AN: I would like to thank all of my supporters for encouraging me to continue on. Now without further delay chapter 12 of Fallout: a path best not taken.

Amata found herself walking down a dark corridor which looked like her home in Vault 101, yet it was in ruins. Rust and grime had taken over most surfaces and dust hung heavily in the air, the emergency lighting was on but there was no alarm. The cascading lights casted an eerie red glow over everything. She soon realized that she was not alone as she felt a presence behind her, she quickly turned to face the individual only to come face to face with the white lenses of the Lone Wanderer's wastehound hood. The Lone Wanderer in turn simply held up his finger and pointed behind her. When she turned to see what he was pointing at she came face to face with yet another being. The only difference was that this being was Grimm with blackened skinned that covered like a shroud over it and the skin around it's face was completely gone. Before Amata could even scream the creature took a mighty swing with it's claw slashing her abdomen…

…

Amata's eyes shot wide open as she quickly sat up in the bed she was in. Her eyes darted around to take in all of her surroundings looking for a way out. Amata instinctively moved her hand as numbed pained called for her attention to her lower stomach and she suddenly remembered what happened to her. Recalling the fear, pain, and desperation, her final memory of seeing a deathclaw die by her hands before her. She was quickly snapped out of her memory recall by the sound of a door closing and footsteps approaching. Deciding the best course of action was to 'play dead' she laid back down and closed her eyes.

"So, this is the girl?" one voice said, it was rough and manly with a touch of authority to it.

"Yeah, she has been like that ever since he brought her in." Another voice also a male, the smell of cigarette smoke started to fill the air, Amata managed to hold in a cough as they continued.

"Speaking of 'him' how is he?" the voice Amata named Mr. Authority asked.

"Him? He's fine, he injected himself with a couple of med-X and stimpaks and he looked like he was ready to take Grimm on all over again. That kid ain't normal I tell you." The other voice Amata named Sir Smokes a lot answered.

"Well obviously this one isn't so different if she put that monstrosity down, Keep me updated on her progress doc. If and when she wakes up let me know. I want to be the first person to shake her hand." Mr. Authority said. There was sound of one pair of footsteps leaving and a door closing behind it.

"You can stop pretending now." Sir Smokes a lot grunted. Realizing Amata wasn't budging he took a long draw from his cigarette and blew the smoke in her faces. Amata's lungs quickly reacted to the sudden irritant making her cough involuntarily. She sat up and waved her hand trying to dispel the smoky haze that had settled around her.

"H-How did you know?" Amata asked between coughs.

"I wouldn't be much of a doctor if I couldn't tell the difference between an unconscious person and someone playing dead." Sir Smokes a lot retorted.

"W-Where am I?" Amata asked taking in her surroundings in greater detail.

"You're in Megaton, one of the wandering traders found you two not that far off from the town and brought you here." The man answered all the while smoking his cigarette.

"Well, thanks for patching me up doctor-"

"Church, Dr. Church." Dr. Church answered before taking another pull of his cigarette. He blew out the smoke under his breath before continuing. "You've been out for 3 days now, So take it easy and rest up."

"3 days?!" Amata repeated in alarm. "I got to find him!" she tried standing up but her face quickly met the floor as her legs gave out from underneath her. Dr. Church pinched the bridge of his nose as he exhaled more smoke from his lungs.

"I 'Just' told her to take it easy." He said with annoyance before helping her back onto the bed."

"W-What's wrong with my legs!" Amata asked alarmed, the thought of never being able to walk again crossed her mind but Dr. Church was quick to dispel such fears.

"Relax, you haven't been on your feet in days, your body simply wasn't ready for you to perform that type of action. Now get some rest before you reopen your wounds." Dr. Church ordered.

"Well what am I supposed to do?" Amata asked, she was not one to simply lay around and do nothing, even in the vault she always found something that needed to be done.

"I don't know, listen to your radio like your friend does." Church suggested pointing at the Pip-boy on Amata's arm.

"Wait there's a radio station out here?" Amata asked, a radio station would've been the last thing she guess that exist in the world.

"Galaxy News Radio, the 'ONLY' station there is, there was that other station but it's signal seemed to have vanished." The Doctor said as he turned to leave. Leaving Amata alone with her thoughts and her Pip-Boy.

Amata looked at her Pip-boy, she was still not completely familiar with it, but she managed to located the radio wave receiver and turned it on. Immediately her ears where assaulted by a howling man on the radio.

"Its Threeeeeeeeeee Dog! Bow-wow-wow! How's it going in Post Apocalyptia? It could be better? Well I got some news for you! Now everyone's heard of the terrifying stories of Grimm, A deathclaw that makes other deathclaws look like cuddly kitties. Well ding-dong that bastard is dead! So we all can sleep a little easier at night. Now I know what you all are thinking, our very own Urban Legend decided to finally take out that terror of the Capital Wasteland, and that's where you would be wrong! In fact it was that companion of his! Who just so happens to be from (drum roll please) Vault 1-0-1! I'm telling you they must be raising superheroes in that vault! Well that all for today kids, oh and before I forget, 101 if you're listening come on down to GNR ol' Three Dog got a message for you from the B.O.S. and don't forget your plus one! Now for some music." The man's voice was replaced with a snappy jazz tune that Amata had never heard before.

'Was he just talking about me? And who are the B.o.S? what would they want with him?' Amata thought as more questions that simply demanded answers started coming into exsistance. She stifled a yawn, as much as she wanted answers her body demanded sleep. She turned off her radio and laid her head down as sleep came to her.

As the sun began its climb up from the horizon Amata kept getting the feeling that she was being poked. She waved her hand over her head trying to bat whatever it was away, when she opened her eyes to see the culprit and spotted a deathclaw hand hanging over her. She immediately screamed and scrambled off the bed to get away from it. She heard laughter and noticed the individual holding the claw. It was none other than the Lone Wanderer.

"You are an asshole!" she yelled trying to get her heart back under control.

"I-It hurts to laugh but it's totally worth it. Ouch!" The Lone Wanderer laughed. This was the first time Amata had seen him smile or laugh. She could see the purple bruises and small cuts on his face and noticed he had a bandaged wrapped around his head.

She was about to reprimand him when she noticed a tall individual walking into the room, he was tall, dark, and sported sheriffs hat. "Now calm down, he's just having a bit of fun." He spoke, Amata immediately recognized that this was Mr. Authority.

"The names Simms, Lucas Simms, I'm the town sheriff and I would like to have the honors of shaking your hand Ma'am." He said as he held out his hand. Amata cautiously extended hers and it was immediately grasped in a strong grip, Simms nearly shook her arm off as he welcomed her to Megaton.

"Alright now, down to business." Simms said finally giving Amata back her hand.

"Business? W-what business?" Amata asked a bit worried.

"Well the reward money of course!" Simms answered, he noted the confusion on Amata's face and figured he should clear some things up with her. "The bounty for Grimm. 2,500 caps!"

The Lone Wanderer let out a low whistle.

Simms held out the small sack of caps for her to take. Amata looked in the bag and saw a bunch of bottle caps. "What am I going to do with this?" She asked. Simms looked at her funny then turned to face the Lone Wanderer.

"Kid, did you explain the local currency to her?" he asked in a hushed tone although Amata could still hear him.

The Lone Wanderer crossed his arms "Well, I didn't think she would need explanation, seeing how the plan was to get her back to the vault."

Simms let out a sigh and turned to face Amata again. "Lady, those bottle caps are the only acceptable form of currency here in the Capital Wasteland, you'd do well to keep that in mind." He informed her.

"I will." She answered taking another look at the numerous bottle caps in the bag.

"So what do you plan on doing now?" Simms asked.

"I don't really know now. I heard this guy on the radio an-"

"No, no way, not happening!" the Lone Wanderer interrupted.

"Wait you don't even know what I was about to say!?" Amata said defensively.

"I heard the message on the radio, he's smack in the middle of the D.C. ruins!" He retorted.

"What do you suggest? Going back to the vault? Stay cramped inside that metal container?" Amata questioned.

"It's a lot safer in there than up here!" he argued but his own words gave him pause. He noticed he sounded just like his dad and came to the harsh realization that Amata was much like him when he left the vault and resigned to the fact that there was no way to talk her out of going. "Fine, go if you want." He stated as he walked out. Amata was about to chase after him when the sheriff stopped her.

"Before you go, you might want to change out of that gown you're wearing." Simms pointed out.

Amata hadn't even noticed that her regular clothing were gone, replaced by a flimsy patient's gown. She felt a small draft between her legs before grabbing and holding the gown tight to her sides.

"Here, put this on." Simms tossed her a blue jumpsuit. Amata quickly took it and unfolded it, she felt a small hint of nostalgia as she saw the numbers 101 on it, Simms went outside as she put the jumpsuit on. She quickly joined him outside, the sun beamed down on her and nearly blinded her, as her eyes adjusted to the sudden change in environments.

"Where did he go?" she asked Simms referring to the Lone Wanderer.

"I don't really know, if he hasn't left town he could be at his house, Craterside supply, or Moriarty's saloon." Simms answerd.

"Wait, he has a house here?" Amata asked a bit confused and impressed.

"Yeah you can see it from here." Simms pointed to the scruffy building overlooking them. "Was his reward for disarming that bomb." He added nodding toward the atomic bomb in the center of the town.

"A WHAT!" Amata yelled surprised she took a couple steps back.

"Don't worry it's harmless just a bunch of metal and wires now and a bit of low level radiation." Simms assured her.

'Why the hell would he want to live here?' Amata thought.

"Now if you excuse me I have to patrol the town. Make sure to pay Moira Brown a visit, she donated the jumpsuit you're wearing." Simms said with a tip of his hat as he left.

Amata decided to take a look around, noticing other people going about their day, some even stood near the Atomic bomb as a man preached something about atoms. Others coming in and out of buildings, pipes crisscrossing around the town, even a Brahmin grazing nearby. The tall scrap metal walls actually made her feel safe. A feeling she had missed while traveling with the Lone Wanderer. After satisfying her curiosity she decided on locating her stubborn friend.

AN: Again thanks for all the support, I'll have next chapter up soon!