Author's Notes: It's here the full revamp of the Quincy Massacre. Welcome to Minute Mondays from this chapter all the way to Chapter 9 the full revamps of these chapters will come out each Monday stay tuned and stay safe.

Mama Murphy sat in her rocking chair it was a peaceful day in Quincy. She grabbed some of her nearby chems she got from a trader. The sight began to take hold. She saw horror. She began to scream as the civilians of Quincy were slaughtered.

She cried out to Sturges who was walking by. "Sturges, you need to alert Mayor Jackson that a great threat is coming."

Sturges bolted for Mayor Jackson knowing that Mama Murphy's visions came true every time.

"Boss I need to speak with you."

Jackson nodded. "Of course, Sturges have a seat what's going on?"

Sturges sat down. "Well Boss Mama Murphy had one of her visions she says a great threat is coming if we don't get help, we're all going to die."

Mayor Jackson let out a calm breath. "Send for the Minutemen."

A few minutes later everyone heard marching in the distance along with screeching and clanking metal. Further away they saw a group of twelve, the group looked ragged and battle-hardened. In the very front leading the group a figure clad in ancient battered neglected snow-white power armor. Cody stayed by his commander's side. His face was hidden by a blood-stained rag in his hands was his M16 clad in wood furniture. It was very clear they were no ordinary Minutemen this was the last bit of the Youth Battalion now led by Liberator. The ghoul took off his helmet to smoke a cigar. He looked at Sturges.

"So, you must be the handyman who got the message sent. Well then tell us what to do and we'll get fortifying."

Sturges motioned to two of his fellow mechanics. "Salone, Irma help our new friends with the defenses." The two women nodded and got their toolboxes. They tried to get the two power armor frames Sturges recently purchased to start up but even with fresh fusion cores nothing worked. The old ghoul just grabbed huge amounts of timber using his brute strength. Lugging the sheer weight of both his armor and the timber without any fusion core. The armor groaned and creaked as he moved. Soon while reinforcing the walls the Gunners scouts launched their attack. Cody led his squad in a brutal counterattack. Flanking and trapping the scouts in. No quarter was given. With the scouts dead they could continue with the fortifications.

The people were scared when they realized the rumors about Cody were true. How he got his infamous nickname, Cutthroat Cody. Out of all the citizens Marcy was most disturbed and only wanted to keep her son Kyle away from him even more. Things went smoothly till under attack happened only for it once again to be pushed back. A day later Colonel Hollis and his men arrived. They were surprised to see not only Quincy fortified but the flag of the Minutemen flying high, proud and defiant. Near the walls, bodies of Gunners scouts littered the area.

Hollis made his way to the middle of the town. He brought with him supplies and loads of weapons and ammunition. They got to work finishing the walkways between the buildings. Mayor Jackson welcomed them and allowed his home to be used as a barracks. Kyle finally snuck away from his mother. He bolted for Hollis and his men excited by all the stories he heard. The Colonel humored the young boy. Telling a story from long ago. The Colonel then went in to discuss the defense of Quincy.

Kyle ran up to Cody who was reloading his M16. Cody smirked behind his bloody rag. "RAARRGH!"

The young boy jumped back while Cody almost cried laughing. "Chin up I needed a laugh."

Kyle scowled a bit but even, so he lightened up. Cody pushed the hood of his cloak. Underneath was a rusty M1 helmet. The helmet's webbing was rotted yet still holding. In the strap on the helmet were several extra rounds of 5.56 next to them were a few cigars. He took off his helmet and pulled the rag down. Kyle's eyes went wide with both horror and wonder. Cody's face showed heavy signs of chem abuse. He was emaciated, his eyes sunken and bloodshot. His skin was a sickly almost necrotic grey. Yet most visible were his blood-red irises, the Minutemen emblem on his left cheek, and the cross on his forehead.

He opened his flip lighter and lit a cigar. "Yeah, if you're wondering about the rag, I don't want people whining about my addictions, so I use my cloak and rag to hide my appearance. That way no one knows."

He finished his cigar. They heard running. Cody quickly dawned his cloak and rag. It was Marcy looking for Kyle. "There you are Kyle what are you doing here?"

She yanked his hand hard causing him to yelp in pain. Cody snapped back at her. "Treat that boy with respect you never know when he will be gone."

Marcy scowled at Cody. "Who are you and how dare you tell me how to raise my child?"

The jaded child soldier answered his voice was tired yet firm. "I'm Cody Mason son of Rick Mason. Heed my warning ma'am lest your last words to your son be words of anger."

Marcy's face softened she could hear the weariness in his voice. She then remembered the stories told about the Youth Battalion and their fall. How they saved the Commonwealth from being enslaved by raiders only for a combined force of Synths Gunners and Raiders to finally bring them down. She nodded. "I'm sorry it's just Kyle gets carried away he always has been obsessed with comic book heroes such as the Silver Shroud top it off Mama Murphy and the other townsfolk ramble on about Minutemen tall tales."

Cody let out a weary chuckle. "I know the feeling should have seen my Battalion's reaction when Daddy called upon Liberator to help us. Here he was our knight in shining armor. He got us out alive though. When those massive waves came, he did everything he could for us. When Zion fell and Daddy died in my arms, Liberator picked up the pieces. It's because of him, me and my remaining brothers are still alive. I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a battle to fight."

In Jackson's house, Liberator and Hollis could be heard arguing. Hollis slammed his fist on the table. "How dare you slander Clint like that over a decade of service and you accuse him of treason?"

Liberator shook his head he dawned his helmet and marched off to get Cody. "Cody, I need you and the troops to be ready. In a few days, Clint and the Gunners are going to take the overpass. I got a mini nuke for em. When I give the signal take cover."

"Yes sir." Answered Cody.

A day later Hollis met Clint. The two discussed things including terms for surrender. Hollis straight-up refused. Clint was allowed to return to the Gunner's camp. Liberator set his plan into motion. They repelled the next few waves. Able had the time of his life picking off the Gunner's officers. One problem he had was he could never find Clint. A few weeks went by. Again, and again the Minutemen repelled them back. Minutemen casualties were low while the Gunners only got higher and higher. The Gunners changed tactics and decided to attack from afar using an old billboard as a sniping position. One of the snipers aimed at Cody. He was busy helping some of the locals with the wounded. Kyle saw the glint he jumped shoving Cody out of the way. The bullet flew at an angle striking deep into his left leg. Blood and bone fragments lay all over the ground followed by an ear-piercing scream of agony.

Kyle was rushed into his family's Pharmacy on a stretcher up into his bedroom. Cody went with him he clung to his rifle and knew he might have to put Marcy down if she made an attempt on his life. He immediately knew what had to be done. The doctor grabbed his hacksaw while Cody knocked Kyle out with a shot of med-x. Marcy barged in.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT I KNEW MY SON SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM YOU!" She raised her hand in anger but was caught by an armored hand.

Liberator gave a death glare through his cracked visor. "If so, much as lay a finger on him I promise you even the devil himself will be weeping for you."

Marcy backed off. The doctor continued with the amputation. They found the bullet lodged in the shattered bone. Something was off about it. When the doctor pulled the bullet out it had a glowing green color and looked more like a shard than a bullet.

"What the hell is that?" Said Liberator. No one knew what it was. With no time to waste, antibiotics and antiseptics were brought in. Liberator sent Cody and his squad to provide support for the other Minutemen.

The squad marched out of the pharmacy. Liberator ordered everyone to take cover at the back of the town while he marched up front wielding his 50 cal. The sniper took the bait. The next round ricocheted off his helmet. Able saw the glint and fired. His round struck true ending the sniper. The next wave detonated the hidden explosives on the overpass causing part of it to collapse forming a ramp. Cody aimed down his sights, but Clint was nowhere to be seen. They waited as almost all the Gunners took the overpass. Liberator drew his fat man catapult and fired the mini-nuke. It whistled in the air landing at the supports of the overpass. It collapsed and several of the cars went off. The blast wave of multiple mushroom clouds sent Liberator flying like a ragdoll.

He landed on the pavement. His chest plate screeched on the ground. He stood up and saw the damage he had done. Over one hundred Gunners were wiped out at once. Concrete and steel tore through some of the buildings. Many of Quincy's citizens were injured while some were killed. Hollis was beyond livid towards Liberator.

The old ghoul turned to them. "Y'all wait here I gotta take an ass chewing."

Marcy sat down beside Cody she glared at him. "When are you going to take off that dirty old rag? You think you're some little vigilante out of a comic book?"

Cody had enough of her whining. "Some things are best left unseen but if you insist."

He took off the rag and pulled down his hood. Marcy stepped back appalled. Cody sneered and jeered. "Like what you see?"

Marcy walked away scared by what she saw she went inside the pharmacy to get Rad-x and Radaway.

Liberator slammed an armored fist on the table cracking it. "You need to understand Hollis we would have been sniped down in less than a day. The Gunners are bringing reinforcements in from the Plaza. If we don't evacuate, we are fucked."

Hollis pondered what to do. "You're right I'm still furious for what you have done but you bought us a few more days the radiation will linger forcing the Gunners to back off till it dissipates. Go help Marcy with the wounded.

Liberator saluted. "Sir I'm sorry I snapped."

Hollis put a firm hand on his pauldron. "I understand you've seen this happen over and over. All we can do is hold for others."

Everyone followed orders. The radiation cover made things easier to evacuate The Gunners avoided Quincy for the next few days. Preston brought out a board. "All right everyone listen up, We have two groups, the first is the evacuation group. The Minutemen will form a spearhead at the back of the town allowing you to escape. The second group of Minutemen will act as rearguard and stay behind till the last man if necessary. We need volunteers for the second group. Hands were raised and the town's people turned to look. The hands that were raised were Cody and his squad Liberator Hollis. Everyone had a look of sorrow, to see all these little ones willing to die to hold the line. Cody smiled.

"Hey, cheer up I always knew I would go like this. High on chems and faith guns blazing. Damn, good way to go if you ask me. Besides I have been wanting to see Daddy again."

Hollis looked around and counted. "We have thirteen volunteers."

"Fourteen" answered a voice. A young man marched up. He wore a patched-up uniform. Liberator recognized it as some form of Doughboy uniform from the First World War. Upon his head was a worn-out M1 much like Cody's. His hands wore old leather gloves and in them was a rusty homemade SMG. Around his waist was leather webbing with several magazines along with a sawed-off double barrel resting in a holster.

He saluted. "Evan Johnston at your service sir." Their planning was interrupted by shrieking and wailing along with another Gunner attack.

Everyone else went to their post while Cody snuck away. He went into Kyle's bedroom the smell of burning flesh was in the air. Half of Kyle's body looked to be cooking from the inside along with agonizing green shards growing out of his skin. Kyle continued shrieking and crying. His voice was ragged and gravelly not too far off from a ghoul.

"PLEASE MAKE THIS STOP IT BURNS IT BURNS!"

Cody was careful this was no normal gangrene or disease he had ever seen. He knocked Kyle out with his last shot of Med-X before drawing his M1911. He fired a 45 into Kyle's forehead ending his suffering. The floorboards creaked. He looked behind him, Liberator held an armored finger to his helmet.

"I'll help just keep your trap shut. We take this to our graves."

They wrapped his head in bandages hiding the wound in his forehead. As Kyle was carried Marcy and Jun broke down. He was buried in the cemetery and a wooden cross was hammered in with his name on it. The funeral was a short one with lead and laser flying through the sky. The plan was launched with Preston leading the survivors, the other with Hollis and Liberator leading the rear guard. Cody and his squad began to lay waste to the Gunners one of the child soldiers got ahold of a rusty M60 machine gun giving cover fire. The Gunners tried to go around and were caught by Liberator's booby traps. With the fight being prolonged the Gunner's supplies began to run out, forced yet again into another retreat. Now everyone else could escape under the radiation and darkness, now the rear guard had to stay forcing the Gunners to focus on them instead of the escaping civilians. Hollis regrouped the rearguard.

They heard noises coming from the church. They marched in only to find Sturges and a few others. "What the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be with the others."

Sturges explained. "I'm sorry boss I was trying to strip out these old suits of power armor I couldn't get running if the Gunners get ahold of them, they could be used against us in the future. I also found several more fusion cores I think Liberator would be interested in."

Liberator turned his back. "Alright get the core in." The core was slammed into his armor. The system immediately began redistributing power to the reserve cells along with performing diagnostics. The visor flashed red giving a readout. "System status critical. Electrical systems failing. Hydraulics damaged. Servos weakened. Recommended course of action reduce power."

He opened the keyboard on his gauntlet and typed in. "Emergency override all power to combat systems."

He nodded to the rest. "Good to go let's finish this."

With the armors striped of all systems and servos, Sturges snuck out and caught up with the rest of the groups later that night.

With the radiation slowly dissipating the waves started back with new vigor. Hollis smirked. "Well, boys we embarrassed them so much they're doubling down. Even with all their losses they don't want this war to be in vain. They're going to throw everything at us. I will say it's been an honor."

The final battle began this time Clint was there in person. Liberator marched ahead firing his 50 cal. Clint ordered all fire to be directed at Liberator. Bullets and lasers struck his armor but kept being stopped or even bounced off. Their feeble attempts on his life were nothing more than a nuisance to the Ancient American. More Gunners focused all their attention on Liberator. The old ghoul almost out of ammo belts dropped his 50 cal and drew his glowing sword from its sheath. He went in hacking and slashing. The large group of Gunners followed him out of Quincy.

The next group of Gunners was much smaller. Even so, they pondered how much longer their ammo reserves would last. Cody, however, wondered. "Where the hell is Able, he hasn't fired another shot since yesterday?"

The child soldiers continued running belts through the M60. The Gunners were stuck behind cover lest they get shredded by the accurate suppressive fire. A bullet struck one of the child soldiers in the throat. Cody bolted to his brother. Able answered with his own round ending the sharpshooter.

Back at the water tower Able chambered another round. He thought to himself. "I got one shot left I'd go for Clint, but I need to take out their highest rank."

The M60 eventually ran out. They switched to using their M16s firing in accurate bursts. Hollis began acting as a sharpshooter with his laser musket. "Where is Liberator?"

"No clue where he is sir. Maybe the Gunners finally got him." Answered Cody.

One by one accurate fire slayed the soldiers where they stood. Evan was next to Hollis and Cody he drew his sawed off and fired white phosphorus. The Gunners fled their flesh consumed by white flame. Cody cackled savoring their pain. Next to them Evan was struck in the chest and fell to the ground. Cody and Hollis retreated further back. On their way, a frag grenade was tossed. It went off. Both hit the ground. Hollis was unconscious. Cody scrambled up ignoring his missing helmet, grabbing Hollis with one hand and firing his rifle in the other. He dragged the wounded Colonel to safety behind some ruins.

He shouted at the top of his lungs with rage. "MAY GOD HAVE MERCY UPON YOU FOR I WILL NO..."

He broke down coughing before he could finish, blood leaked into his mouth. He realized bits of shrapnel had entered his lungs. He growled and continued firing. A Gunner snuck up on him. He was hit in the back of the head knocking him out. He woke up with his hands tied on the Church tower. Hollis was awake with a scowl of pure defiance. Clint just glared at them. They saw bodies of the dead on both sides being stacked up in burn piles. They heard footsteps and there was Captain Wes. Cody didn't pay attention to what they were talking about, he was more concerned about Hollis.

Wes walked over to Cody with a mix of triumph and fascination. "You know Rick raised the finest soldiers I ever came across."

Cody attempted to bite Wes's hand but was too slow. Wes burst into laughter. "If only our cadets had such fire. I never thought anyone could improve Rick's work yet here we are. He took a finely crafted blade and made it serrated. More effective than ever before."

Cody was weirded out being described as a weapon but deep down he couldn't disagree. The life of a soldier was all he knew.

Clint grunted annoyed. "Let's get this over with just kill them both or I could spare both if you surrender."

Hollis spat at them. "Never the Minutemen will rise like a phoenix from the ash."

Wes turned to Clint. "Now is your turn to prove your new loyalty."

Clint shot Hollis in the head. Wes stopped him from killing Cody. "No, we need him alive After all who would know more about the Minutemen than Liberator's little lapdog?"

Able aimed for Wes. He got off one final. Wes fell from the Church tower. Tracing the trajectory, the snipers found Able and fired. Cody silently prayed in his heart and mind begging that his brother survived.

Back at the water tower. Several rounds struck Able, including one through his scope and eye. He smiled blood and eye jelly leaking out. His final words were. "Got him."

Clint then heard roaring. It sounded like a feral ghoul along with the terrifying sound of screeching almost screaming metal. Then they saw him. Liberator screaming roaring like a banshee. His overloaded servos caught fire. His armor was engulfed in flame. The night was now pierced by both the flame and his powerful headlamp. Desperate Clint kicked Cody into the nearby burn pit below. His cloak shielded him from the flames. Evan ran up, cutting him free. He picked Cody up sprinting while Liberator laid waste to the Gunners. As Evan ran past the ghoul Cody's eyes lit up with hope and wonder. Seeing Liberator engulfed in flame charging the enemy made him believe that his Commander was an Ark Angel in disguise.

The ghoul finally snapped out of his blind rage utterly exhausted. He spoke. "Y'all get your equipment I'm gonna get some water to put this out."

Evan found his SMG and Sawed while Cody found his M16, M1911, and helmet. Liberator met up with the fire out. A large clang was heard with the spent fusion core hitting the ground. He reclaimed his 50 cal. "Let's meet up with the others."

Jaws hit the floor as Liberator Cody and Evan returned. Preston looked at them. "How are you still alive?"

Evan answered. "Well, when I was shot, I played dead till they moved on then hid. As for you Liberator what happened You were gone for hours leaving us alone?"

The old ghoul sighed. "I don't know much everything was blurry. All I know is I was in a blind rage butchering my way through Gunners. They kept sending reinforcements so each time I killed the more kept coming. My armor caught fire and I was so high on adrenaline I didn't feel it."

Cody told his side. "Well, Hollis was executed in front of me. I was going to be tortured but Able sniped Captain Wes between the eyes. Clint kicked me off the church tower I landed in a pile of burning bodies. Evan saved me while I was carried, I saw Liberator the carnage he dealt to the Gunners was nothing short of divine retribution."

The group looked at the trio with both thankfulness for the trio and sadness for the loss of Cody's brothers and Colonel Hollis."

Cody's voice was shaky. "Please march to the nearby water tower maybe my closest brother is still alive?"

Preston shrugged his shoulders. "Well, we're moving in that direction anyway might as well."

The group marched on in search of a new home. Eventually, they stumbled upon Able's water tower. Blood still trickled down the railing and ladder. Preston took a breath and climbed up. He slowly climbed back down with Able in one arm. Cody broke down with the adrenaline and the threat of battle gone he was shattered. The stress and horror of the siege took its toll. He clung to his brother's broken body. He didn't cry, he was too angry.

When he calmed down, Liberator helped him up. "I'm sorry Cody."

Cody didn't respond. His whole body kept shaking. He stared into the shore and seas.

They made camp in the ruins reloading empty magazines and preparing for the long march ahead. Liberator took Cody aside to help him find a spot to bury Able. They buried him under a ruined building with a small wood cross laid on top. They made their way back and sat near the campfire. Cody inhaled some jet to calm his nerves, not caring what anyone else thought. Mama Murphy then approached them.

"You two come with me."

She grabbed her bag of chems. "Now Let's see what the future holds for both of you."

She let the sight take hold. "Give me your hands Liberator. I see a powerful Ghoul General. The crooked old guard swept away. The Minutemen are no longer a mere militia but a proper citizen's military. The future though is a fluid and fickle thing. Will you lead them to victory or destruction?"

Liberator answered. "The only destruction will be that of the enemy."

Mama Murphy nodded. "Cody now it's your turn. I see two paths for you. The first is one of healing. You will have a new father and mother, one of orange and one of blue. The second path is one of damnation. If you do not stop hatred from eating your soul, you will forever burn in the fires of war. Worse, you will drag others down the path. Marching alongside fellow warriors consumed by vengeance and darkness."

Cody was confused and scared. "I don't know what to say. My daddy had visions many of them but none as scary or as strange."

Mama Murphy gave him a tight hug. "Kid turn away from the darkness let your heart heal and everything will be alright."