Nuka World Necktie

The wind whipped through Gage's hair, tickling one of the longer pieces across his forehead. He muttered irritably, pushing it aside and wondering if anyone would notice if he just sliced the lot off with his combat knife. He never did get around to cutting back his stupid curls again.

Gage sat staring down at Jack's brothel in the distance, while behind him Bossanova gave her orders to Mags, William, Mason, and the combined rabble of raiders and robots. The trek up onto the ridge where the power plant lay had been hard, and he'd needed a breather by the time they reached the top. Besides, the boss had already given him his instructions. Any excuse to get away with his thoughts.

He wondered what Jack was doing now. Even from this distance, Gage could see Disciples milling around the front of the brothel. Earlier there'd been gunfire, but as he'd been preoccupied clambering his way up the crumbling footpath to the plant, Gage hadn't spared much attention to the fighters. Had the robots spotted the Disciples at the brothel, or had William taken a detour before catching up with the rest of them? Or maybe...maybe Nisha had turned on Jack, now her purpose had been served.

Gage's stomach did an uncomfortable lurch, and he clutched at it. God, no. Whatever happened, Jack didn't deserve that.

But then what was the alternative? If the robots didn't finish the job first, Gage and Bossanova would have to go clear the brothel of Disciples. If Jack was still alive, he'd have to confront her alongside Bossanova—bring her back for her punishment. Gage shivered as a horrible prickling sensation swept over him, though it had nothing to do with the cold. It rushed up and down his skin, while a heavy numb weighed him down to the spot.

He didn't want Jack to die.

She'd betrayed him—impaled him on his own vulnerability, sharpened by her hand. She'd lured him in and slit his throat, the way a good raider should: the strong dominating the weak. And like any good raider, he in turn should crave a bloody revenge, kill her himself and spit on her corpse.

He should.

Gage just wanted to talk to her.

He wanted to know why, though deep down he was certain of the reasons. Nisha must have cut a hell of a deal, whether by threat or gain, and yet Jack caving to an offer didn't bother him nearly as much as her lie that she loved him.

Gage frowned, his heart sinking. It shouldn't have come as a surprise at all. He had nothing to offer—no redeeming qualities. People kept him around for his big ideas and his efficiency for killing, not his personality. Where did any of that fit into... whatever he had with Jack?

But then again, she told him he listened to her when no one else would. So perhaps Jack had actually liked him in the beginning, but he'd driven her away. Maybe if he'd been a better person—if he'd treated her right—showed her what she meant to him instead of shutting her out with his paranoia and spite—Jack might have been standing at his side right now.

Gage gazed at the brothel, not really seeing it. A rancid thought entered his head, curdling all others. His stomach tied itself in knots, his jaw clenched tight as the swelling, festering realisation bloated and squirmed within him.

He'd become like Connor.

Untrusting of those around him, condemned to a lonely existence, twitching at his own fucking shadow. He'd pushed her away. Gage closed his eye, his insides writhing like maggots while his skin crawled. How could he allow this to happen?

"Mags, send your snipers to the far cliff face so they can pick off anyone stupid enough to poke their heads over the side of the building—"

Bossanova's voice drifted over, running through her plans to storm the power plant at the top of the hill. She'd already told Gage he'd be with her, no matter what. He turned where he sat to look at her, watching as she handed out her orders with a commanding calm he'd never seen for someone about to charge into battle.

The boss was important to him, he realised. He couldn't say why or how, but it felt more than her usefulness. It just...was.

Sarah lurked by Bossanova's side, rapt with concentration. Gage studied the girl for a moment. She had many qualities he admired: smart and resourceful, her tenacity outstripped only by her massive fucking balls of steel. And she wasn't afraid to stand up to him. As he watched her, her collar glinted in the light, and Gage felt a twinge of guilt.

He blinked rapidly, his mouth hanging open. When the hell did he feel guilty about anything? Gage hastily turned back to staring at the landscape, wading through his muddy thoughts, before realisation tripped him up like a hidden tree root.

He cared about the little shit.

A raider caring about a fucking slave, he thought, glaring at a dead bush fiercely, as if it was somehow at fault for all this feelings crap. Well, whatever the case, it was a fondness he'd have to keep to himself, at least for now. The last thing he and the boss needed was rumours he'd gone soft.

Gage massaged his forehead with his knuckles, drawing his knees to his chest. What the hell had happened to him? He used to be so certain of his place in the world, of how things worked. Now he just felt lost, wandering through fog, people and concepts slipping away from him the moment he thought he had them in his grasp. It was all so fucking confusing.

"Gage," came a curt voice behind him. Gage turned around to see Mags, her arms folded as she stared down haughtily through her nose at him. "Get your ass in gear. We're ready."

Gage grunted in response, getting to his feet. He cast one long look at the brothel, and then turned on his heel and marched back towards the gathering. Thoughts of Jack could wait until later, when he was alone with the boss. The idea of sharing what was going through his head right now made him feel sick, but at the same time, if anyone would understand this weird shit, it would be Bossanova. She didn't try to kill him after their fight, welcomed him back with open arms. Surely she'd accept him not wanting to hurt Jack in turn?

Bossanova said nothing as Gage approached, but her searching eyes met his, her brow furrowed with concern, so he gave a small nod to let her know he was okay. Sarah looked equally worried and Gage felt some of the tension leave his face. He waited until the other raiders weren't paying attention and then flashed her a small smile. Sarah's surprise was tinged with suspicion, as if waiting for Gage to say something mean. When he didn't, she hesitantly returned the smile, and then looked away, trying not to seem too pleased.

The power plant loomed over them as they drew close, dark against the pale wasteland sky. It was the key to Nuka World, the only way to power the park, but ultimately useless until everything had been claimed. Gage hadn't spared it much thought while Colter was running the show, and by the time Bossanova took over, shelved it in the back of his mind for later. Nisha, it seemed, had not, and if she kept her hold on the plant, then they would never get the Bottling Factory up and running again. The chem production scheme would be shot and Nuka World would stagnate.

Nisha would be aware of their desperation to claim the plant. Yet despite this, the hill was barren, none of Nisha's people trying to stop them entering. Gage frowned as they drew close, scanning the area for signs of an ambush.

Bossanova seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Stay sharp. I don't doubt the Disciples have a few surprises waiting for us."

"Like keepin' their best to defend the plant," Mason grunted, motioning for his men to scout the perimeter as Bossanova had directed. Mags signalled to her Operators in the distance and Gage saw the glint of scopes in the sunlight as they moved to focus on the plant.

Bossanova nodded in approval, drawing her sword and approaching the main door. Gage laid a hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her back, shaking his head. They hadn't been able to pull the resources together to replace her damaged armour properly. The fuck would an old leather chest piece and a sword do if there was someone on the other side with a gun? Bossanova resisted for a moment, until she caught the look on his face and relented. He wasn't letting her go first, no matter what.

Gage seized the door handle, ignoring the raised eyebrows between Mags and William, and the snort from Mason. They could sneer all they want, but Bossanova was right—if she died, it was game over for the entire operation. And as much as Gage liked to keep the target off his back, it was about time he took a risk for the boss. He turned his head to her and nodded, readying himself. She nodded back and a second later he barged through the door, bracing himself for a hail of bullets.

The plant was completely empty.

Gage blinked, staring around. What the hell were the Disciples playing at?

The other raiders sidled in after them, their weapons raised, wearing equally confused expressions. Bossanova's black eyes roamed around the plant, seeming to take in her surroundings with ease, though.

He had the feeling she might have mentioned once before ghouls could see very well in the dark...or maybe RedEye told him that one while tripping off jet.

"We'll split by faction," Bossanova said suddenly, her voice echoing. "Mason, take the lower levels. William, the robots with you throughout the upper. Mags, bring your remaining Operators with Gage and I. Kill anyone you find in any way as you see fit. No mercy." She turned her head to Sarah and snapped her fingers. "You. Here."

Sarah scurried over as the raiders went off in their designated areas. Gage and Bossanova led the group, squinting through the darkness. Like all the buildings throughout the wasteland, this was falling apart, the metal structures coated in rust; dust and debris covering the floors. But where the hell was Nisha? If she was gonna spring a trap, surely it would have been the instant they walked through the front door?

But on and on they went, worming their way deeper through the plant, feet crunching on the broken glass and furniture of centuries past, bones and long dead ghouls scattered all over the place.

Finally they reached an open magnetic lock security door, the terminal next to it activated and filling the room with an eerie green glow. Gage glanced at Bossanova and she smiled. A gate like this surely meant Nisha must have come this way. They were getting close. Sharing a smirk, Gage and Bossanova stepped through the open doorway and into the next room.

The security door slammed behind them with a deafening crash. Gage whipped around, noting Mags, Sarah, and the Operators stuck on the other side. Mags darted over to the computer console and tried to tap through it, but it just buzzed and sparked, before shutting down, the green glow disappearing. He glanced to Bossanova for their next move and saw she was staring into the gloom at something he couldn't see. Then a familiar giggle came from the darkness, setting his teeth on edge. He gripped his gun harder, the slow, deliberate footsteps getting louder and louder, until finally she came into view.

"Afternoon, ya'll!" Dixie chirped, a slight bounce to her walk.

Gage sighed. "Well, we walked right into this. Suppose we deserve it."

"We'll find another way around, boss," Mags said behind them, her tone urgent. There was a flurry of movement and from the corner of his eye he saw the Operators rushing back down one of the corridors.

"Waste of time, really." Dixie stopped in the centre of the room, sounding as if she'd ascended beyond mere joy. "We'll be done before long."

"That so?" Bossanova replied coolly, her sword raised.

"Well, yes." She giggled again, the light, tinkling sound as sharp as glass in Gage's ears. Behind her more Disciples were melting from the shadows, their knives drawn. Dixie stepped towards them, but halted as Bossanova raised her sword, the point inches from Dixie's mask.

"Aw, you'd really kill me in front of your little slave girl?" Dixie said, tilting her head to the side.

What…?

Gage dared to glance over his shoulder, and sure enough there was Sarah, still standing at the gate. Mags apparently didn't give enough of a fuck to take her along to wherever she'd gone. Sarah surveyed the standoff, analysing the room with a frown. Then, as if making her mind up about something, nodded to herself, and scurried off in the opposite direction to Mags.

The second she was out of sight, Gage snapped his attention back to Dixie. She was still leaning away from Bossanova's sword, sounding like she was grinning behind her mask. He could shoot her now, but the Disciples behind her were at bay, waiting for her command. Gage couldn't kill all of them in time, and if Mags and her crew were on their way, then all he had to do was stall her for a few minutes.

"Y'know," Dixie said, deciding to take a step back as Gage trained his gun on her, "I'm only here for him." She pointed her knife directly at Gage, though Bossanova didn't look away. "Nisha don't think you're worth the effort. Just some ghoul the wasteland spat out with the bad luck to get tangled up in this mess."

"Nisha seems to have a grudge against Gage," Bossanova said, apparently also deciding playing for time was their best hope. "Why?"

"Why?" Dixie asked incredulously, as if there had never been a stupider question. "Because he brought us here! He made promises of blood and caps and bodies, took away our right to kill as and when we please. And what did we get in return? Fuck all. First we had to contend with Colter, and now we have to contend with you." Dixie turned her masked face towards Gage. "You need to be punished."

"And how exactly do you intend to punish him?"

"Gage knows," Dixie said, and she giggled. She turned back to Bossanova. "Nisha said I can have you all to myself if I get her Gage. So if you give me Gage without a fuss, I'll let you go. Give you a headstart into the wastes." She paused, her breathing suddenly heavy. "I love a good hunt."

A door to their left flew open with a loud bang. All the Disciples, including Dixie, turned to look, tensing as if expecting a flood of Operators. Instead, a small, lone figure stood in the doorway. Sarah raised a gun—where the hell did she get that?—pointed it at Dixie, and fired.

Ping.

The bottom half of Dixie's mask flew off as she staggered back, revealing her snarling mouth. Gage recovered first, shooting into the crowd of Disciples as he sprinted for the door. They scattered, taken by surprise, and Gage saw Sarah's eyes widen as he charged towards her. In one fluid movement he'd scooped her up, holding her under his arm so she was facing the ceiling while he raced on.

"You stink!" she shrieked, trying to wriggle away from his armpit, kicking her legs and gagging.

"Not the time!" he shot back, glancing over his shoulder to see Bossanova following, a grenade in her hand. She whipped around and threw it back into the room they'd just vacated, and a second later Gage almost lost his footing as the explosion shook the floor. From the corner of his eye he saw Sarah fumble her gun and drop it. No chance to retrieve it now. The kid seemed to understand this, because she didn't argue.

Gage fixed his attention back on the twisting corridors in front of him, running for dear life, Sarah still tight in his grip. "How the hell did you find us?"

"I've explored all over the park!" Sarah shouted, her words bouncing with the force of his running. "I've been through the plant before. It's boring though. Nothing here!"

"You've been here before?" Bossanova yelled from behind them, her tone matching his own disbelief.

"Why didn't you say?" Gage snapped. "We could have used the inside knowledge before we walked right into a fuckin' trap!"

"Because I thought you'd been here already!" Sarah shrieked back furiously. "You've lived here for a year!"

"Fuckin'—you—I—where do we go from here, you stupid little shit?" Gage bellowed, the sounds of the Disciples growing louder behind them.

"Left!" Sarah yelled, and Gage skidded to a halt as they reached the corner. "No, wait, I mean right!"

"For fuck's sake, Sarah!"

"Right, right, go right!"

Bossanova and Gage obeyed, thundering down the corridors at Sarah's directions, the raiders hot on their heels.

"In there, in there!" Sarah yelled, pointing frantically to a door a few feet away from them. "You can lock it from the inside!"

Gage put on a burst of speed, his weakened body begging for rest, and threw Sarah down the corridor. She screamed as she hit the floor, cartwheeling across the room and crashing into a desk on the far wall. Gage sprinted inside, waiting for Bossanova to join him.

As she passed over the threshold, he saw Mags on a walkway above them, fighting her own set of problems in the form of more Disciples. Nisha had clearly been on one hell of a recruitment drive to have so many assholes at her disposal. For a second, his eye met Mags', and then a strange shimmer passed him, bringing him back to reality. He slammed the door shut, sliding the large, metal bolt into place.

Bodies hitting the solid door banged from the other side, followed by swearing and shouting. Gage paid it no mind, twisting around, searching for the shimmer. But there was nothing. No unwanted guests, no raider about to carve his throat out. Just him, Sarah, and Bossanova standing in a large, partially lit room. He blinked, trying to see if someone was hiding in the darkened corners, and then relaxed...for about three seconds, until he realised there were no other doors in the room.

Gage turned to Sarah, glowering. "What the fuck is this?"

She frowned up at him. "I've hid here before when I ran into raiders snooping around the plant. It's a good door. No one will be able to get in."

"And how are we going to get out?" Gage hissed.

Sarah shrugged.

"Oh my God."

As he turned from her in disgust, something moved from the shadows, lunging for the door.

"Shit!" Gage dived forward, seizing the shimmering figure and flinging them away. They hit the floor, rolled, and then their stealth boy cut out, revealing Dixie. She was on her feet before Gage could raise his rifle, dragging Sarah into her grasp and pressing a knife hard against her throat.

Sarah trembled where she stood, black eyes wide in terror. Behind him the banging was getting louder, the door rattling on its hinges. The Disciples were waiting for them in the corridor.

Dixie grinned, the missing piece of her mask revealing soft lips and surprisingly clean teeth. Her eyes were still concealed, so it was hard to tell where she was looking, but she seemed to be turned towards Bossanova.

"Oh, she's scared." Dixie tilted her head, giving Sarah a little shake. "You're shivering something awful, honey!" She paused, licking her lips with her small pink tongue. "Bless your heart."

"Let her go," Bossanova said quietly. Gage winced. She'd just shown her hand.

"Oh?" Dixie's voice leaned upwards, spiked with joy. "Oh." Her laugh was light and melodic. "Oh, this is precious. So the slave is more than just a slave after all? I thought she might be. Is she your daughter? Or maybe your sister? Or perhaps just a stray from the wastes you've gotten too fond of." Dixie's horrible grin widened. "Well, I can do you a deal, Miss Boss Lady, and I think you know what I want. Gage for the girl. I'll even keep her whole."

Gage felt his stomach drop.

"No," Bossanova said without hesitation. He glanced at her, surprised, but she didn't take her attention away from Dixie. "No deal."

"Ahh, I see." Dixie bent close to where Sarah's ears would have been and said audibly, "Sorry, sweetie. No one really wants you. Second best to a raider, I guess."

Sarah's face crumpled, but Bossanova cut in quick. "I don't trust you to uphold your end of the bargain."

Dixie jerked her head up and after a pause, laughed her tinkly laugh. "You're right!" She pushed the knife harder into Sarah's neck. "Shame. I was hopin' you'd fall for that. I won't play around then." The smile became grotesque. "Let down your weapons real slow-like or I slit her throat. Go on."

Bossanova lowered her sword immediately, crouching to place it on the floor.

"The fuck are you doing?" Gage hissed, his eye never leaving Dixie. "She just told you she was trying to trick you!"

"I know." Bossanova looked grim.

Gage felt desperation well upside him and blurted out, "The kid's dead." He glanced at Sarah, waiting for the panic to set in. He hadn't meant to say it so bluntly. Sarah's face paled for a moment and then seemed to solidify, resigned.

"I know," Bossanova snarled. "I can only do what I'm willing to live with, Gage."

"What?" He gawked at her.

"Now now," Dixie chirped, "you don't want to scare the girl, do you? Poor thing."

Sarah let out a loud laugh, making them all jump. Dixie's sugary smile slipped for a moment as she glanced down. Sarah turned her head up as much as she dared, sneering into the face of her captor. "You're wasting your time." She gestured to Gage. "He hates me."

Pride burst through Gage's chest as Dixie's mouth twitched into a snarl. The kid had balls—it's what he'd always liked about her. But then Dixie snapped her attention to him, hitching her smile back into place.

"He's a liar," she trilled, pulling the crook of her arm tight against Sarah's neck, cutting off her speech. "If he hated you, he'd act like a raider's supposed to. He'd shoot you dead in a heartbeat, just to get at me." Dixie started to slowly push the tip of her blade into Sarah's flesh."Isn't that right, Gage?"

"Gage," Bossanova said, her voice sharp.

"Prove me wrong, Gage," Dixie sang, as Sarah gripped at her captor's arm, struggling wildly. "Shoot me. Shoot me." The blade was starting to break the skin, blood beading as Sarah let out a choked noise. "Or put—your—weapon—down."

Gage kept his rifle raised. He wouldn't be able to shoot without Dixie stabbing her first. The Disciple was too good. Sarah was dead. She was dead. Gage watched as she shook from head to toe, her chest spasming as she fought for breath. He swallowed, his throat unbearably tight.

Sarah's bottom lip trembled. Gage's finger twitched on the trigger. This was an easy choice. There was nothing he could do. People died all the time. And besides, the stupid kid only ever got in the way. She annoyed him. She wasn't going to be any help in this fight. All he had to do was shoot, kill them both, and one of the biggest threats in the Disciples would be history. Gage clenched his teeth so hard they felt like they would snap, his fingers numbing as they gripped tight on the gun.

Sarah's eyes burned into his. Pleading and afraid.

"Gage!"

"God fucking damn it!" Gage hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered his rifle.

Dixie laughed, relaxing her hold on Sarah and removing the pressure of the knife. Behind them, the door was making grinding noises with each bang, the sounds of the screaming raiders becoming clearer with every passing moment. Soon none of this would matter. Once they broke through, the Disciples would slaughter them anyway.

Sarah's eyes flicked from Gage and Bossanova to the door, and then back to Gage. She gave him a wavering smile and said, "Get Nisha."

Her hand darted to her waistband. Gage saw a flash of metal, and then suddenly Dixie was shrieking, her arm pulling up around Sarah's neck like a vice, a knife sticking out of her side.

Gage brought his gun up—too slow. Dixie's lips turned into a snarl, knuckles whitening as she took her own knife and ripped it across Sarah's neck. Shock split Sarah's small, ravaged features, her eyes wide, her mouth contracted into an 'o' of surprise. An arc of blood hit Gage across the face.

The door exploded open behind them. Gage spun on the spot, but instead of a wave of black, he was met with the colours of every gang, the melee spilling over the threshold and drowning the scene in confusion.

Bossanova's voice pierced the chaos, mingled with Dixie's screaming laughs. Somewhere at his feet, a girl was dying.