the pier.

[doubletap]

Let him just say it now--the kid had a lot of problems.

I mean, not really a surprise or anything--Alex had found him dried out in a desert, for crying out loud--but god damn.

Let’s recap.

Alex Seattle Geer found himself in love with a Vault brat from the Capital Wasteland with a daddy complex the size of Hoover Dam. Said kid loves him back--sometimes. Said kid would probably rather put another bullet between Alex’s eyes rather than spend time with him, and didn’t this just go to show it. Neil leaves to check up a rumor, said he’d be back shortly--shortly became two days and by then Dogmeat was back, meaning Neil took off somewhere he was worried the dog would get hurt at. Two days turn into two weeks and counting, and by then, Alex has tracked Neil’s steps, found the fucking pier, the fucking tool of a woman looking for her child, and all of the pieces are too easily placed.

Neil left for Point Lookout. And Alex, ED-E, and Dogmeat are left hanging in the wind.

Alex has been fucking camping on the dirty sand and shit next to that pier, waiting for that stupid kid to come back on that stupid ferry the woman told him about. Tobar the fucking Ferryman, and Alex feels like shooting the asshole just for submitting to Neil’s request. Probably not the guy’s fault, but-- Hell. Yeah. He didn’t traipse all over the goddamn country just to be left in the dust. Is the kid even coming back? Who fucking knows.

Alex will just.

Wait here.

Until Neil comes back.

Yeah, that’s not pathetic at all.

Comments

[doubletap]

On the way out, Alex picks up Red Glare, slipping it into the strap at his back. ED-E is hovering over the dead BOS members, silent except for his mechanical buzzing. "I didn't want to," Alex says, without meaning to.

He doesn't need to justify himself, and there's no need to say anything. But he does anyway.

"I wanted them to leave. I wanted them to go back upstairs."

That's not what they did, ED-E replies.

"It's not. They didn't." Alex looks at the dead bodies, and ED-E rotates until he faces Alex.

You were alone. You shouldn't have been.

"You couldn't be here. They aren't like the ones we know. They--"

There's a complicated series of sound, one that Alex struggles to understand. ED-E shakes, frustrated at the inability to communicate correctly, and tries something else. Men in metal know the ones that are only metal. Only enemies. I'm an enemy.

"You're you," Alex replies, before a heartbeat has the time to pass. "You're my best friend, and I would never let anyone do anything to hurt you."

You hurt me.

Alex swallows, fiddles with the LAER+ over his shoulder. Wonders how this kid learned to be so blunt. Doesn't really wonder that long. "I was trying..."

To protect.

Alex lifts his gaze to look at ED-E. "Yeah. I was."

I'm treasured by you?

So he heard that. "Of course you are. Why else would I piss you off to keep you in that room?"

Stupid.

Alex grins, starts to walk toward the entry room. ED-E, buzzing, begins to follow slowly. "No doubt. I'm habitual like that."

The eyebot butts against Alex's shoulder as he catches up, and Alex lifts a hand to tap two fingers on the shiny metal.

[vacuus]

It's quiet. Far too quiet for comfort. Even with his helmet firmly in place, Knight Larry Ellis gives off the air of raw nerves. He's been silent as matters transpired down below. Remained much the same when things seemingly came to an end.

Which end, he couldn't rightly say. It doesn't matter, however, as someone's coming up the stairs.

Finger firmly on the trigger of his tri-beam laser, he spares a glance at the Rivet City guards.

[doubletap]

The guards have been quiet through this. Cooper continues to clean his gun, Drew sweats through his shirt, and Washington wonders if prayer will work after nearly four decades of atheism. There had been the sounds of fighting, a couple loud explosions, but for the past five minutes, there has been a tension-filled silence. Washington saw three outcomes of this.

A.) BOS killed the guys downstairs and comes up to yell at them for not doing their job and keeping stragglers out.
B.) BOS killed the guys downstairs and comes up to kill them as well for trying to hide fugitives.
C.) The BOS gets killed? Somehow? But they would probably still die regardless.

He sighs and wishes for some kind of alcohol.

Alex opens the door to the upper level, ED-E behind him. The man sighs as he comes out to the main area. "So that was...."

And yep, Neil was right. There's one more up here. Alex pauses mid-stride. "...fun."

[vacuus]

A strange man walks through the door with an eyebot in tow. If Larry wishes to that anything could be different about the scenario, he would wish for everything. A different set of orders. A different commander. A different choice in his life. All the changes.

But in the end, he's a soldier. And a strange man with an eyebot, especially when there's neither sight nor sound of the other Brotherhood of Steel men, is a complete threat.

Without hesitation, Larry pulls the trigger on the guy, and three lasers shoot out simultaneously toward their target.

[doubletap]

"God shit it," is as much as Alex is able to spit out before the beams take him in the torso. Chest burning, he dives to the side, back around the corner, pulling out the LAER+. ED-E instantly starts suppressive fire on the lone BOS member, and Alex wonders if there's a way this could go differently.

After you've obviously killed his friends and came to bother him as well? Not likely. Guy's as hostile as they come.

For Alex, at least. Not so much for the guards. While Larry is busy with Alex and ED-E, Cooper shifts to his feet, holding the gun he's been working on the entire trip to the man's temple--or where the temple would be, through the helmet. "This isn't going to end well. Do you really want to die for this?"

[vacuus]

He got him. Got him in the torso, but the guy's still moving. Still breathing. And what's more, the little Enclave drone is firing its laser at him.

Larry's forced to the nearest threshold for cover, whirling faster than one would think a guy in power armor could do, before he aims. Positions his rifle to kill--

Everything stops. The quiet Rivet City guard has his gun to Larry's head, forcing the knight to freeze in his steps. To eye the man in his peripheral for the longest minute he can possibly give in this situation.

"Shit," Larry finally spits out. He slowly raises both arms.

[doubletap]

Shooting stops. ED-E gives up after he sees the guard is in proximity and goes to tell Alex.

Alex, who is surprised at the silence suspects a trick. ED-E tells him otherwise. He climbs up awkwardly, a hand against his chest, and rounds the corner to see the scene before him. Drew is about ready to faint, and Washington is frozen, mouth agape at Cooper. Alex tilts his head in question.

With the barrel firmly pressed against Larry's helmet and a hand holding the BOS member's plated arm tightly, Cooper speaks to Alex. "I know we owe Neil Park. Not like Washington's hero worship--"

"What the hell, man!"

"--but I do recognize what happened four years back. And also." Cooper pauses here, something crossing his face for the first time. He moves his chin, angling it at Alex. "...1st Recon?"

The non-existent weight of the beret Boone gave him is suddenly heavy. Alex blinks, obviously surprised. "...The last thing you never see," he quotes cautiously, Boone's tagline for his unit. Cooper nods once, as if expecting it.

"My parents came from California. My mother was 1st Recon. I must have tried to steal her beret about fifty times as a kid, but she slapped my ass so hard it bled once and I never tried again. I wouldn't have been able to forget the look of that if I tried."

"I'm not NCR, though," Alex moves to explain, not wanting to lie to these men. "My friend was. I helped him with a problem he had and--"

Cooper shakes his head once. "If a 1st Recon gave you a beret, you're worthy of the respect. Sniper or spotter?"

"Both," Alex says cautiously. "Depends on what's needed."

A rare smile crosses Cooper's face. "Good answer."

[vacuus]

There's a saying that's appropriate here, but Larry doesn't have the luxury of mulling over idioms. He stays still with his arms stuck in the air, listening to the exchanges transpiring around him like a frickin' idiot.

Except something strikes him, a beat after the fact. Once Cooper completes the damn story, Larry chances speech.

"Neil Park," he repeats. "What about the Lone Wanderer?"

[doubletap]

Washington darts a glance at Alex, but the man's face was neutral. He risks it. "He got hurt. His friend--" He points a thumb at Alex. "--Brought him here to fix him up. Looked pretty bad."

Alex digests the sentences given, then licks his lips. "Your commander decided that an eyebot was enough of a reason to dismantle Project Purity and kill the Savior of the Wastes. I disagreed with that."

Drew unfreezes from his shock, rage thawing his features. "They were going to attack the Project? After everything--"

A second later, Washington interrupts. "He was really willing to hurt the kid?"

Cooper looks across the room at Alex. "Either way," Alex says evenly. "He never got the chance."

[vacuus]

Collaborated accounts are one thing. Collaborated accounts centered on a certain individual is something else altogether. Larry stiffens, his mind working backwards from now until a point in the past.

Everything's processed almost immediately. Larry sighs into his helmet, fogging up the display.

"Kid sister was in Lyon's Pride. Died in a behemoth attack near the GNR building four years ago," he gives slowly. "Park brought back her holotag. Told me he was sorry she had to go that way."

And now this. Tanks, Johannson, Luis, that former Outcast-- All dead. But he got to pay his damn respects to Reddin. What the hell is he supposed to do here?

[doubletap]

The older guards both nod in recognition of the group mentioned as well as the attack. Drew only knows of Lyon's Pride, and once dreamed of being in it, but once Sentinel Lyons died--

Alex knows of none of it, but understands what the man is trying to say. ED-E comes up behind Alex, hovering just out of reach to the side. Alex, on edge, notes his presence, and shifts his grip on the LAER+. Still.

Still. "I'm not from here," he says by way of explanation. "But that sounds like something--" my-- "--the kid would do."

[vacuus]

Recognition helps matters, and Knight Ellis of the Brotherhood of Steel remembers their orders. Their original orders. He watches the mysterious stranger from the West and the eyebot for a long minute.

"All this over an eyebot," he comments slowly. "Over a damn safety inspection."

What a waste. What a pathetic, pitiful waste.

[doubletap]

There's an easy way to get out of this, he thinks, and maybe if he was back in the west, Alex would take it. Here, for some reason, he can't swallow the lies.

He takes a hand off the LAER+ to rub at his chest. "...I'm going to be straight with you. It's not just that. Back west, I decimated a Brotherhood Chapter. Xavier took offense. I don't--"

Alex winces, wishes he had brought his stimpacks upstairs with him. Pretends that's the reason he pauses. "...Don't blame him, to be honest."

Behind Cooper and Larry, Washington drops his head into his hands.

[vacuus]

Larry absorbs the information, momentarily forgetting that his arms are still stuck dumbly up in the air.

What he gives next proves telling. Perhaps provides clarity for the stranger where none existed prior. "Lost Hills cut us off," is the start, "when Elder Lyons refused to abandon the people in this wasteland over pre-War technology. Xavier was formerly part of the...loyalist chapter who viewed Lyons as a traitor."

Of course, he'd have taken offense.

"But I've always been with Lyons," Larry continues, gravity in his voice. "Lost Hills abandoned us to the mutants." Got his kid sister killed. "Why should I care what happens in the West?"

[doubletap]

Alex's eyebrows raise. He makes no attempt to conceal his surprise. "...Neil didn't see fit to mention there was different factions out here," he says slowly. Neil mentioned an elder who wasn't into genocide, but nothing further than that.

"Hard to believe there's an elder that cares about people over tech," Alex says, and Washington, sighing heavily, gives credit where it's due.

"I'm not saying they've been completely good to us," the man explains. "But there's a definite difference between the Outcasts and Lyon's Brotherhood."

Alex watches the guard for a moment, then turns back to the BOS man. "...Some people care about what happens in different places, but not what's going on under their noses." NCR, for one, BOS for another. "Seems like a crime to wipe some of you guys out." Alex pauses. "But I have a problem with the whole tech over people aspect. What you say you guys aren't."

[vacuus]

"We're dying." A strange comment, but one the man feels need to be driven home. "Lyons passed. His daughter was killed in action. Maxson's too young--"

He pauses, knowing the blasphemy other Brotherhood members would accuse him of speaking. Still, he continues, "--to understand. And he's the one who's pushing to reunite both factions. We've already compromised on several points to appease the Outcasts."

There is a breath out as he feels the muscles in his arms ache. "It won't be long until Lyons' Brotherhood is no more."

[doubletap]

There was something in this. Something that reminded him of a city long since gone. A shine against dust storms and dying sand.

He swings the LAER+ over his shoulder, wincing as his skin pulls. "Let him go," he says quietly to Cooper. If the man still wants to shoot him, let him. Alex is hardy enough to withstand another set of blasts. Cooper pauses, then lets go, stepping away, gun held down and out, ready to pull up in a moment.

Washington takes a step back. Yay, he thinks. Now the last surviving BOS member will shoot us dead. Drew only thinks to be stupid, to ask, "...What about the Project? If the real Brotherhood is gone, who will back us protecting the water supply?"

It's Alex who laughs to this, something hurt in the sound. "Kid, I tried to tell you before. The real Brotherhood is the Outcasts, apparently, and the ones I killed back in the Mojave. This guy--" he says, and looks to the man in steel. "--and the people who died, those are the ones who are abnormal. The Brotherhood of Steel doesn't give a shit about you," Alex goes on. "But apparently this band of brothers did once."

[vacuus]

They let him go, allowing him his momentary freedom. Larry simply holsters his rifle and starts to stretch out his limbs, thinking he might as well. Give him a chance to enjoy something normal before an end. Maybe.

Maybe, as the stranger from the West gives words that Larry can appreciate, that has him remembering a time not so long ago. Of Reddin and her goofy smiles.

"Xavier. He was always one step away from opening fire on us." Larry looks toward the aforementioned entrance. "Maybe today's the day he finally snapped. Park, you know." He laughs uneasily. "He had a 'disagreement' with the Outcasts years ago over a pre-War artifact. They were still shooting at him the last I heard."

And such behavior can be an excuse. A reason.

[doubletap]

Alex shifts his weight idly, wishing for a moment to put himself back together. His eyebot lowers his hovering to look at Alex, offering a questioning beep. Alex whistles an I'm fine, then a low negative-- He doesn't want ED-E calling more attention to himself until they know this man exactly. Watching the exchange with fascination, Washington blinks a moment, then gives a groan and crosses the room--giving Larry a wide-berth.

When he's near to Alex, he offers him a stimpack. Taken aback, Alex blinks. From what he's gathered, these aren't as easy to come by in this Wasteland. "...Is he okay?" the man asks quietly.

Taking the medical chem, Alex injects himself fluidly, nodding at the man. "Worst part over. He should be fine once he gets some solid rest." His eyes raise to the Brotherhood man, as Washington moves to lean against a desk closer to Alex than he was. The strange solidarity is immensely touching in this messed-up wasteland.

"Xavier... Neil had me kill that guy as soon as he started mouthing off. Spat out the word Outcasts like it was the plague." He pauses a moment, then shoves a hand through his hair. "Listen, are you going to be shooting me any time soon? 'Cause if not, you wanna take off your helmet? Can't stand taking to a guy you can't look in the eyes."

[vacuus]

Larry watches the exchanges with bated breath, noting both in silence. It isn't until the stranger asks a question that he reacts.

He reaches upward to undo the latches. There is a hiss as the air inside and out reach an equilibrium, and gently, Larry lifts his helmet up and into his arms. Beneath the metal is a striking man nearing his thirties, green-eyed with curly hair as red as red can be.

"I can imagine why. I heard he'd brought his dog with him when he paid a visit to their base," he comments, his voice now clear to the air.

[doubletap]

The guy's younger than Alex, but older than Neil. Other than that, he only notes the details to remember for later. He moves toward a desk, hopping to desk on it and gesturing the guy over. Washington watches him, and Cooper returns to an opposite corner, keeping guard on the different exits. Drew, noticing his small unit's positions, shifts a little until he decides to prop himself in front of the main exit out. Alex tries to hide his smile at the effort.

Something that turns into a full laugh, full of bitter mirth, at the explanation. "God, Dogmeat was with him? That kid is protective as a mama bear over that mutt."

[vacuus]

He steps toward the stranger without hesitation. Without tension, as it melts away at that laugh. Larry stops at a respectable distance, a grin fighting a losing battle over dominion of his face. "That's right."

To even his own surprise, he salutes the man before him, out of respect for another. "Knight Larry Ellis of Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel," he gives.

[doubletap]

If he was surprised before, it quadruples in the next moment. His eyebrows shoot skyward again, and he moves to speak, but ends up just moving his mouth. Alex laughs somewhat awkwardly, and shoves a hand through his hair again. "Alex Seattle Geer," he replies. Without looking away from Ellis, Alex points a finger out at each guard in the room. "No speaking of this outside this room. Especially to Neil."

He then sighs, giving a wry smile to Ellis. "I was going to be named Paladin in the Mojave Chapter before I blew up their base."

[vacuus]

Surprised, Larry blinks openly at the reveal, before a more thoughtful expression takes place. "Then I guess my report stating that this was an internal incident shouldn't entirely be incorrect," he comments.

With that, the knight extends out a hand, an offer for a favorable truce. "Almost-Paladin Geer," says Larry with a ghost of a smile. "Please tell Knight Park that I still greatly appreciate his kind gesture to this day."

[doubletap]

He has no reason not to take the man's hand. Alex grasps it firmly, then, out of seemingly nowhere, makes a face. Almost-Paladin. "...Man, that sounds gross. Don't say it again. And tell him yourself," he shoots back. "He should be more himself in a couple of days."

And all of this only leads into what he was telling Neil downstairs, about not letting people take the fall. "Though I have a better plan for fixing this." Somewhat fixing this. (There's no fixing this.) "When is the next contingent coming through here? --Or, how long until you guys are missed?"