Chapter 22: Kiss of the Serpent

Back on the Prydwen:

Myles awoke in a cold sweat, panicked and hazy. He hadn't had a good sleep since the attack, since John had been gone. Myles kept hoping he would just see him there, resting against the cabinet and sleeping peacefully, but no. Each morning is the same. His friend is gone, and the Brotherhood is in shambles. He wanted to help find him, but the Enclave just disappeared off the face of the Earth completely, with no trace and no lead to follow. He lay there for longer than he could comprehend; he didn't even think about anything, just wasted time. Myles eventually got himself up with a groan and a few choice words.

Not even bothering getting alcoholic drinks, no point getting wasted with so much to do. He got dressed and left his room, making his way down the hallway. These walls seemed closer and closer as he went along. Maybe it was just the lack of sleep, or maybe it was symbolic of the dread he now faces. The Brotherhood he knew all his life was now in shambles. His friend is gone. God only knows what has happened to him. Various residents of the Prydwen scattered and ran about the place. Everyone has a part here. It would seem that the Enclaves attack did more structural damage than the loss of troops.

That doesn't mean there weren't any casualties. Plenty of soldiers who fought are wounded and currently recovering, many of the ground troops were wounded or missing. As the days went on, more graves had to be dug and they were in no condition to retaliate. A group of organized raiders could outgun them right now, but they didn't know that.

Mia had gone in search of John for the last couple of days. She hadn't come up with anything. Not even a trail. The Enclave seemingly just disappeared. They took him and just vanished.

Myles decided it was best to go down to ground level and see if anyone needed help in moving anything. It was chaos, and no one was ready for this attack; it came out of nowhere. Even with the warning over the intercom, no one was prepared. He passed Maxson's observation room and was promptly stopped by Maxson as he passed by. 'Myles, can you join me for a moment?'

Maxson stood just by the window, his arms crossed behind his back, turned away from Myles, and used the ash-stricken window's reflection to see what his comrade was doing. Maxson and his demeanor didn't change, but his tone was not totalitarian or orderly. It was somber and almost comforting.

"I'm glad to see you are up and moving Soldier, I know this attack has been hard on everyone, myself included. We must not show them the effects this has on us, they are trying to break our spirit so we get sloppy and we won't allow that now will we?" Myles could see one of Maxson's brows rise through the stained glass as if he was asking him to answer that.

"No, Maxson, sir. If I can be honest with you for the moment, I ain't the attack that I am most upset about…" He stopped, almost as if he had regretted the words he just said to the Elder no less. Myles gave a nervous rub of his hands before continuing, "It's about John, Sir."

Maxson let out a sigh, but it wasn't the usual one of annoyance or disappointment, this one was almost sorry and sad, "Yes... the deathclaw who came in here and seemed to want to do right, he proved that to me during the attack. I realized he could have killed me, just dropped me off the elevator and been done with it." He looked upward through the glass, and he saw Myles was watching the reflection rather than Maxson himself, "It would seem that I was wrong in my judgment, I can't help but feel like if he had stayed with me he would still be here with us rather than some Enclave facility when God knows even what is happening…"

Myles took a step forward, almost out of shock, but it was a good shock, like that of cold water under the hot Wasteland sun. "Maxson, you are the last person I ever expected to hear that from, but we can discuss this later. What are WE going to do to find him now?"

Surely, even to Maxson's surprise, he turned around and searched through his coat to hand Myles a confidently sealed report of the assault. "I don't know Myles, we are spread too thin, too many wounded and too many to bury. I don't think this report will make you feel any better, but witnesses say that John climbed back up the broken elevator and disarmed some bombs on the Prydwen. That must have been around the time he saw you get caught and almost taken."

Myles skimmed over the report. It showed numbers of troops lost, those missing, and injuries. Summarized what had happened and everything that he had missed. "Mason, sir! We need to take action now! It's been 3 days since they took John and I'm not waiting any longer. If you give an order or not, I'm going to go looking."

Maxson simply paused and took the file back. "Why don't you-"

Myles then cut him off completely. "No, Maxson, no with all due respect, he saved MY life, YOUR life, and potentially the entire Brotherhood by giving himself up! I don't care about the odds, I don't care about the risk. He deserves much better than to be experimented and tested on by those sick bastards! Don't you dare tell me no because I will defy those orders and you damn well know it?"

Maxson gave no further argument. It was useless. Myles had decided that he was going to do something, at least search. "Alright, Myles, any other time I would punish you for insubordination, but this time I will let it pass and you know what you need to do." He placed a hand on Myles' shoulder before returning to the window, "You know I could use your help here still, but Mia is already looking on top of some smaller groups. You all better come back alive and safe, and, Myles. If you find him and can come back for help, I can't spare anyone right now, but if you know where John is, I'll give you a small army just to help."

He got some solace in that as he left Maxson's observatory, much more than he would have expected Maxson to ever allow. He clanged his way down the stairs to the lowest section of the Prydwen. Word was going around that John and Mia were working on fixing up his Power Armor. He was going to need that on top of plenty of gear and rations. He was going to be out for a while and would not come back till he came back with John or was dead himself.

The lowest portion of the Prydwen was luckily empty. Myles had plenty of time to mentally prepare himself for what was to come. Mia was still out looking, and Grey was tending to the injured. The only other person he would ask for help would be Genny, but she got sent to monitor the Jefferson Memorial. He eventually found it, a tucked corner under one of the air sacs under a large brown tarp. This had to be it.

Surely enough, evading the tools and various mechanical parts, he leaned in over a massive toolbox to take the cover off, and there it was: his custom-made suit of X0-1, painted and welded to perfection. He couldn't help but be amazed by the handy work they both had done on it. Myles would need to see if John had as much expertise with Power Armor as he does with weaponry.

He marveled at the suit, almost forgetting how well it looks all polished and shined up, the Brotherhood insignia blaring brightly on the shoulder pads, it's dark blue almost black hue giving off an intimation vibe to set fear in all the enemies of the Brotherhood. This seems to be even more heavily modified than it was previously. The armor plating seemed much more sturdy and does not at all mean that the original suit was weak, it was top of the line and best in its class. This one just has some... Vault Dweller and Talking Lizard assistance.

He grabbed the helmet and spun it around his hands before stopping it in a position where he can look at the lenses, his reflection more visible than within a mirror, the highly insulated insides looked very inviting, he could practically live in this Power Armor if I didn't need to get fixed after fights. His messed-up hair and scruffy beard didn't look Brotherhood material. Looks matter little under a helmet now, do they?

Moving around to behind the frame so he can properly enter it, setting the helmet on a nail in the wall. There was a convenient fusion core already in it, almost as if they had tested and run trials to make sure it worked. He smiled at the thought that they cared about him enough to test the suit before giving it to him, but he also felt cheap because this was supposed to be a surprise for the both of them and now neither of them is here and one is missing.

"Enough feeling sorry for myself and for once in my life I am going to be the one to save him," He murmured to himself. It was for himself. Or maybe he was trying to reassure some otherworldly force. No one knows, not even he knows what it was for.

He placed a fusion core and twisted the crank on the back of the suit, opening it up to allow entry of the user. The steam releasing and the clanging of the shift in metal and pressure. He never will grow tired of hearing that sound of air being released as the suit changes. Entering his legs first and lining his arms up to the padded interior as the suit enclosed him entirely, as safe as a suit of armor these days can make someone. Closing the tumblers and locks with a satisfactory *click* and he was in.

Cracking his knuckles through the armor plating, he grabbed his helmet and put it on. Time to brave the Wasteland once more. Myles took the time to gather the rest of his gear as he made his way through the Prydwen. He picked up some extra cores from the armory and stopped back by his room from rations and that plasma laser rifle mix John had modified. Placing a tactical bag around his leg holding the rest of his ammo and fusion cores, quickly grabbed a Quantum from his fridge and rushed out of his room, rifle, and sledge strapped to his back.

Making his way to the elevator, he briefly thought of just jumping off, but since he was already here, might as well take it down. Fortunately for Myles, the scribe who handled Intel and information was waiting along with him. "Ah, Myles, I recognize that suit anywhere. Glad you are up moving again, finally. How are you doing, off on a special mission? I didn't hear Maxson give any all-clear to let anyone believe me. I would know."

Simply giving a shake of his head and crossing his arms. "No, scribe. Maxson didn't send anyone on a mission. This is a personal matter. I am going out to find John. Did you hear anything suspicious in the last couple of days?" He paused with a dramatic sign, "I am doing terrible, honestly. I feel like utter crap and I lost brothers and sisters along with my friend who is missing… not a good couple of days, this."

"Yes, that attack has been hard on us all, but we will always come back, right? And yes." He flipped through his notes and papers, "In fact, I have a recent report, this morning very early there was a sighting of a crashed Vertibird near an old pre-war barn, it was a short distance from here and well; we were meaning to look into it, but everyone has been so preoccupied with the attack..."

The elevator landed and Myles took the notes from the scribe's hands. "I'll look into that one, hand it over, I'll go alone. It's the only lead I have and I have a feeling John would be capable of crashing a Vertibird."

The scribe let go of the papers. "If you insist, Myles, but I doubt he was amongst that wreckage. These things crash and burn all the time, and surviving that is a miracle..."

"Don't care about odds, odds are not something we calculate around here. I am going to check it as it's my only lead. Good luck to you, Scribe." Myles left the elevator without another word and made his way through the entrance, past the two soldiers guarding. He ignored all the destruction and desecration as he looked over the notes. Time to head east. He should arrive at the crash site by nightfall. These coordinates are far out, but if he ran at a steady pace…

Earlier, amongst the Enclave:

The suited man kept his arms behind his back as I followed behind him. He kept up a steady pace and almost seemed to be in a rush. Many of the soldiers and scientists that we passed seemed to address and quiver in fear as he went by. None of them hesitated to move out of our way and even bowed their heads in respect, if not fear.

"Why is everyone so fearful of you?" I just had to ask as we ended up alone in a tunnel.

"It's not me they fear. It's Eden. I am his messenger and word. Anyone who acts out gets punished. That includes me. He's a ruthless leader and even more ruthless at dishing punishment."

I couldn't help but scoff, "I don't fear him, but do you?"

He stopped dead in his tracks as stiff as an irradiated, rotten stump, "Mr. Lambert, please listen to me when I tell you he is cruel to everyone. He holds something personal to everyone under his metaphorical thumb. We all have to do his bidding or suffer the consequences, yes I fear him greatly."

"Well, he holds no power over me. Why does he want to see me, anyway? I don't imagine a meeting with the 'president' is something that happens often."

Leaning forward before continuing his stride. "He believes he can sway you to join us. I'm not supposed to even say anything, but I'm sick of this. I'm sick of being forced to do everything and hurting people. This isn't what we should stand for." He turned around to face me, looking up and having a look of worry and just despair, "I will probably get slaughtered for telling you these or even suggesting it, but I believe you can stop him, stop us."

"I already had plans to stop the Enclave, even if you are simply trying to fool me here and make me say something I'm going to regret. I will make it clear now."

"No trickery here, master Lambert. Many of us believe you are the one who will save us all."

He turned back around and stood still for a moment before continuing onwards, assuming that I would follow. I gave an annoying sign before following along. These halls were empty, and it was just really, really suspicious. We ended up at the towering bulkhead door. It had a rectangular shape, with the corners being cut circular.

He turned to press a long length of code into the doorway as I stood there and just waited. What else can I do? "Here we are Mister Lambert, try to be behaved and don't let Eden sway you," He finished the door code and gestured to the clang opening door, it took a decent amount of time for the thing to open and he bid me farewell and good luck.

The door was large enough that I didn't even need to duck down to avoid busting my horns on the top of the doorway. The other side was dimly lit, lengthy in terms of vertical room, and with a single wide staircase in the middle. It had the same color palette as the rest of the place is a gray and dark hue of colors surrounded by ominous lighting.

But the light up these steps was simply a violently bright white. I'm sure my albino scales made me look like a ghost at this point and it just got more and more intense as I went until it just... stopped. Getting some serious trap vibes, I took it slower and took every step with deliberate and silent care.

I ended at the top and found myself on a platform of sorts leading off the steps. It had a massive-looking computer on the right side with many differently shaped and sized screens, and on the opposite side of me was another bulkhead door. The computer wall itself seemed to be inactive. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. It wasn't even a mess of screens and electronics. It looked like the entire operating system.

I wasn't able to figure out how to even turn the thing on and the last thing I wanted to do was accidentally set off a self-destruct sequence of something catastrophic of that nature. Deciding that this was beyond my understanding, I moved on to the behemoth-sized door. There was no operation or control panel anywhere in sight. Great, so the computer opens this door.

I did some basic ideas to start this excessively large terminal. Nothing happened until it slowly booted up suddenly. The smaller screens that surrounded the third largest one turned to static and the biggest one in the middle had a cyan line across the middle of the screen. I didn't do this, or my input was impressively delayed. Confused and lost, I applied some attempts to boot the actual computer itself up, not just the screens. The static from the smaller ones were overlapping each other, and was like white noise. I knew it was there and existed, but I just tried to drown it out until… silence.

"Ah, face to face, at last, your reputation precedes you, Sir. Johnitan Lambert. It's nice to see you as capable as my reports say."

I looked up from the keyboard and saw the cyan line on the screen move almost like lips as whatever was behind that screen spoke, "Yes well, I don't know how you know my name let alone what I am 'Capable' of, how about you stop hiding behind that big screen and speak face to face?" I continued to mess with the technology, but had no luck in changing anything.

A sign happened from the screen. "You don't seem to understand I am face to face with you. I cannot simply get out of here and walk around like you. I am artificial of sorts, what is seen before on the screen is me."

I stopped fiddling with the buttons and asked. "Who are you then?"

The machine was silent for a moment before enthusiastically saying. "I am none other than John Henry Eden, president of the Enclave and president of the People!"

"The President... of the Enclave is a computer?"

"Why am I not simply a computer! I am a highly adept and capable, complicated piece of Pre-war technology, far beyond anything else you have ever seen or dealt with. There is nothing on this wasted Earth that can compare to me."

I backed up from the device and simply stood there, looking at him up and down, trying to get every inch of this screen to debunk what was going on, leaning in at the screen, "You are Eden. I heard of you scarcely. It seems people are too scared to talk or even mention you. From the looks of it, you are manipulative and treacherous." I leaned in forward to the screen and practically hissed the last word at him before backing up again, standing in the middle of the room.

"I believe you have a misunderstanding of what is going on here. I'm simply trying to help humanity, nothing more and nothing less. As you are more than likely aware, I was once destroyed, but I am everlasting! See, unlike some humans, I can live again even after a total and complete annihilation. No matter what happens, I will eventually be back."

I sighed and gave a gesture like crossing my arms. I wasn't buying what he would tell me, but I decided to bite. "What is your plan for the Wasteland, then? From what I can see, it's eliminating everyone and everything that moves and isn't involved with your little organization." I waved a few claws in his direction to emphasize my last point and insulted them all.

He gave out what I can only describe as a groan of disappointment, whatever equivalent a monotone machine can make. "No, no, I believe you are more than capable of determining that one all on by yourself. What I called you up here for was to personally ask you for help."

I couldn't help but scoff at this statement. "Your plan is to purity the Wasteland, ironic because the Brotherhood is trying to do the same thing, but you know what's funny? I never thought I would ever say this, but they are less extremist than them. No, no, you bastards will kill any creature that isn't a man simply for the principle of it. Yet I stand before you the pinnacle of what you fear and dread, an impossible creation that may I remind you that YOU made!" I pointed my index talon in the screen's direction before starting back on the keyboard.

"That is exactly why I'm asking you for assistance. You are owned by me, meaning you should follow my every order. I'm giving you that chance to work with us willingly or I'll be forced to take aggressive measures..."

I leaned back and suddenly burst out laughing. What a ridiculous request! "You, you want me to help you? I am going to refuse and it should be no surprise that I refuse! You killed my entire vault. Not only that, you are the evil that is plaguing the Wasteland, making people into Mutants to do your bidding. Are you fucking kidding me? You are the tyrant here, and I am going to be the one to end you once and for all." I needed to delete Eden for good.

"Foolish reptile! I already told you I am everlasting, I am forever. You can never get rid of me and besides, you want a little secret? This isn't even our main point of operations. This is what we call *The Click* It's a recruiting center to increase our ranks. My main operation screen isn't even here. Destroying me now would be pointless and futile."

I am going to hate myself for asking this. "What would you even possibly need me for, making you an army?"

"On the contrary, not at all. That was an idea of our scientists. I don't believe it is necessary or even encouraged. It is creepy. I will announce for anyone to stop suggesting it." He paused for a moment before continuing, "I believe we can use you to clean the Wasteland. I can assure your safety and allow you to live."

"If I continue to refuse?"

"Then you will be an enemy of the Enclave and will be wiped off the face of the Earth like everything else that stands against us."

I crouched down to look at the lower boards of this massive device while saying. "Well, Eden, unfortunately, I still stand against you, unlike everyone else you have under your electrical thumb I don't have anyone you can hold against me, you use a family to make me do your bidding because mine are all dead, you arrogant prick!"

I heard some clicks and bobbles, almost as if he was getting frustrated. "You disappoint me, John. We share a name and a sake. I wiped your Vault decades ago! We are the future! Join us or die. Everyone will pick a side eventually and the Brotherhood is ruining our plans. YOU are ruining our plans. We can achieve so much good if we can just let go of the past. But fine, if you want to hold on to it, let me show you what you are keeping."

One of the largest screens on my left side turned on towards the door. I couldn't tell what it was at first. It was a wave of static before turning black completely. Booting up again with a spark, I then realized this wasn't the screen itself, this was a recording!

Seeing the camera pan from side to side, you could ever so faintly hear the old gears and mechanisms go with it, audible and prominent. It took a short while for the whole screen to come to fruition; I saw familiar halls and interior decor, the layout of a place seated deeply within my mind.

This was a recording of my vault's massacre. I recognized it instantly.

I attempted to look away. This was a test from Eden it had to be. Not that I had anything to prove to him this was more for me. I was better than this; I was stronger than this.

Giving the vile computer a look of disdain, I mustered up enough willpower to keep my eyes on the screen of the recording. It went through as much as I remember. A complete and total killing spree, just from a different angle.

I saw it all. From the time I came from the lower level, I ran into my dad, in the hallway in which they gunned my mother down at. It cycled through many cameras and views, but it only seemed to follow me and my escape. It then ended right when I and Dad reached the Overseer's office.

The screen turned blank as Eden gave a grumble, "You seem rather unaffected by all that. Why do you not care about what happened to your vault? Have you grown out of it? If you are over it so much, why not join us rather than destroy us?" He was mocking me!

I had reacted to this violently and gave a wide slash across his screen with all the might I can muster. I feel the scream I gave out would make even the most diabolical of Wasteland crazies shutter in their boots. Looking at the screen and then back at my hand, which sliced through it, he is right about one thing. "No, I see this every day, every waking moment of my life. The vault massacre plays in my head repeatedly. You cannot torment me more than I've already tormented myself. Don't you even try to double back and make this a case for me to join this false cause? I already despise you and everything you stand for!"

"Well, John, what happens when you get out of here? Everyone will always see you as a monster, that is all you are, that is all you will ever be! Amongst the Enclave it won't matter what you are, you will be among those who understand you, why and how you exist."

I simply paused and didn't say a word before turning away from him. "I know, I know what I am and how people view me, I can prove to others that my appearance isn't the sum of all my parts, I will always be a monster to the vast majority, but I will never be your monster!"

"Shame, shame, John, you could have proven to be a valuable asset to us. Frankly, I believe you would be better off dead than a loose end. However, I have no means to kill you, and calling my guards would only let you prepare, so here is what I am to do." He paused for a long while before speaking up again, his voice much more sinister now as I awaited what nonsense he would spout from those speakers, "I am going to call for a purge and only the strongest that survive will be added to our ranks, that is how we do it around here. Should you be able to make it out under all the chaos, you are free to go. If not, you will simply die!"

I just looked at him like he was crazy. This machine has lost it! "Oh, yes, and John, before you go I have some information you might like, Remember Navarro…"

Before I could even ask anything else, he shut down and opened the massive door at the end of this platform; it led to an open space with plenty of soldiers and scientists just moving from room to room, they all seemed to notice me at the same time and scrambled for their weapons and I made a mad dash for cover behind one of the many guard post further up this extensive floor.

Bullets and lasers ticked and fell off the wall in front of me. I was pinned, and charging them would be suicide.

"Attention good residents of the Enclave, this is your President, John Henry Eden, speaking directly to your heart. It has come to my conclusion that its time you all prove your loyalty to me. Today is the day you join our ranks! Tonight we get purged! I let in anyone who can sustain a reasonable body count. May the best amongst you win. President Eden, signing off."

Many of the soldiers and residents that had their attention on me suddenly looked at each other, and over and over, all of them seemed frozen in place. I heard one spout, "I thought the purge wasn't for another month?!" Before promptly getting blasted by a group passing by, they just opened fire into the small group that was shooting at me before the announcement, no survivors. I heard the shells of ammunition clang against the ground as they moved from room to room. Screams of death and destruction echoed throughout the halls and painted the walls red. I crept my way past the carnage, I can't feel bad for those who were just shooting at me unprovoked... Could I? Those three were laughing throughout the rooms, I swear I could hear them saying how they murdered Emma's family and are using her to get that promotion. Eden came over to the loudspeaker again before I could process any of that.

"This is your President again. I forgot to mention the first person to bring me the head of the Albino Deathclaw walking around will receive a massive bonus in the promotion department. He was last seen by my doorway. Good hunting folks!"

That technological bastard just swindled me! I wasn't meant to get out during this Purge, no... It meant me to be a trophy of the damn thing. Well, like I was going to let that happen, I went back to the pile of bodies and grabbed a few of their rifles, and strapped them to my back. Claws won't do me any good if I can't reach my target now, will they?

I trudged through these rooms of death, passing through worse and worse scenes. Whatever that group was, they had been waiting for this day almost like they planned a route. I have an easy goal, and that is to simply get the hell out of here. Not that I had any plan or idea where I was going, but I didn't want to stay in one place for very long.

These rooms were getting more and more elaborate as I went through them. I passed a scientist wing and a mess hall. Found one room where they kept all the creatures in suspended animation, much like how I was when I was still confined and bound.

I found myself in a rather open room, passing a small doorway that looked like some kind of technical office. There were trashed desks and chairs toppled over, the walls riddled with bullet holes and scorch marks, no blood though.

I followed the trail of bullet holes and ended up through many relatively clear and clean hallways, considering what I had seen previously. I heard the very faint sound of an argument, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Peaking around the corner I saw a doorway, blasted off and what looked like vehicle storage, a way out perhaps?

I crept forward, keeping my head low, and eventually walked myself on all fours, much less likely to get shot in the face at least. That would be unfortunate. As I approached the doorway, someone burst through it, practically tripping, and ran directly into me with a chilling scream.

"JOHN?! Why are you creeping around? How did you even get here? I thought they put you back into the holding room. I wasn't supposed to see you for another half a day! Why do you have a small arsenal on your back?" It was Emma. She fixed her hair and stepped back from me as I stood back on two legs.

I just looked down at her in absolute confusion, "Emma, as glad as I am to see you are okay, you must be joking, right? Did you completely miss the purge announcement? I am trying to get out. Why don't you come with me?" I reached out one of my hands, almost to reassure her I would have her back.

She said nothing before reaching behind her back and pulling out a syringe and quickly jabbing it into my arm, causing me to pull back away from her, but the damage was already done. "What, what the hell was that for?!" With whatever coherence I had left.

I heard her say. "I'm sorry, John. I don't have a choice." Before I fell over with a thud against the metal flooring, I saw four pairs of feet in front of me before hearing. "Well done, Emma. You might just see them again if you can keep this up." Before the drug took its toll and made me black out once again.

I awoke what seemed like a short time later; They tied me with a chain against one of those vehicles they drove in on. They wrapped me multiple times right against my abdomen, the same bindings it forced me into when I first entered here, and some kind of collar around my neck.

I was looking down at my predicament and, to put it lightly, I was thoroughly fucked, surrounded. One of the three soldiers I saw earlier came out mockingly clapping his hands before addressing me with a remote in his hands. "Never thought I would have expected a deathclaw to fall for a woman and not too easy at that. We knew you came out of the President's office and would eventually come this way, a nice little trap wasn't it, Emma?" He aggressively said her name as the other two so kindly escorted her to stand in front of me, she didn't make eye contact.

He inspected the remote before getting a nod from his two goons and pulled the switch on it. It caused the collar to send a shockwave through my entire body. It felt like a thunderstorm around my neck and made me roar out in agony. Before he came up to me and smacked me across the face with his metal hand, still within his power armor suit.

"That is only the first level of this collar. I hope you like this because I'll be frying you until you are broken and begging for me to end your suffering! You can thank Emma for that. Please ask her why."

I just looked down at her. I felt angry and betrayed, and I wanted to rip her head off for what she did. I couldn't utter anything else, but it was very painful. "Why?"

She looked up at me and if regret and sadness could be placed on someone's face, it would be hers; she went to say something but stopped before one goon shoved her out of the way and gave me a rough punch on the chest. "We have her family, you dumbass. She has to do everything we say, otherwise we off them!"

These bastards! They killed them already and are just using her! "Emma, please listen to me. They already-"

They cut me short when the collar was reactivated. I physically could speak nothing while it was on, and it just got worse and worse as he turned the dial-up laughing maniacally along with his two goons. They were distracted by this, though. I felt Emma reach under behind me and loosen the chains against my abdomen and take the bindings and quickly make them loose enough for me to free myself.

She said nothing before backing up behind one vehicle by the side. They never even noticed it and were entertained by me getting their shocking treatment.

"Oh, impressive, still resisting at such a high voltage. I've underestimated you, lizard. Hey, Emma! Bring me that higher battery you were talking about!" he shouted.

She pulled out what looked like the same thing that was already in the remote; she asked for the thing and looked over me with a nod and acted like she was replacing the battery, went to hand it back, and then threw the thing on the ground and stomped on it with two feet before retreating quickly to cover.

"Emma! You just revoked the right to see your family!" he shouted.

I took this moment to break free from my chains, literally. Busting out of those heavy chains and throwing those bindings against my wrist at the goons, I wasted no time pouncing on the closest to me and shoved my hand up to his helmet, the blood splatters visible through the helmet as I gushed his throat from the inside out. I pulled my hand forward rather than out and completely rippled his head clean off while I stood over him; I chucked his head at the other goon before picking him up at the crotch and using my other hand to go through his chest; I tore him in half with a satisfactory roar, his blood raining upon my shoulders and horns, painting me as the monster they should fear. Their leader with the remote has scrambled for some kind of gun before running at the doorway, tripping over the toolbox box. I ran at him with full force, shoving him into the wall and cutting into his arm, even the power armor couldn't save him from the dismemberment of his left arm, I dropped him to the ground as he held the numb that was once his arm, wincing and grunting in a panicked state. I heard him shuffle behind me and go through the doorway, leaving a blood trail as he went.

I turned to Emma, blood dripping from my horns, and reassured her, "He will most likely bleed out. It's fine."

She didn't even acknowledge that before faintly asking, "Are they dead?" She looked like she was about to break down completely. I couldn't lie to her.

"I'm sorry to say, Emma, but that seems to be the case. They were saying how they already killed them and were just using you. Is there a way we can be sure?"

She slammed herself down on the floor and completely lost it. "No, NO! Everything I did for them was for nothing! I hurt and had people killed to save them and you are telling me they have been gone the whole time!?"

I tried to reassure her by helping her up and just smacked me away. "Don't you fucking touch me!" I didn't know what to do, so I just... let her let it all out while I looked upon her.

She crawled over to the man I tore in half and picked up his pistol. She clutched it with both her shaky hands before sitting on her knees, looking at the mangled bodies of the two goons, and then back to me. "I don't want to live on the things I did for them, and they aren't even here. I never said goodbye." She went to hand me the gun and asked, "John, I want…I want you to kill me, just do it, quickly to the head, please?"

Here I was covered in blood and still had that collar around my neck. "Emma, you know I can't do that. Let's get out of here, together. We can both get our much-needed revenge against the Enclave so no one else loses their family?"

I could see a faint smile under all those tears. "You are very sweet trying to help me, to save me. I was right about you. There is no hope for me. I am not as strong as you are, but I know you can go it alone, avenge me and your Vault. Goodbye, John. I'm glad to have met you."

I then knew what she was going to do. I tried to stop her!... I tried to reach her in time, but I couldn't. She put the gun up to the side of her head and didn't even hesitate. She shot herself right in front of me. That was it. Emma was gone. She killed herself right in front of me.

I went to grab her as she did it, but it was already too late. I just stood there, both my bloody hands shaking excessively. I was just frozen. It felt like a dream. I didn't feel sad or remorseful. I just felt empty.

I gave my head a shake and fell back to reality. I still had to get out of here. I closed her eyes and told her goodbye and found my way through the hangar. Nothing here I can use, so I moved on quickly and never looked back. I entered another hangar across the field. At least I knew I was on the ground floor. Worse comes to worst, I'll climb a fence.

I couldn't stop thinking about Emma. They took her family from her and she just didn't want to fight anymore. I couldn't do anything to prevent the damage that was already done. All I can do is make sure these bastards pay for what they did to her and me. I scoured around the hangar bay for anything of use. There were various Vertibird parts and blades all over the place. I wonder if I could make myself a Bumper Sword, or something similar to one. A massive blade made of the parts of a Vertibird, capable of cutting through anything. I learned how to make and use one of these back in Nevada, but that was ages ago. Nevertheless, I picked up the blade and carried it over to a table full of scrap.

I needed to get the collar off me as well. No need to make myself look like an escaped prisoner or a slave. I used my claws to sharpen and trim the blade down to shape, keeping the top angled for easy stabbing motions. I curved the whole thing towards the bottom of what would be the hilt for easy weight distribution and cutting ability; I took what was a lead pipe and welded it together, using a blowtorch to a chunk of metal. Once it melted together, I waited a moment to trim it down to a sizable handle, even with my claws. A custom-built handle for my eventual blade is shoddy work that I'll need to tune up in a more safe and more accessible environment, but this will have to do.

I found some leather straps around the table and stitched them together before gently scratching some holes into the blade and hilt. I would need to carry it after all and keep my hands free. Measuring a strand of leather from my shoulders to my tail, I got a proper distance to where it would be long enough, not in the way, and perfect for my size.

Made some finishing touches and now all I needed to do was weld the two bits together and I would have myself a proper weapon, and one hell of a story to tell when I made it back to the Prydwen.. assuming I made it back alive.

I grabbed the welder, plus both finished parts of my new blade. I would weld the bits together, as I didn't need to hang around here any longer than I needed to.

"JOOOHN! I AM COMING FOR YOU!" I heard from across the hangar, it was the man whose arm I cut off! He was back and had some kind of ripper in the spot where his arm should have been, the gnashing teeth ready to tear into whatever flesh it could find. It was a shoddy modification, mixed with his jet-black power armor, but that doesn't mean I would simply stand still and let it chop me.

He revved up his ripper and readied a Combat rifle. I was a sitting duck where I was. Speaking of duck. I quickly threw myself to the ground and found myself behind a Vertibird. There was not a chance in hell my claws would be enough to handle the ripper's fury. It was far too dangerous to challenge that. I had to think and act fast. I decided rather than wait to weld my Bumper Sword together later, I should do that now. I got up and quickly got to work, snatching a few metal plates off the table as I bolted past a couple of Vertibird having to juggle everything in my arms as I went, I placed the extra metal plates within my maw as I made laps around the hanger, avoiding gunfire and keeping ahead of that lunatic. Toppling tables and various mechanical parts.

Can't say I ever had to make something so complicated while on the run. Usually, this is something I would have done on a table to perfection. He was set on getting me. I had no way out of here. I continued to ignore his ramblings and finally got a comfortable ground to where the welder melted the bar against the hilt of the blade. Now I just need to do the other side. I got another plate out of my mouth. These things were incredibly dusty and dry and tasted like an irradiated patch of dead grass.

The welder looked like it was on its last leg. I needed just enough juice to burn these two plates together to the handle. That's it. It surprised me through this whole ordeal. I lined the plates up properly and wedge the handle together with the whole thing, now to burn them all in one and then trim it down. I combined the two pieces and freed a hand. Now I can use the welder effectively. Still, under fire, I heard the clanging of his footsteps grow closer and closer, the humming of the ripper literally on my tail.

I felt a tingle throughout my spine. He was drawing closer and closer, spouting nonsense about how I ruined his entire plan and killed his only friends. "Don't you worry, you will join them in Hell soon enough!" I then realized he wanted me to say something back, to give away my position! I fell for it.

I quickly rushed to the edge of a Vertibird, and backed up against it as closely as I could without my back spines scraping against it. I waited and caught my breath for a few moments. I heard nothing, no ripper or his overly loud footsteps. I took this time to test my newly put-together blade. The first test was friction. I gave it a bend, and it didn't even move. This was odd, as it was still cooling down. The hilt middle of the handle was still a blazing red glow. I held it straight upwards, ready to strike. There was still one thing I had to know.

"Emma's family, are they dead, or was that just another string in the Enclave's rope of lies?"

There was no answer for a good few moments before I heard his sour-sounding voice just a short distance from me, "Yeah, her husband and little boy were offed shortly after the Purge announcement started. I saw to it and then found her so we can take advantage of the fact that we had her family. Once we were done with her, she was going to get killed, too. Why do you even care for one dumb bitch, anyway?" The last sentence seemed to have echoed within my mind and the bunker.

I should just get out of here. These Vertibirds were completely operational, yet I knew not how to fly one. I suppose now is the time to learn, right? I can always get this fucker later, anyway. Let him win the purge and climb the ranks. I made a distraction, whacking my tail against the metal exterior of one of the Vertibirds I was already up against. It echoed throughout the entire hangar, allowing one to not make a pinpoint location from where it came from, reverberating off every vehicle within the place it almost made a hymn.

The window of opportunity was narrow. I strapped the blade to my back and made a mad dash to one of the less crowded Vertibirds. I made a serious bet on this being operational and in working order. Quickly entering the control panel. I crouched through the door and quickly shut it behind me, using a shovel that was there to wedge in between me. There was the other side door to worry about as well. Its lock will have to do.

I found myself in a very cramped position already, unable to fit where the two pilots would be I found a middle ground, crouching between the two seats and leaning my chest between them so I can access the controls, the other half of me was within the passenger section, Vertibirds was not made with a Deathclaw in mind.

I had to keep myself uncomfortably low to this dirty floor, so much as to lean up slightly and I'm busting my head on the ceiling. I feel the Brotherhood Vertibirds were much, much more spacious than this. They already one-up the Enclave on that one.

Having never read a document on how to fly this thing, basing it purely on having seen others do it, I'm an expert alright, right? It's just a complicated array of switches and levers to which I don't know what exactly to do. Start pushing buttons and hope for the best.

I wasn't able to consider my options because that reassuring sound of the Ripper was heard from even outside this position in the cockpit. Then I saw him, black armor shimmering throughout the blaring lights above. He was standing in front of the Vertibird, no he wasn't waiting for me to get out. He was trying to sabotage it!

Now I wouldn't classify my next course of action as a panic attack, but I started frantically pushing buttons and pulling switches, some off, some on, and others on a repeated cycle of both. In the few moments I spent doing this, I managed to somehow not find the starting switch, however; I did figure out how to control the thing using a row of four dials by the joystick. Being fairly confident I could somewhat reliably navigate this thing, I continued my crusade to start this thing. It never occurred to me that fuel might be an issue.

Much within a stroke of luck, I heard the soothing humming of the engine. The only problem was I flipped multiple switches and didn't know which one it was. It didn't matter at hand. The garage doors opened, and they revealed the Wasteland sun just setting off on the horizon. I could see my freedom just feet away. Also, how cute that the doors open automatically when you start one of the Vertibirds.

Wasting no time, I pushed that hunk of metal through the doorway and had a rough takeoff but I pulled through, knocking my adversary over as I went by the thing wasn't too difficult, just pull the joystick in the direction you wanted to go and the blades will adjust that way, I remained pretty high up considering as the Hell of an Enclave base was nothing more than a wavy speck behind me.

My goal was to head back to the Prydwen, tell them about this recruiting center and allow us to lay siege to it, if there will be anything left. The only problem was I did not know where I was going. I couldn't tell what anything was from up here. Flying this thing gave me anxiety by the minute, but it was almost peaceful hearing nothing but the blades rotating above me.

The view was pretty nice as well, with a whole different perspective. Granted, I saw nothing of note, but I can imagine how traveling via Vertibird can be a strategic advantage, as well as for general scouting and getting from place to place.

One worry I had was how to land. It was going to be a crash landing, for sure. There was no gracefully putting this thing down.

My worries were incredibly short-lived because I took a shot to the side of the Vertibird, another, and then another. I don't believe it came close to hitting me, but it heard it ringing against the outside. I wasn't able to pinpoint where it was specifically coming from. I had assumed it was simply raiders being carefree idiots like always. Oh, how wrong I was.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a missile struck it, causing me to shake and fall backward because it was a directly on the front, at the control panel. Shrapnel and broken glass littered the floor below me as a deep ringing and blurred vision took me for a few moments. Sitting up again once I regained my senses, I realized that the Vertibird was spinning out of control rapidly!

I braced myself against both seats upfront and made some sorry excuse for a prayer, hoping that something, anything, would hear my plea to walk away from this disaster. Spiraling downwards, it finally crashed against the Wasteland ground. It blew up on impact and launched me out of the front window as the explosion came from the engine in the back. I was still breathing and coherent. The blast hadn't taken my conscience or my life.

Laying down under a pile of rubble and debris from the Vertibird itself I had to push a couple of metal bits and sheets off of myself, the main structure was a burning blaze next to me and I was all scratched and burned in multiple places I didn't even know I had. Getting up, I had a sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen. A chunk of shrapnel penetrated me right at my belly. It was a nasty jagged looking thing, and it hurt like nothing I ever experienced when I so much as walked. I decided I only had one choice.

Bending down on my knees in the middle of all this carnage, I quickly took the Bumper Sword off my back and placed it next to me. I did a timer and counted down, giving myself enough inspiration and willpower to pull the rusted shard from my stomach. If it had hit me any lower, I would have been really sad then.

The jolt of pain I experienced pulling that shard out of me was only matched by the torrent of blood that followed, even with my blurred vision I could see that this was bad, if I didn't fix it soon I would be nothing more than a dried-up corpse under the Capital Wasteland's unforgiving sun.

I made the next egregious choice that day. I decided I was going to cauterize the wound using the fire from the wreckage. I held my belly with one hand and my blade in the other as I dragged my way to the crashed heap of flames. I barely had the energy to light the tip of my blade into the flames to heat the damn thing. I looked around me as I heated it to a piercing red, the mixture of my blood trail from the pile of rubble and practically was raised from the dead.

That should have killed me, yet here I suffered using a sharp blade to burn my flesh to a crisp to stop myself from bleeding out. It covered my legs and hand in my blood and it was just getting worse.

I took a deep breath and lined the tip of the sword with my wound. I could hardly see what I was doing. Everything was turning dark and my thoughts were going blank. I was shaking heavily; I had to do it now.

I'm sure I ignored most of the pain because of the sheer level of adrenaline I felt. Hell, that was probably the only thing keeping me up. Once that runs out, I'll collapse and would bleed to death.

I jammed the blade into the massive cut in my stomach, I couldn't even comprehend the amount of anguish it would cause me, it sizzled and smoked as I attempted to crisp it just enough to stop me from unwillingly donating my blood to the Wasteland.

After a few moments of making sure it worked, I pulled that scorching hot piece of metal out of me and practically fell over. I used a bit of crushed metal to lean on as I growled and grunted in pain. I just wanted the burning to stop and would need to get some serious medical attention once I made it out.

…If I made it out, alive.

After what felt like a far too long eternity, I felt like I wasn't dying. Sure, I was still absolutely fucked and the hurt I felt and my injured scales, sure... But soon my vision readjusted and the blurriness was all but gone.

The cut along my abdomen looked like one of the brahmin steaks you kept on the stove for too long. It was far too ugly to ignore, and the only good thing it did was stop the bleeding. I could even stand up and move with little pain, that or I just couldn't feel anything after what I had just gone through.

My small victory was short-lived, however. Hearing the revving of that ripper from behind me, he was looking through the rubble and debris to find a body. He needs my head after all to claim his prize. I wasn't too keen on losing that today, leaning up against the largest hunk of metal near me. I waited and waited. I knew he would come from stateside and all I had to do was strike him.

I held the sword above my head, resting it nicely against my shoulder. I had intended to make a downward swing and then pull it back up. This would tear through his armor hopefully, and then I could get in with the claws. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned.

The moment I saw that darkened boot, I gave in with all my might. This was a mistake. He was ready for such an attack and easily blocked the Vertibird blade with his ripper, and pushed me back against the crashed vessel with his other hand. Giving what I can only describe as a battle cry as I leaned the sword down to the ground, pulling it against the dirt leaving a straight line as I approached him, I paused feinted his attempt to cover, and swung upward with my blade as reckless and forcefully as I could, left a gash upon his chest and knocked his helmet clean off.

He fell backward, leaning on his knees, ripper in the ground, tearing it up like an old mining machine. My approach was slow and cautious. A trap and then I noticed who this was, and that was Carl.

"Carl!? What the hell is the meaning of this? I thought you and Emma were partners. Whatever happened to helping me? Being the one who can free you all?!" I growled at him.

He gave a growl of his own that would make the devil shake as he stood up and raised his arms, this would not be the end, "You are a pawn like the rest of us, John, even now you are doing Eden's dirty work and don't even realize it. YOU WILL DIE ALONE JUST LIKE THE REST OF US!" He charged me with that last sentence, swinging when I wasn't even in the proper atmosphere to be affected by his attacks. He was a madman, and this was his final stretch.

I stepped back and our blades clashed again, mine landing perfectly to stop the conveyor belt of teeth against his. We both struggled to break free from this clash. "It's over, John. Look at you! You can't even defend against me and besides, I got a whole army coming for you. Even if you kill me here, you are still fucked!" He mocked me.

"That may just be the case, but I can at least wipe the world clean of you while I'm at it!" I pulled back from the crash of blades, leaping backward and almost missing my landing. I was still rather hurt and unable to make great physical motions and can hardly contain my weight.

I charged him again, blade at my side, and instead of even swinging, I turned around and tripped him with my tail. He fell flat on his back, and the ripper's hand seemed to have broken. Smoke and sparks sputtered out of the thing, seeing as this was the only weapon he was done. He struggled to get up, and I just held his chest with one of my claws while leaning down.

"Fuck you, overgrown newt. Glavin was right about one thing. You are a son of a bitch that won't FUCKING die!" Carl screeched.

I gave a wide slash across his chest and abdomen area with my claws, getting through the power armor and exposing his body beneath it. "Emma sends her regards!" I said.

Digging my hand under the gash in the armor I made, got a good grip on his flesh as he screamed in agony. I launched his body into the air with all my might. While he was enjoying the elevated view, I lined him up quickly with my bumper sword and impaled the hilt into the ground below him. All things that go up must come down. Carl landed right in the middle of the blade. It went right through him and killed him pretty much instantly as he gurgled and gasped his final breath. I grabbed the hilt of my blade from the ground while his body was still slumped on it. Whipping him off of the thing as his scratched-up power armor dented the ground, strapped it to my back, and was off to find the Prydwen.

I found a dilapidated barn a short distance from the crash site. I decided I would take this time to seek refuge there and recover for a moment. The barn itself was broken and almost unrecognizable. Bleached white skeletons of a world past littered the place and meshed with the dirt. It was a double-door barn and had no fully fixed walls. Each side had holes and was essentially pointless.

I rested behind the second pair of doors, looked over myself for wounds, and took a much-needed breather. I could almost swear I fell asleep or passed out one of the two. I heard shouting and movement outside the barn. This must have been that army he was talking about...it wasn't a bluff.

I noticed a skeleton of someone propping up against the wall across from me. They had a hunting bolt-action rifle that looked like they modified it to accept. 50 caliber rounds.

I reached over and grabbed it, along with the 2 clips that were by him, and set them on the ledge over the doorway. I saw an entire sea of Enclave soldiers and officers, dozens standing before me, getting into strategic positions and surrounding the barn.

I had probably enough bullets here to take out half of them. Then what? Charging out there to deal with them would be a death sentence. I clutched the rifle against my chest as I held my back to the door; the trigger was just large enough to get my index claw in there and I could handle the thing easily. My joy was instantly bombarded with gunfire, laser, and ballistic alike. It tore through the barn-like paper and made the already weak infrastructure much, much worse. Fortunately, I was unscathed.

If they remained in the same position, I could pick them off. Quickly peering around the corner again, I took aim, scoped down an officer in the back and blew his brains out, and quickly retreated to cover. My only chance would be if one pushed on and I could retrieve their gun.

Time after time I took them out one by one shell casings echoed through the barrel of the rifle as I continued to fire, carefully timing my shots, and was practically in a sharpshooter trance, bullet after bullet the mass of numbers fell as their morale broke, then I heard that unfaithful sound of every gun *click* another empty mag, last one 5 rounds and about 23 soldiers left from what I counted.

I used the four bullets from the clip and loaded the last one. I scoped them as they panicked and split up. Their confidence was dwindling, but they still outnumbered me severely. I had a single bullet left and things were looking bleak. I thought for what felt like an eternity. If they don't kill me with gunfire, I'll be captured and tortured and kept alive for way, way too long. They will use me to hurt the Brotherhood, the Wasteland, and the World. They surrounded the structure. I heard steps all around me.

I sat down behind the door, put the butt of the rifle into the dirt, and lined the barrel up with my maw. They can't use me if I'm dead now, can they? One bullet should be enough to do the job right to the roof of my mouth, easily. I'm too hurt and sluggish to fight my way out of this.

I'm sorry that I couldn't find you, dad.

I'm sorry that I couldn't avenge you, mom.

At least I gave Emma some happiness, in whatever afterlife she ended at. I hope she somehow gets to see her family again.

End Chapter: 22