Chapter 23: I'm Back

I turned on my heels and started to head back to Fawkes when a shiny metallic orb rolled in front of me out of the darkness. A circular hole opened up at the top and a thick gaseous substance poured from it. I covered my mouth and ran past the orb when another orb rolled across the floor and started releasing the same type of gas. I turned another corner and a third orb rolled out and released the gas. I was surrounded on all sides by the gas now. It must've been knock-out gas because I could feel myself starting to slip in and out of consciousness as I attempted make my way through the gas.

I couldn't take it anymore. I leaned up against the wall and held my throat tightly as I began to cough profusely. Everything became blurry and I slid down to my knees and then on to my stomach. Two separate sets of large metal boots came in to view as I lay on the floor and I could hear voices, but they were muffled and I couldn't make out what they were saying.

Just before I slipped out of consciousness, I saw a large yellow figure come up from behind the ones who had ambushed me and it roared aloud. And then there was nothing.

When I finally came to I found myself looking up at a familiar face. My surroundings were pretty dim but I knew it was Fawkes. He wore a look of concern as he looked me over. Blood covered his chest and part of his face, but it didn't belong to him.

I coughed a few times before sitting up, "Fawkes? What happened?" I asked still in a daze.

"Take it easy my friend. You were ambushed by soldiers in metal armor. I heard the hissing sound of the gas and ran to see what had happened. I found two soldiers standing in front of me and I saw you lying unconscious on the floor. I dispatched the soldiers with little problem and brought you back here to Murder Pass." he explained.

I placed my hand on my forehead and moaned, "Those fucking Enclave cowards waited for me to get the G.E.C.K. so they wouldn't have to worry about going through the irradiated chambers themselves!"

I pulled the small device from my pack and looked it over. It hadn't sustained any damage thankfully. I ran my finger over the surface and could feel all of the different engravings carved in to it. Strange that such a small device could hold the power to alter the wasteland's future in to a brighter one.

"What do you intend to use that device for?" Fawkes questioned; breaking my train of thought.

"I'm going to use it to purify the largest amount of water anyone has ever attempted to purify at once…the Tidal Basin." I replied without looking his way.

"A noble cause my friend."

I looked over at the big yellow giant, "Fawkes…I made a mistake back there. I should have invited you to join me, but I got so caught up in what others might think. I'm sorry."

Fawkes shook his head and held up his hand, "I understand, most humans would probably shoot me first and ask questions later. Think nothing of it."

"I would very much like for you to accompany me, I could use another friend to help me with my quest." I told him.

Fawkes' eyes went wide and he looked stunned, "You…want me to come with you? You're not worried about what others might think?"

I shook my head and smiled, "Not anymore. You are one of a kind Fawkes, and I could use someone with your strength and intellect. Something big is about to happen, and I need all the help I can get."

Fawkes walked over to the cave wall and placed a hand against it. He stood in silence for a few moments before finally turning to face me, "I would be honored to help you see this to the end!" he answered with a fire in his eyes.

I got myself to my feet and held my hand out to him to seal the deal. He took it in kind and laughed aloud as he shook my hand.

"Come on, I've got another friend waiting back in Little Lamplight. Remain weary for now. Your appearance might frighten the children who live there, not to mention my friend." I told him, and he nodded signaling that he understood.

When we emerged back in to Little Lamplight, I could hear the sound of children playing and music echoing against the walls. I glanced back and could see that Fawkes looked a little nervous about what might happen. We walked in to a large open space within the cave and almost immediately every set of eyes within were looking in my direction.

The children stopped playing, and someone had turned to music off. I held my hands up to the kids and slowly stepped forward, "It's alright, it's just me." I reassured them.

I continued forward and could see that all of the children were deathly afraid of the giant trailing behind me, but I couldn't blame them. I caught whispers here and there, but couldn't make out what they were saying.

I found Kirk sitting at an old table in one of the makeshift shacks inside the cave.

"Kirk! Glad to see you're doing well!" I yelled out to him.

His head suddenly shot up and he turned to look at me, "Well I'll be, you ma-Holy shit!" he shouted in surprise upon seeing Fawkes.

"It's alright Kirk, believe it or not, he's a friend." I told him, but he still sat motionless in his chair.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Fawkes said softly.

"What the….it talks like a normal person? How is this possible?" the old man asked.

"I didn't get the details, but I do know that he can be trusted. Kirk, he helped me get my hands on a G.E.C.K.!" I explained, and then held out the small device to him.

Kirk looked shocked, "Well I'll be damned!"

I placed the cube back in my pack, "It felt wrong not to invite him to join me. I hope this doesn't effect your decision to stay with me."

Kirk looked up at Fawkes and then back at me, "Kid, we've been through a lot together. If you say he can be trusted, than I believe you, and that's enough." he replied.

I let loose a sigh of relief, "Thank you."

I looked back at the kids who were still rather frightened, "Don't worry, he won't hurt you." I tried to reassure them, but it didn't seem to help much.

I could tell Fawkes felt uncomfortable so I thought it would be best to leave this place as soon as possible. MacCready gave us a small amount of medical supplies and ammo, and soon we would be on our way.

I took a deep breath when we stepped back out in to the vast wasteland. Night had fallen, and a crescent moon loomed overhead. Fawkes looked at everything around him and took it all in.

"My first breath of outside air. This is fantastic." he commented as he breathed in and out deeply.

"I wish I could share your enthusiasm towards this hell hole." Kirk retorted, but Fawkes ignored his comment.

I checked the map on my Pip Boy, "It'll take us nearly a week and a half to get back to the Citadel from here, so we better get moving and stop only when necessary." I told them, and they agreed.

We made it back to the Citadel with little trouble, and I wasn't surprised when every Brotherhood member patrolling outside it aimed their guns our way. I looked up at Fawkes who scratched his bald head, "Sorry not everyone is as accepting as I am."

Paladin Bael and two other Brotherhood Knights came out to meet us. They had their weapons fixed on us, but mostly they were aiming at Fawkes.

"What's that filthy mutant doing travelling with you!?" Bael demanded as he approached.

"Lower your weapons Bael, or do you not remember what happened last time?" I scowled.

Bael sneered and then laughed aloud, "Shut your mouth, I'm the one asking questions here!" he said as he shoved the barrel of his Laser Rifle in to my face.

"His name is Fawkes, and he isn't an ordinary Super Mutant. He's very intelligent and from what I've seen I'd say he might even be stronger than your average mutie. You can trust him, he helped me get my hands on the G.E.C.K. and when I told him what I wanted to use it for he agreed to help us in our fight to make the wasteland a better place." I explained.

Bael fixed his sights back on Fawkes, "If he's so intelligent why doesn't he say something?" he said in a sarcastic tone.

"I usually refrain from speaking to idiots with itchy trigger fingers." Fawkes retorted.

The two Knights accompanying Bael let loose little chuckles and Bael stared daggers at them and told them to shut up.

"With a mouth like that you'll find yourself in deep trouble if you're not careful mutie." Bael spat.

Just then the radio on Bael's chest fired up, "Paladin Bael, stop giving Jason so much shit and let him in!" a female voice rang out from the speaker.

Bael looked annoyed and pressed the button on the side of the radio, "Roger that, I'll send him you're way, over." he growled.

"You're lucky Sentinel Lyons trusts you so much kid." he said and then turned to leave us.

I looked back at my companions, "Let's go and catch everyone up on what's happened. I've been gone for over three weeks, and they'll want to know what's up."

We made our way through the raised outer gate and then walked through the inner courtyard towards the A ring. Upon entry everyone glanced in our direction and wouldn't take their eyes off of us. I felt sorry for Fawkes; everyone was so quick to judge him…if only they knew how loyal and trustworthy he could be.

Kirk couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed when he laid his eyes on Liberty Prime. He had no idea that something like it even existed.

We found Sarah and her father overseeing the repairs on the massive robot and didn't even turn to face us at fist when we walked up to them.

Elder Lyons threw a curious look the mutant's way before saying anything. Sarah wore the same look and Fawkes avoided making eye contact with them.

Elder Lyons cleared his throat, "I'm not going to ask about your…companion there. I trust you know what you're doing in taking on such company. Just make sure that he remains either with you or with your other friend there while he's here. I wouldn't want anything to happen to him, now would I want my men to feel uncomfortable."

I nodded, "Fine."

Elder Lyons walked over to the terminal at Liberty Prime's feet, "Well, now that's taken care of let's get down to business. Have you found the object you had been looking for?" he asked while staring up at the robot.

"Yes," I started, and then pulled the cube from my pack, "Here it is." I then held it out for Elder Lyons and his daughter to see.

"I knew that you would find it Jason. If there's one thing I've learned about you it's that once you've set your mind on something there's no stopping you from getting to it." Sarah complimented, and I thanked her with a nod.

Elder Lyon's took the cube and stroked his beard as he looked it over, "Intriguing. I'll hand this over to Doctor Li and her team can get to cracking how it will work."

Hearing him mention Madison hit me like a brick wall. I hadn't seen her in quite a long time, and I wasn't even sure if she would want to see me after being gone for so long. I needed to see her though. I needed to hold her in my arms, to feel the softness of her skin…to feel the warmth of her love.

I simply nodded at Elder Lyons and then turned to face my companions. "Kirk, keep and eye one the big guy won't you? I've got some things I need to do before we start any sort of preparations." I told him, and before he could say either yes or no, I walked past him and headed off to look for Madison.

I asked around the Citadel and it didn't take long to find out that she was in her private quarters doing some research. I walked down the many halls of the residence halls until I came to the room where Madison would be.

I sighed softly, straightened my posture, and then knocked on the door. I heard some fumbling noises coming from within, and then the clicking of the door being unlocked.

I wore the biggest smile I could when Madison opened the door, and she just stood there for the longest time. Just as I was about to say something, she threw herself at me and buried her face in my chest. I placed a hand on her soft head of hair and the other on her back and kissed her forehead.

"I missed you so much." I whispered in to her ear.

She sniffled a bit and then looked up at me, "I worried every single day you were gone. I could never be quite sure if I would ever get to see your face again." she admitted before burying her face again.

She suddenly realized all of the battle scars that my armor had received and held her hand over her mouth. "What happened out…no, I think it's better I not know what you had to go through out there. I trust you found the G.E.C.K.?"

I placed my cheek against her soft hair and sighed, "I did. Now all that remains is deciphering it and figuring out how to install it and use it to its full potential. So it should be a couple of days before any preparations begin. Which gives us plenty of time to spend together."

Madison then pulled me in to her quarters and quietly shut the door behind us.