(Roads by Portishead)

The Aftermath

Residing in Tenpenny Tower always made Rosewood a bit uncomfortable.

She loved the idea of a comfortable life, of having no worries at all in the world and just living a life of pampered-ness. Who wouldn't love that idea? The thing that made her uncomfortable was the other people. Despite her playing the part of a pampered princess well, all the permanent residents would look down upon her, be disdainful about her when she wasn't looking. The lack of respect and hospitality unnerved her beyond belief, and often times when stationed there she'd never leave her room and insteads would sit out on her balcony observing the wasteland. No amount of perfect temperatures and promises of safe haven would keep her there in the end. How could she stay in a place where everyone was a verbal hostile?

She had been there for three days, and already she felt more than eager to ditch the Tower and go trekking across the brazen wasteland. The idea of sand storms, terrible winds and mutant creatures was becoming all but too welcoming as she was forced to endure with the residents of the Tower. She could only hope that new orders would be given to her soon, breaking her free from the prison she resided in for the time being.

For the moment, however, she sat up in her room and went through some of her previous files that she had acquired throughout the past few years. Being in the Enclave, she finally hit an age and a point in her training where she was awarded with tasks to complete, allowing her to leave the confines of a place she had known for so many years. She was seventeen when she took her first mission, the youngest anyone had seen in ten years. Many people assumed it had to due with the line of blood she came from. Her father's side was a long list of great soldiers and she proved to be just like him. It probably helped her a lot by the fact that she was an older child by six years until her little brother was brought into the world, meaning she had their father and his attention for the most important years of her life. It proved to be excellent for her, but her brother was yet to be seen. He was still too young. She was now twenty-one and he was just verging onto fifteen.

Rosewood was reading through one of her recent files; a job that took her all the way down to Rivet City. She had to look into the talk of an escaped android from the Commonwealth and figure out the happenings behind it all, check into the science that was needed to build those sorts of humanoids. She had found her answers with what everyone proclaimed to be a ghost; Horace Pinkerton. This began an obsession for the Enclave, one that Rosewood wanted no part in. The idea of synthetic humanoids never sat well with her, even if she liked Harkness. That was just something no one could ever sway her opinion on.

She was startled from her reading when a knock sounded on her door and she quickly closed the folder and stood up. Walking across the room she opened the door and gave a nod to the man. It was Mister Burke.

"Yes?" she inquired, leaning against the doorframe.

"May I come in?" he asked.

He raised a lone eyebrow at her and she gave him a small nod, stepping back away from the slightly ajar door and opening it a little wider so he could step through. As he entered he took off his sunglasses, folding them up and sliding them into a pocket on the inside of his jacket. Mister Burke always did that with her, but never anyone else. She admired the fact that he was open to her, and no one else. She could read him like an open book now, unlike when she had first met him four years prior. Alistair Tenpenny was an ally to the Enclave and helped fund some of their programs out in the wasteland, and he would often house a few of their members from time to time. Rosewood was someone who frequented Tenpenny Tower and she was the only one that Mister Burke actually respected.

"Follow me to the balcony, if you would," he ordered, his piercing blue eyes moving from her to the double doors.

Rosewood gestured for him to lead the way and she followed after him as he started towards the doors. The man didn't stop his walking as he came to the door, he swiftly placed his hands on the handles and pulled down, pushing them open and revealing them to the outside. In the distance she saw smoke rising into the air and a frown slowly placed itself upon her features. Her chest tightened as she pried her gaze away and looked to him expectantly.

"There has been an explosion," he voiced, tone soft.

Mister Burke kept his piercing eyes trained on her as she moved past him and to the railing, her small hands gripping the stone so hard until her knuckles turned white.

"What happened?" she demanded.

He folded his hands in front of himself, "The day you were sent here they had captured the vault girl. They hoped to use her to release the F.E.V. on the Capitol Wasteland but it would appear that the hopes of that were farfetched. She convinced President Eden to self destruct. Raven Rock has been destroyed and only a handful of people have escaped."

Furious green eyes flashed over to Mister Burke and he inclined his head to her, offering silent condolences. An angered noise rushed past the dark haired woman's lips and she pushed herself away from the railing and stormed back into her room, her feet carrying her to her work table. On it sat her armor, neatly folded and freshly repaired and cleaned. The leather was heavy in her hands as she picked up and moved to the bed, throwing it down. She wiggled out of her jeans and kicked them away, her hands roughly picking up the toughened leather pants and prying them up her toned pale legs. She picked up her leather top and squeezed it over her head, fitting each one of her arms into it one by one. It clung to her torso tightly, and she quickly clamped her chest piece over top, feeling the steel material squeeze against her body like a protective embrace.

All the while, Mister Burke watched her, calculating each move she made and where it would take her. She was lacing up her combat boots when she finally glanced over at him, those wild green eyes of hers focusing on his face.

"Has Tenpenny finished with my sniper rifle?" she questioned, her fingers pulling the loops on her laces.

The man nodded and made his way towards the door, "Yes. I shall retrieve it for you while you get your pack ready."

Rosewood nodded to him as he made his way out and she stood up, moving to grab her backpack off the floor beneath her desk. In the time it took for the man to leave and return once again, she had packed up her medical kit and supplies, various boxes of ammo crammed inside with a pair of of extra clothing. On her gun belt sat her .44 Scoped Magnum, a 9mm pistol, as well as four grenades on the same side. In her boot sat a pair of throwing knives, and attached to the outside of her left hip was her combat knife, sharpened to the sharpest point.

When Mister Burke entered back into the room with the rifle he looked more than impressed at her appearance. The young woman who had appeared so soft and innocent now looked like she had grown up from an innocent brat and into a killer, determination screaming from her. Rosewood noticed him staring and stopped fiddling with her assault rifle, finally letting the strap settle over her shoulder and on her back. The weapon hung down her chest as she walked towards him and retrieved the rifle, quickly checking it over before strapping it to her back.

"Is Tenpenny in his room?" she asked, picking up her pack from the floor.

"Yes, he's expecting you," Mister Burke smirked, his sunglasses once again in place.

Rosewood gave a snort and nodded, brushing past him and out of her room. She walked down the hallway to Tenpenny's room and entered inside, looking around the suite only to discover him sitting on the balcony. At her arrival the old man gave a hearty laugh and stood up, grasping her shoulder in his large and weathered hand with a grin.

"You look intimidating, my dear! I am very sorry to hear about your family, it's simply awful. I liked them very much, you know," the man said, his features taking a grim turn.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Tenpenny," she murmured, inclining her head to him.

"I see that you must be planning a little trip inside that mind of yours. Going to hunt down the destroyer of homes, I assume?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rosewood nodded, "Yes, I am. Actually, I was hoping to ask a favour from you."

The man gave her a surprised look and clapped his hands together before he led her to the railing of the balcony.

"Of course, of course! What can I do for you?"

The dark haired woman sighed a bit and looked out into the wasteland, watching as black smoke drifted through the afternoon air.

"I don't plan on sticking around the Capitol Wasteland after I finish what I need to do. I want to travel, see if I can find somewhere fresh to start. I was hoping you could get me some caps together for the trek, and possibly hunt down that man who's been offering a ride to those with the caps. It's something I need to do," she frowned, hands hanging over the ledge.

Alistair Tenpenny nodded and patted her arm, tossing her a confident smile.

"Everything will be taken care of when you return, my dear. Go and settle that fire in your heart!"

Rosewood nodded and gave the man a smile before she turned and walked out of the room, promptly storming out of the Tower and in the direction of Vault 101.