505. Plan To Gather The Important Components

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Then Sico looked out the window at Sanctuary, watching the people below go about their lives.

The next day, while the sun was barely rising over Sanctuary when Sico made his way toward the Science Department. The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp earth and the distant aroma of someone cooking brahmin steaks. The settlement was waking up—traders setting up their stalls, patrols switching shifts, and settlers heading to their workstations.

Sico's boots crunched against the gravel path as he approached the lab, a repurposed two-story building reinforced with steel plates and heavy wooden beams. Minutemen soldiers flanked the entrance, their rifles slung over their shoulders. Their presence was new—Mel's work had become too important to leave unguarded.

One of the guards, a young woman named Reese, straightened as Sico approached. "Morning, General," she greeted, giving him a nod.

"Morning, Reese," Sico replied. "Mel inside?"

"Yes, sir. He told us to let you through when you arrived."

Sico stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. The interior of the Science Department was cluttered with workbenches, toolboxes, and scribbled notes pinned to the walls. The hum of machines filled the air, punctuated by the occasional clatter of metal tools being set down.

Mel, a wiry man with messy brown hair and a pair of thick goggles resting on his forehead, was hunched over a terminal, typing furiously. He didn't look up as Sico approached.

"You're here early," Mel muttered, his voice distracted as he stared at the screen. "Didn't think I'd see you until later."

Sico folded his arms. "Figured I'd check in before things get too busy. What do you have for me?"

Mel finally looked up, rubbing his eyes. He gestured toward a metal worktable where a small, handheld device sat next to a pile of blueprints and data sheets.

"This," Mel said, picking up the device, "is our first working prototype for identifying Gen 3 Synths."

Sico took the device from him, examining it closely. It was about the size of a Pip-Boy, but sleeker—made of dark metal with a small screen and a few buttons on the side.

"How does it work?" Sico asked.

Mel grabbed a nearby blueprint and unrolled it across the table. "So, based on the data we got from Curie, we figured out that while Gen 3 Synths are biologically identical to humans, there are a few subtle differences at the cellular level. The biggest giveaway? Their synthetic nervous system. It responds to electrical pulses differently than a human's."

Sico frowned. "And this thing picks up on that?"

Mel grinned. "Exactly. It sends out a low-level electrical signal—totally harmless—but a Synth's nervous system reacts in a way that a normal human's doesn't. The device reads that reaction and gives you an instant result. Green means human. Red means Synth."

Sico turned the device over in his hands. "How accurate is it?"

Mel hesitated for a moment before answering. "So far? About 85 to 90 percent. We still need more testing, but it's our best shot at telling who's who without cutting people open."

Sico sighed, setting the device down. "That's good, but we need it to be better. If we start using this and it gives false positives, we're going to have a riot on our hands."

Mel scratched the back of his head. "I know. That's why I'm still running tests. But there's something else…"

Sico raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

Mel tapped on his terminal, pulling up a series of medical scans. "Curie helped us analyze Synth tissue on a deeper level. We found something else—something that might be even more useful."

He pointed at the screen. "This right here is a genetic marker we discovered in Gen 3 Synths. It's microscopic, buried in their DNA, but it's there. Humans don't have it."

Sico leaned in, studying the data. "And you're saying we can use this?"

Mel nodded. "If we refine the scanner, we might be able to identify Synths with damn near 100% accuracy. No more doubts, no more guesswork."

Sico exhaled. "How long until you can get this version up and running?"

Mel chewed on his lip. "If I get more resources and some extra hands? Maybe a couple of weeks. A month tops."

Sico nodded. "Alright. I'll make sure you get what you need. Keep me updated."

Mel smirked. "Oh, you'll know as soon as I crack this thing. Trust me."

Sico picked up the prototype again, weighing it in his hands. If this worked, it could change everything. They could finally know who they were dealing with—and more importantly, who they could trust.

But if the Institute caught wind of this…

Sico shook the thought from his head. He had bigger things to worry about.

"Keep at it, Mel," Sico said, turning to Mel. "We're counting on you."

Mel gave him a mock salute. "No pressure, huh?"

Sico smirked. "None at all."

Sico set the prototype down on the table and looked at Mel with a serious expression.

"How soon can you make more of these?" he asked.

Mel arched an eyebrow. "More? You mean… like a production run?"

Sico nodded. "I'm not asking for hundreds, but if you can build at least ten, maybe fifteen of them, that'd help a hell of a lot. Even if they're not 100% accurate yet, we can use them as an early screening method. Anyone flagged as a possible Synth gets detained until we can run a full DNA analysis."

Mel scratched his chin, considering the request. "I mean… I can do it. The tricky part is getting enough of the right components. Some of this tech isn't exactly lying around in scrap piles."

Sico crossed his arms. "What do you need?"

Mel sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "The main bottleneck is the bioelectric sensors. They're old-world tech, really sensitive, and hard to find in working condition. I've scavenged a few from old medical equipment, but we'll need more."

Sico thought for a moment. "Diamond City's got a decent market. Think we could source some there?"

"Maybe," Mel admitted. "But that's a gamble. If we start buying up a bunch of specialized tech, people are gonna start asking questions. The last thing we want is word getting back to the Institute that we're working on this."

Sico exhaled sharply. Mel was right. If the Institute got wind of this project, they'd come down on them hard.

"What about scavenging?" Sico suggested. "We send out teams to hit old hospitals, medical labs, places like that. We might get lucky."

Mel nodded slowly. "That could work. But we need people who know what they're looking for. I can put together a list of what we need, but you'll need to send out some of your best scavengers."

Sico smirked. "I'll make it happen. Just get me that list."

Mel stretched his arms, yawning. "Alright, alright. I'll see what I can cobble together in the meantime with what we already have."

Sico glanced at the prototype again. "Once we have enough of these, we'll set up checkpoints. Anyone coming in or out of Sanctuary gets scanned. If they flag red, we detain them and run further tests."

Mel whistled. "Damn, we're really doing this, huh?"

Sico's expression hardened. "We don't have a choice. The Institute's been playing us for too long. This is the first real chance we've had to fight back."

Mel nodded, rubbing his tired eyes. "I hear you. Alright, I'll get to work."

Sico clapped him on the shoulder. "Appreciate it, Mel. Keep me posted."

With that, he turned and made his way out of the lab, his mind already working through the logistics.

He needed to assemble a team—people who could handle scavenging missions without drawing too much attention. And he needed to set up a secure holding facility. If they started detaining suspected Synths, they needed somewhere safe to keep them until their DNA tests came back.

Sico didn't waste any time. He stepped out of the Science Department, the crisp morning air hitting him as he adjusted the strap of his rifle over his shoulder. The settlement was in full swing now—settlers moving about, traders setting up their stalls, Minutemen patrolling the perimeter.

He made his way toward the scavenging department, a repurposed warehouse on the far side of Sanctuary where they sorted through salvaged goods and planned expeditions. The building was a mess of metal crates, workbenches stacked with tools, and piles of stripped-down electronics waiting to be sorted.

Inside, Hancock was lounging in his usual spot—a battered chair near a table cluttered with maps and mission reports. The ghoul looked up as Sico entered, a smirk spreading across his weathered face.

"Well, if it isn't the man of the hour," Hancock drawled, kicking his feet up on the table. "What brings you to my humble kingdom?"

Sico wasted no time. "I need your best scavengers for a job—high priority."

Hancock arched an eyebrow. "That so? And what exactly are we looking for?"

Sico leaned over the table, tapping his fingers against the worn surface. "Bioelectric sensors. Advanced medical tech. Old-world hospital equipment—stuff Mel can strip down and repurpose."

Hancock sat up, his smirk fading as he considered the request. "Sounds like you're cooking up something big."

Sico crossed his arms. "You could say that. We're building something that'll help us root out Synth infiltrators. But we need the right tech to make it work."

Hancock whistled. "Damn. That's a hell of a job." He scratched at the peeling skin on his jaw. "I can put together a team, but finding this stuff won't be easy. Hospitals and labs have been picked clean over the years."

"I figured," Sico said. "That's why I want your best people on it. We'll need to hit places that haven't been completely looted—remote locations, underground facilities, places people wouldn't think to search."

Hancock leaned back, tapping his fingers against the arm of his chair. "I know a few spots that might be worth checking. There's an old Vault-Tec research lab somewhere near the Glowing Sea. Dangerous as hell, but it might still have some of what you need. Then there's Med-Tek, but last I heard, Super Mutants were squatting there."

Sico frowned. "We can deal with the Mutants if we have to. What about Diamond City? Think we could find anything on the market?"

Hancock chuckled. "Maybe, but that's a whole different kind of risk. Word gets around fast in Diamond City. If we start buying up medical scanners and sensors in bulk, people are gonna talk."

Sico sighed. "Yeah, Mel said the same thing."

Hancock drummed his fingers on the table. "Alright, here's what I'll do—I'll send out scouts to those locations. If we find anything worth grabbing, I'll let you know. In the meantime, I can put the word out to our contacts in Goodneighbor. Sometimes traders come across rare tech, and we might get lucky."

Sico nodded. "Good. Get me a list of what you need—supplies, weapons, anything to make the job easier."

Hancock smirked. "Oh, I like when you come to me with open pockets." He stood, stretching his arms. "Consider it done. Give me a day to put together a team and a plan."

Sico extended a hand, and Hancock shook it firmly.

"We'll get you what you need," Hancock said. "Just make sure whatever you're building is worth the trouble."

Sico smirked. "Trust me. It will be."

—

By the time Sico left the scavenging department, the sun was higher in the sky, casting long shadows across Sanctuary. He had a plan in motion, but there was still more to do.

Next, he needed to set up a secure facility for detaining suspected Synths. The old prison cells in the basement of the former Minutemen headquarters could work, but they needed reinforcement—better locks, stronger walls, and a dedicated security team.

As he walked, he spotted Preston Garvey overseeing a group of Minutemen training in the courtyard. Preston caught his eye and waved him over.

"Sico," Preston greeted, wiping sweat from his brow. "What's the word?"

"We need to talk," Sico said. "It's about security."

Preston's expression grew serious. "What kind of security?"

Sico motioned for him to follow, and the two of them moved to a quieter corner near one of the old buildings.

"I'm putting a system in place to screen for Synth infiltrators," Sico explained. "Mel's working on devices to detect them, but we'll need a secure location to hold anyone flagged until we can confirm whether they're human or not."

Preston nodded. "I see where you're going with this. You're talking about a detention center."

"Exactly," Sico said. "We can use the old cells in the basement, but they need upgrades—reinforced doors, better surveillance, and a team to guard them. We can't afford to let anyone slip through."

Preston rubbed his chin. "It's a solid plan, but we have to be careful. If people think we're locking up innocent settlers, we could have a riot on our hands."

Sico sighed. "I know. That's why we have to be thorough. No one gets locked up without proof. The scanner is just a first step—once we have a confirmed Synth, we take action."

Preston crossed his arms. "Alright. I'll talk to Sturges to led and choose our best engineers on reinforcing the cells. And I'll handpick the guards myself."

"Good," Sico said. "We'll also need a cover story. We can't just tell settlers we're building a prison for Synths."

Preston thought for a moment. "How about this—we frame it as a new security measure. A holding facility for outsiders until we can verify they're not a threat. Keeps people from panicking."

Sico nodded. "That works. Make it happen."

Preston clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll take care of it. You focus on getting those scanners built."

—

By the time Sico returned to the Science Department, Mel was already hard at work. The lab was buzzing with activity—wires, circuit boards, and half-assembled scanners spread across the workbenches.

Mel looked up as Sico walked in. "Back already? Damn, you move fast."

Sico smirked. "You should know that by now." He set his hands on his hips. "Hancock's sending scavengers out. Preston and Sturges are reinforcing the holding cells. Things are moving."

Mel grinned. "Good. Because I think I just made a breakthrough."

Sico's eyebrows rose. "Yeah?"

Mel gestured to a newly assembled device on the table. "This version is better—more accurate. I tweaked the signal output, and Curie helped refine the algorithm. It's still not perfect, but we're getting close."

Sico picked up the device, turning it over in his hands. It was sleeker than the first prototype, with a sturdier frame and a more advanced interface.

"How much better are we talking?" he asked.

Mel grinned. "90-95% accuracy. And if we can integrate the DNA marker scan, we'll hit near-perfect detection rates."

Sico exhaled. "Damn. That's a game-changer."

Mel smirked. "Told you I'd crack it."

Sico clapped him on the shoulder. "Then let's get to work."

Because if they pulled this off, the Institute was in for one hell of a surprise.

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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:-