Chapter Two
Misery and Mirelurks
Kells had arranged for them to meet their new charge at 11, near the airport entrance. She had met Danse fifteen minutes prior by the ladder leading to the flight deck, both of them in power armour. If he had any further misgivings about their venture, he did not make them known.
"Fully supplied, soldier?" He asked as he led the way along metal grille, making for the nearest vertibird.
"Of course, Danse! Even purchased some extra vertibird grenades. Just in case."
"Oh? Are we going to fly straight to our destination?" Nora noticed the way his eyes lit up at the thought of flying. One thing she had learned about the Paladin early on. He loved flying.
"Actually, this is more for the return journey, or emergencies. I thought if we travelled on foot to our destination, we'd get to know the boy better."
Danse paused, turning to face her with a frown. "Travelling on foot also makes us more vulnerable to attack and if he's as badly behaved as Captain Kells claims…"
"We'll discipline him," Nora said confidently. "Or you can put on your Paladin voice."
"…If I put it on now would you call a vertibird?"
Nora laughed. "Danse, I don't even intend on taking a vertibird down to the airport!" Before she could hear his protests, Nora sprinted to an empty landing platform and jumped with an exuberant shout. Danse peered over the edge, watching as she landed on the concrete far below, safe in her power armour. He smirked, shaking his head slightly before jumping himself.
They found the Squire near the entrance of the compound, sat on a cargo container, swinging his legs back and forth. Nora and Danse exchanged a look. All the other squires they had taken under their wing had been excitable, standing at attention or running over to greet them on sight. This boy gave them a sullen once over before waiting for them to approach him. Nora could tell from the set of Danse's jaw that he had noted the insubordinate behaviour and was undoubtedly filing it away mentally for a report.
"Let's go and introduce ourselves, shall we?" She smiled at him, her mind already trying to strategise the best way to facilitate a good relationship between a Paladin who always demanded obedience and honesty with an angry boy notorious for his disobedience and spite. "Just… go easy on him Danse," she added. "He's been through a lot for a boy his age."
Danse heaved his shoulders in a sigh. "Very well." With that, they crossed the short distance to where the boy was sat, now plucking at the laces of his boots.
"Good morning, Squire." Nora greeted coming to a stop before him.
"Ma'am." Nora frowned at the bored tone with which he greeted her, but decided to shrug it off.
"Are you ready to head out?" She tried again, keeping an easy smile on her face.
Burke sighed heavily and rolled his eyes, leaning back on his hands. "I guess…"
"Squire. You will address your superiors with the respect they are due." Danse interjected sharply, putting on what Nora had affectionately referred to as 'the Paladin voice'. "Now stand to attention!" The Squire jumped slightly, taken aback. Nora knew better than to challenge Danse's authority and so watched on as the Squire blanched under Danse's intense glare.
"Sorry sir. Won't happen again, sir." Burke swallowed, standing and adjusting his pack.
I can already tell this isn't going to go well. Nora thought, but aloud she simply said "let's move out."
The weather was clear and perfect for travelling when they set off. Nora stayed on point, gaining her bearings through the use of her Pip-Boy and marking out the easiest path to their destination of Hubris Comics. Squire Burke tramped along behind her, and Danse brought up the rear, alert for any signs of danger. As close as they were to the airport, they did not have to worry about foes other than the occasional mirelurk or feral that had evaded the vertibird sweeps.
They travelled largely in silence, the only sound the heavy stamp of the power armour and the occasional cries of wasteland creatures in the distance, carried by the cool breeze. It was early afternoon when Nora called for a lunchbreak. In their power armour, she and Danse were fine, their temperature kept in check by internal thermostats. The weight of their weapons and inventory were also greatly reduced and by this point, Nora was as used to long treks across the Commonwealth as Danse was.
But the Squire was struggling, his face red and collar damp with sweat.
She spied the charred shell of a house further along the road and decided it would do as a rest stop. The remaining walls would provide both shade and shelter from prying eyes, so long as they could determine it was structurally sound and as abandoned as it first appeared.
"Squire, we'll stop for lunch at that structure," she said, turning to look at him. Burke raised his weary green eyes and nodded, momentarily removing his hat to run his fingers through his closely cropped hair.
"Paladin, I'll go ahead and scout for any hostiles while you and the Squire maintain your pace."
Danse peered to where the burned out walls stood as though assessing the risk before he nodded. "Affirmative, Knight."
With his agreement Nora smiled and nodded, removing her helmet from where she had strapped it about her waist and equipping it. She set off at a jog, carefully watching through her visor for any movement in either the wreckage of the house, or in the wasteland to either side. Upon arrival, she could not find any immediate dangers. The walls seemed stable enough and the roof timbers, though somewhat weathered and sun bleached, did not seem in any immediate danger of collapse. The back of the house led down towards a marshy area and she eyed some mirelurk scat on the ground, but with the sun up so high and no rain, she doubted any would rear up unprovoked. So it was by the time the Squire and Paladin arrived, she already had some provisions on the worn floorboards and was out of her power armour, sat cross legged on the ground.
The Squire managed a few shaky steps before sinking to the floor and shrugging out of his backpack. Nora rolled a can of water towards him before turning to ask whether or not Danse wanted one, only to discover that the Paladin had decided to do an area sweep himself. Shrugging, she watched as the Squire downed the can in a few urgent gulps. "How are you holding up, kiddo?"
The Squire turned to look at her, before shrugging and averting his gaze elsewhere.
"C'mon, do you want to give me a break here? This isn't a punishment, you know. Besides, most squires work hard to be taken on these assignments."
"Then you should have taken one of them." Burke scowled, before adding an almost sarcastic "ma'am."
"If you don't like ma'am, you could always call me Nora," she shrugged.
"I don't think the Paladin would like that. Look I know you're trying to be nice and all, but don't bother. I don't need friends."
"Hmmm, doubt you'll be saying that if we run into any super mutants…" Nora began, only to hear a distinct crunch. Burke had crushed the water can in his hand and continued to squeeze so hard, the bones of his knuckles shone white against his skin. His jaw was clenched and she saw to her horror that his eyes were growing wet with tears.
For a moment she sat helpless, recalling rather belatedly that the boy's mother had met her end at the hands of super mutants.
"Got any water left over for me?" Danse called as he re-entered the ruin. His laser rifle was slung back over the shoulder of his power armour, which Nora took as an excellent sign.
"Sure, want it now or can I tempt you out of your power armour?" She teased, raising a can in the air, glad of the interruption.
"Sure he's not welded into it?" Burke muttered under his breath, hastily wiping his forearm across his eyes.
"Watch your tone, Squire. For your information it's irresponsible to exit your power armour in unknown territory."
"Hey, I'm armoured!" Nora protested, beating her fist against her chest plate.
"That armour is inadequate should we come face to face with a deathclaw." Danse drawled, folding his arms and leaning against one of the remaining walls. "Besides, if a raider happens to slip into your suit while you're not looking, you'll have a hard time of getting it back. Right, soldier?"
"…That was only once and it was only T-45 plating. Besides, it wasn't even a full suit… Anyway, Paladin, I thought we were supposed to be setting an example!" With her last exclamation, she threw the water at him. Danse easily snatched it out of the air, completely unhindered by his power armour. "Might need to step out of the suit to open it, though. Those fingers might just wrench off the ring pull." Nora added slyly, to which Danse only snorted in response.
"Why don't they ever make power armour for kids?" Burke piped up suddenly from where he was now standing behind Nora's power armour.
"Because children aren't soldiers?" Nora replied, raising her eyebrows at him.
"Yeah, right. If I'm not a soldier, what am I doing out here?" Burke scowled, stuffing his fists into his pockets.
Nora opened and closed her mouth several times before turning to Danse for answers.
"You're out here to see the state of the Commonwealth first hand, that you might understand why the Brotherhood's mission is so important. Why we must remain strong. It also allows you insight into the real duties and dangers faced by your older brothers and sisters in the field, so that you can make informed choices when you advance in your career."
"I don't want a career!" Burke suddenly exploded again, his face flushing with colour.
"Pull yourself together or I'll march you back to the Prydwen myself!" Danse said sharply, raising one, threatening finger. The can in his other hand exploded.
Nora found her mouth hanging agape.
Burke let out a cackle of laughter, before Nora hushed him quickly. "Squire Burke, gather your things and wait outside. Now."
"Yes, Nora," Burke sniggered, sweeping his backpack from the ground and jogging outside.
Danse sighed, throwing the can to the floor. "Don't let him get you, Danse. He's a kid, one with a lot of problems." Nora soothed, fishing out a bandanna she had bought for Dogmeat and offering it to him.
"If I'd known he'd be this annoying, I'd have stayed aboard the Prydwen." Danse groaned, accepting the cloth and wiping away the splashes of water on his face and armour.
"What? And left me to wander the Commonwealth alone? With him? Thanks!" Nora smiled, opening a second can for him. As she exchanged the can for the now damp bandanna, she glanced up to the sky where the Prydwen was still in sight. "…If you really don't want to be here, though, the Prydwen's still in sight. You could probably make it back by dusk if you set off now."
"I never leave a mission unfinished, soldier. Besides, I never leave my friends. Now suit up and let's move out. The shorter this mission, the better."
"Thanks, Danse." Nora smiled, turning back to her power armour. Despite the prospect of travelling with Burke in tow, she now felt inexplicably happier. She pulled herself up into her armour and made to step towards the door, only to find herself faced with great resistance, the suit suddenly almost unbearably heavy. "What the…?"
"Did your fusion core run out, soldier?" Danse frowned, watching as she struggled to raise her foot from the ground.
"It couldn't have! I changed it this morning!" Nora cried, exasperated.
"Hold on, let me check…" Danse said, walking behind her. "Soldier. Your fusion core's missing."
"What?! But how… Burke! That little-"
A high pitched scream cut through the air from somewhere behind the ruins. As Nora turned her head, Danse cussed and shoved a fresh fusion core from his own stash into her armour. "Move out!"
They raced around the side of the ruins to where the barren garden receded away into marsh. In the near distance they could see Burke, scrambling up a stunted tree and around him, movement in the long grass and murky water. "Mirelurks!" Nora hissed, slipping Righteous Authority from her shoulder. "We have to draw them off."
"Affirmative. Going in, weapons hot!" Danse announced, levelling his own laser rifle and firing scarlet shots at the large, slimy carapaces that scuttled towards the tree. Nora opened fire, advancing as quickly as she dared into the marshy ground. One false step and her power armour would pull her under.
Hissing, three of the mirelurks turned away from the terrified Squire, but two more still clawed at the base of the tree, their claws swiping the air mere inches from the boy. In desperation, she equipped her V.A.T.S. system, searing both mirelurks with laser shots. One she just grazed on the rim of its shell, but the other took a shot in its soft underbelly.
She barely registered Danse's warning shout before a large claw seized her right arm in a vice like grip. "Shit!" She hissed, fighting to shake it off. The claw had a serrated edge which she could see biting into the steel as the creature squeezed with all its strength, simultaneously clubbing at her with its other claw. Nora raised her left fist and smashed it into the mirelurk's exposed face, retaining her grip on Righteous Authority with her right hand. There was an awful, audible crunch and the creature scuttled backwards, releasing her arm and hiding beneath its shell. Nora raised the rifle and fired at it relentlessly, watching as the creature squealed and hissed. It turned and attempted to flee, barrelling straight into Danse's line of fire.
Nora returned her attention to the tree where the Squire had sought refuge, to find the mirelurk she had shot in the underbelly lying still on the ground, curled into a ball. The second mirelurk was nowhere in sight. "Squire! Are you hurt?" She called, approaching the tree warily.
"N-no ma'am!" Burke quavered from his branch.
"Danse, do we have visual on the target?"
"Negative." The Paladin called, stepping over an ash pile that had been a mirelurk.
Nora could hear her blood roaring in her ears and feel her heart pounding rapidly in her chest. As she took another step, she felt something crunch underfoot and glanced down.
Eggs. Mirelurk eggs.
"Dammit, we're in a nest!" She called to the Paladin, scanning the eggs for any sign of movement. She still had nightmares about the night she and Preston had fought for the Castle, and knew better than to think the eggs were no threat. Danse cussed, but there was little choice other than for the two of them to continue the approach.
She was only feet away from the tree when she heard the first crack.
"MA'AM!" Burke shouted, sitting straighter on his branch.
"SHIT!" Nora hissed, stamping on a hatchling that scuttled towards her, egg shards still clinging to its shell.
Other eggs began to tremble and crack. She raised her rifle, firing at any that moved.
"MA'AM! LOOK OUT!"
Startled by Burke's cry, Nora turned just in time to see the mirelurk explode from the ground behind her. She raised her rifle, but the mirelurk surged forwards with a hiss, striking the weapon from her grasp. She barely had time to register the fact that she was unarmed before the mirelurk launched at her in a frenzy, tearing at her armour and denting the plating.
Desperately she tried to fight back, trying to knock it off balance with punches and kicks, but the creature stood its ground hissing and gurgling, lashing at her relentlessly with its claws. She saw bright flashes of red as Danse's laser shots ricocheted from the shell, causing little harm to the creature and cursed, trying to grasp a purchase on its claws and at least slow down its onslaught for the Paladin to reach her.
Suddenly Nora was blinded by a flash of scarlet. The mirelurk made an awful gurgling sound, smoke curling up from under its shell, then it collapsed into the mud, curling in on itself, legs drawing in over the large scorch mark blackening its green stomach.
As the creature began to disintegrate into ash, Nora turned slowly, her eyes fixing upon the pale faced Squire who grasped her rifle in shaking hands.