Chapter 538 - Pecking Order

Veronica continues, "Well, McNamara was ousted by Hardin due to incredibly dubious reasons. It was only on a technicality that McNamara lost the position, a technicality that he broke to save the chapter..." she trails off.

Afton crosses his arms and locks eyes with Christine, "About a year ago I left the Bunker after having thought long and hard on whether or not the chapter was actually fulfilling their duties... During my time in the wasteland, I found the Brotherhood wanting... They abandoned their duties to the people and hid away to protect themselves. I won't lie, you leaving us was a considering as well Christine, I wanted to find and bring you back to us..." he states while taking many liberties with what constituted the 'truth'.​​

If he were honest, the main reason he left was to acquire the Pipboy the Brotherhood was hellbent on taking apart. Of course, finding Christine, Veronica, and exploring the wasteland was also a consideration, as well as having some fun in this strange world he found himself in...

Hiding away in the bunker in this world would be like living in a basement after going on vacation to a tropical country.

"The current situation in the Mojave is far worse than most would have you believe, Christine. The NCR are corrupt and vicious towards anyone who doesn't follow them absolutely. The Legion are barbaric slavers hellbent on blazing a trail through the continent, raping, murdering, and conquering everything in their path. Even Mr House, the ruler of New Vegas, allows prostitution, which in some casino's essentially amounts to indebted servitude, blackmailing, and manipulation of Chem-Addicts.

To fix this I decided to make my own faction, Bulwark. We would take on the duties of the Brotherhood while not constantly deferring to the Codex. It may seem blasphemous to you, but let me ask you honestly... Do you think that Anja and Dean should be executed?" he asks with furrowed brows beneath his helmet.

Christine just stares into his glowing red visor, contemplating her thoughts on it. The Codex firmly stated that the eradication of abominations was their first and foremost duty. As humans it is their responsibility to safeguard humanity against such existential threats. At least, this is what they were taught, Christine herself was dubious over it despite her firm adherence to most other rules in the Codex. Her relationship with Veronica had been seen as a dereliction of duty, despite nothing of the sort being anywhere in the Codex.

She takes a glance at the blind Anja, the Ghoul who'd been assisting her the best she could despite her injury. Anja had been telling her stories about some of Afton and her adventures, adventures involving monstrous plants, Fiends, and the NCR...

It would be a lie to say she hadn't started feeling a friendship towards her, but that only left her conflicted due to what the Codex states.

Christine bites her lip and slowly shakes her head, feelings of confusion, betrayal, and despair overtaking her for a moment. To be honest, she'd never actually been confronted with such a decision until now... She'd been locked up inside for most of her life, the Mojave chapter, then the Circle of Steel... Sure, she'd been called on to assassinate the occasional Ghoul in some communities. But there was such a great distance between her and her target, physical and emotional, that she never really thought about it.

She tapes her collar once, answering no to Afton's question, though, she was hesitant when she gives it.

Afton takes his helmet off and holds it under his arm, "Then, by that decision, you are a traitor to the Brotherhood. Simply for not killing an innocent and sapient being, you have broken the Codex and can be punished. Demotion, exile, or execution... Do you not see how Draconic such rules are? This is the primary reason I distanced myself from the Brotherhood.

I still believe that technology needs to be regulated, after all, technology caused the Apocolypse. But I think having a 'Kill and burn all Abominations' rule is stupid and far too easily taken advantage of. Just what classifies an Abomination anyway? A creature of human descent? A creature created by the manipulation of human DNA? The Codex is never clear on this, which is why some chapters regard Ghouls as humans, and others burn them at the stake on sight." he states.

Veronica spots the indecision on Christine's face and rests a hand on her shoulder, "Look Christine, I didn't leave the Brotherhood lightly. Hardin challenged Afton to a trial by combat after he was exiled." Christine's eyes widen slightly at this, quickly realising the implications, Veronica nods in confirmation, "Afton beat the shit out of Hardin without any Power armour at all, he did this to save Anja from execution after we protected the chapter from a Legion assault" she explains.

"The Brotherhood had lost its way, and I feel that you can only trust yourself to make things right... I don't think waiting until someone punches it in the nuts to get it back on track, we'll be the ones doing the punching! And we'll make the Mojave a better place for it." Veronica states, determination burning in her eyes... Though, her words seem to bring Christine out of her funk and into silent laughter.

Christine laughs at the way Veronica had framed it, the strange choking silence not even bothering her as her eyes tear up, quickly remembering why she'd fallen for Veronica all those years ago... It seems as if she hadn't changed a bit!

Veronica pouts, "Oi, I'm being serious! Stop laughing!" she groans, but Afton and the others just begin chuckling at the side. All of them receiving a glare from the 'Nut Puncher'.

After Christine had finished laughing and wiped a stray tear from her cheek, Veronica looks into her eyes, "So... Are we still good?"

Christine doesn't try to 'say' anything in response, instead, stepping on her tiptoes and giving a light peck to Veronica's lips. The victim's back straightens at this as Veronica blushes and looks at Christine with a dumb expression on her face. "Y-Y-You!-"

Afton claps his hands together drawing everyone's attention, "Alright! You guys can make out another time, we've still got work to do, remember!?"