Cambridge
We arrived at Lexington when it was already getting dark, after checking Concord and scared off some raiders trying to return to the town. There are a team had set up shop in the old Corvega factory, even tried to make the machinery work. I can say there is no better ally than the two minutemen heavy and the sentries on high ground. Me and Johnny scouted College Square and saw people shooting at supermutants, then setting them on fire.
This should be the brotherhood team I heard about, at the police station. One guy in power armor approaches, rifle out and ready "Halt citizens, what are you doing here? "
"We are patrolling the way. Who are you ?"
"I'm the one making questions here" I can feel this night being colder than usual
"We are the Commonwealth minutemen, an unidentified airship has been seen and we are making sure it's all alright, again , who are you ?"
"Very well. I am Paladin Danse, and you have the honor to see the Prydwen in its full glory. I had the pleasure to meet your general and colleagues once, send him my regards"
Prydwen, some old story about a kind and some table... I sarcastically intervene "Prydwen ? Then the king of ship is named Arthur ?" He ... straightens ?
"Actually ... our leader is called Arthur. Elder Arthur Maxson, commander of the East coast brotherhood of steel and descendant of our founder, Roger Maxson"
"So what's happening ? You here trying to take the Commonwealth ?" He frowns and I can feel eyes on me
"Citizen, our mission is to secure the Commonwealth and eliminate any threat. Inside the station there is the rest of my squad, Haylen and Rhys"
"What kind of threat ?" Simon asks
"We were sent here after my team found something, something worrying. We are here to eliminate abominations, mutants, raiders, ghouls and most importantly, synths" If this doesn't sound like an invasion...
"Mister Danse, I must talk with my officer about this"
"Very well" He resumes his guard, I lead my mates away and as we move I whisper if we could tell the general about their plans and kill them then, not easily as seen by their gear
"No you let me handle it. John, the radio"
And then he briefly explains it, getting the order to know more and telling to have a talk with the Paladin
"Hello ? Paladin Danse ?"
"The minutemen's general ? It's an honor"
"Likewise Paladin, I need more information on what's going on. Is that your airship ?"
"Correct, it's the Prydwen, and we are here to secure the Massachussets Commonwealth"
"How so Paladin? I haven't received any news or word. Hope you ain't been working behind me"
"Negative, our causes are similar in nature"
At this point I see the door opening a little and someone peeking out, coming in full view with an orange jumpsuit and laser rifle "Is everything OK here ? Just say the work, Paladin"
"I am sorry general, we must resume this discussion another time"
"Alright. Don't you forget your duty, out" He closes the communication and the bald guy in orange looks at us
"What are you doing in the brotherhood's territory ? Who are you ?" This arrogant fuck looks ready to shoot
"Rhys, these are the minutemen, the were on patrol. Orders I guess"
"With all due respect Paladin, we should confirm they don't have any forbidden item"
"No Knight, they are good to go"
"Our rules must be respected. Maybe from where you come from, but here we don't tolerate any organisation forcing their rules here, much less from outside" I say. He snorts and levels his rifle, prompting me to do the same "We are doing you wasters a favor. Follow the rules or we will retaliate"
"Fuck you" Just as I say it, a figure with a red uniform and brown field kit with goggles comes out, holding a laser pistol and getting besides her buddy. What's with all these damn lasers ?
"Scribe, search them. If -"
"Knight you stand DOWN ! I say we let them pass, don't disobey a direct order from a superior !" Ha he looks like a spoiled brat scolded by his parents
"There is no need for violence, you - he points me - shut up"
"I am sorry for the inconvenience, ehm ..."
"Captain"
"He is a good soldier but sometimes ..."
"Same for us , must keep 'em in line. You would make a fine officer mister Danse, have a goodnight"
"Same to you , captain"
Piece of shit, listen to your master you lapdog. Keep glaring and I'm fucking shooting you. I'm taken by an arm and led away, feeling the cold night air, I hope it won't rain. Under the old bridge -
"Will you ever shut up and let me talk ?!"
"Have you seen them ? Power armor and lasers, if they are invading and they're all the same we better cut them off"
"You have no authority. Follow what I say or get out. Now we find a place to sleep. We already have this report and tomorrow first thing, to Diamond City"
"Cap, I kinda agree. What if they are an invading force ? We still have a hard time against the remaining gunners and can't afford another threat"
"Enough. The general will know what to do"
After all this encounter and report, we head to the old drive in and get some beds. At least we won't be walking all night having met those brotherhood people. We had a quick meal and small chat about what these guys will do in the future, and during the years I took the habit of the occasional drink, downing a glass of hard liquor. And that aircraft, fuck who knows how many are there...
I'm shook awake around dawn, getting ready and seeing that damn flying balloon bigger, getting closer with all it's light and vertibirds. Simon said we better let the people of DC and the rest know about this. Johnny has the same idea, we don't know who these guys are. I've seen, met and known different groups with their members trying to get by and well, you can't really trust anyone around
Arriving at DC , sun's up but it's cold, and we let the captain question people and talking to the guards. Inside the gates, I see a woman talking to a girl who yells about a newspaper. It's not the first time I heard these two during the years, these crazy ideas about the Institute could be true... but still didn't talk much to them. I listened different times them talking about the mayor, once more couldn't hurt right ?
"Hey ! Do you read the news ?"
"Uhh me ?"
"Yep, who else dummy !" This brat hasn't changed much since...
"Nat ! Not so rude !"
"Sorry sis -" She shuts her up and settles between me and the girl "What she meant was if you read our newspaper, the Publick. A newspaper someone wants to shut down ain't it right mayor ?!"
"Sis -"
"Not now Nat, go print some more of this or check the printer"
"But P -"
"Nat !"
"Alright, geez" She leaves, shoulders slumped and deflated, guess she doesn't follow orders that much
"Sorry... hey I'm Piper -she extends a hand - ever heard of the Publick ? Who are you ?"
I shake it with a grin, already expecting what's going to happen "Ulysses, and I heard some rumors, but you would not like to ... disappeare yeah ?"
She laughs, getting the hint "You're not from around here huh ? I know the Institute does it - she clears her throat - right mayor Mcdonough ?!"
"Calm down, you should keep a low profile damn, and what is this Institute ? I mean, everyone has heard about it but it's just rumors"
I can see a grin forming on her face "Well come inside, I'll tell you all I know"
"Right. Better them not hear you"
"Hah some people can't handle the truth" She closes the door of the two floors house, or shack. Various papers, food, a card and ... lots of bubblegum. Well can't say she is wrong after all, gummy and sweet stuff, but I prefer real food, as my 'collection' confirms
"So, the Commonwealth bogeyman. Sit there will you ?" I sit and look around. Nothing fancy or over the top but good enough to live
"Ever heard of people disappearing or not being themselves ?"
Unknown location
The man watching the monitors had notified his superior about the noisy reporter, and this time looks like a surface dweller didn't call her crazy and agreed to talk, another time. This is but a minor nuisance but still, nothing should be left to the case. Much activity around Fort Hagen, looks like groups of people come and go and they have ... peculiar outfits
Battles between them and scavengers, the mercenaries and those minutemen were recorded, no trace of their most hated enemies
His superior, the mind, summoned the ever successful agent and asked about the situation "What have you got for me ?"
"Different reports sir, an unit was injured while travelling to our mutual friends, there have been changes on the surface and an aircraft has been spotted. Those savages and our ... employees have been badly damaged but can still hold the line, the minutemen have weak points"
"What about our friends first and then our main enemy ?" The man, though old , is satisfied by this and worried
"Our friends have accepted the offer and gave us more data and weapons, armor and networks. While our enemy, we dispatched two of their agents, however, we lost a Courser unit and gen 1. Oh and someone has tried to access our networks, multiple signals confirm locations on the west coast and the Capital"
"Who was it ?"
"Multiple signals come from the west coast but we can't confirm who, minus it's from a former associate of ours"
This is quite surprising, someone besides the old world remnants and a former associate ?
"Very well. What about our ... ancient enemy ?"
"Their situation is most similar to ours, satellites confirm a destroyed wasteland. We intercepted signs of an old stronghold nuclear activity and troops movement coming from old strongholds, called the Empire. An old mountain has quite the activity"
"Do we have allies or remnants there ?"
"Hiding possibly. The dwellers and the main force have everything, activities of bandits and resistance have also been reported in much concentration around the desert. Very big, irradiated and hard to traverse, the use cavalry looks like. As for Europe, many of the most influential groups have united in one, spanning most of the continent. Medium resistance is present, scientifical prowess is quite progressive"
"That's ... troubling. Will plan to check the coast. Not soon, maybe in years, but we shall be ready. We shall reconnect and enact our plan, purified and redefined. Good work as always unit, you choose an improvement as incentive"
"Thank you sir, you may notify the divisions. It shall be done, director"
Diamond City
..."And that's who kidnaps people" Shit I forgot I came here with someone too. It's been an hour or more now "Hey I forgot that I have company, don't take it personally. I think they are looking for me. Hey next time, I'll tell something you would like to know, big news"
And maybe I get away for sometime and return 'home' "Aww come on ! That ain't fair !"
"I got to do today, next time I will answer to any question ok ?"
With a last pout from her I leave the shack and sitting on the stairs, is Johnny "Where were you ?"
"Something wrong ?"
"Nah man just looking for you, not many people around I know. Captain's still busy around, wanna go to a bar ?"
"I don't think there are many people around, I could use some chat. I know some chick here who can help with ... 'loneliness'"
"Gotta check my caps then, you up ?" He adjust the radio to check his backpack
"Of course I'm in, if she sees me you would not need to pay even. What about the captain ?"
"I just tell the guards man, no problem. Been a week I didn't fuck. Where to ?"
"Uhh that bar on the catwalks, she is always there getting drunk and fucking the bartender. Maybe she hasn't been touched yet heh"
"Alright then, better than sitting here. So, you already know this chick ?"
"Yup, fucked here twice, alone and with a friend ... listen let's just make it quick"
I really question myself ... should I really fuck with any humanoid who throws herself at me ? Yes and no ? I can remember some fuckers having a thing for ghouls too. Probably dead now. While we ascend the stairs , Simon is stepping down them
"Aww man really ?"
"What is Johnny ?" He replies
"Nothing cap, just some thoughts"
"Alright you two, let's return to the general, we know who that thing is now. Let's move"
Outside we see the sky graying up, thick clouds and slightly windy "Looks like it's going to rain" I say
"Not yet, if we move fast enough we can make it to Starlight or Cambridge"
We arrived twety mins later at Starlight, found a place to stay until it stops and communicate of our stop. Fucking brotherhood ...better not start shit around here. It starts to rain, very light and with big droplets, one splashing me in the fucking eye of course. At least it's not a radstorm. It will last a long time , since it's been weeks of sun and cold days but here there is plenty to drink and people to chat with
I peeked outside after an hour of talking and saw white. On the ground and falling too ? Snow. SNOW. Not much but it's like normal rain
"Mom it's raining weird now !" I hear a child say. Eh it's good to not know ...
"What should we do now ?"
"Wait for it stop and walk"
"Can't you radio in ? I got some things to check too"
"Tell the general about this. Johnny, pass the radio"
I get out from one of the shacks but stay under a roof. Like rain and radstorms, saw could be irradiated too, cold and wet and I sit on a stool watching it falling like some people do. Until I decide to make a run for the diner and eat something
"Hello there, what would it be ?"
"What do you have for a snack ?"
"Got some chips, cola and sweets"
"Do you have any sweetrolls ? I'll take one and a purified water"
He hands me the food "17 caps"
As I sit and turn to watch the sky, I see a child sitting on my left looking at me "Hello !"
"Hi mister" I sip some water and get roll, feeling eyes on me, and look at the child
"Something wrong ?"
"Can I have some of that sweet ?" That explains it ... I see a woman looking, maybe his mother. I tear off a piece and it eating mine too
"Can I have more mister ?"
"Last one ok ?"
"Sure !" When I finish my reduced roll, the woman gets closer
"Is he troubling you ?"
"No no it's alright"
"Come on boy, don't bother people now"
"But ma I'm hungry ! And cold ! The stupid rain is weird !" Eeh haha, snow. Look at me laugh like an addict
"How old are you ? Ever seen snow ?"
The mother replies "He's five, I'm 23. His name is Marcus and I'm Elena by the way"
"You can call me Ulysses. Where are you from ?"
"We were from a settlement an hour north of here but we were attacked by raiders and we wandered since ... well until we got here. And you ? Your friend looks like a minutemen so I assume you are too ?"
I feel my arm being gripped "Really ?! Are you with the heroes ?!" HA A HERO ! Never being called that, well maybe twice
"Yes, we were checking things. Have you seen that aircraft ?"
"Of course, I hope it's nothing bad ..."
"Mom they will shoot every baddy and save everyone ! Have you shot people, mister ?!"
She grips his shoulder and glares, really really hard "Hush ! That's not nice to ask" Unless you really want to ... "No miss it's ok, I don't think you want to know, too young for it" I see her eying my knife
"Do you have any weapon ?" I ask
"I have a switchblade and -"
"Can I have it ?! I wanna kill baddies and be a hero !"
Being casual I say "Nah kid, you wouldn't like to kill with one unless you have to. Unless you have lots of bullets and a big gun" I wink. Oh if glares could kill. I would make good use of it
"So, would you like to be with 'the heroes' ?"
"Yes !"
"Why ?"
"So I can protect me mom and help people and shoot monsters !" What's the saying ? It's beautiful until it happens ?
"The first two are good points. You know what, in ten years or more you would be a good add, but now be good and listen" I can see happiness, not a usual thing in the world now. We go by with what we have, something thankful and caring and some not, but children ? Different mentality
I hear someone calling me "Come here, we got something !" A quick see you soon and I enter in the wooden shack, caravaners and settlers staying covered and watching
"The general will pass by when the snow stops. After that I will return with you for updates"
"Where are we going ? Should we scout more and do something ?"
"That's why we are going to the Castle. There will be other captains and officers, we will analyse the situation and make a good plan" The Castle, the main headquarters of the minutemen, along with major bases and locations. This is going to be a long walk ...