Be sure to follow me on Tumblr!
dakotamichelson . tumblr . com

Dakota Michelson

A Fallout 4 Fan Fiction

Chapter 8: The Prydwen

I wake up and hear a loud, continuous noise. It's familiar, but strange. I crack my eyes open and see the city. I'm startled and I open my eyes wider. I quickly sit up and look around and instantly feel the pain in my leg again. "Whoa! Calm down, soldier," Danse says as he puts his hand on my shoulder to steady me. I look at him with astonishment. "We're flying?" I ask. Until now, I had just assumed that planes and helicopters were wiped out in the war. Danse chuckles. And pulls me back towards the wall so I'm sitting upright, his bulky power armor arm still around me for support.

"Here," Danse says and hands me a stimpak. "This should help until we get to the Prydwen." I raise an eyebrow. "The what?"

He smiles at me and says, "We call our ship 'The Prydwen'. She's loaded with enough troops and supplies to mount a major offensive. If she's here, Elder Maxson's here. And that means we're going to war."

"War?" I asked. "Who are we going to war against? The Institute?" Danse nods. I say, "But we don't even know where they are, what they're capable of—" Danse interrupts, "It's likely that Elder Maxson already has a plan. I'm sure we will find out soon enough. For now, we need to get you to Knight-Captain Cade so he can operate on your leg."

As we board the Prydwen, Danse picks me back up and we enter the Prydwen. Some of the other soldiers give a weird look but Danse quickly explains my injury.

He takes me to see Knight-Captain Cade, the Prydwen's medical officer. He gives me some anesthetic and works on removing the bullet from my leg. Danse stood by me during the procedure, making casual conversation with Cade. I couldn't feel anything happening in my leg, but I couldn't bring myself to look.

After Cade wrapped my leg, he instructed Danse to carry me up to my bed. He followed with a wheelchair. Before Cade leaves, he tells me that he will be back to check on me and I am not to leave my bed until he allows it.

I lay in my bed for hours and hours on the top of the Prydwen as instructed and I find myself growing restless. Nothing really happened here except for Cade occasionally coming to check up on me and shoot another stimpak into my leg. I look over to my left and see someone else walking towards me. He has a large scar across his face. This must be Elder Maxson.

"So you must be the initiate that Paladin Danse speaks so highly of," he says. He sits on a chair next to me. "I am Elder Maxson. Tell me, initiate, what you think of the synth situation in the Commonwealth."

I look down and say, "Well, I've seen the early model synths. They are relentless and wield strong laser weapons. I've only heard stories of the newer synths though. They kidnap people in the Commonwealth and replace them with synth versions of them, probably to gain intel I suppose. But whatever the Institute has in mind with these synths, the Commonwealth won't survive if this chaos continues."

"Good," Maxson says. "Then you already know why we are here. The Institute must be stopped before this gets even more out of hand. These synths, old or new models, are dangerous and could prove to be the world's undoing again. Besides that, the notion that a machine can be granted free will is offensive. But if it isn't harnessed properly, it could wipe out humankind altogether. That being said, the Brotherhood is here to prevent a war between the Institute and the Commonwealth by starting a war of its own. The difference is our war won't reduce civilization to ashes."

"I understand," I say. He continues, "Paladin Danse's reports indicate your thoughts on the Brotherhood. He seems to think you'd be an asset to us. Given that he is one of my most respected field officers, you couldn't ask for a better recommendation. Therefore, from this moment forward, I'm granting you the rank of Field Scribe. You will continue to report to Paladin Danse and assist his unit. Most of our field scribes are medics, but I have a very specific plan for your unit and Scribe Haylen reports that you know your way around technology. So you'll assist them in that regard. In the meantime, you are to stay here and recover until Captain Cade clears you for duty. Any questions?"

"Can I ask what you have in mind with our unit?" I ask. "In due time," is all he says as he stands. "Get well, Michelson", and he walks away.

For the next few days, I lay in bed contemplating what we can do to find the Institute and what we will do once we do find them. I look over to see Captain Cade. He tells me that before he can clear me for duty I need to start walking again. He helps me stand up and reminds me not to put too much pressure on it at first. I struggle for a bit but I keep walking until my limp is manageable. I spend my time walking to get familiar with the Prydwen. One of my favorite places to go is the forecastle of the ship. The height is terrifying, but the view is worth it, especially at night.

In the morning, I walk out to the forecastle again and stand at the edge, holding on to the handrails and I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around and see Danse, who has returned from checking on the police station.

"So how is everything at the station?" I ask, hoping for any interesting piece of news outside of the ship. "Good. It is now a fortified Brotherhood outpost. I went there under orders to place the station in Senior Scribe Haylen's care."

"Senior Scribe, huh? Does that mean Haylen isn't in our unit anymore?" I ask. Danse responds, "She will receive orders from Proctor Quinlan for a period of time. But when the time comes, she will rejoin our unit. Rhys will stay with her and ensure the station remains safely in Brotherhood hands. So that leaves us and we are to report to Elder Maxson for our new orders." "Alright then." I say and Danse starts to walk towards the door. "Hey Danse?" "Yes?" he asks and turns around.

I walk up to him and hug him. "I just wanted to thank you. Without you and without the Brotherhood, I'd probably be dead by now." Danse stays quiet and I let go. He's blushing and looks like he's not sure what to say. After standing there in front of me for a while, he just nods.

In that moment, something overwhelms me and I put all thought aside. I lean in and kiss him. Then I wrap my arms around him and he holds me back. Then I snap out of it and realize I probably just crossed a line. I let go and back off for a second.

"S-Sorry. I…" I'm not sure what to even say. Danse has a surprised look on his face and he is blushing a very bright shade of red. "We should go," I say and walk towards the door. Danse is still standing there by the time I reach the door. I turn around and ask him, "You coming?" He turns around and starts walking towards the door.

We meet Maxson on the flight deck. "You seem to have made a quick recovery. Captain Cade has informed me you are cleared for duty. Are you two ready for your next assignment?" "Yes, sir," Danse and I say in unison.

"I'm sure you are aware that our arrival to the Commonwealth was not coincidental. We are here because of the unique energy readings found by Senior Scribe Haylen at Cambridge Police Station. The readings indicated a level of technology that only the Institute could achieve. The moment this information came to light, our mission became clear. The Institute and everyone responsible for the creation of the synths must be eliminated, at all costs. To accomplish this goal, we need to locate the Institute's headquarters. I've had our scribes meticulously searching the Commonwealth but they've come up empty-handed. I need you to be the Brotherhood's eyes and ears in the Commonwealth. If you discover any information about the Institute and its whereabouts, you are to inform me immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, Elder." I say. "Ad Victoriam," he says as he places his hand horizontally across his chest, "and good luck. Dismissed."