Before Another Fallout Tale

Chapter -2

I collapsed and laid still on the asphalt. Vahl and Timebomb immediately rushed to me.

"Do you need some Stimpacks," Vahl asked.

I checked my health. "No."

"Do you need to rest?" Timebomb suggested.

"No." I slowly forced myself up and dragged my left foot as I walked. "I'm fine."

Vahl stuck her head under my right arm and helped my walk. "Are you sure?"

I checked the map on my Pipboy and marked Vault 101. "Yeah."

"Vahl, call the TARDIS," Timebomb said. "She needs to rest."

"No," I groaned. "I can go on."

"No you can't." Timebomb took me from Vahl as she used her dragon shout to summon the TARDIS. "You need to rest."

The two of them laid me down on my bed and closed the door behind them as they left. I crawled off the bed and reached for the doorknob. Locked. I used most of my strength to knock on the door.

"Guys! You locked the door! Let me out!" No reply. I hit the door a few times. "Guys! Please! Let me out!"

After five minutes, I gave up and laid down on the floor. I felt extremely weak, to the point where I couldn't move without great effort. I closed my eyes and let sleep conquer me.

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I opened my eyes to find myself tied to a metal cross in my underwear. In front of me was an Enclave soldier. I felt exposed.

"Did you really think we were gone," he asked. "Lets show you how real we are."

He pulled out an electric baton and hit my side with it. An electric shock burned my bare hip and I gasped. He laughed.

"Now for the real reason you're here." Another Enclave soldier brought in Sarah and kicked the back of her knees so that she was sitting on her legs. "Do it."

The soldier drew out a .44 magnum and shot Sarah in the head. She dropped dead. I screamed and fought the chains on my wrists and legs. Then Brian. BANG! Copper. BANG! Quasar. BANG!

Vahl shouted something but the bullet killed her.

"Please," I sobbed. "Stop."

Then Timebomb was forced down. He looked at me with sad eyes. "I love you," he whispered before the bullet went through his skull.

I bowed my head and cried. My body went weak and the tears rolled off of my cheeks.

A cold metal hand lifted my chin. "Don't worry," the soldier said. "You'll join them soon."

Then he left me to continue crying.

I sat up as my crying continued. I was in my bedroom, on my bed. Tears still streamed down my face and I was still crying.

The door opened and Timebomb came in with a tray. It had a plate of eggs and toast. When he saw my face, he set it down and hugged me.

And I hugged him back.

"It was just a dream," he whipered. "It was just a dream."

But I kept crying. Crying into his shoulder uncontrollably. He stroked my hair as my tears rolled off his armor and stained my bedsheets. After a while, I calmed down and wiped my tears.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"Don't worry about it," he said. "That's what friends do for each other."

He let me pull back and we sat quietly for a minute.

"Timebomb, do you think the Enclave are still out there?" He gave me a look. "Do you think they still wander around killing people?"

"I'm sure there are Enclave out there but that doesn't mean that they all want to kill people."

I looked down at my hands. "If we all were to get separated, for a long time, would we still be friends, even if we don't remember?"

Timebomb didn't answer at first. But he did. "I think that friendship can't be limited to distance or another person's memory. Friendship is the trust you share, the joy you experience, and the pain you live through. As long as you trust each other, you are friends."

I felt a smile grow on my face. "Thanks."

Timebomb lifted the tray onto my lap. "Now eat up. We'll go on our next adventure tomorrow."

He got up and left, locking the door behind him.