The Guardian of the Wasteland
Prologue
2143 Local Time
Megaton
12 years before the events of Fallout 3
Staff Sergeant John McAllister reached up and pushed his combat helmet forward in a poor attempt to keep the rain off his face. Annoyed, he pressed his body even tighter up against the sidewall of the house he was leaning on. Off in the distance, he saw his team leader, Lieutenant Rodney Banner, moving towards him. McAllister quickly peered around the corner of the wall to his left, and then grabbed the High-Caliber Assault Rifle that was leaning against his right leg. When Lieutenant Banner was within a few feet of McAllister, McAllister stepped forward.
"He still there?" asked the Lieutenant, in a serious tone.
"Yeah, and he's smoking away some more of his life. He's down to a few minutes."
"Right," the Lieutenant smiled. This would not be the first time his team had apprehended a known slaver. However, it would be the first time they had done it in this town. "Give me a minute, and then get into position."
"What about Trawley and Carter, are we going to wait for them?" McAllister asked, referring to the teams Scout/Sniper and Medic, respectively.
"One Minute" Banner repeated in a low, firm voice. McAllister nodded, and watched the lieutenant disappear around the corner.
Crazy fool, McAllister told himself, He should wait for the rest of the team. But really, how much trouble can one man be? McAllister played out the scenario in his head. Most he could do is shoot the Lieutenant before I put a round through his skull. However, if he's trained…He could shoot the L.T, put a few rounds through these skinny walls I'm hiding behind, and run off…But then Trawley would get 'em with his rifle. Either way the lieutenant ends up dead. Unless our target doesn't have his weapon...
McAllister's thoughts on the subject ended as his mind finished counting to sixty. He turned the corner, and saw the Lieutenant speaking with the target about ten yards away. The target had been using the cover of a bartender to stay in town. Both men turned and looked at McAllister, and McAllister made a show of looking around to be sure it was clear. After a moment, McAllister nodded towards the Lieutenant, and they resumed the conversation. McAllister was uncomfortable with the fact that he was unable to hear was Banner was saying.
Suddenly, Banner straightened his back more, as if he were now more alert. McAllister readied his rifle, making sure it had a round chambered. A moment later, he saw Banner's hand reach down to grab his holstered pistol and the target punched Banner in the side of the face, hard enough to knock the Lieutenant down, and then began to run away. Banner looked up at McAllister, and McAllister dropped down to one knee. Quickly, he took aim on the target's back as he exhaled his breath. McAllister pulled his rifle's trigger twice in quick succession. The target spun around as the rounds impacted before dropping to the ground, only a few feet from where Carter was. Carter, who had just arrived, looked up at McAllister with a shocked expression on his face. McAllister looked up at Banner, and Banner just stared at the body. His attempts to apprehend a known slaver had ended with the slaver's death. Banner didn't care; He had known it would end like this. With slavers, it always did…