If there's one thing I'd like to point out in this story. It's the character perspectives being quite a risk...
What if the hunter is the hunted?
Song used
"Is This What You Wanted" by grandson
-For the Commonwealth: Bait-
"They're trying to get through the gate!"
Ignoring almost everything else entirely, Piper kept firing on whatever she landed her eyes on that wore a T-45.
Trying to maintain keeping the attackers outside, it took almost a minute before the power armored personnel in OD greed T-60s got into action with laser rifles and miniguns. Oh, how Piper wanted to yell out a curse that she isn't wearing her X02. She had finally befallen into putting a lot of faith on Enclave power armor, and fighting like this wasn't the type of her way of fighting anymore.
Although she managed to kill two in power armor, Piper slowly advanced forward along with the military painted T-60s, but trying as hard as she could shoot almost anything else in sight, she suddenly gained view of Sarah firing from behind a truck with Mcready sniping behind one of the barriers. Piper frowned at the sight of the blonde woman but deciding to let it pass on, she eventually helped to defend the old training yard.
Letting the USAF personnel take over by securing the area outside, Piper turned to see Sarah approaching in.
"You can't just run off like that. You really that eager killing them?"
"Don't question me, Sarah. I do what I want."
She earned glare before a sour response.
"I'm here to watch your back, and so is your hired gun. You got a death wish or something?"
"Shut the hell up-"
"THERE'S MORE INCOMING!"
The sound of more laser gunfire came louder as it neared just outside the constructed walls surrounding the entire training yard.
"I'll get to a higher spot and take a shot on those assholes."
Seeing Mcready running off towards one of the watch towers, Piper immediately rushed outside to where there were already USAF personnel trying to defend from the Brotherhood hostiles.
"Waste those filthy muties!"
Piper shouted as she fired nonstop on one of the unfortunate Brotherhood soldiers that got gunned down by a minigun.
Gaining sight of three T-45s managing to get past one of the defense barriers, Piper charge along with the other OD greed T-60s with miniguns where a close quarters combat began despite the exchange of gunfire outside the training yard.
"Fucking!"
"Piper what are you doing!?"
Ignoring the loud shouting of who appears to be Sarah giving her covering fire, Piper swung her laser rifle on one of the disarmed Brotherhood soldiers.
"Filthy!"
Ignoring the other soldiers from either Brotherhood of USAF, Piper managed to force her weight onto her disarmed target before pounding the butt of her laser rifle prototype onto the helmet nonstop.
"RADIATED FUCK!"
"They're trying to make a retreat! Get a convoy up and running and don't let them get off!"
Piper ignored the rest of the OD green personnel chasing after the attackers on foot ignoring the sight of a military truck immediately following, Piper was too busy to notice in reality where she was on top of a corpse in a T-45, a cracked open helmet, crushed skull, oozing blood with bits and chunks of brain all over the ground. Her new gun clearly broken and in need of serious repair.
"Piper!"
Piper didn't paid attention, her eyes only staring at the crushed chunks of what used to be a head on a now cracked open T-45 helmet.
"Piper!"
Feeling hands grabbing hold onto her arms before being pulled off the corpse, Piper was suddenly snapped back into reality only to feel Sarah violently shaking her and the sight of Mcready running up to them.
"PIPER!"
Piper's eyes blinked for a few times before managing to gain enough strength to shove the blonde woman off only for Mcready to catch her.
"Hey, calm down boss! No need to get all angry..."
"Piper! What the hell is the matter with you!?"
Piper didn't replied. Her eyes, however, landed back on the headless corpse before kicking it hard, making aloud clink from the metal.
"Fucking radiated brain headed traitor to the pre-war army!"
She didn't get any response from what she said. But rather, stares from her two companions. Unexpected stares from either grimace and surprise.
Piper turned to Sarah before pointing out an accusing finger.
"Don't bother following me. You wanna expose yourself alive? I won't give a fuck anymore. You're on your own."
She only gained stares, wary stares. However, to see General Ward rushing outside with a laser pistol, Piper bitterly glared at the man who was obviously without any single clue looking at the bodies on T-45s.
"Traitors."
It is all that Piper ever said. But it did in fact got the attention almost every ear all around the area.
"Piper... What's happening to you..."
"Boss, you uh... Don't look good..."
Piper took a step back before strapping her broken plasma rifle prototype onto her back and pulling out her issued plasma pistol instead for a weapon.
"Lieutenant, Wright? Perhaps letting our medics take a look at you would be a bit of a good idea. You are clearly, and visibly fatigued... I can sympathize for what Mrs. Amani has put you in through-"
"Don't blame her and DON'T bring her name on this! None of this would've happen in the first place. If all of you just let her be reviving the Enclave! I'm warning you, General Ward... You can say all what you want, but stay out of the way of the Enclave. You don't want us as your enemy."
To see the stares she's receiving. She didn't care if it were of fear, mistrust, caution and most of all, disgrace. Piper cleared her throat before finally adding one last part on her threatening statement.
"I'll make this clear, General, that if any of your soldiers, or any of Maxson's Brotherhood interferes on any Enclave operation ever again, we will kill you all. If not for President Eden, then for Colonel Amani."
And with a harshly end to her statement, she turned her back on the General and even to her two companions before deciding to walk to a different direction as far away from the National Guard training yard. For a bit of time as it takes, it was slowly becoming clear for Piper as she began to see the way Amanda sees it. These traitors to the pre-war US Army was preventing what only good thing the Enclave was trying to do to restore the wasteland. Even though she never favors Amanda's division and her sudden transition to the old Enclave, Piper was also starting to see signs of hating both USAF and Brotherhood of Steel alike. These factions know nothing more but to interfere, makes it a reason for anyone in her position to get pissed off, and shoot these people, which makes it reasonable.
*PSSHEW!*
"General Ward!"
Piper stopped on her tracks. That was a plasma rifle. The same sound out of the very basic standard issued plasma rifle for the AI personnel. Except, she was the only one equipped with one, set aside hers being a new prototype. Slowly turning her head over her shoulder, she saw a group of USAF personnel surrounding all around two medics immediately getting General Ward onto a stretcher. Although she didn't really get to see much of what was happening, neither seen any glimpse of Sarah or Mcready, Piper only huffed harshly before turning away and walking north out of the reach of the old training yard. She had enough bullshit for one day to deal with.
But wait. Should she care or wonder about what the fuck just happened? Piper only kept walking before reaching about sixty meters away and took out a flare grenade.
Not long after a minute, a tanned vertibird came for her pickup.
"Looking tired, Lieutenant! Rough day?"
Asked one of the AI pilots.
Piper who sat comfortably on one of the seats only folded her arms. A creepy smile slightly cracked on her face.
"A good day actually."
It was wrong. Or fucked up, whatever people may wanna call it. But Piper had the thought of General Ward being shot randomly as she walked away, she found it both amusing, yet, intriguing. But she shouldn't care. That General was never good or worth the trust anyway. Right?
Despite having to keep being bothered from what she just heard and shortly witnessed, Piper was too fucking exhausted to even wonder. So leaning back on her seat as the vertibird flew her on the way back to the Castle, Piper felt her muscles so tensed from all the burned exercise that got her running all because of the nobody calling herself Wanderer. Should she let Amanda know? Though, she knew that Amanda wouldn't be pleased. Or perhaps, she could come up with the reason by informing Amanda about General Ward?
It was so difficult to decide on what she should do. But remembering Sarah as she simply ditched her back at the training yard, Piper mentally cursed. She didn't mean what she said, but what can be undone when it's done? She honestly didn't expect herself to even say that to Sarah. Perhaps, her lack of rest is what's causing her these. Making her think like Amanda. And maybe General Ward was right, again. Amanda's absence within the entire Enclave battalions was affecting her indeed. Personally and emotionally. But somehow, it only made Piper frowned, which gave her even more reason to dislike the USAF General. Who the hell does he think he is to say that anyway? Perhaps, he deserved to get shot randomly out of nowhere point-blank. Except, who would even do such a fucking thing?
Deciding to erase all the thoughts on her mind, Piper filed out of the vertibird by the time it made ascend outside the Castle.
After making a quick stop to the gunsmith building for her weapon repair, Piper was immediately approached by the captain in charge.
"Goddammit, Wright! What the hell just happened out there? The team you're out with got back without you and reported you jumped off the convoy during encounter with a heavy resistance!"
Although, she was startled by the scowl of the captain, Piper was just too tired to explain, but seeing the captain's face clearly pissed and with the look of demand for an answer, Piper sighed shortly before giving a full summary on what just happened during and after the encounter. The captain's face was changed to the look of grimace by the time she told the part about the Lone Wanderer and General Ward being randomly shot after a failed attack at the main USAF base.
"I'm sorry, sir. But regarding the Brotherhood Sentinel, I had the chance to take her out while defending myself against her soldiers, but another thing was that, Paladin Danse from Maxson's Brotherhood of Steel interfered along with his Scribe and a small unit of USAF soldiers. I had that under control, but they-"
"That's not the point, Wright! The point is, why the hell didn't you just stand down? You had recovered what you were ordered to recover on that checkpoint, and there's no necessary need to target their Sentinel because it would only make things worse for us in this current situation! With our Colonel clearly off the line, we can only depend on Patriot's orders. But with him off the grid, we need to lay low until he gets back, and look what you just did... They will definitely strike us back. We may be superior in resources, tech and weaponry, but we cannot underestimate the Brotherhood from the capital. Their numbers are far greater than ours still. And at any time, they can initiate an all out attack on either here or on the airbase."
Piper looked down for a moment with a frown on her face.
"I've received a memo from Patriot via terminal by the way."
Piper's face perked up as she heard the captain speak once again.
"The message wasn't much, but what it stated was regarding Enclave eyebots presence far on the southwest."
Piper raised a brow.
"What about it?"
"Like I said the message wasn't much. But it had your name to be tasked to go there and investigate. It is a one-man task, by the way."
Piper let out a deep heavily tired sigh with a frown.
"Sorry, Wright but that's an order. Patriot's order. But if you could get it done as soon as possible, I'll give two days R&R."
Piper just gave a small nod before finally being dismissed to get geared up again. But as she was walking away, she suddenly heard the captain clearing his throat before speaking.
"One last thing. Patriot's orders are to destroy those Enclave eyebots. Whoever came up with those are obviously trying to ruin the Commonwealth Enclave's reputation. They must be stopped before it gets worse."
Piper didn't bother giving a reply and instead hurried to the barracks to get a change of uniform before getting on her X02. She swore to god that she will never be stepped on ever again for not being on power armor.
After getting a Gatling laser from the armory, she was directed to a vertibird ready for departure.
"You got the coordinates?"
Piper asked one of the pilots asked she got on board.
"Already got it, Lieutenant!"
Piper gave a simple nod before standing still with the Gatling laser on her hands.
As the vertibird flew her to the location, Piper's mind began to wander into the thought of Sarah. It was already a risk letting her come along, but what was even more of a risk was leaving her there. It was quite a risk that she could get exposed. But, she wondered what would happen if either Brotherhood found out that the ex Brotherhood Sentinel was alive. But it wasn't like Piper cared about the Brotherhoods business.
Another that came to her mind was General Ward being shot. Though, she didn't really care, but still, who would've even managed to take a shot at an exposed area where there wasn't any good position to snipe the General out? Whoever did it must've had more than any means to kill the USAF General. Perhaps, wanted the General dead for any specific reason?
"Well shit! Sorry to tell, Lieutenant, but this is the main stop! The Glowing Sea! We'll drop you on a distance just to be sure!"
Being interrupted from her thoughts, Piper just nodded in reply before jumping off the vertibird by the time it hovered only a few feet above the surface.
"When you're done here, signal us to pick you up by flare grenade, Lieutenant!"
And with that, the vertibird began flying away. But wait, this is the Glowing Sea. Why the fuck would Enclave eyebots even venture out here to just spew out propaganda? There's barely any wasteland life in here, set aside some stray ferals...
After only standing on a distant away from the radiated sea while looking around her surroundings, Piper suddenly heard heavy metal steps slowly approaching.
"I'm glad to see you, Piper."
Piper immediately spun around with her Gatling laser ready to fire, only to see a Tesla modified power armor that almost resembled hers. And came from it was Amanda's voice. Somehow, rather calm...
Piper then lowered her Gatling laser as she stared at the other woman in front her while in power armor.
"You missed me?"
"Amanda... Um... I didn't expect to, see you here... Wait, what did you just-"
"Never mind. I'm here for a... Very personal favor to ask..."
She watched as Amanda slowly approached her. Under her helmet, Piper only raised a brow, but being startled at the sight of Amanda reaching for her metal hands with hers, Piper felt her hands limping as it dropped the Gatling laser with a thud on the ground, her eyes through the lens of her X02 helmet staring at Amanda's similar helmet.
"So... Would you do me a favor, Piper?"
Rather, the opposite of how she knew Amanda, it wasn't the usually aggressive tone that she usually hears the hotheaded woman on. This was, somehow... Gentle.
"Actually, I'm here for-"
"You can't lie to me. I saw that vertibird."
Piper bit her lip under her helmet. Of course, Amanda probably saw it.
"Don't tell me... Patriot started another division? Is it only for the AIs and non-ferals because of the separation order that I declared?"
Piper couldn't respond. She was rather nervous as Amanda squeezed her metal hands gently.
"I can't blame him. Neither will I care. But that's not the point why I sent a false message with Patriot's name on it."
Piper's eyes went wide.
"You... Sent that? Wait... Where- Where's Patriot-"
"Probably at Sanctuary. It's a long story that I don't have time to tell. But yes. I sent that message to have you being sent out here. So surely you have time to spare. After all, I made sure to include adding on giving you two days R&R after this 'Investigation'."
Piper was clearly frozen on her spot by the time Amanda finished. So she's clearly thought this all through, if she's going to accept that thought of Amanda just rigged all this to happen at all.
Hearing Amanda sighing shortly, Piper then heard her clearing her throat.
"With the current situation being too risky to even reveal myself being back here on the Commonwealth, I had to stay vigilant. And yes, if you're wondering if I know. I know about your new fort... But are you keeping something from me? Other than that?"
Piper swallowed hard. She didn't know own to respond.
Hearing Amanda sigh, Piper decided to speak slowly.
"Amanda... General Ward... He was shot..."
She felt the grip of Amanda's metal hand tightening on hers by the time she finished her stuttered statement. But she didn't get a response.
"Amanda... I dislike him, but, it's just because that he's being, like Maxson. Oblivious about what's going on. The Sentine-"
"The Wanderer does not threaten me. Not an inch, Piper."
Piper stared at her for a long moment in silence.
"I've had... Sources, that provided me information on what I need to know, and what I want to know. However, there are still plenty of work to be done. This, rather focuses the Brotherhood from DC than the NCR."
"Amanda... I..."
Piper didn't continue. She wanted to tell Amanda, but, part of her was holding her back. It just didn't feel like its the right time to tell her about her encounter with the Wanderer.
"You don't have to say it. Whatever that is."
Piper slightly flinched back at what she heard from Amanda. Her voice. It was so calm, gentle. And somehow, loving...
"Look at me, Piper."
Piper obliged, and staring into the emotionless animalistic face of the similar helmet that Amanda wore, she waited for Amanda to continue.
"The reason you're here, like I said, is for a personal favor... You would... Do anything for me. Right?"
Piper was rather silent after the statement. But to see Amanda taking a step closer to her, Piper didn't notice that on such a quick move, Amanda's metal hands were now in the waist part of her X02, and therefore, she was slowly being pulled closer by Amanda. Inch by inch.
"Amanda..."
"I love you too sweetheart... But... I can't see it clearly... Do you.. Love me too?"
Deep down, despite that sweet, gentle loving voice under that power armor in front of her, Piper wanted to say yes. But, the sudden thought of Patriot came to her mind.
'Do you... Trust Colonel Amani? At this state?'
Piper slowly pulled her hands off Amanda's. Clearly, she was struggling to think whether she should pay attention from what Patriot asked her or pay attention to Amanda right in front of her.
"Don't you, feel the same way, Piper?"
She was then interrupted again, but Piper couldn't speak as she only managed to stare into Amanda.
"It's a no then?"
Piper finally began shaking her head.
"N-No... It's not like that... It's just that..."
She paused. Her eyes under her helmet clearly focused in Amanda's. She couldn't help but wonder just what Amanda's expression was under that helmet of hers.
"... Well, I do... I... Trust you."
Wait, did she meant what she said? She, didn't really get to think it through if she does...
"You trust me? That's it?"
Piper shook her head again, but to feel Amanda's hand holding hers again, Piper refocused her attention on Amanda's before trying to muster a reply.
"I... Well, I do Amanda... I...love you too..."
Piper meant what she said, but she just wasn't sure clearly if she said it right. But, why does it matter now? She's confessing it to Amanda, who already confessed to her.
"Then prove it."
That response coming from Amanda surprised her. And Piper wasn't sure how to respond.
"If... You will kindly do me a favor... It's very important... And... I can only trust..."
To see Amanda pause shortly, Piper bit her lip under her helmet as she felt and allowed Amanda to pitcher hands on the sides of her helmet gently with Amanda slowly leaned in forward, their helmets slightly pressed against together.
"... You."
Piper inhaled deeply before trying to force herself to give a reply.
"I'll... I'll... Do anything, Amanda... For you... What favor, do you want me to do...?"
To see Amanda's helmet, pressed against hers for long moment of silence, Piper waited for what seemed like more than a minute. But to hear soft breaths coming Amanda through her helmet, Piper waited patiently for her reply.
"Kill Patriot..."
Well, fuck. That's all I'm going to say until I get the next chapter out.
And to think about the character perspectives, it is already becoming risky -or perhaps it already is- to keep changing the character perspectives from time it time.
Anyway, I just saw the recent review and to see that it initiates a reasonable argument, I decided to give two responses.
Formal response: First of all, I deeply apologize for the typos and grammar errors that troubled you upon reading this story -and yes, English isn't my first language- and to be fairly honest with you, I don't translate the words to English as I work on these chapters as possible when I can.
Secondly, even if you -or some of you readers- may think that I easily publish these chapters right away, I still need to find more of a proper time to work on them before publishing them. Only problem is that I get to lack on time to get back and try to correct the errors on previous chapters. Yes, I really mean it. But that is a problem that I will simply put onto myself as my fault, so I can't really blame you.
And third, I'll try to find some time to re-edit the chapters when I can to correct the errors. I appreciate the criticism and will take this as a tool to at least improve further.
Personal response:Hey smart ass, how about you try writing a fanfiction? It's as simple as you may think, but it's not. And yes, I AM trying to put effort to my best abilities to make this story progress, but even if this story is just experimental, fixing the "mistakes" is where I mostly get a difficult time to get back on recent chapters correcting errors, but with you being on the reader perspective I really can't blame you either because it's your right to give out opinions/comments. But do you really have to be that harsh on the review? That is why it's called an "Experimental story" an experiment to get an insight on what the readers like on the story they're reading aside from improving my writing. That's the main target of this story's existence.
Though criticisms are always accepted, and despite understanding and respecting your review, I just don't think I'd let this one slip pass with me not responding to it.
ripntear