All right guys, a bit of a warning for you here. This chapter gets pretty gruesome towards the end. It's also sad, but necessary.

Ava and Charon followed Desmond up the path to the lighthouse. Desmond's cold eyes were bright with excitement at the chance to finally destroy one of his greatest foes. As much as Ava and Charon disliked Desmond, they had all suddenly bonded over their hate and anger towards Professor Calvert.

Desmond slammed his hand onto a hidden button inside the lighthouse, opening a door in the center of the floor.

"That wasn't here when we came here last night," mentioned Ava.

Desmond looked back at Charon and Ava with a grin as they walked down the steps. "What, you guys came here to neck?"

"We did, as a matter of fact," answered Charon. "Perhaps if you weren't such a dick, you'd get a woman yourself." Ava and Charon laughed loudly as Desmond scowled.

"Fuck you both," he muttered. He pushed open a door and an alarm began to go off.

They walked down more steps, going deeper into the lab. Ava looked into a room as they were going down the steps and saw an intact gatling laser sitting in the corner beside some lockers. She picked up the heavy weapon and handed it to Charon before kissing his cheek. The ghoul smiled and they followed Desmond into a room with a locked door and a switch beside it. Ava green eyes immediately found the ceiling turrets.

"If we touch anything, these are going to turn on," she said. Charon handed her his combat shotgun and aimed the gatling laser at one turret.

"I have this one. You have the other?" he asked. Ava pointed his shotgun at it and nodded. "Desmond, flip the door switch on three. One. Two. Three!"

Just as the door slid open, the turrets began to unfold but were destroyed within seconds. Desmond continued down the hallway, glad to have two equally violent allies behind him. A robo-brain met them at the bottom of the stairs and was immediately blown away by Ava's shotgun blast. Charon inspected every room as they walked down the long corridor, checking for enemies or anything valuable. One room appeared to be used for torture, blood permanently stained on the wall and medical table. At the end of the corridor was another room with turrets, similar to the one they were just in, except this one locked them inside as the turrets went active. Both Charon and Desmond stood in front of Ava, shielding her as they took out the turrets with ease.

Charon gave Desmond a knowing smirk to which Desmond replied, "So I've grown a soft spot for the girl. Not you though, Charon. I still fucking hate you."

Ava ignored the terminal beside the door. She'd much rather pick the lock on the door itself and she opened it within seconds. Charon pushed past her and she handed him a pulse grenade. He tossed it down another flight of steps and a blue pulse destroyed another turret and robo-brain. They continued down yet another corridor and turret room before finally walking into a large, circular room. A glass tube in the room's center held a floating brain.

"Come here girl, let's have a little chat," said Professor Calvert's voice. Ava smiled and walked over to the glass tube. She leaned over and tapped it violently, hoping it bothered the professor in some manner. Charon dropped his gatling laser to the floor and pulled out a double-barreled shotgun he had found in one of the lockers. All three of them have been waiting for this moment, almost to the point of exhaustion.

"How dare you violate my inner sanctum! I demand that you exterminate these ghouls at once! They are filthy beasts and do not deserve to live upon this earth!" shouted Calvert. Ava crossed her arms in defiance, and her smile became a fierce stare within seconds.

Desmond stepped up beside Charon and clasped his shoulder. "There's a little gem of information for you that I was saving until this exact moment. I could not save you from your tortures before, and Ava has freed you. I have nothing to offer you except this one little thing. You will enjoy it thoroughly, I assure you."

"I'm so sick of you. Both of you actually. But I'm already leaning towards a side," said Ava, unaware of the conversation between the two ghouls behind her.

"Your sickness is irrelevant! If you require it, I shall reward you!" said Calvert.

"And what information could you possibly give me that could give me such great fulfillment?" asked Charon with genuine interest.

"Why, it's so good that we might possibly be friends after all this," said Desmond.

Ava wondered how thick the glass tube was. She had noticed all the protectrons scattered about the room, and wondered if Calvert could activate them the moment she began shooting.

"Or I could just, you know, leave," said Ava to Calvert.

"You cannot! The doors are all locked and will remain that way until you kill them both!"

"Why do I have to kill my ghoul? What did he do to you?" Ava asked.

"They both threaten my existence and must perish! Both of them know too much!" shouted Calvert. Ava's eyes widened and her thoughts were flying…Desmond knew Professor Calvert and Charon. Charon had told Ava what little he remembered of his former life. The torture, abuse…mind control.

"You see Charon," said Desmond. "The orders to pluck you from the streets…"

Ava's face grew hot with anger. The thought of Charon as a child and in pain was almost too much.

"…And torture you into submission to make you a fearsome weapon…"

Charon's vision was blurring, focusing on one, single thing in that entire room. He gladly welcomed the feral side of him coming out.

"This is your last chance girl! Kill the worthless bags of flesh, and you will be rewarded beyond measure!" roared Professor Calvert's voice. Ava lifted her combat shotgun and aimed for her chosen target. She was sick of his shit. He needed to die and she wished that it could be more painful for him. Even so, it would never make up for what he'd done.

"…Came from that little fucker," said Desmond as he pointed to the glass tube.

Charon walked forward, the rage almost consuming his body, and stood beside Ava with his double-barreled shotgun pressed directly against the glass. Desmond stood by Ava as well, chuckling while pointing his own sniper rifle at Calvert's brain.

"What…what are you doing! I SAID KILL THEM," shouted Calvert.

"It's time to say good bye, Calvert," Ava announced smoothly. The trio pulled their respective triggers, shattering the glass tube and ending the life of Professor Calvert.

Desmond whooped and raised his arms victoriously while Charon and Ava shared a tender embrace.

"At last! The world is free of that sniveling, disgusting, arrogant brain! Think of it! Everything he has ever learned! Everything he had! It's all here! It's all MINE! MINE!" shouted Desmond happily.

Ava shook her head and laughed at the old ghoul. "Calm down, there. You'll make a mess," she said. Charon rested his chin on Ava's head, content that his past was cleared somewhat and the asshole who made him into the monster he was now lay in a puddle of dirty water on the tile floor below them.

"I've been battling with Calvert for over two hundred years! And now, at last, I am the victor! Two hundred years of wealth, knowledge, and research now belongs to me!" said Desmond.

"Sounds good. Give me our cut, and we'll be out of your stylish hair in no time," said Ava.

"Take whatever you want from this place. Enjoy your spoils…and each other," said Desmond with a respectful nod towards Charon. The ghoul began to leave the room but Ava called out to him.

"Wait!"

"Great. More fucking questions. I guess we're best fuckin' friends now?" asked Desmond. There was no annoyance in his voice, which surprised both Ava and Charon.

"What are you going to do now? Just stay here?" she asked.

"I'll be heading north to pursue my next rival. There are only a few of us left now. The great game goes on. Sort of a…what's a word you two idiots would understand…microcosm? Yeah. It's a microcosm for the old world," Desmond explained. He held his hand out to Ava and she shook it.

"Thanks for the loot, you fucking asshole," said Ava, grinning widely.

"You're welcome Smoothskin," he said as he pointed to a newly opened door. Ava scampered off and began stuffing thousands of caps worth of items into her bag.

Desmond then stuck his hand out to Charon, and the ghouls shook hands, exchanging looks of new found respect.

"Maybe we will see each other again. I promise not to punch you in the face. Unless you're asking for it, of course," said Charon.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just remember; what I said to you back at the house? It still stands. You leave her, and I swear I will snatch her up." said Desmond.

"You're shit out of luck then. If you need assistance killing your next rival, we're in D.C. Look us up," said Charon.

"Sounds good. Good luck with the Smoothskin. Now, get the fuck out of here, I have a lot of fucking things to do," Desmond said.

Charon helped Ava pack more valuable junk into their bags and soon, they were climbing up the incredibly long ladder to the surface.

Ava and Charon walked side by side, happy to finally be on their way home. Ava saw the bright, orange hair from a distance and picked up her pace. Nadine had found out who was digging through their skulls, Ava was sure of it.

"Nadine!" Ava called out. "What did you find out?"

"I know who cut into our heads! You'll never guess who it is! As a totally unrelated hint, I'm in charge of the boat now!" said Nadine excitedly.

"Tobar!" roared Charon. He knew there was something off about that man.

"Oh yeah. When the Tribals would send someone into the swamp, he'd be waiting around to nab them when the punga seeds gassed 'em. He'd do his amateur surgery for the Tribals and let us wander back, all in exchange for punga fruit to trade. So I figured out this little deal for you and me. I get the boat, and you can deal with Tobar however you'd like. Is that cool?" she asked.

"That is a marvelous idea," said Ava in a most sinister manner.

"I wouldn't have figured it out if I hadn't snuck into his engine room while I was waiting for you. He is a sicko…you'll see what I mean. I locked him in there. And when you do deal with him, send Tobar my love," said Nadine.

Ava walked up to the engine room door and gripped the door handle tightly. "I'll be right back. This shouldn't take long," she said to Charon before she walked through the door. The ghoul nodded and stood with his arms crossed; he was making damn sure that only Ava would leave that room.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite traveler! And oh, what a trip you were on!" said Tobar as Ava closed the door behind her. She reached for her .44 Magnum and lovingly stroked its barrel with a long, slender finger.

"When you were under, you should have heard some of the things that came out of your mouth. Funny thing…you thought I was that big, ugly bastard that followed you on board. You were just so…friendly…and willing. I couldn't say no to that…"

Ava's blood ran cold upon hearing his words. He was lying. He had to be…

"I bet you were wondering why your head wasn't the only sore spot on that smokin' bod of yours," he said before laughing loudly. Ava swallowed the lump in her throat. There was only one way he could know that. Every last bit of Ava's innocence that she held onto since leaving the vault had now vanished, torn away in an instant. She felt dead inside. She felt dead. Empty. Nothing.

"I'll kill you for this, you son of a bitch," Ava whispered.

"Murder? Really? Now, what would your father say? You had a lot to say about him, you know. I thought a man like him would have raised you better than that. Guess he didn't spank you enough…but I can make up for lost time," said Tobar. Ava choked out a sob before ripping the door open and running out into Charon's arms.

"What happened? Did he hurt you?" Charon asked quickly. There was no room for teasing, not with the look on Ava's face. She looked…destroyed. Charon felt out of control once again and he hoped desperately he could help her.

"He…he took…When I was out…when I was out he raped-"

Charon's jaw clenched with uncontrollable, wild anger. He tore the engine room off its hinges, feeling an anger that could not even compare to what he felt when facing Calvert. Ava clutched his waist and sobbed loudly into his back. Tobar's face drained completely of color as Charon stepped into the tiny room.

"You will be begging for mercy by the time I'm done with you," Charon snarled. Tobar reached for his gun, but the ghoul was much quicker. He reared back and punched Tobar with such force, it sent him crashing against the shelves and onto the wooden floor. Charon pulled out his combat knife, his bloodlust almost blinding him.

"This will be gruesome, Smoothskin," Charon said with a glance back at Ava. She had slumped beside the door frame and curled into a ball, her eyes blank and devoid of any life or happiness.

"Do your worst," she whispered, completely monotone.

Charon looked back at Tobar and said, "You know, I've never been one for torture…but better late than never." Charon glanced down at the crotch of Tobar's pants. He had wet himself.

"I think…I think I will begin with a bit of neutering, like the rutting animal you are," said Charon calmly.

Tobar screamed in agony as Charon tore his pants open and cut through his flesh with the knife. Ava closed her eyes tightly as Tobar continued his garbled screams. Charon wiped the knife clean on Tobar's shirt and stared at the blade for a few moments. Tobar deserved the worst, must humiliating treatment for what he had done to Ava and possibly every other woman he encountered in that bog.

"This," said Charon as he rammed the knife's blade into the now gaping hole in Tobar's body, "This is what you did to my Smoothskin. Beg for her mercy, you fucking pig, for I will give you NONE."

"FUCK! I'M SO SORRY. PLEASE, TELL HIM TO FUCKING STOP!" screamed Tobar. Charon paused and looked back at Ava as Tobar whimpered in misery and pain.

"More," was all she said.

Charon nodded and thrust the knife into Tobar once more. "You heard my girl," he growled. "No mercy for you today."

Tobar screamed and cried as Charon continued. A pool of thick, red blood had formed beneath him and it slowly trickled out towards Ava. She watched the knife in sick fascination and was grateful Charon had the gall to do what she couldn't. He was doing this for her. Tobar lasted a few more minutes before his body went limp and his pleading cries died out completely. Charon gasped for breath, his anger gone, and let the knife fall to floor with a clatter. He stood up, spat on Tobar's corpse and wiped his face on his sleeve. Ava looked at Charon with red, puffy eyes. He wordlessly helped her to her feet and they walked out of the bloody engine room. Nadine stepped back in horror when she saw what was left of Tobar.

"Nadine, take us home," said Charon.

He lead Ava into their room and guided her in, closing the door as quietly as he could. She sat on the small cot, silent and numb. Charon reached out to put a hand on her shoulder and Ava flinched. She must be afraid of him now after what he had just done. He hoped that one day, she would understand that he did it for her. He frowned and removed most of his armor, tossing it in a heap on the floor.

"I'm going to get some air. Will you be all right for a few moments?" he asked.

"No! Don't leave me alone!" she shouted, tears running down her face. Charon dropped to his knees and she fell into his arms, sobbing. Ava pressed her face into Charon's bare chest and screamed until her voice was gone. He had never seen someone break before his eyes and it was killing him, because he couldn't do a damned thing about.

"I'm so sorry, Ava. This is my fault. I…should have followed you, killed him when I had the chance, something," Charon whispered. Ava shook her head as she bawled uncontrollably. Charon carried her to the cot, where she cried for hours. Soon, she fell into an uncomfortable sleep and Charon held his head in his hands. He had failed her. Charon had never hated himself so much.