By many regards, Doctor Michelle Simmons was a genius. A brilliant chemist and partial mad scientist, she had gotten medical training off her father who had been a travelling doctor for years. After being kidnapped and sold into the slave trade, she had been forced to create insane chems that would deliver an almighty high, but would almost certainly kill any normal person. After Alexei had saved her, she decided to help right the wrong that she technically contributed to and became the resident doctor for the minutemen, running the infirmary at the castle. Shortly after, she began teaching willing civilians basic medical training so that they could help injured settlers or soldiers seeking aid.
Putting her skills to good use, she was the co-creator of a medicinal wonder drug. Along with Curie, who started her own clinic in Goodneighbour, they created a painkiller. They named it Ache-Away and it proved to be a massive success. Now though, Dr. Simmons was in her Castle infirmary, tending to the swollen and injured leg of one, Jess Reddington.
Pulling a needle and syringe from the tray on her left, Dr. Simmons proceeded to extract a sample of blood from around the injured infection on Jess' leg. She took the sample to see if the infection was indeed clearing and also hoping that Jess' body had started to create anti-bodies against the poison. She was trying to make better and improved samples of anti-venom, but needed the biological data. As Jess was aching in pain on the bed alongside her, Alexei was being checked out by Simmons' apprentice, to see if she had sustained any stress or strain based injuries.
"Would you stop moaning, Jess! It's only to see if you're getting any better!" Mullins exclaimed from the doorway. Jess turned and stared at Mullins with mock insult.
"Well Drake, how about I go and get a scorpion the size of a goddamn yao-guai to stab you in the calf. See if you're all high and mighty then." Jess shouted, ending with another deep grunt in pain.
"You'd be surprised just how much people hate getting injected or syringed. You know those bandits that used to be screaming about showering in the blood of their enemies? They'd become giant spluttering babies when I'd pull the needles out. Even when it was in order to save their bloody lives." Michelle told them, earning a laugh from Alexei.
"Please General, stop moving." The apprentice said as she attempted to count her pulse along to the quiet whirring of the Wakemaster alarm clock that rested beside Doctor Simmons' terminal.
"When are you going to tell them about the Elder, Ma'am?" Jess asked through her teeth.
"Soon, I hope. I will go and see whose assembled outside first." Alexei said, hopping off the table as she was cleared medically. Shaking the gathering dirt off her coat, she clipped up the buttons and proceeded outside. The courtyard was beginning to get crowded as Brotherhood Knights and Scribes started filling in among the already abundant Minutemen forces. Soon though, Alexei spotted familiar faces walking into the courtyard. It was Rys, Haylin and Ingram. Walking over, Alexei was happy to see the other two members of recon team Gladius. While Haylin showed some small bit of respect before Alexei, Rys acted all proper, addressing the Sentinel, with proper decorum and stood, saluting her.
"Hello ma'am. Again I'm deeply sorry for being so rude to you back when you first showed up at the police station. You have shown me as well as everyone else that you are a capable and extraordinary soldier." Rys said, his head bowed in both respect to her as well as shame for his previous actions.
"It's alright Rys. I told you already that I accept your apology. Hold your head up high, Soldier. You did good in the battle against the Institute." Alexei replied. As Rys continued walking into the courtyard, Haylin came over to talk.
"Hello there Alexei. How's things. I trust that things are all well with our mutual friend?" She asked. Deciding not to answer the question vocally, Alexei gave a nod, the scribe being smart enough to understand her meaning. Following off after Rys, that then left Alexei and Ingram.
"Well, how's the dig going, Proctor?" Alexei asked.
"Again as I told you already, the level of sophistication with that tech is way beyond what I thought possible. Who knows? If the Institute decided to use their brains for good, maybe they would have done so much better. They were creating synthetic animals, synthetic food, all sorts of improvements. But they decided to use shadow tactics, replace our loved ones with cold, hard robotics and they got just what they deserved." Ingram said. "Actually, any word back from Arthur and the Prydwen yet?"
Alexei hadn't the heart to tell her the truth yet, so she gave a shrug of her shoulders and dismissed the question. Gesturing for Ingram to continue walking in, She asked a minuteman soldier beside her to make sure all personnel were present and accounted for. She then proceeded to walk up onto the wall of the castle, where Sturges and Shaun had set up an improvised PA system.
As the feedback rang into the air, Alexei cleared her throat and began to speak to the crowd.
"Hello, my dear friends. As you all know, the Prydwen sailed West to New Vegas three weeks ago. She sailed with over 2000 souls aboard, all being close friends or family members to most of you all. Well it is with a heavy heart that I tell you that there has been a terrible tragedy. Due to unprovoked aggression from our new enemy, the eastern chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel has been destroyed. Elder Arthur Maxson, along with the Prydwen and all other souls aboard are dead."
The crowd broke down into a mad series of anger, tears, pain and confusion.
"You may wish to know how I know this. Well three days ago, Knight-Captain Mullins came to me, saying that the High Elder wished to speak with me. He told me about some troubling news. He had gotten reports that the Prydwen had been shot down using the Archimedes II space laser. Elder McNamara of the western chapter had originally tried to acquire the technology for the Brotherhood, but a Mojave courier by the name of William Turner managed to get it first. He used it to kill our family. Our friends. Our loved ones and the ones we hold dear. After I reported back, I found out that the remaining Elders voted me in as the next Elder for this chapter and in respect to Elder Maxson, I accepted the position." Alexei explained.
"That's bullshit!" Someone shouted as he fought his way to the front of the gathered crowd. Alexei noticed him as part of Arthur's old team, Team Sovereign. A paladin Du Foe if she remembered correctly.
"Ever since that synthetic bastard Danse brought you to us, everything's changed. You became Elder Maxson's favourite. You got to storm the institute. You probably organised to have the Elder killed, just so you could seize power. You are a cold, traitorous Bitch and I will put you down where you stand!" He said as he grabbed his rifle off his back. Again, not looking to entice unnecessary violence, Alexei stood there, stoic and emotionless. She had decided that she would only resume leadership, if the troops agreed. If one of them wanted her lead to end violently, so be it.
"Well? Anything to say before I put you down?" He said, aiming for her head. What happened next, surprised her. Rys walked up to Du Foe and disarmed him, finally bringing the butt of the Rifle down across his face. He crumpled to the floor, clutching the side of his face.
"What the hell! You've just committed insubordination you little bastard. I'll have you kicked out faster then you can say 'Well damn'!" He shouted.
Nodding to Mullins, Alexei stared at Rys. She was honoured that he stood up for her. When they had first met, neither of them liked each-other. They only ever talked when it was under order from Danse or when they'd throw insults at each-other when he was out on patrol. Now though, she respected him that much more. She'd have to talk to him later. Her attention going back to Mullins, she watched as he carted Du Foe off to the Cells built underneath the Castle. Again she addressed the audience.
"While I understood that there would be some turmoil over my new position, I will only continue as your Elder if you believe in me. If you don't want me to lead you, I will head back to D.C and ask the High Elder to give someone else the position."
There was a heavy silence for about a minute. Looking around, Alexei could see the different soldiers looking her over, studying her. Looking around the Castle, she could see the minutemen looking on her now as well. Suddenly every hand went up and came down across the chests of everyone in the crowd. In unison, everyone shouted
"AD VICTORIUM MA'AM! We'll follow you!"
Alexei felt ecstatic. She felt proud to have these soldiers serve under her. Deciding to repay the respect she was being shown, her hand went up, coming down on her chest.
"Ad Victorium! Brotherhood. May Steel guide and protect us. Now go to the canteen and get fed. I'll have orders for you tomorrow morning." She said. Everyone cheered and headed for the canteen, arms draped on shoulders and laughing loudly.
Alexei left the stage and went down onto the courtyard. Calling over Rys, she was surprised on how fast he had shown up. He stood before her, saluting.
"Can I help you, Elder Coles?" He asked. Alexei put her hands on his shoulders, the contact slightly catching him off guard.
"I just wanted to thank you for saving me earlier. You're quite proficient at hand-to-hand combat. Do you ever think you'd be up to being a combat trainer?" She replied. Staring back at her, he said;
"I'll do whatever role you wish of me to fulfil."
"That's ok. Thank you again. Now go and have some fun. Enjoy yourself"
Saluting, he walked off and went into the canteen. Alexei though, feeling the exhaustion from the past few days, pivoted on her heels and headed for her quarters. She was surprised to see Mullins and a limping Jess, stationed outside.
"What are you two doing here? I'm pretty sure I ordered for people to enjoy themselves." Alexei said, earning a stare from Jess.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but someone did try to kill you about 15 minutes ago. We're not going taking any chances." Jess said, leaning against the wall.
"That's ok, but you can barely stand and Mullins' half asleep." She said, as Mullins left out a deep yawn. "I was able to protect myself before. I can do it again for one night. Now you go the Infirmary and you head for the barracks and get some sleep. And that's an order."
The two soldiers nodded and walked off. Alexei walked into her room and shut the door behind her. Taking her coat off, she hung it up on the stand beside her. Removing her officers uniform, she put on a pair of light trousers and an off-white tank top. She sat down on an armchair and stared at the fire dancing in the fire pit that she had installed recently. Suddenly she heard a soft sizzle and a softening whirr as though a machine was powering down. Grabbing her combat knife, she got up. Suddenly her knife was thrown from her grip and she was embraced deeply. It took her a minute to register who it was but once she heard his deep once and smelled his regular musk of sweat and gunpowder, She knew it was Danse.
"Oh god, I missed you!" He claimed, but still quiet enough that he wouldn't raise attention. Returning the hug, she claimed
"I missed you too Danse. I really missed you."
"Anything new happen while you were away?" Danse asked her.
Alexei felt horrible that she had to tell him that his family was dead, but knew that it would hurt him more if she didn't.
"There is, but I have something important to tell you first."
" and what's that" he asked, finally breaking away from the embrace.
"I'm afraid that Arthur is dead."