Chapter 204 - Tee-riffic Infiltration

"So, you guys ok with going for Nephi tonight?" Afton asks after a moment.

Karl raises a brow, "Didn't you just get outta hospital? Surely you aren't' thinking about diving straight back int combat."​​

Afton shrugs, "I'm fine so stop your worrying. Did Dr Kemp tell you what'd happened?" both shake their heads and he continues, "Apparently my body had gone through a rapid mutation, one that could either lead to me becoming a ghoul, or immune to radiation."

...

"How?" Karl asks, having never heard of such a thing before.

"If I had to guess, our time in Searchlight left me more than just nightmares of that godzirra-sized rad scorpion... My radiation suit must have been breached at some point while we were directly next to the toxic waste?"

Karl pales slightly, "Think the same thing could've happened to me?" he asks. Afton didn't blame him for being worried, the mutation probably looked worse than it felt if he was honest, as if all the person's organs were liquifying all at once.

Afton looks at him and uses [Living Anatomy] and checks him out to see if anything of the sort had happened. Sure, the radiation was just an excuse to explain the sudden mutation but you could never be too careful.

[Karl Martin]

Health : 99%

Stamina : 80%

DT : 17

Strength : 7

Perception : 5

Endurance : 6

Charisma : 6

Intelligence : 8

Agility : 4

Luck : 2

Ailments :

[Sore back] : -1 Agility

[Dehydration] : needs to be hydrated before ailment can progress

[Fractured toe] : pain whenever you walk, potential for exacerbating the problem

...

Well, at least he isn't turning into a ghoul? Still, the man's age was clearly showing. He knows how to hide his pain as well, judging by the fact neither Boone or Afton had noticed any of those ailments before.

Afton shakes his head, "I don't think so... Before the mutation happened I'd had a feeling of dread the entire day, as well as a migraine that could assassinate the president, unless you feel all of those symptoms I think you're fine." he says, making up some symptoms of really dire diseases.

Karl sighs in relief and recomposes himself, "Still, you think you're ready to get moving again?"

Afton nods, "I'm definitely sure." he reaches behind him and slides Karl LMG back to the man, "And I want my gun back, we're not doing 'swapsies' alright?"

Karl shrugs and hands back Aftons Anti-Material rifle, "I'm a shit shot anyway."

A couple hours later just before the sun sets the group had started moving. Afton hadn't known this beforehand, but the time just after the sun sets is the darkest time of the night. So they'd be using that to strike at Nephi.

It was fortunate that the Rock Crushing plant was the forefront of the Fiends territory, it allowed the group to get properly set up a distance away without having to watch their backs. South of the Plant was almost completely empty, the only thing within eyesight from it being a run-down farmstead, presumably having been destroyed by the Fiends beforehand.

The group rode Dirt-Bird to the farmstead and was about to start setting up for their raid, but were interrupted when they spotted a group of Powder Gangers sitting outside in front of a fire. Fortunately the group was small, only being around four people, still, it'd be difficult to get rid of them without alerting Nephi to their presence.

Afton shook his head and snuck to the back of the building, setting up a bear trap in the place someone would probably walk from the Powder Gangers position. Once done he got back to the group and tossed a rock to attract the groups attention.

Thankfully they were smart enough to check it out while being too stupid to realise it's likely a trap. The man walked off and was almost immediately caught in the bear trap, releasing a pained scream as his leg was brutally locked onto, most likely getting broken.

The other quickly stand up and look over warily, but didn't notice the Afton's group rushing them due to the sound of their friends screaming. Knives slit their throats before they were even aware of what was going on, Afton getting to the man caught in the beartrap and killing him before he could shout anymore.

It hadn't been completely silent, but anyone in the Rock Crushing Plant were unlikely to have heard the screams... Hopefully.

Boone climbs to the roof of the Farmstead and starts scoping out the plant, relaying what he saw to Afton and Karl.

There were a few Fiend patrolling around the plant, though most didn't seem all that aware of their surroundings. Not that they were expecting them to be, chem-addicted junkies didn't make the best soldiers after all.

Afton had considered just tossing a couple grenades at the structural weak points of the plant to collapse it, but was reminded that Nephi likely had many captives within. "Any idea's on how we should approach this?"

Karl shrugs, "Maybe we could make some noise and draw the Fiends out of the woodwork? But then we'd have trouble getting the captives out, I don't doubt that Nephi would be willing to kill them to spite us."

"You two sneak inside and secure the captives, I'll watch your backs from here. I see trouble and I start shooting, got it?"

Afton nods, this was probably the best they were going to manage in this situation. He truly hated hostages, they just made everything way more difficult. He and Karl check their equipment before starting to sneak over to the Plant. It was fortunate there was a large amount of rubble around the place that'd allow them to hide, otherwise getting inside without being noticed would be way, way harder.

He allowed Karl to walk slightly ahead of him to spot any traps as they moved. Soon enough, they were only a couple meters away from one of the Fiend patrols, and boy did their conversation make Afton's skin crawl...