Intermission
Ch. 01: The Funeral
It has been two months, since we the Brotherhood of Steel, with the assistance from the Lone Wanderer, defeated the Enclave at their last stronghold of Adams Air Force Base.
The Lone Wanderer, a simple whisper of the name inspires hope in some and terror in others. Every since he came out of vault 101, the Capital Wasteland has been in a storm of turmoil. His emergence caused many other trouble to surface as well. Especially in the form of Brotherhood's old enemy, the Enclave. It has been said, that in order for anything to get better, it must become a whole lot worse first.
Thankfully, what he brought was not limited to trouble. One of his biggest accomplishment is the locating of super mutant factory. His assassination of president Eden and Augustus Autumn was instrumental in the downfall of the Enclave and ending its reign of terror. Not to mention his efforts in the completion of the Project Purity. Although that has to be mostly credited to his father, James, and Rivet City scientist, Doctor Li.
Project Purity alone has helped the wasteland immensely. No longer, did anyone need to drink dirty and irradiated water, or travel to dangerous places to scavenge for bottles of pre-war alcohols. They can now nourish themselves with the Brotherhood branded 'Aqua Pura'. The Brotherhood's policy of not providing water to raiders and slavers have made some of them to change their ways and find employment with local settlements as guards, and even some has chose to become our initiate. The water caravan, which delivers the Aqua Pura to every corner of the wasteland, has increased the connectivity between the settlements. The caravan guards, that protects the said caravan, doubles as a patrol. This has increased the safety of the wasteland to an all time high.
In the end, everything has turned out well, but the journey to it was a stressful one. Elder Lyons, who commanded the Brotherhood of Steel ever since it first set its foot in the Capital Wasteland had to face the full blunt of the stress throughout the journey. Even before the emergence of the Lone Wanderer, he had to face the Outcast rebellion and super mutant infestation. These are too much to handle for any healthy man, let alone an elderly. It's no wonder it was too much for the old man.
Now the old man lies lifeless on top of a funeral pyre at the center of the Citadel. By looking at the attendants of this funeral, it is clearly evident how much the late Elder meant to the people of the wasteland. The courtyard of the Citadel, in any normal day it is filled with training initiates. However, on this day, people that can be seen here is not limited to the Brotherhood members. Rivet City guards and citizens, traders from Canterbury Commons, are just tip of the iceberg. Even the Outcasts have offered armistice just to come and see him off.
With the conclusion of the war, everyone thought that at last it was the beginning of an peaceful era for the wasteland. But everyone now realized, the death of the elder will only bring another age of turmoil.
The fact that he died without specifying his successor didn't help a single bit. Sentinel Lyons was the obvious choice. But right now, she is just a crying, shriveling mess, with her current mental health at rock bottom. Rightfully so, being the daughter of the now deceased and all that. So, until she recovers, not happening. Henry Casdin is a good leader and was a close friend of former elder, but him being the leader of Outcast makes him not eligible. This leaves only one candidate, Senior Scribe Reginald Rothchild. The only saving grace in this situation is that everyone is smart enough to realize all this.
The funeral is beginning, each person speaking a few words of goodbye to the elder and placing a flower next to him on the pyre.
All the while, Three Dog broadcasting the grave news of Elder Lyons death. His usual cheerful tone gone, now he reminds all the people in the wasteland to keep up the "good fight" with a sorrowful voice.
Finally, the last person finished placing the flower on the pyre. Scribe Rothchild stepped up to the pyre with a torch, tears in his eyes. He slowly lowered the torch and lit the pyre on fire.
"Ad Victoriam!"
Both the Brotherhood and the Outcast shouted in unison, almost instinctively.
Even with all the grieving going on, the weather is good. Too good, insultingly so. Even a non-superstitious person can tell, this is not a good omen. Not one bit.
