Hey guys, sorry about this going up later than normal. I've been sick lately, so it hasn't been the best two weeks for me. I did want to release this to give myself a clean slate come next week, which marks the beginning of summer vacation for me. I'll be able to put more time into writing these chapters for you guys.

I hope you all enjoy this, and sorry for any mistakes in it. If you'd like, feel free to leave a review, and remember to keep fighting the good fight everyon!

F.S. Out.

Amata looked around the large room they'd found themselves in. Equipment littered the entire area, all of it for radio transmitting. There were also stacks of records and holodisks as well, just scattered about in boxes, filing cabinets, laying on top of equipment.

There were a handful of people sitting around, most with a pair of headphones on plugged into individual long range radios. Some talked to people on the other end, others simply listened. They would occasionally begin to rapidly scribble info onto note pads or just scraps of paper. She had to admit that it was impressive.

"Welcome to my personal wonderland." Three Dog said as he sat down in front of a large control center. "This is where all the magic happens when it comes to my way of fighting the good fight." He said as he pushed out the chair beside him, bringing it around for her to sit in. "My people here collect any news they can from out in the Wastes. We got correspondents living in every major town and city here. Then we filter through this news and develop it into the stories that you hear yours truly sending out over the waves."

Amata nodded some, taking the offered chair. "Well, it's definitely impressive. How'd you get all this equipment?"

"Well, most of it was already here. Took some work to get a bit of it back up and running but we made it." He said with a wave of his hands. "The rest has been scavenged from around the wastes. Whatever we could get out hands on. Radios, car units, walkie talkies, CB systems. Anything that's got the guts for communication." He told her.

"Ah, I see. Well, you're doing a lot of good. Keeping people informed and helping them keep bright." She said as he nodded in agreement. "But, I guess we aren't here to talk about the radio, are we?"

Three Dog chuckled, "No, we aren't. Straight to the point, aren't you? Ya know, he's a lot like that too."

"I noticed. He wasn't always, for the longest time he was carefree. Liked to tinker with mechanics more than anything else." She said, smiling some at what Collin used to be like. He'd been a bit of a procrastinator.

"Oh, really. Well something changed in him bigtime then?"

"Yeah... I guess that would be the day that he and James left. O…one of the guards down in the vault snapped. He was gonna hurt me, possibly worse. Collin didn't give him the chance" She said.

"I see." Three Dog stretched a little, grabbing a bottle of water and taking a drink. "Well… I guess you're here for the story of the Lone Wanderer then?"

Amata nodded, she wanted to know everything she could about what Collin had been up to out here.

"Well. I guess I should start from the beginning. The first I ever heard of him was when he came to Megaton. Disarmed the atom bomb there and got in a shootout with a man who wanted to blow the thing. It just took off from there. The rescue and defense of Big Town, Arefu, Grayditch… and then he found his way here." He smiled.

"He found his way here in search of James, his old man. Just missed him by two days or so. Collin rolled in right in the middle of greenie assault. Lyons Pride was here and everything. So, he comes in and joins the fight. Just him and this bolt action rifle blasting away at the big green lug heads. They clear the place out just in time for the biggest of the big ugly to show up. A Behemoth comes in and decides it wants dinner and the kid winds up feeding a mini nuke down its gullet." He said, laughing some at this.

Amata was caught off guard by this. "A mini nuke? How? He… he… wow."

"Kid never ceases to step up to a challenge. Course, he was point blank when he fired the thing. Explosion threw him back into a building, Lyons Pride had to dig him out of the rubble and guts."

Amata shook her head, "I shouldn't be surprised… but I am." She said.

There was a beeping sound as an intercom box near Three Dog's chair alerted them. Three Dog pressed the button, "Yeah, what's goin' on?" He asked.

"Knight Sharp is awake Three Dog. He's wondering where his companion is." The woman on the other side said.

"Alright, tell him we're on our way." Three Dog said before ending the connection. "Sorry to cut story time short, but if we don't head down then he'll come up. In his shape that isn't the best option."

Collin groaned some as he tugged his shirt back on. His midsection was now wrapped in bandages with his bones healed enough for him to function. Two super stims and a medex is what it had taken him to get back into shape. He knew the bones had reset… he'd felt them do so while he lay there and the Stims did their work. The bandages were now so his skin could heal up, to stem the bleeding while he healed.

Everything else was sore from the impact he went through. A bitch slap from hell wasn't what he'd been expecting when he planned this trip. He pulled his jacket back on, zipping it up as he remained sitting. They didn't want him off the table just yet till the drugs had cleared from his system. He did grab his rifle though, and planned to clean it while he waited.

He looked up when Amata and Three Dog came in, just finishing with his jacket. "Three Dog, long time no see." He said with a nod. "You okay Amata?"

"Of course I'm fine. You're the one who took that thing on." She said, shaking her head.

"I had to, before it decided to charge at us. One person has to distract it while the other brings it down." Collin said, looking to her. It was a proven tactic in close quarters like this, when the person dodging had cover with which to do so.

"We could've taken cover or something… but… I'm just glad you're okay." She said.

Collin nodded, "Yeah… sorry if I scared you back there." He told her, offering a bit of a smile.

Amata shook her head at him, sighing some with a tired smile. "You're a reckless idiot sometimes, you know that? Your guardian angel has to be busy nonstop keeping you safe."

Collin smiled some, "Yeah… they must be. And I won't deny that first bit, but sometimes risks and being a bit reckless is what it takes here." He said.

"Kid's not lying. A lot of times, the safest bet is to take some risks out here. Everyone who's tried playing it safe behind walls and such for every situation has had it bite them in the rear in one way or another. You can't stay hidden behind them. Sometimes you gotta wake up, take a big ole' bite outta the world and accept it might bite back." Three Dog added as he sat back in a chair nearby, lighting up a smoke for himself.

Amata sighed, "Yeah… well this time the world really bit you back. Huh Collin?" She said with a shake of the head.

"Yeah, it did." He chuckled, wincing in pain. It still hurt him to laugh. "Three Dog, what's this I heard those two docs talking about an assault?" he asked.

"Simple. BoS is tired of using the sewers to get around while the Super Mutants attack this place. So they're gonna launch a big assault and clear a path before the Super Mutants hole up and fortify for winter. Plan's to pinch them between the front hear and the one near Rivet City." He said. "Paladin Jameson knows more about it. He's leading the thing." The man said before taking a drag from his cig.

Collin nodded, "Alright, I will." He said as he carefully stood, balancing himself as the meds wore off.

"Collin, don't you think you should take it easy after something like that? I understand you want to get back to home… but you're already hurt." Amata said from behind him, the worried tone still there.

"I know Amata… but they could use another gun or two. If we could open this route up, then people could have easier access to these winter clothes. More people could make it through the winter." He said.

"Collin, I understand. But look at you. You're wrapped up like a mummy around your torso! Even with the Stimpacks, should you be going back into a fight so soon after going up against a creature like that." She said, looking to him. He could see the unhidden worry in her eyes now. "I know you want to help people… but damn it Collin… you can't keep getting hurt like this. I… I was scared to death seeing you get hurt." She said.

This was a bit of a punch to the gut for him… she was scared for his safety that much? Worried for him? Collin looked down.

"I… I'm sorry Amata. I just… this is me now. I'm a soldier. This is what I do. I help people help themselves." He said softly. "Look, I'll stick close to you. We won't be right up in the thick of it. I'll leave that to the power armored men. Instead we'll act as something a bit safer. Guards for the Caravan, or with the mop up crew." He said.

"Yeah. Okay." She said, clearly still not entirely happy with this answer. Even he could tell that she didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Three Dog cleared his throat, getting their attention. "Well, if you two will excuse me. I gotta get back to fighting the good fight, got a broadcast here soon." He said. "Kid, if there's anything you need. Tell the Paladin I sent you. He'll hook you up no problem. You two can use that upstairs room that I lent to you Collin. Still got the cots in there." The older man said before excusing himself.

Collin nodded in thanks before the man left, then turned to Amata. "Want to go with me to settle about getting the supplies set up?" He asked her, stretching some as he tried to ignore the ache he still had.

Amata shook her head, "No. You can. I just want some sleep." She said, her voice still holding a slight upset tone with him. "Goodnight, Collin." She said before heading off without him. Collin sighed some… this was just what he needed. His best friend pissed at him. He wanted to go after her, to talk this through, but that wouldn't work with Amata. She needed time to cool off, something he'd learned growing up.

"I'm sorry…" He said softly to the empty room. He went to go settle things with the supplies, knowing he'd have to face this later.