After they got back into the APC they headed to their last destination before the Vault, Naper. He had considered going to the other two settlements he knew about for help but each had its own problems.
First there was The Raft, as far as he knew it was quite a sizable settlement. Certainly it would be a boon for the upcoming battle if he were to get them involved, no doubt they had ample guards. However as he was told the Raft was notably East and had pulled up the ramps leading onto their boat flotilla. In addition they were turning away anyone who wanted to come into their city even over the water. Eve suspected they had some sort of internal issues going on so going there would be a waste of time even if he could get there.
Then there was the Highrise. Realistically he could go there and maybe get some help, but he had never been there before and thus he didn't know anyone. In addition it was not a large settlement, more in line with Naper. The time it would take to convince the people living there that he was genuine and that they needed help in this upcoming battle would take too long. He still had a number of other things he had to do. In addition the settlement's location was so out of the way it would be difficult to justify heading there when he was already on a timetable. Besides, after heading to Hell he was done gambling with strangers, he wanted to take it easier.
The people of Naper knew him, liked him, and quite frankly, he needed sleep. Once more all this running around has killed the day, it was not yet night but it would be soon. He could grab his room at the Inn and stay the night after getting the town up-to-date. He wanted to see some friendly faces. Whether or not they would help was besides the point. Latest content publıshed on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵
Arriving at the gate to Naper the guard seemed quite intimidated to see such a large vehicle pull up on the small town.
"Identify yourself!" He said, trying to keep his resolve up, pointing his rifle at the APC. Adam slipped over to the hatch and then raised a hand as he stood up.
"Don't worry, it's just me." Adam smiled at the guard as he got into view. Seeing Adam the guard lowered his weapon and sighed in relief.
"Is that you Adam? Where did you get a tank?" He asked with a small smile.
"APC actually, but it's a long story, I have a lot to talk about, but can you open the gate for me? I need to speak to the town."
"Yeah, yeah. Give me a moment." The guard said as he then opened the gate to Naper, revealing the town that once sheltered him while he was still getting his bearings. He owed this place a lot, that's why he was back, to repay that favor.
Adam slowly drove through the gate once it was open and then parked outside Chuck's house, locking it up behind him. As he was getting Pearl out of the back, he saw Grant coming down the way, presumably to speak to him. Adam politely waited for him to come while he closed back up the ramp to the APC.
"Hey, Adam." Grant said, walking over and then turning to look at the APC. "I heard you were back with a car but… this ain't a car." He chuckled and then offered Adam his hand. "Good to see you again, friend." He smiled. Adam smiled back and shook his hand.
"Good to see you too, Grant." Adam then lightly gestured to Pearl. "This here is my current partner Pearl, She has been traveling with me for a bit so don't mind her, she is quite docile and friendly." Grant took a moment to size Pearl up for a moment and then smiled at her too.
"Well any friend of Adam is a friend of mine, welcome to Naper, Pearl." He said, offering her his hand too. Pearl looked at the offered hand and then looked to Adam and then looked at Grant again. She then carefully grabbed hold of Grant's hand, still confused, unsure what the gesture meant, but willing to try. Grant chuckled.
"First super mutant inside Naper that ain't hostile, glad to see it." He grinned. "Anyway, I assume you didn't come back just to see some old faces, you got news for us, I presume?" Adam's expression turned serious.
"Yes, I have news, can you gather people together, I want to let everyone know what is happening."
"Give me some time, I'll get the folks together, from what Mira said before she left it ain't sounding good." Grant said with a shake of his head before walking off to do that.
Adam then headed inside Chuck's shop to see him sitting at the counter, reading a book.
"Hey Chuck." Adam smiled as he walked in.
"Adam? Well I'll be." He grinned as Adam walked over. He looked over at Pearl suspiciously for a moment before he continued though. "The big guy ain't gonna do nothin' is he?" He asked, with a slight squint.
"No, Pearl is friendly, don't mind her." Adam said. Chuck paused for a moment before he nodded and relaxed.
"Well what brings you back here? Come to buy something I hope?" He grinned.
"I came bringing news, I asked Grant to gather the people and I'll tell everyone then, but in the meantime…" Adam pulled out a Midway slip for 50 caps. "I need a new knife."
45 caps and 1 hour later Adam had a new knife to replace the combat knife he had left in the map in Hell to enhance his dramatic display at the time and a crowd of people gathered outside the Inn to hear his explanation. Adam had just finished giving them all the details as he knew it, from the coming horde that Mira told them about to the coming battle he was preparing for. It seemed as though the people had taken Mira's words seriously but did not have any idea how to prepare for a wave of feral ghouls so instead it simply translated to anxiety among the populace.
"I will be leaving tomorrow to head to my old vault to fix it up for living and then await the rest of the forces who will be joining us in battle. With any luck we can stop this before it spreads into Chicago proper. I'm not asking any of you to step up to help, but the more hands we have the better. I just wanted to let you all know what the situation was. You are not alone, Chicago seems ready to defend itself." Adam finished his speech leaving a lot of people murmuring amongst each other. Should he have mentioned his Vault? Probably not. But it slipped out his mouth when he was explaining the situation and again, the true value of the vault was not the secrecy but instead the heavy metal door that protected the interior. Besides, these were the people who took him in when he had nothing, it was not like he was speaking to Mr. Cantelli.
"Now I know a lot of you have questions." Grant said, stepping up next to Adam to take control of the situation. "But Adam here has just spent all day running from place to place getting help, and I'm sure he has told us everything he can. So before you go bombarding the poor man with questions keep that in mind. For now I think it's best we all go home and consider how we will weather this storm." He paused and then slapped Adam on the back gently.
"I for one will be joining him in this battle he has planned." Grant grinned and Adam looked at him surprised but grateful. "He saved our town once before, and now he wants to do it again, I wouldn't be able to call myself a man if I didn't step up."
"Me too grant!" One of the guards in the center of the crowd said, hands raised.
"Yeah! I ain't sitting this fight out!" Another woman from the crowd, also a guard, said too.
"Now now, before you guys jump on the wagon, think on it. We got a few days before the fight will even happen. Until then go home, have a meal, a good night's rest, we can discuss what those of us who leave will do and what those of us who will stay will do." He said with finality and then the crowd began to disperse.
"Thanks Grant." Adam said to him, smiling.
"Don't thank me yet. That was the easy part, we still have a lot more trouble ahead." Grant turned to Adam. "You sure do love sticking your neck out for people." Grant said with a warm smile.
"I guess it's just in my nature." Adam chuckled softly.
"Come on." Grant said as he gently pushed Adam from behind, into the Inn. "Let me buy you a drink."