Chapter 7 Dark Angel

Pain! The world was pain. Even the slightest glint of light felt like Douglas was right next to the sun itself. "Uhhhh huh huh what the hell did I do last night?" Come on what are you a man or a molerat? Drink it drink it drink it drink it YEAHHHHH! Get this man another drink! "Uhhhh Shit! Where the hell am I?" Between bits of memory of the night before coming back to him bringing him feelings of regret immediately and his splitting headache Douglas found getting out of bed to be far harder than he thought it would be. "I made a complete ass of myself didn't I? Where the hell is Sage I was with her wasn't I?" Douglas sauntered out of the room he was in into a mostly empty second floor loft with a staircase leading down directly in front of him and a closed door to his left. "Ahhh good morning sir, I assume you slept well?" A head splitting voice rang out from the floor below him." I swear I've heard that voice before. Andy? No it couldn't be he's back in the vault, but I know I've heard that phony British accent before. "Not so loud you're killing me here." Douglas exclaimed clutching his head from the intrusive voice that pained his head like it was stuck in a vice as he walked down the stairs to talk to the voice face to face. "My apologies sir, I will turn down my vocalizer for your comfort. May I interest you in some water sir? You do look a bit dehydrated if I say so myself." Douglas was met by a General Atomics model Mister Handy a home service robot built before the war. It was designed somewhat like a 3 armed octopus hovering over the ground with a low power thruster jet. Just like Andy, I suppose it's not unlikely that many would have survived the war… they are very sturdy. "Ummm yeah sure sounds good… Hey you wouldn't happen to know where am would you?" The bot produced a laugh from its vocalizer sounding quite amused by his question. "Why sir you're within your very own domicile sir. Though now that I think about it you were rather….. What's the word you kids like to use now days, hammered I believe yes that's the word. Yes yes you and your lady friend came in around 2am this morning. I had to escort both of you to bed, separately of course. I am your robotic butler by the way sir you may call me Wadsworth." Uhhhhhn 2 am, no wonder my head hurts so much. Wait lady friend…. SAGE! Douglas ran back upstairs to the closed door he had passed assuming it was a spare bedroom. Opening it he found sage sprawled out in a drunken stupor hair a mess thankfully still clothed. Thank God! I do not need a complicated relationship right now, another one anyway the one I have with Amata is beyond complicated now. Sighing Douglas Kneeled down next to sages bed and proceeded to try and shake her awake. "Sage Sage, wake up. Sage!" Shaking her was getting a response an irritated one. Uhhh huuuh huh, go away I don't want to wake up yet."

45 minutes later Douglas finally managed to get Sage out of bed, they were now both downstairs sharing in each other's hangover induced agony. "Why did we drink so much Big guy? And where are we?" Sage asked still half asleep while lounging on the couch on the lower floor. "Why you are in sir's private domicile Ms. Sage." Wadsworth said coming around the corner from the kitchen carrying a tray of some food and bottles of water causing Sage to jump. "Sir I took the liberty of storing and sorting your personal effects in the locker on the wall as well as putting away food items in the kitchen." The bot placed the tray on a small table off on the side of the room before dismissing himself back to the kitchen. "Thanks Wadsworth, care to eat Sage? We can share what we know of last night while trying to eat off this hangover." Douglas and Sage ate while connecting bits of story together from the night before while Wadsworth came back in every once and awhile to check if they required anything else. "So we somehow managed to go from door to door trying locks till we found the door that worked with my keys? That's amazing as it is Hilarious." Both of them laughed at the drunken adventure that they had pieced together from memory. "Yeah I don't remember everything but that's the gist of it from what I can remember anyway. Hey Douglas I was wondering something if you don't mind me asking?" Sage was starting to look a bit uncomfortable, whatever she had to ask has probably big from what Douglas could discern from her composure. "Sure thing Sage, shoot." Douglas flatly stated setting his utensils down so he could focus on sage. "Ok… so I told you I was able to get work up at the water plant right?" Nodding Douglas waited intently. "Well I wasn't able to find a place to stay here in Megaton, the common house is filled up so there's nowhere for me to stay. I was wondering if I could stay he-." Douglas cut her off not wanting her to bother saying another word he had already made up his mind." Of course Sage I don't know what ide use that spare room for anyway, plus I'm probably going to be out in the wastes more than I'm going to be here anyway so may as well have someone living in here." Douglas was blindsided by an overjoyed Sage tackling him out of his chair hugging him. "Ohhhh thank you thank you thank you I promise I'll be the best roommate you ever had." She'll be the only roommate I ever had but that's not important. They finished their breakfast while continuing their idle conversation before Douglas went and found his gear right where Wadsworth said it would be. Making sure his pack had a few days' worth of food, water and medical supplies he bade farewell to Sage and made his way across the catwalks toward Crater Side Supply. Before I talk to Moira I should stop by Moriarty's and see how much of an ass I made of myself. From what I've heard of from idle conversations I've passed by, Moriarty also seems to be the local info broker as well maybe he has info on dad. Stepping through the door of the saloon Douglas was met by a few glances his way but nothing much else. "Hey smooth skin how's the head this morning? You made a complete ass of yourself taking on Jericho in a drinking game like you did but man was it funny to watch." Gob said welcoming Douglas and flagging him over. "Yeah yeah laugh it up I'm definitely paying for it right now. Hey Gob where's your boss I need to speak with him?" Gob's smile faded at the mention of Moriarty but none the less called out to him, to which an irritated Irish accented man yelled back berating Gob. "What the hell is it now Gob? I'm busy counting my- Well I'll be a son of a whore it's you. The little baby boy, all grown up. Persistent little bastard ain't ya? Then and now, it would seem. It's been a long time kid." Douglas had an instant distrust for the man standing before him he seemed the smarmy sort not to mention the way he treated Gob. "What do you mean it's been a long time? As to my knowledge we haven't met till now." Douglas asked unsure of what he was on about. "Ohhh ho ho lad do I have a story to tell you."

Douglas was furious marching out of the saloon slamming the door behind him straight to the railing outside the saloon. What he said it has to be lies I was born in the vault my father wouldn't lie to me like that would he? But he left and didn't tell me about his plans, is the man I know as my father just a lying deadbeat? No… No don't think like that I can't jump to conclusions he can and will explain himself when I catch up to him. At least I got information on where he went from that smarmy fuck. Sighing Douglas took his hands from the railing his mental turmoil complete for the time being and made his way over to Moira's. Upon entering Crater Side Supply Douglas half expected something to blow up or shoot him in the face but nothing came Moira wasn't even behind the counter. "She's up stairs tinkering on something head on up." Her bodyguard who barely ever speaks a word said before going back to his complete and utter boredom. "Moira? Moira I'm here to talk about the last part of this chapter. Landmines if I'm not mistaking?" Moira perked up when he came up behind her bumping her head on the lamp over her as she sprang up to talk to him. "Owwww. Yes that's the last part of this chapter I need you to do research for. Ohh and don't mind the smell I've just been experimenting on some chemicals no worry's its completely safe." As she was saying this, the chemicals she was working on burst into flame behind her. "Hey ummmm Moira your experiment just caught fire." That tears it I can't decide if she's more adorable than she is nuts. "It did? OHHHH NO IT DID! No no no no no help me put this out." She said in a startled tone as she turned around and franticly tried to snuff the flames. A few minutes later Douglas and Moira had managed to get the fire out and were now downstairs at the counter. "Ok now that that's dealt with the last part of this chapter as I've said is landmines. There's an old ghost town called Minefield off a ways near Arefu and since ghosts don't exist the mines should be your only issue to deal with I just need you to go through it and get back here." Douglas could feel his right eye begin to twitch from what she had just said. The vault had all manner of movies and documentaries and he was quite fond of the war movies he knew minefields were bad business for soldiers and she wanted him to willingly walk through one. "You're serious? You want me to walk through a minefield? A minefield? Full of mines? Willingly? Fuck it why not I've done crazier already because of you may as well do this too." Resigning himself to the fact that she was nuts and that he had to be equally as nuts to go along with it he accepted this fact. "Ohhh good there should be a playground in the center of town if you can get there and back you should be fine. Oh and before I forget I didn't get to pay you for your help on the radiation bit with you storming out so fast. Take these anti-radiation drugs as apology for me playing with your DNA like a kitten with a ball of yarn, I'm sure you'll make good use of them. Good luck!" Douglas just shook his head as he walked out the door stuffing the anti-rad meds in his pack and plugging in the map data Moira had given him into his pipboy. Ok looks like Minefield is further up north than Arefu, I can head there first then swing back round to Arefu drop off Lucy's letter and head home. Its 2pm now though I do have a bed roll I could rough it out there, Screw it I'm heading out now.

As Douglas made his way north following the river till it turned dry and then wet again he came upon a raider camp made from an old dock as the sun was just beginning to set. Well shit and here I was hoping to avoid more difficulties till I got to Minefield, just my fucking luck. Douglas crouched down to the dirt below him and observed for a few minutes taking note of their numbers and arms. Ok I count three, 2 bolt action rifles and a side arm of some kind. If I can clear them out that camp would be a good place to rest for the night too. Deciding on a course of action Douglas crept into the shallows of the pond around the dock moving as quietly as he could till he was under the dock. Two of the raiders were sitting around a fire on the dock having a conversation oblivious to their eminent demise lurking in the shallow water beneath the very dock they sat on. "You hear about what happened to the boys down at the Super-Duper Mart?" One of the raiders asked to his companion. "Nah what happened?" They're talking about what I did. Does news really travel that fast out here? "They got completely wiped out man. All of them full of holes. And what's worse is it looks like it was done by one guy." I definitely want to hear this. "Bullshit Ky! One guy taking on a group that size that's just crazy talk had to be a team of guys." The raider retorted back. "I'm serious man one guy did this there were no other bodies then our guys a team can't be that sneaky. It's like some Demon or Dark Angel of the Wastes came and slaughtered the lot of them." The raider said sounding frightened of the thought. "You and your damned religious mumbo jumbo, there ain't no so such thing as angels or demons you're giving to much credit to whoever killed them. Dark Angel of the Wastes, ha please…" The raider laughed mocking his companion. "Yeah you laugh next thing you know this guy comes and kills the three of us. I'm heading to bed keep an eye out." When the raiders had finished Douglas crept up the shore onto the dock the only raider on it was facing away from him as he crept up behind him. "Don't believe in Dark Angels do you?" Douglas whispered into the raider's ear while covering his mouth with his hand as he plunged his Knife into his spine the raider letting out a muffled wail as Douglas ended his life. "Cart you alright man what the hell's going on over there." Douglas bolted over to the shack at the end of the dock when he heard the voice of the other raider calling out to his dead friend. "HOLY SHIT! Cart what the hell happen-?" The raider didn't get to finish as Douglas grabbed him has he came around the corner placing his knife to the raiders neck. "Don't move a muscle or you won't live long enough to try something! Call out to the other one, get her over here." Douglas said to the raider as intimidating as he could. "Heyaa… Mags we got a problem get your ass over here." Douglas using his free hand grabbed his sidearm and leveled at the door the raider had called out too. "What the hell do you want now can't a girl get some sleep without you morons fucking something up out he-?" Douglas silenced the woman as she came out the door of the shack firing 3 rounds into her chest. Her life ending as she slumped against the shack door trailing blood along it as she fell. "Who the hell are you?" The remaining raider in Douglas's clutches spoke as he was quite obviously afraid for his life. "I believe you just gave me my name Ky, I'm the Dark Angel of the Wastes come to kill all who prey upon those that can't stand against you scum." Douglas said he himself preying upon the mans fears and superstitions causing the raider to visibly shake in utter terror of the man behind him. "Please! please don't kill me I don't want to die. This guy really is terrified…. Ok i won't kill him I'll use him. "I'm not going to kill you. You're going to run, run to the nearest raider camp and tell them the Dark Angel of the Wastes slaughtered your group and the group at Super-Duper Mart. Then you're going to run to the next camp and the next camp and the next camp and tell them the exact same thing. You will make them fear me and you will pray that we never meet again." Douglas kicked the raider away who ran terrified into the darkness while Douglas had an ear to ear grin plastered upon his face and mischievous glint in his eyes. This is going to be fun.

I had no idea that the title Dark Angel of the Wastes that I made use of in jest to amuse myself that night would go on to talked about all over the Capital Wasteland. Raiders would come to fear the title and waste landers would find hope in it, I However would find it to become my alter ego my mischievousness personified. My greatest blessing my burden and my curse.

Authors Note: There we have it Chapter 7. Publishing a bit later than I wanted too on account of there being a birthday party I had forgotten about whoops. But anyway thanks for reading and if you liked it let me know with a review ide love some feedback.

Sincerely Bradknight