Jacob Burns and the Order of the Algorithm #Wattys2017

Chapter 7: Same Old Story, Whole New Century

"What ever happened to "Come with me Piper", "I can't do this without you Piper", "I need you with me on this Piper," or maybe you remember this little gem? "Don't worry, I'll be right back," she added with a smirk, and just like that it was like when we were dating all over again. Fighting every night, trying to one up the other with whose got it worse.

"Oh yeah? Well you certainly didn't take long to get over it, now did you?" I snapped as my head began to throb harder than ever.

"How about these headlines, huh? Any of these ring a bell? 'NEWSFLASH! Prydwen still Burns in Bay as Burns roams Free', or how about 'Jacob Burns... Man Gone Rogue or Synth in Sheep's Clothing?' And then there's that exclusive interview you did... you know, the one with the "anonymous" source? Now I KNOW you have to remember that one... it was everyone's favorite after all. Your best seller."

I smiled with a smug satisfaction as her face flushed a deep red. She knew exactly what I was talking about.

"Oh that's right, I read it. In fact, so did everyone in Goodneighbor. And I can't tell you what a treat it was to hear it recited onstage at the Third Rail... every night... for three weeks straight."

I mimed the headline in the air with all the flair and gusto Hancock himself would have given it.

"I DATED A SYNTH!: The True Story of Sex, Lies, & Betrayal - The Secret Lover of Jacob Burns tells all!" I spat on the ground.

"How could you do that to me?! You know damn well I ain't a synth, and you know exactly why I was leaving the Brotherhood, and you go and publish that crap? Why? Just to hurt me? To make money? Just tell me what the hell possessed you to publish that...that... tabloid trash!" I yelled, a little too proud of that one as I watched the blow land home, her face white with rage.

"Don't. You. Dare... try to turn this on me, Jacob!" The woman doubled down even as she reeled from the blow, "You were the one that broke your promise, you were the one who walked out on us, and YOU were the one that broke that little girl's heart! I waited for you Jacob... WE waited for you, and when we needed you most, you were nowhere to be found!"

"Oh puh-leeese, you've been doing just fine on your own. I'm the one that's been eating out of trash cans and cleaned out stockpiles. You think a 200-year-old Salisbury steak is bad? Try one from fifty years before that. And you? Hell, you've been living it up and raking in the caps hawking that cheap, two-bit, cage-liner you call a pa-"

"AHEM..."

We whipped around to see Ilya standing there with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face, none too happy with the whole situation. With the shock of everything, both Piper and I had completely forgotten that we weren't the only ones in the room.

"Who. The hell. Are you?" Piper said as she glowered menacingly at the girl, sizing her up as she did.

"Oh! Um, hi... er hello!" she stuttered, suddenly much less sure of herself now that Piper's cruel gaze was suddenly upon her. "I'm Ilya. Ilya Astor." Piper glared as the girl offered her hand, but said nothing.