POV Rio
Before leaving the Railroad HQ I looted a Perk Magazine. Astoundingly Awesome Tales Issue #5, When Apes Go Bananas!!! "A Gorilla Ate My Patrol Car!" It increased damage with Cryogenic Weapons by 5%. I was also given a unique Hunting Rifle called the Tinker Tom Special. It gareteed a first hit as long I as I wasn't in combat. It was offered for retuning the remains of the Railroad members. It was fine but nothing that impressive. I also took this chance to sell some items I had picked up.
We left the Railroad HQ from the rear exit and made our way towards Cabot House. The house was guarded by 3 Sentry Bots and 4 Mr. Gutsys. They didn't stop me and I was free to approach the door. I noticed the intercom and pressed the call button.
"Huh? Who's there?" said a voice.
"It's me Rio, we're a little late but I figured it wouldn't hurt to see if you still needed help," I say.
"Huh? Oh, Rio, yeah, come in. I unlocked the door," said the voice.
We entered and saw that the house was in even better condition inside. In the entrance hall was Edward Deegan.
"Glad you showed up I was about to come find you," Edward said.
"Yeah, sorry I got busy," I apologize.
"Yeah no kidding. Heard about what you've been up to. I don't hold a grudge as we never officially hired you. And I didn't tell you what day to arrive, so its fine. Now come see my boss," Edward says.
We are led into a room where I see Jack Cabot sitting on the couch. He stands up and approaches me when we enter.
"I am very pleased to meet you! Edward finds it tiresome, but I always like to know personally everyone who works for me. Please, have a seat. How about a drink?" Jack asks.
"A water is fine," I reply.
"Of course, Edward the good water," Jack orders.
"Now may I ask what you need from me?" I ask.
"In due time first. Before we get down to business, I have a question I like to ask all my new employees," Jack says.
"Is this really the time for..." Edward starts.
"Don't interrupt, Edward. The question is this: do you believe there is other intelligent life in the universe?" Jack asks.
"Isn't that obvious. The US Government knew the existence of the Zetans since before the War. Then there was the crashed spaceship a few months back. I myself own several pieces of Alien Technology. And from my research there are at least 2 other sentient civilizations in the Galaxy," I comment while taking out some of the notes I have made.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Most people's minds are too narrow to admit the possibilities of an infinite universe. And you say you even have proof please let me see," Jack says with an ecstatic smile.
"These are fascinating. I mean I wasn't necessarily referring to this but this is interesting nonetheless. But what I'm talking about the hidden history of our planet. The very origins of human civilization. Ancient powers that modern science, even at its pinnacle, could barely begin to comprehend," Jack says.
"Well that is another thing I have evidence to prove. I mean science has a hard time quantifying magic and as for ancient civiilazions you have Vampires and other supernatural beings that often predate human civilization by a decent amount," I say while showing off some magic.
My magic seems to stun Jack as he simply stares and then gets a mile wide smile.
"I think you and I will become great friends. I have so much to ask you but unfortunately I need your help elsewhere. You see I originally had Edward hire you to retrieve my sister and investigate unusual activity near Parson State Insane Asylum. But both of those aren't needed anymore. Edward was able to get Emogene back and the Radiers have seemingly gone away. But I have a much more difficult task," Jack says.
"You see we have some valuable materials being transported to and from the Asylum. And in recent times we have lost several carvans. The mercenaries we had hired were literally torn apart," Edward says.
"We thought it was merely bad luck. That they had stumbled into a Deathclaw and all died because of that. But then we lost the second shipment and then a thrid and so on," Jack says.
"Which is why we need your help. We believe that this is something bigger. We believe that the Raiders are responsible and they have a mutant as a leader or in their gang," Edward says.
"So you need specialists or stronger muscle," I comment.
"Exactly. We have heard plenty of the Minutemen and honestly if you hadn't come to find us we would have gone to find you as when we asked the Minutemen in the past they refused. Saying that they didn't have the spare firepower to deal with that part of the Commonwealth," Jack stated.
"Yeah, that was because I ordered them to stay out of the Northeastern Commonwealth. That region is very dangerous. But I can help you, but I will need more info," I say.
"Of course. I will admit we don't have much info to give. All we know is that... this might be because of who we have contained in the asylum," Jack says.
"Boss are you sure?" Edward asks.
"Sigh. We need their help Edward. And the fact that he knows Magic might mean he may be able to help us more," Jack says.
Edward nods.
"First I will give you some background info. My father excavated a city in the Rub'al Khali in Arabia which he dated to more than 4,000 years before the rise of any known human civilization. The structures and artifacts were... strange. Disturbing geometries, tools not made for human hands, carvings that hint at dimensions beyond our own... My father brought back many things. One of the was different than the others. It was crown or helmet or whatever you want to call it. The point is that... It changed my father. He became obsessed with it. Then when he wore it everything changed," Jack said.
"Changed how?" I ask.
"The crown changed him. One of the effects was a slowing or arresting of the aging process. So, yes... he is well over 200 years old, as you suspected. It also gave him powers far beyond a normal human. I have heard some reports of people with similar if weaker powers called Psykers but my father was far stronger. The crown also drove him mad. He became detached and cruel. I was sure his psychosis would be cured if it could be removed. But so far, all my attempts have failed. It's fused too tightly with his nervous system. You may have guessed by now that my family and I have lived for a very long time, it's thanks to the serum derived from my father's blood. It grants us that same arrested aging," Jack says.
"That is a powerful serum," I comment.
"I eventually isolated the anomalous compounds, which led to the serum treatment we still use. I'm well aware of the apparent conflict of interest in my father being the source of the treatment that is prolonging my own life. But I assure you that if I had the chance, I would gladly give it all up to have my father back, even for a short time... The serum was what was stolen in those shipments. I haven't done extensive studies into what effect they have on different people but... It can't be good for us. At the bare minimum it has a powerful healing effect and increase the strength of the user but putting their bodies into a optimal condition," Jack says.
"So why do you think the Raiders have something to do with your father?" I ask.
"Because one of the powers my father has is telepathy. With his cell dampening his powers it is unlikely his range would be large. But it is likely large enough to reach a few weak minded Raiders. It would also explain why the Raiders would attack the convoys. They seem to know ahead of time when the convoys were leaving. After we switch the shipments to different days and had them only leave when we say, we haven't lost a single convoy," Jack says.
"Okay, so what do you need my help with specifically?" I ask.
"I believe that now that they haven't been able to rob our shipments they may get desperate and attack the asylum. Possibly to release my father or perhaps to take over the asylum to continue creating more serums. But if we could attack them before that happens then that would be great if not then your support in defending the asylum would also be accepted," Jack asks.
"Okay, both of those could work. We can try to attack them first but if that fails then waiting for their attack might be possible. But I hope you are willing to cover my time. I can't stay at the asylum forever. I have other stuff to do. But if I can borrow a lab then I suppose that would be enough," I request.
"Done. I will come with you as well. As then we can do our research together," Jack says with a tone that seems like he won't accept any other answer.
"Deal," I say while shaking his hand.
After making the deal we then start getting ready to head to the asylum. Jack said that he would come a little after us as he has other things he needs to do. But before I leave I make sure to grab the Massachusetts Surgical Journal Issue #5, Better Living Through Chems. It increased my Limb Damage by 2%. Jack was willing to let me have it. He also gave us some additional supplies. Like a Mini Nuke and some Energy Cells.
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Author's Note:
So some very obvious changes. I always found it unfortunate that you can't tell Jack Cabot you met Aliens in the original game. I also thought that Jack seemed like a geniuely nice guy. As for the first two quests I thought that retrieving the shipment didn't make much sense as they clearly have much more Raiders in their gang so I think they wouldn't stick around. As for Emogene according to diolouge in the game she often leaves and comes back when she feels like it so worse case Edward could go get her. Until next time, Ciao.