"…Let me comfort her. Let me talk to her, and calm her down. In return for that time, I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

"And all you want, is more time?"

I nod my head, hoping within the time allotted, I can make a plan.

"What's the catch?"

"More time, more information. It can be over one day, or over several days, but you don't have time."

"What do you mean?"

I play on a complete bluff. But, my father always taught me, to be one-step ahead of your opponent. And even if you're wrong, then you know that's not an option, and can play on others. The process of elimination. If A and C don't work, than it's either B or D. Having two, is better than four in this case.

"You've sent scouts out by now I'm sure. Because you know time is against you. You want to tell our parents as quickly as you can. They're going to be here, and be here fast. You're going to need this information. Think about who you're dealing with. You weren't alive, when they were in their prime."

"They're old now, Cain. There's no way they can be as dangerous as the rumors say."

"Or so you think, Scab. But my parents, are very youthful, and very well-connected. Leave Dizzy here, and I'll tell you. An hour with her, gives you an hours' worth of information. As much as I can tell you, within that hour. Do we have a deal?"

"I think you're bluffing."

I smirk at him, and look at Dizzy.

"Let her go for a minute."

He does because he trusts her. Because as long as I'm chained to these walls, despite how she feels, she has to listen to him. Or risk me being hurt. I may be nothing more than a complex system of scientifically grown organs, but I have my own mind. And, I have my father's size, strength, and advice to rely on.

"My mother and father fought against and disbanded the top military bases in the Capital Wasteland. To them, you and your gang of Raiders is like shooting Molerats in a dead-end tunnel."

He's probably never heard the truth about our parents, because Dizzy was unable to tell him. Because she didn't know. My parents in wanting to keep her sheltered, for once, did some good. I see Scab's face fall, as I relay this bit of information to him.

"What else?"

"Give me an hour, and I'll tell you. This information is gold, because if the Brotherhood had it, I assure you they wouldn't have fallen, to the hands of two people."

Scab, like everyone else, has heard of the Brotherhood. They still have working factions in New California Republic, so their works there travels to here. I'm sure the thought of why they don't come here, has crossed Scab's mind a many times. Now, he knows the truth, or a bit of it.

"You have one hour. If you do anything, I swear I'll kill you both."

Scab says, before grabbing Dizzy's face with his hand. I want to kill him as I see this, but I keep myself in check.

"Remember, girl, your place."

He tosses her moist face from his hand, and leaves the room. Dizzy starts sobbing again, loudly, and it hurts my ears.

"Dizzy, calm down, alright, calm down."

She falls down, and shakes her head.

"What…what…did…I…do?"

Her hands cover her face in shame. It dawns on me, that the realization of reality hit her. For the first time, she has to take responsibility for her actions. Pulling at my shackles, I feel them tug against the wall. I can't reach her.

"Come here, come here Dizzy, we can fix this."

"No…we…can't!"

Then, I realize that maybe…I'm going about this the wrong way. An hour may seem like more than enough time for some people, but in this situation, it's simply not enough.

"Goddamnit Dizzy! Get your ass over here and stop acting like a brat!"

I yell at her, and she suddenly stops her sobbing. Tears still fall down her face, and as much as I want to smile at her, I force myself not to.

"You created this mess, and now you have to fix it! Get over here!"

"What'll that accomplish?"

"Fine! Be difficult! I don't have time for this!"

I look down at my wrists, and put my hands close to my face. The cuffs made them red, and raw. This is going to hurt me, but it's the only way. I notice big padlocks keep them on, and there's nothing for Dizzy to use to pick them open. Not that she's in the state of mind to, but either way, I realize the sacrifices. The sacrifices, my mother and father made, to keep one another safe. The scars on my mother's body, are a reflection of all the bullets, people, creatures and beings she went up against, to make this world what it is now. Anything good, is worth pain and suffering.

Wrapping my left hand around my right cuff, I start to twist it. The pain is nothing compared to what it soon will be. My right hand is my dominant one, so I have to get it out first.

"Cain?"

I ignore Dizzy, as I rub harder and harder. The rusted metal scrapes painfully against my skin, and soon, blood.

"Cain! Stop it!"

Dizzy rushes over and tries to pull my hands away from one another. I look up, angry.

"Stop it! Sit down! I'm fixing this!"

"…Cain…"

She says, sitting down just as I told her. I flinch in pain, as the blood begins to leak out more and more. I have to be careful not to rub deep enough to scrape my veins, but rub enough so the blood can be a lubricant. When my palm is moist, I test it. The blood acts as a slick oil, and I'm able to slide the cuff up to my thumb, where it meets my palm. Without help, I won't be able to get it all the way off. Holding my hand so my fingers point towards the ground, I let the blood drip off of them.

"Dizzy, I need you to do something, okay? Can you do this?"

Her face is horrified at my actions, but I pay no mind to it.

"Dizzy!"

"…Yes. I…I think so."

"I need you to pull this cuff off of me. I need you to ignore any cries of pain I give, can you do that?"

She nods her head, and I give her my bloodied hand. Her small fingers wrap around the cuff, and I outstretch my legs.

"Put your feet against mine. When you pull, I'll push."

Placing our feet together, I let her eyes meet mine.

"One…two…three!"

Working with and against one another, Dizzy pulls the cuff. The pain I feel, hurts more than being shot. Because it's a slow pain, as the cuff inches slowly over my thumb. Finally, not soon enough, it's off. Dizzy falls as the cuff slides from her fingers. With my right hand free, I flex my fingers, and wasting no time, get to work on the other one.

"Stop it! I won't let you do that again…I…I won't…"

I stare at her, her hands stained with my blood.

"There's no other way."

"Yes, there is."

She stands up, and takes my ruined hand in hers. I can only stand at a slouch, but I think I see where this is going. Dizzy lets go of my hand, and wraps her hands around the chain that bolts me to the wall.

"…If we both pull, we can break it off the wall."

"But I'll still have the cuff around my wrist."

"Cain, we don't have weapons. Think about this."

I do, and I laugh as I realize where Dizzy's mind went. Without a weapon, against a few with weapons, Dizzy saw the ingenuity in keeping at least one cuff and chain on my wrist.

"There aren't many guards near the exit, because apparently this place isn't well-known. Our stuff is in a footlocker on the way out."

"How do you know this? When did you get so smart?"

"I am the product of the two best killers in the Capital Wasteland, Cain. And Scab told me, in case someone infiltrated. Because I convinced him I only know how to shoot my own weapon."

"How'd you do that? Even Gob knows that's complete bullshit."

"A man will believe anything with a good set of tits hanging in his face."

For once, I'm proud of her. Proud of how she used her womanly assets to gain information.

"You…sly dog. Wait, did you…did you know all along that…"
"That I'd be switching sides? Of course not, but mom always told me to prepare for anything. So I did. And…once I realize that…despite all I knew about you, I still cared about you, and mom and dad, I knew I didn't want to be responsible for their deaths. Or…for you hating me."

I smile down at her. We both know now, neither one of us are related. Despite what I am, Dizzy just admitted she still loves me, or at least cares, just the same.

"Knowing what I am…Dizzy you…"

"We won't tell mom and dad the truth right away. Right now, we need to get out, and tell them about the Raiders. There's a lot more than I thought, and if they launch an attack on mom and dad without them knowing then…well, Megaton is fucked."

"Still can't comprehend how you did all of this. Did you go into this wanting information, to help mom and dad?"

"No I'm not that selfless, stupid. I…wanted to know the truth. Now that I do, and knowing you don't hate my guts and mom and dad really knew jack shit, I have no reason to stay here."

"Why not? Don't you like Scab?"

"He's revolting and bathes like, never. I'd rather fuck you instead, even if you smell sometimes, too."

We laugh, and Dizzy shakes her head.

"I'll explain everything, best I can cuz my mind is a bit insane sometimes, after we get out. Deal?"

"Yeah, deal."

"Okay, on the count of three, we both have to pull really, really hard. They just put these in, and they're not the best workers in the world. Both of us should be able to rip it out."

Dizzy, surprised me. Here I was thinking I'd have to hold her hand and cradle her every step. But, I don't. She's thinking on her own, she's planning on her own, and it only reinforces in my mind…that she truly is the product of both our parents. She…has both their minds into her one. If there was anything mom and dad couldn't do, Dizzy sure as hell can.

"One…two, three!"

We pull together, using all our strength and utilizing our energy. We hear a loud creaking noise, as if the cubicle room is yelling at us.

"One more! Go!"

Pulling again, we use all of our efforts. The already loosened bolds snap free, and we fall on the floor in a heap. Dizzy's body topples on top of mine, and she rests for a minute, taking deep breaths in and out.

"Right. Now, we have to plan."

"Plan?"

She points to the door, and I want to rush out. As I go to stand and run, Dizzy pulls on the chain that's still attached to my wrist.

"Wait a second there."

I look back at her, and she sits on the floor. Confused, but willing to listen, I sit down with her.

"That door only opens from the outside."

"But Scab opened it earlier."

"No he didn't, I did, remember? Look. When he comes back, we're going to have to get him before that door closes. If not we're trapped in here. Now. He usually has one or two guys with him, standing outside the door so that way they can open it. That's three against two. Following?"

"Yup."

"So after we get out, we'll instantly have two other people ready to attack us. After we take care of them, there's another two at the exit. But all this will have to be done really, really fast because if anyone else hears the commotion they'll all come after us, and we're not mom and dad. We can't take on a full-scale riot."

"And do they all have weapons."

"Yup, but they're really bad."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean they're not taken care of. They jam a lot, and most of them don't know how to aim for shit. Why else would they attack in groups? Because none of them know how to shoot."

I nod my head at her. Dizzy knows a good amount, because of all the time she spent with the Raiders. I have to admit, they definitely could use her to their advantage, and knowing all of what she knows, Dizzy would make quite the dangerous Raider. But I can tell, she doesn't want to be one. If she did, she wouldn't have helped me escape.

"You seem to have thought about this."

"No, I didn't. I just know because I was dumb enough to hang out with them."

"Oh, so you're a good guy now?"

She shrugs, and lays down on the padding.

"I didn't say that. I just said I don't want to be a Raider."

"Why, anyways?"

"Because they'd kill you. And I don't want to have a lot of fun here, without you there to have fun with."

I'm about to say something, when Dizzy suddenly sits up.

"We need to look like you're still chained to the wall when Scab walks in."

"Huh?"

"If he sees you sitting in the middle of the room, we're both gonna get locked in here, and then we're both screwed. Mom and dad, too."

"Right so I'll sit against the wall. But, the door could close if he gets too far in."

Dizzy thinks about this for a bit. She chews on her lip, and then comes to a conclusion.
"I'll wait by the door. I don't have weapons, but if I can get out, I can snatch one off of one of his guards. You keep him in here, and I'll come back for you. Kill him, Cain, you have to."

"Won't his guards hear?"

"No. Scab said this room is soundproof because of all the padding. Once the door closes, make your move. I'll make sure the guards suspect nothing."

"How?"

Dizzy smiles at me, and grabs her breasts in her hands.

"In ways a woman can, stupid."

"No, don't whore yourself out like that."

"I won't. But have you seen the Raider girls? They're all scabbed up and junked out. One that isn't is a rarity."

"Alright, whatever."

I say, and getting up I go slump against the wall I was just chained to. I don't really agree with Dizzy's plan of distracting the guards, but, there's not much else she can do. I have to stay in here, and handle Scab which won't be too hard as long as he things I'm still stuck. Plus, you do what you must for freedom. My bloody hand is proof of that.

Dizzy picks herself up, and crawls over to me. She lays down with her body stretched out in front of me, and her head in my lap.

"But I'm not giving back this outfit. I like it way too much."

"You seem calmer now."

She shrugs, and lifts her head to look at me. I haven't had time to fully digest the information I was given about myself. I know there's time for that later, but I can't help thinking about it now.

"Because… I know the truth now. And…I know it'll be okay."

"Dizzy, how can you think that when…when you know the truth?"

Stubbornly, she lifts herself up using her hands. She looks at me with her eyes defiant.

"I still care about you. You're a real human being. I don't care how that came to be, I only wanted to know why I felt what I did and thought what I did. And our new mission, as soon as we haul ass out of here and talk to mom and dad, is to go directly to Barrows."

"What? Why?"

"You will be immune to radiation. I don't care what it takes."

"Dizzy…"

"You're not going to die before me! I won't let it!"

She's back to acting like a child again, but somehow, this…this really moves me. She's so adamant on not losing me, that she's really willing to double back home, and turn around to Rivet City to find out a way to make me immune. If there is a way, Dr. Barrows would know about it.

"What if…because of how I was created…I can't be? I may be human, but I'm a…a human in other sorts."

"Cain, if you want, I'll steal the documents. You can be. You are real. You're not some Rivet City android, you are really real. You look like dad and have his traits because they wanted that, but your DNA and his, is entirely different."

"How?"

"DNA is pretty complex, you know. You really can't make a copy of it like you can copy a map. It's different. Which means, no, we hold no semblance to one another. You only look like him because that's how they wanted you to look."

"But I act like him…"

"Probably because you spent a lot of time around him, and believed you were him for a really long time. It's really difficult, and we can argue it all night."

"So, you find out the real truth and all of a sudden aren't interested in Scab or Raiders, huh?"

She waves her hand dismissively.

"Hey, they're double-crossers. They should have known when they were being double-crossed."

Dizzy says it so nonchalantly. I wonder if her mood swings are healthy? Rolling onto her back, Dizzy smiles at me upside down. I smile back at her. Against our situation, against her own faulty actions, I'm glad we can still smile. She reaches for my hands, and I let her take them. One still shackled, one bloody, she holds them over her head, playing, like she would when she was just a baby.

She's grown a lot over the years. Not just physically, but emotionally, and mentally. It's hard for me to believe, that she's in the same exact skin now, as she was when she was a baby. Maybe…because she's a girl, is why my parents treated us differently. Boys, we're strong. We continue onwards, and our limits constantly tested. But I know, that if it wasn't for my mother, I'd never be half the man I am today. Her unconditional, unfaltering, never-ending care helped create me, just as my father's training did. Those skinned knees and elbows, weren't healed by training. Instead, it was my mother's soft touch, and kind words, that helped me get back on my feet to continue the training. One day, Dizzy will be a mother. She'll be that nurturing, warm and safe outlet, for a little boy or girl.

As her smiling face stares back at mine, I close my fingers around hers. I wouldn't love her half as much, if she never gave me the time of day growing up. If she didn't chase after me, begging me to play with her, to hold her hand, to keep her safe. Doing those things, at such a small age, helped me learn lessons. Helped me feel sympathetic towards others, and fuels the protection and care I have for her now. I know, if I'm sad, it'll be my mother, or Dizzy I turn to. Because the warmth of a woman's heart, is really what keeps men going. At least, that's my philosophy. My father, told me that, so many years ago. He also told me…that to Dizzy, I was everything. I was her weight, her support, and all the things she could ever need. In return for being that for her, he said, I can go to her for anything. Women, he said, always want to help. You just have to ask, or else…they won't know.

"Hey…Cain?"

Dizzy's voice is soft, as she squeezes my hands.

"Yeah?"

"Are you…are you going to use this against me? Hold it over my head?"

"No."

"Why?"

"People make mistakes. You're…to be honest you're really easy to fool and kid. You just got fooled."

"I wouldn't have if you told me the truth."

"My truth, was different than the truth you discovered."

"Yeah, but I would have accepted it."

I shake my head at her, still smirking.

"No, you wouldn't have. I know you, you would have wanted to find it out on your own. Even if the information had matched, you still would have sought it out."

"You really do know me, huh?"

"I grew up with you, Diz. I know you better than anyone else."

She nods, letting her hands fall. She brings them down to her stomach, and rests them there, with mine still tangled in.

"Yeah…I guess you do. So, what do we do, until Scab arrives?"

I shrug, not knowing what she has in mind.

"We can talk. We can, sit in silence. Go over the plan once more?"

"No, we know the plan. And I can't keep quiet for very long."

Looking at her arms, I notice a large bruise. It wasn't there the other night. Lowering my head, I look at it more closely. Pulling my bloody hand from hers, I match it up to the bruise. There's four fingers, and a thumb.

"Diz? Who grabbed you?"

Lifting her head, she glances down at it.

"Oh, that. Scab grabbed me."

"Why so hard?"

She shrugs, and sits up. Turning around, she faces me as she crosses her legs.
"Dunno."

It makes my blood boil, to see that bruise. To know some deadbeat Raider, gave it to her. For no real reason, either, apparently. Dizzy sees the anger in my face, sees my jaw clenched, and tries her best to distract me.

"Hey, you know what?"

I blink, and look at her.

"What?"

"After this, when we get back to mom and dad, we can tell them that we escaped all by ourselves. They're gonna be proud."

"Yeah. Yeah whatever you say, Dizzy."

Really, I think they're going to be quite pissed off. We're not out here a week, and already we found trouble. Or, rather, Dizzy found trouble. Which probably won't surprise them much, since Dizzy is a part of mom, and according to my dad, if I may quote 'That damned woman could find trouble even if it was locked in Fort Knox'. I'm not sure what Fort Knox is, but it sounds mighty secure.

"I want to dance!"

"There's nothing to dance about, Diz. Nor is it really the best time."

"Yeah…I guess you're right. But, you liked my dance last night, right? You weren't lying?"

"The only thing to make it better, would be if I could hear the music to go with it."

She smiles wide, as if I've just given her the elixir of life.

"I'm glad you liked it. I was a bit worried you wouldn't."

"Why would it matter, if I liked it or not?"

"Because I want your approval on things sometimes, sort of. Not really. But still."

I sigh, and shake my head. Running my fingers through my hair, I think I'll get it cut soon. Just a trim. Should I really be thinking of that right now? Boredom sets in fast, and with time to spare, I guess I just let my mind wander. Dizzy moves a bit closer to me, putting her head on my shoulder as she sits beside me. I mess her hair up a bit, in a gesture of endearment.

"This whole thing is exhausting."

"What is?"

I ask her, curious about what she's talking about.

"You know. This whole…running around the Wasteland and stuff. How'd mom do it?"

"I have no clue. I'm sure though in her first few days, she didn't get herself into this much trouble."

"No, probably not. But she was reckless. I've always wondered where she got all her scars from, especially the one across her face. I guess now I know."

"There isn't anything now, you don't know. Except some of the more personal aspects of their life, but even I don't know that. Nor do I want to."

"That's disgusting."

"Exactly."

Putting my arm around her, Dizzy sighs and yawns. She's tired, probably because last night she didn't get much sleep. I'm not sure what time it is, but it can't be too late in the day. Probably morning, or mid-afternoon. Definitely not evening.

"We'll have to beat the scouts back home. Or we'll miss mom and dad and they'll run into trouble."

"That won't be hard."

Dizzy says to me, and I look down at her.

"Oh yeah? How do you know?"

"Most of the time, the scouts don't get there in less than a week. Mainly because they're busy getting high and messing with people along the way."

"You know a lot about them."

"I spent a lot of time hanging out with them. Hey, what about Erica?"

"What about her?"

She looks up at me, her big eyes seeming a bit bigger.

"You gonna take her back? Ya know, I mean, we're going back to Megaton so you're bound to see her."

"Yeah, you're right on that one."

"…Did you ever love her?"

I shake my head, and rest it on top of hers.

"No, never. I was attached, but, nothing like love."

"…Why'd she leave you?"

"Because I told her what I really was."

"That's stupid. And then she comes back to you? And then tells the whole damned town you two are all lovey dovey?"

"I guess so."

"…She's fucking stupid."

"Dizzy?"

Pulling away from me, Dizzy stares at me, defensive and angry. Where on Earth did this come from?

"You don't mess with someone's feelings like that. It's wrong. You know what? Her mother was a Raider whore, how's that? I know all about her mother, and how she fucked anything with a dick and a pulse. I think the whole town would love to hear the stories I have to tell."

"Dizzy don't bring her personal issues into this. In fact, why are you even involved in this?"

"Because she hurt you. And I won't forgive her for that."

"But she's your friend."

"No. I don't need friends, and I don't want friends. They're useless."

"If you say so."

Dizzy nods, and I think her anger is because she knows Erica hurt me. I can't figure any other reason. But in the midst of my thinking, Dizzy suddenly gets anxious.

"…I think Scab is coming, Cain. I think so."

"How do you know?"

"I just…I don't. I'm nervous."

Because of her nerves, we spend the rest of the time on opposite ends of the room. I look like I'm still chained, and she looks defeated and sad. If she looks bright and happy when Scab walks in, he'll instantly know something is up. I give Dizzy the GNR award for her acting skills. She really knows how to put on the sad face. I think that's from giving it to dad, though, when she really wants something and he won't give it up.