Chapter 503 - X Factor!

With the first term decided, Afton and Crocker went on to discuss the removal of NCR troops from Novac's roads, and compensation for the supplies they inadvertently stopped. Then, of course, came the next big obstacle of the whole discussion.

"The NCR demands to know what weapons were used against the Legion's front lines." Crocker states.​​

Afton just sighs at this, "Yeah, that's not happening. Unless you're willing to reveal all classified files that the NCR holds?" he asks, knowing the NCR had some bodies locked in their closet.

"That's not the same thing. One is secrets of state, and the other is a weapon of mass destruction that you seem all too willing to use. For the sake of the Mojave and Wasteland as a whole, you must reveal it!" Crocker continues.

Afton shakes his head, "I refuse." he states, and is about to continue wringing the ambassador out when his Danger Sense warns him of something... Though, he's not particularly sure what. It certainly wasn't Crocker or his bodyguards...

He focuses his hearing, and with his superhuman perception, he hears the vague sound of a car's engine... He turns his head towards the entrance of the town where a black van had just pulled up, it had no indication of who it belonged to, but considering the only faction in the Mojave who had vehicles were Bulwark and the NCR, it wasn't hard to guess...

It reverses slightly, pointing its back double doors towards the crowd and stage before stopping completely. Afton looks towards Crocker who seems just as confused as everyone else... Even the NCR Rangers seem ready for combat against the unknown threat.

"One of the NCR's surprises, Crocker?" Afton asks, making sure the rest of the crowd hear it via the microphone.

"N-" Just as Crocker's about to respond the back doors of the truck receive a huge fist-shaped dent.

*BANG!*

Another dent.

*BANG BANG!*

By now the most-likely reinforced doors were on their last legs...

*BANG!*

*CRASH!*

The doors are completely destroyed and thrown far away from the van as a huge figure ducks out of it... They look to be 7.8ft and completely garbed in black leather. Black leather trench coat, black leather trousers, black leather trilby. That wasn't the most noticeable thing however, that attribute would being to its grey, almost greenish skin that was completely covered in black veins that were somewhat similar to what Afton has. Of course, this could only be observed via its neck and hands due to the Jason mask it also wore.

It carried some sort of huge sledgehammer with it, though, Afton could see the jet engine on the back of the head, presumably to provide more force to each strike.

"What the fu-" Crocker mutters but is quickly dragged away by his bodyguards... Veronica was already at Afton's side while Gabe was growling at the creature in the distance. Finally, a scream from the crowd seems to break the camels back as everyone begins fleeing in every direction, with the exception of where the monster was of course.

The van that had delivered the creature quickly tries to drive away, but Afton wasn't willing to let that happen, pulling out a pistol to shoot out its back tires... But this wouldn't be needed apparently.

*PEWWW!*

A silent projectile from seemingly nowhere slams into the front of the black van, completely and utterly destroying the engine and causing it to flip over a few times with the occupants receiving a not so pleasant stop.

With this Afton turns his attention towards the creature. First, he uses his Karma Sense he received from [Stay the Path], but is surprised to find that the creature had a good deal of positive Karma which far outweighed any negative it might have. Next, he used his [Living Anatomy] Perk.

[Mr X]

Health : 100%

Stamina : ??%

DT : 50

Strength : 17

Perception : 5

Endurance : 30

Charisma : 2

Intelligence : 2

Agility : 5

Luck : 1

Ailments :

[Beauveria mordicana variante infestation] : Victim has been completely overtaken by the fungus, -6 Intelligence, -4 Luck, -5 Charisma, +11 Strength, +22 Endurance. Incredible regenerative capabilities.

[Crazed] : Victim is currently in a state of mania. Makes victim incredibly more violent and unreasonable.

[Beserk] : Inability to feel pain, Injuries do not cripple.

[Conditioned Target] : Victim has been conditioned to accomplish a single task... The death of Afton Parker.

[Psyker?] : ???

"Fuck." Afton mutters to himself, feeling like he was fighting Patient Zero again... He looks to Veronica who still seems to be observing the situation and give her a punch to the shoulder that cause a metallic sound to ring out. "Don't just stand there, shoot that thing!"

"Aye aye cap'ain." she says with a shrug before pointing her Gauss Rifle at the creature.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

She fires three shots and everyone looks over to see what damage it'd done... Only to gabe at the fact no damage had been caused whatsoever... Unless you count blowing a couple holes in its trench coat as damage...

Despite the attack against it, the creature doesn't say anything, instead just continuing to march towards the stage where Afton was still stood.

"What the fuck is this thing!?" Veronica asks while firing a couple more shots, which continue to do no damage at all.

"Don't know, don't care. Just shoot it!" Afton exclaims while drawing his own pistols and firing. Unfortunately, despite all the gunfire the creature was taking, nothing seemed to do any damage to it.

Afton was about to toss his pistols away and charge it with his Ultra Chainsword when his 'allies from the sky' provided assistance.

*PEW!*

Another projectile from nowhere slams into the creature's back, this continues through its body and exploded out of its chest which utterly destroys its heart. Afton and Veronica grumble at the blood and gore they got covered in, but ignore it while watching what the creature would do in response.

...

It doesn't do anything, instead just standing there blankly while the large hole in its chest spurts out blood, as if its heart were still beating. Afton raises a brow and decides to check its health, and gapes at what he sees.

[Mr X]

Health : 99%