If you missed Fallout #4, see it here.
Since the visit to Japan, the scientists at Camp Vengeance have put in countless hours researching the “All Power” samples they received from Mr. Kuboda.
Wolfe is even more motivated to stay ahead of the superhuman conflict after Jolt convinces him to revisit the Goliath Protocol.
Camp Vengeance | April 15, 2015 8:16 A.M.
Jolt and Dr. Rourke walk together toward Wolfe’s quarters. Wrecker and Onslaught stand guard outside.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” Jolt says. “Let us through, please.”
They step aside, and Jolt enters the quarters with Dr. Rourke following right behind.
Wolfe stands before a mirror in his office, shaving as the smell of cigars hangs in the air. Jolt knocks on the doorway three times. “Morning, Wolfe.”
“Jolt, Rourke. Come on in,” Wolfe responds.
The two step into the office. Dr. Rourke takes the seat in front of Wolfe’s desk as Jolt walks toward the mini-bar.
“I’m having scotch, Wolfe,” Jolt says. “Ya mind?”
“Go right ahead,” Wolfe responds. “What do ya two have for me?”
“This,” Dr. Rourke says, placing a figurine onto Wolfe’s desk.
Wolfe turns around to notice it. It appears to be an android.
“And what is that?” Wolfe asks.
Jolt removes the top from a bottle of scotch whisky and sniffs the contents of the bottle. “Mmm. That, Wolfe, is Goliath.”
Jolt pours himself a shot. He points the bottle toward Dr. Rourke, who declines with a wave.
Wolfe wipes his face clean with a wet towel and dumps it into a laundry bin. He turns toward them and goes to his seat.
He leans over his desk and plucks the android, tipping it over.
“Goliath, huh?” Wolfe says before taking his seat. “I recall that failing last time. The use of AI and robots? UN didn’t like that idea so much.”
“Yes, true,” Jolt replies, resealing the bottle. “But, Rourke and I have made…breakthroughs.”
Jolt steps to the desk.
“Using my AI systems, I want to create a master android that administers the Goliath Protocols across a hive-mind network of lower-level androids. But this time, instead of general global protection, we’ll give the system one focus: adapting to, countering, and eliminating superhumans.”
Rourke leans forward in his chair. “I have discovered that we can reverse-engineer the patterns within superhuman DNA and use them to develop specialized countermeasures.”
Wolfe scratches his freshly shaved neck. “You mean the cure?”
“Not necessarily. A cure is broad. Imprecise. We need something more direct. We don’t need to cure them anymore. We just need to solve them.”
“Solve them?”
“Director, think of it like this,” Jolt says.
He swallows his shot and slams the glass on the desk. “Every dead soldier we prevent is a life saved. Would you agree?”
Wolfe nods. “Of course.”
“Right. Curing them risks lives. Our solution to that is the Goliath Protocol. Global protection through constant learning and evolution.” Jolt leans closer. “Specifically aimed at superhumans. Each encounter makes the next one easier.”
Jolt now sits on the desk, leaning toward Wolfe.
“Now, I can cook up an army of androids for you at TRIE Industries, no problem. We’re masters over there in Robotics. I can integrate the Goliath Protocols into every unit, then boom. We have a safer, stronger way of dealing with the freaks.”
Wolfe stays silent, considering the possibilities.
“How…would they work?” Wolfe asks.
“We bel—“ Jolt and Dr. Rourke say simultaneously.
Jolt chuckles. “Go ‘head, Rourke.”
“We believe that All Power can be engineered into a self-sustaining energy source for Goliath’s systems. We should use it for that rather than giving it to superhumans and making them even stronger.”
“See, Wolfe. How loyal will Onslaught be if he gets stronger and starts thinking he doesn’t need your permission?” Jolt asks.
Wolfe stares at Jolt. Silence.
“What about the one we have under our control right now?” Jolt asks. “How much longer can we really keep him down, without really having to worry?”
Wolfe grunts. “Solid point.”
Wolfe considers Wrecker regaining consciousness or Onslaught refusing a command. Neither outcome ends well for him or the GK.
Jolt taps Wolfe on the shoulder, bringing him back to the present. “You must’ve thought about what could happen if we mishandle this All Power stuff. The shit’s like quantum energy. It’s possible that we can produce the most powerful, fastest, and smartest artificially intelligent system in the entire world.”
Jolt grips Wolfe’s shoulder, then points to the fallen Goliath figurine.
“That puts us on top,” Jolt says confidently.
Silence settles over the room.
“So, Wolfe…” Dr. Rourke breaks the air. “What do you think?”
Wolfe leans back into his chair and exhales. He rocks back and forth.
“Well,” he says. Wolfe peeks through his blinds at Onslaught and Wrecker, then glances back at Jolt and Dr. Rourke.
He sucks his teeth, then leans toward his desk, folding his arms on top of it.
“Fine,” Wolfe says. “Let’s do it. I’ll authorize the commencement of the Goliath Protocols.”
Jolt begins applauding, a huge smile on his face.
“Knew you’d pull through,” Jolt says. “Come on, Rourke. We have a shit ton of work to do.”
Jolt and Dr. Rourke take turns shaking Wolfe’s hand before leaving his office. Wolfe scratches the back of his neck and focuses on the fallen Goliath figurine again.
He resets it upright.
“This better work…” Wolfe says.
PRIME Facility | Burbank, CA | 8:25 A.M.
Ashley enters the facility and walks toward the receptionist’s desk. The receptionist looks up at her and smiles.
“Good morning, Ms. Lora. How are you?” she asks.
“Fine, thanks. Um, Commander Lewis called?” Ashley responds.
“Yes. I will let them know you are here.”
“No need,” Lewis says.
Ashley turns to the right to see Commander Lewis and Francis walking toward her. Ashley smiles at the receptionist and approaches them. She hugs Francis, then shakes Lewis’s hand.
“Come. Let’s have a chat,” Lewis says.
They sit down at a coffee table.
“So, how’s Palos Verdes treating you?” Lewis asks. “Sorry for making you drive all this way. We needed you back for a quick check-in.”
“It’s been okay, I guess. Nothing too crazy,” Ashley says.
“Good, I’m glad,” Francis says. “So, we had some important news for you.”
“It’s about your cousin, Yvette,” Lewis says.
Ashley’s eyes open wide. “Eve?! What happened?! Is she okay?!”
Her voice brings the attention of everyone in the lobby.
Francis softly grips Ashley’s knee. “She’s fine. She woke up a few days ago and is close to making a full recovery. We wanted to tell you that she’s here, and she wanted to see you.”
Lewis stands. “C’mon, we’ll take you to her.”
They escort Ashley to the Medical Wing and check in. The nurse escorts them down the hall and stops at the closed door of a medical room.
Ashley glances at the door and sees “Y.Lora” written in marker on the placard. She hesitates. She looks over at Lewis and Francis, who smile at her.
Ashley walks to the door and grips the handle. She takes a deep breath before turning the handle and going into the room.
The room is dark, and the television is on, casting a faint glow over the hospital bed. Spanish music is playing on low volume. Ashley looks toward the bed and sees a silhouette of a woman with long hair facing away from her.
Ashley trembles, her hands jittering. She whispers, “Eve.”
Ashley reaches the side of the bed and notices that she is sleeping. Ashley leans down and nervously reaches for her shoulder, placing her hand on it.
“Eve…” Ashley says, caressing her shoulder.
The woman wakes up and turns toward Ashley, then her face lights up.
“Ashley?” Yvette says.
“EVE!” Ashley yells.
She leaps into the medical bed on top of her cousin and begins crying. For the first time in six months, Ashley has reunited with the only family she has left.
Ashley kisses Yvette all over her face as tears stream down her own.
“Aye, Ash!” Yvette yells. “You’re hurting me!”
Ashley rolls off Yvette and snuggles next to her. She continues to sob, brushing Yvette’s hair with her hand.
“I thought I lost you. I missed you so much!”
A switch flicks on, and the bright fluorescent lights flood the room.
“Sorry to break this beautiful moment,” Francis says. “I was going to wait, but duty calls. I’m leaving this here for you, Yvette. Vi, you already have one of these.”
Francis places a yellow envelope on the chair near the door.
“Vi, rest assured, we worked out some logistics. Found a home within walking distance of your place. She’s also up for discharge tomorrow morning, so maybe you can give her a ride home?”
The cousins look over to her.
“Of course, Francis,” Ashley says. “Thank you. For everything.”
Francis smiles and heads out the door. She flicks the light off and closes the door behind her. Lewis gives Francis a thumbs-up.
“Good job, Iron Eye.”
Lewis and Francis go off to continue their work.
Ashley and Yvette remain curled together on the bed, laughing through their tears.
For the first time since the Surge, Ashley no longer feels alone.
She can sense the love radiating from Eve.
At the same time, flashes of Ashley’s memories surface in Yvette’s mind—memories of the two cousins celebrating Yvette’s birthday at the Expo.