His voice was hardly a whisper. "What?"

Nolan's expression remained unchanged. "I am tired of hiding, Arcade. I've been a fool and a coward, and this chapter deserves better. And if I'm present during the fighting... it means I can protect my paladins personally."

The Follower ran a hand through his hair, trying not to pace. He drew closer to the Elder, wary of any prying ears, but it was difficult to keep his voice from rising. "What if something happens to you-"

"That isn't stopping you, is it?" he replied coolly.

"It is not the same thing. I'm just - I'm just me, I'm hardly even a doctor. You're the leader of an entire chapter of the Brotherhood-"

Nolan's hand shot out and gripped one of Arcade's arms tightly, and he leaned in so close that the doctor could see the pores of his skin. "You. Are. Not. Expendable." A chill raced through Arcade's blood at the unmoving edge in his voice. "None of us are."

Silence hovered between them for just a moment before Arcade made up his mind. "Let me go with you. I mean... I'm going to be there anyway, right? Let me tag along with your group. I can slam a stimpak into anything squirting concerning amounts of blood like a pro."

The corners of Nolan's lips quirked up despite the tension. "As you wish."

"One thing, though."

Nolan looked only a little surprised. "What is it?"

Arcade locked eyes with him, and in a voice heavy with promise, said, "I'll protect you, too."

Nolan made the official announcement of his leadership of the Dam squad moments later, and directed Initiate Stanton to speak to knights about organizing a more rigorous training schedule. Arcade jogged back over to Isaac and Veronica, the latter of whom was wide-eyed and on the verge of babbling.

"Is he serious? This can't be for real." She cupped her chin with her hands. "Elder's all grown up."

"There's... one more tiny detail." He could feel Veronica and Isaac's curious eyes on him. "I'll be going with his team at the Dam, personally-"

Veronica's smirk went almost to her eyes. "Oh my God. You really are becoming his personal doctor! When are you gonna kiss?"

He balked, indignant. "That's - that is not important-"

"You totally have, haven't you? That's a yes. Look at your face. It hasn't been so red since you got that really hilarious sunburn a couple months ago." Veronica laughed, and Isaac smiled oh-so-politely behind a gloved hand as the doctor huffed and adjusted his coat.

"Anyway, I'll be with them during the fight, but I will be there. I'm going to stay here until then, I guess. It'd make the most sense."

"All right." Isaac clapped a hand to the Follower's shoulder, smiling. He seemed tired, but the spark in his eyes was brighter than it had ever been before. "Come back alive, Arcade. Just promise us that."

He smiled. "That's the plan."

The weeks that follow were a whirlwind of training and tension.

Arcade, in particular, was wearing himself out learning the ins and outs of wearing and fighting in power armor at Nolan's insistence - while he did know the basics, he wasn't about to admit that to anyone within a hundred mile radius. Shooting targets and running simulations was one thing, but doing it in a suit of armor that weighed a quarter of what you did was another.

Of course, he wasn't the only one working himself to exhaustion. Nolan and the other paladins weren't sloppy, not by a long shot; even before the lockdown rescinded, they trained once a week or more in simulations to stay sharp and fit. But with the war looming on the horizon, they amped it up to each and every day, both for the sake of honing their skills and keeping nerves to a minimum.

Even Isaac and Veronica had stopped in again, very briefly - Nolan had sent them on another quick mission to Black Mountain the day after the lockdown ended, and when they returned, the Elder had extended an offer of Brotherhood membership to Isaac, to the surprise of every last soul in the bunker. He'd accepted, some rushed and informal words were spoken and a suit of complementary power armor put into his arms - "Thanks, but this is a bit heavy for me, I think..." - and they'd left again to march towards the Dam almost as quickly as they'd gotten there.

And then there was Head Paladin Hardin.

Arcade had spotted him watching the simulations now and then, though he never commented or stayed for long. He wasn't part of the Dam squad - Nolan had said if he fell, someone would have to take his place.

Like Arcade was going to let that happen.

He was just glad Hardin wouldn't be tagging along; that'd make an already bad situation even worse. Running into him after a simulation did little to alleviate that feeling.

"Fair effort. Maybe you'll make it back from Hoover Dam," the older man offered casually as Arcade wiped the sweat from his brow, a lilt of sarcasm in his voice.

Arcade snorted. "Thanks."

Hardin shook his head. "It's good that the Elder... came to his senses. At least, in some ways." His lip curled, just a little. "Bringing an outsider to a war is an interesting choice. Forging a truce with the NCR of all people is another. And allowing your courier to become a Brotherhood member... Well. I suppose we'll just have to see what happens."

"I really appreciate the vote of confidence. You would not believe how worried I was about your thoughts on all this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do." He brushed past him without another word, taking an extra bit of vicious joy in the fact that he was headed straight towards Nolan's room. Call me an outsider all you want, you still can't choke me out anymore.

His energy seemed to renew itself the closer he got to the Elder's, until finally, he was knocking on his door. It opened almost immediately, and he stepped inside with a tired smile to mirror Nolan's. Wordlessly, they sat down beside one another. It was Nolan that broke the silence.

"I'm glad you'll be with me for this." He faltered for a moment, and his brow furrowed as he continued. "I'd rather you stayed here, away from the fighting - you know that. But if you must go... I want you by my side." He reached over, placing one of his hands gently over Arcade's. "I suppose that not all of the old fear is gone. I don't know if it ever will be."

"Maybe. But you've come a long way." He looked into those tired, pale eyes and smiled, just a little. "For what it's worth, I'm proud of you. God, that sounds condescending, I'm sorry. But, really. Facing your fears is... it's hard. And you're doing it, in the middle of a war between the NCR and Legion, no less. That's pretty impressive, if you ask me." He took the hand on top of his between both of his own. "And I'll be fine, because you'll be there. Just like you'll be fine with me and the rest of your paladins."

Nolan sighed, reaching forward with his free hand. His calloused fingers brushed against Arcade's temple, and tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. "If it... isn't too much to ask, I'd like you to stay the night with me." A old, weary sadness sat upon his shoulders. "I should like to hold you close before we walk into hell."

You have no idea how amazing that sounds. Feeling particularly bold, Arcade caught his hand and brought it gently to his lips.

"You don't have to ask twice," he whispered.

Maybe InstaMash for breakfast wasn't the best idea today.

Arcade's stomach churned uneasily. He was shot through with nerves as he checked his plasma defender and borrowed laser rifle for the hundredth time; he pulled his helmet on as the sixteen paladins surrounding him did the same. A huge group of of scribes, knights and initiates had gathered behind them as Nolan stood in front of the exit, helmet off and speech at the ready.

"Brothers and sisters. War is upon the Mojave. For too long, I have confined us to the shadows, and we have stagnated in darkness as the world above went to chaos." His gaze swept the crowd. "That ends now. We will go forth, and take back the Dam - from the Legion, and the NCR. We will rise again to the light of the outside world, but we will not do it in cowardice. This squad and I will fight - not just for you, but for everything we stand for." A smile quirked at his lips, his brow set in determination. "The Brotherhood shall be victorious once more, for the first time in far too long. And when we return, it will be from a Mojave free of the bull and two-headed bear." He held a hand to his chest, clad all in shining metal armor. "Steel be with you!"

The gathering roared back with a righteous vigor the walls had not heard for years and years. "Steel be with you!"

Nolan pulled his helmet on and turned as the doors opened.

They walked forward into the Mojave - ready, willing, prepared to fight.

The march forward to the Dam was steady and took but three days.

Eyes of many an NCR soldier landed upon them, heavy and scrutinizing, but none drew their weapons - the truce, it seemed, was holding strong. Desperate times call for desperate measures... and good men double-crossing, Arcade mused.

They made camp that night on the NCR side of the Dam, and still met no resistance or questions, though if dirty looks could kill they'd all be six feet under. Arcade and Nolan slept right beside one another - to the doctor's surprise, every member of the squad was either too tactful or distracted to even say anything about it.

Days later, as the sirens of the first tide of the war began to toll, as the sun beat down on the steel shells of the Brotherhood and their black sheep in power armor, Arcade Gannon's mind went a million miles an hour, a hundred different routes - and one thought in particular stood out to him.

Wonder what Dad would think if he saw me now.

to be continued in chapter 8