What? It's been a while? Sorry about that, I had a bad case of the writer's block, and the dinkyness of Oasis' side quest didn't really help that, along with it's key topics.

I will say now that this chapter goes around Euthanasia, should any find this to be a sensitive topic, you have been warned, however this will be character/developing/showing… I may post a 'cliff notes' version of this chapter should it be so desired.

As to my personal stance on Euthanasia, it should be just as legal as DNR orders… However it should be strictly controlled/monitored to make sure people don't use it to off each other, I hear it's done that way in Switzerland or someplace like that and some people even go there for it [What sort of Visa do you need for that?].

I'm sorry, due to the nature of this quest, writers block and other things, quality may not be so good… At least my only spelling errors as you would see is because I use Australian English :)/:P.

After I took my time enjoying the fact I was still alive, Red politely informed me that Shorty had just been taken by the super mutants, who were complaining about hunger….

I don't think I've gone from collapsed half in laughter to walking out of the room deadly serious with intent to kill so fast since…

It took me all of two minutes to stomp through the halls and the few remaining super mutants upstairs, before coming up upon a cook holding a butchers cleaver, and Shorty, both looking terrified as they looked on my plasma pistol. The super mutant cowered, holding Shorty so that his chest was covered, the cleaver at his throat.

"If you kill him, I'll make this painful."

"I go, I let man go."

"Nope, let man go, I let you go."

The mutants head perked up, cleaver going lowering as it moved to retort.

I squeezed, the super mutant only got over his surprise when the pulse was within 20cm of his head… But there was no way he could move fast enough… The mutant died before he hit the ground, brain matter exposed with Shorty scrambling off the mutant cursing using all sorts of words as I just stared at the mutant, lost in myself, berating myself for taking the shot while being glad I did… I didn't even note that I lost the challenge... Or that I was being berated for a moment.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"… No. I'm sorry, just… I left your friend Red in the cells. Come on Food."

"I… Fuck you you big metal… fuck!"

"You're welcome. Come on, I've gotta take you back to Bigtown."

-XXXX-

The next couple of days passed smoothly… By my standards.

Which meant I shared of the towns food, showed them how to fix up the bots and their weapons, making a better ditch and a drawbridge [kinda, more a reinforced board that they moved by hand], and tracked back some mutants to a forward camp that was probably set up by mutants working out of Germantown based on… well, what was found there.

Of course, I couldn't put off the guide forever. Which lead to me getting his orders as I finished bolting myself into my power armor [which had recently seen a new coat of paint].

"You know, I've had fun with the phrasing of this." If a disembodied voice could smile this one would be.

"I bet you've loved it."

"Oh, I did, it was delightful."

"Absolutely."

"Good. Well go on, lay it on me, hit me with your best in cryptic bullshit."

"It's not bullshit… But anyway. Wanderer, you are to bond to the land where life cruelly prolonged bring life among the fields of death."

I stood back, thought, put my helmet on, consulted my Pip-Boy, set a marker, and then walked out the door.

"What, that's it, no 'What the hell are you talking about?'?"

"It's Oasis. I know it's Oasis. I could make up better cryptic crap to name the place. I'll figure out what you mean about bonding later, but I'd go with it being what planes walkers normally do." I couldn't keep smugness from creeping into my voice.

"I hate you…" Ooh I wish I could bottle that to use as a poison.

"You were the one that put a man's life before a challenge."

"You already knew the stakes."

"Fine, go sulk. I've got a long walk ahead of me."

"I hope you trip."

-XXXX-

The most curious thing happened to me as I made my way towards where I thought Oasis was. I mean, I knew it was north, idiots told me that before and I did read the wiki out of interest and such but I didn't… That's getting off topic.

Raiders, when they charge, almost never change their minds, they ready to attack, they become committed… Apparently these guys listened to GNR.

I had just grabbed my pistol, just walking into effective range, and then I saw them all stop, mill around for a second, and run. I'd never met them, and raiders that saw this armor tended to die quickly, and this far north they couldn't of interacted with the brotherhood that much…

As for how I knew the raiders listened to GNR… I found out sometime later, that 3 Dog in all his infinite wisdom, gave a pretty good description of my armor, and then decided to tell people a lot of the things I'd done, and due to some people being able to contact GNR, that included things like single handily wiping out raider camps, before I got the power armor.

The day I learned that, I smiled and thought back to this day, and thought that perhaps the raiders recognised me, and chose to leave with their pants a little browner, instead of redder and filled with holes, not that I aim for their pants… Too small a target assuming it's actually present…

But yes, that was the most interesting thing that happened, and I rather enjoyed it, it put a pip in my step up until I arrived where I was sure Oasis was, courtesy of channelling Rivet City.

-XXXX-

The first thing I noticed was the trees. There were dead trees everywhere, leafless, falling apart, hollow. The place was as dead as any other, and it surrounded the Oasis. I hadn't encountered any life for hours, and my Pip-Boy was pointing to a huge rock formation.

"No, it should still be here. I can't have gotten it killed-"

"You didn't, stop panicking. "

"I-"

"Only read about the place on the internet for the most part and played it through once. Now it's somewhere in those rocks I think."

"I… Thanks."

"Well I am your guide."

"I think I could create a more helpful one."

"You could have, he didn't. Besides, it was his first go and using an unwilling elemental."

I let out a rather, quiet growl as I moved towards the large stone… something, that the guide claimed to know Oasis was within. After a whiles walking I checked my Pip-Boy, turned around. About an hour later, I found a thin path up towards where the marker was and I deleted it, watching the ground as I did so, smiling as it slowly became… greener. I picked up the pace, smiling as for the first time in over a month I saw grass, bushes where you couldn't debate that they were truly green and lively… There was life here.

Along with a man in robes with twigs sticking out.

"Hello Outsider! -"

"Hello Treeminder. Yes, I know Harold is waiting for me."

"Wait- How do you know-?"

"That you have a brotherhood outcast in one of those fancy get ups? Because I do. The door?"

I stopped a couple of meters in front of him.

"Oh… Right… Yes…" The man was reeling from the surprises I left him as he unbolted the wooden door… There was something I was going to have to do first, and I had a feeling the game wasn't anywhere close to the real thing… And I knew it was going to leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

-XXXX-

I strode purposely through the glade as Sapling and the various Treeminders began gathering… True to the game they were all armed but were just wearing cloth… I got half way past the sap containing basin before Tree Father Birch finally caught up to me with his shambling gait, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Wait Outsider-"

"NO!" I roared. I… Channelled something, the wind blew with my voice rustling branches and blowing back his hood as I half turned.

"It's sad enough that your actions have caused Harold to desire death, I don't agree with your idiotic plans, and there is no way I'm drinking that Hallucinogenic tree sap seeing what it's done to you!"

To say my dislike of what I knew of this place was colouring my judgement would be an understatement. I kind of lack any sort of tact except being able to shut up, and my memories of this place were hindering even that… It didn't stop me from noticing everyone had stepped back, Sapling was hiding behind Laurel, and that Linden was aiming his assault rifle at me.

I sighed, rolling my shoulders before I spoke again, much quieter this time.

"The only reason Harold will remain alive beyond this day is because quite frankly Leaf Mother is right, this place needs to spreed. It needs to be protected, and I'll see to that, but the wasteland… The wasteland needs this place, and I'm sure I can help Harold more than any of you can. No do I bust open the door to his grove, or do one of you use the key to open it… And Linden please stop pointing that at me, you know it won't do anything to me in this armor."

"… I'm good at getting lucky shots."

"It would take all of 3 seconds to get over there and break your neck, and you'll find this armor's much better than standard brotherhood armor, so don't tell me your feeling lucky."

There was a moment of silence.

"You… You have the gift of forsight?"

"I… Yes."

"Then go child. Tree Father, this man is true to his words. I saw a man bearing the number 101 upon him extending his hand to the waste land, and under that hand's shadow the land grew. Can you see the numbers on his arms."

"… 101. 21:6… Dammit Popular-" Birch began.

"-Don't cuss at me. You know I'm right. I'm never better than vague, but I'm always right. And I do think he'll be true to his word as to the door… It seems it time to truly look beyond our door."

Slowly, Birch's shoulders slumped.

"Fine… I'll… Follow me."

Yes, a short chapter... The others should come sooner though! I semi-promise... But I should have a absolute glut of free time in about 2 weeks, so lots of new chapters then. Anyhow, I hope you look forward to the Oasis, 5 Colour Walker style, which should come in three parts.