[closed] the only constant is change

[capcious]

Who: the Fallout AU crew
Setting: the Commonwealth
Summary: BoS things, institute things
Warnings: Fallout warnings, smut
Other: [original notes] [first post] [second post] [third post] [fourth post] [fifth post] [sixth post] [seventh post] [eighth post]

- minor timeskip to when the BoS has its feet under it again, shaun asks riley to go up and keep an eye on them and deacon goes with
- they get assigned to a BoS squad composed of AU versions of chancellery guards (paladin archimedes o'hallan, knight-captain anthony norris, lancer-sargeant alex reyes, knight riley reynolds, knight everett wynter, knight henry "hal" saller, aspirant 'jack' "deacon" 'priest')
- maybe some minor quests involving getting to know them, gotta get some solid Bonding going
- sarrith (sarah, secret enclave remnant) and sal's romeo and juliet romance
- that one quest where you get the nukes from the glowing sea for the BoS
- wynter's mistake and gradual ghoulification and the position it puts the squad in
- blind betrayal

- shaun announces ferran officially as his successor
- ferran dealing with the short institute quests that result from that
- shaun discovering ferran's a slut and trying to talk to him about it
- zetta freaking out bc they're spending all this time waiting for her to recover and dealing with the BoS, and not having the time to try to figure out a way to save shaun
- zetta, in general, driving shaun slowly up the wall because she's cooped up and needs to be kept occupied or else Bad Things Start Happening, why is this shaun's life, this was not what he was expecting at all
- ferran going on missions with x6-88 / house divided, warwick
- nathan and zay's one night stand with ferran becoming not a one night stand any more
- at some point we need to have nathan call deacon a mongrel to his face so zetta can go positively nuclear
- zay finding out nathan is taking buffout

- build towards the railroad and institute being on better terms (not *stable*, but they need to be in a position where they're willing to make an alliance at the battle for bunker hill and afterwards to take the BoS down)
- probably need to do a meeting with dez and carrington, bc jfc (and ferran being the next director makes it easier to make negotiations on the institute's behalf though shaun probably doesnt fully trust him with that wrt the railroad yet, shaun needs to see ferran make decisions that benefit the institute OVER the railroad for that)

- mass fusion happens before battle for bunker hill, lighting a fire under the brotherhood's ass (still use it as the faction cut-off point?)
- at the battle, brotherhood wins -- keeping them a legitimate threat and serving as the push for the institute and railroad to work together against them

[image] [lyrics]

well, oh, it seems you're a lot like me
you dug yourself into places you never thought you would be
but don't you fret, and don't you mind
the only constant is change,
and you never know what you'll find

yeah, tomorrow i might wake up nice and clean
and i might believe the things i said i didn't mean
and this might turn and wind up just the way we'd dreamed
and i might become the things i swore i'd always be

Comments

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran reaches over and triggers the door to open. Then waits. Listens. There's no sign of Gen 2s so he steps carefully into the doorway and scans the hall.

Then he hears the soft click-whir of a turret locking onto a target.

Ferran ducks back behind the wall just as laser blasts fire on the place he was just standing, burning scorch marks into the floor.]

Bleedin' hell!

[His heart's racing. God, what a rush. Ferran starts to laugh.]

X6, you fire first. The heat from your lasers might help weaken the shield casing. Then I'll follow up with my pistol.

[coursers]

[X6-88 doesn't understand what is amusing about this situation, but he isn't going to ask. (Not that he wouldn't understand the thrill of danger, but this isn't an expression of it that he does understand.) He just follows his orders and leans around the doorframe to open fire on the turret.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran waits a few seconds for the laser blasts to bombard the turret, then adds three loud shots of the .44.]

[coursers]

[There's a small explosion as the turret bursts apart, shooting metal scraps of shrapnel everywhere. Not a problem for them, since they aren't in the hallway.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Only one bullet left in the chamber. Ferran reloads now while its safe and he can take the time to make sure he doesn't drop one.]

Thank you, X6.

[He steps into the hallway and makes his way towards the observation chamber.]

It's a pity there isn't a central location from outside Biosciences where we could power these down. Do all the divisions operate on independent systems?

[coursers]

[X6-88 follows, Institute-issued laser rifle held ready.]

I do not know, sir, [he answers readily. Coursers are not taught precisely how the Institute is powered, especially not things like the turret systems.]

[reformedcriminal]

I suppose it might be for the best if--

[Click-whirrrr.

Ferran jumps back, knocking into X6's arm, just as another turret begins to fire.]

[coursers]

[X6 grabs a fistful of the back of Ferran's shirts near his collar and physically hauls him back into the other room, actually near-picking him up in the process and twisting to keep himself between Ferran and the turret's line of fire.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran gasps as he's suddenly wrenched away from the turret fire and tossed back to safety. As soon as he catches his breath, he ducks down and looks for the turret.]

[coursers]

[X6 feels the turret fire pepper his back, but the armor in his courser coat keeps the ammo from biting through. He'll bruise, but he doesn't react to the pain at all. With the future Director now out of harm's way again, he, too, takes cover, draws his rifle again, and focuses on eliminating the hostile.

He remembers where the turret is, and once he makes sure he has line of sight, he opens fire.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran watches where X6 fires, then raises his pistol to join him in the assault on the turret. Within a few seconds, it explodes in a hiss of sparks.]

[coursers]

Threat eliminated, [X6-88 announces, then turns to look at Ferran.] Sir, perhaps I should take the lead until we reach our destination.

[reformedcriminal]

Since you have an armoured coat and I don't, I suppose that would be practical.

[But less fun. Ah well.]

[coursers]

Yes, it would, [X6 agrees, deceptively mild, and he steps ahead to take point, rifle held at the ready.

But the hallway is now completely empty of further threats, and so is the next room, which is full of hydroponics tables. Still, X6-88 does a thorough (if inhumanly fast) sweep before he calls back,] Clear.

[He proceeds to the next door and waits for Ferran to catch up.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran follows X6 as soon as it's safe to do so.

Just their luck that now there seems to be no more turrets, after they decided that the semi-indestructible courser should go first.]

[coursers]

[The next door opens into a room with cubicles in the center, and a large window along one wall.

There, Dr. Lawrence is waiting, already sneering as they step in.] Aha! I thought I heard something. Made it past the guards, hm? I'd say impressive, but I'm sure the courser did all the work.

[X6-88 takes solace in the fact that his eyes aren't visible behind his sunglasses, because that means he can safely roll them.]

If you've come to change our minds, then you're wasting our time.

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran crosses his arms over his chest.]

I assume you did this to make a point. Well, you have my attention. Whatever thoughts you have about my appointment, I'm listening.

[coursers]

No. I've tried talking. For years I've suggested that we do things differently here, but nobody listens. [Dr. Lawrence bites out, all anger and wounded pride.] Father chose not to talk to the Directorate before annointing you his successor, so how about I follow his fine example?

[reformedcriminal]

You've never tried talking to me.

I'm happy to discuss ideas from all the scientists as the Institute continues to move forward. I expect it will be a lively debate, and perhaps my lack of previous affiliation with any one department can assure people of my objectivity in my mediation and decision making. I would welcome your input.

But I won't negotiate Institute policy while being held hostage.

[As Ferran talks, he scans the room behind the glass, assessing the threats they'll need to neutralize if diplomacy doesn't work.]

[coursers]

How could you hope to lead us when you hardly know anything about what we do? [Lawrence's voice is stern now, but there's a note of understanding.] I'm sure you mean well, but you must see that it's an impossible task.

[Within the main room of Bioscience, there are more gen 2 synths patrolling.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran moves to the terminal and uses the holodisk that Dr. Oberly provided him with to access the system.

====Institute Central Network====
***COMMAND FUNCTION OVERRIDE IN PROGRESS***
Disable Automated Turrets
Initiate Specimen Release
Unlock Door

He scans the command options as he speaks.]

I thought the Institute specialized in pushing the boundaries on what is possible.

For a more prosaic answer, leadership requires more than operational knowledge. Operational knowledge is quickly learned, leadership isn't. I am asking you to talk to me precisely so I can learn more about what you do. I value your expertise. But we can't talk properly like this.

[coursers]

[Lawrence's eyes follow Ferran as he moves to the terminal, and narrow. What is he doing? He glances at X6-88, who stares back impassively.

From farther back in the room, Dr. Loken's voice can be heard.] Even the most fastidious researcher must sometimes take a leap of faith. I say let's give it a try.

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran stops before choosing a terminal command. Even if they're truly surrendering, having them open the door is better than Ferran opening it. If they submit under their own terms it will be easier to bring them back into the fold.]

Thank you, Dr. Loken.

Dr. Higgs?

[coursers]

[Dr. Higgs looks back at Dr. Loken, frowning deeply. X6-88 waits as he seems to think it over.

Finally, he sighs heavily.] Very well, then. Open the door and let's return to the fold.

[Dr. Loken starts shouting orders to the synths, resuming their normal functions.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Tension leaves Ferran's shoulders as Dr. Higgs confirms an end to the confrontation. Playing the role of "Appointed Next Director of the Institute" is one of the more challenging he's done. Most especially because it's real.

The door opens and Ferran steps into the lab.]

Return to your work stations, gentlemen. I'll open the main doors from here. I'm sure Bioscience would like their lab back.