บท 158: Tiny Tim
Though, his relationship with Boone was a weird one. The man had a lot of baggage and probably need some mental trauma counselling. Not that he'd ever accept such a thing mind you, he was too proud and stubborn to accept that he needed help.
Hopefully once Boone got friendlier with him and Karl the man would open up to them about his problems... Only then would he be on the path to recovery...
Yeah, he probably wouldn't be taking the [Spray and Pray] Perk, even if it did have its uses, he likely wouldn't ever make use of them. Instead it would be better off to just put points in something like [Intense Training] or another of the lower level Perks.
...
Hmm, thinking about it more clearly, if this Doctor Usanagi had the capability to create the Monocyte Breeder Implant, then wouldn't she be able to create the other easier ones? The one's that increased a human's base stats to a higher degree... If she did then wouldn't they increase one's S.P.E.C.I.A.L stats?
He was still unsure at whether or not maxing out a stat would provide a Perk, but if it followed the trend the skillpoints had set then it probably would. The Perk given would likely be much more powerful as well judging by how difficult it was to raise the S.P.E.C.I.A.L stat.
Going into [Intense Training] he looked over his two stats that could potentially reach 10 after gaining an Implant, Strength and Agility.
He wasn't sure which of these would give the best benefits. Obviously, if he was just going with his current fighting style then Agility would be the best bet... But he couldn't just think of the stats themselves... He needed to consider what potential Perk he would gain...
When he maxed out his Guns skill he got [John Wick Style], a Perk that allows him to even the playing field even when heavily outnumbered.
When he maxed out Speech he got [Spies Guise], a Perk that tricked people into revealing more than they usually would.
And when he got Medicine to 100 he got [Miracle Maker] a Perk that'd save his life once a week....
The trend set by these was rather random, but in the end, did correlate with their respective skill... So, if he upgraded Agility to the max, what would he get?
Would he become more flexible? Get a superpower? Get faster? It was painfully irritating to be in the dark about it if he were honest.
What would he gain if he maxed out strength? He doubted it'd just make him stronger otherwise that stat itself would become rather pointless.
Afton shakes his head after a moment, he needed to treat the potential Perks as if they'd be useless. There wasn't really a point putting all his hopes on the Perk when the stats were useful on their own.
In the end he used [Intense Training] to put another point into Agility, putting it at 9.
And with that, time resumed. Afton managed to hold the same expression he had before time got stopped as knowledge about stealth made its way into his mind.
Just before Ranger Morales is handed off to someone else so the Sergeant could discuss their pay, the man gave them a grateful look, "All jokes aside... You saved my life today, if there's anything I can do to repay you, just say the word."
The Sergeant ignores the man's heartfelt words and hands him off to one of his soldiers, "Get him comfortable, I'll radio in for an NCR doctor to check him over to make sure he's fit for travel." he looks to Afton, "No disrespect meant, it's just proper procedure considering you aren't licensed by the NCR."
Afton shrugs, "None taken. Now, we were going to discuss our pay, right?" he says, causing the Sergeant to sigh.
"Yes..."
It's funny really, the Sergeant was so desperate for the group's help, but when it finally came time to pay up he was reluctant... Should've expected it, this is what most mercenaries experience right? Getting short-changed after completing the job.
Maybe Afton should start writing up contracts to prevent anyone from backing out... Though, the terms of which would need to be specified. He couldn't very well write up a contract in the middle of a gunfight though, could he? If they found themselves in another situation like this it'd be the same result regardless...
Hmm, maybe next time they should make them squirm for a while longer to make sure they knew the severity of the situation, but even then they still might try to cheat them.
Afton sighs, whatever, atleast their reputation would spread from this. Even if the caps were not worth the effort. He distributes the caps between the group, only getting 150 caps each due to the stingy Sergeant.
"I'll tell you again, I'm sorry if the pay isn't what you thought. I don't earn much and the NCR frowns on using mercenaries... Aside from bounty hunters of course...
Afton just shrugs, "Tell that to my starving family, I'd like you to look Tiny Tim in the eye and tell him he won't be eating today." he retorts and starts walking back to where the bodies of the Fiends lay.
Karl and Boone catch up with him and the former can't control his chuckling anymore, "Tiny Tim? Where'd you come up with that, kid?"
"Oh, you haven't met my starving disabled son yet? Shame, I think you'd like him." Afton jokes, "I'll be sure to mention him in any conversations that require it." he adds just before the group splits up and starts looting the corpses of the Fiends.
Karl goes over and looks around for any more traps, disarming the one's he finds. There're a couple mines and some more bear traps, all of which he stores in his backpack.
While Afton was stripping a dirty male Fiend clean of his clothes a notification pops up in the corner of his vision.
[NCR REP Increased! : Liked]
Hm, atleast they didn't come away from this with nothing... Even if the loot from the Fiends bodies was worth more than what the Sergeant had paid them.
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Niggross
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บท 159: Trouble finding you
Afton and the other's looted the Fiends bodies, collecting a good amount of weaponry as well as chems. The dirty drug addicts may have taken most of the chems before their deaths, but they had so much that a small quantity was still worth a good amount of caps.
While he did want to gather as much stuff as possible to make the most gains when they eventually arrived at the Gun Runners, Afton wasn't going to strip the Fiends for their clothes... They may be worth a few caps each but it simply wasn't worth it. Some were covered in blood and most smelled like shit.
Once they'd packed everything valuable up the group got back on Dirt-Bird and started driving towards the Gun Runners.
There were a few things that Afton had noticed as they were driving. His Pipboy buzzed to life as they passed a large rocky outcropping, looking at the map there was apparently a Vault placed there... Vault 34, well, he could check on that later on, it was more important to sell of their loot and get to the Gun Runners first.
Though, even when Afton was determined to reach their destination, trouble always seemed to try and get his attention. They were driving past someplace called the Aerotech office park when they noticed an NCR soldier wearing a beret start shouting in a rage.
"FUCKING SCUM! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN! OH MY GOD!" he roars to no one imparticular, kicking up stones and dirt as he tries to get his frustrations out on anything.
"Think we should check this out? I ain't never seen a Captain this troubled before, hell, I knew one who was calm even when surrounded by Legionary Assassins and Mongrels." Karl says from behind him.
Afton shrugs, "Fine, but we aren't taking any jobs until we properly equip ourselves." he says, pulling over to the side of the road, hopping off of Dirt-Bird and walking towards the enraged man.
"Yo, Mr NCR-hulk, what's up?" Afton asks with a small wave, his introduction causing Karl and Boone to give him a sideways glance.
"Wha-Who? Who are you?" the man says after almost pulling out his pistol to fire at them, clearly he was too high strung to think rationally right now.
"Just some mercenaries, if you need help then we're your guys." Afton continues.
The man shakes his head and wipes his face of the moisture that'd gathered, though, whether or not those droplets were sweat or tears would be anyone's guess. "It's too late now, I've failed my duty... Those sick bastards!"
Afton crosses his arms and sighs, "Can't really help if you won't tell us the problem."
"The problem? Some fuckin' sicko's have made their way into my refugee camp and kidnapped some children. You hear me? Ch-il-dren! All while I was supposed to be protecting them!"
All of the group's looks sharpen at hearing this. While they wouldn't be considered the most morale group in the waste, they wouldn't sit idly by while children were going missing.
"Tell you what, once we've completed our business at the Gun Runners, we'll be back to help you out. Deal?" Afton says.
The man slowly nods, "If you think you can help... Ah, I'm Captain Parker by the way."
...
Karl raises a brow and points, "Kid's name is Afton Parker, any relation?" he asks semi-sarcastically.
Captain Parker shakes his head, "I hope not, my bitch ex-wife kept the name but you ain't old enough to be hers... Parker's a common name anyway..."
The other two introduce themselves to Captain Parker before they all retreat back to Dirt-Bird. Afton glances at them as they begin riding to the Gun Runners.
"There isn't anything I hate more than people who hurt children. So when we find this fucker I'm going to make sure they get what's coming to them. If the NCR wants to arrest them then they'll have to scrape them off of the floor first."
Karl nods, "I'm with ya' kid, it's one of the reasons I hate the Legion so much."
Boone just grunts with them, but its plain to see how much anger he's holding back at the thought.
After a couple more minutes of driving the group finally arrive in front of a large fenced-off building. Dirt-Bird halting before a shack with no visible entrance containing a Protectron. It was filled to the brim with weaponry and shielded with what looked like bulletproof glass. The only other thing of notice was the Reloading Station next to the shack, as well as the man operating it.
The man with tanned skin and black hair hidden by a baseball cap raises a brow at them as they arrive, "Hey, didn't think anyone was rolling around on one of those anymore." says while looking at Dirt-Bird with interest.
Afton just shurgs at him, "I know, she's a beauty. We're just here to buy some weaponry though." he says, not wanting to enter a conversation with them.
"I see. Well, the Vendertron will handle everything, no need for me to get involved." he mutters before going back to his work.
Afton steps up to the glass and looks at the robot, "Er... What're you selling?"
"He-ello sir, or madam. I am designated unit Vendertron, how can I be of service to you today."
...
"Guns. Lots, of guns." he states with shimmering eyes.
The Vendertron proceeds to list all of the weapons that are currently in stock. And boy was there a lot of weapons. All of them were in perfect condition, probably having been personally built by the Gun Runners, or restored through a long process.
Though, this was good and bad... Good, because he wouldn't need to spend time fixing anything he bought here... And bad because he wouldn't be able to buy any broken weapons for cheap and quickly fix them via his Perks.
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Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know.
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