Blood from Vault 18

A Behemoth of a challenge

"What is worse for a god, to die or to be forgotten?" Kieron looked up from his book as he heard the small exchange between his siblings. Mandy frowned as she moved the piece of the game, they were playing some fantasy knights and dragons type of thing that was for total dorks in his humble opinion. Ancient Texts or something "Why do you ask me that, I don't know?"

Shawn rolled his eyes at his sister "Because I am not done writing the lore on the game and I wanted to make something cool but I ran into a what do you call it?" Kieron grinned as he spoke up "Stupid-ditis?"

A pillow was thrown his way but he slapped it out of the air with ease, standing up he went over to sit with them. He got bored of studying anyways "Like a writers block Shawn?"

The boy snapped his finger "Yeah! That's it, I can't continue to make the game because I am stuck and I wanted the player to find a god that was dying and… well I don't know what else to write" Kieron blinked and looked over to Mandy who was deep in thought "I think dying, what god wants to die?"

"One that fights, better to go out in a blaze of glory… in my opinion" Kieron said with a shrug as Shawn hummed in agreement "Yeah, if it's a warrior god there is no greater shame than to simply rot away"

Mandy smiled "Yeah! But if the god you fight in game is dying… what are you supposed to do as a player? I mean you can't kill it" Kieron laughed "Why not?" Shawn rolled his eyes "Kieron is a god, no way you can just waltz towards it and kill it"

"I think it would be pretty cool, give it one last battle to go out in a blaze of glory" he said as his siblings hid their smiles "Too much Grognak has rotted your brain" Mandy said as she held his hand for a bit.

Kieron frowned as the memory faded and steeled himself. He checked his gun and frowned as he realized that he still only had one bullet, the knife would do nothing now that he really thought about it he needed something bigger.

Mandrake carefully pieced his rifle together and placed the bullets inside only looking up from his tasks at the sound of a rock being shattered "A pickaxe? Really?" the super-mutant said as Kieron smiled at him "Well cant ever be to prepared, that why I got cold feet after the launcher got stuck when I fired the first time"

The nightkin nodded as they walked back towards the large cave and this time he heard the machine being loaded properly, it was odd in a way. Walking with the enemy like this, he was not what he expected, but maybe it had been because the Father had set up an expectation of the boy way too high, way too similar to the past.

"Get ready" the machine this time fired properly as it launched the only explosive they had toward the ceiling of the cave. Shattering the rocks above the dormant Behemoth the first part of their plan a success.

Kieron and Mandrake slowly descended towards the large arena as a tense silence filled the caves. From the rocks green blood poured out and Kieron let out a sigh "We did-" Kieron was slapped away as a giant hand came out of the rubble, Mandrake glared as Behemoth rose to his full height and roared at the heavens that could not hear him nor see him. A bullet pierced the flesh as Mandrake took the first shot but the skull of the one blessed by atom was to thick, the curse of a super-mutant in full effect. Their body more muscle than anything else, their bones harder than a rock and their anger bottomless.

"Behemoth, can you understand me?" Mandrake avoided a giant boulder being thrown his way, growling the nightkin took aim at the head of the beast again "I will take that as a no" to his surprise Kieron ran towards the creature and with his knife stabbed it in the leg and then ran away. "You're tickling the Behemoth" Mandrake said as the creature shook its head, still dazed by the rocks that collapsed on top of it.

They had a brief window, but when he recuperated, they were most likely dead. Kieron knew this so he used the pickaxe and the knife to climb the colossus and when he was near its head he sunk the knife as deep as he could in its forehead, the pain fully awakening the giant. "OH FU-" the young vault kid barely had time to curse as Behemoth grabbed him and then threw him away like a ragdoll, Kieron screamed as his ribs shattered against the rocks and blood poured out of his mouth. Behemoth took a deep breath as he closed his giant fists and for the first time in a century he had a clear though, a goal.

He wanted to kill the two annoyances in his domain.

Kieron managed to stand up as mandrake ran next to him and kept firing "Why is he not fighting back?" the nighkin wondered out loud as Kieron coughed up more blood, the bones slowly snapping back into place as he felt horrified about what was going on with his own body. The duo stopped as Behemoth ripped off a piece of metal from the many machines scattered around the mine, he had fashioned himself a giant blade and Kieron swore he saw it smile with sadistic glee "H-he… he has a weapon."

Mandrake growled "He wants to play with its food" Kieron felt a small tremor shake the land as Behemoth stomped the ground and roared. The beast had fully woken, faster than a truck the behemoth launched itself at them and slammed the metal so close to them that Kieron could feel the wind push him back, barely having time to doge Kieron threw himself to the ground as the piece of metal almost decapitated him.

He could not win this, not like this. The giant rocks had not killed him, what could? Kieron ran as fast as he could to the other side of the cave searching for anything that might give them the edge over the beast, Behemoth followed him taking its time as it walked. "Come on there must be something here that can help" Kieron muttered to himself barely able to think as his heart almost exploded out of his chest.

Kieron was scared, he felt like he couldn't do a thing other than to run, and this thing was not taking him seriously now but as soon as he saw that he wanted to escape he would bold at him and crush him. He looked back and the thing laughed at him, Kieron spotted a dilapidated crane and let out a long sigh.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Mandrake yelled as Kieron stopped dead in his tracks and looked up towards the giant, his shaky hand reached for his gun and aimed. Kieron felt his body move in slow motion as the beast prepared to strike him down in one brutal blow.

Kieron fired and hit its target. The Behemoth had not expected the small creature that reeked of fear and desperation to be so accurate, screaming in pain the creature stumbled back as it held its eye. Kieron had a small window of time to do what he needed, the crane was holding a massive amount of rocks back and the rusty hook was still attached. Behemoth recuperated in time to see Kieron climb the old machine. Enraged that this puny thing had gouged his eye out Behemoth ignored the shots that his fellow mutant had managed to land on his head and launched his body towards the machine slamming his massive fist against the carcass of the once giant machine.

Behemoth felt his flesh being torn as Kieron sank the hook of the crane on his neck as deep as he could. Behemoth this time wasted not a single second and slapped him away from him making Kieron slam against the rocks Kieron felt something crack as he watched as Behemoth pulled with all his might the hook out of him and threw it away with such strength that it sank into the floor next to him, defeated bloodied and tired Kieron smiled.

Behemoth was the mightiest but lost in his own power he had failed to see how strong he really was. The hook was still attached to the crane and his mighty swing had pulled the machine apart, a giant boulder fell on its back shattering its spine in two, Behemoth screamed as he fell forward face to face with young Vault Dweller.

Silence reigned on the cave for a second as Kieron stood up and for the first time looked down at the massive creature. Behemoth slammed both of his hands on the ground as he struggled to move, its legs no longer responded. Kieron began to move away as Behemoth trashed around and used its massive hands to move, the clarity and the sanity that the creature had regained began to slowly fade away. Kieron heard something behind him and turned to see Mandrake pointing his weapon towards the entrance "The human girl is back"

Kieron looked up and spotted the pale girl as she threw something at him, a shovel.

"Wonderful, they want us to dig our way out here" Mandrake said as he rolled his eyes, Kieron picked it up and noticed how the edge of it shone slightly. Behemoth stopped trashing as its mind began to blur because of the pain, Kieron grasped the tool and let out a sigh.

The neck wound he had inflicted had been further opened by the rocks, the thick muscle pulsated as blood flowed and escaped the body of the cave god,

Bringing the tool down on the injured neck Kieron began to sever the head of the mighty beast, before the giant hand of the behemoth could crush him Mandrake held it down with his entire body "Goodbye Behemoth you went down like a warrior… more than can be said for many of our brethren" the nightkin said sadly as Kieron struck the creature over and over again and with a last savage blow severed the neck and the eyes of the creature began to close as his head fell to the floor.

Kieron collapsed to the ground as he tossed the shovel away from him and desperately tried to wipe his hands from blood, Mandrake remained standing as he noticed how from the dark the ghouls all looked with hunger towards the dead giant. They would not attack them right now, too scared of the ones that had bested the monster, but as soon as the duo left, they would eat everything and nothing of Behemoth would remain.

Anger towards humanity bubbled to the surface making Mandrake clench his jaw and close his fist, it was because of people like Elsdragon that his kind would never know peace. Seen as nothing more than beasts, either to be put down or put to work… but was his service under the father all that different?

"Are you okay?" Kieron asked as he stood on wobbly knees Mandrake looked down at himself and let out a sigh "Behemoth did not attack me, he was barely sane… we got lucky"

Kieron nodded sadly "At least he gets to rest now, I can't imagine the feeling of being stuck here for so long" this made the super-mutant nod "Then the first part of our plan has been completed, take his head… its time that we destroy this place" Kieron nodded as he managed to (with great effort) move the head of the fallen monster. The voiceless had all walked to the entrance, they stared at the head of the fallen monster with horror and then at Kieron with shock "Y-you… you killed the demon?!"

"I did" he felt tired, each muscle in his body protested as he moved and Mandrake had gone invisible again, so he provided no aid "Is there a way to contact the raiders?" this made the voiceless nervous, the Voice nodded as he moved his head to the elevator that Kieron was sure that would fall apart if someone sneezed on it. "The guards can be summoned there, the button call to them…" the girl that he had gotten close to held his arm and shook her head, placing his hand on hers he gave it a soft squeeze "Sorry, I have to save my friends"

That and he wanted to see the sky again, feel the wind. Get away from this horrible place as soon as he could, so with that in mind he pressed the button and he heard static "Fuck off, we just got the last shipment we don't need you… and if you are dying we do not care"

"Is… is me the guy from the vault, I killed the creature"-"HAHAHAHA sureeeeeeee I bet you did kid" Kieron frowned as he rolled his eyes at the childish raider "I have its head right here, feel free to kick my ass if I am lying"

Silence followed but then he heard the machine come to life "We are going down" Kieron heard a whisper near his ear "Make Elsdragon talk, let me get in position… then he dies" nodding he stepped back as the door opened and two massive raiders stepped out they pushed Kieron out of the way and looked down at the massive head with awe. "There is no way… man you actually did it" they looked at the Voiceless and prepared their weapons. Kieron held his breath as they aimed at them "Listen up, the area is clear so you better start working there too. No slacking!"

The voice stepped in "P-please give us some time, we are a small tribe. We don't h-have enough p-people to do something…" a shot was fired at an innocent man, who screamed as blood erupted from his chest. The raider frowned "Any more excuses? We expect double of what you gave us last time"

Kieron frowned as he tried to think of a way to help, he remembered that he had his knife "Mandrake… back me up" there was nothing but silence but he heard the mutant move. Reaching for his knife Kieron stabbed the raider closest to him on the neck and tore his throat in half, before the other raider could react he held his head in pain. He began to float as his eyes exploded out of his sockets and he desperately struggled to free himself from the iron grip of the invisible threat.

But he was no super mutant, his head exploded as Mandrake threw him to the floor "That felt good" Kieron held the weapon that they had dropped and watched how much ammo it had "9mm submachine gun, I can work with this" he muttered to himself as Mandrake threw him a large machete.

"Too small for my hands, I will keep this machine gun" Kieron nodded as he turned at the Voiceless that where looking at him in shock, this people didn't deserve to live like this. Slaves to monsters above, his resolve now absolute he stood up and looked at the tribe "Voiceless hear me now!" that sounded like something that would get their attention, speaking like this should make him sound like he knew what he was saying "For far too long you have lived under the tyranny of this raiders, too long have you been denied what is rightfully yours… a chance to live"

With machete in hand he pointed at the dead raider "They have weapons but we have numbers and together we can make that count" Kieron stuck his machete on the head of the Behemoth "Let me help you" The voiceless all remained quiet as the chittered amongst themselves and the Voice closed his eyes trying to make sense of what they where saying. But there was one that did not hesitate to move to his side, the girl form before gently placed herself next to him and smiled.

A small act, that rippled among the Voiceless.

Little by little they marched up to him as the Voice looked up at him and nodded "We will follow you beast slayer, but they have guns and we only have our pickaxes and shovels" Kieron smiled as he pointed at the dead "Soon you will be armed just wait for my signal, I will send the elevator down"

Kieron gave a nod at the crowd and squeezed the hand of this one girl, it was weird. When he exited the vault he thought he would never meet a kind soul again, pushing the head of the Behemoth inside he waved before closing the elevator door, Mandrake went invisible as the began to ascend "Smart idea, using them as meat shields"

"… I wasn't planning on using them like that, no one deserves to be a slave. Specially down here" silence followed as Mandrake sharpened something that looked like bone, Kieron looked at it with awe "Where did you get that?"

At first the invisible super-mutant said nothing but he decided to indulge the boys curiosity "Is a canine from behemoth, I find it fitting that Elsdragon will die to the tooth of the creature he thought he could control" Kieron wanted to ask more, know more about the super-mutants but he never got the chance to ask more.

The door opened and two angry raiders pointed their weapons at him "What the hell? Where are the…"-"Shooting the Voiceless, they didn't want to work where this big bastard died" the raiders looked down and their eyes widened "Holy shit… you actually did it. Elsdragon should be down the corridor just open that door over" the raider's head spun backward as Mandrake snapped it in two before the other could scream Kieron stabbed the raider on the neck making sure to rip out his vocal cords. It disturbed him a little how good he was getting at killing "Crouch down, there is another raider with a sniper rifle over there"

"Got it" Kieron did as he was told and reached for his new weapon, he checked his PipBoy and frowned "Wait… there is another one. Up this stairs" Kieron tilted his head to the side, Mandrake said nothing but Kieron could faintly hear him walking to the sniper on the far edge of the platform. "Then deal with him"

That he could do, walking as slowly as he could, Kieron brought out his new weapon and prepared himself, it was a woman a Raider covered in blood from who knows what or who. "Huh what are you…" Kieron pulled the trigger and in one short burst of the weapon her head was turned into mincemeat. A scream could be heard from downstairs and he knew that the sniper had been dealt with, now it was time to bring the Voiceless up.

"Boss, do you really think that…?"-"Hush motherfucker, I don't think I KNOW. Do you really think that a man like Rossman wouldn't keep such a big ace in the hole close to him. from what we tortured from that green bastard the other day, this… this boy might be the one"

Elsdragon said as he leaned back against the rocks, it had been so long since he had felt a thrill such as this. He could not stop now, not when all the cards had fallen perfectly into place it was almost poetic, Rossman had made his life hell and now that scientist prodigy would make sure that he climbed to the highest peak he had ever been. As he was thinking this the door to the mines opened and in walked the man of the hour "Ah murder-face! I take it you did what I asked you to do?"

The decapitated head of the massive monster was rolled towards him as some of the raiders gasped in shock "HAHAHAHA not bad! Not bad at all Murder-Face, see I knew you could do it and in record time too" oh yeah this kid was the one, this was just the beginning.

"What now?" Kieron asked tiredly the boy looked like he could barely stand "You my friend will take part in the next step of my master plan, but for now you my friend have earned a reward for all you hard work" he tossed him some keys "Your friends are all your property, congratulations you are now a true raider. You own slaves! That blonde one sure is a big bonus"

Kieron fought with every bone in his body to not let it show how much that idea disgusted him, that he would force Jenn to…. No not now, he could not get angry now, Mandrake was almost in position "But you are not getting the purple haired one, I like her she is weird and OWN her"

"… Fine… but can I say goodbye?" Elsdragon snorted "A sentimental one aren't you, she is over by the cages you can… you can…" Elsdragon felt the air shift around him as the air changed. Cold and unfeeling became and filled with rage.

He tried to run but he did not escape the savage blow that struck his eye his raiders tried to help him but Kieron opened fire from his concealed weapon. Elsdragon felt his arm being crushed and he knew what he had to do to escape, he took out his giant machete and cut off his own hand and ran. "GET THEM!"

"Oh shit" Kieron muttered to himself as he dove back into the mine entrance and closed the door, the raiders opened fire as they cursed at him. mandrake tried to follow his prey but he could not find Elsdragon anywhere, most likely slipped through in a secret passage. Looking at the door that the raiders where desperately trying to break into the area Kieron had barricaded himself in.

The Super-Mutant let out a long sigh and moved towards the exit "You better not die boy" he muttered to himself as he ran faster than any other creature on the wasteland and disappeared into the wasteland.

"ITS OPEN, GET IN THERE!" the raider that had managed to pry the door open screamed as the raiders all tried to squeeze inside, their arms where chopped and their lungs where stabbed by crude machetes, pickaxes and shovels. Then their own weapons where turned against them the screams of the raiders echoed in the caves until silence reigned. Kieron walked over a pool of blood as he reloaded his weapon. He was breaking out of here, he was rescuing his friend and he would kill anyone that stood in his way.

There was no other way.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please let me know if you spot any mistakes so that I may correct them, see you around!