章節 74: Determination

Afton leant forwards to hear how the fight went, but Karl expression didn't move... The man seemed to be thinking about what'd happened before shaking his head, "I lost." he says in despair.

"I was heavily injured and only survived due to my partner dragging my body through miles of sand to safety. I... Said some things I wish I could take back to them, but it doesn't matter now, heard a Legion Assassin squad got them."

Afton slowly nods, "The Legion has your daughter..." he mutters, he couldn't imagine how the man dealt with that fact. Sounds like he was willing to give his life to save her, but trying and failing is akin to not trying at all. He didn't know much about the Legion, but he knew they were definitely worse than what Tommy's gang had been doing...

"She's still there, I can't get out of my head the things those bastards are doing to her... Ranger's see a lot Afton. I've seen what happens to the Legions female slaves." Karls hands were tightly gripped into fists.

"How'd you get imprisoned though? Surely you'd be a war hero?" Afton asks, not seeing how he'd go from risking his life to save NCR soldiers to a criminal.

"I told you earlier, the NCR hates rogue rangers. My act of trying to save my daughter was considered insubordination. Everyone could see I had a grudge against the Legion, but my attitude towards the NCR had... Undergone a change. I saw them, and still do, see them as the people the facilitated my daughter's fate.

The NCR is a strange beast with many intricacies, there are many good people in it, but at the top there are only bastards. Bureaucrats who'll do anything to maintain their power. What do you think they'd do if someone capable of killing them from miles away held a grudge against them?"

Afton slowly nods in realisation, "They imprisoned you."

"Locked me up in the NCR Correctional Facility, somewhere the bureaucrats liked to send people they disliked. Course, they mixed the population up with brutal fuckers who'd tear your throat out with their teeth, 'reckon that was an attempt to get rid of us before we had a fair hearing." he explains, Afton's eyes widening as he'd heard from many people in the Powder Gangers that they were unfairly imprisoned. He'd always assumed they were just lying, but hearing this from Karl made him understand why the Powder Gangers as a whole hated the NCR so much.

"Hm, so the reason you reacted to Tommy like that-" he stops, there was no point to confirming his suspicion when concerning a topic as dire as Karl's daughter. "What'll happen if they find out your identity?" he asks, slightly concerned that the duo would receive a nighttime 'permenant sleeping pill', obviously, this pill would be the shape of a bullet, fortunately, it likely wouldn't be inserted anally.

Karl shrugs, "No idea, depends on who finds out first. I'm well respected by most, though, my time in the Powder Ganger's might've changed that. If the higherups hear that I'm still kicking they might try to deal with me."

The man slumps against the metal railing, rubbing his mouth and beard before turning to Afton, "You been listenin' to my story son, whatta'bout yours?"

"Hmm." he mumbles to himself, thinking of a way to explain that he'd basically been locked underground up until now without linking himself with the Brotherhood. "I... I grew up around a cult, people didn't like us around so we lived underground for the most part. I've spent more years underground than I have above it." he mutters, only now realising that fact. It was slightly depressing to be honest.

He went on to explain that they'd travelled around and eventually found a good spot to settle down, speaking of how the NCR decided they liked the land better and remove them from it, killing his parents in the process.

"I got fed up of living underground so... I just left, they're probably going crazy looking for me now." he admitted.

Karl nods, "Son, there's no need to skirt around who you are... A well-educated kid who prefers energy weapons and has no idea what to do without an authority leading him? That's Brotherhood of Steel material right there. Helios One?" he asks in a sympathetic tone.

Afton nods, "Helios One, where my mother was murdered by a Ranger."

"I'm, sorry to hear that son... Maybe if we get outta here in one piece we can look for whoever was stationed there?"

...

Afton gave Karl a weird look, "You... Want to help me track down the Ranger that killed my mother?" he asks in disbelief. Karl nods but Afton continues, "You're a former ranger though, shouldn't you be loyal to them or something?..."

"I've served in the NCR for thirty years and look where that's got me. Soldiers follow orders, but it's them who pulls the trigger. I've only heard bits and pieces of what happened in Helios One, almost reminds me or what happened at Bittersprings. I'm getting old now, least I could do is help a youngster with his problems." he says with a small reassuring smile.

...

Afton could feel his eyes begin to tear up before his wipes his face with his sleeve, "Then... I'll help you save your daughter." he says. He'd not said this lightly, he knew that he'd be powerful eventually, the levelling system would eventually allow him to achieve almost in-human feats. He might as well use his abilities for something productive.

...

"Now that's not necessary-"

"Karl, I hate slavers more than I hate the NCR. I want to help you, whether or not you want to tag along when I finally head to the Legions base is up to you." he states, not allowing the man to change his decision.

Karl drops a hand on his shoulder and gives a grateful look, "Son... If that's what you want, I'll keep you company to stop you doing somethin' stupid and dying."

[Karl Martin has given you the Old Wisdom Perk]

[Old Wisdom] : All EXP gain is increased by 10%.

[Karl Martin has become your companion]