"We're here." Jonny whispered. "Just to the right is where the defenses begin. I'm not sure how far to the access point is or how many defenses there are ahead."
"It's fine." I said peeking out around the corner. I spotted two automated laser turrets mounted to the ceiling of the passage.
Beyond the turrets was a stairwell leading upward, so I couldn't see what else might be ahead either.
I pulled out a spare laser rifle that was modded with an overcharged capacitor for high powered single shots at long range and then activated VATS as I moved slightly out from cover.
I quickly fired three shots on both turrets, destroying them before they could target me.
The turrets exploded into scrap and I then stepped out slowly keeping my guard focused forward. Just in case defensive units responded but after crouching and seeing [Hidden] appear, I relaxed my guard just a bit.
"Whoa... You shot them to pieces so fast, they didn't even register the threat..." Jonny said in awe as he saw the dispatched turrets.
"Turrets are easy to deal with because they are stationary targets." I said as we passed the debris. "It's robots like assaultrons and sentry bots that are usually the biggest threats when raiding secure places. Those can't be handled so casually."
Jonny's admiration for me seemed to form as I caught him looking at me as if he had just met his childhood hero.
"You must have been to alot of dangerous places then. Do you think... I could go with you after you're done here? I'd like to see the world and have adventures like you."
I shrugged my shoulders and proceeded up the stairwell not seeing any more defences in the area.
"Maybe. I'll think about it. It's not all sunshine and rainbows up there. For now just focus on living to see it. Whether I recruit you or not depends on that." I reminded him again with a chuckle.
He seemed ready to reply but I raised my fist and halted causing him and Lady to stop behind me. Lady scanned the surroundings with laser and spotted what I saw.
At the top of the stairwell the room opened up and inside I could see more mounted turrets as well as patrolling protectrons.
I crouched to sneak and then whispered to the other two, "I'll focus the turrets again, and the two of you start with the bots. Got it?"
They both nodded and then I rushed into the room and repeated what I did with the previous turrets.
A few quick laser blasts destroyed the turrets, but the protectrons began to act.
"Intruder!" One of them stated before raising their arms and shooting lasers towards me.
Lady and Jonny followed behind me and engaged the protectrons.
The bots went down fairly quickly after a few bursts of fire. Their burned and broken parts scattered about.
I ignored them because it seemed we were finally at our destination.
At the far end of the open room was a large door with a laser grid crisscrossed in front of it.
I scanned the room, and saw that next to the bulkhead was a key card reader and an intercom panel next to it.
The corners of the room were occupied by protectron charging stations and to the side was a desk with a terminal and tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers.
The area seemed like a maintenance area that hadn't seen any actual use in a long time.
"That should be the bulkhead to Poseidon. Uh... any plans on how to get in there?" Jonny asked.
"Hold on." My power armor opened and I popped out. "That terminal might open the door or have info we need to get it open."
On one side of the room was a workbench and a desk with a terminal.
I sat down at the chair and opened the files up.
There was no password so no need to hack it.
As I scrolled through the files, I found there was no connection from this terminal to the door and that this only had maintenance logs and notes.
"Shit!" I said as I stood up. The terminal was not helpful in the slightest.
"Excuse me? Hello..?" A somewhat feminine voice echoed from near the door coming from the intercom. "Intruder from the surface? Helloooo?"
I approached the intercom carefully before pressing the button. "You've reached Frankie's Meat Market. You can beat my prices but you can't beat my meat. How can I help you today?"
"..."
"..."
The entire area went dead quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
"...I think I pushed the wrong button..."
"Relax! It was a joke!" I quickly corrected. "This is the intruder. Who am I speaking with?"
"I see. You were making a joke. Quite crass but no matter... My name is Meryl Sheep, a researcher here in Poseidon. There was some debate among the others about what to do with you, after you entered the vault."
That caught my attention. "And? What was the consensus?"
"The Overseer ended the debate by saying, and I quote, 'Just another lab mouse in our cage, there's no need to bother." End quote."
'So he is underestimating me...'
"So... Maryl. Why are you telling me this? It sounds like you want something?" Her sudden communication with us didnt seem random. She likely wants something or I doubt she would waste her time like this.
"Indeed. I'm aware you have taken up the task of eliminating the Overseer. No one believes you could ever breach Poseidon and present a threat. That's why I have a deal for you."
"I'm all ears."
"There was once a man who lived in Demeter. Charles McRoy. Before he died, he was wearing a locket. I want you to go there and bring it back to me. In exchange, I'll open the door and give you access to Poseidon."
I considered it for a second, then asked. "You want me to go to Demeter and find a locket on a dead guy and bring it to you? Why haven't you done it yourself or had a robot do it?"
*ding* [Speech Check Passed]
"I-I can't... those people all died because of me- us! I don't have the heart to go there and face them... or him... and sending a robot isn't possible for me." her voice quivered for moment over the intercom. Speech checks can be quite powerful I thought.
"Ok, I'll go get the locket. Any ideas on exactly where it is?" I asked not wanted to spend all my time looking for a body.
*ding* A side quest generated for this at this moment.
"The people of Hestia were the one's that buried them after Demeter was flooded. They would know where he was buried..."
'So go back to Hestia and then Demeter and then back here to complete a side quest to gain access or brute force my way through Hephestus to try and get access there? If getting in that way is even possible...'
"You might want to hurry... I was only able to contact you because the Overseer left the lab for a bit and isnt actively monitoring things. He only leaves the lab for a few hours at any given time. It would be very bad for both of us if he catches wind of our communication."
'So be it.' I thought and then nodded.
"We'll be back. You better fulfill your end of the deal." I said as I got back into my power armor.
"Don't worry... I want this madness to end as well..."
We left and started heading back to Hestia. Along the way I asked Jonny if he knew about the graves and he shook his head. "I was too young to help with that. Lynette was there. She might remember which grave was his and where it is located." He had said.
I wanted to skip going back to Hestia and go straight to Demeter but I didn't want to have to search a bunch of graves looking for the right one. I didn't have time for that so going back is the only option.
The positive side of things is that we already cleared the path and won't be impeded.