wastes." A title which she relented to, seeing as she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't take risks while out and about. She was her father's daughter, after all. She sighed, patting the pocket of her coat to make sure the schematics she lifted off a dead scientist were still there. At least she bore some fruits from her labor.
She pulled up her Pip-Boy, opening her map so she could see how far she was from town. She let out another sigh, three miles- that's not too bad, she can make that. She idly switched over to the radio, maybe some GNR could speed up the rest of the journey. Three Dog always had a way of making life out here seem a bit brighter and the music he played wasn't bad, either. She just wished there was more variety to what he played. As much as she loved classical music, it would be nice to hear other musicians from the era. Maybe some Elvis. She read about him while traipsing through a library. The book was barely charred and most of the pages were still in it.
From there she learned about how he was the "King," as the people of that time referred to him. There were rumors that some records (whatever those were) of his still existed, but she hadn't gotten the chance to get her grimy hands on them. Maybe once she did, she'd bring them to Three Dog. She smiled at the thought. Just as she was about to tune into the station, her Pip-Boy picked up a new transmission. There, in little green pixels, was a radio frequency she never thought she would see again. As soon as she switched over to the new channel, an emotionless, automated message proclaimed it was Vault 101's emergency signal. Instantly her stomach dropped, and she came to a halt, patiently waiting for the message to continue. Amata's voice rang out from the speakers, the desperation in her voice sent a chill down Dolly's spine.
"It feels like you left home a long time ago, but I know you're still out there. I just hope you're still alive to hear this. Things got worse after you left... the new Overseer is insane! If you can hear this, please stop looking for your dad and help save us. I changed to door password to my name. If you're hearing this, and you still care enough to help... you should remember it."
Dolly stood quietly, her brows furrowed in confusion. After all that had happened, after what she did to her... Amata still chose her to come save the day. She looked up from the screen, squinting against the harsh sunlight. There in the distance, amidst a barren landscape, towered Megaton... her home. Her new home. She didn't belong down in the Vault anymore. Her and her father made sure to burn that bridge to the ground after they crossed it. She was happy to leave and never look back but now... now things are different. This wasn't just anyone, this was Amata. Her partner in crime for nineteen years, her confidant, and only friend. Maybe she did owe her one. After all, Amata did warn her after her dad escaped and the Overseer was out for blood. Even after Dolly put a gun to the Overseer's head and pulled the trigger, Amata still lead her to the exit. And although she swore she never wanted to see her again, there she was on the radio, calling out to her old friend to come save her. Just like old times.
With a new sense of determination, she pulled up her map again and set a new marker. She turned her head towards the jagged skyline. Buried in the rocky terrain was a passage into a lifetime long forgotten. That was a different life and a different Dolly. Was she really ready to go back? Could she even help Amata? Her feet began to carry her towards the mountains. Dolly wasn't sure if she would be able to rescue Amata this time, but she could fucking try.