Silver Lining

It's All Over…

Saturday, October 23rd, 2077

"And now for a brief look at the local weather. This weekend, unseasonably warm temperatures continue with a high of 56. But then we're looking at a cold front coming down from Canada, making it crisp and dry for next week's Halloween festivities. Looking in on next week's forecast, we have a high of 52 on Monday…"

The radio was on in the living room, but Kent Connolly was too busy fixing himself up in his room to listen. It was way too early to be trying on a suit, but he wanted to make sure he was good and ready for that evening. Kent couldn't think of a more perfect day. To start off, he and Buster were meeting Hannah at Fenway Park to watch the big game. Boston had a strong team this year and there were talks that for the first time since 1918, Boston may have a shot at winning.

After the ballgame, Kent was going with Hannah to Concord, to meet her family. He was happiest about that. Today was turning out to be pretty perfect. No maintenance calls came in, the milk had been delivered, and the suit Kent picked out wasn't too short on him. He decided to match it with his lucky trilby hat, just for the effect. He felt he had a good chance to impress Hannah's family now. He was nervous about meeting them, but he felt confident today.

Confidence was something Kent always lacked. But ever since he met Hannah Howard, confidence was something Kent had an overabundance of. There was nothing that could kill his mood today. He was about to spend the day with the two people that mattered the most to him: Buster, his brother, and Hannah, the object of his affection and the reason Kent felt like a new man.

Kent heard Buster shout from the living room that they were going to be late if he didn't hurry up. Kent put his shoes on and ran to the living room, where Buster was waiting. Kent felt a bit overdressed in his new tan suit but took comfort in seeing Buster in his own suit. Kent wasn't sure why, but casual suits were always worn to big ball games.

"Alright, it took some convincing, but I got a spare ticket for Hannah." Buster said, straightening himself up. "I owe a few favors to the sports editor, but here they are. After the game, we can come back here and you guys can finish getting read. Then you two can head to the Veteran's Hall to meet with her family. I figure, you can take the bus to Concord and maybe Hannah's family can give you two a lift back."

Kent made sure he had everything he'd need for the day. "We really got to get a car, Buster." Kent laughed.

Buster chuckled too. "Yeah, we do. I figure you and I can put some money aside and buy a car maybe early next year if we share the expenses."

The Connolly Brothers laughed as they left their apartment. Kent didn't realize until they were nearing the elevator that they forgot to turn off the radio. Buster waved his worries away, telling his brother they'll start saving up tomorrow. The two laughed and rode the elevator down to the ground floor.

Buster smiled, looking at his younger brother. Kent had grown up so much in the past few weeks, He'd gone from hiding in his room reading comic books to happily wanting to be a part of society now. Buster felt he had Hannah to thank for that.

"Does she know to meet us at Fenway?" Buster asked.

"I called her this morning before you came back from the Bugle." Kent answered, straightening his tie again. "She'll be there. She said she needs to go by her job after the game. She left her suitcase with the clothes she's going to wear tonight in the backroom so she wouldn't have to go back to her building after the game."

Buster only nodded. He'd only been to Hubris Comics a few times since graduating high school and all of those times were with Kent. Normally, it'd be their final stop after doing some errand running in the city proper. "You know where we haven't been in forever?" Buster asked, as they left the elevator and stood in the lobby. "Bar Harbor. I started thinking about it last night after you came home. Remember, that little harbor town up in Maine on Mount Desert Island? Remember when Ma and Pop used to take us there as kids?"

Kent laughed. "Oh yeah, Pop's idea of a f-family vacation. Ma would beg him to take us somewhere else, but we'd always end up in Maine. We'd go for a week each summer, around the time school let out, and attempt to camp and f-fish. Get his 'city kids' out into nature is what Pop always said. I c-can't imagine what made him think a family from the city could camp. I remember Pop getting so frustrated with the tent and finally giving up and then taking us to stay in a hotel. Every summer without fail."

Buster laughed too. "Good times, Kenny, good times. We should go back to Mount Desert Island again. But not camping, I still can't put up a tent. Maybe next summer. Hannah can come with us." Buster gave his brother a teasing look. "That is, if you two haven't eloped to Vegas by then."

Kent's face turned bright red. "Sh-shut up, Buster!" Kent shouted through a laugh. When he told Buster about the kiss the night before, Buster nearly died laughing. He'd been playfully teasing Kent all morning. It was obvious to both brothers that Kent's life was changing. Buster just decided to have a little fun with it.

The Connolly Brothers hadn't noticed Mrs. Glass and little Marlene standing by the doors until they almost ran into them. They waved, but Mrs. Glass didn't seem to notice them. She seemed mad, waiting for another tenant to be finished with the lobby phone. Kent was wondering what Mr. Glass did or forgot about this time. Little Marlene held one of her pony dolls tightly while her mother tapped her foot impatiently and glanced at her watch.

"Looks like Mr. Glass is in the doghouse again." Buster whispered through the side of his mouth as he and Kent left the building. "He was probably supposed to meet them in the lobby and got tangled up in work again." Buster tried not to chuckle at the trouble Mr. Glass was apparently in, but couldn't help it.

Kent looked back and saw Marlene wave to him as Mrs. Glass impatiently dialed a number on the lobby phone. Something cold went through Kent at that moment as Marlene waved to him. Kent wasn't sure what it was, but as he weakly waved back, Kent got the strange feeling that this would be the last time he'd see the Glass Family.

He couldn't explain this feeling to Buster when he tried after getting on the bus. Something in Kent's gut told him something bad was on the way. It was something that ate at him the entire ride to Fenway Park. Kent tried not to think about it. Today was supposed to be a good day. He tried to bring up something else, just to ease the bad feeling away. "Hey, you r-remember that old overcoat Pop used to wear in the winter?" Kent asked his brother.

Buster, who was sitting by the window, was only vaguely aware that Kent has asked a question. "The what?" Buster asked, looking at his brother.

"That old black overcoat Pop used to wear. Did he take it with him when he and Ma moved?" Kent asked again.

Buster shrugged. "I don't think so. I don't see why he'd need it in Nevada. Even at its coldest, a heavy New England overcoat is a bit overkill out there. It might still be in my closet. Why?"

"So, I was thinking…" Kent started. "…about using that old coat and making a costume for Halloween out of it!"

Buster looked at the overly enthusiastic look Kent had. "Why on Earth for?" he asked.

"Well, with a little work, I think I can make it into a Silver Shroud costume!" Kent beamed. "It might need to be re-dyed and patched up, but I figure if I start tomorrow, m-maybe I can have it ready by next week. I saw some flyers around Hannah's school about a Halloween festival happening next week and I think it'd be fun to…" Kent looked at his brother and sighed. "…ahh, forget it. It's a stupid idea anyway."

Putting his hand on Kent's shoulder, Buster did his best to reassure him. "We don't know that yet, Kenny." Buster laughed. "Tell me your idea."

Kent cleared his throat, though he didn't really need to. "I was th-thinking, maybe fixing up that old overcoat, going to that Fallon's Store, the smaller one in Concord, and getting a white scarf, and black hat and going as the Silver Shroud! And maybe…seeing if I can use one of Ma's old dresses to make a Mistress of Mystery outfit for H-Hannah…"

Buster gave out a small chuckle of amusement. "That's a sharp idea, Kenny." He said, after a bit. "Maybe I can go as Rhett Reinhart."

Not sure if this was Buster's idea of teasing or not, Kent sat back and thought about this idea a bit more. The bus stopped a Fenway and Kent's bad feeling came back. If Buster hadn't urged him to get up, he probably wouldn't have stood up. The uneasy feeling stayed as they disembarked and the bus took off. Buster's urging didn't ease him, either. They stopped at a news vendor so Buster could see the article he proofread the night before on the front page.

"So, the Winter case is officially closed. That's justice for you." Buster murmured, looking at the display copy the vendor had up. "Son of a bitch gets a slap on the wrist and a chance to skip town when he wrecked so many lives." Buster's disgust in the Eddie Winter trials made Kent's bad feeling worse and wasn't made better by the radio the vendor had on full volume on a shelf behind the racks.

"And now a look at sports. Something that is, unquestionably, inescapably, American. I am referring of course, to our great national pastime, baseball. This afternoon, right here in the city, Boston's swatting sultans will swing for the fences. Led by star pitcher Matt 'The Missile' Murtagh, Boston hopes to defeat Texas, and deliver their first World Series victory since 1918. Turning to economic news of the day. Vault-Tec stock continues to rise as tensions with China reach an all-time high. With the world poised on the brink of war, Vault-Tec is reporting a record number of reservations in Vaults around the country. Vault-Tec announced a continuation of their popular 'Welcome Home' promotion. They report openings are still available in area Vaults 81, 111, and 114. Since debuting Vault 76 last year, in honor of America's Tercentenary, Vault-Tec continues to expand with plans for well over 100 Vaults around the country. And now, our exclusive coverage of the continuing volatile situation with Communist China…"

The vendor didn't seem to fazed by the fact that his radio was louder than the loudspeaker for the park. It seemed that way to Kent, anyway. Everything was being drowned out. Kent's gut was telling him something was wrong and once again, everyone in the world was ignoring it. Baseball was a big distraction and it seemed everyone in Boston and its suburbs were going to be at this game today. The biggest distraction from the world in the city. He barely noticed Buster pulling on his sleeve.

"Kenny!" Buster shouted. Kent shook himself from his thoughts and looks at his brother. "You okay, Kent? I was asking you where Hannah was supposed to meet us and you zoned out."

Kent swallowed and tried to relax. Today was a good day. He was spending it with his brother and Hannah, two people he adored. "S-Sorry, Buster. I guess I'm…" Kent trailed off and looked over the still growing crowd. "…I guess I'm just a bit nervous, is all. I got this weird feeling in my st-stomach." Kent cleared his throat, though he didn't need to. "Hannah said sh-she'll be waiting by the statue in front of the stadium."

Buster gave Kent a reassuring smile. He could tell something was bothering his brother. He wasn't sure what, though. "Hey, buck up, Kenny! We got some time before the game. Let's go find Hannah and get something to eat. You guys can help me write the opening lines for my article."

The Connolly Brothers made their way through the crowd, dodging already drunken fans, vendors trying to sell hot dogs, and an overly aggressive t-shirt salesman and found Hannah Howard, leaning against the big statue of a batter in a pink dress and ladies' spectator shoes. She was also wearing a baseball hat. Kent ran ahead of Buster and waved so Hannah could see him. She waved back and ran toward them. She carried her little purse under her arm.

Hannah hugged Kent and said hello to Buster when he caught up. Buster laughed and pointed out her hat. "I bought it so the t-shirt vendor would leave me alone." She laughed. "Are you guys excited? I can't wait to tell my Uncle Nate I went to the big game! He is going to be so jealous!"

The two brothers nodded and Hannah followed them away from the excitement happening around the park. Kent blushed when Hannah took his arm. He wasn't nervous. It felt right. "What are they doing today before the big event tonight?" Kent asked.

"Uncle Nate and Aunt Nora are going to spend the day getting everything ready for tonight, I think. Sometime this afternoon, my parents and my brother are supposed to be arriving from D.C. with my grandparents." Hannah beamed with excitement over the day's events. "I already asked my Uncle Nate if it's okay if you come. He said its fine. I can't wait for you to meet my family, Kent! I think they're going to love you!"

Buster cleared his throat at that moment, mostly to make sure they were paying attention. "We have a few hours until the game starts. Let's go get some grub and we'll discuss tonight's game plan and get some 'fan reactions' for my article." Buster laughed, leading the way.

The trio walked away from the park and the growing crowd to find a place to eat. "I b-bet all of Boston is here today!" Kent shouted when they finally got out of the crowd.

Hannah laughed and let go of Kent's arm. Kent felt a bit sad by this action. "The event at the Veteran's hall starts at seven." Hannah started as they stopped at a crosswalk. "I told Uncle Nate that we'll be in Concord by six. We're going to dinner afterward and of course, you're invited, Kent. After the game, I'll drop by work and pick up my stuff. My boss said I could keep it in the backroom downstairs as long as I pick it up before closing. I want to change before we get to Concord and since they're still not letting me use the upstairs restroom at work, will it be okay if I change at your place?"

Kent nodded, barely listening to Hannah's prattling. This was happening, Kent realized. Soon, in a few hours, Kent will be sitting in the stands with his brother and the girl of his dreams watching Boston win the World Series, then he'll be on a bus to Concord to meet Hannah's family, and then the future kept looking bright from there. He was wondering if this was the day to ask Hannah about taking their friendship to the next level. Maybe now was the time after all. Maybe that feeling he kept getting was anticipation for the biggest thing he'd done up until this point.

If the night before was any clue, Kent knew Hannah wanted to take things further as well. Their kiss in the park after the dance made Kent feel so alive and for the first time, he wasn't afraid of the consequences of anything. Today was the day. After the ball game and Buster had gone to the Bugle to write up his story, Kent would profess his feelings to Hannah. Today was Kent's day. In his mind and heart, nothing could spoil any of what he had planned today.

Kent was knocked once again from his thoughts by the sounds of gasping and a crowd forming near the window of an electronics store. Their television window display had each television tuned into the stone-faced reporter for the Galaxy TV station. Buster, Kent, and Hannah stayed at the back of the crowd as lowered voices made frightened statements and soft murmurs carried over. Hannah once again grabbed Kent's arm, but Kent barely noticed. Buster told Kent and Hannah to stay there and he walked toward the middle of the crowd.

As if by some natural order, the entire crowd went quiet. Hannah held onto Kent's arm tightly, obviously frightened by what they were hearing.

"Followed by...yes, followed by flashes. Blinding flashes. Sounds of explosions...We're...we're trying to get confirmation...But we seem to have lost contact with our affiliate stations...We do have...coming in...Confirmed reports. I repeat, confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania…My God."

The screen went to the standard stand-by card and about two more seconds of silence followed. Before he could react, Kent watched in horror as the crowd dispersed in different directions. Sirens blared from speakers they couldn't see. Hannah held onto Kent tightly. Buster ran back to them, shouting for both of them to stay close and to follow him. Kent grabbed Buster's arm as he led the way.

In an instant, nothing made sense anymore. It was like someone flipped a switch and the entire world went insane. Everyone who had been enjoying a lovely outing at the baseball field was now an unruly mob running in any direction they could for no real reason. Kent held Hannah's hand tightly, while also holding on to Buster's arm. "We have to get to the Bugle!" Buster shouted over panicked screens and car horns blaring. Buster pushed a way through the panicking crowd, both brothers running as fast as they can.

Overhead, military vertibirds flew, but Kent didn't know where they came from or where they were going. He didn't care. All he cared about was getting to the shelter with Buster and Hannah and surviving this madness. He heard Hannah screaming about being scared and during a moment of clarity, he told her he was here and not to be afraid.

The next thing that happened, Kent felt the world slow down and go silent. A crowd of people rushed by them and in the panicked, screaming mess that had become downtown Boston, Hannah's hand was knocked loose from Kent's. Kent turned around in horror as the only woman he ever loved was separated from him. The crowd pushed her away from him like a wave going out to sea. Kent heard Hannah yell his name and he was sure she heard him yell hers. He reached for her, despite it being no use. Kent watched in horror as the crowd dragged Hannah away, her screams lost among the panic.

"Come on, Kent!" Buster yelled, over the mass hysteria.

Kent tugged on Buster's hand. "Buster! We have to go back for Hannah!"

Buster looked behind for a minute and didn't see Hannah. "We don't have time! We have to go now!" Buster wouldn't listen to anymore of Kent's shouts and protests. People were fighting for hiding places, smashing windows, people weren't people anymore in that instant. The city had become a city of animals. The brothers ran until they heard a rumble and saw flashes in the sky. Buster wasn't about to fight his brother over this matter, so he tugged Kent along, almost dragging him.

"ALL RESIDENTS SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!" shouted a booming voice over loudspeakers. "ANYONE REGISTERED IN THE VAULT PROGRAM, HEAD TOWARD YOUR DESIGNATED VAULT NOW!"

The ground was rumbling and shaking, like an earthquake. Buster had a hopeless look in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. He looked around and saw a Pulowski Shelter with no one around fighting over it. Buster knew they'd never get to the shelter in time. It was too far of a run. While Kent was yelling about going back for Hannah, Buster knew what he had to do. The shelter would only hold one person. Buster ran to the device and put his money in. It opened with the little jingle. When Kent ran over to see what his brother was doing, Buster shoved him in.

"Kenny, here's the keys to the basement shelter." Buster shouted when the rumbling got louder. He gave Kent the keys and looked around. "There isn't enough room in this big blue can for both of us. But it's alright. Everything is going to be alright. Listen to me and listen to me good, Kenny. You're my kid brother. We've stuck by each other through thick and thin and I said I'd always take care of you. But Kenny, I won't be able to in a minute. When this whole mess passes, go straight to the Bugle and stay there until it's safe to come out."

Kent shook his head. "Buster! W-WAIT!" He saw a lone tear go down Buster's cheek.

"You're my brother, Kenny. I love you. But it's time for you to start taking care of yourself." A few more impact sounds around them and Buster started to slowly close the door. "It'll be hard, but these past few weeks have shown me you have what it takes to survive and be a man. There is good in this world, Kenny. You just have to find it. No matter what happens in this world or the next, I've always got your back."

"BUSTER, NO! I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU! COME BACK!" Kent shouted as the door finally shut completely.

Kent thought he heard Buster whisper "Good-bye, Kenny" before a massive impact shock shook his shelter. Kent hit his head on the hard steel side. Another impact shock had knocked him out cold. Everything went dark as the screams of civilization ending sang outside.

Sometime later…

"Thank you for using Pulowski! The first name in budget fallout protection!" The little voice said over the chimes and the clicking of the door. "Your mandatory fallout protection time is up! If the radiation hasn't subsided yet or you'd like a little more time, please exit and deposit the correct change. Feel free to take a complimentary temporary oxygen mask from the dispenser outside."

Kent felt a rain drop hit him in the middle of his forehead. He woke up and looked around. He was still in the Preservation shelter. It hadn't been a bad dream. The world was over and Buster was probably a singed pile of bones outside. And Hannah…

How long was I out? He thought, rubbing the feeling back into his legs. Is it over? Am I dead?

Rubbing his head, Kent looked up and saw where the leak was coming from. It must be raining outside. He stood up and fought with the door to make it open. He always knew these things were nothing but a scam, but it worked for him, somehow. Other than a massive headache, Kent felt fine. When the door opened, Kent felt the loneliest he had even felt in his entire life. He heard the wind blowing through empty streets and buildings crumbling around him. He wasn't sure what to expect.

While he was relieved he didn't see his brother's charred corpse outside his little shelter, Kent still wondered where Buster had been blown to. Kent coughed a bit and heard his cough echo through the streets. There was a strange green mist about, but it didn't seem to harm him. He didn't think about it immediately. He thought about Hannah and how she was probably a charred pile of bones now, too.

There were faint sounds of artillery going off somewhere, or possibly thunder, he couldn't be sure. Soft rumbles in the ground every so often meant something was still going on somewhere, but the city had somehow survived. Most of the buildings around him were in shambles. Broken glass from windows lay about everywhere, making a soft crunching sound under Kent's feet as he stepped out into this new world.

Kent looked around. The sky was some unnatural shade of green and the clouds were an ominous grey color. The ground around him looked wet, as if it had just stopped raining. He wasn't sure what to make of all of this. Boston was in ruins and the unnatural quiet was almost deafening. Kent sat on what used to be a curb and tried to hold in his tears. He knew what he needed to do now, but he wasn't sure if he had the strength to do it. If Buster were here, they'd be running off to the shelter together.

But Buster wasn't here. Kent didn't have his brother or Hannah anymore. Kent started to think. This was real. The Silver Shroud wasn't going to swoop in and save him. He had to survive.

Everything and everyone Kent ever cared about was gone now. Buster, Hannah, his parents, the Glass Family, everyone was gone. It had happened. All those years in school doing drills and all the propaganda in the news finally hit Kent where it hurt. Kent tried to get his bearings straight. Maybe Hannah had survived, too. He could go looking for her. He wanted to shout her name, but nothing happened. All that came out was a wheeze and tired sobs.

Hannah was gone. Buster was gone. It was all gone.

When he heard nearby gun shots, Kent stood up fast. He wasn't sure who survived or why they were using guns. Kent wasn't about to sit around and find out. He needed to get to the Bugle. He could sit and feel sorry for himself when he was safely in the basement shelter. Buster would want him to survive. He had to. Kent turned around and took one good look at the rubble near the preservation shelter. He wasn't sure if what remained of his brother was under it, but it didn't matter.

"I'll survive, Buster." Kent whispered. "For both of us. For Hannah. For Ma and Pop. Even for Mr. and Mrs. Glass and little Marlene. I'll b-be strong." Kent tried not to cry. "Good-bye, Buster." The echoes of Kent's footsteps reverberated off the fallen buildings as he ran down the crumbled sidewalk. It wasn't that long of a journey to the Bugle building, but anything could be between him and his destination. Kent wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew what he had to do. He needed to survive, now.

Kent Connolly would survive.

Present Day

"Shroud!" shouted Sinjin, as the elevator across the room opened. "I want to talk with you!"

Kent opened his eyes and realized where he was. He was still in the abandoned hospital. He still had Sinjin's gun aimed at his head and Sinjin's boot on his back. It wasn't 2077 anymore. He was back to reality. The reality being that he was still in this hospital and was probably about to die.

Well, it's two hundred years late, but death has come for me… Kent thought, opening his eyes fully.

"Anyone turns heel, I'm coming after you and your families." Sinjin said as "The Silver Shroud" approached. "And you, Shroud! You step any closer, and we get to see what's inside Kent's head."

The Silver Shroud, or Nora as she preferred, held the silver shooter Kent had given her as she and her loyal "sidekick", Piper Wright, slowly walked into the room. This woman, who had come from one of the Vaults and made waves around the Commonwealth, had been unwittingly recruited by Kent to help in his crusade to fight crime around Goodneighbor. She wore the costume pretty well, despite it being somewhat baggy on her. The hat balanced it out a bit. She wore her warm black hair in a bun under the hat.

"You shield yourself behind an innocent!" The Silver Shroud started, trying her best not to grin so much while talking in the voice she was imitating. Despite this, her voice was powerful and Sinjin's guards seemed to be taking her seriously. "You are craven, Sinjin. And you shall fall before me!"

Obviously aggravated, Sinjin growled. "Don't talk to me like that!" He shouted, pushing his boot harder on Kent's back. Kent grunted a bit, but didn't say anything. "Some of these losers think you're some kind of legend. Like you walked right out of a comic book. But you and I know, you're human. And you're weak. You came here for what? Your little sidekick?"

"I have cut a path through all your thugs!" The Shroud shouted, her booming voice reverberating off the walls. "Who can truly say I am not the Shroud!"

"Don't listen to her men. She's a phony." Sinjin seemed to calm down a bit, but there was anger and frustration building in him. This person, the "Silver Shroud" had mowed down his entire gang and now all that was left was him and the two guards beside him. "What's going to happen is this: I'm going to kill Kent…"

Kent straightened a little when Sinjin said that. Sinjin's boot kept him from standing up.

"…then, we're going to shoot the hell out of you. Nothing's going to be left but paste!" Sinjin was so angry at this moment, drool was coming from the corner of his mouth. "Then, I'm going to Goodneighbor and kill every worthless bastard there. And burn the whole thing down! No one screws with Sinjin!"

The Shroud had to think of something, and fast. If she hesitated for one minute, Kent would be a shot into hamburger. She looked over at the guards, noticing their nervous movements. Sinjin may not have believed she was the Silver Shroud, but his cronies did. She had one shot at this. She couldn't mess this up. The silver shooter would be too messy and she had a chance of hitting Kent. If there was any time her shooting skills would come in handy, it'd be now. She wasn't much of a gunslinger before entering the Vault (seeing as it never really came up outside arcade shooting galleries), but she had to learn fast when she left. Now, it was time to put what she learned to good use.

"I am the instrument of justice and I cannot fall!" She boomed, holding her silver shooter up. Piper reached for her pistol as well, pointing it at the cronies, not Sinjin. Nora liked saying this next line and summoned up the deepest, loudest voice she had. "Death has come for you, evildoer! And I am its Shroud!"

That last statement sent Sinjin over the edge. "Stop talking like that!" he shouted, his patience finally running out.

"It is the Shroud! It really is!" The guard on Sinjin's left shouted, throwing her pipe pistol to the floor. "Screw this!"

Sinjin looked on in disappointment as the guards ran off. They didn't want any part of this anymore. Sinjin, however, didn't have time to voice his disappointment. During the distraction of the guards running away, she switched the silver shooter out for a gun she had picked off the man who kidnapped her child. The moment Sinjin turned around to fire at Kent's head, a bullet went through his own. Right through the forehead and out the back of the head. One shot, and Sinjin fell right next to Kent.

Kent stared at Sinjin's lifeless body next to him. Sinjin didn't have time to suffer. It was an instant kill. Somehow, once again, Kent Connolly had cheated death. He was starting to feel like that Courier he had heard about from one of the traders claiming to have been out west. He was too surprised at what just happened to see Nora and Piper run up to him. Piper untied his wrists and helped him up.

"Slowly, Kent." Piper said, helping Kent to his feet.

Nora put her gun away and looked at Kent. "Kent, are you alright?" she asked.

Shaking, Kent just stood there. He wasn't sure what to say. He was two seconds away from being another stain on the floor and now here he was, alive and well. Almost well, anyway. For two hundred years, Kent had this fantasy of what crime fighting was like. He had seen the world at its best and its worst. He just wanted to do some good and do his part to help people. But now, he was tired. His leg was banged up pretty badly, and he wasn't sure whether or not he had wet himself from fear.

The realization that he almost became raspberry jam finally hit Kent as Nora and Piper helped him out. The echoes of the wind blowing through broken windows into the empty hospital made Kent feel nostalgic, but not enough to stop and listen. He had enough. He was done. Kent knew Hancock would want to talk to him, and he figured after all the trouble he'd caused, Kent owed him that much.

Time was a funny thing. One minute, Kent was about to see a ballgame with his brother and the girl of his dreams, the next he was sitting on the floor of a hospital's basement about to be shot point blank. It was strange how time didn't seem like a straight line, but went all over the place. As a Ghoul, Kent had all the time in the world. But he'd give it all up just for one more glance into the magic blue eyes of Hannah Howard. Or one more evening of listening to the radio with his brother. Or even a quiet afternoon fixing little Marlene's little pony toys. And despite being carried out by two caring people, Kent felt, deep down, that he truly had nothing anymore.

Time was the one thing Kent Connolly had. Time, and the Silver Shroud. And he didn't want either if it meant being alone without any hope left.


Hi, hi everyone!

What's this? An update so soon?! Let me explain my insane writing process. Sometimes, I see the ending of the story and write it out first. Then, I try to see how to get to that ending. I wonder if other writers do this. This chapter had been written months ago. I just finished it up, did some adjustments where appropriate, and here it is!

Before you ask, no this isn't the last chapter. I have a few more tricks left up my sleeve. What types of tricks, you ask? Well, you'll just have to keep reading to find out. I'd give you more but it's about one in the morning here and I need to get some sleep.

So, how did I do? Was this chapter good? Sad? Let me know! I love reading reviews and the more reviews I get; the more story you get! It's win/win, if you ask me! So, stay tuned for the shocking conclusion (and maybe an epilogue, I haven't decided yet) of "Silver Lining!' Same Luna Peachie time, same Luna Peachie channel!

Read, review, and be merry!

Kent Connolly and Fallout belong to Bethesda.