Nuka Girl, Nuka'd World

Blind Betrayal

"Just a reminder that a few brave people are trying to settle Sanctuary Hills with the Commonwealth Minutemen. They asked for me to say that they're always looking for new folks to join up, speak to Preston in Sanctuary! Good luck out there guys."

Maple hummed, elbowing her companion in the side. Days of travelling were taking their toll on the older vault dweller, but her much younger friend seemed to have endless reserves of stamina and endurance. "How about Sanctuary Hills? Sounds peaceful, and the Minutemen are the good guys, right?" Erin sighed, he'd have thought she would've run out of things to talk (or complain) about by now. "Minutemen are okay. Map." She puffed out her cheeks, holding out her arm to him, "a please would be nice." Erin grunted, pushing her arm away, "I can drop you off there. We're headed into the Wealth through the north-east anyway."

The air was cooler than it had been the last few days, Maple found herself wearing her vault suit zipped up all the way for the first time in months, if not years. The bag on her back was a little lighter than it had been when she left Rivet City, since she'd chosen to discard most of her bottles of Aqua Pura when they'd run dry. She had one. A momento. Maple's possessions from back home were scarce, she didn't own much, what she did have was a few sentimental items, and things necessary to survive.

Besides clean underwear, caps, food and water, her pack contained; a silk purse she kept her handmade makeup in, a pre-war cookbook that had been a birthday present from James, between it's pages were pressed flowers from Amata, a photograph of her and her parents, and a photograph of her and Cato. Inside her pack was also Butch's combat knife, a comic book given to her by the Lamplight kids, a copy of the Wasteland Survival Guide signed by her, Moira and Cato, her old and blank holotapes and recorder, a collection of chems and her equipment for brewing more, some spices and plants and finally, the modified FEV virus. She'd wanted to bury it somewhere, or hurl it into the sea but it was the last thing Cato had given her. It was his apology. Besides the photograph it was all she had left.

The virus had been the cause of their big fight. Cato had suggested it would be beneficial, killing the super mutants would save so many lives. Maple wasn't blind, she could see that. But she could also see how many lives would have been taken as a result. Ghouls and humans alike.

Lone had found the Wanderer mere days before he reactivated project purity. He'd pressed the vial into her hand, apologised erratically and disappeared away in the night with little more than a kiss on her cheek. And she hadn't seen him since.

But, this story isn't about the Lone Wanderer, it's about the Sole Survivor. And right now, our Sole Survivor isn't doing so well.

After spending a few days at Red Rocket, Paladin Danse came looking for her. Presumed AWOL by the Brotherhood, the Paladin was not content with this. He now considered her his closest friend and ally within the Brotherhood, and although his confidence in her had been a little wounded when he heard of her handing the Institute data to Proctor Ingram and disappearing, he found himself determined to find out why.

He found her at the old truck stop, a little shaken up, but seemingly no worse for wear. He convinced her to report back, and by the time they arrived, Vanessa wearing her old Brotherhood jumpsuit again, Doctor Li had checked in at Boston Airport, so the expected berating from Elder Maxson never came.

The Brotherhood "Dream Team" had been instructed on another mission, yet again to the Glowing Sea. Their plan was to collect her power armor that had been salvaged and repaired from further into the ship, but it was as they neared the Med-Bay, that all of Vanessa's careful bottling fell apart.

Struck with the sudden memory of the last time she'd stepped foot in there, the iced vault dweller stumbled backwards, hands flat on her belly. And before she could stop it, the floodgates opened. Tears turned black from her makeup streamed down her face, audibly dripping on the metal floor below her as she hunched over. Her mouth opened and closed wordlessly, like a fish, silent sobs making her body tremble. The Paladin was back at her side in an instant, using his body as a blockade between her and the Med-Bay, and any onlookers who might be inclined to stare.