32. Company: Patriotic to the end of the line
Nora rocked back and forth, her knees hugged tightly to her chest. Her eyelids felt heavy and crusty from unwiped tears that dried long ago. Her whole body felt tight, like a wind-up toy ready to pounce. Everything ached. She hadn't eaten in God knows how long, she hadn't bathed except for the one time, and sleep only came when Nora was absolutely exhausted and her body gave up. She hadn't bothered to try and escape in over a week when Shaun's voice came through the speaker overhead.
"Are you willing to listen now, Nora?" They had been back to that since their explosive argument.
Nora struggled to speak, "Hancock?" Was all she could squeak out, her throat dry and raw.
"The ghoul? He is alive." Was all Shaun would say. With creaking, stiff joints, Nora pulled herself up. "Thank you, Nora."
The door she had been slamming her body against hissed open and a young man with blonde hair stood inside the elevator just beyond the door.
Nora eyed him suspiciously. She hadn't seen a human in ages. She nervously rubbed her wrist where her pip-boy used to sit. That was one of the first things she had noticed, the lack of a heavy weight on her left arm. She had forgotten about it completely until just now.
"Mr. Binet here will bring you up and ensure you don't try anything funny." Shaun said.
Nora stepped into the elevator but kept herself as far from Binet as possible. The doors hissed shut and Nora began to sweat from fear.
"Professor?" Binet whispered out the corner of his mouth.
Nora stared at him in shock, she quickly narrowed her eyes and raised her fist, "How do you know that name?" She demanded, heart racing in her ears.
"Do you have a geiger counter?"
Nora saw red as she grabbed Binet's uniform and slammed him into the wall. "How do you know that code?" She hissed.
Binet groaned in pain as his head slammed into the wall, and raised his hands in defense, "That messaging system you set up for Patriot to communicate with the Railroad?" He peeked one eye open, looking her up and down, "I'm Patriot." Nora slowly eyed Binet up and down,. She let him go. "The Railroad contacted me when you first went missing. I've been working my way into being here." He motioned to the elevator. Nora stared around the seamless edges of the elevator. Seemingly reading her thoughts Binet said, "They can't hear us in here. Only see us."
Nora's eyes snapped back to Binet. "I need to get to the surface."
"I know." Binet nodded. "You've got to make Father trust you enough to return your pip-boy."
"Can't you just get it yourself?"
"It's in his personal quarters." Binet looked terrified at the thought.
On the surface
"Synth parts." Preston looked up at Hancock who let out a deep breath he'd been holding. Preston shook his head and stood up, "I don't know how you do it, but," He seemed to lose track of what he was saying because he let out a breathy laugh and smiled, "thank you, Mayor."
"Don't mention it." Hancock didn't look at the synth that looked too much like Nora. He found himself twisting Nate's ring on his finger, it had become a comforting presence. He had put it on when Nora first left with the Railroad three months ago. It reminded him, even through his highs, that she was real, she existed, and she chose him. Over any other smooth-faced, pretty boy, safe routes she could have taken, Nora chose him. He flipped open his cigarette carton and shook one loose.
Preston scrunched his nose up at the smell, but said nothing. Sturges pulled the synth Nora out of the Castle where he dumped it into the sea. Hancock lit his cigarette and immediately took a long drag.
"Excuse me?" Both men turned towards the door. A young boy, new to the Minutemen, but passionate about its cause, stood trembling in the doorway. Hancock narrowed his eyes, trying to remember the poor kids name.
"Private." Preston nodded.
"There's a man yelling outside the Castle walls...says he wants to speak to whoever is in charge?"
Preston stared at the boy quizzically, then turned to Hancock. Hancock shrugged and nodded at the kid, "Lead on, kid."
The kid walked them outside where, sure enough, they could hear shouting. "I've got news about the Professor!"
Hancock would recognize that slimy voice anywhere. He ran to the Castle doors and threw them open. Deacon was pacing outside, hands in his pockets, sunglasses on (despite it being close to midnight). "Ugh! Finally!" Deacon threw his head back in frustration. "Look,"
But Hancock didn't give Deacon a chance to speak, he just kept charging him until his fist made contact with the side of Deacon's face. Deacon went down hard and Hancock shook his fist off. "Hell, Hancock!" Preston was on his heels, but he skidded to a stop and kneeled down to help Deacon sit up.
"No, no!" Deacon held up his hands and righted his sunglasses over his eyes, "I deserve that-"
"Damn straight you do, start talking." Hancock growled.
"We just got word from our man in the Institute that Professor's been released from her prison cell. They're going to work to get her Pip-boy back." Deacon explained, he pushed himself to a standing position. "John, I am so sorry-"
"Cut the bullshit, Deacon." Hancock snapped. "If your company hadn't taken her when this all started we wouldn't be in this position."