James smashed through the last bulkhead of the Prydwyn Command Center.
"Maxson!" James shouted. A fire had started during the ground battle, which still raged on below with Liberty Prime spearheading the Brotherhood defense while Enclave squadrons of P-80 fighter jets keep the machine at bay. "Where is she?!"
"James!" Katherine's voice calls from the shadows. James quickly turns only to be greeted by laser fire. James twists his body and quickly drops to the floor. Pistol already poised to fire, James squeezed off a flurry of rounds and is left with utter silence. The sound of a flop caused James to rise to one knee. He takes the time to reach for a another magazine when he hears the clink of metal holotags. James rolls forward as Maxson attacks. James rolls to his feet, pistol reloaded and poised to fire.
Maxson stands wielding a shishkebab, already flaming. Maxson seems to have been injured in a previous battle as his bomber jacket is torn in various places and a large gash has reopened his old scar.
"You wanted this. Here I am." Maxson panted. Maxson is tired, drained. This won't be a fair fight. For him.
"This has been a long time coming." James says standing from his crouched position. James aims the pistol straight at Maxsons head. Maxson shows no sign of yielding, even standing straighter to grant an easier target.
"It would be so easy wouldn't it? End all of the fighting with one bullet right?" Maxson pants. "End all of the suffering."
"Why?" James began. He lowered the pistol. "Why go this far?"
"You were my greatest teacher, James." Maxson sighs, lowering his own guard. "I thought you of all people would have understood."
"Understand what?" James asked, not expecting this.
"That humanity cannot be trusted with handling technology. Nothing as great a scale as that which the Institute holds." Maxson replies matter-of-factly. "It is the objective of the Brotherhood of Steel as mandated by our founder."
"But at what cost, Arthur?" James refuted. "At what point did I ever teach you to commit genocide? What could have possessed you to destroy the Pitt?"
"The Pitt was a raider stronghold that was developing an army to claim large amounts of territory. They were planning for a war."
"No they weren't. I was there. They'd changed, damn you. They were innocent."
"No one is truly innocent, mentor. You taught me that. You chose to side with the raiders. I never could have predicted you'd be such a disappointment. You are no longer ever to be considered a member of the Brotherhood."
"That doesnt matter to me Arthur. Never has. It has always been about doing the right thing."
"Says the man who helped create a nation of raiders. Enough talk, Wanderer. Time to die!"
Maxson charged while James emptied his clip at Maxson. The bullets seemed to glean off him, no doubt some sort of trophy system tech confiscated from one of the technological installations in the Boston area.
Maxson swiped down with the flaming sword hoping to wound James. James sidestepped the the right and smashed the butt of his pistol into Maxson's neck. James then quickly followed up with two quick punches into Maxson's side and then kicked him to create some space. However, Maxson twisted his body causing the kick to glance off its target as Maxson thrust the sword forward at James's neck. James blocked the blow with his gloved arm and headbutted Maxson.
Maxson fell to the ground and crawled back away from James, panting. James reloaded his pistol and slowly walked towards Maxson.
"You could never hope to beat me in unarmed combat, Arthur." James stated matter-of-factly. He kneeled by Maxson's broken form. "I taught you everything you know."
"Not this." Maxson grunted thrusting the sword at james's chest as it flamed through the air. James twisted himself to avoid the brunt of the blow and fired off a few rounds. A round caught Maxson in the shoulder as he ran from James and straight at the hole in the Prydwyn cockpit.
"You built this war machine James. It's yours once more. The Brotherhood of Steel cuts its ties with you." Maxson said before leaping into the hole. "Initiate Protocol Icarus!"
James heard Maxson utter the unspeakable just as he neared the hole. "Dammit!" James muttered under her breath. "All Enclave personnel evacuate the immediate area, the Prydwyn's coming down