Death Claws for you: The vault
Story by HomeTome on SoFurry
Vaults are surrounded in myths. What wonders lie inside?
It has been quite some time since I was last here. I'm standing in front of a dilapidated pub, dressed casually. This pub may as well be Tenpenny tower in comparison to most things in the wastes, so I shouldn't criticize. It is maintained, receives routine maintenance, and is steadily increasing over time. I've returned because I'm a man of my word, and I needed to report to the boss on my latest trip to clear out those Deathclaw.
I push the swinging doors open and step halfway inside, but the heavy thumps from behind make me hesitate as I turn back and gaze at the Deathclaw standing behind me.
“Give me a minute, Satan. I'll call if there's any trouble."
The enormous Claw, stained blood red, silently waits. I've given a couple of the Deathclaw names since it was simpler to address them directly. They seem to be familiar with their names, which has helped foster a positive bond with the herd. Why am I not on this mission alone? It wasn't from a lack of trying, but whenever I try to venture off on my own, the Alpha, Ivory as I've named her, sends one of her own to protect me.
I continued inside the bar, feeling as though he understood my command. Quite a bit of talking is going on. I shouldn't be surprised, considering I walked into the town with a Deathclaw. I see that Jannet the ghoul is working the bar as usual. I make my way up and find an open seat.
“Hey, Jannet. How's business?"
“Good, but I have to admit the tales I've been hearing recently are far more entertaining," she answers with her raspy voice. “Is it true you have a Deathclaw as a companion?"
“Something like that," I admit.
“I think it goes without saying you've become the sharpest tongue on this irradiated rock. Or a friend of monsters, as the very least." She chuckles briefly. “So the quarry is cleared?"
“That it is, Boss. Do you have my payment?"
She retrieved a bag containing bottle caps from behind the bar.
“Your payment." She slides the bag to me. “Anyone else know about the quarry?"
“Unlikely. Unless it was found by a wanderer. I don't know for sure, but rumors say it's a Deathclaw nest, so I think people will stay away for a long time.
“Music to my ears," she says, turning to face the pub's other patrons. “Pack up, boys! We've got some expanding to do!"
“Mind if I got a shot for the road?" I pull a couple caps out of the bag and put them on the table. "Also some batteries, if you have any."
She takes the caps, pours a drink, and then looks under the bar.
“Why do you need the batteries, exactly? They're difficult to come by."
“Another job that I'm hoping will be fairly lucrative, however unlike my previous work, this one is more concerned with myths and rumors."
She laughs. “Let me guess, a vault?"
“Exactly."
“Well, if you uncover anything unusual that you can't sell, my door is always open." She emerges from behind the bar and puts the batteries down. “Always a pleasure doing business with you."
“Same." I knock back my shot before taking my batteries and returning outside. Many people are gathering around Satan as he stands there motionless, and I expect that number to grow should I let this go on. “He's not a statue. Move along." I look up at Satan. “Let's go."
With a grunt all the residents around quickly move away as I walk my way out. As I look back, I watch Jannet's little party make their way toward the quarry. There is little doubt that she will use it to extend her territory, but that is none of my concern. As soon as we leave town, I hop atop Satan's shoulders.
“Let's head home."
Nothing further needed to be said as he dashed back to the forests to the north.
Thankfully, since I'm traveling with a single Deathclaw, I don't have to deal with any locals. So it's easy for Satan and me to get back into the forest without having to negotiate passage. Not that many people are eager to bargain with a colossal Deathclaw standing behind me, but I digress. Satan maneuvers through the bushes and undergrowth with a surprising degree of grace.
His typical powerful thumps are muffled as he walks quietly through the trees. They still have some fundamental hunting instincts despite being the only animal on the globe that can face a super mutant behemoth head-on and come out unscathed. They have the capability to locate, stalk, and pursue prey. Having packs like wolves to coordinate attacks but also employ stealth like some of the bigger cats do.
I think they've picked up some extra intellect throughout their strange evolutionary path, but that's just a guess. I'd say that most of the pack are about as smart as a dog. They can grasp what I'm saying to some extent, but much is lost in translation. Intention and emotion are clearly more important to them. Reacting to my fear, anger, or happiness.
Ivory, the alpha, is not like the others. Not entirely at least. I'd put her intelligence closer with my own. She tries to communicate with me beyond the typical grunts and barks. She has planning skills and employs strategy during hunts that go much beyond those of, say, a wolf pack. On the other hand, I do see that she, too, struggles with our language barrier.
She doesn't understand my words, as her knowledge of humans and our language is limited. But unlike the others, she's curious, always listening intently, and eager to learn. It's difficult, but we're both trying to understand each other a little better, but that takes time. To be perfectly honest, this is why I'm interested in finding a vault. A lot of myths surround these places.
Weapons that could set the world on fire, again. Unknown technology capable of producing food and water from irradiated dust. However, I'm most interested in one piece of technology that I've heard about. A collar that allows animals to express their thoughts as a voice. Admittedly, these might all be fabricated stories by drunkards seeking a brief moment of attention.
Nonetheless, it's worth the gamble, which is why I acquired these batteries. Satan and I make our way through a dense grove of trees to a tiny clearing where a cave resides. I leap off his back as we both enter inside. Compared to the one in the quarry, the mouth of this cave is enormous. As we pass, two Deathclaws are standing watch and just give us a quick glance.
The opening of the cave continues down a passageway before entering a spacious chamber with several alcoves with nest-like beds, giving an almost dormitory atmosphere, while each claw and some couples have their own "homes." Satan separates from me and departs to do his own thing as I go down another tunnel, stopping momentarily to activate my pipboy light as the light from the cave entrance begins to fade.
I go inside Ivory's private quarters. It's larger than the rest, obviously, as she's the alpha. I find her waiting for me as she lets out a purr but, given her size, sounds more like an alligator's bellow. I walk over to a little torch and ignite it before switching off my pipboy to provide some ambient lighting. Deathclaw have extraordinary eyesight; therefore this darkness poses no problem for them. For me though? Yeah, I need the light.
"I'm home," I remark as I drop my stuff down and go up to Ivory. “It's good to see you."
Her purring becomes more intense as she puts her arms around me and pulls me to her chest. It's still surprising that not only do I have her love, but she also has mine. I give her a little kiss on the lips, and she returns the gesture by gently licking mine.
"I have some wonderful news. I got the batteries." Ivory cocks her head slightly, perplexed by what I'm saying. "I'm hoping the batteries will help if we find a vault," I tap my chin in thought. "It'll be a pain in the ass to map these tunnels, but there has to be a vault someplace down here." As she nuzzles me, I can't help but be distracted. “I'm fine... I just," I sigh. "I just hope vaults are as amazing as everyone claims. Or, at the very least, ones that haven't been opened." I shudder a little. “The ones that were opened told a different tale."
Ivory growls.
“Heh, yeah, I guess there's not much to worry about with you around."
It's funny in a way. The more time I spend with the Claws, the more I find myself adjusting to their communication style. Maybe it's because this is the first time I've connected intimately with someone without using words, but I can't say for certain. I turn over so that my back is against her chest while I raise my pipboy and go to the map.
“There is one section of this cave we haven't explored in depth yet, and is the most promising." I widen the interest area. “I recall an odd noise coming from down there too. Maybe an underground river? That would be convenient but still irradiated, sadly." I look up to meet Ivory's gaze. “Not like it bothers you much."
She gives a bassy chuckle before I return my gaze to the map.
“Anything worth noting about the forest? Intruders?" She huffs. I take that as a no. “Are the hunts going well?" She chatters her teeth slightly. “Good to know food is plentiful here."
I'm still concentrating on my map as one of her hands shifts from supporting me to being at her side as she grabs for something. Making a note of potential places of interest. Unfortunately, this map is auto-generated from our exploration, so I don't yet have a complete picture of what lies ahead. Suddenly, my face is touched by something damp, and I turn to see a bloody chunk of flesh.
“I'm not hungry." I attempt to go back to work, but she gives me a growl that is more menacing. I sigh. “Alright, let me set a fire first. You know I can't eat it raw."
In the wastes, I'm accustomed to not eating much, but since I joined Ivory's herd, I've noticed that she's quite insistent over feeding me on a regular basis. Although it's nice, I can't help but succumb to my old habits and go without food for days on end. I get off Ivory and go to the little fire pit I've built in her chamber. Fortunately, the porous sloped roof here does a good job at venting the smoke.
Taking the torch I lit I use it to start my fire. I even have a nice little pan I got from an abandoned home as I toss the hunk of meat to fry. The sizzling triggers a basic response in me, and I begin to feel my appetite emerge. Ivory is sitting next to me, watching as I cook. When it reaches the desired doneness, I remove it from the heat and let it cool.
“Should we explore the cave in an hour?" I ask her. She just grunts. “I think we could do so without too many of the others following. I doubt there's anything dangerous that far down."
After the meat has cooled enough to be handled with my hands, I take a hefty mouthful. I don't know what Ivory hunted today, but the meat is surprisingly sweet and delicious. I hear a tearing sound next to me and glance over to see Ivory ripping a leg off a massive Yao guai. Holy shit... Who would have guessed they'd taste this good?
The two of us eat as I think over our plans for the day.
“Alright, are we good to go?" I ask Ivory. She gives a nod as I look over at Satan. “Ready?"
He just gives me a sidelong glance before turning to face what lies ahead. As usual, not much of a talker. I guide the three of us through a series of tunnels that link to this cave. The majority of them went nowhere, but a few extended deep into the mountain, and I knew we would eventually need to investigate them. Although I highly doubt anything deadly is residing in this cave, feeling safer knowing Ivory and Satan are at my side helps.
As we descend further into the cave, my pipboy lights the inside walls. The roof of these passageways provides Deathclaw with more than enough space to comfortably follow. We've been at this for a while; I can see that the edge of my map is rapidly approaching. I proceed while being careful to keep both my eyes and ears alert.
I glance back over my shoulder and see Ivory gazing straight at me as Satan watches the path ahead of us.
“Is something the matter?" I ask her.
She just purrs in reply. I can only assume she's content to be with me on this exploration. I give her thigh a couple quick pats in the rear before returning my focus to the task at hand. My pipboy is charting something unusual, and I suspect we're approaching a vast open space. The distance between us and the cave walls seems to be growing, and the light from my pipboy is beginning to dim where it no longer reaches the walls.
When this occurs, I immediately stop, turn off my light, and sink into darkness. Only a nearby steady stream of water is heard.
“See anything?"
I'd be frightened right now if I didn't know these two can see quite well right now. I want to give them enough time to make sure it's secure. I hear two loud thumps as they pass me and then some splashing farther into the cave. I just have to wait in the pitch black for what seems like an eternity for the thumps to return. I interpret this as a positive sign and turn my flashlight back on before reexamining my map.
“Strange." I hum to myself. “Is this thing busted?"
While the screen flickers mostly with my tapping, the map stays unchanged. As far as I can tell, the space is rather wide, yet there seems to be nothing beyond it. Neither a dead end nor anything else, simply a vast expanse of nothingness. I make my way over to the anomaly out of curiosity and discover a big stream about halfway there. Leaning closer, I detect that it is irradiated, although far less so than usual.
I scoop some with my palm and sniff it momentarily before feeling comfortable enough to try it. Yup, that's water and rather cold too. But the real mystery is: where the hell is it coming from? Maybe I'll come back to it when I finish up with this strange blank spot on my map. As I approach, I glance up and see a typical cave wall.
“Maybe it is broken?"
I look at the map and tap the screen once more. Still a void. Looking up, I approach the wall and touch it. My eyes widen at how smooth it feels. Wait a minute... I crank up the brightness on my pipboy and direct it towards the wall. What seemed like a wall was really a massive vault door. Unable to suppress my excitement, I let out a hearty shout and look at my two companions.
“This is it! It's a vault!" Ivory's head is cocked. “It's a... Well, I don't want to get my hopes up. Once we clean it up, it should at the very least be a better place to stay than the cave. First I have to find the control panel."
I spend some time investigating the walls around the vault door but discover nothing. It has to be close. I use my little light in an attempt to survey the area ahead of me, but it's a slow process. As soon as I hear a grunt, I turn around to see Satan standing there, briefly glancing my way before resting it elsewhere. Did he just try to communicate with me? This is a first. This is thrilling, but what's even more amazing is that I believe he is guiding me in the right direction.
I go toward where he is looking, and sure enough, a control panel protrudes from the ground. I look over at my two companions who are standing close by.
“This might take a while, you can head back if you want. Seems pretty safe down here."
Ivory lets out a grunt to Satan, and he proceeds to walk away. Prior to settling down and observing me, Ivory leans in and gives me a few nuzzles. I guess it's fine if she wants to watch me work. I hope I don't screw this up.
I wipe the sweat from my brow. After successfully changing the batteries, I started focusing on the hacking. I'm rather persuasive but a mediocre hacker. As a result, it took six hours to do what should have taken a few minutes. Ivory stayed and watched the whole time, sometimes giggling when I lost my composure and cursed out loud.
However, it was all worthwhile. I'd finally gotten to the main controls. I have the ability to open and seal the vault, but I decided to wait. I changed the password quickly and turned off the console. I'd like a couple more deathclaws behind us before we open it. Just in case any inhabiting force is unwilling to negotiate.
“Let's head back for the day," I say to Ivory. “We'll gather bright and early tomorrow."
She seems fine with this as she gets up. As I get ready to depart, she sweeps me into her arms like a knight would carry a maiden and heads back to the man cave.
Ivory emerges from the cave and gently sets me down. Why did she lead me outdoors?
“What's going on?" I ask, looking at her.
She gives a bark and I get the sense she wants to go somewhere. It's not as if I have any other plans. With a wave, I signal for her to take the lead, and I gladly follow along. Her loud thumps resonate through the woods, showing that she is not attempting to conceal her presence. She seldom does anything like this, so I have to admit that I'm curious to see what she has in mind.
For the most part, she just follows me around. Sure, she'll sometimes bring me out to watch a hunt, but this seems different. Considering that none of the other claws are following. Keeping pace, I look around and note a few animals hiding away for obvious reasons. After a few minutes of walking she steps out into another clearing and I spot a large pool of water there.
“Looking to take a bath?" I chuckle at the idea but am taken aback when she grins as she enters. “Oh, well I guess that makes sense."
I bring out my pipboy and scan the water. Holy shit is it highly irradiated. Definitely not something I'd want to get in. Ivory lets out a low purr as she looks at me expectantly.
“Um... I can't get in. This water is fine for a Deathclaw but not so much for a human." She lets out the purr again but even stronger. I tap my finger on my chin for a moment, time to negotiate. “An ultimatum. I'll assist you in bathing, and should the vault have safer water to bathe in, perhaps we could share a bath together."
With a deep huff, she dives under the surface. This round looks to be mine. Looking to keep my side of the bargain, I go through my inventory. I recall having been paid once in shampoo. I was able to dig around and find a small bottle, still in great condition. I stroll up to the edge near Ivory as she emerges from the water.
“Let me see your head."
She tilts her head toward me, and I pour some shampoo on top of her head and down her neck. As I work the soap into her hide with my fingertips, the lather quickly builds as a pleasant aroma begins to fill the air. I took care to apply shampoo wherever possible, to her apparent satisfaction. Her muzzle, horns, neck, and shoulders.
It didn't take long for her to be coated in suds, at least the portion that wasn't in the water.
“Better?" I ask and she nods. “Good, now I think we should head back."
As I try to turn away, she reaches out and grabs my arm. She smiles and raises an eyebrow as she exits the water, releases me, and rests on her side, legs open. I take it she's expecting a full body wash? I pull out my pipboy and scan her. She is emitting some rads as a result of her soak. I sigh to myself and down a RadX before returning to finish the job.
I begin with her chest, and as I continue to go lower, she purrs the whole time. Then her massive thighs, tail and even her slit. We definitely need to get to bed if we want to take on that vault tomorrow, even though I recognize that she wants some physical fun. So I don't linger longer than needed and soon her entire body is covered in suds.
“Had your fun?" I ask, to which she nods. “Then wash off. We got an eventful day tomorrow."
She sighs before dipping herself in the water and getting out. To help dry off, she gave a quick shake. Now we're both on our way back to the cave, and I'll have plenty of time to figure out how to deal with this vault safely.
Night has arrived. All the Deathclaw have come inside and are lounging around in wait for me to light a fire. It's become a tradition of sorts. Around here, the nights often dip below zero. Deathclaw are resilient animals, yet they value the warmth I can give them. So, with help from Satan with the logs, I get a nice bonfire going. Placed near the cave's entrance, it allows smoke to escape and heat to radiate in.
Additionally, it keeps the two claws on watch warm. With that all done, I decide to do my rounds and interact with each claw. Even though I'm already Ivory's mate in their eyes, it helps to establish some kind of rapport with them so that they feel more comfortable around me. Many of them bear various scars from humans. Bullet holes, cut flesh, missing something or other. I'm not trying to convince them that humans are nice, but they can rely on me when push comes to shove.
One in particular is an elderly female claw that I think formerly held the position as leader. One of her horns and a portion of her tail are gone. Because of her solitary horn, I've dubbed her Uni. There's no mistaking her advanced age, yet she's still a muscular powerhouse. Her one healthy eye is looking at me like a little bead of hellfire, the other having faded as her eyelid falls low over it. Her ashen gray scales nearly merge with the cave wall as she glances over to see me coming.
“Hey there, Uni. Are you doing well today?" I ask.
She grunts in response. Not like I expected her to respond like Ivory does, but I can tell she's content.
“Good. Have you eaten today?"
A low growl leaves her. She must be hungry. Well, it is dinner time for them right now. Though before I can say anything, a large hunk of meat lands next to me. I look up to find Ivory there.
“Thank you," I say, to which she purrs. I look back at Uni. “Have a good night."
After chatting with one claw, I go on to the next. Following each claw, Ivory would provide them with food. Early on, I realized that the claws would not eat unless the alpha provided it for them. So, at each meal, Ivory portions out the food they have collected. That's why she's in charge of the hunts; she's clever enough to figure out how much they'll need for the day, as to not over hunt or waste food.
By the time I'm done, everyone is eating and the cave is warming up nicely. After that, Ivory and I went back to her room. Once again Ivory presents me with a hunk of meat, to which I cook and we both enjoy our dinner together.
“What are your thoughts on bringing a small group to explore the vault?" I ask.
She glances up, as if mulling it over, before drawing a line with her claw and drawing a few stick figures behind it. On the other side, it's one stick figure and Z shaped things. In other words, I think she wants to know whether there will be people behind the vault.
"I'm not sure, Ivory. I just want to be prepared. Naturally, I'll first attempt to negotiate, but if they won't budge, we'll have to use force to take the vault. I doubt they have anything that could harm you or the other claws." I exhaled a sigh. "However, I can't guarantee it. And if the rumors are accurate, and this is a military-based vault, they could have cutting-edge technology that could vaporize a Deathclaw.
My thoughts are now straying to every conceivable scenario.
"If anybody is still alive in there, that is. They may have departed on their own accord or because of a variety of unforeseen circumstances. I think the worst-case scenario is if this is an experimental facility. I've heard that some of those monsters are crazy tough." Ivory places her palm on the back of my hand, which causes me to be startled out of those thoughts. “Yeah, no point in worrying about it. We'll find out tomorrow. So are you interested in bringing a group?"
She nods, which makes me feel better. With things taken care of, we can sit down to eat and then go straight to bed. That mostly consists of me dozing off on her chest as she cradles me. Even though they are almost entirely composed of muscle, Deathclaw make for very comfy beds.
Finally, the moment has come. I'm facing the console, and standing behind me are Ivory, Satan, and a few other claws. We have ten claws in total, which should be more than enough to handle any situation, provided we catch them off guard. I gaze up at Ivory.
“I want your group to stay hidden. Just in case there are people and they're hostile, I know having you spring up to clear them out will make this a cakewalk. If it's abandoned, we'll just have to take it as it comes.
Ivory nods before turning to face her group and grunting. As she moves over to a nook and conceals herself as best an all-white alpha deathclaw can, the rest join her. It should be fine, anyone alive will focus on me first. After turning on the console, I enter my password. To calm my anxiety, I take one more deep breath before selecting the "open vault" option.
I turn to face the door and hear what sounds like an ear-piercing crack as it starts to move. The ground starts to tremble as the heavy chunk of metal steadily pushes further into the vault before rotating out of the way. A cloud of smoke billows forth as a hiss is heard, followed by complete silence. My heart is pounding in my chest. It's open.
While I wait for the smoke to disperse, I can already see that the lights are on. Vaults are incredible, to think there would still be electricity after all this time. I take a few tentative steps forward. The people who live here, if any, will arrive shortly to see what's going on. So I merely stand in wait for one minute, five, then ten. When I realized I had been standing there for twenty minutes, I mustered the courage to step closer.
“Hello!" My voice echoes through the cave and vault. “Friendly! Is anyone home?"
Five, ten, then another twenty minutes pass without a sound from within. I'm still skeptical about whether this place is inhabited or not, but I very well can't just stand here forever. I look over my shoulder and signal for Ivory to stay put. Entering a vault for the first time, I pause for a moment to take it all in. Everything seems to be quite tidy and well kept at first glance. There are no obvious signs of a break-in or blood splatters from potential failed experiments
The more I step inside, the more confident I grow. This has to be abandoned.
“Hello, Sir!"
I jump in shock as I whip around and come face to face with a Mr. Handy.
“Holy shit! Don't scare me like that!" I yell, attempting to calm my heart.
“Terribly sorry, Sir. I've been deactivated for quite some time and rebooted once my motion sensors detected movement."
As I look at this Mr. Handy, I find it's the shiniest one I've ever seen. Nothing like the rare ones I sometimes see in the wastes. And now that my adrenaline rush has subsided, I can't help but wonder whether I may have really struck it rich.
“How long have you been deactivated for?" I inquire, intrigued.
“Exactly five hundred years," He answers matter-of-factly. "However, I can guarantee you that I did not scrimp on my tasks! Every few decades, I'd activate my built-in sanitization system to make sure everything was spotless."
There's no question in my mind that this location was abandoned, but I want to be certain.
“What happened to everyone?"
“Living in the vault had taken its toll on them. Perhaps it was wanderlust? I'm not sure, but I do know that they left, never to return. Leaving me and the other automatons here."
“So no living beings are here?" I ask.
“None whatsoever!"
“Good. Well, Mr. Handy. Are you fine with me taking over this vault?"
“Why of course, Sir! This vault was meant for humans."
“I have a few friends with me. I hope you don't mind."
“I certainly don't! It's a joy to be active again."
I walk out of the vault and wave for Ivory to join me. Her small group gathers close to me. I won't dismiss them just yet. While Mr. Handy may be honest, he could also have an issue with his hard drive and have forgotten something.
“I think it's safe but keep your guard up. Also, there's a robot in there, but it seems fine."
Ivory nods as we both walk in and Mr. Handy floats up to me before looking at Ivory.
“My word! Is this a dog?" He asks, confused.
I laugh at that. “It's a friend."
“Why yes! Do you require refreshments? Something to eat?"
I can feel myself becoming giddy.
“You have food?"
“Of course! We farm locally. I may not look it but I'm programmed to cook a variety of dishes."
Even though I want to accept his offer, I first want to make sure that this place is secure.
“How about after a tour?"
“A tour?! Brilliant idea! Please follow me."
With the claws behind me, we form a line and follow Mr. Handy.
“Oh! And over there is where we keep the farms. Fully automated." Mr. Handy points out.
This vault is incredible. There are so many things here that will make living in the wastes a ton easier. Not only for myself, but also for the claws. The vault's temperature remains constant, the water is not irradiated, and despite Mr. Handy's deactivation for five hundred years, a few other bots were busy growing crops and preserving it. That's five hundred years worth of food!
I haven't gone inside the armory yet, but I know it will contain a huge supply of weapons and ammunition that I could easily sell. I gaze down a corridor where Mr. Handy drifted by without uttering a word.
“What's down there?" I ask.
He halts, turns about, and then, after glancing in the direction I had pointed, he faces me.
“Down where, Sir?"
The hair on the back of my neck rises up. My worst fears have come true. Mr. Handy is a robot after all. It makes sense that they'd program him to ignore some areas. So the question is, is there anything alive inside?
“Mr. Handy, I think I'll take you up on that offer for some food," I state. “I'll just roam around a bit, then meet you at the mess hall."
“Oh joy! Give me an hour to gather things! I will ensure this is the best meal you've ever had! " He quickly floats off.
I wait a minute before turning to Ivory.
“This might be dangerous. Are you ready?"
She arches an eyebrow, as if she's asking how it should be me who needs to be ready. Seeing her confidence does calm me, but I still wish to act cautiously. I take the lead and enter the corridor, which has just one door at the end. Making my way over I take hold of the handle and turn it slowly so I can keep quiet. Or at least that is what would have happened if the Claws hadn't been marching behind me.
I merely sigh and open the door to peer inside. Instinctively, I shut the door and jump back, but I wasn't fast enough; a long claw had already sliced cleanly through the metal and into my chest. Even though I narrowly avoided being cleaved in half, the flowing blood is a painful reminder that I need to get away. Stumbling backward, never looking away from the door, I clutch my chest in a pitiful attempt to slow the bleeding.
The slashed door drops to the ground, exposing the horror that was contained within. A monster that looks like a hybrid between a human and a Deathclaw stands at typical human height. It lacks clawed hands, only stumps remain with a single long claw protruding from the end of each one. Though what's most haunting is the seemingly endless void where its eyes should be.
I'm startled awake by Ivory's blood-curdling roar as she charges the creature without hesitation and swipes her claws at it. It didn't have any time to react as she cleanly ran her claws through in one fluid motion. Just as the door before, the creature collapsed into a heap of flesh. A shriek from somewhere within the room would quickly dampen any sense of relief I had.
I pull myself to my feet, still gripping my chest, and bolt down the corridor.
“More will come! Fall back!"
Ivory circles around and pursues me while the other claws pull back to defend the alpha. Except one claw. Satan stands steadfast at the head, giving a deep snarl and never looking away from the door. Falling awkwardly around a corner, I position my back into the wall and clench my teeth in agony as I try to slow my breaths.
Ivory is at my side, giving me a worried expression as I frantically search my bag.
“Where the fuck is it?!" I shout before dumping the entire bag.
I grab the stimpak and jab it into my leg, pushing the plunger down. It takes a moment, but the pain quickly subsides, and when I glance at my chest, I can see that the blood flow is decreasing steadily. We're not out of the woods yet. I take a quick look around the corner to check what's going on. As a horde of those monstrosities rush through the door and straight for Satan, my heart stops beating.
There easily had to be thirty of them! Satan doesn't even flinch as he lets out a roar as the horde slams into him. Worse, the hallway is too tight for the other claws to assist him. He has to retreat so we can fight in a larger space or he'll die fighting! But I know Satan would never back down. I don't have time to think! If I don't do something, it's over. With that goal in mind, I activate V.A.T.S.
The world comes to a standstill as I process this situation. Satan has easily killed a few but being outnumbered isn't something he can overcome. His flesh is clearly giving way as these monstrosities slice through his hide with ease. In spite of everything, he still has that steely will in his eyes that tells me he plans to keep fighting to the bitter end. I laugh to myself. I never imagined the day would come when I would have to use this.
My gaze shifts down to the contents of my bag. A desert eagle is lying there. Locked and loaded with anti-material rounds. I brought this along just in case something like this happened. I don't plan on letting any claw die today. Deactivating V.A.T.S, I pick up my gun and take aim as I reactivate it. All that's left is to allow V.A.T.S to do the calculations.
I can see a window of opportunity and allow my reaction to take hold as I fire a round. The bullet just grazes Satan's ribcage but immediately splatters the head of the monstrosity that had its claws embedded in him. The bullet's kinetic energy was sufficient to penetrate six other creatures. Firing this pistol in such a confined space gave Ivory's roar a run for its money, but I'm not done yet. I fire another round, and then another. Each round rips into these monsters and turns them into a fine red mist.
My shots came only centimeters from hitting Satan as he continued to fight, but V.A.T.S was maintaining accuracy. With each shot I fired, I could feel the strain of the system increasing on my brain, and my eyesight deteriorated rapidly. I attempted to fire again, but all I heard was a hollow click. I'm out of ammo. With that one thought, V.A.T.S faded as I fell to my knees, dropping my weapon.
A shriek pulls me back to consciousness; how long did I black out for? My eyesight was hazy, but I could see that Satan had killed the last monster. Not only that, but he was bleeding severely. Clutching a nearby wall and grabbing a nearby item, I pull myself up and make my way over to him. By the time I'm close to Satan, I can see he's breathing heavily, not moving an inch as he waits for more.
Hobbling past him, I get a good look at his front. Deep cuts and blood everywhere. He stares down at me, and for the first time since we've met, he's genuinely scared. As if he is aware that his wounds cannot be healed but is still asking me for help. If this happened in the wild, he would've died. But not on my watch. I stumble away from the wall and end up leaning against him.
“Don't worry, Satan. This is going to hurt!"
I raised the object I was holding, my one and only super stimpak. Due to its recoil effect on the human body, I've been holding onto this item for a very long time. For a Deathclaw, though? This should suit him well. He hisses in pain as I force the needle into his gaping wound. I was certain that it wasn't sharp enough to puncture his hide, so a direct injection was needed.
We're both a panting mess as I push myself off of him and take a step back to get a good look at him. I can't help but chuckle, stimpaks are amazing. The bleeding has already stopped, and I can even see the formation of scar tissue. I can't stand for much longer. I make my way to a wall that isn't coated in blood and lean against it as I sag down to a sitting posture. Looking over I can see Satan doing the same.
I hear a whimper next to me and glance over to find Ivory standing there, concerned.
“I-It's alright, Ivory. I'm just tired." My eyelids begin to lull. “Just...give me...a minute" I say as my consciousness fades.
As my eyes slowly open, I am met with the unsettling sight of a robotic eye stalk staring back at me.
“I'm terribly sorry, Sir! I wasn't informed that there were hostile organisms in the vault. I'm glad that you appear to be in good health."
Sitting up, I look around at the unfamiliar room and bed I'm in.
“Where am I?" I ask.
“In the infirmary. Your friend brought you here before gathering her group and scouring the place."
“Any more surprises I should be aware of?" I ask, getting out of bed.
“I would say no, Sir, but I wouldn't know if that was false."
“Sounds about right." I walk out of the infirmary just as Ivory rounds the corner. “Hey there."
She sprints up and scoops me up in her arms, nuzzling me as she does. I embrace her, wrapping my arms around her neck.
“Sorry if I scared you there." I lean back so I can face her. “How is Satan?"
She casts a glance in the direction of the vault entrance. They probably took him back to the cavern so he could rest there.
“Your red scaly friend was definitely on the verge of death," Mr. Handy states. “That stimpak, however, was vital in his speedy recovery. While I'm no vet, after some rest he should be fine, Sir."
“Good to know." Ivory sets me down as I look at her. “Have you cleared the place?"
She offers a confident nod. Knowing Ivory as I do, I am certain that she thoroughly explored every inch of this facility. Thoughts of doing a once-over were interrupted by the sound of my stomach grumbling.
“Still have that food?" I ask Mr. Handy.
“Perfect timing! I've prepared everything I require to make whatever dish you desire. Come along!"
I didn't need to be told twice as I followed Mr. Handy's lead, Ivory sticking close by me.
I shoveled food into my mouth for over thirty minutes. I kept eating till I was satisfied. I consider myself fortunate that I didn't seem to suffer any brain damage from the prolonged usage of V.A.T.S, which tends to burn a ton of calories. At least, I believe there were no obvious signs of damage. Both my memory and my motor skills are still in good working condition.
No point in thinking about it. All I know for sure is that Satan is alive because I used it. The claws have been great companions, so it was high time I paid my dues. My gaze wanders over to Mr. Handy. Everything we could possibly need and much more is in this vault. This is why we went through all this hell to begin with. However, before I can call it a day, I have to know if it exists.
“Mr. Handy."
“Interested in another plate, Sir?"
“No, I'm good on food. I just wanted to ask you a question."
“I will try to answer it to the best of my ability."
“Do you recall any technology that can allow creatures to speak?"
“One moment." I can hear some mechanical whirling sounds from within him. “Yes. There appears to be an item in the experimental department. After your run-in with those beasts, I made sure to clean the area and catalog everything within."
“Would you mind bringing it here?"
“Right away!"
As I watch Mr. Handy float away, I look back at Ivory. She is still clearly worried about me, but I stand up and give her a hug.
"Don't worry, we're safe now," I tried to reassure her. “I knew we were taking a risk by coming here, but we made it out alive. That's all that matters."
A low groan escapes her. I suppose it's normal for her to be on edge. Those monsters were more terrifying than any other stories I'd heard. Mr. Handy floats back into the room as I turn to face him.
“Here we are." He offers me the collar. “One MK. Bilateral magnetic resonance translator."
I grab the collar in a state of stunned amazement. It's actually real? I examine it before turning it on and decide to use myself to test it. For a second, my gaze is fixed on Ivory.
“Love." Emits from the collar. “Surprise. Shock."
As I remove it, I start to realize its function. While it isn't exactly as I'd imagined, I get a pretty good sense of what the creature is thinking. It was probably only a prototype, but at least it worked. I return my gaze to Ivory.
“Bend down."
As I adjust the size of this collar to accommodate her massive neck, she obeys. Fortunately, the collar seems to be composed of a pretty robust elastic material. It settles snugly around her neck as I take a few steps back while she tilts her head.
“Confused." The collar emits. “Surprised."
I can't help but smile. “How does it feel?"
“Itchy."
This moment is surreal. Even though we've been talking the whole time, it's different to hear what she's thinking. No interpreting, just a true back-and-forth conversation.
“I'm sure it'll stop feeling itchy after a while."
Ivory cradles me in her arms without hesitation.
“Love."
“I love you too," I say back.
I'm ready to get out of here as soon as possible, and I told Mr. Handy as much.
“We'll be back soon. Keep watch for any more living experiments."
“Roger!" He salutes.
My focus returns to Ivory.
“Let's get some rest."
She doesn't say anything as she turns and walks back to the main cave while I turn on my pipboy's light to see. We get there quickly, and she immediately enters her private quarters. There, she puts me down on my back before draping herself over me. Her attention is drawn to the enormous tear in my clothing.
“Afraid. Death."
I reach out and place a palm on her cheek, bringing her face up so we can lock eyes.
“I've lived in the wastes for a long time. I won't die so easily."
“Strong. Battle. Confused. Lust. Horny."
Hearing that makes me chuckle uncontrollably. It's a little fragmented, but I understand the meaning of it. Despite the dire circumstances, she felt turned on watching me fight.
“Well, I'm happy I could show you how manly I am."
“Hurt?" She asks, glancing at my chest.
I reach down and remove my shirt, exposing my naked chest. Although it still has a fairly grizzly appearance, the healing process has already started.
“No, it doesn't hurt."
As if thinking about something, she absently traces the back of her finger over the scarring. As she glances up at me, I interlace my fingers with hers.
“Scared. Mating. Hurt."
“Just take it slow and I'll be just fine."
I lean up as she leans down to meet in a kiss. As we let this moment happen, she gently guides her tongue into my mouth.
“Happy. Love. Protect. Protect. Protect."
Her kiss is still delicate, but there is an element of power behind it. I'm the one who pulls away as I catch my breath. She wasn't alone in her previous thoughts. I could've died today, but I am horny as hell. I unbuckle my jeans as my cock proudly stands at attention. She lowers her gaze.
“Surprised."
“You're not the only one who's horny," I state. “Care to help me out?"
As she stares into my eyes, a smile slowly spreads over her face, her previous fear seemingly melting away.
“Fun. Inside. Now."
She moves her cloaca over my dick without any hesitation before gently slipping it inside of her.
Bottoming out, we both let out gasps, but she is keenly aware to not settle all of her weight on me.
She makes herself more comfortable by bending forward and resting her forearms on the floor on each side of my head. So now she hovers over me while we're face to face.
“Don't keep me waiting."
“Never."
Lifting herself I can feel her insides tugging back to keep my cock inside but soon only the tip remains before she tenderly slides back down. Fucking fast is one thing, but getting to feel all the little textures inside her pussy at a pace that feel like she's perpetually edging me is driving me insane! Each time she pushes me back into her cloaca I can feel my cock briefly clip against another hole before entering her pussy.
That's not all though. Her purring has steadily been growing and it won't be long before her pussy turns into a vibrator. We're both panting heavily and have not once broken eye contact. While our times together are rather intimate. Something about what's happening right now reminds me of when we first made love. Just that complete look of love in her eyes as she is entirely focused on me.
I can tell she's starting to get close and I was already at my limit. Seemingly picking up on this as well, she sinks my cock as deep as she can as she reaches her orgasm. Just feeling her pussy milking me is enough for me to blow my load as all the trouble and fear from today fades away. She leans down once more for a kiss before rolling beside me.
“Satisfied." Comes from her collar.
“I'm satisfied too."
“Hurt?"
I look over and meet her gaze.
“I'm fine."
“Tired?"
“Definitely."
She pulls me to her chest and rolls onto her back so I'm on top of her.
“Sleep. Protect. Love."
“I love you too. Goodnight." I say switching off my light.
Today has been a hard day, but with the vault in our control, we don't have to worry about anything in the future.
The laborers split like the tide as I entered within the quarry. Even though it's busier than the first time I visited, I still can't help but feel a pang of nostalgia from being here. Jannet is waiting for me ahead, a smile on her face as I meet her face to face.
“Feels like it's been quite some time since we've seen each other," Jannet says. “Though that could be due to our hectic schedule." Ivory, who is standing next to me, draws her attention away. “Well, getting to see one up close is a day I never thought would come, let alone an albino alpha." She lifts a hand to signal the men behind her. “At ease. I'd rather not be torn limb from limb today." She gives Ivory a little moment of her whole attention before returning to me. “To what do I owe this pleasant visit?"
“You know me, Jannet. I never show up unless I have business to attend to."
“True enough."
“We've been business partners for a while now, and I'd like to maintain a positive working relationship with you."
That causes her to raise an eyebrow. “Is that so?"
I take the backpack I'd been carrying off and offer it to her.
“Interested?"
She takes the bag from me and looks inside. Her eyes widening almost as much as the smile on her ghoulish face.
“You certainly know how to start a conversation." She looks up to me. “I'm very interested. What do you need?"
“A contract of sorts. Take it, as a gesture of goodwill towards a trusted business associate. Your growth is inevitable, so I intend to get in early and stake my claim on the forests to the north. I guarantee that anybody who dares enter my forest will end up as a snack for my claws. I'll watch your front while you cover my rear in the south. If we keep things peaceful, I can guarantee a secure future for the both of us."
Jannet takes a moment to ponder this as she looks between me and what's in the bag a few times.
“That does sound like music to my ears. But this is a bit of an overpayment, don't you think?" She gives a lustful look. “I'm not one to be in anyone's debt, perhaps we could make it even in a more personal way?"
Ivory steps between me and Jannet as she glares down at her.
“My. Mate." comes from her collar.
Jannets eyes widen as she looks over at me before bursting into laughter. Everyone in the area is perplexed by what is happening, but after having her moment, Jannet settles down and even wipes away a few tears, her weaker laughs escaping her mouth.
“I would be the dumbest bitch on this rock to turn down someone crazy enough to negotiate a relationship with a Deathclaw!" She offers her hand to shake. “Partners?"
I step past Ivory and grab her hand and give a shiff shake.
“Partners."
We both let go as she takes a step away from me.
“So, if I need anything, how do I get in touch?"
“Send someone wearing blue. I'll meet them outside of the forest. Anyone else will likely be killed on sight."
“I'll keep that in mind." Jannet looks off to her group that's been standing around. “Well? Get back to work!" With the crowd dispersing, Jannet hands the backpack over to her right hand man before looking my way. “If the contents were anything to go by, I take it the myths were true?"
“Yeah." I lift my shirt showing the large scar across my chest. “And it was a bitch to take over."
“Gnarly. You'll have to stop by and share the story."
“One day." I turn and start walking away. “Have a good one, Jannet."
“Enjoy all that tail you're getting. She's one hell of a woman!" Jannet breaks out in laughter again.
With Ivory at my side, I should have seen this coming, yet I still can't help but let out a deep sigh. Not like it matters. I simply give Jannet the finger and walk away, but that makes her laugh even more. As Ivory and I exit the quarry, the laughing eventually subsides. We've had quite the exciting few weeks since entering that vault.
Getting everything in order, including bringing in some live animals to be bred for meat. Mr. Handy and the other robots were invaluable in keeping things running smoothly. If we had to lock the vault for whatever reason, we could easily survive there for many centuries. I don't have much to worry about, but I do want to keep things friendly with the locals in the wasteland.
But I must confess. In the wake of that battle in the vault, the claws have been much more respectful. Before, I felt like they accepted I was Ivory's mate, but I could see that they still didn't think much of me. But when I saved Satan's life, they became quite fond of me. These days, it's not out of the ordinary for the claws to come and see if I need anything or to seem interested when I try to have a conversation with them.
All in all, I have a much more positive outlook on the pack, and I am certain that we can trust one another moving forward. I focus my attention on Ivory. I've been going over all of the research in the vault, particularly what was locked away. That collar was only one part of a larger series of experiments going on in that vault. One such study used a medication with the potential to facilitate interspecies pregnancy; I've kept this from Ivory for the time being.
There's no doubt in my mind about her enthusiasm over the idea, but I wanted to ensure our lives were secure before bringing it up. And after what happened with Jannet, there doesn't seem to be a better time than now.
“Hey, Ivory." She gives me her full attention. “Remember when we talked about it not possible for you to lay eggs with me?"
She looks sorrowful to answer that as she nods. “Yes."
I scratch the back of my neck nervously. “What if I told you there might be a chance we could?"
“Surprise! Mate? Babies?"
“Yeah... I've been doing some reading from the vault and they were working on something that could make it possible. Is... Is that something you'd like to try?"
Her eyes widen as she smiles. “Mate! Babies! Now!"
“W-Wait!"
Without hesitating, she picks me up and races back to the forest. I guess I can't complain anymore. This is to be expected, but I also can't deny that I, too, am secretly thrilled by the possibility of being a father. Even though they will most likely come out as Deathclaw, that's alright with me. There's nothing more to say, so I simply take pleasure in her uncontainable glee as we go forward into the future... Together.