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With that, he stepped out of the office, his mind already focusing to the next problem. There was never a moment in the Commonwealth to let himself relax. And with war that will come, things were only going to get more complicated.
Sico left Magnolia's office with his mind already running through solutions. Sanctuary's growth was a double-edged sword to them—on one hand, it meant strength in numbers, more hands to work, and a thriving community. On the other, it meant more mouths to feed, more resources to manage, and a greater risk of infiltration. The last thing they needed was the Institute slipping synths into their ranks unnoticed.
As he walked through the bustling streets of Sanctuary, he took in the sight of settlers going about their day—workers carrying lumber for new housing, merchants setting up shop, and Minutemen patrolling the perimeter. This wasn't just a settlement anymore, it slowly became a city. And cities needed security.
That was his next stop: the Science Department.
The Science Department was housed in one of the larger pre-war buildings that had been reinforced and modified over time. It served as the center of innovation for Sanctuary, where researchers, engineers, and scientists worked on technology to improve everyday life and military capabilities.
As Sico stepped inside, he was greeted by the sound of chatter, the hum of machinery, and the occasional spark of welding torches. Workstations were filled with engineers tinkering with energy weapons, technicians calibrating power armor, and researchers pouring over notes on everything from hydroponics to robotics.
Sanctuary was nothing without its thinkers, and these were the people keeping it ahead of the curve.
Sico spotted Mel in his office, hunched over his desk, deep in concentration. Mel was a brilliant scientist, someone who could turn even the most insane ideas into reality if given the right resources. The guy had a reputation for being eccentric but damn effective.
Sico stepped closer and knocked on the doorframe. "Hey, Mel."
Mel barely looked up, still focused on whatever contraption he was working on. "What do you need, General?"
Sico smirked. "Straight to the point, huh?"
Mel finally glanced up, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I know you, Sico. You don't come down here unless you need something big."
Sico stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "You're right. I need you to build a device that can detect synths."
Mel leaned back in his chair, exhaling. "Shit."
"That's about what I thought you'd say," Sico said with a smirk, pulling up a chair across from him.
Mel ran a hand through his hair. "Alright. Let's break this down. You're asking for a way to detect synthetic humans, most of whom look, sound, and even bleed like real people. That's not exactly easy."
"I know," Sico admitted. "But with how fast Sanctuary is growing, we can't afford to let synths slip through. The Institute could already have agents in our ranks, and we wouldn't even know it."
Mel nodded, clearly thinking. "Alright, let's assume for a second that it's possible. What do we know about synth biology?"
Sico leaned forward. "They have mechanical parts—internal components that separate them from humans. If we can find a way to scan for those, we could pick them out."
Mel tapped a pen against his desk. "True. But Gen 3 synths— the ones that are nearly indistinguishable from humans—are where the real problem is. They've got artificial organs, synthetic blood, and even nervous systems that mimic ours. A simple metal detector won't cut it."
Sico frowned. "So what will?"
Mel exhaled sharply, then stood up and started pacing. "Alright. The Institute had to find a way to make synths function like humans, right? Which means their synthetic biology has to be slightly different from ours. Maybe their body temperature is slightly off. Maybe their metabolic rate isn't the same. If we could detect even the slightest variance, we might be able to separate them from actual humans."
Sico nodded. "So you think it's possible?"
Mel stopped pacing and turned to face him. "I won't lie to you—it's not gonna be easy. But yeah, I think we can do it. I'll need some time to run tests, though."
"How long?"
Mel scratched his chin. "A few weeks, maybe less if I can get my hands on a synth for direct analysis."
Sico grimaced. "That's the tricky part. We don't exactly have a spare synth lying around."
Mel gave him a knowing smile and look. "Well we do have, don't we."
Sico stared at Mel, his mind processing the scientist's words.
"Wait a damn minute," he said, his brow furrowing. "You're not talking about Curie, are you?"
Mel simply smirked, folding his arms across his chest.
Sico exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Mel, come on. You do realize how important she is, right? She's not just some random synth we can poke and prod for science, she was our companion. You do know that she previously a robot right? And she transfer her consciousness to a Gen 3 synth body who has a dead brain with the help of Dr. Amari from Goodneighbor. And right know, She are working on breaking down the formula for Stimpaks, trying to make them easier to produce." He leaned forward. "We're talking about a breakthrough that could make a massive difference in the Commonwealth. You want to risk delaying that?"
Mel held up his hands defensively. "Relax, General. I know Curie's value. Hell, I probably respect her work more than anyone else in this place. But think about it—she's the only Gen 3 synth in Sanctuary that hasn't been filled with bullet holes. If we're gonna figure out how to detect synths, we need a living, breathing, and fully functioning Gen 3 to study. And Curie? She's our only option."
Sico ran a hand down his face, sighing. "Damn it, Mel."
"I promise," Mel continued, his voice steady, "I won't do anything to harm her. I'll talk to her first. Get her permission. If she says no, we drop it."
Sico studied Mel's face, searching for any sign of hesitation. But the scientist was serious. Dead serious.
Sico finally let out a slow breath. "Alright. Fine. But I swear, Mel, if she's even slightly uncomfortable with this, you back the hell off."
Mel grinned. "You got my word, General."
Sico nodded, pushing back his chair. "Alright then. Let's go talk to Curie."
Curie always at the hospital but because of her research, she has her own lab anf Curie's lab wasn't that far. It was set up in a repurposed clinic that near the Hospital, a place dedicated to medical research and pharmaceutical development. The lab itself was filled with shelves of pre-war medical texts, makeshift chemistry sets, and a whole lot of notes scribbled on old-world clipboards.
When Sico and Mel arrived, they found Curie hunched over a table, carefully measuring out a powdered substance into a beaker of water. Her long dark hair was tied back in a loose bun, and she hummed softly to herself as she worked, completely focused on the task at hand.
Sico knocked lightly on the doorframe. "Hey, Curie."
She looked up, her bright eyes lighting up with recognition. "Ah, mon ami! It is good to see you." She set down her tools and wiped her hands on a nearby cloth. "To what do I owe this visit? Surely you have not injured yourself, no?"
Sico chuckled. "No, nothing like that." He exchanged a glance with Mel before continuing. "We actually came to ask you something."
Curie tilted her head. "Oh? What is it?"
Mel stepped forward, his tone measured. "Curie, we need your help with something important. We're working on a way to detect synths—something that will allow us to keep Sanctuary safe from Institute infiltrators. And… well, you're the who got a Gen 3 synth body here."
Curie blinked, her expression unreadable for a moment.
Sico quickly spoke up. "Look, if you're not comfortable with this, just say the word and we'll figure out something else. No pressure."
Curie was silent for a few moments, then let out a soft sigh. "I understand the importance of such a task. If the Institute is truly sending spies, then we must find a way to protect our people." She looked between Sico and Mel, her lips pressing together. "I… I do not like the idea of being treated as a mere subject of study. However, if it means helping Sanctuary and for the future of Commonwealth… I will assist you."
Sico felt a small wave of relief. "Thank you, Curie."
Mel nodded. "And I promise, we won't do anything invasive. I just need to study how your synthetic biology differs from a human's. Simple scans, nothing more."
Curie crossed her arms, giving him a pointed look. "I will hold you to that, Monsieur Mel."
Mel chuckled. "Wouldn't expect anything less."
Sico clapped his hands together. "Alright, with that settled, let's get to work."
The next few days were became a busy of activity for them.
Mel and his team set up equipment in one of the secured science labs, running tests on Curie's physiology—thermal imaging scans, metabolic rate comparisons, minor electromagnetic resonance tests. Nothing that would cause her discomfort, just passive data collection.
At first, the results were frustratingly inconclusive. Gen 3 synths were so close to humans that most conventional scans didn't pick up any differences. Their synthetic blood mimicked human hemoglobin, their nervous systems responded identically, and even their biometric readings were almost indistinguishable.
But Mel wasn't one to give up easily.
It wasn't until the fourth day of testing that they found something.
Sico stood beside Mel as he examined the latest scan results. The scientist tapped the screen, his eyes narrowing. "There. See that?"
Sico leaned in. The display showed two side-by-side heat signatures—one from a regular human subject and one from Curie. At a glance, they looked nearly identical. But upon closer inspection…
"There's a slight difference," Sico murmured.
"Exactly," Mel said, his voice tinged with excitement. "Gen 3 synths regulate body temperature almost the same as humans, but not perfectly. There's a very subtle thermal variance—one that's too small for the human eye to notice, but detectable with the right equipment."
Sico nodded slowly. "So, in theory, we could build a scanner tuned to pick up this variance?"
Mel grinned. "That's the idea. It won't be perfect—we'd still need manual verification to confirm any hits—but it's a hell of a lot better than just guessing."
Sico exhaled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. This was it. This was what they needed.
"Alright," he said. "Get to work on a prototype. We need this ready as soon as possible."
Mel saluted playfully. "You got it, General."
Sico turned to Curie, who had been watching the entire exchange with quiet interest. "Curie, we couldn't have done this without you. Thank you."
She smiled, clasping her hands together. "If my existence can contribute to the safety of Sanctuary, then I am happy to help."
Sico gave her a grateful nod before turning back to Mel. "I want regular updates on the prototype's progress. Once it's ready, we'll start implementing it into our security procedures."
Mel smirked. "Oh, don't worry, General. You'll be the first to know."
Sico folded his arms, his expression turning serious as he considered the implications of their discovery. This wasn't just some minor breakthrough—this could be a game changer for them in the future and the upcoming war that they don't know when it will happen. If the Institute caught wind of what they were working on, they wouldn't just sit back and let it happen. They'd come for them and kill anything who stand in their way.
He turned to Mel. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Mel leaned back against the desk, rubbing his chin. "Yeah. If the Institute finds out about this, they'll send a goddamn Courser, and those bastards don't come alone. They'd bring an entire squad of synths to wipe us off the map."
Sico nodded. "Exactly. We need to tighten security around this place. Double the guards, keep an eye on anyone coming and going. We can't afford any leaks."
Mel sighed, shaking his head. "Funny, I was just about to ask you to tell Preston the same thing."
Sico smirked. "Guess we're on the same page." He straightened up. "Alright, I'll talk to Preston right away. In the meantime, keep this under wraps. Only the people who absolutely need to know should be in the loop. The last thing we need is some loose-lipped settler running their mouth and tipping off a synth spy."
Mel nodded. "Agreed. I'll make sure my team keeps their heads down. No unnecessary chatter."
Curie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "Do you truly believe the Institute would go so far? To launch an attack on Sanctuary just for this?"
Sico turned to her, his face grim. "They wiped out the settlement of University Point just because one of the people there manage to get something that can reveal them. The Brotherhood of Steel declared war on them, because they were a threat to humanity with the synth they build and has potential that can replace humans with it. If they think we're a threat, they won't hesitate."
Curie frowned, folding her arms. "Mon dieu… The lengths they go to control their creations. It is monstrous."
"That's why we have to be prepared," Sico said. "We're walking into dangerous territory here, and I need everyone on high alert."
He turned back to Mel. "Keep working on the prototype, but be ready to pack everything up and move if we have to. If we get any sign that the Institute knows what we're up to, we evacuate and relocate."
Mel nodded. "Understood."
Sico clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. I'll go talk to Preston."
With that, he left the lab, his mind already running through the security measures they'd need to implement.
Then Sico found Preston Garvey near the main watchtower, overseeing a patrol change. The Minutemen had grown into a formidable force under Sico's leadership, but he knew better than to get complacent. Sanctuary was secure—for now.
Preston turned as Sico approached. "General. What's up?"
Sico got straight to the point. "We're doubling the guards at the Science Department. Effective immediately."
Preston raised an eyebrow. "Something happen?"
Sico shook his head. "Not yet. But we just made a breakthrough—one that the Institute would kill to destroy. We can't take any chances."
Preston's expression hardened. "How bad are we talking?"
"If they find out, they'll send a Courser. Maybe more than one. And those things don't work alone. They'll bring an entire assault force."
Preston let out a slow breath, his hand resting on his holstered laser musket. "Alright. I'll rotate more men over there. Set up additional checkpoints and keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
Sico nodded. "Good. And one more thing—we need to be discreet about this. The last thing we need is panic. Just tell the men it's a precaution, but make sure they understand that this is serious."
Preston smirked. "You really think I'd be anything but serious about this?"
Sico chuckled. "Didn't think so. Just covering all bases."
Preston nodded. "I'll get it done. Anything else?"
Sico thought for a moment. "Yeah. Let's also increase patrols outside the walls. If the Institute is planning something, I'd rather spot them before they're knocking on our door."
"Understood. I'll get the men on it right away."
Sico placed a hand on Preston's shoulder. "Thanks, Preston."
Preston nodded, his expression firm. "We're in this together, General."
Sico took one last look around Sanctuary, watching as the settlers went about their day, unaware of the storm that could be coming.
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• Name: Sico
• Stats :
S: 8,44
P: 7,44
E: 8,44
C: 8,44
I: 9,44
A: 7,45
L: 7
• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills
• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint.
• Active Quest:-