"Wait, are you saying I'm going to become a super mutant?!" Adam said, panicked, as he began to look himself over for anything abnormal. Mira let off a girlish giggle at Adam and then shook her head.
"No, no, calm down." She said gently, putting her hand on Adam's arm to stop him. "First of all from all the information I have in order to create a super mutant the entire body must be submerged in a vat of FEV for a sustained period of time. Light exposure has no records of being enough to create super mutants. Furthermore the cult was experimenting on outsiders to find a safe way to enhance humans without creating super mutants. If that were their goal why would they purposefully infect their congregation? My guess was that it was nothing more than a baptismal type ceremony, meant to raise their spiritual beliefs not actually confer changes to them. Lastly FEV is a bit more viscous than normal water, I'm not entirely convinced that it would have been able to be misted like it was through the sprinkler system. Likely they further diluted it with water."
"So I'm not going to turn into a super mutant?" Adam asked. "Then why did you start this conversation off so ominously. And why did you tell me not to let the mist hit my skin back at the sermon?"
"I'm not a brotherhood scribe, after all. I only know so much. It was better safe than sorry. And I told you because you have a right to know, even if it was unlikely. Everything that I know about FEV says that accidental exposure like we got would not be anywhere enough to induce a change. Despite being a Forced Evolutionary Virus it certainly needs ideal conditions. And besides… I wanted to see your panicked face." She grinned impishly. Adam frowned.
"Well I don't exactly appreciate it." Adam said with a pout and a cross of his arms, though he was not really that mad about it, more than anything, considering her momentary breakdown just moments ago, seeing a more playful side of her come out again was good. Regardless of whether she was forcing it or it happened naturally it was a good way to take her mind off her worries.
"I know, I know. I just wanted to tease you a little." She smiled.
"Well next time think twice about teasing me like that."
"I can't help it when your responses are so cute." She giggled and Adam shook his head. He let off a sigh of relief, glad he was safe from transforming.
"By the way, what's a brotherhood scribe?" He asked, changing topics. Mira turned to look at Adam for a moment gauging his expression before facing ahead again.
"They are the members of the order who handle all non combat tasks. Their roles vary from research to repair, but nearly every scribe has more than one speciality. Unlike knights they are not expected to deploy to combat, however. Though some still do."
"Knights?" Adam continued. Mira sighed.
"Let me explain the organizational structure to you. From bottom to top we have the squires. These are children born into the brotherhood or brought in from the outside. They do not handle many tasks but are required to study and grow and help out with small tasks within the chapter. Then there is the initiate. They are the first true rank within the brotherhood, they work under a knight, study under scribes, and act in whatever role they are assigned to. After they finish their training as an initiate they can choose to become a knight, earn their power armor, and head into combat or stay behind at base as a scribe. The choice is usually up to the individual but many things vary from chapter to chapter. Among the scribes there are no real ranks, just a head scribe, other than that they are all equal, however among our combat forces this is not true." She pauses for a moment to look off in the distance, perhaps having thought she heard something but then shook it off and continued.
"A knight who has served for a long time with distinction can be elevated to the rank of Paladin. They command the knights. And finally above the paladin is the Elder." She nodded with finality. "Of course there are other smaller ranks like Star Paladin or Sentinel which are Paladins who have earned the freedom to act independently of their chapter as they see fit. Then from there a chapter has the right to subdivide ranks as needed so long as this core chain that binds is not broken." Adam nodded slowly, understanding.
"So where were you in the ranking system?" He asked, curiously.
"Oh." She said, surprised she was asked, as if she forgot she had not mentioned her own role. "Well as I said the Circle of Steel is the intelligence arm of the brotherhood. Our activities are… different from a normal member's. The Circle of Steel technically exists outside the ranks of the chapters, reporting directly to the Lost Hills HQ for orders. Though of course things are not always that simple, and many Circle of Steel members become permanent fixtures within chapters, even making their presence known to the Elder. However, if you must ascribe a rank all members of the Circle of Steel carry the command weight of a Paladin, able to move the Knights of a chapter as needed but not able to go against a chapter's Elder or Head Paladin."
"So I guess you were pretty important then." Adam said, impressed.
"I was." She said somberly. Adam sighed softly.
"Well even if that isn't the case now, you are still important to us. Without you I would have never even considered infiltrating the cult to see what they were doing, much less succeeded. So if nothing else I am grateful for you." He smiled. She waved him off with a soft smile.
"Well thank you. Maybe it's not as glorious as my old position but… it's nice to know I'm still needed."
"I promise, your help and presence is a great help to us. And to me too. So if you ever feel under-appreciated I can throw some compliments your way." Adam grinned softly. Mira just laughed.
"I'll keep that in mind." She smiled and then grew more serious. "So what is your plan? How do you want to handle the cult?"
"I… don't know yet." Adam admitted. "I need some time to think about it. But the fact they haven't beaten War's men yet is a good thing, it means we got time to formulate a plan. For now I think heading back to the Vault and regrouping is the best plan for the moment."
"I agree." She said with a nod.