The throbbing in her head increased as she glared at Three Dog. 'Are you telling me that you want me to go get you a broadcast relay? Didn't you just tell me that there are super mutants everywhere here in DC?'

Three Dog didn't flinch at her raised voice. 'It is risky. I would never lie to you. But there's something behind those eyes of yours that screams 'I'm the one that can get shit done'! Your dad had that same look in his eyes too. That's why Three Dog's helping you.'

'You're not helping me. Helping me would be you telling me where my dad has gone to, right now.' Her eyes smoldered in anger.

'You want to find your dad, and I know where he went. He was here, at Galaxy News this morning. We had a great conversation. He's a real stand-up guy. If you want to know more, you're going to have to contribute to the good fight.'

Elizabeth took a deep breath and tried to get herself under control. 'He was here? This morning? And you won't tell me until I contribute to your good fight?'

'The good fight is important, as important to me as Galaxy News Radio. Galaxy News Radio is my baby, just like how the good fight is my mistress. Both give me purpose, give me life. I love them, I feed them, I take care of them. But no one outside DC can hear them cry. That's where you come in. I need that broadcast relay so that everyone can hear about the good fight and you need to know where your father is. We got one rule in the good fight. You want help, you have to contribute!'

She clenched her hands in frustration. Her father was so close, only a few hours away from her. And this man, this Three Dog wanted her to go on a suicide mission for his precious radio station.

'Where do I find your relay?'

Three Dog flashed an impossibly gleaming white smile. 'I sure know how to pick them! You're going to be the best thing that ever happened to Galaxy News in a long time. One of the Brotherhood guys, you know those guys out there in power armour? Well, one of them who passed through here mentioned seeing a dish in one of DC's old museums. It's the dish off the old Virgo II Lunar Lander in the Musuem of Technology. I want you to get it and bring it to the Washington Monument to replace the bad one. That's it. Ask the Brotherhood guys if you want to know more.'

Elizabeth fought the urge to pull her rifle on the smiling DJ and walked out of the door, Dogmeat trotting obediently behind her. Outside the building, she was stopped by the same blonde woman she had met earlier before the fight started. The blonde thrusted her right hand forward towards Elizabeth.

'Sarah Lyons. The Lyons' Pride owe you their lives. I'm sorry for misjudging you earlier on. Thank you for helping us take down that behemoth.'

Swallowing her anger, Elizabeth accepted Sarah's handshake. 'Elizabeth. You saved my life too. Twice. You pulled those super mutants off me back there at the Metro Station and then again just now when I was crushed under that behemoth.'

'I'm surprised you didn't break any bones. Are you sure you don't want to take a rest? I would offer you our stimpacks but I'm afraid we're already short on supplies since the attack. We lost Reddins and some of our men were wounded badly.'

Elizabeth shook her head. 'I'm fine. I can rest later. I've got something I need to do.' She paused and concern kicked in. 'Do your men need more stimpacks or maybe a doctor? I've got some medical training. Maybe I can help.'

Sarah studied Elizabeth contemplatively. After a short silence, she finally spoke. 'I'm not sure what crazy errand Three Dog's got you running for him, but my gut feeling tells me you're going to need those stimpacks more than we do. The super mutants won't be back for a while so we have a few days to rest up before we head out again. Keep the stimpacks for yourself.'

'Thank you.' Elizabeth said gratefully. Sarah smiled for the first time, transforming her into an attractive albeit battle-scarred woman.

'Where are you heading? Perhaps we can give you some pointers or directions.'

'Museum of Technology. I'm trying to get a broadcast relay from there. Three Dog mentioned that one of your men saw the relay in there. Can you tell me anything about it?'

Sarah's eyes widened and her nostrils flared slightly. 'He's sending you there? To the Capital Mall? What is that man thinking?'

Taken aback, Elizabeth ventured to ask. 'It's dangerous?'

'Dangerous? All the super mutants are there! It's like their freaking base and they shoot at anyone that isn't a mutant or a ghoul! If you thought that fight we had just now was bad, the Capital Mall is a warzone where you'll be reduced to pulp and goo in seconds! I can't believe that stupid son of a – ' Sarah broke off, muttering curses and other profanities. 'You can't go there. It's a suicide mission! Whatever you're asking him to do for you, the Capital Mall isn't worth it.'

Elizabeth's heart lurched as she thought of her father. 'I'm tougher than I look. And I've got Dogmeat here.' Dogmeat barked at the mention of his name and wagged his tail.

Sarah sighed. 'Look, if you want to go and get yourself killed, at least get some tips on how to kill super mutants before you go running off into battle.' She turned her head and barked a command. 'Colvin! Get your ass here!'

A tall man clad in power armor with his head encased in steel plodded up to the duo. 'Greetings, Sentinel. Greetings, wanderer.' He bowed formally and stood at attention.

Sarah turned to face the soldier. 'This is Elizabeth. She needs to find her way to the Musuem of Technology. Tell her everything you know, any shortcuts or back doors into the place. Oh, and give her some tips of fighting mutants. She looks like she'll need it. I'm going to go give Three Dog a piece of my mind. Good luck and Steel be with you.' She nodded at them and stomped away, irritation on her attractive face.

'I am Knight Captain Colvin, second in command to Sentinel Lyons. On behalf of my Brothers, I thank you for felling the Behemoth. You have helped avenge our fallen brethren and I am only too glad to be of any service to you, wanderer.'

'Please, call me Elizabeth.' She replied, a little taken aback at his formality.

He nodded. 'Elizabeth. You seek knowledge of way to the Museum of Technology? It lies along the Capital Mall, a dangerous place indeed. It is not a path you should undertake lightly. If you would permit my advice, I would not advice you to walk that path at all.'

'Thank you for your advice, Knight Captain Colvin. But I must go there. It's important that I get a relay dish from inside the museum to fix GNR's broadcast relay.'

He regarded her closely and spoke calmly. 'You do this out of concern for the radio station? For Three Dog?'

She flushed. 'No. He has… information that I need.'

'But surely there are other ways to gain that information without endangering yourself.'

'Are you suggesting that I beat it out of Three Dog?' She smiled lamely, aware of the sudden desire to do exactly so to the overly dramatic deejay.

He smiled but continued to watch her closely. 'I did not and would not advise that course of action. He is but a man who does what he believes to be right, no different from myself, nor from you, I suspect.'

She said nothing and he continued.

'There is another way to the museum that would not require you to travel the Capital Mall. Take to the underground Metro Stations and follow their tracks to the museum. Come, I will put this information into your Pip-Boy. If you would permit?'

Colvin explained the route in detail to the listening girl, pointing out various exits and rooms that would interest her. He warned her against the underground residents, noting that the feral ghouls and raiders were fond of the dark. He taught her how to listen for the footfalls of different enemies, how to make herself scarce in a tight corner, even how to shoot her foes in their most vulnerable areas. It was the best crash course in combat she had so far.

Gratefully, Elizabeth thanked the kind soldier when they were done. He nodded solemnly at her and made a gesture at her. 'Steel be with you, wanderer. May you find what you seek and may your enemies fall before the steel you carry in your hands and in your heart.'

Elizabeth was no longer sure of anything in this world except for one thing: shoving a hand grenade up Three Dog's ass would only be a good thing. GNR's broadcasts might have been good to allay the boredom she felt in getting to the museum, but it was not worth getting the broadcasts out to the rest of the Wasteland with the amount of bullshit she was getting. Upon entering the museum's front door, she heard what could only be the heavy tread of a super mutant or two patrolling the hallways. Before she could react, Dogmeat had raced in the direction of the footsteps and the sounds of snarling and roaring followed soon after.

She still wasn't sure how she had done it but somehow the two mutants lay dead before her, the smoke still rising from her gun. Her pulse was racing and her senses heightened. The medically-trained part of her coldly assessed her physical reaction as the high raging from the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She decided to push on and ride on the waves of emotions that were currently crashing through her system. Mentally, she made a note to thank Colvin if she ever saw him again.

As she walked through the museum, she checked on the working terminals curiously. The information they provided on the museum exhibits interested her but not as much as the messages hacked into a few of the systems.

Hidden loot? Interesting. She made another mental note to track the hacked terminals, the thought of loot intriguing her.

Walking through the Vault demo badly startled her. A sickening wave of nausea flooded her as memories of being chased through her own vault replayed in her mind. She froze as she stood in front of the display of a vault bedroom.

Dad. Why couldn't you have stayed? Why couldn't you have taken me with you? Or told me? Or something? Why did you have to abandon me?

Dogmeat whined softly and nudged at her legs. Giving in to his insistent pushes, she swallowed a rogue tear and tightened her grip on her rifle. Resolutely, she walked away from the vault demo, trying to shove aside all thoughts of her old life.

In the next room, she heard the same telltale stomping of the super mutants. Grabbing Dogmeat's collar, she whispered a sharp command to him to be quiet. She tiptoed silently to the edge of the stairs and looked around. She was in a room with a tall rocket before her, with stairs heading up and down before her. She spotted a super mutant above her and heard the sounds of another below her. Thinking rapidly, Elizabeth whispered another command to Dogmeat before activating a Stealth Boy she had picked up from the museum's entrance.

The dog shot from its position, running up to bite the super mutant in the above stairs in the arms before bolting downstairs to land another blow to the other mutant below. Roaring furiously, both mutants began chasing the agile dog, which dodged their blows and bullets effortlessly. Elizabeth silently rose and tiptoed down the stairs to where Dogmeat was leading the mutants in a merry chase. If it wasn't for the obvious life-and-death situation, she could have sworn that the dog was almost enjoying the chase.

With their backs turned towards her, she emptied bullet after bullet into the mutant nearest to her. When the bullets on her hunting rifle ran out, she discarded it and immediately emptied the clips on her 10mm pistol into the remaining mutant. In a few minutes, the fight was over and she had emerged without a single scratch on her. Remarkably, Dogmeat was uninjured as well and wagged his tail happily as she patted him. Pleased with the success of her flank strategy, she moved on through the rooms.

Finally, she spotted the lunar lander and hurriedly dismantled the relay dish from the lander. Quickly, Elizabeth strapped the dish onto her back and urged Dogmeat on, tasting victory on the tip of her tongue. Further down the nearby hallway, she entered into a strange round room with a domed ceiling. As she cautiously made her way to the middle of the room, she jumped as the device in the middle suddenly began to move and rotated around its axle. A voice started to spout the beginning of a lecture on space and the ceiling lit up with a simulation of the pre-war night sky.

Spotting a nearby door, she went to investigate and found a small room with a terminal, several lockers and shelves and best of all, a first-aid medical kit. After looting the medical kit of all its contents and grabbing the nearby glowing Nuka-Cola, she turned her attention to the nearby gun cabinet. She drew out the key she had obtained from the hacked terminals and unlocked the safe which contained numerous valuable items and over two hundred caps. Stuffing everything into her knapsack, she then investigated the nearby terminals. Engrossed by the entries written by the museum's research lead, she did not hear Dogmeat's warning growls.

'Found you!'

One bullet lodged itself into her left shoulder while another clipped her right ear. Screaming in pain, Elizabeth whirled around to see Dogmeat fending off a super mutant toting an assault rifle. Cursing herself for her carelessness, she fired back at the advancing mutant. Spotting a nearby grenade, she grabbed it, pulled the safety pin off with her mouth and flung it wildly at the mutant. She never knew if God was looking over her that day but somehow the grenade landed squarely in the arms of the super mutant before exploding into shrapnel.

Shaking her head and ignoring the ringing sound in her ears, Elizabeth aimed her rifle into the fallen mutant's head and pulled the trigger. Screaming at Dogmeat to run, she did the same, narrowly dodging the swings of a nailboard-wielding mutant which had been attracted by the commotion in the planetarium.

As they both ran out of the museum, more mutants began to follow. Bullets started raining down around them as the pair fled down the Metro Station. Another bullet hit her squarely in the thigh and she fell on her face with another scream of pain. Dogmeat grabbed her jumpsuit and pulled at her, insisting that she got up. Crawling to the grill of the Metro, Elizabeth pulled herself through and yanked the gates locked. As the super mutants slammed against the locked grill, they snarled as their prey dragged herself down further into the dark station.

Somewhere along the way, Elizabeth fainted for the second time in the day on the floor of the Museum Metro Station.

In some ways, it was not the most pleasant awakening in the world. Still, it was far preferable to wake up to the sight of a rotting ghoul's face in front of you than say, a super mutant's face. Elizabeth flinched reflexively as she locked eyes with the ghoul. The ghoul nodded in satisfaction and stood back.

'She's awake. Looks like she's going to be fine, nurse.'

'Thank god for that.'

Nurse? I'm in a hospital?

Elizabeth tried to sit up and was immediately restrained by another ghoul. A female one, this time. 'No, no. You musn't try to sit up. You've been badly injured and need to rest. Don't worry, Doctor Barrows is a most qualified doctor and will give you the best care and medicine you need.'

Her lips parted in an attempt to speak but she could only muster one word. 'Water.'

The ghoul held up a glass of water to her lips, apologizing as she did so. 'I'm sorry but we don't have any purified water. Only the usual radiated water you get everywhere. A little radiation won't hurt you though. We'll see to that. There, I hope you feel better. You really should get some more rest. The surgery didn't take that long but one of the bullets caused some complications. Doctor Barrows said that a few more inches and the bullet would have pierced your lung. You're very lucky, you know, to survive against the super mutants.'

Elizabeth looked questioningly at the female ghoul.

'Oh yes! You did manage to get past those super mutants. Quinn was heading out to scavenge for supplies and found you lying on the floor with that nice dog with you. He carried you back here to Underworld and brought you straight to us. Like I said, you are very lucky you survived the super mutants and that Quinn found you when he did.'

'Underworld?' The word was hard to say but the water had helped smooth her parched mouth.

'Yes, you're in Underworld. It's sort of our town, ghoul town I mean. You see, smoothskins like you don't really like us staying in your towns so we come here to Underworld. It's a nice place and no one bothers us here, not even the super mutants. But don't worry, we don't mind having smoothskins. Well most of us don't mind. There are those that do but you don't have to mind them. They won't do anything to you.'

'Where is Dogmeat?'

'Is Dogmeat your dog? He's outside the Chop Shop. The doctor says he can't come in here since he might upset some of the surgical instruments. Don't worry, Quinn is looking after him for you. You just rest up and get yourself healed up.'

'No, have to go. Have to go back. To GNR.' Elizabeth tried to sit up again. Doctor Barrows loomed over her and forced her down. Picking up a nearby needle, he inserted the needle into her arm and injected her.

'Go to sleep, smoothskin. You'll feel better in the morning.'

'Listen to him. He's the doctor.'

'I'm doctor. Dad is doctor. Need to find dad. GNR. Three Dog. Dogmeat.' Elizabeth began to slur her words as the world spun around her. She sank down and lost herself in the darkness.

Elizabeth awoke hours later, her head clear and her vision sharp. She jumped out of bed as the ghoul nurse walked up to her calmly with her knapsack.

'Well hello there, smoothskin. You're awake at last. I hope you had a good rest. Doctor Barrows said that if you could get up, you're fine enough to leave. Here's your knapsack and do be careful out there. The super mutants aren't friendly at all to smoothskins like you.'

'Where's my dog and the dish? Did they bring it in with me?' She demanded agitatedly.

'Don't worry, smoothskin. It's over there by the corner with the rest of your belongings. We didn't touch anything. Your dog's outside with Quinn, the one who brought you here? He's been keeping an eye on your dog for you. He likes dogs, he does.'

Feeling ashamed of herself for her rudeness, Elizabeth held out her hand. 'I'm sorry for being rude. My name's Elizabeth. What's your name?'

'Call me Nurse Graves. Don't worry about it, Elizabeth. We ghouls know we aren't pleasant to look at and I'm no stranger to smoothskin ways.'

'It's not that. I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just…' Elizabeth sighed and ruffled her hair. 'I'm really sorry. I really shouldn't have been so harsh. It's just been hard on me. I'm not exactly used to being out here in the Wasteland. I'm just trying to find my father.'

'You're from one of the vaults, aren't you? I've met a few who came from those vaults. Not exactly a pleasant place to be, from what I've heard. Your father left the vault too?'

'Yes he did. I've been trying to find him since but it's so hard. Everyone keeps wanting me to do something for them. I just want to find him.' Elizabeth said wistfully.

Nurse Graves nodded gravely. 'I know what you mean. The Wastelands are cruel, always wanting something in return. Don't worry honey, you'll survive. If you can survive those super mutants, you can survive the wastes.'

'That's just it. I barely made it. I've almost been killed so many times since I've left the vault. I don't know how I can do this. I don't know if I can survive long enough to find my father.' Elizabeth said in despair and buried her face in her hands.

Nurse Graves patted her head kindly. 'You know dear, have you ever considered hiring a guard to protect you?'

'A guard?'

'Yes, a bodyguard. There are plenty of people out there who can fight and are willing to protect you so long as you have the caps to pay them.'

Elizabeth considered this thoughtfully. 'Do you know where I could find someone like that to help me?'

'Hmm, well there's Charon. But, no. I don't think that's a good idea. You should try to find another smoothskin guard.'

'What's wrong with Charon?'

'Oh there's nothing wrong with Charon, if you don't mind a ghoul bodyguard. In fact, I think he's a better fighter than a smoothskin. But, he's not the problem. Ahzrukhal is.'

'Who's Ahzrukhal?'

'He runs the bar upstairs, the Ninth Circle. But he's an evil, evil man. He has Charon's contract and he won't let Charon go so easily. I heard however that he's looking for someone to take Charon's contract off his hands. But I'm sure it won't be cheap and Ahzrukhal drives a very hard bargain.'

'Is Charon worth the contract?'

'Oh yes! He is! Charon is the best fighter and guard around! Some of the ghouls around here say he's not right in the head but they're just afraid of him. He's never done anything to harm the rest of us and if he does, well, I think it's Ahzrukhal's fault and not his.'

'I'll think about it. Thank you, Nurse Graves. Please take this and keep this for yourself and the doctor.'

Nurse Graves pushed the caps back indignantly. 'Keep your caps, smoothskin! We didn't save you because we wanted your caps. Doctor Barrows will be very angry if he knew that I took your caps for saving you. If you really want to repay us, talk to Doctor Barrows. He might have something you could do for him.'

Elizabeth thanked the kind ghoul again and gripped her skinless hand warmly. Surprised at the sudden contact, the ghoul smiled warmly and seemed to blush. Elizabeth went in search of the doctor, who was bending over microscope. Straightening himself, he regarded the girl with a critical eye.

'You look well. I suppose you have come to give me your payment.'

'Yes, doctor. Nurse Graves wouldn't accept any payment. But I want to repay you for taking those bullets out of me and nursing me back to health. Medicine isn't cheap and I know you need all you can get. I have medical training too and I know medicine is scarce.'

'Hmm, well, we ghouls don't have much need of stimpacks or even Rad-X or Rad-Aways. The radiation is enough to regenerate our flesh wounds and we rarely resort to using stimpacks. If you really wish to repay us, you could help me by giving me some tissue samples.'

'Tissue samples?' Elizabeth asked, startled.

'Yes, I'm studying a possible cure for our ghoulification. I've been researching a way to slow down the advancement of our ghoul condition and maybe one day, reverse it. To do that, I need fresh samples from live humans but we get few smoothskins down here, much less any who are willing to let me cut them up. You mention that you have medical training, so I assume that you understand the implications of my research, don't you?' He asked, watching her reaction closely.

She paused, thinking about the doctor's idea before replying carefully. 'Do you think you are close to a cure?'

'Not really. As I said, I need to analyze fresh tissue samples from unghoulified humans like you and it's hard to get my hands on them. Quinn could easily get me samples from dead raiders but I need fresh samples. In other words, people like you.'

Elizabeth was quiet, as she considered the doctor's words. Then she silently bared her arm to the ghoul.

'Take what you need.'

The surprised doctor quickly recovered himself and eagerly reached for his surgical instruments. Thirty minutes later, he was done and he shot a stimpack up her arm. The freshly cut wounds closed immediately and the pain faded away. Elizabeth shook her sleeves down and turned to the doctor.

'I wish you good luck in your research, doctor. If there is ever anymore samples you require…'

'I hope that won't be necessary, smoothskin. I know it is not comfortable for you to endure that many cuts and slices on you, even if it is for science. But I thank you on behalf of all ghouls.' He rose and reached for a nearby first aid medical kit. Retrieving its contents, he awkwardly handed them to her. 'Here, I hope this serves you better than it would for us.'

Accepting them gratefully, Elizabeth thanked Doctor Barrows again and left the Chop Shop. Outside, she was attacked by an overjoyed Dogmeat, who attempted to smother her with generous licks all over her face and neck. A nearby ghoul dressed like a trader walked up to her as other ghouls around them stared.

'Hello, I hope you're feeling better. I'm Quinn.'

'I'm Elizabeth. Thank you for saving me.' She looked frankly into her eyes and grasped his dry bony hands tightly. She looked down at the panting Dogmeat and smiled. 'And thank you for taking care of Dogmeat for me.'

Quinn smiled embarrassedly, uncomfortable with her physical contact. 'It's no problem, Elizabeth. I was just trying to help someone in need.'

'Please, if there's anything I could do for you, please let me do it. I owe you my life and also for Dogmeat.' She said in earnest.

'No, no. You don't owe me anything. I didn't do anything, really.' He insisted.

Elizabeth was quiet as she thought of how different the ghouls were treating her compared to all the other smoothskins, err, humans she had met outside in the wastes. Perhaps, the ghouls were used to such harsh treatment that they reacted by being extra-friendly. She half-wished that she had been kinder to Gob, a ghoul trapped in the presence of humans who hated and feared him for no simple reason than because he was different from them.

She dug in her pack and presented an assault rifle and some ammo she had picked up from one of the mutants in the Museum of Technology to Quinn. 'Take this. It's the least I could give you after what you did for me. Please, just take it. You don't have to keep it. Maybe you can trade if for some caps.'

Quinn smiled and despite the absence of lips, the grin was apparent. 'Why, thank you, Elizabeth. You are very kind. A rarity for a smoothskin. Good luck in your travels. I hope the super mutants won't bother you anymore.'

They nodded at each other and Elizabeth grasped his hands in gratitude again. As the embarrassed ghoul walked away, she looked up the stairs and saw a pair of heavy double doors. If that was the Ninth Circle, Charon and Ahzrukhal might be there. Maybe she should consider what Nurse Graves had said and get some hired help. It certainly would help to have someone watch her back while she was on the road. She nodded to Dogmeat and the pair walked up the stairs to the Ninth Circle.

Notes: The first time I walked into the planetarium room at the MoT, that little scene I wrote above really did happen to me almost verbatim. Who knew that the little spinning device alerted the mutants to your location?

If you hack into Doc Barrows' terminal, you'll discover the secret research he's doing with Nurse Graves. I thought it'll be interesting for him to say it up front to Elizabeth, scientist to scientist, doctor to doctor.

I know, I'm horrible. I said a few days but it's been two weeks. Real life caught up with me and gave me a kick in the pants. I hope this extra long chapter makes up for it. Next up: hiring Charon (seems to be a pre-requisite of most FO3 fanfiction to hire Charon) and a little detour into a side quest. Please review more. It makes me sad when I don't get new reviews. *sad face*