Fallout: After-Effect

05.31.2284 - Get Down!

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." - Sun Tzu

Lyle groaned as the harsh sunlight filtered through the cracks in their makeshift door. What time was it, he thought. Through blurry eyes he glimpsed Nate lying on his side, a half-eaten fat-bit in his mouth and a pistol cradled in his arms. Damn it Nate, you didn't wake me up, he thought. Rising to his feet he arched his back and touched his toes to stretch. Tossing a rock at Nate he shouted, "hey sleepyhead, when did you plan on waking me up?"

Raising a middle-finger Nate mumbled the words piss-off.

"Big day ahead, remember?" Lyle said tossing Nate his pack.

Jumping to his feet Nate found a new reserve of energy. "That's right! I almost forgot." Nate said, not realizing that wasn't the only thing he was forgetting. "So do you have any idea where this thing could be?" Nate asked as he packed up what little supplies he had.

"Actually yeah," Lyle grinned, holding up the Pip-Boy. "This thing has exact coordinates."

"Nice, you ready yet?"

"Yeah, just one sec," Lyle sighed. Taking one last look around the cave that they had called home for the past three months. It wasn't much, just a hole in a pile of rocks, but it was the place that they had stayed at the longest. Hopefully, one day they could find a permanent place to live someday. Hell, maybe he could even settle down with a nice girl.

"Yo, Earth to Lyle?" Nate said snapping his fingers in front of Lyle's face.

"Huh, oh right, I'm ready. Sorry." Lyle said snapping out of his reverence.

"Well, let's go then." Nate said pushing open the door. What greeted them was the harsh sun and barren wasteland that was always there. Maybe it was just Nate, but the world seemed a little brighter.

And so, the two brothers began to trek across the desert. The stark beauty of the mountains and the rolling of the sand were almost enough to make them believe they weren't living a life filled with horrid things...

It had been nearly three hours since they had left the the cave when Lyle called for their first water break. Setting their bags down they lied down on some rocks enjoying their new spoils. "Lyle?" Nate asked tipping back some water and polishing his gun.

"Yeah."

"Tell me about Mom and Dad." Nate said all the while scanning their surroundings.

"Dad, I can't tell you much, all I know is that he was a soldier, fought for some group called the Brotherhood of Steel. Mom told me he was a brave man and cared about us a lot, but he loved his job more and in the end that's what got him killed." Lyle replied as he toyed with the Pip-Boy.

"And Mom?"

"She was beautiful, the only spot of color in this forsaken Hell hole. She always inspired other people around her, giving them hope and the will to live. Courageous and smart, like dad, but with a sense of duty that was more about family than anything else. She died saving us y'know?" Lyle said staring off into the distance.

Nate walked over to Lyle and gave him a hug. The simplest act of love, but the strongest bond between family.

A rattling sound broke both of them out of their silence. "Lyle what was that?" Nate whispered.

"I don't know," Lyle said loading a round into his rifle.

Turning to his right Nate spotted the source of the noise. RadScorpion. "GET DOWN!" Lyle shouted pushing Nate behind him.