Conquerors

Chapter 8

When we finish eating we head towards the train that leads out of Nuka World. Gage pauses before climbing on the train with me.

"You got dogmeat, here. Do you still want me to come with you?" He says, referring to the dog.

"I would like that."

"Alright, boss. Let's head out, then."

We get onto the train and ride it back to the Commonwealth. The drive is long. I sit in the conductor's seat and let my head fall back.

I can hear the Nuka Cold World theme playing on the speakers overhead.

Today has felt so surreal. It'll take some time for everything that has happened to fully sink in.

As the sun starts to sink into the horizon we reach the Commonwealth. We climb off the train, passing through the station and out the door.

The evening air is crisp. I cross my bare arms across my chest.

"Cold?" Gage asks.

"Yeah," I respond, noticing that I can see my breath in the air.

He stops, pulling his bag off his back. He pulls out a ratty sweater, handing it to me. I take it from him, pulling it over my head. It smells a little musky, but it's very warm.

"Thanks," I respond.

We continue our way to Vault 111. We pass through Concord. The raiders that were here when I passed through yesterday are long gone, corpses lying in the streets.

"I thought those Minutemen bastards were all dead." Gage comments, passing by the corpse of the man who fell from the balcony.

"The Minutemen?"

"Yeah. Pretentious assholes. They thought they were the only good people around here. Reality smashed 'em in the face. Most of 'em got wiped out a little while back. Looks like some survived."

"Their clothes are very old-fashioned."

"That's a lot coming from you, boss." Gage comments.

"Excuse me?" I say, wheeling around on my heel to face him. 

"Uh... Nothing." He says quickly, his eyes wide.

"Smart."

We trek down the street when suddenly the ground below our feet begins to rumble. I meet Gage's concerned glance. The rumble is accompanied by a loud screeching.

"That's a fucking deathclaw!" Gage hollers. "You better prepare yourself."

"A deathclaw?!" I cry.

"There's no time to explain. Get your gun out." He says, his eyes darting around.

The screech of tearing metal deafens me. I cover my ears, wincing. I follow the sound, watching as a reptilian creature with huge claws tears through the ground.

I feel an intense fear spread through my body. I freeze, watching as it towers above us. It stands over fifteen feet tall. Its tan-coloured skin is covered in scales, and massive horns sit on its head.

The sound of gunfire pulls me back to reality. I raise my gun, pulling the trigger. I shoot a full clip into the creature, but it still stands. It screeches loudly and pounces at us.

I dodge out of the way, falling onto the pavement on my back. The creature lunges at me, its mouth open wide.

"Run, boss!" Gage shouts.

Suddenly a small, dark green object flies into its mouth. I roll up onto my feet and sprint as fast as I can away from the monster. I hear a loud explosion behind me and I'm thrown forward, smashing through a large display window on the front of one of the buildings that surround us.

I can hear glass smashing, and shards landing beside me on the wood floor. I land hard, my head spinning and my ears ringing.

"Boss!" Gage calls. "Holy fuck!"

I stare up at the ceiling through the gaping hole in the floor above. I see Gage's head appear in my vision. I see multiple of his face. I blink a few times, waiting as my vision returns to normal.

"Are you okay?"

"I..." I start but pause. I move my arms and legs, then my fingers. I feel all together. "Yes."

"Let's get out of here." He says, helping me to my feet.

"Did you throw a grenade in its mouth?"

"Yeah." He responds.

"How did you know it wasn't going to kill me?"

"I didn't." He says sheepishly.

"Right. Let's get moving."

We continue down the road, past the Red Rocket gas station where I found the dog, all the way to Sanctuary.

"This is where I lived," I tell him, hopping over a fallen tree.

"Oh yeah? Nice little neighbourhood."

"Yeah. It was an experimental area. It was a safe place for people of all races and sexualities. I loved it here." I explain.

"This little park was my favourite." I reminisce, walking past it. "That's where I got pregnant." When I realize what I've just admitted to I laugh aloud.

"You had sex in the open, boss?" Gage says, surprised.

"Yeah. Of course, there were hedges, but yes. I did." I feel my cheeks grow pink.

I see Codsworth come out of my house, floating down the road as he sees me.

Gage raises his gun. I put my hand on the barrel, slowly lowering it.

"It's okay. He's mine. He's been with me since before the war." I tell him.

"Mum! Welcome home. I do suppose you've had some luck in your search for young Shaun?" He says cheerfully.

"Why does he sound so happy?" Gage mutters in my ear.

"It's his programming," I say.

"Who is this fine gentleman you have with you?" He says, taking notice of Gage.

"This is Gage. He's helping me find Shaun."

"Yeah, that, and taking over the Commonwealth."

"'Taking over the Commonwealth'?" Codsworth echoes. "What's this about, mum?"

"I'm going to do whatever it takes to find my baby. And I have a whole army recruited to help me."

"Oh, splendid! Do come find me when you finish your search. I would love to see the little one again."

"Of course, Codsworth," I say.

"So, your mistress here tells me she's been around since before the war," Gage says to Codsworth.

"Yes, sir. She lived in the year 2077 with her husband Nate in this very complex until the bombs fell. Then she was in that rusty, dank vault for 200 or so years. She's telling the truth. And I do believe the sir is still down there."

"Your husband is still in the vault?"

"Yes. I can't get him out." I say, my voice growing quieter as I remember my husband in his current state. "I miss him."

"I also miss the sir, mum," Codsworth says, extending a metal arm. He lightly touches my shoulder in a comforting way.

"Thanks, Codsworth," I tell him, thankful.