Author Note:
I DON'T OWN FALLOUT LORE, AND ITS GAME. IT ALL BELONG TO BETHESDA.
Chapter 3:
The DC security guard name Carter stood on the outer entrance of the diamond city. There he rest his body against the wood wall, while he is watching the empty road. The road where the dusty man walk on before.
"I wonder if he is alright?" Carter muttered anxiously. "Nah, he be fine. He manage to cross the whole america. So, wiping out those raiders will be a cakewalk for him."
"Psst, Carter!"
Carter flinch, and he glance around. There across the road, he see a dusty man hiding behind the corner of the building.
"Hey, Malik. Glad to see you return in one piece." Carter said with a smile while he wave his hand.
"Yo, Carter. Come over here!" Malik said as he glance around cautiously.
Carter squinted his eyes, and he approach the ranger with caution.
"What's wrong man? And who the hell are you hiding from?" Carter said with his brow raise while he stood in front of the ranger.
"Carter, can i talk to you for a bit." Malik asked with a friendly tone. "Don't worry it's just a short talk. And it's nothing dangerous."
Carter glance at the ranger with suspicion. Well, since he know that he is a friendly man he decide to go along with him, but his finger is close to his trigger just to be sure.
"Alright, let's talk." Carter agreed. "but, if you do any funny business. I-I will blow your brain first before i go down to my own grave."
The ranger chuckle. "Don't worry i won't do anything bad. To be honest, i am here to talk you about the girl i met."
"The girl you met?" DC guard asked in confusion.
"Yeah, i want to ask you whether if you allowed her to get inside the Diamond city."
"Of course, she can go in. there is no problem for her to get inside the city." Carter, reply with his brow raise.
"Yeah….the problem is, she is not the same girl you think she is." Malik said while he stroke his nape.
"What do you mean…" Carter asked with a narrowed eye.
"Ok, i will show her to you." Malik said as he raise his hands. "But, promise me that you won't scream or get hostile. Ok?"
"Alright, i promise." Carter nod.
"Good." Malik reply with a satisfied tone. "Yu Yan, you can come out now."
The ranger, and the DC security look back to the shadow. Then, a strange person step out from the shadow until she completely reveal herself to them. Carter eye went wide, and his jaw drop in surprise when he see a girl who has shoulder length white hair. She wear a cheongsam dress, and a ammo chest rig. Also, she has a physical traits of a moth, like her wings, four exoskeleton arms, and a feathery antennae on her head.
"Holy Brahmin!" Carter said in surprise while he back away in caution. "I know its just rumors, but i never thought that the rumors will be true, and I never thought I be actual seeing the new mutant with my own eyes. Anyway, does she bite or is she tame."
The ranger sigh, and stroke his nape, while Yu Yan look away in disdain.
"No, she is my friend, and I am currently travelling with her." Malik reply with his straightforward eyes.
"You insane!" Carter said in disbelief.
Yu Yan chime in, and she said with a bitter tone. "Malik, just forget about me. I wait for you here."
"No." Malik shook his head. "I will persuade him"
"No, i am not crazy" Ranger said with impatient tone. "Anyway, is she allow to get in."
Carter glance at them while he stroke his chin. "I don't know. We have rule that we are not allow to let the ghoul in the city. Which i think is ridiculous in my opinion, well for her….she ain't ghoul, but she ain't human."
"Please, i know she is not human, but trust my words. She will not make any trouble." Malik said as he try to persuade him. "Also, she save my life from the raiders, and she help me defeat the raiders. If not for her, i will be walking back to the city with a bullet hole on my leg."
"Really, she help you defeat the raiders?" Carter asked in disbelief.
"yes." Malik confirm.
"Well, if that is true. Then I consider her as friend of mine." Carter said with a smile while he relax the tension of his muscle, and mind. "To be honest, you are not the first non-human that we let in city. I let a ghoul mayor in the city once when i got persuade by a certain vault woman. Thanks to her, i almost got in trouble for that. Also, we have protectron that can cook noodles, and a synth detective living in this city."
Yu Yan feathery antennae perk up, and asked in curiosity. "W-wait, did you just say there is a synth living in the city?"
"Yes, his name is Nick Valentine. He might be a synth, but he is a good man, and he help a lot of people even me." Carter reply with enthusiasm.
"Is that so….." Yu Yan mumble while she cross her arm together, and narrowed her eyes.
"Yu Yan, is there something wrong?" the ranger asked when he notice the moth girl trouble face.
"M-Méiyǒu (N-No)!, nothing's wrong. Malik" Yu Yan said while she shook her head, and try to compose herself.
"ok….." Malik said with suspicion. Though, he ignore it this time, and he focus on persuading the security. "So, Carter. Will you please allow her to go inside the city."
Carter sigh, and stroke his nape. "Alright. Since you, and her clear that Raider hideout which i am glad you did. So, I will allow her to go inside the city, i will escort you to the entrance, and i will notify the guards about her."
The ranger smile under his mask, and he tap his friend shoulder. "Thank you, bro. I know i can rely on you."
The guard rub his shoulder, and said. "No problem, just make sure that she will not make any trouble. Because if things happen, i will be in deep shit again. Ok!"
"Don't worry she won't." Malik reply with a reassurance smile.
The moth girl approach the guard. Then, she smile, and bow down in gratitude. "Xièxiè(Thank you)…..I really appreciate your kindness for letting me in. I will never forget this."
Carter was surprised of her politeness. He never though a non-human like her will be this polite to a human like him. So, he is now convince that she maybe can be trusted.
"You are welcome. Just stay away from trouble." Carter remind her.
"I will behave myself." Yu Yan reply kindly. "Wǒ chéngnuò(I promise), i will never betray your kindness."
Carter sigh, and nod. "Alright, let me guide you guys to the lobby. Follow me."
Yu Yan, and Malik sigh in relief. Both smile at each other. Then, they say no more words, and follow the DC security guard.
Yu Yan stood in front of the rusty building name 'Fallon's Basement'. There she stood alone, and watching the bustling streets of the Diamond city market.
"Muuuuuu…..I hope he hurry up and return soon." the moth girl mumble in Mandarin while she watch the residents, and travelers pass by or talk with other shop vendors.
As she observed the marketplace. She notice some of the residents, and guards glancing towards her. Most of them looking at her either in fear or disbelief. Also, some people avoid her, and she even heard some of them calling her 'freak'. Of course, she is not suprise of that reaction because she is non-human after all. Not only that, this people never seen any kind of mutant like her well simply because she do not live in this place. In other words, she is a foreigner of this wasteland. So, they don't know what she is, and what she capable of. Well, thanks to her non-human physical traits. All of the residents attention is on her, which making her feel unease.
"Muuuuu…..where is he? I don't know how much long i can stand here,and I don't like getting this many attention." Yu Yan said in her own thoughts while she feel uneasy on her situation.
Also, there is a bald man that wear a black shade standing beside the swatter shop, and this bald man is observing the moth girl.
"This is interesting." said the bald man in DC security armor while he grin in mischievous way.
The ranger finally got his 200 caps, and decide to return to the marketplace. Once, he arrive at the marketplace. He saw Yu Yan standing alone with anxious linger on her face. So, he call her.
"Yu, over here!" The ranger shout while he smile under his mask, and wave his hand.
Yu Yan antennae perk up, and she search for that familiar voice. Once, she saw him. Her lips curl up into sweet smile, and her anxious drastically replace by gladness. Thus, she hurriedly walk towards the ranger. Then, she grab his arm, and she affectionately cling on his right arm.
"Malik, what took you so long!?" Moth girl said while she cutely pout her rosy cheek. "You know how hard for me to standing here alone, and facing this crowd attention by myself."
The ranger notice her hand, and her antennae is shaking anxiously. Which shown that Yu Yan is not good with the crowd. Now, Malik regret for leaving her all alone here.
"I am sorry. I should have known that you are not good dealing with the crowd." Malik apologize.
"Méiguānxì (it's fine), Just don't leave me alone again." Moth girl mumble while she tightly hug the ranger arm. Thanks to that, Malik can also feel her breast pressing against his arm which made him feel uneasy.
"Yu Yan, it's not like i don't like this development, but are you alright clinging on the person you just recently met?" the ranger asked while he scratch his gas mask cheek using his index finger.
Yu Yan blink as she analyze what she is doing. Then, when realization hit her mind. Her rosy cheek reddened up like tomato, and she quickly release his arm.
"uwauwauwauwa….Duìbùqǐ (I am sorry). I did not meant to make you feel uneasy." Moth girl reply in bashful manner, and shake her both hand in panic.
"Nah, its fine Yun. its okay. It's not like i did not get something from you." the ranger said with a mischievous smirk while his eye secretly looking on Yu Yan bountiful bust. "So, it think its fair, no?"
"What do you mean 'fair'?" Moth girl reply while she eyeing the ranger with suspicion.
Malik quickly look away from her bust, and fakely cough. Then, he try to change the subject. "Anyway, now i got the caps. Shall we order our food, because i am already getting hungry."
The moth girl blink as she realize the main reason she was here. So, she nod in agreement, and smile. "Shì!, Let's eat. I too, feel really hungry."
The ranger, and the moth girl walk to the "Power noodle" counter. Then, both sit on their own stool, and talk to Takahashi.
"Na-ni, Shimasho-ka?" the protectron noodle chef asked.
"Shénme!? (what!?)" Yu Yan said with her jaw drop, and wide eye. "this robot can speak japanese!"
"Yu Yan, you understand what this robot said?" Malik asked in curiosity.
The moth girl nod. "Shì, my shifu taught me how to speak japanese language called Nihongo. That is why I understand what this robot said to us."
"Shifu?"
"It means 'Master', Malik." Yu Yan answer with her charming smile. "Anyway, let me talk to the robot. I want to find out who program this robot."
She clear her throat, and said. "Watashi wa Yu Yan desu"
"Na-ni, Shimasho-ka?" Takahashi reply without recognizing what Yu just said to this robot.
Yu Yan sigh in disappointment. "This Jīqìrén(robot) brain might be broken."
"Oh, so much for wasting your effort for trying to understand a broken robot." The ranger said while he shrug his shoulder. "Anyway, let's just order our noodles."
"Shì, i agree." The moth girl nod.
Takahashi place two bowl of noodles to the counter, and gave it to the two unique customers. Yu Yan quickly grab her own bowl of noodles, and pick her chopsticks. Then, she use her chopstick to grab a portion of noodle, and put it closer to her puckered lips. Then, she slurp the noodles, and let it slide to her throat.
"Fuwa! This taste soooo good." Yu Yan said with a cheerful smile. Then, she glance beside her, and she see Malik is staring at his noodles. "What are you waiting for, Malik? Eat the noodle before it gets cold."
Malik, nod. He took out the hose tube of his gas mask, and pull out his whole NCR helmet. Thus, it reveal his face. He has gentle blue eyes, his skin is dark brown, and his hair is black. Also, his hairstyle is heavyweight, and he has a perfect goatee facial hairstyle. Also, the way Malik looks. He might be a twenty to twenty three years old.
Before, Malik pick up his bowl he notice the moth girl is taking a glimpse on his face. "Something's wrong, Yu?"
"N-No.." Yu Yan answer as she quickly look away from him while her rosy cheek blushing madly.
"It's just. I am happy to see the face of a man who save me. Also, i think you look Kě'ài (cute)." Yu Yan mumble while she giggle.
"Did you say something?"
"N-Nothing, i did not say anything." the moth girl bashfully reply, and shook her head in panic.
"Okay…." Malik said while he squinted his eyes. Then, he shrug his shoulders, and took a bite on his noodles. "Hmm. it does taste pretty good."
A group of caravan walk through the marketplace. The caravan girl who wear a leather a jacket glance at the 'power noodle' stand. Then, she narrowed her eyes on the two strange customers, and she recognize the moth girl.
"Guys! The moth girl last night she is here." the caravan girl said with her wide eye, and her index finger pointing at the moth girl.
All the eye of the caravan crew followed where the girl pointing at. Then, their eye wide up when they recognize the moth girl.
"No, way is that the mutant moth that saved us last night." said the caravan man that wear a standard metal armor.
"Yeah, that's the moth girl that helped us last night. I can't believe we will found her here, inside the city." said the caravan woman that wear a padded blue jacket.
"Well, what are we waiting for let's talk to her." the girl in leather jacket said with enthusiasm.
They all nod in agreement, and went to talk to her.
Three person stood behind the moth girl. Then, the girl in leather jacket tap the shoulder of this unique individual. So, Yu Yan antennae perk up, and she turn around.
"Shì? (yes?)" Yu Yan said while she slurp the noodles in her lips.
"Hey~, remember us?" the girl in leather jacket said with a bright smile.
Yu Yan tilt her head, and she observe the three stranger that standing in front of her. Then, her ruby eye went wide when she recognize this caravan folks.
"Děngdài…(wait….), I recognize you guys." Yu Yan said. " are you the caravan that got attacked by the super mutant, last night."
"Bingo!" the man in metal armor said. "And you are the mutant that helped us to fight those green skins, last night."
The moth girl glance at them with her wary eyes. Then, her feathery antennae, and her wings is shaking nervously.
"W-what d-do you w-want from me?" Yu Yan said while her voice is trembling anxiously.
Then, the ranger stood up, and step in front of Yu Yan.
"Who are you?, and what do you want from my friend?" Malik said while she eyeing the caravan in suspicious.
"Oh, sorry stranger. We did not mean to scare you." the girl in leather jacket said. " we are caravan from the bunker hill. Also, last night we got ambushed by super mutants until your friend came to save us. Sooo.."
All the three caravan folks glance at Yu Yan. and they express their gratitude in unison. "Thank you for saving us."
"Shénme? (what?)" Yu Yan mumble in disbelief while her jaw drop in surprise.
"Yes, we are here to thank you for saving us, last night. We know that you are not human, but risking your life to save us even you know that we are not the same kind is very touching, and it tells that you are a kind person. I respect that. Also, if it wasn't for you. We will arrive in the diamond city with a corpse carrying on our brahmin and a couple of bullet holes in our body. So, we really owe you, and were very thankful for saving us." The girl in leather jacket said with a bright smile on her lips.
Yu Yan were shocked of this human caravan. She never thought in her whole life that their will be a humans that will thank her despite of her race. This situation is like a dream for her, but this is real, and there is really a human that thanking for her kind action. Thanks to this, it brought bliss on her soul, and she is glad that she is wrong about humans. She hopes that their will be more human like them that can recognize the mutant not as a monster, but as people.
The girl in leather jacket grab her Yu Yan hand, and put a small sack on her palm. And this sack contained 50 caps. "Here a reward for saving us."
"No, I can't-"
"No, you deserve it. And we want you to have it." the girl in leather jacket said with smile.
Yu Yan look upon the small sack on her palm. She glance up, and she show her sweet smile to them. "Xièxiè. (thank you)"
The woman in blue jacket cough to get their attention to her. "Now, we said what we want. It's time for question."
Then, the caravan crew gather around the moth girl, and start throwing a barrage of questions on her.
"What's your name?"
"What's Xièxiè mean?"
"Can you fly with your wings?, and how do you move your feathery antenna?"
"Is it comfortable to have four arms, and how do you move them in such unison?"
Yu Yan start to panic when the caravan start to question her. She is panicking because she never thought this humans will be so interested to her, and she don't want to accidentally tell some info that is not supposed to be known. Thus, she glance towards the ranger with her eyes begging for help.
"Malik, help me…." Yu Yan asked for assistance.
Malik look away, and whistle which his body movement tell that she is on her own.
"Malik, Nǐ zhège húndàn! (You bastard!). I will get you for this." The moth girl snarl while she gaze at him, and pouting her rosy cheek.
Malik chuckle in amusement, and return to his sit. Then, he hear a dog bark just beside him. He look beside him, and their he see a German shepherd dog. This familiar dog is looking at him, and it has a letter on its mouth. Then, this dog place the letter on the ranger lap, and bark at him.
"What's this?" the ranger said with his eyebrow raise. Then, he pick the letter, and read it.
"Ranger,
I have a job to offer for you. If you are interested just follow the dog, and meet me in the Dugout inn right now. I see you there.
Sincerely,
A friend."
"Hmm. interesting." The former ranger mumble in curiosity after reading the letter.
Then, he took a glance at Yu Yan. There he see the moth girl is still busy talking with the caravan folks. That means she is too occupied to care for her surrounding. Therefore, he took that chance to escape.
"Take me to your owner." Malik whisper while he put his NCR helmet, and the tube hose to his gas mask.
After that, he quietly left the power noodle stand, and follow the dog until they reach the medium size building with the sign name 'Dugout inn.'
"It's nice talking to you Yu Yan. i hope we can talk more, but sadly we have to leave soon. So, it's time for us to head back to Bunker hill. See ya!" the girl in leather jacket said while she wave her hand goodbye, and she left the place with her caravan friends.
"Zàijiàn! (Goodbye!). I hope i see you guys again." The moth girl said with a serene smile while she wave her hand.
After, they left her alone. Yu Yan sigh in relief, and she is glad she answer their question without spilling any sensitive information about her. Even though, she feel uneasy talking to them. She feel happy, and talking to them make her feel more comfortable with humans.
"Glad that was over." Yu Yan said with a smile. Then, she look beside her, and their she see an empty stool.
"M-Malik?" the moth girl said while her ruby eyes got clouded with darkness.
The ranger entered the 'Dugout inn' while his dusty coat billowed behind him. Before him, is a bar. There is a long counter in front of him. This counter is where the bartender serve. Also, there is some customer sitting on the stool in front the counter. Plus, the atmosphere of the bar is filled of chattering noise. Then, when he look on his right side he see a two long couch at each side, and a long short desk on the middle. The couch is only occupied by a single woman.
Malik eye wide up in surprise when he recognize the woman. It's the vault woman that he accidentally stumble before.
The dog cheerfully bark, and it run towards the woman who wear a vault jumpsuit 111, and a standard synth chest piece. The vault woman smile, and pet her dog.
"Good job, dogmeat." she said cheerfully while she stroke the dog fur. "Good girl."
After that, she looks at the ranger, and she smile. "Ranger, please take a seat."
Malik nod, and he sat at the opposite couch where he facing the vault woman.
"I believe that we met before, ranger. I am right" The vault woman said with a friendly smile. Then she offer her hand for handshake. "My name is Nora woods, and you are?"
"Malik Hancock. Just call me Malik." The ranger reply kindly as he shook her hand.
"Hmmm. Malik. What a lovely name." The vault woman said as she giggle. Then, she composed herself, and she sit in a ladylike manner as she crossed her legs. "I am very glad you accept the offer, and i thank you for that. Also, right now i am sure you have a lot of question to ask. So, i decide that i answer your question first before we go into our job details."
Malik stare at Nora with suspicion. This vault woman act so serene, ladylike, and professional which is not common to be found in any wastelander. Somehow, his gut tells him that Nora is not an ordinary vault dweller. Anyway even this woman is strange, she is nice so far. So, he think he should be fine.
"So, ask any question you want as long as its reasonable, and i will do my best to answer it." Nora said with a serene expression.
"Ok." Ranger reply kindly. "why me?"
Nora gather her thoughts, and she answer. "Well, Judging from your appearance, and the way you move. I can tell that you are a very experience man, and you have seen combat. Also, i heard from a certain guard that you came from the west coast, and you cross the country to reach this place. What you did is insane, but I admire your bravery, and your actions. So, hearing that made me decide that you are fit to help me to do this 'rescue mission'. Now, do you have anymore question?"
The ranger want to ask question regarding about her, and the vault that she belong, but he hesitate because he thinks that she is a kind of woman that never talk anything about herself. Mostly to strangers like him. So, he decide to end his question.
"That's all"
"Really? Well, that was quick." Nora reply with her eyebrow raise. "Anyway, let me tell you the details of our mission."
While they are talking to each other. The ranger hear a door open. Suddenly the whole bar fell into silent, and his ear twitch when he hear footstep behind him. Then, the footstep stop, and he can see a familiar shadow in front of him. He swallowed his own saliva, and he nervously look beside him. He glance up, and there he saw the moth girl standing in front of them, and her ominous ruby eyes gazing at both of them.
"Malik…..Who is this woman?" Yu Yan asked with grimly tone on her voice while her darkly eyes gaze upon the ranger soul.
"Fuck." the ranger muttered while his body trembling in fear, and he feels that he is in deep shit.
To be continue~