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Because if they pulled this off, the Institute was in for one hell of a surprise.
The next morning, Sico stood by the gates of Sanctuary, watching as Hancock and his scavenging team made their final checks before heading out. The group was lightly packed but well-armed, each scavenger equipped with rifles, pistols, and enough supplies to last them a few days. Hancock himself was dressed in his usual tattered coat, his tricorn hat tilted at a slight angle.
"Alright, we good to go?" Hancock called out, adjusting the strap of his rifle.
"Looks like it," one of the scavengers, a wiry woman named Tessa, confirmed.
Sico stepped forward. "Remember, avoid unnecessary fights. Get what we need and get out. If you find anything that looks promising but too dangerous to grab right away, mark it and report back."
Hancock smirked. "Relax, boss. This ain't my first scavenging run."
Sico chuckled. "Fair enough. Just stay sharp. If the Institute catches wind of this, they won't hesitate to send a Courser after you."
The smirk faded slightly from Hancock's face, replaced by something more serious. "Yeah. I hear ya." He turned to his team. "Alright, you heard the man! Let's move out."
The scavengers set off, disappearing down the cracked road leading out of Sanctuary.
Sico exhaled, then turned toward the second group gathered near a truck—his own team.
A group of six soldiers stood nearby, checking their weapons and supplies. Preston Garvey was among them, his laser musket strapped across his back.
"Everything set?" Sico asked as he approached.
Preston nodded. "We're ready when you are. You really think we'll find what we need in Diamond City?"
Sico shrugged. "We won't know until we look. But if there's anywhere left with old-world tech still in circulation, it's there."
One of the soldiers, a burly man named Carter, adjusted his combat vest. "You expecting trouble?"
Sico sighed. "Always. Stay alert."
With that, he climbed into the truck, taking the front passenger seat while Preston and the others piled into the back. The engine roared to life with a sputtering growl, and they rolled forward, leaving Sanctuary behind as they made their way toward Diamond City.
The ride was relatively quiet, the only sounds being the rattling of the truck and the occasional crackle of Preston's radio as he kept in touch with Sanctuary.
Sico leaned back, watching the wasteland pass by through the grimy windshield. He had been to Diamond City plenty of times before, but this trip was different. They weren't going to trade for food or supplies—they were hunting for something specific. Something that, if they got their hands on it, could change everything.
After about an hour, they reached the outskirts of Boston, passing the wreckage of old cars and the ruins of collapsed buildings. Soon enough, the massive walls of Diamond City came into view, standing tall against the ruins of Fenway Park.
As they approached the main gate, a pair of Diamond City guards stepped forward, their rifles at the ready.
"Hold it!" one of them called out. "What's your business here?"
Sico leaned out of the truck's window. "We're here to trade, we are the Minutemen."
The guard squinted at Sico for a moment before recognition dawned on his face. "Ah, it's you guys." He relaxed his stance and nudged his fellow guard. "Go let Mayor Danny know the Minutemen are back."
The other guard nodded and jogged off toward the entrance, disappearing through the towering metal gate.
Sico glanced back at his team, giving them a reassuring nod. "Keep it cool. We're just here to trade."
Preston chuckled. "Yeah, but knowing our luck, something's bound to go sideways."
Sico smirked but didn't disagree. Trouble had a way of finding them, even when they weren't looking for it.
A moment later, the gate groaned as it slowly rolled open, revealing the bustling streets of Diamond City. The air was thick with the scent of cooked meat, machine oil, and the ever-present hint of rust and decay.
Sico hopped out of the truck, gesturing for his team to follow as they stepped into the marketplace. The city was alive with activity—traders shouting out their wares, children weaving between stalls, and guards patrolling the walkways above. The towering remains of Fenway Park loomed overhead, a stark reminder of the world that once was.
As they moved deeper into the market, a familiar voice called out.
"Well, well, look who's back."
Sico turned to see Myrna, the suspicious shopkeeper who ran one of the main stalls in Diamond City. She had her arms crossed, eyeing them warily.
"You here to buy something or just passing through?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Sico held up his hands. "We're looking for some specific tech—bioelectric sensors, medical equipment, anything that can be repurposed."
Myrna scoffed. "That kind of stuff ain't easy to come by. And if it was, it wouldn't be cheap."
Sico expected as much. "We're willing to trade. Caps, weapons, supplies—name your price."
She tapped her fingers against the counter, considering. "Might have something. Some traders passed through a few days ago with a stash of pre-war tech. I turned most of them away—don't trust anyone who won't say where they found their goods—but one guy seemed legit. Said he scavenged a hospital outside Lexington."
Sico leaned in. "Where can I find him?"
Myrna jerked her head toward the far end of the market. "He's probably at the Dugout Inn. Calls himself Royce. If he's still here, he might have what you need."
Sico nodded. "Appreciate it."
As he turned to leave, she called out, "And don't bring any trouble back to my stall!"
Sico smirked. "No promises."
Preston chuckled as they made their way toward the Dugout Inn. "You really know how to make friends, don't you?"
Sico shrugged. "It's a gift."
The Dugout Inn was just as rowdy as ever, filled with mercenaries, traders, and locals looking to drink their worries away. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat, and the sound of laughter and raised voices echoed off the wooden walls.
Sico scanned the room, spotting a man who matched Myrna's description—mid-forties, scruffy beard, wearing a patched-up leather jacket. He was seated at a corner table, nursing a drink and watching the room like a man who didn't trust his surroundings.
Sico approached, motioning for his team to hang back. "You Royce?"
The man looked up, his eyes sharp and calculating. "Who's asking?"
Sico pulled up a chair. "Someone looking for high-end medical tech. Myrna said you might have what we need."
Royce raised an eyebrow, then leaned back in his chair. "Maybe. Depends on what you're looking for."
"Bioelectric sensors, diagnostic scanners, anything with advanced medical functionality."
Royce took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down. "That kind of tech ain't easy to come by. And even if I had it, it wouldn't be cheap."
Sico wasn't in the mood for games. "We're not here to haggle. We're here to make a deal. Name your price."
Royce studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, look. I did find some medical tech. Hauled it out of a half-collapsed hospital near Lexington. Problem is, I only managed to grab a few pieces before a damn pack of ferals ran me out."
Sico leaned forward. "How much did you get?"
Royce scratched his beard. "A couple of scanners, some sensor modules. Not sure if they still work, but they looked intact."
Sico nodded. "And how much to take them off your hands?"
Royce smirked. "Five hundred caps."
Preston let out a low whistle. "That's steep."
Sico didn't flinch. "You're charging me five hundred for equipment you haven't even tested?"
Royce shrugged. "Supply and demand, my friend. You want 'em or not?"
Sico considered his options. He could try to haggle, but that might just make Royce dig his heels in further. Instead, he reached into his pack, pulled out a pouch of caps, and tossed it onto the table.
Royce raised an eyebrow. "That easy, huh?"
Sico smirked. "I don't waste time."
Royce chuckled and slid the caps toward him before reaching under the table and pulling out a weathered duffel bag. He unzipped it, revealing the scavenged tech inside. The equipment was worn but intact, wires and circuits still in place.
Sico inspected the contents before nodding. "Pleasure doing business."
Royce gave him a lazy salute. "You ever need more, you know where to find me."
Sico motioned for his team, and they grabbed the bag before heading out of the Dugout Inn.
As they stepped back into the marketplace, Preston sighed. "That was a lot of caps."
Sico shrugged. "If this tech helps us detect Synths, it's worth every one of them."
Carter, one of the soldiers, adjusted his rifle. "So, we heading straight back?"
Sico thought for a moment. "Not yet. Let's make a few more rounds. If there's any other medical gear for sale, we might as well grab it while we're here."
They spent the next hour searching the market, buying up any medical supplies they could find—spare sensor modules, diagnostic equipment, even some old-world first-aid kits. By the time they were done, their truck was packed with supplies, and they were ready to head back.
As Sico and his team moved toward their truck, ready to load up their supplies and head back to Sanctuary, he caught sight of two familiar figures making their way through the marketplace toward them—Danny Sullivan and Geneva, the mayor's secretary.
Danny, still dressed in his usual security armor with his helmet tucked under one arm, was walking with an easy stride, a grin on his face. Geneva followed beside him, her clipboard in hand, looking as professional as ever.
Sico sighed inwardly. He didn't dislike Danny—in fact, the guy was decent compared to most of the other so-called authorities in the Commonwealth—but he wasn't in the mood for politics right now.
"Hey, guys!" Danny called out, raising a hand as they got closer. "What's the rush? You just got back here after a few weeks away, which is pretty short, I must say."
Sico smirked as he adjusted his pack. "Hi, Danny. How's the job treating you? Must be nice not having to guard the front gate anymore."
Danny chuckled, shaking his head. "You'd think so, but honestly? I think I had it easier back then. At least raiders and super mutants make sense. Politics?" He let out a dramatic sigh. "That's a whole different kind of headache."
Geneva shot him a sharp look. "Danny, you're the mayor now. Maybe don't complain about the job in front of the citizens?"
Danny waved her off. "Oh, come on, Geneva. It's Sico. He knows how things are."
Sico crossed his arms. "So, is this just a friendly check-in, or do you need something?"
Geneva glanced at the truck, eyeing the bags of supplies. "You're moving a lot of equipment. Medical tech?"
Sico gave Geneva a casual nod, adjusting the strap of his pack as he leaned against the truck. "Yeah, it's for our hospital. We've been expanding, and medical equipment isn't exactly easy to come by."
Geneva's sharp eyes flickered with curiosity. "That's quite the haul for just hospital supplies. You sure you're not stocking up for something else?"
Sico shrugged, keeping his expression neutral. "Our people need proper healthcare. Figured we'd grab what we could while we were here."
Danny let out a low whistle. "Well, I won't argue with that. The Commonwealth could use more places where people can actually get treated instead of just being told to 'walk it off' or drink some irradiated water." He smirked, shaking his head. "You'd be surprised how many folks think a bottle of dirty water and a stimpak will solve all their problems."
Sico chuckled. "Sounds about right."
Geneva, however, wasn't so easily swayed. She tapped her clipboard against her palm, studying Sico carefully. "Still, that's a lot of high-end tech. I know you're not in the habit of making reckless trades, so what exactly are you working on?"
Sico gave her a knowing smile. "Geneva, you know as well as I do that the Minutemen have their hands in a lot of things. Right now, our priority is making sure our people are taken care of."
Geneva pursed her lips, clearly unsatisfied with the vague response, but Danny clapped Sico on the shoulder, interrupting her train of thought. "Ah, let it go, Geneva. If Sico says it's for the hospital, then it's for the hospital. Besides, I'd rather have them doing something useful with all this tech than let it sit and rust in some abandoned vault."
Sico nodded. "Exactly. We're trying to build something better. You should drop by Sanctuary sometime, see how things are coming along."
Danny grinned. "Might just take you up on that. A little break from the Diamond City drama would be nice."
Geneva sighed, clearly exasperated. "Mayor Danny, you have appointments—"
Danny groaned. "Geneva, come on, just once, let me have a conversation without being reminded about some meeting or another."
Geneva raised an eyebrow. "You're the one who wanted this job."
Danny rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, and I regret it every time you remind me."
Sico smirked but didn't comment. He understood Danny's frustration—leadership was never easy, and it was even worse when you had to deal with the tangled mess of politics in a place like Diamond City.
Geneva straightened her clipboard, clearly ready to move on. "Well, we won't keep you. Just… be careful with whatever you're doing."
Sico nodded. "Always."
Danny gave him a quick salute. "Safe travels, Sico. Try not to stir up too much trouble."
Sico smirked. "No promises."
With that, Danny and Geneva headed back toward the mayor's office, and Sico turned to his team. Preston leaned against the truck, arms crossed. "Think they're onto something?"
Sico shook his head. "Geneva's always suspicious, but she doesn't have anything solid. As long as we keep things quiet, we're fine."
Preston exhaled. "Still, makes you wonder how long we can keep this under wraps."
Sico hopped onto the truck bed, pulling up one of the crates. "Long enough to get what we need. That's all that matters."
The team climbed onto the truck, securing their supplies before Sico knocked on the roof of the driver's cabin. "Let's move out."
The engine roared to life, and they rolled out of Diamond City, leaving behind the bustling marketplace and the prying eyes of its people.
The ride was rough, the cracked roads and scattered debris making the journey slow. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the wasteland as they drove north.
Preston sat across from Sico, glancing over their supplies. "You think this is enough? If we're really gonna make this work, we'll need more than just a few scanners and modules."
Sico sighed, stretching his legs. "It's a start. We're not looking to solve everything overnight. First, we test what we have. If it works, then we figure out the next step."
Carter, who was checking his rifle, glanced up. "And if it doesn't work?"
Sico smirked. "Then we make it work."
Preston shook his head with a chuckle. "You always make it sound simple."
Sico shrugged. "It's only complicated if we let it be."
The truck rumbled along the wasteland, passing abandoned cars and crumbling buildings, a reminder of the world that once was.
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• Name: Sico
• Stats :
S: 8,44
P: 7,44
E: 8,44
C: 8,44
I: 9,44
A: 7,45
L: 7
• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills
• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint.
• Active Quest:-