He catches sight of Nick and frowns, looking concerned. 

"She might be super mutant food right now if not for some firepower, lent, you know. It would have been a much closer fight, at any rate."

"Then thank you. It doesn't explain what you're doing here, however."

"James, play nice." She gives him a quick hug once she reaches him.

He hugs her back (though he lingers a little once she starts to pull away).

"Nick is here because he wants to find out how you made the EMP cells, and also because if you do that he might help out with the Project. He knows a lot of engineering. He could help."

"It does sound like a very noble project. Clean water for all is step one of actual civilization, even if a real government would be able to levy taxes to maintain it. I think I want to invite you for a tour of my workshop to show just how I could help. It's just... Attracting the attention of powerful enemies could be bad for my health."

"I can guarantee that contaminated water is worse."

"I mean, if you're offering tours of your workshop I'd be interested," Amy pipes up.

"Well, I have water purifiers. Powerful enemies are more dangerous to me. Workshop tours I can do though."

"This is about more than purifying a bottle at a time. This is instantaneous, immediate purification. Of all water in the Potomac. If Amy is right about you, I don't need proof. If she's wrong, well. Both of us are pretty good shots."

"It's times like this I miss Catherine. You need to calm down, Amy's not wrong about people." A Chinese woman in her late thirties emerges from behind a large...instrument. She holds out a hand to shake. "Madison Lee. You'll be working mostly with me."

"Aha, so this project isn't just two bickering wastelanders. The more hands, the better, for big things like this." Handshake.

"You'll find it's a group of bickering wastelanders, actually," Madison says warmly. 

She gestures at a few other white-coat wearing people. "The rest of the group."

"As long as someone calls shots, bickering wastelanders can accomplish impressive things. Is there a technical specification I should read somewhere?"

"No, no blueprints here. It's all at the Memorial. We didn't trust anyone outside us to keep it safe. The obvious problem being we now don't have them. We need to clear out the squatters first."

"What kind of squatters?"

"Super mutants, remember? They've decided to be scientists. Or just enjoy living in the shadow of the past."

"We can't clear them on our own. We need-"

"No."

"I don't actually recall you mentioning super mutants off the top of my head. They won't be scared or shooed out, I bet. But my little army can, in all likelihood, deal with super mutants. I'd just need some ammo or junk to make up for what I spend on 'em."

"We're well supplied, thanks to Rivet City, you will be resupplied."

"I'll show you how to make the EMP cells as well."

"Now, that's a compelling offer. Any combatants want to come along for the ride other than Miss Amy, here?"

"Count me in."