Here's chapter 2, took me a little longer than I expected it to, but here it is. I also want to say that I have a p-atreon if you want to donate, any little bit helps. Regardless, I hope you enjoy.
James stared down at the rusted desk in front of him. Stared at the clipboard and stared at the paper. Dead. His wife was dead. In a world full of death, this one hurt the most. He fell into a pit of what-ifs. What if they had stopped moving around so much. What if they had given up this silly dream of clean water. He settled his face into his hands and peeked out at the rackety crib in the corner.
She had died giving birth to their beautiful boy. Despite his love for the child, James was afraid. He could not continue his life as he had, not alone. Then what about the wasteland? The weather was cruel at the best of times, scorching in the day and freezing at night. There was hardly any natural food, and a crying baby was bound to attract unsavory things.
Raiders didn't care about children, and neither did the various mutated animals out there. For the first time since he had left home since he had buried his family, James was lost. He couldn't give Henry up, no matter what his brain said would be the logical thing to do. It would be a disservice to his wife. And a disservice to himself.
Sighing, he poured himself another glass of whiskey. Over 200 years had strengthened it somewhat, or it was just the radiation. The opaque glass added an odd taste to his drink, but James was used to it by now. But did he want his son to be used to it? Was the wasteland any place to raise a child? Was he in any shape to raise a child?
What could he do, Catherine? He cried again at the thought, she had always been there to guide him, and now that he needed her more than ever, she was gone. The metal door to his room opened noisily and drew a cry from the baby. Glancing up, James found that it was Madison Li walking in. He sighed and put the bottle back down.
"Madison, what can I do for you? I'm a little busy right now." Running a hand through his hair, he leaned back into his chair. Madison sat down in the chair across from him and frowned.
"James, drinking won't bring her back. It won't help the project either. We need you, James, without you this whole thing falls apart." Her frown deepened at his chuckle.
"Madison, I'm done with the project. It was foolish, I see that now. In a few days, I'm going to take Henry and leave. If you're worried about protection, go to Rivet City, or the Citadel. The Brotherhood would be glad to have you." When James reached for the bottle, she smacked it onto the ground. Slamming her hands onto the table, she glowered down at him.
"I don't want to join the Brotherhood! My place is here! Here with you, here with the others! Now get off your ass and move, people are dying while you sulk." James was surprised, then he was angry. What did she know? His wife, HIS WIFE had died not twelve hours ago, and he was just supposed to get over it.
He sat up in his chair and crossed his arms.
"Your 'place' is not with me, Madison. I told you, I'm done. You expect me to move on, to jump up and drown myself in that pipe dream? That's what took my wife, and it's what has ruined my life. So no, Madison I think I'm done. Leave me be." He reached down and retrieved the bottle. When he sat back up, he saw that Madison was still glaring at him.
"You're not the man I joined. You're pathetic James, and you let this world break you." With that she left, leaving James, his bottle, and his child behind.
That would be the last they spoke and the last words between them for two decades. James left their lab behind with some supplies and a baby strapped to his chest. He didn't say goodbye. He didn't think he could.
James stayed at Rivet City for a time, mainly to drown himself in alcohol. When his caps began to become light, he left. James avoided the water around Rivet City and the memorials like they were the plague. Bloatflies and Mirelurks tended to hang around them after all. When James stumbled upon Galaxy News he thought it was abandoned. He was proven otherwise when some ghouls came stumbling out. Backing up, he pulled a 10mm pistol off of his hip and aimed. He stopped when Henry began to fuss. Lowering his gun, James decided the building wasn't worth it.
With the ruins falling away behind him, he found himself in a small suburb.
A faded sign said Andale and the houses still looked in goodish condition. As he walked closer, one of the doors opened and a man came out.
"Howdy friend, I'm Tuck Johnson. How may I help you on this fine day in America?" James stared at him and reached into his coat. Grasping the handle of his pistol, he regarded Tuck with a cautious glare.
"Well now, is that any way to treat a fellow American? Come in, come in." Tuck's smile grew wider, and his gums were showing. James continued to study him when another door opened.
"Tuck leave the man alone. Sir, if you would join me in my home I'd be mighty thankful." It was an older man who spoke, and Tuck shot him an annoyed look. With a slight huff, Tuck went back inside.
The older man made his way to James and extended a hand.
"Hello sir, I'm George Smith. It's nice to meet you." James shook his hand and followed George into his home. Inside was an older woman, and when she noticed them she smiled.
"Ah it's nice to meet you, I'm Gladys Smith. Who might you be?" James considered this for a moment and ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm James. It's nice to see friendly faces after so long." He inclined his head to their couch and they nodded. Sitting down, James released a sigh. "That man out there didn't seems quite right." Gladys and George glanced at each other.
"Well James, you need to get out of here as quick as possible. You're right, things aren't alright here. Look into the shed and get the hell out of here." James looked at George with narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean? Why the shed?" George sighed and ran his hand across his face.
"Just look, James. I can't say anymore. If they offer you any food, do not accept it." James decided that this place was no longer safe, stood, and left. Stepping out onto the curb James saw Tuck waving at him from his window. Ignoring him, James continued on his way to the exit. He stopped when he noticed a red shed nestled behind the houses.
Immediately his curiosity took over, and he found himself just outside of the shed. Reaching down he jiggled the knob and found it locked. Glancing around James crouched and began picking the door. After a few attempts, he was able to unlock it. Pushing the door open, James was assaulted with the stench of decay.
Gagging he covered Henry's face and took a step in. Bodies were hanging from hooks and limbs lying on tables. Bloody tools and organs lay about while flies buzzed around the viscera. Almost throwing up, James hurried out and slammed the door behind him. As he gathered himself, he heard a hammer being pulled back. Turning, James found that Tuck was holding him at gunpoint.
"Now friend, I don't imagine that you would take kindly to people poking around your business. So I think you'd understand if I were a little pissed." Tuck stepped forward, and James noticed he was more than a little pissed. Raising his hands, James began thinking about how he could get out of this. While he was thinking Tuck's wife made her way forward.
"Give us the baby and you can walk on out of here. We like them young anyhow, it's like a sweet almost." James felt sick and barely restrained himself from hitting her. Instead, he thought some more. His gun was beside Henry, maybe if he...yes that could work.
"Of course. I don't know what I was thinking walking around with a baby anyways." Acting as if he were about to unstrap Henry, he grasped his gun.
James whipped it out as fast as he could and fired on the woman. Unprepared for it, she couldn't even blink before her head snapped back. Tuck was stunned by the gunshot and his wife's brains on his face. He went to fire but a bullet ripped through his chest. As he fell Tuck fired.
The bullet Ripped across Henry's cheek and into James' shoulder. The baby began crying as James stepped forward and shot Tuck again. Gathering his bearings, he began to shush Henry as he ran away.
It had been a few weeks since Andale, and Henry was healing well. He'd have a scar, but that was it. What James was more worried about was the weather. As time went on it began growing colder outside, and James was beginning to worry for his son.
As they huddled by a fire inside an elementary school, Henry began coughing. James began looking over him and realized he had a cold. He didn't have the supplies to handle a cold. There was a town nearby, Megaton if he remembered correctly. After putting the fire out, James began his march to Megaton.
They weren't too far away, so it wasn't long until he saw the scrap metal walls. Stepping over some dead raiders, James made his way to the entrance. Covering Henry's ears, he stood patiently until the door finally creaked open.
Immediately a man was approaching him. He was of dark complexion and was in a duster and cowboy hat. On his back was an assault rifle.
"Howdy friend, welcome to Megaton. I'm Lucas Simms, sheriff or mayor, depending on the situation of Megaton. Just don't cause any trouble, and there won't be any issues. Any questions?" He settled his hands onto a handgun on his hip as he eyed James and the sniffling Henry.
"I just need a doctor, Mr. Simms, my boy is sick." Lucas nodded and pointed down the hill.
"Down there on the right of the bomb is our clinic. Doc Church may seem to be a gruff bastard, but he has a soft spot for kids." Nodding his thanks James made his way down the hill.
The first thing he noticed was of course the bomb in the center of town. The next was the man standing in the water around the bomb, preaching about 'Adam's glow.' Ignoring the man, he made his way into the clinic. Stepping in he was greeted by a rough voice.
"Colin if that's you, I'm not treating your syphilis again!" An older man came around the corner wiping his hands on a towel. He saw James standing awkwardly in the 'reception area.' "Ah, my bad. Anyways what do you need son, make it quick, I'm busy."
"Yes Dr. Church, my son is sick. I believe it's a cold, but I don't have the supplies to treat it myself." Frowning Church motioned for them to sit.
He retrieved a stethoscope and began listening to Henry's breathing. His frown deepened before he sat back with a sigh. "It's not a cold, son. I wish it was. It's pneumonia, and I'm afraid I've only got basic antibiotics. Nothing strong enough to fight it. The only thing I can say is to keep him warm and well-fed, and hope for the best." Sighing he stood and put his hand on James' shoulder. "I really am sorry."
James sat for a while despondent. He couldn't fix pneumonia. His son would die, and James would follow soon after. He left and asked some townies for directions, and asked if there was a bar. Soon enough he found himself outside Moriarty's Saloon.
Opening the door he smelt alcohol, sex, and blood. Settling onto a stool, he raised his hand to the bartender.
Nursing a glass, he looked around the bar. There were various drunks and unconscious men. A man settled next to him and when he spoke it was in a strong accent.
" Hello, hello, and welcome to my saloon. Colin Moriarty is at your service. Now, why don't you tell me what's bothering you? You're scaring off my customers." James settled a look on the man, and he could tell he wasn't trustworthy.
"My son is sick; pneumonia, and I can't cure it. Church can't fix it either, we don't have the right medicine. My son is good as dead, that's what is wrong with me Colin." James turned his head away and kept on drinking.
Colin frowned and scratched his chin. "Well, I think I know of a way to help. It's a long shot, but since I like you I'll let you know for a reduced price." James glared at the now smirking man.
"How much?" Colin's smirk grew wider and he clapped James on the back.
"Good man! I knew you were reasonable. 200 hundred caps sound fine, doesn't it?" James shifted in his seat to face Colin.
"150, and I won't kill you if you're lying." Colin's smirk fell as he began glaring at James.
Tension filled the bar as everyone looked at them. Then Colin smiled and clapped James on the back again. He stood and went behind the bar and poured two shots.
"Now that's a deal boyo." He raised his glass. "To you and your boy. May your future be bright, safe, and boring as hell." James clinked his glass to Colin's and they both downed it.
Fishing the money out he settled the caps onto the table. When Colin reached for it, James wagged his finger. "Tell me this info first, then you can have the caps."
Colin grumbled and sighed. "You're quite the businessman. Fine, there's a vault not too far from here. Vault 101, people come and go sometimes. There's some kind of ambassador from the place. She might help you. Then again, she might not. They're a bit xenophobic those dwellers." When Colin reached for the caps, James didn't stop him.
"Where's this ambassador at?" Moriarty stopped his counting and pointed upstairs. Sliding off of the stool, James meandered up the stairs. He knocked on every door until someone answered. Finally, a woman in a jumpsuit ripped her door open and glared at James.
"What do you want?! I'm trying to sleep!" James raised his hands in a calming manner.
"You're from Vault 101 I presume? My son is sick and I need help. I'm a well-trained doctor so I can help your people." The woman glanced him up and down before shrugging.
"It's not up to me, but we do need a doctor." She settled in thought and sighed."Fine, you can come with me tomorrow. No promises though, the Overseer isn't exactly friendly." James nodded and smiled in relief.
"That's fine, I just need a chance." She nodded and shut the door in his face.
It was around dawn the next morning when James heard knocking on his door. Getting out of bed he opened it and saw that it was the vault woman. She jerked her head sideways and walked away. James gathered Henry and their meager possessions before following after her.
They didn't make any small talk, and the only sound between them was Henry's sniffling. They made their way through Springvale and up a hill to a cave. She brought him inside and opened a wooden door. Finally, they settled in front of the vault door. It was a behemoth of steel with a faded 101 painted proudly in the center.
It wasn't long before a loud alarm began ringing throughout the cave. Grimacing, James covered the crying Henry's ears. After a few minutes, the door slid open and they were greeted by armed guards and a man around James' age.
The man stepped forward and ignored the woman. He settled a sharp gaze onto James and his son. "I am Alphonse, Overseer of this vault. Who are you and why are you here?"
"I am James Bates, and I am a doctor. I was hoping to receive housing and supplies for my son, in exchange for my services." James noticed Alphonse looked desperate when he said that he was a doctor.
"We have a virus that is sweeping throughout the vault. If you can help, then you and your child are free to stay. But know this, if you accept the two of you can never leave." James settled into a contemplative silence. He looked at Alphonse and nodded.
"I accept, I will do whatever I can to help." Alphonse seemed pleased and raised a hand toward James. When James reciprocated, Alphonse smiled slightly.
"Then welcome to Vault 101, James."