Chapter 10: Syncretism

Doctor Tanner allowed me to stay in the Director's Quarters. There was room enough for Adam and Meirune as well. The quarters were spacious and took up two floors of the east wing of the Institute. We were able to take a few hours to relax and I took advantage of the facilities to give my robes a quick wash. I admit, I took advantage of the situation and took my first shower in years. It took me some time to wash my hair, and I likely stayed in longer than I should have just enjoying the hot water. Once I was finished with my shower, I wore a lab coat while my clothes were getting cleaned, and had Adam polish the jewelry and ornaments. Adam also helped me braid my hair again. Meirune took the time to inspect the area, sniffing and investigating the environment; his first clean and mostly sterile one he'd ever encountered.

By the time a knock came to the door, I was clean, my clothes were washed and fresh, and my hair was presentable again.

Adam answered the door to find Doctor Tanner, "How can we help you, Director?"

Tanner cleared his throat, "The board has talked things over. I was hoping to speak to the High Priestess."

I motioned for Adam to allow Tanner in. Tanner entered and sat at the dining table with me.

I gave him a smile, "What would you like to speak with me about, Director?" I kept my tone respectful and positive.

"I suppose I should update you on what the board has discussed," Tanner replied. "First, they agreed that I will be the Director after your… endorsement." He was referring to me naming him the Director after I'd killed Director Marston.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "That's excellent! Congratulations!"

Tanner cleared his throat and nodded, "Thank you. It's an honor. After that, we announced our plans to work with your Church to openly assist the Wasteland. Since we weren't sure of the exact role you want us to play, we left the details vague. But the board is dedicated to backing your efforts. Just let us know what you need us to do."

"Would it be terribly difficult to meet with the board so soon after the meeting?" I asked. "I understand they're busy, but I would like to lay out my plans and get their feedback as soon as possible."

"Actually, that was what I was going to mention next," Tanner said. "The board is waiting in the meeting room. They were hoping I could convince you to speak with us after you'd manage to…"

"Calm down and stop killing people?" I asked with cherubic titter.

Tanner nodded and looked away in embarrassment, "I wouldn't put it like that, but yes."

"I prefer blunt honesty when I don't have to be diplomatic," I replied as I stood from my chair. "But I'd be more than happy to speak with the board. Adam, Meirune, come along. Director Tanner is taking us to meet with the board."

Adam grabbed his weapon but I shook my head to insist that he wouldn't need it. Meirune moved up next to me so I could run my hand over his snout.

"Does the deathclaw-" Tanner began.

"His name is Meirune," I insisted.

"Does Meirune need to join us?" Tanner asked.

"Director, by now you should understand that Meirune isn't the one of us you need to worry about," I replied, my eyes sharpening slightly. "He might be happy to gut someone if I ask him to, but he won't do anything unless I give the go ahead. He will be joining us."

Tanner stood there quietly as he processed my response, "Very well. I was just concerned that his presence might unnerve the board members. That could make any discussion we might have less productive."

"Noted," I replied dismissively. "Now, would you be a dear and please show us to the board room?"

Tanner nodded and turned, leading us to the board room. I could find the way on my own. I knew the route like the back of my hand. That thought made me wonder something. I hadn't played this game in hundreds of years, but I recalled every detail like I had been actively playing it. How could that be? After so long, I should have forgotten most every detail.

"Go to the mine where the blade rests beneath the depths," the entity's voice echoed in my head. "There, I will answer your question."

"You didn't answer my last one," I replied mentally.

"You did not understand the answer," it countered. "But do this, and I will explain further."

"I might be old and experienced, but even I do need things to be given in a clear manner," I responded.

There was a washing of black waves in my mind that felt like amusement, "You're still young yet. But your age stretches beyond us all. Eventually you will be able to understand."

I snapped back into reality as we arrived at the board room door. Adam seemed to notice that I had spaced out during the walk, but I gave him a reassuring smile. That seemed to reassure him. Tanner opened the door and led us inside. Sure enough, the board members stiffened in their seats when Meirune entered the room. Good. I wanted them to fear the monster they could see so that they wouldn't focus on the true monster in the room. Tanner showed me to my seat while Adam and Meirune took up positions behind me.

Tanner took his seat, "Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Merida has graciously agreed to join us."

I smiled at the rest of the board. They smiled back with a mixture of fear and anticipation in their eyes.

"I'd like to thank you all for your invitation to speak," I said in as innocent a voice as I could manage. "I'd also like to take a moment to express my regret about everything that has happened since we first met. I understand not all of you agreed with Doctor Marston's handling of our situation. I also know some of you did until things came to a head."

I let the pun hang in the air for a moment.

"I'm certain that my actions no doubt have cemented in your mind that he was right," I continued. "While things took a much different turn than I had hoped they would, I can only say that what's done is done, and that I hope you'll be willing to work for me in as dedicated a manner as you did for him."

"Pardon me," one of the younger department heads said. He was in his mid to late thirties. "Don't you mean 'work with you'? You said 'work for you'."

"I meant exactly what I said," I replied with the same innocent tone. "Let me explain things more clearly for you. You see, I have plans on conquering, taming, and reviving the Wasteland. You are going to help me with your collected knowledge. However, you will have to strain your knowledge through the lens of religion."

There were verbal reactions ranging from confusion, disgust, and shock.

I let the nuclear energy radiate out from me, creating a swirling green glow of energy around me, "When I introduced myself as the Daughter of Atom, I wasn't being facetious. He has granted me the power to control radiation, fusion, fission, given me command of the beasts of the Wasteland, and other blessings. When I say you're going to work your science through religion, I mean that you're all going to become new members of the Church of Atom, and you will weave your knowledge through the lens of its teachings."

"Why would we do that?" another member asked. "Religious doctrines work to constrain the human psyche. We work to expand it."

"Wrong," I shook my head. "Religious doctrine focuses the human mind; guides it and sharpens it. Trust me when I say the people who follow me are zealots. They will memorize every file, book, procedure, and theory you have with a fervor you will come to appreciate."

Tanner held his hand up to stop someone from saying something, "Why would they listen to us?"

"Because she will tell them to," Adam answered. "We are devoted to the High Priestess and would rather die than fail her."

I smiled at Tanner, "From the mouths of babes. All you need to do is explain to them how what you do serves Atom's efforts. Over the next few days, everyone will listen carefully to my explanation of the tenants of the Church, and we will discuss how to integrate your research into the faith. However, there are two areas of research that will be changing."

"What's that?" Tanner asked. The rest of the board seemed curious, likely because they were wondering if it was their research that was going to be affected.

"First," I said, "will be the Robotics Division. Synth research will be split between artificial intelligence and synthetic bodies. Additionally, fully aware AI cannot be programmed with personalities, pasts, or be made to think it's an actual person. There is no reason to do that, and it will cause too much confusion and friction."

"You can't be serious," a woman snapped. "If we can't push those boundaries then how will we ever know if we can- AH!"

"That pain you're feeling right now are atoms beginning to fuse," I said with a bright smile. "If you want me to alter them so that they start a fission reaction and reenact Doctor Hartson's untimely demise, continue your protest."

The woman shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Excellent," I nodded and stopped the sharp reminder. "There are consequences to those actions that you cannot foresee. However, the AI programming can be placed into computers and robots. The synthetic body research will work with the bioengineering division."

"To what end?" the younger man asked.

"Synthetic bodies have far more potential than normal human bodies," I explained. "I'm sure you're all familiar with the Robobrain line from General Atomics International. I would like you all to begin looking into similar technology, where a human brain can be transferred into a synthetic body."

"Fascinating!" the young man replied. "This could circumvent the need for a great deal of medical research and extend life indefinitely in one fell swoop."

I nodded, "Both are true, but I will need one of your physicians to come with me as well. While putting human minds into synthetic bodies will do everything you said, there is a universal cure that's been created not far from here in Vault Eighty-One. They don't know it yet, but Vault Tec has a research station hidden within their vault. If we can replicate the cure, we can begin creating it and serving the Wasteland even better."

"A universal cure?" Doctor Fiess gasped. "As in, it cures all known diseases?"

"It cures all diseases," I clarified. "Known or otherwise."

"How can that be?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," I answered honestly. "But you can ask the robot in charge of keeping the cure safe."

I looked around at the board members, "Most everything will be business as usual. However, I need all the research and every viable sample of the Forced Evolutionary Virus."

"For what?" a thinner man with sleek, black hair asked. It was Brian Virgil. He was in charge of the virus research. He would respond poorly if I answered honestly.

"I have need of it," I said simply. "In fact, once this meeting is over I'll need you to bring me to that lab so I can inspect the samples."

Brian sighed, "Very well…"

The meeting went on for about an hour. When it ended, I followed Brian down to his lab while the others went to begin setting my plans into place. Brian gathered all of the viable virus samples into syringes. Once they'd been gathered, I broke the news to him that further research on the virus, and further creation of the virus wouldn't be allowed. He grew just as angry as I thought he would but I managed to calm him down. I was able to bring him around by promising him a different line of research that would keep his attention. Instead of working on the virus, he would be given the opportunity to lead the research on the universal cure.

As Brian left to pack his bags for the trek to Vault Eighty-One, I took time to inject Mierune with the last remaining samples of the Forced Evolutionary Virus. Mierune was less than pleased with the injections, but he would be better for it soon enough. Before I left the Institute, Adam was left in charge of ensuring things were prepared to receive the acolytes who would join the research teams. The organization that was the Institute was destroyed and reorganized into the Ala Miraculorum, the Wing of Miracles, of the Church of Atom.

Things were almost ready to completely take over the Commonwealth.