Chapter 333 - Dog-Meat...

It's been a couple days since G.L.A.D.O.S had been activated, and Afton was surprised by just how effective she actually was... Sure she had the best processes and tech not before seen in this world, but he thought she'd take a while to get properly integrated into Big Mt... This was no the case though, she'd immediately taken control of all robots, gathering all information they'd acquired as well as their previously standing orders and begun streamlining everything.

Robots taking a longer route than necessary? Change it.​​

Pathways too rough for vehicles to transport? Change it.

Energy consumption exceeding the given limit? Change it!

Afton watched from the balcony as Glados started integrating the changes, making everything so much more efficient.

She'd even taken control of the AI's in charge of the various laboratories, integrating their processes into herself and collecting any information they had gathered.

All in all, everything was improving at a great rate. Sure, Glados had a few arguments with the scientists, mainly Klein. But problems were quickly resolved through negotiation, or Glados simply stating a rule Afton had previously put in place.

With Glados now taking charge, Afton found himself with a lot more free time, and a couple days until he was required to go back to the Mojave... To be honest, he wanted to stay and continue his scientific pursuits but knew there were more important things still occurring in the wasteland.

Still, with his free time he'd started modifying and upgrading his current weaponry. His current loadout included :

An Atomic-valence tri-radii-oscillator (Though this would be deactivated in the Mojave for obvious reasons)

His Stealth suit mk 2 (Nyx wouldn't forgive him if he left her, not did he intend to waste such good armour)

His trusty pistols, Lucky, That Gun, and the Fallen Ranger Sequoia set on his hip. The Sonic Emitter and Sawed-off shotgun were also attached to the bandoleer on his chest. On his back, he kept his Anti-Material rifle as it but simply too efficient to leave behind.

On his sides, he had two Inversal Proton Axes and in each of his boots large bowie knives. And hidden in an armoured compartment on his leg sat his Stealthboy.

He hadn't made any alterations to Nyx as anything he could currently do would either weaken it, make it significantly heavier, and prevent him from sneaking.

Though, he had created a silencer, and an extended magazine for his Anti-Material rifle... It may not completely block all sound it creates, but it'd do enough to stop people from immediately noticing his presence.

As for the Fallen Ranger Sequoia... He was pretty wary of modifying it at all... It was a unique weapon that had a special effect, and Afton just wasn't sure what would happen should he choose to alter it.

In the end, practicality won out though, he simply wouldn't be able to use it in the Mojave without immediately attracting the ire of the NCR. And while he planned to 'deal' with them in future, he couldn't risk going against them too early.

So, he'd taken off anything linked with the NCR. The engraved bear on the wooden handle, the words on the barrel... After all was said and done, he checked the weapon to see if the special effect had disappeared, and was happy to find that it hadn't.

So, he kept the weapon in a holster on his right hip, next to Lucky. To some, it might look weird for him to be carrying around so many guns, but to those who knew his reputation and capabilities, it'd give a very different impression.

It was fortunate the Stealth suit had an in-built temperature regulation system, otherwise he'd overheat in the desert sun... Regardless, he was pretty happy with how everything was set up...

Everyone in Big Mt was already aware that he'd need to leave eventually, and while most had simply given him a sideways 'farewell', Glados had elected to keep an eye on him... How you ask?

Well, she dragged him to the X-8 Facility and made him watch as she created a Cyberdog in the splicing lab, labelling the newly born creature with the name 'Dog-Meat' before drugging it and installing many other devices into it.

Apparently, she intended to to have everything the dog saw recorded and sent back to them so she and the scientists could see what the outside world was actually like. This had a number of reasons, the biggest being Glados wished to keep and eye out for anything that may be useful.

Of course, it wouldn't be directly streaming information 24/7, that would be far too energy-intensive, not to mention annoying to compile, so the dog would transmit every day's events during the night while it slept.

Afton himself was slightly unsure what to make of the dog... Dog-meat was cute and all, but. He was worried that it'd get in the way for certain jobs. He wasn't even sure if New Vegas allowed pets inside...

He'd run a few combat tests with Dog-meat, and the cyberdog was relatively powerful in its own right, heavy-hitting sonic blasts that could knock someone clean off their feet, with claws and teeth that could tear someone apart with ease. Not to mention the mechanical parts that'd easily block bullets.

Regardless, it was eventually time for him to leave. He stood outside the Think Tank Dome with Dog-meat sitting next to him, he was currently looking at his Pipboy, the Holo-tape containing teleportation data quickly scrolling past.

He'd need to teleport back to the satellite that was located in the Mojave Drive-through, as that was the only place that the Big Mt had the complete coordinates for. In future, if he wanted to set a spot for teleportation, he'd need to stay for a day or two and transmit the data back to Big Mt.

Annoying? Yes. But necessary nonetheless... Besides, he couldn't really fault the futuristic teleportation technology for having this one tiny negative.

He checks his weaponry, armour, ammunition, caps, and supplies one last time. "Ready to go Nyx?"

"Very!"

He looks to Dog-meat, "And you, pup?"

"Woof!"

He nods, "Already. Let's go then." he states, pulling out the thin device and pressing the button on the top. All the while touching the top of Dog-meats head.

*CRACK!*

With a crackle of lightning, they were gone, like dust in the wind, leaving not even a scorch mark.