Fallout: Wasteland Wanderers

Chapter 11: How Did We Get Here

Sitting at the Wayward the trio hold their drinks in hand as the another drunken man sinks an incoherent tune in the background. They all feel exhausted as the run up to the Wayward took everything out of them barely making it back before dark. Rollins orders the next round of their drinks to which he looks to Isaac to pay for. He pats himself down and pulls out the jet he won from earlier at his game of blackjack. Looking to Hannah for verification this is worth the trade she nods and he passes it to Duchess as she places their drinks down. Isaac finally speaks up

"So I've been out here for just about 4 days now, and two of those days I was kidnapped. Is this really what you guys consider normal around here?"

Hannah and Lloyd look at each other and give a reassuring nod as Hannah continues

"You've surprisingly had it light compared to a lot of people. Most just get shot for their loot and left for dead."

Hannah takes a swig of her beer as Isaac gives a an awkward glance at her processing her words. Shaking out of it he looks at the perspiration on his Nuka-Cola and turns to Lloyd

"Okay so beyond that statement, is there anything you know, reassuring about the wastes?"

Lloyd turns to face Isaac to give him an honest response

"Look Isaac, the wasteland isn't perfect. Everyone living here knows that, but its not all bad."

Hannah chuckles and chips in

"Yeah, for example everything's up for grabs as long as the corpse it's on stopped breathing."

Lloyd and Isaac spin their heads at Hannah and give a look disgust at her words. Hannah slows down her chuckles and attempts to rebound

"Alright that's a little much I get it. You forget though out here its not about sunshine and rainbows, its about who pulls the trigger first is who walks away with their life."

Isaac looks down a little in disappoint as her words carry weight to him. Lloyd tries to interfere with some lightening words

"Yes it can be dangerous who you trust out here, but also joining something like the Brotherhood can help steer people into a better life then just scavenging around hoping you won't go hungry or be shot on sight."

Hannah darts a glare at Lloyd

"You have something to say about scavengers Knight?"

Lloyd looks over to Hannah who clearly took offense to the statement and so he tries to deescalate the situation

"What I meant was, scavenging around is alright but if you want to make a difference around this place then joining a settlement or the Brotherhood can be a good start to a better life."

Hannah relaxes a bit but still refutes Lloyd's statement

"Don't believe every word out of this one dweller. Going at it alone is a solid option. Less betrayal, less to share, and all the while you follow your rules of the wastes. You don't have to take orders or rise ranks, you are your own boss and you get your shit done your way."

Lloyd now stares frustrated at Hannah's offensive remarks towards him and his Brotherhood. Isaac finally chips in on the conversation at hand

"Sounds like both of you know what you want to be in this wasteland. At least you guys have that."

Hannah and Lloyd gaze at Isaac who stares at his drink

"Before I even considered leaving my vault I felt so lost. I didn't know what I was going to do after everything I had been through down there. Taking a sort of larger picture approach I had to make one clear decision to continue one with my life. Stay or leave. As you can see, I chose the latter."