Ian looked around at the devastated city, all crumbled and leaning in on itself grey as paper. The hulking dark wall of Rivet City stood in stark contrast to all of that. James held a hand to his eyes and gaze across the water. Ian looked over the same way but he didn't see anyone. James pressed the intercom button again.
"Hello. Is there a guard on duty who can let us across?"
A door on the ship opened and somebody stepped out. At this distance Ian couldn't recognize the person, but they set the bridge moving without a word. The giant piece of machinery scraped around toward them. It took a long minute to jam itself into place and then they started across.
It wasn't until Ian passed halfway over the bridge that he recognized that same guard from before. He didn't say anything, but still kept a close eye on Ian's movement. Ian looked back then over the churning dark water below.
"You'd better not be here to cause trouble. What business do you have in Rivet City?"
James looked at Ian then back at the guard. Neither of them spoke again.
"We need to speak with Dr. Madison Li."
The guard pressed a button and the bridge started to swing back into place. He didn't say anything and just watched it return to the old position.
"I'll take you there. Let's go."
He opened the door and led them back into the enclosed metal stomach of Rivet City. With the door shut this was a glimmer of living in the Vault, though patches of rust and a general dishevelment harmed the mirage. It reminded Ian of the Vault he had just left.
The guard didn't say anything as he took them to the lab. He kept an eye on Ian and didn't try to hide it. The man made some few small remarks, but nothing important. He seemed to be as surprised by the sound as anyone else. The guard glanced over at James too.
They entered the lab and James immediately walked over to Dr. Li, leaving Ian to stand aside with the guard.
"James! I didn't think I'd see you again."
"I thought the same for a while."
"What happened out there?"
"I found the Vault, and Braun's machine."
"Was it still working?"
"Madison. I found Braun."
"You mean..."
"He was still alive. He kept himself living inside of it."
"This whole time."
"I spoke with him inside of it, but that's not what's important."
"You can't be serious."
"It's our only choice. We need to start working again."
"I told you before. It's been twenty years. The equipment there must be destroyed. We'd have to start the whole thing again from scratch."
"No, I've been there and most of our equipment is still in working condition. It's miraculous, but we could start working again today if we just left now."
Ian looked away and at the other scientists milling around. Many of them were watching the pair speak, or obviously listening as they worked. He glanced at the other door and started to wonder where Amata would be. He couldn't imagine what James would say when he saw her in Rivet City.
"She's not here anymore."
"Huh?"
"Amata. She left somewhere up north."
"Where did she go?"
"She's with a group of ghouls hiding out in the ruins."
Ian nodded slowly.
"So she's in their city. That's okay."
"The city was destroyed. Last time I saw her they were in a basement a few blocks south of that."
"Oh... I just hope she's safe."
Ian's stomach didn't feel right thinking of this. He was starting to feel guilty again for bringing her out of the Vault. There hadn't been a choice though. Ian wondered what his father would say, but he might never know. She wasn't here, and she wouldn't be at Project Purity. The guard watched him levelly, but he didn't speak. He shook his head and then looked away.
"What do we need to do now?"
"Most of the equipment is still working there."
"This is idiotic. We're just going to follow his ego again?"
"There won't be much more time to finish this."
"We were so close before."
"We weren't close. We didn't have shit."
"Let's get some equipment together. Gear for travel too."
Ian looked at the commotion without fully comprehending anything that had happened. He didn't know the history or any of these people. They rushed around, mostly excited though a few were sluggish and complained. The guard glanced around the same as Ian, uncertain and separate. Everything seemed to be going on past and without them. The rest were moving, but left them alone to stand and watch.
"What's all this about?"
"Have you heard about Project Purity?"
"No. Nothing. Is that what they're talking about?"
"Yeah."
James appeared out of the crowd of rushing bodies with Dr. Li walking beside him. Their heads were bent over at a clipboard while James pointed at something and spoke. His mannerisms were more animated than Ian had ever seen them before.
"I've been thinking about it this whole time."
"We should have tried this before."
"I don't know if it will work."
"It's a chance. Dylan."
The guard looked straight at Dr. Li and waited.
"You've heard, I'm sure. I'm taking the science team out to do some work."
"Yes, I picked up on that."
"We'll need an escort. Bring another guard and meet us back here."
"I'll need to talk to Richard about it first."
"Meet us on the bridge then. We'll need to leave immediately if we're going to get the facility working again before nightfall. Hurry."
"How long will this trip be?"
"What do you think James?"
"There's no telling exactly. If everything goes well just a couple days. It might be months though."
"We don't have supplies for more than a week. If it takes longer we'll have to come back and resupply. A week then. We'll work from there if it comes to that."
"A week. Okay, I'll go talk to him."
Dylan walked away and disappears into the hallway. Ian watched him go then focused back on James and Dr. Li before him.
"Ian, I told Madison that you entered Project Purity. I didn't see much of it when I was there, so we need to get whatever information we can from you."
"There were super mutants camped in the building when I entered. I killed them while I looked through, but that was more than a week ago. Who knows what's happened to the place since then."
"The electronics might be damaged from their mess."
"We can't know until we get there."
"We'd better bring some gear to fix it."
"We'll have to assess the situation when we arrive."
"This might be a bigger job than we're prepared for now."
The pair wandered away and left Ian to stand off to the side alone. He watched the people moving around again and noticed them packing bags of equipment and gear and food. Ian watched them and started to feel somewhat useless in this setting. James rushed around and was the center of this, but Ian didn't even understand what was happening totally.
James walked briskly, talking to people and giving directions in a flat, informed voice. Ian had never seen him like this before and it was very strange, somewhat alienating to observe. This man did not resemble the man he had grown up with. Ian tried to compare the image of this authoritative scientist with the Vault doctor he had known and none of it fit together.
"Hey, could you give me a hand with the other side of this."
Ian followed the voice and found a man standing beside a waist-high wooden crate. The man slapped his hand on the top of it and then gestured over across the room.
"We've got to get this over there."
"Yeah, just a second."
Ian dropped his pack against the wall and grabbed the other side of the crate. The man nodded and they pulled it off the floor. Pain shot through Ian's shoulder and he grimaced looking down at the crate. They crossed the room moving slowly between people and every step screamed through his grinding joint. As they neared, Ian misstepped and nearly lost his grip on that side, but managed to dig his fingers in and carry it for another few feet through the pain. They dropped it beside another open crate and then stepped back from it.
"Hey, thanks for that. I'm Garza."
"Ian."
"Looks like your arm got pretty fucked up."
"Yeah, somebody shot me."
"Was it recent?"
"It's healed over, but something's still wrong inside."
"That's the worst. Any hope for a surgeon fixing that?"
"I was in a machine before, but this is the way it left me."
"Guess not. Too bad. I've got a heart condition but that doesn't interfere much."
"What's that like?"
"I take the medication and everything is fine. I help out around here. How do you know him?"
"Who? James?"
"Yeah, he's got the rest of them pretty worked up about this. Project Purity, huh?"
"He's my father."
"Interesting. I guess you two do look alike."
Ian looked over and caught a glimpse of James. The man seemed happier than Ian had ever seen him before. Dr. Li stepped out of the crowd and turned on the rest.
"We should get moving now. We can come back for anything we need in a couple days. This first trip is just to assess the level of damage. The escort will meet us outside on the bridge."
James stepped up near her with two other scientists beside him talking and then the rest followed carrying packs and boxes. Ian found his gear and shouldered it then joined the group. They headed down the stairs and soon found their way outside. Dylan rejoined them quickly and then another man came a few minutes later. Dylan set the bridge moving and they waited for it to fall in place.
Dylan climbed the stairs and moved quickly down an empty hall. He shook his head thinking about Ian, trying to figure the whole thing out. He seemed different now, somehow and subtly, but any of it might be an act. He needed to think about it.
If Ian was the same as he had been that day before, then this was nothing but lies, but he seemed nothing like that. Dylan entered the security room and found Richard sitting alone inside. He was looking over some documents and didn't seem to notice Dylan's presence.
"Richard."
"What?"
The man turned around and wiped his face. There were dark circles under his eyes. His arm was slung against his chest in a cast and Richard scratched at it irritably.
"What's going on? What's the trouble?"
"Dr. Li is leaving with the science team to do some work outside.
"Shit. She wants an escort, doesn't she?"
"She asked for two guards."
"When does she need an answer?"
"They're already heading out. She expects us to meet her on the bridge."
"Fuck."
He left the where they lay and stepped back. Richard clenched his jaw and looked around, then shook his head and stopped with one hand pressed hard on the table.
"We're weakened enough as it is. She knows the situation, doesn't she? She ought to know we're shorthanded and struggling. You don't think she would wait, do you? Just two weeks until everything is back in order? She wouldn't do that, would she?"
"I don't think so. There's a man named James here."
Richard didn't say anything, just nodded and groaned low. He shook his head again slowly and stood.
"If we didn't send anyone they would just go alone. Jesus, why now of all times?"
"Do you know who he is?"
"That man was a resident. A long time ago, that's why you don't know him. He worked in the science lab, but I don't know what happened. He disappeared twenty years ago. Haven't seen him since, but... fuck..."
"Do you know anything about him?"
"I was young when he left. I guess it would be worse to lose the science team out there than to send a two guards. How long do they want to go?"
"A week at first, but they are planning something. I don't know what they have in mind, but it might turn into a longer expedition."
"Fine. We don't have much of a choice. You go and take somebody else." Richard grabbed a radio from the corner and held it up. "Johnson, you're on bridge duty now. Get over there and I'll have someone cover your shift in the market."
Richard tucked the radio into his belt and took a rifle leaning against the wall. His arm stayed pinned across his chest and immobile. Richard looked briskly then headed for the door.
"Where are you going?'
"The guard isn't strong enough for me to just sit around up here. Do me a favor and take someone who's off duty."
Richard left into the hall and disappeared. Dylan looked around the room and then walked over to his locker. He took his bag out and slung it over his shoulder. Dylan ran through a short list of the other guards and tried to decide who he could take. There might not be much time before the science team left. He took a few steps toward the door then stopped.
"This is bullshit. Dr. Li knows all about what's happening and shouldn't be putting us in this position, and who the hell is James... Fuck..."
"Hey Richard. I need another shift. Can't stand sitting around bored while there's work out here."
"Peter."
"Oh, it's you. Where's Richard?"
"He left to cover somebody's shift. Listen, the science team is leaving to do some research and I need to bring along another guard to escort them."
"I'll go. When are they leaving."
"Right now."
"Okay, just let me get my gear."
Peter walked over to the lockers and took some equipment from his. Dylan pulled some more ammunition than he had brought along the last time.
"Hey, last time I left it ended up being a lot longer than I expected. You'd better bring some extra ammo just in case."
"Yeah, good idea."
Peter grabbed his rifle and slung a small duffel over his shoulder and they headed for the door.
"I need to get some other stuff from my room. Where should I meet you?"
"We'll be on the bridge. I'll tell them to wait but you'd better hurry."
"Yeah, sure. I'll just be a minute."
"Wait, before you go I need to tell you about something."
Peter stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"What?"
"There are two people with them who you won't know. An old man and a young man. Their names are James and Ian, and you need to be careful about them."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Ian is dangerous. I don't know about James."
Peter's face fell stern and he turned all the way around.
"How do you know."
"I saw him before, outside. He was unstable then, killed a man and didn't seem to know what he was doing."
"That's pretty serious. Have you told Richard?"
Dylan shook his head.
"I was going to, but they're leaving now with the science team, so it's just our problem. He seems different now, but it might just be an act. I can't tell. Just help me keep an eye on him.
"What about the old man?"
"I don't know about him. Dr. Li seems to know him well, and Richard said he lived here twenty years ago. They showed up together, so we'd better be careful about him as well."
"Okay. James and Ian, right?"
"Yeah. We just need to be careful. I'll point them out when you get down there. Go get your things."
Dylan turned and headed down the hall. He took a quick staircase down toward the bridge and then met up with the group. Johnson had already taken up his post beside them and nodded to Dylan as he stepped out.
"You all heading out for something?"
"Yeah, they're doing some research."
"What did Richard say?"
"He's not happy, but there's not much we can do about."
"Okay."
Dylan glanced over at James, then found Ian standing on the edge of the crowd. Ian stared back for a moment then out at the grey wasteland.
"The other guard will be here in just a minute, then we can get going."
"I'll just get the bridge out while we wait."
"Yeah, that's fine."
Johnson set the machinery working and the door opened behind them. Peter stepped out and looked over the group.
"Alright, that's it. We can go."
Peter shut the door with a loud noise and they set out across the dull metal bridge. Once on the other side, Dylan paused and turned to Johnson with a high thumb up. The guard nodded and set the bridge pulling back. The others were already filing down to the dusty area below. Without a word they began hiking south.
Dylan looked out across the deadly scenery and was somewhat surprised to find himself out here again. Taking a minute, he fell to the back near Peter and motioned vaguely toward Ian then James. Peter nodded.
"We'll need to be careful to keep a group this size safe."
"Yeah, I'll take the left side."
They split up and took positions on either side of the group. Dylan clutched his weapon high and ready, held his gaze the same way searching back and forth over the whole visible area.
Flashlights hardly scraped away at the skin of darkness. Grimy walls and floor stretched out wherever the beams fell and a thick wall of obscurity floated elsewhere. Travel was slow with a large group through narrow tunnels. It was like falling, moving through darkness absolutely uncertain of what might exist around.
There were only two flashlights held throughout the group: one at the front and one at the very back of the group. Amata glanced behind her but couldn't see anything at all past the vague outlines of Carol and Greta. The stark light cut out anything else. Amata leaned on Maxon's shoulder and still grimaced with each step. They had paused once before to change the bandage on her leg.
It was strange to travel through the sewers in a group of ghouls. Amata found the atmosphere very foreboding and mysterious, but most of the others had spent some time living here before Underworld. Every so often Maxon would point out a place he had ducked away to sleep or Sara mentioned some interesting bit of scrap he had discovered tucked away in a corner. She didn't hear anything from Carter, and Carol had never lived in the sewers. She seemed to be just as unnerved by the place as Amata was.
Jimmy walked along beside them and stayed close. His hulking form was startling to catch in the corner of her eye, but through the gentle rhythm of travel everyone seemed to have grown accustomed to his presence. He didn't speak very much, and if then quietly and only to Amata or Maxon. Beneath the distorting suit of muscles and rotted skin, Jimmy really did seem to be like a child inside. He was still daunting physically, but had a shy sort of personality.
Amata and Maxon spoke together limping along in the middle of the group. Greta, Carol and Charon walked along behind them to be sure they weren't left behind inadvertently. The wound in Amata's leg throbbed with every step but after a while she managed to put it out of her mind somewhat.
They entered a long, empty chamber. The space opened hungrily around them and the air grew cold. They began to climb up a decayed escalator. Amata progressed slowly but Maxon pulled her forward and she gripped the side. Once they reached the top, Amata was out of breath and she leaned against a low concrete wall. Darkness swirled around cool and uneven.
The group waited for a minute and Amata noticed Charon standing off from the rest. He didn't have any weapon or equipment and looked away into the darkness. The closest person was Greta then Carol, but even they were a couple yards off. Amata was ready within a minute and they started moving again.
Before long they found an exit by the pale sunlight flickering through. The light cutting into darkness felt like hope but nobody spoke of it. They climbed out and glanced around the arid morning landscape. Sara began to say something, but they were immediately set upon by raiders from one side.
The group dropped behind some scattered cover and drew their weapons. Amata and Maxon dropped together and took turns spraying their rifles over the crushed in garbage can. It seemed for a minute that they would push the aggressors back out of sight, but then more appeared from the other side. Charon shouted their presence and Amata dragged herself lower and tried to hide behind a half buried piece of ragged furniture.
"I need a gun!"
Amata tore the strap off of her shoulder and called out Charon's name. He turned and caught the assault rifle then began firing in a fluid continuation. Amata pulled out her sawn-off shotgun and began firing at whatever targets she could find.
Carter and Charon pushed forward and some others followed them in cutting a hole through the unwieldy group of raiders. As they inched closer to the water, Maxon threw an arm around her shoulder and they struggled forward together.
"Keep going. I'll hold them back."
Mathews and Sara turned and ran back to join Charon. The raiders hooted and growled with the fight but didn't make any progress against that trio. The rest of them hurried ahead into the water. It was difficult to move through the churning tide with her weakened leg but Maxon helped her keep balance. The water burned through into her wound and stiffened it.
Tony stopped moving beside them and turned back to fire. Maxon dragged her forward through the chopping waves and Amata struggled to get some purchase with her good leg. She glanced back and saw Mathews and Sara running into the water while Charon backed away into it still firing. The raiders were hardly visible as they stayed down in cover but a few had collapsed forward dead.
Carter climbed out onto the far bank, then Carol and Greta. They glanced back for a moment then something alerted them and they began to fight the second group of raiders waiting there. The stones under her feet were slippery and kept rolling around with each step.
Jimmy rushed out of the water past Willow and grabbed a raider by his head, then lifted him and slammed him down. Willow raised her gun and killed a raider just climbing out of cover. Jimmy punched a raider and knocked her back several yards to where she fell and did not rise.
Amata struggled out onto the bank and raised her gun. She killed a raider and nearly slipped as Tony rushed past. Carter fired on the raiders while moving backward into sprawling hills of the wasteland. Jimmy fell in step beside Amata and Maxon, then Carol and Greta joined them as they headed off into the wasteland after Carter. Willow and Charon fired back on the raiders while retreating and the rest provided some fire as they moved quickly on.
They ran off into the wasteland, firing for a while as the raiders pursued them, but eventually the combatants either got lost or lost interest. The group found themselves alone waiting between two low hills. Amata was panting and sweating from all of the effort and her leg throbbed terribly.
"You're leg's bleeding again."
She looked down and nodded.
"Yeah, you're right."
"Sit down. I'll go get some bandages from Greta."
Amata sat and looked over at Charon. He was standing nearby and still looking around vigilant as if the raiders had never left.
"Thanks for helping out back there."
"You can take this back."
"No, you'll need something. I have another."
"I took this from one of those sorry bastards. I don't need it."
Amata took the assault rifle back and set it on the ground beside her. Charon walked slowly and Maxon returned with a handful of rough cloth. He pulled off the old, blood soaked bandages and dropped them in the dust, then began to tie the new cloths around tightly around her leg. The pain was sharp but it took her mind away from everything else.
"Hell, that was really something!"
"Fight bad man."
"You sure fucking did. That was great."
"No just fight."
"God I'm glad we've got you here. I didn't know what to think before, but..."
"She said and he said..."
"Oh it looks like they got you right here."
"What?"
"Here. There's a couple of bullet holes."
"Oh."
"Doesn't that bother you?"
"Only small holes."
"Yeah. I guess you're not bleeding much."
"Okay."
"You sure you're okay?"
"Jimmy strong."
"Alright then."
Mathews walked away and said something to Sara. Carter climbed up one of the hills with Willow and looked around. He pointed at something then looked at her and she shook her head. Maxon tied the bandage off and tucked it in. Amata pushed off and tried to stand, but the pain in her leg was bad. Maxon caught her before she stumbled.
"Still bad, huh?"
"Yeah. Why don't we go get a look around."
"We'd better stay near the rest."
"Just to the top of the hill and look."
"Yeah, let's go."
They climbed to the top and glanced around. She looked back east toward the city's ruins but she didn't see anything. To the north a group of people traveled distant. Maxon squinted then grimaced at them.
"Looks like slavers. We'd better get back down."
They climbed back to the foot of the hill and Amata looked at Sara who was saying something to Mathews. He grimaced and shook his head, then that changed into a slight grin. The day was early but sunlight already fell heavy. Jimmy walked over near them and didn't say anything but just stood there and looked around at the rest.
"There's something southwest of here that looks promising. A big square building."
"Can't make anything from here but it's worth a look."
"What are we waiting for? Let's get down there."
Amata grabbed her assault rifle from the dirt and back over her shoulder, then stowed the shotgun and they started off. They traveled for most of an hour just talking briskly amongst themselves. Every time they reached the top of a hill, Sara set a hand against her forehead and guessed in a monotone voice what the building might be.
Once they were near enough to read the sign, she simply read it aloud while passing over each crest.
"Super Duper Mart..."
"Super Duper Mart..."
"Super Duper Mart..."
"That's starting to look like a raider camp to me."
"Raider camp..."
The group stopped and Carter climbed to the top of a hill to get another good look at the place. He returned after a minute.
"Yeah, looks like it was. I don't see anybody moving though."
"You think that's a good idea? Getting close to another group of raiders?"
"I told you I don't see anything Tony. No guards or scouts anywhere. Raiders aren't very subtle so I'd know if there was anybody there."
"Why would they just abandon a place like this?"
"I don't know, but I still think it's worth checking out."
"It's suspicious..."
"No, I agree with Carter. Let's get closer at least. We'll pull out if there's any sign of trouble, but if they left in a hurry this might a be a good chance for gear."
"That's a good idea."
"It still seems pretty dangerous."
"We'll be careful. You can wait outside if you want to, or pull out whenever you want. Let's go."
They moved on and soon found the place abandoned. Even walking up to the doors there was no sign of life. Bodies had been tied to the buildings' exterior, but they had been picked clean by birds and now just dangled as skeletons.
"If this place was currently occupied, those would be fresh."
"I guess you're right about that."
Carter pushed the door open and they filed in past him. The building was huge and dark inside. Willow and Greta turned on their flashlights and they began to comb through the building. It was obvious that this place hadn't been touched in a while, but they searched through the aisles then moved toward the back.
"Looks like somebody picked through this place already."
"Is that enough to satisfy you Tony?"
"Yeah, yeah, fuck you. I'm just trying to be careful."
"Doesn't get much clearer than that."
"Whoever came through here sure got the job done."
The bodies of five raiders had been lined up near the back and left to rot. Their gear had been gathered and picked through. The ghouls took this as proof enough and headed into the back. They shut the door and Carter started to seal it, but Amata stopped him.
"Jimmy's still out there."
"Go get him then. The place is empty but I'm not going to leave this open."
"Yeah, just give me a minute."
Amata headed out of the back room and found Jimmy crouched over one of the raider's corpses. She stopped and watched him for a minute but didn't say anything. She decided not to say anything to the others, but waited for him to finish and then motioned him over. Jimmy wiped the dark blood from his face then followed her back through the doors.
She dropped her back against the wall and Carter sealed the door behind them. Greta pulled out some food and shared it with her. Everyone was tired from moving all night, and this was the safest they had been since Underworld. Most of them settled right in to sleep even though it was still daylight outside, yet this somehow was the most hopeful they had been in a while. Tony mumbled about finding Roy Phillips soon and settling in there. Carol and Greta spoke to each other quietly. The place was dark but it didn't seem dangerous. Amata lay against a wall and rested her sore eyes in darkness. Her leg still hurt but that faded away into sleep.