Chapter Text
“I am…your son.”
The words echoed in Scarlet’s head but she couldn’t make sense of them. Her arms began to shake as she continued to hold her rifle.
“How..is that even possible?” She whispered.
Shaun eyes softened. “I know this is a lot to take in. In the Vault, you had no concept of the passage of time. You were released from your pod, and went searching for the son you’d lost. But then you learned that your son was no longer an infant, but a ten year old boy. You believed that ten years passed. Is it really so hard to accept that it was not ten, but sixty years? That is the reality. And here I am. Raised by the Institute, and now its leader.”
Scarlett thought back to the Vault, watching the Institute take a wailing Shaun. The sound of Kellogg’s gun rang in her ears. “They stole you!” She cried. “Kidnapped you! It wasn’t right!”
“Right, wrong…irrelevant. It was necessary. The Institute believed humanity’s future depended on it. At the time, the year 2227, the Institute had made great strides in synth production. But it was never enough. Scientific curiosity, and the goal of perfection, drove them ever onward. What they wanted was…the perfect machine. So they followed the best example thus far - the human being. Walking, talking, fully articulate…Capable of anything.”
“Human synths,” Scarlett said. The words tasted bitter in her mouth. Her eyes drifted to the ten year old Shaun. His head hung limply. She felt herself lower her rifle, suddenly overwhelmed with defeat.
“Human-like synths. A great distinction. The Instiitute endeavoured to create synthetic organics. The most logical point, of course, was human DNA. Plenty of that was available, of course, but it had all become corrupted. In this…wasteland…radiation affected everyone. Even in their attempts to shield themselves from the world above, members of the Institute had become exposed. Another source was necessary. But then the Institute found me, after discovering records from Vault 111. An infant, frozen in time, protected from the radiation-induced mutations that had crept into the cells of every citizen in the Commonwealth. I was exactly what they needed. And so it was my DNA that became the basis of the synthetic organics used to create every human-like synth you see today. I am their Father. Through science, we’re family. The synths, me…and you.”
Scarlett’s eyes returned to Shaun, the real Shaun, aged before her. “And you,” she whispered, “you’ve been down here the whole time?”
“I know you must have questions. Please, anything I can do to help you understand.”
Where to begin? Scarlett couldn’t stop the scene from replaying in her head. The gunshot was so loud. She felt sick. “Kellogg…he worked for you?”
Shaun seemed to consider his words before answering. “Kellogg…He was an Institute asset long before I arrived here. I wasn’t until I became Director that I learned of all the things he’d done…what kind of man he was.”
“He was a murderer. You knew what he was, but you used him anyway?”
“I don’t expect you to understand or agree with the decision.”
Scarlett’s blood began to boil. “He killed your father! He killed Nate.” Her voice cracked saying his name. The wedding ring hung like a weight around her neck.
“An unfortunate circumstance.” Scarlett scoffed in disbelief but Shaun continued. “The Institute took advantage of Kellogg’s vicious nature. I will freely admit to that. Institute technology prolonged his life, and his usefulness, far beyond any normal human life span. He never failed the Institute, but his cruelty became more apparent with every completed objective. I won’t lie, it’s no coincidence your path crossed his. It seemed a fitting way to allow you…us…to have some amount of revenge.”
“Your father, he never got to see you grow.”
“Yes, what happened to him was…I’ve gone over the records of the incident, of course. It seems his death was an unfortunate bit of collateral damage.”
“Collateral Damage?” Scarlett snapped. “Is that all it is to you?”
“I’m sorry. I forget that it’s best such a short time for you. I don’t have any direct memories, and I’ve had my entire life to cope with the loss. Has it always been easy? Of course not. But I’ve done my best to move on and live my life. For many years I never questioned who my parents were, I accepted my situation and that was that. With old age comes regret, and asking “what if” more often. But, what matters now is that you and I have a chance to begin again.”
Begin again. Isn’t that what she wanted. To find Shaun and start their life together. He has such a head start. Scarlett swallowed and tried to focus on something else for a moment. “So you’re in charge of the Institute?”
“I am the acting Director, yes. I spent decades working to reach this point. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously. The Institute, it’s important. It really is humanity’s best hope for the future, no matter what those above ground might think of us.”
With that Scarlett thought about the surface. Piper’s article about the mayor, Covenant and its synth test, Paladin Danse aiming his gun at Nick without a second thought. “They’re scared of you, Shaun. Scared of the Institute.”
Shaun looked unimpressed. “People are always frightened by what they don’t understand. Ultimately the Commonwealth has nothing to fear from us. Whatever you’ve seen or heard, I know I can convince you of that. Just…give me time. I know there’s more for us to discuss, but…The Institute is on the verge of some important breakthroughs. Your presence would be…appreciated as we approach them. I’ve been a part of something amazing here. I’ve helped to build a life for myself and the people of the Institute. And now, after all these years, you have the opportunity to help with that. Doesn’t that intrigue you? Isn’t that what you want?”
Isn’t that what I want? She could certainly admit to a level of curiosity surrounding the Institute, but now that she was here, standing in its walls, she felt overwhelmed and unsure. I just want my baby. “I…I don’t know. This is so much to take in.”
“I know, and I am sorry. You have been through so much in such a short time. The Institute can provide a better life than anything above ground. You’ve been in the Commonwealth. You’ve seen what it’s like. I assure you that you are better off with us.”
Scarlett couldn’t help but think of her missing finger. “Things are…difficult up there.”
“I’ve seen it myself. I know. That is why we are so committed to created a better life for ourselves here. And it’s a life that you can now be a part of. I simply ask that you give the Institute…me…a chance. A chance to show you what I’ve been telling you. We really do have humanity’s best interest at heart. Will you take that chance?” Shaun held out his hand to her.
Slowly Scarlett closed the gap and placed her hand in his. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt the soft skin of his palm, the reality that it had been hundreds of years since she had last held his hand. I just want my baby. “All right,” she said.
“Thank you,” said Shaun, a wide smile spreading across his face. “The Institute is now your home as much as it is mine. Please, take some time and get to know it. Meet the people you’ll be working with. You’ll want to introduce yourself to the Division Heads; Doctor Fillmore in Facilities, Doctor Ayo in the SRB, Doctor Holdren in Bioscience and Doctor Li in Advanced Systems. They’ll all be notified of your arrival, of course. Meet them, and then we’ll discuss what comes next. Finally, X245 will show you to your quarters and get you a change of clothes.”
With that, an armoured robot appeared. Shaun gave Scarlett’s hand one final squeeze and then he backed away and left the room.
“This way,” X245 said, his voice blunt. Still stunned from the encounter, Scarlett looked one last time at the synthetic Shaun and then turned to follow.
…
Scarlett stood under the shower head in her quarters at the Institute. Her mind was racing with the information she had just been given. Every time she tried to think through it, the thoughts jumbled and she felt overwhelmed. After a while she gave up and just watched the brown tinged water run down the drain.
…
Scarlett stepped back into the lobby of the Institute. The white Institute jumpsuit she wore felt itchy against her skin. People were milling about, giving her curious looks as the moved throughout the lobby. Men in white armour patrolled the main entrances to each department holding plasma pistols in hand. Coursers moved freely throughout and Scarlett did a double take as she took in the facial features. They all looked identical and Scarlett’s hands suddenly felt wet as she remembered carving the chip out of the back of their skull.
Scarlett forced her feet forward to get herself out of her thoughts. In front of her was Facilities and she walked through the yellow automatic doors. Inside she was surrounded by humming generators and people in soiled mechanics jumpsuits. Each worker had a yellow armband on their right bicep. Scarlett’s eyes quickly landed on the blond woman in a stark white lab coat with a yellow sash across the front. She quickly surmised that she was the director.
Scarlett cleared her throat as she approached. “Excuse me, Doctor Filmore?”
The woman immediately turned to Scarlett, grinning widely. “Yes. Ah hello, you must be Ms. Satterson. I’m Allie Filmore. You can think of me as the Institute’s Chief Engineer.” She politely extended a hand and Scarlett shook it.
“When Father told us about you, I could hardly believe it. You’ve been through so much, I think most people would have just given up. If you don’t mind me asking, what was it that kept you going all that time?”
“I… guess I just wasn’t ready to die yet.”
“That’s understandable. The will to survive is the most basic human instinct. Now, I’ll give you a quick run-down of the Facilities Division, and then I’ll answer any questions you might have afterward.”
Scarlett simply nodded.
“Alright. We’re responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the Institute’s many facilities, from the power grid to the clean water supply. We maintain all the systems that make it possible to live and work in a place like this. There’s a lot of machinery behind these walls that recycles air and water and provides power to the laboratories and quarters. The work we do might be as exciting as some of the other departments, buts it’s at least as important.”
“So you’re the one who keeps everything running smoothly?”
“Well, I’d like to think so. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s absolutely essential. Without facilities, the Institute couldn’t function. And believe me, it’s a full-time job. Power outages, plumbing issues, malfunctions in the generators—you name it. We have our hands full.” “The Institute is more than just a facility; it’s a community. Sure, we’re doing groundbreaking research and technology that can change the world, but we’re also trying to maintain the balance. It's a delicate thing, keeping everything in sync. Without that, none of the important stuff works.”
“What’s the Institute’s goal?”
“We’re on the cutting edge of science and technology. We can’t let that go to waste. The world outside is falling apart, but here? We’re building a future, a better one. That’s why we’re so careful with our work. It’s not just about power, or control—it’s about survival. Ours, and the world’s.”
“You really think the Institute’s future is going to work?”
“I do. I really do. We’ve come so far already, and if we continue pushing forward, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish. But we need people who understand that, who are willing to work together to keep this place moving.So now that you’ve spoken to Father, does that mean you’re on board with us?”
“On board with what?” The sickening feeling returned to Scarlett’s gut.
"The Institute, of course!” Dr. Filmore cried. “Shaun implied you operate on a level if not equal, then at least similar to the rest of us. Curious.”
…
Next, Scarlett heading for the green doors under Bioscience. Inside she found a large laboratory with rooms branching off filled with rows of green plants. Various workers in dirt stained clothes were tending to the plants while men and women in white lab coats analyzed samples at the benches in the main room. The sound of typing at terminals echoed off the walls and there was a soft hum of conversation. But what Scarlett marvelled at was the giant glass enclosure containing three living silverback gorillas.
Scarlett approached the glass slowly, eyes wide. Inside, one of the gorillas took note of her and lumbered closer until they were facing each other. Scarlett gazed deeply in the gorillas dark brown eyes. The gorilla hardly moved as it stared back, it’s eyes taking in Scarlett in return. Scarlett remember the last time she’d seen a gorilla, or something from her old life left untouched by the bombs.
“Magnificent aren’t they?” A voice said. Scarlett jumped and immediately turned to the tall red-haired main in a green sash.
“Are you Dr. Holdren?”
“Doctor Clayton Holdren, head of the BioScience Division. I can’t wait for you to see the work we’re doing. It’s truly amazing.” He extended his hand and grasped Scarlett’s, shaking it vigourously.
“I look forward to learning more about it,” Scarlett replied, trying to match his enthusiasm. When she looked back at the enclosure, the gorilla had moved away.
“In that case I’ll give you a brief overview of what we do here. As the name implies, the BioScience Division specializes in fields of study such as botany, genetics and medicine. Our more important directive is to ensure the health and well-being of everyone in the Institute. To that end, we cultivate highly specialized breeds of flora for use in food and medicine. We’ve even started to explore the idea of synthetic animal life with these gorillas. They’re really just a pet project at this point, but the potential is exciting nonetheless. It was inspired by Father actually. He came to us wearing clothing with gorillas on them. I wasn’t around yet but I’ve read the reports and dug around old pre-war archives to get a better idea of these fascinating creatures. I’m hoping to get them to be as close to the real thing as possible. You’ll have to let me know what you think!”
The gorilla onesie, she could still picture it. Shaun’s small body wiggling around. And the gorillas, they looked so real. Bile rose in Scarlett’s throat. “Seems like there’s nothing you guys can’t do.”
“With hard work and ingenuity, any challenge can be overcome. I’m sure I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is, but I have to ask…have you decided whether you’ll join us?”
Scarlett swallowed, willing the nausea to subside. “I’m still taking everything in.”
“Of course. It’s a big decision, I know, but it’s also a rare and important opportunity. No need to rush to judgement. But may I say, I certainly hope you join us. The information you could provide will be invaluable.”
With that Dr. Holdren grabbed Scarlett’s hand again and gave it a squeeze. Scarlett tried not to pull her hand away too quickly, but Dr. Holdren didn’t seem to notice.
…
Following Bioscience Scarlett headed to the blue doors belonging to Advanced Systems. Inside Scarlett found a wide open room with various benches laid out around a central computer mainframe. The benches were crowded with armour components and deconstructed weapons and along the back was a large mainframe similar to that at the molecular relay. Standing at a large terminal off to the side, with what looked like a deconstructed robotic skeleton laying on the table behind it, stood a Chinese woman wearing a blue sash. Streaks of silver shown out of her tight black bun at the base of her neck and her uniform contained not a crease.
“You’re standing in the Advanced Systems division. And you,” she said as she finally looked up from her terminal at Scarlett “you’re not a part of my staff.” Her expression tightened.
“I’m Scarlett Satterson. Shaun’s mother.” Scarlett thought the words would feel more comfortable in her mouth.
Dr. Li maintained an air of annoyance. “Ah yes. Well then let’s cut to the chase. I have work to do. Let me see that Pip-Boy of yours. I’ve been told to install a Courser chip in it for you. Father’s orders. You’ll be given full access, with the ability to relay in and out of the Institute at will.”
Scarlett undid the clasp on her PipBoy and handed it over. Dr. Li took it and immediately got to work. “Thank you. I’m sure that will come in handy.”
Dr. Li did not look up from her work as she responded. “Given that the relay is the only way to access the Institute, “handy” is somewhat of an understatement. In case the significance is lost on you, you’ll be the only one here with that kind of access. If nothing else, it should demonstrate the amount of trust Father has placed in you.” She stood up and handed the PipBoy out. But let me make one thing clear. Father may have given you the keys to the castle, but this is still my laboratory.”
Scarlett bristled with irritation but kept her expression neutral. “Understood.”
“Excellent. Now Advanced Systems is mostly focused on research and technology. Our primary objectives are working on advanced plasma weaponry and Courser biological upgrades. We are in charge of the molecular relay. No one comes and goes without our say so.”
So how have the synths been escaping? Scarlett thought to herself, but chose to stay silent.
“Now unless you have any questions, I have work to do.” Dr. Li turned and walked away without waiting to see if Scarlett would answer. She was clearly dismissed.
…
Finally Scarlett walked through the set of black automatic black doors under Synth Retention. Coursers passed her at the entrance and she tried to avoid eye contact. They paid her no mind. She walked down the narrow glass hallway and noticed a man in a white lab coat with a black sash inside one of the control rooms on the left behind the last pane of glass. She turned to enter, noticing the rest of the department was made up of computer desks outside sealed rooms. Each room was labelled with “Procedure” followed by a letter. Scarlett turned away and faced the older Nigerian gentleman in front of her. His white facial hair was a stark contrast to his skin.
“So, here you are. Justin Ayo, acting director of the Synth Retention Bureau.” Scarlett shook his extended hand. “I’ll be up front with you. We’re going to be keeping a close eye on you for the near future. Despite your relation to Father, you're a bit of an unknown quantity. I’m sure you understand. There won’t be any…issues, will there?”
“No sir,” Scarlett replied
Dr. Ayo gave a curt nod. “Now Father has asked that I provide you a brief overview of the Synth Retention Bureau. Our primary responsibility is the recovery of escaped synths that are hiding among the human population on the surface.”
Scarlett chose her words carefully, thinking of all she had learned about synths over the course of her time in the Commonwealth. “Having synths among humans has certainly seemed to cause some…discomfort.”
“Certainly. We can’t allow sophisticated Institute technology to fall into the wrong hands. The results could be disastrous. Our main instrument is the Courser, a third generation synth assigned to operate on the surface. Coursers hunt down and reclaim synths that have escaped from the Institute. They are highly self-sufficient, trained in combat, infiltration and tracking. In a word, our Coursers are relentless. But I gather you know all of this, since you’ve encountered one already. In fact, I’d very much like to know how you defeated it.”
Scarlett’s inside felt cold as she remembered how Nick had saved her. Saying a command that shut down the Courser immediately. A command spoken with a voice that did not belong to him. Something in Scarlett’s gut told her to keep quiet about that. At least until she could figure out what it meant. “The Courser was in the process of reclaiming a synth. They were distracted and we used that to our advantage.”
“We? So you weren’t working alone?”
“No. I had two others with me,” she said quickly, choosing to eliminated Nick’s presence all together. “The Courser killed them both.”
Dr. Ayo’s brows furrowed. “Hmm I see. I suppose I’ll have to ask Robotics to perform detailed diagnostics on the entire production run. As if we don’t have enough problems.” He let out a heavy sigh and rubbed a hand across his forehead.
Scarlett meanwhile felt a surge of panic. What if they saw the recording of Nick and found out she lied about him being there. Surely they are aware of him operating in Diamond City, all of the Commonwealth seemed familiar with him. But what if they heard his voice and recognized it as Kellogg’s? In a desperate attempt to distract Dr. Ayo, Scarlett asked a question that had been circulating in her head. “What happens after a Courser has located a rogue synth?”
“It uses that synth's recall code to wipe its memories and render it inert. We then begin the delicate process of restoring the neural pathways to their original configuration. In those cases where the procedure is successful, the synth returns to duty with no memory of its time on the surface. All too often, we're unable to repair the damage and are forced to dispose of the unit entirely.”
A synth recall code. That’s what Kellogg must have used on the Courser.
“How unfortunate,” Scarlett said, her voice sounding small.
“Unfortunate doesn’t even begin to describe it. These machines are priceless. And the more time and energy we have to spend repairing escaped ones, the less we have to devote to perfecting them.”
A voice sounded behind Scarlett. She turned to see a young man in a white lab coat with a black armband poking his head into the chamber. “Dr. Ayo, you’re needed in procedure room B.”
“Thank you Collin,” Dr. Ayo replied. “I’m afraid I must go Ms. Satterson. Synth B435 has proven to be quiet a difficult subject. The longer a synth is gone, the more damage they can often do to themselves. This one has programmed himself to form an emotional connection with a woman and her child on the surface. The B models, or Beta synths, aren’t designed for proper emotional regulation. They are of course programmed with the base emotion models but they are mainly used for our security. Employees are to limit their interactions with them to avoid any complications with their duty. We’ve managed to rework the memory, but the emotional rewiring is particularly tricky. I may advocate for stricter speaking regulations, preventing them from damaging conversations should they manage to reach the surface again. I’m sure you understand.”
Scarlett simply nodded.