Author's Note: I would argue that your character in Fallout 4 doesn't really need a personal reason to take on the Institute, just seeing how many lives they've destroyed would be enough. Heck, their treatment of Synths would be enough in my book. Anywho, here Malcolm finally interacts with the Brotherhood of Steel... and yes, he is showing off.

Chapter Eight: Danse of The Brotherhood of Steel

When they arrived back in Sanctuary, the call of 'Code One Eleven' rang out excitedly. Preston Garvey welcomed the General Back first, then MacCready. He seemed a little unnerved by Nick however.

"So you're an Institute synth?" Preston asked warily.

Nick vented an unnecessary breath, "They made me, but I've been independent of them for a full century. They threw me out."

Preston seemed unsure about that answer, "I don't think I've ever met a synth that wasn't a Gen 1 or 2 before, other than Sturges… though I suppose I'd never know it with the other Gen 3's."

Nick nodded, "I figure I'm some prototype between Gen 2 and Gen 3… a Gen 2.5, if I had to put a label on it."

Preston shifted his weight nervously, "The General said something about you having... information?"

Malcolm, who had gone off and busied himself at placing away the various clutter he had been carrying, wasn't there to mitigate between Nick and Preston.

So MacCready decided to throw his two caps in. "Preston, he's working to help your General, alright? We're going to talk to Sturges. I know the way, so I can take it from here."

Preston nodded and even gave a slight salute, "Roger that, I'm going to go do my rounds of Sanctuaries defenses." With that, Preston marched off towards the gate.

Nick cycled another unnecessary round of air and simulated a sigh, "Thanks MacCready."

MacCready nodded, "It's no problem, I know you could have held your own, but—"

Nick waived away the explanation, and just smiled in response. "Just get me to that Sturges fellow, I want to offload this data as soon a possible."

The teleporter was going to be a long ordeal, according to Malcolm, collecting the necessary parts and equipment would be difficult enough in a pre-war Boston, let alone a post-war one.

Just finding the required MRI scanner parts had been a near fiasco, one that ate up nearly a week of scouting various medical facilities, but they did eventually find one.

Even that hadn't been the worst part. No, that had been at the beginning of the week, that being their encounter with the Brotherhood of Steel.

It all started with a distress beacon, that of course Malcolm felt the need to answer. He managed to near-single handedly rescue a pinned down half squad of Brotherhood Soldiers and their squire.

MacCready hadn't entered the building, choosing instead to snipe at opportune targets from a rooftop vantage point across the street.

He'd never seen someone fight so gracefully, and since when did Malcolm have a actual steel sword?

MacCready wondered how much of the gymnastics Malcolm was flying through were strictly necessary, and how much of it was to impress the baffled BOS soldiers.

When he saw Malcolm managing to kick two feral ghouls in the head with a flying split-kick he snorted to himself. 'Showoff'.

When the feral ghouls had all been cleared from the building, MacCready made his way down to join back up with Malcolm.

He arrived just in time to hear the Paladin reluctantly thanking Malcolm, "Been a while since I've seen a civilian so capable in battle, let alone one capable of taking orders."

MacCready resisted the urge to roll his eyes, if Malcolm had followed any of the orders as anything more than tactical suggestions he'd eat his hat.

Malcolm greeted him with a wave, "I'll take that as a complement. MacCready, this is Paladin Danse." He said gesturing over his shoulder at the Paladin he'd been talking to.

The BOS soldier cast a glance at MacCready, "Your sniper associate, I take it?"

Malcolm grinned, "The very same."

MacCready warily nodded, curtly he said, "Hi, you're lucky we happened to be passing."

Paladin Danse shifted almost uncomfortably, "Yes, well it was indeed fortunate. For Knight Rhys especially."

Another BOS soldier nodded, from where he sat nursing a bevy of recently stimmed injuries. "Thought I was a goner for a bit there if I'm honest."

Malcolm just smiled, "Right place, right time and all that."

Paladin Danse coughed, "Indeed. The Brotherhood is very grateful for your assistance in this matter civilians."

MacCready shot a look at Danse, "Why do you keep calling us that, you know our names—" MacCready suddenly cut a look towards Malcolm, who had started laughing behind his clasped hands. "You are impossible, boss. I hope you know that."

Malcolm shook his head, still laughing, "You think I'm not well aware of that?"

Scribe Haylen tilted her head at the both of them, she then turned and addressed Malcolm, "What's so funny?"

Malcolm managed to reduce his laughter to just an amused smile, "Let me take this opportunity to introduce myself; I'm General Maelstrom 'Storm' Germaine, of the Minutemen."

Paladin Danse snapped to a sort of attention, "You're General Storm?" He said, evaluating Malcolm more closely.

Malcolm shrugged, "I know I don't look it now, but I've got the uniform in my pack so I can travel the Commonwealth incognito."

Knight Rhys huffed out a breath, "I'd heard that the new General of the reformed Minutemen was something else, I'll say I'm impressed."

Scribe Haylen pointed out the Pip Boy on Malcolm's arm, "He's even a vault dweller like the reports said."

MacCready scoffed, "Are we done here boss?" He asked Malcolm, who had been largely amused by the BOS squadron's discussion.

Malcolm turned to Danse, "I'm sorry to say I won't be joining the Brotherhood anytime soon, plate's already a bit full at the moment."

Paladin Danse nodded curtly, "I understand, the Minutemen are a worthy force for the good of the Commonwealth, civil— I mean, General Germaine. Hopefully the Minutemen will see fit to ally with the Brotherhood sometime in the future.

Malcolm didn't point out that the Brotherhood might have a fancy flying ship and souped up power armor, but they were severely lacking in manpower.

In fact, if the latest recon reports of the various Minutemen runners had any credence, the Minutemen had about three to four times more men at arms than the local chapter of the Brotherhood could muster.

Instead Malcolm just shook Paladin Danse's offered hand, "Well, we'll see."

MacCready could read between the lines, Malcolm would never work with the Brotherhood as they were currently. Not until they distinguished between feral and non-feral ghouls. Not until they weren't indiscriminately killing escaped Institute synths.

To MacCready he said, "Alright, let's head back out, I want to make good time today."

MacCready nodded, knowing that Malcolm wanted to make it to Sanctuary as soon as possible.

They turned away from the Brotherhood, little knowing that when they next met Danse it would be to save his life again.

-chapter end-

Authors Note: Blind Betrayal changes a lot of things for poor Danse. However, I would argue that finding out he's a synth is the only thing tha'd convince him that Synths are more than just machines that simulate feelings. Lucky for him, Malcolm doesn't know how not to help...which is also going to be an issue later on.