Disclaimer: I do NOT own Fallout 4 or it's characters. The Fallout series belongs to Bethesda. This is a nonprofit fanfiction written purely for enjoyment. Enjoy.

"Whoever fights with monsters should see to it that he does not become a monster in the process. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you" - Friedrich Nietzscht

Act I - All-American Nightmare

Chapter I

In life the Red Rocket was nothing more than a pit stop, one of many of it's kind. It was a waypoint in-between home and work to fuel up your vehicle, grab snacks or a cold Nuka-Cola. Now it served a much higher purpose, the Red Rocket had become to base of operations for Abel Cohan and his crusade against the Wasteland. Abel wasn't a Lone Wanderer, Red Rocket was home to three:

Abel a former soldier in the Army (back when the Army was still the Army) uses his military training to launch a one man crusade against the scum of the Commonwealth.

Codsworth, his Mister Handy robot, doubled as the skeleton crew while Abel was away.

Rocket, the German shepherd, named after the truck stop Abel had found him at. Goggles sat atop his head, and a red bandana tied around his neck to let others know he wasn't feral.

Abel was fortunate enough to have found the Red Rocket mostly intact, though over two hundred years had left it picked clean. A mattress was found in the office, the small room had now become his personal quarters. The idea that someone else might have occupied the space crossed Abel's mind, but the numerous turrets placed around the property would dissuade anyone from coming back. What was once the garage had been reimagined into his workplace. Weapons adorned the walls like trophies from his conquests. What would immediately catch anyone's attention, the true centerpiece of the room was his power armor set that hung from it's chains. It wasn't completed yet, but it was still his most prized possession. Above the incomplete armor set was the American flag that used to be in his own living room. It was a subtle reminder to never forget where he came from, even if the world was different now.

"Master Abel," The Cohan families robotic butler greeted as Abel entered the Red Rocket. Codsworth followed behind his master as he immediately went for the workshop. "No sign of Master Shaun yet?" Codsworth inquired, seeing that Abel had a newly acquired .fifty caliber rifle.

"No," grumbled Abel. The old hunting rifle that Abel was using before he left was placed on the weapons rack. It had served him well, but it was time to retire it in favor of a newer, bigger rifle. The room was beginning to look more like an armory than a workshop.

"If anyone can find Master Shaun, it's you Master Abel," Codsworth beamed as much as his mechanical tone would allow.

If Abel had heard the robotic servant's words, he didn't show it. Abel placed the .fifty caliber on the workbench and pulled up a board hidden behind the workbench. The board was a complex compilation of career criminals, raiders and other scum that occupied the Commonwealth. Names of raider groups were scratched onto the map with their key members, alleged crimes and where they operated out of. Until Abel knew who killed his wife and kidnapped his son it was open season on raiders. A cross went through the names of those who Abel personally confirmed didn't have anything to do with his son's kidnapping, and "CLEAR" above their location on the map.

A shaky sigh escaped Abel's lips as he scratched out the names of his most recent conquest. It was another dead end, with an emphasis on the word 'dead'. With all the corpses laying around he was hoping that whoever took his son would get the message that they were next. Abel started to pencil in new names, there were always new names. It was funny how raiders were more willing to talk when their friends were laying dead around them.

"I took the liberty of setting up a trade route with passing merchants," said Codsworth, looking to change the subject. "This came from Diamond City," The robotic butler extended his arm, newspaper in hand.

Abel pulled away from his intelligence board long enough to take the paper. The headline was about him, again. In black bold print the headline read "Hero, or Menace?" Much to his surprise someone had managed to link together his attacks on the various raider groups. Abel figured it was only a matter of time before someone started putting the pieces together, but he had hoped he would have had Shaun back by then. The author, Piper Wright, disavowed Abel. "Over two hundred years of nuclear radiation, I didn't think a newspaper would be what survived." Abel hid his displeasure within a joke.

"May I inquire what you are going to do about it, sir?"

Abel sat down with at his weapons bench with a shrug, his new beast of a weapon laid out on the table in front of him. "Nothing," he finally added. "I don't need them to appreciate what I'm doing, I just need them to stay out of my way."

"But, sir!" Codsworth shot back. "There are going to be a lot of angry people looking for answers. Bad people."

Abel grumbled to himself. Deep down he knew what he needed to do. He would have to travel to Diamond City and somehow convince this reporter (probably the last of her kind) to stop printing about him before their outlet attracted unwanted attention. It was the right thing to do, to at least try. He just didn't like anything that took away from looking for his son.

"Someone may know of Master Shaun's whereabouts there," the robotic servant added as an extra incentive.

"Stay here," instructed Abel. "I need a new scope and ammo anyway," he grumbled under his breath.

"Can I pet your dog, Mister?" A carefree voice caused Abel to look down. Right in front of him was a small child, probably no more than the age of ten. Her coffee brown eyes were lit up with excitement, as if it was the first dog she had ever seen. It just might have been the first dog she had come across that was feral or mutated.

Abel looked between his shepherd and the little girl. It was a question he didn't really didn't know how to answer, Abel had never seen Rocket around children. Rocket looked up ahead, unaware of the cute assault he was about to receive. "I mean, probably," Abel shrugged.

"Such a good boy," the little girl spoke in a voice usually reserved for small children and animals. "And I love your little goggles!" She squealed.

"Nat!" A woman called from behind them. She rushed up to the trio. "Get away from him," scolded the new woman. She then turned to the stranger. "I'm so sorry."

Abel shrugged in responce, placing his hand on the top of Rocket's head to comfort the now alerted dog. He made the mental note that he was fine around children, but wary around adults. "It's no big deal, he's very well trained," he bluffed. Now he knew at least.

"What did I tell you about talking to strangers?" The woman bent her knee to be eye level with the smaller girl.

"Don't?"

"Good," The woman smiled and ran her fingers through her dirty hair. "Now go back inside."

Nat sighed. She seemed reluctant, but Nat didn't put up a fight or make a scene.

Abel sat by awkwardly, not sure if he should leave or not.

"My name's Piper, by the way," Piper got off her knee and extended her hand to the stranger. "I don't think I've seen you around here."

"You could say I'm new," responded Abel. He met her handshake with a firm grip. "Abel."

Piper was already analyzing the newcomer, making no effort to size him up. She was no doubt forming a profile in her mind. "Is that a vault suit?"

Surprised, Abel looked down before answering, unsure why that was relevant. "Yes, it is."

Curiosity had gotten the best of the reporter. "How did you come across one in such good condition?"

Abel was intelligent enough to understand that she was asking if he had purchased, or stolen the suit he was wearing. "They, uh, gave it to me?"

Piper arched her brow in surprise. "Who is they?"

"I'm from a vault," Abel didn't try to hide his impatient tone. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm sorry," Piper backed off. "I ask a lot of questions, I forget not everyone knows I'm are reporter."

'What luck, the first people I run into,' Abel thought to himself.

"You don't think I could bother you for an interview?" A hesitant Piper asked. She didn't want to push her luck more than she already had with the stranger. "It's just we don't get a lot of vault dwellers this way."

"Sure," nodded Abel. Relief swept through his body. Maybe this was an issue that Abel could resolve, and not the vigilante. That made him feel good. "Lead the way," Abel gestured with his arms.

To his dismay Abel Cohan didn't leave Publick Occurrences alone. After his interview he had hoped to stay behind and see what kind of information they had on him. What Abel didn't know was it also doubled as Piper's house.

"Thanks again, Abel," Piper had a grin that reminded the vigilante of her younger sister when she saw Rocket for the first time. "This is really good material."

"Of course," nodded Abel. "You don't ever worry though?"

"About what?" A puzzled Piper asked.

"Doesn't this kind of work tend to land you in some hot water? Do you ever catch any kind of unwanted attention?"

Piper bit her lip, a habit she had formed to help her think. "Never thought a reporter could consider themselves a success until someone threatened their life. Me? I'm very successful." She grinned cheekily. "Though, I do have this story that's kind of different."

Abel arched his eyebrow in mock-surprise. "I did just open up to you for an hour. I think I'm owed."

The reporter checked behind her to make sure Nat wasn't within earshot. "Ok, so. There's this new player in town. We can't tell if he's an assassin, a mercenary, or just a raider looking to make a name for himself."

Abel had an interested look on his face, but deep down he was excited. Little did she know, Piper was face-to-face with the exact man she was describing. From what he could tell they knew next to nothing about him.

"Sometimes I'm worried that he might read something he doesn't like and come correct that issue," A nervous Piper touched the back of her neck. "That's how I know I should be doing this though. The people deserve to know." Abel couldn't tell if she was trying to convince him or herself.

"What about your sister though?"

Piper's eyes shot up in a defiant stare. "What?" Venom dripped from her only word.

"Your sister, Nat?" Abel tried to bury his threat under the guise of worry. "What if this psycho came looking for you? I mean, you guys do live together right?" The vigilante was bluffing. His moral code didn't allow for harm to come to innocents, especially children. The reporter didn't need to know that, though.

Guilt crashed over Piper Wright like a tidal wave. Long ago she had already accepted the fact that her life may come under threat due to her work, but was her younger sister's life worth the risk? Piper didn't need a tragedy to happen for her to understand that she would never forgive herself if something happened to Nat. Before Piper could give a response man in a faded trench coat interrupted their discussion. When he got closer, Abel realized he wasn't really a man. He was a synth.

"Who do we have here?" Nick sized up the former vault dweller.

"Just an old war horse," Abel extended his hand in offering. "Abel."

"Nick," Nick met his handshake with a firm grip. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to steal you for a bit," he turned his attention to Piper.

"Sorry," Piper forced a smile as she turned towards Abel. "Duty calls."

Abel nodded his head in response. "Of course," Abel reached his hand out and placed it on Piper's arm. "I'd like to do this again sometime."

With that the three of them went in their separate ways. Little did the reporter and detective know, they just came face-to-face with the very man they're hunting. Even worse, Abel knew.

Author's Note: You may have noticed I put the word 'Arc' at the top. What that means is I don't want a bunch of stories that you have to wonder which order they go in, so I'm doing one linear one. The idea for this arc is early game. Instead of the companions helping the SS, they're actually against him because they don't approve of his methods. As a result of this, somethings may not happening canonically, or they'll just be skipped. I promise this is for your sake, because who wants to read something you've already played? I'm not above reviews/criticisms, Solivore out!