Jack Parsons and the Difficult Decision
Jack lay awake in an infirmary bed deep in the Institute. Outside of his room, scientists were evaluating his life signs and speaking in hushed tones. Is this Father's father? The one who fought through countless challenges in the wasteland before getting here? Why does he seem so frail? Jack sighed and leaned back. It had been an eventful month, that was for sure.
Shortly after meeting Father inside of the Institute, and discovering that Father and Shaun were one and the same, Jack Parsons had had a panic attack and, and things turned violent. Normally, when somebody makes a direct attempt on the life of the Institute's Director, they are put down without question or remorse. In this case though, they incapacitated Jack with a shock baton and awaited further orders. Jack was not sure if they should have just offed him then and there. If that was the case, then he wouldn't have to sort through this mess of decisions and emotions. Everything he had thought about the Institute and the wasteland was wrong. His son was not an infant, or a young boy, but an elderly man. They had essentially missed having a life together. Upon hearing that news, Jack had gone a little bit crazy. Now, he had the option to continue working with the Institute for the son that he barely knew, or shaking hands and parting ways, so to speak. Father had come by the infirmary earlier that day to make such an offer. Rarely did somebody get the opportunity to simply walk out and break off all contact without things going south for them. So Jack had to choose between complete allegiance or exile.
He had not forgotten his mandate to scout the Institute for information and potential weak points from the Minutemen. He also had not forgotten how radically opposed that Railroad were to all of them. It seemed as though the lines were clearly drawn between all of these factions, but the people therein made things a little bit more blurry. At this point, an elderly, bearded man walked into the room where Jack lay. Upon focusing his eyes, he recognized his son Father.
"How are you doing, Jack?" he asked. He seemed concerned yet calm. This was the demeanor of a scientist, one who had learn to detach his emotions from his results.
"Fine, I guess. Feels like I got zapped in the ass by a mild lightning bolt, but besides that," he answered. On the inside, Jack was a bit grieved that his son had decided to refer to him by his first name instead of something like "Father," or "Dad," or even the colloquial "Pops." However, not was definitely not the time to show weakness or vulnerability. He had no idea what this man and the Institute were even like anymore.
"That's good, because I'm going to need you to do something for me," Shaun declared.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jack asked, instinctively rubbing his backside in pain.
"I'm going to be completely honest with you, Jack. You've earned at least that much. When you found yourself awake and released into the Commonwealth a couple of months back, that was me. I called it some kind of experiment. I was going to see just how far the paternal instinct could take a person."
"That… is simultaneously insulting and flattering," Jack answered.
"I knew of your history with the military from your Vault-Tec records. I knew that if anyone could successfully make it here, it would be you. In fact, I was hoping you would," Father confessed. This took Jack aback.
"Elaborate," he commanded.
"Well, maybe I have grown too… philosophical, in my old age. Raised here in the Institute, I honestly cared and thought little about the people above, in the Commonwealth. When I learned that one of my biological parents was still alive in cryostasis, I was curious, but I did nothing about it. Until recently. Sometimes with age comes regret. I wondered, was it possible for us to have any kind of relationship? Could you even make it here alive?"
"Well, I proved one of those. I did all of this for you, Shaun," stated Jack.
At this, Father averted his gaze and continued.
"However, your outburst upon learning of my true identity has destroyed the little credibility that you have here, among the other department heads. It has never been my style to go over their heads, so I want them to learn to trust you," he stated, remaking eye contact on the last line. Jack pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So you whored me out to do something for them."
"If that's how you want to see it, yes. Before we go any further, have you decided to work with us? If not, this conversation will be our last. You can leave this infirmary and we'll relay you back to the surface at a destination of your choosing. From then on you will be considered a neutral party by the Institute, but unable to return or have any kind of relationship with us," rattled off Shaun, as if he had rehearsed it.
"And what do you want?" Jack asked.
"That's irrelevant."
"Whatever. What's the job?"
"Well, it's a simple case of synth retrieval," stated Father, somewhat cryptically.
"I'm guessing it's a little bit more than that."
"It should be no problem for a person with your set of skills. During your time in Alaska, I am certain you handled field work much more dangerous than what we have in mind," Father answered.
"This sounds convenient for you. If I die out there, your organization hasn't lost any resources. If I live, then you have a new Kellogg to work for you and your cronies. Is that what waking me up was really about? Kellogg beginning to outlive his usefulness, and needing someone else for field work?" Jack asked, hoping to dig into Father's psyche just a little bit.
"That's quite enough. Do you want the assignment or not? This is a time-sensitive issue, and I need an answer. If it helps you, realize that we're sending our best Courser unit to accompany you," Father stared simply. To accompany, or to babysit me? Jack thought.
"Fine, I'll do it. What did you have in mind?" asked Jack. He couldn't help but feel like he had just admitted some kind of defeat.
"A little awhile ago, one of our Synths escaped and was given a new life with new memories, presumably by the Railroad. Now, he believes that his name is Gabriel. Our Watchers revealed that he had joined a Raider gang, and as fate would have it, quickly rose through the ranks. He now leads a detachment of Raiders out of the floating fortress known as Libertalia. The 'job' is simple. Find him, and retrieve him using a Recall Code that I will teach you. As I mentioned before, a Courser named X6-88 will come with you, to assist in relaying Gabriel back to the Institute for processing."
Speaking of processing, this was a lot to take in. Jack Parsons knew about Libertalia. The Minutemen wouldn't send a patrol within a mile of the place. It was too risky. Now, it was where he had to go in order to earn Father's trust.
"Once you are cleared medically, we'll have you relayed back to your signal interceptor to equip yourself and then rendezvous with our Courser unit. By the way, clever thinking with the molecular relay," he added.
At that, Jack felt a pang of guilt. He thought of Sturges and the Minutemen, and how he was taking longer in the Institute than they had perhaps expected. Were they worried about him? Jack sighed and stared up at the ceiling.
"One last thing, Jack."
"What is it, Shaun?"
"Good luck."