Late 2273 - Brotherhood Base Midwestern Chapter
"Oof," Artemis was knocked back as Lucian gave her a blow to the forehead with the butt of his blade's handle. Off to the side, an older soldier with a patch over his left eye from some long ago injury. His remaining eye was grey though it had apparently been blue once when he was younger, and like most Trinity members he sported grey/white hair, though for him it could just as easily be due to his age and not the stresses that come with this group. He went by the name Snake, though his actual name was David. He was the one in charge of her training. Without a word he shook his head, looking disappointed.
"Speed, girl. Use your speed," Snake must've reminded her for the thousandth time. "You're the smallest member we have. You might not be as strong as Sundowner or the Deathclaws that are part of the main body of the Brotherhood in this chapter, but you're definitely faster, and accurate as hell. I've seen you with your bow. Use these things to your advantage. Combine that with your agility and endurance and you'll have no problem wearing your opponent out." Lucian heads over to give her a hand and helps pull her up as Snake hands her the sword she'd been training with. As soon as she was deemed ready she would get one of the reinforced blades unique to Trinity, but for the meantime she was to use one of the Chinese Officer's Swords that were so common in the Wasteland.
She reaches up and feels the spot on her forehead knowing it'll surely be black in the morning. Fast. Fast and agile. Evasive. Those were the words Snake used to describe her. She knew she was strong, but not like the others, especially the men and even the only other woman in the group, Mistral. Artemis gets into position and with a suddenness Lucian struck. Block, perry, strike, dodge. Artemis told herself she needed to be just as sudden. The clang of the blades echoed through the training room, and Lucian doesn't let up. She can feel herself beginning to get winded as she tries to look for an opening. Eventually...there! Without letting herself think about it further she goes in for it. Artemis closes the space between them and uses the butt of her blades handle and hammer's Lucian in the solar plexus causing him to knock him off his balance. Just when Lucian thought she was done she used the same part of her sword to hammer her jaw causing him to be knocked onto the ground and her blade ending up right in his face. She'd won this bout.
Artemis looked over in Snakes direction to see him giving her an approving nod as she helps Lucian up. "You are getting better," Snake tells her. "You're a quick study and your previous life as a Courser seems to make it easy for you to adjust. That's why the High Elder suggested you start off with the Intermediate moves."
Lucian joins his side after he dusts himself off and agrees. "Everyone else agrees with that sentiment," he tells her. "Raiden, Sam, Mistral, even the radio support team. They might not go out and do the fighting, not like we do, but they can spot talent when they see it." This caught Artemis by surprise. Since she'd agreed to join this special ops group she'd gotten to know at least most of the members. Half of the group was reserved for fighting while the other half acted as some kind of support. Her eyes wandered the room to see Sam and Raiden watching her train from the loft. Both men leaned over the railing, their faces unreadable though Lucian kept telling her Sam had something of a crush on her.
Right. Romance. While Sam was a nice man, always acting gentlemanly towards her and was otherwise a good friend to her, she didn't see him in that light. He was just a good friend to her, nothing more. Besides love sounded nice, but she couldn't think about that when her friend was being used to do menial labor that others were too lazy to do. Artemis realized that she might not even be doing that much. J6 might be dead or have had her memory wiped for all she knew.
It's a shake of her shoulder that brings her back to reality. It's Snake, and beside him, Lucian. Both of them smirking and it's obvious they've both said her name multiple times at this point. It was Lucian that spoke. "Thinking of your friend again?" Artemis doesn't say anything but she doesn't need too as she answers with a nod, and a sad look in her eyes. Both Lucian and Snake give her pitying looks and Lucian speaks again. "I can't guarantee that you'll go back and save her, but if Elder Lyon's chapter in the East finds themselves going that way I'm certain the High Elder will at least consider you."
YOU ARE READING
Artemis Files (0.5)
FanfictionYears before helping the Brotherhood in the Capital Wasteland, the Mojave, and the Commonwealth, Artemis, then known as S9-43 was a Courser loyal to the Institute. However Courser's are chosen, not immediately created. What she at first deems a bles...