Roger looked over the poorly-written list of mechanical bits that Nick requested. "Honestly, Nick, I couldn't tell you what half of this shit is. Are you sure you're not making it up?" Nick laughed deeply in his throat. "I'm telling ya, there's a reason they built a whole new gen after me." Roger set out a mutfruit and a Nuka Cola and started eating some iguana bits. "What if we rebuilt you using gen 3 parts? How would you feel about that? You know it wouldn't be a matter of if we are capable, we have the technology." Nick cocked his head this way and that, seemingly mulling over the option. "I've sometimes thought about it, what it would be like to look more human, to fit in like anyone else and…" he trailed off as Ellie strolled into the agency with a small bag of toy for Dogmeat. "Oh, Ell, you didn't have to-" before Roger could get out another word Dogmeat shredded apart a teddy bear and Ellie squealed in delight. Roger smiled and turned to face Nick again only to see he had left his seat and began to retreat to his room upstairs.
Roger felt that pain in his chest again, this overwhelming sadness. He stood up and ruffled Dogmeat's fur between his ears. "I've got some errands to run, should be back before next week. Let Nick know I'll be in touch. Come on boy, let's head out." As Roger made his way through Diamond city he read the list over and over again. He may have been exaggerating a little with Nick, he knew what most of these things were but he'd have to talk with someone more skilled to get everything on the list, luckily, he knew just the guy.
/
"Funny, I feel like I was just over here the other day," Roger said more to himself than to his companion. Knowing full well that the area had been cleared months ago he kept his weapon in its holster but safety off. As they made their way through the tunnels below the old church Dogmeat's ears stood up and he crouched down, growling softly. "What is it boy?" Roger whispered, arming himself with a shotgun, there was nothing out there that could still stand after a few shells to the chest. They crept around each corner cautiously; concerned that it was a courser that got too ambitious. Suddenly he heard a voice that sent chills up his spine.
"I know you're in there, who-whatever you are! Just let me in, alright, I promise I'm not an enemy. I just have some questions for you!"
Piper? Roger froze, anxiety tumbling over into his hands and legs. How the hell did she even manage to find this place? Roger holstered his weapon and straightened up. He had to think quick or Piper might end up hurt. He ran out of his hiding spot and looked surprised to see her. "Piper? What are you doing here?" She spun around to meet his gaze and she adjusted her weight to her other hip. "I could ask you the same thing!" "Well after you made such a big fuss about the whole Freedom Trail thing I thought I'd check it out. I thought you were going home to your sister." She smirked, "I did and told her not to assume the worst next time I'm gone for a few days. Well now that you're here maybe you can help me get in this place." Roger grew slightly irritated, he didn't know how much time Nick had left, but he knew that he was timed and Piper was taking up a lot of it.
"I don't exactly know what to do, or how to get in here, but I'm sure it's not safe. Piper, look, I'd love to have you travel with me, but you know how Dogmeat gets, "Piper was livid. "Wait a minute Roger, you don't honestly think I'm gonna let you walk in there without any kind of, of backup? I don't think so. I want to know what's in there and you're going to help me figure it out. Let's go." Roger felt himself warming up around the ears, he didn't have time for this. "Piper, let me ask you something very serious. What do you expect to find? What if it's ghouls or gunners or hell what if it's some kind of trap?" Piper let out a heavy sigh and she paced around for a minute. "Well that's what you're here for, right? I mean I know you didn't come all this way to look after me, but at least now that you're here help me."
Roger ran his hand through his hair and groaned. He could trust Piper, she was one of the good guys, she was happy when the Institute went under. "Alright, Piper." She smiled in that way that made him less irritable, that silly bob she did when she got her way. He just hoped he was making the right choice, Des was going to let him hear it one way or another. Roger stepped up to the massive wheel on the wall and cracked the code like he had done so long ago. Piper was practically vibrating with anxiety.
"Looks like you've brought a houseguest, Bullseye."
Roger felt that intense heat creeping up to his ears again, this time because he had been caught. Piper shot him a look that would be dealt with at another time if he could just wiggle out of this awkward situation he'd put himself in. "Des, this is Piper; she's a reporter from Diamond city. Hey, do you mind putting the lights out, they're just so damn bright." The floodlights dimmed and the familiar faces of the Railroad came into view. Roger walked through the small crowd that had gathered to investigate the intruders. "I didn't know she would be here when I got here and I guess I have some explaining to do but I'm sort of on a schedule. I have to talk to Tom, if you wouldn't mind having one of the agents do an interview with her? Before you start with that look, Des, yes I trust her. She's one of us." Desdemona looked Piper over a few times and then Roger. He knew what she was thinking, at least he thought he did, 'how could you bring someone here without telling us, you're compromising all of us blah blah blah.' She put her hand on his shoulder, "I trust your judgment, Tom is working in the back as always, she'll be in good hands here. Don't think we won't be talking about this later though."
Roger smiled and looked back at Piper who was already taking down notes without even so much as glancing at her notebook. He waited for her to return his gaze but she didn't. Before he knew it he was striding downstairs to meet Tom.
"Hey-hey! Well if it isn't Mr. Hotshot himself, I've got new stuff in stock if you wanna check it out." Roger dug through his pockets for the list Nick wrote for him. "I need these parts, Tom, what do you make of 'em?" Tom took the worn paper from Roger and read it, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "I gotta tell you man, some of this stuff is pretty old technology. Are you trying to build a synth or something? By the looks of it, it would be a gen one or… maybe two? Bullseye, man, look, you're better off salvaging at a scrap yard. I've got a few of these things on hand, your basic copper wiring, aluminum, maybe not as much adhesive as you need but you'll find it out there." He went quiet for a moment, scratching his nose and then holding his breath. "Finding these things as raw components is not going to be easy, my friend. Your best option is to find things you can scrap for parts. I know you're no stranger to that, but it's the 'where' that'll be tricky. Tell you what, you know those toy companies to the south? There's a few of them. You're bound to find thing to tear apart there."
At that time Piper came downstairs with a terribly familiar-looking agent. Roger flashed a smile at Deacon who nodded back inconspicuously as Piper asked him several questions at once. "Here's a list of what you're looking for, more or less, I'd get extras just to be sure. There's no telling what's going to be crawling around those old factories. It's none of my business, but you might want to consider taking another gun with you. I don't know if your dog will be enough help." Tom was tinkering with the lenses on the magnifying glass nearby. He was right, but Roger always felt guilt for leaving Dogmeat behind. Strong might be a good option, especially for toting potentially heavy items around. "Oh by the way, I know you know what you're doing but you might seriously consider just building a new generation synth, they need a lot more parts but believe me, they are worth it." Roger tightened his jaw. There was no way Tom would know what he was doing all of this for, but he felt a strong resentment just then. Nick meant more to him than a shiny new interface and updated hardware. He left Dogmeat at the Railroad and headed for Sanctuary Hills.