"Welcome back Bullseye."

"I wonder if anyone will still call me that after today," Tessa mused to Deacon. He gave her a cheeky smile, an almost ever present feature, and tilted his head for her to enter the latest Railroad HQ. From a crypt to a stripper club to a set of high-rise apartments; the Railroad had moved a lot in the past few months. Then again, given everything that had happened, she wasn't too shocked they kept moving either. Still, she was almost amused that with each attack and enemy defeated, they'd risen higher into the sky rather than sunk beneath it again.

To her impress, they had a working elevator that would take her from the ground level lobby to the apartments above. Guards waited behind the strategically boarded up windows, while a pair of turrets optimized to be quiet rested a few feet back in the lobby. Riptide and Valor were on guard-duty, something that felt like their ever present assignment. "Hey!" She greeted, wanting to actually talk with them unlike the brief moments she had in the past.

They turned to her with smiles. "Good to see you Bullseye," Valor said, new scars somewhere in the mix of his tapestry of survived battles. "Haven't seen you since the Institute Battle," he added.

"Well hunting the remnants down took a lot of effort, couldn't be around for the move. I hope it wasn't too hard," she replied.

Valor shrugged. "We're used to packing up and going. Being able to adapt is the only reason we're still alive. Each time we lose a base it hurts, I won't lie, but we're survivors."

She gave him a smile and looked between him and Riptide. Deacon patiently waited by the elevator. "Yeah, I guess you are."

Riptide smiled toothily. He wore less armor than Valor, instead exposing the fresher claw like scars he had on his arms. Tessa remembered that in the Battle, old gen synths kept trying to climb and tear him down as if he were a giant. It had been Valor to save him from a gruesome death. "You two sure like guarding," she joked.

"I'm good at it," Riptide replied, "plus… I like protecting others. Some of us aren't the best fighters." Valor gave an agreeing grunt.

"How's Pipsqueak doing?" The young girl flashed through Tessa's mind, already scarred by the world but determined to save the synths. She couldn't even be eighteen. Fortunately she'd missed most of the fighting by guarding Tinker Tom during the Battle. At least Desdemona hadn't ordered her into the fire, which Tessa would have taken issue with. It was both inspiring and sobering to Tessa that someone so young would dedicate themselves to the cause.

Riptide brightened and laughed. "She's trying to follow her brother's footsteps. She and Sam help Tom all the time now. Soon she might just replace him!"

"I doubt that'll happen anytime soon, then who'll give us crazy theories that turn out true in the end? I can't believe he was right about the crows being cameras for the Institute…"

"I take everything Tom says with a grain of salt," chuckled Valor, "have you ever heard that bit about hotdogs?"

"Oh how does it go… If every porkchop were perfect we wouldn't have hotdogs?" She laughed again. "How does he even know what pork is, there aren't any pigs anymore. Then again I suppose we do have cram, though I was suspect it wasn't entirely pork even before the bombs dropped."

Valor's face scrunched with amusement, which struck her as peculiar. He was intimidating to look at, scarred, square faced and thick bearded as he was, and yet he felt more like a friendly teddy bear than a yao guai. She'd seen the rage with which he fought, yet there in his presence she felt peace while Riptide still felt like a soldier tensed for the next battle. "Valor, where are you from?"

He blinked in surprise. "Me? Why do you ask?"

"I can't quite get you. You fight like someone well trained, you really knew how to hold yourself against the Brotherhood when we attacked that station, you're scarred from battle, and yet you… you set me at ease?" It reminded her of Nate. Tessa clenched a fist, inhaled deeply, and then shrugged. "I suppose I'm just curious."

Valor sighed, and shrugged as well. "Not from here, that's for sure. I grew up in the Citadel, down in DC. My parents were sentinels."

Green eyes widened. "You mean, you're from the Brotherhood?"

"Yup. Ex-paladin Jeremy Smyth, reporting, ex-knight Grey." He pulled a pair of holotags out from under his armor, and offered them to her. His information was inscribed in the holographic blue section, reminding Tessa of the ones she'd been issued. She collected the ones she could from any Brotherhood soldier she'd defeated, as if to honor them. She wasn't sure. Holding Valor's made a sorrow fill her chest and she returned them tenderly.

"What made you change?"

"When I met Whisper and Tango, years back before the Brotherhood became what it did. I won't lie though… It was already in the process. They were runaways, I saved them from super mutants, and the rest of my squad died. I couldn't just leave them there, and their escort was dead too. So… I took an unplanned vacation and brought them back here. They joined the Railroad, I was a tourist for a bit. Couldn't quite make it back by myself but I suppose something was keeping me in the area. Eventually I realized that I could actually be helping people if I joined up."

She grimaced. "Yeah. I guess you're right. I was helping people with the Minutemen but the Railroad… I felt like I was truly helping then, not to say the Minutemen isn't rewarding."

"I'm sure it is, General. I respect what you do, it's important. You're doing what I wish the Brotherhood was. But once Maxson became the Elder, things… They took a turn that I couldn't stomach. There's something special about the hope in their eyes when you get a synth to a new home though, isn't there?"

Before everything collapsed, Tessa had rescued a number of synths, some who's escort had been killed and their status unknown, or others fresh out of the Institute. She could remember each of their faces, the smiles and light in their eyes when she'd arrived. No one else had ever stood for the synths until the Railroad. That feeling was irreplaceable. "Yeah, there is. First synth I saved I got to Bunker Hill, our contact there was confused to see me but when the synth turned around and hugged me… I guess that's what made it all real to me, what we were doing."

"What we still do today," Valor replied. "People might accept that the Institute we knew is gone, but not everyone accepts synths. We're still needed. I escorted one to Sanctuary the other week, yknow?"

Tessa nodded. "Desdemona asked me to arrange their new living areas and such. With Sanctuary's open recruitment policy it's pretty easy to make them a home." It made her happy to know she could always assure homes for synths through the Minutemen now. It was the best of both worlds.

"She cried when we got there. Until that day, she'd never had a home. When Mamma Murphy welcomed her and told her there was a room ready for her she couldn't even find words to express how happy she was. Sure, that story could be any wastelander. Plenty of people have never had a place to call home. But you synths? It's special."

"I wish I could have been there to see it. What's her name? I'll have to say hi next time I'm up that way."

"Alissa." He smiled. "That's why I respect you, Grey. You're a good person, we're lucky to have you."

A frown slipped on her face and she looked away. "I can't keep living a double life. Not with Piper and Curie."

Valor nodded. "I get it. But no matter what, you've got allies here, just like I know you're ours." He held out a hand and she warmly accepted it. His handshake was firm but comforting. "It's been good working with you, Bullseye."

"You too, Valor. You or anyone else Railroad swings by Sanctuary, and I promise there'll be a free bunk for you at the inn."

"I appreciate that. Be seeing you."

She smiled, and started towards the elevator. Deacon gave her a smile. "For once you kept your mouth shut," she teased, "I'm shocked."

"Believe it or not I know when a conversation is private. Even Riptide went back to watching the street." He indicated the agent who gave a polite wave goodbye but little else. "Doesn't mean I wasn't listening though."

She chuckled as they entered the elevator, and Deacon selected the tenth floor. The elevator jerked a bit violently once or twice but otherwise rose to the intended destination without making Tessa think they'd plummet to their deaths. They stepped out into a common room where various agents milled about working on various things. Immediately the Railroad looked up at their arrival, and greetings came from all around.

Tinker Tom was working at a station he'd set up near a window, clambering away at a terminal. He'd taken over the entire wall on the east side of the common room, with tools and strange blueprints on cork boards covering the windows. Sam spotted her, and unlike last time she'd seen him he didn't run away from her, but he did busy himself with some work on a terminal. Pipsqueak gave her an enthusiastic wave before she focused back as well. Tessa sighed with relief, she'd take anything she could get with the former scribe. "Hey Bullseye! Come check this out!" Tom called over. Tessa looked at Deacon who shrugged, and they crossed over to him. "Hey! The Minutemen have Radio Freedom, right?"

Tessa arched a brow. That had been on the bottom of her list of expectations. "Yeah, we run it out of Castle. I can't stand the fife music, but it's been really useful to keep our settlements safe."

Tom nodded and gestured towards the MILA on his desk. "So, I was thinking, what if we built a radio station of our own, right? My MILAs are already gathering information from what's around them, and since I don't need to monitor for Institute terraforming anymore- which by the way turns out they were never doing- might as well make use of you and Cliff's hard work right?"

Tessa laughed. "I'm not too fond of going to such dangerous high places, so yeah I'd appreciate it not being a waste of effort. How's Cliff?"

"Out on another MILA job right now actually! I'm looking to get one near Sanctuary so our agents can be in range when escorting synths that way." He fiddled with a few things on his terminal and then gestured to her. "I could give you an upgrade on your Pip-Boy if you want. That way we're always just a call away! The encryptions I'm running are crazy tough, not even the Institute should be able to break these codes."

She paused for a moment. In a way she'd always be attached to them then, but at the same time they weren't people she'd want to lose necessarily either. "Yeah, okay." She removed her Pip-Boy and handed it to him. Her head felt light as the HUD it projected for her vanished, and she swayed on her feet for a moment or two. Tom took it carefully and then connected it to his terminal via the cable on the back. "Alrighty it'll take me awhile, a lot of data to transfer, but you're going to be around for a hot minute right?"

Tessa shrugged. "I'm here to talk to Desdemona, so potentially. I guess it just depends on if she's busy."

Tom frowned and grew quiet. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

Wincing, she nodded.

"It's okay. I had a feeling it would happen sooner rather than later. You're still our friend though, right?" He asked, hope in his voice.

Tessa placed a hand on his shoulder. "After the shit we went through? Absolutely. I fully believe in the Railroad and its mission, I just can't live this life anymore."

Tom slapped her shoulder appreciatively and lit back up to his animated self. "Good! I'd be really sad if I couldn't talk about science with you! If you swing by dead drops you'll still get some of my toys from time to time too."

"I'll deliver them myself," Deacon cut in, "any chance to see my pal."

She blinked. "Wow, thanks Tom. I really appreciate it."

He shrugged as he started activating the encryption process. "You're a good person, not just a good agent. I'll miss you, but I respect doing what you have to do."

"No matter what, I'll always be your ally," she reassured.

She thought she caught a glimpse of tears in his dark eyes, and he sniffled. "I'm glad." He wiped his eyes and then smiled at her. "I really am." Tessa came around his desk and gave him a hug.

"What, no hug for me?" Joked Deacon. She squinted at him, and then grabbed his collar and pulled him into a much less comfortable group hug. When she let go of him, Deacon was blushing.

"Don't doubt my ability to be affectionate," she teased, and he chuckled. "Just ask Piper or Curie, I am a champion at hugs."

"I'm sure you are," he laughed. She came back around and shoved him playfully before giving him a proper hug. He scratched his chin dramatically. "Hmm… I'd say a… Seven? Maybe eight on performance? Ten on intentions though."

The pair shared in their laughter for a few minutes, swapping jokes back and forth with Tom. Eventually Tessa pulled away. "I'm going to check on Desdemona now, let me know when you're done and don't break anything!"

"No promises!"

With a roll of her eyes, she and Deacon started towards a stairwell that led to the living quarters of the new HQ. "So, which room is yours?" Tessa asked Deacon as they walked. She recognized more agents as they passed, as well as some she didn't know. She idly mused if they were new recruits, quite liking the idea that they were continuing to grow.

"This one," Deacon indicated as they came up to a room with an orange painted door. "Wanna see the inside?"

"Sure."

He opened it and led her in. The building was once an apartment complex, though not the most spacious. There was a living room area with a kitchenette and sitting at a well worn table was Rabbit. Tessa arched a brow expectantly. "Sup roomie," Deacon greeted, and tousled the agent's recently grown black hair. Tessa tried not to stare at where a left arm should have been. The memory of Rabbit taking the blast of lasers instead of Desdemona in the Battle was burned into her mind. All that was left was a stub of a shoulder, which was wrapped over multiple times by bandages.

"Could've warned me we were going to have a guest," Rabbit drawled as she ate a bowl of sugar bombs. "I'd have put a shirt on." Instead all she wore were those bandages, tight across her flat chest where some other wounds were still healing up from the fight.

"Sorry dear," Deacon said half sincerely. Tessa's other brow went up. "Oh- yeah, meet my girlfriend, Markus."

"Nice to meet you," Tessa said, offering her hand to Rabbit, only to realize she should've given the other one. "Er, sorry."

"It's okay," Rabbit said with a glum shrug. "Happens a lot still, even around here. I've met you before though, remember?"

"At the Imperial," she confirmed. "I noticed you were by Deacon a lot through the fighting, but didn't know what to make of it then."

"We were keeping it pretty quiet… weren't too sure ourselves," Deacon explained, "still… a bit figuring it out honestly. But the labels feel right."

Rabbit nodded, and then continued to munch on her food. "We've got this place to ourselves, but most apartments are three to four a room. Desdemona's the only one with a solo room, and that's because she sleeps in her office," Deacon informed as he led Tessa towards the bedroom. It was clear whose side was who's. On the left there were racks of clothing, shelves with different wigs, hats, and even makeup. The right was much more sparse, though the Silver Shroud posters caught her eye. They had separate, though respectably large, beds.

Tessa brushed her hand along his racks of disguises. "So how many do you carry around? Because I remember a few times I turned around and you were in an entirely new outfit."

Deacon smirked, and pulled his favorite black pompadour wig on. Once it was adjusted, he gave her a pair of finger guns. "At least two. I'm very good at a quick change. Tip of the trade, wear something large and concealing, with lighter stuff beneath. Like overalls with a different outfit under."

"I see," she replied. "Think you'll still get into trouble with me from time to time?" Tessa turned back to him, an ache in her chest.

"Hah! I already told you I'll always have your back," he replied with a shake of his head. "Whenever I'm free I am more than happy to cause trouble with you. Maybe next time, we prank Rabbit with that other persona of yours?"

Tessa groaned as Deacon pointed at the Silver Shroud posters. "It was a one time stint," she defended. "For that ghoul y'know? He's that really nice pre-war one in Goodneighbor on the radio."

"Yeah and when I told Markus I know the real Silver Shroud she about threw me out the window if I didn't promise it was the truth."

"Does she know…?"

Deacon winked. "She doesn't want to know who's behind the shroud, just that they're real."

"Oh god." Tessa covered her face.

Deacon elbowed her playfully. "Just one time, on her birthday?"

Tessa did not last long against his grin. "Only because it's you."

"Yes!" Deacon fist-bumped the air. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Tessa rolled her eyes. "You already took a rib for me, you don't have to pay me back for anything."

He waved her off. "Eh I took that for the Railroad too, doesn't count."

Making him meet her gaze, Tessa said seriously, "You don't owe me anything."

"Don't have to be so dramatic," he replied, "that's my job remember?"

Tessa snorted. "Yes, it certainly is. Anything else you're wanting to show me?"

"We have a working bathroom," Deacon boasted as he led her back to the living area. Rabbit had finished her bowl and was reading a magazine of none-other-than the Silver Shroud on the couch. Tessa inhaled sharply and instead focused on the door he indicated. "It was one of the first things Tom and his fellow mechanics worked on. It wasn't too hard to get back up once we had the power going."

"I can only imagine how much of a godsend that is," Tessa said wistfully. "Sturges is working on that back at Sanctuary."

"Good luck," Deacon said. "Rabbit, I'mma take Bullseye on up, wanna listen to some radio plays when I get back?"

She shrugged, short legs hanging over the top of the couch. "Sure."

"Great! Tessa, ready to face the head honcho?" Deacon asked as they started out. Tessa waved goodbye to Rabbit who didn't notice. Once back in the apartment hallway, Deacon gestured for her to continue walking in an upward fashion. The stairs started to curve as they passed more rooms. She saw Dr. Carrington's clinic, which was an entire floor, and then the supply offices. She was happy to see that with each new base, the Railroad had improved themselves rather than grown more desperate.

They chatted as they went, mostly talking about recent news or far away plans. It felt nice to be able to just unwind and enjoy some time with Deacon. Eventually they were at the penthouse level. "Damn," whistled Tessa, who looked back at the elevator they could have used. "At least it's easy access."

"Heh, yeah no kidding. I'd hate to carry someone injured to the clinic if it weren't for that elevator," Deacon replied. "I warned Dez when we first talked about this that you'd probably ask. She knew you were coming too, so that should help."

"Thanks."

"I guess I'll leave you here." He turned on his heels, only to pause. "I'll see you around sometime okay? I'm always out there listening."

"Stalker," snickered Tessa. His expression tightened with seriousness. "Oh." Tessa pulled him into a tight embrace. It felt like goodbye and yet it wasn't quite the end. They'd still see each other and after Tinker Tom's upgrade, they could plan to meet up even. When they pulled apart, he gave her a firm smile and a pat on the back. "Do swing by my place in Diamond City if you're ever around."

"Sure thing," he said, then put his hands in his pockets and started towards the elevator. "Don't break Desdemona's heart alright? I think she might like you!"

"Uh huh," she replied, amused by his joke. He lowered his glasses enough to give her a wink as the elevator doors shut. Then she was alone. The air tasted peculiar to her, on the precipice of change. No matter what she knew she'd be welcomed in the Railroad, and that it would be a people she deeply admired and could consider an ally. Yet to go through with her departure, whatever the exact form may be, was intimidating. She knew she had to do it, for the sake of her own sanity as well as her relationships with Piper and Curie, she had to walk away from being an agent. The double life it required, though perhaps it would be nowhere near as dangerous now, was one she could live no longer. She was sure Desdemona would understand, especially with Deacon laying the ground floor for her.

So why did she hesitate?

The door came open and Desdemona was standing there, basked in light from behind. The sight gave Tessa pause. "Bullseye," she greeted, "you ready to have that talk?"

Swallowing, Tessa nodded. "Yeah. I guess I am."

Desdemona gave her a sad smile, and gestured her in. "Let's talk then."