The first time Haylen met Ghost was at Cambridge- in the midst of screaming ghouls and gunfire.
Where the feral ghouls had come from in such a thick horde, she didn't know.
One minute, the street was empty, and the next, it was like Armageddon had opened its gates on them in the form of rotting fingernails and black teeth. In the form of sharp fingers clinging and digging into her arms, desperately trying to cut through the sleeves of her uniform. In the form of decayed, nauseating breath that sank rocks into her chest and lungs, and made her sputter out gags in an attempt to breathe.
They lost Knight Keane within seconds.
And if Danse hadn't been so quick with his gun, they would've lost Rhys too.
Haylen's heart was in her throat as she hoisted Rhys off the ground and dragged him back towards the police station- never minding his quick criticism for jumping into the line of fire to do so. For putting herself in danger for him. She had witnessed far too many people, too many soldiers, brothers and sister, die before she could get to them; she wasn't going to stand aside and add another name to the list.
Danse provided cover fire, and ordered for them to get inside.
The flimsy station doors wouldn't provide much under the strength of a feral horde, but it was better than being out here in the heart of it. At least inside they stood a better chance- maybe.
Rhys objected to running away from a fight, objected to leaving Danse behind, but Haylen dragged his ass inside with the promise that she would go back for the Paladin. Neither of them were any good to him right now- and he had things covered in the meantime. His power armor would protect him better than either of them could anyways.
Her priorities were bullet-pointed in her head.
One, get Rhys to safety.
Two, deal with everything as it came after.
Ghoul injuries had a nasty habit of bleeding fast, which ironically worked well to get any sort of infection flushed out before it could set in- and knowing feral ghouls, that was definitely a good thing. There was no telling what kind of diseases lingered underneath rotting fingernails.
But Haylen was running low on spare blood bags.
Rhys would bleed out before she even got the chance to go back for Danse if she didn't get his injuries closed now.
The ferals had already claimed one person on their team, she wouldn't let them claim another.
But her hands were quick, her eyes quicker to isolate which injuries needed attention first; she went through Stimpak and stitches without a word about what she was doing. Good bedside manners dictated conversation, dictated calm and attentive words. Haylen remembered the strain of her throat after two days worth of words with Knight Worwick while he laid bleeding next to her; half the time she didn't know what she was saying, but it seemed to bring the wounded man some comfort.
And after Worwick passed on, mercy by her own hand, she remembered giving herself a day or so to recover in silence- using her sore throat as an excuse not to speak with anyone. She was pretty certain that Danse knew it was more so out of betrayal, out of grief than anything else, but he kept his silence just the same- angry, and hurt just the same.
But Rhys hated good bedside manners, so at least she didn't have to go through that again.
In the midst of shaking hands as she hastily patched up Rhys' injuries, Haylen heard the growls and yowling outside die down under the sound of Danse's laser rifle. And when the silence did eventually settle outside, Haylen let herself take a few shaky breaths to calm herself- hoping to God that Danse would come back inside. Hoping to God that the silence wasn't because the ghouls had killed him and had suddenly lost interest now that they didn't have a visual on either her or Rhys.
But Danse did come back inside, which was the best new she could've been given.
... Haylen just didn't expect him to bring company back with him.
She had just been outside in that ghoul shitstorm, and there had been no one else around. So... where exactly did the extra soldier come from?
The woman who walked in with Danse certainly looked less than fitting- especially given the situation. She wore little more than a harness attire that Haylen had observed most of the Raiders, and Gunners in the area wear. The woman didn't fit the profile of one of those outcasts though; she seemed too calm to be one- too compassionate considering that she had helped them out quite greatly. Most Raider scums would've taken the opportunity to rush in and steal what they could through force- or would've waited until the ghouls had ripped them apart to scavenge what was left. They wouldn't have stuck around to help- even if a hefty reward was at stake.
Her skin was an uneven bronze, marred by patches of red sunburn, and peeling skin- and kissed by freckles around her shoulders and on her chest.
The woman's physique was hardened, no doubt by some form of strenuous training; the revealing harness showed off her firm stomach and tight abs. Her exposed stomach revealed the still present lightning bolt pattern of stretch marks though- and they seemed pretty recent too. So either she bounced back quite quickly, or... the unfortunate had happened. (Haylen told herself the details of it didn't matter right now).
Her shoulders were broad, and it was hard to ignore the smooth roundness of her biceps, even un-flexed and relaxed as they were. The slight press of bulging veins running down her arms made another note of her physical strength- and minor dehydration it would seem.
Long, black hair had been braided, and then rolled up into a bun that was pinned to the back of her head. It was a smart choice given how feral ghouls loved to grab at anything they could- loose clothing, and hair included. The pulled back style freed the woman's face though, and brought attention to her heavy jaw and broad nose, which had a visible curve to it from a previous break it would seem.
She was a good height too- maybe almost the same height as Danse outside of his power armor. A good foot over Haylen herself if they were standing face to face.
There was a hefty shotgun slung across her back, but her weapon of choice at the moment seemed to be the blood-stained machete in one hand.
"How's Rhys doing?" Danse questioned- urgency in his voice.
"He'll be fine," Haylen assured, as she snapped her focus back to Rhys, a little surprised at how focused she had been on the newcomer. Her stubborn partner was steadily losing consciousness, but the man was putting up one hell of a fight against it though- which didn't usually work out in his favor. She would've liked to have cracked a joke at his expense, but... maybe later, when he was awake enough to appreciate it. "Is the situation under control?"
"The perimeter is cleared," Danse replied, before he nodded towards the new arrival. "Thanks to her."
The woman swept the back of her hand across her brow, and gave a brief nod in return as she tried to catch her breath. "You had it under control," she spoke, slipping her machete back into the hook of her pants. "I was just there to help clean up the mess."
Modesty.
That was rare to find in the Commonwealth, or really anywhere these days.
"What's your name, soldier?" Haylen asked.
The woman looked to her for a moment, before she offered a tired looking smile. "You can call me Ghost."
Surprisingly enough, Ghost stuck around to help with a few things around the station- helping them to get back on their feet after the loss of Knight Keane. She went out with Danse to secure the part Haylen needed for the antenna, and managed to grab a few medical supplies for Rhys while she was out. It wasn't that Haylen was running out of supplies, or that Rhys was in medical danger, but... supplies had been getting low, and she didn't like how nervous the lightness of her pack made her.
It was nice to have someone around who seemed to know the area, and knew where to get decent enough supplies.
"Here," Haylen spoke, as she pulled out the bag of caps she had separated from her main stash earlier while the woman and Danse were out. She had spent the downtime doing an overview of the station, and figuring out what they could do with the place; it had potential- certainly better than some of the other places they had set up at. There were some back rooms with cots already set up, which was where she had Rhys lying down at the moment, resting. And while most of the surrounding area was broken up concrete and asphalt, there was a small hill of dirt just out back... which was where she had buried what was left of Knight Keane.
His holotags felt heavy in her pocket, and she knew she'd eventually have to hand them over to Danse, but... for now, she kept them with her. Using the weight of them to anchor herself on her feet, to keep her moving.
Haylen tossed the bag towards Ghost, who seemed to catch it out of reflex, but the jangling of the caps inside caused the woman to frown.
"It's fine, I don't need your money-"
Modesty was nice, but it was also a two sided gun here.
Ghost had just dropped off even more blood packs for her, which Haylen knew weren't easy to find in the Commonwealth- and Haylen was pretty good at scavenging around for the good shit herself. Blood packs were a commodity, and the caps in that bag weren't even enough to cover half of what Ghost had brought back. It made her feel like she was cheating the woman, which she was, but until they could regroup with the Brotherhood fleet, she had to keep her caps under a strict budget.
"Take it," Haylen insisted, as she made her way to the makeshift coffee stand she had set up. A little scavenging around the station had unearthed the coffee pot, a working hot plate, God bless, and a few coffee cups ripe for the using. After spending so many days on the road, living off of cold cups, it was a godsend to smell the warm aroma of coffee brewing hot for once; she didn't even care if the coffee beans themselves had been contaminated or not. "The Brotherhood is grateful for your services- and we don't let good samaritans walk off empty-handed. Besides, if you're gonna stick around and keep helping out, I'd like for you to stay alive for as long as possible."
Her last remark was enough to garner a quiet chuckle from the woman.
As well as the successful jangle of Ghost slipping the bag of caps into her own pack for safe keeping.
"Gratitude is a nice downpayment," the woman replied. "And I guess I can't turn down the allowance for more shotgun shells."
"When the Prydwen arrives, Paladin Danse will put in a good word of your services to Elder Maxson," Haylen spoke, as she poured herself and Ghost a fresh cup of coffee. Setting the coffee pot back on the hot plate, she walked it over to the woman and handed one of the cups over. "The Elder will make sure that you're paid graciously for your assistance."
Ghost accepted the warm cup and nodded a thanks as she quickly took the first sip. "This isn't some kind of... indoctrinate thing, is it? Because I'm already involved with another group of people here, and I'm not looking to leave them anytime soon."
Haylen figured that Danse would push for her introduction into the Brotherhood ranks- a woman like Ghost would be a good addition. She was smart, capable, and good on her feet, but somehow Haylen didn't see Ghost as being so easily influenced; even if it was by the prospect of the all-powerful Brotherhood. "Don't worry, we can't force you to be a part of something you don't want to be," she assured. "You might be made an offer, but the decision is ultimately up to you."
"Think I should take it if an offer is made?"
Haylen felt her stomach curl slightly at the question, and tried not to let her own waning faith in the faction poison her words. "The Brotherhood could always use good people like you."
"But what are your thoughts on it?" Ghost pressed.
She took a sip of her coffee to try and elongate her time to answer here- trying to burn up as much time as she could, even if it was just by a few seconds. Eyes briefly glanced around at the empty station lobby, but she knew that they were safe from being eavesdropped on. Rhys was resting in the back, and knocked out like a Brahmin on Med-X; Haylen had forgotten how badly he took to the pain killer, and realized now she probably should've administered a half dosage instead.
Danse was taking his usual cat nap in the back as well since he never fully slept most days. The Paladin would take ten minutes here, or twenty minutes there from time to time, just to make sure he was on alert for a majority of the day. And no amount of switching, or taking over shifts could convince him to sleep for a solid night at least. Haylen feared his PTSD was getting worse, but unless he willingly accepted help for it, there was little else she could do but monitor him as much as she could.
"Your silence on this is pretty damning."
"The Brotherhood is a good place to be, but our responses and duties are different per region," Haylen explained, or at least tried to. "Our recon came from the Wasteland, from D.C., where we battled the Enclave and secured peace and clean water for the region. Our brothers on the West coast haven't been so lucky- they've basically disappeared off the map for us. There's no telling what happened to them, but a run in with the NCR might've had something to do with it. And as far as we can tell, there are no heavy resistance factions here- no Enclave, no NCR, nothing, so for once, we'll be operating on our own accord."
She had decided to omit the part of the strange signal that had drawn them here in the first place- of the Brotherhood's interest in the Institute. The people of the Commonwealth refused to talk openly about the Institute, so information was a little hard to come by. But from what few horror stories she had gathered, it seemed like the Institute was a force to be reckoned with.
Ghost was nice to have around, but until she was officially in the ranks of the Brotherhood, should she choose to be, any information in regards to the Institute were to be kept quiet. Elder Maxson's orders.
Ghost's eyebrows arched slightly at the response, but the woman didn't immediately reply. Instead she sipped at her coffee a few more times, as though trying to buy herself some time as well. "Sounds kind of fishy if you ask me," she noted, quietly, as though realizing what she might say next could be offensive towards Haylen. "I'm former military. I know the good and bad that comes from having absolute control over a region. Sometimes things work out, but... in the wrong hands, a lot of things could go wrong. For everyone involved."
Haylen often wondered if that was what had happened to the Brotherhood in the NCR region. Did they try to break a dictatorship over the region and get themselves wiped out despite trying to be the greater good? Or was it the other way around? Were they suffocating the New Vegas region, and the NCR was the knight in shining armor there to protect the civilians?
Without any clean piece of information available, it would be impossible to know.
And Haylen didn't care to linger on it for much longer.
"You were military?" she asked instead, not at all surprised by the admittance. It certainly explained a lot about Ghost after all- namely her physique and her method of doing things. "What faction did you serve in?"
Ghost seemed to hesitate under the question, and fumbled slightly with her cup. "I... it's not important- they're not around anymore for anyone to really remember."
"It's another beautiful day in the Commonwealth- for those of you out there who can still appreciate the beauty in it."
Haylen skimmed through her reports in the station lobby as the radio played in the background. She liked to have some background noise while she worked, and while she wasn't a big fan of the radio host, he seemed to be the only one on air in the area. So she really didn't have much of a choice but to listen to him, or suffer through the silence; at the very least, he didn't talk much between songs.
The host's try-hard attitude made her miss the rustic honesty of Three-Dog back in the Wastes.
"Did everyone see that giant airship a few days ago? Hear that great, impending message? I'm not entirely sure I know who the Brotherhood are, but one thing is certain folks: they sure do know how to make an entrance."
She couldn't help but to roll her eyes at the exaggerated message, but she also had to admit that the arrival of the Prydwen could've been handled... better. Maybe with something less flashy, and more discreet. Sure, they wanted the people to know that they were in the area, and that they were ready to help, but using the sound system to broadcast as they rolled across the Commonwealth? Haylen was pretty certain it would make it harder for people to take them seriously now.
She still couldn't believe that Elder Maxson had passed off of on that concept.
"Hey, maybe our friendly, neighborhood Ghost could go check them out for us- you know, as a favor."
Haylen perked up at the name, and stopped the work on her reports to focus on what might come from the host next. For once, she actually wanted the man to speak- and she actually wanted to listen.
"You think the Brotherhood existed two hundred years ago? If only there was a way we could get Ghost to call in and let us know. Hey, Ghost! If you're listening in, drop by the Diamond City radio shack for an interview- we got some questions."
She frowned now- finding the man's comment off-putting.
What the hell did Ghost have to do with any of that?
"Why are you listening to that crap?"
Haylen snapped away from the radio and watched as Rhys walked in from his usual run of the perimeters. With the Prydwen's recent arrival, the station was a proper host to a full Brotherhood unit now- including two other Paladins on scene. The extra fire power had allowed them to clear the area out of ghouls, and chase off the local Raiders, and Gunners. Just as well, they were able to fortify the police station, and had it running as a proper holding point for the Brotherhood now.
"Hey, it's better than listening to you half the time," Haylen teased, catching the unamused sneer he shot her- but knowing that it meant well. If there was anyone who disliked the radio host more than her, it was Rhys. "You got any idea what he's talking about with Ghost?"
"Yeah, Danse said something about her being pre-war, something about being frozen in some kind of vault experiment gone wrong," Rhys answered. "She was the only survivor out of the whole thing, and she's been running around the Commonwealth looking for her kid or something."
Pre-war?
Like 'pre-war' pre-war?
... As in, two hundred years ago, pre-war?
Haylen heard the news spread like wildfire through the ranks.
Knight Ghost.
It was an eloquent position to be given to someone out of the blue, especially to someone with no previous Brotherhood experience. But apparently Elder Maxson had been impressed with Ghost's story, and her pre-war background. A good word from Paladin Danse certainly had to have helped seal her position in the Brotherhood ranks as well; although not to say that Ghost couldn't have made it into the Brotherhood on her own had she had taken the traditional path.
Haylen admitted she might've done some snooping around, gathering up a few rumors she had heard about the woman.
A pre-war, decorated veteran with a sealed background; a seemingly deadly combination, but Ghost was proving that it wasn't sealed through illegal means.
The Brotherhoods take over of any and all military outpost had them stripping information from every terminal, providing intel from the pre-war days. Not a lot of intel, but the name 'Ghost' appeared a few times over. It seemed to be too much of coincidence, but there was a possibility that there had been a different Ghost during that time period- and that maybe this Ghost wasn't the same as the person in the terminal files.
Too many similarities though, and without a proper name for the woman, it would be difficult to make a true identification.
Didn't matter, it was all in the past now.
Two hundred year old information hardly seemed worth their time.
Haylen had to admit that she was surprised that Ghost had accepted the position. With how the woman spoke of militarized factions from time to time, she didn't seem thrilled about joining another one. But maybe she saw potential in the Brotherhood to help with her missing child- another rumor Haylen had heard through the grapevine. She wouldn't tell Ghost that she knew though; the woman hadn't said anything about it herself, so there was a possible reason for her secrecy. She would let the woman come to terms on her own accord- if she wanted to.
Haylen also had to admit that she liked the prospect of Ghost being around more often. She found the woman to be intriguing in her own right- even without her two hundred year frozen past. Although, she recognized that that did have a lot of reason as to why Ghost was the way she was.
Not to mention, with the station running a high order now, it was nice to have someone she could be relaxed and open around. It was nice to just have another woman around in all honesty. Haylen loved her Brotherhood brothers like they were blood, but sometimes their testosterone was just too much to handle some days. And since Proctor Ingram and Scribe Neriah were permanently stationed on the Prydwn for the time being, she hardly had a chance to mingle with them instead.
But Ghost helped to fill that void, even if by a small degree.
The woman would make a good asset to the Brotherhood though.
They were sure to get more things done in the Commonwealth with Ghost at their side.
Killing Raiders, Gunners, and Super Mutants was beneficial to everyone, but... that seemed to be where the Brotherhood agenda stopped. The higher-ups, mostly Elder Maxson, were too obsessed with tracking down this 'Institute' to bother with much else. Sure, his zealous need to wipe out anything that went against the laws of nature lead to the extermination of ghouls and such, but that was about it.
It was... disappointing.
But maybe this was a sign of things to come- maybe things were finally turning around.
After all, it was of no secret that Ghost had already aligned herself with the Minutemen, who were, from observation reports, actively on the ground and helping the people of the Commonwealth. They took care of some of the issues with the Super Mutants, Raiders, and such, although the Brotherhood handled a bulk of it, but they were also providing more. They were setting up settlements, safe places for people to live, never minding if someone was human or ghoul.
From the outside looking in, it appeared noble.
... Haylen couldn't say the same about the Brotherhood.
"So why do you call yourself 'Ghost'?" Haylen questioned one evening.
It was late and Ghost had arrived a few hours later than she normally did, making it near pitch-black outside by the time her business here was through. The woman didn't seem set on spending the night at the station, but it was either that or risk the feral ghouls that had moved back into the subway tunnels nearby. The newest Brotherhood unit on duty had become less than focused on the surrounding areas, mostly in regards to anything that couldn't hold a gun, so the feral horde was slowly reclaiming its numbers. Haylen figured it wouldn't be too long before someone went back through and exterminated them though. In the meantime, they only caused problems at night, and the night watch kept them at bay, so it wasn't too bad.
She certainly didn't mind the extended company though.
It wasn't surprising to have Ghost drop by the police station every few days or so to check in. She was always on the road for some reason or another, but always had time to stop in and see if they were in need of anything. And since Haylen always had a few knick-knacks worth picking up, she gladly gave the woman a list with every visit- knowing well that Ghost would come back with a successful haul.
The woman always seemed to bring a few extra things back with her as well. Either an extra piece of technology that she just happened to find, or an extra Nuka Cola, or an extra box of Sugar Bombs that might've just been lying around somewhere.
Sweet things tended to give her a fizzy stomach, but Haylen accepted them in small dosages.
A minor stomachache was worth pushing through if it meant spending time and chewing through handfuls of radiated, over-sugared cereal with Ghost.
The one downfall to the Brotherhood finally planting their feet on the ground was that there were shifts constantly moving in and around the police station. Which meant, more often than not, Haylen was the only person stuck on post for a few hours- which mean she couldn't physically leave the area. Which meant she no longer had the freedom to set out on her own to investigate some salvaged technology her scanners might've picked up on.
She never signed on for a desk job, but that's exactly how this was feeling most days.
A waste of her talents.
At the very least, her question seemed to amuse Ghost, who was sitting across the table from her.
"It's an old war name of mine- before the nukes," she answered. "I was an infiltrator for the military- sometimes a part-time sniper when they needed me to be. So more often than not, I was present on the battlefield, but completely out of sight. I was good at what I did, getting in and out without being seen or caught. So much so that people started referring to me as a 'ghost' on the battlefield. I liked the aesthetic of it, so the name stuck and I played it well."
Haylen nodded and sipped at her lukewarm coffee as she waited for the next pot to finish brewing. Coffee was a staple, there was no doubt about that. And ever since she managed to dig up an old shipment of still sealed-in-the-can coffee beans at one of the local Super Duper Marts, she had been splurging a little with how many cups a day she was drinking.
Might not have been the healthiest thing, but it kept her sane most days.
If Ghost was an infiltrator for the former government though, Haylen wondered if that was why her file had been sealed in the first place. Maybe she ran some OPs that the government didn't want the rest of the world to know- Lord knows that Elder Maxson had a few of the same cases up his sleeve.
She supposed it didn't matter though. It was all two hundred years in the past, and there was little use for the information now.
"Oh."
Her lackluster answer seemed to draw a curious look from Ghost.
"Disappointed?" she questioned.
"I guess I was just expecting something more to it," Haylen replied. "I mean, you're traveling the Commonwealth under the guises of 'Ghost'- even Elder Maxson refers to you as it. I made the assumption that there was more of a story behind it."
Ghost gave a short laugh. "It was like pulling teeth to get Elder Maxson to crown me as Knight Ghost, but I was just as unrelenting as he was. And Ghost always comes out on top." She picked up her unfinished cup of coffee and took a deep drink from it, before she set it back down again. "There is... sort of more to it, I just didn't want to bore you with the details- but it is a fun listen if you're interested."
"I'm interested."
The woman cracked a brief grin at her quick response, and Haylen came to realize that maybe she had spoken a bit too quickly.
"I was hoping you would be," Ghost spoke, a slight tease in her voice, as her fingertips rotated the coffee cup in her hands. "Alright, so like I said, I was good at what I did- I was good at getting in and out of things and places that I didn't need to be in. It only took a few months before everyone was referring to me as Ghost, even my higher-ups. So, one day, the government calls me up and says that they need me to infiltrate an overseas enemy post for information in regards to potential nuclear warheads being stored there. Didn't sound like my kind of thing, but when the government calls, you answer. So they send my sorry ass over seas where I spend the next four months hunkered down in an underground bunker the suits in office gave me. My place of establishment and the base they wanted me to spy on were only separated by a few miles at most, so I was in a high-alert area under constant guard. The nighttime became my friend since it was the only time I could move around without being spotted; I spent most of the day sleeping and planning away in my bunker. Since I was on my own, and needed to stay undetected, it was rare for me to get a supply drop in that region- I got one maybe once every month and a half. So I had to heavily ration everything that I had, when I had it. Needless to say, my diet tanked pretty hard, pretty quick."
Haylen chuckled lightly at the words- recalling a few memories of her own that revolved around a similar scenario. Her scavenging days were very much the same in terms of rationing, as was being with Recon Squad Gladius when they separated from the main Brotherhood fleet in the beginning. Sometimes they preferred to travel at night and use the day time to sleep and avoid bringing attention to themselves.
The trademark power armor had a tendency of drawing unwanted types of people to them- namely Gunners.
"During my time there, I became anemic because of my shit diet, and I was constantly battling low blood pressure," Ghost continued. "So, that, on top of a heavy lack of vitamin D, left me looking pretty sad. I dropped one too many pounds, and found myself constantly restless and exhausted all the time. When I finally got home four months later, I was so sickly and pale that it was a miracle I didn't pass out during my debriefing."
Haylen wondered if that was the reason for the woman's unusual open attire.
Ghost exposed skin more often than she probably should've, but Haylen theorized that maybe it was because of those months spent stuck in the dark- closed and sealed away from the sun. From the heat. And if such was the case, she wondered if the recovery, even up to now, two hundred years later, was worth the constant battle against sunburn.
"Eli was so upset when I got home. He practically cried when I stepped off the plane, and then immediately dragged my sorry ass to the nearest infirmary. I was in the ICU for a good week, and even after I was released, he wouldn't let me leave his sight until I was completely well again. Always made sure that I got plenty of sun, and plenty to eat though," Ghost spoke, smiling through the words that must've stirred up the memories. "Anyways, anyone who saw me during that time kept commenting that I had taken the name 'Ghost' too far."
Sadly enough, Haylen could definitely picture how the woman must've looked.
She had seen and treated a few Brotherhood soldiers who had suffered through the same sort of health issues. She could see how the tag of 'Ghost' would've been more than appropriate for the woman after such an ordeal.
"And because of that particular mission, my files and position in the military were sealed by the government," Ghost finished. "After that, I took my leave of absence, and... well, here I am."
At least there was one confirmed answer from the woman- but now another one was slightly gnawing at Haylen.
"Who was Eli?"
Ghost seemed to hesitate slightly at the repeated name, fingers stopping the coffee cup in hand in mid-rotation. "Elijah," she seemed to correct, light on the tongue. "He was my husband before shit hit the fan, and before the nukes were dropped on us." She paused for a few seconds, and then continued. "And before the Institute put a bullet in his head."
Haylen stilled at the words.
Another rumor through the grapevine was that Ghost was after the Institute in regards to her missing son, but Haylen had dismissed it. They did and didn't have proof that the Institute was even in this area. Rumors and evidence, sure, but absolutely no sightings of them.
But Ghost must've knew- she must've seen them.
Maybe that was why Elder Maxson had been so eager to bring her onboard.
"... I'm sorry to hear about that."
"I'm getting by," Ghost assured, resuming her habit of rotating her cup. "Eli wouldn't want me to mope around though- that's not who I am."
The slight whistle from the coffee pot signaled that it was finally done, giving Haylen the opportunity to give Ghost some space as she went to retrieve it. Giving herself some time to let all of this new information settle. Picking up the coffee pot, Haylen returned to the small table they were both seated at, and topped off both of their cups before she set the pot aside.
"So does the Ghost of the Commonwealth have a real name then?" Haylen asked, figuring a change in conversation would be good for the both of them.
Ghost looked up and smiled at her- that tired, melting smile that seemed too old on such a young face. "And why would I give up something so personal? Is Haylen your real name?"
There was almost a sort of teasing mock in the woman's voice- one that had Haylen slightly snorting in the back of her throat.
"I have nothing to hide," she replied. "And the only people who might cringe at my name are far, far from here."
"So you left an impression in the Wasteland I presume then?"
Haylen eyed the woman carefully, taking note of her almost eager grin now. "Classified," she spoke, hearing Ghost laugh at her snarky response. "I'm just curious, that's all- and saying Knight Ghost all time is... beginning to sound weird out loud."
Again, Ghost seemed to find amusement in it. "It's easy to hide behind a moniker," she started. "When I'm Ghost, I'm someone different. I'm a soldier at war with this unforgiving place, just as I was before. But here, I'm Ghost, burnt red and bronze by the sun, rather than starved white under the moon."
It was almost poetic- almost.
Perhaps more dramatic than anything though.
"What's there to hide then?" Haylen pressed. "What are you afraid of?"
"I don't know," the woman replied, sipping at her fresh coffee now; there was a hint of sincerity in her voice- a genuine sense of not knowing. "I suppose if, or rather when, the Institute comes looking for me next, they'll have to admit that they're searching for a ghost."
Haylen supposed she shouldn't have gone into the conversation expecting much of an answer, but she didn't foresee it being this difficult. Then again, being brand new in an old world would be terrifying- and being able to hide behind a name, a mask, could potentially provide some needed comfort. Some sense of security even. Especially since everyone in the Commonwealth seemed to know her business.
"I suppose they will be," Haylen agreed.
"Well, is Haylen your first, or you last name?" Ghost questioned- an odd one at that.
Haylen couldn't say if anyone had ever really questioned her over such a thing. "First," she answered. "I don't have a last name."
"Does that pertain to what you left behind in the Wastelands?"
"Maybe."
Ghost smiled once more, seemingly finding adequate entertainment in their back and forth banter- which was a firm staple in their partnership. She took another sip of her coffee before she pushed herself away from the table.
"I have a last name, Haylen," she announced, "and it's Snow. I have a first name as well... and it's Luka."
The confession caught Haylen by surprise, and she waited a few seconds to let it settle in. Here she had been bantering with the woman about her codename, and her real name- and as much as Haylen wanted to know, she was okay with never knowing just the same. And yet, Ghost had spilled it out for her anyways- perhaps as a reward for being so persistent, but not overbearing.
Still, it felt like she had just learned something personal, something intimate about the woman across from her. Suddenly now she knew who Ghost was- not the moniker, not the Knight, or the stories and rumors of the Commonwealth. But rather the person in front of her, the one with the consistently tired-looking smiles, and dull green eyes.
"Luka Snow," Haylen repeated, letting the name roll off of her tongue like freshly made coffee.
And Ghost smiled at her, as though this was the first time she had heard her own name coming from someone else's lips in a long, long time.
Haylen hoped that it sounded as beautiful as she thought it did.
"I have a middle name too, but you'll have to fight me tooth and nail for it."