I have decided to speed things up a bit. It seemed like it was moving too slow and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who noticed it.

Chapter 9: A Taste of the Outside.

I only made it 3 hours before I was suffering third-degree burns, was dehydrated, narrowly escaped death several times, and out of ammo. I resorted to using a pool cue I found in a ditch.

"Ah, shit. I'm so fucking stupid. Why am I out here? Why did I think I could do this yet?" I kicked a trash can with what little energy I had left.

I wouldn't make it back to Megaton today. I would just have to sleep here for the night. I don't even know where I am. Somewhere near the river like Gob told me to go to. I think I might be near someplace called a Citadel.

Maybe I could make it to Rivet City tomorrow. I might if I pray really hard and lead a life as a devout Christian. I need to come up with a plan before I go to sleep.

Maybe I could salvage from certain areas of interests and I could hide if things get too heavy. I don't know what I could even find.

Stimpaks, ammo, med-x. Just the things Stockholm told me that are important.

I could work my way around the edge of the capital and grab what I can. I should be able to stock up on supplies I really need before the GNR trip.

I was sitting on an old mattress in a gas station. The air was hot and thick. My hair stuck to the back of my neck and my clothes were clinging to my skin. I unzipped the top half of my jumpsuit and tied it around my waist. I decided to search the gas station for supplies for tomorrow and all I found was two stimpaks and some water. The water didn't last long at all.

Night came slowly as I grew more tired by the second. The morning air was crisp and cool. It was completely foreign to me.

I set off to find Rivet City, making sure to stay close to the river, but not too close. I stuck to the shelter of buildings. By afternoon, I could see the outline of the Jefferson Memorial. I wonder what's in it? I probably should save it for another day.

As I got closer, I could make out large, yellow creatures. Those must be the super mutants everyone is talking about. I decided to take my chances and swim across to the other side of the building. I couldn't see anything in the water so I should be safe for now I slipped into the cool water and heard my Pipboy clicking.

Shit, the water is irradiated. I had to make it quick, I hope I was a good swimmer in a past life. I made sure to stay touching the bottom of the river as much as possible. Once I was out of ground, I held my breath, dunked under the water, and started kicking wildly. I seemed like I was getting somewhere, but that could just be the current. Wait. The current was a great idea.

I could pretend I was just a body in the river and I could let it take me to where I needed to be. I'm just lucky that the current was going my way.

I held my breath again and rolled on to my stomach. Going with the flow never seemed more accurate.

I came up for air every thirty seconds or so. I was light headed by the third breath of air. I made it to shore in a matter of minutes. I needed to take a literal breather.

I sat next to the stairs and laid on the hot metal floor. My head felt like a balloon. I just needed a moment.

I laid in silence for several minutes before getting up and walking the rest of the way up. A beggar asked me for water and I had to break his heart and tell him of my own predicament. I walked up to the intercom.

"Wait a minute, I'm bringing the bridge out."

I waited as the metal groaned under it's weight. I was more impressed that the bridge mechanism still worked than I was about the actual city. I met half way with an attractive man. He was a security guard and his name was Harkness. What a strange name.

I walked past him and into the market place. The people were mostly nice and I stocked up on more supplies. Maybe I could do some odd jobs here and there for caps.

Maybe I could try working on getting in the security guards pants while I'm here, too. My nights are only getting lonelier by the day. Last night was especially bad. I couldn't stop thinking about Butch and our final moments together..

I walked around to get a feel for the place and I found myself in the lab. Two men stood in the corner. The taller man was much more intimidating.

Something was very off about him too. He was too still. And his eyes moved in a loop. He stared straight, looked around the room twice, and looked at the doors, then back to staring straight. A woman with a tight bun sat at a desk with her head in her hands.

"Um, ma'am? Do you have a second?"

"What do you want? I'm very busy." She sounded pretty pissed.

"Is this a bad time? I was actually just wondering if you knew my father at some point?"

"Why would I know him? Is he important? What's his name?"

"James Whick. Distinguishable accent. Grey hair, about this height." I raised my hand 3 inches above my head.

She seemed to still at the mention of his name.

"Oh my god. It's you."