Chapter V: Nightmares & Expectations

The Capital Wasteland, Megaton, 10th of October, 2277

I stared at the rippled reflection in the glass. Dirt and sweat clung to the face like flies to a fresh steak of Brahmin. The dark, bubbling liquid was strangely fascinating and yet I didn't quite know why.

"Err, kid?" came a rough voice.

Slowly, I looked up. Pale eyes, slightly clouded, timidly stared at me in question. As I tilted my head to the side, the ghoul looked away. I had known him for a while now and yet he insisted on being shy. Though, it wasn't unknown that people treated him a bit too harshly. Mostly verbal, but that wound near his collar told me otherwise.

"Are you, uh, alright?" he asked.

"Leave me alone," was my answer.

Gob was taken aback, but after a quick glance over his shoulder, leaned further into the counter.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Um, because it could help?"

"But what would I give you in return?" After a confused look, I sighed and took another sip of the Nuka Cola. "Everyone wants something in his god-forsaken wasteland. If its information, food or even just to talk, they want something for it." I curled my lip. "Make it worth their time."

"What happened to make you think like that, kid? I'm not saying it's not true but, I dunno, you looked happy a few days ago."

He was right. I had changed. The last few months had been tough and I was no longer the same person I saw in the mirror. My skin was scorched, cut and flaky due to the constant heat of both radiation and sunlight. My own brother had slowly become a shadow that I once knew. I looked into his eyes and no longer saw the hope and joy he once had when he saw me after a long day. He no longer laughed or smiled. Instead, all that was there was a frown, or maybe even a forced smirk. He drank far too often, and not water, nor the occasional Vodka, but enough Whisky to knock a man out for a week. He changed, and so did I, and I didn't like it.

A thought crossed my mind and I set the glass down. "I'll tell you my problem if you tell me yours. It's a fair trade."

The ghoul worriedly licked his lips. "Wait, what?"

I smiled. "I want to know what happened to your neck. It doesn't seem to be getting any better and don't say it's a ghoul thing. I used to be a scientist. Not a doctor but I know enough to know when a wound is getting worse."

The ghoul shook his head. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Gob," I urged. "I won't force you, but I can tell it's bothering you. Just like my problem is bothering me. It couldn't help to share, right?"

He was ashamed. It hurt to see him like that, but I understood. I learned that the only friend he had was the whore, or local entertainment, and even though she seemed nice, she was a little too nice to my brother. Though, he was too naive to notice.

"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt," he replied. "At least someone cares, right?"

I tapped the bar stool next to me. After another glance back, he left the rag on the counter and took the seat.

"So, how did it really happen?"

The ghoul lifted his hands in the air. "Not so loud, smoothskin. I'll tell ya if you keep your voice down."

I gave a small smile and nodded.

Gob let out a heavy sigh and lowered his head. His fingers intertwined with each other as he brought up the courage to say what was on his mind. "It was Mister Moriarty. It's no secret that he smacks me around if I do somethin' wrong. A few nights back, a wine bottle broke and I got the blame for it. I don't know who it was, but it was enough to get Moriarty's attention. Things escalated quickly and that's how I got the gash on my neck."

I froze in shock. I tried to come to terms with what he had said, but it didn't seem to register. "He... he beat you?"

Gob shrugged. "It's not the first time. You get used to it after a while. It's just knowing when it's coming that I have to watch out for."

My heart sank. I knew Moriarty was the type of man not to trust from the first day I laid eyes on him, but I didn't think he was that cruel.

"The bastard," I whispered. "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do? It needs treating. It will only get worse if you leave it."

He shook his head, but the corners of his ruined lips rose at the gesture. "It'll be fine, kid. Don't worry about it. I've had worse scrapes than this."

I'd be damned if I didn't do something. My humanity wasn't that far gone for me to let him willingly suffer. "You sell stimpacks here, don't you?"

"Uh, yeah we do. Why?" he asked, though slightly hesitant.

I took out a pouch of caps and placed it in his rough hands. "Here. I'd like one."

"Okay," he said, a little confused, and wandered behind the bar to the medical kit placed on the wall. I allowed my gaze to roam his back, only to have my breath hitch. The shirt must have only been thin because I was able to see another recently inflicted wound, or maybe it was the same. It covered his shoulder in a large vertical line that stemmed from several other branches that travelled down the lower back and spine. The dust, sweat and grime of the wasteland managed to fade some of the crimson, but the ridges that stuck out, probably pieces of broken bone, were clearly visible and worried me.

"Gob, get me another one as well," I said. He was going to need all the help he could get.

"Here you go smoothskin," he said without an inkling of what was going on and set them on the counter. He returned to his place on the stool and notably relaxed. His relaxed state, however, did not last long.

"Thanks," I smiled and touched the edge of his shoulder. "Now lower the neckline of your shirt."

He shied away. His smile faded as soon as the neckline was mentioned. "What?"

"Why do you think I bought the stimpacks? Now hold still. This may sting a little."

"Stimpacks don't work that well on ghouls, kid," he sighed. "You don't want to waste that."

I rolled my eyes. "Gob, trust me on this. That wound needs to be mended and if this will help at all, even a little, then it's worth it."

His gaze roamed the needle. Even from where I sat, I could see the way the muscle in his throat tightened at the very thought of it and probably whether he could trust me or not. Maybe he wondered if I'd hurt him and simply played the part of his friend for the short time we knew each other.

After a long moment, he let out a heavy breath and rolled down the collar. "Just... get it over with."

The needle slowly sunk into the worst part of his skin. He wouldn't lower the neckline enough for me to get a proper glance at the wound, but it was something I was, ashamedly, grateful for. After the second stimpack made its mark, I put the empty syringes to one side and watched as the pain notably eased from his expression.

With a little hesitance, Gob rolled his shoulder in a circle. The joints were much easier to move. "Kid, I don't know how to thank you," he whispered. I was a little startled by the emotion that glimmered through his milky eyes and wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"You're welcome, but try not to break anymore bottles," I said with a small smirk and returned to my drink.

"You know, it's your turn now, kid."

I blinked and set my glass back down. "Crap."

The poor ghoul cocked his head to the side and placed a hand near mine. "It does help to talk about it."

"Maybe some other time. It's not something I can openly say to someone without either making the situation worse for Alistair or I, or risking our lives."

Gob's fingers lingered near mine, and almost seemed to inch closer. "You could have gone to Mister Moriarty about what I said just then," he muttered. "And that would risk my life. If he heard me saying such things about him and about giving you a discount on your drinks, I'd be a dead ghoul."

"Gob... you have to understand that my troubles are little more important than-" I stopped. He knew what I was going to say, that my troubles meant more than his did, and that I didn't trust him. The truth was, I did. I did trust him. Maybe that was why I couldn't tell him. Because he was the one person, aside from Alistair, that would actually listen and tell no one. Maybe it was my fear of rejection, of his opinion changing once he found out about my past. Maybe I just didn't want to face the truth that the Enclave were not coming back.

Gob stood and left his seat.

"Gob-" I began but he held his hand up.

"It's okay, kid. I understand. There's no need to tell me."

I swallowed the contents of my glass thickly. The expression he held, disappointment, made the guilt I already felt much worse.

A heavy draft entered the cool air of the saloon and sent shivers across the skin. The door screeched like nails against stone as it curved open and the floor shook at the heavy boots that were the first to step inside.

My eyes widened slightly at the figure. It was Joe, the man Moira knew that wandered into Craterside Supply a while back. I had thought that he'd left town. Perhaps he did.

"Goddamn it Joe, get out of the way," a voice ordered. His voice was multi-tonal, deep and raspy. Definitely male.

"Just because I help you on your little missions don't mean you can order me about, got it kid?" Joe warned and stepped to one side.

"Whatever you say," the man replied. It was when the saloon's door closed that I got to see who he was. His face was shrouded by a steel helmet, with large eye plates that hid his humanity from the world.

"Good, now what's to drink in this wastepit?" Joe asked with outstretched arms before he planted his huge arse in the stool next to me. "Oi! Ghoul. Get me as much whisky and vodka that's available. I feel like drinkin' tonight."

I narrowed my eyes at the man, but also kept to myself. Joe's companion, at a loss for seats, decided to also sit by me. It was only when he was close that I spotted the Brotherhood of Steel holotags around his neck and completely froze. His armour, bulky and with the insignia on the front, could belong to no other. How I hadn't guessed who he was on first sight was surprising.

I lowered my head and brushed more of my hair in front of my face. I hoped neither men would notice me.

"Gob, I haven't seen you in a while!" the Brotherhood of Steel soldier said cheerfully.

I dared a peek, only to see Gob's more than happy expression.

Did he know him? I thought. I was sure that the Brotherhood hated mutants and found them impure, like the Enclave.

Maybe times had changed.

"Joshua, it's great to see you again," Gob said with a wide grin. "It's been a long time, kid."

"Yeah, well I've been busy lately."

"As I can see," he said with a look of admiration at the armour. "New gear?"

Joshua shrugged. "It's something new, but the wasteland's getting to it. I'll need to get a new set soon."

Gob nodded and gave him a bottle of scotch. "Here you are, kid. The usual, right?"

"Yeah, thanks man." Curiosity got the better of me and I couldn't help but watch as his gloved fingers caught the latches at the sides and back of his neck and tugged the helmet free. Brown eyes were the first part of his appearance to take my attention. They were large and bloodshot. A large scar, ranged from the top of his brow to the bottom of his cheek covered one of them.

The loud laughter that rang through my ears came to my left, Joe, who gulped down the alcohol in his bottle within a matter of seconds. With a satisfied grin, he wiped his beard and gestured Gob for more. He glanced my way and I quickly ducked my head.

"Well look who it is" he said with a laugh. I tensed. "If it isn't the little lady that gave me that very generous discount." He wrapped a large arm around my shoulder and brought me closer to him.

The amount of curses that bolted through my head would be enough to make the priests at the Church of Atom ashamed to see me in public.

"You know this lady?" Joshua asked in interest.

I tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but to no avail. Curse his damn yao guai arms.

"We're merely acquaintances," I explained and pushed his arm away. "Nothing more."

Joshua leaned back against the wall with the scotch at the edge of his thin lips. "Is that so?"

"Yes, it is," I said and was ready to stand, only to have Joshua's hand grab my wrist tightly and pull me back down.

"Where are you going in such a rush? We've only just got here after all," he smirked.

I withdrew my hand and brushed a few strands of hair back. "And you are-?"

His eyebrows rose slightly in surprise, but his reaction soon faded and he held out his hand. "Joshua, Brotherhood of Steel soldier, feared wasteland hero, or villain, or more commonly known around the wasteland as Mister Vault One Oh One, at your service."

I must have been stabbed, for I could physically feel the blood drain from my body as fast as a bullet is shot from a gun. That wasn't possible. He was the Enclave assassin. He was Alistair and I's hunter. He was the man in front of me who didn't seem to have a clue who I was.

"You're the man from the vault, right?" I slowly asked.

He nodded. "Sure am. Don't worry, I get your sort of reaction often. Some people doubt the legend is actually real, but I am living proof and I can assure you, everything you've heard about me is true," he said with a wink.

I frowned. He was the assassin? I thought. He was little more than a bigheaded wastelander with fancy armour. He managed to wipe out a whole battalion of Enclave in little under a night?

That Three Dog character must have been insane, unless there was more to that man than met the eye.

"Glad to meet you," I lied and shook his hand.

Joshua's grin grew and he gestured to me with his thumb. "Gob, get the lady whatever she wants. It's on me."

I shook my head. "Don't do anything, Gob. I'm no one's charity."

"Oh, this is gonna be good," Joe grinned from behind. "I wouldn't challenge him, little girl. He gets what he wants."

"Yeah, well, not tonight," I said and swiftly left my seat.

"Hey now wait a minute, where are you going?" Joshua asked. He reached out to grab my arm, but I pulled back just in time. "You never even told me your name, lady."

I frowned and took a step back. I couldn't tell him my real name. "You want to know my name? It's-"

"Bethany," Gob replied, much to my shock. "Her name's Bethany. She's new around here, Joshua, so don't give her a hard time."

"Bethany?" Joshua frowned. That was it. I was as good as dead. "I've never met a girl called Bethany before. It has a nice ring to it." He placed his helmet beneath his arm and gave a short nod. "I'm glad to meet you too, Bethany."

The way my name rolled off his tongue was enough to make my stomach churn. It wasn't natural. It was vile. I had so much pent up anger and hatred towards the man and yet he wasn't even the person I had been afraid of for the last few months. I had nightmares most nights about a man that drove fear into the hearts of anyone he came across and could murder any who dared defy him. I dreamed of a man that was a killer, not a pretend knight whose ego could not get any larger.

Disappointed for the lack of a better word, I turned on my heel and headed for the door.

"Hey, where are you going?" I heard him call. It was only when he grabbed my wrist for a third time that I had the courage to fight back. Pain flared in the back of my hand, but not as much as Joshua must have felt. The area of where I hit him burned and reddened like a pre-war apple.

His hand slowly covered his jaw, and his smirk returned. "Huh. I didn't think you had the guts to do that, lady."

"I'll do worse than that if you dare touch me again," I threatened through gritted teeth.

"I knew this was going to happen," I heard Joe mutter by the bar, but he didn't move to stand. Instead, he kept drinking his vodka and whisky like nothing had happened.

"You really shouldn't have done that, lady," Joshua said. His eyes narrowed, and I was suddenly aware of who had actually murdered my brethren. The bigheaded child was a charade. The killer hid below the surface.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Gob, who had stepped in between us. "Look, Joshua, Bethany, this isn't a good idea."

"Keep out of this Gob," Joshua shouted. "Don't get involved."

"Leave him alone, you pompous ass," I yelled back. My fingers ghosted the hilt of my plasma pistol strapped to my waist.

"What in the devil is going on here?" someone demanded, and I didn't have to turn to know it was Moriarty. Alistair stood beside him, wide eyed and with his weapon in hand.

"Moriarty," Joshua greeted. "Been a while?"

"Oh, it's you," Moriarty sneered and shoved Alistair in the shoulder. "Aren't you supposed to be taking care of trouble? Isn't that what I pay you for?"

"Yeah, yeah I'll take care of it," Alistair groaned before he stepped closer to us, though his attention had immediately fixed on Joshua, whose glare hadn't faltered. "You. Out. Now."

"You're honestly going to kick me out of this place?" Joshua asked. He pointed his index finger at me and shook his head. "It's her fault. She's the one who assaulted me."

Alistair dared a glance in my direction before he raised his weapon higher in the air. "Get out of here now. I won't ask again."

The whole saloon had fallen silent. All eyes were on us and listened with intent ears.

"It's okay Alistair, I was going to leave anyway," I said.

Alistair hadn't moved. "No," was his reply. "I'm in charge of who leaves and it's you. Now go."

"Fine. Come on Joe," Joshua said after a few moments.

"Just wait a minute. I can't leave sober," Joe complained, but a swift smack to the back of the head from Joshua was enough to get him to move. "You're gonna pay for that you know," Joe threatened before he grabbed the three vodka bottles he hadn't paid for and stomped out of the saloon.

Once the door had shut behind them I let out a heavy sigh and leaned my head against the wall.

"Bethany, what the hell was that about?" Alistair asked. His voice broke in frustration, or perhaps it was worry. "You're picking fights now? Is that it?"

"Do you have any idea who that was?" I whispered.

"No, and I don't care."

"Oh, trust me you will," I sighed. I took Alistair's hand and brought him closer to me. "That was the assassin," I whispered in his ear and let him go.

Alistair frowned. "What?"

I rolled my eyes and brought him back. "Mister One Oh One you idiot!"

Alistair jumped back. The expression on his face was one I only saw once and that was when the Vertibird crashed three months ago. "You're certain?"

"Positive," I reassured. "He said it himself."

"Shit."

"And now you know why I was panicking."

My brother holstered his weapon and crossed his arms. "Does he know who you are?"

I shook my head. "Only my first name. He doesn't know who we are."

"Good. Good."

"What are we going to do?" I asked. "We can't stay here any longer."

"Beth, we have no other choice. We're still saving caps and don't have enough to leave just yet." At my worried expression, Alistair held both my shoulders and brought me into a hug. "We'll get through this, alright? We just need to stay away from this man. He's bound to leave this place soon. Just try not to worry."

Even though the assassin didn't know who I was, I made a lasting impression on him, one that was bound to get me into trouble. Something was going to happen if we stayed in Megaton, I was sure of it. I just didn't want to think about what it would be.

Alistair slowly let me go and turned to face the back of the saloon. "I was in a discussion with Moriarty when that happened. I better get back."

I gave a small nod.

"We'll get through this. I promise."

With a reassuring smile, he left to the back of the saloon. As I headed towards the door, I couldn't help but glance back at Gob who hadn't moved his gaze from me since the argument. There was fear in his eyes and uncertainty. He must have heard what Alistair had said. If that was his reaction to our conversation, I feared to wonder what his reaction would be if he found out about my past. I smiled to him but he gave none in return. Instead he lowered his head and went back to cleaning glasses.