Out of Disorder, into Chaos: Ch. 3
"And a fine howdy doody to you too. This gonna become a thing with you guy's?" Gob asked Sam at Amata's loud outburst.
"Could'a keep it quiet?" One of the people having a drink said.
"Sam... why are you talking to a Zombie?" Amata asked.
"Goddamnit, I'm not a Zombie." Gob recoiled.
"He's-- a- a bartender, right?" Sam said, and Gob nodded. "H-his names Gob. Gob, th-this is Amata."
"Yeah, here's the drink to prove it." Gob said, pulling a bottle of Vodka up from under the counter. "Have a seat, won't you?"
Amata, eyeing the Bartender wearily, walked over to the bar, and sat down next to Sam. "So, how did..."
"This? Happen." Gob said, indicating his face.
"Yeah."
"I was just telling this guy here the story." He said. "Well, as I was saying, not all of us got a chance to cozy up in one of those cushy vaults."
"Wait-" Amata interrupted. "you were alive back then?"
"Yeah, not that anyone here seems to appreciate it."
"Gob said he was only fourteen when it happened." Sam added.
"How is that even possible."
"Bevause I was born in 2063, Ghoul's age slower than you do, man, I wish you two came at the same time, that way I wouldn't have to repeat myselt." He lamented. "Any more of you guy's coming?" He asked, to which both shook their heads."Anyway's, the rest of us were stuck out here, and got a full on blast of heat and raidation, turned us into a pak of walking corpses. And with a face like this;" He said indicating his own visage. "Most folks don't take too kindly to us. I remember a few weeks the bombs hit, we started noticing our hair was falling out, skin too. Place began to reek of rotten meat, took us a while to realize it was us. That's what your smelling by the way, not nearly as bad as it used to be, mind you." Gob informed her. "Anyway, a few months passed, and the chaos began to settle down a little, thing's weren't back to normal, and there wasn't really a set order, but thing's began to follow a pattern." Gob paused to put his elbow and the counter, and place his fingers on the bridge of his nose, sighing.
"Are you okay?" Amata asked.
"Yeah, yeah, it's just," He looked up at Amata. "those are some powerful memories, most other people tried to forget them, man, it's been a long time since I looked back on those days. Being a slave to Moriarty's never been easy, but better than it was back then."
"Can't be all that bad." Amata said. "You're alive, and theres alot of people who can't say the same."
"Heh, don't suppose you two are related?" Gob asked. "Here, have a drink, on me, I'm sure you two have miseries to drown too." Gob said, pouring an amber liquid into two small glasses. "To the Chinese and all their fucking bombs." Gob toasted.
Sam and Amata took their glasses and gulped them down, immediately regretting doing so. "Oh my lord that's foul!" Sam exclaimed.
"What was that?" Amata asked.
"Vodka, what the hell did you think it was?"
"Honestly, I thought it was apple juice." Sam said.
"Ha-heh, I don't think i've had apple juice in eighty years, course, at that point it had turned to apple cider." Gob said.
"Hey, uh, what's up with the Radio?" Amata asked, putting down her glass.
"Mr. Moriarty says we can keep it on, it's a good radio station." Gob said. "I like hearing the DJ, Three Dog, and how he's helping fight the Good Fight."
"But what about all the static?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, while me and Sam were walking here, we found a radio station from the Government. It came in just fine." Amata said.
"That'd be the Enclave, they've been around for as long as most people here can remember, but even I can't remember when it first started broadcasting."
"Why should it be so diffucult?" Sam asked.
"Keep in mind, the airwaves have been completely filled with static ever since the skies got set on fire." Gob told him. "There's Enclave, and then there's this, GNR"
The two tried listening through the static, and manged to hear a few bars of a slow song, but not much else.
"Anyway, it hasn't always been like this, used to come in just fine, but last week, this happened." This being the static. "And honestly, I just don't like the Enclave Station."
"So, is it just music?" Amata asked.
"No, there's that, but Three Dog also gives news, tips on how to survive, most everything your not gonna get from the other guy. And of course, your gonna keep hearing about the Good Fight if you listen long enough. *sigh* If only I were a part of that, instead of being in thi dive..."
"So why don't you just leave?" Amata asked.
"You kidding me?" Gob said. "When I said I was Moriarty's slave, I meant it in a literal sense!"
"Wait, your an actual slave!? My God! How can someone possibly sell another human being!" Amata said, outraged.
"Pipe down over there!" Another patron of the bar said.
"Quite easily mind you." Gob said. "Though, thanks for counting me as a human being. I originally came from a place called Underworld, it's a Ghoul city, down in D.C. I set off here to find adventure, and fortune. And... well... I found this place. Colin sais I can't leave until I pay off my debt, the cost I went for. Of course he still charges me room and board too."
"That's awful." Amata said.
"Thanks for the sentiment." Gob said, going under the counter to retrieve some glasses. "You ever make it to Underworld, tell Carol I said hi." Gob reappeared from the counter, cleaning a shot glass. "So, what brings you two to the corner of the radioactive shithole?"
"My Dad left." Sam said. "He just left, didn't say anything to me, and the whole thing panicked everyone, guards were everywhere, fires were started, radroaches were attacking, it was chaos." Sam shook his head. "It was pretty clear everyone wanted me dead, so I had to leave, and I managed to convince Amata to come with me."
"So, I take it you two are a couple then?" He asked.
"Just recently, yes." Amata said, blushing somewhat.
"Hey, I just remembered, we were told my Dad came here." Sam said. "Middle-aged guy, my height, looks like me?"
"Oh, yeah, I remember a guy like that. Honestly, I try to keep my head, down. I tend to get smacked in the face if I look them in the face."
"Aww." Amata said.
"Talk to Moriarty, he'll know more, he just stepped outside actually." Gob told them.
"Well, I guess I should get this over with." Sam said getting up. "This shouldn't take long Amata."
Sam stepped outside of the saloon and into blinding light. He hadn't noticed, but the bight light that stood in the middle of the not-ceiling was now almost on the horizon. How did it get there? Deeming it as not important, Sam joined the elder man in a leather jacket, leaning on the rail.
"A-are you Colin Moriarty?" Sam asked.
"Speak up lad! I can barely hear what yer sayin'." The man told him, in an accent, Sam did not quite recognize.
"I asked if you were Colin Moriarty." Sam said, a little louder this time.
"Why, yes, yes I am! Though, you gone and caught me out of my element."
"G-good. That is. That's good." Sam stuttered. "Uh, I'm looking for my Dad, he looks like me, my height, middle-aged, heres an old picture of him-"
"Slow down kid, I can only take it in so fast!" Colin said, taking the picture from Sam. "My God... it's you. The little baby boy, all grown up. Persistant little bastard, ain't ya? Then and know it would seem. It's been a long time kid."
"Um, excuse me?"
"Oh, your daddy passed through here all right. Here and gone. Got what he came here for, and left. I-I'm asuming you'll do the same, correct?"
"Um, m-me and my Father were born in Vault 101." Sam said.
"Oh-ho! I-is that what your father told you? Th-that you BORN in that hole? That HE was born there as well? Oh, the lies we tell to those we love." He cackled. "Your father took you to the Vault right after you were born. To keep you safe you see. I remember it well; you stayed in my saloon after all. That's right-" He said, eyeing Sam's confused face. "Your father, his Brotherhood of Steel friend, and you, the suckling babe with nary a tit to suckle. Sorry about your mum. Truly. Ah, but life goes on. Daddy lied. Lifes full of little dissapointments. And now.. you're all grown up... and wondering where he's gone to."
"M-my Dad told me we were born in Vault 101..." Sam said in shock.
"Ahhhhh, I see. You know I heard about the brainwashin' that goes on down there. From some other fella, escaped oh' five years back. 'All hail the Overseer! We're born; in the Vault, we die in the Vault' And all that other assorted lunacy. Kid, you've got better programming than our own Deputy Weld. You'd best wise up quick. Wouldn't want anyone... takin advantage of ya. Hmm?"
"But the search party was before we were even born." Sam whispered.
"Hmm?" Moriarty said.
Sam didn't want to believe him, but he was incredibly accurate about the 'Brainwashing' as it were. And the more he thought about it, more he realized he didn't know about his Father's past. Who were his grandparents? Why did his Dad not have any pictures from his grandparents?
"Look, I just want to know where my Dad is, okay?" Sam said.
"You seem like a nice kid, so I'm going to be straight with you. Your dad was here, and know he's not. And yes, I know where he went. But what your asking me for, is information, and information is a commodity. Let's say, 100 caps, and daddy's location is yours... very reasonable, if you ask me."
"I don't have a hundred caps." Sam said simply.
"All right kid, let me help you out, for old times sake. If you don't have the caps to pay for the information, then maybe you could do me a little favor."
"Sure, I guess I don't have much of a choice.." Sam said.
"Oh, now don't say that boyo!" Moriaty said, patting him on the shoulder. "Anyway, this Junkie bitch named Silver borrowed quite a few caps from me... claimed she could start funnelling Jet, and Psycho to me for a good price. Problem is she scrammed with the loot, and set herself up somewhere in Springvale to inject herself into a stupor. Get the caps she owes me, and there yours. Well, rather they're your to pay me with." He chuckled.
"Well, I guess I should get this over with." Sam said getting up. "This shouldn't take long Amata."
With that he left. Leaving her with the undead bartender. Great.
"Hey, I think yonder gentleman in the corner is trying to get your attention." Gob told her, pointing to a man in a white suit, and a pair of dark shades and a hat helping to cover his face, sitting in the corner, waving to her. With nothing better to do, she decided to sit across from him.
"My, my, just when I had all but given up hope. My dear girl, I am very happy to make your acquaintance I- am Mr. Burke."
"Um, pleased to meet you." Amata said nervously. She felt as if the man was looking straight through her.
"Ah, manners, so nice to find them in this putrescent cesspool. I take it you are not from here. That makes you a rather important individual."
"I-it does?" Amata said rather surprised.
"Don't you see? You're a free agent! You've no ties here no interest in the affairsof this settlemet. Megaton means nothing to you!" He said as if extremely annoyed at her incompetance. After taking a short breath, he continued. "I represent certain... interests, who view this 'Megaton' as a blight on a burgeoning urban landscape. If this settlement were to... go away, why who would really care? Certainly not, you, or I..."
"Anyway kid, looks like it's getting late." Moriarty said, looking on the light now on the Horizon. Sam looked around for a moment, and realized it had suddenly grown dark. But far above him, where twinkling lights, dozens of them, more than that, all around, truly beautiful. "I guess you should find a place for your ass to sleep. I'd suggest the Common House, just over yonder. Me, I'll be heading back inside."
"Yeah, thanks..." Sam muttered distractedly. Then remembering Amata, he followed Moriarty into the saloon, only to be pushed aside by Amata herself as she herself quickly exited the building.
"Oh, there you are, come on, let's get out of here." She said urgently upon spotting him, grabbing him by the wrist, and leading him far away from Moriarty's.
Sam only had time to speak when Amata stopped behind one of the scrap buildings. When she turned around, Sam managed to see the fear in her eyes in the dim twilight. "Amata, what's wrong?" He asked.
"Look, there was a man in there." She started.
"Did he do something to you?" He asked.
"No, not exactly, we just talked... he told me the- the BOMB in the center of the town's still active!"
"The- it's WHAT!?"
"I know, I figured it must've been a dud or something, but not only can it still go off, he's planning on detonating it on purpose!"
"But.. how come he told you?"
"He..." Amata pulled out a small metal device from behind her back. "- wants me to be the one to rig it."
"And- and you agreed?" Sam exclaimed.
"Look! It looks like he's going to do it regardless, and he's offering shelter, clean beds and water, everything!"
"Who are you?" Sam asked. "What about all the peole here? Do they deserve to have their homes taken from them? That's what happened to us!"
"Look, Sam! This isn't the Vault." She said somberly. "Think about all the horrible things that are supposed to be out here! I just thought... we're not going to get another chance like this."
Sam stood silent for a minute. "I... I think we shood wait until morning. It's late, and dark." Amata blinked, and for the first time, noticed that the light that had shone so brightly before had now been extinguished. "We shood... get some sleep. Talk about everything in the morning."
Gob stood outside, enjoying the few minutes of peace he got between the time the saloon closed, and he went to sleep. He looked over the crater that was Megaton, all lit up with fairy lights strewn through the air. One of the few pretty things he had found in this town. His dead eyes passed the townscape slowly, before noticing something that he didn't usually see every night. After a while, he recognized them as the two Vault strays.
'Poor luck for those two. If only the Common House hasn't been filled to the brim for the past two months.' He thought. He trotted down the ramps to where the two were sleeping. The two were huddled together for warmth, beside the clinc. He saw that the two were shivering badly. He couldn't blame them, they were unused to the desert heat, they had no way of anticipating the chilling night air.
Heading back to the saloon, he thought 'Well, I was always told to return every random act of kindness I ever come across. Damn, though, been a long time since I last had to.' He soon returned to the couple with a thing wool blanket, laying it on top of them. He smiled as the two unconsciously adjusted to it. For the first time in a long time, he went to bed with a smile on his face.