Once Aubrey could see the Green Monster, she relaxed by a hair. Preston paused, taking a moment to holster his rifle on his back, before turning to her. "Those are city guards up ahead." He offered. "Shouldn't give us too much trouble, but better to disarm now. This stretch of road is typically pretty safe."
She nodded, fiddling with the shoulder strap on the rife for a moment. "Do we need to leash him?" She asked, patting Dogmeat's head again.
"Nah, he's fine.' Preston shook his head. "C'mon, shadows are long. Won't be much longer before the street's too dark to see."
They'd only walked a few more minutes before one of the 'city guards' approached them. "Hold there."
Preston stopped. "Holding." He called.
The guard nodded. "Who are you and what's your business?"
"Preston Garvey and Aubrey West. We're headed through to the city."
"Carry on." The guard nodded, then tilted his head at Aubrey. "That a Vault suit?"
"Yes…"
"You comin' in from over the Charles then? Helluva hike. Well, Diamond City's got clean water and electricity, so head on in."
"Thank you." Preston nodded.
Aubrey offered a small smile, aware of the guard's eyes following her. Dogmeat barked and trotted ahead, tongue lolling out as he passed one of those floating eyebots and jury-rigged electrical generators that powered simple spotlights and turrets. All along the street, signs scribbled in white chalk proclaimed that they were "almost home."
The intersection in front of Fenway's main entrance had been walled in, fortified into a sort of courtyard. Cloth awnings and scaffolding funneled everyone in through one of three entrances, each guarded by a couple guards… all of whom were dressed in what looked like…
"Baseball uniforms?" Aubrey mumbled, blinking a few times. "Those can't offer that much protection…"
Preston shrugged. "They've been using those padded chest pieces for as long as I can remember." He stopped, taking her arm. "Hold up."
"Hm?"
"Look." He nodded towards a woman in a red coat. "Sounds like trouble."
"What do you mean you can't open the gate, Danny? I’m standing out in the open here for crying out loud!" The woman snapped at a intercom.
"I'm sorry, I got orders not to let you in, Ms. Piper. I'm just doing my job."
"Oooh, just 'doing your job?' Protecting Diamond City means keeping me out? Ooh, look it’s the scary reporter! Boo!"
"I'm sorry, Piper, but… well, Mayor McDonough's really steamed; saying that article you wrote was all lies. The whole city's in a tizzy." A voice replied with a heavy sigh.
The woman growled, rolling her eyes and throwing her hands up. "This is ridiculous! I live here! You can't just… lock me out!" A pregnant pause. "You open this gate right now, Danny Sullivan! I know you're listening!"
More silence was her reply and the woman quickly looked around, her eyes settling on Aubrey and Preston. She grinned and beckoned them closer. "You guys!" She whispered. "You want into Diamond City, right?"
Preston glanced to Aubrey.
Aubrey opened her mouth to speak, but the woman, Piper, cut her off. "Sh, play along." She whispered before inching a bit closer to the intercom. "Wh-what's that? You're some traders up from Quincy? You have enough supply to keep the general store stocked for a whole month?" She grinned again. "You hear that Danny? You gonna open the gate and let us in? Or are you gonna be the one talking to Crazy Myrna about losing out on all the supply?" She stifled a laugh by biting her lip.
"Uh…"
"Geez, alright!" The voice on the intercom sighed. "No need to make it personal, Piper. Gimme a minute."
The massive security gate creaked, groaned, and protested, but eventually began to inch upwards.
Piper heaved a sigh of relief. "Better head inside quick before ol' Danny catches onto the bluff."
Aubrey pressed her lips into a line. "You first."
Piper smirked as she started over. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Aubrey and Preston shared another look before they began to follow her.
"Piper?! Who let you back inside?! I told Sullivan to keep that gate shut!" A new voice sounded, this time owned by a rather portly man wearing something that had once resembled a suit and a worn-out top hat. "You devious, rabble-rousing, slanderer! The level of dishonesty in that paper of yours! I'll have that printer scrapped for parts!"
"Oooh, that a statement, Mr. McDonough? 'Tyrant mayor shuts down the press!'"
"Oh boy." Aubrey mumbled.
"Why don't we ask the newcomers, huh?" Piper sneered, turning to face them. "Do you guys support the news? Cuz the mayor here is threatening to throw free speech in the dumpster!"
Aubrey swallowed. "Always believed in the freedom of the press."
"It's one of the foundations of a free society." Preston added with a nod.
McDonough's eyes widened as he turned to see them, and he cleared his throat. "Oh, oh, I didn't mean to drag you into this argument, miss, sir." He nodded to each in turn, swapping to what Aubrey recognized as politician voice as he straightened his jacket lapels. "No… no, no. You two look like Diamond City material." He cleared his throat. "Welcome to the Great Green Jewel of the Commonwealth. Safe, happy. A fine place to come, spend your money, settle down." He glanced to Piper and swallowed. "Don't let this muckraker here tell you otherwise, alright?"
Aubrey arched an eyebrow. "I'm sure your city's a great place."
Piper scoffed. "Yeah, greatest house of cards in the Commonwealth. 'Til the wind blows…"
McDonough coughed and cleared his throat before sending a pointed glare at the reporter. "Now, was there something in particular you've come here for?"
"I’m… trying to find someone." Aubrey started, swallowing around the lump in her throat.
"Trying to find someone? Who?"
"My son. Shaun. He's less than a year old."
"Wait…. Your son's missing?" Piper's expression softened for a moment before she turned her attention back to the mayor. "You hear that, McDonough? Is Diamond City Security just gonna stand by while a mother searches for her infant son, alone?"
"Don't listen to her." McDonough snapped. "While Diamond City Security can't follow every case that comes through, I’m sure you'll be able to find help here. Diamond City has every conceivable service known to man. I’m sure one of our great citizens can find the time to help you."
Aubrey opened her mouth to speak again, but Piper cut her off again. "This is ridiculous!" She huffed. "Diamond City Security can't spare one officer to help? I want the truth McDonough. What's the real reason Security never investigates kidnappings here?"
McDonough rolled his eyes and threw his hands up. "I've had enough of this, Piper! From now on, consider you, and that little sister or yours, on notice!"
"Yeah, keep talking McDonough, that's all your good for." Piper shrugged as McDonough huffed and walked away, then turned to Aubrey with a softer expression. "Look, I’m sorry about your son. I've, uh…. I gotta go get settled in, but… stop by my office later. Publick Occurrences. I have an idea for an article you'd be perfect for." She smoothed down her coat and readjusted her cap before turning and following the Mayor inside.
"Well. That was… interesting." Preston shrugged.
"That's one word for it. Good to know that politicians are just as slimy as ever." Aubrey deadpanned.
"Hey! You two!" A nearby guard waved them over.
"Yes, officer?" Aubrey asked.
"So… you're those traders Piper told me about, hm? Why do I get the feeling she's pulled the wool over my eyes again."
"We were just… standing there." Aubrey sighed.
"Didn't really have a chance to set things straight." Preston nodded.
"Yeah, that's normally what happens. People stand there and Piper talks." He sighed. "If it were up to me, I would've just let all of you in, but… well you saw how angry the mayor is. So what actually brought you two into town? It'd be good to note it down in the logs."
Aubrey swallowed. "Is there anyone I can talk to about a missing person?"
"Ah, geez. Look, we've got orders to not get involved with missing person's cases. There's a lot of Institute paranoia, right now, and we can't risk fanning those flames with any sort of official action. I'm sorry."
Aubrey nodded. "I don't need any thing official. Just point me in the right direction. We can keep it off the record."
Danny shook his head, glancing around to the other guards. "I'm really sorry, ma'am. I've got orders."
Aubrey sighed. "I see. Well, thank you anyway."
"Yeah. Hey, chin up. Maybe someone in town can help?"
"I guess we'll see." She shrugged. "Have you got all you need for your logs?"
"Yeah. I'm good. Uh, most everything's gonna be closed right now. Dugout Inn has rooms for rent."
She nodded mutely, then started for the gate.
Dogmeat whined and nuzzled at her hand. She patted his head idly.
"How many caps you got on you?" Preston asked softly. "Dugout Inn asks for 10 caps for the room last I checked… not including any food or drink."
"I think I had that much from what you gave me earlier." She shrugged as they crested the staircase into the park. "Oh, lord…" She paused, taking in the ramshackle 'city.' Most of the buildings were built out of scavenged sheet metal, or shipping containers. What had once been a school bus formed part of an archway down into the park. Mismatched wooden planks, no doubt harvested from local buildings, formed a series of walkways both above and below them. Bare lightbulbs lit most of the major pathways.
"Impressive, isn't it." Preston offered. "C'mon. Dugout's this way."
Aubrey kept her mouth shut as she followed him down into the field, past what looked like a marketplace and into what had once been the dugout for the visiting team. Dozens of people had crammed themselves into the dugout, lounging on some dilapidated sofas, gulping down food at some nearby patio tables, or drowning sorrows at the bar.
"Vadim? Vadim, I need to talk."
"Just a moment, Yefim, I’m in middle of story." Aubrey arched an eyebrow at the Russian accents. "So there I am, wearing nothing but a smile, when the most fearsome of Commonwealth beasts shows up: A Mirelurk!"
Preston rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"A Mirelurk?" The man in front of bartender repeated in a poor imitation of the accent. "C'mon, Vadim, that's like… two out of ten points of danger, tops."
"Vadim!" The other Russian hissed.
"Oh… I forgot you were there, Yefim. What is it?" The bartender asked while his captive audience took the chance to slip away.
"You know what? Never mind, I'll deal with it myself." He huffed, turning on his heel and walking away. Vadim shrugged and turned to resume his story, only to find Aubrey and Preston there instead of the original patron. "Ah, welcome! You see this bar?" He slapped the counter. "I killed a man for it." He wheezed out a laugh.
Aubrey's eyes widened while Preston tensed.
Vadim paused for a second, reading their faces, then sniffed and cleared his throat. "I kid, I kid. He is dead though. Now, what can I get you? Some of Bobrov's Best, Дa?"
"Pardon?"
"Ah… you are new to town? Bobrov's Best is finest moonshine in whole Commonwealth! I make myself! Strong enough to make you forget any sort of trouble."
Aubrey pressed her lips into a line. "I'll pass, but thank you. I'm looking to rent a room?"
"Ah, you want to talk to Yefim for that." He nodded over to the other Russian. "You let me know if you change your mind about drink."
"Right." Aubrey nodded, suppressing a shiver.
"What about you, friend?" Vadim asked, turning his attention to Preston. "Bobrov's Best? Or something else? We have plenty!"
"What type of food do you have?"
Aubrey started over to Yefim, leaving Preston to negotiate for his dinner. The thought of eating something made her nauseous. "Excuse me? Sir?" She asked softly.
"Oh, a customer." Yefim cleared his throat. "Need a room?"
"How much?"
"Ten caps per person to rent single beds. Fifteen for a double, if it's you and your husband sharing." He nodded back towards Preston.
"Oh, uh… we're… we're not a couple."
"Oh? My mistake. I saw the ring on your hand and… I'm sorry." Yefim cleared his throat again. "So if it's two for you, then twenty caps total."
Aubrey nodded and quickly counted out 20 caps from the pouch Preston had given her. "There you are."
"Thank you. Room 2 is yours, just through there. I'll put your friend in Room 3." He handed her a rusty key before standing and starting towards Preston. "Have a nice stay."
"Thank you." Aubrey nodded, then patted her thigh, calling Dogmeat to her.
The room was little more than a small closet with a cot in the corner. A faded, handwritten note was hung on the back of the door, telling where to find the bathroom. She set her pack down on the small cot and sat down. She took her hair down, combing her fingers through and frowning at how oily it felt. Dogmeat woofed and laid down at her feet as she started stripping off the salvaged armor.
She rolled her shoulders and neck, trying to release some of the tension when someone knocked at her door. "General? It's Preston."
She sighed. "Come in."
He opened the doors and stepped in. "I wasn't expecting you to pay for both rooms, so I, uh… got you something to eat." He held out a TV tray with a roll of bread and some mixed carrots and corn, and a can of water.
"Oh… thanks." She nodded, taking the tray and eyeing the tarnished fork.
"You… okay, General?"
"Please, just call me Aubrey. And I'll be fine. I’m just… tired."
"Yeah. It's been a long day." Preston nodded. "Well, I'll let you get some rest. Hopefully tomorrow we can find someone to help you."
"Here's hoping." Aubrey nodded. "Goodnight, Preston."
"G'night, Gener--, uh… Aubrey." He smiled sheepishly at her warning glance, then left her on her own.
She stared at the tray of food for a while, then sighed. "A few bites. Gotta at least have a few bites." She mumbled, nibbling at the bread. She flicked through the radio channels on her Pipboy, listening for anything that might help drown out the din of the bar just outside. She settled on the Classical station, and spent some time looking through the mostly empty map. She reached to take another bite of the veggies, only to have her fork scrape on metal. She blinked a few times and sighed. "Guess I was hungrier than I thought."
The mattress was bare, but at least it was clean. She set a alarm on the Pipboy and sighed, staring at the ceiling as violins played from the radio.
