HOME | DD

Description
2015 a.t.b., 340 miles from Billings, Montana. Alistair had exited his vehicle and entered his Montana hideout, Ensign Nichols and Agent Florida in tow, carrying the comatose Agent North Dakota.

Alistair (Age 14): Infirmary's in the back. There's an Auto-Doc installed, there. Should help cyborgs, too.
Florida: I'll take it from here, Ensign.
Ensign Nichols: Right. (lets go of North) God, you guys are heavy.
Florida: Wish we weren't. (carries North to infirmary)
Ensign Nichols: You know, I actually missed being at death's door.
Alistair: Don't ever pull that, again. You were very lucky.
Ensign Nichols: Lucky, my ass! You do the impossible, all the time! You even have a lever-action shotgun, now! You're right-handed, and you always use that thing left-handed!
Alistair: Prosthetic. Remember?
Ensign Nichols: Still, you have a flicker jab that breaks wrists!
Alistair Only when someone's throwing a punch. Get yourself something to eat. I'm gonna check the database, see what's going down, around here.

Half an hour passed, and Alistair led Ensign Nichols and Agent Florida to his planning room.

Florida: Nice digs. Got data on everything.
Ensign Nichols: So, why are we here?
Alistair: We're going to Billings, to deal with some pests.
Florida: Define "pests," would ya?
Alistair: Raiders.
Ensign Nichols: Raiders? Really?
Alistair: The sooner we clean up, the better. What, you don't want a share of the bounty?
Ensign Nichols: And, you just made it better.
Florida: What, exactly, are we up against?
Alistair: Chaotic Evil sons of bitches. What do you think?
Florida: Hold on, we're in Montana... Raiders... Aw, hell! That freakin' warzone!?
Ensign Nichols: I'm confused, pal.
Florida: Let me put it this way: Take every raider in the whole west coast, and put them all in a steel cage deathmatch.
Ensign Nichols: A shitstorm, basically?
Alistair: A bunch of badass raiders calling themselves "warlords" have started warring, here, on the west side. Mad Max main baddies times 17, if you will.
Ensign Nichols: In your own words, "fantastical".
Alistair: Currently, the fighting's stopped, with every part of the city completely wasted away. Some of these raiders have some unique weapons, too.
Florida: Like Atlas weapons?
Alistair: Yeah, alongside other Enclave corporations.
Ensign Nichols: So, you expect yourself, a military officer and one former Civility Agent to take on these assholes?
Alistair: The odds aren't in my favor.
Florida: No shit, Sherlock.
Alistair: And, when the odds aren't in my favor... Then, I've already won.
Ensign Nichols: I don't know if you've noticed, but he's the only guy in the country that can tear fate and destiny a new one. He's no chosen one, he's no messiah, he's no savior. He's a badass, naturally born to do good.
Florida: So, where's the confident smile?
Ensign Nichols: Amputation and parental loss at the age of 6. Via Knightmares.
Florida: Okay, that's just wrong.
Alistair: Gear yourselves up. We have some exterminating to do.
Florida: Don't fret. I got whips in my wrists. (whips drop from wrists)
Ensign Nichols: Are those new?
Florida: Yes, actually. I saw these on a video game. Now... (small blades emerge on whip) I can lash shit to smithereens.
Alistair: If you so much as demonstrate your skills in this room, and break something, you will regret it for the rest of your indestructible life.
Florida: I...actually didn't intend to do that. (retracts whips) Thanks for telling me, anyway.
Alistair: Also, you're not allowed near the big guns, Ensign. Unless, you've got your medication?
Ensign Nichols: Fine. I'll play it safe.
Alistair: I don't make habits of dragging your ass around, every time you have a freaking heart attack.
Ensign Nichols: (pauses) Oh, duh. Why didn't I think of that!? I could've distracted Hawking some more, like that!
Alistair: We can start by dealing with the warlord at my door.
Ensign Nichols: Wait, what?

Ensign Nichols and Agent Florida looked at one of the screens in the room, and saw that a large man, dressed like a post-apocalyptic raider was hardly knocking on the front door.

Florida: What the...?
Alistair: He's the stupidest one. I got him.

Alistair went to the front door and opened it, the raider warlord towering over him.

Raider Warlord: I see that you're new to these parts, kid. It's quite customary to hand over all of your belongings to every raider you come across, then die at their hands.
Alistair: You want a present?
Raider Warlord: Very much so.
Alistair: Alright, then. I can spare a bullet.
Raider Warlord: A bullet! That's very good!
Alistair: Allow me to give you a shotgun shell. (draws lever-action shot gun with left hand, presses it against warlord's chest) Straight to your heart.
Raider Warlord: Oh...

Alistair fired his shotgun, point-blank, into the warlord's chest, and the warlord's corpse fell to the ground.

North: (deliriously) Cleanup...!
Alistair: How'd he hear that? Whatever. One down, 16 more to go. Well, at least I'm doing something.

2017 a.t.b., 7:45 p.m., Ohgi's house. Ohgi had been treating Villetta's condition since the previous night, and finally started to wake up.

Villetta: (grunts) Note to self: Break the hand of the perverted asshole who didn't give me the bulletproof vest. (opens eyes) God, it's dark. How long have I been out-? (notices Ohgi) Oh. Uh... Hi.
Ohgi: Hey.
Villetta: So... This is awkward.
Ohgi: Not really. I carried you all the way here.
Villetta: How about that? Wait, your voice sounds familiar.
Ohgi: Probably...because I'm a Black Knight.
Villetta: Hey, you're the guy who talked to me, while I was unconscious!
Ohgi: Of course, you'd remember that.
Villetta: (sits up in bed) If I'm not sick, that means you took my clothes off- (looks down, sees bandaged upper torso) What the...?
Ohgi: I had to improvise. Seeing as how I don't have women's clothing...
Villetta: This is actually pretty comfortable. So, wait, is this the only bed in your house?
Ohgi: Yeah. I had to sleep on the floor.
Villetta: Well, you could have prevented some repeated nightmares on my part, by sleeping next to me.
Ohgi: That would discomfort me, actually.
Villetta: Do you have a girlfriend?
Ohgi: Not that lucky, no.
Villetta: You want one?
Ohgi: ...Yes.
Villetta: Then, get your ass in this bed, so we can get to the hugging bit.
Ohgi: Sounds...nice, but I'll pass. I don't even know who you are.
Villetta: Villetta Nu, former Britannian military. The bigots up top probably think I'm KIA, and are looking for my body.
Ohgi: The reason you left was because they were bigots? To who?
Villetta: First, you guys, the Japanese. Then, it was the women in the military.
Ohgi: They were perverts, weren't they?
Villetta: The final nail in the coffin was one guy, stone-faced and stoic, touching my ass as he passed me, while I was in my pilot suit. A quantum supercomputer calculating for a thousand years could not approach the amount of damns he did not give. By the way, these are nice tights.
Ohgi: (sighs) Thanks, I guess. (yawns)
Villetta: Come on, buddy. Your bed and my arms await.
Ohgi: I've got no other choice. (gets into bed and lays down)
Villetta: (wraps arms around Ohgi) There you go. Sweet dreams are inbound.
Ohgi: Oh. That's...what you meant.
Villetta: Comfy?
Ohgi: It's...new. Might get used to it.
Villetta: Maybe an interracial romance?
Ohgi: That doesn't sound too bad, actually.
Villetta: Good night, Ohgi.
Ohgi: Good night, Villetta.

2015 a.t.b., Billings, Montana. After nearly 3 hours of fighting, Alistair, Ensign Nichols and Agent Florida finished off the remaining raiders that scour the ruined city.

Alistair (Age 14): That's 97 for me, 65 for Florida and a lowly 26 for the Ensign.
Ensign Nichols: Son of a-!
Florida: No wonder you won! You left to take on the warlords, while we took on the mook assholes!
Alistair: The turrets helped, at least. That's 14 warlords down, 3 to go.
Ensign Nichols: Dammit.
Alistair: The question is where they are. They should have been here, for the fight.
Florida: Also, there was supposed to be more. Like, a bus, or something.
Ensign Nichols: So, where's the bus?

Meanwhile, 500 miles away, Mercer was walking on the road, upset about the previous events at Utah.

Mercer: (thinking) So, I'm about to be another step closer to Metastability. Then, a pro wrestler android somehow kicks my ass, and sends me flying. Dad tries to take the matter into his own hands, gets one of the AIs, then Ensign Nichols shows up and decides, "I'm gonna try and kill a guy who's incredibly hard to kill!" Then, Alistair shows up, apparently he has a car, gonna have to look into that later. But, at the very top of this long list of questions and bullshit...! (out loud) Where the hell am I!?

Immediately, Mercer heard the sound of a vehicle's wheels screeching behind him, then a voice rang out.

Raider Driver: Sir, I need to ask you to get off the road! We're late for a battle at Billings, and we're missing all the action!
Mercer: Mother of God...
Raider Driver: I am now going to apply the horn! (honks horn) I am now going to use it, again! (honks horn twice) I will now continue to use the horn, until you politely move!

As the raider driver repeatedly honked the horn of the bus, he immediately stopped when Mercer's head spun around to look at the bus, and not die.

Raider Driver: (reluctantly honks horn)
Mercer: Beep!
Raider Driver: (honks horn)
Mercer: Beep!
Raider Driver: (honks horn repeatedly)
Mercer: (in time with horn) Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep! BEEEEEP!
Raider Driver: (pauses)
Mercer: (head turns back around) Right, back to business.
Raider: (approaches Mercer, with others) Hey, you metal pylon! You ain't a car, so get off the road! Else, me and the boys are gonna have to make your face look like your ass, and your ass look like your face!
Mercer: I can tell you're the raider types. I can respect that. I like killing people, too. What's your group called?
Raider: The Junkyard Dogs!
Raiders: Hoo-Hah!
Mercer: (turns around, smiles sinisterly) Oh, I'm gonna enjoy killing you.

As the raider that was still in the driver's seat witnessed the absolute massacre of the other raiders, he tried to turn the bus back on, and saw that Mercer tore his metal stomach open and red energy began surging.

Mercer: Beep, beep!

Mercer's open metal stomach fired a large beam of red energy that engulfed the bus and left nothing behind, when it ended.

Mercer: (laughs) Stomach beam! How I love it! Oh, the evil of it all! Just like daddy wanted.

Back at Billings, Alistair, and Ensign Nichols finish burning all of the raiders' bodies to ashes, while Florida checks all the weapons and money that he got from them.

Alistair: They won't be coming back.
Ensign Nichols: Nope.
Florida: That was fun, though. I haven't had a bunch of action like that, in a long time.
Alistair: And, that's the first time I ever used Molotovs.
Alison: Alistair?!

Alistair turned around and saw Alison running towards him.

Alistair: Hey, Tex. You get around, quick.
Alison: What are you doing, here?!
Alistair: Cleaning up the trash. I suppose you are the one who took out the other warlords?
Alison: Yes, but you shouldn't be here!
Florida: What's going on?
Alison: The Enclave's sent a hit squad after you! They've even sent their "perfect soldier" to kill you!
Alistair: So, what? I kill them like the rest.
Alison: We have to go!

Alison and Alistair look and see a teenage boy in black, light combat armor, with bright blonde hair and wielding a military-brand machete, standing in their path.

Alison: Oh, my God. It can't be... Null?
Alistair: You know him?
Alison: (tearing up) Null... I thought you died...
Null: Alison Healey... Agent Texas of Civility... Traitor.
Alison: Null, don't you remember anything?!
Null: (looks at Alistair) Alistair Wake... High-priority target... Number 1 on the Enclave's blacklist.
Alistair: They actually have a blacklist? You learn something new every day.
Null: (holds machete in reverse grip) Die.
Alison: Null, no!

The "perfect soldier" named Null charged at Alistair, but did not account for Alistair's unpredictable backhand punch with his left arm, which struck Null on the side of his head and launched him towards one of the buildings.

Alistair: Rise and shine, pal. Your bestie's concerned about you.
Null: (gets up) I cannot be hindered.
Alistair: Hmph. Like a ninja, huh? Explains that mask thing. Pretty quick on your feet, too. You look familiar, though.
Null: Enough talk.
Alistair: Look at that. We both share the same attitude.
Alison: Null! Stop!
Null: After him, you.
Alison: Chance!
Alistair: (realizes Null's identity) Ohh. I know who you are.
Null: You know my name, already. The former Agent Texas said it.
Alistair: Your real name. You're from another country, one which desired its own independence from the tyrannical government which controlled it. The rebel guerilla's MVP was a young boy, who was armed with nothing but a knife. Simply walking up to enemies, taking a chance on his life, yet benevolent when he wished to spare the ones that survived. The survivors said that the boy was like a soldier version of Oskar Schindler. Since the boy never had a name, they named him Chance Schindler.
Chance "Null" Schindler: Chance Schindler... No matter... Die.
Alistair: Ah. Nobody home, benevolence lost... There's something else I can kill.
Alison: (holds Alistair) Please, Alistair! Stop! I love you! You don't have to do this!
Alistair: (pushes Alison away) I can handle this.
Alison: Didn't you hear me!? I said, I love you! Don't fight him!
Alistair: Allow me to explain the situation, to the best of your understanding.
Alison: Huh?
Alistair: BRB...(draws tazer, tazer sparks) Gonna save your boyfriend.

Alistair and Null charged toward each other, Null swung his machete at Alistair, and Alistair crushed the blade of the machete. Alistair got behind Null and prepared to use the tazer.

Alistair: Hi, Beta. Bye, Beta.

Alistair pressed the tazer at the back of Null's head and Null screamed in pain as the microchip containing the AI Beta was destroyed. Null collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

Null: (panting) How... How did you know...?
Alistair: You weren't home. Simple math.
Null: How'd you know my name?
Alistair: My mom told me about you.
Null: Your mom?
Alistair: Cheryl "Paragon" Wake.
Null: Oh, shit. She's your mom? Where is she?
Alistair: Very dead.
Null: Damn.
Alistair: Also, I believe Tex has something she wants to say to you. (walks away) All yours.

Alison approached Null, slowly, and knelt in front of him.

Alison: Chance?
Null: I've missed you, Alison. You're my best friend.
Alison: Null, I... I've known you for so long. You made me feel more human, than machine. Your past was so painful, I know. So...
Null: So, what?
Alison: I love you, Chance Schindler.

Alison pulled Null towards her and kissed him, gently. When she broke the kiss, Null was completely shocked at his first kiss, and the event made Alistair smile, after a lifetime of not being able to express joy.

Alistair: About damn time.
Alison: You're so smart Alistair... (looks at Alistair) You're freaking smiling!
Alistair: Yeah.
Alison: This day just keeps getting better.

After saying this, Alison saw Alistair get knocked unconscious and collapse to the ground, by the Enclave soldiers behind him.

Enclave Soldier: Vigilante secured.
Major Zanzibar: (approaches unconscious Alistair) Good. Make sure our perfect soldier undergoes re-education. As well as Agent Texas.
Enclave Soldier: Understood.
Alison: Me and my big mouth.
Null: Double shit.