Chapter 11 – Atonement

The weather was warm as the team headed back to Diamond City and Home Plate. Piper had woken up much chirpier than the day before and had helped Curie make the coffee and breakfast, Nate smiling to himself at her little acts of atonement.

The team were approaching the main railway bridge next to the Boston Police Rationing Site, just south of the city when Curie, who had taken point, signalled for everyone to take cover. Nate slowly approached the kneeling Curie.

"There are a large group of Robots just under the bridge," Curie pointed.

Nate followed her indication, and he could make out a few shapes milling around in the gloom of the underpass to the bridge.

"What do you think they want?" asked Nate.

"I am not sure but three of them are Sentry bots," Curie confirmed. Nate having to take her word for it as his human eyesight was nowhere near as good as Curies Gen 3 Synth eyes.

"I can't see a way around them as the train track is fenced off," Nate mused, "Well I never thought I would be advising this but…" and on that he signalled for Cait and Piper to join him.

"Right ladies, we have a gaggle of robots ahead," Nate started to draw in the dirt, "currently skulking in the underpass to the bridge," The girls craned their necks to take a look. "What I suggest is that I draw them out towards us, and if they take the bait, you three lob a grenade each to land here." Nate indicated a spot on the dirt map he had drawn with his finger.

"If they are not being controlled by anyone, they will keep coming which is when you three send the next set of grenades to land here." And again, Nate indicated a spot on the map of the road at their feet. "By that time any left would have drawn up alongside my position, as I'll be in the dead ground over there," Nate indicated to the other side of the road, "Catching them in a crossfire." Nate drew a cross in the dirt. "All good?" he asked.

Receiving nods of agreement, he set off, crouching to get to the other side of the road and into the cover of the ditch that ran alongside that side of the street. Once there he signalled his thumbs up and Cait and the other girls took two grenades each from their pack. Resting one on the ground in front of them, they grabbed the other one, ready to throw it. Cait signalled back to Nate that they were ready and Nate stood up.

"Yo Ho!" Nate shouted and waved towards the robots. For good measure he then fired a few shots in their direction and took cover again. The internal alarms of the three Sentry Bots sounded and the melee of machines began lumbering towards Nate's position.

"Now!" Nate heard Cait shout as the three girls all pulled the pins from their grenades and sent them towards the robot swarm. All three grenades went off close to the spot Nate had indicated and several of the robots were destroyed. One of the Sentry Bots, being crippled by the grenades, set off its auto destruct sequence and exploded into a ball of fire, catching two smaller eyebots and a major handy that was nearby. Nate had no idea who was refurbishing these pre-war robots and sending them out into the commonwealth, but they were a deadly menace and Nate was pleased he was being given the chance of eradicating this group.

The remaining machines continued their advance and were met by a second round of grenades. After the smoke and dust had cleared only one of the large Sentry Bots was left remaining and Nate finished it off with a burst from his weapon. These large 6 foot mobile gun emplacements had a torso with two large 50 cal machine guns attached to the end of each arm, they were also equipped with three legs, each with a large claw track wheel it would use to get around on. These were created by the military before the war to guard installations or clear buildings. These, plus many other domestic and civil service robots had been acquired by the various gangs roaming the commonwealth and re tasked to become effective killing machines.

Searching the wreckage of the robots, the girls and Nate were able to scavenge three more fusion cores as well as a few rounds of ammunition. The team, now straining under the weight of all their scavenged items, headed off on the last stretch home. Thank goodness they were close to Diamond City, thought Nate.

The team arrived back at Home Plate around three in the afternoon and were soon busy sorting out their acquisitions. They began by storing the ammo they would need whilst creating piles of items they would look to sell. Diamond city had several vendors who they could trade with. The main market square had Myrna's Diamond City Surplus, which was a general store, Arturo Rodriguez and his Commonwealth Weaponry, Dr Sun, who ran the surgery and Moe Cronin who sold his beloved swatters, which were baseball bats redesigned for combat. There was also Molly who owned the meat store, Becky fallons clothing store, Kathy and John's Super Salon, and Solomon who peddled chems. Further out towards the wall there were other vendors such as Mr Dr Pepper and Dr McClintock in the bleachers and you can also trade with Henry Cooke up in his bar the Colonial Taphouse.

Separating out the tasks, Piper and Cait took various items and headed out to the market whilst Nate organised the ammo they were keeping. Curie headed downstairs to the Kitchen to begin preparing the roast she was making for the team that night. After sorting and storing the ammo Nate headed out to sell the Fusion Cores and surplus weapons they had found, bargaining with Arturo for some caps and a few additions to their weapons in return. Nate got back to Home Plate around eight and walked in to be greeted with the most amazing smell from the dinner Curie was preparing. Cait was already downstairs, having had a shower whilst Piper was sat at the computer tucked under the stairs.

Nate headed down to the kitchen. "Have I got time to freshen up?" he asked to Curie.

"Oui Monsieur" replied Curie "It shall be another twenty minutes or so."

After grabbing a quick shower Nate returned downstairs just in time to see Curie begin to serve up. He had grabbed a bottle of wine from the upstairs fridge, which had become something of a drink fridge seeing as the apartment had two, and he poured everyone a drink.

"So?" asked Cait, taking her seat. "Don't keep us in suspense."

Nate, who never usually wore his Pip-Boy in the house still had it on and he turned his wrist to look at his calculations. The Pip-Boy was a wearable personal computer that attached to the wrist. Using the dial control, Nate scrolled through the various screens until he reached the one he was looking for.

"After purchasing a few more extended magazines for us three" Nate indicated Cait, Piper and himself, "we have made four thousand, six hundred and ten caps, in total" He smiled.

Piper's mouth fell open and Cait exclaimed "Jesus fucking christ!," she also had a massive smile on her face.

"This is good, Non?" asked Curie in her deliciously naive way.

"Yeah, you could say that" answered Cait. "That's about the same amount I would make in a year if I won all my fights at the Combat Zone."

"And we made that in three days," continued Piper, blowing out a breath and breaking into a wide smile.

"Well, here's to three days," Nate toasted, raising his glass.

The girls laughed, "Three Days," they replied in unison and clinked their glasses.

"And here's to Sirius Body Armour," Nate added, looking at Cait.

She blushed, "I'll definitely drink to that!" she replied.

"That makes our current balance fourteen thousand, four hundred and sixty-five," Nate read, checking the information on his Pip-Boy.

"And how long have we been a team now?" asked Cait.

"It's been just over nine months since I met Blue," Piper replied.

"That's pretty incredible to think of it like that," Cait exclaimed. "To make that much in such a short period of time, and whilst I hate to admit it, we might well have done better had we adopted your drills sooner," she smiled at Nate.

There then followed an excited discussion between the girls, swapping stories of the different engagements and drills they had carried out. Retelling the engagements from their own perspective and complimenting the professionalism of their teammates. Nate couldn't help but feel proud and a little bit relieved at how things had turned out. From literally pulling his hair out at the chaotic and almost suicidal way in which his companions operated when in the field, to the coherent and professional manner they conducted themselves today. Who could have guessed that by giving each of them real discipline in their lives, it would have had such a positive effect.

"I have to agree with Cait," chimed in Curie. "Without your perseverance in teaching us your unit tactics, I do not think what we achieved this week would have been possible." She raised her glass to Nate. "I would like to say thank you, once again for having faith and a great deal of patience in us." She clinked her glass against Nate's.

"Thank you Curie, but I can't take all the praise," Nate smiled "had you guys not decided you were willing to turn this ship around, had you guys not made the proposition that you did, we would still be running around dodging each other's bullets and still taking chunks out of each other with grenades," Nate pointed to his leg where the shrapnel scar was from Pipers grenade throwing just after they had met.

"Yeah," said Piper blushing "sorry about that," she smiled.

"You apologised at the time, Piper, we are good," Nate reassured her with a smile.

"I bet you're glad we didn't have our current arrangement in place back then," Cait playfully pushed her neighbour at the table. "That would have been some hiding you would have got!"

"Yeah," Piper looked down at her hands, "Thank goodness for small mercies," she smiled weakly.

"You, ok?" Nate asked, looking across the table at her.

"Oh, me," Piper broke out of her introspection, "Yes, all good thanks" she perked up and smiled. "That dinner was amazing Curie, as always, thank you."

"You are welcome," answered Curie as she stood to begin clearing the plates away.

"I'll help," jumped in Cait, as she too stood to help tidy up.

"Now are you alright?" asked Nate, insinuating that for Cait to ask to help was out of the ordinary.

"Oh, go boil your head," Cait huffed, in a not at all serious manner. But Nate didn't miss the glance that Cait gave him, indicating Piper with her eyes. Piper was still sat at the table, staring at her empty plate.

"You done with this," Cait moved in to grab Pipers plate.

"Hm?" Piper looked up "oh yes, all done thanks," and she stood and headed to the stairs.

Nate looked back at Cait who indicated that he should follow her, and so giving her a few seconds to reach the top of the stairs, Nate followed. Piper had gone to the bathroom and so Nate walked to the desk to put his Pip-Boy away. Seconds later the sound of a toilet flushing and Piper appeared in the doorway looking at Nates back. Sensing her there, Nate pretended to not hear her and busied himself with some small task at his desk.

"You got a minute, Blue?" Piper asked, as she came into the room.

Nate turned around, "Of course, my love what's up," Nate asked in his usual casual manner. Piper moved a little further into the room and looking at the floor took a deep breath.

"So…." She began, obviously stealing herself for the conversation ahead. "That thing outside Milton General…." She began, still with her eyes fixed on the floor.

"Yes," Nate responded, in as encouraging a tone as he could.

"Well, I can't say that was my finest hour," Piper sheepishly looked up, and on meeting Nate's eyes she immediately looked back at the floor.

Nate chose to stay silent at this bit, as Piper obviously wanted to get something off her chest.

"I haven't been able to get out of my mind just how stupid and dangerous I was. Just storming off into the lobby of the hospital without even checking for traps, sounds, ambushes or making sure you guys were with me," She continued, still looking at her feet and nervously fiddling with her hands.

"It was reckless, yes," Nate agreed, but not in a judgemental tone.

"I just didn't care," blurted out Piper, "I just didn't care if I got hurt," a small sob escaped from her, "in fact part of me wanted to get hurt so you would feel bad." She was shaking her head "it was so stupid!"

"I get it" Nate reached out to take Pipers hands, "You were cross and you were hurting. No, I wouldn't have recommended that as the course of action, but I get why it happened." Nate sought to reassure her.

"Yes, but it was still dangerous, right?" Piper looked intently at Nate as she spoke, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Yes, it was but …." Nate began.

"Dangerous for me and for the team?" Piper continued.

"Well, yes…"

"Then answer me this," Piper continued, wiping the tears away, "what would you have done if Cait had just shouted Yahoo! and run in to the hospital without making sure she was safe?"

Nate smiled at the image but looking at how serious Pipers expression was, and understanding what she was getting at, "Well, after having nearly got herself killed the day before, I would have blistered her backside, that's for sure," he answered truthfully.

"And what about Curie. What would you have done if, whilst you were outside with Cricket and her guards, Curie just wandered into the hospital because she was curious?" Piper continued.

"Yes, she would be in for the high jump also," admitted Nate.

Piper then gave Nate a 'you know what follows next' look.

"Ok" Nate said, "let me get this straight, you are saying that I should ignore any mitigating circumstances in what you did yesterday?"

"I am saying that you cannot treat me any differently than the other two, you mustn't, that's the deal." Piper insisted.

"You know what you are asking, right?" enquired Nate, returning the serious look that Piper was wearing.

"I screwed up so I need to apologise to you and…" Piper was getting into her stride, "as we agreed, I also need to show you that I mean it."

Nate thought about what she was asking.

"Alright" Nate agreed, "the first thing I need you to do is to apologise to the entire team, not just me. You put Cait and Curie at risk just as much as you did me." Nate moved towards the door, indicating that Piper should follow him. She looked down at her feet one more time as if stealing herself for the task, she nodded and then followed. What Nate had decided to do was to take Piper to speak to the others, convinced that the girls would talk her out of it.

The two made their way back downstairs to the dining table. By this time Cait and Curie had cleared the dishes away and washed up. They had opened another bottle of wine and had four glasses ready, as if they expected Nate to come back down with Piper. As Nate appeared at the top of the stairs, he let Piper head down before him.

After the team had all taken their seats, Nate turned to Piper "You, ok?" He checked in with her.

Piper nodded and grabbing hold of her wine glass, she took a long deep drink. Setting the glass back down she looked at each of the team in turn. "I was a total brat yesterday and in letting my emotions get the better of me, I acted in a dangerous and foolhardy way, and I can't apologise enough." She paused just long enough to take another sip of her drink albeit smaller this time. "Nate was, as always, a true gent and ready to forgive me for my tantrum but I have just asked him not to be let off." At that, both Curie and Cait showed surprise.

"Why?" asked Curie, "You explained your reasons last night."

"Yes, I did, but that doesn't make what I did any better. How can I truly call myself part of this team if I let my emotions get the better of me and allow me to put the team at risk," Piper explained. "I know" Piper sighed, closing her eyes, "it seems like I am spanking mad, trying to get Cait tanned and then volunteering myself, but if this agreement is to work then I can't sidestep taking responsibility for my actions."

"And you accept my reasons for why I chose not to punish Cait further?" Asked Nate.

"Absolutely," answered Piper, "you made a very valid point about choosing specific infringements to punish on; let's be honest, you would have an aching right arm if you punished everything," Everyone smiled at that which made Piper visibly relax. "That is why I asked just now," Piper said turning to Nate and pointing upstairs, "what you would have done if it had been Cait or Curie in my position. You said that Cait would have got her backside blistered if she had pulled the same stunt I had."

Cait turned to look at Nate, who held his hands up. "You asked," He smiled "what I would have done if Cait had shouted Yahoo! and charged into the hospital without a care in the world. Which is slightly different, as in your scenario, Cait wouldn't have had the same reason to be angry that you did." Cait laughed at that.

"Yahoo?" she smiled "what am I, a cowboy all of a sudden?"

Nate looked at Piper, "I was happy not to punish your transgression because you had a good reason," He paused, "no a great reason to be upset at that moment. I am not an ogre and if someone is having a moment of …. well….. just being human, and I mean you too," Nate turned to look at Curie "I am not going to punish you for that."

"But if Piper wants to make up for her mistake, you will let her, yes?" Asked Curie in that beautifully matter of fact way she did when she presented a faultlessly logical argument, and in this case, Nate couldn't fault her logic.

There was also no getting away from the fact that ever since the girls had introduced this discipline dynamic into the team, things have got significantly better. Tactics were now being followed and the girls were operating in a much safer manner. So, if Piper wanted a hiding to set things straight, surely that is just an extension of the system working. Piper had always had a strong moral compass, and so was this really that surprising, that she was keen to atone for a mistake she made. Nate thought about Pipers question, what would he have done if Cait or Curie had been reckless without any excuse for their behaviour? Nate had admitted that he would have given them a good hiding for pulling a stunt like that, so perhaps Piper was correct, perhaps she should be getting one too.

"Well, I can't say no to any of you wanting to make up for having done something wrong." Responded Nate.

"Feeling as if you have paid your debt and being forgiven is so important in this whole set up," added Cait turning to look at Nate, "Back at the Weston Water Plant, the moment I realised just how badly we had been treating you whilst all you had been trying to do is train us and keep us safe, I felt a huge amount of guilt. It was a horrible feeling."

Nate smiled, "you said it felt like being hit by a train." He recalled.

"Exactly, but the moment you finished giving me my hiding I knew that I had shown you I was sorry, and I knew that I was forgiven. So simple and for us so…." Cait grimaced, "dare I say, perfect, I don't why we didn't do this before."

Nate nodded his head at that sentiment and turned to Piper. "I know that this new dynamic we have going on here is fairly new, but what is obvious to me is just how much of a positive effect it has had on us as a team." Looking around he saw the girls nodding. "You have all noticed just how effective we are when we work as a cohesive single unit."

"We kicked arse!" Cait laughed.

"Yes… Yes we did." Nate agreed, "Now I don't believe you are all following my training at the moment just because you are fearful of a spanking, I actually believe you are now operating more as a team because you have seen that it works and just how effective it can be."

"But it does concentrate the mind," Curie noted, "I found myself thinking about it a lot whilst on patrol, reminding me to try my best."

"I am sure you did," agreed Nate, "but having something present to remind you of your responsibilities is different than having you live in constant fear of something. When you ladies first proposed the introduction of corporal punishment into our team, I have to admit I didn't know how you would react once you had experienced your first hiding. For a punishment to be effective I knew it had to be memorable and so I chose for your first taste of discipline to be severe, but in doing so I took a gamble. What I had no idea about was what effect it would have. Would the trauma of a good thrashing," Nate nodded to Curie, "have a negative effect, have you shrinking in fear from me and generally hating me afterwards, or would it be a tool through which you could not only alleviate guilt but also show your commitment to the team." Nate paused to take a sip of his wine, "It is clear to me that this new dynamic is firmly the latter of those two. So, I guess that's my long-winded way of saying I would never stop any of you using this new arrangement for the very purpose that it was introduced for." Nate looked at Piper and smiled, "You don't want to change your mind?"

"Absolutely not," Piper smiled back, "But thank you, thank you all for your understanding in this," Piper looked down at her hands, "I hate this guilty feeling I have inside of me, I hate that right now I don't feel like I am worthy of a place in this team and I hate that I put myself and all of you in danger. I need this to go away, even if it will sting."

"Thank you, Ladies," Nate looked at Cait and Curie, "I think we have a plan for tomorrow morning but," turning to Piper, Nate continued, "I will ask you again first thing tomorrow and there will be no shame in pulling out, we have all accepted that you had your reasons. If, however, you are still committed to this course of action, once we begin, you will see your punishment through, is that clear?" Nate confirmed.

"Yes sir," Piper answered, naturally adopting a deferential tone, "I won't change my mind."

Nate had absolutely no doubt about that.

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