Chapter Four
"Radioactive"
I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
...
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age.
To the new age.
Posey often heard her father tell his patients, "A good night's sleep is just as good as a couple of stimpacks."
Perhaps, if you were suffering the common cold, and sleeping on a vault issue mattresses, that would be the case. However, hard, rocky ground was hardly a good combination for an already sore shoulder. Posey let out a groan as she cracked open her eyes, and looked up at the roof of her shelter. Her mouth tasted terrible, and there was a rock digging into her neck. Her head ached from her blow from Officer Mack's baton, the skin swollen and tender when she prodded it gently.
It was dim now, the sun perhaps set, or was in the process of setting anyway. And she had to move. Not only because she felt as stiff as a board but because she couldn't stay another night in her flimsy little shelter. She had to get a move on, her dad already had a head start on her. She kicked the door over, gathered up her stuff and stood up, grumbling as she did so. She looked up at the sky and suddenly her injuries calling for her attention faded away to dull aches. None of that mattered now.
It was HUGE. There was nothing above her, no steel bracers and bright fluorescent lights. Just open sky, with hazy clouds, and behind the shadowy curtain of cloud, stars.
"Stars.." She breathed, and she couldn't help the giggle that slipped from her lips. She hauled her duffle bag higher up on her good shoulder and grinned, watching the sky as she took her first few steps down the small ledge that lead away from the vault's cave entrance. She ran down the slight indication of a road and laughed as dust swirled up around her. She couldn't believe it, she was outside!
All soreness nearly forgotten, she practically frolicked among the broken up asphalt and rocks of the wasteland. She jumped from one boulder to another, laughing with sheer delight as she looked out over the Wasteland. Admittedly, there were no bustling cities like she'd dreamed of as a child, and in fact the landscape looked practically bleak but she was free. No walls around her, no ceiling to pen her in. The world was so big! Miles away she could see a dilapidated tower, which she recognized from her old Pre-War guidebooks as the Washington monument. So that had to be D.C. The old capital of America.
A little closer to her though, was a collection of burned out husks of houses, most of them little more than charcoal now, looming up out of the murky horizon of night on the wasteland. But she assumed the night was young, it was far from pitch black, and she could still see by the dim light of the celestial bodies in the sky, not to mention the light on her Pip-Boy which she flicked on.
She walked along the broken road that lead through what use to be a town, past broken up remains of playground equipment and to a makeshift sign, that read in sloppily painted hand writing, "MEGATON" with an arrow pointing off to her right. She looked towards the right and saw an unidentifiable hunk of something. A slight mound on the horizon. She assumed that it was Megaton. A town perhaps.
She fiddled with her Pip-Boy and was relieved to see that it had already configured itself to geographical area around her, displaying a map that would most certainly come in handy. Now that her little thrill about stars and freedom was passing, Posey realized just how badly her shoulder hurt. All her injuries seemed to be calling for her attention now and much louder now that she had ignored them in favor of jumping about on bits of asphalt. She sat down on a rusted metal bench at the playground. It squealed in protest but surprisingly still held her weight.
She prodded at the affected shoulder and winced as it caused a sharp zing of pain all the way down to her hand. She guessed it was dislocated, which meant it would need to be popped back in place. Ideally, by someone with a little more medical training than she. True, she had more medical knowledge than most vault dwellers. Natural curiosity coupled with a patient father, who was more than willing to explain his methods to her meant she had a decent knowledge of how the human body worked, and how to fix it.
But just because she knew her shoulder had to be popped back into place, didn't mean she could do it herself. For starters, it was going to hurt. A lot. And she wasn't big into self inflicted pain. But she assumed medical attention was going to cost money. Which she didn't have. So there was nothing for it. She was just going to have to do it.
She squeezed her eyes tight shut, gritted her teeth and braced her good arm on her shoulder.
I hope I'm doing this right.
She pushed her shoulder back hard at the same time as she lifted her arm up. She let out a sharp cry and felt the blood drain from her face as she was hit by the pain, so intense the world edged black for a moment and she felt queasy but she knew it was in. She felt the faint pop as ball met socket.
She sat there, pale and shaking, feeling cold and clammy. She did notice though that the pain in her shoulder had settled to a dull throbbing. She dug around in her duffle bag, then let out a sigh. It was a disorganized mess. She dumped the contents unceremoniously onto the ground and started sorting it out. She found one of her many stimpacks and picked it up, it would be just the thing for her fractured knuckles. Although again, the thought of stabbing a needle into her hand didn't really appeal to her.
She did it anyway though, and tossed the used up needle away from her and finished sorting through all her items she'd scavenged from the vault. Two spare jumpsuits, plenty of stimpacks and Med-X, not to mention some Rad-X and Radaway. She stored her medicine in the inside pocket of her duffle bag, and put her blanket, her book, suits and the rest of her clothing in the main compartment .Amata had even gotten her some food and a few bottles of purified water. Her stomach growled at the sight of the boxes of processed vault food, but she decided she could wait a little longer. In the front zippered pocket, she stashed her spare ammo and the police baton she'd gotten. She used a spare belt from one of the vault tech suits for a sort of rig for her baseball bat, strapping it to her duffle bag so it was still in reach and easy to get out if she needed it. Feeling much better prepared to face the Wasteland now, Posey got to her feet and set out for Megaton, slinging her bag across her shoulder, still favoring the previously dislocated one. It still ached.
Then she remembered, the holotape from her father, already downloaded into her Pip-Boy. Posey froze, bringing her Pip-Boy up to her face and looking at it silently. What would the note say? Would it have a location? More likely it would contain explicit instructions that she not follow him and she should appreciate her life in the dank vault. She cleared her throat slightly and said in a trembling voice. "Access holotape files, play 'Note from Dad.'"
Her Pip-Boy whirred slightly, then through it's crackling speakers, her father's voice floated out into the night air:
"Hold on Jonas, I need to record this first.
I... I don't really know how to tell you this. I hope you'll understand, but I know you might be angry. I thought about it for a long time, but in the end I decided it was best for you not to know. So many things could have gone wrong and there's really no telling how the overseer will react when he finds out. It's best if he can blame everything on me. Obviously you already know that I'm gone. It was something I needed to do. You're an adult now. You're ready to be on your own. Maybe someday things will change and we can see each other again. I can't tell you why I left or where I'm going. I don't want you to follow me. God knows life in the vault isn't perfect, but at least you'll be safe. Just knowing that will be enough to keep me going."
Posey listened, and was surprised that no tears came to her eyes at the sound of her father's voice, she just stared out across the Wasteland's horizon. Waiting for something, a clue. Anything.
"Remember your mother's favorite verse? Revelations 21:6. 'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.' I can't tell you what it means, but please Posey, know that I'm doing this for you. And your mother. I owe it to you both."
Jonas' voice interrupted, sounding slightly nervous. "Don't mean to rush you Doc, but I'd feel better if we got this over with."
Her father sighed, "Okay, go ahead Jonas. Goodbye, Posey, I love you. Never forget that."
"Yeah, well." Said Posey, slightly bitterly. "You've certainly got a funny way of showing it there, Daddy Dearest."
She immediately felt a little bad for her bitter cynicism. She knew her father loved her. He'd said so himself, he thought the vault would be the safest place for her. He didn't want her to have a life on the Wasteland. But did he ever consider what SHE wanted? She wanted Freedom! Freedom she couldn't get in the Vault.
Well, regardless of her father's wishes, or her own for that matter, she was here. Out in the wastes, with a gun she barely knew how to use and no idea what to do next. She didn't know where her father was, what he was doing. But Megaton was the best thing she had to go off of right now. Surely, her father would have stopped by seemed the only place to get supplies or information. So Megaton was her first stop.
The walk wasn't terribly long or difficult and the night air was brisk, bordering on cold and she was glad of Butch's jacket around her shoulders, something she never thought she'd say. It was early spring, April third, but that didn't mean much in the Vault. Did it out in the Wastes? Spring in all of the Pre-War books she'd read was all about things growing and coming alive after winter. But here, there didn't seem to be much sign of life, or even winter for that matter. Did it snow in the Wasteland? She hoped it did, she loved seeing pictures of snow. She could make snowman maybe. She laughed quietly to herself. She was nineteen years old and had just been actively chased from her home to a new and hostile environment, and she was fantasizing about building a snowman.
"Well," She mused, scrambling over a hunk of rubble and continuing on her way. "No one ever accused me of being mature."
As Megaton slowly came into view, Posey had to stop, staring in awe at the structure.
It seemed to be made entirely out of junk. Scrap metal and the doors from what she guessed were cars and wings from what she knew to be airplanes comprised the walls and gates barring her way. The place seemed to be held together with barbed wire and rusty bolts but oddly enough looked rather sturdy. The rounded top made it look strangely impressive. Like a fortress.
"Please,"
Posey jumped and let out a yelp, looking wildly around for the cause of the hoarse voice. She saw an old man, leaning against a boulder and looking positively destitute. He was almost camouflaged in the dusty landscape. Shriveled with age and clothed in rags his watery eyes looked out of his weather beaten face, looking hopeless.
"Please," He croaked again, "do you have, water?" He licked his cracked and bleeding lips and Posey felt her heart clench in sympathy.
"Yeah, of course, just a second." She reached into her bag and found one of her water bottles from Amata and offered it to him.
He snatched with surprising speed and strength and Posey jumped in shock and watched with wide eyes as he guzzled it down, little rivulets dribbling from the sides of his mouth. He looked up at her, and said gratefully, "Thank you, thank you miss!"
"Y-you're welcome." Said Posey, slightly unnerved. It was her first encounter with someone not from the Vault and she didn't know what to make of it. Then, she had an idea, "Sir?" She asked hesitantly, stepping a little closer. "I'm looking for my father, have you seen him? Middle aged man, graying hair and a short beard, blue eyes. He would have been wearing a vault suit like mine."
"Aye, I saw a man like that yesterday, he went on inside of Megaton, after he too gave me some water, bless both of your souls Miss."
"Thank you." Said Posey again, smiling down at him. She reached into her bag and brought out another bottle and handed it to him. "Try and ration that one a little bit." She said with a smile.
The man's watery eyes looked even more so with unshed tears. Posey felt uncomfortable at his tearful reaction and turned and hurried into Megaton. A clunky robot with a star welded onto it's chest greeted her with his static filled automated voice, "Welcome, to. MEGATON. Friendliest, town, around."
"Uh," Posey glanced around, but there was no one in sight. "Thank you?"
The robot made no response, and, feeling foolish, Posey rushed towards the large gate. Some sort of mechanics ground to life and Posey paused, just barely reigning in a terrified squeak as the gates slowly and with a cacophony of creaks and squeals, the gates ascended, displaying two enormous metal doors. Uncertain what to do, Posey pushed on them experimentally. With an awful screech, they swung inward and Posey jumped again. She wished she could settle her nerves and stop jumping out of her skin anytime something in her vicinity moved.
If Posey had to choose one word to describe the town before her, dusty would probably be her first choice. The color scheme seemed to consist of varying shades of brown and grey with an occasional splash of rust or corroded orange. Yet, as Posey stood on the edge of the dirt packed road, she felt a bit of a fellow feeling towards the settlement. The place felt secure, the walls seemed thick and the ramshackle buildings oddly sturdy, yet she could still see the sky, and breathe the hot and slightly dusty air. In the vault, the air had always seemed to carry a slight metallic tang, and was musty, bordering on humid. This Wasteland breeze was as close as she was going to get to fresh air.
"I'll be damned, you're from that vault, Vault 101."
Posey started slightly as a rough voice sounded from her right and she whirled around trying to find the speaker.
"Settle down, girlie, just saying hi."
Posey's eyes landed on an older man, probably around the same age as her father, perhaps a little younger. Age was a difficult thing to guess out in the wasteland, where everyone had wrinkles around their eyes from squinting in the Wasteland's harsh light and a seemingly permanent grim expression. The man let out a deep throated chuckle, "A little twitchy there, aren't you missy? You haven't been trippin' on some psycho down in that hole have you? Didn't think that's how those vault dwellin' prudes went, but how would I know? I ain't seen one of those jumpsuits in a long time."
Posey had no idea what this man was talking about. "Um," she said hesitantly, the man grinned, his teeth were surprisingly white and even. "I'm just teasing, I can tell you're not a druggie. Name's Lucas Simms, town sheriff. Mayor too, when the need arises."
"Oh," Posey cleared her throat slightly, "I'm Posey, Posey Bennett."
"I don't know why but I like you girlie, something tells me you're all right. So welcome to Megaton! Just holler if you need something."
Posey smiled broadly and once again felt a sudden rush of affection for this odd little town, and it's inhabitants.
"Thank you, this is a lovely town sheriff."
Lucas Simm's guaffed loudly and Posey repressed the urge to jump as he did so, it was such a sudden and loud thing that it did give her a bit of a fright.
"Friendly AND well mannered? Even if it was a stone cold lie, it was a nice one. I think we're going to get along just fine. You treat my people nice, and you're welcome to stay as long as you like."
"Right, of course. Thank you again, Mr. Simms."
The man chuckled again, "Damn, where on earth did you come from? What's goin' on down in those vaults that they've go they're younguns saying mister? Have a good stay in Megaton, Miss Bennett."
"Thanks, Mr. Simms I'll-" Posey's eye caught something over his shoulder and her jaw dropped "Is that a bomb?!"
Lucas turned and glanced over his shoulder almost as if he'd forgotten the enormous rocket in the middle of his town.
"Sure is, but it's perfectly safe. Probably."
"Probably?! Don't you think you should have somebody look at it?"
"I don't know if you've noticed Miss Bennett but this town is a little short on eggheads. Most folks don't even realize it's still a threat. I'd rather not clue them in. If you've got some sort of Vault Tech info that can help disarm that thing, be my guest, I'll even throw in a hundred caps for you. But don't blow us all up. Understand?"
"I," Posey swallowed. "Uh,"
Sure, she meant someone should look at it, but she certainly didn't mean herself.
"Girlie, that bomb has been sitting here for two hundred years. It's not about to blow up now." He seemed to be trying to soothe her worried look but, she wasn't sure how well it was working.
"Yeah, and I mean if you wanted I could look at it." Poesy paled a little, "I know a little about explosives."
What Jonas had taught her about old Pre-War stuff from a book she'd brought him, anyway.
"Well that doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence." Said Lucas dryily. "Just don't blow us all up, Vault Girl."
He started to walk away but Posey took a step forward,calling, "Wait, Mr. Simms, sheriff."
The man turned, his cowboy hat casting his face into shadow from the murky moonlight above.
"I'm looking for my father. I think he must have passed through here earlier, yesterday maybe? Middle aged man, short beard. He would be wearing a Vault jump suit too, and probably a lab coat."
The sheriff shook his head, "Let me give you a piece of advice, vault girl, people topside don't take too kindly to questions."
"But-" Posey's heart sank as the man walked away. All familiar ties that she had previously felt for the dusty little gathering shrank sharply and she felt her mouth crease into a deep frown. Now what was she suppose to do?
Posey took a few hesitant steps down towards the center of town, looking around the place with interest. It really was a marvel the town wasn't falling apart, it seemed to be barely held together with duct tape and barbed wire. How long had it survived here? It seemed old, but maybe the materials were old to begin with. She wondered if Lucas Simms would be a bit more accommodating with that sort of information or if he'd stayed tight lipped about that too.
Lost in her own thoughts, Posey didn't really pay attention to where she was meandering, until she heard something that sent a total shock to her systems. A moo? She looked to find the perpetrator of the strange noise and took a horrified step back in spite of herself. Something that resembled what she knew to be a cow from one of her favorite books as a child stood staring morosely at her with two four eyes. A two headed cow! The owner of the freakish creature eyed her suspiciously, and at her continued ogling, his gaze turned hostile.
"What?" he demanded, "Never seen a Brahmin before? Move along!"
Before Posey could answer that no, she'd never seen that thing before, she was roughly brushed past by a man with a shaved head and a lit cigarette dangling from his lips, who gave her a disdainful sneer before moving on past. She stumbled away from the man and the creature and quickly turned and found herself standing next to a stall of some sorts that seemed to be selling food. Her stomach growled, but unfortunately her money situation was worse than her food situation. She had nothing, besides what Amata packed her, and she didn't think the owners would take kindly to her bringing her own food to their stall. Perhaps she could at least sit there for a minute, catch her breath and gather her thoughts before she carried on. Maybe the women behind the counter would be more willing the assist her than the town sheriff. But if she did slow down, did take a moment to gather her thoughts, she was afraid they would overwhelm her. Her dad missing, her money, or rather lack there of, situation. She could already feel the panic building like static on an old monitor's screen building behind her eyes, her anxiety coming to a dizzying peak between her ears. What was she doing?! She was going to die out here, on this savage wasteland with two headed cows and bald, smelly and mean old men!
Without realizing it, she'd sunk onto one of the stools in front of the bar. The woman wiping the counter looked at her with something not unlike concern. Posey offered her a weak smile, which the women didn't return.
"I'm just, uh, resting for a moment." Said Posey, "I won't loiter here long, I promise."
The women still looked wary but offered Posey. "I don't think I've ever seen you around before." She said carefully. "I'm Jenny Stahl, you must be new to Megaton."
Posey felt a true smile form on her face, and some of the overwhelming panic pressing on her chest dissipated slightly. It wasn't much, but it was one of the friendlier interactions she'd had recently.
"This is my first time in Megaton. I'm Posey Bennett. Nice to meet you Jenny. Thanks for letting me crash at your bar for a bit."
"No problem, you looked a little lost. Tell me what brings you-"
They were interrupted by a loud sigh and someone settling noisily on the stool one down from Posey's.
"Afternoon, Colorado." Said Jenny. The man, Colorado, didn't respond, simply slapped down a couple of what seemed to be bottle caps on the counter.
"I'll take an order of whatever's hot." He said shortly
"Always a pleasure, Colorado." Said Jenny dryly. Posey couldn't take her eyes off this new stranger, seated at the counter. He didn't seem to notice her, which suited her just fine.
His age was difficult to pin down, everyone out in the wastes she'd encountered thus far seemed to be careworn and grim, and he was no exception but, still. There was something about him. Posey had seen handsome men before. Butch Deloria, while a complete ass hole was an undeniably good looking. Her Father, many people had told him what a handsome man he was, although that completely different. That was her Dad. She'd harbored a little bit of a crush on Freddy Gomez, but this man, this Colorado, he was different. He had none of Butch's smooth, put together appearance. Nothing like Freddy's boyish, cheerful charm. He was broad, and though seated, Posey could tell he would be tall. His dark hair was cut close to his scalp, and he seemed to be focusing on something troubling. His thick dark eyebrows were drawn down and his lips were slightly pursed, and with such a delicate cupid's bow, it contrasted with the rest of his strikingly masculine face. He had a nose that made Posey want to take up drawing just so she could get it down on paper, strong and with just the right sort of bump where Posey knew bone met cartilage, but what Posey really noticed was freckles. His face had a scattering of them, mostly concentrated on his nose and across his cheeks but truly there were freckles all across his skin, even on his hands that she could see resting on the table, his long, broad fingers tapping against the uneven metal surface.
It took her a moment to realize she was blatantly staring at him before she blushed and looked down, picking at a loose seam on her suits' arm. Jenny had caught it however and smirked as she handed Colorado a plate of, something. This only caused Posey's blush to increase, or maybe it was a sunburn, she couldn't tell. She hadn't been out in the sun long but she could already feel the effects on her practically newborn skin.
"So, what brings you to Megaton?" Asked Jenny, and Posey looked up at her, still feeling a little pink.
"I'm looking for someone." She said, shifting on her stool and gripping her duffle bag a little tighter in her lap. Her old anxiety was starting to creep back up on her now that Jenny had mentioned her original purpose for being there.
Jenny smirked "Aren't we all?"
"I'm looking for my Dad." Elaborated Posey. "I don't suppose you've seen him? He probably passed through here yesterday, he'd be wearing a jumpsuit like man, older guy, greying hair."
Jenny looked thoughtful as she started wiping the counter down again. "Can't say that I have seen anyone like that. I was inside all day yesterday helping in the restaurant."
Posey let out a sigh. "Of course. Just my luck. Do you know someone I could ask?" Posey saw her eyes flit up towards a higher level of Megaton before she dropped her gaze.
"No one off the top of my head. Don't go poking around too much though, okay? You seem like a good kid, and there a lot of people who don't like it when people ask too many questions."
"But-"
"Listen, like I said, you seem like a nice kid, but unless you're going to buy something, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You're holding up my other customers."
"You have no other customers! No one is here!" Said Posey angrily, "I'm just trying to find my dad and get out of this place but the only thing I've gotten so far is dirty looks and 'don't ask questions'. and I'm sorry but you can wipe that counter down all you want it's still going to be dirty and I just want to find my dad and leave you all alone!"
Jenny didn't say a word, just continued wiping the damn counter.
"Jenny-" Pleaded Posey.
"Oh for hell's sake." Growled Colorado, and both Posey and Jenny looked at him in surprise. He was turned so he was completely facing Posey and glaring at her with the greenest eyes she'd ever seen, the brightest thing she'd encountered in this wasteland. "Listen, blondie. You wanna find your dad so bad you better stop running your mouth or you're going to end up on the underside of somebody's boot, you got that? And as for your Padre there was a man in a suit like yours who came into town yesterday. He went up to the saloon and then left in the same day. You want more info then go ask that slimeball Moriarty up at the saloon, but he won't take your sob story so for your sake I hope you've got a lot of caps saved up." He shoved away from the counter and shouldered a pack that had been by his feet and turned on his heel and stomped off. Posey looked at Jenny, before following suit, and heading up a rusted metal ramp towards a blinking sign that read "SALOON." She didn't know why he'd reacted so angrily, everyone around here just seemed to have some kind of chip on their shoulder.
The place was dark and musty, an acrid smoke filling the air. She'd only smelled cigarette smoke a handful of times. Once when she'd stumbled upon Butch in his gang down on the lower levels when she'd gone to practice shooting, and there was an old man in the vault who always seemed to smell a little like this. But this was something else, the air was clouded with it, and Posey could practically feel it settling into her lungs. The few people that where there stopped their murmuring to give her a once over. She suppressed the urge to shrink back against the door. She tried to appear confident as she headed towards the bar, and eventually the patrons went back to smoking and nursing their drinks. She looked around behind the bar looking for this Moriarty, what she did see made her blood run cold. There was a rotted, mangled something standing in front of a radio blaring static, banging on the top of it and muttering in a gravely voice.
"Come on you stupid hunk of junk."
A woman with cropped red hair and dark eye makeup leaned against the wall, helping add to the small spaces pollution with her cigarette. "It's not the radio, Gob." She said in a husky voice. "It's the station. It's been out for days." The (was it a man?) behind the counter must have caught Posey's stare because he said, in his rough voice.
"Hey smooth skin? You want something? A drink?"
Posey glanced around, no one else must have been freaking out about this, person. "Me?" She asked, embarrassed by the squeak in her voice. She cleared her throat. "Uh, no. No thanks, I don't want a drink."
He, she was pretty sure it was a he, blinked in surprise. "Wait, you're not going to hit me? Yell at me? Throw something at me?"
Posey couldn't stop staring, but managed to shake her head.
"Huh, your first time seeing a ghoul?" He caught sight of the yellow stitched "101" on her suit. "Must be if you're from that vault. You're taking it better than most. I'm use to most smooth skins trying to take a swing at me. You seem alright." He glanced around. "Moriarty would kill me if he caught me selling at a discount, but for you, I'd risk it."
Posey managed a smile, which he returned. It made a slight improvement to his rotting skin.
"I'm Gob." He said, "You sure about that drink?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm Posey."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. Hey, Gob, there is something you could help me with."
Gob looked up at her, waiting.
"I'm looking for my dad. Middle aged man, graying hair, a suit like mine. He pass through here?"
"Yeah, I saw him."
Posey felt a thrill go through her at this,
"Where is he? Did he stay here?"
"Nah, he talked to Moriarty then left."
"Where's Moriarty?"
"Did somebody call for me?"
Gob shrank back as Posey turned to see a man standing behind her, tall and broad, with untidy white hair and a close trimmed goatee. He looked down at her with glittering dark eyes, and his lips twisted up in a smile.
"What can I do ya for, miss?" His lilting accent was completely foreign to Posey's ears.
"Are you Moriarty?" She asked hesitantly.
"The one and only."
"I'm looking for my dad. I hear you talked to him."
Moriarty looked at her, seemingly stymied before letting out a loud laugh. Posey, and everyone in the vicinity started at the sudden burst of mirth.
"Well I never," Said Moriarty, looking at her with new interest. Posey set her chin definitely and gripped the strap of her duffle bag tighter. "It's you! The little baby girl, all grown up. Persistent little flower, ain't ya? Then and now it would seem."
"I don't-"
"Oh I remember you, of course. It's been some time though, and I must say. You grew up awfully nicely, even if you are the vision of your old man. Yeah, I saw your Dad alright. He passed through here yesterday. Got what he came for and left."
"How do you know me? What do you mean baby girl? We've never met. My father and I were both born in Vault 101."
"Is that what your father told you?" Said Moriarty through a chuckle, giving Posey a wicked grin. "That you were born in that hole? That he was born there as well!" Moriarty let out a delighted laugh again. "Oh the lies we tell to the ones we love."
Posey felt rather like she'd missed a step going down the stairs, she stared up at this Moriarty and had the sudden urge to pluck every stupid hair out of his stupid goatee.
"My father-" She began angrily,
"Your father brought you to the vault right after you were born." Said Moriarty, loudly covering up Posey's protests. "To keep you safe, you see. I remember it well-you stayed in my saloon, after all."
Seeing the look of disbelief cross her face, he pushed ruthlessly on, seeming to draw immense delight from her shell shocked appearance.
"That's right, your father, his brotherhood of steel friend, and you, the suckling babe with nary a tit to suckle." Here, Moriarty softened slightly "Sorry about your mom, truly."
"It's-" Posey tried to begin again but Moriarty continued,
"Ah, but life goes on. Daddy lied," Posey recoiled like he'd knifed her. "life is full of little disappointments isn't it?"
Posey clenched her jaw and glared up at him, her hands curling into fists around the strap of her duffle bag.
"And now, you're all grown up..." Moriarty took his time letting his gaze lazily travel over her form. Posey fought the urge to shiver and instead forced out a sneer. "And wondering where daddy dearest has got to."
"Do you know where he is or not?" She demanded, "Quit jerking me around."
"Glad to see you've got a little spark despite that oppressive vault upbringing! You seem like a nice kid, so I'll be straight with you. Your dad was here, and now he's not, and yes-" He paused as Posey opened her mouth, unconsciously leaning forward slightly. "I, know where he went." He said, again flashing her a wicked little smirk. "But what you're asking for is information. And information is a commodity."
"What do you want, Moriarty."
"I don't know what they taught you down in that hole but a commodity has to be sold, at a reasonable market price. So?" He raised his eyebrows, "That begs the question, what is reasonable? Let's say..." He appeared to be mulling it over. Posey gripped her bag so tightly, her nails bit into her palms around the straps. "One hundred caps, and daddy's location is yours."
Posey's heart sank. "You call that reasonable!" She demanded, although in truth she had no idea how their monetary system worked up here. Caps? Like those things Colorado had payed Jenny Stahl with?
"I don't have that kind of money." She said defiantly.
"Won't get far topside without any caps, little missy. But I'll tell you what, I'll do you a favor, for old time's sake and in turn, maybe you can do a little, favor for me."
"Favor? What favor?"
"Nothing too crooked." Said Moriarty, "This junkie bitch named Silver borrowed quite a few caps from me, said she could funnel jet and psycho to me for a good price. Problem is she took off with the goods and the caps and set herself up in Springvale so she could inject herself into a stupor."
Posey wasn't sure what Jet or Psycho was but she was quite sure if Moriarty wanted it she didn't.
"Get the caps from her and they're yours. Yours to pay me with anyway." He let out another little chuckle and Posey wanted to vomit. She didn't want to work with this man. She didn't want to do him any favors. If she was being completely honest she wanted to take the nearest settler's drink in throw it in his face. Surely there was someone else who knew where her dad was.
"I get the caps and you'll tell me where my dad is?" She asked slowly.
"Cross my heart."
Posey stared up at him, gnawing her bottom lip. She could talk to someone else. Someone else in the bar must have seen, or heard something.
"The longer you stall," Said Moriarty, tilting his head slightly and looking at her with raised eyebrows. "The further your daddy could be getting."
Posey looked down, let out a sigh and slowly raised her gaze, forcing herself to meet Moriarty's keen eyes.
"Where' Springvale?"
Colorado
Colorado was trying to shake off the encounter with that odd, Vault girl with little success. For some reason, he couldn't seem to get that image, her with her enormous blue eyes looking at him in shock and something not unlike fear, out of his head. She was nothing like he'd ever seen before, so pale she seemed almost translucent, and the way she looked out at everything, like it was all fascinating and new. Which now that he thought about it, for her it probably was. He didn't like the look of her, too delicate, too fragile. Like someone had plopped a tiny bird in a room full of manky cats. She was going to get devoured in the Wasteland.
He entered Craterside Supply, giving Moria's Merc a nod, which he returned. Colorado had done some Merc work himself a couple of times, it wasn't a bad job. For the most part, he respected the people who did it.
"Good evening Mr. Colorado, it's a bit late for a visit don't ya think?" Moria, ever the chipper one, paused in her sweeping to give him a ready smile.
"You're not closed yet, I don't think that constitutes as late." He dropped his pack on the counter and started unloading the things he'd scavenged from his latest plunge out in the Waste. Extra guns, random parts Moria liked to tinker with and some Pre-War books still in readable condition, and countless other little bits and bobs that Moria seemed to delight in.
"Ooo! What a bundle of treasures you've got for me today!" She said eagerly.
Colorado said nothing, he was never quite sure what to say to Moria, so more often than not, he remained silent.
"Where did you find all this?" She asked, picking up a motorcycle brake.
"Around," Said Colorado, looking absently at a cut on the back of his hand and trying to remember how he got it. "what's your bid?"
"Well, for this much I'd say about two hundred caps."
Colorado raised his eyebrows, and slowly started gathering up his things.
"Hey!" Protested Moria, "What are you doing?"
"I can get three hundred in Rivet City from the buyers there. Already got an offer."
"But you'd have to walk all the way back there, I'll give you two-fifty."
"Three hundred."
"Two seventy five."
Colorado simply stared, and Moria, who he could tell was growing increasingly irritated by each silent second, finally burst out, "Fine! Three hundred! You are such a bully, Mr. Colorado!"
"Got to make a living somehow." He said, pushing across the items for sale and accepting the small pouch full of caps. "Pleasure doing business with you."
"Hmph, maybe next time you should just stay in Rivet City and sell to your fancy buyers there."
"Maybe next time I will, I just thought you'd appreciate these books more."
Moria scowled at him and Colorado simply gave her a slight smile before heading out into the night. It was nearly nine, judging from the light as he headed up to the water treatment plant. He'd see if Walter had any jobs for him to do, then he'd head off to the commons house and rest up before he ventured back out into the Wastes, or maybe he'd stick around for a little longer. He hadn't quite decided yet.
"Evening Walter," Called Colorado as he opened the door to the water treatment facility. "I've got you some more scrap metal."
"What?" Came the sharp voice of Walter, one of the few people Colorado associated with on a regular basis that didn't want to mug him.
"I said, I'VE GOT SOME SCRAP METAL FOR YOU!"
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOUT I'M NOT THAT DEAF YET!"
Colorado smiled to himself and started pulling the promised scrap metal out of his pack while Walter approached him, wiping his hands on an oily rag.
"Not as much as last time." Remarked Walter, "You running out of places to scavenge?"
"Nah, I was just a little rushed this time. Ran into a couple more Raiders than I was ready for. I can go back later."
While Walter counted out the agreed amount for the scraps, Colorado asked,
"You got any jobs for me yet?"
"Yes, I've been waitin' for you to get yourself back here, I've got four leaks sprung up around town and I need you to patch them. I'm too tired for hopping about and crawling all over this junk heap."
"Sounds good to me."
"Fifty caps for the leaks?"
"Keep your caps, and just watch my stuff for me tonight, I hate taking it with me when I'm sleeping in the common house. Make sure you lock up tight though."
"You should just buy a house here, and actually put down some roots for once. Quit being such a gypsy."
"Goodnight Walter." Said Colorado, stowing his pack in one of the lockers at the back of the plant and taking a tool belt from a bench, and swapping his leather armor for a jumpsuit not unlike Walter's.
Colorado liked Megaton better at night, the moon was bright and a few of the string lights around town were glowing softly in the dark, bathing the place in a softer light than when it was baking in the Wasteland sun, not to mention there were a lot less people around. He followed one of the many pipes leading from the water treatment plant around town. Now that Walter mentioned it, he thought he saw a leak on the main thoroughfare, leading down to the center of town. Deciding to start there, he headed off, feeling the cool night air on his skin. That was another thing, his leather armor and bulky scavenger pack were helpful, but it was nice to leave them off every once and a while. Trade it for something a little more breathable. He founded the leak without to much issue, and settled down, straddling the pipe and looking at it with a slight frown. He had a couple of options, and as he rummaged around in the pockets of the tool belt, he mulled them over.
A patch wouldn't hold for too long, but it might until I can find some better metal to weld on here. Does Walter have a welding torch? I wonder-
He heard footsteps approaching and glanced up, and then looked back down to his pipe, frowning. He did a double take though as he saw the Vault girl walking up the slight hill, headed for the doors out of Megaton. She'd seen him too, and she paused slightly, the two of them staring each other down. She was so odd. With a face like that, pretty, he supposed, but nothing like any kind of pretty he'd ever run into. Not haughty, or worn down, or attempting to appear as seductive as possible, like a couple of women he knew. Just, pretty. Too pretty, china plate kind of pretty that was bound to smash. Once, he'd found a tea cup when he was out scavenging, at least he'd assumed that's what it was. Hardly a chip in it, with a pale blue flower painted on it and curling green vines, and such white porcelain. Then, some Raiders had found him, and he'd dropped it. He still remembered that odd tinkling crash, and watching those bright white fragments scatter across the grimy floor.
She looked at him, her brow furrowed in confusion, and those bright blue eyes narrowed.
"Carolina," She said stiffly, walking past him.
"It's Colorado." He said reflexively.
"Whichever."
"Where are you going?" He called, in spite of himself, he immediately regretted his decision though as she slowly turned on the spot, eyebrows raised.
"Don't you know? People in the Wastes don't like it when you ask a lot of questions." She said primly.
Colorado scowled and watched as she was swallowed up by the murky dark of the Wasteland. He turned back to the pipe, now determined to fix the stupid thing.
Stupid vault girl, he thought, angrily tightening a valve next to the leak. She'll be dead in a week.
Then why, he wondered, are you wishing you'd asked her name?
An: So, this is the part where I apologize that it's nearly been a year since I've updated this...Yeah, sorry about that. In my defense I started this a couple of weeks before my first year of college. Not exactly the brightest idea. I've got the whole thing outlined though! I know how I want it to go, it's just the struggle of getting it there... but thanks for sticking with me and my inconsistent updating. I love you all! That's right, you reading this, I love you. Because you're reading this. Thank you! You know what I'd love even more though, *Stage whisper* "A review!
Just sayin'
Oh and P.S. Colorado is an OC, so if any of you are wracking your brains trying to figure out who the heck this Colorado character is, he's mine :) What do you guys think of him?