"Now what?"

Prompto had been the first to speak after several silent minutes. The five of us were holed up in the interrogation room of the Cambridge Police Station (I knew it was the interrogation room as I was a rebellious teenager. Okay not really, all I did was steal a mailbox once) After a long discussion with the three Brotherhood members, we had separated ourselves from them to mull over their offer, and to get out of the sun for a spell.

We still hadn't decided if we could fully trust Paladin Danse. The boys had explained their situation as best as they could given the circumstances, and although they nodded as if they understood Scribe Haylen and Danse shared a look that said otherwise. They did offer assurance that they would keep our situation under wraps, so at least that was a plus.

Which lead to their offer, or rather Danse's offer and Knight Rhys's disagreeance. Danse had offered us enrolment in the Brotherhood of Steel, mentioning how he could use new recruits after the casualties his squad had endured as of late. He noted that their "abilities" could benefit them, to which Rhys had called them freaks and flat-out refused to believe we had nothing to do with the Institute.

"Okay, someone please explain to me exactly what the Institute is," I demanded.

Rhys gave a look of disbelief. "Lady, have you been living under a rock or something?"

"Can it, Rhys," Haylen snapped, overtly tightening the tourniquet she was knotting around his bicep, making him wince in response.

A chuckle came out but made me cough. "You could uhh, say that," and I shared my story about the vault, about the bombs falling, about Shaun...about Nate…

In return Haylen gave us the Coles Notes breakdown of the Institute. "They are a secretive organisation whose primary output is synthetic humanoids, or synths as they are more commonly referred to. They have extremely advanced technology at their disposal, and they exist solely to push the limits of humanity. Brain augmentation, cybernetics... " Her face told a disturbing story. "Our primary objective is to locate their base of operations, but no one has ever actually been in the Institute, and if they have they probably never left. Missing persons case? More than likely the Institute was involved."

A shiver skirted the back of my neck. It sounded like propaganda, but regardless I was bothered by her mentioning of missing persons. Could Shaun…? No, stop it Heather. I can't think like that.

Danse frowned, changing the subject back to me. "You must have a wealth of knowledge from before the Great War. Please, at the very least, seriously consider our offer. The Brotherhood could benefit immensely from your aid, and vice versa." He gestured around the room. "Feel free to rest, take all the time you need, but know we're on the clock. Don't expect to make a habitat of this place."

And so we eventually separated from the Brotherhood members to talk privately, though Rhys's prying eyes and ears made an appearance every so often as he limped down the hall and back again. On the plus side, having an established group like the Brotherhood behind our backs would help us survive. Danse had also mentioned access to vertibirds for long-range missions, possibly power armor if we ranked up...There were definite benefits, we couldn't argue that fact. But on the other hand, what kind of agenda would we be liable for? Was there any underlying motive to the Paladin wanting us to join so badly? Were they more interested turning my four friends into test subjects, and conducting strange experiments on them?

"Yo," Prompto chimed in again. "Anyone home?"

I blinked, Prompto's hand waving in front of my face as if I were out to lunch. I noticed each of them were looking at me, anticipating an answer. Dammit, why me? "I don't know, guys," I said, picking at a hangnail."I don't think it's a great idea. You guys have to get back to your planet, right?"

I got up from the three-legged chair I was balanced in, pacing the room until I came to rest against the cracked one-way mirror, the marred reflection giving everything a choppy glint. "Who's to say they'll let you leave at all?"

Noctis leaned against the wall beside me. "They might be able to help us though, the paladin said they have lots of technology."

"Mostly pre-war technology, of which does not include devices that can teleport you to other worlds." I corrected him. I comically imagined them worshipping a toaster like a deity.

"Fair enough, but they have weapons," Gladio added, "and numbers, from what it sounds like. We'd be safer with them than out in the open and with fewer bodies."

Prompto made his pistol appear and buffed at it using the lining of his jacket. "As long as we stay away from that Rhys dude, he seems shady."

At least Ignis was in agreeance with me. "While they may have an arsenal of weaponry and defensive benefits at their disposal, I sense they have several skeletons in their closet." He rubbed a temple, pensively. "Perhaps we tuck their offer in our back pocket and consider it in time of distress."

We looked around at each other searching for a response. Eventually, slow nods spread to each of us as we mulled over Ignis's proposal. I patted my jeans. "Alright then, let's give them our suggestion."

As we filed out of the interrogation room and down the short hallway that connected to the foyer, I paused at the boarded up window frame and checked outside through a small crevice, the sunlight blinding me temporarily as I squinted through. Noctis stopped too, levelling with me to check out the same crack as he scanned the front of the police station. "Any sign of him?" he asked.

I frowned. "No."

Just as suddenly as he had shown up, Dogmeat had taken off during the fight with the ghouls, I assumed. I was admittedly more upset about it than I should have been, selfish as it may be. He technically wasn't my pet, and I couldn't claim him as such if he did have an actual owner. As long as he was safe, then no harm done I supposed.

Danse's voice trailed up the hall as Noctis and I rejoined the group. Gladio had already told the three soldiers about our plans. "Understood, then the offer will remain should you decide to join our cause. We are stationed here until further order from the Elder. Find us here if you change your mind, otherwise we will revise our broadcast to provide you with new coordinates."

I thanked the paladin for his offer. "We appreciate it, really. And thank you for keeping my friends on the down-low."

Danse cleared his throat. "You are most welcome, and thanks again for your support earlier." He gave us a proud salute, fist over chest, just as I had seen Nate mimic many, many times. "Ad Victoriam, comrades."

Crossing the bridge to the former downtown portion of Boston was no easy feat. A pack of wild dogs had taken shelter under the initial rise of the bridge, which spooked us well enough to enforce watching our backs for the next while. As we hit the apex of our crossing, two people arguing on the other side made us crouch down and behind the mast of a wrecked Navy tugboat, which had almost split the bridge in two, several hairs away from dividing. Considering they had shot and killed a random man, for no apparent reason at all, I had to assume they were raiders. Well, that and they were fighting over who got to keep his hat. Poor guy.

When the coast was clear we continued on, though with greater foresight as after we cleared the bridge not only was the sun starting to set, but the sound of occasional gunshots became ambient noise, ringing both very far off in the distance and an uncomfortable few yards away. So this was status quo now? Would we have to kill or be killed by other people?

Jesus. This lifestyle was going to give me even more greys. It made me actually miss potluck Wednesdays with the Able's, the most boring couple on the face of the earth. I'd sooner force-feed myself a lifetime's supply of their green-bean casserole -

"I miss the CAR," Prompto complained, interrupting my internal protest. "So tired, of walking!"

He had me there. My thighs started chafing ages ago. Mental note: two-century old denim is not the best choice for end of the world travel. I fiddled with my Pip-Boy, scanning the map for approximation. "Well, we're apparently very close to this Diamond City place," I announced, but looked around for landmarks indicating a city, or civilisation at least. It wasn't easy in near darkness.

From what I could make out, I recognised the area as the thoroughfare that lead to Fenway Park, the famous baseball stadium in the city. Gosh, how many memories had been made there back when Nate and I were dating? Oh, how I could go for one of their ballpark hot dogs, or the nachos that never crunched no matter how fresh you got them. Games were cheap and a common date night after work for Nate and I. He always said he'd catch a ball, someday…

I realised then, looking at my map, that Diamond City was located right where the Fenway Park should be. I could even see the sheet-metal walls from where we were. "Huh. I think Diamond City is in the old baseball stadium."

Sure enough, I could faintly make out 'DIAMOND CITY' painted in bold white letters slapped over an old Nuka Cola billboard, with a big fat arrow pointing in the direction we were heading. We were close.

I also noticed four faces were gaping at me, blankly. Oh right, Aliens. "Uhh, baseball is a sport? You do know what sports are, right?"

"Yeah, yeah," Gladio scoffed, holding back a laugh. That actually surprised me to a degree. I was still reeling from the fact that they could speak perfect English. I wondered if anyone would eventually address that elephant in the proverbial room. "How do you play?"

"A pitcher throws a ball and you hit it with a bat." I explained, even making the swinging motion for their entertainment.

Ignis raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like much of a sport at all."

I pursed my lips. "Well, it's not that simple. I just gave you the basic premise of it. There's four bases you have to pass, and if you get a home run-"

"What do you mean you can't open the gate?" A stranger's voice, female, and very near. "Stop playing around, Danny!"

We stopped, deer in headlights as we listened to the stranger, who sounded to be right behind the solid metal fence on our left. We scuttered quietly next to it and listened.

She sounded royally pissed. "I'm standing out here in the open, for crying out loud!"

A voice crackled over an intercom system, most likely Danny as my detective skills determined. "I got orders to not let you in, Miss Piper. I'm sorry, I'm just doing my job." He pleaded with her for reason.

Piper, eh? Alrighty, then. She responded to him, her voice becoming animated. "Just doing your JOB? Protecting Diamond City means keeping me out, is that it?! Oooooh look, it's the scary reporter. BOO!"

Prompto gave me crazy eyes. "Chick sounds like she's lost her marbles."

"Shh," I hushed him, swatting my hand at him while trying to peek around the metal fence. I couldn't see a thing at my angle without risking getting caught. Danny's voice crunched over the speaker again. "I'm sorry, but Mayor McDonough's really steamed, Piper. Sayin' that article you wrote was all lies. The whole city's in a tizzy."

This Piper chick was full of piss and vinegar. "Arrghh!" She growled loudly, menacing through clenched teeth, "You open this gate right now, Danny Sullivan! I live here! You can't just lock me out!"

I decided she wasn't about to shoot us, so I opted to duck out from behind the fence much to the protest of Gladio, and not three paces around the side there she was, standing before what I assumed was the front gate to the city/stadium. Wearing an...interesting outfit of tattered red leather jacket and newsboy cap, the tall woman (not saying much, everyone is tall to me) didn't jump as I did, but instead she hunched down a bit, as if a grand scheme landed on her shoulders and I was the lucky randomly-selected audience member. "Hey, you. You want into Diamond City, right?"

Oh boy, here we go. "Uhh, yes? Who are you?"

"Shh," she hushed me. "Play along."

Piper leaned towards the speaker, raising her voice. "What was that? You said you're a trader from Quincy? You have enough supplies to keep the general store stocked for a whole month?! Huh."

Quick on her feet, I had to hand it to her. She continued. "You hear that, Danny? You gonna open the gate and let us in? Or are you gonna be the one talking to crazy Myrna about losing all this supply?"

"Jeez, alright," Danny responded over the speaker. Well shit, we were in luck. "No need to make it personal, Piper. Give me a minute."

A second later the giant gate jolted, shaking on its joints before it slowly started to hoist upwards. Piper leaned in. "Better head inside quick before ole' Danny catches on to the bluff."

I gave her a sheepish look. "Actually, I'm not alone. Excuse me."

Ducking my head back around metal fence, the four boys looked at me, almost dumbfoundedly. Christ, they were going to be the death of me I swear...I motioned for them to follow and they did, Piper's eyes widening a tad at my posse. "Hmph, 'spose they could pass for caravan guards," she mused, as the gate lifted high enough for us to walk through. Sure enough, we had a welcoming party.

At least, a party of one. A middle-aged man in a far-past middle-aged suit was quick to berate the tall brunette. "Piper! Who let you back inside? I thought I told Sullivan to keep that gate shut!"

My friends and I hung back as Piper strolled through the turnstiles, walking confidently as if she owned the place. The man continued his banter towards Piper, though it looked to be falling on deaf ears. "You devious, rabble-rousing slanderer! The...the level of dishonesty in that paper of yours!" He shook a white-knuckled fist at her. "I'll have that printer scrapped for parts!"

This time Piper did react, her hands waving about. "Oooh, that a statement, Mr. McDonough? 'Tyrant Mayor shuts down The Press'?"

Like five obnoxious flies on the wall, we hung back and watched them banter until Piper turned to us. "Why don't we ask the newcomers? You support the news? 'Cause the mayor's threatening to throw free speech in the dumpster!"

A second passed and we realised she was seriously jamming us between a rock and a hard place. Eyes darting back and forth, shrugging, we all answered at once:

"Sure?"

"I guess, maybe?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Don't really care to be honest."

"What newspaper are you talking about?"

Piper responded to my question. "Mine. Publick Occurrences, and we're the hard look at the truth. So, are you with us or not?"

She was looking at me for a response. Dammit! Why'd I always have to be the one driving the bus?

I weighed our options. By siding with Piper we risked ending up on the mayor's bad side, or get kicked out of the city. Then again, had it not be for her we wouldn't have gotten inside in the first place…

Exhaling, I opted to be honest. "Always believed in freedom of the press."

Mayor McDonough jutted sideways, his hands out in response. I realised it was the first time he acknowledged our presence. "Oh! I didn't mean to bring you into this argument, miss. No no no…" He gave me the ol' up and down flick of the eyes, thoroughly creeping me out. "You look like Diamond City material."

Gladio stepped in front of me, rolling his shoulders, one-hundred percent on the defence. "The hell is that supposed to mean?" He asked gruffly, looming over the mayor.

McDonough stepped back, his dodgy eyebrows upwards. "Hey easy there, friend. Everyone has potential in Diamond City! The Great Green Jewel of the Commonwealth." He composed himself, though kept his distance from Gladio.

Piper scoffed loudly. "You're full of it, McDonough. Stop trying to swindle these poor people into your agenda."

The mayor continued his sales pitch. "Safe, happy, a fine place to come spend your money, and settle down." He jammed a thumb towards Piper. "Don't let this mukraker here tell you otherwise, all right?"

Ignis cleared his throat, heads cocking in his direction. "This hasn't been the friendliest welcome."

"He's got you there, McDonough," Piper replied. Her thick eyebrows bounced with her tone. "Guess not everyone gets won over by that shark smile of yours-"

"Ahem!" The mayor coughed to interrupt the woman and turned back to me. "Was there anything in particular that you came to our city for?"

While it would be in our best interest to be honest with the mayor, my gut told a different story. I replied, but kept the details vague. "We're looking for someone. Who would I have to see about a missing person?"

"Whatever you do, don't count on our security," Piper noted, shooting McDonough a seething glare. Jesus, these two really had it out for one another didn't they?

McDonough was quick to dismiss Piper's advice. "Oh don't listen to her. While I am afraid our security team can't follow every case that comes through, I'm confident you can find help here." He straightened his tie. "One of our great citizens can surely find the time to help you."

Oh for Pete's sake. I saw it in his shrewd eyes; he knew, and he knew that I knew. I wasn't proud of my next move, but such was this new lifestyle I guess. Internally groaning, I put on my coyest face possible, lowered my chin and looked up at him through my lashes. "A mayor of a great city must know everyone," I purred, coaxing with my voice smoothly, feeling twice as gross as not showering in a couple days. It was working, though; the mayor adjusted his tie, loosening it, his double-chin lifting and lowering with his gulp. Someone, though I couldn't place who, let out a tiny "woah."

I felt several eyes on me, but continued my persuasion. "So, who can help me?"

It worked. McDonough swallowed, stuttering his words at first. "W-well err, there's this one private citizen. Nick Valentine. He's a...detective of sorts. He specializes in tracking people down, for debts and whatnot." He started turning to leave, and began with a farewell offering. "Now I must be-"

"This is ridiculous!" Piper sighed heavily as she ground her boot in the dirt. "I want the truth, McDonough. What's the real reason security always shrivels away when talk of missing persons comes up?"

The mayor inhaled sharply and raised his voice at the reporter, a vein jutting from his neck. "Enough of this, Piper! From now on, consider you and that little sister of yours on notice."

As he turned his back to us, Piper replied, though it did not merit a healthy response from the mayor. "Yeah, keep talking McDonough, that's all you're good for!"

A quick 'hmmph' and then he was out of sight, having taken the stairs to the lower grounds. Piper gave me a winning grin. "I'm impressed, the mayor doesn't typically give out info that easily."

"Uhh, you saw the look she gave him, right?" said Prompto, attempting to zip his jacket up but the clasp broke mid-zip and fell to the ground at his feet. He kicked it to the side. "If looks could kill…"

Piper started in the same direction McDonough had left in, motioning us to follow her. "Right this way, folks! I'll have to give you the grand tour, that is if you're not ready to crash right away."

"Sure thing," Noctis replied. "Feel like buying us dinner?"

"You're bold, kid!" The reporter raised her eyebrows.

While one by one our group started to follow Piper into the stadium, something felt off. I could still feel eyes on me…

Ignis. He hadn't moved initially when the group started leaving, remaining at my right side, but the second my eyes landed on him he animated, walking past me with long strides to catch up with everyone else. It took only a second, but I saw it; he was giving me the same inquisitive look as he did the first night we spent in Sanctuary as a group, across from the fire pit. What was he looking for? I would have imagined him to be the type to outright ask if he had a question for me, but this was becoming too intrusive.

I decided I would confront him about it, and soon, as I passed through the metal door and descended the steps into Diamond City.