The next day, I woke up with the lumpy springs of the sofa digging in my back. Groaning, I opened my eyes. Memories of the previous night flashed in my head, making me feel angry, stupid, and downright foolish. I rubbed my eyes, glancing over at Charon. He was still sleeping, oddly enough. His back was to me, and I had a better view of the cave room in the daytime. Sun shone through the crack we slid through, and poked through some other holes in the rocks. It was a nice, single room. It didn't have any noise, but what lurked behind the caved-in rocks is what made me nervous.

I swung my legs over to the side, running my hands through my hair. My Raider Throwdown Armor was in a pile next to my other pile of shit. I noticed I was sweating, the cave being unusually warm. I didn't mind it, I like being hot. Standing up, I walked over to my pile of shit, and kicked it as hard as I could with my bare foot. Ammunition, guns, books, and a few other oddball items and clothes scattered everywhere, making a lot of noise. Charon bolted upright, his eyes wide.

"Wake up."

I said angrily, hurting inside. First he goes off and has hot make-out sessions with Greta, then he goes and fucks with my head and feelings. I'm holding this grudge against him until I feel he's repented. Or until I die. Whichever comes first. Charon turned and looked at me, standing up. His tall body towered over mine, and I could see he wasn't too thrilled about my little tantrum.

"I am awake."

He growled, glowering at me. I crossed my arms and sat in the mess of items I had kicked. His eyes followed me, and I unfolded my arms, picking through some torn and old outfits and armors.

"Good."

I said, and held up an old Wasteland Wanderer outfit. Tossing it down, I began to rummage through my ammunition, keeping track of how much I had for each weapon.

"We're going to devise a plan, Charon."

"What sort of plan?"

He walked away from me, picking up a pack of cigarettes from the floor. He lit one, not offering me one. I motioned to the pack and he tossed it roughly to me. I caught it, smirking at him.

"A plan of what to do. We have a lot of options, and I want to know what my best one is."

"Okay."

"We could go to Little Lamplight and help the Brotherhood, but they're on my shit-list right now, so I don't feel like it."

"Okay."

"We could go and help the Brotherhood Outcast, I've heard they need some help, but they're scum, too."

"Mhm."

"Or, we can aimlessly wander the desert and city looking for oddball jobs that pay so we can get some cash and buy supplies or more guns."

"Is that all?"

I nodded, lighting a cigarette.

"That's all. All that I can think of right now, anyways. So, what's your wonderful and polluted opinion?"

Charon narrowed his eyes at me as I leaned over, showing off some cleavage I bet Greta don't have a chest. Rotten ghoul she is.

"In my opinion, Dez, I think you should help the Brotherhood."

"Wrong answer."

"Well then why did you ask?"

"I think we're better off aimlessly wandering around, and seeing what may come."

"I think you are being selfish."

I narrowed my eyes at Charon, slowly sucking on my cigarette. Since when does he argue with me over what to do?

"Are you an ass-kissing Brotherhood of Steel now, Charon?"

"No, I just feel that these people need your help, and you are being selfish by not helping them."

"You're being selfish."

"That does not even make sense."

Charon sat down on the couch, and I shrugged. Sense or not, it made me feel better.

"Yeah well, I don't want to."

"Dez, you need to think my next statement over carefully. Can you do that?"

"Mhm."

I was half paying attention, digging through some 5.56 ammo clips.

"If what you claim about Gob and Nova is true, then that child is at risk. I ghoul child cannot survive without purified water."

"Why not? They're ghouls, radiation helps."

"Dez, you do not know what a child needs. They need nutrition and fresh water that the Wasteland does not offer. If you will not do it for your father or the Brotherhood, do it for Nova and Gob. It will truly be a miracle if Gob has succeeded in impregnating her."

I sighed loudly. I pretended like I didn't care, but I knew Charon was right. The mortality rate for infants must be high here, because you never see them. If Nova is pregnant, Gob's kid or not, it'll need help. Gob will father the child regardless, I know that much, and it's the least I can do after all the comfort he's given me.

"Fine, Charon. Let's do it for them, I guess."

He nodded at me, and I rolled my eyes. Nova and Gob better kiss my ass once I get this shit under way and finish it. I mean, what the fuck? I have to go risk my life again for people who I don't even care about. No, I'm wrong. I care about Gob and whatnot, I'm just angry with Charon. I told you so, again. When will you learn I am always right? Yeah, you are, mysterious voice, you really are.

Standing up, I threw my cigarette off into some cracks in the rocks. I picked up my Raider Throwdown Armor and began to slide it on.

"We are leaving today?"

Charon asked, and I nodded, not looking at him.

"What else are we going to do?"

"Dez, are you sure you can do this? You just got back a few days ago, I feel you should rest."

I picked my head up as I held my top in my hands, glaring at him.

"You feel a lot of things, apparently. How about feeling useful and getting together a travelling pack?"

Charon and I stared one another down. Finally he stood up, throwing his cigarette to the ground and crushing it with his boot. He walked over to the pile of shit, and grabbed my empty pack.

"It would be a nice change to feel useful for something other than a babysitter."

It's on, comrade. It's on.

"I know exactly how you feel."

"I would expect you to say that."

He shoved my medical Lunchbox into the pack, handling some ammo and bottles of water. I glared at him, fastening my top around my chest and pushing my arms through the sleeves.

"I expected you not to fuck around with Greta, but you did that anyways."

"What does that imply?"

"Oh, nothing. I just hope no one else is expecting any miracle ghoul babies anytime soon."

Charon clenched his jaw at me. I ignored it, and began to fasten the spikes on my shoulders. Take that for hurting my feelings, you fucking stupid ghoul. Grabbing my gun, I strapped it to my gun.

"I made it clear we did not have intercourse."

"No, you didn't."

I put my hand on my hip, grabbing my sunglasses and putting them on.

"Why do I need to explain myself to you, Dez? You were not my employer at the time, I do not inquire about who you sleep with."

"Because I'm your employer now. And I don't sleep around, especially with ghouls."

Charon tossed my pack at me, and I slung it around me. I had fulfilled my task of pissing him off royally, and I smirked at him, walking towards the crack that leads to the desert. I heard Charon grab his shotgun as I slid out, letting the hot sun bathe me in warmth.

"Even if you chose to sleep with a ghoul, I do not think they would want to."

I heard Charon mock behind me, and I turned around to face him. He had his shotgun to his back, and had lit another cigarette.

"Anyone, ghoul or man, with half a mind would want me."

"I disagree."

"That's just because you don't have a slave's chance in Haven with me."

I began to walk, messing with my Pip-Boy. Little Lamplight was a three hour walk, not even, from here. I heard Charon's feet behind me, he was quiet, and I knew I'd gotten him good. Of course, that was a lie. Well, it isn't right now, but after last night I'm going to start detaching myself from him. There's no point anymore, I make him 'uncomfortable'.

"You are so desperate for attention, if I acted the right way, you would give me whatever I wanted from you."

I moved so fast I wasn't thinking. I felt a sharp sting in my hand as it connected with his face. The clap it made echoed around us in the desert, loud and ringing in my ears. I'd never felt so angry at one single person in my life before. I'm so angry at him, because he's so fuckin' right.

"Don't you fuckin' insult me like that again."

I seethed through my teeth. Charon's head was turned to the side, and I saw his eyes glaze over in a blinding rage. I braced myself, ready to fight him, hand-to-hand. He rubbed his cheek, and slowly turned his head to me, I'd never seen so much anger in him before. We glared into one another's eyes for what seemed like forever. When he didn't move to hit me, I straightened my back, ignoring the throbbing in my hand and turning my back on him.

"I would like my contract back."

I scoffed at him, turning back around and walking backwards.
"How's this for an answer? No."

"Physical violence on your part invalidates our contract. I want it back or I will take it by force."

"What are you gonna do? Shoot me? Go ahead Charon, do it, shoot me. Then you can go running back to fuckin' Greta in Underworld and live out the rest of your miserable life with her."

I stopped walking, and stood a yard or so away from him, my arms crossed, challenging him with my eyes. His jaw was tightly clenched, his eyes would have burnt holes in me if they could.

"I am not going to shoot you, but I will use force."

"I fucking dare you to lay your rotten hands on me."

He lunged at me, pinning me to the ground, my arm twisted behind my back. He held onto my wrist, pulling it up to my neck, and I couldn't move, it fucking hurt.

"Let me go! That's an order!"

"I no longer take your orders. Hand over my contract."

"Fine!"

The instant I felt his grip loosen on my wrist, I wriggled free and pounced on him. I dug my nails into the back of his neck, gripping his skin with one hand and punching his chest as hard as I could with the other.

"You fucking asshole!"

I screamed at him, digging my nails in deeper. I felt his hands around my puny waist, his thumbs pressing into my stomach. I stopped punching him when I felt myself being lifted into the air, but didn't let go of his neck. He threw me, my hand slipping off of him, skin coming off with me. It went in slow motion, I felt my body in the air, saw the ground beneath me, far away, then closer. I braced myself for impact, slamming hard on the ground. I landed on some small pieces of rock, they pierced my skin, and I felt the wind being knocked out of me as I stared up at the sky. Blood formed in my mouth, but I couldn't cough it out, I couldn't breathe.

Struggling, I sat up, gasping for air and spitting up blood. I wrapped my hand around my neck, like it would help me or something. Finally, I felt the air rush into my lungs, and I coughed mercilessly, seeing blood on my hands from my mouth. Charon ran over to me, his eyes wild as he bent down. I went to punch him, feeling angrier than I ever have before. He grabbed my wrist before I was able to hit him, and held it down to the ground.

"Let me see."

He growled at me, grabbing my face with his other hand. I closed my mouth, breathing through my teeth, glaring at him. He glared at me, still angry. Well fine, I'm still angry at him. He fucking threw me. A good few feet, too. I felt him force my body to turn, and his hand on the small puncture wounds on the rocks.

"You are fine."

He said, throwing my wrist back at me.

"Take your fucking contract. Take it, leave, fucking go!"

Charon stood up, blocking the sun from my eyes. I struggled to get up, but managed. I glared again at Charon before I started hobbling North, towards Little Lamplight.

"Where are you going?"

I heard Charon call, and I turned my head towards him.

"Away from you! Fuck off! Go!"

He let me walk a few feet farther before chasing after me. I didn't say anything to him, and he didn't say anything to me. I found my pack of cigarettes and lit one, my hands shaking from adrenaline and endorphins. I inhaled the smoke into my lungs, holding back another cough. I cant believe Charon actually fought me. Moreover, I can't believe he threw me. It wouldn't register in my mind, it wouldn't process. I swallowed hard, trying to hold back from shooting him in the chest.

We walked in silence, quietly hearing the sand and dirt crunch and shift under our feet. My anger had slowly begun to dissolve, leaving only hurt and fright in its place. Charon hadn't tried to talk to me, and I hadn't tried to talk to him, either. I didn't even hear his breathing. If it wasn't for his heavy footsteps, I would have thought he took off on me a mile or so back. Still, I didn't turn around. I wanted him to know how mad I was, and I wanted him to feel like shit for days for what he did to me.

I know we're coming up on Little Lamplight, I know it's just a half a mile ahead, but I stopped walking. Thoughts had been swimming in my head, and I couldn't let them persist anymore. I opened and closed my fists, angry and frustrated with everything. I don't want to do this for the Brotherhood. I want to do this for Gob and Nova. Sitting down, my back faced Charon and I stared up at the hill I had to climb. As much as I tried to tell myself this was for Gob and Nova, I knew otherwise. I knew I had just become a pawn in the 'good fight' and no matter what I didn't see any other route. If the Enclave didn't kill my own father, maybe I'd opt to help them, just so people would leave me alone.

No. No matter what I do, nobody will leave me alone. Either the Brotherhood or the Enclave will be after me. There's no easy solution this, but I can't keep aimlessly running around. In the back of my mind, I can still hear my father's words. Words he spoke when I was little, words that I'd never forget no matter how hard I tried.

"One day you'll be big and strong, and be able to finish what your mother had started."

I bet he didn't expect me to remember that, but I did. I remembered it like it was yesterday, everyday of my life. I wish I had known my mother, I wish she was here now. But she's not, I'm an orphan. I'm about to go inside Little Lamplight and get some shit called the G.E.C.K for a cause I don't even believe in. Rubbing my eyes, I groaned loudly, feeling a bruise forming where the rocks had punctured me. I held back wanting to cry, as I sat there in the dirt. Charon was right, I'd do anything for anyone who gave me attention and showed they cared. I wish I didn't, I wish I wouldn't, but I've never gotten attention before. I've never had people actually care.

I'd never see my father's face again, I'd never see my mother's. I only have images of my father, memories, and that picture back in Rockopolis. I only saw my mother once, in an old picture that's still locked in Vault 101. It's probably destroyed by now, though. I can't help but feel I've let them down. I'm sorry, so sorry, I can't do this. I can't do this, because it's not who I am. I don't know who I am all the way yet, this whole being thrown into the desert randomly kind of fucked all that shit up. I have to get the G.E.C.K, but it doesn't mean I save people. In the end, if I'm given another mission by the Brotherhood, I don't think I'll help them. I've risked enough for them, for the people of The Pitt, for the people of the Wasteland. All they have to show for my sacrifices is a 'fuck you' and 'go do this for me'. Never a thank you, never anything that could help me. I wish I was back in the vault. Ignorance is bliss, I can understand why now.

"Why are you not going up there?"

Charon asked, but I ignored him. I'm still wicked pissed off about his whole attitude and fight with me. He doesn't understand that by this time tomorrow…I don't know where I'll be. He doesn't understand how this is a huge waste of time, and the Brotherhood probably has the G.E.C.K already. I could go ask them, but that's a waste of travel. If it's not in Vault 87, well then, I can just go home.

"I'm just resting."

Charon walked over to me and sat beside me. He took his shotgun off of his back, and I refused to look at him. I crossed my arms and lit a cigarette. I still feel like I'm alone in all of this, even with Charon right beside me.

"I am sorry for harming you, Dez."

"It's whatever."

"I did not mean it."

"I said 'whatever', Charon."

"Yes but…"

"Charon? Shut up."

He nodded and I stared off. Just over this hill was Little Lamplight. Just over this hill was an entrance to Vault 87, and well…I can't help but feel that over this hill is the end of me as I know it.

Pushing up off the dirt, I stood, adjusting the pack on my back. I heard Charon get up behind me, and I kept walking. As mad as I am at Charon, I hope he can keep me safe, and prove my gut feeling wrong. I hope he can…he can help me figure out who the enemy is in this whole mess of a world, so I know who to avoid. I doubt it, though.

I walked into Little Lamplight. To my great annoyance there was a guy there begging me to take him to his 'birthday party'. I said no, and pushed past him, and found myself arguing with a little brat named MacCready. He refused to let me in, and instead of being polite and convincing him, I did what Dez in a bad mood does best.

"Listen you little brat, you let me in or I swear I will fucking kill you all."

"No you won't!"

I turned the safety off on my Chinese Assault Rifle and pointed it.

"I won't?"

Sure, threatening a kid probably isn't the best way to go about things, but I'm not in a mood. I wasn't really going to shoot him anyways. I'm just not good with kids. Never been around one long enough to know how to talk to them. He finally opened the gate, and walked up to me with caution.

"Why…why you need to come in here anyways?"

He looked so adorable I wanted to hug him. But I didn't. I just looked down at him and all of his four foot body decked out in some weird outfit.

"I need to use the entrance to get to Vault 87."

The kid looked like he was going to shit his pants when Charon appeared behind me.

"You're a big mungo…a giant mungo."

"Yeah right well…where's the Vault 87 entrance?"

"You mean where the monsters are? We blocked it off…you can get through there by Murder Pass."

"There's no other way?"

I glared down at MacCready, not in the mood for bullshit.

"No, there's a computer, but Joseph is the only one who can get in it. The computer will open the door for you so you can go right through to the vault."

I shook my head, putting my gun away.

"I don't need to speak with Joseph. Where's the computer?"

He pointed to a shack, and I nodded. My father didn't skip on teaching me science and medical skills. I'm pretty smart with terminals, and I know what's what around here. I didn't mean to be so cruel to the little kids, but I can't help but feel a little scared at a place run by children.

I stared at the green text on the screen, analyzing it all carefully. I clicked on a word, and the terminal beeped, telling me it was the right one. Charon stood stiffly behind me as I opened the door to Vault 87.

"This is dangerous."

I heard him mumble, and I sighed, annoyed.

"Yeah well, you wanted to do it."

"Yes."

Standing up, I took my gun off of my back and led Charon to the Vault 87 door. It isn't too far from here, but it's still a walk. You know, I used to read Grognak the Barbarian comics in the vault, like everyone else. I used to think one day someone was going to save me, and take me on wild adventures. That a guy like that existed, and fueled the fantasies of a dumb ten-year-old like I was.

It's not like that though. I'm leading myself into perilous journeys, and have only Charon to aid me. He's not much of a Grognak, but he's pretty close to one. Only he doesn't carry a battleaxe and grunt. Well he grunts, but other than that, there's only differences. Sighing, I turned on my Pip-Boy light as the lights from Little Lamplight faded behind me. Kids had been calling me a 'mungo' as I passed them, whatever that is.

"You better tell Gob and Nova I did this for them."

I snapped at Charon as I opened an old door. I knew the look of the door too well. Behind it would be an entrance to Vault 87.

"Why don't you tell them yourself?"

"Just do it."

Explaining to him the strange gut feeling and amount of fright I held inside was too much. He wouldn't understand it, anyways. I wanted to turn around and run, run back to Rockopolis and have myself a good, loud cry, but I didn't. I just stared at the door like it was my worst enemy. My life felt almost like it was flashing before my eyes, only it wasn't my life. It was a life I wished I had lived. One that ended with a happily ever after and all that nonsense. Charon was there, too, and neither one of us were angry. I didn't have a scar on my body, and I saw him smile for the first time. It was a nice, imagined life, but I couldn't sit here and wonder about it forever.

Pressing the door open, I stood before the Vault 87 entrance. There's a lot of radiation in here, I remember that much from hearing about it. I know that my Trog issue might worsen, or it might not. I don't know.

"We are wasting time."

Charon's voice jolted me from my own thoughts, and I nodded. I still refused to look at him. Walking forward, I worked the familiar keypad that would open the door. Unlike Vault 101, this one didn't ask for a password. It simply opened at my touch, and I stepped back. Warm air blew out at me, it was a relief from the cool, dark caverns that I'd been standing in. I have no other options now than to step in.

Pulling up my Pip-Boy, I found where the G.E.C.K was located and marked it on my map. It wasn't too far from here, just a few twists and turns and ta-da, the G.E.C.K. Walking inside was like a harsh trip down Memory Lane. Vault 87 looked exactly like Vault 101, except not as clean or bright or anything like it had been before. I sighed loudly, my own noise echoing in the halls. It has been such a long time since I've done something I wanted to do, something I've chosen for myself. But I guess that's the fate of being a Lone Wanderer. You have no other option but to do what others tell you to do.

Charon followed me as I navigated the halls, almost like I had been here before. In a sense I had been. All vaults were created and designed by Vault-Tec, so they all have to same layout. Charon picked up on my uneasiness and I heard him light a cigarette, handing it to me. I didn't look at him.

"We must be careful. I can hear Super Mutants."

He said, cocking his shotgun. I didn't hear anything, but his hearing is a lot better than mine. Inhaling my cigarette, I fought back the scary thoughts and feelings, holding my finger on my trigger.

"Okay."

I said, leading him down to the Living Quarters. Once I stepped down off the stairs, I felt we were not alone. I glanced down at my Pip-Boy and saw red ticks, very close to us in fact. Tossing my cigarette down, I pointed my gun, ready.

"Let's go."

I said to Charon. Before I could even take another breath in, a Centaur appeared, it's many tongues waving in the air. Charon took a quick shot, blowing its head off instantly. Blood sprayed in the air, and I tried to fight the terrible shakes I was getting. Super Mutants came from behind us on the stairs, and down the hall in front of us.

"You with me on this one?"

I asked Charon, watching the ones atop the stairs carefully.

"As always."

I nodded, and cocked my gun. Charon made the first noise, shot the first bullet that started a frenzy of guns firing and bullets flailing. I was able to take out one of the three that were on the stairs. One of them was a Overlord, and I knew it would be a waste of ammo to fire at him.

"Get down!"

Charon screamed, throwing his body over mine. He had thrown two frag grenades, one down the hall, one on top of the stairs. I felt his weight push me down to the ground, his massive body covering mine. He covered my ears with his hands, pressing his face down into my back, holding on tightly. The muffled explosions rang in my ears, and he took one of his hands off my head, reaching for another grenade

"This'll teach you to mess with me!"

He yelled, throwing another one. Overlords don't go down easy, one grenade won't do the trick, but two well-aimed grenades might. Charon placed his hand back over my ears, and I felt his legs constrict mine. It was like he was trying to fold me under him. My heart raced, blood pulsing in my mind. I heard the last grenade go off, but Charon didn't move off of me just yet. We waited, my muscles stiffened, trying to hear past Charon's hands. Finally, I felt his grip slide, and he pushed off of me.

"We are safe."

He stated, and helped me up. I didn't look at his face, just at his chest.

"Thanks."

I mumbled, and popped another clip of ammo into my gun. Looking around, I saw we weren't in the same type of Living Quarters that had been at Vault 101. Somehow, I ended up in this strange maze of…of test labs? I ventured off, looking into each room. Bodies of mangled…people were on medical beds, their eyes open wide. It scared me, put a fear in me that was never there before. Humanity has lost all hope in my eyes, if people can do this to each other.

"Help me!"

I looked up, looking around. I noticed Charon had heard this too, and we walked down the halls. There was a computer out front of one of the rooms, and a voice came through a small intercom. I looked through the glass, and saw a large Super Mutant in a torn vault jumpsuit limbering around. My first reaction was to grab my gun, but then I realized he was the one who called to me.

"Please! Please get me out of here!"

He looked at me through the glass, his teeth bared, his eyes wide. I took a step back, scared. I'd never been this close to a live Super Mutant.

"Who…who are you?"

I stammered into the intercom.

"I am…Fawks. I have…been here…for…as…long as I can remember."

He had trouble speaking, but spoke like me or Charon.

"How come you can talk?"

He told me how he hadn't fully changed, like all the other mutants. He told me he was put here because he was different, and hated the sight of war. That he had been reading things from the terminal inside the room until just recently, when the Super Mutants broke it down. I felt I could trust him, I don't know why, but I did.

"I'm looking for the G.E.C.K, do you know where it is?"

"Yes! Yes! If you let me out I will get it for you! Please!"

I looked over at Charon's torso, but then looked away. I don't care what he has to say, it's my choice. Logging onto the terminal, I opened all the doors to all the rooms. A loud alarm went off, and Fawks stepped out, his height outmatching Charon's. I felt scared, but didn't let that show.

"Thank you, my friend. You have saved my life. Now come, I will get you the G.E.C.K."

I followed behind him, keeping my gun close to me. For all I know this could be a trap. One Super Mutant who can talk like people tricking people into coming down here, into helping him. He had mentioned that Super Mutants took their human victims here to 'change' them. Turn them into mutants. It seemed no one had the ability to reproduce except humans. Oh, the irony.

Fawks let Charon and I to a room that glowed bright green. Any other Super Mutants that stood in our way was easily taken care of by Fawks. I was shocked at his sheer strength, I'd never seen anything like it. Bullets didn't bother his armor-like skin, and he walked up to the other mutants with strength and ended their lives quickly.

"You wait here, I will get the G.E.C.K."

I nodded at Fawks, and watched him walk into the room. The radiation levels were too high for me to enter, and Charon probably wouldn't go get it.

"You are lucky you freed him."
Charon told me, kind of stiffly. I felt a sense of jealousy in his voice, and smirked at it. Watching Fawks inside that room, looking for the G.E.C.K made me sad. I knew eventually, my services to the Capitol Wasteland would be useless.

"Yeah. I like him. Think he'll come with us?"

"He is too kind for someone like you."

That, or Charon just didn't want someone else following me around. I chose the latter. Fawks held what looked like a briefcase in his hand, and he stomped out of the room. He came up to me, handing it to me.

"I cannot thank you enough, my friend. If you ever need anything, please ask."

"Where are you going to go?"

"To the Museum of History, where I may continue in my search for knowledge."

Well, isn't that convenient? I can see him and Charon whenever I wanted. If Charon ever took off again. Fawks began to walk away, but I ran up to him, tapping his hard arm.

"Something troubling you, my friend?"

He asked, looking down at me.

"Why not come with me? I'd like you to."

"I am sorry, but it seems your companion would not like that. Please, come to me when you are alone."

I nodded, clutching the briefcase to my chest. Fawks vanished into other rooms, his heavy thudding fading in the distance. Charon got lucky this time, but one day I'd get that guy to come with me. He'd keep me safer than safe, so safe that I'd never have to carry a weapon again. Too bad Charon was probably giving him the evil eye behind my back.

"Come on Charon."

I mumbled, keeping a tight grip on the briefcase. Charon followed behind me. I looked down at my Pip-Boy every now and again, to make sure we were going the right way. We were. I fought the rising sadness inside me. I have this feeling, that something just isn't right. I wanted to stop right there and cry my eyes out and run back home to Rockopolis, but I couldn't. Not with the G.E.C.K. Too many people would hear too fast that I had it, and I can't guarantee it's safety.

"I am Alpha and Omega…"

I murmured under my breath, hoping it would calm me. I tried to picture my mother in front of me, clapping and smiling at my actions, but I couldn't. Tears burnt in my eyes as I approached the main entrance to Vault 87. Even though I'm helping the Brotherhood, I know, and my parents know, it is not my choice to.

A loud explosion knocked me off my feet, the G.E.C.K falling from my grip. I felt Charon's powerful hands under my arms, lifting me to my feet. I glanced up at him, and saw his eyes were wide, fearful, staring straight ahead. The blast had confused me, made my vision a bit blurred, but I caught myself. Reaching down for the G.E.C.K I grabbed it, holding it close to me like it would save me. I blinked, and saw two Enclave soldiers standing in front of me, with the man who had shot my father. I wasn't scared. I don't know why, but I wasn't.

Looking up at Charon, I saw his weapon was drawn.

"No."

I said, pushing it down. He looked at me as he lowered it. If I've never done any good deed that's worth it, let this be it. Charon would be killed in an instant by these men, and I couldn't bear to live with that.

"It's me they want. You stay."

I forgot all the hurt inside. I forgot all the anger that Charon had risen in me just a few short hours before. If I can't be who my parents want me to be, then I can be who I want to be. I can save Charon's ass, if I can't save my own. This time, I'm not leaving him. This time, I'm not banishing him to an employer that he hates. I am simply giving myself to the Enclave, giving them what they want, so that they spare Charon, at least.

"Dez, don't you dare…"

I heard the whirring of their energy weapons powering up. I looked at Charon, tears blurring his face. I took a step back from him and turned around.

"No following, you stay."

I walked out towards the Enclave, holding the G.E.C.K out in front of me. I hope Charon can forget the wrong I've done. I hope he can find reasons to miss me, and find our time together has been enjoyable, even if we fight a lot. I saw the man who had killed my father throw something at me, and I ducked. It began to spew gas everywhere, and the last thing I remember seeing is Charon reaching for me, I don't think I've ever seen him so damn scared.