Though Nate showed clear concern about Curie's obvious injury upon their return, he also didn't take time to address it. "There's been a development," he said. "We're all to report to the Castle, immediately." At Renee's noise of retort, he looked at her. "Even you."
"But why me? I'm not part of the Minutemen. Just doing a few jobs for you doesn't mean I work for you. I work for Curie." Renee crossed her arms, standing her ground outside the newspaper office.
"And that's exactly why you're coming along. You work for Curie, and I'm now officially assigning you as her bodyguard. You're to keep her safe, at all costs. Do you understand that?"
Her annoyance faded and she looked away. "I'm not sure I'm exactly the best person for that job…" She winced. When she closed her eyes, all she saw was the blood spraying from Curie's shoulder.
Curie placed a hand on her forearm. "Of course you are. I believe in you." She smiled.
Lily said nothing, but she did wink at Renee.
The door to the office opened and closed and Piper walked out. "Okay. Nat's going to stay with Nick and Ellie for a few days."
"Ready?" Nate turned to her with a smile.
"Ready for anything." Piper returned the grin.
Anita stretched her arms above her head before reaching back for her rifle. "All right people, let's move out!" She looked at Curie and Renee. "Sorry to drag you across the Commonwealth again. Once we're done at the Castle, I'll escort you back here."
Their small group began the trek to the Castle, with Anita and Nate in the front and Lily and Renee taking up the rear guard. Piper kept a hand on her pistol where she walked next to Curie but didn't have it out. Curie, of course, didn't bother with a weapon; with her arm still confined to a sling, she wouldn't be much good in a fight anyway.
"So, what's the situation?" Anita asked at length.
"I suppose I should bring you all up to speed." Nate slowed his pace so they were better grouped. "As some of you are aware, the Brotherhood of Steel has been increasing their activity here in the Commonwealth. Recently they've been on a recruiting campaign, and we finally know why. They're planning on going to war with the Institute."
"The Institute? Why would anyone be dumb enough to do that?" Lily scoffed, flicking some loose hair from her face.
"If anyone could do it, it'd be the Brotherhood. I've been trying to keep the peace between them, but it's just getting worse. Recently a surface mission by the Institute was sabotaged by the Brotherhood." Nate snorted. "And I'm getting shit for it."
Renee swept her gaze around before looking back at Nate. "So what's the Minutemen got to do with it? Sounds like the Brotherhood and the Institute just need a chance to destroy each other."
"If we allow them to go to war, then innocent lives across the Commonwealth will be lost. The stakes are too high to just sit idle. That's why I've set up a peace conference at the Castle, to settle this before it gets out of hand."
"But… Why do you need Curie?"
"Because she's a bargaining chip."
Renee jogged forward to stop in front of Nate. "What do you mean, she's a bargaining chip?! You can't just use her for something like this!"
Nate gazed down at her, his brown eyes intense as always. He sighed. "Curie has invaluable Pre-War medical data. Not to mention what her experiments could be used for. Both the Brotherhood and the Institute thrive on collecting—no, hoarding information and technology. Offering them access to Curie's data could be a way to resolve this if they don't accept any of my other solutions."
"But you can't just expect her to go along with this!" Renee looked helplessly to the Synth. "Curie!"
"Renee, it's all right. Bringing peace to zhe Commonwealth is worth a small sacrifice." Curie smiled, though her expression was unreadable. "I don't mind being used for somezhing like zhis. Perhaps I will be able to finally see zhe Institute zhis way."
"But you told me they'd kill you if they…" Renee shook her head. "No! I'm not gonna let you do this!"
"Stand down, Jones." Nate's voice boomed over her. His eyes were narrowed and his jaw clenched.
Curie stepped forward to grip her hand. "I will be fine. Please."
Nate shoved past them to continue walking. Renee gazed at Curie. She felt her heart beating fast in her chest and tried to remind herself not to start hyperventilating. "I know you care about him, but sacrificing yourself isn't the way to prove it. You don't have to do this. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."
"I want to do zhis." Curie looked away. She smiled again, this one bitter. "My job is to assist."
"But…"
Curie turned away from her. Renee found herself alone as the rest of the group walked on. She took a deep breath. No matter what happened, she had a job to do. To protect Curie.
"It's about time." A man in a fur-lined battlecoat already sat at the table when they stepped into the conference room. "I was about to leave. It's unacceptable that you're making me share a space with these…abominations."
"I was also growing irritated with your tardiness, Mr. Howard." A severe-looking older woman glared at him.
"Apologies." Nate nodded and the two Minutemen at the door closed them. "Elder Maxson. Dr. Li. It's good to see you two again."
Maxson snorted and leaned forward, casting a glance at Dr. Li and the two robotic Synths standing behind her. "Normally I would say the feeling is mutual, Knight."
"As would I. You know I have sensitive research I'm doing for your father, and I can't be away from it for long." Dr. Li crossed her arms.
Nate sat down at the head of the table. Anita stood on one side, while Preston Garvey stood on the other. "I understand. And I apologize for the delay. I had to wait for a friend." He glanced over at Curie and Renee.
"Now, let's get this over with." Maxson looked at Dr. Li. "I will be blunt. Your Institute is a plague on the Commonwealth, and the Brotherhood has made it a priority that you are all wiped from this earth."
Dr. Li snorted and rolled her eyes. "Well, aren't you just a bundle of joy. You haven't gotten any better since we last met, Arthur."
"That's Elder Maxson, to you, civilian." One of the Brotherhood knights guarding Maxson held up a laser rifle.
Nate held up a hand. "Enough. This is a peace conference, not a shooting gallery."
"I don't see there being any peace as long as the Institute continues to exist." Maxson slammed one fist on the table.
"Neither do I, as long as these…misguided mercenaries keep getting in our way." Dr. Li's expression remained neutral, but there was a glimmer of joy in her eyes, especially as Maxson bristled at her words.
"Which is why I asked you both here." Nate stood and put his hands at his back. "I know we all have the Commonwealth's best interests at heart. But fighting amongst ourselves is no way to bring peace to these people. They don't deserve to die because the adults can't get along."
Dr. Li sat back. "While I agree with you, I also don't see the Brotherhood backing down anytime soon."
"And we will not, if the Institute continues their campaign of poisoning the Commonwealth with their Synths." Maxson continued to glare at Dr. Li.
Nate glanced at Curie and sighed. "I have…something I can offer you both."
"There is little the surface can offer the Institute, but I can at least put it in my report." Dr. Li tilted her head.
Nate gestured forward. "This is Curie. She's a scientist, Pre-War."
Curie stepped toward the table. Renee could tell she was tense, trembling.
"A Pre-War scientist? In her condition?" Maxson's eyes narrowed.
"My designation was originally Contagions Vulnerability Robotic Infirmary Engineer. I was a Miss Nanny robot until recently, when I was upgraded to zhis, my current body." Curie gestured down at herself.
Dr. Li arched an eyebrow. "Then you're a Synth. And that means you're property of the Institute."
"If she's a Synth, then she needs to be put down." Maxson raised a hand to order one of his guards.
"Wait just a moment. Curie has invaluable medical data from before the war. If you both agree to peace, then I'll personally make sure you both have access to it." Nate crossed his arms.
A moment of silence hung over them. Dr. Li began to laugh. "You really mean to tell me you asked us here, to a peace conference, and the only thing you have to offer is a runaway Synth who likes playing doctor?"
"I am much more zhan zhat, I assure you." Curie frowned.
"No. He brought us here to waste our time." Maxson stood. "Knight, I'm deeply disappointed in you. That you would even think of collaborating with the Institute is beyond my comprehension."
Dr. Li stood as well. "I'm sure your father would feel similarly. There is no gain to joining ranks with the Brotherhood. I would know that better than anyone."
"So you're both just going to leave and keep trying to kill each other?" Anita stepped forward. "Are you two insane?!"
"With all due respect, girl, the Commonwealth isn't equipped for both the Brotherhood and the Institute." Maxson frowned, glancing her over. "It's a pity you chose the wrong side."
Nate slammed his palm down on the table with a bang. "No one is leaving until we come to an agreement."
"There's no agreement to be had." Dr. Li glanced at Maxson. "And that, I believe, is the only thing we will agree on."
Maxson nodded. "This was a waste of time, Knight. Or should I say, civilian."
"That's General Howard to you, you coward." Anita gritted her teeth.
One of Maxson's guards raised their laser rifle again. A Synth behind Dr. Li responded in turn and there was only a hollow moment of quiet before all hell broke loose. Lasers blitzed through the air and the sound of gunfire was almost deafening.
Renee grabbed Curie and tackled her to the ground. "Get down!" She yelled, guarding the petite woman.
Curie gripped a fistful of her shirt. "I…"
"It'll be fine. Just follow my lead." Renee looked around to try to find a clear space to run. The doors were blasted open by a group of Minutemen and more bullets filled the air.
She got to her knees. "Now!" She grabbed Curie's hand and started to pull her up.
Just as she made to take off in a run, some rubble from the ceiling was shot free by a wayward bullet. She looked up in time to have it crack down on her head and she fell, unconscious before she even hit the ground.