AN. Hello, I'm sorry that this part took so long. It just wasn't coming together correctly. I've never exactly been that good with these sorts of high octane emotional scenes. A warning, there's going to be a lot of swearing in this scene, so if anyone here doesn't like that sort of thing, avert your eyes. I'm going to be earnin that teen rating today. But enough about me. Here we go.
"I can, but the question remains, do I have a good reason to do so?"
Amata turned around and there, standing before her was the man who she had exiled from the Vault.
Taggart looked upon her with a face that bespoke rage, sorrow, and surprise at her presence in Megaton.
"What the hell are you doing here, Overseer? I thought the Vault was nice and comfy for you?"
"Alec..." Amata breathed, still shocked at seeing him for the first time in four years.
"That's Sentinel Taggart to the likes of you, Overseer Almadovar."
"Please, Tagg...Sentinel Taggart, I don't want any trouble. The vault is in trouble and..."
"I'm out. See you Simms."
With that, Taggart turned and left for his house.
Amata rushed to follow, calling after him as he reached his house.
"Sentinel, don't you care for those left behind?"
Taggart whipped around, and glared at her.
"You mean the people who kicked me out of the place that had been my home for most of my life? TWICE? Yeah, not happening. In any case, common decency dictates I invite you into my house, since you won't let me back into yours."
Amata entered with Taggart following, but she wasn't enthused.
"What is wrong with you Sentinel? You were never like this?"
"Maybe because I never WANTED THIS FUCKING LIFE!"
Amata clapped her hands to her mouth. She had never known Alec to be the sort to swear, ever. To hear it now...
"Alec, what's gotten into you?"
"What's gotten into ME!? Nearly 10000 Rads, three quarters of an arsenal of bullets, and enough poison to put down a dozen Behemoths at this fucking point! Maybe all I wanted WAS just to be the fucking Vault chaplain. At least then, all I would have to deal with is people who were scared for their shitty souls. I wouldn't have had to deal with the constant fear, the paranoia, the crazy assholes trying to murder me for the last four years, the heartbreak of LOSING MY FATHER AND BEING KICKED OUT OF THE ONLY HOME I'D EVER KNOWN! And what's more, everyone is always expecting me to do their work for them!"
He took on a sing songy tone at this point.
"Oh Lone Wanderer~, please get our favorite brand of Nuka-Cola from the reaver infested remains of that super duper mart! Even though I'm an able bodied individual myself who is clearly armed and capable of doing it themselves, you should do it BECAUSE I'M TOO FUCKING LAZY!"
Amata was in shock from the sight and sound of one of the calmest and kindest people she had ever known just flipping out.
Taggart took a deep breath, and then a strange serenity came over his face. "
"But you know what, you did me a fucking favor. I found the love of my life, and we're happy together. We even have kids. They're so smart, hopefully they won't have to deal with the clusterfuck that was my life."
Amata was now on the verge of tears at hearing what he had said.
"Alright you bastard, what do you want? An apology? FINE! I'm sorry for kicking you out of the Vault, I thought..." and Amata didn't complete that sentence because she was now staring down the barrel of a massive revolver with a scope on the top.
"I dare you to finish that sentence Amata. I fucking DARE you. Being this is a .44 Magnum, one of the most powerful handguns in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do you Overseer! I'm sick and tired of the bullshit I go through with my life. At least with the Brotherhood I feel like I'm actually appreciated for what I do. Same shit, different day, but at least they have the decency to be thankful."
Amata knew she shouldn't have been so stupid, especially with a pistol pointed at her face, but that comment riled her up so bad that anger overrode common sense.
"THANKFUL! THANKFUL! Our rebellion was a mistake! All the people of the Vault were volatile powderkegs just waiting to go off! With the issues we'd been going through, it would have torn the vault apart! And even if we HAD left the vault, all that would have happened would have been inexperienced vault dwellers getting mown down by psychos! At least you had a chance by actually being decent with weaponry. I was a FUCKING FOOL for thinking that causing an armed rebellion was going to change anything!"
She could see Taggart's finger tightening around the trigger, and she closed her eyes, not even thinking of trying to do something about it. There was a sound of thunder and a ringing in her ears, but she was still alive. She couldn't hear for nearly a minute, she was shocked, she didn't think she could stand properly, but she was alive. She turned around, saw the impact of the bullet in the wall, and it was then she realized just how close she had come to death.
Taggart merely glared at her, and once she showed signs of being able to hear again, he said,
"I'll help. I'l see what I can do about getting the Brotherhood to send individuals to help and even establish trade. But it isn't for YOU. Never for YOU. Get the FUCK out of my house."
Amata shakily left, and Taggart staggered over to his bed. He laid down, and he unleashed all the anguish of four years before he finally went to sleep, still crying.
AN. Intense, wasn't it? As for Amata's fears, well it did happen to at least one or three Vaults out there, now didn't it? Poll in profile, please go vote.