Amidst the ruins of the world, Laura sat with her dog. Huddled over a cooking station in the remnants of the Raider base north of Kendall Hospital, which she had cleared out days prior, she watched the irradiated meat of a yao guai char as she spun it over the fire. Quietly humming along to the slow tune playing over Diamond city radio, she pet Dogmeat's head resting on her lap.
"I don't want to set the world on fire…"
Laura sighed and pulled up the map on her Pip-boy. She had recently left Goodneighbor to head back up towards Sanctuary to regroup with Preston, when she came across this encampment. She would've just kept walking too, but she had been spotted and it became a full-on shoot out. After clearing out the bodies, she found that she no longer had the energy to continue her walk northwest. And hey, the raiders had built a pretty cozy nest here, so she decided to hunker down until her momentary depression passed. And it was nice. At least here there was nobody looking to her for answers. At least here, in the quiet moments by the campfire, she could grieve.
The search for Shaun wasn't getting any easier, even with the progress she made with Nick's help. Kellogg's memories revealed that the Institute had no entrance; it could only be accessed through teleportation. But even when faced with the discovery of a new technology that she'd never believed possible in her time, all she could do was focus on Shaun's face. Her baby boy. He'd grown up to look just like Nate, but his eyes, his eyes were green like hers.
Every day that passed without her son, without her husband, Laura grew more anxious that she would never regain any sense of normalcy. She let out a bitter laugh as she remembered all the times she had second thoughts about settling down and that tight feeling of dread in her chest when the doctor cheerfully announced her pregnancy. Laura was always a bit of a wild child, while Nate was a clean-cut military man with a penchant for kindness. At the time, she was afraid of being tied down to someone so straight-laced, afraid of being tied down at all really. But the fear she felt back then was nothing compared to what she was going through now. There were no more safety nets, and though she prided herself on being head-strong and resourceful, she missed the simple comforts of her suburban life. A girl could only put up a poker face for so long.
Even now, she was only really heading back to Sanctuary to find reprieve in Codsworth's familiar presence - settlers be damned. Nobody else in this world knew how much she lost and she needed a second to breathe again.
On the outside, everyone trusted her leadership. On the inside, she was just biding her time.
The rush of adrenaline fueled by her initial determination was beginning to fade and she wasn't sure how many doors she could keep kicking down. Laura eyed the neck of the bottle sticking out from her rucksack, her fingers twitching to grab it. Her eyes flickered side to side, as if looking to see if there were any witnesses to her shame.
"That's it, I'm paranoid," she laughed to herself as she reached over to grab the glass, "As if there aren't worse vices to have in the Commonwealth."
She popped the cork off the top, brought the bottle to her lips, and knocked back a big swig before she could second guess her decision. The liquid burned its way down and her face scrunched up, while her body let out a shudder.
"Crazy to think that before all of this, even a glass of wine was only for special occasions," she smirked down to Dogmeat, "When Shaun came along I quit cigarettes and drinking entirely. 'Too much of a slippery slope', Nate would say. Guess he knew I had no impulse control."
Feeling the tension leaving her muscles and a familiar warmth wash over her, she hit the bottle again, a little easier this time. Her expression then fell downcast and the sad song on the radio no longer interested her.
"Tsk, where's all the new stuff? 210 years laters and the only shit I haven't heard is all the way at the Third Rail," she grumbled, drunkenly twisting the radio's dials until she caught a new frequency.
Suddenly, there was a crackle and a woman's voice permeated the air.
"This is Scribe Haylen of Reconnaissance Squad Gladius to any unit in transmission range. Authorization Arx. Ferrum. Nine. Five. Our unit has sustained casualties and we're running low on supplies. We're requesting support…."
"Cambridge Police Station?" Laura hummed absentmindedly, taking another drink. She raised her wrist to pull up the map on her Pip-boy. Her eyes scanned over the screen with blurry vision until they landed on College Square. "Hm, it's actually not that far from here."
She wasn't sure if she was ready to head home yet, but she was ready to help. She was always ready to help. Opportunities like these were life's small pleasures and they gave her a sense of purpose when everything else seemed bleak. Laura believed that out here in the Commonwealth, she could actually make a difference. If not for Shaun's case, then for someone else.
"Alright, boy, let's head out," she stroked his ear before putting out the fire and packing up the rest of her supplies. Her eyes flickered to the bottle again and she smiled mischievously for a moment, but then shook her head after giving it another thought.
"I can't. Who knows what I'll find out there."
Laura swiftly snatched her General hat from a nearby log, firmly placing it on her head. As she did so, she stood a little taller under the implied power of the uniform. In her left holster was Kellogg's pistol, and with a stiff hand, she reached down to draw it out. Peering at the machinery in her palm, Laura blinked back tears while choking out another croak of a laugh. She hadn't touched the gun since she looted it off that terrible man's corpse, but in this moment she decided that, in a way, it was rather cathartic for her to use the gun that murdered her husband and ruined her life to wreak revenge against the Institute.
After holstering the pistol back at her waist, Laura thought it was alright to have another drink.
Before she fully rounded the corner of a building across the street from the station, Laura's ears caught the sounds of what seemed to be a mass of feral ghouls in an animalistic frenzy. She was shocked by how many she could hear, seeing as the walk was a relatively short trip. Thinking of all these monsters so close by while she relaxed, unaware, with Dogmeat at camp made goosebumps prickle down her arms.
Geez, what the heck did these people do to piss these things off? She grabbed her pistol and looked down to her sweet companion, motioning a command to him. "Alright boy, you know the drill. You stay here until I give the signal, okay?"
As if he could understand the English language, Dogmeat dropped his head and let out a soft whimper.
"I know you want to help, but you're helping me the most by staying," She cooed, petting his head, "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."
Laura bent down to give him a kiss on the head, eliciting a tail wag from him. She gave him one last smile before straightening back up, suddenly glad she had smoked a quick cigarette on the way here. It helped sober her up and bring a bit of clarity back to her. Her fingers tightened around the gun and she stealthily ducked out of her hiding place towards the entrances of the barricades surrounding the base and into the chaos.
Paladin Danse was….confused to say the least. He had instructed Haylen to radio for assistance while he fended off the horde of ghouls swarming Cambridge Police Station. There seemed to be more than usual, and they were much more agitated. He was holding his ground for the most part, but was uncertain how much longer he could hold out. Rhys was behind him, killing off the outliers and watching his blind spots. However, the ghouls kept coming, more and more, with their piercing shrieks cutting through the thick air. With the cacophony of disarray building louder, Danse found himself relying mostly on his instincts and getting lost in the intensity of combat.
He clenched his jaw as the ghouls closed in around the courtyard, overwhelming their defenses. Shots fired through the air, but they seemed almost futile against the open mouths and outstretched arms charging towards him. As the entryways overfilled with bodies, he noticed even more ghouls crawling over the walls and his mouth suddenly went dry, but he didn't falter. Just as desperation had crept in, his eardrums were jarred by the distinct sound of shots from a higher caliber pistol.
What he saw was a woman weaving through the turmoil with an unexpected agility. Danse squinted through the mayhem and saw that she looked like an everyday scavenger, fitted with Raider leathers over her brown overalls and sweater. She looked worn down enough to be mistaken for one too, if not for the fact that she was clearly putting her own life on the line for a group of strangers, presumably responding to Haylen's SOS broadcast. She also displayed a level of skill that surpassed that of an ordinary civilian. Her swift movements and precise aim seemed more aligned with a military background rather than the savagery of a regular survivor. Each of her shots found its mark, killing off ghouls with uncanny accuracy. She darted her way through the horde to find her way by his side, never losing focus on the ferals around her. With the added firepower of her gun and the small grenades she hurled outside of the immediate perimeter, the swarm finally seemed to splinter off into smaller flocks that were easier to pick off.
As the last remnants of the swarm dropped to the floor, a moment of silence fell over the group and Danse felt a surge of relief that sent a heat over his ears and down to the nape of his neck. With heaving breaths, he turned to observe the mysterious woman who was now approaching him cautiously. The first thing he noticed was her physicality. Danse had noted a common look amongst the people of the Commonwealth—malnourished, dirty, tired, and overall unwell. And while the civilian before him definitely looked tired, that's where the comparisons ended.
Her body had the thickness of someone who had rarely skipped a meal, with toned limbs and wide hips. She was average height and her skin, while scuffed up on her hands, looked soft and supple, mostly unmarked by cruelty of the wasteland. That wasn't the only supple thing about her, he noted to himself embarrassingly. Paladin Danse always strived to be the perfect image of a soldier, but at the end of the day, he was a man first and foremost, and the attractiveness of the opposite sex was not lost on him. Especially hers. She looked like the Pre-War image of a maiden and he now understood why so many old songs on the radio sang about womanly charms.
Realizing he was doing more staring than analyzing, he cleared his throat. "We appreciate the assistance, civilian, but what's your business here?"
The stranger seemed momentarily stunned at his abruptness, but then exaggeratedly straightened her shoulders and raised her chin to match his energy. It was rather ridiculous.
"My business is just trying to survive out here, like everyone else." Then she shrugged awkwardly and said, "I heard your broadcast and happened to be in the neighborhood."
Danse's mistrust grew as he caught the unmistakable scent of vodka on her breath. He started to see why she was acting so bold.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "The way you charged in and engaged those ferals, I find that a bit difficult to believe. Are you from a local settlement?"
Her eyes flicked down to the floor and she swayed a bit before she answered, "I'm…from Vault 111. But now I'm at Sanctuary Hills, on the other side of Concord?"
Danse was caught off-guard at this. It made sense now why she seemed so protected from the radiation and destruction of the Commonwealth, but why would she choose to leave the safety of her vault? And how was she able to hold her own so well out here? After all, Vault-Tec hadn't exactly equipped its customers with the skills to survive, let alone thrive, in this world.
"You're a Vault Dweller? Most people wouldn't admit to such a thing. I appreciate your honesty." He paused, "You left 111 for Sanctuary Hills? I've seen the location on our maps, but I've never visited the area myself. There isn't much over there for us to collect."
She smirked up at the Paladin with a mischievous look in her eyes and slurred, "Well, it wasn't much when I first got there, but the leader is some pretty hot stuff. She reeeally fixed up the place. Made it a haven cozy enough for folks to actually live in, not just exist."
He raised a brow at her. "She sounds like a respectable woman. I'd hope to meet her someday. Maybe we could recruit her for bigger projects much more worthy of her time, where she can enact real change for the people of the Commonwealth."
The woman looked almost contemplative at this before giving him a small smile, "Yes, that sounds like something she'd be interested in. If it's really for the greater good anyway. You'll probably meet her sooner than you think."
Danse nodded back at her. "I look forward to it. Look, I apologize if I appear suspicious. Our mission here has been difficult. Since the moment we arrived in the Commonwealth we've been constantly under fire."
She gave him a sympathetic look and replied gently, "Yeah, you're telling me. The Commonwealth seems to be hostile to just about everything and everyone, I'm afraid."
Danse hesitated a moment, considering her evident signs of intoxication. Of course his squadron could use the assistance and this woman seemed highly capable, but if she was just some sort of junkie, she could wind up being an unpredictable hindrance to the mission at hand. His eyes raked over her once more. Although her gaze seemed rather unfocused, she still seemed alert and held her posture as if she was always at the ready. Body language aside, she also answered his questions candidly and hadn't yet asked for anything in return for their rescue.
He shifted from one leg to another as he continued, "I normally wouldn't ask this of a civilian, but I respect your abilities and selflessness thus far. If you want to continue pitching in, we could use an extra gun on our side."
Danse silently hoped he made the right decision as the stranger's smile widened.
Even through his Power Armor, Danse could feel the cold air of the evening begin to set in as they left ArcJet Systems. He hadn't expected their assignment to take so long, failing to anticipate the presence of synths within the facility, but between him and Laura they were easy work. He turned to watch the girl, who was now kneeling down to give her dog a dramatic kiss on the snout.
"My name is Laura." she'd told him sweetly in the police station, looking up at him beneath her lashes. "Laura Palmer."
The name was fitting, he thought at the time. Plain and pretty, just as she was.
On their way to ArcJet, before running into some local Raiders, they chatted and exchanged pleasantries. He shared more about the Brotherhood and what they were trying to achieve in Boston, but at times found it hard to concentrate when her curious eyes gave all her attention to him. When they went deeper into ArcJet, he couldn't resist stealing glances at her, hoping they were subtle, but the playful grins she threw back at him gave him away. Danse thought he understood human attraction from an educational standpoint, but experiencing it firsthand proved to be an entirely different story. During combat, he felt the urge to shield her the best he could, but found that she never needed it. Even without power armor, advanced weaponry, and the training of the Brotherhood, she proved self-sufficient. It seemed as though she didn't rely on anyone out here.
In the present, Paladin Danse walked over to her with all the grace he could manage in the heavy metal suit and removed his helmet to look her in the eye. "Well, that could've gone smoother, but mission accomplished."
Laura stood up to face him and giggled. "Aw come on, it wasn't so bad. I thought we worked pretty well as a team."
"Agreed." He said quickly. Maybe a little too quickly because her face flushed and her smile turned shy.
He cleared his throat and clarified, "It's a refreshing change to work with a civilian who can follow orders properly. That being said, I'd like to compensate you for your assistance during this operation."
She blushed even deeper and raised her hands, palms facing out to him. "Hey, you really don't have to do that. I volunteered my services just to help you guys out. Don't feel the need to pay me for it."
"I insist. Your help was crucial to our survival and you deserve proper recognition. Besides, as a woman of your caliber, I think you'll find this weapon useful." He gave her a good-natured smirk. "It's my own…personal modification of the standard Brotherhood laser rifle. May it serve you well in battle."
Paladin Danse retrieved Righteous Authority from his person and placed the weapon in her hands, steadying her arms when they faltered under the weight of it. Despite the heat pricking his ears, he kept his face neutral and took a step back to watch her marvel at its glory. A quiet moment fell over them as she turned the gun over to inspect its intricacies. The whole thing felt…oddly intimate to Danse.
Laura tested its mass, feeling out how the gun felt in her hand. When she was satisfied, she gazed up at the Paladin and softly said, "Thank you. I'll take good care of it."
Danse found himself unsettled by the energy pulsing through him. It made him feel restless. And in his position, he couldn't afford to be off his game. The woman standing before him was a complete contradiction. She had a gentle and polite nature, but could be ruthless when the situation called for it. Obviously a drinker, but not a slacker. Willing to lend a hand, yet fiercely independent otherwise. He wasn't sure what to make of it all, but he sure wished his heart wouldn't race at the mere sight of her.
Danse gave her a slight nod, looking straight into her eyes. "You definitely earned it. Now as far as the second matter goes, I wanted to make you a proposal."
Laura's nails dug into her thigh as the wretched thing she was currently riding in, called a vertibird, lurched horribly to the side and made a sharp right. Her stomach flipped from nerves and she looked over to Danse, whose face beamed with pride.
Was he actually enjoying this?!
Despite her love for hiking mountains, Laura couldn't deny the fact that she harbored a slight fear of heights. Whenever she dared to peer over the edge of a trail, her stomach would twist and her vision went spotty. And now, at a whopping 15,000 feet, in the dark, on a machine that shuddered with every gust of wind, this fear was exasperated to a whole new level.
Come on Laura, don't be ridiculous. You faced the end of Kellogg's gun and lived to smell the entrails, this is nothing. And clearly Danse is comfortable, so things must not go wrong often right?
…Except for the fact that I've literally SEEN these things crash all over Boston! And what if this is the one time that this thing DOES go wrong? Okay, just breathe, just breathe, just breathe-
Her inner monologue of panic was interrupted when Danse yelled over the noise, "Laura, are you alright? You look unwell. The Prydwen is just over there." He pointed to a vague shape on the horizon. "Will you make it safely?"
Laura swallowed the lump in her throat and sat up to feign a brave face, giving him a thumbs up with a shaky hand. "Don't worry, Danse! Just enjoying the view!"
Ah yes, the beautiful view of the destruction down below. Look! That crumbled pile of concrete is absolutely gorgeous under the light of the full moon! Oh wait, even better! A trashcan fire surrounded by raiders, so cozy and inviting! This definitely beats staying with Dogmeat in the warm, GROUNDED police station. I bet Haylen is spoiling him rotten right now….lucky dog.
She dissociated the rest of the trip, instead choosing to replay the song "Civilization" on an endless loop inside her head until, finally, the legs of the beast landed. However, what they landed on - a rickety, metal skeleton of a flight deck - did nothing to alleviate her anxiety. Once Danse dismounted, he turned around and held out a hand to help her down. It felt like more of a formality than anything else. She knew she had already proved herself an equal to him.
Nice to see some degree of chivalry isn't dead these days.
Laura gingerly stepped onto the unsteady rig, which swayed in the cool night breeze, and instantly felt a clammy sweat break out across her skin. Her fingers tightened their grip around Danse's power armor glove, unwilling to let go. With a nervous expression, she frowned up at him, only to get a reassuring smile in return. Letting out a sigh, she reluctantly released her hold on him, bringing her trembling hand back to her side.
He guided her towards the central part of the rig, where a man in uniform stood waiting. Danse offered him a salute. "Permission to come aboard, Captain Kells?"
Returning the same gesture, the man addressed the Paladin, "Permission granted. Welcome back."
They exchanged further greetings before Danse formally introduced her as the new recruit, offering to personally sponsor her and showering her with praise. A smirk tugged at the corner of Laura's mouth.
Man, he's really laying it on thick. I guess I've still got it, if even the Post-Apocalyptic Air Force is taking notice of little ol' me.
"You'll be pleased to know that Elder Maxson's approved your request and placed the recruit in your charge."
Paladin Danse quickly flashed her an eager look before responding, "Thank you, sir. And my current orders?"
"You are to remain on the Prydwen and await further instructions."
"Very good, sir. Ad Victoriam, Captain." Danse saluted again.
"Ad Victoriam, Paladin." Captain Kells mimicked.
Laura was enjoying this little show of bureaucracy until Danse gave her a nod and walked away. Her amused look immediately vanished as she watched him leave, feeling apprehensive about being left alone with the officer. She turned to face Captain Kells and mentally cringed at his stern appearance.
"So, uh, hello-" she began.
He cut her off with a scowl. "So, you're the one Paladin Danse has taken under his wing. Initiate Laura Palmer, correct?," He gave her a once-over and scoffed, "You don't look much like a soldier to me."
Feeling rather indignant, she shrugged nonchalantly and gave him a sarcastic smile. "Looks can be deceiving. Sorry to disappoint."
His eyes narrowed disapprovingly at her. "Precisely why I personally insist on scrutinizing every recruit who boards this vessel. I've read Paladin Danse's report. He seems to think you'll make a fine addition to the Brotherhood. You might expect an endorsement like that to grant you a great deal of latitude with us, but let me make one thing clear. As the captain of this vessel, I won't allow anyone to jeopardize our mission no matter how valuable they think they are. And that bit of disrespect you just performed for me won't be tolerated around here. Consider this your only warning. Understood?"
Laura thought back to the kindness that Danse had shown her and his genuine enthusiasm when he heard she was assigned to him. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture, like she did so many times in the past, and evened her tone. "Understood, Captain. I apologize for my insolence. I've been on my own for a while now, but I'm fully prepared to follow orders and serve the Brotherhood as needed."
Captain Kells appeared taken aback at first, but then annoyance crossed his face. As if he couldn't fathom a capable soldier of the Brotherhood behaving foolishly, let alone offering an apology afterward.
"Apologize?" He scolded her, "That's not something I'm accustomed to hearing from a soldier. If you want to earn your place among the best, you need to tighten up. Make sure you don't do anything that would require an apology in the first place. I need you one hundred percent committed at all times. Nothing less will do."
"Absolutely." Laura replied.
"Good." He barked, glare softening slightly, much to her relief. He continued, "That's all for now, soldier. Your orders are to proceed to the Command Deck. Elder Maxson wishes to have a word with you."
"Wait, uh, sir Captain…sir." She stuttered, "Can you tell me anything about Elder Maxson before I meet with him?"
The Captain's eyes lit up with pride and he raised his chin to look down at her. "Elder Maxson is the supreme commander of the Brotherhood. Without his tenacity and his vision, we'd still be a small group of complacent stragglers occupying the Citadel in the Capital Wasteland. In a mere decade, he's grown the Brotherhood of Steel into a major military force. He's an inspiration to us all and will make a proper soldier out of you."
She repressed the urge to roll her eyes. Pfft, seriously? This guy sounds like a total tool, having all these men fawn over him. He's probably some old figurehead politician-type, using the Brotherhood as a way to stroke his own ego and bask in the praise. It's ridiculous, really.
Despite her cynicism, Laura pretended to be impressed. "He sounds amazing. Must be a pretty smart man to have accomplished so much under these conditions. I suppose I shouldn't keep him waiting then."
"I suppose not. Dismissed, Initiate Palmer." Kells said, stepping aside and gesturing roughly towards the door at the top of the stairs.
Laura nodded her goodbye and began making her way towards the entrance of the vessel. When she hesitated in front of the door, the soldier guarding it offered her a tight-lipped smile. "Welcome aboard. Elder Maxson will address you inside the Command Deck. It'll be all the way at the end of this room. Ad Victoriam, Initiate." With that, he opened the door for her.
Holding her breath, Laura entered the room, her gaze immediately drawn to the array of windows on the opposite side. She approached slowly, and as she moved past the spiral stairs, she caught sight of the man she had heard so much about—standing tall, hands clasped behind his back.
Ah, fuck.
Laura was expecting a lot of things. She wasn't sure what specifically, but it definitely wasn't this. When she thought of the title of Elder, she usually pictured old, wise, and probably a little crusty. The man who caught her eye now was the complete opposite. He was young, maybe around her age, and tall, with a piercing stare of blue eyes and a ruggedly handsome face, which was adorned with a well-groomed beard. The only visible "flaw" she could see of this man was a deep scar on his cheek and even that made him all the more attractive, somehow adding to his overall allure. A thousand alarms blared in her mind as she stood there dumbfounded, lingering a few feet away.
What the actual fuuuck. Nobody told me this man was hot! Not a damn soul! Jesus Christ, how does anyone get anything done around here? Surely this can't be Maxson…
It suddenly became very clear to her why everyone was so enamored with him. This man looked like the fucking god of war. For the first time in her life, she felt…clumsy. As she began closing the space between them, he finally became aware of her presence in the room. It felt like he was studying her carefully, taking in her appearance and how she carried herself. His eyes seemed to linger on the General hat on her head, but his face remained pensive, betraying no other emotion. Laura figured that she'd eventually have to reveal her leadership role in Sanctuary, but felt like first impressions might not be the right time for that.
She resisted the urge to fidget under his inspection, doing her best to present herself as the ever-perfect soldier Danse hyped her up to be. She stopped before him and locked onto his deep gaze. God, this man was beautiful. Nonetheless, she made an effort to speak in a measured tone. "Elder Maxson? I was told to report to you."
"You must be the new recruit. From what I've read in Paladin Danse's reports, you seem to have made quite an impression. And seeing as he's one of my most respected field officers, you couldn't get a better recommendation. What is your name, initiate?"
"Laura Palmer, sir."
"And Danse stated that you're originally a Vault-Dweller, but you're now residing in the settlement of Sanctuary Hills, correct?"
"That is correct," she hummed affirmatively.
Maxson appeared to mull over her words with a hint of skepticism, his eyes staring deeper into hers, almost as if he were searching for hidden insights beneath her surface.
After a moment's pause, he broke eye contact and started pacing back and forth in front of her, gathering his thoughts. "I find it fascinating that you single-handedly rescued the lives of Recon Squad Gladius without a hint of opportunistic intentions. I won't pry into the specifics of your methods, but it's obvious that with your capabilities, selflessness, and knowledge of the Commonwealth you will be a great asset to our cause."
He turned to face her. "I know this might come as a surprise to you, but based on what I've heard, you far exceed the skill-level of an initiate. It appears you require minimal training, other than a briefing on standard Brotherhood practices. Your abilities have immense potential, and I truly believe we should be employing them for much bigger endeavors. Therefore, from this moment forward, I'm granting you the rank of Knight."
Laura bit her lip, feeling uncertain about what this new position would mean for her. Such official titles always made her feel a little trapped.
"I'm glad you think so highly of me, sir, but I'm not sure if I'm deserving of all that. I mean, hey, I just got here. And I'm still not exactly sure what it is you're asking of me."
"Knight Laura," He placed emphasis on the first word, but it was the sound of her name spoken in his deep voice that sent a shiver down her spine. "I understand your uncertainty, however, I see something remarkable in you. Do you understand the dangers the Institute poses to the everyday civilian? Join our forces, and together, we'll be a part of something greater than ourselves. Something that transcends all of us."
Maxson then took one deliberate step forward and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. She couldn't help but flinch under his touch, goosebumps trailing down her arms. Say what you will about him, tool or not, but the man was damn sure convincing. He had a presence that commanded attention and every word that rolled off his tongue was filled with genuine emotion, as if he wholeheartedly believed in every single thing he said. Laura was starting to understand why this guy held so much power; he had definitely the qualities that made him a great leader.
"You can be a part of the change that saves humanity," Elder Maxson continued, his deep voice filled with emotion. The way his eyebrows furrowed together made him look weary, but impassioned all the same. This definitely wasn't the obnoxious display of machismo that she was expecting from the leader of the Brotherhood. "This goes far beyond personal gain or glory."
He tightened his fingers around her clavicle, and despite feeling a twinge of embarrassment, she couldn't deny the comfort it brought her. With hugs being a rare occurrence these days, and her need for one growing stronger, she found herself craving more of the physical contact.
"So, Knight, are you ready to stand with the Brotherhood in the most noble fight of all?"
Laura glanced down to take in Elder Maxson's words. When she looked back up to him, she had determination in her eyes and sincerity in her voice, she simply said, "I'm ready."