I have two more chapters written they just need to be refined. I'm happy for all the feed back, I love to hear from readers. Thanks to everyone who's been coming back for each chapter.
mac
000
Five vertibirds landed, surrounding Vault City. The Vault City guards knew this was the enclave and they weren't a match for this small army and did their best to close up the city as tight as they could.
"What do you think, Stark?" Senior Councilman Daniel McClure asked Nathan Stark, the head of the Vault City guards, as they stood on the top of the wall.
"I think we're boned." Stark told him.
"Can't you do something Stark?" First Citizen Lynette Willan screeched.
"I can toss you over the wall and let you ask if they want to have tea and cookies." Stark said to her.
"How dare you speak to me like that? I'm the First-"
"Shut the hell up Lynette! You're not helping." Daniel told her.
"The laser turrets aren't going to be any match against those." Stark told Daniel. "And my men aren't trained for this."
The Virtibirds all shut down their engines simultaneously and men in advanced power armor and wicked weapons poured out of them, but held their positions close to the machines.
Jason and Ian in their power armor stepped out of the lead Virtibird and Culluch joined them from the pilot's seat, dressed in his combat armor. They walked right up to the gate and Culluch pulled off his flight helmet.
"Greetings to you First Citizen Lynette and Coucilmen McClure," Culluch said saluting them formally. "My commander would like to have a word with you."
"Maybe we don't want to chat with him," Lynette sniped back.
Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose and resisted pushing Lynette off the wall, while stark covered his eyes and kept muttering "we're boned".
"Not one more word out of you Lynette or I swear I'll have Stark dump you off this wall." Daniel warned her and she could see that he meant it and Stark was nodding emphatically.
"We'll speak with your Commander." Daniel said to Culluch. "Of course we would respectfully ask that only you three enter the city."
"That can be arranged," Culluch said back to him. "Of course our men will hold their positions for the moment."
"Of course," Daniel said trying not to throw up.
"Stark, please open the gate for our guest," Daniel said loudly. "And keep control of your men," he whispered to Stark who nodded.
"I love it when you intimidate people," Ian whispered seductively as they took off their helmets.
"I'll intimidate you later." Jason said back.
"Keep it together, lads." Culluch said. "I trust McClure but not Lynette, if anybody is likely to do something stupid it's her. She's not very level headed."
The three men marched into the city like conquering warriors. Daniel, Stark, and Lynette met them, endured introductions from Culluch, and escorted them into the city. Daniel gave a cheery tour of the city to Jason, who nodded at the appropriate times, both of them thinking how much they hated politics.
They were all soon settled at a conference table in the council house, drinking purified water. Stark stood quietly behind Daniel and Lynette, while Ian guarded Jason and Culluch's backs.
"So, what can we do for you Commander Smyth?" Daniel asked, praying it wasn't anything they weren't willing to give up.
"Please call my Jason."
Lynette snorted and then yelped when Daniel kicked her under the table. Jason ignored this byplay.
"Jason then." Daniel said.
"It's actually very simple. You see we're in need of a water chip for our vault."
"I don't think so. You're Enclave, not vault dwellers," Lynette said to them like they were idiots. "You obviously want the chip for some nefarious purpose."
Daniel sighed and looked at Stark, who grabbed Lynette by the back of her vault suit and dragged her out of the room, kicking and screaming all the way.
"I stuffed her in a closet and locked it." He said to Daniel as he came back into the room. "I'm sure she'll gnaw through the door in no time though."
Jason and Ian cracked a smile, while Culluch laughed his ass off.
"I've wanted to do that for years," Daniel said. "So you need a water chip?"
"Yes," Jason said. "I'm told you have quite a few of them in storage."
"Yes. But if you don't mind me asking, what do you want it for?"
"We want it for a vault." Culluch told him.
"You're putting me on."
"No." Jason said taking a sip of his water. "So can we come to some kind of agreement?"
"I'll give you as many as you want if you don't put us through this again. I don't think my heart could take it."
"Done." Jason said easily. "I was hoping not to have to do this again."
"Yes, in the future, you can send my son, and I would be more than willing to negotiate with him." Daniel said sagging in his chair.
Jason looked at Culluch and he mumbled something about Limlew being his mother's maiden name.
"Stark, go and let Lynette out of the closet and confine her to her quarters until our guest leave."
"Yes, sir."
000
"I did wonder where you had gotten off to Culluch." Daniel said to him as they all made their way into the vault.
"I told you I would leave this god forsaken place." Culluch said.
"Culluch is one of the most brilliant scientists that the Enclave has." Jason told Daniel.
"He always was gifted," Daniel said with pride. "He was just stifled here."
"That's one way of putting it." Culluch muttered.
"He's grown." Daniel said to Jason.
"Really?" Jason asked looking at Culluch.
"I left when I was seventeen," Culluch said blushing. "I had one last growth spurt."
"He was five foot and thin as a bird when he left." Daniel said taking in Culluch's five foot ten, leanly muscled body.
