Every night begins with the same dream.

It starts dark then there's green. The Jefferson Memorial.

"You will turn over Project Purity to the Enclave at once." a voice barks through haze. James's eyes quickly register the scene.

Two men in armor flanking a man in trench coat. All three confront his father.

"Run!" James wants to scream but finds water flooding his lungs. James grabs at his throat and shuts his mouth. Even so, the water forced its way in and the entire room began to flood. James felt him caught in the current before being thrown out of the room.

James woke up with a start. He was seated at his desk, the lamp was still on and James immediately registered the heat of its bulb on his face. He pressed his numb fingers against his warm cheeks and quickly woke the uneven temperature across his face. He yawned before stretching in his chair.

After performing his ritualistic stretch, James turned to face the clock. 4:45 AM. It read. James rubbed his stinging eyes before standing from the desk. Just over three hours today, that's better than before. James mused before stepping out of the room. He entered a dark hallway, lit only by a single red maintenance light.

He slowly paced and felt his way through the corridor before finding the right door handle to the exit. Twisting it, James pulled the door open and was momentarily blinded by the blinding lights on the other side.

"Mr. James!" a voice called from somewhere in the room. "You're just over three hours today, that's a record."

"Thank you, Marta." James replied, rubbing his eyes once more at the harsh contrast between the dark hallway and what his mind was starting to remember as the lobby of the hotel. "Hopefully, I'll be able to restore my sleep schedule once I actually return to my room instead of sleeping in the office."

"Well, I personally don't blame you for falling asleep in there, Mr. James." Marta replied. She was the receptionist for the hotel though she worked the graveyard shift. He wore her hazel hair in a short bob, styled with a hairband. James never understood why she bothered dressing up when nobody was awake, but he thought it best to never question it openly. Tonight, Marta was dressed in a cotton weather paired with snow pants and pants. It has been chilly weekend. James thought to himself before realizing Marta had not stopped chattering. "Your office is right next to the generator and the boiler room so it's almost always hot there. It is strange that you keep your office there instead of closer to your room but I guess when you are the Secretary of the Council, you get to make the big decisions like where you keep your stuff."

"Exactly." James offered, he stepped over to a small table in the corner of the wide lobby. The room had been refurbished and repurposed multiple times. Once it was a staging area for warriors gearing for battle. Another time it was the host to a ball. Today, it was empty and appeared to double as a haphazard storage room.

James stood in front of the table and wiggled his fingers over the heated appliances on its surface. His eyes registered the mini placards that read COFFEE, WATER, and TEA respectively. James's hands hovered over the coffee before settling for tea. No one ever drank it so it was almost always full. James poured himself a cup and watched as the hot beverage released heat vapors into the frigid air. It was then that James noticed he was only wearing a T-Shirt and Jeans and he was starting to feel precisely how cold the room was.

James raised the cup to his mouth and sipped at the beverage. It was scalding hot and tasted like dirt flavored water. James made a face but decided to continue. Whatever wakes me up. He shrugged before returning to the receptionist desk.

"Anything?" James asked in between sips. Marta rolled her chair over to another side of the desk and reached under it. She returned, having produced a number of clipboards and manila folders. "All this came while I was asleep?" James asked, flitting his fingers through the contents of the top clipboard. There were itineraries, proposals, plans, financial documents and more. One caught his eye and James grabbed it firmly before moving on.

"Yes, supposedly there was some mix up in the distribution office." Marta replied. She was now scribbling something onto a notepad as they spoke. "There. Now the next shift will be informed that you have received all documents pertaining to you."

"That's good?" James cocked his head to the side as he skimmed through the document in his hand. VAULT-CITY TRADE AGREEMENT. The title read bolded. It seemed Amata was interested in negotiating some kind of official deal with the Pitt. James nodded. Depending on how things go tomorrow, they might be too late to reach a favorable deal. James finished his tea and tossed the cup into a wastebasket.

"How does it feel, Mr. James?" Marta asked suddenly. James snapped away from the proposal and back at the receptionist. She was still seated in her chair but her earlier easygoing manner had been replaced by a serious expression. "For the first time in the Pitt's history, you will be restoring democratic rule to the people. Do you feel like the city is ready for that?" James blinked a few times as he rolled the question in his brain.

"I don't know what exactly I feel, Marta." James replied carefully, his fingers were now fidgeting with the documents in his arms. "What I do know is that Marie needs to live a normal childhood. Something she can't have if I'm busy all the time leading the city. I also have a home to return to, I've been away too long." Marta nodded, as if digesting the information. "Hopefully, that answers your question?"

"It does, Mr. James." Marta replied, smiling. "My family was saved when you saved my father in The Hole. You will be solely missed here." James gave her a small smile in return. He didn't remember who she was talking about but this was not the first time he had heard the story.

"Depending on how things go, maybe my departure will not be quite so permanent." James offered. Marta's eye lit up at the possibility.

"Well, I know that I'll be here ready to deliver your parcels if that day comes, Mr. James." Marta replied. James nodded and waved before he carried the bundle of packages with him to the elevator.

He stepped inside the metal box and waited uneasily as the its whirred and slid up the building. Even after all these years, James was still uncomfortable with being stuck in such tiny boxes as they shot up and down the building. He had looked into maintaining the pre-war devices or even rebuilding them entirely but he never found the time.

Meanwhile, another side of his mind remained stuck on Marta's question. What do I feel about stepping down? James asked himself. All his life, he had been forced to lead people. To be an example. To be something more than himself. Now, he was finally making a decision for himself, or at least for the child he was forced to become a caretaker for. Is this what I want? A small ding broke James's line of thought and he looked up to find an open elevator door.

James quickly stepped out and strode down the hallway. If Amata wants to make a deal, maybe I should set something up between her and the next secretary. Or maybe I should visit them myself? No, Marie needs time to adjust first. James threw open the door to his office and entered the sparsely furnished room. It once belonged to Ashur and James had found it untasteful to stay longer than he had too. He gazed over to the power armor frame that displayed Ashur's armor. The cuts and dents from his final battle with James were still heavily apartmently. It had been cleaned and decontaminated many times but James swore that he could still see the blood spatters in some areas of the armor.

James plopped the documents on the desk and walked past it towards an adjacent room. He reached for the door handle. Someone clicked their tongue behind James, causing him to pause. He slowly turned and found Midea standing by the old desk. She was holding a lantern causing her to look like a specter, haunting the room.

"Do have any idea what time it is?" she asked sternly. James shrugged and looked out a nearby window. The sun was just starting to crest over the horizon though it was partly blocked by a neighboring skyscraper.

"Dawn." James guessed, turning back to Midea. "How is she?"

"Marie is fine James." Midea huffed, lowering the lantern and turning around. She flicked at some switches and the room became illuminated with light. James approached her and watched as she took a seat at the desk. "If anything, she is very excited to be able to leave the hotel."

"I grew up in a Vault, I can understand feeling like your home is a cage." James replied, he leaned against the wall as he talked with Midea. They had become unlikely friends since Werhner's rebellion. "Once things calm down outside the city limits, I'll take her to New Megaton."

"She feels like this sanctuary is a prison because she is curious about her father." Midea shot James a knowing glance but he turned his head to evade it.

"Well, that's a shame because that's not going to happen. I killed him. Her mother too." James replied, his face darkening at the images flashing before his eyes.

"As far as that little girl is concerned, you are her father." Midea coaxed. She was the one to convince James to slow down and step away from the Pitt. The city was on the brink of collapse after the revolution, they needed a leader. After all, James had killed anyone who would have taken the role and Midea felt too guilty about Wehrner to do so. "You are responsible for her, she cares about you, you know?" James nodded slowly, forcing himself to accept the difficult reality of this relationship. How did dad do this? James crossed his arms and he began pacing the room.

"Yeah, you're right." James replied, his voice coarse. "She needs a normal childhood. She needs to know what the world is like outside her books and holotapes. She needs to know about who I am." James found himself staring holes into the Ashur's armor.

"There will be a time and place for all of that, James." Midea responded. "But right now, it might be best and to slow things down. For both your sakes. Maybe you can take her back to your hometown? Introduce her to your friends and family?"

"Friends?" James asked, his ears perking up. His mind raced to find what possible connections he might still have. Faces he hadn't seen or heard from in years. People he had wronged or worse, people he failed. "I don't know how many of those I still have, Midea."

"You do talk a lot about the Vault. Maybe they will finally take you back in, on account of Marie." Midea reasoned. James turned to face her. Her face was wracked with concern. Years of hard work had aged her tremendously, Midea's face was cracked with wrinkles and age. She was tired too.

"I'll try." James concluded. "For her, I'll try harder." Midea seemed pleased with the answer.

"Good." She smiled. "Because you don't have a choice starting tomorrow." James laughed and nodded.

"Where will you go?" James asked. MIdea had taken to organizing James papers on the desk. It was never her job but the two had a rhythm during late night or early morning talks. Why interrupt a good thing?

"I have my eye on a little place by the market. It's quite comfortable and close to the cafe and a book store." Midea seemed eager to go on. She's excited. James smiled.

"Bookstore? What happened to George?" James asked, furrowing his brow.

"James, do you mean to tell me you have not visited the market since last year?" Midea asked, turning completely to face him.

"I mean." James stammered. "Usually, I'm in meetings and someone gets me what I need."

"George closed up shop months ago, he sold it all to buy a boat and start a fishing company of all things?"

"What?" James guffawed. "Him? Fishing?"

"Tell me about it." Midea rolled her eyes. "His successor moved operations closer to the market, he figured coffee and books were a good combination and I quite agree." James shrugged and paced back over to the desk. Outside, the sun had risen completely, illuminating the entire room. It was a cloudy day but apparently, the conditions outside were just right for the sun to poke through.

"So you've settled everything with the Housing Board? Anything I can help you with?" James asked. She gave him a knowing look.

"Everything was settled weeks ago, you needn't worry." She replied. James bit his lip, that was a another person he was too bust recently to help. She didn't even bother asking because she knew his life.

"I'll have to make it up to you some other time then." James said, pursing his lips. Midea chuckled.

"You better. Marie's birthday is-"

The two were interrupted by the office doors slamming open. Marta was standing in the middle, huffing and puffing.

"Marta, what's the matter?" James asked, he shook his hand away from its hover by his sidearm.

"There's a visitor looking for you, Mr. James." she panted. James opened his mouth to ask. "They're here. The Brotherhood of Steel is here." James stepped forward before an obnoxious horn rumbled over the city. James marched over to a window to find a gargantuan metal ship poke its way through a massive cloud.

"People of the Pitt. Do not interfere. Our Intentions are peaceful." James watched as the airship opened its belly to reveal an intricate galley. James knew precisely what this was. The Prydwyn. The name shot across James's mind as he watched vertibirds shoot out from underneath the vessel. Some escort ships began to whiz through some of the skyscrapers. Immediately, alarms began to sound and bells were ringing, per the emergency protocols of every district in the city.

"We are the Brotherhood of Steel." the voice on the loudspeakers crackled before quieting completely.

The sound of a door opening shook James from being entranced by the airship.

"Who's the Brotherhood of Steel?" Marie yawned as she rubbed her eyes.

James kneeled down and began lacing the tiny shoelaces on Marie's feet.

"You know, you could have just stayed in your room." James muttered. "I wouldn't have to kneel down and try tying your shoes while I'm dressed in full armor that way." He looped the strings through his fingers, tugged at it to test the knot before standing, all while staring at the wide blue eyes that gazed back at him.

"No way am I going back to bed after seeing those flying ships, like they're actually flying!" Marie exclaimed, chuckling in her excitement but shivering in her nervousness. The horns and fluttering of the vertibirds flying so close to the skyline would've shaken other kids to tears. Instead, Marie is anxious to get out and take a look at whatever has put Midea into a cold sweat. James simply replied with a grunt as he checked the laces and straps on his own equipment. He doubted that the Brotherhood was here to fight but he needed to keep appearances for the sake of the trade unions that governed the Pitt. The last Council had insisted on isolation to build up their armed forces before allowing James's contacts to enter the city. What on Earth could possess them to come here? James wondered.

A ding later, James strode out of the elevator. He was now flanked by members of the Home Guard, a volunteer militia that had requested him to train them to protect their city. They were largely staffed by former fighters from the Hole but some of the newer blood were people who idolized the fighters and had no experience. James watched them carefully before leading the procession out of the hotel.

The Brotherhood had decided to land a heavy troop transport just off the center of the plaza. A modest statue dedicated to the lives lost during the August Revolution sat where Ashur's burning husk once laid. A surprisingly short man in a coat stood by it, apparently reading the names honoring the fallen workers.

The sun had risen to a fair height by now but looming clouds threatened to cover it shortly. Worse, a touch of wetness flooded the air around them, threatening rain and even possible storms. James's skin tinged from the moisture but he pressed one boot forward but throwing the other past it. The procession flanking him followed. Marie attempted to join but was forced to stay by Marta.

James and the guard numbered at least a dozen. They marched forward in a horizontal line, quickly approaching the man in the coat before a platoon of troopers in power armor flooded out of the transport. Their weapons were lowered for men walking in power armor but one of the gunners on the transport kept the minigun spool spinning and scanning for targets. James was about to nudge a guard to take note but it seemed they had noticed it too. Snipers and crackshots were amassing on the roofs and scaffolding that crept around some of the buildings framing the plaza. They would likely be relatively simple targets for the Brotherhood but James was proud that discipline had not relaxed since the last Summer training.

James finally stopped just short of the memorial. A Paladin and a small squad of Knights surrounded the man. Each had their weapons in a relaxed position but ready to fire, per the standard protocol back when Paladin Gunny trained the shinies. Some things don't change. James allowed himself a small smile before returning his face to a practiced scowl. He watched the behavior of the Brotherhood fireteam before him carefully.

"What business does the Brotherhood have here?" James shouted. The vertibird's engines had yet to fully cool, coating the entire plaza with roar. The man in the coat turned from the memorial and stepped towards James. The guard around him tensed. James gestured his hands to remind them to relax.

"The Brotherhood has received reports that the Pitt has hoarded Institute technology." the man spoke. His aviator sunglasses glinted in the morning sun as he continued his approach towards the posse. Meanwhile, the men behind him stayed firmly planted in their positions. Their earlier, casual air was gone and now they scanned the plaza like turrets on a swivel, ready to fire at anything. Not good. James observed. The commotion had woken half the city from their sleep but only now were crowds beginning to gather by the tens.

"Hoard? Institute? What are you talking about?" James shouted back.

"Please, there is no need to make this more complicated then this has to be." the man reached into his coat. A voice from beside James shouted. The man produced some unrecognizable device and tossed it to the ground. It was only after it clattered and bounced closer that James began to recall the device. "Evidence of increased synth activity has been detected. The Brotherhood neutralized an encampment on the outskirts of the Capital Wasteland. No doubt it was the staging ground for some kind of invasion." the man appeared to be making his case to the crowd as if he were some kind of lawyer in court. "As the protectors of humanity, we will do whatever it takes to liberate us from the Institute threat. We will investigate any source and any person who harbors such abominations. And that brings us to you." The man had lowered his arms and now pointed directly at James. "Sentinel." he snarled. James felt his body tense at the word before he could force himself to maintain composure.

"The Brotherhood is not welcome here." James shouted back. "You want to send a message, do it through the Council and through proper channels." James pointed at the airship above the city. "Leave. Perhaps we can discuss terms under a more amicable setting."

"I'm afraid, mentor, this is us being amicable." the man removed his shades and James began to study his features. The man's face was badly scarred by some kind of creature attack. Deathclaw. Yao Guai maybe. The man turned out to be younger than James expected. The beard and cold, brazen eyes masked his age. Mentor? James wondered.

"Arthur?" James asked. Some among the guard were surprised by James's recollection of the man before them. More, were concerned by the increasing number of troops leaving the transport. A company's worth had marched into the open plaza and were beginning to establish a sort of makeshift camp.

"I'm surprised you recognized me, Sentinel." the man spat. "But to outsiders and traitors, you speak to Elder Maxson." Arthur's voice was coarse, embittered by some event or cause James was unaware of.

"What are you talking about?" James asked. He turned slightly and signaled the guard. Things may turn bloody soon. James signed in a series of practiced hand waves. The guard to his direct left patted his shoulder to affirm the message before leaving the party.

"We intercepted many messages regarding some kind of synth smuggling network. All roads from the Capital point here." Arthur waved around the plaza. His hardened eyes scanned the plaza and the faces present. He thinks there are synths here. James stepped forward. The Paladin raised his weapon at James.

"Arthur." James cautioned.

"I'm afraid, Sentinel." Arthur interrupted. "I must insist that you act according to doctrine and respect the rank."

"Elder." James relented. "Whatever you think is happening, there are no synths in the city. We've barely started growing our population."

"Our Scribes will be the judge of that. Allow us to investigate uninterrupted and you have my word that no person shall be harmed." Arthur explained with the confidence and bravado of an Elder. Just who is the person standing here? James allowed himself to wonder. Then he saw the children in the square.

"Name your terms, I can bring them to the Council and I'm sure we can come to an agreement." James sputtered, hoping to keep Arthur reeled in.

"My terms," Arthur interrupted once more. "have already been laid clearly before you. The Brotherhood of Steel shall begin its investigation at once. We will confiscate any dangerous technology and neutralize any Synth presence in the city. When we are confident that the people here are safe, we will leave." Arthur pressed his palm against his chest. James watched as the armored men and the Brotherhood personnel stopped what they were doing to imitate the gesture.

"Ad victoriam!" a chorus of voices relayed the chant around the square.

"And if the people decide you are not welcome?" James inquired. Arthur looked up at James from his watch over his people.

"I'm sure we could settle for another Scourge." Arthur replied. "Kodiak!" he shouted. A Paladin closer to the vertibird shuffled forward.

"Elder." the man's voice was filtered through his mask but James recognized it immediately. The Pride is here too?

"Clear the square. Set up operations in this building, I rather like it." Arthur pointed with an open palm.

"Sir." Paladin Kodiak replied and turned. He glanced once towards James before rushing off. James turned back to find Arthur now standing directly in front of James.

"I would suggest you get comfortable, Sentinel. The Brotherhood isn't going anywhere until this city is safe." Arthur lectured. There was little James could do but listen, his people were ready to launch into a brawl right now as every instinct of theirs cried out for. "Leave this 'synth' business to the professionals and stay out of our way."

Arthur marched past the procession and the guards behind him shuffled through the guard. They were at a loss for words.

"What do we do?" a voice from behind James called to him. James turned to face the people. They knew the score, the Brotherhood was a very different enemy than what they had prepared themselves to face. The stockpiles and caches around the city were insufficient. Most people had only trained under the official strategy in the past summer and the few veterans from the Hole were aging rapidly. The city's greatest and most capable protector right now was James whether he liked it or not.

James opened his mouth to answer but found himself at a lack for words. He was supposed to retire as their leader. Their revolution was supposed to be over, the people were meant to have started new lives in the rebuilt portions of the city. James simply looked up at the Prydwyn. Years ago, he secured the plans and helped draft sizable portions of the vessel that now threatened doom upon his city. James felt his fists tighten at the thought of its weapons raining down over his people.

"Send the word out." James ordered. "The Council meets tonight. We will see if they can stomach another fight."