The royal blue water flowing out from the purifier stood out harshly amongst the brown and gray wasteland. The blueprints laid out by her father and his team were built upon in the twelve years since Shiloh activated the purifier. Guarded heavily by soldiers in power armor, the Jefferson Memorial became another Brotherhood stronghold along with Galaxy Plaza and the Citadel. The soldiers didn't pay her much attention, and those who did only nodded somberly. They seemed to know what this place meant to her.

Slowly, she approached the gift shop entrance, now upgraded to a proper entrance rather than just a rickety door. She didn't realize her hands were shaking until she reached to turn the knob. The air was humid inside, a strange feeling compared to how dry it was outside. Before she could head to the main chamber and avoid the scientists bustling about entirely, she was stopped by Madison Li.

Shiloh cringed a little, feeling uncomfortable enough. She wasn't prepared for all her demons to be laid bare in her first visit here since she passed out with Sarah, "Doctor Li."

"Shiloh," the older woman nodded, "I heard you were visiting. I cleared out the area temporarily for you. It's hard enough being in there without strangers staring at you."

Shiloh swallowed, "Thank you." Doctor Li led the way inside and Shiloh closed the door behind them. In their silence, only the rumble of the purifier could be heard. Slowly, she climbed the steps. The glass that separated her from her dying father was gone, but the steel floor he died on remained. This was her first time standing here in twelve years, counting the missing nine. She could hear her father's voice echoing off the walls, Run.

Shiloh took a shaky breath, looking up at the statue of Thomas Jefferson. His features were touched by nothing but the clear water surrounding him. Behind her, Doctor Li silently watched. Shiloh knew this place haunted her just as much.

Hesitantly, she reached up and touched the glass, taking a breath that sounded loud in the silence, "I miss him."

"Do you hate him sometimes?"

Shiloh was surprised at the question, but answered truthfully. If she lied, Doctor Li would know, "I used to. Back when I was stumbling around the wasteland with a greaser and smoking too much. Everyone called me a hero and I just wanted to crawl back into that vault and return to being a normal dweller."

"What changed?"

She took a moment to answer. She couldn't lie to Doctor Li, but she knew the woman's hatred for the Brotherhood. Instead of providing details, she replied, "The wasteland grew on me. I learned to thrive rather than just survive."

"And you found your place with the Brotherhood." Shiloh should have known better than to hold anything back from the older woman.

Walking back down the steps, she approached Doctor Li, "Yes."

"Listen," Doctor Li looked beyond her years from stress, "I'm not here to tell you what you should or shouldn't feel about these people. You're an adult. But I won't pretend Maxson isn't holding me hostage here. Project Purity isn't my baby anymore. I don't belong here with these people. And I'm going to keep raising hell about it as long as I have a voice."

Turning back to look at the purifier, Shiloh remembered how her father admired Doctor Li. Even after 20 years, he still cared for her like a partner and a friend. He wouldn't have wanted this for her. Holding her ground, Shiloh turned back to face Doctor Li, "I'm going to free you from the Brotherhood."

Doctor Li crossed her arms, exasperated, "Just because you're Maxson's girlfriend doesn't mean he's going to change policy for you."

Shiloh tried to ignore her blush, "I'm not his girlfriend. And I'm not going to ask him to change policy. I'm going to find him someone to replace you."

Doctor Li looked slightly amused, "Good luck finding someone good enough on your search."

"I'll need it," Shiloh returned the smile, "but I will get you out of here. I promise."

"I suppose I ought to thank you, but I'll save it for when you keep that promise."

-0-

Once back outside and away from Doctor Li, Shiloh walked until she reached an area less heavily guarded. She slipped her pack off her shoulders and slid down against the wall. Her breathing grew erratic and her eyes stung, overwhelmed at seeing the place where her father died. She didn't know what the Enclave ever did with his body. She didn't want to know. It's not like her mother's body likely got better treatment. The wasteland couldn't provide things like proper burials when it only meant attracting rabid animals. Biting her knuckles, Shiloh brought her knees to her chest, hugging herself.

She stayed here, listening to the flowing of the purifier's waters through the large storm drains. She looked up when she heard a guard's voice.

"You can't stay here. This is Brotherhood property. Move along." Shiloh stood, peering around the corner to see a group of dirty and barely dressed individuals being chastised by a soldier in power armor.

"Please, we can't keep going. Our friend is hurt." Shiloh made her move when she approached and recognized the clothing they were wearing.

"Knight," her voice caught the guard's attention, "they're runaway slaves. Let me deal with them."

The knight looked unsure, looking between Shiloh and the slaves, "Of course, Sentinel." He left the immediate vicinity, but she could feel him watching from a ways away.

She knelt down by the injured slave, ignoring him when he tried to flinch away, "Either you let me use a stimpak or you lose this leg. This cut looks deep." The slave relented, but didn't speak to her. The apparent leader of the group watched as Shiloh cleaned the wound with her own supplies.

"We don't mean to trespass. We were on our way to Rivet City, when Alan collapsed. He got caught on the gate we climbed over to escape our masters."

"What group do they belong to?" The slaves paled at her question, too afraid to provide information. Shiloh sighed, knowing she would have to change tactics. "The people here...they call me the Lone Wanderer. I've killed more slavers than people you've met in your life. I don't let slavers do business in the Capital Wasteland."

The slaves still looked unsure. While the Lone Wanderer was notorious for clearing out slaver hideouts in the Capital Wasteland, the hero was also rumored to be a man in his thirties. Shiloh knew she was taking a gamble, but they wouldn't trust her any other way. After a moment, the leader spoke, "Call themselves the Red Lights. All slaves stop here, they like to cackle when they drink too much. Slavers, rapists, murderers, they're the whole package. You'd go after them?"

Shiloh finished wrapping the would and helped the injured man to his feet, "Every last one of them. You should head to Rivet City. It's not much farther. Take these," she handed them a couple more stimpaks, "trade them for food."

Instead of refusing, the leader took her up on her offer and nodded, looking a bit overwhelmed. "If you really are the Lone Wanderer, you should head to Megaton. Only reason we've heard about you is some lady we were trading with for food. Got a bit of a shrill voice."

Shiloh smiled, "Moira. Yeah she's a friend of mine. She's sold me every bullet I've planted in a slaver's head." After the slaves gave her the location of the Red Lights' headquarters on her pip-boy, she waved them goodbye as they headed for Rivet City before it got too dark.

Shiloh's smile faltered as soon as they disappeared in the distance. Slavers. She spent the better part of three years completely destroying all slave trade in the Capital Wasteland. It reminded her of why she was in the Commonwealth in the first place. Ripson's voice echoed in her head, "Just due north of here. I've got intel that the key to the Commonwealth slave trade is just north of the Glowing Sea. But we can't waste Brotherhood resources outside a team of volunteers. We're willing to go just to help you out, Lone Wanderer."

Shiloh frowned, remembering how grateful and excited she'd been that Brotherhood soldiers were actually taking an interest in her mission. After the hellish trials she'd experienced in The Pitt, she felt a weight on her shoulders for every shackled person in the Capital Wasteland. That was something she couldn't tolerate. And as far away as the Commonwealth was, she would go as far as needed to free people.

Abandoning her plans, she lifted her lighter bag and headed back to the Citadel. The location she'd been pointed to was much further than Rivet City and even Megaton. Not only would she be gone longer, but she would be going further. She supposed she should at least inform Maxson of her change of plans. He wouldn't like it.

-0-

She was right. He didn't like it.

They stood face to face in the armory, a side room of the lab. He had been examining his prized laser gatling gun, looking for something to occupy his mind. To his surprise, Shiloh walked in, but the words coming out of her mouth filled him with frustration.

Then she brought up Madison Li and a whole new kind of feeling occupied his mind, "Absolutely not, Sentinel."

"She's working under duress."

"You sound like her when she screams at me that she's a hostage. She's an asset. We spared her the fate and prosecution other Institute scientists were getting and in exchange she works for us."

"She fulfilled her promise. Liberty Prime is more powerful than ever and you've got so many scientists on hand that you don't need her."

"Sentinel…" he didn't dare use her first name, as angry as he was. But he was a professional and instead of blowing up, he gave her a hard stare, "she stays here. Whatever sentimentalities you have, keep them. My word is final."

"I'll find you someone to replace her."

He rubbed his eyes. The tension between them was thick. He really didn't want this. Their farewell this morning was nice. Him shirtless in bed just relaxing as he watched her dress. Damn him, but it felt domestic. Her leaning over to kiss him as he clasped the last strap of her chestplate. It took all of him not to just pull her back under the sheets. Unfortunately, there were quite a few things in the way of a proper relationship with her, and he was feeling those things right now as he frowned at her.

One of those things is that he didn't know how to have a relationship with a subordinate while maintaining his status with her. "No, Sentinel." He crossed his arms.

Shiloh frowned at him, giving him a look of disappointment he didn't think he deserved. There it was, another reason they weren't in a relationship. She still didn't fully comprehend his type of Brotherhood. And that he would make many decisions she wouldn't be happy with. Those included keeping Madison Li around.

"Fine," she straightened, not giving him an ounce of emotion, "I've got a tip about a group of slavers I need to take care of. I'll be gone a while."

"How long is a while, soldier?" He couldn't help but ask, even though it shouldn't matter. It did.

"We'll have to see, Elder. It could be weeks. I'll send word." And with that she just left. He shouldn't have felt as shrugged off as he did. Anger and confusion clouded his judgement as he moved to keep working on his gun.

He looked at the clock. His next meeting wasn't for an hour. He could rest, or work on his gun in silence, but found that he needed to vent. He pressed a button on the terminal, "Have Giovanna meet me in the armory."

-0-

Giovanna walked in like she owned the place. In reality, she almost did. She placed her hands on her delicate hips, raising an eyebrow at him, "You look mad."

"Save it," he rubbed his eyes.

"Then don't interrupt my packing with your attitude," she laughed.

He let out a long sigh, "I need to figure this shit out before it consumes me."

Giovanna looked a little serious now, sitting on a stool by his workbench, "This about the woman you spent all morning with?"

"People are already talking."

"Of course they are. You're the Brotherhood's golden child and the Elder."

"Ugh," he scoffed, staring at the opened paneling of his gun, "spare me that."

"I would but you need me to figure out your feelings." He'd be more offended if that wasn't true.

"Just...help me out here."

"You dealt with my father's temper so I can't exactly deny you. And I suppose it is different coming from me, considering I'm not one of your soldiers," she straightened on the stool, "Well, first of all, do you love her?"

Maxson stared at the wall in thought, "Yes."

"Love love her?" she teased.

He bristled, "Yes."

"Is she worthy enough to bear your children?"

He grimaced at Giovanna's words, "That sounds so crude."

"It's the question the western elders are going to ask you."

"I suppose," he sighed again, setting his tools down, "This is exactly the problem. I can't just...be a normal person with her. For her. For one, I'm her fucking Elder. And for two, this whole goddamned organization is waiting with baited breath for me to have children. How am I supposed to ask the Lone Wanderer to settle down and bear children just to be with me? That's ridiculous."

Giovanna's eyes widened at both his cursing and his revelation, "Lone Wanderer? You didn't tell me it was her. That makes things much less simple. Also more poetic, it's kind of romantic."

"Giovanna…" he warned.

"Okay, okay, sorry. I wish I could help more but that's something you've got to ask her."

"I don't think she will be talking to me anytime soon."

"Hmm," Giovanna placed a thoughtful finger on her lip, "I might stick around long enough to see how your first fight works out. Maybe work my magic a little."

"Giovanna you really don't need to do that." He was kind of terrified at the prospect of Giovanna meeting Shiloh.

"I know I don't. But I might. I do think it would be a treat to meet the Lone Wanderer."

"Really, Giovanna…" he started but she waved him off.

"No thank you necessary. See you around, Elder. Go back to your brooding." She slipped out of the armory with gracefulness he hadn't seen anywhere else in the Wasteland. Maybe they weren't meant to be, but Maxson hoped her eventual husband held a lot of patience.

-0-

It was easier to work alone. While she missed the company of a partner on the road, infiltrating a slaver base was easier by herself. As good as anybody was with a gun out here, not many people were good at acting.

It took her three days of constant walking to get here. She was fueled mainly by her frustration with Maxson and her frustration with slavers moving back into territory she protected. She didn't know what she was expecting from the Elder. He could be caring and inspirational, but he ruled the Brotherhood with an iron fist. She already had to hold back her own feelings towards synths, now he was expecting her to allow Madison Li to spend her last years as a hostage. Not going to happen.

Things weren't certainly going as planned. She'd planned to be sitting in Rivet City right now, drinking with MacCready and pining over Maxson. Instead, she was on another journey to correct things that went wrong like it was her duty while holding nothing but anger inside her. Letting that go for the moment, she focused on the slaver that was currently leering at her.

Shiloh swore she was going to burn this place to the ground with a fat man if he tried to ask her to sleep with him for a slave. Wouldn't be the first time she was asked. She continued posing as a buyer as she was led through the camp. She tried to give nothing away as she was faced with the slaves, dirty and dehydrated. They were jolted awake when her guide rapped his baton on the fence.

She pretended to be interested in the strongest man in the group and her guide led the slave toward her. The man held hate in his eyes for her. It made her feel sick, but she knew it was only temporary until she could free him. She asked her guide sweetly to fetch the gatekeeper for her and he hesitated before obliging. As soon as he was out of sight, she whipped her head towards the slave, "Get everyone back as far as you can. I'm here to release you."

Instead of staring at her blankly like some had before, the man immediately obeyed and dragged the others to the back of the pen. The last thing she needed was any of them killed by a stray bullet.

As soon as the gatekeeper approached, she pinpointed him and shot him down. The firefight that followed was brutal, given the amount of slavers in the group. When the job was done, she took the keys from the gatekeeper's body and freed the slaves. She told them to take the clothing and weapons off the bodies and follow her. Megaton was less than a day's walk away and they could make it halfway before stopping for camp if they kept a strong pace.

The slaves changed their clothes and loaded their new weapons before grabbing everything they could from the food and medicine stores. The large group headed straight for Megaton, with the Lone Wanderer leading the way.