I finally had some time to sit and edit this chapter and I'll have some time today to play the game as well so I can get back to writing this story. Thanks for reading it and feel free to review if you like! I'd love to hear what you think so far! I'll do my best to post again soon.

Chapter 6:

Galaxy News Radio

Part II

As the sun beat down on her, Serah wished that there was a way to travel quickly to where she was headed. Fast travel or something of the like, but alas, this was real life and not a dream. Sweat ran down her face and for the hundredth time, she wiped at it with a bandanna she kept in her back pocket, soon tying it around her head to keep her bangs out of her eyes.

According to her map on her Pip-Boy, the distance to Galaxy News Radio wasn't that far, about two hours on foot. However, Serah knew that there was the possibility of running into trouble or getting lost despite the map. After all, she had lived in a Vault for all that she could remember...Despite the fact that wasn't entirely true. The girl sighed and kept pushing on, following the route she had planned on her Pip-boy map. It would take her past Super Duper Mart and then it was practically a straight shot to D.C. Then once she got there, she would search for Galaxy News Radio.

"Shouldn't be too hard...Right? Right...Now if you could stop talking to yourself..." She muttered under her breath and the girl was especially glad she had in that moment as she approached Super Duper Mart. Her body tensed as her ears caught the sounds of unfamiliar voices. Serah took that as a sign that these people were probably up to no good. Slowly she crept along a wall, hand on the gun in her holster, listening.

"...I'm sure that little saint is around here somewhere. It's just knowing where to look. Once we find her and take her out, we'll be eating well tonight..." Serah found it odd they were looking for someone specific like that. A nagging in her stomach caused her to consider that it might be her, but what were the odds? She wasn't anyone special in the Wastes and she had only been helping out here and there so far, learning the lay of the land. It was probably naive, but she relaxed slightly and made her way out from her hiding spot, hoping to reason with them and send them on their way. They were too close to Megaton for her liking.

This caught the attention of the small group in black armor, a white, emblazoned talon on their chest. Some raised their weapons and the person Serah assumed was the leader, had a smirk on his face. He also raised his weapon, resting the barrel teasingly on his right shoulder. Serah knew then she had made a mistake as her heart raced and the girl quickly counted the group. Thankfully there was only four of them. Granted, the odds weren't great, but after some training, she was able to use her weapons properly. The brunette just hoped her reflexes had improved as well.

"Well, well, well...Your ears must have been burning...It's the little saint we were just talking about fellas..." Chuckles sprinkled through the group. Serah's fingers twitched as they hovered above her gun once again. She did her best not to make any sudden moves. "We've been look for you for quite some time...Seems like someone put a price on your head..."

"Really?" the girl steeled herself, making sure to stand up straight and look confident. "Glad someone's noticed the work I've done...Compared to some people..." She raised an eyebrow at the man in front of her and his face turned red and he gritted his teeth. Luckily, he decided to keep speaking instead of attacking.

"What? You think you can walk around the Wasteland, doing the goody two shoes crap you do and there isn't going to be someone who takes notice?"

"Isn't that the point? You don't do good to get noticed numbskull. You do it so people know they can count on you." Her brow furrowed and the pair stared each other down, but Serah also took notice that the others in the company were starting to close in on her. The man ignored the name she called him and sneered at her.

"You coulda' been something useful and that is such a shame. Ah well...Time to die!" She watched as he made a motion with his free hand. Quick as a flash, the girl drew her 10mm and aimed for the head of one of the Mercs and pulled the trigger. The shot rang out and took the other three by surprise as they watched their rifleman crumple to the ground, eyes slightly crossed. They looked back at the teenager in front of them. Serah nervously shrugged, slightly gesturing with the pistol

"Can't we talk this out?" their faces contorted into anger and the leader yelled out.

"I DON'T THINK SO! BOYS!" Serah quickly holstered the weapon and ran in the direction she came, doing her best to avoid the shots that rang out. The clomping of their boots close behind and before they caught up to her, the girl ducked behind one of the dumpsters and waited for them to pass. "WHERE DID SHE GO!? FIND HER YOU IDIOTS!"

Holding her breath, Serah once again went back the way she came, taking notice of a cart on her way back through. A smirk formed on her face as she formulated a plan, grabbing onto the handle of the cart. As she pushed it, it created noise, drawing the attention of one of the Mercs.

"YOU!" he cried out, but what he hadn't expected was the girl to run at him with the cart and before he could move, he was on the ground, groaning in pain. Serah quickly drew her pistol and shot him. Two down, two to go. However before she could even move to find them, the girl felt a heavy thud on her back, causing the air to leave her lungs.

Serah sputtered and coughed as she turned around, only to have the item connect with the left side of her face. She fell on all fours and spit onto the ground, blood splattering slightly in the dirt. Her eyes saw the man now above her, brandishing his police baton, smile on his face. The girls mind went through options as fast as it could and finally settled on one.

"Alright, you got me..." She told him, making her voice wobbly. The man watched as tears formed in her eyes and his own narrowed at her as the tears fell. "...Please, just make sure it's quick...I couldn't handle it if...if it was slow..." Serah watched as the hand holding the baton faltered a little and there was a change in his expression. This was her moment.

"...I-" Before he got anymore words out, he found he was on the ground, the girl on top of him. Serah wailed on him with her fists, making quick work of his face. Her hands came away bloody and the man didn't stir and the girl knew he'd have quite a headache when he woke up. The girl grabbed the caps off the two men she had dispatched before looking for the last man. Although, she didn't have to look very far as he had found her first, gun trained on her. Serah raised her hands in the air.

"Look, you could just walk away and you'll get to keep your life and I can keep mine." She told him as he slowly passed by one dumpster, getting closer to the next. The man shook his head as he cocked the gun in his hands.

"Not a chance sweetheart. Any last words?"

CLICK. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

"Watch where you step?" She saw the man cringe and he barely got out a few words before the frag mine, she had placed before she left the safety of the dumpsters, exploded.

"For the love of-" Serah got down on the ground and put her hands around her head, doing her best to shield herself from the debris. She waited a moment before making to stand, her eyes taking in the dust cloud still floating into the air. The girl dared to go over to the dead leader and thankfully, he had landed face down, no way for her to see the damage. Her fingers deftly searched his pockets and only found a note and her eyes widened as she read it.

"Private Contract: Kill Serah! Boys and girls, we've got ourselves another holier-than-thou white-knight who needs putting down. Here are the details:

Name: Serah
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Female

The bounty is 1000 caps this time around. And for a change of pace, they want the head this time.
Good hunting!"

"Just great!" She growled angrily to herself as she crumpled the contract up, tossing it at the dead man at her feet. Pinching the brow of her nose, she made herself take a deep breath before deciding to continue on with her journey.

"Just what I need...Something else to keep track of..." Serah shook her head, hoping that there wouldn't be anymore surprises when she finally arrived at DC.

Surprised wasn't the word to use. Terrified was more like it as the girl's heart raced behind her ribs as she rested in a small utility closet, desperately trying to catch her breath. Here she was in Farragut Metro Station as her Pip-boy had revealed, surrounded by other things no one had warned her about. Radroaches and Mole rats she could handle. It was the giant green being she had faced off against and..and the other things...Though she didn't want to give the name to the familiar shriveled figures. It had ultimately had stuck. They had been ghouls, but something was off about them...It was like they had become...feral.

When she had entered the subway a mere twenty to thirty minutes ago, the first one she had come across, Serah was unsure of what to do. It seemed fine and her mind had played tricks on her when it had turned around, all she could see was Gob before her. Kind blue eyes beckoning her...Her fingers couldn't pull the trigger, but once the ghoul before her shrieked and growled, running at her, the trance was broken.

Her hands held her head, fingers holding onto fistfuls of hair as the girl tried to calm herself before making her way through the last bit of subway. Serah could only hope she would discover GNR soon, not knowing how much more of D.C. she'd be willing to scour if it was like this...How ridiculous she would look to other people, being terrified like this...If she could take care of those men at Super Duper Mart, how were these creatures any different?

"...But that's just it..." Serah told herself in the quietest of whispers. "They were human like you...You know how people are and you can anticipate their movements..." the girl took a deep breath and exhaled. If the Wastes weren't going to change for her, she was going to have to change for the Wastes...Not too much she hoped...

It was that thought that got her moving again, her nerves calmed. Serah brandished the rifle she had found on the green being, making sure to check every spot, keeping her feet quiet. After having dispatched a few ghouls and finding that closet, it seemed to be empty. However, the brunette kept the gun up just in case as she climbed the stationary escalator.

As she made her way up the stairs, Serah's eyes took in a small bit of what looked like graffiti on one of the far walls, but it also seemed to have been put there on purpose. There was a weird symbol with an arrow pointing to the words: To GNR outpost. Her heart danced as her brain realized what GNR stood for and it meant she was going the right direction.

Serah silently thanked who ever it was that had put that on the wall before holstering her weapon and stepping through the door, her Pip-boy registering another location on her map. Once through, sounds of guns and lasers rang out through the air. She found cover as quickly as she could, observing the battle. People in hulking armor squared off with the savage, green beings, gunning them down quickly. Before she could help the armored group, several of them cheered in success and proclaiming that this area was clear.

While the girl would have done what she could to help, she just wasn't sure about fighting those things again without knowing what they were. Maybe the armored people would have some answers or better yet, would be able to tell her how close she was to GNR at this point. There was one person in particular that stood out to her...Maybe that was because she was the only one without a helmet. Whether that was stupid or brave, Serah wasn't sure.

Upon approach, the girl noticed the symbol she had seen on the wall of the subway, matched the one on the woman's armor. However, Serah felt something well up in her as she and the blonde woman locked eyes. It wasn't easily explained, but for whatever reason between the two, tension seemed high. The teenager felt herself holding back a frown as she realized she didn't like this woman. This was new to Serah as she hadn't really experienced this sort of thing, but now she understood why Amata had the same issue with one of the other girls in the Vault she hadn't even spoken to.

"Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt but-" Serah started off, but a hand immediately went up, silencing her. She furrowed her brow and clinched her fists as the woman spoke.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but you don't belong here." the woman looked her up and down.

"You don't own this place. I have just as much right to be here as you." Hard stares passed between the two before the blonde broke the silence with a brief sigh.

"...The super mutants have overrun our brothers at Galaxy News Radio...We're headed there to back them up..."

'So that's what they're called...' Serah thought to herself. 'Wait...'

"You're going to GNR? Is it close by?" the woman nodded, though her patience seemed to be wearing a little thin.

"You can tag along if you want...But you had better keep your head down and don't do anything, you know...stupid." Serah felt her cheeks warm at the condescending look she received and felt her own face form into a slight sneer of disgust at the woman's assumption.

"As long as you don't, I won't." Serah watched the woman's face redden this time and the girl felt slightly pleased that she was holding her own in the small verbal sparing match. "Now, you mentioned something about Galaxy News Radio?"

"There's not a lot of safe places in the D.C. ruins, but GNR is like our port in the storm...Unfortunately it's been hit pretty hard lately and we're the back up...If you don't have anymore questions-"

"Who did you say you were? It must have slipped your mind...Being older than me and all..." Serah was sure if looks could kill, she'd be dead ten times over by now.

"I didn't...Name's Sarah Lyons, Sentinel and squad commander of the Lyon's Pride. We're with the Brotherhood of Steel."

"Well...This is awkward..." the blonde raised an eyebrow at the girl. "Mine's Serah too..."

"Oh..."

"Anyway...Then is the symbol on your armor a sign of the Brotherhood? I saw it in the tunnels too." Sarah nodded in response to her question.

"We do our best in the Brotherhood to hold back the Super Mutants in this area, but it gets kind of difficult to do when civilians stumble into our sights, it makes it a little difficult...Doesn't it?" Serah knew better than to answer, hearing the snobbish, rhetorical disdain coming from the woman across from her. "Since you're not saying anything, we need to move out. Let's go!"

Serah rolled her eyes and followed behind the armored group, drawing her rifle out. If she was going with them, she may as well help them...Despite the obvious hints from the blonde that she was such a burden. The girl prayed that they wouldn't meet again after this and if they did, it would be too soon.

GALAXY NEWS RADIO.

Those words had never looked prettier as Serah's bright blues caught their slightly dilapidated glimmer in the fading sunlight. Once she and the Lyon's Pride had dispatched the Mutants in the school and from in front of the building, everything was quiet for once. While the Pride secured the perimeter, Serah took her chance and began making her way up the stairs, butterflies forming in her stomach.

Her father was so close that she could taste it and to her disappointment, when she tried to open the door, it was locked. She frowned and her eyes darted around and finally landed on a intercom box. The girl made her way over and pressed the button.

"Hello? Anyone there? I was looking to speak to Three Dog, but the door is locked." She let go of the button and thankfully, there was a reply.

"Door stays closed until they finish securing the perimeter." Serah pushed the button to reply.

"But I need to...talk to..." Her sentence faded as she felt the ground quake beneath her feet. Something wasn't right and fear began to creep into her stomach. The girl turned around to see if anyone else had noticed. None of the others had sensed anything until a loud crash had echoed into the air. It was then also followed by long, loud growls, and what seemed to be extremely heavy foot falls.

Serah noticed the initiate Sentinel Lyon's had mentioned before, near the buses. Something in the girls brain told her to get Reddin out of there. She shot off the steps like a bullet to get to her, hoping she could reach her just in time.

"REDDIN! GET OUT OF THERE!" The girl shouted at her, waving her hand, but the buses blew up before she reached her. The backlash of the explosion tossed Serah backward into the Metro informational stand, the wind leaving her body. A high pitched whining sounded off in her ears from the explosion and it was all the girl could do to stand back up on wobbly feet. She did her best to ignore the squealing and barely ducked as the largest Super Mutant Serah would probably ever see in her life came barreling into view, firing at everyone like mad.

The girl stumbles toward the fountain, seeking cover, and ducking behind a bench. Through her mind fog, she notices Reddin's body near her as well as her weapon. Something new to the girl, but she recognized one piece of it from the countless textbooks from the vault. It was smaller in size, but Serah knew it would pack quite a punch if she could find the strength to lift it.

When the opportunity came, Serah quickly crawled over to Reddin's body, gently lifting the launcher out of her hands. The girl apologized to the lifeless being before loading the small nuke onto the launcher. She took a deep breath and hoisted the launcher onto her shoulder, groaning slightly from the weight of it. Her eyes watched as the other members of the Lyon's Pride combated with the Super Mutant...Behemoth...She soon found her moment and shouted.

"Move!" Sentinal Lyon's saw what the civilian had in her hands and everyone did their best to get out of the away when their Leader called out to them. Serah then pulled the trigger as the Super Mutant Behemoth looked straight at her. The kickback of the weapon threw the girl off balance, part of the launcher hitting her across the forehead. However, the girl readjusted quickly with her surge of adrenaline and watched as the nuke made contact, delivering the final blow.

"I'll be...And you're just a civilian..." the brunette hears a familiar voice from behind her. Serah adjusts how she's sitting and sees Sentinal Lyons offering her a hand. The girl takes it and thanks her for her help. "Yikes. Why don't you-"

"I hope I never see one of those again." Serah goes to wipe the sweat off her brow and when she brings her hand down, sees it's covered in blood. "...Is that...That's mine isn't it?" Sarah says nothing, feeling her eyes go wide as the teenager before her seems to be a little woozy after looking at her hand coated in blood.

"You never seen blood before?" the blonde says, steadying the girl.

"Oh I have, but never this much from myself...Probably the adrenaline wearing off or something... I got it." Serah tells the woman as she steadies herself.

"Right...Well...Come inside and we'll get that taken care of..." the pair began making their way in, but before they do Sarah turns around. "Thanks for...for that." The woman nods to the brunette and heads in. 'Please be here Dad...' Serah thought to herself as she wiped her hands on her clothes before opening the door and stepping inside.

After Sentinal Lyons guided Serah to the right person to see about dressing her wound, she went about making sure the building was still secure. So here the girl was, doing her best not to flinch at every stitch and pull at her forehead by Knight Finley in front of her. Serah wouldn't lie, it hurt a ton, her head throbbing like mad, but at least when it healed and scarred over, she'd have a story to tell. When the sound of cutting floated into the air, the girl knew the man before her was done.

"Thanks." She told him, standing up from the milk crate she had been sitting on.

"Not a problem," he started out as he cleaned off his hands. The dark haired man then slipped his gloves and helmet back on before facing the girl. "Knight Finley at your service...Anything else I can do for you?" Serah looked around, taking note of all the equipment before looking back at Finley.

"What's this building for exactly? I understand it's a radio station, but..." She shrugged, not sure where to go with the rest of her sentence.

"Well, in all honesty, it's the last free voice of the Wastes and the Brotherhood strives to keep it that way. A force of hope in the darkest times I suppose...It'll stand to see another day because of what you did out there." Serah felt her cheeks warm and she smiled at him.

"It wasn't any trouble..." She paused. "I need to speak with Three Dog, it's important."

"Certainly. You can go on up, you were expected." Her eyebrows raised up, eyes wide.

"Expected?" Finley nodded. "How did he know I was coming?" the man in armor shrugged.

"Word travels fast I suppose...Other than that, I couldn't tell you."

"Right...Well thanks again." She told him, gesturing to the stitches in her forehead. He nodded and went back to guarding the front door. The girl adjusted her light armor and made her way to the stairs, taking note of the small ash and dust clouds floating around the floor.

Her eyes took in the floodlights placed in a few corners, brightening up the building. She was unsure of which way to go, which led her to guessing which doorway to go through. Serah just shrugged and went through the one in front of her, a door at the end of the hall. Once through the door, the girl found herself in what appeared to be an old office.

Lights shone all around, revealing the upturned desks and deteriorated filing cabinets. Despite her curiosity trying to pull her to see if anything might have survived in the furnishings, Serah pushed forward and made her way to the stairs off in the corner. Her heart was racing faster and faster with each step she took, knowing that she was close to finding her father. What would she even say to him? How would she even feel when she saw him? Angry? Sad?

She took a deep breath as she reached the last step, arriving in what seemed to be a small studio. Workshop shelves stood, some falling and crooked. Computers and dashboards flashed and whirred, which drew the girls curiosity once again. However before she could investigate, a suave voice interrupted her thoughts, causing her to jump. Serah whipped around, finding where the voice came from. The man before her seemed a little more well dressed than most people she had met, but it still had the edginess of the Wastes. She must have had an odd look on her face because it was then he began to explain...Though it seemed to be a round about way to do it.

"The look on your face says it all. You're wondering who the heck this guy is and why you should care. Well, be prepared to be enlightened..,"

"Well I-"

"I am Three Dog...Jockey of discs and teller of truths. Lord and master over the finest radio station to grace the Wastes...Galaxy News Radio. May not look like much, but she sure does howl."

"That's nice but-" Once again, Serah found herself cut off as Three Dog seemed to entranced in telling his story. It wasn't that she didn't want to hear it, but there was only one thing she came here for and the young woman found her patience was wearing thin. However that changed with his next few words.

"And you, well...I know who you are...I heard about you leaving the Vault and traveling the unknown...Helping people..." Three Dog paused, eyeing her up and down, a small smirk on his face. "Just like dear old Dad, hmm? You are every bit as he described, save for the "quilt" pattern on your forehead...You know, I met him already. Nice guy." Serah felt her mouth and throat go dry, heart stopping. He's here? Really here? She stepped closer, words falling from her lips in a hurry.

"You-you know my father? Is he still here? Please, I've been looking for him!" She began to look around, sticking her head in each room until Three Dog gently grabbed one of her arms, drawing her attention on him once again. Once he knew she was listening, he continued on.

"Hey, one thing at a time...Your old man ain't here. Not anymore. He left a few days ago." Three Dog watched as something sprang into the young girls eyes. Heartbreak was the only word that came to his mind and he understood, but maybe it would be good not to dwell on that fact. After all, he needed her help and if she did, he'd give her the information she sought.

"He heard that I knew what was what in the Wastes and once he learned what he needed, he up and left...Everyone has their own way of contributing to the good fight..."

"The good fight?" Serah dared to ask, eyebrow raised. It was several minutes later that she wished she hadn't asked as Three Dog began to drone on and on. However, the girl realized what the man was getting at, talking about a freer Capitol Wasteland. Though it was harder for so many others not being able to fight the enemies that roamed the land, causing the people to run and hide.

"...So that's where I enter the picture...I fight the Good Fight using GNR as my gun. Bringing the voice and the hope to the people..."

"Basically something to interrupt the Enclave's broadcasts?" She pointed out, remembering the irritating conversations she would have with Nathan. He blindly followed what the Enclave station had to say, supporting their every word and action. For Serah, she wasn't so sure. Something wasn't right about that station. "I'm amazed that you're still alive with all that you talk about."

"Exactly..." He told her with a small chuckle. "I have plenty of enemies though that would love nothing more than to put a bullet between my eyes. The only thing that keeps that from happening is Sarah Lyons and the Brotherhood of Steel." The brunette couldn't help but roll her eyes at the mention of the woman. Granted they had both helped each other a little bit ago as a means to an end, but even her name apparently grated on her nerves.

"Look, I understand your fight. I get it...But please, I'm just looking for my Dad." Serah pleaded with him, face full of worry. The man sighed and nodded, finally deciding to put his formulated plan into motion.

"You want to know where your dad is? Fair enough. I got one rule though you have to help contribute." Serah's hands immediately curled into fists, gritting her teeth behind pursed lips. All she wanted was to know where on Earth her father was...The man before her was being anything but helpful with all the dancing in circles he was doing.

"I don't know what I can do for you. You have everything that you need. Can't you just help me?"

"I have people that protect this place, but that's about it. I need someone who can run out and do the things that I need...That's where you would come in. Someone who can actually get it done...Are you game or not?" Three Dog folded his arms and Serah had to force herself to take a deep breath. It looked as though she had no choice. If she wanted the information on her father, she'd have to do as Three Dog wanted.

"I just want to find-"

"I do know the location of yours truly, but if you want to know more, you have to contribute to the Good Fight. You do that and I promise I will tell you all that I know. Do we have a deal?" Serah thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Yes...regrettably." She muttered under her breath but Three Dog seemed to pay it no mind.

"Alright then...A super mutant thought it would be funny to shoot up the GNR relay disc at the top of the Washington Monument and now it looks like swiss cheese. Unfortunately, the factory that had the replacement part is leveled and there's no way to get another relay disc..." Serah furrowed her brow, lips set in a frown. Why did that always seem to be the case with these types of things? Her blue eyes trained themselves on the man, determination settling itself within her. She'd get this done no matter how long it would take.

"Alright. How can I help?" Three Dog smiled to himself, seeing that look in her eye. It was something that told him this girl could get Sh*t done. Her father had the same look in his eyes when he had met him and the man supposed that's why he really decided to help the used to be Vault Dweller.

"A member of the Brotherhood mentioned seeing a relay disc in the Museum of Technology. It's on the Lunar Lander. I want you to get the disc, take it to the Washington Monument, and replace it." The girl nodded, sticking out her hand and Three Dog took it.

"You got yourself a deal, but you had better keep to your end of it." They shook on it and a devilish grin flew onto the mans face.

"Heh. You're going to be the best thing that ever happened to GNR in a long time. If you need anything else, you know where to find me." Serah shook her head and went to leave, but quickly turned back around. Three Dog noticed this and his eyebrows raised.

"Yes?"

"You wouldn't happen to know of someplace here in D.C that I could stay for the night before I get the disk do you?" The man sighed.

"There's only one place...You might like it, you might not. It'll be near where you're going."

"As long as I can rest, I don't care where it is."

"Have you ever heard of Underworld?"

Honestly, I can't wait till I can write the rest of this story, mainly because so far I've loved the slow burn happening between Gob and Serah. (Don't worry, Megaton will be back soon). I wish that there would have been more relationship options in Fallout 3 like Skyrim or Fallout 4. But hey, what can you do?