The sixth episode of Fallout season 2 unfolds with the intriguing dynamic of Vault-Tec workers delivering sales pitches and updates to Barb Howard. She watches, exasperated, as House arrives with his chip, referring to it as the "Automated Man." In exchange, he demands the Cold Fusion. When Barb attempts to push back, House smirks, reminding her that Vault-Tec is paying him for it. The impending end of the world weighs heavily on Barb's mind, and she's unnerved to think that there are more powerful people potentially pulling the strings.
At home, Coop confronts Barb about the bombs being dropped. They argue about the future of America and the world, with Barb claiming that there are worse people out there. Coop is having none of it. This argument drives Barb to double down on her desire to figure out the procedures around the Cold Fusion and keep it safe.
In the elevator, Dr. Siggi Wilzig tells her that she's just a cog in the machine, and as we know from season 1, he ends up with the Cold Fusion. He passes on the message to her to be the one to suggest dropping the bombs in the big meeting with House and Hank.
That night, Barb explains to Coop that she has no idea who really controls Vault-Tec. She's in the dark about it, but Coop is determined to try and change his own destiny.
Coop heads back to Vegas and winds up drinking with Hank. He spikes the guy's drink and finds an injector inside the briefcase handcuffed to his wrist. This was clearly used to inject the Cold Fusion. When Barb shows up, she silently heads over to Hank, takes the injector, and sticks it in his neck, taking the Cold Fusion from him.
In the present, an impaled Ghoul struggles to free himself from his predicament. Dogmeat is here, but he doesn't obey. Instead, Hank works to try and free himself from being impaled. He's almost successful, except when he gets near the top, he loses consciousness from the pain. Interestingly, a stranger arrives and takes him away.
Upon awakening, the Ghoul finds himself in the presence of a Super Mutant, a formidable and unexpected sight in the bustling city of New Vegas. The Super Mutant, having entered the city undetected, reveals that a war is brewing and that the Ghoul's health is paramount. In an attempt to persuade the Ghoul to join the Enclave, the Super Mutant offers to stuff him with glowing uranium. The Ghoul, defiant and independent, refuses the offer and is eventually knocked out, only to be taken back to the harsh wasteland.
Meanwhile, Lucy awakens in the lab, finding herself in the company of Hank. The Legion's presence and the office workers' strange behavior keep her on her guard. However, it becomes clear that Hank's chip is functioning as intended. In the Simulation Room, she discovers Hank preparing breakfast, but she ignores his musings on the blurring of right and wrong in the face of war. Instead, she holds him at knife-point and demands that they return to Vault 33 to seek justice.
Hank, seemingly resigned to his fate, handcuffs himself and agrees to do as Lucy wishes. They head into the office, where Lucy tries to convince the brainwashed workers to leave. However, they are steadfast in their mission to create more docile, powerless slaves for the machines. When Lucy tries to intervene, two Legion workers attack each other. Hank encourages her to push the button, and as soon as she does, the two Legion members become friendly and coexist peacefully.
Thaddeus and Maximus leave behind the Brotherhood armor in the middle of the desert, noting that it has a tracker and can be easily found. Maximus still possesses the Cold Fusion, and the pair head off together across the dunes. Thaddeus expresses his desire to sell the cold fusion, pointing out its potential to improve their livelihood and fortunes in the Wasteland. Thaddeus's upbringing in the Bone Yard and his understanding of the daily struggles help ease Maximus's own concerns about growing up at Shady Sands.
At the Vault, Reg tries to entertain the masses of Vault dwellers with his piano playing. However, his performance is rudely interrupted when Vault officers storm the place, with orders to take away all the snacks and dissolve the group. Overseer Betty has made the call, but Reg refuses to budge. He speaks up on behalf of everyone else and refuses to give up the snacks, setting the stage for a potential rebellion and putting Betty in a difficult position.
In the wasteland, Dogmeat catches up with Thaddeus and Maximus, guiding them over to the Ghoul, who is currently looking worse for wear. The scene is filled with tension and uncertainty as each character grapples with their own motivations and desires in this post-apocalyptic world.
