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.

21. What Else Can You Be

Chapter 21: What Else Can You Be

They forced me out of whatever sorry excuse for a jury-rigged transfer vehicle they corralled me into. We weren't at all outside. An expansive, dimly lit tunnel which I couldn't see at the end of. It kept going and going, never seeming to end. Not to mention the absolute force of Enclave soldiers which surrounded me. I couldn't even count them all as various similar vessels of transportation arrived on location. Skirting their tires as they sloppily parked alongside each other, they assigned the four heavily armored and armed soldiers I could only assume to me. Two stood in front of me and two stood behind me. The other holding carts released various Wasteland creatures, which ranged from a Deathclaw Matriarch with chipped and broken horns to a Glowing Yao Guai covered in scars, placing them into a nice orderly row, and forcing the lot of us down the illuminated tunnel. The bindings along my wrist were all that I had. The rest of these unfortunate creatures had been muzzled and had their claws covered. I guess I got special treatment.

These creatures must have been sedated, or at least drugged, to be calmer. I feel no such effects, but I don't much appreciate being mixed up with feral beasts and animals. I couldn't help but wonder what and why they wanted all these creatures. This whole forcing various Wasteland creatures down a tunnel of infinity for unknown reasons is rather unsettling, not to mention the absolute silence of all soldiers for this extended amount of time.

A row of civilian-looking individuals lined the spherical tunnel as if they were watching us all get led to wherever this was. Maybe this was a mistake and I'm not supposed to be here? If they are going to align me in the same category as Wasteland monsters, I don't have a chance here.

The increase in civilian-looking individuals was worrisome. They lined the borders of the tunnel and just.. watched. The soldiers were getting forceful with some creatures behind me. Not that I saw it happen, but I heard everything.

I kept my gaze forward, walking by the bunch of onlookers. They didn't seem to change any sort of reaction. It was almost as if they were just to show a test for this merry band of animals. I received the butt end of one guard's gun, making it aggressive and vicious.

"Keep quiet! Don't even try to speak up again and we will all make you regret it! NOW KEEP MOVING!" he yelled at me!

I scoffed at such a threat, "I don't much appreci-"

Didn't even see it coming. They smacked me along the side of my torso with some kind of Thermal Lance. The burn caused me to grit my fangs as I braced the sizzling pain, causing me to recoil backward and bump into the two soldiers behind me, causing them to stumble aside. I caused a domino effect and nearly the rest of the entourage was affected. I heard a clanging crash behind me. Further back in the line, there was a soldier who got knocked over. One of the few Yao Guai got spooked at the clash of soldiers and gave a desperate roar before breaking free from their bindings, toppled over the two soldiers assigned to hold them, and raced by me. Pouncing on the group of civilians knocking half of them over as the remaining ones screamed a blood-chilling screech, the mutated bear tore into the few below him as the Enclave soldiers tried to get him off them, to no avail.

Seeming that their efforts to get the glowing beast off were essentially pointless, the few civilians who were below the bear were nothing more than a pile of cloth and red paste. Shooting the Yao Guai in the back of the head before falling back into line with a grumble and a nasty groan in my direction. They shoved me forcefully beyond the rest of the crowd. I could see an end to this tunnel finally. The burn on my chest was still very prominent.

I met the rest of this trip with unwilling animals and fear-stricken citizens. The bunch of us were all shoved into a giant spherical room, split up in various directions and rooms. I was kept here, watching all the Wasteland beasts and creatures get hauled away one by one.

"It's time," One of the remaining soldiers said before the four of them surrounded me on each side, behind and in front of me. The Power Armored soldier grabbed me from under my arms while the two on my sides held my arms in place. I attempted to escape, but their grasp was too strong. The one in front pulled out an egregious-looking needle and flicked the tip before jamming the whole thing into my neck with no hesitation. The sadistic smile on his face was the last thing I saw before my consciousness wore thin. I tried to fight it. I did, but this sedative was powerful, powerful enough to knock me out before they even let go of me.

I wasn't aware of the fact that I was under the effects of a drug, fading in and out of being awake and not existing. It wasn't darkness or a dream; it was just… nothing. I saw flashes of what they were doing to me. First, they strapped me to a table and another time they suspended me in some kind of machine. I don't know how long I was under or what was happening to me. I knew I was being experimented on and tested. It would be the easiest to do this while I wasn't coherent.

Eventually, I regained enough sense to wake up long enough to remember and understand where I am. Everything but my head was completely immobile. I was suspended and held in some kind of force field. It seemed like the same sort of technology that the Brotherhood used to block off the Jefferson Memorial. No one was in the metal box which they held me in, empty and desolate. I saw no exit or entrance; it was just a box.

I struggled to break myself free, but had no luck at all. Whatever barrier they had on this was something else. Nothing I ever experienced before, incapable of moving, almost felt like I was frozen but without the cold. I could do nothing but remain here and wait and wait and wait. Needless to say. I got a fair grasp of my surroundings, I couldn't help but notice that I felt something dangling on my horns each time I moved my head to the side, it didn't hurt or feel uncomfortable but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was.

I was a decent distance off the ground. If I could stretch my legs down, I could touch it though, so whatever fall I would endure if it let me go wouldn't be too bad. Began wondering why it was just a heavily armored box, with no windows and no exit or entrance. There was nothing here, just my confinement device in the middle.

I decided I had enough of this. I sat here for a good few hours of nothing, and with no sort of sedative to knock me out, I was not sleeping like this. I need to be alert now, anyway. "You know, I hope you plan on killing me soon because I think boredom might get to me first at this rate!" It crossed my mind that they might have somehow taken my ability to speak. I'm glad to see that they hadn't. It was true, though, that this boredom was something fierce.

It took what felt like a lifetime after that, with no response and not a single sound. I heard a loud clang and then the shifting of gears and various mechanisms until a rectangular opening appeared before me; it was like a vault door but a different shape, bright light casting a perfect outline of the doorway, and the shift of air filled the room a breeze washed over me as a battalion of Enclave flooded the room, their cursed insignia plastered across each of their shoulder pads.

I couldn't even count them all there were so many, then I heard the echoing of heels coming from beyond the door, like clockwork the soldiers all stepped to the side and let this lady though, she held a long smoking pipe in one hand and a flat electrical clipboard in the other; she wore a purple and black pre-war business dress with a low hanging skirt, a crescent-shaped scar alongside her bald head. Eyes a brown almost as dark as night. She looked like a bad bitch to put it lightly.

She pushed a few of the soldiers over and walked around me. She looked every inch of me up and down while looking at the device in her hand and taking occasional puffs of her pipe. They gave a disappointed groan, because rushing forward to face me, adjusting her button-down shirt, seemed to quickly flash me under her shirt before clearing her throat and sending most of the soldiers away. "What a welcoming party. What took you so long to bring the committee?"

She slowly walked up to me, leaned up as far as she could, and tapped my head right before my horns with her smoking pipe before glancing back down and looking at the device, not even acknowledging the spiteful look I gave her, "You seem calm, why is that? You are captured and bound deep in enemy territory, our base which you won't be getting out of EVER! I can say you are pretty fucked." I was mocked.

"I already know and have accepted what is going to happen to me. You can't scare me into fearing the inevitable. You are doing me a favor if you realize it or not. In the end, I will win no matter what will end up happening."

She simply shook her head and grabbed my chin with her hand after snuffing out her pipe on the floor, "My, my, look at you. What a perfect specimen you are." She opened my mouth to inspect my fangs. "You will do us a lot of good. You just don't know that yet."

She backed up as I growled at her, "I will die before I do anything to help you, your Enclave, and your worthless cause!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, we will leave you with no choice. You will answer our questions. You will cooperate on everything we will have you do. We will find anyone and everyone you care about, otherwise, they will receive our worst treatment," she said with a wave of her finger and a serious, worrying look.

This just caused me to laugh, almost uncontrollably. "You… Do you think I have anyone you can hurt? That is a sorry threat, not only to mention stupid, but you also won't get anyone from me. I am alone. I have always been alone. Take your threats and shove them up where the sun doesn't shine. I take care of myself and no one else!"

She uttered some unintelligible nonsense before stating, "Fine, then what can I do to get you to cooperate with us? We already know torturing you and bringing pain would be pointless and just make you more spiteful if you survive it, which we all think you will." She looked over at the two guards, and they both nodded. "Glavin reported everything you have accomplished. Stopping our gathering Megaton, killing the Super Mutants at our Munition plant, discovering our F.E.V vats, getting the F.E.V cure AND destroying any chance of us using it, and finally stopping our attack on the Prydwen. You are beyond resourceful and we would just kill you, but our president believes and has ordered that we sway you to our side."

I gave her a scoff as the two remaining soldiers shuffled nervously. "There isn't a damn thing you can even hope to offer me. I would even consider helping you. You might as well just kill me because I won't be broken and I won't be changed over."

"I don't have time to sit here and get denied by you, join us, or die. It's that simple!"

I looked her down right in the eye. "I choose to die!" She turned away from me and fiddled with her clipboard. I thought about it for a moment before I spoke up, "Glavin," That was all I said.

"What?" She turned to me with a disgusted, confused look.

"I want Glavin, I want to kill him. That is my request to join and help you. Nothing else will work."

She cocked her head sideways as her arms fell limb, still holding the clipboard. "You have gotta be joking. He's our best operative! Not to mention in direct contact with the president. I am going to refuse this request and tell them all you even asked such a-"

I stopped her. "You can tell them all, I WILL get out of here and I WILL kill him. Tell your pathetic excuse for a president, tell Glavin even. I fucking hope he knows I'm going to find him, to kill him. I want him to live the rest of his days in fear and worry till I tear him limb from limb. YOU CAN HAND OVER GLAVIN, OR YOU CAN DIE BESIDE HIM!"

She said nothing to this and left me bound as the two guards, shaking and scared, followed her out; she seemed to struggle at closing the door but they did eventually get it. Darkness filled my room once again, and they left me in the solitude abyss and my thoughts once more. Once I break free, I'm coming for her as well. "You know, you could try to cooperate a little more. Threats and slandering our name are unwise for a creature of such intelligence."

I wasn't even aware that someone was still in the room. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes and simply asked with a sigh. "Who is here? I thought they left me to be alone until they decide what to do with me?"

It was then another, a different woman, appeared in front of me. This was much different in terms of posture. Red-haired with some lingering freckles along her cheeks, some kind of green jumpsuit, and a belt of various vials and scientific equipment. The most prominent thing was a cyan notepad on her right thigh. She spun in a circle with her arms stretched out before stopping and facing me, boots firmly planted, and lowered herself down to fiddle with the mechanisms of my holding device. "I am your warden and caretaker. You won't get anywhere with any of us, especially not me, if you are going to throw threats and disdain, so I suggest you behave yourself."

I heard a click and my body felt looser. Whatever barrier was blocking me was now gone and the only thing holding me up was now thick straps. "You care to tell me why I was strung up like some mental patient?"

She gave an annoyed sigh as she moved behind me. "Your reputation precedes you, plus you are just really dangerous. The entire Enclave is aware of that, so we took necessary precautions."

I heard strap after strap gets loosened and removed from around me. I was ready for the last couple and landed on my feet. I was finally free! Except for the fact that my wrists were still bound by those same cuffs, I walked in with.

I straightened myself and looked down at the woman before me. She didn't seem any bit scared or worried about anything, almost like she was waiting for my next move before doing anything herself. "Bold of you to let me go, though these wrist bindings are still pretty uncomfortable…"

"As your warden and caretaker, it is my responsibility to make sure you are as comfortable as can be, despite many of the soldiers' and higher-ups' disagreement. I believe that if we are going to get your help, it won't help to torture and treat you unfairly."

Looked upon my bindings and then back to her, slamming my tail against the metal flooring. "Treat me however you like, poorly or like one of your own," I leaned myself down to meet eyes at her level, "There is not a damn thing you can do, offer and even suggest that will get me to help you people with anything. I will remain unwavering. I assure you of that."

Placing her hands on her hips in defiance, before pulling out a lengthy, narrow-looking key. "Stretch your arms out, wrist flat."

If I had eyebrows, they would be raised in suspicion, but I complied.

She seamlessly went through the various mechanisms and locks which bound my hands together, she gripped them aggressively and pulled me forward quickly, and whispered.

"Listen, they are watching everything you do. They are watching everything I do. Both of us are at the mercy of what happens here. I know it's impossible to believe, but just go along with me. We both need to convince them. These aren't walls around us, they are one-sided windows."

She then acted as if nothing happened. "These damn things always get stuck." With a firm tug, she got the shackles off me as I pulled back. It hurts to feel the circulation return to my hands.

Inspecting my wrist, I just had to ask, "Why free me? If I'm such a threat and you are here all alone, are you not scared of me killing you?"

She smiled at me. "No, and if you did, you would be dead, too. Any harm would come to me that would lead to you dying. Now hopefully me letting you out of those peaky bindings has helped you trust me a little more. I am Emma Physalis."

"I have to admit it helps your cause, but I can't help but feel this is all a ploy to lead me into a false sense of security. But fine, I'll play along, won't be able to do much else after all. I am John Lambert, but you are surprised to hear I have a name, aren't you?"

Her eyes went wide for a few moments before awkwardly clearing her throat and leaning down against her knees before muttering something I couldn't make out before starting. "Well, that is good to know we got past introductions, one step of many. We have some time before they want to move you to some basic tests. Did you have questions?" she asked.

I ran a claw over my horn and contacted the thing they attached to it. "Yes, I would like to know what this thing I have attached to my horn is. The chain rattles each time I move my head, and it's annoying. I can't see what it is and would just like to know."

She walked up to me and gestured for me to move my head down, which I did, and she inspected it. "I didn't even notice you had one of these tags till now. Each of our captured animals gets one of these. It simply states your species, sex, and age. Basic information so we can keep a record of everything we brought in, as that is what we filed you under until we get some behavior to record."

"That is beyond humiliating. You could have just asked me, you know? I would like it removed promptly. I am not an animal that needs to be caged and tagged. I can converse just like you."

She thought about it for a moment before looking around nervously, "Fuck it, I'll help you because you are right." She took out a small clipper from her back pocket and snapped the tag off my horn, chain included. "There you go. Here you can even look over it to see how incompetent our species analysis is."

She handed it over to me, and it was right about everything but my age. They made me younger. That's funny actually. "Seeing as I lack anywhere to put this, please hold on to it. I would like a momento when I get out of here and everything is right, but my age is less than I had expected.."

"So you can read? Interesting. I can't say I ever dealt with something like you before, mainly wild and rambunctious Yao Guai and the occasional wild Deathclaw."

"Well, I'm the last of my kind. You wouldn't deal with one like me. Tell me why are you corralling all these creatures? I included."

She turned her back to me and fiddled with her pockets for a moment. "We are doing tests on every Wasteland creature because our goal is to wipe out every strand of mutation and change radiation has made on all fauna. We are trying to get original DNA from all these beasts, but it is difficult. Especially with you, because we didn't add F.E.V. into this equation."

I simply scoffed at her as I investigated the marks on my wrists, as well as looked around the room. "Deathclaw is a mutated Jackson Chameleon. They made us before the war to act as frontline soldiers. A lot of good that did. Turns out the experiments done on us helped during the great war and here we are." I saw what she was doing before continuing, "See, the intelligence strand that we were so kindly inflicted with was your doing. The Enclave did this. As far as I know, it was, so we understood and followed orders but did not question them. Turns out they made us too smart. I am not of your creation. No, I was hatched out of an egg in the most natural of ways, not formed in some lab before you ask. But alas, we are all dead, killed by our creator, which makes me the last one and the one who will end your Precious 'Enclave' for good." I gave her a look of 'Are you happy now?' before sulking my way around the room.

I heard her drop something that clanged against the floor. "You...you are that adolescent albino that killed Glavin's brother all those years ago, aren't you? The one who got away, that's why you wanted him."

"I don't have to answer anything to you, but know this." I gently ran a hand against the wall, screeching with my claws as I went. "He ruined everything for me, for my species, for.. everyone. We were philosophers and scientists... I was A FUCKING TEACHER!" I felt the room rumble and shake as I raised my voice making a long and wide slash against the wall before continuing, "There was no ounce of threat from us, we hunted wild geckos and coyotes for food… humans were specifically off the radar for anything. His brother was the first time I had ever hurt anyone, let alone killed anyone before… Whatever fool's tale he's told you and everyone else is a lie! So, he must die so I can avenge my species and my mother, who he killed right in front of me, might I add! He isn't the patron saint you make him out to be."

I faced away from her as a heavy silence filled the room. The only thing heard was the rattling of all her trinkets as she investigated the opposite side of the box. I stared upon the wall where I left a deep gash, expecting to find some kind of observation room as she said, but it was nothing. Either she was lying or these Enclave think they are smarter than they are.

I heard her whispering something to the other wall behind me. I didn't turn around to alert her. I was trying to listen more and kept to my side inconspicuously. Why do I feel this is all an act? She gave an annoyed sigh before turning around and stating that I would have to be tested and set through some easy trials to "test," my intelligence or whatever sorry joke they came up with to keep me occupied while they decide what to do with me.

"Alright, John, it's almost time for you to head out. They will be here to get you, eventually. Remember to just do what they ask and behave yourself. It will be fine."

I simply gave her a nod and awaited the arrival of soldiers that would be here to move me. I had little to tell or mention to her. I felt like she was just gathering information to use against me. In a rather short time, I heard the clanging of the door... well, the wall that is acting as a door. It seems it can only be opened from the outside. The uncountable amounts of soldiers swarmed into the room followed by that same mistress that gave me an.. introduction.

They all saw that I was free as they all raised their weapons out of fear and precaution. Before that, all the business ladies strolled past them all and approached me, running a finger along my chest, almost seductively. "We have requested you to do some testing. We are all curious to see how you will... perform. Maybe eventually I can take you to my office and get a one-on-one test?"

"I hope you aren't implying I lie with you. If that is the case, I humbly refuse and request you to not ask for such a thing again. It's wrong and disgusting, for starters." I turned back from the entrance as the guard surrounded me. "Plus, you don't interest me in the slightest."

I saw her face completely fall at that final statement before I followed the small army without question. "You want to tell me why you don't have bindings on?"

The rest of the soldiers were on edge, silent and watching me like hawks. "Emma was kind enough to let me go free. How about not assuming I'm going to lash out at you all and just take me to my damn destination."

He just gave me an annoyed grumble before making me press forward. These wide halls felt narrow as all hell, and all I was thinking about was how the mistress wanted to..meet her in her office. Not that I would do it more like why she would offer, how she can come up with such a nerve. Though seeing her disappointed and defeated face when I left was priceless.

The soldiers, on the other hand, were incredibly pushy and seemed to rush me, talking amongst each other about where to go, and stopped at a massive spherical room with multiple doors and entrances. Emma and the mistress both rushed, running down the metal-clanging hallway to where we stopped at. The various lights and rays were blaring and annoying, making me think they were designed to affect things that weren't human. I stood there just waiting for them to move me. I thought about making an attack. No good that would do 8 soldiers and on top of that, I do not know where I was in terms of layout.

Emma got in-between the soldiers and me and offered to take me instead, armed guards making me nervous which was a lie because I would feel more comfortable around a trigger-happy soldier than not, it might not make sense but lack of trying to get me killed and surrounded by soldiers and people trying to kill me just feels right. I get uneasy when nothing is going on.

Emma dismissed the guards and, with hesitation, they all left, one at a time, single file through a circular door. "If you would follow me, John. I'll take you where you need to go because let's be honest, soldiers aren't good at giving directions and orders, just following them."

"I should clarify that I wasn't uneasy because of the guards, but I would like to just get this over with."

The mistress stepped up. "We can always forget these mandatory tests and-"

Emma just gave her a glare that would strike fear into even me. "Clara… It is important to EVERYONE in this operation that John gets to the test ASAP, we are all under the thumb of the higher-ups and your sick deathclaw interest is going to get us all killed! If you will not stop being a creep, please just go away. I'm sick of this."

I stood there dumbfounded, looking at Clara and then Emma and then back at Clara, gesturing with one of my hands pointing at her. "You, you are not allowed in a room with me alone. I do not doubt that you will take extreme action." I looked over at Emma before joining her side, leaving Clara behind, not even interested in what she was shouting down the hall before she stomped off.

We were silent for a moment before I asked. "Why are you helping me? Why do you care?"

Crossing her arms while we continued on our way through the misty grounds of this floor, I could barely see my hand in front of my face, "I will tell you once you finish these tests, I don't know how much longer we will have together. I would rather tell you before something happens to either of us. We are clear here but know we are both in danger and I'm helping you not only to save my skin but also yours. I don't have time to explain now, but know I'm on your side."

"Forgive my lack of trust and belief in you. I have little choice though it seems. These tests worry me though what will they comprise? They won't be forcing samples out of me, will they?" I asked.

"Samples, like blood? That shouldn't be too bad." Her face suddenly turned as red as one of those irradiated tomatoes. "Oh gods, no, at least not that I was aware of. This was just a basic intelligence test. I won't lie and say that they don't plan to, but I'll get you out before then."

"Good, because I'll disappoint them, anyway." I scoffed.

She rubbed her head before stopping me and turning in my direction, slowly looking at the ground. "I don't know what to know, but you don't mean performance or...?"

I nervously scratched my claws together. "Uh...no, no, that isn't at all what I meant. More of it is pointless. I cannot have children, so the joke is on them." I realized what I said. "You keep this to yourself, otherwise I'm sure they will just off me."

She laughed, looking up at me, and hesitated. "Oh hey, at least they will off you alright, but probably in a good way first..."

I couldn't help but give a burst of laughter at that statement. "You aren't wrong. I know their intentions with me. Glavin mentioned me breeding an army for the Enclave when I was held prisoner at the Munition Plant, but as I said, that wouldn't work."

"As I said, I'll get you out before then, so you don't worry. I can't imagine how weird doing that unwilling would be. I don't want you to be subjected to that. This is where I leave you, though, so good luck just down the hall and to the right. Good luck, John, you're going to need it."

"Thank you, Emma. Don't you worry, I have been through worse than some flimsy test they can throw at me. I don't need my handheld, but I appreciate you showing me the way. Best of luck to you."

With a smile and a wave, she left me all alone back in the thick of this. I followed the directions she gave me and saw the end of the hallway. At least it was just one way. No side rooms to awkwardly stumble into. I couldn't help but chuckle. Here I am deep in enemy territory and here I am worried about going into the wrong room, probably getting shot in the face, and dying for nothing.

Entering the doorway, I gripped both sides before peaking in, ducking under the archway, and going even lower myself, even more, to avoid clunking my horns against the top of the doorway.

I found myself in a rectangular room with another door on the opposite side from the entrance, lit up with an ominous red light and a large number 1. As I fully stepped into the room, the massively bulky door behind me slammed down and shut, nearly falling on my tail, but I could jump out of the way before I lost the whole thing.

A wave of lights turned on one by one and an upper window lit up brightly, a group of scientist-looking individuals looked down upon me and all held clipboards and pens, ready to judge me and slandering the one in the middle spoke through the intercom.

"Welcome Mr. Lambert, we wish to test your level of intelligence and competency in stressful situations and answer some questions and basic goals we can get from you. Easy stuff, wouldn't you say? Now we can't hear you because all creatures we tested previously never spoke, so give us a simple nod if you understand and find your way to room number 1."

I looked directly up at the booth as they all awaited my response. Part of me wanted to play dumb, but I already grew tired of this, physically and mentally. I gave them a nod and approached the door, which was opened.

"Ah, you passed the first test. This second one will be rather easy. Most of our subjects figure it out easily. There are 5 total boxes on the floor in front of you. You will simply remove them in order of 3, 5, 1, 4, and 2. I won't be repeating this and please mind the claws. Press the button along the wall once you are ready."

He gestured in the button's direction, as well as the boxes. With a sigh, I strolled over to the button, which was brightly lit up and as welcoming as it was. Something is unnerving about this whole situation. Testing for intelligence? Whatever, I'll just follow along.

I hit the button gently with my index claw and quickly turned back around to the boxes. The ticking didn't wasn't heard more than once as I quickly and gracefully removed the boxes in order and even stacked them, using my tail to swipe up the last one.

"This is a joke. I can't believe this," I murmured under my breath before heading to the next door.

"Good job, John. Your ability to move boxes and stack them was impeccable. Definitely one of the best we have seen to this day, proceed to the next room. I can't wait to see what else you can do."

He glanced over at his colleagues with a laugh and turned off the speaker. I just went along with it and entered the next room. It was the same size as the last one, with a new wall in the middle, except it was only half-built. I heard the intercom turn back on.

"Alright, John, you are going to need to propel yourself over the wall, hit the button and climb it again and reach the door. We will time you until you scale the wall the second time. Heh, heh get it SCALE?'" he joked.

If cringe was an expression that could be felt, my entire being would have been overwhelmed, yes… scale. With a quick shake of my head, I climbed the wall. It was pretty easy seeing as I was taller than the wall itself. I pressed the button and made my way back to the door, minimally ticking once more. It's almost as if they expected me to be sluggish and slow. Were people usually bad at these?

"Well done, John. I see the immobile force of a slab of concrete won't be able to stop you from pressing lit-up buttons. Proceed to the next door and we can continue this chara- I mean test."

Yeah, we can continue to do this charade, don't you worry. The next room was another box except it had blue stripes along the floor instead of a red variety! A single terminal sat in the room on a more than a rusty table. A massive pane of glass was behind the table. The same group of three scientists was there behind some old-looking computers and switches, screens, and recorders.

They all watched me intently as I moved a chair out of the way and landed myself down in a semi-comfortable crouching position. It took a few times, but I eventually got in a reasonable position, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to sit on the floor with a deck above you when your chest touches the desk, not enough room to stretch my legs and the tail always gets in the way, many things.

"Okay, John. It's time you answer some thought-provoking questions. We set up a list of 11 questions with a surprise 12th if you do well enough. Most of our creatures we test fail here and I don't expect you to now. Let me tell you how to use a terminal. All you have to do is.."

I leaned forward as far as I could and tapped the glass with a pair of two claws, turned the terminal around, and turned it on without even looking at the keys, remaining my gaze on them as they booted up.

"I know how to work a damn terminal!" I spouted, even if they didn't hear me. It made me feel better.

This was purposely complicated, but I found my way to the first question. This is going to be sad, interesting, and downright annoying.

Question 1: You are going to take a trip and have a choice of somewhere familiar and similar or different and new. What do you choose?

I prefer somewhere similar to myself, but I find myself being stuck in new places lately, so I chose a new and different one.

The three of them wrote something different before continuing. "Interesting you can even have such an option. Continue."

Question 2: Oh no! You have been exposed to radiation! A mutated hand has grown out of your stomach. What's the best form of treatment?

1. Laser surgery

2. Bullet to the brain

3. Rad pills

4. Pray to God.

What a joke, mutated hand? Just cut that damn thing off with a rusty machete. I don't care. I ended up choosing answer 1. I was thinking of number 2, but let's be honest, a single bullet probably wouldn't kill me and I'm sure they would use anything against me at this point.

"Would that even happen to you, anyway? I don't think they designed these questions for deathclaws..."

With an annoyed grumble, I continued with the questions.

Question 3: You are the one who can save many at the cost of yourself. You will die, but an immeasurable amount of people live. Or you can do nothing and live, but everyone else will die. What do you do?"

Oh, this one has an actual text box to answer. These remind me of those old Vault terminals with philosophical questions. When I was younger, I used to care about these.

I answered I wouldn't want to choose, there is no right answer. Get myself killed by some strangers that will not care or keep me alive for those who I don't care for. I'll try to do both. It's the lesser evil and at least I won't be at fault.

"Well, that's heavy stuff. This world makes anything hard regarding anyone else. Risk and loss are so present."

Question 4: Do you prefer to be alone or surrounded by friends? Introvert or extrovert?

Prefer to be alone, but I like some people.

"I expected you to be a loner, do continue."

Question 5: Out of these 5 options, what do you desire most?

1. Wealth

2. Companionship

3. Power

4. Family

5. Nothing

These questions felt more and more personal as we went along, but I'll continue to answer honestly. I choose 4 for family, the thing which was taken from me.. the thing I will never have of my own.

"Missing someone? Aren't we all? This cruel world has taken someone from us in one way or another, just at the halfway point."

Question 6: God asks everyone to forgive and forget. Do you follow this philosophy, or will you ignore it and just survive?

I answered with; It is only up to God to forgive. It's up to me to send whoever I hate to him if there even is a God. Tell me, do you think a God truly exists in a world where nuclear fire has shattered everyone and everything we have ever known? Where abominable creatures like myself can exist? Where is your god now? There is no God, there is no being in the sky who will save us all. I will survive this hellscape and I will do it without false hope.

The three of them stopped their clicking and clunking before writing something down. The lead one spoke up again.

"No, I don't believe so. God wouldn't have allowed our nation to end in such a way."

Question 7: Of all the Wasteland creatures, what would you consider being the most dangerous ones?

1. Yao Guai

2. Radroach

3. Mole Rat

4. Brahmin

5. Bloatfly

6. Super Mutant

7. Deathclaw

Most of these creatures run on instinct. No wild deathclaw sits down and thinks. "I feel like I'll murder someone today." They have a simple life of sleeping, finding a mate, and hunting for food. Just survive in their way. They don't have the cognitive thought process to understand they are hurting a potentially innocent person by simply defending what is theirs and they typically avoid people from what I observed. Humans, on the other hand, take the title of the worst thing in the Wasteland. They will kill for fun. I chose the 5th option.

"I'm not sure if you are just biased or have a point. I like to think regular deathclaws and you don't coincide with each other, or even share the same desires, in terms of survival."

Question 8: If you could go back and change the Great War, what would you do?

This was an easy answer. Remove the nukes. It might even save the world, green and prosperous.

"Now I'm no pre-war expert, but most of us can agree that they should have never launched the nukes. So much life wasted, so much potential lost. Almost done now, keep going, John."

Question 9: If you could remove one of the top groups of the Capital Wasteland, what would you choose? (Pick multiple if it applies.)

1. Brotherhood of Steel

2. Enclave

3. Talon Company

4. Riley's Rangers

5. The Regulators

This was an easy answer, even while looking at all of them. I clicked the 2nd option.

"That's a shame and a little ironic. Let's make this the last one and add the two you didn't answer to the next session."

With a tired and bored nod, I let them proceed.

Question 10: What is your age range?

1.1-15

2.16-30

3.31-59

4.60+

What a random question to end on. I chose option 3.

"Seeing as you had your tag removed, I added that one in, as we know your species already. Can you make a number with your talons for us through the glass?"

I stood up from the ground as the terminal shut off and gave them a '45' with my hands and they seemed surprised. I leaned against the wall with a yawn and I heard them speaking amongst themselves.

"It's been that long already? Maybe we should make a new set of questions, maybe get some answers on the Vault and intelligent deathclaws.."

"He can still hear us," one woman whispered.

The main doctor looked at me wide-eyed before saying, "Not you, John. You did great, but you deserve some rest. I'll call Emma down to take you back to your holding chamber and we can do more tomorrow. I can't wait to see what else you are capable of!"

Yeah, sure, I can see through your bullshit. Treat me like a dumb animal behind a wall of glass, but whatever, I just wanted to sleep.

I took the time to think about it all, the questions and the answers which seemed way too direct, and only threw some oddballs in there to do simply that. I can't say it threw me off, but maybe I shouldn't have answered honestly at all. It's too late now.

They left and a short time later, Emma came in, fiddling with a device. I couldn't quite make out what it was and was in tow with plenty of soldiers once more; I kept against the wall with my arms crossed and my ankles overlapping on each other crossed as well; the room was just large enough that I could stand at full height.

She came in first, followed by the tiny army, and she put the device in her back pocket before approaching me and looking from my feet up to my face. "I wasn't aware you could do normal positions like that. I'm sure you are also tired. I kept Clara away from this and we can get back to your..room and you can rest."

I gave a wide yawn to my maw before blinking a few times and getting off the wall. "I am beyond tired and waiting has just made it worse. The test was boring and unnecessary. Let's get going so these guards can stop holding their bladders."

She gave a small giggle like a schoolgirl before leading me back into the hallway. The guards were silent just like before, just like always. We passed the steam and fog-filled floor and ended back in the spherical room. I was pushed and shoved back into the hall which led to my room. Emma didn't agree with that, and neither did I.

"I'm going, you know! If I keep getting pushed around, I'm going to hurt you all. There is no need for it and it's just irritating me and I'm already irritated.."

One of them finally spoke up and approached me right before we reached the end of that hallway. "And what are you going to do about i-"

Before he could even get "it," out, I swiped upwards and hit his helmet clear off, tossing it behind the crowd after spinning it on my middle, longest claws.

I gripped him and pulled him by the neck and reached for his plasma pistol, backing myself up against the wall and holding him by the neck with my arm, and pointed at all the shaking soldiers with the gun. "Do I have your attention now? Anyone makes a move and you all die. I am feeling merciful and I am giving you all the opportunity to walk out of here alive."

Emma was the first to approach, demanding the guards lower their guns, and the one I held panicked. With her arms up, she slowly went in front of him and me, a few feet away.

"John, listen to me, please. This move is going to get us both in trouble. You need to stop this before it's too late." Emma pleaded.

"No, Emma, no, I have played this game and played along for too fucking long. I want to get out, now! I don't belong here. I have people out there who need me. I'M STUCK HERE TAKING USELESS TESTS, ON A TERMINAL!" I raised my voice to her. To everyone, it shook the whole building around us.

"I was working on that! You aren't helping your cause. All we wanted was for you to help us…"

"Yeah? Help you with what? Build an army of intelligent Deathclaws like me to act like slaves? Use me against the Brotherhood? I will DIE before I give your Enclave ANYTHING! Your group took everything from me already. I despise you all with a passion I can't even put into words. You are a plague and I am going to crush you and your spineless deceit!" I threatened.

"John, you don't understand me.."

"No, Emma, I understand fully." I put the gun forcefully on the soldier's head and placed a claw on the trigger. "Let me out or he dies! No exceptions!"

Right before I could pull the trigger. A quick flash of red beam went by my head and sizzled the wall. A sharpshooter-looking man flipped the laser pistol on his finger before holstering it and pushing his way through the statue of a group of soldiers.

"Emma, you say THIS is the one we are trying to protect?" She looked at whoever this was and then looked at me. With a nod, he jumped into action.

"Okay, Mr. Lambert imma be real with you, these soldiers are just hired hands they do not know what is going on or the history you have with the Enclave, I know it's hard to believe that but they are innocent just trying to get by."

I let my gaze off the group and looked down at the soldier who I held hostage. He looked terrified, like he had never been in a situation that threatened his life. "Oh, fuck it," I let him go and shoved him back into the group of shaking soldiers, tossed the gun back, and demanded that they all leave.

Emma and her partner sighed in relief. "Good choice, John, now I am Carl Kay. We are on your side. Now I have something you must know."

Emma grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Not yet, Carl, let him rest first, then we will tell him together tomorrow."

I grumbled. "Whatever happened to tell me after the test, Emma?"

Carll stepped up and gestured for me to head back to the room. "BECAUSE look at the mood you are in. As a stranger, you don't know. I'll promise you here that we will tell you tomorrow when you wake up.. or get woken up."

"Yes, John, it would take too long to explain. Please, just rest, and I'll tell you everything then." She leaned up and whispered, "I'll even get you out of here, even after that little outburst. You don't know how important you are just yet, it seems."

They both walked off after leaving me to the room I was woken up in before, a cold metal floor to sleep on, questions about what I would have been told. Where was I exactly even, should I assume Crows Perch? If I know where this is, I can tell the Brotherhood and end the Enclave for good. But first I needed to find Glavin. I found a spot in the corner where I can see 'the door'. Should I get woken up, I could see whatever was coming. Sleep didn't hit me quickly at all. I had too much running through my head and I just wanted out of here.

Dreams were non-existent this time around. I don't even know if I fully fell asleep. I may have even slept with one eye open. Creeps were watching me sleep the whole time. It's almost like if I wanted to be observed, it would be better if I was willing. Why would they think about just asking me? I won't let them, anyway.

I had to wonder what Emma's angle is, and what is her goal? I don't trust her, that is for sure. She is just as brainwashed as the rest of them. I should have shot that guard when I had him and the rest of them all on the spot. At least I would be out of here or freed of this boredom.

I awoke to an empty room. I couldn't have been happier. Part of me expected Clara to be here trying to... I don't even know what, touch me in my sleep? I can't say I am very fond of that prospect. It just goes to show how twisted the Enclave is. They have creature molesters on their team. I got up with a wide stretch and wondered how the Brotherhood was doing, how Myles was doing. Maxson was probably happy to get rid of me, but I saved his ass whether or not he liked it. I saved the whole Prydwen.

I bet Mia would scour the entire Wasteland looking for me; I hope she is okay. I'm sure Myles would look, but he's in no condition to get out of bed, let alone find my sorry, scaly ass.

Grey is probably worried about me, but has Brothers and Sisters to save. I wish I could tell them to forget me and don't bother. I don't feel I would get out of here, not alive at least.

I was left in here for an ungodly amount of time. I placed back and forth and gently ran my class against the wall. I went in circles in the square room. The place looked like a murder scene without all the blood. They could very well just let me starve in here and I didn't even have a grasp on time. It was just darkness.

I eventually was relieved to hear the familiar sound of gears and mechanisms shifting. Much to my surprise, it was Emma holding a steaming plate of steak and steamed carrots and mutfruit.

She placed it on the floor in front of me and sat down across the way. "I owe an explanation, but eat first."

I gave her a suspicious look before sitting down and looking at the plate. "No, it's not poisoned. I made it myself. You can trust me."

I have a sign before placing the plate on my lap and sitting in a sort of Indian style."I suppose if it is, I'll be free of this torment," I had to ask her. "Why are you helping me, as well as what of the watchers? How was my test?"

She seemed to understand what I meant. "No one is watching, and they are still looking over your results. So, John, set the plate down when I tell you this news. It might surprise you, make you mad, all the above."

I set the plate down. "Emma? I don't know if I want anything that would make me mad, not right now."

"I'll cut to the chase, then. No bullshitting I made a promise to someone, someone you thought was gone."

I swallowed the last morsel of food before asking. "Who would that be?"

She gave a deep sigh before looking at me and simply said. "Your father."

I quickly stood up and dropped the plate at the same time. "No, NO Emma, don't you DARE lie to me about that? He's dead! How...how could you even think about this?" I backed up away from her with disdain and anger. There is no way…

She stood up herself and approached me. "No, John, you need to listen to me. He told me about you. He told me how he saved you in the Vault, told me what happened to your mother... I know it all. I am so, so sorry for everything that happened to you, but now that I promised him I would help you."

I glared at her but had to ask. "If he's alive, then where is he?!"

"He's not here. They moved him before you arrived. They didn't want you to see him and do anything... stupid."

I growled at her. "He's gone, Emma. Why would you lie to me about this?"

Grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the wall. "I'm not lying though! He heard about the peaky albino causing problems for the Enclave. He told me to find you and free you, to help you. He's alive, John. I can't prove it other than answering questions."

"Fine, fine Emma. What is my mother's name?"

"Martha, her name was Martha, and she cared about you more than anything. You were their little miracle."

That is exactly what they always said. I'm sure my face fell at her saying this, felt my eyes go wide, and simply said. "You might tell the truth. Where is he now, really?"

"I... I don't know John. They took him away. I don't know where, and they will bring him back. You can always come back once we get you out of here. Don't you worry, I will keep him safe."

"Ho-how is he?" I had to know.

"He is decrepit and sluggish. They kept him since the attack in the vault, and tried to use him to make an intelligent army of deathclaws, but it turns out he can't as well, which is confusing because here you stand."

"That is sad to hear. If you see him again, let him know I'll be coming to save him."

"You know I am already working on that one, I have had little time with him, just know that he still loves you and hoped that you were alive had kept him going, he doesn't even know you live and just assumed it was you."

I am happy to hear he is alive! I am sad to hear he kept living in hope for me. What I mean is that the Enclave kept him all this time. Are you sure there is nothing I can do for him?"

"I hate to tell you, no, not right now, at least. I have been here long enough. I'm supposed to just feed you and leave so sorry to cut short, but I must leave before I get in trouble. Expect me back later today and I'll get you out."

I shook my head. "You shouldn't risk yourself for me. I can get out by myself. Don't you worry, I have something to fight for now."

She smiled at me and took the plate from the ground and left me alone. My father lives... I have to save him now. I didn't want vengeance now. I wanted to free my dad; I wanted to save my dad, and I needed to get out of here first and get back to the Brotherhood.

I didn't know how to handle this information. I was conflicted, and I felt.. weak and powerless. Forget about revenge, this is about rescue now.

I stood there in thought before I heard the gears opening of the door and a single man in a dark black suit, with well-cut hair, and a watch on his wrist, he held his arm up with a finger out to stop me before putting it back down.

"Mr. Lambert, yes?"

I gave him a nod. "That would be correct. What are you here for?"

He turned, placing his hands behind his back, "The President would like to speak with you."

End Chapter: 21