1

"Heave!"

"Ho."

"Heave!"

"Ho!"

The train car tilted slightly. But it was enough to let the Minutemen power armors through. Marines were backing up Major MacCready's force on this one. Because his people were serving as the personal guard of the General herself. MacCready told her not to do this when she defined the mission. Colonel Bridget then told her not to do this when her personnel were assigned. They were ordered to not tell any council member or member of the press until they had a result to report. She was going on this mission herself.

Because what if vampires can't be heard over electronic devices like CB radio?

After a bit of a struggle, and clearing of newly laid traps, her personal X-01 stood in front of the gate to their lair. It nearly shimmered even in this darkness. It only held the bag. MacCready's people remained in cover serving as a buffer between the General's expected conversation and ex-Gunners jumping at the chance of action against an opponent that hadn't even heard of before.

"Excuse me.", her suit's speaker called out. "I am the General of the Minutemen. I've come to speak to Vance."

Robert allowed himself to be noticed. "And what if I don't want our leader within sight of your forces?"

"Then I will have come a very long way to be disappointed and be forced to make my decisions without very needed input."

Some of her special forces let out a sigh once they confirmed that a vampire could be picked up by microphone.

"Wait here. Don't move an inch.", the man behind the gate commanded. He faded off down a tunnel. The Minutemen waited. And waited some more.

"I hope they remember that we're not ageless.", Emaline commented.

"Soldier.", the General chided.

Eventually, another man came into sight from the adjoining tunnel behind the gate. "I am Vance.

"You are not alone."

"No, I'm not.", the General conceded. "I am beholden to a civilian council that relies on me. I know they don't approve of my even being on what we would consider the front. I wouldn't be allowed to be here if I also came alone."

Vance remained expressionless.

"I take it you also disarmed our traps on the way here.", he accused. "Diminishing our defenses."

Vance breathed in. "Your man there. Hiding. He stated that you would come and talk to us about Arefu and the Family becoming communities in your Commonwealth. And that you wouldn't be talking about whether the Capitol Wastes became yours."

"If you mean 'ours' as in the Commonweath's and not 'mine' as in my own personal playground...well, that's fair.", the General admitted.

Vance' eyes narrowed. "As long as we're on the subject of fair. You've brought quite a number to our doorstep, and disarmed our traps, and came during the day. I hope you do realize that I've bought time for the Family to get into a more tactical position than we were. And that we are well aware that you've been investigating what our abilities are."

The General paused, considering. "We haven't noticed any observation during our research.", she offered.

Vance softly smiled. "There are those among us who are hard to notice until they wish to be.

"I'm curious. What is the most far fetched about what has been proposed of us?"

The General's power armor ended up shuffling in place. "I don't want to say it, because to me it sounds kind of racist, but the ability to steal life through a person's breath. I know my answer should be something like 'walking through the shadows' or 'turning into a bat' or even 'rising from the dead' in the first place. But that breath/life steal still sounds the weirdest to me."

"And that's why you're in that bulky suit despite coming beneath the land?", Vance asked. "Because your people wanted to ensure that your breath couldn't be used against you."

Vance switched subjects. "I would invite you in, so that we may speak more comfortably. But you've explained why you cannot. And you understand why I cannot. And so our talk remains out here, in front of all of us." He thought a moment. " I don't mind the tranparency."

"What do you believe I am here to propose?", the General asked.

"That you take over the external security of Arefu.", Vance answered. "You bring them your food farming. Your water dowsing. Give the people under the sun everything they need."

"And for your people?"

The man shifted. "I have heard very little about that."

The General's suit held up the bag it had in its hand. She tossed it over to Vance. "Taste it. Analyze it first. Commit whatever ritual upon it. And tell me if you can use it. We'll wait."

Vance looked at the BLOOD PACK. He held it for a moment, then nodded. He receded into the darkness.

The General's suit turned to Sydney. "Tell the Marines that not only did Vance and Robert show up on my external microphone, but also on my cameras. Their assaultrons can go back to generic combat instructions. But since he may have smelled MacCready, don't rely on STEALTH BOYS or the like."

"Ma'am.", the soldier saluted and slunk off.

"MacCready.", she continued. "Vance had an infrared signature different than the surrounding area. Robert as well."

The Major frowned at her. "So they aren't dead...undead...whatevers?"

"I don't know. I'd like to say a sign that they're not monsters with new powers we've never gone up against is better than being a pack of liars or crazy or both. But I've seen a lot of lying and crazy since unfreezing, and before if I'm honest. So I can't."

After a bit, Sydney reported back. "Information dispersed, ma'am. By the by - the Marines report that they haven't made contact with any of the Family. So if Vance said he moved them into a new, combat ready position..."

"We still don't know what that means: trap doors, the shadows, behind people's backs... Good job. Keep cool.", the General ordered.

It was some time before Vance came back.

"What was this?", he asked.

"Can you use it?", the General avoided.

Vance' eyes narrowed. "Yes."

The General's X-01 seemed to relax.

"But it tasted...generic.", Vance warned. "It doesn't belong to anyone, does it?"

"Have you heard of a synth?", she asked.

"Only what Three-Dog has broadcasted.", the man replied. "But considering who I'm talking to, I think I want a different explanation."

The X-01 jostled in place. "One of our communities, the Institute, has been experimenting with creating more and more human like robots. These robots are what are referred to as 'snyths'. With the advent of the Mark III, most non-lethal tests can't tell the difference between one and a real person."

"And these robots are alive?", Vance asked.

"No.", the General answered. "Well...mostly. I mean, most of them. The one test that they fail without being taken apart is a cognitive test for sentience. A few of them do in fact, think rather than calculate. Those that can are full citizens of the Commonwealth and under our protection. There is a community, with a vote, where many who can't pass the test are residing and they too are under the protections afforded citizens. As for the rest, they are viewed as Institute property until they experience and process enough to pass their sentience test should they choose to take it. And that goes for the ones that have been loaned to the Minutemen to bolster forces as well."

"And you would transfer this property to us?", he prodded.

"No.", the General snapped. "That sample was a component piece, yet to be utilized. It wasn't drained from a donor. I don't have the political prowess to get our council to accept handing over actual synths. Let alone believe anyone could convince the Institute to hand over one to another community that was identified as a synth."

Vance stared at her. Not the suit. Her. "Despite how adamant you seem to be about ensuring we reach an arrangement where we accept your authority over us, that breaks our agreement with Arefu. Despite how by your own admission you own council doesn't assess them to have any more rights than a sturdy pair of shoes.

"What about ghouls?"

"Ghouls are full citizens, judged by their actions. Ferality historically being a capital crime.", she replied.

"Supermutants?", he continued.

"The same.", the General answered. "Even if I can count on one hand how many the Commonwealth has met that keep from capitally punished crimes, or have the good sense to be useful in some way."

"And yet you wouldn't hand over a single one of these automatons that have into been breathed life.", Vance assessed. "Despite they're not being worth a supermutant you haven't even met. Despite their legal status in your self-vaunted legal system. Not even to curry our favor.

"What happens when you don't have our favor?"

The General tried not to threaten. "Since the Commonwealth be overseeing the Capitol Wastes that surrounds, separately, Meresti Station and Arefu, we'd have to self assess our comfort with any of either of your people traipsing through our territory. And that includes to and from Arefu or Meresti Station. The traveling caravans aren't currently licensed to sell outside of the Commonwealth, but that's because of the ongoing hostilities caused by the Brotherhood of Steel and may change after they're pacified. We can't count any of your people as criminals, so any thing that would normally be a crime would become an act of war. If I'm ordered by the council, I may be forced to do a security assessment and attempt to disarm any threat to the Commonwealth until it is not a threat to the Commonwealth."

"And how has that worked out before?", Vance asked.

The General replied, "The Nucleus ended up joining the Commonwealth and holds a seat on the council. After we occupied the entire community and subjugated their defense force. Unneccessarily, I might add considering that we only invaded them to ensure that they weren't responsible for what we've learned the Brotherhood of Steel is."

Vance stepped past the gate.

"We will keep obeying our own laws.", he stated.

The General told him, "Our constitution ensures that every community has their own laws within their community."

"We are very particular about who is a member of our community. There are...qualifications that not everyone meets."

"Our constitution uses the same right to uphold that."

Vance held up the now empty plastic bag. "And what if we chase after more of this than the council accepts is simply 'farm aid' to a community like our own?"

"Then you should see what the free market and personal enterprise allow in a very, very civil manner.", the General instructed.

Vance looked taken aback. "Have I been anything but?"

"No.", the General admitted.

Vance held a hand to his chest and slightly bowed. "And when we send a representative, you can accommodate a councilor with a purely...nocturnal preference?"

"No ones interested in disturbing a coffin in transit.", the General informed.

Vance snapped and pointed at her. "Say, that's a nifty solution.

"We cannot abandon Arefu or our agreement with them. However, if Mr. King chooses to abandon our agreement in favor of yours, we will inform him that it is with our blessing. And if he chooses to uphold our agreement, then be assured our grip to it will be that of a rabid animal.

"You can show yourselves out and await our collective decision."

2

"Mr. Vance said all that, did he?", Evan asked.

Alan nodded. "Yes, Mr. King."

Evan turned to the General, who wasn't in her power armor. (She was still within a step of the door to the shack and open sunlight, and closer to two Marines armed with FLAMERS.) "Well, I guess he must think quite highly of your outfit, miss."

"I must confess.", the General began. "I am offering him a supply that doesn't have to come from the veins of citizens. So whatever you're able to give him isn't equal to my offer.

"But he struck me as...honorable, even if I dare not believe in such from a/", and she glanced to Alan, "person who may possess extraordinary abilities."

King nodded. "If Arefu and Meresti Station are both going to be better off, then who am I to stand in the way? You got my yes if you be needing it, miss. I'll run it by my people in the morning."

Alan turned to her. "Vance speaks for us. So please, explain this...coffin."