Author notes: Chapter ideas made by Mandalore the Survivor

Name: Brayden Larsson

Age: 24

Class: Warrior/Werewolf

Preferred Weapons: Shield and Sword, favoring an NCR rifle for distance when he had bought one from a trader upon passing the license to it from the NCR. But still likes to keep a bow and arrows with him along with a knife.

Gender: Male

Race: Human (Irish/Swedish on his father's side and Japanese/Scottish on his mother's)

Hair: Straight black hair, likes to keep it short in a ranger style.

Eyes: Dark green that looks black from a distance.

Skin: Fair

Height: 5.11 ft

Build: Lean but solid muscle, despite his skinny appearance he has a surprising strength and heavy handed punch that'll hard hit even when he's pulling back. Long arms reaching his waist.

Personality: Brayden is a quiet young man that largely keeps to himself, can come off as somewhat socially awkward and has faced inner doubts/depression, but a hard worker that wants to earn respect and feel accomplishment in his life. Strong believer in responsibilities and duty, he's a person that goes in with a doing thought rather than thinking lazy, while he will freely admit he is not a flawless being, his actions leave many believing Brayden is a very selfless person and lives up to the meaning of his Irish name. Though having felt that fear of being put in dangerous situations and having earned scars from confrontations, Brayden has a persisted bravery and an wanting to do help where he sees its need. Despite these traits though, Brayden isn't naive and there's an shocking ruthless to him, Brayden has an love for history but that love for history has expose him to darker and greyer points of history, Brayden will do what he feels is necessary for lives and if he feels that needs to do harder things than he will do it but he set lines. Brayden, having grown up with younger siblings, is very protective of children and thought of any in danger or worse will set him off big time. He has an striking intelligence that gets hidden by his first awkwardness in talking, he notices a lot and as he develops into a stronger warrior, the more dangerous this becomes. It will become revealed that he has Autism that explains much about how he acts but reveals more uniqueness about his character growth.

Chapter 4:Whiterun Stay (Brayden)

17th of Last Seed

While the events of Helgen are happening and the upcoming events, another side is taking place…

"Are you sure that you're alright? You should've told me that you needed treatment after that fight." Aela's voice was ringing with a level of concern, Brayden following up behind her as the massive gates of Whiterun's entrance closed behind.

"Yeah in hindsight, I should've but I'll be alright thanks to them." Brayden's eyes gazed around as he took in the fact that he was now in Whiterun.

So many memories of gameplay couldn't begin to capture what Brayden was now feeling at this moment.

The buzzing of residents walking by in the marble street and activity going on where he can see the lead way into the familiar market zone. He felt himself becoming surprised that he can make out wires connected through buildings that were surging through power as he makes out lights shining out beyond that of lamps, even spotting over to the left side leading up the Drunken Huntsman were NCR Engineers working on a large generator connected to the building.

'Okay, that's ironically making me think of Settlement building.' Having flash memory of Fallout 4 Settlement building as he traced the wiring connecting and the power builds.

But also something that baffled Brayden so much that he felt his jaw slowly dropping a bit in disbelief in seeing Pidoves and Fletchlings from both generation five and six of Pokémon perched on some of the roofs. Some of the children looked in awe of the two flying types as one of the Fletchlings landed near to a boy and stared at him with interest.

'... What the hell.' Pokémon, freaking Pokémon in Skyrim.

As he was starting to imagine after seeing the Vertibird, there were a lot more people he could see within Whiterun than in the game, something that was starting to deeply make Brayden feel like he was entering into a heavily modded Skyrim the more he had noted during the journey to Whiterun.

Aela had realized mid-way that Brayden was bleeding from the Khajiit bandit's attack on him and though she did gave him an potion, leaving Brayden to experience the healing prosperities that took him surprise feeling the affects, Aela still decided that he needed further treatment, getting him to get rid of the dirty stained shirt that wasn't helping with his cuts and to Brayden's luck as he didn't wanted around Skyrim without a shirt in its kind of weather.

Or continue to feel his face somewhat flustering more Aela kept commenting on his build, noting while skinny she could still see the formed muscles. Making her think that I needed to eat more, ain't Brayden's fault for having inherited an Irish bodyfigure.

They had come across a Khajiit caravan along the way that was willing to do trading with them.

Some of them seemed embarrassed when they realized it had been one of their own that left the new scars on him and despite Brayden's insisting to pay, they gave his new shirt for free and their healer helped bandaged up his wounds, he still tried to pay them as he didn't want to be imposing on them but his genuine nature seemed only make the Khajiit more wanting help him much to Aela's amusement.

Cats always do like him.

The two traveled with the caravan towards Whiterun, letting Brayden to see more of the Hold's amazing landscape and couldn't resist taking a photo of the sunset view from his position. He was vastly shocked to see indeed that the NCR from Fallout is now in Skyrim, his mind raced with questions when he first made out where Camp Mccarran was now connected near Whiterun's city, making out there were NCR troopers patrolling around alongside the Whiterun Guards as they got closer to the buildings beside the roads.

Brayden got more appreciation from the Khajiit when he insisted on helping them with bit of the load out once they got to the familiar trade spot the Khajiit caravans would stop near outside the city, he watched more than few NCR troopers gawking in seeing Khajiit for the first time and funny comments that got him chuckling somewhat.

Though, Brayden did overhear a conversation between the black furred Khajiit and a tabby cat looking Khajiit. He heard that the caravan, along with another group of travelers heading for Helgen but witnessed fireballs coming down from the sky and unto Helgen. And some of the travelers who are with the caravan to scout out ahead, and learn that a dragon attacked the town, told by a female Redguard through an enchanted ring for communication by a mage that went to scout Helgen. They managed to avoid Helgen and rescue a few townsfolk then travel to Riverwood. Though the travelers have stayed behind in Riverwood, they said they would be arriving in Whiterun soon.

He waved at some of the passing NCR soldiers and they did look at him with some surprise but he got friendly greetings back.

Say what you will about the mess that their government is getting into the Mojave that was all too familiar to the young Canadian with Canada's current problems, the soldiers didn't deserve the sufferings they went through in the Wasteland.

After he had helped with the loading out, getting more thanks from the Khajiit for his efforts that had Aela inquiring to him, she seemed to like his simple response of wanting to help and repaying back with actions.

They would encounter Uthgerd the Unbroken along their way into the city, it was tense once the bickering started between her and Aela.

Brayden did wondered if it was a good idea when he said that remark to Uthgerd that caused her to become more than ticked off, words were said and Brayden cannot deny it was amusing watching Uthgerd's face turn more red with annoyance as he was finding an nice pattern of counter words that had Aela almost laughing out.

It ended up resulting in an fight, Brayden had been left with more aching hands and an mark left by Uthgerd's fist making contact with his jaw, his gut hurting from more of her punches that contacted, knocked the wind out of him but he had felt he made his point when he had landed an hard elbow into her jaw that stagger Uthgerd in return, coming in with an flying knee that took her by surprise by the combined elbow strike again to her head and though it was a strain on his back feeling the weight of her heavy plated armor.

He had lifted her up just enough to throw her down into the ground, getting into a grapple fight that had cheering from observers watching them as they rolled and tossle around the ground. Aela kept giving support in form of her shouting advice, Brayden tried not to overly focus after almost getting pulled over by enraged Uthgerd.

Didn't do well for Brayden's injuries or his new shirt, but he made Uthgerd regret seeing him as a whelp. Until a couple NCR soldiers decided to break their fight up.

Uthgerd looked ready to tear someone's head off and Brayden had been facing her glaze with his own as they were pulled up from the ground. The NCR troopers kept them apart until Aela pulled Brayden along away after getting the okay to go by the Sergeant in lead, leaving Uthgerd there to stare after Brayden walking away from her and likely sort out the problem with the NCR Troopers.

"Still, you have quite the talent of attracting trouble to you. That was quite the punch from Uthgerd, you've got a tough jaw to have stayed up on your feet." Aela compliment as they walked further into the city, smiling as she noted Brayden's expression looking around his surroundings, she was finding more at ease with him as Aela though finding some of his quirks strange, he had though good nature about him and the way he was ready to already step into another fight despite his injuries had spoken out to Aela that he's a man of action.

She liked that.

"I'm surprised that I did, I saw more than a few 'stars' when that hit me. But well, that made me just mad." She chuckled a little in response but then patted him on the shoulder once seeing his wincing of pain.

Today just really wasn't his day in terms of getting hurt but some benefit for him in having a gorgeous woman showing care.

"Heh, will make you stronger and it was good to see Uthgerd being put in her place. Bout time someone did." Aela had a feeling that the others would be enjoying to hear that their new potential recruit had gotten into a scrap with the ex-Companion.

Brayden continued following her while too gazing around Whiterun, taking into the details around him and noted to the right where the memorable smithy of Whiterun was at, the Warmaiden he noted had more additions than regular base game with more rows of stacked armor/weapons and tools he could see around the work station.

His eye was on the appreciating the sight of well worked materials to than moving where he can hear talking near the entrance, seeing as he expected was the tall and stern looking Idolaf Battle-Born talking with Adrianne Avenicci, despite the mess from work he can see that's comparable to his own and hard worked hands, Ulfberth still a very lucky man as he noted she still possessed an mature beauty about her as he noted her facial features and her well-formed figure was not hidden by her work dress.

Though his attention was much more intrigued into what was being mentioned in their talk.

"I just can't fill an order that size within that time frame, I'm still training my new assistant to help out the other orders. Why don't you just suck up your pride and ask Eorland Grey-Mane for help? Or even the NCR, try gaining those guns with your coin."

'Huh…' Brayden wondered about how was the NCR handling that, he can see already that they have an significant presence in Whiterun and seeing they were setting up power within the city that he'd what else was being offered.

"Ha! I'd sooner bend my knee to Ulfric Stormcloak." Idolaf Battle-Born boasted. "Besides, the Gray-Manes would never forge steel for the legion and the NCR's keeping a tight lid on them for now. They still don't fully trust the Empire." Idolaf let out a grumble, eyeing over where the NCR Engineers were working at that generator, connecting wires to new plugins to boost more power into the street.

They didn't notice but Brayden could see the deep annoyance on his face.

"*Sigh* Have it your way. I'll take the job but don't expect a miracle." The blacksmith sighed as she continued back to work and the Battle-Born walked away.

Brayden felt a tug on his shoulder and looked to his right in seeing Aela's hand gripping on him with her looking directed at him. "Come on, don't slow down. Don't need to hear Idolaf complaining, I liked to see him try to ask Eorland to forge steel for the Empire." Brayden shared a bit in that laugh.

"I imagine he really doesn't like the Empire?"

"Him and the Gray-Manes, very staunch supporters of Nordic traditions in thanks to being one of oldest Clans in Skyrim with the Battle-Borns, they're true Nords that came with the rest of the Companions to fight the Elves. Two of Eorland's sons have already joined up with the Stormcloaks cause they couldn't take the Thalmor's influence in the Empire, Thorald though the older son has gone missing after a skirmish in Eastmarch."

Brayden soaken that thing, taking note in one of indications of the timeline he was within Skyrim now hearing about one of the notable quests within the game. "Can imagine that wouldn't do any favor to the Imperials." Aela nodded to that in confirmation.

"Indeed. And that old fool Olfrid is only worsening it, he's been taunting poor Fralia about it. He'd better watch himself the next time he does that if any of the Companions are there to hear his talk." Aela never did like Olfrid Battle-Born, an old warthog that's living off too much fame and paid off women that he's sunken to new lows.

Something that Brayden can agree with from his own memory of Olfrid, but he kept that to himself. "Sounds like a real piece of work, will be there to back you all up should it come." Aela smiled at that when hearing it. "Much appreciated, already trying to prove yourself again." Brayden returned it with a bit of his own.

"Just trying to do what I can." With that said, he continued his following of Aela through Whiterun, trying to be careful not to bump into the various residents walking through. There were mostly Nords but he could make out Elves within the crowds and as he looked to the far side of the buildings leading to the defensive walls were more NCR troops manning the walls with Whiterun Guards.

Specifically, a certain sniper unit as he spotted the infamous red berets on their heads, making out that it was '10 of Spades' the youngest of the team and to Brayden's sympathy thoughts, was Corporal Betsy. Still maintaining her cold projure from what he can see of an Whiterun Guard trying to strike up chatting with her, Brayden could see from his range of view that it would only have one result with someone like Betsy.

Let's just say… The guard needed to see a healer for a while for his um… Area. 10 of Spades was wincing out as he watched with the other Whiterun guard as his comrade went to go nurse his new bruise.

By now they arrived at the market area of the Plains District, and it is buzzing with activity. Brayden then noticed a wastelander merchant with his two headed Brahmin selling junk and miscellaneous items from the fallout franchise, the smell though hitting quite a bit, he knew he was already drawing his own attention by some of the reactions he noticed from his work smell.

Was hilarious that few didn't realize it was him as he looked by his shoulder a bit to see that the Ghoul was still arguing with a Dunmer woman accusing him of the stench, he was still surprised seeing the mass diversities in Whiterun and much less that of a Ghoul, he would've figure they'd be facing more problems trying to get into the Holds.

By the Bannered Mare, Brayden sees a man drinking a tankard by the steps not affiliated with the NCR, but on his armored shoulder pad has a symbol of the Spartan Ranger from Metro 2033. Onlookers listen in on the Russian wastelander as did Brayden in feeling his interest even more peaked.

"I'm telling you all, the mead is good, but nothing beats an old fashioned mushroom vodka." The ranger said out as he took a swig from his tankard, his Russian accent came out strongly thick.

"So you made vodka from mushrooms?" A NCR soldier who is off duty asked. "We usually scavenged and bought off from merchants if we get lucky."

"Ah… Though it's weird that we have to use gold coins, I usually bought stuff with military grade bullets in the metro." He brought out some army grade bullets for some to see.

"Bullets? Me and the troops buy stuff in bottle caps and NCR bills in the Mojave." He showed some caps and bills for the Russian to see.

"You people are strange…" a Whiterun guard stated on seeing this exchange, the two simply just laughed in response that became joined by most of the listeners.

Brayden then hears a door opening and turns his head towards Belethor's General Goods to see…

"Thank you for the time ." The shop owner Belethor said to the character from Red Dead Redemption 2 inside the building.

"No, no, just enjoying the fine wares that were traded for a few coins." Hosea Matthews replied. "Excuse me." He passes by Brayden as he heads for the gate, though double taking somewhat as he briefly gimplised the bruise on Brayden's cheek before continuing off. "Yep, sorry there." Brayden nodded as he stepped out of the way. "Get that look at." Hosea said as he continued on his trail.

'Ok now something is very wrong here.' Brayden thought. The NCR, Pokémon, a Spartan Ranger, and Hosea. What's next…

Turns out there was more when they reached the Wind District.

'Okay it's official. I'm in a modded Tamriel.' Thought out Brayden as more of the view came in as he and Aela walked up the stairs in reaching into the District. He sees the Gildergreen, though it looks a bit decayed, just as it was before the Blessings of Nature quest he can still remember with clear memory despite being a few years since he had last played Skyrim.

But what's more is that there are cartoon characters as well, filling the Canadian with even more shock to see them in real life. Sitting on one of the benches under a bit of shade next to Danica Pure-Spring is one of the side characters from the Owl House Bo, a student from Hexside and part of the healing track. Then there's Tom and Jerry, Tom and Jerry!

The cartoon cat and mouse enjoying their pieces of apple pie next to a long black hair female Nord who is chubby but retains a beauty about her…

"Looks like Jolia has some company to keep." Aela said as they witnessed some commotion between Tom and Jerry over the last slice of pie. And the Nord, Jolia, trying to calm the cat and mouse.

"How come?" Brayden asked. Eyeing as the two ionic cartoon characters got into their classic feud with each other over the pie. 'Yeah that didn't take long for it to erupt.' Getting vivid nostalgia of childhood memories watching the show, hearing that infamous "OWWW!" From Tom howling out in pain when Jerry smashed his hand with a wooden hammer, making Jolia's efforts of calming the fight down more difficult. 'Where did he get that hammer?' Brayden had been looking the whole time and literally saw that hammer appear almost out of thin air.

"Three years ago his son Jacob and his cousins left for Cyrodiil on a trip. He sent her letters about their time there, though she gets lonely at times." Aela explained and smiled a bit. "He and Mateo were part of the Companions, strong but still a lot to learn. I heard that Helios was training to be a Templar. Jolia has been fond of pets, and it's no stranger that she took in those two though strange of their antics, at least it made her happy."

Brayden nodded though confused at the names she mentioned… Jacob and Mateo… Those names aren't from Skyrim or much else from Tamriel, Mateo maybe as that could pass off under the radar but Jacob… He'll question it later then. Continuing looking he then sees one person sitting on the other benches is none other than Panam Palmer from Cyberpunk 2077 reading a book.

She looked up and noticed the two real quick. "Hey Aela, I see the contract in Falkreath went well. Who's the kid with you?" Panam inquired as she looked over at Brayden, wincing a bit in seeing the bruised marks on him as a look of curiosity took up her expression.

She could tell from his get up and the fact he's clearly of Asian descent that he was not from Skyrim. "A Newblood for the Companions, found him caught in an ambush with Bandits. Didn't take long for him and Uthgerd to get into a scrap."

Panam's eyes widened a little and looked over at Brayden. "You fought the 'Unbroken'? No wonder you look like shit."

But before any conversation could continue, they all heard the familiar sermon by the priest of Talos, Heimskr. Brayden looked up ahead to see the statue of Talos, his eyes widened at seeing a familiar power-armor individual with an eye-bot listening in on the sermon.

'The Storyteller and Edna… From ShoddyCast…' Brayden feels like he's about to faint, which didn't help either of how tired he felt since he had yet to rest from his 12 hour shift, but he shakes it off when he hears Panam talking. "Ugh, Heimskr's running his mouth off again. The amount he's already filled me about Talos has been fucking grinding." Panam's bluntness came out as she expressed her thoughts to Heimskr's ranting.

Aela snorted but still gave something of a firm look to Panam. "Careful there Panam, Talos is still revered here and you might just get another rant from Heimskr." Panam rolled her eyes as she leaned back into the bench with the book still in hand, Brayden took note that to his intrigue it was "Rising Threat II" That detailed out the accounts of an Altmer survivor's perspective of Oblivion Crisis and the rise of the Thalmor's power.

He wager now Panam was gaining an level of idea about how similar to the Nazis that the Thalmor are. "I'll give him the same response as I gave him the last time. 'Fuck off'." Expressing just how she exactly thought about religious fanaticism.

Brayden himself simply just kept his opinions to himself, while he was vastly against the banning of Talos worship by the Thalmor's demands and how far Thalmor will go to root out worshippers by any 'means'. But Brayden won't deny that in knowing more of Talos deeper than most in Tamriel would ever and thinking to what he was actually like, Brayden regarded him the same as other Conquerors in history he could name that were comparisons to him.

They left behind a great many dead in the name of their ambitions.

Then there was that scandal with the still 17 to 18 year old Barenziah that still hit a nerve within him. Still, by what Brayden can see of Heimskr talking to the Storyteller and hearing a bit of beeping from Edna, Brayden wager that the Storyteller is going to be in for much knowledge gathering with many confused details.

"So how did you fare with Uthgerd? You look like you need to lay down." Panam's questioning brought him back to reality. Though Aela was the first to comment. "You should've been there, the New Blood managed to lift Uthgerd, slamming her into the ground, and grappling her." Panam raised a brow hearing that and looked over to him. "Huh, you into MMA?"

Brayden nodded to that. "I am. I'm versed in fighting, though it got intercepted by some of the troops and broke it up before it could go any further." Panam crossed her arms and seemed to be almost analyzing him upon hearing that response. "Heh, you got a knack for trouble but you should get that looked at. Seems though you made a good impression on Aela here, she ain't easy to win her support over."

"For good reason. At least with him, I see the potential to be honed out." Brayden felt strong appreciation for that and he gave a strong affirming nod to Aela for that. "Won't deny I need to sharpen myself more, but I'll do my best." Though Brayden far more wanted to find that means of getting back home, the anxiety was still there and the worrying imagining thoughts of what was happening with his family.

Joining the Companions and getting such vouched support was far more ideal than any of the other dangerous possibilities that could've happened to the Canadian in his now other-worldly transition. He wasn't going to be saying no to this chance that can present a way to survive in Skyrim and seeing that something even stranger is going on, there was even more he'll need to be aware about.

"Eager? Well word of advice, learn to grow thick skin with them. They can be rough, much like my Clan, but keep doing what you did with Aela here and I think you'll get through, kid." Brayden chuckled a bit as he gave a look to her in being called a kid.

"I'm 24 years old I have you know. Japanese genes tend to make me look younger."

"Yeah? Well, I'm still two years older than you." She retoled back with pointing but hid some of her surprise as Panam was imaging him being much younger than that. 'He's got some luck in the gene lottery pool it seems.' Will be interesting how he'll manage with the Companions.

To which Aela brought back their attention. "I'm as well but I'm afraid that's enough talk for now, it's time I've taken you to the others. It was good seeing you Panam, I trust that the meeting will still go ahead?" The question seemed to bring out a mixed response from Panam as she leaned back into the bench with a frustrating sigh.

"As long that Saul doesn't fuck it up, it should yeah. I don't want to be working for that bitch Maven in Riften as he was thinking about doing, not tangling myself with the Dark Brotherhood or Thieves Guild." Or worse at that as Brayden absorbed in that information, seeing the feud between Saul Bright and Panam Palmer is still going very strong and he franky couldn't blame Panam for not wanting to work for someone like Maven Black-Briar.

The Dark Brotherhood was bad enough, remembering some of the quests leading up to the assassination of Emperor Titus Mede II and Astrid betrayal to the brotherhood that hitted Brayden's firm limit to how he wished his characters to be like in morals.

And the Thieves Guild, well… It's pretty obvious when they weren't doing anything to the benefit of Riften's society compared to when the Gray Fox was running things 200 years ago.

"He would be a fool to consider any honor of promises from the likes of them. I pray that we can see a beneficial agreement between our groups, good day to you Panam." Aela nodded to Panam and gestured to Brayden, they continued back on their trail to Jorrvaskr and Panam chose to go back into reading Rising Threat.

The two could now hear Heimskr's shouting even more clearly and Edna's beeping seemed to be prompting responses from the Talos Priest. "I do not know what you say my floating eye friend but to answer with truth, it is because that the Emperor is a coward! That's right, I said coward."

Even in the game and real life, his sermons are annoying. Though distracted by Edna, Brayden and Aela climbed up the stairs to Jorrvaskr. A longboat turned into the base for the Companions, seeing it in real life, it's surreal. And by it is the sky forge with its bird statue.

'Amazing…' Brayden's eyes traced the design of the statue from the view he could see before it became more hidden as the two walked up closer to the ancient longboat. "Welcome to Jorrvaskr, you're new home until I imagine we're sorting more of your circumstances out." Aela grinned as she opened the door to let themselves inside, loud laughful and rabble rang out as they entered.

"Those two are at it again." Those were the first words when they entered the hall. Brayden sees both Njada Stonearm and Athis were brawling as he can still remember with nostalgia, wincing a bit as Njada made strong contact to Athis's left side of his chin that wobbled him, but held up his forearms to block the incoming punches.

As the other members of the Companions cheer on, Brayden's eyes land on one individual. 'This is getting overwhelming… Boba Fett is here as well…' He sees the legendary Mandalorian Bounty Hunter leaning on one of the pillars watching the brawl. He felt his heart jump when Boba's head turned and his visor helm looked towards Brayden's direction.

"Aela, I see you've brought someone new." Brayden can feel the analyzing that Boba was more than likely doing. "Indeed so, potential New Blood. As you can already see on his face, he's had quite the day of proving himself." Boba quirk his head, indeed noting the bruising and tiredness in his eyes that Boba did felt a small interest peak in.

A small one.

"Guess we'll see." Yeah that's what Brayden imagined his response would be like, hearing the ionically colden voice of the infamous Bounty hunter but Brayden still felt a part of himself still in awe of what was happening now. "That we will but by the looks of it, Aela might be just onto something." As if Brayden couldn't feel any more shock shot into him upon hearing a very familiar gruff voice with a distinctive accent.

"Grrh! Not gonna let them have all the fun. Make way!" Roaring out to join in the brawl between Njada and Athis was to Brayden's shock, a large Krogan dubbed in grayish battle armor with a snowy color pattern to it and a dark green crest headplate. The two Companions cried out in surprise as the Krogan rammed into the two and grabbed them both under his armpits, yelling out as they were spun around much to the great amusement of everyone watching.

"Haha! Look at him go! Seems like it wasn't so bad to allow in these new warriors. Maybe it might get the rest of this drunken rabble into doing something." Vignar Gray-Mane chuckled as he slurped up his mead before laughing out more after Athis slipped out and smacked into a wooden chair that broke upon impact, Njada herself was still trying to fight her way out of the Krogan's grip.

"Seems like you got in one hell of a fight there lad. You win or did you needed fucking back up?" It was none other than Zaeed Massani coming right up to Brayden to inspect the apparent newblood.

'Feel like I'm going to pass out from all this…' Brayden's eyes twitch a bit. The exhaustion was about to overtake him.

Luckily Aela noticed and moved to place her hand on his right shoulder, Zaeed too took quick notice and chuckled a bit as the two led the exhausted Canadian to one of the chairs. "You need to sit down, you remind me of this kid I worked with on a couple of missions. Had no business getting his hands fucking dirty or killing but did it anyway, a real workaholic he was."

"Another of your 'Only survivor' stories again?" Commented Aela as she gave a look to him that indicated she more than heard his stories once, Boba watched from his position as he saw they had it more than handled as they got Brayden to a chair, getting the other Companions attention as they took note to the 'newcomer'.

"No, he survived with me while the rest of the team got killed after the first two missions. Stuck with me through the last until he got his arm saw off, enduring Batarian torture isn't something 'pleasant' to survive through. Messed with his mind badly after it." Zaeed's tone remained its usually gruff self despite detailing out the gruesome detail.

Brayden mentally cringes at that, but he was more than aware that there are even more stories of gruesome things here in Skyrim and Tamriel. Aela then hands Brayden a green bottle, suggesting that it's a stamina potion. "Here drink this, it'll keep up for a bit. Though it's not one of Makayla's potions."

"Makayla?" Brayden questions as he drinks a bit of the potion. Noting on the less than pleasant taste but he could feel his energy returning more faster than drinking energy drinks during work.

"Oh yeah, Mateo's little sister makes some mean potions, one foreigner tried her potions to get himself warmed, it turns out she uses fire salts for it." Aela explained.

"Fire salt?" Brayden said out with a level of strong surprise. "What is she using the fire salts for in it?" With a level of curiosity as he tried thinking back to what it could be used in again back during his old playthroughs.

Elsewhere

A certain Pokémon trainer sneezed as the others along with the four residents of Skyrim stared at him.

Back to the Companions

"Though she added a little bit of it, it was quite effective." Aela laughed a bit at that memory. "She was experimenting with different ingredients to make something new. Mateo has to drag her away from her alchemy station sometimes, almost blowing up the cauldron."

"Certainly sounds like she's quite the alchemist." Alchemy though intriguing to him, he didn't have as much toy with it gameplay wise as much as he had with smithing for example. Long hours of getting all of his equipment to full strength… And saving to avoid frustrations when suddenly getting crashes that ruins all that hard work. And believe me, it's furiating.

'So many times of finding bug fixes and careful setting changes.' But choosing to not want to remember his less than proud moments of gaming rage. "Oh and right, to answer your question there before." Brayden looked over to Zaeed on his left. "It was something of a draw, she gave me a good knock that got me angry to keep fighting." Aela then added in from her perspective.

"And closed in that distance to grab onto her, lifted her to slam Uthgerd on the ground. He's a feisty one, those bandages are from his scrap with bandits." Zaeed let out a 'huh' as he looked over at his wounds. "Will have to see how you fight than kid, might make it if you've already made a strong impression on our Huntress lass here."

"Huh we have a new recruit? Seems like we're really filling out our ranks. Welcome to the Companions." Coming up to the table was Ria, the Imperial Companion holding a friendly smile as she came up to greet Brayden and the Canadian more than noted her very pretty features. Golden hazel eyes shining bright, her black hair done in a ponytail, gold paint doting her face that enhanced her beauty.

'Really gonna have to get used to being around these many attractive women.' Brayden had no prior experiences in relationships and he largely kept to himself on account of his disabilities creating interactions to be more difficult for him. But the almost shining friendliness off of Ria almost oozed out a calmness to the young Canadian as he held out his hand to her to shake.

"Thank you, hope to do what I can and learn to do with you guys." Ria smiled as she took in his hand and intrigue took to her face as she couldn't pinpoint Brayden's race as she examined his face.

She would not deny he was handsome even right now he looked like he just had one hell of a day. "Heh seems like you did more than just that. So you really did fight Uthgerd? I recognize that same mark that she gave to Torvar awhile back, only he was laid out unconscious for a few hours." Torvar yelled out from the back upon hearing that.

"IT WAS A DIRTY TRICK! She caught me while I was deep in my mead, I could've taken her." Torvar grumbled out but drowned his frustrations in his drink as he slurped up his mead.

"HA! I could've taken her, even if I was deep in this mead stuff." The Krogan boasts, he was sitting down on a metal chair that looked like it was recently constructed, no doubt to account for his massive weight. He had a mark on his eye that was given by Njada after she had broken out of his grip, but now she and Athis were nursing out their wounds as the pair came to see the new recruit.

The Krogan with his right hand grasping a large cup of Nord Mead, decides to join over to see Brayden, footsteps thumping hard as he makes his way over and Brayden wouldn't deny feeling that edge as he takes in more of the sight of this Krogan. But the Krogan gave a grin as he placed down his left heavy hand on Brayden's chair and nodded in approval as he examined him, "Ha! You must be quite the scrappy little one, you need more meat on your bones but I like that look in your eye. Got your warrior mark from a Nord woman like me!" He roared out with a massive laughful that earned an ire look from Njada.

"I'll give you more than a 'mark' the next time I'm beating your ass Uorok." The now identified Uorok only laughed more in response. Then the doors open as two people come in, to Brayden he sees two men, one in Fallout New Vegas riot gear and one with a black sleeveless leather jacket with a gray shirt under it and a red beret.

"God damn it Mike, why did you waste a grenade on that raider? We could've taken him down with our rifles." Zach groaned.

"I thought he probably had those shield spells protecting himself." Mike defends himself.

"Mike, he was a raider from our world, how can he use spells? Yes we learn a few spells but that doesn't mean he has it as well."

'Mike and Zach from Mikeburnfire… I really need to sleep after this…' Brayden rubbed his eyes a bit.

"Huh so you two are back eh. What shit did you two get into now?" Asked Zaeed as he looked over to the pair walking in, Njada's expression took up a deep annoyance as she eyed Zach in particular. "And do you have the debt you owe me?" She asked coldly.

"Yes we have, and for the record it wasn't our fault." Zach handed her a pouch of coins.

"What happened?" Brayden asked Aela.

"Those two 'accidentally' destroyed a shipment of mead and wine for the tavern and here. The guy with the red beret, Mike, lobbed a grenade as the NCR called it, and blew up the shipment when they got hit by bandits and the viper gang." Aela explained as she glared at Mike who nervously whistled innocently. "We came to help but those two were the first, luckily the NCR was kind enough to give Whiterun a taste of soda called Sunset Sarsaparilla and Nuka Cola. So now they are repaying the cost of the shipments by doing work with us."

Brayden raised a strong eyebrow as he looked over to the two, Mike raised his hands as he stared back at the Canadian's look. "To be fair, I didn't mean to lob that grenade so close to the shipment and those vipers were backing serious hardware! Seriously, one of them had a grenade rifle!"

"With those fancy weapons, like your guns, you two could've saved the shipments." One of the companions spoke out as he was sharpening his daggers with a whet stone. "Though the sodas were good-" the companion member sniffed the air and gagged a bit. "Oh, by the nine what is that smell!"

'Oh.' Brayden realized he still had the rubber smell from work before coming to Skyrim.

"That is the smell of my work unfortunately. Suffice to say… I had a long day." Brayden admitted out, seeing no reason to hide it and the others more than saw go say their piece. "I say, you should definitely take a trip to the bathhouse. You'll find it very relieving." Ria said out first before it was Njada talking. "Or splash yourself with a bucket of cold water."

"Not before using Jolia's soaps, she made these lavender and snow berries scented soaps." Aela added. "She makes soaps as a hobby." She whispered to Brayden. He was very glad to know about that, "Good to know about that. Where do I need to grab them after buying?" Brayden asked.

"She's living outside of Whiterun in her homestead but since the NCR is there, a few soldiers are protecting her, I even heard a few of their people settled an agreement with her for her soaps."

'Well, considering the NCR came from the wasteland, of course they will pay for cleaning products.' Brayden thought, remembering one of his playthroughs in the Mojave wasteland which is very dusty. "Will have to remember to grab some more than once I get the chance. But for now since I'm here, is there anything I can do to earn my keep here?" His inquiry got some chuckles and a cheerful old man's voice spoke out that caught Brayden's attention.

"Haa! Look at this one Arglye, smelled of hardwork and looked like he came out of the grinder. And wants to get out to do more, that's the fiery spirit we need here!" A hand clapped onto his shoulder and he looked up to see an old wrinkled face looking down on him with great cheer, wearing a green sweater shirt over a blue long-sleeved shirt. Hair gone gray yet coined and wavy finely, dark green eyes that had misfit in them yet an experience edge heavily shown out, appearing to be closing into his 70s by his face but Brayden could feel firmness of strength in his hand clapped on his shoulder.

Standing next to him was a Ghoul wearing reinforced leather armor, a patch of brown hair and graying blue eyes, strong build by his tall height, holding an rather neutral expression but nodded in respect to the others at the table. The old man grinned widely and held out his hand to shake with Brayden.

"The name's Herbert. Herbert 'Daring' Dashwood! You might've heard of me? You certainly don't look like a Nord or anywhere else. Me and Argyle here saw Tamriel before we came to Skyrim, unless you're one of those 'Akaviri?'." Brayden could not believe the level of surprises he was having today of meeting so many notable characters.

"He's clearly a Japanese boss. With some mixes in there, you got a bit of an Irish look to you." Argyle squinted his eyes at looking at Brayden, noting the clearly modern clothing and objects on him that looked quite closely to Pre-War to the two-hundred century old Ghoul. Questions were popping in his head but Argyle saw right away this young man is another wayward traveler out from the portals like the others here.

Brayden looked with some surprise but nodded. "You're right there. Japanese is from my mother's side, I'm mainly Swedish and Irish through my father." The ethnitics listed inquire questions from those unfamiliarized with them. "What are those races? They are from your world, by the sounds of it you must be like the others that came out of those portals popping around Skyrim." Ria was finding the whole situation too eerily similar to the Oblivion Crisis but she was thankful that it was not yet reaching seer chaotic destruction as the Crisis had brought to Skyrim all those years ago.

Though the portals started to appear six months ago. It started with some unknown items that appeared and were transferred to Winterhold for studies. But now more recently people, buildings, and creatures are appearing.

She worried about Riften's current situation from such people that had come out of said portals…

Brayden seeing this decides it was better to go along with it, feeling less anxiety in him that felt more reliving almost as he got into answering. "Yeah I am, it's complicated to explain some of it but depending on what you've heard from the NCR or even Daring here. My world's basically a different alternate timeline where the 'bombs' didn't dropped or had the Great War… Yet anyway." He decided it was best not get into the rather eerily comparisons in recent events to Fallout's Pre-War.

"As for myself, well I was just finishing at where I work but as I was leaving. One of those said portals had appeared, caught me in complete panic along with everyone else nearby and it was just my luck that I was the only one caught through into it. Woke up in the woods and from there, that's how I got in Skyrim."

"It's the same scenario as us as well." Zach said as the other worldly people nodded.

"But hey, at least it's a bit better not to experience radiation from the wasteland." Mike added along with Argyle who grunted at that notion.

"Well now, guess I missed something while I was gone." Turning his head, Brayden then sees a man entering and knows who he is.

Kodlak Whitemane, the current Harbinger of the Companions. Along with Vilkas who is coming in with the Harbinger.

"Kodlak Whitemane, this is Brayden Larsson, he's a New Blood and already proving himself." Aela gestures to Brayden, "He beat the 'Unbroken' by the entrance."

"No way! You actually beat her, Ugtherd?!" Mike shouted in shock.

Brayden however shook his head. "I wouldn't say beat, but we scraped big time after she swung the first fist at me and suffice to say, we gave each other knockers." Gesturing to his black eye.

"Heh have you now? I can certainly see that." Kodlak's eyes showed a level of concern as he noted the bruises on Brayden and the bandages, seeing clearly that indeed what Aela was saying is true and Vilkas smirked a bit. "Heh, while I much prefer to see you in action. You look you though you have had quite enough, you got guts to have fought Uthgerd."

Brayden, despite his injuries and the clear tiredness in his eyes, still looked prepared to do more. "You sure? Can still do something if you need me to." Kodlak gave out a hearty laugh in hearing that response, Vilkas raised his brow in hearing Brayden's response.

"Youthful spirit you have. No, you get your rest lad, you need it. We'll have you out in the training yard tomorrow, Vilkas will test more of your skill once you've healed." Kodlak had a good feeling about Brayden and though he may not seem much at first glance, he was smaller than most of their fellow members and he can see an shyness about him.

But he liked that this lad has a strong need to prove himself and the look of a hard worker, a potential that Kodlak was intrigued in seeing flourish. "We'll have Farkas show where you're sleeping now, New Blood. Farkas!" Vilkas called out to his brother, hearing footsteps coming their way until the massive form of Farkas stepped into view. "Did you call me?" He asked, crossing his arms.

Aela snorted. "Of course we did, Ice-brain." Vilkas threw her a look, Brayden kinda share in it as he faced such similar teases before but at the least with Aela, he can see it was only friendly humor as Aela only smile a bit in return to seeing Brayden's pointing look and Farkas didn't looked bothered at all.

"You're showing Brayden here to where he's sleeping now, get him introduced to the others while we talk."

"Ah I figured that was it, alright New Blood follow me." Farkas gestured to Brayden to follow him and he did so but gave a nod to Aela and everyone else as he left the room, not noticing the long look she was giving behind as he followed Farkas downstairs to the quarters.

"Seems like you've found an interesting new recruit. Are we sure though that he's got what it takes to survive?" Vilkas, though intrigued, still wondered how much can this outsider last within their group.

"He has what it takes. Has a fiery spirit that's wanting out." Spoken out Aela as she showed her support to Brayden, catching Vilkas's attention as he knew this was rather rare of Aela to be rather supportful of a new recruit. "Seems like he made a good impression on you, I'll see for myself if he can fight as you say he can."

"Well then… Guess this will be interesting." Zaeed spoke….

Author Notes:Reviews are welcome, and thanks to Mandalore the Survivor for the ideas and this chapter.