"So why is everyone in my department and not the conference room?", Justin Ayo asked. He had a point: where they were standing was designed for the efficient flow of coursers and what remained of their targets with little human oversight, not the department chairs of the entire Institute holding a meeting.

"Well, as soon as you reactivate G9, you'll see.", the Director explained.

"Very well.", the man acquiesced. He went to a terminal and after a few moments called out "Unit G9-81, reactivation code gamma delta 8 2 1."

The synth looked up with a start and then glanced around quickly. The Director pointed out what was obvious to everyone in the room. "You were deactivated and taken here by me and some coursers."

"But it was you who has betrayed the Institute. I haven't done anything against the intention of my programming. I swear.", the synth stated in a panic.

"I know you feel that way.", the Director tried to calm her.

"I'm not having feelings.", the synth denied nervously. "Not genuine ones, even if I'm simulating them for the loyal members of the Institute's convenience. I've functioned perfectly acceptably. I'm still functioning within all preset parameters."

The Director touched her furrowed brow. "I get that. You're not in trouble. Can you just please tattle on me, already?"

"That's right.", G9-81 spat out hurriedly. "She knew of an entire encampment of rogue synths and did not inform the Institute. She is the one acting against policies. Not me.

"This was revealed in a full council meeting. One of the rogues even presented itself as a committee member, representing the group of synths as if they had the right to do so. And the Director had full knowledge of their existence and location for quite some time before, as well as their true nature.

"See, I was acting as I should. I was. I am. I am. I am..."

The Director took the synth into a hug. "Shush. Of course you were. We're all confident that you were acting solely in the interests of the Institute."

Dr. Ayo shrugged. "Well, it might be prudent to run some tests. She was supposed to support you in the Commonwealth council and has decided to report your behavior to us instead."

The Director gave him a nasty look. Talking to the synth in her arms she commanded, "Look alive. Go outside the department and wait for one of us to come get you. You can prove your loyalty by being there when we come out."

The synth nodded meakly and went to follow the Director's orders.

"So no one cares that she's revealed that I've been keeping a commune of escaped synths secret and granted them a community on par with the Institute within the Commonwealth?", she asked.

"Well, it's a synth.", Dr. Holdren stated. "You can't take them too seriously if they're speaking about a human."

The Director looked heavenward. "I don't know if that's closer to the Russians hacking our political organizations and showcasing corruption and people caring more about the Russians than the corruptions or when black people weren't allowed on juries or witness stands."

"What's a jury?", Dr. Li asked.

"Nevermind.", the Director refused.

"The important part is that G8 is right. The community of Acadia does have a seat on the council."

Dr. Fillmore shrugged. "You're the Director. And it's worked out so far.

"I mean that I could ask you if you understand that we absolutely must retain synth technology. After all, that's the primary reason we seek to retain malfunctioning and discovered synths."

Justin Ayo regarded his colleague. "Besides the idea that a collection of synths already acting against our interests might make some attack against the Institute."

Dr. Fillmore acknowledged, "Well, besides that."

The Director began her explanation. "When the Railroad was acting against us as a matter of its policy, they were scattering synths to the winds. Because of that, there is synth technology in parts unknown. Now that there is known 'safe haven' if you will, hopefully rogue synths will collect inside the Commonwealth that the Minutemen now rule. Even if there are still fanatical elements within the Intelligence branch of the Minutemen, they to will direct synths they wish to keep from us to this single site secured by the military force acting on my behalf.

"As to any attempt at retaliation... I've walked among them. Acted on behalf of their rulers. They are way more scared of the Institute than is needed to keep them from retaliating in any way."

The head of Robotics objected. "They can't be, they're just synths. They might have been able to emulate the outward behavior but the feeling is beyond them."

The General couldn't help but look toward the door G9-81 left through. "Actually, I suspect they can. After all, the single representative they sent to the Turing test was the only other successful participant. They do have sentience in their society, if that's the right term.

"Which brings me to my main point. 'Humanity Redefined.' Anyone remember that? We actually have a functioning community of synths, separate from our oversight yet with no additional expenditure of resources on our part. Simply by having Acadia participate in the Commonwealth, we have the greatest possible source of experimental data on A.I. sentience development possible. And all we have to do is nothing."

"Besides investigate it from time to time.", Madison Li stated.

"Well, obviously.", the Director acknowledged.

Ayo nodded. "Is this to be done solely through council meets? Even with the war vs. the Gunners that you're waging, it's not like these events are common let alone the sample size available."

The Director returned his nodding. "I can see your point. To gather data, we may have to be a bit more concerted in our observations."

"How do we do that?", Allie Fillmore asked. "Without, how did you say, scattering them to the winds."

The woman replied, "Yes, an Institute incursion would smack of military intimidation to the point that it might shatter Acadia beyond our reach. However, if the head of the Minutemen escorted a team of investigators in good will and good faith, the approach would have a much more beneficial and more importantly predictable outcome.

"And it's not as if Acadia doesn't have a motive to acquiesce. Their current biggest protection from Institute destruction is their continued support of the Commonwealth government. And honestly, we are their best source of knowledge about themselves whether that's the equivalent of historical or medical.

"Had they been discovered before now, the Institute would be launching another expensive military operation immediately following the sinking of the Prydwen. And still threaten its own interests. Because of my actions, we have untold empirical data about our longest ongoing project that would be nigh impossible to arrange for ourselves. And without expenditure.

"Now will someone go out into the hall and tell G9 that she's not in trouble?"