The Not So Lonely Lone Wanderer Book 1

Chapter 6 - Scenes from the Vault 2

The release of the cap, that little hiss of what Arianna called excitement and with a sibilant bubble half the contents of an original, in bottle Nuka-cola foamed into the coffee cup on the desk. Splashing a finger or two of scotch in addition, she took a swallow and sighed in delight. Setting her concoction down by the keyboard, fingers danced with unreal speed as yet another layer of Vault-Tec security fell.

For close to an hour she sifted and tagged a couple dozen files of interest as well as reviewing current logs from nearly every department in the vault with special attention for mentions of her father, her or the boys. A ping from her pipboy and with a couple of keystrokes the camera from the hallway two over popped up in a corner window, revealing a pair of familiar silhouettes. The bottom file drawer banged shut with a punt from a boot clad toe and Arianna kicked her feet up on the desktop, leaning back,relaxed after settling an open box of Spring Valley crisps at her elbow.

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"You're sure she hides down here?" Hunter sounded aggrieved and a touch put out at being dragged into the bowels of the vault on what he called a fool's errand and Chris referred to as something other than drinking to do.

The taller male snorted in irritation. "Yes, as I've stated at least twice since we made it past the hydroponic level. I doubt she pulls her chicanery off in the living quarter levels."

Hunter eyed Chris with just a touch of disbelief. "You know damn well I'm here to keep things PG. You can't be trusted and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed." Humor started to creep into what had been a slightly admonishing tone. "A man your age needing a chaperone...."

No warning as his partner turned and leveled a gentle punch to his shoulder. "Has absolutely nothing to do with the fact Alice has moved on to a younger target. She's turning into a cougar."

Hunter punched him back, a little more emotion in his blow. "Least she's keeping them over 18."

Slowing down, Chris half turned with a scowl. "I told you, it'd be easier......."

A hand came up to forestall the rest of the sentence. "Yeah, easier if she'd resist. You ever think maybe you're the problem?"

Oddly enough, the comment brought the start of a grin to Chris' face. "Too hot for her? You may be right." Three empty rooms and the fourth yielded their target. "Told you." He strode in with Hunter on his six, frowning and muttering quietly.

"Well, you two really need a bit of work in the stealth department." Arianna didn't change her posture, just gave a shake of her head and took another sip out of her cup to hide the beginning of a smile at seeing both of them.

Hunter, in typical fashion, honed in on the one item that seemed a bit out of place. "Damn, original Nuka, not the synth stuff from upstairs." Narrowed eyes fixed on the female first, then the box of crisps next to her. "And those....you got contraband down here?"

Laughing, Chris ruffled Rain's hair before snagging a chip, posting up on the corner of the desk before grunting and hopping off, looking around suspiciously. "The desk is cold...." Crouching so close that he could lay his head on her shapely thigh, he ran a hand down the side, stopping by the base and looking up at his obsession with a sly stare. "What have you done little girl?"

"Hey!" Arianna was shifting as he started to yank the drawer open, her futile moves to block him slapped away playfully as Chris pulled the top of the inset metal box open, releasing a wave of cold air.

Hunter gawked over her head with disbelief. "You put a refrigeration unit in a desk?"

Pulling a bottle of Cola and scotch up at the same time, Chris flashed labels at his partner with an outright snort of laughter. "And it's stocked." Handing the booze over to Hunter, he used the free hand to slide along her jawline, pushing hair behind her ear. "You have been misbehaving haven't you." A thumb rubbed her plump bottom lip.