บท 480: Okay, Boomer...

Once she reaches ground level the woman reveals the huge rocket launcher resting on her shoulder, the red tip of the missile menacingly sitting in the barrel. Above them, the male is doing the same, his weapon pointing directly at them, despite the fact if either of them shot they'd all die together.

She was wearing some sort of pilot jacket over a Vault Jumpsuit, on her wrist sat a Pipboy, showing that the Boomers clearly had origins from a Vault.

Anja backs away slightly at the sight, but Tamia and Veronica hold their ground. Tami raises a brow and wonders if they were actually willing to kill themselves just to eliminate them. "You guys know you are in the blast radius too, right?" she asks.

"Shut up outsider! I'm willing to do what I must to protect my home!" the man shouts from the watchtower.

"Rambo, shut up! Maybe they just want to talk? They wouldn't be standing around talking to us if they were enemies!"

The now named Rambo growls at her, "You also were an outsider-lover Kim, you must be disappointed none of them are dudes that can rail you!"

"Fuck off, jerk!" she spits back before turning towards the group. "What are you here for, outsiders? And how did you get through our artillery strikes?"

Tamia shrugs, "What can I say? We're faster than we look." she says, not willing to explain the technology they used, after all, they may have to use it again in the future if shit hits the fan.

"Bullshit!" Rambo spits from above them, "There's no fuckin' way in hell you guys managed to get through that!... Unless... You're working with that shitty old man!" he accuses.

Veronica scoffs, "No way! Once we get back I'm going to cut that bastard's head off! He was dancing around to get us hit by one of your bombs, you wouldn't have noticed us otherwise!"

"See Rambo? Even these guys hate that dude." Kim says, her stance loosening up slightly. "So what do you want anyway?"

Tamia steps forward slightly, her back straitening as she tries to look as 'official' and authoritative as possible. "We represent Mr House, the owner of New Vegas and seek to open discussions about a potential alliance between your people and his." she explains.

"Mr House?... Shouldn't he be dead by now?" Rambo asks, but is ignored as Kim speaks.

"I-er, this is kinda above us... Would you mind waiting here for a moment? I'll go grab our leader." she says, going back up to the Watchtower and leaving her rocket launcher before running towards the buildings surrounding the hanger nearby.

...

The trio just stands around silently as Rambo watches, his weapon never straying from pointing at them.

"Isn't your arm getting tired? That thing looks pretty heavy..." Veronica asks, smirking slightly at the slight tremble of the man's arm.

He scoffs, "Pfft, what, me? I'm a man so I can handle this much, you should watch yourselves instead, outsider."

Veronica crosses her arms, "No wonder you can't find a girlfriend." she states.

"What? How do you-I mean, what do you know, I have a girlfriend... A couple actually!"

"Tell me about them." Veronica continues.

"Err, Kim! Kim is my girlfriend... Wait, why am I even talking to you!? Just shut up and stay put." he says pointedly.

Veronica just shrugs and slowly nods, "Alright, alright... I'll just have to ask Kim about it when she gets back."

"Look, she's my friend that's a girl... Got it? Now stop distracting me!"

Veronica just laughs, it's pretty fun making a fool out of an isolationist with almost no experience.

Eventually, Kim returns with an elderly woman, she has a rifle slung across her back, thin white hair, and a heavily wrinkled face. The woman walks past Kim as she stops a few meters from the fence and rests a hand on the wired fence. "What have we here?"

Tamia smiles, "Hello Miss, I'm Tamia, this is Veronica, and that's Anja."

The older woman nods, "You can call me Pearl, I'm in charge around these parts... So, what brings you here?"

"As I said earlier, we were hoping to discuss a potential alliance between New Vegas and your people. I was personally sent by Mr House to pursue this." Tamia explains yet again.

Pearl looks thoughtful, pursing her lips while slowly nodding, "Hmm, I see... Alright, we can talk further inside... But first, I would like you to hand over all your weapons, and for you-" she gestures at Anja, "To take off your mask... We can't talk in good faith if you can't show your face."

Anja looks between Veronica and Tamia hesitantly before nodding. Her outfits currently consists of Recon armour under a Deathclaw leather duster, with a hood and mask covering her face. She makes sure to show no visible skin as she's aware Ghouls are almost universally disliked.

She pulls down her hood, revealing her almost complete lack of hair and mangled skin before taking her mask off. There's an audible gasp and gulp as the three Boomers finally see Anja.

"Shit! They brought one of those zombies here!?" Rambo exclaims, his face one of utter disgust.

Veronica scowls and steps in front of Anja protectively, "She's not a zombie, Anja is just a lucky person who managed to survive intense radiation poisoning."

"You're lying! I must've shot hundreds of those things that were wandering in our territory! When they spot you they charge and try to eat you!" he continues as Pearl and Kim watch, neither seeming to want to intervene.

"Those must have been Feral Ghouls, people who weren't strong enough to retain their sanity as their bodies changed. Anja is different, she's sentient... She's a person like you or me, so don't you dare threaten her!" Veronica rants.

...

Pearl looks into Anja's clear green eyes, "Are you truly in control, dear?"

Anja nods with a sheepish look, "I am, Ma'am."

Pearl gives a small, comforting smile in response, "Then who are we to judge you on your appearance alone. Your actions and intentions should speak for themselves, not the tragedies you've experienced."

"But Pearl-" Rambo attempts to argue but receives a heavy glare from the elder woman.

"This. is not up for debate, stay here and calm yourself." she states before looking back at the group, "Let's talk in my office."