Radiance Ch. 104

"My love can you step out here for a moment?" he said loudly and out of a pool of shadows near the table Lia stepped into the pool of light making all of the Brotherhood personnel nearly jump out of their skins and two rifles snapped up in unison.

"If you want to walk out of here unscathed I suggest you do not shoot at her she's not got the best tolerance for needless bullshit aimed at her," Raymond said darkly as Lia stepped up to the table and looked over them.

"My most beloved one is correct on that front, you do not see me aiming my Claws at you now, do you? But I can promise you this I could take those rifles from you before you even had the chance to pull the triggers," Lia said warningly swishing her long tail behind her in irritation as she eyed them.

"Ok first talking and civil super mutants and now talking Deathclaws what the hell else does this day hold?" Paladin Wright said gesturing for her two subordinates to lower their weapons which they did after a moment's hesitation.

"We prefer Claws if you don't mind I only bring death to those who would threaten my pack or my allies, plus I'm pretty sure your kind has killed far more of your own kind than mine ever has and you don't hear us calling you death humans now do you?" Lia said slightly tersely as she folded her long arms over her ample chest.

"A fair point actually please accept my apologies, this whole thing is just strange to me," Paladin Wright said honestly.

"No stranger than it is for me or indeed us I can assure you, every sentient and indeed feral Claw knows to give anyone wearing those suits a wide berth in all but unavoidable circumstances as the wearers tend to bring death to those that don't look like them wherever they tread, there only a few whom I have ever met who wear them that I would trust one of which leads our group," Lia said.

"The Brotherhood is not that bad!" Paladin Wright exclaimed.

"That's a matter of perspective, Paladin," Oliver interjected suddenly and Raymond saw another opening even before Zixxy gave him the telepathic prompt.

"And that is why we're all here today, it is our group's mission to try and foster relationships between those with power in the wastes while also protecting and defending those who need it the most, we aim to hold ourselves up as an example of how things can be if we all work together against our common enemies such as people like the Enclave who only seek to control and enslave, or the raiders who take what they want from those unable to defend themselves, we aim to change this place in which we all live for the better but the only way we can achieve this is if we can get those with not only the strength to do good but the willingness to use it for such together where we can begin to build bridges together," he said and this really caught the Paladin's attention.

She turned to look at him in amazement, "You sound just like one of our Elders Raymond forgive me for this I never imagined I'd meet a civil Super Mutant let alone one who is so skilled in diplomacy," she said sounding actually rather welcoming of the idea.

"Well thank you for the compliment Paladin and let me open these negotiations here by first saying that Knight Hill here will be returned to your Custordy at the cessation of these talks regardless of the outcome, we are not hostage takers he was taken as prisoners of war and my group have negotiated his release and return as a gesture of intent and goodwill," he said and that seemed to really strike a chord with her and she nodded approvingly.

"Well it is certainly appreciated but honestly I feel it might be a good idea if he remains with your people for the time being, if it were discovered where he has been by certain elements within the Brotherhood hierarchy at the moment they would simply interrogate him for intel about the Valkyrie base of operations, so I am going to use my position to pull him under my command and place him in a field operator position, he will be attached to your group for the foreseeable future assuming you have no objections to this?" she said and Raymond nodded.

"That is fine Paladin in all honesty I do believe Knight Hill will make a fine addition to our number, we already have an ex-brotherhood personal among our number so he'll not be alone, plus the valkyries have already assigned their own representative to us so it's only right and fair," he replied gesturing to Jewel who was stood silently nearby and that seemed to surprise her.

"Really? Well, that is unexpected," she said.

"You'll find that our group is about as diverse as it is possible to get, we do not discriminate on, race, gender, species, sex or anything really, our whole thing is unity through purpose, the way we see it we are all one people all children of this world the way it is and our differences simply make us stronger and more adaptable, it's why we are here at this table in the first place, we came seeking to meet the avian peoples that we had heard about and when we saw what was happening between them and yourselves we saw a chance to not only stop a needless war but make two strong allies in the process, the way we see it that's a triple win, we are on no-one's side here we are impartial and all we want is what's best for the common peoples of the wastes," Raymond said.

"Well I'm starting to see that, so shall we begin these negotiations in earnest?" she said and Raymond nodded before gesturing to Oliver who after a long breath began to outline his people's case and stance.

The two groups argued and counter-argued for well over four hours with Raymond working as a mediator in the middle, Zixxy was continually feeding him intel that she was plucking from both Oliver and Paladin Wright's minds which allowed him to not only make sense of their arguments but to also help the other party to see them in terms they could understand but eventually, they actually found not only common ground but a potential resolution.

"So in return for us respecting your borders and for an immediate ceasefire, you will allow a Brotherhood contingent to be escorted into your territory to search for and disable any potentially dangerous technology but with an understanding that any potentially useful technology that could benefit your people and ours be shared between the two groups for the benefit of both?" Paladin Wright said.

"That's correct I believe this to be a fair compromise, it's a matter of mutual respect at the end of the day, you respect us and we will respect you and further more we would be happy to share any technology that we already have that we believe could be of benefit to your people on the condition you do the same, that doesn't mean weapons we are talking about power generation, water filtration that sort of thing," Oliver said.

Paladin Wright leaned back in her chair and nodded to herself, "Yeah I believe I can swing this, I just need to get the right Elders on side and I do believe I know just who to approach with this, honestly I did not know what to expect when I was coming here today but it was most certainly not this but I couldn't have predicted such a favourable outcome or such a pleasant conversation honestly I think I have learned a hell of a lot today, Raymond let me say thank you for your assistance here I do believe you and your people were instrumental here in both of us taking this step," she said.

"A sentiment I second you and your group have most certainly not just made an impact on my people and our way of thinking but truly have been instrumental in helping both parties to take this much-needed step," Oliver said and Raymond smiled.

"Thank you both and it was my pleasure to be of aid to you both, I believe this right here is one of the core reasons that our group's founder set our group up the way he did, our unity helps others to see that it can not only be achieved but that it can flourish if only the right steps are taken," he said happily.

"I'd really like to meet this mysterious Seven that you speak so highly of one day," Paladin Wright said and Oliver nodded in agreement.

"As would I he sounds like quite a guy," he said and Raymond grinned.

"He is and I'm sure you both will," he said standing up from the table before both of them joined him and it was only now that Paladin Wright saw the firepower that the group had available on hand to bare as Jack and his Ronin and the others began to emerge out of the shadows all around them.

"Boy you weren't kidding when you said you had some serious muscle behind you in the quite literal sense," she said looking one of the nearest Ronin up and down as he stood in a relaxed position holding his rifle aimed at the floor and his massive sword on his hip.

"I'm a very firm believer in the practice of tread lightly, speaking softly and politely but always carrying a very very big stick," Raymond said with a chuckle as Lia approached him and proceeded to lean herself on his shoulders draping her long arms down his chest from behind.

"And my beloved male's stick really does what it needs to let me tell you," she said with an evil glint in her eye that made Raymond blush.

Paladin Wright looked shocked for a moment but then slowly a massive grin started to break out on her face and before Raymond could say a word she was rolling up in laughter.

Once she was done and was drying her eyes after removing her helmet to do so she stuck out her hand to Lia who looked at it before shaking it and then did the same to Raymond, "Oh I like this one she really gives no fucks does she?" she said grinning at Lia who was resting herself on Raymond's shoulders.

"You should meet some of our other Claws my Lia is positively tame by comparison," Raymond joked and Lia growled softly.

"Wait till we get back to our room I'll show you who's fucking tame," she said and Paladin Wright laughed again.

"Oh I get the feeling I'm gonna enjoy working with you lot, hell I might even ask the Elder that once we get this whole mess wrapped up and signed off if I can pick out a team to lead that I can attach to you guys, get the feeling it will be a hell of a lot more exciting and do a lot more good than sitting behind a fucking desk all day," she said with a very warm grin at them both.

"Well I'd have to clear it with Seven and Wisp first but honestly I don't think either of them would have a problem with it, they'd most likely see it as an opportunity to show the Brotherhood how we handle things and who knows maybe it might even improve your public image with the common people of the wastes," Raymond said with a shrug that caused Lia to bob on his shoulders.

"I honestly like the sound of that, we've hidden behind our walls and weapons for too fucking long, we should be out there doing some real good, some chapters of the Brotherhood do just that, they are heroes and champions to the common folk, protectors that defend people when they need us and that's what we should be standing for in my humble opinion, yeah you know what fuck it I'm gonna do it, once I get the Elders on board with this treaty I'm gonna put in the request, how will I contact you,?" she asked and Raymond simply pointed at the new set of power armour that they had given to Knight Hill and he was now putting on.

"Perfect, well here's hoping it all goes well it was a true pleasure meeting you all and I hope to see you again soon, till then ad Victorum my new friends," Paladin Wright said and with that, she and her people were gone.

Once the Vertibird departed back for the Brotherhood compound and airship at the airport Oliver turned to Raymond, "You did it, I can't believe it, you actually got the Brotherhood to see reason!" he exclaimed.

"We did it, Oliver, it was a group effort and that include our new Paladin friend, reasonable minds tend to think alike and that's what we had here today a meeting of reasonable minds and people, if not this would have most likely gone very differently," he said.

"Agreed and kind of you to say so my new friend, here's to hoping that she's able to do what she hopes to," Oliver said.

"Indeed now I do believe we should depart ourselves, think we've all earned ourselves a rest haven't we?" Raymond said.

"Agreed I'll call our airship to come pick us up," Oliver said.

"Oh there's going to be no resting for you green boy, did you think I was joking about what I was going to do when I get you alone in a room? I'll show you who's a tamed Claw!" Lia said detaching herself from Raymond's shoulders and striding away from him with an exaggerated roll to her hips that made her rear shimmy and her tail swish with every step she took.

"You just had to taunt the Claw girl didn't you?" Jack said with a chuckle that infected Raymond who couldn't help the smile that settled on his face as he watched Lia walk.

"Hey it's no fun if it's not a challenge and you don't get less of a challenge than a Claw girl with something to prove," he said and Jack roared with laughter and slapped his shoulder.

"I'll take your word for it Dark Horse now come on let's get after her before she gets narked that you're not watching hard or close enough," he said pushing Raymond gently forward by the shoulder.

"Now you're starting to get it," Raymond said and with that, they all headed to the landing site for pick up though Raymond couldn't help but wonder, what was going on with Wisp's team if the ESF guys had been wiped out and who was the flying human that the Paladin had mentioned?