The Fallout of War
Chapter 2, A Coded Message
Reaching Vault 111 topside I expected to see Danse standing there waiting, only he wasn't. I glanced around at the dinosaurs of pre-war, old machinery, trailers, rusted Val-Tec and army vehicles and the skeletons dyed white beneath the post apocalyptic sun.
"Danse." I called out. Crows watching from atop an antique crane took flight at the disturbance of my voice. The area was empty and vacant except for ghosts from the past. Why would Danse have me meet him here? I'd brought him here only on 2 occasions.
The first time was when I'd finally decided to say goodbye to my past life and to Nat. I'd accepted that what was, was no more and this bizarre new world was my world now, the one I shared with Danse. Danse had been very compassionate. His normally deep resounding voice had been so soft it made no echo in the vault where even a water drip was amplified. "Take all the time you need Soldier." When I had finally indicated I was ready to go, I was surprised to see Danse step forward and lift Nat into his arms. "What, what are you doing?" "This is no place for a soldier who died defending his family." We chose a proper resting place upon the hillside over looking Sanctuary. I will be forever grateful to Danse for that.
Our second visit bore a more cheerful purpose, to retrieve the Cryolator prototype. Danse had whistled appreciatively when he pulled it from its case. "This is a sweet piece of weapon technology." "Yes, and one the BOS won't get their hands on for a change." Danse paused, then exhaled deeply. His exile from the Brotherhood still twisted at his gut sometimes. He had been totally dedicated to the BOS and truth be told, he still was, yet he produced one of his rare smiles for me. "It'll make a great addition to our armory at home."
I shook these thoughts away, my short bleach blonde hair falling back into its normal disarray. I reached up to attempt using my fingers to straighten it somewhat and stopped remembering a conversation in Diamond City with Danse. "Look Danse, a hair salon. I could use a new hair style after months, no years of this mop." "NO!" Was his flat firm response. Hands on my hips I was a little sniffed by his commanding tone. "I don't believe I asked your permission." "NO!" "And why not?" He leaned over getting as close as his Power Armor suit would permit. I imagined him staring into my blue eyes with those piercing dark brown ones from inside his helmet. "Because, this mop as you call it, reminds me of how you look every time we finish making love." My cheeks scarlet, we continued walking the market area, ignoring the salon.
I could feel my cheeks go pink at the memory and lifted my hand to shield my eyes from the sun as I glanced out over the cliff edge to spy on Sanctuary below. Movement appeared to indicate business as usual which was a comforting feeling. I turned to scan the land in other directions, but there was no movement in sight, no one heading toward the vault. The dedication message had included my cryo-chamber number. Did he really want to meet me below? Not the most romantic spot Danse, but I suppose it is about the most private place in the area considering how many times someone knocks on our door in Sanctuary.
Making up my mind I crossed over to the control building and hit the elevator button, then returned to the lift. The mechanisms creaked to life and with a jolt the platform beneath me began descending with its loud clanks, bangs and grinding. The temperature began to drop with each foot and the air now became musty, damp and stale. If rust and metal have scents they mingled with the faint odors of old melted copper wiring, spilled oil and decay. I would not let my excitement at seeing Danse be hampered by the desolate memories this place tried to invoke. I had banished my past long ago, yet a shiver and shadow passed through me, Someone just walked over my grave.
As the platform banged to a halt and the protective gate began to screech and rattle open I searched the walkway above for Danse's tall figure. No one was there. I climbed the metal stairs and called out to him. "Danse!" I winced at the echo that rolled back to me and how loud I sounded in this massive metal canister. A little softer. "Danse!" An echo and the silence answered me.
The door leading to the cryo-chambers stood open and I moved toward it staring down the long corridor beyond. Great. Where was he? An unease and uncertainty swirled in my stomach. I glanced at the floor with purpose and confusion. Two hundred years of undisturbed dust was a trackers dream and in that layer of dust I could see undisturbed footprints of the past, those I had left when I first traversed these halls upon awaking post-war. On top were Danse's and mine again from our prior visits, but now others mingled in and over lapped ours.
No one comes here. Did Danse bring others with him? Was it for some new technology he'd discovered down here? Then why that music dedication? Why not come get me?
I moved further down the corridor. "Danse?" I jumped, my heart beating wildly when some valve released steam nearby. Shit! Another few steps and I could see clearly to the end of the cryo-chamber corridor and there was no one waiting. A chill colder than the vault swept over me. Danse was not here. He would not be playing hide-n-seek with me. It was all wrong.
I turned back, heading for the corridor door even as I heard the creak, hiss and clank as it slid shut. My heart was pounding in my chest and I broke out in a cold sweat as I pulled the 10mm from my waist band. Safety Off! Click. That door did not close on its own. Someone else was here who closed it. Someone else who was playing some sick game.
I'd been through to much, seen to much in this world to let panic set in. Get a grip Tanna. As creepy as this metal coffin is, you know its not ghosts from the past. Someone made of flesh and blood closed that door and is trying to creep you out. The warning whistles were going off in my head and goosebumps crawled across my skin, but the adrenalin was flowing bringing my senses to a sharpened awareness. I reached for my pip-boy... Damn it! I left it on the table by the bed.
Moving up to the door I discovered, as I suspected, Shit. Locked. It can only be opened again from the opposite side which means I have to traverse this damnable metal fortress once more to the Overseers chambers and use that exit. I turned to the side hall that would lead me there, my 10mm held before me and entered cautiously.
I moved as silently as possible and noted the footprints in the thick dust on the floor. Two maybe 3 new sets I think. Okay and there is the window over-looking the generator room. Empty except for the wild electrical bolts that still flickered and shimmered from one of the generator's due to some malfunction. On to the Security Office. Ease up now, back against the outer door jam. Deep breaths, slow the heart beat. Listen closely. Nothing. Okay go! I quickly spun into the room, pistol first. Empty.
Re-entering the corridor, my nerves were raw and on edge, every drip, creak and hiss had me jumping mentally. Sweat soaked my t-shirt and I kept pausing to take deep breaths. I turned the corner that gave me a straight view into the Mess hall and froze. There was someone there. To far and dim to make out who was sitting at a table facing me. Back! Back! I ducked back around the corner, my back pressed against the cold steel of the wall. Deep breaths, controlled, easy. Good, good. What was that smell? A... a cigar? It reminds me of something... Doesn't matter. Looks like I get to make the first move here. Another deep breath, exhale.
"I don't know who you are or what kind of sick joke you're playing, but I'm not laughing!" I shouted. There was a long silence, or it seemed long. "This is no joke Tanna. I've been waiting for you." My heart stopped. I forgot to breath. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up." It couldn't be! He was dead! But that...that voice, deep and gravelly. The aroma of the cigar, it was his favorite.
"Kellogg is dead! Who are you?" "Ah. You recognize my voice... I'm truly flattered Tanna that you remembered after all this time." That same calm flow when he spoke, the casual pauses. My breathe was coming fast and shallow now, I could feel the blood pounding at my temples. "Kellogg is DEAD!" and could not prevent the small squeak that entered my voice. Kellogg, the only other person in the Commonwealth who would know her Cryo-chamber number. The only person besides Danse who could have sent that radio message.
"Come and see Tanna. You have no choice..., it's the only way out. We both know you won't leave... till you know for sure." He was right, there was no other way out. I could try to make a run for the generator room but... I have to know. I have to see. "It is just you and me... we shall talk like before." "I saw the footprints, you're not alone." "Very astute of you, as always,... but you will see no one else here."
The initial shock was wearing off but I felt as if I was walking in some bizarre dream world. I pushed off from the wall and turned the corner once more aiming my 10mm on that dim figure. I noticed the pistol tremble slightly and brought my other hand up to help steady my aim as I paced forward.
As I neared the mess hall entrance the shadows faded and began to recede. I stopped at the door and stood trembling as I stared into the face of my adversary and felt sick. "Kellogg." I hissed softly.
The same brawny figure, balding head, hawkish nose, that nasty scar that ran from forehead to jaw and crossed a second from temple to chin. It was the same hooded brown eyes that stared back at me now, the eyes of a psychopath. My gut twisted in a tight knot, hackles rose across my back. I wanted nothing more than to pull the trigger and send this monster back to hell for a second time. My mind screamed at me, Pull the trigger now! Don't wait! Do it now! Now!, but I had to know.
His hands rested empty upon the table top and I could see no weapons. The holster at his side was empty. He indicated the bench across from him. I eased forward ignoring the seat and glanced into the barracks room branching off the mess hall, my aim never leaving his chest. Apparently we were alone. My focus returned to Kellogg. "How? I demanded, the hatred I felt for this man pumping through my veins now instead of the shock and fear of a few minutes prior.
"There's the Tanna I know. Tenacious, controlled... and deadly." "You haven't answered me." My voice was flat but strong now and determined. "I always admired you, you know, kept tabs on you. We're a lot alike." "We are NOTHING alike!" I spat at him. He continued steadily on, "We both have blood on our hands. Different goals perhaps, but we walked the same paths achieving them. You killed anything in your way searching for your son, mutants, synths, raiders... and me. And then for the Brotherhood or was it really for that Paladin... all those innocent people in the Institute... even your own son." "This conversation is over!" I steadied my aim between his eyes. He lifted his hands high in surrender. "You've got three seconds Kellogg."
He nodded slowly. "Did you think the institute did not know the moment my heart stopped beating? Did you expect them to leave all the technology, my implants, to be left laying about for the commonwealth to discover? Coursers were dispatched immediately to recover what they could. Unfortunately you had absconded off with that very important chip from my head." He tapped the back of his head lightly.
"Fortunately the institute kept detailed records... Synth and Cyborg." It was not difficult to create a new chip from their data base. I am better than I was before. I should thank you for that." "But Shaun...Father said..." He shook his head dismissing my words. "Director Ayo of the SRB considered my services... of value."
Fuck! I hope Justin Ayo was in hell now paying his dues. "So this is about revenge?" Kellogg laughed in that low soft way that can send icy fingers running up ones spine. "Not at all. Your assistance is needed." "That'll be a cold day in hell." "You see... with the Institute destroyed and Father gone, you well, are the back up." "I am what?! You're insane Kellogg. Say hello to yourself in hell." I squeezed the trigger.
A sharp pain shot through my wrists, my aim went wide as the 10mm fell from my hands. Coursers suddenly stood on either side of me and both my arms were seized in vise like grips. Fighting was pointless. Fuck! This isn't going well. Kellogg rose and skirting the table approached.
"Shit. Sorry I missed. I should have known a scumbag like you couldn't be trusted." He ignored my taunting. "You Darlin are precious goods now." "Your circuits are misfiring Kellogg. The institute is gone and everything with it. My DNA is useless." He leaned forward, his face close to mine and the stink of his cigar and beer stale breath made me want to vomit. "Just following orders Darlin."
Following orders? What the hell was he talking about? "Who's orders?" I demanded. "You know me better than that. All in good time. The question now is, will we do this the easy way or the hard way?"
Every bit of my rage and hatred for this man drove my boot into his gut sending him tumbling back into the steel bench and table. "The hard way." I spat.
My guards tighten their holds practically cutting off the circulation in my arms and I groaned. Damn it! That'll leave nice bruises, but it was worth it.
Kellogg's groaning and coughing didn't last nearly long enough and when he rose I saw the coldness in his eyes that dripped like ice cycles from trees. He approached with much more care and raised his thick fist. I will not flinch. I will not give him the pleasure. The pain exploded in my head and I sank into an empty well of darkness.