his student, learning everything she could of this new world. Preston was looking to help; Allen hadn't ironed out the details of his plan yet and Preston wanted to be of some assistance. Piper was just looking for some answers, as whatever Allen was planning, he was keeping his cards close to his chest. Nick had Allen's name on his desk again, he had been sent a written request to come to Sanctuary. Allen's actions with the Minutemen had alleviated some of his concerns, but a bad feeling was tough to kill.
It wasn't until Nick found time to visit Sanctuary Hills (after a goddamn week) that Allen finally started to explain himself. He had gathered his closest friends to discuss their next move.
"Virgil told me how they get synths in and out of the Commonwealth." Allen said, leaning casually against the counter in his house.
"Well, don't keep us in suspense," Nick said as he lit up a cigarette (he smoked for reasons no one had successfully been able to explain to Allen).
"They use teleportation," Allen replied simply, as if he wasn't describing the greatest technological advancement in recent history.
"Impossible!" Curie exclaimed, "Teleportation is impossible."
"Virgil described it as a 'molecular relay,' everything he said after that was beyond me."
"So have Sturges whip up a teleporter," Preston suggested, "If anyone can do it, he can."
"I have no doubt that he can," Allen said, standing up a little straighter, "But it's not that simple."
"Why not?" Nick asked.
"Setting aside the sheer resources we'd be diverting from other Minutemen responsibilities, we'd need a courser chip and someone to decode it, just to be able to get on the right frequency."
"Excusez-moi, what is a 'courser'?" Curie asked.
"Elite Synths," Allen answered, crossing his arms, "Stronger, smarter, and better trained than the earlier models."
"Have you seen one before?"
"Only in a recording."
"Do we know how to find one?" Preston asked.
"Sort of, Virgil gave me a frequency that would alert me if I'm near a courser. But there's a catch."
"There always is." Nick grumbled.
"After teleportation, the Chip's signal fades until needed again, that way people can't do exactly what we're trying to. I've got a small window of opportunity to latch onto the signal and track it."
"So what's the plan?" Nick asked disdainfully. "It's not like we can just wander the wasteland clapping our hands saying 'here courser, here boy.'"
"Not that it wouldn't be fun," Preston joked.
"I need to start making my presence a threat to the Institute, if we're lucky they'll send a Courser after me and that'll solve most of our problems."
"Most?" Curie inquired.
"I still need to decode the damn thing. No one in the Minutemen can do it and I'm not handing that kind of technology over to the Brotherhood." Allen explained, slouching again.
"Are there any other people in the Commonwealth with an affinity for technology?" Curie asked, sounding dejected, likely understanding such knowledge was so rare.
"Only one that I trust," Allen practically leapt away from the counter. "I need to speak with Dr. Amari."
"I'm coming with you." Nick declared, "I won't have you interrogating my friend."
"She'd have to pull a gun on me before I'd so much as hit her," Allen assured.
"I would like to come, as well." Curie requested.
"I'm in too, general." Preston said.
"Actually, Preston, I need you do something else," Allen told the man.
"Yes, general," Preston replied, standing suddenly at attention.
"Gather the lieutenants. If my hunch is right, then I'll be absent from my post for a while. I'll need to make arrangements before disappearing."
"You're hunch, sir?"
"Just an idea, not worth talking about until I get more intel."
"Understood, Sir." Preston said, relaxing.
"Alright, everyone go, rest up, relax. We move out tomorrow."
Everybody was leaving but were temporarily interrupted when Allen called out. "Hey, Piper, can we talk?"
"What do you need?" Piper demanded, curtly. Allen was taken aback by her rudeness.
"You haven't said a word all day, is something the matter?" Allen asked.
"You know full well what's the matter!" Piper snapped. "You run off all gung ho, you don't ask for help, you don't make sure we're on board. You just tell us what you're doing and expect us to follow along."
"Do you not approve of my choices?" Allen asked calmly, backing up to the corner of the kitchen and crossing his arms.
"That's part of the problem, for the most part you've been on your best behavior. It's just…." Piper trailed off in frustration.
"You don't like having choices made for you, even if it's something you would have picked in the first place." Allen finished.
"Exactly!" Piper cried out, exasperated. "I'm sick of you and Preston telling me what's best, I know what I'm doing. I'm not some cushy damsel in distress who needs protecting. I've gotten into plenty of scraps on my own."
"I'm sure," Allen said candidly.
"Don't patronize me, Blue. I've been shot, poisoned, nearly executed by the cult of Atom. It's about time that you started listening to me." As she finished, Piper finally calmed down. Allen nodded thoughtfully, still in his little corner.
"I'm sorry," Allen started. "You're right, I haven't been listening, and you're not some damsel in distress who needs protection."
"I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop," Piper said.
"I can't speak for Preston, but to me all of you are civilians, even him. For a lot of my life, civilians were either meant to be saved or mourned. I'm having trouble getting used to the idea that in this world, civilians take on a different meaning."
"I don't know what that means."
"Neither do I, but it sounded poignant." Allen shrugged. "It's something that I'm working on, Piper."
"I wish you'd stop pushing your friends away, Blue." Piper said. She was trying to get Allen to open up, but instead Allen just shook his head.
"I'd like it if you'd head out with us tomorrow," Allen phrased it as a suggestion "I feel like it's been awhile since you've been back home; we can drop you off at Diamond city so you can check in with Nat."
Only slightly annoyed that she was being led to water, but not forced to drink, Piper agreed.
Nick was watching Allen carefully. He trusted him enough to let him talk to Amari, but if his tone turned accusing, he knew who he'd be siding with.
"Dr. Amari, may I speak to you?" Allen requested.
"Of course," Amari responded warily. "What is this regarding?"
"A question." Allen said, dramatically.
"What would you like to know?"
"What I'd like to know is, why Goodneighbor?"
"I don't…" Amari started before being interrupted.
"If this was about money you'd be in Diamond city. Dr. Sun would be out of business in a week. If this was about saving lives, you'd be out wandering the wastes, treating those that can't afford Doc Weathers." Allen reasoned, starting to pace "So what's here, in Goodneighbor, that's nowhere else? And then it occurred to me 'safety.'"
"Safety?" Amari said, attempting to sound confused. "There's no safety to be found in Goodneighbor." it was an unconvincing lie.
"There's safety alright, safety from the one enemy that guns, walls, and vigilance can't protect you from. Safety from the one thing that nobody in Goodneighbor fears," Allen said as he started to walk towards Amari, while making it very clear he meant no harm. "But why would you need safety from them? What makes you think you are in that much danger? Either you're paranoid, or…" Allen trailed off letting the other options go unspoken.
"Or I've done something that makes me a target," Amari finished.
"Exactly, so who would the Institute target? You've been here too long for it to be Minutemen or Brotherhood."
Amari opened her mouth, more than likely to answer.
"Don't say it." Allen suddenly ordered.
"Why?" Amari asked, confused.
"I'm not asking for you to vouch for me, I'm not asking you help me meet the leadership."
"What then?" Amari asked, getting nervous.
"I want the rumor," Allen demanded, "The rumor that everyone gets, that everyone hears about but no one ever takes seriously. How to find them, how do I get them to find me?"
Amari paused and nodded, she could give him that. The rumor had been started on purpose, for people like Allen, who cared a lot, who couldn't wait to be contacted.
"Follow the Freedom Trail."