Claws of the Wastes

by Claws of the Wastes

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

26. Better in Blood

Chapter 26: Better in Blood

End of act 1!

I couldn't keep my eyes off Ocrum's decapitated body as I helped my dad around my shoulders. He was silent while I paused myself, staring down into the darkness.

He used a hand to gently brush the blood from my neck and chest and asked me, "Are you okay? We can wait as long as you need. Ocrum may have been despicable, but he was still someone you grew up with. It was no doubt difficult to kill him, but you did the right thing. He was a monster through and through."

I helped pull his weight. We stepped around Ocrum's body as we went back through the halls to that entrance on the water. "The most difficult part of killing him was getting his grasp off my neck. He deserved to die for letting us all die. He wasn't the same person I knew growing up. I could see it in his eyes. I'm glad I killed him."

He almost seemed shaken by that. "You shouldn't say things like that, son. Killing isn't supposed to be something you enjoy. Even if it's against those who deserve it."

I carried him along down the hall. "I never claimed to enjoy it. I'm glad that he won't be able to hurt anyone. I'm glad he's dead for ruining our lives. Sometimes, the only way to end evil is to kill it. Just like I'm going to do with the Enclave, I'm going to end their evil. You haven't been surviving in the Wasteland for thirty years as I have! The hellscape outside has taught me that."

We arrived at the end of the hallway, and at the doorway that was timed. We stood a bit of distance away from it while I went over what he needed to do. "Okay, dad. Listen. This door opens every 32 seconds. You want to go after abo-"

Then I heard a group of soldiers yelling, their bulky power armor clanging beneath the ground from behind us, one voice booming from the halls, "I saw them go down this way!"

My heart completely sank… it sounded like four, at least from the echoing footsteps.

My dad looked over at me and just said, with all hope gone from his voice. "We aren't going to make it out of this alive, are we?"

It seemed sudden and rash, maybe. Maybe. I gently threw him off my shoulders and past the bulkhead door separating the exit and the interior. I pushed the button to begin closing the door.

He laid there on the floor and demanded. "What the hell are you doing, John? They will kill you!"

I let my hand off the button and looked down at him, sliding my sword under the bulkhead door as it closed. "Dad, there is a narrow walkway. Just down the middle of the doorway, you can see it in the water. Use my sword as a walking cane of sorts and when you get outside and see the Brotherhood, ask for Myles and Mia. Tell them you are my father, and they will believe you. There are turrets outside, but I'm pretty sure they died, the generators that went down with them. Please be safe, dad."

I could see him struggling to stand up using my blade but he did it, his voice nearly breaking."But... but what about you? What are you going to do? You don't get to sacrifice yourself for me!"

I leaned myself against the slowly closing bulkhead and I couldn't see him anymore. "I wasn't able to save Mom. I was too young, too weak. I'm not letting you die. Please, dad. I need, need you to get out, alive. I trust those on the other side. I have an entire team out there. They will keep you safe. They will patch you up."

The footsteps drew closer and closer... I nearly broke down on the spot and I just heard him weeping on the other side as the bulkhead had fully closed now.

"I love you, dad. Now get going!"

"I love you too, John… okay, okay. I'm going."

Walking away from that bulkhead door was the hardest thing I've ever done.

The excessive dread I felt as I turned around from the door. I was already shaking and there was no one even here yet. I had something to lose now.

Bracing myself for the soldiers, I peeked around the corner and got myself together, with no tears and no regrets. The Brotherhood will help my dad, Myles and Mia will.

Right on the dot, it was four total. Big, heavily armed troopers. I had the overwhelming urge to just... cry.

Not for the soldiers. I wasn't worried about them.

I leaped out and tried to kill them as quickly as possible, but they must have expected it! I completely missed my attempt to jump them.

Two of them had cattle prods and the other two had Gauss Rifles, modified with some kind of shocking rounds.

They jabbed me with both the cattle prods right on the chest and shot with one of the Gauss Rifles, all at the same time.

Instantly made me stumble back and completely off my feet. Hitting the back of my head on the metal walls, blurring my vision for a moment. I could see them forming around me.

I heard one of them ask, "This one?"

The two next to him nodded. "Yeah, look at the blood on his claws. No doubt the one who killed him."

I tried to swipe at them, but couldn't raise myself high enough to hit anyone. They stomped on my arms and held me down. "What are we going to do with him...?"

I then heard three quick gunshots from a .44 revolver. But it wasn't on me…

Three of the four soldiers dropped with a thud and the fourth one took off their helmet and put the magnum to my head, between my horns.

She kept her arm stretched out and simply asked me, "Name."

In my dazed state, I murmured. "Jo-John Lambert."

She went wide-eyed and removed the revolver from my head. "So it is you! Well, we are fucking even now!"

She went to walk away, and I stood up, nearly collapsing. Everything was still dizzy. "I'm sorry but, wh-who are you?"

She looked back at me while exiting her power armor suit. "Mike and Catherine. That's all you need to know."

Holy Hell, this must be their daughter!

I grasped my chest and there were a couple of black burn marks scorching my scales.

"Why did you save me? Why betray the Enclave to help me? They will have you killed for this!" I had to ask.

She looked back at me, putting the revolver in her hip holster. "You saved my parents. They would be slaves or dead if not for you. I owe you for that. When the Enclave attacked Megaton...it opened my eyes. I heard you came here, and I wanted to be sure it was you before I did anything drastic. You deserve better for saving my mom and dad."

"Well, you already helped me. Why not join me in ending the Enclave? That's what I'm here for." I asked for her help.

"I thought as much. I'm still an enemy. The Brotherhood won't accept me. I'll be killed either way."

I just shook my head. "I'll make sure you get freed of all accusations. You join me here and now. I promise you will get to walk away."

She just crossed her arms and adjusted her jumpsuit. "I don't think you have the authority to promise me free passage. But fine, I'll join you in your crusade to end the Enclave. I never much liked them, anyway. What's the plan, boss?"

"First things first, we need to find where Eden is and destroy him. Second, we need to destroy the backup generators on the western side. This will allow us to open safe passage to the rest of my crew."

I didn't want to specify that it was the Brotherhood, but I think she already knew. She unloaded around half the rounds of her revolver and saw me watching her do it. "Before you ask, it's armor-piercing rounds. That's how I could go through their Power Armor so easily. It was originally supposed to be for you, in case you got feisty and wouldn't comply with being captured."

I just had to ask. "What were they going to do after capturing me?"

She stopped looking at her gun and put the cylinder back in the frame, and spun in. "Long and short of it, they were going to torture you till you died, string your corpse up for all to see in celebration, and then kill the other two deathclaws off. It would seem you already killed one of them, hmm?"

I just grumbled as we went down the hallway. "Ocrum was a demented bastard. He enjoyed the sadistic side of life. He may have been someone I grew up with. He wasn't the same person as back then."

"You knew Ocrum? He might have looked like a prisoner, but he lived in luxury. The Enclave met his every demand. It mainly comprised giving him prisoners to kill for the joy of it or.. fuck toys. Many of the women that got forced into his room didn't make it. Even if they somehow survived, he would grow bored with them quickly and just kill them on the spot, anyway. The last worst thing he accomplished was killing children and babies because he thought it was 'fun' to do. Those who didn't get dipped in the F.E.V got sacrificed to Ocrum. I'm not sure which fate is worse." She spoke with such disgust.

I wasn't very surprised, given what he tried to do to me. "He wasn't at all like that when he acted as our alpha. He was once upon a time a great leader and someone we all looked up to. Till he let the Enclave in and got us all killed to save his tail." I paused for a moment as we reached the end of the hallway. "He's dead and I'm glad to have been the one to do it. He's just around the corner. You can kick or trample over his body if you want, maybe kick his head? Fucking deserves it."

"I know he was awful, but you still knew him. Why so spiteful?"

Might as well be honest with her. "Well, we can't ignore the fact he attempted to rape me. He didn't get anywhere with it, no. He gave me plenty of disgusting licks and made me feel just.. vile. He was trying to choke me out, and I'm certain he would have killed me during or after. Let us not forget that he was doing this while my father was leaning against a wall because he was too hurt to do anything to help me. Ocrum was a twisted individual. I won't miss him."

We both stepped over his decapitated body and entered new territory. "You mean to tell me that Harris is your father? I can't see the resemblance. It might be the... I don't know the entire color difference!"

"You know, it's funny. My mother wasn't albino either. I just hatched like this. I was the only one the entire time our Vault was alive… while I was hatched, at least. I don't remember hearing about or seeing any other albinos. I was unique, but they didn't see it that way. They called me a mistake and treated me like a runt. I was bullied and constantly picked on, even amongst my kind. Just because I was different. Well, the joke is now on all of them because the 'runt' was the one who got out alive, ironic."

"How long ago was this?"

I counted on my claws. "It is just over 30 years since they massacred my species."

"And..how old are you?"

"I am 45, yourself?"

She almost seems offended. "You know it's not polite to ask a lady her age!"

I just gave her a look that could only be described as, really? "I hope you don't think I'm vain enough to care about your age. You asked me, so I asked you, it's only fair. Your parents never told me anything about you at all. I don't even know your name!"

"Fine, fine. You can call me Scarlet. If you want my real name, ask my parents when we get back to Megaton."

I sighed and simply agreed. "I suppose that's better than nothing. We should get going to find Eden."

She pointed up at the ceiling and circled till she reached the middle and emphasized the point. "Eden would be in the middle of the upper dome. He can watch over the entire facility from that position. We can probably shake the self-destruct code from the guard barracks, that is... I don't know where."

I gave her a nod of acknowledgement. "We should probably just go for the generators so we can get some exterior help. I am here alone, after all. I was the only one who was fast enough to make the timed door by the water, after all."

I heard her grumble under her breath. "Leave it to the man to figure out the plan."

I heard that and had to immediately address it. "I don't know if you hadn't noticed, but I'm not exactly a man. I am not a human, so typical terminology doesn't apply. I'm simply a talking lizard."

It's not like that was a lie. No one ever sits there and calls a deathclaw a 'man'. It doesn't sound right.

"Maybe not, but you are as condescending as a man. You don't need to down talk to me because I'm a woman."

"I.. wasn't.. down talking you. Besides, I wasn't aware that speaking condescendingly is a gender-specific trait."

She just gave me a, "Whatever."

We silently crept through the facility, and a thought came to my mind. "The Enclave did not build this. What purpose did this place serve before the war?"

"We had bits and pieces of what the U.S Military was doing here before the bombs. This entire facility was a place of panic and intelligence. It was a protection against impending doom. It was supposed to be a place to fall back on. It seems once the end of the world happened, the whole plan fell apart and..here we are. It was close enough to D.C. to protect it, but nothing good comes of this place."

I can't say that I was surprised. "It's always the same with these high budget government facilities. It always ends the same way. No matter how much preparation they made, the bombs ended everything."

She stopped me by holding her arm out. "John, there is something you need to know before we continue and go up these steps ahead." She lowered the upper buttons on her jumpsuit and revealed a slave collar. "They have us all strung up with these damn collars. They have them set on a remote detonation, so any of us who decide to run or betray just get killed like that."

I gestured with my index claw for her to turn around; I crouched down to meet myself with her level. "I know this might be hard to believe, but I can probably get this off you if you will let me, but I need you to be completely still."

She gave me a grumble and steadied herself and straightened her shoulders. "I'll be dead anyway if you can't get it off. Just know if you fail, it will blow up in your back and leave some lasting damage. How do you even know how to get this off?"

I gently felt around her neck and got a feel for the collar. "Back when I was in Nevada, slavers took me and collared to be sold as a slave. I was treated horribly and got sick and tired of being manhandled like some animal. I was malnourished and beaten daily. I couldn't defend myself because they tied my arms most of the time. Long story short, I fiddled with my collar and learned to take them off. I decided I would rather die there than continue with this hassle. I just removed the thing rather than blow it up."

"How did you get captured? Did you make them pay as well?" she asked.

I continued to click and clack against her collar, "I was jumped and surrounded after trying to help a group of kids screaming for bloody murder. They were a trap to get unsuspecting, naïve, and kind individuals to make them slaves. I fell right for it. But yes, I freed the other slaves and killed the slavers. I left the kids to their fate, though. Didn't help them or kill them. I don't know what happened to them in the end. Part of me hopes they died in the desert for what they made me go through."

I found the point where it could be cut safely and gave a quick slice through the thing and quickly removed it from her neck. She visibly shook and grabbed at her neck and felt it no longer there.

I spun it on my index claw and gave her a gin. "See? I told you I can do it-"

She didn't even let me finish my sentence before nearly making me fall over. She hugged me, wrapping herself around my chest, and just absolutely broke down into tears. "I'm..I..am free! I am finally free! I can... I can go home!"

I tossed the collar behind us and gently pushed her off me. "As happy as I am for you, I still have something I need to do here. You are welcome to join me, but I have others depending on me."

She wiped her eyes and pulled her revolver out and spun the cylinder and herself back around at the same time. "You bet I'll be joining you! Let's make these bastards pay!"

We ascended the steps with her in front. "Why don't we split up? You handle the generators and I can tackle Eden. Can you point me in the right direction?"

She was hesitant, but agreed. "Okay fine. Eden is at the very top of the dome. You just need to keep going up. Look for steps and ramps. He's on the 5th floor and we are currently on the 1st floor."

I gave a nod as she went to the opposite side of me. "Okay, once you are done, meet me at the door that opens every 32 seconds. If I'm not there, just leave. Don't wait for me. Got it?"

All she could do was stop and glance back at me. I faintly heard. "I will not tell my parents you got killed."

She will have a much better time navigating than me. Plus, she won't raise suspicion being on her own. With me, they will shoot her on sight. I knew little if nothing about the layout of this place, but these halls were empty and it looked much like just a floor in-between other floors. A reception desk here and some American propaganda along the walls. Flickering old lights and general unease. You would think this place was abandoned.

Spending some time, I was peeking into a few rooms that all led to nothing, darkness, and what looked like a shooting range. Every single one was vacant of soldiers and officers alike. This wasn't a floor of operations by any means.

It was far too quiet. The only sounds were of my claws only slightly scratching the ground as I went through these ever-expanding hallways. The humming of the ancient lights above my head and the occasional crackle of metal and shifting of the air conditioner.

It just occurred to me. This place was almost like a vault. Meaning.. that I'm going the wrong way if I wanted to go up to a floor. I came across a door leading to a staircase.

The top of the steps leads to a complete shift in scenery. They adorned this hallway with various doors and separate directions.. this place was a maze.

These rooms seemed to be barracks and sleeping quarters. From room to room, I saw many sleeping soldiers and officers.

Silence... I have to be silent now.

I didn't stay on this floor for very long. There was a map that I stumbled across. It made finding the next set of stairs even easier, as well as others.

I found myself in a large, open, and spacious room. It was completely dark and the metal flooring was cold and felt cruel.

I heard a voice address me from an intercom and blaring lights that seemed to watch me. "So nice to see you finally arrive. I expect you have had little trouble getting here. My soldiers won't stop your progress to reach me. I ask you, don't kill anyone and I'll have them leave you alone. Please, find me on the top floor."

Eden! Of course, he knew I was here. I have no other choice than to trust his word, nowhere else to go after all.

Fine, fine. Another staircase, another floor.

They flooded this one with troops all armed with Gatling Lasers and other high-tech weapons. Tesla power armor and Hellfire suits. They all glared at me through their helmet and one even spoke up.

They pointed past the waves of soldiers. "Eden is the only reason we aren't blasting you right now. I destine you to meet with him or we all die, get going!"

I spat right back at them all. "How do I know you won't light me up the moment I turn my back on you?"

They all just stood there like a stone wall and didn't falter in the slightest.

I slowly walked by then and kept my eyes on the biggest group the whole time. No one moved, no one made any sudden actions. Eden has the decency to at least keep his word.

I was pointed and directed through this maze of halls and rooms to the final room, the dome. They made it of glass and you can see the water above us. It was empty aside from a massive computer and screen in the middle. A single cyan line ran across it.

The line moved as if it was a mouth. Eden addressed me as the soldiers left us alone. "I'm impressed you found your way in here all alone. What do you hope to accomplish? You are but one against my entire forces. There are at least 2000 soldiers, officers and citizens living and stationed here. You stand no chance!"

I scanned the room for anything of use, but it was a dead-end aside from the entrance I came through. "Why would I get anyone else killed then I can make a suicide run myself? I have accomplished great feats already. Your numbers mean nothing to me, Eden. Revenge is a powerful and aggressive driving force. I will use it to end you!"

"You are surrounded. Even should you slay me, you won't make it out alive. Then again, no one will miss a mistake of science, will they?"

I snapped back at him, "The only mistake of science in the room would be you!"

If a computer could scoff, that's what he did. "Says the talking lizard abomination! You aren't supposed to exist. Your entire species shouldn't live. Yet you are here in front of me, alive and well. An enemy of the Enclave, like all the other abominations."

"If we want to talk about not existing, how about you? A damn machine, a fake being. You can sit there and be as delusional as you want. You. You are a piece of technology! At least I'm a living being. Make a mistake of science, yes. But does that make you?"

I think I literally struck a nerve. "Insolent fool! I am far superior to you! I'm not bound by moral obligation or cynical naturalistic instincts! I am set out to ensure the survival of humanity, not some sentient Wasteland beast!"

"Is that why you are using Mutants to do your dirty work?"

He snapped at me, "A means to an end! It's much easier to order around Mutants than training some loyal soldiers to obey your every command. They won't live in our never vision of the world."

I had to ask. "Is that why you are experimenting on Deathclaws?"

"A simple answer. Your species is incredibly resilient and capable of much more than meets the eye. Shame that none of your remaining intelligent ones are capable of making more. We could take the Wasteland by storm then! We were experimenting on regular ones years ago but only got to temporarily control their minds. We have moved on. You don't seem to care about your species or history, considering how you slew Ocrum."

I practically hissed at him and approached the massive screen up close. "He was a monster and death was mercy for everything he's done! Aside from his sadism, I don't think he would have been very useful to you."

Giving a wide slash across the massive machine it attached him to, I typed away at his keyboard. "I hope you don't intend on shutting me down or self-destructing me. That would be most unfortunate, given the kindness I've opened up to you."

"I'll show you kindness by removing you from existence! Do you want a perfect world? Take yourself out of the equation!"

"Nonsense! They made me to be perfect, impalpable! I am the exact thing this Wasteland needs to go into the next age! You cannot sit there and seriously tell me I'm the problem when you are a walking tower of death!"

"Tell me now, what are your intentions with the Wasteland? Why is your Enclave so evil and so… destructive? They are taking advantage of this situation; they aren't just killing Mutants and ghouls. They are hunting and hurting innocent people, too. There won't be a Wasteland to save if you and your people keep this up!"

He paused for a moment. "I wish to influence this great nation into what it once was. These Mutants, these mutations run rampant. We need to put the world back to what it was before the bombs dropped. We need to eliminate and eradicate those mutations. So the world can begin anew. My intentions are pure and innocent. The problem is massive, the problem is too widespread. The radiation has plagued and ruined the world almost beyond repair. The government experimented and ruined the natural order of things. F.E.V experiments and natural radiation poisoning. Ghouls, Mutants, and various animals have all been affected. I must wipe them out."

"How do you even intend on doing this?"

He continued, "My Enclave has the means and numbers to the end of this. Good ole fashioned genocide of any mutated beings. We are infallible, me especially. That is why your Vault was wiped out. It meant none of you to survive, yet here you stand at my supercomputer. Ready to die for your cause. Even now, you are exactly the issue we want to eradicate. You should feel honored! Few get to even witness me."

I continued to type on his computer aggressively. "You can't tell me how honored I should be! Your organization ruined my life! We were scientists and philosophers! I killed no one until I left the Vault on that.. horrific day! You told me last time that it was you who gave the order. On that alone, I must kill you."

I heard the walls shift and multiple turrets beep and charge up their shots as he simply asked me. "Are you sure about that?"

I looked at him, dead in his camera. I could only assume acted as his eyes. "You can bet your technologically advanced ass I'll be ending you and your Enclave!"

The barrels of many guns charged up. Then right before a shot came out, the power shut off, and the room went dark aside from Eden's light. I could almost see the disappointment in his light. "Well, isn't that awfully convenient? Aren't you lucky and fortunate, huh?"

I continued to mess with his keyboard. "Isn't that unfortunate for you, though?"

"Listen, John. I know you can make me self-destruct. I won't sit here and doubt your ability, as Glavin does. I will right now let you walk out of here. No shots, no death. You are free to go right now. If you kill me, any hope of the world being purged of mutation gets snuffed out, you cannot let the world die for an act of petty revenge!"

I don't care about his vision. "Oh, I'm sure the Enclave will still follow your order. They seem to have a knack for absolutely butchering everything that moves."

Eden raised his voice. "This is exactly why you got killed off! You deny an order directly from your President!"

I was getting somewhere in his terminal. "Eden, there were over 100 of us, of intelligent deathclaws. It included eggs in that number. Your vision of a perfect Wasteland was perverted and wasted. My species was peaceful and happy in our Vault. You got us murdered just because of what we were. It's my duty and job as one of the last to end you and your group. For ending my species, ending my perfect, peaceful life. I will never have that back. I will never have a family. I will belong nowhere. The last thing I can do is make sure that you don't ruin anyone else's life."

He laughed, "You don't get to make that decision! Your quest for revenge puts the entire world at risk! Humans and Mutants aren't meant to live together."

I quit my typing and blew up on him. "Your mindset is too stuck in the perfect world everything once was! You need to adapt to the new world or die. No amount of troops and bullets will stop the ravaging mutation and change that runs wild in the tainted world. Your plan to wipe every living thing from the universe just because they have mutations or radiation won't leave you with a world to come back to! Even I can see that."

"Processing.."

"Processing.."

His voice went from aggressive and angry to somber and low. "Maybe, maybe you are right.. we won't be able to control and save a world if the entire world is vacant and empty. What is the point? All these atrocities I had them commit, all the orders I made to wipe out the slightest mutated beasts... I am sorry for killing your kind. I can see now that maybe you could have helped us to see our errors rather than purging such a unique species."

I finished my browsing of his terminal and was ready to push the self-destruct button. "You don't get to be sorry! You are a blasted machine! You can't be sorry, you don't feel empathy!"

I was about to push the button, and he stopped me. "John Lambert, Stop! Listen to me. Just this once. If you activate my self-defense, it will trap you inside the facility. It was something I had added after Mia destroyed me last time. You don't deserve to die here. I will activate it myself after you go through the door. I'll open now. It will lead directly to the surface. You will need to swim."

I stopped for a moment and held a claw on the button. "How do I know I can trust you? You seem very manipulative and were about to blast me full of holes? You need to die for the Wasteland to be purified. You are part of the problem, not the solution, like you think."

I heard the door open behind me. "You will have to trust me. I know what I'm doing is wrong, what I've done wrong. I won't sit here and keep living my lies. The future is better in your hands. You will lead the world into a new age. It's time the Enclave finally fell."

I slammed down on the button, and the alarm began blaring.

"Attention, Attention! Self-destruction has been initiated! Please evacuate at your discretion. In an orderly fashion, remember, High ranks first!"

I realized what I did after the doors closed around me and metal sheets raised over the glass of the dome. Something completely trapped me.

I backed up and sat down against the wall and just said, "I don't believe you."

Eden raised his voice again. "You are a complete retard! You realize I was going to let you go, free?! The last hope of the entire Wasteland is going to die in this room and I'm not talking about me! I lost all control of this room the moment you pressed that button. You are going to die here!"

I leaned my head back against the wall as the prospect of death was impending.

"4 minutes until destruction."

I took a deep breath. "I know. I have no regrets. I was able to save my father. The first person I didn't fail. It only took 30 years."

The reality of the situation embraced me. I would never see him again. I would see no one again and I'm going to spend my final moments in the room with the machine that set the order to kill my vault.

You know what? No. I won't just lay down and die.

I quickly stood up and ran my hands against the wall where the door that Eden opened was. I just need to find the outline.

He scolded me. "You won't be able to open that with raw strength. It's not designed to-"

He couldn't even finish his sentence before I grabbed the inner portion of it and pulled with all my might. I pulled the entire thing with so much force I bent the entire metal door till it almost fell off.

"Two minutes until destruction!"

I at least had the decency to give Eden a goodbye and rushed down the hallway to a massive ladder. Climbing the thing with so much speed that I almost slipped off it.

Opening a trapdoor that led to the water, it instantly flooded into the room and engulfed me. Fortunately, swimming was not an issue and I.. found the surface pretty quickly. I was on the opposite side of the facility. Rather than trying to get to land, I swam as far as I could in the water before I both heard and felt the shockwave of the underwater boom.

Once the explosions stopped, I realized it didn't affect the whole facility, just the dome where Eden was. There was still more to take out.

A small victory for me, at least. I swam my way to shore and sat along the edge of the water for a moment and gathered myself.

The moon was the only source of light I could see. It shimmered against the waves of the water and I could see the destruction of the Enclave base from here.

With a deep panicked breath, I stood up and began my stroll down the shoreline and back to the Brotherhood encampment.

Please be here, dad, please.

Having to take a long way around, I could see the defensive walls that they built up. I was almost there.

I could see some Brotherhood soldiers patrolling and for once in my life they met me with joy rather than bullets.

One of them ran at me with excitement. "Holy shit, you are alive! Are you okay?"

I gave them a nod. "Yes, I am fine. Did... did my dad make it?"

"Oh. Yes, yes. Mia patched him up, he-"

I couldn't even let them finish before I charged into the entrance.

Looking around, I didn't see him, but they had set plenty of tents and buildings up. It was in a circular formation.

Many of the soldiers and trainees ignored me as I went from place to place, glancing in the tents and found nothing but tables of orders and guns.

I circled the outside and then I saw him. He was here. Mia and Myles were next to him and they were gathered around a fire behind one of the biggest tents.

I couldn't help myself. I ran at him and nearly tipped on myself. "Dad!"

He turned around all bandaged up and had a tourniquet wrapped around his waist.

He turned around to me, embracing him in a rough hug but being considerate of his wounds.

I just held him there and lost it. I cried like a baby instantly and just told him. "Don't let go, say nothing."

I ended up holding him for much longer than I should have, but eventually let him go and met his side with Mia and Myles.

I was still weeping, but neither of them noted it.

My dad glanced at me. "I thought I had lost you in there? What took so long?"

I wiped my blurry eyes. "Did you miss the explosion? I took out Eden."

Mia spat out her drink and stood up and nearly fell backward off her chair. "You took out Eden!?" We have to tell Maxson!"

Myles reached up to push her by the shoulders back down. "Mia, please, he just got back. Let him have his moment with his dad. It doesn't have to be go, go, go all the time."

"Thanks, Myles, but Mia is right. We still have a job to do here. Tell him you two, but I need a moment."

They gave me a nod, and Myles tossed me my sword. "Here, just like you left it. We will be back. I am happy you aren't dead, but I knew you weren't, anyway. You are too stubborn," He left in a laughing fit with Mia.

I looked over my sword and strapped it back to my back and addressed my dad. "I'm glad you kept it safe. Are you okay?"

He chuckled. "I'm the one who should ask that." His laugh turned into something more serious though. "That necklace around the handle. It was Emma's. What happened to her?"

I gave a nervous gulp, and I struggled to give him an answer. "Dad...I... Emma is dead. She saved me, told me you were alive, and then she... lost her family and shot herself in front of me. I am so sorry. She talked about you like you were close."

Silent tears fell down his face as he stared at the ground. "She was my caretaker. I was annoyed with her at first but we talked and I told her my story, my losses, and.." he grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me in, "I told her about you."

"I went back to where she died and I buried her. I gave her a proper one too. She was the one who told me you were alive. I.. didn't know until almost two weeks ago!"

He embraced me closer. "Oh John, I'm so, so sorry you have gone through all this torment. All this sorrow. I can't imagine how pained you are. I have to know. You mentioned burying. Did... did you bury all the bodies of our brethren?"

I couldn't look at him, but I answered. "Yes... yes dad, yes I did. I had the help of a small village I lived and grew up in after they massacred the Vault, but I did. Even mom. I-"

He stopped me and hushed me in an embrace, rocking me gently from side to side. "Shhh John, I understand. I can't imagine how difficult that was. I miss her terribly to this day. You burying the bodies saved us all, you know? The Enclave came back and were going to... harvest the egg cells from their bodies to make more intelligent deathclaws to build their army. You stopped their plans without even knowing it."

In a sniffing mess, I said. "That's despicable! It just felt like the right thing to do."

"From what Myles and Mia have been telling me, you seem to believe a lot in the right thing to do."

I stood up and faced him, "You haven't changed a bit, dad. Is there anywhere I can get a drink around here? I'm parched."

He gave me a nod and gestured over to the large tent. "They have some water from the purifier in there if you like to get some. I'll stay here."

I patted him on the shoulder. "I'll be back, dad."

The tent wasn't very far. I ducked down inside of it and approached the lady at the table adorned with various foods and drinks. Mainly packaged goods and bottles.

She was cleaning glass and turned around as I approached. "Oh hello, what can I get you, sir?"

I leaned down to symbolize a chair. "Why the formalities? I just would like a couple of bottles of water. Can I bother you to get payment from Myles?" I raised my arms and gestured at my lack of anything. "You may have noticed I lack anything that holds caps."

She gave me a chuckle and put three bottles on the table. "No worries, water is free. I appreciate the enthusiasm, so have an extra."

I gave her a nod of appreciation and wished her farewell. I got a better view of the interior of the tent and they filled it with various tables and chairs. Soldiers gathered around, bantering and eating their meals.

I didn't stay around other than the time to have a look around the room. I didn't recognize anyone here after all.

Approaching the back of the tent, I saw that Mia and Myles had joined back up with dad.

Tapping him on the shoulder and handing him a bottle. "Told you I would be back soon."

I sat down next to him with Mia and Myles across from us and I had to ask. "So, how did it go with Maxson?"

They looked at each other and seemed to give a nervous pause. Mia spoke up. "Well, you see... it did not thrill him with you giving away our position with the explosion, but understood why you did it. He will throw out a plan to finish the rest of the base tomorrow."

Myles spoke up too, tossing me a book, not just any book. It was my journal! "Here, we will sit around for a while. Figured you would like to get caught up on your writing."

I quickly browsed the pages and found right where I left off. "Yes, how considerate of you to have thought of that."

Dad peaked over and noticed the length of the journal and commented. "That's a pretty lengthy journal you got there. Have you been writing for a while? You never kept a log like this back in the vault."

I closed it and set it to my side. "Yes, ever since I got out of the vault, I was keeping records of everything. My journey through the Wasteland and general day, so on and so forth."

He gave me a nod and took a swig of the bottle. It reminded me I had water as well. I was so thirsty the whole time and didn't realize it until I took a drink.

Mia got my attention and asked. "How was the meeting with Eden? Did he try to manipulate and talk you down again?"

Finishing my bottle, I held a claw up to give me a moment. "Yes, and no. He told me what the Enclave intended with trying to eradicate and purge the Wasteland of Mutation and Mutants of any kind. Essentially, he wanted to wipe everyone off the face of the earth to start fresh. What a joke. I activated his self-destruct sequence and nearly got myself blown up."

Mia scoffed. "He tried to do the same damn thing with me. Tried to have me use a modified vial of F.E.V. on the Purifier, but I refused and used a code to activate his self-destruct at Raven Rock. Turns out it wasn't enough. Let's hope this is the last we will ever see of him."

Myles stretched with a yawn and walked off, giving us a wave. "I'm off to sleep. Goodnight everyone. It was nice meeting you, Harris!"

He gave Myles a wave. "You too, Myles!"

Mia got up too and looked at the moon. "It's about time I head to sleep, too. You two should get some alone time to catch up anyway, without me in the way. See you in the morning! Harris will show your tent, John. Goodnight."

I gave her a nod and a smile. "Goodnight, Mia, if you see Myles, tell him I wish him goodnight as well."

She gave us a wave. "Sure can!"

We sat there in silence for a moment, just enjoying the occasional gust of wind and the peace of the stars.

He yawned and asked. "Would you like to see our tent? It's just large enough for both of us, funny enough."

I picked up my journal and the other water bottle and stood up. "Lead on, I would like to sleep soon, anyway."

He went around the outer edge of the circle of tents and we arrived at the furthest one out, still within the walls, of course, but away enough from everyone. "They set this up for you originally, but I threw a wrench into their plans. It should be enough."

I entered after him and it was a fairly open space and I could stand up completely in here. It had two sleeping bags on each side on elevated platforms and a table in the middle. It was, like he said, just large enough for us both.

Leaning my sword against the side of the table and setting my journal and bottle next to it, laying on the platform to test it. "Pretty comfortable, actually. Beats a stone cave floor."

Dad just scoffed. "Beats a bulky, metal floor, by far. You know I haven't seen the outside in probably 13 years? They kept me captive since they attacked the vault. They moved me many, many times. Never knew from where to where. Something always blinded me on transfers."

I turned to face him. "That's a shame. I never even knew you were alive until Emma said so. Hell, even then, I didn't believe it. Know that if I knew you were in there, I would have come for you much, much sooner. I promise you."

"I know, son. I only knew you were alive because I overheard a report of a 'pesky albino-colored deathclaw,' that so had ruined a recruitment center or the same one that spilled all their vats of F.E.V at a munition plant. I just had a feeling it was you. That news gave me hope. Even if I didn't know for sure, I just.. knew it was you and that, that made all my years of torment worth it. To be here now and see you all grown up. My sacrifice back in the vault to save you was something I would never regret doing, of course. But now, knowing it wasn't for nothing, it helps."

Making me almost tear up already. "I'm just happy I could save you. I have failed so many people I've loved and I could save you. I could finally save someone."

He was silent and just let me continue. "I failed to save mom, they killed her right in front of me.. do you have any idea, any idea what that has done to me?! I still see her face in my nightmares. I... was too weak. I was too hesitant.. It.. should have been me."

He just shook his head. "John, please never blame yourself for what happened to her. If you tried to help her, you would be dead, too. I still love your mother to this day. I miss her, Every. Single. Day. I know it's hard to take this. I'm sure she gave herself up so you would live. It's only something a parent would understand. We both were ready to die so you would live. We did not waste her sacrifice. I'm sure you knew she loved you more than life itself. She would be so, so proud of who you have become, son. Please don't ever guilt yourself for what happened to her."

As much as I appreciated his attempt to cheer me up. "I know you are trying to help, but I have spent years, years! Blaming and making it my fault! I can't just sit here and accept that she died to save me in one day. I want to believe that's how it went, but I saw it happen. If I was stronger, she would be alive now."

"John... I don't know how to say this other than if she was alive, they would have forced her to become a brood mother. With what the Enclave was trying to do...it's better that she was killed there, than becoming a slave, in the worst way possible."

I thought about it for a moment, but he was completely right. "That's twisted and just... fucked. You are completely right. It's better that she died in the vault than get hauled away to God knows where, to be forced to make eggs."

I shivered at the last sentence. It was a disgusting thought to even imagine that could have been the outcome. Sometimes death is the better option. This is one of those cases.

He turned on his side. "We can talk more in the morning. Mind if we sleep now?"

"It's okay, dad. I am sleepy too. Go ahead and sleep, don't feel bad. I'll be awake a little while longer. I need time to process everything."

I did some writing before I fell asleep. It helps me collect my mind all in one place because I feel like I am dreaming. It's almost too good to be true. I wondered how Scarlet was doing.

Sleep took me rather quickly. I can't say I dreamt of anything specific. It seemed like it was rather quick and peaceful. I had just passed out and got woken up when it became morning.

I was laying on my side and facing the wall of the tent. Being woken up by someone calling my name. It felt surreal at first before it snapped me awake.

I couldn't tell who it was at first, but they whispered and leaned down behind me. "John, are you awake? Your dad is still asleep, but Maxson would like to see you."

I turned myself over with a yawn. "Oh. Good morning, Mia. What time is it?"

She looked at her Pip-Boy. "It's just afternoon now. You were sleeping for pretty long, usually, you wake up pretty early. I'll give you time to wake up and Maxson's tent is near the front, where we originally entered."

I stood up with a stretch and gave her a slight nod. "Okay, okay. I'll be out shortly. Tell him to expect me within... eventually."

She left the tent, and I finished the last bottle and hid my journal under the covers of the sleeping bag. Not that I don't want dad to go through it, just... that's private stuff I'm not ready to have to address with him.

I decided not to wake him up and allow him to sleep in. Exiting the tent, it met me with the blaring sun. I held up a hand to block it from completely blinding me. I always hated the sun right in the morning.

It seems everyone else was just getting ready in the morning as well. The entire campsite we had going was pretty empty aside from morning trainees and commanders here and there.

The entrance would be behind me. Navigating this place was simple and nothing was too close together. I could go in between every tent to save time rather than going all the way around.

"Hey, John, wait up a moment!"

I turned around to an approaching scribe. They ruffled through their bag and held out a sealed letter. "You had someone leave you a note last night. I don't know who or what they were doing here, but they insisted I get this to you. Can't tell you what it comprises, but I saw you leave your tent and didn't want to wake you."

Gently taking the seal from them. "Thank you for considering not waking me up. I can't imagine who this would be from but I'll read it anyway, appreciate it. Was that all?"

They gave me a salute and continued on their way. "Yes, that was everything."

I opened the envelope and didn't recognize the handwriting at all.

Dear John,

If you are confused, I would understand why. This is Scarlet. I couldn't bring myself to enter the campsite here after I had learned it was The Brotherhood of Steel! I did the next best thing and wrote you a letter and left it to the scribe to give to you. I wanted to tell you I made it out and I'm okay. I would stick around to see you, but I don't think you would be dying. I'll assume you are alive and well. I wanted to ask you to come to Megaton after the whole Enclave fiasco is over. I'm on the way to convincing my dad to not despise me anymore. Yes, as well the power outage was me. There are only the North and South generators left. After those are destroyed, there won't be enough power to stop the destruction of the entire facility. Good luck, John!

There was one less thing to worry about. I'm happy to hear Scarlet made it out. I never saw her during my escape, or after. I'm going to take her up on that offer to visit Megaton once all this is over.

I entered Maxson's tent and saw him leaning over a massive war table with what looked like a large diagram of the entire facility. Putting the letter from Scarlet down, I said to him, "That's rather impressive."

He leaned up and glared at me before returning to the table. "Impressive, and not very helpful. I don't know where to attack this thing." He stood upright and turned away from me, arms crossed behind his back. "This means you are the only one who can direct and help us. You went in there and got out. Which I thought you would have died. Not only that, you brought your dad out, how?"

I leaned over the tables as well and pointed to the Western side. "This is where I entered, originally. It would seem that this was the only secret entrance. It was in the seemingly lowest portion. There are 5 floors total and the dome at the top counts as a floor. From what I learned, the first floor was a barracks and sleeping quarters. The second floor was just space in-between floors. I didn't check any rooms. The third floor was a large open space that only makes sense now to have been vehicle storage, but I didn't see any. The fourth floor was all about military planning rooms and the various armories, libraries, and archives. Last, the final floor led up to the dome where Eden was. I blew him up and now we just have the whole facility left. The generators on the East and West sides have been destroyed. That leaves the North and South sides. Once we destroy all of them, we will take the whole facility by the horns and then destroy it all, easily!"

He picked up a pen and circled the North and South sides of the facility. "Here and here? Are you sure? I don't want to send all my troops just on a hunch."

I confirmed his pointers. "Yes, those are correct. I know for a fact that those are the remaining ones. We should attack them now while we still have the chance and they still haven't realized that Eden has been slain."

"Okay, if you say so. I'll assemble my troops for an all-out assault. I'll see you outside?"

I gave him a nod and leaned off the table. "I'll go get Mia. See you out there."

He brushed by me and I could hear him gathering everyone in one spot as soon as he left.

I left the opposite direction and ran right into Fawkes. "Ah, the talking lizard and friend of Mia! It is an honor to make your acquaintance once again. What can I do to help you? Are you looking for something?"

I paused for a moment and lowered my arms to a comfortable position. "Fawkes was it? I am looking for Mia. Maxson is gathering us for the next attack and wants her to be present."

He turned away from me and gestured with one of his massively muscled arms in the sunrise's direction. "Her tent is beyond where the sun shines in the morning. If you follow the hopefulness of her light, you will find her. Follow the rays of hope. They will lead you to her."

I gave him a nod. I think I understand. "Thank you, Fawkes. Shall I find you later on?"

I spun the super sledge in his hands and faced back at me with a smile. "Sadly not. I will not be joining you on any missions. I am to keep the encampment safe and sound! I would love to be out there and crush the evil, but protecting our operations is necessary as well. We will get through this, a friend of Mia's!"

I wished him farewell and followed the light rays of the morning sun and came across a lone tent, a distance away from everyone else's. I could hear a man's voice from outside and stopped and listened before entering, making sure I got the right one.

"Hold on Jonas, I need to record this first. I don't know how to tell you this. I hope you'll understand, but I know you might be angry. I thought about it for a long time but decided it was best for you not to know. So many things could have gone wrong, and there is no telling how the Overseer will react when he finds out. It's best if he can blame everything on me. Obviously, you already know that I'm gone. It was something that I needed to do. You're an adult now. You're ready to be on your own. Maybe someday, things will change and we can see each other again. I can't tell you why I left or where I'm going. I don't want you to follow me. God knows life in the vault isn't perfect, but at least you'll be safe. Just knowing that will be enough to keep me going."

"Don't mean to rush you, Doc, but I'd feel better if we got this over with."

"Okay. Go ahead. Goodbye. I love you."

*Holotape beep*

I then heard a woman crying, and I instantly knew it was Mia. I peaked inside slightly and was probably given away by my horns first rather than my face.

I saw her sitting on a bed, being embraced by Clover, and she saw me first and gestured for me to go. As I was about to leave, Mia stopped me and told me to come in.

"It's okay, John. You are the one who helped me reflect on my father. Having found your own makes me think of my own. I'm beyond happy for you. I'm so glad you found your dad, but it's reminded me of losing my own."

I crouched down in front of them and looked up at her. "I'm sorry to hear that, Mia. I heard the recording. Was that the day he left the Vault?"

"Yes. Yes, it was. I listen to this before I involve myself in any big confrontation."

Clover stood up and grabbed her electric Chinese Sword off a table. "Yeah, I imagine that confrontation is soon, isn't it, love? We should get going."

"Correct. Maxson is waiting for us all to be present. I'll meet you two there. I need to tell dad what's going on."

We went separate ways and Mia got herself back together as soon as she broke down. I made a quick dash to get back to my tent after making a note of Maxson being in the center of all the tents.

I went in and tried to make no noise and grabbed my sword and turned around to dad being awake. "Oh, are you awake? Maxson is getting ready to make an attack."

His gaze went from my eyes to the sword. "You are going to join them? Can't you just stay here? You already took out Eden. I think you have done enough. Maybe it's time everyone else pulls their weight."

I backed up from him as he was getting close. "Dad... this is something I have to do. I can't sit there and explain my motivation to you, not now. There is no time. Please don't worry, I'll be fine."

He gave me a disappointed groan and backed up to his bed. "It's been 30 years since we last saw each other. You are just going right back out there? What about us? We have so much time to catch up on."

"Dad, I have an obligation here. These people need me. I can't just drop everything because I have you back in my life again! We will catch up, I promise!"

I went to leave, and he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back into the tent. "I don't want to lose you again! I don't want to think you are gone from my life. I don't want to worry if you will come back or not. Why.. Why are you so adamant about fighting the Enclave? You don't owe the Brotherhood anything!"

I pulled away and snapped back at him. "GLAVIN WAS THE ONE WHO KILLED MOM! THAT IS MY REASONING!"

His expression instantly changed as it all hit him at once why I was trying so hard, why I went into the facility alone. "You won't be able to stop me, father. I'm going to kill that man if it's the last thing I do. You can be as horrified by it as you want. You have had thirty years to figure out who I have become. I'm not a defenseless child anymore. I've killed more people than you can imagine! I'm.. not that innocent youngling you once knew."

Strapping the sword to my back, I left the tent. I didn't want to argue or fight with him. He doesn't understand how much of my life I spent hunting down this man and now that I'm this close, I won't stop just because 'father disapproves.' I don't need his approval. Gone thirty years without it, anyway.

It's made me realize that just because he's in my life, I have filled no void in my life. I thought after I found him, I would be overjoyed. All he's done is try to deny what I'm trying to do here.

I'll need to talk with him once I'm done here. Maxson's speech was the typical nonsense of Brotherhood encouragement and went over what I said to him earlier.

He split everyone into two teams, ready to storm the entire facility. I noticed they did not put me into a team.

So I asked him right there with everyone. "What about me, Maxson? What am I going to do?"

He looked at the two groups lining up and getting their gear ready and just told me. "You are going to go on your own. After everyone else."

There were much more people here than I originally expected. It would seem Maxson is doing an all-out assault.

I gave him a nod and began making my way back to the center... the ground started shaking… violently. No one else seemed to notice it.

He scanned those still standing around and found Mia. "Mia, you take your group and try to make an entrance in the back. If nothing comes of that, pick a side that's already been opened. We want to attack them from all sides so they can't even consider launching a counter-attack."

She gathered her companions and even got Fawkes. "If you want me to use brute strength, I'm taking Fawkes with me, no exceptions."

The waves pulled back and forth. The entire facility of Crow's Perch began to.. elevate out of the water! The two groups watched in awe, myself included.

The total shift of the building as it rose out of the water. It clanged and clacked as the whole thing changed shape and dripped of water and various sea-related plants. The waves crashed upon our campsite.

It looked like the Jefferson Memorial, without the purifier pipes and old-world aesthetic.

Maxson called over some scribes. They wheeled out a completely decked-out suit of T-51B power armor on a dolly. Adorned with a bold, bright Brotherhood insignia on the chest plate and wide shoulder pads. This is the suit I would expect from an Elder.

Maxson called his fleet back. "Brothers, Sisters! It is time. We will not get another opportunity like this. We will hit them with all we got and.."

I went behind him and poked his shoulder. "Maxson, I don't know about you, but this has got trap written all over it. Surely they want you to charge in. Easily funnel everyone into one direction and just kill you then. Your plan of attacking from all sides will be much easier, much more chaotic for the Enclave."

He grumbled under his helmet and said something under his breath I didn't quite catch. He loaded his Gatling Laser and strapped an entire band of Fusion Cores. That was handed to him by a scribe. He was a man on a mission and nothing was going to stop him.

"Goddamn, you are right. They are trying to funnel us into a tunnel of death. They will expect us to attack the front more than ever now. Let's continue with the original plan!"

I knew exactly what I needed to do. Back in Eden's room. I left Maxson to bark his orders and change his plans. Back to my tent. I was going to get my sword for one last time.

Entering the tent, I saw dad back onto the bed and he was reading through something. It was my journal.

I went from being angry at the invasion of privacy to complete understanding. He didn't even attempt to hide it.

After giving him a look of permission to continue reading through my life, I picked up my Bumper Sword and left the tent. I exchanged no words between us.

Here I was, along the shoreline, ready to tackle this massive building. Everyone had already left to enter their ways, and I was alone.

There was a large... rumbling against the ground. It shook everything, shook the tents, and quaked everything around us.

Towers... towers came out of the Facility. Towers that shot orbs of fire into the sky. Orbs that blasted our attempts to break into their base. It was almost like Hellfire, some kind of artillery!

I couldn't even make an assessment of the damage or help anyone. One of these massive fire orbs hit directly behind me and knocked into the water.

It was dark, lengthy, and endlessly engulfing. No matter how hard I tried or struggled, I couldn't escape the void. Something was dragging me down, something was calling me to the depths. Although the vision around my eyes grew darker and darker, I was… contemptuous of this.

It was a perfect pit of despair.

Being fully engulfed in blackness. It wasn't even coloring; it was just blank. Followed by a bright light, bringing me back from the void.

A Legacy of Fantasies.

I awoke in a metal box. Blank walls, blank feeling. Space shifted and changed shape. I saw myself, my life along these walls.

My Vault. I found myself back in the Vault. I recognized these walls. This room. The bed was very comfortable; I didn't want to get up.

I heard the walls whisper to me. "John, please wake up."

I didn't want to wake up.

The soaked bed was less than enough to keep me here. I got up and stretched myself. This room was cold and embracing at the same time. It didn't want to let me go.

The door opened as soon as I approached. The other side was Sophia's garden.

This made little sense! In my efforts to turn around, it met me with a wall of dirty green, contaminated, and irradiated water. It wasn't like water, though; it was a solid block of acid. Touching it hurt me on a molecular level. It still had ripples and had the quality of a liquid.

I turned around and saw.. a few people gathered around a table enjoying a banquet.

Sophia

Mom

Emma

Even my mate back at the Vault, Beatrix

Some others I knew here and there, but their names eluded me.

The last residents all faded as soon as I joined the table with Sophia, Emma, mom, and Beatrix.

They all gave me a warm, welcoming smile.

Sophia was the first to say something, and she pulled out a plate of steaming hot food with a quantum from behind her. "So glad for you to finally join us! Took you long enough to show up. How are you doing, John?"

The Quantum felt so surreal. It was slippery, and I wasn't able to properly grasp it. "I don't know what you mean. I took so long? What are you all doing here?"

They all answered at the same time. It was uncanny.

"To welcome you, of course!"

Something was unsettling about this whole thing. I kept hearing the sounds of flowing water. Everything had odd moisture to it.

I let go of the bottle and addressed my mom. "I found dad, mom. I was able to save him. He's alive."

She didn't seem very overjoyed with that. "Shame he won't be here then. I would love to see him one last time."

"I'm sure he would too, mom."

She went back to her meal. Emma and Sophia were talking about their homes and Beatrix... I hadn't seen her since they killed her in the Vault.

"I heard you say that you loved Sophia. What about us? What about our family? How would your mother feel to know you practically cheated on me?"

I looked up at her, completely baffled. "Beatrix, you know we never worked out. We couldn't make an egg...you got killed before we could even try it, anyway. We were both too young to know what we were getting into. It was Ocrum's idea, anyway."

She just shook her head and reached under the table, pulling out an egg from the side. "Whatever do you mean by no egg? We had one. You haven't been here the whole time to see it. Did you not think we had anything special?"

I just looked at it wide-eyed. "Yo-you are messing with me! There is no-"

She placed a claw on my mouth and handed me the egg with the other. "Here, if you don't believe me. Hold it for yourself. That is your child."

I held it in my arms and rocked it back and forth. So, so gently. I closed my eyes and just felt serene.

I heard my mom excitedly say, "I'm going to be a grandmother!"

Sophia looked like she was going to cry out of joy. "I never thought I would ever see you have a child."

Me neither Sophia, me neither.

Emma suggested. "Why don't we all live together? We can get caught up and tell each other stories for years to come!"

I gave a nod. That sounded nice.

Everything was silent aside from the rapidly increasing dripping of the water. Opened my eyes and looked down at the egg.

I saw it rapidly rotting and crumbling as I held it. In a complete panic, I fell back from my chair and landed on my back.

Beatrix was fading, too. Melting before my eyes. "Looks like it's my time to go. Goodbye, John."

Beatrix. Fell back with her rotted, withered body. With a splash, fading into nothing.

I... couldn't even react. I just laid there completely stiff.

My mom spoke up while looking down at me, reaching a hand out to help me up. "It's okay, John. It's not like this is new to you. I'm as sad as you are to lose the kid, but you must persevere."

Shankly, I grabbed her hand and pulled myself up. I realized what was going to happen now. "That means you are next, mom. I love you. I hope you know that. I'll visit your grave once I finish the Enclave and avenge your name. I promise!"

I pulled her into an embrace as gunshots echoed throughout the room. Her body filled now with bullet holes. I let her go, and she vanished from scales to flesh to the bone before my eyes.

The garden broke and shifted around us, and chunks of ground broke off into nothing. Leading to the vast abyss of water beneath us.

I dropped her skeleton into the water and turned my attention to Emma and Sophia.

I went to talk to Sophia but only coughed up a glob of nasty-looking water.

She only said. "It looks like I might be next."

I hacked all of it out of my system. Might as well be truthful. "Sophia. No woman meant more to me than you. If tears could build a staircase to heaven, I would climb it and bring you back down to me. I love you more than anything, still. May your spirit find peace. May these banks bring you bliss and joy in the afterlife." I grabbed her by the shoulders and held her so tight. "May your sacrifice not be wasted. I will visit you once this is all over as well. Right. Next, To. Mother."

I broke down as I embraced her. Unable to keep me together, it was Sophia who broke me; it was Sophia who shaped me. She said nothing as the dark abyss engulfed her. The only remaining part of her left was her hand.

Letting it go, I tried to grab it again.

I didn't want to let go.. but the darkness would have taken me too.

That leaves Emma.

She smiled and spoke, but grew more and more dirty and ragged as she spoke. "You found your dad, huh? You know you won't most likely see him again, right? This is all that's left. It's time to give up, John. Your time has come."

She handed me a gun, the same one she shot herself with. "Go ahead. Join me."

The barrel was already warm and smoking. Looking back up at Emma, I saw the bullet hole in her head, already there and bleeding. I can see through it into the abyss. "What awaits us on the other side?"

She gave an unnerving smile as blood seeped from her bullet wound. "Oh John, there is no other side, there is no after. What you see here. This is it. This is all it will ever be. You will be forgotten, just like the rest of us. You only carried our memory. Once you expire, so will we."

The swan song was beckoning me...

Looking down the barrel of the gun, I saw it. Happiness, prosperity. No more struggle. No more worries. No more pain.

"Karma's going to come to collect you."

"You are an abomination of science."

"You should have died in that vault."

"No one will ever love you."

"You don't belong anywhere."

"You are a petty coward."

"You take care of only yourself,"

"You are a waste to anyone"

"You are broken."

"Death is the only peace."

"Monsters don't deserve love."

"You were a mistake."

"You will kneel."

"You will fall."

"You will die."

"Kill yourself."

"Die."

The voices ran around my head.. mocking me. Influencing my claw upon that trigger.

Emma was already gone. I looked at her for an answer, but she had already shot herself. It's what she wants.

No…

No.

I can't.

With a pained screech, I throw the gun into the jet-black water. My last way out.

Here I was alone, on a chunk of desert sand surrounded by an endless abyss of water and death.

Everyone around me suffers the same fate. Everyone but me. No, no, I get to keep struggling while everyone else is dead.

Dead for me, no less.

Voices from the other side. Trying to pull me back, "Don't be dead, John. I swear to God!"

I hear them, beyond the water. Beyond the waves.

The beeping of a monitor.

The light of darkness.

The voice of reason.

The assurance of life.

Then silence.

A flatline.

A Bright Light.

Darkness engulfs our hearts, our souls. It gets the chance to take over. It usually wins.

Usually…

"Maxson? He's gone."

All he could do was smack his war table. The grizzled, callous, and downright cruel at times Elder of the Brotherhood of Steel was finally beaten. Anger and sadness flowed through the man like no other. He already knew who the scribe was talking about. He never even looked up."Is..is there nothing we can do?"

The scribe stood there, silent, and quietly went through their notes for some kind of hope. "No, sir. The life support has completely shut down and the heart monitor has flatlined. He's dead, sir. No one else knows yet. Should I inform everyone?"

Maxson just stood there. He never would have thought he would have been capable of dying. Without him, without all the troops who got bombarded. This fight was over. The enemy has won.

"Go tell Mia, Myles, and his father. I need to come up with a new plan of action. You are dismissed."

The scribe nodded and gave a quiet. "Yes, sir." As they left.

The truth is, Maxson wanted to mourn. He never would have thought he would care for him, but now that he's gone, it wasn't supposed to end like this.

Fortunately for the scribe, everyone he was supposed to inform was all huddled together near a fire. He approached them and cleared his throat to get their attention.

I jolted awake in a pained action of vomiting out a terrifying amount of water. Coughing and hacking so much it bled a little.

I was shaking, blurred, and weak. I felt all kinds of needles and I. V devices jabbed into me. They attached some kind of device to my index claw and there was a heart monitor next to me.

Jesus Christ…

That would explain the beeping, I heard. Did I drown? No one was in the tent to greet me.

I took the time to remove all the needles and support from myself. The tubes in my wrist were the most painful to deal with.

Standing up with a hacking cough. The life-support machine is flatlined. But I wasn't dead.

Leaving the tent, I saw the destruction of the blast. Various graves and soldiers burying bodies of scorched and still burning.

I must not have been under for that long.

Deciding to leave them to it, no need to startle them with my sudden revival.

I heard someone crying from the opposite side of my tent, a male voice. "I can't believe he's gone!"

Peeking around the corner, I saw Mia, Myles, and dad all huddled around a fire and hugging each other. I don't want to scare them but…

"I hate to disappoint you all but I'm not-"

The three of them turned around and all lit up as I have never seen before. Nearly trampling over each other to reach out and hug me.

They rushed me to the ground, falling on my back. All of them toppled me to the ground.

Myles spoke. "Holy crap, holy crap. You are alive! I thought you were dead!"

"You all are going to suffocate me! Let me up!"

They let me up, and dad gave me a tear-filled hug. "You were dead. Completely! The life support was flatlined, and you had no pulse, breath, or reaction to anything."

I just sat there and was silent for a moment. "I... think I did die. Something pulled me back. I saw a deep ocean of black and green water. I feel like I have drowned. I feel like I have died. I awoke and vomited so much water from my lungs."

I looked up at my dad and held out a hand for him to help me out. "I talked to Mom. She didn't seem happy to hear you were alive... I talked to a few people who died in my life. They were all beckoning me to join them. They all died the same way they did in real life as well. It was horrifying!"

Mia asked me. "Are you okay otherwise? Like you know who everyone is, what we are doing here? You have forgotten nothing?"

I shrugged and looked at my hands. "I feel like everything is okay. How bad were the casualties? How long have I been out?"

Myles nervously cleared his throat and went to speak. "You see uh-"

Mia stepped in. "The losses were great. Many of our troops who tried to break into the base got scorched. It devastated Maxson. Debating to stop the whole operation."

Dad spoke next. "From when we pulled you out, it's been.." He counted on his claws. "Just short over a whole day. I'm so glad you are okay! I thought I lost you. We all thought.."

"I know, dad. I am going to see Maxson."

They all gave me a nod. "You should

probably do that. He's in his tent."

The desecration of our campsite was incredible, to say the least. The smoke still resonates from the tents and walls. The ground was more tainted than before.

Knocking on Maxson's door. He didn't answer or make any noise. "Maxson? It's John, I want to say that one not.." He stomped over loudly and opened the door as if he didn't believe it was me.

When he opened the metal door of his tent, his expression went from angry and challenged to joyful and downright happy.

"How are you alive?" he questioned me, skeptical.

"You see, I uh.. pulled myself back. I had drowned and somehow coughed up the water from my lungs. I passed, but I am here and now. What's the plan? We need to take out the Enclave!"

He just shook his head, slowly and sadly. "No, John. It's over. We have lost. They have killed too many of my Brotherhood in that bombardment. We are leaving to live another day."

"Damn, Maxson. Never took you for one to run with your metaphorical tail between your legs. I literally, literally died! Here I am still wanting to fight! I am still going to fight! With or without you."

"Our losses are too great!" he crumbled.

"Losses are expected! It guaranteed no one to walk out of this alive! We all knew what we were signing up for! If you walk away from this now, all those deaths will mean nothing!"

He did the typical turnaround, crossing his hands behind his back. "I know you are right. But I don't think we can do it. Their defenses are too strong, the building is built stubbornly. We can't get in."

I looked at the table and saw the absolute clusterfuck of plans overlapping each other. "Maxson, look. I'm assuming that none of the generators have been destroyed. We have to enter from a direction where they won't be able to know we are going in, where they can't bombard us."

He gave a defended sigh and turned around to the table. "Fine, fine. What do you suggest?"

I placed my index claw right on the globe. "There is a trapdoor that leads directly into Eden's room, which is connected to the entire base. I believe it is away from where the bombs can hit us. If we use Vertibirds to hover over the top, we can probably, probably! Be able to enter the base one at a time. Slowly, sure but able to enter. Or, or. You can let me enter it alone and I'll open the front gate from the inside."

"If you can enter the dome and open it from the inside, that works out fantastically! No worrying about an ambush when you open it. I'll get everyone together and ready to charge. Are you ready?"

I gave him a nod. "As ready as I'm going to be. Do you know where my sword is?"

He shooed me away while he prepared. "Yes, it is in your tent. Now get going. I'm going to gather my troops for one final siege attempt."

Wasting no time, I left his tent and changed mine. I saw the struggling troops who were burying their comrades, and I had to help.

Grabbing a shovel, I helped dig a few graves next to the recruit I recognized before everything went down.

"Oh, hello, John. I heard you kicked the bucket. This is a horrible scene, isn't it? No one was ready for that hellfire. We lost so many brothers and sisters from that and it just makes me sad. The Enclave needs to pay."

Continuing my digging, I tried to soothe his pains. "I kind of died. Maybe not literally, but I certainly came close. I'm fine, no worries about me. We need to stay together during all this. I have a plan to take out the Enclave and their base. Maxson is gathering the troops. I'm going on a solo mission. Get all the gear for everyone together."

Pushing the shovel into the ground near the dugout hole, I continued on my way to the tent.

Everything looked pretty normal on this side. Aside from the blood-stained ground and shapes of power armor within some of the dirt.

Entering my tent, I saw dad. "Hello, what are you doing here?"

He looked up at me, and I saw the gaze change from the last time we were here. "I was just looking to lay down. I'm old and weak. Can't keep myself going for long periods. I put all my energy into mourning you on the last day and just need a rest."

My sword was on my bed. I was surprised and was pretty sure it would have sunk to the depths, lost forever. "I am going back out there too-"

He held a shaking, unsteady hand up to stop me from talking. "I understand, son. Myles and Mia told me everything I needed to know about your plight. Every reason and motivation you have. I won't try to stop you. Seeing you come back from death has made me learn something. This isn't about me. It's not even about you. This is about your mother, about our species, about our Vault. You have to be the one to do this. I won't try to tell you how much I don't want to lose you again. This is your choice and I'm proud of you for sticking to it even after greeting the Reaper."

Strapping my sword to my back, I just hugged him. No words, no regrets. I didn't even tell him I'll be back because I truly don't even know if I will be.

Maxson had already begun assembling his forces. This is it. Troops and soldiers were all armed and suited up.

Maxson addressed me as I approached. "John, there you are! We have already got a plan on our end and you know what you are doing. Here, take this bag. It's filled with explosives, C4, and a detonator. Assuming you can't open the door properly, you can blow it up easily."

Taking the bag and strapping it around my waist. "Okay, that sounds like a plan. I'll get going. Is everyone ready and in position?"

He gave me a nod and sent me on my way. "Yes. The moment you blast that door open, we will charge in with you and provide support and cover. Don't rush through and get yourself killed."

"What if I fail? What if I get killed getting to the door?"

One soldier spoke up. "You won't fail, Sir! We all believe in you. We all know you will succeed."

With a combined cheer from everyone, I told them my plan. "Okay, everyone listen. I am going to swim under the facility to avoid all the turrets and trigger the bombardment. I will end up in the back. From there, I will climb it and enter a hatch frame on the dome itself. I'm going to work my way down to probably the third floor, where vehicle storage is. I'll blast open that door and we can take it by storm!" I made hand motions so everyone could see what I was thinking, diving, descending, and blowing the door to kingdom come.

"Mia, Myles, and her crew are already offshore on each side to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. We will wait here and charge in once the doors are down. Is there any signal you want us to wait for?"

I thought for a moment. "I will set off three charges on the door. Once they all successfully go off, that's when you come in. Assuming I can't just open the door and am not being chased down."

Maxson gave me a salute. "Understood! Now get going, Ad Victoriam, and good luck."

Thank you, Maxson. It meant a lot coming from you. Wasting no more time, I followed through with the plan. Giving the facility a wide berth, I went along the shore to the complete outskirts of our campsite and Crow's Perch.

The water terrified me. I didn't realize it until I was ready to dive into it. No sense being a little bitch now. You beat the tide once. You can do it again.

I began my swim. It was slow and cautious at first, but once I got going, it wasn't so bad. All that was running through my head was whatever the hell I experienced while under the water.

Drawing closer to the Crow's Perch, I concluded I had some more time before I had to dive under the water. Let's hope I don't hit my head on some jutting-out bit of metal and pass out or chip one of my horns.

Take a deep breath before descending the waves. I always hated going underwater. The murky low visibility always made me panic by default. I imagined the facility as a blueprint in my head while I swam under it. So far, so good.

It was much more lengthy than I originally thought. Not a problem, of course. I was going to make it. I had to make it.

Surfacing the other side, it met me with no resistance at all. I had free rein to climb the dome as I saw fit. The Enclave is none the wiser.

The hatch I had originally escaped from was at the top. I didn't linger on the outside for very long and descended the ladder back into the Dome Room, where Eden was.

Aside from some flooding and wetness, the room itself was fine. Shattered glass and water dripping from the ceiling, Eden's computer completely removed. Makes me wonder if they tried to salvage him. Or that he was still alive. That didn't matter, though.

Drawing my soaked blade from my back, I carefully walked around the broken glass and decided if I ran into anyone, I would go to kill them. Scientist, Civilian, or Prisoner. Anyone who got in my way will die.

Descending the stairs, I attempted to remember the layout in which the soldiers forced me down to meet Eden. It was dimly lit then, even now. I wonder if I should try to remove the generators while I'm at it.

It might not be necessary, but cutting power to the base might give us the advantage we need.

Meaning I needed to find the floor with the map. Should be easy enough. Without being rushed, I had time to look through everything. The staircase leading to Eden wasn't very impressive. It was a metal spiral with cords and wires poking out from each side, with no form of consistency to it.

I arrived on floor number four. That's what the directional sign told me at least. This is where the massive formation of troops stopped me to force me up to Eden's chamber.

Hurrying should be the name of the game, sure. I wanted to check their library and their archives. See if I can find anything about what their whole big plan was.

I went from wall to wall, carefully scoping out each corridor. I don't remember where the archives were, but I was going to find them.

Footsteps clanged behind me, and I heard someone scrambling for their gun, yelling. "He's here!"

Fortunately, I could jab the tip of my sword under their power armor, right into their neck. Catching their flopping body by the back and setting them down gently to not make any noise.

Blood seeped from their neck, down their suit, and into the cracks and crevices on the floor. I needed to move the body. That was what I should have done, but honestly, I didn't care.

You know, for having just been attacked, these halls were pretty empty. I heard soldiers of course off in rooms to the sides of me and such. I wasn't looking for flights, only if they got in my way.

I crept through these narrow hallways. Peeking into doorways to find anything of interest and avoid any confirmation that I can.

Archives... Archives. Where are they?

I swear I remember passing a room labeled Archives the first time around when I was forced through here to get to Eden.

I heard soldiers talking, eating, and bantering. I must be in a cafeteria area. Not risking checking these rooms for any reason.

Sadly, that didn't matter as a cook came out of one of the double doors carrying a cart of used plates and glasses. They instantly saw me. "Ever-everyone! The deathclaw is here!" Trampling over their cart to push it into me.

I could avoid it, but the distraction was enough to let the soldiers and Enclave officers all get into a position within the doorway, all aimed up and ready to fire.

Picking up the cart, I held it in front of me to stop most of the bullet and laser fire. Some got through but were still halted, with no major damage.

Chucking the cart into the doorway, I hit most of them, along with the cook that spotted me. Despite the screams and various "fucks," I don't think it killed anyone, didn't stick around to find out.

I used the time to run down the hallway. Stealth was no longer an option. I had to cut the neck of some unsuspecting scientist when I turned a corner. They were in the way. It had to be done.

As much of a maze as this place was, this floor just went to a giant circle. That means I would get ambushed from both sides. Even if I suspect and get ready for it. Anything can happen.

I waited on the corner for the worst, but nothing came. They must have set an ambush somewhere else.

Deciding not to wait around long enough for something to happen to me. I'll be better off getting the jump on them first.

Fear always works, right?

Pushed the tip of my blade into the wall and screeched it across the metal wall as I slowly went down the hallway. "I'll give you all an option. Drop your guns and run or fight and die. One chance, if I find you armed, you will perish, drop your weapons, and leave!"

I didn't hear anyone move or drop their guns. I waited on the edge of a wall, watching both sides. Holding my sword out over the edge of the wall. I met it with a crazy amount of gunfire and lasers.

Jerking my sword back beyond the wall, it was smoking and had a few bullet holes in it. Emma's necklace was okay, at least.

Putting the sword on my back, I went around the opposite side; I decided I was going to attack them from behind.

Getting down on all fours, I snuck through the halls, quickly and quietly getting around the circumference of the entire floor. They shouldn't suspect me.

Leaping out from the other end of the hall, I bashed down 4 of them at the same time and knocked down most of the others. There were about 7 Total.

Giving a wide slash across them, the four on the ground with both of my arms, turning to the other three trying to reposition themselves. I picked up the body to use as cover, tossing it into the soldier. I would have preferred to get them all, but they split up.

Leaning down, grabbing one of the miniguns. Charging into one and blasting their head at point-blank with the minigun.

Blood and brains splattered all around the floor as their remaining comrades watched in horror. The shaking, unsteady grasping of their guns only

signified their desire to flee.

I gave the other soldiers the same treatment. Making sure they were dead until the whole minigun went *click*

The red hot barrels smoked and burnt the ground, tossing it aside. The absolute bloodbath that was here.

Oh, right. The two that ran. I can't even hear them clanging down the hallway anymore because they made so much distance.

I grabbed two plasma rifles and strapped them to the satchel. Best make my way to the next floor.

Plasma rifles in each hand, I ran through the facility, popping soldiers as I went. They couldn't keep up or even see me coming. The trip to the third floor was easy, all things considered.

The map. That's right, it was next to the steps. Who would have thought going backward would be so disorienting?

According to the map, the archives should be on this floor adjacent to the steps and around the corner.

Deciding to crash into the glass with the butt of one of the plasma rifles. I took the map in case I lost my place in this labyrinth.

The archives, finally! The door was closed, of course. A key card was needed, but we don't have time for that. Jamming my sword under the entire door. Attempt to heave and wedge it up.

It didn't budge. Goddamn it. Deciding to stop trying to use my sword as a crowbar, I pushed my claws under the door frame and pulled with all my might, straining myself beyond measure. I felt it move and could pull it even deeper. Hoisting the door up above myself, moving in at the same time.

The room was dark and empty of anyone. Makes sense. No one would be in the archives while the facility was under attack.

Flicking a light switch on the side, I was met with a massive row of data banks and a singular large computer, surrounded by smaller ones all in a row. They must pack this place mostly with scientists and scribes of their own.

The Brotherhood would have a field day with this much information. Fortunately for me, there were a bunch of blank holotapes in a box on one desk. There were probably over a hundred archives and folders on these terminals altogether. I won't be able to download everything but I had some keywords I looked up.

Using all the terminals to download multiple bits of information at once. Deathclaw, Soldiers, Vaults, Brotherhood, Eden, F.E.V, Enclave Bases and what their plans were. I was copying it all off of multiple computers on various Holotapes.

Rummaging through my satchel, I planted a block of C4 on the main computer. There is some dangerous information here. I would not let them keep this. Assuming I failed at opening the door.

Files, I went through files in cabinets as well. Mainly records of soldiers and such. Nothing exciting. I was hoping to find Glavin, but didn't want to stick around long enough to do that.

I did, however, find something interesting. I found Myles' file. I skimmed through it and confirmed it was his. I'll be handing this to him once I'm out.

I heard a pounding on the door. "Whoever is in there, get out! The archives were supposed to be locked down! We are currently under attack!"

L

It couldn't be easy, could it? The Holotapes were almost done recording everything. Sweeping them all up in my arms, I carefully put them in the satchel next to Myles' file.

I need to get out of here with these. I bashed the emergency escape button to open the door to the archives, turned off the light, and waited with my back to the wall.

The room was flooded with soldiers armed with Gatling Lasers and Tesla armor that sent currents of electricity between the 5 of them. They didn't see me.

I could escape the room, pulling the detonator from the satchel and blasting them all alongside the archive computer. The squish of flesh and muffled scream I heard while I ran as quickly as I could away from the room echoed through the halls, and an alarm went off. Changing all the lights to a dim red.

An announcement went off.

"Attention, Attention. The intruder is leaving the archives, the intruder is leaving the archives! On the way to Vertibird storage. All troops, KILL THEM!"

Well, that is exactly where I was going, straight to Vertibird storage. I had a devious plan.

Gripping the plasma rifles in both hands, I bashed myself through the double metal doors into the hangar. Already aiming before I opened the door, I just started firing before I even saw a target.

Blasting a mechanic while I swept the room, they screened a horrific pain as they turned to a pile of green goo.

I blasted through anyone I saw. Most of them were unarmed, probably just workers, but we weren't taking that chance.

I kept shooting even after the gun was empty. I had to knock someone out with the two guns, throwing them at her head.

I started putting my plan into action before I got surrounded by soldiers, at least. I put a C4 charge on the bottom of every Vertibird that was stored in this hangar. There were 10 total, and I had exactly enough with a satchel charge left over to blow the door, hopefully.

Looking at the map, the room lined up with what Maxson had planned. Except the thing is, I was going to wait. Because I wanted them to think they were getting away and then blow the Vertibirds up.

I pulled a lever to open the lower door for the Brotherhood, now all I had to do was get out.

Tossing a satchel charge near the door just in case I can't find a way to open it from this side. This was my last one, after all.

Getting enough distance away, I was trying to figure out how to use the detonator to blow the satchel and not the C4 charges. This thing was much more high-tech than I saw on other detonators. It had 3 different modes and I would assume that the second was satchels.

Fortunately, I was correct. It blew the bulkhead door without sabotaging my plan for revenge.

I heard from behind me, echoing through the room. "He went here!"

Wasting no time, I leaped out of the hole in the wall, right into the water. I was back outside!

I probably should have looked before I jumped, but I would either fall into nothing or get killed by the flurry of troops trailing me.

I could already see the Brotherhood forced to make their way into the facility from their side. It was all going accordingly.

The beach turned into an absolute war zone, with no more bombardment to spit up our troops.

I swam to shore and was unnoticed. I spotted everyone. Myles, Mia, and Maxson all led the charge and were relentless. They had a triangle formation and just breezed through whatever the Enclave had thrown at them.

Fawkes, Charon, and Clover stayed back and sniped from the campsite. I'm sure Mia didn't want to risk them in all this chaos.

Even scoping out, I got work to do.

Seeming like we had the upper hand, I swam directly to the shore of the battle site. Aside from being soaked, I felt great!

The massacre that happened before my eyes. Enclave troops littered the ground. Little to no Brotherhood soldiers have been lost so far.

I saw it then... Deathclaws, Deathclaws being let free from the inside. They split up Maxson, Mia, and Myles' formation. Two of the Deathclaws got instantly shot down, but another had Maxson pinned, trying to bite into his Power Armor.

No one noticed, too focused on what they were shooting at. I had to help him. Running past all the lasers and bullet fire, making sure not to trip on any of the bodies.

Ending right behind the Deathclaw. Drawing my sword from my back, I gave a wide, quick slash on the back of his neck. Decapitating the Deathclaw right on top of Maxson and reaching out a hand to help him up. "Miss me?"

He looked around quickly while letting me help him up, pushing the body of the Deathclaw off of himself. "I can't believe they did that. We didn't expect a swarm of Deathclaws. Thanks... for the save."

He left me revving up his Gatling Laser, continuing to shoot at the Enclave at the top of the facility.

From what I can see, they didn't stand a chance at all. The Enclave got destroyed.

I wasn't even needed here. I was just in the back of the troops and they did just fine without me.

I picked up a Gatling Laser from a fallen Enclave Soldier and joined the assault.

Suddenly, everyone on both sides stopped shooting. Whirring of Vertibird blades. All 10 of them, all in a row, are looking to leave the facility. No way I was going to let that happen.

Then I heard him announcing from one of the Vertibirds. "Too bad you won't be able to stop us from here! You can have the facility, you dumb Lizard! We are leaving! Bye-bye!"

Oh no, no you don't! Finding myself at the edge of the shore. Tossing the gatling laser. Iheld up the detonator and pulled the trigger. Blowing all the Vertibird up all in a row. They came crashing down, imploding into each other. Majority splashed into the water. Glavin's one circled and spiraled out of control to land right along the shoreline. Thats what he gets for being in the lead.

Myles, Maxson, Mia, and a few other Brotherhood soldiers who didn't charge in joined side by side as I watched Glavin's smoking metal heap, awaiting him to crawl out of it.

Surely enough, I saw him and him alone crawling out from the pilot side. I removed the satchel from my hip and tossed it over to Myles. He caught it and looked at me kind of confused and everyone went to approach the Vertibird.

Pulling my sword over my head and stretching my arm out, barring everyone from approaching with my blade. "This is my fight, my fight alone. I want no help from any of you. This man murdered my mother and my entire vault. I need to do this, alone."

Not even waiting for them to respond, I approached the crashed Vertibird right by the shore. He struggled to stand up and frustratingly tossed his scratched-up helmet aside. "You think you won, have you?! Brave of you to take me on. Alone!"

Spinning the handle in my hand and pointing at him, bits of flaming metal and debris fell around us from the other Vertibirds. "Embrace the Hellfire, Galvin! You'll be joining them soon! Now stand up and fight!"

He cracked his neck and knuckles as he reached the Vertibird for a flaming, almost molten super sledge. "I'm going to enjoy this!"

Charging at me with a wide swing, missing me, and hitting the ground with a sizzling screech of his hammer. Spinning back around to hit me across the head, which I deflected with my sword. Our weapons clashed and scrapped against each other.

Pushing him off me, against the ground, I swung wildly. He backed up, avoiding all my hits, standing up again quickly.

Glavin struck my shoulder as I slashed against his leg. The power armor crumbled from my simple hit, the crash weakened it.

This gave me an idea. I began feigning my hits. Making him think I was going through with an attack, jabbing at him in rapid succession. He fell back again and struggled to get back up for a moment.

Stepping on him, I jammed the sword into his chest multiple times before he rolled over. Making me get it stuck in the ground, struggling to up the blade out of the ground.

Glavin came charging at me, bits and pieces of his power armor falling off as he ran. Golf swinging the super sledge right at the bottom of my jaw, knocking me back and blurring my vision for a moment.

Wiping down my neck, my hand covered in blood and ashes. "Yo-you cannot win. I've come too far to lose to you now!"

Tossing my sword behind me, rushed him to the ground. I disarmed him and tore into what remained of his Armor. Completely removing every part along with the frame.

Standing up off of him and picked his jumpsuit up by the neck and raising my other hand to slice his neck open.

They coughed and spit blood. "D-do it, you bastard! Go ahead, bitch.."

I stared him right in the eyes for a moment before dropping him with a simple, "You know what? No."

"What are you? Fucking coward! Finish it!" he screeched at me!

I kicked his weapon away. "Yo-you don't get to just die! Death is too easy as a punishment for you, no. You need to suffer as I did." Stretching my arms out wide. "Look around you, Glavin! You don't think I didn't do all this on purpose? Ruin your entire Enclave right in front of you. Have it all turned to ash before your eyes? It's your turn to be alone!" I turned away from him and continued walking away. "Killing you won't bring my mother back. Killing you won't bring my vault back. Killing you won't bring me any form of peace or serenity." I paused, gathering myself. "You may not deserve my mercy." I turned back around to look him right in the eye as he lay there, broken and confused. "I'm done dedicating my life to you! For 30 years I spent trying to find you, to kill you, and here I am letting you go! I learned that your death won't bring me happiness. Enough blood has been spilled anyway. Fuck you, Glavin and enjoy having nothing!"

I heard the sand shuffle behind me. "You fucker! You don't get to just walk away! Finish me, you fucking coward, do it!"

I pulled my sword from the dirt. "No, Glavin. No. It's your turn to be alone. You deserve to have nothing, just like I did."

He kept spouting some nonsense while bleeding on the beach, but I didn't care. I rejoined everyone up the hill from the beach and Mia spoke first. "I didn't expect you to spare him. I almost stepped in even, but I understand having dealt with this personally. Are you sure you want to leave him alive?"

I just shook my head. "No. It was really hard not to butcher him, but something is telling me to leave him in the sorry, broken state I was all those years ago. Leave him. Let's go back to the camp. I need a fucking break."

Everyone, even Maxson, gave me a nod, and we made our way back to the campsite. They informed me the rest of the facility had been armed with explosives and Myles handed me back the satchel as we went back.

The trip back was silent, from me at least. I had so much running through my head. Mainly, that was probably the last time I would see Glavin. That was my last opportunity to kill him. I don't feel sad or happy just.. confused.

I'll need to come to terms with that decision, eventually. For now, I should celebrate our victory. Aside from the remaining Enclave around the capital, we took out their main base of operations.

We arrived back at the campsite. My dad was outside already making conversation with one scribe. Morale was high and mighty from everyone. Maxson gathered everyone up to make a speech as the sun set.

He tapped the side of the glass while standing on a pedestal. "Brothers and Sisters! I wanted to take the time to say that this is a mark of history for the books. We took out the Enclave base entirely! We only have some lingering bands of troops left to take out. The Capital Wasteland will be free of one evil once again!" He pointed at me in the back of the crowd. "We all owe our victory to John over there. You all know him as the talking Deathclaw, sure. We need to acknowledge him as the single tipping side of this. We wouldn't have gotten into the facility without him, we wouldn't have taken out Eden without him. Hell, we wouldn't have even found the base without him. Come on up here, John!"

It was surreal. The cheers and claps I received as I approached one of the side steps and Maxson went off the pedestal and faced me. "John, I would like to take the time to officially introduce you into the Brotherhood, as a Knight of our order!"

He gave me both a salute and a bow right there in front of everyone. "You deserve it, and I can admit that I was wrong about you. You did the Brotherhood a great service. Thank you for everything."

I gave him a salute myself. "Ad Victoriam, Maxson. Thank you for the offer but-"

"No need for formalities, go ahead and get some rest. You earned it. As for everyone else, Dismissed!" he was cheerful.

Myles came from behind me and jumped on my back, wrapping his arms around my neck. "Well, I can officially call you a Brother in Arms now!"

I gave him a chuckle. "Yes, yes, you can! How about that? I'm officially inoculated into the Brotherhood. Took him long enough. We will have to see where this goes. I don't know if I have officially accepted it yet."

He gave me a nod and let me go. "I understand, the Enclave is defeated! We should celebrate! Let me go find Mia. Your dad wanted to talk to you in your tent. I'll bring Mia there, if you don't mind."

I gave him a nod. "I'll see you there."

Some soldiers crossed me and they welcomed me aboard. Everyone seemed pretty okay with me officially being a part of the Brotherhood of Steel.

It's strange, I felt welcomed by everyone. At least compared to when I first arrived.

I found dad sitting on his sleeping bag and was waiting for me. "Ah, John. Look at you, top of the hour! You pulled it off, didn't you? Glad it's over. You accomplished something amazing out there, you know?"

I placed the satchel next to my table and removed my sword as well, and sat down for the first time in what felt like ages. "I know. I just haven't processed everything yet. I need to tell you something, dad."

"What would that be, son?"

I took a deep breath. "I didn't kill Glavin, the one who killed mom? I let him go. I wanted him to experience losing everything and being alone. Just like he did to me. I hope you understand."

He looked at me with a sad expression. "Oh, John. I don't care what you were going to do with him. There is no right answer here. She's already gone. Petty revenge over decades won't do anything good for anyone's soul. You did what you thought was best. I trust your judgment."

That made me feel better. "Thank you, dad. I just need time to accept my choice for myself."

There was a moment of silence before he asked me. "What do you plan on doing now?"

I considered it for a moment. Even scratching my chin for a second. "I think it's time I go back home, back to Nevada."

End Chapter: 26