It was dark when Abigail awoke. Not the pitch black of a tent at
midnight, or the glistening, haloed darkness of a night beneath the
stars, but a warm, night-light darkness manufactured for comfort and
security. Even though the light flickered, quite unlike the dim, steady
bulbs that had lined her vault corridors, there was something reassuring
about it. She was at least somewhere safe.
She was also in bed, beneath more covers than the cool night air had
any hope of penetrating. She might have lifted out a hand to check the
air and discard one of those sheets - any contrast to the constant
daytime heat was welcome to her now - but she didn't know if her body
would respond if she tried. Dull, aching pains echoed slowly through
her, radiating outwards from her wounded shoulder, now wrapped with
uncomfortable tightness. Her arms ached as if she'd spent entirely too
much time in the gym, and been too lazy to take a hot bath afterwards.
Even her head throbbed.
A pill would have been nice right then. Something to keep her moving
through the pain, and get her out of bed.
Instead she sighed and lay still, so as not to aggravate her
throbbing shoulder. Thankfully, knowing it wasn't an option didn't seem
quite as grim as it had several days before. She was alive, and that was
something. Alive and safe. At least for now.
"Oh, you're awake? It's a bit early for you, isn't it?" The voice
was surprised, but pleasantly so. Then, more gently, "How do you feel?"
Abigail closed her eye and sighed again. It was Chopper. But then,
who else would have treated her wounds and bandaged her up? This was
something that Abigail really didn't need to deal with, feeling so
groggy and uncomfortable. The woman had managed to destroy her self
confidence and break her heart in one terrible evening, but since then
had saved her life in the alleys and had actually shouted that she still
cared about her, after everything she had done. But only *after* having
slept with Erin, according to rumour.
And Abigail still had her possibly wounded friends and a damned
Super Mutant to worry about. No, she did not want to deal with Chopper
right now.
"Unhh. I'm okay, I guess."
It came out more confrontationally than she intended. After all,
hopefully Chopper had put the whole sorry mess behind her already if she
was back with Erin. But that did not make as much of a difference to
Abigail's state of mind as she had hoped.
Chopper's voice came back quieter, and more curt now. "I see."
That was it for a moment. Abigail looked down past her feet to where
the woman's voice came from. It was hard to make out, but lit both by
the one candle and the green glow of Abigail's PipBoy screen, Chopper
sat at a table by the side of the room. Her medical bag was open and her
tools spread across the tabletop, but she wasn't working.
"You've certainly been in better shape," Chopper finally said. Her
voice, though still quiet, had returned to its normal, level tone. "But
you'll heal eventually. It wasn't a bad break, for a gunshot. Try to
sleep some more."
Yes, that was better. If any talking was going to happen, it wasn't
going to be now. Feeling relieved Abigail tried to take her advice, but
now that she was awake she found that more rest would not come easily.
"... Why have you got my PipBoy?"
"It has a decent light. And you wear it on your left arm. You'll
have to change that for a while."
A sudden worried butterfly flitted through Abigail's stomach.
"You've haven't read my diary, have you?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Just... don't." Not that I've used it recently, she thought. But
still, things had changed.
Another few minutes of uncomfortable silence followed. "Chopper? Did
anyone die?"
"A lot of people died. Go to sleep. We can talk about that
tomorrow."
"Chopper!"
"Tomorrow. You need rest, and I still have work to do."
So there were still people in trouble then, and Chopper was still
needed, even though the sun had gone down.
"What time is it?"
"Three twenty seven, according to your gadget."
Late then. "You aren't going to sleep?"
Chopper's silhouette shifted. "If I do then Hickman dies."
"Oh no..." That wasn't fair. He was one of the good ones! Why him!?
Because he couldn't keep up any more, part of her mind told her.
Because his old injuries slowed him down. Because it was too much to
hope they had got through without any further casualties. Because one or
two bullets of the hundreds fired that day happened to find their mark.
Because someone else had rolled the dice, and got lucky.
"I told you, we can talk about it later. Worrying is only going to
keep you awake."
Abigail had always hated it when Chopper was right. Especially when
it was for the right reasons.
"You can save him, right?"
"Maybe. I wouldn't be trying if it wasn't possible."
***
The soft, flickering candle had been replaced by the white glare of
sunlight on the walls when Abigail finally woke again. The blinds were
drawn and what little light there was cast itself across the hastily
painted walls rather than down onto her, but it still made her reel
before she could find her sunglasses on one of the bedside stands,
groping for them one handed.
Then her shoulder objected, echoed by her head, as she slowly
managed to slip them on. Perhaps she ought not to be moving like that
yet.
However, her only alternative was to lie in bed, watching the rays
of sun march across the room. That was even less appealing than the pain
that had already begun to subside. Chopper had probably given her
another stimpak, pain faded so quickly, and though she had shifted out
of it in her sleep there was a sling resting around her neck.
With great care she eased her left arm into it again, hissing when
it protested, and she rose. She was just wearing her jumpsuit, but she
did not like the idea of getting her leathers back on again, wherever
they might have been. Instead she slipped her feet into the mismatched
boots that sat by the dresser, not bothering to try and tie them, and
headed out. Chopper's things were still strewn across the tabletop,
minus the medical tin and Abigail's PipBoy, but they could be left. If
nothing else, Abigail wanted to find out where exactly she was, and more
importantly where everyone *else* was.
It was actually very disconcerting, stepping out of a bedroom and
not being met by a long corridor lined with doors to similar rooms.
There was a room opposite, with a bed and a trunk at its foot, but that
was all, and the brief hall opened into a much larger room filled with
both a kitchen and living space, which looked into one of Corva's
winding alleyways.
This was what a normal house was in Corva. However briefly she had
visited it, Bason's had been very similar.
As soon as she emerged all three pairs of eyes in that room turned
to greet her, and before Abigail could even say hello Sharn was out of
her chair and rushing to hug her.
"Abby-girl! I thought you weren't going to wake up at all at this
rate!"
It was a calm and careful embrace, much more restrained than her
voice was, and while it still hurt to be held Abigail didn't mind in the
least. She was just glad to see Sharn alive and well after all.
"Ow, ehe, I'm so glad you're okay," Abigail beamed, hanging onto
Sharn even as the woman realised that it must have hurt and tried to
pull away. "I was so scared, I thought you'd be dead."
"I thought so too," Sharn admitted. She rubbed at a bandage that had
been tied around her head, just above her eyebrows. It made her
voluminous hair look puffed upwards like a stook of corn. "But I got off
lightly."
From the table, a pint of beer in his hand, Rathley chuckled.
"You're a tough bitch if you call a cracked skull 'light', sugar."
Abigail's concern immediately blossomed on her face, but Sharn waved
it off. "Really, I'm okay. I must have fallen pretty hard. Just don't
hit me there and I'll be fine. You on the other hand, ought to be
sitting down."
Abigail didn't protest as she was led to the chair Sharn had
vacated. It was nice to be looked after right now. "And what about you
two?" she asked. "And Simon? Is he okay?"
Both Kyle and Sharn's faces fell, while Rathley's simply firmed
slightly. After that Abigail knew the answer before any of them gave it.
"Simon didn't wake up," Kyle said at last. "We thought he might have
pulled through, he didn't look any worse than Sia, but he must have been
closer to the blast."
"Oh." That was a blow. A heavy one. Both he and Trevor had been
killed chasing after their revenge. Abigail couldn't help but think that
it couldn't have been worth it. "And Jassic died. I know. I saw it
happen."
"Yeah," Rathley agreed, sucking air through his teeth, "that was
nasty. Quick though."
Kyle went to the stove and retrieved a lukewarm pan of coffee,
pouring some for her.
"Who else?" Abigail asked as she accepted the cup.
"Your girl, Vas," Rathley replied. "Got cooked in that car out back.
Damn thing was still live. Went up like nobody's business." He chuckled.
"It was a decent bit of cover too, apart from that. She and Bason
probably took down that mutant on their own, almost."
"And Bason?"
"He's fine," said Kyle. "A few scratches. He never got past the back
wall, but it kept him out of the line of fire."
"Wyatt and Gnash got shot up," Rathley added. "Don't know if you
talked to them. Didn't choose the best of times to come and back us up,
when the last lot of raider's came runnin' out. Took a bullet myself in
that lot."
He pulled out his chair, and Abigail could see that his stomach was
bound up, like her shoulder was.
"Uh, is it bad?" She had to ask but he didn't seem to be in any
discomfort at all. He even laughed about it.
"Nah, Chopper got some good meds after the fight, and I've been
patched up enough to know this ain't even gonna slow me down."
"Uh," Sharn seemed to hesitate, adding her own casualty to the
table, "Hickman died last night. One of the Raiders on the upper floors
hit him, apparently."
"He did die?"
Kyle nodded. "Chopper told you then?"
Abigail nodded.
"We thought he might make it. The bullet only got his bad side."
Kyle tapped his chest to illustrate. "But it went right through. We
didn't get Chopper to him in time."
Abigail sighed and closed her eyes, sipping the warm drink. "She
said she thought she could heal him."
Rathley nodded. "Yeah, she was real pissy about that this mornin'."
"The rest of our cart made it okay though," Sharn assured her.
"Lumps and scratches, and a few minor gunshots, but nothing lethal."
It was enough, Abigail thought, but she was grateful that the list
wasn't longer. "What about you, Kyle?"
He shrugged, subdued, but trying to lighten the mood. "I'm fine.
They didn't touch me."
"Lucky bastard," Rathley said with a smile.
"You're slow, old man."
Kyle stopped and turned back to Abigail. "By the way, you probably
want this back."
He laid a knife on the table that Abigail instantly recognised as
hers.
"You left it in a Heart."
***
While it was good to listen to her friends talk and bicker again,
the company alone was not enough to keep Abigail indoors. They could
tell her about the battle, and of the hunt for roaming Hearts that had
lasted well into the evening, Abigail still had questions that they
hadn't been able to answer.
Most important, to Abigail's mind, was what had happened to
Stephanie. Abigail had passed out on that rooftop leaving the gunsmith
alone with the Super Mutant she had called Manny, but as for what had
happened after that the others couldn't say. She was alive, that much
was certain, but the Mercs and Scavs in their army had been more worried
about rounding up the remaining Hearts or claiming some loot on the sly.
Had the mutant simply sat and waited to be found? If so, then why?
Abigail had half expected not to wake up at all after exhaustion had
forced her to submit to Stephanie's request, and let the monster be.
Then again, Abigail was glad she had. She had been ready to tackle
the creature off the roof, and if she'd risked it then she *wouldn't*
have woken up again, regardless of whether she had succeeded or not.
That much would have been certain.
So, what had been done with the Super Mutant, now that it was under
Stephanie's care? And Erin's, if rumour was to be believed. How could
they be remotely safe alone with a beast that had been shooting
Brotherhood level explosives into their people?
No-one seemed to care much. The Mercs were too pre-occupied with
licking their wounds and tallying up their scavenged bounty, while the
townsfolk who had stayed and weathered the occupation, or who had been
captured and since released, were laying claim to the finest houses and
farms that their neighbours had abandoned.
Even Sharn seemed content to accept this new status quo. "If anyone
knows, if would be Stephanie. She was captured by them. She knows him."
"But look at what they did! What if it's like Stockholm syndrome or
something?"
Sharn had only looked at her in confusion. "Stock-what-syndrome?
Abby, Erin's a smart girl. I'm sure she and Steph know what they are
doing, whatever that is."
Abigail hadn't disagreed. She didn't want to fight, and she was too
mentally drained to argue the point. It was Erin's decision, but Abigail
still would have liked to know what had happened to them since the
battle, and why they hadn't just killed the monster.
She'd thought of going back to the police station to ask directly,
but before she'd even got close she had been ambushed by one of the
groups of townies, rushing about to claim tools or goods they could use.
"Hey, hey are you Abigail? Hey guys! You know who this is?!"
Abigail had stopped short, surprised that anyone would make such a
fuss. "Uh, yes, that's me. Can I help you?"
"I told you!" said the young man excitedly. "She's the one who
fought back the mutant on top of the station!"
Instantly the six strong mob had fallen on her, thanking her for
'saving the town', single-handed if you were to hear them go on.
"Seriously, did you fight it bare handed?"
"Damn, I thought you'd be taller. I nearly didn't recognise you
without the jacket."
"We would have been dead if it weren't for you, girl. Anything you
want, just ask."
"Guys, can't you tell she's out of your league?"
"I'm thanking her, asshole! She took a beating for us!"
"Yeah, you okay now? I got stimpaks if you need 'em?"
Abigail couldn't have got a word in edgeways if she'd tried, but
she'd been caught off guard and thoroughly unprepared for this sort of
treatment. Instead she backed up a step, her throat dry, and tried to do
what Rathley managed so well. Act cool, and stay in control.
"Guys, hey!"
All six of them shut up as one.
She smiled a little. What do you know, she thought. It worked.
"Thanks, but I have somewhere to be. Just... get this place back on its
feet, okay?"
One of the more confident young men beamed back at her and nodded.
"You bet, Miss. Come on boys, stop bothering her and get back to it."
Once they had swaggered away she let out a sigh. It was nice to be
praised like that, but it didn't half make her nervous. If that was what
was waiting for her at the police house - probably swarming with people
as Erin restored order to the town - Abigail could put her questions
off. She didn't want to think that it wasn't her business, but she could
at least trust that they knew what they were doing.
And that they weren't going to lower their guard around 'Manny'.
So, as several of the townies had clearly been wondering, where
exactly *was* she going?
Well, she did still have friends she wanted to check on, and they
weren't too far from there.
***
The Seven Feet Under had never been a hive of activity in Abigail's
experience, but now with reconstruction and recovery starting get
underway the place seemed deserted even by that comparison. Not all of
Corva's ghoul population had frequented the place, and Abigail had only
really socialised with Christian's group of friends, or the few women
she had met there like Celia.
Now the tables lay empty, a pack of cards or box of dominoes lying
at each one, unmindful of potential theft. Who would have stolen a
ghoul's meagre pastimes? Likewise the bar was lined with empty stools
and chairs. Geoffrey, the grisly and grizzled barman, sat behind his
counter with a glass of rotgut, paying no attention to the few ghouls
within - who were either too uninterested in the town's reclaimed
freedom or were physically incapable of helping out around the town.
"Uh, hi Geoff. Can I get a glass of sipping liquor please?"
Abigail was fond of the ghouls, but even then she'd never really
liked Geoffrey. He was brusque and curt, and seemed to treat his job as
owner of the clubhouse as a chore, even as he defended it like it was
his own child. She didn't really want the drink, but he would think he
was wasting his time if she asked a question without putting a cap his
way.
Geoff huffed and hauled himself out of his chair to fetch the
bottle. "Uhhh. One glass of liquor. That's a cap then."
Abigail nodded and handed over the bottle cap that she already had
in her hand. "Um, is Christian here?"
Geoff rolled his eyes. "Nope. Off do-gooding. Celia's here though,
'course. You probably want to talk to her."
He pointed over behind the bar area to the settees, and true enough
Celia was sat there. To her surprise, Kirren was with her. Abigail took
her drink. "Thanks Geoff."
As ever Celia sat slightly hunched, but as upright and proper as she
could probably manage. Kirren on the other hand lay sprawled against the
back of the sofa, a glass of viciously clear spirit in her one hand.
Celia was quick to greet her when she appeared. "Habigail! Plhease,
come and sit whith us?"
For someone so calm and gentle, this was the most animated that
Abigail had ever seen Celia. Kirren, less so.
"Hey," the one armed Merc said with a tipsy smile, raising her glass
as Abigail sat down on a chair opposite. "You did well, so I hear. What
are you doin' here?"
Abigail put her glass down on their table. "I was going to see if
Stephanie was okay, but since she's probably with Erin, and the police
station is probably crowded..."
Kirren waved off her concern without a second thought. "Don't worry
about them. They got it all sorted, apparently. Erin's got everyone she
can running around and re-building, and sending out word that Corva's
safe again. If there's one thing she does well, it's organising people."
"I whould be helping whith Christ'hian and Halbert as whell," Celia
said, "bhut I fear I whould be in the whay."
Kirren agreed. "Yeah. It's not like we haven't done our bit already,
anyway."
There was a trace of post-combat depression there, but Abigail
guessed she would have felt the same if she had been set on the
sidelines after the fight just because of a disability, rather than
injury.
"So, you came here?" Abigail asked her. For someone who had played
just as large a role in the fighting as she had, it seemed odd that a
talented Merc like Kirren would have sought out the ghouls again when
there was a whole town apparently eager to lavish praise upon them.
"You're here, aren't you?" Kirren quipped with a smile. She took a
sip of her drink. "Celia, Geoff, they stuck around. They picked me up
when I needed it when they could have stayed walled up here. It's better
to have friends than flatterers, isn't it?"
That Abigail could agree with. "So what happened after I left? You
look like you handled the Hearts better than I did." She flexed her left
hand, poking from the sling.
Kirren see-sawed her head back and forth, seemingly not convinced.
"I spend the rest of the fight stuck in that stairwell. I'm not used to
close quarters gunfights yet, and there were dozens of those bastards.
Oh, I killed enough of them, but I don't like all that popping-out-and-
shooting-from-cover business, and you can only take so much ammunition.
Thankfully I held out long enough for the cavalry to join me. And the
last half dozen surrendered or suicided."
"And you didn't get shot," Abigail noted.
"Not for want of trying. And I'm covered in bruises from that
stairwell wall."
"Khirren was saying," Celia added, steering the conservation
forwards rather than back to the fight, "that Herin whill be harranging
prhoper payments once hall the whork hassignments are mhade. Hand what
to do whith the Hearts' mhutant. Hit was strhange to see one so hunlike
hourselves."
Abigail's eyes widened. "You saw it?!"
Celia nodded. "He is quhite lharge, isn't he? There whas mhuch
debate habout him lhast nhight."
"Debate? Like what?"
"Whether he gets shot. He's not the only Heart we took alive, and
that was Erin's reason for not having him executed on the spot. Which
kept the more vocal Mercs from objecting."
Oh, how Abigail would have objected if she had been in any state to
do so.
"And look at him. Erin probably wants to keep him for the same
reason the Hearts did."
"But he's a monster!"
Celia's expression dropped into something so sorrowful that Abigail
could guess what she was going to say even before she said it.
"Whe were human once."
And that just wasn't fair. "No! Celia, no, you're nothing like that
creature! He shot rockets at us!"
"He also took a bullet to the chest and two more to the stomach, un-
armoured, and lived to tell about it. He could do the work of ten men
putting this town back together. Would you complain if he was on your
side?"
"But he's not," Abigail went on. She couldn't afford the luxury of
doubt. Not when those creatures had slaughtered their way through her
vault, cost Kirren her arm, killed Jassic, Simon and Vas, and even been
the reason Old Bert had died under friendly fire. "He's *not* on our
side."
Kirren shrugged. "Well, we'll both get to have our say tomorrow."
"Huh?" Abigail looked up at her.
Kirren blinked and began to smile again, realising Abigail hadn't
yet been told. "Erin's got a dozen of us on the list to decide how to
sort this town out, Abby. From scratch, just about. And you certainly
made your mark yesterday. You were already something of an icon, and now
you're a town hero too. The Townies like listening heroes. How could
Erin could get away with *not* inviting you?"
***
After that Abigail chose not to visit the station after all. The
situation had been taken out of her hands once she had passed out on the
roof, and if Erin and Stephanie were putting the mutant issue up for
debate then they were both none the worse for their encounter with it.
She could scarcely believe they were considering that 'Manny' could be
trusted, or even just easily leashed, and Abigail would say as much if
her voice could be counted, but that would not happen until tomorrow. If
she went to see them now the topic would undoubtedly come up, and she
did not want to quarrel with either Erin or Stephanie yet. For now she
was just content knowing that they were safe and sorting out their
affairs, whether she got to see them or not.
Instead Abigail spent what remained of the morning with Kirren and
Celia. Christian, Albert and Nigel had joined them for something to eat,
but after that Abigail left Kirren and the ghouls to their afternoon.
The pain in her shoulder had started to become more than just an
inconvenience, and she had returned to her room in the house she and her
Scav companions had been given to get herself a stimpak.
The anaesthetics had done their job well. She had intended to visit
several other old acquaintances to see how they had survived the
invasion, if indeed they had, but after lying down to let the stimpak
kick in it became too much effort to leave again. Instead she dozed
through the afternoon, and was woken when Sharn had brought her some
dinner.
"Wha..? I fell asleep?"
Sharn had just nodded and sat next to her on the bed, a bowl of rat-
meat broth in her hands. "You probably still needed it."
"Uhg. I'll never sleep tonight now."
And she had been right. The moon was high in the sky by the time she
gave up trying, and ventured out into the cold air. She left her shades
on the bedroom table and pulled her jacket around her shoulders as best
she could to ward off the night time chill, but when she reached the
first of the farm pens to the east, only a few minutes away from the
house, she knew she would not be staying out long.
Still, the extra rest seemed to have done her good, allowing the
stimpak to work its chemical magic on her shoulder while she had slept.
It still hurt, quite badly, but it was a much less sharp pain than it
had been the night before, or that morning.
"What are you doing out?"
Chopper's voice made her turn, completely unprepared to meet another
soul out in the darkness, least of all her. While Abigail could see well
enough by the moonlight, Chopper carried her PipBoy with the green light
turned back on again. It made for a poor torch, only lighting up a few
feet of the darkness, but it was better than nothing and it didn't hurt
her eyes. The fact that the woman had it again made Abigail frown, but
she had forgotten it herself when she had gone out that morning.
"I spent all afternoon in bed. I had to get out."
Thankfully Chopper didn't seem to care, and if it had been an
accusation she let it drop. "And you come *here*?"
Chopper looked out over the brahmin pens, and to the rows of dry but
not quite dead grain. Abigail hadn't gone there specifically. She'd just
started walking, and this was where she could see between the now sparse
buildings to the desert beyond. The flat expanse was strangely beautiful
by moonlight, Abigail had found.
"Why not? And how come *you* aren't in bed? I thought you didn't get
any sleep last night."
"I didn't," Chopper replied, leaning on the wooden fence of the
brahmin pen. "I finished putting the last of our Mercs back together
before it got dark. Then I heard you muttering to yourself next door.
Then I heard you leave."
Abigail turned back to the view of the desert. "I'll head back when
I'm ready. I need the air."
"Who said I was taking you back? I haven't had a chance to talk to
you since last night."
"Talk? You came out here in the dark to talk? About what? I thought
Erin was the one you'd want to be spending your time with now?"
Chopper laughed. Enough to worry Abigail. "What?"
"I guess people would think that, wouldn't they. But you know what I
think of her, Abby."
"You slept with her!"
Chopper nodded. "I gave her what she thought she wanted." Chopper's
smile turned ironic. "I pretended. I think we both wished I hadn't given
in, after the fact."
"W-what? If you hurt her..."
"She wanted me to love her. So I did. I gave her everything I had.
And she knew I was faking it all. She took it harder than I expected."
Chopper sighed, her smile having vanished now. "So, I doubt she'll be
bothering me again."
That was... weird. Hadn't Erin *wanted* Chopper back, at any cost?
"What? She just changed her mind? You had to have done something!"
Chopper gave her a sidewise glance. "You two are opposites, pretty
much, but you're both still naive. Romantic. She wanted romance. She
wanted to be in love again, not to be fucking someone and having to make
believe. She's too sensitive for that, at least in the bedroom."
"You knew she'd be upset, then."
"You don't approve?"
"Of course not!" Abigail fumed. "You're so cruel!"
To her surprise Chopper actually nodded in agreement, but her face
was dark. "I know what I am. Better than you do, Abby. And I know I can
make mistakes. I wanted to make the break with Erin, make my point, but
I didn't want her to end up crying in our bed." She paused for a moment.
"I didn't want you to hate me like this either."
Abigail wanted to object, but Chopper forged ahead, clearly intent
to say what she had in mind. "You were acting like a petulant child, and
I'd told you what you were getting into. You did it anyway, and you
thought you could do it behind my back."
"Like you'd have reacted any different!"
Chopper clearly had no answer for that. "... Maybe not. But you paid
for your mistakes, during a crisis no less. That's pretty impressive."
Abigail didn't know what to think of that. So she scoffed. Chopper
had conceded the high ground, so Abigail could retaliate. "Impressive,
but not worth an apology?"
"You wouldn't be willing to forgive me if I apologised, so I'll save
my breath until you are." Chopper's response was hard, but not
unfeeling. Abigail couldn't tell if it was accusing or hurt, or a
mixture of the two. "And I think you *can* forgive me. I'll stick around
for that."
Abigail watched as Chopper stood up straight again and turned away.
"Don't stay out too long, or you'll catch a chill." She held up the
PipBoy. "I'll leave this in your room."
She walked back leaving Abigail still agitated, but now more than a
little confused.
***
Erin arranged a smaller meeting than Abigail had expected that
following day, nine people in all, and there were few faces among them
she did not recognise. Some like Stephanie were notable merchants or
labourers, while there were several who had a vested interest in the
towns politics or trade. The remaining two had played a visible and
decisive part in the fighting; Kirren and Abigail herself.
The surprise was that, of the fighters, it was only the two of them
to be invited. Even Rathley, popular with the township despite his lax
morals, had not been included. Abigail could have thought of many other
people more suited to take her seat, but as Kyle had said, they hadn't
stood up on the edge of the police station to signal their victory. She
hadn't really intended it to be taken like that at the time, but
apparently it had made an impression.
At the far side of the table sat Erin, Lilis, and the man Abigail
knew as the announcer from the town's rat fights. He was, it turned out,
responsible for all the sports evens in Corva, bloody or not, and he
gesticulated furiously as he explained his concerns.
"Without a draw to bring people *back* we wont be *able* to
repopulate. The farms are withering from neglect, and even if we find
enough people to man them they have never provided enough product to
trade with *outsiders*. And if our remaining township are farming, who
is making and maintaining the goods and services we can trade with the
caravans?"
Erin's answer was succinct, but not without concern. "The Hearts
left us supplies and arms, and we've come through the fight with less
bounty grabbing than I'd expected. Financially, the short term isn't too
much of an issue. If we can't *feed* people, then they can't live here,
and the farms are valuable enough that they can be given to the families
who supported most during the occupation without need to further
'reward' them."
"And the water caravans?" the Rat Man asked.
"They need no incentive to do business here. And the pump house can
supply those of us already here, at least." Lilis' analysis was cold,
but made a lot of sense. "The farms will have to trade for water for
crops and the brahmin, of course, but they will also be the few with
resources to trade with. The five farms here supported this town at full
strength, on a good year."
Bason sat along the side of the table, opposite Abigail and Kirren,
next to the two men Abigail had never met. One had been Mayor Golway's
right hand man in expanding the town, while the other was the Trade
Master, and the man who organised the caravans and settled resource
disputes. It was he who spoke up next.
"And if we have a bad year?"
The man was not one for excessive talk, it seemed. Abigail hadn't
even caught his name. But he had a sterling presence at the table, and a
soft but absolute way with his words.
"Then we sell the armoury surplus." Erin sighed. "We have no town
guard to arm with it, and I will not hire in more mercenaries to fill
the posts left by the last lot."
She turned to Abigail and Kirren. "I trust that the ones we have are
capable enough, for now."
Kirren arched an eyebrow. "I doubt most of us would turn tail and
run, if that's what you mean."
Bason agreed. "They wouldn't be here if they were that sort.
Especially if the spoils are generous."
In fact, the spoils Erin had promised now were more than just
generous. As long as the Mercs were willing to add their loot to the
town pot, both an equivalent of one thousand caps would be awarded to
each in spoils, and a home within the town. An actual home, furnished
and maintained to a liveable standard, for life. There were enough
houses belonging to the confirmed dead to make it feasible, but each one
would be worth far more than the owner's share of spoils. Houses were
not often bought in the wasteland. They were inherited, or built with
sweat and blood. Most in Corva had been built well for scrap and clay
constructions, and an unneeded house might be worth a fortune, either to
a wealthy artisan or by way of renting to travellers, longer term.
And if the owner could not be bothered to try and get an unwanted
property to make money, the town would be happy to buy it back for a
reasonable price, though notably less than its real worth.
"We will just have to trust that policing will not be needed in full
beyond organising security for the farms, and issuing supplies."
Erin took a deep breath. "Right, no other concerns there? Next. The
Super Mutant."
"Manny," Stephanie corrected.
Abigail tensed, making her stimpak-anesthetised shoulder ache, but
Erin nodded. "Manny. Firstly, our positions here should be clear. Raise
your hand if you think he and the other captured Hearts should be
executed."
It was a no brainer. Abigail raised her hand. To her surprise, so
did Erin. Even more shocking, Kirren did not.
The vote was split five to four in favour of not killing them. Bason
and the trade master were the other two in favour, but they were not
Erin's focus. "Why I want them dead is obvious. I expected not to get my
revenge at the end of this, but I didn't expect to be outvoted so soon.
I would like to know why the rest of you are so willing to be lenient."
"Simple," the Rat Man said. "The raiders surrendered. They belong to
us now, and the mutant is improbably valuable, even as nothing but a
freak show attraction. People won't come here to see ghouls, but they'll
flock to see that creature!"
"He's a liability," the trade master retorted, clearly appalled.
"Raiders should not be tolerated. A raider that could demolish a Merc
troop single-handed, doubly so!"
Abigail agreed wholeheartedly. "Even if they are people," she
exclaimed, looking specifically at Stephanie, "they don't do anything
but kill! They killed everyone in my vault, and all they cared about
afterwards was that we didn't have enough supplies for them to steal!
This one decided that joining up with the Hearts was a good idea!"
Erin looked at the five forgiving men and women. "My father was a
lenient man, but if he hadn't been so trusting he might not have been
abandoned by his own guards and left to die."
"Raiders are nor irredeemable," Kirren said, calmly breaking the
brief moment of thought that followed. "A rare few might not even like
what they do. They're people, and what the town is lacking right now is
people. A workforce. The Hearts as a gang may well not recover from this
attack, and if they do it won't be for many years. What you have are six
people whose lives depend on your good grace, and another who could do
the work of ten men in rebuilding the south side. If he had enough
principles to try and protect Stephanie and the other captive women from
the Hearts, then he might be willing to do some good out here."
Stephanie immediately leapt on the chance to voice her opinion.
"Manny was part of an army, on the other side of the Cobalt Line. He was
trained to kill humans, but his army was beaten, and the Mutant that he
calls 'The Master' was killed. He and his friends fled this way,
fighting off the Brotherhood until he got to the Cobalt Line. Only four
of his group made it there. One was killed by some sort of nightmare
creature in the Line, and the Hearts were the first people he, Paxel and
Brute stumbled on when they got to this side. He's the only one left
now, at least from his group.
"If that had been you, and the Hearts made you a deal to keep you
fed and teach you about this side of the Line, wouldn't you have taken
it?"
Bason looked at Stephanie long and hard. "He looked after you
girls?"
Stephanie nodded. "Paxel didn't care so much - he didn't like any
humans apparently, which is why the Hearts kept him guarding outside -
but Manny tried to help."
"Yes," Lilis said, her voice dark. "There were a few of those women
the raiders didn't get to rape."
"He tried!" Stephanie implored.
Lilis raised a placating hand. "I know. A few spared is better than
none. I'd keep him and kill the others, if that were an option."
"It's not, Lilis," Erin replied. "If this town wants mutant
equality, it has to live with it all the way."
"I know."
Then, from the back of the room, the creak of a door opening stopped
the debate as Manny squeezed himself through the small doorframe.
"Manny! You're not supposed to be here."
The Super Mutant ignored Stephanie and walked in, causing the trade
master to flee his chair with a cry. Manny removed the empty chair and
sat in its place.
"We're not so bright any more, after the dip. We know it. And
humans're nothing but trouble. 'specially vault people." He stared at
Abigail. "But we don't want to die. We don't have an army no more. The
Hearts were a good army, seemed like. It was nice being strong again."
"You killed my best friend," Bason accused as he sat next to the
lumbering giant.
Manny nodded. "You killed mine too. Killed him first. Doesn't
matter. If you don't kill me, I'll fix what I broke."
"And why would we consider trusting you?" Erin asked.
Kirren knew the answer to that. "Because he *is* going to die,
whatever happens. Everyone is talking about the Brotherhood's
conspicuous absence, but they will be here eventually. And if he runs
he'll be caught and gutted by someone sooner or later. He was a Heart,
so the Diamonds won't take him in, with their pride. And even if he did
turn on us eventually, everyone would be on guard for it. He'd be gunned
down before he got out of town."
"You hide me when Brotherhood comes," Manny said. "Say I got away.
You said me and Hearts belong to you now? It's true. You keep me, I work
for you. I can be loyal to you instead, long as you keep me secret."
"And you trust him, Steph?"
"Yes. I trusted him with my life."
Erin nodded. "Then the question is: Who is going to divide opinion
out there when we put him and his 'friends' to work."
And as much as she might have wanted to, just out of spite, Abigail
would never have had the heart to object. As scared as she might have
been of what could happen, Corva needed a united front to stand behind
as it recovered. She looked to Stephanie's hopeful eyes, then Bason's
resigned ones, and finally to Kirren and her confident, knowing gaze,
and she remained quiet. It wasn't the hardest thing she'd ever had to
do, but right then it felt like it wasn't far off.
***
Abigail had few opinions to give after that, but her opinions had
only really been required for a few of the matters being brought to the
table. She was there to endorse whatever decisions were made, a mostly
objective outsider in matters of politics and commerce, and a voice that
people would be willing to listen to after the crisis.
Erin would be announcing their plans soon enough, but not all of
them stayed to take their supportive stand beside her. While the town
planner's role was clear, and his appearance with them largely
unnecessary, Lilis also departed with few words after the meeting was
done. It was clear that she, probably more than anyone else besides the
trade master, would be acting as Erin's advisor when it came to matters
of people and politics, but her sudden disappearance made Abigail
wonder. What exactly was Lilis going to be doing now? If she wasn't
going to make a visible role for herself as a trusted aide to the new
Mayor, what did they have in mind for their working relationship?
Was Lilis going to remain a prostitute, locked away until either her
customers or the town paid for her? Surely this was a chance to move on
from that. Unless she was owned in the same way Kyle's old girlfriend
had been. A sobering thought.
"Hey, don't look so down."
Stephanie came over to her as those of them who were left waited for
the announcement to begin from within the police house. She wore her
iconic straw had again, looking far more alive and vibrant than the
tired and anxious woman she had been only a few days before. "I know you
don't like him, but he's not as bad as a lot of people I've met, you
know?"
"Huh? Oh. I wasn't thinking about... Manny."
Stephanie smiled and sat down next to her. "Liar. But I think being
around people like us will be good for him."
Abigail didn't know about that, but she had to try and give the
mutant a chance. It had already been decided, and if ghouls like Celia
could identify with a monster like that... maybe Abigail's anger towards
them was too deeply rooted to be healthy. "I'm sorry, but I don't want
to talk about him. I was thinking about Lilis. You don't know her much,
do you?"
Stephanie shook her head. "Nope. Even Erin doesn't. Not really.
There's some story about how she ended up being the town negotiator,
apparently, but I've never heard it. And Erin either doesn't know, or
doesn't want to tell. I mean, she said Lilis never got out much. That's
what's got you down?"
"Sort of. It was never like this in the cinema. We beat the bad
guys, but there's still a lot to do before everything's back to normal."
"That's life. Don't worry about it so much, Abby. We're grown hardy
out here. Here."
She held out her hand, and in it were two grenades. Abigail stared
down at them, a little lost.
"You never used them. So they're a thank you, for rescuing me. And
for getting shot up for my home." She was wearing an infectious smile.
"Just don't go throwing them at people's faces, point bank. If it had
gone off on impact we'd *all* have died. Risky, Abby."
"It was all I could think of at the time."
"Well, be glad it worked. I sure has hell am."
***
"So, they're keeping the mutant then?"
Chopper's voice was unconcerned, but by now Abigail welcomed that.
She had been bombarded with approval and appreciation all afternoon,
after Erin's public announcements. The girl had made a point of
mentioning Abigail's vault, and how even now tolerance could win out in
the face of surface hardships.
God, she had been angry at that. It was hideously manipulative, but
it worked. Manny had been trotted out like a prized catch after that, to
pledge his service to the town after his mistakes. The Hearts that had
followed, offered servitude or death, had been a footnote by comparison.
None had chosen to die.
And Abigail had borne it. Erin was right, after all. That one mutant
was worth more to the town than any kind of bartering resource. It was a
quick ticket to recovery, with a sword of wasteland prejudice hanging
over its head to keep it in line. Corva was the perfect place for it to
seek asylum. Too bad it had tried to destroy it.
Abigail hadn't looked up as the intruder had entered her room. She
just kept quiet and tried to shrug off her jacket, so that the doctor
had access to change her dressings.
"Honestly, I'm surprised," Chopper continued when an answer to her
question was not forthcoming. "Erin doesn't have her father's fondness
for wasteland unfortunates. I guess this one is more useful than the
ghouls."
Abigail sighed. "You didn't used to talk this much."
"... I did. But you were the one trying to make conversation, back
then."
That was true enough. It was the Buffout that had turned her into a
recluse, almost. But she was wiser now, and as such there was less to
talk about. And the combination of her injuries and Chopper's
painkillers had blurred the line between recovery and her lingering
withdrawals.
"It's decided Chopper. There's nothing to talk about. And they're
right. I don't like it, but they are."
"Welcome back to adulthood." Chopper smiled as she undid Abigail's
bandages. "And you could have disagreed, but you let them decide
instead. She wouldn't have done that in your place."
"And neither would you. I get it."
"Maybe. Depends how worthwhile the result is. She's risking a run-in
with the Brotherhood." Chopper's eyes narrowed. "That's sure as hell not
worth getting caught on, but damn well worth getting away with."
Apparently Manny himself didn't come into the equation at all in
Chopper's mind. "And the *mutant*?"
The doctor shrugged. "I've banked on *Rathley* watching my back."
That was a poor comparison in Abigail's eyes, and unfair, but
Rathley *had* actively got them into trouble, and very nearly killed.
And Chopper was doing this to try and draw her out again. Trying
hard to be friends. Commendable no matter how annoying it was, but
Abigail wasn't to be swayed.
"Rathley's better than that. Maybe the way I thought *you* were..."
Chopper's pleasant expression dissolved into a blank glare. "Ouch."
"But even if he's not, he wouldn't kill a family out of greed."
Chopper replaced the dressings around Abigail's wound before
beginning to tie the bandage again, and resuming the conversation. "He's
done as bad. Believe me, he'll kill out of *convenience* if he feels
like it. But he's clever, at least. He'll give himself a way out. *We*
were that way out in Micasa."
"Then why do you stick around with him?"
"You know the reason for that."
Abigail did. He was one of the best survivalists out there, if
rumour was to be believed. For a Scav team, that was the most important
skill available. "There's not much to talk about then. You can stop
trying to win me over. It won't work."
To her surprise, Chopper seemed to relax a little. "Then you won't
be the first woman to walk away from me, if that time comes. I'll
survive, but I won't be pushed away just yet. You have too much
potential to throw back into the water."
Abigail huffed. Petty or not, she didn't want Chopper enjoying her
attempts at revenge. "I'm flattered," she replied with more than a touch
of sarcasm. "I didn't realise I was that good in bed."
Chopper's amused eyebrow rose. "You learn quickly. But with all that
drive behind you it'd be a shame to leave you without anywhere to go.
That's Erin's problem. She knows what she wants, but she can't do it for
herself. She needs approval. People to take her there. You? You'll
charge in on your own. But you don't know where to charge to, do you?"
"Chopper, stop it. Please." I don't need you people trying to
psychoanalyse or flatter me when I'm trying to work out what I want!
Chopper did as she was told and stepped back, her work done. "As
long as you understand. We can show where you might want to go, if you
need the help."
***
Abigail's worry was that, even now, she was reliant on people like
Chopper and Rathley for guidance. She had spent several months living on
the surface, but in all that time what did she know of her options? She
could not stay in Corva, that much was clear. Rathley's group had taken
her along because she had proven herself to be more than a Townie, and
she had enough ego to feel that she could do better than that.
Daily life on the farms in the town of Robert had been informative,
but they had lacked something. Simply surviving did not bring her the
same satisfaction as travelling with Sharn had her friends had done.
Likewise, the weeks of leisure in Willets High had been made bearable by
her friends there, both her current group and Casey's, but without them
her introspections and worries would have driven her insane.
Thinking about it, the same was true of Corva. She loved the town
more for its friendly ghouls and their aged stories than for its human
populace.
Of all its permanent residents, Bason was perhaps her best human
friend there, and he was working all hours of the day now that he had
been placed in charge of rebuilding. He and Jassic had been building
merchants for the town, as well as Mercs, and with all the others having
either fled or been killed Bason was now the single man in charge.
Abigail suspected he was burying his grief in his work, but he had still
given her time to talk briefly when she had sought him out.
Frankly, there wasn't a nicer man who could have been given the
position. He balanced out the coarseness and apathy of the people around
him.
If she was to live there though, would the few people like him be
enough to keep her going? By scraping together a living through
maintenance and rebuilding old technology she could probably take over
the town's entire Scav shop trade single-handedly, and to be fair it was
tempting.
Just not tempting enough. Not when it would mean having Sharn and
Kyle leave her behind. They were the people she wanted to help most. The
people she owed the most to. If they were going to head out again and
resume their scavenging, she wanted to lend her technical expertise to
the search. It would mean living with Rathley and Chopper again, but
that was okay. Rathley might be mean, and his priorities were pretty
screwed up, but he was nice enough to her. And Chopper was trying to be
friendly. Abigail knew she would never get back once she had felt for
the older woman, those days were long gone, but she could at least try
and be reasonable. She had always complained in the vault when the other
girls had got bitchy over fights and disagreements, and that's exactly
how Abigail had been behaving over the entire Buffout issue. Not that it
wasn't justified, but she wanted to be better than holding grudges like
this. Especially if they would have to be living together.
***
But there was only so much time for these worries as she went about
town. She still did not know what Sharn and Kyle wanted to do; they had
been busy helping out around town like everyone else. While there was
still paid work to do no-one was considering leaving just yet. Granted,
the payment was in abandoned town supplies and rations rather than
ammunition or caps, but it was better than most day to day fare that a
Merc or Scav had to be willing to accept between jobs. Even Kirren,
unable to take on the manual labour, made for devastatingly effective
impromptu law enforcement in her commanding green armour.
As for Abigail, she sought out those people she had not had the
courage to find before the announcement. Bason was busy, but willing to
lend both an ear and his own advice, and after fighting along side him
at the Diamond Ring she had hunted out Lyster to thank him for his part
in the battle. He didn't have the time or inclination to chat as he
gathered up abandoned supplies with another of his Merc associates - he
had no time for 'heroes' - but he had at least approved of her part in
the fighting as well.
The graves had been dug for the fallen, beside the police station's
open yard, making a small second cemetery. The graves almost reached the
triple figures, but compared to the one to the south it was very modest,
and Abigail paused at only a few of the graves. Trevor and Simon were
there, as were Vas, Jassic, and Hickman, and beside them lay others like
Erin's father, and "Marge - The toughest old bitch in the Wastes".
That was what had led Abigail to the brothel, still named Marge's by
the inactive electric sign on its roof. Abigail had meant to visit Lilis
before, and Marge's apparent death during the invasion only made her
wonder more about the woman's situation.
The door was missing, the brothel being located in the more damaged
part of town, and behind Marge's old desk sat the muscular man Abigail
remembered as her bouncer.
"Um, Hi there, uhh..."
"Stanley," he replied, when his name did not come to her lips. "A
pleasure again, Miss Abigail."
"I don't suppose I could speak with her, could I?"
Stanley smiled and sat back. "That would depend on which 'her' it
was. Sadly not all our women survived the attack, and some who did
decided not to return after you liberated them from the Hearts."
That Abigail had not needed to think about. "Lilis. I mean Lilis.
She is still here, isn't she?"
Stanley nodded. "That she is. Though she, and all of us in fact,
have a little more freedom over who we choose to see these days."
"You... work here too?"
Again, a nod and a knowing smile. "That depends on who might be
asking. I certainly wouldn't mind if *you* asked."
Abigail flushed in embarrassment. "Uh, no thanks. I'm not... Can I
just talk to Lilis please?"
Stanley chuckled, clearly enjoying her discomfort, and pushed a
discoloured glass dish forward across the table. "Her time is a lot more
valuable than the rest of ours."
Abigail groaned. She hadn't brought much in the way of valuables.
The farmers and merchants were still gearing up for proper trade, and
Market Street was still largely bare.
"Right. Of course. And me without my wallet." She fished into her
jacket pocket with her good hand and pulled out a few caps. "Can you
just give her another message for me then?"
"That I can. And you've probably earned one on the house."
Abigail left the caps in the dish anyway. It wasn't as though she
didn't have enough of them now. "Just tell her I hope she's okay up
there. And that someone working for Erin deserves better than this."
Stanley nodded and left to deliver the message, and Abigail headed
back out to the street. Lilis would probably think she was being
presumptuous anyway, but she could at least show that someone cared.
Then, from behind her, a piercing whistle rang out, and she looked
up to see Stanley at one of the upper windows. To her surprise he
motioned her up, without a word.
***
"So what was it you wanted to see me about, Abigail?" Lilis asked.
"Not just the fact that I am keeping my own room, I suspect."
Lilis looked as well turned out as always, dressed in a simple,
flattering shirt and loose brahmin-hide trousers. She sat on her large
bed, while Abigail took the single, fur-padded chair.
"You were just quiet at the meeting," Abigail said honestly. "I
wanted to make sure you were okay."
"And you were hoping I might have turned over a new leaf now that
the Madam has passed on?"
"I didn't mean it quite like that. But yes," Abigail admitted, "I
thought you'd be working with Erin now, instead of here."
Lilis seemed entirely unconcerned by her living arrangements though.
"She knows where to find me when she needs my skills. Until then, I will
keep this brothel running and make sure that those of us here are well
taken care of."
Abigail blinked, a little confused. "What do you mean? Are you
running it with Stanley?"
Lilis shook her head. "No-one is 'running' Marge's any more. She
kept us well enough, but the leash was rather tight - especially mine -
considering that we all worked here willingly. Now that we've been given
the opportunity, we have done away with the leash entirely, and we won't
be lining anyone's pockets but our own."
"Officially, Stanley is in charge in case of disputes," she went on,
"but we will all contribute to the house pot, and we know each other
well enough to help each other out should any one of us have a poor
week. My prices are high enough to keep us solvent, even if only one or
two of my more regular clients ever return. And we have a reputation to
maintain. We intend to remain the best company you can buy within three
caravan rides."
Kyle probably would have disagreed, Abigail thought, but then again
that was just because of one woman in particular. "At least you take
pride in your work, I guess."
"Abby, you aren't still trying to pity us are you?"
"But is this really how you want to make money? Sex with anyone who
can pay?"
Lilis shook her head slightly, and it was clear that she was the one
who pitied Abigail. "We wouldn't need a man like Stanley to man the desk
if we were that indiscriminate. And some of us can be more choosey than
others. From here on, some might only take on the few regulars who they
trust. And you should know, Abby, that sex is a powerful tool if you use
it well. And only as meaningful as you want it to be."
"You *don't* want it to be meaningful?"
"Certainly not with everybody willing to pay my fee. But with some,
yes, it is. I will be upset if they don't return, and not just because
of their caps."
She stood, and went over to lay a hand on Abigail's shoulder. "And
I'll stay to make sure that the prostitutes in this town are treated
properly. If they aren't, I can do something about it. Even if I can't
deal with a situation myself, or if the whole house can't, my
relationship with Erin works both ways. No-one else will do that for us.
We're just whores. That's why I stayed here when Mayor Golway first
offered me a way out. The people out there may not care about men and
women like us, but *I* do."
She straightened up, and smiled. "Is that a good enough answer?"
"Yeah."
***
It was several days before the town had settled down into something
of a routine, and those who had fled had begun to return. News travelled
slowly across the desert, especially considering how few people relied
on radio transmitters. Abigail had been stunned to realise that her
PipBoy was perhaps the best transmitter in town, especially after the
old Mayor's set had been destroyed by the grenade that had claimed
Jackhammer's life, and while she would be wearing her sling for a while
to come sending out an all clear message was one of the things she could
usefully do for Corva.
Of course, the returnees were unhappy to find their homes ransacked.
Whether it had been the Hearts or Erin's repossession teams was
irrelevant. Any goods they had not taken with them, they had lost. But,
as the new Mayoress had stressed, they still had their homes, and unlike
many brave men and women who had stayed to defend the town, they still
had their lives as well. Any who were unwilling to accept their loss
could leave, and forfeit their residences as well. There were others who
could be given the shelter.
Perhaps that was why she and Chopper had got on so well in the past.
They could both be absolute bitches when the need arose, yet fully
capable of justifying their ruthless decisions.
There was even word that the Brotherhood of Steel was finally on its
way, almost a week after the town war had been won, and that stung
Abigail a little. People reputed for their technological capabilities
surely had an obligation to help those who needed their aid. Their
medical expertise alone would have been invaluable to the fight, never
mind their firepower.
So, they wander over now that the people they could have saved were
already dead. Either they must have really busy schedules, or they were
as callous as Chopper made them sound.
Which seemed wrong. For all his genetic elitism, Initiate Harris had
been a nice person.
Still, that was what had pushed Abigail to take her companions
aside, now that the town was gaining more able bodies again. Manny the
Super Mutant was stomping around town, taking orders from Bason and his
team, and these Brotherhood of Steel people were only another week's
travel away, according to her radio reports.
Abigail wanted to leave.
She loved Corva dearly, but if she was honest with herself it was
only for a certain part of its populace. That was why she wanted their
talk to be over dinner at the Seven Feet Under. That way she could
explain herself to her ghoul friends as well.
"I mean, I thought I'd want to stick around, even without a place to
stay. It might have been nice to do some more scavenging around here,
maybe? Hunt down some of the Hearts that fled. But with all the building
going on, and... Manny out there. It feels too much like it's still a
battlefield. Every time I see that mutant, I can't stop thinking about
everyone back in the Vault. I just don't want to stay."
She almost felt like she was apologising, which wasn't the point at
all. At least not as far as her companions were concerned. She was just
explaining that she *was* going to leave.
"And what, you want us along, Sugar?"
Rathley, as blunt and to the point as ever. He spoke around a
mouthful of overcooked Pigrat roast, there being a surplus since most of
the fighting rats had been killed for sport by the Hearts.
And as usual, Sharn rolled right over his question. "Of course we'll
go. Right gunner-man? I mean, if you want us to."
"Of course I want you to." If Sharn and Kyle hadn't wanted to come,
Abigail wasn't quite sure what she would have done, but she had expected
it wouldn't come to that. "It's just, I want to go before the
Brotherhood arrive. Initiate Harris said I should have joined them,
after we first fought the Hearts before, and I don't want to deal with
that again. Especially if everyone here is hiding Manny as well. That
all seems like a bad idea to me."
"Join the Brotherhood?!" Rathley exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
"Damn, now there's an offer. What makes you think that'd be a bad idea?"
"Because!" Abigail exclaimed right back. Given that they were dining
in the company of ghouls, she would have thought it was obvious. "You
heard what he said about people like Christian and Celia! And Lilis,
even."
Christian seemed glad to hear it. "Yeah, worrisome types, them lot.
Lots'a guts and lots'a brain, but I'd be afraid if they come walkin'
through here."
"They hads a deal with the old Mayor," Nigel agreed, "but I hopes
Erin gets to them before they decides otherwise, now he's gone."
"So," Rathley asked "you don't want to stay and look after these old
corpses?"
Abigail scowled at him. "Of course I do!" She turned to the ghouls
at their table. "Really, I do. I just think I would do more harm than
good."
"Whe can sthand up fhor hourselves, if whe have to." Celia gave
Abigail a ragged, understanding smile. "The Brhotherhood whould not harm
us. Herin whould not hallow it, and Corvah is their hally. They know
they have much to hexplain, hafter their habsence these last wheeks. Whe
ghouls are a small cohncern beside that."
Across the table Kirren finally spoke. She had remained quiet all
evening, but seeing as she still resided with the ghouls even after
earning a new home they had invited her to join them.
"When are you leaving then? The Paladins will be here by Friday, I
heard."
"I don't know. A day or two? I need to sell Erin back the house, and
get supplies."
"You should keep it," Chopper advised. "It's good, guaranteed
capital. Unless you're not planning on coming back."
"Oh, I am, but I'd rather stay here at the clubhouse if I do. Or
with one of you guys. I'm sure the money could be used for better
things."
"'Course you're welcome here," Christian said, wearing his five
toothed smile.
Abigail expected an objection, but Chopper just shrugged, already
done with her food.
Kirren, however, was not eating what remained on her plate. "Do you
need another gun arm?"
Everyone turned to her, and Kirren met their gazes levelly. "I'm not
so much use here now. The Hearts are gone, there have always been more
than enough good Mercs around here, and I've pushed my luck several
times too many working against the Diamonds." She raised the stump below
her left shoulder. "They wouldn't take me like this anyway, even if I
somehow managed to get in without being recognised again. You guys seem
to get into a lot of fights for a Scav team though."
"You know, shit happens." That was Rathley's explanation, and sadly
no-one could think of a better one.
"Well, if you want to..." Sharn said, looking around the table. No-
one objected, least of all Abigail. She had grown to respect Kirren a
great deal during the short time she known her, and it was safe to say
that they had become friends since the battle. Having another friend
travelling with them would make the journey all the more pleasant.
Rathley gave her a lop sided grin.
"Looks good, Sugar. Welcome aboard." Then he paused and turned to
Abigail. "'Cept you haven't said where you're thinkin' of goin' here."
"Straight east, to High Town," was Abigail's reply, already knowing
where she wanted her next destination to be. "Celia's diaries said they
always need help with their tech, or caravan raiders. And I'd have
thought there would be plenty of unexplored places to scavenge around
the mountains, right?"
"Christ, way up there?"
Kyle was happy to look on the bright side. "What? At long as we
don't try to skirt the Swarmlands to get there."
***
Abigail stood in front of her farewell party, her pack hanging from
her good shoulder and her worn jumpsuit protected beneath the now
recognisable layer of black leather. Only her jacket's missing right arm
showed the slowly fading blue cloth, the cuff trimmed with bright, bold
yellow.
It was a small connection to this dim past, but it gave the occasion
a sense of camaraderie as she shook hands with Overseer Jameson. He was
a busy man, and it meant a lot that he had come to see her off, if only
briefly.
"You're sure this is what you want, Abigail? You have a promising
future here."
"I know, sir. But you have other technicians. It's out there where
I'll be needed."
He nodded, and let her hand go. He was a stern man, but not
unreasonable. He knew she would not be swayed.
After that the pretence of formality faded, and her family came
forward. Her Mother would have hugged her - she always fussed so much
over everyone - if not for Abigail's broken clavicle. "Please be careful
out there, Abigail. No more gun fighting."
Her father kept his composure more successfully, and lay a caring
hand on his wife's shoulder. "All grown up, and choosing the hard path.
And with another new friend in tow as well. Make us proud out there,
understand?"
Abigail chose to reply with a smile and a sloppy salute. "Yes sir,
Father sir."
"And don't go giving your friends that kind of lip, young woman.
They've done a lot for you, taking you under their wing like this."
"I know, Dad. Lighten up. I'll save it for next time I come and
visit."
When the goodbyes were said and done Gillian and Alice stood by the
great vault door, waiting for her.
"So, you will be visiting then?" Of course, from Gillian it sounded
like a casual enough question, uncaring even, but Abigail knew better.
Gillian's brave face was good, but she didn't get to practice it enough
to fool her.
"You'll miss me?"
Gillian shrugged. "Sure, why not. It won't be the same playing
softball without you down here."
Alice, though quiet, was always the more honest of the three of
them. "We'll go and watch something sappy tonight and bawl out eyes out.
I hope you'll miss us too though. It's not nice being left behind, you
know."
"Yeah. I know." Oh, did she ever know it. "I've done my bawling
already, but yeah, I miss you guys. You're the best friends in the
world. But I can't stay here forever."
"Of course not," Gillian replied with an assured smile, her
dreadlocks bobbing. "You've got the whole world to explore. What are you
even doing standing around here gabbing! Get going, girl!"
Yes. It was past time already. "Yeah. See you." She signalled to the
control deck, and the great vault door began to move. It never occurred
to Abigail that there should have been sirens and flashing lights to
accompany it. This wasn't an escape or an exodus. It was just farewell.
"And bring us souvenirs next time!"
"Sure, I'll get you a rat-burger!"
And with that Abigail stepped back towards the waking world, out
into the wasteland again, and back to the scavengers who were waiting
for her.
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