The next day he left to scout out Concord. He looked around Sanctuary Hills one more time and found some old clothes that fit over the vault suit, which was not very subtle. It was hard to find clothes large enough to go over his shoulders as he was a very large man. He found an old brown duster in one of his neighbors homes along with a dark knit cap.
As he was walking by the old Red Rocket stop just outside of Sanctuary Hills he heard a bark. He unslung his rifle and took a knee, looking for the source of the noise. The bark sounded again, closer. It wasn't an angry or warning bark so Beorn stood up, his rifle at port, and saw a powerfully built German Shepherd trotting up the hill from the Truck stop. It's tongue lolled to one side in a dog version of a grin, acting like nothing in this scene was out of place.
Beorn chuckled a bit as the dog approached and took a knee, placing his rifle over the other. He put out his hand just like he had before the vault and waited as the dog sniffed it. It gave him a lick or two and Beorn rubbed the dog behind the ears, "What are you doing out here, boy?"
The dog looked at him and gave a small woof.
"Lost too?"
At this the dog looked at him, he could swear, with incredulity and was silent for a moment. Beorn wasn't totally sure what to think of that. He had known lots of smart dogs, this one certainly looked intelligent and well cared for. Maybe it understood him, maybe not. He shrugged.
"You may not be lost, but I am a bit. I'm looking for some people. Have you seen anyone else today?"
The dog barked again and took a few steps toward the road.
"Yes? Take me to them." Beorn felt he could trust this dog, though he wasn't sure how hopeful he should be that he would find Nora's killer. He stood and the dog took a few bounds down the road before turning to wait expectantly. No sooner did he step off to follow the dog when he saw the hackles raise on the back of the dog's neck while it started to growl. Looking at a point on the ground in front of it. Beorn instinctively raised the rifle to his shoulder and swept it left and right, looking for danger.
There was a crunch as an ugly pink, furless creature popped out of the ground toward the dog. Several other crunches happened in rapid succession, accompanied by several other of the hairless critters. One of which caught a hold on Beorn's duster and started to yank. He swung with the butt of his rifle to knock the beast away, then pulled his sidearm and put three rounds into it in rapid succession. The creature twitched a bit, but then lay still. A snarling announced another of the beasts leaping at him. He used the butt of the pistol this time to hit it in the mouth and dodged to the side. It fetid breath assaulting his nostrils and the jagged claws attempting to find purchase in the sleeve if his duster. It knocked the rifle from his hand, but he quickly fired several more shots from his sidearm into it as it hit the ground and lay still.
Beorn looked around and saw the dog finishing off another of the beasts, but did not see any more. He carefully knelt, picked up his rifle, and slung it over his shoulder. No other creatures erupted from the ground and the dog was looking at him expectantly again. Beorn wasn't sure if the meat from these creatures would prove poisonous so he left them for the time being and started to follow the dog.
A few minutes, and a giant mosquito, later they were walking down a street in Concord. He heard the sharp report of gun fire, rapid and high caliber. Then the sound of an overpowered laser rifle, along with shouting. The dog growled and Beorn brought the rifle back to his shoulder. He moved quickly to the side of the building and glanced out.
People dressed in scraps of metal, tires, leather, and whatever else they could get their hands on were firing up at something. They weren't paying attention to him for now so he took a few more seconds to take it in. They were not professional soldiers. No trigger discipline and their movements seemed uncoordinated. As he watched he saw one of them turn to ash, as the sound of the overpowered laser rifle echoed along the street. The others didn't flinch, which surprised him at first, until he saw the telltale signs of people who were drugged out of their minds. These were berserkers. The dog growled and Beorn made a decision.
He took a bead on the nearest of the three he could see and fired. His bullet exploded out of the person's face as he chambered a second round. He fired at number two, which had just turned to look at his fallen comrade. The bullet took him right through the eye. The third was still not paying attention when Beorn's third shot killed him as well. There was still firing further down the street so Beorn moved across to another building and looked around the corner. The laser rifle sounded again with its deep humming buzz and he saw another of the berserkers turn to ash.
A man crouched in cover on the balcony on the top floor of the old museum of freedom in a duster and old militia style cap. Three more of the berserkers continued to fire up at him. Beorn took aim and fired at one of them. He hit dead center of mass and dropped the man. He chambered the last round in this mag, took aim, and missed when he suddenly had to duck behind cover. The other two had seen him and turned their attention from the man on the balcony. Rapid fire splattered and thunked against the rusty old truck he hid behind. The laser rifle sang out again. Beorn risked a look around the front of the truck and saw the last berserker running straight for his position firing at random. A zing and a sharp pain in his ear told him one of those bullets had almost gotten him. He ducked quickly back into cover and pulled his pistol. The bullets stopped flying as the enemy's weapon ran out of ammo. He stood and saw the woman on the other side of the truck, still running madly as she drew a machete from her belt. He fired three rounds center of mass and she dropped. One more round to the head and she lay still.
"Quick! Over here!" The man on the balcony shouted. "There are civilians inside, the raiders are almost through the door! Help us!"
Beorn didn't see another option so he ran to the door of the museum and kicked it in. A raider looked down at him from the walkway above and started to fire. Beorn returned fire and the man ducked to avoid it. A flaming bottle was hurled over the barricade the raider was hiding behind. Beorn jumped to the side as the contents exploded in a great fireball in the entrance. He pulled out his rifle again and looked in the door. Bullets pelted the decaying wood almost as soon as he looked. He ducked back. He was pinned down out here. With the doors open he wondered if he might get a shot from further back. He ran across the street again and took cover behind some sandbags.
He could see the raider watching the doorway but not further down the street, perfect. He took aim over the sandbag and fired. The raider whipped backwards as the bullet tore through his skull. The ones inside were maybe a little less hopped up on drugs Beorn thought. He carefully approached the door again. He could still hear firing inside and the sound of someone beating on a door.
He took the risks and ducked inside. No one was watching him. He saw a corridor to the right, pulled his pistol and ran in. He backed up against each corner and carefully checked before moving on as quickly as he could. The motion sensors still worked, causing Beorn to jump a little as they told the story of the revolution. He maneuvered through the next two rooms. When he glanced around the third doorway he saw another raider with her back to him. He fired three more shots center of mass and she dropped. He checked to make sure she was dead as he moved past and made his way up the stairs. He found a molotov cocktail on her body and removed it. Another raider had his back to Beorn on the third floor. He pulled out his rifle and put a bullet through the raider's brain Before continuing up the stairs.
He could see that the other ways up were collapsed so he took the corridor on his right and carefully moved down it. He stopped when he heard voices around the corner.
"We should just get out of here man. I don't know what Gristle was thinking made this group special, but they are proving a pain in the ass!"
Beorn lit the molotov with an old flip lighter he had found earlier and tossed it around the corner.
"Arreagh!"
"What the hell!"
He followed the confusion with his pistol out, killing the two men on the other side and proceeded up the stairs. As he got to the top he could hear voices through a hole in the wall.
"We're gonna go deal with this problem then we'll be back for you! You hear!"
Footsteps followed and the door in front of Beorn opened. He threw his exceptionally large frame against it as the raider came through. The man's arms were caught and the sickening sound of bones breaking was followed by a scream of agony. A second raider burst through a door further down the hall and fired at Beorn. He returned fire and dropped the raider. The last one was laying on the floor in agony. His arms were twisted in unnatural shapes and bones jutted from the skin of his forearms. Beorn kicked the man in the head to ensure he was unconscious and dragged his body with him to the door. A ringing silence accompanied the end of the combat. Beorn banged on the door.
"It's me. I know you don't know who that is but as long as you don't try to kill me I promise I mean you no harm."
The door opened quickly and a strange laser rifle was pointed straight at Beorn's chest. The man on the duster stood there and took in Beorn, who was at least a head and a bit taller than the man in the duster. Beorn had a medium sized red beard and hair stuck out just below the black knit cap he wore.His brown duster was stained with blood, his ear was bleeding something fierce. In his hand he dragged the unconscious raider. He must have been quite the sight.
The man lowered the rifle but held it at the ready. He obviously had some military training.
"I don't know who you are but your timing is impeccable." He extended a gloved hand, "Preston Garvey, commonwealth minutemen."
Beorn dropped the raider with a thump and took the proffered hand, "Beorn Stark, US Army retired."
Preston crinkled his brow and looked at him for a moment. "US Army?" He said incredulously.
"Commonwealth minutemen?" Replied Beorn, just as incredulously. "Like the revolutionary army?"
"Obviously there is a lot to explain from both sides." Preston replied. "For now though, those raiders were only a small part of a larger gang. There will be more coming. Soon. I don't know if we can hold them all off even with your help."
"We have a hostage. Will that hold any sway in a negotiation?" Beorn asked.
Preston and the man behind him both snorted. "These are raiders. They care little for their own. I doubt it will help. They will still feel they have the advantage in numbers and try to swarm us. Sturges here has an idea though." Preston turned to the man behind him who was furiously tapping away at a terminal.
He looked up at Beorn, "You are a big one. I think you'll like this idea. On top of the museum is an old crashed vertibird. Along with it is a suit of cherry t-54 power armor." Beorn couldn't suppress his smile as he saw where this was going. Sturges saw the smile, "I know, right. All we have to do is find a way to power the damn thing."
Beorn's face fell, "Without a fusion core that armor is more a death trap than a help. I've fought in that model many times up near Anchorage."
Preston looked impressed, "You seem to be just the right man for the job then. We found an old fusion core. Powering this museum. It's behind some pretty heavy security though."
Sturges said, "I've been trying to crack the code for a couple of hours now with no luck. Maybe you could give it a shot?"
"I can certainly try. I know a few tricks with these old RobCo terminals." Beorn went down to the basement and quickly used the backdoor he had learned in college to crack open the door and retrieve the fusion core. He proceeded to the roof and found the armor there. Also a holotape from Michael Daley. He remembered him from before the war. Apparently he had been stranded here after the nuke took out part of Boston. He inserted the core and entered the armor. All of the familiar locks and pistons locking into place around him. The armor adjusted slightly for his size. He flexed his fingers and did a quick systems check. Then he heard shouting from below.
He walked up to the minigun on the side of the vertibird and tore it free from the mount. He walked to the edge of the roof and saw a crowd of raiders gathering below. Across the street another raider saw him and opened fire. The bullets flying harmlessly off the heavy steel plates of the power armor. Beorn turned the minigun on the raider and blew him to tiny chunks. The other raider heard this and looked up. The minigun turned on the street and started blanketing the ground with bullets. Five of the raiders died before they even got their weapons up. There were still six more who drove behind cover. Confident in the protection of the power armor he jumped from the roof and landed in the street. Immediately the raiders all opened fire. The armor wouldn't take this forever, but the minigun started to make short work of all of the raiders.
There was a pound thump and a crash. Then something out of nightmare jumped from a hole in the ground and tore down the street. The raiders didn't even have time to react as the claws of the beast tore through them. Beorn turned the full force of the minigun on the beast. Its hide was thick and the bullets were not penetrating very well. Beorn concentrated his fore on the creature's center of mass. Hoping to punch through before he ran out of ammo. No such luck. The minigun began to click as he held down the trigger. He threw the ammo reservoir off and put the spare he'd seen in the vertibird back in. It took time though and the beast was fast.
It closed the distance on just a couple of bounds and knocked Beorn back despite the armor. He barely kept his footing and opened fire again. The beast dodged and wove, grabbed the minigun in its claws and tore it from Beorn's grasp. It was hurt and bleeding from many small wounds but it was definitely still full of fight. Beorn roared and grabbed one of the horns on the side of the beast's head with one hand and the other with his other hand. The creature grabbed Beorn round the waist and started to crush. He should hear the creak and tear of metal shearing away. He pulled with all of his might and the enhanced strength from the power armor. Breathing became difficult as the armor was crushed. A sharp pain in his shoulder told him one of the razor sharp claws had pierced the steel plates. With a final scream of primal rage he tore the horns off of the beast's face. It stumbled back, still not dead. He then took the horns and brought them down straight through its skull. The beast shuddered once and died.
The power warning beeped in his ear and an indicator on his HUD told him that the fusion core he was using was below twenty percent charge. His shoulder throbbed as he looked around. The street was eerily quiet in the aftermath of the fight. The sun was starting to set, bathing the scene in red and orange. Beorn looked at the minigun laying about twenty feet away. He could see deep scoring where the beast's claws had dug in and some pieces laying nearby from the impact. He walked over to the weapon and found that the servos in one of the legs of the power armor was catching, making him walk with a bit of a limp. He chuckled a bit at that. The minigun seemed serviceable. It definitely needed some looking after, but should work. Good old Uncle Sam, sometimes the Army got things right.
A cough behind him brought him back. The minigun was starting to spin up as he turned. He immediately let off the mechanism when he saw Preston, who had dived out of the way.
"That was an impressive displayâ " Preston seemed a little lost for words as he stood and put his hat back on. "I'm just glad you're on our side."
"And what side is that?" Responded Beorn in the mechanically filtered tones of the power armor.
"The minutemenâ " Preston hesitated. "Well, what's left of them anyway." Another halt as if searching for words, " I guess that just means us, really. We are all that's left of the commonwealth minutemen. "
"Interesting, but what interest do these raiders have in you?"
Preston looked up at the armored man. "I don't know, they're raiders. Do they need a reason? Savage chem addicts who are drunk on violence. They just want to kill folk, take their caps, and find their next fix as far as I know. The minutemen were organized to fight back against raiders and their like."
"Their like?" Beorn started, then, "What happened to the minutemen?"
"Well, that's a long story I guess." Preston replied. "The short version is that we were attacked some weeks back and have been on the run since. Slowly losing people as we went along until now. We've been looking for a place to call our own, but everywhere we turn there are ghouls or raiders killing us first." Preston took a breath and let it out loudly. "So here we are. I am truly grateful for what you did. I don't have much to give, but here, you earned this." Preston offered Beorn a small bag that jingled a bit. Beorn took it in his armored hand and opened the drawstring.
He was confused by what he saw. It looked like a nukacola bottlecap collection. As he considered Preston spoke up again, "Sorry it isn't much. It's all we can spare." He looked at the armored figure before him with some apprehension.
"Why bottle caps?" It was all Beorn could think to say.
Preston looked shocked. "I get it. It's only about a hundred caps for risking your life. What we have is what you see here. We can't offer more."
Beorn got the sense he was missing something important. He handed the caps back to Preston. "Keep your collection. I didn't really help for a reward." Beorn paused. "I could use some help myself. "
Preston made no move to take the bag back. "You earned those caps my friend. It's really not enough. Please keep them. But I will try to help you if I can."
Beorn shrugged and put the caps in a container on the power armor frame. "You and those raiders are the first people I've seen in a long time. Though it doesn't seem that long. I need help finding a murderer and kidnapper. Hopefully while the kid is still alive. Have you seen anyone else pass through here?"
"Not besides the raiders. Sorry friend. I hope you can find what you're looking for. I need to get these people to safety. Mama Murphy over there say she knows of a place where we can be safe. It's called Sanctuary Hills and it's just a bit further up the road. I have no right to ask, but if you would help us get there it would be a godsend."
Beorn shrugged and was about to talk when an old lady in a turban appeared at the doorway. She looked like a fortune teller straight out of a Grognak comic. "I know where you should go young man!" She said in a dry, airy voice.
Beorn looked at her, "Where is that?"
"The great green jewel of the commonwealth, Diamond City. It's the biggest settlement around. Go there and you may find your trail. I seen it."
"Seen it?" Beorn couldn't keep the disbelief from his voice.
"It's the sight, see. I've had it ever since I was a little girl. Can see a little of what is and some of what may be. Just gotta get the chems right, kid." Mama Murphy replied.
This was bonkers. Precognition was a fake, science fiction at best. And this woman was obviously a stoner. However, he decided to be polite. "Sorry ma'am. I don't know that that is a lot to go on. Diamond city sounds like an interesting place though. Maybe I could find some answers there." He smiled and turned back to Preston, "So you need someone to get you to Sanctuary Hills? I think this may be your lucky day. I happen to live near there...did live there before."
"Is there already a settlement there?" Preston looked a bit apprehensive.
"Not at all. For some reason there has only been an old Mr. Handy living there for the last two hundred years."
"Besides you, you mean?" Replied Preston.
"That's a long story. I may tell it to you someday. When you tell me more about these minutemen...and when I have less pressing business. I will show you how to get to Sanctuary Hills, but then I have to get back on this trail before it goes any colder." Beorn said.
"Thank you," said Preston. "Maybe our luck is turning around a bit."
The group headed back to Sanctuary. Beorn parted with them and headed back to vault 111. He wasn't quite ready to reveal his hiding place yet. He left the power armor there. Codsworth would have a look and see what he could do to fix it. Beorn then set out for Diamond City, which he found out from Preston used to be Fenway park. This was going to be interesting.
