Alright, it's chapter eleven and this is where Lowell and Mina part company with Augustine's Liberators. If readers are enjoying the pairing, don't worry. They'll meet up again. Now it's strictly back to Fallen Angels.

Chapter Eleven

It didn't seem like a long sleep. It was in fact, several hours since the nighttime disruption caused by Mina Jordan.

Everyone was tired, even Lowell, though he didn't show it. As he stepped into the galley, everyone, including Isaac and Francis were there. Only Mina was not present as she had remained in her room.

When he stepped into the kitchen everyone starred at him. "Morning all." He said as he rubbed the circles under his eyes. "Care to explain what that was all about, last night?" Adam asked as he fought back yawning.

Lowell sighed and sat down. "When I was in the Capital Wasteland, there was a ridiculous amount of cannibals there. Many of them disguised themselves a hunters." Lowell said. "Mina was one of those victims. "They killed her mother when she was only six, and they would've killed her too," Lowell then sighed deeply before he finished, "If she hadn't been rescued." "By you?" Julia asked as they all stared at him. Lowell shook his head though, "No, not by me. By another guy. I can't remember what his name was. But he rescued her, took her in and raised her. I found her and took her off his hands nine years later."

"So nightmares--?" James asked. "She's still scared of what would've happened if he hadn't shown up. Those sick bastards tend to skin and eat their victims, while they're still alive." Lowell said. While the others either grimaced or scowled at what was explained he coughed and slipped another cigarette in his mouth.

"You ever think about quitting that?" Julia asked. Lowell, slightly confused, stared at his pack of cigarettes, then back at her. "Why? And be boring?" Adam seemed to find this amusing. "Hah! And what about your lifestyle do you find boring, Lowell?" He sat there for a moment before Lowell shrugged, then lit the coffin nail.

It was then Julia asked an important question. At least to her. "What happened to the father?" Lowell flicked his lighter shut and stared. "Hopefully lying in a ditch."


The door to a room remained partially open, but the room was still dark. An adolescent girl was sitting crouched in a corner, her head on her knees.

These nightmares had plagued her entire life. Though they only occurred once every month or two, it was still embarrassing. Even more when it happened in front of Lowell's friends.

Though it wasn't so, when ever these dreams started however, she always felt alone.

Feeling childlike and un-proper, she began to quietly cry. This seemed to go on for what seemed like an eternity.

Something then gently brushed against the bottom of her thigh. It actually felt comforting as well as being pleasant. Mina lift her head slightly and saw it was the Rat. Aside from Lowell, the only one who seemed to really understand her.

She whipped her eyes, and sniffled as she grinned ruefully. "Thank you." Mina said as she stroked the rodent.

Mina then took a glance towards the door to make sure there was no one passing by. When she was certain they were alone, she turned back to the large rat.

"Can you keep a secret?" She asked as the Rat cocked it's head slightly, but nevertheless listened tentatively.


Lowell was making sure his weapons were oiled and loaded for his journey back into the wastes. He slipped the ten 10mm bullets down the tube of his lever action rifle, shoved two shells into both barrels of the scatter gun, and spun the wheel of his revolver. Everything was in pristine readiness.

"You gonna stand there all day?" He asked suddenly. Behind him he heard a dry chuckle. "Nothing ever gets by you, does it?" The owner of the chuckled said and Adam leaned himself against the wall beside his childhood friend.

The two remained quiet for a few moments while Lowell sharpened his E-tool with a small stone.

It was Adam who broke the silence. "Are you sure I can't convince you two to stay? I'm sure the guys wouldn't mind having you here." He asked in a last ditch effort to keep Morgan there, though something told him it was futile.

Lowell set everything down and dropped his head, he looked much older than he gave credit. "Adam…" He began slowly, sighing deeply and heavily. "People--people tend to die around me." Lowell said as his tired looking eyes shifted to his friend. "That's feel better alone. Less responsibility to carry."

Adam stared at him, trying to believe what he said. "Is that what you think being part of a team strictly is; an unwanted responsibility?" Adam asked as Lowell folded the spade's head and slipped it into it's holster on his belt. He sighed and said, "Adam, I have lead men before, most of them were younger than Mina. All those times I did, not one of them lived." He said then looked back to his friend. "I've seen leaders like you before Adam, they're so determined to keep their men alive when in fact they'll out live them. Know why?" Adam only shook his head.

"Because they didn't make the right choice." Lowell said, as he holstered his revolver. "Choice?" Adam asked, confused at what he meant. "Kid, there'll come a time, when you'll be faced with a decision; do you hold them back?; or do you accomplish the objective, and be willing to sacrifice one if not all of your men?" What Lowell said, horrified Adam a little. "What?" He asked breathlessly.

"Adam, if one fights for the greater good, then he must be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, either for himself or the men that follow him, in a moments notice. Your not capable of either." Adam hearing this was both hurt and angered. And for good reason. Lowell was questioning his leadership.

"And you think you are?" He asked with a heated tone. Lowell glared at him and said, "Yes."

Lowell then slung both long guns on to his shoulders and started walking out of the room. He then stopped and turned around and pointed at him. "You know why I'm done fighting for the good of the wastes, and only for my own survival?" Lowell asked, but Adam stayed silent, still angry. "Because I woke up. There is nothing left fighting for, except your own life. I had to learn that the hard way."

It was then Lowell turned around and walked out. Leaving his childhood friend in both disbelief and rage.

Down the hall, Lowell was pretty sure he heard a metal thud, someone ramming their fist into one of the Vault's walls.


Mina stepped out of her room and then leaned against Lowell's door. She sighed gently and scratched an itch on the back of her head.

It was here she noticed Lowell's backpack. The flip up top had been left open, which was not like Lowell. Someone was in this pack recently. Curious, she knelt down and lifted the top.

There was a small burlap back on top of the contents, a note on top of that. She scoffed at what it said, "Laughter in shrapnel form. And helpful!" Mina then looked inside the pouch and saw a handful of grenades. She shook her head as she then remembered finding a lighter in her pack, with a note that said, "It's shiny! And it makes fire!" Sven had left them a going away present. Though his reasons were questionable.

Mina then stood up when she heard footsteps coming while quickly closing and locking the top of the backpack.

Lowell swung around the corner, his fist clenched. He failed to notice that he had actually knocked James over when he passed by him and Julia.

"Get your things. We're leaving." He said to Mina as he quickly grabbed his backpack and kept walking for the exit. Not wishing to anger her elder any more, Mina ran into her room, snatched up her bag and jogged after Lowell.

All the while the Liberators stared at the pair.


It was only after they had made their way to the river, did Lowell feel lousy at what had just happened. Adam was his friend, and he had just berated him, when in fact he wanted to was not to see Adam end up like himself.

Broken.

Too late to correct that mistake now.

Mina seeing this frustration, said, "Would you care to talk about it?" Lowell sighed as he kept walking. "Mina, I'm not trying to be callous, but you've never had any friends. You won't understand." Mina trotted forward and stopped him. "That doesn't mean I can't listen."

Lowell smiled gently and ruffled up her hair. "Alright kiddo. Let's walk." He said motioning forward.

True to her word, Mina listened silently as Lowell told her what had just happened. When he finished she said, "Sounded like you were most hard on him." Lowell chuckled, "I've never been known as a very social person. More so since the war."

"And I can see how you would upset him by questioning his leadership abilities. And insulting him about his friends."

Lowell shook his head. "It's not like I meant any of that. Well maybe some of it, but I just don't want to see him lose those that he cares about the most anymore." He was of course referring to Leslie.

Adam, from himself and his teammates, had told him how depressed Adam had become after her death, this went on even half a year past that.

Lowell sighed and rubbed his scared face.

"Nothin' a stiff drink can't fix." He muttered and the two continued along the bank of the river.


After reaching the harbor, even as he passed people in full stride, he began hearing gossip.

Apparently something was going on up north. At least three townships had gone silent from radio chatter. Adding to this situation there were refugees coming in more than usual, all saying stories about a Feral Ghoul army running rampant, killing everything in their path.

Lowell didn't know if this was true or not, he had seen worse and stranger things. He slipped some brand new caps into Mina's hands, and told her to find a spare bed in one of the common houses.

The caps came from the bar of gold, which Lowell bartered the best deal from the shopkeeper, and scored a whopping 6,000 caps. That would be enough ammunition, food, clean water, medicine, and a place to stay, for two weeks. Blood for two more weeks. Maybe.

While the adolescent tiredly headed off, Lowell moved towards Amelia's Tavern.

He had come to like both the whisky, and the hostess. Not to mention it was much cheaper than any other place, and still had quality booze.

It seemed like Amelia was one of the few who could understand the former ranger better than anyone as well. Something few outside the 10th could really see.

"Hey Cowboy." She said smiling as Lowell walked in. "Amelia." Lowell said as he dropped his bag against the counter and leaned against it. "Usual?" Amelia asked as she grabbed a bottle of whisky.

"So what's all the rumors about?" Lowell asked cocking his thumb out behind him. "Oh, that. Well, apparently a Ghoul named Seldon, is pissed off by humanity and is now on a killing spree, and anything from 500 to 1000 Feral Ghouls are following him." Amelia said as she sighed. She then held up her hand. "That's just what I heard. Take it for what it is."

Lowell then took his hat off and scratched the top of his head. He didn't show it, but he was tired.

"You know, all the times, I've been coming in here," Lowell said as he then gazed at his hostess. "You've never told me about yourself." Amelia looked taken aback by this. "What brought this on?" She asked laughing. Lowell just shrugged. "I'm curious. You don't know anything about me, and I don't know anything about you."

Amelia sighed and put the towel in her hand down. She then placed and leaned on her hands, facing the Regulator. "What do you wanna know?"

Lowell shrugged and said, "Well, what's your full name?"

"Tell you what," Amelia said. "You ask a question, then I ask. Sound fair?" Lowell thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Fair."

"Okay, well, my name is Sawyer. Amelia Sawyer." Lowell shook his head. "Doesn't have any ring to it." He muttered. Then decided to change the subject when she glared at him. "Okay, ask away Miss. Sawyer." She thought about it for a moment then asked, "Where were you born?"

Lowell scoffed. "You had to ask the one I don't know." Amelia shrugged then asked a different question. "Is that girl with you your daughter?" Lowell shook his head gently. "No, she's not. Not by blood anyway." He then took a swig of whisky.

"My turn. Now, how long have you run this place?" Lowell said after gulping the booze. "About eight years."

"The most important and one I'm really anxious to ask is," Amelia began. "What?" Lowell grinned as he brought another glass to his lips.

"Are you married?"

Lowell froze when he heard this question. The glass only an inch from his face.

He gently set the glass down and then surprisingly grabbed his bag and walked out of the bar. Much to the confusion, of Amelia.

Okay, that's chapter eleven. You all know the drill, read and review.