We stand in the middle of town square. There are little carts with various fruits. People walk the square and hold conversations like they did before the war. I smile at the thought. It's nice to know that not everywhere is completely fucked.
We head into the main building and Max takes us to an office off to the side. We all crowd in to the small office and he sits down behind the desk.
"So, you all have come a long way just for one little mission. Especially since you're such a small squad. So, what's the deal?" He asks.
"Well, as you may know, there is a presence of a military like organization called the enclave that has decided to settle down here. And in the past, the enclave and the brotherhood were not exactly buddies. In fact, they waged war against each other in the capital wasteland. But now they've regrouped, and we want to know why and what their plans are." I tell him.
"So why not bring your whole chapter?" He asks.
"Because, while our chapter of the brotherhood is much larger than California's, it would be like putting a huge sign up saying 'hey, we're not here to play nice!' Therefore, the logical resolution was to send me along with a small squad and collaborate with this chapter on how we are to take them out." I tell him.
He nods his head in understanding, "okay, I'm in." He says plainly.
"What?" I ask in confusion.
"I said I'm in. Look, it's no secret that they've regrouped here. They aren't exactly quiet about their presence. They've been terrorizing the locals and over taking their farms for more control over the region. Them along with the legion. With both of them coming at us from the north and west, and we will cease to exist and the locals will as well. And the NCR wants to put an end to it. So, I think the NCR and the brotherhood will have a good relationship, don't you think?" He asks.
"I sure hope so. You think your superiors will agree?" I hear maccready ask from behind me.
"Oh yeah, absolutely." He says.
I nod, "well then if we can talk to them as soon as possible then that would be great." I tell him, "but I think we need some time to rest. We've had a long flight."
He nods with a smile, "no worries. We always have a few houses open. There are a few down main street and to the left that should be big enough. Feel free to make yourselves at home." Max tells us.
"Thank you." I say.
"Anything for my brothers and sisters." He says.
I nod smiling and we walk out of the office and then the building. We walk down the road and to the left and find the houses Max was talking about. We randomly pick one and head inside.
The house has two bedrooms with a kitchen and a living room. I insist for my team to take the bedrooms but they let me and maccready and Cade and Masters take the bedrooms. The other two get to decide on the couch, which in all honesty, shire is going to get it.
Me and maccready settle in to our room and peel off our sweaty armor and uniform to replace them with more loose fitting and comfortable clothes. Then, we lay down to settle in for the night.
As we lay there, Maccready rubs circles on the top of my wrist, and I just think. I think of what is to come. About how we are to do this, and when it will end. I think about how we might not even survive this and how I may never even see my son again.
"Hey." Maccready says pulling me out of my own mind, "what's wrong?" He asks.
"Just thinkin'." I say.
"Then why are you all tense?" He asks.
"I'm just-" i say as I sit up and lean against the wall and so does he, "what if I never see my son again. I mean I know he isn't all human, but he's still my son no matter what. He will still grow, and think, and sound like my son." I tell him.
"Of course you will see him again. I'll make sure of it." He says wrapping his arm around my waist.
"And what if I never see him again. Mac, I don't know if I can lose him again. I don't think I could handle it." I tell him worriedly.
He turns me so i'm facing him and he looks me in the eyes, "Ellie, I promise you that we will see shaun again. Maxson will be good on his word and they will find him. I know it." He assures me.
"You think so?" I ask him.
"Yup, and we'll go home, make a whole new life. We could start up a farm like you said and watch shaun tinker on the porch as we watch the sunset." He tells me.
"He tinkers?" I ask.
"Yea, he used to help proctor ingram with small repairs or modding some weapons. He got really good." He tells me.
I smile, "what a smart boy. I can't wait to see what he'll become." I say leaning in to Maccready as he brings me in to an embrace.
"Me either." He says, "now why don't we get some sleep. I don't know how long a good nights rest will last." He says.
I nod, "okay."
We sink back down into a laying position and slowly fall asleep with his arms wrapped around me and my hand in his.
VVVVVVVVV
It is mid-day of the following day and we are halfway to camp Macarren. Max says that's where we'll find the NCR's president. He tells us that since the NCR has annexed new vegas, the president has set up shop in this camp right next to it.
"So I assume that you guys hold elections?" I ask.
"Yes." Max answers, "we've had two elections since I joined up. President Kimball, the president when I first joined, was assassinated by the legion before the second war for hover dam." He says with a chuckle.
"Why are you laughin' boy?" Shire says, "was it your ignorance that got your republics president killed?" He says smartly.
"Huh what? I'm sorry, I can't hear you, it's too bright outside." Max says jokingly.
We hear Shire grumble in annoyance.
"And no, believe it or not. The Legion had a sharpshooter that took him out. We couldn't find him in time." Max says, "but it isn't like we suffered a great loss or anything. Kimball was bad for the NCR. He annexed territories quicker than our budget or army could keep up. Supplies, money, and troops ran too thin. So, you know, oh well." He says.
"So what happened after that?" I hear Masters ask.
"Well after Kimball's assassination, we held an election of the next four ranking officers in line for the presidency. They voted in Chief Hanlon, the commander of the NCR Rangers. But once put in to office, he respectfully declined the position saying that he belonged with the rangers, not somewhere so high up." He says, "so naturally we held another election, and the people voted colonel, now president, James Hsu as the president. So now here we are." He tells us.
"And how's he been?" I hear Maccready ask.
"Oh he's been great. He takes on more of a president tandi role than a president kimball." He says.
We all look at max confused.
"Oh sorry. He's more focused on rebuilding infrastructure and economy than expanding." Max explains.
We all nod in understanding.
"And president hsu will help us?" I ask.
"Yea, of course. Me and him are pretty good friends so I can read him and know what he wants. And trust me, right now, he wants to go after the enclave." Max says with a smirk.
"And what about the legion? You said they were after you guys too." Maccready says.
"Yes but since the death of ceasar and the defeat at hover dam, they've grown weaker. Right now, the enclave is the biggest threat." Max says.
Me and Maccready nod.
We continue on for a few more minutes before Max stops us at a broken down old building.
"We can rest here. Take some time to rest up. It won't be too much longer before we get there." Max says.
I nod and gesture for the squad to go inside. The follow my orders and establish a little camp underneath the broken floor to the second level of the old building.
We all sit in a circle snacking on some chips or snack cakes and sip on water. Cade and Masters are laughing and joking with each other as usual. Max is talking with Maccready about guns and making caps, and surprisingly, paladin shire and recruit meader are actually talking and sharing a laugh here and there. I smile and decide to go see what that's about.
"Hey." I say as I sit down beside meader.
Shires smile instantly dissappears.
"Hey." Meader answers.
"How're you two holding up?" I ask.
"We're fine." Shire says bitterly.
"Aww come on shire, she's just checking on us." Meader explains.
"Yea well she ain't got to check up on us." He says.
Meader looks at me with guilt, "Sorry. I know you're just trying to help. Meader says.
"No, it's okay." I tell him and he relaxes, "so, do you two have a history or something?" I ask.
"Yea, he's my mentor." Meader says.
I look to paladin shire and he nods, "yea, this little fucker's been under my care for a few months now." He says relaxing a little bit and even showing a small smile.
Meader nods, "yea, he's actually a pretty cool old fart once you get to know him." Meader says and shire shakes his head.
"Smug bastard." Shire says under his breath.
I laugh and shake my head, "alright, well holler if you need anything." I say, and they both nod.
I walk back over to maccready and sit down beside him. He takes my hand in his and we relax for the next few minutes before we have to pack up and leave again.
VVVVVVVVVV
We reach camp maccaran as the sun begins to set and Max takes us to president hsu. We enter his office and he's sitting down at a desk doing paperwork.
"Hsu my main man!" Max says.
Hsu turns around with a smile at the sight of his friend, "max, finally decide to visit?" He asks standing up and embracing max.
When they break apart, max shakes his head and punches hsu in the arm and hsu punches back but harder.
"Fuck man! Not that hard!" Max says rubbing his arm.
Hsu chuckles, "so, who are our visitors?" He asks.
"Well i'm sentinel rogers of the boston chapter of the brotherhood of steel and we've got a proposal for you." I tell him.
"Well alright, sit and tell me about it." Hsu says.
We sit down in the couches and chairs and I begin to explain.
"We need your help to defeat the enclave." I tell him getting right to the point.
"Okay, but i'm going to need more detail." He says.
"Alright, well ten years ago, the brotherhood defeated the enclave in the battle for project purity. Since then, they've regrouped and from what I understand, they are in this area and are terrorizing the local population." I say.
"Yes, they have been taking over farmland and territories for better control of the land." Hsu says.
"Do you know why?" I ask.
"No, we have no further intel." He says.
I nod, "okay, well anyways, our chapter has sent me and my squad to collaborate with the california brotherhood and find a solution. But I'm afraid from what max has said that them alone will not be enough." I say.
Hsu nods, "so you want the ncr's help to defeat them?" He asks.
"Yes, that is my hope." I clarify.
Hsu nods, "well I can tell you that I can definitely see what I can do. It has to got through all the branches of government of course but I think that they will agree completely." He says, "in the meantime however, I think that you should speak with the brotherhood and see how they feel. I still don't know where we stand with them, even all these years after our little spat." He says.
I nod, "okay."
"I can spare a vertibird to take you to hidden valley. At least then it'll be a little easier to get there." He says.
"Thank you. We will be back as soon as we can with news" I tell him.
Hsu nods and smiles, "okay." He says then turns to max, "max, why don't you go with them. You know the brotherhood here. It might help." He says.
Max nods, "of course." He says.
We all say our thank you's and goodbyes before leaving. On the way out, maccready grabs my hand and we intertwine our fingers.
"Do you trust him?" He asks.
"I will if he can pull this off." I say.
He nods and squeezes my hand in comfort, and I do the same.
VVVVVVV
Hey, it's the sentinel here. Thank you for reading Welcome Home and supporting it. It means so much to me. I hope you liked this chapter, I know it was long, but I hope it was worth it. Thanks again!
-The Sentinel