wow this is amazing truly truly amazing keep up the good work!!!!!!!

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:goodjob:

Love it.

Wow this is one of the best fan fics i've ever read along with Redemption, The Defender of The Wastes. Keep it up!

Thanks guys New chapter will be up in a few days, by Friday at most

It's excellent, I hope you write more!

Chapter 5 has finally arrived!

Chapter 5 - Terror

We stood there, silent, watching in awe as the huge beast uncurled itself in front of us. It's gaze suddenly met our own, and for a moment, we stood, staring in to the bottomless pits. Then it roared. A loud, guttural sound that echoed around the emptiness.

The spell broke. The behemoth charged.

"Move!" I screamed at Sam, jumping back down the hill, pulling him with me.
As we rolled down the slope, we could hear the pounding of feet, and knew that the mutants were following their leader in to battle against their enemy. Us.

"Get some cover!" I roared at Sam.

I myself dived behind a clump of rocks, not caring if Sam followed me. I was only concerned about myself. He could die for all I cared.

After a few seconds of silence, I peered around the rock, only to have a bullet shoot past my face. I jerked my head back, swearing. I started looking for Sam, feeling guilty about my earlier thoughts.

"Sam!" I whispered, cautious of the nearby mutants.

"I'm here!" A voice came back from in a small hollow in the ground.

I sighed with relief, knowing that we would get through this. Sam had my back.

"When I say, we're gonna charge these [censored]s and make 'em never wish they were born. Okay?"

"Gotcha"

I closed my eyes and prayed. Not for peace, the ending of hunger, nothing like that. I prayed for courage. The courage to leave my hiding place and fight. The courage to win.

I checked over my equipment, noticing that my gun would need repairing soon, the crystal was showing signs of strain.

I looked at Sam's hiding place, knowing that he would fight with me.

I breathed in.

"Now!" I screamed.

I rolled out from behind the rocks, noticing with dismay how many mutants there were, the savage colossus leading them. I fired, emptying the cell of my weapon in to the brute's head, causing it to stagger.

I breathed out.

I reloaded my gun, aware of both the enemy drawing near and Sam's shots coming from behind me, ineffectual against the horde.

"Aim at it's eyes! Blind it!" I ordered Sam.

I didn't listen for a response, firing another bunch of rounds in to the beast's huge, monstrous eyes, hoping to halt it's advance.

I switched my attention to the shambling brutes at it's side, dropping some, but others filled their places instantly.

"They just keep coming!" came the despondent shout behind me.

"If we kill the big one, they might lose order!" I replied.

We fired round after round to no effect, but then, suddenly, a wail rose from the beast, rising in pitch, until it clutched at it's face, turned, and carved a path through it's followers.

I lowered my weapon, still ready to fire again at a moments notice. The monster's minions looked around, confused, then turned and followed their leader back to whatever hell-hole they were spawned from.

"We did it! We won!"

Me and Sam danced around, whooping with delight. We had just been inches away from death, yet still came away unharmed. The feeling was indescribable.

We were alive.

Then the whirring reached our ears.

We hadn't scared off the minions. Something else had.

And it was coming for us.

BRAVO. This is very nice. Hurry up with the next chapter PLEASE. You have mastered the perfect cliffhanger.

Thanks The chapter will be up within a week.

Any comments guys?

Next chapter is here, sorry for being slightly late guys!

Chapter 6 - Rescue

"Get down!" I whispered frantically at Sam. I myself lay down, peering over a rise in the ground.

"Look at those muties run!" Came a voice over the hill.

"And all because of me!"

I couldn't believe my ears.

"Stop your gloating, you two! There may be more of them!"

The voice was familiar.

"Yes, sir!" The two replies came back, sounding slighting robotic through the power armour.

I stood up, heedless of the mutants that were somewhere behind me.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hissed Sam.

"Meeting some old friends! Come on!"

I started to shout, drawing their attention of the five people below me. People in power armour. Black and orange power armour.

"Hey! Guys! Over here! Hello!"

Sam was at my side, staring suspiciously at the Outcasts. I saw the way he gripped his gun.

"Come on, Sam. They won't hurt us, they know me!"

Sam relaxed his grip, trusting my word.

We drew nearer the patrol, their leader halting me 100 metres away.

"Halt! Who the hell are you?"

"Protector Jason Fraide of The Brotherhood of Steel Outcasts, Rank number 13425." The same thing I had told Sam when we first met.

"Holy... Jase? Is that really you? We all thought you were dead!" Came the shocked response to my statement.

"It's me" I confirmed, "Can I come closer now?"

"Of course! Men, lower your weapons!"

The patrol holstered their weapons and waited for me to meet them.

I waved at Sam. "Oh, and guys, this is Sa-" I halted staring in horror.

The patrol, upon seeing a Brotherhood member, raised their weapons.

"No! Don't shoot him!" I roared.

Five triggers were pulled.

I dived in front of Sam.

Five beams of energy sped past me.

I hit the ground.

I watched as three red lights hit Sam in the stomach, each causing him to be knocked back.

Before I even knew what I was doing, I had pulled my rifle from it's holster and raised it to my eye.

"Why?" I screamed at them, "Why?!"

I pulled the trigger, emptying the cell in to their group.

All went down.

I threw my gun aside, racing towards Sam.

I skidded to a halt, he was pointing behind me.

I spun around, just in time to see a laser beam hitting my leg.

I was down. I looked around, and saw one of the Outcasts walking towards me, gun lowered, believing I was dead.

I turned my head to Sam, wanting to apologise for letting him down. instead a saw a laser pistol sliding towards me. Sam's pistol.

I grabbed it, checking to make sure it was loaded. It was.

I rolled over, aiming at the Outcast's head. I howled as I fired, putting all of my pain and anguish into the noise.

The Outcast fell down, dead, not even knowing who had fired.

I slowly raised myself to my feet, and hobbled towards Sam.

I reached him at last, at slid down to my knees.

"Come on, don't you die on me!" I whispered, releasing his helmet.

"Jason, this wasn't your fault. You didn't know tha-" He started coughing, blood splattering across his armour.

"Don't talk, just concentrate on staying alive, you'll be Okay!"

He laughed painfully, "You and I both know that isn't going to happen. I can feel myself dying. It will happen soon."

I knew he was right, I just didn't want to accept the fact.

"Goodbye, Jason. You were a good friend." He suddenly had a fierce look on his face, "Remember one thing though, this wasn't you faul-"

His breath stopped.

His eyes looked upon a place I could not see.

I hugged him tight.

The Brotherhood of Steel member who had helped me was dead.

Samuel Gilde was dead.

My friend was dead.

"Goodbye"

Come on guys! Only 1 comment on 2 chapters? Please give me some feedback!

Should I carry on with this??

You should usually take a lack of comments as a compliment. The fanfics that get a lot of comments are usually the ones filled with insults. But, if you want a bit of criticism, you really don't have to keep starting a new paragraph every line. It shouldn't be bunched up, but it also needs to be compressed just a bit. Too many spaces interrupts the flow, and that's what writing is all about, having a good flow.

EDIT: Though, after taking another look, it seems that you might be using it to create extra drama. If so, then that's appropriate.

Finally, a comment! But I just like to know where I could be better, so that's why I like comments.

And I use them to be short, and increase suspense.

Going away tomorrow, so I am not sure if I will have internet.
Here is the latest installment, hope you like it!

Chapter 7 - Home

I put the last rock in to place, burying my friend for ever. I stared at the makeshift grave for a few moments, knowing his death was my fault. I had placed him in the hole with his armour and rifle, knowing he would have wanted to stay near them.

I stood up, and slowly turned around to stare at the beautiful sunset, marred only be the dead bodies of Sam's murderers.

I shouldered my rifle, and walked away from my companion, clutching his holotags tightly in my hand. I would make sure that they knew how he died.

That night I lay down under the stars, unable to sleep. The image of Sam's body being blasted back appeared whenever I closed my eyes.

"Damn them! How could they do it?" I roared up into the heavens.

I was still lying there, unmoving, when dawn greeted me. I sighed, the pain I felt must be put to one side if I wished to carry on.

As I trudged through the Wasteland I didn't encounter a soul. Day turned to night, but I carried on walking as I knew that I would not be able to sleep, so I decided to carry on.

It was a few days later when an Outcast patrol found me lying in the sand, collapsed from lack of sleep. They recognised me instantly, exclaiming their delight, they had thought I was dead.

They carried me back to Fort Independence, sending someone ahead to warn the garrison that an injured hero was coming back home.

I spat when I heard that.

Some hero! Letting your best friend die! But then again, they would probably like me for that, as he was part of the Brotherhood...

I closed my eyes, remembering the shots, and the horror, of my friend's death. I knew it was all my fault.

When I opened my eyes I was amazed, row upon row of Outcasts waited to greet me, Casdin at their head. I felt an unfamiliar feeling grow inside of me, and pride replaced my pain. Pride for these men, who I served.

As I drew nearer, cheering greeted my ears. They were cheering me.

"Jason!" Casdin roared, happily, "What the hell happened to you?"

I grunted a non-committal reply, "I'll tell you later. Why are all the men here?"

"They wanted to see you, you've been missing for weeks! And not all of the men are here," Casdin suddenly sounded sad, "We're missing a patrol, the guys who rescued you found them dead. We suspect it was the work of the Brotherhood because they had laser burns on them. But enough of that depressing talk! We're here to celebrate you getting back!"

I felt a pang of grief, Casdin's words had reminded me about Sam. I pushed it to one side, now was the time to get drunk and celebrate surviving the wastes.

It was much later, after many bottles of beer that the men started to leave. After a while it was just me and Casdin sitting on the wall staring into the night, sipping our beer.

"So do you want to tell me what happened?" Casdin asked.

I hesitated, I had killed some of our men, so Casdin was bound to be angry.

"Ok, I will." I sighed, better get it over with, "I was captured by the Enclave, they killed my squad. I escaped their cells during a fight, and someone saved my life."

"An Enclave soldier?" Casdin guessed.

"No, a Brotherhood soldier called Sam."

Casdin gasped in surprise.

I carried on with my story, "We decided not to kill each other, and we would work together until we got back to our bases. While we were marching across the wastes, a bond of friendship grew between us, and we saved each others' lives numerous times."

Now for the painful bit.

"That patrol you mentioned? The one that died? Well, they found me and Sam. they greeted me warmly enough, I told them not to shot Sam, but they did."

The image of his body being wreaked by the beams hit me again. I knew it would never leave me.

"I tried to save him, but I couldn't. So in my anger I shot the patrol. When I went to help Sam, though, one was still alive and shot me, but I managed to kill the damn [censored]" Anger and pain were prominent in my voice.

Casdin shook his head. "I should kill you now for that," he whispered, "But I won't, you were only protecting your friend."

"Thank you. I buried him, but I left those [censored]s for the animals."

Casdin clasped my shoulder, "I understand, I did want you to go on a mission for me, but I think your earlier actions might compromise the mission." He paused, "Actually, they might help you..."

"With what?" I asked, my curiosity awoken.

He told me. I laughed.

Then I saw the seriousness in his eyes and my laughter trailed away.

"You're serious?"

He nodded. "You want to do this?"

I didn't even hesitate, "Yes."

It was settled.

I was going into DC.

Into the Lions Den.

To meet the Brotherhood.

Decided to start this up again, I'm in the process of writing a chapter 8.

Here it is, hope you like it!

Chapter 8 - Kinship

Casdin clasped my shoulder, “Goodbye, my friend, and God Speed. I wish you all the best for the mission you have undertaken”

It was midnight, I was to leave silently, the only people aware of my departure were me and Casdin.

It’s safer that way, no more deaths on my part.

I picked up my rifle and helmet, and with a single backwards glance at my home, the bastion of honour and hope. I knew I would probably not return. The Wasteland is a harsh place.

Two nights later I was crouched under the cover of a rock near the River, wondering how I was going to approach the Brotherhood. In my armour, I would be killed on sight… Unless…

At dawn the next day I walked into D.C. With my weapon holstered, a white flag above my head. Whilst walking into D.C. with your weapon holstered was usually a one way ticket to the grave, I had planned this carefully. I had waited until a patrol had walked past, and my weapon was not fully holstered, easy to draw.

“Hey! Hey! Guys!” I shouted, waving the flag.

They Halted, unsure of what I was doing, but cautious anyway. The commander of the patrol dispatched two of the recruits to bring me in.

“Keep your hands away from your weapon if you want to live, scum!” Spat one of the recruits. I sighed, knowing it would be only to easy to give them reason to shoot me.

As I drew nearer to the patrol, I noticed that their commander was quite high up, Thank God, at least he will understand the surrender.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? A lone Outcast? What’s your name?”

I was surprised at his amiability, so it took me a few seconds to answer; “Pro... Protector Jason Fraide of The Brotherhood of Steel Outcasts, Rank number 13425.” The exact same words I had first said to Sam…

“A protector, hey? So why all you all the way out here?” He asked, just as surprised as me.

“I’m...I’m deserting…” I muttered shamefully.

“Well, we can always use another trained gun, these rookies are too damn trigger-happy! But that’s not for me to decide, we’ll need to take you back to Lyons.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

We walked throughout the day, only stopping for news when we passed another patrol or outpost, so it was to my surprise when the unknown commander ordered us to stop.

“Halt here guys, we’re near the Monument, so we should be O.K.”

I looked around, surprised at how far we had come during the day. Now’s my chance to start my mission! I walked over to the commander and sat next to him.

“What do you want? Need to ask something?”

I wanted to interrogate him, but there was something I needed to know first.

“Erm… Did… Di…” My throat had gone dry.

“Come on spit it out!” He said, starting to take of his helmet.

I took a deep breath.

“Did you know Samuel Gilde?”

He paused, “Yeah, I know him, He’s my brother, why?”

I pulled out his holotags and held them up to the light.

“That’s why…”

Got the next chapter ready, should I bother posting it?

Next chapter:

Chapter 9 - Answers

I watched his helmet fall to the ground.

I watched the rage and pain inside his eyes.

I watched the single teardrop fall and smash against the ground.

"Who did it?" He whispered.

"Outcasts. People I thought were my friends."

"You..knew Sam?"

"Aye. He saved me from the Enclave and I tried to help him back to the Citadel, but we got ambushed by Outcasts and they shot him and not me, so I shot them, but they shot me, so I killed the la-" I stopped, realising I was babbling and making no sense. "I'm sorry."

"It's the way he wanted to go, fighting." He looked up and growled, "At least the [censored]s are dead."

I nodded, agreeing with him.

"So is that why you're deserting?" He asked, mockingly, "Because you have seen how heartless Outcasts can be? Becuase they killed you so-called friend."

I stared at him, and simply said "Yes".

He muttered something incomprehensible, then said, louder, "We'll talk more in the morning, get some sleep."

Morning dawned, and we set off, not saying a word to each other, just signaling what we wanted and brooding over Sam's death.

It was around mid-day when I realised, Wait, this guy is Sam's older brother, so he must be around my age. He may have been there!

I increased my pace until I was alongside the leader. "look, I'm sorry about your brother, he was a good friend. But I still don't know your name."

I thought he wasn't going to answer, but a few minutes later he looked up, "Patrick."

"Thank you, Patrick, for accepting my surrender."

He ignored me. A few minutes passed before I asked my second question.

"If you don't mind me asking, where you at the cataclysm?" I half expected not to get an answer, but I did.

"Yes, I was there, standing behind Lyons, faithful to the last. I was one of the few close enough to him to hear the words he spoke to Casdin, he sai-"

"'I am truly sorry my friend. But you left me no choice.'" I finished for Patrick.

He looked at me, shocked that I, too, had heard those quiet words. "They were both on opposite sides, yet they were both friends. Do you think it impossible than Sam and I could do the same?" I asked quietly. Patrick glanced away and sighed.

"I just...I don't know?" He muttered. "I'll take you to the Citadel, then? well, we'll see."

I nodded and carried on walking, accepting that was all I was going to get.

Hours later the Citadel appeared, I halted, having thought that I was never going to see it again, the moment was overwhelming.

Memories hit me, one after another. The courtyard,. The Radio. The Lab. Liberty Prime. I remembered all that and more.

I realised that the others had carried on walking and left me standing alone. Knowing that this area was safe, I walked after them at a slow pace, allowing the memories to engulf me.

But something was bothering me.

Something was missing.

I don't remember the Citadel being that damaged?

Then I looked and saw Patrick sprinting back towards me, screaming my name.

Then I saw them.

Devil helmets.

It was th-

"ENCLAVE!" Shouted Patrick...

Comments guys?

Another chapter, please start commenting guys

Chapter 10 - Trapped

Then an explosion ripped through the air, throwing Patrick and me away from the inferno.

Disorientated, I open my eyes to see rain falling.

Then a raindrop hit me, and the pain kicked in, It’s not rain, it’s molten metal!

I rose unsteadily to my feet, the world shaking around me. I knew I had to stop the rain hitting me, my power armour would be no protection against the molten drops.

I spotted some nearby rubble, unsure if it had lain there since the war, or it had arrived due to the explosion. But I didn’t care, I just needed shelter.

I staggered under the cover, and the pain ceased, the drops were a memory now. I fell on the floor and lay there unmoving.

It was hours later when I awakened, the sun had fallen, replaced by the moon. For the first time since the explosion, I took note of my surroundings.

The Citadel lay in ruins, a massive hole carved in the side of it.

The vertibirds were flying overhead, carrying the horned murderers.

The young knight lay at the side of the path, his blue eyes unseeing.

I shook my head, So much death… But for what ends? I realised I was probably the only person who knew what had happened here today. Well, except for those Enclave [censored]s...

I knew what had to be done. I went to step outside when a moan came from behind me.

I spun around, unholstering my rifle and scanning the cave.

“Patrick?!” I gasped, throwing my weapon down and running to his side.

“Jason? Is… is it you?” He mumbled.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m here. How the hell did you survive?”

“Explosion blew me clear of the rain. Crawled over here and fainted. What caused the explosion?”

I hesitated, not wanting him to know what had happened. That his home had been destroyed, his friends annihilated. “”Well… erm… The Enclave… they blew up the Citadel.”

I saw his body jerk, his eyes widen, and his mouth fall open. “But… but… that’s impossible!”

“I’m afraid it isn’t…” I helped him to his feet, and we both stood gazing towards the crater, across the gap strewn with fragments of the once proud building.

I turned to Patrick, “We will make them pay. I swear it.”

He nodded, and hobbled back inside. “There’s something you need to know…”

I followed him inside, wondering what he was talking about.

He slowly sat down, wincing with each movement. “After Casdin and his friends...left…Lyons knew you might attack someday, after all, we had Prime, and you Outcasts were always after technology…”

He sighed, and I knew he to, wished the cataclysm had not happened.

“Lyons commissioned a tunnel, an escape route for the Brotherhood if you will, to be used in a time of great need.” He looked up, straight in to my eyes, “Some may still be alive.”

“Then we must find them.” I replied instantly.

“Oh yes, some of them may still be alive, but do you know where the tunnel leads?”

I stared at him, wanting him to carry on.

“The tunnel leads nowhere. Lyons had to pull the men out of there and assign them more important duties.” Patrick sighed again, closing his eyes.

“The tunnel remains unfinished, Lyons and his commanders are under the ruins.”

“Then they are trapped..” I muttered.

Now, I knew what must be done.

Normally I do NOT post in Fallout Fanfics, since I do all my writing and nearly all my criticism in Oblivion. However..


Since I believe you have potential, and since you genuinely want advice - for that's what criticism is, advice, - I shall offer some.

First, the good news. You know how to draw up a Plot.

You know how to craft the outlines of the story, and how to build up drama and tension in it. This is something many writers do not know how to. Congratulations.

Now the bad news.

You do NOT know how to write realistic projectile and energy weapon battle scenes.

In Melee weapons, you close the range to the enemy. With projectile and energy weapons, you do the opposite. You OPEN THE RANGE.

Why on earth should you charge towards an enemy to close to twenty yards range when you can shoot just as well from two hundred yards???

Remember these rules of shooting:

The closer you get to the enemy, the greater the probability that you will hit him - and that HE WILL ALSO HIT YOU. (This is a function of accuracy, not power. The closer you are, the more accurate you are)

A stationary shooter is five to fifteen times more accurate than a man who shoots while running. This means that unless you have at least five times more numbers than the enemy, it is a very, very, VERY bad idea to charge towards him. It also means that IRL, unless you do the run-and-dive-and-roll-and run again, one stationary enemy - provided he keeps his nerve and does not panic - will kill five enemies running at him.

Runnin away from an enemy is bad unless you are out of ammo. Runnin destroys your breath. Breathlessness makes for unsteady hands. Unsteady hands make for lousy shooting. If you have done any shooting, particulary combat shooting, IRL you would know this.

Shooting with your hand rested on something solid and behind cover gives you an advantage so great IRL over enemies who don't have this advantage that you have to have experienced it to know it. A true veteran does not dive under cover with every enemy burst, unless the enemy outnumbers him three to one. He knows that unless the enemy is firing steady, aimed shots, most enemy bullets are useless. (Are you aware that statistical anolysis of the Vietnam war showed that it took TEN THOUSAND bullets fired to kill one enemy? The army revamped its shooting training immediately after that.)

Remember: Forget all about Hollywood. The real shooter aims and fires single shots. Maybe single shots in rapid succession, but single shots nonetheless. Full auto is for shooting at ten yards distance.

Should I write chapter 11? Or just pack it in?

Chapter 11 - Out of the fire

We had waited five days for our injuries to heal, but during that time we had not been idle.

We had been planning the assault.

We knew our only hope lay in rescuing Lyons and finding out what the Enclave wanted. We had drew maps on the walls and floors of our hiding place, drawing on each scrap of knowledge that Patrick and I could remember about the Citadel.

My rifle had been ruined in the blast, the crystal smashed to pieces, and the casing dented. I knew I needed it repaired, so one night I stole into an Enclave camp and took a few rifles, hopefully they would not miss them.

“When should we attack?” Patrick’s voice broke up my reverie.

“I don’t know. Soon, before they can fortify the building.”

“I think I can hold my own now, we need to act quick.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

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

My repaired laser rifle was clutched in my hand, I knew it would never be as good as it once was, but I needed it now. I looked at Patrick, he was dressed in Enclave armour, we had some luck in the night, a lone patrol stumbling across our cave, so now we had a way in.

“Sorry about this,” Whispered Patrick, handcuffing me, “It needs to be done. I won’t lock them fully though, so you can still bust your way out if you need to.”

I nodded, knowing this could be the last time we ever spoke as friends.

“Patrick, I just wanted to say, if we don’t make it out of there, your a hell of a good friend, and so was your brother, I wouldn’t have survived without you guys.”

Patrick just looked at me, and then a few seconds later nodded his head. “You’ve been a good friend to. But enough soppy stuff, we need to get in there!” He lowered the helmet on to his head and stood up.

“Oh, and I’ll have to take your rifle as well.” Patrick’s voice was distorted by the speakers, sounding inhuman.

We marched up to the gate, Patrick gripping my arms tightly, gun held in one hand.

“Open up! I’ve got a Brotherhood soldier here!” Shouted Patrick.

“Hold on a minute! We’re opening up now!” Came the response.

There was an edgy few minutes while we waited for them to open the door. I was sure they must have realised that we were fakes, and were waiting to shoot us.

Crap! They’re gonna kill us! If I nudge Patrick, maybe he will get the hint and we can run aw- I was interrupted from my thought by the large, makeshift doors creeping open. We both breathed a sigh of relief.

The plan was working so far.

Patrick grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the gate, “So far so good.” he muttered.

An Officer met us at the gate, Sam released me and saluted. “Found this one in the rubble, sir! Must have been trying to get back in.” Sam reported to the Enclave Captain.

“Well done, trooper, where there any others?”

“No, sir! Just one lone Brotherhood soldier.”

The Captain pondered this for a moment, and I tensed, ready to break out the handcuffs.

“Very well, take him to the holding area.” The Captain strode off.

I felt Patrick relax next to me, I, too, was glad that out plan was going smoothly.

“Sorry, I’ll have to lock you up, I’ll try to free you later.” He whispered to me.

I nodded, knowing that he spoke sense. If we went the wrong way now, dozens of bullets would make short work of us.

He led me through the Enclave camp, both of us taking note of the sentries and their routes.

Patrick suddenly halted, staring at an unremarkable bit of the wall, no different from the rest of the structure.

“That’s the entrance to the tunnel, we need to get in there and get them out.”

We both jumped as a voice rang out; “Hey! Why are you stopping? Take him directly to the holding area!”

Patrick saluted the officer that had appeared behind us, saying nothing, and then carried on walking, dragging me along behind him.

“That was close,” he murmured, “No more stops, we can’t afford to draw attention to ourselves like that again.”

As we drew closer to the holding area, I grew despondent. There was no way Patrick could break me out of here, it had a guard posted every few meters, and was surrounded by an energy field.

Patrick swore under his breath; he had come to the same conclusion as me.

I spoke softly, not wanting the guards to hear, “Seems like we’ll have to improvise.”

Patrick said nothing, I knew he was trying to think up a plan. A guard walked towards us.

He must have noticed something was wrong.

Patrick still stood there, not noticing the advancing guard.

I breathed in sharply, intending to alert Patrick.

As I opened my mouth, the guard shouted something, but I couldn’t hear him over the frantic beating of my heart.

His hand started to move towards his holster.


_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finally! A new chapter!

Chapter 12 - Breakout

The guard flipped open his holster, revealing a bottle of water.

The breath I had been holding exploded from my lungs, and relief flooded over me.

“Hey! You thirsty?” He asked, tossing the bottle to Patrick, who caught it on handed.

“Thanks!” He took a gulp, “Purified as well!”

“Yep, only the best for the Enclave’s finest!”

Chuckling, Patrick asked the guard what he should do with me.

“Oh, just throw him though here.” He responded, using a control panel to deactivate a portion of the energy field.

As I was pushed into the cell, I tried to remember every detail about the deactivation process, knowing that it could be useful later.

I watched Patrick walk away, wondering if it would be the last time I ever saw him.

No use worrying, it’s not going to get me anywhere!

I looked down at my hands and realised that my handcuffs had been deactivated when I entered the cell. Well at least that’s on good thing.

I decided to explore the rest of the cell, looking for anything that could help me break out.

The cell only held a blanket, and a hole in the floor for a toilet, not big enough for a man to squeeze through.

Damn, there’s nothing that can help me.

Night soon fell, and the moon illuminated a figure striding towards the holding area.

The figure ripped of a salute as it reached the guard standing outside my cell. “I’m your relief, go and get some sleep.”

The guard muttered his thanks and strolled off towards the barracks.

A wide grin broke out on my face, I recognised the voice.

When the guard was out of sight, Patrick took his helmet off and nodded in greeting.

“Any chance you could let me out of here?” I asked him.

“Maybe, but we’ll need to be quick.”

He turned towards the control panel for the energy field, and started to enter the deactivation sequence.

After a few tense minutes, the field flickered and died.

“Come on! We’ve got to get moving before someone notices you’re missing!” Patrick ordered me, reactivating the field as I left the cell.

I nodded, already walking back towards the tunnel entrance.

“Wait!” Patrick called quietly to me, “You’ll need this.” He said, passing my rifle to me.

I grinned again, now I had my gun, nothing could stop me. All my fears from before melted away, replaced by a solid determination to free the trapped commanders.

The pair of us crept along the wall, staying in the shadows when possible, and sprinting madly across the open ground, halting only when a patrol drew near.

“Should we take them out?” I asked Patrick.

“Negative, the shots will just alert the other sentries, and the longer we remain undetected, the better.”

I knew he spoke sense, but I wanted to kill them, because of the misery they had caused me.

Patrick sensed this, “Jason, there will be plenty of time to kill them later, but for now we need to free Lyons and the rest.”

Knowing that we couldn’t afford to give ourselves away, I held my fire.

We waited until they had gone around the corner before moving on, careful not to make too much noise.

Eventually, after many stops and close encounters, we reached the section of wall that Patrick had stopped at earlier.

“So how do we open it?” I whispered to him.

“There should be a switch around here somewhere… Ah, here it is!” He pulled off the plants that had been covering a small lever on the floor.

He looked at me questioningly, “Now?”

“Now.”

He pulled the lever, and then swore when nothing happened.

“Damn! It must have been broken in the fighting.”

I sighed, we were been so close!

We turned away from the wall, ready to go back to the holding area and wait until tomorrow for another chance.

Just as we started walking away, I heard a quiet squeaking, almost inaudible above the background noise.

“Patrick, wait.” I called to him.

He turned, and then watched as a small section of wall swung inwards, revealing a dark tunnel beyond.

We both knew who was down there.

The Leader of the Brotherhood of Steel. Deep behind enemy lines.

We were their only chance. We had to get them out.

“Let’s do this.”

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And another new one!