#Proctor Quinlan

[ana6aena]

I just know this man loves his cat

Proctor Quinlan and Emmett cause' I miss Fallout 4 🥴

[gobald]

Proctor Quinlan is based on Hugh Laurie. I have no proof but neither doubt.

[callmewisteria]

Something Breaking (At The Precipice Of Something New Chapter XLV)

After eleven years, Annette enters her own memory of the day Enclave Colonel Augustus Autumn murdered her father at the site of Project Purity to confront the guilt of surviving when her father did not? Set on bringing Kasumi home, Preston Garvey, his right hand man and his right hand man's daughter, Nick Valentine, and Ellie Perkins split up in Acadia to speak with her and to confront Dima about her humanity? Her mind still reeling from the events at the Atom Cats' Garage, a heartfelt conversation with the woman she has fallen in love with, Cait Felgate, leads to both Nora and Cait revealing parts of their pasts to each other that still leave them conflicted about what they make them as people? The Minutemen, Valentine, and Perkins go to meet with High Confessor Tektus alongside an Atomite believer and synth named Cole to convince Tektus to surrender his power to the peace driven Cole? The Mechanist in their custody alongside two abominable robots, the Brotherhood decide what to do about them?

A lot happening in this one in the aftermath of the heavy action of the previous chapter, read it on AO3, ff.net, and/or wattpad!!

[breadroseart]

I think that proctor quinlan is a bitch and kinda just awful but I forgive for that because he looks like scarecrow 💚💚

[shatinn]

Fallout 4 - The PRYDWEN - alternate bos magazine

EMMETT the bos cat

[fusionnukacola]

Hmmm... I think I've got one.

Reacting to getting stabbed in the back. It doesn't just have to be a 'companions react' thing, Iit can be any format you feel like writing/think would work. Have some fun with it. I wanna see where you take it :)

Thanks, anon for being my first ask! I chose to go with a small fic, hope you enjoy. I think I took this in a way different direction than you would've thought, but it just came to me and I needed to write it!

Wordcount: 294

Characters: Knight Rhys, Scribe Haylen, Paladin Danse (mention), Proctor Quinlan (mention)

When Rhys first received news that Paladin Danse, his commanding officer, was a synth, he didn’t believe it. He didn’t want to believe it. The Paladin had fought and bled with him, had woken him up from nightmares that haunted him, had believed in him when the other initiates and knights didn’t.

And he was a synth? The very thing the Brotherhood sought to destroy. To kill.

He was with Haylen when they got the news from Proctor Quinlan himself when he flew down from the Prydwen to the police station. Rhys thinks he’ll never forget the look on Haylen’s face. She looked completely distraught, on the edge of succumbing to her tears. Once he himself fully cemented the news in his brain, Rhys went into the garage down below once he was certain no one else was down there and screamed. 

For fifteen long minutes, he shouted at the walls and threw the tools besides the power armor station that the synth known as Paladin Danse used to stay by during the late nights when all that weighed on his mind was the deaths of their former recon soldiers that he had led to their demise. For fifteen minutes, he raged alone, cursing whatever God’s there were.

Rhys wondered. Did he do it on purpose? Was he implanted into the Capital Wasteland to harm the Brotherhood from the beginning. Or was he replaced half through? Did they kidnap him in the middle of the night when Rhys and Haylen were sleeping?

And how didn’t he know? Rhys liked to think he was smart, but he also thought the Paladin was human. Like them.

Haylen found him at the end of his episode, sitting on the ground, his head between his knees. 

She was crying too. He understood it. The Paladin had betrayed them all.

How could they have been so blind?

[anxietymuffin]

Tales from the Wasteland: Chicken Soup for the War Veterans Soul

[willinglyghoulified]

Book 2: “For the People,” Ch. 19, an excerpt

This is one of my absolute favorite parts in my fanfiction series for Fallout 4 and I just had to share it with you guys. Books are currently being edited to fit my OC’s new name since I’ve developed her beyond “Nora,” but there are 3 books still fully readable if anyone’s interested here. Book 2 is ranked number 1 in “#johnhancock”

(Long excerpt.)

[Nora]

I smashed through the glass of the Prydwen’s window. The vertibird crashed against the metal frame, too big to fit inside the room, and came to a full stop, flinging me forward out of the pilot seat. My head hit the front windshield, the bulletproof glass sustaining the blow and only cracking. My body ragdolled to the floor of the vertibird and rolled out the side door.

I landed on the floor of the Prydwen and gasped for air. The blow had knocked the breath out of me and popped my neck so hard, I thought for a moment I had broken it. I was seeing double and laid there, dumbfounded, trying to regain my sense of urgency.

I slowly reached for the guns on my hips to make sure they were still there. My whole body ached. As my eyesight returned, I looked around to find all my extra ammo strewn around the wreckage; the strap of my bag snapped off during the wreck and its contents were flung about.

I took a deep breath and tried to stand up. Shards of broken glass crunched against my hands, feet, and knees as I moved my body across the floor. The metal frame of the window and pieces of the vertibird that had broken off tore at my pants legs and sliced through my skin like butter, prompting me to slow my pace to a crawl and be more careful. I couldn’t sustain many more wounds.

“You!” someone growled.

I dizzily looked up to see a soldier that I had met before. he was the blond soldier that accompanied Danse and Maxson that day at Goodneighbor. He didn’t have his power armor on this time, but that didn’t stop him from aiming his laser pistol at me in his shaky hands. His eyes were wide with fear, sweat rolling down his cheeks.

“Don’t you dare move,” he warned.

“Aren’t you going to shoot me?” I grunted past the pain.

“I fucking should... but Maxson would probably want you alive.”

“Who cares what he wants?” i muttered as I made an attempt to stand.

“I said don’t move! All I have to do is call in my soldier pals and they’ll take you hostage!”

“Do it yourself,” I pressed. I knew kids like him lacked nerve.

“I... I can’t. I’m not authorized to do that. I was demoted after leaving Goodneighbor for ‘threatening peaceful relations through verbal demoralization.’ What relations?!” He spat in my direction.

I got to my feet and drew my gun on him slowly. “You don’t have to do this. Give up.”

His trigger finger twitched, prompting me to pull my trigger. I shot him in the shoulder -- a non-lethal blow. He dropped his weapon and cried out in pain. I could hear the loud footsteps of more hostiles coming toward the room from behind him.

I straightened up to a threatening posture and drew my other pistol, both guns in hand. If this was my last stand, I would die knowing that I did my damnedest to protect the people of the Commonwealth. To protect my son. To protect Hancock. My friends and my loyal soldiers.

I could see power armor suits running down the hall.

“Don’t shoot!” said one.

I was conflicted by this. If I didn’t shoot first, they’d surely kill me.

“Don’t come any closer!” I threatened.

From behind them stepped out an old man in a long blue robe with a tall brown collar. “Don’t shoot. I’m Proctor Quinlan. We’re here to help.”

“Like hell,” I hissed. “What’s Maxson planning?”

He shook his head. “Maxson has locked himself inside the armory with the rest of our weapons and ammunition. I had no intentions of rising up against Maxson with the rest of these pacifists, but I can’t let all this technology and research and historical data go up in flames. I refuse. This is my life’s work we’re talking about!”

“... Are there any more hostile Brotherhood soldiers on the ship?”

“At the moment, no. We’ve subdued... or killed those that defended Maxson,” he said with disdain. He looked down at the injured blond boy on the floor. “Take him away,” he said to one of the soldiers. 

The soldier dragged the crying boy out of the room.

The fighting outside had died down as well. There weren’t many gunshots, but the sounds of vertibirds landing in the hangar could be heard.

“Where is the armory? Take me to him,” I demanded.

“I’m afraid I cannot do that. I have no intentions of taking you to our armory.”

“But, sir,” interjected one of the soldiers behind him.

“Maxson will have to come out sooner or later, and when he does, he will answer for this madness. Until then, an outsider has no business interfering with our storerooms, especially those of which contain our weaponry.”

“Nora?!” shouted Danse from down the hall behind Quinlan.

They made way for him to enter.

“Danse? You’re alive?” asked Quinlan.

“very much alive,” he confirmed. “There’s no time to explain anything right now. Where’s Maxson?”

“Locked inside the armory so no one can have access to more ammo or weapons. He’s waiting out the fighting. No doubt he expects that those who follow his recent ideals would remove those of us that have committed treason, but it seems quite the opposite if you’re here.”

Danse entered the room and looked between me and the wreckage. “Nora, you did this?”

I nodded weakly. “I don’t know how to fly a vertibird...”

“I can see that.”

“Out of the way,” demanded Hancock down the hall. He pushed his way into the room.

[Hancock]

“Nora?”

When I got inside, the whole room was in shambles. There she stood, bleeding down her forehead, blood staining her messy long, blonde hair. Her pants were ripped and covered in blood. She stood with two guns in hand and the expression of someone who had been backed into a corner. But, God, she was a beautiful mess.

“Everyone clear out,” I barekd. “If the fightin’s over, we need to get the wounded taken care of.”

“The fighting’s... over?” she asked.

“Yeah, Sunshine. For now.”

She slowly dropped to her knees onto the glassy floor. “Thank God... I don’t know how much more of a beating I can take...”

I walked over to her and rubbed her back. Then I looked at the vertibird behind her. “Heh heh. You always know how to make an entrance. You okay?”

She gave me a weak nod, but her breathing was labored. I knew she needed rest. She needed checked for major injuries, too, like a concussion or fractures from the looks of how she crashed that thing. I just hoped we had enough time for it. First, we had to find Maxson.

“Hancock...”

“Hm?”

“Help me up and we’ll go find Maxson.”

“You don’t need to be goin’ anywhere. We’ll find you a place to rest and a Stim’. I’ll handle Maxson.” I took her arm and put my other behind her back to help her stand.

“Out of the question,” she hissed. “He’s mine.” She reached down and picked her hat up off the floor as she regained her footing.

My mouth became a thin line as I took in her hateful expression. “I ain’t arguin’ with you. You’re covered in wounds. You need to rest. Adrenaline’ll only get ya so far, ya know.”

“Hancock’s right,” added Danse. “You should rest. Leave Maxson to me.”

I shot him a glare. “I said I’ll take care of it.”

“He’s my superior. It should be my job to end this.”

“He killed ghouls, he killed synths, and he killed Minutemen. Any one of us would have a stake in his death at this point.”

“In the end, this isn’t your fight.”

My blood was starting to boil. “You’re really gonna stand here and tell me it ain’t my fight, when you’re the one that had to be talked into coming out here in the first place instead of hiding in that bunker for all of fucking eternity? Look at the shape Nora’s in. This bastard is gonna pay, and it’s gonna be by my hand. This shit’s personal now.”

“Stay out of it, ghoul.”

“Not a chance in hell, synth.”

“Stop!” Nora demanded.

I had all but forgotten I was tryin’ to help her out the door; I came to a complete stop when Danse started his bullshit.

“I’ve already decided,” she said. “We’re not putting a bullet between his eyes unless he forces our hand. He needs to answer for what he’s done.”

“... You’re kiddin’,” was all I could muster.

[danses-with-dogmeat]

Here's another awkward one, with 3 different letters this time! But turns out, there's not an overabundance of named characters starting with these particular letters in-game 😅

Anyway, same as before, choose a favorite character whose name starts with either "Q," "U," or "X"!

(Or a character you just want to see me write for 😁)

If you have any questions on these characters, please feel free to ask!

And if you think of someone who's not listed here that you would like to see, feel free to add a name to the comments/reblogs!

[gobald]

Exploring buildings be like:

[callmewisteria]

Something Signalled (At The Precipice Of Something New Chapter XXXVII)

After killing Winlock and Barnes with the help of Piper, Cait, and Vadim, MacCready returns to Goodneighbour? Sturges arrives at Vault 88 to an utterly unpredictable scene? Shaun and Nate receive unexpectedly good news? The Brotherhood discuss Paladin Danse's latest report on the investigation into the so called Mechanist? After weeks and weeks of frustration, Nora, Nick, and Cait are called to the Railroad Headquarters due to a promising development in tracking a Courser?

I'm back and so is the story. Read it on AO3, ff.net, and/or wattpad!!!

[rosemaryreaper]

Dig Seven Graves: A Recon Squad Gladius Fic

Hello, hello, hello! Spontaneously continuing the tradition of posting a new Fallout fic every September, I have a little something for the Gladius fans out there. The first two chapters are out now. I'll aim to post the remaining five over the next few days.

Summary: “When you get to the Commonwealth, dig seven graves. It will only get more difficult later, once the frost sets in.” Proctor Quinlan’s advice was well-intentioned, if morbid. It was fortunate, then, that Haylen’s squad didn’t have to dig their first grave until spring. Here are the five graves Recon Squad Gladius dug—and the two they never got the chance to.

AO3 fic link: Dig Seven Graves

Full Chapter 1 below the cut (800 words)

Note: rated M for heavy themes (gore, death)

* * * *

Chapter 1: BR-122K [Deceased]

“Start recording.”

Start treatment. 

“September 30, 2286.”

Time: 10:48. 

“We’ll keep this informal, Knight Brach. It’s just a conversation between you and me.”

He grinned at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “And the Scrolls.”

“And the Scrolls,” she agreed, amused. 

“For posterity and sanity, eh, Doc? You get to poke around in my head a little, and all future scribes get to dissect my every word. Sounds like a win for everyone.”

“Making history does come with extra homework.” She clicked her pen twice. An unavoidable habit. “On that note, how are you feeling? We set out pretty early tomorrow.”

“Couldn’t be better, Haylen. Couldn’t be better.” He was screaming. A bloody, charred, screaming lump of meat. “It’s been years since I’ve gotten the chance to stretch my legs.” 

“Now you get to stretch them for five hundred miles.”

“I’ve always enjoyed long walks.”

Begin assessment. Catastrophic trauma to left and right legs, severe trauma to… Catastrophic? Gone. His legs were gone.

She chuckled as she ticked a checkbox in her notebook. She was hardly worried about Brach’s sanity. It was questionable, but only in the way any member of the Brotherhood who had surpassed sixty had a right to. At that age, it was practically expected for a knight to not give a damn about appearances. 

She balanced the tip of her pen under the next question on the page. “What made you request to join Recon Squad Gladius?”

“It’s an opportunity I couldn’t miss.”

Catastrophic trauma to left and right legs—jagged bone and shredded flesh below the remnants of his knees. Severe trauma to torso and left arm—elbow barely attached. Major trauma to right arm and chest—embedded shrapnel, twisted and sharp. 

He reclined in his chair. “Now, this may come as a shock, but I’m getting old. My children are all initiates, trailing after their own knights and scribes. My wife has her hands full with her research in the lab. Their paths are set. And mine?”

Rapid response triage: cauterize open wounds to stop bleeding, administer Stimpaks to further stimulate wound closure. Don’t think about the smell. 

“Sure, I could patrol the Capital Wasteland until I take a bullet to the knee and they stick me behind a desk in the Citadel for the rest of my days…”

Blood pooling on the pavement—administer another Stimpak. Administer another two, three, four…

“…or I could make the best of these remaining years in my prime. See new sights, try new food, get chased by new horrors, all the fun things.”

“One last grand adventure,” she said.

“One last grand adventure.”

It was quiet. When had the screaming stopped?

“I like that we’re doing this for posterity,” he said. “I want to bring home some good stories to my children, you know? Give them something to look up to.”

Having a family in the Brotherhood was not unheard of, especially for the members who had been born into it. As long as no fraternization with outsiders was involved, any “activities” that increased recruitment were welcome. What was unusual, though, was Brach’s attention to his family. Parents were expected to take a step back once their squires were accepted into training, but he never had. This familial dedication was half the reason he had never made officer in all his years of service. Seeing as Brach was Brach, he couldn’t care less about a missed promotion. He was too good a soldier for anyone to attempt to convince him otherwise. 

“I think that’s admirable in itself,” she said. “There’s a bright future for the Brotherhood if any of them turn out like you.” No breath on her cheek.

“You flatter me, Haylen. I could say the same of you. We’re all lucky to have you on the team.” No pulse beneath her fingers. 

“I hope I’m of use.” Damage unrecoverable.

“Please, my wife is a scribe. You can’t trust knuckleheaded knights like me to keep a squad in one piece. I know I’m in good hands.”

“Leave him!” Danse ordered. “We’ll retrieve the body later.”

She smiled, as if she didn’t feel her chest tighten. Just a little. Clicking her pen twice, she glanced at her notebook. There were plenty more questions, but they were supposed to keep this brief. “Any closing remarks before I bring in the next knucklehead?”

He raised his arm, wrist loose, like an actor giving a speech from a stage. Like a picture of one, anyway. “Let’s go make history. Ad perpetuam memoriam! How’s that?”

Time of death: 10:51. Approximately 3 minutes after incident.

“Perfect, Brach. Absolutely perfect. Thank you. We’ll end the recording there.”

Rhys and Keane dug the first grave along the outer wall of the station. They would send his holotags back to his family—if their rescue ever came.

[mllemaenad]

Hi! I was wondering - that Maxson thing you quoted in the Super Mutants post. I was wondering what's your take on that whole little 'history of Arthur Maxson' set of entries on that terminal, because you're generally really good at analysing these things like historical documents (I loved your work on that in Dragon Age). I guess I just want to know how much of it is likely to be bullshit, and which parts are bullshit around a kernel of truth.

Oh, sure, I can have a stab at that, if you like. I am ... going to put the cut in now, because even the document itself is quite long.

The Rise of Elder Maxson Opening Notes These entries are my attempt at writing a timeline documenting Elder Maxson's rise within the ranks of the Brotherhood. It's my sincerest wish that these entries will one day be compiled in a classic printed book format and distributed throughout the Wasteland. Long live Elder Maxson and long live the Brotherhood! Background Despite the defeat of the Enclave in the Capital Wasteland, the Brotherhood of Steel was still an organization divided. The Outcasts, a splinter faction that left the safety of the Citadel, still struggled to survive in the Capital Wasteland, separated from their parent organization. And while some of the Brotherhood members within the Citadel had no desire to reunite with their "disgraced" brothers, many saw the advantage in bolstering their own forces with warriors already trained and indoctrinated by the Brotherhood of Steel. Surely they could work out any… philosophical issues? Enter Maxson Enter Arthur Maxson, young squire to both Owyn and Sarah Lyons, and descendant of the very founder of the Brotherhood of Steel, Roger Maxson. When Elder Owyn Lyons died, care of young Arthur Maxson passed to Sarah Lyons, Owyn's daughter, who was then named Elder in his place. But when Sarah fell in battle shortly thereafter, things became complicated. The Brotherhood of Steel based in the Citadel found itself in need of leadership, and began appointing one ineffective Elder after another. Accomplishments As the years passed, and Arthur Maxson grew, so too did his accomplishments. At age 12, while on a training patrol, he killed two Raiders and saved the squad that was supposed to be escorting him. At age age 13, he single-handedly killed a Deathclaw (and gained the large facial scar he still has to this day). But it was his victory at age 15, over the Super Mutant "Shepherd" who was attempting to re-organize the Capital Wasteland's Super Mutants, that elevated him to hero-like status. When word of this feat reached the Elders back on the West Coast, they knew the time had come… Maxson was ready. Ready to lead and, more importantly, to reunite the fragmented Brotherhood of Steel forces on the East Coast. Our New Leader So it was that a year later, when he was only 16 years old, Arthur Maxson brokered a peace with the Outcasts, re-integrating them into the Brotherhood of Steel, and proving he was as effective a diplomat as he was a warrior. Now re-united, the full force of the Brotherhood of Steel appointed Arthur Maxson as Elder… the youngest in Brotherhood of Steel history. Aftermath Elder Maxson reigns supreme in the Capital Wasteland, and his authority and influence have been spreading across the Eastern Seaboard, thanks in no small part by the mobility afforded by the Prydwen. He has the full support of the Elders back on the West Coast, who have proudly reported that they've begun eradicating cults that have popped up, worshipping Maxson as though he's some kind of god. Maxson himself is almost offended by the idea of being referred to as a deity, as it goes against everything he believes in. Arthur Maxson is happy to be one thing… the perfect human specimen, an example of everything a human being can achieve. Assisted, even enhanced, by advanced technology, but still very much human. – The Rise of Elder Maxson, Proctor Quinlan's terminal, Fallout 4

First question: who is writing this? Proctor Quinlan is a Brotherhood of Steel scribe, meaning he's a professional researcher. That certainly sounds like a promising start. But Quinlan is also the contact for the quest Getting Technical, wherein the Sole Survivor collects technical documents for the Brotherhood, meaning he expresses various ... opinions about the kind of books that are worth preserving.

My responsibility aboard the Prydwen is to sort through the books discovered by our recovery teams and extract pertinent information from them. It's tedious work, since most of the volumes are a waste of paper… works of fiction, poetry… you understand. There are other scribes within the Brotherhood that consider fictional material essential, but I refuse to allow them aboard this vessel. If they don't expand the Brotherhood's technological knowledge, they're useless. Technical volumes, repair manuals, design philosophies, medical research… anything that enhances the Brotherhood's knowledge. That's why I consider everything else a waste of paper. – Proctor Quinlan Dialogue, Fallout 4

He seems to have a particular vendetta against fiction, but it's noteworthy that history and biography aren't on his list of acceptable volumes either. So he seems to be writing history without having a lot of respect for the craft.

His attitude, and this quest, seem to a reference to – and a bit of a dig at – Scribe Yearling and the Yearning for Learning quest she offered in Fallout 3. Yearling just asked for "pre-war books", so presumably she was collecting the various things Quinlan calls a "waste of paper".

Now, we also know Quinlan is a bit of a comic book fan:

Proctor Quinlan: Damn it scribe, I told you I didn't want the corners bent. The issues were to be in mint condition! Scribe Naceri: I'm sorry, Proctor, but this is the only limited edition annual we've recovered. Even before the bombs fell, this was the rarest issue… the one where Grognak dies and comes back to life. Proctor Quinlan: Yes, scribe… I've read the 2076 Underlane Price Guide from cover to cover, so I'm well aware of its past value. The fault for this travesty rests squarely on your shoulders because you chose to ignore the important lesson I taught you. Which is…? Scribe Naceri: Always bag and board. I'm sorry, sir. You're absolutely right, and I promise it will never… Um, sir? What's that red blinking light on your terminal? Proctor Quinlan: What? Oh, damn all… I left it in record mode. Just let me… – Quinlan to Be Deleted, Fallout 4

Ordinarily I wouldn't judge someone for a guilty pleasure, and I see no issue with keeping his comic book collection separate from the Brotherhood's official archives ... but this is a bit rich, after all the harping on the uselessness of fiction. So now we also know Quinlan is comfortable with hypocrisy.

And we have remarks like these:

Sole Survivor: He'll [Danse] 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. No matter. ... Quinlan: I'm not sure I like how your Ghoul is eying my quarters. I'd appreciate you removing him. – Proctor Quinlan Dialogue, Fallout 4

So ... we're not looking at a freethinker here, either. I don't mean that Quinlan is stupid, but he's clearly not a person who spends a lot of time interrogating the evidence around him and coming to independent conclusions. He happily spouts the Brotherhood party line – even when you're talking about the death of a long-time colleague. Danse stopped being a person to Quinlan the moment he was revealed as a synth.

Our author is not especially trustworthy, so we have good reason to be suspicious of this text.

Second question: Why is he writing this? This one is easy, because he tells us:

It's my sincerest wish that these entries will one day be compiled in a classic printed book format and distributed throughout the Wasteland.

This isn't a passion project by a devoted historian; nor is it intended to be an history internal to the Brotherhood, to remind them of who they are and what they've done. This is a propaganda piece, intended to inspire fear and awe in the wastelanders.

And that explains an awful lot about how this reads. I would not expect a Brotherhood source to offer up a lot of significant criticism of their current Elder – Brotherhood members who disagreed with Owyn Lyons tended to be pretty circumspect about it – but even a very positive biography might be expected to contain some discussion of a person's flaws and setbacks, even if only to say how well he overcame them.

Quinlan doesn't cite his sources, explain how he knows things or even go into any useful detail anywhere. It's important to know what sort of text we're dealing with: this isn't history, or even biography; it's panegyric. So you get crap like this:

Arthur Maxson is happy to be one thing… the perfect human specimen, an example of everything a human being can achieve.

I don't even know what you do with that, except maybe throw up a little bit. Come on, Quinlan, if you licked that boot any harder you'd sprain your tongue.

So: the purpose of this text is to present Arthur Maxson as an unstoppable hero to the people of the wasteland. It is light on details, high on praise, and incredibly dubious.

Third question: given all that, what can we do with this tripe?

There are some pros and cons here. The big con is that sources on the post-Fallout 3 Capital Wasteland are pretty thin. There's some dialogue from Deacon, MacCready and Madison Li that ... do not, largely, present a positive image of the Brotherhood's actions there. But they are not presenting a history or a chronicle, just remarking on things as they seem relevant.

The big pro is, well, Fallout 3 exists. Which means we have a significant amount of context for the stuff going on here, so it's not impossible to at least make some educated guesses.

Let's look at the politics first, starting with the reuinification of Lyons's Brotherhood with the Outcasts.

So it was that a year later, when he was only 16 years old, Arthur Maxson brokered a peace with the Outcasts, re-integrating them into the Brotherhood of Steel, and proving he was as effective a diplomat as he was a warrior.

The conflict between the Brotherhood and the Outcasts is a real thing. The Lone Wanderer can meet and deal with the Outcast faction in Fallout 3, and the Operation Anchorage DLC specifically deals with their technology hunt. So we know that part is not complete bullshit. It's only mostly bullshit. Quinlan puts "disgraced" in scare quotes, so if he's not a former Outcast himself he's certainly sympathetic to their position. Make no mistake: they were a disgrace in Fallout 3. Operation Anchorage actually ends with yet another schism in their ranks, because most of the Outcasts don't want to pay the Lone Wanderer for helping them deal with their simulation problem. They're quite awful people. But that's not how we're telling this story here, and that is ... interesting.

So what do we actually know?

There used to be two factions of Brotherhood in the Capital Wasteland, Lyons's Brotherhood and the Outcasts. Now there is one.

In Fallout 3 the East Coast Brotherhood is completely cut off from the West Coast Brotherhood. They haven't heard from them in years:

Rothchild: For years he'd try and persuade them to send reinforcements and supplies, all the while stringing them along, saying he was sticking to the mission. Finally, things came to a head. Lyons directly refused orders, and so the West Coast cut us off. No communications, no reinforcements. – Scribe Rothchild Dialogue, Fallout 3

At some point at least one of those groups re-established contact with the West Coast:

When word of this feat reached the Elders back on the West Coast, they knew the time had come… Maxson was ready. Ready to lead and, more importantly, to reunite the fragmented Brotherhood of Steel forces on the East Coast.

The West Coast Brotherhood backed Maxson's bid to become elder but more importantly (Quinlan's words, not mine) wanted the kids to stop fighting. Why?

Well, by this point the West Coast Brotherhood was entrenched in conflict with the NCR. And they were getting their arses kicked. When we meet them in Fallout: New Vegas they've retreated to their bunker after the rout at HELIOS One.

And while it's not anybody's main concern over in New Vegas, the Brotherhood is clearly invested enough in the state of the East Coast Brotherhood that even Veronica, the quasi-exile, has heard the gossip:

Veronica: We've had people go rogue, though, and start helping people. One chapter had a small civil war over it. We take our isolationism seriously. – Veronica Dialogue, Fallout: New Vegas

So if the West Coast got the East Coast on the phone and found out they had: a) a massive amount of scrap at their disposal, b) some revolutionary tech under their control, c) an airship, albeit not one capable of long distance travel, d) a sizeable number of soldiers on hand, and the good will to recruit more from the Capital Wasteland, if the West Coast Brotherhood can accept that ... and the only problem is that half the kids won't get on the damn bus ...

Well, at that point there's going to be a lot of pressure from the West Coast to bring the Outcasts back in, and get the hell back to California before the Brotherhood loses everything.

When they are reunited, the Brotherhood retrofits their airship to allow it to travel longer distances, and sets off. They are definitely in the Commonwealth to steal some stuff, fight the Institute and ruin everyone's day, sure, but this also reads as something of a trial run for a longer journey

Fr: Proctor Ingram IG-444PR To: Elder Maxson MX-001E As you know, in order to get the Prydwen rapidly to the Commonwealth, I had my engineering team pull her older power plant and replace it with an updated fusion plant we pulled from that aircraft carrier wreckage. I was able to squeeze almost one hundred percent efficiency from the new reactor, but the system is burning through our coolant supply faster than expected. As we've been docked over the airport, I've been able to deactivate the main engines to cool down the reactor, but we're still eating up coolant when we're in hover mode. We're eventually going to hit a point where we'll run out of coolant. If that happens, we'll need to put the Prydwen on the ground. I desperately need your help if you want to prevent that from happening. I'll be certain to provide you with the details at our next briefing. – Arthur Maxson's Terminal, Email, Fallout 4

There's clearly no way they're getting the Prydwen to California easily in her current state, and Ingram is busily trying to figure out how they can keep flying around in this thing without it exploding. But the key thing is that they get there: we see the airship reach California in the television series, so that's their final destination.

So, frankly, this is less about Arthur Maxson's extraordinary leadership skills and more about the fact that the Brotherhood was in crisis across America. There would have been tremendous pressure from the West Coast to reunite and head home, and there have always been people in Lyons's Brotherhood who would have preferred to bring the Outcasts back:

Rothchild: We live and die by our dedication to the Brotherhood. To go against orders… It's not something that's done. I appreciate that Lyons believes he is doing what is right, but he should never have disobeyed orders. And now look where it's gotten us. Forces dwindled, Super Mutants on one side, Enclave on the other. We can barely take care of ourselves. Lines of communication were severed years ago. The Western Elders have washed their hands of us. – Scribe Rothchild Dialogue, Fallout 3

That's Owyn Lyons's best friend. And there are indications that someone was whispering poison in Arthur's ear, even in childhood:

Arthur Maxson: Oh, well… You see, I am descended from the great Roger Maxson, founder of our order. I am the last of his line. They say my soul was forged from eternal steel, but I don't believe that. I'm really just a normal boy. I was sent to the Citadel many years ago, to be fostered by Elder Lyons. But that was before the Western Elders lost, um… faith… in the Elder. – Arthur Maxson Dialogue, Fallout 3

Who's been telling you this crap, Arthur? Who's been saying your "soul was forged from eternal steel"? Who's been whispering to you about the Western Brotherhood's lack of faith in Elder Lyons? It's unlikely to be the Outcasts as they wouldn't have had access. But if Outcast sympathisers had their hooks in him this early, it's not surprising where he ended up. I don't like Arthur Maxson the man ... but I have considerable pity for the child.

This pressure seems to have led to the Brotherhood capitulating almost entirely to the Outcasts' demands. We are back on the "hoarding tech for ourselves and telling everyone else to get fucked" train.

Doctor Li: I was tired of being stepped on and used by the Brotherhood. First there was the water purification project, designed to freely benefit the entire Capital Wasteland. Even though the Brotherhood allowed it to be activated, they wanted to control it. Then there were other, more classified projects. Always using my work as weapons of war. I simply had enough. – Madison Li Dialogue, Fallout 4

And the Outcasts very much get to claim victory. They get to say they were right. Owyn Lyons is at best forgotten, and at worst derided as an idiot.

Danse: A decade ago, the Brotherhood had almost gone completely astray. The Elder before Maxson sent us down a path that was leading nowhere… he was more concerned about charity than the preservation of technology. But when Maxson took over, he single-handedly re-prioritized the Brotherhood from the ground up and put us back on the path to glory. This ship and its crew are a testament to his leadership. – Paladin Danse Dialogue, Fallout 4

Danse should bloody know better. He was there. But indoctrination is a Brotherhood technique. You don't talk about what really happened.

Arthur Maxson is primarily useful to all of this because he's Roger Maxson's heir. He's an excellent figurehead to put atop this "reuinited Brotherhood", which is basically just bowing to pressure from the West Coast. And he's, you know, sixteen, so he knows fuck all. He didn't have to be good at anything. He just had to be willing to sell out the people who raised him for a fancy title and a ridiculous coat. Which he did. So here we are. Ad fucking Victoriam.

The biggest takeaway from that part is that Quinlan focuses almost entirely on Arthur's personal victories in battle. Those things have absolutely nothing to do with his leadership ability.

None of the notable leaders of the Brotherhood of Steel became so because they were considered stellar at single combat. Roger Maxson's virtue was having the foresight to keep his people safe in the early days of the apocalypse. He wasn't out there shooting mutants in the head – he was bringing the families of the soldiers into the safety of the base and organising the trek to the Lost Hills bunker. John Maxson, his grandson, aided the Vault Dweller in bringing down the Master's army – his scribes provided the research that proved the super mutants were sterile and he sent knights along as backup to Mariposa ... and Owyn Lyons worked with the Lone Wanderer to complete the water purifier and defeat the Enclave.

What Quinlan is doing is not talking about that. So: the reunification of the Brotherhood is clearly historical fact, but everything else smells quite off to me.

Moving on to the general state of the Capital Wasteland.

Elder Maxson reigns supreme in the Capital Wasteland, and his authority and influence have been spreading across the Eastern Seaboard, thanks in no small part by the mobility afforded by the Prydwen.

I think we can say with reasonable confidence that the Brotherhood would have had considerable influence and power after the fall of the Enclave in the Capital Wasteland. We know that they were, by wasteland standards, absurdly rich:

She was constructed at Adam's Air Force Base just outside of Washington D.C. There was a vast amount of scrap metal and salvageable components there after we defeated the Enclave. We spent the first two years alone gathering the parts. The rest was spent assembling. – Lancer Captain Kells Dialogue, Fallout 4

... and to be fair, wiping out the Enclave would likely have bought them some good will, at least in the short term. However, it seems like they burned through that fairly quickly. We have Madison Li, as an example: she became disgruntled because they were using her to build weapons. By the end of Fallout 3 the Enclave was in disarray and the source of the FEV generating all the super mutants had been located. So why the fuck were they escalating a conflict?

Well, dialogue from MacCready suggests that they had clamped down pretty hard and, as they leaned more and more into the Outcasts' way of doing things, became a menace to the population:

MacCready: I really hope you know what you're doing. The Brotherhood guys… they aren't playing cards with a full deck. Get in the way of their technological crusade, and they'll knock you down without even blinking. – Robert MacCready Dialogue, Fallout 4

MacCready was a child during the events of Fallout 3 – actually, he's slightly older than Arthur Maxson – and would have done his growing up in the aftermath of Broken Steel. And (aside from occasional admiration for their firepower) he has nothing good to say about them.

MacCready: When I was a kid, I heard stories about Liberty Prime Junior stomping around the Captial Wasteland. By helping the Brotherhood bring it back, you're unleashing a mechanical monster into the Commonwealth. – Robert MacCready Dialogue, Fallout 4

While I agree with a lot of what Deacon says, as a member of the Railroad you might reasonably say he's a biased source; likewise, while I take Madison's opinions seriously you can certainly argue a personal grievance might make her somewhat unfair. MacCready has no cause: he'd like to make a few caps and find a cure for his son. And his general opinion of the Brotherhood of Steel, having grown up under their power is: oh fuck no.

Aside from tech, we see from Teagan's behaviour in Fallout 4 that the Brotherhood are absolutely not above stealing from local settlements to feed their troops:

Proctor Teagan: Those farmers give you any trouble, I trust you know what to do. – Proctor Teagan Dialogue, Fallout 4

It's ugly, but it makes sense: the Brotherhood is an army without a nation. They don't grow crops, herd brahmin or even build factories to produce goods for trade. They're resistant to mercenary work and helping people is a contentious issue, with the Outcasts back in charge. We know they purchase from traders, sometimes ... but traders are unlikely to have the kid of bulk supplies an army of this size would need. That's not a problem that just appears out of nowhere in Fallout 4: it would be ongoing.

With Deacon in mind, I keep thinking of that line:

Deacon: I never really much cared for the Minutemen. The idea sounds great. But you give small men big power and sometimes you'll pay for it. – Deacon Dialogue, Fallout 4

Of course, the Brotherhood of Steel have been a thing out west for ages, but you couldn't expect a Commonwealth boy to know a lot about the politics in California. And while undeniably closer the business of Taggerdy's Thunder and the Scorched Plague would be ancient history by the time of Fallout 4. But Deacon would know that a band of soldiers came east. He'd know that they protected people for a while – imperfectly, sure, but you can give some credit for good intentions. And he'd know that they won a tremendous battle, which gave them big power, and then ...

Deacon: The Brotherhood… well, I met them on an op in Capital Wasteland a few years back. But now with Elder Maxson… Let's just say, not a fan. – Deacon Dialogue, Fallout 4

We also know that the Prydwen is the main source of their power: when any of the other factions come into conflict with the Brotherhood, getting rid of that thing immediately becomes a priority. So at least for the last five years, the Brotherhood has been able to expand their influence along the east coast using their monstrosity of an airship.

I'm inclined to think this part is mostly true, except that Quinlan paints Brotherhood control of the Capital Wasteland as a good thing, whereas the non-Brotherhood characters indicate that it's actually fucking awful to live under their rule. This does not surprise me. I cannot think of an alliance they haven't burned at some point.

The bright spot here is that it does look as though they were recalled. So they have brought most, if not all, of their troops (and certainly the Prydwen) first to the Commonwealth and then to California. A reduced Brotherhood in the Capital Wasteland would not be invincible, and the locals might be able to kick them out completely. We'll see.

The Capital Wasteland, super mutants:

But it was his victory at age 15, over the Super Mutant "Shepherd" who was attempting to re-organize the Capital Wasteland's Super Mutants, that elevated him to hero-like status.

Honestly, this bit makes me suspicious without there being anything there I can prove one way or another.

The first thing that bugs me is that Quinlan doesn't say anything about the circumstances in which Arthur killed Shepherd. He talks about him defending his escort from raiders and he talks about him being badly injured in his battle with the deathclaw ... but he says nothing at all about this fight with a super mutant. If, for example, he could say that Shepherd and his mutant army were assailing Rivet City and Arthur slew their leader before he could take the bridge ... well, he'd say that. Because that would be cool. But he doesn't say anything. Just that Arthur Maxson was somehow "victorious" over him.

So ... what happened there? And, given that it was a super mutant, would the Brotherhood distinguish between an actual battle and, say, a murder?

The second thing that bugs me is that "Shepherd" is an odd name for a warlord. It could be, of course, but this isn't actual history. It's fiction, told through dialogue and made up historical records. And in that scenario if something sounds weird it probably is. Plenty of super mutants just have normal names – Marcus, Lily, Gail – which may just be the names they have always had (certainly, in Lily's case). Other super mutants take names to make themselves sound tough – Fist, Hammer, Strong. Fawkes borrowed his name from Guy Fawkes, because he admired the man's conviction. So "Shepherd", with the religious connotations that would be attached to the primarily Christian America ... sounds like a damn odd name for a warlord to choose.

And lastly, the word Quinlan uses for Shepherd's activities is organise. Not rally or arm. He does not say he is building an army. It is an oddly neutral word that might mean anything. And the thing is: the super mutants of the Capital Wasteland were not organised. Not at all. They had some camps scattered about, but they were pretty rudimentary affairs. Organise could mean lead to violence ... but you could also say Marcus organised the super mutants at Broken Hills and Jacobstown, and in that case it meant built peaceful settlements.

We know at least two super mutants, Fawkes and Leo, objected to the violence against humans. Either might be a candidate for "Shepherd", although Fawkes would obviously be the more forceful leader. And if there were two, it does not seem unreasonable to me that there might have been others – people who were driven away when the conflict with the Brotherhood was at its height, but who might have returned later.

So this might have been a righteous victory. It might also have been the slaughter of someone trying to help. Someone trying to lead the super mutants away from violence. I don't believe the Brotherhood would distinguish.

Danse: Anyway, about a year after we were posted to the Prydwen, Cutler vanished on a scouting op. It took some convincing, but I was able to persuade my CO to let me assemble a squad and search for him. It took almost three weeks, but we tracked his team down to a Super Mutant hive. Those wretched abominations had slaughtered everyone but Cutler. He should have been so lucky. The mutant bastards used their FEV to change him into one of their own kind. He wasn't Cutler anymore. I had to… it was my duty to… put him down. – Paladin Danse Dialogue, Fallout 4

While I have no doubt that Danse genuinely believed he did his duty there ... I have often wondered how necessary Cutler's death was. After all, Danse must have recognised him, and super mutants don't typically look like their human selves. It might just have been a dog tag, but with dead Brotherhood soldiers and the more violent kind of super mutants involved you'd expect body parts and dog tags all over the place – and Danse is certain this super mutant was Cutler. So I wonder.

This is also why I wonder about Arthur Maxson's "victory" over Shepherd. Because the Brotherhood believe all mutants are abominations, you can't tell from their sources what any specific one they slaughtered was doing. And the lack of details make me suspicious.

But these are only suspicions. They're not proof.

Right, so, last and probably least because honestly who cares – the prowess of Arthur Maxson.

As the years passed, and Arthur Maxson grew, so too did his accomplishments. At age 12, while on a training patrol, he killed two Raiders and saved the squad that was supposed to be escorting him. At age age 13, he single-handedly killed a Deathclaw (and gained the large facial scar he still has to this day). But it was his victory at age 15, over the Super Mutant "Shepherd" who was attempting to re-organize the Capital Wasteland's Super Mutants, that elevated him to hero-like status. ... He has the full support of the Elders back on the West Coast, who have proudly reported that they've begun eradicating cults that have popped up, worshipping Maxson as though he's some kind of god. Maxson himself is almost offended by the idea of being referred to as a deity, as it goes against everything he believes in.

To be completely fair to our Arthur, we have reason to believe he was a decent shot. Owyn Lyons certainly thought so:

Squire Maxson's training is proceeding well, and the boy certainly has an aptitude for small arms. But I often worry about his emotional state. He is child surrounded by killers, being groomed to become a killer himself. Maybe I've become too cynical, too soft in my old age, but I wish I could give the boy a more normal childhood. Ironic, considering his upbringing is so much like my own. Maybe that's what scares me. – Owyn Lyons's Terminal, Squire Maxson Progress Report, Fallout 3

And we know that Sarah Lyons took him out with her, at least once:

Lone Wanderer:They don't actually… make you fight. Do they? Arthur Maxson: No. But I could! I know I'm ready! I mean, it would be scary, but… It's not fair that I have to sit inside while the knights go on patrol! I did go out one time, you know! Sarah… Um… Sentinel Lyons took me out. Just to show me. I killed a Super Mutant, too! I swear! I, um… I also sort of shot Sarah. But just a little! It was just a flesh wound… – Arthur Maxson Dialogue, Fallout 3

I'm inclined to believe he at least helped to kill a super mutant. He was ten years old, he was very excited about it, and while he was embarrassed about it he did admit to accidentally shooting Sarah, so he had not yet developed too much of an ego to admit his faults. Poor kid should never have been out there, but he was, and the results seem mixed: he might well have hit his target, but he also hit his tutor.

It seems reasonable enough that his hand would have got steadier as he got older, and they were dragging him into the field. But I think it's also fair to note that this kid would have been very well protected. No one wants to be the knight that let the heir of Roger Maxson get eaten by a feral ghoul, you know? So I suspect some exaggeration in all this.

If two raiders were a significant threat to a squad of Brotherhood knights, that was a spectacularly shit squad. While I don't like the Brotherhood, I'm pretty sure they can outshoot the average Capital Wasteland raider. With the exception of the slavers, those people were not well armed or well organised. We're not looking at the Great Khans, here. So I'm more than willing to believe young Arthur Maxson shot a couple of raiders. But I question whether that constituted "saving" his protectors.

Likewise, if he made the killing blow on a deathclaw – how many knights stood between him and it? How many distracted it and got torn to bits to allow him to do that? No one is standing by and letting the thirteen year old – and I say this again – heir of Roger Maxson just get his face torn off by a deathclaw.

But the thing is? I'm damn sure Arthur believes his own hype. The West Coast Brotherhood may be slapping down cultists amongst their number, but I don't believe for a second that Arthur is offended by it. Why? Because he named his damn ship the Prydwen. What's the Prydwen? It's King Arthur's ship, with whom our young Elder Maxson happens to share a name. And who is King Arthur? He's the once and future king, that's who. He will come again in Britain's greatest hour of need.

What's the Prydwen doing? It's headed to California. No one in the Capital Wasteland or Commonwealth is going to care if you name your ship after that of a legendary British king – but back in California where there are (or at least were :( ) libraries and universities – and where the Brotherhood idolises the name of Maxson ... yeah, I think they'll figure out the reference. Arthur Maxson is selling himself as Roger Maxson come again, and in the Brotherhood's hour of need.

And while I don't know exactly what the Brotherhood in the TV series were doing ...

Where did this come from? I've never seen the do that.

... that's a fun new ritual I've never seen them do before. Might look a little bit like one of those cults got off the ground. If little baby Elder Maxson were looking to become High Elder Maxson ... well, that might be one way to do it.

So, to summarise:

Proctor Quinlan is not a great source. He's very pro-Brotherhood, disgustingly biased toward Arthur Maxson and shows little interest in the study of historical texts. Nevertheless, he is a trained researcher and he should have access to primary sources on most of what he's saying, so I suppose he could be a worse source.

The Rise of Elder Maxson is explicitly a piece of propaganda, intended to be distributed across the wasteland. It should not be read as an accurate and objective account of anything. I have been using the Fandom wiki to copy the terminal entries and, while I thoroughly appreciate their thoroughness on that point I'm now looking at the actual article on Arthur Maxson, and I'm a tad bemused that it seems to use this as a source uncritically.

We can confirm a number of high level things from other sources: the Outcasts and Lyons's Brotherhood seem to have reunited, and the Outcasts' ideology is apparently at the forefront of the organisation these days. The Brotherhood seems to have been throwing their weight around in the Capital Wasteland. Arthur did know how to use a gun as a child (although maybe not that well).

The idea that any of this is positive or good is purely a reflection of Quinlan's attitudes and the attitudes of the Brotherhood of Steel in general. When other characters who are either from, or have visited, the Capital Wasteland they are significantly less positive.

Arthur Maxson seems to have used the Outcasts to gain power, and is leaning hard into the glory of his heritage in order to hold onto that power and gain more. Quinlan's text mostly indicates that he has not done a lot as a leader, with his primary achievements being in the realm of physical combat.

So ... a lot of bullshit, but not total bullshit.

[hrefna-the-raven]

Heart of Steel

Fallout masterlist - main masterlist

Chapter 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10

Song for this chapter:

(Not the same 50s style song but the emotions fit the chapter perfectly)

Summary: The data you recovered from the Institute reveals that Paladin Danse isn't what everyone thought he was. How will this affect your position within the Brotherhood and your relationship with Maxson?

Warnings: heartache, emotions, swearing and a tiny King Arthur reference

Notes: Blind Betrayal...we're finally here and it's gonna be a hard chapter, I apologise in advance^^

Chapter 11 - Blind Betrayal

He read the lines of the messages over and over again. It couldn't be true, it had to be a mistake, an error in the system, deceit propagated by the Institute. It had to be anything but the truth. He cross-checked the data from the holotape, comparing it with their own records, and it consistently aligned, even down to the photo of him and he hadn't even aged a day. Of course Kells had already forwarded the message to everyone, dragging Maxson into the situation by claiming it was on his orders, leaving him no opportunity to address it privately before involving everyone else. A frustrated groan escaped him as he rose from his seat, hurling it against the wall, cursing continuously as he paced back and forth his private quarters. The lancer captain was merely fulfilling his duty and yet... How was he supposed to handle this? How could he back up the order to kill not only one of his most trusted paladins but also his friend? He looked up as a beeping sound emanated from his terminal, indicating a new message had arrived. You had just arrived at the airport and were sent to the command deck to receive the instructions for your new assignment.

"Fucking hell Kells", Maxson muttered to himself.

Given your opinion on synths and the fact that Danse had been acting as your mentor, he intended to keep you away from the current disaster but the lancer captain apparently had other plans. Arthur poured himself a glass of vodka and downed it to calm his nerves, taking a deep breath before proceeding to the observation room where you were already waiting for him. The smile you gave him shattered his heart and he could feel his stomach turn, nausea spreading through his body. Kells was situated directly below this room, and with the knight positioned at the entrance, he wouldn't even have an opportunity to explain the situation to you.

Your inner alarm went off as soon as you spotted the grim faces of everyone at the airport. The Knight stationed at the gate promptly instructed you to make your way to the observation room on the Elder's orders. The moment you stepped in, you noticed that something was wrong.

He maintained his usual stern face but the sadness in his eyes was worrying. Before you could even begin to comprehend the situation, he pulled you into a hug and whispered softly in your ear.

"I'm sorry", he took a few steps back, avoiding your gaze before turning towards the window.

"Proctor Quinlan completed the decryption of the data you retrieved from the Institute", Arthur took a deep breath, concentrating on not revealing the trembling of his voice as he continued, "Danse is a synth. He represents everything we hate... a monstrosity of technology."

"That's impossible!", you almost shouted.

Your mind froze at his words, their meaning as well as the tone he delivered them felt like a slap into the face. The weight of it all dragged you down into a pit of anguish and despair. The fact that your lost son was the enemy's leader hadn't fully sunk in yet and here you stood paralysed as the man you loved more than anything in this world revealed to you that Danse had been a creation of the same organisation that destroyed your family.

"I'm afraid not. The evidence is quite damning. To make matters worse, he's gone AWOL. And here you arrive at the same time he disappears without a trace. Is there anything you wish to tell me, Knight?"

The hatred dripping from his voice scared you and you instinctively took a step back at his accusation. Your whole world fell apart, betrayed and played by your own son, only to endure the accusation of treason by the man you had hoped to spend the rest of your days with. Anger surged deep within you, you were done with life throwing shit at you and you were done taking it. All that sadness and uncertainty transformed into an ugly beast and you you no longer cared if it roamed freely.

"After everything I've done for the Brotherhood, for you, you have some nerve accusing me of lying! You should be ashamed!", you spat back at him.

Maxson finally turned around, his lips quivering as he prodded a finger into your chest. He teetered on the edge of losing control, fully aware that his anger and desperation should have been directed at someone else, but he felt powerless. All these emotions felt foreign to him, like a distant haze on the horizon, a realm beyond his grasp.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone of voice!", his voice cracked, the pain evident within it, "I'm ordering you to hunt down Danse and execute him. This is not up for judgment or debate! Scribe Haylen has some information on Danse's location that she will only disclose to you. Find her and execute my order! You're dismissed!"

Before your mind could even consider the consequences, your hands shot up to his chest and you shoved him backwards with full force until his back collided with the window. You span around and stormed out of the room, heading straight down the airport to see Scribe Haylen.

Maxson remained rooted, back against the window, his heart pounding so violently as though it might burst from his chest at any given moment. His hands held up, he observed the trembling as his breaths grew heavier and the room began to spin around him. He should have been angry at you, punish, no, exile you from the Brotherhood for your insubordination but he couldn't. At the very back of his mind, hidden within the darkness, echoed a familiar voice, whispering a truth he didn't dare to voice out loud. He wanted you to refuse his order, for there was something within him that recognised your righteousness. No matter the hierarchy or the orders issued, you would always choose to do what was right. And yet, at the very same time he tried to silence that voice with the Brotherhood's codex, the one thing that kept him going all those years and dictated every aspect of his existence.

Haylen wiped away the tears streaming down your cheeks, comforting you. She whispered words of approval, grateful that her faith in you had not been misplaced and that you were willing to extend a chance to Danse. You both found comfort in knowing that not everyone within the Brotherhood would agree with Maxson's order to kill Danse, although you hoped to find him first. She wanted to accompany you, but you convinced her to stay behind out of fear that it might risk her position within the Brotherhood. This was your mission and you'd do everything to save Danse and prove Maxson wrong.

Torn between duty and the undeniable pull towards you, a unsettling restlessness within him had urged Arthur to follow you to Listening Post Bravo. Observing from a distance, he witnessed your adeptness in dismantling the defensive measures set up by Danse before vanishing into the structure. His fingers tapped nervously on his leg as he sat there waiting. Despite the clear lines of what could and should happen here, his mind remained blank, refusing to grant him any coherent thought. In hushed whispers, he found himself reciting passages from the Brotherhood's codex, almost like a desperate prayer to whatever god would listen. It was the Elder who had followed you, but it was the uncertainty of the boy who sat there, unsure of what steps to take next. A faint recognition woven into the fabric of his heart, reminding him that this moment was an inevitable consequence of the connection he formed with you. His breath hitched as he caught sight of the blinking elevator light and moments later, you emerged alongside Danse. His body moved of its own, marching towards you and Danse and the words that left his mouth felt as as though they were spoken by someone else entirely, someone stronger, more resolute, taking over the vulnerability he saw in that boy from the Citadel.

"Knight! Why has this... this thing not been destroyed?", Maxson spat, his voice carrying a poison that seemed unfamiliar, not only to you but also to himself.

"Arthur", Danse interjected, "it's not her fault. It's mine."

"I'll deal with you in a moment."

"That thing?!", you interrupted Maxson before he could continue, "do you even hear what you're saying? He's still alive because you're wrong about him, you're wrong about the synths and your orders are ridiculous!"

Your voice grew louder as the anger and disappointment rose within you. The man standing before you was unrecognizable; he was not the one who shared his heart and soul in Goodneighbor, nor was he the one who went out of his way to illuminate the control tower with an array of candlelights.

"I see you've made your decision, Knight. How very disappointing. You'd be willing to sacrifice your career...us.... for the sake of a machine."

Arthur cried out internally, trapped within his own mind and body, helpless and weak. All those words left his lips but he wished for them to remain unspoken. The years spent entangled in the Brotherhood's beliefs, confined within the Citadel, were tormenting him. Why wasn't he able to break free from it? With a trembling hand, he reached for his laser pistol, aiming it at Danse, his finger hovering over the trigger but unable to pull it as if being held by an invisible force. You stepped in front of Danse, moving towards Maxson until the barrel of the gun pressed against your chest.

"You really wish to kill them all? And him? Why? Just because a few among them have the potential to do something bad? What kind of conclusion does that logic draw about humanity? Do you even understand what happened the last time people were too caught up in their own beliefs of who the enemy is? Do you know how the Great War started? Why the bombs were dropped? It was exactly because of idiotic ideologies like this! Take it from someone who was there, who fought the mindless battles of others, risking their own life every day over someone else's hatred. You can do whatever you deem right, what you want even but ask yourself this: do you really wanna be like those whom you blame for all this chaos? And by consequence I have to ask myself: was I really that blind and foolish when I saw something more in you, someone greater than this dividing bullshit?! If you want Danse dead, you'll have to shoot me first, Elder!", you spoke, your voice finally steady and composed.

A thousand thoughts raced like through Arthur's mind as his piercing blue eyes were fixed on yours. The way you spat his title cut through him like a knife. It bore witness to the pain, the affection and the glimmer of hope, a sharp reminder that there was more to him than the his title. But why did he feel so powerless? In this moment it felt as if the evil of this world did beget him. The Institute, the synth, would ruin the Commonwealth and the Brotherhood, they had to die for it. Cursed by the hour in which they were created and Danse was one of them. So why did it feel wrong? Why was he trapped in the limbo of uncertainty, held back by the heart while his rationality urged him to act? Arthur yearned to confess that he couldn't care less about what Danse truly was, that they had fought side by side for years, bound by friendship and that he would never consider him a traitor but a true brother. Despite all of this, the Elder found himself holding a gun, not only aimed at his friend, but also at the woman who meant everything to him - the love of his life who spoke reason and acted on it where he couldn't. He growled, the agony within his soul evident, and took the pistol away, taking a few steps back as you called out his name. He shook his head, unable to bring himself to look at either Danse or you.

"Danse. As far as I'm concerned, you're dead", Maxson's voice cracked, the bleeding heart sipping through as he continued, "you were pursued and slain by this Brotherhood Knight and your remains were incinerated. 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."

Danse let out a relieved sigh and nodded while a faint smile tugged the corners of his mouth. Your lips quivered, the weight of the unknown finally lifting and you took a deep breath you didn't realise you were holding in. The words that left the Elder's mouth had a harsh and angry tone yet his eyes revealed a deep sense of shame and sorrow, a testament that your Arthur took this decision, against all of what he believed in, against all that had falsely guided him through all those years.

"I'm returning to the Prydwen, Knight. Take some time, say your goodbyes, and then I expect to see you there."

Arthur turned abruptly, beginning to walk away, but your delicate fingers intertwined with his, compelling him to halt. He couldn't bring himself to look back, afraid of exposing the tears that now streamed freely down his face, afraid to discover the disdain you might hold for his actions.

"Arthur stay", you pleaded in a fragile tone.

He stood frozen, his lips quivering as he let out soft sobs, shutting his eyes tightly.

"Would....would you even want me to?", he whispered almost inaudibly.

The sweet but unexpected sound of your chuckle startled him.

"And here I thought you knew me better", you spoke softly, tightening your grip on his hand as you gently turned him around.

The ice blue of his eyes was hidden behind a wall of tears and you traced a thumb over his quivering lips before you gently cupped his cheek.

"I'm proud of the decision you took today and you're always welcome to stay with me, Arthur."

The emphasis you placed on his name proved to be the breaking point, causing the dam of emotions he had suppressed for so long to burst forth. He pulled you into a hug, holding onto you with such force that it bordered on pain, tears streaming down his face as he pressed his cheek against your neck.

"I'm sorry", he managed to utter.

In response, you offered a comforting hum while your hands tenderly caressed his back and you pressed a tender kiss upon his temple.

You remained like this, frozen in the moment, for some time, the gentle breeze brushing against your skin and mingling with the cold touch of your tears. Time slipped away unnoticed until you caught sight of the setting sun. Danse emerged from the building, a duffel bag hanging over his shoulder.

"You should make your way to Greentop Nursery, it's not too far from here", you suggested.

"I don't know, I don't want to endanger the people living there", Danse sighed.

"You won't", Arthur assured him, "nobody will know you're there, I promise. Loose the armour, let your hair grow longer and you'll look as boring and unsuspecting as everyone else."

Danse couldn't help but chuckle at the Maxson's words. It would be difficult to live without the Brotherhood; they were like his second family. He'd miss the evenings he spent with you, with Arthur and the missions, fighting to make the world a better place. But he was still looking forward to his new life, you offered him a new purpose, aiding the Minutemen in protecting settlers. And maybe, he told himself, once the Institute was destroyed, you and Arthur would come to visit him. With a friendly tap on Arthur's shoulder and a final salute, Danse pulled you into a warm hug and bid his farewells.

You and Arthur made your way into the building, heading down as you decided that neither of you was ready to head back to the Prydwen after all that happened today. The air was still and a sense of calm settled around you like a protective shield. You sat beside each other on a dirty mattress in between old machinery and dusty desks, your fingers entwined, finding solace in each other's presence. In that moment, the world seemed to fade away and all that mattered was the love and understanding between you. The weight of Maxson's near-betrayal and the darkness that had threatened to consume him were momentarily forgotten and you finally dared to reveal what horrible truth had awaited you at the Institute. The very organisation you had set out to dismantle, presuming to hold Shaun captive, was led by none other than your own flesh and blood, the child you sought to rescue. The knowledge was like a knife twisting in your gut, yet you felt featherless as Arthur listened intently, his piercing blue eyes filled with a mix of concern and resolve while you unburdened your soul. He planted a tender kiss on your forehead, lingering for a moment before taking hold of your hands and pressing them against his chest.

"I promise you, love, I'll do everything in my power to destroy the Institute, for all the pain they brought upon you."

This was the very first time you heard him utter the promise of the Institute's destruction not for their technology or creation of their synths but solely for the pain they inflicted on you. It was a solemn vow emanating from the depths of his soul, fortified by the unwavering affection that resided within his heart. He was graced by the epiphany that had eluded him until now, dispelling the fog that had concealed the true path destiny had in store for him. A hopeful smile spread across his lips as he enveloped you in his arms and gently lowered you onto the mattress, holding you with tenderness and care.

"As soon as Liberty Prime is ready and we begin our final assault, I'll be fighting by your sight, protecting you and whatever happens, I won't leave your side", he whispered in your ear.

Exhausted, your eyelids became heavier and slowly, with the weight lifted from your heart and Arthur's soothing presence, you crossed the edge of dreams.

"There's something I've been wanting to ask you, my dearest, but it'll be for another day. Sleep well", he whispered into your ear, closing his eyes, eagerly awaiting the comforting embrace of slumber.

Chapter 12 - A flame in your heart

Feel free to reblog if you enjoyed the story :)

[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!!!!!!

[amazinglyegg]

Companions as.../Shitposts Masterlist

Companions As...

How I make "Companions As..." posts

Birthday hats

Birthday hats 2

Cuteness Aggression

Dumb shirts

Games in my Steam library

Memes in my phone gallery

Memes in my phone gallery 2

Negutiv feadbak posts

r/Ambien posts

r/Disneyvacation posts

r/OddlySpecific posts

What to say before eating dinner

Things to never say to someone who just came out

Twitter posts

Shitposts

Brotherhood branded tampons

Blind Betrayal is Danse getting a divorce

Companions smoke weed

Companions react that came to me in a dream

Character bingo, Danse

Danse and his big long words

Danse is a broken worm man

Danse looks like a duck

Danse simp

Danse and bivouacs

Danse during blind betrayal

Danse and Wombo AI

Danse and Proctor Ingram romcom

Danse and edgy memes

Desdemona is a horse girl

Death Road to Canada crossover

Deacon crashed my game out of embarrassment

"Does The Dog Die" Fallout 4 page

Fallout Show ep 2 reaction

Fandom's reaction to blind betrayal

Games in my Steam library companions would play

Gay gay homosexual gay (Danse and Maxson)

Good morning Desdemona

I would die for them

Loyalty and companions

Live slug reaction (Edward Deegan x Jack Cabot)

Maxson and name-calling

Madlibs Nick/DiMA story

Nick is a bomb :(

Nick <3

Nick Valentine's Son

Out of context notebook app

Paladin Danse fucking dies

Paladin Danse is so sexy

PENIS SIGN

[Poll] Who would win in a fight? Danse vs Fawkes

[Poll] Hypospecific Fallout 4 experiences

[Poll] FMK Nick Valentine

[Poll] Companions and cartwheels

Rating companions on what music they play on a roadtrip

Scribe Haylen decks Quinlan

*Slaps roof of Nick*

Things that would kill the companions immediately

The Office intro

Three types of friends

Venn diagram of Danse, Hancock, and Nick

Venn Diagram of my fears and things in Fallout 4

Water

Wasteland is an introvert's nightmare

What gender are the companions?

Why not get a Fallout 4 companion?

Would companions love Sole as a worm?