Chapter 449 - Generational Issues...

"D-Dad?!" Caroline asks with wide eyes, the spear in her hands dropping as she utters the word.

"Caroline!" Karl almost chokes out as he steps forwards and envelopes the girl in a hug. "It's me. I'm here baby, I'm here." he utters sweetly as he tightly hugs her, his daughter reciprocating with equal if not greater force and emotion.​​

The two just stand their embracing for while, ignoring the rest of the world as they reassure themselves with the other's presence. The other people in the room don't dare interrupt this intimate moment, especially since one of them just shot his way into the room... With one exception...

Caroline jolts slightly as she feels someone tugging on her arm, looking down she realises it's her son, Carlos.

"Ma, stop hugging this man and make him leave... Da' will get angry again!" he urges, looking at Karl suspiciously.

Karl upon hearing the boy's words all almost instantly breaks into a rage. The very existence of the boy led credence to his greatest fears, and yet even now the boy speaks of the bastard who'd touched his daughter with fear. "I'm your grandad, kid. My rank is above your dads." he states semi-playfully, before looking around the room. The women here looked like a mixture between slaves and citizens, which meant that a few of them would want to leave with his daughter... Considering she'd probably made friends here, he could just leave them to their fates...

"Grandad?" the child asks while looking towards his mother.

She just nods at him, "It's true... I even named you after him." she smiles sweetly as the boy gives her a hard look. She turns to Karl, her face turning serious, "You came to rescue me right?"

Karl nods, "Yeah, you and anyone else who doesn't want to be a slave anymore." he promises while glancing around the room. A few of the ladies eyes light up at his words, but more look disinterested.

"How are we going to escape? With the noise you made, reinforcements will be here any minute..." she asks incredulously.

Karl just shakes his head, "Just follow me, I'll explain everything after we get outta here-"

*BOOM!*

An explosion occurs nearby, Karl pokes his head out of the bullet-riddled wall and spots a small group of Legionaries entering after blowing up part of the wall. They looked different compared to the other Legionaries they'd fought until now, all wearing a variety of cloth masks, wolf headrests, and other symbolic equipment. With their strange get-ups, Karl was easily able to identify them however, "Assassins." he spits, as he glances behind him, "Quick, we need to go!" he urges.

The assassins were currently running up the hill towards the main entrance of the Fort, this would take them right next to where the group was currently holed up. Once noticed, they'd all probably be killed for being complicit with an invader.

Despite all that though, a good portion of the women refused to leave... Karl can only shake his head at them and offer a 'goodluck'. He unclips a grenade from his belt and pulls the pin, tossing it at the Assassins as he steps out. "Quick, head through the main gates, I'll be behind you." he states as the assassins scatter to avoid the grenade.

Caroline takes Carlos by the hand and sprints towards the top of the hill where the main gate of the Fort lies, all the while followed by a small group of slaves who wish to be free of this place... Some even leave their children behind due to spite, fear, and a whole slew of other reasons. As much as Karl would like to interrogate them, there wasn't enough time.

The Assassins scattered to avoid the grenade, getting into cover to wait for the detonation. Once it occurs though they rise out of cover to deal with whoever had thrown it.

*Bang!*

An Assassin drops dead as he pops his head out of cover, Karl having been waiting for them to reveal themselves. After he kills the one, he sprints for the top of the hill as well, hoping the single death would make them apprehensive and give him time to retreat.

Unfortunately, the Legion Assassins were far better trained than the regular Legionaries he'd encountered thus far.

*Bangbangbangbang!*

Before Karl's able to get through the gate he's struck in the back by a couple bullets. Most don't penetrate his Deathclaw Duster, but a few higher calibre bullets make it through the thinner parts of the coat, specifically the joints.

A bullet strikes him under his left armpit, while the rest blacken his back with bruises. He stumbles slightly but keeps running, making it through and meeting back up with his worried-looking daughter.

Karl could barely hold up his LMG due to his injury, but he ignores that for now and looks over in the direction where they would teleport out... Unfortunately, Afton and Veronica's fight with the Legion army had drifted over in that direction now, so they'd be forced to either sneak, or fight their way past to reach it... Not only that, they'd need Afton or Dogmeat to actually teleport them, both of which were currently occupied with other things.

"We need to get to a secret bunker that should be around here, do you know where it is?" he quickly asks, managing to keep down his pained groans.

Caroline frowns and shakes her head, "I don't know any bunkers around here, are you sure it exists, dad?"

"I know where it is!" a voice exclaims, when both look down they spot Carlos grinning up at them.

"You do?" Caroline asks, unsure.

He nods, "Da' said to stay away, but I looked anyway! It was really creepy!"

Karl shakes his head and gesture at the boy, "Well then, let's go. We got no time to waste." he states, following Carlos as he leads the group towards the North West side of the camp.