The King of Boston

Chapter 6: Meanwhile, in the middle of nowhere.

October 22, 2287

I couldn't have imagined we would end up like this. It was official, the minutemen had come crashing down, taking me and the others along with them.

Tonight was armageddon all over again. I should never have made the decision to stop in Lexington. We lost twelve people; five soldiers and seven civilians from Quincy. And the worst part is that we had to leave the bodies behind. Those soldiers were fine minutemen, the last of them. They deserved better for their loyalty and sacrifice. And those civilians were under our protection, we failed them. The least we could do was to bloody well bury them. But no, they were food for the ferals. Damn that filth.

The only ones left are Preston, Mary, Jonas, Teddy, Mama Murphy, the Longs, Sturges, the dog and myself. Teddy was injured, jumped on by a feral who clawed at the poor sod until Mary and Preston fought it off. His face was unrecognizable. And he should count himself lucky if he survives the night. He knows it just as well as the rest of us.

Mary and Preston are all right, a bit shocked but that's all. The survivors from Quincy are in a worse shape though. Mama Murphy is high as a raider on a deathclaw, I'll remember her to thank Sturges when she gets back from her jet distilled cloud. The man lead her to safety despite her ramblings about the "sight", she probably didn't even notice that we were being attacked.

I'll also have to keep an eye out for the longs, Marcy seems fine but Jun is a whole other affair. I understand, losing their son the way we did was horrible. The poor kid's infected leg had kept him from walking, let alone running. So when the ferals came, he was among the first to get grabbed. His screams were horrifying. I'll have to remember to shoot myself if I ever get pinned down by those creatures.

However we have to go on, Concord is our last hope. And to make matters worse, we were spotted by a local raider gang. I'm afraid they have launched a war party at our pursuit, if the distant light of torchlight and construction helmets is to be believed. And the nights isn't even over yet. If there's still a god in this forsaken wasteland, let's hope he's on our side. If not... Let's not think about that, shall we?

Captain Eric Asher, signing off.

October 23, 2287

We found Concord. The place was abandoned, but there were signs of earlier post war habitation. I wonder where the previous inhabitants went. But with the raiders closing in on us, I'm afraid I might know the answer.

We lost Teddy. His wounds were too severe and we had to leave him behind. I left a round in his gun. He knew what would have to happen.

Another good soldier to fall on this exodus.

We are hold out in an old museum. Preston's choice. It seems pretty well defendable but I'm afraid the lad only picked it because it's filled with pre war artefacts praising freedom, democracy and the US army. Even now, with all we've gone through he is still a dreamer.

The place did come with an unexpected boon: there's a crashed vertibird on the roof, its on-board 5mm minigun is still operational and better yet there's a full suit of Power Armor, one of the older models and rusty as hell, but a full suit of PA nonetheless. The only problem being that its fusion core was empty. The museum is equipped with a FC generator but it's locked behind a security grid, let's hope Sturges manages to crack it before the raiders catch up to us.

Captain Eric Asher, signing off.

October 24, 2287

Damn that vault dwelling bastard! If we weren't short on ammo I would've shot the bastard right where he stood.

A few of the raiders caught up today, scouts no doubt. We fought them off bravely, but Mary and Jason were lost. Another two deaths on my conscience. Preston and I fought off the remaining raiders, and to our surprise a different type of scoundrel appeared right after the last raider was killed. A vault dweller, or at least someone with their telltale jumpsuit. He appeared to be well armed and proceeded to loot the bodies of the fallen raiders, and minutemen. If not for Preston I would have shot the guy. This arsehole had been in hiding while we were getting slaughtered and now he was reaping his sick reward. Even worse, when Preston pleaded the man to help us, the bastard flipped us off and disappeared in the direction of Lexington.

Self obsessed greedy idiots like that is one of the reasons the wasteland still needs the minutemen. I can only hope he walks into the other raiders and they perform some well deserved public service. Let's be honest though, that rat bastard is going to sell out our location before they pump him full of lead.

We've barricaded the entrance to the museum to the best of our capabilities and then set up a second barricade at the door of the curator's office, where we have hidden the survivors whatever little of them are left. Sturges' attempts at getting that fusion core have been unsuccessful so far and without Mary, Jason or that power armour I'm afraid we won't make it.

I'll refrain from voicing my expectations around the survivors though, they have been through enough.

Captain Eric Asher, signing off.

October 25, 2287

The world is trying to make a joke, and so far I'm not appreciating the punchline..

The raiders knocked on our door this morning. They were lead by a man called Grizzle. We had a short exchange. It was doomed to be short from the beginning, but it was boring as all hell, so I decided to shorten it up myself. Grizzle lies dead now.

The bastard wanted us to give up Mama Murphy, and Preston's hat for whatever reason. If we complied they would "spare us". By which they meant capturing us and selling us into slavery. A quick bullet to the brain cured their stupidity. At least part of it.

The ensuing battle was rough and I'm glad we found those stimpaks in the speakeasy yesterday, damn it those things are miraculous. Healed my broken leg like it was nothing, if only we had some when Kyle got shot, or after Teddy got mauled.

To our surprise some of the raiders ended up surrendering. After a short discussion with Preston, we came to the conclusion that we should keep them prisoners for now. Marcy wanted them executed on the spot, but Preston managed to dissuade her. I understand her position. She wants revenge, justice for their son's death. But what she doesn't realize is that she is blinded by hatred and doesn't realize that this is not how she will get her revenge.

Our discussion was cut short by a loud roar. Preston and I grabbed our muskets and immediately ordered the civilians to get to shelter. From the moment where we entered the town I had a bad feeling about it. And at that moment that feeling was confirmed. Concord was a Deathclaw nest. It busted through a sewer grate and climbed onto the streets, roaring like the primal force it was. A lone matriarch, and apparently all the fighting we stirred up woke her. Preston and I did our best to protect the captured raiders as they retreated into the museum.

It all turned sour when one of the prisoners ran for safety, away from the main group. The deathclaw jumped on the occasion and quickly caught up to him. She grabbed him and bit his head clean off. Panic ensued, the other raiders went rogue as well, hoping that it would save their lives. But to no avail, the beast profited from the chaos to pick them all off while Preston and I ran for the museum.

The doors shut close behind us and we waited. The screams outside were horrible but short lived, it didn't take long for the creature to come and look for us. It's claws went straight through the door, thank god for that barricade.

She quickly came to the conclusion that she wasn't going to get to us and abandoned the chase. We heard her drag the bodies down the sewers and that was it, silence ensued.

However I'm certain she's still there, she knows we are in here and she knows this is the only way out. I'm afraid that unless we find a way to power that suit of power armour on the roof, we are all doomed.

Captain Eric Asher, signing off.