CHAPTER 37: POWER PLANT COUNTDOWN.

The glowering albino squeezed their throats once more, almost enjoying their strained gasps for air. He loosed his grips just enough to allow them to get a deep breath in before reaffirming his hold.

"Now, let's see here," Al eyed them back and forth for a moment, thinking of what questions to ask. "I doubt you two are scavengers. Or Raiders for that matter." He looked down on Louis and noticed his jumpsuit. "A Vault dweller? A bit far from home, aren't you? I never thought I'd see one in person."

"Con...grad...ulations. Now...you have..." Louis struggled to say sarcastically.

"Don't get cute." Al warned. "And who's this with you? She doesn't look like a Vault dweller."

"Let me go...and I'll show you...who I am..." The redhead sneered.

"I think not." The albino pulled them away from the wall and turned. Two other Super Mutants emerged from the shadows and waited for their next commands. "Now let's take a trip down to the decontamination floor. I overheard you two were looking for it. And I'm happy to show it. Get their weapons on the floor." he ordered the two. "And as I said before, try anything and I'll snap your necks."

The albino waited until the other two Super Mutants stripped them of their remaining weapons before moving on, carrying them by their necks as if they weighed nothing in his grip with their feet dangling just a few inches from the floor. They hanged helplessly in the white Super Mutant's grip, and any attempt to break free would only earn them a quick death as they struggled just to breath.

()()()()()()()()()

Thaddeus pushed the metal door open and let his ogres to drag Wayland in. Every now and then he struggled against them, but the seemingly mindless Super Mutants kept their grips held firm. Demon and Splitter reluctantly stepped in, the leader hated going inside the lab. The tubes of colorful flowing liquids annoyed it, the buzzing terminals bothered its ears, and all the rest was just worthless to it. Demon hated anything that couldn't used as a weapon, or eat, or protect its body.

Thaddeus pointed to a clear area away from the most important equipment while searching for something. Wayland was dragged once again and forced onto his knees and held tight to keep him in place. The scientist began lightly humming to himself, digging through stacks of papers and holotapes and other piles of random junk littering his tables.

"What you doing now?!" Demon demanded, growing more and more impatient with each passing moment. "I want you-"

"-to make more Super Mutants!" Thaddeus finished. "I know, I know, I know! Once I deal with this one, I promise you I will go straight down to the gas chambers and gas all those people." he set aside another big stack of papers. "Now, please, can you let me work? Go back down and prepare your kin, I'll get you when the time is right."

Demon growled and scratched the scar tissue around its metal shard before turning back to the door and stormed towards it while muttering with Splitter following right behind while trying to reattach its axe blade. The door closed with a heavy slam, followed by fading footsteps echoing down the hall. Once the two were gone, Thaddeus went back to work without interruption. Wayland lifted his head and looked around the lab again since he didn't have time to observe the place before. He also counted all the ogres that were now up to eight, hoping that was all of them.

"What are you going to do to me?" He asked, thinking he might finally get some answers about his foggy past. "Do you know who I am?"

Thaddeus picked up a piece of lab equipment for a moment before putting it down. "I do. Mostly at least. I wasn't directly involved with the project at the time, but I did offer a huge portion of my research. But in the end it was a failure." he turned his head to him. "Except for you. Which is quite the enigma."

"Then what is it? Tell me! Why am I so different? Who was I before?"

"It won't matter," Thaddeus replied and opened a drawer. "What would be the point in telling you anything? It would all go over your head and I don't have to explain anything to you. All you need to know is that your batch was defective and purged. All except for you, and your radiation flare actually works from what I've witnessed. That means I must collect samples."

Wayland gave a confused blink. "Samples?"

"Ah, finally!" Thaddeus pulled out a large kit, filled with sample gathering tools. "I suppose Al is right. I should clean this place more often." He opened the kit and started rummaging through it and assembled the things inside.

Wayland jerked for a moment before the two ogres held him still again. "Stay away from me!"

"Don't struggle. You will only make it worse." Thaddeus held up a device that shaves off skin for sampling. "First, I want to see how your flesh is affected by the radiation. And if you start lighting up like a nightlight, one of my ogres will snap your neck." He grinned and started walking towards him. "Now hold still. I want to get this over with and finish the disposal job for good."

()()()()()()()()()

A few more streaking bolts of lasers bore into the metal plating of a charging Super Mutant, it screamed in pain and fell to the floor. Chloe stood at the back of the group as two more Super Mutants came storming in with big blunt pipes. The Synth raised her plasma rifle and turned the dial on the side near the trigger and pulled. A stream of fire shot out from under the plasma barrel and doused the two, filling the long hall with smoke and burning flesh and screams. Radcliffe stood away from them, enjoying himself after finally finding his nerve to fight. He cackled like a madman every time a Super Mutant came within range of his LMG and filled them with lead.

Once the current wave was finished, Ezrah lowered his laser rifle. "Form up!" He commanded like a general.

"You're not the boss of me!" Radcliffe snapped.

"Just get your ass back over here already!" Joe warned him.

"Where's Cavall?" Asimov asked as he searched.

Their attention fell to the sound of a rough pained scream, followed immediately by the sound of flesh ripping and than sudden silence. Cavall wrestled a Super Mutant to the ground and tore out its throat, the blood stained his dripping maw before he looked to them with puppy eyes.

Chloe threw her plasma rifle over her shoulder. "You know, it's kinda scary how he can switch from lovin' housedog to vicious attack hound..."

Joe nodded. "I'll say..."

"Trust me, if you've seen what kind of hounds some Super Mutants groups keep, you'd be happy for having Cavall around." Ezrah said to them.

"Cavall, come here, boy." Joe called with a click of his tongue.

The hybrid started padding towards them before coming to a stop. He sniffed the air and picked up two scents he knew all too well. Before anyone could figure out what caught his interest, the large canine barked before turning and bounding down the hall at full speed. The group gave chase before he ended up crossing paths with another group of Super Mutants that were on the attack.

"What's gotten into that mutt now?" Radcliffe snapped, huffing heavily.

"He's got a scent! Which could only mean one thing!" Joe said to them.

Ezrah made his armor pick up speed. "Let him lead the way! We don't have much time!"

()()()()()()()()()()()()

Doug and Hiromi came stepping around the corner, followed by Inez and the entire squad of ten and the five more that came with the two. One carried the Gatling laser strapped to his back, another carried the Avenger minigun as another man followed right behind with the ammo backpack, and another lugging the quad-barrel, all four of them walking in the center of the group. The three in the lead stopped for a moment to pick the best path to choose next, Hiromi looked back to his people and saw the looks of fear and worry on their faces. It was taking all their courage and nerve to stay and most likely end up fighting.

The farmer tilted his head towards Hiromi. "Uh, listen, maybe it's a good idea to give your people a bit of a pep talk? Calm their nerves and such?"

Hiromi looked back for a moment again and nodded. "I see your point. Give me a few minutes." He stopped and turned to his squad.

"Pep talk?" Inez asked. "Startin' to sound a bit like Louis there."

Doug looked back to her. "I know. Just don't tell him that."

"Everyone, listen up." Hiromi began, speaking with authority. "I know it's scary to be here. I know you all have every reason to flee back to our home. And we will...once the threat is over! But now it is finally time to bring the fight to their home! Let them know what it feels like to have enemies storming at their door!"

The entire squad cheered to that, forgetting they were in the very heart of enemy territory. Hiromi gave them a few more words of encouragement while Doug and Inez stood waiting patiently. But a sudden burst of gunfire echoed down the hall as a Super Mutant with a busted looking assault rifle ran towards them and bellowing.

"More humans here?! We capture you!"

Hiromi spun on his heels and dashed ahead, raising his assault rifle in kind. Doug and Inez were already going on the attack with their handguns and opened fire on it. The Super Mutant went down after several rounds from all three of them, it slumped against the wall and said one final empty threat before falling dead to the floor.

They stood for a moment before Hiromi turned back to his people and issued a command. "More will be coming! Get in formation, time for us to be the attackers!"

()()()()()()()()()

Al huffed deeply as he came to another turn, cursing himself for still not fully knowing his way around the power plant. "I swear, one day I'll nail signs all over this place if I have to."

Louis and Victoria remained silent the entire time, barely able to breath as their bodies started to get numb from hanging by their necks for so long. And every time they twitched or stirred too much the albino gave their necks a tight squeeze, warning them to stay still. Just as Al turned another corner, he suddenly stopped abruptly and took a step back. Louis and Victoria couldn't see what was behind and that worried them before hearing a familiar deep growl.

Cavall lowered himself into a pounce with his hair standing on end and teeth bared. He snapped his jaws as his ears lowered and slowly pawing forward, even his yellow eyes seemed to glow in the dark. Al found himself stuck, if the big canine attacked he would be defenseless, and if he let the humans go he would flee. Cavall didn't wait for him to decide as he suddenly lunged with a fierce bark. Al was left with no choice now, so he tossed the two down to the floor just as Cavall leapt. The albino had only a moment to react and lifted his arms to attack. But the hybrid proved faster as his teeth sank into Al's right forearm, throwing him off balance and falling to the floor. After that it became a tussle of pained shouts with angry growls and flesh starting to rip. Al's arm soon went from pale white to dark red and smearing all over his chest.

Once Louis and Victoria fell to the floor, they rolled slightly and took deep breaths, feeling the soreness of their throats. The other two Super Mutants from behind finally caught up and saw the fight between Cavall and the albino and started shouting and took aim with their stolen weapons. Louis and Victoria were still gasping for breath and unarmed to help in any way.

"Louis! Victoria! Stay down!"

Several red beams flew over their heads followed by rapid bursts of gunfire and Radcliffe's wild screams. The Super Mutants flopped down to the floor like bags of rocks soon after. Once the shots died down, Al finally pulled Cavall off his arm by the scruff of his neck and tried to swing his big fist but only got another nasty bite on his knuckles before Cavall twisted away and leaped to the side and attacked Al's lower leg near the knee, tearing the leather covering his pale leg and drew lots of blood.

Radcliffe smirked and aimed his LMG at Al. "Just one more ugly fucker to deal with!"

Joe threw his hand out and pushed the weapon aside and snapped at him. "No, don't! You'll hit Cavall, you idiot!"

Ezrah on the other hand couldn't help but stare at the strange white Super Mutant as he finally pulled away from Cavall and quickly crawled across the floor towards the turn and scrambled back to his feet and rushed down the hall, limping heavily with every step.

Asimov and Chloe helped Louis and Victoria back on their feet. "We feared the worse for you two!" The Synth said to them.

"Yeah, what was going through your mind when you decided to go off on your own and drag Victoria into it?!" Joe snapped at the Vault dweller.

Victoria held her hand up. "To be fair, I followed him."

"And I'm guessing this good boy sniffed us out." Louis kneeled a little to pet Cavall as he approached. "Did you now? Thanks, good buddy."

"Louis, I'm glad you two are well, but I must ask," Ezrah approached them, his steps making light thuds. "What was that white Super Mutant? I have never seen anything like it. What's going on here?"

"God, how I wish I knew." Louis stood back up. "But from what we've seen, there's a whole lot more to this place than just a den for Super Mutants. Someone is helping them." The two began taking back their guns and strapped them back on.

The whole group looked at the two before Ezrah spoke. "Wha...what do you mean?"

Victoria stepped in. "We managed to find Wayland, but we couldn't help him. He was fighting almost all of the Super Mutants until four new ones came in."

Louis continued. "They weren't like the white one or the rest here. They're strong, fast, and act as if they have no will of their own. There's a man that was giving them commands."

"A man? As in a human man?" Ezrah asked, finding harder and harder to believe.

"It's true. He wore a white coat and gave those strange Super Mutants all kinds of orders as they attacked Wayland. We heard him call them ogres." Victoria spoke.

"Jeez, what did we get ourselves into now?..." Joe grumbled.

"This is...a lot to take in, to say the least." Ezrah said with a sigh.

"Look, Ezrah, we have to save him. We don't know what's going on, but I do know that Wayland's in danger. They captured him and took him away." Louis said to him.

"But we can't forget about the people either." Victoria reminded him. "We overheard Wayland say they got people down below that are gonna be turned into Super Mutants soon!"

Ezrah took a few steps pass the group and looked down to the floor. "I'll do it. I'll find your friend. The rest of you go free the people. And find out just what's going on here."

"And just how are you gonna find Wayland?" Radcliffe asked a bit snidely. "This power plant is huge!"

"Thankfully that's the easy part." Ezrah looked down at the blood leading into the turn of the hall. "Our pale abnormal left me a trail..."

()()()()()()()()()

A group of four Super Mutants barreled down the hall with the settlers hot on their tails while firing upon them. The mutants than ran through an open double door and scattered off in all directions. Hiromi gave the command to push the attack before any of them had a chance to join up with the rest of their kin.

The entire squad poured out into the production floor of the power plant. And the only things that remained of it was rusted pipes and tubes from above on the high ceiling or at the sides of the walls. Everything else was crumbling machines that were beyond any salvageable use other than scrap. The only thing the Super Mutants did with the old machines was tear them apart to make armor and crude weapons.

As the squad began to come out of the opening, a hail of bullets greeted them over their heads. Super Mutants poured in from the other end of the long floor, several more appeared from above on the walkways at the walls. To their surprise, it seemed the Super Mutants had lead them into an ambush.

"Get behind cover! Hurry!" Hiromi quickly ordered.

The squad did as told while staying within close range to toss ammo around. The one's carrying the heavy weapons placed them on the floor and soon joined in the attack. Doug and Inez grouped together and fired away with their handguns. The Super Mutants took defensive positions across the floor, attacking wildly and advancing slowly from cover to cover.

Doug spotted one coming in from the left and gave it a few rounds to the chest. It staggered from the hits before turning back to safety. Inez was far more lucky as she got one in the neck and jaw, it too staggered from the pain and fell to its knees as Inez gave it two more in the head to finish it. After a few minutes it seemed that every remaining Super Mutant in the power plant came to their location. Hiromi took a moment to observe them and get an idea on their numbers and how to spearhead the attack better.

"The Super Mutants," he shouted while ducking back behind cover. "I can see at least five dozen! I admit the odds are stacked against us!"

Doug holstered his Browning and switched to his Winchester. "Keep pushing the attack! We've come too far to give up now!"

Inez fired four more rounds that put down a Super Mutant flanking from the right. "It's not the giving up that worries me!" She fired two more shots until her gun clicked empty and took cover to reload. "It's getting overrun by these guys!"

Doug ducked back down behind cover as several bullets struck it. "Just keep them back! If this is all of them, then they won't take any suicidal risks!"

"Try to look for the leader!" Hiromi shouted. "Ezrah told us that Super Mutant groups often get disorganized when their leader falls!"

"Yeah, easier said than done." Doug scoffed as bullets pelted his cover.

()()()()()()()()()

Wayland gave a gritted groan as the thick needle punctured into the side of his neck. Thaddeus smirked as the gun shaped device drew blood and filled the sample bottle on the top. Finally it was done and Thaddeus pulled the needle out, rather harshly and gently unscrewed the bottle.

"What more are you gonna take from me now?" The Super Mutant demanded with a gritted sneer.

"Oh, did the needle hurt that much?" Thaddeus asked childishly as he put the bottle in a case. Inside were several other samples he took. One filled with several skin shavings. Another a vial of saliva, and another with sweat that still dotted his forehead at the time. He double checked the samples in the special case made to keep samples preserved for a long period of time. "Well, the worse has yet to come. I'm gonna need to dissect your brain, that's where all the really good samples are! So much to learn when you split a brain open!"

Wayland seemed to lose a shade of green to his face as he started to struggle once more. The ogres in response pushed him down to the floor until the side of his face pressed against the cold dirty linoleum. One of them grabbed the back of his head and made him look up to see Thaddeus holding a surgical saw and a large pan.

"What? Did you think I was just gonna let you go after I got my samples?" He walked over to an operating table, rusted and stained from age and past operations he did on it. On the wall hanging on pegs was a thick apron, heavy duty gloves and a face visor. "Like I said, you're a failed reject that is somehow still alive after all these years. So I'm killing two birds with one stone by, well, killing you, and learning everything I can from your autopsy. Fun, yes? Well, for me. Not so much for you..."

There was never a time that Wayland wished he could light up with radiation. He squinted his eyes shut and thought of himself glowing like a beacon. But nothing he did made it happen, no matter how angry he got, or whatever he imagined to trigger it. The lab door suddenly flung open and quickly slammed shut. Al staggered over to a nearby table and fell on it, he barely managed to land his hands on it to stay standing as several of its contents rattled and tipped or fell off as he huffed for breath.

"What in the fuckin' hell happened to you?!" Thaddeus placed the surgical saw and pan down. "You're covered in cuts and blood! You're more red than white now!"

"I'm perfectly aware of how injured I am!" Al shouted hoarsely and slammed a fist on the table. "And it was a dog that did this to me! Or a wolf, or something like that! I don't know! It was too big to be either of those!"

Wayland blinked in confusion for a moment before it came to him. "Cavall! His name is Cavall." He said to them with a stern face. "My friends believe he's part dog and part wolf."

Thaddeus turned his head back to him. "And just how would you know its name? What's going on here?"

"My friends, that's what!" Wayland answered. "My friends and the settlers that you all have been attacking! They are leading an assault on this place! And if one of them attacked you, then that means they're on their way here now!"

Now Thaddeus lost a shade of color to his face and looked to the door and saw the blood across the floor leading to Al. "You fool! You literally left a trail straight to our door!"

"I was more concern with staying alive at that time!" Al said back, slamming his fist on the table again. "If their beast did this to me, imagine what it could do to you!"

Thaddeus gritted his teeth and growled deeply and practically pulled his hair out as he ran his hands through it. "What are we going to do?! We can't let our operation be exposed to anyone!"

Wayland lifted his head up as much as he could. "I can lead them away..." Both the scientist and the albino turned to him with mistrusting looks. "Let me go, and I'll leave you all in peace. I'm not gonna sit by and let my friends and those people get hurt! So what are you going to do? Open me up and look around, or let me go and keep your secret hidden?"

Thaddeus' fists tightened, his face turned red with anger as he chewed his lower lip. He looked to Al and the wounds he had before turning to his lab equipment and took a deep breath to calm down. "Pick him up."

Once more the ogres holding him did as told without delay. Wayland was back on his feet in a moment but still kept him held firmly. Al forced himself to stand fully up and staggered before regaining full balance.

"Don't be a fool! It will bring them right to us!" He felt lightheaded for a moment. "We're cornered here! They'll bust that door down and tear up this place before we can stop them!"

"You have my word that I will lead them away from this place. And you can continue doing whatever it is you're doing. Even though I get the feeling you are responsible for creating the Super Mutants that came from this awful place." Wayland looked them dead in the eyes, his freedom relying on a risky gamble that might prevent him from learning anything of his former life.

Thaddeus slowly shuffled towards him, hands folded behind his back. "And why should I believe you will do what you say?" He asked as he got face to face with Wayland once more.

Wayland frowned his hairless brows. "Because you don't have many choices left. Either let me go, or risk losing everything you've worked on."

He expected Thaddeus to flip out, or attack him while defenseless, or just order his ogres to kill him right there. But instead, he took a deep quiet breath and stepped back and gently spoke.

"Let him go..."

The ogres unleashed their grips. Wayland stumbled and rubbed his neck and arms and everywhere else that they held him. Al's disapproval could be seen on his face as Thaddeus turned his head to silence him before the albino could voice his complaints. Wayland stood still for a moment, fearing the scientist might change his mind. He headed for the door, keeping his eyes alert on the other ogres that seemed to follow his every step despite their blank stares. Finally, his hand grabbed the handle and started pulling it.

"Just so you know," Thaddeus spoke, Wayland stopped and turned to him, "we're not done here. I don't care how long it takes, I will find you and open you up. That I promise."

Wayland's lips trembled with anger as he pulled the door open. "Then I'll be waiting. And next time I won't be alone. I will get answers someday."

Thaddeus laughed in his throat. "A Super Mutant with purpose and drive. Now I have seen everything. Tell me, do you have a name too?"

The door was fully open by then and waiting. "It's Wayland. A name given by a friend." He stepped out and closed it, leaving without even looking back and began dashing down the hall.

After several moments Thaddeus huffed and looked to the albino. "Get yourself patched up, we're leaving."

"Leaving?" Al asked disbelievingly. "But we haven't even tested out the new FEV strain that you made."

He pointed across the room towards one of the fridges in the far corner. "I always keep a separate sample for further study if my current strain works well enough or has at least mostly positive results that might need improvement. It's enough to gas two people. We'll just find some useless Wasteland trash and gas them."

Al found a first aid kit and started getting out bandages and cloth. "And what about the humans that we spent months having Demon's kin gather?"

Thaddeus opened the fridge and looked at the vial in a special container. "What about them? They can get turned into Super Mutants, go free, or just rot in their cells. I don't care." He closed the fridge door. "In a way, this is a blessing in disguise. I've been wanting to leave for a long time and if this strain doesn't work, then it will be easier to dispose of one failure than a few hundred."

"Hmm, cold and calculating as always, Thaddeus." Al huffed with a frown as he started treating his arm. "I often wonder who values humanity less? You, or the Super Mutants?"

"We can discuss this another time. I still don't fully trust that Wayland." He snapped his fingers three times, calling for the ogres' attention. "Listen up, we're leaving! Begin the evacuation protocol!"

()()()()()()()()()

The distant sounds of gunfire grew louder with each passing step. It was only fifteen minutes since they began searching the lower level to free the captive people, yet they couldn't ignore the noise out of fear that it was more than just Super Mutants wasting their ammo. Louis was the first to step out into the vast floor just in time for a few bullets to strike the edge of the threshold where the double doors have been ripped off long ago. Joe quickly grabbed him by the collar of his trench coat and yanked him back in before he got shot.

"Who are they shooting at?!" Victoria shouted over the gunfire.

Chloe pointed across the room to who in question. "Look! It's Hiromi's squad!"

Asimov sharply turned his head and zoomed in on the settlers. His scan went off as his facial recognition processor picked up a very familiar person shooting from cover. "Inez!" he called with panic in his synthesized voice and dashed forward.

The Assaultron curled his left arm up to help block any stray bullets coming his way as they pinged off his body. In a few moments he crossed the entire battlefield and leaped over Inez's cover and landed on his feet with a scrape of metal against concrete.

"Asimov?!" Inez said with surprise while reloading. "You found us!"

"More importantly...what are you doing here?!" Asimov demanded. He stood up from cover and fired several laser bolts from his right arm gun and ducked back down. "You were supposed to stay at the settlement!"

"And then Doug and I got bored. So what?" She looped her gun over the cover and fired four rounds. "I'm not always gonna be able to sit on the sidelines!"

"You two! Argue later! Kill Super Mutants now!" Doug shouted to them as he fired off the last round from his Winchester and crouched to reload.

The rest of the team at the door opening moved back in a few feet to avoid stray shots. "What now?" Victoria asked. "We're not armored like Asimov!"

Radcliffe answered by cheering wildly out of the blue. "I was wrong! This is gonna be fuckin' fun!"

Before anyone could figure out what he was going on about, the Raider dashed from their safe spot and began firing off his SAW. He swept his shots while running, even pulled out his Hardballer and fired with his left hand while shooting the LMG from the hip with his right. By some miracle he didn't get hit as several Super Mutants fell to his rapid shots, even his Hardaller pierced one through the eye and out the back of its head. Radcliffe made his away across the floor and found a bit of cover behind some metal crates where two other settlers were hiding just as his Hardballer ran out.

"Well...he got across." Said Joe with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Gee, Joe, you almost sound disappointed." Louis looked back to him.

"I've worked with reckless people like him before." Joe had to speak up over the gunfire. "Reckless people get themselves and the people they're with killed! Just like this!"

"Radcliffe got lucky." Victoria spoke urgently. "We still need to get across and save those people being held captive before it's too late!"

Cavall stood ready pounce thanks to the gunshot noises that agitated him greatly. Louis leaned down to pet him so he would remain calm. "We just need a few moments to get across!"

Doug looked to where the Raider came from and saw his friends still stuck at the entrance of the other hall. "Hey Radcliffe, did you by any chance think to help them across too?!"

Radcliffe didn't answer right away, instead he attacked with another volley of bullets from his LMG, firing from the hip. "What?! I'm kinda busy right now!" He fell back down and started reloading his gun as steam rose off the barrel.

"Oh, forget it." Doug rolled his eyes in defeat and looked over to Hiromi. "Hey! Toss me the missile launcher!"

"It's kinda heavy to throw, don't you think?" Hiromi pointed out.

"Then slide it over! Whatever you need to do."

Hiromi stopped firing and reached behind where Wayland's weapons rested and grabbed the hefty launcher and aimed it towards Doug and Inez. With a hard shove he sent the weapons skidding loudly across the floor and ended up stopping just a few inches from their cover thanks to its weight. He sighed and quickly leaned over with his hand reaching out and grabbed the barrel end and pulled it over to safety.

Doug hoisted it up onto his shoulder. "Geez! Why is this so fucking heavy? People actually use this?"

"I don't know, big strong army men?..." Inez commented with a small grin.

Doug made sure the missile launcher was sitting on his right shoulder as safe as it could considering its weight. He stood on one knee and kept low before taking a deep breath and thrust himself up, knowing he would be standing exposed. "Hey, you guys over there! Get ready to run!"

A missile streaked out from the quad-barrel and flew across the room. The Super Mutants saw the missile coming and stopped firing to flee in all directions as it hit near some old machinery too rusted to really make out what it was as the explosion sent bits of metal flying everywhere. Doug fell straight back on his ass while the missile launcher flipped over his shoulder and landed behind him.

"Great! First I twist my ankle and now my shoulder feels like its been ripped right out of its socket!" Doug groaned through gritted teeth and rolled on his side.

The group from the hall quickly figured out Doug's plan and ran without wasting a single moment. They sprinted as Louis fired with his AN-94 and Victoria with her 10mm SMG. All of them quickly found a hiding spots just as the Super Mutants began shooting at them again.

"Doug! Am I glad to see you again! Is your ankle feeling better?" Louis spoke loudly, as if to forget about their battle.

His friend on the other hand looked at him with burning anger. "I am gonna kick your ass when this is over! You got everyone dragged into this crazy mess!"

"Glad to see you're back to normal..." Louis sighed and leaned against the metal cover. "And I never wanted to drag anyone into this. I was worried about Wayland."

"And where is he? I don't see him." Inez asked she loaded a new mag and quickly counted how many she had left. "And Ezrah, what about him?"

"It's a long story. But to get to the point, he went to find Wayland. Hopefully just in time." Louis answered the two and to anyone else that wanted to know.

"And we have more pressing matters right now." Victoria chimed in. "We found out there's people being held here and about to be turned into Super Mutants!"

"Then you guys have to go free them!" Hiromi shouted while kneeling to reload. "We'll hold them off. We think this is all the Super Mutants left in the power plant! So even if there's still some left they shouldn't be too hard to take on!"

"Then Louis, Victoria, and Radcliffe, you guys go! We'll hold them off for as long as we can!" Joe loaded his Sako rifle a new magazine.

"Which, hopefully, more than a few minutes at this rate." Chloe said before standing to fire her plasma rifle.

"Radcliffe? Are you dumping him on us?" Louis asked.

"Yes!..." Joe and Chloe answered, rather harshly.

"Aw, fuck you guys!" Radcliffe sneered.

Louis looked towards the open double door, which was currently being struck by a stray bullet here and there. "Alright, give us some cover. Cavall, come!"

The four bolted from cover as the entire squad fired back, providing enough cover for them to slip through, despite Louis hearing a bullet fly over his head and hitting the ceiling above.

"Okay, follow me!" The Vault dweller said as they finally got out of range. "I have a good idea where the decontamination floor is. At least I hope so."

"And just how would you know?" Asked Radcliffe. "You've never been here before."

"No, I haven't. But back home in my Vault, study on building architecture in the United States is one of our school curriculums. And that includes power plants like this."

They turned left with Cavall pacing ahead. "Knowing you, I'd bet you were a good student." Victoria commented.

"As a matter of fact I was. Straight A's all the time!"

"I don't get it, why do you sound so proud of that?" Radcliffe asked, truly confused by it.

Louis turned his head to him with a confused frown. "Wow, Radcliffe, you really grew up wild, didn't you?..."

"Hey, I've gotten this far just fine. Don't you think?"

Louis and Victoria had no comment to that as Cavall barked a few times.

()()()()()()()()()

Ezrah came to a slow stop and looked down at the thinning trail of blood on the floor. He sighed in annoyance, although wasn't surprised since the albino Super Mutant could only lose so much blood while running. Ezrah pointed his laser rifle forward and began marching, thinking it could be very close by. His helmet's audio receivers suddenly picked up the sounds of thumping steady footsteps that were getting faster. He almost fired on reflex, but whatever it was that stopped him, he was glad as Wayland stepped out from around the turn, wearing nothing but his faded old pants of leather.

The former member of the Brotherhood lowered his weapon. "Wayland? You're wearing less of...everything...since I last saw you."

Wayland took a breath and looked back for a moment to make sure he wasn't being followed. "Ezrah, where's everyone else? Is it just you?"

He took a few steps towards him. "For the moment. Your friends are inside the power plant. Louis snuck in on his own and Victoria followed him. We met up with them just awhile ago in the hands of a white Super Mutant. Now they are with the rest of your group looking for the captured people. I volunteered to go find you. I get the feeling you know more about whatever's going on here than anyone else."

"I do, sort of." Wayland answered. "But I'll explain everything later."

"I agree. Seems like you lost your assault rifle. I'd offer you a weapon but all I have is my laser rifle."

"There's plenty of weapons here. I'll find one somewhere." He replied as the two turned back the other way and dashed off with Ezrah in the lead.

()()()()()()()

Several minutes of searching almost wildly, getting turned around, going the wrong way, and backtracking finally lead the three down a wide staircase into the decontamination area. They slowed down once coming into the right area, which was obvious once they saw the people behind the rows of thick panned glass and both sides.

"Something tells me this is the place." Louis said to them.

"Uh, duh, look at all the people here." Radcliffe pointed his hand out all over. "What else could this place be?..."

"Radcliffe, I didn't actually mean-" Louis sighed in annoyance and rubbed his temple. "Just go watch the entrance. Make sure nothing bothers us."

"Yeah, sure. Come here, Cavall..." he replied with a mock salute.

The people inside the cells began to crowd upon seeing the unfamiliar group. They banged on the glass and pleaded for them to save them. Louis and Victoria looked at the locks and saw that they all had an electronic feature that kept them magnetically locked. The only way to open them was to use a terminal, one that Louis spotted nearby. The two ran over to it and the Vault dweller plopped down in the seat and began typing on the keypad.

"Okay, okay, let's see what we got here. Quite a setup. That scientist, whoever he is, knows what he's doing. Let's hope they don't swing by anytime soon." Louis trailed on, eyes glued to the glow of the green and black screen.

The banging and clamoring got louder, all the people behind the glass began to fill with hope of freedom. Some started shouting even louder while others got into small fights as if that would somehow get them out faster while others stayed at the back. To them, any hope of getting free had left them after months of captivity and weren't going to get themselves filled with false hope now.

Victoria held her hands up said out loud. "Everyone, please. We're going to get you out. Just give us some time."

"Does anyone know anything about how this system works?" Louis called out loud as he turned away from the screen.

One man pushed through the crowd and placed his hands on the glass, the same man that pleaded with the scientist much earlier. "I do! Or at least...sorta..."

"Sorta? What do you mean?" asked Louis.

"There was a man here a few hours ago. He seems to have struck a deal with the Super Mutants!" he said to them.

"We saw him earlier too." Victoria went up to the glass. "Along with a white Super Mutant. But we don't know anymore about them either."

"Well, I guess it can't be helped." Louis turned back to the screen and continued. "Anyone else know about this place?"

"This gas chamber was set up long before any of us were captured!" Someone else spoke. "We think there were others here before us!"

"That would explain why there are so many Super Mutants in the first place." Louis commented before smiling. "Aha! I think I found out how to shut all this down and let everyone out!" he said loudly, to which the people cheered and pounded the glass.

But his smile soon flipped down as a warning sign popped up on the screen, along with a timer saying forty minutes and already began counting down.

"Oh, no! Oh shit. Oh, shit and oh, no!" Louis frantically typed on the keyboard in vain. "Dammit! I think I accidently triggered some kind of failsafe or security measure! There's a timer counting down!"

Victoria was now over to where he sat and placed a hand on his shoulder and another on the table. "A timer? So you mean the people are going to be gassed?"

"Well they ain't going to get a spa day, that's for sure!" Louis' teeth gritted as he shuffled through the terminal menu and found a few promising files. "Wait, I found something! There's information on...FEV? So he does have strain of it! How did this man get his hands on it? If the records in my Vault are any indication, FEV isn't something that you can find under a rock!"

"Maybe you should worry about those questions later and figure out how to open the cells?" Victoria urgently suggested.

"Right, sorry! Best not to panic right now even if we have thirty-eight minutes left..."

"Louis..."

"I know, sorry." He found a file and began reading it quickly. "Wait, I found something else! All the gas chambers are connected to pipes running through this floor. There's all kinds of notes here, guess that scientist never thought anyone who isn't a Super Mutant would ever log onto his terminal. And according to these notes, the FEV is in a liquid state and will be turned into a gas once they reach a certain point in the sprinkler systems. So if we take out the system that pumps this stuff...we can save everyone! Let's find the pump system!"

"Why not just shoot the locks?" Radcliffe asked and pointed his LMG at the nearest cell. "That will fix everything. Use your Desert Eagle. That's a magnum."

"Radcliffe, these locks are made for high security facilities. There's no way a gun will break it and we don't have any explosives." Louis explained to him, although he was sure Radcliffe wasn't listening. If he was even paying attention at all. "They're even a bit similar to the ones in my Vault, so it's going to take a lot of effort to break them. Even with explosives."

Victoria spoke to get him back on track. "Can't you just plug that cord thing on your Pip-Boy into this terminal like you did in that ruined town full of Synths?"

"That was the first idea that came to mind," Louis sighed. "But I don't see a port anywhere. We're gonna have to do this the old fashion way."

Radcliffe aimed his LMG at the lock again, the people on the other side quickly backed away. "Sure you don't want me to shoot the locks? Or even the glass? It is glass after all." He smiled, eager to fire.

"Radcliffe! Do not shoot the locks, or the glass! It's heavily reinforced and probably bulletproof!" Louis warned again as he found another file. "Okay, finally some good news. I found where the piping system is!" he rose from his seat. "Vic, come with me, I'll need your help."

The two dashed down to the end of the gas chamber and took a sharp turn to the right and ran some more until they reached a room filled with pipes, pressure tanks, and another terminal system with data scrolling on the screen and quickly went up to it. Hissing noises rose from the tanks and pipes, showing that pressure was building up as the needles in the gauges turned steadily towards the green.

"So...do we start breaking the pipes or something?" Victoria asked, not sure what to make of the place.

"In this case I don't think that would be wise." Louis began looking at the valves and levers on the pipes. "We have no idea which pipes this FEV is pumping through or how much exposer could turn us. And I think it's best we don't get a whiff of it."

"Then what else can we possibly do?"

Louis went over to the nearest valve and grabbed it. "Go to the terminal and look at the screen." She did as asked and looked at it, wondering what he wanted her to do. "I'm gonna start turning these things. I want you to read the screen and tell me if there's any changes. If we're lucky, maybe we'll close the right one and give us time to free everyone."

Victoria blinked nervously and looked down at the screen. "Uh, but I..."

"Okay, I turned it. Any changes?"

She curled her fingers as her fists trembled and even looked away from him. "I don't..."

Louis looked at her with a raised brow. "What's it saying? We gotta hurry if we're gonna-"

"I can't read!" She blurted out, the words echoed in the room and seemed to make everything go silent for an awkward moment. Victoria eyed the screen with a look of shame that Louis had never seen before. "I...I never learned how to read before Jeremiah and his father enslaved my entire village. My parents were starting to, but I forgot it all after so long."

Louis let go of the valve and approached her, forgetting they were running out of time. "You...could have just told me."

"I know..." Victoria looked away from his eyes. "I just...I don't know...felt stupid, I can't even help with something as simple as this."

"Hey, don't say that." Louis reached a comforting hand out to her. "It's not your fault. We'll just find another way, that's all."

Radcliffe ran into the room and took a quick breath before speaking. "Guys, what's going on here? The people are starting to get restless. They might even start fighting. Believe me, I've been in shit like that before. Minus being held captive by Super Mutants." He pointed back with his thumb.

"We hit a bit of a snag." Answered Louis. "Radcliffe, by any chance...do you know how to read?"

The Raider responded with a rough chortle. "Read? No. I never had need for that. What good's readin' when there's people and freaks out to kill you? Can't kill with words."

"Okay, new plan. Again." Louis grumbled and turned away from him. "We just have to find another way yet again."

"Why don't Radcliffe and me turn the valves and you watch the terminal?" Victoria suggested. "We can at least do that!"

"No, nice suggestion, but that won't work." Louis sighed, wishing it was that simple. "All the valves and levers have writing on them too. And you can't just turn and pull these things. Trust me, my Vault has far more sophisticated piping system than this. From water to gas and recycled air, mess around with the air ducts and piping system and things will go bad. Whoever that man is, he has this place set up just the way he wants it. For all we know he's got countermeasures against any possible sabotage."

"Dammit," Victoria cursed. "We should have brought Inez."

Radcliffe held his hand up. "Again, I suggest shooting the locks."

"And again, not going to work!" Louis placed his hands at his hips and began to pace. Thinking and muttering to himself until his head began to hurt. "The locks are magnetically sealed, made for high security. The only way to open them is either by the terminal or a key. Which I doubt is lying around here."

"Are those the only ways to open them?" Radcliffe asked him. "Can't you just hack the terminal?"

"There's no data port on any of them or Louis would have plugged in already." Victoria said to him, to which Radcliffe responded with a confused frown. "His Pip-Boy has a cord that can plug into terminals and give him control over it. And as I said, none of the terminals have one!"

An idea suddenly came to Louis, along with a smile on his face. "Vic, you're a genius!"

"I...am?" She asked.

"She is?" Radcliffe said, which earned him a punch to the arm.

"It's like you said, Victoria. I need to plug my Pip-Boy in and override the locks!"

"But you said there's no ports for your Pip-Boy's cable." She reminded him in confusion.

Louis looked at the device around his wrist. "Which is why I'll have to make one..."

()()()()()()()()()

The echoes of gunfire drew the Super Mutant and Brotherhood man towards it. Once they came into the light of the threshold, a battlefield laid before them. The remaining Super Mutants and settlers were at a standstill, yet as Ezrah could tell just from looking, his people were quickly running out of ammo because of their less frequent return fire and several others lying down thanks to their wounds.

"They won't last much longer! Once they run out, the Super Mutants will have no reason not to charge!" Ezrah said to him, pushing aside the many questions he was thinking right now.

Wayland looked to them and spotted several of his friends with the settlers. "Some of my group isn't here! They must have gone to free the humans!"

Ezrah moved his laser rifle to the side and stood himself beside Wayland. "Stay close to me. We're crossing the room to them. I'll shield you from the bullets."

Before Wayland could respond, Ezrah started running and gave him a light shove to his shoulder to run. Bullets bounced right his armor, barely noticing the hits as he returned fire. Four Super Mutants fell after a few laser bolts burned through their chests once Ezrah and Wayland reached the other end of the room. Wayland was the first to leap over and ducked down, followed by Ezrah as he kneeled to stop the ricochets off his armor.

He looked over and spotted the two they left back in the settlement. "Doug and Inez? What are you guys doing here?"

"Special delivery, just for you!" Doug pointed to the Gatling laser laying on the floor.

For the first time in months, Ezrah smiled happily. "You got it working again? It's been so long."

"Well, you can thank Inez for that. I just sat down a lot." Doug replied.

"If you really want to thank me," Inez reached over and pulled it across the floor. "Give it a test run."

Wayland looked for his weapons and found them lying nearby. He grinned a little and reached his big hand out and grabbed the ammo box backpack of the Avenger minigun. "Let me help you. We'll take them all out." He threw the straps on and secured the ammo box on his back. It felt cold against his bare skin yet still light to him.

Ezrah lifted the Gatling laser and flipped the cap cover off the firing button. The weapon made a charging noise as the rotating barrels on the inside spun around. "Alright, we'll end this for good. Do you know who the leader is? If we take it out, defeating them will become much more easy."

Wayland poked his big head up and looked at each remaining Super Mutant yet didn't their leader. "Demon isn't here! And neither is Splitter, that one has an axe for an arm. I don't know why they aren't leading the fight!"

"We'll worry about that later." Ezrah stood up and was greeted by a hail of stray bullets hitting his armor. "Let's finish this."

Wayland stood up behind him, using the massive power armor as a shield and holding the minigun as the barrels began to spin. But at the other end of the long room where the Super Mutants collected, their leader and its second in command were coming to the battle down a hall and keeping ahead of something. Above their heads the lights swung as the hall shook with the sound of heavy thudding, along with the clanking of chains and an object being dragged on the floor.