Gate: Thus the Brotherhood of Steel Lyon's Pride Fought in Their Land

Chapter Thirty - Four - Adam

Interesting wasn't the word to use. The words painted on the walls remained the same. The same message of PLAY reoccurred throughout the hall as they walked down it. The song being sung was still creepy, but it didn't have the same weight it did before. From what he could tell there was something missing. Adam didn't claim to be a spiritual person. Sure, he'd seen things that couldn't really be explained. There were times he went through the ruins of a war two hundred years past and saw movement that shouldn't have been there.

Shadowy figures that sometimes appeared only to disappear, and of course the things in the Dunwich building were a prime example. The strangeness of it was seconded only by the oppressive feeling that filled it. The fact that cuthulu's gambit had been found in there was only more evidence that something strange had happened, and likely was still happening, in there. It was a place full of mystery. In several ways, this hall in this medical facility felt like the Dunwich building.

It was the same oppressive energy, and it was the same horrible feeling that was bubbling up. Yet, Aqua had somehow managed to protect them. It was insane that it happened so quickly. The fact that she proclaimed herself to be a goddess seemed to carry weight. He tried to wrap his head around the fact of what she had professed. An actual goddess among them. One that could purify the water, make it safe to drink, and protect from some being that was attempting to drive them all insane. In truth, the feeling of the hospital before her helping them was the same feeling that he'd felt in Vault 106.

That entire Vault had felt like insanity had simply decided to reside inside of it. Every step had been a test of the endurance of his mind, and he had never told anyone about everything he'd seen in there. How he'd saw bullies from his childhood, individuals that he shouldn't have seen, and even people he hadn't met yet. The entire place was wrapped inside of a kind of madness that was difficult to describe.

That was what the medical center felt like. It felt like there was something darker and sinister inside of it. There had been something darker in the medical center, but somehow Aqua had driven it away. It of course led to the other side of things. Aqua could absolutely gain a following here. He didn't doubt it. He also knew that if she did then her following would be just as expansive as that of Atom. The Children of Atom weren't bad folks, but they were fanatical to be sure.

He wasn't sure how well he'd like to see people running around with their hair dyed blue while they professed the teachings of Aqua. There was too good of a chance that things could turn sideways. Still, he kept those thoughts to himself as they walked. So far they only saw the painted words of PLAY, still written on the walls in the way that children would write it. He could hear something else as well. Something in the background like movement, but it wasn't whatever it had been before. This sounded familiar. Like the sounds of protectrons moving about.

That was something he knew they could handle. Protectrons themselves weren't difficult to take down. A few good shots in the right places would disable them. They tended to be wealths of scrap metal and circuit boards as well. Whatever that small robot had been that was being used was different, but it wasn't something that they couldn't defeat either. They stepped further, and he heard the sound stop around them. This time it wasn't the faint heavy steps of protectrons, but rather it was something lighter moving.

It sounded like it was under the floor and above the ceiling. He listened to the soft clicks of something moving, but he couldn't see it. His H.U.D. was useless in this situation. If he couldn't see it, and he couldn't use V.A.T. deal with it then he had to rely on his own ability. Luckily he'd gotten to be a damn good shot, but he didn't like to do it without the targeting assistance. Doing so meant that he was hoping that his senses weren't lying to him.

Despite everything that could be happening V.A.T.S. didn't lie. It could aim for him, and he was able to determine both friend and foe. It gave him the edge that was certainly needed in combat. Being without it made him feel oddly naked. He looked toward Sentinel Reeder who was moving his head and looking up, "They're in the ventilation."

He nodded, "What is it?"

There was silence for a moment, "The Chinese created small robots that were used in infiltration," he replied as he walked beside him, "They were mostly used in areas that were determined to be too potentially difficult for invasion forces. So they dropped them in. I heard that we had something similar."

Adam looked at him, "Wait, we developed those things?"

Sentinel Reeder nodded, "Much like the Mr. Handy they were believed to be more capable of doing utilitarian duties. It's my understanding that General Atomics created them. I'm not sure how many are out there, but it stands to reason that the medical center is likely full of them."

The sound of that didn't sit well. They had a bunch of small robots that were surrounding them. They were small enough to run through the ventilation and were moving around through the ceiling and floor. It meant that they could pop up anywhere. He didn't want that. He wanted for them to get through this quickly and quietly. The medical center was a treasure trove of medical supplies. It could help so many people, but they needed to find these children and help them if they could.

Each step into the hall cemented the fact that they were not alone. He could hear the small robots that Sentinel Reeder had talked about. All of them seemed to be running under the floor and above the ceiling, and they seemed to be ignoring them for the moment. He wondered if that was because Kazuma had already come through and dealt with the traps. It made sense if that was the case. Likely, they were expecting the traps to deal with anyone that happened to be coming by.

It certainly wasn't for their lack of trying. He was certain that Kazuma had saved them from multiple fatal traps. The small treasure trove of explosives he'd brought back was proof of that. Likely they came from grenade bouquets that hung above doorways. He wasn't foolish enough to ask the question of why there were explosives and guns in hospitals anymore. The world pre-war was just as frightening as the world today. There was no doubt in his mind about that.

"I found more explosives than I thought should be in a hospital," Kazuma said, "I mean there was a pretty decent collection of weapons."

"Staff was expected to keep the doctors, patients, and themselves safe," Sentinel Reeder said, "The information we found on the Nurses station said as much. Most of them had to attend firearm training. It was expected for all of them to score at least four out of six shots, and three of those to be fatal shots."

Adam knew about some of this thanks to his trip through Our Lady of Hope when he helped Reily's Rangers. Walking through it he had found proof of the hospital staff trying being pressured into learning all they could about guns, explosives, and anything else that would ensure that the administrative staff would survive along with the patients of importance there. It was insane, to say the least, but it was also something that he come to expect.

"Adam, are you listening?"

He looked toward Kazuma and shook his helmeted head, "Sorry, I was lost in thought," he replied, "Could you repeat it?"

"I said how many hospitals have you been through with weapons like these?"

Adam took a moment, "Several actually," he said as they moved down the hallway, "Every hospital I went to had weapons stored in them. How many were from before the war, and how many were there from the survivors after I'm not sure. I know that in the end it didn't really matter."

There was quiet, "Why?" Rory asked, "Why did it not matter?"

He considered his words for a few moments, The people that were trying to do right by those in the hospitals likely were outnumbered by those who were looting for themselves. I found records of good people, people that defended others, but I found more examples of people turning raider. Those that decided that it was easier to simply take what they wanted."

He shook his head as they walked, "I can't say much about it, and the reason I can't is because I wasn't there. I didn't see the world end. I didn't see what people had known suddenly just disappear in an instant. It had to be frightening, and I'm sure that it shook several people straight to their core," he stated, "Those that had the ability to fight for their sanity, and fight for what they believed in were likely those who had a deep rooted faith in something bigger than themselves. Those that didn't were most likely those that never saw the world beyond what existed around them."

Kazuma seemed quiet for a moment, "That makes sense actually," he said after a moment, "I've seen people that were supposed to be heroes, but they just wanted glory. They usually come up short. Most of them end up leaving their parties to die because they want to save their own skin."

"Such brutish and deplorable behavior," Darkness responded, "While you are truly a letch, and more often than not a man that does not have his priorities truly toward the common good I can say that you would never leave a teammate."

"Darkness," Megumin said, "Now isn't the time to think about being captured by something."

There was a small huff, "I do not wish to be," she said after a moment, "These are but mere children. Children left to insanity by a horrible individual. I do not wish for them to capture me. I wish to free them, find the location of this individual, and face him in single combat. Such would be fitting of a crusader."

"I don't think that would happen," Adam replied, "Dr. Braun is actually locked inside of a virtual prison. He's alone, with no one else, and he's forced to exist in a place where no one can get to him. His entire being is worse off than these children. Where he had two centuries to torture individuals these children had only themselves. Now he has a vast virtual world filled with nothing. There is no one for him to talk to, torture, or interact with. He's alone, completely alone, and forced to deal only with the program designed to free those trapped in the simulation from their prison."

There was quiet, "Wait, so he suffers the same torment as those trapped here?" Rory asked?"

He nodded, "Yeah, he's stuck, and he can never escape. His body is too frail."

She laughed after a moment, "When there is time I would like for you to show me the place where he is trapped. I would like to inform him, wherever he is, that there will be no peace for him. That being left to rot in his prison for all eternity is a fitting punishment for someone so cruel."

He smiled at the words, "I'm sure that we can make the trip back to Vault 112," he replied as they continued to move down the hall, "But for now let's focus on getting these kids out of here."

He listened and he noticed that the sounds above them and below them were still there, but it sounded louder. It was almost like there were more moving around them. He was waiting for them to jump out at them at any point. It wasn't exactly a fear. That wasn't to say that fear was bad. In truth Fear saved just as many people as it endangered. Fear was the warning that there was danger lurking around the corner helped people prepare for what could be waiting for them. More than once his fear had actually worked toward saving him.

He wasn't afraid here, but rather he was expecting it to happen. He was expecting whatever had been inside of the first skin covered doll to attack at any moment. The small robots that had been inside of it were nimble and capable of moving faster than he could keep up with. They were designed to move in tight spaces,and they were designed to assist where the most dangerous places couldn't be accessed by humans, protectrons, or Mr. Handies. At least that was what he assumed.

If what Sentinel Reeder had said was correct then they could be dealing with dozens, maybe hundreds of them. It bothered him that it was a very real chance. It bothered him because while he trusted everyone here he didn't want to lose them. This was the kind of thing that could go pear shaped quick. He breathed in, took a moment, and considered the situation itself. The world would continue to spin no matter what, but the people they were helping would have a chance to have a very real life here.

They would have a chance to live and do well in this settlement, and that was worth what they were doing. The medical supplies would be worth what they were doing. It would be a benefit to have more medical supplies than what they had expected. But then again he had to worry about the bill when it came due. The bill would be paid by those with him. He took another moment. He couldn't allow himself to get too wrapped up in what could happen. He needed to focus on what was happening.

He had to focus on how they were going to get through this, and then onward toward how they where going to make the trip back. One thing he was certain about was that Dr. Braun had gotten off light. Sure, he was stuck inside of virtual hell. Stuck alone forever, but that seemed to be a light sentence compared to what had happened to these children. He heard the speakers static again. As he did the lights in the hall began to dim. This time he heard the sounds of vents opening.

"Green Light!" dozens of children's voices echoed, "Green Light!"

He knew this game. He looked toward the others, "Run!"

They moved forward, getting through the hall when the lights flared on again, but this time red lights erupted from the doors around them, "RED LIGHT!"

He came to a stop, and so did everyone else. The sound behind them was present now. It was there, he could hear them. Hundreds of the robots were behind them at this moment. He got it, he understood, they were playing with them. They were playing with the new people. They wanted to play like every single child he'd known before. They wanted to treat them to a game, but over the years it was obvious that their games had gotten deadly.

"GREEN LIGHT!" the voice echoed again, "GREEN LIGHT!"

They once again ran, and he saw the end of the hall. The stairwell door was glowing green. He got it now. They had to get through the door. He rushed toward it, grabbed it and wrenched it open. When he did the sound of the blast was massive. He felt the blast as it ripped against the armored chest of his power armor. Had it been someone else it would have killed them. He saw the rigged shotgun, thankful it had been him, and he waited as they made it through.

"NO FAIR!" the children's voices shouted through the speakers, "YOU CHEATED!"

He let the door close. Silence was again with them, and he felt better about what was happening. They had been leading them toward a trap, a prank, and he had managed to save them. The first one was done. He let the door close, and then he looked toward Sentinel Reeder who nodded, "It seems that they are wanting to play games with us," he replied, "But since we have an idea of where we need to go I think that we might be able to bypass some of it."

Adam nodded in return, "Yeah, but those small robots might be a problem."

Rory gave a huff, "They seem weak."

It was Kazuma that cleared his throat, "Ever see ants working together?" he asked, and she looked toward him, "Ants aren't too strong. In fact, compared to most other insects they're fairly weak. But they don't attack alone. They swarm. It's not one or two, but it's thousands or hundreds of thousands at the least, and billions at the most. That's what we've got here. They're going to swarm us eventually, and when they do we're going to have to try to fight our way through."

She seemed to consider that, "I see," she replied, "Can they overcome all of us?"

Adam shrugged, "I don't know," he replied after a moment, "I mean, I want to say no, but honestly if there's too many coming I'm not sure how many we can put down before they get too close to us. The grenades that Kazuma got for us will help, but even then it is likely that we'll only get two or three of them at once. I doubt that we'd be much more lucky than that."

She seemed to think about it, "What about something to disable them? Did not one of those working with you say they could disable or stop them?"

It was Sentinel Reeder that shook his head, "With anything made by Robco sure, but these things were likely made by General Atomics. That means that he doesn't have an access to them. We're stuck doing this the hard way."

Adam looked at them, "Well, if they're made by General Atomics, and have a similar operating system as the Mr. Handies we might have another option," he said as he looked at them, "The Mr. Handies do have a shut down command. It's an override that I found when I was crossing the wastes. It came in handy with a few Mr. Gutsies that I had to deal with."

Sentinel Reeder nodded, "Good, be ready to try it. If it will work then we'll see if there's a way we can broadcast it to the nearby ones," he said as he looked toward the stairwell, "If not, then we're just going to have to make our way the best we can."

Of course Adam understood exactly what it meant. He'd been in the Brotherhood of Steel long enough to know that a Sentinel's words were right below an Elder. Sentinel Reeder wanted to be done with this place, and he felt the same. He wanted them out, but first they had their objective. It was strange that something that wasn't even part of the main reason they had come to the Commonwealth was taking so much of their time.

It felt like they were going through a difficult area for little more than to ensure that a group of settlers were able to live somewhere decent. Maybe that was reason enough. Actually, it was to him. He knew that for him ensuring that those people could sleep without worrying about raiders, slavers, or other problems was more than enough reason to do what they were doing. He brought the map of the medical center up in his hud and studied it for a moment. The generators were further down. They would be in the basement. The children were likely above them on the next floor.

He swallowed, "If we go down, we find the generators. We can shut them down, and that will stop the connection completely," he said as he let them all take in what he was saying, "But it's not likely that we'll make it to the children in time. If we go up stairs we should find the pods they're currently in. We can go through, terminate their connection, and heal as many as possible."

There it was. He had laid out their choices. He looked toward Sentinel Reeder who's body language wasn't telling him anything. It was difficult, at best, to read someone's body language while they were in power armor, but Sentinel Reeder had been strolling around in power armor since the great war. He'd had a couple of centuries to monitor his body language and disguise it.

"We go up," Rory voiced her thoughts, "The children are there, and they need to be freed."

"She's right," Lelei replied, "We're already here, and it would only make sense to go to them first."

"What if they have more of those things watching them?" Aqua asked, "I mean, I know all of you will work to stop them, but who knows if that will be enough? They could get through you."

"Aqua," Kazuma said as he looked toward her, "This is your chance to prove that you're a goddess, and your chance to help a bunch of children. Young minds that will likely see a real goddess for the first time. Do you really want to miss out on that?"

Adam watched as she bit her lip, "That's not far Kazuma," she replied after a moment, "That's not fair at all. You know that I have to meet them. I need to give them the chance to join the Axis faith. I want them to have the chance to know that they can belong to faith that teaches them to embrace their love of life."

Adam could see how she was acting, and he could swear that Kazuma looked as if he was rolling his eyes. Something told him that he didn't agree with what she was saying, but he could see how well he'd played her. She wanted to go so that she could bring more into her faith. It was better than just waiting around, and if it would actually help them then he had no problem with it. If nothing else he could see that Kazuma seemed to know how to get to people.

He obviously had pretty good charisma. Part of him wondered how well he would have done when dealing with the republic of Dave. Could he have won the vote for presidency there? It was doubtful, but then who knew. He nodded, "Upstairs it is then," he replied as he looked above them, "We'll head up, and Kazuma can scout ahead and disarm any traps that he comes across. Be careful doing it. When you're ready to open a door have either Sentinel Reeder or myself do it.

He looked at them, "We're wearing power armor, and none of you are. Trust me, it will protect us more than what any of you are currently wearing."

He didn't really want to point out that most of them would get splattered by a shotgun, ripped apart by grenades, or if there was something worse waiting then having worse happen to them. They didn't need the visual, and he didn't need to give it to them. This was a case of just letting them fill in the blanks themselves and then them just getting through whatever was waiting. It was an approach that Sarah had taken several times when escorting people through the wastes.

His mind went to Sentinel Lyons, and he found himself wanting to be with her. There was a job to do, and he was going to do it, but he wished that she was here. He wished that she would have come with them. Her knowledge and skills would have been a help, plus he truly just missed her. He missed the way they held each other, and he missed the way she was affectionate when she believed that no one was paying attention.

She was someone that knew how to love, and wanted to be loved. She was a member of the Brotherhood of Steel first and foremost, but she was a damned loyal friend and lover as well. She was someone that he trusted his life with, and for all of those reasons he wanted her to be here. Still, he knew that she was doing what had to be done on her end, and he could do no less here.

He looked toward the others, looked above them, and then nodded, "Let's move out."