"Lead the way honey, but please be careful." James said as the trio stepped out of the garage. Anastasia laughed.
"I can take care of myself, dad! Besides, that's what Charon's here for." She said, grinning jovially at him; it was clear she was overjoyed to be back with her father, her only true family. This jolly carelessness soon wore off, however; as they traveled through pre-war city area to get to Megaton the number of enemies increased considerably. Anastasia now not only had to survive the trip through crumbling city roads, but she had to protect her father, who was armed only with a small pistol. When he ran out of ammo, Anastasia yelled for Charon to "Please arm my Dad properly," while they were being shot at by a group of Muties downtown. Charon crouched behind a large pile of rubble and rummaged around in his pack while James ran over. Charon slapped an assault rifle and a stack of clips into James' hands, then immediately moved back toward the action, firing his combat shotgun with expertise as he went.
The trio pushed forward for hours, taking turns resting, reloading, repairing and eating while the other two cleared out enemies. They were about on the city's outskirts when James took his turn off, sitting, panting exhaustedly behind a partially collapsed wall. He pulled out some Dandy Boy Apples and chewed hastily, fingers shaking with adrenaline. He glanced out at Anastasia and Charon, flanking a couple of Muties. Both wore grimaces of concentration on their faces and fierceness in their movements; each pull of the trigger carefully executed, the kick of their guns accounted for, each step they took sure and unafraid. They both moved fluidly, an unspoken understanding communicated through nods and subtle motions as they killed all opposing them with a quick merciful shot from their guns. James understood then that they were more than a girl and her bodyguard; they were a unit, precise and deadly, one lost without the other.
They left the city and headed toward Megaton as the sun neared the horizon, casting long shadows and bathing the wastes in a warm glow.
"So where's your house?" James asked Anastasia.
"I told you, it's in Megaton."
"In Megaton? I thought you just meant near it! How'd you do it? They hardly let anyone stay in the common house, much less have a house in town."
"Oh, I disarmed an Atomic Bomb in the middle of the town. Lucas Simms gave me the key and some caps after that." James stared in disbelief at his daughter, then broke out into a loud, boisterous laugh.
"I guess all that time down on the reactor level did teach you something after all!" Anastasia laughed with him, and even Charon couldn't help but smile.
At dusk, the trio arrived at Megaton, and James witnessed at least ten people waving friendly 'hellos' and even one woman who brought her some food, praising her. Anastasia just smiled and returned the hellos, hugging the food-bringer.
"People in this town are just so nice!" she said to him, smiling gently.
They got to the house and Anastasia unlocked the door, exclaiming, "I'm so glad to be home! It's been soooo long!" Dogmeat greeted them all accordingly; with big sloppy licks and knocking over Anastasia's coat rack with his tail. Anastasia turned to Charon at one point and asked "Does…does it smell like something's been burnt?" but he just shrugged, and no more was said of the matter.
Charon took his own and Anastasia's Packs up to be unloaded while she and James sat on the twin red chairs of the living room, which had been decorated pre-war style, giving the home a warm, comforting feel. Anastasia waited a moment, watching her father taking in his new surroundings, comprehending that all this was Anastasia's, and then she finally asked the question that'd been on her mind since the moment she'd left the vault.
"So Dad, what the hell?"
xXx
Charon unloaded the guns first, listening to James apologize to his daughter for lying to her, explain that he thought she'd be safer in the vault, then listened to her heated story of the death of a friend, the death of many, and the overseer's madness. Charon unloaded the armor next, moving around the room soundlessly, putting the armor in lockers for safekeeping as James told his daughter she was a born wastelander, birthed right in Rivet City, not vault 101, then listened to Anastasia retort how she'd paid Moriarty plenty of caps for that information. Charon then brought out all the extra food and drink, unloading it into the fridge and Nuka-Cola machine, listening to James talk on and on about Project Purity, which had been both his and Anastasia's mother's dream, and how the pregnancy had pretty much brought operations to a halt, then listened to Anastasia relate the sentiments on the project from one Madison Li, who said the thing was insane, probably impossible. As Charon put away the last few odd objects the discussion ended with plans to travel to Rivet City the next day. Anastasia turned toward Charon.
"We can start unpacking now, sorry for the delay." In reply he held up the empty bags. Anastasia laughed and hugged him. "Thanks. I had no idea you were ahead of me!" She turned to James. "Dad, I have a fold out couch in the extra room you can sleep on." Charon stiffened; that was his room. All his belongings (which were few in number—he wasn't used to being allowed anything to himself) were in there. "Perhaps you'd like some dinner first?" Anastasia asked, seemingly unaware of Charon's distress.
"No thank you, sweetie. I'm very tired; I'm not used to all this traveling. I'll rest up in order to prepare for our trip tomorrow and I'll just eat in the morning." He said, and she walked him upstairs. Charon knew Anastasia would want to eat, so he cooked up some Insta-Mash and grabbed some Nuka-Cola for her, and a beer for himself.
Sure enough when Anastasia came back down she took the food from him gratefully.
"Let's go eat outside-I could use the fresh air." They both headed outside and sat at a little table Anastasia had set up when she'd first moved in. Dogmeat lay at her feet obediently, and she crossed her legs, taking a swig of cola while she looked over Megaton, all lit up. Strings of lights not unlike those in her room decorated the town and the sky displayed a beautiful full moon along with its stars.
"Well, I suppose you heard everything." She said with a sigh, looking at Charon, who nodded. Anastasia looked back at the lights, and they reflected in her eyes. "It's kind of sad that you pretty much know as much about me as I do. I feel so…lost right now…"
"I don't know that much, kid." Charon said, and took a long drink of his beer.
"When do you want to start learning?" Anastasia joked, looking down at her lap, a sad smile on her face. "It's weird. I feel exposed…and yet, I think I feel safer with you knowing, you know?" Charon said nothing, just looked at her, and she laughed softly. "No, I suppose that doesn't make any sense…"
"Nah, I understand what you mean, kid. I also know you've given away my bed, and that I'm tired." Anastasia smiled. "Sleep in mine. I'll kick you out when I come up; for now I've got some thinking to do." Charon stood up and left Anastasia staring into the moonlight, messing with his dog tags absentmindedly.