Juniper wasn't prepared for the sight that was central Boston. Buildings were torn apart by centuries of looting and not to mention to bombs. Piles of garbage were thrown into the streets, and paint was flaking off of the bricks. The shadows of the buildings loomed over her slender figure, even in the rising sunlight. Security officers circled the upcoming blocks, which meant she was close. Juniper took a deep calming breath.
Shaun even if you're not here, someone must have seen you. Someone will know where to find you, please hold on sweetie.
Her face tensed up and formed her famous "brooding face" as Al use to call it. Her jaw clenched and her body language was cold and severe. Her grey eyes pierced through anyone who happened to cross them.
" Diamond city's just up ah-" Juniper met eyes with him while she passed the guard, and he fell silent.
I have no idea what this place will be like, for all I know it could be the hardest place I've been.
Some of the guards were fighting a pack of super mutants just around the corner and she opted to keep walking. When Juniper got close enough she heard a woman yelling, the yelling got louder as she followed the signs.
" You can't just lock me out, Danny I live here." The raven haired woman raised her voice into the intercom.
" Danny open the goddamn door!" She threw her hands down and clenched her fists.
" Sorry Piper, I'm just doing my job." The male voice paused.
" I have strict orders not to let you in" The woman threw her hands up at his last comment.
" Oh yeah protecting the Diamond city from the scary reporter!" Her hat almost flew off with how much she was storming around. Juniper walked closer to the gate, and heard the woman try and steady her breath.
" Sorry Piper the whole town's in a tizzy and the mayor is livid, says your article is full of lies." He sounded sad but that didn't stop the woman.
" Danny Sullivan open the goddamn door, you can't just lock me out. I LIVE HERE." The intercom fell silent and piper grunted.
" Come on, open up" Piper out of the corner of her eyes caught Juniper's glance and flagged her down.
" Hey you want in Diamond city right?" She grinned and waved her over. Juniper walked closer and gave her a one over. She had a long red coat and appeared to be a reporter.
Do they still have those?
Piper's hazel eyes flashed a dark green, and she grinned and shushed Juniper.
" What's that you're a trader, from Quincy? Enough stock to keep Myra running for weeks, no months?" Juniper relaxed a bit and grinned back at Piper.
" Alright, I get it Piper, I'll open the gate geez." Danny sighed and a loud rumble filled the empty streets. Piper looked back over at Juniper.
" Better head in before he catches on." Juniper shook her head and moved backwards.
" Oh no after you, Miss reporter." This caught Piper off guard, and she laughed and shook her head.
" Am I that obvious?" She made her way inside the gate and Juniper followed behind her.
A portly man looked furious as they walked through the ticket lanes.
"You, how?" He look dumbfounded
"Piper who let you back inside? I'll not have you coming back here and filling this town full of lies, with that blasphemous so called paper of yours." That seemed to strike a nerve with Piper.
" I ought to have the printer scrapped for parts"
" Ooo Tyrant mayor shuts down the press, let's ask the newcomer what she thinks." Juniper felt the heat of all the eyes in the room turned to her.
" Do you support the press?" Piper locked eyes with her and stared her down.
"Always believed in freedom of the press" Juniper grinned at Piper and she returned the grin.
The mayor took his eyes from Piper and turned to fully look at Juniper. Mayor McDonough looked her up and down and stopped to admire her curves. She shuddered in response.
" Sorry to get you caught up in this whole mess, no you" He stopped and held eye contact his her breasts.
" You look like diamond city material." Juniper leaned forward and made eye contact with the mayor, which startled him and he cleared his throat.
" Welcome to Diamond city the great green jewel of the Commonwealth. Best place to come relax, maybe settle down and spend your money."
" Emphasis on money" Piper leaned over and whispered not so quietly at Juniper. The mayor glared at her and look back at Juniper smiling.
" I'm sure your city's a great place" Juniper answered back, attempting courtesy. Piper scoffed
" Yeah best house of cards in the Commonwealth" Her eyes darkened
" Until the wind blows" after that she looked away, caught up in a distant thought. The mayor waved her away.
" Was there anything in particular you came here for?" At that, Juniper felt her chest tighten.
" I'm looking for someone" The mayor leaned in closer,
" A missing person, who are you looking for?" His smile faded and he looked suspicious.
Juniper looked from Piper back to the mayor,
Why is this so hard to say out loud?
" My uh" Her voice shook
" My baby boy, he's less than a year old." Juniper broke eye contact from the mayor, Piper looked saddened.
" Wait your son is missing?" Piper in an instant turned back to the mayor and glared at him.
" So Diamond city security is going to ignore a desperate mother's cry for help." The mayor looked frazzled, and looked back and forth a Piper and Juniper.
" I'm sure we can find somebody that can help you out Miss. Unfortunately our security team can't investigate every case he have at our doorstep" The mayor backed away a bit, trying to exist the conversation.
" This is ridiculous!" Piper started in again,
" Diamond city can't spare just one officer, to look into a case?" Around the lobby, officers on and off duty were talking amongst themselves. Piper motioned towards the officers reading old comic books.
She's good
Juniper couldn't help but grin at her tenacity, Piper caught her breath and went on.
" Why dosen't Diamond city ever look into missing person cases, we have enough of them don't we?" The mayor turned his back on Piper, and went to walk away but stopped.
" I've had enough of this Piper, consider you and that sister of yours on notice" He couldn't have sounded more cold, but Piper brushed it off.
" Yeah keep talking Mcdonough, that's all you're good for" Piper turned her attention back onto Juniper.
" Hey if you have a minute later, stop by my office. I have a really good idea for an article and it might help you out finding your son" Piper reach out and held onto Juniper's shoulder and gave a sympathetic smile.
" Yeah of course, thanks for getting me in" Piper started to walk away and Juniper sighed.
" What do you think boy?" Juniper turned and stroked Dogmeat's fur, he barked and licked her arm.
I just don't know what to expect after that, I'm so anxious about just walking up the stairs.
" Common, brooding face" Juniper took a deep breath and walked up the stairs into Diamond city. The whole field had been converted into a thriving and lively town, people loitered around the shops lining the inside entrance. A young girl waved papers as Juniper walked by.
" Let me guess, Piper's sister?" The girl looked over and sized her up.
" Yeah what's it to you lady?" Juniper held back laughing, this was definitely her sister.
" Could I get a paper?" Juniper started digging to get caps, and the girl simply handed her one.
" Here you can just have it." The girl got back onto her box and started to wave a paper around again. After walking around and getting a feel for the neighborhood and eavesdropping on some of the citizens, a neon light caught her eye.
A detective? Not what I was expecting but I'll take it
Juniper walked through the door and saw a young woman going through mountains of paper work. She looked overworked, and had bags under her eyes.
" Excuse me miss?" The woman looked up at her and shook her head.
" Another stray in from the rain, sorry you're too late we're closed." Her shoulder slumped forward as she sat down, her hands ran through her updo trying to slick back the many pieces coming out.
" I won't take much of your time please it's important" Juniper walked closer and looked at the woman searching for an answer. She scoffed and leaned backwards
" Don't you get it he's gone."
Juniper sighed and stood up straighter, trying to appear more confident.
" I can help you find him, If you'll tell me where you last saw him" Juniper watched the woman's expression shift and she looked away.
" He was investigating a character named Skinny Malone, I can give you the area where he was last seen." She looked reluctant to continue but she also looked desperate.
" The people Nick was after.. they're not good people. I'm worried about Nick, but I also don't want you ending up dead looking for him." Without thinking Juniper put her hand on the woman's shoulder, she looked up confused.
"I can handle myself, just give me the location and I'll check it out." She sighed
" Something tells me you and Nick are going to get along. By the way My name's Ellie." Juniper smiled
"Juniper, now let's work on getting Nick back." The two women discussed where he was last seen, what the area was like, and what was underneath the hideout, a vault. Juniper didn't dread going there, but she wasn't looking forward to it. Ellie also put the coordinates into her pipboy, while Juniper checked her gear and made notes of what ammo she needed to buy.
"Before you leave can I asked something?" Ellie almost whispered from across the room, she was still holding onto the pipboy.
" Sure" Juniper looked up from her list.
" When you came in here, you said you were looking for a detective." Juniper looked over to the window and watched raindrops slide down the glass.
" I came here to ask Nick for help finding my son." Elie fell silent for sometime, then walked over and handed Juniper back her pipboy.
" I'm sorry for asking." Ellie said goodnight and walked upstairs.
Juniper sighed and leaned against the desk. She fell asleep listening to the rain fall against the tin roof, while Dogmeat Laid next to her. A few hours had gone by when she woke up and decided to leave, before Ellie woke up that morning.
It must have made her uncomfortable, especially after she had lost her temper when we first met
"Come on boy, let's find Nick." Dogmeat barked and ran through the door and Juniper ran after him. He had stopped abruptly by the town center and was growling. She looked up and saw two men standing facing each other, one holding a gun.
" Please don't do this, we're family" The man without a gun had raised his hands up, while the man with a gun looked frantic.
" You're not my brother, what did you do with him?" the gun he was holding was shaking. Juniper looked at both of them and side stepped closer trying to get a better view without drawing attention to herself. Diamond city security, had also caught wind of the situation and had started to close in on the two.
" Kyle please" The other man sounded almost in tears.
" You're not the real Riley." Kyle put his finger on the trigger and right as he was about to shoot, he was shot straight through his head.
" KYLE" Riley screamed and dropped to his knees, as Kyle's body fell down with a thud. Blood had shot across to Riley and coated the area where kyle had been standing. Juniper put her hand to her mouth so she wouldn't scream at the sight. A security officer walked over and stood almost on top of the dead body.
" Listen up, there are no synths in Diamond city. Return to your homes NOW." People looked around at one another and turned away from the scene. Slowly they dispersed and Juniper still stood against a cabinet next to two mannequins. Dogmeat whimpered and nudged her leg.
I feel like I can't move
An officer noticed her and started to make his way towards her.
Shit, Shit, Shit
Juniper stumbled forward when she was finally able to move and the officer only stopped and watched her walk away.
" That's a good Idea, vault dweller." She turned on the stairs and saw Riley being pushed away, while other officers were carrying Kyle away. She turned around and kept walking.
I'll never let Shaun live here
A few hours had passed and Juniper had made it to Park street station almost without a scratch.
Nick had been this room for weeks, probably. Although he was a synth he still at times like this felt the heavy weight of time, hours went by and he wasn't sure what Skinny Malone was waiting for. He fiddled with his right hand, using a screwdriver to make adjustments to the open circuitry.
"How you doing in there lil Nicky?" Dino walked up to the window,
Before he got into it with Dino for the third time today he noticed a shadowy figure walking slowly on the lower levels. Averting his eyes quickly Dino noticed this and went to turn around.
" You know I saw your name in that little black book ol' Malone's got" He turned back quickly,
" Not to mention the line that goes through it now, something about being a cheater?" His yellow eyes scanned Dino's horrified face.
" No He wouldn't! I have to go smooth this over" Dino turned and left, and Nick walked across the room. Within seconds he heard muffled gunfire and a loud thud, then foot steps leading up to the window. The lighting in his cell made it easier to conceal himself,
" Hey I don't know who you are, but we have about 3 minutes before they realize muscle for brains isn't coming back. You should get this door open" He tried to scan the face of the silhouette before it walked over to the terminal. The door opened sooner than he expect and they both walked up to each other in the only light in the room. Nick lit a cigarette and looked up finally seeing his savior and he couldn't be more surprised.
" As much as I love the reverse Damsel in distress scenario, Question is why did this heroine risk life and limb for an old synth?" He eyed her ginger hair and puzzled expression, slowly she lowered her pistol.
"It's complicated, I'm not sure how long they've been gone, or even where they may be." Juniper tried not to laugh because it sounded so absurd, she took off the glasses she had been using when she needed to see something more carefully. The synth exhaled smoke and smirked,
" Well I've done jobs with less, For some reason nice and simple never makes it rounds in my field. I've been stuck in here for weeks" He looked away with gloomy eyes, Juniper could tell the weeks took their tole on him.
" Turns out the runaway daughter I was looking for, she wasn't kidnapped. She's skinny Malone's new flame, and to top it off she's got a mean streak." Nick tossed what was left of his cigarette on the metal floor and looked back up at her.
"Anyway, you got troubles I'm glad to help but this ain't the time. Let's blow this joint then we'll talk, follow me." Nick started to walk through the door and she walked past him and grabbed all the holotapes on the overseer's desk, along with the bobblehead. She caught him looking and cleared her throat.
" These usually, have uh pretty valuable information" She quickly got out her pistol and walked past him out the door. Nick watched her german shepherd trot after her.
While they were walking He began to fill her in on all the details of Skinny Malone, Juniper listened and didn't say anything.
" Wait there's someone up ahead, how do you want to do this?" He crouched at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at her. She crouched next to him and looked through the doorway, and followed the movement of the nearest triggerman. Without a word she aimed and took the first one out, followed by the second and the third.
Well what do you know
Nick stood up and walked up next to her,
" Well that's one way to get the coolant pumping" Juniper shrugged and smiled back at him,
" Slocum Joe usually does it for me, but that was ages ago" She kept walking and Nick raised what would be an eyebrow and followed her. They walked through the cafeteria area, and started down a hallway until they came across a door that wouldn't open. Nick brushed past Juniper and started trying to fiddle with the door.
" So hard and loud is your style huh? I feel bad for whoever has to clean up those floors." Juniper leaned against the wall and watched his hands at work.
" Whoever cleans those floors is probably at least 200 years late." Nick looked up and watched her smile back at him. He hadn't really seen her eye colour because of the lighting, he looked back down at the lock.
This is not just any dame
" Hell of alot easier when the locks on the other side, almost got it"
Seconds later the door slid open and Nick walked through it with Juniper and Dogmeat behind him. He got ahead of himself after a few empty hallways and started to walk faster.
Juniper watched Nick go through a doorway and a Triggerman out of nowhere follow right behind him. She raised her pistol right as he started to winding his swing up, she missed his head and accidentally shot his arm clear off. His bat fell to the floor and quickly she tried not to miss this time.
Jesus
His bat was covered in his own blood, and Juniper had to ignore it and push past him. Nick turned around to see her darkened face, the more he saw of her the more questions he had.
The next few triggermen didn't even get one shot on Nick, Juniper from behind him covered his every move.
"Anyone you walk away from?" Juniper tensed up and walked past him to the kitchen area through the next hallway.
She ran over to the rolling cart and grabbed the top plate of the stack.
" These are clean plates, I haven't seen any for months." She tilted her head, and looked at Dogmeat.
" Okay more like years, but still" She rubbed Dogmeat's ear and started trying to take as many plates as possible.
" So our heroine has a thing for antiques?" Nick picked up one of the plates and looked it over.
" It's a long story but, things like this make life easier." Juniper used some old clothing she had found to wrap the plates, so they wouldn't break. Nick watched her admiration of something so simple.
Hopefully she's not just missing a few screws
" Sorry, let's get going." She pulled her pack back on and gestured for Nick to go ahead.
" Synths first" Juniper tried not to smile and keep a straight face.
" Smart ass" Nick smirked and walk into the next hallway, that lead to more stairs.
How many goddamn stairs are there?
Juniper pulled out her pistol when she heard footsteps and looked over at Nick. He did the same and they carefully walked upstairs.
" Shouldn't have crossed us." A dark haired triggerman ran to the foot of the stairs and shot wildly at the three of them. Nick took him out and he slumped to the floor.
" Surprised you let me get a shot in-" Juniper was holding her left shoulder and biting her lip.
" Hey, you alright, kid?" Nick walked over to her quickly trying to see the damage.
Juniper laughed and carefully pulled her pack off,
" I haven't been called that in forever" She rummaged through her bag and grabbed a stimpack and thrusted it into her shoulder.
How many times am I going to have to sew up this suit?
Juniper sighed and leaned her back against the staircase wall
" Look, I know I said the question could wait but, I need to know what your angle is." Nick Valentine sat across from her on the staircase and studied her.
She looked at him, and readjusted her stray hairs back into her bun.
" You've got nothing to worry about from me coach" When he still looked suspicious Juniper slumped a little bit.
" If you want my life story it's going to have to wait, I'll answer any questions you have later at your office." Juniper started to get up and Nick walked over and gave her a hand.
" Sorry for the suspicion, In my line of work you need to be on your toes. Skinny Malone must be up ahead, name's uh ironic. But don't let that fool you, these guys mean business" Juniper nodded and Nick walked ahead of her into another room. Finally this room had a door, which Nick began to unlock.
" Get ready for anything" Nick said over his shoulder. Juniper got distracted by a Vault 114 suit and threw it into her pack. She looked up in time to see the door opening, and she saw "Skinny" Malone and what she assumed was the Moll.
" Nicky, sneaking into my home, and shooting my men. Do you know how much this will set me back?" Juniper eyed Malone and moved her finger to the trigger. Nick laid his hand onto her arm and she looked up at him. They made eye contact and he looked back at Malone.
" Next time tell your two-timing dame to write home more often." The girl in the dress scoffed and looked angry.
" What you mad you got beat up by a girl" Her accent was the heaviest Juniper had heard in awhile. " I'll just run back home to daddy shall I?" She held her bat and gave a wicked smile.
Skinny Malone stepped closer,
" This ain't the old neighborhood anymore, In this vault I'm the king of the castle. I ain't letting no private dick, shut us down. No not after we got such a good thing going." The girl rolled her eyes and glared at Malone.
" I told you we should have just killed him, but you kept blabbing about the old times, what crap."
" DARLA, I'm handlin this. Skinny Malone's always got things under control."
" Tell that to your slacks" Juniper mumbled, Nick cleared his throat trying to mask a laugh.
Darla finally stared down Juniper,
" Oh yeah what about this lady, bet Valentine brought her here to rub us all out" She shifted her weight nervously and kept ahold of her bat.
" That wasn't the plan originally but hey, it's starting to sound tempting" Juniper smirked at Darla who furrowed her brow, Nick sighed and Skinny Malone looked back and forth between the two women.
" Hey I'm in charge here, you got something to say, you say it to me" Juniper looked at Malone,
" You said you and Nick knew each other?" She his expression shift to a nostalgic one
" Yeah, This troublemaker back in the day, was always into my business. Must have done this dance a hundred times, enemies are the closest thing you get to friends in these parts." His eyes darkened and he lifted his tommy gun back up.
"Look, quit stallin' you gonna talk, talk." Juniper inhaled and put on her best intimidating look,
" Look this is all just a misunderstanding, you let us walk away now we won't come back" The confidence was pouring out of her and Malone must have felt it.
" You come in here and shoot up my crew and expect me ugh, forget it. You're lucky I owe him for that time back in the Quarry." Juniper shot Nick a glance and he smirked.
Typical dick,
" I'm gonna give you until the count of ten before I forget my good manners, and start shootin up the place!" Darla let her bat almost hit the floor,
" What are you doin Skinny? Kill em!" She looked genuinely sad, and Malone's expression softened when he looked at her.
" No Darla, they get one chance to leave, Skinny Malone is puttin' his foot down"
Darla scoffed,
" My mother was right all you mobsters are just talk" Darla turned and started to run to the door, Malone looked sad but he started to count.
" We better get outta here fast" Nick warned and Juniper nodded and followed Darla.
When Juniper finally opened the doors to the Boston Common she inhaled the semi fresh air. Still better than the smell of that vault. She stretched her arms out and watched Nick come out behind her.
"Ah, look at that commonwealth sky, ominous but anything feels inviting after that. Thanks for getting me out by the way but, how did you know where to find me? Not many people knew where I went." Nick turned his attention to her.
" You're secretery, Elle she sent me" Nick smiled
" She did, did she? I should give her a raise."Juniper looked around, weary of being so out in the open.
" You said something about a missing person, disappearing without a trace." Juniper looked back over to him and nodded.
" Look I want you to come back to my office in Diamond city. Give me all the details, besides I think you've earned a chance to come clear your head."
" Alright lead the way Nick" Juniper raised her pistol from the holster and motioned towards Diamond city.
" Alright let's move, and fast" Nick turned and started to almost jog towards the city.
" Let's go boy!" Dogmeat barked and ran after Nick.
This feeling...I feel like I'm finally getting closer to Shaun. Al I know you must have been watching over me in the staircase.
Juniper looked up at the stars and took it all in. The sky for the first time in weeks didn't look so dark, or ominous. While she started to jog after the two of them, she listened to every tip and advice Nick gave her.
