Kirk felt relief as he put his suit back on. His armor brought a comfort he couldn't explain. After he got situated, he explained his mutation to them. "Fuck kid, you should've told us that at the beginning, I almost left your ass to die." Jericho said annoyed. "Well I'm glad you didn't and you're right. I should've told you guys." Kirk responded, while turning to the ghouls. "Thank you for saving me, how much do I owe you?" Kirk asked them. "Well, I didn't really do anything, I only used two bags of my RadAway on you. Instead of paying me though, maybe we can work out another deal." the ghoul said. "My name is Murphy by the way, that is Barrett. We will talk about the deal later though." he finished. Kirk introduced themselves as well. "So, where do things stand? Is the Family in this station?" Kirk asked, looking around. "Yes, but they won't tell us where." Jericho answered, glaring at the ghouls. "Not until you tell us your intentions with them." Murphy retorted, glaring back. "They've been harassing my town and took my brother!" Lucy exclaimed. "That doesn't answer our question." Murphy responded. They all started arguing again. "Guys...guys!" Kirk said loudly trying to stop the arguement. They all stopped arguing and took a breath. "Listen we really only have vague info about this Family, let's just talk to them." Kirk stated. Jericho and Lucy looked at him like he was crazy. "If these two say they are a good bunch, then I don't see a reason to write them off as just cannibals." Kirk stated. "The terrified raiders, the torn up brahmin, and her parents beg the differ kid." Jericho said in disbelief. Kirk noticed Lucy get uncomfortable when he mentioned her parents. Kirk had a feeling she was hiding something but ignored it. "Yes, the Family are...different but I still don't see them doing these things you say." Murphy responded walking over to his desk. "They saved us from the raiders and allowed us to set up shop in here for safety. So if we were to go off of your ideas of them. Then why didn't they eat us?" Murphy continued sitting down. "Probably cause your fuckin ghouls you moron. Who would want to eat your nasty ass flesh?" Jericho stated with a grin. Barrett jumped up at his words and charged at Jericho. Murphy grabbed him before he could get close. "Stop Barrett! He is just being an ass!" Murphy cried, calming him down. Jericho laughed while Lucy punched him on his shoulder and Kirk approached Murphy.
"How about you take us to them? If we are with you, won't things be peaceful?" Kirk asked. Murphy nodded in thought. "Well, I'm the only doctor around so I could keep the peace easily. Fine, let's do it." he said, standing up. "The way I use has a lot of traps on the way, so stick behind us. Got it?" he added, grabbing his bag. The trio agreed, grabbing their stuff and followed them down a hatch in the irradiated room. They went down into a cavern that broke into the actual metro tunnels. "Stop. Stand back." Barrett said as he crouched down and disarmed a tripwire. "Whoa, I didn't even see it." Kirk said, shocked. "That's the idea, kid, you're not supposed to." Jericho grunted. "What would have happened if we tripped it?" Kirk asked. As he asked, Murphy reached up and delicately took down a bundle of grenades and showed them to Kirk. "Then you would've gone boom." he said, handing the grenades to Barrett. "Stay close more traps ahead." he said, walking on into the tunnels. Lucy stared at Kirk, thinking of how naive he was, but understood why. 'He wants to go to D.C.? I'm starting to think Simms had other reasons of directing me to hire him and Jericho.' she thought. "Hey Kirk, can I talk to you?" she asked. Kirk looked back at her and then back at the ghouls. "We have traps to handle, so you got time, but not much. Don't take too long." Murphy said, walking on. Jericho went with them. "Whats up?" Kirk asked, crossing his arms. "I just wanted to, um, thank you for saving me. Not a lot of people would do what you did." she said, wringing her hands together. "Don't mention it, I was just doing the job you hired me for." he said. Kirk was confused about what she said, though. He noticed people were selfish on the surface, but even saving a life is a rarity? "I already paid you for the escort job, though, so technically you are not under my employment." she said, taking a step toward him. She wanted to get closer to him and decided on making a small move on him. 'Maybe a kiss on the cheek? Yeah, it will show him thankful I am and to plant the seed.' she planned in her head. Kirk unconsciously took a step back and chuckled. "Fair enough, here then." Kirk said, taking out the bag of caps she gave him back in Arefu. "Here. When we get your brother back and in Arefu, you can pay me." Kirk said, holding the bag out to her. Lucy stared at him and then laughed. "You are cute." she said, walking by him and kissing him quickly on the cheek. She didn't take the caps. Kirk stood there for a moment, processing what happened. He smiled, ignoring the small discomfort of the kiss and putting away the caps. While trying to catch up with the group, he thought of Amata, but she was far away. Lucy, however, was not.
It took a while for Kirk's eyes to adjust to the darkness of the tunnels. Murphy and Barrett disarmed more traps. Each one more hidden than the last. A shotgun trap, mines, bear traps, and the most devious one, a pitching machine lobbing spiked balls. "Do you have to do this every time you go talk to them?" Kirk asked. "No, we walk around them usually. I am disarming them now to change them later after you guys leave." Murphy explained. "Smart." Jericho said as they approached what looked like a guard post. A man stood up and raised a gun at them. "What the fuck Murphy?! Who are these people?!" he demanded aiming his gun at the group. "Settle down Robert, they are good people... well two of 'em at least." Murphy explained. Jericho grunted in annoyance.
After explaining their intentions, Robert let them in. As they walked into the Family's lair, Kirk looked around. It was massive and very dark. Lights were dim and sparse, but Kirk had a feeling this was intentional. Many benches were lined up facing a giant balcony with a lone figure standing over the room, making a speech. Kirk saw a group of people sitting at the benches listening to the man. 'This must be the Family.' Kirk thought as he approached them. Jericho kept his hand close to his handgun. Lucy gripped her hands together nervously. The man giving the speech stopped speaking and looked over at Kirk. The rest of the Family did the same and stood up. Tension filled the air as each group were ready to draw their weapons.
"It appears we have guests. Let us commune at a later time, my flock, go about your daily routines." the man on top said. With that, his people dispersed, and he then made his way down to the group. "Welcome to our home. Please have a seat, and I will have refreshments brought." he said, motioning to a nearby table. He then clapped his hands together, "Holly, my dear, please bring down some refreshments for our guests!" he called out. After they were all seated and refreshments were brought by a woman, the man spoke, "Murphy, Barrett, always a pleasure to see you both. Would you kindly introduce me to your guests?" he asked. Murphy introduced the group to him. While he was doing so, Kirk noticed Lucy searching the room. Jericho had already been scanning the room and did not like what he saw. "So what brings you to my haven? This is the first time I have had visitors. This place is very hard to find as well, so you must have reasons for seeking our group out." the man said. The trio looked at each other, unsure who would speak for them. Lucy stood up and spoke, "W-we are here from Arefu because we are searching for my brother. We have reason to believe he is with your group." Lucy explained nervously. Vance stared at her for a moment, like he was studying her. She grabbed Kirk's hand under the tabke and squeezed. Kirk could feel her trembling. Kirk decided to ease the tension a bit. "Thank you for welcoming us into your home and for the drinks. What is your name?" Kirk asked, giving Lucy a reassuring squeeze. "My name is Vance, the leader of the Family. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kirk. I must say I am surprised to meet someone of the wasteland with such proper manners." Vance said kindly. "Now what reason do you have to believe that her brother is here with us?" Vance asked, taking a drink. Before Kirk could answer, Jericho cleared his throat loudly to get his attention. "Cause word around the area is that you're a buncha fuckin cannibals. Arefu residents are terrified of your group, and so are the raiders. We found the poor girls parents half eaten and saw your message in their home. So there, plenty of reasons, pick your favorite you freak." Jericho said, while lighting a cigarette.
After he spoke, a man came charging out of the darkness toward Jericho. Before he could reach him, Vance raised his hand up. The man stopped and put away his knife immediately, while Jericho kept his out, ready for his assailant. Vance lowered his hand and looked at Kirk. "Kirk, let us convene privately, please." he said, standing up. "The hell he is!" Jericho yelled, kicking his chair away. "Enough of this weird shit! Give us the boy, or I'll start putting you all down like the rapid mutts that you are!" Jericho yelled, pulling out his rifle. The rest of the Family drew their weapons and surrounded the table. "Jericho! This isn't helping!" Lucy yelled, standing up as well. Murphy stood up and tried to calm everyone down. Kirk watched as everything turned to chaos, Jericho aiming his rifle at Vance, ignoring all the other weapons aiming at him, yelling at him to put it down. Kirk looked over at Vance, who stared at Jericho with no expression. Kirk walked around the table and stood in front of Jericho, blocking his shot. "Move kid, you are in over your head." he ordered. "I know, but you are as well." Kirk said calmly. "Look around, man. Violence is not the option here." he continued holding his hand up. "They are fuckin monsters kid, we know that, we need to treat them as such." Jericho retorted. "Yet they have treated us with respect. Gave us water and alcohol, and are willing to talk. Monsters don't do that, we know what monsters do." Kirk said placing his hand on the rifle. "Go back to the tunnels and I will speak with them. I trust them." Kirk said. Jericho lowered his rifle. "Fine." he said. Lucy walked over and stared at Kirk with worry. "I got this, trust me." he said. She didn't know why, but she believed him. She hugged him, making Kirk feel uneasy again. They all left together after.
After they entered the area where Robert kept guard, Lucy approached Jericho. "What the hell is wrong with you? Were you trying to get us killed?" she asked angrily. "You didn't notice, did you?" he asked, checking his handgun. "What?" she asked, getting worried. "The entire time we sat there, his fuckin freaks had surrounded us, like fuckin cattle. They blocked the exits, the best cover points, vantage points, and did nothing but stare at us like fuckin meat!" he explained, shaking with anger. Lucy looked back at the entrance. 'I hope he knows what he is doing.' she thought.
After he watched them leave, Kirk turned to Vance, "Okay, let's talk." he said. Vance led him upstairs and they sat down at a table. "Before we start, do you know why I chose you to speak to?" Vance asked settling into his seat. "I don't know." Kirk said. "I can tell you are not from the wasteland, but you have seen hardship." he explained. Kirk did his best to not let the memories flood in. "I'm sure Jericho has been through worse things than I have." Kirk responded, crossing his arms. "That man has given hardships and now is lost." he said. Kirk didn't know what to make of that, so he decided to press on. "I'm not sure where this is going." Kirk said. "I am good at reading people, call it a gift. Out of everyone in your group, you are the one I know will understand." he said with a smile. "Understand what?" Kirk asked, intrigued. "What we really are." Vance said with a toothy smile.