POV Rio
After dealing with the last of the Raiders in the area, we were clear to loot to our hearts' content. The first step was overriding the automated security for myself and the Minutemen. I also moved several Protectrons from Monsignor Plaza to the BADTFL Office. I installed several automated turrets as well. With these defenses, we could use the base to control this side of the bridge.
As for loot, there was plenty of ammo and guns of various types. I even found a Fatman in the Evidence Lockup along with a Mini Nuke. There were 2 Stealth Boys and some Healing Supplies. The most notable loot was Guns and Bullets Issue #10, The Future of Hunting?, which boosted ballistic weapons' critical damage by 5%. And of course, Eddie Winter Holotape 0, which was given to Nick.
The plaza had much more loot. Not much of it was that great, but it was plentiful. Mostly old clothes, some weapons, ammo, Healing Supplies, Food, Water, and almost anything else you would need to survive. There wasn't much else for loot in the two buildings. Unless you count 200-year-old police files.
Once I was satisfied with the setup and loot, we moved to the nearby dock to Catch A Ride! The boat we commandeered even has a Pimento Taco, a Pimentaco, in the glove box. We could have swum, but fixing a boat was more convenient. The Taco was very gross. How it was even in good condition could only be attributed to my Luck Stat. But it was a strange concoction that consisted of Mayonnaise, Peppers, and Cheese.
'Too bad that's not an instrument.'
Once I got the boat working, we used it to head to the East Boston Police Station. We locked up the boat and moved more inland to our true destination, East Boston Preparatory School. I used my Hoshigan to see everyone inside and counted 56 hostiles and 5 friendlies. And worse was that there were no enemies we could pin against them. Which meant it was time to do it the old-fashioned way. I told everyone what I saw.
"That's... going to be tricky," Nick comments.
"Why don't we just attack them?" Cait asks.
"They could use those people as hostages. I'm not willing to risk their lives," I reply.
"Can we get the hostages out without the Raiders noticing?" Piper asks.
"It... Might be possible. But I'm not sure," I say with a frown.
"What if we get the Ferals from the Airport?" Nick offers.
"No, there are several thousand of them. And we can't use the Super Mutants because they might just execute the prisoners," I reply.
"Then how 'bout we attack and distract them while you sneak in and get them out?" Cait offers.
"That could work, but you guys would need to last at least 10 minutes. I shouldn't need all that time, but the extra time will give me some space to operate," I reply.
"I think we can manage," Nick says.
"Okay, we attack at night. That should mess up their flow even more. I will evacuate the hostages via the back entrance and bring them to the Police Station. Once they are safe, I will move to attack their rear. If they catch me, I will go Hulk on them," I reply.
We all nod and wait for a few more hours before night begins. They began their attack from the front entrance, while I slipped inside just before they began their attack. The sounds of fighting awaken all the Raiders and throw them into chaos. Zeller sends his men to fight off the attack, leaving only 8 men with him. The wardens were also drafted, meaning the hostages were unguarded. They weren't completely idiots and left 3 people at the rear entrance, but I could deal with them easily.
I slip into the holding area, and when the hostages see me, their eyes light up, but I put my finger in front of my mouth to quiet them. They nod, and I begin unlocking the cages one by one while keeping an eye on the other Raiders. They weren't moving from their positions. I handed some guns to the others and told them not to use them unless absolutely necessary.
We slowly leave the holding area and move to the left, where the stairs are. I sneak behind the first guard and put my hand over his mouth while slitting his throat. Then I slowly put down his body. The next two Raiders were next to each other, which meant I had to be careful. I pulled out another dagger, and I slowly came up from behind, then I put all my strength as I plunged it into their skulls. They die instantly, and I motion for everyone else to follow me. There were no more people that were in our way, so I led them to the nearby Police Station and then gave them some food before rushing back to the school. They still hadn't discovered the hostages were gone, so I pulled out a sword and started to walk through the school, slashing everyone that I came across.
The first Raiders I came across didn't even know I was there until their heads were lobbed off. It wasn't until the 13th Raider that they discovered me, but even that person only had time to scream before my sword was through his skull. The scream drew some attention, but I was already gone, so they thought that the Raider had been shot. After killing my 29th Raider, my cover was blown completely. Mind you, I had killed 29, but 12 had already died at my companions' hands.
"Sh*t enemy inside!" screams one of the Raiders.
I rush at them and slash at their throat. They clutch their throat. Several shoot at me, but I use the slashed Raider as a shield. Then I ran at them, I closed the distance and threw the body at them while slashing at the three of them. All three hit the ground, and I duck behind a wall as 4 more shoot at me. 5 more were rushing at me from another direction, but I tossed a Cryo Grenade down the stairs they had to take. Then I create a shield spell and run at the 4 Raiders trying to pin me down. I come out of cover right as their magazine runs empty. Their eyes go wide in panic, and three of them go to reload, but one throws his gun at me and pulls out a knife.
BOOM
The grenade goes off and distracts the knife-wielder for a moment. I use that lapse in concentration to bypass his defense and slash his throat. He drops, and I am free to kill the others. They were unable to protect themselves and were cut down quickly. I moved calmly into the stairwell to catch my breath and finish off the two maimed survivors. Now all that was left was Zeller. Zeller seemed to have realised this as he barricaded himself in his office and had an RPG aimed at the entrance.
'Idiot.'
I pulled out General's Ghost and blew his head off from a few walls away. The school was made of wood, which didn't do much to stop a 50 Caliber Incendiary Explosive Round. As for the RPG, I used my telekinesis to ensure he didn't launch a rocket indoors.
After all the Raiders were dealt with, it was time to loot the place. There wasn't that much. Most of it was ammo. We did get 80 AK-47s, but at this point, I had more than enough of those guns. We also found a lot of alcohol and Chems. Other than that, there were about 10k Caps and some torture equipment. During this time, I had Piper take the hostages back to the BADTFL Office, where they could make the rest of the trip without fear. They thanked us profusely and told us that they would tell everyone what happened. After that, Piper came back with the boat, and I had a chat with Nick.
"So you got the last tape. Want to say what they are for?" I ask.
"I wouldn't normally bother ya with this sort of thing, but... well, I know I can trust you at this point. See, my personality, it's all based on this pre-war cop, fella by the name of Nick Valentine. Guy volunteered to get his brain scanned before back before the war. For as long as I can remember, I've been getting these... flashes. Memories of places I've never been. Things I've never seen. Memories of Nick's. They're not bad. They're just... They're just this inescapable reminder. That I'm not the person I think I am. That I'm not a person at all. I'm just a machine, pretending to be human," Nick says with a frustrated tone.
"You think you're just a machine. If so, then I must say you are an idiot. You were never just a machine to me. You are just as human as anyone else. heck, probably even more human than most," I say trying to cheer him up.
"Nice of you to say, but your kind don't usually have to deal with someone else's whole life trapped inside their skulls. Don't get me wrong. I know I'm in Nick's debt. These memories, they've kept me alive. Nick was a hell of a cop, a guy with good instincts and a good heart. I always counted myself lucky they didn't load me up with some ex-con or whatever type might volunteer to let folks tinker with their gray matter. But it's thanks to Nick that I pass for human. Why I get to live cushy in Diamond City, and every other synth is shot on sight. I know I got it good, but... my entire life I owe to Nick. Everything that makes me who I am - my judgment, my speech, hell, even my name - they're his. And I can't do a damn thing about it because without them... without them I'm nothing. A shell. All I want is a life where I have something I can call my own," Nick says sadly.
"Nick, you think that everything you built only exists because of some old memories built into you, but that is far from the truth. All the things you have done were your actions. Not someone else. Yours. I am no master of the Soul, but I can say that memories don't make the man. That's just knowledge. And what matters is what you do with that knowledge. You built all this with your own hands," I say.
"I... I guess you have a point, but this brings me to why I want these tapes. Once upon a time in the land of Boston, there lived a king of organized crime. Eddie Winter. He was a bad man who did a lot of bad things. Hurt a lot of innocent people. But he knew the end was coming. So he sealed himself inside a personal shelter, located underneath the sub shop he used as a headquarters," Nick says with some anger.
"You've really done your homework on this guy," I comment.
"I have. And I uncovered a doozy. Eddie Winter went and turned himself into a Ghoul. Two hundred years before it was fashionable. Hell, he was probably the first one. And I'm convinced that he's still locked inside that shelter. Safe and sound. Ready to come out and begin his evil reign all over again. I'm going to find him and kill him, so that never happens. You in?" Nick asks.
"Sure. I mean, I already got you all those Tapes," I reply.
"You're a good man. They're older than dirt, but they've got Eddie's pawprints all over them. These are the real deal. And they've still got the code pieces in 'em. Let me run 'em through the old processor..." Nick says with the sound of a disc reader coming from him.
"Got it! One, nine, five, three, seven, two, eight, four, zero, six. That old thug's holed up in Andrew Station. Now let's go bring down Eddie Winter," Nick says with some excitement.
"Sure, let's get to it," I say with a smile.
We get in the boat and set off to Andrew Station.