Verrah's boots crunched on the asphalt. Her eyes scanned her surroundings as the sun began its decent to the horizon. She certainly felt like the only human left. Pistol in her hands, she kept every sense up. She didn't want to be taken off-guard. Though she felt comforted with her largest wrench strapped to the outside of her right thigh.

She threw a glance to make sure it was still there. Measuring the length of her thigh and weighing at least eight pounds, if the wrench had fallen off, she would know. But she couldn't help feeling paranoid. She was a stranger in a strange land. Even with the directions Codsworth provided on her Pip-Boy.

Codsworth. She insisted he remained at home. Someone needed to protect Sanctuary Hills. And he was her only link to this world. Pausing, she looked behind her. Should she have brought him along?

Probably.

Too late for that, now.

She suddenly brightened upon seeing a crimson rocket towering into the sky. Trotted to her old job establishment. The truck stop had seen its better days, certainly, but she was happy to see it still standing. Maybe this world wouldn't be so strange, after all.

A bark came from inside, and a German shepherd stepped out.

Verrah stopped. Smiled. "Hey, boy." She knelt down. "Are you friendly?"

The dog sat down in the garage doorway. Sniffed the air. After a few more nose twitches, he rose and lumbered over. Tongue flopping out.

Laughing, she held a hand out for him to sniff. Then petted him when he was fully comfortable. She checked for a collar or identification of any kind but didn't find any.

The shepherd placed his front paws on her legs and licked her face.

"Okay, okay, okay." She gently pushed him off. Rose. "Do you belong to someone?" Looking around, she didn't see anyone. "Is this your home?" She began forward.

The dog suddenly growled in alarm as mounds of dirt moved and exploded open.

Verrah's eyes widened. Large, hairless creatures with bucked teeth screeched, pouncing toward her. "What the crap are those?!" She unloaded a clip, but the new threats were too quick. Ran for the safety of the Red Rocket.

But one followed her inside. She pulled the trigger, gun clicking in response. "Oh, screw this." Tossing the pistol aside, she unsheathed her wrench. Bludgeoned the creature to death.

She finally calmed her heavy breathing. Put the giant tool back in its holster. "Always knew that thing would come in handy in regards to self-defense. Now, what are you?" She nudged the fleshy body with a boot. Squatted and inspected it closer. A giant naked mole rat? Appeared that way. She shook her head.

Radiation.

Her ice blue eyes scanned the inside of the garage she punched into every Monday through Friday, with the exception of government holidays. Set hours, nice pay. Doing what she loved to do. It wasn't a bad gig. No siree.

In all honesty, not much had changed. Her work toolbox, machining station, and workbench were all in the same place. What looked to be a chemical mixing station had been added. Though she wasn't sure why someone would put something so volatile in an old truck stop that had radioactive material in it before the war. Perhaps someone had a death wish. Or was stupid. Or maybe she was just stupid.

But in the middle of the far garage wall was a bright yellow stand. She searched it up and down, clearly impressed by the addition. For months, she had thought the garage had been missing something. Clearly, it was missing a power armor station. A grin pulled at the corners of her mouth. What she would have given to get her hands on one of those armor suits before the war.

She recalled the sign outside before meeting the dog. It still read the price of 113 dollars and ninety nine cents. The highest that prices had ever been. Her head shook. Maybe the war was a good thing. Otherwise, they most likely would've had to find new resources. The crisis for resources had been growing rather severe.

However, she did more than just replenish coolant. She kept the cars maintained, as well as the trucks. A gentler smile overcame her as she recounted chatting with the truckers, as she pretended to be interested in gossip from her regulars. She knew so much about the people of Concord and surrounding areas by just listening to customers as she turned wrenches.

The memories elicited a chuckle. Most of the time, she knew more than she desired. And every single elderly woman tried hooking her up with someone new every time they came. How dare she be twenty four and not be married. She swore they came in only to patronize her. A heavy sigh escaped her.

A vicious snarl suddenly brought her back to the present.

She remembered where she was, what had happened, and the dog outside with the hairless creatures.

Grabbing the 10MM off the floor, she trotted outside. "Hey—" She stopped herself upon seeing the shepherd sitting among six dead mole rats. Glanced back at the one she killed inside the garage. Obviously, the dog was more adept to this wasteland.

Sighing again, she realized the canine was much better at survival than she was. If he was a stray, she wondered if she could get him to follow her. She scanned the area again. The place seemed deserted. "Do you have an owner, boy?"

The dog's tongue disappeared into his mouth, and his head tilted.

She knelt back onto one leg. "Would you like to come with me?" She knew he couldn't understand her every word, but she took him licking her face as a yes. "Okay, okay." She laughed. "I suppose you wouldn't know how to get to Diamond City, huh?"

He barked and ran to the road. Waited for her to follow.

"Wow. Okay…that was a joke." She started after him when he disappeared around the bend. "Hey! Wait up." Breaking into a run, she found him sitting in the middle of the old T-intersection.

Though the stoplights remained standing, they were rusted and broken. Ill testaments to what happened to life during the war. Many of the once-beautiful trees were collapsed. Everything was barren. An unsalvageable car sat on the side of the road, stuck through the shoulder barrier.

She took a deep breath again. All the more reminder of the desolate world she now resided in. Her eyes traveled down the road. Faint buildings emerged in the remaining light. It took her a few moments, but she knew what town this was.

Concord.

So many people she knew here….

Gunshots startled her before she could think of more depressing thoughts. Loading her pistol, she looked down at the dog.

He barked again and took off down the road, straight ahead of them.

Verrah's head slightly tilted. Was he really leading her into a battle? Sprinting after him again, she tried to keep her head down. Not knowing where the shots came from. She was led into the heart of the town, but before she entered it, she crouched behind the shell of a car. "Hey," she whispered harshly.

Thankfully, the dog came back to her. Keeping low as she did.

"What do you think you're doing? We can't just walk into the middle of a fire fight. Especially blind." Peeking over the top of the car, she did her best to gauge the situation.

It appeared that one gang was held up in the museum, and another gang fought from the streets and neighboring buildings. Both sides appeared to have snipers. Were they rival gangs fighting over territory? Was this a classic case of good versus evil? Regardless, they were all human. At least, that she could tell.

A laser beam streaked across the street from the Museum of Freedom.

Her eyes widened.

But did she even get involved? Whose side did she take? Did she even pick a side? Was she really supposed to intervene? There were quite a few on both sides. This could very well be a death trap for her.

She looked back at the dog. "What do you think?" Sighed when he only whimpered and settled on his paws. "So you don't know either, huh? Well, this is just fabulous. You led me to a battle, and you don't even know what side to be on."

"Who goes there?"

Verrah suddenly stiffened and put a finger over her lips. Pressed herself against the car and held the pistol up by her ear.

The voice carried out once more. "Aw, come on, you can trust me."

She highly doubted she could trust the man who called for her to reveal herself. His voice held sarcasm and hinted at pleasure of finding her and killing her.

The dog lifted his head, ears twitching back and forth. He rose to his four paws but stayed concealed behind the vehicle.

A man in makeshift armor rounded the front of the car. "There you are!"

Before Verrah had time to react, he fired his rifle at her.