onceandfutureoshainspector

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- now i have to meet Shaun in the ruins of C.I.T.? is my boy coming topside for once?

- well well well, look who's out and about taking in the view. not even wearing a hazmat suit, either. what's going on here...

Shaun: You know, in all my years, I've never set foot outside the Institute. Not once, since the day they brought me here. I've never had a reason. But now... this just confirms the truth I've always known. The Commonwealth is... dead. There's no future here. The only hope for humanity lies below.

- not once? jeez, dude. if you want a better first impression why not come to Sanctuary, see how things are being rebuilt rather than just how they've been destroyed?

Cat: It wasn't always like this. It used to be different. Shaun: I can only imagine. I know that to you, I was kidnapped from that Vault. In truth, the Institute rescued me. Both of us, really. Cat: But... why re-freeze me? Shaun: As a failsafe, of course. I was the perfect candidate; an infant with uncorrupted DNA. But if something were to go wrong... if I died... Well, the Institute realized a contingency plan was prudent. Another source of pre-war DNA, preferably related to their primary subject. It only made sense that my parents should fill that role. So, you were kept alive and safe within the Vault. I'll admit, when I had you released from Vault 111, I had no expectations that you'd survive out here, in all this. To not only do so, but manage to find me... to infiltrate the Institute itself... Extraordinary.

- YOU HAD ME RELEASED?!?!?!?!???!!!

---- so we're just straight up confirming this now???? where are my notes where are my FUCKING notes. i'm sure i had some crackpot theory about this somewhere.

Cat: So it was you. You let me out. Shaun: Yes, it was my decision.

- son of a bitch you can't just tell me this and leave out the HOW. do you secretly have a stash of Vault-Tec tech that enables you to remotely interfere with Vaults? am i secretly a synth that you planted there in the first place? how many of my theories are correct???

Shaun: Certainly it was no longer necessary to keep you suspended. I... Well, I suppose I wanted to see what would happen. An experiment, of sorts. Would the Commonwealth corrupt you, as it has everything else? Would you even survive? Perhaps most curious to me... would you, after all this time, attempt to find me? Now I know the answer.

- this is fucked up, especially given the "no expectations" line a minute ago. there has to be some kind of deeper game afoot here. he spent too much effort preparing for my arrival to really have not expected me to survive. i haven't played this game for too long i have to rebuild my pepe silvia board from scratch.

Cat: Well, here I am. Was it worth it? Shaun: I believe so. Soon I hope... I hope you'll understand. Everything I've done has been for the future. A future which, I hope, is not in jeopardy after recent events. Bunker Hill did not go well for us. Would you care to explain what happened?

- whoops, back to the subject of my recent failings. time to dodge the question like there's no tomorrow.

Cat: We got our asses kicked. Does it matter how? Shaun: The chances of failing this mission were so astronomically low that yes, it does indeed matter. Bunker Hill was to cement your place as a valuable asset to the Institute. It will now only raise suspicions. And to see the Brotherhood of Steel involved in this... They had no way of knowing what was going on. I will refrain from sharing the outcome with the Directorate for the moment. Things are already in motion that this would only derail. Speaking of which... It's time for you to become more involved in the future of the Institute. I'd like you to join me inside. The Directorate is meeting, and you should be there. I'll be waiting.

- so this was another test, or more like a proving ground. hmm...

---- is he... planning to train me as his successor? "the future of the Institute" could mean a lot of things, but that's the first thing that springs to my mind.

-------- that's... i mean, if i'm his mother, it's kinda backwards in a very weird way. if i'm a synth designed to think i'm his mother, it's a little less backwards but significantly more weird.

------------ honestly, i'd think it'd fall more within his character to design S.J. as his heir, achieve some kind of immortality via cloning and control the Institute forever. maybe he just wants me to raise S.J. until he grows up enough to assume the mantle? idk fam, every version of this i can think of just gets stranger.

- this quest title is making me lean more towards the latter idea, or some kind of scheme wherein i "perfect" the synths enough that the Institute starts seeing them as worthy of personhood, or something. idk.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- travelled to Railroad Headquarters. still taking circuitous routes to get there as teleporting directly in from the Institute feels wrong somehow.

Desdemona: Something on your mind? Cat: The Institute knows about Bunker Hill. They're planning to re-capture the synths there. Desdemona: The timing couldn't be worse. The Old Man's been sitting on those four synths. There's nowhere else that's safe we could put them. Maintaining you cover is vital, but this... the sacrifice is just too great.

- ok, above table i know that Far Harbor hadn't been written when this came out, but still - couldn't we send them to Far Harbor?

---- let's assume that we just can't get them to the boats or something, for the sake of my in-character sanity.

Desdemona: We've never known when and where the Institute would strike us next. But now we have a chance to turn the tables. We wait until the enemy is in position, then we hit them. Hard. No-one they send out comes back alive, except you. Understand?

- glad i get an exemption lol.

Desdemona: We can't attack too early. We need to draw them into the kill zone and then spring the trap. You'll know when. You'll probably have a Courser escort. You'll have to take them down. You've done it before, but it'll still be dangerous.

- i think that's about all before the battle itself. sunrise parabellum, let's go.

- fast travelled directly to Bunker Hill, was confused by the lack of anything happening before i realised i had to meet my contact across the street from the location itself.

X4-18: I've been waiting for you. Cat: What's our situation? X4-18: Our targets are inside: four synths under Railroad protection. Majority of the settlement is uninvolved, and are expected to run for cover. The situation appears to have escalated. A covert approach is likely impossible. We move in, secure the synths, and I Relay out with them back to the Institute. Clear?

- looks like things popped the fuck off in the two minutes i was talking to X4-18.

---- how the fuck am i supposed to get in here?

- oh good, someone left an unobstructed fire exit! O.S.H.A. approves!

- made my way underground. sorry, X4, looks like this is the end of the line for you.

---- i can see the whites of your eyes.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- alright let's fuckin fight the battle of bunker hill or whatever. i think i've heard about this one from real life history - don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes, i think?

- i forgot how much i didn't miss this place.

- and there he is. let's see what my evil son has to say this time.

Shaun: Ah, hello Mother. Tell me, what would you do when someone has stolen from you?

- oh here we go. this is gonna be about the Railroad, isn't it?

Cat: That's a loaded question. What's been stolen from you? Shaun: Institute property is not often taken from us. We cannot react lightly when it happens. The group that calls themselves "The Railroad" has acquired several synths from the Institute, synths that had gone missing in recent months. They no doubt mean to "free" these synths, in their delusion that synths are somehow sentient beings. You've been in contact with the Railroad, so you're aware of their beliefs.

- yeah, i thought so. i really hope i don't get railroaded (hah) into recapturing an escaped synth to keep my cover here.

Cat: What happened? What've they done? Shaun: They are in possession of technology that does not belong to them. Usually they are a minor nuisance, but lately they have become more emboldened.I'm afraid we've reached a point where a response is necessary. We have learned the current location of these synths, and need to re-acquire them before the Railroad can hide them. Shaun: You'll have a contact waiting for you just outside Bunker Hill. Good luck.

- inform the Railroad? absolutely. inform the Brotherhood? nah fuck those guys, i don't need them showing up to this party.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- gonna get back into the plot of this game. at long fucking last.

Cait: I never thought I'd be sayin' this, but I... well, I really need your help.

- ...immediately derailed by an unexpected Cait lore drop! what's up daughter of mine?

Cat: Anything you need, Cait. Cait: I was hopin' you'd say that. We're friends now, which means I can trust ya with anythin'. I'm also hopin' it means you've got me back... 'cause I need it now more than ever. I'm... I'm sick... and I don't think I can hide it from ya anymore.

- MUM MODE: ACTIVATED

Cat: Okay, calm down and take a deep breath. If you're sick, I want to help you. Cait: Okay, okay... it's like this. Ever since I left home, I been usin' Psycho. I dunno why I'm still takin' that crap, but I can't stop... and believe me, I've tried. I can't even go a day without it anymore and I'm fuckin' sick and tired of it. I've even been doin' it behind your back, sneakin' doses when I think you aren't lookin'. Worst of all, it's been makin' me sick. I've been spittin' blood and I don't feel right inside. I need to get this shite out of me system before I wind up dead.

- ...well, fuck, this is a heavy one. fortunately, though, we happen to live in a scifi universe with the means to reverse the physical effects of drug use - i feel like the loose end that is Vault 95 is about to become relevant.

Cait: There's supposed to be a vault somewhere out here... a place called Vault 95.

- called it.

Cait: I've heard that Vault-Tec used it for some kinda social experiment, stuck a bunch of junkies inside to poke and prod. Well, they supposedly had some special method to clean up those blokes in there, some kind of a machine or somethin'. If we could get inside, maybe that machine could help me.

- i mean... even in video game world it's not really that simple, as evidenced by what happened to Vault 95. nobody's ever really finished with addiction, it takes a lot of work to get and keep on top of it, so this isn't gonna be an instant cure, but if Vault-Tec did their engineering right it should at least help with the coughing up blood. let's fuckin' go.

- fast travelled to Vault 95. glad i've already explored this place, means i can make this an in and out trip and not get too sidetracked from getting back to the plot.

---- still got lost a couple of times lol.

- it's been a while since i've documented an O.s.h.a. Violation, but that clean room doesn't look very clean. i'm not sure there's even any glass in this observation window. not great.

- performed the procedure, it seemed to go relatively well?

Cat: Are you all right, Cait? How are you feeling? Cait: Everythin' feels... different. Everythin' feels... clearer. Colors, sounds, smells... nothin' is like I remember it. Cat: I'm glad you're alright. I was worried about you. Cait: Seems you're not the only one. Clever old bastard kicked me out of the Combat Zone so I'd clean myself up, and somehow knew you'd be up for the challenge. I guess he saw somethin' in you that I missed.

- i... think you might be giving that guy a wee bit too much credit, but nevermind.

Cat: I take care of my friends. Cait: I know you do. Look, I'm never going to forget what you did for me today. You stepped up and helped when everyone else cashed out. I know I suck at thank you's, but that's the best you're going to get out of me. Now, how about we get out of here, and leave this place far behind.

- don't have to tell me twice, i fucking hate this place. onwards with the plot!

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- have tried to come back to this liveblog a buncha times, but kept getting interrupted by real life shenanegans. the last time i played i did a bit of stuff but it was so long ago i can't even remember most of it, all i've got is my notes, so i'll have to type a more truncated version of it than usual here.

---- picked Danse up as a companion, but was immediately informed that this would mark me as an enemy of the Brotherhood. while this is factually correct, i could do without them shooting me on sight, so i sent my boy to Sanctuary. he shouldn't be living alone in the insanity bear bunker.

---- picked up Cait and Mac - it's been a while since i've spent some quality time with the rascals. i reckon i'll see if i can finally figure out how to break in to that chem lab from a million years ago.

---- finally broke in to that chem lab from a million years ago - spent ages messing around with tripwires only to realise i could hack my way in. which i didn't realise before because the actual door into this place is hidden behind a fake wall. ffs.

---- poked around the boston shore for a while just for the hell of it, found a kid claiming to have seen an eye in the water.

-------- a brief reenactment of my thought process:

------------ please be a kraken please be a kraken please be a kraken...

------------ that's not a kraken :(. ah, well, submarines are still pretty cool. maybe it's Ironsides' long-lost cousin, Intelligent Whale?

---------------- (the Intelligent Whale was an 1860s submarine that never really did anything except almost sink in its second trial - i don't think it'll ever be relevant to anything but i do have a soft spot for it because it's called the Intelligent Whale)

-------- [end of reenactment]

---- did a couple of fetch quests for Captain Zao of the Yangtze, which has apparently been adrift in boston harbour for the last 200 years.

---- Zao ended up going home to china to reforge swords into ploughshares, which, good for him. he also gave me the ability to call missile strikes from the Yangtze, which i will Not be using.

-------- oh for the love of À̵͚tó̵̟m̵-

---- discovered a couple more locations, like the Customs House Tower and Nahant Oceanological Society - i think at this point i was just exploring a bit, going for a wander. tbh my notes get a bit unclear about what i was doing at this point - this is why i should put the "live" back in liveblog lol.

-------- who's this douchebag?

---- wound up discovering Paladin Brandis in Recon Bunker Theta - i think this was the conclusion to some sidequest involving a bunch of holotags i've picked up in various places, but tbh i remember being surprised in the moment at them suddenly becoming relevant because i'd mostly forgotten about then.

-------- there was an option to convince him to rejoin the Brotherhood but given my recent experiences with them i didn't take it. there didn't seem to be an option to send him to Sanctuary, unfortunately, so i guess he's just on his own :(

- aaaaand i think that's about it! hopefully i should get back to actually liveblogging at some point, but at least now we're caught up.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

huh, fallout 4, you say? well hell, i might just have to give this game a try!

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- ugh, game crashed on me, had to reload the save and go through the conversation again.

- Hm, i Don't like that lil image of Vault-Boy/Howard-Todd stomping on the Railroad. something tells me this "potential threat to our operations" might be the organisation that allowed a synth to join the Brotherhood without even knowing it himself.

---- even if i wasn't already fully done with the Brotherhood, this would've sealed the deal. i'm gonna go steal claim Danse's Power Armour back for him by right of conquest and then amscray.

- i think this is Danse's Armour? there are four sets here, and only two of them are available to me to take without stealing - a T-60b and a T-60d. assuming these are model numbers rather than quality classes, i'd assume the latter is better, and therefore the one befitting the rank of a Paladin.

---- y'know what? given Danse's recent change of employment...

---- i think he needs a new paintjob. :3

-sprinted to the front of the Prydwen in my borrowed suit and jumped the fuck off. (really i'm fast travelling away but in my mind i'm just fully jumping off the front to avoid going out the door.) to infinity and beyond!

-went back to Listening Post Bravo and, uhh...

- it looks like he's found a new set of duds on his own? it looks pretty rusty, but i'm pretty sure i've seen that set in a loading screen sequence before - i think it's the improved kind that was invented after the war.

---- i wonder where the hell he found it? ah, well. i guess i'll just leave his old, freshly repainted set here in case he changes his mind.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

Danse: It took a hell of a lot of guts to stand up to Maxson like that. Cat: So what are you going to do now? Cat: I didn't plan on spending the rest of my days at this old listening post, but it will have to do. Besides, you're still going to need my help and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you wander the Commonwealth alone. Now... you'd better get back to the Prydwen. In the meantime, I'll start making this bunker more livable. If you ever need me, I'll be right here.

- fuck that noise! i don't care what the Tinpot Despot says, you're coming to live in Sanctuary with the rest of us.

Cat: What about Haylen? Danse: I don't think Maxson knew she was involved, so she'll be safe. I'll contact her and let her know what happened here. It's the least I can do.

- oh good! i really hope the game lets me recruit her.

Cat: Goodbye, Danse. Danse: I hope the next time we meet, it will be under happier circumstances.

- alright, given that the quest hasn't been ticked off yet, i'm guessing i need to go back to the Prydwen if i want to get Danse back as a companion. there doesn't seem to be a Workshop in this place, either, so i can't send him to Sanctuary just yet.

---- i did take another quick look at that computer, though, and got some screenshots of the eldritch stuff. i'm disappointed things didn't end up going that direction, but i can at least add it to my conspiracy wall.

- found this random dude out taking an air bath or something.

- back in his box like nothing ever happened.

Cat: Reporting as ordered, Elder. Maxson: This conversation will be the last time we speak about Danse. As far as the Brotherhood of Steel is concerned, he's dead. Do you understand? Cat: You're not going to have him killed behind my back, are you? Maxson: I'm a man of my word, Knight. If he remains invisible to the Brotherhood of Steel, he has nothing to fear. Of course, Danse's execution creates a missing link in our chain of command. That traitor held quite an important position with us. I'm certain that you'll make a fine replacement. His quarters and all his possessions are now yours, including his personal suit of Power Armour. Congratulations, Paladin.

- man, fuck this guy!

Cat: Body's not even cold, and you're already dividing the loot. Maxson: To the victor go the spoils. Being a part of the Brotherhood, you should learn to appreciate that sentiment. Just be aware that a Brotherhood Paladin is expected to be a symbol of integrity to our brothers and sisters. I trust you won't disappoint them... or disappoint me. In any event, we still have the Institute to contend with, and a lot of work to do before we can begin our final assault. While the finishing touches are being put onto Liberty Prime, Captain Kells has identified a potential threat to our operations. Report to him immediately for your next assignment. Ad victoriam, Paladin.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- oh, for fuck's sake, what in the goddamn are you doing here?

---- i gotta say, i'm very surprised at this. i think this is the first time i've seen Maxson outside of his Brooding Room, let alone this far from the Mothership. the fact that he's not surrounded by guards implies to me that he flew himself here, too. no backup, no witnesses, presumably nobody told where he was going - what the fuck is up with this??????

Maxson: How dare you betray the Brotherhood! Danse: It's not her fault. It's mine.

- ah, dagnabit. my process at the moment is that i play through a little chunk, making notes and taking screenshots, and then i type out the dialogue from the screenshots in the appropriate spaces in my notes (and format in html as i go because the sad fact is that that's less aggravating than trying to format with tumblr's rich text editor >_<). except now my xbox is being a shit, and i've apparently missed a few lines of dialogue, after i've overwritten the file saved before this conversation. i'm so mad.

- physically placing myself between my grandson and this lunatic.

Maxson: [missed line? screenshot unclear] Cat: He's not a "thing". He's one of your best men. Maxson: Have you taken leave of your senses? Danse isn't a man, it's a machine... an automaton created by the Institute! It wasn't born from the womb of a loving mother, it was grown within the cold confines of a laboratory! Flesh is flesh! Machine is machine! The two were never meant to intertwine! By attempting to play God, the Institute has taken the sanctity of human life and corrupted it beyond measure!

Danse: After all I've done for the Brotherhood... all the blood I've spilled in our name, how can you say that about me? Maxson: You're the physical embodiment of what we hate most! Technology that's gone too far! Look around you, Danse! Look at the scorched earth and the bones that litter the wasteland! Millions... perhaps even billions, died because science outpaced man's restraint! They called it a "new frontier" and "pushing the envelope", completely disregarding the repercussions! Can't you see that the same thing is happening again?! You're a single bomb in an arsenal of thousands preparing to lay waste to what's left of mankind!

- Maxson really, fundamentally doesn't get what the Institute's whole deal is, does he? like, their thing is sinister and horrific, but he's talking about them like they're the Brotherhood. this entire crusade was never about any of the actual harm the Institute were doing, it was because he heard someone else had power and technology and assumed that they'd use it like he would if he had the chance.

Cat: That's insane. He dedicated his life to protecting mankind. Maxson: Is that what it told you? How can you trust the word of a machine that thinks it's alive? Those ethics that it's striving to champion aren't even its own. They were artificially inserted in an attempt to have it blend in to society.

- WELCOME TO BEING AUTISTIC MOTHERFUCKER YOU JUST DESCRIBED *LEARNED SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS*!!!!!!!!!!!!

Danse: It's true. I was built within the confines of a laboratory, and some of my memories aren't my own. But when I saw my brothers dying at my feet, I felt sorrow. When I defeated an enemy of the Brotherhood, I felt pride. And when I heard your speech about saving the Commonwealth... I felt hope. Don't you understand? I thought I was human, Arthur! From the moment I was taken in by the Brotherhood, I've done absolutely nothing to betray your trust, and I never will. Maxson: It's too late for that now. I don't intend to debate this any longer. My orders stand. Danse: You've convinced me that I was wrong to be ashamed of my true identity, and I thank you for it. Whatever you decide, know that I'm going to my grave with no anger and no regrets.

- dude, come on! we just talked about this!

Maxson: Touching.

- YOU shut the fuck up!

Cat: After all the sacrifices I've made and all the battles I've fought for the Brotherhood, you need to listen to me. You owe me that much. Maxson: Very well, I'm listening.

- :3

Cat: If Danse dies, then you lose me as well. I can't stay in good conscience if his life means that little to you.

- this is very similar to the position i was in with High Confessor Tetris. i have too much clout for even Lord Eyeshadow to sweep me under the rug now, and i think he's just now realising it. literally anyone else, even renowned heroes like THE Paladin Danse, he can do away with if he's quick and quiet and doesn't let them get a word in edgeways, but me? i go loud, and i go messy, and i take the bastard with me.

---- check.

Maxson: Unbelievable. You'd be willing to sacrifice your career... for the sake of a machine. So. It appears we've arrived at an impasse. Allowing Danse to live undermines everything the Brotherhood stands for, yet you insist that he remains alive. Which leaves me with only a single alternative. Danse. As far as I'm concerned, you're dead. From this day forward, you are forbidden to set foot on the Prydwen, or speak to anyone from the Brotherhood of Steel. Should you choose to ignore me, know that you'll be fired upon immediately. Do we understand each other? Danse: I do. [missed line i think] Maxson: Don't mistake my mercy for acceptance. I'm returning to the Prydwen, Knight. Take some time, say your goodbyes, and then I expect to see you there. We still have the Institute to deal with.

- good move, buster.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- anyway.

- made my way to Listening Post Bravo, fought past some defences.

- i'm getting a sudden sense of deja vu... descending into the dark to meet with my wayward son... grandson... man, this is fucked.

- there doesn't seem to be anything eldritch around just yet. i'm like 75% sure i'm just going full pepe silvia, but i'm still jumping at shadows here.

- That Doesn't Make Things Clearer.

Danse: I'm not surprised Maxson sent you, he never liked to do the dirty work himself. Cat: Why didn't you tell me, Danse? Danse: Because I didn't know. Until Quinlan got that list decoded, I thought synths were the enemy. I never expected to hear that I was one of them. If it wasn't for Haylen, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

- ahhh, she's the reason he got an advance warning - she told him to run.

Danse: So what are your orders? Does Maxson even want me alive? Cat: No, but I'm hoping there's a way out. Danse: Don't be ridiculous. I wish Maxson had sent someone else. But that doesn't change a thing. I'm a synth, which means I need to be destroyed. If you disobey your orders, you're not only betraying Maxson, you're betraying the Brotherhood of Steel and everything it stands for. Synths can't be trusted. Machines were never meant to make their own decisions; they need to be controlled. Technology that's run amok is what brought the entire world to its knees and humanity to the brink of extinction. I need to be the example, not the exception.

- god dammit NO! stop saying mean things about my grandson!

---- despite being a very large musclebound man, he really does look so small without his Power Armour

Cat: The empathy that you're showing me... it's a human emotion. Danse: I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I've made my decision. I'm ready to accept the conscequences of my true identity. Maxson's ordered you to execute me, and I'll be damned if I'm going to stand in your way.

- hmm, i wonder which option i'll pick?

Cat: No. I won't do it, Danse. Danse: I can't believe you'd risk your life just to keep me alive. Why would you do that for me?

- oh look, some actual options. i think i'll go with x, maybe try to turn him around on synths in general. gotta get him to a point of being ok with what he is.

Cat: You're the proof that Maxson's wrong. You're a synth, but everything you've done has been for the good of mankind. Danse: You're right. How could I have been so blind? I'm not technology that's gone out of control. I've been a benefit to mankind, not its downfall. Perhaps now that you've opened my eyes, I can consider my next move.

- y'ai 'ng'ngah Ā̴̖̋̕h̴̟͛̋̈́͜'̷̧̈͠t̷̗̎̾ŏ̴̫̽m̴̡͚̈͛̚ h'ee-l'geb f'ai throdog uaaah?

Cat: What's our next move? Danse: The only clear choice is for me to leave the Commonwealth. The sooner I make for the border, the sooner I put this behind me. Take my holotags. Use them to prove that your mission was a success or Maxson will just send someone else to hunt me down. Now, come on. Let's get the hell out of here.

- oh. nevermind, i guess. :(

- at least i have a way to get Maxson off the trail.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- followed Haylen not outside but downstairs to the secret recreation area. honestly, i'd prefer to just go on a vertibird ride to discuss this - loose lips sink airships - but i guess this'll have to do.

Haylen: Do you actually plan on killing Paladin Danse?

- dammit, i can't even level with her now? fine, i'll be cautious. >:(

Cat: That's a risky question, Haylen. Haylen: I know it is, but I need you to listen to me for a minute. I've known Paladin Danse ever since I was an Initiate. He trained me, showed me the ropes... and when I screwed up, he taught me to dust myself off and move on. He's earned my admiration, my respect, and my friendship. I don't care what Quinlan's report says. I don't care if he's a machine or not... he's still Danse. Cat: That's a bold statement. Haylen: Danse is the most selfless person I've ever met. I've watched him risk his own life based on nothing more than principle alone. That's why I'm asking you... not just as a member of the Brotherhood, but as a human being... give him a chance. Let him tell his side of the story. If you're not convinced by what he says, or somehow he's become truly lost to us, then you do what you have to do.

- i'm gonna be so disappointed if i can't steal her from the Brotherhood.

Cat: All right, I'll hear him out. Haylen: That's all that I ask. Before the Prydwen showed up, Danse had me identify a fallback point if we ever lost the police station. It was Listening Post Bravo, an old pre-war U.S. Military outpost on the northern frontier of the Commonwealth. It's isolated, and we're the only ones that knew about it, so there's a good chance that's where he's headed. Just be careful. There's no telling what state of mind he's in right now, or if he trusts any of us at all.

- Listening Post Bravo are you fucking kidding me? the place with the bears?

- wait.

---- w a i t.

-------- clawing and scrabbling through my liveblog rn. wasn't there something at Listening Post Bravo about the guy who worked there hearing weird inexplicable noises, and at the time i made a joke about every monster sighting being bears? god fucking damn past me for not making note of it beyond the phrase "spooky-ooky phrases" >:(

------------ i have. a thought.

---------------- i just left danse, alone, in a pyramid dedicated to Ǎ̵̤t̶̰̑o̴͍̅m̶̛̟.

---------------- he apparently disappeared before anyone could get to him - how did he hear that he'd been outed? maybe he didn't, and the timing of his flight was coincidence?

---------------- he's now beelined for another place with possible ties to inexplicable horrors.

---------------- a place where Nick experienced a baffling urge to kneel on the ground for no reason.

---------------- A̶͍͆t̶̜̀o̶̲̕m̸͎̂'s church has several times seemed to be at least neutral if not positively oriented toward robots/synths, at least on the level of "the important thing is that you're down with drowning the world in radiation".

-------------------- what if there's something to that - that maybe synthetic minds are capable of communing with the outer gods, to at least an equal and possibly even a greater extent than organic minds?

------------------------ what if Danse, holding down the fort with the two temple-guarding nutjobs, heard the call of something beyond?

---------------------------- Danse, who was sent by the Railroad to the Capital Wasteland, the birthplace of the Children of Ą̴̏t̶̳̚o̵̠͛m̷͎̃, and yet joined the Brotherhood and found his way back home on a scouting mission with no officer superior to him in his squad?

-------------------------------- Danse, the by-the-book, i-dotting, t-crossing soldier, who in a wildly out-of-character move didn't report a potential safehouse to his superiors!

------------------------------------ has Danse been secretly affiliated with the Children all along????????

---------------------------------------- y'ai A̴̱̣̩͛̾̌̈́͝h̷̞̓̐͠'̸̠͔̹̑̄ẗ̷̖͕͙́́̊ö̷͎̍m̷̡͇̰͖̏̐̓͘ḩ̷̨̠̲̍͗?

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- went upstairs to find Quinlan.

Quinlan: Oh, Knight... I was told you were coming. Sorry about this business with Danse. Cat: What do you know about this situation? Quinlan: While I was decrypting all of the data you acquired from within the Institute, I came across a list. It appears that the Institute keeps exemplary records where their synths are concerned, including logging those that were reported missing. As I was perusing this list, I came across an image of Danse under the heading "M7-97". A quick DNA comparison with our own records told the rest of the tale. I'm certain this comes as quite a shock to you, Knight. I'm sorry.

- hm, i wasn't under the impression that the Institute was this on the ball. not gonna cry misinformation just yet, but i am going to have to check exactly what i've been told re: their synth-tracking capabilities.

Cat: He'll be missed. Quinlan: Doubtful. I wouldn't "miss" a synth any sooner than I'd miss a transistor radio. I was merely sorry that you'd been duped.

- fucking christ, this guy turned on a dime. zero hesitation in forgetting every human interaction he had with Danse. >:(

Quinlan: No matter. I've been poring over Danse's duty reports and unfortunately, I haven't found any concrete information. As you're well aware, Danse had intimate knowledge of the Commonwealth and I'm afraid he could be seeking refuge anywhere. I think our best approach would be to identify every location he's ever visited and eliminate them as possibilities one by one.

- Nick Valentine would point and laugh at this guy lol.

Quinlan: You may want to get comfortable, this could take quite a bit of- Haylen: What the hell is this crap about Danse being a synth!?

- oh shit, here comes Haylen with a steel chair! kill him Haylen!

Quinlan: I assume your outburst was a reference to some doubt regarding Danse's identity. I can assure you that my findings are quite accurate, Scribe. Haylen: So he sets Danse up, and then you knock him down. Is that it? Cat: How did you hear about it? Haylen: Maxson's made it clear that we're to locate Paladin Danse, and if we find him, report his location to you. That can only mean you've been sent to hunt him down.

- frankly, i'm glad of the lack of good options here. c'mon, Haylen, ixnay on the akingasceneinfrontofthisdudemay. how about we go for a walk, yeah?

Cat: Orders are orders. Haylen: I can't believe that after everything Paladin Danse did for you, you're just going to turn your back on him like this! There's obviously been a mistake, and we need to get to the bottom of it. Quinlan: Scribe Haylen! You're addressing a senior officer and you will show her the respect that she's due or so help me I'll have you brought up on charges! Now, unless you're here with information that can assist us, I suggest you return to the police station immediately. Haylen: Of course. My apologies, Proctor. I believe I have some information that's relevant to the search. Quinlan: Very well then, would you care to enlighten us, or do we have to wait until you decide to grace us with your knowledge? Haylen: Knight, if you'd accompany me to the Flight Deck, I'd like to show you the information I've compiled first hand. I've stored the data on my vertibird gunship's computer.

- THERE we go!

Cat: I'll take anything that gets me closer to finding Danse. Haylen: Yes, ma'am. If you'll follow me, ma'am?

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

Maxson: To make matters worse, he's gone AWOL. Disappeared without a trace. His sudden absence simply reinforces our conclusion that "M7-97" and Paladin Danse are one and the same. I'm finding it difficult to believe that he never confided in you and then swore you to secrecy.

- wait, he's just booked it? right after i left him, alone, with the biggest stockpile of nuclear weapons i've ever seen?

---- if it was almost anything else i'd almost expect a long con here. maybe he's been secretly working against the Brotherhood too, and he's seized the chance to keep these things out of their hands? that... doesn't sound like Danse, but i'll keep an open mind.

-------- i guess there's an outside chance he's been coincidentally kidnapped by the Children - it was their Holy Pyramid, after all - but given their lack of coordination and tendency toward deathly illness, i for sure would be betting on my boy.

- ooft, persuasion checks just to get through the conversation, huh? fuckit, let's go loud.

Cat: After everything I've done for the Brotherhood, you have some nerve accusing me of lying! Maxson: Hm. Your outburst leads me to believe I've misjudged you. Which means I've decided to take you at your word.

- "you got pissed when i accused you of lying so i've decided to believe you" oh my god. this guy is +5 charisma -1 intelligence -3 wisdom huh.

Maxson: However, that doesn't absolve you of your duty. Danse is a synth. He represents everything we hate... a monstrosity of technology. Our mission in the Commonwealth is clear. The Institute and is creations need to be destroyed in order to preserve our future. Which leaves me facing the most difficult order I've ever given.

- oh, fuck you! he's my son... my grandson...

Cat: I won't do it. Danse deserves a chance to explain himself. Maxson: You will do it. This is not up for judgement or debate! I'm giving you a direct order, Knight, and I expect you to follow it without question. Listen, I'm not blind to the fact that Danse was your mentor and this isn't an easy burden to bear. But if we're to remain strong, we can't afford to make exceptions... even when it means executing one of our own. Find Proctor Quinlan. He's been analyzing the data and should be able to provide you with a starting point. And Knight, there's a promotion for you riding on the results of these orders, so don't disappoint me. You're dismissed.

- if i ever had any respect for this dude, that last little attempt to bribe me would've lost it. a fucking promotion fuck you buster.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- oh shit, he's facing me this time. idk what i've done, but i for sure feel like this isn't just a friendly little chat.

Maxson: Is there anything you wish to tell me, Knight?

- 0_0 oshit????? has he figured out i'm with the Railroad or something?????

Cat: I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. Maxson: I find your ignorance awfully convenient. Proctor Quinlan completed the decryption of the data you retrieved from the Institute. A portion of his findings included a list of synths that went missing or escaped from their underground facility. After careful analysis of the information, we've discovered something... unprecedented.

- ah, hell. i have a feeling that this is about 80% sure to be about Shaun.

---- i wonder if i can jump through that window behind him to get away?

Maxson: Paladin Danse is a perfect match for one of the synths on that list.

- ...

- . . .

- . . .

- i'm sorry, what did you just say?????????????

Cat: Is Quinlan absolutely certain? Maxson: Proctor Quinlan validated the information numerous times. I can assure you, his results are accurate. The data you brought back included a record of each subject's DNA. We keep the same information on file for all of our soldiers. Paladin Danse's DNA is a perfect match for a synth they called "M7-97".

- ...i genuinely don't know waht to say to this.

---- i want to say i didn't see this coming, except i did see this coming, apparently, i just didn't know what i was looking at!

-------- once again, i have been knocked for a fucking loop by something that was supposed to be a bit, it was a bit, i swear!!!!!!

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- back to the Airport again.

Ingram: Looks like the Mark 28's are going to do the trick. That was a good find. Li: I'll work with your team to ensure that Prime's bombs remain stable after they're loaded into his pack. It won't be too much of a problem. Ingram: Well, Doctor Li, I have to admit, we couldn't have done this without you. Li: It's a little early to begin celebrating, Proctor Ingram. We haven't fully thrown the switch on Liberty Prime, and I'm just hoping all the work I've done to keep his systems stable are going to hold. Cat: Are you sure this is safe? Ingram: Of course. I've checked every connection, every circuit myself. Prime will hold together. Li: Proctor? All the readouts look green. I think it's time for you to perform the power shunt. Ingram: Actually, I think I'm going to let you press the button. After all, without your help, we'd still be staring at a pile of disassembled parts.

- these two seem a lot more civil and courteous to each other this time around. they 100% banged it out while i was gone.

- welp, big red button time, i guess.

- wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.

Liberty Prime:

- ...this guy has said four words, and he already sounds like A Lot. :/

Ingram: All right, let's run a basic diagnostic run. Liberty Prime:

Li: Give him a moment, he needs to adjust to his new configuration. Liberty Prime:

- oh my fucking god. this is like Ironsides all over again, but quite a bit less endearing. :/

Ingram: Now let me run a system analysis and battle readiness check. Liberty Prime:

Ingram: I've got green lights across the board here. He's looking good from where I'm sitting. Doctor, if you wouldn't mind keeping an eye on the big guy here, I'd appreciate it.

- well, i guess the good news is that this unholy terror is on a literal leash - if he needs to be hooked up to his balloon battery to function, that significantly limits the amount of havok he can wreak.

- Ingram gave me a thing for my set of Power Armour that i definitely haven't mislaid, and then sent me up to speak to Maxson, who i assume has another mission for me.

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- jeez, that's a Lot of nukes :/

---- the rads in this room are insane! are these things even shielded?

Danse: Now that this site's been secured, you should return to the airport immediately. I'll remain on watch until the vertibirds arrive. Cat: Is that really necessary? Danse: Absolutely. I'm not to take my eyes off of these bombs until every one of them has been counted, tested, and loaded. If we want Liberty Prime to reach peak fighting efficiency, we can't afford to lose this stockpile. Dismissed, Knight.

- i guess he's staying here then? damn, i was hoping there'd be some kind of option to sabotage/hide the nukes, but apparently not.

- whoops! there's already someone in the elevator! going up?

- went back to the Airport, immediately got called away to defend two different Settlements.

- hell yeah! Mysterious Stranger to the rescu-

- god damn it Mysterious Stranger!

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

Danse: If you have the time to talk now, I'd still like to know what you think about Scribe Haylen. Cat: Is something wrong? Danse: No, not at all. Haylen's doing well. I simply wanted to talk to you about her, but I wanted to know what you thought of her first. Cat: She's as dedicated as they come. A real team player. Danse: I couldn't agree more. But I wasn't looking for an evaluation of her performance as a scribe, I wanted to know what you thought of Haylen... as a person.

- oh. ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh! i see what this is ;3

---- honestly? my thoughts on Haylen are mostly positive at this point, i don't think they'd make the worst couple.

-------- note to self: see if i can convince her to join the Railroad...

Cat: This isn't like you, Danse. Are you going to tell me what this is all about? Danse: I suppose I'm beating around the bush because I don't normally find these discussions easy to handle. I'll try and get right to the point. The truth is, I'm worried about her. Since you and I are getting along so well, I felt like I could confide in you about it... to get your honest opinion. Cat: She seems to be able to handle herself. Why are you worried? Danse: Haylen is a model scribe. This has nothing to do with her capabilities in the field. A few months before you found us, one of my men was shot multiple times by Raiders. Haylen stayed by that Knight's side for two days straight without sleep fighting to keep him alive... but he was on a slow decline. I decided that his suffering needed to end and ordered Haylen to administer an overdose of painkillers so he could die with dignity. Even though I'm certain she wanted to continue fighting for that Knight's life, she injected him without question. Cat: Are you asking me whether or not I approve? Danse: Of course not. I stand by every order I've ever given. That soldier was gravely wounded. Even if by some miracle he happened to survive, he would have been paralyzed for life. But the decision whether or not to ease that soldier's suffering isn't the point here. The point is what happened later that same evening. After what felt like an eternity, she collapsed into my arms, crying. I... didn't know what to do, so I just held her for a while. A few minutes later, she stopped, kissed me on the cheek, and simply said "Thank you", before heading back into the police station. Right then it hit me... maybe I pushed her too hard. I ordered her to ignore her instincts. To do something her medical training told her was wrong. That's why I'm worried about her... and for that matter, everyone under my command.

- yeah, these two would both benefit from getting the fuck away from the Brotherhood. like, tough decisions for tough situations, but ideally you don't send people into those situations, or at least without the resources and personell necessary to make it back.

Cat: Haylen will be fine. It's you that I'm worried about. Danse: Me? Look, four soldiers... over half of my team, are gone. Each one of them died because of decisions that I made. I understand the risks that come with the job, we all do. But how can anyone have confidence in me anymore? Hell, how can I have confidence in myself? Cat: Would it make you feel better if I told you that I believed in you? Danse: Actually, it does. Well, it looks like things have taken a turn. I signed up to be your sponser so I could teach you everything that I know, but it looks like I'm the one that needed the lesson today. All joking aside, I'm pleased that we had this discussion, and even with all the problems you're facing, you still took the time to listen. It's comforting to know that I can speak to you as more than just your commanding officer. Cat: I'm here anytime you need me, Danse. Danse: Anyway, thanks for letting me get that off my shoulders. I think it's been weighing on me more than I realized. I'm only sorry you had to see me at my worst instead of at my best.

- QUEST ADDED: convince Scribe Haylen to leave the Brotherhood of Steel.