Chapter 11: Clear the Fog
The air was thick and a tad Smokey as Atlas started to stir. His vision was hazy as he lifted his head up and tried his best to gather his surroundings. He could see a light over in the distance in front of him, and could hear people chatting and laughing around this light. His vision had began to return to him, and he realized that it was a bonfire with some townspeople in front of it. "I fell asleep? Really? Damn…" He said to himself rubbing his watered eyes and stretching. Releasing a yawn to signal he is now ready to go, he got up and looked around to see that he did indeed fall asleep on the bleachers. He must have been both physically and mentally exhausted to ever fall asleep in such an uncomfortable position. Raising his pip boy up, he peered into the clock and realized that it just hit 4:47 in the morning, and that he would he running in a solid four hours of sleep, maybe less.
Sighing, Atlas grabbed his rifle and pack, slung it over his shoulder and headed off. He headed off the bleachers and passed by the group at the fire, nodding to them when they waved at him. Their chatter continued and Atlas had no focus on their conversation, sounding like nothing but muttering nonsense. He just went through the winding turns that plagued the outer ends of the diamond and then went through the dark and quiet market in the center. There were a few guards, but the market was pretty much baron. "Morning Atlas, how come you are up so early?" A voice sprung out from behind him. Upon turning around, he was met with the tall, beautiful woman that had healed both he and Ruby.
"Doc Alicia, I sure didn't expect you to be up at around this time." His eyes met with hers and she came to his side and strolled with him. "I didn't get much sleep if I'm being honest. I just couldn't stop thinking about you and Ruby, such remarkable creatures you and her are." Atlas's face to red a bit as he stayed by her, flustered beyond all comprehension. "You include me because of the bullet thing… right?" He asked intently.
"Yes, that is a major role in your part." She replied, but this made Atlas question it further. "What about the other part? You know something I don't?" Alicia giggled quietly to herself. "I can't tell you that. Doctor's secret. Don't worry, it's not anything dangerous or something you should know about." Atlas sighed, scratching his head. "Man, you women and your secrets…" He said jokingly, causing Alicia to punch his arm, causing Atlas to give out a quiet yelp.
"We are allowed to have our secrets." He said, giggling again as Atlas rubbed his arm, hissing. "Now you didn't answer my question, why are you up so early?" She asked rather serious compared to before. Atlas rubbed his arm, looking up into the night sky, watching as the stars get their last twinkle in before the sun comes up in a couple hours. "I just didn't get that much sleep, same as you. I had a lot on my mind yesterday, and Ruby had to go off and clear her head. I was trying to clear my thoughts on the bleachers as well, but I guess my exhaustion took over and I fell asleep. Ruby wasn't back, so I assume she is off sleeping on her own like she used to." Alicia looked into his green eyes, which were staring vastly at the stars. She could see his gestures change when he mentioned her lonesomeness.
"You really do care for her, and she greatly cares for you. You have to remind herself that no matter how much stuff she may have gone through, she now has you… right?" She explained, trying to make him feel better about the situation. "Yeah Doc, you are right. It's just that… The truth behind it all is that I have been alone for so long in this apocalyptic wasteland. I had one person with me before… but I don't wanna mention her." Alicia raised a brow at that mention, and she now pondered on what he was talking about. She did not plan on pushing it. "Another time." She said to herself, letting Atlas continue.
"Anyways, any memories I have from the real world we all used to live in is now hazy. I can't even remember my own damn name for christs sake. When we came together, the kid in me was all too intrigued by what she was, and I wanted her to travel with me. An intelligent deathclaw roaming the commonwealth is about as rare as a pre war set of power armor sitting unattended. She had been in a similar instance as me, in so many ways. She had been alone for so long, that I guess in my mind she was just like me. We needed each other in the end. We were both alone, and we tied together our ideals to helping out each other while helping the world out, although I don't exactly do that on my own. I do it for her mostly… I'm sorry, I'm rambling a lot."
Alicia laughed as they made their way to the entrance. "What?" He asked, wondering what could have been so funny. "Nothing Atlas, you are just so sweet. I'm glad you found each other, otherwise you would both still out there all alone in the world. You two are really something else, I wouldn't mind traveling with you both." Atlas widened his eyes as she said that. "Another group member would be a whole lot safer, plus she is a doc and that could benefit both me and Ruby both. Here's to hoping she is good with a gun." He thought to himself. Before he could even say a word however, Alicia cut right in.
"I have too many people to take care of here though. I am the only Doctor for miles. Unless someone else shows up with that medical experience, people won't exactly be in the best shape."
"Damn… There goes that idea." He thought to himself yet again, sighing in disappointment. "Well that sucks, we would have really appreciated you coming with us." Alicia smiled genuinely. "I know you would have. It would have been nice to travel with the only intelligent deathclaw in the commonwealth and the handsome drifter that has her at his hip." His cheeks grew rosy red again, wondering why she was so nice to him. "Is she flirting with me?"
"Y-yeah. If you ever change your mind, please feel free to let us know. Just know that we are only in town until we can clear it out well enough to move on. Hopefully another doctor comes around, because we honestly need you in our group." He said with sincerity.
"Tell me about it. Both of you are reckless and get torn up just to get mad and sad at the other for putting themselves in that spot in the first place. Add me into the mix, and you got a bad bitch with a big old rifle who can make sure bullets won't even get close to harming you. If you somehow managed to get hurt, I'll just fix you right up. Simple." She boasted in a courageous and humorous tone.
"That sounds like someone we need for sure." He replied with the both of them laughing stopping at the gate out of Diamond. "Well, here is where I see you off Atlas. You make sure to come see me next time you come around. I'd love to talk with you some more. Ruby too, if she will let me near her." She and Atlas chuckled. "Yeah, for sure. I'll catch you later Alicia, try to rest up now. You need it."
"Ahh don't worry about me. You get some you blockhead." He turned around and walked off, waving her hand and swaying her hips in a way that seemed to entrance Atlas for a second before he waved back. "I will." He said back, eyeing her the entire way as she walked off until she was no longer in view. "Oi, you can stop staring at the Doc, on your way." The burley guard said to Atlas, causing him to suck his teeth. "I wasn't staring, shut it." He said blushing, knowing damn well he looked like a deer in headlights. He doesn't know why, but he was really taking a liking to the Doc.
He went on his way out of Diamond city, walking along with his sporting new suit of armor with his pistol ready in its holster, his rifle in hand, and his pack behind him for scavenging. With the new pouches on his utility belt, he would be able to load his weapons a lot quicker than before. He had a sheath for his combat knife located on his right thigh, and it was perfect in a clutch scenario. All in all, he really liked his new gear.
As he patrolled the safer streets, he would pass by many other patrols of other guards and even some scavengers, all wandering around thanks to the safer roads he and Ruby cleared. He just wish she was around, but the both of them needed to clear their heads, and she was probably asleep. It was very late at night… or early in the morning as some folks would put it, and this was normally the time that nightmares would wake him up had he slept alone.
Atlas was wondering about a lot of things. He wondered what he should do with all the caps he has on him. He doesn't really like to carry them sometimes as they seem to make unnecessary noise. He wondered what he should go out and kill. He wondered what he was going to do when he returned to Diamond. He wondered what he should do when Ruby returns… will she be alright? "Fuck if I know anymore. I'm always finding ways to fuck something up. What a surprise…"
He rubbed his hair in annoyance, wishing things could have gone differently as always. His mind was very troubled. One side of it was focusing on Ruby, hoping that she is okay and wondering if she will return to him. The other side, was about Alicia. He wanted her to come with them so bad, but he knows that she is valuable to Diamond. His reasons for wanting her to come, had either been a bit foreign, or hadn't been felt in a long time.
The sun had begin to rise over the land. The clock was now striking six, and the streets were beginning to teem with the warm light. He liked the bits of warmth hitting the back of his neck as he walked.
Atlas continued to walk the outskirts of diamond, however his paths began to get a little sketchy. He was walking down roads with big buildings on both sides of him, and he could easily be snatched up by Ares should he not watch himself. He slung his rifle off his shoulder and now had it in hand, safety off and ready to blow someone's head off. Walking on and on, his head did not clear at all. His eyes were still as sharp as ever as he scanned for any threats around him. If he was going to be completely focused though, he would have to clear his mind. "Were it so easy…" he said to himself rather quietly.
Looking up ahead, he began to notice a bunch of bodies. These bodies appeared to be charred and nearly ash. There could be many possibilities to what those bodies could be, and he didn't take any chances. Aiming down the scope of his rifle, he closed his left eye and took deep, slow breathes. Slowly squeezing the trigger, his rifle made the proper sound off with his suppressor attached to the end of the barrel. The bullet was sent down range and into the back of one of the charred bodies, causing a little red hole to form. This gave him two potential answers; either that was a ghoul that was feigning death or he had just shot the dead body of someone who got burnt alive.
Straightening himself up, he rechambered a round and scoffed. "It didn't move or make a noise at all, so I probably just gibbed some poor guys body. Sorry mate." He said to himself as he walked forward. He failed to take something into account however. He walked forward and didn't realize the alley to his right. Had his mind been clear, he would have noticed it. He picked up his rifle as fast as he could, but it was too late. A feral ghoul, charred and burnt to a crisp, lunged out at him. The scream it had made with its raspy and destroyed lungs filled the air as it tackled him, knocking him on the ground and shoving his rifle away from him. "AHHH!" He screamed as he held it's head away from his face, seeing it chomp and bite at the air hoping to take a chunk out of him. "Get the-FUCK OFF ME!" He yelled, punching it and rolling it over to his left. He wasted little time in reaching for his pistol in his holster and drawing it, putting the barrel to the head of the ghoul still groaning and moaning. A swift trigger pull caused some brain matter grey to spray. Once the body fell limp, Atlas looked up to see more ghouls father down the road, all screaming and running to him. He quickly got up and slung his rifle back on his back.
A good swarm of at least twenty ghouls were all chasing after Atlas as he back peddled, firing pistol rounds into the mob heading his way. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! Keep back you little bastards!" He shouted as he turned tail and ran as fast as he could while reloading his pistol, making sure to keep his empty mags by placing them in his pouches.
He turned back around with a loaded mag ready, continuing to fire into the ghouls. More and more ended up falling over dead, with new assorted holes to accompany their charred bodies. However, some of them began to run and jump around, stumbling around just enough for him to miss some vital spots, so the ghouls pressed on getting closer. After dispatching another ghoul, the slide pulled and stayed back, showing that he was out of ammo yet again. He repeated what he had done yet again, running back while reloading as to not get caught in the middle of that pack of zombies.
"Come on, come on…" He said to himself as he started to get a little shaky. He had never seen so many ghouls in a little pack up close before, so it was mildly terrifying to him. Once he was loaded and ready to go, he turned yet again. The suppressed pistol firing off, letting it's blasts echo in the surrounding area. It may have been suppressed, but it still had quite the bit of noise on it. "Go down fuckers, go down!" he yelled again as he ran his mag dry. There were about nine ghouls left, and when he turned to run, he tripped over a skeleton left to litter the streets. It had to have been a body from the nuke.
When he fell, he somehow managed to keep his pistol in hand, as well as manage to keep his pack and rifle slung on his back in place. However, he scraping the side of his face onto the concrete after landing on the side of his arm. His attire took no damage other than a little streak of dust, but his face began to bleed a bit as bits of dust and dirt mix with the blood dripping down his face. He turned over and reloaded his pistol, albeit a little slow-like. With a shaky aim, and still sitting on the ground, he crawled backwards and shot at the remaining ghouls coming his way. Nine turned to eight, eight to seven, and seven to six. Eventually, he stopped going backwards and just fired his remaining shots into closest one, causing the final count to be five ghouls left. They were now close, and Atlas dropped his pistol as it had run dry again. He got onto his knee in a crouching position while he unsheathed his blade from his thigh. He held it, blade running it's length down his arm with determination in his eyes. "Bring it on..." He said, rather exhausted after expending a lot of energy on his abrupt landing.
As they neared him and lunged at him, he felt his teeth grit as he waiting for the ghoul to get in his range. The world seemed to slow down for him. He could see the grimy teeth and nasty saliva in the ghouls mouth as it growled at him. He knew damn well he wasn't gonna get out of this without a few bites, but at least it ain't like the comics. He would need a doc to treat it before it gets infected from their disgusting, diseased ridden mouth. As he got ready to slash, the ghoul seemed to start flying to his left, with a giant clawed hand swiping it to the side. He watched as the clawed hand turned into an arm, shooting out from above and behind him. Eventually, a giant figure had walked over him and swiped at the rest of the ghouls, hurling them off into different directions. He had backed away and got a full look at the figure that saved him, and to him it wasn't that hard to figure out who it was. The figure straightened up and looked up into the sky, unleashing a booming roar into the area. Atlas got up, almost exhilarated to see that it was none other than Ruby. His breathing had gotten a little too fast as he wanted to just run up and hug the deathclaw, but she had some business to take care off.
Taking off from her position, leaving a dust ring behind as she lunged at the ghouls with her claws shooting straight through their chests, impaling them and throwing them away like garbage. She dashed and tore into the ghouls as if they were paper. The five ghouls were reduced to nothing but mutilated and gibbed pieces of burnt meat, with some contorted in positions not thought possible after she slung them off into the sides. Atlas could hardly believe how fast she minced them up, but then again he shouldn't be too surprised.
He hissed in pain as he bent down and picked up his pistol, loading it with a fresh mag and holstering it. He then proceeded to wipe off his outfit, seeing a drop of blood pass down onto the ground as he dusted off his pants. He took off his fingerless combat glove and grabbed a rag from his pack, wiping the side of his face sucking on his teeth as he pressed down to get rid of the dirt and blood. Ruby had made her way over to him after cleaning her hands up from the filthy blood that riddled her claws. "Hey girl. Nice to see you again." He spoke up, pulling the rag back and putting it back into his pack to wash out later. Putting his glove back on, he then proceeded to grab some bandages and put them in an X symbol across his cheek.
"I came as soon as I heard the first shot. Are you alright?" She asked him sternly, letting her ruby eyes gleam over into his emerald ones. He put all his belongings back into his pack and slung it back over, letting his rifle hang by it. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." He said back, letting his eyes peer away and onto the ground as to not meet hers, knowing that she was certainly not in the best of moods.
"You know that is simply not possible." She states, causing Atlas to rub his cheek where his face had been scratched up. "Why did you come out here alone. You know that some of these parts are not clear yet. The scouts can only do so much Atlas, and it was reckless to go alone." She scolded, although rather softly compared to a harsh yelling that a mother would do to her child.
He fumbled around, knowing very well he wasn't gonna have the answer she was seeking. "I woke up with a boggled mind. I was just trying to… I don't know, clear the fog? My mind was filled with a bunch of shit, and I wished to clear it just like you did. I didn't know where you went, so of course I went alone. I have been a lone wolf before, I can surely do it again. I'm just a little rusty. Once I work out the kinks I'll be good as new." His stance shifted as he finished up, and she snorted in displeasure.
"Oh? A few kinks huh? There is quite a bit of ghouls laying down this road. You took on a full horde, you little fool. If you wanted to clear your head, surely you could have gone somewhere safer, or someplace meant to clear your head. I was on top of a building, looking up into the sky pondering on many things. If you would have called, I would have come." Atlas looked back up at her confused, starting to wonder some more things.
"How did you know I was in this much trouble? You watching me? How come you heard the first shot but didn't help out. You are a lot faster than that." Ruby sighed knowing that she had to explain herself. "I was observing you. I felt terrible, leaving you all alone to sleep on those dreaded seats. I was too ashamed to come to you immediately, and I was hoping that as soon as danger arose, that you would possibly… call for me? I would have came to your aid as soon as you did." Atlas was now really confused by that as she tilted her head to the side slightly.
"The hell? Is that like an ego thing or…?" Ruby interjected quickly. "No no! I just wished to see, uhhh. How would one explain such a precarious thing. I didn't want you to be upset with me for one, but it would just… I don't know. It would feel really amazing to be called and show up to their call, helping them to show that there is always someone to help them. I really wanted to save someone after their call to show that something like that isn't far fetched. Something along those lines?" She tried her best to explain the foreign feeling, and Atlas seemed to understand it a good bit.
"Ah, so kind of like a superhero. When someone calls you for help, you show up to induce hope and assure them that there is nothing to fear, saving them and being someone they can always count on. I get it." Ruby shifted her stance a bit, acting a little nervous. "Is that weird? You can tell me the truth."
Atlas couldn't help but smile and chuckle just a little bit. This caused her to tilt her head to the side slightly once again. "What? It is weird isn't it…" her tone shifting into a somber one.
"No no Ruby, not at all. It's just kind of ironic that we BOTH have now tried something similar to that of something in that of a comic book. Just funny is all. But no Ruby, I don't think it is something that SHOULD be considered as weird, but just try not to experiment as much anymore. I can see about talking with the mayor about it. See if he can let the townspeople know that if they require help they call for you and I or… something. Sound good?" Ruby took one on her claws and gently poked Atlas's chest, protected by his armor.
"Sounds alright by me Atlas." Atlas crossed his arms behind his head and smiled. "Good! So we are off then? Wanna walk with me some more? Or are you heading back to Diamond. It is still pretty early so it's all up to you."
"As if you really had to ask. I'll be going with you of course. If any more trouble arises, you be sure to let me handle it. I'll keep you safe." She said to him, now walking off down the road where ghoul bodies were littered. Atlas joined her, marching down the road in a seemingly jolly manner. Ruby noticed this as they journeyed through the somber roads of the outer Diamond area.
"You seem very jubilant, grá mo chroí." She said, rather soothingly. Atlas looked over with a joyous grin. "Of course! I just witnessed something friggin' awesome! It's been a while since I've seen you destroy like that. It was great to see that again. Plus, you aren't mad at me so it's all good right?" Ruby seemed a bit intrigued by his attitude change. She believes him, but there is something else that he is hiding from her. It is something she wishes to know. "I suppose I can believe that. I was pretty energised." She said, looking at Atlas and waiting for an opening.
As soon as Atlas looked back forward, she found the opening. "However," *BAM* Ruby had flicked Atlas right on his chest, sending a vibration through his body that had this static feeling. "Owwww. What did I do?" He asked very much confused.
"You are hiding something from me little one. I wish to know. It can't be that harmful." Atlas's face began to blush super hard, being about as red as an apple. "Okay… maybe I am. It's not harmful, but it is embarrassing." He looked away as they continued to walk.
"Oh come now, it can't be as bad as most things. You know I won't tell anyone dearest." Atlas looked back over, with his arms crossed behind his head again. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"
"A promise it is." She poked him again. "Now tell me, what else has you super cheery."
"Okay… don't laugh. You know Doctor Alicia right?" Ruby nodded, and he continued. "Okay… ummm. Yeah okay, so when I woke up this morning, I went out to the market to come out of the city of course. Alicia had met me as soon as I entered. She was up just like I was." He explained, an obviously nervous tone taking over him and his gestures.
"Mhmm, what happened?" She asked quizzingly. His blush pertained as he continues on. "We had been talking, and we just get along really well. She really likes you, that's for sure. She was kind of like… flirting with me and such. She and I are just so similar, and I think that maybe… I like her?" Ruby was taken aback a bit, and Atlas could see it. She began to laugh, causing his blush to grow so much, he face felt like it was on fire.
"I told you don't laugh Ruby…" He said, really embarrassed as she tries to dismiss her laughter. "Oh no, I'm so sorry Atlas. I just didn't quite expect that, that is all dearest. It's really sweet is all." She explained, having her laughs calm down so that Atlas can stop being so embarrassed. Once she calmed herself down, she leaned in to show interest and care.
"So you have gathered feelings for Ms. Alicia hmm? Do you know why? Especially considering the wound you still carry in your heart." Atlas drew his eyes up into the sky, seeing as the clouds passed by, being ever so whimsical. "I see what you mean. I don't know why, but I just feel attracted to her for some reason. I can't explain it, but her similarities with us and her dying intrigue for us just kind of sets her out of the loop. My ex… she was a simple mistake on my part. That's all. I won't dive straight in, I'll see if she likes me just as much as I do her. Then I can move on from there." He finished off, his face growing into a smile.
"Will you be prepared for the worst? Will you be mentally prepared to possibly get turned down and possibly lose a friend simply because she knows of your interest? You have many things to consider." This is a question that he had already considered. Honestly, he was afraid to answer. Anything could happen when it comes to him. If he says no, Ruby will scold him. If he says yes, knowing his luck he will be turned down and completely shut down. Ruby had taken notice of his hesitation, raising one of her scaly brows. "Atlas?"
"I will try not to be too bent out of shape if it were to come to that. Besides, I'll still have you. You don't plan on going nowhere right?" He asked, looking worryingly into her eyes. She giggled quietly upon looking at how sincere he was. They had both stopped their walk to further hone in on the conversation.
"Of course not. Like it or not, you are stuck with me. Sure, we may need a break every now and again, but we are the same being. You said this yourself, have you not?"
"I did say that, I think it will keep true too. We will forever be one in the same, no matter how different we may seem, we are more alike than you or I or anyone else thinks." Ruby smiled, leaning her head down and nuzzling him. Atlas chuckled as he rubbed her chin, feeling the rough scales that covered it. She really was kind of like a dragon.
"Well said little one. Well said. Shall we continue onwards then? We may have some more ghouls to clear out." Atlas smiled as he swung his rifle 'round and got it ready. "Lead the way." She nodded as they both headed off down the roads, hoping to make some of the streets a safer place.
The sound waters were calm on the Boston shore. Ruins of a once famed minutemen fort lay, eagerly waiting for it's next inhabitant. Sure enough, a group of heavily armed men came into view. The men were all armed to the teeth, dressed in black combat armor with leather reinforcements and a duster. Everything being so dressed in midnight black, they could surely be suited for any stealth situation. Their helmets however, looked like something straight from the institute. It was an all black helmet of course, but it had a blue visor to look out of with a built in gas mask unit. It was heavily based on that of the rumoured "NCR Veteran combat armor" from New Vegas. A man stepped out in front of the group, grinning as he laid his eyes on the fort.
"Your orders Sir?" one of the soldiers asked. The scraggly bearded man turned around, pointing his arm supported by a type of power fist at the ruined fort, and spoke. "Clear this place out. Once that is done, we will rebuild this place. We will scourge the commonwealth off all that we need to ensure that this fucking place is better than the legendary Fort Knox! Once we establish a stronghold here, we will do whatever the boss tells us to do. Under my orders however, I wish to capture a man named Atlas and his little pet deathclaw. We scourged through most of the outer settlements, and couldn't find him. So hopefully, the present we left behind will lure him out in the open. You have your orders. Now get to it you fucks!" He shouted. The man was of course, Ares. His men, the Spectres, all saluted him and in unison shouted, "Sir yes sir!"
Ares turned around and looked out into the commonwealth. As he looked out, the sounds of his soldiers firing their laser rifles and assault rifles filled the air as the ground rumbled. Soon, a figure came into view as they all attacked what appears to be a giant Mirelurk Queen. Unintelligible yelling and shouting on top of the blasts and explosions did nothing to waver his focus. Instead, he smiled evilly as he looked out into the city. "Just you wait old friend. Just you wait."
He would stay this way, peering out into the city as his men battled away behind him. With the sheer firepower and number of men that the Spectres held, it was just too much for the Mirelurk Queen and it's clutchlings to handle. Eventually, the queen fell. This would mark the beginning process to turning the fort into the main enemy stronghold. The only one above it would be the secret location to the institute, which to this date is still unknown.
*Bang!* "Shit, careful! Watch your back!" A man shouted as he chambered a new round into his suppressed rifle. "Is that not what you are here for?" Said a feminine voice back, soothing in nature, yet bearing a sarcastic tone. Atlas and Ruby were in view, battling more ghouls that they ended up encountering as they ventured the roads. This pack had many different kinds however, ranging from a charred to a glowing one. The glowing one was constantly bursting out radiation, healing it's buddies from any damage sustained.
"Yeah well keep in mind that they are a bit fast!" He yelled as he watched Ruby slice open a ghouls stomach, letting it's guts spill out onto the street. He aimed in and took a shot at the glowing one, which was surrounded by other ghouls and heading towards Ruby. The shot entered through the head of a bloated ghoul, and entered the arm of the glowing one. Green blood began to spray the ground from its newly acquired wound, over contrasting the bloated ones deep reddish-brown blood.
"With skills like yours, that should not be too much of a PROBLEM!" She yelled as she swiped a group of ferals away from her. Atlas scoffed as he aimed down his sights, taking potshots at the ghouls heading for him and Ruby. He was burning through his mag, leaving zombified corpses to litter the ground. They are a little more mutilated from his .50 cal however.
"Reloading, you got me?" Atlas asked as he began swapping mags. Ruby sliced and stabbed at the incoming ghouls. "Yeah, I have you covered. Disappear you little mongrels!" She shouted at them as she continued to shred through their ranks. She saw their forces dissipating, so she roared out into the streets. "Ready! I'll clear out the ones in your way. Get the ones in the very back, go!" he ordered as she took off. She weaved through the streets, avoiding any swipes coming her way. Atlas was a bit slow at first, but eventually caught up to her by killing ghouls before she reached them. As soon as he ran clean, she had gotten in his visual anyway. "All yours! No visual!"
"I'm on it!" she yelled as she lunged forward and slashed down two more ghouls. With one final movement, she jumped forward and plunged her claws into the chest of a charred ghoul, sneering as the thick, red blood trickled down her hands. Ruby growled as she pulled the dead corpse of the charred ghoul off her claws. Atlas was lagging behind a bit but he caught up, reloading his rifle and smiling at the scene. "Thirty plus ghouls, dispatched faster than I could count them. Well done! That was fucking awesome!"
Ruby began to clean up her claws. "Not so bad yourself you know. Your marksmanship never ceases to amaze me." They both regrouped and walked down the streets yet again. "Hopefully this is all we have to encounter."
"I gathered some information from the scouts. It seems that most ghouls hail over the north side. Super mutants tend to stick towards the south side and the raiders kept west. I don't really know if all of this is one-hundred percent true. We shall find out eventually though." Atlas nodded. "I suppose so."
"Let's go ahead and clear out the north side. Once we are pretty sure it's clear, we will return and give good word to the townspeople and hopefully the scouts will head out and make sure the north side is secure by clearing out the buildings and such. We will take a break, then move on into raider territory. They will be a whole lot easier than the mutants. They shall be last. Deal?"
"Sounds alright by me. Let's get going!" He shouted with excitement. Ruby chuckled as they both started off down the winding roads, checking every alley and every side corner. They would continue to do this until they absolutely made sure that it was safer. Little did they know, that they would be soon encountering a horrible scene. Whether what they were about to encounter was to be considered a good or a bad thing is entirely up to them. The entire northwest side would be nothing but a barren waste… a horrible display left by the spectres. The scene they were about to stumble on, makes them wish they had more ghouls to kill. This is something fit to be in Atlas's nightmares.
Annnnd cliffhanger. Damn, sorry to leave it off like this. It's a little short and I'm sorry for that, but it's simply because I have a clearer picture for the next chapter. This was a filler/introduction to get myself back into the fray. Again, sorry for how short it is, but hopefully this and my Tales of Six update hold you out until the next chapter, which will be so much longer than this little filler. Anyhow, have a good one everyone. Love you all,
~Red