*Part of the continuation of Sean's story that I'll post when I've completed, I added this to show the NCR's formal recognition of his accidental efforts. After serving in the NCR's campaign against the Enclave after the events of Fallout 2, Sean loses his leg in combat, gets a new one from a close friend with connections, and goes home for official commendations for his inadvertent work in the story you read as well as his military career during the continuation.*
Epilogue (Part of continuation)
I stood there on the giant platform with the "Vault Dweller" statue behind me, accompanied by the other military heroes of the NCR. The crowd was huge and stretched all the way down the main street of Shady Sands and beyond the archway to the government district. I saw Sophia sitting in the family section where she waved at me incessantly, even after I waved back. The suited announcer man approached the microphone and did a quick check. Then, he called all the military personnel to attention and a band in the distance started playing a loud song over the speakers. I didn't recognize the song, but it sounded very official, and followed the footsteps of a withered old woman being escorted up the platform by a team of eight rangers.
I studied the old woman, she looked decrepit as the ruins of outer San Fran. She took a spot next to the announcer, and the man jogged my memory of who she was. It was President Tandi! I heard she was old, but I didn't think she was THAT OLD! She was essentially held up by the two rangers at her side, and when they turned her around, the crowd went absolutely wild. The announcer ordered us to take our seats and I did, but I couldn't stop watching the President. The most powerful person in almost all of California was a 90 something year old woman… Then, the ceremony started.
Each soldier was called up individually just like in the rehearsals. The announcer stood beside the soldier and gave a brief summary of the deeds that led to their award. Then, the soldier was walked over to take the certificate and have the award hung around their neck by President Tandi. Although, she was far too weak to place the award around the neck of all the soldiers. The hunchbacked little woman stood nearly two feet under the shortest recipient. So, the rangers with her had to present the awards to the individuals who then shook the frail old hand of the President. The rehearsal didn't specify when we were to be called and seemed to be random. The soldiers all stood up from different sections in the seats, and I wondered when I was to be called.
I heard all the stories of all the spectacular individuals and counted 6 Stars of the Sierra Madre, 9 Crosses of Valor, and 10 Hands of Civilization. Then, I realized that I was the only one in the stands un-bedazzled by military trinkets. So, the announcer finally read my name;
"1st Reconnaissance Sniper Battalion, Alpha Company, 2nd Lieutenant Sean Combs."
I stood from my seat and approached the announcer. Taking my spot, he read why I was getting awarded in the most unbelievably awkward script he'd probably ever seen. The announcer clearly showed that even he was confused about why I was part of this ceremony. I stood beside the man as he read;
"2nd Lieutenant Sean Combs originally served the New California Republic as a civilian through deeds across the northern wilderness. From the town of Redding where he… Confidential... To the crime ridden streets of New Reno, he… Redacted and Confidential…"
He literally said the words, "Confidential" and "Redacted" as he read on.
"… Sean Combs aided in the… Confidential… Operations of the… Confidential… Whom aimed at stabilizing the… Redacted… Situation against the inner workings of… Confidential… and the… Redacted… And was sent to the… Confidential… To uncover the… Redacted… Site of the… Redacted… He returned to the… Confidential… and set in motion the events to…Redacted… against the…Redacted and Confidential… With the help of the… Redacted and Confidential…"
There was a long silence in the crowd. The announcer turned the page over as he adjusted his glasses and looked at me with utter confusion.
He let out an audible, "Ah, here we go…" before continuing,
"Sean Combs helped lead the humanitarian effort during the Northern Division's occupation of San Fran in the wake of disastrous events. Then, he showed unparalleled bravery and impeccable unit command against hostile forces in the northern wilderness. Even the Loss of his leg?... didn't stop him from doing his duty and serving the great New California Republic…"
The announcer took a strange look at my perfectly fine set of legs. I guess nobody updated his script to say that I got a new appendage thanks to Paul's work with Vault City. So, still confused, he reiterated the last line before going on.
"Despite the loss of his leg? He continues to serve our great Republic. It is with great pleasure that the people of the New California Republic award you, 2nd Lieutenant Sean Combs, with the Cross of Valor, and the… Golden Branch?..."
The announcer looked off to the side of the stage with a raised eyebrow at an officer who gave him a thumbs up. From there, the announcer gave a brief thumbs up back at the officer, shot me a bizarre look, and finished with,
"Let's give a round of applause for 2nd Lieutenant Sean Combs!"
The announcer began clapping, followed by the subtle increase of applause from the rest of the crowd until it slowly turned into the type of cheers for all the other heroes.
I quickly did a right face, walked over to the confused ranger who presented me with the award, and broke protocol by saying, "The Golden Branch is for civilians? What on earth did you do to get that?"
I didn't answer (I didn't have one), I just turned around and felt the metal clasps of the medals lock behind my neck. I was handed the certificates and shook the weak old President's hand. Even she had a look that said, "What the fuck did you do to get a military and civilian honor?"
So, I took a seat and all the other decorated soldiers looked at me with the same looks. The announcer wrapped up the event, the President departed, and the bands played as the soldiers joined the crowds of family, friends, and patriotic citizens.
Sophia gave me a big hug and I shook a lot of hands that all asked, "What on earth did you do!?"
I was honestly very surprised that they didn't try to lie about my civilian contributions to the NCR. Instead, they literally "Redacted" my actions. The whole thing was very bizarre, but the sky was getting darker and I made my way through the crowds back home.
Sophia and I entered the house and talked in the living room as the city of Shady Sands fell back into its normal routine. She kept it in at the ceremony, and especially during my strange introduction, but she said how proud she was of me. We had the same old talk of where we were to where we are. She asked about what my work was going to be since I had a new leg, wasn't addicted to drugs, and decorated with military and civilian awards. I told her I didn't know, but where we were was the most stable place in life either of us had ever been.
She asked what was next in life. I jokingly recalled an old holotape movie I watched with an excessively "feely" drifter when I was 16, and said, "Now's when we start a family!" I was obviously joking, half expecting a laugh track to play when she jumped my bones.
Sean Combs: An Accidental Hero
*Never aware of why he's important, or the significance of the things he does, Sean's story is not over. The official continuation will be titled "Sean Combs: 2242-2277"… I wonder what happens in 2277?*
*Again, thanks so much for reading. Favorite and Follow the story if you've read the whole thing, it'll really help me out. Shoot me a PM with the subject other than "Hi! ))" if you got any questions or wanna give some constructive criticism, and I'll most certainly read it. I'd love to interact with the community, and stick around for my "Author's Creative Direction" if you wanna read about some of my reasons for writing this story, and why I made certain things the way they were within the context of the amazing Fallout Universe's lore! Thanks so much, and hope you all enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it!*