Elder Maxson

We had only just entered the foredeck chamber of the Prydwen when Paladin Danse gestured for us to be quiet and follow him. He led us to a meeting room of some sort, filled with Brotherhood soldiers standing in formation, being given a rousing speech. We quietly stood back from the doorway as the leader of the group, Elder Maxson I presumed, addressed them, pacing dramatically back and forth, his powerful voice filled with conviction and fervor.

"Beneath the Commonwealth there is a cancer... known as the Institute, a malignant growth that needs to be cut before it infects the surface. They are experimenting with dangerous technologies that could prove to be the world's undoing."

I blinked in surprise. Didn't these guys just get here? How do they already know so much about the Institute? Maxson's disdain for the organization went far beyond any of the other opinions I had heard thus far as he warmed into his tirade.

"The Institute Scientists have created a weapon that infiltrates our very existence. They call their creation the "Synth," a robotic abomination of technology that is free-thinking and masquerades as a human being. The notion that a machine could be granted free will is not only offensive, but horribly dangerous. And if it isn't harnessed properly, it has the potential of rendering us extinct as a species."

Huh, that's not how the Railroad described them. According to Desdemona, the Synths are more like sentient slaves, just wanting to live free. It doesn't square up. I stole a glance around. The Brotherhood soldiers standing in formation were facing away from me, so all I could see was the proud set of their shoulders and the lifted chins as they responded to the impassioned speech of their leader. Paladin Danse was drinking in every word of the speech, standing at attention. MacCready had a very contemptuous look on his face, not bothering to hide his disgust at the rhetoric. I think I'm with RJ on this one, I thought. Now I know where Rhys got his belligerent attitude. There's some serious prejudice going on here.

Maxson was wrapping up his speech. "I am not prepared to allow the Institute to continue this line of experimentation. Therefore, the Institute and their "Synths" are considered enemies of the Brotherhood of Steel, and should be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly. This campaign will be costly and many lives will be lost. But in the end, we will be saving humankind from its worst enemy... itself. Ad Victoriam!"

In unison, the other soldiers including Danse saluted by bringing their right arms across their chest in a ritual movement. "Ad Victoriam!" they thundered, before being dismissed to their previous duties. In the press of their departure, I squeezed myself against the bulkhead next to MacCready to stay out of their way. I doubt any of them even noticed our presence.

Danse beckoned us inside the meeting room as soon as the way was clear. Now that I was able to see Elder Maxson a little better, he made a vivid impression. Dressed in a fleece-lined leather coat that only emphasized his impressive muscular physique, he towered over my completely average height. Black hair and beard were immaculately groomed, and a long pink scar raked down his right cheek to his jawline. His light blue eyes looked both too old and too young in an odd dichotomy, shadowed by thick bushy eyebrows, darting around to scan his surroundings in a manner that spoke of a less confident man than his previous speech indicated. I guessed he was about the same age as MacCready, and probably had been forced to grow up just as fast. Hmm, if he's young, he may be able to be reasoned with.

Danse saluted his commanding officer, introducing us. Elder Arthur Maxson indicated we should take a seat on one of the small couches in the corner of the room. I took a seat, but both MacCready and Danse remained standing; MacCready taking up a guard position behind me, and Danse wisely not trusting the couches to the weight of his power armor. Settling himself on the couch opposite mine, he began without preamble.

"Paladin Danse informs me that you are in possession of advanced technology. You are willing to grant the Brotherhood access to this technology in exchange for assistance returning to your home, which is apparently not in the Wasteland." He poured himself a shot of whiskey, offering it to the rest of us. I declined, as did Danse, but MacCready took a small shot with a curt nod of thanks. "Due to your assistance to the Brotherhood and Paladin Danse in particular, I granted this meeting and have asked Proctor Ingram to stand by. She's our resident technology expert."

"Thank you, Elder Maxson," I said gratefully. "We do have some additional information about the device." At his interested nod, I continued. "I have it under good authority that there are actually two different systems contained inside, one from my world and the other is undoubtedly Institute manufacture. They're apparently talking to each other, but we can't decipher the programming language."

Maxson sipped his whiskey, thinking deeply for a moment as I trailed off. "We're here because of a unique energy reading recorded by Paladin Danse's recon team. According to our Scribes the reading indicated a level of technology that only the Institute could achieve." He pointed to my Pip-Boy. "That was shortly before you showed up with this... mechanism, which you now say is partially Institute manufacture? I am deeply concerned that it connects directly into your body." He frowned. "The technology they have at their disposal is frightening at best, and they will stop at nothing to further their own ends. How can I be sure that you're not able to be controlled by the Institute through your Pip-Boy?"

"Probably because I don't think they can." Thinking hard, I tried to reason with the man sitting across from me. Even with MacCready, and possibly Danse on my side, if Maxson wanted to imprison me, I doubted I'd be able to stop him on his own ship, with his own troops backing him up. "Look, the Institute Synths we ran into didn't even seem to realize I was carrying their technology until they picked up on a signal it broadcasts when it triggers, a very short range signal. Only then did they react by trying to kidnap me."

Danse added to my story, "And we made sure to eliminate all Synth presence from the area. So I doubt the Institute is even aware the technology is in the Commonwealth at all."

"And if they do suspect it's here," I warmed to my reasoning, "and are able to control me, they would have done it by now, especially after our mission to ArcJet. After all, why bring me here just to run around unsupervised if they could just take over my mind and send me straight into their own forces?"

Maxson was quiet for a long moment. He swirled his glass, taking a small sip before answering. "I suppose that makes sense. However, I would prefer you to be under Brotherhood authority with such an advanced and unknown technology on, well technically in, your person."

I stiffened at the implication. "I hope you're not suggesting that I'm to be a prisoner of the Brotherhood of Steel." Behind me, I heard MacCready shift his rifle, setting his glass down. "I'm currently here of my own free will, by your invitation, offering you access to my Pip-Boy in an exchange of potentially beneficial favors. I have a lot more to lose here than you do."

"How so?" fenced Maxson. "I see before me a person who may or may not be an unconscious agent of the Institute, in possession of unknown advanced technology, which is a potential threat to the Brotherhood." He stared at me with a direct, challenging gaze.

"Depending on what machinery you have on board, you can download the entire contents of my Pip-Boy, rape away each and every one of my memories," my voice grew ragged with emotion for a moment, and I felt Mac's hand brush my shoulder briefly in support, "and still not be able or willing to help me get home, leaving me with no family, applicable skills, or support system in the Commonwealth to survive." I knew I was exaggerating that last part a bit, but I wanted to drive home to this headstrong young man that I was risking my whole identity just for the chance to get home. "Hell, you could electronically overcharge the embedded wires in my body, killing me very painfully if you had a mind to. So yes," and I glared at him, meeting his gaze with a challenge of my own, "I have a lot more to lose than you do right now."

Paladin Danse protested. "You are under my protection. I won't let anyone hurt you, not even our own." He addressed his superior officer, "I vouched for her, Arthur, which means I have determined she's a benefit to the Brotherhood. Don't you trust my judgment?"

Maxson glanced briefly at the towering paladin and I saw a flicker, just a moment of uncertainty in his expression. "I do, which is why I agreed to allow these civilians on board in the first place. However, I want to arrange some kind of agreement if we're going to continue to associate with each other."

"All right." I said. MacCready relaxed his stance a trifle. "I'm perfectly willing to work with the Brotherhood of Steel, even if I can't join your ranks." A slight smile lifted the corner of my mouth as I suggested, "when I was in the Army, we had civilian contractors who occasionally worked with us. They weren't Soldiers themselves, and outside of the regular chain of command, but would report directly to one of the officers."

"Fine," Maxson acknowledged. "Since he vouched for you, and offered to sponsor you, Paladin Danse will be your main contact with the Brotherhood of Steel. Danse, I trust you to make suitable arrangements to benefit both parties. Give her the title of..."

"Sarge," suggested MacCready drolly. "After all, it's what the Minutemen are calling her. Might as well be consistent." He ignored my quiet groan. I am seriously going to get him back for this.

"You have contact with the Minutemen, Sarge?" asked Maxson, his waning interest recaptured.

"I do, Elder Maxson, and we may be able to work out some equitable contracts to benefit the people of the Commonwealth, if everyone is in agreement." My initial exasperation at MacCready's impudent comment evaporated with the prospect of garnering an amicable relationship between the two factions. Ha, and he thought it was just a pipe dream. We'll see.

"An intriguing proposal that I'll have to seriously consider." He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "But for now, Paladin Danse will take you to Proctor Ingram to see what we can find in that device of yours. Dismissed." With that last command, he settled back into the couch sipping his drink and staring out the windows.

Paladin Danse saluted with a crisp "Ad Victoriam" before ushering us out into the foyer area again. "All right, Proctor Ingram is in the back bay where the power armor repair stations are. Follow me."