Jacob Burns and the Order of the Algorithm #Wattys2017

Chapter 9: The Man Behind the Mask

"Hmm..." He seemed to mull that over for several moments before speaking again.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this you know. This world was meant to be something better, but history was stolen from us by the very men that had made the promise in the first place. The grand visions of our forefathers smothered by the greed of capitalism and the foolishness of communism. But you see, we needn't accept this reality, Jacob. We can make the world more than it was, as it always could have been..."

"The Omega Vault..." he continued quietly. "I know you've heard of it. It really is humanity's best hope for the future, no matter what you might think. In it is contained the single most powerful experiment Vault-Tec ever attempted, a Noah's Ark and a Garden of Eden all in one. It can restore the world, not just restore it, but remake it better than ever before." His eyes shone with a dark brilliance as his voice dropped to a dark whisper.

"Can you imagine such a world? Gone with the clunky gas spewing robots and dilapidated ruins, replaced by clean efficient synths and the sleek glass towers of a shining utopia. No more hunger, Jacob, no more strife or war or radiation. We can make it a reality, the world can be remade, all that we need is the missing piece..."

"The Conduit," I said quietly.

"That's right," he replied, a madman's smile twisting across his face. "And the girl will lead us right to it. To the Vault and to the Future, for the benefit of us all."

I felt sick. He was mad, no different than Vault-Tec and all the rest. Technology like that never turned out to be what it seemed, and always came at a terrible price. If what he said was true, then it was a power no man should have.

"And what happens when people reject your "utopia" hmm? What happens then? Do you replace them with one of your synths, to do with as you please just like our dear mayor here? You're just like the Old World you know, do you honestly think you can control all that power? That if only you'd been there then none of this," I said as I stabbed my finger angrily out the window, "would have happened? You're insane."

"Insane? Is that what you think? Quite the accusation coming from a man that cannot say for certain that he is indeed a man..." The Director said darkly.

"I... don't know what you mean," I replied uneasily.

"Oh come now Jacob, we've all heard the rumors. Have you ever felt... not quite yourself? Ever had a change of heart you just couldn't explain? Synths can go rogue, you know, and thanks to the underground railroad we have no way of knowing who they are. Think Jacob, have you ever felt like there was something you'd forgotten but just couldn't remember? A dream that always faded away before you could catch it?"

You're a synth Jacob, admit it. There's no other explanation.

Fahrenheit's words echoed in my ears. It was a question that had been haunting me ever since the day the Prydwen fell. Why? Why had I done it? I had never disobeyed a direct order like that before, and yet that night I broke nearly every oath I had ever taken. And how had the Institute known where to find me? No one had known where I was going, and yet Maxson had found me as well... just in time to watch my vertibird fly up into the air and head straight for the Prydwen...

No. I thought to myself, I may have made mistakes, but they were mine. No one else made them for me. I'm sure of that.

Even so, my voice cracked as I spoke again.

"I know who I am, and I am no synth."

"Hmm, you don't sound so sure of that," the man said with another laugh before sitting back down at the table. "As fascinating as all this is Jacob, I grow tired of our little game. It's time for you to decide." And with that, he produced a laser pistol from beneath the table and pointed it straight at me.

"The truth is you've started something here, a chain reaction that cannot be reversed. If not me, then someone else. There is no stopping this vault, Jacob. Others will come after the girl as well, and you and I both know that she is not made for this world. You cannot protect her from this, nor yourself, so don't be so hasty to throw your life away for some vault dweller you've only just met. Be smart here, Jacob. Do the right thing."

The right thing.

The last time I did the "right thing" and everyone I had ever known was killed in hellfire, but what choice did I have? No one would ever believe me, it was the "mayor's" word against mine... I was at a complete loss. It was beginning to look utterly hopeless as the next song came on the radio, a disgustingly sweet number that left my insides churning.

"So what's it going to be, Jacob? It's very simple, really. You're either with us... or you're against us. There is no other choice."

I stared down the barrel of the gun.

"There's always a choice," I said with a glare.

"Wrong answer," he said as he raised the gun. "Goodbye, Jacob."

Just then, a massive tremor shook the room. The harsh metallic sound of about three tons of groaning steel and grinding gears roared throughout the stadium. We both whipped around and looked out the window.

The gates were open.