"When pack meets with pack in the jungle,
And neither will go from the trail,
Lie down till the leaders have spoken;
It may be fair words shall prevail."
-The Law of the Jungle, st. VI
Yellow lines broke the sky into parts, sending claps of thunder from their designated sectors. A squall sent the river spraying up the bank, it's waves crashing on the stone barrier along the road.
The radiation storm had evolved, trapping dust in its tempest winds. The Commonwealth was seeking vengeance on its inhabitants that rendered it a wasteland, trying to sweep away its sins by snuffing them out.
A lethal, green shroud slithered away from Liera's boots, leaving ghosted footprints in her wake. Her mouth was gritty with a staleness on her tongue. The cool push of her helmets defoggers sucked the moisture from her eyes, and being unable to rub them was a cruel joke told by the storm. She wanted so desperately to blink, but the thought of being blind, even if for only a moment, gave her chills.
Her mind ran from a stalking feeling; the tension in her back coiling like someone was chasing her. She wrangled the urge to turn around, shout into the void, and challenge them to show themselves.
Her HUD blurred into a cluster of pixelated data, spazzing to the right. It faded back in, slow and croaking like the terminal at the satellite array.
"EV, what's our status?"
"The energetic protons carried within the dust storm have compromised my diagnostic capabilities."
The howling winds quickened, and she shielded herself from a plume of dirt shoveled on her chassis. A metal sign rattled violently, sputtering on its post before breaking off and getting eaten by the pockets of debris that blew over the Commonwealth.
"Holy sh-"
Liera tripped on a crack in the road, regaining her balance before getting a hold on her Hemlok.
"I don't know how much longer we can stay in this!" Rhys shouted.
"We're close to the police station!" Danse called, "We need to get to shelter!"
"Can't we just hunker down in one of these buildings?!" Liera choked.
The crook of her elbow lifted to her visor, habitually covering a series of hacks as if it would stop the outside from slipping through. But the particles coated her throat, tightening the passage to her lungs like a valve.
"Not without running the risk of being ambushed!"
Liera's shemagh twirled, the fabric of its worn hems whipping wildly around her neck. She licked her lips, grimacing at the sour taste of irradiated dust. She tapped on her wrist computer, begging the fragmented words to spell anything but, "RECONNECTING."
"Can't see more than 2 meters ahead-"
Her helmet went dark. Her air filters and defoggers were offline. She frosted the inside of her visor with each sharp, painful breath.
"Shit…"
She banged on the side of her helmet, gritting her teeth as it slammed against her head.
"Come on, stupid-"
A whisper of a growl sent her heart in a stampede, the hooves of her pulse beating in her chest.
"Huh-" Liera pointed her gun at the source, but couldn't see a thing.
A wet, raspy moan came from her right.
"Wha-" Her rifle's sights came up empty handed .
A collection of padded steps rode the storm, whisked away by a passing surge.
Her flashlight was lost in the chaos, distorted into a ray of misleading hope.
"Guys…?" She whimpered.
Lightning flashed, and a shadowy blur twisted in the mess. It's damnable, diseased eyes targeted her. It slurped before releasing a deafening screech, answered by dozens more.
"GUYS!"
…
Danse couldn't see much past his own feet, but it wasn't a problem for him. He'd grown up in this environment; had seen plenty of weather like this in the Capital. He was protected with armor so thick it could withstand rockets. His helmet was outfitted for this kind of thing.
It was the others he worried about.
Rhys pulled Haylen along, tucking her underneath his arm.
"Almost there…"
Just a little longer, and they'd be able to hunker down and ride out the rest.
The rad scrubbers in his Power Armor kicked on, and the light above his head flickered.
"GUYS!"
A single crack broke through the gale, out of rhythm with the thunder. And then another.
The shots of Liera's Hemlok were signature, heavy and rapid in their delivery.
"Paladin Danse, escort the others to safety." EV's railgun exploded above them, sending a shell into the storm, "Pilot, engaging hostiles."
A Ghoul leapt from the dust, colliding with Danse's arm with hungry teeth. He pulled it off, slamming it to the ground by its throat.
"We'll cut through the alley and loop back around to the station!" He yelled, his voice cracking under strain, "Let's move!"
A second Ghoul charged him, blood dripping from its clothes. Haylen fired a shot to its chest, leaving a plasma-guided hole.
"Stay behind me!"
Danse repositioned himself, stepping backwards while providing fire support. He didn't see Liera, only the tracer lights from her gun.
"How did she fall so far behind?!"
…
Liera slipped her finger on the trigger, the stock on her shoulder.
She exhaled. Pulled. Hit.
But they kept coming.
Trying to fix her helmet was just enough time to get separated from the others, and picked off by Ghouls. Each figure was a blur vaulting out of the crushing walls of dust, focusing just before impact.
Her breathing was uneven and harsh, and her lungs never felt quite full.
"Pilot, the winds are facing the cockpit doors. To avoid damage to internal equipment, please use the manual hatch to embark." EV fired, doing her best to hold the line.
Liera's exhaustion intensified merely from the thought of climbing, but she didn't argue. She shot her grapple at EV without aiming, praying it attached to some part of her that was high enough to pull her out of the ambush.
The tether retracted, and she collided with EV's shoulder.
Somewhere in the wave of clicks and cackles that ripped through the Ghoul horde laid her abandoned courage, lost to a demonic chorus that had her spellbound by fear. Their voices were cursed; raving, hungering, wanting to devour anything.
"Can't stop moving…"
Her face went numb. Her fingers were icy cold. She saw her eyes' reflection in her dead visor. The panic that had them shaking. The sweat dropping from her eyelashes.
Her hands forced their way to the edge of EV's head, and she hoisted herself up. Her chest collided with the cockpit's lever. Her knees buckled as she lifted the hatch. She fell in her chair, dizzy and shaken. She coughed so hard, her arms encased her stomach.
She was safe. It was quiet. She could rest…
She could sleep.
…
The barricades around the Cambridge Police Station were high above the ground, confirming their refuge. Danse ushered Rhys and Haylen into the perimeter.
"These two need immediate medical attention!"
Two Power Armor-wearing soldiers escorted them inside, "Yes, Paladin!"
Three Ghouls charged at the gates, and Danse turned to assist in disposing them.
"What is it with this place and Ghoul attacks?!"
The cluster of buildings they'd left behind succumbed to a red glow. Conflict boomed over the skyline, and a pillar of smoke rose between the crimson flashes.
"What was that?" A soldier asked through his Armor.
Danse bit his lip, watching hopefully for a sign of EV and Liera's survival.
Crunching footsteps came from the alley and EV's light broke through, her fingers curling around the corner of an abandoned office. She sprinted down the road, sliding to a stop and planting her fist in the cement.
"Paladin Danse," There was an urgency to her voice, "Pilot Lastimosa needs-"
He couldn't hear her over the screeching alarms coming from the cockpit. The sound was like someone sharpening a knife over an electric current.
He scooped Liera up, her helmet falling in the crook of his arm's plates.
He turned, dashing towards the police station's doors, "Step aside!"
…
Liera fought with her seatbelt, wiggling in her seat.
"That some kinda new dance you got goin' on there?" Ryan chuckled.
"Fucking strap's digging in my chest. Shut up."
"Yeah, yeah…" Ryan huffed, "I liked my idea better."
"Of course you would…"
Liam opened his visor and hacked, spitting in the corner. Rex cocked his head, looking at him funny.
"Are you alright, Miller?" Sage asked, leaning forward.
He rubbed his throat, "Don't know if it's the smoke or the crappy air on this Planet, but it's makin' it damn near impossible to breathe. I'm fixin' it'll be awhile 'till I get this mess out' my lungs."
"Listen up crew, we don't have much time." Bish cut the chatter over the dropship's public-address system, "The surviving colonists have fallen back to the cliffs overlooking the colony. They're hiding in some hills around a large shipwreck. Sarah's gonna fill you in on the details."
"Our dropships are standing by to rescue the surviving colonists." Sarah addressed the team, "Alpha Company, your objective is to hold off the IMC at the shipwreck until we've recovered the colonists and their leader; James MacAllan. His last detail was First Mate of the IMS Odyssey, so that's where we're headed."
"MacAllan's an ex-IMC officer, used to be one of their best Pilots and tacticians." Bish continued, "He's agreed to help us fight the IMC if we get his people out safely - so let's get it done, people. Lock and load!"
Ryan crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat, "Can't believe MacAllan just left the war…"
"Sometimes people get sick of killing." Chris defended him, "Get sick of dodging death."
"The moment you turn your back, you can't dodge anything. And I'd never turn my back on what we're fighting for…"
"Says the ex-IMC officer about the ex-IMC officer." Akane checked her pistol, flicking the safety off, "Seems a little hypocritical to me."
"I was a Corporal when I defected. I didn't blindfold myself long enough to make First Mate, and sure as Hell didn't go hide on some off-the-grid-planet like this asshole."
The door to the cabin opened, and Tai walked down the aisle.
"Deployment in 3. You guys ready?"
"Yeah, I'm ready." Liera nodded at him, "Ready to stop hearing everyone whine and get this over with…"
"Hah! You're my daughter, that's for certain." He flipped his helmet over his head, and put his hand on the hatch's handle, "Alright, Marauders. Let's go save some colonists."
"Aye-aye, Captain!" Chris beat his fist on his chest, "OORAH!"
…
Liera squirmed in Danse's arms, mouthing words in her sleep. He pumped the Rad-X bag in his hand, sending the liquid through the tube attached to the crook of her elbow. They sat on a bed pushed into the corner of the room he once claimed as his own, not having been there since the night they met.
The desk had been left alone, but the broken terminal was replaced with a new one that hummed idly. He thought back to the picture he found, and wondered if he still had it or if he'd accidentally lost it.
Not too long ago he'd been pinned down with the remaining soldiers of his squad, firing hopelessly at a pack of feral Ghouls. It would've been their final resting place had a visitor from outer space not shown up.
The cut on her lip was mangled. A spot on her neck was red and splotchy; a violent mark on her bronze skin. Her breathing was weak and ragged, held by a tightness that croaked from her chest.
The Commonwealth had not taken a liking to its foreign guest.
"Get down…" She tossed, and he flexed his arm to adjust to her new position.
"Liera," He gave her a gentle shake, "You're dreaming."
Danse propped her up with his knee, and pressed his back against the wall. He smiled at how her cheek pressed against him, warm and comforting.
The door creaked open, and Haylen pushed her face in. His peaceful state was disrupted, and he felt like he was caught doing something wrong.
"Is she still asleep?" She whispered.
Danse shook his head, nodding down to her.
"There's a drop-off soon. Want to wake her up or should I come back when it's here?"
"Ryan-" Liera mumbled, her face creasing as if she was in pain.
Haylen raised her brows, covering her mouth to hide a giggle.
"Let me know when it gets here…" He swallowed, his heart going cold.
"Okay…" She pulled the door closed, the lock barely making a noise.
To anyone who wasn't familiar with Liera's history, her outburst might have been funny.
He wanted to not be jealous of the memory of a dead man…
But hearing her call out her deceased lover's name with such desperation in her voice hit a nerve. He started to wonder what kind of man Ryan must have been to win the heart of a woman like her. Wondered what made her take a risk with him, and no one else…
"The colonists!" Liera shot upright.
Her forehead collided with his cheek, and he winced at a dull "thump," on his jaw.
"Ow-" She gripped her head instinctively, "Shit…"
He rubbed his face, "Afternoon."
She whipped around, startled by his voice. There was confusion in her demeanor, and she started tearing at the needle in her arm, "What are you-What's-"
"Rad-X. Stronger than Rad Away." He shifted under her, sliding her on the mattress, "You passed out after EV dropped you off a few hours ago. Got pretty sick, too."
He held her shoulders, and she frantically scanned the room as if not sure of its existence.
"And Rhys? Haylen?"
"They made it."
There was a spark in her posture, and she patted her chest. She relaxed once she tapped on something in her pocket, and her gaze returned to him, "That storm strengthened out of nowhere. I didn't think…"
"It's the worst radiation storm I've ever seen. I should've kept a tighter formation. Shouldn't have assumed EV had you covered."
"This isn't your fault." She coughed, "That shit was crazy…"
She shivered, and her eyelids shut tight.
"You're safe now." Danse rubbed her back, "Try not to think about it."
She rolled her neck, smiling at him between pants, "Should'a seen me when I first landed. That rad storm didn't quite knock me like this one, though."
"I'm surprised the Militia didn't send their lone agent better prepared, considering."
"They tried...But this atmosphere is worse than any Titan core exposure or space travel radiation…"
Her belly gurgled, and she paced her breathing. She rubbed her stomach, "Are we still going to Sanctuary?"
"We're going to intercept a Vertibird to fly us the rest of the way." Danse shrugged, "You're not the only one who got a nasty dose of radiation poisoning."
"Are you…"
"Not me. The rest of the team. Although, they didn't throw up as much as you did."
He tried not to laugh at the horrified expression that stretched across her face.
"Uh…You saw me…?"
"Saw you. Cleaned it off the floor. Off me."
"Oh, god…" She covered her face, "I threw up on you?"
"Projectile. Never thought someone so small could make that much of a mess."
"Everyone's small when you're 6'5 and build like a tank." She growled.
He raised a brow, "Is that what you think of me?"
"Danse," She put a hand in his face, and playfully pushed him away, "Stop talking."
He cupped his hand around her wrist, and moved it aside, "Is it?"
"Danse." Her other arm came around, and he caught that one, too.
"You know I could get out of this fairly easy, right?"
He gave her a cocky grin, "Whatever you say."
Her wrist rolled, and trapped his in her palm. She pushed it forward, pinning it against the wall behind the bed frame. He folded her non-enhanced arm around her back, and her chest fell into his.
"You treat all your patients like this?"
"No," He chuckled, "Just you."
Her eyes softened at that. The thick layers of her armor rubbed against his jumpsuit as she took a deep breath.
Her jaw locked. Her body jerked, "Danse. Let go."
"Huh?"
"It's happening again."
He pushed her up with his shoulder, grabbing the battery pack on her back and twisting her over the edge of the bed. He slid a bucket with his foot, and she started puking in its depths. Her fingers curled on his side, clutching the fabric of his uniform. He reached around to the other side of her face, and swept his hand across to hold her hair back.
"That's it…" He said calmly, "Get it all out."
"Nothing I haven't seen before."
…
Liera rested the back of her head against the wall, feeling drained and out of breath. Danse handed her a rag.
She wiped her mouth, "Thanks."
"Sure."
His gaze washed over her, sending warmth across her sore body. It was absent of judgement or disgust, just utter acceptance and understanding. It relaxed her, and she felt at ease.
Her eyelids fluttered, and her chin sank to her shoulder.
A knock came at the door before the handle turned, and Haylen let herself in.
"Hey. Vertibird is pulling in. How do you want us to handle this?"
"Stall it as long as possible. I'll be up." Danse jumped to his feet, and passed Haylen the Rad-X drip, "Hold this."
"Moving out already…?" Liera whined.
"Yes. Rhys has all your belongings, and EV said she'd follow on foot." He pulled his hood over his head, "Go with Haylen to the roof, I'll meet up with you once I get my Power Armor."
Haylen helped her up without warning, and hurriedly pulled her through the doorway.
The police station teetered, the weight of her sickness dropping each side of her vision in seesawing tilts. Her ears were hot. Her feet couldn't quite match Haylen's rhythm, even if she did her best to course-correct.
Each time her legs hit the floor, they threatened to send her into another fit. Her eyes blurred and refocused under the pounding headache. Her body felt heavy, leaning on Haylen for support.
"One step at a time, soldier. That's it…you've got it."
Haylen held her up with one arm, and opened the door with the other. She almost dropped the Rad-X bag, but a practiced grip held it secure.
The afternoon's sun temporarily blinded Liera as she was dragged on the roof of the Cambridge Police Station. It wasn't the same heap of hastily-thrown-together fortifications they'd left it in. Huge barricades formed a walkway that lined the perimeter. A barbed fence served as an entrance, reinforced by steel beams on either side. Guards patrolled the lot in Power Armor, armed to the neck with an established rotation.
Rhys was waiting for them on the helipad, chatting with a few recruits that climbed out of the Vertibird.
"Man, if this doesn't make the deployment worth it, I don't know what does. And you get to run around with her?"
"Under the supervision of Paladin Danse, yes."
"You're with Recon Squad Gladius?"
"Knight Rhys, at your service." He pointed at the two women, "That's Scribe Haylen and Knight Lastimosa, EV's Pilot."
Liera gave an obligatory wave, ignoring the introductions from people she couldn't give two shits about in her present situation. Rhys walked over, and helped relieve some weight off Haylen.
"Hey, sorry about your shotgun. I had to dump it in the shuffle." He lowered her Hemlok's sling around her shoulders, "Just be glad you're getting this bad boy back."
They guided her to the Vertibird, and Rhys climbed in. He held his hands out, and Liera accepted them gratefully. A sharp pain lit up her sides, and he caught her as she buckled.
"Easy, Sister."
He was oddly gentle and sweet in his tone, something she wasn't used to, coming from him. He lowered her onto the seat, and pressed her helmet on her head. Her nose pinched as her collar slid over her face.
Rhys patted the top of her helmet, "Maxson's got all the Vertibirds tied up with whatever he's got going on, but there's still some traveling between the Capital Wasteland and this checkpoint, dropping off new recruits. These soldiers were nice enough to offer us a ride."
"Afternoon, Knight. Lancer-Knight Frederick reporting." He turned around from the cockpit's seat, "Heard you guys took a beating."
She slid over to make room for Haylen, "Been through worse."
"Doesn't look like it." Frederick's co-pilot lifted her goggles.
"Take me on my word, then."
Liera saw EV on the other side of the police station, a black ring of soot lining her ocular hub. She gave her a wave, and EV returned the gesture.
"I'm glad to see you in good health, Pilot." She spoke through Liera's helmet.
"Thanks to you…How are your energy supplies?"
"The radiation storm was helpful in charging all cores to 100%." EV confirmed, "I will have to recharge upon our arrival after long-distance thruster engagement, but I believe it would be in your best interest that I not lose sight of the Vertibird."
"Just don't drain yourself too quickly."
"I won't, Pilot."
Danse joined them on the roof, his suit sparkling in the now-clear weather. He hastily pulled himself in the idling Vertibird, and leaned between the two front seats.
"Paladin Danse, Recon Squad Gladius." He beat his chest, saluting the Lancers, "Ah, Lancer-Knight Frederick. It's been a long time. How've you been?"
"Flying the not-so-friendly skies while you're down there getting blasted by rad storms." He smirked, "Glad to see you in one piece, Paladin."
"You too, Frederick. You did an outstanding job training Lancer Rico. He's been crucial in assisting my team more than once."
"Like I told Captain Kells, he's one of our best."
"Whoa, you didn't tell me Rico was flying with the Paladin Danse…" The woman's face lit up, "Lancer-Initiate Rodgers. It's an honor to meet you, sir."
Liera rolled her eyes at the lust in her voice.
"Likewise." Danse cut the conversation short, "My team and I aren't fit for travel after being stuck in the abnormally strong storm. We were headed to Sanctuary."
"Well, hop on that minigun and we'll get going!"
The Initiate looked to Frederick, "Are we authorized to do that?"
"For Danse and his team? Sure." He pulled at a lever above, and pushed a few buttons, "Tell your team to buckle up. It would be our pleasure to give you a lift before refueling and heading back to the Capital."
"Thank you, Brother."
Haylen buckled a seatbelt around Liera's waist, securing herself afterwards. Rhys stretched on the other side of her, and put his arm along the length of the Vertibird's bench seat. His muscles pushed Liera's head forward, and he flicked the back of Haylen's head.
"Hey!"
He laughed, and turned his head to watch the Vertibird lift off.
"Your armpit smells atrocious." Liera scooted away, stuck in the middle of them.
"What's that?" He pushed in closer.
"Keep it up and I'll throw up on you, too."
…
The Vertibird's engines vibrated off metal overpasses. The shaking of the cabin had Liera's stomach falling in pits, trying to claw back out. Her fingers scrunched the fabric on her leg, and she struggled to contain herself.
"What's wrong, Haylen?" Rhys's voice came over the Vertibird's channel.
"Elder Maxson is right to focus on the artillery aspects of war…but this, right here? What we're about to do? This'll decide if we win."
The truth in her words did little to ease Liera's anxiety. Everything was riding on this, and yet, she knew so little about why the Brotherhood was cut off from the Minutemen in the first place.
She gulped, and turned her head slightly, "What happened between you guys and Garvey's people?"
The sounds of flight paused the conversation. No one seemed to want to answer.
"It's a long story." Rhys mumbled.
Seconds turned into minutes. She started to regret pressing the issue before Danse spoke up.
"When we were first deployed, our initial goal was strictly to investigate the Commonwealth. We established contact with the Prydwen by utilizing USAF Satellite Station Olivia, a few miles east of Sanctuary. When we started running low on supplies, we traveled to the nearest city we found…Concord."
The resilience in his voice was lost, and it became apparent that the topic was sore on the team as a whole.
"We were immediately assaulted by Raiders. During the firefight, we sought shelter in the Museum of Freedom. To our surprise; Preston, Nora, and a few other stragglers were pinned down inside. There was an old Vertibird wreck on the roof, and Knight Keane…"
He cleared his throat before continuing, "He went up by himself to secure the minigun from the door. He engaged with the Raiders on the ground, and his Power Armor was badly damaged. He was forced to abandon it, so I took the minigun for myself to cover his retreat. But the conflict drew the attention of a deathclaw…and…"
"The enemy took advantage of the confusion and shot Keane." Haylen blurted, "Nora ran out to drag him back in the building. The deathclaw took a swipe at her, but only got her face."
"Because Keane pushed her out of the way." Rhys was solemn in his words, "…He was killed immediately."
"Nora told us to fall back to Sanctuary." Haylen picked up where he left off, "I treated her wounds along the way. Warned her it would leave a nasty scar…"
Liera tried not to find joy in Nora's injuries. A nagging feeling tugged at her, though. Nora Hammond was her aunt, and family bonds were things Tai instilled in her to cherish.
Her nose twitched, and she hushed the thought.
"After we escorted the group to Sanctuary, we made contact with Elder Maxson, informed him of what happened, and told him we found a living, breathing Vault Dweller…" Danse went on, however begrudgingly, "He sent a Vertibird to take her back to the Capital Wasteland where the Prydwen was docked for maintenance, and that was the last time we saw Nora until…well, you were there."
"Preston wanted us to stay." Rhys growled, "He wanted us to waste our time fortifying Sanctuary into an impenetrable fortress. He wanted to ride the Brotherhood's back long enough to rebuild the Minutemen with nothing to offer in return."
"And you didn't?" Liera asked.
"My team and I still had a mission to uphold." Danse's vigor returned to him, "We left, and he's hated us ever since. But now that he's got some pull in the Commonwealth, he's flexing it as much as he has to in order to force us out."
The Vertibird's engines rotated, and the thrusters pointed at the ground.
"He's quick to forget that without the Brotherhood's help, he would have never made it to Sanctuary." Rhys slung his weapon as the Vertibird started its descent.
"Easy, Knight. We're going to handle this as diplomatically as we can."
"Did Preston display any kind of 'diplomacy,' when he ordered his settlements to let us starve?"
Liera squirmed.
All she could think about was the IMC guiding the Original Colonists to the Frontier, abandoning them, and returning once they had a need they couldn't fulfill on their own.
"I'm warning you, Rhys. No bloodshed."
"Apologies, Paladin. I only meant that the settlers can be just as bad as Raiders if they're pushed hard enough. As far as I'm concerned, they're just another blockade in our path to victory."
"We're not here to 'push' them." Danse clanked as he turned, "We're here to negotiate."
The IMC pushed the colonists, and didn't leave any room for negotiations when they started slaughtering them. Danse understood the difference, sure.
But Rhys?
"He'd be a high-ranking IMC official in a month…"
…
Liera sat on EV's foot, leaning on the armored plate of her leg. She coughed quietly as the Vertibird pushed dirt into small tornadoes around it, it's hot engines distorting the space underneath them. Rhys and Haylen were off to the side, the group of them waiting for Danse to finish speaking with the Lancers.
What looked to be a repurposed refueling station stood from down the hill, decorated with a red rocket statue shooting towards the sky. Letters lined the top lit in bright red, "Red Rocket Truck Stop." An old advertisement on a billboard had, "Nuka-Cola, 'Have a Nuke,'" sprawled across it in off-white letters.
"I think this place has had enough nukes." Liera muttered.
"Agreed." EV turned her focus to the sprawling wasteland to their left.
The settlement that awaited them was huge. It was the size of the airport, with homes and other structures lining the perimeter. The bridge leading into it was broken on the right, wooden and rotted over a wide stream.
"It's still pretty, for the most part."
Danse finished whatever he was talking about, and hit the side of the Vertibird with a friendly tap. The doors slid closed, and it began its flight away.
Liera looked up, "EV, you know the drill."
"Standing watch."
Danse regrouped with them, his laser rifle aimed at the ground.
"Everything good?" Rhys asked.
"Lancer-Initiate Rodgers had a few questions about the team." Danse seemed put off, "I guess I didn't realize how quickly word travels of our…endeavors."
"Heh, no kidding…"
Haylen gave a quiet laugh, and the rest of the team looked at her.
"Something funny?" Rhys cocked his head.
"I'm sure she had some questions, alright. Questions about you." Haylen nodded her chin at Danse, "'It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.'"
She sprinkled her voice with a feminine tone that was overkill, even for her.
"Ugh…" Danse shook his head, "Don't be ridiculous."
"Takes a woman to pick up on that kind of stuff. Right, Lastimosa?"
Liera tossed the empty Rad-X bag, pulling her sleeve down. She clamped her gauntlet over the fabric, "Yeah."
A tinge of violence tugged at her lip, and she barked the word. It earned her a collection of confused stares.
"Sorry. Not feeling up for talking." She grimaced as her stomach churned, and forced herself to her feet.
"And Lancer-Initiate Rodgers better fuck off."
There was a touch of selfishness in her need to mark her territory, knowing she couldn't act on how she felt about her commanding officer.
Still, she was too sick to lecture herself.
"Anyway…" Danse turned towards what she guessed was Sanctuary, "It's been a long road here, soldiers. Let's make it worth it."
…
Settlers worked in the surrounding fields, tending to crops that sprouted from the freshly-tilled earth. They seemed oddly relaxed, as if they didn't just see a Titan roll up on their settlement and a Vertibird drop a team of Brotherhood soldiers off across the way. Danse stopped at the opposing end of the bridge, holding a fist to halt the rest of the team.
"To arms!" Someone shouted.
The fatigue that crippled Liera set a tighter grip, and she groaned as she corrected her back from a slouch.
"Damn." Danse gripped the barrel of his rifle, "Remember what I said. Do not start any conflicts."
"Didn't you just hear him?" Rhys growled, his finger twitching on his trigger.
Haylen pulled her pistol, letting it dangle at her side, "We don't have to start the conflict. Just finish it if they do."
"That's the spirit." Rhys winked at her.
A watchman's tower barred the middle of the road leading into the settlement. A man shuffled on top, a sniper rifle in his hands.
"I've got my eye on you…"
A group of ragtag soldiers in matching clothes scurried out from behind buildings like ants from a hill. They all had the same type of weapon; long-distance and with energy readings that made her recovering HUD blink all sorts of warnings. They took to their knees and formed a firing squad, strategically placing themselves behind various sorts of cover.
"So…" Liera pointed her Hemlock at the sky, leaning its sights on her shoulder, "You didn't tell them we were coming?"
"How was I supposed to?" Danse scowled.
"Uh, A RADIO?"
A pale man in greasy overalls and thick gloves leaned on a pillar to the left of a sign with, "Sanctuary Hills," written in faded, yellow letters. A woman in a blue trench coat smoked a cigarette, a brahmin shuffling in the grass to the right.
"That's the woman from Bunker Hill!"
Liera glared at her, but her attention was pulled to someone walking through the front lines of the small army.
His skin was brown with warm, red undertones. His eyes were piercing, dark in their nature, experienced and on-guard. The hat on his head had a long rim, the right side pinned to the top. His coattails dangled behind worn boots that had walked hundreds of miles. A scarf encased his neck over his collar, stuffed in a long, decorative vest underneath. A leather strap crossed his chest with a radio attached over his heart.
A long, what looked to be modified weapon took both of his hands to hold. There was a clear chamber with red, twitching electricity at the end of a laser pointing between the tip of the barrel and a beam splitter.
He had enough presence to quiet a room. He had confidence in his march, his shoulders rocking side to side; his head held high.
"That must be him…"
Preston Garvey, General of the Minutemen.
"The Brotherhood doesn't mess around when they decide someone's their enemy, do they?!" He shouted.
His voice was strong and challenging. He paused in front of the sign, not daring to take a step farther.
It was them against the Minutemen, at opposite sides of a bridge, broken and battered; but remaining. It was reminiscent of the faction's relationship with each other.
Not destroyed, not all together. Water underneath, but a heavy rain would threaten to sweep it away.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Danse…"
…
The inside of Danse's Power Armor grew hot as he took the first step on the bridge. The idea of being exposed in the open with nowhere to run gave him a new sense of caution. He almost wished he didn't believe in peace talks, because leveling the place would be that much easier.
Preston held the weight of a leader, no longer the carefree man he'd met in Concord. He had fifteen men and women lined up behind him, their laser muskets pointed and ready to defend their livelihood from the perceived threat of Danse's team.
"Always were the shoot-first-ask-questions-later type, no doubt about that." Preston nodded to EV.
"Take it easy, Garvey." Danse paused once he crossed the bridge, his team a short distance behind him, "We're just here to talk."
"I guess you weren't listening last time. I've got nothing left to say to you."
"You said plenty when you ordered your settlements to cease all trade activity with the Brotherhood."
He raised his chin defiantly, "The ends never justify the means, Paladin. I tried to tell you before that I wasn't happy with how Maxson was handling things, and I don't think he's here to bring peace and freedom to the Commonwealth."
Preston was there when Danse radioed the Capital. He heard Maxson give the order to take the airport by force, for a reason he'd yet to reveal. Preston disagreed with the idea of cleansing the Commonwealth of abominations; because in his eyes, even pre-war Ghouls deserved a place among humans.
"Elder Maxson chooses his battles." Danse said calmly, "He doesn't waste them on situations that can be resolved through diplomacy."
"Doesn't waste them…" Preston snickered, looking away with a cocky smirk, "You ask me, freedom's always worth fighting for."
"Our goals aren't so different, General. We just want to pursue them side-by-side."
"The Brotherhood didn't want much with us when we were a couple of stragglers." Preston's eyes narrowed, "But now that we have something to show for ourselves, you come knocking to take it all away. We've dealt with invaders like you before, and we'll do it again if we have to."
"I don't know how you think the Brotherhood of Steel operates, but we're not here to invade, anything…"
"Then there damn well better be a good reason you've brought that thing to our doorstep."
Liera shifted at his left.
"Knight Lastimosa and her Titan's presence are…an entirely different matter of discussion."
He paused, "'Her?'"
"Yes. She's a woman."
"No, not that. You said her 'Titan.' Implying that it's not the Brotherhood's."
"It's not." Liera ended her silence, "She's not the Brotherhood's."
Danse's heart tripped over itself, shuddering at the glare Preston directed at her. She'd been doing well, letting him speak on behalf of the Brotherhood. However, it seemed she had something to say, and he'd have to trust her to continue.
"…But what I can tell you in implicit detail, is that no Titan in the world can help us take down the Institute if you pit the entire Commonwealth against us."
The loyalty in her words moved him. She sounded empowered; official, like she'd taken the Brotherhood's survival to heart.
"The Institute?" Preston tipped his hat, "Why in the world would you want to mess around with them?"
"Because we care about what happens to the Commonwealth." Danse answered for her, "And we want to stop the Institute from using their technological superiority as a weapon. But if you force us out, you'll force out the Commonwealth's only hope of survival."
A rumble of laughter erupted from the Minutemen posted before him.
Preston raised a fist, and they returned to silence.
"Our hands have bled building homes - lives, trying to unify the Commonwealth while the Brotherhood threatens to shake it apart. And you think you're our 'only hope of survival?'"
"I meant our alliance, General. Neither of us, the Minutemen nor Brotherhood, can do this on our own."
Preston wasn't rattled, but deep in thought.
"I knew this day was coming…" He growled under his breath, "But a wise man once told me, 'When we all work together, the bad guys don't stand a chance.'"
He shifted his laser musket to one hand, and let it hang along the length of his body.
"Tell you what, Paladin. We'll go to the Common House terrace and see if we can work something out that will benefit both of us. The rest of your team will follow Sturges to Nora's old house. I'm sure she wouldn't mind some of her new 'friends' staying there for a while."
"Thank you, General."
"Don't thank me yet…I'll be just as quick to send you on your way as you were to leave."
Danse's grit his teeth, and nodded at the rest of his team.
"Well, this has been a great start…"
…
Danse marched alone and unprotected, throwing himself to the mercy of the Minutemen as they left. Preston seemed to have broken through whatever hatred had barred their reunion, but whether it hung from a thread or was solidified was up for debate.
The man leaning on the pillar started waving, nabbing Liera's attention.
"Eyy, Rhysie boy! It's been a long time comin'!" He grabbed Rhys's shoulder and shook him, "Look at you, gettin' all muscled up."
He pushed him off, "You call me Rhysie boy again and I'll shove my fist down your throat."
"Whelp, you're still just a bundle of pissed off. Haylen, sweetie, how are ya?"
She smiled at him, "Been good, Sturges. I see you've had your hands busy."
"After we got some defenses set up, Preston was able to relax a little bit. 'Xcept he put me on carpenter duty." He nodded to Liera, "Found yourself some fancy Australian Protectron, eh?"
"Knight Lastimosa." Liera opened her visor and extended her hand, "I don't know what a Protectron is, but it's a pleasure to meet you."
Her introduction was automated, void of emotion.
"And for the last time, I'm not 'Australian…' unless that's some kind of weird adjective I don't know about."
He shook her hand, "Name's Sturges, and this here is Sanctuary Hills."
He had an accent almost as thick as Miller's - sounded like a Homesteader from the Frontier.
"Ya'll know you're gonna have to let me check out that mean killing machine out there, right?"
"We'll see, gearhead." Haylen grinned at Liera, "He likes everything mechanical."
Sturges crossed his arms, staring at EV over the water.
"Wait till he sees my arm."
Liera covered her mouth as she coughed, "We'll have to talk engineering once I'm feeling better."
"You into that sorta' thing?"
"Very much so, sir."
He gave her a grin that stretched ear to ear, then turned his back to them.
"Alrighty, then. Preston's got me takin' you folks to Nora's old place. Gonna stash you there while the big dogs're talkin'."
Rhys hiked his brow, "I can't believe you guys left it vacant all this time."
"General's still pretty banged up about everything, but he had the decency to keep her place unoccupied. She brought us here, after all." The group started walking farther into the shantytown, "Me? I don't like to hold grudges. You guys are good in my book."
"Thanks, Sturges." Rhys sounded like he meant it, "That's big of you."
"Just don't go tramplin' down all my hard work…Ya hear?"
"We won't. Promise."
Sanctuary was even more bustling than Bunker Hill. Shops were lined on either side of the road, winding through destroyed houses that served as bunkers of sorts. They passed a clinic, an armory, a wooden cabin that sold general goods, and many other small stands.
The most prominent fixture was a huge brick building with multiple stories. She saw Preston and Danse pause outside of it just long enough for him to get out of his Power Armor, leaving it parked outside.
"Should keep an eye on that, too."
They didn't walk far until they stopped at a building with two cinder block fireplaces built outside it.
"Well, this is our stop. You guys need something, gimme a holler. I'll be right over there in my shop."
He pointed to an open-faced garage that had been converted into a workstation.
"Thank you." Haylen gave him a hug.
"Anytime, sweet pea." He waved at them as he went about his business.
The house was decaying, it's roof wilted and sagging like the remnants of a garden lining the front. The teal, rusted tiles were pushed from their frame by vines snaking up between them. The windows were gone, leaving gaping holes in the walls.
Liera paused at the end of the broken sidewalk, looking at the long-forgotten car in the driveway.
This was where Nora and Nathan Black lived before the bombs fell.
It wasn't a building with a faded sign. Wasn't just a house they were passing by. She knew it's story, or the main characters in it, at least.
It was more than a house…
It was a home.
She followed Rhys and Haylen inside, and it seemed they were just as awestruck as she was.
The kitchen was divided from the living room by a counter, one that may have hosted meals and get-togethers. The sink still had dishes in it, broken and unattended to. The couch was red, more worn on the right side than the other. A television sat next to a fireplace, and Liera imagined it must've been cozy when it was lit.
There was a bookshelf built into the wall. An American flag was folded into 3 points with "Nathan Black," engraved on a plate on the front. A degree from the Commonwealth Institute of Technology, addressed to Nora Hammond, marked her success as a medical doctor. Family pictures were strung on pins and wires, clearly having been recovered after the blast.
One was of Nora and Nathan, her in a wedding dress, him a tux. She looked happy, and he…well, he looked content.
The one in the middle was of them, but with a small infant in Nora's arms.
"They had the baby after all, it seems."
It was too blurry for her to get a good look at the child, but she assumed the picture would've been taken sometime shortly after it was born.
The third picture, though…that through her for a loop.
Two women, each with their arms around each other's shoulders. They were identical, except one was just a bit shorter than the other. They seemed close, as if they were genuinely happy to be in each other's company.
Liera plucked it from the clothes pin, and flipped it.
"Nora and Evelyn Hammond, 2070."
She gulped, and her thumb traced the shorter woman. Her face matched the one stored in her locket.
Her mother. The woman she never met; who died bringing her to life.
Liera wondered which of the stories she heard about her were true…and which ones she'd yet to hear.
"Whatchya lookin' at?" Haylen peaked over her shoulder, startling her, "Is that Nora and her sister?"
Liera offered the picture to her, "Looks like it."
"She never said much about her except that they were twins..." She looked back up at Liera, and paused.
Her eyes switched between her and the photograph.
"What?"
"Nothing, you just…You kinda look like them."
"Hah," Liera barked nervously, "Right."
Dodging further observation, she turned the corner to proceed down a hallway. She passed a laundry room, the doorway half-blocked with a large, "Mr. Handy," box. The robot on the front looked similar to Supervisor White from Graygarden.
"I wonder if they're anything like MVRNs before they're programmed…"
There was a bathroom with nothing interesting in it, as if it'd been picked clean. At the end of the hall, a door to a bedroom was open, while another one across the way was closed. Never fully being able to choose the easiest route, she walked through the closed-off area first.
What she found twisted her stomach.
A crib, blue in color, sat crooked underneath a baby mobile with one, solo spaceship hanging from its center. A dresser had wooden blocks on top, lined up to spell out, "Shaun."
Nora had a son. At least, with a name like Shaun, the baby was most likely a boy. He was still young enough to sleep in the crib when the bombs fell.
"Guess Hammond got what he wanted. A grand-spawn. Wonder if the kid died."
Liera closed the door, frowning at the idea.
"Looking for something?" Rhys crossed his arms.
She jumped, "What? No."
"What are you doing, then?"
"Poking around."
"You don't 'poke around,' without a motive."
Liera held her arms out, "C'mon, aren't you a little curious about Maxson's mistress?"
His nose crinkled, "She's not…His…What?"
"Kinda punches a hole in your, 'sacrifice everything to rise in the ranks,' plan, doesn't it?" She tapped his shoulder.
"I'd like to see you prove it."
"That a challenge?"
"Sure is."
"Okay, but if I can, you owe me."
He put his knuckles on his hips, "Owe you what, exactly?"
"I don't know yet." She inched her way in the bedroom, eager to start tossing it, "But when I do, you'll be the first one to hear about it."
…
Preston and Danse walked up the stairs that emptied out in what seemed to be a rooftop shed. The ceiling was metal, but its missing plates gave them a brilliant view of the afternoon sky. A chem station was in the corner, with small sets of shelves holding raw materials. A book case had been reutilized into storage, lined with buckets and supplies. It ran the length of a narrow corridor with a door at the end.
"Nora told us it used to be the governor's mansion." Preston leaned his rifle in the hall, and proceeded outside.
The terrace was breathtaking. Clay pots of all colors held plants on top of the waist-high edge, and a barrel fire burned to accent them. A lamp post was resting in its own corner, giving the space a warm glow. A potted tree, small and weak in nature, leaned against the wall for support.
Preston directed him to the other side, where a bright neon "OPEN" sign hung on carefully placed nails.
"Seems like a waste of electricity."
Next to it "SANCTUARY" was spelled in illuminated letters with an arrow pointing down to it, flashing like a beacon. Danse imagined seeing it from afar.
"If that's not asking for trouble, I don't know what is…"
There was a bench under the signs, but Preston passed it. He placed his hands on the solid cement railing, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
Danse had seen Maxson take the same stance at the Command Deck of the Prydwen. And just like then, he took to Preston's side.
"Quite the view."
Preston huffed, "It was even better before your blimp ruined it…"
The sun set behind the floating ship. It was farther away than what made Danse comfortable.
"At least the rest of this place has come along nicely." He took his hood off, and shook his hair free.
"You might not have been able to look passed it's state when we arrived, but we've cleaned it up." He turned towards him, casting a shadow over the left half of his face.
"Look, Preston…I don't think I've ever said this, but I'm sorry about what happened. Leaving was a hard decision."
He tried to sound as sincere as possible.
"Speak softly and bring superior firepower, eh?" Preston snickered, "Maybe once we deal with the immediate problem, you can stumble through a better apology."
Preston gave him the same inquisitive glare he'd given Danse and his team when they met.
He crossed his arms, gripping his biceps, "If you don't lift the embargoes off your settlements, our soldiers will starve. And without us, everything you've done for these people will be left vulnerable to the Institute."
"Don't test my patience…" Preston nodded to the sky, "You guys just replaced the Institute as the biggest threat here."
Danse reeled his anger in, "If history's proven anything, it's that an overwhelming show of force has a chance of halting a conflict before it begins. The Prydwen's arrival is no different."
"You're going to save us whether we like it or not, is that it?"
Danse swung his arms out to his sides, raising his voice, "I don't know! Since you have all the answers, why don't you tell me?"
His gloves crinkled as his fingers tightened in response.
Danse silently scolded himself for losing his temper, hoping he didn't blow it.
Preston's shoulders finally relaxed, and he exhaled a long, drawn-out breath.
"I can defend a perimeter against all odds. I can get my men through a firefight. However, there's something we need that not even the Minutemen can get all by ourselves." He remained calm, "You help us, maybe we can help you."
The back and forth squabbling was starting to give Danse a headache, and he welcomed some leeway with cooperation.
"What did you have in mind?"
Preston pushed away from the railing, and walked to the bench. He took a seat, folded his legs, and placed his hat on his knee, "We've gotten big enough that we're having trouble consistently communicating with all our settlements. It's a good problem to have, but…"
He rubbed his temples, his chin swaying with the motion.
"But?"
"We need a radio station that will let us respond immediately when people need help."
Danse leaned his lower back against the railing, "I take it you have a solution?"
"Yep. It's time the Minutemen retake the Castle."
"The Castle?"
"It used to be the Minutemen HQ, way before my time. Well-fortified, centrally-located, and most important - it has a powerful radio transmitter we can use to broadcast anywhere." Preston saddened, "A lot of our leaders were killed in the battle that lost it, and I guess nobody ever felt it was worth the risk to try to retake it…"
Danse bit back an insensitive smile, thankful that Liera and EV recalibrated the Revere Satellite Array.
The Brotherhood needed the assistance of the Militia, and now, it seemed the Minutemen needed help from the Brotherhood.
"What happened to it?"
"This was long before I joined up," Preston adjusted himself, "But the story I heard was that some kind of monster came out of the sea and destroyed it…Well, parts of it."
"Come on…A sea monster?"
"You just showed up with a 20-foot-tall 'Titan.' You telling me you can't keep an open mind after that?"
"When you put it that way…" He rubbed the back of his head, "So, all you want is help taking this Castle?"
"Want?" Preston shrugged, "I'd say we need it if we want to bring the whole Commonwealth under our protection."
"Our?"
"Yeah, our. The Brotherhood and the Minutemen." He grinned, "Whether that comes to light is up to you. You can either accept my terms, or not. If you don't, then I'll know where we stand."
Danse hesitated, "And you'll lift the embargo?"
"Yeah, obviously...Do we have a deal?"
It would take a lot of firepower. A lot of men. Permission from Elder Maxson.
"Let's make it happen."
They sat in each other's company for a bit, surveying the land from where they rested.
"I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me man to man, Paladin."
"I appreciate you taking the time to listen." He sighed under his breath, "Let's hope Maxson does the same."
"Convincing him is your job." He turned his head, looking at the Prydwen, "How's my buddy Arthur and his new sidekick holding up, anyway?"
There was sarcasm and pain in his tone. Nora had been around just long enough to sink her claws in him.
"They're…fine." Danse grimaced, remembering his conversation with Maxson, "Nora's up to her old scheming, as usual."
"She's attracted to power. He had more than I did, apparently." His brows dug deep.
"Don't discredit yourself. You brought Maxson's army to its knees when you cut us off from your settlements."
Preston released a laugh, "I wouldn't say that. I don't know a lot about that Titan, but I'm pretty sure she could've wiped us out."
"Could? Sure. Would she have done it, though? Not likely. Just as Knight Lastimosa said, the Brotherhood doesn't own her."
"Truth be told, I was glad you brought the robot with you. Wouldn't have believed the stories if I hadn't seen her with my own eyes. Thought it was just a bunch of boogeyman stories stemmed from paranoia." He stretched, "But whatever's waiting for us at the Castle, she'll be helpful, that's for sure."
Danse reflected on everything the Brotherhood had demanded from Liera and EV. All the strides they'd made with them at their side.
"Everyone needs her help, and Lastimosa's…" He sighed, "That's the problem…"
"Why is that a problem?"
"Because she's killing herself. She charges full speed ahead, all the time, no questions asked. She doesn't know when to sit things out…Not that she could, being at Maxson's beck and call…"
Preston leaned up with a mischievous grin on his face, "You care about her."
Danse blinked in surprise, his neck snaking backwards, "Of course I do. She's a member of my team."
"Uh-huh. I may have been through a lot of bullshit in my life, but I know a budding love when I see it."
"I don't…"
He'd never been good at lying, and Preston had always been one to call him on his attempts.
"…Know what it is, or what to do about it…"
Preston wasn't with the Brotherhood, and at one point, they were friends. Confiding in him didn't strike Danse as a risk.
Preston pushed himself up, "I've got some untouched Nuka-Cola stashed away in the cellar. Why don't we crack a few open like we used to?"
"Uh…Sure, if they're not radiated."
"You think I'd offer you radiated beverages?"
"The barkeep at Bunker Hill did."
"Wait, you talking about Joe?" Preston grinned, "How the heck is he?! I haven't seen him in ages!"
The two carried on, walking down the steps towards the lower levels of the house.
Danse enjoyed the change of pace, eager to converse with someone not dressed in Brotherhood insignias that reminded him to be professional.
…
Night had fallen over the Commonwealth, dark like when Liera and the rest of the team left on their journey. She ate her rations, disgruntled by her search of Nora's bedroom coming up empty-handed. All she found was a bunch of old, crummy IMC military fatigues and a couple of condoms that expired 200 years ago.
"Don't think they calculated nuclear holocaust in their product warranty."
She sat around one of the fires outside with the others, and Haylen looked at the stars.
"It's hard to believe the weather cleared up. Getting here was like something out of a horror story."
Liera nodded, shoveling more of the lukewarm soup in her mouth, "I'd go through it all again if it meant I got a real meal…Haven't had one since I left the MacAllan."
"It's been…what, 6 months for us?" Rhys asked Haylen.
"About."
"Yeah, so stop whining."
Liera gave him a quick smile, pushing a laugh out of her nose.
"They've been up there for a while." Haylen put her empty can down.
"I'm sure he's got it under control." Rhys unleashed a deep-chested belch, "'Scuse me."
"You're disgusting." Haylen grimaced.
"You live with me, you should be used to it by now."
"You've got a point. Your burps don't even come close to the sounds your ass makes in your sleep."
Rhys laughed, and loud. It was the first time Liera heard it happen.
"Guess I lucked out," She scraped the inside of her can, "Danse only talks in his sleep."
"So do you." Haylen smirked, "Who's Ryan?"
Liera's spoon stopped moving, "Pardon?"
"While you were out, you called for someone named Ryan when I came to check up on you and Danse." She leaned forward, almost eager.
"He…" Liera paused, "He was an ex-IMC officer who went rogue in the middle of his mission. Helped a tent-full of kids evacuate on a Militia ship, and decided to stay with us."
To her surprise, Rhys seemed interested, "Telling the IMC to shove it must've taken some balls, considering what you've told us about them."
The tearing in her chest started to mend, and talking about him hurt less.
"Oh, yeah. Ryan Royal, the one-man army. Larger than life; only way to describe him. When he walked in a room? You knew it immediately." She smiled at his memory, "He just had this…Essence to him. People fed off it, they were inspired by it. Made you want to be better, even if you thought you were the best."
"Sounds like you have a lot of personal experience." Haylen winked.
"Yes, Haylen, I fell in love with him." She mocked her with a condescending tone, and it forced a laugh out of the Scribe, "He even moved in with my family and I some time after we ran the Gauntlet together."
"Wait," Rhys held up his hand, "He was a Pilot?"
"Hell yeah, he was. He made Top Gun, too. Only other Pilot in our Company that did."
"And you served together?"
"Yep." Liera put her hands up, and pulled them apart as if making a banner out of thin air, "LastiRoyal. That's what they called us. Blew a lot of shit up together and worked out any emotional crap in bed."
"Ugh-" Rhys ran a hand down his face, "That's just…Unprofessional."
Haylen released a boisterous laugh. But it faded, and the side of her mouth pulled up her cheek in concern, "Was he…onboard the MacAllan?"
"Nah…" Her brows pulled together, "IMC got to him 2 years ago."
She lowered her head, and the two looked at her with their shock suppressed.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It is what it is..." Liera leaned back on one arm, looking at the night sky, "He's up there somewhere, watching me stumble through life and calling me clumsy."
"You never struck me as the religious type."
"Rhys, come on." Haylen nudged him.
"It's alright." Liera smiled, "I mean, I'm not. Pilots have their own traditions and beliefs, but we don't really call it a religion."
"Like what?" He asked.
"Eh, that's a loaded question…One example are these things we call burn cards. You write a wish, burn the card, then wait and see what happens. Really deep, right?"
"Heh." He grunted, "Yeah. Super emotionally-charged."
"Have you ever burned a card?" Haylen cocked her head.
"Plenty. Can't tell you what was on them, though. That's one of the rules."
"Damn. You knew that was gonna be my next question, didn't you?"
"Sure did."
The fire burned hot, keeping the group warm in the chilly air. It hadn't been that long since they all met, but Liera felt a bond with them that reminded her of when she was deployed with the rest of the Marauders.
"Well, it's getting late." Rhys stood, "I'm gonna lay down and try to get some sleep before Preston kicks us out."
He offered a hand to Haylen, and she used it to pull herself up, "If he kicks us out."
"Hmph, we'll see…You coming, Lastimosa?"
She shook her head, "Staying out here for a bit."
"Suit yourself." He waved, "Night."
"Night, guys."
Haylen followed, pausing just before she passed Liera. She opened a pocket on her thigh, and flipped open a note book, sliding a small pencil out of the loop of its ringed binding. She tore a page out, and offered it.
"What's this?" Liera watched her curiously.
Haylen wagged the pencil next to the piece of paper, "Send a prayer back home."
The gesture warmed her heart, and her eyes widened in surprise. She slowly raised her hands to accept the items, "T-thank you…"
"You're welcome." She patted her shoulder, and disappeared in the home.
Liera looked at the blank page, the pencil pinched between her fingers. She was taken off guard, and fought with the right words.
"It's been a long time…"
Haylen's voice trailed through one of the broken windows, "Can you imagine what having a home feels like? To just…Have an entire house to call yours, knowing that no matter where you go, it'll always be there…Waiting…"
"No," Rhys admitted, "Not at all."
Liera could. Vividly.
A humble home; not too big, not too small…Sitting in the middle of Moonbrooke in the suburbs of Radiance, being maintained by her family's superintendents that kept their affairs in order while they were deployed.
It was lost upon the burning stars, far out of her galaxies that not even the Militia had taken time to explore.
On the other side of the universe…There was Harmony.
Where people went to work. Went out to eat if they didn't feel like cooking. Where the weather was gentle on its people's skin and the air was sweet. Where the Militia lifted the burdens from the citizens of the Frontier, aiming their best to provide a peaceful life.
Home.
It was far away. But it was waiting.
Her pencil moved autonomously, not necessarily guided by a conscious decision.
"I pray I'm not the only one alive, waiting to go back."
Behind the Scenes:
*High Noon Definition: An event or confrontation that is likely to decide the final outcome of a situation.