It was one thing to see the ruins from a distance or to cautiously skirt the outskirts, but being thrust into the heart of the devastation was another matter entirely. The remnants of a once-thriving city loomed in a state of complete collapse. Skeletal frames of buildings jutted skyward, their walls sagging or reduced to rubble, leaving jagged silhouettes against the pale, lifeless sky. The streets below were a labyrinth of debris—broken concrete slabs, rusted vehicles, and the scattered remnants of forgotten lives piled high, choking the avenues and rendering most paths impassable.
Delilah barely had time to absorb the devastation before movement ahead snagged her attention.
Two super mutants lumbered out from behind the ruins of a collapsed building, their massive frames a stark contrast to the rubble-strewn surroundings. The first gripped an oversized makeshift club, a crude amalgamation of jagged steel and splintered wood that caught the dim light as if eager for bloodshed. The second twisted its grotesque, yellow-toothed grin into something almost mocking, its uneven jaw flexing as it hoisted a heavy automatic rifle and aimed it squarely at them.
"Down!" Altan’s sharp command sliced through the tension, jolting Delilah out of her stunned paralysis.
Delilah hit the ground with a thud, her pulse hammering in her ears as her fingers scrabbled for her pistol. The mutants roared—a guttural, primal sound that reverberated through the air and froze her blood. But before they could act, the sharp crack of laser fire split the silence. Brilliant beams of light cut through the dim afternoon, searing into the hulking figures. One mutant let out a strangled cry as it toppled backward, a smoking crater where its chest had been. The second staggered, its grotesque grin contorting into a grimace before it collapsed in a heap, the massive club slipping from its lifeless grasp and hitting the ground with a dull clang.
Altan was already reloading, his hands moving with practiced efficiency as he kept his gaze forward. "You good, Lily?" he asked, his voice calm and steady, though the faintest flicker of concern betrayed him. His eyes darted toward her briefly, assessing for any sign of injury or hesitation.
Delilah forced herself to nod, pushing up on shaky arms. Her gaze flicked to the corpses, and she froze. The fading light of the day revealed the full extent of the havoc Altan's rifle had wrought. The mutant's bodies were cratered with catastrophic burns, their mottled skin ruptured in grotesque ways that made her stomach churn. She stared at the laser pistol in her hand, a hollow feeling settling deep within her, until Altan laid a hand on her shoulder—firm but gentle.
"It's ugly, Lily—but it's us or them." His voice softened, an attempt to ease her guilt. "And given this choice? I’ll always choose us. Fuck 'em."
Delilah swallowed hard, her throat tight, then squared her shoulders. "Yeah. Fuck ’em," she muttered, her grip on her pistol tightening.
He held her gaze for a beat longer, then gave her a nod. "Atta girl," he added, his tone shifting back to its usual lightheartedness. "C'mon, Miss Navigator."
Not far into the maze of back alleys, collapsed buildings, and uneven stretches of road, they came across a fireteam of soldiers. The group was impossible to miss, their hulking forms encased in grey power armor that seemed to absorb the light, making the air around them feel heavier. Each soldier carried a mix of automatic rifles and laser weapons, their movements swift and precise, unaffected by the weight of their imposing gear.
As the siblings approached, one of the soldiers looked up, helmeted head swiveling in their direction, the rest of the team following suit. For a moment, everything was still. The soldiers’ posture was rigid, their eyes hidden behind the reflective visors of their helmets, as though they were assessing whether the pair were friend or foe.
One of the soldiers called out, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "Stop!" It was a sharp command, laced with authority. The siblings froze instinctively, but Altan’s rifle remained at the ready, his posture rigid. He moved quickly, positioning himself in front of Delilah, his eyes scanning the armored soldiers for any sign of aggression.
The soldier who had spoken jogged toward them, her heavy power armor clanking with every step, the ground vibrating slightly under the weight of her suit. She came to a stop just a few feet away, her gaze sharp and calculating as she sized them up. Her helmet tilted slightly, as if assessing whether they posed any threat.
"Look," she said, her tone brisk but not unkind, "I don't know who you are, but you don’t belong here." She glanced briefly over her shoulder, as though confirming something behind her. "The super mutants have overrun our brothers at the Galaxy News Network building, and we're heading there to back them up. You can tag along if you want, but keep your head down and try not to do anything stupid. Otherwise, you should turn around and head back the way you came."
Altan didn’t move, his expression unreadable, but his finger never left the trigger of his rifle. Delilah, standing just behind him, felt her pulse quicken, her eyes darting nervously between the soldier and the rest of the team, the tension between them palpable. She peered around Altan, her eyes narrowing as she tried to gauge the situation. "Galaxy News Radio? That's where we're headed," Delilah said, her voice steady despite the tension.
Altan nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze never wavering from the soldier. He subtly shifted his stance, ensuring that Delilah was once again safely behind him, her presence felt but out of immediate harm's way.
The soldier’s tone hardened, her expression under the helmet unreadable. "And what is your business there?" she asked, her voice sharp as steel, as though she already had her doubts about their intentions.
Altan didn’t flinch, his own voice tinged with a faint challenge. "We're looking for our father," he said, his words clipped and direct. "And we got a lead pointing us in this direction." He paused just long enough to meet her gaze, the challenge now more evident in his posture. "Who are you people?"
"I'm Sentinel Lyons of the Lyons' Pride," the soldier said, her voice authoritative as she stood taller in her power armor, the weight of it shifting with a mechanical hiss. "We're with the Brotherhood of Steel. We do our best to hold back the super mutants in this area. But when civilians stumble into our AO, that gets a bit difficult. Doesn't it?"
Altan bristled, his grip tightening slightly on his rifle as he stepped forward. "We handled those two just fine," he replied, his voice laced with both defiance and the slightest edge of irritation.
The soldier gave a small, almost dismissive shrug, the motion accompanied by the familiar creak of her heavy armor. "Kid," she said, her tone turning colder, more serious, "out here, being cocky will get you killed. I've seen a super mutant strike squad like that take down five well-armed soldiers. One mistake, and it’s game over." She paused for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning the siblings, briefly resting on the raised laser rifle in Altan's hands and Delilah's grenade launcher at her side. "But credit where credit’s due," she continued, her tone softening just slightly, "you didn’t drop your guard, and you didn’t get killed. As I said, you can tag along if you want." She nodded toward the alley ahead, her posture ready to move. "But if there are no more questions, we really need to move out."
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Altan frowned but nodded, gesturing toward the soldier. "After you."
The fireteam regrouped quickly, the soldier at the front leading them through the maze of wreckage with practiced ease. The siblings fell into step behind them, doing their best to keep up as they navigated the rubble-strewn streets. The pace was quick, deliberate, and efficient, leaving little room for conversation. The sounds of the ruined city—crunching debris underfoot, the faint crackle of distant gunfire—filled the silence as they moved onward.
No more mutants crossed their path, but that didn’t lessen the tension in the air. As they moved deeper into the wreckage, they eventually came to a narrow alleyway flanked by crumbling buildings. There, they found a pair of Brotherhood soldiers. One of the Brotherhood soldiers was slumped against a wall, his body unmoving. The front of his power armor was riddled with tiny holes, each one a testament to the brutal firefight that had taken place. Blood seeped from the gaps, pooling beneath him in dark, grim patches.
The second soldier, standing vigil over the fallen soldier, was crouched behind a crumbled concrete barrier. His rifle poked out from behind it, and the muffled sound of laser shots echoed from around the corner. Each shot was deliberate, precise, but there was an undercurrent of urgency in the way he fired. A strangled gurgle from a super mutant reached their ears as the soldier’s shots rang out one last time, the sound of a dying creature choked off by the lethal beam.
Without turning his head, the soldier spoke, his voice low but steady. "Sentinel Lyons," he greeted, though his eyes quickly flicked over to assess the new arrivals.
Lyons cast a quick glance at the deceased soldier, her expression hardening as she assessed the situation. "Knight Captain Colvin," she called, her tone businesslike. "What's the situation?"
Colvin gave a slight wave toward the barricade, his voice steady but with a hint of frustration. "All clear, Sentinel. Five mutants released from their torment. The rest are keeping their heads down, for now."
Lyons nodded sharply, taking in the report with a practiced eye. "Good," she said, glancing at the dead soldier. "Jennings?"
Colvin shook his head, his mouth twisting in frustration. "Negative."
Lyons swore softly under her breath, the expletive sharp in the quiet tension of the alley. Her fists clenched at her sides for a moment before she turned back to the pair of strangers who had just arrived. Her eyes flicked over Altan and Delilah quickly, sizing them up. Colvin did the same, his gaze lingering on the weapons they carried, though his expression was unreadable. He then gestured toward them.
"New recruits?" Colvin asked, his tone casual, though the underlying skepticism was clear.
Lyons shook her head, her gaze briefly drifting toward the fallen soldier before turning back to Altan and Delilah. "Just some strays we picked up," she said, her voice flat but tinged with a certain bitterness. "They blundered into some uglies over on 42nd. We had to backtrack to make sure our asses weren't exposed."
Colvin let out a chuckle, his voice rough but light. "Welcome to the party," he added, his tone carrying an ironic warmth.
Lyons raised a hand, signaling for the team to focus. "Alright, listen up," she commanded. "It’s the usual drill. Reddin, you stick with Paladin Vargas and keep your mouth shut. Strays," she eyed Altan and Delilah, "you stay behind us."
The other soldier, Reddin, who had remained silent until now, shouted with a firm "Yes, ma'am!" Her voice was followed by Delilah's quiet but resolute echo, "Yes, ma'am."
Lyons snorted, a short, almost dismissive sound, as she checked her laser rifle, adjusting it with practiced efficiency. "We do this by the drill," she said, her voice low but firm, "no dead heroes. Move out!"
Her tone left little room for argument, and the fireteam immediately fell into formation, their heavy boots scraping against the cracked pavement as they began to move forward, the whine of their power armor filling the air.
Automatic rifles chattered as the fireteam surged from the alley, laying down suppressive fire for Lyons and Colvin, who moved quickly to take cover behind the rusted wreck of a truck. Altan and Delilah stayed back, refraining from engaging. Delilah was content to let the Brotherhood soldiers handle it, while Altan was eager to observe. Though he was a good shot, the vast difference between his abilities and those of a trained soldier became glaringly obvious as the fireteam effortlessly waded through several dozen super mutants. Soon, they found themselves in the plaza of Galaxy News Radio.
The plaza was littered with bodies, the majority of them super mutants, but a few wore the combat armor of the Brotherhood. One soldier in power armor lay lifeless in the fountain at the center, a missile launcher discarded several feet away from the fallen figure.
The siblings followed the soldiers into the plaza, Delilah sticking a little closer to her brother as they passed the fallen soldiers. She cast a somber glance at the bodies before turning her attention to Lyons, who was coordinating a sweep of the area. Altan spoke up, "So this is it, huh? You need anything from us, or can we go in?"
Lyons turned to them, but the sound of distant, lumbering stomps that made the ground vibrate caused her to pause. She swore under her breath, "Fuck." Turning to Delilah, she asked, "Have either of you used that '79, or is it just for show?"
Delilah nodded, her voice shaky as the stomps grew louder, closer. "I took down three with it, and..." She trailed off, her eyes flicking nervously toward the sound.
"Good enough. That's a behemoth—" A guttural roar, loud enough to rattle their skulls, cut her off as it echoed from the direction of the footsteps. Lyons snapped into action. "Grab that missile launcher and get to cover. We need to bring it down fast and hard. Aim for the legs, and watch for backblast!"
Altan quickly hefted the missile launcher, but the weight of the power-armored soldier was a challenge as he tried to shift them to get to the bundle of missiles trapped beneath. Another roar echoed, this time so close it felt like the air itself was shaking. The soldiers opened fire, unleashing a barrage of shots aimed at the hideously deformed head of a colossal super mutant as it peaked over a barricade made of buses that sealed off the street. The behemoth ducked back down, but with a thunderous crash, the barricade exploded outward into the plaza. Half a dozen heavy vehicles were sent flying like toys. One of the wrecked vehicles slammed into a power-armored soldier, crushing them instantly. As if in response, the behemoth swung a massive, uprooted telephone pole at the retreating soldiers, sending them scattering for cover.
Altan froze, his heart pounding as the behemoth's roar filled the air. The chaos around him felt distant, like it was happening to someone else. But when the grenade launcher clattered out of Delilah's grasp, his instincts kicked in. "Lily, focus!" He shouted, cutting through the noise of gunfire and monstrous cries. Her wide, terrified eyes met his, and in that moment, his fear gave way to urgency. Kneeling in front of her, he shoved the grenade launcher back into her arms. "Try to nail it with a grenade, then run! Feet, legs, groin, wherever! We have to take that thing down!"
When Delilah nodded, Altan turned back to the behemoth, which was already starting to falter under the relentless fire of the mounted heavy weapons. The beast staggered, its hulking form wavering, but it wasn’t down yet. He fumbled with the launcher, his hands shaking as he hoisted it onto his shoulder, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The weight of the weapon felt awkward in his grip, but he knew he had no choice but to get it right. His eyes locked onto the behemoth’s massive form, waiting for a clear shot.
The mutant snatched up a soldier, pausing mid-attack as it brought the struggling, screaming figure to its grotesque mouth. "Now!" Altan barked, his voice sharp with urgency. The missile launcher roared to life, spitting a column of fire as it hurled the projectile toward the behemoth. The missile didn’t detonate on impact, but slammed into the mutant’s knee just above the joint with a sickening crack, causing it to stagger and drop the soldier with a deafening crash.
Next to him, Delilah’s grenade launcher thumped, and the behemoth’s knee joint shattered. The creature toppled to the ground, its massive form crashing like thunder against the pavement.
With the mutant incapacitated, Altan discarded the launcher, shifting to his rifle. He began unloading on the beast, each shot a rhythmic burst of controlled fire. A second and third thump echoed beside him as Delilah’s launcher sent more grenades into the behemoth's body, the final explosions punctuating the end of its reign of terror.
The plaza fell eerily silent, the only sound the distant crackle of fire and the heavy breathing of the soldiers.
The weight of the moment hit them then, and the siblings, exhausted and shaken, slumped with relief. Altan let out a long breath, his hands still gripping his rifle, while Delilah’s shoulders sagged as she released the grenade launcher.
Lyons' voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding, carrying a hint of weariness. "We're clear out here. Stand down.”