Chapter 9

"Lessons to be Learned"

For such an effective group of ambush predators the caravan raiders clearly didn't like traveling. They had only been doing so for somewhere over two hours. Lucifer had kept his distance, using old suburban houses for cover and cars on the street. They took a surprisingly safe route, avoiding the town centers and sticking to the old roads.

At least until they reached the spot where they decided to settle down. Yet it was only an hour after noon. When they came into view Lucifer had to chuckle to himself, it was an old Harley Davidson dealership. It was clearly a regular hideout for them by the fortification of the building itself. Different than the raiders Lucifer was used to.

These ones did have the mutilated corpses but only around the perimeter, off the flag pole and light posts, they were a warning not a decoration. He could see no sign of any bodies inside the building itself. Though admittedly he couldn't see much as they'd boarded the place up. Only two watchmen at the main entrance. But a group was also under an awning where some of the old bikes still stood.

In fact they were all over the place, but it was a dealership so it only made sense they'd have quite the collection of bikes. He would bet the raiders leathers came from there as well. In any case he needed to get in there if he was going to keep an eye on Eve and Wolfgang. From what he'd seen they went in the garage door with the brahmin.

The same one near the group standing under the awning for shade.

It was the only way Lucifer could see slipping in without getting shot immediately. Which would make tailing them back to their boss a moot point. So, now watching from across the road in an old house, Lucifer had to find a way to distract them so he could slip in the garage without getting spotted.

He decided to head around the back first, make sure nobody was patrolling the area and might catch him off guard. Leaving the building Lucifer made his way toward the apartments nearby for cover. Keeping low so as not to allow the door men to get a look at him. Last thing he needed was for them to get suspicious they were being followed.

He wasn't keen to have them out looking for him. Lucifer had underestimated them once, he didn't plan to do so again.

Making it to the apartments he checked the door men again. They were still carrying on their conversation. Thankfully there was also a wall lining the back of the dealership to cut off their sightlines. Lucifer wasted no time checking from inside one of the apartments for any sentries.

Finding none he made his way to the wall and headed around until he was behind the building, more importantly though out of the door men's sight. A quick clamber over the wall and he had a full view of the back of the dealership. The garage doors only opened from the inside, and only if the building had power. Obviously this one did, but it was the doors to the side he wanted.

The back had two of them for each of the garage doors there. He didn't expect them to work, they locked on their own but likely the raiders blocked them just in case. After all, Lucifer was just such a one who could pick a lock, which would then give him a way in. And that was far too easy for his luck.

He came to the corner where he'd have to slip in. Peaking around he noted the group, he counted six, laughing loudly as they shared a bottle. It was at least refreshing to see raiders drinking actual liquor over paint thinner or rubbing alcohol. Raiders have to have standards too apparently.

Lucifer needed a way to distract them. And his options were limited, had to be loud but if it seemed like they were under attack they'd go inside and prepare for a fight. Or worse hunt him down. Sure, Lucifer knew he could outmaneuver them, but again he didn't want them clued in.

He definitely knew they wouldn't go to their main base before getting him off their trail. The longer this went on the more dangerous it would get for Eve and Wolfgang. Not to mention the time that would be wasted in the endeavor.

Time, there was never enough time.

Lucifer looked over to some of the cars parked in the lot, employees or patrons unknowingly making their final stop. Or maybe they were still alive, if shambling around in a rotting body with almost no mental faculties could be considered as such. Ferals were entirely too common in urban areas.

The old cars gave him an idea though, so long as he could get the radio to work. Technology glitches, and two hundred year old tech from before the war was bound to do so as well. And raiders weren't going to look very deep into that tech, "glitching." Let alone suspect somebody slipped past them all and rigged it.

He went for the one in the nicest shape, not that any were in particularly good shape. But this one was likely well taken care of before the war, Lucifer crept to its passenger side door and gingerly depressed the release and lightly pulled the handle.

Unsurprisingly the door didn't budge, after all there was over two centuries of rust and corrosion where the seals had eroded away. He gave a small tug and it budged. Taking a breath Lucifer yanked and the rust crackled and fell to the pavement as the door came free.

Lucifer reached down and gathered the big chunks and tossed them into the car and quickly brushed small bits under it. Taking a seat inside, Lucifer looked over the center console and dashboard. The leather was cracked and sun-bleached, a musty smell permeated the car.

He drew his KA-Bar and punched it through underneath the radio. Cutting out a chunk of the liner Lucifer left enough attached to cover it up again. For the moment though he dug around for the wiring, eventually pulling out what he needed to check over.

Other than some expected dry rotting of the rubber insulation there was no corrosion on the wires itself. He cut them and stripped the insulation off the ends. It was tedious with the large combat knife, its razor sharp edge good for getting through the rubber but difficult to not also slice through the soft copper just underneath.

With that done Lucifer sheathed the blade and reached into the pouch on the back of his belt where he kept larger gear including a small fission battery. And to think that John said he'd never have a use for it…

Wrapping the copper around the terminals the radio suddenly sprung to life. He nearly snapped the volume knob off in his haste to turn it down. Last thing he needed was for his own distraction to get him killed. Only static came through though.

Opening his Pip-Boy Lucifer checked GNR's frequency to set the radio to. The soft sound of strings came through. A triumphant smirk took him at that as he slipped the battery up and inside the lining before covering it up. He took a deep breath as he prepared to make the dash for the side of the dealership. There was a car parked there he could take cover behind.

With everything in place Lucifer spun the dial up, breaking the silence of the surrounding wasteland. He was already moving, closing the door and bolting for cover. The song that had been playing was ending. Lucifer had never hoped for one of Three Dog's loud segues more.

It was silent, a slow build into the next song. But then the DJ's voice came through.

"Because one dog ain't enough, and two is too low, it's me, Three Dog! OWWWW! How you kids handlin' Post-Apocalyptia today?"

Lucifer smirked to himself as he heard a bottle shatter followed by swearing and yelling. Loud rustling and the sound of weapons coming to hand came next.

The group shouted an assurance that they'd check it out. The thudding of them going over towards the car followed. Lucifer peaked over, the first raiders were cautious on their approach to the car. But soon their rifles fell as they glanced around.

Lucifer took his opening and rushed around the corner and for the door. His kit ready as he went to work on the lock. Occasionally glancing up to check on the raiders before he heard the click and quickly slipped inside.

He swept the room looking for any raiders. Other than the brahmin that had been watered, its pack set aside and the pair of prisoners it was empty. While they seemed to take care of the brahmin, Eve and Wolfgang weren't quite as lucky. But then again, the brahmin made their lives a lot easier so taking care of it was in their best interests.

The people? They made a nice bonus but they weren't going to break their backs for them. Enough water to keep them from dropping in the wastes but that was it. Maybe keep from roughing them up too much if the conversation Lucifer heard in the woods was any indication. After all, nobody wanted spoiled goods and as fucked up as it was, that's what they were.

The pair were tied up and gagged next to a workbench where a mechanic would have left tools as he worked on the bikes that were still in the place. Many actually looked to be in good shape, likely on account of the concrete making up most of the garage. If Lucifer didn't know any better he'd say it almost looked like the raiders were trying to fix them.

He ignored the thought and instead headed over to his companions. Both of which were looking at him like he'd sprouted another head. It was understandable, how many people would willingly walk into a raider hideout alone? Not even Wolfgang was that off his rocker, and most knew him for being crazy.

John had assured him that it wasn't crazy, telling him that some people were born to fight, to take risks. Some take that and use it to hurt people, others to protect people. Both are born with aggression, but only some with the courage to stand for the weak or those who don't want to fight. He told him a motto from one of the US Militaries top units, the one his group still carried the name of.

"Sua Sponte," Latin for "Of Their Own Accord." It came from the fact their ranks volunteered above and beyond. It was what led to the next, "Rangers Lead the Way." According to him this was because they were the tip of the spear for the US they could be boots on the ground before anyone else. He still remembered John's offer, just before he left…

"You've got what it takes, kid. You come with me, and you'll have a place with us. Fight a real foe, protect more than just some backwoods villages." But Lucifer couldn't walk away, who would protect the people of the Capital if he left? John had merely smirked when he voiced this, an almost knowing one. "Good answer."

Lucifer let the memory pass as he pulled the gag from Eve's mouth. "Eyes on the prize, kid."

"How the hell did you get in here?" she whispered.

"I asked nicely."

"I didn't hear any shots so-" Bang! The sound of the raiders 'silencing' the radio cut her off.

"I guess they don't care for Three Dog," Lucifer joked. The confusion was clear on her face. "Had to get them out of the way if I was gonna slip in here."

"Why didn't you just kill them?" Eve demanded.

"Yeah, we tried that last time," Lucifer glanced down at her bound state, "Didn't go so well."

She sighed, "Fine, well then get us out of here."

"Yeah… about that," Lucifer trailed off as he pulled Wolfgang's gag out.

"No."

"Now, hear me out-"

"No." She really didn't look amused if the twitch of her eyebrow was any indication.

"If I can follow them back to their boss-"

"Not happening," she growled through gritted teeth.

Lucifer clicked his tongue, "See, but you don't really have a choice in the matter." Again glancing down.

"I will gut you if you don't let me out of here, I swear to God."

Lucifer shrugged, "Wouldn't be the first to try, and I'm still standing."

"It sounds as if you have a plan at work," Wolfgang spoke up.

Lucifer turned to him, "Sorry, but I didn't come with you just out of the kindness of my heart. I thought you might run into these raiders. I had hoped to stop them, maybe get one alive and see about why they're stepping up their attacks. I think they're in league with Talon Company, attacking the caravans who don't hire them."

"I never did like the look of them, their armor is too dark."

Lucifer self-consciously brushed his own black armor off. That was the second thing he'd brought up that Lucifer had a subscription to that he didn't trust.

"Anyway, I think they're looking to create a monopoly on caravan protection. Rake in the caps, though don't ask what the caps are for. That's something I'm still trying to piece together."

"They killed my employees, and have been none too gracious… Is there any way to help you?"

"Wherever they're taking you, just be ready to make an escape. You'll know when," Lucifer assured.

"Vague, but exciting! Don't you worry, this old Wolfgang's got some tricks up his sleeve."

"Too bad that's not happening. I am not putting my ass on the line for your vendetta against Talon," Eve refused.

Lucifer sighed as he looked up at the ceiling, he thought of some way to convince her. But when he thought about, he'd never have trusted himself in this scenario. She had a point, why should she put herself on the line for this?

He stuffed the gag back into her mouth, it made it much easier to have all the power in this scenario…

"Sorry, but I'm not asking. They get handsy and they won't live long enough to regret it. But you're going to have to put up with this for now. And before you think to try and tell them I'm here out of spite, you should know that I'm still your only shot of getting out of here."

Eve glared at him, and if looks could kill he'd be six feet under and probably encased in concrete to ensure she didn't cut him into little pieces. Lucifer was not looking forward to freeing her, he expected there'd be a very good chance she might try to kill him. He'd have to think of something to keep that from happening.

For the time being though he needed a place to hide and wait out the night. Somewhere close, and thankfully the industrial warehouse shelving was perfect. Get him up and off the floor and thanks to the large boxes from motorcycle parts, it had plenty to hide behind. Lucifer saw a good spot and pointed to it.

"I'll be right up there, they'll never know it. I promise both of you, I'll protect you. You might take a few hits, but you will walk out of this alive," he did his best to reassure them.

Eve's glare softened a little, only a little though.

Lucifer wasted no time in putting the gag back in Wolfgang's mouth and heading for his hiding place. He climbed the shelves and set his pack in between three of the boxes. It would hide him well for the night. He glanced back down and saw Eve staring up, he knew that it was for the best. That he'd help more people by hurting Talon.

But would he? Sure he may stop the odd attack by the mercs, but there was always something else to kill them. And he was leaving two people at the mercy of a group of raiders, willing to let them get beaten, broken even. John had assured him that sometimes you had to make sacrifices for the greater good.

He made sure to drive that lesson home hard when Lucifer learned the hard way that it really was for the best.

"I've got a group of raiders on the road, it looks like they're stalking those travelers you spotted," Lucifer pointed out to John.

"You're learning, kid," the older man commended. After four and half months he would hope he'd picked something up. Otherwise all the time he'd spent with the cowboy was for nothing. And he'd taken too many asskickings at his hands to have that.

"They don't look like anything special we can drop them, easy," Lucifer assessed.

"You're right, problem is that they're just a raiding party."

"Why is that a problem?"

"Those shit packs they're wearing, tells me they're lookin' to hit some travelers and take their spoils back somewhere. If they're foraging out that says they've got not only someplace to lay their heads down, but also that they've gotta have others who would watch over the place. Maybe even others who are also out raiding," John elaborated.

"So, we've got to look around for their hideout and clear them out. A little more annoying but not hard," Lucifer argued.

"So, it means that there are others out there that might be looking to attack people. We don't know where they are so they'll have plenty of time to keep raiding. But if we let those raiders attack, and follow them back to their little hidey hole we can snuff 'em all out in one fell swoop."

Lucifer glanced back at the Ranger from the west, his face was stone. "You want to let them kill them?"

"Might not kill them, can't make a profit on a dead man. Not to mention raiders like their captives too."

"They like to torture and rape them."

"A couple like to eat them."

"And you're suggesting we just let them?"

"How do you reckon we find their hideout otherwise? We gonna roam the area and guess and check?"

"Grab 'em and make them tell us."

"And if they lie?"

"We can't just leave them to that." Lucifer looked back down the scope of the old hunting rifle he'd managed to get his hands on.

"Kid, wait!" Too late, he was already squeezing the trigger.

The .308 blew a hole through the right eye of the one leading the group. Lucifer racked the bolt and brought another into his sights. He heard John swear as he popped a round off too. His went down with a shot between the eyes. They made short work of the rest, and Lucifer jumped to his feet to go speak with the travelers who had dived off the road when they heard the shots going off.

John said nothing as they made their way down to the road. He knew he was angry, that he was probably going to pay for that, but those were still people. The travelers had saw the corpses of the raiders and had rightly assumed that it was them who shot the raiders.

They were a group of brothers, just trying to find a new home. Thanking Lucifer and John for saving them. It didn't make sense to Lucifer why John would think letting them get attacked was okay. Even if they found the raider's hideout that way they did so at the expense of three people. They could find them on their own.

John was quiet for the rest of that day, only offering short orders and one word responses. When Lucifer tried to burst the dam to get it over with John merely told him he'd regret it before long. He expected that meant a rough workout and sparring session, or a painful lesson. And while they were a little more unpleasant than usual, it wasn't what he would expect from John.

He usually got creative when he got pissed off.

Instead they just moved right to hunting the raiders. They started at a nearby brewery, they had been west of Fort Bannister but east of Lamplight for a while now. It was for Lucifer to learn how to move in enemy territory. With Talon on one side and the super mutants on the other, and not to mention the raiders at Evergreen Mills they were in the thick of it.

They were north of The Mill, as many called the biggest raider settlement in the Capital Wasteland. Evergreen Mills was a hellhole with plenty of rumors surrounding it, that the raiders there were cannibals that took people to fry up. That they threw people into the machinery alive to torture them for kicks. All rumors, because nobody walked in there and came out alive.

They weren't skilled like the caravan raiders that people talked about in the north. But they had numbers and brute force. Some said they'd seen a captured super mutant behemoth. Lucifer wasn't sure how they'd do that but it did say something that many believed it.

But the pair didn't find anything at the brewery, or the surrounding area. Every time they came up empty John's gaze was more and more an anvil on Lucifer's shoulders. It wasn't until they moved into the nearby ruins of a town that had once been called Brambleton that they found a trace of raiders.

A fresh corpse hung with meat hooks from a streetlamp. Only a day old at the time.

John didn't say anything despite the timeline of that not looking good for Lucifer. If there was one body there was bound to be more. He didn't let it get to him at that moment, it was only one man, they saved three and would now put an end to the raiders.

He did the right thing, letting those brothers die wasn't right.

That's what Lucifer kept telling himself, until they entered the old movie theater. Killing the raiders was the easy part, it was the smell that made them pause. Rot, death, and blood, all forming a nauseating concoction that permeated the air. Once in the dark and deathly silent theater the source of the stench was obvious enough.

A macabre scene greeted them, what was left of the captives. Flayed, disemboweled, or just slaughtered like animals, the whole room had been repainted the dark crimson of blood. Some had been dead for weeks, others days, and more a few hours. Lucifer counted at least ten that would have still been kicking around the day that John and him killed the first group.

He wanted to be angry, rage at the scumbags that did it. Instead the anger turned inward, clashing against the altruism that led Lucifer to drop the raiders on the road. One arguing that he couldn't have known, the other that he should have listened.

If he had listened the brothers might have been killed. But those that now decorated the theater with their viscera would be alive. No matter how he tried to argue it simple math showed how bad he'd screwed up. These people were dead, because he didn't listen.

"Go on, tell me how this is my fault."

John didn't say anything, just looked around at the grisly scene. Until the eerie silence was cracked by a short whimper. Someone was still alive.

Lucifer was moving before any sense could warn him not to rush in. He sprinted down the aisle toward the source of the sound, heart pounding. Somebody was still alive, he would save them. Lucifer found a sight he wouldn't forget for weeks.

A young woman, beaten and bloodied, she had only rags to cover herself. Clutching at her abdomen and sobbing quietly. Lucifer took a step closer to her, she realized he was there only to try and crawl away. Even fear didn't give her enough strength to put any distance between them. He noticed how pale she was, deathly so and not from a lack of sunlight.

"Hey, hey, I'm not going to hurt you," he tried to reassure her.

The woman managed to look up at him, "Please, just kill me. Finish me off…"

"No, you're safe now. I'll get you out of here, you'll be fine."

She didn't say anything else instead curling back in on herself, but at least she wasn't trying to crawl away. Lucifer got closer, and noted she had a significant amount of blood on her legs. Glancing back to her arms clutched at her abdomen he pieced it together. When he scanned around, he only knew that he really wished he hadn't.

On the ground in a puddle of blood was a misshapen, vaguely human clump. Lucifer felt his eyes drift closed and his head and shoulders fell. With the blood loss, she was already done for, they were miles away from any doctor who could help. With the painful beatings she'd taken it was only a slow and lingering death. It was more merciful to just end it now, as she'd begged.

He heard John's steps behind him, though they stopped when he laid eyes on the scene. Lucifer felt his hand waver over his sidearm. He looked back to the woman, what kind of fear had she suffered? Did she beg them not to for her baby's sake? The anger crept in again, had they laughed as they did it? Mocked her as she cried?

They always did, little more than animals. No, animals were better than them. They were scum, filthy savages who deserved their own personal hell. Every. Single. One of them.

Lucifer drew his weapon and aimed at her. The anger had given him the strength to draw it, but not to pull the trigger. It bled away and he grit his teeth as he looked down at her. Matted brown hair, and marred but still pretty features. She was a person, she deserved better than this, shot like an animal to spare it the pain. But what could he do? It was mercy, she even begged him to.

So then why was his arm shaking?

He watched as the pistol rattled in his hand, was he afraid to do it? Was he too weak to do it? Lucifer tightened his grip on the weapon, it only steadied slightly. He couldn't be too weak, he wasn't allowed to be weak. His teeth grit as he forced his arm to steady, his finger squeezed the trigger.

The flash and the bang were the curtain closing on her life. Lucifer dropped his gun and stumbled back staring at his hand.

"I'm sorry," he added quietly, as if that somehow changed anything.

"Sorry doesn't bring her or her baby back, kid," John's gruff voice finally spoke. "You fucked up, instead of sorry make sure you don't fuck up again." With that he listened to the thuds of John's boots as he left.

That was when the guilt swept in, what had he just done? Who was it that he was becoming? A survivor? A warrior? Or just a better dressed murderer? The only thing that some would say that separated him and those raiders was a razor's edge. Normally he'd scoff at that, but now?

Regardless of the morals, Lucifer made sure he'd never make the same mistake twice.

It wasn't long before John took his mind from that day, he made sure he learned as much as he could teach him. And now Lucifer put as much of that teaching to good use as he could. He had only grown to hate the raiders the more he saw of them. Before he tried to be quick, but he was done with that. Eulogy had deserved to suffer, and so did many more.

Lucifer heard a door open from across the shop. Likely a raider coming to check on their merchandise. He felt his blood heat up at that, he'd be sure to kill this group first. The sounds of their heavy footfalls echoed in the open room. He heard a man's muttering and the muffled grunt as a rustle of movement came from the floor.

Now he peaked around the corner out of his hiding spot. He heard the slamming as he caught sight of Eve being forced over one of the workbenches. Lucifer had his 416 up and the safety off before the sound faded. The raider struggled with her and Lucifer's finger was wrapped around the trigger.

The door he'd come in swung open again and a bigger man stepped in. He looked unconcerned in his posture and pace. But the look in his eyes made Lucifer's finger ease up. He had a guess that this was the leader, and he looked pissed.

"You lookin' to have some fun, huh?" he suggested, the gravel of his voice unmistakable.

"Why not? She's a hot piece, the boss won't even know," the would be rapist slurred. His state explained why he had the courage to do this when none of the others did.

"Maybe, but the rules are the rules," the leader shrugged, Lucifer saw the tension in his shoulders now.

"Fuck the rules," the man spat.

It was the last thing he'd ever say, as the leader drove a vicious looking serrated bowie knife through his throat. The scumbag gurgled and choked on his own blood before being shoved off and to the ground. The leader said nothing to Eve and headed back inside. Lucifer heard his voice booming about cleaning it up and getting rid of the body.

He then noticed that Eve was staring up at him, he hadn't moved from his ready to shoot position. The glare she'd been directing at him from before was a lot softer. Apparently willing to trap himself in a garage surrounded by raiders by blowing one away for her softened the blow of leaving her to being a prisoner.

Or it might have just been relief and she was still planning to gut him or castrate him when it was all over. More likely the latter.

"One thing at a time," Lucifer muttered to himself before slipping back into his hiding spot.

"So, the muties are holed up in both schools nearby, are acting at least a bit differently? And we've got a group of ferals close enough to worry about?" Sentinel Lyons recapped their scouting.

"In summary, you've got the gist of it," Artemis confirmed.

"Smell like a trap to anybody else?" she then asked the squad.

"A bit more involved than something they'd usually do," Vargas voiced.

"Maybe one finally stepped out of whatever pit or vat they're coming from with his brain still mostly intact. Happened back in the day with the Master, plenty of his weren't soft-skulled fuckin' retards," Glade offered.

"Yeah, but we've been here a long time. We should have seen that by now," Vargas argued.

"Maybe the smart ones are rarer, after all these ones aren't one-to-one copies of those out of Mariposa. Different strain of the FEV, like the scribes say."

"Does it really matter? We have to clear those schools and I'd rather not walk in on their terms," Artemis stated.

"He's got a point," Gallows agreed.

"Alright, so then how do we plan to do this?" Lyons requested of the two.

Artemis glanced to Gallows who nodded his consent to the plan they'd come up with on the way. Nothing fancy, almost more like another scouting mission in a way.

"Well, one way or another we'll have to deal with those ferals in the school. We thought it better to do so on our terms instead of as an afterthought," Artemis began.

"Hit them first then?" Kodiak tried to clarify.

"Exactly, but we do it loud. We let those muties know we're here."

"And why exactly would we want them to know we're here? Element of surprise mean nothing to you?" Dusk questioned.

"Either those muties have made an oddly specific quirk in their normal operations, in which case this will alert them and draw them out into the open. I might add that church has a nice sightline over the streets. And if they don't we know that they did lay a trap and were waiting for us, therefore they already knew we would be here," Artemis elaborated.

"I do like to go loud…" Glade nodded his approval.

"We would have wanted to draw them out one way or another and kill the zombies, this knocks out two birds with one stone. Gets my approval," Vargas consented.

"Any objection?" Lyons asked.

It was quiet, "It's settled then, we're gonna play exterminator tomorrow."

With that settled Lyons spoke with Vargas a bit more, likely a bit of logistics to go over before refining in the morning before they headed out. In the meantime, the rest of the Pride had a meal. Artemis was glad to see they didn't slack and had got their hide set up nicely. The Supplies were sorted and ready, weapons and ammo as well.

They had all rid themselves of their power armor, except Colvin who had gone back up to his watch post. If anything happened even one power armored soldier could hold off a small army at least long enough for others to armor up and back them up. Thankfully there were no small armies in the area.

"So, new guy, who were your parents? You look like your part of Dusk and Sarah's generation," Glade spoke up around a mouthful of whatever his MRE held.

Artemis shifted and rolled a shoulder, "Does it matter?"

"Might, I've been around a little while, kid. I could know them."

"Could have known," Artemis corrected.

"That's most of your generation, Sarah's lucky she still has her father. Most of you either lost your parents or were to squire under us and left your families back west."

"They were part of the mission to Baltimore."

"Hey, we still don't know what happened to them."

"I know." Artemis fell silent after that, his mind on his old idea. He'd been trying to get to Baltimore ever since he was allowed a suit of power armor. It was the main reason he went on so many tech runs, on scouting missions. There was always the chance that maybe they might find their way to Baltimore.

He'd gotten close a few times, nearly told his team leader to shove his orders up his ass when they saw the city on the horizon once. But it was his father's sense of loyalty that led him to stay, he lived and breathed for the Brotherhood. It was why Artemis went Outcast in the first place, trying to do him proud, plus most of his friends did as well.

His mother was a little more flexible, she didn't mind Lyons' crusade to save the people of the Capital. Artemis closed his eyes a moment and let the memories of them pass before going back to his meal, his desire to know what happened to them had led him to almost desert, take his armor and a rifle and head off.

Never ended up happening.

"Alright, so does everybody know who's got watch?" Lyons asked the Pride as she sat down to eat something as well. It was odd, despite how she carried herself as just another one of them with a different pin she still stood apart. In the short time he'd spent with her now she was already beginning to defy his expectations.

"I still can't believe you sacrificed yourself to take us down with you…" Glade shook his head.

"We spent too much time playing to figure out who would set up the beacon, our new member ended up beating us to it. So you and I get second and third watch,"

"That's easy enough for you there young'un breaking up my sleep doesn't cooperate with me."

"Them's retirin' words," she joked.

"Not on your life, I've been fighting since you were in diapers, and I'll keep doing so even when I'm back in them."

"That's a disturbing image," Dusk complained.

"It's called getting old, Kodiak is almost there." Glade turned to the huge man.

"I've got three more years before I'm thirty," he argued.

Glade grinned maniacally as he leaned closer, eyes narrowing, "And they're gonna fly by."

Kodiak quirked his lips and looked away, going back to his water bladder.

"Awfully quiet, Artemis. You the silent type like Gallows?" Vargas suddenly asked.

It caught the newest member off guard, he had expected more resistance than he'd gotten. Though Dusk was the only one who seemed to cause any friction. But if what he'd heard was true, that was normal for her.

"Not exactly," he answered slowly.

"Nervous?" Glade wiggled his brows.

"No."

"Missin' that dark and brooding paint scheme?"

He didn't answer right away, "No."

"You sure? It did have a certain charm to it, more hard and intimidating."

"Quit picking on him, Glade." Lyons defended though rolling her eyes.

"Fine, boss lady," he desisted, hands up in defeat.

"All due respect, Sentinel, I can fight my own battles," Artemis asserted sitting up straighter.

"No need to get defensive, tough guy, I never said you couldn't." She had a small smirk on her face.

"I'm no-" Artemis stopped himself before the rest could pour out and dig his hole any deeper.

"Right, the squared shoulders are just to show off your fine posture," she barbed.

One gets stamped out and picks up where the other left off.

"I'll just go back to keeping my mouth shut…" Artemis decided.

"Don't get all grouchy, we're just trying to lighten the mood."

"Strange way of doing it."

"Lighten up a little. If we're gonna be stuck out here trying to poke and prod at these frankensteins we might as well make our own entertainment."

"One way or another I don't think this is going to take very long," Artemis admitted.

"Depending on how this goes tomorrow and the number that are in there, it might not. Or it'll be a pain is the ass." Lyons shrugged.

"Has it ever NOT been a pain in the ass?" Glade chuckled with a wry smirk.

"If the metros were any indication, it doesn't look like things are going to start changing now," Kodiak grumbled.

"If it was easy we'd be out of a job," Dusk pointed out.

"We're getting paid for this? Boy, I'm gonna have a lot to say to management about my lack of benefits and vacation time." Glade aimed a pointed look at Lyons.

"Management would like to save you the trouble, bite me."

"Oh, my union rep will hear about this."

"Like we'd have a union," Kodiak scoffed.

"Still have an hr guy," Artemis let slip as he glanced at Gallows. He realized he'd voiced the sarcastic thought too late. The entire Pride was taken by surprise at the dry remark.

Glade was the first to snort and laugh though, "Turns out the new guy's got a sense of humor after all."

"Was actually pretty good, too," Kodiak chuckled.

"And here I thought we were already filled up on sarcasm," Lyons joked.

"He's closer to the truth than you'd think," Gallows voice broke through before he took his leave, already having finished his meal. The others carried on for longer but Artemis was close behind Gallows, he knew he'd likely need the sleep.

Actually falling asleep? That proved a bit more difficult, he had a bad feeling about everything. If the super mutants had finally grown a brain, or at least one of them did. How much more dangerous were they? Were they going to start being out witted, out maneuvered? Would they lose one of the few advantages they had?

The sleep he managed to get wasn't as restful as he'd like. But there wasn't any time to waste dwelling on it, the Pride had a small breakfast and were moving as the sun was just beginning to peak above the crumbling buildings of the old world. Gallows led the way from their prior scouting trip. Since the way was pretty much a straight shot it took only about ten minutes, and only that because of the Pride's cautious pace.

Once outside of the church Lyons ordered Artemis' fireteam to take point. Vargas wanted them in a diamond. Lyons and her team went to another door.

"We're in position," her voice stated over the comms.

"Roger." Vargas turned back to his fireteam and nodded.

"Execute."

Kodiak drove his boot into the door, snapping it off the hinges and sending it sailing across the entryway. Artemis rushed in after Vargas with his rifle leading left. The first feral was still turning towards the sounds of their breach. It didn't get a chance to make a sound before a lance of red light punched through the mutant's head.

That was when the rasping screams tore through the church. It was followed by thunder from the others firing on the zombies. One of the shamblers rushed through a doorway, only to leap through the air. Its rotten teeth bared and glassy eyes fixed on Artemis. The Knight merely threw his shoulder and weight forward.

The feral smashed into his armor but didn't faze him at all, only broke on it like water on stone. A wheezing breath pushed through its shattered chest but Artemis silenced it by crushing its skull with his boot. He brought his rifle back up and pushed forward through the doorway it came from. Checking his corners on instinct he shot down another that was waiting for someone to enter.

The staircase ahead of him was where he decided to hold position until the his fireteam finished their sweep. But he knew there were more of the zombies upstairs, after all the first he spotted was in the window.

Taking a knee and placing his elbow on the raised one Artemis steadied his rifle at the stairs. When the shots from the rest of the Pride died down he listened closely. The sounds of shuffling footsteps made it down to him. It was when the slapping of bare feet on wood came from the stairs that he took a breath and exhaled.

The first barreled down without any regard for itself, tripping and falling down the stairs in its rush to get at Artemis. He ignored that one for a moment as three more appeared on the landing behind it. The Knight squeezed the trigger as they let out their shrieks, the first was hit in the chest, the beam searing its already rotten flesh and burning into the one behind it.

He fired again, this time aiming for the unharmed one. The shot hit its head incinerating it and the ashes drifted through the stagnant air. Artemis brought his rifle down to the one trying to force itself up from the ground. But its arm was snapped in the wrong direction, and its ankle was twisted at an unnatural angle. One shot pierced its skull and it stopped trying.

Artemis stood back up and his fireteam, as well as Lyons' came through the doorway he'd used.

"There's more upstairs," he reported.

"Then lead the way, Knight," Lyons ordered.

"Roger, Sentinel." Artemis headed for the stairs without hesitation.

"Jeez, why don't you work that rod out of your ass and use it to beat the ferals to death," Glade mocked.

"How about I hit you with it instead," Artemis suggested.

"That's more like it! We'll make a joker of you yet." He heard Vargas groan along with Lyons.

With no more banter to be had Artemis rushed up the stairs. He shot two down that had been heading towards the sounds of the Pride thundering up the stairs behind him. They all stormed into the nave, cutting down what was left of the congregation. Artemis fired over the pews, killing one that had the tattered remains of robes.

With the room clear Lyons ordered Glade and Kodiak to sweep the rest of the floor for anymore and see about getting a view from the windows so they could see any approaching super mutants. Hopefully they were still as dumb as usual and would come barreling down the street for them to mop up.

As they left Artemis looked around at all the corpses, amidst the ghouls were skeletons. Some were old, likely from when the bombs dropped and others were more recent. He guessed by the ghoul in robes who was likely the preacher that this group had been there to take shelter after the bombs dropped.

"So much for being under God's protection," he muttered bitterly.

"Watch that," Lyons spoke up from beside him, "Colvin hears you and he might try to convert you."

"If they're any indication of what He's got in store, I'm not interested," Artemis assured pointing to the corpses.

"Can't argue with that. Nice shooting by the way," she complimented.

"We're not done shooting yet, still have to see what the mutants do."

"True, but it's nice to see that McGraw was right about you."

Artemis held up his hand as he caught something in the corner of his eye. It looked like something out the window. Lyons readied her rifle and followed his sightline. The pair of them moved toward it. Artemis caught sight of the super mutant first.

"Get back!" He shoved Lyons away with all the force his armor would muster. He then tried to throw himself away as the whistling of the missile got closer.

The explosion sent him sailing across the room, smashing through two pews on the way. It was lucky he'd been able to get back or he'd like have taken far more damage. Artemis breathed heavy as he tossed his head around trying to get his bearings again. There was no way the mutants could be outside that quickly, they were quick but not that quick.

Unless they planned for them to go there, Artemis began to try and clamber back to his feet. Then felt his eyes open wide at the site on the floor against one of the walls amidst the rubble and litter, in an attempt to hide it.

A bomb.

With some idea of what to look for now he checked around the room, there seemed to be more at intervals that would bring the whole building down on top of them. This was a trap, and they'd walked right into it. Before Artemis could warn the rest of the Pride… they went off.

Author's Note: Well, this seems like a good place to stop. Things are starting to kick up with the super mutants now. The plot thickens, but it'll have to wait for next time…