~O~

Something to Prove

Colter awoke that morning to a red ribbon on his pillow.

He blinked, exhausted and looked down at it, picking it up in his hand. He turned it around in his hand for study before he stood up and walked to the windows overlooking Nuka Town. He looked around, then noticed Mags watching him from below, her arms folded across her chest.

Colter stared down at her, clenched the red ribbon tightly in his hand.

"No way," he whispered, "No fucking way."

It was a message.

She knew.

Laura walked through Diamond City Market, her head numb from the loss of her father.

At least he'd passed in his sleep and his pain had finally stopped. She wished she hadn't woken up to him dead beside her.

Ann Codman was heard talking with John at the Super Salon; she apparently didn't care for the way he cut her hair and the tone of her voice drew Laura's attention toward the stand.

"...How difficult is it to cut hair?" Ann snapped, "You take scissors and you just...cut. Honestly, this is why I'll never come back down here."

Laura frowned at her. "Wow. There are no words. "

Ann turned her attention to her now, waving a dismissing hand. "This has nothing to do with you, little Holdren brat. I don't care for your tone. Why don't you run along before I make a complaint with Security?"

Laura scoffed, muttering under her breath. "Bitch."

Ann looked at her with a sneer. "What did you say?" she snapped. "Oh, never mind. I'm done talking with disgraced families anyway. Why don't you run back to your whore mother and that Ghoul of hers where you belong?"

Laura had started walking away, but stopped in her tracks, baring her teeth with a snarl. Her father had died and Ann had the nerve to speak about her mother? It just snapped something in her and she whirled, lunging for the woman with an enraged shout.

It became chaos as Laura and Anne rolled around in the dirt; Laura exchanging the most punches to Ann's head while the older woman struggled to keep her at bay with her hands against her face. Diamond City guards swarmed over the two, shouting and struggling to pull them apart.

"Get off her, Holdren!"

"You psychotic heathen!" Ann shrieked, as she was pulled to her feet, mouth bloody.

O

Laura sat in the holding cell, her mouth bloodied as well.

Nick Valentine made his way up to her cell, sighing before he looked at the guard. "Hey, I'll take it from here," he told him.

The guard nodded his head. "Sure thing, Nick. She's done her time anyway."

The door was unlocked, but Laura didn't look up when Nick entered and took a seat beside her. He stared at the woman sympathetically.

"Hey, kid," he said, "How you holdin' up?"

Laura blinked, let out a small noise. Then, she laughed, a strained sound and looked away. "I'll live." she quipped.

"Saw the smacking you gave ol' Codman." Nick remarked, with a chuckle.

"She called my mother a whore."

Nick's brow wrinkled somewhat. "Well, that's a cruel thing to call someone, but Ann's never been one for niceties. None of those Upper Stands folk have."

"Can't believe I used to be one of them..."

Nick shook his head. "It's alright," he assured her, "Don't blame yourself for anything. You've been through hell, kid. I'm just glad you got away from the raiders."

Laura swallowed thickly, shutting her eyes when she thought of Mags. Nick continued to speak, trying to offer comfort for her.

"I'm sorry about your father. He was a good man and did fine work here in Diamond City. If you need someone to be a shoulder to cry on, I'm your synth."

"I know. I..." Laura shut her eyes to compose herself before she continued. "I met someone out there, but now that my father's gone I...I can't go back to her." Her voice trembled again. "I really have no one."

Nick put an arm around her shoulder and shook his head. "Hey, don't think like that," he assured her. "And what do you mean 'I can't go back to her'? You love this person, don't you?"

Tearfully, Laura shook her head. "I thought I did."

"Sounds like you still do."

Nick smiled sympathetically and Laura knew she couldn't tell him about the raiders. Nick Valentine was one of the few good synths she knew in her life and she also knew that it would disappoint him to know the truth of where she was. But she wanted to and she would leave that part out, knowing he'd absolutely change his tune. She wanted advice on her next decision. Her mind was lost.

"I don't know what to do, Nick..." Laura said, leaning into him, "I miss her, but...she doesn't want me back."

Nick frowned thoughtfully. "How do you know?"

"She told me."

Nick sighed now, shaking his head. "Sometimes people say that when they're scared, Laura," he explained, "You had to choose your father first. She pushed you away to keep herself from hurting. No matter what anyone says or does, they hide their feelings until you help them realize."

"She's not afraid of anything, Nick, trust me."

"I don't know if that's true," Nick explained, with a small smile, "Everyone is, Laura. No matter how tough they are, they have something they're scared of. Maybe this girl of yours is scared of her own feelings for you. But that's up to you to find out."

Laura thought about that, sniffling once and wiping her eyes on her sleeve. She looked over her shoulder toward the direction of her house.

"Clements will take care of him?" she questioned.

"He's a good man," Nick assured her, "Your father will have the burial he wanted; out at sea where he always wished he could be."

Laura nodded. Her mind went to Nuka World and her features slowly lit up with realization when she knew what she had to do. She felt a certain relief when it came to her as well as a fear that clenched her heart tight. It would be crazy to do what she had planned to do next, but it made the most sense.

"I have to go back." she said.

Nick nodded his head. "I know you do, kiddo. I just hope you find what you need on the way."

"I think I will." Laura smiled nervously.

Back at Nuka World, Mags was looking down at the rifle she'd given Laura with a cold feeling in her heart. It wasn't like her to do that; to feel a change when she'd lost something that, often times, was trivial.

She chuckled a little at the thought and William looked toward her from the other side of the Parlor, surprised by the noise for only a moment.

"Something funny?" he asked.

"Strange, really," Mags replied, still looking down at the rifle, "This is the second time I've bid away a consort, but the first time I actually...feel differently about it. It's amusing, really. That insufferable girl finds a way, doesn't she?"

"I suppose she did."

William resumed his attention to his own gun; cleaning it in silence, while only looking up briefly to his sister when she disappeared into her room. His sister had been cool, calculating and composed. But it wasn't hard to see that something had changed with her after Laura's departure.

But he knew better than to address it.

Mags shut the door behind her and glanced at the mirror, to her reflection. She remembered when Laura had sat at the mirror with her; she remembered the way the woman had laughed with her and shared a few kisses in her lap. She'd truly grown bold to initiate such a thing. But it had been welcome.

She sighed.

Outside, Jet and Needles were watching the moon above the backstage. Honey was asleep beside Jet and he occasionally gave it a few pets.

"Hey! Hey, you guys!"

The two looked down and noticed Buzz - a Pack kennel guard - waving at them. "Hey. Found one of them Brotherhood of Steel outposts. Whole place was torn to hell. Bodies and ghoul corpses everywhere. Found a working power armor suit just sitting in there!" he told them. "All we need to do is find one them glowy battery things. Think I know where I can find one. I'm gonna need help. You in?"

Needles laughed, shaking his head. "That's all you!"

Buzz waved them off. "Ahh, more spoils for me!"

The two men watched him rush off, listening to his eager howling. Jet looked at Needles before he frowned thoughtfully, looking down at Honey.

"Hey, so I was thinking," he began. "About Honey Number One."

"Yeah? Why? You got a new bear right here with you."

"But she was drugged, Needles." Jet argued, "Who do you think has more power than everyone here? Someone who could really get into her cage?"

Needles frowned, glanced down at the smaller bear before he sighed.

"Yeah. I hear ya'."

O

Laura was standing in front of Nuka Cola World's monorail. It would take her through the Gauntlet as it had so many other helpless wastelanders. She knew exactly what waited for her on the other side of the Gauntlet, too; Colter would be ready for her, especially after what he'd almost gotten away with in the plant.

But she had to do this. She had to try and prove herself worthy to come back. There was nothing more for her back home and she knew this was where she had to be.

She walked through the doors, but heard the sound of someone pleading for help and made her way down the steps.

There was a man laying on the floor, battered and bruised. He was leaning against a pillar and Laura immediately made her way to his side.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, "What happened to you?"

"Gangs happened!" he groaned, "I-I'm Harvey and..."

Laura furrowed her brow when she remembered the name. She backed away from him for a moment, then looked around before she scoffed. She never knew what happened to lure the people into the Gauntlet, but now she understood looking at him.

"Wait, I remember hearing that name when I first got here. Is that how you're doing it?" she asked, "Luring people into the Gauntlet while pretending to be hurt?"

Harvey sighed, standing up now. "Fine, you got me. I'm not really hurt." he said. He caught her cold, angry frown and raised two hands when she reached for her pistol. "Look, look, if I split, people I know get hurt. I can handle screwing over a stranger, but not people I care about."

"It's easy, huh?" Laura snapped, glaring at him.

"Look, I..." Harvey frowned thoughtfully when he noticed Laura's armor beneath the coat she was wearing. "Hold up, that's Operator armor. Wait." His eyes widened and he pointed at her. "You're her! Laura Holdren! You're the one who cleared out the parks!"

Laura sighed, nodding once. "Yeah. And I'm back to run the Gauntlet."

"What the hell? Are you nuts?" Harvey exclaimed, staring at her like she'd grown two heads. "You're gonna end up coming out of it like ground Brahmin. And if you somehow survive, you have Colter on the other end waiting for you. Remember all those shows you went to see? Remember what happened to those people?"

Oh, Laura didn't forget it. She had watched from behind a mask as people had been crushed to pulp, electrocuted by Colter's armor or obliterated by his guns. It had always ended brutally for them, but Laura had an upper hand; she knew how the Gauntlet worked and how Colter fought. She would find a way.

"Are you letting me through or not?" Laura snapped, trying to force resolve in her voice. She had to stay strong.

"I-I guess?" Harvey laughed hesitantly and nodded, offering her a piece of paper. "Here, take this. It's the password to the monorail control terminal. The fastest way to get to Nuka-World is to take the Nuka-Express. It'll lead you right to the Gaunlet."

Laura took the note and made her way to the controls. "Thank you, Harvey."

"Man, I really hope you know what you're doing." he said - it wasn't a gesture of good luck, but hope, "I hope you make it, I really do."

"Yeah, me too."

Laura typed in the code and looked toward the bright red monorail waiting to take her to the Gauntlet.

O

Gage was leaning against the wall of Fizztop Grille, eating a bowl of noodles that morning. A Disciple rushed up to him and he frowned at her. She grinned, leaned and whispered into his ear; his eyes widened and he spat out his noodles before dropping the bowl and rushing off.

"What the fuck?" he shouted, "MAGS!"

He was making his way to the Parlor as fast as he could, but the alarm had gone off and he knew it was only a matter of time before Colter was ready to get to the arena. But he also knew that news would travel fast and it wasn't going to be long before everyone knew that Laura was running the Gauntlet.

Dan was standing outside of the Parlor and he looked shocked. Gage stopped, stared at him and made a face.

"Shit...what the fuck?" Dan exclaimed.

"LAURA'S RUNNING THE GAUNTLET!" A Pack member ran by, yelling loudly in a singsong voice with a few gleeful howls to follow. "LAURA'S RUNNING THE GAUNTLET!"

"Shut the fuck up!" someone yelled from a distance. "Getting on my fucking last nerve!"

"Does Mags know about it?" Gage asked, shooting a dirty look in the direction of the Pack member.

Dan made a face and nodded hesitantly. "Yeah. She already does."

O

"That girl is a stubborn fool and she's going to get herself killed."

Mags looked angry, which was a new one for her. At least, that was what William and Gage thought when they met up at the radio station where Gage could address Laura from inside the monorail. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed, glaring at Gage now.

"Speak to her. Now." she said, calmly, but firmly enough that she meant business.

Gage nodded his head, not daring to challenge the woman's resolve; he started by pressing a button on the nearby speaker. "Laura, I know you can hear me and I got a few questions," he snapped, "First one: What the fuck are you thinking? You hit your goddamn head on the way out the door, or something?"

Laura was sitting in the monorail, tapping her foot anxiously when she heard Gage's voice crackle over the speakers above her. She laughed weakly, unsure if he could even hear her.

"That's two questions, Gage!" she yelled.

"Second question: Are you actually high right now?"

Gage scoffed, looked toward Mags and William before he resumed focus on the speaker. "I only got a minute so you better listen and listen good. You're heading back home with us, but still heading straight into a death trap. Now I don't know what the fuck happened in the time you left, but you're gonna end up beneath Colter's boot if you somehow survive."

Mags gestured for him to move aside so that she could speak. "Move. I'm speaking to her now."

"Yeah, sure."

Laura looked up, heart clenching when she heard Mags' voice. Somehow it calmed her.

"Laura, listen to me," she said, speaking evenly, "You are, without a doubt, the most foolish woman to ever come back here. You've cleared all of the parks for us, but this is a new venture entirely. Do you know what Colter will do to you? Do you really? He's a coward and a fool, but he is still a beast. You won't make it out of this alive unless you listen to Gage and do as he says."

"Yeah, sure she'll listen." Gage quipped, rolling his eyes.

William looked over his shoulder toward the doors. "RedEye'll be here soon, let's wrap it up."

Mags sighed impatiently before resuming her attention to the speakers, and Laura. "I don't know what brought you back or what you felt you'd accomplish, but... I wish you luck, Laura. I'll be watching."

The door opened and RedEye stepped through, just as shocked as the others. "Shit!" he exclaimed, "I guess you guys heard who's walking her ass through the Gauntlet. I mean, this girl's got balls on her! So...what do you want me to do? Same as everyone else?"

Gage nodded his head sternly. "That's right. Treat Laura like you would any other Commonwealth idiot who walks through here. Can't show any weakness when she faces Colter. We got a show to put on."

RedEye smiled. "You got it."

Meanwhile, the monorail stopped at the entrance to Nuka World and Laura hesitantly stepped out. She looked around at the decorations made up of metal and body parts - no doubt a design by the Disciples. She knew what their handiwork entailed.

"Attention all my favorite undesirables out there. In case you haven't noticed, looks like we got ourselves some fresh meat to run the Gauntlet!" RedEye announced her arrival with a gleeful sound. "And she's off! Let's hope our latest prey can draw a little... inspiration from our previous victims!"

Laura looked down and noticed a fresh corpse lying on the floor near a flight of steps. He'd must have barely made it before dropping dead to gunfire. Laura's eyes widened when she heard the sounds of turrets winding up and she jumped behind an overturned Nuka Cola machine, seconds before bulletfire ripped her apart.

"Well, look at that!" RedEye's voice filled the speakers. "Our girl sure knows how to dodge some bullets. Good thing that's not all we got in store for her."

Laura sighed, rolling her eyes as she crawled her way across the floor, avoiding the turrets' line of sight. She could see the doorway where an arrow was pointing, indicating the next place to go. She didn't have too far to go, but knew what was waiting for her.

Colter.

O

Colter was grinning as he fitted himself into his armor.

"So...it looks like our little frog hopped her way right back here," he hissed, to himself, "Time to break her legs for good."

Gage was helping him by tuning up a few parts of the armor behind the man. He caught Mags' look from the stands and made a face. He'd never seen concern on her face before, but he didn't have time to watch for long as it came and went like lightning. He made his way out of the arena and toward the console. Mags was approaching him and he sighed, shaking his head.

"Laura's making her way through the Mirelurk habitat we have set up," he told her, "Won't be long until she gets back here."

"Do you know what to do?" Mags questioned. "Colter will tear her apart and we can't have that."

Gage looked at her. "Look, I know you care about her." he said, risking crossing the line. Mags looked at him and he exhaled quickly, but put on resolve. "Yeah, it's true, I know it is. You don't want to see Colter break her apart. Don't worry, the plan will work as long as Laura listens to me."

Mags had her doubts about that. After all, Laura didn't listen to her when she was sent away.

O

Laura heard the clacking of the claws.

She saw the round, moss-covered shells moving as she stood over a huge pit filled with Mirelurks. She took a deep breath and noticed the door across the pit - and the only way to reach it was to cross a rickety, makeshift bridge of wooden boards.

"Okay..." Laura whispered, to herself, "I can do this..."

She balanced herself with her arms out and took one careful step onto one of the boards. The Mirelurks below her chattered aimlessly, wandering around below. Laura whimpered uneasily, slowly walking across the boards. The Mirelurks didn't seem to notice her.

"Please, please, please..." she mumbled, "Don't look up. Don't look up."

She was close to the other side and one of the Mirelurks hissed loudly, startling her. She stumbled, the wood beneath her feet snapping. Laura's hands grasped at the handle of the door and her legs kicked out beneath her. The Mirelurks let out a series of rattling sounds and their pincers snapped at her heels, attempting to reach for her.

One pincer clasped around her ankle and she let out a shriek, struggling with her pistol in her belt before taking several frantic shots at the creature. Two bullets missed entirely, but one found its mark in the Mirelurk's head and the animal fell back with a pained screech, releasing Laura's ankle.

She quickly scrambled to her feet and hurried through the door, but froze in her spot eyes widening at the sight of several grenades dangling from the ceiling. There were even tripwires at her feet and she was close to triggering one had she not stopped herself in the doorway in time.

"Fuck!" Laura hissed out. "You guys!"

She looked up at one of the grenades, delicately plucked one from the hanging string. She looked down across the hall that was littered with them before pulling the pin from the grenade. She tossed it quickly down the hall, slammed the door shut and held her ears with two hands.

The grenades detonated, nearly rocking her off of her feet. The sound scattered the Mirelurks into a frantic mess; they wandered far from her, down toward another makeshift tunnel to possibly protect their eggs. Laura watched them go, struggled to find her senses passed the ringing in her ears.

She blinked, rose to her feet and opened the door, cautiously stepping through. The tripwires were gone as well as the grenades hanging from the ceiling.

She was going to go on, but her stomach couldn't stop flipping.