FALLOUT

TALES OF THE CAPITAL WASTELAND

Summary: Series of stories around the Lone Wanderer in the Capital Wasteland after the events of Fallout 3. Mostly past canonical storyline.

ONE

THE MARSHALL AND THE OVERSEER.

Characters: Albert Phaustus Ducard (Lone Wanderer), Amata Almodovar (Vault 101 Overseer).

Notes: Marshall of the Order is the equivalent of Elder in the Brotherhood, but not the highest rank in the organization. [The Protectorate of Columbia, April 11, 2283]

[Megaton City]

Five years. Five years had passed, from de day She last saw him. So much had happened, So much had changed.

The Wasteland was recovering. Settlements became villages and towns. The Enclave was destroyed. The East Coast Brotherhood became the Order of Columbia, and the Outcasts became the new Brotherhood of Steel; they left the Capital for the Commonwealth up north. The waters of the Tidal Basin were clean again, with the same initiative in early stages of implementation on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. He had finished what his father started, and in his exile, changed the world completely.

She had seen videos of him, she knew how much he had changed; his skin was not pale like before, and he had sprung, being a good two feet taller than Susie, from what she saw in the broadcast when he defended the Vault Scout when the blonde girl found herself in the middle of the battle between the Knights of the Order and the Talon Company. That was the first time he appeared after the rumors he had died at the Jefferson Memorial.

That day she put to the test all her stoic face, being calm and collected as the Overseer. But in the emptiness of her office, at night, she cried, even more than when she had to exile him, her first act as the leader of the Vault. Even after he solved the rebellion standoff peacefully — which later she found out it would have ended tragically without his intervention — he was not welcome. It took time.

Time to lower tensions. Time to organize an outpost outside the entrance to the Vault. Time to establish trade, contact and partnerships with the settlements of the Capital Wasteland. Time to digest the horrifying stories of the other Vaults. Time to open up to the world. Years, to be precise.

Their progress was meek compared to what was done in Megaton and Rivet, but they managed to take over Springvale, with the unexpected help of the Rangers, the Abolitionists, the Underworld Ghouls, the Newly rebranded Order, turn it into a safe farming settlement and establish a walled perimeter, guarded by robots provided by an exotic man named "The Mechanist".

It didn't take her long to find out that it had been because of his influence that they had received so much help in such short time. She wished she had the courage back then to seek him out, but she hid behind her responsibilities and her position.

Now, there she was, an year later, in the middle of her first official visit to Megaton City as the Overseer of Vault 101, sneaking at dusk, because Butch had told her he was in town.

She expected to find a shack, but just like the walls, the entire city was rebuilt. The infamous bomb, now just an empty shell, was surrounded by a garden, only some pieces of airplanes remained of the settlement. His house was inside the "Old Town" limits, and but it was made of modular pods transplanted from the Wasteland and pre-made blocks of metal, bricks and stone, which was being produced out of the factories of the former slaver town of Paradise Falls.

Amata Almodovar took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She waited impatiently the few seconds it took for someone to come to the door. To her surprise, it was a Mister Handy unit that greeted her:

— Greetings, ma'am, may I help you? — The robot answered.

— Hi, I mean, hello! — Amata said, hating how nervous and awkward she sounded.

— Hello to you too! I'm Wadsworth. — Wadsworth replied — How may I help you.

— Is Alb... I mean, Marshall Ducard home? — She said, grimacing inside for forgetting his title.

— Master Albert is certainly home, Miss...? — Wadsworth replied

— Amata. — She replied

— Overseer Almodovar! — Wadsworth spoke enthusiastically — Please, do come in. It is an honor to have you here, Your Excellency.

The robot moved to the side, and Amata accepted the invitation, walking inside the residence. She found herself inside a dwelling with eerily familiar decorations, that resembled the equipments of the Vault.

She saw mannequins where some armors were being displayed, the Ranger armor she remembered from when she exiled him, the power suit from when he saved Susie, another power suit, black in color, and a worn Vault 101 jumpsuit. That was his jumpsuit, the one he was wearing the day he escaped the Vault.

— I don't fit on it anymore. — Albert Ducard said, from behind her.

She turned, startled, and found him standing there, a few feet away from her in the room. He was definitely taller than before, and his hair was shorter, military style now. His eyes were still blue, but he was different. His voice was deeper and he seemed to have an aura of authority on him.

— Albert... — She spoke his name by reflex.

He walked towards her, and she held her breath as he approached. He reached the panel behind her and activated:

— Ducard here. — He spoke.

— How can I help you, Marshall Ducard, Sir? — A voice answered.

— Security must be looking for Overseer Almodovar, correct? — Ducard asked.

— Yes sir, her people brought to our attention earlier that their Leader was not in her room. — The voice said, and added — It is taking me a lot of patience not to shoot these pestering smoothskins.

Amata saw the small grin on his face as he shook his head:

— Manners, Gob, they are guests. — Ducard replied — please inform the 101 delegation that the Overseer is safe in my residence.

A moment of silence, before Gob replied:

— I'll let them know that you are in a private meeting and will be unavailable for the night. - Gob said — Have fun!

— It is not that kind of visit, Gob. — Albert replied in a tired tone. — Just inform them she is safe.

— Right away, Sir! — Gib replied.

He turned around, and said:

— How did you convince your father to get out of the Vault? — Albert asked

— He volunteered, actually. — She replied, surprised — How did you know he was here?

Ducard looked at her:

— Local Security keeps me apprised of everything of note happening in the city. — Albert said

He walked to the nuka-cola machine, and asked:

— Would you like do drink something? — He asked.

— A Nuka-cola, please. — She replied.

Albert got two bottles, and handed one of them to her. He then gestured at a couch, and she took the cue, sitting. He unbuttoned his robes and walked towards the mannequins, using one of the empty ones to hang the robe, leaving him with pants and a long-sleeved shirt, which delineated his muscles, and made Amata a little warm on the cheeks.

Albert sat on the chair in front of her:

— To what do I owe the privilege of your visit, Overseer? — He asked, and Amata could not help but notice the sarcasm in his voice.

— I've heard you were in town and I came to see you. — She replied.

He took a sip of his cola and eyed her:

— You are seeing me. — Albert pointed out. — Now what?

— I didn't think that far... — Amata confessed — I just needed to see you.

— Why? — He asked right back.

Amata was feeling nervous, like she was that teenage girl from years ago, and not the Overseer that had led her people for half a decade:

— The last time I saw you I had to exile you,even after you returned to help us. — She said

— That was years ago, Overseer. — He replied — A lot has happened.

— I know. — She said — We in the Vault all heard of your exploits on the radio, and saw also on video.

Albert pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head:

— Giving Three Dog those Eyebots was a mistake. — He said — It just encouraged him to go crazy on his reports about my mission.

— I thought that purifying water was your mission. — Amata said.

— That was back then, before we gave people water, and hope... — Albert replied — After I broke the Order from the Brotherhood and sent them packing, my mission became protect and rebuild the Wasteland.

Amata nodded, remembering what Mayor West had shown her:

— The Protectorate of Columbia. — She spoke.

— Exactly. — He replied

— And you still found time to send us help — Amata said — With the settlement in Springvale and the protection and all.

She saw him drink more of his cola, and place the half-empty bottle on the center table:

— The Vault needed help, and I was in a position to provide it. — He said, unemotional — turning the ruins in a farming settlement seemed to be the least dangerous endeavor, all the while giving the people of the Wasteland a reason to trade and protect the settlement, and the Vault by extension.

— And you were right. — Amata said — Thank you.

— You don't need to thank me, Overseer. — He replied — Your Vault is part of the Protectorate.

There he was, again calling her by her title:

— Would you stop it? — She asked.

— Stop what? — He asked.

— Stop calling me "Overseer". — She said.

— You are the Overseer. — Albert said

— That is my job, not my name. — She said.

— That is your position, as I am Marshall of the Order. — He replied — We are what we do.

She leaned forward, looking at him:

— Albert, please... — She pleaded.

He looked at her in silence for a moment, and the return of spoke:

— Why are you here? — He asked.

— Albert... — She spoke his name again.

His expression became hard, and he pointed at the door:

— Answer my question or leave. — He said.

— I had to see you! — She spoke, in a harsher tone than she expected.

— Why? What is that you want with me? — He asked — Who am I to you?

— How can you even ask me that? — She replied, feeling a lump in her throat.

— You exiled me. — He replied in a cold tone — You cast me out of the Vault, and your life.

— I had to! — She shouted back — It was the hardest choice I ever had to make!

She got up from the couch, and started pacing, agitated:

— I had to use every ounce of self-control not to cry in front of everyone when I saw the vault close behind you! — Amata said. — I had to hide my emotions when the radio said there were reports that you had died!

— That goes to show how good you are as Overseer. — He replied

She turned to him with anger:

— Screw you, Albert! — She said

He rose from his chair, and invaded her personal space:

— You came here out of guilt, thinking that you owe me anything, or because of some juvenile crush — He said, in a harsh tone — But you clearly lack the courage to admit it.

— Bastard! — She yelled. — I cried for you! I loved you!

She rose her hand to slap him, but he was faster, grabbing her by the wrist, and before she could say anything, his other hand got to her back and pulled her to him. Her eyes went from anger to surprise as he kissed her, deeply, and passionately.

When her brain started working again, she realized she was kissing him back, and he was holding her, for her knees were trembling. How did they move from the center of the room to the wall she had no idea, but with her back against the wall, he started attacking her neck, as one of his hands found the zipper of her jacket, making her moan his name:

— Ahhh mnnnnn... Albert... — She moaned.

He didn't reply, too busy to speak, so she tentatively reached for the intercom. He stopped once he heard the static:

— Yes, Boss? — Gob asked.

— Mister Gob... This is Overseer Almodovar — She spoke.

Albert looked at her, and trying to sound as normal as possible, she said:

— Please... Inform the others that I'll be occupied in negotiations until the morning — Amata said.

They both heard a chuckle on the other side of the comm:

— Certainly. Goodnight, Madam. — Gob replied.

He turned off the intercom, and she looked at him in expectation. He didn't disappoint her, taking her in his arms and rushing up the stairs...

[Next Morning]

Amata Almodovar woke up to find herself alone in the bed. Her discarded jumpsuit and her undergarments were in a chair, and she saw her lover sitting outside by the veranda. She got up and finding a robe, she walked out of the room, joining him.

— Good morning, Overseer. — He said and gestured to a couple of bottles. — Milk?

— Good morning, Marshall. — She replied, and sat next to him. — Yes, please.

He grabbed a bottle for her, and she accepted, leaning against him, letting his arm over her shoulder:

— I hope our negotiations were satisfactory last night. — He said, with amusement.

— Oh, I don't know. — She replied in the same tone — I think, after the official agenda today, we might do some more negotiating tonight.

— Oh, I wholeheartedly agree, Miss Almodovar. — Albert said.

— I'm glad you do, Mister Ducard. — She replied.

— And I'm glad you are here — He said, and whispering, added — Amata...

She smiled, feeling the warmth in her heart for she heard her name in his lips. Amata snuggled against him, watching the sun rise over the Wasteland...

END