Chapter 37 Oberland and Graygarden

Danse and I spent the night in my room in the Vault. I sent the others back to Hangman's Alley. I told them to meet us here in the morning for our journey to Oberland Station and Graygarden. We had decided to continue on our journey. We had contacted Preston with their ham radio and told him the dreadful news. There was nothing else we could do for the kidnap victims here and we had told the settlements we were coming. We were expected and our visits would be an important morale boost, according to Preston, not to be underestimated in its value.

We had supper with the remaining Vault residents.

Austin's grandmother sat next to me, and didn't touch her meal. I made myself eat, knowing I was not just taking care of myself when I ate.

"Z, you saved Austin before," she said her voice breaking, "and I am asking you to do it again. Please. Please, save my grandson."

I patted her arm, "I will, Dr. Engill, I will. Don't make yourself ill with worry. Worrying does no good – for anyone. It won't help Austin or any of the others."

"I will try," she, straightened her back out of the submissive slump she had been in, but her eyes were still swimming with unshed tears.

Danse spoke, "Dr. Engill, they don't seem to mean any harm to anyone they've taken. He's safe. Believe that. Z and I will find him and the others. We will bring him back to you."

She looked into his dark eyes, and some weight seemed to lift immediately from her. Danse had that effect on people. They trusted him. Made them feel like the world was safe again. Made them believe in goodness.

She reached out for his hand and squeezed it. She smiled at him, "I believe you will. Thank you, Danse."

That night, we made love, the passion building ever so slowly until it burst into flames and we let it consume us. We slept with our legs entwined and arms tangled.

I awoke from a nightmare where I was being frozen again and Danse was being held by shackles and forced to watch. Shaun, the old man, my son, was laughing as he said, "Wave goodbye, now. Let's set the timer for another 200 years, shall we?"

Danse held me to him tightly, "You were crying in your sleep," he said softly. "Are you alright?"

"Just a bad dream," I said pushing my face into his chest and breathing deeply of his scent. My heart calmed and my tears dried.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly.

"No, no…it was just a stupid dream. I just need you to tell me that nothing will keep us apart," I whispered hoarsely.

"Nothing will keep us apart," he said firmly and kissed me to seal the words. My heart settled down and for the moment, I felt the world come together the way it should be.

The others arrived and met us outside the Vault just after dawn. Shaun ran to us and hugged me fiercely. "Mom! Dad! I was so scared! They said The Black League was here!"

Oh great, Hancock's name for our enemy had caught on and wasn't letting go.

"Yes, they were, Shaun," I said hugging him back, "they took some more people. But your dad and I are fine."

He went to Danse then, who lifted him and embraced him, power armor and all. Danse wore his power armor like a second skin. I wouldn't have dared try to hug someone when I was wearing it – I'd break their bones or bruise them at best.

I wore my black armor, which I preferred.

I found Curie and asked Deacon to excuse us. I took her away from the others and making sure we were out of earshot, gave her the precious hairs I had pulled from Maxson's head. She looked at them and smiled, "Perfect, Z. I need to get them in an airtight container though. Perhaps Oberland will have a chemistry bench with some slides or test tubes I could use."

"I hope so too. Are you doing okay, Curie?" I asked.

"I am adjusting well, Z. And I find zee Commonwealth fascinating. Humankind is so wonderfully resilient to keep persevering in the face of all the past destruction. I am happy to see the flora and fauna that still exists although there has been so very much lost, it seems. I have gathered some very interesting specimens."

"Good. Good. You sound like yourself. Emotion-wise? How are you?"

She threw up her hands and let her exasperation out, "Truly, Z, I do not understand how humans function as well as they do with all zees emotion and all the physical distractions. I am finding Monsieur Dickens to be such a good friend and such a help, but I am feeling so very strongly about him – it is a physical response as well." She frowned and put her hand on her abdomen as if she could pinpoint the feelings there. "I am feeling…how you say… a desire, an urge, for I do not know what ... but it feels like there is a fire burning inside of me when he looks at me or talks to me. Eet eez even worse if he touches me."

Oh great, she had the hots for Deacon. How was I supposed to deal with that?

"Ummm. It's how Danse and I feel when we are together. Then we have sex. It tames the fire for a bit. . Don't worry, it's a natural response you're feeling. You are attracted to Deacon, err… I mean Charles." I smiled at her gently, "Speak to him honestly about it. Perhaps Monsieur Dickens will explain it more, Curie. Maybe he feels the same way about you."

She looked shocked. Then she looked interested. And then she smiled a tiny smile. "Oui, I weel talk to heem," she said arching a brow.

Poor Deacon. He had no idea what I had just set on him.

I walked her back to Deacon and winked at him. Then I left them to discuss her lusting for him.

Haylen trotted up to me, "Z," she huffed, "I made something I want you to carry."

"Oh! A present! For me?" I grinned at her.

"Yes, just for you," she shook her head. "It's a tracking device. Push this red button and I'll be able to find you anywhere. Even underground. Or in the air. Or pretty much anywhere."

It was small and fit in the small carry bag clipped to my armor. "Thanks!" I said, meaning it.

"No problem. I have one for Danse too."

"Please make sure that Shaun has one on him too and Dogmeat if you have an extra," I asked.

"Already got part of that covered, Z. Shaun was the first one I gave one too. I will have to make another one for the dog, though," she scratched her ear. "Hadn't thought of Dogmeat. But he's pretty special. I'll get on it."

"Thanks, girlfriend," I hugged her, feeling my heart swell with affection.

"No problem, Z," she hugged me back.

I was only a 40 minute walk to Oberland Station. This settlement was built at an old waystation for the railroad. The railroad tracks still existed. Maybe they could be used again one day. There was a three story bunkhouse built on the hill behind the tracks and a few market stalls set up for travelers. There was a chemistry station and a good workshop for repairs.

Curie asked permission to use the chemistry station and worked quietly and efficiently at preserving my DNA treasures. Deacon, taking his responsibility to her seriously, stood nearby while she worked.

Fran and Howie were the original couple that started the settlement. They were middle-aged, with gray hairs beginning to take over on both of them. Howie had a fierce gray beard and thick mustache and shaggy hair, but his eyes were hazel and kind under his bushy brows. He smiled often. Fran was tall and thin, and her straight gray-threaded brown hair was tied back in a severe ponytail. Her eyes were soft brown. She was a good looking woman, with humor etched around her mouth too. Both of them had a wonderful sense of humor. They made a great couple. People wanted to be around them.

They greeted us warmly. Danse and I sat with them at a picnic table outside and we talked about how things were going and asked if they needed anything.

Fran suggested we start working together on building schools so that knowledge could be shared. I told her about the blacksmiths and the armory and how they would be willing to take apprentices.

"That's what I am talking about!" Fran exclaimed, delighted. "We need to share whatever we do have. Like how your people made cloth for the flags. We need stuff like that. Even how to make what we do have more edible."

Hmmm, maybe the Castle Cook Off would have some real use for the Commonwealth after all, I thought.

I laughed, "You need to talk to our Annie Drake," I laughed. "She has kind of done it already."

Danse with Shaun in tow and Howie went to go look at their defenses, while I got Annie and left the two women in deep discussion about cooking. Annie was taking notes.

They fed us lunch, and we all sat at the picnic tables and ate and talked. We warned them about the kidnappings, but told them the targets did not include settlers, but to please radio us and the Brotherhood if there were any sightings.

I brought up what I had been thinking on for some time now.

"What do you think about all of us pitching in and making a science school and center? Kind of what you were talking about, Fran. Maybe we could look for a cure for FEV or try bringing back different kinds of edible plants and fruits and such. I don't know, just pooling our resources to make life better for all of us. Maybe the Institute scientists would want to help. I don't want to be in conflict with the Brotherhood, but, maybe we could share knowledge together – stuff like the mirelurk repelling emitter."

"Sounds good to me," Fran said immediately. She looked to Howie who nodded.

"I would contribute labor and materials," he declared. "Joey and Tasha would probably want to go and study there – they love gadgetry."

Danse rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "I think the Brotherhood might agree to an arrangement."

"Well, spread the word, then," I said smiling and eating another bite of squirrel stew, "and we'll use Radio Freedom to encourage participation too."

We left after lunch and walked at a leisurely pace to Graygarden.

Graygarden was one of the wonders of the Commonwealth. It was a farm. Complete with large greenhouse. It was initially completely run by robots. Two century old robots. Mr. Handy and Miss Nanny models. Just as Curie used to be and the robot I had purchased to help raise my family, Codsworth, who waited for us back at the Castle.

They had needed help, sent out a distress signal and Danse and I had come. Preston suggested we put up a recruitment beacon there, and the robots had no problem with that at all. Now, it was a healthy settlement, with a dozen people living and working there.

I went to see Professor White, a Miss Nanny model robot who was the defacto leader of the robots. The people living here deferred to her as well. She was a gracious, if a bit egotistical leader.

"Oh, it is my friend and helper, Z! And her handsome fellow, too. Welcome Danse," she said with her Italian accent. Whoever programmed the Miss Nanny models and the Mr. Handys liked European accents.

She reported that all was well at Graygarden. She loved the idea of a science center, especially a botany department, which she would be happy to participate in, as an instructor or researcher.

After Danse's and Shaun's dutiful tour of the state of the defenses at Graygarden, Shaun was allowed to freely explore the settlement. I found him in a lengthy discussion with one of the Mr. Handy models, Professor Brown about robotics and self-maintenance.

The settlers had set up quarters for us and we all had dinner together in the downstairs of the bunkhouse.

Annie was impressed with the cooking and got into an animated discussion of the different ways to prepare mutfruit with Harriet and Louise, the woman who had prepared tonight's meal.

I guess Preston was right. We were thanked for our visit by nearly everyone we spoke with.

Danse asked to see their radio set up, and contacted Preston. He updated him on our status; telling him we were spending the night here. We told him there were no updates on The Black League. He had no news for us. All was well at The Castle and surrounding settlements.

Thad Breguette and the others made a large bonfire and we all sat around it under a cloudless night. The stars were bright. The moon just a sliver in the sky. It was peaceful. Harriet brought out a cooler full of chilled beer and told us all to help ourselves. I took one. It was icy cold and delicious.

Thad brought out a homemade string instrument and strummed while he sang. This must've been something they did often enough for everyone to join in on the chorus – and they sounded pretty darn good. By the third chorus most of us joined in too. Danse had a good voice. Didn't surprise me.

After Shaun was asleep, Danse and I stole out with our bedrolls. We went a little ways into the woods. We made love under the stars, slowly and tenderly. I fell asleep, listening to his strong heartbeat.

His pain woke me. He was sitting up, holding his head and tears of pain were streaking down his face. He made a snarl of agony and rocked back and forth on our bedrolls.

I massaged, and squeezed his upper back and neck, knowing it didn't help much, but I couldn't sit there and do nothing at all.

When I felt some of the tension melt away, I knew it was passing.

"Danse?"

"Remember the code, the one I heard before -– remember it. It's important. I don't know why, but you need to be the one to know it. I need to write it down for you, then I need you to memorize it and destroy the writing."

I had my small pack with me as I kept it clipped onto my belt. I found a page I had kept of Publik Occurences and a pen. I tore off the corner of the page and I handed it to him with the pen. My hands were shaking.

He wrote something down and passed it to me. It was dark out, but under the starlight I could make out the words and numbers, Theta - 2 – 8 Chi. Easy enough to remember. I tore up the tiny piece of paper, then buried it. The earth would break down the fragile bits of paper in no time. It was destroyed.

"You don't know why?" I asked feeling fear rearing its ugly head deep inside me.

"No. I just know it's important. And we need to protect Shaun. Someone wants him. Someone who feels he should be his."

"So it's a 'him'? Doe he mean Shaun harm?"

"I don't know, Z, I just don't know," he held his head. "This is not the most helpful of things, is it?"

"It might be, Danse, we don't know." I said softly, and embraced him.

"We should get back to the bunkhouse," Danse said quietly, "So we're there when Shaun wakes."

"Okay, let's go." We stood and dressed and gathered our things and went back.