It felt like hours that Charon sat by the simulation pod. McGraw came in every hour to check in. He seemed like a decent guy, but then again he was labeled an Outcast, so who knew. After eons seemed to go by, the pod had opened.
Juliet was awake. Her sapphire eyes were staring straight up, regaining focus. "Holy shit," McGraw gaped. "Good job on finishing that simulation."
"I'm kind of a professional," Juliet admitted, sitting up. "Charon? What's going on?"
McGraw interrupted. "You can open the armory now. You can even have a share of whatever is inside. According to records, there's a lot to go around."
"Armory?" Juliet repeated.
"I'll explain later," Charon helped her climb out of the pod. "How are you feeling?"
"I've got a headache, but I'll be okay." Juliet replied, following them out towards the armory.
"McGraw wasn't kidding," Sibley remarked in his creepy ghoul voice. "She really is a walking, talking Pip-Boy."
Juliet ignored them as they came across a large metal door with a computer on the side. She accessed the computer and unlocked the door. It was literally moments after she, Charon, McGraw and a Scribe walked in that Sibley was aiming a mini gun at them. "This has gone on long enough." He rasped.
"What the hell are you going on about?" McGraw grumbled.
"There's no way I'm letting these... locals walk out of here with anything!" Sibley argued.
"This isn't your call," McGraw told him. "A deal's a deal."
"Sorry sir, but it IS my call now. I'm not taking orders from you anymore." Sibley declared.
"Treason Sibley? Really?" McGraw sighed. "You're not going to get away with this."
"No! You're not going to give up tech we risked our asses for!"
Charon put his arm in front of Juliet. "We don't need to take anything. We can leave. Now, and in peace."
"Burn in hell, traitor." McGraw growled.
"See you there..." Sibley smirked. He let loose on his weapon. McGraw jumped back and returned fire with a laser rifle. When the Scribe lady fell dead, Juliet grabbed her pistol out of fear off her.
Luckily she didn't need it. It was crazy how fast all the Outcasts turned on each other. Charon ended up pushing them back against the wall, letting them all fight it out. When it was over, they were the only ones left.
"Whoa!" Juliet gawked, completely ignoring the bloodbath before them. "The T-51b Power Armor! And... oh my GOD. This is mine."
Charon watched her pick up a sword. To him at first, it was glowing. Upon closer inspection it was seen to be an electrical current running through the weapon. "That looks deadly."
"I watched the Chinese General stab himself with this," Juliet realized. "This thing is powerful..." She looked at the handle as she held it. "And it also has an off switch." She pressed a simple button and the electrical current was gone.
"Do you want to take the power armor with us?" Charon wondered. "Wait... no. There are more Outcasts outside of here. We need to get out of here before they come down here and think we did this."
"There's lots of ammo here, think we'll need it?" Juliet wondered, grabbing whatever she could carry. "Yeah, yeah! Microfusion Cells. Lots of them."
Was she acting differently? Maybe. She did suffer a massive radiation pulse wave, and endured another simulation. But she still seemed to be okay.
She was okay.
They heard a sudden groan from within the armory. "You've got to be joking me." Charon was honestly amazed. Juliet ran over to Protector McGraw, injecting a Stimpak she'd gotten from this very room into his arm.
"Thanks," he mumbled, struggling to sit up and maneuver with his heavy armor on.
"You okay?" Juliet asked him, widening her sapphire eyes. She thought she almost knew the answer to that question. She could somehow detect how his condition looked.
"I'll live," McGraw remarked. "I can't believe Sibley. Never saw that coming."
"I'm sorry this happened," Juliet handed him a Med-X, also acquired from the armory.
"Not your fault. I'm glad we were able to help you get back up and going again." McGraw gleamed, finally able to stand on his own two feet.
"What?" Juliet asked. "What do you-"
"I will explain later, Juliet." Charon promised.
McGraw nodded. "Thanks for the Stimpak. You probably just saved my life."
Juliet grinned. "You're welcome."
On the surface, Juliet glanced around. "Where are we?" She asked, curiously watching the other Outcast soldiers patrolling around. "Who are these guys?"
"They are called the Outcasts," Charon answered. "They are ex-Brotherhood."
"I see," Juliet pat the handle of her new sword. "How'd I get here?"
"I carried you."
"Why? What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
"Sylvia told me to kill Colonel Asshole. Oh my God, Sylvia! Is she okay? Did I... did I lose her too?" Juliet spoke very sadly.
"She is fine for now," Charon promised her. "She's in some kind of coma. Hasn't woken up yet."
That news made tears brim Juliet's eyes. "She's okay..."
"Activating the purifier released some kind of energy wave that knocked you out and... tampered with your brain." Charon continued.
"Oh."
"Elder Lyons suggested coming to the Outcasts. This facility they are controlling has a simulation pod for Pre-War soldiers."
Juliet silently whimpered as the tears finally fell. "I saw my dad."
"What-?"
"He was in the simulation. I remember him talking about it when he came home for Christmas. I never understood it until now."
"Well, even though it wasn't exactly real, I am glad you got to see him."
"Me too. So, what are we doing now?" Juliet wondered.
"Whatever you want. You have my contr-"
"I told you to shut up about that. You-"
"As you wish."
"Damn it, Charon!" Juliet cursed. "Stop it! There is no contract! I know you were conditioned, but you need to let it go. Besides, the orphan doesn't need a bodyguard."
"Orphan?" Charon repeated.
"Yeah, yeah. My father, my uncle and whatever little family he may have had, and only sister have been dead 200 years. My mother was shot. So, I'm an orphan." Juliet explained.
Charon sighed and decided to change the subject. "You seem fairly fond of Sylvia. We could go back and check on her."
"Yeah, yeah! And I can thank Elder Lyons for saving me. And I can thank you too, Charon. I can't believe you carried me here. How far was it?"
"A good few hours." Charon remembered. "And you don't need to thank me. I promised you a long time ago I would take care of you."
Point Lookout. Juliet grew embarrassed for a moment before she finally said, "Charon, I love you. I always will. When Sylvia helped me gain my conscious back in Vault 112, I couldn't stop thinking of you. I didn't know it'd been 200 years yet, though. I didn't want to go into that vault. Mom made me."
"I know you hate the vaults." Charon remembered quietly.
Juliet smiled. "Is it wrong to love you? Are you still my age? Or did you grow up before you... became a Ghoul?"
"I don't think I grew anymore after the bombs fell," Charon admitted. "I was exposed to severe radiation so I became a ghoul very quickly. But don't ever think it's wrong to love me. I love you too, Juliet."
"I love you more." Juliet grinned. Charon seemed to immediately understand.
"I love you most."
It was well beyond late when they made it back to the Citadel. This time upon recognition, Paladin Bael grinned. "Good to see you back on your feet, soldier."
Juliet was amused. "My father was the soldier. I'm just a nerd."
"What's a nerd?"
"Never mind. Are we able to go in?"
"Of course. It's pretty late now, feel free to head to the sleeping quarters. You should see the Elder in the morning."
"Very well." Juliet and Charon entered the Citadel courtyard where they trudged over to the door to A-Wing, then promptly traveled through to reach the Barracks in B-Wing.
It was almost as if he'd been staying up waiting for their return - Juliet was immediately bombarded by the young Squire Maxson. "You're back!" He squealed innocently. "I knew he'd bring you back!" He briefly smiled at Charon in appreciation. "The Elder always seems to know best."
"I missed you too, buddy." Juliet rubbed the top of his head. "Say, are there any open beds in the Barracks?"
"It's mostly empty now," Maxson admitted. "A lot of soldiers are at Project Purity now."
"They're at...?" Juliet repeated.
"I believe the Elder will explain in the morning when we speak to him." Charon suggested. "You need to rest."
"I'm tired of sleeping," Juliet groaned. "But REAL sleep would be nice. Alright, goodnight Maxson. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Juliet." Maxson said politely as he watched them head for the Barracks. When they finally made it, Juliet nearly dropped on the closest bed she could find.
"Do you still not sleep?" Juliet asked Charon, who'd sat down on the floor beside her bed, folding his arms over his chest.
"We don't require sleep. But some Ghouls will do it anyway, it makes them feel more human again."
"Do you think you'll ever be human again?" Juliet asked softly, lying on her side and watching Charon.
"I'm not sure. Why? Do you not like the way I am now?"
Juliet gulped. "That's not what I meant. I love you no matter what you look like. I'd still have unintentionally followed you by my house and given you a Nuka-Cola when we met."
"Before Sylvia took my contract," Charon started. "I stayed at the bar in Underworld. The doctor there is a Ghoul as well. Everyone there is a Ghoul. I'd heard rumors that he'd been experimenting on ideas on how to turn Ghouls back to Human. How to start growing our skin back."
"Do you want to check that out? Go talk to that doctor?"
"Maybe one day."
Juliet nodded. "Okay. Do you think we could go to my house?"
"If that is what you wish. It is nothing but a rubble mess, now, along with most of the city." Charon pointed out.
"Even if, I'd still like to go. I'd like to say goodbye to my old life."
"Very well. Get some rest now, Juliet."
The 217 year old smiled sleepily. Him saying her name was so soft and beautiful to her, she could listen to it over and over forever.
Sylvia finally awakened in the morning, and Juliet wanted to be the first person she saw. The Lone Wanderer opened her grey-blue eyes to opposing but gleaming sapphire ones. She recognized them, as they were much like her own. Unexposed to the outside world and it's very radiated air.
"Hey," she said hoarsely. "I'm alive?"
"Yeah, yeah," Juliet exclaimed. "I thought I'd lost you."
"Honestly? I thought I was a goner. I..." Sylvia noticed Charon behind Juliet, and Elder Lyons next to him. Straight to it, I guess.
"I'm glad you're alright." The Elder said sincerely.
"Thanks," Sylvia allowed Juliet to help her sit up. "Did the Purifier work-?" She had to ask.
"Yes it did," Elder Lyons gleamed. "The Tidal Basin is full of fresh, clean water. We've been working to get it spread to everyone out in the wasteland. I truly thank you, Sylvia. This wouldn't have been possible without you and your father's help."
Sylvia rubbed the back of her head. "I feel exhausted. How long was I out?"
"About two weeks," Juliet answered for the Elder. "I was out too, but I was more complicated thanks to my brain stuff. But we're both okay! So is Sarah. She said she got off on just a headache!"
Sylvia chuckled. "She's lucky. What happens now, then?"
"That is entirely up to you," Elder Lyons admitted. "We plan to take care of any remaining Enclave presence. We are only wondering if you'll help us."
"What could I do?" Sylvia wondered, cracking her neck on both sides.
"You can start by accepting this: I am declaring you a Knight of the Brotherhood of Steel." The Elder announced.
"Shit!" Sylvia gasped. "Okay! I accept. Thank you, Elder. Knight Sylvia. Awesome!"
Lyons now appeared confused. "You do not have a last name?"
"Um... no." She admitted nervously. "I've never known to have one, or my parents either. We weren't born in a vault, and I've heard lots of people out here don't even have last names."
"Very well," Elder Lyons now looked at Juliet. "I have spoken with Charon about you. If you will accept as well, I would like to anoint you as a Scribe. Your knowledge of Vault-Tec and Science has been very helpful for Project Purity, and I would love for you to continue to help us."
Juliet was astonished. "Me? A Scribe? So I'd get to help make robots like Liberty Prime?"
"You could say that." Lyons laughed.
"Then yeah, yeah! I accept!" Juliet shrieked happily, looking at Charon. "I'm a Scribe!"
Sylvia smirked. "Scribe Carlisle. It sounds so formal."
"But a great title nonetheless," Lyons appraised. "Before any of you leave, please see Scribe Rothchild."
"Yessir!" Sylvia jumped up from the infirmary bed. "He's in the lab?"
"He usually is."
Sylvia pat Juliet's shoulder. "Come on Scribe Carlisle, let's go kick some Enclave ass."
Juliet grinned, quickly glancing at Charon, who nodded. "We're right behind you, Knight Sylvia."