The stranger replied through the filter of the mask, "Maybe so. But you are not the one I came here for. Does the name Kellogg ring a bell?"
"What's it to you?" Nick chimed in.
"Perhaps I should explain myself this time. Last time I was in a hurry to get here and not overly interested is a conversation with an idiot that stumbles onto super mutants," The stranger said. "I am here tracking down a killer from the New California Republic, long thought dead. In fact he would be so old that I wouldn't be surprised if he had died of old age. This man is Conrad Kellogg. The former resident of this home."
"Why are you tracking him? That's a helluva long way to come." Replied Nick.
"I was paid a lot of caps to make sure he is indeed dead. Enough caps to send me all the way across the Rockies, the great plains, and finally to Boston." The filtered voice gave this statement a very detached, matter of fact, feeling.
"I dunno guys. That's a crazy long journey for just some caps. Even a million of 'em." Piper chimed in.
"I have my reasons for taking the job. Most of them little leftovers from before the apocalypse. Either we can help each other find this scumbag or not. If not, I would advise you to leave it alone as I might not be so conservative of my ammo next time we meet." The mechanical voice never wavered.
"We got it. You're a badass and would kill us all as soon as look at us. You have some sort of personal vendetta against this Kellogg," Beorn started and was nearly interrupted by the stranger. He barreled on over the protests, "In this bat shit crazy irradiated hell of a future my story may not be so unique. But I am hella pissed right now. I lost everything I had before and am trying to figure out if i even want to move on with life. All I really know is that I want Kellogg dead and Shaun back if I can. So let's stop measuring our dicks and just start finding this bastard."
The silence was long after that tirade. They all stared at each other, mostly at Beorn who was the largest figure in the room. Finally the stranger spoke again. "Very well. We help each other out. My trail runs cold here. I have nothing left on this guy. Do you have any bright ideas?"
"My manners are probably a bit old fashioned but I like to know whom I am working with. My name is Beorn Stark. This is Nick Valentine, Piper Wright, and Dogmeat. And you are?" Beorn had lowered his weapon and holstered it. Guns were going to get them nowhere.
"Call me Courier for now. I can't trust anyone with more yet. Perhaps I can later. After Kellogg is dead." Replied the mysterious figure.
"More cloak and dagger," Beorn rolled his eyes. "Fine. In the interest of time we'll go with that. What have you found here?"
A brief discussion later they were following Dogmeat's keen sense of smell out of Diamond City and into the Wasteland. By morning they found themselves outside of Fort Hagen. Everyone was tired. It had been one hell of a night, Beorn had finally learned what a feral ghoul was.
"You know Kellogg is going to be holed up in there surrounded by defenses. This ain't gonna be easy." Nick said as they looked at the exterior of the old army base. They could see automated turrets on the roof and sandbags built up to provide cover.
"We are close. So close. We can't just stop now!" Beorn could hear the stress in his own voice and knew that was a bad thing.
Courier put a hand on his arm. "Easy big guy. One thing about a hidey hole like this one is it can give a false sense of security. He is likely not going anywhere soon."
Beorn retorted, "If this guy is as good as you all seem to think then he's got multiple escape routes and contingency plans already in place. He could be watching us on a camera right now."
"Hey Blue, I know you want this guy dead but could we maybe take a break for a few hours at least?" Piper asked.
Beorn took a deep breath. "Assaulting a fortified position is a tough battle no matter how prepared you are. It makes sense that he has fortified himself in there. It is still frustrating. We can't go in there without doing some recon first. I would also like some backup if we could have it. Not sure where to get that from right now though. I'm not the boss here, just a pissed off old icicle looking for revenge. If I can find Shaun all the better. I can wait a bit longer while we gather some intel though."
"Good thinking," replied Nick. "I'll start doing some recon for you." Beorn out his hand on Nick's arm as the synth stood.
"Not in the daylight. We don't have many advantages on this guy. The main one is that he doesn't know when we're coming." Let's not spoil that just yet.
"He might not know when but you can be sure he knows we're coming. That trail he left was just a bit too convenient for my liking," remarked Courier. "Something fishy is up here."
Beorn regarded the stranger for a bit. He still wasn't sure he could trust him. Hell, this guy walking with them could be Kellogg for all Beorn knew. The build was wrong though. He expected Kellogf to be bigger. The Courier was on the small side. Graceful and deadly, not really Kellogg's style. That doesn't mean they didn't work for Kellogg though. Seems strange that someone would travel on foot across the continent just for a pile of caps, money, whatever.
The group set up on top of a building nearby and watched all day. Taking the time to rest up a bit. Courier spent the day apart from the group, cleaning his revolvers and patching up his suit. He didn't speak much and never took off his mask. He drank through a straw that was built into the faceplate, didn't eat though. Piper kept talking, she did that when she was nervous. Beorn knew the type, he thought back on Elliott, one of the squad leaders from his old recon platoon.
Elliott never could keep quiet, even during stealth missions she would whisper on overwatch. Hell of a good sniper though. Best Beorn had ever known, eyes like an eagle.
They were in the snow, again. Like always in Alaska. Beorn was leading a counter recon op far forward of friendly lines. They were looking for a commie scout unit that was supposed to be in the area. Nate was even farther forward with second and third platoons setting up for an ambush if possible.
"Mama Bear this is Goldilocks, over," Elliot's voice came over the com.
"Goldilocks this is Mama Bear, send it, over," Beorn replied.
"Possible movement at 256 degrees. Distance two klicks, estimate at least three bogies, over," came the reply.
"You can see two clicks away in all this snow," Beorn's voice was disbelieving, "You always amaze me. Papa Bear you got that? Possible incoming, confirm, over."
There was a short pause before Nate replied, "Roger Mama Bear. Bogies confirmed. One Assaultron, two handlers. Moving at approximately 76 degrees. Nothing else to report, over."
"Good copy, continue observation, out." Replied Beorn.
"This is Goldilocks," Elliott spoke again. "Three more bogies, 270 degrees, three klicks. Over."
"That's the other recon team. Papa Bear, do you have eyes on, over?" Beorn said.
"Negative Mama Bear. Goldilocks, you sure? Over." Nate said.
"Sure as shootin' Papa Bear, over." Elliott replied.
"Any other reports, over," Beorn asked.
A series of negatives from the observation posts came over the com. "Goldilocks you got team two? Over." Beorn asked.
"I got a good shot Mama Bear, over." Elliott replied.
"Roger. Hold that. Papa Bear, when you're ready take out team one. When Papa Bear initiates the attack, Goldilocks you are weapons free. Over." Beorn said.
The whole ambush was quick and clean. Beorn could still remember how impressed he was with Sergeant Patty Elliott.
The group set out around midnight. They kept close to the building to avoid the turrets and got in through a locked door in the basement. Kellogg taunted them as they killed all of his synth bodyguards. It was almost too easy, just enough danger to make it seem real. Beorn's stomach churned as they got closer, waiting for the trap to spring. He felt he was following the viper down into its nest.
They finally reached Kellogg's quarters and he promised his bodyguards would stand down. Beorn looked at his companions, worn a bit, but not overly so. Weakened enough so they would not fight at their peak. This was the trap, whatever was through that door, Beorn didn't think they'd come out of this alive. "Alright folks, whatever Kellogg has behind that door is not likely to be cake and ice cream."
"Ice cream, Blue?" Piper asked.
"You know...crap, I forgot. Anyway, it won't be nice. This is mostly my fight so if you want to wait here or leave, I understand." Beorn said.
"C'mon man, we didn't come this far with you to leave ya at the last minute. We're here for you all the way," said Nick.
Dogmeat's tongue lolled and he licked Beorn's hand while it rested at his side. "Thanks boy, " said the big man.
The Courier was silent. He holstered the six shooters and nodded. So, Beorn checked the mag on his rifle and walked through the door.
The lights came on and Beorn could see he was surrounded. There still weren't enough enemies if these synths were like the others they faced. Kellogg was either one tough bastard, which he probably was, or there was something more to this. His companions spread out, facing down the synths. Kellogg and Beorn were in the middle of a circle, like a schoolyard showdown.
"If it's not the most resilient man in the Commonwealth. I thought that title belonged to me. You have shown some real grit and determination to get yourself here. Tell me, what did you think you would find?" Kellogg sneered.
"Spare me the tough guy talk. I know you're the big kid on the block here. I've come to knock you on your ass. Then you're going to tell me where Shaun is and I may let you live." Beorn growled.
"Whoa, whoa. We all know how this will end. I can't say I'm not looking forward to it, but I'll answer your questions first if you'll allow it." Kellogg's gravelly voice was patronizing.
Beorn growled deep in his chest, "Fine! Tell me where Shaun is. Tell me why you took him, why you killed Nora."
"Was that her name? She was lovely," quipped Kellogg. Beorn didn't like how calm and collected Kellogg remained. Something was coming. "She was collateral damage. She got in the way of a higher power and was squashed for it. I'm not sorry. You know that, but neither did I come there planning to kill her," Kellogg paused. "As to Shaun, he's still alive. Not here, he's in good hands. A little older than you thought, but with folk who take care of him. In the Institute."
There was a stunned silence from the group, though perhaps most of them had already guessed the Institute was behind Shaun's kidnapping. The confirmation from Kellogg made the suspicion a reality. Beorn wasn't much phased by this news, he hadn't lived in the Commonwealth as long as Piper or Nick. "So, this is the part where you tell me how to get there," Beorn's voice was still low and threatening.
"I don't think you see it, friend. He is beyond your reach. The institute will take care of him better than you know. Better than you could in this world," Kellogg sneered back.
Beorn had enough. His vision went a little red around the edges and he sighted down his rifle. In that instant Kellogg disappeared. Beorn knew that trick though, it was a stealth boy. He had trained extensively on their use before the war. He also knew that it took some time for the instrumentation to catch up during movements, which would leave ripples in the air and revealing the user's location. He fired at the spot where Kellogg had been, the bullet ricocheted off of the wall on the back of the room.
The synths around them opened fire and so did Beorn's companions. That was when Beorn realized his greatest advantage, Dogmeat. The German shepherd leapt forward and latched on to something invisible, pulling hard, blood dripping from the air. Beorn dropped his rifle and tackled the air above Dogmeat.
He could feel the invisible arms and legs of his enemy. A .44 magnum revolver fell to the ground as Beorn wrestled with Kellogg, who proved to be incredibly strong. Beorn had usually relied on his size in close quarters combat, which was usually a huge advantage, but Kellogg proved to be a wily opponent. Before the stealth boy wore off Kellogg pulled a knife from somewhere and stuck it into Beorn's side, twisting the blade as he pulled it out for maximum damage. Beorn bellowed, but hardly felt it through the adrenaline. He got an arm around Kellogg's neck and clamped down. Kellogg attempted to stab Beorn again, and managed to cut him multiple times before the lack if oxygen to his brain put him out. Beorn held on for a few more seconds before letting go.
The battle around him was over. He checked Kellogg's pulse, nothing. The man was dead. Beorn collapsed on top of his foe.
