A short meeting

An orange light bathed the world and sea, almost blinding against the decaying skyline of the Commonwealth. Hazel leaned over the railing of the old sky bridge, cigarette pursed between her lips as she gazed at the ground. She always enjoyed being up high, the distance from the real world seemed to lure her into that familiar nostalgic state. She imagined Nate standing beside her. What would he think of her right now? Would he have done the same for these people? For the brotherhood? She liked to think so. The whir of fans was coming from behind her. Fifteen minutes late. You think with how coordinated and strict the brotherhood was on literally everything they could at least be on time. She flicked her cigarette off the edge and turned, arms crossed. Ready. The bird glowed like a phoenix in the sky. As it approached the wind blew rapidly, spinning her hair around her face. She remained stiff, like a statue. She had told herself countless times before that she was done with them. Still, it never stopped her from crossing paths with Maxson's boys. The bird turned to be parallel with the bridge and landed. Two knights hopped out along with the man himself.

She narrowed her eyes "Of all the people that could have come here, it had to be you."

"It's nice to see you too, Sentinel." He brushed his hair back and approached, she could tell by his movements he was even more stiff than usual.

"It's Hazel. I'm not one of your 'soldiers' anymore." She took a breath, examining his stolid gaze. "Let's make this quick. Why did you send for me, what else could you possibly want?"

He frowned "Hazel. it's come to our attention that you have been extra erratic lately. Different."

"You've been watching me then?" She had a hunch they were keeping tabs her.

She watched him exhale, his breath was like steam escaping a pipe that's about to burst open "Some scouts have noted your presence in certain unusual locations."

"Ah. Unusual. That's what justifies stalking for you,"

"Sentinel-"

"Hazel,"

"Hazel!" His voice rose unexpectedly, she felt her eye twitch. He breathed again, this time less steady. She couldn't figure out what could have possibly made him so anxious. "Hazel, some of the other officers have discussed this, along with your -Ahem- rather sudden leave."

Discussed? What was there to discuss… Her eyes drifted away from Maxson to the soldiers behind him, both were warming their Gatling lasers.

"What… what exactly is going on here?" She put her hands to her sides, prepared.

He looked into her eyes, his piercing gaze seemed to stab her right in the heart "The brotherhood has deemed you a threat. If we allow you to continue living here in the Commonwealth-"

"Oh, my God Arthur."

He stifled, then continued his speech, it was almost rehearsed "-your presence will surely bring a disruption to our cause. With this in mind." He rose his hand to the knights, who raised their guns.

"You're going to kill me" she gaped at him "you… Used me to take out the institute. Pin this place under your damn thumb." She clenched her fists "and now you're going to throw me away! You… snake."

"It's just how it has to be. There's brotherhood, then there's everything else."

Hazel shook her head, her eyes fixated on him like a hawk "If this is how it's going to be. Then I have one more thing to say." At the blink of an eye, her pistol went from her hip to her hand, nailing both knights in the helmet, disorienting them. Lasers flew. Maxson ducked in the chaos. Giving hazel the opportunity she needed. She swung her leg around and knocked him on his back. He drew his laser pistol. yelling, the woman kicked him in the nose. The pistol fell out of his hand and slid down the bridge's incline. "You! You asshole!" Out of the corner of her eye she spotted one of the knights coming too, she aimed her pistol, she knew the weakness of all power armor, right in the eyes. Thanks to three years of VATS, he didn't get back up. His counterpart remained on the ground. He was at least unconscious.

Her attention turned back to Maxson. Who had recovered from the kick and was on his way up from the road. She only had a moment to turn before he grabbed her by both shoulders. His less than swift movements suggested he was still groggy from the boot. She flew around in a rage and slugged him in the jaw. Her breathing was rapidly and angry. The elder stumbled back into the railing. She wiped her face and walked over to him, pistol at the ready. "You know it takes more than that to take me down!"

"Easy now Hazel" he rose his hand to her. "Just take it easy."

"I should shoot you in the damn head… What else should I have expected from you?! Erratic behavior my ass… I know you. You were threatened by me, weren't you! Well, how's this for threatened." She cocked her pistol, slowly stepping back. She looked at him, she saw his eyes. Now, they were far less piercing. For the first time, she thought she saw a hint of humility in him and, maybe, regret? Her adrenaline began to wear out. Her vision blurred, she looked at her pistol.

"You know what." She huffed, squeezing her fist. "You're not worth it." She looked at her pistol, sticking it back into its holster. "Have fun walking home, asshole." The girl climbed into the bird, the key still stuck in the ignition. Maxson watched the fans whirl to life while she flicked various levers and hit buttons. He didn't bother wiping the blood out of his mouth. The laser pistol was about 10 feet from him. Slowly, he glanced from it back to hazel. She turned and saw him. Her face twisted into a look of disdain. Maxson stood, but for some reason, he couldn't bring it to himself to grab the gun. He realized it was already over. The bird lifted.

Hazel watched the horizon go dark from the last shred of light. Suddenly she burst out laughing, but not from joy. She just couldn't help it. tears dripped from her eyes like blood out of a fresh wound. She knew the life she lived now was abruptly over, canceled. As the Commonwealth passed beneath her, she thought to herself, I guess it was time for a vacation anyway.