Day 22 - 720 Hours / 7:20 AM
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Jake's HUD:
'Summoned Soldiers: 327/520'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/190'
'Summoned Vehicles: 57/230'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 33/100'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 80/130'
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Two Days Later
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The morning sun of the Commonwealth was a pale, Sickly thing compared to the sterile, bright lights inside the command center of the M1130 (CV). For Jake Maxis, The last forty-eight hours had been a blur of logistics, high-stakes diplomacy, and the grinding gears of military expansion. Diamond City was no longer just a stadium; It was becoming a strategic hub for the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force (MCDF).
Jake sat at his central terminal, The blue glow of his HUD reflecting in his dark green eyes. He looked tired, But the Steady & Unbreakable Will that defined his command kept him sharp.
"Neo, Give me the status on 'Operation Jewel Box'" Jake commanded, His voice raspy from lack of sleep.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Good morning, Sunshine! You look like a Deathclaw chewed you up & spit you out. But don't worry, The 'Jewel' is looking extra sparkly today. We've successfully integrated our portable fusion grid into the stadium's lower levels. Diamond City now has 24/7 power without the flicker. Also, I've intercepted three more encrypted pings from 'The Mayor' to his underground boyfriends. I'm letting them through, But I've attached a little digital gift—a tracking sub-routine that's slowly mapping their relay frequency."
Jake nodded. "Good. Keep him on a leash. What about the distribution?"
Diamond City had changed. The "Great Green Jewel" was now bristling with MCDF technology. Combat Engineers had reinforced the outer walls with ballistic plating, And Epsilon-1 (Nine-Tail Fox) units patrolled the stands, their high-tech gear a stark contrast to the stitched-together baseball uniforms of the local security.
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Current MCDF Logistics in Diamond City:
Asset: Water Purification Hub
Location: The Dugout Inn
Status: Producing 5,000 Gallons/Day.
Asset: Medical Triage Center
Location: Science! Center
Status: Fully staffed by Combat Medics.
Asset: MCDF Armory
Location: Former Security Office
Status: 200 M1 Garands issued to local militia.
Asset: Command Uplink
Location: Mayor's Balcony
Status: Active. Secure link to Fort Hope.
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Twilight Sparkle walked into the command module, Her navy blue hair slightly messy—a telltale sign she had been pulling an all-nighter in the technical labs. She held a data-slate, her expression a mix of exhaustion and scientific triumph.
"Jake, You need to see this.!" Twilight said, Her voice carrying that Dedicated & Curious edge. She leaned over his shoulder, The scent of ozone and lavender following her. "I've been analyzing the 'blue blood' samples from the recent Nikke maintenance & comparing them to the biological components Neo scraped from the Mayor's office trash. The Institute's 'Generation 3' tech is frighteningly close to Nikke physiology, but it lacks the... soul, for lack of a better term. It's purely mimetic."
Jake looked up at her, Appreciating her Empathetic presence. "Can we detect them? Reliably?"
"Other then the Field Scan ping? Yes! Very easily! Build a Metal Detector, Or something similar to that & we can stop future Synth infiltration." Twilight said to Jake.
Jake leaned back in his command chair, rubbing his chin as he processed Twilight's breakthrough. The ability to distinguish between a human and a "Generation 3" synth without a lethal autopsy was the "Holy Grail" of Commonwealth security.
"If we can deploy a non-invasive screening method at the gates, We can secure Diamond City for good." Jake noted, His Idealistic side warring with the Principled commander. "But we have to be careful. If word gets out that we have a 'Synth-Sniffer,' the Institute will either panic or adapt. We need to keep this low-profile."
Twilight nodded vigorously, Her violet eyes bright with intellectual fervor. "I'm already drafting the schematics for a Bio-Magnetic Resonance Scanner. It would look like a standard security archway. To a human, it's just a metal detector. But to a synth, the specific frequency would interact with their component's neural-mapping array, creating a subtle harmonic feedback only our HUDs can pick up."
"Get it done, Twi. Prioritize the main gate & the entrance to the Upper Stands." Jake ordered.
"Well, If it isn't the 'Man of the Hour'! Or would it be 'Man of the Day'?" Piper teased, Pushing off the counter. She walked toward him with a confident stride, Her medium-sized ass swaying slightly under the hem of her red trench coat.
"Hello, Piper! How can I help you?" Jake asked curious about what she would ask him.
Piper stopped just a few feet from Jake, Her blue eyes scanning his blonde hair and the sharp, tactical lines of his MCDF uniform. She had a camera slung around her neck & a worn notepad tucked into her pocket, But her usual "reporter on a deadline" energy was replaced by something a bit more thoughtful—and perhaps a little more personal.
"Direct as always, Blue?" Piper smirked, Leaning slightly to the side as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Look, I've been doing some thinking. Diamond City is great, don't get me wrong. It's home. But since you & your high-tech army rolled in, the story isn't just here anymore. It's wherever you go."
"Eh? I thought she'd still join Nora..? Well, I am changing a shit ton of stuff…" Jake thought to himself.
She took a step closer, her expression softening from snarky to sincere. "You're changing things, Jake. Real change. Not just 'rebuilding a wall' change, but 'reshaping the world' change. And a story like that? It needs someone to document it. Someone who knows how to talk to people who don't wear body armor. Someone who can keep the 'General' grounded."
Jake crossed his arms, His Steady & Patient nature allowing her to speak her piece. He could see her Charisma at work, But his Uncanny Instinct told him this wasn't just about a headline.
"I'm asking to come with you." Piper said, Her voice dropping the playful edge. "Not as a prisoner, not just as a reporter, but as a companion & a bit of a reporter... Maybe… Look, I know the Commonwealth. I know the back alleys of Goodneighbor & the hidden paths through the ruins. You have the firepower, But I have the eyes & ears of the people."
She gestured toward the massive M1130 parked nearby. "Plus, I'm an expert lockpick. I'll bet my last cap you run into things your 'Breacher Specialists' would rather just blow up. Sometimes, A quiet touch is better than a frag grenade, right?"
Twilight Sparkle, Looked up with a curious tilt of her head. Her Observant nature picked up on the shift in the room's energy. "She does have a point, Jake. Integration with the local populace requires a liaison who isn't... well, a walking tank."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Ooh, looks like Blue wants a seat on the 'Freedom Express'! Careful, Jak, she might find out about your secret stash of pre-war snacks. But seriously, she's got a high persuasion stat. And her 'Gift of Gab' could save us a lot of ammo when dealing with those grumpy wastelanders."
Jake looked Piper in the eye. He saw the Quick-witted determination there. He was Protective by nature, and the thought of bringing a civilian into the line of fire gave him pause, but he also recognized the strategic value of her skills.
"The Commonwealth is dangerous, Piper…" Jake said firmly, His Principled side making sure she understood the stakes. "My units move into high-threat zones. We deal with Raiders, Super Mutants, and as you saw earlier, the Institute. It's not just a walk in the park for a front-page story."
Piper didn't flinch. She adjusted the strap of her camera & offered a small, confident smile. "I've survived Diamond City for years, Blue. I can handle myself. Besides, If the world is going to end or be reborn, I want to be right there in the front row to write the ending."
Jake took a moment, His Equitable mind weighing the pros & cons. Finally, He gave a short, decisive nod.
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One Hour Later – Above Vault 81
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The serene, Rolling hills surrounding the entrance to Vault 81 were suddenly scorched by an atmospheric disturbance that defied every law of Commonwealth physics. Inside the HEMTT Mk.3 (H)-CV), Which was currently leading a small reconnaissance convoy with the Two M-ATVs in the rear of the HEMTT going towards the Vault, alarms began to wail in a dissonant harmony.
Jake Maxis gripped the edge of his command console, His Uncanny Instinct screaming a warning seconds before the visual feed caught up.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Uhhh, Jak? I'm not an astrophysicist, but the sky just pulled a muscle. We've got a massive localized spatial rupture exactly three hundred meters ahead. Energy readings are... well, they're off the charts. Literally. My sensors just gave up & started playing elevator music."
"Stop the convoy!" Jake barked into his radio. "All units, Defensive perimeter! Epsilon-1, Front and center! Twilight, Get a drone in the air!"
Ahsoka Tano stood amidst the settling dust of her own crater. The "impossible brilliance" she had perceived from the air was fading into the gritty reality of a world that had been broken & was now being stitched back together with steel and neon.
She wasn't in the Republic. She wasn't in the Empire.
Her white blades—pure, colorless, and humming with a steady power—cast long shadows against the glass of the nearby ruins. The humans she saw were dressed in strange, utilitarian fabrics, some with glowing devices on their wrists. But the woman's voice she heard wasn't from a Jedi—it was a pre-recorded MCDF emergency broadcast emanating from a hovering MQ-27 ScanEagle drone.
"Identify yourself!"
The command didn't come from the drone. It came from a man standing atop a parked HEMTT Mk.3 (H)-CV) Achilles that had just slewed around the corner. He was flanked by soldiers in high-tech, black-and-grey tactical gear—MTF Epsilon-1. They didn't have blasters; They had kinetic weapons, Their barrels leveled with professional ice.
Ahsoka's headtails—now thick, braided white hair with streaks of blue—shifted as she moved. She didn't sense the dark side, But she sensed a staggering amount of intent.
"I mean no harm." Ahsoka said, Her voice steady & honorable. She deactivated her sabers, The white light vanishing with a hiss, though she kept the hilts firmly in her grip. "I don't know how I got here."
Jake stepped out of the command vehicle, Piper Wright hovering just behind him with her camera ready. Twilight Sparkle was already on the ground, Her Dedicated eyes scanning the stranger with a handheld sensor.
"Jake, Look at the energy signature on those hilts." Twilight whispered, Her voice a mix of awe & scientific concern. "It's concentrated plasma, But stabilized by some kind of... crystalline lattice. And her biological readings? She's human, But her brain activity is spiking in a way that suggests she's interacting with the environment on a quantum level."
Jake activated his Field Scan.
Entity Name: Unknown (Ahsoka)
Status: Neutral/Defensive
Threat Level: Extreme
Energy Type: Trans-Dimensional / Force
Jake held up a hand, Signaling his men to lower their weapons. His Equitable nature took over. "Easy, everyone. She's not Institute."
"You sure, Blue?" Piper asked, Her camera clicking away as she captured Ahsoka's bronzed skin and striking white hair. "Because she just fell out of a hole in the sky & pulled out two glowing sticks. That usually spells 'trouble' in my book."
Jake walked forward, Stopped ten feet from the stranger, and looked into her bright blue eyes. He felt a strange ripple in the air—the "sluggish" Force Ahsoka had felt was now reacting to his presence, Or perhaps to the system that had brought him here.
"My name is Jake Maxis, Commander of the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force." He said, His voice Charismatic yet firm. "You're in the Commonwealth. Or what's left of it. Who are you?"
Ahsoka stood slowly, Her Stoic grace making the battle-hardened soldiers around her look clumsy. She sensed the Unbreakable Will in the young man before her. He was a leader, Much like the ones she had known during the Clone Wars, but there was no "Jedi" scent to him. Just a raw, principled strength.
"I am Ahsoka Tano." Ahsoka replied. She looked at the gleaming tanks and the organized soldiers. "You say this is a 'defense force.' But this city... this technology... it feels like an island in a sea of gray."
"Isn't Ahsoka an Alien? To be a pacific an Togruta Alien? Why is she a human?. Does she know she's a human now?" Jake thought to himself confused, But not showing outwardly.
Jake stepped closer, Hus boots crunching on the parched Commonwealth soil. He kept his hands visible, Maintaining his Affable yet Principled demeanor. Behind him, Twilight was frantically cross-referencing the "crystalline lattice" readings with her database, while Piper was already scribbling notes, her journalistic instincts sensing a story that would make the "Great Green Jewel" look like a tabloid.
"Ahsoka Tano…?" Jake repeated the name, His voice softening. He looked her over—not with the gaze of a commander assessing a threat, But with the Observant curiosity of someone who had seen her story unfold on a screen that felt like a lifetime ago. "That's a name I never expected to hear in this wasteland."
Ahsoka's brow furrowed. She shifted her weight, the long, braided white hair that had replaced her lekku swaying slightly. Her Force Senses were screaming that this man knew something he shouldn't. "You speak as if you know me, Jake Maxis. We have never met, Yet you carry the weight of recognition."
Jake took a deep breath, Deciding that honesty was the only way to build trust with someone as Wise & Skeptical as the former Jedi. "Ahsoka... Have you looked at yourself? I mean, really looked? Do you realize that you're human now?"
The question hung in the air like a live wire. Ahsoka froze. She slowly raised a hand to her head, Her fingers tracing the thick, braided hair instead of the smooth, warm skin of her montrals. She looked down at her hands—the orange pigment was gone, replaced by a deep, bronzed tan. The white facial markings she had carried since birth were absent.
"I felt the change during the fall." She whispered, Her voice trembling with a rare moment of vulnerability. "The Force felt... heavy. Distorted. My connection to the world around me has changed. But how do you know what I was before? My people are not of this galaxy."
Jake glanced back at Twilight & Piper, Then back to the legendary warrior. "In my old world—the world I lived in before I was brought here—we were able to see into other worlds. Not through portals, But through what we called 'Shows' or 'Movies.' You were a hero, Ahsoka. A commander, a survivor, and someone who walked away from an order that lost its way."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Whoa, easy there, Lore-Master! You're going to blow her circuits. One minute she's a Togruta in a galaxy far, far away, and the next she's a human in a radioactive dump being told she's a fictional character. Talk about a bad Monday."
Twilight stepped forward, Her Curious nature overcoming her caution. "Jake, are you saying she's an... 'Isekai' like you, Sir? But if she was an alien in her world & the System brought her here as a human... it means the translation process is adapting her physiology to this world's 'Base Human' template to prevent biological rejection."
Ahsoka looked at Jake, Her bright blue eyes searching his Dark Green ones for any sign of deception. She found none. His Unbreakable Will was layered with an Altruistic sincerity.
"A story..." Ahsoka murmured, Looking at her human hands. "To be a character in someone else's world. It is a strange fate. But if what you say is true, Then you know my past. You know the mistakes I've made and the wars I've fought."
"A story..." Ahsoka murmured, Looking at her human hands. "To be a character in someone else's world. It is a strange fate. But if what you say is true, then you know my past. You know the mistakes I've made and the wars I've fought."
Jake offered a small, empathetic smile, his Nurturing side coming to the forefront. He could see the weight of the galaxy pressing down on her shoulders, even in this new, alien body.
"Well, That's just one of my theories…" Jake said, His voice calm & grounding. "You could be from a universe similar to my world's shows & movies. In my world, We had stories about a girl named Ahsoka who fought in the Clone Wars & stood up for what was right when everyone else sat down. But here? Here you're a person. Flesh & blood, Just like the rest of us."
Piper leaned in, Her eyes wide as she looked from Jake to the bronzed woman. "Wait, Blue... Are you telling me she's a fictional character? Like, From a comic book or something? Because I've seen some weird stuff in the Commonwealth, but 'interdimensional celebrity' is a new one even for me."
"She's as real as you are now, Piper." Jake replied, Not taking his eyes off Ahsoka. He took another step forward, Closing the distance to show he wasn't afraid. "Ahsoka, The world you're in now is called Earth. Specifically, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It's a hard place. It was destroyed by nuclear war two hundred years ago, and we're trying to put the pieces back together."
Ahsoka closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself. Even with the Force feeling "sluggish" she could still feel the echoes of the life around her—the buzzing energy of the soldiers, the whirring of the drones, and the steady, rhythmic heartbeat of the man in front of her. She opened her eyes, her Stoic resolve returning.
"The form has changed, but the purpose remains." Ahsoka stated, Her voice regaining its Honorable strength. She looked at the white hilts in her hands. "If the Force—or whatever brought me here—placed me in this path, it was for a reason. You are a commander of a defense force. You seek to protect."
"I do," Jake affirmed. "And we could use someone with your experience. Not as a soldier, but as a leader. A teacher. Someone who knows that the right path isn't always the easy one."
Twilight Sparkle checked her data-slate again, Her Intelligent mind already calculating the logistics. "Jake, Her presence is already causing a ripple effect. If the Institute detected that spatial rupture—and they almost certainly did—they'll be sending a retrieval team or at least a few coursers to investigate. We can't stay in the open."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Twi is right, Jak. We've got 'uninvited guests' written all over this. My long-range scans are picking up a series of relay signatures moving toward our coordinates. The boogeymen are coming to see the girl with the glowing toothpicks."
Jake's expression hardened, His Protective instincts kicking in. "Mount up. Ahsoka, you're with us. We'll get you to a secure location where we can talk more. Piper, get in the HEMTT. Neo, Launch the Jammer Missile to the C.I.T. Ruins so we can prevent them from leaving their underground."
The order was executed before the words even fully left Jake's mouth. High above them, tucked into the weapon racks of a circling MQ-9 Reaper, a specialized electronic warfare missile detached from its pylon. It didn't aim to destroy; It aimed to silence.
"Jammer Missile away. ETA to C.I.T. impact: 45 seconds." Neo reported, That her digital voice sounding uncharacteristically sharp. "That should scramble their relay frequencies long enough for us to play hide-and-seek. But don't expect the neighbors to stay quiet for long, Jak."
Jake gestured toward the open door hatch of the HEMTT Mk.3 (H)-CV). "Ahsoka, With me. Piper, you too. We're moving."
Ahsoka didn't hesitate. Though the metal of the armored vehicle was cold & utilitarian—nothing like the sleek, curved aesthetic of a Jedi shuttle—she sensed the Protective intent behind the command. She climbed inside with a fluid, Predatory grace that even her new human body couldn't hide. Piper followed close behind, her camera still clicking, her eyes darting between Jake & their mysterious new guest.
"Welcome to the 'Mobile Command Center' Lady Tano~" Piper chirped, Trying to mask her nerves with her trademark Quick-witted sass. "Mind the grease. And the scary military AI."
As the heavy doors hissed shut and the convoy lurched into motion, The interior of the vehicle bathed in the cool blue light of tactical monitors. Twilight Sparkle was already at her station, Her fingers dancing across a holographic interface as she monitored the Bio-Scanner deployment.
"Jake, The Jammer hit!" Twilight reported, Showing a thermal map of the C.I.T. ruins flickering with static. "The Institute's teleportation relays are disabled in the area. By flooding the zone with high-intensity electromagnetic white noise, we've essentially 'locked the door' from the outside. They can't materialize a strike team near us for Two Days maybe more if we launch Teleportion Jammer Missiles can make more TJMs."
"Good. That more then enough time to get to Vault 81." Jake said, his voice echoing in the pressurized cabin of the HEMTT. He turned to Ahsoka, who was watching the digital displays with Attentive intensity. "We're heading to a pre-war bunker. They've been semi-isolated for the last century. They have specific medicine & technology we need, and in exchange, we offer the one thing they lack: True Security."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Uh, Jak? I hate to be the 'Bringer of Weird News'—actually, I love it—but the sky just hiccuped again. Not a big Institute-style rift, but a small, weak magical leak about a half-mile from the Vault entrance. It's like someone tried to open a door with a wet noodle."
Jake's eyes snapped to the secondary monitor. "Twilight, Soom in on those coordinates. Now, Please."
Twilight Sparkle's fingers flew across the console. "On it! The energy signature is... definitely magical. It lacks the technological precision of the Institute or the Force's raw resonance. It's chaotic. It's Logomancy."
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Location: Foothills near Vault 81 – Time: 847 Hours / 8:47 AM
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The small, Shimmering purple portal sputtered like a dying candle before collapsing entirely. Four figures tumbled onto the irradiated grass, Groaning as the reality of the Commonwealth's harsh atmosphere hit them.
Zatanna Zatara was the last to collapse, Her signature top hat rolling away as she gasped for breath. Her Medium-Large chest heaved under her stage-magician outfit. "Ton... era... sevom..." She wheezed, The backward spell for 'no more moves' failing to even leave her lips. The strain of transporting three others across dimensions had drained her mana reserves to zero.
"Where... where the hell are we?" Thea Queen groaned, Her fair skin already feeling the bite of the dry, dusty air. She instinctively reached for her quiver, her Expert Martial Artist reflexes kicking in despite the disorientation. She rolled into a crouch, hazel eyes scanning the horizon.
Dinah Laurel Lance pushed herself up, Her Medium-Large curves straining against her tactical gear. She brushed her blonde hair out of her face, her blue eyes narrowing. "This isn't Star City. Felicity, talk to me."
Felicity Smoak was frantically patting her pockets, Her red glasses lopsided on her nose. "My tablet is dead. My phone is dead. Everything with a microchip is currently throwing a temper tantrum. Also, why does the air taste like a penny dipped in battery acid?"
Jake Maxis watched the monitor as the thermal feed stabilized. Four heat signatures were sprawling on the hillside. They weren't moving with the precision of a tactical team; They moved with the heavy, Disjointed limbs of people who had just been chewed up by a trans-dimensional blender.
"Neo, Get a visual on that hillside. Twilight, Prepare the medical bay. I want a full CBRN scan on the area before we step out," Jake ordered, his Unbreakable Will shifting into high gear.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Visual coming up! And wow, look at the color coordination. We've got a girl in a tuxedo, a blonde in leather, a redhead in a hood, and... oh, look at those glasses! She looks like she's about to ask for the Wi-Fi password in the middle of a war zone. Sending the drone in for a 'Look-But-Don't-Touch' pass now."
The MQ-27 ScanEagle dipped low over the ridge. On the main screen, The high-definition camera zoomed in.
Jake felt a jolt of recognition. Thea Queen. Felicity Smoak. Dinah Lance. And Zatanna? His mind raced. His world's "fiction" was bleeding into his reality at an alarming rate. First Ahsoka, now the protectors of Star City and the world's most powerful stage magician.
"Ahsoka, Stay here…" Jake said, Glancing at the former Jedi. "Piper, Keep your camera down for a second. These women look like they've been through a meat grinder."
Zatanna clutched her head, Her jet-black hair spilling over her shoulders. The "Logomancy" she relied on felt like a frayed wire. "The... the ley lines here... they're broken…" She whispered, Her voice a mix of exhaustion & horror. "It's like the earth itself is screaming."
Thea Queen was already on her feet, Her red & black leather suit dusty but intact. She had a specialized arrow nocked in her bow, her Master Archery training overriding the nausea. "Dinah, We've got company. Small drone, ten o'clock high. It doesn't look like A.R.G.U.S. tech."
Dinah Lance, The Black Canary, stood firm, her hand moving toward her throat—ready to unleash a Canary Cry if the drone turned hostile. "Felicity, any luck?"
"None! Zero! Zip!" Felicity squeaked, Shaking her tablet. Her blonde ponytail was coming undone. "Everything is fried. The background radiation is high—not 'I'm melting' high, but definitely 'I'm going to have a third arm if we stay here' high. Also, There's a giant metal box on wheels coming toward us and it looks very, very expensive."
The HEMTT Mk.3 (H)-CV) lurched to a halt at the base of the hill, The dust cloud settling to reveal the MCDF logo. The side door hissed open, and Jake Maxis stepped out, followed by a 5-Man Squad of Epsilon-1 (Nine-Tail Fox) soldiers.
Jake kept his hands clear of his weapons, His Affable & Humble personality projected forward to de-escalate the tension.
"Lower your weapons…" Jake called out, His voice steady. "We're the Minutemen. We're here to help."
Thea didn't lower the bow. "Minutemen? As in the guys with the muskets? You're a little over-dressed for a history reenactment."
Jake didn't flinch. He looked at Felicity, then at Dinah. "I know this is confusing. You're not in Star City. You're in the Commonwealth. And based on how you got here, I'm guessing Zatanna's magic hit a snag."
Zatanna's blue eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"
"I know all your names…" Jake said, Taking a cautious step forward. "Thea, Dinah, Felicity. My name is Jake Maxis. I'm the Commander of The Minutemen Commonwealth Defence Force. We're currently jamming the Institute's teleportation signals, Which is presumably why your portal was so weak. If you stay out here, the radiation will get to you, or worse, the locals will."
Dinah looked at the soldiers—their gear was professional, their stances disciplined. She sensed no immediate malice from the blonde man leading them. "He knows us, Thea. And he hasn't shot us yet. That's a better start than most Tuesdays."
Felicity squinted through her red glasses. "Is that... is that a 3D tactical HUD projected on your visor? Oh my god, can I see it? Wait, no, priority one: Not dying of radiation. Priority two: HUDs."
"Get them inside." Jake commanded his medics. "Twilight, I need a mana-stability report for Zatanna. She's drained. And Neo? Keep an eye on the horizon. If the portal left a trail, we aren't the only ones who saw it."
As the women were ushered toward the HEMTT, As Jake carried Zatanna with her being to tired. The world was getting crowded, And the stakes for Vault 81 had just tripled.
"Welcome to the end of the world, Ladies…" Piper remarked, Stepping out to get a shot of the newcomers. "Try not to break anything. We just fixed the upholstery."
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Location: Vault 81 Gate – Time: Day 22 - 901 Hours / 9:01 AM
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The heavy tires of the HEMTT Mk.3 (H)-CV) crunched over the debris-strewn path leading into the hillside cave that concealed the entrance to Vault 81. Behind the lead vehicle, The two M-ATVs maintained a tight formation, their turrets scanning the ridgeline for any sign of Institute pursuit or Raider opportunistic fire.
Inside the command vehicle, The air was thick with the scent of ozone, sterile medical supplies, and the faint, earthy aroma of the wasteland clinging to the newcomers.
Jake stood up from his command chair, Checking his sidearm—a customized SiG SP221 & a customized MCX Spear-22 with POLARFIRE-S – Muzzle, COMMANDO FOREGRIP – Underbarrel, FTAC GRIMLINE LASER – Laser, 277 OVERPRESSURED+P – Ammunition, CORIO EAGLESEYE 2.5X – Optic, STT88 GRIP – Rear Grip, And RAVAGE-20 HEAVY STOCK – Stock.
He looked over at the newcomers. Zatanna was leaning heavily against a storage crate, her face pale. Thea Queen & Dinah Lance stood like coiled springs, While Felicity was trying to use a portable MCDF scanner to troubleshoot her dead tablet.
"We're here! Ladies & Gentlemen." Jake announced, His voice echoing in the armored cabin. "This is Vault 81. It's one of the few 'functional' vaults left. It's clean, it's safe, and more importantly, it has the medical facilities Zatanna and the rest of you need."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Hope they have a 'No Magic/No Jedi' sign at the door, Jak. Otherwise, The property value is about to plummet. I've established a secure handshake with the Vault's external comms. They're... well, they're terrified. Seeing a literal army pull up to their front porch tends to do that."
"Open a channel, Neo." Jake commanded.
The massive, cog-shaped gear door of the vault remained sealed, but a speaker crackled to life near the external controls.
"This is Officer Edwards, Vault 81 Security." A nervous voice echoed through the cave. "State your business. We... we don't want any trouble. We see the tanks."
"Idiot... This is a Light Armored Vehicle a LAV, Not a god damn… (Sigh) whatever…" Jake said to himself.
Jake stepped out of the HEMTT, His blonde hair caught in the dim light of the cave. He kept his hands open and visible, projecting his Affable & Humble nature. "Officer Edwards, I'm Commander Jake Maxis of the Minutemen. We're not here to occupy you. We have wounded—civilians who have been exposed to high-altitude radiation and spatial distortion. We have caps, we have technology to trade, and we have enough firepower to ensure nothing follows us in. I'm requesting emergency medical asylum for my guests."
There was a long silence. Inside the vault, The Overseer Gwen McNamara was likely staring at the monitors in disbelief.
"I'm the Overseer…" A firm voice announced over the intercom. Gwen McNamara appeared on the balcony overlooking the entrance. She looked down at the assembled group: A man in futuristic armor, a girl with pink-and-brown hair on a digital screen, a woman with braided white hair and a stoic gaze, and a group of women who looked like they had just stepped out of a high-budget action film.
"You speak of 'emergency medical asylum' Commander Maxis." Gwen said, Her eyes narrowing as she took in the Epsilon-1 (Nine-Tail Fox) soldiers standing at the base of the ramp. "We don't usually open our doors to private armies. But the Minutemen... The stories say you're trying to bring order. And we've heard about the water you're providing to Diamond City."
"Then you know my word is good," Jake replied, his voice Charismatic and projecting through the cavern. "My friend here, Zatanna, has suffered a severe neurological drain. And these others need a decontamination sweep that only a pre-war facility can provide reliably. We have three crates of Fusion Cores and a shipment of purified medical-grade stimulants for trade."
Gwen paused. Fusion Cores were the lifeblood of the Vault's reactor. "Officer Edwards, escort them to the clinic. Only the Commander & the wounded. The soldiers stay in the admission area."
As the group moved through the elevator and into the central atrium, The Vault dwellers stopped & stared. To them, The newcomers were like aliens. Ahsoka Tano walked with a silent, Predatory Grace, her bright blue eyes scanning the architecture. She could feel the "heaviness" of the Force here—contained, stagnant, yet curiously peaceful.
Dr. Forsythe & Rachel were waiting in the clinic, Located just past the classroom on the lower floor.
"Good heavens…" Rachel gasped as Jake gently lowered Zatanna onto a medical bed. "Her vitals are all over the place. It's like her nervous system is trying to draw power from a battery that isn't there."
"It's mana depletion?" Twilight Sparkle interjected, Her Dedicated & Curious nature taking over as she adjusted her data-slate. "Her 'Logomancy' acts as a biological conduit for extra-dimensional energy. Without a stable ley-line connection in this region, she's essentially running on an empty tank. She needs a high-glucose IV & a stabilized environment."
Dr. Forsythe blinked at the Nikke. "I... I don't know what a 'mana' is, but I can certainly handle the glucose and the stabilization. And who are the rest of you?"
"I'm Felicity Smoak." Felicity chirped, Her fingers twitching as she looked at the vault's 200-year-old computer terminals. "I'm a genius, he's a Commander, she's a former alien-turned-human, and they're the ones who are going to punch you if you look at them funny. Also, does your Wi-Fi have a guest password, or is it all hard-wired?"
Thea Queen leaned against the wall, Her Hazel eyes sharp. She hadn't let go of her bow, though it was unstrung. "She's babbling because she's nervous. We all are. This place... it's a tomb with lights."
"A safe tomb…" Dinah Lance added, Her Medium-Large curves leaning against a medical cabinet. She looked at Jake. "You handled that well, Maxis. You have a way with people. Though I'm still waiting for the explanation on how you knew we'd be here."
"Well, I didn't know you'd be here… Just like I didn't know Ahsoka would be here too." Jake said, His Dark Green eyes showing the truth.
While the doctors worked on Zatanna, Jake felt a tug on his sleeve. It was Austin Engill, The young boy who usually ran tours of the vault. He looked pale & was rubbing his arm.
"Mister? Are you the superhero from the radio?" Austin asked, His voice trembling.
Jake knelt down, His Nurturing & Equitable side coming to the surface. "I'm just a man trying to help, Austin. What's wrong?"
"My friend... She's behind the wall in the reactor room…" Austin whispered, Looking around to make sure the Overseer wasn't watching. "I saw things. Big rats."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Jak, the kid is talking about the Secret Vault 81. My internal sensors are picking up a secondary power grid behind the reactor room's western bulkhead. It's crawling with biological signatures. High-intensity, aggressive..."
Jake's grip tightened on his MCX Spear-22. The "Hole in the Wall" was starting. If he didn't act, The kid would get bitten by a mole rat, and the secret of Curie—and the cure for the wasteland's diseases—would remain buried.
Jake stood up, His Unbreakable Will was now fully engaged. "We're taking a 'tour' of the reactor room. Piper, Stay with the girls in the clinic. If anyone asks, we're helping with something…"
—————————————————————
Location: Secret Part of Vault 81 Entrance – Time: Day 22 - 911 Hours / 9:11 AM
—————————————————————
Jake extended his hand, Focusing intently as he summoned a distinctive Lightsaber. It was not an ordinary weapon; Instead, He allowed the guiding force within him to direct his intent, manifesting the weapon with unerring precision.
This summon from the ether resulted in a unique Lightsaber, Reminiscent of the Darksaber in shape and aura, but it was rainbow-colored, shining with a spectrum of vivid hues that shimmered with every movement.
The blade ignited with a distinctive, Humming snap-hiss that echoed through the narrow maintenance corridor. Instead of the steady hum of a Jedi's blade, Jake's 'RainbowSaber' emitted a melodic, multi-tonal drone, like a choir singing at the edge of hearing.
The blade was flat & angular, Tapering to a sharp point much like the legendary Darksaber, but the core was a dazzling, shifting kaleidoscope. Waves of crimson, violet, emerald, and gold pulsed from the hilt to the tip, casting a prismatic glow against the rusted pipes and dirt-caked walls of the reactor room's hidden seam.
"Whoa…" Piper whispered, Her camera shutter clicking rapidly. "That's... that's not a glow-stick, Blue. That's a whole light show."
Ahsoka Tano, Who had followed Jake into the shadows of the reactor room, felt the air around the weapon. Her bright blue eyes narrowed, Observing the way the "rainbow" light didn't just illuminate the room—it seemed to vibrate against the very atoms of the air.
"It is beautiful…" Ahsoka remarked, Her voice carrying a hint of caution. "But it carries a heavy resonance. It's powered by a Kyber crystal I don't recognize... It feels... multifaceted? Like a prism of intent."
Jake gripped the hilt, The 'RainbowSaber' feeling perfectly balanced in his hand. "It's a 'RainbowSaber' Ahsoka. It's a gift…"
He stepped toward the hidden bulkhead that Austin had pointed out. With a fluid motion, He drove the rainbow blade into the reinforced steel. The metal didn't just melt; It turned brittle & shattered as the shifting frequencies of the blade's energy bypassed the structural integrity of the alloy.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Internal sensors are screaming, Jak! We've officially entered 'Secret Vault 81.' This place is a mess—literally. Cavernous dirt walls, broken vault tech, and enough mole rat droppings to fertilizer the whole Commonwealth. I'm picking up a laboratory signature deep in the research wing. And... oh boy, the residents are home."
As the hole in the wall widened, A screeching sound erupted from the darkness. A Lab Mole Rat, Its skin translucent & eyes glowing with a sickly yellow hue, lunged from the shadows.
Jake didn't hesitate. He swung the 'RainbowSaber' in a wide arc. The blade left a trail of colored light in the air—a "rainbow smear" that lingered for a fraction of a second. When the blade connected, The mole rat didn't just fall; It was incinerated by a burst of kinetic energy that matched the color of the blade at the moment of impact.
The smell hit them first—a pungent cocktail of damp earth, sterile chemical preservatives, and the musky, sharp scent of oversized rodents.
As the mole rat's remains sizzled into ash under the prismatic heat of the RainbowSaber, Jake stepped through the threshold. The secret vault was a architectural nightmare: The clean, White lines of Vault-Tec residences had been literal-mindedly smashed through by the original scientists to expand into the natural caverns.
"Stay sharp." Jake commanded, His Unbreakable Will maintaining his pulse steady even as the Uncanny Instinct ability hummed at the back of his mind. "These aren't your average wasteland pests. They were bred for disease research."
Ahsoka moved beside him, Her reverse-grip on her white sabers casting a cold, moonlight contrast to the shifting neon glow of Jake's blade. "I can feel them…" She whispered, Her Force Senses adjusting to the cramped, dark tunnels. "Hungry. Agitated. There are dozens of them beneath the floors."
They navigated through the busted walls of former residences, Where skeletal remains still sat in mid-century modern chairs—remnants of the scientists who had been locked in here over two centuries ago. The path led to a small atrium that had been converted into a maintenance area.
The floor was a mess of rusted pipes & exposed wiring. Above the humming generators, A security gate flickered with a dying red light.
"The research wing is through there." Jake said, Pointing the tip of the RainbowSaber toward the observation corridor. "Neo, Status on the 'Brood Mother'?"
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"She's a big girl, Jak! I'm picking up a massive bio-signature on the upper floor of the research wing. She's sitting right next to a Vault 81 steamer trunk. Also, I've cracked the local terminal—this place was designed to test a 'universal cure' by exposing the residents in the main vault to every known disease via the ventilation. Charming, Right?"
"Despicable..!" Ahsoka muttered, Her Honorable nature flaring. "To use a population as a lab experiment without their knowledge..."
"Vault-Tec really is evil… As to Enclave…" Jake thought to himself.
They moved into the central breeding room. It was a cavernous two-story chamber lined with cages. The air was thick with the scratching of claws. To their right, a small laboratory contained a Master-level safe, its chrome surface mocking the decay around it.
"I'll handle the ground floor!" Ahsoka said. "You take the upper level. I can sense the one you're looking for—the 'Spark' in the machine."
"Curie, Go." Jake nodded.
As Jake climbed the staircase on the south side, A swarm of mole rats erupted from the dirt floor. Ahsoka became a blur of white light and bronzed skin, Her Jar'Kai style turning the laboratory into a restricted zone for anything with fur and teeth.
Jake reached the second floor. Ahead of him lay the medical room. The Mole Rat Brood Mother—a creature the size of a small bear with hide like cracked leather—roared, lunging from behind a row of surgical monitors.
Jake didn't waste a second. He engaged Combat Focus.
The world slowed to a crawl. He saw the individual sparks flying from the Brood Mother's teeth. He stepped to the left, The RainbowSaber humming a low, violet tone. With a single, fluid strike, he sliced through the creature's midsection, the rainbow energy cauterizing the wound instantly.
The beast collapsed. "Sorry, Although your not evil, You are extremely dangerous…" Jake thought, Not even looking back as he approached the final door.
The door slid open with a pneumatic hiss that sounded like a weary sigh. The room was pristine, Filled with glowing green canisters & a central computer console. Behind a reinforced glass partition stood a modified Miss Nanny robot, its chassis painted in white and gold.
"Hello?" The robot's voice was melodic, Carrying a distinct French accent. "Is someone there? I have been waiting... let me see... two hundred and ten years, give or take a few months for seasonal adjustments."
Jake deactivated the RainbowSaber, The prismatic light retreating into the hilt. "My name is Jake Maxis. I'm here to get you out of here, Curie."
The robot's sensors whirred as they focused on him. "A visitor? And you know my name? Oh, How wonderful! I have completed the research, you see. The panacea—the universal cure. But the original staff... they stopped responding to my requests for peer review quite some time ago."
Jake looked at the small vial of glowing blue liquid on the desk near her. The cure for the world…
"The world has changed, Curie." Jake said softly, His Nurturing side coming through. "But there's a place for you now. A place where your research can actually save people."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Jak, We've got a problem. The noise from the Brood Mother just rang the dinner bell. I'm seeing a massive swarm of mole rats moving toward the maintenance elevator. We need to grab the bot and the juice and get back to the main vault before we're buried in fur!"
Jake reached for the terminal to override the lockdown. "Curie, I'm initiating your remote download to my command network. We're getting you out of this hole."
"Oh! A field trip!" Curie chirped. "I shall pack my notes. Do you think the 'surface' is ready for a breakthrough in synthetic immunology?"
"They're going to love you! Young Cur." Jake promised.