Note: While I had hoped to extend this part until chapter 40, I realized that wasn't possible.

Reference is from Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. (minor edits, sorry I didn't catch that)

The Vertibird set down near to the purifier. Augustus stepped out of the aircraft before the engine was shut down, striding away from it and toward the memorial. He stared at the building, his eyes narrowed and eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

Just what game was Lillie playing at?

The signal strength of GNR had been rectified―boosted, even. This was of concern for Eden, naturally. The radio signal was now playing over the Enclave signal, forcing his men to switch frequencies for the purpose of maintaining contact. As annoying as that had proven to be―

The development was also infuriating in that it allowed the deejay to spew anti-Enclave rhetoric across the entire Capital Wasteland. It was fairly obvious to him that Lillie was the cause―the radio feed to VIOLA was hampered significantly, rendering her totally blind and disabling the link to the plasma charge.

She was smart. But not smart enough, he feared.

His fears were especially justified when, after the signal had been tampered with, his men reported that the feed had reinstated itself. Lillie should have left the interference in place, however she was managing herself―being blind might have been a discomfort to her and cause her enormous trouble, but she knew if the signal was allowed to reach Raven Rock she would be found.

This... whatever plan that she was enacting, was disturbing. Allowing for herself to be potentially captured, allowing for Eden to be aware of her location and giving the Enclave a fair idea of what condition the purifier was in, was disturbing.

He trusted that she knew what she was doing. But he was afraid she did not.

Augustus ran a hand over his face for a brief second before assessing the situation and giving orders.

The civilian presence in the building undoubtedly included the scientists from Rivet City. Eden had debriefed him as quickly as it could, about the situation. It saw no reason James would not have re-established contact with the others; those who had worked with him, previously, would be inherent to restoring the purifier to working condition.

Augustus sent soldiers to sweep the area. Anyone who had knowledge of the purifier would be immeasurably valuable to their goal.

It stung him that he had to specifically order his men to detain Lillie, but not to harm her. Eden's idea, not his, to bring her back into the fold. Without a detailed account of what she was enacting, he could not make any plans of his own. Even to aid her, in what he deemed a confusing but interesting attempt to... prove her value to the Enclave.

Augustus knew that she would fight.

But she would only harm herself, when she did so.

He sighed to himself, as he entered the building.

The acquisition was fairly routine, all things considered. The men searched the upper level, discovered the exclusiveness of the building, and moved ahead of him into the rotunda. It was simple enough to secure the rotunda and all persons within it.

James was there, waiting for him with arms crossed over his chest. He held no expression whatsoever on his face, staring at the soldiers and Augustus as they moved to occupy the room. Lillie was not present; where she could possibly be, he had no idea.

The doctor and his daughter had always been the cause of trouble for him, regardless of the variety it came in. He ignored the absence of the girl and considered the man as he stood near the rapidly closing door panel of Project Purity's control room.

Their interactions, in the past, had not been amicable. The only matter that the two men could or even would agree on, had been Lillie, and even then it was subject to her particular actions at the time. With no love lost for each other's attitude or ideals, this... was going to be a difficult conversation.

Even more difficult in that James was more than likely aware of the Enclave's intent to secure the purifier, and in that Lillie was now facing a deliberate threat. He must know that she would be reintegrated, and reused for other purpose.

Neither one of the men enjoyed that idea, Augustus knew. He had wished that James was more effective in getting Lillie out of the clutches of the supercomputer. Lillie had, however, brought into play her own brand of teenage stubbornness, and utilized it to produce vague results. The only benefit that the Colonel could see, to her unprecedented actions in the wastes, was that Eden was temporarily confused.

Perhaps that was her goal. In this strange game she had started, causing consternation for everyone involved could very well lend her an element of surprise. To strike against what she knew to be an enemy―he recalled his conversation with her, on that matter.

If she intended to strike against Eden she must do so, soon. There was a limit to how long it would remain put out by her actions, and now that the signal to the plasma charge had been reinstated―

Augustus' teeth ground together in his mouth, once, before he stilled himself.

"You're early," James observed, quietly. "Lillie must have tipped you off. I can't say that I'm surprised."

He stared at the man. The hate he had contained for James, not so long ago, hadn't dissolved with his attempt to maintain his sanity against Eden's manipulation. It was easier, honestly, to engage in this takeover with that hate still intact.

He was still a soldier. Orders were orders. This ridiculous show of rebellion would be quashed, and James would submit.

"That is of no concern to you," he said, as calmly as he could. In a firmer voice, he added, "By authority of the President, this facility is now under United States government control. You will turn over all materials related to this project."

James' eyes narrowed at him, his face growing hard. "And if I refuse to do so?" he asked, sharply.

"The consequence for disobedience is, as it was and always has been, execution," Augustus said, though he didn't wish for the man to throw himself so willingly onto his out-thrust sword.

God forbid the man acknowledge that his involvement with the purifier was preferable, considering he'd been engaged in similar work during his time in Raven Rock and his own history with the project. And Lillie would be found and contained. Too much was at stake for either man to play the fool, now.

He glared at James. "You are hereby instructed to immediately hand over all materials related to the purifier. I don't want to repeat myself, doctor."

"The Enclave has no authority, here," James stated, lifting his head and looking Augustus directly in the eyes. "This is a private facility, Colonel."

Augustus breathed out, remembering precisely why he'd wanted to put a bullet through the man's head in the first place. He put his hands behind his back and stood a little straighter, glancing to his left at the civilian scientist inside the control room.

"The purifier is not operational," James added, his voice lowering. "It never has been. I'm afraid you're wasting your time."

"I've found, doctor, that when you are involved, my time is always wasted," Augustus snapped. "You will stand down and you will give over control of this facility to the Enclave."

"Colonel, I assure you that this facility will not function!" James stared him down. "I'm sorry, but―"

Augustus sighed impatiently, pulled his sidearm, and shot the woman standing to his left. A cry sounded from the outside of the room. He holstered the weapon and turned back to James, as the man stood shocked.

The gesture was not one he would have ordinarily made. Killing the woman―who might have been useful to the operation of the purifier―was distasteful to him. There was not much option for him, however, in this moment. If James did not obey, he would be forced to execute him.

He wanted to kill the man. Unfortunately, his orders were clear. Unless his hand was forced, Eden wanted the doctor alive.

"I suggest you comply immediately, doctor," Augustus said. "Are we clear?"

"Yes," James said, bitterly. "Colonel. I'll do what you want."

"Then you will aid us in making this facility operational, at once," he said. "There will be no more need for violence, if you assist the Enclave."

"Give me a few moments to bring the system online," James said. He turned and tapped a few keys on the control panel behind him.

It took longer than he would have expected. As he stood, staring at James' back and waiting for the man to fulfill his obligation, a loud noise echoed behind him. Someone was pounding on the door panel, repeatedly, and a piercing shriek met his ears.

Lillie was shouting through the door. Augustus closed his eyes and tilted his head down. He refused to acknowledge her, just yet. James was armed, still; he could see the weapon at his side and with the confirmation of his daughter being outside of the door, he doubted that the man would hesitate in shooting him.

He also was unsure if he could stop the sinking feeling in his stomach, or maintain his composure, if he were to face the girl. The thoughts that he'd ignored for the last few weeks had immediately jumped out of hiding at the sound of her voice. Good God. He―

"Nor florid prose, nor honied lies of rhyme, can blazon evil deeds or consecrate a crime!" she shrieked, her voice shaking.

Her voice was pleading, painful to his ears. No matter what happened with the purifier, he would not relish the outcome that Eden had planned for the girl. She could not be considered loyal, not after the game she had been playing. And his hand would be the one to deliver the punishment that she had incurred.

Augustus opened his eyes to the sight of James still tapping at the panel. If he hadn't thought better of her intentions against Eden, prior to this, her poetry wouldn't make much sense. She was condemning him, as well as the supercomputer, with her references.

Part of him wished that she would give him cause to execute both herself and her father, on the spot. Without her machinations playing fortissimo against Eden, he could focus on the goals that his father had orchestrated after arriving in the Capital Wasteland. Without her being present, his mind would clear and be able to guide him to better success. Without her―

Lillie kept shouting, and her words pierced through his thoughts to break his concentration. "Please! Don't do it!" she was shrieking. "Please!"

James turned his head, his eyes sliding over the doorway behind Augustus before moving back to the control panel and typing in a three-digit code. He stepped backward by a step and looked directly ahead of him at the murky water swirling in the purification chamber.

She was yelling at her father. Not at him, as he'd thought. She could see through the glass, naturally, see what James was doing. Augustus frowned at James, who was still staring blankly at the chamber ahead of him and had curled his hands into fists at his sides.

"Enough of these delays," he snapped, dipping his hand into a pocket and closing his fingers around a syringe. Something wasn't right―

"It'll only be a few more moments," James said, his voice free of any emotion.

A loud bang sounded inside of the control room. James reeled from the panel, and Augustus' eyes immediately became hazy―he was staggered, pulling his hand from his pocket and jabbing himself with shaking hands―

James limped to the panel, moving to the glass and thumping a weak hand against it, as the control room filled with radiation.

"Run," James commanded Lillie, his voice echoing through Augustus' head. "Run!"

Augustus collapsed to the floor, yelling in agony.

Goddamn the man―he should have known―