ATOMICA: Let Freedom Ring (Part 3)

LET FREEDOM RING (Part 3)

The message was definitely getting out. Atomica's trip through Museum Station was uneventful, as the Raiders dwelling there had fled at her approach. A good thing, because Hannibal had insisted on accompanying her.

The two Supermutants outside the Museum itself were no particular trouble, as neither were armed with rockets. Hamlin was duly impressed. “By the Dawn's Early Light, girl! You shredded those brutes like tissue paper!”

Inside, Hannibal lead Atomica not to the historical exhibit as she had planned, but to the rear of the building. An exhibit based around Dante's Inferno. “Welcome to Underworld.”

Atomica gasped as she entered. A city of Ghouls, living peacefully in the remains of the old museum proper. She quickly spotted what she had learned were the usual types in any settlement. The cranky robot, the handyman, the town drunk, the slightly loopy merchant, they were all there. Just like in Megaton, Rivet City, and even Vault 101.

The inhabitants were largely unimpressed with her, superhero or not. She bought a full load of reserve energy cells and medchems to recharge the suit before tackling the haunted halls of the Lincoln Exhibit.

The memorial was surprisingly intact. She had been warned about the Ferals. The poor mindless once-human creatures were no particular threat, even when they attacked in force. The strange Glowing Ones were a bit tougher, but no more than a Supermutant. Hannibal continued to spout colourful bits of patriotica as they discovered more and more of Lincoln's actual preserved artifacts. She even managed to find his famous stovepipe hat.

The last piece, the one they came for, was in the center section. As Atomica and Hannibal entered, the lights were doused. From the darkness, the hissing of Ferals echoed about them. As Atomica brought up her PipBoy light, the hissing made words.

"Oncccccccce a maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan....” The guttural hiss startled her. Whipping about, she barely had time to see a hideous feral take a swing at her, knocking her off balance. Her attacker had a cunning spark of intelligence in its eyes. Its face was hideously deformed, with some kind of scarring and scaling evident. It wore the remains of a blue armoured suit with a stylized red cobra hood on its chest.

Atmoica rolled back with the impact as she went over, recovering from the blow into a leg-sweep up. The monster charged her, taking two blasts from her weapon without slowing down. She leapt over the stair railing into a clutch of ferals. She could handle them, but would have no time to drop them and save Hannibal. Unable to break from the creatures, she vowed the good man would be avenged, and his people lead to the liberated memorial.

Hannibal stepped in front of the poster, Lincoln's Repeater drawn. He was wearing the President's hat and greatcoat. The light over the poster of the Lincoln Memorial had somehow snapped back on, bathing the man in a halo of light. He placed his hand on the diary while the ghoul commander looked on in confusion and fear.

“Ten Score and Fifteen years ago, A great man brought forth upon a great nation a new era in the wake of the great Civil War, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. He stood against the forces of tyranny and opression, as do I, as did my ancestor Marvin F. Hinton when he held you back two hundred years ago.”

The commander hissed, recoiling.

“Yes, demon! Oppressor! I recognize your banner, I know who you are! And I will end your reign in the name of the Great Emancipator! And in the honor of my great-great-great-great grandfather! Here under Lincoln's Gaze, I call forth the spirit of his deed, and my heritage! You will die with my name on your lips! I am no longer merely Hannibal Hamlin! You may call me The Liberator! YO JOE!”

The Commander lunged. The Liberator fired the repeater, blasting him back into the darkness.

Atomica swore the light brightened around him as he stood waiting for the Commander to return. Dropping the last of her assailants, she bounded up the stairs. “Welcome to the club?”

The Liberator grinned. “I guess you're rubbing off on me, Atomica. Looks like we shall not perish from this earth after all. Lets go do some Liberating.”

Atomica smiled happily to herself as she followed the Wasteland's newest Superhero out into the Mall.