The House Never Dies 9 - (Fallout x Xover, RobertHouse!SI)
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Edward Lane was a staunch 'Housite'.
The term had been one of the few elements that many endorsed and embraced when Robert House reforged the United States under his control. Democracy was the structural basis of their government, with House serving as their immortal president.
To some, there was a degree of unease in knowing that an immortal man was the President, but to the Lane family and others that had seen nothing but goodness in President House's leadership found these rumors utter rubbish. Then again, words were words and rumors were dispelled by proper fact-checking.
As a representative of the New US Congress, Edward had been enlisted with a simple goal in mind: the Douglas Commission for the Eradication of the Enclave in Chicago had requested a report from a gruop of experts led by him, and he was soon taking a Vertibird to arrive to Fort Deaborn.
Securitrons had been provided for the expedition, but a more 'humane' touch was given in the form of the main security asset, Agent Cooper Howard. To most people, Cooper Howard was a normal man- a bit on the balding side and clearly influenced by radiation but nothing else stood out about him.
Except the fact he was about more than a century old and expected to live three more centuries due to his previous Ghoulification.
Cooper had been the first of many Ghouls to accept House's medical assistance in reversing the troubles of ghoulifications and restore both his body and mind, but it was perhaps his expanded lifespan that truly baffled most - for some reason, the intense surgery that came from de-Ghoulifying citizens led to the restored cells to actually preserved a 'unnaturally lenghtier life'.
It goes without a saying that some in the Congress tried to force legislation to allow 'willing Ghoulification' to actually gain longer lifespans, but the motions were entirely suppressed either by Representatives or by Senators.
House also spoke negatively on such 'brazen idea' saying that 'eventually' that may be approached in a safer and risk-free path. It made sense, on a logical basis, to not rush progress when it comes to dangerous matters.
Still, Cooper was the 'street-smart man' meant to act as the human barrier between the representatives and the individuals held in Fort Deaborn.
The settlement had been once the main Enclave base, but it had been mostly stripped of its fortifications. Most of it had been actually repurposed to be a proper fort, with the military automats patrolling its surroundings while some political leaders rallied from the ex-Enclave were given the means to form a new representative force.
Upon arrival, Lane was directed to speak with Hughes Kennedy II, the representative in charge of the fort.
Hughes was roughly three years his senior, yet it felt like the man was a decade or so older than him with how wrinkled and weary he appeared to be. Despite some unease between the two parties, Lane was keen to be trusting of Hughes' willingness to engage in dialogue.
"After all, it is the basis of old and new America."
These words struck a curious chord with the older representative, but it took a few days for those to warrant a 'reaction' of sort. In the mean time, Lane got busy checking accounts, enlisting the help of the robots tasked with recording all evidence and material of the ill-practices of the Enclave.
Cases of indoctrination, political favoritism, nepotism, and far worse within the walls of what called itself the 'true face of Old America'.
To say that Edward was aghast of what he found himself, confirming the many warnings he had been given before departing for Fort Deaborn, would be a massive understatement. He had known that the Enclave was the embodiment of what had been wrong with the previous federal government...
But this? This was far worse than he had expected. It's not been even two days and he had more than eighty pages of notes that he would have to then expand with proper references and further details.
"Why are you surprised, lad? That's the Ol' USA to ya."
Cooper's snarky comment felt less than an attack to Lane, but one aimed to the country Cooper once served. Having read his dossier, Lane knew of Cooper's service against the Chinese and how he had left that conflict a jaded man. One that died once more when the nukes were used.
Still, the truest moment of clarity came on Day 3. Lane was finally invited by Representative Kennedy for dinner. And as the two men sat down to eat by one of the private rooms in the fort, with Cooper leaning by the wall beside the room's only door, some interesting matters came up.
"What is House's plan for the 'new' America?"
"Space," Lane curtly replied, remembering the way that the Presidency had remarked the importance to reclaim control of such an important sector in the planet's existence. "The President seeks to rely on satellites to provide us with a clear view on what happened to the other nations. We believe that China has splintered in warring states and that Europe is ruled by tribes."
Kennedy appeared surprised, but also disappointed. It became clear why on the latter as he pressed on a more specific question.
"What about the country?"
"Reconstruction. It will be like 1865 all over again after the First Civil War," Lane answered with a calmer tone. "Our country is deeply ruined and divided. All we can do is to get back on our feet and expand on what we have currently at our disposal."
"Which is unlimited resources being given to us by a single man. A man that was around when my grandfather was Senator in Washington D.C. and... a man that my grandfather loathed," The representative remarked. "Hugh Kennedy I wanted the war with the Chinese. We got it, but he always regretted to know that House had been right - it would be a massive disaster."
Lane slowly nodded, yet he frowned over the mention of Hugh Kennedy I. "From what I read on the files on the Enclave, your grandfather was a founding member of this branch of the Enclave."
"He was. Until he realized he had fiddled with snakes in man's clothing," The former Enclave politician bitterly remarked, pouring himself a glass of 'New Freedom Nuka Cola'. "Believe me when I say that I do respect House, Edward. Strong man, smart bastard. But I have to be careful with whom I put my faith onto without falling for the same mistakes made by my grandpa."
"A fair argument, Hughes. But trust me when I say that no one will force it down your throat. After all, the First Amendment has been restored in its full capacity, and 'loyalty to the President' ain't our thing for New America. Loyalty is first and foremost to the people."
"Congress?" He argued. "The government has to have legitimacy-"
"Which it has by being voted upon without any limitation on who votes as long as they were born in those lands."
"Even the Chinese in San Francisco? I heard of them, but I don't know what House did of them."
"They were reorganized as a fraction of the Californian State," Lane answered. "Young people, no ties with Beijing."
Hughes paused. "Bei-what?"
"Beijing. Capital of China before the war."
"Never heard of it," The man frowned and Lane sighed. "Something about it?"
"No, it's just... are you familiar with the accusations leveled to the higher-ups of the Enclave? Indoctrination and all?"
"...Something of the kind, yeah."
"Well, that's part of it. Geography had been outright removed as part of the propaganda you were all subjected to."
"For real? What for? What's the point of 'purposely' removing the subject of places and locations."
"History- revisionism from the Enclave found it easier to centralize locational matters to the history they forged- one where America never lost."
...
"America lost?"
"A few times, but we pulled back. Never giving up," Lane afforded with a smile, something that still rattled the fellow representative. "To say that a country never fails would be a mistake on itself. Our country lost in 1812 against the British, we lost ourselves with the First Civil War, and then we had that cold war that led up to this very moment."
"But what's the point of remember those tragedies?"
"Simple. We all fall down one way or another. And it is only fine for our country to be an example of what one has to do: dust yourself, get up and get back on track to achieve your dreams- all within caution, logic, and without violating others' rights."
"I suppose it has some merits. House truly doesn't care what crap is hurled at him?"
Lane shrugged. "He definitely does not. Many that supports him hate the rumors leveled at him, but he made it clear he will not support, condone or even protect those that try to do 'justice' for him. Anyone is free to say what they want until it becomes riotful speeches and plans for violence."
"...Sounds like America of Old is dead."
Lane raised his cup. "And the new one shall forge a greater path."
But for now, Lane went back to his chores after that dinner. There was still much to do - especially when the Reconstruction was not bound to last for little. Not when many people didn't share the same mindset as his new friend from the ex Enclave.
AN
Lane and Kennedy are both OCs, one represent the new political class made by fresh idealists of the post-war generations, while the other represents one forged by a group that refuses to let go of the past and tries to immortalize it.