Chapter 515 - Temporary Ally

The ghoul chuckles and shakes his head for a moment, "Hehe, I'll never get used to people asking me that... Dean, Dean Domino." he states with an outstretched hand.

Afton just shakes it with a raised brow, why wouldn't people ask him that? Is he some kind of hermit or something?... He's a ghoul so it's possible?​​

"Name's Afton Parker, she's Veronica, and that's Anja." he says while gesturing at each of them respectively before continuing, "Also... What's the deal with all those traps? Is it just for the Ghosts, or something else?" he asks, more to keep the conversation going so Nyx could pull up the collar schematics.

Dean's eyes squint meaningfully as he shakes his head, "That's not something I can say." he states.

Veronica speaks up, "Have you seen anyone called Christine around here? Blonde hair, blue eyes... cute face..." she adds with slightly reddening cheeks.

Dean shakes his head again, "No, even if I did, I wouldn't be able to say." he taps his collar, as if asking them to stop this before he makes a slip.

"Sir, I've received recovered the schematics. Would you like to jam its signal?" Nyx asks.

He nods, and once the signals jammed he steps towards domino, an especially designed hole on the palm of his right gauntlet allowing him to form a wood-like screwdriver, "Hold still, I've jammed Elijah's signal, but I don't know how long that'll last." he states.

Dean's eyes widen and he doesn't back away as Afton starts fiddling with the collar. Elijah seems to have welded metal over the screws of the collar to prevent easy access to the inner components... Fortunately, it's incredibly easy for him to tear the plating off... The next obstacle was the peculiar and unique screws used that seemed designed to counter any regular screwdriver you might normally find... Again, Afton's abilities allowed him to morph his arm into any shape, making it incredibly easy to create the proper tool for the job.

He'd already read the schematics before, so having it on his hud now was more to shake the rust off than anything... There were a number of components to it, among them were the three separate and intricate triggering mechanisms, a signal receiver, voice modulator, and the other number of things Elijah might have added... However, the most important thing that seems to have stayed the same, the actual explosives contained within the collar... This itteration appears to have just been stuffed with small amounts of C4 in separate hidden parts of the collar...

Afton was honestly working overtime to remove all the C4 as their hidden compartments were so numerous and well hidden, but eventually, he'd removed all of it. And after double-checking the collar for anymore he puts the collar back together and backs away while hiding the C4 he'd collected.

Dean Domino would still be unsure if the operation had been a success, but he'd been using a handheld mirror to watch Afton work, and as an explosives expert himself, he was sure that was all of it.

They'd finished just in time too since the collar started rapidly beeping, indicating that Elijah knew something fishy was happening.

Once he'd returned however he'd found Afton and Dean still in conversation...

"Why are you being kept here anyway?" Afton asks.

Dean shrugs, "What you believe that I'm just trying to take what's rightfully mine?... Other than that, I suppose 'HE' needs me alive for something."

Afton grins under his helmet, "If he needs you alive, why are you worried about him killing you? I'd bet that collar of yours is a dud." he explains.

...

Dean shakes his head, keeping up the act, "No... I wouldn't put it past him, but... He's given me more lenience than many of the other's he's brought here... Maybe your words have some truth in them." he says, but the quicker beeping of the collar indicates that Elijah highly disagreed.

"Come with us, we could use your experience around here... We might even be able to help you find what you're looking for." Afton offers and Dean nods.

"*Bzztch!* You will not! You're life means little to me in the grand scheme of things, and I would not hesitate to end you should you prove a threat!*Bzztch!*" Elijah threatens from the collar.

Dean shakes his head with a chuckle, "You know as well as I that my 'status' within the Casino makes me too valuable to remove. Without me, any hope of finding the treasure will be lost." he looks to Afton, "I'll accompany you, but be warned, this place is far more dangerous than you know." he states, and the beeping slows until it becomes an occasional update of the collars existence.

Afton nods, "Alright, now, do you know anything about Christine Royce?" he asks.

Dean shakes his head, "I haven't seen them, nor have I seen anyone resembling her among the many dead former captives." he explains.

Veronica breathes a sigh of relief behind Afton at this, at least it wasn't certain that Christine was dead yet.

Afton nods, "And the traps?" he asks again, hoping to get an honest answer from the now 'freed' ghoul.

Dean frowns, "It isn't only the ghosts the dwell in this haunted city... There are also Holograms programmed to kill any they see, they shoot lasers from their eyes that are even capable of disintegrating the ghosts... If you see blue turn red, run." he says before continuing, "... Of course, the holograms aren't the only blue menace running around here... The one who calls himself, Dog. A big Super Mutant that is under 'HIS' control, he's the one who brings in the new collared captives..." he explains.

Afton raises a brow, "I see... Well, what do you know about this town? What districts are there and where might our friend be?"