Fallout 4: AR

39. Further Examinations

Cade and Ingram busied themselves hooking both me and the Pip-Boy, which I had declined to remove, up to the various diagnostic computers. While they were distracted, I caught MacCready's attention, and he leaned over so we could talk without being overheard.

"You sure about this, Boss?" He asked, worry creasing his brows.

"Not really." I admitted quietly, meeting his gaze. "Do me a favor, please? If I pass out, stop them. I want to be awake so I know what's happening."

"You got it." He looked so confident that I relaxed a little. I can count on him.

At this point, Knight-Captain Cade came over to address me directly. "Even though you're not receiving a true physical examination, we're going to monitor your vitals while Proctor Ingram runs her diagnostics on your Pip-Boy there. She told me the program is going to stimulate the cybernetic additions in your body. I'm letting you know now that it may be quite painful, but it shouldn't do any lasting damage. I want you to tell me what you feel as it happens, and answer any questions I have to the best of your ability. Ready?"

No, not at all. Glancing up at my partner one more time to reassure myself, I answered, "Go for it."

What followed was an hour of near-torture. I didn't actually lose consciousness, as Proctor Ingram was adamant about keeping me awake and lucid, but the scanning program was just as painful as promised. It sent pulses of varying strength and duration into my Pip-Boy and, by extension, the embedded wires in my body. Mild at first, the burning oscillations built up slowly, inevitably until I was seeing stars, sweating in agony, and biting back pained screams.

During the initial phase, Cade would perform general physical evaluations, and ask me medical questions, none of which I could remember, or even answer once the pain built past a certain point. During one especially strong surge, both Cade and MacCready grabbed my hands to steady me as my muscles spasmed in response. When my partner would have insisted they stop, I weakly shook my head at him. "No, Mac. I- aah," I gasped as another burning diagnostic pulse wracked my nerves, "I don't want to go through this again." The pain subsided as Ingram made an adjustment, but soon built back up again. "Just get it over with," I managed to stammer out between clenched teeth.

"You almost finished over there?" MacCready demanded angrily, still grasping my hand, "She's in a lot of pain, you know!"

"Not long now!" called Ingram. "Cade, how are her vitals holding up?"

"They're still within acceptable parameters, but the sooner you can finish this scan, the better."

"Roger that." And a few moments later, "We're winding down now. Just stay still and we'll get you unhooked. I'll get some of my people to look at the data we collected and get back to you."

As soon as the burning pulses stopped entirely, Cade and Ingram swung into action, detaching the variety of sensors that had been littering my body. Proctor Ingram departed with one of the machines, promising Cade that she would return for the rest of them first thing in the morning. I clung to MacCready's hand, refusing to let go even as Cade left to fetch Paladin Danse. Mac gently brushed the hair off my sweat-laced forehead with his free hand, "That was... really difficult to watch. I hope this was worth it, Boss."

"Me too, Mac." The aftereffects of the constant burning along the embedded wires still throbbed painfully, where I wasn't numbed from the constant nerve stimulation. I hugged his hand to my cheek, slowly turning on my side, my limbs not wanting to cooperate. "I'm glad you were here, though. I wouldn't have had the courage to do this without you." I felt his hand turn to cup my face and looked up to catch his brief, tender smile.

Danse briskly reentered the room, breaking the moment. He approached the table, his power armor towering over me. "That took longer than expected," he said simply. "Knight-Captain Cade has left orders that you are to rest on the Prydwen overnight for general observation. With your permission, I will carry you as you are also under orders not to walk until you can properly control your limbs."