AWB Chapter 323 - 323
Chapter 323 - 323
Mira found 3 women who had just been captured by the cult recently and had not yet been experimented on so they were alive, though beaten, tired, and scared, naturally. However, everyone else down here, which was far more than either Adam or Mira was comfortable with, were either dead, mutated to the point of no longer being able to function, or on the verge of dying. A few even asked for death, which Mira obliged. There was one man who was mutated and still functioning, however. It seemed like his mutation was not as drastic as all the others. He had a third eye and a single arm that was noticeably larger and thicker than the others. Mira was not a fan of letting the mutant live, but with Adam's coaxing she backed down and let him out without putting him down too.Adam still had more to do, assuming the fight was not yet over, so he had to get back above ground, luckily one of the women and the man were comfortable around children enough to help watch the kids while Mira and Adam returned to the top.
Leaving the group of noncombatants below, the two of them returned to the main part of the school only to find that, aside from some scattered gunfire here and there, the battle seemed mostly over. And, in fact, after another 15 minutes had passed the entire building was cleared. The war was over. The cult was gone.
Still though they had won, Adam's side took considerable damage, the Gunners had lost a tremendous amount of forces, the scattered mercenaries were not doing too hot either and, as Adam had hoped, War's side had suffered atrocious casualties. What once was a force large enough to take over Chicago had been reduced to a force that, with a moderate amount of effort, could be wiped out by a prepared group.
The Baxter Brigade though, somehow, had not received a single death. They had wounded, much like everyone else, but not a single died on Baxter's side. And this was not for a lack of being involved, Adam might not have grouped up with them but they were just as much in the thick of it as anyone else. Though then again, Adam's group had zero deaths as well.
On Adam's side every robot he brought along was damaged, Rae had suffered rather significant damage to their right arm, Hades was no longer able to spin up his tri barrel laser gatling gun, Sgt. Fyre had some sort of issue with his thruster, Buddy had a limp, and even Eve had some serious damage that was causing her to drag her left leg behind her as she marched forward. The robots were not the only ones to take damage though. Pearl's wounds were already known, but Deccanus too was in rough shape. He would live just fine, but much like Adam he was in need of a doctor.
Wounded aside the sun had long since set so there was no real chance for anyone to leave now. As there was a slight effort by those remaining standing to throw the dead corpses out of the school into a pile at the front Adam joined in, helping as much as his battered body would allow. Then the refugees who had come with War but stayed behind and not joined the fight moved in with everyone else, including the doctor, who was naturally far too overtaxed at the moment for Adam to bother him.
Still when the cleanup was done, everyone, somewhat, began to settle into the former cult HQ for sleep. Rooms were commandeered, beds taken over, medical supplies raided, and otherwise everyone just tucked themselves in for the night, a battle hard fought, well earned, but all who had endured would have scars to remind them of this day.
The night passed quickly for Adam, he could not speak for anyone else, but he was able to fall asleep rather fast once the work was done, and with the morning sun so too came his body aches. But, interestingly, he already felt better than yesterday, aside from the pain that now wracked his body. He had no empirical data about the 'ouroboros factor' so he could not tell how efficiently it worked, but he knew, at least, that his body was healing, so that was a good sign.
The day began slowly for everyone. There were already some people up and scavenging, or, perhaps, looting the premises. Everything not already claimed seemed to be up for grabs. Adam was keen to take part but for the moment he was content not to join the few warfighters involved in the mad scramble. Instead Adam paid a visit to the only kill here that made any difference to him. Torusk.
His body, like the others had been rather callously thrown into the pile of cultists that would likely be burned at a later time. However Adam pulled him out and dragged to the side where he stared at the practically missing head of the man who almost killed him. There were still too many mysteries, too many questions, even just why he was here, at the cultist base, was a question that was worth asking. However Adam would get none. His secrets died with him. But perhaps that was for the best. However Adam was not above looting a fallen foe.
From his corpse he took the weapon that had almost killed him, the Deathclaw gauntlet, sized for an arm larger than his own, the Mirelurk carapace shield, a collapsible baton, and a pouch full of caps. 476 to be precise. Which brought him up to 6499 caps.
Adam had no plans for the deathclaw gauntlet, but he knew he wanted that weapon to come with him, perhaps merely as a memento not to let his hubris get the better of him, however the shield he had a plan for. Regardless as Adam was finishing up he turned around only to notice War walking towards him. War had suffered damage from the night prior but he seemed in more than good enough shape all things considered. Just more scars to add to his body.
"Adam Baxter." War began, looking down at Adam like he was studying an interesting specimen in a lab, a cold indifference about the gaze and yet a spark of something more.
"Yes? What can I do for you?" Adam asked back, confused.
"You." He said as he pointed to Adam with his massive finger. "Are also chosen by the winds of change." He said with a clarity that almost scared Adam. He then turned his gaze to the horizon, looking to some far off place. "I will take my leave of Chicago. There are other places that are in need of War." War said as he then turned back to look at Adam.
"I will return in 10 years time, to see if you were successful in removing the rot from this city." War said as he leaned in a bit. "The weapons that remain at the theater are yours to take, sell, use, I do not care. My destiny lies elsewhere." He said before he gripped the handle of his massive sword and looked Adam dead in the eyes. "However, do not mistake this generosity for weakness, if, in 10 years time, you have not succeeded in making this city better, then I shall bring the winds of change here, myself. And all shall come to know War." He said with a chilling seriousness.
Then, before Adam could question him, one of the two remaining Warshippers came over, pushing along a huge motorcycle heavily modified with armor, baggage, weapons, a massive headlamp, and a seat big enough to fit War.
"I have brought your ride, as you requested, my lord." He said with a light bow to War who just took the motorcycle from him. War did not even address him as he continued to stare down Adam.
"Make the change you want to see, Adam Baxter. Become the change you desire." He said before inserting a key into the motorcycle. The engine fired up with a loud but pleasing roar and then, without any further explanation he rode off, as if he did not just lay the entire city's fate on Adam's shoulder and then just left for parts unknown.