Wasteland Junkie

Preston:

“Ok, we’re all set. Its finally over.” Preston announced ashe tapped a dew keys on the terminal in front of him. He turned around to faceSole. “You ready?” He asked before noticing something was slightly off.

“You need to go,” Sole said with a fragile voice, Prestonalmost hadn’t heard what they had said. Sole held out their arm and stretchedout their fingers. “I almost hadn’t realised what it was.”

Preston took a small tube from Sole’s hand, his browsfurrowed in confusion.

FEV-II

“What is it?” He asked examining the empty tube. Sole bittheir lip.

“It’s a strain of the forced evolutionary virus. When I wasexploring before I found an abandoned lab dedicated to the research anddevelopment of it.” A confused expression remained on Preston’s face. Solecontinued, “When we were attacking the room with the reactor, just before I setthe charge, a courser injected this into my leg.”

Preston’s face softened as he realised what Sole had meant.

“I can’t leave the institute. I need you to finish this.”Sole was choking back tears. “I need you to take Shaun back to Sanctuary andbring back hope to the people. I know you-.”

“How can I do this without you?” Preston interjected, hisvoice cracking as he looked at Sole. Sole reached for him, cupping his cheek intheir hand. Preston relaxed into their touch.

“You can.” Sole backed up.

“What if there is a way to reverse-”

“I met a supermutant, a former institute scientist whodeliberately injected himself with his own virus to escape that retched place. Therewas a cure, the only cure… his cure. I don’t want to become one of them, yousee what they do to people. Virgil and Strong are different somehow but what ifI turn out like the rest of them? What if I can’t stop myself?”

Preston nodded; he knew that Sole would never risk anybody’ssafety even if the chanced were at the lowest percentage. He loved that aboutthem.

“I love you,” Preston whispered and Sole nodded sadly, holdingback tears.

“I love you too,” Sole paused, “Now go and protect our people.”

With a flash and a slightly tingly sensation, Preston was lookingover the Commonwealth. He was looking out at the dilapidated, broken buildings,that although destroyed, with this nightmare over they provided everyone with abeacon of hope for the future. One without the terror and the kidnappings ofthe Institute. Sure, there were other monstrosities out there, but this wasprogress.

“Preston? Where is Sole?” Preston was pulled out of histhoughts by that all too familiar voice. Sturges. He turned around with apained look etched across his face. One that told Sturges immediately of Sole’sfate. “Sole was brave and kind, hell they were the bravest person I’ve ever met,”He added.

Preston looked down at the ground. He moved his hand so ithovered over that dreaded red button, but he couldn’t bring himself to pressit. Sturges reached for his shoulder giving it a firm but reassuring squeeze.He told Preston with his eyes that he would do it. He backed up against the wall,he was unable to cry, unable to talk, he could only think of his lost love, turningand completely alone. He felt a sense of numbness, a sense of guilt that he’dfelt once before. Quincy. Only this time he felt like maybe he could have donesomething, he could of killed the synth before he had the chance, he could havetaken the shot of FEV for Sole, he could have stopped the whole thing and letthe Brotherhood deal with this mess. Or maybe, what fate intended is as itshould be. But all he knew was that Sole was gone and he felt empty.

Hancock:

The area was said to be abandoned, a scavenger from Sanctuaryhad informed Sole that the area was clear and full of salvage. Which was greatnews, they were low on ammunition and that gaping hole in the fence needed tobe fixed for the safety of the settlement. Hancock accompanied Sole to the building,but let’s be honest, he followed Sole everywhere. It was a tall building, anold factory which a few stories of offices above it.

“This seems to good to be true,” Hancock mumbled under hisbreath as Sole reached for the door handle. Sole shot him an optimistic look, alook that made Hancock break and smile, a look that he had come to appreciate andlove. “You’d think a gold mine like this would have been cleared out by now.”

Sole knew Hancock was probably right, but they couldn’t affordto pass up on an opportunity like this. They needed this find. Sole slowlyturned the door handle and peered inside the room, to listen for any movementbut the coast was clear. Hancock followed Sole inside, his hairless brows creasingas he immediately noticed a ticking sound.

“Sole? What is-”

CRASH. BAM. ALAKAZAM.

Hancock had been interrupted by a loud explosion. Dust anddebris now blocked the entrance they’d come through and the opposite side, sealingthem in a small space. Sole heaved and coughed as they tried to get the dirt outfrom their lungs.

“Hancock?” Sole croaked standing up and brushing themselfoff. They turned around to see the red coat wearing ghoul on the ground coveredin trash and rubble. Sole knelt in front of him. “Hey… are you alright?” Sole rantheir fingers down the rough skin on his face. Hancock coughed and nodded. Heleaned up on his elbows.

“What the fuck was that?” He said in bewilderment. Solenoticed his voice sounded raspier than usual.

“I’m not sure.” Sole looked around, “I think maybe a tripmine or something, I didn’t see it.”

“What is that?” Hancock squinted as he looked up at the nowcrumbling ceiling. A green mist floated in the air above them. Hancock heardclicking. He looked at Sole’s arm.

“Shit,” Sole mumbled tapping their pip-boy.

“That thing is going crazy.” Hancock noted referring to the Geigermechanism inside the pip-boy.

“We need to get out of here. There is an insane amount ofradiation in the air.” Sole panicked, the clicking increasing with every passingsecond. Sole started picking at the rubble by the door in which Hancock helpedbut their efforts proved futile.

Minutes, no… hours ticked by and still no luck, they weretired and they were trapped.

“I knew something felt off,” Hancock mumbled, “I think thiswas a sick trap. Who was the scavenger who told you about this place?” Hancocklooked over at Sole. He noticed their gaunt pale skin, the life being suckedout of them.

“I don’t feel so good,” Sole whispered before doubling overand heaving before vomiting on the ground in front of them. Hancock dropped tohis knees beside Sole, rubbing their back.

“C’mon Sunshine,” He continued comforting Sole, but he knewdeep down that if they didn’t get out of there soon… it would end badly. He hadto act quickly. Hancock stood back up and tried to pull himself up through theroof knowing his body could stand the radiation. As he managed to pull hisupper body through the hole, his hand slipped which caused more debris to fall fromabove, pushing him back down to the ground and blocking their only exit. Therewas no escape, no hope. He looked back down at Sole, his face dropping.

Sole was lying on their side in the foetal position, blood tricklingfrom their nose. Sole coughed and puked, their vomit laced with blood. Hancocksat down against the wall and pulled Sole into his lap, holding them againsthim.

“This is all my fault,” He cried quietly, rocking his loverin his lap. “I knew. I knew and I let you go in anyway.” He kissed the top ofSole’s head. “Why! Why did I let you go in?!” He shouted angrily at himself, disturbingthe rubble once again, being showered in a layer of dust.

“Hancock…” Sole croaked their voice hoarse and weak.

“Shh. It’s okay Sunshine. It’s going to be okay.” Soleheaved in his lap. He stroked their hair. Tears streamed down Hancock’s face. “Ilove you so much Sunshine. You…” he paused, “You are the best thing that’s happenedto me, you’ve brought me a happiness I didn’t think I deserved. I- I love you.”He threw his head against the wall. Sole was muttering gibberish.

“Shaun? Where’s Shaun? Where’s my baby?” Sole choked out, theirbreathing heavy and coarse.

“He’s safe don’t worry, he’s asleep in his cot. He’ll bethere when you wake up.” Hancock slowly pressed his gun against Sole’s temple,his tears dripping onto Sole’s greened face. He closed his eyes.

BANG.