So I know I haven't updated this story in a few weeks. I've been teetering on writer's block for a little while. But for some reason, today I just wrote this entire chapter in one sitting. I'm not so sure what that means, but I'm happy with it! I tried my best to keep Butch in character. I like talking like him. But, I wanted to maybe explain how his time out in the wastes would be like. At least from my perspective. No Lillian, our Little Miss 101, in this chapter. Hopefully in the next. Just bear with me as I try to figure this all out. It's new for me, and I hope I didn't disappoint anyone. Sorry for my long absence :( I can't figure out how to get these damn paragraphs spaced out enough because whenever I upload the documents they just condense into this... improperly spaced.. thing. And GOSH! Just... I give up. ENJOY BEING IN THE MIND OF BUTCH! I know I did.
Oh, looooots of bad language in this chapter. Butch is starting to get pretty angry at life, so I figured curse words would most effectively portray this :)
Updated: 7.20.15 (Going back and editing all the old chapters to get me in the mood to write some more)
[~]
I don't really know how many days its been since I first arrived here. To be completely honest, the only way I know what day it is, is if I'm starin' at my damn Pipboy.
Everyone around here seems so content with just sittin' and doing absolutely nothin'. I can't fucking stand it. Too many days I've been up to that piece of shit bar. Too many days I'd sit and not know what to do with myself. Now, I love bars and drinking and shit, but y'know you run out of dollar bills quickly. Especially here, where they nickel and dime you for bullshit reasons. Matter of fact, I ran out of my last dollar bill yesterday.
Which was a Tuesday now that I remember it.
I've been out here for a Goddamn week and a half and I'm already sick of this shit. And I find it a little funny when, y'know, they don't prepare you for anything in the Vault. I guess they figure that no one would be able to leave. That no one would actually want to leave their little sanctuary. Well.. fuck 'em. I just proved 'em all wrong.
A week and a half, still no sign of Lilly either.
I've been sleepin' in this crappy old, skanky mattress for days. And if I squint real hard I can kinda see the outline of my body in it. It's a little depressing. How you can just get so used to one thing all your life, and then this… this is just fuckin' crazy out here. I mean, Sunday I took a trip outside, just to check things out. I figured I was pretty high and mighty with my Pa's pistol. Boy was I wrong. Fuckin' watched a dude just up and SHOOT someone for no Goddamn reason. Well, I high tailed it outta there. Ain't no way I'm stickin' around for that, no sir. Cause if that crazy came within a foot of me I'd be ducking for cover and praying he'd spare me. I ain't ready to die just yet. Not with all the shit I've gotta do still.
The good thing about all this shit though, is that I did get in a few hours of practicing with my pistol. Even if I hadn't really gotten any better, I still knew where to shoot and how to shoot, so I figure that'd be enough out here. If I came across anything, I'd just have to rely on my speed or somethin' else. Maybe if I could get close enough I could just beat the shit out of it. 'Cause I may not be good at aiming or anythin' like that, but I've known how to throw a punch since I was five years old. So, I figure that has to be good enough for something.
Even after goin' out and practicing all those nights, trying to release my anger in some other way besides drinkin' it all to oblivion, there's still people in this pit that get on my last nerve. Just make me want to explode in fury.
There's a guy in this town though, a real sun burnt old fart. He likes to make fun of me constantly 'cause he thinks he's so much better than me. Even though all I see him do is play his cards right with that prostitute in Moriarty's.
I really wanna just pop him right in the chin. But, y'know everyone around here seems to have a gun the size of my leg, so I can't really start something with my measly little weapon. I ain't that stupid.
It just gets me thinkin' sometimes, how everything was so much different in the Vault. I'd take on everyone and anyone with just my fists. Like a real man. But, no, not out here. No one gives a fuck about anything like that anymore. All anyone notices around here is if you've got the caps or if you've got a piece bigger than theirs. Fist fighting is history. Along with civility and law.
Now, I didn't really play too well with the law during my days in the Vault, but now I know just what the Overseer was yappin' about. I guess you really gotta' have someone look after the rules. 'Cause now, whatever I got on me can easily be everyone else's. If I look at someone wrong, that somehow justifies a string of bullets my way. And if I don't pay, or if I steal, that means my life gets taken from me quickly. It's all bullshit. All stupid. But I can't talk, now can I? 'S Anarchy. What I was tryin' to bring to the Vault.
Now I know just how stupid I really was.
[~]
I'd been up to talk to Gob a few times, when my head gets so filled up with anger and other stupid shit that I just can't take it anymore. Shame that no one ever seems to listen to the poor guy. He's got some pretty interesting stories that he's been telling me. Of course when that ass Moriarty's out of earshot.
Yeah, I finally put it together that he's the owner of that rat hole. There's another guy I'd like to give a nice sucker punch to the jaw to. But, I'm not an idiot. I know that's probably one fight I'd never win. No matter how hard I tried. That man's probably got bullets and guns comin' out of his ass. And, I bet ya that he's got a bunch of people lookin' out for him too. Course, if I was in his situation and owning my own bar, I guess I'd have someone watchin' my ass too.
[~]
A week. No sign of Lilly.
Gob tries to assure me every time I'm around that 'she'll be all right'. Man, what the hell happens if some crazy just up and shoots her in the fuckin' skull, just like what I had seen a few days ago? I know Lilly wouldn't be able to survive that.
Even that radio that Gob's always blastin' hasn't said anything interesting about her. It's always the same shit, the same song, the same stupid man on the other side of the radio, preachin' to whoever's listening just 'cause he likes the sound of his voice so damn much. I wish someone would just give me an answer. Lemme know if it's pointless to wait for something that may never come back.
[~]
No sign of Lilly. Now, I know I usually ain't had much to say about the broad. But, damn. Somethin' about being in this whole… Shit, what was I even in? Waitin' up every day for her just made me realize how completely different this place is. Normally I'd be able to see her just across from me, call her some names, spitball her hair, stick gum on her chair, SOMETHING.
Out here, there was nothin'. She could be halfway across the Goddamn planet before I'd get a chance to see her again. Didn't take me too long to figure that out. This wasn't like the Vault at all. I was a little happy about that, but then… Well…
It's nothin' a Tunnel Snake can't handle.
I'd get through this shit.
I made up my mind that I'd give her a few more days, and if she wasn't within my sight after that, then I'd be outta' here quicker than you can say radroach meat. Which, by the way, is fuckin' disgusting. Some idiot tried to slip me that on the sly one night while I was out roaming around. Fuck if I know an antenna from one of those bastards. I had enough of them in the Vault to last me a lifetime. The Butch-man didn't like radroaches then, and he still don't like 'em now.
And, if he had it his way, he'd destroy every last one of them with a push of a button. But, he didn't have it his way anymore. Not one bit.
I didn't rule the streets here like I ruled the tunnels of the Vault. Didn't have people wrapped around my finger like I used to. I wasn't able to get away with bullshit. I was just outta' my element, and it made me feel like a piece of shit. No amount of dirty looks or finger waving would make anyone afraid of me here. I was just another guy in the crowd, and I was done with that. So, I finally decided to get my shit together and high tail it the fuck outta' there. There was no reason for me to stick around that bullshit place, because I hated every Goddamn son of a bitch there. They could all suck my balls, trying to cheat me out of every dollar I had. Well fuck. That.
I met up with Gob before I got out of that shit hole. He told me to get to Underworld, see if Lilly was there. I thanked him for everything, and I said if I ever made it back here alive I'd give him somethin' of mine. Because, I had to hand it to him. He was probably the only person who treated me decently around here and it's a shame.
A shame 'cause it takes the most horribly disgusting, disfigured person out there for me to realize that people are dicks. And even though Gob's a little messed up on the outside, the guys got a good heart in there. And y'know, I'd never tell him that. Since, that's not the way Tunnel Snakes roll, but it just goes to show you that the prettiest people can do the ugliest things. I've seen my share of ugly. I ain't tryin' to see any more of it.
"Kid, you need anything for the road? It's dangerous out there." He asked me, but I knew it was out of the question for him to even give me a piece of anything.
Moriarty had him hog tied to his balls, and there was no way I was about to get him in trouble by him doin' something generous. By bein' a good person. 'Cause everyone else around here seemed to forget how to do that. Everyone else around here was too fuckin' concerned about their own well being to even help someone else out with anything. Fuckin' idiots.
"Nah Gob, s'alright. I'll be fine. I'm a fuckin prodigy where I come from, y'know that? It's nothin' I can't take."
Gob rolled his eyes at me and turned to polish another glass off the counter. As if they could get any cleaner than what he had made them ten minutes before. Pshh... He was stuck on rewind and replay for all eternity. Really had me angry.
"Well. Just try to make it there in one piece, all right?" He tried to spare me a look of concern, but I brushed it off with a wave of my hand. That guy didn't need to be wastin' sympathy on me. I had it a lot better than he did, from my point of view at least.
"If I find her, I'll try to get word back to ya." Gob nodded his head and looked down, he must really miss her too. I brought my hand up and smacked him on the back of the shoulder. Y'know, in a brotherly way. Didn't need him cryin' all over the floor he just washed up yesterday.
"She's fine, Gob. I'll look after her." That was the only thing I could promise him at the moment. 'Cause a part of me was really unsure if she'd want anything to do with me. But, out here… It was dangerous. I didn't really like the fact that one of my kin was out here all by themselves. And Lilly was just a fragile little thing. There was no way she'd be able to make it out here all by herself. At least, not the way I was thinking. But, who knows. Maybe she was more better off than anyone in this town. Maybe she didn't need me. Maybe I was just waistin' my time.
I shook my head and stood up, gathering what little things I had left and making sure my pistol was close to me. I nodded my head at Gob, he nodded back. We didn't want to say anything to each other, but I think I knew what he was thinkin'. I bet he's wondering if I'll ever come back. If he lost another good person, another friend out there.
As I made my way out of the metal pimple of the wasteland, I flipped that damn robot the bird and spit on the side of the entrance way.
"Fuck all of ya."
And that was it. I was out. Free again to roam a world I had no idea existed.
Free again.
[~]
I was runnin' low on water now. I only had the chance to grab a few water bottles from the Vault before I made my awesome escape. Even though I drowned myself in all the purified water a few days ago, I still was smart enough to keep the bottles and fill them up with the radiated crap from Megaton. Whatever, it didn't matter now as long as I had water, right? Even if it tasted a little weird and make my tongue tingle and my stomach cramp up, I still had one survival necessity. One thing to keep me goin' strong.
From what Gob had told me a few nights ago, I was supposed to be lookin' for some kind of underground tunnel. I didn't really feel like goin' back underground, but Gob said it was the only way to get to Underworld, so I figured I'd do as he said. When I finally reached the piece of shit tunnel like he said a few hours later, it didn't look a thing like the ol' Vault did. No way in hell I was goin' back there. But, I was thankful that I didn't get lost or anythin' too. 'Cause I wasn't really sure what was lurkin' around here.
It seemed a lot cooler and darker down in the tunnel too. So, at least I'd be out of the sun for a while. The skin on the back of my neck was already as red as a tomato and I could already feel it start to peel.
Great, just one more thing I had to deal with.
[~]
Once I walked through the entranceway, I heard something to my left and pulled out my pistol with shaky hands. Of-fuckin'-course something would be down here already, waiting to eat me alive. I was already sweatin' bullets and trying to get my eyes to focus on the other side of the tunnel when I heard a shuffle to my side. And I'll be damned if my heart didn't stop at that exact moment, a fuckin' Gob was on my far left, starin' at me with beady eyes and all bent over like some hunchback.
He might've looked all burnt and shit like Gob did, but he didn't look as friendly or as sane as Gob. Nah, he looked crazy, like he was ready to spring up any instant and just claw me to death. He made a weird noise, like the kind someone would make if they were choking or spittin' up. And then alluva sudden, he just fuckin' sprinted near me. Like a bat outta hell.
Fuck if I was gonna' let him come any closer, so I aimed as best as I could and tried to shoot at his chest.
I missed a few times, but eventually managed to slug one into his body. I watched as it flew into his belly and heard it ping against the wall behind him. Whatever that thing was, it looked down at where I had hit it and hissed real loud, then lunged for me with one of it's long skinned arms.
Great.
I was on the ground in an instant. The fucker was clawing at my face and trying to bite me. I couldn't find my pistol anywhere, but I definitely wasn't gonna let myself be Gob food for this creeper. So, I clenched my fist and socked him right in the jaw. Another hissing noise, more rapid arm movements from his direction and he finally managed to get me to bleed.
I was scared shitless.
No, scratch that. I definitely almost shit my pants.
Was I gonna' die here? Was this Gob lookin' thing going to kill me?
But without me noticing, my body filled with adrenaline. I guess that's what we learned was the fight or flight mechanism in class that one time, a while back when we actually learned useful shit. At least I was payin' attention for that part because it Goddamn saved my life. My brain started working faster, and I took both my arms up, strangling the thing with my bare hands. I was angry now. I didn't fuckin' like this thing just goin' ape shit on me for no reason. I watched it wheeze a few times, clawing at my hands and flailing. I started gaining new strength, so I stood up with it still in my grasp. It weighed almost nothing, so I just squeezed it 'till I saw its eyes move to the back of its head. Whatever it was, it looked like a starved human- and then I hoped that it wasn't a cannibal or some shit, 'cause I really wasn't ready for any of that yet.
Once I was sure that sucker wasn't breathin', I dropped it like a sack of potatoes and let it fall to the ground in a heap by my feet. Taking my boot up, I stomped it into the ground a few times for good measure. I needed to make sure that thing was dead before I continued on. Wasn't trying to have it catch me while my back was turned. Or while I was takin' a whizz or somethin'. 'Cause that'd just be my luck.
My brain was rattled, and I could feel blood oozing from the side of my temple.
I walked a few steps away from whatever that thing was, shakin' like a leaf. So, I took a seat on one of the semi-collapsed benches and put my head in my hands. The adrenaline was already beginning to wear off. I was already aware of what exactly had just happened. I almost fuckin' died.
Taking a hand up and pressing it to the side of my head, blood was already starting to cake over it and I almost felt like passing out for a second. I couldn't though, so I took a few breaths through my nose and kept my eyes on somethin' else. Just so I could calm down at least. There was no use gettin' worked up yet.
I was alone.
I didn't have the luxury of doing that anymore.
I had to watch my own back. I had to make sure none of those fuckin' Gob shits came after me again.
I spotted my pistol on the ground a few feet away, so I quickly made my way over to it and scooped it up. It was going right back into my pocket, that's for damn sure. I wasn't letting that thing out of my sight.
My eyes wandered over my surroundings. I looked at the thing I had just killed on the floor and felt my stomach turn.
I threw up right there, next to a broken Nuka-Cola machine.
[~]
However long it was 'till I got myself together, I didn't know. I leaned up against that machine for a few good minutes, thinkin' about everything that had just happened. My body ached, the blood wasn't stopping, and I had no idea where the fuck I was at the moment. All I knew was that as soon as I stepped into this fuckin' tunnel that GOB SAID TO GO IN. I was fuckin' attacked. By some monster that I used to be scared was under my bed when I was little. It was ugly, and oozing something from its body, smelled rank and looked like a skeleton, or something that'd been dead long before I got there. And, it was tryin' to EAT ME. The Butch-man was really creeped out. I needed to find something to wrap my head in, just to get the damn bleedin' to stop and I needed to do it fast. Before somethin' else could try and eat me.
I walked around in a daze for a little while, inspecting my surroundings. Trying to find some sort of cloth or anything just to get the bleeding to stop. My hand was still clamped over my temple tightly, and I was scared to take it off. I was thinking if I did it would squirt out or somethin', and I didn't know what to do when that happened.
For a second, I asked myself if Lilly ever had to deal with anything like this. Any of this creepy stuff. And I guess for a second I got a little worried about her, 'cause y'know, she's a girl and all. How was a girl gonna punch somethin' like that offa her? She was also a little thing, I was willing to bet that creepy monster was taller than her. What would've happened if it jumped on her?
My eyes found a bathroom in the distance, so I hurried over to it and scoped it out. There didn't seem to be anything of importance in it, so I made my way down the tunnel. Eventually, I got to this huge ass opening in the underground. There was a bunch of weird, train lookin' things all mashed up together. Lots of rocks were everywhere, and it looked like some of the tunnels to my left had collapsed into themselves. Now they were just a rubble mountain that I wasn't lookin' forward to climbing. I pressed onward, trying to keep an eye out for anymore of those Gob things, while still holding a hand to my head and an anxious one by my pistol. From the looks of it, there didn't really seem to be anything else in the area. There was a lot of dead radroaches, which I was thankful for, and some more of those weird Gob things just lyin' around. They looked dead to me, but I wasn't about to go over to 'um and check. It honestly looked like someone had already been through this way, already taken care of most of the dangers. I was just unlucky enough to find the one fucker that was still alive.
Of course.
I was keepin' my eyes focused ahead of me, jogging quickly so I could get out of this underground place. I did not wanna stick around much longer down here. It was eerily quiet- I didn't like it.
[~]
Sooner or later I got to the end of the tunnel. Like I said, there wasn't that much left in there that hadn't been looted through or shot dead. I was thankful somewhat, but I was honestly hopin' I'd find something of use down there. Nothing really caught my eye. When I climbed back up to the top, my eyes had to re-adjust to the lighting of the area. It was really fuckin' bright, and I was betting it was somewhere in the afternoon. I checked my Pipboy, I seemed to be on course, so I kept going the way that Gob had told me. Prayin' that I'd be able to at least find somewhere to rest soon. The side of my head eventually stopped bleeding. But, now there was a lot of dried up blood and shit stuck on the side of my face. I wasn't really feelin' that. Hopefully this Underworld had a place for me to clean myself up.
There was another entrance to yet another tunnel, so I took the opportunity to go back down and try my hand at another round of fun. Apparently I'd be traveling through a lot of these, Gob said, so I figured I'd mine as well get used to it while I was still able. There was a lot of trash scattered about on the floor. Skeletons of people past were in corners, or slid up against the wall. I felt kind of sorry for them somewhat. But, they were dead already, so what was the use of feelin' sorry for people I'd never known? By the looks of some of the clothes that were left on them, they must've been from before the bombs. Maybe they were lucky enough to die quickly instead of being blown to bits by the bombs.
My head ached, I was running low on energy and the bottles I had filled were close to empty. I had the good fortune of finding a working Nuka-Cola machine though, with one of them still left inside. Took my time chuggin' that sucker down, but God did it feel good to have something in my system. I was tired of tastin' throw-up in my mouth. Pocketing the cap, I let the bottle slam to the floor and break. The sound made me feel a little better, since there was no longer silence eating away at me.
There were some dead wrinkly things in the corner. When I got closer to them, they looked almost like rats but, eugh, I wasn't tryin' to stick around for long. They smelled rank and their beady little dead eyes were freakin' me out.
When I finally reached the middle of the tunnel system, I was met with a little light from above. There were weird noises comin' from below me, so I peeked my head over the side to investigate. Guess what was down there?
Another fuckin' Gob monster just cowering in the corner with its back to me.
What the hell where these things?
God, I hated them almost as much as radroaches.
Almost.
I had to go down there though… There was no other way around it. I had to. Had to face the thing. The monster under my bed.
Breath caught in my throat as I reached for my pistol as quietly as I could. It was still making those weird noises in the corner, and I was hoping that it wouldn't notice me. At least before it was too late, before there were bullets coming its way. Waiting a few seconds, I took this chance to plead with karma to just let me do this right. I didn't want to miss. I wanted to hit it hard and fast, so it wouldn't get me again. Takin' a breath in to steady myself, I leaned over the side of the crumbled railing and aimed for it's head.
"1… 2…" I whispered, ducking my head to have a better chance at aiming. If I fucked this up... Well. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. Without waiting any longer I pulled the trigger, taking another aim at the thing's chest and pulling it again. I wasn't letting this thing get near me again. I'd blast it's brains out before it even had the chance to come and eat mine.
First shot was successful. I watched as the head kicked forward and it fell over from impact. I must've scared it or something. Real stealthy of me. The second one was coming fast. It hit the side of the arm, I'm guessing because the thing moved from the first shot, but damn I was just happy that I had actually hit something. It made an aggravated growling noise, and peered up at me with its beady eyes. I had my gun pointed at it, and without further ado I took the liberty of ending that things life with another shot. It gargled and fell to the ground with a thump that echoed across the walls.
"Scooooore!" I cheered, throwing my hands up in the air. I finally did something right out here and I was grateful my life was no longer in danger. Deciding that there would be a better time for my victory chant, I pocketed my weapon and descended the stairs. I glanced around me quickly, seeing if there was any other dangers lurking in the shadows. Didn't see anythin', so I kept my jogging pace down one of the tunnels and hoped that I was going the right way again.
[~]
After a few more hours of navigating my way through the God forsaken underground, I found another entrance to the topside. Figuring that this would be the correct exit to lead me to my destination, I became more excited.
"Finally." I groaned, stepping out into the sunlight and stretching in it. The warmth felt nice on my back. My Pipboy seemed to think it was somewhere around 4 in the afternoon. I made decent time.
But, when I looked around at where I was, I didn't see the huge monument in the distance. Or the waves of 'super mutant hideaways' that Gob had warned me about. I didn't even know what the fuck those things were, but the way Gob had talked about them I didn't want anythin' to do with 'em. I didn't even see one thing that he had explained. Instead, standing in front of me was the bow of what looked like a huge sunken battle ship. I was in awe. Was this Underworld?
Deciding to myself that standin' and starin' weren't two good things to be doing out in the open, I opted to go ahead and check it out. There was a huge ramp leading up to something, so I climbed that with ease. I was on some kid of rusted piece of something… Just couldn't put my finger on it at the moment. There was a guy. He was in rags, just starin' at me. He looked like he'd keel over any minute now.
"Hey. Is this Underworld?" I dared to ask, stepping a little closer to the guy. I didn't want to get too close, though. 'Cos I was afraid he was sick or something. Had somethin' contagious. Or like.. rabies or somethin'.
He looked at me funny for a moment, and then started laughing at me. I mean, down right hysterics. Anger filled up inside of me. I wanted to smack this guy around for a little while, 'cause no one laughs at me like that for no Goddamn reason.
"Somethin' funny." I demanded more than asked. He took a look at the seriousness on my face and quieted himself down. Good.
"You're serious then?" And he coughed. It was dry and sounded like his throat was filled with sand paper.
"Do I look like I'm fuckin' kiddin' to you? ..Dirty rat.." I grumbled the last part, not wanting him to hear me. Whatever bout of sympathy I had for this fella was all dried up now. No one laughs at Butch DeLoria. Not when he's got a mission to do. Not when he's bein' serious. Not when he needs answers.
He shook his head at me, the long wisps of his dirty hair flying in every direction. "This is Rivet City. Why would you be looking for Underworld. That place is full of zombies."
There was a weird glint in his eye when he said the last part. And even though there was dirt and skanky shit all over his face, I could see the scowl forming when he said that.
Now, Gob had told me that this Underworld place was full of people that looked like him. Not these zombies or whatever the hell this guy called 'em. Not those creepy butt holes that were in the tunnels. There were people there. People that've been burnt beyond anything I bet that anyone around here has ever dreamed of. If he was callin' Gob a zombie, I'd be fuckin' pissed as hell. Instead, I let it slide. I didn't need to waste my breath on this loser. I bet if I fuckin' breathed on him hard enough he'd probably turn to dust. He looked like he was gonna' collapse soon anyway. Good riddance. Anyone who talked like that about my friend Gob, should.
"You got any water?" He then asked, out of the blue. That scowl on his face disappeared and instead it held a look of hope. I shook my head at the guy, unable to look him in the eyes.
"All I got is the shit you can drink in that dirty water over there." I pointed to the water surrounding the area, watching the guy's face fall. Not like I'd give him anything of mine anyway. Not with the way he was talkin'. I didn't stick around him long enough for it to bother me. Instead, I made my way over to a pillar with an old intercom on the side of it. My curiosity and attention was solely focused on that now. It reminded me of home. There was a red button in the center, so I pressed it, unable to curb my curiosity. A static voice came through, completely catching me off guard. I didn't think any of these suckers still worked. 'Specially not out here.
"Hold on." The voice spoke. Whoever it was sounded completely uninterested in what they were doing. All of a sudden a loud creak sounded, completely cutting through the thick silence around the area. I watched as a metal, rusted bridge turned towards me.
"Fuckin' awesome." I whispered with enthusiasm, pocketing my hands and stepping onto it once the creaking stopped. I had never seen anythin' like that in my entire life. Wherever I was, I wasn't goin' to be leaving for a while. That I was sure of. As long as I could get patched up and get a nice cold drink I was set. And, if Lilly happened to make her way over here, that'd be fine. I'd wait it out. She'd come eventually…
I hoped.