Further Examinations
The Prydwen was a marvel of technological engineering. The airship reminded me of nothing more than a downsized, floating aircraft carrier. It was enormous, set in three levels, and every space was dedicated to furthering the Brotherhood of Steel's mission. On the second level where we followed Paladin Danse, the private quarters of the high ranking officers were in front, then offices and the medical bay, followed by the mess hall, all strung along a very long steel walkway. Next came a series of bays, with stairs leading up to the sleeping bunks and off-duty areas, completely out in the open to anyone walking by, though each cot had a secured footlocker at its foot. The Prydwen seemed to stretch out forever, but we hadn't reached the end yet.
I did stop suddenly at the sight of a cat making its leisurely way along the hall. "You have cats here?" I exclaimed, delighted. Crouching down, I held out my hand for the tabby to sniff, offering a quick head scratch to the animal's evident pleasure. Reluctantly, I left the cat to its own devices to continue following Danse. MacCready shook his head in amusement.
"Cats?" asked our guide. "Oh yes. Proctor Quinlan, in charge of our Scribes, is quite fond of them. We keep a couple on board for good luck."
Finally, we reached the repair bay, a very large area near the back of the ship. Several workbenches, cargo shelves, and power armor stations stood in precise formation, occupied and busy even at this hour in the mid-evening. Behind the repair bay was the supply depot, manned by an older Brotherhood member standing inside a locked armory cage. The whole thing reminded me of nothing more than a compressed Army base, but with a lot less privacy. If we're here long enough, I don't relish having to sleep on a cot in an open bay.
Danse approached a red-haired woman wearing power armor. Hers was not as well plated as our guide's, being more of a basic exoskeleton. When we got closer, the reason became quite clear as both of the woman's legs had been amputated well above the knee. Yet she moved confidently, obviously quite used to the mechanical assistance. "Meet Proctor Ingram, our lead engineer," he began.
Once the initial introductions were over, Proctor Ingram took instant charge of the situation by... marching us straight back to the front of the Prydwen and the med bay. "You could have saved yourself the trip, but I guess it's a good way to sneak in a tour of the ol' gal." she commented pleasantly, obviously proud of her work as the engineer getting the Prydwen airborne in the first place. "Once I heard that thing attaches directly to you," she continued, pointing at my arm, "I set up my kit in Knight-Captain Cade's exam room. We can kill two birds with one stone; scan that Pip-Boy of yours and give you a physical at the same time."
"Why do I need a physical?" I glanced up at Danse, who shook his head slightly, which I couldn't decipher.
"Aren't you joining us?" she asked, eyebrows raising in surprise.
"No. Elder Maxson and I came to a slightly different agreement. I have other obligations." I stated carefully. "I'm working with, not for, the Brotherhood of Steel."
Ingram shrugged in acquiescence. "A physical is still a good idea. It'll give us an idea of what's going on in there."
I wasn't so sure, but it was too late to object as the four of us swept in to the medical bay. Knight-Captain Cade was already waiting for us, and we made our way to the back examination room. Since the room wasn't large enough for five people, two of whom were wearing power armor, Paladin Danse stayed in the main bay. When Ingram would have protested MacCready's presence, I flatly insisted. "He's my bodyguard. He stays with me." Mac smirked a little in triumph, folding his arms and taking a stand near the head of the padded table where I lay down for the examination. I had to take off my pack and armor to do so, leaving the items in Danse's possession, and felt much more secure with MacCready there.
Cade and Ingram busied themselves hooking both me and the Pip-Boy, which I had declined to remove, up to the various diagnostic computers. While they were distracted, I caught MacCready's attention, and he leaned over so we could talk without being overheard.
"You sure about this, boss?" He asked, worry creasing his brows.
"Not really." I admitted quietly, meeting his gaze. "Do me a favor, please? If I pass out, stop them. I want to be awake so I know what's happening."
"You got it." He looked so confident that I relaxed a little. I can count on him.
At this point, Knight-Captain Cade came over to address me directly. "Even though you're not receiving a true physical examination, we're going to monitor your vitals while Proctor Ingram runs her diagnostics on your Pip-Boy there. She told me the program is going to stimulate the cybernetic additions in your body. I'm letting you know now that it may be quite painful, but it shouldn't do any lasting damage. I want you to tell me what you feel as it happens, and answer any questions I have to the best of your ability. Ready?"
No, not at all. Glancing up at my partner one more time to reassure myself, I answered, "Go for it."
What followed was an hour of near-torture. I didn't actually lose consciousness, as Proctor Ingram was adamant about keeping me awake and lucid, but the scanning program was just as painful as promised. It sent pulses of varying strength and duration into my Pip-Boy and, by extension, the embedded wires in my body. Mild at first, the burning oscillations built up slowly, inevitably until I was seeing stars, sweating in agony, and biting back pained screams.
During the initial phase, Cade would perform general physical evaluations, and ask me medical questions, none of which I could remember, or even answer once the pain built past a certain point. During one especially strong surge, both Cade and MacCready grabbed my hands to steady me as my muscles spasmed in response. When my partner would have insisted they stop, I weakly shook my head at him. "No, Mac. I- aah," I gasped as another burning diagnostic pulse wracked my nerves, "I don't want to go through this again." The pain subsided as Ingram made an adjustment, but soon built back up again. "Just get it over with," I managed to stammer out between clenched teeth.
"You almost finished over there?" MacCready demanded angrily, still grasping my hand, "She's in a lot of pain, you know!"
"Not long now!" called Ingram. "Cade, how are her vitals holding up?"
"They're still within acceptable parameters, but the sooner you can finish this scan, the better."
"Roger that." And a few moments later, "We're winding down now. Just stay still and we'll get you unhooked. I'll get some of my people to look at the data we collected and get back to you."
As soon as the burning pulses stopped entirely, Cade and Ingram swung into action, detaching the variety of sensors that had been littering my body. Proctor Ingram departed with one of the machines, promising Cade that she would return for the rest of them first thing in the morning. I clung to MacCready's hand, refusing to let go even as Cade left to fetch Paladin Danse. Mac gently brushed the hair off my sweat-laced forehead with his free hand, "That was... really difficult to watch. I hope this was worth it, boss."
"Me too, Mac." The aftereffects of the constant burning along the embedded wires still throbbed painfully, where I wasn't numbed from the constant nerve stimulation. I hugged his hand to my cheek, slowly turning on my side, my limbs not wanting to cooperate. "I'm glad you were here, though. I wouldn't have had the courage to do this without you." I felt his hand turn to cup my face and looked up to catch his brief, tender smile.
Danse briskly reentered the room, breaking the moment. He approached the table, his power armor towering over me. "That took longer than expected," he said simply. "Knight-Captain Cade has left orders that you are to rest on the Prydwen overnight for general observation. With your permission, I will carry you as you are also under orders not to walk until you can properly control your limbs."
I groaned. I was afraid of this. "Where are we going to sleep?" I croaked, hoarse and thirsty.
Picking me up as if I weighed nothing, of course in power armor that's pretty much the case, he turned to make his way towards the front of the Prydwen, MacCready following on his heels. "I've taken the liberty of setting up additional sleeping arrangements in my own private quarters. You and your bodyguard will sleep there tonight."
Paladin Danse's quarters were spare, yet still appeared cramped with two additional cots placed a couple of feet apart into the back corner by the door. His desk was nearly bare, only a couple of mechanical journals and random weapon parts scattered on its surface. The line of secured lockers against the near wall held no mementos aside from a Brotherhood of Steel flag hanging overhead. That was all the impression I got in a quick glance before I was set down to sit on the nearer of the two cots. I suppose he spends very little time in here if he's in charge of an entire outpost.
As soon as he straightened up, Danse handed me a small packet and a can of purified water. "Knight-Captain Cade gave you some tablets to help with the aftereffects of the diagnostics. Take two now, and two more in a couple of hours if you're still in pain. They're best with food. With your permission, again," his mouth quirked in amusement, "he also told me, in very strict terms, what you're allowed to have from the mess hall that won't strain your system. I'll be back as soon as I have secured a meal for all of us to share in here."
Once the door closed behind the clanking form of our unexpected roommate, MacCready sauntered over to the second cot, pushing it flush to mine with a wicked grin on his face. "You're here overnight for observation," he said in a sly attempt to justify his actions. "This way, I can observe you... closely." At my amused laugh, he came back around to my side of the newly-doubled cot to give me a quick hug and a kiss to the tip of my nose, mindful of my pain. "It's going to be hard enough not having any privacy with that tin can in here, angel. I'm not going to give up sleeping next to you without a fight."
"No fights from me, RJ." I said, smiling up at him as he explored the tiny room. "Can you see if there are any, ah, facilities attached to his quarters?" Now that I was no longer actively sweating, I felt absolutely filthy. My legs were still mostly numb, so standing up to take a shower wasn't a possibility, but I could at least wipe off with a soapy washcloth if I could get some warm water. "I'd love to clean up a little if I can."
Danse's private quarters did indeed have a tiny bathroom tucked in behind a small door by his own bunk. It wasn't much, but between sponging off the worst of the grime and taking the prescribed tablets, I was feeling better by the time our benefactor returned with our meal. He set up an impromptu table between the chair from his own desk and our doubled cot, raising his eyebrows at the alteration without commenting.
The meal looked quite good, military rations cleverly integrated with fresh local produce and meat, all cooked with reasonable skill. Unfortunately for me, I had to watch my partner and my Brotherhood contact dig into the delicious dinner as the bowl in front of me held only a nourishing soup. Knight-Captain Cade was right about my abused system, though, and the soup was a perfect easy meal for hydration as well as assuaging my hunger. A soft, fruity, sweet dessert put the cap on our dinners.
"MacCready, is it?" asked Danse. "You mentioned you had some difficulties in the past with the Brotherhood of Steel? I think now would be an excellent opportunity to have that discussion."
Danse and MacCready launched into a long conversation about the Brotherhood of Steel and their history and reputation in the Capital Wasteland. I listened passively, tucking myself under the blankets to curl against my partner's back as he sat on the cot with a beer, telling a slightly edited story of his time in D.C. and his personal hardships trying to survive as a young man out on his own, and how the Brotherhood of Steel had made things even more difficult for him and others he knew. He never mentioned his wife or son, memories that he kept close to his chest, focusing instead on the general atmosphere of the area. Again, I marveled at what RJ had survived, what difficulties he had overcome, how courageous a person he was to have gone through so much so young, and still managed to keep a strong sense of self, and even a sense of humor, however childlike it was at times. I loved him all the more for it.
To his immense credit, Paladin Danse listened closely to MacCready's story, only asking questions at first. One Mac had finished his tale, the paladin told us a brief version of his own story. Danse, too, had come from the Capital Wasteland, originally a junk vendor in a place called Rivet City, but had joined the Brotherhood at a relatively young age, rising through the ranks through hard work and an unwavering dedication to the Brotherhood's mission of "collecting technology, exterminating abominations of nature, and bringing a message of stability to the people of the Wasteland." He had been devastated when the former leader of the Brotherhood had passed away, but was fiercely loyal to Elder Maxson, and was determined to follow his vision for taming the Wasteland. I found Danse's blind loyalty difficult to swallow due to Maxson's extreme prejudices against non-humans, the so-called "abominations of nature". MacCready apparently held a similar view, especially with his friendships with the Ghouls in Goodneighbor.
When the two men started debating the merits and evils of the various kinds of encounters in the Commonwealth; human, non-human, mechanical, and animal, I drifted off to sleep. Only when the lights had gone out and I felt MacCready pull me close from the other side of the doubled cot did I wake briefly.
"Did you solve the ethical issues of the Commonwealth?" I murmured sleepily, turning over and snuggling into his warm embrace.
He laughed slightly, very quietly. "I don't think so, but not for lack of trying." He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "At least he listened."
"Well," I laced my fingers in his, tucking myself against his side, "you're worth listening to, love."
