Enjoy! :)

Epilogue

Monkey was fixing his bike in Clay's barn, repairing any remaining damage from his final fight with Stern four days ago. The remaining Dreads were scattered all over the place, being hunted by the warriors Monkey and Trip gathered. The Dreads were dead and any remnants would be wiped out soon enough.

It was over.

But there was still one last trip to take.

Trip walked into the barn and leaned over the motorcycle, looking down at her boyfriend. "Hey," she greeted.

"Hey," he replied.

"How's it going?"

"A few more tugs here and there and we're good to go."

"Cool."

He looked at her before tightening another bolt. "Did you wanna stay?"

"I go where you go." She walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "And if you want to go pay your respect to your friend, we can."

He stopped working and looked straight ahead. He thought it over. "More like I need to. I owe Staff that much. If it hadn't been for him… I'd still be in the Dreads. Still living that kinda life." He looked at Trip, "Never would've met you."

She smiled. "Then I need to thank him, too." She kissed him on the cheek.

A few hours later, Monkey finished all of the repairs to the bike and he and Trip got a few things together to take on their journey. As they got ready, Clay was standing in the barn, holding himself up on his makeshift cane.

"Packed kinda light, ain't ya?" Clay asked, looking at their provisions.

"We might be back," Trip pointed out. She looked at his physical condition. "You seem to be holding up well."

"Yep. That fight probably set back my recovery a lil' bit but them's the brakes."

She giggled. "Told you to stay home."

He chuckled, "And like I told ya…"

"12 feet under… I remember…"

He laughed.

"You sure you're gonna be okay?" Monkey asked him.

Clay looked down at his leg. "Few more energy vials, some more rest, and I'll be good as new. Which, these days, ain't sayin' a whole helluva lot but, hey, gettin' old is hell." He looked up at the couple. His voice turned very sincere, "I don't know if I made it clear but… you two can stay… long as ya like. I got no problem with that."

Trip looked at him then at Monkey, wanting him to answer.

Monkey nodded. "Thanks. We just may take you up on that. But for now… there's something we need to do."

Clay nodded. He understood that, perfectly. "Well… whateva y'all decide? Ya both always got a place here."

Monkey nodded. "Thanks, Clay… whether we come back or not… thanks… for everything."

He just smiled. "Like I told ya… you two are tha only people I've met worth gettin' hurt over in a long time. It's honor to meet loyal people like that again."

In a surprising gesture, Monkey walked up to Clay and offered his hand. Clay looked his hand, pleasantly surprised. He smiled and the warriors shook hands.

Two days later, Monkey and Trip were in the town of Crow, Staff's last home. After moving to a couple of settlements, due to mech attacks and Dread hunts, the old warrior settled there. He was said to be living in total peace, free from conflict.

Until Stern found him.

Monkey learned of his location through the accounts of some of the warriors who helped in the assault on Steel. They remembered because it was so rare that Stern ever journeyed from Steel, as oppose to sending the Dreads out to do his work for him.

The story went that Stern came to town and confronted Staff about any possible locations of Monkey. When Staff refused to tell him anything, Stern threatened the whole town with death and destruction. Staff couldn't let that happen so he offered the evil warlord a deal: his life in exchange for the town.

Stern accepted.

The townspeople said Staff had a look in his eyes of no regrets… and no fear. And pride. He explained, just before going to meet his former ward and his own demise, that he lived his life and it was a good one, better than most. And he was proud to die for a noble cause.

Monkey chuckled when he heard that. It sounded just like the old man.

After his death, the townspeople erected a large, metal cross in the center of town as a memorial to their de facto leader and hero.

After getting the whole story, Monkey went to the monument built to his mentor. He stood before the cross, made out of support beams, staring at it for a while. He remembered his past, all the pain he went through, all the years of torment. And, how, in all of that, only one man ever truly believed in him.

Stern and the others just used him. Like they used everybody but Staff…

Staff believed in Monkey. Knew he could be more.

Monkey realized that because Staff believed in him… Monkey managed to turn his life away from what it had been. Because of that turnaround, he had Trip now. Everything Staff knew Monkey could be… he was starting to realize he could become.

And from this day on, Monkey swore he would always be more. Always.

The white haired wastelander put his hand on the cross. "Staff… thanks… for everything. I never would've come this far without you…" He looked at the top of the cross. "Good-bye."

It wasn't an overemotional goodbye. But it was one that needed to take place. That part of his life was over and done. And it was time to move on. Take every lesson he learned with him, of course, but move on. The past was done.

Still… even Monkey has a heart.

He walked up to Trip and she saw something she never had before.

A tear falling from his eye.

She put her hand on the side of his face, stoking his cheek with her thumb. "You okay?"

He nodded. "I will be."

She smiled.

And he smiled. She had that affect… and effect on him. He liked it.

She kissed him.

After the kiss, he stared at her, "I was thinking…"

"Yeah?"

"Clay… ain't so bad."

She smiled.

"We can stay there until he gets on my nerves."

"So… we're staying for a day?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not that bad."

"If you say so."

He glared at her. "Do ya wanna go back or not?"

She giggled, "I go where you want to go. Wherever that is…"

He smirked. He did like the road. But maybe part of his problem… was he was always moving. He didn't have to anymore. And he always wanted to stay with her. And he knew she wanted some place to call home. When he thought about it, deep down, so did he. "Let's go back…"

She smiled and nodded.

He hopped on his motorcycle, Trip getting on behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Monkey started the bike up. Before leaving, the wastelander gazed at the memorial to his departed mentor.

Seeing his gaze, Trip stared at the monument, as well. "I never met him… but I'll forget him. I sure am grateful to him." She looked at her lover. "For you…"

He looked at her. He smiled. He revved the bike up and steered back toward Clay's.

With the Dreads and even the mechs nothing but memories to them both now, the world seemed less perilous. The future wasn't just something that you wished you would see; it was something that you could look forward to.

The days were no longer full of danger.

They were full of something the couple never thought they'd experience again:

Hope.

And that is our tale. While I'm very proud of this story... I'm also really sad it's come to an end! I'm really close to tears right now! Wow! lol. But, like I said, I'm proud of myself for this one.

Now for the thanks!

To some LOYAL reviewers, first off, Miss Ashlynn, thank you for being there! I hope it ended well for ya! To Arcane Student, you may have stumbled across this later, but your reviews meant the world to me, as well! Thank you so much! To other reviewers and alerts and favorites, thank you so much! And last but most certainly NOT least, Flutterdash7! (I know you didn't think I forgot about you!) You are my one of my most loyal supporters and I can't thank you enough for that! I didn't know having such loyal support from someone I never met would mean so much but it does! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! THANK YOU ALL!

Everyone, until we meet again, stay blessed, stay strong, and READ FOREVER! LONG LIVE WORDS! Take care, everyone!

All my love, prayers, and gratitude,

T2 Angel