26th August 2279 [Alternative Timeline]
Anna
"Are you ready for this babe ?"
A growl erupts from Charon's chest and he cocks his shotgun. The smirk he gives me is so devishly intimidating and sexy, I have to control the excited giggle that comes from me. Battles always make me like this, excitable and jumpy. The only things that make battles worth while is the adrenalin rush Charon gets afterwards which has let to some very exciting situations.
"Head in the game Anna."
I laugh, if Charon isn't finishing my sentences, he's reading my mind. We are standing with the Brotherhood in formation. Apparently the Enclave doesn't know when it's to stay down and has begun to attack D.C communities. We lost the Republic of Dave two days ago and the shell of Arefu has been burnt to the ground. Luckily 'the vampires' took the residents down into the station.
Through leaked information we discovered that the next target was Underworld and it was safe to say Charon and I were not having that.
The stampede of metallic footsteps makes us aware of the fact that the information was correct and we have to prepare to fight.
We begin to fire as the Enclave troop comes into view it is only with horror I notice a laser blast come from behind me. There is another troop behind us in the old Supermutant trenches.
We have been surrounded, the information was a trap.
Charon [Alternative Timeline]
It is utter mayhem there is no wall to get protection from. I am back to back with Anna limiting my fire range to 180. Unlike others who i witness fall as their backs are left unguarded I hear her yell in pain.
"Are you okay ?" I roar behind me.
"Just a graze ! Burns like hell."
Another scream to my left grabs my attention for just long enough to see Sarah Lyons take a shot to the chest and fall in a heap on the ground. The brotherhood has lost its heir.
A small unremarkable twinge hits my thighs and moments later it becomes a unbearable burning. The wetness dripping into my boots indicates that I've been shot. My posture falls slightly but I stay standing protecting Anna.
More thuds indicate fallen bodies and we have only been able to take out 30%! of the onslaught, if even.
My ears ring with adrenalin and I continue to fire until I am dangerously low in ammo.
"Charon ?"
The small fragile voice twists my stomach and I turn just in time to see Anna grimacing as a tear falls down her cheek.
She turns slightly green and then disintegrates into ash before I can even touch her.
"NOOOOO !"
29th August 2279 [Alternative Timeline]
Charon
I haven't slept or moved since I last stopped walking. My footsteps have lost their echo. Anna no longer walks with me and I have never felt so alone. I sunk against a wall some amount of time ago and I simply feel numb.
Anna died. Anna died in front of me and there was nothing I could do. I have no body to bury. Nothing but a memory.
I can not handle the idea of going back to Megaton. Her laugh, her smell would haunt my every step in our home.
A roar erupts from the pit of my stomach and I begin throwing everything I can get my hand on. Relishing the smacks it gives the opposing walls. I stand and I run, I keep running till my legs give out.
31st August 2279 [Alternative Timeline]
A cold hand rouses me from unconscious. I have collapsed somewhere in the wastes but weeds irritate my face, greenery, another reminder of her.
"Hey man ? You alive ?"
My blurred vision slowly reveals Butch who stands over me with surprising concern.
"She's not here DeLoria."
"I know" he runs his hand across the back of his neck "the radio said..."
Butch groans and sinks to his knees beside me. I don't want company. I don't want to talk. I just want to be left alone.
Butch's breathing hitches and I notice that he's crying. Tears stopped for me, the mourning manifested into physical pain days ago.
"I just wish we could go back and change it." Butch whispers.
Then an idea dawns. I met Anna when she travelled to me. Go back. We can change it.
1st September 2279 [Alternative Timeline]
Butch is the only one that can go, he is the only one with a Pip-Boy. We make it to the outcast base just after dawn. Butch has been pestering me with questions the entire journey.
"So you met Anna before she met you ?!"
"Yes."
"She time travelled ?!"
"Yes."
"I can time travel ?!"
"Yes."
My annoyance starts to creep up on me but I refrain from yelling. It is no wonder he has so many questions in such an unusual situation.
"I'll go back to last week and save her ?"
"That's the plan."
Butch grins the idea finally settling in. When we stomp into building, the outcasts are surprised but willing to help after the work Anna has done for them. Once all the formalities have been completed Butch steps into the machine that changed my life. Before he has time to turn and speak he has evaporated away into time. I hope that he succeeds. I hope that I have no memory of this time and my current self simply fades away giving my past self a happier life.
January 3rd 2077
Butch
I don't know where I am or, ha, when I am but all I know is that it is fucking cold. I feel like I've taken too many punches to the gut and I try to stand tall as a wave of nausea works it's way through me. It's just like a bad hangover. I can handle this.
I am more than disappointed when I realise that this isn't even DC. The big guys plan didn't work. I guess we have really lost Anna. My breath rises as smoke into the air and I stare at it mystified.
Where the fuck am I and how the fuck do I get home ? I'm not scared. I'm terrified. I walk towards a strange light which makes the snow, ha snow, glow around the area. As I step closer I realise it's tents shaped as a base. Shadows show that it's occupied by humans, no super mutants. Good.
Ive apparently been noticed as a feminine figure runs towards me.
"Anna !?"
"Not quite sweetheart."
I hear a sound of disgust and recognise that wherever I am, I've just been shot down. The woman raises a rifle and I hold my hands up instantly.
"Hey ! Hey ! Charon sent me." It's the only thing I can think to splutter out.
"Charon ?!"
At least something rings a bell with this broad.
Charon
I am finally getting to close my eyes after guarding General Nale in the chaos of returning to Anchorage when I hear Mrs Nale yell for me. With a groan I swing my legs off of the bed and place my feet back into my worn in boots.
When I leave the tent she approaches me hastily.
"This boy says he knows you."
"Boy ?" I hear a unimpressed reply.
A tan greaser type stands by her, he clearly isn't army as his hair would have been shorn. I instantly see him as a threat.
"Wait ! He's Charon ?!" He points towards me with evident shock "shut the fuck up ! No way !"
I do not understand what is going. Mrs Nale too stands perplexed.
"Look at you big guy ! With skin ! How far did I go back ?! Fucking hell !"
He laughs and I feel a twinge of annoyance.
"Who are you exactly ?"
"Names Butch. You call me DeLoria though big guy."
It suddenly clicks that this is yet another person from my future and a buzz of excitement swells within me.
"Who sent you ?"
I'm hoping that Anna has and I have another way of communication with her.
"You did." His face suddenly saddens and I know that his news is not good "yeah man it's about Anna."
Mrs Nale relaxes "I'm sure you can handle whatever this is."
I nod formally and show 'DeLoria' into the tent.
"Speak."
"Eh. Well. You see Anna got hurt, pretty badly."
"How badly ?" I grasp this boy by his arms and he fidgets under the strain. He pauses for a while assessing his answer. I need to know. I give him a brief shake.
"Quite badly." He looks to the ground.
Quite badly ?! Quite. What the fuck is that meant to mean.
"I was meant to go back to stop what happens but I've ended up here instead, so I don't know if we can stop her from getting...hurt."
"She dies doesn't she ?"
I know when I am being lied to and I desperately hope that this time I am wrong. After a while he replies.
"Yeah."
My gut twists and I desperately need to help her. Frustration rises. I cannot do anything for her. I am trapped here and she is in the future. The future that has still to happen...maybe this boy can do something.
"When and where does it happen ?" I ask frantically.
"August 26th 2279 by Underworld."
I rush to find utensils to write this down. I need this information.
"Underworld ?"
"It's..." He pauses and checks his Pip-Boy just like Anna had. She knows him from the Vault. "You know co-ordinates ?"
"I'm in the army."
"Huh I guess you are. Weird. Stupid question sorry...38 north 77 south in the DC city centre."
I nod quickly taking this information down and as soon as I finish the last word the boy screams. He stares at his hand as it begins to disappear, it is nothing like when Anna time travelled, he is literally disappearing.
He grins "I wouldn't be sent here if she survived."
I return the grin. He hasn't been sent, he is disappearing, Anna has been saved. We have just changed time itself.
"Laters Big Guy" he manages to get out before he fades completely.
I look down at the torn bit of paper in my hand. I need to find a way to keep these details. Something permanent.
