POV Rio
When things had settled down a bit, I brought Codsworth with me, and we teleported right into the Institute. I didn't take anyone else with me as this was somewhat personal. Walking through the Institute was... interesting. The entire complex looked like it had seen better days. The walls were blasted open in places, and wires and other machinery were spilling out. Scorch marks were everywhere from the laser fire. There were even a few bullet holes, but they were very few and far between the other messes. The area faintly smelled of decay, as there were several skeletal remains and destroyed synths scattered all over the floor. The main tube elevator was shattered, and the mechanisms that were once there were long since destroyed. That was fine, as I would just float down with Codsworth, or we could teleport down as well. Floating was my choice in this case.
There wasn't much to see as everything was truly devastated. Even the main foyer of the Institute was a devastated wasteland. The glass they used everywhere was shatted and the massive tubular pathways they had in the higher levels had cracked or collapsed onto the lower paths. But at the very least, the area was clear of dead bodies and other remains. We walked to the Director's Office, as that was where Shaun was currently residing. As we approached, the speakers turned on, and I heard his voice. He sounded very aged and weak.
"Hello, I wondered if you might make it here. You're quite resourceful. I'd like to discuss things with you, face-to-face. Please, step into my office," Shaun says.
We walk through the doors, and I see an incredibly old-looking man hooked up to various medical devices.
[Image Here] (Not exactly, but to give an idea.)
"I never thought I would see General Rio in the flesh in my lifetime. And you brought a robot? Curious," Shaun says.
"This is Codsworth. He helped care for you before the war," I introduce.
"Really? But why have you brought him here?" Shaun asks with confusion.
"Closure," I reply.
Codsworth approaches Shaun, and he seems to be hesitant to speak.
"You... You've grown quite a lot, young Shaun. Or I guess you aren't quite so young anymore," Codsworth tries to joke.
"I don't remember you, but then again, I was but a baby back then. Perhaps you can deliver a message to my father for me. I can't live much longer, but I have a few last words for him," Shaun explains.
"I... I'm... Sure, of course, Young Shaun," Codsworth wants to explain that Nate was dead but couldn't bring himself to do so, but I could.
"I'm afraid he can't deliver it," I cut in.
"Why is that?" Shaun asks.
"Your father has been dead for over 60 years. The Institute made a mistake, and Nate was never refrozen properly. The command was sent, but a system error caused everyone in the Vault to die. They asphyxiated. But at least it was done while they were asleep... I'm sorry for your loss," I reply.
"No... No, that can't be... You must be mistaken. I watched my father leave Vault 111," Shaun refutes.
"And has he been spotted since?" I ask.
"Well... No, but he can't be dead. We would have found out by now," Shaun denies.
"If you don't believe me, look at the Vault records yourself," I say, handing a tablet to Codsworth so he can show him.
"No... But then... Of course. It was you, wasn't it? No, nevermind. It doesn't matter. If he is dead, then oh well. The Institute is dead anyway. He was only a means to an end. Perhaps then, you will take up the Institute's task?" Shaun asks.
"Task?" I play dumb.
"Mankind - redefined. The Institute is the only hope for humanity. All the research we have done. It was for the future of humanity. I cannot let all our work die with us. Not with all the work we have done," Shaun says.
"You really care that little for your father?" Codsworth asks.
"I don't expect a machine to understand. I have barely any connection beyond blood to them. They are equivalent to my biological parents. But my true parents were always the Institute. They raised me. If my father survived, I was just curious to see what he would do. I'll admit, when I had Nate released from Vault 111, I had no expectations that he'd survive out there, in all that. A part of me hoped he would prove me wrong. But ultimately it didn't matter. He's dead, and that's it," Shaun says coldly.
"Rio was right. You are a monster. You don't have a shred of guilt for what you've done. The horrors you've released upon the wasteland. The thousands you killed or kidnapped. You... As harsh as it is to say, I'm glad that the Missus and Mister didn't live to see what you've become," Codsworth says with a hollow and deeply saddened tone.
I place my hand on Codsworth and look at Shaun. Codsworth looks at me and tells me he will be waiting outside.
"Do you know why I came here?" I ask.
"To investigate the Institute, I assume, perhaps take some of our technology," Shaun replies.
"No, I'm here to give Codsworth closure. And to end the Institute once and for all. I have already gotten everything I could want from your disgusting research. Don't worry, we'll reuse the space this place takes up, but the Institute will remain as nothing more than a cautionary tale of what happens when you discard morals to pursue a goal, no matter the cost. I won't deny that a small part of me once hoped that you were not a bad person at heart. That you truly wanted what was best for the world. But that isn't the case. You've become the very monsters that you've sworn to destroy. You never would have succeeded without cleansing everything on the surface. Though I doubt that was a problem for you personally," I say with disgust, clear on my face.
"Everything we did was for the betterment of humanity. Don't let your prejudice blind you to the massive advancements we made. Perhaps some losses were felt for those creatures on the surface. But any losses were small in comparison to the achievements the Institute has made over the past two centuries. You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs," Shaun says strongly before falling into a coughing fit.
"There's no point in arguing with you. I'm just here to end this. So the Commonwealth can finally sleep safely at night. I'll let the entire world know that the Institute is no more," I say while reaching for a nearby terminal that controls his life support.
"And then what? We were the last hope for humanity. Without us and our research, mankind is doomed. So let them sleep in their ignorance. But I hope you can sleep at night with all the humans you are killing," Shaun says venomously.
"I won't let that happen. I'll save them. But I'll do it without becoming a monster. Now any last words?" I ask firmly.
"Cough. Cough. You're a fool! I die with no regrets! I did everything for the greater good! Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning," Shaun says as I turn off the machine.
"I... I'll see you in hellllll..."Shaun says with his last laboured breath before he stills forever more.
I remove his body and incinerate it before placing the ashes in a urn.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save your son," I quietly apologise as I take out the two matching urns that contain Nora and Nate.
I had long ago given up on the idea of resurrecting them. It was at this moment that I felt a warm presence and felt as if Nate and Nora could finally rest in peace.
After doing that, I stored the urns in my inventory and decided to find a suitable place to put them so they could be remembered. I figured burying the urns was the best idea. Where I would place them can be decided later. I left the room and found Codsworth lost in thought, but he snapped out of it quickly when I approached him.
"Thank you, Rio," Codsworth said quietly.
"You're welcome," I reply.
We walk towards the area where Liam Binet is currently sleeping. I teleport to him and silently kill him. He died so quickly that he shouldn't have felt any pain. As for X6-88, I did something similar, but with them, they were basically a brain-dead synth that was hooked up to a terminal that helped maintain the reactor. After that, I started to clean up the place and, most importantly, reinforce everything with a Workshop. I had the physical entrance sealed with materials, even if it wasn't needed, as very few would know where to look, let alone the needed codes to get there, but it was still for the best. I made it so nobody could get in without teleportation. Which said teleportation was only usable in one spot in the complex, which was a chokehold to make infiltration and invasion a truly horrible experience.
The refurbishing of the new base was a nice distraction that I used every so often to give me a break from working on the mirror project. I needed to have a break every so often, as finding and calculating coordinates was truly boring. Besides that, I also had the news that the Institute was finally destroyed, broadcast as far as our radio could reach. The news was a bit of a shock to several, but it wasn't earth-shattering as many thought something must have happened to them, as they hadn't been heard about in a long time.
It was during one of my breaks that I heard a radio broadcast that caught my attention. At first, it was because of the song that was playing, as it was just too groovy, and it may have caused me to dance. It was Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. But after the song, it was the radio segment.
"Alright, Wastelanders, it's time to address the burning question on everypony's lips…" DJ PON-3 starts.
(Dramatic... Wait for it... Pause.)
"Rio. Yes, that Rio, leader of the Minutemen, hero of the Commonwealth, saviour of countless settlements… but seriously, Rio, when are you gonna settle down and find yourself a nice wife already?" DJ PON-3 laughs.
Publicly, I wasn't missing, so it wasn't that strange they would be broadcasting this, as technically Lightbringer Radio wasn't a part of the Minutemen. But I still felt like this was targeted.
"I mean, come on! The man's been running around saving the day like a one-pony army for years now, but no love story to show for it?" DJ PON-3 whines.
"Is it the armour? The endless battles? Or does he just prefer the company of his trusty blaster?" DJ PON-3 jokes.
My eye twitches from the joke, and I give a strained smile.
"Word is, Preston's been trying to set him up with everyone from here to Goodneighbor, but Rio's too busy shooting raiders and negotiating peace treaties to notice," DJ PON-3 whispers.
"That's slander!" I yell aloud.
"Well, Rio, if you're listening, Lightbringer Radio officially volunteers as your wingmare. Because even heroes need a little love in the Wasteland," DJ PON-3 says, and I can imagine they are wiggling their eyebrows at me.
'I have a feeling this is a trap.'
"So, friends, if you see Rio out there, give him a nudge… or maybe a cup of that legendary Nuka-Cola. Let's get this hero off the battlefield and into the dating game," DJ PON-3 says with a laugh.
'Oh, bother.'
"Now, how about some more music. This is a real favourite. It's called (I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew," DJ-PON3 says as the music plays.