» Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:19 am A little back story is in order first however. This story will follow the various tales and exploits of one Paladin Alan Burns, of the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel chapter. This is meant to be the general story behind my RP character, Alan Burns (of course however I have had to tweak his bio in the past).
The first chapter is about the battle/war between the NCR and the Brotherhood, also known as Operation Sunburst, just so everyone knows what's going on. Without further adieu, lets begin.
Chapter 1: Operation Sunburst
The old man, this... "Elijah," tried to hold the sun in his hands, arrogance, and was cast down for it." -Dog
The battle for Helios was not going well. They all knew it. It was written on their faces. Alan barely knew what was going on. He didn't know why exactly they were fighting the NCR. All he knew was that their Elder, Elijah, wanted this facility because it contained some Pre War weapon, something that utilized the sun's power. Elijah went crazy over it. The Brotherhood should have retreated long ago, but Elijah had forced them all to stay put, like he didn't care that the very people he was sworn to protect were dieing. Just as long as they obtained the weapon the facility held, all losses were acceptable.
Alan was only 16 at the time, barely a knight in the Brotherhood. Despite his age however, he had the heart of a warrior, and his combat skills were growing better everyday. And they should be, because given the fact his mother and father were both Paladins, he was expected to be strong, be like them. Ever since he was a child, he had dreamed of being a Paladin like them, to walk the wastes in a suit of power armor, a beacon of hope for the new world, very much like those old recruitment posters for the United States Army. That's what his teachers always said the Brotherhood was anyway, a beacon for the new world, an example to a civilization barely getting back on its feet. And that was his dream, to be a hero, just like his parents.
Alan's parents had always taught him to be a upright and strong man who stood for justice. They taught him to show kindness and honor, and said it was because of men who didn't have these concepts that the world was destroyed. Because of these teachings, Alan grew up with a very strong sense of right and wrong, and that sometimes got him into trouble. They also taught him how to be a soldier. His father in particular had taught him that even though they were soldiers, sometimes mercy needed to be shown to others. That didn't always make the higher-ups happy though. But Alan's parents had lived this way, and Alan was determined too as well. More than anything however, they taught him to be loyal to the Brotherhood. They were your family. And you fought to the death for your family.
It was very late afternoon, and the sun was just about to disappear over the horizon to give way for the night. There had been heavy fighting that day, and casualties were climbing fast. So far it seemed the NCR backed off for the time being, but no one thought the moment of reprieve would last for long. The NCR was losing men much faster than the Brotherhood was, but there was just too many of them. It seemed like no matter how many the Brotherhood killed, more seemed to pop up, and the Brotherhood was losing people fast. It was so bad, even the scribes were having to fight. It was a losing battle. Alan and his childhood friend Maxwell had been assigned to act as sentries of the third floor of Helios. Their exact assignment was to watch the front portion of the area and alert the rest of the members in case of attack. As the NCR had apparently decided to take a breather for the day, it was a task fit for knights of Alan's and Maxwell's rank.
"I don't like this one bit Alan. I know their out there, waiting like a pack of dogs. And we'll be the first to get shot at!" Maxwell exclaimed, clearly overcome by terror.
"Would you relax? We are perfectly fine. You know as well as I do the NCR doesn't have any sharpshooters in the area. Just plain, old, conscripts who barely even know what a rifle is, much less how to shoot one." Alan said nonchalantly.
"And yet they still manage to kill us everyday." Maxwell shot back, annoyed. "We didn't even get Gauss rifles! All we have are these piece of junk laser rifles with some dinky scope attached. No match for troopers."
"Well first you have to stop shaking enough to aim the laser rifle. You may find them to be just a bit more effective if you actually hit your target." Alan said with a smirk.
Maxwell didn't have much to say to that. He gave Alan a glare so fierce, it would make a Deathclaw think twice. Alan couldn't help but laugh at him, and soon Maxwell joined in. They were just kids after all, and things like this helped keep them going. Little did they know this would be the last time they would laugh together for a very long time.
The two were still laughing when an explosion rang out into the silent night like a crack of thunder. Alan ran over to a window and looked through the laser rifle's sight. He soon found out what it was. The NCR had begun what appeared to be an all-out assault on Helios, and the explosion came from what looked to be a trooper wielding a missile launcher. The missile hadn't hit the facility itself, just the pavement around the entrance. Alan took a few shots at the trooper. He wasn't too far away, just on the ridge in front of Helios, so not much marksmanship was needed. One of Alan's bolts hit the trooper in the shoulder, and while he didn't go down, it was pretty clear he wasn't going to be using that missile launcher again anytime soon. But they had a bigger problem. What seemed to be an ever growing hoard of NCR troopers were poised and ready to storm the facility.
"Well don't just stand there in a daze Max! Call it in quick!" Alan yelled as he moved away from the window.
"I know I know!" Maxwell shouted back, terror written all over his face.
Maxwell grabbed the radio, but the two soon saw there was no need. Paladins stormed out the front gates, firing Gatling lasers and Gauss rifles. A massive amount of laser fire and Gauss rounds came from the second floor as well as the roof, signalling the elder knights and scribes were ready to fight as well. Alan looked out the window and looked through the scope once more.
"Are you crazy?!" Maxwell screamed. "We need to fall back! Now!"
"Hold it Max, I want to see if I can see my parents. Besides your free to... Hey! I see them! Go on without me. I'm going to try and provide support like the other knights." Alan said, jaw set in determination.
"Your completely crazy. But we were best friends since we were little, so don't expect me to just leave you here. Someone's got to drag your body back after all." Maxwell said smiling. He was shaking and his face was riddled with fear, but Alan knew Maxwell would run out in the thick of it for him if he had to.
Say what you will about him, but he's loyal.
The Brotherhood put up a valiant effort, but it was clear the NCR's numbers were just too overwhelming. The Paladins were starting to retreat back into Helios, some injured, some quite possibly dead, when Alan noticed something. There were 2 Paladins not retreating. They appeared to be protecting the others as they made there way back into the facility.
"Hey Alan, aren't those..." Maxwell trailed off as he motioned to the 2 Paladins.
"Yeah. I can tell by the markings of their armor. My parents." Alan said, both filled with pride and terror as he watched the two defend the others.
The next few moments time seemed to go in slow motion. It was horrible. Alan watched with horror as bullets ricocheted off of the helmet of one of them. The Paladin staggered and got back up, only to drop to one knee again. Bullets were flying everywhere... And then it happened. The Paladin stood up once again, only to become the focus of what seemed to be every NCR trooper out there. Not even power armor could take it. Alan watched through his scope as the Paladin's helmet shattered under the hail of fire. Blood splattered all over the two defenders. The other Paladin dropped her rifle and began dragging him towards the main entrance of Helios.
Alan then realized that was his father's power armor. The realization hit him like the bullets hit his father. His face became flushed, heart filling with rage.
"No... no...! Father!" Alan screamed, firing his rifle at anything and everything that even remotely resembled anything NCR. He didn't want to believe it, but he knew in his heart his father could not have survived.
"Alan... I'm so sorry. Come on. We have to retreat. Your mother is going to need you to be there for her." Maxwell said, trying to comfort him but doing a lousy job. He wasn't very good at it, but at least he tried.
"Yeah... she is. Out of ammo anyway." Alan said through the tears of rage.
They had retreated back into the facility when Alan's mother showed up, dragging his father's corpse. Alan tried holding back the tears, the rage, but he couldn't.
"No... father!" Alan shouted as he ran toward the lifeless body of the man that had taught him everything he knew, and who loved him unconditionally. He bent down over the body and wept uncontrollably. It felt as if his very soul was being wrenched out of him.
"Alan... I'm so sorry this happened. You should know though, this is life as a soldier. The life he chose. The life he loved. I know it hurts. I feel it too. But this is the way your father wanted it. To go down protecting what he believed in. For the Brotherhood. For us. For you. Hold his memory deep in your heart and never let it go. Stay strong Alan. That's how your father would have wanted it." Alan's mother said through the tears in her own eyes. She ran her hand through his hair. Trying her very best to calm the poor boy.
Suddenly, Alan stood up. His face was twisted in anger and sadness, but he stood up anyway, the spirit of vengeance filling him. That was the only thing he wanted. To run out and take as many of them down with him as possible.But he knew he couldn't. For his mother's sake.
Unfortunately, Alan's terrible night had just begun however.
A knight burst into the room, screaming something about the NCR. Alan's face turned pale as he realized what was going on. The NCR had infiltrated Helios. Apparently it wasn't but one or two squads, but they had infiltrated all the same. Alan gripped the handle of the plasma defender he had on his hip. He was filled with an unquenchable desire to eliminate these intruders, these murders. Finally, he could no longer take it. And so he ran. He ran as fast as he could through the halls of Helios one. Behind him he could swear he heard the sound of people running behind him, two people from what he guessed. One had to be his mother and other he didn't know, as Maxwell had gone to be with his family during this time. Whoever it was, it wasn't any concern.
It did not take long to encounter the troopers. It was just a squad of about 5 men, Alan had assumed the other squad had split off to cover more of the facility.
How foolish are these people? We still have more than enough men to take down a few squads. Must just be some troopers acting on their own, trying to get some glory. Won't last long. Alan thought to himself as he encountered the men.
They stopped short at the end of the hallway, clearly surprised to see just a kid standing in their way. Alan looked into their eyes with a rage he didn't even know he had. He didn't care if he died here. Just to take one of these murderers was enough. He pulled the Plasma Defender and aimed it at the men, tears forming in his eyes.
"This. This is for my father. You murdered him. You'll pay. I swear it."
And then he fired. He didn't know if he hit them, the tears blinded him. He could hear them screaming, and then more footsteps. The other squad. The footsteps behind him got closer and closer. Everything was a blur at that point. He heard screaming, and he fell to the floor overcome with all the emotions filling his heart. He just wanted the nightmare to stop. But it didn't. He wasn't dead yet. Someone had saved him. He heard the bullets ricochet off of something. Someone. He wiped the tears and dust out of his eyes, and then he saw. It was his mother, defending him to death, as his father defended her. She didn't have her helmet on. Then the grenades went off. He wasn't hit, but his mother fell to her knees, before finally collapsing. Blood pooled all around her head. She was.
Alan got on his hands and knees and began crawling to her. He didn't care if the troopers were still alive. He turned her over and checked for a pulse. It was there, but only slightly. The footsteps behind him got even closer, but he didn't care. He was overcome with grief. He had watched his father die, and now he was cursed to hold his mother as she died, all because of him.
The troopers got closer. Alan looked up with the rage and hate still filling his eyes, even more so now. He was resigned to his fate. He wanted nothing more at that moment than to die. A lone soldier walked up to him and pulled out a 10mm. and aimed it at Alan's head.
"Hey. I'm sorry for what it's worth. But that's war." The trooper said as he pulled the hammer back.
So this is it. That's fine. I'm ready. I'll see you soon dad.
The footsteps behind him stopped.
"Step away from the boy. Prepare to taste the vengeance of the Brotherhood." said a mysterious voice behind Alan.
Alan's spirits were lifted in that moment. He knew that voice very well. It was McNamara, a Paladin who was a very good friend to his family. He was in full power armor, armed with a Gatling laser, and by the tone of his voice, he was filled with as much rage as Alan was. He was the other person that had run after him.
The troopers didn't have a chance to reply. Lasers tore through them like wet paper. Alan watched as the trooper in front of him had his head completely obliterated by the laser fire. The other troopers soon dropped to the ground, riddled with holes.
"McNamara... thank you. You saved me. I owe you my life. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Alan cried.
"My boy, do not blame yourself. She wanted to protect you. Believe me, she was filled with the same rage as you, as am I. They were both my very good friends.You must live on however. For both of them. Become the man they wanted you to become. Come. We must get back to the rest of the Brotherhood. This has gone on long enough. I will not stand for this any longer." McNamara said in a soft yet firm tone as he sat the Gatling laser down in order to pick up Alan's mother.
They arrived shortly to the rest of the Brotherhood soon enough. McNamara had left Alan with a few words of encouragement and then walked off to "fix" the situation as he called it. He said something about Hidden Valley, a bunker system not too far from here. He also got everyone to leave Alan alone with his dieing mother. She wasn't dead yet, like they originally thought, but she was dieing. The grenade fragments had severely injured her, and she was clearly not going to make it. She clung to life just long enough to see that Alan was safe, and to impart some last words of wisdom.
"Alan. I'm sorry you are going through this. But know now that I am happy. I have accomplished my goal of protecting you and teaching you all I could. You are a man now. Please... don't be consumed with rage. Revenge won't do you any good. I know it's hard to let it go. I know it hurts. But those soldiers... they were just doing their job, like we were. If you must blame anyone, blame Elijah. I know you wouldn't expect that coming from me, but he caused this. He prolonged it. The NCR has good people in it, and it has its bad. Like most groups. But a life filled with revenge won't make it any better. Alan... as... McNamara said, become the man we had always taught you to be. You can be that hero. You have it inside you. Your father said the exact thing before he died. He said he loved you more than anything and was so proud. I am too. Your a fine you man. I... love you... My son. Your father and I will always watch over you."
And then she passed on, content that she had passed on all that she could to Alan, knowing in her heart he would become the man he had always intended to be. Alan wept over her for what seemed an eternity.
McNamara and two Paladins showed up eventually, telling Alan how McNamara was now the new Elder, that they were retreating to Hidden Valley, and that Elijah would some day pay for all he had done. They loaded everything up, including their dead, and headed for Hidden Valley in the middle of the night using a pass that apparently the NCR had not noticed. McNamara told Alan that for his parents most honorable service they would be buried in their power armor, a thing that was done only for the most honorable of Paladins.
As they made their way to Hidden Valley, Maxwell made his way to Alan to consul his long time friend.
"Alan... I'm sorry for everything. You know I'm always here for you old friend. Will be to the day I die. Your like the brother I never had. How you holding up?" Maxwell asked, pained for his friend.
Alan stopped walking and turned around, casting his gaze at Helios 1 in the pale moonlight. He promised someday he would return to claim it. But he also promised he would try to forgive the NCR for what they had done. It was his parents wish. He wouldn't forgive Elijah however. Someday he would watch the man that kept the Brotherhood there die a slow and agonizing death, just as some of the Paladins had. And then Elijah would finally know the pain he caused, the pain that had tore apart Alan's heart. He owed him that much. But that was for a different time. He had to make his parents proud, to not live live solely for vengeance, no matter how bad it hurt.
Alan turned to Maxwell, tears welling up in his eyes and spilling down his already tear-stained face. "Thank you. I appreciate it immensely. I will go on. I have too."
And with that, Alan took one last look at Helios and continued silently walking. To his new home. To the future.
Authors note: Well there it is. Yeah I know it was much to long, and I promise future chapters won't be near as bad. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.
