Waking up the next day, Mason's head felt terrific, and his vision wasn't blurry. Heather definitely knew how to use her remedies.
"Mornin'," Mason greeted Wiseman, coming out of the house. "Guessing the border extend beyond the pavement."
"For the most part," Wiseman confirmed. "Except for the end of the pool. Stops at the rock wall."
"Makes this easier. Gonna make plans for walls and guard towers. So you can defend yourselves from an attack."
"Just leave them on the table inside, and I'll check them out when I'm on a break."
"Let you get back to work. Gonna head inside. Get to work on 'em."
Sitting at the coffee table, Mason pulled some paper from his bag, getting to work. The wall was pretty simple, going around the pool and farm area, with a wall separating the two. Also had to make a plan for another building for more settlers. The current building wouldn't be able to hold that many people.
Setting the plans down after ninety minutes, Mason pulled out more paper to write down what had happened.
"Hiya," Heather greeted, sitting beside Mason as he finished writing. "You ready to go?"
"That's my line," Mason remarked, chuckling. "But yeah. You grab Curie, I'll get Dogmeat."
When Heather went to get Curie, Mason found Dogmeat playing with one of the farmers.
"Howdy. Mind if I grab Dogmeat," Mason said, approaching the farmer. "Gonna be headin' out soon. Can't leave him here."
"Of course, General. Been a while since I've seen a dog."
"Well, if he ever has pups, I'll send one here."
"Yep. Dogs raise people's spirits. Most of the time. Besides, you enjoy his company. I'll send the next one here."
Telling the ghoul he'd see him around, Dogmeat followed Mason, meeting Heather and Curie by the cooking station. Walking toward Breakheart Banks, Mason took a right on the road, noticing a little farm off to the side.
"We could use your help," A woman said, Mason approaching her.
"Of course. What's the problem?"
"It's these raiders in Dunwich. They keep demanding food and tribute, but we can't keep this up. If you can take care of them, we'd be grateful."
"We'll take care of it," Mason assured her. "Fought worse things."
Handing the women a combat rifle with a couple bullets, they began moving.
"Do you know where the place is, Mason," Curie asked, the Slog disappearing behind them as they moved.
"Yeah. It's near the old museum," Mason confirmed. "Otherwise I wouldn't know."
Walking, Mason spoke to Heather about repairing the armor when they got back to Sanctuary. Probably retire it due to the damage done to the helmet. May have been more practical to keep it, but the combat armor they had made up for it. Mason knew how to make the pieces for sturdy armor, which was good for him. He'd even gotten a helmet.
Nearing the quarry, Mason turned the radio off, commanding for the others to be quiet and wait. Holding the switchblade he had picked up off a raider at Saugus, Mason snuck up to a building up top. Grabbing the edge of a window, Mason pulled himself through it, making sure the raider nearby didn't hear him. Hiding behind the corner of the doorway, Mason waited for the raider to step into the room.
As the raider came into the room, Mason kicked his legs, knocking him to the ground. Quickly moving, Mason put his hand over the guy's mouth, stabbing the blade into his throat. The guy began struggling, trying to push Mason off.
"Stay… still…" Mason growled, ripping the blade out of the guy's throat. Mason put the blade away as the guy stopped struggling, crawling back to the window. Gesturing for the others to come over, Mason went to a terminal, finding it connected to turrets.
"Got a holotape for this," Mason remarked, digging through his bag; Heather and Curie surprised by this. To be fair, Mason probably hadn't used it much in front of them. Sticking the holotape into the terminal, Mason used it to override the targeting parameters, changing the targets to the raiders. Making sure the turrets were operational, after putting his armor on, Mason took out his helmet, strapping it into place.
"Let's go," Mason urged, putting on his knuckles before running out. Running down the steps, Mason grabbed the rails at the turns, slamming into a raider at one point. Before the raider could say or do anything, a turret riddled him with bullets.
"Mother fucker!" a raider yelled, running up the steps to shoot Mason.
Grabbing the steps above, Mason swung himself into the man, feet hitting his chest. Talking the guy down, Mason got to his feet, grabbing the raider by the top of his shirt. Punching the man in the face, Mason broke the guy's nose. The guy tried to hit Mason, hitting his helmet and armor. Mason punched the guy across the jaw, dislocating it. The guy kept punching, though they were notably weaker as he yelled. Pulling his fist back one more time, Mason punched him in the face again. As the guy's neck snapped, Mason dropped him, the guy's limbs limp.
Turning, Mason saw a man in Power Armor and began running. As the man turned, he tried to raise his rifle, Mason knocking it to the side as he planted a fist in the guy's face.
"Fucl!" the raider yelled, stumbling back. "You bastard! I'll fucking kill you!"
Ducking under the guy's swing, Mason got behind, punching the guy in the back of his head. Pulling his fist back, he punched the fusion core. As Mason jumped back, the guy swung wildly.
"Aagh!" the raider yelled, swinging his arms down, hitting the ground where Mason had been. Slamming his fist down, Mason hit the back of the guy's head again before backhanding the guy, neck snapping and skull caved in as the guy stumbled back, falling off the ledge.
Turning to a group of raiders, Mason saw they were frozen, either paralyzed in fear or shock. Most likely paralyzed. Seeing him looking at them, the raiders raised their weapons and fired.
"Stay away!" one yelled. "I'm warning you!"
Crouching, Mason ran right, a majority of bullets flying over, the few that hit hitting his armor.
"He's trying to run away!" one of them yelled. "Get the fucker!"
Planting his foot on the wall, Mason kicked off, punching a raider across the jaw, breaking and tearing bits off as he followed through.
"Violet!" another raider yelled, his partner falling to the ground as they turned to him. "You're gonna pay!
Dropping their gun, the raider pulled out their knife, going for Mason's arm. Stepping in front of the man, the blade hit Mason's chest plate, blade snapping on the armor. Jabbing the man in the face, Mason threw a hook before punching up, knocking the man off the ledge.
"That isn't all of them," Mason said to Heather as she came down with the others. "This place is too big for this many people."
"Before we go in, please let the mademoiselle look at your arm." Curie pleaded.
Agreeing to her request, Mason realized a bullet had grazed his arm, likely from the two raiders he'd just fought. Holding the armor above the wound as Heather took care of it, Mason was thankful for her because he probably would've forgotten to take care of the wounds that he accumulated.
Lowering the armor, Mason thanked Heather as they found the door leading into the place and entered the underground.
Walking into a room with two raiders and a turret, Mason realized there was no way to hack it and knew Heather would have to take care of it while he got the raiders.
"You take care of the turret," Mason told Heather, Curie hovering silently nearby. "Dogmeat, you stay with me."
Crawling forward, Mason got behind the one beside a terminal, the raider unaware of his presence. Grabbing the raider by the head, Mason slammed his skull into the rail, smashing it in. Mason dropped the raider and jumped over the railing, charging at the next raider.
"Aagh, my leg!" the raider yelled, Dogmeat holding her in place.
Slamming his fist into the woman's head, Mason cracked her skull open on the ground, blood pouring.
"Good boy," Mason breathed out, Heather blowing the turret up. "Can you check the body?" Mason asked Heather, gesturing to the first raider. "Imma check this one."
Finding some ammunition and a hunting rifle on the woman, Mason was thankful it had a recon scope, making it easier to survey areas for enemies.
"What we got?" Mason questioned, Heather coming over as he stood up.
"Combat rifle and bullets," Heather told him, putting the ammunition and rifle into Mason's bag.\
"Alright. Move out."
Walking deeper into the quarry, they had a bit more pep in their step.
Reaching a room, Mason pulled out the hunting rifle, using it to see what they had. Seeing four people, Mason turned to Heather.
"Four people," Mason told her. "Two sitting on a crane, one walking, one sitting on a set of stairs. Same as Breakheart?"
"Let's do it," Heather smiled, making Mason grin.
"Open fire when the first hits the ground."
Charging forward, Mason slid under the first one, grabbing him by the ankle. Before letting him get up, Mason tore the guy's helmet off and lifted him by the throat. When Heather shot the guy in the head, Mason dropped him and stormed forward. Dodging and weaving, Mason made his way to the one on the stairs, ramming his shoulder into her. Knocking the raider over the rail, she fell headfirst into the stone, breaking her neck.
The other two began firing, their bullets hitting the mesh flooring. Jumping down when they beg to reload, Mason forced them down, grabbing them by the back of their throats. Lifting the heavier one up, Heather shot him with her lasers. Dropping the man, Mason pulled out his switchblade, stabbing the other raider in the back of the head.
"We make an excellent team," Mason told Heather, searching the bodies. "And you're amazing. I will not forget to say that."
"Thank you!" Heather said, handing him a few bullets. "And, you're awesome."
Not knowing how to respond to that, Mason started walking, putting it at the back of his mind. Never liked compliments. Preferred showing over telling.
Finding a walkway leading down, Mason noted it was pretty deep. Looking around, Mason found a switch, flipping it and turning on the light. Did the raiders below know they were there? Probably. Could Mason see better as a result? Yeah.
"Curie, stay behind Heather. Dogmeat, stay between Heather and I," Mason told them, beginning his walk down the steps. Noticing a raider at the bottom of a set, Mason sat on the railing, sliding down.
"What the hell!" the raider yelled, going to pull out his rifle. "Die fu-"
Ramming his shoulder into the man, Mason interrupted him as he reached the bottom of the rail. Grabbing the guy by the back of his armor, Mason slid him off the side, his body hitting the ground with a sickening THUD!
"That worked," Mason commented, running down the steps. "Not the first, but-Uggh!"
Blocking an incoming strike, Mason got interrupted as he reached the bottom, the boss wearing cage armor.
"That wasn't nice," Mason growled, pushing her arm away before punching her in the face. Mason saw blood seeping through the armor when the boss regained her balance.
"Mother thucker!" she yelled, almost making Mason laugh. "I'll thill thou!"
Grabbing her arm as she swung again, Mason drilled his fist in her face, breaking her welding goggles.
"Thucking hell!" the raider screamed, glass in her eyes. "I'll-"
Punching the raider's stomach, Mason kicked up as she hunched over, breaking her mask in, face caved in.
"I think it's all of 'em," Mason told Heather. "Look around for anything."
Searching the body of the one he'd tossed over, Mason found some bullets on him, putting the ammunition in his bag. Finding a magazine by a terminal, Mason chuckled.
"Found another magazine," Mason told Heather. "Gonna read it later."
Turning the radio back on, they headed deeper into the place, seeing if there was anything useful in the area further down. Reaching an open area, Mason stopped them, getting a familiar smell. Gesturing for Heather to fire her rifle, the area in front of them lit aflame, proving Mason was correct about what he smelt.
"How did you see that, Mason?" Curie questioned.
"Smelt it," Mason told her. "Now heads up, we got company."
As feral ghouls began running up the slope toward them, Mason hit the first one away, grabbing the second by the throat, holding them up for Heather. Mason noticed more coming and dropped the corpse, pulling a grenade from his bag. Tossing the grenade, when Mason knew it was by them, he pulled out his pistol and pulled the trigger, making the grenade explode and destroy the ferals.
"Did not think that would work," Mason admitted. "Expected to miss."
"You're a good shot," Heather remarked, Mason flipping a switch for some light. "Why haven't you been using your guns lately."
"Another day," Mason told her, approaching a door leading to another area. Walking through, the room went white, blinding Mason. After adjusting, when Mason looked around, it looked like the bombs hadn't fallen, workers just hanging out. It was… odd, but nothing Mason couldn't handle. Walking past, the room went white again, and when it dimmed, Mason heard a yelping noise. Turning around, Mason saw Dogmeat getting attacked by ferals!
"Get off him, bâtards!" Mason roared, pulling out a grenade as he ran towards them. Pulling the pin, Mason dropped the grenade, grabbing Dogmeat and pulling him out of the room. Slamming the door shut, the ferals began beating on the door, trying to get through.
"How are we doing this?" Heather questioned. Famous last words.
As Mason got sent flying forward, he hit Heather's armor helmet first, the grenade exploding behind the door. Knocking her over, they landed weirdly, Mason groaning from the force.
"Could've gone better," Mason groaned, sitting up. "You alright, Heather?"
"Surprised the explosion didn't knock you out," Heather responded.
"Armor took most of the force," Mason pointed out, groaning as he stood up, stretching his back.
After regaining his senses, Mason pulled Heather up. Moving forward, when they reached a large area, Mason looked around, finding a bobblehead, holding it up to Heather.
"Looks like a child sneakin'," Mason chuckled, pointing at it. "Funniest thing I've seen. In a while anyway."
Putting it away, Mason looked through an explosives crate, finding a mine with grenades in it. Turning, Mason almost told the others to get ready to head out until he felt something… pulling him? Something drew Mason down the tunnel, though he had no idea what it was. Didn't mean he trusted it. Placing the mine on the ground, Mason dropped grenades as he walked down, each in range of the other. The room turned white again, Mason seeing people surrounding a table, praising something as it turned back, feral ghouls crawling and running.
Punching one as it tried to bite, Mason turned and started running, feral ghouls climbing out of the water, charging at him.
Pulling out his pistol, he gestured for them to back away, which wouldn't do much to ghouls. Turning, Mason fired three times, two of the shots missing. On the third shot, it hit the mine.
Being sent flying back by the force, Mason hit a beam, armor and helmet protecting him as he hit the ground.
Standing up, Mason groaned, stretching his arms.
"There's… something down that hole," Mason groaned. "Oh boy." Catching his breath, Mason turned to Heather. "Got Rad-X?"
"Here you go," Heather said, giving Mason two pills.
"Thanks," Mason said, using his free hand to take off his helmet. Sticking the pills in his mouth, he washed them down with some water. Walking over to the pit, Mason took off his armor, placing the helmet in his bag and the armor on it. Taking off his clothes as well, Mason placed them by the bag. Jumping into the water, Mason felt his way around, finding an opening further down. Mason felt around for stuff following the path down, feeling two mini-nukes and a rusted blade or something. Holding them with both hands, Mason swam back to the surface, hoisting the items onto the ground before pulling himself out, breathing heavily as he got his air back.
"That… was… tiring," Mason told Heather, who was hiding her face for some reason.
"Monsieur, can you put on some clothes? It seems your lack of clothing had caused her heart rate to rise," Cure explained.
"Eh, sure," Mason muttered, pulling a towel from his bag. "Gotta dry off first."
After putting his clothes back on, Heather helped ensure the armor was secure and offered to carry a mini-nuke. Mason let her know it was fine, putting them both in his bag, grabbing his helmet and the blade.
"Let's go," Mason said, passing Curie. "Daylight's limited. Gonna head back the way we came, be back at the settlement before dark."
Walking past the corpses they left behind, they picked up more bullets they'd missed. Reaching the surface, Mason saw the sun was starting to descend. Turning on the radio as they reached the top, they cut through part of the woods leading to an old listening post, running into a bear with minimal fur.
"What are those called?" Mason asked Heather, groaning as it charged at him.
"Yao Guai," Heather remarked, "You can usually smell them long before you can see them.
"Monsieur," Curie exclaimed. "Be careful!"
Jumping back as the animal slammed its claws down, Mason flipped the blade before plunging it into the creature's skull, something like poison entering the body.
"Not my first time," Mason muttered as they walked. "Still annoying."
Walking forward, a laser hit Mason in the shoulder, making him growl. Mason pulled out his rifle, putting the blade away, firing at the turrets.
"Protectron!" Mason yelled, one of them coming out of the station. Shooting it three times, Mason stopped its movements, joints jammed.
Collecting the ammunition from the turrets and protectron, Mason was catching his breath, tired from the day. As they reached the settlement, the sun was setting, and he and Heather needed rest.
"Took care of those raiders," Mason told the woman, approaching her.
"Really? That's great news. We've decided to support the Minutemen if that's alright."
"How do you know I work for them," Mason questioned since he hadn't told her.
"The paint on your rifle," her husband said as he came up. "Only Minutemen have that paint on it."
"Fair enough," Mason remarked. "I'm the General. But don't spread it around."
"Of course," the woman said. "Is there anything you need?"
"Your name," Mason stated. "Need to know who leads the place.
"Of course. It's, uh… Chelsea. Chelsea Smith."
"Well, Chelsea," Mason said, holding his hand out. "Name's Mason Black."
Mason finished the conversation and left their junk at the workbench, giving the woman some armor. Gathering some materials, he and Heather worked together to make a bed for the night. After taking his armor off, Mason laid down next to her, closing his eyes for the night.
The next day, when Mason woke up, it was still a bit dark out, and he knew Heather still needed sleep. Grabbing some paper and a pencil from his bag, Mason set it down on a table in the living room, going back to grab some food and water.
While eating, Mason began working on plans for walls for this place, leaving the only entrance by the road. When he finished, it was nearing eight, and Heather had woken up and was getting ready to move out.
Setting the plans down on the mutfruit table, Mason grabbed his bag and put his armor on. When he was done, he grabbed the others.
"Where are we heading, Mason?" Curie asked, hovering nearby.
"Northeast. Covered most of the area except the northeast and central region. There aren't many areas in the north left, so we'll cover that ground, then move to Maden."
"Is he like this every morning?" Mason heard the woman ask Heather.
"Most. There are some where he tells us the plans the previous night," Heather responded.
"Let's move out," Mason told Heather, Curie, and Dogmeat, turning on Diamond City Radio.
Reaching Breakheart Banks, Mason carried both his and Heather's bags, so she didn't have to worry about breaking an ankle as they climbed down to the river bank. Crossing the river, they came to a place with a tower that had a siren on it. Before walking, Mason saw there were raiders there and crouched with Heather and Dogmeat, having Curie get back, so they didn't see her.
"Dangerous creatures nearby?" Mason questioned.
"Probably some deathclaws. Don't know how we'd attract one to this area."
"Got an idea," Mason mentioned. "Stupid, but could work. Grab Curie, and get ready to run to the tower on my signal.
"On it."
Waiting until Heather had grabbed Curie, as the raider by the tower walked in, Mason waved to Heather, running to the tower.
Reaching the tower, Dogmeat hot on his heels with Heather and Curie not far behind, Mason grabbed the raider by the face as he ran into the building.
"Mornin'," Mason muttered, slamming the raider's head into the door frame. Running up the stairs, Mason pushed a raider over the rails, making them hit their head on some as they fell. Reaching the siren at the top, Mason found the switch, flipping it. Thankful for the helmet's noise protection, Mason got in cover, the noise deafening. After a minute, a raider shot the siren, disabling it. When Mason almost starts to go down the steps, he hears two roars in the distance.
"Deathclaws?" Mason questioned, Heather behind cover beside Mason, peering over cover and shooting a raider every thirty seconds.
"How'd you know they were near?"
"Didn't," Mason admitted, a bullet bouncing off his helmet. "Saw siren. Hoped for the best." Digging through his bag, Mason pulled out the Gauss Rifle, loading the ammunition.
Looking over the side, Mason saw the two creatures, noticing one was white. Mason aimed the rifle at the creature's foot and took a deep breath. Looking through the scope, Mason began sweating, breathing heavily.
"Mason, you're pale," Heather remarked; Mason pulled the rifle back down, unable to pull the trigger.
"Go for… the foot," Mason said, trying to catch his breath. "Can't… pull the t… trigger."
Taking the rifle, Heather knew she'd have to speak to Mason later but figured now wasn't the time.
Grabbing his chest as Heather fired the rifle, Mason tried to catch his breath. Why couldn't he pull the trigger? It was simple, something he'd done before. So why couldn't he do it?
Hearing the deathclaws roar, Mason knew Heather had done the job, doing what he couldn't.
"Monsieur, are you sure that was a smart idea?" Curie asked.
"They're… not likely… to stay," Mason said, feeling his breath coming back. "They'll probably leave… after killing the raiders."
After that, Mason tuned out the raiders screaming, turning the radio up to drown out the noise.
Looking over the side, Mason saw the raiders were dead, Deathclaws nowhere in sight.
"Deathclaws anywhere?" Mason asked Heather as she looked through her scope.
"They're gone," Heather responded. "Is there something you need to talk about?"
Taking a deep breath, Mason understood what she was talking about. "Can it wait? Until we get to Sanctuary?"
"We're talking when we get back," Heather remarked, making Mason sigh as he looked down at his hands.
"Let's go for now," Mason said, heading down the steps. "Should be ammunition. More in the buildings."
"Don't forget these," Heather said, tossing Mason a set of keys.
"Thanks," Mason said, catching them. "Forgot to check a body. That's new."
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Mason collected armor off the guy he'd thrown over the rails. While the armor itself was useless, the materials were better than nothing.
"Mind checking out the shack?" Mason asked Heather as she came out of the tower, pointing to the nearest one. "Take Curie with you."
"On it," Heather grinned, making Mason smile as he took his helmet off.
Mason got a decent amount of scrap off them, collecting stuff off the dead raiders. Mason went to the larger shack further from the tower when he was done, Heather and Curie still searching through the first shack. Finding a chest, it would've been too difficult for Mason to pick until he remembered the keys Heather gave him.
"Yes," Mason muttered, the chest opening. Pulling out what he saw, Mason was happy. He'd found two combat armor pieces, a chest and right arm. Setting them aside, Mason collected some ammunition and a pipe weapon that they could scrap later. Mason put the items away in a duffel bag and picked it up, walking over to meet Heather and Curie.
"You guys find anything?"
"Some food and this magazine," Heather said, handing Mason the magazine. Taking a quick look at it, Mason put it away in his bag.
"Nothin' useful," Mason remarked. "Lawn flamingos. Let's get movin'. There's an asylum and graveyard nearby. Gonna mark 'em, then we're headed to Malden."
