James was resting on a bench, drinking some water. His new colleague, Jax, was standing nearby surveying their surroundings. "Here come, have some water, we have been walking quite a long time since morning." James offered, holding out the water. Jax took a few sips and gave it back. "Five more minutes, then we should move. We are entering Super Mutant territory." he said, walking back to his spot. "I know, I'm guessing the Brotherhood haven't made any progress on wiping them out?" James asked, rubbing his legs. "How does a vault dweller know about the Brotherhood and its mission here?" Jax asked, eyeing the doctor. "I wasn't always living in the vault." he answered. "Why would you leave? They are the safest places to be in." Jax asked. "Oh, I know, and I will try to return when I finish my goal. My son is there, and I miss him dearly." James answered. "Why didn't he come with you?" Jax asked. "I would never let him experience this hell. I left him there for his safety." he answered. Jax nodded, "Alright, let's get moving." James stood up and looked in back in the distance. He felt more at ease knowing his son was safe and happy.
"ARRRGGHHHHHHHH!" cried Kirk as he was skewered by one of the ants' pincers. He emptied the clip into the ant, but it didn't budge. It clamped its free pincer into his torso, breaking two ribs. Kirk cried out in pain and grabbed the ripper, and tore it out of his shoulder. With a roar, he buried the ripper into the ants head, hitting the switch. It squealed in agony as the ripper burrowed into its head while Kirk yelled in desperation. The ant collapsed dead, and Kirk bent forward on top of it, passing out.
Jericho and the team came running up to him and Silver, only witnessing the last few seconds of the event. Silver screamed and grabbed the knife Kirk had been using and held it out. "Stay away from us! No more!" she cried. Jericho, in disbelief, walked forward, "Calm down, woman! We are from Megaton! We are here to save you guys!" he explained harshly. "Save us...SAVE US?! A LITTLE LATE FOR THAT YOU BASTARDS! LOOK AT US!" she cried, dropping the knife. Jericho went up to Kirk and looked at him, then checked his pulse. "He is alive, barely. You two, with me to sweep the rest of the building. The rest of ya get them back to Megaton." he ordered. Jericho injected Kirk with a Stimpack, and the men took him and Silver back to Megaton.
Stockholm was still providing overwatch when he saw the doors to the building open. He focused in and saw the men carrying two people. He immediately recognized the blue suit and was feeling relieved until he saw the blood. One of the men held up his thumb to signal him that they were still alive. Relieved, Stockholm went to give his thumbs up but then saw something in his peripheral. He whipped his scope over to the left and saw five raiders walking to the building. He immediately took out one out. The two men carrying the survivors booked it to cover and got ready to open fire. "Fuck fuck fuck!" Silver yelled covering her ears as the two men opened fire on the raiders with Stockholm. They made short work of them and the two men picked up Kirk and Silver and quickly made their way back to Megaton.
Kirk awoke in a small room. He looked down at his bandages and tried to move but was too weak to. 'Where am I?' he thought, and then the memories came flooding in. Tears rolled down his face as he tried to collect himself. Soon after, the door opened, and Doc Church walked. Kirk looked over, and Doc said, "Well, you're up sooner than expected. Don't try to move. Your body was way past its limit. It's a miracle your'e alive." Kirk looked around. "How did we get here? Silver...where is Silver?" he asked weakly. "Jericho and Stockholm rescued you, but you were already unconscious when they found you. The girl? She's in the other room, already up and eating. You won't be for another day at least, so go back to sleep, I can give you something to help if you want." he offered. Kirk started sobbing. He survived. He made it out. "Thank you, thank you." Kirk said over and over. Silver came in. She gasped and rushed over and hugged him, "Thank God your'e alive." she said, sobbing. They held each other sobbing in relief. Doc Church left and got the medicine ready. After a few minutes, they stopped crying. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Yeah, my injuries were not as bad as yours. Get some rest. I'm gonna check on Gob." she said, leaving. 'Gob?' he thought. Doc entered the room. "You're gonna he alright, son." he said and injected the meds, putting Kirk back to sleep.
"Jericho, Stockholm, welcome back. How bad was it?" Simms asked as his team came back. "Bad." Jericho replied, lighting a cigarette. "They were definitely digging a tunnel to our town boss. They would've succeeded if not for running into that ant nest." Stockholm reported. "Any survivors?" Simms asked. "None, other than those two. I have no idea how that kid and the girl survived. He killed quite a few of them and one ant." Jericho said. Simms squinted at him, "Really? In the condition he was in? Are you sure?" "Simms." he said, looking him in the eye to get his attention. "That kid only used a fuckin kitchen knife to kill most of them. He killed more than my team did. He shot their leader Buzzcut and killed an ant with his ripper." He explained and stomped out his cigarette, "I don't know how he did it, but are you sure he is just some kid from the vault?" Jericho asked. "He definitely is. He is mature for his age, but he doesn't know nothing about the wasteland. You should've seen his face when he first walked into Megaton. Utter shock." Simms explained. "Let's make sure Moriarty doesn't bother them while they recover." he said walking away.
A week later, Kirk had made a good recovery. All of his torture wounds were healed, yet left terrible scarring. His ribs were still healing but will be good in another week if he keeps up his rest and meds. However, the night terrors persisted. He can still see the torturing raider clear as day in the nightmares. He never got a restful sleep. Doc Church would charge him each time he took a sleeping aid, so he decided to decline them to save himself from racking up debt. Thankfully, though in the day, he had plenty of people to keep his mind off the horrors. Silver stayed in the clinic during the recovery to hide from Moriarty until Kirk recovered. Doc Church allowed this for no charge, surprisingly. Since Gob was there, they had chatted much through their recoveries. He learned a lot about ghouls and his home called the Underworld in D.C. He enjoyed his conversations with Gob. He was a good soul. One day, Kirk decided to bring up Moriarty. Gob was hesitant but decided to tell him everything since he felt safe in the clinic. He informed Kirk that Moriarty keeps all of his intel on a termial in his office, but he doesn't know the password. "I bet my life that he put down where your father went on there." Gob explained. "You seem to know a lot about Moriarty. What else do you know about him?" Kirk asked. "Everything." Gob said and continued.
A week later, Kirk was on his feet and went up to Moriartys with Silver in tow. She didn't want to, but Kirk assured her it would be okay. They entered the bar, and all grew quiet as they stared at Kirk. Word had spread of what happened to them and what he did with just a kitchen knife. Gob smiled, "Welcome friend, good to see you better!" Nova sauntered over and gave Silver a hug, "Its good to see you, honey." she said. "You as well, sweetie." Silver replied. The door behind Gob flew opened, and Moriarty stepped out.
"Welcome back, laddie, and I see you're a man who delivers." Moriarty says, eyeing Silver hungrily. "Unfortunate to hear that you're now damaged goods." he said, grinning. Nova and Silver scowled at him. Moriarty ignored this and stared at Kirk. "The little prodigy all grown up and already getting tortured the first day out in the wastes, we'll it was more than just torture, right? Daddy will be so proud to hear." Kirk stayed silent and eyed Moriarty. Moriarty stepped around the bar and approached Kirk. " Where are my caps this whore took from me?" he asked gravelly. "Gone. Doc Church is a demanding physician, 200 each to treat our wounds." Kirk answered. "Those were my caps boyo, not yours to spend." he seethed.
"I've been asking around town about you. It seems like you have dirt on damn near everyone in town." Kirk said. "That's right, boy, what's your point?" Moriarty asked. "That is a lot of knowledge to be had." Kirk said out loud, walking around Moriarty. "It must be so difficult to remember every little detail about someone off the top of your head, right?" Kirk asked, stopping in front of Moriarty. "I also hear you spend a lot of time in your office, so much that our good man Gob here practically runs the place by himself." Kirk announced to the crowd paying more attention. "Now, what could possibly be taking up so much of your time in that little office all alone?" Kirk wondered out loud to the crowd, paying more attention. Moriarty started shifting, uncomfortably eyeing the crowd. "Lots of business transactions, record keeping. Basic manager duties." Moriarty answered. At this point, Gob slammed down a giant book from under the bar. "You mean this one, that you have me manage boss?" Gob asked. Everyone started muttering at this. Moriarty glared daggers into Gob, but he stared back this time with no fear. "Oof, not a good look Moriarty, let's try again." Kirk said. Moriarty kept quiet and glared at Kirk. "Shall I answer for you? I believe you have a terminal in there, where you record every little detail about all residents. Even visitors." Kirk said out loud again. "So what if I do? That terminal is locked only to me! The only way you're getting that info is through these lips." Moriarty said through clenched teeth. "Right, and only lotsacaps would open them, right?" Kirk asked with a smile. The color from Moriarty face disappeared. 'What the fuck. No. It was just him saying caps. No. He emphasized it. He knows. How the hell does he-' Moriarty thoughts halted and he whipped around on Gob and Nova. They both smiled at him. Moriarty started laughing. Everyone in the room stared at him with daggers. He had no friends in that room. Only prisoners and Kirk just provided the key to each of their cells. Moriarty knew this. He knew he was done. "Well played kiddo, well played." he said reaching into his coat and quickly pulling out a sawed off shotgun. Before he could bring it up to fire on Kirk, Gob had dove over the bar and tackled him to the ground. Kirk kicked the shotgun away and grabbed Moriarty. Silver opened the door for Kirk and Gob to throw him outside. He slammed against the railing. Nova came out holding his shotgun with Silver. Moriarty got up and leaned against the railing. "So you're gonna kill me now, huh boy? What would your father think, huh?" he yelled, spitting blood. Kirk did his best to ignore him, but the words resonated in his mind. Kirk stepped to the side, and Gob got in front of him. "He ain't gonna kill ya, you old bastard, I am. I have been imagining this moment for a long time." Gob said. "You fuckin zombie, how dare you-" Before he could finish Gob kicked him over the railing and Moriarty fell screaming to his death. Gob spat over the railing and went back in the bar with everyone clapping and he yelled "Free shots for everyone!" More cheers erupted. Kirk sat down at the bar, and Gob went straight to him first. "Now friend, what can I get ya?" Kirk thought about what his dad drank. "Scotch." Kirk stated with a smile.