Chapter 7

It had taken Nate a whole day to regain consciousness and another two days for him to recover enough to help aid in the recovery of the city. By that time, the full extent of the synths' attack on Diamond City was common knowledge. It had taken the combined physical efforts of both Curie and Nick Valentine to stop X6-88's assault on Nate. Eight citizens had died in the initial bombing of the market, with six settlement leaders dead and a dozen more settlers injured during the exchange of gunfire between the synths, guards and Minutemen. Another half dozen were missing, and the shops between the market and city entrance had taken extensive damage. With such destruction so near home, and so many leaders dead, the summit was on hold indefinitely. Many settlers had already departed back for their settlements until the perpetrators of the attack were found. Nothing, however, made Nate feel more like a failure than waking from his temporary coma only to be told by Piper that Cait had been one of the kidnapped during the attack.

According to Piper, preliminary intelligence reports indicated the synths had targeted specific individuals for either termination, kidnapping or injury. Piper herself had narrowly dodged her own assassination attempt when her assistant accidently dropped a package that was enroute to her office, that exploded when it hit the floor. Nick Valentine was also missing, having attempted to rescue Cait on his own. While Nate had been unconscious, Piper and Preston had utilized their positions of authority to track the synths' escape route after tending to the citizens of Diamond City. The Minutemen had tracked the escaping synths to a relay tower south of Diamond City near Big John's Salvage.

However, when a rescue team had arrived, the tower and surrounding areas were deserted with only a single dead settler, and a wounded Nick Valentine, to prove the synths had ever been there. After consulting with Sturges, Preston, suspected that the synths had teleported to a second location after reaching their initial destination. The effects of the attack had changed the dynamic of Diamond City in ways that had not been seen in over a decade. Reluctantly, Piper had given orders to have Diamond City locked down. There was now a strict curfew, and random security check points were added in addition to permanent check points at various locations of the city. Curie was placed in charge of the emergency hospital that had been erected overnight, and was working around the clock to tend to the various injuries that had occured during the attack.

Another few days passed before the citizens of Diamond City, the Minutemen and Nate, finally received the news that they had been so anxiously awaiting. A single synth appeared at the gates to Diamond City, bearing a white flag with the symbol of the Institute in one hand, and a holotape player in the other. The synth was greeted by a dozen armed Minutemen while the Diamond City guards locked down the city in case of another catastrophic attack. Nate, Preston and Piper met the synth at the gate just outside Diamond City after the Minutemen verified that it wasn't a suicide bomber, and locked down the surrounding area.

Nate started the holotape, and immediately felt a flurry of emotions. Cait's face was visible, bloodied, from a large cut on her forehead, and gagged but alive. All too soon her face disappeared and was replaced by another familiar face, one that Nate had been sure he was never going to see in the Commonwealth again. On the other side of the holotape glaring at Nate with venomous eyes, and a smug sneer was Justin Ayo; former acting director of the Synth Retention Bureau.

"Hello Nathan. I trust that you have recovered well enough from your injuries. I gave X6-88 explicit orders to leave you alive and able-bodied for what is to come next. I'm not going to degrade myself by giving you an explanation for our attack on your fair city. You are already aware of your crimes against humanity, and against Father, your own son." He spat that last word as though it were something disgusting he had ingested. "As you can see, I have taken something near and dear to you, much like you took something near and dear to me, but never fear Nathan, for we both now have the chance to reclaim what was taken from us."

"You see, I have rallied the surviving Institute synths, scientists and coursers to my cause, and that is to raise the Institute from the very ashes that you tried to bury it in. However, in order to do that, I need your help Nathan. To be brief, I need you to do what I currently cannot. While we continue to get our newest facility up and running at full capacity, I need you to claim two lives for me. Once you have done that, I will be more than happy to return your red-headed companion to you. The lives you shall pay me for the safe return of your companion are those of Desdemona, and Elder Maxon. I do not care how this is accomplished, only that they both die."

"In order to ensure this task is accomplished, this synth is carrying a portable transponder for you that you can use to summon X6-88 in order to verify your kills. You have one month Nathan. Do not fail." The holotape went dark as the message concluded. The synth reached into its satchel and handed Nate the transponder; a small silver object the size of a bullet. Nate took the transponder and clenched it tightly in his hand before placing it into his pocket. Then slowly, and deliberately, he drew his sidearm and shot the synth directly in the head.

*

That night, Nate found himself laying in bed next to Piper for the first time in weeks. Curie was still at the hospital tending to her patients, but either way, it had Piper's warmth that he needed that night. Piper had been his first romantic partner since the death of his wife, Nora. Although they had drifted apart after he had met Cait, she always knew how to comfort him and would always be special to him. Sure enough, she had appeared at his door in Diamond City in his greatest hour of need.

They drank, danced, and talked before falling into the familiarity of his bed, but not even the comfort of Piper's naked body had been able to ease the pain that Nate felt. Truth be told, Nate found himself to be a selfish lover that night. Piper on the other hand, had done her best to attend to Nate's every need. The things she did with her mouth, and the way she contorted her body reminded Nate of some adult videos his friends had shown him as teenagers.

Now they lay intertwined together. Piper's head and bare breasts rested on Nate's torso, as he mindlessly stroked her hair for several minutes. "I think I know how to save Cait, Piper." He said quietly. Piper turned and looked up at him. "Well that's great Blue! What are we going to do?" Nate told her his plan, and by the end, she could only stare at Nate with wide opened eyes. "Blue I know–I mean I know we have to save Cait but— Blue I don't know about this. This is very risky and I think even if it works, could you really live with yourself after?" Nate kissed her and then looked her in the eyes. "I wouldn't hesitate to do the same for you Piper, I can't do any less for Cait. She's remained by my side when there was no one else. I won't let her die alone at the hands of a madman."

That last statement was a bit of a low blow, but Nate needed Piper on his side if he was going to convince his lieutenants of the plan. Piper stayed silent for a few moments longer. "I'm with you Blue. Wherever this leads us." Nate kissed her once more, and finally allowed himself to drift into a deep sleep

*

The next morning, Nate found himself sitting at a table, downing a glass of 200 year old whiskey. Also seated at the table were Preston, Piper and Nick. No one at the table had spoken for the past 15 minutes. Not since Nate had told them his plan. It was Preston who broke the silence first. "Where you go, the Minutemen will follow General, but this plan is.. Risky at best and ruthless at worst. Are you sure this is what you want? I understand that Cait is family, but If word gets out about this plan, we may lose men and reputation over this." Nate gulped down the last of the whiskey in his glass before responding. "What I want Preston, is to have Cait with us at this table. What I want, is the Institute gone from the Commonwealth for good. If anyone has any ideas on how to make both of those things happen aside from the plan I've laid out, now is the time."

Once more there was long silence. Piper choked back a silent sob before clearing her throat and giving her response. "I'm with you Blue. As long as I am mayor, you'll have every resource this city has to offer." Preston nodded agreement, "I'm with you General. I'll coordinate with our most trusted contacts." Nick was the last to speak. "As synth, I find it ironic that I am the only one who seems to think this plan is inhumane." Nick looked Nate in the eyes, and for a second, Nate could swear he saw actual sadness there. "Even if your plan works perfectly Nate, there will be at least one innocent life lost, more if it doesn't. I know how much Cait means to you, but can you really live with yourself even IF this plan works? Knowing that you sent an innocent to their death to save a friend? Would Cait forgive you?"

Nate stared at his empty glass before turning it over and over again in his hands, as though he were trying to will it full again. After a few minutes he set it down forcefully. "Cait was there when I saved you from Skinny Malone, Nick. She was there, when I finally found my son, and she was there when I lost him. Cait has done whatever it took to survive, and she has shown me nothing but love and loyalty. I swore to her that it was the two of us against the world. Even if she never forgives me, she'll at least be alive to hate me. Now are you in, or are you out Nick?"

Nick shook his head. "It's true, I owe you my life and for that I am with you. But this is still wrong, and if you choose to do this, I will have to reevaluate counting myself a companion of yours after this."

Nate nodded. "Then we're all in agreement, even if reluctantly," he looked at Nick. "It's time for me to go see Desdemona."