Greetings! This is the LAST chapter of anything quest related. HEAVY artistic liberties were taken to be able to do what I am intending with this fic. Hope you all enjoy it! For all of you that have been praying for a McGraw/Charon stand off, it's coming! Also, I'm totally digging the whole "Ava is such a cocky bitch/she needs to get punched!" thing some of you have mentioned. It means I'm doing something right, considering I've always wanted to make a character some people love to hate.
Enjoy this super long chapter! Also, if you're a fan of ghoul sexy time, check out FancyLadySnackCakes' fic, "A Night in Gob's Saloon," because GOOD GOD IT WAS SO INCREDIBLY HOT FUUUUUU-
"Shit, this is bad. It's bad isn't it?" Ava asked McGraw as she followed him through the door that led to Haven, the home of Lord Ashur and the rest of the Pitt Raiders. McGraw shushed her as they made their way up a makeshift catwalk, the thin metal shaking beneath their feet. The Pitt Raiders largely ignored them, although some of them gave Ava a second glance.
"Need a tour guide gorgeous? I don't mind fucking around with a former slave," said a rather skinny Pitt Raider. He openly leered at Ava and reached out to touch her when McGraw grabbed his wrist and twisted it until the Pitt Raider was on his knees.
"Touch her and that hand will never touch anything again," McGraw snarled. He threw the Pitt Raider to the ground and pointed his laser rifle at the man's head. "Am I clear, you fucking degenerate?"
"Didn't know she was your girl, take it easy!" snapped the Pitt Raider. McGraw gave Ava a gentle push forward and they continued through the maze of ruined buildings. Ava could not hold back her grin when she glanced at McGraw's face. He had never looked more livid.
"Damn Boss," she muttered. "You're usually the calm one."
"Those fights got me all riled up, Flint. These people are fucking animals," he said quietly. "I don't look forward to coming back whenever we need the ammo press…if there even is one. That Wernher guy seems full of shit."
"If he lied, I'll kill him," she said with confidence.
McGraw sighed loudly and said, "That isn't always the answer…no matter how much I may agree with you."
"You're right…Charon can't raise the kids on his own. I'll admit he's become less awkward with them, but still. I…I really have to stop doing this to him. He worries all the time. About me. The kids. But I'm in too deep. Once this is all over with, I plan on cutting back on the crazy shit," Ava said.
"For the kids?" McGraw asked.
"Charon too," she admitted.
"I'll be damned if that ghoul doesn't have a hold on your heart," said McGraw with a painful smirk.
"Pray that you never meet him," said Ava.
"I'm not afraid of him or anyone else. Maybe you. You'll cut my throat in my sleep if I ever pissed you off enough," he said.
"Charon would do much worse. That I can promise. Even I wouldn't fuck with him," she said.
McGraw looked like he was about to say something but his mouth hung open in surprise. Ava gulped when she noticed the massive wooden statue of a man, surrounded by fire licking at its limbs. McGraw had to usher her forward and they walked by a female Pitt Raider who locked eyes with McGraw. Ava tried her best not to laugh at McGraw's discomfort at being blatantly eye-fucked by a woman and continued forward. They passed a heavily guarded fence and were closer to the looming statue. Ava could not for the life of her figure out why it was there. Perhaps it was supposed to represent Ashur.
"That was cute. I thought you were going to blush," Ava said, her mind coming back to the woman who smiled at McGraw.
"I'm not used to that sort of attention. Excuse me," McGraw said, sulking.
"You're good looking, I don't see why you wouldn't be."
"Now I'm getting somewhere. Two compliments from you? Never thought it would happen," McGraw said.
Ava rolled her eyes and said, "Don't push it, McGraw. Charon has a better body."
McGraw laughed heartily at her remark. "A ghoul has a better body than a human?"
Ava stopped and glared at him. "Charon is human. Do you know how many women AND men I've seen drool over him? Too many. Shit still pisses me off when I think about it. What the fuck are you trying to say?"
"I apologize…I haven't dealt with too many ghouls in my life. Now I feel like an asshole," McGraw said sheepishly.
"Because you are one!" Ava snapped.
McGraw decided not to say anything. Ava was right. Ghouls were still human and he had to remember that she was unusually friendly with most of them. They walked underneath the statue, both of them still in awe at the sheer size of it. Ava pulled open the doors to the large building and walked inside, enjoying the coolness that enveloped her thin body. She heard McGraw exhale loudly behind her and a lone Pitt Raider guarded the lobby, holding a mini-gun.
"Here to see Lord Ashur?" he asked in a rough voice. Ava and McGraw both nodded. "Up the stairs. Take the elevator. It only goes to Lord Ashur's floor, so don't worry about pressing any buttons. You might fuck it up."
Ava and McGraw walked up the steps and into the elevator. The door closed and slowly, the lift began to move up the shaft.
"What are we going to do when we meet him?" Ava asked quietly.
"I think we should talk to him before we try to kill him. There has to be a reason behind this madness. When he was speaking to the slaves, he didn't sound like a cruel man," said McGraw.
"I was thinking that too. Having slaves is still wrong," Ava said, thinking about Charon and what he went through. His mistreatment, pain, and rage all still made her shake with anger. She was glad to kill that fucking brain and end a chapter of torment in his life.
"I agree. If we can't convince him to change his ways, we kill him. Sounds fair to you?" McGraw asked.
Ava nodded and said, "I have a confession, Phillip."
"Go ahead with it then."
"I have this plan cooking up inside of my fucked up head. I'm going to destroy the Brotherhood of Steel," she said. "They came after my family and myself, after all I fucking did for them. They will die…and I need this…army that Ashur is creating to do it."
McGraw's mouth was agape with shock. "Are you high or something? That's fucking impossible!"
"Yeah, everyone said that when I went after the Enclave but I did it. I have to convince Ashur to join me, or I'll have nothing," Ava explained as the doors opened.
"Well…god damn it, I can't believe I'm saying this…but you'll have the Outcasts to back you up. It's no secret that we despise the Brotherhood as well," McGraw grunted as the doors opened.
"Lord Ashur will be right with you. Be patient, Champion," murmured a Pitt Raider. Ava was confused. Most of the Pitt Raiders close to Ashur were not cruel and vicious like the others. Most had an air of sadness about them that Ava could not place. They were also the sicklier of the bunch, aside from the slaves.
Ava and McGraw waited quietly and overhead Ashur talking with his Second-In-Command, Krenshaw.
"And I'm TELLING YOU, I've got it covered!" Ashur said heatedly. He glanced at Ava and smiled warmly. "I'll be right with you after I maintain some order and dispense a little justice, my dear."
"And I suppose you'll follow that up with raising the dead?" Krenshaw shouted.
"No, but I will heal the infirmed later in the week. I promise. Your wife will be the first, Krenshaw. I swear it," said Ashur.
Krenshaw sighed heavily and ran his hand through his thinning hair. "Thank you, Sir…there have been sightings of Wernher back in the city-" Ava winced hearing Wernher's name being said aloud and McGraw nudged her foot and gave her a stern look. "- And an increase of chatter among the slaves."
"Workers…" Ashur growled. Ava and McGraw could not help but look at each other with surprise. Ashur did not see the people of the Pitt as slaves…
"What?" Krenshaw asked, puzzled.
"They are workers. They might earn their freedom one day. Remember that," Ashur said fiercely.
"Whatever the hell you want to call them Ashur! They've been gathering makeshift weapons!" Krenshaw shouted.
"Put your guards on alert, then. Tell them to be on the lookout for anyone loitering too long Downtown. Keep a watch on Midea at all times. If anything big happens, it's bound to go through her. Now, I've got a very important meeting with our new friends, so if anything comes up, use the intercom. I had it installed for a reason," said Ashur.
Krenshaw saluted Lord Ashur and left the room, taking the elevator down. Lord Ashur turned to Ava and McGraw and smiled again. Ava found him to be quite welcoming for someone who ruled the Pitt with an iron fist.
"Nice work in the Hole, new blood. I am Ishmael Ashur. The workers and my raiders all call you the Butcher…using just a cleaver to overthrow our finest fighters. Knew you couldn't possibly be one of our normal workers. Your friend here also stood out. Too much pride when he carried himself. This of course begs the question: Who are you and what are you doing in my city?" Ashur asked. He did not sound angry or threatened at all, and Ava released some of the tension in her shoulders.
Ava frowned and said, "We're part of the Brotherhood Outcasts. This is my superior, Phillip McGraw, and I'm Ava Flint. It looks like the Pitt is building an army…and I have a plan that may interest you. And it's big. Fucking big. Maybe a little insane too."
"I understand. We've all got a past, Butcher. Few of us have reason to be proud of it. In the Pitt, we do have a growing army, a thriving industry, and even a cure for radiation. We aren't perfect. I am too aware of that, and sometimes that past comes back to haunt us. Tell me, Butcher, do you know a man named Wernher?" Ashur asked.
"I do, Sir," Ava admitted. McGraw balked at her honesty and reached for his laser rifle when Ashur's guards closed in on them. He pointed his rifle to the closest Pitt Raider and gritted his teeth as he moved in front of Ava. The Pitt Raiders would have to kill him first, he didn't care. Ava grimaced when she heard multiple rifles being cocked and she didn't have to look back to know they were being aimed at her and McGraw.
"That scum is not to be trusted. He escaped after a failed coup and I believe he's working with the other workers to plan a revolt. You know the workers, and you have met Wernher. You are in a prime position to put an end to him. Do it, and I'll make you a Lieutenant in my army. Both of you, without question," Lord Ashur explained.
"You're keeping slaves…and that's never right. I might have other plans, Ashur," Ava said firmly.
"Would these plans happen to involve stealing a precious little something from me?" Ashur asked. Ava felt her face drain of color and she heard McGraw step away from her. He held his rifle steady and began walking towards the guards.
"Don't look so surprised, Butcher! Your arrival was too convenient. It's okay, I get a lot of people trying to betray me. Part of the position really. You can be honest with me," said Ashur.
"He made me an offer. You aren't as terrible as he made you out to be, and he sounds like a fucking liar. I hate liars, Ashur. I kill liars," Ava snarled.
"I understand completely," he said.
Ava's hand shot out and she held the rusted cleaver against Lord Ashur's throat. His adams apple bobbed beneath his deeply tanned skin and Ava grinned menacingly. Ashur's guards shouted orders until McGraw reached for a grenade and pushed down on the lever. They stopped immediately and some took a few steps back.
"Let's not get too fucking pushy here guys…let them talk! You heard me Ava? Talk first! My orders! Understood?" McGraw shouted.
"Yes Sir. Heard," Ava replied. She focused her eyes on Ashur's and grinned. "Now, your offer is very generous but I have a better one. First things first. Are you still a part of the Brotherhood of Steel? Your armor is unmistakable, Ashur."
Ashur frowned and said, "I used to be. I was in the Scourge twenty years ago when the Brotherhood plowed through here. I was caught in an explosion and they left me for dead. I woke up to scavengers trying to take my armor. Eventually, I recruited those around the area, killed off the leaders of the local raider clan and made this, what you see around you. I hate having the workers, but the city must grow. When a cure is found, I swore I would help them all and I hope they follow me. Until then, this is the only way."
"The Brotherhood tried to kill my family. They must die. I need your army, Ashur, and I want you to be my Second-In-Command. When the Brotherhood hears of you, they will come. You need me just as much as I need you," she said quietly.
Ashur pondered for a few minutes before saying, "And why should I agree to this?"
"Because I was the one who destroyed the Enclave, and I can destroy you too. I don't want to do that Ashur. I want you to be on my side when I kill them. The only thing I will ask is that you cure the workers of their illness. Everything else you want to do, I don't give a shit. I don't want anything to do with the Pitt. This is your city Ashur, not mine. But D.C., that's my home. Help me, and I kill the Brotherhood. They will never bother you, I swear it. Do we have a deal?" Ava asked.
"That is a bold thing to ask, Butcher," said Ashur. "But I accept. When you call, I will answer with my army and we will destroy them together. Guards! Lower your weapons!"
Ava waited for the guards to follow their command before she removed the cleaver from Ashur's throat. She tossed it on the table and bowed before Ashur. He returned the bow and McGraw lowered his rifle and placed the grenade back on his belt.
"You'll be a great man to have by my side, Ashur. Thank you. Sorry about the cleaver," she said with a smirk.
"I like how you work, Miss Flint. Would you like to see the cure for yourself so you know I am telling the truth? She's in the room around the corner," Ashur said with another smile.
"She?" Ava asked. McGraw looked just as puzzled as she was. It was true. Wernher had not told them everything about this mission.
The intercom crackled to life and they heard Krenshaw shout, "Fuck! Ashur, the workers are rioting! We need you down here!"
Ashur glanced at Ava and patted her shoulder before sprinting for the elevator. She and McGraw walked towards the room Ashur had pointed at and peeked inside. It was a small lab, with a rather thin woman wearing a long white coat. She glanced up from her clipboard and jumped.
"Oh! I wasn't expecting Ashur to let you in the lab. I'm Sandra, and if I know my husband, he's already made an offer to join us, right?" said the young woman.
"In a way, ma'am. I made a deal with him, but it was one he could never refuse," said Ava politely.
"Ah, I see. So you two are here to see our little miracle, are you? Our little Marie is a handful, but my angel is going to save the city," said Sandra, pointing to a small cot by the wall. Ava's eyes became wide and she smacked McGraw on the arm with fury.
"That fucker wanted us to steal a baby?" Ava shouted.
"Wh-what?" said Sandra as she moved towards the cot protectively.
"No, no ma'am. It's all right, we're on your side here. Ava has children…we would never dream of taking someone else's," said McGraw quickly.
"So Marie has some sort of natural and transferable immunity to the disease here?" Ava asked, peering into the cot. Marie had a lick of light brown hair on her head and was tightly wrapped in a bundle of blankets. The baby smiled up at Ava and her heart swelled.
"That's a nice surprise," began Sandra. "Apparently you and Ashur are the only other people that know anything about science in this place. But, yes, it seems our daughter was born with a naturally acquired form of immunity to any mutation. It's nothing short of a miracle, honestly. She holds the key to stopping the Pitt's Trog problem. Hell, maybe other mutations as well.
"And you're completely sure you aren't harming her?" asked McGraw.
"Oh no, these tests are perfectly safe. In fact, between her crib and her uncanny health, I'd say she's the safest baby in the Wasteland!" Sandra explained. "Ashur and I would never risk her health and if that means it takes longer to find the cure, then…well, everyone else can wait."
"Do you need anything for her? I can help," said Ava.
"You're a dear, but we have everything we need," said Sandra warmly. "If you really want to help, you'll go down and help Ashur with whatever had him run off. Now, if you'll both excuse me, I've got one last test to run before Marie's naptime."
Sandra walked over to a set of vials and began to work. Ava and McGraw took one last look at the baby and they both smiled.
"No turning back now, Boss," said Ava. "How pissed is Casdin going to be?"
McGraw sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "He…doesn't have to know what you're planning with Ashur. I can keep your secret."
"Thank you…let's go help Ashur. And when we find Wernher, I'm going to rip him apart for trying to trick us into kidnapping an innocent baby," said Ava. McGraw bent at the waist and waved Ava forward. She curtsied and they laughed at her moment of silliness before the fight.
They marched with new purpose to the elevator and McGraw pulled out his laser rifle and grinned. "I have your back…Butcher. Anyone who comes near us dies. Painfully."
"And I have your back, McGraw," said Ava.
"Never doubted that since you saved me from the mutiny."
Lord Ashur's guards joined them inside the elevator and Ava slammed her fist on the button, sending the elevator down to ground level. The doors rolled open and Ava marched forward, with McGraw and Ashur's guards following just behind her. She kicked the door to Haven open and raised her Gauss rifle above her head.
"Let's kill some bastards! Long live Lord Ishmal Ashur!" she shouted, her words echoing throughout the square.
The Pitt Raiders all around her roared with approval and Ava lifted her rifle to look through her scope. She found Ashur fighting a losing battle against a rioting worker and she pulled the trigger, sending a shot cleanly through the worker's neck. Ashur looked to where the shout came from and Ava whooped loudly. He saluted her with a grin and ran off to try to contain the riot.
"Four hundred and fifty seven," Ava said in a low voice.
"What?" asked McGraw.
"That guy was number four hundred and fifty seven. I keep a record of my kills, ever since I left the vault," she said. McGraw paled a bit at her words and Ava strolled forward with a note of swagger in her footsteps.
"We're going to find Midea. That bitch is going to tell us where Wernher is hiding," Ava announced.
When Ava and McGraw were back Downtown, they found themselves in the middle of the riot. Word had spread fast about Ava siding with Ashur, and a large group of workers came running right for them, wielding their makeshift axe weapons. Ava and McGraw stood their ground and waved their guns in the air.
The workers slowed to a stop when McGraw shouted, "We've got the guns. Stand down and you'll live!"
One worker ran ahead anyway, swinging his auto axe madly, and Ava casually took her .44 magnum from her holster and shot him dead without a thought. The workers scattered and they continued toward Midea's home. Only a few more workers tried to interfere with them, and they were shot down without mercy by McGraw.
McGraw burst through the door to Midea's home and Ava shoved him aside, eager to get some truth out of the woman who also knew about Wernher's lies. Ava pushed Midea against the wall of her home and held her by the throat.
"So…you have sided with Ashur and his kind, have you?" Midea choked out with a gasp. "You're n-not the first to win and forget where they came from."
"Bitch, I am a walking, living legend! I'm not from here, and you're a lying sack of worthless shit, just like Wernher!" Ava bellowed, her fingers tightening on Midea's throat. "Kidnapping a baby? Are you fucking sick or something?"
"It was the only chance of finding a cure and ransoming our freedom! If they did find a cure, do you think they'd actually share it with us when they'd rather just work us to death?" Midea croaked.
"Ashur hates what he has to do! You can see it on his face!"
Ava shouted.
"And you really believe your riot will accomplish anything? You're getting your own people killed," McGraw said.
"They'd rather die for freedom than die working for the raiders!" Midea managed to scream.
Ava shoved the barrel of her magnum into Midea's mouth and growled, "You will die with them unless you fucking tell me where Wernher, that fucking snake, is hiding!"
Midea shook her head defiantly and Ava cocked her gun. "One last chance to redeem yourself. Tell me where he is right now!"
Midea whimpered and pointed to the desk in the corner of the room. McGraw snatched up the note that sat on the desk and Ava pistol-whipped Midea, sending her to the dirty floor.
"I never give second chances. Be grateful…and don't try to fucking stop us," Ava growled while Midea clutched her face. Ava and McGraw walked out the door and McGraw said that Wernher was hiding in the mill, inside of the largest building.
There was a lone guard by the door to the hideout and Ava raised her gun to kill him when he fell to the ground dead, a perfectly round bullet hole in the center of his forehead. Ava and McGraw turned and found Ashur walking up the steps with a large group of Pitt Raiders. Ashur placed a hand on Ava's shoulder and smiled down at her.
"I finally have that rat cornered thanks to you," said Ashur.
"I don't know about you, but I don't feel like knocking," she said with a wicked smirk.
"Allow me," said Ashur. He stepped aside and one of his Pitt Raiders heaved a missile launcher onto his shoulder and aimed for the door.
"It seems Ava isn't the only one who enjoys making an entrance," said McGraw. The Pitt Raider launched a missile into the door and the explosion shook the foundation of the old building.
Ava stepped through the rubble and shouted, "Wernher! We're here to pay you a visit! Come out swinging!"
Wernher ran down the metal steps inside his hideout and glared at the sight of Ava and McGraw standing beside Ashur and his men.
"You fucking bitch…" Wernher snarled as he walked up to Ava. "Joined up with him. To hell with everyone else but you, right? You're nothing but a fucking useless cunt."
Ava laughed and shoved Wernher away from her. He tripped over his own feet and fell onto his back. Ava looked around and noticed multiple used jet inhalers strewn about. She looked down at him with a devious grin and said, "Yes…because being a lying jet-head is just so much better. You'll have to do a little better than that hurt my feelings."
"You're a coward…afraid of making a choice, of changing the world!" Wernher shouted.
"Yes…because destroying the Enclave and plotting war against the Brotherhood of Steel is cowardly. What I'm doing will change the world, and you…you just get to die. I'm just sorry I'll have the pleasure of killing you one time. Ashur, would you like to join me? My gift for your promise of help," Ava said, pointing her rifle at Wernher.
"You're much too kind, Butcher," Ashur replied as he aimed with his assault rifle.
"Come on boys! You can have a part in this too!" Ava shouted, waving her hand towards McGraw and Ashur's Pitt Raiders. They all raised their respective weapons and pointed them at Wernher. "Any last words, asshole?"
Wernher slowly stood up and said, "I was never afraid to get my hands dir-"
"Changed my mind!" Ava shouted. She and everyone else unloaded their clips into Wernher, sending pieces of him flying every which way until he was less than a bloody heap of flesh, cloth, and bone on the ground.
"That was strangely satisfying," McGraw said, strapping his laser rifle to his back.
Ava turned to Ashur and said, "You swear you'll keep your word?"
"I will be honored to slay the Brotherhood with you, Ava. It would honor us all," said Ashur. "We have an ammo press. Come whenever your troops need it. You have earned it. Thank you both for this."
"Thank you, but right now I just want to get home and hug all of my spoiled rotten children," said Ava. "I miss their dirty faces, and one of my kids is turning sixteen. He's due for a party, I think."
"Very well. Allow me to escort you back to the train yard," said Ashur.
By the time they reached Downtown, the riot had been stopped and the workers confined to their part of the city. Ashur said his goodbyes to Ava and McGraw as they climbed onto the handcart and within a day, they were back in the Capital Wasteland.
"Feels good to be home…even if this shithole is home," said McGraw.
Ava nodded and they found their Outcast armor still sitting by the entrance to the tunnels. They pulled the armor over the clothes they wore and set off for their long walk back towards the Outpost.