Chapter 5: Lexington
To answer a question before it's asked. The random Irish bits are there because I've always had a passion to learn Irish Gaelic so I just kind of added it into the story. Anyways, onwards.
Ahh the town of Lexington. It's a complete shithole from what we can see. Buildings still remain and some still stand tall and firm. The grounds are littered with nature's trash and worst of all, ashes.
Ashes to ashes. It seems like one big black city. Clouds seem to cover Lexington putting a dark tone overtop the city yet when you look around everywhere else is drizzling in sunlight. It's as if the gods themselves are saying don't go to this city. But yet here we are. Seems so different from when it was first made in 1642.
With his .50 cal slinged over his shoulder and his 10 mil holstered, Atlas walks up towards a peak and peers into the ever bleak city. Gloom, sadness, despair. He could only imagine what could dwell within the city.
"I won't be imagining for long." He said turning his head around to see ruby behind him staring at the very same city.
"What a dreadful looking place. And this is where we want to explore Atlas?" She looked back at him and slightly turned her head waiting for a response.
Atlas turned his attention back to the city. The never ending cloud of depression and gloom just seems to sit above the city. Who knows who could've lived there before the bombs? His parents would kick his ass for going into such a place.
He was lost in thought. This city is really bugging him. Who knows what kind of trances it will put him in once he gets closer to it?
"An bhfuil tú ceart go leor mo stór?" She questioned further.
Atlas shook his head and snapped out of the trance state that he was in. He fully turns around and walks towards Ruby.
"Sorry. I zoned out for a second there. What does that mean? I don't know what language that was but it's very intriguing." Atlas said puzzled.
"Don't apologize to me. I simply worry. As for the language you'd laugh if I told you but I said 'Are you okay m-'"
"…" She has ceased her translation.
She started blushing from the sudden realization of what she had said.
"What? What was the last part?"
"Oh my goodness. I maybe, accidentally said my… my dear. I meant my friend which is 'mo chara' but it seemed to slip." She said all flustered.
Atlas burst into laughter. "You all embarrassed about that? Don't worry about it its fine I know what you meant." He reassured.
Ruby let out a sigh of relief. She thought he would have took it in the wrong perspective. Her relief was cut off really quick I'm afraid.
Atlas took this as a chance to mess with the Deathclaw further.
"You know Ruby… you said mo stór once before now that I think back to it. You didn't seem to catch it that time. Maybe I already grew on you." He let an evil smirk form as he turned his back to the now flushed and bewildered Ruby.
Her mouth was wide open in the sudden surprise presented before her. She was so ticked that she formed a fist and as lightly as she could, hit Atlas on the top of his head.
BONK
"Ow!" he recoiled from the hit. It hurt a bit. "Heyyy. You didn't have to hit me." He crossed his arms and seemed to pout.
This was her chance.
"Aww poor baby Atlas. Are you okay? Did it hurt?" She said as if she were a mother talking to her crying baby.
She leant in with a fake concerned face.
Atlas put a hand on her snout and lightly pushed her back.
"Let us go crazy. Wouldn't want to waste daylight we won't even see." Atlas spouted now walking away from the peak and towards the city.
She chuckled at her success and followed behind.
The sole survivor and an intelligent Deathclaw. Who would have thought?
On the day the world ends
A bee circles a clover,
A fisherman mends a glimmering net.
Happy porpoises jump in the sea,
By the rainspout young sparrows are playing
And the snake is gold-skinned as it should always be.
On the day the world ends
Women walk through the fields under their umbrellas,
A drunkard grows sleepy at the edge of a lawn,
Vegetable peddlers shout in the street
And a yellow-sailed boat comes nearer the island,
The voice of a violin lasts in the air
And leads into a starry night.
And those who expected lightning and thunder
Are disappointed.
And those who expected signs and archangels' trumps
Do not believe it is happening now.
As long as the sun and the moon are above,
As long as the bumblebee visits a rose,
As long as rosy infants are born
No one believes it is happening now.
Only a white-haired old man, who would be a prophet
Yet is not a prophet, for he's much too busy,
Repeats while he binds his tomatoes:
There will be no other end of the world,
There will be no other end of the world.
Warsaw, 1944
This spoke volume in his mind. He had read this poem at the large collection of articles and books in his room. It fits the world perfectly. Another poem he had read really called out to him. This spoke everything about him. Who he now was.
Today was nothing more than a woeful echo of my life yesterday.
And the same is true for every day I have lived ever since I gave up.
I don't remember what led me down this lonely desolate path of nihilism, of self-destruction.
I don't recall a time I felt differently.
Blank mind. Blank walls.
So I wait, stoic, numb, as silence descends upon me.
Atlas peers back at ruby and saw something shimmer. It wasn't the same ruby color that he had seen before. It was a clear almost blue shimmer. It was a tear.
Little did he know he had recited the whole poem out loud. He turned back forward and put on a slight apologetic expression.
Lexington was only a few meters away.
"Sorry Ruby. Let's forget what I just said. Don't bring it up. It will only worsen things." He stated.
She simply nodded. She did not wipe the tear away. She lets it remain to stain her face. Question is, why?
Atlas stops and drops to the ground in a prone position. He started grabbing dirt and placing it in front of him, building a mound almost.
He proceeded to swing the .50 off his shoulder and got it ready, pulling the bolt back and chambering a .50 in the receiver. He laid on his belly and put the guard of the gun on the mound for support and aimed down sights.
The sudden movements and actions seemed to startle Ruby se she shifted her figure down to appear a little smaller than standing straight up.
"Come here." Atlas spouted out as an order.
In the entrances of the city he could see figures shuffling around. He looked through the scope and saw many more popping up from alleys and even some from the ground.
"Ghouls." He despises ghouls. He doesn't care about the ones that are still civilized but the ones who are rotted corpses who feed on other corpses he can't stand.
"I can smell them. Want me to take care of them?" She asked moving towards him.
"Stand over me. Kneel if you have to. As if you were protecting a fallen friend. Then do me a favor and cup your hands and wrap them around the sides of my head." He gestures towards his ears.
She cupped her large hands and covered his ears and most of the back of his head. One of her fingered covered his left eye but that didn't matter. He needed to shut it anyway to focus down the sights.
"I don't know Atlas this seems weird. What is you are doing?" She flustered a bit but was very confused as to what the man was making her do.
BAKOW!
Atlas unleashed a large .50 cal into the head of a bloated ghoul shambling near the entrance way.
Ruby was startled a bit but the loud noise doesn't bother her. Her ears are better than that of a humans but they weren't as sensitive.
He must have wanted be to reduce the noise for him to be able to fire the weapon. She thought to herself.
Atlas rechambered another round. He started popping off shot after shot. The ghouls were clueless as to what was going on. The noise was loud enough to be heard but from the large building the sound seemed to ricochet off the buildings so the ghouls never really knew were the shots origin point was.
Atlas kept firing and reloaded his weapon and continued firing again. Watching as his targets were dropping like flies.
POW!
BAKOW!
PANG!
Soon he couldn't really see any more movement. He opened his left eye and tapped the hands of Ruby.
She got the signal and removed her hands and carefully moved away from Atlas.
Atlas got up and picked up his rifle, empty mags and bullets cases. He wore that expressionless face.
"Any stragglers we should be able to take care off easy." He said putting his items into his bag and slinging his rifle back on his shoulder.
He got everything together and made his way towards the entrance of Lexington. He would soon see the littered bodies of ghouls that would be either missing it head or have a big ass hole in the ghoul.
Ruby awkwardly followed behind the apathetic sole survivor. He was a skilled marksman indeed but why does his mood seem to sway so quickly. One minute he seems to be upset, the next he is rather playful, then serious and stern. He is something else indeed.
"Atlas. You worry me greatly when your moods seem to transition like that of a female that's ovulating. Why not lighten up a bit?" she questioned
"Why do you care so much Ruby? I do not care for this place. The commonwealth is a shithole and I'd much rather just stay to myself and survive for as long as I can. It's who I am. It will never change. Why does it matter to you? I won't treat you any different. You are an untouched diamond at the bottom of a mineshaft. I wouldn't try to hurt you purposely and I can tell you know that." He spouted looking up towards the sky watching as clouds slowly pass.
Does she really know? Would he try to hurt her?
Doubtful.
"Why are you so pressing towards me having empathy and care for things. If I care for you that should be enough right?" He asked in a mere quieter tone as to try not to offend.
"Because I for one want to see the world returned to the state in which it was before. I want every creature to be happy and that can't happen if the Enclave are free to roam. I just want all of those who do evil deeds for their own gain to suffer a thousand deaths in the depths hell. Enclave, Raiders, Legionaries, Super Mutants, and any more that stand in the way of the rebirth of civilization. There is only one problem with my dream and… It's that…" she ranted but stopped.
"Go ahead. Don't be afraid." He assured her slightly bringing his sight towards the large figure behind him.
She hesitated but nodded. "Even though peace would be heavenly, I wouldn't be in anyone's Utopia. I am a monster. I would have to sacrifice myself in order for-"
Atlas stopped and stretched his hand out as far as he could and put it over her mouth.
"No. Shut it. No more. I wouldn't roll with that and you damn well know it. It's a good dream and I would be willing to help you accomplish such a thing miss pacifist but I simply will not allow you to lay down your life for this dream. Forget about it because if you do, you would have to watch over me from the heavens as I live in everlasting pain and misery. Despair would follow suit before eventually death would come knocking at the door."
He paused before finalizing his statement.
"It's a dream I will pursue with you but I won't let harm follow. You are a brave warrior and I, Atlas, am your shield." He seemed to almost bow.
With that Atlas turned and started passing by the dead bodies of ghouls he had shot minutes ago. They were at Lexington.
Atlas had heard rumors from some minuteman that Lexington was run by raiders at one point but ever since ghouls started showing, most of the raiders left.
Ruby was bewildered by his statement. But she was also very pleased that Atlas would be there to help her throughout the quest.
She soon followed roughly behind Atlas but almost close to his right side. She looked at the bodies of the feral ghouls and snorted in distaste. She really hated the bloated ghoul, it looks as if it had been injected with fluids till it turned into a huge balloon.
Roughly 45 seconds into walking the straight road into Lexington and a whistle was heard. It was long and wasn't stopping.
Soon enough the dark and gloomy streets and buildings were filled with a bright red and orange fire it a sharp and thunderous boom.
Sure enough in the distance Atlas looked up and saw a mushroom forming.
FLASHBACK
"Everyone on the platform now!" The vault security guard had shouted. "Move it Shepard!"
"What's going on?!" One women asked.
"No fucking clue!" answered a man.
"I heard something about bombs." Said a very calm and familiar man. He wore a very expressionless face. His suit had Shepard posted on the top left side.
"BOMBS!? What are you on about Dom!" shouted another women.
Before someone could respond to her, a large mushroom cloud started to form. The blinding light making everyone cringe and cover their eyes. Soon after a much louder and more thunderous boom quaked the earth.
"Send them down now!"
FLASHBACK END
Atlas stopped in his tracks and his eyes bulged. Complete and utter shock took control of Atlas and as fast as he could he turned to his left and ran into a nearby alleyway.
Ruby awed at the display of red, yellow, and orange as it formed a tiny mushroom cloud. She looked to her left and saw Atlas disappearing into an alleyway.
"Atlas!" She shouted.
Atlas couldn't hear her. He could only sense fear and have that flashback play in his head over and over.
He continued sprinting and glancing at the colors chasing him down the alleys. He made turns and eventually went inside a destroyed pharmacy store. He shambled his way into the back and sat in the corner trembling.
"No." She whispered to herself. She got into her stance and took off. She followed the footsteps made by Atlas which were still formed in the ashes of the dead. She darted around corners, her smaller figure allowing her to be super agile. Well… for death claw standards.
She saw the footsteps lead into a nearly destroyed building. It's a surprise the building was still standing with a roof. It had about ten other stories on the building.
The entrance was completely destroyed with a large hole which was now the door. The first and third floors had joined into one giant room. It seems as if getting to the fourth floor wouldn't be easy without a rappel.
She eased her way into the hole and was able to stand thanks to ruins of the first three floors.
She smelled the air and listened to what sounded as some whimpering and quaking.
She started looking around and found that familiar scent. It was Atlas.
Ruby collected her thoughts and went to the back of the shop where the scent seemed to reminisce. There was the man, seen as an almost stoic figure, with one soft spot, and he was trembling in fear, crying and sobbing.
She said nothing and simply sat on her haunches. She pulled Atlas into her in a warm embrace. He was shaking vigorously almost as if he had spent the night out in a blizzard. She squeezed slightly trying to show him that she is here and that he is not alone.
The silence was broken. The apathetic survivor finally spoke.
"I… I remember!" He stuttered out still quaking in his feet.
"I was on a platform! Going into the vault! I saw it… the explosion… oh my god." He sobbed out.
"The ground shook and the light was blinding, soon after our ears were deafened by the loud and thunderous boom. The atomic bomb…"
"I watched as our world came to an end. I swear it."
Atlas stopped talking and squeezed as hard as he could muster. Ruby wasn't going to end the embrace, not until his fear had passed.
"You are quite strong for a mere human." She mused.
"Tá sé ceart go leora bhuanchara im anseo." She reassured applying a tighter squeeze.
Atlas had no memories of before the bombs. He simply knew stuff that made sense. He had parents obviously, it seems he left them before the bombs considering his destroyed house had one room which was actually used. Seeing that mini nuke go off must have conjured a memory from his past. One that obviously wasn't pleasant.
Seeing that nuke go off really must have scared Atlas before so seeing it again… well who wouldn't be scared?
"I don't think the world really came to an end. Yes there may be very dangerous creatures out there like me for example but, humans are still around and proud. They just need a little push in the right direction for everyone to rebuild. For peace to reach from New California to Boston. You and me. We can do it. I believe in you Atlas." She said softly peering down into his form still clinging on like a boy would his mother.
"W-what was that Rue? It wasn't as l-loud as the ones before." He stuttered out.
"I've seen it before. Someone managed to make a catapult type weapon in order to fire miniature nuke munitions. The brotherhood uses them to take out Behemoths all of the time in D.C." she stated sharply
A few seconds after her previous statement she giggled. "Wait a minute Atlas did you just call me Rue?"
This really lightened up Atlas. "Heh, yeah I guess I did. Sorry."
She giggled once more. "No its fine. I kind of like it. Not as impactful as Ruby I'm afraid but I like Rue. Just don't use it too much."
Atlas eased up a little on the hug. "I'm glad you're here with me. I'm okay now."
She hesitated slightly and eventually let go of Atlas.
Atlas stepped back a bit and let her form get up. She stretched out a little bit and looked back at Atlas.
"Let's go see why the weapon was being used." He stated gesturing her to follow.
He didn't even need to gesture as she was on his tail. She needed to take out whatever it was that caused him such trauma so there wasn't a repeated session.
"If you said that the brotherhood use that weapon it could be them. Then again it could also be raiders." Atlas stated sharply.
Atlas started retracing his steps from when he ran. He feels pretty pathetic for running and crying as if he were a kid. He's 22 for Christ's sake why would he do that?
He eventually made it back to the spot where the light had appeared.
"Ruby you go around that building there where I originally saw the explosion appear and I will go inside this building to our left and make my way to the roof. Maybe it will give me a better chance to see what I'm looking at." He points towards the locations where each should head.
"I don't agree with your plan. Splitting up is not going to help me try to protect you." She said in a pretty ticked tone.
Atlas waved his sniper around. "Heh, don't worry about me. I've got your back this time. Plus you're fast as shit and agile as a mother fucker. I would know you dodged me pretty hard back at the station." He stated whole heartedly
"I told you not to refer to that time. Whatever." She points at Atlas. "Be careful or you'll deal with me." That voice was pure terror.
Atlas put his hands up in a surrendering fashion and started walking towards a tall building to the left. He turned the corner and found the back door up into the building. He sighed, opened the door and entered.
Ruby snorted and proceeded down the gloomy streets filled with death. Ashes were everyone littering the street. Dead ghouls; fresh, old, bloated, withered, and some even glowing were just lying around. They were dead and she could tell not only by their smell but some had huge holes in their heads and chests.
She lowered her figure and decided to stick to the shadows of the buildings. It was around 4 pm but for some reason this city looks as if its 11 pm. She is going to have to use all of her senses in order to make it through unscathed.
BREAK
Atlas made it through the first 4 floors easy. Sucks that the elevator doesn't work. He has to go through all 7 other floors and find the stairs leading up to the next.
The floors were all the same minus the first. All had little cubicles and office type setups with drawers and file cabinets. Terminals were absolutely everywhere.
Atlas started grabbing some random junk items he saw like desk fans and clocks. He could use the raw materials later on. He found some caps as well. Never know when they will come in handy.
He put the bag back on and drew out his 10 mil. He was on edge feeling a little suspicious as to why the first 4 floors were clear.
He heard some shambling from one of the little cubicles. He knew what it could potentially be so he backed up and proceeded to throw some random items from the ground at the cubicle.
Sad part is that it worked. He heard some more shuffling and eventually a groan.
"Ghoul" he stated annoyingly
He watched as a shadow formed from out behind the cubicle and saw its decayed and withered body. It tried to scream at him but it was all scratchy and deep.
Atlas didn't hesitate before putting three rounds of lead down range and straight into the ghouls head. He could hear the bullets shred the nasty and decayed skin and watched as nasty old almost brown blood spurted out from the bullet holes.
After the body hit the ground with a thud he heard more groaning, moaning and screeching.
"Oh shit biscuits." Atlas knew there must have been a shit ton in the building. He should've used his knife.
They started coming down the stairs from the far back of the room. Probably from the upper floors. Considering his shots probably reached the damn roof. It was so quiet you could breath and someone would hear you from a few blocks away.
"Fuck here we go." He started hurling lead down range and into the bodies of ghouls. They were jumping and limping around like a bunch of maniacs on psycho.
POW
POW
BANG
BANG
He had to take out at least thirteen ghouls before he heard his gun click.
"Fuck shit god dammit not now!" He exclaimed
He holstered his 10 mil and attempted to grab his combat knife in its pouch before being pounced on by a ghoul.
It screamed in his face while Atlas grabbed its neck so it wouldn't take a chunk out of his face.
Atlas reached to his left and grabbed the knife out of its sheath.
"GRRHH BRING IT BITCH!" He shouted clenching his teeth and shoved his knife into the side of the head of the decayed ghoul.
For extra measures he twisted it to the left and right and watched as the eyes of the ghoul seemed to roll back into its head. He must have corkscrewed his brains out.
Atlas pulled the knife out and threw his body to the left and into a cubicle. He stood up and wiped the blood on his metal sleeve. After sheathing the blade back into its case he looked back at his sleeve and noticed little claw marks made into the metal.
Due to the marks he turned and looked at his exposed right arm and saw his blood dripping out from a scratch wound.
"Oh well fuck me huh?" He grabbed a little rag out from his bag and wiped the blood off.
"It's not a bad scratch but it's not a good one either. No point in wasting meds on this thing. Best get a move on." He informed himself and stretched a little bit.
He checked the ground and made sure he had everything. He drew his 10mil, reloaded and put the empty mag into his bag. He made his way to the other floors.
BREAK
Ruby had already taken care of a few ghouls during her route towards the explosion. She noticed a few little tiny craters in the middle of the roads during her little venture.
She inched from behind a building and saw what looked like a bridge that connected one building to another. There was a tiny little dim light that barely illuminated it. She watched the bridge to see if there was any activity on it.
She quickly checked her surroundings again and saw a bunch of dead ghouls including limbs scattered on the ground near the bridge.
She gasped at the realization. "Someone must patrol on that man-made bridge and saw a lot of ghouls so they must've launched a miniature bomb at them." Before she could even finish her statement she saw a really bright light start to shine from an entrance way on one side of the bridge. She heard faint but loud footsteps soon follow with some whirring sounds.
"I know that sound. Metal. Power armor! Enclave?! Brotherhood?!" she exclaimed in surprise and continued staring at the light moving ever so close. She then saw it. It was a very rusty and scavenged power armor suit. She watched as the person walked towards another person dressed in what looked like raider fatigues. They looked like they were talking.
The power suit person was holding that weapon. That catapult weapon.
"So it's raiders then. There the ones that made Atlas hide in fear. I'll kill them all." She hissed watching them converse.
Gunshots were heard. Many more gunshots followed and echoed around the streets of Lexington. The two raiders and Ruby looked in the direction of the shots.
"Please. Don't let that be Atlas. Please." She pleaded.
BREAK
Atlas had finally made it to the roof. He found some more junk, munitions, and caps from the floors but what really surprised him was the bright light looking in the direction of the building he was on. The source of the light was quite far off but it still shone bright. He put two cotton balls in his ears for the upcoming action.
He swung the rifle off his shoulders. He crouched down and turned off the safety. He closed his left eye and peered through the crystal clear optics and saw the black lines of the cross hair line up.
"No fuckin way." He was bewildered to see a raider in full scavenged power armor.
He knew what to do.
"These guys are history."
BREAK
Ruby turned her attention back to the two men over on the bridge. They had their firearms at the ready and were scouting ahead in the distance. The one in armor had his sights fixed on the building that Atlas said he was going in. She followed up the building and saw something glint in the darkness.
BAKOW!
She flinched at the sound of the familiar shot. She looked back over at the men who were both still standing. She noticed something about the one in the suit. He didn't even flinch at the sound of the shot. She looked closer and noticed a liquid pouring out from the visor.
It was blood.
Atlas had shot him right in the visor and the .50 caliber round buried itself into the man's skull. Blood poured out from the hole until eventually the full suited man fell onto the ground but she heard something after he hit the ground. It sounded like a trigger mechanism.
A loud whistle sound was starting to be heard.
"No. No, no, NO! Atlas get down now!" She shouted with enough force to level a building.
Atlas was already a step ahead of her and already on the 9th floor. Even if the situation wasn't the way it was he wasn't planning on staying up there any longer. The muzzle flash from his gun revealed his position to the entire city so he knew he had to move. Hearing her scream only made him move faster
Atlas made it to the 7th floor and peered out a window with his rifle and followed up his shot onto the other raider. The raider dropped faster than the sound from the rifle. Aiming out Atlas saw a black object hurling towards the 10th floor. It had red lights on it. Ruby ran towards the building as fast as she could. He pulled the cotton out of his ears.
"Get out of there now Atlas!" she shouted once more sprinting towards the building.
Atlas stocked everything together and put his rifle back on over his shoulder. "Be ready Ruby! I need to you catch me I am going to jump!" If I time this right that is.
"I swear I'm going to kill you Atlas!" she yelled out angrily.
"I'm jumping out from my left your right! It will be a drive by catch! Ready!?"
She growled angrily.
"NOW!" he shouted
Atlas jumped straight out the window getting his right arm cut even worse from shards of glass.
Ruby used all her might and launched herself into the air. She reached her arm out and pulled the man into her chest before letting her second arm cup him. She landed with a loud crack to the earth and took off as fast as she could.
It soon became bright with yellow and orange. Thunderous booms and cracks shook the city as the mini nuke hit and leveled the building starting to form a large and rather dusty mushroom cloud.
Atlas nuzzled himself into her chest as she high tailed it back out of Lexington. They passed by the entrance and made it back to the little peak where they had sat for a bit. She put him down and he quivered slightly. Atlas took off his bag and shouldered off his rifle and set them near a huge rock.
Ruby straightened herself up and peered at Atlas who was looking at the ground.
"Don't…EVER do that again! You scared the shit out of me! I told you to get out of there but you took the time to shoot the other raider! YOU COULD HAVE MADE IT OUT WITH OUT JUMPING!" She regained her breath.
"What if I couldn't have caught you?! And what if-" She noticed his right arm soaking in blood.
Atlas got up without a word and started grabbing chunks or wood from their surroundings and placing it in a pile. He reached inside his bag and pulled out a lighter and some lighter fluid. He put some on the fire, lit it, and then put his items away. After making sure it would stay lit for a while he sat down near it.
"I'm sorry. There was no other way. Forgive me. I wouldn't have made it if I didn't jump. His nerves must have pulled the trigger on his launcher. He wouldn't have known where I was if it wasn't for some ghouls I had encountered." He clings onto his arm. He's desperate not to waste supplies on himself as they could be used for a more threatening situation.
"Are you hurt? Any debris hit you?" he asked desperately trying to get off topic.
"You are one to ask such a question. Look at your arm! We need to treat that now!"
She grabbed his bag and carefully emptied it looking for the medical equipment. She paused when she felt Atlas grab her hand.
"No. Leave it. It was from some glass. It's not serious enough to waste stims and meds on."
"Have you lost it? Look at that wound! You'll die from either blood loss or infection if you don't treat it." She said in a worried yet ticked tone.
She continued rummaging through his items till she found a few little shot devices that she remembered the Enclave using whenever they hurt her. They worked very well so she knew she only needed one for him.
Ruby retracted her claws a bit to get her hands just a tad bit smaller. She picked up the shot and held it like the enclave would.
Atlas put his bloodied hand out in front of him in a "stop" gesture.
"Don't use it on me. Especially not the Stimpacks. Those are for far more serious injuries. Please don't waste such supplies. If it really means that much then you'll hand it to me and let me divide it." He said generously.
"Divide it? What do you mean?" She tilted her head to the left slightly.
"There is a fluid in there that has the healing properties. Instead of using it all on me I'm dividing it between us. That was a big explosion and you're a pretty big target. I know something hit you." He said in a far more serious tone.
Atlas stood up and walked towards her. He held out his hand. "Give it." He said bluntly.
She couldn't lie. A rock size debris hit her twice. One in the center back and the other on the top right near her shoulder.
Ruby gave in and handed him the Stim. He went behind her and saw the parts where her skin busted open from the rocks hitting her. They weren't bleeding much but she was so determined to heal him so he decided to make it fair grounds. He injected it near the wound for an easier insert as her skin was pretty tough. He squeezed in the fluids halfway and stopped. He pulled the stim out and backed up.
"Those should be fine in a while. I'm going to take this time to get some rest. You should do the same." With that he went to the other side of the campfire, placed his belongings laying in the dirt back into his bag and laid down looking at the sky.
Ruby didn't argue and decided to do just that. She laid on her belly and crossed her arms and laid her head on her arms.
Soon enough both found themselves in a trance of peaceful slumber. The night will soon be upon them.
BREAK
Atlas tossed and turned in his sleep. No doubt that memory must be playing in his head over and over like a broken record. He eventually had enough of that memory and woke up from his sleep with a start. He looked at his pip boy and checked the time.
"10:16 pm? We slept for 5 hours? My schedule is going to be ruined. Damn."
The fire was still well lit. He had plenty of wood so it's no wonder why it's still going. He got up and sat on the little ledge peering out towards Lexington. He paid no mind to the dreadful city and looked up at the stars and moon.
He doesn't know why but he always enjoyed looking at the moon and stars. Seeing the formations in stars and just watched them shimmer. Every now and then he'd catch a star shimmer in the color of red almost close to a pink but mostly red.
He knew instantly what he thought of. The Ruby color of the star matches the eyes of Ruby herself. It could be coincidence but he likes to think of it as a connection.
"No matter where you go, it seems you will still watch over me. You are the stars that form the sky and you will always watch over me. Crack the ceiling because there is a sky to see." He said in an almost poetic way. Key word almost.
He then thought back to a poem he actually read about the stars.
I might forget you for a little while
But when the last desert hues of sunset roses
Wrap the bareness of these arms
Out of nowhere and without reason I think of you
Darkness falls and so my tears
But then the wind wafts its zephyr breeze
And exhales away my fears
My fears, the deepest of fears I ever fear
A pearlescent moon rises above an unshaped horizon
Casting its opalescent glow upon my face
Making me feel your warm embrace
Silver dust descends so softly
Like your lips over my skin
It confirms you've returned back
From wherever you have been
Your return brings back the melody
As you love me unexpectedly
Oh my love come close, Come lean on me
How you make the stars hush breathlessly
Once again you play your music
On the muffled strings of my heart
Once again the fluting sound of distant birds
Fulfill two souls that can never truly part
Oh my love come close, Come lean on me
How you make the stars hush breathlessly
Still, so still they keep our secrets
And would not reveal life's destiny
"Damn. That shit hit like a truck when I first read it. It's hard to believe someone like me made it this far. Plus I befriended a Deathclaw. I should be fucking awarded for that." He spoke to himself still stargazing.
"I just wish we could have peace in the world and rebuild what with what we have so that this will never happen again. Heh, were it so easy." He stated sharply
Atlas was startled when a voice suddenly broke his concentration.
"So, you like to stargaze?" Ruby asked attentively
Atlas gazed into her ruby shimmering eyes still in her sleeping position.
"Damn you scared me. Yeah I stare up at the stars and start thinking. It's a habit of mine since I was a lad. Not really I can't remember shit you know that but I had nothing to do but read and stargaze so it eventually became something I rather enjoyed." He said with a hint of humor.
Ruby giggled. "You said lad. That's pretty funny and rare. Though not as rare as you mo chara." She stated kindly.
"Well cheers to that I suppose." He looked back up at the stars.
Ruby shuffled around a little bit but eventually decided to get up and stretch. She completed her little routine by scraping her claws against the ground. She doesn't know why but she does this often.
"I'm not sure if I want to go back there. We can always go back eventually. I guess I will just let you decide. Your level headed and pretty damn smart you'll figure something out." Atlas exclaimed.
"Hm. I appreciate the assignment. I think we should head over to the Diamond City area. I heard lots about that place from the enclave. They said it was like Rivet city just not on a boat. We should head there because I want to clear out anything that threatens the city there. Super mutants, ghouls, raiders, anything. They might have a security force but we could seek out the threat and destroy it at its heart." Ruby responded.
Atlas pondered for a bit.
"Maybe I could get info inside Diamond." He whispered to himself.
"Alright it's a deal." He pulled up his pip boy. "We are going to have to pass Lexington and Corvega assembly plants. We follow the road south and pass by Cambridge. Eventually we will cross a bridge and make it to diamond city and its suburban area surrounding it. There is only one problem…"
Ruby tilted her head in confusion.
"I can't let you anywhere near diamond. I highly doubt they will be as nice as I am. We will roam on the outskirts and clear any hostiles we come into contact with. However we will also have to find some sort of special mark or safe haven for us to meet back up if I need to get into diamond. You know damn well they aren't going to let you stroll in there. Hell I might make it so you can only go around the outskirts. I don't want you near the city. Trust me. They won't think twice." He spouted.
"Now wait a minute. I don't recall ever saying you could be the boss of me human, and second I can take care of myself. I won't use violence. They will understand one way or another." She refuted.
"I guess we can't go then. It's too much of a risk. High risk, medium reward. I guess I could always go to that old fort that got destroyed. Maybe the minutemen are holed up there." Atlas started rambling.
Before he even finished pondering Ruby walked over and flicked him in the back of the head. Atlas keeled over in pain.
"OW! WHAT WOMAN!?"
She bent down slightly and stared into him.
"We are going Atlas. There could be innocent people there that need our help." She stated menacingly.
Atlas scoffed. "Yeah they want help from a Deathclaw and a heartless bastard. Makes a lot of sense Ruby."
Ruby was taken back by this comment. "What are you saying Atlas?"
"Do I need to fucking spell it out for you? We help them and in return we get nothing. They call you a fucking freak and shoot at you and I get called an apathetic bastard who has gone insane and likes to hang around Deathclaws! There is no good outcome to this! NONE! You act as if everyone is like me and will tolerate a walking overgrown lizard." Atlas shouted with no remorse.
Ruby backed up a bit in bewilderment from the sudden outburst. She didn't know he would do such a thing. It should have been expected from one of his caliber.
"Besides. They probably have their own security force there. Why waste my precious time helping people who could do help themselves just fine." He remarked
"You have got to be kidding me Atlas! This is the one thing I wanted to do with my life and you said you would follow me in this endeavor. What happened to you? Has the bombs really turned you into a somber and downcast man? Pitiful." She scoffed.
Atlas got up and faced Ruby.
"You are one to talk you fucking test subject. You want to help a race that would rather skin you and take for fucking hands as a pair of gauntlets than allow you to run around as if you are normal." He refuted with venom.
Ruby felt a primal instinct kick in. This wasn't something she should have done, especially not towards someone who showed great care towards her. She hit Atlas towards the ground with a back swing, pounced near him and getting in his face making sure he won't get up and did something regrettable. She roared right in his face.
It was loud. Thunderous. Booming. Frightening. It spoke volume. Said so many words that would span out for days, and she said it in one roar. One roar spoke thousands.
Atlas got up. He simply turned and peered into her. It's as if he could see her soul.
"Fuck. You." With that he turned his back to her. He bent down to grab all of his stuff and then started making his way to Lexington. He wanted to kill something. He knew there was probably something there he could obliterate.
He drew out his 10mil and made sure a round was chambered. He kept the pistol to his side but did not turn around. He was going to make sure Lexington was clear by himself. A quite huge change from his attitude earlier. It's like he forgot about the mini nukes that were launched at him.
Ruby straightened herself up and her eyes opened up. She just realized what she had done. Her instincts let her have control again.
"Oh no… What have I done? I… I am no better than he is. My instincts take over much like his. I can't believe it. The one person who gave a damn about a Deathclaw, and I drew him away." She was conflicted as to whether she should follow him, let him go, or just give him some time. She had to think fast about this as his figure was slowly getting farther and farther out. She finally settled on just letting him have some time alone but she got up and slowly started following Atlas. He was much farther ahead but she didn't want to catch up. She just needed to make sure he was in sight.
"What in god's name had gotten into her? Are you fucking kidding me? Why would she rush to help people who see her as a monster and threat to humanity? Not everyone is as insane as I am. I can't think about that now. She wants to die, I try to stop her, and I get roared at in return. Bitchin isn't it?" he stated in anger. Atlas did not understand her reasoning but he knew she was content on what she wanted to do. She was stubborn much like a real human.
The stars were shimmering and shining, almost as if they were calling out to Atlas. He didn't stop but he did look up and sigh.
"She isn't going to forgive me…"
Ruby looked up at the shimmering stars. She exhaled heavily out her nose and commented the same thing Atlas had stated.
"He isn't going to forgive me…"
It was more than a mere coincidence. You could tell they were both thinking the same thing.
BREAK
Here he was again. Lexington. Atlas walked in the ash filled streets that still had a gloomy forecast. He could see the remains of the ghouls he had killed. Their bodies were really decaying now.
As he kept walking he passed by a familiar building that was left in ruin. It was still aflame in some areas. He veered his sight away from the building and shook out all thoughts on the events from before. Ashes kept kicking up each step he took. He swore he could see an ash figure of a person holding their kid. Their poses were kept throughout the years.
Sadness is what this city is.
He stopped and looked up at the familiar bridge and saw a light shining up into the roof of the bridge. This must have been the power armored raider that he shot. That's good. He is still there.
In the distance he could hear some shuffling. It seemed to come from his 6 o'clock. He raised his pistol and quickly turned around aiming down his sights looking for whatever was making the noises. He checked around the general area and couldn't see anything.
He saw something shimmer. It has a reddish pink glow to it. It was almost like…
"Ruby." He stated. He holstered his pistol.
"Why is she here? Why is she following me? What's her plan? Am I dead? W-"
"I know you can see me. And I know you have many questions." She interrupted his quiet talk to himself.
She drew herself closer. He could see her eyes glowing like the stars themselves. Eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul, or so we're often told.
It may be dark but he could see her. She was now in view. She stopped once she got pretty close and was towering over him.
"Wh-" he was cut off by her outing her large claw against his lips in a silence gesture.
"I just want to say I'm sorry. You have no idea how much it pains me to know that I did such a thing to you. All you have shown me is care and I did something like an animal would. A monster. I know you are trying to look out for me. I sincerely apologize. I hope we can become friends again. I did not wish for any of this to happen mo chara." She informed. She lowered her hand.
"Well if you knew then why did you still refuse me? Why did you scream in my face like that if you knew I was only looking out for you?" he questioned.
"Because I'm like you Atlas. My instincts took over and before I knew it I… I hit you and roared at you as if you were a mere spec of a being. You are the same way in some sense. You have sudden changes in mood quite rapidly and I don't know why." She remarked.
"The mood changes are because I think too much. I think about everything and anything and it really causes me to change in sudden successions. But I guess that's why you and I are such good companions for one another. In a sense we are the same being, just different gender, different species, and I think different age. I will put what has happened behind us. Just try not to worry me. You matter so much to me." He said whole-heartedly.
He embraced her in a warm hug. It was much appreciated and he could tell she was happy.
He pulled out of the hug and gestured her to come on.
"Let's go. I still need to clear out that building and take whatever goods we can find."
She nodded. "I'm right behind you Atlas."
BREAK
Atlas had to make her wait outside and guard the streets and entrance ways into the buildings as she couldn't really fit into this building. She didn't mind though. She knew he would be alright.
Atlas made his way up the long series of stairs that never seemed to end. He wanted to get to the floor that actually mattered, the one that had the connecting bridge.
He finally stopped at the 7th floor and opened the door. The door seemed fine and opened up well so it must have been used a lot recently. He readied his sidearm and entered the room. He heard a lot of machinery running and heard a familiar honk or beep.
He knew exactly what it was and dove for cover around a corner. He could hear shots popping off in a pattern. It was an automated turret.
He waited for the things pattern to finally stop because he knew that if it was to continue firing, its barrel will overheat and cause the mechanism to have problems. He heard the sound again and jumped out from around the corner and popped of 4 rounds into the metal.
POW
KING
POW
KING
POW
KING
PANG
KANG
He hit it four times in the hull and the last two bullets went through the hull and cut up its wiring. The turret powered down.
He took the remaining bullets that were left in the mechanism box and continued around the large room. He started taking whatever caught his eye; food, caps, ammo, some junk, and something that made him ecstatic. He found a suppressor modification for what looked like a hunting rifle! He took the suppressor and slung his rifle off his shoulder. He looked at the end of his rifle and noticed he already had a muzzle attached that would allow him to screw it on.
He screwed the suppressor on and made sure it was on their tightly. He smiled knowing he could now fire his sniper rifle without destroying his ear drums. He slung the rifle back over his shoulder and walked over towards a large hole in the wall. He saw a large metal figure laid out on the platform with its light staring into the ceiling. A little ways away was a body with its head missing. He knew where this was at.
"The bridge. I hope nothing else really remains other than ghouls. I'm sniper bait myself once I walk out there." He commented.
He collected his thoughts and went out on the bridge. He knelt down near the large scrap power armor and used all his might to turn it over. He got the body to turn on its side.
"Good enough" he huffed.
He turned a little wheel on the back of the suit and pulled out this battery thing Ruby said was called a power core. He felt like an idiot for not knowing these suits needed a power source. Classic Atlas.
The large suit opened up like an exoskeleton and inside revealed a man with a gaping hole in the back of his head.
Atlas got up and gagged a bit from the scene. His sniper sure as hell did some work.
"Oh god. Oh shit. That's nasty. Woo I did not expect that. Alright I'm leaving this place."
Leave he did. He put the core in his bag and retraced his steps till he eventually walked out the entranceway into the building.
"Ruby?" he whispered.
"Ruby where are you?"
He walked out a few yards before seeing something shimmer to his right.
"I'm right here Atlas. Just patrolling the perimeter. Didn't know what else to do. How did it go? Did you get anything of value?" she asked
"I found some caps, got a few food stuffs, ammunition, and a suppressor for my sniper. It will be a lot quieter than before. One bad thing though."
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"No water. No soda. Just a bunch of beers and other alcohols. I don't need alcohol I need water. Without water we will surely perish." He said upset with his outcome.
"Do not worry Atlas. We shall find some sooner or later. I can last a lot longer than you can anyway" she remarked
Atlas started walking to walk out of Lexington. He could see Corvega Assembly.
"We just need to pass Corvega and Cambridge then look for a body of water. There should be a bridge that will lead us straight to diamond. Or… you anyway." He lowered his head slightly.
"What do you mean?" she questioned him.
"I can't go with you. I'm not cowering from my death. I'm cowering from yours. I don't want to watch you be killed right in front of my eyes. Not like that nightmare. I don't think I would be able to handle it. I am just going to have to live on thinking about how we separated and just hoping you are alright." He replied in a somber tone.
"No. We will not separate. I will stay by your side. If we truly wish for peace though Atlas, it has to start at Diamond. Please. I know you can convince them." She stated with some hope.
He really pondered on her statement. Could he actually convince them that she was okay and that she wouldn't harm them? That she only wants to help make the world a safer place. She could talk to them herself but they would be confused and panicking.
"I see why you want me to do the talking then. Okay. Let's do this then. I have your back."
He gestures to follow.
"And I have yours Atlas." She replied.
They looked at each other and said at the same time, "Always."
They walked their way past Corvega Assembly and soon they would be reaching the Cambridge area. How will they fair at Diamond? Will there be conflict? We will find out.
BREAK
With that I end chapter five. Review? Thank you guys so much for taking the time to read it as we progress. I would like someone to read my story before i publish to make sure everything is okay because I'm not very good at doing that myself.
PEACE