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75.74% Steel Waste / Chapter 537: Gala Event

Chapter 537: Gala Event

His small jaunt through the Salida del Sol was far easier now that he didn't have to worry about Veronica or Dean. That said, he had fallen through a couple of weakened rooftops due to his speed and momentum... Fortunately, no one was around to see that, otherwise he might have to silence them...

Soon enough he reaches the church where the bell tower is located. He looks over the rooftop at it and frowns at the cloud enveloping the place... The entire ground floor was covered and most likely full of the deadly substance...

Still, it wasn't like he couldn't deal with this. He fires out a Plant Whip and attaches it to the bell tower, taking a run-up before leaping off of the roof and pulling himself towards it. He's pulled through the air towards the bell tower but accidentally catches too much speed...

*CRASH!*

Once he hits the wall of the belltower he goes clean through the wall, leaving a flailing humanoid shape if himself... He tumbles as he forces himself to stop, eventually skidding to a halt in a grimy dark room with a ladder at one side leading all the way to the top of the tower.

There weren't any Ghosts around, probably due to the fact you needed to climb another ladder just to get to this point...

Afton stands and rolls his shoulders while taking a glance at the wall he'd crashed through. "Eh, I'm, sure the owner of this place will take care of that..." he jokes to himself, and afterwards begins scaling the ladder.

Once at the top he's given the best view of the Sierra Madre town he'd ever seen... He could see everything from here... The Puesta del Sol, Salida del Sol, Medical District, and even the Police Station. He focuses on where his various companions were located... Christine and Anja, Dean and Veronica... Each area still looks relatively free from the Cloud, which put him somewhat at ease.

"Alright... Better do what I came here for..." he mutters while turning to face the switch which looks in the direction of the Sierra Madre Casino. He turns on his radio and speaks into it to confirm that everyone was ready, "I'm about to start the Gala Event... Everyone ready?"

"*Bzztch* We're ready here, just waiting for the light show.*Bzztch!*" Deans voice says through his collar.

"*Bzztch* Ready, Sir. *Bzztch!*" Anja confirms for the both of them, Christine obviously not able to talk.

"Alright... Let's do it!" he exclaims while pressing the big red button on the panel.

*DOOOOoooong! DOOOOoooonnngggg!*

The bell above him begins chiming, releasing loud, slow *dongs* every couple of seconds or so-

*BAAAANG!*

Afton jumps slightly, changing his focus from the bell to the Casino, which had thousands of fireworks going off right now. It honestly felt like a New Years Eve Celebration, but all contained within this single fireworks display.

From the tower he could already see the vast groups of Ghosts slowly shambling towards the Casino, no doubt attracted by the cacophony occurring nearby. Honestly, their sheer numbers were kind of frightening... He'd already killed hundreds of them, but the light produced by the fireworks occasionally reveals the many shadowy walking corpses...

He shakes his head and looks back at where his companions are, deciding it would be best to head towards Dean and Veronica first. They were the most exposed and could help with moving Anja and Christine if something obstructs them. "I'm moving to collect you all, try and stay out of sight while the Ghosts are migrating." he states before jumping out of the bell tower window and using his Plant Arm to soften the impact.

Half an hour later and Afton arrives back at where Veronica and Dean were located... From the rooftop, he could see a couple Ghosts bashing their heads against the locked gate where the duo was waiting for him... Apparently, they'd not managed to avoid all attention.

He jumps down and cuts the Ghosts to pieces, tossing their individuals parts far away from each other before looking through the gate, "Yo!"

"You're back... Good job with the Bell Tower, thought it would take you far longer if I am honest." Dean admits as they open the gate and step out.

Afton shrugs, "Getting you guys cleared here was harder than the tower."

Veronica puts her helmet on and steps out, giving Afton a light punch to his shoulder, "Stop jabbering and let's go get the others."

The group climb back to the rooftops and begin moving again, following the route they took to get here from the Switching Station.

Soon enough they arrive back at where Christine and Anja were waiting... Unfortunately, it seems as if something had occurred during their absence, Christine's crossed arms, straight posture, and accusatory expression said it all...

Afton rubs the back of his helmet, "Er, did something happen?" he asks, glancing at Anja.

Anja nods, "Elijah told Christine about us, or you, to be specific, sir." she states sheepishly.

"Ah..." Afton mutters in realisation.

Christine nods, tapping her collar twice and jabbing a finger at Afton and Veronica's chest plates, afterwards pointing at the Bulwark insignia's printed across them.

"She thinks you betrayed the Brotherhood." Anja adds, hoping to get this misunderstanding sorted so they can get moving. It was difficult to maintain her composure with her new disability and the loud sounds of the Gala Event starting.

Afton scoffs and Veronica takes her helmet off, "Christine, we didn't abandon the Brotherhood, they abandoned us! Do you know that it was Elder McNamara that took Elijah's place after Helios One?" she asks and Christine nods.

She'd occasionally gotten updates about the Mojave chapter while she was training in the Circle of Steel... Though, nothing specific obviously. As far as she was concerned, the Mojave chapter was still hiding underground with McNamara leading them, she was conflicted about it, but wasn't sure what could be done due to the Mojave's current political climate.


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

next chapter

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

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