Chapter 3: Expect the Unexpected

Since it wasn't explained fully the appearance of the Deathclaw is that of a regular Deathclaw from Fallout 4. It will have ruby eyes instead, some scars, shorter than regular Deathclaws but not by much, and is slightly more agile then others. On with the story!

I wonder what the world would have been like for people if there wasn't any weird creatures trying to kill you, eat you, and lay eggs on you. Would the world remain a wasteland or would we be able to work together to rebuild the world we once knew and loved.

It wasn't much better before the bombs dropped. Yeah no radiation and no giant cockroaches trying to eat you're fucking eyeballs but it was still hell with the Great War. The Great War started on the 23rd of October, 2077 and It was unclear who struck first: The US or the Chinese, but when the warning sirens sounded, it was for real. The American people had been having drills for decades, so when the sirens went off, they thought it was just another drill and didn't run for the newly created Vaults. Those who went to the vaults would be the ones who would rebuild once the radiation had died down. When the other nations in the world saw the missiles launching, they launched their own, unclear as to what they were shooting at.

Billions died in the resulting war, and it's unclear as to how many people actually managed to survive outside of the vaults in the US. Almost all communication with the outside world was severed once the earth was baked with nuclear fire, and the remaining people on the surface were far too busy dying of radiation sickness and being vaporized to write things down. With the high radiation levels, mutations began to appear. Humans began turning into ghouls, and insects like the scorpion or bloat fly began to grow to extraordinary sizes. New species of creatures were created within days and almost overnight, posing an even bigger threat to those who managed to survive.

13 years later, the first vaults begin to open, and the survivors begin to rebuild what was left of their shattered lives in this new world.

Deathclaws were the most fearsome and legendary beasts in the whole commonwealth. They roam from DC to New Vegas and they aren't excluded at all in the Boston area. These monsters were experiments made by the Enclave in order to act as a weapon almost like a sleeper agent. Just activate it, tell it the order and it will carry it out swiftly. This wasn't the case seeing as they are now treading through the wastes of the world and they sure as hell don't take orders.

What if you could take one of these 8 foot beasts with large claws and agile but tough bodies and make them able to communicate. Do you think you would even get the chance to say hello to them before they rip you into a thousand pieces twice over. No I didn't really think twice about it when I heard about intelligent Deathclaws that could communicate with other sentient beings. It seems bizarre and extraordinary but hey just look at the fucking wastes we use to call America and it won't seem as bizarre.

"W…What did you just say?" Atlas asked frightened. He looked up straight into the ruby eyes of the beast. Beautiful they were.

"You welcome death? Why?"

Atlas jumped hearing another response. What he had just seen and heard was incomprehensible. Well…. To him anyway. He felt his world shifting and turning underneath him. He was actually dead already he was just in some weird purgatory that seems to want him to stay just so things can get weirder and weirder. Was this really his afterlife? Was he forced to live in this hell by himself? What had he done to wrong himself so badly? It would help if he could remember more than just leaving his parents because this "amnesia" isn't helping at all. Surely it wasn't him leaving his parents like he did but every kid has to move on from their parents so what in god's name could have gotten him in such turmoil.

"Oi. Did you actually just talk or am I really dead and imagining shit?" asked the bewildered Atlas still petrified as to what had occurred in his life. He was staring at the huge creature before him.

"Indeed I did. Are you going to be so kind as to answer my question now?"

Yep. Atlas was actually dead. This fucking thing just responded to him. It had a very feminine voice and that alone was psyching him the fuck out. Seriously where did he go wrong to get so fucked?

This one was definitely significant. Not only was this Deathclaw a female but it could talk. It was very intellect. More so than before as it can communicate. Where had she come from? No Deathclaws could talk around here from what he could guess. That was more of a DC thing as the Enclave were everywhere there. Has she come here all the way from DC? I'm not about to ask it but fuck it whatever.

My heart was racing. My thoughts were pondering and wandering. Why here? Why now? How? Why hasn't "She" killed me yet? I should probably say something.

"H-how can you talk?" He managed to get out.

"What?" The Deathclaw straightened up and tilted its head to the side slightly flicking its tongue out.

I decided to repeat myself

"How can you talk? I've never heard of a Deathclaw that could talk. At least not from around here." He spouted not wanting to move as moving an inch could mean imminent death.

"It's simple. I'm not from here. I'm from an area you humans refer to as Washington D.C. Now please answer my earlier question of why you would welcome death? Are you foolish? A child?"

"Well. That answers that. As to answer your question no. I really don't welcome it but in the heat of the moment I…" Atlas tried to get the rest out but couldn't

"Mm?"

"You are a Deathclaw. A monster in the eyes of my species and I was done for. You had me by the balls and yet here you are talking to me. Even if I wanted to kill you I don't have the weapons nor the armor. When you had me pinned up against the car I just… broke down. I have no one Deathclaw. Anyone I knew before is most likely dead. I can't even remember jack shit anyways. That's why I wanted you to kill me because I felt like I had nothing else to really live for. I felt as if I was only prolonging my death in this hellish wasteland." Atlas said vigor.

The beast let its arms relax and its nails slightly retract. It seemed completely calm and showed no sign of aggression.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you mauling me to pieces right now?" Atlas shouted angrily

"Why should I? You pose no harm even if you had your weapons. Besides, I like listening to you talk. It's almost like you did this for a profession." Said the giant draconian figure standing before Atlas.

Atlas was taken aback by the compliment. Why was this thing so civilized? I know it's intellectual and that it was most likely more intelligent than he even before it could talk. This thing seemed like it would be better to talk to than an actual person. Crazy right?

"So Miss Deathclaw… you said you came from DC, I'm guessing it's not much different from here right? What reigns on DC?" Atlas said out of curiosity.

"Mm? Well it's mostly like this place but the Super mutants hold supreme with the help of the Enclave and the Brotherhood of Steel is slowly rising up thanks to some human named the lone wanderer. They say he was from a vault. Vault 101 if my memory is correct."

"Brotherhood of Steel? They just arrived here and they are kicking some major ass with their power armor. I can't imagine the kind of battles they must have with the enclave."

I can't believe I'm having a civilized conversation with a monster and it literally just killed my defenses and almost me. This is really making my head pound.

"What about here? What reigns here human?" she asked tilting her head.

"Well here we have a bunch of factions. There are raiders, Brotherhood of Steel, the institute if the scariest as they create robots that are exactly like humans. The railroad is like a safe place for sentient synths not wanting to kill or be killed, and the Minutemen which is like a friendly militia. All in all ghouls and super mutants are the only mutations people really have problems with. Mire lurks and Deathclaws don't show up too much if you know what you're doing."

The Deathclaw seemed to stretch her chops to a smile. It was smiling…

"See? I told you. You sound like one of those humans that record their voices for a living." She said content with her previous complement.

"Even if I did do something like that I wouldn't remember. My life before the bombs fell is nothing but a blur"

"What? How are you over two-hundred years old? You had a life before the Great War but here you are looking like a fresh adult." She said with some venom in her tone. She straightened her posture once more.

"I was frozen in vault 111 and I woke up two-hundred something years later. I'm alive because I was frozen in a cryosleep."

"Ah now that makes much more sense."

"Why can you talk?" Atlas asked bluntly trying not to stay on the topic

Her smile dropped.
"I guess I can tell you. It's not like you really have anybody to tell anyway."

Good point

"I'm not actually from DC. I was merely transported their by the use of those obnoxious metal machines that can fly. Vertibirds I think is what those Enclave soldiers called them. Anyway I was actually from New California. They experimented on me. Exposing me to something that boosted my intelligence and gave me the ability to speak to others. I was transported to DC after a huge mass escape took place and they decided to confine me in even more cells at DC. I broke out and eventually made my way here." She droned on.

"Damn. That must have been a long walk. Seriously though I know you're intelligent and all but I know you must have gone through a lot. I would expect you to hate all humans or something. You must have taken out plenty of things on your way here?" Atlas said curiously

"I'm intelligent for a reason I know not all humans are bad that just wouldn't make sense. And of course I "took out" a lot of things here. I slaughtered mutants, ghouls, insects, I even had to go against one of my own kind. I didn't kill him but I definitely maimed him." She said whole-heartedly

This is getting too fucking ridiculous I don't know how many times I have to repeat myself I am actually having a rather interesting conversation with a fucking overgrown lizard. It's most definitely the end of the world as we now know it.

"Well I have to admit you sound like one tough and experienced son of a bitch."

The Deathclaw blushed at the compliment. It wasn't too noticeable by Atlas but he understood the gesture by her slight stance change.

"Th-thanks." She managed to get out.

"Don't mention it." He said standing up

"So what will you do now? We talked and you still haven't eaten me so what's the plan for you?"

He walked over and grabbed his pistol and knife and holstered them, looking up at those ruby eyes waiting for a response.

"I don't know actually. I rather enjoyed this conversation and its nice running across someone who isn't as ruthless as the world. I guess I'll venture around this area. Concord I believe this place was called. Maybe we'll cross paths again." She said in the most kindred way shifting her stance.

"Wait that's it? You are just going to roam around here?" He said in a worried tone

"I simply want to live a peaceful life. If possible I'd want it to be with someone else but I seem to be the only intelligent Deathclaw left around here. Peace is all I want."

A monster wanting to live in peace. Really.

"Well that's not a bad thing to wish for. Not at all." Atlas said kind of down. He started looking towards the open areas with an almost expressionless face.

"Well I guess I bid you Vale, farewell, au revoir and so much more. You were the first person to really be nice to me and not completely heartless. Much appreciated." She turned and started making her way towards concord.

"Gah! Dammit I feel like shit I don't know and it's really bothering me. More than my memory problems. Alright fuck it!"

He started running in her general direction hand on his holster just in case. He felt the need to make her his companion. She was nice and she seemed like she could handle herself. Why not try to get a follower? Someone to finally talk to. Atlas has been alone forever and even if it meant having a big gecko as friend it was still better than none.

"HEY! WAIT! I NEED TO ASK YOU SOMETHING!" He shouted running after her so she may stop.

They were just now getting into the first few houses in to concord. Dead bodies had littered the streets from Atlas's past dirty work.

"Hmm? What's going on?" She turned looking at the 6 foot 5 man going full sprint towards her.

She tilted her head to the right. "What is it Cara?"

I'm guessing that means friend. I hope.

Atlas came to a halt and hunched over trying to catch his breath.

"Wait… wait… don't leave. I…" He choked on his own words as he began to doubt.

"Mm?" She lowered herself slightly trying to look into the man's emerald eyes.

"I know this is very strange and stupid of a little human like myself but I want you to travel with me and stay with me as a follower and companion. We could do so much together. Wipe out towns of baddies and loot to our hearts content and eventually make the world safer for all. Just think. If I can get better weapons and the rare chance of power armor, I could stand an even better chance. You and I would be an unstoppable force to be reckoned with."

Atlas spewed out a bunch of words from his mouth hoping for the best. He really wanted to have her help.

Atlas looked up into her ruby eyes and then proceeded to almost bow and pray at the same time.
"Please…" he begged.

Atlas opened an eye and looked up as he heard something. Laughter.

She was laughing, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. It was very strange to him. Was he really that embarrassing? Pitiful? God just hit me.

"Ha ha ha! Oh my, what a performance human. That was stunning indeed. After such a valiant offer there is no way one such as I should decline. I accept your offer to travel as partners." She said with a toothy smirk.

How cute. A Deathclaw smirking. You don't see that every day.

Atlas felt a huge rush of happiness, content, and excitement run over him. He was speechless until he broke it with…

"Really? You mean it?"

"Of course. You're not that bad after all." She said with a chuckle.

Atlas didn't know what happened as he jumped up on the Deathclaw trapping it in a bear hug repeatedly saying, "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Oh my gosh you pup. It's no big deal human." She said with laughter

"You have no idea how happy I am to finally have someone to talk to. It's been forever! Sure I talked to some prospectors but that wasn't even true conversations." He said excitedly.

"Come on!" he shouted tugging on her arm. "I have to get some things settled at the house. The garage is big enough for you to fit in."

"Such kindness" she thought to herself.

"I guess I truly lucked out coming here. I gained a friend."

Break

Making their way to the red rocket gas station Atlas turned around and asked while walking backwards, "So what should I call you Miss? I don't know your name and I'd rather not call you Deathclaw."

"I don't really have a name my friend. You can call me whatever you like." She said with a smile

There is that smile again.

Her ruby eyes shimmered as he pondered what to call her.

"Umm. Cara? You might want t-"

"Aha!" he interrupted.

"I will call you r- AHH!"

THUD

Atlas groaned as he sat up rubbing his head from the fall.

"You should really watch where you are going dear. Don't want to hurt yourself do you?" She stated with sarcasm in her tone

"Ow. Look I thought of a name for you and I hope you like it." He got up and brushed the dirt off of his pants and his metal sleeve and gauntlet.

"I want to call you… Ruby." He said with some compassion in his tone.

"Hmm. I like it. It's beautiful but why that name might I ask?"

Atlas walked up towards her and motioned for her to lean down. He put his palm on the underside of her maw and pulled her in. He stared into her ruby eyes as his own emerald eyes stared into hers.

"It's because your eyes are absolutely stunning. They are ruby in color so I thought it would match you." He said content with his name choice.

"Mm yes I really like it. Thank you so much for the name. Now what might I call you?" She added with a blush. This one went unnoticed.

Atlas's smile dropped

"Well… you remember how I said I have trouble remembering my life before the bombs? Well, I can't remember even my name. I have simply referred to myself as Atlas. Mainly because of the fact that Atlas is a Greek titan bent on holding the sky on his shoulders for eternity. I carry burdens and everlasting pain on mine so I went with that name."

He let go of her and looked down at the ground in disappointment.

"I can't really say I approve of the name you gave yourself but I guess it is okay for now. I will look into giving you a new name." She said looking down at the slumped form of Atlas. She straightened herself and began walking towards the gas station seen a little ways away.

Atlas regained his posture and followed behind. "Thanks." He stated. "I won't need to rebuild turrets I suppose since you and I will be here. No harm done there. All in all I'm glad to have you Ruby. We will accomplish so much."

"I hope so Atlas. I hope so. So is this where I shall sleep?" She asked pointing towards the garage part of the station.

"In this space yes but I will not allow you to sleep on the floor. I have some junk that I scavenged so give me a minute and I will make you a huge oversized bed." Before she could testify against him working for her he was already off into his little working shack. He quickly came into that garage with a bunch of tools and junk items and gestured her to "Shoo" so that he could work.

She got the message, nodded, and headed outside to sit on the ledge, looking out into what was merely a gaze of what the commonwealth had to offer. She looked at the sunset, her ruby eyes twinkling in the sunlight with that faraway daze that just sets into you.

After a few minutes of goggling the sun she turned when she heard an "All done!" from her partner. She got up and walked over and awed at the sight of a huge bed that made king size beds look like a joke.

"Wow Atlas you overdid it I think. Thanks so much my friend." She stated happily

"Heh, well I made it that big in case you get company." He scratched his head in embarrassment at his attempt at a joke.

"Very funny Atlas but I don't think any Deathclaw would want me. Especially since I talk and hang around humans." She pointed out.

"True. Very true. Uh wait! NO NO I want to rephrase that!" He panicked

"It's not that your unattractive you are probably a model to your kind! I was simply trying to agree that they would be weirded out by the fact that you hang out with humans nothing else I swear! Heh heh…"

She giggled. "You're too much Atlas don't worry I know what you meant don't hurt yourself." She reassured.

"Okay thank Jesus." He said relieved

"Why were you getting so stressed about it Atlas? I am a monster in your eyes I don't expect you to be so kindred. Its only common sense. I won't be mad cara." She said softly

"Well it would be rude to treat you like a monster when you have been treating me fine. Other than throwing me into a rusty car but then again I'm the one who was attacking."

"Let's not refrain back to that moment. I deeply regret harming you in such a way."

"I'm glad you feel that way. I'm also glad you're impossible to harm." He chuckled

"I'm so happy I found you Atlas. I don't know where I would be right now. And thank you once again for this huge bed." She stated happily crawling into her massive bed.

"Trust me when I say I am deeply happy and excited that I somehow managed to find someone to talk to that either isn't trying to kill me or isn't trying to rob me. Neutral and evil faces are all I have encountered here. You are the most I could ask for. Minus the claws." He laughed.

Damn. The sun is almost gone. Did they really converse till night? I hope she isn't hungry now. Hopefully Atlas has something to feed her. She might live off of Brahmin or something.

"That means a lot coming from someone like you Atlas. I mean it." She said with satisfaction.

Looking over at the form that was Ruby he watched as she curled up in the bed he made for her and watched as she yawned. Taking this as a sign he turned the big garage light off and turned the little one he had set up in the corner on. He glanced back over at the Deathclaw again and smiled as he walked out and headed up a later he had stationed next to the building. It lead up to the roof where he had a chair, a bunch of tools, and something else. He had been fiddling with it for a while and he decided to continue tonight.

"Damn this thing." He exclaimed.

It was a hunting rifle he had found on the eastern side of concord. It had no receiver but had a large 20x magnification scope. He scavenged more and found a .50 cal receiver and a bunch of mags for the rifle loaded with .50. He thought it would be heaven but he couldn't quite figure out what was wrong with the damn thing. He has plenty of ammo for it so if he could get it to work properly this plus his 10mm would be a god sent.

I don't know why but I like snipers. Always have. They just seem fit and right to me. Especially a big ass round like the .50.

After further tinkering he decided to load it and test it again.

"Come on ya bastard…" He whispered aiming it into the distance shoving the bolt forward loading a .50 cal.

He breathed slowly as he inched his finger towards the trigger. He could already feel the recoil from the massive round. He knew he could handle it.

CLK

He exhaled angrily and followed it up with a, "Seriously?!"

He unloaded the rifle and once again got to work on the rifle. The damned thing was in pretty good condition but god almighty would it not fire.

"Is the damn pin even hitting the primer? I swear to the heavens if it was the pin this whole t-"

"…"

"…"

"It's the fucking pin." He stated with an annoyed and stale tone.

"I'm going to hang myself."

He opened up his box and started getting to work on replacing the pin.

After about 10 minutes of replacing and making sure everything else is okay he loaded it and set it up like it was before. He once again aimed into the distance and inhaled slowly. Closing one eye he whispered.

"Please…"

With a loud PANG and a screeching noise hinting that he is now deaf, he dropped the rifle on to the floor of the roof and fell back.

"Ffffffuuucckk!" He shouted

He groveled on the roof covering his ears at the loud explosion of a shot.

"Goddamnit I am going to be deaf for the rest of my life!" He exclaimed with much discontent.

Ruby awoke with a start from the loud shot that just occurred. She jumped up and scurried out, sniffing the air and flicking out her tongue trying to figure out what just happened. She looked up towards the roof when she heard Atlas cursing up a storm.

"What was that? Everything alright?" She straightened herself as much as she could to try to get a look at what was going on.

Atlas was going off. Curse after curse after curse. He was not happy. His dumbass should have known better it's a fucking .50 cal for Christ sakes!

She caught a glimpse of him moving about on the floor covering his ears. He must not have heard her. She stretched out her arms as long as she could and managed to grab him. He let it happen still covering his ears. She set him down on the ground and he stood up and started wincing. His hearing was coming back.

She looked at him with great concern and started looking at his form making sure he wasn't damaged.

"I'm fine girl. I just got this sniper working and I didn't anticipate the fact that the bullet I was using was going to be that loud. I knew it was loud but I'm stupid okay…" He was pouting and crossed his arms.

"Ugh you are such a child. Don't be so stupid next time you fool you had me worried. It awoke me from my slumber and scared the daylights out of me." She said with a hint of anger.

"I'm sorry, just… head back to sleep I'm going to go get my stuff. Thanks for checking on me. It shows you care." He stated while heading back towards the ladder.

"Shut it." She mused in embarrassment.

"What me? Never." He spouted while climbing the ladder.

"I will hurt you. You know that right? I could make you suffer…" She stated with a tone that can only be described as true terror.

It was only amusement though no hard feelings.

"NEVA!" He shouted as he reached the top and gathered his belongings.

"You are lucky I am fine with you. I will make you grovel on the ground worse than that gunshot did." She said terrifyingly

"I love you too." He stated. It actually worked which was the worst part as she had no comeback to that. She simply crawled into her bed as he went back down and dropped his stuff off in the main room.

He had done a good job on restoring things here. Generators are running, no back door, all wholes were boarded up and a nice door was put down with some pretty good locks.

He got out of his armor and put on a black tea shirt and some soft shorts. He made his way towards the garage and lifted his arms up to close the massive door.

The Deathclaw looked up at him and saw something on his arm. She leaned in towards it and he closed the big door. He almost hit her in the nose with his arm.

"Whoop! Sorry! Didn't know you'd be that close"

She pointed at something on his arm. "What?" He exclaimed. It was a scar. Not too noticeable but not too faded.

"I have no clue remember. I must have gotten that before the bombs fell."

"I'm sorry." She said sadly putting her head back down.

"Don't worry about it you were just curious. No harm done girl its fine." He stated happily putting on a smile.

"You get a good night's sleep. You deserve it for all the walking you do. I'll see you in the morning." With that he exited the garage and went to his own bed where his slumber awaited him.

Break

At around 4 o'clock in the morning something occurred in the mind of Atlas the sole survivor. He was tossing and turning more and more than usual. He must be dreaming. But with some mumbles every now and again it must be something worse. It must be a nightmare.

Break

"What is this? Why so much blood? What the hell is going on here?" He questioned as he started trailing the blood with his 10 mil holstered and his hunting rifle in hand.

"Whatever this shit belongs to its pretty goddamned big. That's a lot of blood."

He continued following it and soon corpses started piling up. Some were raiders and some were ghouls. Then he noticed something. Initiates were dead too. Brotherhood Initiates. More and more showed as piles of ash and goo started showing up and eventually some bodies of brotherhood knights. Their power armor had large gashes and all of them had these huge rips in the armor where they were disemboweled.

He continued pressing on and on until he saw a foot. A pretty big foot. He slowly looked up and saw the sight of ruby leaning against the wall of a building. True terror amongst his face at the bullet wounds, laser rifle burns, and plasma wounds covering her body. She was hunted down by the brotherhood. He always thought of them as trouble they helped out in so many ways with their power armor. He never thought that they would do something like this.

"No…no no no NO!" He ran towards the body of ruby and started shaking her long arms.

"Why? Why would they do this? Was it because you can talk? I don't understand why they would be so cruel. You were such a kind being. Even if you weren't human you didn't deserve this!" He cried out.

Sobs were all that could be heard as the motionless Deathclaw leaned against the wall.

"NOOOOO-"

It was cut off by him waking up

"AHH!"

His breathing was rushed as if he had run a marathon. He got up and rushed over to the garage where he looked at the bed.

She was still there sound asleep.

"Oh thank the heavens." He sighed relieved

"Well. Always expect the unexpected I suppose." He stated before walking back into his room and going into that awaiting slumber once again.

And with that this is the end to chapter 3. Well?