Chapter 186 - All Randy

His Pipboy light didn't illuminate all that much down here, but he could still see the small flattering red lights that indicated another RobCo unit. There were many different kinds as well! A few specialized Mister Handys with what looked like construction tools instead of the typical grabber, flamethrowing and laser shooter.

A bunch of modified Protectrons that carried small boxes from here to there. Afton even spotted some Securitrons keeping watch, their weapons raised as if prepared to strike at any immediate threat.​​

He hadn't immediately been attacked yet, even though a few robots had spotted him, so he surmised that wasn't the threat they were keeping an eye out for. Karl and Boone slowly made their way down the shaft too, also having the same shocked reaction as Afton.

"This... Wasn't here yesterday." Karl mutters more to himself than anything.

Afton wasn't sure what was going on, usually a settlement wouldn't contain a tenth of the number of robots currently before him. Only a RobCo factory or some other essential location would likely have them, plus, Afton knew of only one person who had control of the Securitrons... Mr House.

He looks to his companions, "Did either of you tell anyone else about the breach?"

Both shake their heads, meaning the only people who knew about the Fiends incursion were the gang they were negotiating with, James Garret as the man had unabashedly put himself in their conversations, and the group themselves... All of which didn't even know how to contact Mr House, let alone be a trustworthy source of information.

Boone gestures at the robots, "Why don't you ask one of them what's going on..."

Ah... That was right wasn't it? Robots in this world were far more intelligent than they had any right to be... Especially with how primitive some aspects of technology were. He walks up to a Mister Handy who was quietly floating above the sewer water.

"Erm, excuse me? Could you tell me what's happening?" he asks the robot, not really expecting an answer.

"Oh Hello sir! Why, we've been sent to replug this rather dirty hole after some rats managed to get through." it states in a cheerful yet gentlemanly voice.

"Rats?" Afton asks, wondering if it was referring to the Fiends.

"Indeed! Some rats with pickaxes and plasma rifles. Strange that such pests are able to walk upright as well, hopefully they don't breed, I heard they multiply like, well, rats!"

...

Hmm, Afton wondered why it referred to the Fiends as rats... He imagined that the robot was incapable of condescension, disgust, hatred, and all other thing that could potentially lead to such verbal degradation... He could think of one thing that might have caused this to happen though...

"Unit, are you capable of harming a human who hasn't assaulted you?"

The Mister Handy jolted slightly before replying, "Oh heavens no! That would entirely go against my programming!"

So that's what it was... It had restrictions in its code that prevented it from harming non-hostile humans, to get around this the owner of them probably just designated Fiends and any wearing their garbs as animals. A smart solution, if a bit dangerous. One slip could it to recognise all humanoids as animals and thus required to exterminate them.

Afton reckoned that if the Great War hadn't happened then Skynet wasn't too far off...

"Would you mind if we looked at your progress?"

"Not at all sir! Allowing you to see our hard work and dedication would be a reward to us all"

...

Afton follows Karl and Boone as they lead him towards where the Fiends had been, after the bodies had been looted they had apparently dumped them in the sewers so they'd probably not see them again. In the room itself they could see many robots doing various things, some welding steel on the wall while others covered that in concrete. Truly it was a marvel to see such efficiency.

No one was likely to get through this route again, even if they dug for days, they'd just hit the large piece of metal buried in the concrete wall, stopping all progress. The group walked around to survey the other potential entrances and saw that they were getting similar treatments. All getting reinforced with metal and covered with another layer of concrete.

"Well, at least we know that the sewers aren't a danger for Freeside any longer..." Afton says, still unsure how Mr House got word of it. With that the group left and headed back to Atomic Wrangler to see if Afton's licence had come yet.

Once they stopped inside they were greeted with a King arguing with Francine Garret... "No, you cannot enter one of our customer's rooms. If you need someone then wait for them here." she states with a slightly threatening tone.

"This is King business lady, you don't want to mess with us do you?"

Afton walks in with a raised brow, "I didn't know the Kings had started extorting people, maybe I was wrong about you guys."

They turn around after giving Francine one final glare, "You're back, the King asked me to deliver somethin' to you." he say, holding out a card with his name and some other random information on it...

Afton takes it and reads through it, "I'm twenty-two and from Shady Sands huh?"

The King just shrugs, "I don't make the rules or the cards, just take it as it is, its only meant to fool the robo-boys at the gates anyhow."

"Right, I'll keep that in mind." After says, "Also, try not to start causing trouble for the King just after he avoided a war... Sure, the NCR has your backs now, but angering the population you're meant to protect isn't the way to go about it."

The King shakes his head, "I got things to do, better things than bein' some errand boy." he retorts.

"Yeah? I'll let the King know you aren't satisfied with your job then, see how that goes."

"Ah, you know I ain't bad 'Mr Sheriff', you got to show strength before you give way to people. I've known this gal for years and she's never budged an inch, so I won't either." he gestures to Francine.

Francine just throws a box at his head, causing him to duck under it, "I'm still not interested so piss off."

The King heads towards the door and goes to leave, but not before leaving a comment in his wake... "I suppose not, not while you got your brother's co-" He's forced to shut the door mid-sentence as an empty bottle of whisky shatters against it.

"You come here against an I'll tie you to a bed and let my male employees have you!" she shouts after him.

...

Afton gives her a weird look, "So... You and James?"

She glowers at him, "You start and I'll have you molested in your sleep." she states as he walks into the backroom...