I'll meet you in the middle
You can show me what you got
If you're feeling lucky tonight
Diamond City, yeah that's my thing
I flash my style
I show my rings
I do the boys a favor
With all my manual labor
It's good to be a good good neighbour
Mmm mmm mmm…..
The aroma of cigarette smoke and booze hung in the air, drifting up the staircase as she descended into the Third Rail. The repurposed subway station.
The sensual, velvet tones of the Third Rail's main attraction, Magnolia, echoed up to greet her.
The songstress' signature red dress coming into view as Piper reached the bottom of the stairs. Her stage illuminated by the flattering lights of a dormant subway train frozen on the tracks, behind the bar.
A visible haze of smoke hung in the air as she snaked her way between the tables and chairs of the dimly lit bar. Receiving a few cursory glances from the patrons as she passed. Their faces illuminated by the light of their smokes and flickering candles.
"Charlie", she called as she reached the bar. The Mister Handy robot busy serving a customer.
"Excuse me, sorry", she apologized, squeezing between the patrons seated at the bar, receiving a few disapproving looks in the process.
"Charlie!", she hissed, keeping her voice low and tapping her fingers on the counter to signal the robot.
"Piper", the robot noticed her. One of his eyes focused on her as he poured a patron a drink. "Haven't seen you here in a while. What are you havin?".
"Uh, nothing today, just need some information", she replied, suppressing a wince as she remembered the hangover after her last visit. "Do you know where I can find a guy by the name of Robert MacCready?".
"Hm, Mr. MacCready eh? He's in the back, head through there", he pointed over her shoulder .
"Thanks Charlie", she offered a polite smile, dislodging herself from between the seated patrons, careful not to elbow anyone in the face. Or worse yet, knock over their drinks.
I've got arms, to hold you tight
I've got charms, to keep you with me at night
I've got all, that you could ever want
I just need a man, whose man enough
Magnolia's velvet voice trailed behind her as she walked down the red lit corridor. A row of closed doors on either side, before finally opening up into a lounge area.
Just like the bar area, it was dimly lit. Cosy even, with just the right touch of sleaze.
Sofas and short tables lining the walls. Candlelight dancing shadows on couples enjoying each other's company, and partaking in the many vices one would expect in an establishment such as this.
Music drifted in from the bar outside, providing a pleasant background noise.
"How's it goin honey", a drunk couple staggered past her, brushing her shoulder. The man throwing her a lazy grin as he passed. His girl giggling as she propped him up.
"Hi", Piper smiled nervously, lowering her head and watching over her shoulder as they shuffled down the corridor and disappeared around the corner.
She sighed, turning back to the shadowed faces, and finally crossed the threshold, leaving the dim red light of the corridor behind.
The worn, carpeted floor, cushioning her footsteps as she walked, discretely scanning the faces of the patrons.
There weren't that many people, but that didn't make it any easier since she didn't have a face to go with the name.
A solitary man sat at one of the corner booths. Hunched over a half-finished drink. A soldier's cap obscuring the top half of his face, and a handful of bullets strewn across the table.
The smart money was on him, Piper decided. If not, then maybe he could at least point her the right way.
"Uh, hi, I'm sorry to bother you but…", she stood next to the couch, directly across the table from him.
"Sorry lady, not looking for company tonight", he cut her off, without looking up from his drink.
'Tonight?', she thought. 'It was mid-afternoon. When was the last time this guy went outside?'
"Well, that makes two of us", she replied quickly. "I'm actually looking for a merc, a Mr. MacCready. Would you happen know where I can find him?"
He pushed his cap up, and finally lifted his head to look her over. "You found him. What's the job", he asked.
"It's, uh, not a job per se. I just need some information", she paused. "Can I…?" she motioned to the couch opposite him.
He sighed and nodded, and she took a seat.
"Well?", he asked. His eyes on her as he took a drink.
"I'm trying to find a man named Vincent Olsen", she paused, noticing the slight furrowing of his brow. "He's supposed to be some kind of-".
"He's a slave trader", MacCready cut her off. "Kids mainly", he added.
"Right...", Piper nodded, biting her lip. "I heard you had ties with the Gunners, and was wondering if maybe-".
"Lady, any ties I might have had with the Gunners, were cut when I left", he interrupted. "What do you want with that ass…sscumbag anyway? ".
She leaned back, apparently deliberating how much she should tell the mercenary.
Finally coming to a decision after a moment, she leaned forward, absently toying with one of the loose bullets on the table. "I'm trying to find a boy, a 'Joseph Chase'. Kidnapped from a trader caravan about a week ago. W…I have reason to believe he was abducted by gunners working for this Olsen person".
"What if he was?", MacCready replied and took a swig of his drink. "What are you going to do about it? Kick down his front door?".
"Wh…I. I'm not exactly sure yet…but I at least need to know where he is first", she admitted.
"Give it up lady. If that bastard still has any gunners left on his payroll, you can be damned sure they're on high alert. You're not sneaking in, and a direct assault would be too much of a risk, unl-"
"Wait. What do you mean 'still left on his payroll'?", she cut him off. "Why would they be on high alert?".
He frowned at her. "Hm, thought you would have known, if you're looking into him that closely".
"Known what?", she looked at him, somewhat bemused.
He finished his drink and set his glass down. "Word is that someone hit a Gunner patrol just outside the city last night. Those Gunners were working for your Mr. Olsen. Twelve guys, no survivors…".
"Raiders?", Piper offered.
"More than likely, but from what I hear, they didn't find any raider or supermutant bodies among the dead. You don't just take on twelve Gunners and expect to come out of it without casualties", he explained.
"So, what? You're saying whoever attacked them, cleaned up after it was all over?", she asked.
"I don't know", MacCready grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the table. "There's a lot of rumours floating around right now. But if some group wiped out a Gunner patrol, then covered their tracks, I'd say Olsen's got a good reason to be worried".
"Now might not be the best time to go sticking your nose in his business", MacCready added.
Piper shook her head, "All the more res-".
"Great…", Mac Cready muttered under his breath, and she followed his gaze to the two large men approaching their table.
"Mac Cready. So this is where you've been hiding", one of the men said as they stopped at the table. "Can't say I'm surprised to find you in a dump like this".
"Hmph, Winlock. I was wondering how long it would take your bloodhounds to track me down", MacCready lit a cigarette and lounged back in his seat. "I've been here almost three months. Don't tell me you're getting sloppy in your old age".
"Beat it honey", the other man ordered, towering over her.
"Thanks, honey", she replied. Her lips curled somewhere between a smirk and a defiant scowl, as she looked up at him from her seat. "But I was here first. I think I'll stay right where I am".
They were Gunners, that much was clear. But even they wouldn't dare risk an 'incident' in Hancock's town. Much less his favourite bar. At least that's what she was counting on.
Maybe.
He grabbed her arm and yanked her out of her seat. "Hey! Let go of me!", she shouted, pounding her fist into his brick wall of a chest, before he seized her other hand and pushed her up against the wall.
"Barnes! Take it easy", Winlock held up a hand to his associate.
Barnes looked over to Winlock and then turned back to her. She glared up at him with a scowl, her teeth bared as she struggled to free her wrists from his iron grip.
"Hmph", Barnes smirked, looking her up and down before he released her with one final push against the wall.
"Asshole!", Piper hissed, glaring at him as he moved to stand next to Winlock.
A few patrons in the lounge, nervously headed to the exit.
MacCready appeared entirely unfazed throughout the altercation. Still lounging back in his seat, he took a drag of his cigarette. "Should we take this outside?".
"It ain't like that", Winlock explained. "We're just here to deliver a message…".
"Yeah well, in case you forgot, I left the Gunners for good. We have nothing to talk about", MacCready cut him off.
"Yet you're still taking jobs in the Commonwealth. That ain't gonna work for us" Winlock continued.
"Not my problem. I don't take orders from you anymore. So why don't you take your girlfriend and walk outta here while you still can", MacCready flicked his ashes at Barnes.
"Winlock, tell me we don't gotta listen to this shit", Barnes growled.
"Lemme tell you something MacCready", Winlock leaned over the table, picking up one of the bullets and tossing it in Mac Cready's empty glass. "The only reason we haven't filled your body full of bullets, is we don't want a war with Goodneighbor. See, we respect other people's boundries. We know how to play the game, something you never learned".
"Glad to have disappointed you", MacCready replied.
"Hmph, play the tough guy all you want", Winlock scowled. "This is your first and last warning. If we find out you're still operating inside Gunner territory, all bets are off. You can't hide in Goodneighbor forever".
"You finished?", MacCready spat.
"Yeah, we're finished. Let's get the hell out of this dump", he nodded to Barnes.
Piper glared at them in silence until they left, before slipping back into the seat across from MacCready.
"You alright?", MacCready asked, leaning over the table to put out his cigarette.
"Yeah", she replied. "I can see why you left those assholes".
"Look, miss…uh". He paused, trying to remember her name.
"Piper, sorry", she apologised. "Piper Wright", she offered her hand and he shook it.
"Piper. I don't know where you can find Olsen or where he's holed up. But I do know someone that can set up a meeting…".
"I don't want to meet the guy. I just need to know where he is", Piper cut him off.
"Unless you've got a team willing to storm his hideout, you're not getting that kid out by force", MacCready explained. "The only way you're even gonna find out where he is, is by setting up a meeting. And the only other way you're getting that kid out is by buying him back".
Piper folded her arms and leaned back in her seat, mulling over her options.
"How much?", she asked, finally.
"Four hundred caps", he stated flatly.
"Ffff….are you insane!?", she blurted out. "I'm not paying you four hun-".
"Listen!", MacCready cut her off. "My going rate is two hundred and fifty caps, but I'm willing to settle for one hundred just this once", he held up a single index finger. "There's a special place in hell for anyone that messes with kids, but I'm not gonna put my as…neck on the line, for free", he tapped his finger on the table to emphasize his point.
Piper bit her lip and frowned at him as she listened, anxiously tapping her foot under the table.
"It'll probably cost you anywhere from two hundred, to two fifty to buy the kid back, at most. That's if he hasn't been sold yet", he added. "Now, I can set up the meeting and you can go alone or have someone else go with you. Your choice", he finished.
"This isn't some kind of, scam, you're trying to pull is…", Piper started, but he cut her off again.
"Lady, I'm just laying out your options. I can go with you, but it'll cost you one hundred caps. If you know anyone else that's capable, and can watch your back, then I'd suggest you take them with you. The sooner the better. If Olsen thinks someone's gunning for him, there's a good chance he's gonna be packing up shop soon, if he hasn't already".
"Fiiine", Piper groaned. "Give me like, two hours to get the caps".
"You sure you wanna do this?", he asked. "Once I set this meeting, there's no backing out. You'll be on your way to see this Olsen guy immediately".
"Yeah…", she sighed.
"Then meet me back here in two hours".
"Nick!", Piper called as she opened the door to the Valentine Detective Agency, clearly flustered. "Nicky, are you here?".
"Piper?", Ellie appeared from the back room, a stack of folders under one arm. "What's wrong honey", she asked, concerned.
"Ellie, is Nick back yet?".
"W, Well no, I don't expect him back for a few more hours. Why? What happened at the meeting?", Ellie asked.
"Damn it", Piper took her hat off and sat back on Nick's desk, running her fingers through her hair. "What do I do?", she muttered with a sigh.
"Piper?", Ellie set the files down and placed her hands on Piper's shoulders. "What's going on?".
Piper raised her head, frustration clear on her face. "I got an in with Olsen, but I have to go right now".
"Olsen? Did you find out where he is?", Ellie asked.
"Ye…No…not exactly. I found someone who can take me to him. I won't actually know where I'm going until I get there. And I'm going to try to buy the kid back. But I don't know if I can trust this MacCready guy and...".
"Piper, you're rambling", Ellie squeezed her shoulders gently. "Breathe".
Piper took a deep breath. "Tell Nick, that I'm going to meet with Olsen, to try and buy the kid back. I'm taking MacCready with me. He has a contact that can get us in".
"Piper, you can't be serious. At least wait until Nick gets back and-"
"I can't wait. This is happening now. I thought Nick would be here by now and we could…nevermind", Piper hopped off the desk, nudging Ellie back and slipping her hat back on. "Just let Nick know when he gets back, okay?".
"Piper wait. Piper!", Ellie called.
"I can handle it", she called, throwing Ellie a quick, but forced smile, before she shut the door.
'Nick had better not have taken on this job for free', she thought, as she retrieved a box from beneath her bed. An emergency stash of caps.
Savings for a rainy day, and, should something ever happen to her, it was something she could leave behind for her sister.
This job was going to take a sizeable chunk out of it.
With all the risks she took during the course of her own investigations, as well as helping Nick on the side. Her luck could run out at any time, she was fully aware of that. But it was worth it.
Wasn't it?
Her and Nick made a difference out there…Didn't they?
What they were doing, mattered…Didn't it?
This would be one of the rare times she would be going into a situation mostly blind, with very little information to inform her actions.
'This was stupid', a voice in the back of her mind kept screaming at her.
She was genuinely worried.
She let out a slow, measured breath to try to calm her nerves.
Nick tracked the child to Olsen, but if she had more time she could dig a little deeper. Find his weaknesses, his enemies, and use them against him.
Could this MacCready guy even be trusted?
It pissed her off to no end, that she would have to pay off some low-life, scumbag, slave trader to get the boy back. Diamond City security wouldn't lift a finger, or go out of their way to help rescue him since he was part of a roaming trade caravan.
Even if it had been a Diamond City citizen that went missing, she was fairly certain they'd barely lift a finger to help find them.
Her mind racing from one thought to the next.
She finished transferring the caps to her rucksack and replaced the box beneath the bed, when she heard the front door open.
"Piper?", Nat called.
"I'm upstairs. Be down in a sec. How was school?", Piper asked as she finished packing her bag.
"Okay I guess. Pete got detention again. He threw a paper ball at Erin and hit Mr. Zwicky right in the face!", Nat giggled.
"Well I'm glad you're at least getting some entertainment from that place. Just try to keep your grades up alright?", Piper said as she descended the stairs from her room. "I'll help you with your homework when I get back", she added, seeing Nat on the couch munching on a sandwich.
"You're leaving again?", Nat looked up at her sister on the stairs and noticed the backpack over her shoulder.
"Yeah, sorry kiddo. Got a bit of an emergency to deal with", Piper stopped in front of the couch and beckoned her sister over.
Nat looked up at her, mildly confused, but set her sandwich down and made her way over to her sister."What?".
Piper smiled and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a warm embrace. "I'll be back before dark. You be good okay?".
"Piper. What's wrong?", Nat asked, worried. Looking up when Piper held her just a little tighter, and a little longer than usual. Her voice muffled in her sister's coat.
"Nothing's wrong", Piper smiled reassuringly down at her. "Can't I hug my kid sister?".
But Natalie still looked at her with concern in her eyes. "Are you sure?".
"Yessssss", Piper grinned and ruffled her sister's hair, finally breaking their embrace. "Stop worrying so much. I'll see you when I get back".
The lounge was mostly empty when she got back to the Third Rail. MacCready stood by the door as she entered. "You're alone. I thought you'd bring someone with you", he said.
"That was the plan, but it looks like I'm going have to rely on you after all", she replied. "One hundred caps, right?".
"That was the deal", he confirmed. "Also found out the kid you're after hasn't been sold yet, so this should be a pretty simple exchange".
"How do you know that?", Piper frowned.
"See that low life behind me?", he said.
She looked over his shoulder at the booth where they'd met earlier. A ghoul sat at the table, guarded by two men standing next to him. He swirled the glass in his hand as he stared at her and MacCready.
"Is that your guy?", she asked.
"He's a sort of broker for the Gunners and other shady businesses. Brings them clients and negotiates deals", MacCready explained. "They provided him a list of the kids Olsen's holding".
"A list? There are more?", Piper frowned.
"Of course there's more. Olsen's a slave trader".
She knew that, of course. But she had pushed the thought to the back of her mind until now. It was agonizingly frustrating. The idea that she could only save one. That she had to choose…
"Hey", MacCready snapped her out of her thoughts. "Pick the battles that you can win. Focus on getting the boy out, and well figure something out after that. Alright?"
"Alright", Piper took a deep breath. "Yeah". She looked over his shoulder once more. "How well do you know that guy?".
"His name's Draylen. Sleazy bastard, but he owes me a debt. A few, now that I think about it. He won't screw us over", MacCready replied. "Come on, let's get this show on the road", he turned and led the way.
"So this is the little lady you told me about?", The ghoul's raspy voice carried a hint of amusement.
"This is Piper", MacCready offered.
"Nice to meet you", Piper said simply, forgoing a handshake for a nod.
She moved to take a seat, but he held up a hand. "Don't bother getting comfortable, you'll be on your way soon enough".
"Gotta say, you don't look like the type who'd be into this sorta business, sweetheart", he set his drink down, absently tapping his finger on the glass. His dark, bloodshot eyes, scanning her from head to toe.
"Yeah well, I'm always up for trying new things", she replied. Hiding her scowl with a cheeky grin.
"That so?...heheheh", he chuckled.
"Well before we go any further, there's the small matter of my commission…", the ghoul began.
"Cut the crap Draylen", MacCready cut him off. "You get your commission, from the Gunners. Just get us a meeting and you can consider the debt you owe me, paid in full".
"Heh…heheheheheh", Draylen laughed. "You'd settle my debt to save her a few caps? This little girlie must have you wrapped around her finger good. Either that or she's got something on ya, maybe…".
"Just get on with it", MacCready cut him off, folding his arms in annoyance. "That's the deal, take it or leave it".
"Hmph, I'll take it", he downed his drink and turned in his seat to face them. "Here's what's gonna happen. These two gentlemen here are Jake and Rolan. After we make sure you have the caps, they're gonna accompany you outta town. From there you're gonna put these on", he reached over to the seat behind him and tossed two strips of dark cloth on the table. "Take those off at any time before they tell you to, and you're dead. Got it?". "Oh, and of course you'll be leaving your weapons here with me".
"Ow!", Piper growled as she stumbled forward and a rough grip on her arm yanked her back to her feet.
She was blindfolded, and her hands tied in front of her at the wrists. One of the goons, Jake, held her tightly by the arm as they walked.
She imagined Mac Cready was in a similar position behind her.
"Piper you okay?", She heard Mac Cready call.
"The girl's fine", Rolan answered before she could. "Shut up and keep walkin".
They'd been walking in silence for quite some time since they left Goodneighbor. But how far and in what direction, she couldn't be sure. The sky was overcast. She could no longer feel the sunlight.
The sound of muted gunfire in the distance was nothing out of the ordinary. Background noise in the wasteland.
All she had were her thoughts to pass the time.
"You know you guys would make horrible tour guides", she broke the silence after a few more minutes. "How about pointing out a few points of interest?"
"Shut up lady", Jake growled, his grip tightening around her arms.
"Something like, 'See that abandoned building ma'am?', she lowered the pitch of her voice to imitate him. 'That's where me and the guys lost our virginity to a pack of feral ghouls last night'.
"I said, shut the fuck up!", he spun her around and screamed in her face as he shook her violently. His fingers digging into both her arms, eliciting a whimper of pain from her lips.
"G…God!", she winced. "Asshole!", she hissed through clenched teeth as she was lifted to her toes by the vice grip on her arms.
"Piper!", MacCready shouted and tried to shake Rolan off his arm, but the cold steel of a gun barrel against his neck stopped him.
"Don't even think about it!", Rolan threatened.
"I got no problem putting a bullet between your eyes and taking those caps, bitch", Jake spat. His breath warm on her face. "But that's bad for business. So shut the fuck up before I make an exception".
"We've been walking for like an hour!", she hissed back at him. "How much longer is this going to take?".
"Piper knock it off!", MacCready called.
"We're already here", the Gunner next to Mac Cready said. "Just keep walkin. Jake, let the girl go. Vincent's guys can handle these two once we drop'em off".
"Is that smoke?", Jake said. "His grip on her arms, relaxing somewhat.
"What? What's going on?", Piper asked.
"Shit, the door's down, something ain't right", Rolan growled.
Three shots rang out. It sounded dangerously close.
"Fuck! Somethin's goin down inside!".
"Geeze! Will somebody please tell me what's happening!", Piper struggled against Jake's hold on her. The close proximity of the gunfire startling her.
MacCready slipped the blindfold over one eye in the confusion. They were in front of an old two story house.
The gunner next to him had his gun pointed away from him for the moment, and MacCready seized the chance.
He grabbed the gunner's arm and yanked him forward, kneeing him in the gut. The gun fell as they grappled.
"Rolan!", Jake shouted over his shoulder In surprise when he saw his companion grappling with MacCready.
"MacCready?!", Piper shouted upon hearing the sound of fighting, grunts and the sporadic sound of gunfire from somewhere nearby.
Something was happening. Mac Cready had made a move and she needed to act.
She blindly rammed her knee into his crotch, hearing him grunt.
"Bitch!", he growled, backhanding her in the face.
"She hit the sidewalk, dazed. "Ow…", she groaned, rolling unto her back, and pushing the blindfold off.
The grey sky blinding her for a moment as she regained her senses. The taste of blood on her lip.
From between Jake's legs, she saw MacCready struggling with Rolan as she blinked the cobwebs from her vision. Saw Jake draw his pistol and point it at MacCready. But MacCready saw it as well and pushed Rolan in the way as Jake pulled the trigger.
"Fuck!", Jake screamed, as the bullet tore into his companion. Rolan slumped over, becoming dead weight, and MacCready was forced to let him fall.
He had nothing to hide behind as Jake levelled the gun at him once more.
"No!", Piper screamed, kicking the gunner in the back of the knee just as he pulled the trigger, throwing his aim off.
The shot missed completely, and MacCready charged at Jake before he could recover.
Piper rolled out of the way just in time, as the two men landed hard on the pavement next to her, fighting for control of the gun.
She scrambled to her feet and swung her foot at the gunner's head, allowing MacCready to turn the gun on him and end it with a single shot to the chest.
"You alright?", MacCready asked as she slumped against the wall surrounding the hideout.
She winced, licking her lip and tasting blood. "I'm not dead. All things considered, I'd say I'm doing alright".
"Here", MacCready tossed the pistol to her, and pushed off of Jake's corpse to retrieve Rolan's discarded weapon.
"Looks like there really is someone after your guy", he said and he knelt next to her, fished a small blade from his boot and tried to cut the bindings from his wrist.
"Give me that", Piper grabbed the blade from him as he awkwardly struggled to cut through his own bindings.
"This is perfect", she said as she finished cutting him loose. "We can use this".
"Use it?". "Lady we need to get the hell out of here", he corrected her as he cut her free, and another round of gunfire rang out from inside the building. "You don't want to get between the gunners and whatever group that has the balls to take a shot at them".
"We're not going to get another chance like this", Piper rubbed her wrists and stood, adjusting the bag on her shoulder and gripping the pistol tightly. "We can sneak in while they're all shooting at each other and get every one of the kids on that list out". Piper pushed open the rusted gate and stepped onto the property.
The walkway leading up to the steps was overgrown with grass and vines. The doors were blown off their hinges, and the bodies of two men lay on either side of the steps. Blood pooling beneath them.
"Lady you're going to get yourself shot", MacCready grabbed her by the arm before she reached the door, keeping an eye on the windows above them for any potential threat. "This is probably some sort of turf war. If you're going in there thinking the enemy of my enemy is-".
"I'm not an idiot!", she cut him off. "But I'm not going to leave those kids in there for whoever's left standing when the dust clears!", she hissed, prying his fingers from her arm. "Now are you coming? I can't do this alone!".
"Not for one hundred caps Lady", he hissed back at her. Both of them trying to keep their voices down.
"Two hundred", Piper growled, squeezing the strap of her backpack in annoyance.
Just then an explosion rocked the second floor of the building, blowing out one of the windows above them and raining down shards of glass. MacCready yanked her in close and shielded her against the debris.
"Two fifty!" he countered, his arm around her as they huddled together, bent over against the falling glass.
"That's blackmail!" she hissed in his ear.
"That's my regular fee and you know it!".
Piper sputtered and growled. "Fine! Deal!". "Jerk", she added under her breath when they broke their huddle and she made for the front door.
"Stay behind me", he pulled ahead of her, stepping over one of the bodies. Both men were shot in the head. Their weapons still holstered. He paused on the steps and looked out across the street at the buildings opposite the hideout. They were most likely sniped from one of those buildings, he thought to himself.
"What is it?", Piper whispered.
"Nothing. Stay behind me", he raised his pistol and proceeded through the door.
Piper gagged as she stepped over the pooling blood on the stairs. An engraved and faded sign at the side of the doorway, catching her eye, and confirming that this house was actually an orphanage.
She scoffed. This scum had a twisted sense of humor, she thought.
A thin haze of smoke hung in the air. The boarded up windows providing scant light, but she could make out the long dark hallway ahead of them.
The gunfire had stopped and a silence had settled in the old building.
"Stay put, I'll scout ahead", he ordered.
"And do what? We should stick together", she whispered.
"Listen lady, I need to be silent and fast. That works best if I'm on my own. I don't need you to worry about as well", he explained.
"This is insane! We're in a house with a bunch of trained killers and you want to go all 'Lone Ranger' on me!? I know how to use this thing!", she hissed, waving her pistol at him.
"Lady…".
"Piper!", she growled.
"Piper. I don't know how good you are with that thing, but now ain't the time to find out. So find some place to hide and I'll come get you when it's safe", he finished and turned, leaving her behind.
"MacCready!", she hissed after him before he disappeared down the hallway. "Rrrrghh! Pompous Jerk!", she muttered.
A few seconds of pacing before she finally dropped her bag in a small alcove along the wall, and crouched down next to it. The open door to the yard on her left, and if she stuck her head out, she had a good view of the dark, hazy hallway to her right.
The wooden staircase creaked under his weight as he cautiously made his way upstairs. His pistol trained on the railings above him for any movement.
The smoke was thicker on the second floor. Shafts of daylight peeking through a few of the open rooms along the corridor.
A corpse lay at his feet staring blankly up at the ceiling. MacCready knelt next to the body. The tattoo on his forehead identified him as a gunner. A broken, bloody nose. A gunshot to the knee, shoulder and chest.
This was the fourth body he'd found on his way up, including the two outside. The place, it seemed, wasn't heavily guarded. Which wasn't surprising considering the losses this Mr. Olsen had supposedly suffered the night before.
It seemed the gunners had yet to replace his losses.
A single shot shattered the silence, and his pistol was up and pointed down the dark, hazy corridor in an instant. But he could barely see anything through the smoke and the scattered light ahead.
The sound of heavy, muffled footsteps around the corner, causing him to quickly duck into one of the dark, boarded up, side rooms.
He waited, as the footsteps grew closer. His pistol at the ready.
And there it was. A dark figure cutting through the smoke, like a serpent through murky water, and his opportunity was gone. The smoke preventing him from getting a clear shot as they passed by and headed for the stairs.
'A woman?' He muttered. 'Was she alone?' He had to be sure. He didn't need any more surprises.
He slipped back into the corridor and made his way in the direction the stranger had come from. 'Piper, I hope you're out of sight'.
Piper poked her head out from the small alcove and squinted down the dark, hazy hallway. The single shot she heard had her on edge.
'Was MacCready okay?' 'Should she try to find him?'
This waiting around doing nothing was stupid, and it was starting to irritate her. She stepped out of her cover, intending to go find him, but immediately dashed back in at the sound of footsteps down the hallway.
"Crap!", she muttered and chanced a quick peek around the wall.
Barely able to make out the profile of a person as they got closer. It wasn't Mac Cready, that much was clear.
She ducked back behind the wall, her heart racing as she took a few quick breaths. She didn't want to kill anyone, but if it came to that, she wouldn't hesitate.
'Was MacCready still alive?'
The footsteps drew closer, and closer, and then stopped. Piper stood deathly still, holding her breath, listening for any sound. Her pistol held to her chest.
Confused, she hugged the wall and leaned out to take a look. It was in that moment that a hand shot out, and someone grabbed her by the collar and the wrist, yanking her out of her hiding spot.
She cried out in shock, her world nothing more than a blur as she was spun around and slammed against the wall. "Gah!".
"Drop it!", the stranger ordered in a muffled voice. Their fingers tightening menacingly around her wrist, forcing her to drop the gun".
"Okay! Okay!", Piper coughed, her eyes still shut tight from the sudden jolt of being slammed against the wall.
The stranger had their arm pressed against her throat and a leg jammed between hers, pinning her to the wall.
Piper dropped the gun and it hit the wooden floor with a muffled thud.
"C-can-I can't breathe, please", she managed to choke out, her free hand pushing against the arm on her neck.
The pressure eased up on her throat and the grip on her wrist relaxed in response. Piper gasped, took a shaky breath and opened her eyes.
"Where's your friend?", the stranger asked. A woman's muffled voice. A hood over her head. Cloth covered her upper body and the lower half of her face. The top half concealed behind a visor of some sort.
"F-friend? I-I don't…", Piper stuttered, her heart thundering in her chest.
"The man in the tan duster. Don't lie to me", she stated flatly. Only the slightest hint of a threat behind her words.
Piper swallowed. So MacCready was still alive. She hadn't found him yet. That shot she heard wasn't meant for him.
She closed her eyes and braced herself. "I…I don't want to say…".
But nothing happened. A few seconds of silence as the woman presumably deliberated her fate.
"What's your name?", the woman finally asked, and Piper slowly opened her eyes once more.
"P-Piper, Piper Wright. I-I'm a reporter for the Publick Occurrences in Diamond city and…".
"Piper", the woman cut her off, releasing her wrist and taking a hold of her collar. "Show me your hands", she ordered, pressing her pistol against Piper's ribs.
"Wait! Please I…", Piper lifter her palms.
"Calm down. Just answer my questions", the woman cut her off again.
"N-No offense but it's a little hard to stay calm with that thing pointed at me", Piper offered the stranger a nervous smile.
"Then answer my questions quickly", she countered. "That man you were with, who is he and why are you both here?"
"He's…he's a mercenary I hired to…", Piper began, but again the woman cut her off.
"Gunner?", she asked.
"N-No, he's just a hired gun. See, this family hired me, well not me exactly. I shouldn't even be here. They hired a friend of mine to find their lost kid, and somehow I got roped into…".
"Stop", the woman interrupted her rambling.
"W-what?".
"Short version. I just need the facts". The woman's even toned voice helping to calm her.
"Right, short version", Piper took a deep breath. "We tracked down a kidnapped boy to a slave trader named Vincent Olsen. This is supposed to be his hideout. I-I didn't have any other way of getting the kid out, so I decided to try to buy him back. That's why I'm here. There are caps in that bag over there, you can have it, just…".
"Relax", the woman stepped back and lowered her pistol. "You can put your hands down".
Piper did as she was told, folding her arms defensively across her chest. "Just so we're on the same page. You're not going to shoot me, right?".
"Not if I can help it", the woman replied.
"Then can I get your name?...Because I don't think you'd like the one I have for you in my head right now", Piper smirked nervously, testing the bounds of the stranger's civility.
There was a pause, a slight quirk of the stranger's head, that Piper hoped was a sign of amusement. Her face still hidden from view.
"Leona", the woman offered. "At the end of the corridor. The last door on your left leads to the basement. The kids are locked in there", she continued.
"Leona…", Piper repeated to herself. "Wait, what about the Gunners and that Olsen guy?".
"Olsen's dead and so are the Gunners", Leona explained. "If you're here for the kids, I'd hurry up and take them some place safe before anyone else shows up".
"Wh…", Piper was at a loss for words. "Why are you doing this? Who are you?", she managed.
Leona paused for a moment, seemingly deciding on her response. "I'm looking for someone. A kidnapped baby boy".
"An infant?", Piper repeated thoughtfully, biting her thumbnail. "I don't think a slave trader would bother with a baby. Too much responsibility, and I doubt it'd be worth the trouble".
"I thought as much, but I couldn't ignore the possibility", Leona agreed. "That being said, I don't have any leads. I don't know where to even start…", a hint on frustration creeping into her voice.
Piper frowned in thought for a moment, looking her over. "Look, I…I know someone, that friend I mentioned. He's got a real knack for tracking people down. Maybe I can-".
"Come here", Leona cut her off. Suddenly grabbing her by the collar and pulling her in close.
"W-What are you doing!?", Piper squirmed. She was facing the dark hallway. Leona held her from behind, with an arm securely across her chest.
"Calm down. I need you to tell your boyfriend to stand down", Leona ordered. Her voice tickling Piper's ear.
"My boyfr-what!?", Piper asked incredulously.
"Down the hall, behind the bookshelf", Leona directed, and Piper squinted at the darkness.
"I can't see anything. And can you get that thing out of my side. You already said you aren't going to shoot me", Piper hissed.
"Sorry. Force of habit", Leona apologised. "Get on with it", she ordered.
"Fine. MacCready?", she called, but there was no answer. "MacCready, she knows you're there", Piper added after a few seconds of silence.
"Piper are you alright?", came MacCready's disembodied voice.
"I'm fine. You can come out. Everything's under control", Piper assured him.
"Not from where I'm standing", he replied, finally emerging from the shadows. "Let her go, lady", he demanded, pointing his pistol at them.
"I'd love to", Leona replied. "As soon as you drop your gun".
"That ain't happening. I'm not gonna ask you again. If you think you're safe behind her, you better think again", MacCready warned.
"She's not here for my protection, slick", Leona replied. "I'd prefer to avoid any more bloodshed this evening, so drop the gun and kick it over".
Piper sighed. "Let me go", she whispered.
"How about, no", Leona whispered back.
"Just, trust me. Please?", Piper pleaded.
"I don't", Leona stated flatly.
"Hey, I trusted you", Piper sounded mildly hurt.
"Because you didn't have a choice".
"That's beside the point", Piper growled.
"Fine…", Leona relented after a brief pause, releasing her hold and levelling her sidearm at MacCready as Piper stepped forward.
"MacCready, put the gun away. She's not with the Gunners", Piper ordered, standing between them.
"Piper get over here! She's dangerous!", MacCready shouted.
"No, really? As if that wasn't blatantly obvious!", Piper hissed. "Now put it away, we're on the same side for crying out loud!", Piper hissed through clenched teeth.
"Piper, get-", MacCready began again, but was cut short at the sounds of feral growling behind him.
MacCready whirled around, to face the new threat.
"Stop!", Leona ordered, before MacCready could bring his gun up.
Leona's sudden outburst and the shift in her tone startling Piper. "You so much as point that gun at my friend and this standoff is going to take a quick and ugly turn", Leona warned.
MacCready's shoulders relaxed in defeat, and he shook his head, muttering something under his breath. His gun was pointed at the floor and there was no way he could bring it up in time.
"Dogmeat. Easy, boy", Leona called as her companion emerged from the shadows.
"Dogmeat?", Piper whispered thoughtfully. "Dogmeat! Hey boy, c'mere!", she called, motioning the dog over as she knelt.
Leona watched in bemusement as her companion barked and happily trotted over into the reporter's waiting arms.
"Hey boy!, haven't seen you around in ages", Piper grinned as she played with the dog.
Leona quirked her head at the display before returning her attention to MacCready.
"Piper!", MacCready growled at the oblivious reporter kneeling between them. "What the fu…hell are you doing?!".
Leona quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Huh?", Piper looked up at him with the audacity to look confused.
"I don't know if you noticed, but we have a situation here!", MacCready hissed, gnashing his teeth in annoyance.
"There's no situation", Piper shot back, wincing as Dogmeat licked her cheek. "I told you, we're on the same side".
"Drop the weapon, slick", Leona repeated.
"I'm not giving up my gun, lady", he stubbornly refused.
"Then put. It. Away", Piper growled. "She can shoot us both right now and she hasn't".
"Enough of this", Leona cut them off, tucking her pistol behind her and relaxing her stance as she folded her arms.
MacCready looked at her, confused for a moment before Piper stood up again between them.
"There. See? We're all friends now, right?", Piper coaxed the mercenary.
Piper barely knew anything about MacCready, and as for the stranger, next to nothing. But she'd always trusted her instincts, and right then, it told her that they were all on the same side.
Still, she didn't know what Mac Cready would do in response to the stranger's show of good faith, now that he had her at a disadvantage. And so she thought it prudent to stand between them, hoping to prevent the situation from devolving once more.
Leona watched the mercenary over Piper's shoulder. Her arms folded beneath the shawl that covered her upper body. Her shoulder holster concealed by the fabric. Her fingers wrapped firmly around the handle of the pistol under her arm.
"Fine". MacCready replied finally after a few tense moments of silence.
An audible sigh from Piper as she visibly relaxed. "Great". "Hey…uh…", she turned to Leona.
"What is it?", Leona asked. Her voice muffled and her arms still folded.
"About those kids", Piper continued.
"Head down the hallway and turn left. Keep going. It's the last door", Leona directed.
"Are they okay?", Piper asked.
"I didn't get a good look at them while I was clearing the place. But they're alive. You should probably hurry before more of these…people, show up", Leona explained.
"R-Right", Piper nodded. "C'mon MacCready, let's go", she called as she passed the merc, with Dogmeat at her heels.
"Hang on", MacCready stopped her and turned to Leona, who still hadn't moved an inch. "What about you. What are you gonna do?".
Piper watched as the stranger paused for a moment before answering. A slight quirk of her head.
"I'll be here. Someone has to keep watch", Leona stated flatly. "Go, do what you came to do".
MacCready frowned in thought as he looked her over, clearly trying to discern her intentions.
"MacCready", Piper prodded.
"Yeah…yeah, I'm commin", he finally tore his gaze from the stranger and turned to follow Piper down the hallway.
Dogmeat paused midway down the hallway and turned to her. A slight nod of her head telling him it was okay to follow the duo, and off he went after them.
Leona sighed and turned towards the front door, flicking a switch on her visor and pulling down the cloth from her face. The light from outside giving the doorway the appearance of a portal to another world.
She leaned on the doorframe, scanning the street outside. It was all clear for now, but with the smoke and the noise from earlier, staying here too much longer would just be inviting disaster.
"I can't see anything", Piper said as she squinted down the dark staircase leading into the basement.
"Wait", MacCready's hand on her shoulder halted her descent down the stairs. "Let me", he offered, squeezing past her on the narrow staircase and flicking his lighter as he drew his gun.
Six scared and dirty faces stared back at them in the dim light.
"Put that away", Piper pushed his gun down as she brushed past him. "Hey there, it's alright, we're not going to hurt you". She showed them her palms as she approached the small group huddled together in the dark. "My name is Piper and that's- that's my friend, MacCready. We're here to get you out of this place, get you back to your folks", she smiled and held out her hand. "What do you say?".
"But there are men with guns and-", one of the children squeaked.
"The bad men are gone now, sweetie", Piper stooped down in front of the group. Boys and girls. None of them likely older than twelve. Tattered clothing and grimy faces. "I know you're scared, but we can't stay here much longer. We won't let anyone hurt you, I promise. But I need you to be brave for just a little while longer".
"There was shooting just now", one of the boys spoke up. "And this nice lady found us. She said she'd come back for us when it was safe".
"She's upstairs", Piper nodded. "Keeping watch. That's why we have to go now, before more of those men show up".
"You're Joseph right?", MacCready interjected from behind her.
"Y-yes sir", the boy answered.
Piper looked over her shoulder at her companion, in confusion. "How did you?-".
"That list I mentioned. The description matches", he explained. "Come on, we need to get moving".
Leona stood beside the front door of the orphanage as Piper and MacCready emerged from the hallway with the six kids in tow.
Backlit by the fading light from outside. A large duffel bag over her shoulder and a rifle at her side. Upon noticing them, she wordlessly turned on her heel and headed out the door, with Dogmeat bolting past them to follow her.
"I honestly thought she'd have taken off before we got back", MacCready muttered.
"Mmm", Piper grunted distractedly at his side, thoughtfully regarding Leona's retreating form as the evening light enveloped her. There was a story there. She could feel it.
There was still blood on the steps, but the bodies were gone. "Hey!", Piper called to Leona as the woman exited the gates and kept walking, while Dogmeat waited for them on the sidewalk.
Diamond City's guards were waiting for them in front of the city gates when they arrived. The woman had apparently informed the guard of the situation when she arrived ahead of them, but she was nowhere in sight.
Nick stood in front of the gates waiting for her. The tension finally leaving her shoulders when she noticed him. A smile of relief tugging at her lips.
"You okay?", he asked solemnly. Concern etched in his face.
"Always. You know me", she forced a smile, absently thumbing the cut on her lip. She turned her head to the side in an attempt to hide the bruise on the side of her face. Under the guise of watching the guards shepherd the kids through the gate.
"Piper…", Nick pressed.
"I'm fine Nick. God, I've been in worse situations than this. You know that".
Nick sighed. "What were you thinking!?".
"Wh-?". His sudden outburst catching her off guard.
"I had to hear from Ellie that you somehow got it in your head to make a deal with Olsen by yourself. You know better than that Piper. That was a boneheaded move, going in half-cocked like that. We could have made a plan, gathered more information-".
"There was no time Nick!", she cut him off. "If we'd waited much longer, Olsen would have disappeared. He was already paranoid enough as it is-".
"Paranoid? W-", Nick asked, but one of the guards interrupted him.
"Miss Piper, we need you to answer a few questions", the guard informed her.
"Yeah, yeah just-just gimme a minute, will you? I'm not going anywhere", she waved him away.
They waited until the guard left before they continued.
"Look", Piper sighed. "I'll fill you in on the details later. I know it was a dumb thing to do, believe me. But if I could have waited for you I would have. I had no choice".
It was Nick's turn to sigh. His expression softened. "I know. I shouldn't take it out on you. This was on me. Ellie was worried sick, we both were. I shouldn't have asked you to do this alone. I'm sorry".
"Don't be", Piper shook her head. I'm not".
"I'm starting to think Ellie may have a point about me taking on a full time partner to lighten the load", Nick mused.
Piper smiled at him. "I think that might be worth a shot. But I would have done this whether you brought me in on it, or I found out on my own. Don't stop calling on me Nick. What we're doing is worth it, and I wouldn't have it any other way".
Nick seemed to be deep in thought before he finally spoke. "We can talk more about about this later, but you did a damn good thing today. There's going to be a lot of grateful families because of this".
"Yeah, things turned out pretty well, but this wasn't me", Piper explained.
"Oh?", Nick raised an eyebrow, urging her to continue.
"I don't know what would have happened when I met Olsen. Wasn't exactly walking in with a solid plan here", Piper admitted with a self conscious grin. "But luckily I didn't have to find out. Some lady hit the hideout before we got there. Took care of Olsen and the gunners he had with him".
"You don't say. Sounds like you're already gearing up for a story", Nick observed. He knew her well enough to see the signs.
"Oh yeah. There's something there Nick. I know it", Piper grinned. A look of excitement and determination. "Speaking of which, you didn't happen to see her did you? Tall, dark clothes, carrying a large bag. Her head was covered, couldn't get a good look at her", Piper bit her thumbnail as she recalled their meeting, trying to remember any detail that she'd missed.
"Can't say that I have", Nick thought. "I'd be interested in hearing the details when I get back though".
"Get back?", Piper asked. "You're…heading out again?".
"Yeah, I got a solid lead on that Darla case. Now that I know you're safe and those kids are headed back where they belong. I figure it's a good time to put this case to bed as well".
"Wh-Do you need hand, I could-", Piper began but Nick shook his head.
"You've done more than enough today, and you've got your hands full already", Nick nodded to city guards under the gate. "I'm sure Natalie is worried about you, and see Ellie when you get the chance, alright?".
Piper looked like she wanted to protest. Her mouth opening and then closing as she relented with a nod, "Alright", she agreed.
Nick in turn nodded with a smile, placing a hand on her shoulder as he started to move past her. But instead, stopping when he noticed MacCready sitting at the base of the statue in the courtyard.
"That MacCready?", he asked, nodding towards the mercenary, who was idly tapping his boots on the sidewalk as he took a drag of his cigarette.
"Yeah", Piper followed his gaze over her shoulder. "Things probably wouldn't have worked out so well if he wasn't with me".
"I see. He's looking a little jumpy there. You might want to talk to him before you check in with the guard. We'll talk when I get back", he finished and continued past her.
Piper could guess why, after their meeting with Winlock and Barnes earlier in the day.
"Nick", Piper called.
"Hm?".
"Be…uh, be careful, alright?".
The detective flashed her a smile and tipped his hat.
She watched him as he headed down the road and disappeared past the barricades.
"Hey, think fast", Piper's voice snapping him to attention in time to catch the small pouch headed for his face.
MacCready looked up at her. She was smirking almost playfully at him.
"Two fifty, like we agreed", she informed him.
MacCready frowned at the pouch in his hand.
"What's with that look. It's all there", Piper assured him.
"It's not that", MacCready looked up at her. "I don't feel like I've earned this".
"Yeah? Well then give it back you jerk".
"Wa-Now just hold on a minute", he held up his palm. "I'll tell you what. You ever need a hired gun, come see me. The next job's on me".
"Hah", she clicked her tongue and folded her arms, apparently considering his offer. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I really hope I don't have to do that any time soon".
"Fair enough. But the offer stands", he pocketed the caps and stood, crushing his cigarette out beneath his boot. "Diamond city security looks like they want to have a word with you. Want me to tag along?", he offered.
Piper looked over her shoulder. One of the guards was waiting for her just inside the gate. She sighed, "I'll take care of it. You can head back to Goodneighbor, or get a room in Diamond City for the night. It's not that expensive", Piper suggested.
"I think I'll do that", he decided, absently scratching at the stubble on his jaw. "Maybe I'll see you around", he straightened his duster and nodded. "You take it easy". And with that he headed for the gate.
