So Fallout 4 is finally out! I want to apologize in advance as I may not be updating regularly now that I have something to devote the next few months of my life to. That aside, enjoy the new chapter and leave a review!
Chapter 18
Nick's pipboy beeps as a new radio transmission is picked up. Navigating to the radio screen, he activates the signal. "Nick," Luther's voice cuts through the static, "I hope you can hear me. We have secured the Rangers and are now in route to their base! We also have a large number of Muties hot on our heals so get ready for a fight when we arrive! I am airing this just after sunset, so it is up to you to figure out how close we are by the time you hear this! By the way, make sure Reilly doesn't try and kill me, from the reception I got from her men I take it she has it out for me." The transmission ends and repeats itself after a brief pause.
"Well," Nick says, looking over at the again unconscious Reilly, "looks like we will be getting some company after all." When Reilly pulled that gun on him in the metro tunnels he reacted the way the wasteland has taught him to, by disarming her and knocking her out, again. He felt bad about it, but she had been holding a gun to his head. Charon carried the woman the rest of the way. They had some trouble finding the Ranger's base of operations, but then Nick spotted their symbol spray painted along some walls. The symbols led them right to the place. Reilly had already told him the code to get into the base before they left Underworld, in case they were separated while in the tunnels.
Now Luther and Tyler are on their way and bringing a fight with them, typical. "Charon, I want you to go up to the surface and watch for them. If you see any signs of them, or the Supermutants let me know." The tall ghoul grunts in response and heads back the way they came. Turning to Reilly, Nick decides that it may be a good idea to restrain her just in case wakes up and tries to cause some trouble. Then the idea of tying up a blacked out woman might send the wrong message. Instead he decides to risk leaving her as she is. She isn't his enemy, she just thinks Luther is.
Searching the compound with Dogmeat, he manages to find a good deal of ammo and several sets of impressive armor. Looking down at his battered and pockmarked gear, he decides to help himself. Removing the layers makeshift leather and metal armor he quickly straps on the new gear. This stuff feels hardy. It is thick, but not as heavy as the metal armor Tyler wears. It is a slight green color with the Ranger's symbol painted on the chest plate. He also discovers a large selection of explosives, including mines, grenades, and even one of those miniature nukes. Shoving all of the weapons into a rucksack he heads up the surface to join Charon.
He instructs the ghoul to help him lay the mines down along the two entrances to the courtyard leading to the Ranger's base. The location is very well picked. The courtyard is surrounded on all sides by ruins that would take hours to navigate. There are only two narrow tunnels leading into the courtyard and it is in them that the majority of the mines are placed. Picking his way through the new mine field, Nick waits outside with Charon and Dogmeat, anxiously scanning for the others. He looks eastward to see that the sun is starting to rise up over the horizon. "They should be here by now."
Time ticks by, each second seeming to take ages. Nick starts pacing. His blood is boiling and he is ready for a fight. He stops short. That, is a strange realization. He is itching for the fighting to start. Not only that, but is ticked off by the fact that Tyler and Luther got to go and battle a horde of Supers on their own. Strange, he had never before thought of himself as the sort to enjoy conflict of any kind. He had spent years learning how to talk his way out of problems. Only now here he is, pacing and growling like a caged animal before a fight. He wonders when he became so violent, and the answer seems obvious. The Pitt.
The memory of that place stirs up the anger that had been lying dormant for a few days. Hate, hate for the place, hate for the people, and most of all hate for himself surges through him. Great, now he really needs to kill something. In the Pitt, killing is celebrated. Hell, everywhere in the wasteland killing is celebrated. Everywhere he as been, killing is there. Death follows him and everyone else throughout their entire lives out here. It is kill or be killed. Tyler and Luther taught him that. So what is the point of it all? Whey does anyone even bother? If their entire lives is about killing so as not to be killed themselves, why live?
His thoughts are interrupted by the unmistakable sound of gunfire and cursing. Looking up he immediately spots the group of people fleeing from the entrance of a metro tunnel. He crouches down and lifts his assault rifle, ready for anything. Charon steps up beside him and lifts his combat shotgun and Dogmeat crouches low, ready to spring. He makes out Luther, Tyler, and the people who must make up the rest of the Rangers as they get closer. He also notices the large number of Supers hot on their heals. Nick stands and waves to get their attention. "This way," he shouts, "we rigged the tunnels with explosives so follow me or get blown to bits!"
They fall into line behind him and they all quickly make their way through the tunnels. When they reach the courtyard everyone automatically takes up defensive positions. At first, nothing happens, but then their is a resounding boom as the mines detonate. Smoke and debris billow out from the two tunnels leading into the courtyard. Seconds later the Supers come pouring through. The first are injured and disoriented from the explosions, and the defenders make quick work of them. The waves that come after though are just angry. Nick fires furiously, his face twisted into a savage snarl as he mows down mutant after mutant.
Soon there are corpses strewn all over the courtyard, but the Supers just keep coming! "Fall back!" someone yells. Nick almost does not hear the order over the sound of the fighting. He orders Charon back and has to drag Dogmeat away from the corpse of a Super the hound brought down. He shoves the dog towards the compound and shouts in pain as a bullet finds its way through a gap in his armor. Stumbling through the door he hears it close and seconds later the sound of a Super slamming into the metal frame. "We need a counter attack." Nick looks up to see Luther standing nearby. "There has to be a back door we can use to flank those bastards!"
A man wearing the armor of the Rangers shakes his head. "No," he says between gasps for breath, "this is the only door. One way in, one way out."
"Damn," Tyler swears angrily, "trapped in a fucking box!" Nick gives the angry merc a wary look, well aware of his hate for tight spaces. "I see only one option, we open up that door and blow away anything stupid enough to poke its head through."
Nick sits up and winces in pain. He twists around and examines the wound. The bullet managed to find a gap in his armor near his stomach. The round passed all they way through, but he cannot tell if there has been any serious internal damage. "Hey," he looks up at the nearby voice to see the same Ranger who spoke before. "You are the one who helped Reilly right?" Nick nods, confused at the hostility in the man's voice. "Then where is she? Did you leave here with those fucking zombies?"
He sees both Tyler and Luther bristle at the man's words. Nick meets his gaze and jerks his head towards the room where he left Reilly to rest. "Relax, she is in there out cold. The trauma from the surgery I had to preform to get her out of her coma resulted in her being in a weakened state. She was out halfway here. Right now we have bigger concerns." It was only a half lie, her condition had weakened her. "How can we deal with these Supers?" He looks around at the gathered people. They are all streaked with blood, dirt, and other gore. Not to mention the dark circles under the eyes of the Rangers. Likely they didn't get much rest while pinned down on that building.
"Butcher," Luther speaks in a warning tone, "this is no time for bravado."
"I have an idea," a brawny woman growls with a big smile, "lets open up that door and introduce them all to Eugene!" Who the hell is Eugene? Nick looks over at Luther and Tyler for an answer but they both just shake their heads.
"Look," Luther states as the door to the outside gives a violent shudder, "we don't have much time. I say we open this fucking door, we are dead if we don't and we could die if we do. Personally, I like those odds. Butch, do you have any heavier fire power stashed away down here?"
Butch, the Ranger who was all pissed about Reilly, shakes his head. "This idiot," he shouts as he waves a hand at Nick, "used up all of our explosives with that little stunt back there in the tunnels! There is nothing else!"
"Now," the brawny woman says in a southern accent, "that ain't entirely true." Everyone looks at her and she gives a sheepish smile. "I have a back up Eugene in case I ever lost this one. With two of these babies rolling, those bastards won't stand a chance in this tight space. It will be like shooting fish in a barrel! Ha!" Nick realizes that Eugene, is the woman's over sized mini-gun.
Before anyone else can say anything Tyler shouts, "Dibs, I call getting that gun! Brick," he says to the woman, "I am getting that gun."
Nick eyes the merc nervously, Tyler with a mini-gun does not sound like that good of an idea. "Righto," Brick shouts joyfully, "lets go wake up Eugene!" The two rush into the compound and the door again shudders, this time a few screws pop out of place and the metal bends. Luther orders everyone back, and to Nick's surprise the other two Rangers obey without question, even that asshole Butcher. Again and again the door shudders, and finally, it bursts inward! A Super lumbers inside, its bulk filling up the small staircase leading down into the compound. Nick does not hesitate, he lifts his assault rifle and puts a quick burst into the beasts head. The big yellow corpse jerks backwards for a second before tumbling down the stairs.
More Supers follow after the first. Quickly room is running out. The Supers are having to push the bodies of their fallen comrades out of the way so as they can attack. Bullets fly everywhere, slamming into bodies, ricocheting off of walls, and spraying blood over everything. Soon the floor beneath Nick's feet is slick with the Supers life blood. A Super, slightly larger than the others, enters the compound and lets out a fearsome bellow. It throws itself forward with something clutched to its chest. The mutant dies before it reaches the bottom of the stairs, but the grenades it had been holding in its hands roll the rest of the way. "Down!" is all Nick manages to shout before the grenades detonate!
The force tosses him against the wall like a ragdoll. Something inside of him shatters and pain flairs through his back. His vision swims and all he can hear is a dull ringing sound in his ears. He shakes his head, disoriented and unable to see clearly. The floor beneath him seems to rumble and massive shapes bear down on him. He blinks, and can just make out the form of the Supers barreling down the stairs towards him. He has no time to think about the others as he lifts his assault rifle and holds down the trigger. Hot lead sprays out from the muzzle, slamming into the Supers and bringing down the first few. Then his weapon clicks as it runs of out ammo.
A powerful hand grabs him and lifts him up into the air. He comes face to face with the gruesome mug of a Supermutant. The mutants hot breath hits his face and the rancid smell almost overwhelms him. The milky white eyes bore into his and the mutant growls before slamming him against the wall. Again pain flares through him, but with it comes a rush of adrenaline. He reaches out and digs his fingers into the Super's eyes, gorging them out. He kicks and struggles as the Mutant howls in pain and attempts to crush him with its huge arms.
Suddenly the mutants arms fly apart in a gory mess of blood and muscle. Soon after the arms the torso also is shredded. Nick falls to the floor and covers his head as two figures pass by him. He recognizes Tyler and Brick. The two are laying into the Supers with their mini-guns. Somehow Nick manages to get to his feet and find his assault rifle. Reloading he adds his rounds to the torrent. The mutants are pushed back, unable to advance beneath the rain of bullets. Nick follows close behind Tyler and Brick as they step out into the courtyard, providing them with covering fire. The remaining mutants are quickly mopped up, no match for the barrage.
Luther appears beside Nick and grabs his shoulders, shaking him like a child. Nick breaks free and glares at Luther, unsure what that was about. He sees Luther's mouth move, but doesn't hear any words. The he realizes that he can't hear anything. Luther again tries to say something, but all Nick can do is stare at him blankly. Finally Luther motions at his ears and Nick shakes his head. Luther nods and leads him back into the compound. As the descend into the base, it is impossible not to notice the sheer amount of destruction wrought. The walls are riddled with bullet marks, Supers lie all about in various states of shredded gore, and blood covers literally every other surface.
Luther sits Nick down on a cot in the same barracks where he left Reilly. Looking to the bed where he had placed her, he is alarmed to see that she is missing. He points at the empty cot and Luther just nods, indicating that he knows. Allowing Luther to turn his head and preform some sort of test, Nick sits quietly and waits. He watches as Luther jabs him with a stimpacka and wraps some bandages around his chest. Funny, he didn't feel any pain in his chest, why is that? He chances looking down, and wishes he hadn't. A large flap of his flesh is hanging loosely from his side. He can see the muscle and tendons underneath. Strangely enough, there isn't as much blood as there should be. Realizing that the adrenaline rushing through his is likely the only reason, he prompts Luther to hurry the fuck up with the bandaging.
Even as his side slowly disappears beneath the white strips of cloth, he can feel the pain starting to make itself know. Blood is starting to gush from the wound and he is having trouble staying awake. His vision darkens for a horrifying moment and in his fear that he is dying he starts to panic. He has endured a lot, the scars on his back from all the lashings are testament to that, the difference is that he can now feel this. In the Pitt, he was in a numb state of mind, pain didn't matter or register in his brain. This however, this fucking hurts! He curses a lot, but he can only half hear it, like the sound is muffled or coming from a long ways away.
Finally Luther finishes with the bandages and jabs him with a second stimpack. It is only then that Nick notices the bloody bandages around Luther's fingers and the awkward way he is holding his hands. Without preamble his hands lash out and clamp down around Luther's wrists. The merc attempts to jerk his arms back, but Nick holds fast, his own pain not gone but pushed aside for the moment. He turns Luther's hands over a few times, examining each finger. The joints are swollen badly and the skin is a dark shad of purple. On his right hand, the pinky and ring finger look completely destroyed, not to mention likely broken. He has no idea what may have happened to cause this sort of damage to Luther's hands, but Nick is sure of one thing. Luther is going to have to loose some fingers.
Nick looks up at the merc and can see the Luther already knows this. Without any spoken permission they switch places and Luther sets both his hand down on a table for Nick to examine. Gingerly unwrapping the bandages from Luther's hands, Nick grimaces at the gouges beneath. Something dug into Luther's hands with some serious wight and cutting power. He grabs the medkit from the wall and opens it up, taking out a needle and some fine thread. He expertly sews up the open wounds, making sure they are properly closed, before moving on to the fingers. On the left hand, he pops the index finger back into joint and splints it along wit the middle and ring finger. The pinky isn't damaged enough to worry with right now. There will likely be some permanent nerve damage, but he should be able to still use his hand.
The right hand, however, proves to be much more seriously damaged. On this hand, the pinky just has to go. There is no way around it, the bone isn't just broken, it is shattered. Next to it the ring finger looks just as bad, but perhaps some of it can be salvaged. He gives Luther some Med-x and takes out the bonesaw. He quickly cuts off the pinky, down to the first joint. Then he does the same to the ring finger. Next he cleans the nubs and bandages them, careful to avoid doing any further damage. Finally he splints the other two fingers and wraps the palm with fresh bandages. Luther says something, and it takes Nick a second to hear that he is saying, "Thanks." Nick nods and thanks him in turn.
It is then that Reilly storms into the room. She zeroes in on Luther right away and marches towards him. Nick quickly stands and draws his pistol, but the motion sends a jolt of pain up his spine. He sits back down heavily, but keeps his gun aimed. Reilly notices him, but dismisses his gun with a wave of her hand as she starts yelling at Luther. Nick can only make out half of what they are saying, but it seems the argument is getting nowhere. They keep up like that until the others finally arrive, attracted by the shouting no doubt. Nick is slightly surprised when Butcher is the one who runs in and grabs Reilly, seeming to support Luther.
After a few more tense seconds, Reilly deflates and sinks into Butchers arms. The gruff man gently rubs her back and helps her to a cot where she shits and shakes. Nick isn't sure exactly what all the backstory is between the Rangers and Luther, but he can tell it is something serious. Not just from the way Reilly is reacting to Luther, but also from the pained expression on Luther's face. The other two rangers move to comfort their leader. Tyler Charon and Dogmeat join Luther and Nick at their cot. Charon stands off to the side with his arms crossed and doesn't say anything. Tyler examines Luther's hands, shaking his head as he does so, and Dogmeat jumps up onto the cot and curls up against Nick's side. Nick runs his hands over the dog's thick fur.
Tired. That is the only way to describe the people before him. Reilly, the Rangers, Luther and Tyler, Dogmeat, hell even Charon looks put out by all the violence. At least, at least it is over. The Rangers are safe, Luther and Reilly didn't kill each other, and now they can move on. The idea of picking up the trail of his father strikes him as odd. He isn't even all that sure he wants to find his father any more. He is half ready to leave the man out the wastes to rot.