Fallout 4: AR

45. Supernatural Science

The night before we were scheduled to depart, I broached the topic of allying the Railroad with the Minutemen. Deacon was enthusiastically in support of the idea. His infectious optimism brought a smile to my face that maybe, just maybe, the Commonwealth could be made better for everyone. Desdemona, too, was more cautiously in favor of the alliance, especially when I pointed out the arrangement already in place with the Brotherhood to protect all settlers, no matter their background. "I don't know how you managed to wrangle that kind of concession from the Brotherhood of Steel," she commented with faint praise, "but if we have more protected areas to send escaped Synths, that can only benefit our cause. Good job."

"Well, we're not exactly telling them the pedigrees of the residents, are we?" I pointed out, pragmatically. "General Garvey should be made aware of the situation, of course, but he's agreed to not look too closely into the backgrounds of new settlers, as long as they're willing to work and get along."

"All the Synths want is a chance at a new life, away from the shackles of the Institute." She reminded me. "A life as a settler is an honorable one, and many would be glad for the opportunity. Thank you."

MacCready was frankly impressed after our discussions were complete. "Quite a juggling act you're pulling there, Boss." He sat at the head of my stretcher keeping an eye on the comings and goings of the various Railroad members. "I mean, the Minutemen with Garvey in charge appear to get along with just about everyone, but to get the Brotherhood and the Railroad on the same page?" He grinned at me. "Pretty savvy."

"I dunno. It's like a tripod..." I broke off, remembering Mama Murphy's words from Sanctuary. "...a tripod, a sturdy base. You have found one leg, growing in strength from flesh and bone and the heart of the people. Find the other two... tempered steel and steam-blasted iron." "A balancing act on three legs," I mused quietly. "Bone and steel and iron... Minutemen, Brotherhood, Railroad."

"What are you talking about Boss?"

I looked up into his perplexed expression. "Remember when we left Sanctuary the first time? When Mama Murphy gave me that vision?"

"You mean when she went on a babbling Psycho trip?" he snorted. "Yeah, I think so. Why?"

"She saw this, Mac," I insisted, grabbing his hand to emphasize my point. "She saw the tripod of the three groups working together... and said it needed a focus? Or that I was the focus? I can't remember exactly... for a terrible weapon."

One eyebrow quirked skeptically. "Oh, come on Boss. Don't tell me you believe that old bat!" He rolled his eyes. "Having the three biggest non-raider factions in the Commonwealth working together just makes sense, okay? You don't need a psycho psychic to tell you that!"

"Then why has no one else tried it?"

"Probably," he smirked, knowing he had the upper hand and enjoying it, "because the Minutemen were all but decimated in Quincy, the Brotherhood wasn't here yet, and the Railroad was keeping to the shadows. You're possibly the first, and only, person to even think of trying to unite them under a common cause." He leaned in to whisper in my ear, "and as much as I think you're a fool sometimes for trying to help every poor sap in the Commonwealth, letting your compassion get the better of you, I love you for it."

-0-

Tinker Tom met with us shortly before we left the catacombs. With him, he carried not only my Pip-Boy, but also our respective jackets. He set everything down on the table next to our makeshift living space around the stretcher I had been using. Calling Deacon over, he waited until the Railroad spy joined us before speaking.

"I have two words for you: 'Matter transmission'." Tom was practically bouncing up and down in vindicated excitement. Deacon raised an eyebrow, his expression otherwise unreadable behind the ubiquitous sunglasses.