Outside the Washington monument there lay the most massive pile of corpses I have ever seen. Dead super mutants, wasters and all were burnt flesh in the lake. My brothers, stationed at the monument were probably in that pile too. Talon Company were everywhere. They guarded every building and grazed the biggest Brahmin pack I have ever seen. Stockpiles of that Aqua Pura were kept at the Lincoln Memorial. They horded every Power weapon from every dead Enclave and Steel in the DC area. Talon Company was a military powerhouse.
The trenches were filled with people and Talon mercs sitting on the sides eating and smoking. At the capital enterance were two vertabirds and guards. People were also hauling in supplies and water.
Most of the caravan I was in disbanded and the "Boss" led me up the steps of the Capital. The West wing was cleared out of rubble and I got a makeshift cot in the rotunda. Not much but better than being out in the wastes.
"Who's this guy?" Some dude in Coat followed by three guards approached us.
"He's a new recruit, pulled him out of the rubble near Rivet City."
"His name?"
"Maxwell."
"Pulled him out of the rubble? What rubble?"
"Pentagon."
"You're telling me this guy is a Steel?"
"Yeah."
"Impressive. Might I have a word with this new recruit in private Dex?"
"Yes boss."
The man in the coat must be their leader.
"Tell me, are you afraid?"
Hell yes.
"Yeah."
"Yeah that's expected. You don't know anything about Talon Company do you? Well not to worry we are mercenaries we get paid for our work. You do a contract, you get paid. We don't do slave business here. Dex was just making sure you didn't do anything stupid. He didn't compensate you for that run earlier did he?"
"No."
"Yeah I figure he didn't. Here 250 caps for that. Now you're probably thinking can I leave? Yes. You can. Just know this wasteland has gotten worse after that little spit between the Enclave and whatever the fuck ended that war. It's different, more hostile - more brutal. You want to find out more? Stay with us, get paid and you can do whatever the fuck you want."
"Alright, I noticed you got a sweet setup here."
"You did? And oh sorry about that giant pile of corpses out front. And no, you're Brotherhood are not in there. A lot of them in the area dispersed after the conflict ended. Don't ask me where they went I have no idea."
"You didn't find any bodies?"
"No, no notes, nothing."
"Well get some rest while we prep a new contract for you. You might get it tomorrow, you might not. Depends on when the buyer shows up if he does at all. Oh and try not to spend those caps on chems and shit. Those come in real handy now a days you'll see what I mean. We at Talon Company have standards."
Many others slept in the rotunda. It was still creepy with the sounds of the building breaking around us. I swear I could hear screaming somewhere in the building.
There was no contract that day so I decided I would check out the area. The museum of history was my first go to. Inside were still the ghouls selling Aqua Cura. A lot of them seemed to be in a pissy mood. They were happy the Brotherhood were gone and a lot were free to step outside without getting shot. There was rumored to be one super mutant there that hung out below the entrance that everyone left alone. Supposedly knew the vault dweller. I needed to see him.