Wasteland Tales

Wasteland Tales Ch. 10: Revalations

"You need to do what?"
"Kill the Legate, the monster who killed Jamie."
"Will that happened over three years ago. How do you know he is at New Vegas."
"Because I talked to some people who said that there will be a second battle of Hoover Dam."
"Will, we talked over this. They lost the first battle at Hoover Dam. Why would they do a second one? As well, how do you know this battle hasn't happened already?"
"I just know. No one just leaves New Vegas without a good reason.
Same is with going there."
"So you're just going to leave me with the kids?"
"Bring your parents over. They would like to be here with you."
"I don't want you to go though. What about your job?"
"What about it?" he asked, loading a magazine into his rifle.
"Aren't you worried that you're going to lose it?"
"Not if I'm back by Monday."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to take a vertibird."
"What? Are you crazy?"
"I'm not. It's been done before."
"You're just going to head off, to possible death, on a vendetta then."
"To put it simply."
"You're insane, but I can't stop you."
"You can, take the pistol," as he put the 9mm pistol in her hand.
"Will if you're going on a suicide mission, then you need this."
"You need it more than I do. Plus, I had this on me," He says taking his ranger sequoia out.  "I just need some 40-70 gov't ammo, and that's all I need when facing the Legion."
"I can't stop you. I know how much this means to you. I love you. I wish you luck Will."
Holstering his gun, he kisses Anne, saying, "I love you. I'll be back."
"Please do."
She cries into his shoulder as they hug, and Will let's go, then hugs and kisses William Jr. and Samantha. He leaves with one final kiss from Anne. He walks down, buys some .308 ammo and 40-70 gov't ammo. He loads his weapons, and packs the rest of his supplies, and his pictures of his first wedding into his bag. He walks down to the docks, where he heads across the river. In silence the entire time, he walks up to the Citadel. Entering, he searches for Budi.
Finding him, he says, "hey Budi, I need a vertibird."
"A vertibird, why in hell do you need a vertibird."
"To go kill the Legate."
"Why?"
"A second battle of Hoover Dam in commencing, and I need to get there to finish what he started."
"Will that'll be suicide if you go out there, As well, I can't permit vertibirds to go anywhere with just a civilian."
"Make a damn exception Budi."
"It's Keith Will. Plus, no, you're not going. How do you know if the battle of Hoover Dam hasn't happened already."
"Because Budi, I know the NCR wouldn't take a chance after what happened after the first battle of Hoover Dam."
"What if the Legion tried again, and failed, the you don't need to go."
"I know you're stalling Budi. Just give me the damn vertibird just this once."
"No Will. Leave it in the past. You don't need to go on a damn vendetta for Christ's sake."
"Did you leave your wife in the past Keith. Did you not want vengeance for her death."
"I did. I knew though that if I tried to get vengeance, it would be death, especially going against the NCR. So don't try to make a stupid decision."
"You don't understand then"
"Will, you have two kids and a wife to take care of. If you go around killing people who wronged you, it'll blow back in your face."
"How would you know, you never took the risk."
"I'll prove it to you. Go to your room down the hall. There'll be a vertibird in the courtyard waiting for you at dusk. I'll call one in."
"Thank you."
"Don't make me regret this."
"I won't let you down."
Will headed down the hall to his room which he pulled a picture out of his bag. It was of Jamie and him when they got married. The exact moment when they kissed. He shed a tear and it fell onto the picture. He knew at that moment that everything that happened from here on out is more than him. More than just for vengeance, or to get peace. It was for Jamie, everything was. From the moment they left for New Vegas until now, it was all for Jamie. He wanted something better for her, something that was away from the mess of the wasteland. A normal life, the one he had, but with Jamie there besides him. A life where he could be with her, with Sam, together. Away from the chaos. Away from the darkness. It was ripped from him. A history repeated. A child without a mother. His own history. Repeating itself in front of him. A child now having to protect those around him. The reason he joined the NCR. Not to get away. Not to find meaning. But to find where he could put his willingness to help for others. With all these memories flooding his mind, he knows there is only one thing left to do. To cut all loose ends. To finish what he started. No matter what happens, he'll make sure to come back, alive. That night, Will couldn't sleep, not after everything he was processing. A mind running through all his options. He only slept in and out for a couple hours before dawn that morning. He went out to the courtyard, where the vertibird was landed. He got in, sitting in the closest seats to the pilots. Budi got in before the vertibird took off.
"Will, I want to give you this," said Budi.
Will looked down to see a grenade. He asked, "why do I need a grenade?"
"In case of the worst."
"I understand."
"Good luck out there. And make sure that bastard truly dies."
"Understood. If worst comes to worst. Be the godfather of my kids. I want them to know that there's someone who'll be here for them."
"I expect you back though. But just be back."
"I can never confirm that. I can only say this. If worst does come, tell my family that I'll see them in heaven."
"I'll have you tell them that when you get back."
"See you old friend."
"Goodbye friend."
Budi closes the door to the vertibird, and the pilots start the vehicle up.
"Where are you headed?" asked the pilot.
"New Vegas," Will replied apathetically.
The vertibird picked itself off the ground, and Will used as much of the time he could on this flight to sleep. He awoke due to turbulence as the vertibird hummed along through the sky. He sat straight up, tired, but feeling as ready as can be. He checked his weapons, and rummaged through his bags. He took out his photos. He flipped through them. He kept going back to the one of them kissing. That moment, it tore Will as he remembers the love that they held. Contemplating over that moment and his second wedding. He felt the disconnect that he had at his second wedding with Anne. Love was there, but it wasn't as present. As if it were weaker. He knew that Anne loved him, but he couldn't reciprocate as well. He felt ashamed, doubtful of himself. Is this truly how it all came down to. He sacrificing all he had on the whim that the Legate might be alive still. He had only to find out himself. He could be the only one to take him down. The vertibird rattled him back to reality, in which he dropped down from his seat to where the pilots were.
"We're almost there," said one of the pilots. "There are some flares in the case over there. Use it to signal us when you're ready to leave."
"Okay," Will said, grabbing the flares out of the bag.
He stood up from where he was, opened the door to the outside, and looked down over the wasteland. As thehey flew over, he saw the shadows of guilt that once plagued him before, now trying to haunt him again. Without fear he stared at their faces. The faces of the guilt he once held, that he accepted. The shadow of guilt itself, to himself, Jamie, his mom, Timothy, Mark, George, Kelly, Philip, and all those he killed. Standing in a line, all besides each other, unmoving, as they stared at Will. He didn't care. He knew what he had to do. The appearance of Legion camps came in Will's field of vision. He noted the desolate camps in which nobody was there.
Seeing an open space, Will yelled, "down there! There's a spot to land!"
The pilot noticed; and started to make his way down to the open spot. They landed in the clearing, and no legionaries were there to meet them.
"Rendezvous here if I can get a chance to. Otherwise, if I make it to another spot. It'll probably at the dam," said Will.
The pilot nodded. Will then jumped out of the vertibird, rifle in hand, and a look of stress on his face. The vertibird took off, and Will moved started his trek through the Legion camp. He climbed onto a ridge which overlooked the camp. When he saw the other half, he noticed legionaries quickly moving down the hill from their main fortification. Confused by this, he went prone, aiming his rifle in the direction of the legionaries. He saw a courtyard of sorts in the middle of the tents. As most of them packed into tents he couldn't really move to well to aim. Not wanting to be noticed, he used the courtyard as some of them moved through there. He shot one bullet out towards the group of legionaries. It hit the legionnaire in the shoulder, as the others looked around in confusion. Using the disorientation, he fired again, killing the same legionnaire. The others tried to duck, but Will fired off a couple more shots, killing two more legionaries. They grabbed their weapons, as Will kept firing into the crowd. Ducking behind rocks and other objects. He loaded another magazine, and fired off the mag headshotting two of them, wounding the others. Being spotted, those with guns tried shooting at Will. Loading and unloading mags, he killed twenty people before he ran out of ammo with his rifle. He backed up prone off the rock in which he was still being fired upon. Pulling out his sequoia, he moved over to the tent, crawling through it. Shots rung above him, and a couple spears ripped through the tent, hitting the ground near him. He ran to the next tent where a legionnaire with a machete tried to attack him. He shot him in the chest once, and he dropped to the ground dead. He picked up the machete, moving forward through the tents, and appearing behind the legionnaires. He cut down one of the legionaries. Being chased by more with spears and machetes, he ran back to the the courtyard area. A couple legionnaires with guns also came up, pointing their rifles at him. Most with machetes or spears surrounding him. He quickly shot the two with the rifles, and the others charged at him. He split open one of the legionnaires head. He shot another one that came behind him. A spear sliced his arm, and he shot the one that threw it. A machete hit his combat armor, and he used the last couple of bullets available in the gun on the one who swung the machete. Will swung the machete, cutting a legionnaire who fell to the ground. Killing another one by slicing their beck. Will rolled forward, taking another one down, then killing him. Then those tried to surround him before not try to align themselves. Will moved up onto the ledge which surrounds the lower part of the courtyard. He picks up the rifle and shoots a couple of the legionnaires who tried to get him. He expends the rest of the magazine on the remaining legionnaires that remained. Seeing more legionnaires come down the hill, he reloads his weapon as those remaining near him, try to sneak up on him. Praying the lord's prayer, as he charged the legionnaires.
Will further recites Psalm 23;
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
Reciting this as he fights the legionnaires, he yells it, so all might know who he was now. Those who came down the hill, were now sprinting down the hill. Will waited down by the dead bodies of legionaries. His fate would come one way or another, by spear or sword, bullet or laser, he knew that death would not come for him that day. The legionnaires engaged Will by raising their guns at him. Will shot them down, and the other legionnaires charged him. He swung the machete into one of their necks, and picked up the legionnaire's spear. He stabbed it into another, then pulled it out to swing, and slice another's neck with it. Throwing it, the spear hit another person. Will rolled to pick up another machete, and used it to cut down a legionnaire. The one tried blocking the attacks, but were unable to do so before Will killed them. Another charged Will with a spear, and Will fell back into the lower part of the courtyard. Using this as an opportunity, he tripped the legionnaire, then used the machete to kill him. Throwing the machete, he got another close to him in the head. One charged Will from behind, and Will moved out of the way. He used the moment to tackle the legionnaire, take his weapon, and stab him with it. Hearing yelling from behind, Will turned around, having the spear impale the legionnaire who charge him. Holstering his pistol, he grabbed a machete off the ground. He turned, using the spear's momentum to slice another in the abdomen, then striking him down with the machete. Another tried striking from his side, and Will slashed him, using the spear to stab them. Two came from behind, Will turned again, stabbing one in the chest with the spear. The other stabbed Will in the chest, but the armor broke the tip of the spear. Will pulled him in by the spear they were holding, headbutting him. Slashing down with the machete, as more charged him from all directions. Four approached, two from one side, one from the back, and one from the front. Will backed slowly to the wall of the cliff that was above them. All with spears, pointed it at him. He pushed forward on the front right person, the left right slashing Will. The two others tried but missed Will. He slashed the one's throat before using their spear to kill the other next to him. He ran forward, killing one other legionnaire before using the spear to throw at the last of them. Will noticed the others who remained were standing on the small platform that surrounded the middle areas. He kept an eye on the ramps that led down to him. Quickly he loaded his pistol in which he moved to his right, away from the cliff. He took a spear off the ground before throwing it at the one nearest to him. It missed, but by the time that legionnaire turned, Will slashed him down. His left hand started to ache, as the slashing of the machete started wearing on Will. He shot another who went toward him. He ran up the dirt ramp, and a few more legionnaires ran at Will. They backed him up as they tried ramming their spears at him. Will dropped his spear, he shot one of them, and the two that remained charged him. One slashed Will on the side, and Will held onto the spear using arm. The other tried stabbing Will, but he caught it with his arm. He held both of them, shooting the one on his left. Letting go he used the machete to bring down the other one. The few that remained charged Will, and he used the rest of his bullets to kill them. Reloading he stood by the ridge he originally started fighting. The Legate soon came down from the fortified structure. They stood, reminiscent of an old western. Weapons in hand and ready to kill.
"You killed a number of my men," said the Legate with a booming voice.
"By the looks of it, I killed about thirty," Will replied.
"Why are you here? I thought the courier made it clear?"
"About what?"
"The battle of Hoover Dam just commenced. The courier. Speaker of the two headed bear. He told me to leave. I didn't expect someone to be here."
"What about Caesar?"
"Dead. I have full control of the Legion."
"Not after what I'm going to do with you."
"You might've killed these legionnaires, but you don't know who I am."
"I do. You killed my friends. You killed my wife. And You wanted me to tell Denver of your plans."
"I remember. I'm surprised you didn't die. What happened to your abomination of a daughter?"
"She's alive and well, but you won't be after I'm done with you."
"Classic style of heroism. There aren't any hereos in the wasteland."
"There might not be, but this is a tyranny the Legion."
"Then it ends here."
Will charged the Legate, machete in his left hand, sequoia in his right hand. The Legate pulled out his Blade of the East. He stood menacingly, before he came down to Will. Swinging down at Will, Will rolled out of the way. Slashing behind him, he hit the armor of the Legate, then shot three bullets into the back. It ricocheted off the Legate , and he swung around, but Will dodged his attack. Will moved back away a bit, but the Legate charged again. Dodging, they circle each other around the inner circle of the courtyard. Will shot two bullets at the Legate who was temporarily delayed, but noticed Will running at him. Will got behind the Legate, and climbed onto his back, taking off the Legate's helmet. As they struggled there, the Legate threw Will off his back onto the ground. Getting up, the Legate swung his blade as he rose, and Will not reacting quickly enough was hit back. Will grabbed at his armor which now was bent slightly in the chest. He gasped for breath as the bend went inward to his chest. The Legate hung above Will, shrouding his face.
"Are you finished boy?" the Legate said.
"No," Will gasped.
"Then your fate lies here."
He brought up his blade over Will, but thinking quickly, Will threw the plasma grenade in between the Legate's legs. Throwing the machete at his face, the Legate, slightly stagnated back. Will tried getting up, but the grenade blew up, sending both the Legate and Will back. Hitting the inner courtyard's dirt wall, Will lay there hurt. The Legate did not fall far from where he stood. Both got up slowly, Will on his knees, the Legate on his feet. Will looked up, to see the Legate, get his blade, and move at Will, walking steadily.
"You made a terrible mistake," the Legate screamed.
"No, you did Legate," Will responded calicely.
The Legate screamed, charging at Will with speed unfathomed. Will hastily took his last shot at the Legate. The Legate's head cocked back, and he fell down, sliding in the dirt. The sound of a loud thud echoed in the silence that ensued. Will finally noticed the number of legionnaires, centurions, and dencauses were around them. They scattered when Will looked at them. If one man could beat the Legate single handedly, it was true that others would fear him. He tore off the chestplate that was constraining him. It fell to the ground, making the only audible sound besides the brazzers around the camp. Moving to the fortified wall above, Will still carried an empty gun and a machete. Legionnaires running down the large trail past him. Bloody and clothes tattered, Will moved slowly up the trail. He entered the gate in which stood in his way. When entering, he saw a massacre before him. Legionnaires strewn about the ground leading a trail up to another fortified wall. Will followed the bodies all the way up. Going through the second gate, more bodies led to a tent which lay before him. The sounds of crackling fire and flags waving in the breeze. The summer heat made the bodies around him have the stench of death lingering around the camp. Following the bodies, he stood in front of the tent, looked to be Caesar's. He dropped the machete, and loaded his gun. Entering, he saw the dead bodies scattered in the fossier of the tent, and further at the feet of Caesar. Looking up, the body of Caesar in his seat, protruding spears out of his body. Slowly entering, gun drawn he entered the desolate tent. He searched the entire tent, but saw no one alive within it. He stood over the body of Caesar. Holstering his weapon, he stared at the corpse whose eyes stared into the abyss.
"Tyranny doesn't last out here in the wastes," said Will.
The breeze of the wind cascaded into the tent via the opening above them. The flapping of the flags made it deafening of the occurrences that were initiated over the past few years. It made Will seem numb to the world around him. He took his eyes off of Caesar, and left the rotting corpse to be dealt with by some other. Moving down the campsite of the fortified hill, he noticed movement to the side of him. Unholstering his weapon, he swept it over the area he saw movement. Shifting his weight slightly, he stepped forward, sand barely shifting over the ground.
"Who's there?" he yelled.
Silence replied to his question. He stepped forward again, making sure that no sound echoed in the area. His arms shaking for adrenaline that worn off from earlier. Peeking around the corner into a pen with brahmin, he sighed. Holstering his weapon, he started to turn when he heard a faint whimper from the pen. Moving in a little closer, he saw a little girl within the pen itself. He opened the gate to enter, and the girl backed up a bit.
Will crouched, saying, "don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you." With no response, Will asked, "who are you? I'm Will."
A moment of silence before the girl said, "I'm Melody."
"Melody? That's a sweet name," Will said with kindness. "I know that I don't look too friendly, but I'm not here to hurt you."
"Are you sure?" she whimpered.
"Yes, I'm sure. Those men that enslaved you. They're gone now."
Looking up at him with surprise, she asked, "They are?"
"Yes, they are. Do you want me to bring you out of here?"
"That would be great."
When analyzing this girl, Will recognized something, asking, "before we go. Do you recognize me?"
"No sir."
"Do you have any memories before coming here?"
"Only one."
"What is it?"
"All I remember is handing a stranger a vase, and going back to my mommy."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"That's all I needed to know, now let's go."
Will picked her up, but he had to brace himself due to his injured arm. He noticed the cuts on the Melody's hands.
"What happened to your hands," he asked
"When I did something wrong. The man that took care of me cut my hands."
"I'm sorry. I promise that you won't ever have to go through that again. As well, you will be with your mom again."
The girl smiled, as he carried her out of the fortified hill, and down the hill to the dam, covering her eyes the entire time. He grabbed the Legate's helmet and his bag on the way to the dam. Getting to the the dam, he noticed the scorched concrete, and high concentration of NCR. He noticed Kyle, against the dam wall, overlooking the river below. He set down Melody and popped a flare. Telling Melody to wait there, he approached Kyle.
"Kyle," Will spoke in a solemn tone.
Moving his head, he looks over. Noticing Will, he said, "Will?"
"Hey. How are you?"
"Surprised? And you?"
"Also surprised but not for the same reasons."
"How's that?"
"You're surprised to see me, correct?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm surprised that I'm not dead yet."
"How so?"
"I just killed the Legate."
"You did?"
"Yeah, here's his helmet," he said as he dropped it on the ground.
"You really did it."
"What happened here?"
"The Courier helped claim the dam for us and New Vegas. He had help by people with a bomber plane."
"Resourceful."
"Truly and who's this?"
"Her name is Melody. I found her up at Caesar's camp."
"Why do you have her?"
"To bring her back home."
"Home?"
"It's in Colorado. She's the one that gave me the vase for Jamie."
"Speaking about Jamie how is she? And how's the child?"
"My daughter is fine. She's with my wife back home on the east coast."
"Jamie's your wife?"
"She isn't, someone else is. I shouldn't beat around the bush here."
The vertibird landed behind him and Will turned around, putting Melody into the vertibird, and telling the pilot not to take off. Also, he put his bag and the Legate's helmet into the vertibird. He walked up besides Kyle overlooking the river.
"As I was saying. Jamie's dead."
A look of crushed hope fell over Kyle's face, as he asked, "really?"
"Yes, I'm sorry."
"How did she die?"
"A bullet to the back. A Legion sniper."
"You have to be joking."
"I wouldn't be telling you this if I weren't."
"How could you let this happen?"
"It wasn't intentional."
"Wasn't intentional? Wasn't intentional? It was completely intentional. I told you not to go through Legion territory."
"I never said you were wrong. I'm saying it was unintentional, and I take full responsibility of her death."
"You let her die in vain."
"No, I wouldn't. I commemorated her in death."
"In what way?"
"Raising my daughter like she would."
"I'd thought you'd say something lower than that."
"Your bias towards my previous actions are clouding your thoughts."
"Is it?"
"Yes. I know your upset, but don't put all your blame on me."
"You said it was your responsibility."
"I did, but you brought this on yourself as well."
"How?"
"By pushing away her."
Kyle puffed in anger. His hand lowered down to his holstered weapon. Before he could unholster, he felt a sharp pain go through his back. Falling to his knees, the pain soon left. He looked up at Will, who looked down with sadness.
"I'm sorry Kyle."
Will stabbed in the weaker parts of the armor which pierced it easier than normal. After a few stabs, Will turned Kyle towards him. He cut his left eye than slit Kyle's throat shallowly. Picking up the body of Kyle. He walked towards the medical tent. He dropped him on one of the cots. The medics turned to him. As they try to ask him something, Will was gone. He quickly paced over to the vertibird, entering.
"We're going back to D.C.?" asked the pilot.
"No we have a couple more towns that we must go to before we head back to D.C." Will responded.
"Alright, where first?"
"California. A small town, north of Shady Sands."
"Just lead the way."
They took off the ground, and Will just asked the little girl questions as they flew. Will spotted the small town, he said to land. When they landed, Will went into the small town. When he found the right house, he walked up to the door. Knocking, he waited there for a moment. An older man approached the door. Noticing the look of surprise the man opened the screen.
"Will?" asked the man.
"Yes it's me. How are you Howard?"
"Good. Good. Come in."
Will entered the home, and sat down at the small table in the center of the room.
"Want some water? Coffee?"
"Water please?"
"What happened to you?"
"You know the war in New Vegas?"
"Yes. Tragic isn't it."
"Their main military leader. I killed him."
"Did you? When?"
"Today."
"How are you here then?" he asked, setting the glass of water.
"Vertibird."
"How about Jamie? Where's she?"
"That's why I'm here," he said, downing the glass of water.
"What happened? Was she captured?"
"I'm sorry Howard. Your niece, Jamie, is dead."
"Oh God. How?"
"Legion sniper."
Howard started weeping as his wife, Jamie's aunt came into the room.
"What's wrong? Why is Will here? Will why are you bloody?" she
Nancy, "Jamie died," Howard weeped.
She fell to her knees, traded up, and Howard came and over, hugging her. Will sat there, sitting, letting them mourn their niece. After a long duration of time they got themselves up, sitting at the table besides Will.
"How long ago did she die?" Nancy asked.
"I would've come sooner if we didn't head further east."
"What do you mean?" asked Howard.
"We decided to go to the east coast."
"That doesn't answer the question. How long ago did she die?" Nancy continued.
"She died two years ago."
"Two years?!" Howard screamed.
"As I said, I would've come sooner if it weren't for the fact that we were on the eastern border of Legion territory."
"Where does she lie now?" asked Nancy.
"She was cremated."
"Then you decided just to come back?" asked Howard.
"Yes, I know the difference, but a lot has happened over the past two years, that coming 2,500 miles back wasn't possible."
"You told us though. Did you find Richard?"
"Yes, he's dead now, but not by our hands. He was in a Followers of the Apocalypse center."
"So he tried to get help?"
"Tried, but went back onto chems. By the end he was killed by local thugs."
"How did Jamie react?"
"Angry obviously. But she actually forgave him. She tried to reconnect, but when he turned to chems again, she stopped talking to him."
"Is that why you went east?"
"No, it's because of the first battle of Hoover Dam. All I can say is that Jamie's death wasn't in vain."
"What do you mean?"
"We had a daughter."
"A daughter?"
"In her three years of age, our daughter is showing signs of her mother."
"We hope to see her."
"So do I. It all depends on circumstances. As in if we come back here or you go there."
"Either way, we hope to see her."
"Speaking about seeing something. I want to show you something," said Will as he rummaged in his bag.
"What is it?"
Pulling out photos, he put it on the table. "This is it," Will said.
They looked at some the photos of just Jamie in her wedding dress. It was solely of her alone.
"We can't take these Will," said Howard.
"Then take a few of them. I have a lot," Will responded.
Only picking a few of them, they slid back the rest of the photos on the table. Will packed the rest of the photos back into his bag.
"I guess this is it then," Will continued.
"I wish it wasn't. Not like this," Howard continued.
"Sadly it has to be. I have to finish some other things today."
"Alright. Thanks Will. I hope you have a good time, and just stay safe out there."
"Likewise. I know how much Jamie was to you, and I hate ending it on this note, but just pray that we all meet in the same heaven."
Will stood, putting his bag on, and showed himself out. He looked back when looking through the screen. Howard nodded his head towards Will and reciprocated the nod. He walked down the small flight of stairs in which in he walked back to the Vertibird. Hopping in, he put his stuff down under a seat above him as he went to the pilots.
"Any location before we go back D.C.?" asked the pilot.
"One more location in Colorado. A little town southwest of Denver," said Will.
"Alright, we're taking off."
They raised off the street, the vertibird blowing dust up off the ground. As they headed east and Will got into a seat across from Melody who was sleeping. Following her lead, Will laid his head back against the seat. Closing his eyes, he drifted into a world of sorrow. He felt no feelings of vengeance or justice. An empty void in which his actions did not fill. Turbulence woke him up. As they still moved, Will looked at his pipboy, and only saw that they were still over the desert. He looked over to Melody, only to see her lay on the seats. Coming over to her, he sat besides her.
"How're you feeling?" asked Will.
"Better."
"How so?"
"I don't have to be with those evil men anymore."
"No one does. So you're right. Everything is better."
"Why did you go to that house?"
"To meet with some family of mine before I head back to my home."
"Where is your home?"
"On the east coast. In a huge ship."
"Really!" she said as she peeked up her head.
"Yes, it's huge, and you can explore so much of it. Not even I have seen everything on it."
"Why here then?"
"To deal with the bad men."
"And that man at the dam?"
"Just an old friend."
For a few moments, they sat there in silence. Melody laid her head on Will's lap, and Will just thought of Samantha.
"You remind me of my daughter," said Will.
He got no response from Melody, and he looked down at her. She slept in his lap, and Will out his head back. He closed his eyes, and what felt like a few moments had passed he heard something from the pilots.
"Will," said one of the pilots.
Will jolted up, responding, "yeah," with a groggy voice.
"Come show us where this town is."
Waking Melody up, she rubbed her eyes, as Will climbed down to the pilots. Checking his pipboy, he saw that they were near the town.
"It's down there," Will said.
The pilots looked down through the thick woods of the mountain to see a small town in between the trees. They landed in a familiar clearing near the town. Will grabbed Melody's hands, and brought her out of the vertibird. The townsfolk walked over to Will in shock and awe. A familiar woman, broke through the crowd that gathered. Letting Melody go, Will watched as the two united. Bracing her daughter, the visible streams of tears coursed down the woman's face. She eventually let her go, and took her hand to walk over to Will.
"Thank you sir for finding my daughter here." said the woman.
"You're welcome. You may not recognize me, but the time before your daughter was taken I was here. Here before the invasion of Denver. When my wife died in this same clearing."
The woman took a sudden realization, and hugged Will, saying, "I remember you. You have my sympathy, and I just will always thank you."
"Don't worry. You're daughter will be safe here. I know you're thinking where I got her. I found her after killing the Legate."
The townsfolk shocked, started to whisper and murmur amongst themselves about what was said.
"Tell everyone this news. The Legion is broken, it's command chain destroyed. Take back what is rightfully yours."
The townfolk in disbelief started to run back to the town, and the woman looked at Will in disbelief.
"Are you telling the truth?" she asked.
"It's true mommy, he has the helmet in the vertibird," said Melody.
"By God. You saved this world. Without them, we're saved."
"Not yet, but I do hope that people like you and your daughter help make that a reality."
"I can't thank you enough though."
"Don't, just focus on what you have now. Like your daughter. Like I will with mine."
"You probably are a great father to her. Be safe out there."
"You as well."
The woman and Melody walked away back into the town. Will got back into the vertibird, and they headed home. The ride back home was silent, and Will sat awake as he contemplated the day's events. Night had befallen the east coast by the time they got back. Will braced himself for his arrival back home. A home that he was meant to make with a person. A place where he could never truly feel at home without them. That even though Jamie may be gone, Will made himself better off. Stepping off the vertibird, he looked around in the Citadel. The lights that beamed off the walls only showed the empty plaza at hand. Picking up his rifle, he slung it around his shoulder, and picked up the Legate's helmet. In all his thirty years of life, he never thought it could end like this. A life only fulfilled by that in which he could not find. An emptiness of heart. An ending not worth suited for what he had accomplished, but fitting for the unforgiving hell that he called the wastes. He slowly stepped away from the vertibird, not in defeat, but with a courage that he thought that wouldn't come out of that day. Slowly making his way to the exit of the Citadel, he only looked up at the stars above.
"Will wait," yelled Budi from behind him.
Turning, he saw Budi walk over to the bloodied Will, whom in disregard, only kept walking forward.
"Will, what happened?" asked Budi as he put his hand on Will's shoulder.
Dropping the helmet on the ground, Will said, "put it somewhere safe."
Will walked off as Budi looked at the helmet of the Legate. Budi looked up at Will, walking forward at him again.
"I know you're hiding something right now."
"What?"
"You did something you're not proud of. No one is around, you can just tell me."
"Remember Kyle? I talked about him a couple times before."
"Yeah. The one person whom you disliked."
"That's who. I had to kill him. I really didn't want to."
"Was it quick?"
"I hope it was."
"It better have been. I don't believe in slow deaths."
"I know mine won't be quick," he whispered under his breath.
"Well Will. I'm glad you're back alive though."
"So am I," he said, looking back at Budi then at the door.
Will walked away. Budi looked down at the helmet. Picking it up, he brought it inside to his office. Going outside, he looked around, and at that moment Will knew that he was alone. He felt the scars on his chest which he obtained from the Yao Guai. He looked down at the wounds he got from that day. He grabbed the photos of Jamie out of his bag. Looking at her smile. The smile that got him through his days. Feeling sad though, that Jamie did love Kyle. Knowing that Kyle did love Jamie. He couldn't help think that neither of them got her anyways. That in the bed, he walked alone with no one to stop him. The first time he walked alone in five years. Ever since he was discharged. He walked alone. That now he knows that he is repeating history. He is walked to someone who cares. He looked up at the stars like he did five years ago when he met Jamie. To the hope they once both carried. Going to New Vegas.  Going to D.C. At the end though, he did what he had to do. He had a life here, with a woman that loves him. Knowing that Jamie would do the same if he were gone. That after everything, he was at peace. Though feeling a void where Jamie left. He knew that Samantha would fill that void. Knowing that he wasn't going to end up alone. Love was waiting for him at home. But for once he just walked. He didn't go to the boat. He travelled north along the river. He just walked. Walked his way home. Walked alone.