NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Vault 69. Nice!
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"Anyway, these folks don't seem dangerous. So, I'm taking the kids and Rebecca to check out the derailed train and see if we find something useful."
With those final words, Viktor departed with his children and a delighted Rebecca, relieved to have separated Scarlett from Six.
"I don't know about you, ma'am, but your husband is quite peculiar. You know, it's probably unwise to let them roam too far; they might find themselves in danger."
Ben remarked, indifferent as he adjusted his new hat.
"Sir, may I remind you of the reason for your hasty surrender?"
"Touché, ma'am. Touché."
Ben retorted.
"Ah, the heavens be praised, fresh Nuka-Cola!"
Twig exclaimed, savoring the ice-cold Nuka-Cola.
"I've been meaning to mention this for some time, but... I've been out here a long time, and I've never seen a man so addicted to soda."
Ben observed Twig guzzling the century-old sugary beverage.
"Ah, delightful. Nuka-Cola, it's all I can think about. That, and Fancy Lads Snack Cakes. Oh, I could really use some Sugar Bombs right now."
Scarlett looked on in disbelief.
"Yeah, I bet you could, fatty."
"Fatty?"
Twig paused as his friends turned to look at him, and Scarlett immediately regretted her words.
"Oh, hey. I was just joking."
Twig responded calmly.
"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
-Backstory time-
When the Great War commenced, many sought refuge in underground vaults. However, unbeknownst to the inhabitants, the vaults were not designed to save anyone.
Out of 122 vaults, only seventeen met public expectations. The rest were part of "social experiments."
For example, Vault 21 housed nothing but compulsive gamblers. Vault 69 admitted 100,000 people, with all of them women and the luckiest man alive. Then there was Twig's vault, Vault 10.
Sponsored by Nuka-Cola, it was created to test the Eat'O'Matic cafeteria and food dispensers. Exercise equipment was deliberately omitted. All residents of Vault 10. All of the occupants of Vault 10 became overweight.
Obesity became the social norm for Vault 10, as the average girth increased with every generation. And that's where Twig's nickname came from, as he was the skinniest...and, therefore, the most picked-on dweller within Vault 10.
Six and his group, led by his father, trudged through the wreckage of the derailed train, which they discovered was transporting military cargo. Unfortunately, all the provisions, ammunition, and weapons had been looted, leaving behind only a collection of unusable tanks, cargo trucks, construction vehicles, damaged artillery cannons, and securely locked cargo safes.
Normally, a scavenger would be thrilled to find such vehicles, but repairing them would require too much time and resources. This was because all the fusion cores had entered safety mode, effectively locking the vehicles to prevent explosions when the bombs fell.
To bypass the safety mechanisms, one would have to dismantle the vehicle completely and install a new engine, as the safety feature rendered the original engine useless, turning it into nothing more than an expensive paperweight.
As mentioned earlier, Six's father, Viktor, was a mechanical genius. He created multiple award-winning technologies; one of his most prized inventions was the storage containers, which he sold very few. He had engineered storage spaces similar to those in Pip-boys, but with a capacity not of a few hundred pounds, but of a few thousand.
The only limitation of these storage containers was their size, larger than a Pip-boy, and their sole function of storing and preserving items. They also had a size limit; the largest items they could contain were only as big as a Power Armor, rendering them incapable of storing any of the vehicles or artillery.
That's when his new Dismantler Ability proved useful. Upon using it on the first vehicle, it disintegrated into pieces like a Lego set. Bolts, the vehicle frame, plating, fusion core, and the engine was separated into individual components.
This ability enabled them to swiftly gather everything from the derailed train, including the caboose with all the vehicles, the train itself, and the securely locked cargo safes. Which held spare parts, vehicle ammunition, and fusion cores.
"Six, have I ever told you, you're my favorite son?"
"Old man, I'm pretty sure I'm your only son!"
"What about me? Am I just chopped liver?"
"Hahaha! No, Dora, Dad's just going through one of his eccentric mood swings. Don't worry, little one, it'll pass."
"Okay, big bro, I'll trust you."
"Damn it, I get no respect from my children."
Upon their return, they found Twig cheerfully wandering about as their group joined the VI family's caravan heading for the Mahave Outpost. Twig was content because Betty had promised to keep his Nuka-Cola in cold storage, ensuring he could enjoy its chilled and refreshing taste, during the journey.
Though Scarlett and Ben were looking at Twig as if he was insane.
"I think he's lost his damn mind."
Ben commented
"Dibs on his Pip-Boy."
Scarlett threw in her piece.
Placing the storage containers in the wagon, they trudge through the I-15 until they reached a hill. Before going over the hill he stopped the caravan as he received a system alert.
[Quest: Breaker of chains]
[Objective: Successfully eliminate all slavers and free the slaves]
[Reward: Super Rare Gold-Tier Item Character Template]
[Quest: Slaver Friend]
[Objective: Sale Ben, Twig, and Scarlett into slavery]
[Reward: Super Rare Gold-Tier Item summoning ticket]
"Guys, beyond this hill, there's likely a group of slavers, that our former guards intended to sell us to."
He revealed, sharing the close call his family had faced. He resolved never to consider the second option, knowing his family would never forgive him if he did. Just as Six was about to issue orders, he was interrupted once more, this time by the crackle of a radio.
"I have never advocated war, except as a means of peace..."
"Twig, come on! We have to focus! Turn off your damn radio!"
Scarlett reprimanded him, making Twig frantically fiddle his Pip-Boy.
"It's not... It's not on! It's not my radio!"
"Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions."
Then they all looked out to see an Enclave eyebot floating nearby, projecting John Henry Eden's speech.
As they were about to make plans to attack the slavers his father Viktor appeared getting Six's attention.
"I- I've got an idea, son!"
"How terrible is your idea, old man?"
"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement. And, the thrill of creative effort."
Following Viktor's orders Twig chased after and captured the eyebot surprising the VI family, that someone as chubby as him can move so fast. This was because since Twig was the skinniest member in his vault, he was always picked on by the other vault dwellers, making him always work on his cardio.
-Meanwhile, at the Slavers Camp-
A slave lies dead while a female slaver cackles manically.
"Damn it, Red! How many times we've we been over this!?"
The slaver leader reprimands the female now named Red.
"OK, this one? Tanner, Baby, it's not my fault."
She played innocently, shaking her hips.
"You shot him in the face!"
"Only a little~."
unbeknown to them, the eyebot that Twig captured started approaching the Slaver Camp.
"A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit."
Tanner still cackling with Red, then stopping
"Did you hear that?"
They then noticed and saw the eyebot.
"Everybody likes a compliment."
"Aww".
Tanner sigh with a headache.
"Ugh, those things. Damn Enclave!"
Meanwhile, Red using her rifle starts aiming at the eyebot to shoot it down.
"Come to mama..."
"Do not bite at the bait of pleasure until you know there is no hook beneath it."
Bang! Bang!... Bang!
Boom!!!
After firing multiple shots, Red finally brought down the eye bot.
"Well, we've lost the signal. But at least we now know their numbers and locations."
Viktor said as he jury-rigged the eyebot with a camera to spy on the Slaver Camp.
"There are fewer than a dozen of them; they're just mercenaries with standard gear, and they have over two dozen slaves in cages."
Six reviewed the details with his newly enhanced eidetic memory from the Super Soldier Serum.
"So, what's the plan, Big Guy?"
Rebecca asked with enthusiasm.
"We'll move in a few hours, after dark..."
He explained.
"I'll bypass the patrols, reach the slaves, and remove their explosive collars. Meanwhile, someone will provide sniper cover, and three will wait on standby."
"I volunteer to be the sniper!"
Ben was quick to offer, eager to avoid direct danger.
"Alright, then. Rebecca, Scarlet, and Twig, be prepared for a fight or to create a diversion, while I secure the slaves' position."
"That's our cue!"
Rebecca chimed in, grinning broadly and brandishing her SAW.
"I'll plant detonation charges throughout the camp as I go. Hold your fire until I signal. Got it... Rebecca?"
"Uh, Six, this all hinges on you being able to sneak into the camp undetected. You're skilled, but what about guard dogs or traps?"
Scarlet questioned, only to see him vanish moments later with a Stealth Boy.
"OK then, we're good then, Six. Six, Six, Six, SIX?!"
-Evening-
Rebecca, Scarlet, and Twig waited for Six's signal behind some boulders on the hillside.
"I don't— I'm not sure where he meant by 'here,' Scar."
"He told us to meet right here."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Out of nowhere, they were fired upon by three mercenary slavers holding their ground. One, lagging behind, stumbled as he rose from his cover, aiming his Chinese pistol.
"Don't move, Fatty!"
Tanner taunted, causing Twig to smile wryly and pout.
Level: 2
NAME: Six XI
GENDER: MALE
STRENGTH: 10
PERCEPTION: 10
ENDURANCE: 10
CHARISMA: 10
INTELLIGENCE: 10
AGILITY: 10
LUCK: 9
-----------
BARTER: 41
ENERGY WEAPONS: 26
EXPLOSIVES: 26
GUNS: 56
LOCKPICK: 26
MEDICINE: 26
MELEE WEAPONS: 26
REPAIR: 41
SCIENCE: 26
SNEAK: 26
SPEECH: 26
SURVIVAL: 26
UNARMED: 26