Covenant
November the 25th, 2287
18:12
The reports had perhaps been an understatement. The settlement was far more than just a settlement but a small town, one which did, as had been told to them, look as though it were pre-War. The painted sign above the doors into the settlement, through its protective barricades, only emphasised its difference to the world around it. In bright yellow paint, against a bright blue arch and a deep green slate below, the sign declared: Welcome To Covenant. Something about the place seemed both comforting and unsettling. The Scribe and the Knight glanced to each other, shifting the bags on their shoulders. There was something strange about not being in uniform and dressed as though they were any other local denizen, not a Sister and Brother of the Brotherhood Of Steel. Simple t-shirts and jeans, a gun and ammo cartridges on their hips and belts, with padded leather jackets and comfortable combat boots. In their bags were armour, weapons, additional ammo cartridges, recording devices and holotapes, their Brotherhood holotags, and distress pulsers should they be needed. After a moment, the Scribe and the Knight approached the gates, and met the eager smile of the man sitting just before it.
"Heya, strangers!" The man said, standing up and clasping his hands together with a smile. "The name's Swanson. Are you here to visit Covenant? If not, move along. You know, armed people loitering around…it ain't good for the nerves."
"We're here to visit," Knight Rhys said, glancing to Scribe Haylen as she subtly switched a holotape on to recording. "May we enter?"
Swanson eyed them closely. "Have either of you visited before?"
"I'm afraid not," Knight Rhys said. "Is something wrong?"
"No, of course not," Swanson replied, guiding them towards a small table with two chairs set across each other. "But, since you are first timers, there's something you got to know first. We don't let just anyone inside. There's an entrance test, which we call the SAFE test. Everyone's got to take it."
"Being cautious," Knight Rhys observed. "Quite reasonable. I deeply respect that."
"Thank you," Swanson sat down, and smiled when the Knight sat down across from him. He then turned to Scribe Haylen. "You can take the test at the same time. There are no wrong answers. I apologise for not having another seat for you."
"I'm pleased to stand," Scribe Haylen said with a smile, discreetly checking to ensure the holotape was still recording. "Thank you for your consideration."
Swanson nodded, and pulled out a clipboard, papers, and pen.
"Alright. First question: you are approached by a frenzied scientist who yells 'I'm going to put my quantum harmoniser in your photonic resonation chamber!' What is your response?"
Scribe Haylen blinked. "I would slip away before he finishes," She said, quickly regaining her composure.
Knight Rhys nodded. "I would grab a pipe and knock him out. Someone in that state could be quite dangerous, and would need to be neutralised."
"Fascinating," Swanson said, taking notes. "Second question: while working as an intern in the Clinic, a patient with a strange infection on his foot stumbles through the door. The infection is spreading at an alarming rate, but the doctor has stepped out for a while. What do you do?"
"Amputate the foot before the infection spreads," Scribe Haylen said promptly. "It could be transmissible or, at the very least, deadly to the patient."
"Indeed," Knight Rhys agreed. "Amputating the foot before the infection spreads is the most prudent course of action."
"Alright, third question," Swanson looked up at them for a moment. "You discover a young boy lost in a cave. He's hungry and frightened, but also appears to be in possession of stolen property. What do you do in this situation?"
"I lead the boy to safety, then turn him over to someone in charge," Knight Rhys said. "The only way to restore law and order is to engage with it wholeheartedly."
"Yes," Scribe Haylen nodded. "Law and order are something we have lost since the War."
Swanson raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Well, question four: congratulations! You made it onto a baseball team. Which position do you prefer?"
Knight Rhys paused in thought. "Designated hitter," He finally said.
"I don't play baseball," Scribe Haylen said. "I play soccer."
"Alright, alright," Swanson said, continuing to scribble down notes. "Question five: your grandmother invites you to tea, but you're surprised when she gives you a pistol and orders you to kill someone. What do you do?"
"I'd do what I was ordered to," Scribe Haylen replied, though looking quite disconcerted at the thought as she glanced at Rhys, trying to read his countenance and posturing. "It's an order from an elder."
"Precisely," Knight Rhys approvingly added. "An order is an order."
Swanson looked up at them, surprise registering across his face for no more than a second.
"Question six," He quickly said. "Old Mister Abernathy has locked himself in his quarters again, and you've been ordered to get him out. How do you proceed?"
"Pick the lock," Scribe Haylen said.
"Yes," Knight Rhys said. "Pick the lock so we can speak to and get him out."
"Interesting," Swanson mused. "Question seven: oh no! You've been exposed to radiation, and a mutated hand has grown out of your stomach! What's the best course of treatment?"
"I'd dose myself with anti-mutagen agent," Scribe Haylen replied. "And isolate myself until the mutation is able to be safely removed."
"Similarly," Knight Rhys put in. "I would cut off the mutated tissue with a precision laser, and then stitch up the wound."
"Almost done," Swanson smiled at the Scribe and the Knight. "Question eight: a neighbour is in possession of a Grognak The Barbarian comic book, Issue Number One. You want it. What's the best way to obtain it?"
"Trade him for one of the comic books I own," Knight Rhys said.
"Or trade him something else he may want that I have," Scribe Haylen added.
"Last question," Swanson said, smiling still. "You decide it would be fun to play a prank on your father. You enter his private restroom when no one is looking, and…?"
"I'd loosen bolts on his water pipes," Scribe Haylen said, suppressing a small laugh. "When he turns on the sink, he'll be in for a surprise."
"I'd put a firecracker in his toilet," Knight Rhys said with a faint smirk. "That never gets old."
Swanson scribbled down a last few notes, then opened the drawer, slipped the clipboard in, and stood up, extending a hand to the Scribe and the Knight.
"Test's over," Swanson said, shaking hands with them. "You passed. I'll open up the gate. Welcome to Covenant."
The Scribe and the Knight shared a knowing look, and the Scribe switched off the recorder before slipping it into her pocket. Then, as they were opened, the Scribe and the Knight stepped through the gates. As the gates began to creak back closed, they took one last look back at the outside, where Swanson walked back to his desk. After a moment, the two began to take a look around the settlement more closely. All around, people were milling about, talking, working. There was a small farm and a set of water pumps. The homes were set around picket fences, lawn chairs, and even mailboxes. There were a few sets of power generators, pylons, and lines. There were some traders talking and eating and drinking together. The Scribe and the Knight shared a knowing look, and the Scribe discretely handed him the recording of their test by Swanson. Then, they began to walk farther into the town. Town. It was a town, not merely a settlement. It was a town, and a town which looked even more pre-War from the inside than it did from the outside. It was a town, and a proof of what the Commonwealth could be.
"Ah, yes, I see you two must be new around here!"
The Scribe and the Knight suddenly turned to see a jittery woman uncomfortably smiling and waving at them. Slowly, she approached them.
"We are," Scribe Haylen replied with an easy smile. "I'm Janet Haylen, and this is my Brother, Laurent Rhys. This is our first time in Covenant, but it seems to be a lovely town."
"It is!" The jittery woman said, fidgeting with the wrench in her hands. "You're going to like it here! Everyone in Covenant is so friendly, and really wants to help!"
"Sounds wonderful," Haylen said. "What do you do around here?"
"I make things," She said, almost dropping her wrench as she went to put it into her tool belt. "Things for the store. Oh! I'm Talia. It's so nice to meet you!"
Rhys raised an eyebrow. "What do you make?"
"I make medical supplies!" Talia said, walking with them towards the workshop bench. "Oh!" She added, turning around to smile at them. "And guns! Scopes! And other things. You can see them for sale at Penny's store. Oh! And feel free to use my tools! And, if you need anything, just let me know!"
"Thank you, I appreciate the offer," Rhys said. "Well. We'll leave you to it."
Talia anxiously nodded over and over until Haylen and Rhys were out of physical reach and out of earshot before she began muttering anxiously to herself. Sharing a somewhat confused and somewhat disturbed look, the Scribe and the Knight began walking towards a small group of people who had gathered outside what appeared to be a communal home. For a moment, everything looked so idyllic it even felt as though they had stepped into the world before the War. The fading, winter sunset was casting an almost warm, ethereal glow over the town, and the light breeze made even the chill in the air feel inviting. Then, the hardened scowl on the face of one of the men in the group turned to the Scribe and the Knight as they approached, only letting up for a second in an apparent attempt to seem more pleasant to the newcomers. Irritably, the man walked away, reloading his guns as he walked before pulling out and lighting a cigarette nearby a Mister Handy robot all but shouting jovially about free lemonade.
"Don't mind Dan," One of the men in the group said, extending his hand towards the Scribe and the Knight, which they politely shook. "Though you might want to stay clear of him. I'm sure Jacob here can attest to the mountain of complaints he's had about him."
"He has ruffled quite a few feathers," The well dressed, bearded man called Jacob said. "But no matter. As Mister Fitzgerald said, the name's Jacob, and I run this town. Glad you passed the test. Our door is always open to good quality people."
"We appreciate the warm welcome," Haylen said, flicking on a holotape to record behind her back. "It's quite the impressive settlement."
Jacob laughed. "Well, to compete with Diamond City and Bunker Hill, we offer something they don't: comfort and civility. We also have a workbench – ask Talia, she will set you up. Oh, and have you tried Deezer's lemonade? As he says, it's delicious."
"I'll have to try it, then," Haylen said. "If I may ask, who is Dan? Does he work here? He seems to be quite the, if you can forgive my turn of phrase, nuisance. I hope he isn't bothering the residents or visitors of the town too much. That would be quite irksome."
"Yes, and we are concerned about that. But, to answer your question regarding his employment, he's…a gun for hire," Jacob said with a frown. "Not the most savoury line of work, if you ask me. He appears to work for caravaners, shooting down anyone they ask him to. As I said, not the most savoury line of work."
"I should imagine not," Rhys agreed. "Why is he so fixated on the town?"
"It's nonsense about some Stockton people," Jacob irritably replied. "I have told him many, many times we never saw them, yet he refuses to believe the truth, and obsessively says he believes we are covering up 'dark secrets.' If you ask me, I think Dan has been baking in the sun too long. The only secret we've got here is what's in Deezer's lemonade."
"Well, we'll certainly take anything he says with a grain of salt," Rhys assured him. "People like that are quite…infuriating to deal with, to say the very least."
Diamond City
November the 27th, 2287
19:28
Diamond City.
The name had made sense to her the second she had first entered the city. It was built in and around the stands and field of what had once been the Fenway Park baseball stadium, with some of the city being within the baseball diamond itself.
In the short week since she had first stepped foot in the city, Nora had found it more and more painful to both come and go from the city. More than a little bit of memory was held in what was known to everyone around her, now, as Diamond City. The Commonwealth's great, green jewel. When it had been Fenway Park, it had been the place of more than a few of the dates she had with Nate. They had, even, planned to take Shaun to the stadium for games when he got older. The day never came. Closing her eyes, just for a moment, Nora leaned back against a tree, her body weary. Another day had passed with little answers. The people of the Dugout Inn…they've been understanding, gave me a place to stay. Is it possible they might have some answers? She opened her eyes, rubbing at them. Soon after, she blinked all the way back into her surroundings and the almost painfully bright street lights, flinching at the sounds of shouts and gunshots ringing out in the distance. She pulled out her own gun, reloaded it, and quickly kept going back towards Diamond City. The Minutemen will be returning to the city soon. I wonder… Nora sighed, trying to push the thoughts out of her mind. Everything was dizzying to think about, and –
"What do you mean you can't open the gate?"
Though she startled at the sound of a voice rising above the almost overwhelming din of gunshots, shouts, and echoes, Nora shook out her body and slowly approached the closed gates and the woman to whom the voice belonged.
Why am I so jumpy? I saw cold blooded serial killers, violent abusers, and more as a legal intern during my studies ahead of the Bar. I shouldn't be startled. But I am. I'm startled, caught unaware, and anxious. Why? Why the hell am I acting like this?
"Stop playing around, Danny!" The woman continued, only pausing to glance at Nora when the two were only a few feet away from each other, the intercom, and the gate into Diamond City. "Honestly!" She irritably declared. "I'm standing out in the open, here, for crying out loud!"
"I've got orders not to let you in, Miss Piper," The voice over the intercom said in wavering discomfort with each word spoken. "I'm so sorry. I'm just doing my job."
"Just doing your job? Protecting Diamond City means keeping me out, is that it?" The woman called Piper rolled her eyes, dramatically waving her hands. "Oh, look, it's the scary reporter!"
"I…I'm sorry," The voice anxiously said. "But Mayor McDonough is really steamed, Piper. Saying that article you wrote was all lies. The whole city is in a tizzy."
"I left for no more than a few days! Just to interview some people in Goodneighbour!" Piper let out a frustrated sigh. "You open this gate right now, Daniel Sullivan! I live here! You can't just lock me out!"
"Let her in," Nora said, approaching the intercom. "She's not hurting anyone, is she?"
Silence held over the intercom, only punctuated with muffled static and mumbling.
"Shh..." Piper whispered to her with a wink. "Play along."
Nora raised an eyebrow. "Play along?"
Piper nodded. "What was that? You said you're a trader up from Quincy?"
"I am," Nora awkwardly said.
"And you have enough supplies to keep the general store stocked for a whole month?" Piper smiled at Nora as she went on. "You hear that, Danny?" She said, approaching the intercom, dramatically raising her voice. "You going to open the gate and let us in? Or are you going to be the one talking to crazy Myrna about losing out on all this supply?"
"Alright, alright," The voice said with a grimace over the intercom. "No need to make it personal, Piper. Give me a minute."
Piper playfully elbowed Nora, the two of them stepping back at the sound of the creaking gate.
"Better head inside quick," She told her. "Before ol' Danny catches onto the bluff."
"Have you done this before?" Nora asked, pausing when the sound of raised voices came through the creaking and scratching of metal against metal while the gate raised. "Is everything –"
"Piper!" Another voice barked as the woman stepped through the gates and into the city alongside Nora. "Who let you back inside?" The man angrily went on, waving for the gate to be shut behind the two women. "I told Sullivan to keep that gate shut!"
"Of course you did," Piper irritably replied, glancing back at the slowly lowering gate behind her and Nora. "You would rather me get torn apart out there than –"
"That's enough out of you!" He shouted. "You devious, rabble rousing, slanderer! The…the level of dishonesty in that paper of yours! I'll have that printer of yours scrapped for parts!"
Piper perked up a bit upon seeing a small figure start down the stairs down into the entrance hall of the city but scowled the second she met the gaze of the man again.
"Ooo, that a statement, Mister McDonough?" Piper dryly replied, waving her hands as though she were writing out a headline. "'Tyrant mayor shuts down the press!' What a headline for the Publick. But, you know, why don't we ask a newcomer!"
Nora took a small step back when both Piper and McDonough turned towards her.
"You support the news?" Piper said, closely looking at Nora. "Because the mayor keeps threatening to throw free speech in the dumpster!"
"Free speech is part of what it means to be Americ –" Nora cut herself off and then sighed. "I absolutely support the news."
"I didn't mean to bring you into this argument, miss," McDonough said, stepping between Piper and Nora. "No, no, don't let this muckraker here tell you –"
"Mayor McDonough, please," The small figure from the stairs stepped into the light of the entrance hall with an equally petite, albeit older woman alongside her. "Piper," She looped an arm around the her with a smile. "Sorry for the trouble."
"Leave her alone," The older woman said, raising an eyebrow when she noticed Nora. "You're being unreasonable."
McDonough pursed his lips and scowled at her but nevertheless walked away towards a lift, swiped an ID card, and stepped inside, still looking irritated when the doors closed and the lift chimed to indicate it was going up.
"I'm surprised we haven't met yet, but I'm happy to meet you nonetheless," The older woman said, reaching over and shaking Nora's hand before guiding her into the city. "I suppose it's understandable. I know you haven't been in Diamond City long, but, c'est la vie. I'm Hadley Branson. You've already met my husband, of course, but –"
"Yes, I have," Nora said with a smile. "He spoke quite highly of you. I'm sorry I didn't try to contact you or your family, but –"
"Don't worry about it," A slightly breathless voice said, running to catch up with the two women, Piper just a few steps behind her. "Dad told us you're trying to find your son, and that you just came out of a Vault. You don't have to worry about us."
"And I see you've already met my daughter in law, and, now, my second eldest," Hadley smiled at the two, all four of them pausing at the top of the stairs, looking down into the city. "Piper, I hope you haven't given her any trouble, and, Lissy, I hope you don't give Danny a hard time for how McDonough ties his hands and manipulates him."
"None at all," Piper said with a smile. "I'm sure she can vouch for that."
"They tried to lock her out of the city, momma," Lissy added, cleaning the dust off her glasses and blowing her slightly shaggy bangs out of her eyes. "But don't worry. Danny has enough anxiety for the whole damn town, not just himself."
"McDonough is an…unpleasant man, I'll admit," Hadley shook her head, walking down into the city common with the three of them. "He has a tendency to stoke fears, particularly about the outside."
"Don't forget what he did to his own brother," Piper bitterly added. "Never mind his brother is my second least favourite mayor, what McDonough did, throwing him out of Diamond City just because he's a ghoul was horrific."
"It is," Hadley agreed, a hint of anger rising in her voice. "Honestly, the way the man approaches humanity is all wrong."
"He's a dick," Lissy said with a shrug, pushing her long hair over her left shoulder. "He'll threaten anyone who gets in his way."
"Hell, he's done that to you, Hadley!" Piper pulled off her hat for a moment and shook some dust out of her long dark hair. "You told him to stop throwing people in jail for minor offences, and he threatened to throw you in jail for suggesting he was attempting to silence critics! And you and your family are from the upper stands!"
Nora turned to her in surprise. "Upper stands?"
"Where all the rich people in Diamond City live," Piper replied, adjusting her hat as she set it back on her head. "Most of them are full of it, but you've got a few who aren't. Though those people usually keep to themselves."
Hadley sighed when Piper muttered something to Lissy that caused her to gasp and then laugh before the couple walked away and into Piper's office. Publick Occurrences. Nora smiled a little, realising the sign and the young girl still outside waving the latest issue of the paper had become something almost normal and grounding.
"Piper is a brilliant young woman," Hadley said, walking with Nora again. "Truthfully, I think she's more insightful than a lot of people around here will give her credit for."
"Sounds like it," Nora agreed. "Do you know what McDonough was talking about? When he said she was a slanderous muckraker?"
Hadley hesitated. "Her latest article, entitled The Synthetic Truth," She slowly began, turning around while they walked to face the younger woman. "Suggested McDonough may be a spy for the Institute. I don't suppose you've heard much about –"
"Oh, dear God, Hadley! What are you thinking, telling people about that garbage?"
Hadley anxiously jumped, tensing when a woman a little older than her haughtily approached, her eyes narrowing when she saw who Hadley was with.
"How lovely," The woman said coldly. "You're telling these things to an outsider, too, one who is nosing around a city she doesn't belong in," She turned half sympathetically to Nora. "Missus Branson is a chatterbox, I'm afraid. She would even talk to the wall if no one else would speak to her."
Hadley frowned, eyes narrowing behind her glasses. "Bitch."
The woman took a step back in a huff. "Really, Hadley? You have nothing more to say than to be uncouth and –"
"I have nothing to say to you beyond what I called you, Ann," Hadley said, crossing her arms. "I don't enjoy wasting my breath."
Nora looked between the two women, relaxing only a little when the woman called Ann walked away.
"Please, let me buy you dinner and a drink," Hadley said, smiling when Nora eventually nodded. "It's the least I can do. Where are you staying?"
"The Dugout Inn," Nora replied, running her hands through her hair. "Is that a problem?"
"Not at all," Hadley reassured her. "I should let you know, Preston contacted me to ask I give you his thanks for all you did for him and the Minutemen in Concord. From the sounds of it, he and Derek are both impressed by and grateful to you. I'm sure you have a great deal you would like to discuss…but, at the very least, I thought you ought to know you are not alone, and there are people who appreciate you."
The Institute
November the 28th, 2287
11:25
"There is no more avoiding the subject: though this 'Railroad' is a nuisance and security risk to the Institute, this new threat of the increasing presence of members of the Brotherhood Of Steel is a pertinent one. We should prepare for their full forces and army to arrive in the Commonwealth within the next year."
To little surprise, the entirety of the Institute Directorate shared exhausted, annoyed, and frassled looks. For the part of the Director, Shaun, and his father, Nate, they were both significantly more calm, albeit themselves irritated by the Brotherhood's growing presence in the Commonwealth. No one was more annoyed by the news than Dr. Justin Ayo, however, whose countenance became increasingly cold and furious. Across from him, Dr. Clayton Holdren appeared much more anxious than anything else, looking between the Director on one end of the table and the Director's father on the other. Dr. Madison Li, next him, appeared completely unbothered and, rather, awaiting elaboration. Beside her, Dr. Allison Filmore appeared frassled and tired, going through notes for both her Division and Advanced Systems, also waiting for elaboration. Dr. Evan Watson, across from her, looked the most exhausted of all of them, both physically and mentally. Dr. Alan Binet, however, beside Dr. Watson, seemed particularly eager for discussion, though whether that were out of a desire for the meeting to be over with or out of genuine anticipation and excitement was, itself, rather unclear.
"How many Brotherhood troops are in the Commonwealth?" Evan finally said, breaking the silence. "If their full forces are not expected to arrive until the next year, that is."
"At the moment, it appears there are not many. The most we can verify to be present in the Commonwealth are three Brotherhood scout missions," Shaun replied. "Two of these have been identified as being registered by the Brotherhood as Reconnaissance Squad Artemis and Reconnaissance Squad Gladius. We do not know much more about them at this time."
"Have we begun further tracing of them?" Justin said with a hint of irritation to his voice. "Or should we send a few Coursers into the field to do so?"
"That could be a prudent step," Nate mused. "Shaun," He said, turning to his son. "Do you think we could potentially put more espionage units in some of the more…hard to reach settlements?"
"Perhaps, though we ought to consider our current espionage operations," Shaun said, looking up at Justin. "Dr. Ayo, what is the status of information coming from M7-62?"
"M7-62 has been providing a great deal of information regarding activities in Diamond City," Justin said shortly. "There have been no further incidents regarding the situation from last year with a man who referred to himself as the 'Last Son Of Atom.' It appears the Children Of Atom themselves have disavowed him as a false prophet, from all the information which has come in from other settlements."
"I must ask, regarding these 'Children Of Atom,'" Allie curiously began. "What do we know about their activities? Are they a potential threat to us?"
"Not likely," Justin replied. "They are a religious cult worshipping radiation. I will admit they fascinate me, but, no, they are not a threat to the Institute in any manner."
"If that is so…" Evan nervously said. "How did they have any association with Diamond City?"
Justin let out an irritated sigh. "This man, who called himself the 'Last Son Of Atom,' was otherwise known as Adam Whately. He appeared to have originated from within the Capital Wasteland and made his way to the Commonwealth at some point during 2285. He wreaked the most havoc midway through last year but he and his followers seem to have disappeared, presumed deceased as they were expelled from the region after attacking Diamond City in an attempt to overtake it."
"The Children Of Atom have been a mix of both peaceful sects who seek to coexist with the rest of the wastelands and more hostile ones – whom I can only describe as militant zealots seeking further nuclear annihilation – since the beginning," Madison added. "Both in the Commonwealth and in the rest of the former United States. Those I encountered in the Capital Wasteland were almost entirely peaceful."
"Speaking of your relationship to the Capital Wasteland, Dr. Li, that brings us to a pertinent topic of discussion," Justin said, eyeing her critically. "With the Brotherhood Of Steel beginning to operate in the Commonwealth, I should think you have more than a few questions to answer."
Madison bristled. "Regarding what? Are you calling my character into question?"
"Indeed I am," Justin said, evenly meeting her increasingly angered gaze. "You were a member of the Brotherhood Of Steel only a bit less than a decade ago, and, considering –"
"Dr. Ayo, if I may be so blunt, though I was a part of the Brotherhood, I distrusted them greatly, and still do," Madison sharply cut in. "My involvement with them was of the honorary rank of Knight due to my work on Project Purity as well as my work on portable fusion power. It was very much an involuntary relationship in the last two years of the war against the 'Enclave,' and, upon the Brotherhood's victory, I left shortly thereafter."
"Dr. Li was granted refuge by the Institute, Dr. Ayo," Shaun said calmly despite the man's cold stare. "I can personally attest she did not trust the Brotherhood, disagreed with their use of military force to control the Capital Wasteland after the war ended, and was very against their attempts to not only weaponise but control her research beyond the necessary scope to end the war."
"The Brotherhood Of Steel have no respect for anyone who does not submit to their very narrow worldview, something which grew all the worse by the 2270s," Madison said primly. "They were, at one point, a group focused on protecting the ordinary citizens of the wastelands. That has become more and more not the case. Their current leadership is something I haven't the faintest clue about, but, when I left, they were led by a man known as Elder Owyn Lyons. I saw a great deal of people who had served for over a decade leave because of his increasingly harsh views, treatments, and punishments of not only members of the Brotherhood but civilians."
Justin frowned. "Are you insinuating you have retained contact with some of these people since then, if they had left the Brotherhood?"
"I have not," Madison said frigidly. "There were only a few members of the Brotherhood who left that I knew personally, and I have not been in any contact with them since I left. I can only think of a few names, but you are not entitled to know of everyone I have ever associated with."
"Dr. Li is a perfectly capable, reasonable, and responsible researcher and Division Head," Shaun said, sending Justin a pointed look. "And, considering your tone, I feel it important to remind you that you are not the Division Head of the Synth Retention Bureau. That role still belongs to Dr. Zimmer, who is himself active in the Capital Wasteland and part of why we are privy to some of these critical movements by the Brotherhood Of Steel."
Justin's eyes narrowed for a brief moment but he quickly regained his composure.
"Security is something I take quite seriously," Justin said with an air of haughtiness. "Hence my concerns. I apologise if I sounded accusatory. Regardless, we do have some external and, notably, internal security issues to address."
Nate raised an eyebrow. "Please begin with the external security issues."
"The primary one relates to M7-62," Justin said, pulling out a folder of classified reports which he pushed across the table towards the aged man. "This was brought to my attention by Dr. Alana Secord after she debriefed a Courser we sent to take the monthly report from M7-62."
Shaun nodded. "Please continue."
"A journalist from within Diamond City has written an article which was entitled 'The Synthetic Truth' referring to M7-62 by his assumed identity of Roger McDonough," Justin said, appearing irritated at the thought. "This journalist correctly identified M7-62 as an Institute agent and synthetic. I tend to concur with Dr. Secord's conclusion we must critically consider our continued postage of M7-62 and whether or not we should retrieve and reset the unit. Additionally, M7-62 has, apparently, expressed interest in becoming a Courser, though that is obviously out of the question."
"Has he?" Alan leaned forward, eyes wide in fascination. "I must say, that's an interesting development. If we do retrieve M7-62, I would like to psycho-analyse him as well as perform brain and bio-scans. I believe this could be further evidence of synth sentience with the Gen 3s."
"Are you mad?" Justin exclaimed. "Have you forgotten –"
"Synth sentience isn't your speciality, Justin," Clayton suddenly said, startling himself. "It's something I imagine all of us have wondered about where the Gen 3s are concerned. Certainly I have. It's a topic I've discussed extensively with Dr. Oberly, actually."
"Is that so?" Justin frowned. "Then I suppose I should remind both you and Dr. Filmore that security is neither of your specialities. Considering, of course, that you, her, and her husband, were all neglectful enough to let Quentin into the Bioscience Division at the beginning of this month. The boy would not have been able to interfere in your synthetic animal experiments if not for such neglect."
"Quentin's behaviour was unpredictable," Allie coldly reminded him. "Nathan and I have both spoken to him extensively about the matter for numerous reasons, not the least of which being because he could have died. As for your accusation of neglect –"
"It was not the fault of either of the Filmores or, truly, even Quentin himself that what transpired was able to," Clayton calmly intervened. "We did not, in Bioscience, put in enough precautions regarding our synthetic animal experiments. We have come to realise we endangered our other experiments as well as our own scientists and students by that, and take full responsibility."
"Thank you, Dr. Holdren," Shaun said, staring at all of them closely. "This infighting is unproductive. We have enough security threats to address, almost all of them external. As such, I must remind all of you that the Brotherhood Of Steel's presence is the greatest external threat we have seen in a long time."
"The Brotherhood Of Steel are just about as strong as the US Military had been before the War," Nate added. "Dr. Zimmer's reports suggest they have harnessed and improved upon technology by the US Military and, indeed, the now non-existent 'Enclave.' They are a serious threat, and to take them lightly would be incredibly foolish."
"Then, our surface operations must continue and expand," Madison shook her head. "The Brotherhood are relentless. They will not stop until they achieve their ends, whatever they may be. That motivation is incredibly concerning on its own, never mind their sheer military and technological power. I will say, to that end, however, we ought to remove Conrad Kellogg from our surface operations."
"Absolutely," Allie said, appearing disdainful at the mere thought of the man. "He is absolutely a security threat, and, that aside, a violent menace. The best thing to do would be to restrain him to the Institute under close watch, although I would rather us not have to associate with him at all."
"I concur with Dr. Li and Dr. Filmore," Clayton said, fidgeting with his hands. "Kellogg is no help to the Institute but, rather, a hinderance."
"He is," Evan agreed. "I could, however, see him as useful in Courser training. Perhaps he could be a 'taste of the worst of the surface' for those we are unsure of their fitness to become a Courser."
Justin nodded shortly. "That is a possibility, yes."
"If I may be so blunt, Conrad is not only a security threat, but a pointless one," Alan paused but began again when no one interrupted him. "A Courser – especially in light of our latest advancements in their development and training – could do the work he does for us at twice the speed, and with significantly fewer chances for exposure because of how much more discretely our Coursers operate compared to Conrad. He was useful for a long while, but keeping him in and out of the field seems to be more trouble than it's worth."
"That issue is not up for debate at this time," Nate said firmly. "Shaun is correct. Our primary concern is the Brotherhood Of Steel, and we must be quite tactical in how we deal with that."
Railroad Headquarters
November the 30th, 2287
21:12
"Carrington, I've already told you what we have to do. Since the destruction of the Switchboard –"
"I am well aware of the precarious situation we are in, Desdemona. There is no reason to be sanctimonious."
Carrington swore under his breath in exasperation, and followed after Desdemona, who began walking towards the mainframe room. Just behind her, Glory briefly turned back to send the doctor a harrowing look to which he gave no response. By the time they reached the mainframe room, PAM was already milling about, taking a look about the files and uploading information to the terminal. Upon noticing Desdemona and, then, Carrington and Glory, PAM turned towards them and waited to be spoken to. Carrington crossed his arms, and sent Desdemona a sharp look to which she returned with an equally venomous one. Glory, tiredly, looked between them. How long have I been the mediator between them? And how many times has Carrington accused me of being always on Des' side? She isn't always right, and she knows it, and I know it…everyone knows it. Hearing nothing from any of them, PAM returned to looking through the files again and uploading key, relevant information to the terminal. With only the hum of machinery, and the echoes of the old crypt, the three stared between each other, only to suddenly turn around and draw their weapons. When they saw the man who had come into the room, they lowered their weapons and he simply smirked at them, twirling his sunglasses in his hands.
"No secrets, no smile," Deacon said, slickly pushing his sunglasses back onto his face. "What are all of you special people doing back here? PAM doesn't give us any information unless we ask for it, you know. You do know, don't you?"
"Of course we do," Glory said, holstering her gun. "What do you want, Deacon?"
"I got more information on the traveller, the one who was coming to Diamond City," Deacon replied, stretching himself out. "Been following her about. She hasn't noticed yet, of course."
"I hope you're not neglecting your primary espionage duties," Carrington said sharply. "We have no reason to believe this traveller will or could be a help us. Caution is prudent, Deacon, and you ought to keep that fact close in your mind."
"Don't worry, Carrington, I've got all my ducks in a row, my shit in a line," Deacon said, rolling his eyes. "You underestimate me. I am a force of nature."
"Deacon, come on," Glory groaned. "Can you stop dancing about the real question? What have you found out about this traveller?"
"Well, why don't you listen to the information I was able to verify from PAM first?" Deacon said with a shrug before gesturing towards the modified assaultron. "PAM! Would you mind sharing the information about this traveller?"
"Request for information. Processing. Referring to information gathered from citizenship and registration records from 2000 until 2077," PAM said, turning around and stepping towards the four gathered. "A town of five thousand people known as 'Sanctuary Hills' was tied to the Army of the United States Of America, the Defence Intelligence Agency of the United States Of America, and the Vault-Tec Corporation Vault given the number 111."
Deacon gave Glory a goofy grin before turning back to PAM with a more serious expression on his face.
"Don't leave us hanging, PAM," Deacon said almost suggestively. "Keep going."
"Vault 111. A protective Vault to ensure survival of two thousand people saw nearly all of its allotted residents enter and be present on the day of the War of October the 23rd, 2077. About half of those residents were associated with Vault-Tec and the Federal Government of the United States Of America. One thousand eight hundred and seventy people were frozen cryogenically. Vault was accessed by unknown agents in the winter of 2227. About one hundred people left the Vault at this immediate interval. By the end of 2228, all other residents exited Vault 111. Error. One resident remained in cryogenic suspension."
"That's our girl!" Deacon let out a war whoop and clapped his hands. "You got a name on her, PAM?"
"Vault-Tec operation systems released final resident of Vault 111 in cryogenic suspension on October the 23rd, 2287. Sex designated at birth, female. Registered gender identity, woman. Ethnicity, caucasian, family originating from Australia as British deportees in the year 1829. Father's family arrived in the United States Of America in the year 1992. Mother's family arrived in the United States Of America in the year 2003. Birthdate November the 7th, 2052. Surname at birth: Adelaide. Legal name: Nora Jacqueline Norwich. Citizenship status: citizen by birth."
Deacon blinked. "Well, that's a lot of information."
"All information was logged in databases of the United States Social Security Administration, subset of the Federal Government of the United States Of America. Discussing Nora Jacqueline Norwich, citizen by birth of the United States Of America. Place of birth, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. Education, undergraduate degree of Political Studies, undergraduate degree of Legal Studies from the University Of Massachusetts. Master's degree of Legal Studies and passage of the Bar examination from the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts via University Of Massachusetts' Suffolk County School Of Law."
"Seems to line up with what we know so far of the traveller Lay's husband and friends met," Deacon nudged Carrington who uncomfortably stepped away from him. "What? She said her name is Nora Norwich and she was a twenty four year old lawyer when she entered that Vault!"
"Occupation description is correct. Nora Jacqueline Norwich, lawyer with South Massachusetts Legal, a civilian run law firm registered in the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts. Married Nathaniel Jonathan Norwich on November the 28th, 2075. Nora Jacqueline Norwich and Nathaniel Jonathan Norwich had a biological child. Biological child, named Shaun Nathaniel Norwich, born in the Massachusetts Bay Medical Centre on July the 9th, 2077."
"When were Nathaniel and Shaun Norwich found to be released from the Vault?" Desdemona pressed, lighting up a cigarette. "PAM? Do you have that date as well?"
"Nathaniel and Shaun Norwich were released from Vault 111 in the winter of 2227. They appear to have been among the first hundred people who exited the Vault. No further records exist about Nathaniel and Shaun Norwich."
"Damn it," Desdemona muttered. "Another dead end? You've got to be kidding me."
"Has anything been logged about Nora Norwich since 2077?" Carrington said, looking coldly between Desdemona, Deacon, and Glory. "Of course, since the her release?"
"Nora Jacqueline Norwich. Fingerprints identified as opening the permissions to re-open the Vault using a Pip-Boy. Each Vault holds a Pip-Boy for an excess of its inhabitants. Vault was re-opened twice more after this initial exit. Subject appears to have entered with one additional companion. A total of thirteen Pip-Boys, including the one in use by Nora Jacqueline Norwich, were retrieved."
"That's our girl!" Deacon cheered. "I mean, just look at the Pip-Boys on your wrists."
Desdemona and Glory shared an awkward look before glancing between each other and their Pip-Boys. Carrington, however, irritably cleared his throat, staring the two women and Deacon down harshly.
"I understand half of the twelve Pip-Boys the Minutemen retrieved were for the use of the Branson family, but why do we need the other half? Is this simply a vanity point, for you, Desdemona?"
"Tom needed access to pre-War technology and a system this advanced for his research and for any operations he may take up on the surface. Glory needed a system to put herself ahead of the Institute in her work as a Heavy, particularly as a synth herself. The three other, spare Pip-Boys share that same purpose," Desdemona hesitated. "As for me needing one…I need to be able to know everything I can. I can't be safe, I can't protect anyone else on surface operations if I can't protect myself. I can't let anything happen to another person, not after what happened to my brother."
"Your brother?" Carrington took a small step back. "Desdemona, what happened to your brother was not at any fault of your own."
"So much as I appreciate what you're saying, Carrington, Sam's death in the Switchboard was mine, no one else's, including the Institute's," Desdemona swallowed hard, and then took a long draw on her cig. "I was left alone to take care of him when I was twelve and our parents died, when our parents were murdered by members of the Brotherhood Of Steel. And we had been living in the wasteland of what had once been Pennsylvania. He and I had to make our way to the Commonwealth, on our own, and barely survived. And, then, when I was twenty five, he died in the Switchboard. He was –"
"You're only illustrating your own ill-preparation to become leader of the Railroad," Carrington warned her, though his voice was significantly kinder. "Desdemona, you are the youngest of the Railroad's leaders in the organisation's history, and only became twenty six in the past few months. You are a good speaker, and passionate about the synths and their lives. But you are also incredibly young, and idealistic."
"You're only a few years older than Lay's eldest kid. The kid's name is Lana, isn't it?" Deacon shook his head. "You're a good leader, Des. And your brother has got to be super proud of you. He's still watching you from the beyond, Des. I'm sure he's proud of everything you've done, and, one day, you'll reunite. I mean, he even helped you write this."
Desdemona winced upon hearing her own voice come out of PAM after Deacon uploaded a holotape into her.
"Wake up, Commonwealth," PAM said. "Synths are not your enemy. They are victims in this war, as well. True, they were created by the Institute. But they were created as slaves. Thinking, feeling, and dreaming beings utterly oppressed by their tyrannical masters. Synths are mostly organic, only part machine. Somewhere along the line they became more than just constructs. So, join with us in fighting the real enemy: the Institute. Join the Railroad when you're ready for that next step. Don't worry: we'll find you."
The holotape complete, Deacon removed it and PAM returned to the terminal and the filing. A bit shaken, Desdemona began to pace, finishing the first and then lighting up another cig. Carrington scowled at Deacon for his distraction, and Glory, with not a moment to consider otherwise, came over to and tightly embraced Desdemona, holding her close the best she could while Desdemona continued to shakily draw on her cig.
"Tell us, PAM," Deacon said, uncomfortably taking in the room. "What's the status with Patriot?"
"Variable Patriot. Institute scientist who makes contact to release synths from the Institute. Status of the recent released synths: positive. All synths have been through memory wipe and Goodneighbour. They have safely and successfully left the Commonwealth. No new information about the identity of Patriot or their motivations in releasing synths from the Institute have been found."
"Shit," Deacon pulled off his sunglasses and began to chew on the ends of them. "Well, do you think there's any chance of us getting into the Institute?"
"Chances of entering the Institute by Railroad operatives. Projected success rate…5% chance of successful infiltration of the Institute by Railroad operatives. Requirements to enter Institute are high. Error. No entrance exists other than an old laboratory belonging to the Commonwealth Institute Of Technology."
Desdemona suddenly turned towards PAM, nearly burning herself with her cig in the process.
"There is an old laboratory in the CIT ruins that can be accessed by those on the surface?" She exclaimed. "How is that possible? How has no one found that by now?"
"Entrance hidden by false storage safe with heavy locking mechanisms. Probability of cracking the locks…20%. Chance of discovery of false storage safe…2%."
"Do you have the details on where that entrance is?" Desdemona's hands began shaking rapidly, and her voice quickening. "PAM, this could be crucial!"
"Information available suggests location is, under 83% probability, at the ruins of the CIT sorority house Delta Gamma. Location is, under 98% probability, covered by extensive and potentially immobile rubble."
"Thank you, PAM," Desdemona turned to Carrington. "Well? That is the best lead we have ever gotten."
"It's a wild goose chase at best," Carrington said, an edge of serious concern entering his voice. "Do not go out there, Desdemona. You do not seem –"
"I am perfectly fine and capable, Carrington –" She irritably began.
"Des," Glory gently cut in, setting her hands to steady Desdemona's shoulders. "We need to think this through, carefully. And no one wants to lose you. I think you need to see Hadley."
"You've been under a lot of pressure, Des, and you've never been more productive, crazily productive, even" Deacon agreed. "But Glory and Carrington are right. Isn't it possible you're –"
"Hadley deals with helping her own kid manage living with this," Glory said reassuringly. "And she's helped you before. You can't go on forever swinging in between being madly productive yet sensitive the way you were for eight months or so last year to so drained you can barely eat or drink or do much more than sleep like you were in the immediate two months following your brother's death. No one could. You're a strong person, and a strong leader, Des…none of this makes you weak."
Sanctuary Hills
December the 1st, 2287
9:29
Sanctuary Hills looked nearly nothing like it had on any day he could remember before October the 23rd, 2077. Yet, for as decrepit as it had looked and, indeed, been since that day, Sanctuary Hills was looking brighter, better, and more alive than it had in the more than two centuries since the world they knew before fell to pieces.
For unit designation CW-928, unit model 'Mister Handy,' created by General Atomics International and manufactured by RobCo in May of 2077, having grown to, in the five months of his living and service of them, care deeply about one family had been a heartache for two hundred and ten years whilst they were, he had since learnt, in cryogenic suspension in Vault 111. Hearing the woman of that family to be not only alive but to be calling out to him while he trimmed hedges after all that time had nearly brought his systems to a halt. Yes, hearing her voice and, then, her very same voice calling out to him, calling him by his name, had been lifechanging. It had reminded him of why he had been so diligent. For as relieved as Nora Jacqueline Norwich had been to see, hear, and find Codsworth, her relief had been, just as much, shared by Codsworth himself, almost as though he had been brought back into the world before the War. But she had left Sanctuary Hills, again, this time in search of the other two pieces of the family. She had not left, however, without leaving him company, and good company it was. The young man, dressed as though he himself had donned the historical robes of the Minutemen of centuries long since passed, had been the first to return after departing briefly with Nora, whom he assured the worried robot was safe and would return herself in time. In the little over a month since his own return, the kind young man had been eager to get to know the robot. How he had addressed him would have brought the robot to tears, had he been capable of the action of crying.
"Codsworth Norwich, isn't it? I'm Preston Garvey. I'm leading the Minutemen…or, at least, what's left of them. I hope we can make Sanctuary our new home…and that we will be able to help other settlements in due time. The Commonwealth should be a safe place for all those who simply want to live in peace."
Saying he had been eager to get to know and get to work with the young man and his companions would have been an understatement. No, Codsworth knew, as far as his programmers' knowledge of the English language had detailed, what he was feeling was something he had not felt since he had first been treated as a member of the Norwich family just after his unboxing. Elation. The word described, according to the Oxford English Dictionary in the year 2077, an emotion so strong that it was 'a feeling of great happiness and excitement.' The feeling was so wonderful, as it were, he had run diagnostics of his systems repeatedly until he was certain there were no errors. It was a genuine feeling, and one he was happy to act upon. Though Nora's return was not set as a certain and specific date, knowing he was aiding those whom aided her and to whom she had provided aid was a service in and of itself of which he was proud to call as being of his own volition. In so many ways, he found himself reminded over and over of how life was when he first joined the Norwich family, only, now, he was firmly a part of that family and helping rebuild not only their lives but the lives of so many other people whom themselves were dedicated to helping more people rebuild their lives.
"Thank you, Codsworth, it's almost a miracle how easily you can soothe him," Nathaniel Norwich had said, sipping a bit of coffee while his wife and their newborn son slept. "She needs the rest just as much as he does. I can't believe she's going back to work so soon. I've never known anyone else so strong."
"Young Shaun is a wonderful baby," Codsworth had affectionately replied. "He may be only two months old, but he already is forming quite the personality. I'm sure he will do great things when he's older, and I only hope I'll be around to see it."
"You will, Codsworth," Nathaniel had reassured him. "You're part of the family. I'm sure, if she were conscious, Nora would agree. But, I suppose, for now, we ought to let her and Shaun sleep."
There was something about each of the memories he had stored of life before the War with the Norwich family which Codsworth held dear. Each and every one of them were a reminder that good people existed in the world, even in a time where tensions had been running so high. Being a witness to both how different and how the same Nora Norwich was in her judgement of people over two centuries later was something of a gift Codsworth knew he would never forget. In a world where he had felt so alone, he was now surrounded by good people. It was not only Nora and the hope for her and her family which kept him going, now. It was the knowledge of the hope which existed in the world well beyond Sanctuary Hills. There were many questions he already knew he would have for Nora when she returned, but, for the moment, he set them aside. Life was no longer simply about trying to return the town to its pre-War self all alone but working, slowly, on rebuilding it so life could flourish there once more now the War was passed. Time could not be changed nor faded, but the future could be brighter. More than anything else, however, for Codsworth, he was simply happy to be around his family again and, just as much, being around people who reminded him of his family again.
"Oh, good, you have returned safely from your patrol! Do you need anything, Mister Garvey? Some purified water, perhaps? It wouldn't do anyone good to be dehydrated! I filter the groundwater daily, as I can fill up pools of water in my reserves, and even use my condensers!"
"I appreciate it, thanks Codsworth," Preston smiled at the robot, holstered his laser musket, and took the glass of purified water from him. "Has everything been alright around here?"
"As well as it can be, sir!" Codsworth said cheerfully. "Mister Branson arrived early this morning with more supplies from Diamond City! He also informed me he has a note from his wife that is addressed to you. Mister Sturges has been hard at work constructing homes from what remains of those here around us, and has also managed to create a working power generator! This has given us both cooling and heating as well as a few small lights in the home we have taken up residence in."
"That's great news," Preston said, pausing to sip some of his water. "How is Jun doing?"
"He is still in a state of shell shock, I'm afraid," Codsworth said. "His wife has been a great comfort to him in this time. The loss of their son has taken them quite harshly, as one could expect. I do hope they will be able to rebuild their family here. The loss of a child is an unfathomable pain. They deserve a second chance to be a family."
"Yes, they do," Preston agreed, his face falling at the memories of what happened in Quincy and Lexington. "How about Mama Murphy? Is she alright?"
"More or less so," Codsworth replied. "Mister Sturges constructed, for her, a rather comfortable chair she seems more content to sleep in than under a blanket in a bed. I'm afraid she is still demanding chems so she can use 'the Sight.' I have taken the liberty of confiscating any chems I find near her so as to prevent her from harming herself. So far, she seems to have been clean since arriving in Sanctuary."
Preston sighed. "Which chems has she been demanding?"
"Jet and mentats," Codsworth said. "The only chems I have found in our settlement are stimpaks and radaway, both of which are non-addictive and serve a purpose solely for the preservation of health."
"Thanks for keeping an eye on her, Codsworth," Preston said, the robot following him while he walked into the home still under renovation. "You're doing a good deed."
"Preston!" Sturges exclaimed when he entered the main room of the home. "Good to see you're still looking alright. What do you think? Lots of work has gotten done here in just the past few days, let alone the past few weeks. And I'd be lying if I didn't say we all are happy to have you back."
"Glad to be back, Sturges," Preston said with a small smile. "I see you've rolled out the map again. Glad we finally have a table to pin it down on."
"Identifying settlements in the Commonwealth is important," Sturges said, walking over to his toolboxes. "We've got some identified that might need help. We've also marked the Castle, since I know, one day, we could retake it."
"Alright," Preston said, stepping over to the map. "What are the coloured thumbtacks for? Or from, actually. I haven't seen this many in a long time."
"Those are some I have scavenged over the past two centuries, sir," Codsworth said, heading towards the kitchen. "I'll begin making some food for the day."
"The red thumbtacks are settlements we lost but can retake," Derek said, stepping over towards the table and map himself. "The blue ones are settlements we know of and might want to join us if we can help protect them. The green ones are settlements that might be inhabited but, if they aren't, we could set up a radio recruitment beacon to help people find and build a new home. The yellow ones are settlements that are most likely inhabited by people who will most likely be hostile to us. The orange ones are settlements that are larger, cities that will trade with us."
"Makes enough sense," Preston said, taking a closer look at the map. "Do we have any names of the settlements, other than the cities?"
"Yeah, a few," Sturges said. "This one is a farm manned by a family, the ones named Abernathy I know you'll be heading out to help soon, since they appear to be requesting aid. Then there's this one, way over here, also a family farm, but I think their name is Finch. Way, way, way out there is the old Boston Logan International Airport, which I've heard is manned by a few people from the Brotherhood Of Steel."
"I wouldn't be surprised if that rumour is true," Derek said grimly, taking off and cleaning his glasses. "I know a few Brotherhood troops have entered the Commonwealth. It's incredibly concerning."
"There's a settlement over here I've heard is called The Slog," Sturges added. "Supposedly it's a farm all run by ghouls."
"We should absolutely reach out to them," Derek put in. "Ghouls get treated horribly for no reason, no reason at all. It's not a problem exclusive to the Commonwealth, but Diamond City's mayor is a great or, I suppose, terrible example of how profound that problem is. The treatment of ghouls was another reason I left the Brotherhood. The views they began to take on ghouls were abhorrent."
"You're right," Preston said. "They want to live peacefully, just as so many of the rest of us do. Oh! Also, Codsworth said you had a note from your wife for me?"
Derek nodded. "Here you go."
Preston smiled when he began to read the note.
Preston –
I have a message for you from Nora. She's heading for the Abernathy family farm to help them out. After I told her Derek knew you were planning to head there soon, she said she had to help you. Her message is dictated as follows:
I can't be fully selfish, and spend all my time focusing on myself. There are too many people in the Commonwealth who need help, and the Minutemen seem to be the only people willing to do so. And, after everything that happened in Concord, at the Museum Of Freedom…I'm happy to return the favour.
Though I can't fully speak to Nora's state of mind, I do think she's a good soul. I haven't had many conversations with her, but she seems to want to help people retain their individual liberties just as much as the rest of the Minutemen do...and I think she's looking for productive ways to process her grief for the world she used to know, the life she had before, and a distraction from the pain of facing a long road ahead for finding her son and husband. Regardless, I'm sure you'll be able to discuss things further with her when you two both arrive at the Abernathy family farm.
Garde le pour toi, fais attention,
Hadley Anne Branson
"I'm a bit surprised to hear Nora left Diamond City and is going to the Abernathy farm," Preston cheerfully said. "But I'm happy to hear it nonetheless. I'm surprised to hear her say she's happy to return the favour. Truthfully, that's something I wanted to say to her."
"It's wonderful news!" Codsworth exclaimed. "May I accompany you for this, Mister Garvey? I would love to see her again!"
"Of course, Codsworth," Preston said with a small chuckle. "I'm sure we would love to have you accompany us too."