Artemis Files (0.5)

Chapter 5

Early - Mid 2272 - The Institute

In the distance, S9 could see J6 eating her meal as she stood guard. Once they would have been close. Whispering things that would have gotten them in trouble if someone would have happened to overhear. She knew her fellow synth still held onto that bracelet the little girl had given her a couple of years ago and still kept it hidden on her person somewhere. She really should report it to someone. Dr. Zimmer probably but then she would have gotten in trouble for knowing about it for so long and saying nothing about it. With that in mind she decided it wasn't worth it. Not over something silly like a bracelet.

But over the past few years, ever since becoming a Courser things had started to become strained between them. They had begun to have minor arguments and S9 isn't sure why. Couldn't J6 see that they were blessed to live in a place like the Institute? Sure some of the humans could be a bit much but compared to the surface the Institute was a paradise. They had all three meals, a place to sleep, medical care, J6 didn't have to worry about radiation. They had it good relatively speaking.

S9 watched as J6 came her way with her empty tray to the dish area to be cleaned. Her next assignment must be dish duty since it seemed like she would be staying, helping with the mountain of trays that was beginning to build not just from the synths but the humans as well... however only the synths would be cleaning them and getting them ready for the next use later that evening. J6 stopped next to S9 and was silent for a time before deciding she felt bold enough to speak.

"Don't worry. I plan on doing my job like an obedient little synth," J6 said, and it breaks S9's heart at how depressed she sounds. She even sounds like she wants to cry, but holds it back and will probably do it later and try to play it off as sweat or water or something. "I know I have it good compared to those outside."

This causes S9's heart to break for her friend. Since she's a Courser, she can't wrap her arms around her friend to comfort her. But it's obvious something is bothering her friend and the words are out before she can stop them. "What's wrong, J6? Why won't you speak to me like you used to?"

J6 whipped her face to look S9 straight in the eye which surprised her. J6 was normally very sweet and not one who tended to be quick to anger but there were flames in her eyes as she looked at S9. "What's wrong?" She says in the angriest whisper she can muster without alerting anyone else in the room and then repeats herself and she doesn't even bother hiding her emotions. "What's wrong? Ever since you've become a Courser you've been brainwashed. You've become cold and distant. You're not the synth you used to be when we worked together. You used to be friendly, and don't get me wrong, I appreciate you for the multitude of things I probably should be reported for but still... "

J6's words are like a slap to the face and the look of shock must be obvious as the other synth steps back and takes a full look at her former close friend. S9 isn't sure what to say so instead she just looks down at the ground. At her silence, J6 scoffs and takes the pile of trays back to the washing area. Had it been anyone else, S9 would have acted accordingly but this was her friend. Or at least used to be. Her words still carried a kind of weight in her heart despite how strained things may have become between them.

Later that night S9 went to the barracks the Coursers used when their shifts were over. Most of them were here except the skeleton crew on the night shift or those who had been sent out on a mission to the surface that took several days. J6's words still rang through her mind. "You've become cold and distant," and "you used to be friendly" were the most common things that rattled around. Had she really changed that much? Had she become like the other Coursers? The thought of being like X6... that gave her uncomfortable chills down her spine.

I'm not becoming like X6 am I? She questioned in her mind. The very thought made her want to throw up. She never wanted to become so cruel especially not towards her friend. S9 found she couldn't sleep that well that night, or for the next several nights after that as J6's words continued their merciless echo across her mind and she told herself she would try to be better for her friend in the future. It would be hard, but for J6 she would do anything.

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Present Day 2287 - The Prydwen

J6 had to help tell this part, Artemis' old guilt beginning to creep back into her heart despite it having happened years ago. She jumps and let out a minor squeak as J6 places a hand on her shoulder and the look in her eye is one of love and forgiveness. "Artemis it's okay," J6 tells her. "Not only did this happen years ago, but you've done so much good since then to make up for it. Look at this room."

Artemis suddenly feels self conscious, and she's about to come out with some sarcastic comment about her not actually being able to see. She'd been blind for a few weeks now, but she does in fact look around the room, her echo locative earrings given to her picking up on the bodies in the area. Directly in front of her, she knows, is the Elder of this chapter. They hated each other once upon a time, but now...now they were tight nit to put it mildly. Off to the side a bit was the Paladin Danse and next to him a woman who Artemis considered a sister. A year ago, Artemis had saved her from the cruelties of one of the remaining pockets of the Legion out in the Mojave. Next to her was a ghoul who had known the woman from before the bombs fell. Ironically she'd met him a couple of night before.

There were others that were familiar to her. Amata, Zack's lover from Vault 101 as well as a group of greasers that insisted on being called the Tunnel Snakes, though Zach himself... well no one knew what happened to him. The Super Mutants Fawks, Marcus, and Lily from Vault 87 and Jacobstown respectively. Even Doc Henry had managed to make it out this way. Veronica and Christine from their home chapter in the Mojave. A couple of Ranger Veterans their NCR allies President Kimball allowed them to borrow. One of them she knew was Sabrina who'd skyrocketed through the ranks after the Second Battle of Hoover Dam. A few of the former slaves she'd freed from her time in The Pitt when she'd killed the former Brotherhood soldier, Ashur, had even found their way here. And of course by her side was her oldest friend. The woman who'd she'd been with since day one even if it couldn't be physically, she'd at least been on Artemis' mind. 

Artemis had always had the personal goal to free her friend one day even if Maxson had continued to hate synths or at the very least tell her 'no', she would have done it anyway. If J6 hadn't have freed herself, Artemis would have sought her out during the upcoming battle. She owed it to her friend to help her to her freedom. She deserved it too. "Every one is here because you helped them in some way, shape, or form."

"Kindness breeds kindness," Arthur had said in agreement to J6. "I believe you told me that once." Artemis nods. She remembered telling him that, but the circumstances had been horrible. Regardless everyone grew from that experience, but especially Arthur. Though she couldn't actually see Danse, she knew there was still a thick scar across his neck from the whole thing and knew Arthur still felt some amount of guilt for his actions like how Artemis still had her guilt.

"Yes. It does," Artemis said without question, and she'd looked pointedly towards where she knew Danse and her sister were standing and then back towards where the Elder sat in front of her. A memory flashed in Artemis' mind, knowing the four of them knew this one well from when they went to the Memory Den together. "If only... if only I knew that before I made my biggest mistake."