Ante diem rationis
The Railroad, Deacon had to get used to the thought, was history. His one shot at redeeming himself had gone up in smoke. The imprint he'd made on the world was one of death and betrayal. He didn't even feel sad. All he felt was dead.
He nearly missed the almost washed-off sign on the wall of a fallen down building. Eight radial lines, hastily drawn as four crossing lines and wiped down in the middle. And a barely visible plus sign between them. Ally. This was new. He sure hadn't seen it before. Frantic, Deacon looked for a door. He found none. Climbing the rubble, he discovered a light shaft. 'Hello?' he called down. There was no answer. Well. He had nothing to lose. Hands shaking, Deacon lowered himself through the small hole, sliding a short way before he landed on the ground. If there were ferals here, he was dead. He didn't see anywhere near enough to shoot properly. 'Hello?' he tried again.
'All right. Put your hands up slowly, state your name and business and no-one gets hurt. You can't see in the dark, but I do, so don't even think about it.'
Relief flooded Deacon, relief so violent he let out a sound that sounded horribly like a sob. 'Nick. Oh, God Nick, it's Deacon. Don't kill me.'
A light flickered on and the synth approached with a candle. 'Did anyone follow you?'
'No. I need you. I need you so badly.'
'Calm down, lad. I … have little I can offer you. I don't need any supplies, you see.'
'I don't want supplies from you. I need to find … friends of mine. They're missing.'
'Friends.'
'Yes.' Deacon took a deep breath. 'Look. I'll level with you here. There's things you don't know about me.'
'Really.' Nick's voice was dry. 'Do you mean the murder things or the Railroad things?'
Deacon gaped at the synth. 'What the hell?'
'Long ago I was asked to look into this young fellow who'd just lost his wife. You think the Railroad never came to me? They didn't tell me what they were, but it wasn't that hard to figure out.'
'Who knows?' Deacon managed to choke out.
'Of those that still live? Only Desdemona, I believed. She was the one that was sent to me.'
'Nick. They're gone. They're no longer where we went after we were almost wiped out, and I cannot for the life of me guess where the hell they moved on to.'
'Wouldn't they have left you hints?'
'If they had the time and an opportunity to do that without taking a huge risk. We lost contact with a bunch of people after the last time we had to run, too. It happens. They found their way back after a bit, but I don't have time.' He glace up at the hole he had come through and wondered if this was the only way in and out. 'What are you hiding from?'
'A courser.'
'That's what I thought. Annie … that damned vault dweller.'
Nick hesitated. 'Well. She wasn't with him when he came over. I doubt she'd want me hurt.' He raised his hands. 'I know you have your eyes everywhere, but I have a feeling she's starting to regret a lot of the things she did and said. That might sound familiar.'
'Don't compare me to her.'
'And why not?' Nick snuffed his light. 'While I do trust you to a point, I don't think I need anyone knowing too much about the structure of this place. Come on. Time to venture out into the open.' He grabbed Deacon's wrist. 'I'm not letting you trip, Deacon.'
Ϡ
'Are you sure they were here?' Piper asked. Her voice echoed among the stones, cast back as a more terrified whisper than the woman likely felt.
'No. The huge thing spelling Railroad must be a coincidence.'
'All right. Let's take a look.'
'Careful. They're armed. Heavily.'
'They didn't shoot you on sight, so they must be nice enough.'
'Ha ha.' Despite herself, a smile tugged at Annie's lips. 'Piper.'
'Yeah. I know. Stop thanking me already.'
'Wasn't going to. I was about to warn you.'
'About what?'
'About that. Hello? Anyone there? Dez? Glory?'
'Are you insane?'
'Maybe.' They waited for almost a minute. 'No-one's coming.'
'No. Let's go on. They must be there, at the end of that passage. Look. A door.'
'Can you open it?'
'Pff. Are you kidding? There. After you.'
