Dogmeat picked up a jettisoned poached angler off the floor. He had always been prone to pick up table scraps, but today he would be in for a bonanza. The Minutemen had defeated the Institute. Twelve of Nate's companions had arrived to Sanctuary and were enjoying the brief moment of respite away from the dangers of the Commonwealth because they had won the war.
"Let that dog have that meat, he deserves it," Nick mentioned at the end of the table. Despite being a synth(along with Piper and Danse) he still partook in the feast.
"I thought synths couldn't eat anything," muttered Deacon who was shamelessly snaking down on a mireluk cake. "Like, I know this isn't dinner table conversation, but- how does it work? I always thought it was more... oily, perhaps?"
A few people looked startled before Curie answered. "Tis a full replication of human life. Simulated chromosomal activity, Simulated hemoglobin activity, Simulated Digestive activity..."
"So Danse never compared the shit in a latrine right next to him. He just thought his was the default choice," MacCready quipped. A few at the table laughed, including Cait and Strong. Piper, who was sitting next to Nate, was none to happy.
"Blue, this wasn't how I was expecting this dinner to go." Piper put her hand on Nate's arm. She had been worn out since uncovering Mayor McDonough was a synth and had spent the whole next day printing out hundreds of articles. Such was the life of a beat writer.
"Well, look at who we've made friends with," replied Nate, surveying the dinner table's diverse group of characters.
"Strong, want milk. Strong do not like feasts without the milk of human kindness. Super mutant feasts much better!"
"Honey, what did I tell you about letting that creature in here? That thing should be outside stinking next to the brahmin," Cait opined. Hancock shot her back a contemptuous look.
"Easy girl, let's not get to personal," he said with a grin.
"Don't worry sweetheart, I don't have anything against you. You actually have manners unlike that green feller over there."
Nate smirked, just taking in the sheer eclectic diversity of the table. This compelled him to do a speech in the spur of the moment. "Guys, gals, synths, super mutants, ghouls... hell even quadrupeds." The table began laughing as Nate struggled to compose himself after he had already sipped a great deal of wine. "I would like to make a toast to you all. We successfully brought down the Institute. We've built fortifications for future generations to hopefully live in. Hell, we even managed to get a 17th century ship run by robots to fly in the sky... Don't interrupt me Deacon." He stopped as he laughing Deacon widely grinning and could not help but stop to laugh.
"Annnnnd, we managed to get Travis Miles's confidence back," Piper interceded jokingly.
"The point I'm trying to make is I could not have done this without you guys. All of you that joined me on my journey, and to all who fought and sacrificed their lives to make this all this happen." He raised his glass and most of the dinner residents did the same.
"I find this human ritual to be very invigorating. I would also like to partake in this human ritual that is seeming to be releasing endorphins," Curie piped in.
"That's a great idea Curie, how bout everyone around the table makes a toast," answered Nate. His response was met with a mix of agreeable responses and some groans. Nevertheless, Curie began.
"I want to thank you Mr. Nate. You helped me find my true body and allowed me to undergo my change into a human. I have learned so much that is not scientific, but romantic. Things I could not comprehend and still have yet to fully grasp. So thank you to all of you for making me feel whole. My programming is still incomplete, but maybe one day it will be." Preston and Nick smiled while Danse looked over a little sad. It was then Longfellow's turn.
"Wow, I don't know if I can follow yours up sweetheart, so I'll just keep it simple. Thanks for the free food and free boat ride." He lifted his glass and drank. To his side was Hancock.
"I'd like to make a toast to my people. It's not easy to be forced out by your brother someone based on your appearance and being guilty by association, but I hope I've done my best to keep them safe, even if it meant doing some unsavory things here and there... the nature of government is a living body, so who knows where this new world will take us to. Isn't that right, Silver Shroud?" Nate turned red while Nick looked on angrily.
"Strong thankful for human milk. Lots of puny humans here but Strong don't mind."
"Beautiful Strong, Danse, you're up buddy." The synth soldier coughed before he spoke. He was still adorned in his military youth and had been keeping a very formal appearance ever since he took refuge in Sanctuary.
"I'd like to thank you soldier. You were there for me when things got really bad. I always thought I would never lose my cool, as soldiers are programmed... I mean trained to do. But I was scared, and you really helped me even though you had a bigger mission to take care of. I respect that and will respect you more than just as a soldier. Speaking of which, thanks to all my fellow combatants who made this feast possible, including Haylen and Rhys." He lifted his bottle in the air and faced toward MacCready.
"Ah man, I'm not one for speech's. Thanks to Nate for helping out with my daughter. You remind me a lot of someone I met about 10 years ago when I was... well let's not to get into that. You guys are all awesome. Let's rock and roll from here on out." He quickly sipped his glass before Deacon began.
"Guys, guys, guys. You shouldn't have really trusted me. Because I'm a synth and... I have a huge thing to get off my chest!" he yelled while suddenly opening his jacket in a very conscious manner as if he was hiding his bomb. The table gasped momentarily before giving him their angry reproach.
"You're not that funny, you jackass." Nick yelled out.
"Man, can you just stop it with the jokes for once," called out Preston.
"Alright, alright. But what I really wanted to say is that the huge thing off my chest is my heart. No, I'm not really a synth and I just wanted to say I love all you guys. Curie, you're a genius, Preston, you're a master commander, Strong you're... Strong." Strong's features did not change. "But really, we're all big one family. I thought I had one in the Railroad, but now I know I have a second one. Love you all." A few people clapped and it was Cait's turn.
"Nate, I know this is going to come out a bit ham-fisted and all, but I don't care. I was in a bad place before ya found me. The chems, they would just also feel like they were encompassing me and..." she began letting out a few tears while Hancock looked in squeamishly. "I feel whole again. You stayed by my side and made me well for the first time in a long... hell maybe the first time ever. So maybe what I'm trying to say is that I love ya, Nate. I'll always be here for ya."
Nate's stomach felt tight as he tried to hold in his tears, as did a few others at the table- Piper notwithstanding. There was a slight shock when Cait finished and it remained silent for a few moments.
"I could read in Ms. Cait's endorphin levels in her brain have skyrocketed since I first met her. It is extremely abnormal for them to be this high," Curie finally spoke up, causing Nate to blush.
"Well, I really appreciate it Cait. You mean a lot to me too," responded Nate. Cait blushed and Piper started to flare up red for a different reason. She anxiously waited to speak before Preston went.
"Commander, you did the Minutemen well. Back in Quincey, we were practically gone. But you saved us. And not only saved us, but rebuilt us almost from scratch. And it's better than it was ever before. Thank you Commander, and to all serving Minutemen."
The dinner attendees were winding down there food as there were only two people who did not speak: Nick and Piper.
"Well ladies and gentleman, I remember an assignment right after I moved into Diamond City. It was for me to to take down a rogue synth that had stolen vegetation as an act of attrition. It took me days to find the guy and by the time that I did, he had already killed the head of the guards. When I was walking home, this random stranger shot me from behind, crippled me and told me I was a rogue infiltrator. I thought it was over from that point. That was until this dog here helped me, and dragged me home. He's helped me on many cases and then he found you, before anyone of us. So maybe would should all be thanking Dogmeat after all."
The whole table did a toast to Dogmeat and then anxiously waited to hear Piper's speech. "Well guys, I don't know what to say. I'm usually more creative at my desk writing a story than at the spur of a moment. But I'll say, this whole experience has made want to be more ambitious and take on new opportunities. And thank goodness for Blue to meet me that day so I could get back in the Diamond City. Here, here." Piper awkwardly raised her glass and a few others did as well, signifying the end of their toast.
"Hey, I remember that moment too." Deacon mentioned.
"You did?" Piper said confusedly. "I thought you were with the Railroad at that point?"
"Well, if you look around closely, I actually moonlight as security as well as..." Before he could finish, a strong vibration was felt at the table and a blast was heard from outside. Shortly after, a siren rang. Nate knew they had company.
"Preston, MacCready, Danse follow me. Longfellow, take point on the guard tower. The rest of you, stay safe and protect the citizens." The four men moved outside, each brandishing a gun, with Nate and Preston wielding musket rifles, Danse carrying a standard laser rifle and MacCready using a hunting rifle. Sanctuary's defense had two guards along the entrance, with artillery posted around the sides. Nate saw a couple of gunners firing around a miniature nuclear dust cloud that had caused one of the buildings to cave in. He wound up his lever and fired upon the gunners, hitting them in the chest.
"Commander, I'll check to see if there were any casualties. You scout ahead. MacCready, check to see if there is any notable loot on any of the bodies," Preston commanded, despite not being the commander. Not protesting, Nate scouted ahead and found nothing coming from the bridge that divided Sanctuary from visitors. When he turned back, however, he saw something more shocking.
"Stay with me man, I'm not losing you after all this time," Preston said as he held Sturges hand tightly. Sturges's body had been effectively shiskebabed through a metal frame and was coughing up blood.
"Brother, we weren't supposed to make it past Quincey and we did. This is beyond a miracle and I'm glad I got to see it. And hey, look you've said before, at least it isn't raining," he laughed painfully before his grip on Preston's hand loosened. Preston began tearing up and all Nate could do in this situation was lay a hand in his shoulder. No words would be appropriate.
"Hey boss, I know this might be an emotional moment but I have something you might find interesting." MacCready handed Nate a small piece of paper that contained a note in it. He began to read it aloud:
Dear Cord,
We received information about the hideout of the Minutemen from one of the Wanderer's most trusted companions. I have diagrammed it below. Please use lethal force on all residents, except on the one who presented us with the information. Trust me, you will know who it is once you attack.
Materson
"Sir, look at the debris over there. Is that... Richardson?" Danse asked, pointing to the decapitated head of the Sanctuary resident. Instead of entrails, electric wiring portruded from the bottom of his neck. A synth.
"He must have been set to self destruct on purpose. Do you think he was the one who betrayed us?" MacCready asked.
Nate shook his head and inhaled. "No, the letter said not to engage in combat at that person. Richardson was likely a plant that wasn't meant to make it past the battle. The betrayer... is in our midst right now."
A/N: If any of you punks want to play internet tough guy by leaving smug reviews, don't bother. Not having any of that crap.