Chapter 24: Die Here With Me

I heard the faint sputtering of Vertibird blades spinning from behind me in the distance, over the water. Myles was just down the road and it didn't look like I was making it to him in time. Then I heard various... squishy footsteps. It was Ghouls!? They flooded out from one of the destroyed sides of the Facility. It had to be from when the Behemoth hit it. I couldn't even count them all!

"Myles, we have a problem!" I shouted in his direction. The Vertibird drew closer and closer before it just.. stopped completely and just hung there over the water waiting to see what would happen here.

I slowly backed my way to Myles on the road, nearly tripping on the countless bodies of Mutant, Ghoul, Settler, and Enclave alike. It was a slaughter; I don't remember killing this many.

The Ghouls all waddled in my direction in a nice orderly group, only because the space didn't allow them to branch out and they had to go in an orderly manner.

Myles and I ended just beyond the gate, back to back. He was facing the road, and I was facing the Ghouls and the facility.

"Looks like this is it bud, I can see more beyond the road and from the Facility... we are pretty fucked, huh?" He almost sounded sad as he raised his arms, ready to strike at anything while looking forward.

I drew my Bumper Sword and handed it back to him. "We won't die here. They can throw all they want at us. I haven't come this far just to die to a bunch of ghouls! Besides, I still have a hell of a tale to tell you still."

He swung it around a few times to feel its weight and held it above his head with both hands ready to slice. "Yeah, their superior numbers are just that — a number!"

I spread my arms wide, claws at the ready. Stood sideways for more stability. It then occurred to me we won't survive if we stand our ground together. We won't be able to leave if we get overrun. I'm not looking to get stuck here.

"Myles! We need to move, split up! If we get overwhelmed here, we will die! There are too many here, and we can't fend them all off from one spot."

He had no chance to argue as we got more and more swarmed from both sides of the facility. Backing both of us up to the fenced entrance towards the road.

It was like a damn apocalypse as countless Ghouls flooded the place, seemingly endless amounts blocking our way. It ranged from all different types too, Glowing Ones, Charred, and even Reavers... I hated Reavers the most.

I had little time to gather a plan from our surroundings, but I did figure we would have better odds in the water. Ghouls don't swim after all, right?

"Myles, I have an idea. Hold on." I shouted to him from across the sea of shambling corpses.

He couldn't even ask what before I leaped across the mass of radioactive zombies, landing on a few as I was within arm's reach of him. I quickly picked him up with both hands as gently as I could with razor-sharp claws and shoved my way through to the road. So far, so good. Who knew a hulking reptile would fend so well against a hoard of Ghouls?

I had to ask him, though, "You can swim, right?"

He almost seemed offended. I would even ask such a thing. I had no time to hear his condescending reply. All I heard was something resembling a "Yes!" and threw him into the water, quickly leaping in myself as well, though my splash was much more.. moving.

I swam back from land a little and watched the swarm of Ghouls pace around in a fit of rage, not being able to reach us. Some dared to fall in, but the shoreline was far too deep down to worry about them.

I sighed in relief and turned to Myles. Looking down at the water, I could see my body, so the water was clean and clear here because of the Jefferson Memorial, none of that murky, irradiated water.

"How about that? Water was all we needed. We should be able to swim far enough away to reach the Potomac from here?"

Myles was quiet, just keeping himself at the surface, not saying anything till I drew closer to him. "You weren't supposed to find out I was once with the Enclave..."

I had nearly forgotten! I was so damn focused on getting out of there. "Maybe not. But despite what I want to say or even do to you right now doesn't matter, we need to get back to the Prydwen. I have much Intel to give and I need to get my stomach properly stitched up." I even glanced down at the wound, which I'm surprised hasn't opened. I did burn that to a crisp though. Hurts like hell, but I would not complain.

I leaned backward and began peddling myself in the Memorial's direction. "Come, Myles, we should get going. Looking at all those Ghouls are making me anxious, pacing back and forth expecting us to go to them, and their squishy steps, ugh."

He slowly joined me at my side and asked, "What about Glavin?"

"What about him? There will be other opportunities." I stopped there before swimming ahead of him and turning around to face him. "There would not be another opportunity to save you, though." It was true. I had a choice there, and I saved Myles instead. I would do it again if I had the chance.

"What about your reven-"

I stopped him mid-sentence by splashing a wave of water directly in his face. "My vengeance wouldn't matter if I had to come back to the Prydwen explaining that you got turned into a Mutant! I've lost everyone else in my life I gave the slightest damn about." Turned away from him and continued paddling to shore, "I will not lose you too."

This argument would not get me anywhere, so I just continued and ignored his efforts to stop, not here in the water, Myles. It doesn't make for a good conversation location. Never mind the fact we got Ghouls completely spastically walking along with the facility behind us.

It didn't take that long for us to reach the land across the way. There was absolutely no way they could catch us here and there was no sign of Enclave, Vertibird, or soldiers in sight... I was finally free and able to take a breather.

I just… collapsed on the ground the moment my feet touched the land. I fell directly upon my back and the spikes made it very uncomfortable, but I just laid there, arms stretched out, taking in the morning sun. I didn't care at this point. I feel like I just wadded through the depths of Hell and somehow made it out to the real world once again. It felt like a fever dream once I got a hold of my senses once more and it wasn't just Survive, Survive, Survive!

Myles joined me on the shore a few moments later. He noted my closed eyes and steady breathing, "You uh.. having a suntan or something?" Before sitting down next to me.

I couldn't help but notice the horrible state of his attire when I glanced over. I sat up and looked over at him. "Are you ready to explain to me how you were an ex-Enclave?!"

He didn't even look at me. "I don't want to talk about..."

I never even let him finish. Grabbing him by his legs, picked him up and slammed him down onto the ground with a thud against the damp shore. "You don't get to tell me no! I saved YOU. You owe me your life! You owe me an explanation, a reason! I swear I will tear you apart here and now if you give me another denial!"

I stood up and picked up my blade. I jammed the pointed end of it between his legs and gave him a look of pure rage. You would think I'd gone feral. The unadulterated fury I felt was being denied. How dare he tell me NO?! After all this.

I was breathing heavily, practically snarling at each breath; I felt so angry at him for this. He's lucky I didn't butcher him there.

"Okay, okay, but god please remove the sword. It's making me anxious!" He practically whimpered.

I gripped the handle with both hands and pulled it out and gave him a real demand. "Speak."

He sat back up and crossed his legs for safety reasons. "Alright, fine, fine. I'll fucking tell you. The reason I was in the Enclave was that they forced me into it. When my entire village was wiped out by the Enclave, they forced me into joining them or dying since I was hiding. They figured if I could live through that, I would be worthy enough to join their ranks. So they took me forcefully, along with a few others."

I stared at him, narrowed my eyes, and was flabbergasted. "You have to be joking. That can't be it!"

He just gave me a shake of his head. "No, there is more. They forced me to go through their training and do just awful things to prove my loyalty. I had to execute innocent civilians and wipe out towns just to keep myself alive. I know it's completely against everything you ever told me. These bastards killed all my friends and family just like what happened to you. Except I wasn't able to get away. They made me join or die. Can you imagine how hard it is to take orders from the same commander who led the charge against my home?!" Myles gave a sniffle as he spoke. "That FUCKING PRICK. Charles Dragitch was his name. He was the worst of the worst. If he didn't burn my village to the ground, he probably would have made me do it. I'm pretty sure that he only took me in to make me suffer, even more, wiping my whole life in front of me wasn't enough," He grew angrier and angrier and rage-filled as he went, "I was on a mission to take out some town or something I don't know, but our information was wrong and we were sent into a trap. The Brotherhood of Steel ambushed us. All in a circle, and they surrounded us in a building. Some of us got picked off, but me and the commander with some stragglers. I had a gun, can't remember which one, but it was empty. I had a knife with me, so I decided I was going to kill Charles then and there. As the Brotherhood fired into our building, I jabbed my knife into his jugular. I pulled the thing out and jabbed it back in again and again as he fell to the ground with me. I just kept stabbing him. I'm pretty sure he died on the first stab, but I didn't care. All the rage he inflicted on me. I nearly cut his head off. I stabbed him so many times." I could see it on his face. He was on the verge of both crying and exploding from boiling rage.

He continued after pausing a moment, "After I had killed Charles, I positioned myself where I looked like a prisoner, a hostage. The Brotherhood didn't ask many questions, and they took me in. The rest is history. No one knows what happened. All I knew is I didn't want to be a part of the Enclave and joined the Brotherhood to fight them. I was pretty young, about 16 or 17."

I just sat there, and I didn't even know how to react. I almost wanted to call bullshit, but it can't be, right? "I almost don't believe you. This can't be it. How can you, Myles, be one of my worst enemies? How?!"

He stood up and turned away from me. "I don't even intend for you to know. They know you hate the Enclave, they did this to make you hate ME, don't you see that? It isn't who I am anymore or who I will ever be. I never wanted to be part of the Enclave. They killed my family and destroyed my life."

I thought I would be happy now that I was finally out of the clutches of the Enclave. I just feel complete dread now. "You can find your way back to the Prydwen. I won't be able to walk back with you without absolutely tearing you apart!"

I didn't even let him try to say anything. I remember hearing something like that. "Are you just going to leave me out here all defenseless?" I didn't care, though. He is so very lucky I didn't gut him there. It took absolutely every fiber of my being to stop myself from that. This was a betrayal in my eyes.

I practically huffed like a raging bull as I sped my way along the beach. I had completely gone out of view from Myles and was on my way back to the Prydwen. The Potomac River was as clear as always. I don't even know how long I was gone at this point. Damn Enclave. I was supposed to die during that Purge, yet here I am. I want to sleep; I want to get something to eat and I want to get patched up.. finally.

Logistically speaking, we should have traveled together. It would have been more responsible, plus safer for us both. I can't be in his presence, let alone look at him now. Everything was waning in me now. Now that I thought and was not worried, I couldn't help but feel existential dread and sorrow.

Emma... all I thought about was Emma.

That whole purge situation is going to haunt me for a while. The screams still make me shiver. How did I get out of that?

It was because of Emma. She made a betrayal to buy me time and then shot herself right in front of me. She lost everything that day and the last thing she did was make sure I was alive. I don't need people dying for me, not anymore. When I get back to the Prydwen and recover, I'm going to go back for her body so I can bury it. She deserves that much, at least.

The thought of Emma shooting herself only made me remember how I was going to blow my brains out, in a rundown barn, no less. Of all the places I thought I would end up dead, that wouldn't have been one of them.

I was going to do it. I was. Not that I wanted to know, but I knew if the Enclave caught me again, whatever torture they would inflict upon me would be much worse than the bullet to my skull.

The walk along the Potomac shore was peaceful, to say the least. The flowing river water only filled me with serenity rather than anxiety. For the first time, I was on the move and not getting hunted in what felt like forever. How long have I been away for about a week? It sure as hell feels like it.

My whole body is sore and I hurt In places I didn't even know I should hurt in. My tail, for example, hurt right in the middle and I couldn't say why.

Perhaps any experiments they did on me while I was under their sedative were finally and completely wearing off. I haven't been able to think clearly throughout the whole thing.

I couldn't help but feel they violated me.. inappropriately while they had me knocked out. Bastards could have at least woken me up for that one. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to use me to impregnate a matriarch while I was under. Not like I could recall any of it.

Ugh, the thought made me feel dirty for a variety of reasons. If it happens, I'll need to shower myself a few hundred times to wash off that shame.

Not to mention I couldn't even enjoy it all drugged up. I caught glimpses of what was happening here and there when I woke up for the briefest of moments. I can't recall anything like that. I'm going to assume that it didn't happen because if I sit here thinking it did, I'll feel disgusting for the rest of eternity. Too bad I can't ask anyone.

I arrived at the bridge right before reaching the Citadel and Prydwen. I am going to wait for Myles here, assuming he doesn't take a long way around and go through the Jefferson Memorial.

I am still mad at him, but he is right. He is no longer Enclave; he is not my enemy. Despite him being part of them at one point doesn't mean he's believing in their beliefs.

I leaned against the bridge and decided I was going to wait for Myles. I even debated going back for him, but I figured he would be just fine with getting here. It wasn't that far.

I looked over myself while I had the chance. My wounds were great. I still felt the dried blood against my head. The multiple gashes against my entire body. The massive cut that suffered against my belly would need stitches. I must have closed it enough with that heated steel from my blade. Cauterization was never a specialty of mine. Not to mention the amount of pain it caused me.

I looked down at that closed wound and it looked gruesome, disgusting, and absolutely painful. I did such a shoddy job at closing it. They are going to need to peel the layer of skin off that I burnt close.

That is going to be terrible

I winced at the thought of it. Hopefully, I can get all these cuts and scrapes cleaned up and I can finally lay down to rest. I would do anything to so much as lay upon the cold Prydwen floors.

Sore was an understatement. I hurt everywhere, especially since I stopped finally. Aside from the excruciating pain and misery in my bones, I was filthy. Dirt and grime, not to mention the copious amounts of dried blood from myself and many of the others I had slain along the way.

I drew the Bumper Sword from my back and spun the handle around in my palm. I thought about a lot of things while I waited here. It felt like a while, but that's probably only because my body ached.

Pain always makes time take longer.

This underpass was becoming quite the symbolic spot for me.

I wonder how Mia is doing? I bet she went looking for me. The thought made me chuckle a little. She is something else the Lone Wanderer would be, after all.

I hope she is okay and not blaming herself for my absence.

I leaned my sword against one of the overly rusted beams of the underpass. The tainted tip dug into the ground and left a sizable hold in the dirt. I am going to keep this thing forever, a reminder of the gauntlet I went through during that Purge.

I wonder why Eden let me go. By rights, I was supposed to die there. It was clear that day that the test they made me take was simply a mockery. They marked me like cattle sent to be butchered.

The funniest thing about it all is I'm more offended at the fact that I was treated like some animal more than the fact they tried to kill me.

I would expect they would try to kill me. I would expect myself to be a high-priority target, especially now. I need to figure out where this Crow's Perch is.

I would probably spend a few days recovering and going through Brotherhood Records. There has to be something there. They had a record of me, after all.

That is a little worrisome now that I had thought about it for a moment. My years of solitude before coming to the Capital Wasteland mean nothing if the records say I am still alive.

Spending way too much time lying low and leading everyone to believe I was dead. Upon leaving Nevada, I wanted to start fresh and live a new life. No longer influenced by the ties that bind us to our past.

Yet here I am, an enemy of the Enclave once again. I'm almost certain this is even the same fleet that wiped out my species.

I must end them, for the Wasteland, for the people of the Wasteland, and so I will finally have peace. Once Glavin is a roken, bloody mess on the ground.

I nearly fell asleep leaning against the bridge. I hadn't realized how tired I was until I stopped. Fortunately, I could see someone on the horizon. It looked like Myles. I'm sure it was fine.

Honestly, if it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have cared. I went through so much in the last week that the world would have to give me a break, at least for a day.

I addressed Myles as he approached under the bridge, "So nice of you to finally join me, get lost on your way here?"

He gave a grumble as he leaned against the adjacent support beam from me. He was breathing heavily and like he was going to keel over. "I'm much too hurt, sore and tired to even argue with your bickering. Can we take a moment at least? Just one break, please."

I just snorted at him. "Very well. Have your moment of rest."

He didn't even wait for me to finish my sentence before collapsing to the ground with a groan.

The silence aside from his heavy, steady breathing was present. A few trickles of waves here and there from the river, but the morning Wasteland was quiet.

We didn't speak for what felt like 30 minutes. I stayed against the beam, looking at the horizon. I couldn't look at him. Every time I did, I just saw "Enclave" I was still very conflicted about it all still.

"John, I need to-"

"Myles, there is-"

It was almost surreal, silence for half an hour and then we both spoke at the same time.

I spoke again first. "Go ahead, Myles."

He leaned his head down, completely avoiding eye contact as I watched him. "I know you are still mad. I was even angry at you on the way here, not only for leaving me defenseless but alone too," He stood up and turned to face me, "You have every right to be angry at me and I even understand why you left me back there. If I found out you were with the Enclave at some point, I would be fuming, too. I want you to know that I'm sorry for me being with them at one point, but know I never wanted to. It forced me into it after seeing my family die... I want nothing more than to see their whole organization burn, just like you."

I just glared at him. "What about all the people you killed in the Enclave's name? All the towns burnt down because it was an order?!"

He practically screamed at me, "I never claimed innocence! You can't judge me like you are holier than thou yourself! What about the entire town you killed after Sophia, huh? Men, Women, and children, it was ruthless!"

With gritted fangs and a roar of rage, I backhanded him across the face. He fell to the ground in a twist as I went off on him. "I loved that woman, more than you will ever know, HOW DARE YOU EVEN BRING HER UP! Those filthy raiders took away the one light in the Wasteland, that didn't even know the hope and prosperity they ended when they killed her... she could have changed the world, she could have saved it! She saved me." I held an arm up, ready to strike him again. "I can live with what I've done. I have already accepted that I butchered an entire town. Can you say the same? It was for revenge! They took away my one chance of love again! Those Children and Women were far from innocent! Sometimes to end an evil, kill it! So, yes, because one small group killed her, the entire clan should die. They banished me from the town I grew up in after the Vault, after Sophia. I had nothing there left, anyway. You don't get to judge me, Myles. You don't even know half of my journey."

He was rubbing his face, which got cut slightly before turning over and standing up. He opened his mouth and then stopped when I spoke. "I would choose your next words carefully!"

He leaned forward and quickly slapped me across the face. This took me by surprise. Before I could even react, he rushed in and gently hugged me while my arms were still up. "I'm certain of one thing. You won't be killing me anytime soon. But you are right, I have no reason to judge. I have done far worse than you for the sake of orders because someone told me to. Nothing of a personal nature, nothing deserved." He paused before looking up at me. "The last thing I want to do is lose you, too. It's why I never told you. I couldn't bear the thought or even possibly you would hate me. I haven't had a friend like you since they took me from my town and I miss relying on someone. I miss trusting someone. Sure, there is the Brotherhood, but they are all comrades, not friends. I wouldn't tell my life story to them."

I grabbed him by the shoulders and gently pushed him back. "You seem sure about that."

He nodded, wiping the cut on his face, masking his hand. All bloody. "I am because if you were going to strike me down, you would have already. You're Not the kind of person to betray someone, no. When you want someone dead, you don't need to pretend."

I turned away from him with a defeated grumble. He is correct. I don't want him dead. "Let's just get to the Prydwen. I want to take a thousand-year shower and get myself patched up finally."

He raised an arm and smelt himself with a gruff reaction. "Ugh, yeah, I can agree. Let's get going."

He wouldn't know this, but I was.. happy and content with that. Sometimes you just need to argue it out with someone. It will take some time to forgive him, but I know how he can earn it.

I looked back at him while walking along the road. "I know how you can make it up to me."

He kept touching his cheek and kept it from bleeding excessively. "What would that be?"

"Defeat the Enclave with me. Burn them down with me like they did so many others. Make them pay with their lives. But when we get Glavin, he's MINE! Understood?"

He gave a nod. "That is beyond fair. He's all yours, I promise that. As for burning the Enclave, I'm all for that. We need to figure out where first."

We arrived at the gates to the Prydwen and I mentioned. "I think I know how to do that. I need access to the Brotherhood records."

As I turned to the gate itself, I heard and felt the bullet fly right between my horns just because I leaned down slightly because my back was hurting.

Myles arrived next to me. "I can't believe they still shoot at you. They should know better by now." he marched ahead and reprimanded the soldier, shooting at me and even slapping him across the back of his helmet before gesturing for me to come over.

Giving him another slap and telling him to apologize to me. "Listen up soldier! This is John. He's been away for a week and practically gone through hell and you dare to shoot at him?! Disgraceful! Down and give me twenty and apologize to him pronto!"

"Sir, yes sir!" He saluted both me and Myles before quickly getting out of his power armor and dropping onto the ground to do push-ups right in front of me.

"Sorry. for. shooting. You. Mister. John. Lambert! I. thought. you. Were. Just. a. roaming. deathclaw. coming. To. investigate. our. Operations!" He said each word every time he went down.

Myles stopped him on the last push-up. "How many Albino Deathclaws with a sword on their backs have you seen in your life, private? Especially around here?"

The poor guy couldn't even answer before Myles yelled at him again."None! Now get back to your post. Come on John. Let's go."

I glanced at the other soldier at the post, who was just watching the whole thing transpire. "Yes, Myles. I could use some relaxation."

I knew my way from here, so I took the lead. The occasional glare and look I got from the roaming recruits and scribes. Nothing new there. I feel like my week of absence didn't at all help people get used to me being here.

We arrived at the elevator; I was glad to see they patched the massive hole up. I wonder how Maxson is doing? I'm surprised no one went out to find us or just assumed that Myles would have had it covered.

That is ridiculous, that or they simply don't care about me at all, which wouldn't surprise me. I couldn't help but laugh at that in the elevator with Myles.

Myles questioned. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing. Just I thought how funny it was how the Brotherhood didn't send anyone after me because they don't care about me at all. I found it hilarious. I didn't need them, anyway. Hell, I wouldn't even be here if they weren't my best chance of finding the Enclave."

He gripped the railing as we went up. It was just the two of us. "Maxson sent a group to find you. We had scouts say of your Vertibird crash. Well, we didn't know it was specifically yours, but we had to see, anyway. That was my idea, and I went solo. Mia was going from place to place asking, and no one knew anything. She even got Megaton looking."

"This is news to me. I expected Mia to go out of her way, sure, but Maxson? You must be joking."

We almost arrived at the top. "I don't think he sent people to look for you "for you." I think he sent people so the Enclave wouldn't have you. No one knew where you were. We lost the tracks from their vehicles and all traces of where you got taken."

With the clang and tension of the wires going up, we arrived at the top platform, the landing pad at last salvation.

The platform was clear of anyone, which I think I would prefer at the moment honestly. "I want to get patched up, Myles. Can we go to your room first?"

He agreed. "Yes, we can. Let me find Maxson first and tell him we are back first. You can go to my room or come with me, either works for me."

I followed him through into the actual entrance of the Prydwen. Maxson's room was to the right of this.

I could hear talking from his room as I crept behind Myles. I couldn't make out the muffled voices as the door was completely closed. Who knew it made for such good noise canceling?

Myles knocked on the door with me behind him. He waited for the door to open, and it was a few moments before it happened. He glanced back at me with a shrug.

I replied to him with a shrug of my own. "I guess we will wait, huh?"

I was going to suggest we try again later, but before I could, the door latched open. Maxson seemed like he was ready to yell at whoever dared interrupt him, but then he looked up and me, and then Myles and I saw shock for just a short moment in his eyes before he regained his typical composure.

He cleared his throat and opened the door wider so I could enter even. "Myles, John! I didn't think I would ever see one of you again, that is for sure. I am pleased to see you both alive, but you both also look awful. Go get yourself fixed up, Myles gets some new clothes, and, John... just keep doing what you are doing. I'll send word to Mia to find you two in your room, Myles. Come back and give me a full report when you two aren't busy dying."

He saluted Maxson. "Elder, sir. I know very little about the events that transpired. I believe John will do better at telling you than me, but he's hurt. We need to get him fixed up ASAP!"

Maxson leaned past Myles through the doorway to look at me, all beaten and bruised. "Yes, I can see that. I'll come to find you two once I'm done here. Get him to medical, Myles."

With a nod, he left the room, and I followed, giving Maxson a nod of agreement that I will tell him all about what I learned. We took the lowest portion where the engines were to avoid any unneeded attention. It was an easy route to reach the section where Myles' room was. It was what I usually took instead of going through the various hallways when I wasn't taking the upper catwalks.

Going up some steps, we entered the hall of the barracks where Doctor Baker was and Myles' quarters. I implore we rush to his room, being this close. I rather not run into anyone. These wounds have been festering enough. I can't help but wonder how no one wondered about the blade strapped to my back, but that was the least of my worries.

I asked Myles as we arrived at his door, "How well can you do medical treatment?"

He turned the valve to open his door and answered. "I can do the basics, just what we were taught on the battlefield. I never operated on a deathclaw before, if that's why you ask."

We entered his room, and it was just as we left it. "That is why I had asked. I won't be able to stitch myself up, not sure I trust Doctor Baker to do it."

He agreed. "That is fair. He's more of a scientist than a doctor. We could wait for Mia. I'm sure she would be more than willing to help you. If you don't mind, I'm going to get out of these rags and wash myself up."

"Go ahead. I'm going to look around for things to help my injuries."

He went into the bathroom after grabbing a batch of clothing from his cupboard. I browsed through the cupboard as well. My things were just where I left them. My Satchel, Journal, and Robe are all nice and organized. Untouched like I was hoping.

I left my things there and found some cloth and rubbing alcohol. I placed them on the table in the middle of the room and continued my search of the cupboard.

I heard the shower running and decided I'm going to need to use the kitchen sink for water.

I washed my claws first. Grabbing the towel on the side shelves, I drenched it under the running water with some soap and scrubbed. This is going to be tedious.

The water had already turned a sickly red color within the sink, and I wasn't even close to being done. Once I scrubbed my claws to an acceptable degree, I washed my Bumper Sword next. Grabbing it off my back. I ran the bloody towel alongside the blade. It was in absolutely awful condition. I need to take better care of this thing.

Cleaning is the best I could with what I had. I'll give it a good wash once I get the opportunity. It's clean enough to lay on the table now.

I felt less icky in terms of my hands and claws. At least, it's about time. It wouldn't do me any good if I was cleaning my wounds with disgusting hands.

I tried to wring out the bloody towel, to little avail. It was far too drenched in blood and other gunk to be clean like it once was... I was better off throwing it away.

This next part was going to be awful. I took the cap of the alcohol off and dipped it into the rag. I started simple. Cleaning the few cuts and scrapes alongside my arms and legs was manageable. Now, with the shot in my shoulder and the gash along my abdomen, I would need to clean and stitch that up all at the same time.

I sat myself down on the chair. Time to wait for Myles, Mia, or Maxson.

I used the time to resharpen my Bumper Sword against my claws. It helped them both sharpen, but the blade got dull during that whole kerfuffle.

It just occurred to me sitting in the kitchen that I was starving, painfully starving, in fact. I ran some water to get a drink and wash some more blood down the sink. I'm so glad Myles had drinking glasses already cleaned.

I chugged about four glasses worth of water in rapid succession. Come to think of it, they did not feed me at all, aside from Emma, likely I am malnourished.

My whole body still aches, but it felt so great to finally sit down. Except it was short-lived because I was practically ravaging through Myles' fridge for something to eat, anything.

There was a mutfruit here, a Tato there. Nothing substantial, but still better than nothing. I inhaled anything I could find.

I'll need to ask Mia or Myles to get me some food once I get the chance.

Speaking of Myles, I heard the bathroom door open, and he came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Holding his new set of clothes under his arm. "Well, you are looking better than before. You can wash up now as well. I'll change here, it's fine."

I stood up and looked at myself as I did. All things considered, I was still pretty filthy. "I'm starving, Myles. If you could go to the cafeteria while I wash, that would be great." I grabbed the cloth and rubbing alcohol off the table and made my way to the shower.

He moved to his bed and went behind the wall. "Yeah, I can do that. Get us both something while we wait for Maxson to show. Go ahead, I'll be back here soon."

I let him change and finish drying off in peace. I started wetting the cloth, and I set the water.

I rubbed the alcohol on my various cuts and scrapes. Figured I would disinfect everything before washing myself down.

It was a tedious process. The burn of alcohol sizzling my open wounds wasn't very pleasant. You could hear it disinfecting. I know it's a necessary process, but that doesn't mean I like it.

The shower was pretty set once I finished that. Because of my size, I can only fit half of myself in at one time. I opted to go in it sideways rather than backward and forwards like I did last time.

One thing I miss about the Vault is that the showers were large enough that even our alpha could fit, and he was almost over twice my size when I was younger, of course. He would still be much larger than me now.

I started at my head. It was so very satisfying to finally scrub my horns clean. I could feel the dried blood and gunk scraping off.

Even while getting drenched in the shower, I felt disgusting. I couldn't help but wonder what atrocities happened to me while they drugged me out. It's probably best I don't know. The only wounds I would need to worry about now would be the shot in my shoulder and the cauterized scar along my abdomen.

It made me wince looking down at it. That would need to be torn open again to be stitched up and cleaned. I'm not sure I'm ready for that one. I'm certain crisp, burnt flesh won't make for a good wound closer, anyway. It was a temporary solution.

I turned around and kept working my way down. I probably spent much longer here than I should have, but it was necessary. It felt incredible to rid myself of all the dirt, blood, grime, and God only knows what else I was covered in.

My claws were finally completely clean and I can look at myself without thinking and feeling like I don't keep them clean.

Once I was satisfied enough with getting as clean as I could manage, I just spun around a few times and soaked myself before stepping out and turning the water off. It got too cold, otherwise, I probably would have stayed longer.

I heard some talking from outside the room while I was drying myself off. I had assumed that it was Mia or Maxson, but I don't know how comfortable I would be walking out and drying myself off while Maxson was there.

I decided it wouldn't be all that bad and opened the door. Draping the towel around my neck. I was still pretty soaked and dripping with water from everywhere, but it was fine.

I saw Mia and Maxson gathered around the table and they both looked over at me. I'm surprised they didn't hear me shuffling around.

Mia instantly lit up upon seeing me. She practically tripped over the table trying to get to me. She practically jumped into a wide-armed hug and didn't even say anything as she pulled me even closer.

"Whoa, Mia, it's only been a week. Miss me that much already?"

She let me go and wiped her eyes as if she didn't believe it. "I thought you were dead! I looked everywhere for you! I lost the tracks from their vehicles and was just wandering for so, so long. Things were looking hopeless. Then Maxson calls me in and tells me you are back and alive." She looked back at him and adjusted the armor plating on her jumpsuit. "I thought he was fucking with me!"

Maxson was as callous as ever. "You should know I don't "Fuck Around," as you say, Mia. As for you, John, I would like to hear about everything that happened during your time being away."

I gave Mia a gentle rub on the head before addressing Maxson. "Of course, I had planned on telling you everything, but I want to get this wound on my stomach stitched first." I looked down at Mia and pointed to my stomach. "Can you do it? I cauterized the wound after I was in a Vertibird crash. But that won't work forever and I can't do it myself."

She looked down at me and backed up to the table. "Yes, I'll do it for you. I'll need to stop by the Doctor's office first and get some needles and I'm going to assume metal wire will do you better than a string."

I gave her a nod and went past Maxson to the table. "Yes, I would appreciate it. Myles should be back soon. I had him get me something to eat because I'm starving. Where is Paladin Grey?"

Maxson answered that one for me while Mia left. "She is doing some management at the Jefferson Memorial. I had someone tell her you were back and alive. She should be able to visit you by today."

I took a seat at the table and just had to ask. "Why the sudden care and consideration for me, Maxson? I thought you were absolutely against me. I went through hell and back and suddenly you don't seem to hate me. What gives?"

He gave me a stern look. It wasn't malicious or spiteful. It just seemed like he wasn't expecting such a question. "I had some time to think about your absence. The very fiber of your being is everything I stand against. Non-humans should be wiped off the face of the Earth at all costs, especially something like you. It could get out of hand. Just like with the Ghouls, Mutants, and Synths. They all threaten humanity. We always heard of Talking Deathclaws. We have records and documents of such, but I thought it was all nonsense. Yet here you are in front of me," He grumbled out before taking a seat on the opposite side of me. "I am not prideful enough to not admit when I am wrong. You saved my Prydwen and me when the Enclave attacked. You saved Myles and nearly got yourself killed. I wasn't sure about you for the longest time. When you first arrived here, I thought it was some elaborate scheme. You had the chance to drop me on the elevator, but didn't. You proved to me there that you care for our cause, at least against the Enclave."

I leaned back. It impressed me he could even admit such a thing. "Damn, Maxson, here I was thinking you thought I was absolutely the Scum of the Earth. Very low opinion of me just on what I am. Despite my appearance, wasteland monster and all!"

Mia came back into the room with an armful of medical supplies and Myles was behind her with a massive tray of steaming food. I could smell it before it even was in the room.

Mia and Myles shared greetings. "Glad you are still kicking too, Myles, doing slave work for him already," she said jokingly.

Myles squeezed by her and placed the platter on the table next to my Bumper Sword. The anticipation was literally killing me. Forgot all the torture I expected at The Click, leaving food in front of me while starving, which is a real pain.

"Well, Mia, it has been a few days since John last ate so I brought him-"

I stopped him there. "Can I dig in already, or are we going to say a prayer?"

He stopped and took a seat himself. "No, sorry, go ahead."

That was all I needed to gorge myself. Forgot manners and proper table etiquette, I couldn't care less when starving to death.

It was a rather mixed dish of Brahmin steaks and various other strips of wasteland creatures mixed in. "I hope there isn't any deathclaw meat in this. That would be sad."

Myles shook his head. "No, it's Brahmin meat and Mirelurk strips. It's all they had cooked up, and I figured you wouldn't want to wait for something different. I specified. We don't serve deathclaw, anyway."

Maxson aggressively cleared his throat. "Okay, great. Can we get to the point of this? I need you to tell me what you learned from the Enclave base, John."

I stopped chewing for a moment. "I would like for Mia to patch me up first, then I'll tell you everything. Suppose we can get started on that."

I stood up and leaned against the table with one of my hands to lower myself down. "Mia, would you like for me to lie down or stand up for this? Whichever is better for you."

She positioned herself in front of me, taking out a needle and thread from a box. "You can stand up straight. It's your usual stance, so that will probably be better. Are you ready?"

I gave her a nod and stood myself up straight and put my arms out. "Whenever you are, we are going to need to cut off the burnt skin. That is going to be gruesome."

I heard Myles put his plate down by the sink. "I probably should have waited on eating till after this was all over."

Mia looked at me and then Maxson, and then back at me. "I think you should do it yourself, John. I'll sew it as soon as you are done. Just be ready to do it all in one go. We will need to clean it too before stitching together."

I gave her a nod. "Best get it done sooner than later, right?"

Maxson was just watching and waiting, even though he knew this was going to suck. I got to it either way. Using my right hand, I stuck my index claw right under the mound of burnt flesh. I got more and more anxious as I went closer and closer.

Fuck it, I thought. It won't fix itself.

With a grunt of pain, and jabbed my claw under the wound and quickly but carefully cut across, opening it back up. It was festering and infected. Blood poured out excessively as I finished slicing across.

With a shaking hand and heavy breathing, I removed my claw and looked down at Mia. "There, there..it's done."

The pain was excruciating as she got to work, crouching in front of me so she could lean forward and be just high enough to be at eye level with the wound. "I'll try to do this quickly. It's bleeding pretty badly. You might have internal damage."

She didn't even hesitate to pour the alcohol into that gash. I wasn't ready for it. No matter how much I mentally tried to prepare myself, it didn't work.

I roared out in pain and even recoiled back, hitting the table and knocking over one chair with my tail as I attempted to grab the same table for support. "Holy Hell, that was fucking pained, something else!" I gritted my fangs as I felt the bubbling in my belly, internally. It sizzled and popped all the infection and puss from my flesh and felt worse than pulling the piece of shrapnel out, to begin with.

Worried looks from everyone as I tried to regain my composure and continue with the procedure, Myles even tried to hold me up, but it was to no avail.

Everything in my vision was going gray with flashes of pure darkness. I was bleeding too heavily. "I'm goi.. g to..," I couldn't even finish my slurred sentence before I hit the ground and was instantly out. I could comprehend what was going to happen. I just couldn't tell everyone else in time. I'm pretty sure the impact of me falling against the metal flooding so hard is what knocked me unconscious. At least I won't be starving in my sleep.

I can't grasp the time I was out. I was just done being unconscious when I was with the Enclave. I can trust the Brotherhood to not fiddle with me in my sleep. I hope at least.

I awoke with a painful gasp. I was on my back and once my eyes decided to work I recognized where I was even, Myles' bed.

My legs and tail hung over the edge of the mattress, and it was pretty bright out. It must be midday. No one was in the room.

Why does it always seem no one is supervising me? They must have stabilized me enough to where they wouldn't need to watch my vitals.

I know I need to stop getting into situations like this. I was never hurt this often and badly when I was traveling alone.

I ran my hands along my face to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Or dead. Everything seems right. I noticed a puddle of blood under me, straining the sheets, and multiple bloody bandages strewed about the place.

I couldn't even feel the gash on my belly anymore. It was wrapped nicely. I carefully rolled myself out of the bed. I attempted to take a step.

The first one was successful, and the second one. I have a fear of being so injured I wouldn't be able to move again. In terms of mobility, we are still alright.

I can move and I'm not dead. That's good enough for testing. I ultimately went back to sleep.

Considering everything, I fell asleep fairly quickly. The pain was mostly gone, so that wasn't bothering me. I would usually go out and try to find someone but, no. I'll wait for someone to visit me. I don't doubt they would wake me up, eventually.

I fell back asleep rather easily. Only got jolted awake when I heard the door to Myles' room open. It was Mia, Myles, and Maxson.

I sat up and addressed them. "You all could have knocked first, gave me quite the scare!"

Myles spoke first. "It was Mia's idea to come and check on you. It's been a few days since we heard anything from you. You have just been laying in bed for about 3 days now, fading in and out constantly."

Maxson squeezed past Mia and Myles to take a seat at the table. "We have been waiting for you to be coherent enough to finally tell us about what happened in your time away."

I stood up slowly with a pained grumble. "Fine, fine. Why do I feel so weak? I can barely stand." I had to lean against the wall by the bed for a few moments before stumbling forward. "I am going to assume I was much worse off than we originally thought?"

"You had some internal lacerations. I and the doc have to sew you much deeper than we thought. You being out cold made things so much easier as well. Myles was saying it was shrapnel from the crash," she glanced over at him before taking a seat herself. "We are pretty sure there won't be any permanent damage except for scarring, but you shouldn't bleed anymore. We also determined that none of your internal organs got ruptured, all things considered, you are lucky as all hell. You will be sore for a few more days, but other than that, you will be fine."

I slowly waddled my way to a seat across from Maxson. "Looks like I owe you and the doc my thanks. Where is he?"

"He's busy with some other patients currently."

I gave Myles a nod. Then addressed Maxson. "I believe it's time for me to give you some information on the place they sent me to die, huh?"

He just glared at me, no response awaiting my own. "Well, when I gave myself a chance to swap with Myles, they loaded me into the back of their vehicle. I was bound and strapped to my wrist and hands." I put my arms up and put my wrist together to show. "They marched me through a lengthy, dimly lit tunnel, except I wasn't the only thing they were parading through there. Various Wasteland creatures as well, all in a row. I was surrounded by Enclave Soldiers and radioactive beasts alike. I noticed they had a deathclaw matriarch from when I could look around."

Everyone just listened as I continued. "We arrived at the entrance of the massive bulkhead door and I'm talking huge enough to march a small army through. I know I was drugged out and someone would presumably carry me to my holding room. They gave me an orientation of what was going to happen to me, which wasn't what had happened at all. From there, I was drugged and sedated heavily. I got bits and pieces of what was happening to me here and there, but it was mainly all a blur." I sighed and leaned back. "I'm not sure if they tried to use me to impregnate a matriarch while I was under their knockout drugs. I want to believe that wasn't the case, but they mentioned how I would 'Breed them an army,'' it's pretty messed up if it happened and I would feel disgusted."

Maxson simply grumbled with his arms. "They were trying to get something other than humans to help their cause, even back when Mia was fighting them. They did experiments on every type of creature imaginable."

"There is a silver lining if they tried to… use me, Maxson." I hinted.

"What could that possibly be?" he asked aggressively.

I figured it would help everyone know at this point. "I am almost 100% sure I am infertile. Even if they tried to use me, it wouldn't get anywhere. No egg, no intelligent hatchlings. It makes me the last no matter what. But they don't know that."

He didn't seem very convinced. "How do you even know if you are?"

Isn't that obvious? "Before I came to the Capital Wasteland, I took over the position of I suppose the Alpha of a few packs. I was attempting to see if I could produce intelligent deathclaws, like myself. The gene is male-specific, so in theory, I should be able to mate with an unintelligent female and produce an intelligent child. It should be me who passes the gene over that makes us smart." I gave a defeated sigh. "Nothing... nothing worked. There was no egg, ever. It shames me to admit, but I tried so many times with so many packs thinking that I couldn't possibly be the problem, right? Long story short, I know I must be infertile, meaning I will forever be the last intelligent deathclaw to roam these wastes, but also the Enclave can't use me to make more," I looked over at Maxson and asked a very serious question. "Do you know what it's like to know you are the last of your kind forever? Do you know what it's like to know you will never be a father?! I'm all that's left of my species, Maxson. I'm all that there will ever be. You don't have to worry about intelligent deathclaws plaguing your vision of a perfect Wasteland."

Myles spoke up and joked. "Damn, it seems like a deathclaw was getting more action than me..."

Mia just slapped him, "That isn't what is important right now, Myles! Just because you don't know how to keep it in your pants!"

Maxson's voice boomed throughout the room. "Focus, the three of you! Get to the important parts, John. No more of your feeble attempts at flooding the Wasteland with more of you."

I swear, Maxson. I growled at him, "I wasn't trying to take over the world... But fine. After some time, I ended up being forced to take a test at a terminal. I tried to play off like I didn't know how to speak, but that didn't work very well. But before all that I met a woman… Her name was Emma. She tells me what they were going to do with me and that I was going to get killed after it all. She also told me that my father was still alive! I don't know how true that is but once we find their main base of operation, I'm looking for him," I aggressively pointed an index claw in Maxson's direction, "So help me God if you tell me NO; I will gut you! Don't you dare attempt to threaten me now either, Maxson? I just went through Hell and you will never know how severe. I don't need your bullshit, so shut up and listen."

I lowered my arm and continued, I noticed the shocked looks from both Mia and Myles, and even Maxson, to my surprise listened and kept quiet. "I was forced to take a 10-question test, it was stupid things like religion, family, and personal opinions. It was pointless, just to waste my time, I bet. I was led back to my holding cell, and someone Emma knew sprang me out. Not that easy. Of course, it wasn't. The Click. They called that place. There was a purge enacted. I was a priority target, along with everyone else. The last survivor gets promoted to a high-ranking officer." I paused for a moment and just recalled the horrific things I had witnessed. "It was an absolute massacre, bodies, and blood smeared every wall you turned. I found my way into a hangar where I found Emma. She was a trap, though. They used me to help her capture me. They had her family but.. they were already dead. Upon learning that, she helped me and ended up shooting herself, right in front of me."

The combination of "Jesus Christ," from Myles and the "Oh my God," from Mia.

"She lost everything that day and still took the time and consideration to help me escape. She only betrayed me because of her family. Something I almost forgot to mention, I met someone. A computer-"

Mia stopped me with a slam against the table. "Don't you fucking tell me what I think you are going to say, John Henry Eden, wasn't it?"

I just gave her a nod as I saw her face just completely fall. I never would have thought I would ever see such a look from the Legendary Lone Wanderer.

She just sat there, having an internal panic attack. "I thought I already destroyed that bastard!"

"Well, you did it once. You can do it again, right?" Myles asked.

"How about we all take him out together, huh?" I suggested next.

She stood up and walked to the sink. "I would like that. It was hard enough last time. We need a location for their main base and I need to go contact some old friends." She left the room. "I'll be back in a few days. Best I get our help sooner than later."

I thought it was odd she left so suddenly, but I'm pretty sure she just wanted some time alone. I asked Maxson. "Can I have access to your terminals? I want to see if I can find anything on the Enclave Base. I want everything. From hidden documents to secrets. I need access to it all. I won't go snooping through anything but the Enclave location." I raised my hand. "I give you my word."

Maxson was reluctant, but eventually agreed. He took us down under the sleeping quarters and there was a little closet with an old dusty terminal. He heaved it up from the corner and placed it on a maintenance table. "This terminal holds every record of the Brotherhood's entire history. From East to West Coast. I keep it tucked away down here so scribes don't go poking around with it and messing something up," He looked at me with a stern glare, "I trust the fact that you know how to use this Pre-war technology without absolutely ruining everything. You grew up in a vault, so it should be familiar to you. I have things to attend to, so I expect you and Myles to put it back once you are done. You tell no one about this. Am I understood?"

I gave him a nod while I positioned myself in front of the table, leaning down so I could see the screen. "Definitely, no one will be the wiser or even find out about this. I'll try to get this done as soon as possible and tell you what I find. Assuming the answer I'm looking for is in here."

Myles gave him a salute. "We will be as quick as possible, Elder. Return to your duties. We won't ruin this, promise."

He saluted back and made his way up the steps back to the engine room.

I began gently clanging away at the keys. I could just barely fit in this room as well, but Myles stood behind me just watching the screen. Assuming he said nothing to let me focus on what I was doing.

Upon booting up the terminal, I could see file upon file of records all dated and labeled with times and dates, locations, and who the elder was.

The dates ranged from 2077 to 2305. There had to be something in here.

Some prominent dates that stuck out to me were mainly 2082, 2134, and 2277.

I looked at some things around this year and the Lone Wanderer's journey. Just a lot of retelling of how she helped the Brotherhood make Project Purity work with the help of her dad, the fight at the Jefferson Memorial, and her escape from Raven Rock.

Wait, wait... Raven Rock was their last base name. I need to find Crow's Perch. I went through the words. Raven Rock.. only stated about their destroyed base to the west. I tried searching for Crow's Perch..no, no, that brought nothing up.

Enclave Bases. They listed places I didn't recognize. Mariposa Military Base stood out in a lot of places, but that was years ago.

Nevada... I had to look up Enclave bases in Nevada. 2281 was the date. That was after my vault got massacred.

Vaults, that was the next thought I had. Plenty of numbers show up. 111, 101, 76, and 13 all showed up multiple times. My number didn't even appear. I suppose that makes sense. It didn't actually exist.

I didn't want to get distracted. I can always investigate these vaults later. I might have to sneak to the terminal.

I looked back at Myles. "You have any ideas, Myles?"

He gave me a shake of his head. "Nope, no idea where to even start. This has been our problem when looking for them. We have no leads to go on."

Leads lead. I tapped my chin with my claws. Think, think! There must be something!

I went through plenty of words, ideas, and phrases. I was here for probably an hour and we went through everything... I mean everything!

Navarro... Remember Navarro!

I stood up and backed right up into Myles, who was dozing off. I scared him awake and nearly toppled over him.

I grabbed him by the arm to prevent him from falling over and said excitedly. "I got it, Myles! Remember Navarro! Eden told me to remember Navarro!"

Remember Navarro. It led to the history of the phrase. The Enclave Oil Rig, where someone named The Chosen One ended their reign in San Francisco.

That's where their base is an Oil Rig off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, leading somewhere along the Potomac River.

"I think I know where it is!" I said in even more excitement!

End Chapter: 24