Warriors of the Wastes

Quest 1: Re-reunion


It was the late night Happy Hour at Rivet City’s Muddy Rudder Bar. One Butch DeLoria was sitting at the bar, knocking back a shot glass of whiskey, joking with his bar buddies.


He was ecstatic, life out in the Wasteland was a helluva lot better then that underground cesspool known as Vault 101. He leaned back against the bar, letting out a small belch with a grin on his face. He was finally a free man. That tasted better then any alcohol he’d ever tasted.


He was snapped out of the friendly conversation by the sound of a punch connecting and a man’s cry of pain. “Didn’t ya hear the lady? Leave ‘er the fuck alone! Or I’ll tear out yer fuckin heart!” a gruff man hollered, kicking the downed man.


Butch turned his somewhat clouded gaze to the source of the commotion, his steel blue eyes widened at who he saw.


Long, pure black hair curled down her back in thick waves, bangs blocking her face from view. Her left leg crossed over her right lazily and her right fist was to her forehead, the gloved fingers of her left hand curled around a shot glass of her own.


A black and white dog laid protectively to the right of the woman, blocking anyone who’d try to approach her.


Butch got up, not stumbling once. He can hold his alcohol rather well. He made his way over to the woman. He also noticed a rather dangerous looking fellow sitting across from her. His hair was more then likely dark-brown, but it was shaved so close to his scalp it was hard to tell.


Harsh, dark brown eyes kept watch on the scumbags in the bar as he smoked a cig.


Those brown eyes soon snapped to Butch, glaring at the twenty year-old. “What the fuck do you want, asshole?” Before Butch could answer, the man looked him over, snorting. “Whattaya know, another Vault brat out in the Wastes?”


The woman finally moved, her right hand dropping to the table. Butch barely saw the bloodshot green eye before her gaze returned to the tabletop. “He’s straight, Jericho.” she told the gruff man hoarsely. The Greaser also noted that her tone was almost unemotional.


Butch pulled a chair up, sitting between Jericho and the woman. “Didn’t think I’d see ya here, Vivika.” he told the raven haired Waster.


Last time he saw this girl was about a month ago, back when he still lived in Vault 101. The Overseer’s daughter, Amata sent out a distress call hoping to contact this very woman to help them out.


In all honesty, Butch wouldn’t have blamed Vivika if she left them to rot, with what happened the last time she was there. He owed her a lot for saving his mother’s life. Vivika really surprised him when she ran in and shot all three Radroaches square in the head.


He couldn’t believe that she managed to open the Vault and escape. But…it wasn’t like she had much choice. What with the Overseer wanting both her and her father’s heads on a platter.


He wished he could’ve helped her somehow. When he first saw her as she finished beating a wounded Officer Kendall to death with a baseball bat, he felt bad for her. Sure, they didn’t really get along, but she looked so scared and angry.


So, after she saved the only family he had, Butch didn’t feel any hesitance about giving her his Tunnel Snakes Jacket, it could be cold for all he knew.


Throughout the entire time he’s known her, Vivika never backed down from Butch. She wasn’t one to just give up. He respected her for it, more so now with what he’s heard she’s been doing. Helping people from all over the Capitol Wasteland. From disarming a dormant Pre-War nuke in Megaton to knocking sense into two costumed whackos in Canterbury Commons.


And she barely got anything for her deeds. Some Bottlecaps here and there but that was it.


Vivika looked up from her half-empty shot glass to Jericho, “If there’s something you wanna do, feel free, man. I’ll be fine.” she told the mercenary.


She saw him barely nod and blow smoke right in Butch’s face. “You look after her, she’s real fucked up right now.” Jericho growled through gritted teeth and a dagger-like glare.


“I’m not completely helpless, jackass.” Vivika returned with a growl of her own, sharp green eyes glaring at Jericho.


The middle-aged man just walked off, hands in his packets and a fresh fag between his lips.


Butch took Jericho’s place across from Vivika who returned her gaze to the metal table. He knew it was a stupid question to ask but, he felt he had to; “You okay, Vivi?” he asked, arms crossed on the table.


“What do you want ta hear? Truth or bullshit?” she asked, her tone still even. Butch could tell she was holding in some seriously fucked up shit. He’s also long suspected the girl to have some anger management issues.


“Just tell me the truth, Christ knows there’s enough bullshit to fill the entire Wasteland to our waists.” he answered, grabbing a toothpick and placing it between his teeth.


He heard her chuckle in a sarcastic way. “Where to start? Being forced out of my only home for something I didn’t do. Having no one there to tell me it was gonna be okay as I battled every type of baddie the Wastes has to offer. Following dead end after dead end…be happy you still have your mom, Butch…” Vivika swallowed the lump that was forming in the back of her throat.


‘The one person I truly wanted to save…’ She couldn’t believe she still had a hold on her rage. She wanted, no, NEEDED to just beat something.


Butch just sat there, letting her talk things out. What really surprised him was finding out what the G.O.A.T placed her as, a Marriage Counselor. But, then again, she had the sharpest silver tongue out of anyone he knew.


And she used it very well, from getting out of trouble with the Overseer or even her father to shooting comebacks to Butch and his fellow Tunnel Snakes, it seemed she could talk her way out of anything.


“Ya wanna know the most ass-backwards thing?” she asked, shoulders shaking with slight laughter.


“Go ahead, Vivi, shoot.” he said, leaning back in his chair, crossing his left leg over his right, his blue eyes never leaving the woman.


“You were a bully, a fucking bully! And yet you were the only one who gave me a warm welcome! I took valuable time out of my…” he could easily tell that there were way too many emotions going through her at the moment.


“My search for my father to help that bitch, my supposed best friend with her own problems. And STILL spared that mother fucking scumbag and what do I get?” she asked, finally looking Butch in the eye.


She had been crying alright, her usual dark green eyes were now bloodshot and a light green. He had to admit, she’s always had beautiful eyes. She must have gotten them from her mother.


“I get banished from the only home I ever knew. I came to help my…family…” she swallowed that word with bitter hatred before continuing, “And she has the gall to kick me out a second time?!” Butch could see the anger and betrayal in her eyes.


Vivika clenched her fists, eyes glaring at the table once more. He heard her mutter something along the lines of ‘lucky bitch.’


“Well, you still have yer dad, don’tcha?” he asked, trying to find something to cheer her up.


He immediately regretted this. Vivika made a choke-like sound as her whole body tensed. “Oh man, Vivika…” after all the shit that she’s been through, she lost her father too?


Butch looked down to see the dog nuzzle her thigh, whimpering softly. “Don’t worry, Dogmeat…I’ll be fine.” she told the animal, an unconvincing smile on her pouting lips.


The Greaser spat out the toothpick, “C’mon, yer stayin with me for the night. Ya just need some rest.” he said, getting up from his seat.


“Why do you suddenly care so much?” she spat, glaring at him, sleep ready to claim her. Vivika was mentally and physically exhausted.


“Hey, I wasn’t lyin when I said you were the best friend I ever had.” Butch told her. “I’ll be back in a second.”


He got up to tell Belle to pass a message to Jericho that he was looking after Vivika.


Butch grabbed her hand and pulled his weary fellow Vault Dweller up the stairway, Dogmeat trotting along behind them. He rented a decent looking hotel room.


He used a key to open the door and kicked it shut after the mutt entered. As he kicked his shoes off by the door, after locking it so no one could try sneaking in, Butch noticed Vivika curling up on the sofa. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked, glaring in a deadpan manner at the girl who gave him a drowsy and confused stare over her shoulder.


“Sleep…” she yawned, curling back into the fetal position.


Butch sighed and strolled over to the young woman. She squeaked in surprise as the Tunnel Snake threw he over his shoulder and ended up dumping her on the queen-sized mattress.


“You can have the bed tonight, seems like you need it more anyway.” he told her, beginning to walk away before she could interject.


Right was he turned around, he felt a tug on his jacket sleeve. Butch turned around to see her green eyes gazing up at him. “Don’t leave me alone…please.”


‘Does she have abandonment issues now too? Wouldn’t really blame her…losing her mother before she even knew her own name. Her father bailing on her and God knows what else.’ He saw the loneliness in her eyes.


Running a hair through his dark brown hair, Butch sighed. “Fine, but only cause ya look like that.” passing it off as more of a chore then something he really didn’t mind doing. Vivika looked cute in a way and Butch wanted to protect her. Must have been instinct or something.


As he sat down on the mattress, Vivika scooted closer to the wall to give him room.


But, as soon as he laid down, Butch jumped a bit as she cuddled him. ‘She’s already asleep?’ Butch asked himself, chuckling softly
as he put his left arm over her waist.


His gaze still never left the now sleeping woman in his arms. She sniffled softly in her sleep. ‘Why did I constantly bully her anyway?’ he wondered. ‘Maybe I liked her and was just too stupid to admit it? Who knows…’


Butch yawned widely, his eyes slowly closing and entering his dreamland.