Authors note.

Sorry for the delay. I've been doing a FO:NV play through with honest heart's having come out, the courier King need's his back-story doing ;). Chapter thirteen will probably be next week.

Thank you for the reviews again!

'The Benevolent Scriber': Thank you yet again for the review! Casdin is the warhorse of the wastes but he's a stick in the mud too and doesn't see things until its right in front of him. His eyes are starting to open now though. Don't worry about 'spontaneous' traitors, I have my ideas in line. Hopefully you'll enjoy it when reading about them. :D

321jaz: Thank you for the review mate! Hopefully the private message sated your curiosity on the BoS and Regulator numbers. 517 members of the Brotherhood in total and approx 300 Regulators. The Brotherhood have their hands on pretty much every piece of Enclave tech that happened to remain on the East Coast, so they have… a lot of spare laser and Plasma weapons as well as other types of technology, they are arguable the most advanced organisation in post war America bar what's left of the Enclave in other parts of North America (such as the Midwest). They do hoard the weaponry unfortunately. Laser weaponry and none military tech is slowly dished out to CRsec as well as the Capitol Republic thankfully though.

Jschneids: Thanks for your critical eye jschneids! I appreciate it! In regards to the speech, I've attempted to put some of the "smooth flow" talk into some areas. Hopefully a balance will make the story better. Hopefully there are no typo's in either! It gets pretty hard to root out though when each chapters starting to go over 8000 words :-\.

More extra info at the bottom... once again!


Chapter Twelve

Fools rush in

"Good enough to toss; food for powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit as well as better men..."

- William Shakespeare. Henry IV.

Wednesday 8th July 2294: 9.40 EST. Fort Manassas. West of the Centre.

The fifteen minute journey was relatively uneventful. Except for one major point.

The increasing rapturous winds and pounding rain had nearly sent Hera into one of the other VTOL crafts. For a few brief moments Casdin believed he'd be returning to Steel in a ball of flames and in numerous pieces molten together with the remains of two Vertibird hulls. A particular symbolic ending in 'returning'. Thankfully Guardian unit's Lancer-Knight had wrestled against the elements and emerged victorious.

They'd been groundside at Fort Manassas for little less than four minutes now. The central part of the outpost had been a college before the great war and now happened to be the western most fortification of the Brotherhood and their CRsec counterparts. He and his former Outcasts had always stayed well clear of the post-war made Bastion.

This was the first time he'd willingly wished to be here. Paladin Casdin had been one of the first to abscond from the aircraft. When his Power boot's touched the trimmed grass coated ground that doubled as a Vertipad he mentally thanked the first Maxson and the old Aramaic God. Flying in such weather again would prove disastrous, divine protection or no.

After finally composing his wizened self, Casdin waited for the rest of his section to unload their assembled ordnance. They all carried three days worth of foodstuffs as well as enough ammunition combined to take down one of the NCR traitor Bear's armies, a slight exaggeration but near to fact none the less. The rest of their mission equipment and rations came from Fort Manassas and in extension the two companies of the 7th Unionist's. The joint Underworld and Libertyville CRsec contingent who would be working along the Brotherhood section in the forceful reconnaissance southward into the remnants of the Old Dominion.

"Look Hardie, union Zombie's. They give me the creeps. At least their heads are covered. Sooner they go feral the better, then we can shoot um. Rid the world of them."

One of the Knight's behind him uttered. It was either Schmitt or Kendrick.

"Less of the Zombie talk Kendrick. You heard the Knight Captain, play nice and don't shoot."

Casdin's head turned sideways to see who had spoken then, his investigation was fruitless however, all of them had their T-51b or T-60f helmets now equipped. The former Protector didn't know any of them enough to place speech to a name.

"That an order Vargas? Your daddy isn't here now so less of the high and mighty ya here? I was talking to Hardshaw not you."

This must have been Kendrick. It had been him who spoke previously.

"Knight Kendrick. No ghoul discrimination, no zombie talk, What. So. Ever. And that is an order Knight."

This statement had come from a third person. A familiar voice.

"I understand… Paladin Maxson. Sorry sir."

Of course. It'd been a Maxson voice. The Maxson's happened to be hold an air of authority in their speech, it sounded both firm and fair.

It appeared the newly promoted Paladin had a good head on his shoulders too.

Even so Knight Kendrick had a point. Sooner or later all ghouls went feral, it was just a mater of time. Maybe that was the reason the Ghoulified members of the Unionist's all wore fully shrouded facial garbs and helmets, to keep the wasteland weather conditions both warm and wet as well as the radiation away to stop the change into mindless abomination. A particularly naïve belief if that was the main reasoning.

Casdin knew enough to believe the process was gradual though. A ghoul simply didn't turn into a feral, it was a process that happened over many hours or days, sometimes even weeks much like how some humans turned into the wasteland loathed necrotic's after near lethal doses of radiation.

Yet humans being transformed into ghouls could become feral if their minds broke under the change. The former Protector knew enough to both fear and respect intelligent 'normal' Ghouls. Their every day must be like a constant battle in survival. Ghoul senses were sharper and far more honed however, all held an almost ungodly ability to regenerate what skin, muscles and tendons they had left when near sources of radiation. It could only be a good thing that these where allies and not enemies.

Still there was disgust and revulsion in his mind upon seeing the two newly un-helmed Ghouls. The rest still hid their grotesque and tissue decayed faces.

It appeared to the Paladin that around a quarter of the Unionist's arrayed in the near distance had darkened balaclavas covering all but their eyes and mouths, which meant a quarter where ghouls. The Helmets they wore appeared to be for the protection of pre-war motorcyclists. All were uniformed white however. Polished to a brightened sheen and upon first look appeared newly made. The dripping water made them all sparkle slightly, unless that was merely a trick of his old eyes. Upon the forefront of the ghost coloured headgear's happened to be an emblem.

A pair of darkened steel grey wing's outstretched yet joined at the bottom. In the centre of these wings happened to be a red five pointed star with two steel grey swords that appeared to cross yet happened to be hidden by the crimson celestial. It appeared to stab the star twice, leaving just the hilts on show. Under this and above the beginning of the joined wings was a lone number black Seven.

Casdin noted this Brigade insignia upon all the Unionist's. Most wore patched green, grey and russet sand shaded combat armour of varying quality. It happened to be emblazoned upon their chests and right shoulder pad's and armour too. The same pattern followed the few Unionist's that wore reinforced leather armour, both in their camouflage colour and military symbol.

The majority that were human also wore distinct pre-war American military helmets, which held a verdant green colour with their emblem's on the front also. The Paladin realised these also appeared new and seemed recently manufactured too.

They look half like an army indeed. One with loyalty to the unit and their nation. With newly made armour and weapons, the red star too… like the NCR.. Coupled with a bear it'd be far too similar.

The former Protector's thoughts however turned to the grey wings. The wings of the Brotherhood, there was no bear in sight… thankfully. This was for all intents and purposes a Brotherhood army. Akin to the Roman auxiliary of antiquity. He believed them to be but cannon fodder though, to soak up the damage from their foes so the Brotherhood could finish them off. No doubt he'd be a match for ten or twenty of these Unionist's, still Casdin would keep that judgement unto himself. Sometimes such pre-conceived notions had been wrong before. A particular 'wasteland local' armed with nothing but a Pip-boy, his wits and a Scoped rifle had been a testament to that. Still all of this equipment would not stop them from getting saturated to the bone, literally in some of the ghouls cases.

After his analysis of their gear, the Paladin spotted three of the Unionist starting a short journey towards his vicinity. Two of the ghouls who came were both un-helmed and unmasked. One human female also travelled with them, she too had taken her own Kevlar helmets off. No doubt to the annoyance of her now drenched short brunette hair.

Knight Captain Dusk who had been speaking to both her Knight Sergeants to Casdin's left noticed this movement also and turned her attention towards the travelling triplet.

"Knight Captain Dusk. Twilight Section. Brotherhood of Steel, I'm sure you realise that though."

The normally humourless Paladin laughed at that. 'Dawn Dusk' of 'Twilight' section. No doubt it was someone's attempt at a joke upon his new Superiors behalf. Upon first hearing it he and Rockfowl had laughed, now was no different. The conversation in front of him carried on regardless of his new and rare found amusement.

"Colonel Cameron. 7th Libertyville Brigade, 1st Battalion. CRsec. The Armour's hard to miss. It's pretty shiny Knight Captain."

It was the woman who first spoke, her voice gave no emotion away.

Casdin further sighted two silver star's under her right shoulder insignia. His former Outcast policy had been to stay clear of both Lyons Brotherhood and their Republic soldiers, their rank system was rather unknown to him. Yet now he'd need to embrace these Capitol Republic soldier's as he had his new Brotherhood. The irony was not lost upon him.

"Shiny? Ha! Your…erm… colleague's helmets are shiny too…" His Knight Captain said with what sounded like a hint of veiled revulsion.

"Styx's. Major Styx's. 7th Libertyville. 1st Battalion. 2nd Company."

One of the ghouls. His voice was gravelly and hoarse, It also held anger, no doubt he'd heard the underlying distaste coming from Dusk.

"Rob Smith. Major of the same Battalion. 1st Company though. Forgive Styx's Knight Captain, he gets a bit…antsy when woken up before midday."

This introduction had come from the other Ghoul, his voice was similar to Styx's yet held no irritation. Unlike most ghouls it appeared he had skin which was upon his cheeks, jaw and neck. Yet what was startling and unique about it was that it appeared human, abet slowly rotting at the edges where it met necrotic tissue. Either way it was rare, very rare. No it happened to be impossible, unless he was a newly turned ghoul... Casdin simply had no answer to give his own thoughts. He placed it in the back of his mind quite like many things of late.

"Forgive me Major's I'm just not used to seeing…"

"Zombie's? Knight Captain?"

Those words had come from Styx's. Anger and annoyance was infused within them.

"…I…Irradiated human's Major."

Even the former Protector was impressed with that. It seemed Styx's also. He cleared his throat, grunted then finally he spoke again.

"Uhh. Right. Well we moving now? Gear's ready."

It seemed the Knight Captain hesitated upon hearing that question. He knew not why.

"Where's General Charon?" No one answered.

"Is he here Colonel? Major's?" Still there was silence.

"Answer me, that's an order." Colonel Cameron finally answered.

"He's… gone ahead ma'am. It's not like we could order him to stay."

Now that was a turn of a events. Casdin's early thoughts about the Capitol Republic's army would need to be re-calculated, General's didn't simply wander off… he stopped himself in mid-thought. The 'Lone Wanderer' did. His silent ghoul shadow did also.

Knight Captain Dusk then broke her own momentary silence.

"Fine, looks like we'll have to meet him at Bannister then. Get your men and…gh…women ready officers."

"They are ma'am. Ready when you are." Cameron quickly replied.

"Let's move then. Twilight section form up. Libertyville 1st and 2nd Companies, marching order now."

In unison all went into rank formation including himself. It took around a minute for all to gather. They'd march in order until exiting Manassas then spread out to both cover and defend themselves adequately and appropriately.

The Knight Captain then beckoned to him.

"Paladin Casdin, update Bravo Sierra. We've moving on to Fort Bannister, right this minute." He did so immediately and without fuss. Pressing his external transmitter button to the left side of his Power Armoured helmet he began to speak.

"Tango Papa Zero Two to Bravo Sierra Primary One."

"This is Sierra Primary One. Receiving Papa Oh Two. Over."

"An updated Prime. We're currently at Fort Manassas, now moving on to Bannister, received and Out."

"Affirmative Oh Two received. Over and out."

After Sierra Bravo's affirmation the Knight Captain then began to wave her Power armoured fist in the air from left to right, she did this three times. Then Dusk began to shout orders above the still torrential downpour.

"Right ladies and gentlemen! Lets find your General! Everyone lets move!" That they did. He wondered what would be in store for him on this mission. No doubt it'd involve blood, death, dirt and rain lots of rain. At least they wouldn't run out of water anyway time soon.


"Before the first Maxson I swear this creed: my rifle and myself are defenders of my Brotherhood, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace, renewal, civilisation and victory. Steel make it true."

- Words of Brotherhood Initiates upon gaining their first weapons. Adapted from pre-war US Marine corp.

The Citadel. The Great Hall. 10.18 EST.

The room was packed! Morning daily assembly always brought the three Squire Class's together. That's what Jeremy had told Maria anyway, they all sat on the floor cross-legged whilst the teaching adults stood up in front of them. Behind them was a long slender curved array of tables apparently used by her mommy, daddy and her deceased granddaddy in important Brotherhood meetings. Maria sorrows at her lost grandfather was mellowed somewhat because of the appearance of another person. One more squire was now also added to the sixty one young members of the Brotherhood.

It was James! Her brother had come to the Citadel last night. He and her mother had watched Maria finish her half hour circuit training and then the start of a stupid test which made her run every time she heard a bleep. A 'bleep' test, it was called. More like a 'run until you collapse' test. Even so she had ran straight towards him giving him a great big hug, completely forgetting about the bleeps, her aching feet and body or Knight Sergeant Jenson's shouts for her to return immediately.

Sergeant 'loudmouth' as Maria now called him had suddenly turned silent upon seeing her mother however. For a few brief moments she believed 'Loudmouth' Jenson would have been told off. Alas it was not to be…

...

"Elder… I apologises." Her mother looked at the now saluting Knight Sergeant briefly then replied.

"At ease Jenson and don't mention it. No need to say sorry."

At this point Sarah's sight turned towards her. Maria noted the glimmer of a smirk on her mothers face but the words that came out where anything but humorous.

"…Squire Lancaster. You do realise there's punishment for abandoning your physical exercises and disobeying orders from your superiors? Knight Sergeant Jansen what do you propose?"

The bewildered Maria again turned to Jenson. It appeared to her that he simply couldn't speak.

"Punishment… Elder… I… I…don't know." Sarah her mother replied shortly after that array of stuttering finished.

"Very well Knight Sergeant. I shall do it then. Squire Lancaster come with me."

After venturing into the hallway. Her mother gave her a gentle hug. After that she spoke to James and her both.

"I'll have to be quick my darling's. You're both Squires now. That means I'm your leader as well as your mom so from now on I can't treat either of you differently than any other brothers or sisters okay? Only in private. That's why I need you to both stick together and look after each other okay?"

Maria heard those words. She was still waiting in anticipation for her mother to shout at her however. She was to be apparently punished after all. Yet the telling off never came.

"Here honey, Overseer… Amata got you this, put it on."

It was a Pip-boy. Maria noticed her brother wore one too. Had Miss nasty Overseer finally given her a present? Did she actually have a heart? Her mother continued to speak whilst James helped to put this new contraption of hers on. She also continued to think of a multitude of reasons why Amata would ever give her…anything.

"…Come now. Let's go to the top of the 'castle' then you can both spend the rest of the night with me. Tomorrow though no special treatment. When you're with anyone, you have to call me Elder and I have to call you both Squires and if you do something wrong, you'll be told off and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Do you both understand?"

...

Maria had understood. Only on a Sunday where squires allowed to spend time with their mothers and fathers if they weren't on missions and assignments. As her mother had reaffirmed though, she had James back. Her brother had also been assigned to C wing too! Some of the other squires from her class had joined A and B wing. She hadn't known any of them though so the young girl hadn't lost any newly made friends.

That was one of the first things stated by Senior Scribe Yearling. The new Class allocations at first shocked a lot of other squires. Maria didn't mind though. Lizzie, Jeremy, James and her other dinner friends where still C winger's just like her. Now their Brotherhood Senior Scribe and overall head tutor was informing them all of today's first session.

"A Squires. First class is Cartography and geopolitics, it'll be in your own Wing classroom, I shall take be taking you all for this. Squires of B Wing. Knight Sergeant Jenson will be taking you for Endurance training. Meet him in the Bailey. C Wing Squires. Star Paladin Vargas has need of you all. He is to take a class on firearms. Please wait here, you'll be taken to your session by the Star Paladin himself."

To Maria this was extremely confusing. She had only realised yesterday that there was no fixed weekly pattern to her classes. First class would always be informed to all in the morning assembly then classes after that would be different. Upon first assumption she believed her lessons to be similar to Vault 101 yet this was not the case. It was only that her first day as an official Brotherhood Squire had been on similar subjects most of which she'd already known. It wasn't even like she could programme her lessons onto her Pip-boy either, they changed every day! Maria mentally berated the uselessness of her new arm computer. It wouldn't help in her classes, that was for sure.

The only constant she happened know of was evening exercise. Jeremy had told her just before lights out that it happened Monday to Friday without fail.

Maria's body ached still after it, parts she never knew could hurt where still hurting even now. All of this was getting too much for her. It was so different. There was no comfort zone in the Brotherhood. She had no Mally to carry her around upon his shoulders or nurse her better when she was sick, even he was ill now. The dreaded redcheek had caught him.

The only comforting and thankful thought was that everyone happened to be in the same Rivet city.

Maria once again turned her wandering attention back to the Senior Scribe.

"…and finally. There'll be a competition between Wing's next week. It will begin on Monday. So I suggest you all work hard. Now squires dismissed. C wing remain seated until told otherwise."

She went to get up but someone pulled at her right arm sleeve stopping her upwards motion. It led to her crashing back down onto the cold concrete floor. Now her bottom was hurting too!

"Get down. We're to stay, weren't you listening? Senior Scribe Yearling says so. Wait until Star Paladin Vargas comes." It was Lizzie. Maria replied, holding back what annoyance she had at being pulled to the ground.

"Right. Okay." The young girl gritted her teeth. Thankfully she hadn't said anything offensive.

"Remember we have to stand up and salute for Star Paladin Vargas too. When he comes in that is."

Maria remembered that also. Always salute a superior, always stand up and salute a high ranking superior. She still felt overwhelmed. How she yearned to be back in Vault 101 but with her Mommy, Daddy, James and Malcolm. Even for a little while.

"Maria? What's wrong?" That voice had come from her left. Her head spun around to the familiar sound, one she'd heard all her life.

"James, you where sat down over the there! You can't stand up until the Star Paladin comes in! Sit down quickly!" Her remarks appeared to unconcern him, James remained upon his feet. It was comforting to know he always knew she was upset or troubled though.

Elizabeth then voiced her own apprehension seconding Maria's past comment.

"You'll be told off for sure if you stay stood up!"

"I'll be fine…" it appeared her brother spoke too soon.

"Squire Lancaster! Turn and face me. Why have you disobeyed a direct order from your Senior Scribe?"

Both she and James turned. Upon seeing who it was Maria also scrambled to her feet, as did everyone else. She gave the honorary Brotherhood salute, keeping her arm and fist in position until told otherwise.

"At ease everyone. Now Squire Lancaster do you know how to answer questions?"

"I…my sister looked upset… Paladin." Maria was feeling more and more uneasy and nervous even though it was James who was being reprimanded, not her.

"That's Star Paladin, and which sister Squire Lancaster? I see many." James reply came out with a sense of confusion.

"My sister Star Paladin." The Star Paladin's answer came quickly.

"I will say again. Which sister Squire Lancaster! We are all Brothers and Sisters here." Maria could take no more of this. She spoke, her words coming out with a sense of pleading and confession.

"Me! Me! He means me Star Paladin." Vargas vision then fell upon her. His face appeared serious and severe. Maria felt far more uncomfortable than was previous.

"Ah, another Squire Lancaster. Loyal to your brother, very good. We are a Brotherhood after all. When one bleeds we all bleed. When one hurts we all hurt. Next time Pip-Boy Lancaster you will obey your superiors, do you understand?" Her brothers affirmative came out softly, his voice almost breaking.

"Yes…Yes Star Paladin."

"I can't hear you Pip-Boy Lancaster." This time James reply was louder, almost deafening.

"Yes! Star Paladin! I understand!" At that a grin came across this Star Paladin's lips.

"We'll get along just fine Pip…Boy." Maria's heart leaped at that but her momentary sense of 'okay-ness' was short lived. James spoke again.

"It's… James sir."

"No, It's Pip-Boy Lancaster until I say otherwise. Now all of you follow me. Firearms training begins in the classroom. You are to learn why we use weapons, how we use them and when we you them before we actually do. Fall in Squires!"

After those words, Star Paladin Vargas double backed upon himself, thirty squires between the ages of six and eleven then marched along behind him.

James spoke once more, this time it was directed to her.

"What…? What did I do? Is this what it feels like to be shouted at?" Maria just nodded. It had also been her who was told off or scolded, never James. Now on his first official day he'd been chastised by the joint third highest ranking member of the Brotherhood, while she'd been partially praised.

Another male voice was heard by the female Lancaster. This one also familiar.

"He likes you James… I mean Squire Lancaster. Erm… can I call you James?" It had come from Jeremy Maxson.

"Yes… James. Unless you want to call me boy as well. Does he call you boy too?" Maria heard Jeremy's reply to her brother, her attention however stayed mostly on the uncomfortable and still useless Pip-boy on her forearm.

"No… he just calls me the heir."


"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."

- Abraham Lincoln

The Capitol Wasteland near Big Town. 11.57 EST.

Victoria was cold and wet, dreadfully so. Thankfully they'd finally boarded the aircraft and escaped the lashing rain. Her leather armour was now exceedingly damp, it felt remarkably tighter than usual as well. The pilot Artemas had just finished the final checks to his 'Angela'. His rather tasteless innuendo's towards her had ceased completely. She was thankful for that also.

Big Town had no Vertipad of its own therefore the Veritable Vertibird ace had set down outside of the communities entrance. They had all run to the VTOL to avoid the constant downpour which continued to fall from the heavens. Malcolm had been the last to arrive, his hand frequently going towards his nearly healed shoulder, a look of masked pain always shooting across his face.

Those bloody fools, he's not ready yet.

She glanced towards the older Regulator briefly. His wound still appeared to be troubling him. Her voice came out, full of concern and worry.

"Are you sure you're okay Malcolm? Maybe we should wait…"

Of course that was an impossibility now. Hopefully this mission to Annesplace would be completed without further gunshots.

"I'm fine Vicky, right as rain. A bit more than a bullet wounds needed to keep me from kicking missy."

Malcolm replied, the veiled hurt was plain to hear.

"What? Vicky? Her names Pacie. Did our valiant Regulator take a bump to the head when I wasn't looking?"

Damnation. Of course, Malcolm didn't know the reason for keeping her name between those she trusted. Artemas had heard it plainly.

"No it ain't. Her names… Victoria."

Malcolm uttered with confusion laced across his face.

"My names Victoria and Paciencia, gentlemen."

That was the truth, from a certain point of view. Will followed her line of thought. His words backing her own reasoning up. A residual of anxiety was heard.

"Aye, that right. Pacie's is just as much Vicky as Vicky's Pacie's. Right ma'am?"

"So why not just call yourself one or the other and not both?"

Artemas innocent curiosity was irking her.

"…Because I choose to be called both."

Her reply had come out with a slant of annoyance. Malcolm was still looking at her in confusion. Whilst the Lancer-Knight sat in his cockpit sounding both confused and intrigued.

"A middle name then? Victoria Paciencia Islington? Something like that my lady? Is it some kind of pre-war language? It doesn't sound English to me, Patience? Your name means Patience?"

She just shrugged then nodded deeply. 'The Patient' wasn't a middle name, it happened to be an epithet. One she had overheard in her ever bountiful walks around her cherished settlement of White Cliffs. She had decided to use it as her new persona as a Regulator.

"Cool. Well now that's over with. We're green for go. Malcolm, that armors in the back compartment, frames all set and everything. A vial of bio-gel's there too. I suppose as its already been requisitioned to you, you can use it. It'll get rid of the aching, don't use it all at once though! Will, Pacie or Vicky, if you've forgotten anything, now's the time to say so. Angela turns back for no man, except me of course."

She never forgot anything and this time was no different. Will and Malcolm uttered no words either. It appeared the silence was the answer Artemas needed. The sound of raindrops smashing against the frontal viewpoint and the Vertibird's body plating was soon joined with its own crossed duel set of spinning rotors. For a few brief moments she was reminded of home.

"…Liberté de dame. My little Princess. A monument to rebellion. I admire their defiance however, so should you. It takes strength and convention to stand up for what you believe in."

Young Victoria turned around to see someone behind her. Her father William was now towering above the young Princess who was upon the Catherine's flight deck. Quite like how the copper rusted green statue did around the remains of New York. Yet that is where the similarities ended. The damsel of Royal York as her father had sometimes called it, still held an air of magnificence. Her uncle had deemed it miraculous that such a structure still stood after nearly four hundred years. Her father however always seemed simply grim and aloft ever since grandpapa had died. That had been a just under a year ago. Those old grieving thoughts where soon washed away. Waves of curiosity replaced them.

"Is this our new home Papa? Can I see the damsel up close too? Please, please, please Papa!" Her speech was considerable unladylike yet her father's cold and severe exterior melted away at her words. A rare smile crossed his face.

"Of course on both counts. Come now, lets go and grant your wish and see your damsel."

And she did see it. Her first flight in a whirly bird, a 'Helicopter'. It had been frightening at first but she had eventually gotten used to it. They had even landed at the damsel's feet. She had wondered then if the Lady Liberty had a lord husband as tall as she…"

...

"Miss Victoria… I suppose I have something' on my face then? You're staring ya see."

She was jarred out of her sub-consciousness, her eyelids blinked and fluttered in an attempted to return to the present. Malcolm was looking at her, one of his grin's painted upon his face. Oh how he loved to grin like that. How she… enjoyed seeing it also.

"No, no. I wasn't. I was thinking of…"

"Mal? Heh heh heh."

Will interrupted her. The damnable fool. She shot her bodyguard an iced glaze, it seemed to freeze any more comments coming from his notoriously annoying mouth.

"Home." and Lord Husbands…

The twenty five year old inwardly cringed at the last part, her uncle would deem it foolish, so would she. Surely it had been entirely coincidently that she had been staring at Malcolm at that part in her memories of youth. Had her gaze been placed upon him in those moments, she knew not.

Only fools rush in and I'm no fool.

Victoria kept reminding herself that, yet it was becoming increasingly hard. She couldn't describe that emotions she held for this seasoned Regulator. It both frightened and elated her, it couldn't be normal. Her own mind had been screaming 'too fast, too soon'. Yet talking to her infatuation wasn't foolish. Vicky simply enjoyed his company, abet quite a lot. Maybe that's all it was. He was strikingly handsome of course yet she wished to her his tales and adventures, his jokes also. Malcolm was different to other men, if the embodiments of a pre-war gentlemen could again be returned to the wasteland it'd be in him. Even so her mind always wondered back to the first thing she noticed about him. He was tremendously attractive and handsome, well built and muscular. Vicky had even glanced at his body this morning, taking an unsolicited peep through the modesty curtains, she happened to see scars and injuries as well as certain parts she shouldn't of…

"Miss Victoria? You're looking mighty flushed. You feelin' well?"

Her right hand sub-consciously went to feel her apparently blushing cheeks. Of course she couldn't feel her face turning a new shade of colour yet she knew it was. Her reply came out stammered in response, only making her features turn a brighter shade of scarlet. She felt like her battle-maiden's had caught her doing something contrary to her ladylike upbringing, something delightful yet embarrassingly naughty.

"I…I…I… it's…no nothing."

Victoria now looked away in awkwardness. She'd never once been tongue tied before, it felt quite humiliating in all honesty. Malcolm warm and gentle gaze felt piercing and illuminating, as if he knew what she'd been thinking about. Of course that was utter nonsense.

"Ha! It's something alright…"

Victoria's sent sharp glare to Will's after his comment, it suddenly shied him into submissive ignorance.

"…maybe it's just the heat right ma'am? It's getting' a bit humid in here."

Will continued in answer. She would follow this particular excuse.

"Yes, that's right. I just need rest. It's rather warm and making me rather drowsy. Besides I'm still not used to such flying vehicles."

A half truth, Victoria wasn't used to Vertibird's. Flying vehicles with one set rotor's she was very much used to. Most however where gone now, only two remained at White Cliff's and they had been barely serviceable, both had remained deck-bound three years after the Catherine laid to rest. The female Regulator was also acquainted with other such pre-war constructs. Those which had two wings and rear jets that would send flames spouting out of them, none where now usable. The last time Vicky had seen them airborne was near her fourth birthday. It was one of her earliest memories in fact.

'Behold my little Princess, look! Look above! See those? It's what once was. It will be again one day… I promise you.'

Her father word's echoed in her mind now. She attempted to hold onto the memory of him yet they slipped away immediately, to be replaced by the image of Malcolm again.

This was something Vicky had never experienced, no matter her thoughts they also returned back to him. She would get no help either, to be surrounded by three males had many downsides it seemed. Maybe talking to Will in private would suffice, he always gave her rather decent advice, surely now would be no different and as long as he kept his lewd comments to himself Victoria wouldn't have to threaten his limbs or manhood.

No one spoke for a while after her last comment. Artemas simply returned to his duties, focusing entirely upon his 'Angela', it pleased her immensely as she hadn't heard his voice. Will appeared to have taken her icy stare to the extreme, her stalwart giant eyes were now closed, a gentle snoring rhythmically escaping the human behemoth.

Malcolm appeared to have dozed off also, yet no sound escaped his nostrils or mouth. His was a silent sleeper, one which she had know about already. He would sometime speak in his slumber however, muttering's of the past or names of individuals… one cropped up in particular. Victoria hadn't pressed him on the information of the female called Helena, what would it accomplish exactly, it had been a life time ago that they had been together yet even so she left rather annoyed and irate at this woman apparent intrusions from beyond the grave. It was foolish of course and she was no fool, yet why could she not stop feeling these emotions.

She shook her head intensely in an attempt to remove it all. Yet all that accomplished was the beginnings of a migraine. Pain throbbed at Victoria's temples and her vision suddenly blurred for a few moments. After lambasting herself at her own stupidity, the young female attempted to relax. It was another attempt to remove these paradoxical and contrasting emotions as well her sudden headache. The latter succeeded partially, yet the former continued to fail, serenity in thought was simply eluding her.

"Something wrong my lady?" The sudden voice surprised her.

"No… well just the heat Artemas." Hopefully talking about other things would take her mind elsewhere.

"Are we there yet?" Victoria queried.

"Nope, I'm going a steady pace, we'll be there in about twenty, is that fine with you my lady? It's near sixty or so kilometre's to Annesplace."

She had to admit, it was much easier and quicker travelling in such a way. A second question soon followed.

"Very fine. So why… did you name your Vertibird Angela?"

Her immediate belief was he happened to be some sort of machine fetishist, yet Victoria waited for the answer before judgement would ensue.

"It's a call-sign…" Vicky noticed his pause and a flicker of emotion, yet couldn't see his face because of his pilot helmet, visor and the fact he had once again turned back to Angela's controls. She continued on regardless.

"Just a call-sign? It seems to me much more than that."

"Does it? Well sorry sister but you wont be hearing the why from me. It's a call-sign, one from the old religion's. Angela… is for the angels of Christianity. Does that sate your curiosity my lady?"

For a brief few seconds Victoria regretted her previous barbed comments to the Vertibird ace. Still she persisted.

"No it doesn't. Look… I apologies if I've offended you previously but I dislike your innate, yet failing attempts to try and persuade me to reproduce with you. So will you tell me?" A haughty laugh erupt from the forefront of the VTOL.

"…Ha ha! Now you have a way with words don't you? My lady, it's simply my way. You are a pinnacle of Wasteland beauty and I loved to do some of that 'reproducing' with you yet its clear that you don't like me and the feeling is very mutual." That shocked her, he was so forward it was astonishing. She composed herself before answering back.

"Well… I suppose I deserved that. It's not that I don't like you, its that I don't like you thinking about what's under my clothes and what you'd do with them. There is a difference… and blast it, you're changing the subject! Will you tell me why Angela is called that?" A lighter chuckle then came from Artemas and he spoke once after it.

"Damn, you got me. I was changing the subject. You'll carry on until I tell you won't you?" Victoria nodded in agreement.

"My 'birds named after my daughter."

"Oh." That was a further surprise. Now she felt more guilt-ridden than previous, her harsh judgement was thrown clear from her mind.

"Where is she, in the Citadel? You're… not that old so I guess she'd be one of those squires, is that the right word for one of the youngsters of your Brotherhood?" Victoria waited, it took far longer than the answers which had gone before.

"It is the right word. Squires are the youth of the Brotherhood. Angela was a squire and no she's not at the Citadel my lady, she's with Steel now." The young Regulator noticed the past tense used then, it confused her as did the last part.

"With Steel? Sorry but I don't know that that means I'm afraid." She heard a sigh coming from Artemas. His reply was sullen and morose.

"Preserved in forever in Steel. It means she's no longer of this world and that the Lord has taken her to the Kingdom of Heaven. Ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God. Angela has her life eternally now and she's forever preserved in my heart. So… does that sate your curiosity?"

After those words, Victoria was absolutely stupefied and ashamed. She also felt awful in that she had pressed him and would have continued to do so if he carried on in refusing to her questions. Most of all she felt foolish.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know…" was all the words she could muster.

"Well now you do my lady. Please keep it to yourself though, hopefully our sleeping brutie's heard nothing. I have a rep you know? People can't be thinking I'm more than a slimy womanising hotshot pilot now can they?"

Artemas reply was devoid of any hurt, it seemed he'd simply removed it immediately so the outside couldn't see.

"I will, I promise." She meant it too.

Silence once again returned to the craft's interior. Only the snorting of Will and the light breathing of Malcolm could be heard, along with the dull moan of the rotor's outside and the almost commonplace thudding of raindrops upon the canopy and front viewpoint. It continued for a while.

At least her conversation with Artemas had interrupted her thoughts in regards to Malcolm. Yet now they returned, so Victoria simply accepted them. It was quite obviously a losing battle anyway. What must of seemed an hour or more went by before the Pilot's voice was heard again.

"Wake up people! We're arrived. Not as much falling water here either, which is good. Time's now 12.35 by Angie's clock so I'd say we get some food after landing."

The result was instantaneous.

"Food? I want food!"

Will answered groggily with a sure sign that sleep still held him, yet the thought and mention of food seemed to have quickly waved it away.

Malcolm also returned to consciousness. A brief smile from him went her heart a flutter. This time however she forced herself to remain a dignified colour.

"Suppose that sounds like a plan. I sure as hell wanna know why were here too. This gonna be one of those bar briefing's again Philip? It's getting' quite common quite frankly."

He spoke so candidly that it amused her greatly.

"Well before you two went to dreamland, I was going tell you all on the journey here. I suppose a bit of beer and a brief will have to do." Artemas commented back.

His attention soon turned the controls however as he smoothly brought Angela down to land. After the touch down Will spoke up again, it appeared his sleepiness had been shaken off.

"Yuo Guai Steak for me. Oh, maybe some Miralurk sticks for starters too with rad-pepper sauce mixed with Mayonnaise. Oh, Oh! Anyone think these Annenite's sell 'choco-late'? I'm craving some now ma'am, I'll tell ya right now." Victoria laughed at her companions words, how Will simply forgot all troubles when food was brought up in conversation.

"You can have what ever you want Will." Vicky replied with a amused smile upon her face.

"Can I have anything I want my lady?" Artemas queried. It had been said in a seedy manner also, of course he'd pretend he was simply his old self, as if they'd not had a emotive conversation previously. It appears she'd have to oblige him.

"Nothing from me Artemas, so stop undressing me with your eyes…right now. Don't think I don't know what your bloody well doing behind that visor."

Artemas' reply was simply a snigger. His attention then appeared to turn elsewhere.

"My lady and gentlemen it looks like our welcoming committee's arrived, Oh and what big gun's they have and…other things, well wow. Angie's are bigger…but still lets say hello, I'm opening up now."

Angela's side entrance began to lower. Finally resting upon the virgin Vertibird ground of Annesplace. After a few moments of reorienting and equipping themselves, the three Steel Regulator's and lonesome Knight of the Brotherhood ventured out of the craft and onto the dusty barren soil which had been mere feet below them seconds ago. The rain seemed to have stopped here thankfully.

Victoria was the first to exit, she was also the first to notice the full group of Annenite's arrayed before their own quartet. They numbered twenty, all were females. The twenty were fully clad in different assortments of wasteland armour. White headdresses were upon each of their them. Their comparison to anything else could only be described as something similar to a cereal bowl. Vicky however realised what they happened to be. Naval hat's.

That was not all she noticed. Behind these armoured women lay a great oval-like fortification, which appeared to have an enumerate amount of cracked concrete steps. These continued to rise up and up into the now clear sky. Not only that, to her left and right where similar constructs, these fortress wall's were even larger than the one in front of her. Although Vicky had seen bigger man-made creations such as her own Queen Catherine, Rivet City and the Brotherhood Citadel which she had looked upon a handful of times in her Regulator journey, she still felt in awe and wonder at her surroundings.

"Greetings to you all. Jane Halsey, Admiral of the Fleet. First guardian to Queen Anne."

The females words jolted Vicky from her absentminded musings.

"I noticed you admiring our covers. They're standard issue Miss…"

"Pacie… Paciencia Islington. Regulator… Steel Regulator of the Capitol Republic."

Victoria replied. Thankfully neither Artemas or Malcolm said anything in regards to her name change.

"Oh a pleasure, so do you lead these men?"

Her head shook in response, of course she led one of them yet her other companions had yet to know such a thing. Jane's face appeared briefly crestfallen at her response.

"A shame then, well we have been waiting for a Brotherhood and Regulator contingent to arrive, our envoy arrived back on Monday, our majesty is most pleased upon our acceptance into the Republic. So you must be Annesplace's new Regulator's then? And you must be her Steel Warden."

Before she could reply no, Artemas answered suddenly.

"Yes, that's right. I'm your new Steel Warden and these are my fine regulators. Could you direct us to a place for us to eat or if you wish us to see your Queen now, we'd be grateful regardless."

It sounded very much like Artemas had turned on his diplomatic charms, Victoria was more surprised he had any at all, than that he had in fact turned it on.

"Of course Steel Warden. Right this way, and may I be the first to welcome you to Annesplace."

Jane then turned as did her nineteenth compatriots.

Next came Artemas reply, it sounded more sexually charged and slimy as usual.

"Thank you, I'm sure… we'll be very welcome."

His eyes were now darting from the posterior of every woman in front of him, Will also followed this voyeuristic perversion. They both tailed eagerly behind the group of females, like a pair of mewing malnourished canines, no doubt they'd started to salivate eventually too.

"Well miss, it looks like it's just the two of us. I don't suppose you'd mind waitin' for a small moment. I think I'd better get ma armour on, if its alright with you Vicky."

She noticed Malcolm hadn't bothered to bat an eyelid at the throng of women before them and he continued to smile gently at her. His eyes looking at her own, not at her other womanly assets.

Victoria insides felt as if Rainbow-flies where racing around them. She shook her ill-suited and giddy foolishness off and gave her reply.

"You don't need my permission to get in that walking tank of yours, do you? Of course I'll watch… wait I mean whilst you get undressed…" That had come out disastrously wrong, what in heavens would Malcolm think of her now.

"Thank you miss, mighty kind of ya. Now I'll be a few minutes. No watching and… no peepin' ya hear? I don't have no curtains to hide my modest do I?" Malcolm then winked at her and grinned that new found roguish grin of his.

Victoria paled suddenly, then a few instants later, her cheeks colour came back with a crimson vengeance. He knew, the bloody bastard knew. Her embarrassment was awash across her face and she felt foolish, oh so very foolish.

Only fool's rush in and I'm no fool.

Those words sounded veritably hollow at this moment in time. Victoria was a fool and it was only now she'd started to realise. A hopeless one at that.


Authors notes

1. I'm judging the speed of Vertibird's upon the speed of modern day military helicopters. It's 23.029 miles from the Citadel to Fort Manassas. The journey took fifteen minutes (about) so the average and relatively slow speed of the VTOL Hera would be 92mph or 148 kmh. Evidently the potential hazards of flying in the rain and wind haven't yet been seen by the Brotherhood because of the infrequency of such weather.

2. The 7th Unionist is the elite of the Brigades in CRsec, one of the reasons for this is that it's General Charon's preferred fighting Brigade and also has quite a few other ghouls in. Ghouls who have seen more of the Wasteland than many other average wastelanders put together. Their experience over the pre-war years has led to the human Unionists being trained by both the Brotherhood and by these beacons of pre-war knowledge and necrosis. There are two companies with the BoS Section now, one with three platoon's and one with two platoon's, the command company or section.

3. About ghouls all eventually going feral that's Casdin's belief in story as well as many others. Doctor Barrows of Underworld believes this also. Yet the process varies extremely. Some may succumb straight away after becoming ghouls, others may only do so after hundreds of years. It's like saying how long is a piece of string. To estimate when ghouls go feral is quite like that. Obviously there's discrimination of Ghouls still it can't be eradicated in sixteen years same as how modern day racism has yet to be stamped out :-\.

I wonder how Doctor Barrows treatment into the Ghoul condition is going anyway… hmmm.

4. The camouflage colour is a mix of woodland and desert. Following the pattern of the new look of the wasteland. Olive grass, jaded shrubs, a few virgin trees upon the south of the Potomac with city ruins, concrete greys washed with the barren brown soil and desert sand. Unfortunately for the Capitol Republic Military, they have no "wet" weather gear.

5. Twilight Paladin Number two is Tango Papa Zero (or Oh) Two. Self explanatory. Paladin Maxson is Number One etc etc.

6. Sarah the 'mother' changed around the Squire classes so Maria and James could be in the same one.

Sarah the 'Elder' changed it around to rebalanced everything to make each class more equal. One of her first policies.

C wing at 23.

B wing at 17.

A wing at 22.

Sixty two Squires. The reason for the prior imbalance was that the crèche squires (25 at this moment) would have all joined B and A wing.

Obviously age is taken into account. Ten year old squires in one wing are expected to do more than seven year old squires.

Sometimes groups between wing's are taken into different classes dependant upon age. E.g. Twelve year old Squires from all Wings would be on live fire target training while ten and eleven would do another thing and those younger would do a further thing. The system is rather organised, It just needs 'more' organisation.

7. The changing of lessons from day to day stops Squires from becoming lax in revision and exercise. Spot tests are the norm. :-O. In all honesty this would be the school from hell. Thankfully Squires get no homework! The spontaneity breeds skills in many areas basically.

8. Paciencia is Spanish. Obviously it means Patient :P. Considering Artemas brings it up I thought I shall 'officially' say what it means.

9. The HMS Queen Catherine had functioning aircraft. Now it doesn't. It has two helicopters and half a dozen pre-war jet fighters that don't work. Plus spare parts for numerous others. Rivet city had a lot also, if the right parts could be found, they could become potentially airborne…

10. Big Town has no Vertipad. Therefore Angela was touched down near to the entrance. Being guarded by the communities main front towers and the 1st Little Lampers sentries.

11. Victoria has a British 'royal posh' accent yet it has an inflection of French in some of her words, more so when she was younger much less so now. At this point in time it has less edge and more of Capitol wastelandic (pre-war East Coast (mixed Virginian and mid-Atlantic) US English) tones at times. After all she's been with wastelanders for the past four years and she lived in Delaware for over four years. The 'foreign' words she has spoken in previous chapters is Latin however and they are motto's of some current British military unit's.

12. Will's about 6 foot .4 inches in height. His boot's make him an about two inches taller so we're looking at 6.6. That's why he's sometimes described as a Giant. 6.4 is tall now but fast forward three hundreds or so and include a nuclear war. It would be extremely rare considering the majority of the world population is dead. (I'd guess at three quarters to 80% of an estimated population of eight billion in 2077, so round two billion world wide left maybe less a generation after the bombs fell.) The nutrition of the survivors of the nuclear war and their descendants would also effect height over seven or so generations, making the average height decrease somewhat.

13. 36.9 Miles/59.5 Kilometres from Big Town to Annesplace as the Vertibird flies. Angela's average speed is around 73 mph or 119 kmh. Therefore their journey takes about thirty minutes.

14. The naval hat's worn came from the Annapolis US Naval academy. Artemas also landed Angela in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Those 'walls' are that's left of the stands.

15. Rainbow-flies, A pre-war evolution of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly and Eastern tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. Rather than it's black and white or black and orange primary colouration they have now developed a Chromatophores Chameleon-like effect for their camouflage. Which can make it appear dazzling and beautiful at times, such as when flying near water when the wasteland sun is shining. Making them appear both aqua blue and green as well as sun bright orange, red and yellow, hence like a 'rainbow'. The FEV adaptation has enlarged them to about the double the size of their ancestor's so between 8.5 to 11 inches long in wingspan. A relatively benign creatures in the otherwise malicious wastes :D.