Missing in Action

*SPOILER DISCLAIMER: If you plan on playing the video game Fallout 4, some of Belle's story MIGHT spoil some surprises for you; however note, your game can play out differently than mine did depending on your in-game choices, and my imagination provided a LOT of information between the lines of the game! LOL!


Belle Starr crawled on the far side of a concealing snow bank closer to the Synth City hangar door, when suddenly a disembodied raspy voice who she immediately recognized as belonging to the leader of the Protectors, Atticus Batman, said, "You might as well stand up, as I know you are there Starr Eyes.....Belle. I am not completely sure where you are planning on going. However I do know you don't seem to have any clue about the world that you are in. So as the Paradise Protectors and I came here to rescue you and take you away from this frozen wasteland, perhaps you would care to tell me why you need to get to the east coast so bad, because at the moment the only aircraft I have any intention of letting you on is ours. However since we do not want to see any more harm done to you or any of the "innocents" in the area, maybe we can discuss it as friends. Not to mention discussing why going to the east coast alone is not such a good idea, even with those weapons you seem to have acquired."

Belle stood up, dusting the snow off her blue coveralls with one pale hand, but keeping her assault rifle in hand but pointed at the ground, signifying that she wasn't going to engage in a firefight with him, but that if he proved himself to be an enemy in the next few minutes, she could and would defend herself. Still, these... Protectors HAD released her from her cryogenic imprisonment, and she had met some people, like the Minutemen who she had joined and who had later made her their leader, who did exist just to help people, although they were few and far in between. In the Commonwealth, people helped other people, for one of three reasons: First reason, they had something to gain from helping others, usually amounting to lots of bottle caps; second reason, they had developed a personal relationship with the other person; and third reason, and the one she most often found to be true, they had a personal relationship with the other person AND they had something to gain from helping them, usually amounting to lots of bottle caps.

Belle's blue diamond eyes narrowed in suspicion, a lopsided grin on her beautiful if haggard pale freckled face, but they soon widened when she heard a second voice say, "Belle, It is not that we're trying to hold you back from going anywhere you want to, just pointing out that stealing a transport from a friendly location is not the best idea especially when you can just ask for it. Besides, from what you said in the bunker in can conclude that the world we live in is somewhat different from what you expect it to be. You've mentioned that you've been kept in a sleep pod for two hundred years, so this time it's probably what happened again. Or the reverse to be precise as you've returned back to our old world. Or a new one, whatever you find suitable to think of it. Anyway, I'll be happy to be your guide to the places you want to visit and explain any changes from what you might remember them to be. I won't have to trust my explanation of it immediately as I won't be hiding anything from you, so you'll be able to see everything with your own eyes. I also think I can convince Taffer to be our pilot if we need one. And if you don't remember me, my name's Vo Kshaa and you can call me just Vo because I don't like how my second name sounds."

"And I thought I was stealthy, but you Protectors take the cake!," Exclaimed Belle as she immediately pointed her assault rifle in the direction of the voice, but upon seeing that it's source was the lanky red clay colored man with the mow-hawk hairdo and odd eyes, lowered it just as quickly, her smile widening as she said with a quizzical expression, "Do you have a Chameleon suit? My favorite armor is Chameleon, but you on the west coast must have refined it, for mine just gave me a remarkable ability to hide in shadows which was beneficial more than once, don't you know, but was much more bulky than the clothes you're wearing! Neither here nor there, Vo is it? Okay... what both of you say makes logical sense, and my instincts which I rely on a lot are NOT screaming that I should just blow you both away and be done with it, but... where I come from, nobody do'es anything for anybody else unless they have something to gain or have a personal relationship - a CLOSE personal relationship - with the one they are helping! I don't know either of you, so I've got to assume the reason for helping me has to be the former! DO you want bottle caps? I have several million hidden away in several safe houses in the Commonwealth! Do you want sexual gratification? I've become pretty open-minded that way since awakening into this brave new world I woke up into the first time, although I now prefer the company of women more, as they tend to whine a lot less; however, even though Deacon says I'm quite 'Delicious', if I'm not you're flavor-of-the-month, I operate a brothel settlement at the old Boston airport next to the Brotherhood of Steel headquarters, and will tell Madame Cait to give you both a week of freebies if you just get me home! I'm also pretty powerful in the Commonwealth, the leader of twenty four settlements under the protection of the Minutemen and their General, with connections with all the major factions in the area, so if there is something else you want - say a half dozen Brotherhood of Steel power suits - I can get that for you if that's your druthers! Just ask, but if you won't or can't get me back, then just stand out of my way, because, I HAVE to get back!"

Belle's face suddenly turned sad, and the barrel of her gun dropped lower to the ground as she focused her intense gaze on Vo as she exclaimed forcefully, "Don't even kid that I've lost another two hundred years to some mad scientist's scheme or -or - or I don't know what I'll do! You see the first time I was tricked by a crazy company of scientists named Vault-Tech, during which I woke up briefly to see my husband murdered and my infant son, Shawn, kidnapped from his dead hands, only for me to fall asleep again. When I awoke again, and stayed awake, I spent every waking moment trying to find Shawn, doing things I never thought I would, making alliances with less than savory people, taking multiple lovers at the same time, compromising my ethics which before all this I thought pretty high and sacrosanct, and even murdering people - for one and only one goal, to find Shawn! And when I did - "

Belle began to choke on her words, but refused to let a single tear spill from her hard blue diamond eyes as she continued, including Atticus in her steely gaze, "Let's just say it didn't end well for either of us! Atticus, you ask why I need to get back so quickly? It's true I have a bunch of human settlements that always seem to depend on my help, although Preston Garvey, my second-in-command in the Minutemen is more than capable of taking care of them if he would just gain confidence in himself! The truest reason I need to get back is Piper Wright and her sister Nat - the shining lights of my life since I woke up and I guess - are as close as I have to family now that Art and Shawn are gone! You see, when I found Piper, she was this idealistic kid trying to run a newspaper in Diamond City, one of the last big habitations in the Commonwealth, and I thought her crazy for trying to bring truth to anyone and for still believing in freedom of speech, but... her zeal for life and drive to do good was infectious, and we soon fell in love with each other! Kind of a May-September type of romance, which you know in your head is probably wrong but in your heart couldn't be righter, but I doubt you would understand that Atticus! Anyhow, I left her at my Red Rocket home, heavily defended by my automated defenses, my robotic butler Cogsworth, my super mutant friend Strong, and my attack dog...." Her pale brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed as realization hit, and she renewed her focus on Vo as she related, "Strangely enough, my dog is also named Vo, and he was the first friend I made when I woke up in the Commonwealth, although his dog tag said 'Dogmeat', but I hated that name, although I don't know why I chose 'Vo'! Anyway, Piper is a dreamer, always when I'm away tending the small tomato patch in back of our home, watching for me to return back from my travels, and I always worry that a group of raiders or hostile super mutants are going to catch her alone there, although Vo always follows her, protecting her - still, I worry - so I need to get back there, ASAP!"

Belle sighed as she turned to Atticus, her face taking on a look of resignation, twirling the assault rifle and handing it to him butt first, "So... get me - scratch that - PLEASE get me home, and I'll give you whatever I have, or get for you what I don't... just please get me back to Piper!"

After Atticus and Vo had their say and Atticus led the way out of the hangar and to the Vigilant, Belle walked by Vo's side, a pout on her rose petal lips, before she narrowed her blue diamond eyes as she advised him sincerely, "Listen, never be ashamed of your name or your heritage, as the only thing that counts is what you do with both of them! More importantly..." She stopped in mid-sentence, hoping that what she would next say would not come off as either arrogant or narcissistic, as she said with all sincerity, "Don't fall in love with me, I will only break your heart in the end! I have a bad track record of guys falling in love with me for one reason or another almost as soon as they meet me, and me telling them the harsh truth: I'm not a one-man or one-woman lover! Piper was probably closest to making me just that, but even she saw me coming out of the torch singer's bedroom the morning after, and she didn't say a thing, so she knows the score! However, for some reason, friends keep falling in love with me, and I either make them a part-time lover or if I feel they wear their heart on their sleeve, I just say, 'Let's be friends!' - like with Preston Garvey, and YOU remind me a lot of HIM! Preston has the same look in his eyes when he looks at me as you do, so don't bother denying it! Whether I take them as one of my lovers or don't, I end up hurting them! My one male lover Macready is always complaining that I'm not around enough and Preston just follows me around like a love sick puppy, and I end up hurting them even though I don't want to! Cait and Curie, my other two female lovers, don't complain as much as Macready, but I see the hurt looks in their eyes when I leave their beds before light breaks in the morning, but I am who I am! Only Piper takes me as I am without complaint or accusation, and I guess that's why I love her so!"

Belle suddenly laughed, melodiously like Vo remembered, before saying, "That, and she knows where each and every one of my erogenous zones are!"

With that said, Alfred, Belle's EGO psyche, although Belle in her present state knew not that she had either an EGO or an EGO psyche, reported dryly to Vo's EGO psych, Shirra, "See, the poor deluded girl doesn't even know I'm here and I wish to keep it that way, for who knows what new revelation might tip her frail mind into true insanity."

  Belle began to choke on her words, but refused to let a single tear spill from her hard blue diamond eyes as she continued, including Atticus in her steely gaze, "Let's just say it didn't end well for either of us! Atticus, you ask why I need to get back so quickly? It's true I have a bunch of human settlements that always seem to depend on my help, although Preston Garvey, my second-in-command in the Minutemen is more than capable of taking care of them if he would just gain confidence in himself! The truest reason I need to get back is Piper Wright and her sister Nat - the shining lights of my life since I woke up and I guess - are as close as I have to family now that Art and Shawn are gone! You see, when I found Piper, she was this idealistic kid trying to run a newspaper in Diamond City, one of the last big habitations in the Commonwealth, and I thought her crazy for trying to bring truth to anyone and for still believing in freedom of speech, but... her zeal for life and drive to do good was infectious, and we soon fell in love with each other! Kind of a May-September type of romance, which you know in your head is probably wrong but in your heart couldn't be righter, but I doubt you would understand that Atticus! Anyhow, I left her at my Red Rocket home, heavily defended by my automated defenses, my robotic butler Cogsworth, my super mutant friend Strong, and my attack dog...." Her pale brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed as realization hit, and she renewed her focus on Vo as she related, "Strangely enough, my dog is also named Vo, and he was the first friend I made when I woke up in the Commonwealth, although his dog tag said 'Dogmeat', but I hated that name, although I don't know why I chose 'Vo'! Anyway, Piper is a dreamer, always when I'm away tending the small tomato patch in back of our home, watching for me to return back from my travels, and I always worry that a group of raiders or hostile super mutants are going to catch her alone there, although Vo always follows her, protecting her - still, I worry - so I need to get back there, ASAP!"

  Belle sighed as she turned to me, her face taking on a look of resignation, twirling the assault rifle and handing it to me butt first, "So... get me - scratch that - PLEASE get me home, and I'll give you whatever I have, or get for you what I don't... just please get me back to Piper!"

  As I took the gun I said, "Hmmm a dog you say? Yes I suppose our Vo is quite loyal and protective as well but he is no dog. I would consider him more as that friend or sibling that always gives you plenty of space but has a knack for always showing up and being there for you when he is needed, even when you don't know yet that you need him. He also seems to have a way of making most people feel at ease."

  Then I pulled the mag out of the AR that Belle handed me and looked at the bullets. I showed them to Vo as I put the mag back in the gun and said to Belle, "Radioactive rounds. Some pretty nasty shtako....sorry some pretty nasty shit. These things can be very nasty even if you have never used them before. Even more nasty if you know what you are doing with them. May I see that magnum as well?"

  I slung the AR over my shoulder for the time being as Belle reluctantly handed the magnum to me. Then I examined it, including looking in the chamber. As I handed it back to her I said, "Fire nano. Dangerous on it's own, but together a very nasty combination if used correctly. Too bad for whatever Synth soldier you got them off of, that his trigger finger wasn't fast enough to compete with my sword techniques. You can hold onto the pistol for now but the Synth Security forces may want all their gear back. I am willing to authorize you to visit the armory and requisition your own gear.....However as you are not currently part of the Vigilant crew or the Paradise Protectors you will be required to stow it away while on the Vigilant and back at our main Base of Operations for that matter, or Security will have to confiscate it for the safety of the crew. You will also be required to report to Medical as soon as you board the Vigilant so they can make sure you are alright, given the condition that we found you in. Not to mention, a "Wellness checkup" is actually standard protocol that we all deal with after any Away mission. Now, I am willing to show you the way as I need to go check on two severely injured team members anyway. Besides, while I am in Medical, I will be getting my checkup out of the way as well, and I am guessing Vo will be doing the same if he accompanies us there.

  Anyways Belle, I don't know most of those locations and factions you mentioned, even though I have been all over the world. However I do have plenty of experience with Raiders, mutants and super-mutants, as well as various different alien races, among other things. I also don't know why people would pay with bottle caps when scrip notes exist and are the universal currency. Besides I don't need the notes or caps, as you call it, as I have plenty. I also don't need a power suit when I have a Mech suit waiting for me back at the compound gates and I most definitely don't need a prostitute. I am happily married and would like to keep it that way. You actually already met my wife briefly. As I recall you called her an albino kid. However just so you know her Race is known as Castithan. They are what you would call an alien race, as are Vo and I, 'though we are not Castithan. You will see several aboard the Vigilant as we are a pretty diverse group."

  After Vo and I had our say, I led the way out of the hangar and toward the Vigilant, as Lena stood up and waved her chalk white arm enthusiastically yelling, "Hi there folks! If you don't mind, we're going to steal - I mean borrow - this jet over here and go get my brain cure on the Island of Dr. Euthanasia! See ya!"

  I responded to Lena with, "Dak! again?! Fine, I'll clear it with Synth Security. Just remember to stay alive, so one of us can kill the other much later in life, like we agreed!"

  Next we continued to the compound gate, where I climbed back into the cockpit of my Mech and started it up again. Then as we continued on to the awaiting Vigilant with me piloting my Mech and Vo and Belle on foot, Belle walked by Vo's side, a pout on her rose petal lips, before she narrowed her blue diamond eyes as she started talking to him.

  Then, even though I was trying to respect their privacy, I heard as Belle suddenly laughed, melodiously like Vo remembered, before continuing her talk with Vo. So as we neared the Vigilant, I finally responded to the EGO message that Taffer had sent me just minutes ago. "Taffer as I am sure you heard from your listening spot, she has agreed to come back with us for now but she is very determined to get back to Boston. However she seems to be very mentally lost to us and herself....And given what she said about lovers and relationships, I think Vo may need somebody to lean on as well.

  Anyway when we get back to the Vigilant, I will accompany her to Medical so she can get the required basic checkup while I check on Sandy's and Volodja's status, and am guessing Vo will want to join us as well. I believe most if not all the Synth are returning to the city with BJ when she departs the Vigilant and it appears Lena and Lestrange are taking a Synth jet so they can get her to her specialist while we are busy....but I wouldn't be surprised if they contact us and insist we help them some more with that at some point."

  After I ended my EGO conversation with Taffer, I contacted BJ and informed her that Lena and Lestrange needed to borrow one of the City's jets because Lena needed to get to a medical specialist right away. Then as I finished my "EGO" conversation with BJ, I walked my Mech up the ramp into the Vigilant. As I got out of it, I saw some of the Vigilant crew bringing Lu's Mech or what was left of it onboard. I said, "Dak I hope Sandy isn't in as bad of shape as that thing!"

  Then I ordered a Vigilant crew mate to finish loading my Mech. Once that was done, I accompanied Belle and (presumably) Vo to the Infirmary so I could see how Volodja and Sandy are doing, while Belle gets the required Wellness checkup. Not only was it protocol for all of us, but she has been frozen for quite awhile and who knows what other harm Faru may have done to Belle's body while she was a Starr-cicle.

Lady Christianna did what she usually did when the action was over and all that was left to do was to handle the aftermath: She stood out of the way and watched. She watched BJ leave the Vigilant followed by a horde of synth refugees anxious to return to their homes in Synth City. With a warm smile, BJ said good bye and hugged each and every member of the Protectors task force there on the ground, including Lady, with Lady answering with her own enigmatic smile and a heartfelt, "Will miss you. Luck!"

BJ moved on to Atika, hugging her as she apologized, "Sorry about giving y'all a fake autograph, but in my defense, at the time I thought it was real!",  BJ laughed nervously, "But now y'all got the real thing, so all's good! Darn tooting though, I'm going to miss your tea almost as much as I'll miss y'all!"

BJ went to Atika's twin, Atilla, hugging him but adding with a giggle, "Now I've just made all the other young ladies jealous!  Just don't break any of their hearts, y'hear, you handsome varmint! I'd tell you to take care of your pretty sister, but y'all both do a great job of taking care of each other already!"

After BJ made her farewells, Lady saw BJ talking intently with a high ranking Synth City security officer, who was nodding in agreement with everything BJ was saying, but as BJ hurried to help an old First Generation synth who had tripped and fallen on his way back into the complex, Lady did not like look of the the sudden red flash in his eyes and the suspicious grin on his face as BJ left. Lady did not have time to think about it, as Belle Starr, Vo Kshaa, and Lady's husband, Atticus Batman returned from the hangar, and she fairly leaped into his arms, kissing him voraciously.

As Lady showed her spouse her affection for him, she heard Belle say to Vo with a chuckle, "No suh, if you all are aliens, you sure have human libidos! Truth to tell, I heard rumors on the radio that there were aliens spotted near Beantown, but described more as the little green type, and I figured it was just a bunch of drunk brownies spinning tall tales as I never saw any trace of one!" Lady heard further until her voice faded as Belle embarked The Vigilant, "Okay, I'll let your doctors poke and prod me, and go with you onto your base since you have wounded, but then let's plan on making our way to the Hub!"

Atticus was soon ramrodding the loading of the Protector's equipment upon The Vigilant, as Lady watched a white jet taxi out of the Synth City hangar, then take off into the cold grey sky just as it began snowing. Lady's EGO recognized Marcel Lestrange's and Lena Marr's EGOs aboard the aircraft, so was not terribly surprised at their sudden departure knowing her sometime's friend's pressing need, and Lady knew she would come running if later Lena asked for her or the Protectors help.

As the last Protector Mech was stored on board, Lady stuck out her tongue, catching a frigid snowflake on it and as her smile grew wider on her pretty chalk white face, she showed her young age by falling backwards into a snow bank, waving her arms and legs back and forth before exclaiming with pink eyes filled with childish wonder, "Real snow angel NOW!"