Going over the events of the last 24 hours in her head, Alexei tried to make sense of the whole thing. In a single day, she had met two new friends in the form of the two soldiers placed in her team, she had found the majority of the eastern chapter of the Brotherhood dead and mourned the loss of a good friend and she had thankfully managed to retrieve one of her most prized possessions, her wedding rings.
She had been careful not to let Jess see, but when she had been first given the quarters after she was promoted to the rank of Paladin, she had locked the rings away in the lockbox and locked that away in the locker. She had just properly started her relationship with Danse at that point but when ever she would act intimate around Danse, she could feel Nate's ring burning a hole into her neck as it hung alongside her Brotherhood tags. The idea had worked for a while, she managed to help her relationship flourish, but after seeing Kells and remembering her late husband, she also remembered where she had left the rings. She looked down at the platinum bands in her hand and closed her eyes, remembering back to her wedding day.
While Coles was her maiden name, she could still remember the notice outside the chapel that day.
/Welcome to the wedding of Alexei Coles and Nathan Porter/
She could remember standing in front of the mirror in her changing room, her flowing white gown acting stubborn and deciding not to cooperate with her. In a fit of anger, she gave up and sank into the nearby chair. The sweet familiar scent of her mother's preferred perfume still familiar to her nostrils, came to mind as she remembered the pep talk she received off her mother before she joined her father by the back door. She could remember the way her fathers glasses hung on the tip of his nose and how he had grown a small bit taller as he looked at his daughter in all her glowing radiance. Those were her fathers words. Her mother always called him the hapless romantic.
The door swung open and the wedding march began to play. She could remember the faces as she walked. Her sister Florence, her cousins, aunts and uncles, even Nate's family, but something seemed off. Everything was exactly the same except for one important detail. Nate was no where to be seen. Who stood in his place however was taller, had broader shoulders and his brunette locks combatted the blonde ones she was expecting to see. Upon further investigation, she noticed that it was Danse. She had been imagining marrying Danse. Shaking herself from her dream, she felt momentarily guilty. Guilty that it seemed that her mind had already forgotten Nate and the precious five years that they had spent together as husband and wife. As she did have ironclad feelings for Danse and she loved him dearly, she also felt that since Nate was taken from her so viciously, that it was a mortal scar on her heart that may never heal. She decided that when she gets back to the Commonwealth, she'd visit Nate's grave and she'd bring Shaun along with her. He may not be the guys flesh and blood, but Shaun truly believed that Nate was his father and she knew he'd appreciate the gesture.
They were still aboard the Vertibird, almost at their destination. Slipping the rings back into her jacket pocket, she went and replaced the cold, wet rag that lay on Jess' forehead. They needed something to cool her down as she had developed a harsh fever while her body, along with the anti-venom, tried to work off the scorpion venom. Looking down at Mullins, who was still fast asleep, she could see that his hand was intertwined in Jess', trying to show the Knight that she could depend on him. Leaving them alone, she went and sat beside Newark and the two had a friendly chat about all the things that Alexei had done while she headed the campaign against the Institute. Newark then explained to her that she, in fact had a daughter back in the Citadel. Her husband who watched her primarily as Newark herself usually was forced to go on troop transport or supply runs, would protect her until his dying breath. Having heard about Alexei's exploits and the destruction of the Institute, she feared how she could have done it. How she could have possibly not even harm, but to actually go kill her own son, describing it as a harrowing experience, despite the Institute's crimes.
Finally, the Citadel came into view and Alexei just felt relieved to be soon back inside safe borders. The radio came to life, the soldier on the other side seeking authorisation. Newark gave her landing codes and Alexei gave her designation. After that was all cleared and the Vertibird was granted landing permission, Alexei also informed them that Reddington had been wounded and was in need of medical aid. As the aircraft kissed the tarmac, the door was pulled open and Jess was safely taken off and placed on a stretcher. As she was carted off to the Infirmary, Alexei was informed that High Elder Maxson wished to speak to her over the mission details. She told Mullins to head to the infirmary as he should also be checked out by a doctor. She also said so that he could check up on Jess, adding the last part with a small mischievous smirk. He went wide eyed and mumbled something inaudible. As he ran off in the direction of the Infirmary, Alexei once again handed her rifle into the armoury so that it could be cleaned and repaired and then continued on in the direction of the grand oak doors to which she proceeded to stand before at attention.
The doors opened and Alexei once again walked in. This time the brazier was already lit and she could already see the High Elder standing before it, heating his hands over the roaring flame. As she walked closer, she could see him properly. He was pained, which was obvious from his slumped shoulders and the slight hunch in his back. Not bothering to turn and face her, now he merely was talking to her, not as High Elder but as a grandfather, stricken with confirmed news over an issue that he probably already knew. He was mourning Arthur.
"I take it since it was only you and your team that returned, our fears have been confirmed. The rest of the eastern chapter has indeed been killed. Alongside my grandson." He asked.
"Affirmative, sir. I can confirm that the Prydwen along with all souls aboard have in fact been killed in action. I cleared the Archive and severed the connection to the Codex along with it's connection to the Brotherhood's central intelligence server. The Prydwen was destroyed, twisted and became a mass grave for our fallen brothers and sisters. I do have something though, sir." Alexei said as she pulled Arthur's coat out of her pack. The High Elder seemed to accept the gift wholeheartedly, the silence telling her, only a fraction of just how appreciative he was of the gesture.
"It was the least I could do for a dear friend." She told him. He placed the coat down on a table beside him and turned towards the brazier again.
"It was here in front of the fire that Arthur made the Steel Pact. He pledged before me, his brothers and sisters that he'd protect them and lead them into the future as Elder of the Eastern Chapter. I was proud of his rapid growth through the ranks and I thought that he'd be the one to take my place as High Elder. Now though we face a threat that has grown from one man's selfish desire for power and how he seems to be partners with a sociopathic mailman." He said.
"Do you have a mission for me then sir?" Alexei asked.
"In due time Sentinel, but I have a question for you first. How do you feel about the Brotherhood?"
The question caught her off guard but she answered after a second.
"I believe in the Brotherhood and it's beliefs. I also believe that the Brotherhood may gain more followers if we were to impose slightly less bigoted ideals. From what I could see, people believe that we think that we're better than everyone else and that is why we hoard our technology, and don't accept that many outsiders as members. I lost a lot of friends when the Prydwen went down, so I want to return to Turner and take justice for everyone he's killed." She said, beginning to get angry.
"I believe that every good leader should believe in their groups beliefs but still have an opinion of their own. The surviving Elders have convened and they have decided upon a new Elder for the Eastern Chapter." The High Elder added.
"Sir, If you don't mind, who is it?" Alexei asked.
"You. He said; I was going to ask you to take the Pact before you return to the Commonwealth." He said. Alexei couldn't believe it. The Elders had elected her to be the one to replace Arthur. Trying to form a question, she stood there, puzzled.
"As Arthur told you already, You're currently the highest ranking member of the remaining Eastern Chapter, the troops follow you and adore you and you're the only one who the Council can trust to lead the East Chapter into the future." He told her. She thought about it but knew her answer already.
"I graciously accept the position, the responsibility and the title. I remember telling Arthur that I was coming for his position, but I hadn't planned on it being so soon." Alexei said, smiling.
"Great, now we will reconvene here tomorrow morning and you can take the Pact in front of your Brothers and Sisters." He said.
Alexei gave him an honest, respectful salute. "I shall see you tomorrow then, High Elder. I wish you a good night." She said.
Returning the salute, the High Elder stopped her. "I hear you and your team had a rough departure from the Mojave. How is Knight Reddington doing?" He asked her.
"I was just about to head over and check. We administered a shot of anti-venom and cleaned the wound using spirits and gauze. It was crude, but surprisingly effective. I was worried." She replied. As Alexei turned to leave, she was stopped by another of the High Elders messages.
"That's good as I'm sending them with you to the Commonwealth. You'll need the numbers."