Perimeter

The factory takes a lot of power to run. Simple enough. But more power means more turbines and more turbines means more claimed land area and more claimed land area means more perimeter and more perimeter means more turrets, because there's only so many people on patrol at any given time and there's always, always something. Yao guai trying to rub up against the turbines and knocking things out of shape. Deathclaws sharpening their claws on the metal and damaging the structural integrity. Raiders thinking they can make a quick- whatever it is they think they're going to do if they can steal the metal, it's not like they answer questions, you know? They're either dead or running away by the time you get there. The point is, there's always something, so the turrets always need work, and that means you get to stay busy.

Which, uh, that's good, because 101- Ellen- she hasn't spoken to you in a week.

And, well. You're not that great with women. But you're not clueless. A week of nothing? Not a good sign.

It's about the baby. That's the only thing you can think of. Ellen got the robots together, she got the escort, she took them off to the Pitt, a month and a half later she came back and she was minus the robots and plus a couple dozen Wastelanders, and one baby. Said she'd been asked to foster her. Which, not something you expected, and you said that, and-

Well, okay, when you're startled you aren't very good with words, and what comes out sounds worse than what you want to come out. And you were pretty startled. You didn't sign on for dealing with an ex-Brother's baby day in and day out. That's just- that's a lot to ask of a guy, you know? And you said that. And maybe some other things. And she looked at you and said the conversation was over, and went to talk to the other Scribes, and... that was that. The last you heard from her, except for written job orders.

So it's been a week and as far as you can tell, Ellen's mad as an ant nest that's just had a grenade thrown down the main tunnel. Which... not something you're prepared to handle. Even to explain yourself. Maybe you should just- you know, just let her calm down some. You know. Talk to her later. After the edges come off. When you've done a lot more work on the perimeter turrets. The work you're doing now's a good start. It's important, and it's a distraction. It has to get done, plus it means you can stop trying to figure out what exactly you said or did that-

"Jerald?"

...eep.

She doesn't look mad? Hard to say. It's a long way down- you're up on the perimeter fence, and even riding that Brahmin of hers (that's still weird, no matter how long you've known her), she's still on the short side. But you're pretty sure she looks more- okay, you're not sure what, but it's not mad.

So.

"Hey, Ellen." You can smile, right? That's okay, even under the circumstances. "Just getting some touch-ups done out here. Everything okay?"

"Oh- yes, I just- there weren't any Initiates in the area, so I thought..." She glances off towards the western hills a moment. "I wanted to make sure you were okay, that's all. I mean- you should have a guard-"

Okay, that's... practical. That makes sense.

"AndalsoIwantedtotalktoyouonthewaybackwhenyouweredoneworking," she suddenly blurts.

Wow. You didn't know someone in Tesla armor even could hunch their shoulders up like that.