James knew the dangers of traveling the metro tunnels. However, the convenience of getting around D.C. was too good to pass up. The streets of D.C. were ruins and travel on the surface was near impossible because of it. Not to mention the constant Super Mutant threat as well. Jax assured him they would be fine as long as they stuck together and kept quiet. The tunnels were long and cramped. The noises from the dark sent shivers up your spine. It was always better to walk slowly with minimal light down in the tunnels. So that your eyes could adjust to the darkness. The creatures that dwelled in the dark would see you before you saw them until then. Ghouls were the main threat in the tunnels, but other creatures were known to dwell in them, too. It took them half a day it feels like to navigate them correctly to their destination. They were close to the exit when they heard screeching. "Shit, ghouls!" Jax cried, turning on his light and aiming in the dark crevices beyond their vision, searching for them. James turned on his PIPBOY light and drew his gun, aiming around him. Jax found them with his light. Ugly husks with decaying skin. A horde of em, close to twenty. He opened fire with assault rifle, yelling, "RUN!" They sprinted toward the exit, hearing more screeching of ghouls around them. The horde grew bigger as they ran. Jax did his best to run and fire behind them but was quickly overwhelmed. James noticed Jax get piled on and turned to help. "KEEP GOING! DON'T STOP FOR ME!" Jax roared shooting and bashing at the ghouls. James did so and sprinted toward the exit, seeing light. He ran up the steps to giant armored people with big guns. "MOVE CIVVIE!" one yelled, aiming his minigun at James. James dove out of the way, and they opened fire on the ghouls that were chasing James. The ghouls didn't stand a chance against the heavy firepower. it tore them to shreds. After a few seconds the the firing halted. James ran up to one of the men. "My friend was swarmed by them not too far from here. Please help me save him. "No need vaultie, he is right there." the man responded, pointing down the stairs. James turned to see Jax climb up the stairs slowly. He was covered in blood and claw marks. "Ah, good. You made it. Thank goodness." he said, sitting down. James rushed over to him and pulled out his first aid kit. "Save it, doc. My wounds are too numerous for your kit. Besides, it's not that bad." Jax said. He turned to one of the armored men. "Brotherhood of Steel, huh? We must be close to GNR, then right?" he asked. "Yes, just follow the road that way. What is your business there?" he asked. "Need to speak to the host." James answered, helping Jax to his feet. They made their way the short distance to GNR.
Once there and explaining to the Brotherhood their purpose there, they were let in and treated. James, after a few days of recovery, was able to talk to Three Dog, the host of GNR. "I was told you were the best man to talk to about the status of the Capital Wasteland. Can you fill me in?" he asked, sitting down. "Whoa now friend, let's get some introductions going first, I am Three Dog AAAWWWOOOO, gracious host of Galaxy News Radio. Who might you be?" he asked with a smile. " My name is Doctor James Kirk, a scientist." James answered. "Forgive my rudeness, it has been... a tough journey to get here." James continued holding his side. "That's okay, I know it's tough out there. So, a scientist? I would guess you were from Rivet City, but your vault suit says different." Three Dog said, pouring them some vodka. "I am from Vault 101. I left to finish an old project of mine out here." James said, taking the vodka. "Vault 101? Left for an old project? This is a story I gotta hear." Three Dog said, picking up his drink. "Fair enough, but in return. I would like you to answer my questions." James said, holding out his cup to Three Dog. "Deal." he said, clinking their glasses together.
Kirks PIPBOY beeped, his shift was over. Watch duty is hard, harder than expected. It was difficult to stay awake. He nudged Jericho. He immediately opened his eyes and got up. Without a word, he took position and nodded at Kirk. 'He is already so alert.' Kirk thought, laying down and throwing his sheet over himself. Jericho stood watch grimacing. Memories of the Mole Rats were coming back. 'I let myself go again. Fell back into bad habits.' Jericho thought lighting a cigarette. 'Simms would be disappointed.' he thought, taking a drag. He beat himself up with these thoughts for his whole shift. He nudged Lucy, who groaned and got up. She grabbed her pistol and took position. Before Jericho could lay back down, she said, "Hey, I need to know something." Jericho turned to her, showing he was ready to answer. "You were the one who got him out of the school, right? Are the stories true? Because he doesn't seem like he is capable of killing." she asked. "Oh, and you are?" he asked, annoyed. "You know what I mean. Did he really kill Raiders with just a knife?" she questioned. Jericho looked at Kirk, who was asleep. He looked back at Lucy with a straight face. "The stories are true. I don't know how he did it either, to be honest." he answered and laid down. Lucy looked back at Kirk and sighed. 'I hope you will have that instinct if we run into trouble.' she thought and looked out to the horizon.
"Do you like that bitch? Tell me you like it you bitch!" the raider yelled digging the knife into his ribs. Kirk screamed in agony and frustration. He watch in disgust as she moaned, bouncing up and down on his manhood. He struggled against the restraints. He hated her, he hated this. Yet he was hard and giving her what she wanted. 'Why? Why can she use me like this so easily?' he thought in anger. 'My body won't listen to me, I am giving her what she wants! I am pathetic.' he thought getting cut again. "GET OFF OF ME! GET OFF OF ME!" he yelled. "KIRK! WAKE UP!" Lucy yelled. Kirk shot up screaming, pulling out his pistol. Lucy pointed her gun at him and they stared at each other. Realization settled in and Kirk lowered his gun. "Sorry, I didn't mean to- " he started but she interrupted. "It's okay, um... it's almost time for your shift if..." she said putting her pistol away. "Okay, go ahead. I got it." he replied getting up. "If you want to... talk- " "No. I am good. Thank you." he interrupted taking out his rifle. Lucy laid down and thought about what she had just witnessed. She saw writhing like he was in pain and moaning. When he started saying 'Get off of me' over and over, she went to nudge but had to resort to yelling at him. 'What happened to him in that school?' she wondered, drifting off to sleep. Jericho had watched the whole thing in silence and went back to sleep.
Jericho was the last shift of watch. While they were packing, Kirk was quiet. He was embarrassed Lucy saw his night terror. 'Some guard I am turning out to be. She must think I am pathetic.' he thought slinging his pack over his shoulder and leaving. Both men found themselves staring at Lucy as she redid her hair bun, her hair down was... distracting. They looked at each other, realizing they were both watching her, and went to check their gear. After Lucy was finished, they headed out. They made good progress, and when they got to the top of a rise, they saw Arefu in the distance. "There it is, my home." Lucy said, staring at it. "Can't wait to see my brother." she added with a sigh. Before Kirk could ask, Jericho said. "Shit." They looked at him. "What's wrong?" Kirk asked surveying the land. "Raiders. Two gangs." he said, pointing in two different directions. One was toward a big ruined house, and the other toward a field with tall fences all around it. Kirk felt his stomach hit his ankles. He felt himself tremble slightly. They could see in the distance a group at both locations. "Can we avoid them?" Lucy asked, worried. Jericho looked around in the distance. "It would take too fuckin long to go around in either direction, and we don't know what other freaks we could run into. Can't go between them at the risk of either shit gang spotting us in the distance and fuckin us from both sides. So no, we can't avoid them girl. The house gang poses the biggest threat to us and your shitty lookin town, if they haven't already attacked the town. Could also explain why you haven't heard from your family too. So we are gonna take out the gang at the fuckin house." he said confidently. He turned to Kirk with a serious look. "Stockholm said you are a good shot, fuckin prove it." he said and walked on.
As they got close to the house, Jericho stopped the group. "Alright, kid, you set up on the ridge with that shit rifle of yours and provide cover. I will move forward with the girl and open fire. You pick them off while we have their attention. If you fuck us, I will kill you with my own damn hands." he said with a snarl. Kirk nodded, he wasn't sure he could talk anyway. The entire time on their approach he tried to calm himself down. He knew the risk of this trip and the chances of running into raiders again. It didn't calm his nerves though. He made his way up to the ridge and laid down on his stomach. He positioned himself like Stockholm taught him. He made note to thank Moira for the elbow pads she installed on his suit. It made positioning much more comfortable. He took aim with his rifle and looked over the house. Four raiders were in the house, three below and one above. Two more sat about outside the house. The one above all of em had a rifle. Simms told him most gangs don't have firearms and if they do, only the leader or a lookout have em. He took aim at the lookout and waited for Jericho to make his move. He only hoped he could squeeze the trigger. 'You are gonna fuck this up.' a stray thought came up again. He shook it off and refocused.
Jericho took cover behind a boulder with Lucy a few yards from the house. "You good with that pea shooter?" he asked roughly. "I can handle myself." she said sternly. Jericho grunted and looked over to Kirk. 'Alright kid, let's see what you can do. Don't fuck us.' he thought taking aim at a raider. He opened fire killing the raider. Kirk went to squeeze the trigger but hesitated. 'Come on! Do it!' he thought desperately. Time seemed to slow down as he watched the raider slowly react to Jerichos shots. 'I'm supposed to be a doctor, saving lives. I can't take another human life again. Can I?' he thought hopelessly. 'No. Not humans. Monsters. They're monsters.' he thought with clarity and squeezed the trigger. The shot went right into the raiders chest. He looked down at the gunshot and fell over. Kirks memories of torture flooded in and his hesitation was gone. Only anger was there now. He aimed again and took down two more raiders in the house. Only one in the house remained and he had solid cover from Kirk. Jericho and Lucy saw how fast he took out most of em. 'Holy shit, I guess he is a raider killer.' Lucy thought. Jericho went to take aim at the remaining raider until he saw movement to his right. Flames came rushing toward him before he could react.
Kirk saw the burst of flames engulf Jericho and turned to see where it was coming from. Jericho rolled out of the stream, yelling as the fire burned up his right arm. Lucy screamed in horror and went to run away, but two raiders were behind her with melee weapons. 'Oh shit, oh no no no no no no no.' Kirk frantically thought as he positioned himself to help them. He shot the big raider, but it wasn't a killing shot. The raider cried out in pain and ran away, spraying flames out everywhere to obscure him from Kirk. Kirk aimed over at Lucy but saw one raider slash her hand, forcing her to drop her gun. The other tackled her into the ground, mounting her. Kirk had flashes of Silver being raped and took aim at the one on her. He shot him in the back, making him fall on top of Lucy, and went to shoot the other. *CLICK* "FUCK!" Kirk yelled reloading the rifle. 'Always be aware of how much is in your clip.' Stockholms words reminded him. Kirk berated himself as he reloaded. Lucy shoved the dead raider off of her and went for her gun. But the other raider quickly grabbed her by the hair and pulled her against him using her as a body shield from Kirk. "Try shooting now fucker!" he cackled digging the knife harshly into her cheek. 'Dammit' he thought trying to find a clear shot. He heard movement behind him. Kirk quickly rolled on his back and a raider came diving on top of him with a shiv. Kirk struggled with the raider to keep the makeshift blade away. The raider holding Lucy cackled harder seeing his buddy attack Kirk. Jericho got up after putting out the flames on his arm and assessed the situation. "Don't even twitch you bastard or I'll- " the raider paused, staring at Jericho. "Wait a fuckin minute, I know-" "LUCY HIT HIM!" Jericho yelled charging at them. The raider had loosened his hold on Lucy so she stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the gut, breaking her free from his grasp. Jericho roared and skewered him with his bayonet into the ground and unloaded bullets into him. "Help the kid!" Jericho yelled at Lucy. She nodded and went. Jericho went and looked for the big raider. "Come out you bastard! Try and roast me again, I FUCKIN DARE YA!" he yelled.
Lucy ran up the ridge to find Kirk struggling for his life against a raider. She ran up and kicked him in the gut, forcing him off of Kirk. Kirk got up and started smashing the butt of his rifle into the raiders face over and over, roaring in anger. Lucy grabbed Kirk. "He's dead! We gotta help Jericho!" she yelled, trying to get his attention. Kirk whipped around on her with his rifle raised like he was gonna hit her but lowered it when he realized it was her. Lucy saw the look on his face before he calmed down. Rage and hatred were all she saw before he calmed down. His face was now hurt and regret. Kirk looked back at the raider he just brutalized, and flashes of his tormentors destroyed face came to mind. "We gotta go, come on." she said and went back with Kirk following. Jericho was hunting the raider with the flamethrower. He was approaching the underside of a small overpass and saw all the victims hanging and mutilated. 'Fuck me, should've done more recon before attack. These bastards almost killed us.' he thought in frustration. The raider popped around a corner and let loose a stream of flame toward Jericho. Jericho rolled out of the way and came up shooting, landing shot up the raiders arm forcing him to drop the flamethrower. The raider fell to his knees in pain as Jericho approached the raider. "Fuck you!" he yelled at Jericho. Jericho kicked in him in the face and sliced his bayonet across his eye. The raider screamed in pain but Jericho stifled the screams by clamping his hand around his throat. "Answer my questions bitch and I'll let you go." he said squeezing his throat.
At this point, Kirk and Lucy had made it down and watched him. The raider started nodding frantically. Jericho kept his hand around the raiders throat but loosened the hold. "The gang over at the field, are they part of your gang?" he asked. "Nah, but we take turns with your mother." he said, spitting on his face. Jericho wiped away the spit and dug his thumb into his cut eye. The raider screamed in agony. "Okay! Okay! No, it's a separate bunch that we fight with over territory and game." he said in terror. "Game?" Kirk asked out loud. Lucy nudged him and pointed at the victims' strewn about. 'Oh.' Kirk thought feeling foolish. "Have you or the other gang ever attack the shitty town on the overpass to the north?" Jericho asked sternly. "Oh go fuck yourself!" he yelled swinging on Jericho. He grabbed his arm and broke it. He screamed in agony. Lucy looked away, but Kirk watched. "No, some other freaks mess with it, we don't go near it." he answered in tears. "What do you mean freaks?! What are they?!" he roared twisting his broken arm. The raider screamed in pain. "I don't know! They're human but they only come out at night! We don't mess with them because they are fucked up! They even hunt us at night if we aren't careful! They eat our guys man!" he said weeping. Jericho sighed and stood up. "Are you gonna let me- " He didn't finish since Jericho shot him in the head.