Author's Note: I have been incredibly busy at college, in addition to juggling several independent writing projects, but I should post more frequently. Sorry for the insane wait.

Chapter 7: The Family

Jeremiah shook his head. "If these Super Mutants are as bad as you've told me, Mr. King, then I'm one lucky stiff."

The older man chuckled. "I guess so. Who knew that some Vaultie could just walk out in the Wasteland like that and take out a Super Mutant? Eh…tomorrow, the real work begins. You said that you checked out Moonbeam and Hamilton's Hideaway?"

The wanderer nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Then the only place that I can think of that they might be is…"

"Northwest Seneca Station." Jeremiah replied.

"Yep."

He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "It looks like I have a rendezvous with the Family tomorrow."


Jeremiah opened the door to Arefu; quickly glancing back at Evan King's still sleeping form. Rest up, old man…if I fail, you're gonna need all of your strength. The note he had written lay next to the older man's prone form, detailing Jeremiah's possible whereabouts and thanking King for his hospitality.

He sighed as he closed the door. "I hope I can resolve this…"

The young man looked intently at his Pip-Boy's map; Northwest Seneca Station was north of Arefu, across the river. "Heh…luckily it's not too far." Maybe I can avoid confrontation this time… He narrowed his eyes as Arefu quickly fell behind him. Assuming, of course, that the Family doesn't kill me.

He made his way down the ramp that was Arefu until he reached solid earth. From that point he turned and began walking around the highway. He was right, thankfully, and soon found what he was looking for.

Northwest Seneca Station didn't look like much, just a couple of buildings and an entrance to a tunnel.

I'm willing to bet that the Family is hiding in the tunnels, rather than aboveground.

Jeremiah soon found himself wishing he had bet actual caps with an actual person, because he was right. After encountering a drug-dealing ghoul, mole rats, and booby traps, he had to deal with the first member.

A sentry…great…

"Hold it! No one gets in to see the Family; no one!"

The raised assault rifle told Jeremiah all he needed to know. "Take it easy; I need to speak with someone here. It's important."

The man kept the assault rifle raised as he stepped forward. "Are you deaf? No. One. Sees. The—"

"Family. I heard." The wanderer held up the piece of paper Lucy had given him. "But I need to know if Ian West is still alive. I have a message for him, from his sister."

The sentry grumbled before finally lowering his weapon. "Fine. You can meet with our leader, but if you even think about causing trouble…"

He nodded. "Understood."

Jeremiah made his way past the sentry and into the open metro station. As he stepped into the large, open room, several individuals turned to glance at him, and a man and woman standing at the end of the row of pews began to make their way towards him.

"Hold on, outsider. I'll not have you disturbing my Family." The man, who wore a buttoned-up trenchcoat and carried an odd, modified blade, stepped in front of the woman.

Jeremiah struggled to keep his hand away from the 10mm at his side. "I'm here for answers; I was hoping you people would have them."

"Really?" The man almost snorted. "Well then, how can I help you?"

I know sarcasm when I hear it…this is not going to be easy… "Look, can we just start with introductions? Nothing good can come out of us being hostile to each other."

A sigh fell from the man's lips. "Yes…I suppose that you're right. I am Vance, the leader of this little Family of ours." He gestured around the room. "This is my wife, Holly. Then we have Alan, Brianna, Karl, and Justin. And now, I think tradition dictates that you reciprocate, Wastelander."

"My name's Jeremiah." The former Vault-dweller stepped forward and offered his hand. "And I'm here on behalf of Evan King."

Vance eyed his hand before reaching out with his own. "That is interesting…so, what is it you are here for, exactly?"

Jeremiah placed his hands on his hips. "I need to know why you've been terrorizing Arefu, among a few other things."

"Arefu has, or rather, had a good Brahmin supply. We needed sustenance."

The wanderer raised an eyebrow. "Sustenance? Can't you find sources of food elsewhere? Those didn't belong to you!"

Vance chuckled. "They didn't belong to us? My, my…someone is naïve. Believe me; this was better than the alternative."

"The alternative? What are you talking about?"

"Haven't you guessed it yet, child? Do you even know what we are?"

Jeremiah's mind flashed back to the grisly scene at the West's house, and he nearly gagged. "You're…you're cannibals!"

A collective groan emanated from the other five members of the "Family", and Vance shook his head. "No, no, nothing so crass. I built this Family for the purpose of taking in the weary and downtrodden, the outcasts of whatever remains of society. Comparing us to those barbarians is hardly fair."

"Then what are you?"

"You still don't get it, do you? We forgo the eating of flesh, and instead drink the blood. It keeps those dark urges at bay. That is why Ian West came with us; he could not control himself."

Jeremiah rubbed his temple. This can't be happening; I must be dreaming. "So…you're…vampires? Like in the old movies? Wait…did you say Ian West?"

Vance smiled. "You understand in part. No, we do not shun the sun or fear holy water. We do, however, partake in the drinking of blood, as I mentioned before. As for young Ian, what is your business with him?"

"This." The young Wastelander pulled Lucy's note from his belt. "Ian's sister has been looking for him, and I promised her that I'd do my best to find him. He needs to come home."

The leader of the Family gazed at the note. "He is home. He needs to be here, to control his urges; otherwise, he could snap and hurt others."

Jeremiah took a step forward. "He needs to see this, make his own decision. If he wants to stay, fine, but he needs to have a choice."

Vance scratched his chin and began to pace back and forth. After a few seconds, he came to a stop. "Very well. I will take you to him; he will make his choice."


Ian stared at the note. "You've been told what I did. You know I can't go back, not after that."

Jeremiah leaned against the wall. "Your sister needs you, Ian. With your parents gone, you're all she has."

"But…what if…" The young man shuddered. "What if I snap and give in again? What if I kill my own sister?"

The wanderer glanced up at the ceiling; that was a problem. He chewed on his lower lip for a moment before taking a step toward Ian. "How about this: what if you stay with Vance and the Family until he deems you fit to return to Megaton and live with Lucy?"

Ian looked up at him. "That…that might work. It would help both me and Lucy…" He sighed. "Okay, I'll do it, but…can you tell Vance for me?"

Jeremiah smiled and nodded. "I can do that."


Contrary to being upset, Vance seemed rather relieved when Jeremiah brought the solution to him. "I am glad we were able to resolve this, Jeremiah. You…you are no ordinary Wastelander; I should have seen that. You have proven yourself an ally to us."

Jeremiah nodded. "I hate to ask any more of you, but the issue of Arefu still exists."

The leader of the Family inhaled. "Yes, what to do about that…"

"Maybe a deal can be made? Arefu helps to supply you and in turn, you protect them from Raiders and slavers."

"But what could they offer us?"

"Well, could you drink blood from, say, a blood pack?"

Vance nodded and grinned. "I do believe I see where this is going."

"I could help the people of Arefu supply you with blood packs."

"And we will protect them. I like it; it is far easier than tormenting them, however inadvertently. Take this proposition to Evan King, and we shall see."

Jeremiah offered his hand. "I'm glad we could resolve all of this peacefully."

"As am I. Here, why don't you take Alan with you when you go to meet King? He can bring me word of the outcome so that you do not have to come all the way back."


"So, kid…this plan of yours…how are we supposed to supply them with blood packs? We only have a dozen or so as it is."

Jeremiah and Evan King sat across from one another in his house. King had agreed to the deal, and Alan had gone back to Meresti Station. However, as soon as they were alone, the old man had brought up his reservations.

"I was thinking about that as I traveled here with Alan." The young man leaned forward, eyeing his plate of Brahmin steak. "I can get you a supply line from Megaton using the merchant caravans. That way you can stay and help protect the settlement."

Evan ran his hand through his hair. "I suppose that could work…an' it's better than living in fear any day of the week."

Jeremiah grinned. "That's what I was thinking. When I get back, I'll check with Doc Church and see if he'd be willing to scrounge up some blood packs for a start."

"But how're we gonna pay? I barely have a pot to piss in!"

The wanderer began digging into his dinner. "I'll cover the cost. Believe me, blood packs won't be a problem for me to pay for."

Evan King whistled in disbelief and leaned back in his chair. "Kid, why are you helpin' us? We don't have anything to give you. Why would you just…"

"Because, Mr. King…" Jeremiah glanced down at his plate. "My dad taught me to always be kind to those around me, and that I had a moral obligation to help those in need. I'm…I'm not perfect, but I'll do the best I can."

The old man stared at him for a moment. "Boy, that optimistic attitude of yours is gonna get you killed one of these days."


Megaton was home, even if it had only been a couple of days since Jeremiah had stepped out of Vault 101. With the situation in Arefu resolved, he could finally return his attention back to finding his dad. He sat in his house as Wadsworth's motor roared somewhere on the first floor.

He opened the top desk drawer to find eight stimpaks, and that made him grimace. "I'm running out, and if they're scarce…I can't be getting into these kinds of fights."

The young man glanced at his Pip-Boy map, and he noticed the marker for Galaxy News Radio.

"Karen Schenzy mentioned Super Mutants…she said they had overrun the Capitol. Wonderful."

He double and triple-checked his supplies and weapons, deciding on taking the hunting rifle, the 10mm, two Stimpaks, and a combat knife, as well as two-hundred caps.

He sighed as he slung the rifle over his shoulder and put the pistol in its holster. This next leg of the journey was going to be tough.