Fallout: the Road to Ronto

A story I felt inspired to write, exploring what would happen if Wind Whisper, my OC traveled to the Fallout Universe.This is an Original story that takes place in the Fallout Universe before, during, and after the events of Fallout 4.

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Deep below the ruins of Boston Massachusetts, more commonly known as the Commonwealth, under the old Ruins of the Commonwealth Institute of Technology, or CIT, was a secret society of scientists and robots. Or rather, simply known to the population of the Wasteland as the Institute.

Within the Institute were five major divisions: Advanced Systems, Bioscience, Facilities, Robotics, and Synth Retention Bureau.

The Advanced Systems division works on applied physics (plasma weaponry and teleportation), as well as special projects currently classified. They are also responsible for the advanced weapons and armour that the synths and Institute members wear on their trips to the surface. They run the Robotics lab, which produces new synths. Their primary focus is the implementation of Phase Three, an upgrade to the Institute's massive fusion reactor that would completely solve their power needs for the foreseeable future.

The BioScience division specialized in fields of study such as botany, genetics and medicine. They are also responsible for all biotech advancements, including crop production, pharmaceuticals, and genetic engineering. They also hold samples of the Forced Evolutionary Virus, which was responsible for creating super mutants. Rumor has it that they are working on a way to reverse engineer the virus to create a cure. Their most important directive is to ensure the health and well-being of everyone in the Institute. To that end, they cultivate highly specialized breeds of flora for use in food and medicine, providing the majority of the Institute's food. They have even started to explore the idea of synthetic animal life.

the Facilities division is responsible for keeping the Institute operational on a day-to-day basis. It performs daily tasks like servicing the life support systems, ventilation, and the power network. All the old technology that forms the foundation of the Institute's efforts requires constant maintenance to prevent blackouts, which can have lethal consequences for the sequestered society. In a nutshell, they keep the Institute's mechanical and electrical systems running smoothly. They maintain and upgrade all of the systems that make it possible to live and work in a place like the Institute's underground habitat: Crucial apparatus that recycles the air and water and provides power to the laboratories and quarters. The work they do might not be as exciting as some of the other departments, but it's at least as important. They have a large number of synths used for maintenance duties.

Robotics is a branch of the Institute responsible for the manufacturing of synths. It’s primary goal is production and induction of third generation synths. It is also responsible for processing upgrades that ensure synths remain functional at optimal capacity. Currently, the division is implementing existing upgrades.

The Synth Retention Bureau, or SRB, was designed to perform one task: it tracks down and returns rogue synths to the Institute. To do this, the Institute created a specific synth model called the Courser. Coursers have their personality levels tweaked to ensure they won't rebel, while their combat abilities have been vastly improved over other models. Other divisions within the Institute fear the SRB, as they have a hit squad of Coursers under their command, and they are very effective in their role. The SRB also works to hunt down Railroad members so they can shut down the rebel organization once and for all. The SRB also employs a murder, or flock, of "Watchers," synthetic crows with built-in monitoring devices. Synths are the primary labor force of the Institute, but the more advanced their processing becomes, the more inevitable that the synth will attain consciousness and attempt escape. As third generation synths are indistinguishable from normal biological humans, the Synth Retention Bureau specializes in the capture of runaway synths.

It was in the Bio Science department where her story begins.

“Dr. Holdren?” The Head of the Institute, simply known as Father, asked the head of the Department, in a kind gentle, voice, as he walked up to her. “How is Project 239-144 doing today?”

Dr. Holdren smiled at her Director, and lead him to a bio-statis tank, filled with green fluid and holding an odd creature never recorded or found in the Wasteland before.
“As far as I can tell, its-“

“Her.” Father said simply, as he placed a hand on the 3-inch glass of the tank.

“-her life-signs appear to be stable.” Dr. Holdren answered, without skipping a beat. “She’s responding well to the healing fluid. Even with her unique physiology.”

“Remarkable.” Father said with an approving nod. “Remind me… what do we know of her?”

“From our scans, she’s a biological hybrid of two old world animals,” Holdren replied. “An otter and a cat. No human DNA at all.” She checked her notes. Which is odd, considering her heart, lungs, and all her other organs are somewhat in the same places a human would be.”

“That, and she appears to look so human. Despite her ears and fur.” Father said as he squinted his eyes. “No mutated cells at all?”

“None.” Holdren shook her head. “She’s simply that way.”

“A hybrid of two animals, and she walks on two legs.” Father nodded. “An amazing Discovery.”

“What of her left arm?” He asked. “The mechanical one, that is.”

“More advanced than anything even we’ve come up with for our synths.” Holdren answered. “The Robotics department can’t even replicate it, or reverse engineer it. They can’t even repair it.” She let out a disappointed sigh. “A shame, really. That arm alone would let us advance our Synths to gen 4. Possibly gen 5.”

Father nodded and examined 239-144 more closely. Whoever she was, she was badly injured when his synths came across her. She was missing both her legs below the knee. Her tail, from what they could tell from the stump below her back, had been ripped off. Even half the flesh and fur on her face had been torn away.

His Gen 1 synths reported that they had killed a Death-claw, which seemingly had attacked her. They found her in a drainpipe, which somehow, she had managed to climb into to escape it.

That being said, they had no clue as to where she had come from. Or even who she was. Fortunately, the healing fluid had closed her wounds, and managed to heal her face, and closed the stumps.
“And there’s absolutely nothing we can do for her?” Father asked as he turned away from the tank and looked at Holdren. “I would hate to leave her in this tank indefinitely.”

“Well… there is something we can try. Possibly.” Holdren said as she rubbed her chin. “Dr. Virgil’s research with the FEV is progressing well. He’s managed to isolate the aggressive genome. And he’s close to isolating the, uh, color changing aspect.”

“So, say, if we were to increase his staff by a factor of five, and isolate the regenerative and strength aspect of the FEV,” Father said confidently, “Theoretically, we could use it to fix her?”

“In theory. Yes.” Holdren nodded. “If it works, she would be stronger and faster, that is, even with her current, or rather, previously injured, muscle mass.” She thought for a moment. “Shall I draw some of her blood and begin testing her biology against the FEV? See if they are compatible?”

“Proceed.” Father said as looked pack at 239-144. For some reason, he felt oddly… attached to her. No matter the resources spent, her wanted to fix her. Make her better. Improve her, if possible. “I will leave you to assign the appropriate staff to Dr. Virgil’s team. Keep me updated of any and all progress.”

“Yes, Father.” Holdren said as he left the Lab.