The Freesider looked up at Olsen. His face was pale...certainly due mostly from the shock of the bullet wound. He dropped his knife after a second, moving his hands to clutch his wounded leg.

"We have no caps. Just take our weapons and don't let him die. We have families..."

As the Freesider finished talking, a Follower ran out from the Fort with one of the gate guards in tow, running to the stomach-wounded man. Fiddling around in the pocket of his lab-coat, the doctor brought our a syringe of Med-X, pulling open an existing tear in the Freesider's clothing, before carefully administering the chem as the guard held the wounded Freesider still. The groans of the Freesider subsided, and he gave no resistance as the guard and doctor hauled him up between them.

"There we go...we can't treat him out in here, we need to bring him inside. You", the unfamiliar doctor began, nodding towards Olsen, "bring in the other one." The Follower wasted no time in pleasantries, carefully moving away, holding up the Freesider's legs as he returned to the Fort.

Markas hadn't surived for so long that he didn't see an oppertunity when it presented itself to him.
"Here, let me help you with that." He took part of the wounded other freesider's weight from Olsen. Trust might be too much of an exageration, but at least he had 'proved himself' to the Followers...as much as throwing a grenade into a group of men could prove anything to a group of neo-pacifists.

Olson didn't say much as he helped the wounded Freesider to his feet, letting him put his weight on Olson to stand / walk better. As the mechanic's clad stranger approached and offered to take some of the wounded man's weight; Olson knew he had been denied entry earlier, but for some reason didn't mind seeing where this stranger's perseverance would take him. Besides, the sniper's were still atop the towers, and another dozen guards awaited on the inside of the gate.

"Fine" was all Olson said as they supported the Freesider between them and helped him into the compound.

The freesider spoke not a word, besides the occasional gasp of pain, as they passed into the Fort without incident. Though looks were thrown, no-one stepped forward to take Markas' weapon, either. Shortly after entering, the guard and doctor that helped inside the other Freesider returned, free of their burden, taking the leg-wounded one off of Olsen and Markas' hands with thanks, just as a door slammed shut somewhere across the Fort.

"Another attempted attack!? God protect us, was anybody hurt?", Julie Farkas' voice was heard over the existing din of the place easily, slowly coming closer to the unlikely duo, her figure unseeable through the mess of tents and makeshift buildings throughout the area, "Two Freesiders? Jake only took one shot, from what I heard, and that wouldn't be enough to scare off a group of locals regardless, so who-"

Mere meters away, Julie finally strode into the view of Olsen and Markas. At her side, a sandy-blond haired man, taller than Julie, walked. Almost in unison, they turned to look - Julie at Olsen, and the man at Markas through the spectacles he wore. Their exclamations were also at the same time.

"Oh."

The man was the first to react. He gave a glance towards the Plasma Defender slung at the waist of Markas, before looking back towards the Enclave member's eyes, holding out a hand to shake, if stiffly.

"You're the one calling himself a Remnant, aren't you? Hoc vere annus mirabilia. Mementote legis loci, ne a verbis ad verbera imus."

Not wanting to be rude and interrupt the taller blonde man who talked to Markus, but glad that Julie was still as alive, well and feisty as ever, as her eyes met with his own, he merely nodded a curt nod with a simple "Good to see you again ma'am"

"Arcade." The word felt reassuring as Markas shook the man's hand, trying to keep a relaxed, neutral posture...as relaxed as any soldier could feel with snipers positioned around him. "Rest assured I have no intention of causing any harm to anyone inside this Fort's walls."
Speaking to a fellow Markas' usually acerbic tone became more friendly, comfortable.
"I'm Markas Jaden, private 1st insertion squad, formerly stationed in the Capital Wasteland...our Vertibird crashed on the wrong side of the Colarado before the Battle of the Dam after we were hit by the Brotherhood of Steel back in the capital wasteland..." Markas paused grimacing.
"Now I'm stuck here, no Tesla, no laser rifle and one less Pulse Grenade...I heard of the Remenants and came looking for them but now that I'm here, well..." The soldier trails off again, staring emptily down at the ground. What could he do, one man against, what? He didn't even have anyone to fight save possibly the NCR, anything to stand for save a burnt flag that was as much a target as a symbol of empty defiance and last he heard Nevarro was gone...a terrible void threatened to engulf Markas that instant and it took all of his control, all of his discipline to pull back and face Arcade, force the words from between his lips.
"What do I do?"

Markas
Arcade's expression was hard to place, as he looked at Markas, blinking slowly before sighing. He gave a quick nod to Julie farkas, before putting a hand on Markas' shoulder, steering him around to walk towards the Fort tower on the side of the fort farthest from the gate.

Intelligence Check PASS: [7/2]
The tower where a Markas knew a sniper remained atop of, judging from the trajectory of the shot fired beforehand. Well, at least it's safer being beneath the sniper than within sight of his scope.

"I'm no commanding officer of yours, Markas. People call me a Remnant now, but I never served in the Enclave. Come inside." Arcade offered, opening the door to the fort, allowing Markas to enter before he followed in.

The ground level had a variety of desks and tables, documents on one and chemical apparatus on the other. From the smells and the unnerving colours and bubbling of the liquids, as well as the repurposed bathtup in the corner filled to about a quarter-mark with a strangely dark liquid, with a top covered almost entirely with glass save for a small pipe fitted on the glass...This looked like some kind of chem brewery.

"Don't mind the smell. Most of the things in here are medical and won't harm you as they're being prepared. Any chems I need to brew I take much more care with." Arcade assured Markas, before looking at him seriously, pushing his glasses further up his own nose with a finger.

"The Enclave is dead. There is no way around it. I know many others like you, who grew up within the Enclave, and so such a concept will seem surreal to you, I know. And it's for the best. There are ways to bring unity besides military power or in the pursuit of some percieved 'purity' in people. How the Old World ended is proof enough of that. I don't know how the Enclave acted within the old Capital...but I don't think that much could have changed."

"As for what you should do? Realize that there are many people out there doing their piece to rebuild, and in their own ways. Get over your hatred of the NCR, lest it drive you to destruction. There are no more Remnants within a hundred miles of here, but consider this a new beginning, rather than a dead end. There are good people trying to make a change. The work that we, the Followers do, helps people rebuild, making this world better. If you have no direction, then know any aid you provide will be appreciated here, regardless of who you may have once been."

As Arcade finished, steps could be heard clearly as someone approached, descending the nearby staircase until the person turned a corner to look at Arcade and Markas. He had a strangely subdued smile, and eyes that swept over the room in a somewhat unnaturally consistent speed. He breathed deeply constantly, but very evenly, and his face was slightly paler than looked healthy. Each step he took was paced evenly, if slightly slowly. He turned his unnerving smile towards Markas.

"You were the one outside... You should work on your grenade arm." He spoke, softly...still with the unnatural smile, the slightly dulled eyes and a voice that held an overly calm note.

Arcade sighed, looking at the man sadly.

"Stephen...it wasn't that difficult a shot, if it was just outside the Fort. Did you need another dose of Steady?"


----------


Olsen
As Arcade walked off, Julie's excitement wasn't particularly hard to notice.

"Olsen! It's so good to see you, to have you back." Julie cried, flashing the older Follower a smile, "God Bless you for coming back. I think I know why you're back, but I'm also hopeful that you'll stay for awhile. There's not many long-term Followers here among the guards, most are more recently hired. So there's not many I trust enough, or trust to take care of themself well enough, to send them around Freeside. As you've just seen, things aren't exactly...stable.


----------


Gus
Gus had finally been returned his weapon, the fight over as quickly as it had started. Without his weapon, he'd hardly been of much use, he reasoned with himself, before heading out to take care of the job he was promised. Clearly the streets were starting to wake up, which caused him to think twice about which route to take through Freeside, and which exit to go for to head to the Crimson Caravan Camp...

"Olsen! It's so good to see you, to have you back." Julie cried, flashing the older Follower a smile, "God Bless you for coming back. I think I know why you're back, but I'm also hopeful that you'll stay for awhile. There's not many long-term Followers here among the guards, most are more recently hired. So there's not many I trust enough, or trust to take care of themself well enough, to send them around Freeside. As you've just seen, things aren't exactly...stable.

Olsen couldn't help but let a smirk creep to the corners of his chapped lips. It had been some while since he had been welcomed so openly, and even longer since it had been by a woman. "Aye, I've come to pay my respects Julie, but yes, it does look like you've had your hands full; and I just happen to be out of direction for the time. If it benefits the cause to have this crotchety ol guard back, by all means add me to the roster, there looks to be much work to be done ma'am."

Markas listened, to be honest there wasn't much else he could do. He had expected to be angry, to feel his muscles taughten, his jaw clench into a fist of steel but instead he felt...hope? Then, suddenly, it came to him, half-dream half-nightmare, like the world he had been stranded in.

Then Stephen arrived.

"Steady...from that shooting you did, it looked like you could have taken out all seven of them on Psycho." Markas grinned after the man had spoken.
"However I should thank you, Arcade, I think I understand a little better now..."
Markas glanced at the sniper, unsure of what to say before, after a pause, continuing.
"I think I'd fit in best with those like me...I heard tell of a chapter of the Brotherhood, apparently you and the Courier had some dealings with them. They might not have any Tesla, but I imagine I could work a suit of T51-B."

Olsen
"Thank you, Olsen. Your help means so much to us all... I can give you a task whenever you're ready. Right now I need a trustworthy Follower to send supplies to a Freeside family we've sworn to protect. We have runners, but it's not quite that simple, and I don't think you should go alone. I'll tell you more when you're ready to leave, but until then - our food is your food, our water your water, as are what spare beds we have." Julie thanked Olsen, hesitating for a brief moment before leaning forward to kiss Olsen lightly on the cheek in a gesture of friendship.

"It's good to have you back."

Julie gave Olsen one last smile and apologetic look, before her attention was drawn away by a doctor who beckoned her over, looking for advice.


----------


Markas
Stephen blinked at the mention of Psycho, before shaking his head, slowly.

"No. Chems damage the mind and distort your perceptions. I just...need the Steady..." Stephen blinked again, before turning and slowly ascending the nearby stairs once more without another word. Arcade watched him go, sadly, before suddenly looking towards Markas, one of the ex-Enclave's sentences having just sunk in.

"The Brotherhood of Steel are dangerous. If they knew you were once Enclave, they'd likely attack you on sight...even if they didn't, they're not in the habit of allowing whom they see as Outsiders to join their ranks. Also, I'd appreciate it if you don't encourage Stephen's...cravings. It's hard enough trying to treat such a long-term psychological addiction to such a rare substance, even if we can at least temporarily cure his physical dependencies."

Arcade frowned, sighing.

"I'll ensure you're safe in this Fort for as long as you're here, but I'm afraid I can't do anymore to help you, Markas. Now... I have to get back to work; please leave me."

Olson accepted the kiss and kind words, and though his facial expression did little in the way of change to show how deeply the sincerity touched him, within he was swelling with emotions, both good and bad. "Let me tend to my family, and I shall return."

This a nod of his head he turned and headed towards where the small ramshackle graveyard of follower's had been assembled near the eastern wall. Making his way to his wife and daughter's markers, little more than stones with their names carved into them, he took to his knees, and he spoke awhile.

"Elsa, my heart, these last years have been hard, and I have been so lost without you to gently nudge me in the right direction. I've... I've done some horrible things, things I'm not proud of, things... things I never would have done were you and Faith still with me. But you're not with me, and this is the hell on earth I've been left with. I've done what was necessary to survive, and I've tried to follow you and Nicole's teachings. I've done what I can to make a difference in this s***-hole of a wasteland. But I've run out of ideas, out of goals. The NCR, for every bastard I've killed has a dozen more, and I know... I know unnecessary bloodshed is not what would have you proud in me. So I've returned home. I need a new direction, for each time I close my eyes my love, the desire to join you and Faith grows stronger and stronger in my mind. I need your love, your guidance.. one last time..."

Olsen sits on bent knee with his fingers tracing gently over the stones which represent his fallen family, and faith.

(Dunno if Celtia you wanna add anything here, if so great if not... below is moving on)

**After awhile, Olson blinked the tears away from his eyes and rose to his feet brushing off his knees. "Aye, you're right my love. We are only given the doors which open and close, it falls upon us to decide how to receive such impasse's and opportunities. I'll go see Julie, perhaps I can do one last good thing on this earth before I join you and Faith. Keep a light on my sweet. Let Faith know that I love her dearly... and Daddy will be home soon."\\
With that Olson headed back to find Julie wherever she was. Though his cheeks were puffy and his eyes red, he was stoic and professional as ever. "I'm ready" was all he said.