Chapter Two
Heritage
Several Days Later, Brotherhood HQ, Ravenwood..
Nick was acutely aware of the shaking being done to his shoulder, followed by the soft voice of Harmony as she giggled. "Come on, wake up, Nicky." She repeated for the third time, shaking her head at how hard it was to get Nick out of bed. "Your father is going to be here soon." She continued, jumping back a couple feet as Nick's body shot upwards into a sitting position.
"I'm up! I'm.. Harmony?" He said, registering his surroundings. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, sleepyhead. Get ready, Claire says your father and that airship of the Brotherhood's is going to be arriving here at Ravenwood in a short while." She nudged him out of bed, giggling. "And the water is finally safe to take a shower in, those repairs to the water systems you made finally paid off."
Nick laughed, remembering how Harmony had sat with him as he repaired the water purification tanks and other main systems of the now local Headquarters of the Brotherhood of Steel, nagging him most about the water. It was then he realized how she knew, his eyes looking at a cleaner Harmony than he'd ever seen so far, her hair still damp and shining in the morning light filtering through the makeshift window of his room. "What?" She asked him, sitting down then on the edge of the bed next to where Nick still sat on the floor.
Nick looked away. "N-nothing, Harmony. Just.. you look nice.. pretty.." He said, his voice trailing off where Harmony had to run it through her head a couple of times to make sure that she had heard him correctly. "Anyway, I should probably go take a shower myself then, huh? It has been a while.." He groaned, realizing the last time he had a shower had been back in Vault 125 about a week or so earlier.
Harmony regained her grasp on reality as he said this, the remark making her roll her eyes playfully. "Then go take a shower, you dunce. I'm sure he'll wait for you." She said, nodding towards the door as Nick rushed out comically, almost barreling headlong into another Brotherhood member as they were about to pass the room. Harmony sighed, shaking her head. "You really are something special, Nick.." She said, standing back up and smoothing out her somewhat customized Brotherhood outfit, something made out to be more similar to her outfit leading the Legion, only much more modest.
Harmony lingered in the doorway for a moment before ultimately giggling to herself and walking off, she still had to thank the Brotherhood member who had made not only her new outfit but ones for each of their little group brought back from the Wasteland, Quinn being the most different in appearance from her old Enclave gear and Nick's Vault jumpsuit being altered for more armor as most Brotherhood gear was, a few other enhancements as well.
When Nick finally climbed out from the shower, he was surprised that Harmony hadn't waited for him, and another of the girls he'd come to know as friends was sitting on the bed, instead. "Claire? Where's Harmony?"
Claire looked at him, smirking slyly. "Your girlfriend is waiting for you just below the roof access. The Prydwen is about to dock any minute now and she didn't want to be seen anywhere without you. Same goes for Quinn." She snickered as Nick frowned.
"Harmony isn't my girlfriend. Jeez, why do I get the feeling I'm going to say that quite a bit in the upcoming future?"
Claire laughed. "Oh, just get your new jumpsuit on and report upstairs. It's time you meet your daddy." She said, her tone playful but Nick knew the Brotherhood's Elder Maxson was a strict, tough S.O.B. so the underlying tease was caught easily.
"Oh, so it is jealousy with Harmony? I wouldn't hold it against you for wanting one of my father's top soldiers to be dating his son." He laughed, grabbing the jumpsuit from its place folded on top of an old dresser as he went into a smaller room to change while Claire blushed.
How did.. How does he do that?! Claire thought as she hid her blush at how right Nick actually was even as she hadn't let on about harboring the crush that had formed with her ever-increasing presence around the Elder's son. Tsuna was the only one she had spoken out about her feelings to, and even then it seemed all the women gravitating towards Nick so far had some form of feelings developing for the young man. Harmony was the most obvious by the way she stayed closer to Nick than any of them, although Quinn followed the blue-haired teen's lead there, most likely to keep her safe from those who might do her harm because of her former allegiance with the Enclave. Tsuna just followed the rest of them in her own way, having given Nick very random looks over to 'make sure his health stayed intact'.
Shortly after, Nick and Claire were situated along with most of the other Brotherhood members that had been sent alongside Claire and Tsuna, the Prydwen making its final approach to the tower-like office building as the airship cast an enormous shadow on the ground below. Harmony and Quinn stood to Nick's side opposite Claire, both looking increasingly nervous as the airship got closer. As the ship docked on the roof of the building, Harmony jumped slightly, Nick looking at her with a calm expression that melted some of her nervousness away as she stood up straight, huffing out a breath as she tried to embody her tougher persona, which had been increasingly difficult to pull off ever since she'd decided Lady Hades wasn't who she truly was.
After what seemed like forever, the ramp to the airship lowered onto the roof, Brotherhood Knights and Paladins walking out, the first wave or two all wearing Power Armor, specifically more bulky versions of the suit Claire had shown off to Nick on his insistence a couple days earlier before they were followed by Scribes and what Nick figured were other Elders, the ones who ran the Scribes or even supply chains in the Brotherhood. Lastly, a man with short dark brown hair, a full beard and goatee and blue eyes concluded the procession as another Brotherhood member dressed in an airman's uniform spoke through a megaphone. "Announcing the arrival of the Second Hero of the Liberation of the Commonwealth, eradicator of the Institute and their self-created Synth menace and all other manner of affronts to the natural, human way of life," Nick didn't like how that was stated, but he was well aware of the reputation of the Brotherhood being a bit.. anti-mutant. "Brotherhood High Elder Arthur Maxson!"
While a leader, Arthur Maxson showed a stoicism that could cut a steel door as he approached the front of the assembled, newly-arrived troops as he looked around at the assembled Brotherhood members he'd first sent to the Beacon Wasteland. "It is my honor to finally be here in the Beacon Wasteland, where I promise to fight for the freedom of this new world from the oppression of such people as the Institute, Raiders," Nick felt Harmony lean into his shoulder, as if trying to make herself smaller. "And the twisted schemes of those from Vault-Tec, still trying to run the world even as it dies around their feet. Men, settle in and finish making this HQ a true base of operations." Said Arthur Maxson, snapping his fingers as the Knights and Paladins around him (Claire included) saluted their leader.
As Maxson walked towards the door that led back inside the former office building, he stopped in front of Nick, turning to face him and examining the obviously customized Vault jumpsuit he'd seen Nate wear in the Commonwealth, or at least a similar garment. When the older man's blue eyes met the hazel ones of Nick, not only did he freeze but Nick swore he heard a light gasp erupt from the man's mouth as Arthur Maxson took hold of Nick's shoulders, the older man's eyes showing a blend of recognition and reminiscence as he cleared his throat before speaking. "My God.. it really is you.. Isiah.."
Nick smiled sadly. "Hey, dad. Although, it's Nick, now. Whoever took me from the Brotherhood when I was a baby made sure I wasn't so easy to find, I guess."
"Nick.." Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. "Still a strong name, I suppose. Come, Paladin Farron can bring us to where my office will be and we can talk. I know you must have a lot of questions, and I'm sad to say there are some that may very well still go unanswered."
Nodding, Nick shrugged. "Some are better than none." He said as him and Maxson began walking towards the interior, Claire and Tsuna flanking them. Nick stopped after a few steps before turning back to Harmony and Quinn. "You girls coming?" Arthur couldn't help but chuckle as Harmony and Quinn bounded to them, the two of them sticking as close to Nick as possible.
As they walked through the hallways inside the new Brotherhood HQ, Arthur saw Claire turn around towards Nick and the other three girls- Tsuna having fallen back to chat with Quinn- with a look he recognized as he leaned forward. "It seems my son is quite popular, eh Paladin Farron?" He asked with a chuckle as Claire jumped from the question.
"S-sir?! Um, he is, yes," Claire took a breath to calm herself. "You knew General-Paladin Nate well enough to know what S.P.E.C.I.A.L. is, right?"
Maxson nodded slowly. "Yes, a set of stats that showed how well he could survive or something. I didn't pay much attention when he explained it, too much going on during the War for the Commonwealth. He said it was something all Vault Dwellers had, but his weren't anything to scoff at. No stat was too high, mind you, but he had put a lot of work into the separate Perk system to make up for it. Made him a real force on the battlefield, I'll tell you. Does that have something to do with it?"
Claire nodded hesitantly. "I can't say for sure about these Perks you're speaking of, but his stats for S.P.E.C.I.A.L. are practically off the charts. And he's stated that there was no social experiment in the Vault he was in. Miraculously, that would mean he'd been in a still-functioning Control Vault, a miracle unto itself. Maybe you'll have time to sit with him and he can fully explain the system, but this time listen to what he's saying. It isn't just Vault Dwellers who have such statistics about them, according to your son. He's.. brilliant, for being the same age as me and Tsuna."
"I agree, after hearing your report on how his rescue took place." Maxson chuckled, remembering how disbelievingly Claire's voice told the somewhat short tale of how she and Tsuna had found Nick and Harmony at the Colosseum Hotel.
Claire looked away. "Yes, well, even with as much as I've seen in the Wasteland, Nick still surprised me by his actions within a single day. Oh, here we are." She stopped walking, turning around and saluting the rest of the group.
Arthur nodded, turning back as well. "Nick, file in. Sorry, girls, but this conversation is personal." He said, holding his hand out to hold Harmony and Quinn from following after Nick into the office.
"It's alright, dad. Harmony, watch over Quinn for me, alright firecracker?" Nick asked, smiling at Harmony.
Harmony looked down, mumbling her reply. "Sure.. Come on, glasses." She said, almost dragging Quinn away by the hand.
Tsuna joined Claire by the door as Arthur entered the office, giggling as she closed the door. "Have fun.~" She almost sang as the door clicked closed, Nick already sitting down at the desk as Maxson took the seat behind it. Maxson sighed. "You don't know how glad I am to see you still in one piece and doing so well after all these years. You're well on your way to being a strong, contributive member of society, or what's left of it in these damned Wastelands we call home." He said, Nick nodding.
"I had good people to raise me, even if they weren't the family I came from.. What was my mother like? No one seems to know, or if they do, they avoid any mention of her. What happened to the would-be Elder's wife?"
Maxson gave a half-smile. "Ah, Morgana. Your mother was.. not a conventional, unpowered human like I am, you understand. She was part of a.. I guess some would consider it a cult, the Children of the Key. We met not long after we and the Minutemen took out the Institute in Boston, and it was practically love at first sight. We married within six months and you were on the way by the time a full year had passed. But, then you were born and Morgana.. Your mother saw something that I can only assume terrified her. Enough so that she plucked you from your crib in the dead of night and rushed off into the Wasteland, never to be seen again. I feared for a long time that you were lost to me, as well."
"Well, I'm not lost, dad. But I will have the head of whoever decimated my friends from Vault 125, I have to know why they thought it needed to kill everyone but me. There must have been a better way to bring me out to Ravenwood. To your people. And I don't expect you to put some stupid protection detail on me just because I'm the technical heir to the Brotherhood, either. I think my handling of Harmony is proof enough that I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."
Arthur nodded with a laugh. "Feisty just like your mother, as well. That's good. I'm ashamed to admit that my own morals and values aren't always as.. optimistically aligned."
Nick nodded with a heavy sigh. "I know. The stigma the Brotherhood has against mutants. Of any type. I would have done away with that tenet long ago." Arthur looked at his son curiously. "Why hate on those just trying to survive? Just as we all are? Even with tensions high, we should do anything and everything to make the various races all band together, a bigger and fully unified fighting force capable of any situation. Any possible battle that could take place. Super Mutants and Synths able to perform missions in highly irradiated areas, those same Synths able to use better Stealth tech for such jobs.. The expansion of battle tactics is practically endless if you can bring every race in the Wasteland together under a single banner. Even after the short glimpse I've had living outside of a Vault, that's the future I strive for." Nick said determinedly, his hazel eyes boring into his father's blue ones.
Maxson nodded thoughtfully. "That's a very.. idealistic goal, son, but one worth striving for, I will admit."
"Yeah.. So, my mom is the one who technically kidnapped me?"
Arthur nodded again. "Yes. She left a note for me, but it was very short. It only said 'I'm sorry, but this must be done to ensure the future'. I'm not fully certain whether or not your mother had any form of foresight, but it was the most likely option as to why she did it so suddenly, without even telling me a general location of where to find you when the time eventually came. Being honest, I thought the rumors of you being present here in the Beacon Wasteland were fully falsified. This section of the old U.S.A. has seen little combat outside of local affairs that the Brotherhood never figured to try searching this region. Come to think of it, that would make the region perfect for the Institute to pick up its old tricks again."
"What exactly is the deal with the Institute, anyway? I swear, you ask for a description or synopsis of something that sounds important but all you get in reply is cryptic bullshit."
Another laugh rumbled from the Elder's throat. "Yes, everyone in the Brotherhood has a lot to say about nothing, unless you pay extremely close attention. As to your question, the Institute is an organization that previously ran out of the otherwise ruins of the Cambridge Institute of Technology. Little on the nose for a location, I'll admit, but it took a Vault Dweller to find the place so we could storm and destroy it. Anyway, they were all about Tech, how to further it, what more one could do with certain processes, the list goes on I assure you. But, the worst part of their activities was the creation of Synths. Or, possibly, just the enhancement to their design that allows 3rd Generation Synths to blend in almost seamlessly with the rest of us. As prejudiced to their existence as I am, I would never have been able to take down the main hub without certain Synths' help, one of which being my top Paladin at the time, who taught and passed the position onto Claire just last year.
"It might not seem like the Institute is evil, but that isn't the full picture. They wanted to otherwise eradicate humanity by replacing us with Synths, kidnapping victims all over the Boston Commonwealth and doing just that until the Minuteman General came out of his imprisonment in Vault 111. We believed them defeated after Nate- the General- helped us blow the Institute building to hell, but very recently we have found radio transmissions being sent from Boston to this area of the States, which would only serve to mean that the Institute may very well still be operational, just in a much lesser form than in Boston. That was their main HQ and where most of their research was kept, so the Institute out here would be- favorably- worse off in the case of resources and whatever have you. That's why, as I'm sure you've noticed, Claire and Tsuna are being more vigilant than ever since returning here with you several days ago. Now, I'm sorry to cut out time short, but you must know how busy a position like mine can be, and I have many things to do to make sure this new HQ is up to snuff. Go and find your little band of women. I can only imagine what kind of trouble a fire magic wielding so-called demigoddess and a former member of the Enclave," Arthur smiled at the surprised shock on Nick's face as he had realized the girl's former allegiances with just a single glance. "Can get up to."
Nick chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, guess an Elder to the Brotherhood would be able to pick out those little details, huh? Alright, I'll go make sure my- the girls- are keeping out of trouble." Nick said, walking around the desk and giving his father a semi-reluctant hug. "I'll talk to you more later, yeah?"
Arthur nodded, smiling warmly. "Oh, of course. I've only just found you, you're not leaving my sight until I can be certain of your survival abilities."
"Of course." Nick said, shaking his head as he left the room.
Moments later, Tsuna appeared at the door with a knock. "Elder Maxson? Can I speak to you for a moment? It's about Nick.. but it isn't bad, per se."
"Come in, Medic-Scribe Senju. What seems to be the issue?"
"Well, sir, you know I thrive on knowing all I can, its part of being a Scribe, after all. And I was reading up on all the old reports about the Institute, and something caught my eye that came up when I tested Nick's blood upon our retrieval and returning here to Ravenwood. In the reports, General Nate said something about the Institute needing pure human DNA that was still pure even after all these years since the bombs dropped, correct?"
Arthur nodded with a frown. "Yes, something about that pure genome used from Nate's son- and theoretically from Nate, as well- being integral to creating more advanced Synths. Why is this relevant to Nick?"
"Sir, your son happens to possess a genome just as pure, maybe even more so according to my readings. I have a bad feeling that, if the Institute is out here and listening somehow, Nick will be targeted for his blood. I know how he feels about Synths, but his blood could theoretically advance Synth models enough where we natural humans may not be able to distinguish them at all unless cut open. I just thought you should know, if the time comes where we need to make sure Nick is otherwise protected."
"You as well as Paladin Farron and those other two girls have that covered, I take it? No reason to break up a group over a crush. I'd be a hypocrite, with how fast me and Nick's mother fell for each other."
Tsuna looked surprised, not expecting Maxson to see the crush she as well as Claire held on the boy who was Maxson's heir. "Sir, I-"
"Don't explain it to me, I was a teenager once. Long ago now, but I've been there. Do not tell anyone else about those blood results, Tsuna. If the Institute truly is hiding under these sands as they did in Boston, than anything they don't know is an advantage for us."
Tsuna nodded with a salute. "Sir, yes, sir." She said before bolting away from the door, leaving Arthur Maxson to lean back in his chair with a deep sigh, chuckling.
"Well, Morgana. Whatever your reasons for it, it looks like our son is doing pretty well for himself. What did you see that made you take Nick away from us both?" He thought out loud, looking out over the horizon outside the now Brotherhood of Steel HQ.
~FO:MW~
Meanwhile, somewhere across the vast Beacon Wasteland, a woman looked out over the Wasteland, not realizing her gaze would eventually meet the Brotherhood Elder's own. "Nicky, I wonder how you're doing. I wish I hadn't had to take you away from your father, from me, but the future only foretold chaos if I didn't whisk you away to this corner of the country.." Morgana Faye sighed heavily as her Keyblade shimmered into hammer space. "I hope you do not hate me for such things.."
Asylum Pub, Later That Evening..
It was beginning to get dark outside by the time Nick found himself able to rip Harmony and Quinn away from the bar, opting for them to walk about the settlement before heading in for the night alongside Claire and Tsuna, an activity Nick found quite odd that he hadn't done it by now. As they were walking out of the pub, Claire was shoulder-bumped by another young woman, dressed in a similar Power Armor suit configuration as Claire's. "Hey, Farron. Almost forgot you were even alive anymore, you haven't been with the rest of us for so long. Tsuna, too."
Claire grimaced at the woman with ridiculously long silver hair. "Oh, Sephira. Yeah, wasn't really trying to be around your attitude all the time. Nick, let me introduce you to another of your father's Paladins, Sephira Hojo."
Sephira's eyes wide Ed at the implication as she looked at Nick, who nodded in greeting. "Ohh, so this is Elder Maxson's son? The one his own mother abducted as a baby? Nice to see all these years didn't turn him into just another murderous Raider."
"Vault life is as far as life in a Raider camp as you can get. I should know." Harmony remarked, stepping between the girl with green eyes and Nick.
Sephira seemed to recognize her, however. "I've read about your past, little Legionnaire. And the ex-Enclave girl, too. Some strange company for the heir to the Brotherhood to keep. He should be hanging around with girls like us, eh, Claire? A Paladin is much better standing than a slumlord or a girl without a home."
"Don't talk about Harmony or Quinn like that. Most of us don't ask for the standing we're born into. Or raised in, like Harmony. I'm surprised my dad hasn't disciplined you on how to really act towards others, especially allies. Come on, girls, I wanna see the town." He said, shoulder-checking Sephira on his way out, Claire leveling a glare at her rival Paladin before following along with the rest of the group.
"Ugh! Why can't she just lay off you, Claire?" Tsuna asked as Nick cleared his throat.
"Yeah, what's her deal? Seemed pretty hostile to me." He asked, Claire sighing.
"We went through training together, both vying to be picked as Paladin Danse- our mentor's- replacement once Elder Maxson forbid him to continue with the Brotherhood due to him being a Synth for who knows how long. I guess the General got to him enough where he at least let Danse train us before letting him go.. Anyway, Sephira's parents were both war heroes according to your father, and like most of us younger crowd, her parents were killed on assignment when we were little. I always seemed to have just a bit better of a knack for the skills taught to us so Sephira always worked harder to try and one-up me. Plus, she has a mean streak that makes most Chem addicts look sober. Anyway.."
As the group continued chatting away, another girl around there she walked up the street, tapping the screen of a tablet which was currently breaking into the Brotherhood database, specifically Tsuna's collection of medical records. She looked at the top-most entry, a DNA analysis of a boy named Nick Negron, with the name Maxson attached to it in parentheses. Looking at the screen, the girl couldn't believe her eyes as she adjusted her glasses, absorbing the information she saw before she bumped into someone else, who had grabbed her around her waist to hold her up before she could truly begin to fall.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking. Are you alright?" The young woman looked up at the boy whose records had just been on the tablet's screen, her eyes widening slightly before she answered.
"Y-yes, I'm fine. I should be apologizing. I wasn't paying attention either," The girl acted as Nick let her go, the other girls standing around him each having a different yet all miffed expressions. "I have to get going, though. Again, sorry." She apologized again before rushing off.
Nick watched the girl run off, grimacing. "Well, that was weird." He said, shrugging as Harmony practically dragged him away from the scene.
Around the corner and down an alleyway, the young woman dressed two buttons on a watch-like device on her arm. The first button caused the physical hologram of the persona she was hiding as to drop, revealing her vibrant pink-purple hair and purple, ethereal eyes as the second button caused an electrical field to gather around her, dissipating after several seconds as the young woman disappeared.
Beacon Wasteland Institute, Full Location Unknown..
As the young woman reappeared in the shining halls of the local Institute in the Beacon Wasteland, she sighed, looking at the file on that boy, Nick. According to the file, the boy supposedly had a DNA genome as pure as Father from the Commonwealth as well as his father, Nate. Even purer, according to these notes, and that was thought unheard of while Father was still alive. Still, the boy didn't seem like a total asshole, seeing as the boy's own father was the leader of the Brotherhood of Steel itself. And so, Ranya Diamante strode into her personal laboratory, where a Miss Nanny spoke up. "Greetings, Mother. How did your travels go?" It asked.
"Oh, it was just the same old thing. However, this trip was a bit.. enlightening. Tell me, what was our issue when it came to Project Fertility?"
"While it seems all of the necessary organs and bodily systems needed are functioning otherwise, the process is missing pure human DNA. Of course, the resulting offspring would be a regular human, since Synth components from the 'mother' or 'father' would bar those specific traits from any potential offspring, while the projections predict highly enhanced intelligence, durability, or strength for any successful offspring."
"Hmm. If possible, would a genome even purer than Father's own be viable for such projects?"
"It would seem so, but our data is somewhat outdated. Why the sudden interest in Project Fertility? While it is your secondary pet project, I believed you were more focused on creating more 4th Generation Synths such as yourself?"
"I am, but now I'm thinking perhaps that isn't necessary, at least not entirely. And it would seem a possible father to this project has presented themselves. However, he is in the protection of the Brotherhood.. Oh, what to do?" Ranya giggled. "He was quite handsome, though. I wonder if his father was that handsome at his age?" She wondered, now off-topic as she went to work on other projects of interest scattered around her lab space. She would find a way to see if her planned upgrades for future Synths was viable, by any means necessary.
Ravenwood, The Next Day..
Nick had been wandering around the settlement, having realized soon after bumping into that mysterious girl that most of the fun to explore places would be closed at that time and therefore decided to tour himself around. Harmony had wanted to accompany him, but Nick's father, apparently, had other plans for her. It was around noon when Nick found a building labeled (haphazardly) as some kind of Summoner's Guild and, naturally inquisitive, he walked right on in.
Upon entering, Nick was awed by the museum-like quality the building had on the inside, statues of dragons and sorcerers, knights and every other archetype of fantasy lining the entrance like silent stone guardians. There was a man who looked to be about in his late twenties behind a counter who perked up as he noticed Nick staring up at one fierce, mechanical looking dragon statue. "Hello there! May I help you?" The man greeted enthusiastically.
Nick smiled back after getting frightened from the man's sudden high energy. "Hey. Maybe, I saw the sign outside and I was curious what exactly this place is. As you can tell, I'm not technically local." The teen said, motioning down to his outfit.
The man laughed with a nod. "Yes, I dare say Vault Dwellers aren't common at all around the Beacon Wasteland. Maybe a fellow Dweller could figure out the mystery of why that is, although rumors would lead to them all being twisted sites of psychological and even physical horror. But, that's a bit off-topic, isn't it? The name's Mikey Wheeler, and I'm the current manager of the Guild, actually, with the President currently out in the Wasteland, looking for more raw materials for our craft here. Now, you were curious about what exactly we do here?" Nick nodded. "Well, to simplify it- immensely, mind you- what we do here is prepare and train summoners. A summoner is someone who, possessing a somewhat rare gene, or at least that is how we have observed it in the decades since the craft began here in Beacon, that allows them to summon fantastical monsters of all varieties to help aid them in situations that may warrant such.
"One in particular you may like is the dragon you were looking at here, also known as Firewall Dragon. Particularly powerful, however most summoners do not meet the requirements to summon it forth, even among the top members."
"Alright, that does sound simple enough. Now, how exactly does the summoning work?"
"Why, with the mixture of science and magic that is technology! Most Monsters capable of being summoned are ones who don't require a contract or certain level to summon. Those are what we consider Entry or Base-level Monsters, such as this adorable critter here, called Kuribon." Mikey held up a data card embossed with the likeness of what looked like a ball of hair with clawed feet and a small bow tied on its head. "Now, to summon, we utilize this handy little device I call a Cast Drive." Mikey then pulled one of his sleeves back to reveal a device similar in size and even dimensionally similar to Nick's own modified Pip-Boy, but it looked primarily like a drive you would insert the data card he'd shown moments earlier.
"The Cast Drive uses the data of the Monster on its data card to form a physical form using the radiation particles present everywhere in our world. It used to be the natural magic of the world, you see, but with the corruption from radiation we eventually harnessed this newer version for our craft." Nick nodded for him to continue. "So, the process is simple. Insert the card, and the magic takes effect." He inserted the Kuribon data card into the device and almost instantly a physical version of the hairball was floating in the air, crying with a sort of cooing noise. "Now, different Monsters are more utility based, like Kuribon and its family being more of a defensive wall, while others such as Firewall Dragon are for purely more.. offensive initiatives. However, as I said, it would take work for one even as advanced as I am to summon such a beast. Any other questions?"
"Yeah, are these the only kind of Monsters capable of being summoned?"
"Oh, no, but they are the brand of Monster we mainly deal with here. Across the Wasteland we have several Labs all researching different Monster brands and species. Are you interested in at least taking the Initiation process a try? It's a simple gesture of testing your body's natural magic field, as you must know everyone does indeed have."
This was news to Nick, but he nodded anyway. "Sure, what's the harm..?" He asked as the door was opened by a young woman with long purple and pink toned hair that curled this way and that, one prominently hanging across her face just above her pink eyes. A Cast Drive was prominently attached to her wrist.
"Ah, Emma! It seems we may have a new recruit!" Mikey said, pointing at Nick.
The girl, Emma, walked up to Nick and, noticing the Brotherhood patch sewn onto his modified Vault Jumpsuit, smirked. "You're the one everyone's been whispering about, aren't you? The supposed long-lost son of the Brotherhood Elder Maxson?"
"Um.. yeah? Why, is that a-"
"Nope, no problem. Just odd seeing you without any of your escort detail around." Emma giggled, obviously referencing Claire, Tsuna, Harmony and Quinn. "Come on, let's see if the heir to the Brotherhood is capable of being a summoner. I'm excited to see what the results of the initiate process will be." She said, grinning mischievously as she practically dragged Nick to the back of the building, Mikey shaking his head.
"Emma always was the excitable one." He said with a laugh before manning his post once again.
Meanwhile, Brotherhood of Steel Headquarters, Elder Maxson's Office..
"Uh, so.. why am I here, exactly, Elder Maxson?" Harmony asked, still confused as to why the older man wanted to single her out.
"You're here, Harmony, because I have a few questions for you. Just answer me truthfully and you'll be out of here and can go looking for Nick to your heart's content." Harmony blushed, pouting as Arthur continued. "Firstly, my reports from Claire indicate that you were previously the leader of an entire band of Raiders, is that right?"
"Yes, sir. I led those men by the title of Lady Hades, a title that has passed down from Leader to Leader of the Legion." Harmony answered truthfully, knowing somehow Arthur would know she was lying.
Nodding, Maxson looked at the report (or as Harmony thought the paper was) in his hand. "Alright. What exactly caused you to, in no glorious fashion, abandon those you led?"
"Um, that's a bit more complicated to answer. Sir, I doubt you don't understand that for many of us living in the Wasteland, life is already a hard ordeal, even moreso when you lose your parents like I have so young. I was raised since that point in the Legion, and eventually I hardened myself to the point that my own name was foreign to me. Then, I captured your son after he took out two of my men both bare and singlehandedly. After only about a full twenty-four hours, Nick had not only learned of my past, but also reminded me why I hid my own humanity behind a mask of hostile indifference. Once I realized he was right and that I had always had the power to make my life my own again, I did just that. Freed Nick, burned the only home I had ever truly known to the ground and accompanied him back here."
Maxson looked at the young woman, reading her expression for any deceit. Finding none, however, he chuckled. "Yes, Scribe Senju already informed me of my son's extraordinary charismatic ability, attracting all four of you to him like moths to a flame, if both Tsuna and Paladin Farron's own reactions to my such questioning. I guess the only question left to ask, really, is what are your intentions with Nick?"
"Excuse me, sir?"
"You heard me, Miss Olympia. As not only you but the former Enclave girl Quinn, Tsuna and Claire are all being attracted to my son's unique charms, a father must do what he must for their child. As such that we have just found each other, I intend to act like the father I would have had Nick been raised within the Brotherhood as I was."
Harmony nodded, agreeing. "Yes, but then he would be much more of a bigot, wouldn't he? Vault life created a young man who, while it may be a bit too optimistic, the point I'm making is that Nick's attitude that the people of the Wasteland who just want to live should have that chance is admirable and something he would have totally steered against had the Brotherhood raised him."
The Brotherhood Elder chuckled. "You're exactly right, and that's why, whatever Nick decides with his love life, I will accept as openly as I can. Perhaps my son's unique brand of.. persuasiveness can even steer this old dog's opinions towards something grander, more at peace. Alright, that's all I needed, Harmony. Thank you, for your honesty. I know it's hard sometimes to speak truthfully when you don't know what might happen otherwise."
"With all due respect, sir, your son is special, and lofty or not, I.. I believe he could possibly fulfill his goals of peace. After this nonsense with killing the one responsible for leaving him alone in the Vault, but that's somewhat justified." Harmony said, standing up. "I should go find him. It seems he may in fact have a certain penchant for attracting trouble." She said, starting to walk out as Maxson shook his head, amused as he knew what Harmony had really meant.
Summoner's Guild, Several Minutes Later..
Harmony entered the odd-sounding building, having heard from several people nearby that Nick- or at least a young man fitting his description- had entered the place. Her eyes fell on the statues of Monsters inside, jumping in fright hard enough that a fireball burst into existence and back out in her palm as Mikey appeared next to her just as enthusiastically as he had with Nick. "Another new customer?! Today's just a great one here in the Wasteland!" He said as Harmony frowned, holding a hand over her hammering heart.
"The hell was that about? I'm just looking for a guy. About my age, give or take this tall," She even motioned a head or so above her own to signal Nick's height. "Dressed like a Vault Dweller? Goes by Nick? Ringing any bells?"
"Oh, you mean the new guy! Yeah, he's in the back getting initiated by the boss lady."
Harmony's eyes narrowed, about to reply when Nick came out of the back room alongside Emma, who was smiling from ear to ear. "See? Nothing to it! And you're a hella lot more powerful than I figured you'd register at, since most of us who can use magic of any degree can sense it in others after a while. Mikey! Get Nick here a Cast Drive and the.. Level 2 Deck."
"Level 2?! Are you sure, Emma? No one registers higher than a-"
"Level 2! Now!" Mikey put his hands up and went to retrieve the items as Emma noticed Harmony. "Oh, hello there. Are you here to take the Initiate Process, too?"
"No, Emma, I'm sure she isn't. Harmony is here for me, or am I wrong?" Nick said, smirking at Harmony.
The blue-haired girl crossed her arms. "I was getting worried that you hadn't been seen by Claire or Tsuna, so I came looking." She half-lied. "Can we go?"
Nick nodded as Mikey handed him the items in question, Emma nodding. "You're all set. Any assignments we may need you for I can just send to your Pip-Boy, I'm guessing?"
"Of course. See you later," Nick said as Harmony looped her arm in his before walking them both out.
Mayor's Office..
The Synth imposter of the mayor nodded as his new assignment had been uploaded to his memory from the Institute. For the foreseeable future, as according to the Mother, he was to observe and report anything of interest about the young man, Arthur Maxson of the Brotherhood of Steel's son, the Vault Dweller, Nick..
Later That Night, Asylum Pub..
Tsuna sighed as she sank into the seat at the bar next to Claire. "You know, I miss when Elder Maxson wasn't here in the Beacon Wasteland." She said.
Claire chuckled, downing her drink. "Yeah, well, you just want to ogle Nick a bit more without his father's eagle eyes watching your every move." She said teasingly.
"Oh? Like you haven't been? Harmony and Quinn get to deal with him much more than the likes of us Brotherhood girls," Tsuna rolled her eyes, looking past Claire at Quinn and Harmony. "Where is Nick, anyway?"
"His father decided to test him in a very elaborate and exhausting gauntlet of trials by fire. Hopefully, his aching body will have let him fully fall asleep by now." Harmony answered, keeping her eyes on the shot glass in front of her.
"Oh. You didn't want to stay with him this time?" Claire then asked, thinking back to the fact Harmony was present in Nick's room much more than any of the other three of them who found the boy just as magnetic.
"No, let him sleep the pain off. I already felt like it was more my fault Maxson put him through his paces like that."
"Nah, don't, Harmony." Tsuna said, waving her hand up and down. "Elder Maxson is just making sure his son isn't a softie." She giggled. "Although, having to deal with your potential attitude should be proof enough that that boy is.. just not the same as other guys."
"That's the damn truth. So.. what are we all going to do about it?" Quinn said, swishing her own glass around in her hand.
"What do you mean, Quinn?" Claire asked at the same time Harmony did.
"Isn't it obvious? The four of us all have been feeling it, aren't we? This weird, almost magnetic attraction to Nick? Harmony, help me out. You're the worst out of us all right now."
"Excuse me?" Harmony said, grimacing with narrowed eyes at the brunette.
"Don't play dumb. We all see how you act around him, always craving his attention. Maybe it's the years you bottled yourself up while leading the Legion, but girl do you have it bad."
"So what if I do? It only puts me in the same boat as you three. Nick decides what happens, as it should be."
"Even if he chooses not just one of us?"
"Oh, come on. How often does that even happen? If that happens, whatever, right? But the chances are, as it stands, Harmony is in the best position. Even Elder Maxson has taken a liking to her."
"Bonus points for being good with daddy, at least." Claire grumbled, rolling her eyes as the conversation continued to devolve. Despite the fact they all liked Nick, and each of them wanting more from the unique young man, Claire wouldn't trade her new friends for anything.
A/N: This chapter was, surprisingly, easier to write than I anticipated. Granted, that's more because of the creative liberties I have to take with this story, making little things try and make sense in the broader Wasteland. So now we have a small plot bunny for one of the main enemies (Institute) which may reverse into an alliance, I'm not sure yet. I think the next chapter will be some conflict, I already have so much written down in way of reference locations and whatnot I might as well.
For those who don't get the whole summoning thing, that's the tech medium for any character I have in the story that comes from any of the card-based anime like Yugioh (Emma) and in this case, Pokémon is held under the same principles. I guess now it's on to the next one.
