"Well slow down there honey." Madam Aquamarine said with a silken tone as she gently tapped out the ashes from her pipe. "Famine is on the move you say? Why would those ferals even be moving at all? Surely it's not nearly as dire as you are making it sound."
"It is." Adam said seriously. "My partner confirmed it himself, we drove close enough to get him to a vantage point. We have a week, maybe two before the ferals completely begin to invade the center of Chicago." Madam Aquamarine frowned and put her pipe down, sitting up.
"I see." She said with an instantly cold tone, like a flip had been switched in her head. Gone was the silky smooth honeyed tone she employed and instead was a cold unapologetic calculating one.
"But I have a plan." Adam said, preempting any plans she might be making, just like he had with Mr. Cantelli. "I am right now gathering forces together to form an army, an army strong enough to cull the invading forces. She remained quiet for a solid few moments before her dagger-like gaze fell upon Adam's once more.
"And you came here, to me, hoping I can throw in my lot with this little army you are putting together?" She asked, nothing but the cold calculating tone being heard through her words.
"Yes." Adam admitted readily. "I already have a handful of people who work with me committed, and I have the promise of Mr. Cantelli that he will send whatever forces he can muster. I had to use a favor for it, but that's neither here nor there." Adam shrugged. Her eyes lit up slightly at the mention of Mr. Cantelli but it died down quickly.
"So that old fool is going to even be committing forces to this? How strange." She said as her finger gently placed itself on her chin as she thought it over. "He isn't the type to play well with others… if it's really that serious…" She then snapped her fingers and out of the side room came the same man in a white suit from last time, Cheshire.
"Yes, Madam?" Cheshire asked as he came out holding a clipboard and still doing work.
"We will need to pull our resources together, it sounds as though an endtimes crisis is approaching, I will need you to gather our finances, our men, and hire some mercs who are in need of a job. We apparently have an invasion to stop." She said with a pleasant tone again to Cheshire. He bowed and then left the room.
"I believe that is enough of a display of my willingness to help~." She said, back to her honeyed tone as she stood up and walked over to Adam, taking a seat next to him on the pillow. "Where will this climactic battle take place?"
"I'm not sure yet." Adam said, not super comfortable with her sitting so close but he did his best to not make mention of it. "However I am having all the forces meet me here, to the east, it should be a good staging point to plan our fight and prepare the battlefield." Adam said, showing her on the pip-boy where he was indicating.
"Wonderful~" She said with a sultry tone as she then placed a hand on his shoulder in a flirty way and then leaned in close, almost as if she was going to kiss him, however then she suddenly whispered in his ear:
"You were right, I have some rats hiding in my entourage." She whispered with a honeyed and pleasant tone that sent shivers down Adam's spine simply due to the cruel and sadistic undertones.
It seemed, at least, like Madam Aquamarine got his message and investigated based on his tip. If she found some spies sent by pestilence then all the better. However, upon further thought, this could prove to be useful. If those spies were around…
"Madam Aquamarine…" Adam said, softly, stopping her before she got up to go sit back down in her spot. He then pulled up a blank text screen and began to type into his pip-boy:
Perhaps this battle could become known to the Cult of Pestilence through those rats. I have no way of contacting their leader and I doubt they would be happy to see me. But they might be interested in stopping Famine too.
Once Adam was sure she had read everything, and at least planted the idea within her he put his arm back down and let her return to her seat.
"Well, as always, I'm immensely grateful to you, dear Adam. Once more you have done a great service for the people of this town." She said with a slow sultry tone with a seductive smile. "I will do what I can to prepare for this battle, I just hope that this little get-together you are forming is going to be enough to stop what is to come. If not I shall have to push forward plans of evacuation. But luckily my people are a strong, hardy folk, and we have boats. We will live." She grinned before picking up her pipe again and putting in new tobacco.
"Thank you Madam." Adam said politely to her, glad this meeting went as smoothly as he had hoped, he began to stand up to leave before she spoke up again.
"It's getting late, I assume you don't plan on leaving today, no?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
Truthfully… he was going to, but that was due to his mind being caught up in this grand battle he was about to help set up. In truth it had been a long day. He had battled with super mutants at the Federal Ration Stockpile, saved Pearl, drove all the way back to Midway with his friends in tow, sold everything off, made a separate, two way long trip to the core of famine's territory to find out for himself what was happening, and then, after speaking with Mr. Cantelli, he came here. The day was long since over. Night had already begun to set in. However he had not even considered the time of day since he was so laser focused on his task. But leaving now would be foolish, no matter how tight his timetable. Besides, he had an APC now, getting from location to location was very fast and easy, assuming there was a road leading there. He could afford to take a break for the day. As much as he hated to admit it, he did need sleep too. Fresh chapters posted on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Madam Aquamarine seemed to read Adam's mind as he thought through all this and then smiled as she took a slow hit of her pipe.
"You can stay in one of my luxury suites, as a guest, it's an honor I rarely bestow upon people, but I think you have earned it thanks to the efforts you are putting in." Adam looked at her for a moment and then nodded slowly.
"Thank you, Madam. I appreciate it." She grinned.
"I'm sure you do." She then waved to one of her lackeys who were nearby but not in earshot and told them to bring Adam to a guest suite.
"What about Pearl?" Adam asked before he left. She just smiled.
"Do not worry, your super mutant friend will be in good hands here, I will find a room for them tonight." She then shooed Adam away with her hand to get him to follow the man summoned to lead him. After a moment's hesitation he did as she wanted and began to follow them. He had no idea what to expect but all he wanted was a nice bed.