Chapter 6

I thought I'd just shoot my way out

"Cortana." I said leaning against a tank a few feet from the wall, staring out over the waves of flood that continually assaulted the barrier; the noise almost overwhelming. "Yes, Thomas?" She asked sounding exhausted. I'd had her running calculations for days and her condition seemed to be progressing. She was beginning to... feel.

"Where are we so far? Does the Autumn have enough ordinance and do you think the wall will hold?" I asked her. "In theory, yes." She replied a little distraught at the idea. "Ok Cortana, thank you. Tell Keyes to keep the Autumn on standby and await further reports." I ordered her. "Aye."

I strolled into Moxxi's who was still faithfully serving alcohol to her patrons. Their numbers were growing everyday as many people were scared that this was the end. I found Lilith sitting at the bar sipping on whiskey. "Lil, we need to talk. Cortana says it's possible." She spat out her whiskey. "No." She said. "We're not nuking the planet." She objected. "We've been over this. They're only here now, surrounding the wall. She says it'll hold then we can actually fix this." I pleaded with her, thinking I might have finally found the solution to the constant sound of death out in the wasteland. "Is there any way to juice up the wall? Make it stronger just to be sure?" She asked. "I'll get Cortana working with the engineers. They'll get it done." Lilith nodded and waved Moxxi over to get another drink. Preparing in case it didn't work. Either way we had to stop the flood and this would do it.

"Cortana, work with the engineers to beef up the wall. Afterwards. Nuke us."