Hello all! Been a very long hiatus on this project, but we're back and regular updates will resume. To anyone still reading, my eternal thanks and as always enjoy the story.
The sun hung low over the horizon as a trio made their way down a slightly cluttered Boston street, the last warm light of the day urging them the last few hundred feet toward the gate to Diamond City. Other travelers, mostly laborers from the nearby workshops and rooftop greenhouses, clogged the roadway as they made their way back to the safety of the Commonwealth's jewel. Even this close to sunset, the streets were kept relatively safe thanks to guard towers manned by defenders from both Diamond City and Goodneighbor.
While the rest of the Commonwealth was a loose collection of fallow farmsteads and raider dens the roads between Diamond City, Goodneighbor, and Bunker Hill were relatively safe even near sunset. The "Boston Triangle" as it was called, was a remnant of civilization holding on as the settlements outside the city fought over the scraps of the Minutemen. Here was where the leader of the trio, Nora, had started anew far away from the other… her rallying the Minuteman up north, and right in the middle of the silent war that had destroyed them at Quincy
"Oh thank god," Piper Wright said, adjusting her hold on a bulky container in her arms as they passed through the front gate. "Another half mile carrying this thing and I would have collapsed in the nearest storm drain."
"You were the one who got the tip, remember?" Nick Valentine said as he lit a cigarette. "You know the rules, you get our noses in the dirt digging for truffles and you're the one who carries the haul back home."
"Comparing me to pigs are you?" Piper huffed as they came out of the entry tunnel to look out across the bustling settlement.
"You're cuter than a pig if that counts," Nora said, the plates of her armor lightly shifting over the reinforced vault suit beneath them. "And trust me Piper, once we decrypt that drive it'll be worth it."
"At least I have this month's headline for Publick Occurrences," Piper said, rolling her eyes. "The Sole Survivor and intrepid allies raid Operator safe house. Oh man, McDonough is going to go mental when he finds out how close they were to the Goodneighbor route. Might send him an extra copy just to be sure he goes nuclear."
"I'm just happy it wasn't another Disciples operation," Nick said, taking a draw off his cigarette. "You have any idea how hard it is to clean blood from neck servos?"
"Lucky for us, the Minutemen have been dealing with those psychos," Nora said as they descended the stairs down into the market. "Someone should really figure out where they're coming from before they eat their way through the local raiders and start going after the smaller settlements."
"I'd put good money on your, eh, sister having that task on her list," Nick said, flicking his depleted cigarette into a trash can. "Listen, ladies, it's been fun but I have to go check in with Ellie and close a few of the case files we settled. Give me a ring if you find anything good on that drive, you hear?"
"Of course Nick, give Ellie my best," Nora said, waving to the Synth as he disappeared into the crowd.
"You have Nat tonight, Piper?" Nora asked, turning to look at Piper who had deposited the container onto a busted printing press outside her home.
"No, she's staying at the school tonight and has lessons all day tomorrow," Piper said, taking off her cap and releasing a few stray locks of messy black hair as she wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Well then, seeing as we've spent all day trudging through back alleys and getting into gunfights I was wondering if you'd like to use my shower," Nora said, stepping forward and gently pushing a lock of hair behind the younger woman's ear. "Or has McDonough finally stopped cutting off your hot water?"
"He…he did actually," Piper said, stuttering slightly as Nora's fingertips traced her jaw. "He's been in a much better mood since he and his brother made up, but…but…but it's lukewarm at best."
"Oh pity, a girl like you needs a hot shower after a long day," Nora said, patting Piper's cheek as she savored the word "hot". "Plus, I've got that floral soap you like, all yours if you take me up on my offer. We can crack open that bottle of bourbon I've been saving, let that drive decrypt, and…well who knows what we'll get up to."
"That, uh, sounds like a really good plan," Piper said, her breathing just a bit heavier.
"Good, you can carry the container to Home Plate then," Nora said, winking at her and turning to walk towards her home.
"You…you tease," Piper said, her face red. "You just want me to carry this stupid box!"
"So that's a no on using my shower then?" Nora said, looking over her shoulder to blow the reporter a kiss.
Nora strode through the still bustling traffic of the market, trying not to laugh at Piper's grumbling behind her as they made their way to her front door. Once they were inside, Nora took the container from Piper's hands and kissed her on the cheek before walking it over to her personal terminal, a beastly setup with its own processing tower. She went to work opening the container and connecting the blocky white and yellow drive within to the tower, activating a specially designed decryption program once the connection was secure.
"How long do you think it's going to take?" Piper asked as Nora stepped back from the terminal.
"Shouldn't be too long," Nora said, wrapping an arm around Piper's shoulders. "This is a Railroad drive, salvaged Institute tech, so nothing too insurmountable. By the time you're out of the shower we should have some reading material for the night."
"Not, um, joining me?" Piper asked, her face somehow turning an even darker shade of red.
"No sweetie, I'm gonna check on Dogmeat," Nora said, running the back of her hand down one of Piper's cheeks. "We have all night together, love. Go and enjoy your shower, you've earned it."
"Alright," Piper said, sounding more than a little disappointed as she sauntered off toward the shower.
Nora waited until Piper was up the stairs before she turned and made her way through the house to an area overflowing with pillows. She heard the sounds of the shower starting and Nora pursed her lips as she rethought not joining the intrepid reporter. Only to reconsider as a very wet nose pressed into her palm and she looked down to see her favorite person on earth looking up at her from a well-worn dog bed.
"Hey there boy," Nora said, kneeling down to scratch the three-legged dog just behind one near-nonexistent ear. "How's my favorite guy doing, huh?"
Dogmeat happily vibrated at her touch and nuzzled his head into her hand; gleefully panting as she showered him with attention.
"Good boy," She said, trying her best to ignore the long jagged scar running horizontally across the dog's midsection as she scratched behind his ears. "Such a good boy, did anything happen while I was gone?"
Dogmeat barked happily and made a show of shaking his head.
"Good," Nora said, standing up and giving him one last pat. "Tell you what, tomorrow morning someone's getting an extra strip of Brahmin jerky in his breakfast for being such a good boy."
Nora stood and left the dog to happily watch her as she walked over to a shelf where she deposited her pack and belt. The Plasma pistol she carried on her hip slipped from the holster, and Nora saw the initials etched into the faded metal casing, Nate's initials. She reached forward and traced a fingertip over the engraving, part of her drifting back to vault 111 and the gunshot that had killed the only man she'd ever sort of loved. Sliding the gun back into its holster, Nora turned around and stared across the room at the map of the Commonwealth hanging over her terminal.
"Are you really out there, Shaun?" She asked the air. "Are you really the man she says you are?"
Dogmeat went quiet as his person talked to herself, he'd learned not to get involved months ago.
"Do you know they killed your father?" She asked, sighing as she blinked tears away to fully consider the map. "Do you even care?"
The map was segmented by drawings and notes signifying safe houses, patrol routes, and sightings of Synths. Scattered across it were settlements trying to hold on against the worst the wastes had to offer; a golden thread linking each settlement brought in the fold of the new Minutemen. To almost everyone, it looked like visual gibberish, the inane scribblings of an obsessed woman who'd lost her son and been subjected to centuries of cryostasis. But to Nora, it looked like a shadow war being played out just beneath the surface of the Commonwealth. A war she was going to drag into the light.
"Shower's free."
Nora looked over her shoulder to see Piper standing at the foot of the stairs, wearing a fluffy bathrobe with her hair up in an old towel.
"I'm fine," Nora said turning back to the terminal. "I'll wash up after I get a look at what's on this drive. This could be a huge find, Piper, a protected drive stolen from a Railroad chop shop before they could wipe it. With this, we'll be a step closer to finding them, and have just the bait we need to draw out the…the Institute's bogeyman."
"You think they'll really send him?" Piper asked. "Don't you think they'd be better off sicking an attack squad of Gen 2s on us?"
"No, we found those custom .44 casings at three other Operator safe houses, remember?" Nora said. "The Institute is very interested in this drive, and they've let their favorite dog out to fetch it. Kellogg's going to be coming for it, I know it, and when he does we'll be here to stop him."
"And through him, we get solid information on the Institute," Piper said, nodding. "So, what do you think's in the drive? My money's on a list of Synth infiltrators the Railroad deployed, their network for escaped Synths couldn't function without them after all. Considering they do the same memory wipe as the Institute, there has to be a list somewhere so they know who's theirs when things need to get exciting."
"Well, we're about to find out," Nora said, leaning forward as the decryption was completed and a list of file names appeared on her terminal.
DiMA memory archive: cache #07 [The Railroad]
DiMA memory archive: cache #12 [Acadia]
DiMA memory archive: cache #00[Cornerstone Candidate]
Clean Slate Protocol
Freedom Trail protocol
"What the hell is a DiMA?" Piper asked.
?
Urdnot Khinka was having a good day. Her morning had started with a hearty breakfast, an omelet made from what the locals called a Deathclaw egg and Krogan spices, and now it was ending with the culmination of her grandmother's efforts. She stood over the proceedings in a booth watching the two delegations meet for the first time. One, the collected representatives of this world's peoples, and the other the power brokers of the civilized galaxy. Khinka's grandmother was fond of these moments, a tipping point in a civilization's development where a whole new future could be forged.
While it was an exciting moment, Khinka was more than a bit amused that these kinds of proceedings almost always devolved into several hours of bureaucratic negotiations. Nearly six hours had passed since the summit had started, and in that time the the Mojave's representatives had all but forced the Shard council to clarify every minute detail of the agreement. Really, she had to commend the Mojave's utter guile, amending aspects of the agreement seemingly on the fly while "acquiescing" to the suggestion of the Shard council when it suited them. Despite being a far less powerful society, the Mojave knew how to cut a deal.
"The Mojave Republic will hereby recognize the legitimacy, and jurisdiction, of the Shard Council's official IFF transponder registry, and all regulations required of it," Veronica Santangelo, the Republic's defacto head said as she addressed the Shard Council. "In exchange, the Council will officially grant sovereignty of the Sol system, its wealth in resources and solar energy, to the Mojave Republic in perpetuity."
"By unanimous vote, the Shard Council ratifies this agreement," The Quarian councilor said as her fellow council members nodded. "But the council has one addendum to make regarding the republic's sovereign territory."
"And here comes the sugar for the tea," Khinka said, suppressing a chuckle.
"We haven't received any information on a possible addendum," Rex Craster, the earth's representative to the council said. "Unless I'm mistaken, this council is built upon transparency and cooperation."
"It is, Representative Craster," The councilor said, nodding. "You will have to forgive some of our more theatrical representatives for a bit of showmanship as you call it, but we believe you will find this addendum quite a pleasant one."
Another holo display activated and the image of a planet appeared before them. It was an arid world, just a fraction larger than the earth with a surface that was covered in shrubland plains, wetlands, and young proto forests just beginning to spread across the continents. Khinka leaned against the rail and watched the human representatives read lines of information as they appeared on the display.
"This is Ji," The Batarian councilor said. "A world far beyond the edge of my people's explored space, and the closest world by relay to the Sol system. Ji was hit by a large comet within the last hundred thousand years which caused a near-total ecological collapse from which it's only just now recovering. The resulting biosphere is young but supports oxygen breathing and levo amino acid-based life forms adequately enough that it was scouted for colonization. Even a Batarian version of what I believe you call Terraforming was planned, as the biosphere is at an extremely malleable stage of its recovery."
Santangelo recognized where the speech was going first, at least she visibly reacted to it first. Craster was next, not smiling or blinking in confusion, but looking up at Khinka with a searching expression that she answered with a smile. He and Santangelo really were the clever ones, already doing the mental calculus of this little gesture. Then the rest of the room caught on to the implication and a low murmur spread through them as the reality of what was being offered was comprehended.
"Ji possesses significant resource deposits complemented by a solar system high in metallicity," The Batarian continued, obviously enjoying the quiet tumult from the crowd. "There are two jovians in the system, slightly smaller than your Jupiter but fulfilling a similar role in keeping extrasolar objects from tearing Ji to shreds. Add in the fact the system's star is stable, and you have the makings of an excellent colonization target, even if it's what you would call a "fixer-upper". Which is why we are offering the Ji system freely to the Mojave republic, both in hope of future friendship with Humanity but also as a show goodwill to a species who has suffered much."
"You're giving us an entire solar system?" Santangelo asked, her voice cutting through the low roar of the murmurs.
"Yes, we are," The Quarian councilor said. "Humanity has proven itself to be tenacious, resolute, and willing to learn from its past. Those are traits that are to be valued, while the Earth is your home it is also an irradiated world half frozen by a lingering nuclear winter. While you have the means to strip the radiation from the soil and sow it with life once more, that will take time even with assistance from your sponsor. Ji represents a world untouched by radiation, one where you can put your ingenuity and sciences towards a place for humanity to thrive in a fraction of the time. In decades Ji can be a thriving garden world while the Earth requires a century of labor to even begin its recovery."
"A solar system worth an unfathomable amount of capital handed over as a gesture of goodwill?" Craster asked, turning his gaze back onto the council. "Excuse me if I sound skeptical, but what's the catch?"
"Catch, Representative Craster?" The Turian councilor asked. "Have you read the history of your sponsors, the Krogan? When the Salarians found them in the midst of the Rachni wars, one of the first actions taken was founding a Krogan colony on a garden world. Nearly every species represented on this council has similar stories of cooperation and generosity. Be it the Hanar nearly sacrificing the bounty of their own world to pull Rakhana back from the brink, or the Quarians building a fleet of life ships after the Volus lost their home world in first contact. This council, no, this galaxy was built by freely offering aid and resources when they were needed most. So no, Representative Craster there is no "catch", but this council does respect your shrewdness in service to your people."
"As such, the council has taken the liberty of sending a representative ahead via a hyper skipper ship through your partially functional relay," The Qaurian representative said, taking the baton from her fellow senior council member. "She will be equipped to answer any and all questions and concerns you may have."
"A hyper skipper being a one-passenger craft designed to travel through damaged or underpowered relays," Craster said, actually smiling at that. "And who is this representative?"
"Liara T'soni, an anthropologist specializing in xenocultural development and technological game theory," The Quarian councilor explained. "She has served in the Shard Council's outreach branch for the last century and has a proven track record acting as a liaison during the uplifting of a culture onto the galactic stage.
"Liara T'soni?" Santangelo and Craster said at the same time.
"No fucking way!" Craster's fiancée exclaimed from her seat.
?
Roxanne stood on the roof of the drop ship, her hands buried in the tangle of wires and tubes that was the control box for their communication array. She was looking for the third tube in a set of three crystal tubes that allowed the tertiary comms systems to work on effectively on battery power. They'd arrived back at their camp/drop site two hours before and Alyssa wasted no time going about jury-rigging…something to get them into Irvine. Considering she'd said that it was an old trick Moira taught back in her early days wandering the Capital Wastes, Roxanne was more than a bit worried.
"Got it yet?" Boone asked as his head appeared over the side of the drop ship.
"Still…looking…got it!" Roxanne said, plucking the three-inch tube from its mount with a loud popping sound.
"Good, the doctor's getting antsy," Boone said, looking off toward Irvine with a concerned expression. "Listen, you've come across reaper tech before, right? What can we expect to see in there?"
"Hard to say," Roxanne said, mulling the question over. "From the sounds of it, this "Rose of the West" is probably some transmission piece that indoctrinates anyone nearby, something I'm sure this Ardat Yakshi lady is taking advantage of. Generally, if you're of sound mind and body short-term exposure's not too big of a deal, but you still want to take some time to rest after. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be extremely careful, knew a guy in my go-round who picked up a bit of a Reaper's hull and swore it gave him nightmares for weeks before after he spaced it."
"And here I thought nukes were the worst things on offer," Boone said, sighing as his usual facade cracked a little.
"How are you doing, Boone?" Roxanne asked.
"Well enough, I suppose," Boone said. "I'd given up on the NCR long before Vorhees' Blight, cut as much tissue binding me to it as I could, but hundreds of thousands of people are dead. The NCR used to feel so crowded, part of why I joined and went east actually, but now it's a ghost town."
"How many people did you lose?" Roxanne asked.
"None," Boone said bitterly. "My family got the right vaccine, Vorhees loyalists one and all."
"Oh shit," Roxanne said.
"Oh shit's right," Boone replied, shaking his head. "My mother ran the local printing press and sent out a dozen different fliers about how Vorhees was bringing hope for the future. Dad…well, Dad drove trucks for the military. Don't think he knew what was in the truck that day, thought he was spraying for mosquitoes."
"How…are they handling it?"
"Like most people these days," Boone said. "Telling themselves they couldn't have known where it was all going, and that they were tricked. Same justifications the little people use every time there's a genocide, same thing I tried to tell myself after Bittersprings."
Roxanne didn't know what to say to that. She'd never been much for talking it out, outside of intimidation and seduction she'd never put much time into figuring out how to console people, especially men. In her go-through, Boone had been a quiet and severe man who'd parted ways after she'd taken the Hoover dam for an Independent Vegas, just a sniper heading north. The fact that Rex had managed to keep Boone in his orbit and give the poor guy some amount of closure in the process spoke of the difference between the Craster twins.
"You know, you make the same face Rex did when we first met and he had to think about how to talk to me," Boone said, chuckling darkly.
"I do?" Roxanne asked.
"Yeah, once we started traveling together he always seemed to be a bit on edge around me," Boone said. "Can't really blame him, I was an angry asshole with a high-powered rifle after all, but gradually we got to know each other and started sharing stories. Not the fun stories mind you, and eventually we came to an accord."
"He tell you about Dust?" Roxanne said.
"Yeah," Boone said, shaking his head. "You know what's fucked up? I always suspected it was an NCR op, details lined up with some horror stories I'd heard in basic. After Bitter Springs I didn't put it past some of the COs I knew too. It's why I stuck around after the battle for the dam, something about coming back here always made me…queasy."
"Well, now we're here, smelling the brahmin shit, so might as well do a bit of-" Roxanne began before she was interrupted by a loud clanging sound.
"Roxanne, I need that tube," Alyssa called from the ground.
"Coming your way, Doc," Boone said, snatching the tube from Roxanne's hand and disappearing over the side of the drop ship.
By the time Roxanne had slid off the side of the drop ship and onto the ground, a low hum had begun to emanate from the workbench Alyssa had set up. Alyssa was hard at work slotting the vacuum tubes into place on a spear-looking construct, and checking two harnesses with her Omni boy. The spear seemed to the be source of the humming, it was a slapped-together construct seemingly made out of three Mesmertrons with its middle looking like a ramshackle radio dish. Roxanne recognized that the two harnesses were connected to security helmets with emitters on their foreheads and a fusion cell on their backs.
"What's all this?" Roxanne asked as she and Boone stood on the other side of the table from Alyssa.
"I've been thinking about indoctrination and how these Ardat Yakshi use their natural abilities to manipulate it," Alyssa said, laying the spear on the table with a loud thunk. "How we believe Reaper indoctrination works is through a combination of electromagnetic fields and infra/ultrasound waves affecting the brain and limbic system. Ardat Yakshi have a similar ability that subtly dominates their target's mind, opening them to suggestions and almost addicting the victim to their presence. Used in unison, these two powers pose a threat to everyone around them, but I think we might have a solution, albeit a temporary one."
"Mezmers," Boone said, nodding.
"Wait, aren't they called Mesmetrons?" Roxanne asked.
"Depends on who you ask," Alyssa said, snapping her fingers to get their attention. "Whatever they're called, I think the Mesmers are our best bet. They function by essentially overloading the brain and nervous system with white noise, and that in turn opens the person up to suggestion. Now, the Mojave refined that initial design into two variants with the first being the one used to elicit truth and light mental programming."
"The one Rex and Veronica used to make her fully commit to her "coup", yeah?" Roxanne asked.
"Yep," Alyssa said. "That variant was one of the first inventions to come out of Big Mt, designed to completely avoid the risk of exploding heads the original Mesmer posed, but extend the duration of the effect. While these-"
Alyssa patted the harnesses and the spear affectionately.
"-are state of the art crowd control models," She explained. "They're designed to affect anyone caught in the ray without blowing heads up, eye contact or no. In exchange for that, the effect only lasts for an hour or so, and just stuns a person caught in the ray. Theoretically, hitting an indoctrinated person with one of these could at best temporarily cancel out the indoctrination or at worst stun them. Either way, they'll be confused and disoriented."
"The theory's all well and good," Boone said as he picked up one of the helmets. "Why are they built into helmets, and why did you make a spear out of the rest?"
"Glad you asked," Alyssa said, grinning. "These helmets are part of our crowd control kits, basically they let out a burst every few seconds to stun anyone we're looking at. While the "spear" here is something Moira cooked up back in the Capital Wastes. She called it a Mesmer array and its orders of magnitude more effective than a standard Mesmer. We hooked it to a spare fusion cell and hit every raider in Springvale school in three shots, burnt the cell out but it did the job. Thankfully, I still have the schematic on my Omni-boy, and a quick call to Moira gave me the instructions to build this."
"I didn't peg you as the mechanical type," Boone said.
"Moira and I spent three days locked in Megaton's armory building the prototype," Alyssa said, shivering slightly at the thought. "She was in a mood and the only way she'd work on it was if I was her personal assistant and first test subject. Trust me, that's her being affectionate."
"Hm, this does simplify breaching the town," Roxanne said, smiling at the anecdote as she thought the idea through. "Presumably, the only thing we'll have to shoot are the Asari."
"Maybe not even them," Alyssa said. "Their entire reproductive cycle depends on interfacing with the nervous systems of their mates, right? Meaning there has to be some form of overlap in how the Asari and Human nervous system are structured."
"So these Mesmers might just work on them," Boone said.
"It's what I'm hoping for anyway," Alyssa said, patting the Mesmer…gun. "I'm thinking we switch out the heavy laser on the bow with this, the techs at Big Mt sent me step-by-step instructions on how. Hooked to the ship's Gen IV reactor, the array can fire around two dozen times before it needs to cool. And thanks to the zero point vacuum tubes from the comm array, we've increased the area of effect and effective range by a factor of ten without the risk of popping heads, or so Moira assures me."
"You could hit entire city blocks if what you're saying is true," Roxanne said, letting out a low whistle.
"Yeah, you could probably saturate Irvine with a dozen or so passes," Boone said. "And if the range's been boosted too, then the ship can stay high enough that we can dodge biotic attacks without much trouble."
"Exactly," Alyssa said, snapping her fingers. "Even if it doesn't fully affect the Asari, most of the human population will be out of the way and we can bombard the tower with pulse ordnance. Once it's down, all we have to do is drop a few teleportation beacons and let reinforcements come through to secure the town. We'll have to wait until the morning before any reinforcements can be mustered, but we'll have a company of regulars and Securitron to help us secure the church."
"Sounds solid," Boone said, staring off into the middle distance as he consulted a mental map of the town. "Are we all going to be in the ship or are we splitting off a ground team?"
"You'll be flying the drop ship while Roxanne and I use stealth boys to infiltrate the city," Alyssa explained. "I'm thinking that if you make as much noise as possible, fire at a few empty warehouses and whatnot, that will draw anyone not affected by the mesmer to the walls to be routed by our teleporting reinforcements. Hopefully, that draws enough people away from the church that we can infiltrate and blow the Rose of the West sky high as our forces secure the city."
"Sounds like a solid plan," Boone said. "Till it goes to shit."
"Doesn't it always?" Roxanne asked, chuckling darkly.
?
Mordin paced back and forth across the lab as the machines around him did their work. Powerful computers ran simulation after simulation as molecular assemblers synthesized the products of those simulations. His custom genetic analysis VIs ran those products, different strains of FEV-based genophage cures, through stimuli and exposure tests. Checking for stability, predictability, and viability as he scratched at the final barrier to his goal.
"Progressing quickly, raptor strain proving to be the right choice for foundation," Mordin muttered to his note-taking VI as he scrolled through report after report. "Universal Dextro/Levo manifold functioning above expected parameters. Should make a note for possible Quarian Immuno booster projects in future. No. Leave for downtime."
He stood in Penelope's FEV lab, specifically the heavily armored and sterilized terminal he'd been given. Mordin had been hard at work, slaving away not only on a prototype of a viable Genophage cure but also "stress tests" on some of Penelope's work. With the augmented expertise of Zax 1.2, now sardonically referring to itself as Zax 1.2.1, the Salarian had made a breakthrough. Producing the basic structure of a cure that could be synthesized and distributed quickly once he returned to his universe.
"FEV truly fascinating," Mordin said, one eye watching his words be transcribed. "Pre-war humanity fools and warmongers but very lucky. Like striking sticks together and discovering nuclear fusion. Raptor strain more so, the humanity of this universe on the cusp of unprecedented biological power. Hm, more than biological perhaps, Craster's physiology merged with synthetics in synthesis-"
He trailed off as he thought of the Collectors and the things that had built them, the Reapers. Once Mordin had explained to Shepard why he detested the creatures, pointing out that all that was Prothean had been replaced by tech sustaining a bio-synthetic shell. Yet the Reapers were something beyond even that, a true synthesis of biology and technology creating was by all rights a galactic apex predator. Mordin looked at his terminal, gaze lingering on the folder where he kept his files on Rex and Penelope's experiments.
"Synthesis offers a new path," He said quietly, tapping his chin as a new possibility threatened to take shape in his mind.
"Dr. Solus," Zax interrupted, the AI's voice coming through a speaker built into the ceiling. "The current series of simulations has finished with ten lots performing well within acceptable parameters. Under the second set of filtering criteria, only two lots exhibit the required traits to be considered viable."
"Viability percentage?" Mordin asked.
"The two samples, lot 299 and lot 312 exhibit a viability percentage of 98 and 99 percent, respectively," Zax explained. "Both lots interact with the Krogan tissue and fluid samples satisfactorily without harm to the base genetic structure. My simulations determine that either lot would satisfactorily correct the damage of the Genophage, and in fact, rejuvenate it fully."
"Good," Mordin said as displays opened showing the raw data backing up Zax's words. "Was the genetic diversity protection effective?"
"Yes Doctor," Zax said. "Simulations show that the unique genetic diversity of individual Krogan is protected from homogenization. Ensuring that the first post-cure generations will go on to produce healthy children."
Mordin was silent as he processed the information. Two viable genophage cures were more than he'd expected at this stage. Maelon's research into creating a corrective foundation when combined with the Raptor strain of FEV expertise had allowed Mordin's work to surpass those expectations. He'd done it, the Genophage could be cured, and thanks to the unique temporal anomaly of universal travel, Mordin had years to perfect that cure.
"Doctor, there is one anomaly I must report," Zax said.
"Anomaly?" Mordin asked, voice cracking slightly.
"Yes, it would appear that Lot 312 has an unintended side effect," Zax explained. "Effectively inoculating any Krogan who receives it against any agent resembling the Genophage. Their corrected genetics would possess enough plasticity to adapt around a new, non-FEV based Genophage."
Mordin sat with that information for a moment. He had a choice to make, simply cure the Genophage or forever free the Krogan from its threat forever. Once upon a time, he wouldn't have hesitated, curing the Genophage was already tantamount to blasphemy in his people's eye, but eliminating the possibility it could be used again was even more of a transgression. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that his people would do all they could to stop this cure, and probably vilify him until the end of days.
With a sigh, he tapped a command into his Omni boy and brought up a file on secret proposals to the Mojave Republic's highest leadership. In them were the beginnings of an ironclad protection system that would ensure that FEV could never leave the control of a united humanity. Plasmidic encryption, memetic countermeasures, and at least a dozen other layers of security had been designed to protect FEV from outside exploitation or reproduction. Meaning that only humanity could theoretically correct 312's inoculation.
"Not even humanity if no one knows," Mordin said, queuing in a command that would wipe all data on lot 299 and destroy the sample.
"Doctor?," Zax said. "You are aware that if lot 299 is destroyed, all subsequent formulations of the cure will be derived from lot 312, yes?"
"Aware," Mordin said, activating the process as he spoke. "Have seen what the Krogan can become. Time to trust in them to strive to be better than they were."
"As you wish, Doctor," Zax said. "Your scheduled recreation period is approaching. Would you like to play chess?"
Mordin didn't answer for a moment as he watched lot 299's vial begin to glow in the synthesizer. He felt ancient at that moment, a weariness had slipped into his muscles and as the vial disintegrated, Mordin wanted to let it smother him. Only he had work to do, a crew to serve alongside, and perhaps a last decade to put to good use.
"One game, then sleep I think," Mordin said, turning to leave the lab. "Perhaps something to drink."
?
The halls of power in the Mojave Republic were in an uproar. Veronica and Rex sat at the head of the Mojave Council's emergency meeting room, watching as their fellow leaders lost their minds. Most of the highest leadership were at their seats, sitting or standing as they shouted about one tidbit or another concerning the council's "gift". Floating above them all was a hologram of the planet itself, rendered in the most minute detail.
"This is a bribe!" Gloria Venk said, slamming her fist on the floor. "They're angling to steal all of our bargaining chips in exchange for a planet that's only just livable."
"I would hardly call it "just liveable"," Isabelle Burnrows said, idly fiddling with a strap on her Brotherhood scribe robes as she spoke. "If their data is accurate, it's a planet of fertile lands, earth-like weather, and very little in the way of hostile organisms, large or small."
"Yes, while I am far from a man of science, I agree," Vein began, his deep voice vibrating the table as he cut through the rancor. "This planet is a blank slate, one free of the touch of industry or nuclear fire, a canvas we may paint with the GECK and FEV as paint. That said, we must question why it is being offered so freely, as the saying goes "There's no such thing as a free snack"."
"So the brotherhood secretary and the tribal turncoat are a coalition now?" Gloria asked in a shrill tone as she stabbed a gnarled finger at them. "What next? Is the Super mutant going to start reciting poetry?"
"Spoken word was never my strong suit, but I can give it a shot," Marcus said from where he sat at the far end of the table.
"Now now Glory, settle down," Brent Buxton said, patting the woman on the arm. "We're all friends here, even the big fella down the way."
"Friends?" Gloria growled, glaring at Marcus. "Just because that thing is allowed to sit-"
"Gloria," Veronica said, sitting up to bang a metal coffee mug on the table. "Sit your ass down before I have you censured. Marcus and the community he represents are a part of the Mojave Republic. He has just as much a right to sit at this table as you do, so refer to him as a "thing" again, and you'll be removed."
Gloria pouted but sat down without making more of a fuss.
"Now," Veronica said, standing up and resting her hands on the table. "If you've kept up with the reading the council's shared with us, this isn't unexpected. Emigration has always been on the table for those who wanted to leave the earth for Krogan colonies on healthier worlds. Granted, it was a cultural and technical exchange than emigration, but this isn't a total surprise. "
"Ronni's right," Buxton said, pointing at Veronica.
"Don't call me Ronni," Veronica said, rolling her eyes at the man.
"Noted," Buxton said, giving her a wink. "Now I get most of my reading done on the commode mind you, but their codex is chop full of detail in how a species is "uplifted" as they call it, warts and all. Sure it ain't always pleasant, but every species the Krogan have sponsored has become a fixture of the galactic community within a century. Belies a certain eye for talent, and judging by the development plans Rex here's negotiated with them and the council, I think Ji's an investment."
"I'd have to agree," A representative from one of the more populous agricultural communities said. "In the last few years, we've made an industry around using the GECK to turn blasted-out desert into fertile farmland, our agricultural studies are churning out innovations every day, and if the rumors are anything to go by, the use of FEV with the Svelbarg's genetic registry will only accelerate that."
"Precisely," Buxton said, slapping the table as he spoke. "I'm no astrologer, but I've been taking a look at Council's star maps, well my boys have, and the area around our little home here is unsettled territory. The Council's mostly been focused on other areas and haven't invested much in our neck of the woods."
"We can thank the Rachni war and the Asari Insurrection for that," Rex said. "For the last thousand years or so, the Council's been focused on getting their house in order as well as fending off the Ascendancy. The only reason the Batarians know anything about Ji is that a mad priest jumped twenty relays in sequence and crash-landed there."
"Gotta love a holy man testing god's patience," Buxton said, chuckling as he chomped a cigar. "But that proves my point, the Krogan see something in us and their sway on the Council gives everyone a chance to benefit."
"How so?" Gloria asked.
"I think I see what he's getting at," Veronica said. "Ji's a planet that's in the middle of nowhere, no ports, no refueling stations, not even a place to pee. So it's not really worth the effort of building a single colony on a planet you'd need to invest heavily in to make viable in the long term, especially when the Batarian syndicates have their own problems to deal with. Instead they give up their claim to Ji to a plucky young species just coming onto the scene, the Batarians get to look like the gracious elder species and said plucky species gets an entire solar system to develop."
"Not to mention that this is probably a test," Rex added. "Ji's in the perfect state to test a species capabilities while still giving them something worthwhile. The Council wants to see how we operate as we develop the planet, so all eyes are going to be on us and how we alter Ji to our needs. In just a few generations we could expand across a swathe of the galaxy, and they'd like to know what to expect."
"Faster if the FEV strains your daughter is working on deliver half of what she's promised," Marcus said. "Not to mention that in the same time frame, the state of the Earth will improve with the Krogan's aid. We're already building ships capable of hopping between planets, and the Mojave Dream will be our first interstellar ship. Think of all we've done in the last five years, Nevada is overflowing with greenery, our settlements are turning into living cities, and through it all every flavor of human on this planet is coming together under one banner. Buxton's right, Ji is an investment and one that's looking to pay off if given time to grow on its own terms."
"It also doesn't hurt that we will control any and all access to the Normandy's universe," Rex said. "Reaper war or no, that's an entire universe on the table. One with trillions of members of the council races even if they've diverged culturally. In the few hours since the council meeting convened, I've gotten ten requests from multiple council members to explore a possible contract to allow access when we crack the math. From the Batarians wanting to deradicalize their counterparts to the Krogan wanting to save their kin from extinction, every member of the council wants access."
"Are you suggesting we become toll collectors?" Vein asked.
"Not directly, no," Rex said, opening his hands in a disarming gesture. "But think about it for a moment, say the Krogan want to start sending medical flotillas to help distribute a Genophage cure, or the Asari want to start pilgrimages to Thessia. They're going to have to come here and then move through a portal we maintain. Seeing as our capability in maintaining said portal relies heavily on our infrastructure…"
"It would be advantageous for anyone with a vested interest in using said portal to help us maintain our infrastructure," Isabella said, clicking her tongue. "Which in turn will help us redevelop the Earth in kind."
"Yep," Rex said. "Like it or not, we're sitting on possibly the most valuable resources to ever exist. After all, what's one measly solar system when compared to an entire universe?"
"Alright, I don't think we can or should come to a decision tonight," Veronica said. "I want everyone to go home, get some sleep, and prepare for the next round of talks tomorrow. We can reopen this issue when Miss T'soni arrives to consult."
"Speaking of," Marcus said. "I've heard through the grapevine that this T'soni's a known quantity, yeah?"
"The Normandy has files on their version of her," Rex said. "But considering the deviation between our universe and theirs, we're dealing with an alternate. Albeit one who's still an academic and presumably rebelling against her mother, Benezia."
"Means she's that big red bitch who slipped off West's sister," Buxton snarled. "How much can we trust this woman?"
"The council has thoroughly vetted her," Rex explained. "And Wrail assures me she broke from her mother centuries ago, being the rare defector from the Ascendancy. Competency aside, Miss T'soni is obligated to report progress back to the Council, where I can amend or supply further context to her reports. Judging by the bylaws, my voice holds more weight so long as we keep receipts and minutes from any meetings we have with Miss T'soni."
"As such, it will be the task of this council to meet with and vet her claims," Veronica said. "We'll each have time to discuss the planet, our "uplifting", and anything else as a whole or in groups. I believe after Sylas, we're all in agreement that no one speaks to her or the council alone. Any objections?"
A chorus of nays rang out.
"Good," Veronica said, checking her itinerary. "Now, we need to vote on an official shorthand to distinguish between people, concepts, and items originating in our universe and the Normandy's. Commander Shepard's crew have submitted a list of suggestions, but I think we can agree that the suggestions from the Normandy's pilot, "Fallout" and "Jokerverse" respectively, are off the table. Yay or nay?"
The room erupted in yays.
?
Shepard sat atop the small construct that housed Vault 111's ruined entry controls, watching the lights of the Commonwealth light up as the sunset. She sipped coffee as the city of Boston lit up, the three communities that formed its new core acting like beacons with fingers of lights spreading out towards the periphery. Another example of people coming together to reclaim what their ancestors had thrown away.
"You know," She said to herself. "I like this universe."
As she said that, a mosquito the size of a mountain lion flew through the air over her head. The bulbous insect gracefully corkscrewed into a nearby tree only to emerge out the other side with a massive scorpion impaled on its proboscis. Wings buzzing, the thing flew off towards the river where it would no doubt hollow out the scorpion at its leisure.
"Well, I don't like mosquitoes back home either," Shepard said, chuckling as she poured another cup of coffee from her thermos.
"Sometimes a bio-suit comes in handy."
Shepard turned to see Tali coming to sit down beside her. The Quarian had been running diagnostics all day, Nora had allowed her to scan the deep space transmitter along with some of the other bits of tech introduced into the local wasteland. Tali had at first wanted to see if the transmitter could be used to tap into the local teleportation network, or at least allow her to run a diagnostic on it, but had quickly gotten caught up in an idea to apply the tech in the Migrant Fleet.
"I bet it does," Shepard said, smiling as she looked back out over the Commonwealth. "How'd the scans go?"
"Excellent and infuriating at the same time," Tali said, shaking her head as she sat down. "The technology of this universe is confusing. On one hand they managed to almost perfect small-scale-high-yield energy weapons, nearly perfect fusion, and stumbled into the key to genetic manipulation. Yet they also never invented a compact computer processor or AI/Vi tech beyond a handful of examples. The deep range transmitter is an example of the latter, powerful enough to broadcast interstellar distances but limited in the bandwidth of the day."
"Do you think it's something we could use?" Shepard asked. "Here or in our universe?"
"Yes and yes," Tali said. "The transmitter could be the key we need to intercept the Institute's teleportation signal, possibly even hijack it. In addition, I think I can apply the transmitter's design, at least aspects of it, to the Migrant Fleet's communication arrays. Too bad I'm not on pilgrimage, if I came home with the specs for this transmitter I'd be a local celebrity."
"Now they'll just have to make you an Admiral," Shepard said. "I'd hate my big speech to the admiralty board to go to waste after all."
"Thank you again for that," Tali said, letting out a melancholic chuckle as she spoke. "Sometimes it feels like a dream, my friends coming to stand beside me and showing the board how blind they can be."
"The anniversary wasn't too long ago, right?" Shepard said, scooting closer. "How are you holding up?"
"It's still a process," Tali said. "My father's death will never not be a surprise, but I've settled into it if that makes sense. The work I'm doing here keeps me busy and gives me hope that I can quell the kind of desperation in my people that pushed him to do what he did. Garrus has been very helpful in that regard, tells me I'm the smartest woman he's ever met, and that I'm going to be leading the Migrant Fleet back to Rannoch one day."
"He's good at that," Shepard said, smiling. "Despite the mandibles and all his edges, the guy's a softie."
"He really is," Tali said. "But you know, I think when I do back to Rannoch, I'm going to build a house and plant a garden in my father's memory. You know he liked this flower that grew from a tuber not unlike your potatoes, so I think I'll grow that and make Garrus cook me a lot of stew."
"That sounds nice," Shepard said, sighing as she considered what she was about to ask of her crew. "Tali, when we get this bridge device and you can complete your math, how soon do you think we can go home?"
"Depends," Tali said, eyes narrowing at the question. "As I've said, the device itself is relatively simple in what it does, and with a functioning core we'd be able to start turning theory into practice quite easily. Safe estimates would put opening the gateway home at around a year from our first test activation. Though if we wait for Rex to build his space elevator it would be much longer, and if you go through with Miranda's ten-year plan even longer still."
"You know about that, huh?" Shepard asked, unsurprised.
"Miranda isn't the only one who can slice a communication's feed," Tali said. "Most of the crew knows, mainly thanks to Gabby and Kenneth getting a bit tipsy on poker nights. We've just been waiting for you to make it official."
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown, eh?" Shepard said. "I know the right play is to stay here in this universe, bide our time building up a resource cache and evacuation sites if and when the Earth gets attacked. The shipyard working on the Mojave Dream can be retooled and copied to build the bare bones of ships that can be finished in our universe, the printers can devour matter to produce stockpiles of refined material, and the Shard council all seem to have a vested interest in our universe. The right thing to do is wait to open the portal and align the universes and timelines. But asking all of you to stay here in an alien universe for more than a decade feels like I'm condemning you to a prison sentence."
"Shepard, I don't know if you've noticed but most of the crew have settled in here," Tali said. "Garrus and I have a nice little home out in Novac, Jacob and Miranda have their bunker, Jack is getting married and having a baby, and the rest of the field squad have basically become fixtures in the Mojave's operations. Not to mention the support crew who are teaching the Mojave's people all they can and learning in kind. We've been here for two years now, everyone on the Normandy has seen what the Reapers are going to do firsthand, and all of us are committed to stopping them. If we have to sacrifice a decade of our lives to save the galaxy, to save our peoples, then so be it."
"I remember when I was the one who reassured you," Shepard said, smiling.
"Well, we all have growing up to do," Tali replied as Shepard's Omni-tool beeped.
Shepard opened a display and saw that her request for a holo meeting had gone through. Not only was Rex waiting on the other side, but he'd also sent over a transcript of the day's meeting with the Shard Council. She shunted the transcript to her shared inbox with the rest of the crew before shooting off a message to Rex telling him she'd connect in a few minutes.
"Looks like Nora's going to be getting her meeting after all," Shepard said, sliding off the side of the construct. "She still with Penelope?"
The elder Nora, or Nora one as she liked to call herself, had followed Shepard back to the drop ship. She was unarmed and had been thoroughly searched by Shepard, but the woman still put the soldier off somehow. When they'd arrived, Nora and Penelope had sat down on a nearby picnic bench to talk while they waited for a response from the Mojave. Considering their history, Shepard was shocked that the two women hadn't scratched each other's eyes out or even raised their voices. Instead, they'd simply sat down and talked about lives with neither Tali nor Shepard had an interest in intruding upon.
"Yes, they were playing chess last I saw of them," Tali said, following her over the side.
Shepard and Tali walked through the tree cover to their small camp set up around the dropship. At a weathered picnic table sat Nora and Penelope, playing a game of chess in silence with an empty bottle of vodka between the two of them. Honestly, Shepard wasn't sure either woman could get drunk considering their altered bodies, but there was definitely some drunken tension between the two.
"Ahem," Shepard said, clearing her throat to get their attention.
Penelope held up a finger and with her free hand moved her queen across the board.
"Checkmate," she said, lowering her hand and crossing her arms.
"Who taught you that one?" Nora asked, rolling her eyes as she knocked her king over.
"My father," Penelope said smugly. "Well, this universe's version of him."
"Reximus always did lack the humility required for truly effective strategy," Nora said, clicking her tongue. "The man was incapable of considering that his opponent could possibly be as intelligent as he was, let alone more so. To him, everyone else was-"
"-was an animal," Penelope said before turning to Shepard. "Have we finally received an answer?"
"Yes, and I think you'll want to check your inbox when this is all over," Shepard said before turning to Nora. "You have your meeting, Rex will be teleporting in momentarily."
"Is it safe to teleport with the Institute's matrix in play?" Nora asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Trust us, we've thought this through," Tali said.
In fact, they had. While using the Mojave's main teleportation matrix for a direct jump would have tripped every sensor the Institute had, the techs at Big Mt had come up with a workaround. Directly routing the teleportation point to point from an isolated pad in New Vegas, up to one of the orbital defense platforms, and then to a drop-ship in orbit over the Commonwealth which would sync with their drop ship's matrix. A process that added roughly an hour to the whole ordeal, but would register to the Institute as nothing more than a burp of radiation from the glowing sea.
"I just love a tight operation," Nora said, faux nostalgia dripping from every word. "If what you told me's true, then I suspect you have the infrastructure to do a lot more than a sneaky in and out, no?"
"You have no idea," Rex said from beside Penelope.
"Ah!" Nora said, the smooth Cherchez La Femme mask abandoned as she jumped back away from the picnic table. "What in the god damn?!"
"I didn't think the teleporters could be that quiet?" Tali said.
"They aren't, I popped in twenty feet that-a-way," Rex said, crooking a thumb off in the direction of the tree cover they'd just come from. "Been a long day, so I saw the chance to take a seat while no one was looking, sorry if I startled you, General."
"I suppose I should be thankful for that," Nora said, steadying herself as she examined Rex. "Reximus was never for puckish antics, or apologizing for even the small things."
Shepard considered Rex. He looked tired wearing his council clothes and sporting a barely managed mane of red hair. She wondered exactly what she'd pulled him out of in New Vegas to come to this impromptu meeting. If the details both he and her crew had sent about the meeting today were anything to go by, She'd just made a long day longer.
"Managed to keep my humility and my boyish charm in this timeline," Rex said, flashing Nora a smile that had a hint of the old Courier in it.
"Boyish and humble weren't words I'd use to describe the man I knew, true," Nora said, sitting down across from Rex and Penelope. "You're younger than he was when we met, skinnier too. Here I thought meeting my younger self would be the biggest trip."
"I'm told you get used to it," Rex said, wrapping his knuckles against the table. "I can assure you I'm not him, or even close to becoming like him."
"I can see that," Nora said, looking at Penelope for a long moment before looking back at Rex. "Knew Penelope for a long time, when she was conscious that is, and she's never looked healthier. If you were anything like Reximus I suspect I would have been talking to a *complete* basket case for the last few hours."
"Thank you?" Penelope said, visibly confused about how to take the comment.
"No thanks necessary, dear," Nora said, winking at her.
"Uh huh," Rex said, looking at Shepard who simply responded with a shrug.
"Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to brass tax," Rex continued looking back at Nora. "I don't suppose this meeting is only to confirm I'm not my evil twin, yeah?"
"Why yes, I do have an ulterior motive; understanding what's actually going on," Nora said. "I'm sure Shepard told you about my goal here in the Commonwealth, how I want to turn this place into a community instead of a slow-moving war zone. A task I've found a bit more difficult than I'd imagined seeing as my timeline barely matches yours."
"Yes, this timeline branches greatly from our original, it's true," Penelope said. "Though here in the Commonwealth I assumed that was your doing, making use of your foreknowledge."
"Partly, all of the tech and caches are still where they were in my go-through, true," Nora said, snapping her fingers. "But the groups, history, and landscape were different when I got here. For starters, in my time there was a group of idealistic idiots who called themselves the Rail Road. Remember them, Penelope?"
"Yes, they were crafty and sometimes clever, but they were too focused on freeing Synths to care about much else," Penelope said. "Beyond their spy network, they were woefully lacking when compared to the Brotherhood, the Institute, or even the Minute Men for that matter."
"Yes, imagine my surprise when I arrive here to discover that not only has the capital wasteland been glassed and abandoned, but that the Rail Road is an actual player," Nora said, shaking her head. "Before they could barely field a few undercover agents to pick up a stray Synth here and there, but now they're in a full-on shadow war with the Institute. Fighting with proxies, surprisingly well-funded raider and mercenary gangs, to a stalemate on the surface while they infiltrate communities with Synths of their own."
"Not only that," Nora continued. "There are trade routes using long-range trucks and other vehicles from the west, crossing what was in my time a wholly new nuclear wasteland. Rumors are on the air about a shining city rising out of the west, usurping the NCR with technology taken from the Old World. About how the Legion and the Midwest Brotherhood were either crushed or absorbed into this new power. In my time, the only thing out west was a dead city ruled by a robot and Brahmin herders being eaten alive by raiders. You're doing I presume?"
"With a little help from my friends," Rex said, smiling.
"Always the case, whether we admit it or not," Nora said, returning the smile with one of her own. "The fact is, that the world I've stepped into is vastly different from the one I left, and if I want redemption I need to adjust to it all. You want the Insitute's bounty and the trans-universal bridge device while I want Father dead and the Commonwealth to thrive. So here's what you're going to do, you will supply the minutemen and every settlement aligned to us with medicine, food, technology, and resources enough to solidify our positions."
"I'm assuming this includes weapons technology?" Rex said.
"No," Nora said, waving the suggestion off. "First and foremost I'm concerned with supply that will help across the board, not increase the amount of violence we can inflict. Second, we're pretty much set on how to defend ourselves here, but we still have communities being devastated by disease or irradiated water, or their power failing during a blizzard. What we need out here on the periphery is help building the infrastructure needed to keep us alive, to help us be what we could be."
Rex looked at Shepard and she realized why the conversation sounded familiar. She and Rex had a conversation along these lines when Shepard had agreed to hand over the Normandy's knowledge base and tech to the Mojave. Nora sounded a lot like Rex in that conversation, and Shepard considered that as she thought of all the Mojave had done with her gift in the last few years.
"That could be arranged," Rex said, turning back to look at Nora. "But that's something we were planning to do anyway, and I think you know that."
"Yes, Shepard and Penelope have told me all about how charitable the Republic is," Nora said, clicking her tongue at the first syllable of "charitable". "What I'm really asking you to do is dismantle the RailRoad and the Institute as it is. Prevent them from taking over the Commonwealth and give the technology and power they're hoarding to the people."
Shepard understood the play. Nora wanted an outside force to break the stalemate between the RailRoad and the Institute, or at least force them both into the open. Which would make them both a much easier target for the Minutemen communities thriving thanks to Republic aid.
"You're asking us to step into a shadow war," Shepard said.
"We have our own business going on right now," Rex said. "Fights, negotiations, and one of the most important summits in human history. What could you give us that justifies the resources we'd need to spend to break this stalemate?"
"Three things," Nora said, raising three fingers. "One, I'll put the full weight of the Minutemen behind joining the Mojave Republic, after we get a fair look at what joining entails."
"Of course," Rex said, nodding. "You'll get a full report on the benefits, obligations, and protections being a member state entails. I'm assuming if you do decide to join then you can put pressure on the inner territory to join as well?"
"Yes," Nora said, lowering a finger. "Soon, the Minutemen will control the entire periphery of the Commonwealth, which means all of the nest spots for agriculture, travel ways, and access to open space. The Boston Triangle will need us as soon as their population starts chafing at the confines of the city."
"Fair point," Tali said. "But that still only helps you, not us."
"Also a fair point," Nora said, looking Tali over before lowering another finger and looking back at Rex. "Two, I'll tell you everything I know and help you breach the Institute as painlessly as possible. Timeline's changed, but I've dug up enough to know the same people are in power, and their tactics aren't so divergent that they'd beat me at chess."
"Securing the Institute intact would be a very valuable prize," Penelope said, her eyebrows scrunching together as she thought over the proposal. "But this divergent Rail Road changes the equation, they're insurgents led by leadership that confounds even you, the one who destroyed them the first time. Can you aid us in "dismantling" them as painlessly as possible too?"
"I could," Nora said, lips curling back into a vicious smile, revealing some of the woman Penelope had warned Shepard about. "I know who leads them, and just where he's held up. Just haven't had the resources or inclination to strike at him again."
"Again?" Rex asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Excuse the turn of phrase, dear," Nora said, the predatory sneer morphing back into a sultry smile. "I executed him in my previous life, but I'm almost certain a version of him is leading the Railroad. One who's less concerned with philosophy and pacifism to actually accomplish something."
"No," Penelope said, shaking her head. "The timelines have diverged that much that Di…"
"Ssssh," Nora said, cutting Penelope off. "Spoilers dear."
"So you'd offer us up the Institute, the Railroad, and the Commonwealth," Rex said, his expression shifting back into the aloof Courier face he used to wear full time. "Seems like you've baited the hook enough for us to consider biting, what's the third benefit?"
"You know what the Institute and a nascent republic getting onto its feet?" Nora asked, lowering the last finger. "Energy. In a few years the institute will run into the energy bottleneck I so graciously opened for them in a previous life. Meanwhile, I'm sure pre-war reactors and whatever you've managed to build yourself won't cut it forever. So what you both need is Mass Fusion's miracle, the secret ingredient to large-scale cold fusion they ripped over their dicks into. The beryllium agitator."
"I'm going to guess that if we checked Mass Fusion it wouldn't be there?" Shepard asked, shaking her head.
"No, I removed it years ago," Nora explained, winking at Shepard. "First thing I did once I realized precisely when I'd arrived actually, and just so you know it's in a very safe place, protected by very very loyal guards."
Penelope's scrunched eyebrows hardened into a scowl as she considered what Nora just said. Nora for her part stared back, an amused glint in her eyes as she mouthed the word "check". Both women allowed the silence to stand as they both ran through a mental calculus only the other was privy to.
"She's not bluffing," Penelope said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
"She is not," Nora said, chuckling. "If you're set on doing your due diligence then scan Sanctuary's main reactor to your heart's content, or just put your hand on the reactor casing."
"You've used it?" Tali asked.
"Yes, lit big reactors here and the RedRocket station down the way," Nora said. "While we don't have the facilities and know how to replicate it, we understand the agitator enough to use it correctly. It's a partially self-regenerative catalyst that can be used to spark multiple reactions in sequence if need be. There's a reason the Institute wants it, but after handing it to them once I know they'll just waste it."
"And you think we won't?" Rex asked.
"You'll at least do something more interesting than making your tin can bigger," Nora replied, leaning forward. "So what do you say, Rex, does my proposal sound reasonable?"
Rex didn't answer, instead, he pulled a pack of nicotine gum and popped a piece into his mouth. He considered Nora as he started chewing, loudly. Seconds ticked by as Rex stared at Nora, who gradually looked more and more annoyed as the chewing went on. After about a minute, Rex snapped his fingers and reached out a hand.
"Sounds like a fair shake to me," He said, smiling. "But I'm just a diplomat now, so I'd have to bring this before the Mojave council. Hell, if we were having this meeting in a few weeks, the senate."
"Oh father," Penelope said, smirking as if she'd just got the joke. "But you're so busy with the Shard Council negotiations, when will you find the time to bring this up?"
It took Shepard a moment to understand where the conversation was going. They were right, Rex alone didn't have the unilateral power to give Nora what she wanted and was more than busy enough with the Shard council. Not to mention that Nora only knew what Shepard had told her about the situation outside the Commonwealth.
"Nora, you could always come back to New Vegas to plead her case," Shepard said. "Would also be a chance for you to see what the Republic can offer the Commonwealth."
"Yes, you could see what's going on in the wider world too," Rex said, smiling at Shepard. "Gain some perspective."
"You want me to come with you?" Nora said, the calculation apparent in her voice. "Why would I do that?"
"You need something from us and we need something from you," Penelope said. "The council will appreciate the effort of coming all that way, and you'll be able to plead your case to them directly. A bit of good will goes a long way."
"Transit will take an hour both ways," Rex explained. "You would be back within two days, and if I call an emergency Mojave council meeting you'll be back by tomorrow evening. Penelope here will stay in Sanctuary as a show of good faith."
"Hmm," Nora said, processing the offer. "My people have standing orders to shell your little ship here if I don't come back from this meeting. Or-"
She pulled out a small black box from her jacket and pressed a finger to a large button.
"-I could press this button and give my people the "Mommy's going on holiday" signal," Nora purred. "Though usually, it's off to Diamond City or a cozy little cabin rather than Las Vegas."
"You wander off with strange women often?" Shepard asked.
"Honey, you have no idea," Nora said, giving Shepard a wink before turning back to Rex. "Never did make it to Vegas before the bombs fell, so I'd love a high roller's suite with a big bath."
"I'll even throw in a continental breakfast," Rex said, offering his hand.
"Well, how can a girl refuse that?" Nora said, shaking his hand as she pressed the button. "So how does your tele-"
Nora was cut off as both she and Rex disappeared in a burst of orange light.
"She is…a lot," Tali said, visibly relaxing.
"Trust me, she used to be far worse," Penelope said, rolling her eyes as she lit a cigarette. "You haven't quite lived until she's tried to seduce your mother in the lunch line."
"Oh," Shepard said, running her tongue over her top teeth as she tried to reckon with that statement.
"Yes," Penelope said, standing and looking out at the lights of Boston in the distance. "Anyone up for a trip to Diamond City?"
"Going after the younger Nora?" Shepard asked.
"Yes, Nora mentioned slipping away to Diamond City on occasion," Penelope said, opening her Omni-boy just before a message notification appeared. "From what I recall, she maintained a home there after she woke up from stasis. If she's anywhere, sticking her fingers in every pie imaginable, young Nora is in Diamond City."
"Sounds reasonable," Shepard said, looking at Penelope for a long moment as she read whatever was in the message. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, surprisingly," Penelope said, chuckling ruefully. "I thought coming back here would hurt, you know? Hell, facing Nora again should have been an ordeal in of itself, but I find myself feeling…okay. Especially now that father has whisked her far far away, but thank you for asking Shepard."
"No problem," Shepard said, patting her on the back as they looked towards the jewel of the Commonwealth.