After a few days spent in Nick's guest room and under the care of Doc Sun Beorn felt well enough to head back out. He and the old PI put their heads together with Piper and tried to think of a new lead. The Courier disappeared outside of Diamond City and hadn't been heard from since. So far, the group had come up with nothing, nada, zilch. It was about supper time on the third day when Beorn was listening to that poor kid, Travis, on the radio again. Somebody should really help that kid out.
Travis' voice broke for the umpteenth time that day when he said, "Here's a bit of news...s-s-something you don't hear every day. It seems a new settlement has started to grow. I-I-If you're tired of living in Diamond City I guess you have a new option. The settlement of Sanctuary has been...uh..set up...started? Anyway, it sounds pre-ty dangerous to me. In related news...well, I guess it's the same news. It seems the Minutemen were involved. That's the Minutemen, I thought they were done for..."
A light seemed to snap on in Beorn's head. They needed more bodies to explore the Commonwealth. More people to help them search, could Preston and his crew help out? It was certainly worth a shot.
"Hey Nick! What can you tell me about the Minutemen?" Beorn asked over breakfast.
"Not much to tell anymore. Once, they were a group dedicated to protecting the Commonwealth. Even tried to unite a bunch of settlements into a 'Commonwealth Provisional Government' some years back. That ended with the Institute slaughtering the leaders of the CPG...Then there was Quincy." At this Nick stopped and paused. "That was bad news, the whole group split up after the Gunners massacred the town. Haven't heard much since, though it sounds like Travis might have the skinny on a new settlement run by them."
"He might, and I might have a bit more. I ran into a fella named Preston Garvey after I thawed out. I was traveling through Concord, looking for anyone who could help, and ran into a firefight between Preston's group and some raiders. I helped them fight off the raiders and then led them back to a development called Sanctuary Hills where I left them to come to Diamond City." Replied Beorn.
"That's an interesting story. What are you thinking about the Minutemen?" Asked Nick.
"Bodies. We need people to help us comb the Wasteland for the Institute. Preferably folks that have some training, or at least some guts. I think the Minutemen may be a solution." Beorn sat back and waited for Nick to reply.
"The one thing it sounds like they don't have is bodies Bub. How do you propose to fix that?" Nick lit up a cigarette and blew out a small cloud if smoke.
"Preston mentioned to me that he wants to build them back up. Even asked me to be their General. I didn't take the offer, being more interested in finding Shaun than settling down. Now though, maybe I'll at least volunteer my services to help him get back on his feet. I don't have a better plan right now." Beorn looked over his shoulder as the door creaked open. Piper walked in.
"HI fellas!" She said cheerily, "What's the word today? Thanks for the interview by the way Blue. Paper is selling pretty well, though it was pretty dark what you had to say."
"I'm in a dark place right now, Piper. Though some friends have helped." Beorn scratched behind Dogmeat's ears. "I haven't totally given up yet thanks to you, Nick, and Dogmeat. I'm still fighting. Nick and I were just discussing maybe helping the Minutemen. Then they may give us the support we need to find the Institute. Thoughts?"
"I know the Minutemen saved Diamond City from Super Mutants some years back, but after Quincy...I don't know Blue. Most of them are not much better than Raiders anymore. You know someone who can help?" Piper was curious as always.
"Met a guy named Garvey. Apparently he is doing well at Sanctuary Hills, or so Travis is telling the whole Commonwealth. That could be bad publicity if folks don't like them. I don't have a better plan, and Garvey seemed good enough to me. I think I'll head back towards Sanctuary Hills and see what I can do to help them." Beorn responded. "After I have a talk with Travis to see if he knows anything else."
"Go easy on the kid Beorn. You might just make him shit his pants if you walk in there all...well...you." Piper chuckled. "Maybe see if you can help him find his courage, wherever he left it."
Beorn chuckled a bit at that. "Don't worry about Travis, I don't plan to rough him up. Anyone around here a friend of his? Maybe I could work through them to smooth things over."
Nick replied, "Yeah, I think the Bobrov Brothers over at the Dugout Inn might be the only friends he's got. You could try them if you like."
--
A little while later Beorn made his way to the Dugout Inn. He was still trying to keep a fairly low profile in the Commonwealth, though that might have to change soon if this Minutemen idea plays out. The old Dugout was comfortably lit and furnished to make a pretty decent watering hole for the locals and transients moving through town.
The man behind the bar called out to Beorn as he entered, "Welcome to Dugout Inn, maybe you can help me out with my deadbeat brother." His slavic accent caught Beorn off guard, how had that survived the last 200 years? Were people still emmigrating from Europe? Was there still a Europe? Did the concept of emigration still apply? The bartender not only had the accent, but dressed in an blue, fur-lined jacket that added to his Eastern European features. Before Beorn got too far into wondering another man spoke up.
He looked up from the copy of Publik Occurrences he was reading, "Not this again Vadim. Let the customers drink in peace." He also had an accent, but less pronounced. He wore a more businesslike outfit and had an air of sensibility about him.
"You know Diamond City radio, yes?" The bartender went on, ignoring the other man. The radio played Ella Fitzgerald in the background.
"Listening to it right now, why?" Beorn asked looking at the old radio set.
"Ha! Big and has sense of humor. I think I might like you. It's Travis, yes. The kid is terrible. Drives customers away, listening to him..." the bartender leaned across the counter conspiratorially "...I think we should 'take care of him', if you catch meaning."
"I think I do." Beorn replied cautiously. "I'm not sure I agree. The kid could use some advice is all, and some confidence."
The man in the suit walked over, "Vadim, stop this nonsense." Then looking at Beorn said, "He doesn't mean it. Travis is a good friend, Vadim is only joking."
Vadim laughed loudly, "Of course it was only joke! Travis is like little brother. Now, you gonna drink, my friend? Best moonshine in the Commonwealth." He indicated the rows of bottles behind him.
"I'll sample the local specialty, then. A round for each of us on me." Beorn replied and put some caps on the bar.
Vadim quickly scooped them up and said, "I knew I like you!" He poured three shots of a clear liquid. The two brothers and Beorn raised their glasses, "Prost!" said Vadim as they all drained the shot. It was like drinking really good old moonshine that Beorn had in the Appalachians before the war. It burned like hell.
Beorn said, "That is some good shine you've got there Vadim. I'll take another." He put some more caps on the bar. "I am curious about Travis though, how does he get his news?"
Vadim poured another shot for Beorn and said, "From bar mostly, I talk with him after hours and share stories from travelers. You got any good stories, friend? I could tell you about the time I faced down the most dangerous creatures in the Commonwealth."
Beorn saw where this was going, reminded him of his days working for the FBI. "Alright, I'll bite. You go first Vadim and then I've got one for you. Gonna need a few more drinks though."
Vadim grinned from ear to ear as Beorn downed a third shot and then tapped the bar for a refill, along with some more caps. The two swapped old war stories, grossly exaggerated, for the next couple of hours. By the end, most of the patrons had left. Travis had come in, had a beer, listened to the tall tales, then left again.
That was when a very drunk Vadim and Beorn hatched a plan to boost Travis' confidence. Beorn then paid for a room and passed out.
The next day the light was too bright for Beorn to get moving very quickly and the sounds of Diamond City were so loud. How had he not noticed them before? Banging and haranging, each one pounded on his head like a hammer. He got up and headed to the bar, where he got coffee and drank a lot of water. His old go to for a hangover.
Vadim didn't look too good himself, "Beorn, friend, you drink like Bear you are named for. We are on for tonight though, yes?" Beorn vaguely remembered the conspiracy of last night, but nodded anyway. "Good! Come by around 7 pm. Is usually when Travis comes around. I have everything ready."
That left Beorn with some time to kill around Diamond City. He headed over to the market and chatted with some of the shopowners. Myrna was as awkward as ever, but she meant well. Arturo and Beorn had become fast friends over the last couple of days while eating noodles at the noodle stand. They both had a deep appreciation for a good weapon and spent hours chatting about it. Arturo was a wealth of knowledge about the Commonwealth, the creatures, the factions, and the best ways to keep alive.
Moe glared at Beorn as he walked past and Beorn just glared back. The first day Beorn had been up and about he had talked with Moe Cronin. Argued loudly might be more accurate. Beorn had taken serious offense at the way that Moe described Beorn's favorite game. In the end Beorn's broken ribs and Diamond City Security had ended the argument. Nick had come and picked Beorn up from the lockup after smoothing things over with the guards. Today Beorn didn't intend to cause any trouble so he walked on past.
He stopped in with Doc Sun and had his daily checkup, then headed over to the chapel. Beorn had never been too religious, but they say there are no atheists in a foxhole. He believed in something higher, though he didn't know what. He had made fast friends with Pastor Clements and the two would sit and discuss those higher powers, then Beorn would sit and meditate for a while. This had become a part of his daily ritual. He spent the rest of the day in Piper's office chatting with her and Nat. They all ate dinner at the noodle stand before Beorn headed over to the Dugout Inn.
When he arrived he remembered some details of the ill conceived plan that Vadim had hatched last night. Two toughs stood blocking the entrance as Travis entered just ahead of Beorn.
"Well if it ain't the worst radio host in the Commonwealth," said one.
"Yeah, your voice makes me sick," the other said.
"Woa, what...I don't want an-any trouble. I just came in for a, for a drink," stuttered Travis.
"Maybe I want trouble with you boy. Maybe I'm gonna end you and take over your radio broadcast," replied the first tough.
"Don't hurt me...I...I...don't take my show away. I can pay you...maybe...I have some caps..." The second tough shoved Travis back at this point, right into Beorn's chest. The young man didn't come past Beorn's chest, dwarfed by the giant of a man.
"What are you going to do about it Travis?" the first tough said.
Beorn put a hand on his shoulder and said in a low voice. "Guys like this will never stop coming. Sometimes you have to stand up and fight."
Travis turned, "But they are bigger than me and it could get rough."
"You think the odds will always be in your favor? Sometimes you have to stand up, you're bigger than you give yourself credit for Travis," replied Beorn.
"I'm gettin' bored over here," the tough said.
"I got your back Travis. Now stand up for yourself."
Travis turned, shoulders slumped. "Just go away and don't bother me any...anymore."
"I think I heard an 'Or else'. Was you gonna say, 'Or else'?" retorted the tough.
"Or else...or...or else I'll beat you up." Travis voice cracked and he nearly lost the last phrase.
"Wrong thing to say boy. Now I'm gonna have to hurt you good," the tough said. He rolled up one of his sleeves and threw a haymaker at Travis. The boy was quick enough, and the haymaker took too long in the wind up. Travis ducked away from the punch, which landed squarely in Beorn's gut. Beorn was expecting the punch and the fist impacted rock hard abs. That's not to say it didn't hurt, but Beorn wasn't about to show that to this goon.
Beorn chuckled and smiled at the man, who was big, but not as big as the man he just hit. Beorn then jabbed straight to the man's nose and followed up with an uppercut to his gut. The other tough dove at Beorn, but there was Travis who punched the second tough in the jaw. The fight was over almost before it began as the two toughs high tailed it for the door.
Vadim's laugh echoed through the bar as he approached Travis from behind. The young man was wringing his hand from the punch. Vadim clapped him hard on the shoulder, "That was good! Good, Travis! Here, have a beer on the house. You too Papa Bear."
Vadim meant it well, and there was no way for him to know that "Papa Bear" had been Nate's callsign back in the war, but the memory stung. It hit Beorn much harder than the punch to the gut. His face fell as he remembered his old friend and the good times they would never have again. Then Nora came to him and his heart broke again for a moment.
Vadim saw the emotion on Beorn's face. "What is wrong, friend? You look like you see ghost, sad ghost." Travis saw it too.
"Thanks for your help there. Did you get hurt?" The stutter was gone from the radio caster's voice, for a moment anyway.
Beorn choked a little, but shook his head. "I'll be fine. Vadim, I am going to need a bottle of Bobrov's Best to chase these blues away."
Vadim looked concerned for a moment, but laughed anyway. "Is best cure for any problem. I tell you story of how Bobrov's Best saved me from certain death!"
Several bottles and an endless stream of fish tales later, Beorn passed out in room two again. He vaguely remembered Travis chatting up Scarlett after a few drinks, maybe even going home with her. Good for him.
He woke the next morning with his head pounding again. No. That was the door. Someone was pounding on the door. Beorn moaned and put the pillow over his head. "Go away! I still need to sleep for several more days. Vadim, your shine is gonna end me."
"This is Yefim! They came just a few minutes ago and took Vadim!"
Beorn's foggy mind took some time to process what Yefim was saying. He was soon out of bed and talking with Yefim about what happened. He went and got Nick and Piper to help out, Travis showed up and demanded to go with the group. In fact, he thought he knew where Vadim was taken. The toughs they had fought with yesterday were part of a gang that operated out of the old Beantown Brewery.