Chapter Six
"Glory and Gore"
There's a humming in the restless summer air
And we're slipping off the course that we prepared
But in all chaos, there is calculation
You've been drinking like the world was gonna end (it didn't)
We mean it but I promise we're not mean
Glory and gore go hand in hand
That's why we're making headlines
Posey
Posey didn't know how long she'd been asleep, but when she woke up, the watery light streaming down from the patchy ceiling told her it was still early morning. She rolled over with a groan, fumbling for her Pip-Boy, and blinking sleep out of her eyes. It was around seven in the morning. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and wincing. Her feet and legs were terribly sore. She wasn't use to all this walking, and after checking her Pip-Boy to see how far away Farragut West Metro station Station was, it looked like she'd have a lot more walking ahead of her. She brushed her hair impatiently out of her eyes before letting out a sigh of exasperation as the wispy strands simply fell back in place. She looked around in her duffle and saw that Amanta had somehow managed to get her a small bag full of toiletries, including a brush, several hair ties, and bobby pins (Also useful for picking locks) a bar of soap and a toothbrush and toothpaste. Maybe she'd been a coward when it came right down to it, but she did pack a good overnight bag.
Posey immediately felt a little bad for thinking that way of Amata. It was a hard thing that she'd asked, for Amata to come along with her. She knew why she'd done it, it was cowardice on her part, she didn't want to be alone out here. Well, too late now. After a quick breakfast of some prepackaged Vault food she undid the feeble attempt at an updo she'd had before and began the grisly task of brushing out her tangles.
Her hair now free of snarls, but a little staticy due to the brushing, fell almost to her elbows now, and she started a simple french braid, allowing her fingers to take over and her mind to wander. It felt good to do something as normal as braid her hair, to put some sort of effort towards normalcy, like things hadn't changed. When she was done she could meet her dad in the living room and they'd walk down to breakfast together. He would tease her about something and she would make a face and steal his toast in retaliation and he would pretend to look like old times.
She didn't realize she was crying until she felt a tear splatter onto her leg, making her jump. She shook her head slightly, and took a shaky breath, smoothing back her now braided hair. It felt much better out of her face, but she couldn't promise the neatness of it. What she would have loved was something a little more like a shower but she doubted there would be time to scrounge something like that up. She settled instead for packing up her things, stuffing Butch's jacket into her duffel and slithering down off her bed, gear in hand.
She paused, surprised to see Colorado (Was that even his real name? That couldn't be his real name) laying on the bed beneath her own. All the other beds had people in them as well but why did he choose the one right beneath hers? In the watery morning light with its dusty beams falling over his face, she could see that his eyelids were almost the same shade of pink as his lips, and he had the most fantastic eyelashes she'd ever seen. Full, thick and dark, they brushed the tops of his cheeks in his sleep. He let out a soft almost contented sigh and shifted slightly on his cot. The movement startled her and she felt herself flushing again. She stepped back and hurried out of the Common House before she could be caught staring.
No one in Megaton seemed to be early risers. She had the place to herself, and she took a moment to breath in the crisp morning air. There was no wind to rise any dust yet and she determined right then that this was her favorite time of day, as the sun slowly edged its way over Megaton's wall, and the hazy clouds were suddenly painted in such a vivid display that it took her breath away. Pinks, golds and oranges and even swathes of lavender chased each other across the pale blue sky and Posey couldn't tell how long she stood there, in awe of the heavens, but she heard the door behind her open and she whirled around. But it was just a settler she didn't know, who shot her a mistrustful gaze before moving along. Posey relaxed then, and gave one last glance to the sky then headed to the restroom to do as much of a clean up as she could before making her way to Craterside Supply. As she scrubbed her hands and arms and face in the stained sink, she tried to push the image of Colorado, sleeping in the early morning light out of her mind. The way his lips were just barely parted and the lines around his eyes had relaxed, making him look years younger, close to her own age in fact. When that door had opened behind her she was half wishing, half terrified that it would be him who walked through it.
She had other things to worry about though, and as she pulled her vault suit's sleeves back on, she immediately began to worry about what Simms had said about the Metro. Full of Ghouls and Mutants. Gob was a Ghoul, and he seemed alright, once you got over how he looked. But what had Simms said exactly? Feral Ghouls? Posey had read a lot of books, her vocabulary was fairly extensive. She knew what feral meant.
She pressed her hands over her eyes and took a deep breath. She had nothing else for her here, she had to go after him. Maybe she'd get lucky. She was small enough that she was usually good at sneaking around and going undetected, yet not to small that she'd be overpowered too easy in a fight. She just hoped Feral Ghouls and Mutants weren't more observant that Jonas when she'd snuck into swap his Nuka Cola with her rigged one that would drop Mint Bombs down it in when he opened it.
"I'm going to die." She mumbled, pressing her hands harder over her eyes until she saw spots on her closed lids. She shook her head, and picked up her stuff.
No! Don't think like that! You're a good shot and you can do this. You can sneak past them. You can do this. Dad did it, you can do it. You can do this. You can do this.
She kept up a steady stream of affirmations all the way to Craterside Supply, and when she opened the door, she was greeted by a very chipper woman behind the counter.
"Good morning! Welcome to Craterside Supply, if you need it, we've got it! I'm Moria Brown!"
Posey had never encountered someone like this woman. She was practically beaming at Posey, and Posey flashed a weak smile back before stepping fully into the store.
"Morning, Lucas Simms said that-"
"Wait a minute," Said Moria, coming around the counter and looking closely at Posey's suit. "It is you! You must be that Vault stray I've heard so much about!"
"I, uh-"
"I haven't seen one of those suits in years! You're just the person I was waiting for! Tell me, what was life in the vault like?"
"Uh, fine? I guess, I don't know. It was, musty." Said Posey, she glanced at a muscle bound man leaning against the wall, he merely glowered and shrugged.
"Musty, huh." Moria looked thoughtful. "Hey, would you mind helping me with the forward for my book? An account of Vault life from an actual vault resident would be amazing!"
"Book?"
All Posey wanted was that armored vault suit she could see hanging up behind the counter and to go after her dad.
"Yes! I'm writing a Wasteland Survival Guide. But I need a little help, oh do say you'll help me! It'll be loads of fun! I'll pay you too!"
"I was actually hoping, Miss Brown-"
"Please! Call me Moria."
"Okay, Moria. I'm looking for my dad, and he's gone to D.C. and I've got to go after him."
Moria's eyes widened. "Well mercy me! That's awful dangerous!"
"So I've heard," Said Posey slightly impatiently. "Lucas Simms told me you had an armored Vault suit? He said you'd be able to, uh, give it, to me."
"Oh, that." Moria turned and looked at the suit then turned back to Posey with a smile. "I know! Why don't we do a little trade! I'll give you the vault suit, and I'll even toss in some more ammo for that Hunting Rifle of yours, and in exchange, once you find your daddy, you come back and help me with my book!"
Posey was getting impatient. She was wasting time with this women. She seemed nice enough but Posey had to get on the road.
"Sure, fine. I'll help you once I find my dad, can I have that suit now, please?"
"Why of course!" Said Moria, grinning and giving Posey's shoulder a little shove. "That's what a trade is, silly! Let me get it down for you!"
Posey rubbed her shoulder ruefully, it was still tender from the blow from Officer Mack. Moria quickly fetched the suit and handed it over to Posey with a grin.
"There's a store room just back here that you can change in if you want. If you give me the suit you're wearing right now I might be able to see if I could reinforce that one as well. I do love tinkering."
"Sure, if you want it." Said Posey slowly. Her current suit was anything but fresh but if this lady thought it could be useful...
Back in the storeroom, Posey shed her old suit and slipped into the armored one. Already she could feel a difference. The new suit was much heavier, and seemed to be enforced with some kind of something, Kevlar perhaps? The fabric was much harder to bend, and yet wasn't necessarily uncomfortable. She rolled up the legs slightly above her boots, and flexed her arms and legs. She could move well enough, and although the bulky shoulder pads felt a little silly, she was sure they could come in helpful. Shoulders never healed quite right from bullet wounds. She strapped on the utility belt that had come with it and slung the bandoleer around her head so it crossed from her left shoulder down to her right hip. She filled it with the spare ammo Moria had supplied her with, and put the rest in one of the pockets on her belt. There was also a holster strapped to her thigh that her 10 mm pistol fit in rather nicely.
"My goodness, that suit looks like it was just made for you!" Said Moria happily. Posey had to admit it was a much better fit than she was expecting.
"Thank you so much for loaning it to me. I promise I'll come back and help you with your book." Said Posey sincerely.
"Loan? Oh no, it will serve you much better than just hanging back here behind the counter! You go out and find your dad. Good luck! And don't forget my book!"
"I won't, I promise." Said Posey, fitting her rifle in straps across her back. She hoped she could get to it if she need it in a hurry. "I'll be back once I find my dad."
Moria smiled and waved as Posey stepped out of the door.
She felt a little conspicuous in her new suit, but luckily there were still a very small number of people out and about, and Posey felt a little better prepared about whatever she was headed for. She checked her Pip Boy and made sure that her compass was accurate, and it was set for Farragut West Metro station. It was, and as she set off down the rusted walkways, she glanced down at the bomb in the middle of town. She hadn't forgot her promise to look at that, either. She'd definitely be back to Megaton, and hopefully with her father in tow. She paused at the town gates and turned to give the place one last look. Well, she hoped it wouldn't be her last look, but she couldn't help the feeling of trepidation as she turned away and pushed the doors open and stepped out into the Wasteland sunshine.
Colorado
The stirrings of the other settlers were what woke Colorado and he sat up quickly, already on the alert but nothing seemed to be amiss. Just people starting their day, just like he was. He swung his feet off the mattress and got up, stretching his arms up over his head. He felt a little stiff, but he'd slept in worse places than a Common House bunkbed. Much worse. He turned and was surprised to see the bunk Posey had been occupying was empty. She must have been very quiet about it, or maybe he was just much more tired than he'd thought. It troubled him that he hadn't woken up for that, maybe he wasn't as sharp as he used to be. He glanced around the Common House, but there was no evidence of the girl from Vault 101. Where'd she take off to this time?
Why do you care? He asked himself, setting off for the water treatment plant to get his things from Walter. She's no concern of yours. The last thing you need is some helpless puppy tagging along after you with their own agenda.
By the time he reached the water treatment plant, the thoughts of the girl from the vault were long gone and now his mind was churning on where he should head to next. He had quite a few caps from his last few transactions, but the problem was, he never knew what he was saving for. Saving for a better gun, saving for more ammo, then things to repair that gun and he had to get food and water too, didn't he?He knew he was lucky in the caps department, to always have a little to spare, just in case, but he wished he had some kid of goal, an endgame in sight. He hadn't had one of those in years. He knocked on the door and entered, trying to shake these unhelpful thoughts too. He didn't need to be getting all introspective now.
"Come to collect your things?" Asked Walter,
"Yeah, unless you need anything else."
"There's a bit of minor repairs around here that needs to be done." He paused, looking at Colorado through narrowed eyes "You don't look so good, son."
"What? No, I'm fine."
"You look like you need a drink, what's up with you?"
"A drink? Walter, it's not even noon yet."
The old man shrugged, "Might clear your head."
"I don't think that's what alcohol does."
"That's your problem boy, you think too much."
Colorado let out a laugh, "Maybe you're right. I haven't been to Moriarty's in a while."
"Well what are you waiting for? Go on, git."
Colorado let out a slight laugh as the older man pushed him out of the plant and closed the door behind him. Maybe Walter was right, maybe he could use a drink. If it didn't clear his head, maybe at least it would blur the image of that vault girl, Posey, and that stupid tea cup, it's white fragments splattered with scarlet raider's blood. He shook himself and set off to the Saloon. It had been a while since he'd had a drink.
The place was just as he remembered it, dark and smoke filled, with people skulking in their usual corners and Gob still fiddling with the radio. Moriarty was nowhere to be seen however. Gob looked up as Colorado approached and reached for a glass.
"The usual, Colorado?"
"Sure, thanks Gob."
Colorado took a seat at the bar, eyes sweeping the place. It was a habit that he'd picked up out in the Wastes. Find the potential threats and all the exists, and see if you could spot any good loot while you were at it. Not that he would steal from Moriarty. He wasn't scared of the little man per say, but he wasn't stupid enough to go looking for trouble from him either. Colorado liked the setup he had. The freedom of selling to both Megaton and Rivet City and flit between the two. He didn't want that getting messed up for him.
Gob set down his drink and Colorado accepted it with a word of thanks. Gob nodded and was about to turn back to his radio when Colorado asked suddenly,
"Hey Gob, did you by chance ever see that girl from the vault?"
"Sure did, the little blonde one looking for her dad?"
"Yeah, where did she go?"
Gob looked at Colorado, a smirk playing on what was left of his lips.
"Why? What's it to ya, tough guy? You like the look of her?"
"What? No, I-"
Gob laughed, he'd never seen the usually solemn man this flustered.
"This is the first girl I've ever heard of you having eyes for. Real shame, that is."
"Why?" Said Colorado sharply, putting down his drink. He hadn't even gotten a sip of it yet.
"'Cuz she's probably dead by now. She headed off to D.C. last I heard, to- Hey!"
This last part was delivered in annoyance as Colorado, who finally decided to knock back his drink, choked on the amber liquid, and spat it out in a fine spray, coughing violently.
"Watch it, will ya! I just wiped down the counter!" Said Gob, picking up another rag.
"D.C.?" Sputtered Colorado, his voice hoarse and eyes streaming. "Why the hell would she go there?"
"Moriarty told her that's where her dad went. To G.N.R. Studios."
"That's in the middle of downtown!" He said between coughs.
"I know. Tough break, I liked the kid. She seemed real decent."
Colorado sat, stunned while a grumbling Gob mopped up his mess.
G.N.R. Studios? She'll never make it out of the metro!
He thought about that tea cup again, watched in slow motion as it smashed to the ground, the blue flower breaking evenly in two. He could see her, Posey, in his mind's eye, drowning in that ridiculous leather jacket and looking up at him with wide blue eyes.
'look, I'm just trying to find my dad.'
His grip on the glass tightened and his jaw clenched. Daddy issues, why did it always boil down to Daddy issues?
Flowers don't grow in the Wasteland, sweetheart
He stood up so fast he knocked his stool backwards,
"Whoa, buddy." Said Gob, looking a little concerned, "What're you doing?"
Colorado shook his head, thinking hard. He clenched his fist, and unclenched it, drumming his fingers against his thigh.
"Awh hell," he growled and Gob looked more confused than ever as Colorado tossed some caps on the counter and turned, muttering "That's a damn good question, Gob. Just wish me luck, and let's cross our fingers that I actually make it out of this mess."
"What mess?" Called Gob helplessly as Colorado shrugged into his pack.
"Never been to D.C. before. Real shame considering it's so close, don't ya think?"
"But-"
"Don't wait up." He said grimly, and he left the saloon. Leaving his whiskey unfinished and his caps scattered on the bar.
Posey
Posey scrabbled across the floor of the rusted out subway car, feeling her heart pound in her chest as that thing chasing her clawed and yowled at the narrow gap she'd squeezed through, its emaciated arms thrashing at her. She felt its bony hand clasp with surprising strength around her ankle, felt it yank her back, it's long talon like fingers digging into her boot and she let out a terrified sob. She kicked it away and scrambled back on all fours, pressing herself back against a fallen row of seats. The ghoul still growled and hurled itself at the gap, arms straining towards her, bulging white eyes rolling in its uneven sockets, screeching at her, ropes of red tinged spittle hanging from its yellowed teeth.
Her gunshot graze from her escape of the vault had reopened, blood streaming down into her right eye and she'd cut her neck on the subway car's ragged metal edges when she'd wormed her way into it, the blood quickly soaking her collar. She held her pistol in shaking hands and pulled the trigger before properly aligning her shot. She was insanely lucky, the kick pack recoiled and the deafening echo of the gun's blast forced her eyes shut, but when she reopened them, tears streaming and ears ringing, she saw the ghoul, slumped forward, wedged in the car, and blood and other stuff dripping from its shattered skull. Posey turned her face away but could already feel what was coming. She dropped her gun and turned her head to the side, and just managed to get on all fours before vomiting. She was sick as she'd ever been, retching up everything she'd had in her system, which thankfully wasn't much. She kept heaving and heaving even when there was nothing but bile until she felt like her insides were torn and twisted. She fell back against the seats she'd been pressed up against during the altercation and sat, panting and trembling, feeling cold all over at yet too hot at the same time. She closed her eyes, and waited for her heart to slow. When that wasn't happening she counted her breaths, in one, out two, in one, out two.
She didn't know how long she sat there, five minutes, ten, twenty? Until her heart finally slowed and she opened her eyes. The ghoul still hung there, blocking her exit and she turned her head away again, getting shakily to her feet and moving instead to a mostly intact line of seating in the car, so she was looking at the other side of the car instead of the dead ghoul.
She didn't know how long she'd been in the metro. It couldn't have been more than an hour but it felt like weeks. It hadn't been too bad at first. She'd hacked into the metro's terminal and for a while, had a clunky robot zapping things for her, until one of those stupid Mole Rats took a chunk out of its electrical wiring near the base of its neck. At least that had electrocuted the rat as well. Her Pip-Boy said she was close. She had to be close. She couldn't take much more of this. Gently, she probed the wound in her neck and was relieved to see that it was shallow, more of a scrape than anything, and now that her heart had slowed, the blood had stopped flowing from it. Except for the fact that she'd received it from a centuries old rusted subway car, it wouldn't cause much harm.
"I'm going to die of tetanus down here." she said through trembling lips, reaching into her bag and grabbing a bottle of isopropyl alcohol and a bandage.
No your not, Dad gave you a tetanus shot just a few-
Then she was crying again, covering her mouth to muffle her sobs, her shoulders hunched and her head bowed. This was so unfair! She was never going to make clear to D.C. She was going to die in this damn metro station! With unsteady hands, she cleaned her two wounds as best as she could, and bandaged them up, putting away her medical supplies. What made her think she could survive out in the Wasteland? Her dad was right, she should have stayed in the vault. Maybe she could go back, beg for admittance, maybe The Overseer-
No! She thought, getting uneasily to her feet, I'm not going to go beg for Old Man Almodovar's mercy, he killed Jonas! I'm getting out of here and I'm finding dad if it's the last thing I do! She took a swig of water and swished it around her mouth to rid the foul taste of bile from it and spat it out, trying to ignore the little thought in her head that said It might just be the last thing you ever do.
She pushed the ghoul out of the crevice with her foot, and it slumped backwards easy enough, what was left of its head cracking against the broken up cement beneath it. Posey shivered, then on instinct, unzipped her duffel and pulled out Butch's jacket, slipping it on over her armored suit, which was a little difficult due to the obscene shoulder guard, but better than nothing. For some reason, that made her feel a little braver. She use to be afraid of Butch Deloria? And yet she'd just killed a Feral Ghoul. She didn't need to be afraid of anything. She crawled out of the subway car carefully and looked up ahead in the musty dimness of the metro tunnel. She could see a sort of atrium up ahead, with stairs leading up to some kind of platform. Stairs were a good sign, stairs meant up, and up meant out. She crept forward, trading her pistol for her rifle and waited, listening hard. She thought she could hear more ghouls up ahead, but this time, she would have the jump on them.
She made her slow progression towards a pile of fallen down tunnel, rubble stacked up high enough to crouch behind. She used a fairly flat piece of stone as a brace and lined up her rifle, eyes scanning the murky depths. She saw one ghoul, and felt her heart beat steadily pick up but she forced her hands to be steady, forced her breathing to remain even. She lined up the shot. The ghoul was standing still, almost like it was waiting. Waiting...
BANG!
The Ghoul dropped and Posey sat up, looking around frantically for more to be drawn by the sound. None came. She slunk forward, crouched low, being careful where she stepped, trying to be as quiet as possible. The atrium opened up and to Posey's delight, she could see sunlight streaming in from another set of stairs leading off of the platform.
The exist! She thought and she straightened up, jogging towards the stairs and taking them two at a time.
That's when everything went wrong. Just as she was about to reach the top she heard a familiar screech and saw a Feral Ghoul, hurling itself down the stairs at her. Without thinking, Posey vaulted across the railing to the second staircase running parallel to hers, letting the ghoul collide with and tumble down the flight she'd been on and she continued running towards the top. When she reached it, she saw two more heading for her. Before her panic set in, she lifted her rifle and shot the closest one, nailing it right in the chest before turning and tearing away to the set of stairs that lead to sunlight. She could hear the ghouls behind her, but all she thought about was the chainlink gate at the top of the stairs. Once she made it there, she could slam them behind her. Hopefully they weren't smart enough to work the latch.
She made it to the top of the stairs, threw the gate open and as quickly as she could slammed them shut, thrusting down the latch just as the Ghouls reached it, crashing into the gates with such force that Posey was knocked backwards, landing hard on the slabs of stone and her rifle skittering away across the old pavement. The ghouls pressed their faces through the chainlinks snapping and snarling and Posey knew the rusted metal wouldn't hold for long. Still on her back, she pulled her pistol from the holster on her thigh and with two short blasts, the ghouls crumpled.
Posey let her head fall back against the paving stones, panting and staring up at the overhang above her, and from there, out to the sky. It was a brighter blue than she'd seen yet, though still a slight haze of clouds pervaded the atmosphere. Everything always seemed so hazy in the Wasteland. She closed her eyes, and placed her hand over her chest, feeling her heart thud under her scarred palm. She'd made it. She was alive. She let out something between a sob and a laugh, throwing her arm over her eyes, and taking a deep breath and letting it out slow. She checked her Pip-Boy, and saw that she was now in D.C. which meant she wasn't done yet. She was fairly certain the things she'd run into were ghouls. They'd had the same rotted look about them as Gob. Which meant she still hadn't encountered a Super Mutant yet. She had no idea what to expect, Simms hadn't been forthright with that information. Just that she would encounter them. It wasn't his fault, he probably just assumed she would know what they were, just like everyone else knew what they were.
She let herself lie there for a little while longer, feeling like she would have gladly slept there, if had been a little more secure of a location, but she was so close! Her dad was in D.C. or at least he had been. Surely, she couldn't be that far behind him. And it wasn't like he was exactly in his prime. Her father was no slouch but she was exhausted and she was nineteen for crying out loud. He had to be slowing down at least a little bit.
She got laboriously to her feet, and went across to pick up her rifle. It seemed to have been no worse for wear from it's dance across the pavement. She put her pistol back in its holster and reloaded her rifle before looking up the shallow set of stairs. Her Pip-Boy dinged slightly and she glanced down at it to see the words Chevy Chase blinking on her map. She could already see the hints of the dilapidated buildings and the broken up skyline of what she knew then to be downtown D.C. The G.N.R. Studio couldn't be far from here then. She mounted the stairs carefully, ears straining for any sound of danger. All she heard was the wind whistling through the derelict buildings, rustling refuse across the long abandoned streets.
At the top of the stairs there was some sort of odd steel structure, for decoration or for some sort of practical function she couldn't tell, but the Metro station seemed to be positioned on what had been a street corner, although now hardly the semblance of a street remained. Posey looked up at what had she was sure at one time, been lofty sky skyscrapers and lavish buildings. Now they'd fallen into disrepair and degradation. Burned out remnants of cars were placed along the road, almost as if a child had set up a model of a city before smashing it greedily. She glanced down at her Pip-Boy, her compass was directing her to the south, where the road sloped down beneath the buildings. Her heart sank, if she had to go through another metro...
She set off, eyes glued to her Pip-Boy's screen, when she heard an awful voice shout,
"Fresh meat coming our way, boys!"
Posey looked up to see an enormous green monster barreling towards her, teeth bared in something like a grin, a rifle that seemed practically toy like in its meaty hands. To her horror, a similar creature followed close behind, each roaring in delight at their new prey. She raised her rifle, but they were already delivering a hailstorm of bullets her way, and Posey dived hastily behind a crumpled car, terrified that the barrage would tear through the ancient metal and find a new home in her flesh. She raised herself on one knee and prepared to shoot back when she heard the same gravelly voices cry out in pain and anger, and new voices, almost as if coming from a radio, mingling in the cacophony.
Carefully, wary of any new attempt at filling her body full of lead, Posey peered around the hood of the car, to see the green beasts being blasted with what seemed to be lasers. They retaliated with their bullets, the blasts echoing throughout the hollow city but soon fell. All was quiet, until an angry, female and hopefully human voice called:
"Hey! Civilian!"
Posey rose carefully, hands in the air, just in case these newcomers were trigger happy, and slowly edged around from behind the car.
"Over here!"
The voice was coming from across the street, near the base of one of the buildings. She saw a group of individuals who looked more robotic than humanoid, with hulking suits of armor that completely concealed their bodies, from the top of their heads to the toes of their feet, except for one, she had no helmet on and was scowling at Posey.
"Yeah you, dumb ass!" Called the helmetless woman, gesturing for Posey to come closer "Get over here before more show up!" There was a set of make shift bridges spanning the gap that had once been some sort of overpass and Posey hurried along them, passing the remains of the monsters with trepidation. She reached the group of what she hoped were humans and said, relief heavy in her voice, "Thank you, if you-"
"Look," Said the women, who Posey could now see wasn't much older than herself, with dark blonde hair swept messily aside and dirty streaking her face. "I don't know who you are, but you don't belong here. The Super Mutants have overrun our brothers at the Galaxy News Radio building and we're on our way to back them up. I don't know what the hell you're doing here but tag along if you want. Keep up and don't do anything stupid. Got it?"
"Yes, of course." Said Posey, although she really didn't. Those were Super Mutants? "And I just wanted to say thank you again, I had no idea this place was so dangerous."
"Have you been living under a rock?" Demanded the women. Posey bit her lip. In a sense, she thought, under a lot of rock, actually. "This is D.C. the entire city is crawling with Super Mutants. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
She clearly had no time, nor patience for newcomers, and Posey could hardly blame her. She just wished she knew who these people were that she was following behind. One of them was clearly male, and was talking to someone named Reddin, who seemed to be going through some sort of training, or perhaps initiation. The group jogged through a hollowed out building, their radios buzzing in communications. She could hear more Super Mutants up ahead, yelling barbarically and the loud reply of gunfire.
They came to something almost like a courtyard, buildings, or more like the skeletons of buildings framing a square of pavement where more rusting away cars were scattered. There was a hailstorm of bullets and Posey and the armed brothers quickly ducked behind whatever was available for shelter. Posey ended up crouched behind one of the cars with one of the members in full armor. It was disconcerting to be so close to someone and yet not see their face. They didn't pay Posey any attention though, focusing all their fire on the Mutants, who were standing defiantly in the upper levels of one of the buildings, raining down bullets on the party. When her companion stopped to reload their gun, Posey took point, carefully aiming through the broken windows and dispatching of one of the mutants.
"Nice shot." Came a crackling voice, and the armored person helped her to her feet as they advanced forward
It was all a blur of bullets and barbaric shouting as Posey followed her new companions through the dilapidated building, aiding in the take down of three more Super Mutants. It was unlike anything Posey had ever done. She'd been on a team before, Vault 101's baseball team but this was something entirely new. The way they moved, and spoke. Unified in one goal, taking orders without question, and completing tasks with a kind of precision Posey had never come across before. On the move once more, Posey glanced down at her Pip-Boy and was delighted to see that the G.N.R. building was mere feet away.
They entered now it to what was definitely a plaza, in the center of which stood a fountain with a cracked and dry basin, and a pitted and rusty statue featuring a model of the earth, several sandbag barriers and three Super Mutants. Posey, having no armor, or at least comparatively terrible armor didn't feel at all ashamed by diving directly behind a sandbag barrier, and allowing those more capable to take point on this particular altercation. She helped where she could though, generally finishing off the brutes with quick head shots while they were distracted by the other threats. They made short work of the mutants, and stood in the aftermath looking at each other and taking a moment to appreciate that this time at least, there had been no casualties. The women who Posey had first encountered, actually gave her a small smile, and the other members of her party seemed to relax slightly
"So, how'd I do boss?" Asked a young and eager voice as the party began to drift apart, and the women, Posey assumed she was their leader, said into her radio.
"We're all clear out here, all threats have been neutralized."
"Come on, Vargas!" Continued the younger voice, "Did I pass my little trial test? The Lyons' Pride needs me and you know it! That Citadel guard duty is such crap..."
"Yeah yeah," Said the male voice she'd heard before. "We'll see. Now knock that off! You're wasting ammo!"
The younger initiate, Reddin, Posey thought, had been whooping triumphantly and shooting her gun into the air.
"Oh come on, Vargas." She said playfully, "We already creamed them! Loosen up!"
The man, Vargas, chuckled slightly. "Yes, I suppose we did."
Posey felt suddenly intrusive. She didn't know these people, she didn't share the sense of comradery that they clearly did, yet they'd saved her life none the less. Hesitantly, Posey re-holstered her rifle and approached the blonde women that she'd first seen.
"Not too bad a shot for a sewer stray." Said the women appreciatively as Posey approached. "I must say, for someone who lives under a rock, you're pretty handy in a crisis."
"Thanks." Said Posey, feeling oddly bashful all of the sudden. "I never caught your name, Miss..."
"Lyons. Sarah Lyons, I'm the leader of the Lyons' pride, a division of the Brotherhood of Steel."
Posey didn't have the faintest idea what any of that meant.
"Listen, I just wanted to say thanks again, for helping me out, and I was wondering, I'm looking for a man named Three-"
Suddenly there was an awful thundering crash and everyone in the courtyard fell silent, suddenly all on high alert as there echoed from behind a barricade a deafening roar, followed by more thunderous crashes.
"Get back!" Shouted Vergas, readying his weapon, "It's a Behemoth!"
"A what?" Bellowed Posey over the roars, but Sentinel Lyons was already rushing to her comrades, weapon at the ready. Posey made to follow her when there was a sudden blast and Poesy was hurled off her feet by the force of a ear splitting explosion that sent shrapnel from the Brotherhood's barricade flying everywhere.
Hearing robbed by the detonation and head spinning, Posey struggled to her feet, staggering. She could hear, as if from a long way off the pop pop pop of the Lyons' Pride's gunfire. They were shooting through the smoke of what had been previously their barricade.
Posey shook her head slightly, trying to clear it but the world was still spinning and the shouts of Sentinal Lyons and her pride were like trying to hear something underwater, everything was garbled and disconnected. Then, something truly horrific emerged from the smoke and Posey's mouth ran dry.
If she'd thought they other Mutant's were big, this one made them look like children. Standing at easily twelve or twenty feet, wielding a fire hydrant attached crudely to what appeared to be a telephone pole, this Mutant roared a challenge at the Pride, hefting it's weapon as easily as Posey wielded her baseball bat. Its sickly green skin was bulging with muscle, and it had on its own version of armor, peices of random junk held together with barbed wire. Every tread of its tremendous feet resulted in a tremor throughout the ground.
The Pride's bullets seemed only to be angering it, and Posey took an involuntary step back, tripping over something and landing painfully against the stone lip of the fountain. She looked down and saw a fallen member of the Pride, and next to it, one of the largest guns she'd ever seen. She glanced back at the Behemoth , then down at the gun, dropped by the fallen soldier. She hadn't the faintest idea how it worked, but the Pride's guns were helpless against the giant creature. She looked back to the Behemoth and felt her blood run cold. It had seen her, and what was worse, it was grinning like it had just found the best treat of all.
Panic making her fingers clumsy, Posey hauled the heavy contraption away from the soldier. She could feel rather than see the Behemoth make its way towards her. The ground was shaking, harder, and harder the closer it got. She could hear the Pride's shouts and their guns, but all she could see was the rocket, about the size and shape of a football, resting near the fallen man's hand. She scrambled forward grabbed it, and slide back to where she'd positioned the gun, hastily shoving it into the barrel. The ground was trembling in earnest now, she could hear the Behemoth roars, just ahead, twenty feet away.
She positioned the gun on the ground not unlike a small cannon, sprawling in the dirt behind it and tilting its nozzle up. She'd have to account for its path, she had a feeling the rocket would have a gradual arc as it descended. The Behemoth shouted a garbled challenge at her, raising its club and preparing to rush down and smash her into oblivion, it took one last earth shaking bound-
Posey yanked back the lever and pulled the trigger.
The insulating blast would have knocked Posey off her feet again, but as it was, it sent her skidding backwards in the dirt for a few inches, a wave of heat sweeping over her as she lay, face hidden in her folded arms. All was quiet for a moment, and Posey worried that she'd permanently lost her hearing. She raised her head slightly, looking out across the courtyard. The smoking remains of the Behemoth were all she could see, and as she shakily got to her feet, she saw Sentinal Lyons and the members of the pride who were still standing, giving her looks of shock and mingled disbelief. Posey warily walked around the enormous corpse before standing in front of Sentinal Lyons, looking self conscious. Her hearing was slowly returning although now it was coupled with an intense and irritating ringing.
"I guess it's me who should be thanking you this time." Said Sentinal Lyons, looking a Posey with almost begrudging respect. "Anyway, the area is secure. You said you needed to talk to Three Dog?"
"Yes." Said Posey, perhaps a bit louder than was necessary. Sarah's lips twitched in a small smile.
"They should let you in now. Watch yourself out there." She turned away but Posey called,
"Wait, Sentinel Lyons,"
The women paused, and looked back at Posey, standing in front of the charred remains of the Behemoth, her face smeared with grime and gore, hair wild.
"I'm sorry, about your soldiers." Said Posey, "They seemed like good people."
"Thank you." Said Lyons, her gaze softening slightly on the younger girl. "Three Dog should be just inside, on the second floor."
"Thanks."
Posey turned and stepped over the arm of the downed Behemoth, and headed up the stairs into the G.N.R. building.
Colorado
The Metro station was eerily empty. Colorado had run into several corpses: Mole rats, and a ghoul, but thankfully, no Vault girls. He'd been creeping along for almost an hour now, trepidation and dread curling in his stomach, waiting to find bloodied remains of the girl, but so far, all he could see was a wake of destruction she'd left in her path. He had to admit, he was impressed. He'd also scavenging the place as he went. He figured he might as well make use of his time and see what he could find while on his heroic and idiotic quest. He walked along the corridor, his Combat Shotgun at the ready, ears pricked for danger and eyes sweeping across the place. There were faded and peeling ads on the Metro walls, from Pre-War travel agencies, and he had to pause at one.
Cool, Colorful Colorado invites you! Read the faded paint. Colorado smirked slightly, reaching up a hand and running his fingers over the edge of a majestic mountain that the words had been imposed above. An baby blue car was driving along a winding road edged in pine trees, and Colorado could see the tiny faces of a family through the windows.
"Not much of a name, Colorado." He said under his breath. Really, he'd had no place to think Posey's was odd. But it really was, Posey, Posey, who names their kid Posey? She at least, hadn't chosen her name. He, on the other hand...
He stepped back, shaking his head. No, Colorado was who he was now. Everyone knew him as that, everyone that mattered anyway. He turned and walked quickly away, leaving the faded mural behind, the family's faces frozen forever in their cheerful smiles.
Colorado stood out in the open air a few minutes later, blinking in the sunlight, eyes sweeping over the fallen buildings of downtown D.C. Truly, this city must have been something to behold in its hay day. He walked past rusted remains of cars, his eyes taking in what use to be such streamline lines, built for gliding along an open road flanked with pine trees, destined for Cool, Colorful Colorado.
Still nothing stirred, and he felt something prickle on the back of his neck. He whirled around, convinced something had been behind him, breathing down his neck, but there was nothing. Panting slightly, he turned back around, shifting his grip on his gun. A slight breeze lifted his hair, made the buildings and other dilapidated structures creak slightly. Had she really made it, all this way? He'd seen no reason to believe otherwise. He crept forward, following a clearly man made track across the broken down buildings, again, scavenging all he could while keeping his eyes peeled for Super Mutants. Everyone said D.C. was crawling with them, and yet, he hadn't spotted a single one. He stopped, looking off to his right,
Correction, He thought, I haven't seen a single live one.
Two dead Super Mutants lay sprawled out on the pavement, but he could tell that they were fairly fresh. But they'd been killed by laser weapons, he could see the charred ring around their wounds. Posey hadn't had a laser weapon, had she? He carried on, shaking his head. He had to give that girl from the Vault more credit. She was much tougher than she looked. Maybe she didn't need help after all. Colorado looked towards the tall building with the banner emblazoned with the Brotherhood of Steel insignia, and almost unconsciously his feet carried him forward.
Well, he thought, never hurts to ask.
Posey
The building looked more like a bunker and less like Posey's idea of a radio station ought to be. More members of the Brotherhood of Steel milled about, and there were still sandbag barriers around the place. She walked hesitantly forward, but to her surprise, none of the Brotherhood stopped her. They all seemed to have their own problems to worry about. She did stop one of them however, and asked where she could find Three Dog and he was also surprisingly obliging. Thanking him, Posey followed his prescribed path, up the flight of stairs, and tried to ignore the soreness in her, well in her everything, but especially her legs. She'd rarely felt as tired as she had her first few days in the Wasteland, and she had half a mind to curl up on the floor. But her dad might be here, so she forced herself to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Posey mounted one last final set of stairs before a commanding voice said "Stop!"
Posey did so, looking up at the head of the stairs where a man stood, arms crossed over his chest, and staring imperiously down at her. He gave her a slight smirk, his dark tinted glasses flashing in the fluorescent lights. "Your face says it all." He said smoothly, "You're wondering who the heck this guy is, and why should you care. Well," He spread his arms out as if welcoming her in for a hug, "Prepare to be enlightened."
The only thing Posey wanted to prepare for was bed, but she had to hand it to him, he had good showmanship.
"I am Three Dog," He said dramatically, "Jockey of discs and teller of truths. Lord and master over the finest radio station to grace the Wastes. Galaxy News Radio. And you?" He raised an eyebrow, "I know who you are. Heard about you leavin' the Vault, travelin' the unknown. Just like dear ol' Dad, hmm? Met him already."
"You know my dad," Said Posey, advancing up the steps, all soreness and exhaustion temporarily forgotten."You've seen him? Where is he? Is he here?"
"Hey hey hey, one thing at a time." Said Three Dog, holding up his hands. "You're old man ain't here. Not anymore."
"What?" Said Posey, crestfallen. He'd slipped away, again?
"He heard old Three Dog on the radio and figured I knew what was what out here in the Capital Wasteland, and he was right. So I filled him in. But he took off, looks like I've got my way of contributing to the Good Fight, and he's got his own."
"Good Fight?" Said Posey, frowning slightly, "What Good Fight? What do you mean?"
"You're certainly full of questions," Said Three Dog, but for the first time since entering the Wasteland, he seemed pleased about it rather than annoyed. "Imagine a picture." He said, his deep voice rumbling through the otherwise quiet air. "A picture of the Capital Wasteland. What do you see?"
"Uh-"
"All that brick and rock, a whole lot of nothing, right?"
"I guess so."
"There's people out there, trying to make it. Just scraping by, day by day. Fighting to stay alive and make something of what they've got. But then you got all kinds of problems..." He was steadily getting more heated, ticking of the threats of the Wasteland on his fingers, "Raiders, Super Mutants, Slavers." He paused here, staring at Posey, letting his words sink in. "They all want a piece of the pie too." He said quietly. "And they aim to take it, by any means necessary."
Posey felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise steadily, "So you fight the Good Fight," she said slowly, "with your voice. On Galaxy News Radio."
Three Dog beamed at her. "Well aren't you a chip off the old block," He said brightly, "You ARE as smart as your dad."
Posey flushed slightly, trying not to looked too pleased.
"Well since you know all about this cause, there's no need to explain the effect. Let's get you on your way."
Posey grinned, he was going to tell her where her dad went! Surely, she would find him this time. She had to.
"How come you trust me so easily," She asked, her smile fading slightly. This was definitely the easiest information she'd ever gotten, and the best she'd been received as well. "You hardly know me."
"The fact that the Brotherhood let you up here tells me you're alright, and your dad seemed like a real decent guy. Besides, you're giving off a pretty sweet vibe right now, maybe we can help each other out."
Posey's smile faltered slightly. He was going to tell her, wasn't he?
"Enough yakin'" Said Three dog, "Tell me why we're talking."
"I'm trying to find my dad." Said Posey, she'd thought she'd made that obvious enough, "Please, if you know anything that could help me find him, please tell me."
"You want to find your dad, and it just so happens that his location is known by yours truly."
Posey's heart sank, she knew where this was going. This was shaping up an awful lot like her conversation with Moriarty.
"He was here," Continued Three Dog, "at Galaxy News, we had a conversation. He seems like a real stand-up guy. If you wanna know more, you're going to have to contribute to the Good Fight."
"Was nuking that giant monster outside not enough for you!" Snapped Posey, her temper running short. "Do you know how much it has taken me to get here! I've got to find my dad! He's always been one step ahead of me, I don't have time for you're Good Fight!"
"My Good Fight?" Said Three Dog, sounding angry. "I thought you were smart, girl. It's not my Good Fight, it's everyone's Good Fight! It affects us all! You wanna find your dad, help me out. You're dad is trying to make a difference, what about you?"
"The only difference I'm making right now is that I somehow, miraculously haven't died yet!" Her voice was rising slightly in pitch and hysteria. "You want me to help? I've been in the Wasteland for TWO DAYS. I have no idea how to make it out there! All I want is to find my dad. I've got to get to him, he could be hurt! He could be in danger!"
"You made it this far, kid. You're strong, resilient. I can tell. And you're dad ain't no wimp either. He was fine when he was here. Made it through the metro and downtown D.C. no problem. You make it here, you make it anywhere."
Posey wanted to scream. Why couldn't someone just TELL her where her dad was JUST TO BE A GOOD PERSON! Why did they all want something from her! She glared at Three Dog, who stared stonily back.
"Help me with the Good Fight," he said at last, "You're one of the few people on this charred out excuse of a planet that's still good. I can see that. We need people like you."
Posey bit her lip, thinking hard. Three Dog's gaze was unwavering, she could see his dark eyes behind his glasses, he wasn't even blinking.
"What do I need to do?" She asked finally. Three Dog grinned widely,
"I knew you wouldn't let me down, girl. You're going to be the best thing that's happened to Galaxy News in a long time. Alright, listen close."
Posey sat outside in the Galaxy News Plaza on the steps leading up to the building, her back against one of the sandbag barriers, staring down at the charred remains of the Behemoth. How were they going to get rid of that thing? Or were they just going to let it rot, right there in the courtyard? They'd already gathered up their fallen brothers, and were preparing some sort of send off for them. She hoped the Super Mutants weren't sentimental enough to do the same for their fallen brother.
She'd told Three Dog she would retrieve the Virgo II's dish and replace the ruined broadcast relay with the new one. In exchange, he promised to tell her where her dad was next. Maybe, if Posey had tried a different approach, instead of blowing up at him, he might have just told her. As it was, she was faced with another Herculean task. At this rate, she definitely would end up dead in a gutter down in D.C. and she'd never see her dad again.
She let her head fall back against the sandbags and let her eyes drift shut. When she was younger, all she'd wanted was an adventure, a chance to explore the Capital Wasteland. She just never thought about how exhausting it would be. She wished she could have at least gotten some shut eye and something to eat before she headed off again, but she knew she couldn't wait, she had to find her dad, as soon as possible.
"You didn't die on me, did you blondie?"
Posey's eyes flew open and to complete and utter surprise, she saw the man from Megaton, Colorado, strolling up to the G.N.R. building, easy as you please, not even a smudge on him. He looked as if he'd just happened on an afternoon walk through post-apocalyptic D.C. Just out for a stroll, and just happened to stumble upon her, at the foot of a heavily guarded bunker surrounded by Super Mutants.
You know, just coincidentally.
"Colorado?" She said, straightening up, although she was so tired she couldn't bring herself to stand up. "What are you doing here?"
Colorado shrugged, "I was in the neighborhood." He said, propping his gun up on his shoulder. "Gob told me you were headed to D.C. to find your dad."
"I-I was."
She was so stunned, she was having troubling putting words together. What was this man doing? First he acted like he couldn't stand her, now, he was just "In the neighborhood"?
Colorado looked around, "I guess you couldn't find him." He said, taking a step over the charred Behemoth's leg and coming up to join her on the steps. Posey shook her head.
"Three Dog said he knew where he was, but he won't tell me until I contribute to the 'Good Fight'."
"Sounds like Three Dog," Said Colorado, squinting over the Plaza.
"You know him?"
"Not personally, but everyone knows who Three Dog is, and he's always yapping about the Good Fight. So, what's your contribution going to have to be?"
"I have to get a dish from the Virgo II Lunar lander in the Museum of Technology, and replace their old Broadcast Relay on the Washington Monument."
"Damn," Said Colorado, shifting his gun back down to his lap and looking it over. "That's one hell of a contribution."
"Mr. Colorado, or whoever you are," Said Posey exasperatedly, "Why are you here?"
"Jude." He said, without looking up from his gun.
"I beg your pardon?"
"My name is Jude." He looked back up at her, his green eyes practically emerald in the fading light. "Jude Hiller, and to be completely honest, I have no idea why I'm here."
Posey stared back at him, looking, and feeling utterly confused.
"I want to help you." He said with a shrug. "I don't know why, you don't seem to need much help, judging from the state you left that metro in."
"No, I-" Posey swallowed hard, "I do need help."
"Well then. I guess that's why I'm here."
"I can't pay you." Said Posey, looking at him, feeling oddly lightheaded.
"I know."
"How do I know you're not a raging psychopath who will kill me as soon as my back is turned."
"You don't I guess. Would a promise that I'm not a raging psychopath work well enough for you?"
Posey didn't know. "For now? Maybe. Eventually, I think I'd like to see some evidence."
Colorado, no, Jude, gave her a slight smile. "I think I could work on that."
Posey couldn't help the slight twitch of her own lips as she gave him a smile back.
"Alright," She said, and she held out her hand, "Partners, then. Until I find my dad."
"Till you find your dad." Agreed Jude, taking her hand and shaking it once. His hand engulfed her own, and though he wore gloves that stopped at his second knuckle , she could feel the callouses there, and as he drew back, his bare fingertips ghosted over the crescent shaped indentations on her hand. It sent a shiver down her spine.
"Well," Said Jude, getting to his feet. "We'd better get a move on, partner."
Posey couldn't remember the last time she'd smiled so wide.
An: So, once again, I have to apologize for the length. What can I say, I'm a long winded person! I'll try and cut back next chapter, but tell me. What do you guys think! Come on now, drop me a line!
How as Posey's and Jude's interaction at the end. It went a lot differently than I planned, I can tell you that. Did you like it? Love it? Hate it?
I'm begging you guys, REVIEW!
Thanks for reading as always, lovelies. I can't tell you how much it means to me!
Farewell!