The next day, Sara found herself teaching a small group of kids. Seems their usual teacher had been called away, and they needed someone free. However, she had no idea what to even teach them. There were about four of them, two boys two girls. All different ages. It was still a bit odd to see kids in a place like this, but Maxson had told her there were a few parents on board. He didn't really seem to mind all that much. These kids where the future of the Brotherhood after all. They had a small corner tucked away down bellow so they wouldn't get in the way of any important work. She comes up with the bright idea to teach them the basics of first aid. Much to her surprise they listen to everything she had to tell them. Even borrowing her new friend for a demonstration. Poor Jeff grumbles at her as she makes him lay on the floor. "Hush...now, this soldier has fallen in battle, there's no bullet wound, but it's clear he's injured..." As she speaks, Elder Maxson slowly does his rounds, wounding what she was teaching these kids as she continues. "So what's the first thing you do?" One kid raises their hand. "See if they have a pulse?" She smiles at the kid. "Right, best way to do that, is to take two of your fingers, and place them right about here..." She shows the kids as they all move closer to see. "Right under the ear near the back of the neck. Right were the jugular is...you'll know in seconds if the person is alive or not." Jeff just glares at her, wondering how he got pulled into this mess as she closes his eyes. "Shhh your hurt.." He grumbles again as the kids giggle.
"Okay, so he has a pulse, next thing you want to make sure is if they are still breathing. What you do, is place your head, just right on the upper chest, and you watch." She shows them just how it was done. "And you'll be able to see their chest rising in falling..." The kids nod along with this. "However, if they'er not breathing, what you do is you tilt their head up, just slightly." She gently rises Jeff's head, just enough. "You hold their noes, and you tightly place your mouth over there's, and breath, keeping an eye on their chest. You keep going that until they start to breath on their own..." She watches the poor kid's face at the idea. "Now now, this is a matter of life and death, everything you do, counts.." They slowly seem to agree as she nods at them. "Good, now lets say when you check their pulse, but you don't feel anything. Best thing to do, and put your hands together. And right here, between the rib cage, you want to start chest compression's. You don't want to use to much force because you can crack a rib if you do..." So for the next few minutes she shows the kids just what do to. They all watch, taking it all in. "Now I know stimpaks are important." Even if she didn't really know how they worked. In the game you just stabbed yourself and you were right as rain. "But anything can happen on the battlefield, so you always keep your eyes open for anything that might help..." "Can I get off the floor now?" "Hush, I told you, your hurt, so stuff it.." The kids giggle again at this. "Every little thing counts, band-aids, gauze, heck even a bottle of alcohol can be used as a disinfectant.." She wasn't sure what time it was, once again the lack of clocks was still hard to get used to. "Any questions?" Jeff raises his hand. "Am I okay now?" She rolls her eyes and helps him up. "Get out of here..."
The kids seemed fine with this and soon they had to go do their own drills for the day. There wasn't much else to do so she turns and almost falls off the walkway when she sees the Elder. "Oh my God you...need to stop doing that..." He was going to be the death of her. "Who taught you about first aid?" He was actually curious since mostly doctors knew about this sort of thing. He always made sure people knew the basics, but she knew more then most. "Oh...all that um..." She looks up a bit, trying to remember. That and she didn't think telling him she learned this in Girl Scouts would make much since. "I..hell I think I was their age when I was taught this stuff." At least what she could remember. "I never really got to put it into use, but I guess it's something you don't forget. But as to who taught me...I couldn't even tell you I don't remember anymore..." She lets out a small nervous laugh, because, well that was true. "But I figured, you know, it's important...like I said when your in the battlefield, everything you do counts. How you act, could save someone..." She goes quiet, unsure of what to make of the look he was giving her. "And to be fair I'm...not really sure how stimpaks work..." Which was also true. "Not sure I'm okay with stabbing myself with a needle..." Says the woman with tattoo's, but that was a different needle all together. She was going to stop talking now because he was really starting to make her nervous. A tiny part of her just wanted to make a run for it. It takes him a moment to find his voice again. "What you showed them, will no doubt go a long way. I'll make a note to teach all our new recruits this.." The woman had a point, every bit counted and not everyone that went onto the field had this knowledge. All things considering, it was something to change, it would save countless members.
She still wasn't quiet sure what to say. "I never had to teach kids before, but I understand why you do it." It was important after all, and it seemed to serve her well learning things like that at a young age. She had no idea it would stick so well. "Just...don't ask me to teach math..." Never again, algebra was just a pain to learn. "My head hurts just thinking about it..." She could swear he let out the smallest chuckle. "Don't worry about it.." He turns serous in seconds. "With any luck Paladin Danse and Knight Thomson will return from the Glowing Sea. If our luck holds out, we'll find our way into the Institute." She could almost see the determination burning in his eyes. "When we do, we'll need all the fire power we can get our hands on." Hell if their luck did hold out, and they found a way into the Institute maybe there would be a way to talk Doctor Li into returning to work for them. Even bring back Liberty Prime once again. He tightens his fist before turning his gaze back to her. In spite of everything, she was making a name for herself on the ship. "I need you to do something for me." Sara blinks at this as she nods. "Of course, what do you need sir?" She had to once again thank that habit, because it was really saving her. "I need a small team to travel to a training yard. There's a good chance there might be equipment there we can use." It takes her a minute to realize he was talking about the National Guard training yard. Every time she went there in the game it was always crawling with Feral's. But she needed to remind herself to remain calm, she wouldn't be alone on this. "I'll join them right away...is there anything I should keep my eyes open for?" Half the time when she explored these places she ignored half of it. Only to learn that just about anything could be important.
"Technical documentations, pre-war tec, the Paladin I have assigned will fill you out on the rest. Ad Victoriam soldier." He gives her the salute, which she returns. "Ad Victoriam sir." She turns and heads off to go do her next job. She could use the caps after all. She was still trying to figure out where the caps she had on her came from. In fact most of what her character had, she had now, which wasn't much seeing as she had started a new game. A part of her still wondered if once they took out the Institute if she would still be here. Or would she be stuck here due to whatever it was that brought her here in the first place? What did bring her here, she hadn't really figured that out. Truth be told she wasn't trying to hard either to get back. There wasn't much to go back to anyways. She meets the small team waiting and soon they take off to the training yard. She holds on tight as the Vertibird takes off, she was still getting used to riding in the damn thing after all. Meanwhile back on the Prydwen, Maxson hadn't really moved from his spot. Sure he was mostly just standing in the cargo-hold, but it was one of the few places on this ship that was quiet. The only thing he could hear was the hum of the engines. He wasn't sure why he was just standing there, maybe deep down he still enjoyed the rare moments he had to himself. That split second where he didn't have to think so much. But he was leader of the Brotherhood, he shouldn't be this selfish after all as he turns to head for his room. To much work, always something that needed taken care of. He shakes his head and steals himself, reminding himself that his people needed him to stay focused.
A few hours into his work, and it wasn't long before he got word that Knight Thomson and Paladin Danse had returned. Finally some good news and stands when the two of them enter his 'office' after a few minutes. Nate wasn't sure just what to tell him, but he knew two things. Not to tell Maxson Virgil was a Super Mutant. The other being Danse almost shot the man before they had learned anything useful. "We found Virgil, hiding in some cave deep within the Glowing Sea. The information he gave us was...interesting." Nate takes a moment, trying his best to explain what the past scientist had told him. "As we know, the Institute a teleporter, however how they used it was mystery. Turns out it's connected to the classical music that plays over the radio." He points to his Pip-Boy. "We have the prints for the teleporter, but in order to use it, we need to find something called a Courser, kill it, and take the chip that's inside their head. Once that's decoded and the teleporter, we'll have a way into the Institute.." Maxson holds his hand up slowly, having a hard time wrapping his head around this. He looks at Danse as he just nods. "It's all true sir, I hate to say it, but using a teleporter makes sense. How else could they travel without notice, and it goes along with my reports as well with the strange signal I kept picking up." Maxson lowers his hand slowly as he sits back in his chair. "Damn that's....almost clever..." He really hated having to admit that. "I've heard of Coursers, they'er not something you take lightly. Any idea where to start looking?" He also didn't like the idea of chasing something like that down.
Nate just nods his head. "Virgil said to start near the old ruins of the C.I.T building, seems they use that spot a lot for their transportation. All I have to do is use my Pip-Boy to pick up the signal, and go from there..." Maxson slowly nods at this as he places his chin on his hands. "Good, good, finally some good news, this chip could help us understand how these...Coursers work and how they use this teleporter..." He was sure they could use the wide space down bellow to make it. It wasn't like they wouldn't have enough parts to work with. Sending out that last team for a gathering didn't sound like such a bad idea now. With any luck Paladin Floss would find something at that old training yard. Nate was more then happy to get going, even Danse looked ready to go. "Very well, I'm leaving this in your hands, but I'd like a moment to speak with the Paladin." Nate nods at this and gives a salute before leaving the room. Danse shuffles a bit, but soon relaxes one it was just the two of them. "I'm starting to feel guilty, I didn't believe him at first that the Institute was using such technology..." Maxson was slowly shaking his head at this, Danse was one of the few people he allowed himself to relax around. "I...it sounds crazy, no impossible, and yet, it fills in all the blanks on how so many people could go missing without notice.."
Danse nods at this, still in his power armor. Maxson started to wonder if this man just slept in the thing now. "On that note, did you run into anything out in the Glowing Sea?" Danse shakes his head. "Just the Children of Atom...they pointed us to where Virgil was hiding. I still can't wrap my head around the idea of people being able to live out there, and not turn into Ghouls..." Maxson did his best to hide a shiver. "I'm not pleased by the idea either...anything else?" Danse takes a minute, but shakes his head. "Negative, aside from a rouge Deathclaw, it wasn't anything we couldn't handle. Knight Thomson makes one hell of a soldier." Maxson just nods at this slowly, his mind turning as he stood there. He didn't realize he was idly toying with a bottle. "Danse..." The Paladin glances up. "Arthur?" It was rare for him to call the Elder by his first name, but when it was just the two of them, he allowed it. He seems to take a moment to say anything. But he seems to change his mind on the matter. "Never mind, it's nothing...I'm over thinking things...you should get what you need before heading out again. I don't think I need to tell you to be careful out there.." Danse just gives him a half smile. "No sir, it won't be long now sir." He salutes Maxson as he turns to leave. As he walks away he could swear the Elder wanted to ask him something. But he shakes it off, if it was important, he would have said something.
Once he was alone again he feels his fist tighten a bit. He suddenly felt like an idiot as he grumbles and sits himself back down. He opens up the nearest bottle and quickly downs it. He doesn't stop until it was half empty and lets out a small gasp of air. It wasn't enough to get him drunk, that took quiet a bit. It was just enough to put him in a daze at least. He slowly rubs his temple as he leans in back in his chair. He's been an Elder, since he was sixteen, one of the youngest to ever get the rank. There was still a part of him that couldn't help but wondered if he really deserve it. It wasn't like he didn't work hard, of course not. But the bitter part of him still wondered if he was just given the title because he was a 'Maxson'. He tries to hold back a groan as he shakes the whole thing away, he wasn't going to get anything done at this rate. He might as well finish some paper work and just call it a night. He never felt so tired before. Once the lights were off and he laid back in his bed, he just remained on his back as he gazed into the darkness. It didn't take long for his eyes to adjust to the darkness around him. He could remember the countless night he was stay up, reading. He felt a ping of guilt his 'stories' had been lost about Sarah Lyons. He feels something tighten in his chest, a part of him hadn't been able to forget that lost. More so because it just seemed like it happened so quickly. He had looked up to her, much the same way he looked up to Danse when they first met. He still had a hard time openly admitting he had a passing crush on the woman that taught him so much.
But that's all it had been, right? A passing notion of a young boy. Still to young to see what the real world was like until he was forced to kill a few raiders. He hadn't been able to hold onto that childhood for long. He had to grow up fast to survive in this hell. He frowns a bit as he places his arm on his head. He should just sleep, other wise he'd just be in a rotten mood come morning. Then again when wasn't he in some kind of mood? He was starting to wonder if it had just become some way to guard himself against the world around him. Be the 'leader' he was meant to be. "Then what?" That question had been popping up as of late. He lowers his arm, still looking into the darkness, he didn't like the idea he had no answer. He knew what was expected of him. "But what do you want?" It wasn't a question he really asked himself to often. It felt to selfish to want something for himself. To many people relied on him. They looked up to him, he was the ever present role model for the Brotherhood. Did it matter what he wanted? His arm hangs off his bed as he blinks into the darkness. The same question pushing it's way into his mind. "But what do you want?" He tightens his other hand into the blankets, still hating the fact he had no answer. "Just focus on dealing with the Institute, nothing else matters." He lets out a hard grunt at this as the alcohol do it's work and slowly dulls his mind long enough for him to slip into a deep sleep. He'll deal with it later, he should keep his mind on the task before him. "Just like any other good soldier should...." He rolls to his side, as the last of his thoughts leave him mind finally.
