Amber jumped from where she sat, almost losing her footing again. MacCready steadied her with one hand before bolting from the room. Amber threw her armor on and grabbed her .50 from the corner of the room.
The street was hectic, settlers running every direction. Amber spotted Preston and Sturges trying to corral all the settlers into one building. MacCready was running to the highest guard post they'd built.
A crowd of Super Mutants were scrambling up the river bank, throwing frag grenades as they went.
Amber put her scope to her face, lining up the head of the closest mutant. She took her shot and watched as his large green head popped, his lifeless body slumping to the ground. Amber heard MacCready's gun blast from above her head, another mutant falling to the earth.
Preston ran to her side, lining up his last musket with the oncoming horde. Amber nodded to him but didn't speak, lining up another shot on an oncoming mutant.
Loud, mechanical footsteps stomped suddenly up the hill, three large suits of power armour barreling toward her. Laser rifle shots flashed across the landscape, casting demonic shadows through the dead trees. Preston grabbed Amber by the arm and pulled her backward from the fray.
The familiar, terrifying beep of an armed mini nuke hit her ears, despite the deafening din.
"Suicider!" One of the power armored fighters shouted. Preston pulled her back even harder, knocking her off her feet this time.
One of the power armored fighters stomped to her side, pulling her to their chest like a rag doll before turning to fire on the suicider. Amber shielded her face against the cold metal chest of her savior, the heat of the explosion a shocking contrast. They had turned her away, blocking her from the explosion with their body.
Her ears were still ringing when her feet touched the ground, some fifty feet from the fight. She ran a hand through her hair, her skin clammy and cold.
"Well, well. Knight in shining power armor." She quipped, trying to hide the fact that her hands were still shaking. Her savior removed his helmet slowly.
"Paladin, actually. Paladin Danse." He extended his free hand to shake hers. She placed her hand in his, subsequently engulfed by his large metal one.
"Paladin? Really?" She looked up at him incredulously.
"Brotherhood of Steel, ma'am. Are your troops okay?" He waved a hand around the cul-de-sac, which seemed to be fairly intact despite the assault. Sturges ran up to her then, his large hands full of strips of cloth.
"No casualties, general. Just a few scrapes and bruises." He grinned at her and she nodded.
"I guess we're good. You really saved our butts here. Thank you, Paladin." She smiled at him and he nodded. "What were you doing out here, anyway?"
"Paladin! Sir! We're getting a distress signal from Cambridge." One of the other Brotherhood cut off Danse's reply.
"I'll come with you." Amber stated, pulling her rifle into her hands. Danse eyed her for a moment.
"I suppose that's fine. Get everyone rounded up, we'll go up at once." Danse nodded to her before stomping down the hill.
MacCready ran to her side then, taking her face in his hands. He inspected her for a moment before heaving a sigh of relief. Amber laughed and shook her head.
"I don't get blown up that often. Geez, Mac. Do you have any rounds on you? I'm going with the Brotherhood guys to lend a hand." She straightened her hat, pulling it lower over her eyes.
"You're gonna help THEM?" He sputtered, his eyes wide.
"Paladin Danse saved my ass just then. Least I can do." She could tell he was gonna fight her on this, so she stalked off down the hill.
"Wait! Amber!" She stopped when he used her name. She can't recall him ever using her name. His eyes were large and bright blue despite the low light.
"Just...just be careful." His eyes dropped to the ground and she couldn't help but smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her forehead to his.
"Behave til I get back, kid." She planted a swift kiss on his nose before running down the hill to the vertibird.