Chapter 5: Good Rockin Tonight – Roy Brown and His Mighty Men
Disclaimer: Not for profit, just for fun. Please enjoy, review and don't sue
POV: Rust Devil, Somewhere in the Glowing Sea
For the fifth time in as many minutes, Randy cursed the foul luck that had him draw the short straw. One did not lightly deliver bad news to the man in black, whose mercurial temper was notoriously fickle even to a raider gang. His footfalls began to echo against hard stone as he descended further into their enclave.
He tried, he really did.
'Keep your eyes down,' the others had said.
'Don't look and possibly shit yourself before you get to him,' they said.
Despite it all, the fascination with the grotesque raised his eyes to the guardian standing vigil outside the master's chamber.
"Hello Gustav." He murmured, unsure of what else to say.
A weak whimper was his reply, as the man once known as Gustav stirred and moved to open the gate for him. Every movement drew hisses of pain from the once proud raider boss and Randy couldn't help but stare in slack jawed immobility at the spectacle before him.
Gustav was held up in the pose most commonly associated with crucifixion. The stumps of his arms and legs were bound within the Penitent Engine and the numerous brass hooks piercing his ravaged flesh ensured that his connection with the massive war robot was an intimate as well as an excruciating one. His eyes and mouth had been sewn shut with tightly wound tin wire and several translucent tubes snaked around and through his body, either giving him nutrients or taking away the waste.
Randy had been told the stories that Gustav had doubted that the man in black had the strength to back up his rule. Gustav had believed that their leader ruled through fear because bravado and an overactive imagination were all that he had. Gustav was loud, big and mean. Everything that a raider boss needed to be, while the man in black was quiet, thin and eccentric. Look at him now, a tortured soul bound to serve for as long as his body last while being slowly torn apart by the Penitent Engine.
Randy shuddered as the mighty brass doors opened with a screech that he heard down to his very soul. The door itself drew his attention, remembering when it had been made. He was there for that, when the master had paralyzed a group of settlers and had them contorted into a rectangular shape while molten bronze was carefully poured over them. They could still feel pain, he was sure of it. Though they couldn't move or speak, he could see the anguish in their eyes before they were covered with the glittering molten metal.
Randy reached out and ran his fingers over the captured image of a young girl, the youth beneath the cold metal long since dead. He briefly considered turning back, lying to his fellows that he had done the work, had delivered the message. But the man in black would know. And he was not the forgiving type.
He swallowed as he entered the chamber, the moaning menagerie within stealing what nerve he had and making every step toward his master a stilted caricature, as if he were a witless puppet. His eyes glimpsed heresies of flesh on display all around him, dull-eyed slave women, with parts of their bodies replaced with crude machinery. Living faces were set into the walls, eyes darting about and tongues dangling from swollen mouths as they sang of their misery for the master's pleasure.
He winced as his foot squelched beneath him, the floor made up of headless bodies who, disturbingly, still writhed and shuddered. Robot butlers smiled at him, their upper bodies draped with the skin of the living in a crude attempt to make them appear more human.
The man in black appeared feverish, his pale skin beaded with sweat as he stared at Randy so intently that the raider felt as though he was being dissected. Thick black cloth obscured his body, which Randy knew was as gaunt and emaciated as the rest of him. His once full brown hair was more gray now, lank and greasy. His beard was the only thing about him that spoke of a vigorous man, lustrous and full.
"Jeremiah. The group sent to the General Atomics Factory has failed. Their bodies were disposed of and their equipment taken. We don't know who…" Randy paused as the man in black held up a hand. He stood up, moving past three female slaves bound to his throne to approach Randy directly. Randy tried to not look down on him, hunching down so that he was just below eye level to the mad sorcerer.
Randy tried not to flinch or shudder as Jeremiah ran his hand over his shoulder, a comforting gesture from most perverted into a creepy and terrifying one from Jeremiah. Randy was pulled along gently toward a pool of viscous black fluid in a white marble basin set into the floor. The wizard drew his wand and murmured over the pool for a few moments before raising Randy's arm to hover over the undulating liquid. Randy hissed as a white hot lance of pain seared his palm, the jagged edge of Jeremiah's knife glistening with ruby droplets as the mad wizard held his arm so that the drops of his blood would land in the pool.
"Thank you, Randy." Jeremiah murmured as he bent over the pool intently.
Randy mumbled the appropriate courtesy and clutched his wounded hand as he looked over the man's shoulder into the pool. An image appeared in the center, as if the oily black was a mist that obscured the liquid's true nature and even now withdrew at Jeremiah's power. He recognized the General Atomics Factory, though little could be seen of the aftermath of the Rust Devils who had been sent to retrieve technology from it.
Jeremiah shrugged and straightened, nearly turning away when he heard Randy gasp. For in the image, Randy saw a young dark haired man fly in on a broom and land in front of the factory! Jeremiah's attention snapped back in time to see his companion, a pretty blonde woman, likewise land from her broom. Randy could almost see the glee bubbling up from within the wizard's lanky frame.
The raider stepped back, disconcerted as Jeremiah actually capered, turning about and humming to himself in true pleasure.
"Randy! This is wonderful! More magicals have come! And look! Isn't she a pretty one? And young too! She has many years of childbearing before her! We must dispatch teams at once, Randy! At once!"
Randy took a deep breath before answering, "Sir, we may not have the people to get that done. We've been bloodied against this Mechanist person and it looks like the Minutemen are on the rise again."
"CRUCIO!"
Randy screamed and fell as red lightning arced over his body and clawed his nerves raw. His back arched and his feet drummed against the writhing carpet of flesh as he screamed his throat raw.
Suddenly, the pain stopped and Randy could think again, the vestiges of his agony enough to make him curl up in the fetal position. He felt a strong hand pull him up and looked at the surprisingly strong grip of Jeremiah on him.
"I'm so sorry, Randy. I lost my temper there for a moment. I know it isn't your fault. There there. Oh look, you've shit yourself. No No! Don't worry, my butlers will clean that up."
Randy shivered and tried not to cry in front of the wizard, the pain and terror he felt thoroughly unmanning him before this thin wretch of a human.
"Continue our recruitment efforts in the Commonwealth and some of the squib children will soon be old enough to join you in the field. In the meantime, I want you to hire a detachment of Gunners to perform some kidnapping missions for us. Bleed them against these Minutemen and try to get some of their settlers for slaves. Ramp up production at Hagen and tell Ivey to send some of those eyebots she's been toying with to find that wizard and witch."
Here Jeremiah paused running his tongue over thin lips, a small drop of saliva dribbling from the corner of his mouth, "I want them very much Randy. You do understand that yes? You won't be like these others who fail to get me what I want, will you? That's a good boy. You can go now."
Randy resisted the urge to haul ass as if the hounds of hell were nipping at his balls. He bowed to the wizard, who apparently had already forgotten all about him and was eyeing one of the women he had chained up to his throne. Randy's path took him past her and all he could do was look down in sympathy at the honey blonde hair and green eyes of a once great beauty.
POV: Harry, USS Constitution
Harry and Daphne landed softly on the deck of the USS Constitution and saw Jonathan looking out over the rail of the old frigate, admiring the clear blue sky and relative calm of the Boston area. Ironsides swiveled its head to regard them and rumbled forward to greet them, its cogged wheels grinding fresh divets in the polished wood deck. One of the Mr. Handy's sighed dramatically as it hovered in the captain's wake and began to buff out the scuff marks.
"Salutations, Admiral Potter!" The captain greeted.
Harry grinned and whipped up what he thought was a proper naval salute. It appeared to satisfy the old robot, for it raised one of its arms in its best imitation of a return salute.
"How did the requisitioning proceed sir? There were no problems I trust?" The robot asked.
"None at all, Captain. Daphne and I retrieved both parts. If the General is ready, we can get these put in right away."
"Excellent! This old girl will get back into the action soon enough! Master Bosun! See to it these parts make it to the General. Ask him to get them installed straight-away!"
The Bosun trundled forward and accepted the parts from Harry, then moved off to join Jonathan at the rail.
"Captain, where is Hermione?" Daphne asked, looking around for the brunette witch.
"Below decks, ma'am. Overseeing the last of the… whatever it is you fine folks were doing."
Harry led the way as the two of them went in search of Hermione, eagerness putting a playful bounce in their step.
They found her bent over near the keel, retracing one of the runes there and consulting her notes.
"Lilith would be better at this, but I suppose it'll do." She murmured.
Harry cleared his throat so as to not startle Hermione, who stood up and offered the pair a small smile in greeting.
"I'm glad you're back. I think we're just about ready on our end. Everything go alright?"
"Oh yeah, it was quite easy really. A quick dash and grab and here we are. How's Jon getting on? Is he ready?"
"I don't know." The simple declarative from Hermione indicated that was all she had to say on the subject. She turned back to her work but was stopped short when Daphne placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Hermione? You alright?" Daphne asked, concern etching her features.
"Why wouldn't it be? Everything is bloody perfect."
Harry was thoroughly confused, "Um, Hermione, didn't you and Jon have a talk while we were away?"
"Yes, we talked. Or rather he talked and I happen to agree. It'll be nice to get back to a professional relationship. No fuss." Hermione stated tersely, her jaw set evenly.
"Oh Hermione…" Daphne began.
"I'm alright, really. I mean what did any of expect to happen anyway? I'm not even sure how I felt and clearly he has no feelings for me, so this works out! Let's get to work, shall we?"
She moved off brusquely, inviting no reply.
All Harry could do was to look after her sadly when he felt Daphne step in close to him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in closer.
"She took Ron's death very hard. They didn't really have much time once they finally got around to admitting their feelings for one another. Now that she is finally ready to move on, she finds herself in another situation with someone who confuses her as much as Ron did." Harry mused aloud, feeling Daphne nodding beside him.
"Is it wrong that I want to box that man's ears?" Daphne said, with no small degree of rancor in her voice.
"Maybe we were wrong Daphne. We can't force it just because we want the best for Hermione."
"I suppose you're right." She admitted, "There's nothing for it but to be there for Hermione. Let's help her finish up."
Kissing the top of her head, Harry agreed and the pair joined Hermione in checking over the runes dotted throughout the inner hull of the frigate. Once Jonathan completed the installation of the parts, they should be ready to attempt their flight. Harry prepared a few charms just in case their flight didn't go well, a move mirrored by the witches when they noticed what he was doing.
Hours later, a very greasy Jon emerged from below decks, nursing his hand tenderly as he approached the trio.
"You alright?" Harry asked.
"This is nothing, I got a little jolt when I discharged the capacitor bank by accident. But better my hand than the guidance chip. It would have fried it and then we'd have to find another one."
Jon glanced over at Hermione and offered her a friendly smile, to which she stared back blankly and turned to walk away. His face fell ever so slightly before he turned back to Harry.
"So, are we all set then?"
"I think we are. I'll let the captain know. You lot get into position."
Jonathan and Daphne nodded and moved off, Jonathan to the stern towards the auxiliary power coupling and Daphne to the main mast, to better stabilize the vessel if needed. Hermione was at the helm, ready to adjust the charms they had put in place to keep the ship from falling apart and to give them a breathable bubble of air.
"Captain! We're all set. Ready to commence launch." Harry told the robot, unable to keep the excitement down.
"Excellent sir! Please give the word!"
"The word is given. Launch!"
Paul cursed under his breath as he tried to sort through the mess that was left of his encampment. He had told the others that they should forget about the old ship and move on to other wrecks for salvage, but no. Those greedy bastards had insisted that the haul was worth the danger.
He had walked back from Bunker Hill with Larry and Michaela, trading in some of the salvage for food and more smokes to find their little fortress in utter ruin. He bent down to wipe away the dust covering Rafaela's cold face when a whole calvacade of plaster fell from the remnants of the ruin. He looked up curiously, his eyes widening in alarm as the few remaining walls swayed ominously. He felt more than heard the rumbling, like a distant stampede which sounded like it was getting closer.
He rushed out from under the ruin, gathering the others with him. They stopped short at the sight which greeted them, as a massive plume of fire and smoke belched from the rockets on the frigate. The buildings the ship had rested on for years teetered precariously as the ancient ship groaned and slowly lifted up off of the building.
Like a yoked beast yearning to be free, it slipped the leash gravity held on it and rocketed up into the sky like a rocket! The three of them gasped in unison as the ship slowed then halted its ascent, before tilting ominously in the sky before plummeting back to earth. His legs refused to answer his call to run like hell as thousands of tons of wood and metal came hurtling toward them. It teetered and wobbled as it fell, frantic movement all over its deck like ants whose antenna had been ripped off.
It straightened and began to pull up in a gentle curve, the blast of wind from its passage knocking the trio onto their bottoms. Paul twisted as he lay prone, sitting up and gaping after the soaring frigate as it powered away through the air like a stately swan gliding across a clear pond. He thought he heard the fading echoes of someone whooping with joy, a sentiment he could almost empathize with.
POV: Harry, USS Constitution
He found Jon flapping against the hull of the ship, the ropes he hastily tied around his waist having done their work to keep him from falling to his death. The man had leapt over the side when the rockets sputtered out, using the momentum from his swing to deliver a solid kick to the hot metal. Apparently, his mechanical instinct rang true, for the rockets restarted and gave them the thrust they needed to pull out of their uncontrolled tumble through the air. He Leviosa'd the poor man, Jon flopping back onto the deck spread-eagled and apparently happy to stay there for the time being.
Hermione and Daphne had scrambled to balance the flying charms they had cast, having Harry run below decks like a madman shifting runes about to help their efforts. Finally, their efforts were rewarded, as the ship now flew smoothly under power with the proud Captain Ironsides at the helm.
"You are as good as your word Admiral Potter! What's our course?"
"Northwest, Captain. We are taking Hermione and the General to his home near Sanctuary Hills. We'll moor there for a time while we get our bearings."
"Affirmative sir! We're under way!"
The journey to Red Rocket, the small settlement that the General had taken as his personal homestead, was only slightly longer than it would have taken by broom. Harry was satisfied with that, knowing that the ability to fly around the Commonwealth in a vessel capable of carrying multiple people and supplies would be invaluable. He pondered if George and Walt would be able to modify some of the other ships moored at Salem similarly, providing them with a small fleet of boats to travel the Commonwealth safely. He would have to talk to Lilith, as the materials needed to draw the runes would be rare, Hermione depleting even her considerable stockpile to enchant the Constitution.
The sun was a few hours from setting when the ship tacked in next to the rocket atop the service station. It was the first time Harry had seen the General's home and was impressed with what he had done.
Using the service station as a sort of framework, Jon had built a solid blockhouse on top of the old building and had walled in the overhang areas. There were numerous guard towers and automated turrets of multiple types, though Harry only saw Codsworth and Dogmeat roaming the grounds. He waved down at the robot butler as the machine paused in its work and raised one its arms in greetings.
Jon tossed a mooring line and managed to wrap it around the rocket. Several robot crewmen pulled and brought the ship hovering close enough that they could climb down onto the balcony he had built facing the rocket.
"I imagine we'll stay the night Captain. Please make sure we are ready to head out in the morning." Harry asked, as he walked toward the lowering rope ladder.
"Will do sir!" The captain agreed, barking orders to his crew to secure the ship.
Jon led the way down, stopping at the bottom to hold the dangling ladder still while the others followed, Harry first, then Daphne. Hermione hesitated a moment before climbing down herself, her foot slipping as she neared the bottom.
Jon was on her in a flash, catching hold of her upper thighs and catching her upper body against his as she let go of the ladder in surprise. He set her down and apologized profusely, his face almost as red as hers.
They both turned to see Harry and Daphne looking at them, their eyebrows raised questioningly.
"My foot slipped." Hermione mumbled.
Harry shook his head that this charade was going to continue awhile longer. He followed behind as Jonathan led them into the stark concrete bulwark that was his home.
Harry was astounded at the interior, as it appeared to be lifted from the pages of some pre-war home and garden magazine. It was a remarkably clean and open space. The floor was a rich polished wood of multiple types, with a variety of rugs scattered about to lend the space warmth. Though concrete, the walls were covered in a variety of posters and paintings. A metal staircase led up to a second floor, which appeared to be a balcony which wrapped three quarters of the way around the room. The ceiling was made of scintillated glass, which made the warm sunlight dance in waves on the floor. Several comfortable looking couches took up space on the lower level, with a corner cordoned off for a small dining area and kitchen. Surprisingly, a working refrigerator hummed next to a wood burning stove, with a large canister of natural gas to provide heat when the wood was scarce.
Harry glanced up at the upper balcony at what he had thought were a series of metal statues. He looked again and realized that Jon apparently collected suits of power armor, as there were several of different models and paintjobs. Wall mounted racks were festooned with the instruments of warfare, weapons of every size and description. Jon seems to collect quite a few spoils from his adventures; Harry shuddered to think that it was likely that every weapon was taken from someone Jon had killed.
"You can make yourselves comfortable, or wander around as much as you like. I'm going down to my workshop and build the robot workbench." He held the blueprints provided by Ada in his hands.
"Is there anything we can do while you work?" Harry asked diplomatically.
"Um… you can find a way to get Ada down from the ship." Jon mused.
They had left her aboard ship, forgetting that her clunky legs would not be able to navigate down a rope ladder with anyone approaching ease or grace.
Harry had the grace to blush a little with chagrin at forgetting about the kindly robot, "Of course. See you later."
Once they leviosa'd Ada down, and directed her to join Jon in the workshop on the ground floor, Harry and the girls wandered the small settlement, remarking to one another how much attention to detail Jon paid and how long it must have taken him to build it with his own two hands.
"Well I say, it is a pleasure to see you all again!" Codsworth exclaimed, as he rounded the corner and halted just in front of them. Dogmeat was on the robot's 'heels' and ran up to the trio, tail wagging with vigor as he frolicked happily among them, nearly knocking the three down in turn as she leapt from one to another.
"Hello, Codsworth. It's good to see you again. Though I am surprised you're here and not at Sanctuary," Harry wondered aloud.
"Yes well, a lovely family settled into Mr. Nate and Mrs. Nora's home and though I would have been fine with helping look after their little ones, Mr. Jonathan asked me to look after his home and his furry friend cavorting there. Mr. Jonathan is a dear friend and I was happy to lend him a hand."
"Ah, that explains it then. How have you been?"
"Oh it's been wonderful sir! I get to talk with the travelers to and from Sanctuary Hills and keeping the homestead clean is a full time occupation. Mr. Jonathan was good enough to clean two hundred years of grime from my circuits and by golly I feel like I just rolled off the assembly line!"
Harry noticed that Codsworth was in fact in much better shape than when he last visited. His frame gleamed and his well-greased arms moved much more smoothly.
"I noticed. You look good Codsworth."
"Why thank you sir. Is there anything I can do for you? I'm happy to be of service!"
Harry smiled, "Not just now, thanks Codsworth."
They moved along, the butler humming happily as he used a broom to sweep away the minute amount of dirt that had settled on the sidewalk along the back of the station. Dogmeat stayed with them, apparently preferring the company of living people to robots.
As they walked, a welcome sight came upon them in the form of the purposeful stride of one Preston Garvey. He was accompanied by a grinning Jun and Marcy Long, both of them looking very professional in their minuteman regalia.
Preston's smile was wide and warm, his eyes twinkling as he strode over and clasped Harry hand in a firm handshake. The three Minutemen forgot their bearing for a moment as glad smiles and warm hugs were shared all around.
"It's great to see you! To be honest, I had a feeling one of you folks would be here." Preston explained.
"Why do you say that?" Harry asked.
In answer, Preston gestured to the frigate in whose shadow they all stood.
"Oh, right."
"Preston!" Jonathan shouted as he walked out from his workshop, wiping his greasy hands on a rag.
"General, sir!" Preston replied, hurrying forward to clasp hands with his friend and superior.
"Jun? Marcy? You two look great!" Jon fretted over them, smiling at how much better they both looked.
In the hub bub, the group nearly missed Luna drifting in like a zephyr, her distant smile and pale skin unchanged from when they had seen her last.
"Hello Harry. Hello Daphne. Hello Hermione. It is nice to see you."
The airy witch was accompanied by her warder, a tough as nails black woman named Soleil. It was a fitting irony, a witch named for the moon protected by a warrior woman named for the sun. She would have been quite beautiful if not for the constant scowl which marred her face. No one doubted that she was suffused with deadly grace, her tall and lithe body well-toned by a life of battle. She stared dispassionately at the group, which from her was the equivalent to a warm welcome.
Luna wafted by them to stand in front of Jon. She stared up at him intently, conjuring a confused look from the tall General. She stood up on her toes and planted a light kiss on his surprised lips, smiling ever so slightly.
"I was just curious what kind of person a certain witch would fall in love with."
Jon gaped as everyone else shifted uncomfortably. Luna seemed not to notice, shifting her attention to the dog and speaking to it as if it were an old friend.
Just as the group seemed to recover from the strange little witch's actions, Soleil walked up to Jon and grabbed his shirt and pulled him into a kiss… though very much NOT like the one Luna gave him.
She broke off, leaving him gasping and simply stated, "Me too."
The tension was broken when Preston broke out in hearty laughter, tears streaming down his face at the consternation on the General's face. Soon, everyone was laughing along with two notable exceptions.
Harry noted that Hermione wasn't laughing and neither was Jon, who for his part, looked absolutely mortified.
"Okay… let's all go inside. Preston, I'd like a report please." Jonathan pleaded, desperate to change the subject.
Like herding cats, Harry helped to get everyone back inside and upstairs in Jon's dining room. Codsworth pulled over some extra chairs for them and buzzed off to the stove to prepare some coffee and tea.
Harry turned to Luna, "I didn't expect to see you here, Luna. Visiting Sanctuary?"
"Oh I like to visit with Mama Murphy, she has very interesting things to say. I was also helping them finish up the walls now that they found a large supply of stone."
"You don't know how much we appreciate that Luna." Preston added, drawing a smile from the pale witch, "For my part, I just returned from Salem. Everything looks good there. I've sent word to the provisioners to adjust their routes to include Salem, so now you folks should be seeing regular caravans."
"That's great, Preston."
Harry was pleased, with the constant flow of supplies and commerce that the caravans represented, Salem could really begin to flourish.
"Also, I brought an owl with me in case you wanted to send word to Salem, Harry." Preston added, drawing the aforementioned mechanical wonder from his satchel.
"Oh brilliant, I appreciate that."
Preston waved away his thanks, "They're yours anyway and they've been a blessing. We recently found out that the owls can find individuals once they've met them anywhere they might be. Helped us find a caravan that was scattered after an attack. Make no mistake, this little guy has saved lives."
As if it understood the praise, the owl puffed up its chest and flapped its metallic wings.
Harry and the others laughed at that, as he reached forward to gently stroke the owl's 'plumage'. It reminded him so much of Hedwig, he reminisced sadly.
Preston went on to brief the General the status of the Minutemen and the settlements under their protection. Harry listened with interest as he laid out specifics. Preston was quite the adjutant, as he seemingly recalled details of each settlement perfectly.
"Sanctuary is currently populated with 97 civilians and has a detachment of 16 minutemen at all times. Sturges has been chosen by the families as the de facto Mayor, so the day to day running is up to him now. He set up shops to continue fabricating turret and console pieces for the other settlements. They are producing a surplus of food and water."
He gratefully accepted the offered cup of coffee from Codsworth as he continued.
"Blake Abernathy is of course Mayor of Abernathy farms. They are up to 76 civilians and we have 12 minutemen assigned there. They've expanded the boundaries of the settlement to extend to the creek to the north and south to the road. They now have a vibrant herd of both radstags and Brahmin and grow enough crops to feed the remaining settlements twice over. Traders have been coming in from Bunker Hill and Diamond City to barter for some, though Blake has been deferring the decision until he talks to the other Mayors."
"That's very magnanimous of him." Jon interjected, "He's a good man and he probably doesn't want to make a decision that affects everyone else without their say."
"He does owe the prosperity of his settlement on the Minutemen, specifically you, General." Preston added, Marcy and Jun nodding emphatically.
Jon tried to hide his scowl at Preston's continued 'hero worship'. How badly had the Sole Survivor let them down that they would turn to him? He hoped that he wouldn't let them down before he found a way to shift the credit to those it really belonged to: the men and women like Preston, Marcy and Jun.
"Sunshine has reported that they've seen some unusual raider movement near them, though they haven't molested the settlement itself. I sent another squad of Minutemen, bringing them up to 12 total. They are up to 59 settlers, Mary Elizabeth just had her baby. They are focusing on growing razorgrain and have started to repair the silos to hold grain. They've also begun to brew their own beer, I've had some, quite good. Should be able to compete with those raiders at Beantown before long."
"I wouldn't mind trying some." Jon remarked.
Preston nodded and made a note, "Starlight has built up enough stone to start work on their walls, just waiting for one of Harry's people to be free to give them a hand. It's quite busy there, the large open space is a magnet for trade caravans. It's turning into a second Bunker Hill. There are almost 200 settlers there now, they grow some food, but they aren't self-sufficient, they depend pretty heavily on the trade they get from the other settlements."
"Let's see, Tenpines is much better now that we've cleared out those raiders at Zimonja. We're turning it into a training ground for our recruits. Tenpines is providing most of the lumber for the other settlements and at last count had 36 people living there."
"How's Greygarden and Oberland doing?" Jon asked, as those were the last two settlements he had personally brought into the fold before he ran off to adventure with a certain witch…
"Progress at Oberland is still pretty preliminary. Once you took care of those super mutants across the lake from them, the pressure's been off but there's not a lot there to support a large group right now. I've stationed a squad of 6 there, the girls there seemed happy enough having young men around."
The girls there, two fairly young women, had been eking out an existence by themselves. A strong testament to their stubborn courage. They had danced on the threshold of annihilation with super mutants so close, but now were free to grow.
"Greygarden is really something. Latest word is that our boys fought off a group of those Rust Devils that have plaguing the Commonwealth lately. The robots there were very grateful for our protection and have offered their produce almost for free. No other settlers aside from the robots live there though, I just have the squad of 6 minutemen building up a sort of HQ for our operations there."
Harry was impressed at the strides the Minutemen had made, with hundreds of people now living happily under their sky blue banner. He hoped that someday Salem would enjoy similar success, in fact, he had specific thoughts in that regard already.
He excused himself, taking up the owl to find a quiet corner to write. He sat down and pulled a magical quill from his pack, pondering what he wanted to say.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Daphne's voice interrupted his musing, delightedly so.
His smile grew as she plopped down into his lap, pulling the parchment that he had been idly tapping…
"What is this, some kind of code?" She teased.
"Haha. I'm just trying to think about everything that needs to be done back home. Salem is getting a little crowded with all those refugees from the vault and listening to Preston's report has me thinking that we should expand too."
"Oh?" Daphne prompted.
"Susan checked out that place near the fish cannery. Some kind of coastal cottage. That would be perfect for a few families to settle. I'd like for her to go to Starlight and see about getting some of the materials we'd need to get it started. We can repair the existing house, but I'd like at least 3 more surrounded by decent walls."
"I'm curious, surely we can find room for everyone in Salem. Why expand?"
Harry thought for a moment before replying, "I think we're more vulnerable if we are all in one place. Spreading our people out a little will give us flexibility in case any of the settlements come under some kind of threat. Plus, in some ways, I'd like to have a space that is welcoming for magicals, if ever we find any."
"Seems like we've almost abandoned the idea of finding any, like that girl… Cait was it?"
"Yes. I did ask Nick to look into it for me, but you're right. I need to put that as a priority again now that we're more secure at home."
"Did anyone think to check on those refugees?" Daphne wondered aloud.
"Oh I'm so thick!" Harry exclaimed, "I didn't even think of that! I'll write a note to Lilith to have her subtly check, it's not probable but better to check."
Harry, his thoughts now ordered, set his quill to parchment and began to scratch a message to Salem. Daphne smiled as he concentrated, running a hand through his hair as he wrote.
"If you keep doing that I'll forget all about what I'm trying to get down." Harry complained.
"Doing what? Doing this?" Daphne shifted to languorously run her hand along the back of his neck, smiling widely as she felt him shudder under her touch.
"You sultry little witch." Harry murmured, as he set down the quill and pulled her in for a kiss. The next thing he knew, she was on his lap, her fingers moving through his hair as her tongue danced with his. He felt his ardor deepen as Daphne's curves nestled on his legs. He blushed as he realized that there was no way she could NOT feel the effect she was having on him… specifically his manhood. She pressed herself downward more firmly, grinding her bottom against his tightening pants. Nope, she definitely felt it. His hands began to explore her, slipping up under her jumper to feel her soft female flesh. She moaned against his mouth and her passion redoubled.
"Ahem."
With a squeak of alarm, Daphne bolted off of Harry's lap as if hit with a shocking hex, crashing unceremoniously on her bottom with an 'oof'.
Harry pulled the parchment onto his lap to hide his arousal and felt the burn in his cheeks as he realized that it only made it more obvious.
For his part, Preston had the good grace to keep his smirk to a minimum and to direct his gaze elsewhere.
"Sorry to interrupt. Very VERY sorry." Preston emphasizing the 'very' to a perhaps unnecessary degree, "I just wanted to let you know that we're heading back to Sanctuary."
"Leaving already?" Daphne breathed, still trying to get her breath back after her unceremonious landing.
"Yeah, I tried to talk the General into taking back the Castle again, but he is holding fast to the idea that we aren't yet ready for it. At the very least, I got him to agree to look into extending our supply chain and territory eastward toward the Castle. He's putting scouting out Jamaica Plain on his 'to do' list. Apparently there were some pre-war advertisements about some kind of fabulous treasure there and the General is nothing if not adventurous."
"Yeah, I think he is eager to get this Mechanist business sorted out." Harry agreed.
"Speaking of that, you should check out Ada. The General has really made some sweet modifications on her. She seems like a new robot, especially after Hermione performed her wonders and made her all shiny and smooth."
"Will do. Take care of yourself Preston."
"You too, Harry. Until we meet again." Preston tipped his hat to the both of them and turned away, gathering Marcy and Jun to his side so they could make the short trip back to Sanctuary.
"Ah, speak of the… er, robot." Daphne called out, noting that Ada was strolling languidly through the same door Preston just left.
Preston didn't exaggerate. Ada's turquoise paint gleamed and sparkled with polished smoothness, her new parts far more agile and graceful than before. Apart from the clunk as her heeled metal feet impacted with her steps, she moved almost silently.
"Greetings. I have completed the analysis of the radio beacon we retrieved from General Atomics. I have found the signal for another radio beacon coming from a location to the southeast near the settlement of Oberland."
"Ada. How close is the signal to Oberland itself?" Jon asked, approaching them with Hermione in tow.
Concern etched both of their faces as Ada relayed that the signal appeared to be moving toward the settlement.
"I was hoping to catch a night's rest, but if this robo-brain has anywhere near the number of robots the one at General Atomics did, Oberland is in serious trouble."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go." Harry declared, standing up and moving away to reboard the ship, hoping that no one caught the bulge in his pants that he sincerely hoped would go away soon.
He heard the others hurrying after him, the rapid staccato of Ada's footfalls drowning out their footfalls. Harry eschewed the use of the rope ladder and accio'd himself him onto the ship, crouching on his legs as he landed to absorb the shock. He glanced back to see Daphne following suit.
After a moment, Ada joined them, her arms flailing in the air and warning bleeps issuing from her vocoder, clearly unused to being leviosa'd. Harry waited for Hermione to join them, moving to the rail when she didn't appear after several moments. He looked down to see her patiently waiting for Jonathan, who was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh. I wonder where…" He was cut off as a towering figure resplendent in heavy chrome plates stomped from the balcony. The massive figure nodded to Hermione and she levitated him up onto the ship with a wave of her wand. The entire ship trembled as the powerful figure, looking for all the world like a knight of old, slammed onto the deck. He straightened and Harry gaped at what had to be the biggest gun he had ever seen. Though he was fairly unversed in Muggle weaponry, he was sure that it would be a test for him to even lift, let alone use.
Hermione shot up into the air and arced onto the deck, the figure easily catching her as she fell undignified with her eyes tightly shut. She never did take to flying…
The power armored figure cradled her for several moments longer than strictly necessary before carefully setting her feet down. It reached up and pulled off his helmet with a hiss, revealing Jonathan's grim face.
"I'm not getting blown up by those bastards again." He declared, hefting his gun meaningfully.
"Are you sure your gun is big enough?" Harry asked.
"Are you sure you aren't compensating for something?" Hermione asked at the same time.
He actually chuckled before answering, "It's a second generation gauss rifle. A series of capacitor banks accelerate a ferromagnetic round to hypersonic velocity. Very powerful. Perfect for putting a hole the size of a basketball into armor plated robots bent on slaughtering innocents."
"Can't argue with that logic." Harry agreed.
"Back so soon sir?" Ironsides asked, as he rolled up to the group.
"We have an emergency Captain. Commonwealth citizens are about to be attacked by rogue robots. Set a course for Oberland Station."
"Right away sir! We'll these rogues not to mess with the Salem Navy!"
"Salem Navy?" Harry murmured.
Daphne shrugged at him in answer as the mighty frigate fired up her rockets and began to heave forward into yet another fight.
POV: Harry, Oberland Station
They spotted the robots a mere hundred yards from Oberland, the lead elements of the robot force already firing their long range weapons into the settlement. The small Minuteman contingent had already manned the guard towers (Oberland had not yet been enclosed by walls) and light machinegun turrets were answering with their own fire.
The Minutemen looked up in awe as the massive bulk of the Constitution roared above them, making a beeline for the advancing Mechanist's forces.
"We can't use the cannons, Captain! We're too close to the settlement." Harry shouted over the roar, his hair flying wildly in the wind.
"Roger that sir." The captain almost sounded surly at the command.
As the frigate past over the robots and banked sharply to come up behind them, Jonathan took a running start and leapt over the side of the frigate, his shout of glee amplified through the speaker grill of his power armor.
"Why does he keep jumping off of things?!" Hermione yelled, exasperated and more than a little green around the gills.
Harry never got the chance to answer as the robots shifted their fire from the settlement to them. As sturdy as she was, the increasing laser fire were beginning to burn holes in her hull.
"I'll teach you to put holes in my ship!" Ironsides bellowed, rolling to the rail closest to the enemy and unleashing his fury through 5mm fire.
Harry jumped onto his broom and flew off the ship, looping in a tight turn to bring him toward the robot's flank. He dodged an eyebot coming straight at him and twisted back just long enough to blast the offending 'bot with a powerful jolt of lightning. He weaved between two robots and pulled straight up into the air, coming back down to send of wave of white hot flame lancing down onto them before they could react. They collapsed as their metal frame melted and oozed, the occasional spark flaring as their systems died. Harry risked a glance back toward Jonathan, watching as he delivered an uppercut into the robo-brain's head casing, knocking the offending automatron's head clean off.
Harry shouted a warning to him as a deadly looking assaultron spooled up its own minigun, aiming at a seemingly unaware General's back. Almost nonchalantly, he laid his massive gauss rifle across his right shoulder and as promised earlier, 'blasted a hole the size of a basketball' in the center of the attacking robot's torso. It whined plaintively as it fell to the ground, the cylinder like body rolling down the hill in a cartwheel of flailing limbs.
Harry landed next to him and scanned the area with his wand held ready. Seeing no further threats, he started to relax and only just then noticed that there was cheering coming from the settlement.
Harry turned and saw the Minutemen atop their walls cheering for their General. They waved the Minuteman flag in celebration and the double handful of settlers surged from the station to clap their saviors on the back and yell their thanks over the cacophony. Harry smiled and shook hands left and right, enjoying the attention more than a little.
"That was amazing!"
"You fly like a hawk!"
"You wizards are the best!"
"That General is awesome!"
"Are they single?"
When the friendly mayhem finally drew to a close, the settlers went back to their business, though still talking about the amazing rescue they had witnessed. The story of how the Wizards of Salem and the General of the Minutemen came swooping in on a flying ship and wiped out an attacking army of evil robots would be told and re-told for generations.
Harry was still grinning as he and Jon re-boarded the ship, his glee undiminished despite the withering looks both Daphne and Hermione were directing at the pair. He planted a quick peck on Daphne's cheek, doing much to dissolve her disapproval.
Jon bounced the radar beacon he wrested from the wreckage of the dispatched robo-brain in his gauntleted palm, "We got it Ada. One radio beacon."
"Excellent sir. Once that one is installed, I can seek out the third beacon and from there triangulate the Mechanist's location."
A quick trip and a few minutes in the robot workbench later, Ada informed them that the final radio beacon was located southwest in a place called Fort Hagen Satellite Array.
"We'll join you for this stage, but afterwards, Daphne and I need to get back to Salem to check on things there. Those Rust Devils carry some residual magic on them and we need to get to the bottom of this mystery."
Jon nodded, "I appreciate both the company and the help."
Hermione merely smiled and nodded.
"Do you want to come back with us Hermione? Some downtime might do you some good. Plus we all know how much better at this research bit than the rest of us are."
Hermione waved away Harry's flattery, "Lilith is as good, if not better. Besides, I started this with the General, I'm going to see it through to the end."
"That's noble of you, "Harry began, before Hermione cut him off.
"You didn't see them Harry. The people those robots murdered. They were cut down were they stood, just normal people trying to make a living in this world. I am going to confront the madman who unleashed this horror and put a stop to it."
The look on Jonathan's face was a flurry of emotion, the strongest among them being admiration. He looked as if he wanted to speak to Hermione, his hands wringing as if fighting among themselves to reach out and touch the witch, but he clasped them all the harder and stilled them, smiling stiffly when he noted Harry watching him.
They spoke a little more, making their plans and later enjoyed a meal carefully prepared by a proud Codsworth, who gushed over the praise the group lavished on him. Dogmeat displayed his appreciation as well, gobbling up the scraps as his tail wagged vigorously.
After dinner, Jon showed each of them to well-appointed private rooms. Astoundingly, each had a curtained off partition with a freestanding claw foot tub for bathing. The toilet and sink also featured running water, a luxury they had thought to only find in Salem (and Sanctuary, after Neville and the others restored the homes to their pre-war condition.)
Harry heard the tap on the tub begin to fill it with water and steam rolled out through the partition in a heady light gray cloud. He smiled as he heard the splash followed by Daphne's contented sigh. He poked his head through the curtains and drank in the view greedily. Daphne smiled coyly at him as she scrubbed the last several days of grime from her body. Still confident after their victory over the robots attacking Oberland, he pulled the curtain aside and peeled off his clothes.
Daphne's eyes widened appreciatively as he stood in front of her naked, his head cocking to the side as he tried to judge if he'd fit in the tub too.
"We'll make it work." Daphne murmured, to Harry's delight.
POV: Hermione, Red Rocket
In the adjoining room, Hermione tried to block the very obvious sounds of lovemaking that were reverberating through the walls with a slowly building intensity. With a huff of frustration, she threw off the blankets and swiveled her bare legs off of the bed. She stood up wearing only a t-shirt and panties, searching the dark room for her discarded pants and shoes so that she could flee with some dignity. She winced as she clearly heard Daphne calling out Harry's name and decided that she would risk it.
She tugged down the shirt as far as she could as she quietly exited her room and padded barefoot toward the balcony. The crisp night air sent a shiver through her as she walked out onto the balcony, belatedly wishing that she had thought to bring the blanket at least. She stood there for a moment and considered going back.
"You don't have to go." His low voice made her spin in scandalized shock, her hands flying to cover herself unnecessarily.
He sat in a low deck chair, a pipe nestled in his lips as he puffed contentedly and stared out at the night sky. She could see his head turn toward her and the jolt that accompanied his realization that she was half naked. He stood up and walked over to her, his jacket suddenly draped over her shoulders and falling to cover her to her thighs. She couldn't help but breathe deep of the scent, his manly musk mixed with machine oil and a faint hint of mint.
She didn't offer the slightest resistance as he pulled her close and began to rub her back with his hands. His body heat warmed her quickly and almost made her forget that their relationship was supposed to be purely professional. She felt so safe in that embrace, wrapped up in his arms, listening to him hum some wordless tune as if he were comforting a child. Apt. Often came the moments where he made her feel like a clumsy and socially inept young girl again. Almost as often as the times he infuriated her with his recklessness.
Time either stood still or flew by, both it seemed to her when he finally let her go, "It's getting rather late. We should both try and get some sleep."
She nodded in agreement, then murmured something like an acknowledgement when she realized he couldn't see her. She turned away reluctantly, surprised when his hands lingered for a moment before letting her go.
Grateful that the reason for her exodus had apparently concluded, Hermione sank into the soft bed and felt herself drifting off to sleep almost as soon as her head settled onto the pillow, her last thoughts were of his arms wrapped around her, not knowing that his thoughts at that moment was of the same thing.
POV: Morgan Le Fey, Somerville
Morgan found reason to smile as she entertained the children, her rapport with the young ones going far to assuage their father's suspicion.
After a long and arduous journey, Morgan and her entourage had finally skirted the Glowing Sea and travelled north to the first settlement they could find, such as it was.
It was a single home set against low cliffs with fields of corn on its southern edge. Morgan was surprised as they approached the home to find a single father and two young ones eking out a living so far from any other source of civilization. She was even more surprised when she felt that the children, but not the father, were magical.
Approaching them with as much empathy and patience as she could muster, she quickly won over the children with the offer of sweets and was slowly assuring the father that she and her group were no threat to his family.
Tacitus (Morgan had decided that the usually silent servant needed a fitting name) had been put to work letting the creatures get some air while William grumbled about the human's ineptitude. The children were enthralled by them and seemed to have an affinity for them, laughing with delight as they played with a Niffler, who sniffed and searched for anything shiny it could stuff into its 'pockets'.
The adults watched the children play for a time, the father getting over his surprise over the creatures and her magic with suspicious alacrity. She turned to the man and poured him a cup of tea, waving her hand to invite him to partake. He took the porcelain cup carefully, sniffing at the drink before taking a long draught. Morgan smiled as she sipped hers more daintily, observing him enjoying the biscuits with gusto as she waited for him to stop stuffing his mouth long enough to ask a few questions.
"These are really good, mind if I save some for my kids?"
"Of course." She smiled magnanimously, "Keep as many as you like."
He grunted his thanks and drank the last of his tea, "Now, you were asking about my wife?"
"I hope it isn't too painful for you to talk about, but yes, I am curious."
"Years ago, I was burying my father there under the tree next to my mom, who had died a few years before. They had a good life, a long life, which I know I should be grateful for, considering the world we live in. But I was lost and numb. You see, I was alone then. I guess I hadn't really thought of it until the day he died and suddenly it was real, ya know? I was here on this little farm, all alone."
Morgan refilled his tea, which he took gratefully before continuing, never noticing as she slipped the tiny vial of veritas serum back into her thigh pouch hidden within her gown.
"It had started to rain, and I had been standing there for hours I guess. Leaning on that shovel just staring down at my folk's graves. I heard something then, something moving in those bushes down the hill a ways off from the tree."
"What was it?" She pressed.
"It was a girl. I thought it was a girl. No, turned out it was a woman grown. She was just so thin and underfed. She had the greenest eyes you'd ever seen. Once she was warm and dry you could see her hair, like the color of cornstalks at harvest time. Honey blonde I guess you'd call it. I was alone and she was alone and what started out as me doing the neighborly thing turned into her being my wife. We were happy, I thought. The babies came, one after the other, and I was sure that I'd never be alone again."
"Then something happened?" She asked, resting a hand on his arm comfortingly.
He looked down at her hand, as if surprised by human contact and nodded.
"Two years, two months and eleven days ago, she vanished. I was tending the field and she was heading down to the edge of the water to do some washing. If she had had a wand, she would have just waved it and done the washing with magic. I mean, she could do things still, little things. But, well, I suppose you knew better than I do, you being a witch too."
She nodded and smiled, turning slightly as the children ran past whooping with delight as the niffler chased after them, or more specifically, the shiny bottle caps each child had.
"I spent the next year looking for her. I took the children with me all the way to Diamond city. I asked everyone I came across. There was nothing. No trace at all, as if she never was. I even scraped up enough money to hire that Valentine fellow. He didn't find nothing, but he had the grace to give me back the caps. The children have managed to move on some, though I can hear them crying sometimes at night. I just wish I knew, ya know? Did she leave us? Was she taken? Did mirelurks get her? Slavers, raiders? The Institute? Hell, I don't know why I'm telling all this to you now. Suppose since you and she are alike in many ways, being magical I mean."
"Mr. Walsh…"
"Benjamin will do just fine." He interrupted
"Benjamin," She emphasized, tamping down on her irritation at being interrupted, "Though I fear I can't do much to solve the mystery of your wife's disappearance, I can at least do something for you and your children."
His eyebrows arched questioningly, his curiosity piqued at the notion.
"As you must have suspected, your children are magical. Liam has the gift to make a decent wizard someday, and Abigail could become a talented witch. I am even now journeying to a place where there are others like us, wizards and witches, people who could teach and guide your children as they grow and develop their powers."
His face darkened, "You aren't taking my children from me, magic or not."
"I don't mean to. I mean for all of you to come with me."
"Where is this place?" His expression softening now that she assured him that she wasn't just going to take his kids and leave him alone.
"Salem."
It took little convincing to get their father to agree, the only real reservation he had was leaving his ancestral home behind. The children were ecstatic to going on an adventure where they would meet more people like the Lady Morgan Le Fay and someday be wizards and witches too! The trio packed up their belongings and stared wide-eyed as the grumpy pukwudgie William shoved them all into a tiny bag, which he tossed to Benjamin muttering that he wasn't going to haul their junk across Massachusetts for them.
With a long suffering sigh, Morgan Le Fay made sure that everyone was clear before raising her wand and conjuring her power. The wand resisted only a little, the phoenix core ash wand slowly allowing her some degree of mastery, if for no other reason than there were no other options.
The Somerville family watched, amazed as they watched their home, the corn fields and the tree shrunk down so small one could plop it into a pocket with room to spare. Morgan twirled her wand and conjured a glass globe to encompass the tiny homestead, handing the resulting curiosity to Benjamin. He and the children huddled around it in fascination, every detail preserved within the globe.
"Take care with that, Mr. Walsh. Smashing the globe will set the house free and it will quickly resume its former size and shape. I recommend being sure of where you want the house to be before doing so."
"You mean… we're literally taking the farm with us?"
Morgan's smile actually reached her eyes as she gestured to the waiting carriage, Tacitus opening the door for the others to climb in. Securing the door behind the group, He climbed up next to William and took up the reigns, driving the metal horses onward toward the north, completely unaware of the several pairs of eyes watching them.
POV: Gunner Plaza
Colonel Cypress was annoyed that his briefing was being interrupted by the conscript who burst in the door as if his ass were on fire.
"There had better be a damn good reason for this intrusion." He growled, the other officers glancing at him and turning to regard the newcomer.
The young man paled when he noted that he had barged into a high level meeting, sweat literally popping out of his pores as he tried to compose himself.
"I'm sorry sir. I thought you'd want to hear about this right away."
Colonel Cypress sat down and motioned for the man to continue, he had gotten to his position by skillfully vectoring actionable intelligence and had spared no effort into ensuring that he had eyes and ears in as many places as he could.
As soon as the man started talking, the Colonel frowned in distaste, realizing that this particular Gunner was part of a group assigned to keep watch on the southern edge of the Commonwealth near the Glowing Sea. Of what possible use could… wait, what did he just say?
"She waved a stick and the house and the surrounding land shrunk!" The man cried, the other officers wondering if the man had gone insane drinking swamp water.
"There's a perfectly round hole where the farm used to be! It's true!" He cried, realizing the doubting look he was getting from several of the officers.
"I believe you." Cypress muttered, steepling his hands and pondering the new information.
"Sir?" One of his Captain's began, incredulity writ plain across his face.
Cypress pulled several folders from a cabinet and threw them onto the table they were gathered around. The doubting officer pulled the one closest to him and opened it.
"A man was seen flying on a broom?"
Another officer, a fiery red headed recently promoted opened another, "The USS Constitution has taken off from downtown Boston and was seen flying off to the northwest."
"These are all reports, verified reports, of similar incidents taking place over the last couple of weeks. One or two I would dismiss. But this many? Finally, this came in two days ago." Cypress pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to the nearest Lieutenant.
The man unfolded the envelope and read its contents, "A contract from the Rust Devils. They are paying, yikes! 5000 caps for the capture of a man with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead, last seen flying a broom by the General Atomic Factory!"
Colonel Cypress rose and fixed each of the officers in the room, each of them representing hundreds of Gunners in the field. "Reconnaissance in force. We'll take this contract, but more than that, we'll see about getting our hands on one of these people. With power like this, the Gunners will operate completely unhindered on the east coast. No one will be able to stand up to us, not the Minutemen reborn, not the Brotherhood of Steel and certainly not the Institute! Ladies and gentlemen, we are at the cusp of a new age. Gunners ascendance!"
A/N: Normally, this would have actually been an update for Fall of Phaeton, but as my notes were quite copious and I had the momentum, I decided to go ahead and push this one out. Since no one has volunteered to be an alpha reader or beta reader, I am making due with my own ability to catch spelling, grammatical and continuity errors. Please review and thanks for reading!