The aftermath of the twin Knightmare Frame tests left the Mojave landscape eerily quiet, save for the occasional clink of metal as technicians and engineers started to assess the damage.
The battlefield was littered with the wreckage of tanks, drones, LAVs, and even the Graze that had been so confidently sent against Barbatos and Kyrios. And amidst the chaos of twisted metal and scorched earth, two figures stood out—August and Tanya.
The crowd, once filled with murmurs of doubt and curiosity, had fallen completely silent. Even the Brotherhood officers, known for their stoic demeanor, could barely conceal their awe. Six and Rebecca stood near the observation ridge, watching their children with a mix of pride, disbelief, and a hint of concern.
"Should we be worried?"
Cassidy broke the silence, her usual confident demeanor now laced with a touch of uncertainty.
Six turned, his gaze still fixed on his children.
"About what?"
"Those two... They're not just good, they're terrifying."
Cassidy's voice was low, almost reverent.
"...And they're still what? Seven—Six years old. They're not fully grown and are probably only just showing half their skills yet."
"They know what they're doing."
Six replied, his tone heavy with quiet pride.
"They don't need to prove anything to anyone. They just... do what they want."
Rebecca smiled softly, her eyes never leaving her oldest, August and Tanya.
"That's how my brats are. They always aim to make an impression."
But inside, there was a twinge of concern for what might come next. She knew how dangerous their potential was, especially now that both had the power to decimate armies with ease.
The Mojave could be a harsh place, and as powerful as the twins were, they'd face challenges that even they couldn't simply crush with brute force.
Lloyd, now much more composed than usual but still cheery, walked up to Six, rubbing his temples.
"Okay."
Lloyd began, grinning despite the exhaustion in his eyes.
"...So—hypothetically speaking—if we installed two more Naquadah generators, I might be able to keep Kyrios from turning the power grid into Swiss cheese during air raids."
Cécile then clarified the issue with his idea.
"Lloyd, if we did that, the Kyrios would probably overheat instead, and set itself on fire."
"Huh?"
Llyod responded grinning.
"Lloyd, please don't make a Knightmare Frame a 'Flaming Burning Robot' for my kids to pilot."
said Six in a deadpan expression.
Lloyd blinked, clearly processing Six's words like they were a personal attack on his engineering pride.
"…Okay, first off, 'Flaming Burning Robot' is a little harsh. Let's call it... thermally expressive?"
Cécile folded her arms, deadpan.
"Thermally expressive means exploding, Lloyd."
Rebecca, overhearing, gave an exasperated laugh.
"Lloyd, please don't make the Knightmare Frame my kids pilot into a Flaming Burning Robot. I kind of like having them alive."
Lloyd raised both hands defensively, still grinning.
"Hey hey—no promises, but I'll do my best to keep the overheating under 'mild barbecue' levels."
Six gave him a look.
"No barbecue."
"…Mild simmer?"
"Lloyd."
"Fine, fine! I'll upgrade the coolant systems. Big ol' cryo loops. Maybe even install a heat siphon to vent into the upper atmosphere! We'll just need a few more superconductive coils, three vats of liquid nitrogen, and maybe a friendly alien."
Cécile facepalmed.
"You mean me, don't you."
Lloyd grinned wider.
"Well, you are the only one here who can stare down a reactor core and walk away glowing slightly less than usual."
As the group bantered, Tanya leaned toward August near the Knightmares, muttering with a smirk.
"If my mech catches fire mid-fight, I'm shooting him."
August smirked back, arms crossed.
"If mine catches fire, I'll just use it to punch him with a fire fist."
From across the camp, Rebecca shook her head, muttering.
"That's definitely their father's influence, none of mine."
Lloyd paused, glancing out at the field where scorched debris still smoldered.
"...Also, your kids might be the most terrifying and my favorite devicers for the prototypes I've ever built. Congratulations, I think?"
Six gave a quiet chuckle, arms still crossed.
"Terrifying's good. Keeps the vultures off."
Lloyd smirked.
"Yeah, well, terrifying just set off every regional satellite still functioning. We'll have vultures, raiders, and probably the NCR knocking before long, wanting to know who invented metalwar gods in the Mojave."
Rebecca glanced back at the two Knightmare Frames as they powered down, steam rising off their frames in the chilly desert air. August leaned against Barbatos, eyes closed, while Tanya stood beside Kyrios, conversing with Ron with an air of practiced detachment.
"They're strong."
She said.
"But they're still kids. They need more than just machines."
Six nodded slightly.
"They'll get it. Family, training… and a place that won't treat them like tools."
Cassidy lit a cigarette, watching the smoke drift up.
"Yeah, well, you better make sure it's enough. Kids like that? The world either worships them, or tries to break them."
Then she glanced at Rebecca, her tone dry.
"Guess it's up to you two to make sure it's the first one."
Rebecca gave her a sidelong look.
"Oh, don't worry. Anyone tries to touch my kids—"
She held up Lumbo, who promptly mimicked drawing a toy pistol and shouted.
"Pow pow pow!"
Cassidy snorted.
"Yup. They get that from you."
As the wind began to settle, a figure approached from the Brotherhood ranks—Ron. He approached with slow steps, his expression unreadable but his eyes glowing with a sharp intensity.
"You both did well."
Ron said to August and Tanya, his voice carrying the weight of both admiration and cold calculation.
"But don't forget: Technology, especially this kind, has consequences. You're both on a path now. One that'll make enemies faster than you can shake a hand."
Tanya shrugged, the faintest of smiles playing on her lips.
"Elder Ron sir, enemies come and go. If they're too stupid to understand what we've shown them, then it's their loss."
August didn't say anything but nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words.
Ron wiped the oil off his gloves and looked up at the Frames.
"These tests were more than successful. But now that the world's seen what the twins can do… we'd best start preparing."
He turned toward Six, his eyes locking onto him with an intensity that mirrored the battlefield they'd just witnessed.
"This isn't just about controlling the Mojave anymore. It's about controlling everything that comes after."
Six glanced at him.
"Preparing for what?"
Ron didn't hesitate.
"For retaliation."
Six met his gaze, his expression firm.
"And we will."
As Ron and Six exchanged a quiet moment of understanding, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the tension. It was Betty, Six's mother, her eyes gleaming with pride and a touch of concern.
"Well, well, well... My grandkids sure made quite the statement."
Betty said, her tone both motherly and businesslike.
"The world is going to take notice of the Knightmare Frames quickly. But just remember: Technology can't be the only thing that defines power. The kids will need guidance. And so do we."
Six nodded, his gaze drifting back to August and Tanya. His children were going to be treated like weapons, yes, but they were also still learning who they were and what they could become. He didn't have all the answers—hell, he barely had any. But he knew one thing for sure:
He couldn't let them face the world alone.
"Let's get back to the city."
Six said.
"We've got work to do."
As the remnants of the battlefield smoldered under the snowed terrain, the next chapter of their story began—one that would change the course of the Mojave and perhaps the entire wasteland forever.
A quiet fell over the ridge. Not from fear—but the kind of silence that follows understanding. The kind that comes before a storm.
And somewhere in the ruins of the battlefield, a charred drone twitched—its red eye flickering briefly.
Someone, somewhere, was watching.
And the problems had only just begun.