"I apologize for our liege's indirectness." The head warshipper apologized with a smile as the group left the armory. "Furthermore I can understand any confusion you may have about his ideals and goals." Adam paused and then turned to look at the Warshipper and sighed.
"I mean I am pretty confused…"
"That is understandable." The man smiled warmly. "War rarely speaks with outsiders directly, and when he does his ideas can get confusing to understand for those who lack the context."
"Are you about to give me the context?"
"I can." The warshipper said with a bright smile.
"Well… if it will help answer some of my questions."
"Certainly." The warshipper said as he gestured for Adam to follow him and the others into a side room of the theater for a bit more privacy. The space was a heavily converted staff room which, with Adam's whole group and the warshippers, made for a very tight space.
Adam and everyone took a seat as the head warshipper began to explain.
"War is a visionary. He is a man who has already changed the lives of countless people. Freeing slaves, cracking down on warlords, saving hundreds if not thousands. However War sees himself as nothing more than an instrument of his ideals. In other words he can be very… indirect with his aid." The man chuckled softly. "It is our job, as his closest followers, to interpret his will and carry forth the best outcome in his wake."
"Wait so you guys are the ones in charge of the army?" Adam asked.
"No no, you misunderstand. This is not an army, this is a people's revolution." He smiled warmly. "All of those here are those who see the vision of the future War has presented and follow him willingly."
"Wait, wait. I heard that when War moved into the area he began to absorb the other smaller gangs and raider groups." Adam spoke up quickly.
"That is one interpretation of the events." The warshipper explained politely. "However the truth of the matter was, War was going around and cleaning up the rot and corruption in the area, one of those things was the raiders. Among those who heard of him began to follow under his banner for either ideological or selfish reasons. War does not discriminate as he commands no one but himself."
"Wait are you saying that you guys are just working alongside a bunch of unscrupulous and dangerous raiders without even putting them on a leash?"
"That implies they would remain unscrupulous." The man said with a saintly smile. "But you are right, there are those who act out and do not agree with the ideals that War has pushed for his whole life. Those who act out in an unsuited manner are… dealt with." The man raised one of his long red sleeves and then chuckled softly into it. "He is called War after all, his methods are not clean." He let off another soft chuckle and then continued. "It merely requires asking yourself what is a raider? Of course there are those who become such because they crave violence, a psychopathy that can not be quenched. But most are people who lack means. The downtrodden, the homeless, those without purpose or direction. War gives them that direction. He gives them a place to feel at peace again. To those who have lost everything, the vision War speaks of, a future where their efforts are rewarded, is quite appealing."
"So you guys just… follow this guy? Willingly?"
"Oh yes! I can think of nothing greater than bearing witness to his esteemed deeds and helping his ideals see the light. War is a great man. Intelligent, cunning, kind, strong, and a brilliant visionary. However he can get lost in the pursuit of his ideals and lose sight of what he has left in his wake. Our jobs, the jobs of those who follow under his banner, is to ensure the wake he creates only brings good."
"So then… Why did he come to Chicago of all places?" Adam asked. For the first time the warshipper frowned and looked away for a moment.
"I can not speak the truth to you, as it would impede War's will, however what once was a mere stop over on our way to handle the problems of The Pitt, became a battle on its own. War has been tied up here for far too long, we are most gratified to have such a strong ally to help end this egregious battle." Adam studied the man for a moment, not exactly sure what to make of what he just said. After all he just admitted that there were things they were keeping from him but then again so too was Adam keeping things secret in exchange. It did not sit well with him but this was the nature of the alliance, neither side fully trusted each other, so he had to accept this.
"So then, the important question, will his army follow him to this fight? To strike into the heart of the cult?"
"Oh most certainly, yes. Everyone here, save the refugees that are living under our care, is here for the same reason. To see the glory of War firsthand and help him achieve his goals. If he deems it time to fight, we too shall fight."
"Even you?" Adam asked the warshippers specifically.
"Even us, yes. To follow War's example means that every man should fight tooth and nail to achieve their own success. We fight on the front lines not because we must, but because through battle we prove our worthiness to stand at his side, to show through our actions that we too strive to live our lives to the fullest. I cannot speak of every soldier who fights under War's banner, but all of us have something to prove, either to ourselves or to others. We will fight. Gleefully at that." Adam listened patiently and then nodded as the man wrapped up.
"Okay then, that was all I needed to hear." Adam said as he stood up.
"It was very nice to meet you, Adam Baxter. We look forward to shedding our blood on the field of battle alongside you." The man said before all of the other warshippers bowed politely to Adam, save him. "May your actions pave the path to the future you seek." He said, as if a mantra, and then bowed himself.
"Yours as well." Adam said back, a bit confused but accepting the comment and returning it in kind before turning to leave.
As Adam left the room he noticed the doctor scrambling to save a warfighter's life, desperately trying to stem a severed artery before he lost all his blood. It was clear he was failing and Adam was too soft hearted to simply walk by and not help. So instead he reached into his pack and pulled out all 5 of his Stimpacks and all 4 of his med-x and then tapped the doctor on the shoulder.
"Here, take these, you clearly need them." Adam said with a pitying look.
The doctor turned around for a moment, stared at Adam in the eyes and then took the medicine from him with naught but a small nod.
"Thank you." He said simply as he continued on with his work shortly thereafter.
It was certainly not much thanks considering how many meds Adam had given up, but it was fine, he could buy more. And there is nothing worse than losing someone in front of you that you could have saved if you had the right equipment. Adam would just chalk this up to expenses for this endeavor. Speaking of, he had still more things to buy and people to hire. The next few days were going to be busy.
As he was leaving however he noticed a man sitting in the corner of the room, an older man, with slightly graying hairs. He was crouched on the ground having wrapped himself in a black cape and stared at Adam with weirdly sharp eyes despite his destitute state and depressed look. The man did not break the gaze at Adam until he had fully cleared the room.