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79.83% Steel Waste / Chapter 566: Hardin Dahed

Capítulo 566: Hardin Dahed

The other men in Melissa's squad were looking between them questioningly... Most didn't know someone called Christine, nor did they recall her existence. After all, it'd been many years since she'd left, even people stubbornly holding grudges would've forgotten about it by now.

"Hey... Isn't she the one Veronica was bangin'" one quietly questions, getting nods of affirmation from the others.

Veronica ignores all this and continues to look Melissa over, "Seriously though, you look like shit... What've you been doing to end up like this?"

Melissa gives a dull laugh, "Overworking, what else is there? We've-"

"Stand down and shut up, do I need to remind you that giving information to those outside the Chapter is strictly forbidden!?" Jenkins cuts her off.

Veronica frowns at him, "Don't you talk to her like that, I know little guys are always angry, but you gotta deal with that privately."

Jenkins grits his teeth but shakes his head, "What are you doing here anyway? You aren't part of the Brotherhood, and neither is she. Some might say you're trying to spy on us..." he trails off meaningfully.

Christine shakes her head, "Technically I never left the Brotherhood. I'm only here to check the place and speak to Elder Hardin. After that, I'm not sure."

"No." Jenkins spits, "There is no reason for us to bring you to the Elder... Just go on your way and don't come back to our territory... Or I might not be so lenient."

Christine scowls, "That isn't your decision to make, you think Hardin will be happy if you send me away?... Fine." she turns to Veronica, "You win, let's go back to Bulwark." she says while slowly walking back.

Veronica gives a small shrug and follows along, "Maybe if we get back fast enough Afton wouldn't have noticed us leaving..." she mutters, deciding not to think about Glados' almost omniscient gaze around Big Mt.

"W-wait!" Jenkins suddenly shouts from behind them, "I'll take you to the Elder..." he sheepishly says, not willing to risk his career to spite the two women.

"Good."

With that, the duo is led towards the new Brotherhood base, past the make-shift walls and through all the hastily constructed huts the members were now using to keep their tools and other equipment ready to be used at any moment... Of course, they still utilised the bunkers as housing, no point wasting space after all...

Jenkins leads the duo through the place and eventually reaches a building larger than the rest, and once they are inside they are greeted by quite a weird sight... Elder Hardin was slouched in a huge chair, however, he wasn't wearing his Elder Robes as tradition usually dictates. Instead, he wore power armour without the helmet, but that wasn't what was weird about him.

Hardin seems to have torn up his Elder robes and used them to decorate his Power armour. It wasn't even done well, making him look more like a tribal warlord than someone belonging to the Brotherhood. If you consider his almost 'Caesar-Esque' posture, Veronica was beginning to get worried for the future of her old group.

As soon as they step inside, Hardin's brows begin twitching erratically, a frown now prominent on his face. "What does a traitor want now? Shouldn't you be happy we didn't execute you on the spot?" he asks, clearly annoyed.

Veronica crosses her arms, "You don't really believe that do-... Nevermind." she starts but holds herself back when she remembers the reason they were here.

Hardin sends a lazy glance at Christine, "And what do we have here? Another freak maybe?"

"Well, you could say I've physically as much as you have mentally... And physically? You weren't this bald last time I saw you." she shrugs.

...

"I have half a mind to have you taken outside and shot. Who are you? I don't know your face, those scars, your voice... Are you an assassin?" he suddenly asks, his arm visibly ready to grab his weapon.

"Mmhmm. Well, I guess you wouldn't remember that time someone dismantled your weapon and stuck it back together with super glue. Yeah, I doubt anyone remembers you running around the training field not firing a shot while not notic-"

Hardin begins unconsciously growling at the memory, "Christine." he answers, quickly putting two and two together... "I'm not one for tearful reunions, so what do you want?"

"I want to know what's been happening around here! Why you are targeting both civilian and military caravans that travel down the road! Why you are so flagrantly breaking the Codex!" Christine exclaims, nowhere in the Codex did it allow the Brotherhood to raid civilian caravans without an exceptionally good reason...

Such an occurrence had only happened a few times in BOS history, one where the civilian caravan was unknowingly transporting tainted goods, and another when a terrorist rigged bombs inside it... If Hardin couldn't answer this simple question then it would be a clear and prominent example of the Chapters moral degradation.

Hardin squints at her, "We require resources to retake our place in the Mojave as protectors of technology and peace. What other reason could there be?" he states, sounding like a crappy politician.

...

Resources? That's the reason?... Hardin didn't seem to be trying to hide it either... Had he gone mad? The way he was acting, dressing, and moving the Chapter it sounded likely. If it weren't for McNamara, she might've started to think the position itself is cursed...

That said, she still had a couple questions for him before they left. She wanted to leave as quickly as they entered, hopefully before her parents got wind of her visit. "What is the real reason you threw Afton out of the Chapter? Some BOS groups classify non-feral Ghouls as humans, as long as they aren't classified as an abomination, they should be allowed to live under our laws."


REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES
Niggross Niggross

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

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Capítulo 567: Crazy Asshole

Hardin struggles to hide his smirk, "Why do you think I need a reason to banish a traitor? I am the Elder of this Chapter. The leader of everyone and everything you see around you... I could have you executed right now, and no one would be able to do anything to stop it." he states ominously.

...

Veronica scowls, "That's not how an Elder is supposed to act, Hardin... That's how Elijah thought, and look where that got us!"

"Ha! You're comparing me to that snivelling old man? He was a weak and cowardly leader, he'd never attempt what I'm trying to create here... He lacked the ambition for it." he says, his eyes seemingly staring past the duo before he blinks a couple times and regains his focus, "You two should know your place, or you might not have a place in this new world that I am building." he states.

"New world?" Christine questions, their Chapters purpose for being in the Mojave wasn't to do anything like that... They were originally here to acquire technology before the NCR and Legion could uncover it as well as taking Hoover Dam. Which is more like a pipedream at this point.

Hardin nods, "Yes, my New World. Where the Brotherhood would stand above everyone else and maintain the peace. It's clear to me now that people are not able to govern themselves... So we must do it for them."

Veronica raises a brow, that kinda sounded like something Afton had said in the past... Though, she was unsure.

Christine frowns, "And the other Chapters who see differently? The Codex states that we exist for the wellbeing of humanity, as well as protecting the commonwealth."

"They will adhere to my new rules, or be dealt with." Hardin coldly states causing both of the duo to tense at the tone of his voice.

"Come to think of it, don't you both have close ties to Parker?... Hm, I'll allow you back into the Chapter if you reveal all you know about Bulwark, their location, technology, members..." he trails off while giving them a hard look.

...

'Shit' Veronica mentally exclaims at his words, yeah, they probably should have considered a possibility like this. McNamara wouldn't have dared do something like this in the past, but Hardin was clearly a different kind of leader... Not to mention his frankly questionable mental state. She holds her reflexive answer though, not wanting to suddenly get shot for calling him a crazy ass hole.

Christine doesn't have such a filter however, the fact that the Chapter she grew up in was now becoming a totalitarian dictatorship was too much for her to act rationally. "You're crazy. This isn't even a Brotherhood of Steel Chapter anymore, you wouldn't even be considered a rebel due to how you are breaching the Codex... No, you're just a traitor!" she angrily growls.

Veronica glances around the room while Hardin's focus is on Christine, looking for an exit should they need to suddenly flee. Which, was looking more and more likely the way things were going.

Hardin's voice morphs into one of utter rage at Christine's words, "You would call ME a traitor!? I have given my life to the Brotherhood, and what have I gotten in return!? Nothing! You will obey me!" he states while standing, putting his helmet on as he does so.

Christine and Veronica back away at this point, the latter grabbing Christine by the arm and quickly running for the door.

"Paladins, stop them!" Hardin commands, wanting to capture rather than kill to glean some information about Bulwark.

The two Paladins that had been waiting outside immediately block the way forwards, but that wasn't enough to scare Veronica... She sprints at them and jumps, smashing her fist into the first one's helmet.

*Crack!*

*Clang!*

The Paladin stumbles backwards, disoriented with the world spinning... Her attack hadn't knocked hm out, but it was close to it.

Veronica on the other hand was looking much worse for wear, having broken her hand punching the man's helmet. The other Paladin grabs Veronica who immediately begins struggling, but is unfortunately unable to do anything... The benefits power armour confer aren't so easily beaten, not unless you're someone like Afton...

Christine draws her weapon and is about to attack the man when a projectile smashes into the floor between her legs, clearly as a warning... She glances back and notices Hardin standing there with a Gauss Rifle in hand, the weapon still pointing directly at her...

Realising they were beaten, she tosses her revolver on the floor and puts her hands up. Veronica spots this and stops her useless struggling, releasing a sigh and going limp as the duo are handcuffed.

"You both will regret not accepting my offer. Take them away." Hardin waves them off while returning to his 'throne'.

Veronica and Christine are both unceremoniously tossed into a prison cell, and are left alone by the guards as the cell doors are locked.

Veronica scowls and wraps her broken hand in some rags while sending Christine a disgruntled sideways glare.

Christine just sighs, "Don't say it, I already know I fucked up." she states while sitting against the cell wall.

"Oh no, I think I deserve this... I. Told. You. So." Veronica slowly and carefully says.

"Feeling better now? Cause I don't." Christine mutters.

Veronica scoffs, "Aside from my broken hand and our imprisonment? Peachy... You know you've doomed the Chapter, right?"

Christine crooks a brow at this, "What?" she asks, surprised.

"You think Afton'll just let us be imprisoned and not do anything? No. He's gonna come down like a ton of bricks... That is, unless the NCR decides to act first."

...

"Sorry." Christine quietly admits... She was logical enough to admit that this was her fault, though, she could put some blame on Hardin and the Chapter itself too. How was she to know that the place was run by a crazy asshole?... Hardin was nothing like this in the past, so why now?... Urgh... Maybe she was just being too optimistic about people...?


REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES
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

Kingsprovince

Michael Jarrett

Nazlican Erdem

Tarlock

Justin David

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