"Ugh, remind me again why I'm out here, marching straight into this nest of death?" Kelcy muttered under her breath, gripping her laser rifle tightly. She adjusted her dusty military fatigues and shifted the heavy pack on her shoulders, scanning the surrounding ruins anxiously. On either side, towering over her were two armored Paladins, their heavy suits painted with the chapter's emblem, a pristine white symbol of swords, gears, and wings etched clearly against the dark steel armor. The Paladin on her left carried a massive rotary cannon, while the other hefted a heavy machine gun, both weapons primed and ready for whatever lurked ahead.
"Pipe down, Knight," spoke the figure on the left, his voice low and distorted by his helmet's voice modulator. "You're going to bring the whole damned enemy right down on us."
"Oh, sure," Kelcy replied, rolling her eyes, trying to mask her anxiety and tension behind a halfhearted joke. "Easy for you to say, big guy. You're encased in tons of reinforced armor, and I'm here practically naked by comparison. Forgive me if my nerves are a bit frayed."
The Paladin said nothing in response, his armored form lumbering forward with determination. Kelcy sighed softly and tightened her grip on the rifle again, scanning the devastated terrain ahead. The streets were a shattered mess, carved up by years without maintenance and scarred further by violence and neglect. Broken concrete slabs, rusted metal scraps, and scattered debris cluttered their path, making each step cautious and uneasy.
Their objective loomed just ahead, a massive abandoned research facility formerly operated by Mass Fusion. Securing intact fusion cores or even useful component parts from within this facility would provide crucial resources for their chapter, aiding in desperately needed repairs and equipment upgrades. However, despite no sign of hostile rival factions competing for the valuable tech, the place was anything but unguarded. Rumors spoke of a massive swarm of Deathclaws nesting deep within the ruins, and the last expedition sent to retrieve the fusion components had been thoroughly wiped out, their battered equipment and shredded armor discovered weeks later with no survivors.
Kelcy shivered slightly, trying to suppress a deep sense of unease rising in her chest. If the previous group, a larger, better-armed expedition, hadn't survived, how did Command expect just the three of them to succeed?
She swallowed hard, glancing at their small unit, knowing the silent Paladins beside her felt the same bleak tension in the pit of their stomachs. Their chances seemed slim at best, but there was no turning back now.
A pair of glowing eyes suddenly pierced through the shadows of a building nearby. Kelcy's heart skipped a beat; from the darkness emerged the powerful, towering form of a deathclaw. Its back hunched forward, powerful legs propelling it upright while massive hands reached low to the rubble-strewn ground for support. Each of its razor-edged claws matched the length and lethality of a shortsword, hanging menacingly and flexing in tense preparation for the attack.
With a deep, guttural roar, it broke into an explosive charge toward the knights. The paladin nearest to Kelcy seemed frozen briefly in fear, sweat pouring inside his sealed armor. Recognizing no chance to outrun or overcome the beast in close quarters, he desperately squeezed the handle of his massive machine gun. Bullets poured forth in a blazing stream of lead, but the deathclaw dodged smoothly to the side, the lethal barrage harmlessly kicking dirt and dust into the air behind it. Its speed was far more terrifying than its strength alone, bridging the distance between itself and the paladin in mere heartbeats.
Alarm surged through Kelcy as two additional deathclaws sprang from the ruins to their right, revealing a deadly ambush. The creatures careened toward an unprepared paladin at dizzying speed, their muscular forms hurtling forward with primal fury. She panicked, her breath uneven, firing off desperate bursts from her laser rifle. One shot grazed a deathclaw as it rushed forward, leaving only a small scorched mark on its thick, mutated limb. It slowed only momentarily, turning hateful, predatory eyes toward her.
Kelcy watched in horror as a second paladin was suddenly lifted from the ground by one of the beasts and hurled through the air like a broken doll; his armored body slammed brutally into the rubble-strewn earth dozens of yards away. He did not rise again. The remaining paladin fired wildly from his rotary cannon, desperate to halt the advancing threat. But deathclaws were built to absorb punishment, their mutated skin armored by layers of bone and leathery hide tough enough to shrug off small arms fire.
Without warning, a deathclaw had closed the gap, massive clawed hand clamping around the paladin's armored neck. He struggled vainly as the claws started squeezing, metal armor beginning to buckle beneath the monstrous strength. Kelcy forced herself to fire again and again, heart pounding helplessly, despair gnawing away at her courage.
Then something unexpected happened—a sharp sound, like distant thunder, shook the air. Two deathclaws fell instantaneously, their heads violently exploding into wet, crimson mist. Their decapitated forms collapsed heavily to the dirt, twisted limbs splayed out oddly, pooling blood spreading into dark slicks beneath them.
The remaining deathclaw, presumably the pack leader from its sheer size and confident bearing, abandoned its prey to look around in confusion. Issuing what sounded like a harsh hissed command, it began retreating cautiously, flanked closely by the surviving two creatures. They backed toward the facility, eyes narrowed defiantly, teeth barred in a savage display of frustrated anger.
Another loud crack echoed sharply, and one of those guardians staggered violently forward, its powerful legs severed cleanly below its knees. Falling heavily into the dirt, it howled and writhed in agony, betrayed and abandoned by its fleeing companions. Blood gushed profusely from the wounds, staining the ruins with scarlet as its screams faded into pitiful whimpers.
Kelcy and the surviving paladin stood frozen, utterly bewildered, overcome with astonishment and dread. Seeing three apex predators wiped out in mere seconds—without chance to retaliate—was more terrifying in many ways than being ambushed. It meant something far more dangerous now shared these grounds with them.
Kelcy's mind whirled chaotically as she tried to rationalize this newfound threat. To sever the limbs of a deathclaw so cleanly required firepower meant for heavily armored targets—something equivalent to heavy anti-tank weapons or even an artillery cannon. She felt her breath catch painfully in her chest as she began to turn slowly, warily, toward the newcomer advancing from behind.
Her eyes narrowed against the dim glare of the sun as a towering figure strode purposefully towards them. Its silhouette loomed large, exuding undeniable strength and grace. Kelcy trembled slightly as she struggled to keep her laser rifle steady, the weapon shaking in her grip as she aimed uncertainly at the imposing figure. It carried in one hand a spear as tall and intimidating as a deathclaw itself. At its hip hung a massive gun, accompanied by a vicious looking blade—the "small" knife nearly the length of a shortsword. Its body encased in ornate golden armor, the stranger moved smoothly and effortlessly, entirely unlike the slow, cumbersome gait she'd witnessed from power armor wearers.
The massive figure's voice rumbled like distant thunder as he spoke. "Lower your weapon," he commanded. His deep voice carried absolute authority as he gestured toward the battlefield. "Evacuate the area immediately. There's one of your people injured over there on that pile of rocks. He's bleeding internally from ruptured organs. If you help him now, he'll survive."
Kelcy kept her laser rifle raised, though her hands trembled. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice cracking slightly with fear and adrenaline. "Don't come any closer!"
"I am here to retrieve repair kits for the power generators," the giant replied calmly. "A nearby village requires them."
"I have my own assignment to complete," Kelcy said, her eyes darting to the wounded Brotherhood soldier who was struggling to stay upright on his knees. "Paladin Michael, can you stand?"
The injured Paladin pushed himself up slowly, grimacing with pain. "I can stand, but I'm no longer combat ready," he said through gritted teeth. Blood seeped through gaps in his power armor. "I'll get Jacob out of here. You go with... whatever that thing is and retrieve those miniature fusion reactors. Go!"
Paladin Michael forced himself to his feet with considerable effort. He exchanged a wary glance with the golden-armored stranger before turning away. Moving as quickly as his injuries allowed, he stumbled over to where the other Paladin lay unconscious among the rubble. He pulled out a stimpak and injected it into Jacob's neck, then hoisted the unconscious man up and began dragging him toward the evacuation zone.
The golden figure watched this scene unfold from behind his distinctive conical helm. After a moment, he turned his attention back to the blonde woman standing before him. Her white-knuckled hands still gripped the laser rifle he had observed her using earlier. It was a lasgun of some sort, though he knew it lacked the power to penetrate his armor.
"I hereby inform you that you need to continue your mission," the Custodian stated firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "I do not know what your mission entails, nor do I wish to know. However, if you become an obstacle to my own objectives, I will not hesitate to cut you down." With that warning delivered, he began walking toward the research station with long, purposeful strides.
Kelcy hurried after him, nearly jogging to keep pace with his much longer legs. Her breath came in short puffs as she struggled to match his speed. "The nearby settlement you mentioned," she said between breaths. "Do you mean the NCR remnants? Because if that's the case, I don't think my superiors would approve of them getting their hands on our technology."
Valex turned his helmeted head toward her without breaking stride. "I said that if you interfere with my mission, I will cut you down. Was I not clear?" He shifted his massive spear slightly, the gesture subtle but unmistakably threatening.
"I understand that," Kelcy replied stubbornly, lifting her chin. "But that won't stop me from reporting this back to my command."
"Do as you wish," the Custodian said with apparent indifference. "If your command chooses to attack me, then I shall respond in kind."
Privately, Valex found himself somewhat amused by this woman's fierce and almost fanatical loyalty to her organization. Still, his amusement had limits. If she or her Brotherhood posed a genuine threat to his mission, he would eliminate them without hesitation. He had single-handedly destroyed numerous chaos cults throughout his long service. He had brought them down with his guardian spear and bolt rounds, watching their leaders die alone and abandoned, just as the Chaos Gods always abandoned their followers once their usefulness expired.
"How did you come into contact with them?" Kelcy asked, still breathing hard as she struggled to keep up. "I mean the NCR remnants. From what I've heard, their main force hasn't completely fallen yet, but around here... Their capital city is gone, and most of their organized troops have either scattered or gone rogue."
"I encountered their settlement while traversing the ruins of the city," Valex explained, his voice carrying easily despite the distance between them. "They requested that I recover these repair kits in exchange for information and shelter. The offer of shelter came unexpectedly, as I had not requested it, but I accepted their terms nonetheless."
"You look to be higher up and more important than just someone working for them, don't you think?" Kelcy said, studying him with curious eyes. "I mean, I've never seen someone, or something, quite like you before. And not to mention the fact that you're asking around for information. That tells me you're either not from around here, or you somehow came from the pre-war era, though I can't imagine how that would be possible."
"You're sharper than I expected," Valex replied as they stepped through the entrance of the research center. The building's interior was dark and cluttered with debris from years of neglect. "The latter assumption is false. I come from a different land, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, a different era entirely."
"Medieval times?" Kelcy asked, raising an eyebrow. "No offense intended, but it seems really odd for people from the future to be carrying around giant spears. Close quarters combat weapons don't exactly scream advanced civilization, especially if you're supposedly from some far-off future time."
"Killing foes," Valex began, his words cut short as the Auspex system in his helmet suddenly pinged with an urgent warning. Multiple life signatures appeared on his display, scattered throughout the rubble and hidden in the darkness ahead. The targeting sensors immediately locked onto the nearest threat. It was another one of those reptilian beings, just like the one he had killed earlier. Without hesitation, Valex hurled his spear with practiced precision, the bolt shell racing through the air and striking the creature's skull before he could even finish his sentence. "Is not just about range. Once you've eliminated all enemies from a distance, you'll inevitably find yourself surrounded at close quarters. That's a situation my kind and I frequently encounter."
The ambushing deathclaw's skull shattered on impact, and the massive creature collapsed to the ground, its attempted surprise attack thwarted before it could even begin.
The claw descended from above, slashing through the air where Valex had been standing just a moment before. He rolled to the side, muscles coiling like springs, then thrust his spear upward into the leaping creature's exposed belly. The blade carved through flesh and bone in a clean arc, splitting the deathclaw nearly in two. Blood sprayed across the ruined floor as the beast crashed down behind him.
Another deathclaw charged from his left, its massive claws extended for the kill. Valex spun to meet it, his spear moving in a blur of motion. Two precise strikes severed both of the creature's primary weapons at the wrists, leaving stumps where deadly talons had been. The deathclaw shrieked in rage and pain, but the sound cut short as Valex pressed the bolt caster against its skull and fired. The creature's head exploded in a shower of gore and bone fragments.
Movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Another deathclaw was hurtling through the air toward Kelcy, taking advantage of the blind spots that plagued normal human eyesight. Valex reversed his grip and drove the butt of his spear into the creature's ribcage mid-leap. Bones cracked and splintered under the impact, sending the beast tumbling to the ground. Without missing a beat, he spun the weapon around and fired another bolt into its thrashing form, ending its struggles permanently.
His bolt caster roared to life, spitting five rapid shots toward the upper floor where more deathclaws had positioned themselves. Three dropped instantly, clean kills through vital organs. A fourth took a bolt to its front limb, the appendage blown completely off. It writhed on the floor above, bleeding out but not yet dead. The creature would expire soon enough.
To his left, near where an elevator shaft should have been in this ruined structure, another deathclaw burst from the shadows. It moved too fast for him to bring his spear around in time. His targeting systems calculated the distance and speed, confirming what his instincts already knew. Instead, Valex's golden gauntlet connected with the creature's face in a devastating uppercut. The impact sent the deathclaw flying across the hall, its jaw shattered and neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
Twelve enemies remained. Some lurked in ambush positions while others circled the perimeter with predatory grace. A tactical part of his mind noted that he could fight more efficiently if he allowed the girl beside him to fall. It would free up his defensive positioning and give him more room to maneuver. But he dismissed the thought immediately. That wasn't an option he would consider.
Three deathclaws had taken cover behind chunks of concrete from the partially collapsed floor above. Valex's hand found the laspistol he had received earlier, his fingers wrapping around the unfamiliar grip. Targeting sensors immediately synced with the weapon through his neural interface. Runes flashed across his retinal display as he channeled power from his internal reactor into the pistol's capacitors. The weapon began to glow with a faint orange light that grew steadily brighter.
He squeezed the trigger. An orange-yellow beam lanced through the air, so intense it left afterimages dancing in the darkness. The beam punched through the concrete barrier as if it were paper, then discharged its energy in an explosive burst of superheated plasma. All three deathclaws behind the cover were instantly vaporized, along with their makeshift fortification. Chunks of molten concrete rained down around them.
The weapon's designation finally appeared on his heads-up display as the runes cycled through their post-discharge sequence. Blaze Pistol, it read. Was this weapon related to the larger blaze cannons he had heard about? He filed the question away for later consideration. Right now, there were still nine deathclaws to deal with.
"Huh? What?" Kelcy exclaimed, her confusion mounting. The giant had just been explaining something about killing when suddenly the world erupted into chaos.
Thunderous bangs filled the air, accompanied by the sickening sounds of meat being cleaved and bones shattering. She heard the wet crunch of breaking limbs and the guttural groans of dying creatures. An arc of azure light blazed past her, moving so fast her eyes couldn't follow it. The brilliant streak came from somewhere beside her, cutting through the darkness like a blade made of pure energy.
Then an intense orange glow illuminated the entire room, followed immediately by a deafening explosion. Through the darkness, her eyes could make out chunks of glowing, molten concrete raining down from where the blast had struck.
More gunfire erupted in rapid succession. The muzzle flashes created a strobe-like effect in the darkness, each burst of light revealing glimpses of the carnage unfolding around her. Several seconds passed before the shooting finally ceased. She heard the distinct metallic clack of something being removed, followed by the click of a fresh magazine being inserted into a weapon.
Her trembling hands fumbled for the handheld flashlight on her belt. When she finally managed to switch it on, the beam revealed what her mind initially processed as a massacre. But these weren't human corpses scattered across the floor. They were deathclaws, their massive bodies torn apart and strewn about like broken dolls.
In front of her, the custodian was already walking toward the elevator. His spear dripped with dark blood, leaving a trail of crimson droplets on the floor behind him. What the hell just happened? The thought raced through her mind as she tried to make sense of the violence that had unfolded in mere seconds.
"Threat neutralized. Continue the mission," the custodian's voice cut through her shock. The red glow of his helmet's lenses turned back to stare at her. "Follow if you don't wish to be separated."
In that moment, as those crimson lights bore into her, Kelcy understood who had orchestrated this slaughter. The realization sent ice through her veins. She had just learned that there were monsters in this world far more terrifying than deathclaws.