Chapter 8

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The vertibird's engines roared, drowning out all other sounds as they flew over the desolate wasteland. Ella peered out from the open door, gripping the edge of her seat as the ruins of the old world passed beneath them.

Danse stood across from her, his expression as stoic as ever, his eyes scanning the horizon. His armour gleamed in the light, a symbol of strength and purpose, but the sight of it filled Ella with worry. Where were they going? What exactly was he planning?

They flew further out, the dense ruins beginning to thin, giving way to endless stretches of open land. Ella swallowed hard, feeling a pang of regret, of anger. The world was bigger than she had ever imagined. Her father had kept her hidden away in a cage of safety and ignorance. He thought he had been protecting her, but in doing so had left her weak. Helpless.

'If he had allowed to travel, to learn, to see the world…' Ella's chest tightened. 'Would things have been different that night?'

The thought haunted her, a dark whisper that refused to be silenced. She could still hear his screams, the blood, the helplessness. If only she had been stronger, smarter, more aware of the dangers that lurked beyond the fence maybe things would have been different but instead, she had been blind to it.

"Stop here" Danse ordered the pilot, his voice cutting through the noise.

The Vertibird slowed, hovering high above a stretch of open land as Danse turned to face her. "Get up" he instructed.

Ella threw him a worried look but did as he said. Her heart pounded as she slowly unbuckled herself from the safety of her seat, gingerly getting to her feet.

"Come here."

She stared at him in disbelief, "What?"

"You heard me" Danse replied, his expression stern. "Move."

It wasn't up for debate. Clutching the seat for support, she took a hesitant step forward. She could feel the vertibird swaying slightly, the engine rumbling beneath her feet. Every inch of her screamed for her to sit down, to buckle herself back in but Danse held firm.

"Today initiate."

Taking a deep breath, she reluctantly released her grip on the seat. Trying to steady her breathing as she focused on putting one foot in front of the other. The cabin wasn't very wide, but each step felt terrifyingly unstable as she slowly inched across the cabin, aware each step could be her last.

Suddenly the vertibird lurched, her heart plummeted as she stumbled with it. Throwing her arms out, she managed to stay on her feet, locking her muscles as the vertibird steadied beneath her. She looked to Danse, but he offered no support, his expression hard and emotionless. This was a test she realised and one she had to do on her own. Gritting her teeth, she stood upright, trying not to focus on the dizzying height as she forced herself on when she finally reached him.

"Good." Danse said, "Ready for the next part?"

"That wasn't it?!" she exclaimed, trying to catch her breath.

"I thought you wanted to know what those clips were for?"

Ella froze, realisation setting in. She opened her mouth to object, but Danse didn't give her the chance. Lifting her from the ground, he hooked the safety clips on her uniform to the front of his armour, her legs dangling helplessly as he headed towards the open door.

"Wait, what are you -" she started, but her words were lost as he reached down and yanked her legs around his metal-clad waist, securing them together.

"You might want to hold onto these," he said, a rare hint of excitement in his eyes as he guided her hands to the two sturdy handles upon his suit.

Then they were falling.

Ella's scream tore through the air as Danse leapt from the vertibird, engulfing her into a dizzying freefall. The world around them became a blur as she desperately clung onto the handles, her knuckles white as the wind roared in her ears.

The ground rushed up to meet them, the air whipping her face as they plummeted towards the ground. They landed with a deafening thud, the impact sending shockwaves through her. The earth shuddered beneath them, dust and sand billowing around them in a choking haze. Ella barely had time to register the rough landing before Danse unclipped her.

Without warning, she dropped to the ground with a hard thump. For a moment, she just lay there, disorientated and shaken, feeling nauseous with the suddenness of it all. The world spun as she sat upright, trying to make sense of what had happened when she finally lifted her gaze to Danse.

"What was that?!" she demanded; her voice raw from screaming.

Danse turned, his eyes alight with rare amusement as she glowered at him from the sand. It had been a while since he had done that to anyone. He'd forgotten how amusing it could be. "Deployment training" he replied nonchalantly, as if their death-defying leap was normal. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

"You could have given me some warning!" she exclaimed, "I could have died!"

"I wouldn't make you do anything I didn't think you could handle," Danse said, his tone matter of fact. "Now, on your feet."

Ella huffed in frustration as she forced herself to stand, her legs still shaky from the fall. Adrenaline surged through her, making her hands tremble as she brushed the sand from her knees. Annoyance bubbled up inside her – was he trying to kill her? She opened her mouth to object, but her words were lost as took in her surroundings.

"Welcome to the beach."

It was surprisingly beautiful. Soft, golden sand stretched before her, littered with remnants of a world long gone – pieces of bleached driftwood, debris and rusted metal fragments half buried in the dunes. The ocean was unnaturally dark, vast and inviting as it lapped gently against the shoreline offering a momentary sense of peace. The Prydwen hovered silently in the distance, as though keeping a watchful eye over them.

"It's beautiful," Ella murmured, for a moment she was unsure if she was grateful to Danse for pushing her out of the vertibird. "I didn't think places like this still existed."

"I'm glad you approve but we're not here for the view," Danse said, exiting his armour. "This area has recently been cleared so it should be safe."

"For what?" Ella asked, her stomach twisting as he dug his boot into the sand, marking out a large circle.

"Combat training."

Her heart faltered, "With you?"

Her stomach dropped as he nodded, beckoning her into the circle.

"In the field, it's better to keep your enemies at a distance," Danse said, his voice firm but instructive. "But sometimes, close combat is unavoidable. Whether you're a soldier, scribe, or squire, it doesn't matter. The Brotherhood demands every member is ready to face what's out there. Being prepared – knowing what to do and what to expect – can be the difference between life and death."

Ella nodded in understanding. Though he wouldn't say it outright, her recent run-in with Cade had made it clear she needed to improve her hand-to-hand skills. She had been caught off guard, unprepared for the reality of a close-quarters fight that she may face in the field.

"Out there, you won't always have the luxury of a weapon or backup" Danse continued "You need to be able to rely on yourself – on your instincts and training."

Ella knew he was right. She knew she needed to improve if she wanted to survive, but the thought of facing Danse was terrifying. Her heart raced as he slid into a fighting stance, realising she was about to have her ass handed to her – again. The last time had been bad enough but, this was different. Danse was no initiate. He was one of the Brotherhood's most elite soldiers and it showed.

He was huge, terrifyingly so. His uniform strained against his bulging biceps, each muscle defined and solid, the result of years of dedicated training. His broad shoulders and chiselled chest showcased his immense strength, every movement accentuating the hard muscles that rippled beneath his uniform. The scars upon his skin were a testament to his lethal prowess, evidence of the countless battles that had tried to take him down and failed. And yet, here she was, about to go head-to-head with him.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

'No.' she thought to herself. Instead, she gave him a nervous nod.

"Good. Then let's get to work."

Danse's eyes never left hers as they squared off. His presence was unnerving, a blend of strength and discipline. "Don't hold back" he told her, sensing her hesitation "Show me what you've got."

Taking a deep breath Ella lunged, throwing a punch at him. Danse deflected with ease, swatting her fist aside like was nothing and pushing her back with a firm shove.

"Keep your guard up," he said, his voice firm as she regained her balance, "Your opponent is looking for an opening. Don't give them one."

She nodded, raising her arms defensively as she darted in, throwing a series of jabs. Each punch was quick but Danse blocked them effortlessly, his movements controlled and measured as he anticipated her moves.

Shifting her weight, she swung a kick toward his side but his reflexes were lightning fast, catching her leg mid-air. Ella struggled, hopping uselessly on one leg as she tried to wriggle free. With a quick flick of the wrist, he sent her spinning, pain exploding across her nose as she landed face-first in the sand.

"Keep your center of gravity low" Danse advised, "if you're off balance, you're vulnerable."

Gritting her teeth she pushed herself up, trying to ignore the deep throbbing as sweat dripped from her forehead. Danse watched her intently as she reset her stance, measuring and assessing her every move as she circled him again. Rushing forward she varied her strikes, a whirlwind of punches and kicks but his defence was ironclad. He dodged and parried with ease, his movements a blur when suddenly his hand snapped out, grabbing her lowered arm in a vice grip. Pain shot through her as he twisted it high above her back, his grip firm but controlled.

"You're still leaving yourself exposed" he scolded. With a twist, she was airborne, the beach spinning before she slammed onto her back, knocking the air from her lungs.

"Learn from your mistakes," he said, his voice unyielding. "Out there, every move, every decision you make could be the one that saves your life – or ends it."

Ella struggled to her feet, determination tightening in her jaw. Keeping her arms up she reset her stance before launching herself at him again. Her strikes were faster, more precise, fuelled by her determination to prove herself as Danse countered, testing her form and stability.

"Better," Danse said, nodding in approval. "But you need to be prepared for anything. The enemy won't play by the rules."

Suddenly, Danse lunged. One moment he was standing before her, the next his body was crashing into hers, sending them both tumbling to the ground. Ella hit the earth hard, the impact rattling her bones. Danse was upon her before she could react, his weight heavy upon hers as he pinned her beneath him. She gasped as he pressed his forearm against her throat, the pressure intense but allowing for small mouthfuls of air as she thrashed against him.

"It's likely your opponents will be bigger than you" Danse said his voice steady and calm "which means they'll be able to overpower you. What can you do from this position?"

Ella's heart pounded in her chest, each beat loud in her ears as she struggled beneath his weight. She strained against him, trying to find leverage, to push him off but it was useless. He was immovable, a wall of muscle and discipline.

"Nothing" she gasped. The word escaped her lips before she could stop it, a confession of her fear and helplessness.

"Wrong answer," Danse's voice hardened, a sharp edge cutting through the calm. "You never give up. Give up and you're dead." He pressed down harder, emphasising his point. "Are your hands free?"

Ella blinked against the rising panic, the realisation hitting her. Looking down she flexed her fingers, testing her range of motion and nodded.

"Eyes, throat, kidneys – there all viable options from this position. Use them."

Ella nodded, taking in what he was telling her as she visualised the strikes when Danse released his grip, his weight gone as he got to his feet. He offered her his hand, his expression unreadable though there was a faint glimmer of approval in his eyes.

"Come on," he said, "We're not done yet."

She took his hand, his skin warm and rough in hers as he pulled her to her feet. They resumed training, Danse's movements were strong and precise as he demonstrated a series of combat techniques. Ella mirrored his movements, her focus unwavering despite the exhaustion creeping in when Danse finally called for a break.

She collapsed into the sand, her breathing heavy and ragged as the sun slowly began to set, casting a warm glow over the beach.

"How are you feeling?" Danse asked from beside her.

"Tired" she answered honestly.

"You're learning quickly," he said approvingly "It won't be too long before you're out on patrol."

Ella smiled, though the thought made her queasy. It was nice to know that she was improving, that the past few weeks hadn't been for nothing. Each day became a little easier, her body a little stronger as she adjusted to the demands of Brotherhood life but she still had a way to go before she was ready for the harsh realities that awaited her.

Ella stared out at the water, her eyes wide with wonder as the sun's rays gently kissed the ocean waves, the light dancing and twinkling with every ripple. "I've never seen anything like this before" she breathed, her voice tinged with awe.

Danse turned to her, eyebrows raised in surprise. "You've never seen the ocean?"

A faint smile touched Ella's lips though it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her gaze remained fixed on the dancing water. "I grew up on a farm. We had a small pond nearby we used to collect from but nothing like this."

"You lived on a farm?" Danse echoed, a note of curiosity in his voice.

Ella nodded, pain flickering across her features "It was a simple life. We had crops, animals - plenty of work to keep us busy."

Danse nodded thoughtfully, "It sounds peaceful."

"It was" she agreed softly. "Then the raiders came, and everything changed. My father…he didn't make it."

A flicker of empathy softened Danse's typically stern expression. He understood loss all too well, and for a moment his hard exterior cracked. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "This life – it must be very different for you."

"It is," Ella admitted, tearing her eyes from the ocean to meet his gaze. "But I don't regret it. Not yet anyway." A faint smile touched her lips as she added, "But if you make me eat Gary's mole rat stew, I'm leaving."

A rare smile tugged at the corner of Danse's mouth. "I'll join you if it comes to that."

"What about you?" Ella asked, her curiosity piqued, "Have you always been a soldier?"

Danse shook his head, looking out to the horizon. "No. I used to run a junk stand when I was younger."

"A trader?" Ella exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise. "I can't imagine you as anything but a soldier."

"The Brotherhood changed everything for me" Danse admitted, his tone resolute. "It gave me purpose, a sense of belonging."

"Do you ever miss it?" Ella asked gently "The life you had before?"

Danse snorted, the sound almost dismissive. "No. The Brotherhood is my life and blood. It gave my life meaning in ways I never thought possible."

They sat side by side in silence, a shared understanding settling between them as they looked out across the sea. Though their motivations for joining were different, the Brotherhood had united them. It had forged a bond between them stronger than mere mentorship. They were allies, comrades, and confidants, bound together by a common cause. The Brotherhood had formed them into a family, a powerful force dedicated to protecting and supporting one another in a world filled with danger.

AN: Hi there, just want to pop on and say thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it! I'm just curious, is anyone reading this NOT played fallout 4? I imagine most, if not all of you following along will have but if you haven't let me know. Have a good week.