Alone in the Wasteland (FALLOUT)

Edgar

"What are you doing around here? This place is under strict lockdown. Well, I guess you're here until he leaves... Follow me to my office. We may have a use for you yet..." I nodded at the man, and followed him down corridors, and through a few chambers. Sometimes getting strange looks from the people around.

  "Name's Hardin. I'm the Head Paladin of this chapter, and I think we might be able to help each other out." Hardin said to me as he closed his chamber door. "My name is Nero, and I take it you are the brotherhood. So what do you need help with? Why ask me and not your Elder?" I asked. "Elijah was a strange one. His even becoming Elder was highly questionable, seeing as how he was a Scribe. Typically, only Paladins are eligible. But an exception was made in his case, on account of him being a genius. Unfortunately, whatever scientific acumen he had didn't extend to tactics. Trying to defend HELIOS was a blunder of the worst kind, and many brothers lost their lives because of it. Many of the senior paladins, myself included, advised him to fight a retreating action, but he refused to budge. Said he almost "had it working". We never did find out exactly what he was talking about. When the perimeter was finally overrun, the Elder had simply vanished." He replied. "Sounds like someone messed up somewhere with his placement of Elder. If you said this place was on lockdown, how is that guy that threatened me even harassing you? I mean, you have the weaponry to take him out easily. But, i'm guessing Elijah has some weird plan in mind." I replied. The Brotherhood here seems to be somewhat dysfunctional. At least back home they were allowed to leave their stupid blimp... this entire base is under a state of lockdown. No one goes out except small patrols at night. Most of the chapter has been Morale has plummeted as time has gone by, and many of our current paladins haven't even seen combat outside of training simulations. And all because of the Elder's explicit order that no one be allowed in or out. The only way things will change is if a new Elder is installed." Hardin said with grief in his voice.

  "Is the loss of patrols really that taxing the Elder and not just the people?" I asked hesitantly. "Yes, I know the loss of the patrols has weighed heavily on his mind for some time. He took it very personally when they first went missing. That was when I first began to seriously question his ability to lead us. A commander has to be able to deal with the potential loss of his men. It's strange that he would ask you to find mission discs on them, however. The missing paladins were all on standard patrols, which don't need them. Only Brothers sent on special assignments are given mission discs. If you should find any on the lost patrols, let me know. But that wasn't your task I had at hand. Back when we were stationed at HELIOS, our scouts reported that a group was establishing itself in the area as a distributor of Pre-War weapons. Our Elder at the time, Elijah, was too concerned with getting HELIOS running and fending off the NCR, so he ordered us to leave them alone. It's time that we correct that oversight, and show this region that the Brotherhood is still a force to be reckoned with. I want you to visit these weapons dealers, this Van Graff family, and make an example of them. Leave no one alive." Hardin just went on and on... "On one condition. I come from the east. Not like, China east, but a vault on the east coast. Vault Zero. I need a suit of that Power Armor if I want to even make it halfway through the Glowing Sea." I said, hoping I was persuasive enough. "You've got yourself a deal. Now go. That idiot at the door should be gone."

  I knew what I had to do next. I was going to the Silver Rush in Freeside.

~~~~~~~~A/N~~~~~~~~

HERE IS A LITTLE GIFT SINCE I HAVEN'T EVEN TOUCHED THIS STORY SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME. So, I'm gonna try uploading a new chapter every Thursday, but you get a double today :D

So Yeah. That is all.