Chapter 84: Chapter 80

The Nexus had significantly expanded and changed since Nora left. She was following a trader’s caravan south from Sanctuary, and news had reached of Diamond City either surrendering to the Nexus or seeking aid under the Nexus’ banner, depending on who gave the news.

When they finally did reach pass the intimidating safety of the new borders, Nora found herself surprised by how quickly the changes were being implemented. She walked on restored asphalt roads while Sentinels swarmed the ruins around her, tearing everything down to the foundations. Familiar Eversors and Centurions patrolled the roads, only stopping the caravan once to confirm their destination and offer an escort to Diamond City.

It was an offer that the salvage vendor, Emma ‘Big M’ was too intimidated to refuse, and so Nora found the rest of the trip to Diamond City to be filled by a fearful and awkward silence. The grizzled caravan guards had stowed their weapons and lost their aggressive swagger, preferring to take on more meek postures.

“I say, mum,” Codsworth remarked breezily from behind Nora, “It’s good to see the city council finally putting taxpayer’s money to good use. Though it feels a tad bit overdoing it by rebuilding from scratch instead of renovating. Well, at least the roads’ gotten much better here.”

The family robot had proven to be an anchor for Nora to this current world, giving her the slightest sense of belonging in an alien future. Plus it having someone she could reminisce with every now and then was a good salve to her still aching heart. Dogmeat had proven loyal, dependable and even empathic, but her bond with the canine was forged through surviving the wasteland, rather than sharing her emotional past.

It was as they got deeper in the lands of the Nexus that Nora noticed the environment improve. A quick look at the Pip-boy told her that the background radiation had dropped to virtually zero. Even despite the hints of dust, the air smelled far cleaner than it did beyond the Nexus.

Sev must have really put his ‘deradiator’ bots to work.

Eventually the broken skyline cleared up and the stadium hosting Diamond City was clearly seen, the broken buildings around it absent and replaced instead with rows of neatly built four storey buildings. They were small apartments, Nora realised as she got a look at them. People were living in them, people she recognized as residents from Diamond City.

Were they being evicted?

“What’s going on in Diamond City?” Big M asked. “Why’s the doc and the others out here?”

An Eversor turned its head to the trader to answer the question. “Diamond City is undergoing renovations. The current phase has the field being cleared and restored. Replacement facilities have been constructed around the stadium, as you can see. It is estimated that in four months, Diamond City will encapsulate the designated lands around the stadium, while the stadium itself will have its purpose restored.”

Nora simply blinked at the explanation given, struggling like the others to process it all. What was Sev really planning for Diamond City, for Boston?

Only Codsworth seemed to take the news well. ”That sounds rather splendid. Having a stadium up and running again… It would be nice to enjoy game night once more, wouldn’t it, mum?”

*****

The annexation of Diamond City was inevitable, but at least it was a peaceful transition. With his new office relocated to a newly built block just outside of Diamond City, Nick Valentine took the moment to appreciate the momentous wave of change the Commonwealth was undergoing.

From raider armies to the Institute, the ever present threats were being snuffed out under the intimidating yet benevolent rule of the Nexus. Despite the grouses of being moved out of Diamond City, no one in their right mind had really opposed the order. The new buildings receiving the residents and their businesses were well built and far superior than anything the upper stands could manage. If anything, the wealthy being what they are, the elites from the upper stands were complaining that everyone was getting the same level of luxury.

Nick chuckled at the thought. The former bigshots of the city would have to learn to adjust their necks to look up at everyone equally. Sev had cared little for their connections, and the change to a new currency meant that all the old wealth amounted to very little.

Under the rule of the Nexus, the lands around Diamond City were now far safer than they have ever been, the constant surveillance of menacing robots ensuring that you could actually walk through the lands unmolested. Nick would know, he had been moving in and out of the borders while taking on jobs. The difference between travelling in the Nexus and beyond it was so stark, his digitized instincts were having a hard time adjusting to the lack of danger looming over him.

Sev had swiftly dealt with nearby Goodneighbour as a pre-emptive measure, excising the threat the criminal haven posed with the typical Nexus precision brutality. Nick happened to be nearby when he saw the robots and soldiers literally swoop in. There were screams, gunshots and more screams, but the town quickly fell. For his own peace of mind he didn’t think much of those who got carried away by the Sentinels, but Nick had followed the drifters and junkies being escorted to shelters just a few blocks away from Diamond City, presumably where they’d be rehabilitated to serve as productive members of society.

Despite the hypothesized dangers of living under an all-seeing and all-powerful administration, with a new body working damn well and a comfy new office, Nick had little to complain about and plenty to thank Sev for.

Now if only the job offer from Sev wasn’t such a bitch and a half to deal with. He’s a detective, sure, but digging into the Enclave and Brotherhood? Didn’t Sev have robots and people for that?

*****

Carmen closed her bruised eyes and did her best to endure her ordeal. The pain was temporary, she told herself. The disgusting stench of the man on top of her and his disgusting cock would be gone soon enough.

It was easier said than done, to separate herself from the hateful present. Or the immediate future as a sex slave, for that matter. She kept silent, thankful that at least this rapist allowed her to turn away from him as he violated her, and didn’t care if she fought to keep silent.

He was done with a repulsive groan shortly after, and Carmen writhed as she imagined the disgusting fluids injected into her vagina. She kept her head turned as he pushed her away, hearing him open the door to leave her dingy cell.

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Carmen didn’t bother trying to close her aching legs. Her next ‘customer’ stepped in and slammed the door behind him. Rapist scum number eleven. If she was lucky, he’d be the last one before she had the mercy of a break and a barely edible, cum-tainted brunch.

No such luck, this man was done with her far too quickly, simply eager to slam his bony hips against hers for a few seconds before adding another layer of repulsive taint on her body. Carmen had quickly gotten used to the dried layers of desecration, preferring to remain in such a state than take a ‘bath’ in the communal piss pit.

Thankfully, after her quick-firing rapist left, no one else came in. A quick break, one that her bruised and sore body appreciated. Carmen closed her legs and opened her eyes as she curled up into a ball. She no longer sobbed, but the girl still treasured the solitude to daydream of a better life.

“Please,” she whispered her plea, one picked up from the hushed grapevine amongst the other girls weeks ago. It was a wish, not a prayer.

Prayers would mean there was a god out there.

“Please save us. Please save me. Please, Sev. Send your Nexus here, please. I’ll be good.”

The door rattled open again, and the hatefully familiar sight of the brute Hogin stepped in. Carmen braced herself for a fresh layer of bruises, and hoped she could pretend to scream enough for his liking. It would be nice to keep her left arm fully intact, after how he mangled her right.

“Ready to play, girlie?” he asked in his slimy, taunting voice.

Carmen knew better than to answer, and simply spread herself for her latest assaulter, stamping down on her fear and despair. This too would be over soon. Hogin was brutal, but he didn’t last too long.

The meaty raider dropped his dirty pants and grinned as he strode over to her. He raised a hand up, signalling his signature move, a powerful slap on a breast before he squeezed and pulled at it. Carmen held her breath and readied her best scream.

Please, Sev. Please…

A rumble caught both their attention and actually caused Hogin to lower his arm as he turned to the door. Carmen picked up more rumbles, and within it, the faintest sounds of…gunfire?

“Ah, fuck.” Hogin groaned in annoyance as he went for his pants. Then the brick wall exploded inwards as something slammed into the raider. Carmen beheld an armored form in black and purple rise, bulkier than the usual combat armor yet sleeker than power armor. Carmen made out a girl’s face in the clear helmet, as well as white lines of a triangle that swirled inwards marked on the figure’s shoulders and chest.

Hogin gave a single grunt that turned into a howl as a blinding beam of white light incinerated his feet, and then his hands. The armored figure looked to Carmen with a reassuring smile only faintly obscured by the reflection of ambient light.

“You alright there?” the stranger asked with a light tint of static in her voice. Carmen only nodded, too shocked to form words.

The armored girl’s smile became wider, inspiring the flutters of hope in Carmen. “Don’t worry, the Nexus is here.”

She gave a gasp at hearing that name. “N-Nexus?” she repeated in a hoarse croak.

The stranger nodded. “Yep. We’ll get you out of here. All of you.” Then Carmen watched as the door was torn off with little effort and the armored girl led Carmen out to the hallway. She followed along in awed silence, adrenaline pumping in her veins as she watched the figure clear out other rooms, dispatching ‘clients’ with contemptuous ease and leading out a growing number of girls from the building.

Outside, Carmen took in the sight of raiders rolling limblessly in agony on the ground as other armored figures from the Nexus stalked about within the fortified barricades of Goodneighbour. The other freed slaves were standing in awe, just as disbelieving as Carmen at what they were taking in.

It was only when she saw some of the other girls weeping that Carmen realised her own eyes were wet with tears.

Their wishes were answered. Sev was listening after all.

Later on, Carmen would learn that her rescue was simply a part of the Nexus’ expansion, but even knowing that, she was no less grateful to Sev and his Nexus for rescuing her from a hellish life.

Carmen would eventually join 1st Company, after proving herself and willingly offering her restored body to Sev. She would save other slaves, just as how she herself was saved, and the warcries of the Nexus eagerly left her lips as she joined in culling the Commonwealth of raider scum and other annoyances.

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