"They're beautiful, aren't they?"
Piper turned to see a young woman also staring up at the starlit night sky, a whimsical look on her face. Her black hair was drawn back in a messy ponytail and dark circles had etched themselves deep into her skin. She clutched a bundle of blankets tightly to her chest; Piper could just make out the delicate features of a baby peeking out from the faded-yellow cloth.
"The Commonwealth can be amazing sometimes. When it's not trying to kill you, of course."
The woman smiled, but there was a distant look in her eyes. Piper wondered if her joke had been in bad taste.
"S-Shouldn't be far now." She added hastily.
"Atleast we'll be safe at the Castle, right?"
"Can't imagine a safer place in all of the Commonwealth."
She closed her eyes and nodded.
The baby let out a soft gurgle and for a moment the two women watched in silence as it opened its eyes. Despite the bumpy ride and the low, constant chatter of other passengers, it seemed perfectly content with the situation. An unbelievably sweet smile spread across its face as it looked up at the stars. The words were out of her mouth before she knew it.
"Can I hold it?"
The woman jerked back, her arms curling tight around their precious charge. Fear and suspicion trickled into her expression.
"I'm sorry, that was wrong of me." Piper gestured to the seat beside her, where Nat was curled into a ball and fast asleep. "I just wish this one was at that age. Now she's just a pain in the butt."
"I heard that." Came the grumbled reply. It was quickly followed by a light punch to the shoulder.
"See what I mean?"
The tension drained out of the woman's face, and she slowly eased forward.
"Here." She carefully grabbed one of the baby's arms and held it still.
Piper paused, unsure what she wanted.
"Give him your hand."
She moved slowly, being very careful not to startle mother or child as she offered up her index finger.
Instinctively, the baby's small, cold hands latched on. A gasp escaped her lips as the little creature squeezed, burbling and smiling at the moon.
"What's his name?"
"I haven't decided yet." She admitted, stroking his head fondly. "I'd like to think about it for a while."
"Well, when you pick a name you'll have to invite me." Piper carefully pulled her finger out of the baby's grip. "I'm Piper Wright."
"Maria." She replied after a short pause. "Are you from Diamond City?"
"Not born, definitely raised. I used to run the Publick Occurences."
Maria's blank stare shouldn't have bothered her as much as it did. Her paper barely even sold in Diamond City nowadays.
"It's a...newspaper."
"Ah. I see." Maria replied in a tone that made it obvious that she didn't. Mercifully, the awkward pause was interrupted by a deep, commanding voice.
"Fort Independence. Last stop." The caravan driver bellowed, sounding weary but relieved. Sleepy heads began to poke out from under blankets and Nat started to stir and mumble in her seat.
"Where is it?" a child whispered excitedly before he was hushed by equally excited adult voices. There was a sudden surge of movement as they finally cleared the last buildings, and the Castle came into view. Gasps and cheers echoed through the night as people started securing their luggage and waking up their loved ones. Seven grueling hours of travel had finally come to an end. For many people, it was also an end to their fears, their best hope for living a normal life. After all, as everyone knew, the Castle was the home of the General.
And the General would always keep them safe.
"Nat?"
Thankfully, her sister materialized out of the darkness. Despite her sagging shoulders and pouty face, there was a spark of excitement in her eyes. For once, she was even carrying her own luggage without complaint.
"Ready to get going, sport?"
"I'm hungry."
Almost without complaint.
"We'll get you something to eat inside." Piper eyed the dark, empty town. "Somebody has to be open."
She hadn't even taken two steps when a rough, gloved hand latched onto her arm.
"Hey!"
"Get in line." A man in a blue duster ordered, shoving her back towards the caravan. A queue had formed outside the entrance to the town. At the very front, yawning Minutemen waved people forward one at a time to enter small, curtained booths on either side of the road.
The Minuteman made a move to grab Nat, but Piper quickly stepped between him and her sister, hands raised.
"We're going, we're going." She assured him. "There's no need to get rough."
His eyes narrowed, although she couldn't tell if he was suspicious or just plain tired. Eventually he shrugged and nodded towards the line. "Everyone takes the test."
Of course. If it was mandatory in Diamond City, it had to be mandatory here. This was Jennifer's home, the headquarters of the Minutemen. Too late, Piper realized she was probably looking quite suspicious right now.
Piper spotted Maria a few spots ahead in line, and the two exchanged an uneasy look. She wanted to smile her reassurance, maybe even offer a little thumbs-up to keep her spirits up. But the chill that suddenly gripped her heart when she eyed the curtained booths kept her frozen in place.
"Keep moving." The man behind her ordered. He didn't shove her, but for the first time she was keenly aware of the laser musket pointed at her back.
Piper slid into line behind an old man who reeked of dirt and oil. The guard, satisfied to see them both in the line, headed on towards the back of the caravan. She could only assume he was looking for more people to shove, but atleast it gave her a chance to speak with Nat.
"Hey!" Nat cried, as Piper yanked her close, nearly toppling her to the ground.
"Listen." Piper ordered, in a tone that shut her up instantly. "If something goes wrong in there, if someone asks you to come outside or-"
"Piper, you're hurting me." Nat whispered, her eyes wide. "We've already taken this test before, remember?"
Back when Jennifer pushed the test on all Diamond City residents, a bored, hungry guard had asked them a half-dozen silly questions as part of the SAFE test. They'd answered together, laughed about it afterwards and ordered a rare noodle dinner to celebrate being human.
But what was happening here was different. She didn't know or trust any of these Minutemen. And after what they'd done to McDonough…
"You listen to me, Natalie Wright." Piper ordered, tightening her grip. "If they try to take you away, you call for me, ok?"
"Ok!" Nat yanked her hand out of her sister's grasp and eyed her suspiciously. "But you're being paranoid, you know."
"Comes with the job." She quipped with a half-hearted smile.
Up ahead, a small commotion drew the sisters' attention. A woman was making her way down the line, briefly shining a flashlight in each person's face and asking them questions. Her duster was a deep blue, scrupulously clean and perfectly form-fitted. She moved with a dignified purpose that reminded her of Blue.
Had she come looking for them?
Her hope faded when the woman called out; her voice was too high-pitched and the accent was all wrong.
"Piper! Piper Wright?"
"Here! Over here!" Nat yelled, waving to grab the woman's attention before Piper's hand could clamp over her mouth. It was too late; the Minuteman was already making her way over. She peered down at Nat with tired but amused eyes.
"Very funny, little miss." She patted her gently on the head. "But we're looking for someone a little taller."
"Ahem." Piper coughed, drawing the woman's gaze. "I'm Piper Wright. This is Nat, my sister."
The woman scanned her from head to toe with brisk, military efficiency. Her eyes lingered for a moment on Piper's worn press cap and faded red trench coat before she offered a quick salute.
"Ms. Wright, I'm Cassie Shaw." She eyed Nat. "Is this all your luggage?"
"Yes!" Piper spoke up quickly, using one hand to keep her sister silent. She could only begin to imagine the insults the cranky ten-year-old was trying to throw at this newcomer. She'd just been called luggage.
Cassie didn't seem to mind Nat's furious, muffled curses as she reached over to grab the sisters' bags.
"We can carry our own stuff." Piper insisted. "And there's a few more items in the caravan we need to bring."
"Of course. My orders are to take you to your room as quickly as possible, but I'll make sure to speak with the caravan dri-"
"Cassie!"
It was the Minuteman from earlier, making a beeline towards them with his musket in tow. Piper stepped protectively in front of Nat as he approached.
"Just in time! Bill, I need you to speak with the caravan driver and make sure Ms. Wright's luggage gets delivered to her room."
"Hold on, these two didn't take the test! And this one-" He jabbed an accusing finger at Piper. "Was trying to sneak into town without permission!"
"General's orders, Bill." Cassie sighed. "If you have a problem with that, take it up with the Dyson."
"But-" He eyed Piper again; this time she held her ground under his bead-eyed stare, giving him one of her own signature glares in silent response. They stared each other down for a second, before he finally seemed to decide she wasn't worth it.
"Alright then."
Cassie was already turning away when the man called after her.
"Are we still on for drinks later?"
"Bill, I'm tired…"
"You promised!" He insisted with surprising force.
"I know. Just not tonight."
The man decided to let it go, but not before he threw out a frown that could have soured fresh milk. He spun on his heel and refused to give Piper a second look as he marched back towards the caravan.
Asshole. If he messed with her terminal…
A sharp cry pierced through her angry thoughts. Piper whirled around.
"Please, this has to be a mistake!" It was Maria, clutching her baby to her chest.
A Minuteman stepped towards her.
"Ma'am, I need you to stay calm." The man sounded like he was also having a hard time staying calm. All eyes were on him. "We can sort this out if you just stay calm."
"No!" a breeze caught her hair and whipped it across her face, where it clung tight. "I'm not a synth!"
"Please, Ms. Wright. This way." Cassie's soft, polite voice at her side felt surreal. Piper watched as a second Minuteman moved behind the young mother.
"Piper! What are they doing?"
"Ms. Wright, we need to go." The young Minuteman shuffled in place. "Please."
"What are they doing?" Piper demanded. Her sister's wide eyes were starting to fill up.
"I-I think she didn't pass the SAFE test, Ms. Wright."
The SAFE test. The test her and Nat were getting a free pass on. A lump of guilt settled uncomfortably in her chest.
"Tell them to stop." Piper whispered, as one of the men tried to pull the baby out of Maria's hands. Her fists clenched at the sound of her wails. "Now."
"Ms. Wright, these are the General's orders. Nobody who fails the SAFE test can be allowed into the town."
"Piper, you can't!" Nat cried, tugging on her arm. "She can't be a synth!"
"Cassie, if you don't tell those men to stop right now, me and Nat are going to turn around and walk back to Diamond City." She felt a little guilty at the look of horror on Cassie's face. She was putting her in an impossible position.
"Ms. Wright, I-"
"Nat, grab your bags."
"Wait! Please, give me a minute." Cassie pleaded, her voice unnaturally high. It occurred to Piper that she couldn't be much older than eighteen.
"Just one minute." Piper crossed her arms and tried to swallow her guilt. If she could help Maria get her child to safety, it would all be worth it. She watched Cassie head over to speak with the Minutemen. Maria sobbed on the ground with her hands cuffed behind her.
Piper's heart sank. There was no way. No way those cries of pain could come from a synth. If someone had taken Nat away from her…
She paused. There were tears in her eyes. And Cassie was coming back.
"They're letting her inside." She mumbled, reaching out to take Piper's bag. Over at the security check, the Minutemen were handing Maria's baby back to her. Minuteman Bill stood ready to escort her inside. "Shall we go, Ms. Wright?"
"Call me Piper. I'm not that old."
"I meant no offense." Cassie said simply, as they moved past the entrance and into the dark, lifeless town.
"People live here?" Nat blurted out the question that was at the tip of Piper's tongue. At the very least, she expected to see an addict or two slinking between the various wooden buildings, or a late-night store luring weary travelers with overpriced water. She never would have thought having a 24/7 noodle bar run by a dysfunctional robot was a luxury.
"They very much do." The woman answered, as they made their way down the main street. "But it's lights off after nine o'clock here."
"Why?" Nat demanded, with all the bold indignation of a child realizing her bedtime had just gone back a few hours. Cassie smiled and opened her eyes wide.
"Mirelurks." She whispered, her voice low with terror. "If little girls make too much noise or turn on the lights at night, they come out of the ocean and grab you."
"I'm not a little girl." Nat grumbled. "And I'm not scared of Mirelurks."
The woman shot Piper a look that said I tried.
"Well you're a brave young girl, aren't you." She paused to ruffle Nat's hair. "I'm sure the Mirelurks won't bother you."
Nat slapped her hand away.
"Piper, I'm going to go walk over there." She pointed to the opposite side of the road. "Alright?"
And then she was gone, trudging off with her arms folded and her jaw set. Cassie watched her go, a wistful look on her face.
"She takes a while to warm up."
"I've never been good with children." She smiled awkwardly, her hand still ruffling empty air.
"Well I'm sorry that was your first experience." Piper returned the smile. "It's only uphill from here."
Cassie shot her a quizzical look.
"Is she always like this?"
Piper sighed and shoved her hands into her coat pockets.
"Not usually. She's crankier than a Yao-Guai right now. I don't think she slept at all during the trip."
"I see. It must be hard for her, leaving her home behind."
"Yeah, that too." Piper surveyed the dark town again. "But you're certain people live here?"
"If you'd come a few hours later, the streets would be packed. We follow a pretty weird schedule here, but you'll get used to it." She paused for a few seconds to fight a losing battle with a massive yawn before continuing. "Early to bed, early to rise. We found out pretty early that the Mirelurks are attracted to light."
"But what about that?" Piper pointed to a large floodlight set up on one of the Castle's massive walls. "Seems like a Mirelurk magnet."
"It is." Cassie replied with pride in her voice. "The General came up with it herself. It baits the Mirelurks onto the beaches, then the guards kill them from above."
She paused to glance at Nat, who was pointedly ignoring them from the other side of the road.
"I hope you like Mirelurk, because that's mostly what we eat around here."
"Mirelurk is just fine for us." Piper nodded towards the floodlight. "The General really thinks of everything, doesn't she?"
"I can't imagine what this place would look like without her."
Piper couldn't help but stare as they passed a large, three story wooden building. The building itself was rather unremarkable; what caught her attention was the mural covering the front wall. A pastel-blue, power armored figure fought a horribly misshapen supermutant. The creature's face was a terrifying amalgam of jagged teeth, angry red eyes and oddly, a perfectly round nose. A massive blue fist loomed over its head as the armored heroine stood ready to put the beat down on the green behemoth.
Oh Blue. She chuckled softly. It was hard to imagine the soft-spoken, polite woman she knew as a ruthless, armored warrior. But the people of the town certainly didn't seem to have that problem.
"The Ronnie Shaw Memorial Elementary School."
"Your mother?" Piper guessed, although Cassie's solemn tone had already answered the question.
"Yeah. Deathclaw attack."
"I'm so sorry."
It took a few seconds for Cassie to speak, and when she did her tone was formal and her reply short.
"Thank you."
Cassie continued to point out important buildings and offer interesting facts about various parts of the town as they passed through. Eventually, Nat's curiosity won out over her resentment, and she moved over to listen to Cassie's tour. By the time they reached the main gate she was even asking questions, which Cassie answered enthusiastically, despite the occasional yawn.
It was here that a tall, uniformed man stopped them in their tracks. When Piper noticed his dark features and familiar militia hat, she almost leapt into his arms. She wanted to make up for the lashing she'd given him with a proper, enthusiastic reunion. Fortunately, she held back at the last moment, saving herself from major embarrassment. The man standing in front of her was not Preston Garvey.
Cassie straightened up, quickly putting down Piper's suitcase to offer a salute.
"Commander Dyson!"
"Thank you for bringing them this far. I can take things from here."
"But-"
"I have a few questions for Ms. Wright. Wait here, and when I'm done with her you will escort her home."
"Sir-"
"Ms. Wright, if you would follow me."
Piper glanced at Cassie, who was staring pointedly at the ground. Her cheeks were glowing red at the embarrassing dismissal.
"Stay right here, Nat. I'll be back soon."
"Ms. Wright, I have a few simple, easy questions for you."
"Simple and easy? This will be a piece of cake."
"My name is Charles Dyson, Commander of Intelligence for the Minutemen." He offered, ignoring her sarcasm. "I'd like to begin by asking you this. Did you take the SAFE test on your way in?"
"No." Piper had a feeling that lying wouldn't get her far with this man.
"That's good to hear. Private Shaw has trouble following orders sometimes." He rubbed his left cheek as he spoke. "Next question. Why are you here?"
"That's none of your business."
"Everything that goes on in this Castle is my business, Ms. Wright. Please answer my question."
Piper smiled and fluttered her eyelids. Her face was the picture of innocence.
"Well I heard there's this place down by the beach that makes the best Mirelurk sandwiches so I came on down to grab a slice!"
If the man was frustrated by her answer, he didn't show it.
"Allow me to offer you some advice, Ms. Wright. The General is…fragile right now. The last thing she needs is a…" He gave her a pointed look. "Distraction."
Piper's blood was starting to boil. She was getting tired of being treated like trash that just happened to wash onshore. First the jerk-off at the caravan and now this guy? Before she could give him the tongue lashing he deserved, he raised a hand.
"I'm sorry, I should have phrased that better." He waited until Piper's fists unclenched and the tension drained out of her shoulders. "A lot has changed in the last year, Piper. She's not the person you used to know."
"What would you know about that?" She demanded through gritted teeth. "I've known her a lot longer than you have."
"Did you hear about the recent training mission?"
"Yes."
"Did you know she called an artillery strike on top of herself and her squad?"
Piper didn't even try to keep a straight face. It took her a full ten seconds to realize her jaw was hanging open. Dyson nodded solemnly while rubbing his forehead.
"I've done my best to keep her steady, but recently she's been getting worse. I think the stress is finally starting to get to her, and I haven't been able to do a thing to stop it." Piper thought she could hear genuine frustration in his voice. "I believe we're on the same side, Piper. We both want what's best for her. I can only hope you'll succeed where I've failed."
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
"Nothing really. I'd ask that you do what you want, for the most part. But keep an eye on her as well and just let me know if her behavior grows…erratic."
Piper couldn't believe her ears.
"You want me to spy on her?"
"No." The refusal was sharp and immediate. "As of right now, our Chief Medical Advisor is missing. Until we can find a replacement, it's imperative that we record anything as a possible symptom. The General's word carries far more weight than anyone else's. If she makes another rash decision, dozens of lives could be at stake."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes narrow and probing.
"Can I count on your help?"
"I'll keep her safe." Piper got to her feet, carefully avoiding Dyson's gaze. "That's it."
The man sighed and leaned back in his chair. He nodded towards the door.
"Of course. You're free to leave."
"-and then the General launched a Mini Nuke at its face!"
Nat giggled and rolled her eyes.
"No way!"
"It was raining Mirelurk. I was picking bits of shell out of my hair a week later!"
"Ewwww."
"Even worse, I almost slipped off the wall when it happened. Just imagine what they'd have to write on my grave." She shook her head, smiling from ear-to-ear. "Here lies Cassie Shaw. Slipped on Mirelurk guts and fell to her death."
"There should be a safety net or something. That would be such a stupid way to die."
"What's with all this death talk?" Piper demanded with her hands on her hips. "Five minutes here and you're already looking for the easy way out?"
"Piper! Did you know the Castle was attacked by a second Mirelurk Queen? Cassie was telling me how the General killed it."
Cassie? That was fast.
"Lemme guess. She hopped in a suit of power armor and pounded it to death with her fists?"
Cassie made a noise that was halfway between a cough and a laugh. Nat rolled her eyes.
"No, stupid. She used a Mini Nuke, blew it to bits in one hit." Nat tapped her chin thoughtfully. "But your idea sounds way cooler."
"That's why I'm the journalist, sport." She patted Nat on the head. "You ready to go home?"
Cassie sprung to her feet and quickly wiped the goofy grin off her face.
"Of course, Ms. Wr-Piper, I mean."
It was a shack. There was really no better way to describe it, and the look on Nat's face said it all. Nestled in a corner of the Castle interior next to the armory was a wooden structure about half the size of their old home's living room.
"This is it, Piper."
"This is it?" Nat's voice was thick with disbelief. She was up and awake now, which pretty much guaranteed that Piper would have a sleepless night listening to her moan and complain. And honestly, she couldn't blame her. Selling their home to square off her debt with Yefim was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. If she'd known she was getting a shack in return…
"The General had this built a long time ago." Cassie admitted, gently putting their suitcases down. "Its been empty ever since."
"Piper, I need to ask you something."
"Why the long face, Blue? Something wrong?"
"Would you ever leave Diamond City?"
The question took her by surprise. She chewed on it for a while before answering with a shrug.
"I don't know. Where would I go?"
A pause. It was a warm summer night, but Blue was shifting on her feet and rubbing her hands as if she was freezing. Her eyes never left the floor.
"You could live with me. At the Castle."
"Wh-"
"I-I mean, my room is so big anyways! Sometimes I feel a little guilty keeping it all to myself." Blue fidgeted with her coat, paying close attention to the buttons. "I just thought it would be nice to let someone else sleep there too."
A blush spread across her cheeks. Blue swallowed hard and opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Look at me, Blue."
Reluctantly, those brown eyes rose to see the cheeky smile on Piper's face.
"Every hero deserves a heroine in their life." She clasped Blue's nervous, sweaty palm and rubbed it affectionately. "And as far as I'm concerned, you're my hero."
"But I've got Nat to think about. I can't leave her alone and I definitely don't want to inflict her on you."
"How bad could she be?" Blue asked with a half-hearted smile. "I've dealt with raiders and supermutants. I think I can handle your sister."
"It's more than that, Blue. Nat and I have our own thing, you know? For years we've kept the Publick Occurrences running, just me, her and the old printing press." She gave Blue a reassuring squeeze before letting go. "I'm not ready to give that up just yet."
"Piper? You alright?"
Nat's voice jerked Piper out of her memories. Cassie's worried expression dissolved into one of relief when she blinked.
"Did I fall asleep?"
Cassie shook her head. "I don't think so. You just sat down for a second and closed your eyes." The concern was already creeping back onto her face. "Would you like some water?"
"No, I'm fine." Nat rolled her eyes and looked away. "I'm serious! Just a little low on sleep."
"Of course." Cassie straightened up. "That makes sense. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know."
"Thank you, Cassie." Piper glanced at Nat, who was staring despondently at their new home. "Nat?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you say to the nice woman who showed as around?"
In response, her sister dragged out the rolling eyes and weary sigh combo before she spoke.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome!" Cassie gave her a warm smile. "We should do this again sometime." She desperately fought off an incoming yawn.
"Maybe a little earlier next time?"
"Definitely."
Before she could leave, Nat spoke again.
"Hey Cassie? There's one other thing I need your help with." She kicked the ground. "When does the next caravan to Diamond City leave?"
"Alright, grab your suitcase. That's enough grumpy-talk out of you."
Cassie shuffled away awkwardly as Piper herded her sister into the shack.
"Holy shit!"
"Nat…" Whatever warning she was going to give died on her lips when she saw the interior of the shack.
Movie posters covered the walls, hiding the dull, brown wood behind vivid splashes of color. Shelves lined with books, a whole host of action figures and even a carefully balanced stack of comic books covered the far wall. One shelf was lined with boxes of Pre-war food and snacks, including a generous supply of Sugar Bombs. A large red couch dominated the main room, complete with a full ensemble of pillows and cushions.
Her sister did what any child her age would have to do; she leapt onto the sofa and sank deep into the cushion.
"So…soft." She moaned blissfully while stuffing a pillow in her face. "I sleep here."
Not likely. Piper had already spotted the writing desk in the corner; this was supposed to be her room. She made her way over to the desk. Four pens sat pretty in a cupholder, blue, black, red and green. Next to the desk, a mini-fridge hummed away. She didn't even need to open it to know what would be inside. Blue knew better than most how much she loved Nuka-Cola.
At first glance, the chair was nothing special. It was more crudely built than the other furniture, and there were deep divots and notches where the craftsman had cut in the wrong place. But it looked sturdy enough, and the pink cushion on the seat would be a welcome step up from her old wooden chair back in Diamond City.
"-there are drinks in the fridge and a terminal for Nat in her room." Nat grew more excited with every word. "I've taken the…li-" She scrunched her eyes at the paper she was holding. "Liberty? I've taken the liberty of leaving a few game holotapes in the desk drawer."
Nat frowned.
"Liberty? What does that mean?"
"It means she left all your terminal games with me." Piper smiled wickedly. "If you do my laundry for a month, I might let you try one."
Nat stuck her tongue out in response.
"Piper, I'm really glad you decided to come here. I know leaving Diamond City couldn't have been easy. I hope you'll give me a chance. Your Blueberry." Piper blushed deep red when her sister turned her way.
"What's a Blueberry? Some sort of fru-"
"Gimme that!" Piper snatched the paper out of her hands. Blueberry. The note was unmistakably Blue's; the meticulously tidy and perfectly spaced handwriting confirmed it. But paper was worn and the ink had faded. This was a note from last year, probably written around when she'd first asked Piper to move.
"Must have forgotten about it." Piper muttered. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Nat creeping towards her desk.
"Nope. Not today." Two steps was all it took to get between Nat and the holotapes. "You're going to bed."
"Come on, Piper. I'm not even tired!"
"Not a chance. Go to sleep, we'll talk in the morning."
It was another hour before Nat finally gave in to her exhaustion and headed into the adjacent room, shoving her way past the red curtain that functioned as a door. The first rays of morning sunlight were seeping through the cracks in the wall, and Piper met them with a frustrated groan. She had to make it to Blue's meeting, enroll Nat in school, explore the town and maybe even get cracking at a new article or two.
Just a quick nap. Five-no, ten minutes.
She was out cold in seconds, her dreams filled with visions of strange fruit and a short, blue woman with long, black hair.