Chapter Fourteen: Betrayed
Iliana sat inside the whirring metal Vertibird, her mind drifting uncomfortably back to the Institute. With Liberty Prime's nuclear stash secured they would soon end this war once and for all. And she would have to make a critical decision about her son. She knew what had to be done, beyond a shadow of a doubt, but she didn't know if she would be capable of it in the end. She had spent countless days running through the Commonwealth to try and create a distraction from her impending decision. After all, she labored for hours to bring him into the world, and regardless of the situation they found themselves in, he was still her child, her blood. She was being torn in two directions and really could have used Arthur's reassurance, but he had been less than warm recently.
The bird docked against its larger mother ship and Iliana hopped off. Her power armor clattered on the metal deck. She paused for a moment, pulling off her helmet and setting it on a pile of crates next to her. She lit a cigarette with a quick flick of her gold lighter, inhaling deeply, and staring at the world beneath her. A world that would soon be changed, again. She knew that whatever happened with the Institute it would be up to her to ensure that the Commonwealth would continue to prosper and recover from its battle scars. She exhaled, Smoke swirling up above her head, rushing towards the twinkling heavens.
She walked into the command deck after she had finished, her face looking worn and weary. Arthur looked her up and down calculatingly, analyzing her movements, her expression, her breathing. He was looking for something, some kind of indication of her guilt or innocence. He still wasn't sure whether or not he believed she was working with Danse for the Institute, he knew he didn't want to believe it but it was the only thing that really made sense to him anymore.
When it came to there being a traitor in their midst, he was absolutely livid. Rage clouded his mind like an eerie morning fog. Maxson fought viciously to keep his demons at bay, so he wouldn't do anything monumentally irrational. He feared he would fail, but it wouldn't be for a lack of trying.
Arthur took a deep breath, fighting the urge to overtake her, to bring her down to her knees for her treachery.
"You wanted to speak with me?" She muttered, some kind of emotional wave causing her voice to crack and quiver.
What had happened to her, he questioned. Had the Glowing Sea bested this warrior? Or perhaps her intuition had told her that her time spent with Danse, playing this dangerous game, was running terrifyingly short. Whatever the case for Iliana's distress, Maxson knew he had to get to the bottom of this betrayal.
"Yes. Is there anything you wanted to tell me, Knight?" He spat, his fury palpable.
Iliana's brows furrowed in confusion, "Not at all. I have nothing to hide. I've told you everything."
He growled, "I find that very hard to believe… Proctor Quinlan completed the decryption of the data you retrieved from the Institute. A portion of his findings included a list of synths that went missing or escaped from their underground facility. After careful analysis of the information, we've discovered something…unprecedented."
So far in his speech Iliana was still completely confused. He was clearly agitated, and his focus was her but she was unsure why. He seemed ready to strike, like a deadly cobra, eerily poised and watching her every move.
"Paladin Danse is a perfect match for one of the synths on that list." He sighed sharply, disappointment stuck in his throat like a shard of glass.
"That's impossible!" Iliana exclaimed. There was absolutely no way he would be a synth, she was sure.
"I'm afraid not. The evidence is quite damning. The data you brought back included a record of each subject's DNA. We keep the same information on file for all of our soldiers. Paladin Danse's DNA is a perfect match for a synth they called M7-97. To make matters worse, he's gone AWOL. Disappeared without a trace. His sudden absence simply reinforces our conclusion that M7-97 and Paladin Danse are one in the same. I'm finding it difficult to believe, with your ties to the Institute, that he never confided in you and then swore you to secrecy."
"You have to believe me, he never told me he was a synth!" Arthur's implications were like a knife to her gut, twisting and pained. Panic shone obviously on her face, he would never believe her, not after everything that had happened recently.
He sighed, analyzing her expression again. His harsh gaze softened, perhaps she was right and simply had the worst luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time once again.
"Hm. Apparently I've misjudged you. Which means I've decided to take you at your word," He would allow her to prove herself, but still keep a watchful eye on her, lest she betray his trust again. "However, that doesn't absolve you of your duty. Danse is a synth. He represents everything we hate… a monstrosity of technology. Our mission in the Commonwealth is clear. The Institute and its creations need to be destroyed in order to preserve our future. Which leaves me facing the most difficult order I've ever given."
Iliana's eyes were wide with disbelief and anticipation. Arthur took a deep breath and continued, "I'm ordering you to hunt down Danse and execute him."
"Isn't there some other way?!" She cried. No, she couldn't kill him. After everything he had done for her how was she just supposed to pull the trigger and go on with her life?
"Absolutely not. My decision is final. Listen I'm not blind to the fact that Danse was your mentor and this isn't an easy burden to bear. But if we're to remain strong, we can't afford to make exceptions… even when it means executing one of our own. Find Proctor Quinlan. He's been analyzing the data and should be able to provide you with a starting point. And Knight, there's a promotion for you riding on the results of these orders, so don't disappoint me."
He looked at her and into her blue eyes; they were filled with rage, and darted around the room trying desperately to make sense of what had just happened.
"You're dismissed." He said coldly, turning his back on her. He had to brush her off to be safe. Part of him wanted to reach out and grieve with her, to kiss away any tears that fell from those eyes. But he couldn't, he needed to be in control, he needed to figure her out without compromising himself further.
Her eyes were wide and her heart was racing. What had just happened? There's no way Danse would be a synth, not when he has done so much for the Brotherhood, Iliana thought, absolutely stunned. She become almost numb, her anger and grief failing to pierce her unfeeling armor. She didn't really know what to think, was he really a synth or was this information a decoy concocted by the Institute to sabotage the Paladin? She needed to talk to someone, but it seemed like her closest companions were becoming strangers to her. Iliana was starting to feel like she was alone in the apocalypse. There had to be someone that could help her sort out the moral implications of her latest commands, someone who had personal experience with synths. Someone who had already proven to be a help to her personal war with the Institute. Detective Nick Valentine.
Iliana could remember when Fenway Park had been full of pristine green grass, bleachers filled with lively fans. The Sox in the last inning, staring down a victory. The memories flooded her eyes every time she stepped in, she could almost hear the cheers and smell hotdogs and popcorn. She never cared much for baseball, but now that Fenway was the thriving metropolis known as Diamond City she nearly missed the sport.
She made her way through the cluttered allies of the city towards the glowing neon sign that proudly read "Valentine Detective Agency". The light caused shadows to jump and bob against the walls of the building, like some kind of haunting waltz. Iliana hoped he was in and not on a case, she needed him to be in. She knocked lightly on the cool metal door.
"Doors open." Nicks voice rang from inside the office. She pushed the door open, a small smile forming on her otherwise worried face.
Nick turned to her, to see who had walked in, "good to see you, kid!" His voice was smooth and sure, like something out of an old radio show she could remember listening to as a child.
"How've you been holding up?" He asked, closing the files on his desk. He pulled a chair out, with a loud screech against the floor, and motioned for her to sit.
"Not good, Nick, not good." Iliana sat in the chair offered, and slumped against the side of his desk.
"What's been troubling you, doll?"
"I need a little insight and you're the best synth for the job. I've got a bit of a dilemma involving a synth and I don't know how to handle it."
"Well, if it's one of those Institute cats, there's only one way to handle it."
"Well that's the thing; this synth doesn't know he's a synth. He was one of the best Paladins in the Brotherhood of Steel. A shining star, really. He's bled steel for as long as he can remember, and has even taken up arms against the Institute. If he's a synth how could he do that? I don't understand." Ili rubbed her brow, clearly strained as she spoke the words aloud.
"A synth in the Brotherhood, huh? Don't tell Piper, she's been itching for a new scoop. These new gen synths blend seamlessly in with humans, so what makes you so sure?"
"I got in, Nick. I found a way into the Institute. While I was in there I managed to secure a holotape of information from their network. They keep extremely detailed records on their synths and escapees. So detailed, in fact, it included dialogued DNA mapping. The Brotherhood Scribes found an exact match to one of our best men, Paladin Danse."
"That was your big metal clad fried, huh? Listen, kid, often times these synths have no idea what they are. They've been given fabricated memories and personalities. If Danse had been fighting with the Brotherhood it's entirely possible that he has no clue."
Iliana sighed, "Well, I've been asked to uh... terminate him." The words burned in her throat and tasted foul on her tongue.
"Don't let your association with the Brotherhood of Steel cloud your judgment as a human. What do you think needs to be done?"
She thought for a moment, failing to find reason behind her orders, "Nothing. He's just as human as me... or you, really."
Nick smiled "There you go, doll. I think you've got your answer. The material we are made out of isn't really what makes us human. Instead our capacity for friendship, empathy, and love does."
"You're right. I can't believe I even considered killing him. He's been a loyal friend, and has proven time and time again that his number one priority is the greater good of human kind."
"Right, just talk to him. I'm sure he will lead you to the same conclusion. Oh by the way, did that list mention anything about a certain detective?"
"No." She responded quickly, her mind beginning to travel away from the conversation.
"Good. I've worked hard to stay under the inst radar and I don't intend to pop up anytime soon."
"Well, if I have anything to do with that you won't. I plan on taking them down." Iliana's hands clenched into fists, her nails bit painfully into her palms, but every day with the Institute around her problems seemed to become more and more complicated.
Nick's face grew solemn, concerned, "It's for the best, really. Did you ever find your son?"
"Yes." She paused, unable to find the words, "he's beyond help."
"He's blood, Iliana. Is he really beyond help?" Nick was shocked. He had known this woman to often talk her way out of combat, merely to spare a life or avoid unnecessary violence. Something in her had changed he was sure.
"He is, Nick, he isn't a baby or even a child anymore. Shaun is an elderly man who happens to be running things at the Institute."
"Oh wow, well I guess he may be the exception there, huh?"
"Yea… a bit." She raised her brows, agreeing with him.
"So, kid, I think you know what you need to do. Glad to be on the case." Nick nudged her arm, reassuringly.
"Thanks Nick, your help means a lot to me." Iliana spoke, some kind of clarity setting over her. She stood and started towards the door.
"It's interesting isn't it? That this war the Brotherhood is fighting with the Institute rivals a war you're very familiar with. But don't be a stranger." Nick spoke hauntingly and turned back to his paper work.
"Yea… thanks again, Nick." She muttered before leaving the office.
His words ricocheted around her mind. He was right, the same battle a different time. Factions with vastly different views and ways of life fighting because they think they're right and they're doing the best for humanity. They would set the world on fire all over again because ultimately war never changes. And in that moment, Iliana vowed to herself that she was going to change that, she was going to fight to be the change this broken and shattered world needed.