Throughout the night, and into the next morning, the room TenTen was in was an orchestra of work and sounds of metal being banged on, crunched, and bent. It was not until Lyons came to check on the young woman did that door open again, and to his surprise, he was met with her finishing up, crunching the worktable's press into a mold that created small metal objects.
TenTen grabbed them and checked them before pouring a substance inside each. As she pressed three bullets into the casings, she loaded each into her pistol magazine and aimed at the target she made for herself. Firing once, she hit her target spot on, the next was higher up, and the last was lower. Loading another bullet, she fired to the side and went to the target.
Checking the board, she smiled. "I did it…"
Lyons walked up to her and inspected the target as well. "Did what exactly?"
TenTen jumped for a second before sighing heavily in relief. Instantly, however, she gave the old man a salute. "Sorry, Elder Lyons… I've been trying to replicate recipes I found and refining them to work for my weaponry, regarding ballistic ammunition."
"Ah, so you've made working ammunition from scrap and raw materials?" The Brotherhood was no stranger to this kind of work, however, they were mainly using Energy ammunition and weaponry so their need for these recipes was non-existant. "Last time we needed those recipes, we were not able to make very effective ammunition."
Upon inspection, he noticed hardly a difference between each hole in the target, which was thin metal sheeting. The bun haired woman smiled and chose to explain. "The three holes here were the new ammunition 10mm I've made, so far on point with accuracy but I'd need a range to test that. The one over to the side is one from your ammo stores, a spare box of officially made ammunition. As you can see, the new ammunition I made is just as effective. It took all night tweaking and getting it all done, but I think I finally have the mixture and grain refined to the right amount."
Hearing this, Lyons brushed his beard and hummed, but smiled as he stood. "Very good work. I do not know if we will ever need to use this, but knowing just how well we can make effective ballistic ammunition is vital for any future developments. Would you care to spare your work to the Brotherhood's archives?"
"Of course, I planned to. I even have instructions on making the molds for each bullet and casing. The primer took some time, but as long as it reacts to impact it will work." She yawned loudly and stretched a bit. "If it is alright with you, I'd like to get some breakfast, and try getting the next test over with."
As she walked off she heard some murmuring about her late-night experiments. Nothing she would care for, she wasn't trying to help the Brotherhood, but she would allow what she was doing to help if it did so. As she got her food, she started eating and trying to keep awake. "I can't sit here for too many days, as long as they are willing to give me the materials, I am going to refine my work and make a to-go bag for all my ammo needs."
Her mind, whilst heavily groggy due to no sleep, was less foggy due to the usage of Jet being zero. She could hardly believe how much her head was starting to clear, but she was unable to keep herself from falling asleep as she finished and laid down on the table for a quick nap.
Her mind swirled with many ideas, and with many of the events that she was a part of. Though she felt like she was blanking out many of her drug-filled battles, TenTen could remember how she acted towards others. And she was beginning to remember small details throughout her travels as if her conscience was coming to let her know what she did wrong.
She remembered as Naruto didn't even blink as he chose to go save Megaton from Raiders, how he planned everything in his travels to help those around him, and those he promised to get out of situations they did not like. How he kept her alive through every firefight when she would be knocked around or hit. Putting himself at risk to make sure she did not get harmed badly.
His last act of self-sacrifice, drawing the Enclave into a dead end as everyone else escaped. Her dream turned weird, seeing his smile bright as he faded from view, her feet running to try and catch up to him. The dream went blank and she opened her eyes to an empty room.
Checking her time, she sighed. "Five hours… Past lunch." She stood and started back to her room, only to see the young Maxson there. "Well hello, Maxson."
"Ah, TenTen, I noticed you resting in the cafeteria. Is everything ok? The word is you've been busy with something that, some even believe, is obsolete to the Brotherhood." He was confused as he saw ballistic ammunition everywhere. "Which I think is a safe argument considering we all use energy weaponry."
TenTen smiled a little bit. "Well, for the Brotherhood maybe. But I am not exactly doing this for you guys. I'm doing it for myself, and giving my findings to the Brotherhood as a contingency." She went back into the room. "By the way, I heard from a source that the Brotherhood has been using ballistic weaponry more and more as the time past since you arrived here. If anything, it seems your need for such things has been growing. Losing out on the energy supply?"
That caught the young Maxon off guard. "It's true, I've seen us use more ballistic weaponry, and yes… our stores have been slowly depleting as this war against the Mutants has raged on. But we will bounce back, as soon as we find more in the ruins of the main city. There may yet still be stockpiles of energy ammunition at the bunkers around the White House."
"Maybe so, but when that depletes, what do you do?" TenTen knew where she was taking this conversation. She just hoped she would get the kid to understand without bringing up Naruto's name, as he was a touchy subject here.
"We branch out and find more. It is not that hard to understand that we just have to locate and retrieve more energy weaponry and ammunition as we progress throughout the wasteland."
"And when that's all gone?"
Maxon was starting to get annoyed at that same question. "We keep going. What are you suggesting? That we will not be able to locate more in time to run out completely?"
TenTen turned to him and smiled sweetly. "Not at all. I am suggesting that, if you keep depleting the stores of ammunition and break more energy weaponry, you will find that there may not be any more to find at all. The world is not filled with infinite ammunition, it's not like you find one bunker that has some, clean it out, go away for a couple of weeks and it suddenly becomes stocked with more to obtain. One day, the Brotherhood may find that their strategy of finding more will be in vain. Instead, the Brotherhood should be focused on refilling their stores with the ability to MAKE more, instead of trash and deplete more. Self-sufficiency, that's what will save the energy dependency you have as an advanced group." Seeing Maxon look surprised hearing this, she smiled wider. "Until you find the ability to recharge those energy cells and make more energy ammunition yourselves, you'll run into the problem of running out and being forced to use ballistic ammunition. So I am finding out ways to make ballistic weaponry myself, which in turn will help the Brotherhood's eventual contingency."
TenTen went straight back to work, focusing on her high power pistol now to make the ammo as similar to the rounds from stock. Maxon walked up to watch her, and she just let him, smiling as she saw him try to put the pieces together. "So you're saying we may need this information if we are not able to find more stored somewhere like our 200 years of doing so has proven we could?"
"200 years is a long time, a slow degrade. My Vault slowly lost people, supplies, and found itself shrinking as many rooms and generators and machinery trying to keep us alive broke down. We thought we were fine, until the resources and space we were in grew too little. Just because it withstood 200 years before then, doesn't make from then on any easier. One day, like my Vault, your ways will change due to complications. It will be better to prepare than to wait for it to happen."
A good half an hour of work as Maxon watched and thought it through passed, and he left without a sound, but seeing him deep in thought made the young woman smile. She continued making rounds until she felt she had enough to test.
The next day, after finally getting some sleep, TenTen woke up and was getting breakfast when she heard some of the Knights talking. "Did you hear? The Enclave has bases everywhere now! You can hardly walk down to Megaton without seeing battalions with heavy weaponry."
After finishing her meal she started walking to find the Elder. "Lyons?"
She managed to find him in the huge area of a workshop. He turned to her. "Ah, one moment." He returned to talking with a Scribe, she suspected due to the robes, and after he finished he walked to her. "Sorry, we are still trying to get our secret weapon working."
"Secret weapon?"
"Yes. Liberty Prime. Funny you haven't asked about it yet." He turned to look up, which drew her eyes to see the VERY massive robotic man in the history of robotic men, and was surprised.
"What the heck is that thing?" She almost found it funny she caught herself saying that after he told her its name proper.
"It's Liberty Prime, an old pre-war relic. It was going to be the United States' secret weapon against the Communist armies. Though they never got him fully functional, and when we got here it was still only halfway built. He's a marvel of engineering, and when he's complete he will be the one to turn the tide against the Enclave with swift enough action to make them turn tail."
She was in awe, she could see where the rust was from long ago since the conception of the thing, and obviously, the jury-rig parts fitting nicely into their place where armor either fell off or in some cases were never there. "Wow… This can really make the Enclave pull back?"
"It's our belief it will. Using every advancement in technology we can produce, we've outfitted him with enough weapons and armor to stop another of him if the Enclave ever built another." Lyons smiled. "Assuming they were paranoid enough to think ahead of our arrival here in the Capital Wastes."
"I don't assume they knew the Brotherhood was coming… You've been here for years, but I highly doubt they could find enough technology to build another of him. Not with every Raider and civil wasteland roamer I've seen roaming."
Turning away he started walking. "So what brings you to me today, TenTen?"
"Sir… I overheard the others today, talking about reports of Megaton being in danger."
"Ah, yes. You are worried about that settlement then? I am sad to say, as of right now, it's been found out. I hear they have kept the Enclave at bay, but some have left to join the Enclave's forces."
"I was worried about that… But also about the Vault, it is nearby there, on the other side of Springvale." TenTen was walking up the steps with him when he stopped and turned.
"We've heard no reports suggesting they found a Vault." He continued walking. "Which is beneficial to us, because if they find any Vaults with pre-war tech still in working order, they can potentially gain access to resources to then turn the entire Wasteland into their bargaining chip. We must find a way to stop them from hoarding resources meant to be distributed fairly."
After walking with him a few more minutes, she stopped. "I know I need to figure out what my next move is, but I'm unsure how much help I can be… If possible, sir, mind if I continue to look through the files from the Scribes, and get some more materials?"
"We've given you what we can. Of course, you can continue to work on your projects, but I am afraid we cannot spare even more resources on a single project no one but a guest is trying to work on." Lyons stood his ground. "UNderstand, we may need the resources you ask for later, so we need to stock for an inevitable need when our current situation has been deemed unrecoverable."
Though she didn't like being limited, right now she knew she was being selfish and ungrateful for her current situation. "Enough rounds to take on a small group of Enclave, or a dozen groups of Raiders if I'm smart, careful, and efficient, and if I continued with only my pistol I'd have enough from my current supplies for another group of Enclave with just that. It would mean up close, so I would need something to give me better protection… I'm not about to get Power Armor training, it may take too long to do, and I can't stay here just working on ammo. I need to find Naruto, and I need to find the GECK… Wait! THat's it!"
She ran towards the terminals, finding the one about the Vaults. Though she could not find any information like logs right now, she managed to find out that there are so many Vaults in the Wasteland, and many were still reporting to be active. Digging further, she managed to find one being active that was not normal. "It's an experiment, but deemed classified even to higher-ups… This is not the usual Vault."
FInding everything she could, the brunette wanderer she went back to her project, at least until the Scribes found files on what she was looking for.
A full day later, and depleting her supplies to make every type of ammo she could fathom she would need, she was resting when a Scribe came in to talk to her, waking her up. "I am sorry to wake you, but we found what you were asking for."
That got her up. As TenTen followed, she was set by a terminal nearest the server and started to dig into what she needed, supply logs. Every experiment needed supply logs to test their effective ratio to the scope of the control units.
As she looked, she resolved herself. "What I need to do is something that will stop the Enclave in their tracks. Naruto's out there alone, possibly their prisoner… Hopefully not dead. I can't stay here too long or the Enclave grows further and more powerful. I need to do something to stop them from gaining control over the Purifier. That means I need to finish it, make my parents' dream come true. And to do that…" She smiled, finding it. "I get a GECK."
Standing she bowed to the Scribes in the information hall. "Thank you for your help." She started walking off to find Lyons.
XxX Next Day XxX
He was in with the Scribes downstairs. "I am currently dealing with a very important matter, may I get back to you afterward, TenTen?"
"Does it involve the Enclave?" Getting his attention, she sighed. "I want to help."
"Sadly, you are not equipped to take on such threats. Ballistic weaponry is seemingly useless against their advanced suits in any small caliber weaponry. And they are also seemingly resistant to energy weaponry. Our laser rifles are having trouble penetrating their outer shells."
"Small ballistic shells and laser weapons will have trouble, but there's still high caliber weaponry and armor-piercing rounds, along with Plasma weapons, that can still work."
Walking up to the young woman, the Elder put his hands behind him and stood tall. "And you have neither. So what do you think you can do?"
"I can help you without fighting them. Look, they are all over that Memorial still, they came directly for it. My father sabotaged it so they could never use it. I know it's risky, but right now we should be finding a way to kick them out and activate the project fully."
"You're suggesting we take their biggest main base to date, find out how to make the father's project work unlike he could do, and risk it all on something unproven?"
TenTen smiled with determination. "No. I suggest you let me go find a GECK somewhere, and get it ready to use."
To say he was stunned by this was wildly inaccurate. "You cannot be serious."
"I'm more serious now than I ever have been." Taking a deep breath, the bun haired woman started her pitch. "Ever since I left my Vault, I've been overwhelmed with this world. Desolate destroyed wastes, raiders, mutated creatures, Super Mutants, mercenary forces, you name it. I had to cope with it by using drugs, and that usage, and withdrawal, made me do rather rash things. After everything that I've seen, the things I've done both good and bad, I've learned how to deal with the world. I can't just stay here waiting for the Brotherhood to come up with a plan to eventually sit down and figure out what to do, not whilst the Enclave is out there locking down everyone from surviving this radioactive hell. I need to do something to help, and this is what I can do. No one knows that the GECK can make the project work outside this fortress, the Enclave won't be searching for it. Which allows me to search myself. I won't fight the Enclave, I'll bypass them at every turn. Let me help. If we have the chance to make the project work, everyone here might be more inclined at fighting for something other than just taking a simple base. Don't think I haven't heard them talk about why the memorial is even relevant when it's not functioning. Please, Lyons. I can do this."
A long moment of silence stood between them, and Lyons was not moving as he digested it all. The truth was, he knew the Brotherhood was sitting on their hands waiting for something, but not a single higher echelon could determine the best course of action to take other than keep eyes on the wasteland and report. Turning around, he looked at the huge machine of a weapon and brushed his beard. "Say I give you that chance. What will you do if everything runs south? Say you get the GECK, what happens when you lose it, or you die before you can get it here?"
"I planned to have someone give me a hand." Seeing him turn to her, she put her hands up defensively. "Never said from the Brotherhood, I was hoping to find someone to help along the way. Most everyone I know so far is either in the way of the Enclave now, or behind enemy lines on the other side of the Mutant threat, but I do have one person I can find to give me a hand… Though I might have to do something drastic to get them to agree. They help me throughout, and if anything happens to me with the package, I give the thing to them to run it back here at the cost of my own life."
Silence permeated the room for a small amount of time before Lyons stopped rubbing his beard. "THat will not be necessary. Given the correct help, you can come back in one piece. Whilst not officially part of this Brotherhood, you are still, to me, considered an honored guest and potential member for the future. I cannot in good conscience let you off alone with random help for a mission of great importance."
That took the bun haired woman off guard. Looking at her with a slight smile, Lyons continued. "I am going to be sending alongside you one of my best agents. And you are to return unharmed and with the GECK. That's my decree as Elder."
"Sir… I can't accept that randomly." TenTen shook her head. "I beg your pardon but I am just random hearsay to the way forward, even if I am right not everyone here will agree."
"That's for them to speculate. The Brotherhood is a Hierarchy, as Elder my word is absolute. My methods usually turn towards having many opinions and a vote, but the rule stands I can make any order I wish absolute anytime I deem it necessary. And this is one such time. We need to take action, and if the GECK can cause such drastic change in the environment of the Wasteland, then I am going to send whom I wish." He started walking. "Come with me."
Walking just a short distance, to the head Scribe in the vicinity, Lyons began to explain. "We've been trying to find out what we should be doing, and the notion of swiping the project back from the Enclave has bee a topic of discussion. Of course, there are numerous who think it is a waste of time getting fresh water right now in the face of the current war that started the second the Enclave sent droves of Vertibirds and soldiers towards every conceivable society. The prevailing thought, one I agree with, is if we manage to take back Purity… We can hold the distribution of water, and if we freely give that water to everyone who will accept it, they will hopefully swear against the Enclave. If the civilians they are trying so hard to bring to their side run against them, then we are looking at one of two outcomes. They try and take down those they consider a threat, namely us and the Mutants roaming the ruins of the Mall, and leave everyone else alone. Or, they start doing things by force, causing those with weapons to start defending themselves, even if they are vastly outmatched. We are hoping to supply those who can defend themselves so they can start defending strategically with missiles stocked in secret, or even much better weaponry than your standard Raider. The main goal is to stop the Enclave from drafting everyone to their ranks, this could tip the favor to our side. So it is beneficial to see if this will work because no other ideals have come across my table as of late. No one will allow me to send a small squad of my best on a hunch, but you're free to leave and do whatever you wish. So, as long as I give one soldier to you as a protective measure because you are someone we have sworn to look after, then it is not too against the others from their disagreement. If you must go in search, then I am supporting you. And I have kept tabs, I know you've been searching for Vaults. Have you found anything worthwhile?"
It wasn't too far a stretch hearing the organization was about the chain of command, though she wondered who he would be sending. "Well, I found that there was a GECK sent to one Vault in the nearby area, Vault 87."
The Scribe turned at that. "That area… I wouldn't that the chance with it."
Getting a confused look, the Scribe was about to explain when Lyons chose to do it in their stead. "TenTen, that Vault… It's not going to be easy getting in. The entire surrounding area leading into the Vault's entrance is highly radioactive, to the point that it would require our best anti-radiation suits and a stockpile of Rad-X and Radaway to even breach it, and that's just to get in. The chances it's filled with radiation will be high, making our time there short if we want to send any amount of substantial exploration teams in to investigate the Vault. So just sending you in would still drain supplies we cannot give readily in the amount required for you to breach."
"Oh… well…" TenTen hummed and was frowning in thought. Knowing Vaults, her own included, she looked to Lyons. "Vaults are usually underground, and any underground cavern being dug into would have secondary exits. 101 had one way back but that was sealed off completely. Something about a cave-in a hundred years ago… Might there still be a secondary entrance to 87?"
Overhearing this, Rothschild stepped in. "Persistent… Like your father, one thing I respect you both for I suppose. You are right, there is another entrance, but we've not explored there because there has been no benefit to the potential cost of doing so. If you are sure, I can show you where to go."
"Yes, I'm sure. I need to do this… For my father, my mother... Even for the Wasteland and the Brotherhood. It's the only way forward from this disaster with the Enclave." Rothschild smiled at that and went to the map board, and pointed out the place on the map. The young woman looked and hummed. "I'm unfamiliar with that area. I've been mostly south of this borderline."
The head Scribe turned to her and nodded. "I thought as much. This is 87, and this…" He pointed to another location nearby. "Is where a cave is that has the potential backdoor, so to speak. It's called the Lamplight Caverns, and it's the only place we know of that could have another entrance in. We are still unsure of the radiation levels, but it's safe to bet that it has at least a small amount of remaining radioactive material. If you go, then be ready for anything."
"Thank you, Rothchild. You've been a huge help." Getting a smile back before he left, TenTen turned to Lyons. "So… I'll just map the coordinates on my Pip-Boy and get ready to leave. I should go when the sun sets, sneak past any patrols or raider camps still in the area."
Lyons bowed slightly. "And I will gather the one to accompany you. They will meet you by the front gates. Prepare well, this will be even more dangerous than anything you've seen thus far."
"I planned to. Thank you, Elder Lyons." She turned and went back to her room, ready to gather every ounce of ammo and gear she could strap on whilst still being mobile enough to run from bigger threats.
The Elder hummed as he rubbed his beard. "If she survives… She would make an excellent Scribe, or Knight potentially. Naruto, you've done well protecting one so gifted mentally."
XxX 1500 hours, Jefferson Memorial XxX
The breaking of several old electronic devices rang through the room as one armored individual kicked them over. "We had them here, and they all got away, you're telling me that Naruto escaped?!"
Another in heavy armor winced as another device was thrown. "He evaded capture, alone. He slipped through the other tunnels before causing a cave-in and flood. We sent in teams to search the river but came up short. We're unsure where he is now, but we suspect he is, by now, long gone…"
A roaring scream return with another broken piece of old technology, then the first armored individual took their helmet off. The raven-haired soldier got close to the other. "That's it, Lienus, you're final strike comes here. You were told to find him and bring him in alive… You failed! The Colonel has new orders for you, report back immediately."
A Salute came up before a solemn walk away. As Lienus left, another soldier came in. "Damn, that's harsh. Sasuke, I got some bad news. The Colonel's gonna be out for a few days they said, he managed to inject himself with the prototype radiation cleanser, but the initial burst nearly fried his liver. He'll live, but he's in med-bay until further notice. He's given us an assignment, though."
"You can shove that assignment up your ass, Shikamaru. You know how important this is! Naruto cannot be left out in the wind. We have to figure out where he may have gone. Megaton was a no go, even if we did manage a dozen volunteers before we were shut out." He strapped his helmet to his waist holder.
Sighing and rubbing the back of his head, the second in command could only hope to end this conversation. "Don't make this such a drag. We've looked, he's in the wind already. What you are suggesting is wasting time on finding a ghost, whilst your superior officer is giving you an order. Want to make sure it's from him, then be my guest. I'll go wait for the others until you get your head on straight." He did just that, even as Sasuke yelled a point about direct orders being the only ones to follow.
Standing for minutes on end, the younger Uchiha frowned. "Where did you go… Naruto…" Turning to leave, he groaned in aggravation. "Better be a damned worthwhile assignment, Colonel…"
Finding him, the Colonel was only just still conscious for the time being. "Sasuke… I thought I gave Shikamaru your orders already. Though… You're one to… KUH KUH!... One to get orders directly to make sure that there is no miscommunication. One of your… more loyal qualities."
"Reporting in, sir. Just making sure with you before heading out. Have you already seen Lienus?"
"No. Her punishment will come, but not until after you've left. Your mission is more urgent. We've received intel that the Brotherhood is gearing up for something, an envoy was sent towards the Outcasts, and the Outcasts have recently been seen around an old testing base. Go and find out if the Brotherhood is starting any trouble our way. You're to report to Megaton's closest checkpoint and from there keep eyes on any movement from any of their ranks. Do not worry about your primary target in Greenland. We will find him, and when we do we will send for you immediately."
Saluting, Sasuke looked determined. "Yes, Sir. For the Enclave!" He left as soon as he was dismissed and put his helmet back on. "I'll be patient… a few more days will not be too much harder after years of waiting. And a mission is just what I need to distract me for the time being."
XxX 2000 hours, Citadel Front Gate XxX
Geared to the teeth, the bun-haired Wanderer was ready to go. Though not fully loaded out to her liking, due to her broken rifle gone forever, she still had her shotgun, minus the spike anymore, and her new armor-piercing super pistol. Slipping the latter to her leg, and the former to her back after getting full armored up again, the newly determined woman had everything ready. Her big bag mostly empty with only essentials like her ammunition and emergency medical kit, which she had fully stocked thanks to Lyon's vouching for her, she was heading out of the Citadel's inner rings.
Passing by the training grounds, which were mostly quiet with just late-night physical training ongoing still for some of the new recruits, TenTen wondered who her escort would be. Heading through the doors to the main gate, she was met with a very familiar armor setup. Turning to her, the person smiled, it was Cross. "Greetings, TenTen. Lyons has given me the order to follow you to your destination."
"I am honored, Cross. Though I suspected after our last chat you were adamant on not happy with my moral compass." It was kind of what she gathered from the woman, but apparently, that wasn't the full case.
Cross smiled and bowed a little. "I apologize if that was what you took from my words. I merely suggested that I did not feel comfortable helping you on your missions until you redeemed yourself as an honorable human being. Though I still have yet to see this redemption, I am being tasked with guarding you towards Lamplight. Consider this a test, to show me you are worthy of the respect Lyons has given you. Shall we move onward?"
"Yes, let's… And I do hope I can prove worthy as well. I can see why you, and even Naruto, consider him in such high regard." Smiling brightly, she stepped forward. "To Lamplight. Open the gates?"
Cross nodded to the doorman and the gates opened up enough for the two to leave, and both started walking out and towards the northern roads, hoping to find direction from there. Though neither would know what they would find in Lamplight, or Vault 87.
XxX LEVEL UP! (Level 12) XxX
+20 skill points
Perk Added: Scrounger (Note, Perks now have new effects. Check the updated Character Sheet in the Author Note next chapter.)
Medicine +5
Repair +5
Science +5
Small Guns +5
Effects of Jet Withdrawl removed, Addiction lost