Chapter 3

Let's Go Boy


Blinded, for but a moment when she slowly opened her eyes. She stared up at the ceiling, the sun peeking through the cracks, dappling the room in shards of light. She could feel the warmth on her cheek as she took a deep breath, her throat dry.

She lay on the floor of her living room, just inside the doorway at her feet, she could see that much.

Her body ached, her headache though, had subsided into a mild irritation. Memories came rushing back, and she brushed a hand over her forehead, blinking the haziness from her vision. She had killed two people.

How did she feel about that?

It had to be done, they would have killed her otherwise, or worse. She remembered their utter indifference as they decided her fate in front of her. No empathy, no conscience, no remorse, they made their choice. And while she decided, she didn't regret what she did, she did regret the fact that she was forced to do it.

She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out their faces and trying to calm the feeling of nausea in the pit of her stomach.

Still Alive. She thought to herself as she was once again aware of her hunger and the dull ache in her side.

That's right. She was shot.

Lifting her head and gingerly running a hand over her side. The wound was covered in a scrap of fabric that was haphazardly duct taped to her skin.

She was bare from the hips up, she realized. The top half of her blue jumpsuit was rolled down, and the blouse she wore underneath, torn and tattered in blood soaked rags as if someone had taken a shredder to it. Her bra, the only thing protecting her modesty.

She groaned, laying back again. The soft cushioning underneath her head, she realised, was probably the remains of her blouse.

"Cods…", her dry throat sending her into a fit of coughing.

"Codsworth!", she finally managed to growl, her voice hoarse.

"Mum!", the robot appeared immediately in the doorway from outside. "Haha!, you're finally awake, I knew you wouldn't lose to those filthy raiders!"

"Although, for a moment there...", he continued.

"Codsworth…"

"And then, they flew over the...", he kept going.

"Codsworth…", she ground her teeth.

"To be sure, I don't believe...", was he ignoring her?

"Damnit Codsworth!", she yelled, or tried to, her voice cracking, sending her into another coughing fit.

"Mum are you all right?". "Please try to relax, I can…"

"What, is, this?", she shut her eyes, bringing her hand up towards her chest.

"Ah, I beg your pardon, but you had lost quite a lot of blood by the time I found you, and while the stims I administered would have closed the wound eventually, I decided it best to stop any further blood loss before it took effect".

She stayed silent, eyes still shut in annoyance, bringing one arm to rest over her forehead, while she grabbed a handful of the tattered fabric at her side with the other and showed it to him.

"Oh!...oh that", he paused. "Well you see, while my fine motor functions are indeed exceptional by most standards, I must admit to some…difficulty with the buttons on that particular article of clothing".

She let the strips of cloth slip through her fingers and lazily let her arm fall to her side. She couldn't fault him for that. It had taken even Nate a few seconds to figure them out. Needlessly convoluted in the name of fashion.

"They were indeed quite the unexpected adversary, Mum".

She sighed, it made sense he would have had to work fast if she was bleeding out, she guessed. Besides he did save her life, twice now was it?, she definitely wouldn't be here without him.

"Thank you, Codsworth", she managed.

Dammit, that was her favourite blouse…

"No thanks necessary, I'm just glad you're finally awake".

"About the, uh, bandage, Mum", even Codsworth recognised a disaster, she thought to herself. "I had to improvise somewhat, however, your wound should have closed nicely by now, I see no issue, should you wish to remove it or change it out, I'm sure you would do a far better job than I".

"In any case, I suggest you have something to eat, and you do look a little dehydrated as well", his eyes scanning her as she lay there.

Her ears perked up upon hearing this.

"You found food?", she groaned as she propped herself up on her elbows to face him.

"Indeed", he pointed to the small cloth sack off to her side, the Pipboy laying on the ground next to it. "There is dried fish, cooked…meat, of some sort, Mutfruit, and Sugarbombs!". "There's water behind you, whiskey, if you're so inclined, as well as a bottle of Nuka Cola".

She pushed herself to her knees as quickly as she could, biting her lip to keep from crying out.

God, everything hurt!

She grabbed the first carton of water in reach, testing the liquid on her tongue before hungrily gulping down the rest, almost forgetting to breathe every few gulps. Sweet nectar of the gods.

"Easy Mum, there should be more than enough there to replenish you"

She sat back on her heels, panting and dropping the empty carton.

"Codsworth I freaking love you right now", she managed between breaths, grabbing the cloth sack and emptying its contents in front of her before helping herself, pride and table manners be damned, not to mention restraint.

"I live to serve, Mum, although it's no five star meal, I do hope it meets with your satisfaction".

"Where did you find all this?", she managed to choke out.

"From our guests earlier this morning of course", he said.

"It seems they were running quite low on supplies themselves. Mum, I do believe that mister Roan character, was lying about sharing their supplies in exchange for your Pipboy", he sounded absolutely shocked by this revelation.

She pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance before shooting him a look over her shoulder.

Really?...you don't say.

She could see the street outside behind him from where she sat.

"Codsworth?"

"Yes Mum?"

"Where are they?"

"Pardon?"

"The bodies, where are they?", she clarified.

"Aha!", one of his eyes flipping around to scan the street behind him. "I took the liberty to dispose of them earlier this morning, while you slept"

"Dispose?", she asked.

He held up the ignition canister that powered his flamethrower attachment, letting loose a tiny burst of flame.

She swallowed the fish she'd been chewing, wincing, before quietly turning back around to her meal.


She turned the pistol over in her hands, a box of 9mm ammo at her side, as she sat on the staircase leading out of her husband's secret storage room. Although, room might have been too generous a term.

It spanned the length of their bedroom, but only wide enough for two people if they stood side by side.

Shelves on both sides, lined with a multitude of guns, most of which she had some familiarity with, military gear ranging from night vision goggles to soft exosuits, worn primarily under Powerarmor, to explosives, grenades, knives, medical supplies. Everything but food and water.

Or a time machine, she mused to herself, listening to the radio on her Pipboy as it lay on a shelf, illuminating the room.

There we go, three magazines loaded for her pistol.

"Just need a shirt", she grumbled, pushing off the stairs and browsing through the shelves.

"Where did I put….those…".

"Aha, found you", a few stacks of her shirts, skirts, underwear and other random articles of clothing, hell she even had makeup, shoes and office wear down here. That was the one problem with the small flat, very little space to raise a family. Or to keep her stuff, for that matter.

Nate, thankfully, let her to keep some of her 'girly stuff' as he called it, down here.

Her father had bought her this place, a long time ago, less than a year after meeting Nate and introducing him. The only man she ever brought home that her father genuinely respected. This place was meant to be a stepping stone, a starting point to their life together.

But then the conflicts started, as the world slowly unraveled, tearing apart at the seams, and he enlisted to serve.

They spent very little time here, before they had Shaun. When she worked and studied in the big city, her apartment was her home. There they would stay, the precious time they had together, before he had to leave again. Her heart breaking every time she said goodbye, the uncertainty of not knowing if she would ever see him again.

She thumbed through the stacks of folded clothing before finding something suitable, knocking over a small metal box when she pulled it free. Its contents spilling over the floor. She knelt to pick it up.

Pictures, of her, of them, the most recent, with Shaun. So tiny, beautiful and precious in her arms. Her heart felt like it was being crushed in her chest.

The letters they wrote whenever they were apart. Her fingers tracing his words.

She shut her eyes, a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs, but it was useless. She cried…

How had she forgotten this was here.

She hated feeling this way, it wasn't helping anything, there would be time for this later. After she found her baby, after she found that monster with the scar. She clenched her fists in her lap and lifted her head skyward, taking a deep measured breath.

Calm down.

She wiped her tears, stacking everything, placing them neatly in the box and returning it to the shelf, pausing for a just a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before her gaze fell upon the Pipboy.

Walking over to it, she opened the Holotape slot and ejected the tape she had stored, running a thumb over the words….

'Hi Honey'

She returned to the box and placed the tape in it, staring at it one last time before finally closing the lid.

It'll be safer here than with me.


"Mum?", Codsworth called from the kitchen.

"What is it Codsworth?".

"I've tidied the living room and placed the rest of the supplies on the kitchen counter".

"Thanks, I'll be right there", she called back, as she finished lacing the pair of hiking boots and strapping the holstered pistol to her thigh.

She emerged a few minutes later, military issued mini-backpack and Pipboy in hand, a comfortable white, casual button shirt and a pair of rugged, brown hiking boots to go with her blue jeans.

She could hear Codsworth outside busying himself as she placed the Pipboy on the counter and started packing the remaining supplies into her backpack.

Two more cans of purified water left,

I'll take those.

The town was surrounded by water, of course, however according to Codsworth, there were residual traces of radiation in it. Radiation that her body might not be able to handle, having not had the benefit of adapting to it over time and generations, like the other denizens of the wastelands out there. It was not something she was willing to test just yet.

Whiskey.

That can stay.

The mystery meat Codsworth eventually identified as molerat.

She had balked at the thought of eating it, even in her current situation.

Nate would have laughed at her.

"Aha, planning an excursion are we", Codsworth appearing behind her.

She flashed him a smile.

"Yes, we, are", she grabbed the Pipboy, fiddling with it for a moment before sliding it across the counter towards him and tapping the screen.

"Tell me that's what I think it is", she beamed.

"Ah, indeed, the old USAF Satellite Station, Olivia if I recall". "Is that to be our destination then?".

"Yup", she was still smiling.

"Might I inquire as to why?".

"There are people out there Codsworth, I've been listening to the radio on this thing. There's a broadcasting station in a place called Diamond City", she explained.

"Civilization Codsworth", she added, with a self satisfied grin. "I told you it couldn't all be gone".

"I see, but why the satellite station, that is a military facility, Mum".

"Communications", she explained, equipping the backpack. "There should be broadcasting equipment there, some kind of radio I can use. Maybe contact this, Diamond City, or at least make contact with real people", she un-holstered her pistol, double checking it.

"Or at least people who won't try to kill or rob me", she added.

"I see your point…well then, I stand ready, just say the word, Mum".

"Then let's be off", she smiled, giving the robot a playful tap on the side before strapping on the Pipboy and heading out the door.

"Mum, are those grenades, on your belt?…".


"Think there's anyone in there?", she asked, nodding to the Red Rocket truck stop, off to the side of the dusty road, the sun blazing overhead.

"Unlikely anyone has settled there, but there may be people inside", Codsworth informed her.

Or supplies, she thought, drawing her pistol, cautiously approaching the building.

"Allow me, Mum", Codsworth offered, his voice low as he followed alongside.

She nodded, letting him enter first, sticking her head behind the facility before making her way back to the door and waiting.

Old tires, parts, bottles, scrap metal, strewn all over the grounds, the weathered sign at the side of the road displaying 'Class C Coolant $113.99 per gallon'. An indication of just how bad the energy crisis had gotten back then. She sighed and shook her head.

How had things gotten so out of hand.

"There seems to be no one here", she heard Codsworth say from inside. Holstering her weapon and entering the building.

"See what you can find".

"As you say", Codsworth confirmed, disappearing into one of the back rooms.

The place was a mess, she ran her fingers absently over the countertop as she walked. A dug out husk of the old re-fueling station that she knew. Empty cupboards, trash, empty boxes, and a cash register she had to force open with considerable effort, revealing old money, a few thousand at a glance. Brittle and stained, no value whatsoever in this new world, if what Codsworth said was true.

Bottle caps…..really?

A sudden movement outside the doorway catching her eye, her gun drawn and ready in an instant, as she moved cautiously towards it. Deep breath before poking her head outside, stepping out and leveling her pistol at…

A guard dog?

Are we trespassing after all?

A German Shepard, black and brown, clawing and sniffing through the rubble around the pumping stations. Its ears perking up in her direction as it turned to face her.

Shit.

Its tail was wagging as it stared at her for a moment.

That's a good sign right?

She lowered her weapon off to the side just a little bit.

"Hello, boy, you're, friendly…right?", her voice kind and gentle as she lowered the pistol a little more.

He answered with a muffled, half bark, 'rowff', and dashed towards her. The sudden movement causing her to jump back in surprise, silently mouthing, 'whoa!' , as she backed up against the wall, an arm held up, defensively across her chest. She somehow managed to resist her gut reflex to bring the gun up at him, before realizing he wasn't really attacking. He had stopped short, right in front of her, tongue out, tail wagging, cocking his head to the side as if bemused by her reaction.

That was a little embarrassing, she thought, slowly holstering the gun and kneeling in front of him, no sudden movements.

"H…hi?".

Extending a hand, slowly, fingers closed, eyeing his adorable face warily. He may be cute, but, no harm in being cautious. Gentle, curious licking as he intercepted her hand, causing her to open her palm, feeling a bit more at ease.

"Hey there", she smiled, relieved.

"You seem like an okay guy", she chuckled, scratching him behind the ears, as he sniffed at her and lapped at her cheek.

"Are you out here all by yourself?"

"Ah, I have something you might like", she remembered, dropping her backpack and taking a seat against the wall.

"Here we are", after a bit of searching, she retrieved the strips of cooked molerat meat from her backpack, unwrapping it and setting it down in front of him, watching him sniff at it before digging in.

"It's not really my thing, but, maybe…", she stole a piece and took a bite.

"Mmmph", she groaned, trying to force a smile even as she winced when he looked up at her, quirking his head and whining.

"Absolutely vile", she chuckled, a hand over her mouth as she tried to swallow.

"Here", she fed him the rest of it, running her fingers through his fur as he ate. He seemed healthy and well fed as far as she could tell.

"You seem to like it though"

"Must be an acquired taste", she grinned.

"Mum, there's very little worth….ah we've adopted a canine I see", Codsworth appeared in the doorway next to her, looking down at them.

"He was wandering around out here, I thought maybe he might be guarding the place", she explained.

"Unlikely Mum, there doesn't seem to be any sign of human habitation, this place is quite deserted and has been for quite some time"

"Find anything interesting in there?", she asked.

"A box of 10mm ammunition, though I can't vouch for its condition, as I said the place seems to have been deserted for some time", he replied.

"Hmm, alright", she sighed, "we should probably get moving then".

"Indeed, I'd say we have about six more hours of daylight", he confirmed.

She threw on her backpack, giving the dog a playful scratch on the neck as she stood.

"It was nice meeting you, boy", "but it's time for me to go", she smiled, scratching him behind the ears again before walking off towards the road.

He'll be fine, he's obviously been thriving out here, more than she would be.

The sound of the dog's groaning followed by another bark causing her to stop and turn around, cocking her head at him. He was following her.

"Seems it wants to come with us", Codsworth deduced, bringing up the rear.

She flashed the dog another smile, kneeling to pet him, definitely adorable.

"Yeah? That's fine with me, it'll be nice to have some company, boy".

"I beg your pardon, Mum"

She looked up at the robot flashing him a cheeky grin, "relax Codworth, you know there's no one that could replace you".

"Well of course, I'm glad to see you realize that".

"Alright boy, let's stick together".