Chapter 19: A Walk Around
It was near dusk when the Constitution flew. Jon gave the team orders to clear the office to the North, and then do what he would have done after some rest and sleep. Claim settlements, clear holes, scout Gunners, with an added standing order to never traverse Brotherhood territory except by main roads and paths unless necessary.
They came fully packed for field operations, much to Jon’s delight, and could carry out the missions. He wanted to do that himself, but he had to take a damage report from Ironsides personally. Etiquette demanded it after that feat of skill and bravery. It wouldn't do for him to send someone else to hear the report and tell him he was having troops embarked. That was a report heard personally, and orders given personally to his current chief of naval operations.
Nick shrugged, and only asked they pick up any tapes for him, to which they didn’t even need an order to agree. Jon got a good nights sleep himself at Bunker Hill and carried on the next morning. He had three days until the meet at the amphitheater. He would stop at Goodneighbor, after meeting the Railroad for a quick greetings. He knew they were no doubt co-opting his network for their own uses.
They crossed the bridge, and Jon had to disable a few mines here and there. There was also wet fuel and chemicals that would no doubt light at the slightest provocation, let alone a mine going off. They got across the bridge and passed a small neighborhood maintained by various Mr. Handys, and guarded by a sentry bot. It left them alone, so they left it alone. All of the houses save one looked abandoned, and the one obviously didn’t like uninvited guests.
They took a turn at the next intersection and made way to the Old North Church. They could see the Constitution buried in the top of the Baxter building a bit further South. While they figured out how to get it out, the ship made a perfect vantage for recce over the entire Eastern Commonwealth, including his tentative allies. Downtown Boston was essentially neutral territory for them both to operate in, so they couldn’t really stop him, especially given the circumstances of how it arrived there.
They found their way eventually to the front of the church. Nick said, “One if by land,”
Jon finished, “Two if by sea. They warned the Minutemen and prepared them for Lexington and Concorde.”
Nick nodded, “So, where did the break occur? The way you talk, it’s like your from a different timeline or something, out of a comic book.”
“1947.”
“Let me guess...transistor? Only hot ticket thing in 47, along side Rob-Co becoming richer than sin because of it. That would be a nice smooth divergence. An easy century.”
“Not much gets past you, partner. Lets head in.”
They walked in and had to clear a few ghouls from the main floor of the building, and the stairs took them to the catacombs. There were ancient and more feral ghouls were found. One was glowing, but it didn’t last long to an assault from Jon’s show stopper taking its head clean off at close range. He stepped over the glowing corpse, actually finding it pleasantly warm. Something had changed probably because of the FEV. Super mutants apparently found the radiation warm as well. Was he one now, at least by definition?
He stood in front of the turn puzzle, pondering both issues. He said, “Railroad.”
He turned the wheel to the correct letters, and pushed the center plate in for each selection. When he was done, mechanisms rumbled in the wall, and the opening revealed it self as the brick covered door assembly retreated into it’s housing. Nick stayed back just in case, and Jon stepped into the opening.
Their first response was a good one. Powerful floodlights lit him up, and he could feel the heat beginning to radiate off them. If he wasn't wearing his aviators he would be blinded, and real damage would be caused that would need time to heal due to his natural sensitivity. His aviators were from the future and had adaptive opacity. The lights still drowned out some of their figures, but Jon could easily still make them out. And smell them. The one on his left with a mini-gun was a synth, probably a former courser by the cold look in her pale white eyes, with only pupils staring back.
“Who are you?”
“Who are you?”
“A synths only friend in a dark forest full of scary monsters. Who, are, you.”
“Oh I wouldn't say that Desdemona.”
“Valentine?”
“In the flesh sister.”
“Whoa whoa whoa, what gives with my invite.”
“Who is this guy?”
“Wh-whoa, you’re saying you don’t know who this guy is Dez? Come on, I know you're doing your thing, but Dez, seriously?”
“That’s why I have you. Who. is. he.”
“Dez. That's the goddamned General of the Minutemen. The fucking Minutemen Dez. That just stood back up over night along with this network that’s been like an early Christmas present for us. We definitely don’t have permission for that, and he’s obviously been turning a blind eye to it. Dez, this guy took Nick Valentine, The Synth, and took him just straight into the fucking heart of Brotherhood HQ. Audience, with, Maxson! Their second fucking day here while we’re all thinking about offing ourselves before they get us. They walked out alive. No sane man does that shit dude. If that's not enough, he killed Kellogg Dez. Fucking. Kellogg. I checked the logs, it lasted 23 seconds! So maybe put, the, fucking, guns down before he decides he doesn’t like us.”
“A competent agent you have there. I only ever clocked him because he wanted to eavesdrop.”
“Dude I was actually like literally going to report that conversation right before you started blowing holes in our ferals. It was like the final linchpin that you were on our side and we should contact you. Just got back. We square my man?”
“Yeah, I don’t fault you. But you missed a courser.”
“You get the chip?”
“Please tell me you got the chip dude.”
“In the head?”
“Yes.”
“I blew though it with a mag of five five and a healthy dose of VATS crits. Wasn't fucking around when I had already kicked it’s chest clean though.”
“You should not. I am impressed. It is still unfortunate the chip was lost.”
“Thank you. Couldn’t help it. Maybe I’ll kill another, you cool with that?”
“You are not the only one that kills coursers.”
“Just making sure. We’re the same, you and I.”
“See Dez, he’s already making friends. Can we just let him in already, so you know we can at least tell him why we need the chip?”
“Alright, you’re his contact Decon. My apologies General. You obviously understand the need for precautions. Maybe if you made more regular reports this could have been avoided.”
“Yeah, fair enough I guess. It was just a ride tailing this guy. That fucking ship dude! What the hell!”
“Yeah, I was pretty proud of that one. Wish it would have hit the sea though.”
“Perfect fucking perch it’s in right now though. If you can get up to it. Come on, back this way for a little more privacy.”
“That’s what I was investigating. Did you really only stop tailing me because I came here?”
“Uhhh, yeah basically.”
“You are good. I thought you had given up the track. Went to report.”
“Got in with those scavers, kinda convinced them that you wouldn't listen to them if they said they weren’t with the other guys.”
“Got them to cut their losses and run. You may have been right, after seeing what they went though up close over the years. Thanks.”
“Probably would have been justified man. The thing was basically a tourist attraction until those assholes moved in a couple months ago and started harassing them. Fucking kids would go there and play in front of the thing, and parents would let them because the bots kept the street clear and didn’t hurt them. Those scavers were basically raiders without the fucked up shit. So, like, why did you come down here?”
“Well, I was going to turn North, but then my vertibird happened to work, so the maintenance team I called for got there fast.”
“Dude, that was some sick shit, and in full view of the Brotherhood. I guarantee he’s going to have some pause with that thought.”
“Will he?”
“Oh yeah. They basically all have shell shock from the Enclave war, him in particular. The height of their power and a single bunker broke their backs nearly, a cartoon AI president. He might put on a strong show but he’s actually pretty cautious, though still decisive when he has to be. I mean you have to be to make and entrance like that. They can’t afford losses against the Institute and anyone else that wants a piece of them. I don’t think he was expecting something like your network at all. Just walk in, kill the Institute, get a fuck ton of new recruits to take the Commonwealth over by force of mass. He was here to conquer, I guarantee that.”
“You have a good amount of insight.”
“I’m a competent agent my guy, remember? So what happened in there?”
“I forced him to be a good neighbor.”
“Ha! Oh man that's some karma for them.”
“Basically he knows I can kill a whole lot of his myself while he needs an entire army to kill me and mine. I brute forced him to the negotiating table.”
“It also forced Maxson and his officers to listen to what I had to say.”
“Seriously? You got like a speech and everything? Wasn’t just a word?
“Yup, right after he got his. I was the General’s Special Envoy, and he acknowledged the beginning of diplomatic discussions.”
“So he had to let you give a speech. The Brotherhood take formal proceedings very seriously, any kind. My man you put him right in a corner.”
“I didn’t actually know that, but it worked. Just had to say it with confidence, and it happened. Seems to be a theme.”
“I’d like to see what that Pip-Boy says.”
“Here.”
“Actually I don’t, I take it back. Burn my eyes out man, you know what that charisma score correlates to right?”
“I can smell lies Decon, and I know my own measurements. It’s off by a point, you can ponder for yourself which way.”
“Now take my ears, man. Please. So, you still haven't answered my question.”
“Because you wanted story time.”
“Fair, so.”
“Meet and great, my team went North. And no I’m not your asset. In fact, the more you co-opt my network, the more you become co-opted. Just a fair warning. That's the price of doing business with me, playing my angles when I need them played.”
“Ice fucking cold man. I love it, the implication. Did you threaten Maxson?”
“Quote, unquote, canoe his fucking head, Deacon.”
“No sane man, my man. That guy killed a fucking death claw with a knife as a kid. A super mutant boss a couple years later. He does not feel fear.”
“He didn’t. But he was deeply rattled, by multiple things. I think this is the first time in his life something didn’t go his way.”
“Not exactly, but not far off either. There are legit reasons they made him Elder so young.”
“He handled it well.”
“By the end he was thanking the General for showing up. Called me a guest.”
“Now that is actually some big fucking news there. This whole report is. Man I’m going to be a legend for bringing this one home.”
“He will not kill a bunch of innocent victims while I’m around. If he’s smart, he knows it, even if he’s not convinced they’re innocent victims. Then he saw my vertibird, and now my bluffs aren’t bluffs.”
“Some Western Chapters wouldn't stop fucking with the NCR. Stole their tech, destroyed their gold, blew stuff up they needed because they thought they were the only ones allowed to have any tech at all. I mean fuck, Lyons lead his expedition because of how extreme they were getting, like kill you for a toaster oven type extreme. He knows that, and he knows they built an entire army for the single purpose of putting down Lost Hills, the first fucking Chapter. NCR troopers were only local guards and militia forces at that point. Eventually that army went to the Mohave, and that Chapter got the boot for basically the same reasons, specifically around Helios One. In fairness to Brotherhood the thing was in fact connected to a huge fucking space laser. There was a Courier involved, but he ended up being a House plant. Some wild stuff went down out there. Basically, you just put him in the same position they were, and it seems like he chose not to fuck with you.”
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“That seems to be his decision. I expect some saber rattling back and forth, but he was willing to come to an agreement, even sharing tech. Here are the borders in our settlement. Downtown is up in the air.”
“Thanks man, really. This actually isn't as bad as we thought it was. Maybe you could help us with a thing or two. No grunt work like we’d usually give a tourist.”
“Go ahead.”
“Our old HQ is underneath Lexington, got taken out by the Institute. It would be nice to go back and pick up some things I forgot with some backup.”
“We’ll be taking Lexington by force in not that short a timetable. I’m sure we can fit that in. Preform reconnaissance and wait for the Minutemen.”
“Ha ha, I see what you mean man. Thanks.”
“So, courser chip.”
“Yeah its how they use the transporters.”
“Yeah, that's something we want.”
“Get one, bring it back.”
“I need to inspect my ship, and maybe I’ll run into one along the way. Thanks for the warm welcome.”
“Any time my guy. We left your Minutemen a little goodie by the way. Some ballistic weave, so have fun with that one.”
Jon gave him a shark smile, and Nick tipped his hat as they were lead out the entrance to the bunker, one more direct than going though the church. Many new and unexpected variables were jammed into the equations as one in the bunker tried to process everything she heard. An emergency standby triggered a moment after they left.
It wasn't far to the Baxter building. A raider here or their, their mongrels, a couple super mutants were all that stood in their way. They looped around the broken streets around Faneuil Hall, their main encampment in the area. Jon was legitimately fearful of them, and he was not shamed in that. Taking accurate shots across a no mans land was one thing, but he was not ready to face them in tight corridors and halls yet.
Just as his luck would have it, there was a working elevator in the building, and that elevator lead to a floor still intact enough to step off, but collapsed enough to lead right down to the main deck.
“Permission to board Captain!?”
“Permission granted sir! Make may men! The General is boarding! Keep the crows nest scanning in all directions, we've never had this good a vantage!”
Jon smiled as he carefully navigated the ramp with Nick and landing on the main deck of his flagship. Looking around, there was some damaged from the crash, but Old Ironsides held as she always did.
“Ah, General. I am pleased to report we are a quarter fathom closer to our target. Why, I calculate a mere century to reach the fair waves of the Massachusetts bay.”
Jon snickered, “Hopefully it doesn’t take that long. Good work Ironsides. In fact you and every one of your crew gets one of those medals, and the ship a citation.”
Ironsides beamed, “Thank you sir. You honor us. Your orders General?”
Jon said, “I’m going to be embarking crew. Mostly for recce, one Junker at least, my engineering corps. I want radio comms up on this vessel ASAP.”
“Yes sir. We are in a perfect spot for both those things. We can keep an eye on the entire East, and well off into the Horizon.”
“If the Red Coats are coming, I want to know immediately.”
Ironsides activated his combat mode, eyes flashing red, and even spoke in his default voice for a moment, “Yes sir.”
Jon snickered, “I actually wouldn't put it past a strongman reuniting the kingdom and making a run at the former colonies. Just make sure you consider the needs and abilities of your organic crew. You have plenty of experienced with robotic crew, don’t forget your organic crew can’t operate like them.”
Ironsides was back to his old self, “Of course sir. I will admit it has been a while, but as you know we still remember the old policies. Some will no doubt have to be updated after being dusted.”
Jon smiled and nodded, “Good. Keep up the good work Ironsides. When we figure out how to get you out of here, we’ll talk again. I also need a write up on the exact designs of this ship, so we can build more.”
“Marvelous sir, simply marvelous! Why, she’ll be the flagship of a whole new class once again! I will begin work immediately.”
Jon nodded, “I would guess we would eventually transition back into modern naval designs, but as a quick and dirty solution to get navy out and sailing it works.”
Ironsides said, “There is still plenty of wood out there, and if manufacturing facilities could be started again it could be processed perfectly into what’s needed. Back then they had to plant and tend specific forests to get the straight grains one needs for a ship like this.”
Jon said, “And now the presses can just reform it into straight boards. Exactly. I’ll leave this ASAM with you. Always keep a couple on me. See if you can’t program a template based on the modernization requirements I’ve given you, use your best judgment.”
“Very good sir. Thank you for the personal visit.”
“Wouldn’t dare send someone else after what you pulled off, Ironsides. I’ll leave you to your post.”
Nick tipped hid hat, “Captain.”
“Fair thee well gentlemen.”
They both made their way back up the rubble ramp, and down the elevator. After exiting they crawled though the ruined streets again towards Goodneighbor. Nick new the area, and Jon followed his lead. The Detective always had a side path that took them around the biggest concentrations of enemies. Only every once in a while did their gunfire add to the constant staccato that ringed up and down the streets on a constant basis.
The eventually arrived at the signs that started to point the way. There were a few super mutants in a building just off to the side, and Jon figured it would be rude if he didn’t at least clear out a hole so close to a major town. A VATS crit on the head each one with a 308 put them down before they ever had the chance to get their hands on them. As his companions usually did, Nick watched his back and kept his line of retreat open.
After the ruined building was cleared they walked down the back ally to the entrance of the town. The perimeter was walled in, blocking off every other street that lead into the neighborhood. By the sounds he guessed a thousand or so people lived in the walled in block, maybe more.
Nick said, “Place has a rough reputation. Most of it true, but not all. You’ll fit right in I bet.”
Jon smiled as he opened the door and walked in. The guards up top made no challenged, hearing the fire and seeing him walking from the street they knew some super mutants hung out. As he did there was a rough looking man in road leathers milling around near the door. The two from Trudy's were milling around as well. He gave them a friendly smile and nod as they quickly found another part of town to mill in.
The bald man gave him and eye and took a couple steps forward, “Look’s like you could use some insurance, friend. You know, to keep bad shit from happening.”
Jon didn’t hesitate to pull his Singer fast as an Augment could and put a round in his head, VATS unneeded, “Sorry, already have keep dumb assholes away from me insurance.”
There were a few yelps, and guns started being pulled, but the motions were stopped by the Mayor’s hearty laughter. The half-ghoul was man with bushy mutton chops, and a blazing red colonial getup complete with tricorn hat, and a happy smile nearly all the time. Nearly.
Nick shook his head and chuckled as Hancock walked up. He said, “Hancock.”
Hancock smile became warmer, and his growling voice just as warm and smooth, “Nicky, good to see you pal. And you! My man, you! I like you. Just walk into a new place and make a show of force. I dig.”
Jon smiled and offered a hand, which was accepted, “Sorry for the mess.”
Hancock waved it off, “Pal, if you didn’t I was literally on my way to do it myself. That asshole knew drifters and first timers are off limits. Not the first time he’s done it. Some bullshit about letting outsiders walk all over us. Fuck him, he got his fair chance. So, how about we have a chat in my office.”
Jon nodded and followed him to the old statehouse, passing though the crowds in the town’s main market. There were all kinds, human, ghoul, synth, robots, all looking happy to be outside on a mild day. Talking, shopping, eating at some stands. He saw some of the same in DC, but it was just dirty where this place was actually clean. He could smell the chems everywhere of course, see the dirty deals, hear the plots, a gunshot somewhere else, but the streets and people were clean, and families out and about unaccosted by the mob thugs that served as guards it seemed. They took pride in their sin and vice, that was for certain.
Hancock had obviously led him around the long way to the other side of the building just so he could get a full view of the city. He knew who he was talking too, and he was showing off, probably trying to lobby. At either end of the walled main drag that crossed the center of Goodneighbor were communal spaces. Cooking pots, chem stations, workbenches, latrines on one end, wells broken though the pavement on the other, and even shacks with proper bunks in the corners for any to use drifters and destitute in particular.
Businesses were along the other side of the street, most prominently a hotel, the Rexford, and the Memory Den. Closer to two thousand people were packed in this space, with people milling in and out the apartments or former offices turned into living spaces. Back alleys seemed to connect every part with every other part of the place. Jon was pleased with what he saw as he entered the Old State House.
They went up the stairs into his office, a place to hang out and do chems. His bodyguard was at their rear the entire walk, and then took a place behind him as he sat on the couch and offered the other to Jon and Nick.
He said, “Chems my man?”
Jon said, “I’ll take a cold Nuka-Cola. Caffeine is one of the few drugs that work on me. Nicotine as well, but I have my own smokes.”
He casually waved a hand and one of his butlers took to get the order. They all lit smokes, even his stern body guard. Hancock said, “I heard you were something else man. You must be to pull the stunt you did.”
Jon smiled with teeth, “He had no choice but to abide. I pulled his squad out of a fire, and they saw things when I did.”
“Thanks.” Jon said as he took the cold drink being served then.
Hancock said, “Then that vertibird proved you weren’t fucking around. Nice my man. More than the Brotherhood saw the Minutemen flying high again.”
Jon looked out a nearby window, “Nice town you have here.”
Hancock chuckled, “Now I know I like you man. The implications. Goodneighbor is of the people, for the people, yah dig? Even super mutants would be welcome if they could play nice.”
“Welcome to the SCPG Hancock.”
Hancock warm smile became evil. Jon smirked and said, “Here’s how it’s going to be. You’re the Mayor of Goodneighbor.”
“Damn straight.”
“That’s were you'll stay. I’m not appointing you to anything. After elections start and I wash my hands of it all?”
Hancock slowly nodded with his still evil smile. He was the same, Jon decided, ambitious when presented with new opportunity. He said, “I dig man. Need to be all legit right now. Can’t let the people decide because they wont be able to decide. The last time they gave it a shot they spent years arguing over minor details. Stuff they could have ripped each other apart over after they united on the big stuff. Then the Institute comes along.”
“You are a politician Hancock.”
“Damn straight.”
Jon said, “I wont be be able to get Minutemen here just yet.”
Hancock nodded, “I feel. My boys and girls will hold. They aren't great outside the wall, but they never broke defending their home and never will.”
Jon took a deep breath and said, “Taking Goodneighbor for the Minutemen implies they can take DC. And I want to create that implication. I need to keep throwing them bones if I want to moderate them.”
Hancock responded, “Playing the game my man. Even I’m a pawn now. I love this! Maybe they suss out that synth fuck wearing my brother face and kill him. You believe that right? Because that’s nonnegotiable SCPG policy.”
“I could smell it, but didn’t want to just blow a Mayor away from the word go. I didn’t know as much then.”
Hancock smiled again, “Fair, fair. Good. Fucking Institute. I take it they’re a target?”
“You know it.”
“Give whoever runs that place Hancock’s regards when you put a bullet in them.”
“I would be remiss if I didn’t listen to my constituents.”
Hancock’s smile was evil again, “Head on down to the third rail. Drinks, food, a room, on me tonight.”
Jon respectfully nodded, “Thanks Mayor Hancock.”
Hancock asked, “One last thing. Why the second CPG? The first one never actually started.”
Jon said, “I won’t tarnish General Cho’s legacy by simply overwriting it. Even if they ultimately failed?”
Hancock nodded, “Those crazy bastards still tried. Now we’re the crazy bastards. Goodneighbor is with you General. We got a couple old flags we’ll fly.”
Jon stood, taking the light dismissal on the chin. This was his town and office after all. They shook hands and Nick afterwards before they took to the steps and back down to the milling streets. Nick lead them down into the seedy subway station bar of the town, and Magnolia was beginning her song. Jon was soothed by her voice as he walked up to the stools.
There was a seat open next to a man talking with the Mr. Handy bartender. He had a deeper accent than most, “MacCready, I heard a pest exterminator took care of some rats.”
He smoothly replied, “I wouldn't know anything about that, Charlie.”
Charlie scoffed, “And I wouldn't know anything about those caps laying here.”
Jon took his seat while Nick walked off to poke around. His pack was at his feet under the bar, and his helmet and glasses were thrown into it. Charley glanced over, “What can I get yah, guv, Hancock says your on the house. I got cold beer and hot stew.”
“I’ll take those, thanks Charlie.”
MacCready looked over to the offered preserved smoke from Jon. He had a Gunner patrol cap on. If he was freelancing there was probably a reason. He broke away and is someone worth recruiting, at least for his intel. It was worth a smoke to open the door, he had plenty from both vaults.
He took it and said, “Thanks. Someone that looks like you doesn’t look like they need to hire though.”
Another voice cut in, “MacCready.”
Both turned around to inspect the two gunners. MacCready said, “You know Goodneighbor is neutral territory. So I assume you have something to say?”
One said, “You’re taking jobs on our turf. You know you can’t do that.”
“Look like I care, pal? Look, your scaring my potential customer.”
Jon never broke his Augment stare, and they were both unnerved when they glanced at it. Instincts drove their reactions. They were looking at something not quite human.
“This is your final warning MacCready.”
They quickly turned away and marched back up the steps. Both men turned around. Their conversation continued over the din of the music and bar. MacCready said, “Thanks for being all intimidating and whatnot. MacCready, as you know.”
“Jon. You were a Gunner?”
MacCready winced and nodded, “Yeah. Got good with a gun as a kid, turned to merc work as an adult. Ran with them after work dried up in the Capital, and found they were take any job type mercs. The caps were good but that's not me.”
Jon nodded, “Fair. Here’s 500 caps. Report to Colonel Garvey at Fort Starlight and give him every ounce of intel in that head of yours.”
His eyebrow went up but he took the caps, “You mean the drive in?”
Jon said, “The fort yes.”
He scoffed as Jon got his food and drink and began eating. He said, “I take you have some bad blood, Quincy and all that. The blue makes sense now.”
Jon nodded in between bites, “They’re going to fucking die and you’re being paid to help us kill them. That a square deal?”
MacCready smirked, “A square deal boss. Any route I should take?”
“North, across the bridge here. Past Covenant.”
MacCready nodded, “On it boss. Pleasure doing business with you.”
He got up and took to the road towards Starlight. The bar was crowded in the later hour, and the seat was filled in a moment.
Jon said, “Honest Dan.”
“Hey there. Small world huh? How yah doing?”
“Good. Heard about some bad business. You good?”
“Yeah. Preston came though. Couldn’t have done it alone. Just sucked we had to do it. Then I got into some real squirly shit like right after. First time I had a chance to really sit down.”
Jon offered a smoke, and put his meals on his tab, which was still Hancock’s. Honest Dan had a lot of perks with his good reputation, “Thanks. Got hired by Cabot. First he asks about aliens if I believed, and I say yeah sure just another weird thing in the wastes, I’d buy it. Then I had to get some package from some raiders, but that was just a small part of a big thing. Let me tell you, cult raiders in an insane asylum is some creepy shit. Then some dude, Cabot dad’s, had this hat and it made him evil and immortal or some brahmin shit. The package was really a serum and it made them immortal. Ended up needing zeta radiation, I think, to kill the bastard so he didn’t get out and be evil and shit. Man, it was some fast and lose shit but the best payday of my life.”
“Damn dude.”
“Right? Well Cabot is Old Man Cabot now, and he left everything to his guy, Ed, and he and me decided to partner up. So I’m moving into a big fancy house and going legit.”
Jon scoffed, “If you weren’t already.”
Honest Dan chuckled, “Yeah. So I did ask him if he’d be cool with movin people in there, and he said yeah. They even have a workshop. It’s how they kept their place in such good shape.”
Jon smiled, “Thanks for the tip Honest Dan. Good work stopping that guy. Immortal evil hats are not something we want out there.”
Honest Dan said, “We put three mini-nukes on it and blew the damn thing to atoms. It’s gone gone.”
Jon smiled and nodded as he got up himself and made way back to the VIP room. The meet was just down the road, a straight shot once he got on it, and would pass the Vault-Tech HQ so he could scout and clear the area around it. Jake could handle himself, but he was himself a VIP in Jon’s forming government. Security precautions would need to be taken, especially if they were right in front of him. He would rest in good neighbor for the night, and have two days until the meet.
He tuned his radio while he lay in his room. It was a local station, “Attention all Silver Shroud Fans…”