I own Gwen

November 8th, 2287

Gwen stood outside underneath the canopy of the terminal. Around her Brotherhood soldiers rush to and fro, carrying crates and computers, cleaning out the cobwebs, and setting up a primitive defensive perimeter. She watched them with mild interest as she leaned up against her restored bike, her arms crossed in front of her and a small smile playing at her lips. It was easy to hide amongst the Brotherhood. Even though many gawked, many more simply nodded and gave her a pat on the shoulder. Many things had changed, but even so it felt like home. It's a feeling she hasn't felt in a while. The thought of home causes a dark shadow to cloud her mind. Deep feelings of regret and sorrow pass over her as the images of 101 and James flash into her head. And all at once, it ends as a pair of power armored feet stomp next to her.

"Well, well. Lazy as ever," a familiar voice drawls.

She casts a smirk over to the towering engineer. "Ingram. Nice to see ya again."

"I won't even bother asking how you are alive. Knowing you, I won't get a straight answer anyway."

Gwen places a hand on her chest in mock hurt. "Ingram, I'm hurt. You know I would never lie to you."

Proctor Ingram purses her lips and gives the Lone Wanderer a skeptical look. "Right. So, how are you still alive? The sun may heal you, but I doubt you could survive that."

"Alien mother ship beamed me up," Gwen says matter-of-factly with a firm nod of her head.

The engineer rolls her eyes. "Whatever. Don't wanna tell, that's fine. What are you doing here then?"

"I can't come visit my favorite engineer on a whim?" She asks innocently, batting her eyelashes.

"With you, Gwen, nothing is just on a whim. You always have some motive or interest." Ingram settles on her back leg, sizing up the Lone Wanderer.

Gwen doesn't get to answer as a Brotherhood Knight calls out in alarm as ghouls begin to swarm out of an apartment close to the airport. Without waiting, Gwen's laser rifle is in her hands and her legs are carrying her towards the battle. Though she may be tiny outside of her power armor, she is fearsome nonetheless. "Alright, Knights," she bellows out and begins to order the soldiers around. "I want four of you on either side, flanking this door." She motions to the makeshift opening before her. "Paladins, take point up top for over watch. Snipers, I want you at the towers on the corners."

The soldiers salute her and carry out her orders. Once they are in place, Gwen strides out of the open door. "Snipers," she calls out, "Pick your targets. On my mark." She grips her rifle, casting a glance up and down the line of soldiers. They nod briefly at her, raising their own weapons to an alert stance. "Fire!" The snipers let loose their volley, cutting down several ghouls. The remaining snap their heads towards the sound, screaming and charging. The snipers fire again, cutting down a few more, but the horde continues its charge. "Paladins!" Gwen yells and they respond with heavy fire. Miniguns, assault rifles, and laser guns cut into the horde, slicing them in twain. The remaining continues their charge. "Knights!" The last line of soldiers lift their weapons in synchronized order, firing into the horde.

Gwen, fires her rifle at several fast approaching ghouls before holstering it and pulling her machetes from her side. Twirling the blades in her hands, she steps forward and slices through the head of a ghoul. "Melee, Knights! Conserve your ammo!" At her word, the Knights rifles are replaced by daggers, swords, and even their own fists. Some Knights pound the ghouls into paste. Others shove the ghouls back into the firing sight of the Paladins and snipers. Gwen prefers to cut down the ghouls as they approach, slicing deep and without mercy.

After several grueling minutes, the battle ends in a Brotherhood victory. The Knights cheer as the last ghoul falls. Laughing, Gwen sheathes her blades. "Alright, ya'll check for any damage, and then get the initiates out here to clean up this mess." The soldiers move to carry out her orders again. Gwen crosses back to Ingram, the peaking sun healing her where it lands, but still misses a nasty wound across her forehead. Wiping her brow, she smears sweat and blood across her skin and into her dark hair. "Shit," she mumbles. She strides back to her bike, to her medical kit and the bandages held within, but again, someone interrupts her.

"Sentinel!" Maxson calls, his strong hand moving to grip her bicep and keep her steady.

"Arthur," she says sweetly. "Mind letting go? I do have bandages, so you can keep your healing glares for another day."

He lets her go at her word, but goes to her bike and pulls out her bag. He ruffles through it, before finding the medical kit. Opening the box, he pulls out the antiseptic and gauze. "You might want to sit, Gwen. This will sting."

"I doubt it, Arthur. Losing the hand was worse." She wiggles her left fingers at Maxson, the mechanical digits moving fluidly. She reaches for the bottle, but Maxson holds it high over his head. "Give it back!"

"Then sit down, Sentinel. That's an order."

Begrudgingly, she sits down on a rotting bench. "Ass," she mumbles under her breath.

"What was that?" Maxson asks with an eyebrow raised.

Gwen merely smiles at the Elder. "Nothing!"

Narrowing his eyes, Maxson approaches the sitting sentinel. As he daps the gauze with the antiseptic he thinks back on the first time he met her. He was only a child when she came into his life. She was still a child herself, thrust into the dangerous wasteland and still reeling from the death of her father. Elder Lyons was slow to trust, but he soon adopted Gwen into his family and she became a permanent fixture at the Citadel.

While young Arthur only had eyes for Sarah, he still couldn't deny the stirring of primordial feelings for the wasteland beauty. Where Sarah was rigid and structured, Gwen was-and still is-this loose force of nature, wild and free. Even now, ten years later, he can't deny her infectious nature, how she could make him become...weak. She was his sister, not by blood but by choice. And more than that, she deserves someone more like her.

"Hey," Gwen says, waving her hand in Arthur's face. She stands now, close to the Elder with an amused look on her face. "Earth to Arthur."

Blinking out of his thoughts, Maxson looks down at her, his eyes darting to her lips and back to her face. The wound stares angrily at him, a constant reminder of what he must do. "I told you to sit," he scowls.

Gwen smirks. "And you were supposed to patching this up, not spacing out." She goes to grab the gauze soaked with antiseptic just as Maxson pulls his hand out of the way, causing her to tumble into him. Instinctively his hand goes to her hip and she lays her hand on his arm. He stares into her eyes, drinking in her form. A blush grows on her face as she looks up at him, blinking slowly with her long lashes. His breath catches, so focused on Gwen, that he doesn't notice her hand grabbing the gauze. She pushes off him and twirls the gauze triumphantly.

"Ha! You snooze you lose, Maxson!" She grins as she places the guaze on her forehead, grimacing slightly due to the burning.

Quickly recovering, Arthur crosses his arms over his broad chest. "I should have known you'd do something sly, sentinel." He huffs. "It seems you haven't changed."

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." She quips as she stalks away towards her bike. She mounts it in one smooth motion before turning back to Maxson and giving him a smart ass saltue. She revves the engine before riding out of the airport, leaving a rigid and slightly confused Elder behind.