Chapter 20, Something Under the Surface

I opened my eyes to the ceiling fan not spinning. That's Strange. I left the fan on last night. I lifted my head up and saw a piece of paper on the bed next to me, folded. I turned on my night stand light and unfolded the paper.

Evan,

I need to spend today figuring out how to organize this. There is so much to explain and so many details I need to piece together. Also, I want to find the twins and if they are who I think they are, they will know how to find me. Please don't look for me. Let me figure this out. I'll be fine. I found one of these devices yesterday that turns you invisible in one of the drawers outside. I'll stay out of sight and if I need it, I'll use it.

P.S. I'll give you their names to help ease your mind. Their names are Robert Lutece and Rosalind Lutece. And no they are not siblings. They are something else.

I jumped up out of bed. SHE LEFT? WHAT? WHY?

I got out of bed and went to her room. I opened the door and saw that her bed was made, but her bag was gone. Great. When did she leave?

I quickly went to the kitchen and saw one of the cupboards was open. Upon inspection, I saw that some of the MRE's were gone. At least she took food and supplies. But where could she have gone? I don't care if she said to not look for her. This is the Mojave Wasteland. So much can happen and I couldn't live with myself if she got hurt or worse died for the second or third time or whatever amount it is. We could have talked about this and at least I could know where she is staying to help piece this together.

I sat down at the dinner table. First things first, I need to eat something. Then I'm gonna get Victor and the Securition's to look for her or at least keep an eye on her. Maybe even find out when she left and try to narrow it down.

I grabbed what Elizabeth had left for me from last night and uncovered it. It looked like it was just some cooked Brahmin meat and eggs. I put it in the microwave, got myself a plate, and started digging in. I didn't realize how hungry I was as I ate the entire thing so quickly.

I then went back into my room and got my clothes and armor on. I grabbed my bag, weapons, and bolted to the elevator. I pressed the button to take me to the Casino floor wasting no time.

I can't lose her. In the last four years, she is the only person I have ever cared about. I can't lose her like I lost my father, Amata, and everyone from Vault 101. I just can't. For this first time since I lost my father, I feel Elizabeth is the only person I can relate to and maybe trust one day. And I'll be damned if a Raider, Radscorpion, or those twins take it away from me.

The elevator doors opened and I made my way outside. I was expecting the sun to greet me, but no it was just the crack of dawn appearing and I saw Victor riding along the Strip. I wasted no time in approaching him.

"Mornin' pardner. What can I do for you," he asks.

"Victor, have you seen Elizabeth? Do you know where she went?"

"I haven't the foggiest idea. I did see her last night, but she told me she didn't want to be followed. Looked like she was in a hurry."

Great. She more than likely left after we talked and when I fell asleep. Making this even harder to narrow down as to where she went.

"Is there any way you can find her?"

"Sure can do pardner. I can have the securitrons search the Mojave. Might take some time."

"Ok you do that, I'm going to check in some other places."

I sit down on the steps, trying to bookmark some locations she could have gone.

First place to check is to call Mother Pearl and see if she's there. Then there's the Brotherhood of Steel Bunker. Maybe Veronica has seen her or Elizabeth might be there helping. Can't risk sending Victor there. They'll just blow him up. Outside of that, I don't know where else she could have gone. The Mojave Wasteland is a big place and for all I know, she's moving like we are. So narrowing this down is going to be really hard.

I pulled up the radio frequency to reach Mother Pearl.

"Mother Pearl. Are you there? This is an emergency," I speak and repeat again.

No answer. She might be sleeping. I'll try it again in a few minutes.

With how early everything is, I should spend some time looking for clues to see if I can find a lead. Checking her room first and seeing if she left something is a start.

I walked back into the Lucky 38 and took the elevator back to the Presidential Suite. I then made my way to Elizabeth's room to start investigating. Everything was packed nicely and nothing was out of place. Looks like she knows how to cover her tracks. I checked under the bed and all that was there was spare sheets, suitcases, and other miscellaneous items. I inspected the bathroom and saw she had taken her toiletries with her. Is she wanting to maybe spend the night somewhere? Could narrow it down further. She might have gone as far as Goodsprings and might stay there or somewhere near there. Then again, she doesn't know where that is and could just be roaming the Mojave for all I know. Still, it's a clue she wants to settle somewhere at some point and potentially far away.

I went into my room and sat down on the bed. Best I can do is wait for everyone else to get up and then reach out. Victor at least can get more coverage while I wait. I looked at my Pipboy's clock. It was only 7:17 A.M. So I got about 40 minutes to wait. No sense in waiting here. I'll go swing by the Brotherhood to see if there is any lead.

I got up off the bed and headed back to the elevator to take me back to the entrance. I walked out, with the sun starting to fully show that it was up like I was.

I walked across the Mojave for a bit until my Pipboy showed up at 8:20. Time to reach out to Mother Pearl.

I tuned the radio again, "Mother Pearl. Are you there? This is an emergency."

Nothing. I repeated it again, "Mother Pearl. Are you there? This is an emergency."

Silence for a moment until I heard static coming through.

"Hello. Evan, are you there? What's wrong?"

"Yes. Has Elizabeth come by?"

"No. Not to my knowledge. Why do you ask?"

"She left all of a sudden and I don't know where she went."

"Oh dear. I'll have my scouts keep an eye out for her. I'll let you know if anything comes up."

"OK. Thank you."

Great. So the Brotherhood is the only other place I can think of. I hope she is if she at least passed by and they might know what direction she is going.

With that notion, I continued to trek across the desert until I finally saw the outline of the Brotherhood of Steel Bunker in the distance. I wasted no time in walking faster, going through a hole in the fence, and approaching the steel door, surrounded by graffiti. I opened it and walked in, still met with the familiar sight of steel stairs and inclosed hallways leading me down. Once I arrived at the intercom next to the door, I pressed it.

"Is Veronica there," I asked.

"Who's asking," a man responded.

"Mr. House's representative."

He paused for a moment, "She is occupied with Elder McNamara in fixing the mess both you and your companion caused to our brotherhood."

Looks like Veronica is having some trouble with this. I know we caused civil trouble here last time, but what was the alternative? Coming back and killing everyone?

"Was my companion here in the last couple of hours? The woman with the dark brown hair and blue eyes?"

"Not to our knowledge, no."

I let go of the button and sighed. Shit. This isn't good. This doesn't narrow this down like I was hoping. I pressed it again, "Alright. Thank you for the info. Tell Veronica I said hi."

I made my way outside and once I was outside, I saw a stone nearby and kicked it across the desert.

"Dammit," I shouted.

Victor is the only hope now at this point. Either that or giving Goodsprings a visit to see. I'll just make my way there and keep an eye out for a Securitron.

I left the bunker and continued my long trek across the desert. I really don't know where else she could be. Those are the only two places I can think of she would go back to. Outside of that, it's up in the air as to where she is. Looking at my Pipboy Clock, it was now around noon. She's been out there for at least twelve hours for all I know. She can be anywhere in the Mojave at this point. Hoover Dam could also be an option, but considering the state it was left in it probably is closed for repairs. The other option is she is in some random ditch overlooking something or just near a random rock.

I started to imagine and see images of her dead body in a ditch just being left there. I felt myself filled with dread with that notion. Please god don't let me find that. I know what will happen. It will be almost like my Dad all over again. I lifted my helmet off to wipe the tears that were starting to appear from my face.

I slapped myself, "I gotta get through this. If I break down, I won't be able to get far and find her."

I put my helmet back on and continued my walk towards Goodsprings. Eventually, I would arrive there and it was still as I left it. Just your typical small town with stores lined up the street up to the house on the hill where Doctor Mitchell was. Only thing different was there was another Seucritrion there compared to last time. I walked up the familiar steps of Prospector Saloon and entered. The place hadn't aged a day since I was last here and business was slow. Trudy was just cleaning a glass and I approached the counter. She had dark brown hair, and gray eyes with her light brown jacket covering up her pre war flower dress.

"Howdy. What can I do for you Ranger," she asked.

"Hey Trudy. It's me, Evan."

Shock filled her face very quickly, "Oh hey. I hadn't seen you in so long and was wondering where life took you. "

"Well it took me in unexpected ways. Anyway, I am in a bit of a rush, but have you seen a woman with brown hair, blue eyes, and a brown leather jacket with a backpack?"

She paused, "No. Can't say I have. I'm sorry Evan."

Shit. Dammit. Victor is the only hope in all this at this point. Cause I am out of ideas.

"Ok. Thank you. I'm going to keep looking," I responded.

I exited the Saloon and saw the Secuitron was on the street, minding his own business.

I approached it, hoping for some news, "Hi Victor. Are you there?"

"Hi Pardner. I'm sorry but I don't have an update. I'll let you know if I do," he replied.

"Ok. I'll stick around here until you have an update," I answered.

I sat on the bench outside of the Saloon. All I can do at this point is hope and pray Victor will have something for me. It's all I can do while I wait.

I leaned back and just waited. When I do find her, she has to tell me the truth. If it takes sharing my side to get her to do it, then I guess I'll have to share it. I don't feel comfortable sharing my side of the story. I just want to bury it and forget it. But if this is what it takes to know the truth on her end, I guess I'll have to give it up. I need to know who Robert and Rosalind Lutece are and if they are a threat. Her story can help me find a way to prepare against that. Sure they've been modest and don't seem like a threat, but anyone can put on a mask. And if these two have been around for a long time, then they got plenty of experience of doing that. But I won't know what to do unless Elizabeth tells me the truth.

I looked to my right, gazing at the sun already starting to settle beyond the horizon soon. Daylight is going to be gone soon and maybe it is best if I just go back, wait for Victor to just let me know if he finds her. Maybe get a search party going if she doesn't come back. Might be the best course of action at this point. I fidgeted with myself for a bit, still trying to fight the sight of seeing Elizabeth dead after everything we both went through. I know she's capable, but I feel there is more she still needs to learn to survive here. I mean I was lucky to survive when I first walked out the doors of the vault four years ago. But that's all it was. Luck. Or a guardian angel in the shadows. Elizabeth doesn't have that and I still want to teach her more to make her able to survive out there longer and for her to see more of the wasteland. The wasteland that one day, thanks to Mr. House, will start to become more civilized and more like the old world, before the bombs. A world I would love to spend with her. I hope she isn't dead. I couldn't live with myself if she is.

Eventually, I would hear Victor's wheels coming my way and approach me.

"Howdy Pardner. I bring news," he remarks.

I stood up off the bench, "What news do you have?"

"Well nothing but good news, she's alive and she's on her way to pass the Mojave Drive-In. Not too far from here. You might be able to cross paths with her."

This was wonderful news. And that isn't far at all. Maybe an hour and we can cross paths with each other..

"That's great to hear Victor. I'll head there now," I replied.

I started to run down the roads and towards the Mojave Drive-In. I kept sprinting, feeling the wind through my helmet and hearing my own breath getting faster and feeling harder as I continued down the broken road. I would then reach a fork in the road and turn left to continue further. After some time, I would see in the distance, what appeared to be a Drive-In. There was some sort of satellite crashed in the middle of the theater with the projection screen on the right. I could see Elizabeth but also two other figures. Those must be the twins. I saw there was a destroyed building to the left of them and figured it would be a perfect way to eavesdrop and hear what they were talking about.

I scurried over, keeping low to the ground and quieted my approach. I could hear Elizabeth raising her voice, but I couldn't fully make out what it was. I got closer to start to hear the rest of the conversation.

"So you knew this was all going to happen, " I hear Elizabeth say as I got behind the wall with my ear resting at the frame of the door.

"We had our doubts," the familiar voice of Rosalind says.

"But our doubts were soon corrected," Robert said.

"Why couldn't you have told me before I walked to Atlas? It would have been nice to know I had a future considering the circumstance," Elizabeth replied.

"Everything had to be planned accordingly," he replied.

"Besides, if we had, there would have been complications," Rosalind stated.

"And complications can change outcomes," he continued.

"How did you see something so far away in the future," Elizabeth asked.

"With the doors closed in reality, there was only one way forward," Rosalind remarked.

"So we watched, and saw what had to be set in motion," Robert continued.

"But why didn't you do it sooner? Did Rapture not really be discovered until centuries later," Elizabeth questioned.

"An unfortunate outcome, " Robert replied.

"We would have preferred before the bombs dropped, but a future is better than no future at all," Rosalind continued.

"To clarify, you were the ones who left the package for Evan, so Evan would find what was left of Rapture and bring me back," Elizabeth questioned again.

"A necessary tool to accomplish the future," Rosalind stated.

"And one that worked quite well," Robert retorted.

"Yes. He's proven what we've seen since he left Vault 101."

"Like you, he's had quite the journey with the same guidance and protection as before."

A tool. That's how they viewed me? And they've been spying on me and protecting me since the day I left the vault? Were they setting things in motion for things to happen? Like a guardian angel with an agenda? If that's the case, could their actions prevent some things from happening? Could they have easily prevented my dad's death at the hands of the Enclave but they didn't because certain things had to happen to get me to New Vegas?

I felt my hands clench, only getting stronger the more I thought that they had a chance to prevent my father from dying but didn't.

"Is that it? After I killed the last Comstock I was only brought back just to save Sally and correct what I did. I thought you didn't care about me," Elizabeth continued.

"You choose to come back for her," Rosalind responded.

"And we obliged to help, but we always cared," Robert replied.

"Or at least you cared more than I," Rosalind continued.

"Once the matter was solved, we looked forward and saw here."

"And once we saw what needed to be done, we did it."

I turned to look at the wall across from me, putting everything together.

They used me to achieve whatever agenda they had laid out. The two of them gave Victor the package to give to me in order for my curiosity to kick in to discover Rapture. They wanted me to bring back Elizabeth, then waited until we got back from Caesar and upgrade the Securitrons in order to make themselves known. Now, they got what they wanted. I was a pawn in all this. So the real question is what's next? Were they wanting to rule over the world and now they have an opportunity to do so because of how the world is now? Or was it for some other nefarious purpose?

I turned to look back at them, but they were already gone with Elizabeth looking down at the ground. She took a seat on the green bench, reached into her bag and started to take out a cigarette from a pack. Before she could light it and start to smoke, I stepped out behind the destroyed door frame and walked towards her. She took notice of me very quickly, took the cigarette out of her mouth and turned around to face me, with a shocked look on her face.

She stood up, "How did you find me?"

"Victor and his Securtrions. And a ton of walking around all day," I replied.

She scoffs, "I told you to wait for me."

I walked towards her, "Well you could have sat down and talked to me about this instead of leaving me a note. We could have planned this out and you could have told me specifically where you were going."

Elizabeth starts to stammer, "I didn't know where to go. I just wanted time to myself on how to explain this to you. I spent all day thinking and I...I still don't know how to explain this."

"Is it really that hard to explain? Based on the chunk of the conversation you were having with the Lutece Twins, it doesn't seem like it is," I replied, folding my arms.

Her look of shock returns to cover her face, "What did you hear?"

"Only the last few minutes," I scoffed.

She sighs and sits back down, rubbing her face.

I continued, "How complicated is this? Is it something else? Did I do something to you?"

She raises her hand to stop me, "No. Not at all. It really is extremely complicated Evan. There is so much to explain and I'm not sure where to start."

I really am having a hard time to believe her, this cannot be that complicated.

"Is that really what's keeping you from telling me the truth," I questioned.

"Well. You haven't been all that honest with me either. I only know bits and parts about your past," she retorts.

She's right. I haven't. I think it's time to tell her my story and fill in the gaps.

I sat down on the other side of the bench, "Ok. If I tell my story, would that help ease the tension?"

She paused and then nodded, putting the cigarette back on her mouth and lighting it.

I collected myself for a moment, trying to figure out how to piece my story together. I think I got a good rundown on how to tell it. I mean I don't have a choice. I just hope it's going to be enough to hear her story eventually.

I took a big deep breath, "Ok. You know I grew up in a vault, named Vault 101. I'd find out later I wasn't born in the vault but rather after my mother died from childbirth my dad was able to convince the overseer to take me and him. My dad's knowledge of science and his intelligence helped to integrate him into the vault's life and for 19 years, I lived there."

"What made you leave," Elizabeth asked.

"I didn't have a choice. I woke up on my 19th birthday to Amata telling me my dad left all of a sudden and the whole vault turned into a mess because of it. Everyone there blamed me and him for what happened. That we disrupted the peace and once my dad left, we created chaos."

"So both of you were scapegoats," she assed.

I nodded, "Yeah. Amata was the overseer's daughter and she told me she was going to buy me some time for me to escape. Eventually, I would run into her again but her dad was harassing her to find out where I was. I was stupid to intervene and I knocked the officer out. Amata ran and I tried to force her father to give me the password to get out. He wouldn't so I went into his office and found it. Then before I left the vault, Amata caught up to me and told me she was going to stay behind and try to figure this out, while I went out and found my father."

Elizabeth takes another puff from the cigarette, "What was it like, leaving the vault for the first time?"

"It felt so…different. I had never felt real sunlight on me and the first thing I saw was the ravaged landscape of an old town called Springvale. Or what was left of it," I answered.

"That must have been surreal," she replied.

"Yeah it was. Anyway, after a long time, I finally was able to reunite with my father and he restarted Project Purity."

Elizabeth takes another puff, "What was that?"

"The idea was to bring clean water to D.C. and hopefully one day to the rest of the world. A way to get things back up and running and help bring the world back to how it was one day."

She smiles, "Sounds like a great idea."

Her smile then fades quickly, "But with you here, I'm assuming something went wrong."

I sighed, "Yeah. Not with Project Purity. It still became a success. But my father didn't live to see it. We were on the final touches of it until the Enclave showed up."

Elizabeth puffs again, "Who is the Enclave? I saw mentions of it in my reading of the Brotherhood."

"Remnants of the old U.S, but not how they should be at least what my father told me. Now they are more dictators and want to rule with an extremely loose version of the constitution."

Elizabeth gives me a confirming look, "Huh. So, what happened to your father?"

Here it comes. Reletting the events of how he died.

"Well. We were putting the final touches and they showed up to take over. Prick named Colonel Autumn took over and gunned down one of the scientists to make my father do what he asked. My dad disabled the purifier, but caused a radiation leak to take out the Colonel and his men. He had a radiation suit on and he assumed it might give him an advantage, but it wasn't enough. He succumbed to it while I was behind the glass, unable to do anything."

Elizabeth's face of shock returns once more, this time more mortified, "Oh my god Evan. I'm…I'm so sorry."

She reached out her hand for me to hold it. I accepted her offer and held it.

"Thank you," I replied, subtly trying to fight back tears.

"That day still haunts me. Not as much as before, but still does," I stated.

"That night you had a nightmare and I comforted you, that was reliving the moment your dad died, wasn't it," she questioned.

"Yes. It was."

She started to wipe a tear that appeared on her face, then motioned me to continue.

I let go of her hand, "After that, we ran and eventually we went to the Citadel where the Brotherhood was held up. They offered to help take back the purifier and push the Enclave out. To which we did after acquiring the G.E.C.K which was the missing piece we needed to finally get Project Purity working. The G.E.C.K was a device that allowed terraforming and bringing back the wasteland back to what it was before the bombs had dropped."

"Wow. Do you know if there are others," she requested.

I shook my head, "No. We only knew of one. I had acquired the G.E.C.K but the Enclave got to me first and took it. I was able to escape from Raven Rock where I was held up. I made the President self-destruct the entire place through making him contradict himself. Even after all this time, it still is pretty funny how he succumbed to his own flaw in logic."

Elizabeth cracked a smile, finishing up the last of her cigarette.

"Anyway, I was able to escape with the help of Fawkes, an old friend of mine who was a super mutant who helped me get the G.E.C.K. He was extremely useful and he would be the one who would be able to get back into the chamber and fix the purifier. Once he did, the only thing I remember was a giant white flash and passing out. Two weeks later, I woke up to Elder Lyons next to me, relieved I had recovered. Which gave hope his daughter, Sarah, would wake up soon as she was there in the same room as me when the white flash went off."

"Did she ever wake up," she inquired.

"I don't know. Elder Lyons wanted me to stay and help, but I wanted to leave. With the dust settled and my father gone, I just wanted to leave D.C. for good. I didn't have a plan initially, but I didn't want Dogmeat or Fawkes coming with me. "

Elizabeth gave me a puzzled look, "Dogmeat?"

"Oh yeah. I had a dog I found at a junkyard before. I went back to that junkyard and saw that the mobile truck I found him at was still there. But some raiders were fixing up and looking to use it. We took them all out and once I had seen that everything was good for travel, I told Fawkes to take care of Dogmeat and stay behind. He didn't want me to, but I wanted to go alone. I just wanted to be alone and for three years, I just traveled around alone."

"Why did you settle in New Vegas," she asked.

"I found a job at the Courier office and the rest is history. I wasn't planning on staying but after the last few weeks, it looks like I am."

"Looks like you have had quite the journey," she responded.

Yeah it has been. In a way though, it felt nice to finally tell someone my story and what I went through. Feels like I took a load off my shoulders.

I sighed, "Yeah. But enough about me. Your turn."

Elizabeth started fidgeting with her right pinky again, "Well I still don't know where to start."

"Ok lets start with something that has been on my mind," I stated, "Did you know from the start you were coming back from the dead?"

"No, I never knew this was all setup until now," she replied.

"Ok, does that give you any ideas on where to start?" I asked.

She paused and turned away from me, still thinking of where to go. Finally she turned back to face me.

"You know what. I think I'll just start from the beginning," she states.