CHAPTER 8

As Nora and Hancock stepped out of the cave, a new thought occured to her, "this list of equipment we have to find, it occurs to me that these Brotherhood people might have them." "Sunshine, these Brotherhood blokes are nothing but trouble that the Commonwealth just doesnt need. But you may be right in your thought process." Hancock growled softly. "Well I know where a few of them are holed up and they kind of owe me a favor for saving their sorry asses from a feral attack." Nora stated while thinking how she was going to convince them to help her with out pissing them off or having to join them.

"You ready to get out of this damn rad hole?" Hancock asked shaking Nora from her thoughts. "The sooner the better" She replied. Hancock placed his hand on her shoulder and Nora pressed the button on the device Virgil had given her, in a blinding flash of blue the hell of the Glowing sea vanished and when the light faded Nora saw they had indeed been taken to the very edge of the Glowing Sea. Nora removed her Helmet, looked at Hancock and said "How about that smoke now John?" Hancock chuckled and pulled out his pack, and handed her a smoke.

Together they began the long journey back to Diamond City in bouts of silence and light conversation. the task at hand of building this relay (whatever that was) seemed daunting to say the least, but with the thought of finding her baby in her mind Nora was as determined as ever to complete this task. as they approached the gates of Diamond City Hancock jarred her from her thoughts again "Hate to do this Sunshine but this is where i leave you cause these dammned bigots will shoot at me if i walk closer, the day guard arent bad but these night guys are just assholes." "Its alright John i understand, ill keep in touch and as soon as i have these parts ill let you know." Nora replied lightly a grim expression on her face thinking of the bigots at the gate and her trip into the glowing sea.

Nora stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel, and as she dried herself off she could hear the tv in the background and Codsworth whiring along the hall. After she was dry she set about doing her hair and makeup and getting dressed and then proceeded to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. As she entered the kitchen a loud band startled her and looking to the right she saw a man grabbing her child. "Kellog you motherfucker! I killed you you son of a bitch, youre dead!"

"Blue!, Blue, snap out of it. BLUE WAKE UP!" Nora woke flailing wildly and screaming at Kellog, only to realise she had once again been whimpered softly and nuzzeld close to her in his own attempt to calm her down, and as the room finally came into focus she saw Piper hovering above her with a worried look on her otherwise naturally beautiful face. "Sorry Piper, even though he's dead i keep seeing the bastard in my dreams." Nora said this time holding back her tears as she reached for her pack of cigarettes.

"Blue it's okay, im here if you need to just talk, you scared the hell out of me and Dogmeat." Piper said softly as she sat down on the edge of the couch that Nora had been sleeping on. As the Tears stung her eyes she lit up a smoke and began to talk, and as she began to speak all of her anger and sadness and despair poured forth in a stream that she couldnt stop if she wanted to. Nora spoke and Piper listened while hugging her friend, and she suddenly understood what could make a woman awake night after night screaming in terror. This new world had been thrust upon Nora in the most cruel way imaginable and she hated the people of the past just so much more now for destroying the world her friend had known, for essentially forcing her into that Vault and making her think she was safe, just to snatch her Husband and infant son away as another cruel joke. Piper cried as Nora sobbed on her shoulder, not for herself but for her friend whom just three months earlier had the wasteland thrust upon her and an insurmountable set of odds placed in her way. She cried for a woman who had lost everything but yet never gave up hope. Hope In the wasteland was a dangerous thing Piper had once believed, but seeing it now made her feel it was a good thing. Most of all she cried for a Mother who had lost the love of her life and her infant son in such a brutal manner that she belived had it happened to anyone else that person would have likely killed themselves rather than face life alone.

Later that morning, after Nora had composed herself and gotten cleaned up she and Piper went to see Nick to let him know what steps needed to be taken next, and decided to venture to GoodNeighbor to see if maybe Daisy or KL-EO might have any of the parts they needed. Piper suggested Crazy Mirna but Nora honestly didnt trust the woman as far as she could throw her. As they wandered about the core of Diamond City Arturo called them over to his stand. "If it isnt my favorite Time traveller," Arturo greeted jovially with a smile. "I think im the only Time traveller you know Arturo," Nora replied smiling, "what have you got today?"

Arturo smiled "only the best weapons and mods, as always, plus all the ammo you could need for each of them." Arturo responded with his best sales pitch he could muster. "I've got a few minutes to browse" Nora replied slyly and set about stocking up on .44 .308 and 7.62 ammo. "got any Stims or Radaway?" Nora asked and Arturo placed a box of both on his counter. After grabbing as many as she could carry she counted out Arturos caps and bid him good day.

Nora and Piper stode toward the front gate, dogmeat padding along beside them at a steady trot, when a commotion to their left drew their attention. instantly Dogmeats Hackles raised and he issued a low menacing Growl. Nora looked up in time to see a man rushing towards her with a knife in his hand and a murderous intent on his face. Nora reacted on instinct and tucked down and rolled to her right drawing he .44 in the process. "Okay fucker who are you and what do you want?" Nora growled as she levelled the .44 at the strangers face. The man completely ignored her and rushed forward again clearly intent on killing her right here in Diamond City, Nora didnt hesitate and pulled the trigger just as Dogmeat launched himself at the mans throat. A thud and a whimper were all that registered in Nora's mind as she saw Dogmeat fall limp beside the crazed man, Nora froze realising she had wounded her companion, almost as in a daze she heard Piper yelling in anger and the steady pop pop of her 10mm as she put an entire magazine in the crazed stranger. Nora felt her gun fall to the ground as she sank to her knees and crawled over to Dogmeats side, clutching him close as he lay still in her arms. Try as she might she couldnt get the dog to wake up or make any sounds and an ungodly wailing was ringing in her ears. Nora felt someone trying to pull Dogmeat from her arms which only caused her to grip harder on the now deceased animals hide, Piper could barely be heard yelling to the crowd to back off or she would shoot them all, all the while Nora sat rocking back and forth holding on to Dogmeat as tears slid down her face.

"Its my fault, its all my fault" Nora whispred in her companions ear "Im so sorry boy please come back to me." as she felt a hand on her shoulder she freaked out and began screaming "DONT TOUCH HIM GET AWAY FROM HIM DONT COME NEAR ME OR HIM JUST GO AWAY!" A voice slowly started to penetrate her dazed mind, "Blue, its ok its me Piper. Nick is here too." "Hey Doll, its okay now were here to help you" she heard Nick say as if he were a thousand miles away. Nora sat continuing to rock back and forth holding her dead dog tightly to her chest and lightly stroking his now bloody fur. Tears streamed down her face as she allowed herself to be lifted to her feet by Piper and Nick and she heard Piper "Where do you want to bury him blue?"

A few hours later Nora Piper Nick and Preston were standing in front of Nates Grave under the great Oak in Sanctuary as Sturges slowly dug a grave for Dogmeat. Nora was silently crying, her face ashen and grey as she watched on in sorrow as Sturges lowered Dogmeat into his final resting place. Piper stepped forward and began to speak "Dogmeat, you were a hell of a good boy and a great friend in this lonley will truly be missed." "You led Nora to us in our time of need boy, im sorry to see you leave us so soon." Preston said as he slowly lowered his hat to hover over his heart. Nora's tears flowed steadily as her heart continued to break and she slowly sank to her knees. "Dogmeat, you were Noras best friend and a hell of a good dog, you will be missed." Nora slowly began to place dirt ontop of her dog as her tears continued to flow, "Rest now boy im so sorry ." She whispered as she finished burying her friend beside the grave of her husband. She then set about placing the hand carved grave marker she had been given by Mama Murphy which read "Here lies a Good Boy"