Conquerors

Chapter 12

I put my foot against the lid and push as hard as I can. The toolbox slowly tips and crashes against the concrete floor. The lid skates across the ground, shooting into the street and grinding against the asphalt, leaving a trail of rust flakes.

"Well," Gage mutters, peering down at the lid on the street. "That's one way to do it."

"I'm the over boss. I need to come up with solutions." I respond, wiping the back of my hand across my forehead.

"So does that mean ya don't need me to teach ya how to build a generator?"

I roll my eyes. "Don't be silly."

I swoop down, gathering the various tools that are scattered across the concrete driveway and pile them in my bag.

"That should be enough. Come over here." He says. He drops a couple of toasters on the surface of the workshop table. He shows me how he effortlessly rips apart a toaster, bending the thin metal into a flat sheet. He welds the pieces together, attaching some wire to an old car engine and connecting the pieces.

He connects the wire from the generator to the power conduit on the side of a house. He presses the start button on the generator. I hold my breath, waiting to see if it works. The engine starts loudly, the lights in the house flickering a few times. Then the house falls dark.

"Damnit," I say.

"No, no. Wait for it." He interjects, holding up his hand. After a moment the lights flick back on and stay on. "Told ya."

"Yeah, yeah," I say sarcastically. "I never doubted you."

I walk into my house, looking around at the space. It looks different with the lights on. But I barely recognize it. The tiled floor has rotted away, exposing the concrete foundation. Ceiling tiles have fallen, piling on the carpet and counters, lying amongst my son's baby bottles.

I bite on my bottom lip as I feel it threaten to quiver. All this house is now is a reminder of what I lost the day China rained bombs on us. Out of all of us to survive... why me?

I feel Gage come to a still beside me. He peers over at me. "You okay, boss?" He asks with concern.

"Why am I alive, Gage?" I ask, my voice soft.

"Boss, come on." He says, pulling on my hand, and leading me outside. "I'm not good with feelings and shit. But you are here to find your boy. And to kick the Institute's asses. Don't forget that."

We stop on the street. I sigh, turning my back to my house. "I can't stay here, Gage. The memories... they're too much." I say, my voice wavering. I swallow the lump in my throat. "I need to find somewhere new."

"You could move to Nuka World with me, boss. The Fizztop grille is almost ready to go. Plus, I could use some help turning the power back on." He says.

"That's a good idea. I have one condition. Codsworth and Dogmeat are coming."

"Sure, boss. Anyone touches them and they're pig slop."

"Thank you, Gage. That makes this so much easier." I say, turning to look at him. "Let me collect my things and seal off the doors."

"Is that necess-" He cuts off as I shoot him an angry glance. "Right. I'll give you a hand."

I pick up my gear, grabbing my old dog's bowl for Dogmeat, and some Mister-Handy fuel for Codsworth. Gage grabs his gear and follows, sealing up the front door behind us with wood and nails. He does the same for the side door. He cuts the power to the generator.

"What's going on, mum?" Codsworth asks, silently floating beside me.

"We're moving away. We have a new home. I promise this is good for us. We'll be safe there. Being here is too hard." I tell him.

"Reminds you too much of Dad and young Shaun?" He says, softly.

"Yeah," I respond grimly.

"Okay, mum. Whatever you think is best. Let's go." He responds, his positive tone returning.

I whistle for Dogmeat, who comes running a few moments later with a teddy bear in his chompers.

We head down the path to Sanctuary, cutting beside Concord, and moving to the highway. We follow it to the Nuka World Station. I jog down the concrete steps, hopping over broken Nuka Cola bottles and crushed cups.

We load into the train and push the lever, sending us forward to Nuka World. I sit in the first train car, across from Gage. He plays with a combat knife, skillfully twirling it around his fingers without any danger.

"So, tell me, boss." He says, peering over at me. "When did you plan on telling me that you threatened our guy at the station? Almost shot him?"

"Hold on," I start, raising my hand. "He approached me, telling me to take the train to Nuka World and free his family, even though he wasn't injured. Do you know what I did before the war?"

"What did you do?" He asks, suddenly curious.

"I was a lawyer. Specialized in military matters." I respond. "I know a sketchy fucker when I see one."

"How many creeps did you have to deal with?" He asks, snickering.

"My husband was in the military. The day the bombs fell we were getting ready to go to a military awards ceremony. He was being recognized for risking his life for our country.

He had a lieutenant who tried to come on to me one night at a bar. Don't think the fucker even realized who I was. I had to report him. And no one believed me. But I used the footage from the bar security cam. Took his ass down. That's why I'm wary of overly friendly people."

"That's badass, boss." He says.

"Thank you."

We ride in silence until the end, Dogmeat hopping on the seat beside me. I pet his back, watching the mountain approaching through the clouds.

Instead of the dialogue I heard when I first rode on this train, it's immediately taken over by the Pack's leader, Mason.

"Here comes the over boss and her fuck meat, Gage. Welcome back, folks."

Gage rolls his eyes, meeting my gaze.

"My... fuck meat?" I ask in disbelief.

"Until your place is ready you'll have to stay with me. I had some of the operators set up your space. Word has got around." He explains. "They don't respect you, yet. But once they do they'll leave you alone."

"Even after that fight with Colter?"

"Well, they respect you for that. But just a little. You gotta show them you mean business."