Chapter 183 - Pulling The Finger Out...

The surrendered Kings slowly crawled towards Afton on their stomach's like limbless seals, he looked over each one with an inquiring eye to see if they had any weapons stashed away while still sitting warily behind his cover.

It took a while for all of the Kings to reach his position, but once they had he stuck he head out again to check for any more hostiles... He couldn't see any, so they'd either fled or were no longer living in the first place​​

Afton stands and hefts his Anti-Material rifle on his shoulder while strolling to the bus stop where the Kings had been shooting at the NCR from. "You lot don't move until I sort this shit out..." he states.

He holds his hand up as he becomes visible to the watchtower, waving at them and making broad gestures for them to come to his location. It wasn't long before Emory and a small squadron of NCR soldiers jogged towards him, guns at the ready.

"Colour me surprised Afton, but I hadn't expected you to do... This." Emory gestures towards the dead Kings before then glancing to the surrendered ones. "Before we do anything else it'd be in our best interests to speak with the King."

A woman with a strict face, dirty brown hair standing beside Emory shakes her head with a scowl, "We already tried that sir, my men were almost killed in return. I say we end this farce and get rid of the rest of these thugs."

"I know you dislike them Major Kieran, but it is clear this was... Not in the King's control. After all, he did hire someone to deal with the problem internally. A bit late but better than never." he states, sending a quiet look to Afton.

Afton just nods at his words, wondering why the man wished to form a relationship with the Kings so badly... Perhaps he saw the many benefits that could sprout from it? "Yes, the King wanted me to stop the conflict and prevent further deaths. It is unfortunate my hand was forced today, but I think from the smoke and ashes, something new could be built." he says, his Speech skill giving him pointers and flowery words to get Major Kieran more malleable to his suggestions...

"Well... I suppose if you put it like that-" just as she says this her eyes widen suddenly, focusing on something behind Afton.

Spotting this he quickly uses VATS, turning around as time is stopped and see's what the problem was... A King had somehow managed to slip in a tiny single-shot pistol and was currently pointing it at Afton. The bullet likely wouldn't be able to break through his skull, but if shot into his neck or in any of the delicate area's of his head, it'd cripple or likely even kill.

He breathes a sigh before deactivating VATS, quickly turning and pushes his forearm into its line of fire. He couldn't dodge as Emory and Major Kieran were behind him, so instead he'd just take the bullet.

*Bang!*

Afton grunts as he feels the small bullet pass through his flesh, luckily not penetrating through all of his muscle and hitting someone else. He didn't stop moving, however, immediately tossing his Anti-Material rifle to the floor and launching himself at the hostile King.

Their single-shot pistol had already been used up and they hadn't expected the sudden melee assault. Afton fist buries itself into their face, and it would've broken their nose... Had it not already been broken... Ah, Pacer.

Continuing, he sweeps his legs and drops an elbow on their chest, winding the man as he splutters to suck oxygen back into his body. Afton ignores the blood seeping out of his arm and searches his body a second time, tossing away the single-use postil as well as a small pocket knife he hadn't noticed. "Fucker." he growls.

"Jesus, you alright?" Emory asks as he walks over, placing a foot on Pacer to make sure he stays down.

Afton nods, "Yeah, just a flesh wound." he says, holding up his arm... The bullet had barely passed through the thick material of his Recon armour, Pacer had managed to somehow get it between the steel plates armouring it, but the bullet still hadn't gone all that deep. "Still, I think we might've found the one who started this mess. Ain't that right Pacer?"

"F-fuck you!" he spits at him, though it doesn't go far due to how winded he is.

Afton just cracks his knuckles, the sunlight washing over him was already healing his wound, but he felt the need to pay this guy back for the pain he'd caused him. "If you don't wanna talk, I have a few ways of breaking someone. Do you need your limbs? Oh, maybe I could tear your testicles off with my bike." he says with a sadistic grin.

"Hang on, we don't torture people! Protocol dictate-" Kieran tries to interfere but is interrupted.

Afton just shakes his head at her, "Those employed by the NCR can't torture people, prisoners are guaranteed a right of care after all. But I'm not one of you, right?"

Upon hearing this Pacer shivers, he'd already heard of Afton's actions towards the two slavers in Westside. "W-wait!... I started this, those pansy soldier boys were rifling in on our turf, you expect me not to do somethin'?" he says as if Afton would understand.

Afton pulls a knife from his belt and spins it a couple times, tossing it in the air and catching it in different places. "Thanks for the confession, but I still need some payback for getting shot." he says, grabbing the man's arm and pushing the knife against Pacer's right trigger finger.

Before he's even able to beg, Afton breaks the bone and efficiently cuts the finger off. Causing Pacer to shout and hold his bleeding hand to his chest.

Afton looks at the Emory and Major Kieran before pocketing the finger after covering it in some fabric, "Alright, he's all your now. I'll go speak with the King to arrange a meetup... You guys got anywhere specific? Maybe it'd be better if you went to him... As a show of trust."