Chapter 4: The Returning

John dragged the body of the now knocked out raider, unloading his sniper while Cat tended to the cuts and gashes on Mike.

"Cat is he even alive?" As he closed and locked the cell door.

She rubbed her hands across her face "Yes, just give us time please?"

Slouching down John sat in the corner "Of course we must wait out this storm anyway." Keeping his cloak up so she cannot see as he checked himself for wounds and managed to pull out the bullet from his upper back lucky it didn't penetrate too deep.

"Do you..need any help?" She asked while on her knees cradling Mike's head on her lap.

John almost considered it as it had been seemingly ages since anyone had cared about his well being, he had been alone for so long. He shook his head there is no way she would only who he was, or was it What he was that scared him the most?

"No Cat I'm fine just don't concern yourself with me" he was much more soothing and understanding it wasn't a snap of uncertainty this time.

"..what happened?" Was barely made out by Mike, you could practically see Cat jump from her position hugging him as he laid there

"Oh my dear you are okay, right? You know who I am still? How many fingers am I holding up?" She held up three total fingers. Mike caressed her face with his palm

"How could I ever forget such a beautiful face?" He grew sad "I am sorry I ran Cat I thought you would been right behind me but then you weren't..I thought I lost you".

"Holy fuck would you two just shut it already!" The raider had woken up "You two are going to make be vomit"..

John simply tapped at the group as Mike finally looked at him

"Cat there is a hooded thing over there" she hushed him

"Mike it's fine that is John he not only saved me and you but also took out this whole gang of raiders..by himself" she looked back down at him "I didn't help at all and I'm very ashamed I was too scared to help you and protect myself and.."

John stood up but not all the way he remembered to slouch down to appear at a normal height

"Glad you finally decided to notice me Mike, please don't be alarmed by me and know I am on your side" he paused for a moment "If I wasn't you would be dead like the rest of these raiders" before going back to the secluded corner where he could watch everything and be away from everyone.

The raider began rattling the cell door

"Great introduction are all fine and done you two love birds are reunited now, how about I strike you a deal there John"?

He scoffed at such an offer and idea like he would fall for that. Walking up to the gate and leaning against the wall, next to the terminal

"Alright you raider scum, I'll humor you what could you possibly offer me?" It's almost as if he hadn't expected to have John play along.

"WELL.." he said loudly "I will only whisper it to you John" considering a moment John leaned in just enough to hear what he was saying "I know what you are John, you think you hide it very well but I saw the way you moved you stopped hiding when that woman hid, I don't know how you came to be but I know what I saw you are a De…"

Before John grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled him against the bars.

Got a grasp on himself and calmly said "If this is your

bargaining chip, it isn't going to work I have no ties to these people even if you knew or know who I am you will still die if you even think of giving me up, even if you are wrong you will join the rest of your folly in the ground and that is a promise" letting go of his new caged raider "I suggest you keep quiet if you want to live"

Before walking to the terminal and entering a new and Mike sat there silent waiting.. almost out of fear.

"Now raider what is your name?" John asked typing in the new password.

The raider spouted "Jeffery, my name is Jeffery" John finished the password

"Alright Jeffery I will offer you a chance, a hope of freedom and of life" he left the terminal to face the cage once more "I will ask you a series of questions, you have seven chances the same number of letters in your name" he paused "Each correct answer will give you a letter in the password which you must decide what the word is based off that, understand"

Jeffery gave a nod "Yes John I understand it's this or death isn't it"

Giving his own slight nod "That be correct Jeff so play along, you even have an audience" he moved out of the way to let him see both Cat and Mike.

"Your first question Jeff, how many raiders died today because you were too incompetent to give up?"

Also as if he didn't expect such a brazenly out there question.

He tapped the bars thinking as if he didn't care for their losses. "There was seven stationed here, not including me."

Not even remorseful they are gone clicking one letter into the terminal

"You are correct Jeff much like they were when they still breathed, even in death all they are is a number to you."

He hit the bars with his palm "Yeah and I'm not the one who killed them!"

John went to tap the keys taking a letter back but didn't, it was almost a warning.

"I would keep your temper down, most people can't learn anything if they are boiling with rage now can they?"

"Question two, why did you try to enslave these two in the first place?"

Jeff quit his fit and answered as honestly as he could. "The other group of raiders here respected the idea of competition, they had captured them first but then those two escaped and we just thought they would been easy pickings"

John added another key to the screen "Ah, so you take everyone else's hard work even between raiders there is no honor" it seemed Jeff was getting the point of this

"Who said you could judge us, it's the Wasteland there is no rules no justice."

This almost seemed to upset John "Oh Yes! Why fight the oppression and temptation when you can simply join it and ruin lives and rape and pillage all you want who the fuck cares anymore!"

There was what almost sounded like a growl at the end of that.

"John I don't think this is working" Mike decided to chip in finally.

Snapping at Mike "When I want your opinion I will ask for it!"

Jeff looked down at his feet and mustered the strength to ask sincerely "John..did you lose someone to a band of raiders?" If he wasn't covered in a hood you could see the rage in his eyes throwing the terminal off the table breaking it causing both Cat and Mike to flinch at such a loud crash.

"HOW dare, you even insult me with something like that when you are one of them!" Looking past the bars he typed in the rest of the keys "But you know what? I am better than you, unlike you monsters I have learned from what I been through."

Surprised to say that least it actually opened the lock as Jeff stepped out "Ironic you call me a monster isn't it?" John let him walk up the steps into the wall past the bodies now buried under the piles of dust

"Yes it is ironic now be gone go ruin someone else's life"

Without even replying Jeff ran off into the storm and never looked back. Looking back at the couple who is partially amazed and fearful at the same time

"Well you two there is where I bid you farewell, you should be safe to end up wherever you came from. Hopefully it's not far for your sake"

He began making his way up the steps before Mike called out "Wait John why don't you come back to our town with us? Come stay at our home it's the least we can do to repay you and give you time to rest up and recover for the road seriously on us."

Cat went in as well "Yes John we must give you something, come stay with us let me cook for you and we even have an extra room!"

He thought for a second but then eventually gave in "Fine, fine I will stay with but only for a few days then I'm gone no exceptions!"

No sense making excuses at this point and it's been long since he stayed with any company as odd as it's going to be he's going to get a meal and a bed for a few days hopefully and getting appreciation for saving someone is always welcome.

"Alright you two, where do you live exactly?"

The couple looked at each other and then back at there hooded friend "Not far from here funny enough, a town called Megaton"

End Chapter 4