Ruby opened her eyes to the sight of the refugee camp in shambles as tents burned and bodies gored as the ground was dyed a thick scarlet. It was then Ruby remembered, her and Dusk had returned from their mission to rescue Reilly's Rangers to find the refugees of her old home, Vault 101 had been horrifically slaughtered by raiders. As they had heard screams Ruby rushed into the camp out of reckless abandon as thoughts of her beloved Amata were ingrained into her thoughts. However this had caused her to become separated from her partner and one of the only friends she had left. She wandered hopelessly coughing from the smoke while stepping over the bodies of innocent refugees, vault dwellers and raiders alike. Although this did not stop the blood that was already soaking slowly at the bottom of her boots. She ignored the unnerving squishing sounds of severed limbs and exposed organs that she failed to avoid as her eyes wandered all over the camp looking for Amata. She felt her eyes burning as the smoke had engulfed the camp all around her, blocking Rivet City and even the sky above her. She tried reaching out to Thorn for help, but even her little ashen pale spirit twin was nowhere to be seen. As she heard a crunch she stopped and looked down as her eyes went wide with horror. Dusk stared up back at her as her eyes showed a thick milky white as despite her face her throat had been cut open down to her stomach showing signs of damage to her bloody rib cage and internal organs as her intestines dangled out exposed. Ruby bit her lip feeling the tears coming worsening the stinging sensation she felt in her eyes kneeling down and slowly closing her partner's eyes. As she rose to resume her search she noticed her mentors arm outstretched stiffly as her hand was pointed in the direction ahead of her.

"Thank you Dusk…." She whispered as she stood up and followed the advice of the fallen Dawn who had her twilight. There she could see Amata's tent and with a slight renewed vigor the young woman trudged through the bodies, bloodied dirt and ash towards the ruined dwelling. What she saw next destroyed what little hope she had left. Inside was something that could only be described in a circle of hell, inside was the corpse of her old childhood bully named Butch, who's body had been riddled with gunfire as he sat crumpled in the corner. His face barely recognizable from the holes in his skull and his torn open chest as fragments of bone and tissue lay in his lap next to the rifle he had carried. However the sight remained more horrific as Amata lay on the floor disemembered as her right arm still clutched the pistol in its hand ready for its former owner to still pull the trigger. As Ruby collapsed to her knees she heard shards of glass fall as something she could only assume of her own mind broken while in the moment she heard a gutturally horrific voice.

"It was so much fun cutting her up...even as she screamed and cried out for you you showed up too late...and now shes dead, she was certainly good for skull fucking too..." The voice chuckled as Ruby turned and saw the culprit Raider who did it, blood dripping from his head from the bullet that struck it as he limply held his Ripper in his hands keeping a hungry smile on his face. Ruby reached over and took out the combat knife from her belt as in a fit of rage she tackled him down and began relentlessly stabbing; cutting into his skull screaming and howling in a language she didn't even understand. As the raider ceased breath his mutilated face kept that twisted smile that made Ruby want to cut it out in anger. Instead she dropped her knife and rolled over next to the corpse as she covered her eyes sobbing in defeat. It was then she heard thick metallic footsteps coming towards her slowly, and when Ruby opened her eyes she saw the glowing eyes of an Enclave trooper staring down at her through his power armor visor before leveling his emerald glowing plasma rifle to her head and the last thing Ruby heard and felt was the humming and the heat of the energy weapon before she felt herself forced into reality.

Ruby jolted awake from her nightmare as she felt sweat pouring down her face looking around the infirmary as she felt the weight of exhaustion baring down on her. As she remembered Amata she quickly looked at the bed where she lay seeing her sleeping soundly as an IV bag remained strapped to her remaining arm while the stump of her severed one remained wrapped in a cast of bandages. Ruby could only press her face into her hands as she wanted to cry but she was too exhausted to do so. She had already been crying enough in that room for two whole weeks.

As she sat there next to the bed she heard a knocking; she quickly looked up and saw Dusk standing there in the doorway with a look of worry in her eyes as in her right hand she held a slip of paper.

"She's going to be fine Ruby...the doc was able to get her into stable condition, she needs as much rest as she can get..." She said as she walked over and sat in the chair next to Ruby.

"How am I going to tell her Dusk…? How can I tell Amata that she doesn't have an arm anymore? Her and the others didn't deserve to be forced out in this war….let alone this fucking wasteland, especially Butch..." She whispered as she let out a dry sob.

"It isn't going to be easy I know...but you of all people have to be strong for her." She said sighing as she placed the slip of paper into Ruby's hand. She looked down examining the paper and reading over the writing.

"I talked with the brass down at the Citadel and they've decided that in light of the attack on the refugee camp and how it effected you, they've decided to give you a 3 week furlough." She said as Ruby's eyes widened slightly as she perked up looking at her.

"You mean to tell me they are sending me on leave…?" Ruby asked as Dusk shrugged.

"Officially you have been ordered a temporary scouting duty in locating any and all resources that can assist us in the war, but basically yeah, you have the freedom to do what you want for three weeks. Hell I'm sure there's people that really miss you in Megaton, and I hear Point Lookout is really lovely this time of year." She said with a smirk as Ruby lightly punched her in the arm.

"You always get me the nicest things Dusk.." Ruby said with a soft smile before Dusk killed the mood.

"Besides Ruby you kinda need the time off for a bath, you smell worse than a freshly ejaculated brahmin after sex." Dusk said with a grin as Ruby punched her arm again her face flushed.

"I've been watching over my girlfriend okay?!" Ruby said trying to hide her embarrassment, normally she loved the idea of bathing in the blood of her enemies so she could carry the scent along with her but she always did appreciate a good bath or shower.

"Well I wouldn't be surprised if you were rubbing some out over her sleeping form ya pervy creep" She said grinning as Ruby's face turned as red as her eyes as the thought had actually crossed her mind twice. Instead of punching Dusk in the face though she wrapped her ass-kicking partner into a warm embrace.

"Thank you….you have no fucking idea how happy I am your alive..." Ruby whispered as Dusk looked at her in confusion. Before she could say anything though Ruby swiftly grabbed her pack and left the room leaving Dusk standing there confused as she turned and looked at the sleeping Overseer.

"Ruby is really fucking lucky to have you kid...don't break her heart anymore than it already has..." She said before she walked out.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The war had all but passed over Megaton except for the Brotherhood of Steel FOB outside the settlement and the patrols that came into the town for supplies or R&R which caused an immense boom in the local businesses. Billy Creel slammed down a glass of whiskey after taking a gulp as he looked over a message that he had received in one of the most recent trade caravans. The message was one that had been filling him with dread for weeks; one he knew would come causing him to distance himself from Maggie and pushing her closer to Ruby. As much as Billy wanted to think he was a good person he knew that with his past he was no saint. As he listened to Maggie singing some stupid cheer song she had come up with while hanging out with Ruby he thought long and hard as he read the message.

Although you may not be in the business anymore Billy we know what you did, and you know I can't have that. You know the trader life was never for you and I know you owe me a debt from the last job you left behind. Bring me the girl Billy, and your debt will be wiped away.

Sincerely, Eulogy Jones

Proud Slavery business owner

Paradise Falls

P.S. Clover misses you, and you know how much of an honor it is when one of MY girls can feel that way for another person.

Wow that was a lot shorter than I was intending O_O anyway I apologize for not putting this out at an earlier date I haven't been really been feeling well plus I've been busy with work. Anyway the next chapter will be longer I promise! ^^