Chapter 5

A few weeks had passed since the fight with the Deathclaw in Concord and after doing some work around Sanctuary with Preston and his group Nora had set off to find the "great Green Jewel" as Mama Murphy had called it. others just called it Diamond City and she was intrigued as to why it would be called that. In the last few weeks Nora had also learned a lot about the new world she now lived in. Mainly why she kept finding people and containers with Nuka caps, as it turned out the old-world currency of paper money had been long forgotten and people now used the caps off of Nuka Cola bottles as the main currency. She smiled at the thought of using soda bottle caps as money but people will do just about anything these days it seems, she walked along the road with her trusty pet by her side as always listening to a radio station on her pip boy a catchy little tune was playing and even though it wasn't the music she remembered from before the war she rather liked it.

The DJ came back on as the song ended announcing that the song had been called Insensitive by someone called Jann Arden and Nora made a note to try and get it wrote down. Nora continued on the route the trader had told her to follow as another slower song came on called Through the Valley by a Shawn James and she caught herself singing along "I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and I fear no evil cause I'm blind to it all. And my mind my gun they comfort me, because I know I'll kill my enemies when they come." Nora stopped for a moment and thought that this song was very fitting in her current situation. "Damn right I'll kill them when they come" her anger flared as she thought of the scarred son of a bitch that had taken her child "I'll make that motherfucker regret the day he was ever born" she growled.

Her dog stopped and whined as he licked her hand and she snapped out of her mind and back into the present. "what is it boy?" she asked as the animal continued to lick her hand, that's when she heard the sound of gunfire and guttural screams and realized she had been walking blindly without really paying attention to where she was going. men clad in what looked like baseball umpire outfits were running towards an old apartment building and firing at whatever was causing the commotion, Nora looked at her pet "Shall we boy?" she asked, The dog barked eagerly and took off towards the sound of the fight, "I'll take that as a yes" she chuckled and ran after her faithful companion.

Nora wasn't ready for the sight that met her eye's, the people in the umpire's uniforms were fighting what looked like people except they were all wrong. They were green, massive and grotesque looking but humanoid all the same, as they fired back at the umpire's they laughed and screamed that they were the future. Nora drew her .44 and took aim through the new red dot sight that Preston had given her and began fighting alongside the other men. As she fired at the nearest one another even more terrible creature than the one she was shooting at came running at her, it looked like a dog but bigger faster and way meaner. The creature tackled Nora as she panicked while trying to aim at it and she felt her ankle snap, all she could think about was the pain in her foot as the creature started to bite her repeatedly.

The pain of her ankle and the bites from this mutant dog began to overwhelm her senses and the last thing she remembered before passing out was Dogmeat coming to her aid. She awoke what seemed to her only minutes later but she was in a strange building and saw what looked like a doctor and a few of the umpire's from earlier. "Dr. Sun! she's waking up i think" one of them said worriedly. the man she had assumed to be a doctor was in fact Dr. Sun "well well here i thought for sure we were going to lose you," he said as Nora tried to get up he placed a hand on her shoulder "not so fast take it easy you suffered some major injuries out there today." Nora allowed herself to be pushed back down on the bed and took a deep breath, "How is my dog?" she asked. "thats one hell of a brave dog you've got there miss took down the hound that was attacking you and then took out two more before coming to your side." "But is he ok is what i want to know!" Nora stated her temper flaring briefly, "He's fine miss, he is outside cause after all this is a hospital." Dr Sun assured her and Nora sighed in relief. "So how bad is it Doc?" Nora asked "You've suffered with a broken ankle and multiple bite wounds on your legs and left arm, but thanks to your Dog we were able to get you here and i was able to save all of your limbs." The Dr replied, "But I am going to keep you here over night as a precaution." Nora grumbled a bit under her breath "Fine, I suppose i can look around later."

Pain wrenched through Nora as another contraction ripped through her body, "Breathe Hon just breathe" Nate said off to her right "This is your fault so don't you dare tell me to breathe right now mister" She fired back hotly and slumped back on the bed as the contraction finally subsided, Nate for his part took it as a symptom of the labor pains and smiled at his wife. "You're crowning Ma'am bear down" she heard a nurse say as another contraction began "Push, Push now" "I AM PUSHING" Nora yelled and Nate chuckled to himself then Nate heard the cries and his face softened even more. Nora heard her baby and tears of joy started falling from her face as they handed the baby to her. Nora smiled and kissed Nate then turned to look at her infant son "he's so handsome" Nora remarked as she turned back towards Nate in time to see him get shot in the head as someone stole their child from his dead arms "At least we still have the backup" an ugly scarred man said as he sneered at her in her pod.

Nora woke Screaming in the night, and the Dr rushed to her side. "What is it? are you experiencing severe pain?" Nora rolled herself into a fetal ball as she shook in fear "it's a dream just a bad dream it isn't real none of it is" she said to herself barely aware of her surroundings. Dr Sun took her temperature and realised this woman had suffered more than just some physical trauma as the reading came back normal, he wondered what could have possibly made this woman scream like that in her sleep but felt it best not to pry. Nora slowly began to calm herself and relaxed as sleep once again took her, no dreams interupted this time.

The next morning Nora awoke to sounds of commotion outside the door and caught snippets of what was being said. "She's my patient and you are not coming in there" Dr Sun stated loudly "oh so your trying to keep the press at bay too huh?" a woman said loudly "you havent heard the last of this Doc trust me." Nora pulled herself into a sitting position as the door opened "Ah you're awake, sorry if the noise out there disturbed you." Dr Sun said "It's okay doc can't sleep all day anyway," Nora said with a half grin as Dr Sun started to do a routine examination. "Well I'd say your good to go." Dr Sun remarked "Just take it easy with your ankle for a few weeks and come see me to get the bandages changed every two days." "You're personal effects are over there, I had your Vault suit repaired while you were under as it was full of holes." "Thank's Doc how much do i owe you?" "Your bill has already been settled by the Mayor." Dr Sun replied. "Huh, but i dont know any mayor, Hell i dont even really know where i am." Nora replied, confusion in her voice.

"You are in my office in Diamond CIty, The Great Green Jewel of the Commonwealth, its 9:15 in the morning this fine September the 16th 2287" Dr Sun replied with a slight grin "does that help give you your bearings?" "Thanks again doc" Nora smiled as she put her Vault suit on and gathered her things then left the office in to the bright september sunlight and paused before she started to laugh slightly "No wonder they called it Diamond City" she laughed harder as she realised this was Fenway Park where her and Nate used to watch the Red Sox play on saturday afternoon's before Shaun was born. Still chuckling to herself she began to walk around feeling like things were back on track and jumped when something cold and wet touched her hand, "Dogmeat oh you good boy i missed you too" Nora started to pet the animal as he whimpered and licked her face roughly.

After a few moments of petting her dog and taking in her surroundings she decided to try to get some information and set off to the nearest stall. As she approached a man with a greasy pompadour hair style called out to her "Need a hair cut? any style you want just 15 caps" Nora smiled wistfully thinking that this man would never be able to match her stylist from before the war but he might be able to help her in finding her boy.

Nora approched the man "Sure I'll get a hair cut" she said "we call your style the scavver special, the little flecks of blood give it that extra pizzaz" Nora reached into her bag and counted out 15 caps which she then handed the man and sat down into the barber chair "Just shorten and thin it out a bit" she said and the man set to work. "I'm new to Diamond City and im looking for someone" Nora commented as the man worked, "Well i might be able to help you, can you tell me anything about the person you're looking for and why you want to find him or her?" the man said as he continued his work.

"I'm afraid i dont know much about him other than he is in his early fifties, bald and has a scar along the right side of his face that runs from his forehead past his eye and into his cheek." Nora said, "Hmmm doesn't sound like I would know him on account of him not having hair," the man chuckled "But keep asking around, Diamond City is a fair size someone here may know of him." The man finished his work on Nora's hair and handed her a mirror "Not bad, not bad at all," Nora commented as she looked in the mirror. "I know who to come see now the next time i need my hair cut, Thank you very much." Nora said "It has been a pleasure Ma'am" he replied.

Nora moved towards the stand in the center of town, attracted by the delicious aroma that was emmanating from it. "Nan-ni shimasho-ka?" The robot behind the counter said to her, a woman who was already seated looked at Nora "Just say yes, it's literally all he understands" "Thanks" Nora said to the woman "Nan-ni shimasho ka?" the robot asked again "Yes" Nora answered somewhat nervously and the robot immediately placed several bowls on the counter "Pick one and he will put the rest away" the woman offered as Nora looked slightly confused. After making her choice she offered some caps to the robot who took the ammount he wanted and Nora sat to eat. It was way better than it smelled and Nora revelled in the flavor as she ate her chosen dish.

After finishing her meal, Nora sat for a few and she heard a man to her left saying "Don't leave the safety of the wall un protected, pistols rifles grenade's Quality weapons at good prices." Nora decided it would be a good place to go even if she couldnt get any info she could at least stock up on ammunition. Nora approached the booth "Ah you must be the new girl" the man said, " Yea i'm the new girl" Nora chuckled in response. "Arturo Rodriguez at your service" "Nice to meet you Arturo i'm Nora" she replied, "My pleasure Nora" Arturo stated "So what can i interest you in?"

"Well i could use some .44 and .308 rounds if you have any." Nora answered, "ah you like close up and long range I see" Arturo said as he placed a few boxes of each ammo type on his counter. "Sometimes the best defense is a good offense" Nora said lightly, "How much for a box of each?" "tell you what new girl, I'll give you a discount as its your first time here, both boxes for 110 caps," he replied. "Sold" Nora commented and handed Arturo his caps. "thanks again" she said as she placed her ammo in her backpack.