Finding Peace & Glory Chapter 25
AN1: R&R please hope you're all enjoying things so far!
==1900 Hours – Sub Level H Section 9 – The Institute==
It was almost 9 hours since Nora and Glory had discussed their plans in her room on what to do moving forward regarding the Institute. Glory though held off for the moment on whether or not she would accept doing the upgrade for being the first, and if their plan worked right only, Gen 4 Synth. For now though in that time the pair by careful contact to the man that came to be known as Patriot gotten word to several Gen 3 Synths interested in what Nora and Glory had to offer. Granted this help came by lying to Patriot of their longer term intentions, but Nora had put it aside for the needs of their greater good plan. Glory had been a bit against such lying or stretching of the truth but could see where for now Nora was coming from, so had played along. Also through Patriot they had used him to relay a message back through his own contact method to the Railroad, and hopefully then by them they would relay the message from Nora to the Minutemen to remain on alert and in position as had the other day been agreed. For Glory it felt odd, they had only been down in the Institute for about a day and a half roughly, but yet it had felt to her like months.
Now, the pair had quietly slipped into the sub level sections of the Institute. Here less devices were evident to watch their path or overseer Coursers or scientists to report on where they were going. As they emerged into the raw hued rock face flash backs of Glory's own time in such construction areas came to her, and the associated events that came with it.
As if sensing her discomfort, Nora spoke, "..You ok Glory" She asked.
Turning Glory nodded a bit, "..Just some memories I would rather remain forgotten." She replied.
Nora nodded some, reaching a hand to comfort her Synth friend but movement caught their attention. Both though soon relaxed as a trio of Synths came out from the shadows. All three matched the descriptions Patriot had given them. "..P...patriot sent you?" the one female with red hair and a tan skin asked softly.
Nora gestured for Glory to take the lead, she knew if Glory was going to have an impact in guiding her people in the coming future, no matter what choice she decided on regarding the Gen 4 idea then Glory had to take the lead first to establish authority.
"..We were. I'm Glory, this is my human friend. Nora Shells. We're both with the Railroad, and she is also the General of the Minutemen on the surface.." Glory said after a hesitating moment.
"..I am Z10N and this is L3T0 and M1M5.." then a pause came from the lead woman as their names came to the three Synths. "..The...The General? She is Father's Mother?" They all then said softly murmuring to each other. "..And...and you both are with the Railroad? We weren't sure if you really existed, many of us just thought Patriot was a plant for the security division to get rid of unruly Synths like us." The lead woman then said.
Nora nodded, "..I am, and we both are, and the Minutemen are standing by above to help you as well.." She affirmed.
"..Nora is a good woman. She is not like the others down here in the Institute. She's done good things on the surface to help her own people, and our own. Even now many of those like us.." Glory said indicating her and the other Gen 3s, "..that have escaped from here have found safety among the settlements the Minutemen protect to the north. But now the Institute is growing far too bold in what they do. They've always been a threat to humans, and the Commonwealth, but now they are readying to do far more evil deeds. Plans are in the works to control the Commonwealths sources of water, food and power. They want to continue to enslave us, and newer to come generation 4 Synths, but the humans too!" Glory explained.
"..We're not sure what we can do about that?" The lead female Synth asked again.
"..Nora and I are forging a plan, we want to take the Institute down for good. To free Synths like us to give us a home to call our own in time. To be equals like the humans above in the Commonwealth for a better future together." Glory went on. "..But we need the help of the other Gen 3s, and others too if you can somehow get the help of the 2s and 1s." She asked.
"..Doubtful, the 2s and 1s just do what their programming dictate.." Z10N said.
"..Fair enough, we'll do what we can." Glory said.
"..What is it you're planning? How can you possibly think you can take down the Institute?" L3T0 asked then for the first time.
Decided to take a risk after a glance from Nora who made a 'go ahead' motion, "..We're going to try to lure out the bulk of the Institute's forces. Once we defeat them the Minutemen and Railroad will return here and finish what we began above. Before we level this place then and remove its evils we'll get all the Gen 3s we can free to the surface. But even weakened from above we'll need your help if we're to defeat them when we do return. Can we count on you and others in agreement with you to fight for your freedom?" Glory asked.
"..I'm not sure what we can do? We have no real weapons to work with, and we're not combat Gen 3 units or Coursers. Maybe it would just be best if we remained hidden till you finish fighting, or….or if you fail then we won't get things worse then we got now." Z10N said.
Glory sympathized with Z10N, she recalled how she felt the same in a way during her time down here, and even for a time after her escape. In desperation for help to sway the Gen 3s to help she looked to Nora. "..Look I know you're all scared. I would be too. Frankly being honest I am still scared with this plan. There's so much that could go wrong with it at many turns." She said.
"..Then why bother? We can still escape now in small numbers and….and why should we fight for a lost cause?" M0M5 asked.
"..A fair enough question. To which I reply, do you think the founding Fathers of the United States said 'why bother' when they realized how imposing rebelling against the British Empire would be? Do you think American Americans leading up in the years to the American Civil War said 'why bother' when they thought escape from slavery not so different from your own here would be 'too hard' from the Southern States? Do you think Winston Churchill and the other British standing alone against the forces of the Third Reich in World War 2 said 'why bother' because it seemed hopeless to fight on after their defeat against the Germans in France of 1941? There's so many other examples I could give you where a moment of choice has changed human history. People like me, and those in the Railroad and Minutemen, we want to help you where we can. Glory, the only Synth agent in the Railroad is out in the Commonwealth each day on the surface fighting for what she believes in a future that will free you all! She's found Coursers, and others from the Institute, she's fought Deathclaws, one on one! There is no better fighter on the surface for your freedom bar none, then Glory here! Sure you could hide, and yes maybe there is a slim chance the Minutemen and Railroad might win on the surface and down here. But wouldn't your freedom then feel all the stronger, all the more true if you fought for it? Stood next to us in our own moment of need to fight for you all aiding us? All we're asking is if you'll think about it. Consider it, and when the moment comes that you seize it to fight with us." Nora posed. Even Glory had to admit a swelling of pride at the words spoken by the pre-war woman, and there was more too she recognized, but now wasn't the time to voice such things.
"..So, what do you say then Z10N?" Glory asked stepping forward again, "..will you at least consider to help us?"
After a moment Z10N nodded, "..We will think on it for when the moment comes. Nora makes a convincing argument, we'll do what we can to rally others for when you return." She said. "..If there is nothing else then we should return to our assignments before our overseer returns to check on us."
"..Keep safe then, you'll when to act when we return in force. All we ask is you consider to help, and if you do just do what you can.." Nora said getting nods from all three Synths then as they departed.
Turning to face each other Glory looked to Nora who returned the look, "...Well that's one hurdle down, now for the next, the choice for you to decide if we go through with the Gen 4 conversion or not? I won't say anything more to argue for or against it Glory the choice is wholly yours.." Nora said.
Glory looked down considering, running the variables through her mind, making arguments for and against it, trying to weigh the risks to the benefits. Finally, Glory raised her head and opened her mouth to voice her choice. Ready to commit to whatever the future may give her for what she was about to say.
AN2: Annnnd cliffhanger! R&R please!