Two chapters left in part one; I’m apologizing in advance for my not being able to write large scale battles, and for ending chapter 19 like I do


Ch18
We’d walked out of Evergreen Mills in high spirits our packs loaded with technology and caps. As we walked out of the valley that Evergreen Mills was located in Sarah turned to Butch and I and said.


“As happy as I am for all of this equipment what in the [censored] is a raider doing with it? I mean hell this is mostly Enclave equipment. So unless those raiders just killed some Enclave members, which is highly unlikely, then they must have traded with them, and that thought scares me.” Butch and I looked at her puzzled, we had never heard of the Enclave.


“Sorry to interrupt your worrying, but who are these Enclave people that I keep hearing about?” Butch asked her. She shook her head and replied


“The Enclave is the last lingering parts of the old American government. They are for the most part a bunch of genocidal powerarmor wearing [censored]s that kill first, ask questions never.”


“So you know them?” I asked her, again she shook her head.


“Never fought them personally, but I’ve heard some really bad stories about them.” We then proceeded to walk back to Talon HQ where once again my Father met us at the gate where he welcomed us in and walked us into the control room.


“Welcome back, how did it go?” Adam asked us.


“Well we got the things that we needed, but we may have a bigger problem than the supermutants.” Sarah said, Adam raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to go on “Well after we killed Smiling Jack and acquired the rods that you needed we discovered a large stockpile of Enclave equipment, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why this worries me!” at the mention of the Enclave everyone’s face went pale deathly white.


“Son of a [censored]!” my father swore with the same sentiments being echoed by Veronica, Boon, and Raul. Adam just shook his head before saying that he had an important call to make. “This changes things dramatically indeed, thank you Sarah and you too Zachary.” Suddenly the sound of odd barking filled the hallways and a, and I kid you not, robotic dog burst into the room. Dogmeat stood up from his place at Butch’s feet and went over and introduced himself in the typical dog way.


“That’s Rex, Adam’s dog.” Veronica told us as she went over to pat the robotic brain casing. Butch was too busy staring to do anything but ask


“Is he a real dog?” Veronica nodded and replied


“Yep, he’s at least half dog, also he hates rats, and hats, but other than that he’s very friendly.”


We spent the night at Talon HQ while we waited for the older people to tell us what our next course of action we should take, needless to say Sarah and I made the most of the opportunity. The next morning we dined on a breakfast that was made up of Sugar Bombs which made my morning much better than the molerat stew that had been served last night. As we walked into the control room we were greeted by the unexpected sight of Elder Lyons along with several knights and Paladin Vargas. Elder Lyons greeted Sarah with a deep embrace, while Vargas nodded to me; Butch seemed to shrink slightly in the presence of so many powerarmored forms. After he finished hugging his daughter Elder Lyons turned to me and said.


“And it’s good to see you as well Zachary, from what I’ve heard you two are fulfilling my dreams of having grandchildren nicely.” I blushed horribly, which just caused him and the rest of his men to laugh “Just remember, I get t o help with the naming.” With that he turned to Dogmeat and unloaded a huge amount of attention on the very happy dog. From the main map table Adam cleared his throat loudly grabbing everyone’s attention he then said in his clear gruff voice.


“Alright people we have a short time span before this starts so we need to make the most of this planning time.” The room fell quite as the holo map lit up showing what I assumed was the cavern where Mathias was holed up in. “The main entrance is not an option, our scouts report that it is completely blockaded by several heavy machinegun nests. Luckily we have found around ten other entryways, eight of which are traps, one of which he knows about but doesn’t seem to care, and one that we are completely certain that he know nothing about. That is our main point of entry, but to make the best use of it we also need to send people through the trapped ones so as not to alert him of our real goal. Of course it goes without saying that James, Boon and myself will each be leading a team through one of these traps, as for the rest of you, you will all receive your assignments separately. Elder Lyons has graciously bolstered our forces with several squads of Brotherhood troops, but due to the recent information about Enclave involvement we have decided to keep most of the Brotherhood in reserve.” As we were walking down the hallway to the exit Butch looked over to me and said


“So your Father-in-law seems very nice, I can’t wait to see what names he picks!” Sarah and I punched him simultaneously, much to the amusemant of her father who had come up behind us and said.


“I was thinking of the same thing, maybe Fonze, I’m also partial to Elvis, or maybe Cassandra.” Butch stared at him in admiration before asking.


“Would you please adopt me?”

Ch19
It was silent as we moved through the tunnel that led directly to the heart of Mathias’s base; we were in the tunnel that we knew was fairly safe, at least comparatively. The sounds of heavy gunfire assaulted our ears as the first of our troops reached the mutant resistance. Yet we waited for our signal, our job was to emerge just as it looked like our soldiers had lost hope for the second time. During the first time the charge would come from the other tunnel that we assumed that Mathias had left open for us, once it appeared that they had been demoralized and close to losing we would come pouring out. While we waited in silence we heard the battle cries of both sides, along with a deep monstrous voice bellowing out instructions, I assumed it to belong to Mathias.


We in stood the middle of the front line with Butch on my left and Sarah on my right, Dogmeat sat quietly next to him awaiting the signal to move from his master. Besides the three of us we were standing with some of the most elite troops that the Brotherhood or the Talons had including, Veronica, Vargas, and Lily the giant blue nightkin who carried a giant sword, along with many troops who I didn’t know. The sense of suspense kept on building as an hour crept by taking its time and making us wonder who was still alive and whether or not our gambit would work.


“Veronica we need you out here now!” Adam’s voice came in over Veronica’s armor radio. We surged for word still remaining silent except for the drill of feet on the tunnel floor, until we reached the exit of the tunnel where veronica let out the cry.


“TALLON COMPANY!” it was soon picked up by the rest of us until it overwhelmed the sounds of gunfire from both sides. As we streamed out of the tunnel a terrible sight met our eyes, the ground was littered with the corpses of both sides some literally blown apart by explosions and bullets. Luckily it seemed to be mostly Mutant corpses covering the ground with the occasional Talon thrown in for every five mutants.


“Kill them you fools!” yelled a huge monstrous mutant that was running towards our lines with two massive bloodstained supersledges clutched in either hand. Following him were the four armed monstrosities that my father had described to us in his story. I thought quickly and tossed a handful of grenades at the approaching horde, several others followed my lead and we dropped maybe eight enemies in the following explosion. Sarah’s gauss rifle rang out and took the Mathias in the head, causing him to laugh as the shell forced its way through his head, which healed immediately. The rest of our troops opened fire as well but aimed around Mathias and into the four legged mutants who although harder to kill then the standard mutant still went down eventually. Then Adam’s voice broke through the gunfire as if projected by a magic source.


“Members of Talon Company these mutants think that they are better then you! They think that humanity is weak! They think that you are weak! Are you going to stand for this from a bunch of yellow skinned monstrosities? Of course you aren’t, you’re Talon Company you’re the best soldiers in the entire wasteland, and if these mutants think that they’re going to kill us then let’s give them something to really think about!” As he finished his speech the Talons next to me renewed their battle cries and let loose with their rifles with greater intensity then before, sending several dozen of the opposing mutants spiraling down in pools of blood. Veronica charged out from our ranks meeting the enemy’s charge with unparalleled furry pounding two mutants into bloody pieces with one powerful swing of her modified punching gloves.


Sarah had switched back to her plasma rifle and was dropping mutants left and right while Butch and I let spattered the enemy with bullets. Next to us Vargas shot five quick shots of laser fire into the enemy ranks, each resulting in a pile ashes, Lily had followed Veronica’s path and was carving a bloody divide through the mutants, literally impaling several on her sword before throwing them into their allies. None of which stopped Mathias from casually walking towards us grinning manically, our projectiles didn’t affect him when they even broke his skin it immediately healed over as if it had never happened.


“So you’re The Great Sarah Lyons, killer of mutants eh?” Mathias bellowed while walked slowly towards Sarah “Well you don’t look so great to me.” with another step forward he brought one of his sledges down in the spot that Sarah had just occupied, at the last second she had rolled to the side. “You can’t hide from me girl, and you can’t dodge me forever!” while Mathias’s back was turned I took the opportunity to send a prayer to whoever was listening, before drawing my combat knife and plunging it into the exposed back of the monster. It went about as well as I thought it would, Mathias laughed before continuing his attacks on Sarah.


“Are you trying to be ineffective, or is that just my imagination!” Butch yelled at me through the constant sound of gunfire before he sent a three round burst into Mathias’s skull. Out of the turmoil sounding us emerged Elder Lyons and my father.


“Get away from my Daughter you twisted mutated [censored]!” the Elder yelled firing his lazor pistol into Mathias’s body, surprisingly these holes didn’t fade but instead turned black and began to bleed slowly. Mathias screamed in pain, for the first time since he had become a mutant he was in pain. He turned around and rushed the Elder his sledges raised to deliver a killing blow.

ok wow, where to begin? I LOVE your story. I will be honest though, at first, while reading your first post, I didn't feel that way. You do make an awful lot of spelling and grammar mistakes, which jar the flow of the story. However, you have a great talent and your story comes alive. I think that most of your mistakes are just because you rush it. Take your time, read over it and double spell check everything.

Your style is so fresh, innocent, exciting and humorous. I laughed out loud quite a bit! I love the way you explained how your character de-activated the bomb in Megaton. LOL How you refer to Butch as barber hahahaha And I like the way your character is falling for Sarah. Your story had me at the edge of my seat at times. I like your larger than life battles, hundreds of mutants, yet you explain very well how they could overcome these odds, without sounding ridiculous. Well done!

The interchanges between Butch, Zach and Sarah are really funny. Butch is like the comic relief here! LOL

You really took me by surprise when you described ThreeDog.. a WHITE British guy? LMAO At first I was like NO WAY, but reading on, it made a lot of sense LOL

I'm also glad to see the Talon company being heroes. They usually try to kick my butt in the game.

OMG Sheogorath in the Dunwich Building??????????? I LOVE IT hahahahahahaha Took me a while to figure that out, but after reading about Cheese and Mad Emperors, it finally sunk in hahahahaha Brilliant!

You created a really great villain with Mathias! You have a superb fighting force, so you need to throw them against incredible odds, so they can prove themselves. A villain should never be easily overcome. You did a great job there!

I came home from work and your story intrigued me so much, that instead of playing Fallout 3, I went back to the forums and read every post here. It's a nice and refreshingly different take on the whole story. Well done, very well done.

Oh one question, what's with the hands always finding the face? If you overuse a certain phrase, it will become stale after a while. So watch out for repetitions.
Also a better way to say that is "he covered his face to hide his laughter". If you say, his hand found itself or something, it's sounds like a disembodied movement. Like the hand is moving on its own account.

Again, take your time, I know you can write, you have proven that. Now, just clean up the small errors here and there, so they won't hinder the flow of your story. It's a shame that the forums censors some of the words as well. I do agree that some parts really deserved the strong language though.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter. So, all the parts needed to bring down Mathias, were they assembled into a weapon? Oh and why not use Liberty Prime against that mutant? OH speaking of which, LOL nice job turning Fawkes into a behemoth! hahaha That reminds me, LOLOLOL a nuke just fell out of the air? ahahahahaha good one!!!!!!!!!

Ch20
Time froze around me as I watched my father push Sarah’s father out of the way right as the hammer blows landed, breaking his spine and legs throwing him to the ground. My vision went red and I let out a cry of challenge quickly ran and picked up my father’s gun from the ground and fired it blindly into Mathias’s back. Large holes ripped their way through his chest causing blood to flow and gather in pools at his feet, and yet he lived on this time advancing on me menacingly. I squeezed the trigger again only to be rewarded by an empty clicking noise, oh [censored]!


I threw the gun to the side and rapidly backpedaled desperately trying to put more distance between myself and the giant mutant. He started to laugh again, it was a disgusting laugh and you could hear the blood bubbling as it filled his throat. Sarah lunged at him, but he simple sent her flying into the nearby wall with a backhand, my father lay moaning on the floor with pain, feebly trying to crawl towards Mathias and interrupt his journey to me. I drew the pistol that my father had given me and lined up a headshot, I pulled the trigger twelve times rapidly, but it was to no avail the rounds simply bounced off. He finally reached me breathing heavily, blood slipping out of his mouth and sliding down his chin, then he dropped his sledge and punched me savagely in the stomach. As I bent down gasping in pain he picked me up with one hand and held me in front of his face by my neck, he coughed some of his hot mutant blood into my face before saying.


“You…You’re the James’s son, well I guess like father like…”


“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!” Elder Lyons yelled firing his laser pistol straight into the back of Mathias’s head, the beam shot out of his left eye but he kept on smiling evilly at me as the blood seeped down his face.


“You don’t get it do you, none of you humans get it, I am a mortal no more! I am a GOD! You cannot hope to kill me! I have surpassed the mortal coil binding me to this puny form, my powers are unparalleled and there is nothing any of you can do to kill me!” that’s when I heard a dry chuckle emitting from my father’s ruined body followed by him weakly saying.


“A god you, Ha you barely deserve recognition of sentience you pathetic swine!” Mathias turned to stare at my father’s mutilated body in udder hatred, as I watched over his shoulder I saw Adam walking up behind us and slowly drawing a strange looking energy weapon out of his duster.


“Consider your godhood revoked bit…!” Adam told him calmly as a ray of bright purple energy shot out of the odd looking energy weapon and struck Mathias in the back causing him to shudder spastically. Slowly every wound that had ever been inflicted on his flesh began to open in his panic he dropped me and began to desperately clutch at his body. The wounds started low at around his knees slowly spreading upwards his body bleeding from dozens of wounds, as he was dying in the air I heard the voice from the Dunwich say to me A GOD THE NERVE OF SOME MORTALS! OH WELL HE’S CRAZZY ENOUGH TO COME TO MY REALM, AND DON’T YOU WORRY I HAVE BEEN THINKING OF A GREAT PUNShymanT IN MIND, SOMETHING TO DO WITH CHEESE! By the time that the voice was done talking Mathias had been reduced to an agonized stump of a body that twitched and moved as if possessed by a ghost, finally his head disappeared into a small puddle of ooze.


“I need a medic over here!” Adam yelled loudly his voice barely filled with barely controlled emotion. A group of them ran over and lifted my father’s battered body off the field of battle running towards our lines. The mutants hadn’t realized what had happened and they fought with the same fury as before. Dogmeat claimed the last kill brutally ripping the throat of a supermutant master who was standing over a pile of mutant and Talon corpses. The human forces let out a battered cheer before seeing to the dead. It was a relief to know that my father would live, but the cost was heavy. After procuring several vials of the FEEV virus we filled the main pit with gravel which we followed by pouring concrete into the remaining depression we then destroyed the roof of the cave in an attempt to make it completely inaccessible.


When we arrived back at base we found my Father waiting for us at the gates sitting in a wheelchair, a sad smile played over his face as he saw us walking towards him.


“At least I’m alive Zach, and I hear that I have you to thank for that blessing.” He said his voice sounding slightly tired but still strong.


“Dad…” I told him my throat closing up; instead I went over to him and hugged him deeply while he returned the hug with his arms.


“Alright everybody I may be crippled but I’m not about to be treated like one, so let’s get on with life, ok?” he then rolled himself around and back through the gates of the compound. The rest of us just looked at him for a minute before following him in.


We spent a week at the Talon HQ before we decided to head out; Adam gave us a package to give to the original ThreeDog if we were in the vicinity of Tenpenny during our travels and wished us the best of luck. I led the way into the wastes leaning my rifle on my shoulder casually, Sarah walked on my right her gauss rifle slung over her shoulder, while Butch and Dogmeat were on my left his leather jacket flapping lightly in the wind while Dogmeat walked happily at his side tongue lolling to the side.
End of part 1.

93 pages and 28,449 words.

oh and special thanks to all of the people who commented including Agrona and kdn003 and to those who have continued to vew my work, you're all the best !! Part two will take a little longer to write so it may be every other day update.

Awesome ending to an exciting and funny and adventurous part 1! Well done!

thanks a bunch, i rewrote after your other comment to make it better so thanks for reading

Ch 21
“Remind me why I stay with you guys again!” Butch yelled over the sound of mutant gunfire.


“Because you enjoy this [censored] jut as much as we do!” I yelled back as I returned fire killing a mutant who had emerged from one of the bedrooms on the hotel floor that we were currently moving through.


“And because we put up with your constant [censored]ing!” Sarah contributed as she deftly dogged a supermutant’s punch before breaking its ribs with a strong kick to the stomach and then curbstomping its neck.


“Still I think you guys drag yourselves, and by default Dogmeat and I into way to much trouble for the average humans!” Butch replied while shooting a mutant in the head. Dogmeat cut down another mutant by slashing its hamstrings with his teeth and then tearing out its throat. We were in the hotel after crossing from a hospital on a fallen crane, the reason that we were here was because a group calling themselves Riley’s Rangers was hold up on the roof and had been facing extremely bad odds against a large amount of mutants.


“Look let’s just talk about it after we rescue these guys, then you can complain while we’re in whatever bar there is at Rivet City.” I told him while shooting another mutant in the head. Rivet city was our real destination, but along the way we had received the distress signal from Riley and decided that we could lend a hand to a human in need. Sarah had taken the lead and switched to her plasma rifle and was reducing mutants to small puddles of goo left and right. As we pressed through the hotel we ran past the mangled bodies of several dozen mutants.


“They seemed to be wining because we haven’t found a single none mutant body so far, I wonder what went wrong.” Sarah said before we rounded a corner and found the first human corpse. It was blasted and broken, as if a grenade had killed the man unexpectedly, on his back was a large case filled with an assortment of ammo.


“I’d say that it’s a safe bet that he was their ammo man, when he died things would have gone downhill pretty rapidity.” I said Sarah nodded before hoisting the ammo box over her shoulder and strapping it to her back.


“This way they won’t be dry when we get there.” Sarah said before pushing on up the stairs. After fighting our way through the rest of the hotel we arrived at the roof to find three people crouched behind some makeshift cover, the ground in front of them was littered with mutant copses.


“Who are you!” shouted one of them focusing his rifle on Sarah’s head.


“I’m someone who just killed an entire hotel full of mutants to bail your asses out of the fire, so I suggest that you take that gun off of my head before I kill you myself!” Sarah shouted back while pointing her plasma rifle at the man pointing the gun at her.


“Sorry, I’m a little edgy right now, you’re free to join us if you want.” The speaker told us apologetically lowering his weapon and waving us up. “we’ve been getting mutant charges every ten minutes or so and from it sounds like you’re just ahead of on now, lock and load people!” he yelled as screaming mutants ran towards us guns blazing.


We weathered the attack with ease thanks in part to the female ranger with the large minigun, when the mutants dispersed the original ranger who had talked to us turned to us and said.


“I’m Donovan the ranger’s engineer, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it were under better circumstances.” We introduced ourselves and Donovan gasped while the other two rangers looked up in surprise. “You’re the ones that ThreeDog keeps talking about aren’t you?” Donovan asked us in slight astonishment.


“Probably, we don’t listen to the radio much.” I said a little sheepishly shrugging. Dogmeat had meanwhile gone over to the ranger not holding the minigun and started to beg for attention, he was soon on the receiving end of a belly scratch. “So how did you guys get into this situation?” I asked Donovan.


“Well it was supposed to be a simple scouting mission, and then we got attacked by overwhelming number of mutants so we had to retreat to this roof. On the way up here our quartermaster Theo got killed by a grenade, and then our leader Riley decided to go and get us help by using a stealthboy to sneak out, it’s been a day and a half.” Sarah then passed the ammo box over to Donovan who took it gladly and distributed the ammo among the other two rangers “Thanks we were starting to run out, now we only have one problem. The elevator to the ground floor is out, and that billboard that you used to get over here got blown up by mutants. We can probably fix it with a fusion battery from that protectron that was in the restaurant, or if one of you thinks that they’re a good enough engineer you can take a crack at it.”


“I can probably do it, I grew up in a Vault and I spent a bunch of time taking apart doorknobs and locks, fixing elevators can’t be that much different.” I said, before anyone could stop me I got out my screw driver removed the panel from the elevator port and drove it inside looking for something familiar. That’s when I felt a shock travel from the screwdriver, right before my vision faded to black.


someone seems to have been infected with suicidal optimism, don't worry it passes

Ch22


I awoke in a dimly lit little hospital with a ghoul dressed in Dr.’s fatigues leaning over me, there is almost nothing that can compare to the pure creepiness of waking up to a Ghoul’s face leaning over you!


“Easy friend easy, you’re among friends here. You took quite the shock, and I’m not sure just what you were thinking driving a metal screwdriver into an extremely powerful electrical socket but let me tell you it was stupidity on the highest echelons that are humanly possible, I would honestly say that trying to tame a fully grown deathclaw would be smarter! Oh and your girlfriend is going to chew you a new ass hole when…oh speak of the devil.” Sarah raced straight up to me and embraced me in a deep kiss, after which she slapped me in the face very hard and said.
“If you ever do something that monumentally stupid again I will leave you for Dogmeat, he at least has the sense not to stick things in electrical sockets!” I could tell that she was mostly just monumentally worried but it still hurt a little. “Also just because you grew up in a Vault doesn’t mean that you can automatically be good at everything the first time you do it so stop volunteering to do everything Damnit!” my face was still tingling from the slap and I rubbed it genteelly before saying.


“I thought I could do it, I’m sorry that I upset you like that, it’s that ever since I got out here things have just seemed to go so well for me that I sometimes forget that I’m still fallible.” From across the small ward a woman rose up from her cot to yell.


“If you passionate young lovebirds are done with your heart to heart would you please shut up some of us here want to get some sleep, and don’t think that just because you rescued my Rangers that I’m going to forgive you for taking my beauty sleep!”


“Sorry Riley we’ll be done in a minute.” Sarah told her over her shoulder to me she said.


“In case your brain is too fried to understand, that woman over there is Riley, she’s the leader of the Rangers.”


“I never would have guessed.” I said deadpanly “So how did I get here?” I asked Sarah


“It wasn’t easy let me tell you, first Butch and I had to fight our way to the protectron, then we had to carry your dead weight body through several firefights, then we had to haul you all the way to Underworld.”


“Which is where exactly?” I asked.


“Right next to the Washington monument actually, it’s a city of ghouls.”


“Alright then where do we go next?”


“To Rivet City and then maybe to visit Tenpenny Tower, Adam is probably laughing at the irony of us delivering a package for him.” She said with a slight smile “Are you feeling alright you still seem a little confused?” she asked me


“Yeah I’m fine, it’s just my mind is a little scattered right now.”


“You should probably stay another night here, then we can get to rivet city.” She told me before kissing me on the cheek and walking out; the doctor ghoul came back over to me and said.


“You’ve got a nice girl there, not every woman would haul your unconscious ass all the way here!” I nodded and said


“Don’t I know it!” the rest of my day was spent talking to the ghoul whose name I learned was Doctor Barrows. As it turned out he knew my father, which I had begun to expect from everyone older than me, and he wanted to tell me to say hi to my father for him next time I saw him. After that we talked about ghoulification which was one of the doctor’s main interests and he showed me several of his captured glowing ones, which was the name for those yellow glowing ghouls that we killed at the Dunwich building.


The next day Butch and Dogmeat came to get me, when he saw me Butch embraced me happily while Dogmeat stood on his hind legs so that he could lick me in the face forcing me to push him off. As I walked out of the little hospital and into the Underworld proper the first thing that caught my attention was the number of ghouls. Up to this point the only intelligent ones that I had met had been Gob and Barros so seeing this many at the same time made trigger finger a little bit itchy.


“Com on man let’s get you a drink, you still look like hell, besides the fact that Sarah is there talking to Riley.” Butch told me and steered me towards a bar called the ninth circle. As we entered the bar the ghoul behind the counter looked up but quickly dismissed us from his attention once he saw that we were headed towards Sarah and Riley. As I took the seat next to Sarah she leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before returning to her conversation with Riley.


“So you mean to tell me that you four have just been wandering around the Wasteland not even paying attention to stockpiles of supplies?” Riley asked Sarah who shrugged and replied.


“I’m Brotherhood, and those two are essentially Talon Company they supply most of our gear the only thing that they don’t supply us with are bottlecaps.” Riley scratched her shin for a second before nodding and saying.


“I’ll tell you what, if you four come across anything that’s valuable but that you don’t want just stop by Headquarters and I’ll pay you 75% of its value. Technically it’s our job but I’m not getting any younger and with Theo gone the team is out one member so until we’re back at full strength we can’t really afford to go out scavenging.” Sarah thought about it for a minute before she said.


“Sounds reasonable to me, what are you looking for specifically?”


“Anything that is valuable, rare, or unique, and because of all that you did for my Rangers I’ll even throw in some extra stimpacks.” They shook hands then Riley got up and left the bar leaving Sarah, Butch, Dogmeat and I sitting around the bar.


“So off to Rivet City?” I asked


from here on out I'm going to be trying to switch point of view every chapter

Ch23
Colonel Autumn sat at the same table that he had last time listening to Jenkins.


“So you see sir while Talon Company is essentially unable to leave their base in force the Brotherhood mostly stayed out of the fight. This means that the Talons are still too strong to wipe out in any form of direct attack thanks to Brotherhood reinforcements, and I don’t think I need to remind you that the NCR is closing in on D.C. with our anolysts predicting them arriving in around a year.” Autumn sighed deeply, things just didn’t seem to be going well for the Enclave “Also sir apparently James Hardgrave was severely injured in the battle.” Autumn stiffened, they may have been on different sides but James was still an old friend, albeit one who had shot him. “Our eyebots say that he is still alive and is simply confined to a wheelchair, predicting your feelings on the matter I’ve made arrangements for you to meet with him later in the week.”


“Thank you Jenkins.” Autumn told his assistant gratefully “so what else has happened in the Wasteland that I should know about?”


“Well several minor things really...” Jenkins said before pausing a moment Autumn motioned for him to continue with a quick hand gesture.

“…Firstly the group known as Riley’s Rangers has been rescued from their fate. Secondly the town of Underworld has apparently been visited by the same group that seems to be connected to most of our failures. Finally it seems that the ferryman Tobar has returned selling his pungafruit again.” The last bit disturbed Autumn but he didn’t show it, Tobar shouldn’t be back in the Wasteland period, and he especially shouldn’t be here selling punga, he thought to himself


“Anything else?” he asked allowing a note of fake boredom to seep into his voice.


“Our experts have also finally discovered the source of that mininuke that hit our deathclaw team.”


“Oh really what was it?”


“Gravity sir, it just fell out of the sky.” Autumn fixed him with an evil glare before exiting the room. “Oh and sir the President wants to see you.” Jenkins called after him as he strode down the hallway. Great thought Autumn as he walked down the hall towards the President’s office. As he walked into the office the computer greeted him with fake enthusiasm and dripping with sarcasm.


“Hey there Augustus how’s your day going? I heard about your friend James, I’m sure it must be a terrible feeling knowing that one of the few people that you consider a close personal friend is now confined to a wheelchair doesn’t it?” Autumn kept calm and replied


“You’re right sir it does, then again it’s one of those things that only a human could feel so I doubt that you will ever have to deal with it, isn’t that right John?” the computers buzzed in rage “You know I’ve had some time to think things through and I keep coming up with the same answer, do you know what the thing that I’ve been thinking about is John?”


“I haven’t the slightest idea; then again I’m sure that you plan on telling me and because you’re obviously dying to tell me I think I’ll let you.” the computer spoke dryly and sardonically while every turret in the room swiveled to focus on Autumn.


“That was a very nice choice of words John; activate ZAX protocol code 42, 34, 69, oh and have a happy death you sarcastic son of a [censored]!” from the computer monitor there came a anguished scream as John Henry Eden died, but before the AI passed from the world he asked Autumn one last question his words dripping with raw hatred and sarcasm while popping in volume and tone.


“Oh very cleVER AUGustus, YoU FoUND my fLaw, I’ts To bAd that I’M riGGed to ExplODE when i DIe, isN’T It?” with that the voice died in static and a small timer appeared in front of Adam’s face, which caused him to smile.


“ZAX protocol code 117 automatic response.” With tortured slowness the timer slowed down until it finally stopped at 1. Wiping away a small bead of sweat that had been sliding towards his eye Colonel Augustus Autumn turned and headed for the door. When he left the room Jenkins fell in behind him, as if by magic.


“I take it things went well with our president sir.” He said allowing a hint of humor to enter into his voice.


“Oh very well so well in fact I doubt that the president is ever going to be unhappy again!”


“Well sir that is very good news sir, the Enclave loves it when the president is happy, now about that mininuke…”


sorry that i killed him so soon, but i really don't think that he makes a very good villain

NIce work! I like how you included Riley's Rangers in your story. I just did that quest yesterday on my new character! The Ranger armor is my favorite and I wear that or my Chinese Stealth suite!
Anyway, I think you are doing a great job, including all the main characters in some fashion, for example how you have Dogmeat go over to a Ranger and beg for attention.

He stuck a screwdriver into that electric outlet hahahaha OMG that was sad and comical! I love the way you inject humor into your tale. Well, I'm glad your characters are save for the moment. Can't wait to see what other mess they will get themselves into!

Edit: OH you posted the chapter about Eden, while I replied to the other 2. Well, yea, it was a bit of a shock that Autumn deactivated ZAX so soon. Is Autumn now going to be president? And he's friends with James? So, the Enclave are the good guys? Who is the opposing force then? Talons are good guys, Brotherhood of course are good guys, what about the Brotherhood Outcasts, will they play a role? I think I need to re-read the other chapters to get a better idea about the Enclave. LOL Well written though! I always liked the back and forth between Eden and Autumn.

They arn't good persay, the old Enclave run before Autumn took charge essentialy commited mass genocide whenever possible, Autnm is slightly lighter but he still means serius truoble for Zach and company. Also James kind of knows everybody so it makes sense that he and Autmn were freinds, and that's all i'm saying for now

CH 24
As we neared Rivet City my breath was torn from my lungs at the sheer size of it, it was bigger than both the Citadel and the Talon HQ combined. The only way to access the beached behemoth was by utilizing a large metal platform where we were easily spotted by some of the snipers on the deck of the ship. When we got to the top Sarah walked over to a little intercom and in a bubbly voice said.


“Ali ali oxen free is it safe to come out of the woods?” an exasperated man’s voice greeted her from the intercom.


“Oh god its Sarah, well what do you want this time?” I looked at Sarah questioningly and she smirked at me for a second before she replied in an even more bubbly voice.


“Harkness it’s wonderful to hear your voice again, my friends and I just want to come over so that I can show them the wonders of the glorious Rivet City!” with another sigh the man on the other end said.


“Fine it’s either that or you stand out there all day talking to Me.” with that a long walkway began to slowly extend towards us, I turned to Sarah and asked.


“What the hell was that?” she turned and eyed me sweetly before replying.


“Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to annoy your way through it, not often but that’s the only way that I know to get Harkness to extend that damn walkway.” Thankfully the bubblyness had drained out of her voice; Butch shot me a creeped out glance
to which I nodded slightly. “Come on guys let’s get over there before he changes his mind.” She told us as she started across the walkway.


On the other side we were met by a bored looking man holding an assault rifle he held up his hand to make us stop and said in a firm authoritarian voice.


“Welcome to Rivet City unlike the rest of the Wasteland we have a firm set of laws that if not adhered by will result immediately in either you being thrown out, or your corpse volunteering to feed the lurks am I understood?” the three of us nodded and Dogmeat barked once, the man nodded before stepping over to a door behind him and unlocked it with an audible click. “Then enjoy your time in Rivet City.” He said as we passed through the door.


On the other side of the door we found a bustling market that had around twenty stalls that sold more types of things then I knew existed in the wasteland, moving through the space were at least a hundred people going about their everyday business. Sarah maneuvered through the crowds with surprising ease while Butch, Dogmeat and I struggled to keep up. After around three minutes of walking Sarah led us to a small little restaurant called Garry’s Galley. She sat down at an empty table and motioned for us to take two of the other seats.


“Sarah it’s good to see you again, who’re your friends?” asked a young blonde woman in a waitresses outfit.


“It’s good to see you again to Angela, this is my boyfriend Zach and his friend Butch along with Butch’s dog, Dogmeat.” Angela nodded and greeted us polity. “So how are things with Diego?” Angela just shook her head.


“Same as always, he’s too distracted by being in the clergy to really notice Me.” she said sadly then she asked “So what’ll it be?”


“I think we’ll all have the mirelurk cakes along with three Nuka Colas and a brahmin bone for Dogmeat.” Angela nodded and wandered back to a man behind the counter to relay our orders.


“Mirelurk cakes?” Butch asked Sarah who nodded and replied.


“Yeah do you remember those crablike things that we saw on the way down here? Well those are mirelurks and trust me they are delicious.” Butch looked skeptical, but nodded and occupied himself by looking around the bustling room. I turned to Sarah and asked


“So remind me why we are here again?” before she could answer me a woman in a labcoat came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder, when I turned around she said.


“You wouldn’t happen to be Zachary Hardgrave would you?” I nodded and she smiled before saying “Dr. Li wants to see you in the science lab at your earliest convenience, something about a gift from your mother.” She then left leaving me wondering what she meant. Then Angela returned carrying three large platters of mirelurk cakes steaming with heat from the grill she then brought out three ice cold Nuka Colas and a large meaty brahmin bone for Dogmeat who barked happily. After popping one in his mouth experimentally Butch’s eyes started to water and a look of pure joy crossed his face.


“This is the best thing that I’ve ever eaten!” he exclaimed excitedly, Sarah and I just looked at each other and ate our cakes smiling while Dogmeat gnawed on his bone happily. When we had finished we left the fee on the table and made our way to the science lab to meet Dr. Li, I knocked on the door of the lab and it was quickly opened by the same woman that had approached us at the restaurant smiling she said.


“Go right on in Dr. Li is waiting for you over by the purifier.” We walked past the woman and continued till we found another woman deeply engrossed in her work standing in front of a tray of vegetables. I cleared my throat lightly to get her attention startling her out of her work.


“Zachary is that you? I haven’t seen you since you were barely two weeks old!” The women who I presumed to be Dr. Li said while catching me in an enthusiastic hug.


“You must be Dr. Li.” I said after she had let go of me, she nodded and reached into her labcoat pocket before pulling out a small package which she passed to me.


“This is a gift from your mother, she told me to give it to you if she ever died so that you would have something to remember her by.” I opened the package slowly and found a little note lying on top of a locket shaped like a small stimpack. On the note written in a beautiful font were the words. To Zach with love, so that you will always remember me after I’m gone. I opened the locket by pressing down on the plunger and it revealed the face of a beautiful woman in the prime of her life, she was grinning at the camera and displaying a happy smile. I was shocked, my father had either never kept any of the pictures of her, or he had gotten rid of them all to ease his grief at her passing, either way it was the first time that I had ever seen any image of her. Sarah leaned over my shoulder to look and said.


“Would you look at that you have the same eyes.” My eyes had grown a little cloudy and I wiped the gently to displace the sudden burst of liquid. I turned to Li who was smiling a sad smile and asked.


“Miss Li is there anything you need me to do for you?” she shook her head sadly for a second and then laughed slightly before responding.


“Oh you’re just like your mother and father; then again I should have expected that. Now that you mention it there is a problem that needs addressing before the stubborn old bastard starves to death or is eaten by mirelurks.” I looked at her questioningly and she clarified. “That old bastard Pinkerton lives in the other end of the ship, the one infested with mirelurks we try to send food over every month or so but it’s been a while and he is probably in need of more supplies. If the man wasn’t such a genius then we would just leave him out there to starve to death, but because he’s probably the best surgeon in the Wasteland along with one of the best scientists this side of the Enclave we keep him alive in case we ever really need something urgent. I’ll go get the supplies while you four stay here while I go get them.” She was halfway out of the room before she looked over her shoulder and said “be very careful when you’re in there, if the lurks don’t get you one of Pinkerton’s booby traps will come close.” With those hearting words she walked out of the room past her assistant who had Dogmeat on his back moaning with pleasure as she rubbed his stomach. I turned to Butch and said.


“I think your dog’s an attention [censored] Butch.” He just shrugged his shoulders and replied in a Italian accent


“Zach my friend, a dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do.”

btw guys i got Mass Effect 3 last night so my free time is kind of gone for around a week and a half. Depending on how much free time i have in class the next chapter may not be up for a while but i will try to get it up sooner or later

Hey now, Story before Mass Effect 3!!!!!!!!! =p LOL And tsk tsk, no writing in class! *rolls eyes*

Aww, this was a touching chapter. I love how Zach is moved by the small locket that contains the picture of his mother. And I also like the fact that Rivet City has a huge, busy market!

You are doing a great job with this story! Here are a few tips, which I hope will help you grow as a writer.


Someone can tear out your eyes, or your throat, but it's a bit hard to imagine for a reader that your breath is torn out of your lungs. Anytime you are dealing with tears or breath, which are natural body functions, try to think of it as just happening, nobody can really control it or tear it out of you.

For example:
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
I wiped my eyes, so that Dr. Li wouldn't see the moisture gathering in the corner of my eyes.
The sheer size of Rivet City took my breath away.



Watch your sentence structure.

You are basically repeating yourself here (I'll go get them... while I go get them).

Try this: Wait here, while I go get the supplies. or Let me get the supplies. I'll be right back.



Remember cause and effect:
The Lab assistant comes up BEHIND your character, so he shouldn't be able to tell that the woman wears a lab coat (2 words btw.)

Try something like this:
... before she could answer, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw a woman in a lab coat smiling down at me.

thanks for the advice sometimes my mind just kind of wanders off when i write and i lose my train of thought and put stupid stuff like the second thing
also i think the first one is an actual expression, it means vilontly exhale, i think. anyways thanks for the comment

Great story! Can't for the next chapter!!!!

Ch25
The sound of the blades of the vertibird reverberated inside the black metal body; in a seat looking out a tiny bulletproof window Autumn saw the Talon HQ building and thought about how he would approach his old friend. Jenkins sat next to him looking over some reports on the Brotherhood’s activities in the Wasteland occasionally muttering something or writing notes on a piece of paper that sat on his left knee. It had been twenty five years since he had last seen James Hardgrave, and that had been when James shot him in the back and left him for dead, Autumn wasn’t resentful though they were both soldiers fighting for their own respective causes, the pilots voice came in over the intercom.


“We’re going in for vertical landing sir please strap in.” Autumn sighed before complying; Jenkins ignored the pilot and began to gather up his papers before placing them neatly in a small folder. As they emerged squinting into the bright light of the Wasteland they were confronted by the sight of at least a dozen Talon soldiers plus Adam and his honor guard all of whom had their weapons at least partially drawn, if not pointing directly at Autumn and Jenkins.


“Here are the rules of your visit Colonel.” Said Adam in his gruff voice. “First you will be permitted no weapons, food, or miscellaneous items once you are inside the base. Second you will go alone along with Boon as your chaperone. Third the rest of your men will wait out here under guard to ensure that your motives are what you say they are, they will be treated humanely and given any water, food, or medical care that they require. Fourth if you do anything to James I will personally tear off your neck and [censored] down your throat, any questions?” Autumn shook his head and began to drop his weapons and other equipment into a plastic container that was handed over to him; after he was done Autumn followed Boon into the base.


After around ten minutes of walking they arrived at an unmarked door and Boon knocked gently twice from inside he heard James reply in an older version of the voice that he had once known so well.


“Come in Augustus, it’s been awhile.” Autumn slowly eased the door open and found James sitting in his wheelchair in front of a small desk, Autumn was shocked to see that despite the wheelchair his old friend still looked reasonably healthy. “What’s the matter Autumn deathclaw got your tongue?” James asked him while raising an eyebrow.


“I’m just surprised how good you look for someone in a wheelchair James, that’s all.” Autumn replied


“You should know better, it takes more than having my legs reduced to bloody scraps to put James Hardgrave down.” James told him while smiling slightly. “So how long is it till your people attack us Autumn?”


“What makes you think we that will James, after all the Enclave just want what’s best for America.” Autumn replied dryly, James just shook his head and said.


“Because America died two hundred years ago and the majority of the Enclave are just power hungry [censored]s wearing power armor.” Autumn shrugged, this was an old conversation between the two of them.


“So I hear that your son is all grown up now James how is he?” Autumn asked quickly changing topics, a smile lit James’s face and he said.


“That boy will go on to do many great things; you can mark my words on that Autumn, oh and that reminds me, what was the name of your son?”


“I named him Jenkins, he’s my secretary and lead strategist. Just don’t let it get out; he thinks his father died on patrol one day fighting a large group of raiders and I really don’t feel like having the ‘I’m your father’ talk with him.” Autumn replied, James just shook his head and said.


“I’m willing to bet that he already knows, but it’s your decision Autumn, just remember that if he asks you should tell the truth.” They sat in silence for a few minutes before James said. “I’m sorry that I shot you in the back, but it had to be done. I just couldn’t let you get away, we needed that info desperately!” Autumn sighed resignedly and said


“I understand James, just as long as you understand that I will return the favor at some point.” Then Boone knocked on the door and said.


“Sorry Colonel times up, your men are getting to edgy for Adam’s liking, and he would hate for one of our canons to go off accidentally.” Autumn bent down and attempted to shake James’s hand but was unexpectedly pulled into a hug.


“Be careful out there Autumn, I’ve heard rumors of big things happening, and even if you are clinging to the past like a rope in a storm that doesn’t mean that I want you to let go if for nothing else then for old time’s sake.”


“Watch out for yourself too James, I wouldn’t want anything worse to happen to you.” Autumn told him sincerely before walking out of the room. On the way back to Raven Rock Jenkins looked up at the man who he knew was his father and asked.


“Everything alright sir?” Autumn wiped a small tear from his eye and said.


“Nothing to worry about Jenkins, I’m just remembering old times

Ch26
“I can’t believe that that we got svckered into this!” Butch yelled over the sound of gunfire and bullets impacting and rebounding off of mirelurk shells. “But no, we couldn’t just go to Tenpenny we have to help the old guy clean out his damn ship!”


“Do you remember what I said about your constant [censored]ing!?” Sarah yelled back as she dissolved another lurk into a pile of glowing goo. I just sighed and returned to killing lurks; the damn things were tenacious and very hard to kill in the enclosed space of the ships hallways. One particularly big one charged me causing me to leap backwards and trip, I landed on my back hard and the mutant crab leaned over me eager for the kill. Before I had time to shoot it Dogmeat came out of nowhere and hamstrung the lurk causing it to go down in a thrashing heap. Butch finished it off and helped me to my feet.


Sarah led the way down a passage that Pinkerton had told us held the main lurk nest, the floor of the ship was covered in around a foot of water and I was starting to regret the heavy combat boots that I was wearing. The noise of the lurks suddenly stopped and all that we could hear was the sound of the waves crashing against the edge of the ship. As we progressed down the hallway small glowing mushrooms began to dot the side of the walls and several hung from the ceiling casting a creepy glow across our faces. Then the tunnel opened up into what had once been an engine room, sounding what had once been the nuclear power engine for the ship were hundreds of mirelurk eggs. Standing guard over the eggs were large almost human looking crabmen, Pinkerton had warned us about those, they were called mirelurk kings and queens.


With a roar the lurks charged us moving surprisingly quickly for creatures of their size. Remembering what Pinkerton had said about the lurk kings I reached into one of the pockets of my armor and pulled out a tiny silver device and pressed a large red button. Immediately the lurks stopped what they were doing and began to clutch their heads, screaming in pain. I felt a slight smile creep over my face and nodded to the others, together we managed to kill all of the lurks that were arrayed against us before the small device ran out of battery. Sarah and I spread out and began to gather as many eggs as we could while Butch and Dogmeat stood guard at the door, then after we had as many as the three of us could carry we stomped the rest out of existence.


“I can’t believe that Pinkerton is going to try and domesticate these things!” Butch said while he pet Dogmeat.


“Yeah it seems kind of crazy but if it works then people won’t have to worry about actually hunting them anymore.” I replied as I stepped gingerly over another lurk corpse. We were in a good mood as we walked back along the way to Pinkerton’s heavily fortified cabin, when we got there I \knocked on the door twice and it opened automatically. From his position on an overhead balcony Pinkerton shouted down to us in a rushed tone.


“Glad to see that you made it back, I was beginning to worry that I had asked too much of you” with a small inhalation of breath he continued at just as fast a pace “Hope device worked as expected, hadn’t had time to field test it yet but this was the golden opportunity.” A small smile filled his face and he asked “So did you get me the eggs?”


“Yes sir…” I began before he cut me off


“Good, very good bring them up here immediately.” As he said it he was rapidly rushing around his lab in a field of controlled chaos picking up something here, fiddling with a small device there, all the while he hummed an unfamiliar tune under his breath. Sarah and I let out an exasperated breath while we began up the ladder after Butch handed us his pack of filled with eggs before he went over to lean on the door.


“So sir what are you really planning to do with these eggs?” Sarah asked him, he paused before replying.


“I plan on altering their genetics so that I can make them easy to raise in captivity, although the process may be…problematic”


“Why problematic?” I asked as I pulled myself up the last rung of the ladder and up to the balcony.


“Oh DNA altercation always messy, that’s why I needed so many samples, always many that die early. He replied while moving a long mechanical arm to lean over a table. “Put one bag here please, the others can go in the freezer.” He motioned towards the table before rushing to the other side of the room and picking up a small assortment of surgical tools, I really wanted to ask him how he managed to move so fast for a seventy year old, but thought better of it. Instead I said.


“If need anything else just let me know sir.” He looked up from the table where he was just beginning to open the bag of eggs and rapidly said.
“I think that you have done enough…” he then pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it to me. “Here take this, it is a heat scanner that I made, after you attach it to your helmet it will allow you to see heat signals in the dark, should make the metro a little easier and more fun.” I nodded gratefully and we said our goodbyes to the old man who went back to humming under his breath apparently oblivious to us.


sorry for the late post, MEF3 is so awsome

I really, really liked this chapter. You really know your characters and are good at showing us a different side when it comes to Autumn.

My favorite line so far is the one I quoted above! It's so poetic and says so much. It also shows the relationship between those two characters. It feels you really took your time with this and the next chapter. Your writing is clear and precise. Well done!



LOLOL Butch is just awesome! I love how you use him for comic relieve! Oh, also good idea about the device. I wish I had something like that to use on Mirelurks in game!

Oh and I fell ya about playing a new game. I just downloaded FO New Vegas and OMG I got nothing done all weekend! LOLOL

Ch27
The sun was shining, the sky was blueish green, and the slaver settlement formerly known as Paradise Falls was burning to the ground. Clad in his longcoat Autumn surveyed the wreckage that his troops had inflicted on the settlement and nodded, it was good to be back. Standing dutifully beside him Jenkins scribbled down something on his clipboard before saying


“Sir I would say that our tech works just as well as it always has, and these slaver scum won’t be bothering anyone again.” Autumn nodded and made his way over to the only prisoner that they had bothered to take, a black man in a red suit.


“Well I guess that this answers the question of whether or not the rumors that the Enclave is back in the wasteland. And boy is it good to see you Autumn, how’s life been since I killed your woman, man did she scream as she died. First I tied her up, then I ra…” his sentence was cut short by the sound of a plasma pistol discharging. Jenkins coolly blew softly on the barrel to cool it then looked over at the dead man, whose head was little more than a small pile of sticky goo slowly dripping down between his shoulders.


“Next time you let me do that.” Autumn told Jenkins, his voice was quite but there was a dark seething underside of anger to it.



“Sorry sir, my finger slipped.” Jenks replied

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

We had been walking for a few hours since we had left Rivet City and the sky was growing dark, up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light. My thoughts were heavy and my vision was growing dim with exhaustion, it had been a long day. We decided to stop for the night at the little town in up ahead. In front of the town was a small wooden sign with the words ‘Welcome to Andale the best town in America!’ painted on it in red paint. Butch smiled sardonically and said.


“Well at least we know that they’re patriotic.” As we neared the town Dogmeat’s fur started to bristle and a low growl emerged from his throat. Butch pet him reassuringly, but the dog kept growling. “Guys this might not be such a good idea.” Butch said apprehensively “I’ve never seen him act like this before, even when we are going through the metro.”


“You’re right, something about this place seams off.” I replied quietly as we neared the small front gate of the town and a man who sat in a chair gently holding a hunting rifle.


“Well howdy how’re yall doin.” The man called out to us with a grin on his face he continued “we was just bout to closeer up for the night, but ifn yall want to come in feel free to indulge in our hospitality, after all there’s always more room on the table.” The three of us looked at each other then Sarah shrugged and whispered to us.


“Even if it does mean trouble these people shouldn’t present us any problem, after all I’m in powerarmor and the two of you can definitely handle a few unarmored idiots if things get nasty.”


“I still have a bad feeling about this guys.” said Butch quietly while still trying to settle Dogmeat.


“I don’t see why we couldn’t stop for the night.” I told the man at the gate who readily got to his feet and unlocked the chain link door and said.


“The name’s Jack Smith and shoot if I aint happy to have yall here with us here in Andale the best town in the entire U.S. of A.” the four of us stepped inside cautiously, Dogmeat continued his low growl which grew more ominous as we went farther, drawing a worried look from Jack. “He’s tame aint he?” Jack asked Butch nodded and said.


“Yeah, he’s just a little jumpy right now, I don’t know why.” Soon we came across to children playing in the street joyfully throwing a ball back and forth while giggling. When they saw the four of us they stopped playing and for a moment I thought that I saw a look of dread cross the boy’s face.


“This here is my boy Junior, say hi to the nice travelers junior.” Jack instructed his son, who said in perfect grammar.


“Hello I’m junior, and you need to leave now!” Jack just shook his head ruffled Junior’s hair and turned back to us saying.


“Kids and their games.” Then he asked “what’s it today Junior?” Junior looked at the four of us and resignedly said.


“All of the advlts in this town are cannibals; the only one who isn’t is Old Man Harris.” Jack just said


“Good joke you scamp now let’s go get diner.” As soon as Jack had turned his back the three of us exchanged a worried look, Dogmeat just snarled viciously. We followed Jack into the house and were led to a large dining table that was covered in food boxes. After a large dinner where we met Mrs. Smith we retired to two separate rooms with Sarah with me and Dogmeat staying steadfastly with Butch. At around midnight Butch and Dogmeat crept into our room and we waited Sarah and I pretending to snore softly the other two staying perfectly quite. Around an hour later we heard whispers coming from outside of our door and the sounds of at least four people moving about. We all drew our sidearms I held the one that my father had given me tightly while Sarah held a plasma pistol, Butch held a magnum with a scope attached to the top.


The door opened slowly causing bright light to play across the wooden floor of the room, both of the Smiths held large clubs in their hands while an unfamiliar couple held small hand sized chainsaws. Without waiting for them to come any farther we opened fire each killing one of them and leaving the last one to Dogmeat who in a brutal move ripped Mr. Smith’s head from his neck sending blood spattering in all directions. As we went through their clothing for anything useful Junior came up to us and let out a sigh of relief and said.


“Finally someone took me seriously, they’ve eaten everyone else who has ever come through.” Dogmeat went over to Junior and licked his hand drawing a smile of delight from the painfully young boy. We left the next morning after we made sure that the old man would be capable of taking care of the children, as we walked away Butch turned to me and said.


“Is it just me or does it seem like we’ve been walking to Tenpenny Tower for like three weeks?” I looked at him strangely and said


“We set out for Tenpenny two days ago.”


“If you say so.”

Btw i finished Mass Effect 3, I won't spoil anything but that was possibly the most infuriating ending to a game that I've ever played

Ch28


Autumn’s sleep was interrupted by several loud knocks on his door, he looked at his watch and groaned, it was a little after two in the morning. He quickly pulled on his jacket and a pair of black military pants and went to answer the door. When he opened it he found himself face to face with Jenkins, Jenkins face was tight and it looked as if he had been crying.


“Dad we need to talk!” Jenkins said causing Autumn to stiffen before he sighed and motioned Jenkins into his room. Autumn then went over to the small kitchenette and set up the pot for coffee, he would have preferred a strong whiskey but he knew now wasn’t the time for it. Jenkins had sat down in one of the two hard backed wooden chairs that occupied Autumn’s floor space and had pulled the other chair over so that it was in front of his. He now sat tapping his military boot with impatience, his gray eyes a sea of uncertain emotions. After Autumn had finished making the coffee he brought over two steaming cups and set handed one to Jenkins who sipped the boiling liquid automatically, causing Autumn to wince.
“So how long have you known that I was your father?” Autumn asked Jenkins after taking a sip from his own coffee.


“Around five years, I did some cleaning in one of your old unmarked cabinets and found my birth certificate. I’m fine with you not telling me, I probably would have been better off but that’s not what I came to talk to you about, I want to know what happened to my mother!”


“I thought that that would be it.” Autumn said then sighed and said “Your mother was a very spirited woman which is I suppose why I was attracted to her in the first place, but her spirit occasionally got the better of her. One day maybe a year after you were born she set out without any backup to clear out what at the time we believed to be just another band of petty raiders, I argued against her and told her that she should bring a squad with her, but she said that they would only slow her down.” Autumn stopped to rub a tear out of his eye before he continued “After we didn’t hear from her for a week I knew something must have happened, I put together a small strike-force and went to investigate. I should have known it was a trap, the lack of resistance should have tipped me off, but thoughts of your mother blinded me to the danger. Somehow the raiders had managed to get their hands on an electromagnetic pulse emitter, when the squad entered the main base they set it off and it burned every one of my squad to ashes, I survived thanks to this coat. Then the man in red appeared on the balcony holding your mother then he forced her to her knees, her hands we tied behind her back with barbed wire and she was naked. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, but she still looked strong and was obviously trying to resist the man, who laughed and threw her off the balcony. I could barely move because even though I hadn’t been wearing powerarmor the electromagnetic pulse had still shorted out several of my muscles causing them to twitch. She landed with a thud and tried to wiggle and crawl over to me but before she had gotten half way the man in red pulled out a .32 and shot her in the leg. She had screamed in pain but kept on crawling, then he shot her in the other leg but she kept trying to reach me. Finally after what seemed like an hour but couldn’t have been more than five minutes she made her way over to where I lay, she opened her mouth to say something, but the bastard shot her in the spine! Her voice was cut off by her scream of pain and the man in red laughed again before he casually shot her in the head and walked back into his building. I never would have made it out if it weren’t for the timely arrival of one of our vertibirds.” Jenkins sat there stunned as he saw his father, the man that he had always known as the good humored, if somewhat stoic Colonel started to weep.


“It wasn’t your fault dad, how could you have known?” Jenkins asked his father, sympathetically reaching over to pat his father’s shoulder. Autumn shook his head before he stopped crying and said.


“That’s the worst part I know it wasn’t, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling that it was.” Autumn’s body looked drained and he slowly took another sip of his coffee before he said “The reason that I didn’t claim you as my son was that I didn’t want you to feel that you had to become an officer, I wanted you to go for whatever dreams that you had without my influencing your decisions.” Jenkins gave him a crooked smile and said.


“To bad my dreams were to be like the amazing Colonel Augustus Autumn, the one person in all of RavenRock not afraid to talk to the president face to face and tell him that his ideas where [censored].” Autumn sighed, chuckled softly and replied.


“Yeah I really should have thought of that.”


“Now what?” Jenkins asked


“Now we both go back to sleep and in the morning we figure out where to go from here.” Autumn told his son. Jenkins got up to leave but Autumn pulled him into a bonecrushing hug, it felt good to finally do that Autumn thought as his son left the room.


so that's the story of Autumns wife, sorry for the mountain of text in the middle but I couldn't think of a beter way to place it

Ch29
Tenpenny Tower rose over the horizon, a giant sword upraised through the lake that was the Capitol Wasteland, thrusting itself above the gray and brown scenery with an eloquent ease that had so far been matched by nothing that I had previously seen. Sarah led the way up to the gate where we found a disgruntled ghoul arguing with a man on the other end of an intercom.


“Let us in you damn smoothskin you can’t keep us out forever, and when we get in you’ll be sorry!” yelled the Ghoul into the intercom, the man on the other end responded


“Get the [censored] away from here you stupid [censored] we’ve been over this, you lead a group of bloodthirsty flesh eating zombies who want nothing better than to come in here eat us, well it won’t happen on my watch damnit! Now leave before I have you shot!” the ghoul mumbled something and wandered off walking aimlessly to the east. Sarah went up to the intercom and pressed the talk button, but before she could say anything the man’s rough voice yelled. “WHAT THE [censored] DID I JUST SAY?!” Sarah rolled her eyes and replied


“Sir I certainly didn’t walk all the way from Talon Company HQ to get yelled at, now if you don’t simmer right the [censored] down then I’m going to smash my powerarmored boot right through this door, and god help you if you think that I won’t be smashing that boot right through your ass till it comes out of your head!” her voice stayed surprisingly calm while she said it but her tone of voice was deadly serious. Apparently the guard wasn’t expecting that and he stuttered for a moment before saying.


“I apologize miss, I thought you were that damned ghoul again, stupid rotting bastard won’t leave us alone, so what can I do for you?” Sarah nodded and said in a much nicer voice.


“It’s alright no harm done; we’re here to deliver a package to Samuel Morgan Robinson who is currently residing in this tower.”


“This package is from Adam I’m assuming?” the man said through the intercom


“Yes, is that a problem?” Sarah asked her voice dropping dangerously again.


“Not at all miss, I was just making sure, it’s my job you know.” Then the electronic gates slid back and the four of us stepped through. We were greeted by a man in combat armor who introduced himself as Security Chief Gustavo; he was the man on the other end of the intercom. “Sorry about that but that ghoul comes back every day and demands that we let him and his cronies in, now we here at Tenpenny aren’t against ghouls but those ones are bad to the bone. Anyways you and your associates are free to walk around the Tower and socialize, but we must ask you to keep your weapons holstered unless you are at a weapons shop or one of the shooting ranges, other than that the normal rules apply no stealing or killing. Have a nice day.”


As we walked inside I noticed how posh the tower was compared to any other place that I had visited in the Wasteland. Overhead hung an electric chandelier that shed the room in bright happy light moving around through this cheery environment were people dressed in very fancy eloquent clothing all of which appeared to be prewar. We walked up to a man behind the reception desk that sat at the center of the room and asked whether he knew where we could find Samuel Morgan Robinson. He nodded and told us to take the hallway on the left, and then to take another left and we would find him drinking in the bar with someone named Dashwood, we thanked him and made our way there.


Behind the counter stood a protectron who was apparently acting as a bar tender sitting on two stools in front of the bar were two men both around the age of Sarah’s father. One was black, he wore a red bandana over most of his head but here and there you could see patches of graying hair sticking through. On the other stool sat a man with a grey beard, despite his obvious age his eyes showed a strange youthfulness and he spoke to the black man with strength and vigor. The four of us stood politely behind them until they looked up from their drinks and turned to us.


“What do you need youngsters, Samuel and I are in the middle of talking about the good old days, something that if I remember correctly you younger types find particularly annoying?” Dashwood asked us his eyes twinkling. I stepped forward with the small package in my hand and opened my mouth to talk but was cut off by the Samuel’s sudden laughter.


“Ahahahahahahahahahahahah, oh man! You’re James’s kid aren’t you? I can tell from the way you look like you can’t decide to join me in laughing or slug me.” The original ThreeDog laughed till tears started to slide down his cheeks “And I’m guessing that you’re delivering this package in your hand from Adam, am I right?” this was followed by another stream of ruckus laughter that shook ThreeDog where he sat “That bastard just loves roping people into doing his old job, so you been on the road long?” the conversation that followed was interesting to say the least, ThreeDog and Dashwood bantered back and forth as they talked to us each one of them playing off of the others personality. When we had gotten through our tale I gave ThreeDog the small package which he opened in front of us to reveal a small note. It read Tell the kids thanks for doing this for me, but I have a mission that I need to send them on and you and Dashwood are the best to people to talk to about it. I need them to go to the Appalachian Wasteland and find Harry at Kerosene Ridge, apparently he’s in trouble and could use some help. ThreeDog whistled softly and Dashwood looked worried, oddly I didn’t think that that boded well for us.


“Who’s Harry?” Butch asked


“Harry is an old friend, and if he’s in trouble then I think that we have a major problem in the Appalachians.”


yes i apologize for making two parts of ThreeDog's name so obvious, but i give major props to whoever can figure out where the last name came from and here's a hint. He had the best lawyer and possibly best human ever created to live in a small southern town

Ch30,

yeah I’m adding another major subplot with another set of characters, on the Brightside this gives me the opportunity to create something completely new. Hopefully you will like these people, if I [censored] it up please let me know.


The man stood in the mouth of the valley clutching his staff in one hand and his magnum in the other. It had been a long night and he was tired, but he knew it was his job; no it was his duty to protect the people of his home from the monsters that had been trying to make it into his valley! Another wave approached this time led by a loud man holding a large metal club that at some point had been a stop sign. Harry had to smile; the inbred cannibalistic [censored]s couldn’t even bother to supply their people with decent weaponry. In one motion he drew a bead on the man’s temple and fired sending the idiot flying backwards into his buddies. Then Harry reholstered his magnum and pulled out pushed a small button concealed in the center of his staff and sword he sword head rose up from within its secret confines. The mutated freaks charged Harry waving clubs and makeshift spears.


The first one that reached Harry attempted to brain him with its makeshift club but Harry ducked under its guard and stabbed the blade on his staff deep into the bastard’s chest before whipping it out quickly and catching another between the eyes with a flick of his wrist. Then they were all around him and there was no real room for finesse, he blocked a spear with the shaft of his staff and ducked under another blow from yet another club. You know thought Harry they could really use another strategy this is getting boring. He activated the blade on the other end of his staff and brought both ends into play stabbing and slashing the hicks with surprising speed while he dodged left or right when the occasion arose. When the dust settled Harry stood victorious once again, he stood over the pile of corpses and began the work of looting them of any valuable personal affects.


[censored] I need a shower! Harry thought as he cleaned looked down to discover that he was caked in hillfolk blood from the soles of his shoes to the top of his head, the blood even blotted out the brown of his hair. Needless to say his leather duster was also coated, he shrugged a little more blood wouldn’t hurt it. An angry roar sounded from the valley and still another wave charged forward, this time Harry didn’t waste any time with his magnum, he simply stepped farther back and let his plan flow into action. As the hillfolk reached the bodies of their fallen comrades Harry flicked a little button that he had been holding and watched with an darkly amused smile as the mines that he had planted on the corpses blew, sending body parts flying everywhere. I swear nothing can beat good old fashioned pyrotechnics he thought and turned around heading for his home, he knew that there would be no more assailants today; he knew it thanks to his apprentice’s scouting, which had once again proven to be perfect.


The walk through the valley proved to be too much for Harry, even he could only strain himself so much and not feel the exhaustion settle in, luckily he wasn’t alone. The children that he had made it his life to protect came out of their hiding places and helped him back into the small cluster of buildings that had once been a lumber camp. Out of one of the biggest cabins came his apprentice Molly, she was the classic tall and athletic blonde, if not for the nuclear holocaust then she would have most likely become a cheerleader. When she saw him covered in blood she sighed and motioned for one of the teenagers to help peal Harry’s blood crusted jacket off of him.


“Harry you can’t keep this up much longer.” Molly told him worriedly, Harry just grinned back at her and said.


“Have patience grasshopper, I’m not dead yet am I?”


“No but if you keep this up you will be.” Molly told him her voice full of worries “Those hillfolk just won’t quit and despite what they say about quality over quantity even people as good as you or I can’t kill all of them.” Harry just waved away her complaints with a wave of his hand and said.


“And what do you suggest Molly? Do you want me to let all of these children die? Or maybe better yet you want me to try and lead them someplace safer? Well let me tell you Molly I’ve been around a lot longer then you have and there’s no place where these children could ever be really safe so I’m doing my best to protect them here!”


“Damnit Harry I already lost my mother, my father, and all of my siblings, at this point the only thing holding me together is you, and I can’t watch you slowly kill yourself!” that was when they looked around and noticed the fact that every child’s eyes were locked on the two of them some of the younger ones were quivering with fear and the teens were doing their best to calm them with soft words of encouragement. Molly took a long deep breath and sighed before she said “Look Harry I love these kids they’re like new siblings to me, and I’m not suggesting abandoning them because that obviously isn’t an option. But we need help and you have friends that could supply it, so send them a message and I’ll meet them at the tracks to lead them back here. Until then you keep these kids alive got it?!” Harry nodded and started talking to himself.


“Hmm the curriers still owe me a favor, yeah that’ll work.” Then he turned back to Molly and said. “I’ll be right back; I need to right a letter for you to give to give to the currier so that he can take it to Adam, you wait at the tracks with one of the carts and bring back whatever help he sends.” When he returned Harry handed Molly the letter and said “May the force go with you grasshopper bring us back some help, and stay safe. I don’t feel like going to heaven and having your father kick my angelic ass for breaking my promise to keep you safe!” Molly hugged him and then set off down the valley road, stopping only once to kick the pile of corpses.


“Mr. Harry will she be alright?” one of the children asked him, the child’s voice was full of concern and worry. Harry nodded and said.


“Molly’s a smart girl, and she packs a mean svcker punch, she’ll be fine. I’m more worried about us right now anyways.”


For those of you concerned, Harry will not have any of his magic nor will Molly. Also Harry isn’t that old he just found the cassettes and a working player, also for you not in the know this is Harry Dresden, not Harry Potter although as i siad before he isn't a wizard here and there will not be any Dresden verse creatures running aroun

Ch31
We had been walking for two days before we finally found the tracks that would lead us to the place that ThreeDog called the Appalachian Wasteland. Sitting on the tracks was a small hand cart that and sitting on that was an beautiful unassuming blonde girl wearing a cloaked leather hunting outfit, across her back was a bow and quiver of arrows along with a standard hunting rifle.


“Put your tongue back in your mouth unless you want to be sleeping alone for the rest of your life.” Sarah told me her voice was calm, but I could tell that she was intimidated by the blonde girl. When she saw us the girl’s face lit up in a dazzling smile that made Butch literally stagger.


“Thank god you came, I was beginning to wonder whether the currier had actually done his job.” The Blonde girl said as we drew closer. Then she got off of the cart and held out her hand, I took it first and was surprised by the strength of her grip, she was apparently more than just a pretty face. After we introduced ourselves she turned to us and said “Now that the formalities are over I need to know how much you know about the situation.”


“From what ThreeDog and Dashwood told us your master is holding back a giant army of mutated rednecks to protect a group of children singlehandedly.” Sarah said her voice filled with grudging respect.


“That’s the gist of it.” Molly said, her eyes moving over us like a predatory raptor. “So how good are you in a fight?” before Butch or I could do anything Sarah drove her fist at Molly’s face causing Molly to turn her head slightly to the side allowing the punch to miss completely. Sarah then reached for her plasma pistol while Molly pulled out a large magnum, at the same time they fired, at two molerats standing on a hill twenty meters away. Both of the molerat’s heads exploded showing the hill in red blood. Molly then threw a punch at Sarah’s face which Sarah blocked easily and disdainfully, and then the two of them hugged each other and started to laugh. Butch and I just looked at each other confusedly as they hugged and laughed.


“So what have you been up to you bombastic cheerleading [censored]?” Sarah asked Molly happily


“Oh probably the same as you, you psychotic coldhearted [censored]!” Molly said laughing then she continued “God I haven’t seen you since you we were fifteen it’s been ages!”


“Would one of you please fill us in, because I have no idea what’s going on!” Butch said in exasperation causing the girls to break down even further into laughter till they were clutching each other barely able to stand up. I sighed and went over to inspect the cart, it was a fairly simple thing really you applied pressure on one end of the crank and it sent the cart forward if you applied it on the other side it went even faster. “No seriously how do you two know each other” Butch asked trying in vain to stop the two girls’ laughter. Finally Sarah sighed and rubbed a small tear out of her eye and said.


“This is Molly, her Father Michel was a special type of Brotherhood knight, we grew up together but then her father moved to the Appalachian Wasteland to try and make a difference in a place that hadn’t recived much BOS support. I hadn’t seen her since, until now.”


“I can fill you in on the rest on the way back but I really don’t want to leave Harry alone against those hillfolk for much longer then I have to. He’s an incredible fighter but I’m still worried about his odds.” Molly told us worriedly and motioned to the cart, Butch and I being the gentlemen that we were naturally took up the positions at the crank. Luckily for the two of us once we got it going the little cart managed to get pretty far without much help on Butch and I’s part.


After maybe four hours of listening to the girls catch up the scenery began to change dramatically, instead of the mostly flat brown terrain that I was used to began to disappear. It was replaced by heavily tree studded mountains that towered above our tiny railway car. High above us the peaks of the mountains were shrouded in mist and odd bird calls echoed off of the walls of the valley that we were traveling through, it was like we were in another world. Butch and I had to work much harder to keep the little cart going now that we were rising steadily in elevation. We passed through several small towns on the way to our destination including a large one called Widows Ridge where we stopped for lunch. While we were stopped there I went for a walk and found a small pound and two men stood throwing crusts of bread to several fish.


“I still can’t believe they went with something so clichéd.” Said one of the men who was hiding his eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses, he gave off an odd feeling. Not evil exactly more like loathing. His friend standing next to him whose hair was white and seemed to give off an odd beacon of hope replied.


“No one could accuse our bosses of originality. Although I agree with you, I was hoping if it had to happen that it could have at least been a meteor or something at least that’s a classic, nuclear really is just to overused.” The man with the glasses thought for a moment and said.


“At least all you lost were your books, I lost my Bentley I loved that car!” I decided to move on, not that their conversation wasn’t interesting but I had a bad feeling that I wasn’t meant to hear anymore. Feeling shaken after my brief encounter with the two men I almost stumbled into Sarah who was walking towards me rapidly.


“There you are, wait what’s wrong you look like you just saw a demon?” I just shook my head and said.


“I think I did, and possibly an angel, I think we should leave now.” She looked at me weirdly, which I expected but nodded and we set off back towards the cart. Around a day later we got out of the cart and Molly told us that we would have to walk the rest of the way, which was fine with me spending a day and a half on a small cart really makes you stiff. We walked deeper into the mountains for two hours passing many new and interesting sights but we finally arrived at the head of a small valley. To my great surprise we found mounds, and by mounds I mean piles of at least fifty bodies, scattered around the floor around the entrance of the valley, sitting atop one such mound was a man in a bloodstained leather duster playing with a large staff.


“It’s about time you got back Molly, I had to keep all of our guests occupied by myself, and as good of a host as I am I’m starting to need a nap.” The man shouted to Molly as he made his way down one of the mounds of bodies with surprising grace, when he reached her he gave her a warm welcoming hug.


“Jesus Harry how in the hell are you still alive?” Molly asked him shocked at the pure number of dead, he fixed her with a slightly crazy smile and said


“Willy Coyote super genius.” She sighed and accepted his explanation without further comment surprising the rest of us, or at least Sarah and I, Butch just nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “So, hmm let’s see, you’re James’s son.” He told me then he pointed at Sarah. “And you’re Lyons daughter right?”


“How did you know?” Sarah asked him in confusion Harry, he just smiled and said


“Between protecting innocent children from rampaging mutated rednecks and sleeping I’m a PI, discerning this kind of thing is in my job description. Besides I knew both of your parents a while back and even if it was when I was fifteen you look strikingly like your mother. Now let’s get back to our little camp so that we can make a plan to get these kids somewhere safe.” As we walked along the trail back to this ‘camp’ I noticed many young faces looking at us from behind bushes and trees, from the look they were all a little older than nine, but none of them seemed to be over sixteen


“How are you feeding all of these kids Harry, just by the ones that I can count I can tell that there are at least fifty of them?”


“It was a stroke of luck really; apparently the loggers were actually some kind of military organization. There was a huge stockpile of supplies that were all perfectly preserved, although we are running tight now and I began rationing the supplies the minute that I got here. It wasn’t Enclave but it seemed to be some kind of organization with along the same level of power, so who’s hungry?”