The force of his abduction knocked the wind out of Perry's stomach. As he was sped off he could hear the angry cries of Fawkes quickly disappearing into the distance. Before he could even take a breath of precious air, his head was slammed into a rock wall with the full force of the creature's arms.

Blackness.


Fawkes had to endure the sight of his only companion disappearing into darkness. He screamed, chasing after the creature only for another to rush head long into him. Fawkes threw his gun aside and collided with the Deathclaw, grabbing its claws using only his hands. Every muscle in Fawkes enormous frame tensed as he battled with the creature for supremacy. Neither able to best the other. The creature's disgusting face attempted to snap at Fawkes but could not reach him. Knowing his endurance would soon fail him, Fawkes lifted one leg onto the creatures chest and summoning every once of strength in his body, pulled the creatures arms apart from its shoulders.

Roaring in triumph, Fawkes picked up his gun and charged forth. His peaceful mind was now gone, there is only the blood fury.


Perry's head felt five times too large for his helmet. He could hear his heart beating slowly in his ears, for every beat it sent another rush of pain. He didn't know where he was, all he could tell was that he was lying on his stomach atop some glass floor. He couldn't think straight, everything was a haze.

Why was he here? He could not even fathom the question. He slowly opened his eyes, everything was fuzzy but he could make out a face. A familiar face…

As the image cleared, there was his father. His face was looking up at him, his eyes were closed. He was so pale, so still.

Perry suddenly realised where he was, he was lying atop his father's preservation tube. A Deathclaw must have left him there. His visor was broken, his helmet was dented and he could barely move but his father was here. He never thought he would see him again…

He looked so much like he did all those months ago. But no, he was pale and… still. Perry could not believe how still he was. The liquid morphed his greyish hair atop his head but his face didn't move an inch. He looked so serene that Perry was almost waiting for him to simply open his mouth and speak to him. He wanted him to; he needed to hear his voice. The voice of reason and guidance, just once more… please. Just once more…

With more effort than he remembered it took, Perry brought his hand up and rested it atop the glass.

"Father…" He whispered.

He couldn't say another word. But he needed to talk to him. He spoke to him inside his head. He knew it didn't make sense but he didn't care.

Father, what do I do? Where do I go from here? I'm lost… I don't know what to do.

The face didn't move. No response, only silence.

No, not silence. There was screaming, roaring, and the sound of bones being broken. There was a battle somewhere.


Fawkes held down the trigger of his Gatling Laser and roared in fury as the group of Deathclaws charged at him. Each of them was cut down before his might. If one reached him then there was no one left to save his friend. He swirled around and fired as more tried to attack him from the rear, he kept moving. He didn't know where he was going.

But he was going to rip the hands off every monster in this cave if he had to.


Perry slowly brought his pipboy up to his face. He managed to force his other hand up and pathetically pressed a few buttons. He had to set off a signal, he couldn't get out the way he was now. He attempted to turn on his pipboy light, the button jammed.

Stupid… fucking… light… TURN ON!

He pressed as hard as he could and was temporarily blinded as the light shown into his unprotected eyes.


In the corner of Fawkes vision he could see a light shining behind a rocky pillar. Recognising the green glow, he rushed towards it and found his friend lying atop a glass and metal tube. They had found their target.

"My friend! Are you alright?" Perry could barely move; the blow to the head had likely concussed him. "Don't worry my friend. I'll carry you." Bending down he wrapped one enormous arm under the tube and groaning under the pressure, managed to lift both Perry and his father onto his shoulder. "Ready yourself!"

With one arm keeping the tube steady and the other holding the Gatling Laser, Fawkes began to move back the way he came. Perry was having trouble staying on but would not die now after everything he's done. More Deathclaws attacked Fawkes who quickly cut them down but more and more seemed to suddenly show up. Fawkes knew they had to leave immediately. He dropped his gun and with both hands keeping the tube steady he ran through the darkness.

Perry noticed a large Deathclaw, almost double the size of an ordinary one, had decided to intervene and was chasing Fawkes behind them. He reached down onto his waist and felt for the unfamiliar shape.

Now is as good a time as any.

He released the Alien Blaster from its holster and took aim at the creatures head. The device radiated an eerie blue as it charged; the lights ran down the length of the barrel before reaching the end forming a blue orb that shot out and impacted the Deathclaws head. The creature roared in pain but continued its chase.

Alright tough guy.

Perry turned a small knob on the side of the gun and it began to glow brighter. It shook in his hands and Perry could hear his Geiger counter begin to tick. Fawkes had managed to find the exit and was rushing up a rocky slope out of the cave. But Perry wasn't done yet. He aimed at the creature's chest; it was just about to reach them…

Bang…

An enormous wave of crackling blue energy shot out of the gun, enveloping everything in its path. The Alpha Deathclaw was obliterated but the wave didn't even slow down. It continued into the cave, washing over every rock and pillar turning every piece of organic matter into ash. The room shook, boulders fell from the ceiling as the cave couldn't handle the punishment and began to collapse.

So that's what that did. Not too shabby.

Perry watched over Fawkes shoulder as the cave behind them gave in. As the entrance to the cave rushed past him, a cloud of dust rocketed out obscuring his vision.

They had made it.

Moving far away from the cave but still too close for Perry's liking, Fawkes set both father and son down on the ground. He lifted Perry off the tube and set him down on his back to rest. He fell asleep immediately.


When Perry finally felt himself begin to wake, he slowly opened his eyes and saw the sun resting on the horizon. He must have slept through the day and night. He cautiously leant up and saw Fawkes standing there watching over him.

Struggling to talk Perry said "You know Fawkes… it's always creepy when you… watch me sleep like that." Fawkes gave a worried hum.

"I am sorry my friend, but you were unconscious for some time. I was concerned." Perry fumbled with his helmet and managed to slide it off his head.

"Sleeping all night isn't that long."

"My friend, that star is setting not rising. You have been asleep a full day."

Perry looked at the sun and realized that Fawkes was right; it was setting on the horizon.

"Oh. Well thankyou for looking after me Fawkes. I couldn't have done this without you." Fawkes gave a satisfied hum.

"I am glad we had one, last adventure together. Even as I travel, I know I will miss this place." Perry looked up at Fawkes and wished there was another way.

"I'm sorry."

"Do not apologise my friend. My kind must be exterminated. No, leaving this place is not something I regret. Simply that I leave the ones I knew here." Perry looked away and out towards the Wasteland. He has seen so much of this place, what is left here for him?

Perry then looked at the metal and glass tube that his father was encased in. His father was the only person he ever felt close to, the only person that Perry relied on when now everyone else relies on him. It was then that Perry realised something.

He was alone.

It had never truly sunk in until now. When his father died, Perry's only real link to others died with him. Even among others, he was alone. Even with friends, he was in isolation. He couldn't stand it. He locked himself away and travelled alone because he wanted to actually be isolated rather than feel isolated. He was always the outsider. In the vault, in Megaton, in the Brotherhood; always alone.

There was no worse feeling than being completely alone in a room full of people.

He knew why he wanted a child. He wanted to feel the kinship that only family can bring. To talk to someone who could understand him better than anyone else. Just like his father.

You selfish prick.

He stood up and approached his father's corpse. He looked down at him remembering all the time they spent together. His earliest memory was when he slipped in their room and smashed his chin against the floor. He was bleeding badly and was screaming in pain. His father was there to pick him up. Even then, and always afterwards.

Fawkes walked up beside Perry.

"What will you do my friend?" Perry said nothing. "I read that it is normally a tradition to bury loved ones. Is that what you are planning?" Perry shook his head.

"No, I know what he'd want me to do." Perry picked up his shotgun and using the handle of the gun, he smashed the glass to pieces. The liquid poured out leaving James lying there soaked. Perry leant down and picked up his father's corpse. The strong smell of the liquid filled his nostrils but he didn't care. He looked out into the horizon and noticed a small ruined house not too far away. Motioning to Fawkes, he walked towards it as Fawkes picked up their weapons and supplies. They both walked in silence.

Perry made sure his steps were careful as to not shake his father around too much. Once they reached the house Perry told Fawkes to stay outside. He walked inside carrying his father; he walked up the stairs and found the master bedroom. Placing his father carefully on the bed he leant back and looked down at him one last time.

When Perry walked out to meet Fawkes again, he searched through his satchel and found a bottle of vodka. Ripping off a piece of cloth from Fawkes ruined vest, he slipped the cloth into the bottle. They both turned towards the building and giving Fawkes a single nod, Perry lit the cloth and threw it at the door.

The burst of flames quickly enveloped the wooden frame and slowly spread. They simply stood and watched as the hours passed and the fire destroyed the building giving James a proper cremation.

No remains. No markers. No sign he ever existed.

When night lifted and the sun stretched her rosy red fingers across the Wasteland once more, Perry and Fawkes still stood and watched. When the house was a smouldering ruin of black and ash, only then did they leave.

Perry had an answer now, he was sick of living in isolation. He would return to the Brotherhood and give Sarah her answer.

He just hoped she'd forgive him.


A/N: I really do enjoy writing this story now that I've actually gotten to the plot. Hopefully you all enjoy reading it as I do writing it.

As always, reviews and critcisms appreciated (although I've yet to recieve a criticism in the reviews sections so I wonder why I bother asking haha.)