I hate it when I have to publish short chapters. But unfortunately, this chapter is divided from the other which would be the next chapter. -I wanted to make sure I fully work on that part, so to keep you all posted, I got this one out.
Anyway, let's get to the point. So scroll down, read, and enjoy.
Wild
-Forgotten: West Virginia-
"Nick."
Amanda simply said. But a bitter frown, and glare clearly masked her face as she stared into the synth detective.
But saying no word at all after. Amanda only stared as she watched Nick slowly sighing.
"Look... I came here to help you. I made a word to myself, that I'll come back once I made sure things are truly fine back in the Commonwealth."
Amanda firmly folded her arms before taking a step front.
"And what makes you think I'll still need you?"
Amanda countered with a question. She of course, didn't wanted any weight to be carried other than her plans. But seeing Nick frowning shortly before sighing once more, she waited for a response.
"If you still don't know yet. There's a loose synth. With your face. Name. And Enclave, of her own."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. She already knew about it. But it didn't concern her unless she finally gets to the point of dealing with anything involving the issue.
"I know."
Amanda simply replied. Almost sounding as if, it didn't really matter. But it didn't at all, as her main focus for now was back east, neighboring DC.
Seeing Nick's surprised look. Amanda waited for the synth to reply.
"Amanda... The Commonwealth is vulnerable. With the Institute still hiding in all this we're dealing with, the US Army, and the Brotherhood wouldn't be enough if things go differently. And I doubt the Enclave on all divisions there could assess the situation either. Not without you, or Patriot."
Amanda frowned. But deciding to fully engage on the topic, she bitterly responded.
"The Institute only got the opportunity to plant a synth into the ranks in the Commonwealth because of my absence. But the only thing that got me into the issue was the report of the divisions almost being compromised. The rest, are no issue to me."
"And you don't even worry, that she could've easily manipulated everyone else if she succeeded?"
Amanda glared at Nick.
"Should I be worried? When I had Patriot handling my army back east? And what is another concern when there's already an order, ceasing all alliances with the USAF and the Brotherhood of Steel? The fools at the USAF and the greedy bastards on the Brotherhood can go fuck themselves for all I care. The Enclave doesn't need them -Because the Enclave does not need. It wants. And what the Enclave wants... Is superior firepower.
I want Appalachia."
"Amanda, we are not going at this agai-"
"Stop me then."
Amanda bitterly interrupted, but to see Nick pinching the bridge of his plastic nose, she earned a response.
"I'm here to help. If you would at least take a pause for being a stubborn woman, it'll make it easier for me to explain why I'm doing this."
Amanda snorted and gave a remark.
"I don't care. And I don't have time for bullshit."
"Amanda... Did you really forgot why I'm trying to help you out in the first place? Don't tell me and don't lie to me. You are a wife. A mother, searching for your-"
"I was a wife. But never a perfect mother. Nate is long gone, and Shaun -I don't need Shaun. I have the Enclave. This is what I want now, Nick."
To see such a realistic expression such as being shocked on behalf of grimace out of a plastic face. Amanda turned her head inside the large tent to gaze over at her Liberty power armor.
"I am the future of the Enclave... My life, my soul, my existence... Now revolves at the center of the twelve stars. Without me... Without my efforts, and questionable goals and leadership...
The Enclave would remain stuck at rock bottom. Seen as nothing but murderers. Treated like the rejected citizens in this ruined soil of America. Pursued like convicted criminals that they once were..."
Turning her head back to Nick who visibly wore an empathizing look.
"If you want to me to find Shaun... I will do it. But only for Nate. And when I'm done with that... I'm done with the past. All I will focus on now, is my responsibility in the Enclave."
"You changed... You're not that mother who was so willing to find her infant son..."
Amanda looked away. Even if she wouldn't admit it.. But Nick was right. She hated that.
"A stranger I came across by asked me... Who are you, who do not know your history?"
Amanda slowly turned to Nick. Frozen on his place taring at her cold green eyes...
"I answered... I was an ordinary woman. A lawyer. Married to a man. A war veteran. An imperfect mother. And that's all that I will want to know about my history.
But all that matters now, is where I am. What I do. And I do it, to stir clear my history that was once a part me."
To see Nick remaining frozen in his place. Amanda stared at him for a long moment before continuing.
"This is for more than just revenge, of that's how you're thinking... To do more than bring vengeance to those who have wronged the family that I once had. This is now on behalf of the responsibility in taking care of what I've adopted into myself over the grieve of loss.
The Enclave and I both lost something we had. I lost my family. They lost their chances to rebuild America. We both fell and felt weak. We were both crushed. And only together as one with the Enclave can we get back up again. To pursue not only those that had wrong my family. But to pursue those as well that had stepped on the Enclave -Despite their inhumane, genocidal commitments.
You'll come to see why we are so formalized. So strict. So disciplined... And so angered. It's because we are fed up with the long silence. Done being hidden away from the world that made us suffer. Done with the people who have underestimated our existence and purpose."
Amanda turned away.
"Now... The Enclave and I as one, have a new purpose."
"Amanda... I'm sorry... When there was no one there to help you... I truly am. But... What to do... I can see you only do what you think is right, but... Things don't come along for free... In these times we're in -Things comes with prices of its own."
Amanda frowned, but placing her hands behind her back, she turned her head over to her shoulder.
"And I've got more than enough souls to fund those prices to get what I want with the Enclave."
And with that. Amanda went on to get her power armor.
But walking back outside, and proceeding to a vertibird. She noticed Nick slowly following suit.
"If this is how you'll play this. I'll play along as well. But I'm not playing in your part of paying lives -And I have my conditions, too."
Amanda only stared down at Nick, before giving a silenced response.
"Do what you want. Just don't be a weight on my shoulder."
Silent treatment filled the moment as the vertibird rotors only ringed in the air. But hearing a sigh of somehow a relief one. Amanda glanced at Nick.
"You know... I'm still left confused how you would identify which side a vertibird is from. I mean, all of the divisions you absorbed uses the same VTOL vertibird model. You would wonder if it's either the Enclave, NCR, Minutemen. Heck, even mistaken for Brotherhood because of the model..."
Amanda raised a brow shortly at this before giving a hesitant reply.
"I intended to use this model of the vertibird. But for personnel, and supply transportation use only until we have the Carrier recommissioned for Enclave service."
"Carrier? What's that?"
Amanda looked at Nick shortly before responding.
"Another project. None of your business either."
Amanda recieved a frown from the detective.
"Well, I'm not pushing you to tell or anything..."
"Good. I don't feel talking about my main priorities. But to fully answer your question; I do have the XVB02 verti-assault. Minimum passenger capacity, but a fully functional gunship developed by the Department of Defense during 2072."
Amanda noticed Nick looking at her with interest, and so she continued along a little casually.
"According to the older Enclave records: it was supposed to be commissioned for the US Army at year 2085, but was scrapped due to the Sino-American war -Not counting the fact that a limited amount of XVBO2 verti-assaults were pressed on commission in the last days on the liberation of Anchorage."
Amanda watched as Nick stared at her in amazement, but mentally shrugging it off, Amanda allowed for Nick to speak.
"And you think the Enclave somehow managed to salvage whatever schematics there are after Ruhr Great War?"
Amanda had a long pause after Nick's question before giving a reply.
"Yes. But sadly... The Brotherhood and the NCR ransacked Navarro decades back. Sharing whatever Enclave technology they could salvage -The vertibirds and verti-assaults were mainly taken by the NCR. and the rest of the Enclave technology were handed over to the Brotherhood since the technology were far too advanced for NCR possession."
Amanda noticed Nick grimacing. She had not expected this, but got the cue by the time Nick openness his mouth to ask.
"I was told by an officer that... You just killed the NCR General Oliver Lee... Assuming you..."
Amanda frowned. But folding her arms shortly, she began to reply.
"All those vertibirds and the schematics of the XVB02s belong to the Enclave. Whether they were once from the US government or not. The Enclave is still a direct descendant of the pre-war United States. It is only fair that we take back our technology that our former chapters kept safe from the wasteland, despite their questionable ideals."
Amanda stared, almost bitterly only to watch Nick sighing shortly.
"I get it... What's yours is yours... But.. You didn't have to kill General Oliver. And what about the Brotherhood? They have part of the Enclave technology, but that was way back before. Surely, those are just obsolete now, and you have developed even better ones-"
"That's no excuse, Nick."
Amanda immediately cut him off as her attention shortly gazed into the dead gray sky.
"They had no rights to take what's not theirs. Even if we have to slaughter the Brotherhood from the Commonwealth, to DC, and California. What they took from the Enclave is our property. They must give it back, or deal with the consequence."
"Woah there. It doesn't have to be like that. We can make a peaceful talk y'know? Like how you did with the Outcast, and the Railroad."
"Nick. There is no peace. It's only an illusion that people drown their minds on, just to forget the hopeless reality this Wasteland is. For the amount of time I've been out here, I've seen too much. I don't just sit on the background giving orders, Nick. I tend to explore the surroundings, too. I'm not an ignorant."
Silence... But to hear Nick sighing. Amanda slowly turned her head to him.
"What?"
"I just wanted to help you, Amanda. If you would just open up and share your thoughts to me. Maybe there's a way I can help you out on what you're really troubled with. Don't get me wrong, but even the strongest person itself can be bothered by anything they keep personal."
Amanda short frowned.
"Personal matters aren't required here, Nick."
"I know... But surely... There's something deep inside you that's definitely bothering. Better yet, haunting you..."
Amanda didn't replied as she only turned her gaze back at the sky.
Nick was right. And Amanda hated that.
1,931 miles out. The fleet of vertibirds stopped at Williamson to set up an outpost.
But with Amanda, and Nick proceeding further while the small battalion prepare in the outskirts. They eventually met up the sight of mountains, and trees while standing atop a road on a hill.
Amanda took one good look at the sight before her. A majestic sight of nature that had never seem to had been touch by nukes. Almost as if it remained the same as its pre-war image. Oddly enough despite the gray on the sky. There were still some blue in it. Amanda found it strange, but assuming the region was never touched by nukes, it can only be that...
"Almost heaven..."
Amanda slightly turned her head to Nick standing right next to her.
"Don't start."
Amanda stared at Nick who stared back at her in surprise before raising his hands in defeat.
"Well now. I won't sing or anything. Just saying..."
Amanda rolled her eyes before turning her head back at the sight of mountains.
"We need to scout ahead... See what we can find for first impression..."
Amanda quietly said as she slowly turned to Nick.
"You can come along, so long as you don't make any comments."
"And not even wondering what kind of event happened here? Kind of makes you wonder for sure what transpired here, seeing how it still looked the same as if the nukes even got to touch it in the first place."
Amanda frowned.
"Does it look like its my business even if we see anything or anyone there?"
"Hey, I'm just trying to be cautious. We're on a territory neither of us had been before..."
Amanda sighed with a frown... She wished she didn't had to deal with this.
"Unless you're stupid you can get yourself killed. Out here, we improvise, adapt and overcome."
"Sounds like you've experienced too much than you should have during your conflict with the NCR..."
Amanda didn't replied before slowly turning her attention on the road. And the rusted, welcoming name of West Virginia.
"Come on."
Amanda simply said as she began to set foot further into the wild Appalachia.
But after a long walk. She heard Nick begin.
"To think of a beautiful place, I'd say we found the spot, Amanda. I bet everyone would be very pleased to see this region still holding out in its wild nature."
Amanda stood on a road. Looking at her surroundings of nothing but ruined establishments.
"You uh... Familiar here?"
Hearing Nick ask. Amanda slowly turned to him and simply responded.
"Not really. But I've heard this City was known for being the birthplace of Shannon Rivers."
"The pre-war actress who played Mistress of Mystery, huh? You a fan?"
Amanda slightly hesitated before responding.
"Not a fan of the Hubris Comics myself. But Mistress of Mystery got my attention before..."
Amanda noticed Nick smirking.
"Relating, huh?"
Amanda glared at Nick before responding.
"Shut up."
But looking around. Amanda shortly sighed, rather quietly before continuing.
"However... The city had to deal with labor disputes taking over Appalachia. Welch included."
"What happened?"
Hearing Nick as he approached. Amanda responded.
"It was on the news shortly before the days of the Great War. There had been a conflict with the Atomic Mining Services, as well as Hornwright Industrial Mining Company. Didn't ended well, as Hornwright wanted to replace human workers with robots. I don't know what transpired after then when the Great War erupted. The last thing I heard of, was the National Guard being deployed here to assess the situation regarding riots."
Amanda looked at Nick who was staring at her in grimace and curiosity.
"Sounds like something happened. Not that we'd like to know."
Amanda shortly folded her arms before responding.
"The last part was the National Guard, authorized to pacify, or kill protestors."
"And that's the end of it..."
"if I only knew everything exactly, Nick."
Looking around, Amanda gestured a hand.
"Let's split up. And meet back here. I could use some time alone to clear some things on my mind while scouting ahead."
"You sure?"
Amanda shortly frowned under her helmet before nodding intently.
"I'm sure."
Without any word said further. Amanda deiced to head east of the town to explore. But rather cautiously as she went alone east. Amanda suddenly glanced around before stopping on her track.
"Nick?"
Turning around, Amanda sighed quietly with a curse. No one.
'Don't be paranoid, Amanda...'
Amanda continued on scouting before noticed a gift shop.
"Beckley Coal Mine Exhibit... Why not..."
Amanda quietly mumbled before proceeding to the establishment.
Though inside want much, but some pre-war skeletons. Amanda cautiously checked around the gift shop in case of anyone, or anything was inside but to find it deserted, she eventually found herself hearing a crunch of leaf from outside.
Amanda immediately rushed outside the gift shop to find nothing. She frowned. Nothing but fallen leaves and the chilling wind in the area. Amanda stood in her spot for almost a minute as she surveyed her surroundings clearly with her laser minigun in hands. She felt that odd feeling of a pair of eyes... Watching her. But she couldn't tell where...
'Don't be paranoid, Amanda... Just admire the wilderness this empty town has to offer...'
Amanda slowly walked back into the gift shop cautiously. But noticing a holotape on the counter. Amanda hopped off her power armor before picking it up and inspecting it then inserting it on her Pip Boy.
"Have you ever wondered how to grow your business and expand your reach to thousands of new customers every day? Allow me to welcome you to the exciting world of radio marketing with Pleasant Valley Ski Resort!
We broadcast 24/7 from the Top of the World, reaching the ears if countless locals and vacationers along Appalachia's greatest peaks and valleys. So tune in and check us out. Pick up the phone and call to set up an appointment with our marketing team.
We guarantee your business will boom!"
Ejecting the holotape. Amanda decided to head out of the gift shop. But it didn't stopped her from keep glancing around as she kept feeling the oddity of being watched...
"Took you long enough."
Seeing Nick already waiting for her right where they separated. Amanda simply replied.
"East is clear."
"And so is west. But I did found some things."
Amanda raised an eye brow as Nick showed her an old piece of paper and a small device.
"I tested it out, and it still works despite being over 200 years old. It appears to be some sort of stealth device. Got me invisible for 10 seconds before deactivating. Seems very useful when you're lightly armed."
"Keep it. Might suit you. What about that note?"
Amanda replied in question before Nick handed the note to her.
Taking it. Amanda closely read what was written on the paper.
If you're reading this get out while you still can. The miners have started to destroy the robots and it's only a matter of time before Hornwright steps in to protect his assets.
Mitchell heard that the military is on their way so a few of us are heading to Mount Blair Train Station. We heard that there are trains taking people out of the city. I suggest you head there, too.
"I think I know what this note is trying to tell us..."
Amanda suddenly began.
"What do you mean, Amanda?"
"Lets go. Northeast."
"And you're up picking random directions now?"
Amanda frowned before speaking.
"I've heard quite a lot about West Virginia even though I haven't been here back in the pre-war. If we travel northeast from here. We'll arrive at Mount Blair -It's actually located in Logan County. It's mostly notable for mining, and labor disputes. I still recall knowing about the federal troops and coal miners fought over and over on the slopes of the mountain during 1921. Considering, that's what this note you found was implying. Except this one was taken place on Mount Blair shortly before the Great War..."
Amanda turned to Nick as they walk. She had never seen him this interested listening to her. But to spare herself from boredom while they walk, she continued.
"But going way back deep in pre-war... It shouldn't surprise people when the wealth of the resources beneath the mountain top starved many during the 21st century because of the earlier, and recent conflicts."
"And that led to one thing..."
Amanda gave a small nod at Nick as they walk.
"Yes. It led to ecological devastation. Leading further to the erection of the Rockhound. A massive bucket excavator created by none other than Hornwright Industrial -Capable in moving about 11,000 cubic meters of earth per hour. You can guess what happened after that."
"That's something to no good, and the written note being the witness... The mountain dried out..."
"Pretty much, as it strip-mined the mountain. Which was then turned to Blair Hill. Nothing managed to stop the company on the destruction of Mount Blair. Not even the disenfranchised riots of the miners that temporarily seized control of the Rockhound early on October 2077."
"So all this was shortly before the Great War? That's... Terrible... I can only imagine how things went downhill for the rest, and not just here..."
Amanda slightly nodded before responding.
"its something I don't need to know, but even if I have a chance to. I wouldn't have much time for such things."
"Understandable. But..."
Amanda turned to Nick who raised in mid sentence.
"But what?"
Amanda waited for a response before seeing Nick sighing shortly before continuing.
"Earlier on, when I was scouting around? I got the feeling that I was being watched. Like... I'm being watched from all over. So when I finished scouting ahead, I quickly went back to our rendezvous point."
Amanda was quiet for long moment as they walked.
"I felt that, Nick... When I was checking out a gift shop..."
There was silence as they walked bust Amanda heard Nick slowly responding.
"If I were to bet caps here... I'd say this place is a ghost town."
Amanda took a moment before finally responding.
"Let's just see for ourselves... I'm quite... Intrigued..."
Amanda earned a curious stare from Nick as they keep on walking.
"Intrigued to find people and settlements?"
Amanda short looked at Nick as they walk.
"Intrigued to find the said control Vault of Vault Tec, located here. That one Vault that was actually meant to save lives...
Vault 76."
'Almost heaven, West Virginia' all right.
Now here is the update for the next chapter:
I am making sure that I will keep a tie-in with the Fallout 76 lore while this new series will come into play. Though, I don't have to tie-in to ALL of it, but some parts regarding whatever story FO:76 has (or if it actually has a story) I will include those parts of lores that play a major role in FO, like Vault 76 and the scattered story behind it on Appalachia, and that's what's obviously going to be the topic before I can feature the others I have planned to be incorporated for this story.
Thank you for your patience, and for reading.
ripntear
