the story in which Alex Seattle Geer is right for hating enclosed spaces,

[doubletap]

and Neil Park is blamed for his knowledge of vaults.

---

Terminal Entries:

1st Floor, Vault Entry-Room Computer:
- Data Entry 1: Year 20XX, Month XX; There's no escape.
- Holotape Entry 1: Y#4@ SDhig^8705 H98 [data corrupted]; This is hell and I want out of it.

1st Floor, Cafeteria Luncheon:
- Holotape Entry 2: Private Recording; I've had better?

1st Floor, Cafeteria Supply Room:
- Inventory List: Inventory List; A list of food....
- Data Entry 2: Shift Notes; Maybe I should tear the walls down.

1st Floor, Broken Cave:
- Data Entry 3: Preparations; Everything's fine.
- Data Entry 4: Near the End; I'll tell you the truth, but I won't give up my soul.
- Data Entry 5: Finally, the End is at Hand.; This is far enough.

1st Floor, Office:
- Data Entry 6: Vault-Wide Public Service Announcement; Get back to work everyone.
- Data Entry 7: Locked Administrative Reply; You're reaching for straws.

1st Floor, Administrative Secretary's Office:
- Data Entry 8: Drama Hoes; It is sort of funny that people aren't able to lie, though.
- Holotape Entry 3: Bill Self-Log; Byron's access still works everywhere.

Comments

[goodfight]

[Glaring at the half-naked barbarian does nothing for Neil Park, who stows away the comic for later enjoyment. Of the story, duh.]

If I had analyzed myself at the time, I would have assumed as much. But right now...

[Here, he eyes Alex.]

I mean, it can't just be anybody. I have to see them as someone to get close to, and I can't stand most people.

[A sigh.]

I just don't want another person I love disappear from my life, as selfish as that is.

[doubletap]

[ Locked, but an admin secretary terminal shows promise, and Alex begins a simple hack program.

While mindlessly going through options, he glances up, and catches Neil looking at him. For a moment, Alex pauses. ]

You're saying that's me. I'm your person. The friend that won't leave you or stop loving you.

[goodfight]

[Ah, shit, but what else is there to do? Neil continues his watch.]

...Yeah. You are.

[As stated previously, with much greater emotion.]

[doubletap]

[ They're supposed to stay on task, and he swears he is, honestly, but he can't just leave the kid hanging when he's forced to say something like that.

Alex moves around the desk, larger frame a little out of place in the office, and moves to stand in front of Neil. Lifts a hand to the other's shoulder. ]

All right. I am. I'm not going anywhere without you. Legionaires or dumb shit or anything that comes up. You're stuck with me, understood?

[goodfight]

[Strange. He expected a lecture, in a tone that continues to haunt him. To a lesser extent now, at least.

At the query, the pressure on his shoulder, Neil tips his head upward, catching the other's blue-grey eyes. He thinks to protest, to call to question. Instead, he--]

...Understood.

[doubletap]

[ Alex smiles without meaning to, something small and genuine and completely spontaneous. He squeezes Neil's shoulder once, then turns to head back to the computer. ]

A partner, huh? It's really different to think of something hanging out with me through thick and thin like that.

[goodfight]

[The curve of lips disarms Neil, who find himself drawn to the other's visage, his dark eyes watching Alex return to the terminal.]

Wouldn't ED-E count with that definition?

[He finds himself questioning aloud.]

[doubletap]

ED-E is my other kid.

[ He says with a laugh. ]

No person would hang out with me so much. Even with the Vegas crew I accumulated, I had to make sure not to take them places where they would...hm. Get violent over my choices. No one can accept a person completely.

[goodfight]

[He believes he understands, but parts are not sinking in.]

Other kid?

[There is a short pause.]

You're willing to take that chance with me?

[doubletap]

[ He smiles. ]

You've called him that yourself. My "robot child." And anyway, I'm not the one taking the chance. You are.

[goodfight]

[Yes, he had, and yes, he supposes he is.]

Fair enough.

[Neil scratches the back of his head.]

I guess it's good I'm asking about your history now. Will actually have context when you do...whatever it is you do.

[doubletap]

[ He doesn't touch the keys. He only watches for the moment. ]

Do you think there is something I could do that would cause you to stop accepting me?

[goodfight]

Shoot my dog?

[He forces a chuckle before ending on a sigh.]

Given that I nearly killed myself over Dad, no. Probably not.

[doubletap]

[ The terminal screen shows the hacking worked, and Alex takes the moment to look down, fingers moving over the keys. ]

How about you tell me in advance, if there's anything that I'm doing that you don't like. We can talk it over and find the best way to proceed. Don't just...

[ His hands pause. ]

Don't just decide it's done or that I'm worthless without talking to me first.

[goodfight]

[There is a new feeling, and Neil recognizes it as guilt. Guilt that registers much differently than when it's evoked by James Park.

It is no surprise, therefore, when the young man remembers the night outside of the Republic of Dave. The argument that ensued.

Sadness creeps into his eyes as Neil looks away in discomfort.]

I won't decide things on my own.

[doubletap]

I'm not a crazy dictator, no matter what you've heard.

[ In Vegas and without. ]

You can talk to me. We can always compromise on things. Or get the hell out of dodge if we can't.

[goodfight]

[Again, he runs a hand through the back of his head.]

It's not that I think you're unreasonable. You've been mostly fair in our dealings.

[Perhaps a bit more in certain aspects, if he is to be honest.]

Actually, I kinda respect you.

[...That might have been one sentence too much in this rambling.]

[doubletap]

[ Of all the things that could have came out of Neil's mouth, that was the one Alex didn't expect.

They had a job to do, and things to finish, but fuck if Alex didn't switch off the terminal in a heartbeat.

He leans forward, hands supporting him on the desk. ]

You respect me?

[goodfight]

Yeah! I mean, yes! I mean--

[Neil wrings his hands in pure frustration. This lasts for a full minute before he calms down enough to talk.]

You're a guy who's established himself as leader of a sparkly neon city without tooting his own damn horn across the Mojave Wasteland, through means that would scare the shit out of most people, but those same damn people are still alive and kicking because of what he does.

[He facepalms.]

At least, that's what I've gathered so far.

[doubletap]

[ There are many things he could say to this. Many complicated emotions that lurk behind his eyes. Questions and answers in spades, and all he has to say is the truth.

So he says the main one. ]

...It's... It's not about Vegas. It never was. I had never even been to the city before all of this. It's about the Mojave. It's always about the Mojave. It's a place that can be something. It can be a home for anyone that wants it. It can grow and live and breathe, and like hell am I going to hand that over to someone to ruin it!

[ He started yelling somewhere near the end, and he can't be sure as to why. He turns away from the desk to the wall, a quick motion of violent mourning, and clenches a hand into his hair. ]

...Shit.

[goodfight]

[What unfolds before his eyes touches on sacred ground, on the profane, and Neil wonders how one can keep his mouth shut in a vault that refuses reticence.

He can't, of course.]

...Is this your home? The Mojave?

[doubletap]

[ Alex turns back to Neil, and something dead slips behind his eyes. ]

No.

[ It's simple, without fault or complicity. It never is, for things like that. ]

My home is gone.

[goodfight]

[Neil watches. Recognizes the expression shown. That death.

It was once his own.]

...How about we take a break?

[Step back from the possibility of loss.]

And figure out where we're headed to next?

[doubletap]

[ The rest of the room is raided in near silence, and it's only when they've exhausted the containers present that Alex recalls he holds a holotape--and hacked a computer without looking much at the contents. ]

...Man, I'm really off.

[ Is the murmur, after a long stretch of silence. ]

There's a terminal up and running. Wanna look at what's on it?

[goodfight]

[Loot isn't quite the distraction Neil had hoped it would be, but Alex presents an opportunity for learning more about this wretched vault. And learning's always nice.]

Sure.

[He steps toward the terminal in question.]