"How many?"

The four of them had sat in silence for what felt like hours in the town hall. Sarge was staring out the window, taking periodic gulps from a beer bottle. Red sat in a chair, also drinking beer. Alec was pouring over a map of the Commonwealth and Gwen sat at a table, slowly stirring a bowl of soup that had long gone cold. The brief joy of victory had quickly evaporated once they had to witness the price. No one answered her, so Gwen asked again.

"How many?"

Sarge turned from the window. "Five of our people are dead. Twice that many are wounded. Three of which are in critical condition."

Gwen nodded and looked back down at her soup. She had expected casualties but it still hurt. She had known each one of them. Yesterday they had been smiling, good-natured friends. Now, they were gone. She pushed her bowl away. She wasn't hungry.

"What about the gunners?" She continued.

Alec answered without looking up from the map. "We found thirteen dead bodies. They grabbed their injured as they left, but I imagine at least that many are wounded."

"I bet they're cussing up a storm right now." Red declared just before she took another swig from her bottle. "Do you think they'll try again?"

Alec shook his head. "Not immediately. They were no doubt surprised we beat them." He stood up straight. "They'll take time to weigh the cost of another attack with the benefit of a possible victory."

"What benefit could they get from taking Nordhagen?" Gwen asked. "We don't have anything of value. We trade fish for crying out loud!" She threw her hands in the air and got up. She walked over to the table where Alec had been studying the map and stared at him from across the table. Tears were forming in her eyes. "Why?" She began to shake. "Why did five good people have to die?"

Sarge walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know why." She looked up at him. "It's not Nordhagen they want."

"Wait a minute." Red stood up. "If they don't want Nordhagen, then what do they want?"

Both Sarge and Gwen looked at Alec, who nodded his head.

"Fort Strong." Gwen managed to say. "They want Fort Strong."

"Ok, what is Fort Strong?"

"It's an old pre-war base on an island just a little southeast of us," Sarge explained. "The only way to get to it is a bridge connected to the end of the peninsula. They would need to go through us to get to it."

"What makes Fort Strong so important?"

"All you need to know is that what is inside could turn the entire Commonwealth upside down and a lot of people died sealing that place up." His tone told Red that it would be best to change the subject.

"So… What now?"

Everyone turned to Alec who looked back down at the map. "We need to find where the gunners came from and ensure they do not get a second chance at an attack."

"Couldn't they just call up reinforcements from another gunner gang?" Gwen asked.

Alec shrugged his head. "Gunner groups operate mostly independent from one another. Each leader vying for more personal power. If one called for aid from another group it would show weakness and incompetence. They would likely lose a significant amount of their authority within the Gunners."

"So how do we find them?" Red asked as she walked to Alec's side and looked down at the map. "They could be based anywhere."

"The prisoner would know," Alec noted.

"I already questioned him." Sarge countered. "He's a local conscript. He says he never saw the base."

"That's what he says. I want the truth."

"You think he's lying?" Gwen questioned.

"I believe everyone is lying until I am proven otherwise." As he said the last part he briefly turned his gaze to Red. As brief as it was, it made her blood freeze. "I will question him."

Sarge was about to say something but Gwen interrupted him. "Do what you have to." Her normally happy voice had turned ice cold.

Everyone left the hall together, following Alec as he walked to the shack that was serving as a jail. When they reached the shack the man on guard, seeing Gwen with them, stepped aside. Before entering Alec placed his weapons outside. Without a word, he stepped inside. The three of them looked in through the only barred window the shack had. When the gunner, who had been leaning back in a chair, saw Alec step in his face instantly turned pale. He shot from his seat and starting stepping backward away from Alec.

"No! N-no! No!" He pointed a shaking finger at Alec. "You can't be here! Y-you don't exist!"

Alec silently continued to step toward him until the gunner's back was flat against the wall and his own back was to the window.

"Where is the base you came from?"

"I already told the other guy. I'm just a conscript. I never saw the base."

"I know what you told him." Alec took another step forward, only a foot away from the cowering man. "But I want the truth… corporal."

Although Red didn't think it was possible, the man's face turned even paler.

"Wha-what?"

"Some gunner's use tattoos to denote rank." Alec pointed at a skull tattoo on the man's face. "You wouldn't have that unless you were at least a corporal. Now tell me, corporal coward, where is the base?"

A hint of anger appeared on the man's face. "Coward? You're the one hiding behind a mask."

There was a pause as if Alec was thinking over what he said. Slowly, he reached up to his mask. There was a brief hissing sound as he pulled the mask of his face. The gunner's mouth hung open as he stared at Alec.

Suddenly, Alec lunged forward and gripped the man's throat. His face now mere inches from the gunner's; his next words were barely above a whisper.

"Where is the base?" Without his voice being filtered through the mask, Red noted it sounded worn.

The gunner cracked. "The Mass Bay Medical Center!" he shouted. "The Mass Bay Medical Center!"

Alec immediately let him go and the man dropped to the floor, clutching his throat. "We are finished." He placed the mask back on his face before walking back toward the door. Once outside he gathered his weapons and motioned for the three of them to follow him. They walked back to the hall where Alec went back to the map and tapped on a spot. "This is the medical center."

"It's too far away for us to attack," Sarge observed. "We'd get torn to shreds by super mutants and ghouls before we even got close."

"A single man would stand a better chance of getting there alive."

Sarge raised an eyebrow. "You plan to take on an entire base by yourself."

Alec shrugged. "It wouldn't be the first time."

Sarge took a deep breath. "Alright, you always seemed to know what you're doing."

"Wait!" Red interrupted. "What about me? Are you just going to leave me behind?"

"Yes."

His blunt answer startled her, but she quickly recovered her composure. "No."

"No?"

"No. I am coming with you."

"Why?"

Red was about to blurt something out when a thought crossed her mind.

'Is this a test?' She had expected him to say. 'I see' like he when she first started following him. Here, though, he asked why. She wished she could see his face so she could try to read his expression, instead of staring at a blank, expressionless mask. After taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she answered.

"It's like you said earlier. If you go alone there's a higher chance of something going wrong."

"True, but you're less experienced in this than me."

"So you are going to teach me what I need to know before we leave."

For several agonizing seconds, there was nothing but silence as the two stared each other down. Slowly, Alec eventually nodded his head.

"I am."

It was a statement. Not a question or an apathetic 'I see,' but a legitimate declaration. Red felt such immense pride swell up in her chest at passing this 'test' that all she could manage was... "Good."

Sarge shook his head. "Now you're starting to sound like him. Anyway, I guess this means you'll be staying here for a while?" Alec nodded affirmation. "Good to know. There's a lot of work that need doing around here. Wounded need tended to and that hole in the wall needs patching up. Hope you plan on pitching in."

"We will." Alec then turned to walk out but halted just as he reached the door. "Red, tomorrow morning we begin training. Meet me at the south-east gate at sunrise."

As he departed Sarge began to leave as well. "I go too. Might as well start getting all that work done now." Once Sarge and Alec left only Red and Gwen remained in the hall.

"Soo…" Red began, not wanting the silence to turn awkward. "Before the gunners showed up you were about to tell me about what happened to Alec?"

"I suppose I was." Gwen sat down in one of the many chairs in the building an motioned for Red to join her. "I doubt Alec will mind if I tell you. I don't even know if he remembers anything about it."

"What do you mean?"

Gwen's expression turned sad. "I've asked several times about what happened but he's never given a clear answer. After a while, I figured he either didn't want to talk about it or couldn't." Gwen shook her head. "He doesn't remember anything from before that day so it didn't seem unreasonable that he couldn't remember what happened to him too."

"So what did happen?"

"I don't know the whole story, but I'll tell you what I know."

Years Earlier

"How do I look?"

Gwen looked him up and down. He wore a metal chest plate and helmet with leather covering his arms and legs. Most of it was a little beat up and worn but it was the best they could manage. On his hip, he carried a rusty 10mm pistol with a few extra clips.

"Ok, I guess."

Alec raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Do you have to do this? I'm sure they'll be fine without you."

Alec shook his head. "We talked about this."

"I know."

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "No one knows the area better than me. I can get them there and back safer and quicker."

"But we need you here." She pleaded.

"You're just building houses. Not exactly my expertise; and Sarge can keep everyone safe while I'm gone."

Gwen stared at the ground, defeated. What he was saying made sense, but the sickening feeling in her stomach remained.

"Hey," Alec gripped both her shoulders. "Look at me." Gwen did as he asked. He was giving her his best comforting smile. "Everything is going to be fine. The Minutemen know what they're doing. They do this kind of stuff all the time. I'll be in good hands. Besides, it just raiders. It's not as if we're raiding a Deathclaw cave."

"Alright." Though she conceded to his argument her frown remained firmly on her face. Seeing this a mischevious grin crept onto Alec's own face.

"C' mon, give me a smile." Alec's hands suddenly began to tickle her sides. Despite her mood, a smile forced its way onto her as she struggled to get away from him.

"Ok! Ok! Just stop!" She laughed and pushed him away, causing him to stumble to the ground. Still grinning, he stood back up.

"I'd better get going. They'll be waiting for me."

Together, they walked to the edge of the fledgling settlement. Most of the buildings were still under construction except the town hall, which had been finished a few days prior. Waiting to meet them were a dozen men in Minutemen garb along with a few townsfolk who were chatting with them. Seeing them approach, one of the Minutemen stepped toward them.

"Good, you're ready. I was about to send someone to get you."

"I was just taking care of a few things before I left Lieutenant Jackson." Alec shook his hand.

"Please, just Jackson is fine." he noticed Gwen and bowed slightly in her direction. "Doctor."

Before she could speak she was interrupted by a tall, thin man with graying hair.

"I see you're still intent on leaving?" The man asked.

"Yes, Mayor Peter. They need my help."

"Well, far be it from me to stop you." He also gave Alec a firm handshake. "Stay safe. If you come back in one piece we'll have a celebration for you."

"Well, I guess the choice is out of my hands then." Those around laughed. There was more small talk but eventually, Jackson put an end to it.

"We'd better get moving. We're wasting daylight." He gave everyone one more handshake. "We'll be back in a week." Once he finished his last handshake he turned to his men and shouted. "Alright! Let's move out! To Dunwich" Once everyone said their final farewells they followed after Jackson. Alec gave Gwen a final hug before he too followed Jackson northward. For a while, Most of the townsfolk turned back to the settlement to return to their work; but Gwen watched Alec as he walked away. Only once they were out of sight did she return to Nordhagen as well.

'They'll be back before you know it.' she told herself. 'You're worrying about nothing.' She couldn't have been any more wrong.

A week passed and Alec had not returned. Eight days, then nine passed without any sign of the band of Minutemen. Gwen spent most of the days trying to distract herself from the ever-growing despair that was building within her. The medical needs of Nordhagen served as a constant distraction. Once the tenth day began to reach its end, however, she began to become desperate. She found herself unable to focus on anything. Something had gone wrong. She knew it, but she could nothing. She was powerless, and that was perhaps the worst part.

She spent that evening sitting on a chair at the edge of the settlement, fruitlessly watching for any sign of Alec's return. It was a cold evening, and it was getting even colder as the sun set lower and lower on the horizon. Finally, the cold became unbearable. With great reluctance, she got up from her seat and began walking toward her shack. On a lark, she took another look outside Nordhagen. Nothing. No one was there. Dejectedly, she began to walk away again.

She made it six steps before the hairs on the back of her neck stood up on their ends. Confused, she turned back around. The sun had almost completely set so it was difficult to see. Squinting, her eyes strained to see anything. She was about to dismiss it as her mind playing tricks on her but just as she was about to give up she spotted movement. Just beyond the bridge that connected Nordhagen with the mainland something was making its way toward the settlement. As it drew closer, she became sure it was a person. They were limping badly and making slow progress, but it was undoubtedly a person. Before she could fully process what she was seeing she bolted toward the figure. She had just about given up hope; but she knew it was him, it had to be.

"Alec!" she shouted as she rushed toward the figure. Whoever it was appeared to pick up its pace, then stumbled and fell to the ground. Gwen ran faster. Within seconds she made it to the now collapsed man. It was Alec, he was wearing the same outfit he had left in. she turned him over onto his back. Upon seeing his face she gasped. It was definitely Alec, but something was wrong, very wrong. he tried to pick him up but on her own but she wasn't strong enough "Help!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. "Help!" a few settlers rushed out from Nordhagen to see what was going on. Some were armed, expecting some sort of attack.

"What's going on?" It was from Peter. He made his way to Gwen and looked down. His eyes bulged. "What in..? Help me get him inside." he threw one of Alec's arms over his shoulder and Gwen took the other and together, they managed to make their way toward the town hall. As they went settlers watched them and tried to question them. Gwen didn't bother to answer and ignored. Not that she had any answers. With effort, they made it into the town hall and placed Alec on a bed inside.

Gwen sprinted around the hall grabbing whatever medical supplies she could find. Once satisfied with what she gathered she placed it all on a table next to Alec and got to work. Peter silently watched, his face grim. Gwen worked through the night, trying to keep Alec alive.

'He did not come this far just to die.' she told herself. 'I won't let it happen.'

Gwen rarely left Alec's side for the next several days. Once his condition was somewhat stable he was moved upstairs onto a bed. He drifted in and out of consciousness but was incoherent when awake. When he wasn't mumbling during his brief bouts of alertness he stared into space, either ignoring or unable to acknowledge Gwen when she tried to speak with him.

This continued for a week until, after she left to get more medical supplies she opened the door and found him struggling to stand up. He briefly managed to bring himself completely upright before he fell to his knees, his legs weak from lack of use. Gwen rushed to his side and helped him sit back down on his bed.

"You shouldn't be up. You're not well enough yet." She told him. She didn't expect him to answer. He hadn't said a word the whole week. At her voice, he turned toward her. For a moment, he squinted, as if trying to focus.

"Gwen?" His voice was weak much like the rest of his body, but it was his voice.

In her excitement Gwen hugged him, causing him to yelp in pain. She quickly released him.

"Sorry."

Alec smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "It's okay." his smile quickly faded as he looked himself over.

"What happened to you?" Gwen hoped he could finally answer all of her questions. "What happened to the Minutemen? What happened at Dunwich Borers?"

Gwen had never seen Alec look so dejected and defeated in her life. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly as if struggling for an answer. Eventually, he buried his head in his hands and for the only time in her life, she heard him quietly cry. Gwen did the only thing she could think to do. She wrapped an arm around his shoulder and sat with him in silence.

Red finished the last swig of her beer and let out a quiet whistle. Gwen nodded in silent agreement.

"He never told me his side of the story but I'm guessing the Minutemen he went with died."

"I've heard a lot of rumors about the Dunwich Borers. If even half of them are true he's gone through hell and back. No wonder he's messed up."

"I've heard rumors too, never managed to confirm anything though."

After a long silence, Red got her feet and stretched. "Well, thanks for telling me."

"You're welcome."

"I'd better go make myself useful. See you later, I guess."

"Yes, see you."

After Red left the hall Gwen got to her feet and walked upstairs to her room. It was the same room she had treated Alec in. It was the same room she had worked as the town's doctor for years. Now, on top of being the town doctor, she was the mayor. She hadn't been at the job long, only a little more than a year. Peter had died and left the position open. Since she had worked closely with him before she had been the obvious choice. She hadn't wanted the job but she accepted it since no one else seemed to want it either.

Once she was in her room she walked over to her desk and pulled out her personal journal. Ever since she had started working as a doctor she had kept meticulous notes on all of her patients. She flipped through the pages until she found the entries she was looking for. She hadn't told Red all the details. She kept those to herself and to her journal.

Alec

7/13

Brought in with multiple injuries and difficulty breathing.

Face badly scarred from a fire? Ointment applied to ease possible pain.

Body badly sunburned? Ointment applied.

Scars over heart, intestines, and stomach areas of the body. Knife wounds? Should've been fatal. Partly healed. Internal damage?

Multiple smaller lacerations cover the body.

Stimpacks used as much as I dare. Wounds cleaned and bandages also applied to avoid possible infection.

Breathing ragged and coughing constantly. Gasmask with a filter placed over the face. Appears to aid with breathing. Coughing reduces substantially.

Eyes have turned completely black. Cause and possible treatment unknown.

Alec should not be alive.

7/14

Condition stable. Still unconscious.

The stimpacks appear to be working. Some scars show signs of healing.

'Sunburns' healing.

Bandages changed and more ointment applied.

7/15

Condition unchanged.

Bandages removed. No longer necessary

7/16

Has become conscious several times. Unresponsive.

Facial scars not healing. Stimpacks ineffective. Damage probably permanent.

Constant mumbling when conscious. Incoherent.

7/17

Condition unchanged.

Continues mumbling. Some words are recognizable.

'Jackson' 'Underground' 'Dead' 'Dunwich'

7/17

Condition unchanged.

Repeating the same word over and over.

'Ug-Qualtoth'

Word does not appear in the dictionary. Meaning unknown.

7/18

Is now conscious and coherent.

Attempted to walk. Unsuccessful. Will require time to recover fully.

Appears not to be in any immediate danger, for now.

Unable to get the story. Unable? Unwilling?

7/19

Opened blinds in the room. Skin immediately began to burn and eyes in pain.

Developed intolerance to direct sunlight? Cause?

Clothing and tinted eyewear appear to help. Long term treatment?

Complains of constant pain from where cuts were. painkillers were given.

The entries continued a little longer, mostly detailing his long road to recovery. She finished reading them before placing the journal back in her desk. As she placed it in the drawer she felt her hand brush against something. Carefully, she pulled the object out of the drawer.

It was a small, black box, no more than an inch in a half tall and wide. Tears welled up in her eyes as memories flashed through her head. Mournfully, she placed it back, unopened, and closed the drawer.