[The Last Hope] 12 – BioScience Divison

Now, with a pile of glowing rainbow rocks on my desk next to the detached Droid head, I couldn't help but sigh. After I went to bed last night, I realized something. The loot boxes and quests thing seemed like a trap—a honey trap to draw you in only to poison you upon consuming it. Before...I don't think I would have done anything so reckless, so dangerous. My plans would eventually end with me butting heads with Shaun, 'Father,' as he liked to call himself, due to his role in creating Gen-3 Synths, and who knows what my quests would have me do in the future. 

Shaun was...a traditionalist. He forbade the research of life extension technology or cybernetics yet allowed F.E.V. research and the continued research of improved Synthetics. Hell, Kellog, the institute leading operative up above, was given a full range of Cybernetic treatments that greatly enhanced their life span and effectiveness in the wasteland. It was not like he was doing it because of morals, as the man would, without any care, demolish entire settlements, killing everyone inside if it meant they had something he wanted. He did it because he thought undergoing such treatments was 'unnatural' and would make the person 'less than human.' Which was...beyond stupid. 

Taking a shower and getting dressed, I left my room, ignoring some of my classmates and other children who wandered the long corridors of the Institute, looking for something to do. I walked by them all, ignoring some of their jeers and insults towards my being, none of them even daring to do something physical after I kicked the ass off the last one that tried; after all, these were scientists; they did not know how to fight. Speaking of which, I needed to up my exercise goals; I'm already fitter than most my age, but strength and endurance would be necessary for my future plans.

Humming with happiness, I stepped into the Workshop and found Allie and Ben both inside, taking a break.

"Hey guys!" I greeted them with a wave, stepping around a Gen-1 Synth I repaired for them that helped with manual labor.

"Good morning, Sarah. Are you ready for another big day?" Allie asked, giggling at my supposed misfortune due to her distaste for tests.

"As ready as I can be," I shrugged.

"Well, I got some good news for you. Last night, I talked with the other two Directors and told them about your request and your successful internship in Advanced Systems. Caroline was amused by your request and eager for an extra set of hands in her Division, but you may have some trouble with Zimmer, head of Synth Retention," Ben told me with a smile that ended with a frown regarding Zimmer.

Seeing my questioning stare, he sighed, "Zimmer and I don't exactly get along, especially when it comes to using the Institute's resources and 'Father' seemingly favoring him and Synth Retention over Facilities."

Resources? I wondered. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, digging further.

"First thing you should know, what little resources we don't grow ourselves have to be retrieved from the surface. That includes all of the things we need to keep the Institute down here running, from parts, specialized tools, or just raw resources such as Copper, Steel, or oil, but instead of us getting a majority or even a decent portion of the resources gathered above, most of it goes towards the creation of more Synths, weapons, armor, and explosives for the Coursers, Coursers that, mind you, haven't had a single casualty in over four years, and to the other divisions for a variety of other purposes," Ben explained with evident anger and resentment.

Ah, that would do it, especially with how much they were already overworked. Hell, it was a miracle that Ben was still working at his age; he was 62, after all, and while his physique certainly would put all of the people down here to shame, he wouldn't be able to keep active for much longer. Eventually, he'd have to step down, and that would leave only Allie to do the work, something I doubt Ben would allow until the day he dies, which is precisely what I was afraid of, knowing he'd very well work till his death bed to help his daughter.

"Huh, is there nothing we can do?" I asked, stumped.

"Not really, not until it's either too late or 'Father' comes to his senses," Ben sighed before waving at the door, "Enough chattering; you shouldn't keep Caroline waiting."

"Wait, already?" I asked, confused.

Ben laughed, "Of course, you did say you'd next try to become an intern there, and there's no time like the present!" 

Before I could get a word edge-wise, he pushed me out of the workshop and wished me good luck. Exasperated at the quirks of the Old Man and his daughter, I began making my way to BioScience. 

If there was one way to describe the Institute's scientists, it is that they were workaholics. Due to the limited space and lack of entertainment, the concept of a break was foreign to the people in the Institute. The only breaks most people had were to eat, sleep, or use the restroom. It just...wasn't healthy, and it's why no one in the Institute actually 'retired,' as they usually worked till the day they died. 

Sighing, I soon made it to BioScience. After stepping through the long corridor, I found myself in a rather large round chamber with several adjacent rooms around it. BioScience was responsible for producing or purifying water from both the surface and underground reservoirs, making our food and our medicine, conducting Genetic research, and creating the organic components of Gen-3 Synths. 

Around the chamber were several large pillars of hydro farms, which were surrounded by a mist due to the water needed for the plants to survive.

Walking closer to the plants to get a better look, a voice began to speak from behind me.

"You must be Sarah," An aged woman's voice spoke out from behind me.

Turning around, I was met with a woman with gray hair wearing a white and green lab coat.

"Ms. Plourde?" I asked, looking over the short woman.

"Please, call me Carol." She waved me off, apparently not liking being called her last name. "So Ben says you wish to obtain an Internship with all of the Divisions?" she asked, curious.

"Yes, Ma-, Carol," I answered.

"And you've already obtained an Internship in Advanced Systems? Well done, though don't expect to find a hard test here. We always need an extra set of hands to keep the Hydro farms running and the plants harvested, so let's get started, shall we?" She spoke with a kind smile.

Surprised at my luck, she stepped forward to a nearby terminal, "If at any time you forget something or need help, feel free to ask around; we all work together here. This communal terminal here is typically used to keep track of everything growing per rotation and where it is. At the moment, on Pillar 'A,' we are growing the medicinal plants required to make Stimpaks and various other medicines. Pillars 'B' and 'C' are the plants synthesized to make our food. Finally, Pillar 'D' and 'E' are for genetic research and the cultivation of very specific plants and bio-components, but for today, you'll be helping harvest some of the crops and depositing them in the synthesizer," She explained to me, leading me to the various 'Pillars' and even showing me the Synthesizer they used to make the disgusting paste they called food.

It was all relatively simple compared to what I went through in Advanced Systems, but I figured they'd eventually start letting me do more advanced stuff when I became more skilled or showed myself to be talented, but maybe I could start with trying to figure out how to make better food.