It was amazing! , like nothing she'd felt before. The smallest movement, the slightest twitch of her muscles, detected and amplified as she dashed forward, ripping the bolted minigun off the crashed vertibird. The shock of every thundering step almost completely negated.

It felt as if she were walking on air, initially having to fight back the feeling of vertigo in the pit of her stomach. The stale air being filtered through the helmet doing nothing to help, as she approached the edge of the roof overlooking the front of the museum.

Bursts of laser fire told her Preston and the others were still hanging in there, the museum's front doors however, were hanging on by a thread. She had to end this.

She readied the minigun, a high pitched whirring as it started to spin.

"On the roof!", "Power Ar…", she heard them cry, cut off immediately when a torrent of hot lead started raining down on them. Her breath shallow, her jaw clenched like a vice.

Panicked screams fell on deaf ears.

Is this is all they understand?

She lifted her finger off the trigger, surveying the street below, raindrops cascading down her visor as she took in the carnage, hearing the cries of anguish and impotent threats of retribution. Anyone unfortunate enough to be in the streets were either dead or dying. Streaks of crimson rainwater snaking across the cracked asphalt.

Her eyes stung, her breath catching in her throat as she took it all in.

This...this was a massacre, what had she done?!

What you needed to.

"Why…?", she whispered.

Why?

She was in no danger up here, this was different than before.

How is this different?

"They never had a chance…"

A chance?

A chance to do what…?

"I'm gonna kill you, you fucks!", the rage filled voice of a raider from the street below. "You're all dead!", "You hear me?!", "When I get in there I'm gonna skin…"

That did it.

That was all she needed to hear, snapping back to her senses, her finger finding the trigger once more. She gritted her teeth as her vision once again erupted into bursts of light.

She may have been wrestling with these thoughts before now. Making her rationalizations for every life she took. But now…now it was slowly beginning to sink in. The reality of it all.

She was beginning to understand why she was doing this, why she had to. Because if she didn't do this to them, they would do it to her and anyone behind her…and they wouldn't suffer the same crisis of conscience.

She screamed, her voice drowned out by the sound of gunfire, explosions and bullets glancing off her armor.

Damn them for making her do this!

Damn her weak resolve!


The streets were wiped clean, with a few sporadic bursts of gunfire from inside the broken hardware store in front of the museum.

She wouldn't be able to do anything more from her position on the roof, she realized, as she stepped back a few paces.

Then…

A running start. Holding her breath as the roof disappeared from under her feet and the ground raced to greet her.

An earth shattering crash of steel against stone rocking the streets and cracking the pavement beneath her feet.

"Gah!", she gasped, her breath clouding her visor. The inside of the suit was heating up, sweat rolling down her face.

She rose, bringing the inside of the blown out store window into view. A woman behind a crumbling armoire and a man behind the wall, both firing at her with decidedly better weapons than the cobbled together guns she'd encountered thus ricochet of bullets on the suit's armor, deafening to her at this close range.

She brought the minigun up and leveled it at the woman first. The hail of gunfire shredding through the flimsy wood of the armoire and cutting her down in an instant. The man taking cover behind the brick walls of the store, causing her to circle around. She would most likely have to go in after him.

Almost through this, she thought to herself.

The side of the building came into view, another raider on the fire escape taking shots at her when an eruption of flame clouded her vision. She looked to her right. The man she saw earlier in the street, the leader of the group. A rifle in one hand and a Molotov in the other as he taunted her, but she couldn't understand him over the rain and the sound of gunfire on her armor.

Not that it mattered, as before she could turn to face him a bolt of red light struck him in the head, the side of his face, melted and smouldering for but a second before he hit the ground. A sudden and unspectacular end. She felt sick. She couldn't take much more of this.

This needed to end, she thought as she brought the minigun to bare once again, taking aim at the raider on the fire escape. The hail of bullets, while only catching him in the leg, managed to dislodge the structure sending it careening unto the street.

He was still alive, struggling to stand as she pulled the trigger once more, only to be met by the sound of an explosion at her side, sending waves of white hot pain into her leg.

She cried out, her eyes shut tight as she fell to one knee, propping herself up with the minigun to keep from toppling forward. It was smoking, sizzling in the rain. The ammo drum and motorized components shredded in a mass of twisted steel. It had apparently exploded, sending hot shrapnel or maybe even a bullet into her leg through the tiny gaps in her armor and the underlying frame.

She stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, fighting the pain and trying to get her frantic breathing under control, sweat dripping down her chin. Her mind raced with memories of the past two days. How many times had she been forced to pull the trigger, the callous disregard these people had for human life, the faces of those she'd killed.

Finally coming to terms with it all.

'You do what you have to out there, it's never pretty, but you do what you have to…content in the knowledge, that the price you pay, is worth it'.

Words from a not so distant memory and a voice that brought tears to her eyes and left a hollow ache in her chest.

Is this what you had to go through?

Is this how you felt?

Nate…I'm so sorry.


Her breathing steadied, she opened her eyes to the sound of glass shattering on her armor, tilting her head up just as another bottle hit her helmet. It was the raider hiding in the hardware store, a little braver now, he stood outside, fishing bottles out of a ragged cloth sack at his feet. Unlit Molotov cocktails, he was trying to drench her in the flammable liquid. He obviously thought she couldn't move as she knelt there motionless, and swaggered up to her with a shit eating grin on his face, raising another bottle to smash over her helmet.

I understand.

Shattered glass cut into his flesh when she caught his hand, bottle and all. Metal fingers crushing bone and grinding shards of glass into his palm.

She gritted her teeth, a low pained growl in her throat in tandem with the groaning of the suit as she rose to her feet, all the while keeping a hold on the raider's hand. A high pitched mewling was all that escaped his wide open mouth as he stared at her iron grip in shock, unable to speak or cry out from the pain.

The steel juggernaut stared down at him, raindrops beating down on the rusted metal when another hand shot out, grabbing his face and lifting him off his feet.

She stared at him hanging in front of her, his wide eyes, fearful and crazed between her metal fingers. She tried to squeeze.

It always ended with a bullet, distant and impersonal. But this was different, her fingers wouldn't close as she held him there, growling in frustration before finally turning and throwing him across the street, against the museum walls with a sickening crunch.

She walked up to his lifeless body, it was faced away from her, his blood being washed away as quickly as it appeared. She closed her eyes, listening to the dull thrum of the rain on her armor, the roar of thunder, Preston and Codsworth's incoherent shouting above her and the screams of the final raider behind her.

Finish it Preston.

I can't do this anymore.

Gunfire and the sound of Preston's musket, but the raider's screams continued amidst the distant rumbling of thunder.

Damn it Preston…

She opened her eyes and turned around.


Massive jaws closed around his neck, jagged teeth silencing the raider's screams. She held her breath, frozen, only able to look on in wide eyed horror as the massive reptilian beast tilted its head back, working its skeletal jaws. The sound of crunching bone, imagined rather than heard before the creature finally swallowed. Clawed fingers held the raider's corpse aloft as the creature tore into it, standing almost twice her height on two massively powerful scaled legs. Her share terror and the gruesome sight forcing her to dry heave as she struggled to breathe. A spiked tail swinging in slow measured arcs and massive, curved dual horns adorning its head giving the beast the countenance of a demon.

The sight no doubt stunning Preston and the others into momentary inaction.

How could such a thing exist.

It wasn't real.

Was she right all along? , was this all just a nightmare?

This wasn't something she was prepared for.

She took a step back, finding her legs once more when the creature raised its head skyward and let loose a deafening guttural roar. The chill that ran up her spine when she noticed the beast's eyes on her, halting her retreat.

Her mind momentarily unable to process the logic behind the lopsided grin that crept across her face.

This was all a sick joke.

Someone out there, some deity, some unseen hand was having fun at her expense. Or was this really just a nightmare? her own mind tormenting her with one devious trial after another.

Get a grip, you're in shock.

Subtle uncontrollable tremors in her belly growing from a low chuckle into full blown laughter.

She glared right back at the creature as it stood frozen and unmoving, only its head facing her, mangled carcass still in hand, and she laughed at the absurdity of it all.

Snap out of it! Focus!

Her laughter subsiding, her breath shallow and steady, eyes unblinking and her fear masked by a growing high.

Adrenaline. Good. Use it.

The hardware store, you need to make it inside.

The beast was easily twice her size and wouldn't be able to pursue her past the doorway.

Ridiculous, those crumbling walls will only slow it down.

You have to take that chance, try to get to the roof.

She was closer to the door than the beast was. She eyed the discarded minigun in the street between her and the store, now useless smouldering scrap. The beast would almost certainly make its move the second she did, or if anyone on the balcony decided to shoot. Multiple scenarios running through her mind within a matter of seconds as she and the creature stood staring at each other, unmoving.

The suit wasn't built for the kind of speed she would need, and her leg still hurt, though not as much as before, it would still slow her down. There was no scenario where this would work…

You have to try.


No more time to think when a bolt of laser fire hit the beast in the shoulder catching its attention for a second. On queue she bolted forward with all the strength she could muster, cursing under her breath at the lack of speed.

Her movement did not go unnoticed for very long at all. The beast levelling its sight on her once more after only two steps and bolting towards her with unnatural speed.

It was useless, she wouldn't make it, that was immediately clear.

They were on a collision course and she would be caught no matter what she did at this point.

Fine…

She adjusted her course, scooping up the minigun as she ran past without breaking stride, swinging the weapon by the barrel in an upward arc just as the beast descended upon her and her view was overshadowed by scales and teeth.

A mighty homerun swing that would have seen the Red Sox green with envy. The butt of the minigun catching the beast in the jaw, sending it reeling to the ground. Laserfire and bullets peppering its thick hide as it scrambled to its feet.

She raised the minigun once more and brought it down, her blow swatted aside by a scaled forearm as the beast found its footing and charged at her. Her feet momentarily leaving the ground as she was pushed back and then violently tossed aside, crashing into the rusted remains of a truck, its steel frame deforming under her weight.

She groaned, falling into a coughing fit as she regained her senses. Her head hurt from the shock of the violent crash. Unlike the suit's legs, there were no mechanisms to absorb such an impact. And why would there be, afterall, what could possibly push around a suit of power armor.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to blink the cobwebs from her vision, the flashing red on her display catching her attention.

Pilot, minor head trauma detected.

Left shoulder part, Critical.

Right arm, Armor plating destroyed.

Right leg part, Critical.

Ahead of her the creature stood at its full height on powerful hind legs, throwing its head back as it let loose a bone chilling roar. All the while, its thick scaly hide being bombarded by laser fire. It would take more firepower than that. She narrowed her eyes at the beast as it stood in front of the museum, guttural roars taunting its attackers on the balcony above.

"Hold it together, pal", she whispered to her armored guardian as she pushed herself off the truck, the twisted steel groaning beneath her weight.

I have a plan.


Thundering footsteps catching the beast's attention just as she crashed into it. Her arms around its waist as she pushed it back, the beast's clawed feet digging into the asphalt, leaving a trail several feet long before she could go no further.

Shit.

She felt claws digging into the side of the armor before she was flung to the ground hard, on her back.

It stared down at her, a nasty gash on the side of its demonic face, a broken jawbone protruding through scaly flesh. Yet still it roared, clawed hands shooting down at her before she could recover. Her world exploding in unimaginable pain when jagged claws pierced her shoulder. A gut wrenching scream escaping her throat as she was slowly lifted off the ground by the clawed arm on her shoulder. Her body stiff, face contorted in agony, eyes shut tight, unable to breathe. Her mind unable to process anything but pain.

She almost didn't feel the sting in her side. The pain in her shoulder decreasing just a little, a pleasant tingling at the base of her neck allowing her to fight the pain long enough to swallow a breath and force her eyes open.

Pilot, Severe trauma detected...

Elevated Heartbeat….

Elevated Blood Pressure….

Administering Medical Countermeasures…..

The armor finally deciding she needed medical attention.

Beyond her heads up display she saw the creature's eyes. There was an intelligence behind them. It stared back at her, face to face as it held her a few feet off the ground.

Their staring contest ending abruptly with a burst of red hot light on its face, a precision shot that sent it staggering back a step, scratching at its eyes.

She landed on her feet, the armor steadying her balance, her pain reaching a peak before subsiding immensely as the claws left her flesh. Violent gasps for breath, her body once again obeying her will. She screamed, as much from the pain as from her growing rage. Fists clenched, grinding her teeth and growling as she rose. She stepped forward, bringing her leg up and stomping with all her strength at the beast's knee. The satisfying crunch followed by a screeching roar of pain sending the creature crashing to one knee, its claws reflexively lashing out and up, tearing through her chest plate and ripping through the left side of her visor, snapping her head back. Darkness as the HUD flickered and died, replaced by a dark sky and cold fresh air rushing through the gash to nip at her cheeks. It took her only a second to recover from the shock of the vicious and unexpected attack, leveling her glare at the now eye level beast and ramming her clenched steel fist into its face, all her strength behind a devastating right hook.

She wasn't done however, grabbing one of its massive horns and wrenching the beast's head so she could look it in the eye out of pure spite. Its jaw was now completely broken, unable to close, and its left eye fried from laser fire.

A clawed arm grabbed at her left shoulder once more.

"No!", she growled, only able to lift her left arm thanks to the suit's augmentation of her movements, her fingers compressing around its arm with absurd force. Another scaled arm grabbed her side, she could feel the claws working their way through the gaps in the frame, scratching at her flesh. Once again she pried the beast's arm off, holding both of them away from her at her sides.

It was a testament to the suit's power. While the beast was indeed powerful, it was the weight and speed, coupled with razor sharp claws that allowed it to dominate. A broken leg removed its mobility and power and with its arms trapped in her vice like grip, there was not much it could do. Of course she was stuck in place as well, however, she was exactly in the position she wanted to be.

She lifted her leg, bringing her foot down on its clawed toes, one last parting insult, before stabbing her heels downwards and pushing backwards to trigger the suit's ejection mechanism.

The blast of cold air and rain cut into her like a knife when the suit opened and she stumbled, falling backwards unto the street with a splash, looking up at the darkened sky, raindrops clouding her vision. The Power Armor at her feet, locked in a firm hold on the beast's arms as it struggled to break free. She didn't have much time. She forced herself to sit up, biting back the searing pain in her shoulder as she frantically fumbled with the strap on her grenade belt, finally unhooking it, pulling the three remaining pins and tossing it right at the feet of the beast.

6 Seconds.

It took her longer than she expected.

She hadn't realized exactly how much the suit had been assisting her. She cradled an arm in front of her and scrambled to her feet, a pained growl escaping her clenched teeth when she put pressure on her leg, but she swallowed the pain and hobbled away as fast as she could.

The shockwave ripped through her, knocking her off her feet, head over heels and throwing her awkwardly onto the museum steps.

It hurt…everything hurt.

It took all her strength to roll over unto her back, coughing weakly. The large museum doors, battered and broken at her feet as she lay on the steps. Her senses were muffled, but she could make out her name being called from somewhere…distant barking.

It's over…

Raindrops, cold on her face, washing away warm tears as her eyes closed.


Cold sheets between her fingers. She opened her eyes. Emptiness where there shouldn't be. A cool gentle wind dancing the curtains in the dwindling moonlight. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and brushing the hair from her face. The carpet tickling her toes as she slid off the bed. She made her way down the dark hallway to the living room. There he sat on the couch, in the darkness as the moonlight nipped at his toes. The clink of ice cubes.

"Nate?", she made her way towards him slowly, still sleepy.

"Hey honey, sorry, did I wake you?".

She shook her head, 'no' , smiling gently as she sat down next to him, legs tucked under her. Running her fingers through his hair, a kiss on his neck and shoulder.

"What's wrong?", she asked softly, studying the side of his face, framed by the moonlit living room window..

He lifted the glass to his lips, before nestling it in his lap once more.

"Couldn't sleep", he smiled, "I think I'm still getting used to the new place", he brushed his palms over her thighs, his fingers cold as ice.

He could never lie to her.

"Another nightmare?", she asked, looking up at him, taking his hand and brushing her lips over his fingers.

His eyes downcast, the slight twitch in his lips as he swallowed answered her question.

"I'm dealing with it", he assured her with a weak smile. She could see the pain he hid behind those beautiful hazel eyes.

"You don't have to…not alone, I'm here honey", she whispered.

"Talk to me…", she pleaded like she always did. Her eyes stung, her heart ached seeing him in pain like this, frustrated by how useless she felt. Powerless to ease his pain, unable to get him to open up to her.

He opened his lips, she could see him wrestling with hidden thoughts and conflicting emotions, and then it was gone as he took another sip of his drink.

No matter how many times she'd asked in the past, she knew she couldn't force him.

She waited in silence for a few moments longer, her head on his shoulder before she couldn't bare the ache in her chest any longer.

She sighed, placing a kiss on his cheek, before standing and turning to leave.

His hand on her wrist startling her, she turned to look at him, her teary eyes meeting his pleading gaze.

"Don't go…".

Her breath catching In her throat, she smiled gently, bringing his fingers to her lips again before settling next to him on the couch once more, legs tucked under her. She faced him, his hand clasped in her lap as she studied him in silence. He took a final sip before placing the glass on the coffee table. She watched as he searched for the words.

"There are things I've done...", his voice faltering, the pain in his face as struggled to find the words, breaking her heart.

"Hey", she whispered, "Come here", she pulled him towards her. He leaned back, his head in her lap as she ran her fingers through his hair. He looked up at her before closing his eyes.

"Tell me…", she whispered gently.

He took a deep breath, "I don't regret any of it, it had to be done".

"You do what you have to out there, it's never pretty, but you do what you have to…..content in the knowledge that the price you pay, is worth it".

"But still I…I see their faces, not just…", he paused, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Shh…take your time", she leaned over and kissed his forehead, tracing her thumb along his jaw.

"I'm not going anywhere".