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75.88% Steel Waste / Chapter 538: Pecking Order

Chapter 538: Pecking Order

Veronica continues, "Well, McNamara was ousted by Hardin due to incredibly dubious reasons. It was only on a technicality that McNamara lost the position, a technicality that he broke to save the chapter..." she trails off.

Afton crosses his arms and locks eyes with Christine, "About a year ago I left the Bunker after having thought long and hard on whether or not the chapter was actually fulfilling their duties... During my time in the wasteland, I found the Brotherhood wanting... They abandoned their duties to the people and hid away to protect themselves. I won't lie, you leaving us was a considering as well Christine, I wanted to find and bring you back to us..." he states while taking many liberties with what constituted the 'truth'.

If he were honest, the main reason he left was to acquire the Pipboy the Brotherhood was hellbent on taking apart. Of course, finding Christine, Veronica, and exploring the wasteland was also a consideration, as well as having some fun in this strange world he found himself in...

Hiding away in the bunker in this world would be like living in a basement after going on vacation to a tropical country.

"The current situation in the Mojave is far worse than most would have you believe, Christine. The NCR are corrupt and vicious towards anyone who doesn't follow them absolutely. The Legion are barbaric slavers hellbent on blazing a trail through the continent, raping, murdering, and conquering everything in their path. Even Mr House, the ruler of New Vegas, allows prostitution, which in some casino's essentially amounts to indebted servitude, blackmailing, and manipulation of Chem-Addicts.

To fix this I decided to make my own faction, Bulwark. We would take on the duties of the Brotherhood while not constantly deferring to the Codex. It may seem blasphemous to you, but let me ask you honestly... Do you think that Anja and Dean should be executed?" he asks with furrowed brows beneath his helmet.

Christine just stares into his glowing red visor, contemplating her thoughts on it. The Codex firmly stated that the eradication of abominations was their first and foremost duty. As humans it is their responsibility to safeguard humanity against such existential threats. At least, this is what they were taught, Christine herself was dubious over it despite her firm adherence to most other rules in the Codex. Her relationship with Veronica had been seen as a dereliction of duty, despite nothing of the sort being anywhere in the Codex.

She takes a glance at the blind Anja, the Ghoul who'd been assisting her the best she could despite her injury. Anja had been telling her stories about some of Afton and her adventures, adventures involving monstrous plants, Fiends, and the NCR...

It would be a lie to say she hadn't started feeling a friendship towards her, but that only left her conflicted due to what the Codex states.

Christine bites her lip and slowly shakes her head, feelings of confusion, betrayal, and despair overtaking her for a moment. To be honest, she'd never actually been confronted with such a decision until now... She'd been locked up inside for most of her life, the Mojave chapter, then the Circle of Steel... Sure, she'd been called on to assassinate the occasional Ghoul in some communities. But there was such a great distance between her and her target, physical and emotional, that she never really thought about it.

She tapes her collar once, answering no to Afton's question, though, she was hesitant when she gives it.

Afton takes his helmet off and holds it under his arm, "Then, by that decision, you are a traitor to the Brotherhood. Simply for not killing an innocent and sapient being, you have broken the Codex and can be punished. Demotion, exile, or execution... Do you not see how Draconic such rules are? This is the primary reason I distanced myself from the Brotherhood.

I still believe that technology needs to be regulated, after all, technology caused the Apocolypse. But I think having a 'Kill and burn all Abominations' rule is stupid and far too easily taken advantage of. Just what classifies an Abomination anyway? A creature of human descent? A creature created by the manipulation of human DNA? The Codex is never clear on this, which is why some chapters regard Ghouls as humans, and others burn them at the stake on sight." he states.

Veronica spots the indecision on Christine's face and rests a hand on her shoulder, "Look Christine, I didn't leave the Brotherhood lightly. Hardin challenged Afton to a trial by combat after he was exiled." Christine's eyes widen slightly at this, quickly realising the implications, Veronica nods in confirmation, "Afton beat the shit out of Hardin without any Power armour at all, he did this to save Anja from execution after we protected the chapter from a Legion assault" she explains.

"The Brotherhood had lost its way, and I feel that you can only trust yourself to make things right... I don't think waiting until someone punches it in the nuts to get it back on track, we'll be the ones doing the punching! And we'll make the Mojave a better place for it." Veronica states, determination burning in her eyes... Though, her words seem to bring Christine out of her funk and into silent laughter.

Christine laughs at the way Veronica had framed it, the strange choking silence not even bothering her as her eyes tear up, quickly remembering why she'd fallen for Veronica all those years ago... It seems as if she hadn't changed a bit!

Veronica pouts, "Oi, I'm being serious! Stop laughing!" she groans, but Afton and the others just begin chuckling at the side. All of them receiving a glare from the 'Nut Puncher'.

After Christine had finished laughing and wiped a stray tear from her cheek, Veronica looks into her eyes, "So... Are we still good?"

Christine doesn't try to 'say' anything in response, instead, stepping on her tiptoes and giving a light peck to Veronica's lips. The victim's back straightens at this as Veronica blushes and looks at Christine with a dumb expression on her face. "Y-Y-You!-"

Afton claps his hands together drawing everyone's attention, "Alright! You guys can make out another time, we've still got work to do, remember!?"


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!

If you like my content or want to read ahead please go to : https://www.p.atreon.com/Nagross, I'd appreciate it.

Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :

ShinAmazake

Chris Lindsey

Kingsprovince

Michael Jarrett

Nazlican Erdem

Chapter 539: Promoted to Bodyguards...

With the misunderstanding between the group and Christine temporarily solved, they begin moving towards the Sierra Madre Casino in the distance. The Casino itself was actually a couple miles away, and to reach it you'd need to traverse a long path winding up and down steep hills.

The terrain didn't slow the group down much, but it certainly slowed the Ghosts who were stumbling over one another and stupidly trying to go over terrain that was too steep to traverse... Hundreds of those creatures might've gotten stuck alone, yet, the numbers heading towards the Casino still seemed neverending.

The group continued to try to sneak around and past the Ghosts, the creature's limited hearing, and sight making it fairly easy for the most part. But the closer to the Casino the group got the denser the groups of Ghosts got... This eventually made it impossible to continue without attracting the attention of the Ghosts.

They were still halfway up the mountain leading to the Casino when a firework going off illuminated the area, causing all the Ghosts around them to slowly turn around and look at them... "Fuck." Afton spits when he realises half the Ghosts on the mountainside were now looking at them.

Without waiting another moment, he grabs Anja and Christine and hoists them above him out of the Ghosts grip before charging straight into the crowd like an American Football player. He easily flattens the first few who get in his way, and easily began rambling anything else that obstructed him...

Veronica had done the same, grabbing Dean and following the trail of bodies Afton had left in his wake. Fortunately, the Ghosts weren't as focused as they'd usually be... The Fireworks going off above them must have been distracting them to some extent. Blades, claws, and other makeshift weapons skittered off of her armour as she followed Afton.

This train of rambling continues all the way up the mountain, eventually managing to reach the Casino before any of the Ghosts had actually managed to... Afton sets down Christine and Anja while glancing a Veronica who was gulping in deep breathes, obviously exhausted.

Afton allows her to catch her breath and turns back to the Casino, scanning it for any hint of hostility... Truly, it was much, much bigger up close. He'd never seen a building so big in this world before... Even the Lucky 38 would be dwarfed by its sheer scale.

Along the walls were indentations that most likely hid the defences, the many auto-turrets Elijah had spoken about beforehand... Fortunately, he hadn't lied about the Gala Event deactivating them. He looks towards the door, which currently had a red carpet laid out for the guests and many shining lights flashing around. He was lucky he didn't have epilepsy, otherwise he'd instantly be having a seizure at the sight of the entrance alone...

"Nyx, any luck finding and gaining access to the Casino's systems?" he asks his AI after turning off his microphone.

"I have made many attempts sir, but it looks as if someone else is attempting to do the same... They have succeeded in some places, but the security of the Casino varies greatly." she explains.

Afton nods, "Alright, continue on that if you could." he says with a sigh, wondering if Elijah was already on the move. He turns towards the group and gestures them to follow him, having just noticed a few Ghouls shambling up the mountain, they'd reach the Casino in around half an hour if they were lucky, so it was best to try and find a way to seal the doors.

The group follows his gaze and quickly nods, following Afton as he jogs towards the Casino entrance. There were a few Holograms standing either side of the doors greeting them and attempting to explain the Casino's rules, but the group just ignores them and enters anyway.

Once through the doors, Afton feels himself gaping at the sight before them... An absolutely humungous room completely filled to the brim with Holograms, Casino tables, Games, and other things. There were even Hologram guards walking around, one actually approaches the group and looks Afton up and down.

"Weaponry is restricted, please visit the reception and remove your weaponry, or suffer potential disintegration." it states.

Afton holds his hands out placatingly, "Alright, alright... I'll get on that." he says, not wanting to attract the ire of all the Holograms in the Casino. Fortunately, it seems that the Ghosts would also be having a bad time upon entering as well.

Afton coughs into his hands, "Where is the reception may I ask?"

The Holographic guard just points at a desk right next to them with a blank look. Afton is about to walk over when Dean steps up, surprising the group.

"Now hold your glow-in-the-dark panties... Do you know who I am?" the ghoul asks.

The Hologram nods servilely, "One of the singers Mr Sinclaire invited, Dean Domino."

Dean grins and crosses his arms, "These people are my bodyguards, I am sure they have permission to keep whatever tools of self-defence they carry." he explains.

....

"Processing." the hologram states in a robotic manner, clearly trying to find whether or not this is acceptable.

....

"Processing."

....

"Confirmed, bodyguards have been giving temporary permission. Enjoy your stay Mr Domino." the Hologram says before starting to walk away, only for Dean to step in front of it again. "Is something bothering you Mr Domino?"

Dean nods, "There is a group of assassins outside all wearing black suits, gas masks, and wielding weapons. I would appreciate it if you disallowed them from entry into the Casino."

....

"Processing."

....

*THUMP! CRASH!*

The group's heads swivel towards the door where a black clawed hand emerges from the gap in the door... The Ghosts had arrived far faster than Afton had expected...

"Processing."

Afton draws his recovers and starts firing as a couple Ghosts shamble into the Casino, blowing their brains out. And causing them to temporarily fall to the ground as their bodies move to regenerate the damage.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!

Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :

ShinAmazake

Chris Lindsey

Kingsprovince

Michael Jarrett

Nazlican Erdem

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