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(BUS)Chapter 80: Boot, Ant
🕑 Added 2025-04-02 14:52:12 +0000 UTCJust the traits and lifeforce from the beast were enough of a reward for me but to sweeten the deal for Mordy too the dust the corpse turned into had a few items. A shotgun of the rare quality, a shield of the uncommon quality and oddly enough a chunk of gold that appeared to be created from many golden teeth fusing together in the beasts stomach. That threw both of us for a fucking loop but was not the strangest thing we'd seen and quickly moved on. It also helped that we could purify the gold and turn it into a bar actually worth something.-
The normal loot went to Mordy since I certainly didn't want it while the gold we agreed to split two ways. Unlike if we were bandits there was no greed here to get us to turn on each other as we both understood this pittance wasn't nearly worth it. Besides that it helped that we both had an understanding that if we really tried to kill each other he had no chance at all of walking away. If Lil were to try and fight me she had a decent chance of winning since teleportation was just that fucking busted but any of the others? No chance they could win.-
Not that I'd ever need to worry about that as we were a tight knit group and trusted each other with our backs. Anyways we drove back to Fyrestone and took the fast travel back to New Haven where things got.... messy shall we say.
"I demand you explain what you are doing!" Pierce said firmly with a pistol pointed at me.
"I'll only say this once before I rip out your lungs and turn them into bagpipes, put the gun away." I said as my tattoos started to blaze with energy and I prepared to lunge forward at the slightest movement contrary to that.
"I'd listen to him if I were you lady, he tends to make good on things like that in my experience." Mordy says trying to deescalate the situation.
The scarred woman glares at me for a few extra moments before backing down and holstering her gun.
"That THING that you put up a while ago has been getting scrap sent to it and no one can get near it without getting electrocuted. I demand an explanation!" she said fiercely.
"First, you aren't owed shit since it's not in New Haven so check your fucking privilege. Second it's a recycler I set up to clean up all this damn filth, something YOU should have been trying to do. Third this is your first and LAST fucking warning, come at any of us like this again and I promise you won't live long after. You have no authority over us and you best get it through your head before I rip the damn thing off and shove it up your own ass." I said firmly.
"Is that a threat?" she said with her one good eye narrowing.
I reached up and pulled off my mask "That's a promise." I said as I stared her down.
If the way she flinched back was any indication I'd say she got the message as I put my mask back on. Sometimes you really just need to look someone in the eyes to get whether they are bluffing or not. It also helped if you happened to look like a monster in the face. Even without seeing my sharp teeth just my eyes alone were entirely inhuman and intimidating to look into.-
"I told you she'd bring up that furnace." Roland said when we got back into my house.
"And like I told you, theres not a damn thing she can do about it. Still can't believe she tried to pull this Grogshit and question me under gunpoint. Like fucking seriously, what part of us makes that seem like a good idea!?" I complained in a bad mood.
"It's Pandora, violence is the best threat they know." Mordy said with a shrug.
"Yeah I fucking got that which is why I replied in kind. Better pray she takes the hint and stays in her lane or I'll have to make good on my promise. Ugh, it'll make such a mess too." I grimace in disgust.
"You mean you ACTUALLY will try to rip off her head and shove it were the sun doesn't shine!?" Lil exclaimed with a disgusted and horrified look.
"Despite my many many MANY flaws, I am a man of my word. I promised that if she tried something like this again that head was coming off and up and I fucking meant it." I said seriously.
"That's... fair I guess." she said with a conflicted look.
"Put it out of your mind. After the fright I gave her earlier I doubt the bitch will have the courage to try something like this again anytime soon. That reminds me but how goes your practice with your powers?" I asked changing the subject.
"Not great honestly. I can feel my powers telling me I can do it but I haven't figured out how yet. I did figure out the fire part though and it's awesome." Lil said and to prove her point yellow flames rolled over her body for a moment before vanishing.
"Neat." I said casually as I plopped down into a chair.
"What about that Rakk you guys went to kill, anything good from it?" Brick asked curiously.
"A few good traits yeah, a hunk of gold too. The traits were mostly for you though mate." I said and his face lit up with a huge grin.
"Whatcha get me for me?" he asked eagerly.
"[Minor regeneration] and [Omega body], got a copy of [Powerful vitality] for someone else since you already have it." I said Holding out my hand.
"AWESOME!" he says loudly as he eagerly grabs my hand tightly.
I transferred both traits to him along with some lifeforce to keep the changes coming from consuming his own. The effect was immediate as he growled like a rapid animal before his muscles visibly writhed and twisted beneath his skin. He didn't get bigger exactly but you got the impression of being in the presence of a massive beast from him. His muscles were like thick bands of steel beneath his skin in definition when the change finished and he fully stood up and stretched. He cut an impressive and intimidating visage that I didn't doubt would strike fear in those of weaker wills.-
"That hurt." he rumbled in a tone barely more than a growl.
"I did say the bigger the change the more awful the experience." I said with a shrug.
"Worth it!" he said with a grin.
I ended up passing the [Powerful vitality] trait to Mordy who was the oldest of us all and needed it the most to offset aging. According to him he felt like a million bucks after getting it, right before the crash came and knocked him the fuck out. I did go to sit with Scooter and the others that knew Baha when night finally came a couple hours later and drank some questionable but decent enough ale they were sharing.-
Unsurprisingly the night ended quickly bringing the next long day and also the time for us to head out to meet with Tannis face to face. I packed up my house and we set out as a group. We walked up to the Claptrap guarding the gate and it scanned us before speaking.
"Your DNA has now been given clearance to travel within the Rust commons! Please wait while I activate the gate." it said before wheeling over to the panel and punching in a code.
We walked through the tunnel not fully aware of what to expect when we arrived at the end but i was flat out confused by what we found. It was SO much fucking cleaner than New Haven! Sure you could see large pieces of scrap heaped up on the cliff tops in the distance but the ground was clear of debris at the tunnel exit and there was even legit plants growing here!
"Why the fuck is New Haven in that trash heap rather than here!?" I exclaimed in abject disbelief.
It just made no gods damned sense! This place was both clearly cleaner and more hospitable but it also only smelled slightly bad, a big improvement from New Haven itself.
_______________________________________________
Alexander Drake
Lifeforce:201,367
Integrated Traits: [Gun expertise-Uncommon grade]X4, [Clever mind-Rare grade],[Enhanced senses-Epic grade]X2, [Demi-supreme body-Legendary grade], [Supreme armored hide-Epic grade]X2, [Energy projection-Legendary grade], [Superior vitality-Epic grade]X2,[Flame breath-Uncommon grade],[Regeneration-Epic grade]X2, [Disease resistance-Epic grade],[Amphibious lungs-Uncommon grade], [Thermal sensing-Uncommon grade], [Water resistance-Common grade],[Active camouflage-Epic grade], [Eridian engineering expertise-Mythical grade], [Efficient lungs-Rare grade]x2, [Fire resistance-Epic grade]X3, [Elemental body(fire)-Legendary grade], [Shock resistance-Epic grade]X4, [Energetic sustenance(shock)-Epic grade]X2, [Radiation resistance-Epic grade]X3, [Energetic sustenance(radiation)-Epic grade]X2, [Biometallic bones-Epic grade],[Elemental body(shock)-Rare grade]X3,[Quick thinking-Rare grade], [Minor spatial awareness-Epic grade], [Buzzaxe expertise-Uncommon grade], [Siren(Phaselock)(Altered)-Mythical grade], [Pugilist expertise-Uncommon grade], [Adrenal rush-Rare grade], [Mechanical engineering expertise-Rare grade], [Gunsmithing expertise(degrading)-Common grade]X3, [Elemental body(Corrosive)-Rare grade], [Corrosion resistance-Rare grade], [Mechanical Savant-Epic grade],
Stored traits: [Flame projection gland]
