Veronica leads Christine through Vera Keyes apartment, going through the first room and into the second where the Auto-Doc was standing ominously... At least, that's what it looked like to Christine. As far as she was concerned, these things were worse than any boogieman, scarecrow, or monster you could think of.
It was already activated, lit up in a dull blue light to signify that it was 'ready' for use. The faint whirring sound it gave off made Christine want to drop her gun and flee in the other direction...
Veronica rests an armoured hand on her shoulder, "Are you sure you're okay doing this? I mean, I could probably punch through the wall and smack the shit out of Elijah before he knew what was happening..." she jokes semi-sarcastically.
Christine just bites her lip and slowly shakes her head before walking over and beginning to access the subroutines of the Auto-Doc, Veronica hovered over her shoulder as they checked that everything was okay and not likely to cut Christine's face off.
It's only now that they finally understand why Elijah wants Christine to get inside this thing... The Auto-Doc would rebuild Christine's destroyed vocal cords in the image of Vera Keyes, essentially granting Christine the former-starlets voice. Sure, many pre-war people would be willing to sell their souls for such an opportunity, but having a nice singing voice wasn't worth much after the apocalypse... Plus, it'd probably sound pretty jarring to suddenly start speaking with a completely different voice from your own.
The Auto-Doc's doors slowly open while releasing a sound similar to doors you'd see in Starwars or Startrek. A small amount of smoke and dust billows out from the machine, only making it all the more ominous...
Veronica notices the wary glances Christine was occasionally sending her way, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye from out here. If anything even seems like it's going wrong I'll tear you outta there in no time... Trust me. I lost you once, I am not losing you again."
Christine releases a long sigh before nodding. She takes one last breath before stepping inside the machine and closing her eyes, her hands trembling as she awaits the painful sensation of unanesthetized dissection.
*Clunk!*
The doors shut, leaving Veronica standing there with a frown on her face as the machine bursts into action, the sound of saw blades, knives, the cutting of flesh, and faint dripping of blood fills the room. There's nothing she can do but wait, watch, and listen.
Outside, Afton was still facing off with Elijah, Anja standing timidly behind him like a lost lamb. They'd stood here in almost complete silence for ten minutes now, everyone waiting for Veronica and Christine to return...
Elijah had begun to get a little antsy, occasionally loosening his grip around Dean's neck to scratch his scalp, tearing more skin and hair away, leaving bloody trails in his jagged fingernails wake. The man didn't seem to take any notice of it at all, which disturbed Afton more than he'd like to admit... Trying to negotiate with a madman was like trying to sell a hairbrush to a bald guy... Health insurance to a skeleton... A fleshlight to a woman? You get the picture, it just doesn't make sense.
If Afton hazards to guess, he'd say Elijah's age combined with the large amounts of radiation he'd likely encountered, plus the effects long term exposure the Cloud has on people were the cause of his current condition. It had radiation poisoning written all over it, from his paper-thin skin and obvious sickness, to his mental instability.
"How do you think this is actually going to end Elijah? You think I'll let you go after all you've done? I doubt whatever treasure is hidden here will be enough." he threatens, his many intimidation Perks working to make an incredibly unnerving show.
Elijah doesn't seem to notice it all though, instead rolling the wrist holding the make-shift weapon with a grin, "Such hubris! None of us even have a clue what's stored down there, you've already seen the technology this place has... I've already bet my life on it."
Afton gives a low chuckle, "I get it, Casino, bet, at least you still have some humour left." he says, trying to throw him off of his game but obviously not expecting much from such a peculiar angle.
"What? O-oh... No, I wasn't joking. I really have staked my life on this." Elijah states in a moment of lucidity. His age clearly showing on his face.
*Click*
The door to Vera Keye's room opens up, silencing the budding conversation as Veronica steps out with Christine, fresh red, recently stitched up scars now displayed on her neck... She ignores Elijah for a moment and turns her head towards Afton.
"Hello..." she quietly says, sounding as if it was her first time speaking... Which it probably felt like considering the recent operation.
Afton's features soften under his helmet momentarily, but harden again as Elijah begins speaking. "Haha! You are just what I need! Ah, but before we can go any further..." he jabs his weapon in Afton and Veronica's direction, "You both need to get out of that armour..."
...
"I think you're mad." Afton spits.
Veronica nods, "What next? You want us to strip naked as well?" she asks incredulously.
Elijah scratches drags his nails over his scalp obsessively, "I WON'T SAY IT TWICE! TAKE. IT. OFF!"
...
"Fine." says as the sound of rapidly escaping air occurs as his armour unseals itself. The back opening up to allow Afton to step out of it. Veronica does the same, leaving her in just her recon armour...
Afton was a little better off due to the presence of Nyx and all his other Perks, but still not as protected as he'd like.
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Elijah nods with a morose grin and begins leading the group through the VIP apartments. Dean makes a feeble attempt to resist his captor, but Elijah just shoots him in the foot... The hologram-like projectile almost blowing his foot completely apart.
Afton grimaces slightly at the bloody remains of Dean's foot, the bone and flesh of which had been decorated around the hallway. Of course, Dean screamed bloody murder, but Elijah kept firm control over the situation, pushing the weapon against the ghoul's temple when Afton starts to approach.
Thus, the group continues moving, Elijah leaving a long smeared trail of blood as he drags Deans shuddering body with him...
Eventually, they reach an elevator that was intelligently hidden nearby a storage cupboard and the stairs. It doesn't have any labels detailing where it led, nor did it have any buttons that would allow you to access it...
Elijah stops before it and points his gun at Christine, "Speak... Say 'Let go'... SAY IT." he commands as excitement shines in his eyes.
...
Afton's plant arm tightens its fist as tiny roots begin travelling up his sleeve, through his clothes and out the bottom of his trousers. Christine seems to be between psyching herself up to speak and glaring daggers at Elijah, which gives him plenty of time to put his plan in motion.
Now that they were 'close' enough, he could slowly approach with his roots, hopefully without the old man noticing.
"L-Let go." Christine says, but nothing seems to happen, causing Elijah to frown.
"Say it again... PROPERLY this time!"
"Let go!" Christine loudly repeats, and a light above the elevator door flickers to life.
Elijah follows everyone's line of sight and glances at the elevator, giddily grinning as he seemingly ignores the group. The elevator hadn't arrived yet, but he was acting as if the exit was already there for him... Fortunately, Afton had already begun his plan.
"W-what's thi-!?" Elijah mutters as he feels something slithering up his leg, before he's even able to get out a sentence he's pulled off of his feet, losing his weapon in the process. The root's girth swells as it strengthens and begins slamming Elijah into the hallway walls.
*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Afton grins viciously as he continues bouncing Elijah from one wall to the other, all the while multitasking and unclipping the old man's belt that held all his hidden devices. This continues for around a minute until he finally stops the beatdown, hoisting the elderly limp body up by its ankle.
Afton steps forwards and pokes Elijah in his chest, letting his body dangle painfully. "I told you didn't I? You're not leaving this place alive... Maybe I should take the opportunity and skin you, hang it up like a curtain to scare off anyone with similar ideas to you."
"Y-Y-You caan't! I'M ALMOST THERE! IT'S RIGHT THERE!" Elijah roars, reaching for his 'utility belt' but not finding it on his person. He growls and reach inside his elder robes instead, pulling out some sort of remote control?
He's about to press a button but Afton snatches it out of his hand, causing the elderly man to give an angry and distraught shout. "AAAAFFFTOOOOOON!!!!"
Afton ignores the man's screams and examines the control, quickly realising that it's linked to the Casino's central security. "Ah? A gift? How thoughtful." he says before turning and glancing behind him at Christine. "You had some business with him?"
Christine nods, "I do." she quietly replies, her new voice still difficult for Afton to get used to. She strolls up to Elijah with a hard look and draws a knife, with it, she presses the cold metal against Elijah's forehead before slowly beginning to cut the skin away from his face.
The group watches with morbid fascination as Christine carves the same scars she has onto Elijah, all the while the mad former-elder screams in agony, yet, still not begging for forgiveness, but promising retribution.
Afton wonders if the man was really so deluded to think that Christine would let him leave in one piece. She continues to carve long bloody lines into his skull, face, and lastly, neck. She makes sure not to deal a lethal blow, her cuts were efficient and measured... However, soon enough even Christine seems to have had enough, dealing the final blow to the elderly man by brutally cutting out his vocal cords.
She allows the corpse to slump to the floor as she tosses the organ away, taking a glance at Veronica who looks both horrified and relieved at the fate of her former mentor.
Honestly, it was hard to tell how Christine was actually feeling in this moment. She had a small satisfied smile plastered across her face, yet, both of her hands were trembling slightly...
[Elder Elijah killed : Quest complete]
[Reward for completion : Treasure.]
With Elijah dead, Afton turns his attention to Dean who was still slowly but surely bleeding out from his mangled foot. He quickly applies a liberal amount of Med X and Stimpacks while bandaging the wound tightly to prevent further blood loss.
*DING*
As if having waited for Elijah's end, the elevator doors finally slide open, revealing a cabin completely devoid of dust and looking spectacularly clean.
...
Afton glances at everyone, "Err, well... I should let you guys know that I had already found a way out of here, but if you wanna check out the treasure then I'm not gonna say no." he shrugs.
"We need to see if it's dangerous or not... Whether or not the treasure should be destroyed to prevent people like Elijah from getting their hands on it." Christine states after taking a moment to compose herself after her recent execution.
Afton shakes his head, "It depends on what it is... You should be aware that in all likelihood, I'll be taken it for Bulwark... Before anything though, me and Veronica should hop back in our armour... No point going in unprepared."
The group nod and not long after they're gathered back around the elevator entrance. They had collectively decided to leave Anja and Dean behind, both having been heavily injured and would be pretty useless in a confrontation.
Though, Dean seemed adamant on actually seeing what the treasure was... So, in the end, they decided that after it'd been scouted out and deemed safe, everyone else would follow.
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