“Wake up!” the echoing voice commanded as a steel toe of a boot nudged her side. KimRae’s eyes snapped open and she leaped to her feet, knife in hand instantaneously. Her thick braid quivered at her back, the only sign of disequilibrium in her stance. The flashlight burned into her eyes, obscuring her vision and giving her the look of a cornered animal. “Hand over the weapon. Ordinance 14 forbids civilians to have weapons.” The voice barked at her. KimRae let the knife slide to the ground, glad the other weapons were hidden and they were not frisking her.<br/><br/>“You must vacate the grounds,” the voice ground out in clipped syllables. He, KimRae assumed it was a man from the high and breadth of the armored body. “You are in violation of Ordinance 51. No person, human or otherwise is to inhabit this park after hours. You clearly have been squatting here and are in violation of Ordinance 55. On second thought, we need to take you to the Inquisitor. I have probable cause that you are a spy, perhaps in league with rebels. Your kind pollutes the Brotherhood and therefore are enemies.”<br/><br/>“Really, Journeyman Knight Kasar, you get a promotion and now you think you are a Paladin.” Came a softer, female version of the echoing voice from the other soldier. This one was covered head to foot in the shining metal body armor but KimRae had the sense the wearer was female. To KimRae, the softer voiced one said,<br/><br/>“You do have to leave and we will escort you from the park so that we know you are gone. We will go now. Take five minutes to gather anything you might want to take with you.”<br/><br/>“Senior Squire,” the tone was sarcastic and full of obnoxious authority. “I hold the rank and I have decided this one goes to the Inquisitor. If you object, you may lodge a formal complaint.” To KimRae, who had managed to stuff the last of her meager supplies in a backpack, he said, “Now. Go.”<br/>He nudged her shoulder, nearly knocking the slight girl over but she lifted her chin and headed in the direction he indicated. Her skin crawled as they walked freely though the well-lit areas. Theirs were the only feet on the well-worn path. The ringing of the steel boots was in perfect unison while hers made a slight scuffing that was double time to their rhythm.<br/><br/>They marched her through the next mile or so, not even pausing for caution. KimRae didn’t dare look to the left or right and icy fingers seemed to crawl down her spine. She had the distinct sense she was going to her death. The Brothers of Steel flanked her as they turned down the street where overturned and rusted out cars littered the two lanes. Craters where smoking residue curled up to show recent destruction pocked the sidewalks. Blood spattered the decaying walls of buildings and the stench of burned out Super Mutants clung to the air. KimRae hated this part of the City. She felt exposed and vulnerable, two feelings she had come to learn to trust.<br/><br/>She was carefully glancing around, doing her best to not alert the Brothers of Steel. KimRae’s long years of survival depended on having a plan, an escape route, a plan B. She didn’t want to try to run, those lasers they carried weren’t hampered by long range. The one Brother she might be able to reason with but that other one was having a power trip.<br/><br/>When they were close to the entrance to the Brother’s of Steel headquarters, all hell broke loose. Sirens began wailing and a troupe pounded out the doors, calling to the two with her,<br/>“Knight, Squire. Fall in. Super Mutants.” Came the clipped command.<br/><br/>The big soldier turned his armored face toward her but his sense of obedience was too strong. The smaller of the two pointed toward the city, in a vague shooing gesture. KimRae didn’t need to be told twice. She faded into the shadow of the building and raced off down the street.<br/><br/>Lungs burning, KimRae crept into a shell of a vehicle and took the partial bottle of water from her pack.  She felt hidden from sight, slumped down in the seat but she could hear the pleasant rumble of men’s voices on the far side of the car.  Slowly, she eased over to look cautiously over the windowsill.<br/><br/>One man was putting a stimpack on the other’s wrist. Her breath caught in her throat. A Ranger!. A Real live Ranger. She pressed her back against the seat and eased back out the other side, hoping she was quiet enough to get away without being detected.