Ash brought down her rifle, staring the Diamond City guard straight in the eyes. Long enough for things to become uncomfortable and he shifted his gaze, prompting her to motion towards him with her hand.

"Are you just screwing with me or are you actually a dick?" she asked him with a tone that said she couldn't believe her ears. Behind her, Raul exchanged a look with the other man she had brought along. Matt, as was his name, was a younger, blonde man, eager to see some action and had been particularly loyal to Mr. House and thus allowed to be brought along to the Commonwealth. Ash's first idea would have been to bring Blake here but she figured he'd be better off guarding the camp... besides, his manners could be worked on first. After what she had just heard though, she almost wish she had brought him after all.

"No, ma'am, you can't bring in the ghoul. They're not allowed," the Diamond City guard insisted. "Please don't wave the gun around either, you're not helping."

"Oh, I'm not helping? You're not helping. If you think I'll go into your city, you got another thing coming. You're in other words refusing Mr. House and in turn New Vegas access to your city," Ash persisted, giving the man an indignant look; eyeing him from the top to the bottom and back up again, eyes narrowed. Her patience in regards to how ghouls, or any mutant, were treated had reached its limit a long time ago and few things brought her ire forth quicker than bigots.

The man looked uncertain, meaning he had at least heard of either name. Ash wasn't sure whether to be surprised about that or not but it had been a week since their arrival and rumours were already spreading. Some even called it an invasion. There had even been one or two attacks on their camp, meaning that the securitrons had acted and that certainly didn't help their case... when people were being blown up nearby. Though talking to this man, Ash wondered if they didn't deserve it. An evil thought she quickly dismissed.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, the major wouldn't allow it. The ghoul stays out here," he shook his head again. Raul, already seeing Ash's shoulders tense, put his hand on the right one.

"Boss, I'll just stay out he –"

"No, you do not, Raul. I won't cave for this kind of bullshit, I tired of it back home and I'm already tired of it here! We're leaving." With that Ash turned on the heel, stomping out of the old market. The guard looked at the other two before they turned and left as well, having to jog a little to catch up with Ash.

"Boss, really..." Raul groaned; this had become one of her less than fond developments over the years, her impatience in regards to people. At the same time, he couldn't blame her and he didn't appreciate being treated like that either but that's just how things were. Ash was looking to change a world that simply wouldn't change, no matter how much she pushed for it.

"I'm sure we can do without those people anyway, you think they'd help us find a ghoul? Several of them? We've been here a week and so far no one is willing to even much talk to us, let alone help us," Ash retorted, furiously swinging her arm towards the gate behind them.

"Might be because we have a ghoul with us," Matt suggested; it earned him a glare followed by a sigh from the woman.

"I hate to admit it but you might have a point... a ridiculous point though. Why should that even matter." She didn't ask it, didn't need to, she knew why it mattered. It was always the same. "But it's not only that. People here seem so damn terrified of things. What did someone say, the Institute or something? Even mentioning the word kidnapped and people recoil like lakelurks during the dry season."

Dejected, she kicked a rock on the ground, watching it bounce away on the old pavement before a motion from Matt, along with his question made her look up.

"What's that?"

Ash squinted at what seemed to be... a ship of some kind. A flying ship but it didn't match any other flying vehicles she had seen before. Until she spotted a smaller one edge around it, a vertibird. A loud, booming voice erupted from the large ship as if to answer, accompanied by the scratching sound of a microphone.

People of the Commonwealth. Do not interfere. Our intentions are peaceful. We are the Brotherhood of Steel.

Raul made a face while Ash let out a low squeak in poorly hidden terror, nearly dropping the weapon in her hands; instead clutching it to her chest.

"Oh," Matt swallowed hard; any employee to House knew very well that the Brotherhood of Steel were bad news though no one knew the full details of what had happened to the Mojave chapter of them, only that House had been responsible.

Ash knew however and it was a tightly held back secret that already were sending chills down her back in the form of cold sweat. Ever since she had been forced to deal with them in the Mojave, an unreasonable fear had taken hold of her whenever they were around. A fear that had only matched Deathclaws before and while she had managed to learn to deal with those beasts... the Brotherhood were still something she worked on – failing on rather.

"This is very bad news," she muttered. "What are they even doing here?!

"I suppose we can't ask them for help then," Raul shrugged, ignoring both Ash and Matt's lifted eyebrows as they stared back at him. "Relax, just a joke."

"We need to go back to camp right now," Ash waved it off, crouching down to hang the rifle onto her backpack. While she had her old anti-material rifle with her to the Commonwealth; with its size and weight, it didn't do well for fast travelling and the scoped rifle she carried with her now was her second favourite anyway. It hadn't seen much action so far, but the Commonwealth was more populated than the Mojave even when outside the city grounds. It wasn't a desert after all, so it was cleared out more often on the basis of wild life. Raiders, that was another whole matter but they had lucked out on them as well.

Or perhaps the rumour had already spread about them being god knew what, spies or an invasion force. Or perhaps even aiding this dreaded Institute that she heard pop up occasionally and that seemed to scare the locals senseless.

The courier looked up again, as the shadow from the ship above covered the entire city block. A giant monster blocking out the sun itself and she briefly wondered if this is how the sky had looked during the war. A lot more explosions perhaps.

"What is that thing anyway?" she asked, turning her attention to Raul as she stood up again, swinging the bag over her shoulders again. He was pre-war after all, a valued friend but she had to admit his knowledge about the times before the war were valuable at times.

"Looks like an airship," the ghoul replied, still looking up towards it as it slowly made its path across the sky. He looked grim, which was unusual for him. To Ash, he was an unmoveable rock who didn't much show concern about anything because he was 'too old for it'. "Think it's the smaller ones we should worry about though," he added at her confused look towards him.

"The vertibirds? They're no match for the securitrons, right?" Matt asked, taking the rear as Ash started to walk again.

"Don't know. They haven't been tested against anything flying but Mr. House claims they're anti-air too when needed," Ash replied, giving the fliers another look, before focusing on the road ahead of them. "Just pray to whatever that they aren't here for us. Because getting that whole thing at our camp might be too much."

"Hell, can that thing even land?" Matt gave the airship a perplexed look before both he and Ash glanced over at Raul.

"I'm a poorly made Spanish book, not an airship book, kids," the ghoul frowned. The humans continued forward, while he took the rear and glancing over his shoulder a few times. It wasn't purely because of the Brotherhood now though, the ship was moving forward with a goal in mind that wasn't them at the moment. They were watched by something and as much as he claimed his eyesight was shit, he was sure he was picking up motions behind them. Resting his hand over one of his holstered pistols, he scowled at not being able to spot anything distinct though.

As they crossed the main bridge taking them away from Diamond city and back to the north-west, a hooded figure stood up from its perch on the roof of a building behind them. Resting a black, sleek sniper rifle against their shoulder, they watched the group on the bridge. A grey, wolf looking hound pressed against their beige suit pants, tongue sticking out in glee at being petted by its master.


The ghoul stuck his fingers into the water of the bath tub; an old, rusty thing but at least the water was decently warm. Lukewarm, more like it but it'd be his first bath in a very long time, over half a year. It was a good thing he already was a ghoul, no one would ask twice if he smelled or not, they all assumed ghouls already did that. Most did, he didn't... as much. Just as with his drier skin, he assumed it was a quality that the Cloud in the Sierra Madre had blessed him with. To be less disgusting than the rest of his kind. Talk about a blessing hidden inside a curse.

He abruptly pulled his hand back up, almost angrily throwing water onto the wall nearby before starting to undress. The room was actually a legit bathroom, he had noticed that the moment he had stepped inside, locking the door behind him. Not a shack, not even a half crumbling pre-war bathroom. This reminded him more of a vault bathroom, like the one he had seen in New Vegas, the one being run as a tourist attraction. The whole place he had been put in reminded him a great deal of the same thing for that matter. After the long trip across, what he assumed had been the whole god damn country (nothing else could take that long to cross) his foremost focus hadn't been whether it was a basic building or a vault they had all been ushered into... and yes, there had been a great deal of them in the group. All ghouls, except their kidnappers. People that Dean had no kind eye to at all and he made his protest known vocally and physically every time he could. Something that had taken a lot of his energy... and given him a few bruises but at least he could comfort himself with the fact that he hadn't been the only upset one.

No, this bath was sorely needed and he had already waited half a day for it; with the queue before entering the room. Everyone wanted a chance at the bath tub of course and there were only a few bathrooms it seemed. A detail he'd rather not think about, sharing the bath tub with so many people in one day. Sinking into the water with a sigh, he waited a few minutes before he started to scrub at his skin; to try and get rid of some of the travel dust at least. That and long dead skin cells, humans had no idea how lucky they were and it had taken Dean himself a long time to get used to seeing flakes of his own skin fall off every time he took a bath. And yet, his arms never altered in size, whatever skin and cells fell off, they always grew back. Constant regeneration, a supposedly perk but it had kept him alive for so long too. Thank god it didn't hurt at least, not more than a bothersome itch for awhile.

With a moment to himself, he could finally gather his thoughts; practice his so excellent focus. The day he had been kidnapped, a dreadful, exhausting day. All the fighting from the ghouls who had no wish to be thrown into the mix of pre-war items, who didn't want to leave New Vegas. Not all had survived the first days of scuffling and trying to escape and while he had been angry himself and protesting, Dean had never gone so far as to actually grab a weapon or make a run for it. With their kidnappers having been quite a few and armed to boot, he knew it'd be foolish to even try it. At least he was a patient man; nothing to lose with biding his time and slowly work on another method. But it had proven more difficult than he had thought and as weeks passed, he knew it'd be too difficult for him to reach New Vegas again alone. This orderly show he had been dragged into would have to be his new tour for now, wherever that'd take him.

He still didn't know exactly where they were now, only that it had to be far, far away from New Vegas and even the West Coast. Dean rubbed the bridge of his nose, his own thoughts were going around in circles; focusing wasn't that easy actually. So much had been lost, again, he was getting tired of losing things he liked and being uprooted over and over. Sure, the Madre he had grown tired of after 200 years but New Vegas had just started! An adoring crowd, music to sing to, not too annoying people and then there was Ash. He rarely thought of her now, not because he didn't want to but because doing so was... oddly painful. It bothered him just how much his chest tightened at the idea of her in New Vegas. How he didn't know what she was up to, was she even still alive? Did she think he was dead? Because he knew that'd break her little naive heart. But that also meant there was no chance of them ever seeing each other again, unless he could get back to New Vegas somehow.

Dean swallowed deeply, so deeply he was afraid the queue outside the door would hear it, trying to bury that daunting thought.

"One thing at the time, Dean," he muttered to himself while calmly gesturing with his palms outwards, going back to an even older habit, talking to himself. "Figure this place out, the people, the one in charge... not the first time you've faced a difficult score and audience."

Yes, that was exactly what he'd do. Taking a deep breath, he finished up the bath; scrubbing his broken skin hard because who knew when he'd actually get a chance for a bath again. Stepping out of the tub, he realised that his clothes were a sorry excuse of their former selves, wondering if they'd even be allowed new clothing here. New place, new rules and Dean corrected the collar of his jacket with a new confidence. He'd win over this place as easily as he had the Madre.

Stepping out from the bathroom, he passed the ghouls that had accompanied him; along with the rare smoothskin. Neither said anything; all looking harrowed and tired. He couldn't blame them but they were not of his concern and he wasn't going to allow them any pity. That mistake he had done in the Madre too in the start and it always ended the same way, fights, betrayal and death. People were hopeless when it came to cooperating and the good souls were as rare as gem stones on a mountain top. He didn't expect to find any of them here.

Of course he was stopped by guards the moment he tried to leave the corridor the queues were in, instead motioned towards a larger hall; told to wait until the others were done because their 'new leader' wanted a word with everyone before they would be given their assigned quarters.

That wait was near torture; moments of anxiety spiking at his thoughts. Waiting he did well under normal circumstances... when he knew the place, the scenario and the rules. So far they had all eluded him. As time went, people flocked into the room; there had to be 40 of them or so; not counting the blasted guards along the walls themselves. Folding his arms, Dean kept a stern gaze towards the staircase in the room, the only elevated area in the room and where more guards had gathered. He doubted an announcement would happen anywhere else and he wasn't wrong either.

A tall, elegant woman strode down the upper stairs; her velvet dress sliding down the steps behind her, a dress that matched her long, fiery red hair. Stopping shortly where she could be seen by everyone, she gently grasped her hands in front of herself, smiling down at the angry, if at least refreshed people.

"Welcome. I know the trip has been difficult for you, so I won't be taking up much of your time. I can also venture a guess that a lot of you are angry and confused about what has happened." Her tone was enchanting, a perfect level to get people's attention... Dean recognised her type right away. A silver-tongued performer. Perhaps because that was very much himself too... but at least he had never resorted to kidnapping people. Close but not quite there yet.

"Rest assured we mean you no harm and eventually those of you who wish to leave... will be free to do so," the woman continued sweetly. There was a murmur in the crowd before one spoke up, asking to be set free at once. That one crier was enough to set the rest on the loose, questions thrown across the room, each one more desperate than the next to be heard.

"Please, please," the woman called out over the noise, raising her hands and waiting until the room fell silent again. "Your questions will be answered in due time. But I must remind you, it's very important that you don't leave just yet. Our guards will be forced to take extreme measures if you try to do so. I know how that must sound but in time, you'll understand and you will see why we're doing this."

She tilted her head, a stressed frown on her face at the previous noise and she quickly departed back up the stairs and to the second floor. Her absence restarted the noise from most of the people; some even screaming to be heard. Dean remained silent, standing around in slight disbelief at the utter absurdity of the situation.

It wasn't until a gun shot rang off that he visibly winched, automatically reaching for his own holster that he no longer had. One of the guards had apparently had enough and left off a shot right in the roof. It worked too... for now at least.

"Keep calm and quiet. We're now going to assign you to your rooms so you can all settle down and we can all get some rest after the long trip. Please, you'll be doing us all a bloody favour, okay?" he called out, not so much out of anger, but rather a demanding need to get some rest. They all needed it.

Dean sighed; answers wouldn't be arriving any time soon by the looks of it as the man started to read up each name along with a room number. Wherever they were... it had been built to room a lot of people, for sure, if they could all be offered their own quarters.

How utterly kind.


OOC: I've moved houses since starting this and it's first now I've felt any peace to sit down and write. Beyond that, as I won't repeat my last writing with a bunch of excuses each and every time, keep in mind I AM slow with this. I'm a slow updater. It can be weeks/months between updates, especially since I'm also trying to write an original book at the same time.

Thank you for the kind words! Also, anyone who can guess whom the dog owner is gets a cookie. Well, a virtual imaginary cookie but still.