Radiance Ch. 120

There was a large set of powered doors sat next to it and he glanced at the switch next to it.

"It's key locked, Wisp you want to work your magic again, once we're inside we should be able to grab either some pip boys or maybe a few keycards so you can grab a break," he said.

It took Wisp all of five seconds to open both the security checkpoint door and the security office door as well.

As it turned out Fuller was spot on with his estimation and there were both pip boys and security keys in the office, so one all those with arms capable of taking a pipboy had one and all the others had keys the group headed further into the Vault.

As it appeared they'd had a whole big Christening ceremony planned for the place though given people would have only seen it during the end of the fucking world Wisp couldn't help but find the whole red ribbon over the elevator thing a bit fucking morbid.

The ride down was pretty quick and as it turned out the entire power system was being run by a series of Mister Handy robots who upon detecting the presence of the people in their midst powered the place up, though Wisp did have to rewrite the entry logs to get them to co-operate, thankfully she'd done this when she'd used the security computer to get it to release the pip boys and keycards, she'd simply rekeyed everything to match the team.

The elevator itself terminated in the middle of a large open-plan lobby with two levels that were accessed by a duel sweeping staircase.

"This is a lot more swanky than any of the other Vaults I've seen," Desdemona said as she glanced around the pristine lobby which had its walls all covered in rich-looking oak panelling.

"It seems that money really talks when it comes to design and riding the end of the fucking world out in style," Glory said.

"Bet the fucking quarters reflect that too, I willing to be fucking bunk beds are not a thing in here, most likely got themselves four poster king size things," Fuller said glancing at the sign on the wall that indicated the living quarters.

Glory glanced at it too and then grabbed his hand before dragging him in the direction the sign indicated.

"We'll be back in a few and do me a favour if you see a door with a fucking sock on the switch don't open it if you like all of your teeth still in your head," Glory growled before dragging the rather confused and equally startled Fuller off down the corridor.

Desdemona chuckled and shook her head as she gave Wisp and her people a look.

"She was absolutely devastated when she thought he died, it took days for her to even talk to anyone, it was like she went from synth to robot in a fell swoop, I'm honestly just glad to have her back to her old self," she said.

"Love can make you do crazy things, I don't think it was any easier on Fuller to be fair, he truly hated himself for lying to her and doing that to her," Wisp said.

"I agree, there is nothing I would not do to protect the one I love and if anyone ever tried to take him from me there is no force upon this earth that would keep me from his side," Ven said picking up Gregory into a tight hug like he was holding a stuffed toy in his massive arms.

"What do you say we all go and pick out our rooms before we go any further as I get the feeling we are all pretty tired," Shepherd said giving Passa a very loaded look.

Desdemona nodded her head, "Yeah I think that's probably a good idea, the rest of the facility ain't going anywhere, let's go," she said.

As the group entered the corridor they noticed the first door they came across had two names written on the board next to it.

"Fuller and Glory, well it sure beats a sock on a door handle," Tom said.

"Let's hope the fucking dividing walls are thick enough or something tells me sleep might become a valuable commodity and jealousy might become commonplace," Desdemona said.

"These walls are made of solid reinforced concrete, it doesn't get much thicker and stronger, if we still hear them through these there ain't going to be any soundproofing good enough to stop them," Tom said patting the walls.

"You'd better hope you're right Tom Claw love isn't exactly quiet," Malakai said patting him on the shoulder as he scuttled past.

"Please tell me he's joking," he said falling into step with them all.

Both Gregory and Shepherd laughed in unison.

"Not even remotely," they said also in unison.

"This looks comfy," Malakai said looking at his and Wisp's brand new four-poster bed that was complete with curtains, he climbed up onto it and went full spider loaf while looking at Wisp, it seemed Fuller really had a knack for predicting shit like this.

"Not as comfy as the fluffy bum resting on it," Wisp said running a hand over said fluffy bum as Malakai glanced over his shoulder at her.

"Think the Railroad will be interested in sharing this place with us long term, it would be kinda nice to have a safe place to bunker down from time to time you know?" he said.

"I don't see why not, its thanks to us that not only are they still alive but now have a true understanding of whats really going on around here, and besides we have similar goals so we help them they help us and its all good, one big happy family," she said clambering up onto the bed before flopping down on Malakai's fluffy rear end.

"I hope so, it'll be nice to sleep in a real bed again and to have some privacy to ourselves," Malakai said.

"I hear that, sometimes a girl just wants to scream her man's name as loud as she can without fear you know?" she said and then delighted in the blush that flared up across Malakai's neck and cheeks before the pair of them started laughing.

"You're never exactly quiet you know?" he said drying his multitude of eyes and she shot him a playful grin.

"Is that a complaint I hear?' she shot back and now he chuckled and shook his head.

"Not a chance," he said shivering lightly as she began to tickle his spinnerets.

"God I love how expressive you are Malakai, even my lightest touch gets your body to betray just how much you enjoy being touched by me," Wisp said softly as she continued to twirl one of his spinnerets around with her finger.

"I can't help it, for years I spent hiding away always hoping that one day that I would find people other than my own who would accept me as I am, but now here I am with a whole group of them that keeps getting bigger and not only that I have the most beautiful soul out of all of them to love, it hits me hard every time you touch me because it reminds me of how long I yearned for acceptance and now not only do I have it but I have love as well," Malakai said softly.

That hit Wisp right in the heart hard, it was really to forget the persecution that Malakai and his people had faced hell that his people were still facing given that he was really the only one of them that had made it this far into the human world without being hunted down.

Wisp turned and moved herself up his back so she could wrap her arms around his torso from behind and placed her hands upon his broad chest.

"We will make things better for all Arachnakai Malakai I swear it to you, we will show the world that you are not creatures to be feared but gentle loving people just like them to be embraced and accepted," she said softly.

"Thank you Wisp, for everything but especially for giving me the chance to love you, you truly are an amazing woman," he said softly.

"You never have to thank me for accepting your love Malakai, I couldn't help loving you any less than you can help to love me, it just is and it will always be," she said softly planting a few kisses on the back of his neck.

After a brief rest, the group decided to finish up exploring the Vault and getting it all back online, as it turned out the Railroad and her own group worked remarkably well together.

As Wisp walked the halls of the lavishly furnished vault she couldn't help but smile at the new friendships she saw forming all around her.

She saw Malakai in fluffy loaf mode in the lobby next to a load of comfy chairs repairing and improving the armour and clothes of a number of the Railroad heavies who all seemed not only thankful but incredibly impressed with the silk-based armour that he was able to line their armoured coats with.

She found Tinker Tom and Gregory down in the power plant working together with Ven on getting the reactor up and running while also making a list of any potential issues that might need attention.

She found Fuller, Glory, Passa and Shepherd in the armoury taking stock of the weapons and armour that they had available to them, as it turned out there were a couple of suits of custom-made power armour down there that they were working on getting up and running while also taking inventory on all the new weapons they had available.

And that was to name but a few things she saw.

Desdemona had taken over the Overseer's office and had turned it into the new HQ for both the Railroad operations and for the Free Peoples of the Wastes, she had been quite insistent on making it a joint HQ for them both to share intel and work together from, it really seemed that their aid had really gone a long way to making quite the impression on her.

"I feel I owe you an apology Wisp," Desdemona said as Wisp walked into the lavishly furnished office that was now a hive of activity.

"Oh? How so?" Wisp asked.

"When Tom first told us about you not only did I truly not believe him but I thought that it was some kind of Institute trick to expose or destroy us, I was ready to throw everything I had at you and your people, but I see now what a serious mistake that would have been, I let my pride blind me to the fact that it's not only us out there trying to make a difference and to do some measure of good in this world," she said looking up from her map table as Wisp approached.

Wisp nodded and sighed heavily.

"Yeah I get it, it's really not easy to trust newcomers especially when they look like us but we really are on the same side you know?' Wisp said and Desdemona nodded.

"Yeah, I see that now, hell if it wasn't for you either the Institute or the Enclave would most likely be kicking in out front and back doors and murdering us in our own home right about now, but it's more than that, I pride myself on seeing non-humans as people, I've fought long and hard to have synths recognised as no different from us and then when a group that's not only lead by a synth but had other non-human members shows up I'm suspicious of you, that alone warrants an apology because it flies in the face of everything I have tried to uphold from the get-go," she said.

"Well then there's a real simple solution don't you think?" Wisp said and Desdemona looked at her.

"Oh?' she asked.

"Put your money where your mouth is and help us and in return let us help you, we both want the same thing here really it's just our goals are a little broader than yours but that doesn't mean we can't work together now does it?" Wisp said and Desdemona nodded.

"Yeah you're right, as much as they look like us they really aren't us but that's ok, synths are people too, just like humans, just like your sentient Claws, just like Ghouls, just like your fluffy spider boy down there, who makes a mean ass scarf I must say, just like all of you, if we can show the world that these good people are not the real threat but those who wish to divide and control us are then we can make real strides towards building a proper resistance as well as a proper unity between all good peoples," Desdemona said and Wisp smiled at her.

"Now you're thinking like one of us Des, plus it's like I said to you before there are a lot more of us out there, our numbers are spread out far and wide but we're all working towards the same goal here, if we keep making new friends then there will be no limit to what we can accomplish together because every day we will be getting stronger and stronger, I mean sure there will be those that reject us and that's ok, not everyone will believe as we do, all that truly matters is that if they threaten us we stand together and show them that no we will not back down or rollover, we will fight for what we believe and for our right to live and love freely and not only that but we will fight for all those who belive as we do because at the end of the day thats what its all about, hope, hope for those who have never really had any before," Wisp said proudly.

Desdemona grinned at her and nodded.

"Suddenly I can see why your people follow you Wisp, you got a real knack for inspirational speeches," she said with a grin.

"Thanks but you ain't seen anything yet, just wait until you meet my friend and our leader Seven, then you'll see what true inspiration really looks like," Wisp said with a grin and with that the pair looked at the table and sighed in unison, there really was a lot of work to be done.