But fret not, dearests. I've already started rewriting those poor chapters. I promise to publish it as soon as it finishes. No more stalling. I've learned my mistake, in a hard way. As hard as humanly possible.
Meanwhile.. These are my FIRST drafts for chapter 32 and 33.
Caution! I
have not proofread it. So pardon my
all-over-the-place grammar
Oh and by the way, I rewrote these two chapters in just two to three days. Am I awesome or what!? Love me yet? *grin*
Here we go.
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Last part of chapter 32.
Euryleia’s POV
“Well?” Gob raised his eyebrows.
“Well what? I told you there’s nothing there. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Only his stupid holotapes.” I downed the vodka Gob had put in front of me. Ergh! Why do I always end up ordering this nasty stuff? I’m not even sure how many of this thing I’ve downed.
“That’s not what I’m asking! You know that.” He said, grimly. His raspy voice, complete with his killing glare made it very clear.
Sighing, I said,
“Alright fine! There were at least 6 mutants guarding the Potomac, at least 15 on the first floor and 4 inside the rotunda. But I survived! Granted, I had to pay a visit to Doc Church to have my stitches cleaned, but other than that, I’m okay.” I shrugged and rested my head on the bar. Ow, it’s spinning.
“WHAT?! Are you insane?! You could’ve gotten yourself maimed by those mutties!” he exclaimed. Why do I have this strangest feeling that one of this days, his eyes would pop out of its socket?
“Could’ve, but didn’t. Look, I’m alive and still kicking! Don’t worry, I know full well what I’m capable of. If I feel that I can’t control the situation, I’ll get out of there. I wouldn’t want to die before I find dad.”
“Promise?” Uh-uh. I knew this would calm his nerves a bit.
“Yes I promise.” But it’s nice to know that someone still care for you. I raised my head and smiled at him, then rested it back on the bar. Oh god, now it feels heavy.
Gob continued his wiping the glasses. One of the reasons why I chose this late to come into the bar was because of the silence it provided. People had usually left few hours earlier, so it left me with Gob and few customers. At this hour, Jericho might be somewhere shagging some slut. I don’t care, I just want to avoid him at all cost. Of all creatures I had to fight all day, this one mere human creeps me, in my hometown no less.
“Leia?” I barely heard Gob’s voice. He sounded serious.
“Mmm?”
“You okay?” I chuckled.
“Gob, you’re the one who worked at a bar. You’re the one who deals with drunkies every night. You tell me. Do I look okay?” I don’t think so. My face felt like burning and I’m pretty sure it’s red too. Not sexy.
“No, I mean, about this.” I looked at him. He has a worried look on his face, his hand on one of the radio’s button. When he’s certain that he has my attention, he turned the volume up.
--
I put my head back on the bar. This time, it’s because I wanted to hide my tears. There’s no use crying for that man. Ever since he got me kicked out of the vault, my life was a living hell. As if that’s not enough, he had lied to me my entire life. I don’t care if he left me for good cause, important point is that HE LEFT ME. I need to find him, make sure he knows I’m out here and then, I’m off.
Hiding my face was not enough. I practically trembled as I sobbed. Gob was suddenly at my side and he pulled me to him.
Softly, he stroked my hair. That’s when I lost it.
“Wh.. why? Why did he leave me? Does this project.. is important to him.. than me? He.. leave me.. alone.. to die.. Why?” I stuttered between my sobs.
“I don’t know.. You’re not gonna die.. it’s gonna be okay.. I’m here..” He cooed. I let it all out. He repeated that everything’s going to be okay. I was certain that his shirt was soaked with snots and tears.
And I dozed off.
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Opening of chapter 33
Charon’s POV
I reached the shack quite later than I planned. Evading the Brotherhood wasn’t easy as these motherfuckers were well trained, but then again, so was I. However, fighting those Talon Company took some time as they were many in numbers. I got out alive and well but my ammunition was unnecessarily wasted. I didn’t bring much ammunition because last I recall, Talon Company does not travel that route. Someone‘s head must be on their list. Someone around here.
The shack was quiet when I arrived. Not even that annoying butler-bot of hers was around to welcome me. I thought my mistress was asleep. I had called for her to let her know that I’m back, but received no answer. I knocked on her door numerous times before entering. She wasn’t there. I knew that she was unwell when I left. That made me worried. I waited for an hour before I went searching for her.
Moriarty’s saloon’s lights were still flicking. She had told me once that her best buddies were workers there. I haven’t had the chance to check the place out, but I guess my first would be because I had to search for my mistress.
I smirked when I passed the large atom bomb which was half buried in the heart of this town. They’re lucky the vaultie had defused it; otherwise, this town would turn to dust in a minute if somebody accidentally kicks it. The bar’s door was creaking when I opened it. Stale beers. This bar was worst than Ahzrukhal’s. And they say us ghouls are disgusting.
My eyes scoured every faces in the room and it ended on a big figure just in front of the bar. The hair.. He’s a ghoul? Is he hugging someone? There are ghouls in this town? I walked towards them and unmistakably heard familiar sobs.
“he.. leave me.. alone.. to die..” I knew that voice! Who’s leaving her to die? Me? No. Impossible. She gave me permission! I could see that my mistress gripped the guy’s shirt so tight. I sat on a stool behind him and waited quietly until my mistress calmed down.
Few minutes passed, she was no longer sobbing. I tapped on the guy’s shoulder and then, he turned around. Gob! I can’t believe he’s still alive! I was sure he was as shocked as I was. I knew he had lots of questions for me, because heavens help me, I sure did. But we have no time for that now. I have my mistress to take care of.
“Ask question later. Now hand me my mistress back.” I motioned to her. Gob stepped away slowly and my mistress moved from his arms to mine without stirring. I saw her eyes were all puffed up. I put my left hand on the back of her shoulder and my right on the back of her knees. Gads she’s weightless. So tiny. The mutants were at least 3 times bigger than her but I saw them fell on their knees, headless, before my mistress. She can be ruthless at times but she is also kind-hearted. I have never met anyone nicer than her. She is not appalled by us ghouls. Hell, she even hugged us. What is she if not an angel? I grew fond of her every day we’re together.
I carried her back to the shack and my mind was reeling. What has distressed my mistress like this? I was beyond curious. Good thing she had allowed me to speak freely. I will ask her this later. Gently, I put her down in her bed. When I pulled her blanket to cover her, I noticed that she was wearing her lower body armor. I began to undo her pant. Weird that she had cared to cover her lower body but left her upper body exposed. I put out the candles and went to wake her butler-bot. I wouldn’t leave my mistress unguarded even if this is her hometown.
I headed back to Moriarty’s saloon. Gob. I haven’t seen him in 25 years, more or less. He was sold before he went through all the training. Even Argyle was still with us when he was sold. Our captors deemed that he was too weak to be trained, that he has no potential to be a combatant. Then I saw him next when I was with Ahzrukhal in Underworld. He told me that he had escaped the slavers and that he had been with Carol for years now. Carol was sort of his mother but Carol’s girlfriend, Greta, was jealous of him. One day, he told me that he wanted to experience the world. His life in Underworld was agreeable so I knew the reason behind him leaving was somehow because of Greta. That was the last I’ve heard of him.
As soon as I entered the saloon, Gob hugged me in a flash.
“Uh, can’t breathe!” He chuckled.
“Sorry. How are you, old friend?” he led me to a tool at the end of the bar.
“I just found my luck. You know, my mistress. You, how’s living out in Wasteland treating you?” He took out whiskey and poured it in a glass. I deduced that he is the worker and best buddy of my mistress.
“More like living in this hellhole.” He snorted.
“Oh yeah, how did you end up here anyway? What happened to experience the world?” I looked around. Yep, undeniably filthy than Ninth Circle.
“I heard there was a refuge for slaves called Temple of the Union. I went searching for it. When I finally found it, they refused to take me in. They didn’t even open the gate, just shooed me away, like a sick dog. Then I was captured by slavers from Paradise Falls, just within few miles away from the temple. Then, sold to Moriarty. So here I am. What about you? How did Leia become your mistress? I thought Ahzrukhal said he would go feral before selling your contract?”
Ah. I found myself smiling at that. The day I met her was the day I knew for sure that I was not a walking corpse. I knew my heart was still beating and my blood was still coursing. I just looked like one, but that’s okay too because she didn’t seem to care.
“I don’t know how. She just walked right in front of me and said she has my contract.” Though how she acquired my contract was still unknown, I was still gratified to her for freeing me from the bastard’s claw.
“So Ahzrukhal?”
“Splattered on the wall behind the bar.” His eyes widened.
“How?” I smirked at that.
“Soon as Leia told me I am no longer his, I blew his fucking head’s off. Guy hasn’t used it for a very long time. It’s pointless of him to keep it.” Best day of my fucking life that one!
“So, what? You’re like her bodyguard now?” His tone had changed.
“Sort of. Why was she crying?”
“Where were you these past three days? Why did you leave her?” he looked at me with the hardest expression I have ever seen on Gob.
“Leia ordered me to live like a normal people, you know, not like a slave. So I asked her permission to visit a friend. I went to check on Agatha.” I said truthfully, didn’t know where this was going.
“You left her searching for Rivet City unaided? Don’t tell me you have no idea how perilous the route to Rivet City was from here. Not to mention her going into memorial. You are the worst bodyguard ever.”
My blood was boiling at that. I do not appreciate people telling me I can’t do my job, let alone Gob, the last person alive who knew my truest nature. And what’s he talking about? Rivet City? Memorial?
“What are you talking about?”
“So you don’t know her plan then. Stupid Leia. She’s going to get killed these days.”
I guess I don’t have to answer his question because he sighed.
“You ever heard of that 101 kid?”
“Yes I have, from the fucking Galaxy News Radio. He fixed the GNR satellite dish. I can now listen to that fucking Three Dogs even if I’m in Girdershade. I heard all about him at Agatha’s. He stopped the Fire Ants in Greyditch. So brave. I remembered too well that the Fire Ant was a bitch to deal with. Hey! He’s the one who defused that huge bomb right? Have you met him? He’s so adventurous; I bet working for him will be fun! I’d love to meet him someday.” I can’t help babbling about my new found hero. Maybe I could persuade Leia to track him one day.
“Yes she fixed it. Yes she stopped those Fire Ants. Yes she defused it. Yes I met her. And no you obviously have not heard enough. You knew about Greyditch, so you knew that there was a sole survivor, a child that she left behind, right? Apparently, the child has a relative in Rivet City. She didn’t know the location at that time so she left the child in his home. Nobody knew the attack had stopped yet, so if the raiders have any brains left, wouldn’t go near it. In her quest searching for the boat, she arrived in Chevy Chase, met Lyons’ Pride, who then told her that the GNR building was overran with mutants and they were outnumbered. See, Moriarty had told her that she needed to speak to Three Dogs in GNR if she wanted the answers she seeks. So in a way, she was lucky to have met Lyons’ Pride on her way to GNR even though they were still outnumbered. You know not to mess with Lyons’ Pride, because these guys are the badass of the Wasteland, and this 101 kid is probably the craziest person alive. I think there were four of them, fighting their way to the foot of the building. Then, one of them died in the explosion caused by a behemoth. A behemoth, mind you! The two Lyons’ Pride were too stunned to move so this Vaultie, she killed the behemoth with a single shot using a Fatman. She hasn’t been out here for more than a month and compared to the Lyons’ Pride, she wasn’t trained. I tell you this, the two Lyon’s Pride were Sentinel Lyon and Paladin Vargas. You know who they are, no? The commander of Lyons’ Pride herself, and the paladin who was infamous of his mercilessness! Imagine that! Long story short, she accessed the GNR, talked to Three Dogs and he led her to Rivet City to search for a scientist named Dr. Madison Li. She went back to Greyditch to fetch that kid she left before, went to Rivet City and hand him to his relative, Vera. Talked to Dr. Li and she found out that her father had left again, to the Jefferson Memorial. She stubbornly went into the memorial, hoping to find her father there. She had to fight mutants to go inside the rotunda. She sustained several injuries, which most of them required stitches.”
“He was searching for his father? Why?” I was lost in the story. He outdone the Sentinel and Paladin? That was epic!
“Yes but we still don’t know the reason. Her father ran off the vault without telling her, the Overseer was furious and decreed that she is to be caught, dead or alive. So she escaped with her bestfriend’s assistance.” He growled at that.
Wow! I thought the story of this 101 kid was simple. Appear at the scene, help the people and left. I knew he was brave but I didn’t know that he was this fearless. But what’s this has to do with.. Oh shit! 101 kid is a she? Is Leia..
“Is my Leia..?”
“She sure is..” Gob nodded and smiled. I think I had dropped my jaw on the floor. Stitches? I felt blood drained from my face. I exited the bar, practically running.
I rushed back to the shack and almost knocked the door off its hinge. Why didn’t I figure it out? Leia looked too innocent to be called a Wasteland habitant. She’d asked me questions about the places I’ve been. Oh hell! Why did I leave her? I opened her door lightly so I wouldn’t wake her. I cradled her head and lifted her shirt inch by inch. There was indeed a stitch near her bellybutton to her ribs.
I had wanted to meet the courageous 101 kid, and here I am, in her shack, looking at a proof of my failure. Ahzrukhal had abused me since the day he laid his hands on my contract, yet he had never been harmed. Not even once, until the day he sold me. She bought my contract, free me from Ahzrukhal and didn’t treat me like other employer would. She insisted that I wasn’t a slave to her, but a friend, a protector if needed. She had been nothing but nice to me. And I left her on her own, causing her exquisite skin scarred. I softly traced it with my finger. I failed her. Gob was right. I’m the most terrible friend and protector ever.
I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t notice she was holding my finger. I looked at her and she was murmuring something. I leaned down and put my ear closer to her, enough to hear what she was saying.
“Don’t leave me.. Please..” Over and over again.
I kicked my boots of and climbed to bed. She rested her head on my chest and my hands were on her back. We were again in a position I had come to love, like the first time in the tunnel. Her warmth was so right, she felt great in my arms, and her size was molding fittingly to mine. Just perfect.
Her pleads made my heart ached for her. I have walked this earth for more than six decades, I have seen too many evils but this just won all the prizes. What kind of father leaves his 18 years old daughter? From what I understand, she had been in the vault her entire life, up until couple of weeks ago. I’m aware that since about 15 years ago, this vault she was from, Vault 101, has been shut forever. Nobody has ever come out. That was probably around her age, which also meant that she has no knowledge of the world outside. Fuck! I don’t ever want to how she learnt to shoot like she did now. I don’t ever want to imagine all that she went through.
All I know is that, from this moment onwards, I would kill for her. I would give my life to protect her. I would die before anyone, or anything for that matter, hurt a strand of her hair.
Euryleia. My mistress.
