Author's Note: Title is taken from the last chapter of the landmark Last of Us fanfic novel Dirt.
Also, much like VOTSR, this is dark. The only darker one is the Legion one, which I am REALLY not looking forward to writing…
Chapter 1 - A Black Book in the Pitt
Ishmael Ashur regarded the strange black book on the floor with a sense of detachment. He picked it up after realizing the words "DEATH NOTE" were printed on it.
"What the fuck is that thing?" He was startled when some giant blind demon…thing immediately appeared in front of him.
The "thing" laughed. "I'm the thing that just made you the luckiest guy on Earth!"
-eod-
"So, this Note...it kills anyone with a face and name?" Ashur was skeptical, but willing to entertain the notion.
"It does," Deridovely confirmed. "And something tells me you can make excellent use of it."
Taking out a pen, Ashur quickly wrote the following into the Death Note:
Andrew Duran
"Who's that?" Deridovely asked.
"Escaped sl...worker," Ashur replied. "Asshole gets what's coming to him…what was it again?"
"Brain aneurysm."
Ashur snorted. "Quicker than what he deserves."
-eod-
Two days later, Ashur got confirmation that Andrew had died unexpectedly in Rivet City down in the Capital Wasteland.
"Deridovely, a new era has begun."
And indeed it had.
-eod-
"That's…quite a book you've got there." Sandra sounded very unsure of yourself.
"Don't worry about it, honey. You just keep working on the cure."
She arched an eyebrow. "What are you going to do once I've solved that?"
"What do you think? Rebuild the Pitt! And after that, expand! Starting, I think, with Ronto."
Chapter 2 - Cure and Cleanup
1 year later…
Midea desperately desired death. It was what Werhner had been given, it was what the young man from Vault 101 had been given when their plan failed, and it would be her only release from the hell of the Pitt.
But they would not let her die. They watched her closely, and kept her from doing anything. It was enough to make her wish she was never born.
"Workers to the square! Workers to the square!"
She was temporarily parted from her misery by the announcement of Ashur's speech. The key word being "temporarily".
-eod-
"PEOPLE OF THE PITT! A NEW ERA HAS DAWNED!
Some of you have been speculating about a Cure for the dreaded disease which afflicts all citizens of our mighty city. Today, I am happy to announce a Cure for all who need it! Never again shall we lie awake at night in fear of being turned into mutated monsters. From now on, WE ARE THE MASTERS OF THE PITT!"
The cheers were music to Ashur's ears. They knew he wasn't lying. The workers were more well-informed than the guards cared to admit.
"To mark this new era, I am announcing a new policy regarding our valued workers. All workers will automatically become citizens of the Pitt after ten years of service. As a gesture of goodwill and trust, I am happy to announce that your unofficial leader Midea has been granted full Pitt citizenship!"
Some of the guards - citizens, remember the new paradigm, he chastised himself - looked askance at him over that announcement, but he knew what he was going. Ten years would be MORE than enough with the expansion plans he had in mind. He took special pleasure at the cheers, louder than the previous announcement.
And seeing the utterly stupefied look on Midea's face.
"There is still much work that needs to be done. Some of the more ruthless among the workers will be delighted to hear that you may be freed prior to the ten year mark if you assist us in clearing out the Pitt of the disgusting monsters that terrorize us. While you will be expected to obey a citizen that gives you an order, I will personally make sure you are all properly equipped for this arduous task!"
Granting Marco citizenship helped with that. The engineer's plans had been discovered, but rather than punish him, Ashur invited him to his residence and explained all of his plans - quite frankly. Marco had still been a tough sell, but Ashur did not get this far in life without the ability to persuade.
"To celebrate this day, all of you are being given the day off, with full access to the citizen liquor supply!"
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
One of the guards/citizens had finally had enough. He recognized her as Faydra.
"This is fucking bullshit, Ashur! These damn scabs don't get all the same shit that we do!" There were general murmurs of agreement from the other guards.
"I understand your concerns," he replied. "And I can assure you that citizenship will continue to allow privileges that worker status does not. But we are no longer fighting every single moment to survive. We will THRIVE! And from this point on, the Pitt will be the light that leads humanity into the future!"
It would be a dim light, one more comparable to a sunset than a sunrise.
-eod-
DERIDOVELY: Gotta say, Ashur, you sure know how to give a good speech.
ASHUR: And what are your thoughts on my plan?
DERIDOVELY: It certainly sounds interesting! I'm glad I gave you the Note.
ASHUR: Yes, you've said as much. But you have no opinion on the merits of it?
[laughter.]
DERIDOVELY: Why would I? I'm just here for the ride. You can kill everyone in the world as long as you keep me entertained. And you're doing a damn good job so far.
[disgust.]
ASHUR: I'll make sure you have top priority access to the pre-war entertainment tapes.
DERIDOVELY: Good!
Chapter 3 - The Fall of Ronto
6 years later…
Ronto was not as brutal as the Pitt.
It was worse.
Slavery was all anyone had ever known. Before the war, the Mesmetron and its required collars had been manufactured here, and the pre-War elite had taken advantage of that to enslave the entire population. It was a miserable existence of twelve-hour days, one that made Paradise Falls look pleasant by comparison.
But the brutality hid the city's weakness. It had no external trade with any settlements, as everyone was too terrified of being kidnapped and enslaved to approach the city. Inbreeding was finally starting to take a toll, as too many slaves had committed suicide to maintain a viable gene pool.
Faydra made note of all of this, but was rather busy with the aforementioned twelve-hour workday. Ashur had decided that she needed to be "humbled" and the bastard had had her enslaved! He assured her that the Pitt would annex Ronto soon, but that she would need to stay here in the meantime.
And to ensure her compliance, he had revealed his secret to her. Face and a name - that was all Ashur needed to kill anyone he wanted. And if she tried to escape Ronto or told anyone about the Death Note, she would die instantly as well.
"How ya doin, Faydra?"
She cringed as the most irritating fifth wheel in human existence made his presence known.
"Fuck off, Deridovely." Her voice was low and guttural as she tore apart the pre-War car for scrap material.
"Oh, come on, don't you like having some company?" And then that sick, irritating, INSUFFERABLE laugh of his!
Deridovely had been Ashur's secret until she had seen the Death Note. Now he liked to travel all the way to Ronto just to watch her suffer. He was a rather notorious sociopath.
"Well, keep working hard! I personally think it's doing wonders for your body!"
"Deridovely, I swear I will-"
She stopped mid-sentence as she saw the Ronto enforcers around her collapse and die simultaneously.
FINALLY!
-eod-
DERIDOVELY: Congrats, Ashur! That was some fine work!
ASHUR: I thought you would appreciate it.
DERIDOVELY: So what's next on the conquer-the-world list?
ASHUR: The crown jewel of the Empire of the Pitt.
DERIDOVELY: Nice name, by the way. You like being Emperor?
ASHUR: Of course. And I will like it even more when the technology of the Institute is available to me.
Chapter 4 - Mankind, Not So Redefined
2 years later…
Shaun glared death at Ishmael Ashur. He would not allow his helpless position to cause him to sacrifice his dignity.
The Pitt had captured the Institute. He had no idea how they had managed to reverse-engineer their teleport technology, but they had. And now here he was, bedridden and at the mercy of this filthy brute, clad in proudly bastardized power armor.
"So, you are the leader of this fine establishment." Ashur grinned.
Shaun scowled. "And I suppose you are the menace that will destroy it?"
"Destroy it?" Ashur asked, sounding genuinely surprised. "What kind of idiot would destroy such a valuable resource? I plan on using it to secure the foundations of my Empire, as any intelligent man would."
Shaun's eyes widened in horror.
No. Oh please, God, no…
"In case you haven't figured it out, I'm not just some raider," Ashur continued. "I have a vision for the future."
"A vision of slavery!" Shaun spat, disgusted. This was far more horrible than the intelligence reports had indicated. The Empire of the Pitt were not the Mongols: they were worse. Some unholy combination of Nazi and robber baron, ready and willing to use mankind's best hope for the future to plunge it into eternal darkness.
"A vision of work," Ashur corrected. "My workers can and do regularly earn their freedom. But I will not recreate a society of privilege and comfort, as you have. No, in the Empire, all earn their keep."
"Please." Shaun could not hear anymore of this. "Kill me. I do not want to live to see what you will do with my life's work."
"As you wish. I will make it quick."
He did, and Shaun was no more after a bullet to the head.
It was for the best.
-eod-
ASHUR: So, do we have an understanding?
MADISON LI: Just as long as we're being guaranteed citizenship.
ASHUR: You are. I do expect you to work more - we can't have you laying around relaxing while everyone else is earning their keep.
MADISON LI: I have worked ten-hour nights on behalf of the Institute-
ASHUR: Twelve is the mandatory for workers.
[shock.]
ASHUR: Now, I suggest you get to work on that "Permanent Radiation Antidote" of yours. I want the Capital Wasteland next.
[pause.]
ASHUR: Dr. Li, am I understood?
MADISON LI: Yes sir, we will get on it right away.
ASHUR: Good. And while you're at it, abolish the Synth Retention Bureau. We're going to make them an offer they can't refuse.
-eod-
DEACON: What do we do?
DESDEMONA: I don't know.
TINKER TOM: What?! How could you not know?
DESDEMONA: Because many synths are willingly returning to the Institute now that the SRB is gone! Ashur is smart. He is offering them full citizenship and equal rights in exchange for a loyalty pledge.
DEACON: That explains why Glory left.
[pause.]
DESDEMONA: The Railroad is hereby abolished.
[shock.]
[horror.]
DESDEMONA: Stop. We simply cannot exist in the world that is being created, and synths are respected as equals in the world that is being created. You know it is our time.
-eod-
Later that day the secret passageway underneath the Old North Church was shut for the final time.
The Railroad was dead. But so was the Institute, for all intents and purposes.
All in all, Desdemona figured things could've gone worse…but they also could've gone MUCH better. She shuddered when she thought of the world being created by the Empire of the Pitt.
"Let's see if we can get into Vault 81," Deacon suggested.
"No," Desdemona said firmly. "They will be annexed eventually as well. We must go north, to the frozen wastes. Or anywhere that is far away from here."
"Fair enough."
-eod-
ASHUR: I have to say, I love the Prydwen. Such luxurious accommodations, and it allows me to survey my Empire at my leisure.
DERIDOVELY: And the Brotherhood bites the dust!
ASHUR: "Bites the dust"?
DERIDOVELY: Sorry. Alternate reality phrase.
ASHUR: Ahh yes, the "multiverse" you mentioned. Has this happened before?
DERIDOVELY: Plenty of times! You aren't the first to use the Death Note to kill the entire Brotherhood, or at least a big chunk of it. They always stand in the way of Death Note users…except for that one reality where they got it.
ASHUR: What happened there?
DERIDOVELY: Let's just say I wouldn't want to be a ghoul! Hahaha!
ASHUR: Such pointless bigotry. The mutated can work, too. And they will.
[grin.]
ASHUR: To the Capital Wasteland!
-eod-
Chapter 5 - Fall of the Wasteland
1 year later…
OVERSEER AMATA ALMODOVAR: Please, I'm begging you-
ASHUR: Why? I'm exempting you from general work requirements so we can maintain Vault 101 as the Capitol Region's administrative headquarters. You should be grateful.
AMATA: But what about everyone else in the Vault?! They'll die if you make them go out there!
ASHUR: Nonsense. We are clearing the Wasteland as we speak. All of your people will be closely guarded.
[Patience: LOST.]
AMATA: YOU'RE GOING TO ENSLAVE THEM, YOU MONSTER!
ASHUR: No, we will make them work. Paradise Falls has been repurposed as a work station - we do not practice slavery in the Empire of the Pitt. But we DO require all of our residents, be they citizen or worker, to contribute to the restoration of civilization.
[disgust.]
AMATA: This isn't civilization. Or at least it's not a civilization that I want.
ASHUR: A pity, then, that you are not being given a choice.
-eod-
Gob would never admit it out loud, but he was happy the Empire of the Pitt had come.
They had immediately executed Moriarty as soon as they'd heard of his underhanded nature - apparently Lord Ashur DESPISED corruption. And now the saloon was his, and though he worked very long hours per the Empire's mandate, he loved every second of it.
Business was booming. The Empire allowed both citizens and workers to partake in intoxicants during their off hours - probably to keep them complacent, Gob suspected. Best of all, ghouls were equals under the law! He had been overjoyed when Carol had come to visit, though his joy was somewhat tempered by her clear exhaustion from having been forced to work so much.
The rest of the Capital Wasteland could complain all they wanted to. The Empire of the Pitt was just fine by him.
Chapter 6 - Changing of the Guard
34 years later…
Marie the Immune did her best to retain her composure as the Imperial Inaugurator said the Pledge of Succession.
"And so on behalf of the Empire and with the full blessing of the Late Lord Ashur, I hereby pledge all of the Empire to loyalty to Marie the Immune, daughter of our Founder and light of the apocalypse."
The applause did not abate for ten minutes.
-eod-
"What the hell are we going to do about this, Robert?" Gabriela Lopez the Courier made no attempt to hide her frustration.
"Unfortunately, I suspect the answer is war."
She sighed. They had had this conversation before, and House's conclusion was always the same: the Empire of the Pitt would try to conquer them.
And truthfully, she didn't think there was anything she could do about it.
"We must prepare," Mr. House said. "It is crucial that we-"
He stopped mid-sentence. House never stopped mid-sentence.
"Robert?" Gabriela's stomach sank.
"ROBERT?!"
"ROBERT, I'M COMING DOWN TO THE LIFE SUPPORT CHAMBER RIGHT NOW!"
She made it only ten steps before three dozen missiles simultaneously impacted the Lucky 38, toppling it onto Gomorrah and killing dozens of people, including Gabriela Lopez.
Thus the House went bust, and Vegas was claimed for the Empire of the Pitt.
-eod-
The NCR and the Legion were felled in a similar manner. Instant death for all leaders, then annexation. It had been this way as the Empire had rolled across the country, virtually unopposed when it could instantly kill any who dared stand against it.
The slaves of the Legion were overjoyed. The notion that they could actually earn their freedom was scarcely conceivable, and nearly all enthusiastically embraced the Legion's replacement. The NCR was another matter: like the Institute, its citizens were used to privilege and comfort. No matter. Ashur would show them the way.
The Empire of the Pitt would reclaim all of America within a century and all of the world within a millennium, an Empire of dirt and sweat and endless labor firmly establishing itself as the guiding vision for humanity's future.
Epilogue - To The Stars…
8000 years later…
Ner'Yet Dashar was the most despised name in the history of the Aka'Ven. Worse than Del'Yar the Cleanser, even.
For it was Ner'Yet Dashar who had made first contact with the Empire of the Pitt in her merchant vessel a century ago, and therefore Ner'Yet Dashar who had brought slavery onto the Aka'Ven homeworld of Vek'Ak.
It had all happened so fast. The Empire had invaded their home system, swiftly crippled all of their defenses, and almost immediately declared the dissolution of the Aka'Ven Union and its replacement with the Aka'Ven Region of the Empire of the Pitt.
Then the nightmare had begun.
Endless work, every day, broken up only by the numbing power of drugs in the evening. A future where nothing would ever get better, because the Empire was eternal and there was no point in challenging it. About the only silver lining was that they had allowed the Aka'Ven to retain their language and some of their customs.
But as the Aka'Ven finished yet another long, hard day at work, many reflected that it would have been far better if the Aka'Ven had simply been exterminated. There were fates worse than extinction.
MUCH worse.
