Erin is back in Neo Angeles, sitting on one of the couches in her father’s living room. She wishes Roan was here to have her back but understands he has a state to run. Her father sets down a cup of steaming tea before sitting across from her.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NE9GMaIOU
“How is Skye?” He asks, his voice soft.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpbvQbHikc
“She’s not doing well. She can’t get out of bed on her own; she is always in pain, she’s weak, and…the doctor you sent said she’s not going to get any better.” Erin looks up at him from the teacup. “Please let Skye into Neo Angeles. Just make it better for her, more comfortable, and keep her alive, even if she won’t get better.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZRU6udd8i
“I want to, Erin, but there’s a lot of risks having someone who is infected here. If she were to pass and turn, it could be an epidemic.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs6Aidw4Yd
“I understand. But all I want is for her to get better.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFyogq3mzn
Her father takes a deep breath. “I will have to consider everything.” Erin nods weakly. “Will you stay for dinner?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gxHDYIeEK
“I’d prefer some time alone.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtyxwftNxc
“Alright.” He nods slowly. “Take care of yourself.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfbznMO9Tt
“I will try.” She stands up from the couch.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUZDqBpU7S
Erin sits alone in the hotel’s bath, curled up into a ball. She’s worried about so much, but mostly about her sister and what they’ll do without her if it comes to that. She knows Scout tries her hardest to help raise the kids, but she’s still a child herself.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHopuraL1Ar
Erin looks over to where Roan had sat last time, feeling lonely, but also guilty for wishing he was her because of it. She wipes away tears that begin to fall.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBRkiHv6o5
Erin steps out of the automated car, looking up at the towering building, unsure of this is where she was meant to go. She walks inside and is greeted by another humanoid robot, which asks her to take a seat and wait a few moments. Before too long, her father walks out, saying he’s glad to see her and hopes she slept well.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41Ha5o8N0J
“I’ve…had better nights.” She admits.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA7e9Kqbb7
“I understand.” He nods. “Follow me.” He starts down the hallway he came from. They walk a while before arriving at a door. He types in a long code and scans his hand and eye before the door opens. They head inside the elevator.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtlSQwhGi5
“We’re going down.” Erin speaks up, surprised by that fact.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxoWBHWtiG
“What I’m about to show you is top secret.” Her father turns to face her.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr1sCmsGDh
“Why are you showing me then?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1acrDVJnRn
“I made arrangements and secured you and the kids a place.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD8HHzuqNk
“If--if you do that, I would rather give me spot to a girl we take care of, who helps us take care of the kids. She deserves it more than me.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqNyoYJxq4
“No matter.” He shrugs. “I have a job for you to do. It’d be in your best interest not to think about it too much and know this is what needs to be done.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fv8QFlaA5
“I’ve done jobs like that before.” She slowly nods, a pit forming in her stomach.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIFQnTxyUT
“You just need to finish this job for us, and your sister and children will have a spot in Neo Angeles.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1GOwxKQtk
Erin can feel the weight put onto her as the door slides open. In front of them is a large, sterile-looking lab. It’s full of fancy equipment, filled with scientists in lab coats.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHu03P0W1O
Her father leads her through the lab, eventually arriving at another part of the lab. In this room, there are mutant-like creatures, infected looking people, and on the far side of the room, there are young boys all in vats, floating in some sort of liquid. The boys’ skin is somewhat translucent, showing their veins. They are also bald.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4Owz4iImZ
“What the fuck is all of this?” Erin looks around the room before looking at her father with questioning eyes.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUK7EGWNYV
“This is how we make our part of the injections. Then it’s sent over to Biotech Solutions, where they finish the process, and the New California Republic distributes it.” He walks over to one of the boys. “This is Six. He needs to be transported to X-13.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweavdDQYdt
“You can’t be serious.” Erin crosses her arms over her chest.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wwzg4M9Bm
“I am. These kinds of things are needed for the injections to be made, for No Man’s Land and Haven to be saved.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcTKqgGjMx
“Do you know who infected Haven?” Erin asks a question that’s been burning inside her.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaCU7cHBXe
“Likely some infected person was seeking refugee. I always said having an infected person there would result in an outbreak.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6DmDKqBRy
“As will Neo Angeles if we bring Skye and the kids here.” Erin concludes.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS9Y5Bo2UA
“Not necessarily true. Biotech and we have been working on an antidote, which should cure the carrier of the infection. We will be administering them as soon as they’re made.” He pauses a moment, looking back at the boy. “That’s why he must be transported there.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQEWIv8bZc
A scientist comes over to her father, asking him if he’s ready. He says yes, and they begin draining the tube.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWnTtBgnmT
“Some scientists wanted to speak with a perspective from the outside world before you left.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CMf0GhjZ6
“Al--alright.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcP2OEK1iM
Erin thinks to herself about what she just saw, deciding she needs to just focus on getting to job done so she can save Skye. She’s not sure what will happen after she gets everyone into Neo Angeles if she doesn’t have a spot of her own. Maybe she’ll go back to Roan. She grows sad thinking of it. Will she be able to leave Lance behind like that, to live without the guilt that often overwhelms her?
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u6EIZ61Uv
“Thanks for being such a good lab rat.” The scientist pulls away the needle with the blood sample away.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS0UT9LtjH
“You get used to needles out in No Man’s Land.” She takes a deep breath.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoH8rgLSzF
“There’s something more I’d like to ask you.” He turns around on his tool, scooting over to his desk. “I’d like you to deliver something.” He lowers his voice. “I have contact with scientists out in N.M.L. who are trying to find their own cure. They need some samples. Would you be willing to take them?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0forYO43D
“Sure.” Erin nods. “Whatever it takes to cure this damn thing.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVSDzMtk4f
“Thank you.” He turns back to smile at her. “We can get the occasional contact with an N.C.R. soldier to smuggle a letter or share some research, but nothing like this. I really appreciate it, and so will they.” He hands her a package. “There’s someone else who wants to talk to you.” He points her in the scientist's direction.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5CIajKQjP
Erin gets up and walks in the direction, looking around the lab and wondering what the different equipment does. She arrives at a door and enters after knocking. The room is humid and filled with plants. A woman turns to her with a smile. “Are you the infected one?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlY5NuANSE
“Uh, yeah. I am.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgVorA0knW
“Great to hear it.” She continues smiling. Erin didn’t seem to share her enthusiasm, though. “Anyways. I have genetically engineered seeds that should be able to grow anywhere in any kind of soil with little water. Take some and test them out.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WO873ViOf
“Oh. Sure.” Erin agrees, knowing they’ll be perfect for the small garden in Skye’s bus.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV2WkrXflL
She gets up and walks over to a burlap sack, handing it over to Erin before sitting back down at her desk. “You can go now.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP32ivzUx4
“Alright. Thanks.” Erin thanks her once more before heading back to where her dad was, seeing he’s no longer there. She notices the boy, Six, is now dressed and looking more normal, his skin less translucent. He’s being injected with something. The scientist turns to her after finishing.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXHNL8eiwy
“You’ll need to inject him with these if it takes more than a month to get him there. He’ll remind you. But mostly, they’ll be for Biotech to keep him alive. It’s a couple of years worth.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz8OibjWV2
Erin is surprised at how casually they talk about the boy who’s sitting beside them.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpKN2eGDrh
“Be careful with the briefcase and Six. Try to keep him alive, but if you can’t, bring the body to Biotech.” He hands her a briefcase of injections. “Doctor Ward said there’s a helicopter waiting to take you back to New Vegas. He was called away.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCoe8UoXwL
“Alright.” Erin nods, making sense of why her father isn’t there to see her off.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4OfvctVRj
The helicopter lands, and Erin gets out. She looks back at Six, seeing he hasn’t moved.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nO2sDz3Yq
“Come on.” She motions for him to follow. After a few moments, he gets up and follows after her. She looks over at him as they walk. “Can you talk?” He has yet to speak since she picked him up in the lab. He nods in reply. “If you can, why don’t you now?” Six shrugs slightly.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lzWOhyAsu
She turns her attention away from him and starts thinking again about her sister’s declining health, as well as her family's future. Erin hopes Scout will enjoy her time in Neo Angeles more than she did when Erin was her age. She has no doubts Scout will fight her over it, not wanting to go without her, but it’s what’s best for her, and it’s what Lance would want.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXQFJ90KDs
Erin arrives at her bike, but when she turns to tell Six to get on, he’s missing. She looks around, finding him staring at all the people walking through the neon-colored strip. She walks over to him, watching him sadly. She can’t help but think he’s never seen anything like it before, likely being a test tube baby.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eAKVK9aMl
Erin pulls off at an N.C.R. camp to fuel up. They scan her chip before letting her in, where she drives towards the pumps. While parked, she glances over at Six, finding him shivering in his thin, scrub-like clothes. She sighs at the fact the scientists couldn’t have even given him proper clothing. She takes her jacket off and hands it to him, apologizing for the shape it’s in.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJillFv1xVn
He takes it from her after a few moments, muttering a thanks.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWxIin8g3d
Erin raises an eyebrow. “So, you can talk? Interesting. What’s your name, kid?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r4U3eZnOi
“Six.” He quietly answers.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmjIlLp9CM
“That’s your pod number, right? Don’t you have an actual name?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVko2lbawsN
He shakes his head.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzsR4R3Re5
“Why don’t you come up with one?” She shrugs, pulling the fuel pump out of the tank. “What do you like?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapwCkLdzzD
“I don’t know.” He answers earnestly. “I’m not allowed things.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9eA6d9ZEn
She puts the nozzle back into the machine. “Guess you’ll have to figure that one out then.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdcLXtFSLo
They pull into the colony and dismount the bike after arriving at the house. Scout walks out, holding Rylan. “Who’s he?” Scout motions towards Six, who looks to be about her age. Erin can’t help but wonder if it’s due to no other kids in the colony being her age, and she’s taking some interest.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimkC2pILCu
“Six.” Erin answers simply, not about to explain the situation to her when she’ll have to take him to Biotech regardless. “Can you show him around the colony?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHow3O7fuSu
“Sure, I guess.” She walks over to hand Erin Rylan. Erin stops her before she leaves, giving her the remaining seeds, and tells her to plant them in the bus when she gets the chance.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC5dtAGTBL
The two start walking off, but Erin grabs Six’s arm to stop him. “Don't tell her anything about who you are.” She whispers to him. He nods, causing her to release him.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH7CzNwHz8
Erin walks inside the house and into Skye’s room, finding Millie feeding her. “I made some soup and brought it over.” Millie explains. “But I’ll leave to give you guys some privacy. Let me take the little one so you can feed her.” They hand off the baby, and Erin takes the seat next to Skye.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwSUr1uBTR
“I just need to finish this job, and then I can get you into Neo Angeles with the kids.” Erin explains as she spoons some soup into Skye’s mouth. Skye doesn’t respond until she’s done eating.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YnENs4P25
“I’m tired.” She raspily says, closing her eyes.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxibURPMxg
“Remember the song mom used to sing to us before bed?” Erin asks, brushing some hair out of her face. Skye weakly nods. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” Erin begins singing softly, reaching over to hold Skye’s hand. “You make me happy when skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear,” Erin tears up as she sings, her voice cracking, “how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAvsXRV33B
Erin and Scout sit in the bus. Scout is sitting on the stool in front of her while Erin injects her. Erin can’t help but hope that the seeds she gave to the N.C.R. to distribute will work and not end up eating the people or something.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jxttOoxpj
“He’s kinda weird.” Scout says quietly. Erin looks out at Six, who is picking up rocks and intently staring at them, before putting them in his pocket. “He said he doesn’t have a name.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xw2LGJGP0
Erin shrugs, putting the empty syringe aside. “Some people are just weird.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDMjBqVvJS
“I like him though. He’s very nice.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcftc0eiLD
“I saw the two of you laughing earlier. I’m glad you two got along.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflCrrp0PxU
“Where are you taking him?” Scout innocently asks. “Will I get to see him again?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboZKrQ5526
“He’s going to a long way away from here, so probably not, Scout. Sorry.” Erin gives her a small apologetic smile. “We’re done with injections, so me and Six are going to go.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzh9SzfX44
Scout nods. “Alright. Stay safe please.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ635Lunhhld
Six is sitting around a fire that’s in a fireplace. Erin walks out of the other room, carrying a handful of blankets in her arms.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0JXkjPVem
“Whose home is this?” Six asks, holding his hands out to the flames.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ru12TnUPj
“No clue.” Erin pulls one of the blankets out and puts it around his shoulder. “But it’s ours for the night. You should get comfortable. Take as many as you need.” Erin sets the blankets down in a pile, taking a few for herself and getting comfortable. Sometimes an abandoned house is a luxury out here.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm877KeXkt
Six follows suit, laying down and pulling blankets over himself. After getting settled, he speaks up. “Flash.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmIvjU1Ps2
“Flash?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7FgoPjJFU
“That’s the name I want. Scout showed me some…some…picture books.” He finally finds the words, “I want to be like Flash.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VpPL6Z592
“You’re pretty special if Scout showed you her comic books.” Erin scoffed. “Lucky you.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVtMieLC9s
Flash smiles slightly.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU9yuO3fSW
“Get some sleep so we can hit the road early.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAsQ8A29eJ
Erin stops at the colony in the warehouse to drop off the Neo Angeles scientist's package. She had an inkling it was going to be them but wasn’t sure of the colony’s coordinates. She scoops out a handful of loose ammo out of the bike’s saddlebags and hands it to Flash, telling him to see what he can find in the marketplace.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzng8zlilc
She walks down to the other warehouse, package in hand, arriving and knocking. The door is opened after a few moments, and she holds the package out, saying it’s from Neo Angeles. They let her into their lab, where people are actively working. The man who had set the job up last time makes his way over to her with a smile.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvhSyWhdtD
“How’re things with the live one doing?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3KstyeA1p
“Great! Having one has been very helpful, but we’ll eventually need more. If you’re willing, we’d love your help again.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklUEKov7Nd
“If I’m in the neighborhood, I’ll consider it.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUrMBZ47wf
“What’s the package again?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfBHDvPFpl
“From Neo Angeles.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfubSS4qg5V
His eyes widened. “Nothing could repay you for this.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5gU44wTaO
“Fill the bike up and buy me dinner, and we’ll be even.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV36qFGKcL
“Can we also buy you a place for the night?” He offers.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9Uh9ZpZ40
“No, no. It’s alright.” She shakes her head, not wanting to sleep in the hammocks again. She heads to leave, but when she walks out, Flash is waiting there for her. The man’s expression changes as he sees him.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p6XKzQrhU
“That--that boy. That’s one of the experiments from Neo Angles. Our plant told us about him.” The man points fervently at him. “Kill it! And burn the body so Biotech can’t use it!”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzhybokn38
“What the fuck?!” Erin looks back at the man. “Why do they want him?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s9abUdomm
“It’s going to be used to make another infection, but worse. One that would be way worse than this one. Those mutated infected would be nothing compared to these. You can’t give it to them.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFHygtv9PR
“Stop calling him ‘it’.” Erin clenches her fist.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAhYWN2Vz1
One of the scientists appears in the doorway, shakily holding a pistol, pointing it at Flash. Erin takes her own gun out, holding it at the man with the gun.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKTK4XPnfS
“They’re right.” Flash calmly states behind her. “I’m a weapon.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M1skxZjCj
“Close the door.” Erin demands. “Don’t come after us, or I’ll shoot.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZER3yblngD
They immediately put their hands up and duck back into the door before closing it. Erin backs up, watching the door with her gun still out. “Come on, Flash.” She keeps backing up until they’re out of the line of sight.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP457GDTHh
Erin pushes the motorcycle, which is now out of fuel. Neither has spoken since leaving the colony, but Flash finally speaks up.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1erT7loCHv
“What are you going to do?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jZl0eX0rR
“What can I do?” Erin sighs. “Take you to Biotech where they’ll turn you into a weapon or don’t take you and let me sister die.” She pauses a moment. “Tell me what you know about all of this.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD6hkkkxDs
“That other company-”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXBuJ2ai67
“Biotech.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIS6sWzzXL
“Maybe.” He shrugs. “They work with the scientists who made me. They make those injection things out of me and the other clones, but they always just send samples from us. But now that they’re sending me, they’re going to do something worse.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDBKZlt55P
“I don’t understand any of this. Why would someone want people to be infected?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZERMkE04pS
“To control them.” He answers simply. “They--they infected all of you.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG0yJ2rwcl
“Who did? Biotech, right?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkfWnUyQiQ
“And my scientists.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiiFFwrrh2
“No, no. It was just Biotech.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0GrtG3Zcs
“No.” Flash shakes his head. “They infected the water supply, so you would all be sick and infected. So then they could get those syringes out that you take all the time.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqjmcS4WEl
“How do you know all of this?”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJAdCqvaYl
“I hear a lot. No one thinks I listen.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR3OxMHAzL
“This…this is huge if it’s true. They’re up there pretending to be the good guys, to be the ones handing out the injections keeping us alive, but they’re as much a part of this as Biotech is. Those bastards!” She shakes her head, taking a deep breath. “I need to make a choice, and I’m running out of time.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavfB4zHpe1
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSkaUrWGk6
