Hey guys! Hopefully, I'll be updating at least twice a week. I plan on doing a series of one-shots before the final story of the trilogy (Oh yeah, got another story up my sleeve) and before New Vegas comes out. Much thanks to Maki-Rahl, Kaiya, thesupernugget, and SeerofSolaris for your reviews! You guys gave me some good ideas for future chapters...an ass-whooping is in order, I think. But of course, that is for later. I love love LOVE writing this story, and I'm glad you all are lovin' it too.
On a side note: I know a few of you have your loyalties and dislike McGraw greatly, but give the man a chance, lol. I think you'll all grow a soft spot for him in the end.
"How much further?" Ava asked McGraw. They had been walking almost an entire day in full armor and Ava felt the sweat drip down her face. She reached for her left wrist often, forgetting that the Outcasts had helped her remove the only thing from her past in the vault. Her pip-boy 3000 now sat inside a room inside the Outpost under lock and key. Now, Ava was indistinguishable from any other Wastelander.
"Not much. The signal is getting stronger. The man's name is Wernher and apparently he has some information. After we investigate this, you'll become a Defender with us. You've done a lot for us; all of your recon has been extremely useful. We're glad that you joined up with the Outcasts, Ava," said McGraw.
"Yeah. I don't regret renouncing the Brotherhood at all. I still can't believe they're the ones behind the attack on Underworld and the attack on my kids. Fucking assholes. I'll kill them all for it," said Ava. "I never did anything but help them. They've gotten worse after Elder Lyons died last year."
"Their priorities have always been fucked up. Protector Casdin is pleased with your progress at any rate," he said.
They climbed up a slope and saw a radio tower a few yards ahead of them, and heard gunfire along with shouting. Protector McGraw quickened his pace and Ava followed behind, keeping up as best as she could. The drills McGraw and Casdin had her do every morning were helpful. After a few weeks, her legs had gotten stronger and she could now carry and shoot a Fat Man without any problems. Last week, McGraw and Ava laughed hysterically when she aimed a Fat Man at an approaching group of super mutants. The beasts were obliterated on impact and McGraw had lifted her onto his shoulders as the others cheered.
"We got Raiders!" McGraw shouted. He pointed his assault rifle at one raider and tore him apart. Ava shook her head, yanking herself out of the memory and took aim.
"McGraw! Watch out!" Ava yelled as another raider rushed up to him. She knocked McGraw aside and killed the last two raiders in her sights. She noticed a man crouching beside the tower, shaking with fear, his broken handgun by side.
Protector McGraw held out his hand and pulled the battered man to his feet. Ava removed her helmet and held it under her arm, looking around the area for any straggling raiders.
"Thanks for your help. They finally tracked me down…I thought I had more time," said the man. He wore an eye patch similar to Charon's and Ava finally eased up after finding no more signs of raiders nearby.
"I'm Wernher. You've come about the broadcast, right? Risky, I know, but it had to be done. So you two know who I am. Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Protector McGraw, of the Brotherhood Outcasts," said McGraw.
"And I'm Ava Flint, from the Outcasts as well," replied Ava. "And obviously, we're better fighters than you. Can't you handle a few raiders? Shit is pathetic."
"Flint, that's enough," McGraw said sternly. "You're way out of line."
"Seriously boss, what the fuck? They never gave me any trouble when I came out of the vault. I don't get it," said Ava with a tinge of annoyance. Ava was nothing when she came out of the vault. Her only practice had been the radroaches on the bottom levels of the vault, and then of course, the vault security guards that had tried to kill her. She didn't have to try. She killed without mercy.
"Yeah, whatever. I didn't come to D.C. to swap insults with Wasters. You want to hear what I have to say about the Pitt or not?" asked Wernher.
"Hmm, I remember hearing about the Pitt from a guy in the Citadel…Kodiak, that was his name," said Ava. She also remembered Kodiak saying that he regretted not leaving with McGraw and the other Outcasts.
"Yeah, the Brotherhood tried to clean up the Pitt, but that can't be done without the cure. That's why they were after me."
McGraw held up his hands and said, "Wait, slow down. A cure for what, exactly?"
"The Pitt's a mess. Nearly everyone who lives there is either sick, dying…or worse. It's the water. And the air. You can't escape it. You stay there a few years and no matter what, it'll get ya. But the bastards that have my people as slaves, they found a cure for it and once they have that cure perfected, we don't stand a chance. We need the cure to bargain for our freedom," Wernher explained.
"And why the hell can't you do it?" Ava asked.
"The Pitt Raiders know that I am aware of the cure. They're looking for me," he replied.
"What do we get out of this?" McGraw asked.
"Well besides freeing the slaves, we have a working ammo press. You can have full access to it, whenever you want," said Wernher, crossing his arms smugly.
"Ammo press, huh?" said Ava with overflowing curiosity. She turned to McGraw and asked, "Sound good boss?"
"Too good…there must be some sort of catch here, Wernher," said McGraw.
"You would have to pose as slaves. The raiders wouldn't let just anyone in through the gates, especially two soldiers like yourselves. There are some slavers waiting to make a sale just off to the west, near the tunnel that leads to the Pitt. You could probably find disguises there," Wernher explained. "I'll meet up with you two afterwards and help you get into the Pitt."
Ava followed McGraw west and when she looked up at him, she saw a frown on his face. Normally, McGraw would walk around the Outpost with a wide smile and the scowl did not suit him at all. If anything, Ava thought the scowl was better suited on Charon's face. She smacked her forehead and groaned loudly. She was comparing them again. She always seemed to be doing that lately, and it drove her up the wall. Charon was taller and more built. McGraw had a handsome face, but Charon did as well in his own manner. McGraw was a fantastic leader who was always fair and cared about his soldiers. Charon cared for few people but he would never hesitate to give up his life for any of his loved ones. Two wonderful men seemed to be banging down Ava's door, but she knew who she wanted.
Too bad he hates me now. Next time I see him…I'll say sorry. If there is a next time, Ava thought sadly.
"You think this is a good idea, McGraw? This could be a hole we can't dig ourselves out of," Ava said in an attempt to change her train of thought.
"Ava, you're one of the best, and I mean best, soldiers we've ever had. If anyone can do this, it's us. That ammo press is too good to pass up anyhow," said McGraw, his bright smile returning.
"Yes…" Ava agreed, thinking back to her plans for the future. "The ammo press sounds really good. We could use that to our advantage."
McGraw slowed down so that he was by Ava's side and stared at the smile on her face. He was still smiling when he asked, "When are you going to tell me what's going on inside that pretty little head of yours? Isn't that what friends do?"
"You know enough, McGraw. I'm fucked up in the head. I was a merc for hire until I joined you guys. I've killed hundreds of people without batting an eyelash. I have fourteen crazy little kids. Their father is a ghoul who used to be a slave and would swim the Atlantic Ocean to see my face. I have a hot red-head for a girlfriend, who's with one of my best friends, who also happens to be a ghoul. I'm the infamous vault girl who turned out to be an awesome shot. I destroyed the Enclave and brought water to the Wasteland. My poker face is sick and I've won enough caps off you and everyone else to live a good life. What the hell else could I possibly tell you?"
"I still can't figure out why you scream at night. None of us can," he said quietly.
Ava stopped walking and gripped his arm tightly. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"You scream in your sleep. We can hear you from all over the Outpost. The first time it happened, Olin and I ran into your room and you were…you were crying. And talking…" he explained.
"What did I say?" Ava asked, clutching her throat to calm the bile that threatened to spill.
"Well…you were crying for your father and saying that you had to go back to get him. You cried for the ghoul, Charon, several times. And…you said something else one night, but I really don't-"
"McGraw, please. Just…just say it," she whispered. It was getting dark, and soon it would be dangerous to be out in the wasteland, but it didn't matter.
"All right…I was up late one night a few weeks ago doing inventory of our weapons and ammo. I heard you scream for someone to…stop touching you. I ran to your room, thinking someone had broken into the Outpost and came for you. I tore open the door and reached for the gun on my hip but you were alone. You were thrashing around, grabbing your head and crying for them to stay away from you, that only Charon could do those things…"
Ava couldn't hold it back any longer and retched behind a boulder. McGraw crouched down beside her and pressed his head into her shoulder as he waited for her to feel better. He helped Ava to her feet and wiped the stream of tears from her reddened cheeks.
"You don't have to tell me anything unless you want to, okay gorgeous? I can wait until you're ready. I'm sorry I brought it up at all," he said.
"No, it's okay. I'll be fine after I walk for a bit longer. I just had no idea I was doing it. Does it happen a lot?" she asked.
"It has been getting worse, yes. I can see the slavers just over the ridge. Do you want me to go ahead and kill them or do want to come along?" McGraw asked.
Ava gave him a smile and said, "And let you have all the fun? Hell no. Get out of my way, McGraw. I'll show you how to deal with slaver scumbags."
"Your ability to get over things in an instant is phenomenal," he said with a grin.
"It's proved useful." Ava stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly in greeting. The slavers turned their heads and stood up with amused smirks.
"You the guys from the Pitt?" asked one of the slavers.
"Yeah, that's us. We're here to buy the slaves," said Ava.
"Ay, Ramsey. They're wearing fucking Outcast armor," said another slaver, cocking his shotgun.
"We just killed some a few hours ago and took their armor. What's the big fucking deal?" asked Ava.
"I don't really give a shit who they are, as long as we get paid. It's about damn time someone showed up. We've been waiting her for-fucking-ever," said Ramsey. "We got three. Usual price: two hundred each. Boss says no trades, so cash only. Oh, and Eulogy said to tell you guys he's sorry he could only get three. He'll round up more next time."
Ava laughed and said, "Too much. I'll just kill you all instead."
She pointed her Blackhawk at Ramsey and shot him. Before the other slavers could react, she shot them as well, leaving them to bleed out. She picked the key off Ramsey's corpse and unlocked the slave pen. The slaves cowered as she stepped into the pen until she smiled warmly.
"You're free. Gives us your clothes, take the armor off those maggots and take their guns too," said Ava.
"But…we'll die out there!" cried one of the slaves. "We're sick!"
Ava stared at their festering wounds and sores with a grim face. It looked similar to ghoulification, but it was certainly some sort of illness she had never seen before. There was only one man who could help them.
"I'll tell you what. If you can make it to the Mall, go to the Museum of Natural History. It's the ghoul city, Underworld. There's a doctor there, Barrows, who might be able to help you. Go to him, and tell him Ava sent you. He'll know who I am and fix you guys up, but that's all I can do," she said.
The now free slaves gave her and McGraw their thanks as they took everything off the slavers and began their trek. McGraw pulled off his armor and began to dress in the slave's tattered clothes. Ava could not help but stare at McGraw and his ridiculous body. Only one man had a better body than he.
Fuck man, I REALLY need to stop comparing them, she thought.
"Nice pecs boss. Didn't think you looked like that underneath all that armor," said Ava with a smirk.
McGraw laughed and raised an eyebrow when Ava undressed. She laughed at his flushed face. She knew she looked good, and didn't give a damn who saw her in various states of undress. She never let anyone else besides Charon or Nova come near her anyway.
"You don't look so bad yourself, Flint." McGraw flexed his pectoral muscles and she laughed so hard tears threatened to spill.
"That's kinda gross, McGraw. Don't ever do it again," said Ava.
"Ready to head out?" Wernher asked as he walked down the rocky slope.
Ava and McGraw nodded in unison and followed Wernher to the train tunnel. A hand cart sat on the tracks and Ava made a face. McGraw hopped up and tried to help Ava, but she swatted his hand away.
"Do I look like a fucking invalid?" she asked.
"No, just trying to be a gentleman," said McGraw earnestly.
"I hate that shit," she replied.
Wernher jumped onto the cart as well and the three of them began to pump the mechanism that moved the cart along the tracks. The trip took almost an entire night, and Ava swore up and down that her arms were going to fall off from all the strain. It was several more hours until they reached the end of the line and Ava could smell the stench of burning coals and smog.
"Great place to vacation, eh McGraw?" Ava joked.
"Keep it down! I hear raiders," said Wernher harshly. Ava and McGraw followed him down the tracks out into the open. The raiders did not shoot on sight, causing Ava to question what they were getting themselves into.
"You got a lot of guts coming back, Wernher…" said a raider.
"Yeah? Well, I guess that's the difference between us. I have a lot of guts. You don't," said Wernher. He pulled out a gun he had picked off one of the raiders and shot the man who stood before him. All hell broke lose.
"Jesus, what the fuck?" Ava shouted. She and McGraw mowed down the Pitt raiders with ease and once they were all dead or dying, they followed Wernher to a gate.
"This is as far as I can go. It's up to you two now. Once you're inside, find a slave named Midea. She'll be able to help you. Remember, your goal is to get access to Ashur and find the cure. After you have it, I'll contact you. You should get rid of the guns though…" said Wernher.
"Over my dead body. Do you know what I went through to get these guns? Are you fucking high?" Ava asked.
"Do whatever you want. Just stick to the plan. Good luck," said Wernher.
Ava and McGraw walked through the gates and stared at the ruined city around them. They crossed an old, decrepit bridge riddled with old cars and trucks that would never work again.
"Who the hell does he think he is, telling us what to do like we're some fucking amateurs here?" Ava asked irritably. She kicked a rusted can aside and climbed over the guard rail to walk on the ruined sidewalk.
"I don't like him. Not one bit," said McGraw. "I feel like I just walked into Hell, and that river is the River Styx."
They peered over the railing and river rushed underneath, churning with a sickening green foam. If there was a hell on Earth, it had to be this. It must be the Pitt.