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68.4% Steel Waste / Chapter 485: Reclaimed Materials

Chapter 485: Reclaimed Materials

By this point, Scorpion-Man seemed extremely depressed... His attempts to shift blame onto Afton and avoid responsibility for his actions, both direct and indirect had failed. The Vigilante just slumped on his bed, resting his elbows on his knees as he gazed at the floor as if looking for answers.

"So... What now?... Do I just stay here, forever?" Scorpion-Man asks, looking up pitifully at Afton, Dala, and Glados. "Will you have your robots dissect me...?"

Afton shrugs, "Honestly, what happens now is up to you." he gives a grin, "We've already dealt with the background radiation you give off, so the only threat now is your excretions. Sweat, urine, saliva, and faeces are all still a risk to the public."

"You did what?" Scorpion-Man asks in confusion.

Afton nods, "While you were asleep we took some of your cells and created an antidote/mutative elixer. Of course, I doubt it would be possible to do the same for your bodily fluids... It's an essential part of your physiology, and taking it away may just destroy you." he says, basically making all of this up.

Scorpion-Man didn't give produce more background radiation than a regular person, but he didn't know that, allowing Afton to claim he did. "As for your options? Well, you have a number of them, though, I doubt you'll like most... The first and most obvious is to join me and my organisation, Bulwark. We are probably one the most technologically advanced groups on earth, the only others that might match us are the Brotherhood and Enclave, both of which would execute you for being a mutant." Afton states before continuing,

"Should you join us, you'll be given a suitable place for you to stay, access to equipment and training most would be in awe at, and the ability to get multiple check-ups with our scientists and doctors." he explains, feeling slightly like an infomercial salesman.

"But... I am still needed in Freeside..."Scorpion-Man mutters faintly.

Afton scoffs, "Didn't I just explain to you why that's a bad idea?"

"It isn't for me, but for my brother... The Gangs tortured him to death because he couldn't pay off his debt! He was made an example for others... I-I need to stop them!"

Afton shakes his head, "If that's your goal then you were going about it the wrong way... Instead of wandering around stopping crimes you should have been doing targeted assaults against the gang that killed your brother." he states.

Scorpion-Man just sights and looks to the ground, "What are my other options?"

Afton nods, "I could ship you back to Freeside. I've already faked your death however, so it would be a surprise to those who may have known you... Plus, I doubt you'd want to risk their health with your physiology.

Another option is for me to just drop you off randomly in the Mojave... To keep people safe you'd basically have to become a hermit though... Honestly, your only real option is to stay here where we can manage your mutation properly." he shrugs. "This is not to say you'd be stuck here forever, we'd just train you up and try to solve the side effects of your abilities, afterwards you could go anywhere you wanted." he explains.

Scorpion-Man slowly nods, "C-could I think about this?... I, I want to think about it before making a decision."

Afton gives a shrug and nods, "Alright, just call out when you've come to a decision. No point waiting in a cell all day when we could be training and fixing you up." he states before leaving.

Dala and Glados float beside him as he walks, "What delicious lies you told to the teddy bear..." Dala mutters huskily.

"Indeed, you have put it in a no-win situation. Either it joins us, or puts others at risk. By my understanding of it's psychology, there's a 0.6% that it refuses your offer, Creator."

Afton nods, "Of course, I wouldn't spew bullshit for no reason. I gotta have at least some standards."

Afton doesn't immediately leave the labs after his meeting with Scorpion-Man, no, instead he walks towards the armour and weaponry decision. Mobius and Klein should be examining the new materials he'd managed to gather...

He walks into the lab and spots the two scientists already scanning the Elite Riot Gear with every tool and technology they have available.

The Elite Riot Gear in question is a large brown Duster reinforced with plating at the shoulders, elbows, knees, chest, and neck. The materials used are pretty primitive, but the helmet itself is what is most interesting, it contains large amounts of tech compacted and made very durable for this purpose only.

Honestly, the only issue Afton could see with the armour is the fact it was designed for a woman... Yep, the NCR Elite Riot Gear they'd obtained from the Van Graffs belonged to a woman. This was the case with both sets they were given... It wasn't all that bad as the only difference between the male version was the shape of it, larger hips, smaller waist, etc.

Afton wasn't actually sure what they could learn from the armour... Aside from integrating similar plating onto their Deathclaw leather dusters, and taking the tech from the helmet, there wasn't much that they didn't already have.

The only armour Afton was interested in acquiring were the Chinese Stealth Armours... The Think Tank used to have some but they were all destroyed in the creation of the Stealth Suit that Nyx lives in. This is also the reason they couldn't just make more Stealth Suits, as the materials that compose it were strange and unknown to them, most likely taken directly from some Chinese Stealth Suits...

Afton was unsure where he'd acquire such armour though, perhaps he'd need to take a trip to China and see what's happening over there... He hoped they'd all been annihilated by America's nuclear bombs, but if not he'd probably have to clean the place up... He wasn't going to allow communists to poison the world again.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Niggross Niggross

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

Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :

ShinAmazake

Chris Lindsey

Kingsprovince

Michael Jarrett

Nazlican Erdem

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Chapter 486: Legio peccator

Word of Caesar's return had spread throughout the Legion, much to the Empire's relief. Once it was known that he had been saved, all the Centurions, Legates, and other important individuals immediately leave their posts to go and meet their leader.

Obviously, he did not return to the Fort, as that place was deemed unsafe and unsuitable for the Great Caesar, especially since he'd been captured from there in the first place... Instead, he was taken to an encampment miles west of the Colorado, and was heavily, heavily reinforced compared to the Fort.

This was to make up for their failure at protecting Caesar last time from those despicable mercenaries now calling themselves 'Bulwark'...

Caesar was currently sitting on a throne within a large war tent, Augustus was standing at his side as Legates and Centurions enter and kneel before him. The only people who weren't present were the one's in charge of taking care of the Empire, those like Legate Lanius.

Caesar's eyes linger on Vulpes Inculta as the man silently enters and kneels next to the others, "Vulpes, stand." he commands, a scowl on his face.

Vulpes Inculta, knowing he was in trouble, stands and immediately starts speaking, hoping to alleviate some of Caesar's anger, "It is a joy for us all that you have returned, my liege. It shames me that I was not able to save you sooner, the pain, humiliation, and torment those barbaric mercenaries put you through must have been terrible." he smiles graciously.

Caesar scowls and slams his fist onto the armrest of his throne before pointing an accusatory finger at the man, "You simpering whelp, did you really think I'd believe such verbal diarrhoea!? You thought yourself above the task of retrieving me from our enemies, instead, sending Augustus Aquarius into what you assumed was a trap, endangering a valuable commander of the Legion all to save your own skin." he spits.

"Great Caesar I never mean-" Vulpe starts but is cut off.

"You will shut your filthy mouth while I am speaking, do you Understand!? The only reason I haven't had you dragged outside, set alight and thrown into a canyon is because you still have your uses. Even with your numerous failures concerning your schemes and even my safety, you are still useful... Consider this your last chance, Vulpes, fail me one more time and I promise every inch of pain and agony I can grant unto you. Do you understand!?"

Vulpes quickly nods and presses his forehead to the floor, feeling a sort of deja vu... Vulpes was honestly expecting two things from this meeting. Either he's executed, or let off completely... This compromise surprised him somewhat.

In recent months Caesar had become more passive and delegated much of his responsibilities. Less brutal in his punishments, now it seems his recent encounter with Afton Parker had put the fire back in him. Vulpes didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing... Caesar would now act like he used to, but that also put Vulpes at risk of an agonizing demise... He mentally shakes his head and returns to kneeling beside the others in the room.

Caesar sits up straight and scours the crowd with his gaze, "Cicero Tullius, what changes have been made to make sure a disaster like what happened at the Fort does not happen again?" he asks and a man with a heavily scarred face stands.

"We have ten thousand men in this encampment alone my liege, our defences are still being constructed, but the walls will be so thick that even a tank would not breach it at full speed. We have set up turrets at all entry points that will be permanently manned to prevent surprise attacks. Every person that enters and exits the encampment will have their identity checked, through tags, passcodes, and member lists." the man explains.

Caesar slowly nods, "That will do, for now, concentrate on completing our defences... If we cannot protect ourselves from a small group's assault then what chance do we have at taking the Mojave!?... Surge, militibus meis." he commands, and everyone stands to attention, "Take this as our second chance, if such events as happened recently occur again then our campaign is finished, along with our future. The future of you, your children, and your children's children. All of our future's hinge on your success, remember this when you start to falter." he states before waving them all off, "Nam Legion!"

""""""Ad Caesarem!"""""" the crowd shouts in response before they all march out with a spring in their steps.

Caesar slumps slightly and looks at Augustus who's still standing at the side, "Do you believe our defences will be enough to fend off Afton Parker and his 'Bulwark?'"

Augustus thinks for a moment before slowly shaking his head, "Those machines he had at his side during the trade looked more powerful than those I have seen before... He also seems able to reproduce that Power armour of his, which is the biggest threat to us currently... Given enough time, I believe he would be able to create an army more powerful than even the Brotherhood of Steel." he cautiously states, hoping to not offend Caesar.

Caesar nods, "My thoughts exactly... We have enough men, but our equipment is lacking compared to him... Of course, our laws against technology do no help us in this regard, but we need something to combat him... Even if we triumph over the NCR, he will still be there, waiting in the Mojave for us." he says with a slight shiver.

Augustus bites the inside of his cheek as he goes to speak, his words alone risking his health. "Then perhaps we should... Alter the law slightly, my liege? Our fights with the Brotherhood of Steel have left us with quite the arsenal, but all are forbidden from using it... Perhaps now is the time we create a 'special unit' for just such an occasion?"

...

Caesar is silent for a while, but eventually he slowly nods, "I think the situation demands something like this... Very well, Augustus, I put you in command of the Legio peccator, a unit given special permission to use advanced technology." he states.

Augustus nods, "It would be an hour my liege."


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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