"You think we should send a team out?" Stockholm asked Simms, motion to Gob for another shot of vodka. "It's only been close to two weeks, you know how it is out there. Ask me again in a few days." he responded drinking his whiskey. He was anxious for them though, he expected them to be back days ago. Stockholm finished his drink, "Alright, I'll spend a few more hours up top. Just in case." He left the bar with Simms staring into his drink.
"We will see them soon Sheriff, I'm sure of it." Gob said, cleaning the bar. Simms grunted, "Gob you said that a week ago, a few days ago, and now. How long is soon to you?" Gob looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Us ghouls tend to perceive time a bit different from you humans, I'll try to be more accurate next time." Simms chuckled and finished his drink.
He made his way home, it was close to evening and he wanted to get some early rest. Before he reached his door, a guard of his ran up to him. "Sheriff, they're back! Jericho and Kirk are back!"
Simms quickly made his way through town to the gate and found a small group of people welcoming the crew back from their trip. Simms made his way to them and approached them with a smile, "Welcome home." Kirk taken aback at the statement for a second, smiled. "Thanks Sheriff, it's good to be back."
A party was thrown at Gob's to welcome them back. Jericho went straight to the clinic since he wasn't fully recovered. The patrons asked them all sorts of questions about the trip. Kirk kept it mild and downplayed a lot of it, however Lucy loved the attention and told them everything. Arkansas stayed in a corner and drank beer, not answering any questions.
"It's good to see you friend, scotch right?" Gob asked, grabbing a bottle. Kirk smiled, "Yes, please. I'm glad you are doing well Gob." As the two caught up, Nova and Silver walked around keeping everyone drinking and fed. They both gave Kirk a hug at the same time pressing their faces against him, when they got free time. "We missed you honey! It's so boring without you around." Nova said, sitting on his leg. Silver got jealous and sat on his other leg.
Kirk had a few drinks already talking to Gob, so he didn't seem to pay it any mind, but he still felt off about them touching him. "I missed you girls too. The business sounds good, based off your new boss." he said, keeping his hands off the ladies. "He treats us with respect and gives us good hours." Silver said.
"So Kirk, Lucy over there sure is talking you up to everybody. So much so that it gives me a sense she has quite the crush on you." Nova teased, handing him another glass of scotch. "I'm sure you are imagining it, and she is probably over exaggerating some things." Kirk explained taking the a drink.
"Oh he saved me from a super mutant! He saved my town from raiders and vampires! He saved Jericho!" Nova mocked Lucy. "It sounds to me she is quite into you, Kirk. I'd say go for it she is a pretty one. Those are rare out here." Nova said.
Silver noticed his new attire around his neck and grabbed it. "Oh this looks nice, whe-" she caught a glimpse at his neck, but before she could react, Kirk stood up adjusting the bandana, dropping them off his lap. "I'm pretty tired girls, so I'm-"
Lucy hugged him from the side, "Hey! You ladies leave my man alone!" She was clearly drunk and a few patrons laughed out loud. Kirk shook his head, "Don't listen to her, we are not together, she is very drunk." Kirk tried to laugh it off, but Lucy spoke up, "Ohhhhh, so you making me come multiple times with your slick tongue, meant nothing! I see how it is! Well guess, what he couldn't even get-" Arkansas scooped her up over his shoulder and carried her out. Nova and Silver looked at Kirk with amused faces. Kirk went red and just left, thanking Arkansas in his head for the save. He knew she was drunk, but that was too much. He would have to have a word with her tomorrow.
On his way home, he noticed Dogmeat still following him. "You wanna stay with me boy?" Dogmeat barked and wagged his tail. "Okay! Let's go!" Shortly after, he ran into Simms outside his house, holding some beers. "Was hoping for a moment of your time, before you went to bed." Kirk opened the door and let him in, "Of course Sheriff."
After Wadsworth surprise at Kirk's new furry companion and explaining to him he would be staying, Kirk and Simms sat at his table and drank the beers, catching up. Kirk told him what he thought was necessary, he decided to keep some parts to himself. After he was done, Simms finished his drink.
"You okay? That trip turned out to be way more than you bargained for. Just leaving the...aliens out, which I do believe you, it still seems like a lot."
"Yeah, well I got plenty of experience and a lot of things I need to improve on. So the trip was a success in that regard."
"What do you need to work on?"
'Not being so damn gullible' he thought angrily. "Need to build up my strength and stamina. The trip was exhausting to me. Need to improve my shooting and be better at close quarters fighting."
Simms nodded, "See Doc Church about fitness stuff, I want you to get a full physical anyway tomorrow." He got up to leave, with Wadsworth opening the door for him. "I'm glad you are home, kid. I'll see you tomorrow."
Wadsworth shut the door behind him. "Anything you need, sir?" Kirk dismissed Wadsworth and went to bed. He pondered Simms words, specifically the word 'home'. Is this his home now? He figured he would just go back to the Vault after finding his father, but never was sure if he even could. Now that he has a house, and a ship, what is home to him? He fell asleep pondering these words.
Kirk did not have restful sleep, he hadn't for a few days. His nightmares were back and worse than before. He had breakfast and grabbed his gear, making his way to Moira's. He needed repairs, and update the survival guide.
He entered the shop seeing Moira tinkering with something on her counter. "Oh! Kirk you are here! So glad to see you alive!" she yelled, running around the counter and giving him a hug. "Why weren't you at the party last night?" he asked.
"Party? I didn't know anything about a party."
"We told you, but you were too busy with tinkering per usual." the guard in the corner, reading a magazine.
"Well anyway, do you have good news for me?" she asked, stepping behind the counter.
"Er, well regarding the repellant...it had...different results than...anticipated." Kirk said, handing her the stick.
"Oh? Did it act more as additive to them?" she asked, taking the stick and examining it.
"No...more... explosive... to them..."
"Oh...Oh! Those poor little mole babies! I wonder if it's because of the abraxo? Oh well, you did your job so...wait how many test subjects?"
"Too many, close to 10 or more." Kirk said, shuddering at the gory memory.
"Good to know! So how about Minefield? Was it as much of a deathtrap as people say?" she asked, with anticipation.
Kirk pulled out a mine and told her all about what happened. Even told her Arkansas's story. He was also starting to get worried about her carefree attitude about all this. He knew she was...different, but it still made him feel uncomfortable to how she was about sending someone into a deathtrap for just research.
She wrote down everything he said with excitement. "I got to meet this sniper! He could have such amazing information about defending an area! Oh, and you! How you were able to find a pattern in the mine placement! Great stuff! Here take these grenades and this rare bottlecap mine! for a job well done!" she said, handing him a belt of grenades and a lunchbox.
"What is this?"
"A bottlecap mine. It has a sensor module attached so anyone that comes within a few feet of it, sets it off! Pretty handy huh?"
Kirk looked at her with some worry, "How do I activate it without blowing up myself?"
"Oh, it has a five second activation time once you flip this switch. Here take this blueprint in case you ever want to make one!" she said, handing him a blue sheet.
"Now then, I have a few things to update on the survival guide. I have a few more ideas for other chapters, but I need to work out some kinks. Come back later today, okay?"
Kirk placed his bag, suit, and weapons on the counter, "Do you have some time today to do some repairs? I have a few hundred caps to cover the cost."
Moira waved him off, "Oh silly! All my services for you are free! Now that I have seen your commitment to helping me with my guide, it's the least I can do to return the favor! It will take me some time so come back tomorrow. I also have a few modifications I want to try on your gear!" She grabbed the suit and paused, "Oh my. Your really went through some stuff out there huh? Is this your blood?"
"Oh... no just a slaver's... Thanks Moria, I'll see you later today." Kirk left and made his way down the ramps to Doc Church for his check up ordered by Simms. When he walked in Doc got up and opened a door for him. "Simms already paid for this, so let's get this over with. Strip down in here."
"Hello to you too, Doc." Kirk said, walking in. Once inside he went to take off his clothes, but paused when he got to his neckerchief. "Come on kid, I don't have all day."
Kirk looked at him, "You're gonna keep this exam between us right? Not gonna report your findings to the Sheriff? Patient-Doctor confidentiality?"
Doc squinted his eyes at him, "I won't say nothing to no one."
Kirk nodded and removed all his clothing. Doc approached and immediately examined the scar on his neck. He grunted and hummed as he moved on examining his entire body, taking blood, checking reflexes, radiation, his fingers, his fresh scars, and at the end went back to his neck.
Kirk kept quiet the entire time, hoping he wouldn't ask the obvious questions. Doc wrote some things down, "Put your pants on."
He put his pants and boots on and sat on the bed for a bit. Doc came over and pointed at the new scars on his chest and neck. "These scars are at fatal points on your body, the neck alone is enough to tell me your jugular was at least nicked. Even if it wasn't, the fact that these scars are healed up this quickly is impossible for the time you were gone. Stimpacks don't even heal this well, so don't lie to me, is this part of your mutation? Is it evolving?"
"It's...complicated, I'm not really sure what he used on me either." Kirk sighed, he didn't want to talk about this but he knew their was no way out of it. "Who is he?" Doc asked, crossing his arms.
"Let me see if you can talk to him." Kirk said, pulling up his PIPBOY. "Sally, it's Kirk, can you hear me?" Doc looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Uh, hello? This is Elliot. Not sure if I'm using this right. Uh, Sally is sleeping, can I help?"
"I hear you Elliot and actually you are the person I need." He then had Elliot explain the situation of his short death to Doc Church, who simply listened. Kirk quickly gave him a short version of the alien story throughout as well.
Doc stayed quiet, rubbing his chin. "Can I get a sample of this gel?"
"Sure, I think we have a way of sending stuff down. Let me get with the aliens and see if we can arrange it. It might take a bit." Elliot said.
"Thanks, Elliot. Talk to you later."
"Copy that, Captain."
"You can get dressed now." Doc said walking away.
Kirk came out fully dressed and approached Doc. "So...I'm good to go?"
"Yeah kid, just get me a sample of that stuff. I won't say anything about this either. No one would believe me anyway, but you need to be more careful. You technically died on your first trip outside and already had to rely on your mutation. You need to get better before you even think about going to D.C. Also your fingers are good now, just use Med-X if the pain comes back."
"Thanks, Doc and their is one more thing. The Sheriff said you can help me with fitness?"
Doc opened a drawer and handed him a clipboard with a list on it. "Follow this plan. I already drummed it up while you were gone."
"Thanks Doc, I'll see you later." Kirk said. He went to leave but stopped and turned back to Doc. "How's Jericho doing?"
"Resting, and if he tries to leave like he already has tried twice, I pull a gun on him."
Kirk chuckled and headed out. He decided to head home to review the plan but ran into Lucy on the way.
"Oh Kirk! I've been looking every where for you. I was-" Kirk grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a building. "Whoa- what's the probl-"
"The problem, Lucy, is that you spouted some very personal things last night to everyone in the bar. I understand you were drunk but that crossed a line with me."
Lucy stared at him stunned, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Didn't mean to what Lucy! Share my problems to all of Megaton?"
"I never said-"
"Ah, but you tried to. If it wasn't for Arkansas who carried you home, you were going to say it."
Lucy started tearing up, "Kirk I am really sorry, I had no intention of hurting you."
Kirk placed his hands on his hips. "I finished the job right? Where is my pay?" He kept a straight and stern face, staring at her.
Lucy frowned, holding back her tears and nodded. She reached in her pouch and threw a bag of caps at him. "300. 100 more for saving my life." She stormed off tears rolling down her face.
Kirk looked down on the ground, holding the pouch. He felt guilty but this was for the best. He didn't know what he was thinking getting intimate with her anyway. It would just complicate things between them if they were to pursue something together. He didn't need complications he needed to find his father, the reason he was out here in this hell anyway. Kirk went home, and looked into the workout plan Doc Church prepared for him.
Running, pushups, general weightlifting, squats, sit-ups, and other general exercises were on Docs plan. Even a nutrition plan was added. Some of the meals Kirk had to take to Jenny to show him what it was, but he quickly figured it out.
It was strange as he walked around town, he would always be greeted by someone. In the vault you pretty much knew everyone but Kirk didn't know most of the people in Megaton, yet they made it a point to say kind things to him. 'Glad you made it back okay. You really showed them raiders out there huh? Welcome home.'
Home. That word kept coming up. Is this his home now? He had a house, a butler, and friends. Why wouldn't it be a home? At that thought a word popped in his head. No family. That's right, he had no family out here. That's why it didn't feel like home. Even if he only ever had his dad, it was still his family. Kirk went to Moira's to see if she had update the survival chapters. Helping her out was the only thing giving him the skills he needed to survive out here.
Author's Note: Hello everyone! Writing this story has been a real joy and seeing you folks actively engaged with it is awesome. Thank you to you all for reading it. That said, I am going back and re-editing old chapters more into the style that my latest chapters are. I feel it reads better. Also kinda cleaning up and trying to add a bit more details here and there.
So I wanted to address this recent DLC I just covered. Honestly Mothership Zeta is my least favorite DLC in the game, but I planned on incorporating every possible thing you can do in the actual game into this story. I really found the actual DLC in the game a slog, so I wanted to spice it up and make it quicker. In my head, trying to take over an alien ship will take a big group effort. I am not fully satisfied with some of the things I wrote, so I might go back later and add or remove some stuff, but honestly I am just happy to be out of it. I have plans for the ship crew later in the story as well.
Regarding future content, well it's gonna be a lot. I expected this story to be long, but now that I have written close to 30 chapters and I not even in D.C. yet is crazy. Not to mention the rest of wasteland. I hope you guys enjoy long stories because this is pretty much gonna be well over a hundred chapters I think. Again as mentioned above I plan on writing in every side quest you can do in the game, now I have realized some are gonna be a bit hard to do, but I will figure it out. Most quests are gonna have different outcomes or starts than in the game, and that's for making a better narrative for the story.
If you have any questions please feel free to leave a review or a message and I will answer it spoiler free. Thank you all for the support and hope you continue to enjoy Kirk's journey!