Chapter 23: Until we Feel Alright

Unknown location:

Glavin couldn't believe the news he was hearing in the report that blasted, Albino Bitch escaped their facility, and was now on the run again…AGAIN! They had him contained and ready to be slain and he escaped again!

He sat at his desk, aggressively tapping a pen against the pre-war desk. The poor woman that gave him the report stood there uncomfortably as he stared at her like this was her fault.

"You are telling me that the overgrown newt had escaped... Again!?" He slammed the table with enough force to tip the entire thing to the corner, standing up and throwing the report on the table.

"Sir, it was Eden that let him go. There has been a bounty placed on his head. The Purge was supposed to get him killed, but he got away from that. I already have a small army after his location. It won't be long till we hear of that Vertibird crashing. He won't survive this one, I guarantee it."

He cocked his head at her and pondered for a moment before stating in a rather raspy tone. "You mean to tell me I won't be needed AT ALL? They sure will have his head on a stick for me?"

"There is an extremely high probability that our forces will have him killed before nightfall." She adjusted her officer hat and stood ready for the next order as Glavin made his way to the locked-down liquor cabinet, putting in the code and pulling out a bedazzled bottle of Pre-war forgotten wine. Pouring it into a glass and gesturing for the poor woman to come over.

"You see, my dear, this lizard has caused me so many pains and troubles that I'm half tempted to go out and rid him myself. Half our troops are incompetent and can't even handle raiders, definitely not that brainiac abomination." He paused for a moment before taking the shot in one big gulp.

She approached him and accepted his drinking offer. "You see... sir it wouldn't seem this lizard that you speak of is far more capable than you let on, he's eluded you, and our entire operation so far, is in cahoots with the Brotherhood and I'm pretty sure has an intention to see us destroyed, all rather exciting isn't it?"

He didn't seem to take that statement very well, punching her in the gut as she took a sip, causing her to spit it out all over his office floor. Backing up and flicking his hand from the impact. "I'll kill that bastard and everything else he is involved with. Don't you think I'm incapable! But I will admit", he circled the glass he held and clanged the ice around the edge for a moment before continuing, "I may have underestimated how capable the overgrown newt was."

She gasped and grasped her stomach, looking up at Glavin with a disgusting disdain of a look. "Your confidence will be your downfall. Reports show this beast to be a formidable foe to us all, and if he's with the Brotherhood? We are in trouble. Not to mention his quest for vengeance against you. I can see you being a pile of strewn limbs and a pool of blood by the end of this."

"You worry too much lady, he's just a talking lizard. We already went over it. He doesn't stand a chance against the Enclave. I'll end him like his vault all those years ago!" He sat back down and cleared his throat, "Now begone with you, I have a few preparations to make," shooing her away.

Present time, at the barn:

The forces of soldiers and officers flooded the outside of the barn. I could see their legs and feet surrounding the perimeter with whatever remaining numbers they had through the flurry of bullet holes and natural decay of this long-forgotten building. I don't imagine they can determine my location. As for the gun in my mouth, I was incapable of pulling the trigger. I tried, but it's funny… This whole time one part of me always wanted the sweet release of death, but now that I'm in the moment to end it I realized I wanted to live.

"ARRGGGH!" With a scream that would make the devil shiver I removed the gun from the top of my mouth and threw it against the wall and quickly got up, charging outside, bursting through the broken wall of the barn, and ended up running face to face with someone in a decked out suit of power armor but wait... I recognized it instantly.

"Myles!?"

"John!?" What in the blazes are you doing here?" He looked me up and down and hoisted up his heated super sledge upon his shoulder. "You look like shit, sorry to say. What happened to you?"

I just shook my head and turned him around. "No time to tell stories now. If you miss it, there is a small army of Enclave literally on my tail." I stood back to an upright position. "I took out most of them, but their numbers just won't stop..."

He pulled a changed laser rifle from behind his back. "Understood. We will get them all now, won't we? Can you fight still? I have a plan, but we need to go now while they don't suspect I'm here."

"You don't think I would let you do all the work alone, do you? I'm all ears. Tell me what you had in mind."

"I thought I distracted them while they made their rounds looking for you. While all their gunfire is on me, you can come from behind and get as many of them as possible while I cover you. I know you are already hurt and all, but it's our best choice with the two of us."

Without ample time to consider our options, I gave him a nod and grazed past behind him. "It seems they don't know where we are best to take advantage of the situation while we can. I'll act based on what you do." I pointed up to a ridge of rocks adjacent to the crumbling barn. "I'll make my way up around that and take them out from above. They will never see me coming!"

He gave a deep, calm breath and leaned his head down, inspecting his gun barrel and prepping the laser to fire. He awaited my first move. Making my way up along the ridge, I was surprised that no one ended up seeing me scurrying my way along. I positioned myself right above a group of them; they looked disoriented and confused, the mass of bodies I had taken out earlier and all I can think of is..how I was going to shoot myself just because I was surrounded and hopeless just so they won't be able to use me.

I saw Myles get into position and watch me with careful eyes. We weren't that far from each other, which made the plan all the easier of being able to see each other as we went. The plan was to leap on as many of them as possible and just start swinging. I Hope Myles doesn't hit me too but I trust him…

…

…

I trust him, hard to believe I do trust him.

Been such a long time since I had someone I could rely on. The last person who comes to mind is Sophia. I glanced at him to let him know it was time to go. With a reassuring nod, he crouched alongside the ruined barn with as much finesse and grace as one can have in a hulking suit of Power Armor.

I leaped from above the group of disoriented soldiers and officers and gave a wide slash as I fell on top of two more. The crushing of their bones beneath me was so sudden they didn't even scream out in pain or fear.

The three in front of me I slashed with such force it sent two of them back in pieces and the third and only one in Power Armor to be staggered back from such a force of my hit, regaining their composure as Myles picked off the rest of the surrounding soldiers, they didn't even suspect it, just like he had said.

Whatever remnants of their fleet that remained have been all but snuffed out. This singular soldier stood between us and our temporary freedom and safety.

"Myles wait! I want answers and maybe I'll let this sorry fool go." I held up an arm to block Myles' shot as the soldier looked at me in an uneven and wavering stance. I could almost feel and grasp the hatred from within that helmet. He seemed so angry that the helmet almost looked as if it was going to launch off like an old teapot.

Myles gave me a nod of acknowledgment, keeping his trained gun on the soldier as he crept behind me. I could only hear the ever so slight shift in the ground below him.

"Why does the Enclave hunt me like some kind of game?" I couldn't help but snap at the fellow in front of me. They stood no chance in the grand scheme of things and I had a full intention of letting them walk free. That is assuming they give me the information I wanted.

I heard a very faint sputtering beneath their helmet. "I don't have to tell you a damn thing! How can you take out half of our fleet by yourself and then get convenient help from this Brotherhood swine!?" He collapsed, grasping along his chest. I doubt it helped, given the metal power armor frame that blocked his entire body.

"We should put him out of his misery. I doubt Eden would accept that he came back alone and unsuccessful..." Myles looked upon the enemy and felt sympathy... impossible, these people are beyond such a privilege. He looked at me, awaiting approval.

I stepped away from them both and just kept on going, only stopping to glance back at Myles, my way of saying we can get out of here. "I couldn't care less about what his end fate would be but he is beaten, we will be no better than our enemies if we kill a defenseless man now, won't we? Besides, I believe I have caused enough... bloodshed for today. Even if they deserved it."

I heard Myles grumble, "You're so fucking lucky!" to the wounded soldier before jogging to catch up with me as we left the mass grave behind us. It was a silent walk for a little while. We took the long winding road back to the Jefferson Memorial. I did not know where I was but I somehow knew where I was going, and where I was going to end up.

I noticed Myles was no longer in my view from the corner of my eye; he stopped and then asked me to stop. I turned around to face him and he just looked at me, every inch of me, to be exact. I could already tell why I looked like shit and that was putting it lightly.

"We have quite a distance to go, John. Would you like to tell me what happened to you? I thought they simply took you to die and from what I can see, they were pretty dang close. We should get that cut on your stomach stitched as soon as possible and-"

I couldn't help but just give him a look that simply asked him to stop. He kind of just stood there in silence for the moment while I figured out how I wanted to address this. "Myles, I don't want to go into this now. I am tired and hurt beyond anything you can imagine. When I get back and safe, I'll go over how events transpired to get me in this sorry state. Till then please I ask you as a friend to shut the fuck up and don't ask about it." I didn't even await his reply before turning back around and continuing down the roadway. I never even bothered to see if he was behind me.

The only thing I was thinking of was... Emma and what Eden said. It is mainly about Emma and her family. I couldn't help but feel that her demise was tied to my escape. The whole purge was because of me, to get me. But it's Eden that twisted computer who is running the show and Glavin! The only way this cycle will ever stop is if we take the fight directly to the Enclave, their main base of operation, a place they called Crow's Perch.

Myles was... nowhere to be seen. I'm pretty sure I just heard him behind me. He never said he was going ahead or anywhere around. Everything had been quiet up to this point.

The only thing I could see along the road was an old Red Rocket station, which must have been where Myles went without telling me. I hate it when he does this exact thing, and goes off without telling me. Anything can happen when he goes off and wanders off like that. Sure, he's a high Paladin and knows the innermost workings of the Wastes, but that doesn't mean that anything can't happen.

I gave an annoyed grumble and made my way to the long-forgotten gas station. It looked like any other you would find around the world, a large middle with the signature red statuette. Cars and various other vehicles would park here for refills on gas and other things, such as snacks for the road. I snuck my way through the entrance; it was dark and damp. I could hardly see anything in front of me.

It was silent... too silent. I didn't even know if Myles was here, but then I heard the clanging of some Power Armor, multiple sets even. Before I could even react and turn around to what I heard I was hit in the back of the head and kicked down to the ground all in one action, they quickly removed the bumper sword from my back and held me down from both sides, I was stuck.

A blinding flicker of light turned into a blasting bright light. An unbelievable amount of soldiers, Enclave soldiers, surrounded me.

One crouched down next to me and tapped me against my horns. "Still with us? Good. You are going to listen, lie there and say no at a word." He jammed the gun into my head with more force as the seemingly endless amount of soldiers looked upon the scene. "You will not make it out of this station alive, all of us here wanted to-"

I couldn't even look up before I heard a spray of gunfire, the clanging of bullets against power armor, and those long broken-down walls of the old station, flashes. It finally stopped, and I was.. completely fine? I saw the soldier who forcefully held the gun to my head fall back into a heap of bullet holes and bloodstains with a massive crash.

I quickly stood up now that I wasn't held down and saw two people, a man, and a woman both in an old black pre-war suit, they both held a high-powered machine gun together as one before looking at each other and then at me before throwing it down in front of themselves.

"That was a little messier than we were hoping now, wasn't it?" He looked at her, completely ignoring me for the moment.

"Yes, sadly. A darn shame they would take anyone up to take on the talking lizard."

It appalled me as they took no effort to show fear from me or even move; they stood completely still as they spoke after each other as if this whole thing was planned.

"You will not die here today, John. We know your whole tale from the beginning to the middle to the end."

"Our records show this was but a slight divergence from how your tale would go, something we will have to mend."

"Stepping in to save the day, even though it required us to slay."

"They originally baited your friend Myles to draw you in. You came in on your fruition this time."

"They gave an interesting prospect last time he died before you could arrive."

"Save your confusion, dear lizard, your time is impeccable this time around. You may even save him if you keep treading through this ground."

"A green abomination Myles may be, unless you can set him free."

"Before you ask where to go, you should already know where it would be. A facility of lies and where your worst fear came alive."

"The vile vats of creation, you are a demonstration."

"An impossible creation, set out to stop the terror of the Enclave."

"You will be the one who sets us free."

"If only the rest could see what we mean you to be, look past the creatures of the Wasteland they are so keen on associating you with."

"Go now, dear, John, follow the moon for you will see where it is. A boon to follow to save your friend and maybe let another go in the end."

"If you are not careful, this place may end in your doom. Our efforts have gone to waste, a horrible disgrace."

I just stood there for a moment dumbfounded before I said, "How do you even know all this? I do not know who you two are or why you are helping me-"

"You said nearly the same thing last time," He said.

"You will soon see why we are here. Without our interference, you would have been nothing more than a head on a plate. It happened once before," she said.

"Go and see for yourself."

"We cannot give you all the help."

"An oracle they will say you are."

"Let's be honest, though that is rhetorical!"

"We already know how this will end."

"Perhaps you will end up in a bend."

"He will send them to the grave. Don't worry."

"A mutated reptile with the ability to end the life of just about anything upon this rugged world, no."

"Too bad he will never find himself a wife."

"He's not the last like he believes, not one left to bring life, though sadly."

"It would probably end badly."

"Perhaps, maybe, he should be given the chance to try?"

"Let him live a lie? No, he doesn't deserve that false hope."

"Time to go, John. There is a Wasteland that needs you."

They picked up their massive gun and gave a quick nod of their heads in unison before leaping back into the darkroom without making a sound, of course. I gave chase, but they were gone. Completely vanished.

I only stood there in the doorway with both hands grasping the sides of it. What the hell was that? Am I going crazy? No, no, that can't be. These dead soldiers were very much real around me.

Then I realized... Myles! He's been captured... again?! From the sounds of it, he's going to be turned into a mutant rather than killed off like the rest. He is of some use to them even as a mindless green brute.

I wasted no time grabbing the sword and a Gauss Rifle from one of the many bodies that laid the gas station grounds. Strapped them both onto my back and went back out into the harsh Wasteland, following the moon. Just as they said. I ignored everything else and rushed to that munition plant with the speed that would rival an old atom-powered car. Roving bands of raiders, merchants, and even mercenaries passed me on my crusade. I ignored them all. None bothered to ask or even make their presence known. It would have been more humorous watching one merchant throw their Brahmin in my direction and then stumble over an old guard railing to make me not see them. It was sloppy and looked like they just walked out of a vault, like they knew the dangers of these lands but had yet to experience them firsthand.

I left them to their more than likely soiled pants; I had a task to do. I pondered through my trip if I should enlist the help of the brotherhood but ultimately decided against it. They would want details and I wouldn't want to sit there and describe every little thing while Myles is getting engulfed in F.E.V.

My thoughts were pretty much all over the place and I've concluded that they already turned Myles into a mutant. I would need to kill him.. right? That is no way to live. He doesn't deserve to suffer that fate. I will save him either by stopping the transformation of the mutant or killing him if it already has happened.

I could see the Munition Plant along the horizon. Not wanting to get myself caught or discovered, I stopped just short of the road which the Brotherhood airlifted. They were wounded the last time we were here.

The whole facility was crawling with Mutants and various armored soldiers. So much for clearing it out last time. I couldn't take them all on at once. There was no way.

Was Myles even in there? They transferred him real quick in that case and surely the supernatural nature of those two wouldn't lead me astray, right?

"You are going to save him, aren't you?" I heard a long, forgotten yet all too familiar voice from behind me.

I quickly turned myself around, nearly hitting my tail against the one who was behind me.

It was Sophia!

I shook my head real quick and nearly sputtered a very unintelligible bunch of words. "Sop... Sophia?! How are yo-You are here!?"

It made no sense at all here in reality, not some dream I made to make myself feel better no. This can't be real. She is dead and has been dead for over 20 years.

"Whatever do you mean dear, John? I have always been here. You only chose to finally see me now."

It appalled me. "I... I don't understand, Sophia, you are dead! What foul trickery is this Enclave playing on me?"

She leaned up with a stretched-out arm and rested her palm against the side of my face. "See? You can feel me, can't you? I am real. This isn't some dream."

I pulled back from her with a swift jerk of my face, away from her hand. "You aren't real. You are gone, DEAD! I saw it happen. You died in my arms, Sophia!" I let my gaze off of her to look down upon myself, stretching my hands in front of me before meeting back with her eyes.

She just put her hands on her hips before walking over to lean on one of the old guard rails they used to keep cars from driving off the roads. She seemed annoyed. "All this time and you don't believe that I would never come to you outside of a dream? There are other things at play here than just what you think."

I joined her side and simply stated. "This is impossible...you are gone. I must be completely insane. Some kind of trick my mind is playing on me to cope, as if talking to you in my dreams wasn't bad enough! I'm seeing you in reality too? This is practically haunting at this point."

All she did was give me a laugh. It was the same laugh she had all that time ago. "You say you haven't changed at all, but from what I can see, you haven't changed one bit." She glanced over at me for a moment before continuing. "Of course, I can't ignore that you have grown up in a literal sense. Too bad I couldn't be there to see you to adulthood."

I rested my arms along the railing as well, looking over the water and leaning down to meet her height. "I wasn't concerned with you watching me grow up. That was the least of what you should have cared about. I have changed Sophia. I will never be what you see inside, not anymore."

Time seemed almost warped right now, a convoluted pause in reality. Almost as if I was given this moment.

She just sighed and watched the water.

"Why are you here, Sophia?" I just had to ask.

She returned my question with another. "Why do you ask that? Aren't you happy to see me?"

I stopped and thought about it for a moment... Was I thrilled to see her? I think the answer was no, this just hurt more than anything, and it won't last. There was no point in seeing her for just a moment if she can't stay. "If I can be honest with you...no, I'm not happy to see you. You are dead, Sophia and you being here isn't helping that fact. I didn't need this, especially not now."

She finally acknowledged that she was dead with that. "Do you still grieve for me?"

This question took me by surprise. I looked over at her for a moment. "Yes, yes, of course, I do. There isn't a day where I don't miss you. Wish you were here with me every single day. You were taken from me, from this world far too soon. I didn't deserve you and this Hellscape sure didn't either."

She just smiled. It was almost unpleasant because my emotions were far from happy at the moment.

"Is there anything you wanted to tell me? This could be the last chance you might ever have ."

I couldn't help but think it was an odd question but there were plenty of things. I lowered myself down and met her eyes with my own. "There is plenty. You taught me how to survive in this harsh world, helped me bury my Vault after they all got killed, and took me into your home for years while we traveled the Wasteland together. Taught me how to function within human society and showed me that there is compassion and there is always another way."

I took a deep breath, debating if I even wanted to keep going, nearly choking on my next words. "But mo-most of all, I love you, Sophia. I never had the chance to let you know before you-"

I stopped mid-sentence and just stood there like a stump. What on Earth was I doing?

"I feel like I always knew that John, I... never know how to let you know how I felt either. How would the town have reacted? They would probably shun me for such a thing. I kept it to myself because I just never could comprehend how you could love me as I did you, how wrong I was."

This was something new to me. "Yo-you felt the same way? I spent all this time thinking I was wrong for being in love with you?"

"Yes! I was scared of even asking you or hinting at it, not scared of you, yourself, but more of how you would have reacted. Or even losing you, I felt just... lost."

"Maybe. That might just be how you feel." I pulled her gently by the sides of her head, close to me. I gave her just a slight kiss on the lips. She was the one who pulled into it more. She hugged me as well along with my waist for what felt like an eternity, an eternity I wouldn't give up for anything.

She gave a small chuckle as she let me go. "Wow, John, didn't know you were the romantic initiative."

I took a deep breath and turned back towards the lake. "I'm not usually. Love is a hard thing for me to manage. I try not to get close to anyone, because...you know what always happens."

Her look soon turned to something of sadness. "You know this won't last forever. I will leave you soon."

I didn't even look back at her, staring out into the endless void of the water. "I know you are gone and will remain gone. I need to let you go."

She gave me what I can only consider a small weeping. "I don't want to leave you, John. I never wanted to leave you. It was too sudden for us all and I can't imagine the weight it put on you. Having just lost your whole... everything beforehand, how selfish was I to just die on you?!"

I didn't even say anything; I pulled her gently by the back of the head and by her back against my chest and softly rubbed her hair. "Hush now, Sophia, don't think for a moment I ever blamed you for leaving me. Those raiders took you from me, from everyone too soon. You were the best thing that ever happened to me. They didn't know the brilliant light they were dimming. They are all dead. The first thing I did was avenge you. It got me shunned from the town. I was exiled. Men, Women, and children, I didn't care. I killed every one of those raiders and buried you in the same spot as my vault. They titled me The White Death and banished me to live out on my own because of what I did. I don't know what became of your son or Alyrys."

"Do you regret what you did at all?" She asked almost compassionately. This wasn't out of spite.

"Not in the slightest, I would butcher them like Brahmin, just to the slaughter all over again." I couldn't lie to her after all.

She just cried at that...

"It's fine Sophia, you can cross over. Find your peace. Don't let me keep you on this God-forsaken planet. I'm okay, but I'm letting you go. I can't keep looking to you for answers or safety. It's been long enough. I will never stop loving you and the next time we meet will be at your grave. I'll come to visit. I promise."

I soon felt nothing in my arms. I looked down, and she wasn't there. But I felt at ease. Was that even really her? It surely felt real enough. Even if it was just my imagination, I could almost feel a pang of guilt let off that was burdening me for decades.

It was time to save Myles.

This was weird. It almost felt as if no time had passed while I was with Sophia. I gathered up my things and prepared myself to assault this place once more.

I checked the Gauss Rifle, and made sure it was primed and ready to fire. It's kind of amazing I can even operate these guns with my claws. I was ready as I was going to be, one at a time, from the entrance.

Swift and tempered, I can't fail here or Myles would be gone. I charged my first shot, dialed to 99, and blew the brains off the mutant patrolling the entrance. The rest didn't know where I was and I quickly changed positions. Best not to stay in one spot, I would be easier to pinpoint after all.

The soldier was barking orders at the Mutants and went to retreat into the building. Yeah, let your lackeys do all the work. Super Mutants are not the brightest bunch. Strength doesn't matter if there is no ounce of brains behind it.

I plan to clear the entrance and charge directly. I could take enough shots to get through the narrowly packed interior. That is assuming it's not flooded with newly made mutants.

Couldn't help but feel anxious. Myles could very well have turned already. A high-operative Paladin of the Brotherhood would most likely make an excellent mutant. That's what The Master thought, at least, history repeats itself.

They couldn't know where the shots were coming from. It was difficult for these green brutes to pinpoint where I was coming from; I didn't even know how many were there.

One after another I shot with such pinpoint accuracy I had even impressed myself. Sadly the Gauss Rifle was out of ammo at this point as all I had was in the mag. Having tossed that aside, my ranged options were gone. Time to get up close.

I drew the bumper sword from my back and slid my other hand down the blade. Screeching my claws down the metal of the blade. The sound of it made a satisfying shing, as I prepared myself for what was about to happen. I'm going to get gunned down was the first thing I thought.

Now is the time to act, charging through the front entrance. I wasted no time barging through the gate, ramming into it sideways before quickly adjusting myself straight to keep the charge going. Chucking my sword into the chest of a mutant in front of me before decapitating another with my claws. Turning to the one who so kindly held my sword, I pushed it into them before pulling upwards and slicing them almost in half. These two fell without a hitch.

It would seem none heard the commotion and was still doing some kind of perimeter sweep. Their guns were basic pipe rifles and from what I saw weren't at all worth taking. I held the blade down and angled it at my side as I moved from old vehicle to vehicle. I never was one for taking the stealthy approach to situation's but I would prefer not to get outnumbered.

Everyone here looked like they were on high alert. The countless bodies I've already dropped were meaningless to how many are here. Making the quick decision, I made my way around the building and avoided the front entrance. It was too obvious.

Peaking around one of the back corners of the facility, I saw a band of four soldiers huddled around a Vertibird. This one looked very high class and modified with plating and guns to high hell. The four soldiers didn't look any bit lacking, either. Extravagant and lavish out suits of Power Armor as they stood there talking about something I was too far away to hear.

The distance made me unsure, but I was almost positive that one of those suits looked very close to what Glavin wore. It was his size and everything and I wouldn't be very surprised if he was here, having lost Myles one time already. But if they are out here, that means the dipping hasn't occurred yet. I still had time.

I did, however, notice something new. There was an entrance here in the back with some kind of upper pulling system. It had a hook I'm assuming was meant to transfer cargo or… people to get turned into mutants. It went in and out twice during the time I was getting familiar with the rotation. This was going to be my way in.

I noticed that two of the soldiers had left off the opposite side of the facility from me, which was convenient. Now was my chance.

The two weren't paying attention and were focused on inspecting the Vertibird. As I crept closer, it was no mistaking it was Glavin.

I rushed up behind the second soldier and stabbed him right in the back, with such a force it went right through the power armor. I twisted and turned the blade before pulling it out quickly. The man gurgled and sputtered as he collapsed to the ground in a bloody pile.

Glavin wasn't able to react to how quickly I dispatched his comrade. Gave him a wide backhanded slash of my hand that ended up knocking him over. I stepped on his chest and pointed my bloody blade right at his helmet.

"You know it's funny. I spent my whole life thinking of everything I ever wanted to say to you when I got you in a vulnerable position, and now that we are here. I have absolutely nothing to say!"

If I could see his face through the helmet, I bet it would be with a wide mouth and a shocked look. "Ho-how are you alive?! I got confirmed god damn reports it killed you. Someone claimed your bounty and everything!"

"It's not the first time I've defied death. You of all people should know that!" I twisted my step against him but he grabbed my ankle and swept his arm below me. It knocked me down.

Falling upon my back, he went to slam me with a super sledge. It forced me to roll over to avoid getting hit by it. The force of the impact made a pretty scary dent in the ground. That could have been my face!

We tussled and traded blows for a good while. I was wasting time here. My blade clashed against the hammer and we shoved each over and over to determine who would get the advantage. "Where is Myles?!" I shouted at him, demanding.

"Attention Mutants and Enclave Officers alike, we are now beginning the process of our current prisoners. We need all personnel to report to the F.E.V. Vats immediately!"

"Well, would you look at that? Your boyfriend is about to get dipped, such a shame you won't be able to save him now, if only"

I didn't even let him finish his sentence. I gave him an anger-filled slash across the face before shoving myself into him to knock him down. "GAHH! YOU'RE SO FUCKING LUCKY!" I had my greatest enemy, right in front of me, ready to practically get killed... finally! I didn't have time to end him and save Myles. I had to make a choice, and I left Glavin against the ground and leaped myself into the lowered, sloped roof. Not before picking up the assault rifle from the fallen soldier.

I gave Glavin not even a chance to catch up or even get back up from the ground. I kept up and missed the hook the first time, but then quickly recovered myself and got a hold of it. I held the rifle in one hand and held onto the hook in my other; I hung off the hook as I awaited it to move, yet it didn't. I swung myself back and forth to move the hook into the facility.

It moved! It seemed like it was part of a mechanical chain above it. I could barely fit through the opening and had to turn myself at an angle to make it through the small opening in time.

I held the rifle up, ready to shoot anything I saw.

The layout had completely changed from what I could see. They built three Vats in the time we have been gone. The chain I rode on went over all these Vats. It was clear to gradually drop these victims.

The trail I was hung from was very long and stretched the entire inside of the facility. They changed the entire layout of the place to accommodate the changing of people to Mutants.

I couldn't see anything here. Aside from the Vats of F.E.V. It was completely clear of anything that would be considered living.

Then I noticed a bunch of wrapped-up individuals, something tightly packaged almost in white silk completely covering them from head to toe. They hung from the same type of hook I was holding onto.

Three, there were three that I could tell were still alive. Unfortunately, I couldn't land somewhere without ending up in the vat of F.E.V.

I hope one of these moving individuals was Myles. I had to jump from the hook I was on to another, and swing myself back and forth before leaping. I caught the next hook over and reached closer to these hanging people.

Being able to use the hook to shimmy myself to each side of these hanging victims. I checked them all and the majority were already dead.

You can't change someone who is already dead, can you? Whatever happened to the order to show up at the Vats?

It was getting harder and harder to hang on by the hook with one hand. I inspected the ones where they were still alive heavily. I determined that none of these here were Myles. I can't save everyone here. I had to leave them; I don't know who they are. I can't risk myself for them.

I heard an odd muffled sound from beyond the wall where the bodies hung. Maybe it was another secret door entrance? I swung myself enough to where I could step just on the edge of one vat of F.E.V and give my arm a much-needed break.

Balance was definitely very important here. With a rifle in hand, I slowly crept my way around the massive cylinder. If I went to the bottom I wouldn't have a way up from there, so where is the main operating room?

This was the same room with that scaffolding from before. It's gone now. This means my only option is the hidden door from before, but that a terminal opened. How will I get it open now?

The brute force, of course. I jumped down from the Vat of F.E.V and felt alongside the wall till I realized I could use the light to determine where it was, as well as the front door. Upon finding the spot where the actual hidden door was, I tried pushing it, pulling it, and even scratching across the wall, but nothing happened.

I put down the assault rifle and use my Bumper Blade against it. Claws can't solve all my issues after all. It surprised me to find that the very tip of the blade just fit into the crack that opened the door. I could pry it open with little effort after that.

The hallway looked very much the same. The only difference was I wasn't unsure what to expect here. I already know how this is going to happen.

I crept down the hallway, ready to strike at anyone and anything. I would not leave anyone here alive, Mutants or Soldiers. I could even see at the end of the hallway two Enclave Soldiers lined up just at the beginning of the railing.

Wasting not a second, I blasted the first one from behind and rammed myself into the second, knocking him off into the irradiated water below as the first one fell to the ground with a clang... I found myself in the same sort of room layout as before when I got captured with Myles here the first time.

My position was given up, and I had multiple sets of guns pointed at me from mutants, to soldiers, to scientists. All aimed from every direction imaginable.

One spoke up who I was assuming was the leader of all this nonsense. "Hold your fire everyone. I believe this one will be of some use to us. I've heard a great deal about this, "Albino Bitch." Glavin spoke so fondly of."

I completely ignored that insult and snapped back at him, not wavering from my position, and stood my ground. "Where is Myles? The Brotherhood Paladin you captured at the Red Rocket station! I've already gone through your soldiers there. That is how I know he's here, now... Where is he?" I had a feeling my rifle was empty, so I tossed it aside and ignored the countless number of guns pointed at me, and turned my attention to the head scientist operating the crane.

He just adjusted the crane, using it to pull the wrapped-up body of who I can only assume was Myles. "You won't be alive long enough to worry about what will happen to him. A shame too. I thought you would at least like to see what we are doing here." He stopped operating the crane and waved his arm so hard that his lab coat almost fell off. "What are you fool waiting for?! KILL HIM!" he shouted!

Oh shit! That was my first thought. They all seemed to hesitate just a split second before gunfire was flowing in my direction. Fortunately for me, I had jumped down to the lower portion of these Vats. The soldiers I originally knocked down had some guns but only a Laser Rifle and we all know those don't operate well against power armor.

The multiple mutants, however, make short work of them. The depth and distance of the bottom layer made them lose me. I didn't even pay attention at the time, but there wasn't a ghoul to be seen; it seemed they cleaned them up from the last time.

I took out some Mutants from the bottom and distracted the seemingly endless soldiers as I avoided gunfire. The various generators and Vats of F.E.V made a good cover.

The damn Laser Rifle ran out of ammo in the middle of me shooting up at a Mutant, fuck my life.

With a frustrated growl, I tossed it to the side and darted myself over to the broken walkway ramp out of the line of sight. I was going to have to go up there to deal with the rest of the troops.

It was time to face the music. I could hear them scattering from above. They were searching for me and it was only a matter of time. I drew my Bumper Sword and spun it around in my palm, outgunned and outnumbered. I like these odds.

Launching myself up with a grand leap. I slashed the legs off of a Mutant as I landed on the walkway. His screams echoed and made my position not very secret anymore.

It seemed there were fewer soldiers here than when I jumped down. That was... odd. I could see the head scientist and he was livid when he noticed me.

Not wanting to get lit up, I jumped off the walkway and caught a hook. I was going to go to Myles but it seemed this hook didn't follow the same track. I grappled myself from hook to hook and somehow managed to not get shot till I reached Myles. I hung by the chain while he was stuck on the hook itself.

That mad scientist held up his hand and pounded at the machinery. "Hold your fire, all of you!"

"Look, John, you single-handedly took out nearly all of my troops here. I'm going to give you a chance. For a single life, I will let you walk out of here and leave the Capital Wasteland. We won't hunt you, and you can leave no quarrel." Seemed the big bad scientist was worried. The masses were falling and not so strong without his numbers, are they?

I looked down at Myles and then at the scientist. I just had to ask. "Why Myles? What makes him so special?"

Whatever soldiers remained were all spouting amongst each other as the scientist answered with annoyance. "How about you ask him yourself?"

Fine, fine, I'll do exactly that. I carefully cut the bindings off of Myles and he was coherent and awake. "Why you, Myles? What haven't you told me?"

"John?! They told me you died-"

I stopped him mid-sentence with a shake of the chain. "What don't I know?!"

He just stopped and looked below him. Panic filled him as he realized he was hanging over a vat of F.E.V. "I used to be part of the Enclave! They gave me an experimental enhancement drug and I'm the last survivor of that experiment. They want to turn me into a Mutant to see what happens okay? Are you happy? I didn't do it by choice. This was before the Brotherhood took me in. They don't know!"

I wasn't sure how to feel.

I couldn't even decide. I heard the chain move downwards to the F.E.V. my added weight just made it fall faster. All the remaining soldiers watched with interest as I hung on the chain as Myles went into full panic.

"Have faith, Myles! It's just a bunch of goo that changes the entire fiber of your being!" I looked down at him and removed him from the hook, keeping my other hand to grip the chain as it descended.

I raised him to prevent him from contacting the accursed fluids. I then realized there was no way we were both getting out of this. "John, you need to just let it happen and get yourself off that chain. It's okay I-"

I hushed him. "You have more of a future than I do! Don't you ever forget what I did here and you better make it out alive or I swear I will haunt you for the rest of your days, avenge me and my species!"

I didn't give him a chance to argue before I tossed him away from the Vats and any soldiers. I quickly attempted to cut through his bindings as much as I could before doing that.

Unfortunately for me. I couldn't save him and myself. The chain fell at an alarming rate and I was seemingly engulfed by the F.E.V

Well, that's what they would want you to think. It felt as if something was pulling me down, something was inviting me to give up, to let go. This liquid was supposed to change someone or something entirely. Something that they didn't think of. F.E.V. already flows through my veins. It is what gives me my sentience and speech.

I did not know that it would not affect me. Something dangerous either was as I never came in contact with actual F.E.V. Ever.

It wasn't like water; it was thicker like sewage; it was difficult to move around on and I struggled for a while before I found myself up to the surface. I haven't mutated at all aside from it practically sticking and dripping from me as I hoisted myself up from that disgusting Vat. I was completely fine.

"Yes, Myles observe! Look at the effects of our labor!" I could hear the scientist mockingly say.

I was coughing and gagging as I pushed myself over the edge of the Vat. I hit the ground pretty hard and everything was blurry for a moment. Then I was.. fine. I even looked myself over quickly and nothing changed. "I can still talk." I silently said, just to check if my voice was still present.

I stood up and turned around to face my adversaries; I gave a roar to the heavens and drew my goo-covered blade; I chucked the damn thing at one soldier; it pinned him to the wall and he dropped his gun down and it fell to the lower level where I was.

It was a changed assault rifle. It looked like it shot some kind of other rounds rather than the typical 5.56.

I started blasting as the rest of them. I saw Myles rush to cover. Too many focused on me and him, I had to make my way up. Shooting up at the masses as I made my way to the broken ramp, I leaped up and continued my assault. The scientist was nowhere to be seen. He must have abandoned the control panel and left his troops. What a cowardly move.

"Myles? Where are you?" I murmured.

It would seem the rest of the soldiers retreated, and we were in the clear. Bodies of mutants and Enclave alike littered the walkway.

I slowly walked my way up to where I impaled the soldier with my sword and removed it, flicking it a few times to at least try to get the blood and F.E.V off of it. I'm going to need a serious wash after this.

I turned around to see Myles a good distance from me. "John, are you still in there, or have you gone.. feral?"

I scoffed at him before approaching and tossing him the gun. "You best be joking, feral? I know I was just engulfed by F.E.V. but that is just insulting."

I inspected the gun before holding it to his side. "How are you not.. different?"

"I guess that while I wasn't directly created by F.E.V it still is in my bloodstream, you cannot mutate a mutation like that, after all, and I'm going to assume that whatever strand this is, and my strand that my species was created with are two separate things. I conflict them with each other."

"That's kind of incredible, if that is the case!" he said, in amazement.

"Yes, it is. Mind you, I have never been in contact with the green gunk before now."

He leaned against the edge and squeezed past me. "We should get going. I don't want to stick around and see what other hell is waiting for us, like Glavin, for example, he's here."

That's right! Glavin is here. I grabbed Myles by the leg and knocked him onto his back by throwing him upwards.

"Hey! What's the big idea?"

"I have something you need to know, Myles! I know you wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, but I can't not make this known. I had to get you to stop."

He sat up and wiped his mouth before annoyingly stating, with a gesture of his arms. "You could have just asked me to stop, you know."

I leaned against the railing with one arm and got straight to the point. "I could have killed Glavin! I had him RIGHT THERE!" I gestured with my other hand clanging my claws together, "I instead heard the announcement for all personnel to report to the dipping room and I came to save your sorry ass! The man I dedicated my whole life to killing was let go because I saved YOU! Don't you ever fucking forget it, now let's get out of here? I want to dump out these Vats first so they can't use this place again."

I gave a deep, annoyed breath as I turned around and jumped from the railing. Myles just looked into space, dumbfounded by the information I just gave him.

He leaned over the railing with both hands and shouted down to me. "I'm sorry, John, and please hurry. I imagine they have a trap waiting for us and I don't want to give them more time to prepare."

I gave him a nod as I went behind each Vat and used all my strength to tip them down. I spilled each one of the various vats and made an absolute mess of the bottom layer, and I imagine it will get watered down. My feet got absolutely soaked in the green goo and it was squishy and disgusting and just felt completely awful beneath me.

I toppled every dastardly container. I wish them luck trying to salvage this one. Satisfied with my handy work, I climbed my way back up to the walkway as Myles impatiently paced back and forth waiting for me.

I leaned down on four legs and shook myself off like a dog. "Are we ready to go? I wouldn't doubt there was a mass of Soldiers waiting for us. Do you know where they took your gear?"

"Sadly, no. I was drugged and woke up in this uncomfortable outfit. It's cotton and itchy! I'm so annoyed. Sorry, we can go." He scratched himself almost aggressively for emphasis.

"We should be cautious, gather up some of those guns, and let's get going." I waited by the exit door.

Myles came up to me holding a few various laser guns and assault rifles, over-armed, even given our situation.

I gave him a nod, and we went through the hallway and entered the first room once again. The Vats that were here got drained as they were all empty, weird.

"How can it be that the Vats here got emptied? You don't suppose they are transferring the F.E.V?"

I turned back and asked Myles. I also noticed that the hanging bodies were no longer there either. What was going on here?

"I don't know, John. I never saw this room. It's completely different from the first time we went through here. Should we go through the back door?"

I shook my head. "No, Myles. They would expect us to go through the back. We charge through the front, guns blazing."

I grabbed one rifle from his hands and pressed my back against the side of the wall. Myles joined me on the other side and we looked over at each other. "Ready when you are."

I sighed, bursting through the door. With Myles directly behind me, we aimed at separate sides, back to back. It was all clear.

"Well, that's fucking weird," I said.

"Yeah, I agree. Where is the mass-"

It was then the ground shook, more and more. Violently even and at an increasing pace.

A behemoth! Burst through the back gate just like last time. How original Enclave, bravo.

"A behemoth, really? Where did it even come from?"

"No idea, we should stand our ground. You already took one out John, we can do this!"

I gave him a reassuring nod as we both opened fire upon the Mutant. We split upon an agreement and the Mutant went after Myles first, not what I was hoping.

I didn't give the Behemoth long to chase. I tossed my gun aside and drew my blade, holding it up above my head as it shines in the morning sun. It shimmered and glared in the sunlight. I charged the Behemoth and slashed at his knees and then jabbed the whole blade into its kneecaps, to the hilt. I turned myself while keeping a hold of the handle and stood between the Behemoth and Myles.

"Myles, you can't outrun this thing. Get out of here! I'll catch up."

He raised his gun and unloaded it into the Mutants' face and chest before we both heard the unsavory *click*. He chucked the gun at the Mutant before giving an annoyed groan. He quickly gave up and ran behind the mutant, out of range of any swipes. He looked back at me before continuing onwards.

Once Myles was out of my sight, I twisted the blade and pulled it out of the Behemoth's leg, this caused him to fall on his good knee with a pained yell.

I continued my relentless assault, jamming the Bumper Sword into the neck of the Behemoth. The waterfall of blood was a telltale sign it was dead. The massive mutant fell back with my blade still stuck in its neck.

I quickly pulled the blade out and began running to the road. It was finally time to head back to the Prydwen. Most efficient Behemoth kills to date.

End Chapter: 23