Claws of the Wastes

by Claws of the Wastes

A talking, intelligent Deathclaw wanders the Wastes to bring closure. For himself, for the Wasteland. With a cross-country trip, spawned by the desire for vengeance, along the way. Believing that he is forever; the last of his species. This is a journey that is going to get reckless! Wandering with little of an ultimate purpose. He might just find one.

18. Direction to Perfection

Chapter 18: Direction to Perfection

I clicked away at the terminal; I focused my mind on but one thing, Sophia, was all I could think of right now. She is all I think about many times a day. I often wonder if I could have saved her, often blaming myself. It should have been me! It should have. This Wasteland didn't deserve her... I didn't deserve her. I was weak and inexperienced to see the reality of the Wasteland even then, people died for that weakness. I didn't want to be weak anymore; I don't even know if Sophia would recognize me anymore. I am much different from how I was back then. I wanted to tell Myles I was sorry for my story, for what I did, all of it. Wiping out an entire settlement of Raiders and Wastelanders alike is just.

Monstrous and I know that, but there was no hope for them, any of them. Death was a release from their torment and suffering.

The room fell silent. Myles sat in his chair, still waiting for me to open the terminal. He looked like he wanted to say something, but probably decided it was best to leave me to my thoughts. For a Munition plant, they heavily locked this terminal down, almost as if there is much more to this place than meets the eye. It's far too common for these pre-war structures and corporations to be hiding some deep, dark, nefarious secret. It makes me wonder if the bombs dropping didn't change the world but just opened the doors to make this evil more prominent.

The sun peeking through the crumbling cracks of this broken building faded. The sun was falling. Traveling at night is typically better, with fewer people traveling during this time, and more creatures wandering. I much prefer to run into a herd of wild dogs than a group of reckless raiders. People are always the worst, it doesn't matter how much these animals mutated and changed, it's humanity that set this world on fire, and most of these wasteland creatures weren't created and changed till after the bombs fell, deathclaws, however, were created before the bombs fell. Some kind of experiment to make us a sort of substitute for frontline soldiers. It wasn't till after the world was set ablaze that the Enclave injected Deathclaws with F.E.V and gave us intelligence. I very well could have been just another mindless brute among my species.

This terminal was secure. I tried all the usual pompous, corporate slang and slander for the typical workers. Those who have worked and kept the company alive are not as important as the fat, unappreciative CEO. "I can't seem to crack this. It's almost as if it doesn't have a password and it's all a ploy."

Myles pondered for a moment before standing up from the nearly crumbling chair, "Let me look"

We swapped places, and I took a test to sit on the chair lightly before applying all my weight. I moved it directly in front of the desk and left enough room to cross my legs. I watched Myles as he clicked away at those keys. "Isn't that uncomfortable?" He asked." I never enjoyed crossing my legs personally."

I shook my head. "Not at all, and there isn't enough room for me to stretch them out. I have to make do with what little space I have. Too bad they don't make Deathclaw-size chairs, huh?"

He laughed, "If only, next, all we need are deathclaw size meals, clothes, and beds next."

"Clothes are not so much a necessity unless I want to go hiding among people. I have a robe for that, after all."

He continued to type away at the computer. "I understand it, don't get me wrong here, but I know some people who might think you are lacking modesty, honestly. I just think it would be strange for you to walk around in pants, for example."

"Definitely shouldn't apply human values to me. Just because I can talk and to tell you the truth, I don't like the idea of pants. It would be unnatural. Back in the vault, we had some uniforms, but that was usually consistent with something over the shoulder or a wristband. Showed position or importance. As you know, we are reptiles. We don't have to worry about covering up for modesty's sake. I think people are just perverts and that is why it bothers them so much. Or apply normal human values to a non-human being and it's a bit, just a bit, annoying."

Myles held his mouth, trying not to burst out laughing. "You know, that makes sense. You aren't exposing yourself to the world like I would understand people then, but like you can't see anything! We might well consider it the same skin and hide that is on your arm, see we took basic anatomy lessons in the Brotherhood as you know. Maybe that's why no one has said anything? Also, I can't get this damn thing. I'll let you try again."

We swapped places once more and got ourselves situated once more. "Well, thank you for understanding, and if you were wondering, no I don't feel exposed at all, it's not a worry of mine, scales make a great cover-up for anything. But enough of that for now. Give me that Holotape you found. Maybe that will answer our questions with this terminal."

Myles took the Holotape out of his pocket before me, and set it down on the desk, I placed it into the terminal and the screen went black completely before booting back up. We looked at each other with disappointment and wondered what could happen. Then we were in and the top of the screen read the following.

Password accepted, welcome Coronal Glavin. If you aren't the Coronal, report to him immediately, tell him how you got here, and accept your punishments.

"Colonel Glavin? This is a Munition Factory, not a damn military base. Any idea who this would be, Myles?"

He gestured for me to move over and browsed through the terminal. He looked through multiple files and came back with nothing. "This isn't a genuine Munition Factory. I don't recognize any of these names and I'm leaning to believe this is pre-war?"

I stood up and went behind him so he wouldn't have to move over again. I leaned behind him and took control of the keys before finding an auto tape within the Holotape. There was one file under this section and decided might as well see what was on it.

"To whoever finds this tape *deep wheezing* This is my last message. My name is Daniel, and this is my last chance to stop them. I don't have time to go over everything, tortured me, and leave me to bleed out in this fake place surrounded by Mutants they made... we made. My time is over and done, but they didn't find this tape. I hope they don't find this tape. Anyone please for the sake of the Wasteland and everyone in it you NEED to, HAVE TO…*Long pause followed by an unsettling groan of pain* to.. stop them, the Enclave is using this Munition Plant as a cover-up, they are making Super Mutants here, kidnapping wastelanders, going to settlements and getting a body count and building an army to wipe out everything and start this hellscape anew. I helped them... I killed people for them, made Mutants for them and they decided I wasn't needed anymore. They are going to take over this place, this entire nation, they will have the numbers to take the Brotherhood and then all will be lost….. whoever you are taking this to, the Brotherhood don't let my loss be the end...and please if you ever find someone named Blair and Jack in Revit City, they are my wife and boy tell them I am so….*faintest sound of crying and rustling*...so sorry and I love them very much. I threw them away to save them and now...now I don't even know if they are okay...I am going to die here, there is a secret tab in the terminal upstairs, it's under congressional files, 6th option it opens a hidden elevator next to the ammo pressers, go down there and dump the vats of F.E.V end their evil here and maybe, just maybe it will set them back enough to….*Deep sigh with a crashing thud, CLICK*"

We both nearly said in unison."Holy shit!" We both just stared at the black-green screen for a moment before I took the keys and navigated to the "Congressional Files" section. Myles paused for a moment before reaching for my arm and attempting to pull me back.

"John, what the hell are you doing?! We need to get the fuck out of here and tell Maxson immediately! This is too much for us both to handle and god only knows what can be down there! We need to leave."

I snorted before pulling my arm back out of his grasp. "Myles, did you not hear they are making Mutants with a vat of F.E.V? Did you hear that? Fucking F.E.V! I cannot leave this place without trying to stop this. I'm done walking away from threats. Maxson won't do a damn thing, especially given that according to his scribes they looked through everything here. I am taking my scaly ass down there, with or without. Make your mind up."

I navigated the action down to the 6th option and pressed it. Much to my surprise, I heard something shift below us and saw through the upper window right by the ammo press, just like he said. It was a massive metal door that was ingrained into the wall, a perfect indent so you wouldn't even know it was here, smooth and secret, a perfect setup for an evil corporation.

I didn't take a slight second of hesitation as I charged down the ramp, my talons clanging against the metal walkway as Myles struggled to keep up with me. I got right by the hidden entrance and stopped, a chill went down my spine, something was aggressively telling me to turn back now, I peeked through the doorway and saw a brightly lit metal hallway with a see-through sliding door at the end opening into a large open space that went down, a flight of steps, no turrets and no patrol, what if this place was abandoned?

"John, what is the holdup?" Myles asked, resting on the other side of the wall adjacent to me. All I did was hold a hand up with only my index claw and place it against my mouth. I'm glad he gave me a nod and understood I was listening for anything.

I paused for what felt like an eternity. It was silent... too silent. I took a chance and quickly turned into the hallway, gently bending myself down to fit through the doorway, and trotted down the hallway, Myles behind me, keeping his eyes peeled, ready for anything. The glass door was stuck, or locked, probably both, so I stuck a claw through it and forced it open. This was surprising, with no sort of alarm or struggle.

I turned my head to my right to see Myles trailing behind me. Enough distance in case of an attack so I can fall back if needed, as well as him being able to cover our rear. We reached the bottom of the flight of steps and ended in an underground facility, there were two massive green vats of green bubbling fluid l, what I can only was F.E.V, it had cranes and others used to pick objects and I could only imagine people to dip them in these vats, so it was true.

The stairs led to a catwalk right above these vats, there was an upper level with a straight path to another room connected to the catwalk and below in between the two vats of F.E.V it was a bottom floor with glowing green water, it was about ankle-high to me.

I backed up the steps and addressed Myles, "We should find the control for these vats and dump them and get out. The rad count here must be insane for you, so let's be quick, efficient, and get the hell out."

Myles gave me a nod. "If the rads get too bad, I will let you know. Don't you worry, and yeah, don't fall in the vat, I know."

We both reached the bottom of the steps onto the catwalk. It was then the upper door had opened. Two soldiers in X-01 power armor bearing the Enclave symbol on their shoulder came out. They held Gatling Lasers and looked intimidating as all hell. They also saw us. I heard the powering up of their Lasers and panicked, but I still swiped up Myles and charged ourselves back up the steps.

He didn't even protest, and I set him down at the end of the hall by hiding down and had him go first. He went through and I heard clanging behind me; I turned around and saw them both, guns at the ready and aimed at me, I spread my arms to my sides, raised ready in my respect to tear through their power armor, but it was all a ploy and I jumped back and ended back at the other side of the door and pushed the nearest cabinet to block the entrance.

"Myles, go outside and find a place to hide or leave. I'll hold them off and we need to get that Holotape!" I held the shelf and braced myself against it.

"John, no, no! I am not leaving here, especially not with the fucking Enclave! We both leave here alive or neither of us. Now come on!"

I turned to him and gave him a faint smile. "All the more reason you need to get out of here yourself. You have a life, you have a future. For all, we know there are more than those two on the way, and the more we argue the more we both will die, don't worry I will take as many as I can, go back to the Brotherhood, and live a full life."

He gave an angry groan before taking out the Holotape and hiding it within the machinery of the ammo presser before joining me and holding the shelf against the wall. "Oh no, you don't, you bastard! You don't get to just sacrifice yourself for me, not here and not now. I would never forgive myself if I left you here. Cut that future bullshit. If you don't get out of here, neither of us has a future now. Let's kick these Enclave asses!"

We held the wall, and the pounding got more and more aggressive before the wall burst open. The shelf went flying with Myles and I got knocked down on my back. I struggled to get back up; A massive suit of armor pinned me. They grabbed around my neck and hoisted me up from the ground till I was completely off the ground. My tail wasn't even touching the floor anymore, either. They held me high enough to where they had to look up at me.

I could see the soldiers take Myles and shock him with a baton so much that he passed out, and they carried him back to the secret door. I tried to swipe at the one holding me, let myself free, but I couldn't... I couldn't reach him or get enough leverage to slash his arm from my throat.

He just laughed, a deep rumbling robotic laughing "Pathetic, you are supposed to be the most dangerous creature in the Wasteland?"

Emphasis on his saying of Wasteland, slamming me into the ground. It was such a force the concrete floor cracked below me. I think I felt my entire being crumble, but I fought for us both! He turned around with his hands on his hips and did a half spin, turning his back to me as I quickly stood up. I felt everything crack and my right leg was hard to stand on, a leading limb I rose back against, ready to fight once more. He cracked his knuckles from within his armor and turned back around before ramming into me. I jumped out of the way and landed hard on my right leg, causing me to hiss in pain. It wasn't broken, but it was pretty damn close.

I ignored the pain and gave him a wide upward swipe before he jumped back and taunted me. "Too slow." This bastard was toying with me. I was breathing heavily out of rage. He was getting to me. That's what he wants to do! Time is wasting, Myles is in trouble. I have to kill this fucker, and fast.

I went to charge at him before stopping mid-charge and circled back; I ended up at his side, which he was ready for, and pushed an arm out and clonked me right in the face, and then bashed me across the chest, pushing me back into the floor.

He stood above me and placed a foot on my chest before picking me back up and slamming me against the brick wall of the factory, and then, again and again, I can't get him to let me go, he beat me against the wall repeatedly before grabbing me by the horns with his other hand and slammed my head against the wall multiple times till I saw red, everything went blurry as he dropped me like a useless sack the pain was writhing through every fiber of my being, he finally used his knee against my skull, sealing the deal and knocking me unconscious, a broken bloody mess.

"What about the man?" asked the scientist

"Easy, we will just dip his ass and make him another mindless mutant."

"The deathclaw, Coronal? Your plan with him?"

"Going to see if he's a long-lost friend, few albinos these days, and those eyes were familiar"

"What if he isn't?"

"Then we dip him and see what happens. Fucking mental retard! Why are you asking so many questions? You know I hate it when people do that-" he threateningly said.

"Just want to follow the plan accordingly, sir. May I remind you that the last deathclaw we dipped failed to function at all?"

"All the more fun to torture these monsters. Let them wake before we dump them in the F.E.V. I want to hear that terrifying roar."

"Of course, Coronal, anything for you, sir."

I heard the conversation in my semi-unconscious state. It was all blackness. I had no sense of time or even what was around me. I feel like I was drugged and even sedated, keeping me down longer. I thought I had woken up plenty of times but was forced back to sleep shortly after before I woke up coherently enough to process what was around me.

My eyes slowly shot open. I wasn't even sure if it was the reality I was seeing or another drug-inducing sleep. Once my eyes had adjusted and the feeling returned to me, I knew I was awake. Finally! But my whole body hurt and once I came to my senses, I realized where I was. That room with the two vats of F.E.V and they had me tied by the wrist on one crane. Here I was, suspended above the glowing pool of water below the catwalk. They filled it with Ghouls and bloated creatures vaguely resembling a human. Their infected sores and boils leaked radioactive puss as they moved around below me, hissing and growling. There were about 20 down there.

Then I started to worry. Where was Myles? I turned myself to each side and saw him, suspended like I was, but he was safe and not dipped. They must have sedated him heavily, too. I ended up walking up before him. Maybe I can buy us some time to come up with a plan?

Lucky for me, they tied me up high enough to when my drooping tail wasn't in reach of the ghouls. I attempted to use my body weight to swing myself back and forth, but I didn't even budge. Whatever they got me tied with, it's a hell of a thing. I just hung there for what felt like an eternity. I decided not to escape. Even if I got out, I wouldn't have the strength to fight, let alone get us both out. I was so relieved to see Myles breathing. His eyes were closed, but he was okay and his wounds looked minimal.

This was my fault. I met my quest for vengeance with both our captures. How long have we been out? All I know is that I was going to get Myles out of here, even if it kills me.

Hung in silence with only wet steps and raspy growls of the ghouls below to keep me company. I took this time to scour the room. There was the upper floor which they came from before, assuming they would come from there again. I rested my eyes a moment, then I hear a loud *Slam* and it made me jump and open my eyes. There he was, the same one who slammed me against that wall. He came down with a scrawny-looking scientist with a clipboard. He was shaking as he followed the massive brute down the ramp and they arrived at me and Myles.

The scientist gave an audible gulp as the soldier scoffed at Myles and me, addressing us both. "I hope you two enjoyed your beauty sleep because the only time you will be sleeping. After this will be in the grave."

He snapped his metal hands in front of Myles who didn't respond as... he was still passed out; he gave him a rough shove and turned to me, strolling down the Catwalk with his arms behind his back, slowly looking at me the whole time. I could feel the disgusting gaze shooting through the power armor helmet.

He stood in front of me, for a long, long time, just staring and I stared back, said nothing at all, no reason for him to think that I was anything more than a normal deathclaw with an odd color.

The scientist finally spoke up. "Excuse me Coronal, I don't mean to dispose of your theory but..it seems this deathclaw doesn't speak and the idea of talking lizards just sounds ridiculous."

He turned around to the scientist, removing his helmet before holding on to his side. "No, these monsters still exist, even though I wiped them all out decades ago. I know this one anywhere. He is the one who got it. Away... He is the one who killed my brother." He then turned back to me and revealed his scarred face. "Isn't that right?"

It was him! The fucker who killed my entire Vault, someone who laughed maniacally as he gunned down my mother in front of me.. this caused me to snap instantly any sort of sorry excuse of energy I had was gone, all I felt was rage and sorrow, all these years of searching for this murderer and here he was in front of me while I was hung up and powerless!

"YOU! MURDERED MY VAULT, KILLED MY MOTHER. I WILL FUCKING TEAR YOU APART, THERE. WILL. BE. NOTHING. LEFT!" I shouted while attempting to swing at him, to no avail. My body felt pain, but the rage overcame that pain.

His face turned from cocky to arrogant, the grin he had was the most shit-eating, entitled, overconfident look. He rubbed the head of the scientist aggressively, messing up their hair before saying, "See? What should I tell you? Lizard boy talks. Tell me how a pathetic little runt like you survived the Wasteland for so long?"

My breathing turned to growl. I never felt such a nova inside of me. I could just scream. "I don't owe you the slightest explanation for anything!"

He grunted displeasure before going over to Myles. "Yeah? Then perhaps your friend would like to answer?" And then punched him. "Every second you waste, the more I hurt him. Now talk!"

I had to give in, I was in no position to argue or even fight it, "Okay, fine after I left the vault I ran into a town, met a woman, and lived there for a while before leaving to come to the capital Wasteland and here I am, that fucking good enough you, fucker?"

He approached me and went right in my face."The vault, did you bury everyone?!"

I narrowed my eyes, glaring at his very existence. "You bet your sorry ass I did! Did I foil your plans? Aw, doesn't that blow your plan of world domination out of the water, also your brother had a great time gurgling on his blood. Don't you remember finding his body? Almost as useless as you are!"

He just smacked me across the face twice before punching me in the chest. The metal clang of his armor hit my rips, and I felt it as it echoed throughout my body. He pulled back, "I will give you as many punches as days I've missed him! As much pain as I can inflict upon you, I will break you down and make you beg for death and you never experience that sweet release!"

I spit out a glob of blood before continuing, "Yeah? Well, you only hit me three times so far. Can't have missed his sorry excuse for a soldier for long, then." I looked up at his red angry expression directly in his eyes. "Do your fucking worst!"

He then beat on me for the next 5 minutes before he flicked his wrist and my blood fell upon the catwalk as it dripped off his power armor.

"Why won't you fucking die!?"

I winced before having a few coughing fits and finally said, "I'll see you in hell!"

He replied with heavy breathing. "You can go ahead. I won't be going there for a long while after you."

I growled at him, "Don't worry, I can wait."

The scientist stopped him for a moment before saying, "We need a sample. He might just be our missing link."

It was then Coronal Glavin nodded. He pulled out a ripper from behind his armor and revved it up. It was an extended blade and looked dangerously sharp, the dried blood a clear sign that has been used many times before.

He placed the circling fangs against my chest lightly, then pulled it down slowly, making a narrow gash down my body. He pushed it in deeper and deeper as he went down till he stopped right below my stomach. I winced in pain as the ripper cut into me more and more.

"How's it feel to know you are going to build me an army? I will make them all my slaves and you will be the start of the breeding of my intelligent deathclaw army. I will control the Mutants, and Deathclaws, and dispose of them once the Wasteland is mine! I don't even need you alive for a sample."

I looked up and saw the ripper dangerously close to my head. I felt the breeze from every fang of that thing as it circled the blade itself and just said while scoffing. "You aren't even going to let me enjoy bringing you world domination? What a sorry leader you will be."

I just stared at him with an expression of hate. I wanted him to remember that look forever. Obviously, it won't do any good. He does this because he enjoys it. He is a sick fuck. As if the timing couldn't be more perfect, another scientist burst through the upper floor door and shouted at Glavin. "Coronal sir, you need to come to see this now! New test results and I have news about the Brotherhood. The President demands you come here now!"

He groaned. "The President can kiss my ass!" and gestured the ripper in my direction before sighing, "Well, Lizard boy, you get to live a little longer. I don't want to rush cracking open your head, after all. Enjoy your last few minutes till I get back!" He left with a friendly wave and left us hanging there still like before.

Myles was still fast asleep, and the scientist followed the Coronal. This was my only chance to get us out. I swung myself back and forth, hoping to break the restraints I was bound to. It did nothing for the first few swings, but I used my weight to my advantage and eventually felt the binds loosen up. I didn't think this through because, well... if I break the restraints, I'll fall into the pit of ghouls and surely be overrun. My wrists were crossed and once it got loose enough, I could move my claws enough to finish loosening the shackles, I gained enough momentum and cut the rest of the restraints in timing with my swings so when I felt it would propel me forward onto the catwalk.

After cutting through the bindings and swinging myself forward, I got the timing right, and I hit myself against the safety railing of the catwalk, the force of my landing was intense, the wounds from the fight and subsequent torture were taking their toll now and I almost lost whatever grip I had from the pain I experienced. I somehow pulled myself up and over the railing. I was finally back, standing on something that resembles solid ground.

I felt broken both in mind and body. The sedated drug made me drowsy, and I can swear I had a few broken bones and ribs. My world felt like it was spinning and I lost my balance, using the railing as support. My leg was wrecked and I don't think I was going to make it out of this. That doesn't mean I can't get Myles out, though.

I regained myself, I could try to charge directly into that room and take out the Coronal, then if I was to fall Myles would surely be turned into a Mutant and I am in no condition to fight a Radroach let alone an Enclave soldier, I wandered over to Myles crane control which was a massive control panel, I could see basic switches like a release, the one and off switch and the joystick to move the crane itself. I gently flicked the power switch and adjusted the joystick to move Myles back to the catwalk, but the crane itself got stuck. Of fucking course it would. I tried to pull it again, but to no avail. Instead of getting myself frustrated with this faulty machinery, I tried to pull it manually. No luck on that either. I would have to get him. Getting enough distance, I sized up the jump. Not that bad unless you count the inevitable pit of death and the rotting ghouls welcoming me into their parade from below.

I took a moment to gain enough will to leap and backed up before crouching down and jumping over the railing; I grabbed onto the top of the crane with both hands and shimmied my way over to where Myles was hung up; I was just a few inches above where he was and now I had to figure out how I would unhook his restraints and hold on to the crane. I took a deep breath and hung onto it with one hand and leaned myself down and at an angle enough to where I can fiddle with his bindings, with much finesse I loosened him up enough where his arms weren't so pressured. I quickly swapped my hands and adjusted my grip and positioning, my claw slipped in his bindings and cut them clean off and he fell but I quickly caught him by the arm, just out of reach of the ghouls, good gods that were too close.

I hoisted him up over my shoulder and made my way back across the crane; it clanged and echoed, as I was making my way across the damn thing it snapped right at the end of it where I was, it was only held together still but a thin sheet of metal which desperately tried to hold it in place as it bent and twisted, the whole thing was going to snap any minute and my extra weight wasn't helping.

I made myself a choice here. I used all the momentum I had to toss Myles onto the catwalk. I landed him right by the control panel and landed somewhat hard, but he probably wouldn't be feeling it anyway, as he was still completely out cold. I decided not to even bother trying to get myself across the now broken crane. My chest wound was going to get worse if I tried to get across it again.

Myles was safe... well, as safe as in a radiated-filled, F.E.V running facility.

I took a deep breath and dropped where all the ghouls were; the crane wouldn't sustain my weight for the return trip. I landed on a few of them with a crunch. It was their old weathered bones, fortunately, and nothing of mine. I was instantly swarmed, a mixture of glowing blistered, green and rotten and ones that were bones. They have been here a long time. I got knocked down and surrounded by this… disgusting green water with a splash. I'm certain there was a heavy amount of F.E.V in this water... if it's even considered water anymore, lucky their scratches and bites did little. If they kept at it, I would be in trouble. I gave a wide swipe and got most of them off of me. I quickly stood back up and tossed the rest of them away. I felt disgusting down here and the radiation must be beyond the charts. If I had a Geiger counter, it would break levels of heights. I had to get out of here.

I swiped and cut through the masses of ghouls, rotten flesh and guts covered my arms and claws as I made my way through the hoard. I got gripped on my back, tail, anywhere they can reach. I slammed myself against an old fusion generator and the ghoul let go once I slammed him against my weight. I broke a leg of his and he laid there in the water, snarling and growling at me with nearly feral fury.

This place was like a maze, old generators and machines littered this lower level and it didn't look like there was an exit, I couldn't climb my way out and if I paused for a moment to look I would be swarmed again, it was then that I saw it, a broken, bent and dilapidated ramp which led back up to the catwalk behind the vats of F.E.V. I ignored the pain I felt in my leg, made a straight shot to the broken ramp, as I attempted to climb if they caught up with me and grabbed at my legs and attempted to pull me back down, I kicked and fought my way up, using my claws to get extra traction upon the upper platform and hoist myself up, I slid myself across the catwalk and kicked the ghoul off of my leg and they fell with a splat. I was free and relatively unscathed.

I laid upon my back, breathing heavily, shaking. I tried to wipe whatever gunk and foul extremities off myself. My wounds would surely be infected if I didn't get them cleaned and fast. Trying not to lie down for long, I wouldn't get up again if I kept still for too long.

Quickly rushing up, I raced to where Myles was and gently picked him up. My claws were clean enough, and I didn't have a choice. Got to get him out of there pronto. He has to have some radiation poisoning, not wanting to stay around any longer than we already have. I booked it to the exit steps. I heard a shout and the clanging of metal from behind us as I ran.

"HOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET OUT, WHERE ARE YOU?! Everyone to me, the dumb lizard is escaping, block the exits!"

I didn't stick around to let them organize their poor attempt to get me. You know if I got caught again I would be dead, Myles would be dead. I made it through the hall in record timing, practically tackled the hidden doorway, and ended back at the ammo press of the "Munition factory," I quickly fished out the Holotape from the works of the ammo press and placed it into Myles pocket, he was still out, I can't believe after all this he's still passed out.

Slamming my back into the double set of doors leading out to the back of the parking lot. It was nighttime..it was just about sundown before we left to enter the secret door; we were down there for at least a day; it had to be longer than that. I figured my best plan would be to get out of this area and let them search the zone while I was long gone. I took to the shoreline and then entered a small, dense forest. well… it would be a forest. It was just bare trees without leaves.

I looked down at Myles as I continued my sprint, making as much distance as I can from myself and that Facility. "Don't worry, Myles. I'll get out of this, I promise." That was more for me than him. He passed out, after all. I was beyond hurt and aching. My body felt like it was going to betray me any moment, but I had to keep going, and couldn't stop till I got far away enough that I couldn't see that hellhole on the horizon.

My energy was wavering, my willpower was dwindling, and I don't even know how long I was running, but I didn't even know where I was now. It was some open field and had plenty of rocks surrounding it. I then had a thought: doesn't the platonic river flow into the ocean? I can just follow along the shore till I find myself a river and end back up at the Jefferson Memorial, then find myself back at the Prydwen, get medical help for us both and everything will be okay.

I backtracked some and found the shore again. I didn't follow it directly, but kept my distance. The flowing water was soothing compared to the day; it had just happened. I heard a groan from below me. Myles was awake, finally. I fell as I held him steady and he opened his eyes and panicked for a split second before his eyes met mine.

"John, what… What the hell is going on? Why do I feel so off? What happened to us? The last thing I remember was being tied up to a crane and drugged. They wanted to dip us in the F.E.V." he then had a violent coughing fit and I set him down on his back and leaned down onto my knees above him.

"Shh, Myles. I'll tell you when it happens. Once we are safe, please don't worry. I got far enough away to where they couldn't find us... I hope."

He placed a hand on his chest and gagged before looking at me again. I stood just in front of the moonlight; it illuminated a perfect shadow of myself and outlined around me.

"John, you look awful, you are covered in cuts and bruises. What happened to you?"

He wiped his eyes and down his face before I answered, "I was tortured to buy us more time. It's not the worst thing I have been through. I'm fine, you are sick with radiation, it seems. Let me help you up."

I went to help him up, and he choked violently. He hacked up a green fluid from his throat and fell against me. "I...don't think this is normal radiation sickness, it's like some advanced kind, I never threw up anything of this kind before...I feel weak and dizzy, my entire body feels like mush…"

"Don't talk, Myles. I understand," I picked him back up before continuing, "It seems to be an exposure to that water below us. It was a mixture of old generators and leaked F.E.V. You have some enhanced radiation sickness because of the F.E.V."

I continued down the shore as I explained this, and I did find the river I was looking for before asking him, "Is this river here the Potomac?"

He was breathing heavily before weakly looking over and giving a very faint, gasping. "Yes, it is," I gave him a nod and picked up speed. I followed the edge of the river for a while before I ended back in familiar territory, the field where I and Myles fought, the cave where he kept his stash, and the Jefferson Memorial off in the distance along with the underpass that we first met at, we were almost there. The trek to get here was pretty uneventful, just followed a river, and saw some old broken-down boats and weathered docks, but nothing too noteworthy.

I passed the Jefferson Memorial just like when I first came here. The water still flowed proudly, and it was just as secure as it was the first time I saw it. Passing under the bridge so close, the Prydwen held itself high above the sky, illuminated by the slowly rising sunrise. The survival of the night faded away and a new day fell upon the Wastes.

It was then that I saw someone off in the distance, unmistakable about who it was. It was Mia. I recognize that 101 and armored jumpsuit anywhere. I called out to her. I lost my voice when I tried to, so weak, so tired, I tried again.

"Mia!.." I got out faintly, yet loud enough for her to turn around with her gun quickly drawn. She then put it away just as fast upon seeing it was me and rushed over to me with incredible speeds.

"Oh, Mia, I have never been so happy to see someone in such a long time. Myles is sick and I'm nearly falling apart. I need your help to get him to the Prydwen to be treated."

She quickly took him from my arms and held him up on her own before turning away. "Yes, of course, I would ask what happened, but let's get you two safe first, yeah?"

I gave her a faint nod, and she turned and quickly walked towards the Prydwen. I followed suit till my leg finally gave out on me and I nearly fell over, but caught myself on a boulder.

She turned back and looked at me with concern. My wounds bled once more because of the violent rupture I just experienced. I gritted my fangs before looking up at her. "Get him there first, then come back for me. I do not have the strength to join you. Please tell them not to shoot me when you bring me over."

She instantly protested. "John, look at you! My time in the Wasteland has taught me a thing or two, and I know just from looking at you that you are going to bleed out by the time I get back here. I have to get you to treatment now!"

I weakly looked over to her and before I could even open my mouth to insist she takes Myles first, my vision went blurry, and much like the pre-war terminals on their last puff of nuclear power everything went dark and I collapsed from a multitude of things exhaustion, blood loss, hunger, and thirst was probably part of that too. I just wasn't doing well at all. It's a wonder how I hauled us both this far.

The darkness embraced me much like a sorry excuse for a blanket during those h-so-regrettable times of nuclear winter. It was telling me to let go, give up, and free myself from this torment. I fought it; I tried too hard to ignore the siren's call. It realized its efforts were once again in vain, and I slowly returned to consciousness once more. It was a slow process, and I felt like I was just pressed into a can of food for shipping and then unboxed and put back together again.

I awoke in a pained groan and opened my eyes to find myself in the medical wing of the Prydwen, the lower level of the catwalk where the air balloons were to be specific. Mia had done it, got me and I could only assume Myles in as well, assuming he had to be quarantined for everyone's safety.

I noticed a table next to me covered in blood, used Stimpacks, bandages, and plenty of other medical utensils. I had a wide bandage wrapped around my chest and around my arms as well. It looked clean and freshly put on recently. The room or floor, I should say, was empty. My stomach growled, and it felt as if it was emptier than a Jet heads cap stash. My mouth felt drier than the Mojave Desert. I had to go to the cafeteria. I'm sure that permission to walk around wasn't granted, but I don't think I care at the moment. My next goal would be to find Myles and find out what happened to him.

I held my head with both my hands as I moved up the steps to go to the mess hall, my head was pounding something fierce, I could feel it throbbing through my skull, the smallest amount of light hurt to even think about let alone looking at. In my pained state, I located the upper portion and entered the food distribution room.

It was empty yet had lights on. I had called out to see if anyone was around and it was completely quiet, almost like a ghost town here. You figure some insubordinate would be here getting extra meals while no one was around. I snooped around the back and saw there was still some canned food and plenty of drinks still strewn about the place, now I'm not one to take things without asking, especially not from the Brotherhood of Steel but I was absolutely starving and so damn thirsty my entire mouth was dry.

I didn't even use a utensil, I cracked open can after can of Cram, and other pre-war horrible-tasting foods but it was all that they had, the sugar bombs were the only saving grace from the awful tasting salt of the cans of cram, once I had a decent enough filling I had a few bottles of "Aqua Pura," what I can only assume was purified water directly from the Potomac itself and it tasted… incredible, the feeling of pure clean water filled me with hope and joy I can't even describe, I chugged two bottles before savoring the last one, I didn't even notice that someone had come in and was standing there looking at me arms crossed and had a look of 'Really?' Upon their face.

Taking the last drink of Aqua Pura, I set it down before saying, "Um, you see I have been out for I don't know how long and I was starving, and I-"

They then cut me off with a swift hand raise. "Yes, I know you were out for like four days, I was supposed to cook you something when you finally woke up but it seems you already got that covered, now if you can be so kind as to leave so I can clean whatever mess you made so I can-"

It was my turn to cut her off. "See, I made no mess while I was ravaging your kitchen. I disposed of all the cans and boxes properly and made sure they were all empty." I stuck out my long, forked tongue to empathize with my point.

She just grunted in disgust."Yeah, yeah now can you please leave? I have a meal to prepare for the actual soldiers tomorrow."

I did not protest and apologized one more time before I left the mess hall, not wanting to bother the poor woman any more than I already had. I might as well find where everyone is, find Mia and see how Myles' diagnosis went, maybe tell them it's advanced radiation, assuming they didn't deduce that themselves.

I followed along the catwalk going in between the massive helium balloons. The lower part was all but vacant. No one was here. Must be nighttime or something is going on. Hopefully, nothing happened while I was having my forced beauty sleep. I found myself back at the center of the Prydwen where Maxson had his meeting room and looked over the loading dock. He wasn't here, so I figured there was only one other place to check Doctor Baker's room.

Fortunately for me, my memory was still intact even after the bashing I had received, comparatively to what I was feeling before. I actually felt okay enough, still some soreness, but the pain was mostly gone. Found myself back down in the lower section of where Myles' room was and the doctor's room.

I saw some scribes and engineers loitering around the hallway. They all seemed to notice me at the same time and moved over to let me pass. The look differed from what they had all had previously; I recognized some of their faces from when we took over the Factory. "The beast lives! How the heck are you doing there, John? I heard some rumors about what happened to you and Myles. What exactly happened?"

I took a halt in front of them all. "I am looking for Mia and Myles. Any idea where they might be?"

"Oh, they were at Doctor Baker's last when I saw them."

I thanked them before continuing. "The Enclave captured us. I was tortured and drugged, Myles was drugged, but I took all the torture so he wouldn't have to. I freed myself from their suspension and got us out. I then found my way back to the Prydwen and ran into Mia before passing out myself. I only woke up recently."

"Enclave fuckers, well I'm glad you both got out. You should go to Doctor Baker's. He was the one who mainly tended to you."

I gave them my thanks and went through the labyrinth of halls till I found his office and the medical room once again. The door was closed, but I went. As I had expected, Mia and the Doc were there and Myles was on a medical table. This was the same room where I answered those oh-so-personal questions.

"Holy shit, doc he's up!" Mia said, running at me with great haste and stopping at me before hesitating and then gently hugging me. "I thought you would never wake up. It was looking pretty hopeless for a while there and Maxson, he wanted to stop as he said, "wasting medical supplies," on you and Baker, was having none of it!"

I just had to ask, "How on Earth did you even get me in and up the elevator, the halls? How is Myles doing?"

The doc stepped up. "Well, Mia, she nearly had to beat up a couple of Paladins when they refused to help you and carry you to my room. She eventually got them to carry you with some very choice words. As for Myles, well, he's under sedation and we are trying to get rid of all the radiation he observed, but nothing is working. It's almost as if this isn't a normal case of rads."

"Well, doc we found an underground section in the Munition Plant that the Enclave was using and it was a cover-up, there were two vats of F.E.V and it leaked into radioactive water, I believe Myles has a case of enhanced radiation, not anything to turn him into a Mutant but enough to make some sort of advanced radiation poisoning. As I'm sure you know, F.E.V can only mutate one thing, so it's already mutated the radiation, so no risk of mutation."

He just paused and wrote it down on his clipboard. "That is incredible. I might have an idea of how to fix this, too. There was an old Med-Tek faculty to the North of the Jefferson Memorial, it was overrun by Talon Company and it's a sort of base for them, anyway, they were working on some sort of fix for F.E.V exposure and maybe that can help Myles?"

Mia then asked, "Why haven't you taken it over then?"

"Well, we tried, but they had too many and we decided our losses were too much and left. This was before the Prydwen was built at Adam's Airforce Base We lost plenty of men during the attempt to take that place, decided a pre-war rumor wasn't worth losing more of our soldiers over, you should be asked Proctor Quinlan the location, tell him I sent you, sure that would work."

"I'll do that, and where is Maxson? I'm sure he would like to bother me about everything. Might as well get it over with..."

Mia moved up again. "I'll go with you. I hear he's been treating you poorly, so I'll back you up. Don't you worry?"

I thanked her with a nod, and I went to check on Myles myself. He was completely out cold still but breathing and seemed somewhat okay, well, as okay as something with a mutated dose of F.E.V enhanced radiation. I felt awful, though, not because of my wounds or body pains. No, I felt terrible for putting him through this. I need to make this right, for him, for me, for everything.

I hid my feelings and left to find Maxson. Mia followed behind me before asking. "Are you okay? You seem a lot more down than usual. I know torture does things to people and... if you don't want to talk about it, I understand. Just know I'm here if you need me."

"No Mia, I'm not okay. I feel terrible for putting Myles through this sickness. This is my fault. Me and my stupid revenge idea. I wanted to spill the vats of F.E.V and stop them from making Mutants but we got captured. As for the torture, I had worse. He is more of a concern than me and... Coronal Glavin, the head of the Enclave. He is the same man who killed my Vault." I paused as we moved through the halls before looking down at my hands and clenching them into something resembling a fist. "He... was right there, my life dedication to killing that man who murdered my entire family, friends. He took Everything from me and I was too weak and beaten to fight him. I was so fucking close to avenging everyone and I failed just like I failed Myles, just like I failed everyone before him..."

She was silent for a time before she spoke up. "You have a desire to avenge your family. I know the feeling when I took on the Enclave when I had just gotten out of the vault myself. They got my father killed just after I had found him again, after scouring the Wasteland and asking all over the DC area, so you know what I did? I destroyed their base of operations, killed most of them off after that, and I dedicated my life as a hunter of the Enclave after I got the purifier running at Project Purity. Just like my dad had before me. I can say the struggle you went through to get Myles here you didn't fail him. You saved him when you could have cut and run, saving yourself."

She was right. I could have just up and left him, but didn't. I couldn't manage that, but he should have left me when I gave him the chance to, just an unfortunate person at the wrong place at the wrong time. I just had to drag him down there, didn't I?

Mia and I arrived at Maxson's meeting room, where he was here this time. He looked down upon the loading dock with that same expression as ever. I felt like this would not be a fun trip.

Mia then called out to him. "Elder Maxson? You requested to speak to John once he woke up? I brought him up here so you can-"

He turned around and gazed at me with hate I had never seen in a man before. It was a mixture of disgust and a total level of despising unparalleled to anyone before him. He practically charged at me with a gun drawn. "Tell me one good reason I shouldn't shoot you right now!? I believe you are the one who hurt Myles intently. You were the only one there and no one else could have done it! The path from there back to the Prydwen was clear as day. How can he get so sick from a simple trek? Not to mention you were gone for three days! It would have taken no less than one to have gotten back here."

I backed up with my hands raised in a very non-threatening manner, "I'm sure if you kill me now, they would waste all the medical supplies put into making me better? You don't think for a second that I was the one who hurt Myles that I would have brought him across from the factory to here in my hurt and broken state? May I remind you I was beaten and bloody myself and Myles only suffered from an advanced radiation sickness if you would just listen to me-"

He then turned the safety off on his pistol. "No, I'm done listening to your lies! I am sick of you using my Brotherhood and-"

Saying nothing, Mia grabbed him by the arm and got the gun away from him before kicking out his leg and slamming him to the ground, face first. Held her elbow to the back of his head while using her other arm to hold his own. She upholstered her pistol and held it to the back of his head.

The two Paladins in the doorway took quick note of this and asked what the hell she was doing, looking at me and then to her with their elder on the ground before she said "Don't worry boys I will not kill him, he just needs to be taught a lesson about respect, that is all." They ask that she at least put the gun away and she did but kept him on the ground, he was swearing and cursing her name but ultimately couldn't do anything, he even tried to get the aid of the two soldiers but they were basically like. 'That's the Lone Wanderer. I don't want to mess with that.'

"You know, Arthur. I remember that sweet little boy running around the Citadel with hope and ambition in his heart for a new, clean world. Whatever happened to that, huh? You changed ever since you became an Elder, you lost that compassion and drive you once had to see a better future for everyone. Now you only want a better future for yourself and it's selfish and I won't stand for it. My father didn't die making clean water for the Wasteland just so you can decide who is allowed to live and who will die. Do you know who has never lost that compassion? That's right, that same beast you want to execute. You claim him to be such an evil monster, but you know what he did when we met back in Vault 101? We sat down and talked and he even helped me get a photo of my father from when I was 10, Maxson, 10! The Enclave then found us and I was going to take them on and you know who stopped me and ended up saving my life? That's right, John did! I wouldn't be here right now berating you had he not pulled me away from charging at them. I gave him my insignia because he earned my trust that day, he should prove to you that not all monsters look like monsters, as for Myles he carried him while bleeding out from that Munition Plant to here so don't you dare accuse him of being the one to hurt Myles, you are very wrong! I am going to let you up now and if you lash out at him or me, I'm gonna knock you out, and don't think I won't."

She slowly let him go before standing up and facing him sideways, ready to punch him if needed, but all he did was turn away from us both and stare down back at the loading bay. He was silent for a moment before addressing me. With a simple, "John?"

I scoffed and told him. "I have nothing to say to you, Maxson." I left with Mia behind me. One soldier guarding the doors said, "That.. was awesome!" And the other nodded in agreement.

As we made some distance, I thanked her. "I appreciate that heartwarming speech. If I wasn't so sore, I would jump for joy in admiration, but I need to find Proctor Quinlan and get the location of the Med-Tek building."

She agreed and told me he should be up the steps, to the right of the armory above the control panel. And she was right here he was, an old wrinkled man looking like he would kick the bucket at any moment now. He noticed me first, how could he not, and sputtered. "Oh great, the talking reptile plays."

Before seeing Mia and perking up with a. "Miss 101," addressing her.

I looked down at him and asked, "I need the location of the Med-Tek building you tried to take over all those years. It's just past the Jefferson Memorial? Doctor Baker sent me to get the location from you. It's for Myles and his sickness."

He gave a small laugh before rummaging through his things and pulling out an old stained paper before going to hand it to me before ripping it up right before I could grab it. "Oh, sorry. I forget I don't take orders from monsters of the Wasteland, and Myles can rot for all I care! He's been nothing but trouble since Maxson picked him up. Now if you don't mind, I have a talking toaster to find out about."

I had enough of this pompous prick. I picked him up by the neck and slammed him against the wall with my other hand open and ready to tear him apart. "Why? Just because I'm not human? Just because I am some talking monster of the Wasteland? This isn't even for me! I'm trying to help someone and you. You could have just gotten him killed because now I have to find it myself and waste time." I let him go from high above the ground and he slammed with a thud, holding his neck.

"Maxson will hear about this!"

Mia just walked up to him, leaning in, and gave him a satisfactory slap right across the face. "You AND Maxson can shove it where the sun doesn't shine!"

She left the room and gestured for me to follow, pushing buttons on her Pipboy till she reached the map section and showed me where the Med-Tek building was. "See, I suspected something like this would have happened but I wanted to see how bad it was and yeah..it was pretty bad. See, here's the Jefferson Memorial, and the facility is just North of that. It's a bit of a distance, but I'm sure you are quite fast, being a Deathclaw and all." She said with a laugh before asking. "I should go with you, shouldn't I?"

With that, I shook my head, "No, Mia, you need to stay here and make sure they keep Myles alive. I don't trust these fuckers to keep him safe, so I am asking you, can you do that for me?"

She tried to argue, but I was right. She didn't trust most of them either, so she agreed. "Okay, John. I can watch Myles just...you come back in one piece, alright? I'll be here waiting for you, and he told me while he was awake for a short time you can use his room to rest if you need it. I'll be heading to my quarters to crash and check on my dog. Visit me before you go, alright?"

I promised her I would bid her farewell and made my way to Myles' room. I passed by Doctor Baker's office and he was fast asleep. I wonder where Paladin Grey was. I should ask about her tomorrow. I made it back to his room and opened the door. It was just as it was left. My satchel and robe were still there, and nothing had been tampered with. Now that I was alone. I wept, I sat on his bed and just bawled my eyes out silently, all the pain and anguish I had just gone through was finally catching up with me, I wanted to scream, to roar to do anything to let this feeling of sorrow out of my system but I couldn't, I was having an internal war within myself. It was a war I was losing...

End Chapter: 18