Author's Note: I don't own any stories depicted.
Chapter 1
"When the dust settles, when the sun sets.
There really is one big question which we are left.
What is the meaning and the purpose of a corporation?
Do you see it as a… bundle of financial assets to be moved around to their highest and best use?
Or is a corporation a network of mutual obligations, mutual responsibilities, a compact between people to produce wealth in the future.
I plan to do both."
A 24 year old Lincoln Loud is seen speaking to somebody else on the opposite side of the glass.
"That's a… pretty good way to describe it, but the Institute isn't a corporation!"
The man yelling is Dr. Lawrence Higgs, who along with Dr. Max Loken, locked themselves in the Bioscience division of the Institute to protest the decision made by Father.
"Look man, just give me a chance! The Institute now has access to the Multiverse, and by extension I may add, a limitless supply of food. What exactly are you trying to achieve here!?"
"You just proved my point! You're not from here. You said that you took that portal device from a dying scientist. Out of all the universes you could have gone to… mine just so happened to be the best. Isn't it?"
"FINE! BE THAT WAY!" Shouted Lincoln as he walked off.
He then turns to face Lawrence and shouts while mimicking his voice.
"The risk is too great. Without experienced and competent leadership, the Institute could be thrown into chaos. Decades of research could be JEOPARDIZED!"
"Hmm. That's funny. Those EXACT words were in my brain JUST before he said them. He even spoke them in my voice too. What was it my father used to tell me? 'Great minds think alike?'"
Thought Lawrence as he paces back and forth.
By now, Lincoln has given up speaking to Lawrence and is talking again with Newton Oberly.
"You're not gonna try to convince them anymore?"
"I don't need to." Lincoln smirks. "They'll come around."
"The Railroad is located underneath the Old North Church. Their leader's name is Desdemona and she will be accompanied by Glory, who holds a minigun, and several others who will use pipe pistols."
Justin Ayo sighs. A quick way to defeat the Railroad? Maybe he is going crazy.
"Since we can use the molecular relay pretty much anywhere, the synth coursers can wipe them all out in under a minute. ASSUMING they are there and that this ISN'T a trap!"
"Hey man, what's a few less synths if everything doesn't go the way we planned. How can we NOT be the best!?"
"I don't wanna argue with you. Get out."
"Fine. Also, tell X6-88 I said hi!"
Lincoln Loud, AKA "Father," looks at his younger counterpart, trying to form the words that he's about to say.
"I just received word from Dr. Ayo that… the Railroad had just been completely decimated. You're not lying. This whole thing really is just a game to you!"
"I spent week after week playing Fallout 4. Wasted COUNTLESS hours. Stopping only when my parents or my sisters told me to."
"Sisters, huh? Never had any of those."
"I actually have EIGHT!"
"EIGHT SISTERS!? Well… I see that you have no reason to lie to me. The Lynn Loud in YOUR universe must be a completely different man than the one in mine."
The Lincoln's didn't say anything for a while. Both not wanting to upset the other.
Finally, Father broke the silence to ask a question.
"Can you… use that portal gun to show me another universe?"
Author's Note: The quote from the beginning of the chapter was taken from an episode of Defunctland.
I know you didn't ask for a prequel to 'Things are Happening,' but I feel like this is something I gotta write.
The Lincoln Loud I've written here actually has the intelligence of Lisa, but still has some remnants of his usual self.
Overall, expect the creative laziness to be heavy on this one. I have many stories planned in the future as well as finishing the ones I have right now. I have everything planned and organized; I just need to type things out.
It's weird, the ideas just keep coming nonstop. Is this true for other fanfiction writers?