"Two weeks. It's been two weeks since our boys in Power Armor kicked those Enclave bastards out of Project Purity and started that baby chugging.
"Now, you all remember James, right? Father of 101? Well, Three Dog has learned that back in the day, James' wife had a dream. See, she was a scientist too, worked on that project. You know what she wanted? 'The waters of life. Free and clean, for any and all.' God, ain't that beautiful?
"But even better, it's finally happened! The water is clean, and hell yes, it's free! Just a little patience, children. As I speak, the Brotherhood is working with Rivet City security to get that fresh water to the Wasteland. The caravans are coming! So get your glasses ready, children. This round's on me.
"And while you're at it, remember to raise a glass for those that died in the fight. I told you Sarah Lyons, stalwart Sentinel of the Brotherhood of Steel, made the ultimate sacrifice to stop an attempted sabotage by the Enclave. And even 101 herself didn't make it out alive. Now maybe that's karma, but at least something good came out of it.
"Either way, it seems like she came around to the family business in the end. Like an extra ugly mutated mutfruit, or that supermutant we've been hearing about, the one that's been using its powers to help the weak and the oppressed- just because you seem like a monster on the outside, doesn't necessarily mean there can't be some good on the inside.
"This wasteland gets crazier by the day, doesn't it?"
It had been months since Gustavo had heard on the radio that Talia died at Project Purity. A damn shame. He'd told her to forget about her father, but that's how things went sometimes. He hadn't heard a word from Burke. He couldn't have been at the battle too. That wasn't his style. But neither was parting with his entire estate, he thought. And in the name of a woman. Yet here he was.
He puffed his cigar thoughtfully while looking over the wasteland from the balcony. Something didn't add up, but damned if he could work it out.
"Honey, I have more mail here." Ann-Marie drifted over like a sweet scent on the breeze and handed him a pile of letters.
"Mostly for Burke?"
"As usual." She smiled and curled up on the couch beside him.
He tore open the topmost letter. "Talon Company. 'Dear Mr. Burke, We are pleased to inform you' blah blah blah. My God! When will they stop? I have an entire drawer full of dead people already. I'll have to raise rents if these keep comin' in."
"Perhaps he is still working with them and simply sending you the bill?"
"Ha! I wouldn't put it past him. And yet what can I do about it? Sweet f-"
"This did come for you," Ann-Marie interrupted, reaching behind her for a small brown package.
Gustavo lifted it from her hands with a curious sound. He'd only sent out for supplies since taking over, and wasn't expecting anything personal. "'Special delivery'. Somebody didn't want this lumped in with the Brahmin Express." He placed it on the coffee table and kept an eye on it while picking up the phone to his side.
"Well? Are you going to open it?"
"Just a minute darlin'." He dialled his new Chief of Security. Happy may or may not have been thrilled with the appointment. In fact that was half Gustavo's reasoning for picking the man; Security issues had reduced enormously since he took over the operations desk, probably because every fussy old toff in the place didn't dare bother their new Chief with all of their menial complaints.
"Chief, it's Gustavo. You cleared this package that came in with the mail right? Good. Alright. Yeah that's fine. Keep it up."
"You're becoming paranoid, my love."
"Just a sensible precaution, but it sure sits different now I'm up here. These people don't know Burke isn't here," he pointed accusingly at the letters from Talon mercenaries, "so why would his enemies? Of which I'm sure he has many."
"But it's addressed to you."
"Yeah." He pulled the package to his lap with renewed interest. "Let's see what the wasteland has for me shall we?"
It was a small wooden crate. He prized the top panel off carefully. Inside stood a single flower. A flower? "Oh... is this real?" He lifted it out of the box. It was in a cup full of dirt. It was standing in a cup full of dirt. It was growing out of the dirt.
Ann-Marie shuffled over and reached out to touch it.
Gustavo pulled the flower away from her and spluttered in disbelief. "Don't touch it! What are you doing? It might fall apart!"
"Oh, you're holding it," she chided back, "it's already travelled who knows how far and it's still in one piece."
Gustavo calmed down, seeing she was right. "Alright. Here you go. Careful." He handed her the whole thing and she contented herself with smelling its petals. He leaned in too. It did indeed give off a soft, pleasant fragrance.
"Where did it come from, I wonder?"
He emptied the box of its filling. "There's a note." He picked it up and read out loud."'Gustav. Hopefully this letter finds you well and your gift survived the trip. Can't tell you where it came from but I wanted to send you something since I knew you would like it. We are well. Sorry for the delay. Don't miss us too much. X.'"
Ann-Marie was looking at him blankly, but he was grappling with an incredulous grin. "It can't be."
"What?"
He read the additional sentence at the bottom of the note. It was in different handwriting, but after months of going through Burke's rent books and business correspondence, he recognised it.
Keep this to yourself. Burn this letter.
"What is it?" Ann-Marie pressed.
Gustavo was laughing softly to himself. He set his arm around her shoulders. "Grab that lighter would you?" He held the note out in front of them. "Do the honours."
She held a flame to the paper's corner until it caught. "Are you going to tell me what this is about?"
Gustavo watched as the singed corner slowly climbed its way toward his fingers. He dropped the shrinking page into the ashtray where the remainder would succumb to the heat, becoming indistinguishable from cigar ash.
He turned to his woman. He knew just how well she could keep a secret.