บท 215: 195. The Combe's

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As the night wound down and the celebration drew to a close, the Minutemen began to make their way back to the cave entrance. They had taken a moment to rest and rejuvenate after a long day. The Commonwealth was still a dangerous place, and there were more battles to be fought, more people to protect.

The next morning, Sico and Nora woke early, ready to continue their duties. After ensuring everything was still secure at the cave entrance and checking in with their teams, they decided to visit Vault 81's marketplace to see if they could buy some supplies.

The marketplace was a bustling area within the vault, filled with various vendors selling everything from food and clothing to weapons and tools. Among them was the home depot, a place known for its wide variety of goods and essential items.

As Sico and Nora approached the front of the home depot, they heard raised voices coming from inside. They paused, exchanging concerned glances.

"You always leave me to do everything alone! I'm tired of it, Holt!" a woman's voice rang out, filled with frustration and anger.

"I'm just so tired all the time, Alexis," a man's voice responded defensively. "I need breaks too, you know. It's not easy for me either."

Before Sico and Nora could react, the door to the home depot swung open, and a man stormed out. He was visibly upset, his face flushed with frustration. The woman, presumably Alexis, stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips and a look of exasperation on her face.

Sico and Nora stepped aside as the man, Holt, brushed past them, muttering under his breath. He didn't even notice their presence, lost in his own world of grievances.

Alexis noticed them standing there and sighed heavily. "Sorry you had to hear that. Can I help you with something?"

Nora gave Alexis a sympathetic look. "We were hoping to buy some supplies. Is this a bad time?"

Alexis shook her head, forcing a tired smile. "No, it's fine. Come on in. Sorry about the mess."

Sico and Nora followed Alexis inside the home depot. The store was well-stocked, with shelves lined with various items neatly organized. Despite the recent argument, it was clear that Alexis took pride in maintaining the place.

As they browsed the shelves, Alexis explained, "Holt and I run this place together, but lately, it's been more me than him. He's always finding excuses to leave, and it's been tough keeping up with everything on my own and for our daughter Erin too."

Sico nodded sympathetically. "Running a business is hard enough without having to do it alone. Hopefully, things will get better for you both."

Alexis sighed again. "I hope so. Anyway, let me know if you need any help finding something specific."

Sico and Nora continued to browse, picking out various supplies they needed: ammunition, some medical supplies, and a few tools. As they gathered their items, Nora struck up a conversation with Alexis, asking about life in the vault and how they managed to keep things running smoothly despite the challenges.

"It's a constant struggle," Alexis admitted. "But we manage. The vault community is strong, and we all try to support each other. I just wish Holt would step up more. It's not fair to either of us like this."

Sico, overhearing their conversation, added, "Maybe he just needs a wake-up call. Sometimes people don't realize how much they're slacking until it's pointed out."

Alexis replied, her voice tinged with doubt, "Maybe, but I don't know. It's been going on for a while now, and I'm starting to lose hope that things will change."

Nora offered a supportive smile. "Or maybe we can help you find out what he's been up to. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to get to the bottom of things."

Alexis looked at them, surprise and gratitude flickering across her face. "You'd do that? Help me figure out what's going on with Holt?"

Sico nodded. "Of course. We're here to help, and it sounds like you could use some support."

Alexis seemed to weigh their offer, then sighed. "Alright. I don't want to seem like I'm prying, but I need to understand why he's been so distant."

Nora nodded in agreement. "We can start by asking around, seeing if anyone else has noticed anything unusual about Holt's behavior. Maybe there's something going on that he's not telling you."

"Thank you," Alexis said, her voice soft with appreciation. "It means a lot to me."

Sico and Nora finished their shopping, paying for their items and making sure they had everything they needed. They then decided to split up to gather information more efficiently.

Nora headed to the common area, where many vault residents gathered to relax and socialize. She approached a group of people who seemed to be on friendly terms with Holt. "Hi there. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about Holt?"

The group exchanged curious glances before one of them, a middle-aged woman named Cathy, spoke up. "Sure, what do you want to know?"

Nora smiled warmly. "I've noticed he's been acting a bit off lately. Have you noticed anything unusual about him recently?"

Cathy nodded thoughtfully. "Now that you mention it, Holt has been disappearing more often, sometimes for hours at a time. When we ask him where he's been, he just says he needed some air or had to clear his head."

Another man, Jacob, chimed in. "Yeah, and he's been pretty secretive too. I saw him sneaking around the lower levels a few nights ago. When I asked him about it, he got defensive."

Nora thanked them for their insights and made a mental note to check the lower levels. Meanwhile, Sico made his way to the vault's maintenance area, where Holt was known to help out occasionally. He approached a couple of maintenance workers who were taking a break.

"Hey, I'm Sico," he introduced himself. "I'm looking into some things for Alexis. Have you guys noticed anything unusual about Holt recently?"

One of the workers, a man named Rick, scratched his head. "Holt? Yeah, he's been acting strange. He's been spending a lot of time in the maintenance tunnels. Says he's working on some project, but he's never clear about what it is."

Sico raised an eyebrow. "The maintenance tunnels, huh? Thanks for the tip."

With their newfound information, Sico and Nora regrouped at the entrance to the lower levels. "It sounds like Holt has been spending a lot of time down here," Sico said.

Nora nodded. "Let's check it out. Maybe we can find some clues about what he's been up to."

As Sico and Nora ventured deeper into the dimly lit lower levels, the air grew cooler and the sound of their footsteps echoed softly off the metal walls. They moved cautiously, their senses on high alert for any sign of Holt.

Rounding a corner, they spotted a faint light emanating from one of the maintenance rooms. Quietly, they approached the source of the light, taking care not to make any noise that might give away their presence. As they neared the doorway, they heard the low murmur of voices inside.

Peeking around the corner, they saw Holt standing with a woman. Holt was talking animatedly, and the woman listened intently, occasionally nodding. Sico and Nora exchanged a glance, then focused on the conversation.

"Tina, you know I can't keep giving you Jet," Holt said, sounding exasperated. "It's getting harder to get my hands on, and I can't risk anyone finding out."

Tina De Luca responded, her voice taking on a seductive tone. "Come on, Holt. Just a little more. You know I need it. You don't want to see me in withdrawal, do you?"

Holt looked torn, his face a mixture of frustration and sympathy. "Tina, you know I care about you, but this is dangerous. If Alexis finds out I've been giving you chems, it'll be the end for both of us."

Tina stepped closer to Holt, her hand brushing his arm. "Please, Holt. You're the only one I can count on. Just one more time, and I'll make it worth your while."

Sico and Nora exchanged a shocked glance. It was clear that Holt was involved in something much more complicated and dangerous than they had anticipated. Nora whispered, "We need to talk to him, now."

Sico nodded in agreement. Stepping into the doorway, he called out, "Holt, Tina. We need to talk."

Both Holt and Tina jumped at the sudden interruption, their faces a mixture of surprise and guilt. "Sico? Nora?" Holt stammered. "What are you doing down here?"

Nora stepped forward, her expression gentle but firm. "We've been talking to people, Holt. Alexis is really worried about you. She feels like you're always leaving her and your daughter alone and let her to handle everything on her own. We want to help, but we need to know what's going on."

Tina backed away, looking defensive. "This isn't what it looks like," she said quickly.

Sico raised an eyebrow. "It looks like you're asking Holt for Jet. And it sounds like this isn't the first time."

Holt sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Okay, okay. I'll explain everything. Tina's brother, Bobby, is a chem addict. He's been struggling for a long time, and Tina has been desperate to help him. I've been giving her Jet to keep him from going into withdrawal."

Tina nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Bobby's been trying to get clean, but it's so hard. I thought if I could just help him manage the withdrawals, he'd have a better chance."

Sico and Nora exchanged a look of understanding but concern. Nora stepped closer, her tone gentle but firm. "We understand you want to help Bobby, but this isn't the way to do it. Giving him more Jet only feeds his addiction. He needs real help, professional help."

Holt nodded reluctantly. "I know. I've been fooling myself, thinking I could manage this on my own. But what can we do? There aren't many resources available out here."

Sico considered this for a moment. "There are some treatment programs in the Vault clinic, but they're hard to find and even harder to trust. Still, we could look into it. Maybe we can go tonsee Dr. Forsythe at the clinic that could take Bobby in and give him the support he needs."

Nora added, "And Alexis deserves to know the truth, Holt. She's been feeling abandoned, like you're leaving her and your daughter to handle everything alone. This secrecy is hurting more than just you."

Holt's shoulders slumped as he nodded. "You're right. I need to come clean with her."

Sico placed a reassuring hand on Holt's shoulder. "We'll be there to support you. Let's go talk to her now."

They made their way back to the main area of the vault, where Alexis was still busy with the home depot. She looked up, surprise and concern etched on her face when she saw Holt, Tina, Sico, and Nora approaching together.

"Holt? What's going on?" she asked, her eyes flicking between the group.

Holt took a deep breath, stepping forward. "Alexis, I need to tell you something. I've been helping Tina get Jet for her brother Bobby, who's a chem addict. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I realize now it was a mistake."

Alexis's eyes widened in shock. "You've been giving out Jet? Holt, that's so dangerous!"

"I know," Holt admitted, his voice filled with regret. "I was trying to help, but I've just made things worse. I'm sorry, Alexis. I should have told you the truth."

Alexis sighed, her expression softening slightly. "I understand you wanted to help, but we need to be open with each other. We're a team, Holt. We can't keep secrets, especially about something this serious."

Nora stepped in, offering a solution. "We were thinking we could look into some treatment options for Bobby. It's not going to be easy, but there are places out there that can help him."

Tina looked hopeful. "You think there's a chance for him?"

Sico nodded. "There's always a chance. We just need to find the right help."

Alexis nodded in agreement. "We'll get through this together. Holt, we need you to be here, with us, fully. No more secrets."

Holt nodded, looking relieved and determined. "No more secrets. I promise."

As they stood together, the beginnings of a plan forming to help Bobby and to heal the rifts in their relationships, Sico and Nora felt a sense of satisfaction. They had come to Vault 81 to buy supplies but had ended up helping to mend a family and bring hope to a troubled situation.

It was a reminder of why they did what they did—why the Minutemen existed. To help those in need, to bring hope and support to those struggling in the harsh world of the Commonwealth. And in doing so, they strengthened the bonds of community and trust that would help everyone face the challenges ahead.

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• Name: Sico

• Stats :

S: 8,44

P: 7,44

E: 8,44

C: 8,44

I: 9,44

A: 7,45

L: 7

• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills

• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint

• Active Quest: -