"Ah, Sanctuary Hills, so beautiful," Danny said sarcastically.

It was to be expected that even luxurious suburbs couldn't be left unscathed after the bombs fell. The group went over the half crumbled wooden bridge. The small one story buildings were lining the dented road. Rusty cars were near the houses, under the roofs sticking from the buildings specifically to cover them from the rains. It wasn't much of help, since the ceilings were filled with holes.

"Isn't much of a cozy place," Preston commented.

"Well, luxurious hotels are kind of extinct," Danny responded. "I once survived in a forest infested with mutants, tied to a woman who wanted to kill me herself. Compared to that, sleeping under such roof is a blessing."

"Damn, kid, where were your parents looking?" Sturges asked.

"Dunno," Danny shrugged. "But they are dead right now, anyways."

"Oh, I'm sorry," the pompadour haired man said awkwardly.

"Don't be, I've dealt with this long ago. People live, people pass, such is the way of life."

Once again, the group found that the kid seemed to be much older than he looked. Preston suddenly got a question.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Heh, my teenage years were filled with fighting for my dear little life. Or what remained of it. Lately I've been living in royal conditions, I had delicious food, I was protected by a hundred of bodyguards, but it just felt so dull. That's why I set off to explore this radiation infested world. So much danger and thrill."

Sturges whistled. "Is your family a bunch of big shots?"

"Well, only me. I don't have a family whatsoever. I killed one nasty guy, and some of the locals are ready to worship me because of it. They already do. I was put in charge of that land, despite my age. Now they can fare without me for a few months. Then I'll go back to my duties as their leader."

The conversation came to an end. The group needed to take care of their living conditions. They picked the less destroyed house, which looked like a typical advertisement of American dream. Danny volunteered to do the hard labor. He brought the scrap pieces from around the neighborhood, killing a few oversized roaches in the process, in order to cover the holes. The humans were surprised that someone so agile in combat could be so clumsy at the same time. Phantom hit his fingers a few times as he worked with nails, causing everyone to laugh.

The house still looked like a piece of garbage, but it was more tolerable. The group at from the scarce source - a few tin cans with beans which they warmed up over the fire. They were supposed to sleep where they could, someone on the sofa, someone on the bed. Neither of those were in satisfactory condition. Danny stayed awake, saying that he would be on the lookout. Preston insisted that Phantom woke him up in the middle of the night. The half ghost had no such intention, he could stay for its entirety.

After everyone fell asleep, Danny quickly got bored. After all, there was nothing to do. He got up and decided to have a short walk around. Sanctuary seemed dull and lifeless, just like everything he had seen so far. He walked down the street, shot a few roaches with ectoblasts, not willing to waste ammo others might need in the future. But that just wasn't funny. Danny wanted adventures, not work as a sanitation cleaning, that's why he came into that world.

Once Phantom returned to the house, he suddenly saw that Preston was awake, leaning against the doorway. He narrowed his eyes at the ghost.

"I asked you to wake me up."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Relax, I just went scouting. Nothing but roaches around here."

The dark skinned man sighed. "I guess there is a discipline to be learned."

"Believe me, you haven't seen a discipline yet," Phantom deadpanned.

Finally they sat at the stone porch, neither intending to go to sleep. Cujo got to his Master, receiving gentle strokes, much to his excitement.

"So...do you have any plans for reviving your organization?" The ghost asked.

"Honestly," Garvey leaned forward, leaning on his musket for support. "I don't know. People aren't keen on joining the Minutemen after what happened at Quincy."

Danny decided not to pry into the topic, as he saw that the man seemed uncomfortable talking about it. "You are not going to give up, I hope."

"Of course not, I'm just...at loss."

Phantom smiled and jumped on his feet. "Well, I admit, there is a lot of work to do," he said, putting hands on his hips. "But nothing we cannot manage, I have seen worse. I have a plan, if you are willing to follow."

Preston couldn't help but be impressed. The seemingly younger man was shining with certainty and confidence he had never seen before. Could you blame him? He had spent all his life in a wasteland, in a daily struggle for survival. The wide smile of his only added to the inspiring image. Preston smiled as well.

"Go on."

"Okay, first of all, we need to make people know that we are still here, ready to help. The easiest way for this will be taking and repairing a radio station. Better if it will be infested with some dangerous folk."

"Why?"

"Because we will kill two birds with one stone, we will show that we are still strong. Do you know any around?"

"There was one in the Castle, but there is too few of us to retake it from mirelurks now."

"Well, I probably could, but we have to make a show out of it. Okay, this will have to wait...okay, new plan."

"I'm all ears."

"I can gather the information about the places in need of help. We will have to do it free of charge."

"Of course, Minutemen are about this," Garvey agreed as if it was obvious.

"Impractical, but noble," Danny noted, shrugging. "Very well. How are we going to split the responsibilities, though?"

"One will have to remain here in case something happens."

"I know. I think I'll do the job. You remain here and watch over the group."

"Got it, boss," Preston saluted and smirked. "Maybe you should have a sleep, first?"

"Nah, I don't want to. Better if you return to your comfy sofa. Actually, I can move out right now."

Garvey's expression became dry. "I guess it's pointless to try to convince you otherwise."

"Yep. I saw a farm on the way here, distant one. Maybe they need something, who knows. You know what? Cujo can guard your buddies. Let's do it together. The sun is rising."

And off Phantom went, followed by his new colleague. They crossed the broken bridge again and immediately turned off the damaged road, deciding to shorten their way. It was surprising how grassy the land looked, although the two headed stags running around was a creepy sight, even for the king of the dead. Soon the group reached their destination, and Danny's sight hadn't failed him. It was indeed a farm. A big wooden shack was built around the pylon of power lines. Thankfully there was no electricity. Around it were fenced territories, with visible crops of cultures unknown to him. Some people were working there. The minutemen approached the place.

Their mission came to the halt when Danny heard a gun clicking. He turned to the side and saw an aged auburn haired man with a beard, dressed in casual rags, which seemed to be the peak of post apocalyptic fashion. Oh, and he was holding a hunting rifle. Danny casually looked at him, well, actually the end of the gun, while Preston prepared his own.

"What a charming welcome," Phantom said dryly.

"We don't want any trouble."

"Do I look like I need them?" Danny put a hand on his chest, sounding offended.

"You are armed, I don't know you two, that's a concern enough."

"Welcome to the wasteland," Phantom responded. "We are the minutemen. Need any help?"

"Minutemen? I thought you all have been killed off."

"Not all of them," Garvey answered with enthusiasm.

He was about to add the detail that there were only two of them, but Danny cut him off. "So, need any assistance?"

The man finally lowered his weapon after certain consideration. "Blake Abernathy," he said his name. "I think you can help. If you manage. There has been a raider attack...my daughter Mary was killed by them," it was obviously hard to speak about the matter. "I don't have much to offer, but...those raiders, they took her locket, too. It's been in my wife's family for generations. If you get it back, it'd mean a lot to us."

Danny pitied the poor man. But besides his will to help, Phantom could look at the matters with a pragmatic eye. The farm was big, it could supply his future organization with food at the start, until it gets too big. It was a win-win situation. Danny smiled.

"Of course we will help, right, Preston?"

The man nodded. "It is our job."

"Thank you. We will be waiting. The raiders' base is out there," he pointed in certain direction. "You won't miss it, a place with big disks."

"You mean radar station?"

Everyone looked at him weirdly. Clearly they didn't know what radar was. Hunching his shoulders, Danny sighed.

"Once again I realize how backwards this place is. Onwards, wanna sing? I'll start. How does a bastard orphan, son of a whore and a scotsman..."

"He is...weird..." Abernathy said slowly.

"I know. But he is more than capable, believe me," the minuteman responded.

Danny thankfully stopped singing after ending the first song. They finally reached the destination, the radars could be clearly seen. The disks were full of plants and other signs of age. White paint had cracked in many places, covered by a thick layer of rust. There were small hubs beneath, which had been used for maintenance. Phantom hummed.

"I see raiders around. We'll need to get rid of them first."

"They have number superiority," Preston noted.

"Indeed, but we can force them to fight on our rules. We can attack from two sides. I open fire, they will turn to me. That's when you are going to step in and shoot at their backs."

Garvey nodded, not at all phased about being given commands. Phantom nodded in response and ran off. Through the bushes he got to the opposite side from the station. He then picked the first unlucky victim. The man stood leaning on the railing, which was perfect in Danny's opinion. He rolled the handle and the musket glowed with the same bright crimson color. Aiming right into the raider's head, he pressed the trigger. A red beam turned the man's head into a blood mess, as the body fell off on the ground. That got everyone's attention.

Phantom turned invisible before anyone could see him. The half ghost approached the raiders. Hiding behind one of the small hubs, Danny waited. Once one of the bandits ran around the corner, he pushed him into the wall, leaving a dent on it. He snatched the pistol from his belt, turning visible and making a hole in the raider's head.

"Come out, you wor..."

The one shouting it received a deadly reminder of the second minuteman. Danny abandoned the pistol, put the musket on his back, and his hand glowed with green light as a small ball the size of the golf one appeared in it. The half ghost went around the corner and hurled it to the enemies' cover. The explosion was marvelous in its destructiveness, it shaved off half of one of the hubs. The firing subdued as Garvey shot down the last bandit. The dark skinned man went through the crippled iron fence and approached his comrade.

"There wasn't many," he commented.

"Which means there is more inside," Phantom responded. "Won't be my first time getting into a military object. We need to pick the most bunker like...oh, here it is."

They went to the concrete construction. There wasn't much to look at, besides the pieces of junk scattered everywhere. But there was a door. It was locked.

"Let me," Danny grinned. "Wanna see some magic?"

"I won't be surprised at all," Preston said dryly.

The raven haired man got to work. While his companion could only see his back, Danny phased his fingers inside the mechanism and turned it better than any key.

"Ta-da, thank you, dear audience," the half ghost said.

Garvey made a few claps with his hands. They later went downstairs and Danny commanded to stay quiet. Preston noted with amusement how quickly his friend could switch between being a goofball and a smart leader. The Ghost King was such kind of person, his subjects learned it long ago. The Minutemen went down, carefully disarming the traps noticed by Phantom. They saw another locked door, and through the plastic glass Danny could see weapons. A hell tone of weapons. Grinning from ear to ear, Phantom opened the metal door.

"What are you planning to do with those?" Preston asked.

"I thought it is obvious, my friend. We can arm our future soldiers. I suppose here is enough for about thirty. If we don't count this baby."

Danny pointed at the primitive looking weapon. It looked like a miniature, hand held catapult. In it was what seemed like a tiny stereotypical nuclear bomb. Garvey stared at it.

"The Fat Man," he gasped.

Phantom raised his eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

"It launches tiny nuclear bombs, the devastation and radiation included."

Danny smirked. "I'm eager to use it already," he said, scooping the weapon on his shoulder. "Onwards!"

"You are going to get us killed!" Preston exclaimed. "It cannot be used in close environment!"

"Fine!" Danny said like a small kid, whose toy had been taken away.

Phantom went forward. There was another floor beneath, but he could observe what was happening there from a metal platform. No one was there. They went downstairs, and Danny decided to speak.

"It's obviously a trap."

"Probably."

"No, I'm certain. We are surrounded," Phantom said calmly. "Hey, come out now, your hiding skills are pathetic!"

Immediately the lights were turned on. About ten raiders were surrounding them. Garvey flinched as there was no cover whatsoever. Danny remained calm as the armored lady with a minigun stepped forward.

"Well, well, so that's what has been causing the trouble," she said.

"Yep. Wanna have some more or we are going to end it quickly? Oh, what am I talking about, they always pick the first option," Danny rambled, rubbing his face.

"You are outnumbered."

"This is unfair," Preston complained, knowing fully well that fairness is something long forgotten in the wasteland.

The raiders laughed, while Danny found his nails interesting.

"Alright, off with you," the gang leader said, as her minigun started to spin.

Suddenly they all were pinned to the walls, the same second Phantom swapped his hands. He twisted his palms lightly and they were now off ground. The horror was evident in the bandits' eyes. And Preston was terrified as well, even if the attack didn't touch him. He saw Danny's eyes, and they were glowing with a radioactive color.

"My friend here has told you it was unfair," the half ghost said, his voice letting out a soul freezing echo. "You should have brought more people. Now, where is the locket you've taken from Abernathy?"

"Wh-what?!"

"The. Locket." Phantom said, and a pressure on the bandit's neck emphasized his point.

"It's in the pocket!"

"Preston, my hands are kind of occupied. Would you kindly?" Danny asked.

Gulping, the minuteman approached the hanging bandit and dug in her pockets. There indeed was a silver locket.

"Preston, we happy?" Phantom asked.

"Yes, we happy," Garvey managed to say.

"Good."

Danny clenched his fists and multiple cracks told about the deaths of the bandits. Preston only stared, and he saw that the half ghost's eyes turned blue again as the bandits' corpses fell on the ground.

"What...the hell..."

Danny crossed his hands. "I can do a lot, Preston. And I like to see this scum fear me."

"How?"

Phantom decided not to speak about the royal status again. "Radiation doesn't only decay flesh. I was lucky. I hope it doesn't..."

"You should have told me," The minuteman mumbled. "I have nothing against mutants. If they aren't huge, stupid and green. And if they don't try to eat me."

Danny smiled, putting a hand on his belt. "Well, I fit in neither of this categories, right?"

"Yeah, you don't," Preston said after a moment of silence. "These bandits deserved what came to them. I'm glad we are on the same side."

"Believe me, my friend. We have a lot to do, but with me we will be able to achieve what we seek. I have power beyond anyone's imagination, and I want to use it for the greater good."

"Even though I have no such power, I will try to do the same. I appreciate your intentions, so I won't judge your...unusual trait."

"Finally. Although, I have a request. Please, don't share this information. I'm not sure that people would react as good as you have."

Preston nodded. "I understand. Your secret is safe."

"Okay. Let's go now, we've got the locket."

Danny hoped that the dark skinned man wouldn't ask any further. His hopes were in vain. Once they were going through the old path, Preston asked him a question.

"So, how did you become like...this?"

"Well," Phantom sighed. "My parents were scientists. There was an accident, I almost died, but got these powers. AND. I'd rather not to tell what exactly I can do. Until the time comes, if you don't mind."

The Minutemen returned to the farm, finding Abernathy inside the shack. The door was barely standing, so Danny took it as an invitation inside. The man was sitting at the table, drinking on a brown bottle with some unknown liquid. His eyes caught a glimpse of the visitors. The man got up and approached them.

"So quick?" He asked.

Danny smirked, showing the piece of jewelry. "Here is your locket. Don't know why you asked to retrieve it instead of killing that scumbags, but we did all the job nevertheless."

Abernathy's eyes widened and his hands started to shake. He gently picked the locket, as if he had found the Holy Graal. For him, it obviously was just as important. The man opened the locket and looked at the image.

"Thanks," he said quietly. "Connie will be so happy. I don't know how to thank you..."

"I have an idea," Danny responded, much to Preston's surprise.

"We aren't doing it for money!" He exclaimed.

"No one said anything about money, my friend," Phantom smirked at his confused expression. "We need supplies. You grow a lot of food, and since I'm planning on attracting settlers to Sanctuary Hills, we'd need them. Of course, we will pay for them, but I need to be sure that you bring enough."

Abernathy hummed. "Well, this sounds like a good deal. Alright, I agree."

He outstretched his hand for a handshake, and Danny shook it. The deal was sealed. Phantom indeed planned to attract more people. Not many were keen on protecting the land. But when the land was theirs, people tended to take up the guns. He was going to train them, make true soldiers out of the crowd. And if they were willing, the Minutemen were going to grow, turning into a military power of his own, bringing peace and order to that burned wasteland.

But it had to wait, and if there was something the ghost could have, it was time.