Calli and Hawk glided lithely over the rocky terrain high on the mountain face. The road far below was hot, dusty and dangerous. She had already spotted- and skirted- a large group of bandits, hiding in ambush for unwary travelers, or even more likely for one of the traders who frequented this passage. She had considered taking them out, but there were quite a few of them, and the risk of injury was pretty high. Even her battle suit could only take so many direct hits and it was already damaged. She was on her way home now from a rather profitable find but it wouldn't do her any good if she ended up dead.
She could see a trader now, approaching the bandits, four men it appeared to be. Even at this distance something seemed familiar about them. She knew most of the traders so it wasn't unlikely that she knew them. She raised her sniper rifle and focused on the group through the scope. By the One, it would have to be Scott and Nathan, wouldn't it? Now what could she do. They would be in the bandit's trap in short order if she didn't do something. She was behind them now, if she fired a warning shot it would likely drive them forward right into the trap. She couldn't possibly reach them in time to be of any use. But there was one thing she could do, sure to drive Scott instantly to cover.
Calli threw back her head and howled.
Scott reacted instantly. He hurled himself behind a boulder. The youth was as quick to follow suit. Then all hell broke loose. The bandits broke cover and fired on the guards, who hadn't been as quick to react. Nathan and Scott returned fire from behind the boulder. The savage explosion of a Nuka Grenade rocked the ground, followed by another, and the maniacal yelling of a large mutant. Bandits and parts of bandits flew past accompanied by rocks, dirt and shrapnel.
Nathan broke cover, opening fire on the remaining bandits. He spotted the distinctive helmet amid the smoke and chaos, but before he could react, she was gone. He quickly scanned the area for any other enemies before checking each body for signs of life. Not a one among the bandits. Some had their throats cut, how had she managed that in such a short time, he wondered? He went to check the guards.
Lawrence was dead, but Hank was groaning, moving feebly. He quickly dropped to the man's side, removed his armor and checked his wounds. Scott walked up and tossed down his medical kit.
"Here", he said. "You'll need this. You heard her, didn't you?", he asked, warily watching the wasteland. Calli was out there somewhere. "Her battle cry. You see what she did to those men. We're lucky she didn't kill us, too."
Nathan sprinkled a clotting med in a gaping wound and prepared to stitch it. "I don't know", he said slowly, swabbing at the wound. "It sounded to me like she was trying to warn us."
"Hmmph", Scott snorted. "Why would she do that?" and he stalked off to find the cow and their merchandise. Nathan didn't look up from his task but his heart was heavy. A guard dead , the other out of commission, merchandise probably damaged, and trading hadn't been going so well lately. The cow was old and needed replaced. He wanted to get a horse and cart but they were so expensive. Something needed to be done to help them get on their feet.
Calli groaned, inspecting the long gash in her suit leg. Unfortunately it was in her leg underneath as well and was making it hard for her to walk.
"Let me carry you", Hawk demanded again for the umpteenth time.
She growled. "I already said no. You have all you can carry. It isn't that far to a Brotherhood safe house and I have the key. I'm not going to let you drop all the merchandise to carry me! It took us weeks to clear that bunker."
"We should have brought the horses.", he snipped.
She glared at him. "We already discussed that. You know we couldn't have got them in that bunker and we couldn't leave them unattended while we cleared it. And don't bother mentioning the bikes. You know damn well that path was way too rocky and narrow for them. " His mouth thinned but he didn't comment.
He was mystified why his companion seemed so obsessed with looking after the Hallidays when they only wanted to kill her, but that was her business. The gash had already started to show signs of healing. Once at the safe house they would rest a few days and continue to home when she had healed. His own wounds were somewhat less bothersome as the bandits had seemed to be armed only with shotguns and his regenerative powers were equal to hers.
She probably hadn't needed to waste the precious Nuka grenades, but she had been worried they couldn't be stopped from killing the traders if she didn't get them quickly, and besides her suit was damaged, not up to a battle. He did wonder though how Scott had managed to cut at least two of their throats without getting dead himself.
Calli strode into the doctor's office. "Hey, Dr. Bening" she greeted him.
He looked up. "Calli", he said. "It's nice to see you whole for once."
She laughed, removing her helmet. "I had a good trip this time. Just did some good trades over at the post too. Well, I did get a bad gash in my leg, but I think it's pretty well healed now."
The doctor nodded, making a note on his pad. "So what can I do for you? Or is this a social call?"
Calli cocked her head and considered. "Is it so unlikely I'd just like to visit a bit?" she teased.
The doctor snorted.
"Well, okay, I do have something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you know the Halliday boys?", she asked.
Dr. Bening nodded. "Aren't those the guys trying to kill you?" he asked.
"Among others", Calli grinned. "But it was Nathan I wanted to talk about. I've been watching him these last few years, and from what I see, and what I've heard about him, I think he would make a fine doctor. I want to sponsor him to be your apprentice."
Dr. Bening never ceased to be surprised by the little trader. "How old is the boy now?" he asked.
"I believe he turned 15 a few months ago. I watched him stitching up a guard just a few days ago. He seemed to be doing a pretty good job.", she said.
"I'll think about it. I already have 2 apprentices."
"Yes, I know, but I don't think you have any candidates as capable as this boy. Just think about it, would you?", she requested.
"All right". Dr. Bening made more notes on his pad. "I'll send word to the trading post I want to see the boy. Then we'll talk about it." Calli agreed, satisfied for the moment.
The novitiate sat in the back of the bar in her usual seat. The patrons and barman were used to her presence and didn't pay her any attention. She was listening to the gossip as usual while appearing to be simply meditating. There had been talk the last few weeks about a new protocol weapon the gun runners were developing.
The Gun Runners had moved into the DC area and set up a compound only a few months ago, but they already had a reputation as a tough, fierce group, supplying powerful weapons to anyone with the cash to buy them. This gossip interested her as she had already decided to obtain the specs for this particular item. The fact that word was out about it might make it more difficult to obtain.
Calli looked up to see who was entering. She recognized the traders at once. Nathan didn't seem particularly interested in being in the bar, though Scott was heading for his usual seat with gusto, preparing for an evening of drinking and storytelling. He had a new one to tell, Calli grinned to herself. It would amuse her to see how Scott embellished the battle.
"Hey, novitiate." She looked up at Nathan standing politely by her. "Can I join you?"
She waved at the seat beside her. "You are Nathan, are you not?" she asked softly. "Nathan Halliday? I saw you come in with your brother. You seem quite grown from the last time I saw you."
"I thought that was you, Novitiate Marcella" He said. "I wanted to thank you for the book. It's been really useful. You're still a novitiate? I heard you were taking your Teacher's."
"Alas, it seems I have failed somewhat at trading," she murmured. "It did take me some years to make Novitiate from Initiate. It seems I'm not quite ready to make Teacher. I aspire to be a Master, but that is many years off, if I can ever do it. Few enough become Masters. But what of you? Do you still trade?"
"For now, but I'm thinking about making a change.", he said. "I was called to the Citadel yesterday. The doctor there thinks I might make a good apprentice."
"That's wonderful" ,she said enthusiastically. "You would make a fine doctor."
"I don't know, I would really like to, it's what I've always wanted to do. But things aren't going so well with Scott now. If he could just get on his feet, I could leave to take training. But I've got a plan.", he said conspiratorially.
A plan? Calli felt her heart sink. What was this young man planning? She was sure it wasn't anything good. "What would that be?", she asked quietly.
Nathan grinned. "Well, I can't really tell you, can I? But if it works out, I should have enough money to set Scott up and take care of Mom."
His eyes were following a group of gun runners drinking in the corner and guffawing at Scott's latest tale. By the One, surely he wasn't contemplating trying to steal the prototype? He was just a kid!
"So, Nathan, when are you going to carry out your plan?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, soon, Dr. Bening isn't going to wait long for my answer.", he said absently.
She sighed inwardly. "Oh, Nathan," she thought. "What am I going to do with you?" "Excuse me, sir," she said. "But it is time I retire. Perhaps we can talk again some other time."
"Sure", Nathan looked disappointed, but smiled at the cowled figure. "Tomorrow night?"
"Perhaps". She rose with a soft rustle of material and glided gracefully from the room.
Calli snapped the battle gear in place and picked up her pack. She had moved up her timetable for hitting the gun runners. Once word got out the prototype had been stolen Nathan wouldn't be tempted to risk his life. Hawk frowned from where he sat in the corner, arms folded. He didn't like this at all.
"Are you sure we have to go tonight? You usually spend more time scouting an area before you infiltrate it. Do you know where we're going?", he asked.
"I have a fair idea of the room's location. The specs shouldn't be hard to get to since they think the place is too well-guarded to get into", she replied.
Hawk got to his feet and picked up his gear. There was no use arguing. She would just go without him.
They approached the gun runner's gate cautiously. It seemed quiet enough, the guard patrolling as she expected. She waited for him to pace back toward the corner then slipped up to the gate. What the? The lock was already cut. "Nathan!" She thought. "He's already inside." Well the boy seemed to be doing all right so far. They slipped silently through the gate, closing it softly behind them so that it still seemed secure. They moved quickly into the shadow by the main door. The guard moved back past them, not looking toward the building. She tried the door. As she had expected it was already unlocked. They moved quickly inside.
And then it happened.
