Title: Beware Evildoers, Your Time Has Come
Rating: M for violence, gore, and profanity.
Disclaimer: Fallout 4 is own by Bethesda Softworks.
Warning: AU Fallout, swearing, and violence. Also, some significant characters' death because...circumstances.
Summary: After escaping Vault 111, Jack stayed in Sanctuary to cope with side-effect instead of going to Concord. With no Mama Murphy, Jack ended up in Goodneighbor instead of Diamond City. All because he heard a familiar tune of his favorite show while heading to Boston.
Chapter 2: Prowling And Being A Good Neighbor.
A memory of a city...
Chaos...Several cars burning...two or three stores vandalized with broken windows and anti-American sentiment...civilians, angry and hungry, yelled...their voice failed to stay within the head of mask soldiers bearing allegiance to the USA. Dressed in USAF uniform, armed with their service rifle. As the civilians' volume get louder and louder. One by one, an object has been thrown.
An officer wore emotionless expression as he look at now protesters before raising his rifle with an order. And then...a gunshot could be heard...followed by more gunshots. And the people screamed.
A man, carrying a rifle, walked with his squad. Every step forward he took, the scenery blurred. Passing corpse by corpse, blurry and red. Saved for one. Not paying attention that his squad's sudden disappearance, he made his way before stopping before a female corpse to rub his eyes only to see...Nora's corpse in Vault suit with her face displaying hurt and shock. The man look around to suddenly see he's no longer in a city but in Vault 111 with dim lighting with his military uniform already replaced by Vault suit. When looking back, Nora's body got replaced by a bald man with scar visible above blurry eyes already holding a gun. Pointing at the man in Vault suit.
Without a warning, the gun fired-
"Huu-AAHH!" Jack's snapped open as he instantly got up in sitting position. Sweating profusely as everything seem blurry and slow before resuming normal. Jack pressed his face against his hands as he pondered of his recent bad dream and whether if it's a sign from his guilt or God above telling him Nora's death is his punishment for his action in Canada.
Back when he and others got pulled out of remaining squads to form a new squad for deployment to Ontario to fight people who still called themselves Canadians as they attempted to fight for independence and...food. Ignoring the bitter Canadian police's pleading warning to disperse before the Americans "serve" their warning.
His fingers gripped his growing hair, Jack attempted to calm himself and to get mind off his action against civilians who just want to be able to put food on their table. No difference from Americans in main USA except their voice could be heard while the Canadians' voice just went unheard. But there was an order from the higher ups and being… "good" soldier (at least those who didn't desert), Jack followed.
And Jack hated himself for pulling a trigger in conjunction with his squadmates. And felt a loathing regret as he failed to do his best not to let dead Canadians' expression get him while following his squad. Killing civilians is different from killing soldiers. Jack remembered how the Ontario Police officers barely held back their urge to act on anger. And hatred toward the Americans for brutality and toward the Canadian government for bowing down to be annexed as the USA slowly devoured their resources to fight its rival beast, China. And self-loathing for being useless and failing to protect fellow Canadians.
Jack remembered how that young police shouted something (probably swearing) at USAF officer. But a senior police and others held him with one hand covering his mouth. But his eyes showed everything.
"And because you obeyed and filed proper paperwork, you've been rewarded a slot for your family in Vault 111 where Nora died and Shaun get taken." His guilt whispered harshly. Jack glared through his hands before sighing tiredly.
Feeling it'll take a while before being able to sleep, Jack sighed as he proceed to do inventory check and gun maintenance in hotel room. It was a long night and morning.
Nov 20, 2287...Almost midnight...Goodeighbor...In a random remote ally…
"Yeah, I'm Wayne. Who the fuck are you, fancy asshole? Know what? I ain't got a time, I'll just kil-" A man named Wayne Delancy didn't have a chance to completely pull out his weapon from his back when a figure in expensive looking black trench coat and black hat whipped out a silver submachine. Ready to disperse justice.
Before Wayne could point his gun, his body got sprayed with dozen leads as it shook violently and slowly as if in film being slowed with the bullets impacting messily against his flesh before falling backward in undignified position. Walking into light, a figure in black trench coat appeared before kneeling next to Wayne's corpse to loot couple .45 bullets, a Stimpak, and few other miscellaneous items that a reasonable person would question.
Standing up after gathering himself from his condition, a figure in black trench coat quietly muttered "Rest in peace" to Wayne's last victim before his hand reached inside his trench coat. Pulling out a card, a figure in black trench coat flick it at Wayne's corpse before walking away.
Nov 21, 2287...2 hours before midnight...Goodneighbor...In DIFFERENT remote ally…
"Hey AJ, check it out." A man in suspender and slack called out as he made a gesture with his head while holding a submachine gun.
"Who the hell are you?" A man wearing blue jacket and a hat named AJ asked as he put out a cigarette while being flanked by his two guards.
A figure in black trench coat with face being hidden by black hat and poor lighting silently stared at AJ and his guards as if studying them. Feeling unnerved by his lack of response, AJ lit up another cigarette for 'courage' before rudely asking, "Hey! I'm asking you the question! You're on my-"
A figure in black trench coat immediately interrupted him, "You are to stop selling chems to children."
AJ look at his bodyguards before sneering at a figure in black trench coat, "Uh huh or what? You'll report it to my mommy or spank me for being bad boy?" The bodyguards snickered as AJ replied mockingly.
A cold male voice answered, "Or I'll deliver you to death."
This made AJ and his bodyguards halted their snickering as they became tensed as AJ glared, "Who the hell do you think you are?" With a head gesture, a drug dealer ordered, "Waste this asshole-"
DADADADADADADADADADA!
AJ's and his bodyguards' body shook violently with AJ's left arm forcibly ripped from its fleshy attachment as three men fell on the cold ground and the weapons clattered. One bodyguard managed to fire three rounds but one landed a hit in chest before falling down after failing to penetrate.
After emptying half of magazine, the silver gun's barrel could be seen smoking as a figure in black trench coat walked to the corpses with his hand brushing his chest where the bullet hit. He proceed to loot the corpses before standing up. Pulling a card out of his coat, a figure in black shroud spoke with a hint of disgust.
"Consider yourself out of business, predator."
A figure with his face still hidden disappeared from the ally. He has another person to pay a visit and this time, he need an info.
Later...At the Third Rail…
Bar patrons could be seen snickering and joking or talking as they watched a figure in black trench coat with hard to see face. He ignored them as he marched toward a Mr. Handy with a sense of purpose.
Seeing a figure in black trench coat standing at the bar, Whitechapel Charles greeted him in Cockney accent with sarcasm, "Fancy some poison, Silver Shroud?"
A figure in black trench coat went straight to business as he spoke in non-sense tone, "Tell me Kendra's location."
"That'll cost some caps if you want to know about her. And an extra if you want a meeting to be arranged."
"It is unwise to get in the way of justice, bartender." A figure in black trench coat warned with upper portion of his face hidden by a black hat.
As if receiving a cue to support his words, the radio behind Whitechapel Charles began to play with Kent's voice coming out. Announcing that the Silver Shroud has wiped out the foul criminals, Wayne Delancy last night and AJ just recently in name of justice. Both men have been found with leads and the Silver Shroud's calling card.
Whitechapel Charles paused briefly before addressing a figure in black trench coat, "Well...Shroud, if you mean to 'clean' her up, she's at the flat just outside Goodneighbor. Watch out for her blighters, nasty lot of them."
A figure in black trench coat slapped few caps on the counter as he left without saying a word. Unnoticed, a woman in red dress wore an interested look as she took a sip of water. Setting down her almost empty glass, she made her way to the stage. With her cue, the fast-paced music began to play and she proceed to sing as she moved in rhythm.
"-Bang bang-!"
Later...Outside Goodneighbor…At Kendra's apartment…
"ARRRRGH! MY LEG! MY FU-" The sound of gunfire interrupted.
"GARY! YOU KILLED HIM, BASTARD-AAHHHHH!" More bullets fired.
"DIE!" Another one died from gunshot.
Kendra scoffed as she muttered murderously while securing her chest armor, "What's the point of having them if they can't handle a single man..." Upon hearing a man sobbing outside her door, whining about how the Silver Shroud is real before calling Kendra's name to beg her to let him in.
"Ken-dra! O-open the do-or! I don't wanna die!"
Kendra sneered, "Worthless trash."
The woman readied her gun as she walked behind a couch upon hearing the sobbing man's crying for mercy that has abruptly halted. Kendra adjusted her grip as she aimed her gun at the door. She has no plan to waste her time exchanging some words with some loony idiot parading like this is a comic book. Being a hero? In the Commonwealth? Get real, this is reality filled with cruelty and death. Only the strongest survive while the weakest struggle.
That stupid delusional man will bleed. Nobody mess with Sinjin's Raiders and get away with it. Especially Kendra herself as she felt annoyed at being delayed to leave to kill someone named Shelley Tiller who stupidly pissed off the wrong crowd. But that's not a problem as once she killed the superhero wannabe, she'll take her sweet time with dear Shelley. Once she find her, that is.
"Come on, you son of bitch..." Kendra muttered under her breath. Hurry up and kick that door so she can shoot him to death and hang his corpse afterward. Maybe-
BOOOM!
The door violently shattered with its splinters flying toward the wall as Kendra ducked behind her couch. A second later, Kendra quickly got up to open fire at the smoke as she screamed, "DIE! I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU REGRET COMING HERE, ASSHOLE!"
She emptied her gun before ducking down to reload. She heard something bounced off the wall and landed, rolling to stop at her feet. Widened eyes, Kendra barely made over the couch when the grenade exploded.
"AHHHH! DAMN IT!" Kendra snarled as she felt her skin got scrapped off from sliding across the wooden floor. Damn! She lost her grip on gun. Straining with grunting, Kendra rolled onto her front and before she could push herself up. She heard footstep and in her vision, she could see a pair of black shoes.
Looking up, Kendra found herself staring at a figure in black trench coat and in his hands is a double barrel shotgun, pointing at her head. As her eyes traveled away from the shotgun onto the figure's face, could barely make out a detail.
A figure in black trench coat spoke coldly, "Are you Kendra?"
Kendra glared at him as she spat in defiance with her hands attempting to grab anything that's a weapon, "What do you think, stupid? Sinjin will have your-"
A portion of her skull exploded. Later, Kendra's corpse was found with the Silver Shroud's calling card, located on her bloody chest armor. Taunting the raiders who cursed with one of them saying, "Boss ain't gonna be happy. It's bad enough with those assholes in steel, but this? Boss gonna be pissed."
Nov 25, 2287...Milton General Hospital…Late afternoon...
A Ghoul dressed in dirty outfit with filthy chest armor and left raider arm named Sinjin has just punched Kent's face, barking, "Shut up! It's your damn fault for putting yourself in this situation!"
Heavily bruised, Kent whimpered as he attempted hold his pain in as he processed how drastically different the reality from radio show and comics. Understandably, he doesn't like his current situation after being snatched by Sinjin's raiders who practically barged into Goodneighbor, into Memory Den, and dragged him into a still standing hospital once known for its automated staff (and a team of blood sucking lawyers) back in pre-war time.
Sinjin and his gang are currently waiting for the supposedly Silver Shroud's arrival where Sinjin can gun him and berate his gang for being stupid since the Silver Shroud is just a comic character who should've remained fictional. Once that's done, Sinjin will blow Kent's head off before hanging his and Shroud's body on pole for everyone in the Commonwealth to see.
It'll be a grave reminder to stupid people not to think about opposing Sinjin and other raiders as the people live to be beaten and have their goods forcibly taken. Justice? HA! It's merely a word that existed in pre-war time whose definition doesn't mean jack shit today. After all, this world is for the strongest to survive while the weakest to struggle and die. That's how it should be and Sinjin want to keep it that way. Hmm...maybe he should add few more corpses to further-
Ding!
Sinjin, Avery, and other raiders turned their head to where the elevator located. There in poorly lit area, a figure stepped out. In his black trench coat, bloodied. That dirty silver scarf gleamed. The black hat covering his face, saved for his mouth forming a straight line.
In his black covered hand, a 10mm pistol could be seen.
"That's close enough! Take another step and you'll see what your little friend's brain look like." Sinjin called out and as a warning, he pointed his gun at Kent's head.
A shrouded figure in black halted to stare with his eyes still hidden as Sinjin took it as his cue to go on.
"So this is what the Silver Shroud look like in person. Some of the losers think you're some sort of legend. Straight out of a damn comic book."
"Sinjin. Hiding behind an innocent like a craven reprobate. You will fall to me."
Sinjin traded a quick look at Avery who wore confused look before addressing the Silver Shroud, "What does that wo-Don't talk like that! You're just a human going around like an idiot and for what? Justice?" Sinjin spat on the floor before going on with a sneer, "Because of your little sidekick's radio? Don't make me laugh. You're nothing but a pretender in the real world."
Still staring at Sinjin, the Silver Shroud stated as if reading off a script on weather, "All your thugs died. One by one. Head by head. Blood by blood. Who can truly say I'm not real?" He tilted his head mockingly, "Who can truly say the bodies I've slain in name of justice aren't real? Who-"
"SHUT UP!" Sinjin barked before telling Avery and other raiders with few visibly shaken, "Don't listen to him, men. He's nothing. A phoney! And you, 'Shroud'-"
Kent let out a whimper as he felt a pistol pressing harder against his head with Sinjin going, "Here's what going to happen. I'm going to kill Kent. Then we shoot you and your body will be ripped apart. THEN! I'm going to Goodneighbor and kill every single fucking maggot there. And THEN! Burn the whole place down to hell. No one screws with Sinjin. What do you say about that, 'Shroud'!"
A brief moment of silence was broken by the Silver Shroud who spoke coldly in form of statement that chilled Avery and others, "Beware evildoers...I am the instrument of justice and I cannot fall." In louder volume, he went dramatically, "Beware evildoers! Your death! Has call for you! And I! Am its SHROUD!"
"For fu-Stop talking like that!" Sinjin sound aggravated. Privately, he wondered whether if he should've shot the phoney instead of wasting time. To his disbelief, Avery blurted out while stammering, "I-it is really the Shroud!"
"Wha-?" Sinjin faced Avery with gun still on Kent's head, "The fu-"
"Oh G-God! It r-really is! To hell with it!" Before Sinjin could blink, Avery and every single raider in the room suddenly ran away to an office away from Sinjin who snarled, "Cowards. Cowards!"
Sinjin couldn't believe how stupid Avery and men are! He should've definitely shot the phoney and he is going to do that right now. Turning his head at the Silver Shroud with his gun moving away from Kent to aim, Sinjin snarled-
Kent yelped as his body jolted with his eyes squeezing shut upon hearing several gunshots. Before feeling something wet landing on back of his neck and hearing the sound of body collapsing. Whimpering, Kent slowly opened his eyes to see the Silver Shroud still alive with faint smoke flowing out of his pistol. Shaken, Kent turned his head to see Sinjin and wished he didn't.
Sinjin's face, being a Ghoul, was already looking opposite of pretty. But now, it look worse with it being mangled by couple 10mm rounds.
"Kent. Hold still, I'm giving you stimpak."
Later, Kent found himself standing with his heart still beating fast as he processed what happened. In tone mixed of grateful and fear, Kent spoke, "Thank you Shroud...Thank you..."
"You're alright?"
"Beside my leg, yeah...But it could've been so much worse." Much much worse, Kent silently added and before he say more, Jack patted his back, speaking.
"Come on, we're heading back to Goodneighbor. But first, let me talk to them and...straighten them out." Or else, Jack will have to kill more. He killed more than enough today but he will add more. If he has to.
Later after installing fear into Avery and thugs, Jack and Kent could be seen standing outside the hospital. Suddenly, Jack groaned as he rubbed his forehead and eyes, "Damn my brain's hurting." Jesus, listening to Sinjin's disorientated voice is killing him but Jack didn't want to risk Kent's well-being since he's willing to help him with armor and stuff. And he still need him to talk to Irma about Detective Nick or someone else who can help finding Shaun's whereabouts.
"Jack?"
"It's nothing, just my brain screaming at me. Bet Mr. Abominable didn't have to deal with this kind of crap." Jack muttered, prompting Kent to ease down a little. To be frank, Jack thought it was miracle he managed to scare Sinjin's grunts away just by talking like a cliche hero. He didn't think it would've work but it did. Though Jack assumed it's due to Avery and others probably spent too much time in radiated area that their brain cells went down in number or something. Who know, Jack is just a former soldier, not a scientist.
Jack stared at his own chest before adjusting his scarf and trench coat that have been covering his chest armor. It's a damn shame his outfit got a mess but good thing he has that armor. Otherwise, Sinjin would've severely injured or possibly killed him with a shot or two. Sinjin should've aimed a little higher but he didn't and because of that, he's dead.
Note to self: find a better armor.
While Jack is fixing his trench coat, Kent spotted few telltales of combat and pointed out, "Y-your armor need some repair."
Walking while strapping his coat, Jack grunted, "Yeah. Crazy mobster wannabe got close and hit my chest with a baseball bat with some hammer taped. I was lucky he didn't do a full swing. Speaking of armor..."
"I-I know. I'll...still try my best and see what I can do. It's the least I could do as a th-thanks for saving me. B-but at best, it won't be e-exactly like that Ballistic Weave. D-don't have special tools t-to for that, s-same with the materials." Good thing Kent picked up new hobbies in addition to running the Silver Shroud radio. Jack supposed 200 something years is long enough for a non-feral ghoul to learn several things.
"And Irma?" Jack asked, wanting to know when Irma will be back.
Kent sound unsure as he answered, "She should b-be back today hopefully-"
Jack and Kent halted their walking upon hearing a distant whirling sound and-is that a minigun shooting? Jack spotted something flying far from their current position. Is that...a vertibird? A FUNCTIONAL vertibird? Jack heard Kent's nervous whisper, "W-we should hide and wait."
"What do you mean? You know who's flying that vertibird? Is it Gunners?" Jack asked, briefly remembering the Gunners guarding the tank close to Concord.
"N-No." Kent shook his head negatively as he made his way to one of burnt cars with Jack following, "It's...Amari said they c-called themselves the Brotherhood of Steel. Heard th-they visited us. Before you came. They're...not aggressive toward us, but not friendly. Amari c-could tell you more, but ask Hancock."
Jack peered over the car to see the vertibird still hovering over a building, firing its minigun at someone. Raiders? Super Mutants? Gunners? Jack ducked down to check his weapon and duffle bag that he picked up from a hiding spot at the front desk inside the hospital.
"Y-you know...I could t-try and see if I could add inside pockets to your trench coat or something. Or a jacket..."
Later...Goodneighbor...The Old State House…
After Hancock gave a pep talk that re-invigorated Kent's mood that a ghoulish comic fan ran out to head back to Memory Den, Jack asked a ghoul mayor, "Hancock. Kent told me about the Brotherhood of Steel. You mind telling me more about them?"
Jack could see Hancock's face showing his dislike before inhaling Jet, "You ran into them, Shroud?"
"No, we spotted their vertibird on our way back. Kent got nervous and want to hide and wait."
Hancock nodded understandingly as he took a seat on his couch, relaxing, "Who-? Must be that doctor woman or one of the regulars. I don't blame him. The Brotherhood...didn't make good impression when they visited us. Acting high and mighty with their fancy power armor and gun. Assholes. Didn't want to talk to me when I greeted them."
"Did they do anything?"
"Aside demanding our human residents to get away from ghouls? No. The good ol humans stood with us and them steel assholes backed off. No further sight of them close to Goodneighbor though our regular caravan complained about them at Bunker Hill."
Hancock took another inhale before muttering, "As if the thing ain't bad enough with the Institute."
Jack repeated questionably, "The Institute?" This earned him a weird look from Hancock who said, "Shroud, where-no, what rock have you crawled under from? Know what? Sit back and listen to good ol Hancock since I'm in good mood and you got rid of Sinjin and his gang. Serve him right-Let me finish this Jet and I'll start, you dig?"
And explain, Hancock did about the Institute and how the Commonwealth view the shady organization. Said to be responsible for creating synths whose humanoid shape being robotic looking skeleton with some of them having been slapped with plastic looking skin. At first, the people didn't have much problem with them with the synths doing their own thing. As long as people stay away from them as synths tend to kill anything standing in their way and their whatever objective.
But then, an incident in Diamond City happened 50 years ago when absolutely no reason, a man suddenly got up and killed several people before getting gunned down and that's when people realized that the Institute created different synths whose appearance matching humans with skin, hair, and stuffs. And to Jack's interest, Hancock mentioned the Commonwealth did attempted to form a government but thanks to one synth man, people no longer keen on government. And that, Jack thought, is a damn shame.
"Is there a way to tell a difference?"
"Beside checking their body's inside after shooting them? Ain't no sure way other than paying attention to their behavior and using common sense. If your relative or friend or even a local asshole suddenly act different for no apparent reason from how they usually act...like a bag of hammer and shits? Well you better hope they're synth when you shoot them."
Hancock took a sip from a beer before continuing, "Now this ain't exactly confirmed. Yet. But you can-maybe- disregard ghouls. Mind you, I said maybe. We've yet to find a synth wearing ghoul skin. Don't ask why, nobody know. Hell, maybe copying my devilishly handsome face is too much for the Institute to handle." Hancock shook his head, "I think I told you enough about the Institute. Why don't you go to Memory Den? My guard mentioned Irma's back. Don't know what a man at your age interested in memory pods for, but don't get stuck in past like Kent. Though he's little better now."
"I won't, but thanks." Jack simply said as he stood up with a nod of acknowledgment with Hancock snorting before finishing his drink as Jack exited out.
Later...Memory Den…
Jack didn't react well when Kent walked away from a doleful blonde woman in drifter outfit to tell him about Detective Nick and that there's no other detective in the Commonwealth. Apparently, Detective Nick got captured by a mobster boss wannabe named "Skinny" Malone and his Triggermen whom Nick familiar with. Some time later, Nick got beheaded and someone dropped his head off at Diamond City's entrance with a note attached.
And then and if the rumor was true, a fight broke out among the Triggermen between Malone and some guy named Kapper. Supposedly sick and tired of Malone's gang management or something. But honesty, who give a damn about some post-apocalyptic mob infighting? Fuck those mobster wannabes!
Without saying anything to Kent, Jack walked into Kent's room to change out of Silver Shroud outfit into his "civilian" outfit consisted of leather greaser jacket, simple shirt, newsboy hat, jeans, and a pair of boots. Jack sat down on a couch with his hands rubbing his head as he pondered on his course of action.
"Should I stay in Goodneighbor and keep helping until I eventually find someone who can help me? Keep 'prowling' as the Silver Shroud? Or head to Diamond City and hope I find help? There has to be more than one detective in the Commonwealth."
Or, Jack's mind said, should he dig deeper into the criminal "empire" for underworld help since he's already in Goodneighbor with most of its Watch being similar to the Triggermen but chose to follow Hancock as their boss. Maybe, but Jack is wary of asking for help from someone like Hancock who seem to be addicted to drugs-chems-whatever regarding his missing son. Granted Hancock seems willing to give information but like pre-war time, the criminal world without a doubt be filled with a lot of backstabbing and lies.
But to the ghoul mayor's credits, he does seem to give a damn about Goodneighbor residents despite his questionable "policies" regarding chems. At least he doesn't tolerate scums selling chems to children. It was Hancock who gave Jack the location of Sinjin's other lieutenants along with the reason for Sinjin's death. Though Jack felt like he effectively became a mercenary, doing jobs for money-bottle caps of all. But again, there's no functioning government in the Commonwealth and Jack really need money.
During his "relaxing" time and with brief input from Kent, Daisy, and Dr. Amari, Jack has heard how Goodneighbor came to be and how Hancock, allegedly once a devilishly handsome human, turned into a ghoul before overthrowing some asshole named Dick, Rick, whatever his name was. Followed by establishing mobster-like police force, the Goodneighbor Watch to maintain order despite Goodneighbor still being hub of criminal activities. Oh and like to give "Of the people! For the people!" speech.
What should Jack do? What would Nora say? Risk asking for help from Hancock and hope Jack doesn't slip deep into the criminal world or say to hell with Goodneighbor and make his way to Diamond City and help until he get help? Jack felt lost and stupid for waiting when he should've made his way to Diamond City and get in touch with Detective Nick. But he is in Goodneighbor, kicking himself while feeling lost with allegedly the only detective in the Commonwealth beheaded.
"Tell me, love. What should I do? Where can I find a trail to Shaun's whereabouts?" Jack mentally asked. An image of disappointed Nora who turned her back before disappearing when Jack heard someone knocking on the door.
"Yeah?" Jack called out and the door opened, revealing Irma in red feathered dress that she changed into. Jack could see that Irma is still mourning Detective Nick's death by judging her face. Irma let herself in as she introduced herself, "I'm Irma."
"Jack." Jack reciprocated with a nod, "Kent told me about you."
"Yes...Kent explained to me that you've been the Silver Shroud for few days and has already dealt with Sinjin...I don't know what to say." Irma began with a frown, "Why did you, a newcomer...agreed to play with Kent's fragile hope of making the world a better place. Whom many mocked at? Why did you, a stranger with a Pipboy-" Irma made a hand gesture at Jack's Pipboy, "-kicked the Stingwing nest that is the Triggermen and Sinjin's raiders."
"..." Jack didn't say anything as he saw Irma has more things to say. He could see Irma's concern (he guessed) for Kent as she continued, "Not only that, Kent got kidnapped! By some brutes barging into the Memory Den in retaliation of your crime-fighting activity. Took him to Sinjin bastard."
Irma shot him a glare before lessened it as she shook her head, "But you rescued him and even killed Sinjin. Why. What possess a stranger like you to do all those things? I know you've been told about Detective Nick. You could've gone to Diamond City and wait there for his return fr-" Irma took a deep breath, "From the other case...Not that would've made any difference." Her tone became bittersweet as Irma and a hired gun named MacCready traveled to Diamond City to see her friend Nick who can help with something to protect Memory Den's regulars with an unknown assailant prowling.
Except Nick has already left to search for some missing girl and was gone for too long. His secretary, Ellie doesn't know when he'll return and was already worried and scared. Despite her best (and MacCready with extra caps), they couldn't get through those assholes in power armor clashing against the Super Mutants in mini-war in Boston. And the Gunners who showed up, hoping to catch the Brotherhood off guard and it doesn't take a genius to guess the Gunners' motive against the Brotherhood of Steel. Like the Silver Shroud's activity, the Brotherhood has been rattling Boston with the vertibirds and power armors. Except they also angered the Gunners in addition to the Triggermen and raiders dealing in weapon trading and caught the Super Mutants' attention with how loud they've been.
"...I'm sorry for your friend's death." Jack finally said something at which Irma initially stared at his face, studying before slowly nodding as she sighed, "Thank you...but you should tell that to Ellie. His secretary."
"...This Ellie...I assumed she's in Diamond City? Would she-" Jack paused, wondering if he should bother with possibility of Irma being unhelpful. To his surprise, Irma finished for him.
"Be able to help you with your missing son? Kent told me about that." Irma softened her expression as she added, "Not as smart as...Nick but still smart. She may be able to help...or at least within the best of her ability but...Without Nick, she has already closed the office down and when I left Diamond City, Ellie may not be willing to help you, she is...still grieving and angry." Irma refrained from mentioning how Ellie's rage-filled eyes frightened her with her having better relation with Nick.
"But still, I need to get my boy back!" Jack got up as he made preparation to leave, "If she can help or at least point me in the right direction, I will ask! If I have to kill some gangsters to get her help, fine."
Jack grabbed a 10mm pistol before putting it inside his jacket while Irma questioned herself before speaking to grab his attention, "Fine, Jack. Since you saved Kent, I will tell you the best way to get Ellie's help. Or rather, the best target."
Jack turned to face Irma, "I'm listening."
"I know someone who's or may still be loyal to Skinny Malone or shifted his loyalty to someone else. His name is Keith "Stick-Man", he's a regular at the Third Rail. Look for the burly man with thick red side-burns and a tan bowl hat. He may point you to Malone's location or know who really beheaded Nick."
Irma paused before adding with a distasteful wince, "Just in case, you may have to dirty your hands. To bring the proof to Ellie. I have a spare bag you can use. Try not to take too long, don't know if Ellie will stay in Diamond City or how long with her being out of job and would be unable to stay at the office after few days. But don't die."
Later...at the Third Rail…
"Afraid he's not here." said the robotic bartender, "He hasn't come here lately with the...management issue."
"Then do you have any idea of where Keith Stick-Man would be at?" Jack asked.
"Well...if someone buy a drink or two-"
"Give me a shot of beer. Any beer." Jack firmly interrupted. When Whitechapel Charlie slid a glass of beer, Jack wasted no time drinking it in one shot before the glass slapped against the counter.
"In hurry, are we. Fine, I don't exactly know his current location but-" Whitechapel Charlie's front eye moved closer as if preparing to whisper something secretive, "I do have a job that can take you to his other frequent location. Well, three of them. With a pay, off course….You hear me? Oi!"
Jack shook his head as if snapping of dazed state before narrowing his eyes at Mr. Handy's words. He spent few seconds pondering before asking, "What does this job involved?"
"Cleaning out the certain groups that gotten on my client's bad side. DISCRETELY."
When Jack left, Whitechapel Charlie could be heard muttering, "Why in bloody hell people think I'm the info broker? I'm just a bartender. This isn't some rubbish crime soap-opera." Upon seeing a woman in red dress, Mr. Handy changed his tone as he greeted jovially, "Lovely singing as always, lady."
A lady named Magnolia smiled as she took a seat on a stool before ordering a drink.
An hour later...At a random warehouse...Goodneighbor…
"If this isn't discrete, then I don't know what is." Jack thought as he ducked behind a cover, dressed in the Silver Shroud outfit. Holding his favorite automatic .45 Combat Rifle that he has been using and recently dubbed "Jack's Punisher".
"Keith better be up stair." Jack waited for the Triggermen to stop pelting his cover to reload. He wasn't sure why he put on the Silver Shroud but glad he did. If the last two were any indication, his activity got the Triggermen spooked.
"Reloading! Keep suppressing him or he'll get us!"
"Get that Shroud bastard, boys!"
"Yer gonna be hanged, Shroud!"
Why they're still talking even as they fired their weapon at him? Especially out loud, letting Jack know their general location. Jack waited before returning his fire from a pile of crates, hitting one man in chest.
"GAHH!"
"Frankie! BASTARD! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS! AHH!" screamed other Triggerman who charged with a baseball bat toward Jack's cover. Upon jumping over the crates, he was awarded with short controlled burst of .45 rounds for his trouble.
"Johnny! Damn you, Shroud! AHHHH!" screamed a different Triggerman who popped a fresh drum into his submachine gun before standing up to spray a hose of bullets.
"..." Jack grabbed a baseball bat, holding it in his free hand as he waited for his remaining enemy on first floor to run out of ammo. Hearing submachine gun no longer firing, Jack suddenly flung it at the mobster's general location, making him jumped as he attempted to reload.
Immediately after throwing it, Jack popped up with his Punisher up. With quick aim that's actually took several minutes in his time-slowed perspective, Jack landed few rounds that emptied his Punisher's magazine and the last enemy's chest got pelted in form of red dots.
Okay, first floor's cleared. Time to move to second floor that has been barricaded with more crates. Seem they're hoping to bait Jack into climbing either over the crates or railing, thus exposing him to their firing. And Jack is unsure how many up there waiting for him. He could hear one man announcing to wait for him to show up so they can get out. Indicating there's no exit up there. Good.
Well, he has no intention going up there and get shot. But thinking about his success with Avery and others, Jack might well wage psychological warfare.
In his Silver Shroud voice, Jack called out, "KEITH! I KNOW YOU'RE UP THERE!" Actually he doesn't, but he's hoping. After waiting few seconds, Jack added, "STICKY KEITH-"
"IT'S STICK-MAN, ASSHOLE! GET IT RI-" Presumably Keith got cut off by someone. Probably telling him to shut up. Why people insisting on calling Jack an asshole anyway? He tried to politely get in earlier only to be told "Piss off" while catching a small glimpse of what's inside the warehouse, smelling something which is impressive with Goodneighbor's general smell.
"STICKY KEITH-!" Jack shouted as he reloaded his rifle.
"STICK-MAN-!"
"Shut up Keith! Why you-!"
"You are at the crossroad, foul-doer!" Jack went, ignoring a commotion up there, "Road one is walking on the path of redemption and life where I, the Silver Shroud let you go! Or road two is walking on the path of pain and agony where I, the Silver Shroud! Shall deliver you! To DEATH!"
"CRAZY ASSHOLE! YOU MUST BE HIGH!"
Okay. Psychological warfare didn't work, it's time to improvise. Jack, standing at the base of stair, scanned the ceiling and around him. Looking for something that can help him. Something that can-Jack paused upon hearing the floor creaking and spotted a crack. For too long in Jack's opinion with TSM kicking in as his vision tardily moved away from it with prolonged creaking.
Not even a minute later, Jack fired a looted submachine gun blindly with each shot let out a deafening sound at the ceiling with Keith and someone else returning fire blindly and cursing. With Jack slowly herding (and blasting poor wooden ceiling in process), he eventually was awarded with sight of two men falling through the ceiling, crashing on a crate that broke their fall.
Two men groaned and cursed as they gathered themselves to see a gun pointing at them with the Silver Shroud himself standing with his upper portion of face hidden by hat. To be specific, the Silver Shroud has gun pointing at a burly man with red side-burns.
"Sticky Keith! It is time for you! To face justice!" The Silver Shroud then pulled out a combat knife with its blade gleamed. Keith's eyes widened as he stared at the knife.
Later...Somewhere in Boston...
Jack couldn't believe that the Triggermen managed to establish their base in Vault that happened to be at Park Street Station, a subway station. Jack remembered hearing news about Vault-Tec constructing a Vault there on television. Its construction has caused some grumpiness among Boston residents. Jack wondered if that Vault is similar to Vault 111 with cryogenic pods but at earlier wake-up date? Or something else? Having staying in Goodneighbor and seeing people including pre-war ghouls, Jack wondered if it is possible if there's a remnant of Vault-Tec running around, possibly be responsible for Shaun's kidnapping.
Or if the Vault-Tec became the Institute. Conducting number of horrific experiments? An imaginary crying of Shaun echoed within Jack's skull before fading. Jack took a deep breath before continuing his stealth. Reason for stealth? According to Keith and Bob (a guy with Keith) before letting them go, there was a quick clash between the Brotherhood, the Gunners, and the Super Mutants. Supporting Irma's claim. Making Jack wondering about the Brotherhood's intention toward the Commonwealth for making loud noise and waging a goddamn war in already torn Boston.
He will have to check out the Brotherhood whose airship, according to local, parked at some airport. For now, he's stealthily and carefully navigating his way toward Park Street Station without alerting hostile element that may still be there. Especially feral ghouls who have tendency to pop out of nowhere like a horror movie. Ignoring Kent, Daisy, and other non-feral ghouls, Jack felt the zombie wannabes should just fuck off and rest dead.
It took a while as he had to wait in hiding spot until a small patrol group of raiders to pass by. Ignoring their incessant chattering about good raid, but Jack made a mental note to visit the Combat Zone in future. Maybe one of Goodneighbor Watch know, they seem like to gossip about random things.
"Ok, I'm here." Jack found himself at the entrance of subway station. He thought it's strange that there's no one guarding the entrance or at the stair. Crouching, Jack steadily went down to see a group of three Triggermen standing around. Two humans and one ghoul. Talking-actually complaining.
"-I'm telling you. Kapper need to snap out of that crazy witch's spell."
"Shh! Don't let Darla hear you! She'll break your legs. Both of them."
"But you can't deny her being crazy, Alec. And 'charming' with her on ol Malone and then switching to Kapper. Don't know what's Kapper thinking." Said the ghoul mobster armed with a submachine gun.
"Maybe Kapper is sucker for crazies like Malone?"
While listening, Jack mentally weighed his decisions and based on his past experience with the Triggermen, they seem to prefer to shoot first before asking. He'll have to take two of them down and injure one for questioning about this Kapper character. It sound as if Kapper is the new boss of the Triggermen and in mafia-style, Jack guessed that Kapper attempted to kill Malone who got away. Will have ask whoever got hurt.
So Jack counted to three before rising from his cover and his finger pulling a trigger. It didn't take too long for him to take out two of three gangsters while hitting third one's shoulder. Evidently, it hurts with a human one on the floor, cursing when Jack approached.
Seeing a man matching the description of the Silver Shroud, a gangster swore, "Fuck! You're-you're real?"
Positioning his Punisher's bayonet at a gangster's knee, the Silver Shroud proceed to ask question.
"You! Unsavory scum. Tell me the location of this foul Kapper! So I may! Unleash my wrath upon him! Speak quickly or lest you incur suffering and! Your death!"
While in pain, Alec could only stared at the Silver Shroud. Not only he's real but also crazy. Probably as crazy as Darla.
Later…
After scaring Alec (whose scream still ringing in ears even after TSM ended) into retiring as a gangster to become a simple farmer or whatever and taking out more Triggermen in process, Jack stood before a familiar Vault door with a terminal conveniently located right next to it.
As he did back in Vault 111 to escape, Jack held his Pipboy in front of him to pull a extension cord and inserted it into the terminal before pressing red button. Jack nearly jumped when the Vault door made loud grinding sound while opening up.
After waiting full ten seconds (or two minutes), Jack felt surprise and wary upon seeing no one at the entrance area. Do they not care about security? Just when he walked in, Jack heard a complaint coming around the corner.
"I wish there's a way to make that damn door silent! Wait a minute! None of us open it! How did-"
Jack wasted no time to look for a cover before finding one behind a supporting pillar. Just in time for two Triggermen came running with their weapon pointing randomly. Jack didn't hesitate to open fire on them with quick burst of .45 rounds. Hitting their chest. Really, these gangsters should invest in chest armor or something. Wearing suit or business casual in the Wasteland isn't exactly smart. But Jack isn't going to complain about that.
After looting their corpse for more .45 rounds, Jack moved on but not without checking a terminal whose screen indicated password not being required. Jack didn't spend too much time on reading two entries as he navigated the hallway with a frown. Vault 114 has different experiment and different subjects being high-class people. Vault-Tec want to test the subjects' ability to cope with stressful situation.
Something about Vault 114 experiment made Jack wonder exactly what's Vault-Tec thinking and what's their goal. He'll have to think about it later. Mission first but should Vault-Tec or its remnant be still around as the Institute or something else, Jack promised to tear them apart.
According to Alec, Kapper should be in the Overseer's office that's serving as a "master" bedroom for him and Darla. Should be on second level with maybe one or two guards and a terminal that can open the Overseer's door, Alec said.
After engaging three gunfights (and healing himself with stimpaks), Jack eventually reached a large room and due to one man running away (no doubt to alert Kapper and others), Jack found himself staring at seven Triggermen pointing their gun at him with a tall shaggy black hair man in pin stripes suit, smoking a cigarette while clapping slowly.
"Incredible." The man in pin stripes spoke with sarcasm, "Look alive, boys. We're being graced by the Silver Shroud himself." Behind the man, Jack spotted a young woman in blue dress standing next to him. Giggling as she playfully twirled a baseball bat around.
"I'm going to assume that's Kapper right there." Jack thought as Kapper laid his hands on the rail, leaning while casually speaking loud enough for Jack to hear, "You know! I didn't believe about the Silver Shroud coming alive out of a comic book to fight crimes in Goodneighbor. Never mind that ghoul allowed it in first place but guess even a comic crime-fighter is welcomed there with 'Of the people, for the people' crap. And the rumors were true, you caused a carnage among Sinjin's men and even killed Sinjin himself."
Kapper's tone undertook a hostility, "Unfortunately for you, Shroud. I don't appreciate you meddling in my business and costing me the caps. So before we kill you, Shroud. Tell me why you're doing this? Considering you killed my men to get here."
In the Silver Shroud's voice, Jack responded, "The blood of a detective is on your hand, foul-doer! And I, the Silver Shroud! Am here to punish! YOU! In the name of justice!"
There was a moment of silent that felt like ten minutes have passed before Kapper broke into laughter, "AH HAHAHAHAH! D-DETECTIVE? YOU MEAN THAT ROBOTIC MAN WHOSE HEAD I CUT OFF?"
Hidden by the hat, Jack's eyes blinked. What? Robotic? Nobody say anything about Nick being robot-unless...Was Nick a synth this whole time? Did he get replaced? Do Irma and others know?
"HA HA!" Kapper slowly shifted into hostile with displeasure and fury detected as he spoke, "You mean to tell me! That you did all this FOR A FUCKING SYNTH? OUT OF ALL I KILLED, A TIN CAN? KILL HIM!"
Jack quickly hid behind the metallic wall as the Triggermen opened fires with Kapper screaming furiously out additional order, "I WANT HIS BODY INTACT! GET HIM!"
The Silver Shroud didn't think about Nick being a synth as his mind focused on firefight with his Punisher shooting blindly from his cover. When needing to reload and with his gut screaming at him, Jack moved away from the doorway while injecting a new magazine
Sure enough, two men came running. Only to get shot multiple times as their body shook savagely.
"IDIOTS! DON'T JUST RUN IN! SHOOT AROUND!" Kapper roared angrily from the distance. Jack moved further to get behind the corner he passed earlier barely in time to get out of line of sight with dozen bullets sprayed. Only to hit the wall. Jack traded fire and few seconds later, he got another Triggerman in head.
Seeing an object thrown around the doorway, bouncing toward Jack's position, he took cover.
BOOOM!
Jack felt his ears ringing. Muffled. Distorted. His TSM is currently active. With a few round remaining in current magazine, Jack readied his bayonet and with stretched sound of clicking, a man in suspension slowly showed after dashing with submachine gun. Jack watched his bayonet slowly traveled toward the man whose gun shifting its aim.
After seemly a minute later, Jack observed how Punisher's bayonet penetrated through the man's neck. How the man's eyes slowly widened with mouth opening. How the man's body moved sideway with another man shoving. In corner of his eyes, Jack spotted a small glimpse of knife.
Jack urged his right leg to move faster as it moved through air while his Punisher went along due to its bayonet still in a dead man's neck. Faster! Faster! FASTER!
Suddenly the Timed-Slowed-Motion deceased, Jack's right foot made a forceful impact at the knife man while the dead man slipped off Punisher's bayonet. A third man showed up with an iron pipe followed by a fourth man holding a submachine gun but not shooting due to second and third men blocking his line of fire.
Jack engaged the two men designated as Knife and Pipe in close combat with his bayonet.
Duck!
Parry!
Kick that man away!
Duck!
Punch with a free hand!
Shove with a shoulder!
Bash with a rifle's stock!
The fourth man decided to forgo his gun in favor of a pocket knife before joining his fellow gangsters who not letting the Silver Shroud by putting constant pressure. That one will now be designated as Knife #2.
Seeing an incoming iron pipe, the time slowed with Jack's free hand moving to catch with fingers moving. Until the pipe hit between his index finger and thumb, Jack's hand closed to grasp it to hold Pipe before kicking his abdomen. Unfortunately, Jack was forced to let go of Punisher as its body slowly fell toward the floor when Knife #2 charged toward with a stabbing motion.
Jack felt the knife collided against his hidden chest armor. He could feel that sensation in his chest but no pain. Yet. Jack's hands moved to grasp with one on the knife and other on the forearm. Knife #2's face slowly shifted into a surprise as he got forcibly pulled.
TSM deactivated and Knife #2 found his head gripped by a hand before painfully slammed against the unforgiving wall. Jack moved backward away from Knife #2's body sliding downward with Knife #1 advancing.
Jack pulled out a combat knife before shifting into a combat stance that he learned from his time in military boot training and mock sparring in free time while stationed in Alaska. With a yell, Knife #1 and Pipe charged.
Jack did his best to block their stabbing and swinging. His knife clashed against an enemy knife, Jack shoved it sideway before cutting Knife #1's knife arm. Earning a pained yell from him. Pipe rammed his shoulder against Jack. Slamming his back against the wall.
With a grunt, Jack kneed Pipe in gut before adjusting his position to grab his head to slam against the wall before stabbing through above Pipe's eye.
TSM activated, causing Jack to feel a sickening sensation of his knife's blade piercing through the skull. It was difficult to ignore it as Jack moved to pull his knife out by using his foot as a support. Even with his urge, Jack felt his life could end at any time while he's turning too slow and too long to tolerate. To see Knife# 1 moving in slow-motion.
TSM deactivated and Jack nearly stumbled as he and Knife #1 clashed with his hands holding enemy's hand as two men struggled to overpower each other. Jack suddenly changed his tactic to let Knife #1 goes forward before ramming his knee to enemy's right ribcage. Knife #1 yelped with Jack capitalizing by grabbing enemy's hands still holding a knife and pressed it against his gut. Knife #1 gasped as he fell on his knees, bleeding. Jack shoved enemy so his side landed on the floor before getting his neck stomped on.
"YE-ARRRGH!" Jack turned to see Knife #2 having snapped out of dazed state to see his two pals dead. In attempt to avenge them, Knife #2 ran to tackle the Silver Shroud who waited for him to get close with TSM acting up again. Nearly throwing Jack's timing off as Knife #2 rammed against him.
TSM deactivated with Knife #2 attempting to stab Jack's liver but received a side-way punch. Without a hesitation, Jack punched Knife #2 repeatedly before grabbing his head to jump with his knee hitting enemy's chin.
Knife #2 fell on the floor with a knife out of his hand. Seeing it, Jack grabbed the knife before stabbing Knife #2's chest. Twice.
Breathing, Jack stood with enemy's blood dripping along his ruined trench coat and the knife. Jack composed himself before heading to where Kapper and Darla at but not before picking up his rifle. Upon reaching the doorway, Jack spotted Kapper already running followed by a female scream before feeling an impact of baseball bat to his abdomen.
Darla has been waiting by the doorway with her bat at her lover's urge in case the Silver Shroud somehow defeat several men in the hallway. Seeing Shroud stumbling backward, Darla pressed on with her offense.
Shroud grunted as Darla's bat hit his forearm, sending a signal of pain to his brain. Yelling, Darla made another swing. Unfortunately for a woman who's basically a civilian whose mean boner for brutality awaken by Kapper, Shroud recovered and parried her bat with his rifle. Before Darla could do anything, Shroud's free hand formed a fist before crashing against her nose.
Darla shrieked in pain as she dropped her bat to clutch her nose before receiving a bash from Shroud's rifle to her head. Knocking her out as she fell ungracefully on the floor while Shroud moved away from her. Pulling out a stimpak before injecting himself.
Thanks God for simpaks, Jack mentally praised as he jogged while reloading Punisher to pursue Kapper. Leading him to another large room with Kapper waiting for him with four Triggermen.
"FIRE!" Kapper roared as he and his men fired. Jack ran toward nearby cover to fire back in retaliation.
"I really need a battle buddy or two." Jack thought as he fired a controlled burst.
"GAAH!" One man down as Jack moved to different cover while blindly firing before reloading. After finishing reloading, Jack felt time slowed again with another man came over in close distance. Close enough for Punisher to punish him with its bayonet. Two stabbings and a kick afterward, Jack's eyes captured memory of a man's shocked and pained face while bleeding to death.
TSM deactivated, time resumed normally.
Jack moved to different cover while Kapper screaming, "KILL HIM, FOOLS! DON'T LET HIM GAIN AN INCH!"
Later with Kapper and one Triggerman remaining, Kapper waited for his remaining "ally" distracted before ditching him for different room. Sadly (well not really), a Triggerman noticed.
"Huh-Boss? BOSS! YOU SON-AHHH!"
The Triggerman fell on the floor, clutching his arm in pain after losing weapon in process. Seeing Kapper ran away, Jack followed after without bothering to finish that downed man. Just when Jack came around the corner, he quickly spotted Kapper waiting to ambush with a pistol.
Seeing the Silver Shroud, Kapper immediately took a crackpot that hit the corner before running away. Like a dog pursuing a rabbit, Jack took off after him. Room by room, Kapper would stop to take a shot while cursing at the Silver Shroud.
"GO BACK TO YOUR COMICS!"
"DAMN YOU, SHROUD!"
"YOUR MOTHER SHOULD'VE NEVER BEEN BORN!"
"YOU'RE LUCKY I DON"T HAVE AN AX TO CUT YOUR HEAD OFF!"
"YOU'RE MORE ANNOYING THAN THE TIN CAN!"
"ALL OVER SOME DAMN SYNTH I KILLED!"
Eventually after clearing another room of couple Triggermen, Kapper had enough of running while mentally kicking himself for not picking up another weapon. He has ran out of bullet. And energy to keep running.
Standing in incomplete area with construction equipment and dirt, Kapper stared at the Silver Shroud. In possibly vain attempt to be brave, Kapper called out, "SHROUD! FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN! NO WEAPON! NO CHEAP TA-"
Bang!
Unlike Kapper, the Silver Shroud still have 10mm ammo in his pistol. And unfortunately for Kapper, the Silver Shroud isn't in mood for more fistfight and has just shot Kapper's right lap. Causing the Triggermen's boss collapsed on the dirt, clutching his bleeding leg.
"AHHH! MY LEG! YOU BASTARD! GAH!"
The Silver Shroud walked toward him and stopped at six feet away from him. Wheezing, Kapper glared hatefully at Shroud, "I can't believe someone like you came here, killed over dozen men, and chased me down like an animal! AND FOR WHAT! FOR BEHEADING A ROBOT? TELL ME, ASSHOLE! WHAT KIND OF MAN WOULD DO ALL THESE THINGS? DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SOME KIND OF HERO? DO YOU? ANSWER ME!"
Kapper hissed as he studied his injured leg before hearing a clipping sound to see Shroud's still hidden face looking at him. And his gun pointing at him, aiming at between his eyes. A different voice that sound normal compared to earlier spoke coldly.
"No. I don't think I am a hero nor I can be considered as a hero. I'm just a father on personal mission."
Bang!
An hour later, a man in bloodied shroud could be seen carrying a bloodied jacket that has been converted into a bag. Tired and overwhelmed by memories of flesh and blood, a man found a kitchen and dumped the jacket-bag into a fridge before locating a bedroom to sleep.
That night, a man dreamed of sitting alone in an empty living room with poor lighting and a tv playing the Silver Shroud without a sound. With white and black picture, the tv began to bleed as the couch suddenly formed a pair of arms holding the man. Minute by minute, the tv still showing the Silver Shroud began to spit out a body by body.
Nov 29, 2287...Diamond City…
Jack ignored feared and awed look from many people as he made his way through the marketplace. If Jack wasn't so tired, he would've question whoever had a bright idea of dressing Diamond City's security guards in baseball gear. BASEBALL GEAR! But being tired from having nightmare, Jack just doesn't care and thanks to a direction provided by a guard, he marched his way to Valentine Detective Agency.
Just look for neon sign that read "Detective", the guard said. Pretty easy to find, he said. And easy it was with Jack stood in front of a red door with a cardboard sign reading "CLOSED". Carrying a duffle bag that he barely made a note to find a new bag and dispose the current one. Despite stuffing Abraxo cleaner or two, he could still smell it.
Raising a hand, Jack's knuckles knocked against the door. After a couple knocking, a female voice muffled by wooden door, "Go away!"
After knocking the door for five minutes, Jack was finally greeted by an angry woman with tired red eyes and messy hair while dressed in untidy outfit. The woman instantly startled by Jack's appearance with fancy black trench coat containing multiple rips and alarmingly, few faded blood spots (who let this man in?). On him, she could see a weapon or two along with a duffle bag-what's that smell? And what caught her attention is his eyes. How tired they appeared.
After staring at each other silently, the man spoke in form of question, "Are you Ellie? Nick's...friend?"
"Wh-" Ellie cleared her throat before answering clearly but in wary tone, "Yes...Who's asking? Who are you?" If this man is hostile, Ellie will shut the door and scream for help while putting up a quick barricade and finding herself a weapon to defend herself.
"...A man bearing a gift to appease your vengeance for wrongful death of Nick. And...a man who need help. A woman, Irma said you may be able to help."
"I-Irma?" Ellie repeated questionably before remembering a blond hair woman, another friend of Nick. That Irma? And did he said vengeance? What?
A man sighed tiredly, something that Ellie could relate to.
"May I come in? I have no harmful intention toward you and...Please...I really need help or at least, an info."
Ellie felt taken by how his voice sound to her ears before composing herself as she stepped aside.
"Yeah...Sure."
Not even five minutes later, Ellie nearly shriek out of shock when a man untied a jacket, revealing Kapper's head with a bullet hole in forehead. Fortunately (for the man), she didn't as she stared at the head, studying with disgust. And morbid fascination.
Ellie snapped herself out as she asked question with her voice wavering, "I-Is this...the one…?"
"Yes."
With that said, Ellie collapsed on a chair and without caring about the man's presence, her tears quietly dripped. Glaring at Kapper with loathing Something Ellie no longer surprised about herself capable of harboring such feeling as she was not a long time ago.
Almost after fifteen minutes later and another ten minutes to dispose the head, Ellie and Jack could be seen sitting across from each other with a desk between them. In her hands, Ellie has a notepad and a pencil in preparation to note down anything important or helpful for documentation and if needed, to dig through the cabinets for a file.
"I-ah..." Ellie began, "Sorry about earlier..."
"It's understandable."
"I...Don't-I don't know what...to say. I-"
"It's fine, you don't need to say anything." said Jack in tiredness.
"R-Right! I...um. Right-" Ellie cleared her throat, "You said you need help and Irma mentioned me? I-I don't know how much help I will be, but will do my best."
"Ok. I'm going to make this easy for you and me." Jack spoke bluntly, "I'm looking for my missing son." Ah...Oh. Ellie briefly pressed her lips together as her pencil moved.
"His name is Shaun and he's an infant. A baby, not even three months since his birth. Some sick bastards-two or three, maybe more I don't know- came into Vault 111 where me and my wife took shelter 200 years ago-" To her credits, Ellie didn't interrupt and instead, she kept listening while writing things down.
"-and woke us up. I was stuck in my cryo pod, unable to do anything other than-" Ellie took note of Jack's hands on desk clenching into fists as his voice oozed anger and something she couldn't identify, "-watching my wife-Nora's death. And-and Shaun...he got snatched by a person dressed in full white suit. Head to toe. Carrying him away like a damn grocery."
Jack raised a fist as if wanting to slam it but dropped it in defeated manner as he continued, "I couldn't do a damn thing. Not even when that bald man who, after killing Nora, walked up to the small window. This close to me. Said something about me being an extra or something. And-" Jack closed his eyes as a memory of watching Nora's death before opening with bitterness.
"And then they re-freeze me. Until the machine malfunction and let me out."
Jack sighed tiredly as he placed his head against his hands. His voice muffled through his hands, "It's been a month. No, almost 2 months. Since my escape from Vault 111. Since I left Sanctuary. Everything changed. Different from what it used to be."
After that, there was a moment of silence with Ellie processing Jack's words. Reading what she wrote. After pondering on what would Nick say in this situation and pulling her experience, Ellie asked, "You mentioned this bald man...He got close to you, did you see any other feature about his appearance that stand out? Like his face?"
"...My memory of his face is somewhat blurry but I...I remember seeing his scar. Above his left eye. Long enough to reach over his forehead. Like this." Jack made a hand gesture to trace an imaginary scar.
Ellie nodded as if encouraging him. Ok, so the killer is bald and has scar.
Bald and has scar…
Bald...and has...scar…
Something about that short description doesn't feel right. Was that one of Nick's unsolved cases? Ellie remembered filing something about that. She'll have to re-open up the file cabinets and check.
"Ok... I realize this may open up your wound but could you...describe Shaun's appearance? Does he have your face or. Um." Ellie drawled off as Jack took it as his cue.
"Shaun...has my eyes and hair. But he has his mother's ears-as in no earlobes like mine- and cheeks." Jack gestured his earlobes.
"Ok...Shaun...brown eyes, black hair. But no earlobes. Father said he's an infant-Wait. Didn't he mentioned that he was refrozen?"
When Ellie pointed it out to Jack, he could be seen thinking before concurring, "You're...right. Shaun may be a child by now. Or a teenager! I...I don't know how long has it been since Shaun's...Or if-No, he has to be alive." Ellie observed how Jack's expression shifted from lost and worried to harden and anger. But they got replaced by a firm look as Jack asked seriously.
"This might be too early to determine but do you have any kind of idea who could've kidnapped Shaun?"
Ellie paused to think-something that Jack willing to wait. What would Nick say? His voice could be heard speaking within her mind. Some time ago when Nick was giving one of his tips.
"When you dot detail down and a client is asking you question. It doesn't hurt to go over them and ask yourself such as what's required to carry it out? Who would have motive? Resources? Execution? Don't be afraid to discuss your thought out loud, it sometime helps. Just be sure not to say everything, you might cause client to flip out."
"Ok...we have two people or maybe more who kidnapped an infant...Taking care of infant would involves a lot of things. You mentioned the one who snatched Shaun was covered from...head to toes."
Seeing Jack's nodding in confirmation gave an encouragement to Ellie to goes on, "Um. I've never been to the Vault but I heard of it. I would say whoever took Shaun would have a lot of resources. And...expertise to get into the Vault...That thing on your arm, is that a Pipboy?"
"Yes. It can open the Vault. But I didn't see anyone wearing one or at least, I don't remember seeing one." Jack answered, giving an important detail.
"Ok...So they may or may not have a Pipboy...Or have some sort of tool. Device. Capable of opening the Vault..." Ellie sighed as she apologized, "I'm sorry-I. I don't have any solid idea. I would say…the Institute with um. That's usually what people blamed on with kidnapping and replacing with their synth. But in this case..."
"The Institute. I heard it couple times. They're considered to be bogeymen, right? You know anything about them?" Jack inquired.
"Other than what people know, no I don't. Sorry. But I wouldn't...disregard the possibility of the Institute being responsible with kidnapping. As for the one who killed-sorry-your wife, I'll need to dig through the files and see if I can find something. I-well-I may need time until tomorrow. Or next day."
"That's fine...Oh, here." Jack pulled out something before dropping, revealing to be a small pile of caps. "Don't know how much it normally cost, but is 500 enough?"
Looking at Ellie's face, Jack is going to assume that's a yes.
Meanwhile...In undisclosed location...In unknown room...
A man dressed in a labcoat and tan pant whose back of head could only be seen with his face staring at multiple screens while standing with his hands folded behind. Thinking what kind of plan to get two certain men to collide with one is currently in Diamond City while other is in the Glowing Sea. Far away from each other. How did it happen? The man is confused-no, bewildered about couple things such as why did the Sole Survivor stayed in Sanctuary longer than he should? How did he reach Goodneighbor first before Diamond City? Is he even trying to find his son? Why he's dressed like that? What's so special about Goodneighbor? What did the Institute miss?
"I need to get a synth planted at this Memory Den soon. Need to make sure it's coming in as a visitor to reduce the possibility of getting caught by those uneducated goons."
Not only that, the man in labcoat is also concerned about the new arrival who not fought the Gunners and other unsavory elements in Boston and Cambridge but also synths. From what they've seen, this Brotherhood of Steel is salvaging any bit of technology. The Brotherhood must be destroyed.
"Things have gotten little difficult and I'm running out of time. I'm going have to take a drastic measure to get him into the Institute."
Feeling a sudden pain in his chest, the man simply turned away from the screen and with a subtle nod, he exited out of the room.
A/N: Here we go. Jack finally got to Diamond City after clearing Vault 114 and enlisted Ellie's help. As I stated earlier, I made a mistake about when Sole Survivor got out of Vault 111. Should be Oct 10, not Oct 23 so as a result of making correction, I'm going to say Jack spent a month instead of 2 weeks in Sanctuary to cope with TSM.
Regarding VATS, I'm ignoring it. At least for Sole Survivor. From what I gleaned from Fallout wiki, I couldn't any official lore behind it outside Fallout 76 (with small background on Pioneer Scouts about reminding parents to use VATS if drunk) and no mention of when Sole Survivor (and other Vault 111 subjects) got surgery done to get an implant (if VATS use it) and can't imagine Vault 111 scientists thawing out subjects after freezing them just to perform surgery. If Vault scientists ever have conversation about that, this is how I would imagine:
Scientist 1: "Hey man, we forgot to give those subjects a surgery so they can use VATS in future."
Scientist 2: "Nah, they don't need it. Most of them will probably die without waking up, no need to waste our time and resource so who care."
Scientist 1: "By golly, you're right. Let's do some science stuff and chug Abraxo!"
Remember when you and your in-game spouse made it to Vault 111 and after picking up Vault suit, one guy said something like "Yeah, we'll go over orientation, just follow" and doctor took you straight to Cryo Pods room where you changed into Vault suit? Bam, your butt is frozen! Forget about orientation, you don't need it!
Lone Wanderer (being born and raised in Vault) having VATS make sense. Courier Six? Not really unless good ol doc has extra VATS implant lying around or ripped his own out cause he's done with adventure. But Sole Survivor? As far as I'm concerned, Sole Survivor having VATS is for gaming purpose. That's why for this story, Jack has uncontrollable Outer World-inspired condition, a side-effect of being in cryo pod. How slow he perceives time varies. Sitting on toilet can feel like 30 minutes or an hour for Jack if TSM troll him for ten minutes in real time.