Fallout 3: The Paladin
Chapter 1: Time by and through
It's been weeks since the lone wanderer passed through here with his pack of civilians and Dr Li. It's also been weeks since I've heard anything from my brothers. No worries, I have plenty of instamash.
The only thing I wish I had was more flamer fuel; those feral ghouls seem to get more Ferel by the minute and there's nothing I love more than cooked feral ghoul. Every night I lock the door and set a few frag mines down the hall. I have a pretty good set up with a bunk bed and a teddy bear I found.
I'm starting to get a little worried. Normally I'd hear something from my brothers but like I said before it's been weeks since the last supply run. I wonder if the Enclave didn't just win altogether or they had forgotten about me. I've gathered the rest of my supplies and will make a trip back up to the surface in the morning. The citadel is right there anyway I'm sure they'll just say "Well there you are" or something like that.
Well the hatch to the Citadel is jammed. I can unlock the darn thing but it won't push open. It's like a Boulder or something is pushed on it. I tried shouting but there is nothing and I don't want those ghouls piling at the door again.
I'm going to try and make my way out through the Jefferson Memorial and walk to the Citadel that way. The only trouble is those darn ghouls.
I had enough flamer fuel to down a group of them. After that I used a super sledge I found and went to town with it.
That entrance is blocked too.
My only option now is metro central. Not a place I want to go. There's an emergency hatch in one of the generator rooms that can get me there but I'm going to have to lose my power armor if I want to fit. I'll still get in the Citadel with my holotags if they don't gun me down lookin' like an outsider first.
I found a pair of wasteland legend armor that should get me through that hatch with "ok" protection against those ghouls but not much else. On the way I was also able to grab a plasma rifle off one of the dead Enclave Troops these ghouls have been feasting on.
It's good to get out of that tunnel! I had been on post there for a good two months. I must've killed a good hundred of those zombies in my time down there. Most of the exits in this Metro Central are blocked and the only clear sections of the tunnels led me North West! That's not where I want to go! There are no signs of life just radiation and ghouls, not even raiders!
The next night I slept in a broken train car eating boxes of sugar bombs I found in a fridge. When I woke up I had no idea what time it was only that I was awake enough to want to continue through. It's almost pitch black down here so I stick close to the wall, ears open hoping I don't trip on a frag or bottle cap mine. Metro central took me way out of the DC ruins and into somewhere under the capital wasteland towards Pennsylvania. Not good. I need an exit. I need sun light, water and yummy yummy food. Most of all I need my cozy bed!
And sure enough there was light at the end of the tunnel. It's rays shown through the metal gate, pleasing my dying skin. The warmth radiated my body and I felt more alive. Better yet a nuka cola machine lay waiting. I downed every last one of those bottles. The last thing I needed was food. Lucky for me the metro exit led to a gas station.
The sun light was so warm and wonderful. The food out the fridge was even more lovely as I gobbled up chunks of squirrel on a stick.
I stepped outside and gave the wasteland a good look. I couldn't see anyone or anything for miles. I ended up at a gas station called Jocko's. Didn't really know where that was but I reckon I can camp here until I have scavenged the area and recovered from that ridiculously long walk.
If I go the direction I came from I could definitely get back to the Citadel. I just need more supplies.
This man came out of nowhere. He wore leather armor and carried an assault rifle.
"Are you a raider?"
"I could ask you the very same thing, lone wanderer." He said in a scratchy voice.
"Well I hope you're not. I'm just trying to find some supplies."
"Good luck finding any supplies out here. The only place you'll find any is that slaver town up north. That Paradise Falls. Yeah, any other 'round here's been ransacked to hell."
"By who?"
"Don't know. I just reckon I better make my way south before anything else gets any worse around here wanderer. You best get your supplies and do the same."
"Is there anything else you can tell me about the area?"
"I'm afraid not. Last I heard there were some boys in power armor heading out west in some old pre war helicopters. I don't know if that helps you, maybe you'd know more about that than I would. Thank you lone wanderer I thought you were a raider of some sort. But be warned wanderer I could've spilled your guts all over this grass if I had felt like it. Don't let him do the same."
He withdrew his weapon and took off down the road. Should I follow him? No. He'd probably shoot me. And who's "him"?
Another night I spent this time in a shed across the gas station. It was warmer and had some more food.
I'm definitely not going to paradise falls.
I decided to make my way East.
As I got closer to the capital there were some questionable things that got me nervous. In the distance a brown smoke filled the areas around the Washington monument. There were also no signs of life anywhere! I found an old radio in a burned out building but the GNR was off. Even Edens or that lady that played the violin had no sound.
On the way I had found an old .32 with a decent iron sight. I had about 20 rounds plus a 10mm pistol with 30. I had gotten close to a school when a woman ran out of her house up to me and yelled,
"Oh my gosh Mr. you're not one of those raiders are you?"
I've had this conversation before.
"No. What's going on?"
"Well I haven't seen anyone for days so I suppose you were either a raider or a nice fellow who might know more than I would."
"I'm from the brotherhood of steel ma'am. I'm trying to find out where my brothers are. I haven't heard from them in months. By the way ma'am do you have a radio?"
"Oh so you're one of those power armor folks who's supposed to be delivering me some water right about now. No, my radio's been out for quite some time."
"Delivering water?" That's weird. Didn't know we did that.
"Yes. Uh, why don't you come inside? I'll get you something to drink?"
She lives alone. Her house was built in front of a low cliff and settled in front of a neighborhood adjacent to a school. Looks like she is the only one living in this area.
Her house was dusty and smelled of dust. Empty bottles lay scattered everywhere on her kitchen table and on the counters. She reached in her fridge and grabbed a can of what looked like beans and some dirty water.
"Hope your body can stand a little radiation. I'm all out of Rad ex so you'll have to make due."
"Looks you haven't had a fresh meal for days, have you just been eating canned and boxed?
"I reckon it looks like that. Yes I've been dying of hunger living off this stuff and when I heard moriarty was dead I just thought there was no way I'd bet another meal again."
"Pardon me but who is Moriarty?" I really have no idea.
"Oh you really have never been to Megaton?" She asked.
"Megaton? Sounds like some kind of bomb?"
"Huh yes it's a town built around a bomb but it's not that way no more somebody exploded that bomb just a few weeks ago."
"So that's what that smoke was I saw on the way here."
"You're right. And every night I can hear those ghouls crawling over the hills where it used to be. Say stranger, could you do me a favor? Just down the street is a cellar where the power armored boys like you used to set up their water supplies. I was wondering if you could go get me some? I don't have much but I reckon you could use a place to stay if you needed one?"
That's perfect! Maybe my brothers are still down there doing a deal or something.
"Yeah sure, maybe I can take a look at dealing with those ghouls for you."
"Oh that would be wonderful. Here take this laser rifle it works pretty good at scaring them off when I have to."
"No problem ms…?"
"Silver.."
Well I'll check out this "Megaton" and see about the ghoul problem. If it's damped in radiation then I guess she'll have to make do.
First though I must see if my brothers are still in that cellar. I did see some signs about some aqua cura earlier.
I made my way out of that house but when I got to the sign there was an old man pointing his shotgun at me.
"Oh no this is the good stuff you're not getting any of this. That right there is the bad stuff Mr. I hope you drink three bottles and see for yourself."
"Excuse me, I'm just trying to get through to the basement."
This man is crazy.
"Oh sure you are, trying to steal my water!"
"No sir, I don't want anything to do with your water. Can you please let me through."
"No! You can't touch my water!"
I put a few bullets in this guy. I had to know if my brothers were still down there.
The cellar propped open with ease. Down stairs lay "aqua pura" signs on the floor and walls except with blood stains. Green barrels were everywhere with our brotherhood of steel symbols painted on. That must be that water.
"Oh no."
One brother lay dead on the floor, power armor still intact. I flipped him over to get a look at his face. The blood was dry and it looks like he took bullet wounds to the face and waist. I unclimbed his holotag and used some of that aqua cura to clean out his power armor. I'm definitely wearing it and if they ask I found this brother dead in a place he's not supposed to be dead. There were no signs of any intruder's body. Blood stains lace the floor leading to the cellar door. Whoever else died got dragged out.
"Well I better get some of this water to Silver."
One by one I tossed the barrels outside. I was worried that the gun fire would attract any unwanted company but it looks like I got lucky.
One by one again, I dragged each barrel to Silver and she dragged them inside. I told her about the old man and she said "I know don't worry about it." Didn't figure her for a canable but hey when there's nothing around you kind of got to compromise. We both ate well that night.
"Were you able to take care of those ghouls?" She asked, leaning over the table.
"No," I said. "I figure we lay a couple of mines out by the road up the hill. That should do it."
"Ok well I was hoping you would take care of them but uh do you by chance have any weapons I can have before you leave?"
"I do not."
"Ok well there are a few mines I have out back in a metal container. Please come back when you find what you're looking for."
I hate to leave this girl, she's very pretty. By the looks of her she probably used to be a prostitute.
"Look, I'll do what I can. The brotherhood keeps us very busy with the mutants and the Enclave but if I find a moment's rest I'll be sure to come back here."
She smiled. "Okay just know you're welcome here anytime just take this key it'll unlock the door. Oh and stay away from the school, that place is dangerous."
I left the house with a pack of aqua pura and my power armor. It felt good to have it off but I need it for protection and if I want to be identified. I threw a few frag mines up the road for good measure. I actually kinda don't want her to die.
As I kept going East it was clear that more smoke was coming from the direction of the citadel. I tried to pick up a good running pace but this armor is too clunky. Yet again there were no signs of life even this close to the capital. Something was definitely not right.
All of my thoughts about the emptiness of this place faded when I neared Warrington Station. 5 super mutants with energy guns posted guard at the entrance.
"There's no way I'm getting around these guys." I said.
There really isn't. I'd have to go straight to the river and hug the wall not to be seen or I'd have to haul all the way south past Jefferson memorial then up to the Citadel.
That night I found an empty store to sleep in.
"What the fuck was that!"
I sat up fast. An explosion rocked the air followed but what sounded like Gatling shots. I grabbed my gear and when I peeked outside a Vertibird was circling above where those mutants are!
Mutants screamed as they shot at the bird but it eventually tore them all apart. It didn't land. It swung around flying in the direction from where I came from! It has no Brotherhood markings on it so it looks like the Enclave is still around. Their radio doesn't work though. Even here it's just static. I downed a few of those aqua pura bottles but the second one made me dizzy halfway through so I stopped drinking it. Weird.
I skipped Warring station. I salvaged some pretty decent equipment from those super mutants; an assault rifle and a nice intact Gatling laser. This should get me back home. By the river I passed a dock with a shack. Oh gosh that was horrifying. There was this old lady pierced to the wood with a metal rod through her back. She was face first in the water. There was dried blood all around her so no intervention was needed there. Whoever did that is a sick man.
The smoke kept getting worse and worse and eventually I knew it was coming from the Citadel. Something big had happened while I was gone and I needed to find out.
"Oh my god it's on fire! It's on fire!"
The Citadel. It's… gone. I bet whoever did this was the same human being who killed that woman at the dock!
"Murderer!" I cried.
A huge crater with ash and smoke engulfed the edges of what used to be my and my brother's home. I panicked looking around for any more signs of life but.. nothing.
I rushed to a deceased brother near the river.It was a sister. She had blonde hair. It was Sarah Lyons. Whatever asshole did this killed the Lyons' pride before he left.
I needed a second to recoup my emotions. Rocks were piled on the hatch that was to lead to the Taft tunnels. I tried moving them but it was impossible. I decided to ditch my power armor on eve agiain under the bridge and ran my way to the Jefferson memorial. My brothers can't all be dead.