Chapter 56: Chapter 54

With a new batch of prisoners sent for processing, the Nexus was back to more stable conditions. Stable enough that I was able to give a briefing on the Caladanites about our new currency. The thin plastic notes were easier to handle than sacks of bottlecaps, and as planned were the only acceptable form of cash the Nexus would accept. Kiosks would be set up to handle bottlecap exchanges, probably after the vaulters move in and we start interacting with the outside world more.

That the notes would most likely be useless to the wider wasteland was a feature, not a bug, though if people wanted to use it amongst themselves, I guess I shouldn’t complain. Considering how I was the sole manufacturer of the currency and how hard it would be to print the notes with retro atompunk tech, at worst I just had to deal with rejecting lousy counterfeits.

The adoption of Nexus Credits (inspired name, I know) went rather well overall, even if it meant that the residents now had to pay a (nominal) fee to grab extra meals from the cafes or rent buggy rides to explore the less developed parts of Caladan.

In fact, everyone was most excited when the topic was brought up on just how much a credit would be worth in common caps. There was a strange air of superiority amongst even the kids as everyone began comparing what credits would allow them to do compared to caps.

“We get a proper bowl of stew for five credits, and it’s better than anything even Vault 81 has!”

“Twenty caps for purified water, here it’s free and without the chems in it.”

“I bet the rich Diamond City people would pay a ton of caps just to take a trip up to the seventh floor. We pay...four credits for a day trip?”

Had to admit, it was amusing how everyone got worked up extolling the virtues of Caladan’s living standards. I take it as a point of pride that people in my territories, my people, wouldn’t have to debase themselves to the crappy standards of the wasteland. Even the farmers working the land near Vault 81.

Speaking of which, their initial crop plantings seem to have taken well, with the crops showing no signs of mutation or malnourishment. The Mr Handy I sent to monitor the crop growth also kept an eye on the farmers’ needs. So far, the water pump with in-built Zetan water purifier was doing its job for them, and hooking them up to Station 81’s electrical grid gave them some measure of luxury.

Why they didn’t want to take up rooms in Caladan is beyond me, but that’s their choice.

At least their kids were enrolled into school, which gave some measure of integration with the rest of the Nexus. From what Nat says, the parents from each household were open to having their kids migrate over to Caladan eventually, but were adamant about toiling the land til they couldn’t anymore.

Also, I think they were still wary of my undeserved reputation of wanting their kids as payment. I mean, sure I’ve ended up fucking pretty much all of Caladan’s residents fifteen and above at the moment, but only because they asked for it. Piper and Cait were happy to petition on their behalf, and even Curie had a schedule prepared for that week of nighttime visits.

And yeah, I do mean everyone fifteen and up, though it took some adjusting finding out how to appreciate the same sex. Felt a bit weird to be honest, but as Piper and Cait helpfully advised, “A hole’s still a hole.”

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I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t find enjoyment at the fact that my people were happily and eagerly spreading their legs and asking for a good fuck, but it was a bit weird fucking the couples in particular. Not my kind of kink I found out, getting in between two people so intimately bonded.

Also, some of them, like Edward and Jennifer, were treating it like I was doing them a great honor and were way more...fanatical with their praises. Again, not my kind of kink, but they enjoyed it and I wasn’t too put off to enjoy the sessions, so still a good outcome all in all.

Anyway, on the topic of economy, I had some talks with the vaulters and we came up with the experiment to import basically the salvaged trash of the wasteland and exporting the finer quality items that Caladan currently easily produces through the automated lines of Sentinel bots, like clean water, actual mattresses, textile materials… Basically anything I can think of churning out that the people of the Commonwealth would appreciate.

I mean, I watched some of the Caladanites go through the stuff we looted off the raiders and I realised we all were taking things for granted way too much. Piper spat out the ‘purified’ water, whining about how her tongue felt icky. Nat complained that their beds, even after cleaning, were basically made from stiff cardboard, and a bunch of the troops were reminiscing like old timers as they passed around the foodstuffs made from mutfruits, razorgrains and whatever other ingredients the wasteland provided.

If my group of freed slaves could take things for granted even after the shit they went through, I’m sure the everyday wastelander could find the value in our goods.

Still had to wait for Diamond City to send their next delegation though. Considering how Bunker Hill was lousy with Institute informants, I made the decision to ignore that trade hub until the Institute itself was dealt with. Diamond City would be our target for improving relations, and considering how much of an influence they already had, it would make it easier for us to spread our own by piggybacking on their reach.

On the front of the Institute however, things were going slower. The experiments were still being conducted, and it looked like we’d need more raiders. Then again, there was no such thing as too little raiders in the Commonwealth, so I planned out a schedule with Gwen, and gave the Minutemen a quick visit and let them know of the culling the Nexus would be doing soon after Vault 81 joined the fold.

They took the message well enough, even offering volunteers to join the hunt. It was good to know relations with them had gotten past polite friendship, even if a few of the colonels still looked at me warily.

There were folk setting up homesteads and farms around the Castle, now that the Minutemen operated from it. Interestingly, these settlers were kept at an arm’s length from common interaction due to worries about synth infiltration.

I quietly informed General Becker about the few synths I was aware of within his militia, and also added that since I wasn’t sure of whether they’re still part of the Institute or emancipated by the Railroad or other means, it’d be better to leave them alone for now. He didn’t like the news, but agreed to keep the little tidbit to himself until I was ready to offer a solution.

At least I got an influential (even if not too powerful) ally against the Institute for now.

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