Chapter 4 Saving the Citadel

The Lone Wanderer chose without thinking. Saving the Citadel was the more logical choice, but also even if she didn't want to admit, it was a choice she would inevitable regret. The Vault was closer to her location, but she could not forsake the Brotherhood. Without them the Wasteland was doomed and she could not let her personal feelings get in the way. On her way towards her destination thoughts of guilt flashed through her mind. An inner conflict she could not stop, no matter how hard she tried.

"You can't abandon the Vault they will be killed because of you!"

"But if I abandon the Citadel a lot more people will die!"

"The Brotherhood doesn't give a shit what happens to you, they would not risk their lifes for you?!"

"Amata kicked ME out and abandoned ME when I needed HER the most!"

"This will be on your head!"

"The Wasteland will be on my head!"

No matter how hard she tried, she could not reach a satisfying solution to ease her troubled mind. Whatever she chose, she could not see it end well for one side either way. Running on the scorched earth and hearing her own steady breaths did only so much to focus her thoughts. She had to reach the Citadel in time to stop the Outcasts from attacking it in its weakened state.

Whatever would happen at the Vault would have to wait and she hoped that the Vault Dwellers could hide until she arrived. With a steady running pace she made her way towards Megaton. She had some preparations to do.

xxx

Sherriff Lucas Simms was walking around the town of Megaton when he heard the familiar screech of the cities' doors open. Probably just another visitor. He pulled his hat a little tighter on his head and mentally prepared his speech he gave newcomers every time they came to Megaton. When the big scrap doors opened he smiled and forgot all about his speech, for the Lone Wanderer was standing in front of him. She wore the same armor he had seen earlier when a group of soldiers came in. The introduced himself as the Wanderer's friends and he gave them access to her house. He admitted that he didn't trust them exactly but he knew that with their Power Armor he or Megaton didn't stand a chance. They took a bunch of strange looking weapons with them and left just like that. Now the Wanderer was wearing the same set of armor so he was relieved for a moment that he didn't make a mistake.

"Howdy friend, what can I-" the sheriff began but was cut off by the Wanderer.

"I have no time to explain sheriff. But I need access to THAT gun." the Wanderer explained out of breath.

"THAT gun?" the sheriff asked uncertain.

"Yes THAT gun, I need it now!"

The Wanderer was upset he could tell this much, but to want him to get that dangerous and crazy gun from the Megaton armory was insane. He remembered when the Wanderer one day brought it to him and explained its function. She didn't want it to store it anyway else and trusted Lucas Simms to keep watch over it. Also the robot that was stationed in the armory was a big bonus.

"Alright come with me, but you better not blow up anything important" he said and they made their way down the armory.

He opened the door and they stepped into the small shack. The robot registered the visitors and deemed that they had access to the armory. The Wanderer went to the storage locker and opened it. Inside was a big package wrapped in many layers of cloth and she laid it on the table. Once she unwrapped it the Experimental MIRV was shining in all its glory in the bright light of the shack. The weapon was dangerous as it fired not one mini nuke, but 8 at the same time. It first fires only one nuke, but once it reaches its highest point it opens up and 8 smaller sized nuclear warheads fly out. Even though they were smaller in scale their blast radius and their effect was much greater than the average Fat Man could manage.

"That'll do sheriff. And don't worry I plan to make good use of this."

With that the Lone Wanderer stepped back into the sunlight and made her way to her home. One final thing was left for her to do.

xxx

"Fire!" a voice rang trough the rows of Outcasts.

The command made all the soldiers fire their Fat Man Launchers at once. They bombarded the Citadel entrance and tried to destroy its enormous gate. It was far harder to crack than they anticipated and had a hard time gaining access. Also the terrain they were fighting in was in no way offering any protection and the Citadel soldiers were firing down at them from the wall. Casdin Henry gritted his teeth. The old fool Lyons was sacrificing men on both sides just so he could play hero to a shithole like the Capital Wasteland. It was infuriating.

Before he could shout another command though, the front rows of his troops were devastated by multiple giant explosions. He looked in horror as most of his soldiers were wiped out and he turned to find the source of this barrage. The troops on the Citadel wall cheered and some laughed pointing behind the Outcast leader. He turned around and saw what one could only describe as a "shimmering white knight" standing some feet behind his troops. The armor was all clean, too clean for wasteland standards and he could swear that he saw it somewhere before. The figure shouldered a giant Fat Man and reloaded it with another nuke. Before he could react and shout an order the nuke shot out with a high pitched sound and flew high into the sky. There it separated into 8 smaller nukes and fell back on the position the remaining Outcasts were holed up.

"Oh shi-"

The words were swallowed by more immense explosions leaving nothing but ash and scorched stone behind.

With that the figure turned away and ran back towards Vault 101, leaving the Citadel soldiers cheering their victory.

xxx

The Wanderer arrived at the entrance of the Vault and dropped to her knees. Multiple bodies of the Vault Dwellers lay around scattered in the hot sun. They were obviously burned by Energy Weapons and tears started to run down her face. If only she had chosen the Vault first then this would not have happened. She looked around frantically and searched for Amata but didn't find her body among the others. Some hoped flared up inside her and she made her way inside down her home.

She reached the Atrium and noticed how people were inside the Overseer's Office. If Amata was anywhere in the Vault it was probably there and she rushed up the stairs to see if she could still save her childhood friend. On her way she encountered multiple Outcast soldiers but quickly disposed of them with her Alien rifle. The technology was surpassing anything they had to offer and her fights were ended before they even started. When she reached the office she opened the door and saw a surprised Annie Marie Morgan was sitting behind her desk tipping something into the Overseer's computer. The dead body of Amata leaned against the wall, her eyes closed and her hands resting a red spot on her stomach.

Hate and Rage filled the Wanderer and she stepped in closing the door behind her. The remaining Outcast would not get a quick easy death.

xxx

Sarah Lyons made her way to Vault 101. She awoke a day prior in the space ship the Wanderer had sent her to, to save her life. At first she was afraid and almost freaked out when she saw Earth from space but soon calmed down when a girl named Sally explained the situation to her. Sarah hit her head hard back in Fort Independence and had to be treated for a concussion. Lucky for her it didn't leave any lasting damage and the scar was completely gone thanks to the Alien gel that she found on the ship. Right now though, she was concerned as she made her way towards the Vault that was once the Wanderers home. She was filled in what happened during her disappearance. The Citadel was attacked by the Outcast but the soldiers were quickly defeated by the Wanderer leaving no remaining Outcasts behind. She figured that the only other place her friend could have gone to was the Vault and Megaton's sniper confirmed that he saw the girl walk towards the direction.

She walked up the slope leading to the entrance of Vault 101 and noticed the dead Vault dwellers bodies lying around. A feeling of dread filled her and she quickly ran inside to find the Wanderer. She expected the worst.

Bodies of Outcasts were lying around and she followed them, figuring they would lead her to the girl eventually. When she reached the Overseer's Office she opened the door and took a step back in shock. The Inside of the room was smeared with blood and entrails. Body parts of an Outcast soldier were lying around scattered and the Wanderer was leaned against the wall in front of her. She cradled her dead friend's body in her arms and stared empty at the window look at the Atrium.

Sarah tried to speak with the Wanderer but she didn't react at all and continued to stare right through Sarah. She noticed how the Wanderer gripped a 10mm pistol tightly in her hand. Whatever happened, her friend was lost inside her mind and needed medical attention.

xxx

Sarah managed to get the Wanderer back to the Citadel but not without problems. When a Paladin of the Lyon's Pride tried to take Amata from her arms she attacked him like a feral animal, putting the man in the infirmary. They had to rely on drugs to knock her out and bring her to the Citadel. Though, the problems didn't end there. The Wanderer had to be tied to her own bed because she screamed her friends name and scratched at her own skin hurting herself. She didn't eat and had to be force-fed, but no matter what they did, the condition of the Wanderer stayed the same. Even the Elder, Sarah's father could not talk any sense to her or calm her.

A few weeks later when Sarah was visiting her again, she found her bed empty and the straps were torn, like she used immense force to tear herself free. A search party was started but they failed to find the girl and so the Brotherhood went back to their regular duties.

Epilogue

The rumors of the disappearance of the Wanderer spread like a wild fire through the Capital Wasteland and the inhabitants tried their best to find their hero, but to no avail. Three-Dog's reports on the deeds of the Wanderer stopped at some point and a drop in moral could be felt everywhere.

The Brotherhood effectively secured trade routes and cleaned out remaining Super Mutants, making the Wasteland saver each day.

Sarah Lyons devastated by the sight of her friend became a more serious and mature woman, making the Lyon's Pride even more efficient than they already wear.

Eventually rumors told of a lone figure around Vault 101 who ventured out at night to gather various parts of cars and electronics. Soon afterwards a vehicle could be seen driving towards the West, leaving the Wasteland behind. Many claimed it was the Lone Wanderer who lost her mind, others claimed it was a ghost you could only see when the air shimmered. After the Lone Wanderer disappeared for months, the legends surrounding her eventually became nothing more than stories for children.

Sequel will be called "Diamond in the Rough"