Chapter 3

"This Mr. Blonde guy, this isn't the first time I've heard of him. Him and those guys he ran with did they seem raider like?" I nodded, "They seemed to have an air of chaos about them." "Just as I thought, those guys are tougher than they seem. I had a case a while back, someone was killed, quick and clean, but a lot of people reported seeing raiders leave the scene. It baffled me, Raiders being so short and to the point. No Commonwealth, albeit any, Raider group could possibly pull something off like that. After a little sniffing around and a few bruised faces left behind I learned the names of this fake raider gang. Obviously aliases and this Mr. Blonde was one of them."

Patiently listening to Nick's theory I nodded along to everything. It made sense, the MO, why they talked about a boss. They were obviously pro's, using the guise of common criminals to hide their true motif. They were mercenaries that knew how to blend in. "Let's take a look at the wreckage, if you're up for it…" I gave Nick a slight nod and he nodded back. I said a light goodbye to Sophie and left the agency, Nick trailing behind me.

I stared solemnly at my homes resting place. Nick crouched over the body of Jonah, shaking his head before flipping the body onto its back and checking his pockets. After a few minutes of patting down the deceased man Nick called me over, "I think you'll wanna see this Max." I Hurried over to the detective, taking the piece of paper he held out to me as I reached him."What's this?" "A note from their boss, give it a read."

Dear Mr. Max,

You don't know me but I most definetly know you. Now I'm sure you've killed at least one of those mercenaries I sent your way. I figured you'd underestimate them but, with your skill sets I'm sure you'd figure it out. Now down to business. I have your wife and child, alive I hope, I wouldn't want to hurt a hair on either of their pretty little heads, unless need be.

Of course you must be asking "Why in all that is holy did this asshole send mercs to steal my family from me again?" well Mr. Max all your questions will be answered in good time. I will give you this though. You did something very similar to me. And I have not forgotten and never will forget.

So to finish this up I will give you two months time to make it to New York City, a.k.a the big apple. I'm sure you've heard of it yes? Meet me at central park and we'll talk terms on how you'llget your precious family back once more.

Now don't expect pity from me like you got originally at that nut house the institute. You don't get second chances in my game. So let's play ball.

Yours Truly,

A.M.

I closed my fist around the letter. My hands shook with fury, Nick knelt next to the body, looking at me sorrowfully. "Max, it's obviously a trap but, we need to go either way." I shake my head. "No Nick, I won't take you. I need you to stay here. Find any clues that could help us learn anything. Ask around if anybody saw where these guys were staying. Find out who AM is, I need you here man." I held out my hand to him to help him up. He sighed "Alright Max, I trust you on this but, find someone to help you on this." he took my hand and i pulled him to his feet.

Dogmeat panted heavily, the sun's rays beat down on us. Whether the world was engulfed in nuclear fire or not the sun wouldn't be going anywhere. I knelt down next to the mutt and poured some purified water into my hand. He lapped it up graciously. At least the bastards didn't get him. We continued onwards for a while before we finally reached it. The place was an old army base. The commonwealth was littered with these but, this one meant a little bit more to me. This was where i put a bullet in Kellog, the last asshole that crossed me and my family. Instinctively my hand went to my pocket, i played with the two golden rings for a couple seconds before heading inside.

The lights blinked on as the rusty door squeaked open. Dust had settled all throughout the old building. I waltzed down the hallway, my mind focused on how I would break each and every bone of the men that took my wife and child. I stopped next to the terminal that opened the adjacent doors. After opening them and i slowly stepped into my armory. I breathed in the musk of dust and metal and felt a rush of nostalgia flow over me. I took a few steps to my right and stopped in front of the old suit of power I knew and loved.

T-60 power armor, a somewhat rare artifact in the commonwealth. I had held onto it for quite some time, used it many times over whilst in the BOS. Even when they offered me a new one I never gave up my first one. Rusted to all hell, bullet holes every here and there, and a little stickfigure family drawn on by my son a couple years back when I decided to show him this place. I smiled as I remembered the day, I shook myself back to reality before I could fall into the realm of fantasy. I stood behind the armor and twisted the wheel to open up the old thing. It hissed open and I slowly crawled inside. The padding I had put inside, made of yao guai bear fur, made it as comfortable as it had always been. I sighed and continued to get what I had come here for.

I admired my wall of weapons as I always did when I came here. I then grabbed a nearby duffel bag and began filling it with my weapons of choice. I started with the cryolator, a favorite of mine, following that up with the deliverer, then the limitless potential laser rifle, next a Maxed out sniper rifle, after that I grabbed my automatic assault rifle, and finishing it up with my combat shotgun. I also threw in some molotov cocktails, frag grenades, and frag mines.

I sighed before zipping up the duffel bag filled with deadly weaponry. I had hoped this was over. The killing and fighting. The lifestyle of danger and hatred. I had wished for it all to stop. Yet even with that in mind I still kept this place around. I chuckled, I would never let my true nature go. Both before and after the bombs, my life only entailed one thing, death. I heaved the bag over my shoulder and began to head out, dogmeat trotting happily at my feet.