((Collab between Letter Bee and Vulkan))
Enclave Base One - JFK Airport
When the Vertibirds returned to the Enclave's complex, Alan greeted his puppet President, Edward Dusk, who showered him with accolades before everyone in his group. Then, after Alan reported that Liberty Island was secure and a garrison had been set up on the formerly free city, the old man smiled, before giving a small speech:
"You have done well and served the Interests of the United States of America. For that," he pulled out a magnetic medal that would stick to Alan's Power Armor, "I award you with the US' Medal of Honor." He then smiled as he stuck it to Alan's chest; he enjoyed the position of 'puppet'. President Dusk then turned towards Alex, and gave him another, lesser magnetic medal, one that was made of gold instead of platinum.
Then, after that, Alan turned towards Alex, walking towards the sniper and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"You did well, Corporal Roniel, you may yet achieve my rank someday. But now I must give you another duty." He then turned to Par, still naked except for his slave collar, and walking behind Alan obediently.
"Guard my Naked Slave for me, and make sure none of my ''Hedonists'," Alan's own personal squad of goons, "get to him before me. Also, help him prepare for his...duties."
"Escort him to the baths, and order the Worker Robots to give him an enema, cleaning him inside as well as outside. Then, once he is bathed, take him to Doctor Jose Barre, and tell him to give him some laser eye surgery, as well as shave off all hair not on the top of his head, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Then after that...test his intellect, talk to him; I don't want to have my way with an unintelligent 'flesh doll'."
"Hmm...I also heard it takes a few days for eye surgery to 'set in', so keep him safe, clean, and fed for that time." He grinned. "I find that anticipation and waiting spices up the appetite."
"You know..." Alan leaned in close, "I like you. You might even be my Heir Apparent; none of my Hedonists are as militarily adept as either one of us. So just follow my lead, and you might control," he gestured across the lobby of the former Airport, "all of this one day."
Alex listened carefully to everything the colonel had said, managing to hide his irritation at being turned into a glorified jail guard and guiding this poor idiot to all sorts of interesting adventures. However, the Colonel's last words made his ears prick up. Command wasnt his favorite, but he was capable of doing it if he absolutely had to. Controlling this entire place was very appealing. He knew the first change he would make...
He suddenly put his mind back into reality and not the future, and turned to the colonel. "Thank you sir, i wouldnt know about the whole anticipation and waiting thing in this context...". I better get the mutie to his appointments." He drew his laser pistol, the one that had been modified to pacify rather than kill. Poking par in the back, he escorted him away, not even bothering to look at the pathetic puppet in the corner.
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Alex had changed out of his armour while his prisoner was being attended to, and was currently wearing his military longcoat. He sat down, gesturing for the prisoner to do the same while he stared at him with eyes as cold as ice. He didnt exactly want to visualize what had happened to the prisoner so far. He wondered if the prisoner would even want to talk.
"Your name?"
Par sat down, a little frightened, but not to the point of incoherence. Unknown to Alan or Alex, he had already sized up what he saw of the place, marveling at its technological sophistication but at the same time, also observing the enemy's strength.
"Paradise Rapids, but you can call me Par," the former merchant said, not attempting to cover himself. "Interesting place you have here, but I can tell that a lot of the retrofitting is both recent and obvious. This was not a military base in the beginning, isn't it?" He reviewed his knowledge of Pre-War New York. "JFK National Airport. I can see why you'd want this place."
"So, Alan asked you to test how smart I am. Judging by your expressions, you must not think of me as that."
"No. Not particularly. And we use this place because it is best suited for our aims. " Alex said simply.
Before Alex can move to his second question, Par then jumped in with one of his own.
"I can tell you don't like being your commander's errand boy. Is that the case?" More questions came out. "If so, then why do you serve him - is it because you see him as keeping America strong?"
Alex was irritated. Why was this mutie so talkative? Other soldiers handling prisoners wouldnt have to deal with this shit. Part of him wished that this mutie just yelled a lot like all the other prisoners that he had seen now and again. Not to mention, some of those questions seemed to show that he had learned a lot of things about the enclave after only being here a short time.
"The colonel has led us well. Under his leadership we will make this country great again."
Par tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck. He was curious now, as well as skeptical.
"All true, all true; as long as the military victories keep coming, any...quirk can be forgiven, any discomfort can be bottled up." A chuckle.
"And you said 'Colonel', not 'President'." Relaxed shoulders, a sign that Par felt no threat.
"I talk and talk in order to defend myself, to give myself a few crucial seconds before Alan ravishes me. He told you that he can wait a few days; those days will be enough for my friends to reach the Brotherhood; find a way to rescue me. And even if you tell your Colonel this, he'll be arrogant enough to humor me."
Alex laughed, although there was absolutely no humor in it whatsoever.
"If your brotherhood find us, we will just reenact what we just did on liberty island. We are better trained, more advanced and better organised." He gave another humorless smile. "Your allies won't get past our first blockade."
He was tempted to voice his distaste for the "Quirks" but decided to keep his trap shut.
"Yes, because the Enclave has such a good record of holding a defensive line," Par was a little sarcastic. "Either way, one final question and I can go to sleep, hopefully dreaming of more delaying tactics."
"If your leader wasn't bringing home the metaphorical bacon, would it be right to say you would have 'fragged' him already?"
"If our leader was incompetent, we would have removed him by any means necessary. Now get up. We are done here." Alex got up, and gestured for Par to follow him.
Par got up, looking pleased with himself as Alex guided him to a spare bedroom, where, after finally covering himself up with a blanket, he slept.
He knew this; that he had found out more information about the Enclave and perhaps even some internal tensions, and that was the best he can hope for.
