It happened all so quickly. One minute Nate was in the airport and the next, he was in a small, brightly lit room. He lowers his arms as he moves slowly. The first thing that hits him is just how quiet it was. The only thing he could hear was the quiet hum of the computer console in front of him. He walks up to it slowly to see a terminal and slides the holotape inside. He finds just the right command and starts to download everything. He turns his head to see an emergency relay button. He would keep that in mind, just in case things went south. Once the computer was finished he takes the holotape and places it somewhere save in his uniform. The Brotherhood uniform was much better then the Vault suit. No all he had to do, is figure out where his son was. He still had no idea how he was going to get him out, and find this Doctor Li at the same time. He moves around slowly, there was a door, but it was locked. He sees an elevator, but it wouldn't open. He wasn't sure what to do, until a voice speaks to him. "Welcome, I am...rather surprised to see you made it inside. But I had no doubt you would find one. One way or the other, come we have much to talk about." Nate frowns, the voice sounded, old, but indifferent to him being here. The elevator turns on and the door opens for him. He keeps his weapon close to him as he steps in. The elevator moved down, the same voice talking again, but he tuned it out. He wasn't here to listen to some over glorified voice with a God complex. But what he saw next, floored him.
The Institute was a large underground network of different levels and more scientist he could count. What bothered him the most was just how, clean it looked. This place looked untouched by the war that took place over two-hundred years ago. No one seems to pay him any mind as he sinks farther into the ground to a different area. The voice hadn't stopped talking the whole time. "But you are here for another reason I believe.." Nate blinks as he looks up at this. "Shaun..." He makes his way through a small hallway to another elevator as it goes up. He couldn't stay still as it comes to a stop, and there he was. There was a young boy, about ten years old sitting in a room with a large glass window. His hear stops, he looked just like Nora. His eyes, his hair, even his nose. He couldn't believe it, and while Nate would always regret not being there to see him grow, he can make up for it now as he runs to the glass. "Shaun?" The boy tilts his head at him. "Yes I'm Shaun, who are you?" Nate was close to tears as he sinks to his knees. "It's me Shaun....I'm your father..." The boy looked confused at first, then angry. "What, your not my Father, what's going on?" Nate starts to panic a bit. "Shh Shaun, it's okay now, I know your scared, but I'll get you out." Shaun starts to panic. "No I don't know you, get away from me, Father, Farther!?" Nate was close to trying to shot at the glass until a door slides open. An older man with white hair and a neatly trimmed beard steps out. He looked slightly disappointed in something.
"Shaun...S9-23 Recall Code Cirrus." The boy slumps, and says no more as Nate turns his rage on who ever the hell this person was. Gun still in his hands he takes a shaky breath. "What...did you do to him?" "I am Father, lower your weapon, I simply wish to talk.." Nate slowly lowers his gun. "Where is my son?" He tries to hold back the venom in his voice, but he wasn't kidding anyone here. 'Father' just remains relaxed through this whole thing. "I can only imagine what you've heard, what you think of us. I'd like to show you that you may have... the wrong impression." Nate was close to rising his gun again. "I don't care if you piss gold I want my son!!" The older scientist jumps at his tone. "You have traveled very far, and suffered a great deal, to find your son. Well, your tenacity and dedication have been rewarded. I am...your son." Nate feels his chest tighten, he could feel something breaking inside of him. "No, your lying, that can't be true." Father just shrugs at him lightly. "In the Vault, you had no concept of the passage of time. You were released from your pod, and went searching for the son you'd lost. But then you learned that your son was no longer an infant, but a ten year old boy. You believed that ten years had passed." He steps forward just a bit as he watches Nate closely. "Is it really so hard to accept that it was not ten, but sixty years? That is the reality." Nate drops his gun, now he really was crying. How, how could this have happened? How could so much time pass, but it seems 'Shaun' wasn't lying to him. "Why...why take you, your were just a infant..." Shaun seems to smile at this, as he raises his hand. "Ah, at that time, the year 2227, the Institute had made great strides in synth production. But it was never enough."
He sways a bit as he talks. "Scientific curiosity, and the goal of perfection, drove them ever onward. What they wanted was...the perfect machine. So they followed the best example thus far - the human being. Walking, talking, fully articulate. Capable of anything." Nate could barely hold back his anger. "So the weird science experiments needed specimens. That's why they took you." Shaun nods his head at this. "The Institute endeavored to create synthetic organics. The most logical starting point, of course, was human DNA. Plenty of that was available, of course, but it had all become corrupted. In this...wasteland...radiation affected everyone. Even in their attempts to shield themselves from the world above, members of the Institute had been exposed. Another source was necessary. But then the Institute found me, after discovering records from Vault 111. An infant, frozen in time, protected from the radiation-induced mutations that had crept into every other human cell in the Commonwealth." Nate snaps at this, he sounded so indifferent to all of this. "They killed your mother and stole you away from her!" He was screaming now. "I had to watch Kellogg gun her down, for trying to keep you safe..." If Shaun was bothered by this at all, he didn't show it. "She was, an unfortunate casualty...but at the time, they were only following orders." "And that makes it right?" Nate was so confused he had no idea what to do, or feel. In the end, he could only feel numb. "So what now?" He didn't want to be here any longer then he needed to be. However Shaun unwillingly gives him a way out. "You can join us, talk to my staff members. I assure you, we're not the villeins everyone no doubt paints us as.."
Nate spoke softly. "Join you?" "Yes, my fellow scientist, Clayton Holdren, Allie Filmore, Justin Ayo, and Madison Li." Nate looks up at this, but keeps his mouth shut. Sure he could play this game. "I just might, get a better feel for how you guys work. After all, you seem...taken care of..." Shaun seems to slowly smile at this, thinking he had gotten over the shock. "Good, good, I'll make sure my staff know you are not a threat to them. Once you meet everyone, feel free to stop by, I'm sure we have much to talk about.." Nate just nods numbly as he turns and steps back into the elevator to return to the main hub of the organization. He was shaking as he stood there, to numb to move. It takes him a minute to walk slowly as he looks around the large area. He had no idea where to even start as he turns to a near by scientist. "Pardon, do you know where I can find Madison Li?" The jump a bit and nod at him. "Y-yes, she's in the Advanced Systems hall, you can't miss it..." Nate just nods slowly as he walks. He needed to do something as he finds just a empty space with no one around. He finally sinks to the floor as he sits there. He wanted to scream as he sits there, but the only thing he could just was break down. His only child, lost to him through the sands of time. His worst fear had happened. The Institute had turned him into a heartless monster. One that seemed blind to all the harm they had down to the Commonwealth. After a few minutes he slowly picks himself out, he would talk to Li. He still had to find the serum for Virgil. He owed the man for getting him this far. He sighs deeply, wanting nothing more then to just get the hell out of there. But he was stuck for the moment as he heads off to go find Li.
Meanwhile, back on base, everyone was hard at work. Several Brotherhood members were getting everything ready to rebuild Liberty Prime. Paladin Danse was allowed to keep watch over the Relay in case Nate came back. Elder Maxson made it clear to keep an eye out for him. Ingram was inside a small area, working on finding everything she needed to start rebuilding the large robot. Which meant most of their time would be spent fixing up what was left of it's broken body. Sara was already hard at work, fixing one of the hands as Paladin Floss joins her. While she never recalled seeing someone like him in the game, she still enjoyed talking to him. He was a kind man, that knew how important this job was. He and Danse would shift spots every few hours to keep the work load going. Danse was a bit more quiet, but she didn't mind. Whenever she needed something he was happy to go find it for her. The hours pass and they shift again as the older Paladin smiles at her. "So how goes the work?" Sara sits back, she had managed to put most of the hand back together. "Looks good so far, just gotta make sure all the joints work, last thing we want is for it to lock up.." Paladin Floss smiles at this as he keeps his eyes open. Like Danse he remained in his power armor, his weapon at the ready. The news of a spy had already reached everyone. So everyone was now on high alert. She sits it aside as she slowly picks out the parts for the other hand. However this one was far more damaged then she realized. She lets out a low groan, this might take awhile as she gets to work.
Elder Maxson had already found the perfect job for the spy. He made sure Cade had taken care of his leg, before putting him to work. The poor man was now down bellow the ship, moving around their supplies. It was heavy work, mostly done in power armor, but Maxson didn't tell the man that. He had already forgotten his name, not like it mattered, he didn't see the guy lasting long with the work load he was going to pass on. A day had already past, and still no sign of Nate. He really hoped the worse hadn't happened, but figured it might be another few days before he could get out. Though Maxson had to agree with himself. If Nate wasn't back within the week, he would simply have to cut his losses and move on to Plan B. As much as he didn't want to go that route, at least he had a back up plan. He still wasn't sure if he should act against the Railroad, if at all. So far they had only sent one spy, and a lousy one at that. He would keep his eyes open in case they tried again. With nothing else to do, he might as well go back down to see how things were going. Truth be told, he was secretly going for a different reason even if he could say it out loud yet. Sara was still working with Paladin Floss, the two of them talking with ease. After awhile she gets up and slowly leans back, working the knots out. "I think I got this other hand mostly done, but I might need to go into the storeroom to get a few spare parts." The Paladin turns to her. "Need me to join you Knight?"
She shakes her head lightly. "Nah, just watch my spot, I'll be back in like ten minutes.." He nods as she heads off down the corridor to the large storage area. A few scribes and several knights guarded this area. Knight Sergeant Gavil turns when she enters. "Hello Knight, need something?" She gives him a firm salute. "Just need to look into your scrap bin, hope you don't mind." He gives her a nod. "Of course, take anything you might need." She turns and heads down to a large corner of steal containers. They had been set out for them to use on rebuilding Liberty Prime. She wasn't to sure she could find what she was looking for, but she had to try. If she could just find something close to the right size she might make it work. She starts with the container near the wall as she gets looking. As she keeps her head down, she hears something shuffle close. She looks up quick to see another knight, looking at her. She had never seen him before, but he had the most s**t eating grin she had ever seen. He was a little taller then her, well muscled from training. His dark skin and eyes put her on edge a bit. Mostly because of the way he was looking at her. "Can I help you?" She narrows her eyes at him. She really hoped he wasn't going to try anything. Of course he slides over to her, leaning his arm on the wall as he looks at her. "Funny, I was going to ask you that. I'm Knight Veris, but you can call me Charles."
She was far from using his name. "Charmed, now care to tell me what you want so I can get back to work." She really didn't like how close he was as he reaches out and cups her cheek. "Now now, no need to get all bent out of shape. I'm sure you could use a break." She slaps his hand away. "Not interested." He didn't seem to like this answer as he takes another step closer, his face right in front of her own now. "Funny, because I don't remember, asking.." No one was around, but she stays calm. "Back off, both Paladin Floss and Knight Sergeant Gavil know I'm back here." He didn't seem all the worried. "Please they have other things to worry about..now how about you play nice. I'm sure it will be pleasurable for the both of us." Just outside Elder Maxson had made it to the work station they had set up. Paladin Floss looks up and salutes him. "Elder sir.." Maxson takes a look around. "Where is Knight Hagen?" The Paladin blinks as he turns his head. "Storage room, said she needed to go find some extra parts for fixing this thing." Maxson turns and heads that way, walking past several knights. Just as he makes his way, he hears the most pain ridden scream he had ever heard as he jogs to see what was going on. He looks down to see Knight Veris on the ground, holding his goods as Sara glares down at him. "Maybe next time you'll understand no means no...jerk..." She looks up to see Maxson, and Gavil as he slowly picks the knight up. He yelps as he doubles over in pain. "What's going on here?"
Sara points to the knight. "He wouldn't take no for an answer, so I kneed him in the goods." Gavil flinches a bit as he glares at the other knight. "Is that so?" He lets out a weak groan. "She's...crazy, I was just trying to help her..." He didn't sound all that convincing. "By trying to get into my pants...smooth.." Elder Maxson, was seeing red. This was something no one got away with, with anyone. Knight Veris tries to say something, but he was in far to much pain. "Lock him up, I'll deal with him later.." Gavil salutes to him as he drags the knight away. She hangs her head a bit as Maxson turns to her. "Sorry...I...probably shouldn't have used force, but he was really pushing it.." Maxson steps forward, but he doesn't get to close. "Are you hurt?" She shakes her head at him. "No sir.." She wanted to remain neutral just in case. "I uh..think I got him worse then what he was planing to do to me." Not that she would let it go that far. "It..was a touch odd that he didn't seem to care if someone caught him....which makes me think he's done this before..." She could see his fingers going white as he clinches his fist. "This will be looked into, if he has...I'll make damn sure to use him as an example to the others to think twice." The fact that one of his knights had been taking advantage of others, pissed him off to no end. "If it makes you feel better, he's going to have one hell of a time getting it up now.." He turns to her slowly as he tries to hide a smirk. "Remind me to stay on your good side." She gives him a wink as she walks past him. "Trust me, I'll be more gentle." She didn't have to look to know he was blushing.
