The Lone Wanderer led Reilly's Rangers into the town of Cantebury. Or at least the front gates of it. Since the Minutemen had moved in, obvious from their lightning and musket flags as well as the recruitment poster with Garvey's image emblazened, a fence surrounding the trading post and automated turrets had been put in place. There was a Minuteman at the gate with a sign behind him. "All persons are subject to search and identification." He took one look at the colors of the Rangers and waved them through from his security post.
Trader caravans prepped to make their travels. They were laden down with more goods than they usually had: apparently having access to goods from Point Lookout to Far Harbor helped on the supply side. And since their were people the Lone Wanderer did not recognize with brahmin carrying trunks, she supposed that the added competition of Commonwealth traders might drive prices down even further. If you were lucky enough to be able to trade with them, as it seemed every brahmin had the same leather pouch marked "ID"...presumably where caravans were carrying their much touted Commonwealth licenses.
While the Rangers took in the changes to the town, Fawkes eyed the Lone Wanderer suspiciously. She returned the glare. "You know, I'm thirsty from our traveling. Let's go hit up Porter's."
"In a minute.", Dominic D'Ellsrado interrupted. "What's your business in town?"
"Really Dominic?", the Lone Wanderer replied.
"Yeah, really?", Machete from behind him as well.
Dominic shrugged. "What, just because I'm getting old and these Minutemen are around I'm not supposed to do my job? How many times did that General warn us that Minutemen protection is only for the other side of the fence.
"Now I'm sure the Wasteland Savior is here for good reason. But as I've tried to teach you..."
"Every rule for every body.", Machete finished.
"Just...visiting, Dominic.", the Lone Wanderer offered. "Right now, we're just going to grab some grub. Might talk to some people I haven't seen in a while later on. Once I get the lay of your Minutemen presence."
"Cool.", Machete agreed. "Just keep any Brotherhood of Steel stuff out of it and it'll stay cool. Only thing that makes these Minutemen jumpy."
"Hm.", the Lone Wanderer conceded.
The now despondent woman led her un-merry band over to the still standing Dot's Diner. Joe Porter looked up and saw that business had picked up even more than he expected. He was accustomed to a trader and her caravan hand, maybe a weary wastelander. But nowadays he was nearly always feeding someone. Still, this was the first time a group as large as Reilly's Rangers came through all at once.
The explorer team took up the seats in the diner that were unoccupied. The Lone Wanderer sat at the bar. Before Joe Porter could get to her, someone else at the bar was staring at her.
"Anything that I can help you with, old man?", she asked.
"Maybe.", he replied. "And that's Old Man Stockton to most. Just trying to place your face."
Reilly called out. "See, there's a silver lining: people who don't recognize you."
The Lone Wanderer rolled her eyes.
"That's it.", Old Man Stockton realized. He moved closer and lowered his voice. "You're the one that helped out a certain...train way...with hiding a...mechanical man...that I got a report of. I haven't actually seen you. Just heard tell that you're one of the good ones."
The man laid down his copy of Publick Occurences and judged the Lone Wanderer's expression. When she frowned at the glowing praise that this so-called 'Piper Wright' was laying at the General's feet for taking over more and more of the Capital Wastes through bribery and intimidation, Stockton smiled.
"We need to talk.", he whispered. Louder he exclaimed, "Sorry, your face isn't coming to me. Maybe one day stranger." The man laid a few caps on the counter and walked out of the diner.
The Lone Wanderer stared straight ahead while waiting for Joe Porter to get to her.
