A/N: This ending scene was planned along with the opening scene before the fic was posted. This epilogue is the real reason why the title is called "Trust No One". To this day, it still bugs me that the story's not quite completed, so I'm posting the real ending even though the fic has ended for a while.
You'll probably have a lot of questions if you choose to read this, and they'll all be answered in the sequel (which is all outlined but probably won't be written). If you love the happy ending, feel free to skip this. It's a flashback scene, so the happy ending still stands... for now.
Another note, this is not the same story/universe as my other fic "Project Wanderer", so whatever happens here is not going to happen over there. (Why pull the same trick twice? I've lots more up my sleeves.)
Last but not least, a shout-out and a giant thank you to tomberi-no, whom I sent this epilogue to a while ago. The precious feedback made me rethink about posting this real ending.
As always, thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: All characters and settings belong to Bethesda.
Ending Spoiler. Beware.
Trust No One
Epilogue
"How bad is it?"
"It's spreading."
"How much longer do I have?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment before he answered, "A year. At most."
The brutal answer didn't faze the old man a bit. "A year," the old man repeated to himself. "Thank you, Dr. Volkert."
"Sir," said the doctor, "it's not too late to consider a more aggressive treatment. If we start it now-"
"We've talked about this before. No. We both know it'll merely delay the inevitable."
"But..."
"I've lived long enough."
"The Institute needs you, sir."
"If my experiment goes well, the Institute will no longer need me." He leaned back, closed his eyes.
That was a big 'if', a big gamble.
There was a knock on the door. The old man reopened his eyes.
"Sir," Dr. Filmore greeted as she walked in. "Our subject is building a teleporter."
"Who is helping her?" asked the old man. "The minutemen?"
"...The Railroad, sir."
The old man could see the irony in this. "Then it's time to prepare for her home coming. I'll send a message to each department to inform them about our guest's arrival. Once she's arrived, we'll begin phase three."
"Are you sure she's ready?" Filmore asked.
Yes, it's the biggest risk he had taken in his entire career. Yet, he was running out of time. He needed an heir, a successor worthy of his legacy. And if he didn't have one, he'd create one.
"We'll find out," the old man replied. "If this experiment goes well, we're one step closer to Gen-4. But if it doesn't... Well, If anything happens to me, here's her recall code. You know what to do."