May 2nd 2279
Anna
The outcasts sent a distress signal apparently they have some sort of machinery that only Pip-Users can activate. Charon follows as I locate the origin of the signal and once more in my life I find myself helping people I hardly know.
"A Time Machine ?" I laugh. It's ridiculous.
I am the only one in the room making a noise. Everyone else stares at me seriously. I even hear a twist of leather as Charon's fists clench.
"For real ?"
The outcast nods "We need you to work it for us to open the weapons supply. The American army had designed it incase they failed. Travel back fix a mistake. Win the war."
"Travel where ?"
"Anchorage."
I nod, slowly starting believe the information i'm hearing.
"It's the same technology that controls your fast travel. You have done that. You know it's safe."
Safe? Ha. It hurts like hell having every molecule separated and placed somewhere else. A smarter part of my brain concludes that I should be walking away. Say No. Leave safely. I can't help but think I need to do this. I want to do this. I am surprised to find Charon silent, well more silent than usual. When I entered tranquility lane he all but held on to my leg to stop me entering the simulator. Now he makes no objections. He stares at me with such intensity I find myself rubbing his cheek. I am excited to go. To an intact land with no radiation, proper food.
I am placed in a hideous white suit and I kiss Charon swiftly.
"I can do this."
"I know."
He answers with such certainty I am filled with confidence and smile as I enter the pod.
I open my mouth to speak. To say goodbye but suddenly I am gone.
May 28th 2076
Anna
My body slams against a hard surface and I find myself bringing boxes down as I ungracefully try to get onto my feet. I am in pain. I am filled with nausea. I concentrate on the cool air taking controlled breathes. I urge the room to stop spinning. I hold onto a box and make a move to step forward when a gun is suddenly shoved in my face. I can't help but scream and grab the knife from my pocket. Apparently my belongings came with me.
The man in front of me is huge, built like a machine. I assess him for danger. His hair is dark brown with red through out it where the light hits. His face is strong with a defined jaw and nose. His eyes are an amazing green and I find myself entranced. These features seem so familiar I instantly warm to the stranger.
I assess him more. Shotgun. Face. Dog tags with a clear outline. Charon. It suddenly clicks. Shotgun. Strong face. Charon. My Charon. I can hardly contain my awe at seeing him so complete. So young.
"Charon" I all but whisper.
I want to grab him. Ask him everything. He is so familiar but yet something completely new.
I hear strange shouting and suddenly I am pulled away. There is darkness once more.
June 21st 2076.
Anna
I land in snow, any excitement I would have held for never experiencing this is suddenly gone. There is nothing nice about it. It is hard, cold and wet. I stand to see where I am now. Check what danger this machine has suddenly put me in.
I want to go back. I want to see Charon. He was just in front of me brand new and fascinating.
Almost like a granted wish I see him across from me. He sits in front of a tent with his weapon on his knee. It is a action I witness every evening. I smile in excitement. His routine was new to even him at this moment. This Charon will not be as knowledgable as my own and I yearn to quiz him. Learn everything about him.
He catches my eyes as a woman leaves the tent behind him. She is pretty in a sort of scary way like Sarah Lyons. This is someone I would not wish to anger. I wonder if she is Charon's past. I realise I am jealous of this woman I do not know.
I smile widely as Charon and wave. Almost as if I claim him. She speaks but I am too far to hear. Suddenly I am pulled once more and I wait for what comes next.
June 24th 2076
Charon
I was created into this life as a slave. I have never been rewarded before but through some strand of luck I have managed to get, I have been promoted. I am a sergeant. I am now no longer a soldier within men. I am a leader and it brings me hope to be able to save my men's lives.
Upon my promotion I was criticised by one. He stated I was too young, too naive. I have been called many things but never naive. His name was Mark and I asked him to disarm me. That was 2 days ago. He is still in the hospital tent. I hope not to be feared but respect is something I wish to receive.
June 30th 2076
Charon:
I am talking to Cadet Harrison when I hear it again. That small little pop followed by a feminine squeal. I excuse myself and follow the sound. I find Miss Pepper Hair in a heap on the ground. A line across the snow indicates that this is not where she landed, this is where she slipped to. Which is only to be expected in shoes like that.
"Miss ?"
"Miss ?" She repeats with a laugh "that's cute."
She looks up to me and I help her to her feet. She clings onto my arms comfortably with no awkwardness that should be present between two strangers.
I wonder if we have met. If she is some part of my past I have been made to forget.
"Do I know you ?"
Anna
Have you ever looked up at the person you love and realised that they have no idea who you are. It is at this moment I realise how alone I am here in the past. Charon is in front of me but he is not the one I know. He speaks clearly with no gruffness. His voice is deep but young.
"Not really. Not yet" I chaste myself for such a stupid answer. I should have just said no.
Charon raises an eyebrow "I don't understand."
"I mean no. No you don't." Stupid, stupid.
It is now that I look at Charon I can see how unnerved he is. So would I if someone from my future made a fool of themselves in front of me.
"But you knew my name. Before. At the boxes."
"You're wearing dog tags." I praise myself for such a reasonable response.
"You said it like you knew me." Fuck. Charon why can't you just accept it but no he has to be all perceptive.
"Maybe I'm just friendly."
He smirks and looks at me quite frankly as if I am stupid. The look is so familiar, after many inexperienced post vault dweller lessons from him, I can't help but return a small smile.
"You keep disappearing."
"Maybe you're not looking."
Checkmate. I can tell Charon knows something is not right and I know by his facial expressions that I have about a minute before he shoots me out of a precaution. I have never been good at strategy but I can play a man at his game. This would never work on my Charon but knowing this is pre-war Charon, he must have pre-war ideals just as Burke does. Did.
So I play the dirtiest card I can.
"My head. I hit it. I feel faint."
Instantly his face changes to concern. I almost sigh. He treats me like a delicate ornament as he shows me to the medical tent. He thinks I am a pre-war woman so he treats me as such. Not knowing that I can keep up with him in a sparing session.
I have a brief idea of beating his younger self at one. If he is not as experienced maybe I can get him somehow. It would explain why he never let's me win in the present. Holding a grudge.
A man yells when we enter the tent. He looks up at Charon with fear. Charon doesn't even pass the man a glance. I snort, this is the Charon I know. I over hear two men in the corner discuss armour. T-51b and d. Power armour. It is brand new in this moment unlike the tattered sets I am accustomed to.
"My ! My ! Haven't seen any of your kind around."
The doctor to say it sweetly creeps me out. I stand closer to Charon who frowns at me. Crap, I forgot. He wouldn't care now who talks to me.
His statement brings the attention of the two men in the corner.
"Charon ? Who is this ?" A tall blond enquirers. I eye him up. If Charon answers he is his current contract holder.
"I do not know sir. I found her in the field."
Shit. Poor Charon. My hand twitches to reach my knife, I swear if this is one of the holders that treated him badly ill skin him. Charon looks at my hand cautiously I pretend to itch my hip and drop it. He's too observant. Which now works against me. I am nothing to him.
The blond glares at me apparently Charon's answer wasn't what he wanted to hear.
"What is your directive miss ?"
I think quickly "reviewing the armour. The T-51b is modified the government wants to find out how it is in the field."
Charon clenches suddenly and I realise I have said something wrong.
His contract holder follows suit.
"The review has already taken place by Andrew. Surely you would know that."
I almost panic but then I try to look as mournful as possible for this mysterious Andrew "well he didn't make it back."
The blond instantly smooths his features "what a shame he was a decent man."
No one questions a death in a war. I can hear my heart hammering in my chest. Any further wrong answers I give I'll be dead before I can fix them. The blond smiles sweetly and extends his hand.
"General Nale and who might you be ?"
I smile widely and accept the shake. Nale I've heard of him. He was one of the nicer of Charons contract holders, he always spoke of him with respect and kindness.
"Anna Brown sir."
"Charon make sure Anna is taken to suitable accommodation."
Charon nods. Any previous issues with my apparently fragile head has been forgotten for this order. I follow Charon out into the hated snow once more.
Charon
As soon as we are hidden within a tent I approach her. My gun is aimed towards her chest and almost instantly she has the knife I had seen before pressed by my neck. I quickly disarm her with a twist of her wrist but she wraps a leg around my thigh and brings me to the ground. 'Anna' reaches for my gun but I am too quick and have her pinned underneath me.
"You're a bit too well trained for an Armour Reviewer."
"I thought you were to take me to suitable accommodation."
"He never said safely."
I can see that there is fear in her eyes but more there is more than that. Even without training I know there is something she is hiding and until I know what it is it is a danger to my contract holder. I protect him at all costs."
"How do you know me ?"
She struggled against me "I told you I didn't."
"I don't believe you."
Her face is close to mine and her eyes widen.
"Tell me what you know !" I yell.
Tears appear. She is genuinely fearful.
"I know that you would never hurt me."
"That's a bit too hopeful."
Anna
As I look up at Charon I know how stupid I have been. I have acted like the girl in the present. Careless and stupid, always taking for granted that he will be there to protect me. There is no longer any joy or excitement of seeing the face above me, he would kill me easily so I must act the same.
I struggle against the tight hold.
"Fine. You would hurt me but you really shouldn't."
Charon raises an eyebrow like a cat looking upon a mouse.
"Why ?"
"Your employer wouldn't be very happy with you."
"How do you know about that ?" Rage seeps from Charon. I try to think of what I have said wrong. The contract. No one has told me about it yet now he will really think I'm here because of him now.
"The army employed you. They hired me too."
I try to look at him to belittle him, make the answer seem so obvious it was just a coincidence. I peer down at his uniform, which in fact looks very very good on him but seeing as he has a gun in my face this isn't the time or place for such thoughts.
I sigh "I am not here to hurt anyone."
I say it with such sincerity that I see Charon retreat, ever so slightly. My other stroke of luck comes with the ruffle of the tent door.
"Sharon ? Why are you straddling this woman ?"
Sharon ? I almost laugh. He hates that. It's cha-ron. Azrukhal called him Sharon just to have that one up upon him, no wonder he was shot in the head.
Both Charon and I look towards the fierce looking woman I had seen previously.
"Mrs Nale" Charon addresses "I was interrogating her."
I take this distracted moment to pull against Charons weight and toss him off of me and get to my feet.
"Which really turned into training" I laugh "you know how men can be."
To my surprise she grins "egos."
"Anna Brown" I lift my hand which she shakes.
"Mrs Nale. You may call me Ma'am."
Charon still confused on the floor, bless him, gets up quickly with a deadly glance.
"Ma'am we are not sure of her directive. She could still be a red for all we know."
"Sharon. Anyone that speaks with a D.C accent and can toss someone practically double her size off her is clearly army trained."
I just nod with a small smile. I hadn't realised I spoke with an accent. I didn't think the wasteland had such things before. I must have picked up something in the vault. I blame Butch.
Charon doesn't argue but stands intimidatingly.
"However Sharon I am here to tell you that my husband needs you."
"I will go."
"Certainly." She smiles with such power I can't help but be impressed. She leaves like a queen with her head held high and a deadly silence follows. Charon doesn't move.
"Doesn't someone need you ?"
He furiously stands in front of me and pushes me roughly.
"I still don't trust you."
"I still don't care."
It's a petty response. The only one I can come up with without revealing anything more. I genuinely do care. It hurts to see him look at me with such hatred.
He storms out of the tent and I don't even have time to feel sorry for myself as I am pulled away once more into he darkness.
