With the entire underground bandit den completely explored, thanks almost entirely to my expansive perception field, the two of us returned to the mess I made earlier in mere minutes. Back on the scene of the many knocked out scumbags, I wasted no time and started dragging their bodies in the direction of the cells I came from moments ago and depositing them in a few of the empty cells for later, with Mary's assistance of course. Although, not before she got several fearsome kicks in on a number of the assholes.
It took quite a few trips back and forth, but we nevertheless got every single last one of them moved over and when we did, I began my contemplation on how I wanted to dispose of them. After thinking things over for a second, I eventually settled on burning them alive since it would be a painful enough experience to serve as punishment for their wretched behavior. Whipping out my handheld plasma based flamethrower, FBPS-3 Plasma Melter, I took aim at the first cell with a third of the bandits inside still knocked out.
Right as I was about to pull the trigger and unleash jets of superheated plasma onto the unconscious bandits, a sudden idea came to me, one that would be even more fitting for these scourges.
On second thought, sending them off with just this seems a little light when they've subjected their victims to inhumane torture and depravity for god knows how long. Therefore, they should receive a more fitting punishment for an extended period... I do need experiment subjects since the last of my captured molemen guards passed on a while ago, so why not use these beasts. They would serve a valuable purpose for me and whoever I recruit for my research division in the future.
The unending pain they'll face in our pursuit of knowledge and scientific discovery will certainly serve as at least a decent punishment for their savagery... Yeah, I really do like the sound of that. It's a much more deserving punishment for the atrocities they've committed. And when I conquer the wastes one day, every single bandit can be rounded up and put into the science sector for myself and other researchers to utilize in whatever experiments they see fit. I'm sure they'll be wishing for hell once they've undergone a few scientific trials.
Planning on recreating my very own version of hell here on earth for every bandit scum I capture, henceforth, I deposited my mini flamethrower back in my item box, out of view of my companion's eyes. "I was originally intent on burning these bastards alive, but I'm going to cancel that plan of mine and keep them alive for as long as possible."
"Why? Weren't you the one so intent on dishing out their just desserts?"
"Oh, I very much still am. It's just that I've come up with an even better idea, and this one will let me extract some value out of them before they are inevitably expended."
"...I don't think I want to ask what you have in store for them."
"Yea, you're better off not knowing. Just know their end won't be pretty to say the least."
Finally decided on a fitting punishment for these pieces of garbage, the young feisty women I rescued not all that long ago and I left them locked up where they were and began making our way for the exit. Several minutes of backtracking later, we found ourselves back up on the surface.
"Are you ready to see if I was telling the truth about me living at that big old scary robotics facility?"
"Sure." Mary answered simply.
"Oh, that's surprising. I was expecting you to continue saying I was full of shit." I responded part kidding and part sarcastically.
Her sun-kissed complexion flushed ever so slightly under the setting sun that had made even further progress westward whilst we were cleaning up the shithead bandits below. "Well, I think we've progressed to the point where we can trust each other now… So, sorry about not believing you earlier, Dom."
"I suppose we did achieve a certain level of trust after going through a possible life and death situation, didn't we."
Even though the risk they posed to me was not existent, since both my equipment and stats were overwhelmingly better than their own.
"Anyways, apology accepted." I responded lastly, which had the side effect of causing her to look relieved.
Having basically intercepted a game event entirely by accident and prevented the tragedy that would normally occur to this wild wasteland flower, I headed home with the rescued victim sitting beside me shotgun in the Wolverine. On the drive back through the Nevada desert, I ordered my robots at base to gather up a sufficiently large group and head over to handle the situation at the bandit hideout.
While a minute portion of my forces were busy getting ready to head out and do my bidding, I and the gal beside me enjoyed a peaceful and uneventful ride to Cornerstone Stronghold. Traveling on the worn roads for several miles, we eventually pulled up to the metal gate on the east side of the perimeter fence that ran around the entirety of the former robotics plant.
Thankfully, I had the foresight to have my robots take down and haul the gate on this side away, so I was able to drive on through unimpeded. As I was quickly manoeuvring the armored combat vehicle to the rear of my base of operations out here in the wasteland, Mary was looking around amazed at the fantastical scene of numerous robots scurrying about mostly working on hauling wrecked vehicles to the interior of the facility and getting them ready to be scrapped and turned into even more resources.
Moments later, I pulled the Wolverine into the loading area and threw it into park once I arrived at its designated parking space inside. "I know you are brimming with questions, but you'll have to hold off on them till later."
*Sigh* "Fine, but you can't keep me in suspense forever."
"Sure, just don't go asking me to reveal secrets that only those close to me should know."
"Oh, I thought we were close like that with you saving me and all and us going on a dangerous, life-threatening adventure into the bandit's den together."
"I suppose-"
As I was responding, the dirty blonde haired firecracker rose from her seat, moved over my way before straddling my lap and coming face to face with me. She then attempted to remove my Heavy Trooper Helmet but couldn't figure out the mechanism, so I helped her out and removed it myself whilst her cheeks reddened, probably from embarrassment.
"So, where do you intend to go from here, Mary? This can't be it, can it?" I teased.
"...I was going to try to come onto you and say we could become even closer, but I kinda messed it up, whoops." She joked self-deprecatingly.
"Well, give it another shot and see if you can't make it happen."
Receiving my encouragement loud and clear, the lass regained her former confidence and looked deeply into my blue eyes with her own rare gray set and batted her long lashes. "What do you think about making us a thing?" She inquired, utilizing her cross between a southern belle and cowgirl accent to its fullest.
This chick certainly checks a whole load of boxes for me and has solid chemistry with me to boot. That said, she won't be getting anywhere till she can get the approval of my wife, Alice, and my girlfriend Rei. So as much as I would like to accept her offer, that just isn't going to happen... At least not now.
"Mm, I'm intrigued, but can you handle a man with more than one woman vying for his attention? I know it can be hard to share, after all."
"Ohh, I'll have competition, you don't say?"
"I wouldn't necessarily say they're your competitors since you'll have to, at the bare minimum, be able to get along with them and gain their acceptance before being able to pursue me."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll block your attempts myself."
"..."
"So what will it be?" I pressed her.
"I know what I want and I think you're more than worth it, big guy, so I'm up for the challenge."
"Good, I hope you succeed in your endeavor, Mary."
"I hope so too, Dom."
...
"Alright, my first word of advice would be to get off me." I recommended as nicely as I could.
Although surprised to hear what I said, she did what I recommended, so I continued to dispense the advice that would help her in her pursuit of yours truly without stepping on the toes of those who came before her. "Second, try to keep the physical affection to a minimum until you're able to build a rapport with my partners."
"And then?"
"And then we wait for them to give the go ahead."
"That's it?"
"Yup, that's it. They're simply looking to see whether you or anyone else who comes along will be able to mesh in well into our little family."
I'm leaving out the bit regarding them looking for red flags and anything else that could come back to bite us in the asses later, like betrayal and loose lips, but that doesn't need to be stated.
Leaving her somewhat stunned at how simple it all seemed, I got up from the driver's seat and began heading for the rear hatch that was in the process of lowering. The second I reached the opening, I turned and asked. "You coming?"
"Y-yeah." She replied, breaking from her confounded state.
______
The next chapter comes out tomorrow.