CHAPTER 2

Elise had just left the vault. It was a rough start and it seemed things were only going to get worse for the teenager from Vault 101. After a brief encounter with Raiders she stumbles upon Megaton and it inhabitants. With the intent of finding her father she speaks with the Saloon owner Mr. Moriarty for information. In return she must take care of a problem with a former employee of his. She is able to do so and as promised, Moriarty tells her to check in with Galaxy News Radio. Before she can head off, she must treat wounds and rest up but she has nowhere to go. Breaking into Moriarty's at some ungodly hour of the night seemed like a good idea until the bartender Gob caught her. Rather than turn her in, he was kind and allowed her to spend the night with him. The two fell asleep enjoying the other's company.

Daylight cut through the mashed up panels of steel that surrounded the room. His eyes opened slowly expecting to see a sleepy face lying beside him but there was nothing there. She was gone. It made perfect sense. How could he have expected her to stay? Still, his heart sank until he saw the note left behind on wrinkly paper. It was addressed to him.

Morning :)

Sorry I had to leave so abruptly. I feared I would get you in trouble if Mr. Moriarty walked in. Thanks for being so kind to me. It really helped. I have had to take my travels outside Megaton. I will be in touch!

See you soon!

Elise

It wasn't the worst thing that couldn't happen. At least it was pleasant and still allowed him to cling to that faint hope that maybe there was still a chance for him.

"Get up you lazy zombie! Get to work!" came the shouting from outside. Mr. Moriarty was awake and in his usual friendly manner it seemed judging by the snappy tone. Gob sighed, stuffed the letter into his pocket and got to work.

She hoped Gob wouldn't take it personally. She just never was good at goodbye's and rather than make it awkward, she left the note and disappeared before the sun touched the town. It was as good a day as any to go and explore the wasteland a little bit. She knew where she had to go but it was hard to focus on just one thing. She was free from the vault and if she was going to make it out here, she was going to have to learn a thing or two about life in the wastes. Her first encounter with hostiles had proven quite pathetic. It was time for some pack back. She remembered hearing the line /Nut up, or shut up/ back in the vault. Some old movie icon from the long ago past apparently said it. Seemed like a worthy quote at a time like this. She gathered her few possessions and left the town without looking back. She would be back after all.

As the sun rose higher, the wastes warmed up rather quickly. The sun felt warm and invigorating on her pale skin. Never before had she felt the true sun's light. It was really quite the phenomenon for her. Armed with her 10mm she wandered North once again in search of anything that would prove useful to her if she was going to travel further in search of her father. That's when she heard the laughter again.

"Look whose back for more!" came the chanting speech of a female raider.

"This one looks good enough to kill!" her male companion responded with a psychotic upbeat demeanor.

The two ran in her direction waving their baseball bats in the air. Bludgeoning. Not the way she wanted to go. f it was their intent to do her harm, she would reciprocate with the same hostile intent. She raised the 10mm and took a knee. With a steady aim she fired three shots. The first clipped the female in the shoulder. She staggered back for a moment but kept on pressing forward. The second hit her in the thigh. She crumpled to the ground in agony. It took only a few seconds for her to bleed out. The final shot was right on target. She her the snap as the bullet made contact into the raiders skull. His head was thrown back. There was a second snap which must have been his neck breaking. He fell backwards lifeless with his brains painting the broken up road a deep wet red. She had done it! They were dead! She knew it wasn't a proud celebration. Taking a life was not to be enjoyed but a sense of relief washed over here. She approached the raiders seeing their weapons splayed out before their bodies. What a waste to leave it all here, she thought. What luck too. An assault rifle was just begging to be swiped. Not like they'd be using it anymore. Her knew found courage and the kills it lead to built up the confidence she needed to feel a little more capable at surviving out here. She even pressed on North to see if there was anything else for her to do. Occasionally she would stumble across another wastelander who seemed content with exchanging just a few words before heading off on their own. No one seemed to really bother with the burden of teaching some one new the ways of life out here. Every now and then she would stumble across some rabid creature wanting to tear at her flesh. Dealing with them was all the same, a couple rounds and they went down too.

With no real direction to go, her travels brought her to a compound that stuck out of the landscape. A fenced in area with lots of scrap. Surely there had to be something good in there. Nothing precarious stood out on her Pip-Boy. She opened the chain link fence and entered the yard looking for anything that would be useful to her on her journey. White she moved throughout the scrap it became clear there wasn't much here. As she rifled through a burned out car body the red markers appeared on her Pip-Boy. Instantly she spun around to see the trouble. She heard it before she saw it. The laughter and mocking shouts of raiders nearby. She moved stealthily behind the nearest building and peered out from the corner. A dog barked and snapped as the humans approached with guns drawn and bats in the air. The dog backed up, its hackles raised and upper lip curled over the white teeth that looked as though they could bite through bone with no fuss.

There was no way she was going to sit back as they murdered a defenseless animal. The thought of it turning on her didn't even cross her mind as she tore across the yard towards the raiders. Bullets flew everywhere. It was pure luck if any of them actually hit their targets. When she was close enough to really take descent aim she fired at the nearest raider who had spun around to greet her with a barrage of pellets from her shotgun. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that coursed through her system that didn't allow her to feel the sting of the shot. She was letting the bitch have it with her new found friend the assault rifle. The raider's body seemed to come apart in all directions as Elise filled it with .556 rounds. Blood splattered the ground and the surrounding buildings in a thick red mist. When she turned to deal with the other two she was surprised to see them lying dead on the ground with their necks torn open. The dog had made short work of them that was for sure. It looked at her, and she at it with a basic understanding that neither was there to do harm to the other. It's different coloured eyes and blood soaked snout made it look some what crazed but it's charming whimper and a lick to her hand told a different story.

"Hey buddy" she cooed as she took a knee to embrace the gentle mutt. It licked her face vigorously before backing up allowing her to breath something other than dog slobber. She giggled and rose once again to her feet. "Coming with me than?" Elise asked as she slung the rifle over her shoulder. Her answer was a sharp yip and Dogmeat rushed to her side.

The sun was beginning to lower indicating it was time to head back to the only safe place she knew. She wasn't ready to spend a night out in the open out here, not if she could help it. The two jogged back towards the giant doors of Megaton greeted once more by the protection robot hanging out near the entrance. Upon entering the town, Lucas Simms was there watching the town from his usual vantage spot. There was still more to ask, more to find out. He was as good a person as any to ask for answers.

"Mr. Simms?" Elise inquired as she stood next to him. She was still nervous to talk to him. Her palms were sweaty and she kept her distance just in case he was in a foul mood.

"Hmm? What?" he asked as he saw the young female standing with her curious eyes. "Oh, you. What do you want now?" he asked in the same monotone voice.

"About Megaton, how did it come to be? Was that a bomb I noticed in the middle there?" she asked.

"That it is. Still active too. Hasn't gone off yet. No one really goes near it other than those crazies who worship the fucking thing. No one knows how to disarm it an I wont be letting the regular Joe Shmo try" he told her as his forehead wrinkled beneath his hat when he saw her interest spark. "Why, do you know how?" he asked with a raised brow.

"I could take a look at it. Science was always my strength and a good friend of mine in the Vault talk me a few ways around dangerous objects" she informed with a more upbeat tone.

"Well, give it a shot then. What do we have to lose? If it's going to blow it will. Be it today or ten years from now. Frankly it will make no difference to me" he told her. "Now look, as much as I'd like to continue this conversation, it's getting late and I have rounds to do. Is that all?" he asked as he already began to walk away.

"Uh, yeah. Sure" she replied.

"Oh, and make sure that mutt of yours behaves himself in my town" he called back as he left her sight.

Elise just smirked and pet the panting dog on the head.

"Good boy Dogmeat" she said warmly as she headed towards the Saloon to tell Gob about her day - if he wasn't mad at her of course.

Gob's eyes lit up when she entered to room. The corners of his mouth curled up which got the attention of Mr. Moriarty who had been sitting in front of the Ghoul. He turned around to see what made the creature smile seeing Elise enter the door. He gave a puzzling look before looking back to Gob. "Another beer!" he groaned in his drunken state.

Elise saw the odd look. Her eyes withdrew to the floor and she retreated to a side of the bar waiting for Mr. Moriarty to call it a night so she and Gob could talk without raising more suspicion.

Gob rolled his eyes and fetched another beer for the Saloon owner. He was glad Elise was back. She seemed much happier today than she had been yesterday and ... and was that an assault rifle over her shoulder? Damn that girl worked fast. He didn't even raise a fuss about the dog trailing behind her. A little fur in the bar was no big deal after all.

As Elise withdrew to a chair her eyes met with a strange man in the corner. He gave her a cool smile which she followed back with in return.

"Don't believe I've seen your face around town" he spoke in a sly tone.

"I'm new" Elise replied in a nonchalant way as her eyes fell to the floor and she rested her rifle against the wall.

"New huh? Then do I have a proposition for you. Want to hear?" he asked as his smirk grew.

"Let's hear it" Elise offered her ear.

"That bomb down there. It's just waiting to go off. My boss would like to see that happen. There will be a hefty reward if you can pull it off. It's so simple. Just place this charge then come back and report to me at the safe area. We can watch it go up together" he told her in a sadistic manner.

Elise felt sick. Sure, not everyone in this town was her best friend but that was no reason to see them die. She wanted to put a bullet in his head right then and there but she stopped herself from acting to impulsively.

Gob looked over seeing Elise converse with Mr. Burke. He knew Burke's background. The asshole was a ladies man through and through. No doubt he was putting the same flare on Elise. No way Elise would fall for it. She was too smart for that man's bull - wasn't she? Why was she smiling? Why was she laughing?

As it so happened, Elise was doing what she could to keep these people alive. When it came down to it, he was a man and she was a woman. She had to try and use what charm she had to change his mind.

"You know, I live here now. I kind of like this town. You don't have to do what the old man tells you. You and I could make our own choice. We could be in it together" she said in a seductive tone. This instantly seemed to get the man's attention in the way she had hoped.

"Is that so? Damn girl the things I would do to you..." he told her as his mind played at every possible option. Elise laughed.

"The things I want you to do to me.." she played along. She bit at her bottom lip and smirked as her eyes flashed up to meet his own. "Please don't do it. We could do so much more you and I" she told him with a flirtatious drawl.

He felt his pants get tighter around the crotch and he took off his hat to cover the rising fabric.

"Well my dear I will have to be off then. Do not worry I will come back for you once I tell the boss that I am leaving and that this town really isn't so bad" he spoke as he took her hand with his available one and kissed the back of it.

A glass shattered from behind the bar. A few other customers looked to Gob with curious stares.

"Watch it man!" One settler called out as Gob bent down to retrieve the broken shards of glass.

"I will see you soon" Burke promised before he left the Saloon.

Elise looked at her hand like it was no contaminated with god knows what. She saw that Moriarty had since departed which gave her the opportunity to converse with Gob. She sat down at the bar just as he picked up the last few pieces.

"Man, what a..." she began before his voice cut her off.

"I really don't care" he snapped which caught her off guard. "Look, I am busy. Unless you're here to buy I don't have time to chat" he snapped. Elise felt like she had been kicked in the head. What was going on? Why the sudden change?

"Gob, if you're upset about the note I..." she tried.

"Did you not hear me smooth skin? I said I am busy. I bet there are plenty of others who will listen to your plight" he barked as he turned to clean more dishes. It was all he could do to save face. Clearly she was smitten with Burke and why not? The man was too smart. He was charming and handsome. People didn't scream and run away when they saw him, not unless he was out for their contract. He was what Elise could have. All he could do was push her away. It hurt too much to see her happy with some one else.

Elise was taken aback. Why was he being so mean? She felt like she would break down and cry if she stayed here so she turned on the stool and left without another word.

She stepped out onto the terrace and looked down at the bomb lingering below just waiting to unleash its carnage upon the town. Nope. Wasn't going to happen. With the task at hand on her mind she walked to the large dormant bomb and began to tinker away. As the sun came up hours later she had finished. One last cut wire and the thing was as harmful as Dogmeat's crap. She turned to see Simms smiling at her.

"You did it!" he chimed as the smile grew on his face and he embraced her in a large bear hug that would have suffocated her had he not let go a second too soon. "Thanks kid! Mighty fine thing you did for this town!" he praised as he offered her a reward she graciously accepted.

/Yup, no one is going to blow you all up any day soon. Not with this thing at least/ she thought but she kept the comment to herself. "No problem" was her only response.

"Look, I know I wasn't overly helpful but let me make it up to you. There is a spare room here. It's yours. Here's the key and deed. Now you can say you have a home" he told her with a kind smile. This really was a grand gesture.

"Thank you" she said sincerely as she felt relief wash over her. It was a great feeling to belong once again.

"Stay out if trouble now" he finally spoke as he walked away. After a bit of hunting she was able to find her new place. It wasn't a vault room but she wasn't going to be picky. It even came partially furnished and her own robot butler. All she could think about was getting some much needed sleep. She climbed the stairs and crawled into bed feeling the large mutt heave his body up onto it as well and curl up beside her. She snuggled into his fur and closed her eyes. As much as she tried not to think about it. How much she wished Gob would forgive her for whatever she had done was all that played in her mind.

Across the town in his own bed, Gob was wide awake long before the usual hollering from Moriarty came from the Saloon. He hadn't slept for a minute. He had been such a Ghoul. He had snapped at the only person who was truly kind to him. She was a friend after all and just because he couldn't be more did not give him the right to treat her as he had. He picked himself out of bed and sighed at the thought she would probably never speak to him again - and it was all his fault.