if there are grammatical errors, I apologise. English is not my mother tongue and I use a translator to translate the Spanish version into English. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Chapter 2: Welcome to Megaton, enjoy your stay
Jutting out from some rocks not far from the entrance to the cavern that led to Hut 101 was a pre-war metal sign. It was small and blue with white text. It said "Scenic Overlook" and beyond it was the devastated Capital Wilderness, bleached by the sun and dried up, leaving only dust and death for more than two Johnson, one of the most recent deserters from Shelter 101, sat on a rock not far from the sign. He found it hard to breathe. The view was very interesting and could certainly be described as picturesque.
The landscape itself was depressing and as such it affected them. They could only imagine what horrible things the world had gone through to make the terrain look like this.
There was a small village nearby. Its only standing structures were burned and shattered, with large holes in the scorched walls. In many cases, only the bare skeleton of a wooden building remained. Further away, in the distance, was a large bridge made of stone; probably an old road. It was completely destroyed. Large sections of the concrete road had fallen into the dry riverbed, and all that was left standing were large stone pillars. Not far away, they could see a large pile of rusted metal, rising above the horizon, beyond a few hills.
Perhaps most defining in the distance were two large structures that appeared to be standing. In the distance, in the ruins of Washington DC, a great spire still stood; the Washington Monument. There were holes in its side and the sunlight from the opposite side could be seen through them. Not far from there, also distinctive in the middle of the skyline of the destroyed city, was a large building, with a rounded top; the Capitol building.
I had read many things at Mr. Brotch's; what had led up to this, the history of the old United States, the government, what American life was like before the vaults, and it all seemed to make what I was seeing that much more bleak and grim. I knew that this land was once teeming with people, green plants, wildlife and technological infrastructure. Now, all that remained was a shell of its former glory, cracked and left to die by nuclear war.
For a moment, he simply sat in silence, observing the world in all its post-apocalyptic splendour. Albert had only seen images of what the world had once looked like, but never in his life had he thought the damage would be so severe, so damaging. Albert remembered a painting of ships sailing on a blue ocean, with a bright sky and green grass on the land. What a contrast...' he thought.
He didn't know how long he sat there, but he knew he had to move on. He decided to use his PipBoy to look at the new files he downloaded from the Supervisor's office. Choosing 'notes' he ignored the resident info and focused on the scan reports.
As he read the file he discovered that earlier they had done scans outside where the old maps of the wasteland were no longer useful, but that there was now a settlement called Megaton. Along with that the radiation apparently caused mutations in the animals, one example was a giant ant.
He looked up to see the landscape and noticed the pile of junk in the distance. Possibly it was the settlement mentioned in the file. He would come down the hill to go to that area.
He would pass through what he thought was once a neighbourhood that was now in ruins. As he moved forward he saw something approaching. As he forced his gaze he saw that it was a floating metal ball approaching and playing a classical melody. At the end of the melody a voice with authority, but with charisma would speak.
"I am your president, John Henry Eden. There are some things we should talk about. I've been thinking a lot lately about something we can all identify with, something that is unquestionably and inescapably American." He turned around, floated back the way he had come, and continued, "I refer, of course, to our great national pastime: baseball."
"Hello?" He spoke to the robot.
He said what he thought was a portable radio doing its thing of doing some sort of pre-war political propaganda. It didn't answer him. At least it was worth a try and he left the robot behind to go on his way. He realised he was going the right way when he saw a rusty metal sign with painted letters saying Megaton. He turned to the right to see that the metal object was actually the remains of what he thought was a plane and parts that had been found there. As he approached he noticed a group of people with a kind of pink-skinned, furless cow whose most notable feature was that it had two heads and on its back it carried several suitcases and sacks that hung on a saddle. One of them would approach him. He wore a red coat with padded armoured parts, a faded black waistcoat and jeans along with a dirty bandana and a left eye patch.
"Hey! You're one of those shelter dwellers, aren't you?" asked the wasteland dweller.
"Amm...Yes?" he asked quizzical at the question.
"Unbelievable! In that case let me introduce myself" He said to raise his arms to highlight the settlement. "I welcome you to the Wasteland and Megaton. I'm Billy Creel but go ahead and call me Billy".
Albert cleared his throat and spoke. "Uh, yeah, um... I'm Lloyd. Albert Johnson. I, uh... I just got out of the shelter."
Billy's eyebrows arched in surprise. "Damn, you just left? When? Today?"
He nodded.
"Damn it, I'll be your official welcome party!" He grinned and walked over to him, holding out his arms. "Welcome to Yermo Capital, newbie!" he said as he reached him, hugging him by the shoulder. "I've never met anyone from a shelter before. Anyway, what's it like down there?"
"Well, uh... it's cleaner, I guess." He said uncertainly.
Billy laughed and tapped his leg. "Hey, that's good! I like that! Hey, Crow! Come here!" he shouted, beckoning the man standing near the strange mutated cattle to come closer. Crow, as he was apparently called, adjusted the baseball cap on his head and approached. "He just came out of the shelter!"
"Really?" Crow said, turning to look at him. He was also wearing leather clothing, an armoured suit with several straps and buckles, and a rifle strapped to his back. "Welcome Welcome!" he said by way of greeting. "My name is Crow and I travel the land offering protective clothing. And you are fortunate to have found me in time. You," he said, pointing to Albert, "have the look of someone who is tormented. But I am pleased to tell you that my clothes can protect you even from the cold clutches of death itself!
Billy elbowed him. "Shut your mouth already, Crow. Stop plugging your wares, now, I probably don't even have badges."
Albert looked at Billy. "Veneers?"
"Yeah, caps. You know. Bottle caps? That's money," Billy replied. "Well, up here it is."
Albert's mind suddenly went back to the hidden hole he had found in his father's office during his escape. He reached into the pocket of his Tunnel Snakes jacket and pulled out the small velvet bag he had found. It made a jingling sound as the lids inside rubbed together.
"What's that?" -Billy asked. Albert opened the bag and showed the curious Billy what was inside.
"Damn, this kid's got over two hundred badges in here! Where'd you get these, son?" he asked.
"I... I found them while I was escaping," Albert answered him.
"Wait, wait, running away? That's different from leaving. You weren't allowed to leave?"
"No... exactly," Albert replied and immediately sidestepped the direction of the conversation by saying, "But you're telling me I can buy things with these?" he asked as he held up the bag.
"Well, maybe food and water for a few days, but not much more. What else have you got?" -Billy asked.
He began to list what they currently had. "I've got a gun, some ammo, some medicine, a bat, and a baseball," he said, pulling out the ball he had taken from his room.
"Hey, I'll buy it for you!" Billy said.
Albert looked up in surprise. "Huh?"
"Yes! That's a nice ball, and Maggie could use a nice new toy. Hell, do you have a glove? Those are hard to find these days. There's no little leagues around here anymore, what with death and nukes." and all. Be nice to have a matching pair."
"I'm sorry, who's Maggie?" asked Albert.
"Oh! Excuse me, I'm sorry," said Billy. "Maggie is a little girl I picked up a few years ago. Her parents had been killed by assailants and I found her hiding under the bed in the room where they had been shot dead. We've been together ever since.
"Wait, I'm sorry, why was she killed?" Albert asked, putting the ball in his jacket pocket.
Billy paused. "... Raiders. You know, moor warriors? Biggest fucking assholes you've ever seen?"
Albert shook his head. "I'm... new to the... ways of the... wasteland, so to speak."
"Oh, blimey, I forgot you didn't leave that shelter, you escaped. Probably didn't have much time to read up on what's going on in the outside world, huh? Well... Look, what's the best way to put it... Not everyone in the world today is as kind, charming and handsome as the good people of Megaton. In fact, many people... They just lost it, and. now they are assailants. They attack innocent people, they kill them to get food and water, and they steal and... And hell, they're the worst people you can imagine."
"Why would they do those things?" -Albert asked. "Can't they just talk about their problems and find a better solution?"
Billy shook his head. "I'm sorry to say that the world isn't like that anymore. Muggers see something they want, and damn it, nothing will stop them from taking it. They just don't give a shit who they hurt." or kill. And hell... some of them get really bad. Trafficking slaves, killing children, and the... things they do to the women they catch... hell, you have no idea how lucky I am. was to find Maggie as a live girl and not..." He paused and closed up.
"Maybe I should take them inside, we'll talk more there," he said, motioning for them to follow him.
Crow waved them off. "Nice to meet you! I hope you don't die and we can do business someday!" His message was met with a grim look from Billy, who shook his head and led them into town.
"Don't worry about Crow now, he's just a trader. He's not very tactful, mind you." He walked past the robot, a bipedal creation with an illuminated head. It spoke in a monotone electronic tone.
"Welcome to Megaton, partners. Enjoy your stay."
"This is Deputy Weld, our own personal protective class robot," Billy explained.
"Hey, this has been bugging me a bit," Albert said, "but what's with the two-headed cow over there with the backpack?"
"Oh, that's just a Brahmin. You find them everywhere. They're good food, good milk and good transport for supply caravans. Beasts of burden, you know."
"It's a shame it looks so ugly," he said. He had to admit, the mottled skin with sores, the swollen glands and the fact that it had two heads was pretty hard to get over.
Billy shouted to a sniper standing on a catwalk above the main gate, who had called out to tell him to let them in. A moment later, there was a loud noise as a huge turbine engine, built into the city walls, fired up and began to rotate, powering a makeshift mechanical process that pushed aside two large chunks of metal that had once been the wings of a commercial airliner, revealing a large metal door behind them. As Billy was about to usher them through, Albert saw someone sitting near that door.
He was an older man, scruffy and poor looking, with dirty clothes and dirty hair. He was coughing loudly, which caught Albert's attention. Billy looked back as Albert approached him.
"Are you all right?" Albert asked, showing his affectionate nature as a doctor's son. The man looked at him with sympathetic eyes, as pathetic and helpless as a man could be.
"Please... please help me... I need water... I'm dying!" He spoke in a dry, broken voice.
"Will some water do?" Albert asked, kneeling down and pulling out his medical kit. He had some water in it.
"I've been drinking this irradiated shit and I... I just can't do it now, I throw it up... I need purified, clean water... please help me..." he coughed again.
Without thinking, Albert pulled out two plastic bottles of pure, clean water and handed them to the man. "Take these."
The man looked at the water and then at Albert. Billy shared the man's surprised face. Not far away, Crow and his caravan bodyguard were also watching, curiosity getting the better of them.
"Are you serious? I can't, I can't pay you with, well, nothing, you know?" the man said, with growing hope in his voice. "Can I, can I have it, for free?"
Albert nodded. "I insist. It's the least I can do, and you need it far more than I do."
"Really, really, really, really? My God... thank you!" he said, taking the bottles and holding them against his chest like a precious artifact. "You saved my life, stranger, I'll never forget this!"
Albert smiled. "Drink them slowly and make them last you. If you ever need more, find me. I'll try to help you."
"Bless you, stranger, bless you!" she shouted. Albert stood up, nodded to the man and walked back towards the astonished Billy.
"Jesus, you just gave away pure water for nothing!" Billy said.
Albert looked at him, "Not for nothing," he said, "maybe he wasn't dying, but now I know he won't be for a while longer.
Billy's face grew grim. "Look, I'm not going to tell you how to live here, but... well, fuck, what's the best way to put it..." he thought for a moment. "I wouldn't have done that if I were you."
"Why, am I in trouble?" Albert asked with concern.
Billy shook his head. "No, no, not yet, not until you're thirsty."
Albert had a confused look on his face. Billy sighed.
"Look... Clean water, like you've got there? It's hard to get. Real hard. Most of the water is polluted these days. It's dirty, cloudy and tastes awful. It will make you sick. "It won't kill you after a while. The medicine helps to keep the radiation down, see?"
"Aren't the rivers and oceans clean?" -Albert asked.
Billy shook his head. "The whole world went to hell and we have to deal with what's left. The radiation will never leave us. The radiation lives in the water and they're not going anywhere. Now, like I said, if I were you... I'd keep that clean water.
Albert stepped forward. "While others die of dehydration?" He spoke in a serious tone.
Billy remained silent. "If that's what it takes to survive, boy. Life isn't full of easy decisions."
Albert looked back at the poor man, who was drinking the clean water, savouring every drop. He looked back at Billy.
"Not for nothing," he repeated.
Billy shook his head and led them inside.
Megaton was bigger than it looked from the outside. It was more like a large pit with walls built around it, and the buildings inside were huts on top of huts. The corridors, the walls, everything was made of rusted metal put together in such a way that Albert questioned its structural safety. There were large pipes carrying water and he saw one that was leaking. Old vehicles, salvaged metal, everything you can imagine was used to build this city. And the people, there were people everywhere, dressed in a variety of costumes. Some overalls, some leather, some plain clothes. Everything was dirty. The walls, the people and even the air looked dirty.
And yet it had a kind of charm. This place was built by people, good people, who wanted nothing more than a home to live in. It was a community, in every sense of the word. People traded, worked together and protected each other from the dangers of the moor.
All this Albert could see from his first glimpse of Megaton. He already liked it and both he and Amata felt safer behind the walls than in the open air.
Billy saw someone and waved. "Hey, sheriff!" he shouted. A man further down looked up and climbed a metal ladder toward Billy. He had dark, weathered skin and wore a brown trench coat and cowboy hat, and on his chest was a gold star. As he approached, he noticed the former inhabitant of the shelter.
"Well, it's been a long time since I've seen one of those monkeys." He extended his hand towards Albert. "My name is Lucas Simms, town sheriff and mayor when the need arises." As Albert shook his hand, "I don't know why, but I like you. Something tells me you'll do well. So welcome to Megaton! Just holler if you need anything."
"It's a nice town you got here, sheriff, and it's a pleasure to meet you," Albert said, shaking the sheriff's hand.
"Friendly and mild-mannered? I think we'll get along just fine. You treat my people right, you don't cause any trouble, and you can stay as long as you want."
"Right. Message received," Albert replied.
Lucas smiled, "I'm glad we understand each other. Now, where are you from?"
"He just came out of that shelter nearby, like I said," Billy said, "and... I really don't know why. I guess because I didn't ask. Why did you leave? Oh! That's right, you didn't leave, you ran away! What did you mean by that, anyway?
Albert cleared his throat. "I, uh, I left because..." Unsure to go on, but decided to continue. He looked back at Billy and Lucas. "I went out to look for my father."
"Your dad?" -Billy asked. "He's gone too?"
"He ran away too," Albert clarified. "He didn't tell anyone he was going. He just...took off and I need to know why. Sheriff," he turned to Lucas, "I'm looking for him and I was wondering if he came through here." -An older guy, wears overalls, maybe a white lab coat. He's got a beard, strong jaw, brown hair, a little gray," Albert said, struggling to find descriptive words.
Lucas shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I've got enough fires to put out in this town to keep track of everyone coming and going."
"Fires? Can I help?" -Albert asked. Lucas laughed.
"It's just a metaphor, kid. Metal doesn't burn that easily, and most fires start with Moira's experiments, and she's always quick to put them out. That's a strange lady," he said.
Albert looked around the town, at the various shacks and the survivors. "Sheriff, could you tell me about this town?" he asked.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Well, one, why is it called Megaton?" he asked.
"The town is named after the bomb in the middle of it. It hasn't gone off... yet," he replied. Albert looked further and saw the bomb, then, in the centre of Megaton's well. It was big, round and had a square tail. It was half buried in the ground and a puddle surrounded it. Albert looked at Lucas.
"Don't you think someone should disarm that thing?"
Lucas shook his head. "I don't trust any of the locals to play with it. Besides, most people don't even realise it's still a threat. And hell, Cromwell and his crazies in the Church of the Atom worship the damn thing, literally."
Concern showed on Albert's face as he looked at the bomb. When he saw it he couldn't help but think of the damage it could cause. Those bombs, those weapons of atomic destruction and devastation, had almost destroyed the entire world. This one could destroy all of Megaton.
"I think I can disarm it."
Lucas and Billy looked at him in surprise.
"What, do you think you have the knowledge?" -Lucas asked.
Albert looked up. "I can disarm it," he repeated. Lucas rubbed his chin with his hand, deep in thought.
"Are you some kind of engineer?" -Billy asked.
"Sort of," Albert replied.
"Well, all right, all right," Lucas said. "Just look here; go slow. Be cool. Don't blow us up. If you can disarm it, I'll see a bounty of about... Hmm. I got a little bit of a haul yesterday. I got about a hundred leftover caps you can have."
Albert's eyebrows arched. "Oh, I don't really need a reward," he said. "I just don't want everyone here to get killed by a bomb, you know?"
"Well, that's very decent of you," Lucas said. "Are you sure? The badges are important, you know?"
"I just want to defuse the bomb," Albert said.
Lucas considered Albert for a moment and then smiled. "I knew I liked you, kid. You're all right."
"Since I'm helping you Sheriff, I need, absolutely need, to know if you saw anyone. Finding my father is paramount. And, after all, I'm helping him now. Please tell me if you know anything."
Lucas took off his hat and scratched his head.
"Well, come to think of it, I remember a stranger came through here... I didn't get a chance to talk to him. He had a look on his face. You know, the kind of look a man gets when he has a Did I spend any time in the parlour? I'd check with Moriarty. Just be careful, that man is nothing but trouble.
"Hell, the saloon? I go there all the time! I'll show you there," Billy said. "And hell, I'll give you a tour of the city while I'm at it!" He gestured for her to follow him. He nodded towards Lucas, who responded in kind, before following Billy, who was talking as he walked.
"All right. At the bottom of these stairs is the clinic. The doctor's a jerk, but he'll fix you up just fine if you need it. Across from it is Brass Lantern, where you can eat some of the best food you've ever tasted." The food is served well. Above the clinic is Craterside Supplies, Moira's home. She is the smartest person in this town, though she is rather strange. Beyond her is the city's water processing plant. I had some trouble recently, since you're so good at volunteering to help people you don't know, maybe you should visit it. Other buildings you should know about are the Atom Church and most of the houses. On the left side of town there are only houses. Upstairs is the common house, full of beds for people who don't have their own home.
"A big place," Albert commented.
"It keeps growing all the time," Billy said. "Anyway, let me show you the hall. It's up there," he pointed to a building built high on the edge of the well, at the base of the city wall. "Now, fair warning," he said, looking at Albert, "is don't let Moriarty, if you know him, take advantage of your good character. The scum of that man, don't let him trick you into doing anything." nothing you don't like."
Albert nodded. "Just take me there. I have a way with words; I think I can handle it."
Billy sighed and shook his head. "You've got a lot to learn about the outdoors, kid. Having honeyed words is nice and all, but they don't always go too far."
"Hey, listen kid, I gotta go find Maggie. You can find the saloon yourself, can't you?" he asked. Albert nodded. "Alright, hero," Billy said in a smartass tone and left.
Albert turned his head to look in the Brass Lantern. He saw two people sitting on stools in front of some sort of bar; one eating more than the other, the Brass Lantern Billy had pointed out. A pretty woman with blonde hair and dressed in a yellow jumpsuit was cleaning the metal surface. Not far away, a man was standing next to the big atomic bomb, preaching something about the glorious "Atom" and its ways. Albert went to sit at the bar.
The woman spoke to him.
"Now I know I've never seen you before in Megaton. I'm Jenny, Jenny Stahl," he greeted her with a smile. "Let me guess: you're just passing through, right?"
Albert paused for a moment to think. "I'm not sure."
"We have people trying to set up shop here all the time, but they usually leave. Anyway, if you're hungry, you've come to the right place. Need something too interesting?"
Albert looked to his left and saw two settlers eating. One was enjoying a soup with meat and the other was eating two plain wooden sticks with meat on them. He looked back at Jenny.
"I'm not very hungry right now," Albert said.
"That's okay, nothing I got is fresh, and most of this stuff won't fill you up much anyway," Jenny spoke as she wiped down the counter. "So, where did you get that monkey?"
"I, I just got out of the shelter," he replied.
"Just now?" Jenny said, grabbing a glass and wiping it down as well. "You got out of the shelter, huh? Do they have good food there? Clean water?" Albert nodded. "Sounds good."
The man eating the soup, when he finished, threw down the spoon. Aloud, he said, "Damn spoiled assholes in the vault." He got up to pay Jenny and Albert took a good look at him. He was wearing a leather jacket with the sleeves trimmed with a shoulder pad, elbow pad and a spiked leather leg brace with a machine gun strapped to the back and a close-shaven hairstyle along with a trimmed beard.
He stormed off.
"Um, what's your problem?" -Albert asked.
"That's Jericho, and he always has a problem with everything," said Jenny. "Don't worry about him. Between you and me," she said, moving closer, "he's a former mugger. He lives here in town because he got tired of it."
Albert turned away from Jenny to consider Jericho leaving, 'He's a mugger?' he thought. His mind went back to the things Billy had said about muggers. Inwardly, he shuddered. He knew he didn't like Jericho.
"Woah! You being mole people! You having clean food!" said the other excitedly. Looking at him in detail he saw that he was a boy in his 16's wearing a grey shirt with baked on parts along with overalls on the outside along with faded number plate shoulder pads. Along with his tanned skin and scruffy light brown hair and eyes of the same colour.
"Who are you?" he asked the boy.
"I'm Tom!" he said, still happy, only to return to his food.
"Don't worry about him. It's Tom from a settlement called Big Town near here. The only bad thing is...he's a fool" He said that part trying not to be offensive.
"In what way?" I asked, puzzled by his behaviour and manner of speaking.
Tom turned to see him to speak to him. "Albert felt a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his head. He just went back to asking Jenhy for more food who gave him more to keep eating.
"So, what brings you out of the vault?" Jenny asked, regaining Albert's attention.
"Oh... I'm looking for my father" He replied.
"Your father? Why did your father leave?"
"I... I don't know," Albert said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that," Jenny said. Tom having finished got up and left, but suddenly his seat was replaced by an older woman with rough skin and a white robe-like outfit.
"Hello Jenny," she spoke. "I'd like some pieces of iguana, please." She slid five plates across the table.
"Coming, Manya," Jenny replied, opening the nearby refrigerator. The woman turned to consider Albert.
"Well, hello honey, how are you?" he asked with a sweet smile.
"Hi, I'm Albert Johnson," he spoke.
"Johnson? What an interesting name. An American classic?" Manya spoke.
"I didn't know that, ma'am," Albert told her. "I wish I did. I studied the old continents and countries when I was growing up in the vault. But my father tells me that I am, in fact, of Caucasian descent."
Manya gasped, "Are you from the shelter? The one nearby, what is it, 101?" Albert nodded. "So, they've finally opened up to us and the rest of the wasteland?"
Albert's gaze drifted. "Um... not exactly."
"Oh," Manya said. "Well, you're outside now, and that's all that matters. Let me welcome you to Megaton. If you ever need anything, let me know."
"Actually," Albert spoke, "I had some questions. Given your age, you might know some of the answers, or all of them, I hope."
Jenny placed the pieces of lizard meat on a small plate in front of Manya, but the older man ignored them.
"Oh, of course, of course!" She spoke. "Tell me what you're looking for, child."
Albert looked at the man in the puddle suddenly as he began to shout and proclaim the glory of Atom's arrival, and delivered a long, impassioned speech about his religious worship of the bomb.
"Who is that person?" -Albert asked.
Manya smiled, "Oh, that's just Cromwell. He's the leader of the Church of the Atom. They're harmless, really. Personally, I think the radiation from the water he's in affected him a long time ago."
Shaking his head, he looked at Manya. "I was actually wondering if, by any chance, you could tell me more about this city. I want to know as much as I can."
"Anything specific?" -Manya asked.
"The history of this place, please," Albert said with a smile.
[-]
After finishing talking to Manya about Megaton's story he decided to go to Moriarty's bar in order to get information regarding his father. As he climbed up the metal catwalks to where the bar was located. When he opened it was quite dark, only having some light from the holes in the slats and the spotlights that hung inside. There were a few customers drinking and among these who was the bartender was strange.
A man, at least Albert thought it was a man, was playing a radio that emitted static sound. He was behind the bar, as apparently he was the bartender. But the man had no skin. Literally, no skin. His flesh was not burnt or black, but red and sickly looking. Muscles, nerves and some bone were visible. His head was almost devoid of hair; only small tufts remained. His nose was gone, only skeletal nostrils covered with flesh remained. He wore a grey shirt and brown trousers.
His eyes were striking, pure black with blue irises. When he spoke, it was in a rough, raspy voice. "Hey, come on, you piece of rubbish, work! Every day it's the same thing..."
A woman leaning against the wall opposite the end of the bar took a puff from her cigarette and then spoke in a soft, soothing voice as she blew out the smoke. "I told you Gob, it's not the radio. The Enclave station comes through just fine. It's Galaxy News; their signal has been shit lately."
"Son of a bitch... why, you won't work..." he muttered, slamming the radio once more. The red-haired woman walked away to another corner of the room. Albert walked over to the bar and Gob, apparently named Gob, looked up at him.
"Hey, soft skin. You need anything? Maybe a drink? Anything? Anything?" he asked, without hesitation. His voice seemed to assume a degree of hostility on Albert's part.
Albert was still puzzled by this... man. All the same, Albert was sure it was a man. "I'll... have to think about it," he replied.
"Wait..." Gob spoke, his grim eyes going wide, "You're not going to hit me? Reprimand me? Not even yell at me a little bit?"
Albert was once again taken aback. "I... I hadn't planned on doing those things, no."
Gob leaned back, a surprised expression on his features. "Well, that's a surprise. I'm used to every smooth-skinned asshole in this town giving me shit just because I look like a corpse. I'm glad to see there are some worthwhile people around here. Listen... "Moriarty would cut my head off if he caught me selling at a discount, but for you, I'll take my chances."
"Oh... that's good, but maybe unnecessary. I don't really drink... well, drinks they serve you in a bar," Albert said.
"Well, the offer will be rescinded if you ever change your mind, kid," Gob told him.
Albert nodded. "What are you, Gob?" he asked. Gob looked up.
"What, you've never seen a ghoul before? Honestly?" he asked.
"I just came out of a vault," Albert told him. "New to the wasteland. My name is Albert."
"Wow..." said Gob. "I wish I'd been born in a vault. Well, I was like you once, you know, normal. Then one day I got too stupid and exposed myself to too much radiation. Demons are pretty common, kid, but most of them are not. They're... like me. Civilized. You know. Most of them are just... wild.
"What do you mean?" -Albert asked.
The woman came over and sat down. Albert took a good look at her for the first time. Pretty face, nice legs and an outfit made to reveal what she had, especially her chest. Albert didn't know much about the wasteland or the outdoors, but he did know what a prostitute was. She definitely looked like one.
"Ever heard of a zombie, kid?" he said, taking a suck on his cigarette. "Wild ghouls are like them. Walking, hungry, mindless corpses. No offense, Gob," he said.
"None taken, Nova."
"Where did you come from?" -Albert asked Gob.
"A place called Underworld. It's a ghoul city in the ruins of DC. I came to find fortune and adventure, and, well... I found this place. I'm kind of trapped here. Colin says I can't leave until I pay my debts to him. Of course, he also charges me for room and board. If you ever go to the Underworld, tell Carol I said hi.
Albert was sorry to hear about Gob and wished he could help him. Gob's case, however, seemed pretty irreversible. Albert returned his gaze to the demon. "I'm looking for my father. A middle-aged guy; he might have been wearing overalls like mine. Have you seen him? Lucas said he saw him come in here."
"Oh yeah, I remember a guy like that." Hearing that, Albert's ears perked up. "Honestly, I try to keep my head down. I tend to get slapped if I look customers in the eye. But I saw a guy talking to Moriarty; he'll know more."
"Is that Colin? Where is he?" asked Albert.
Gob looked around, then spoke to Nova. "Hey Nova, where's the boss?"
Nova took another puff on his cigarette before speaking. "In his room, Gob. He's busy."
"Well, go get him, please," Albert said.
"No, boy, Moriarty doesn't like to be disturbed when he's in his room. Just wait till he comes out," he said. "Find something to do in the meantime." She arched an eyebrow, suggesting what that activity might be. He ignored her.
"Gob, please, if you know something, you have to tell me," she said.
Gob sighed. "I was like you once... I wandered the city looking for an escape from this stupid joke of a body I'm trapped in. Now look at me... All right. Moriarty has a terminal in the back. In it, he's got everything that goes on in Megaton. If you can access that terminal, you can probably learn all about your father. You didn't hear this from me, soft skin. If Moriarty finds out it was me, I'm dead. ghoul ghoul."
Albert looked at Nova. "What do you know about his terminal?"
She let out a sour laugh. "That stupid little thing is his pride and joy. He keeps all his dirty little secrets in there, everything that goes on in this dirty little godforsaken town. I once leaned on his shoulder while he was writing. He got angry and pushed me to the ground. That's why I don't bother him in his room anymore.
Albert shook his head and rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"Look, it's very important for me to access that terminal. Please, could you help me?"
She smiled. "Yes, I'll help you. Then Moriarty kicks my sweet ass out the door. Sorry kid, it's not worth the shit storm it'll bring me. If you want to know more, Moriarty's the one to help you."
"I need to connect to that terminal," Albert told him, his tone serious and calm.
"Yeah, so? So does ninety percent of Megaton, especially Lucas Simms. Look kid, I like you. But you're going to have to learn that you can't stick your head out too far in this world, or you're likely to go crazy." "I cut right off. Sorry," he said in a soothing, almost mocking tone.
Albert's brow furrowed in frustration. "I'm done talking to you," he said.
She smiled, "Take care of yourself, honey. Come see me sometime if you ever feel like becoming a man." That said, she turned and walked back across the room.
Albert's hand clenched into a fist in frustration, but he kept his cool as best he could. Gob bowed. "I feel sorry for her."
"Forget it," Albert told him, and turned to leave.
"Shelter dweller," someone shouted to get his attention. Albert turned and saw a man he hadn't noticed before, sitting in the corner of the room at a table, beckoning him to come closer. The man wore a nice white suit and a hat on his bowed head, along with a pair of dark sunglasses. Gob immediately turned away and busied himself with something else.
Albert approached cautiously.
"Please, please sit down," the man said. "I wish to speak with you."
Albert sat down across from him and looked at him curiously. The guy took a small sip of his drink and studied the nineteen-year-old behind his glasses with inquisitive eyes.
"Well, well. Just when I had almost given up hope. My dear boy, I'm very happy to meet you. I... am Mr. Burke," he introduced himself. He spoke sharply and quietly. His voice was incredibly distinct and Albert didn't know if he liked it. There was an underlying tone in his voice, one of venom and deception. Albert was not comfortable with this man. He added: "And you, well, you're not a resident of this... rotting cesspit. And that makes you a rather valuable individual."
"Does it?" -Albert asked. He knew he didn't like some of the adjectives Burke had used in his earlier statement.
Burke stepped closer. "Don't you see, you're a free agent! You have no ties here, no stake in the affairs of this deal. Megaton means nothing to you. You can come and go as you please. There's nothing to lose if anything happens."
Albert didn't like where this was going, but he didn't leave.
"I represent certain... interests... who see the city, this "Megaton", as a rather large blight on a thriving urban landscape. If this settlement were... to disappear... well, who would really care? ? Certainly not you, certainly not me..."
Albert was getting what he meant. "Are you planning to make everyone move somewhere else and tear it down?"
Burke chuckled. "No, but please keep your voice down...no need for other people to stick their noses in our conversation. Now, I heard you near the bar. A resident of the vault, are you? I can't imagine you have much on your person at the moment, like money. I've been in this town for a short time, looking for an admirable candidate with whom to strike a deal."
"What kind of deal?" -Albert asked.
"The kind that would get you into a very rich position with lots of perks, if you play it right," Burke replied, taking another drink. "You see, there are... obstacles, so to speak, to overcome in the task I've set myself. You see, it's all part of a long-term goal. It's always seemed important to me to work towards something important." You see what I mean?
Albert didn't move much, but took a moment to nod. Albert and Burke didn't know it, but they were being watched. Across the room, a man in a brown coat with a felt hat on his head sat with his back to them, drinking, but listening very carefully. Blocking out all other sounds, he carefully caught every word of Albert's conversation with Burke.
"Maybe we should relax a bit. Do you want to have a drink? My treat," Burke offered.
"I don't have the tongue for it," Albert replied.
"Ah, well, not everyone does. But that's all right, I'd rather you were attentive to our conversation anyway. Now, I don't like to beat around the bush, so to speak. I'm looking for a right." "A man of confidence, someone who has the guts for glory and the will to succeed."
"And what does that have to do with Megaton?"
"I did mention a long-term goal, didn't I? Well, since you've apparently just crawled out of the hole in the ground you've been living in, you may not be as up on the ways of the wasteland as I am. There are dark places out there, boy. I have seen the worst that humanity has to offer in this regard... slavers, raiders, wild men driven to madness and death. But there are two sides to every coin. of progressive individuals dedicated to reclaiming the wastelands, to restoring civilisation to its former glory. We work for a better future. Does this sound interesting so far?
"So far," Albert replied.
"Good, very good. These long-term goals are hindered by communities like the one you and I are sitting in right now. These people are little more than glorified squatters with barely a modicum of civility among them. The city sheriff tries to enforce everything through a crude "moor justice" system that is more barbaric than fair. The owner of this very saloon rips people off; he cheats them and uses them against their will. I would like your help to... solve the problem that this city presents. ".
Albert considered his words. Sheriff Lucas seemed like a nice enough man, but of course, Albert had just met him. "How exactly would that be done? Put new people in charge? Move the people of Megaton somewhere else?"
Burke chuckled. "Haha, no, I'm afraid this city is too advanced. Its people, who are not used to changes they cannot see as positive. They are poor and cling to the poor life they have had. They will not just up and move on, but here is the worst thing that afflicts them and what would ultimately make it impossible to work with them... ignorance.
"Ignorance of what?"
"Ignorance of what's best for humanity, boy. These people don't realise the long-term damage they would cause. They come here, reproduce, try to live an 'honest' life... but in the end, they just reproduce. suffering and living in pain. Meanwhile, my community thrives, adopting logical practices and steps to reclaim the wasteland and make it habitable once again. The people of Megaton are not progressive. Ignorance thrives in a place like this. "Cities like this prevent society, as a whole, from recovering and returning to the glory it once possessed."
Albert blinked a couple of times as his words sank in. "... What exactly are you suggesting, then?"
Burke's tone grew quieter as he laid out his plans. "The unexploded device that gives this city its name is still very... very much alive. All it needs is a little... motivation. I have in my possession a fusion pulse charge. Once assembled, it will be detonated... by you... in a safe place. In return, safety and security are two things guaranteed for your future. Wealth and other benefits at your fingertips. I have a number of resources at your disposal. to them. If you play along."
At that, Albert fell into stony silence. His eyes scanned Burke and, likewise, Burke studied the young man intently. Albert seemed to be considering his options. Although the young man couldn't see him, under the table, Burke kept his hand on the silenced pistol strapped to his thigh. The man knew he had taken a risk in revealing his intention to the shelter dweller, but no one else in town showed the kind of perspective he had. Albert, on the other hand, let his eyes lower a little as he listened to the thoughts in his head.
Although Burke was a very composed man, he couldn't help but feel a little unnerved by Albert's silence. Finally, he nudged him with a simple "Well?"
Albert's eyes returned to his own. He swallowed and replied, "Give me the charge."
A broad smile formed on Burke's lips. "What a wise young man he turned out to be." Removing his hand from his gun, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small metal device from which wires protruded. "Now, all you need to do is connect this to the mainframe and meet me southwest of here. I live atop a tower of civilisation known as Tenpenny Tower. Well out of danger from the explosion. There, you will receive your worthwhile reward."
Burke placed the fusion pulse charge on the table and Albert took it without hesitation and slipped it into his pocket. Burke stood up and smiled, "I think our business is concluded then, Albert, don't you? I anxiously await your results."
"Will you leave town immediately?" -Albert asked.
"I have a small room rented here and I need to pick up a few things. I'll leave later. Remember: southwest. Tenpenny Tower. You can't miss it."
Albert nodded and with a pat on Burke's back, the man left the room, leaving Albert behind, who let out a deep sigh to calm his nerves.
It's time to act.
Albert left immediately and ran to find the sheriff as soon as he was outside the saloon. His heart was pounding a little. Although he didn't notice, the guy in the trench coat got up and followed him out, pulling a magnum with telescopic sight from inside his coat. He watched Albert, observing his movements from a distance as the young man ran. He kept his weapon at his side simply out of curiosity as to why he was running.
Suddenly, Albert almost collided with someone as he turned to go down a flight of stairs.
Lucas was near the entrance, talking to a colonist. Albert ran towards him, out of breath.
"Woah, woah, where's the fire?" Lucas asked with a grin.
"This whole town will be nothing but fire if we don't do something," Albert said. Lucas's smile faded.
"And what do you mean by that, boy?" he asked.
Albert shook out his burden and struggled to breathe calmly.
"I met a man named Burke in the saloon," he gasped, "and he made me an offer to put this charge in the bomb and blow you all to hell."
"What!" Lucas shouted. Lucas's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I never liked the look of you... Give me that thing," he said, snatching it out of Albert's hand. Lucas dropped it and stomped on the charge, destroying it. He pulled out his assault rifle.
"Come on, you're about to learn a lesson in moorland justice, where's Burke now?"
Albert finally held his breath and straightened up. "He said he was heading for his room here in town. Do you know where he is?"
"He occupied an old shack not far from the old pump. If we hurry, we can ambush him when he comes out."
Luke, with Albert in tow, ran to the bottom of Megaton's well, where the bomb lay in a puddle of irradiated water, sticking out like a sore thumb. Nearby, some people ate at Brass Lantern, including Billy Creel, Tom and Jericho. Some of them watched the sheriff approach with the shelter dweller. He pointed to Burke's shack.
"That's his place." He looked at Billy. "Did you see Burke go in there?" Billy nodded. "He went out?" Billy shook his head. "Good. We got him right where we want him." Lucas looked back at Albert. "I want you to take up a position next to his shack. I'll knock on his door. We'll try to take him peacefully, but be on the lookout for any sudden movements. He nodded and moved quickly, hiding on a different side of his hut. Albert readied his pistol.
Lucas, rifle in hand, approached the door and knocked three times. "Burke! Express your business in Megaton!" -Lucas shouted. "Burke, open up! We have questions for you."
The door then opened and a gun was pointed in Lucas's face. Burke held his 10mm gun with silencer and held it steady, the barrel barely an inch away from the sheriff's forehead. "Sheriff," he saluted. In his other hand he held a briefcase. "Drop your gun, Simms. Drop it now!"
Lucas dropped his gun and raised his hands. Behind him, other people stood watching, suddenly very concerned. Lucas had a determined look in his eyes. "You're not getting out of here, Burke. Shoot me and they'll pounce on you."
"That's precisely why we're going to take a little walk to the edge of town, sheriff. Just the two of us. Come on," he said, jabbing Lucas in the face with his gun. "No need for bloodshed."
As he stepped out, pushing Lucas back, he felt the barrel of Albert's gun press against his temple. "Give it up, Burke."
Burke let out a long sigh. "Oh, boy. I had higher expectations of you. Honestly, I'm disappointed."
"Shut up and drop it, or I'll drop you," Albert warned.
"I don't think you don't have it in you, Albert," Burke said as he turned to face the young man, so that Albert's gun was now directly in the centre of his forehead. "If you had, you would have shot me in the living room. No, you had to run to someone else and let them get their hands dirty for you. Put the gun down. Now."
Albert looked at Burke with fury in his eyes and then at Lucas. He couldn't risk the sheriff getting shot. With a disgusted expression, Albert dropped his gun.
Burke smiled, "I thought so. I'd be lying if I said this wasn't personal," he said, moving to point his gun at Albert's head. However, he was significantly hampered by the high velocity shot in the direction of his gun slamming into his hand causing it to fall together with fragments of it in his hand. Reflexively, he fired, but as his pistol fell to the ground between Albert and Lucas at the moment of the sudden attack, the bullet flew harmlessly into the water at the base of the pump, right between Cromwell's legs. The confessor stopped ranting, stupefied at the sudden little splash.
He was grabbed by the arm as Burke took his badly wounded hand, and in that case, Albert and Simms were on top of him, holding him down. Burke was going nowhere in a hurry. Albert grabbed his gun and Burke's to keep them out of the man's reach. It was the first time he had ever pinned anyone down.
But Burke was still alive and Lucas took him away with Billy's help. While Albert searched for the shooter with the rest of the inhabitants, a good part of the town was watching them. They had seen it all, including the man in the trench coat who just put his gun away and walked away, still looking at Albert.
[-]
Albert was sitting on the couch in the communal commune as he recapped everything that had happened: the escape from the shelter, the arrival in the wasteland, Megaton, meeting a ghoul and now avoiding Burke's destruction of the city. A great day to start with everything, isn't it?
With what he had learned from Billy and the old woman Manya he knew he had to make a living while he searched for his father. He'd need to take jobs so he'd never lack for anything, he didn't want to end up like the bum outside Megaton, but he wouldn't do horrible things like what Burke wanted Megaton to do. No, he would do things that would benefit everyone and not just one person. With a fixed goal he decided to see if they needed help, starting with those leaks he saw in the settlement's water pipes. Maybe he needed help with that.
Albert knocked on the door of the water treatment plant. Getting no answer, he went in anyway. He heard a banging noise and saw an old man dressed in light blue overalls hammering on a pipe, of which the room was full. He looked up. Despite his old age, grey hair and dark, rough skin, he had a cheerful air about him. He stopped hammering and spoke in a pleasant voice.
"Yes? What is it?" he asked.
Albert looked around. "I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help around here. I have some knowledge of plumbing and pipe work."
"Well," the man began. "It's no secret that the old water plant here is going through its last days. I'm the only one in town who can keep it running! I spent so much time here at the plant that I can't." Not keep track of the leaks that keep popping up in the city," he explained. "Now, I'm not much for giving jobs to strangers, but if you have the knowledge, I need someone to look for and fix those leaks."
Albert shrugged. "Sounds easy enough. How many leaks are there?"
"Well, judging by the pressure in the plant, there are at least three in the city. Check the pipes and valves, but it might be a little tricky to find them," he told Albert, who nodded in response . .
"I'll get on it. I'm Albert, by the way. Albert Johnson.
"My name is Walter, and I could really use the help you're offering. If people knew how difficult things are here, well... I don't know what would happen," Walter said.
"I'll need some tools, do you have an extra kit? -Albert asked.
"Oh, sure, sure!" Walter said, moving to the back. He opened a locker and pulled out a tool kit.
"This has everything you need. Duct tape, wonder glue, wrenches, everything." Albert took it gratefully and walked out of the treatment plant. Behind him, Walter clasped his hands together and said, "Well, let's get back to work."
Albert spent the next two hours looking for leaks and repairing them. He had only seen one before, not far from the entrance. He fixed that one first. It took him a good thirty minutes to do it, but he finally sealed the pipe with duct tape, glue and spare sheet metal. After finding the second one, not far from where he and Amata had sat, he started working on that one too.
The third was the hardest to find, as it was high up on the roof of the Church of the Atom. As he found a way to climb up and work on it, he was watched from one of the stools in front of Brass Lantern. Jenny just watched him, curious about his work.
However, when Albert finished his work, he returned to the water treatment plant. Walter was outside, leaning on a railing and smoking. Albert approached him.
"Huh? Yeah, what is it?" -Walter asked, taking a puff on his cigarette.
"All the pipes are fixed," Albert told him.
"Really? Let me go check the pressure in the system," he said, standing up and entering the plant. Albert followed him inside. Once inside, Walter walked over to the gauge and tapped it several times with his finger.
"Well, fuck me... The pressure's gone up in the plant!" he said, reading some gauges built into a collection of pipes on the wall. "Looks like you fixed all the leaks! Thank you, stranger, thank you!" Albert nodded with a smile on his face. "But it's only a matter of time before they break again," Walter said, as his cheerful tone faded. "They always do. But enough of that." Walter held out to him a small bag in which clinked badges clinked. "Here. Two hundred badges for a job well done," Walter said with a smile. Albert accepted it graciously. He turned to leave. "What are you going to do now, stranger?" -Walter asked. Lloyd looked back.
"With these tools you gave me, I can solve a problem in this city that is long overdue in my book."
In the centre of the city was the bomb, around which much of today's commotion was based. Albert approached the bomb, startling Confessor Cromwell, who was still standing next to the unexploded device, preaching about Atom, as he did every day.
"What are you doing to his pot?" shouted Cromwell as Albert opened a panel on the side of the huge explosive. Albert ignored Cromwell as he began to fiddle around inside.
"Stop him! Stop him, I proclaim!" Cromwell shouted. A small crowd began to form around the mud puddle the two were in, the puddle surrounding the bomb. Among the crowd were Tom, Manya and Jenny.
"Don't try to stop me," Albert said, not turning away from his work. "One false move and I'll kill us all, and I don't want that any more than you all do." There were gasps and murmurs among the crowd.
"Sheriff! Stop him!" shouted a settler in the crowd. Some turned to see Lucas Simms walk into the crowd, having recently been with Burke in the city holding cell, but he did nothing more. Billy and Jericho joined the outskirts of the now rather large circle to watch the ordeal themselves.
"I call down the wrath of Atom upon you!" -Cromwell shouted. "May your bones melt, your skin burn and your ashes be scattered and forgotten! You are desecrating a holy relic! You are-"
"Done." Albert said, closing the panel and stepping back. Cromwell stammered and suddenly stopped speaking, and the crowd fell silent as well.
"What did you do?" Cromwell asked after a moment.
"I disarmed the bomb."
Cromwell clutched the sides of his head. "What? Me, but you, with... Atomo! Y... But..." he stammered a little, climbing out of the puddle of water to huddle near the base of the church, delirious to himself. Albert watched him go with a confused expression.
"And that's not all he did!" Lucas shouted, moving through the crowd. He held out his hand to Albert, who took it and stepped out of the filthy puddle. "This kid right here saved this whole town!" Lucas said, patting Albert on the back. "You all know that Mr. Burke, how shady was he, he was about to blow up this whole town!"
There were muffled shouts from the crowd, but Lucas continued above them.
"Burke offered this boy, who just arrived today, fresh from the shelter! He offered him a life of luxury to murder us all. Well, he ran straight to me and gave me proof of it. Did you ever see what "What happened next. He helped arrest Burke and now we've got him sitting in his cell."
Albert looked at the sheriff. He wasn't sure what Lucas's purpose in this was; was he trying to get the people of Megaton to like him? The crowd was growing. Upstairs, Walter had heard the commotion and was outside, looking down. Moira Brown, owner of Craterside Supplies, had also done the same. Leo Stahl, Lucy West and others joined the crowd that quickly encompassed the entire downtown area.
"And after all that," Lucas shouted, with a smile on his face, "he had the heart to disarm the time bomb himself, for free! He insisted on no charge!"
"And hey, he fixed the water pipes too!" Walter shouted. Everyone turned to him. "He came to me and asked if he could help, so I set him to fix the leaks I had been warning them about. Well, he fixed them, so now the system is working fine again and the water is going to be cleaner!"
"And he saved my life!" Someone in the crowd shouted. Everyone turned to see the tough man who Albert had also given water to just before entering Megaton. "He gave me clean, pure water! Pure water! Out of the goodness of his heart and asked for nothing in return! Praise be to you, stranger! Praise be to you!" The man fell to his knees and kissed the ground at Albert's feet.
Albert could only watch these events unfold around him so suddenly with an expression of utter surprise on their faces. Albert looked at the man and then at the crowd. Everyone in Megaton was looking at him. Some with amazement, some with confusion, some with curiosity. He noticed a small Asian girl sticking out from the back of the crowd, sitting on Billy Creel's shoulders. Albert broke away from Lucas and walked over to them, pulling the baseball out of his pocket.
"...I think you wanted Maggie to have this, Billy," he said, not knowing what else to do at the moment. Billy smiled and took the ball.
"Johnson, right? I'd like you to meet Maggie," he said, holding the ball out to the girl, who looked at it with wide eyes and a big smile growing on her face.
"Wow!" she said, picking it up.
"But seriously, for nothing?" -Billy asked. Albert shook his head.
"Not for nothing, Billy. I told you before."
All was silent for a moment and then someone started clapping. Then another, and another, and another, and soon the whole town was cheering. Amata approached him, an expression of astonishment decorating her face. Albert smiled and laughed at the joy that seemed to radiate from the moment. As the crowd cheered and whistled.
The moment was shattered by gunshots and everyone moved towards the source of the noise. Jericho stood there, cigarette in his mouth and smoking assault rifle in his hand, having fired at the ground. He fixed his gaze solely on the boy in the centre of the crowd. He stormed up to the stunned Albert.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" he said, getting very close.
"I... I don't..." began Albert.
"What do you think you are, better than all of us? Are you going to come into town one day and lead us off the moor like the almighty shepherd or something?" he turned to the crowd. "He's just a bloody shelter dweller! He doesn't know anything about the wasteland! They just showed up here. They have no reason to worry about us. He's got no reason. He thinks we're too stupid to solve our fucking problem. He thinks we're so fucking pathetic that this guy here," he pointed at Albert, "He feels some kind of obligation to help us out of some sense of pride! Like we're nothing but fucking sheep to him! Do I look like a child to you, you little shit?
The crowd fell silent. He turned around, walked a few short steps and turned back.
"Don't get too comfortable with him because they're going to get drunk in the real world. He doesn't know anything about life here! Not a goddamn thing! He's been fed good food all his life, he's been drinking clean water all his life! He hasn't struggled to live like we all have! You didn't come at the right time and you weren't in the right place, so you'll take all the credit! You look down on us like we're fucking vermin compared to them! he shouted, storming away.
Everyone fell silent. People began to slowly disperse, returning to their lives.
"Ignore him," Lucas said, approaching the boy. "Jericho's tighter than a robot and he's got so many screws loose. It's not the first time he's gotten mad at someone. Personally, I think he just hates people who help other people. It's a strange mentality he has. Don't let it get to you."
"It won't," Albert said. "I admit it... I've definitely never met someone with a personality as explosive as his...".
"Ha. Well, speaking of explosive, I want to reward you for what you've done here today."
He held out a key and Albert took it to inspect it. "A key?" he asked, to which Lucas nodded.
"To your new home."
I look at him in surprise. "My new what?" -Albert asked.
"I've been trying to find a good owner for a house here in town for a while now. It's not such a bad place. You seem like the perfect person for it. It would be an honour for us to have you living here with us. Better than the common house, I assure you."
Not knowing how to refuse such an offer, and certainly not wanting to, he graciously accepted.
As Lucas led him to his new residence, the man in the trench coat watched him from afar. Throwing a cigarette on the ground and stubbing it out, he straightened his felt hat and smiled to himself. He felt proud of Albert's actions today, and knew he would be watching him for some time to come.
He walked into a nearby dark corner and vanished, leaving no trace of having been there except for the burnt cigarette butt on the floor.
The mutarach infestation had successfully ceased, although they had lost nine people in the shelter. Alphonse Almodovar was in front of all the shelter residents while behind him were the shelter guards.
"I know today was a difficult day for everyone, since the escape of Dr. Johnson and his son and to conclude the infestation of mutarachas. But try to remain calm. For now I will declare martial law for all residents under the age of twenty-five; including students and children" The aforementioned began to boo in disagreement with him.
"Many will resent it, but until everything is under control it will remain in place. Officer Alexis, step forward." The aforementioned would do as he said. "You will be in charge of maintaining order for the duration of martial law, understood?
Alexis didn't like this, but he had no choice. He never thought he would do this being only 16 years old and not four months since he made GOAT "Yes supervisor" Trying to keep a stoic look on his face as expected of any shelter security officer.
"That's it, you are dismissed" Everyone would go to their rooms to rest.
At night in the shelter Alexis pretended to watch the rooms until he made sure he was alone and made his way to Jessica's room. He knocked on the door to get her attention. When she opened it she saw him. "What do you want Alexis?"
"Gather the club in the living room. There's something wrong with all of this."
Jessica just nodded and then closed the door and sent a message to the members on their PipBoys. It was time to get ready.