P.O.V. Paulson

"Get him on the table now!" Katerina shouted. After Ridger had stopped spasming Paulson and Michael had picked him up and had carried him to the med bay. On their way, many people had seen what state Ridger was in. Within minutes most of the ship knew about the situation.

After the cowboy and cavalryman laid Ridger on the table Elliot and Katerina began strapping him down, to minimize damage down from future spasms. "What's wrong with him?" Paulson asked.

"I don't know," the doctor told him, "Elliot, use the alien med scanner, check his vitals," The Army medic nodded, powering up the device she had specified. The spasms began again, causing Ridger to thrash against the restraints. Katerina took a syringe and filled it with a fairly strong sedative. She stabbed the needle into his neck and the spasms seemed to calm down.

"Elliot!" she shouted.

"Scan's finished," he told her, "It's coming up negative, it says nothings wrong,"

"Could his adamantium skeleton be disrupting the scans?" Fawkes asked, entering the room.

"Where the hell did you run off to?" Michael asked he super mutant.

"Ridger?" Sally asked, the little girl obviously distraught.

"Why did you bring her here?" Paulson asked.

"She is his daughter, she has the right to see him," Fawkes said. Sally moved to Ridger's side and started to shake his shoulder, not fully understanding what was happening. "More her away, now!" Katerina shouted. Before anyone could move her away lashed out, the only thing keeping in line was his restraints. He started to scream. Incoherent words and phrases. The thrashing began again, still limited by the restraints.

Paulson grabbed the scared girl and pushed her to Fawkes, "Get her out of here,", to which the super mutant did without a word. "Michael, Charon watch the doors don't let anyone else in," Paulson told the ghoul and confederate.

"My place is with him right now," Charon said.

"I am your superior officer Charon, and if you need a better reason it's because people are less likely to ignore your threats so get out there," The ghoul nodded, understandingly, before doing as he was ordered. "And where is Somah?" No one seemed to have an answer. "Fine, we'll worry about that later,"

"Got it," Elliot said.

"Got what," Paulson asked the medic.

"What's causing this, the combat implant in his brain is…" the medic tried to say before being cut off.

"What implant?" Paulson asked.

"Right, you didn't know," Katerina said, "It was a payment from a man named Dr. Zimmer for a bounty that Ridger completed before taking the ship. From the damage it's done to the brain, I can only assume that it wasn't installed properly. This, combined with his other augmentations has done severe damage to his brain. I am surprised it's only just started manifesting,"

"What can you do?" Paulson asked the doctor.

"We need to get that implant out, as well as apply biogel to regrow portions of the brain," she told him, "and yes, I am aware he would be pissed at the use of biogel for one person but we have no other options," Paulson paused, before telling her, "Alright, do what you need," He left the room and was met with some a crowd that had formed. Charon and Michael were trying to keep them back.

The sound of a shotgun down one of the halls dispersed people and sent Paulson, Charon, and Michael running to the source. A few others had arrived at the site of the shot, a closed-door to a minor storage room. They were about to breach when Somah opened the door, raising her hands above her head.

"Somah," Paulson shouted, "Where'd you run off to?"

"Wilson came to me after you took Ridger to the infirmary. He was being hysterical, took me here. Told me he attacked the Enclave,"

"Wilson? Bomb-making isn't his expertise," Michael said doubtful.

"I thought the same thing, he said something about hiring a raider to help him out. He wanted me to help him out, seeing as how I hate the Brotherhood. I told him no and he went for his gun,"

"Doesn't matter now, take him and tell the Enclave to get off the warpath. If they don't tell them we'll side with the Brotherhood," Paulson told them. Before anyone could question him he added, "Ridger would've wanted us to help the Brotherhood. Get to work," The group dispersed, a few people moving to take the corpse to one of the transport shuttles. Michael moved closer to the Paulson and whispered, "She's lying,"

"Not now," Paulson said, "We can't be divided, not with a firefight about to break out on the surface,"

"And with Ridger of the table," Michael added.

"Especially that," Paulson grimly responded.

Author's Note -

I hope everyone is doing good despite what's happening in the world right now. Nothing but good wishes for everyone who's in a rough spot right now because of it. To give a little something extra during quarantine I'm going to be posting a one off Fallout story in a few hours so be on the look out for that. Again, hope everyone is doing well and stay safe.