Chapter 54: Chapter 52

Terrence could scarcely believe it, here he was, free and in the near mythical New World 81. Or rather, Station 81 as it was now known by the locals. The small army of robots had quickly removed the explosive collars and herded everyone through the tunnel with monotonous promises of food and medical attention.

It was one of the rare times where the end result exceeded promises. They were led into a corridor and then into a large room of tables and chairs, a canteen the robots had called it. The freed prisoners were instructed to grab a seat before a meal could be served. Under the many cold gazes of the Mr Handy robots, almost threatening it felt like, Terrence and Sophie, never letting go of each other’s hands, shared a table with several strangers.

Then the Ms Nanny robots came out, trays of warm food and drink in their claws. The scent of delicious food caused a stir amongst the men and women, but everyone wisely remained in their seats.

“Please take your time,” the Ms Nannies chimed as they served the food. “Eating too fast would be harmful to your wellbeing.”

With that advice in mind, along with the constant stares of the Mr Handys hovering around the room, the former captives dug into their food. Only then did Terrence and his wife unclasp their hands. The meal was a bowl of what looked and tasted like minced brahmin jerky in some sort of porridge, and it was a generous portion of it, too. Save for the gasps of surprise here and there, everyone ate in relative silence, though the clinking of dining ware betrayed the ravenous appetites of the diners.

How many brahmins did it take to feed everyone, Terrence wondered? And for everything to taste so...clean, he could almost believe that the combined rad levels of every bowl would be less than a single stalk of corn he used to grow.

Once their meals were finished, Terrence and everyone else were led to another room, where several white-painted Mr Handy ordered them into lines to pass through a series of over-decorated arches. Most people, Terrence and Sophie among them, exclaimed their surprise at finding their bodies revitalised and the signs of labor and brief slavery erased. A few others collapsed in shock, sobbing as harsh wounds were healed and even missing digits regenerated.

Terrence and Sophie passed through the arches before sharing a tight hug, revelling in their reinvigorated bodies. The lines on her face had softened and wrinkles faded considerably, even her missing teeth were regrown. As for himself, he found his eyesight to be sharper than ever, able to appreciate just how much his wife had changed, and take in the sight of everyone else in various degrees of surprise. The scars and calluses were gone too, and his joints moved freely without the pain he was used to.

The rumors were true. Sev’s land, this...Nexus...this was where his people enjoyed an easy life and miracles were dispensed freely. Even if it cost one their life as a slave to Sev, Terrence could fully understand why people might take up that offer.

With the atmosphere in the room bordering on hysterics, the robots simply waited until everyone calmed down before herding them up to the surface. Up above, a group of vault dwellers in their bright jumpsuits greeted them.

A rather energetic young woman did the talking. “Hi! I hope everyone’s doing better? I’m Rylee, thanks for cooperating with us so far. Now, a quick show of hands, how many of you have places to return to?”

Terrence had never seen people so reluctant to want to go home, but he couldn’t blame them.

Rylee’s smile remained bright and almost annoyingly friendly as she gestured to a slightly less enthusiastic man beside her. “Cool, so if you’ll follow my friend Jerrod here, he’ll lead you to your supplies for your trip home.” She waited as they were led towards another structure in the distance, where trunks were piled up and several more vault dwellers awaited just outside. Terrence also spotted a large group of Minutemen in their signature coats.

“Now then, as for everyone else,” Rylee resumed as she regarded those of them remaining, “If you like, we can provide supplies and an escort to Diamond City, or to the outskirts of the Castle.”

More of Sev’s generosity? How could he afford to give away so many things so freely?

“The other option, is that you apply for citizenship to the Nexus Severalty. There will be thirty days probation where you’ll be eased into life here, particularly the rules. If you pass, you’ll get the option of joining us at the main settlement of Caladan. It’s a large underground place, sort of like my vault, just waaay bigger. Otherwise, you can choose to remain here in Station 81.”

Rylee’s smile faltered. “Bear in mind that the rules are strictly enforced, so if anyone is caught breaking them - and boy will Sev know if you cause trouble - the punishment is non-negotiable.”

Even put like that, for Terrence it didn’t feel like much of an option. In the end, he, Sophie, and the other fifty-seven rescuees were signing up for probation in the hopes of staying in the closest thing the wasteland had to a paradise on Earth.

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*****

News of the synth raiders spread throughout the vault as quickly as such tantalizing gossip does. To preempt any potential issues, Gwen had Carl’s and Sal’s blessing to out them as synths.

“Sev knew they were synth escapees, and I agreed to allow them to join us.”

It got some of the edge off the bubbling concerns and potential xenophobia, but the inevitable follow up came up.

“What about other synths that could be infiltrating us right now?”

“Sev checked when he last visited us, he assured me that there’s no other synths here. Once we move into Caladan, there will be another round of checks to make sure.”

And just like that, the paranoia withered before it got a chance to properly sink into the populace. Everyone was reminded of the deal, they just had to last another week before they would leave Vault 81 and become full citizens of Sev’s Nexus. Out there, they were surely safe from any potential Institute infiltration.

Gwen sighed with relief after the easy deescalation, then tried to enjoy a peaceful nap. If they had to deal with the Institute infiltration by themselves, she was sure just the sheer uncertainty about it all might end up crippling the vault to the point of returning to insularity again. The headache of managing paranoia and the inevitable storm of accusations would probably bog down her and her advisors’ work as well.

Thank god for Sev and his conveniences. Gwen was looking forward to relinquishing her overseer title and responsibilities, and enjoying life as a common citizen. Or maybe she’ll work under Sev in some capacity? There might not be any real currency to be paid in, but she was sure he wouldn’t mind paying her in bed.

Her nap was ruined when the daydreaming took over, and Gwen wasted the rest of her break time slumped in her shower in mild frustration as her fingers tried poorly to recreate the fantasies in her head. Tina was right, Sev’s cock really did ruin one’s holes...

*****

In the end, Sev sent a message of apology for not having any prisoners available to be sent over to meet the Minutemen’s justice. Joe didn’t begrudge him that. He preferred not to know there were prisoners in the first place, or the implications from the message’s wording.

Right now, he had his own little issue of stamping out the morale-breaking brushfires of paranoia threatening to sweep through the ranks. News of the Institute’s hand in the raider army spilled out into the general wasteland, and it took a whole lot of enforced discipline to keep the Minutemen from crumbling due to distrust and fear.

There were petitions to ask Sev for assistance in the matter, but the potential costs to the Minutemen’s independence killed those queries easily. The Nexus might be a good thing for the Commonwealth, but being seen as glorified enforcers of its will was not the path Joe was willing to take his men down for now.

At least it seemed that this latest act of Institute sabotage might prove to be its last. Joe didn’t fail to see the displeasure on Sev’s face when the synths were revealed.

Whether the rest of the Commonwealth gets bloodied as collateral was the bigger problem. Perhaps the Minutemen could offer a brigade or two to aid Sev in whatever he’s planning against the Institute, he could probably use the manpower. And maybe in exchange, some tech or gadget to screen out the synths?

It was worth asking, Joe mused, as he started to pen the request.

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