"I love those dear hearts and gentle people... Who live in my home town.."

Lucas Simms had seen many things during his tenure as Megaton's lawman. Giant ants, more raiders than he could shake a stick at. Hell, one time he would swear he saw a giant lizard with claws as long as his arm. He took pride in keeping his hometown safe from the wasteland, and he had a lot of experience doing it. In his heart though, he was a good man. Thus, when a pale girl in a Vault uniform with an oversized knapsack showed up at the gate, he figured he should let her in and see what she needed. Megaton was a shelter to those who needed it, at least for a little while.

"Well I'll be damned." he said, walking up to her and tipping his hat. "You're from that vault! Vault 101! Ha ha! I ain't seen one of those jumpsuits in a LONG time! Name's Lucas Simms, town sheriff. And mayor too, when the need arises. Welcome to Megaton!"

When she failed to respond to his welcoming spiel, he followed her (slightly twitching) gaze down to the center of the crater that the town was built around, and the spot where the town's namesake still rested.

"Ah yes. The bomb." he said, sighing.

"Yes! The bomb!" the Vault dweller said, snapping out of her daze. "Who would build a town around an atomic bomb? That's crazy!"

Lucas agreed, but it's not like there was much he could do about it. "It's not like the place was put up overnight." he said, shrugging. "Megaton's been here for decades, been growing ever since the first folks gave up on trying to get into Vault 101 and built a shack in the crater. Hell, some people worship the damn thing like a god these days! Most people just don't give a shit anymore. They figure if it ain't gone off by now, it never will."

"That's not exactly reassuring." she said, calming down a bit. "It's a bomb. Even a broken nuclear bomb still has things that can explode in it. Some of the priming charges could go off and spray plutonium on everyone. Or just make a big hole in your wall and let a tide of radscorpions in. Or-"

He held up a hand. The girl was right, even if he didn't know what a "primer charge" was. He never did like having the damn thing around. "I agree with you. But messing around with pre-War ordinance isn't exactly my area of expertise. I'm as likely to set it off as disarm it."

Steely resolve seemed to visibly enter the Vault girl's vibrant green eyes. "There must be some information around about the structure of that bomb. I'll figure out how to disarm it, or find someone who can. Nobody should have to live like... like this. Nobody."

The iron in her tone reminded Simms of that guy on the radio- Eden, or whatever. They each had that preacher's fire in their words. She'd found a cause, and was willing to go to hell and back to see it done, and damned if it didn't make Simms wonder just why they hadn't found someone to make sure they weren't all going to be blown up yet.

Granted, the girl was more likely to get eaten by a bloatfly next time she left the town, but he could admire her nerve. And hell, maybe the kid could actually make it. Maybe she could even disarm the damn bomb.

"Don't go monkeying with the thing unless you're really sure." he said. "But if you get the job done, there'll be 100 caps in it for you."

"I don't need a reward for this one." the kid said almost reflexively, as if the very idea seemed off to them. "This is just something that has to be done."

Simms raised an eyebrow. Was the kid some sort of do-gooder? She'd definitely get eaten alive out there. "Great! Go ahead and see what you can do. Just be careful. Now, what brings you to town?"

She seemed to shake herself, as if to shake off her panic."Actually, I came here looking for something to eat. I was.. in a hurry when I left my last place, and I didn't grab anything. A strange man named Crow told me to come here."

She was definitely doomed. Poor kid. Still, if she managed to get more than just that lame joke out of Crow, there must be something to her. "If you want something to eat, head over to the Brass Lantern. It's not fancy, but it's edible. If you're short on caps, I hear Moira Brown up in Craterside Supply has been pestering people to help her with some sort of experiment."

The kid visibly perked up at that last word. "She's doing experiments? I should go see what that's all about."

Doooooomed. Doomed all over Moira's floor, and probably on the ceiling. "Just watch yourself, kid. Don't let Moira talk you into anything... weird."

"Sure thing, sheriff." she turned to leave, before she was visibly struck by a thought. "Oh! By the way, have you seen a middle aged man recently? About yay high, looks kinda like me."

The other Vault wacko? Yes, he definitely did see that man. "Come to think of it, I do remember a stranger coming through here. Had a look in his eye. You know the kind a man gets when he's got a purpose." Sound familiar, kid? Maybe it runs in the family. "Spent some time up in the saloon. Might want to check with Moriarty. Just watch yourself. That man's trouble."

"Thanks for all your help, Sheriff." she said, nodding once and heading off in the general direction of Moira's shop.

Hope you manage to stick around, kid. Simms thought to himself, heading back to his patrol. We could use more folks like you.

-0-

Nobody was entirely sure what Moira Brown's "deal" was. She'd floated into town a few years back with a bored mercenary and a load of junk. Since then, she'd dedicated herself to the upkeep, utility, and resale of said junk, gradually becoming a vital part of Megaton's commerce. She even got her own sign. She was always proud of that. Nevertheless, she often seemed... odd.. to the other residents. She was nice enough, but asking her questions tended to only increase your confusion. Most folk didn't bother anymore, keeping their interactions with the chirpy shopkeep to a minimum. This, in turn, suited her fine, as it left more time for her "research". Eventually, though, she began to develop a more social streak. "more social" being a relative measure, of course - she needed field researchers. And since she didn't have the parts to build them, she had to hire them. Which meant talking to people.

The first few began promisingly. A quick soil survey here, computer science experiment there, a study of the local fauna. None of them really seemed to "get" the purpose of it, though. Of course activating the computerized turrets means you'll get shot at! And knowing that centaurs think that people smell tasty is vital data! But no, instead of being excited for the new data, they would just yell at her. With mean, mean words. And then they'd leave.

Moira had begun to worry that she might never find someone with a similar enough mind, someone curious enough to value the data for its own sake. Then, one day, a Vault Dweller of all things arrived in her store, and started ogling all her bits and bobs.

Yay! she thought to herself. Curiosity! I'd better make a good impression!

"Hey, new in town? Good to meet you! I'm Moira Brown." she greeted the newcomer, putting on her very friendliest voice. "I take care of supplies and repairs here, but what I really do is mostly tinkering and research."

"Research?" the newcomer asked intently. "What kind of research?"

Oh boy oh boy oh boy this is gonna be GREAT!

"I'm writing a book that could help the whole world!" she said, enthusiasm running away with her as usual. "And I could use a bit of help. I can pay you, and it'll be fun!"

"A...book?"

"Well, the wasteland is a dangerous place, right?" she said, launching into her pitch. "Lots of things are dangerous, but a lot of them come with a manual to show people how to use them safely. So I want to make a manual for surviving in the wasteland! I call it the Wasteland Survival Guide! But for that to work, I need someone to go out and test my theories. How about it?"

"Well..." the girl said, considering Moira's best proposal yet. "I suppose it would be a good thing to be a bit more scientific about figuring these things about. You're essentially offering to pay me to help you figure out ways to survive in the wasteland?"

"You're pretty sharp!" Moira beamed. "I'd give you this armored Vault suit to get you started, but it looks like you got Crow's special suit already. You're pretty well covered on coverings!"

"Are you sure?" the girl asked. "Because "armored" sounds like a bit of a better idea-"

"Nonsense!" Moira cut off the kid's weird ramblings. How could anyone not like Crow's special suit? "It's a very nice suit. Now, the first chapter I'm working on is about day to day survival. Food, water, medicine, radiation, all that fun stuff! For starters, there's an old Super-Duper mart not too far from here. I'll bet there's all sorts of old food and medicine there! Go have a look and let me know how that goes!"

"...sure. I'll do that." the Vault dweller said. "For now though, maybe just some trading?"

"You bet, super research assistant!" Moira chirped. Finally, I can save the world! I'll show those doubters what Moira Brown can do. I'll show them all!

-0-

Moriarty's Saloon of Megaton was the sole oasis of civilzation in the midst of a vast, inhospitible land. And no one worked harder to make it so than its proprietor, Colin Moriarty. He surveyed his establishment with pride. Behind the bar, Gob was bitching to Nova about the radio. His employees were annoying, but Gob worked for cheap, and having a hooker on staff meant he'd always have a leg open on the competition. Smiling at his own pun, he continued his survey from the upper level. A man in a slick suit sat in an alcove off to the side that Colin thought of as his "dining area" and various patrons milled around at and around the bar. Business was good, the caps were flowing, and the booze was just like the caps - though ideally much more slowly. Just then, a kid came in - couldn't have been more than 20. Moriarty made it his business to know everyone around, so someone new turning up was interesting. He listened in as she sat down, and Gob offered her a drink. The kid pretended that Gob wasn't a worthless zombie, and as usual, Gob went all mushy over that. Well, mushier than usual, Moriarty mused. Having a ghoul as a bartender was good for the profit margins, but sometimes the smell got to be a bit much. He'd pretend not to notice the little discounts Gob gave out, and Gob would pretend not to notice the caps withheld from his pay every week.

Ah, the little lies we tell ourselves to get through the day. Moriarty mused amusedly to himself as he continued to monitor their conversation. Gob whined a bit to the kid about the Galaxy News Radio station going offline. Moriarty didn't care much for the station or its opinionated host, but the customers seemed to like it, so he kept it on. Personally, he hoped it would stay offline for good. His musing almost distracted him from the kid's next question - about that guy who came through a while back looking to get into the Vault nearby. Folk like that weren't exactly unheard of, but this one was memorable since he'd apparently made it. The fact that his escort was wearing powered armor didn't hurt his memorability either. It seems the kid was asking about his whereabouts - that part was easy, at least. He'd passed through town yesterday, off to see the people at Galaxy News.

Hope he didn't go to fix their antenna. Moriarty thought with a shudder. I'm not looking forward to the yapping of that Three Dog to start up again.

True to his training, Gob didn't tell the kid a thing about the Vault guy. Information was a commodity, after all, and there's no free drinks at Moriarty's.

Gob explained a bit about ghouls to the kid - hadn't she ever seen a ghoul before? Maybe she had been raised in a Vault. In any case, after the lecture on ghoul biology, the kid got up and made for the stairs. Moriarty ducked into a side room, and prepared to do business. He smoothed out his hair in the mirror, ran a finger through his Van Dyke beard, and made a show of straightening the mattresses of the beds in the inn portion. As expected, the kid was hesitant to interrupt, but did so anyway.

My, we are green, aren't we? Time to turn on the old Irish charm, Colin me boy.

"Why, hello there! Colin Moriarty, at your service! Welcome to Moriarty's! My saloon, my home, my slice of heaven in this backwoods little burg." he said expansively, gesturing around as if to indicate the entirety of the saloon. "If you've got the caps, I've got your pleasure. Please, sit down, make yourself comfortable. Your troubles are a thing of the past."

"You've got quite the sales pitch, Mr. Moriarty." the kid said, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.

Green, but not overly credulous. More profit that way, anyway.

"I should, by now." he said, chuckling and switching gears. "I've only been at this for forty years, after all! Now what can I do ya for?"

"I'm looking for my father." she explained. "I hear he passed through town not so long ago, and I'm wondering where he went. Middle-aged guy, about yay high, looks kinda like me."

Fucking called that one. he mentally congratulated himself. They even have the same eyes. Now make some caps!

"My God... It's you. The little baby girl, all grown up. Persistent little flower, ain't ya?" he made a great show of having just come to a realization. "Then and now, it would seem. It's been a long time, kid. "

"I .. what?" the girl asked, confused. "Have we met before?"

Mark's off balance. Time to deliver an uppercut.

"Your father brought you to the Vault right after you were born." he narrated colorfully. "To keep you safe, you see. I remember it well - you stayed in my saloon, after all. Your father, his Brotherhood of Steel friend, and you, the suckling babe with nary a tit to suckle. Sorry about your mom. Truly."

"Nice of you to say." she said. "Does that mean you've seen him more recently?"

"Oh, your daddy passed through here, all right." he said. "Here and gone. Got what he came for, and then left. I'm assuming you'll do the same, correct?"

She's reluctant, but buying it. Moriarty realized. Always more fun to spin a line of bullshit when you've been feeding the cow on truth.

"That's the general plan, yes." she said, visibly getting a bit impatient. "And I'd love to be pointed in the right direction."

Bait's set. Now reeeeel her in..

"Look, you seem like a nice kid. But I'll be straight with you. Yes I know where your daddy went. But what you're asking me for is information, and information is a commodity. Let's say... 100 caps, and daddy's location is yours. Very reasonable."

The kid paled, as expected. 100 caps was several months' pay for most people, and more like eight if you worked for Moriarty. Still, he wasn't looking for a direct profit here...

"I, ah." the kid hedged. "I don't have that kind of money on hand.."

And now the haymaker. God, I love this game.

"Well.." he said thoughtfully, "if you don't have the caps to pay for the information, then maybe you could do a little favor for me."

Seeing the horrified look on the kid's face, he continued in a hurry. Once was enough for that kind of favor. he reassured himself. Nova's great, but I'm no Slaver.

"There's this junkie bitch named Silver what borrowed quite a few caps from me... claimed she could start funneling Jet and Psycho to me for a good price. Turns out she's a liar. She's holed up down in Springvale shooting herself into a stupor. Go get the caps back from her and I'll tell you whatever you want to know about your dear old Dad."

"You want me to go chase down one of your stray junkies?" the kid asked, sounding dubious. "Don't you have other people to do your dirty work?"

"Dirty work? Why, I never!" Colin said, pouring the essence of a wounded man into each syllable. "Theft is theft, no matter what you might think of the person stolen from. I'm just asking you to get my own property back! And offering you a way to get what you want out of the deal, too!"

"..alright, I'll go have a look." she said.

"Now, that's the spirit!" Colin said jovially. "You'll be on your way in no time! Was there anything else you needed before we part ways?"

The kid clearly didn't want to talk with him more, but she had something she just had to know. Everyone does, eventually.

"Do you know anything about atomic bombs?" she asked.

Better just stay clear of this one. he mused. I can tell a grand story about that just as well as the next man, but she might take what I say to that giant dud in the middle of town. And then we'll be ashes.

"No more than the next man, I reckon." he said. "Off you go, now!"

The kid left, and Moriarty mused on the last person to ask him about atomic bombs.

I'll bet that slick creep Burke will be all over her if he heard that. he thought, shaking his head. There's something not right about that man. Still, either I trade a useless bit of info for Silver's loan back, or I lose essentially nothing. I do love it when Fortune smiles on this old bar.

Moriarty went back to work, whistling as he went.

-0-

Why do I feel like I just got played? Julia thought to herself. OH RIGHT BECAUSE I DID. Argh. Still, it's not the worst thing in the world. Springvale isn't far, and it's not likely there'll be other leads about Dad. I wonder if there's any old lib-

Her internal musings were cut off by a voice coming from behind her, nearly startling her out of her "very nice" suit.

"An impressive array of interests." it said. She whirled around, and saw the slick suited man from earlier seated on a chair. He beckoned her over, and she reluctantly came into quiet conversation range.

"Atomic weapons, ex-Vault scientists, maybe even the Brotherhood of Steel. My, you do live an interesting life, don't you?"

The man chuckled darkly, and a chill went down Julia's spine. "Hello to you, too." she said cautiously.

"So nice to have a civilized conversation, even in these blasted wastes." he oozed. "My name is Burke, and I merely wished to ... extend an offer. One that might be of interest to someone such as yourself."

"I'm listening." Julia said, holding onto her arm so skin didn't crawl off and bounce out the door.

"You are not the only one around with interests in... nuclear devices." he said, standing up and breathing the words "nuclear devices" into her ear like someone might whisper "chocolate peanut butter". "My.. associates have much information about such things." he said, walking around her and visibly appraising her. "If you want this information, seek us out. Tenpenny Tower. Don't be late.."

He breezed out the door, and Julia just shuddered. I'll never be clean again. And the worst part is that I'll probably end up going there. It's the only solid lead I have on atomic bomb design.

Shaking her head, she pocketed her stims and caps, slid the pistol into a handy hip holster, and hung the bat on a loop on the back of the suit that seemed designed for just such a thing.

At least I have something to do, now. she thought to herself as she strode toward the town gate with a fresh wave of confidence in her step. Making some cash, finding Dad, saving the world.. well, at least the first one. I'll play the rest by ear.

The gust of wind from the gate's jet engine buffeted her face, creating a somewhat dramatic picture for anyone standing outside.

Watch out, wasteland. she thought, striding through. It's Mateus time.

A/N:

Dealing with Moira is not for the faint of heart. But hey, money! Also, Julia probably would recognize an "Irish" accent, as most of her knowledge comes from books and old movies. My headcanon is that she and Moriarty both learned about Irish accents from Darby O'Gill and the Little People. I know that in canon he's an immigrant, so he's legitly Irish here, but goddamn is that a terrible fake in the game.

I've re-worked this chapter quite a bit to be more in line with what I'm planning here, and with the title. I'd imagine Chapter 5 will be up before too much longer, so stay tuned. I've also re-done bits of the previous chapters, so if parts seem different, it's probably because they are.

As always, reviews are my crack. Be my enabler?