Capital wasteland , January 12 2288
A loud knock calls my attention from my pip boy and I answer at the door
"Yes, who is it ?"
"It's Amata, open please"
And opening the door, I smile to my best friend "Come in please"
"How are you ? We don't see each other much -"
"Listen to me ok ? I came here to spend a week but today I saw a brotherhood patrol looking for you, and standing to what you said I don't know why they look for you"
What ? It was good I stayed at Big Town then. After all that happened in this decade I'm not sure if I want anything to do with them. I'd rather go with the regulators to collect bloody fingers than killing indiscriminately
"Have you spoken to them ?"
"Briefly. I knew you came after I woke up. Where were you ?"
"At Big Town, it was months since I didn't visit and they have been fine since years, since... Well , it's a bigger place now. Listen I'm happy, I don't have to kill anymore and I never wanted all of this" I point to the Ak rifle, a somewhat precious memory
"Anytime I was forced to kill anything I felt bad, be it raiders or mutants even slavers and alie - I mean, the only time I wished to kill someone, it was the Enclave, and then the people I know we'e doing most of the work. I can shoot now, even if I do it at bottles, but I can shoot thanks to them. And look ! Some died and I'm alive ! I have always wanted peace but raiders and mutants don' talk to people ! The owner of that rifle dies to protect me ! I WAS NEVER -" I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder, and a raspy voice
"Everything alright ?" Amata looks at him with fear
"No it's alright, the brotherhood was looking for me"
"And what do they want. They weren't too friendly last time" Looking at him with hate and me, after Sarah , and that Arthur. Warmonger like those damn Outcasts and contacted the west too. All my words for nothing, all hopes vanished and they began to use force and got away with it. I saw them dismantle Rivet city to build some airship of theirs, and killed anyone who refused to leave
Now they are at the Adams air force base with all their armor and laser to compensate their impotent selves. I was caught snooping around by some of them and it's thanks to Arthur I'm still alive... "Freyia, you ok ?"
"Yes, yes, just thinking. What are we going to do ?"
"You should stand up, you have him and people following you" Oh no...
"Amata dear, it's been months since I have last shot. I carry the rifle for protection and have Charon to help me. I don't want to hurt anything but I will try to talk them down ok ?"
She smiles "Thanks, you are the best thing happened to this place"
"And i will protect you with my life" Almost going to cry now...
"Hey don't be like this, what about I return back with Butch and our friends to eat ? I will pay, and noodles for everyone !"
"That's great ! I can always play and sing something for all of us !"
"Yes ! I will return later, see you in the evening dear !"
"Thank you so much ! See you later !"
Closing the door, I take a look at the old rifle, so many memories rushing back when we first met. Rude and not pleasant at first, but what came after...
"You look troubled. Let me ... ease your tension" He adds with a smile
"Maybe ? Let's see if you can" I sit on the sofa and he massages my shoulders, adding a slow kiss
After a few minutes I hear frantic knocking on the door again "Freyia it's me ! Please open !'
Looking at Charon, he picks the shotgun and i open the door "What's wrong ?"
She catches her breath "It's... the brotherhood" I force myself to to talk "Hurry come ins-"
And armored figure pushes her away from my sight, roughly "Move ! Finally, been looking for you and -"
I hear movement behind and the figures pulls out a plasma pistol "Drop it freak ! DOWN !"
"What the fuck you asshole !"
He doesn't look at her way either "Shut it waster !" That should be knight Merril... one of the worst I have seen "Don't you point it at me waster ! You will be killed ! Now paladin, you either tell that freak and that bitch to stand down and you come with me, or I could take my initiates and take you back"
I try to calm the standoff by putting my hands up and going out "Nobody has to get hurt please , we can talk about it. Charon, Amata, relax now" And that moment when they lower their guns, Lucas and Harden Simms come aiming at him
"You ! Explain this !"
"Calm boy, let me handle the talk. You, what's wrong miss ? Someone giving you trouble ?" Oh great
"No Lucas, no. A misunderstanding, please stay calm and nobody shoot !" ...
The younger sheriff looks at his father, lowering their guns "Hmm alright miss, don't hesitate to call us"
"Thank you, sheriff"
"My please. Charon, Amata" And Harden "I'm watching you" All settled, good
"What do you want"
"The Elder requests you. You are still one of us"
"For what"
"We will leave for the Commonwealth. Meet us after sunrise out of this shithole"
As he leaves I'm stunned by all of it and Amata has to say "Fucker. Should have sent him away. I'll call for our friends now, see you soon" I turn
"Not again please... Please..."
"I will be there with you, so are the Simms"
Laying on the sofa, I take my guitar to divert my thoughts
"Why ? Why me ? I have killed and spoke on their behalf, left for good, and yet they force me into more ! I don't want this again !"
He sits next to me "...War never changes..."
Commonwealth, Sanctuary, January 13 2288
After having different nightmares and guarding in the morning, watching at the mutated wilderness, I began thinking again after lunch. Since yesterday is not too bad, all were suspicious of me but took me in the settlement. I spoke with that Joe, and to me he looks like a delusional but useful person with much knowledge, even lots of prewar
Him and Albert knew each other since a decade but you know, it's hard to see people past their 50s, but this guy is 70. How can someone so old be still alive ? I know he has a laser pistol and the minutemen, but still can't e dangerous
Also learned about their group, informally. Apparently that big fucker and that blonde are a couple and the one I robbed from, is the minutemen's general. Can't believe my luck
I saw them exercise in the morning and I joined too, it takes me back to my teens and the old boxing place and my usual routine. Not that I'm that old anyway
I find it good, they will stay here for another week and that their base was the old world army base they renewed, and thanks to them the Commonwealth was better, but gunners and the always mysterious Institute are the most dangerous enemies. Which I heard of, the Castle and many settlements which were lost to gunners and raiders but then retaken. I am a person of open spaces and loving nature and wilderness, even the mutated one we have now has it's dark beauty
They were still under pressure by the never ending mutants and I proposed to join, and even if they agreed I had to show it. I have many thoughts now, having heard of the institute again. Replacing people, where are they and who the fuck are them. I look for the hat Joe again, I need to talk with someone and hopefully get answers, I am easily intrigued by prewar and the rest of the planet, besides the present time... I find him on a bench looking at the river
"Hi"
"Hello, need something ?"
"No not really, just some questions"
"Sure"
"What are you doing with minutemen ?"
"I want to rebuilt this land, I am a diplomat and I help settlements grow and keep them in line. Many are farmes, so I help them sending people to work there and I'm like a counsellor for the general. I know Goodneighbor, DC, Bunker Hill, and much more. Last but not least, I can recite ancient books and stories , like a bard. Have you ever met my good friend Rex Goodman ?"
"No, but I hard the name and something about a radio"
"Ah yes, he is a very dedicated man, I have met him 2 years ago, or around then when he was saved from mutants. Apparently he tried to teach Macbeth to them, funny story" Great, another delusional...
"I know what you think. How can someone like me live this long ? If needed I can shoot well enough" He pats the pistol
"Why lasers ?"
"It's easy dear, I'm too old to resist the recoil of firearms but I'm not scared to use it. I'v been a diplomat and businessman but I have been protecting my loved ones and settlers from evil"
"For example ?"
"When DC mayor Mcdonough let his citizens kill innocent ghouls and people, I stepped up and help them escape with the now mayor Hancock. I have helped families along the trip , but Hancock knew the safest routes. Me and Albert helped Bunker Hill against a raider called Zeller. Didn't fight much but I taught some raiders a lesson. Speaking of DC, have I already met you ? You look familiar and exactly how people describe you"
"Maybe we met"
"Where are you from ?"
"My family is from DC but moved to Goodneighbor 3 years after the incident, my parents left for some settlement but I haven't seen them since 3 or 2 years ago"
"... Are you the one who tried to rob Hancock and some time later get your home on fire ?" With that I casually lean on my leg and hand near the pistol "What do you know ?"
"I know 4 people tried to rob the mayor but his guard caught them. Only 3 got out and their planner was killed, maybe by them. Hancock forgave them but kept an eye on everything, and the house was burned by some triggermen. I know this since I don't see you there and now are here, alive. Pissed the wrong person ? The one doing the raider ithe you ?"
Pretending nothing "Do you know Hancock ?"
"Yes, I gave him the imput to expand and connect to settlements. I remember him liking you and the other one, outcasts among outcasts but bad move to go against the bosses" Ha well I have a reputation then hehe
"Pleasing to hear about your exploits ?"
"I am. It was hard but I escaped the town breaking in buildings and jumping outside. Bastards probably burned my prewar era books too. It was good I was alone, I got back and it happened. Didn't check if I killed someone"
"Well you probably did. Some injured and for what ?"
"It doesn't concern you"
"It does. With polishing, raw stones become diamonds" Well...
"Do you know anything about the great war ? Or China ? Or how that period was ?"
"The great war was the apex of a breaking point started more than 200 years ago. After 1945 capitalism and communism engaged in a silent war known as cold war. Two ideals battling on foreign lands, Korea, Europe, Africa and latin America"
"Not to be rude, but I already knew it. I meant, who caused the war ? What happened to Cina and the rest of the world ? Is there a way to explore these places ?" He laughs
"Well aren't you a gem. I can tell you that China is a hell like our land, otherwise we would have been conquered, and what happened then ? Martial law, violence, gangs, which the raiders come from. Hardened survivors, scavengers and murderers. Post-war and pre-war were not that different than now. Ruthless Law enforcement, corrupted big companies and hidden political wars. Postwar people turned into scavengers, murderers and mercs, along with traders and wanderers. Most still survivors. But the old world corrupted people survived and continued the organisation known as Enclave"
...
"Down in the Capital they lost to another army and they stretched far west. Some are still alive, maybe founded again and aided. Humanity will always have one enemy, itself"
The chat went on for more, on the things I already know
"Anyway, hope you liked the history lesson because it's an hour we are talking about it" Wow ! But I want more
"But I want more. I love history but I have to return to the tower. Later or tomorrow, I also know some places around"
"Sure thing boy, love these long chats. See you later"
"See you"
And back to examine the land for dangers...