Belly of the Beast

The two wage a quick firefight with the unorganized raiders; though their successful **** was probably due to the behemoth right behind them more so than them. Turret fire spewed from the front gate; silenced by a rock thrown by the behemoth. The three entered through the front door, slamming the door shut; the weight of their bodies holding the door closed for the behemoth's charge. Though the door remained shut, it did not move nor did they feel anything. It must’ve gotten distracted by the other raiders. Bark bark, Hound cheared out to alert the two. Raiders fired upon the three; both Moon and Preston hit the dirt, avoiding most of the volley. Return fire had whittled the raiders' number down greatly as the three assaulted them room by room. Both Moon and Preston had salvaged the ammo from the dead raiders, both barely keeping enough to fill their own guns.

Heading down to the bottom floor of the building, a more concerted defense started to form. Three raiders gave covering fire as two raiders pushed up. Preston countered with his own covering fire. Moon, having very little ammo and an empty gun, looked around for anything; finding a lead pipe laying on the ground. Moon cursed herself a-bit, from what she remembered of survival training; one generally dose not use melee on an enemy that knows your coming, for you were likely to find a bullet in you that way. However Preston could not sustain his return fire; so Moon bomb-rushed the closest man, in hand was the pipe. A clean swipe to the raider's face brought him down to the ground; bullets whizzed past her as she ducked for cover. The raider that had moved up with the downed raider aimed his shot and popped a bullet into Moon’s left shoulder; Moon groaning in pain. Though that raider had exposed himself just enough to get a bullet to his head; his body slumped to the ground. The three raiders, seeing two of their members die to a group much smaller than theirs, had broken and fled. Three swift gunshot could be heard in the upcoming room; one could assume whoever is the boss of this place, didn’t like his forces retreating. Moon sat down, catching her breath as Preston salvaged more ammo. “Hey you fucks! Come out here so we can shoot you!” The two shared a blank glance; both understanding the ludacrisness of the demand.

Preston handed over some bullets to, then pushed forward with Moon following suit. The three entered a large open room with many conveyor belts; a man was standing on some secured scaffolding above them. “Boss, are we sure we can take these guys on?” Some of the raiders stared at the man on the scaffolding. “You fucking cowards, stand and fight!” Moon spoke up, “We can resolve this peacefully… Sir, Mamn, or whatever you are.” Preston glanced at Moon with a disapproving look, though one full of begrudging understanding. “Talk?. The great Raider Boss Jared shall not talk peace to anyone!” Moon sighed, bitter that she had to continue this ****; Preston sighed, resolved to finish this. “Preston, cover me.” Hound and Moon rush the raiders on the ground; Preston giving covering fire. The raiders broke, fleeing immediately; though a turret located on the scaffolding takes a pot shot at Moon, scoring a hit to the right leg, before she dove for cover. Preston was quick though, pouring the rest of his mag into the turret knocking it out. Moon headed up the scaffolding, returning fire as Jared tried to rebuke her. Bullets knicked Moon, though with great aim finally stopped the Raider Boss from terrorizing more places. Jared’s cold body slumped to the ground; a dime sized hole in his head revealed how he died.

Moon and Preston regrouped, with Preston meeting Moon at the scaffolding as Moon had taken most of the bullets. Preton did what he could to stem the bleeding with clothes and a stimpack they found during their numerous time salvaging for ammo. Although stimpacks were the best healing item you could find in probably the whole USA, it didn’t guarantee survival; It couldn't heal broken limbs effectively and if you are riddled with too many holes, it doesn't matter, you’re dead. Though for Moon her body started to mend and she started to feel better. The two did what they could to loot the place; they of course needed more ammo, but stimpacks and other materials like lubricant were a happy addition. Preston during the salving mission turned to talk to Moon “Hey… thanks… thanks for not forsaking these people… the settlers that called for us.” “Preston, I had all intention of not coming; I had it all planned out, I was going to knock you out and drag you back to our settlement.” Preston frowned a bit, however a look of content reamurged. “I had wanted to do that, yet I couldn’t just walk away; I’ve already lost so much, I don’t want to lose my new community nor … a-good-associate-like-you.” She stammered a bit at the end of the sentence. “I'm just glad you heard me out and never forsaken those people. Though I am disappointed that we are just associates.” Moon turned away from Preston, she sunk down a bit. Not even salvaging, tears trickled down her cheeks, “Preston, I want to go home.” Preston didn’t speak, he could tell that words weren’t needed; moving closer he plopped his hand on her shoulder and started moving towards the exit

The three left Corvega assembly plant, wary of the behemoth, though they didn’t have to worry much as the monster had scared off the rest of the Raiders. The three limped their way back to Tenpines Bluff; the failing to sneak past the ghouls at Bedford Station, gunning them down. Leaving them with only a few bullets to spare. Returning to Tenpines, the settlers were pleasantly surprised that the Minutemen; they had not really expected two people and a dog to do much. It was reasonable to think two people, not strapped to the floor with armor and guns, could do little against a bunch of Raider. Preston asked if they would join the Minutemen once again; they refused, though they weren’t opposed to rejoining. Quincy still left a bitter taste in their mouths; they’d join once the Minutemen grew a bit stronger. The three left with a few more caps, given as compensation from the settlers. Preston was pleased at how things had gone; Moon was just out of it, her body was numb from the adrenaline loss; Hound was barking and yipping trying to cheer up Moon, to some success. The three return to Sanctuary somewhat worse for wear, but alive and very glad that the place hadn’t burned down.