"I like her." Salvatore said as they left The Pier.
"Opposite opinion that Deccanus has." Adam joked.
"Yeah well Mr. Legion is boring as hell. You gotta live a little and she knows how to live." He grinned.
"And stab you in the back if it suited her, no doubt."
"Well sure, but who doesn't? That's just the way of the world. Can't be getting your panties in a twist over something so small. Besides, that was some good shit I smoked." Adam just laughed.
"I'm more happy with the promise of caravans and the medical supply gift."
"Well the difference between producing Stimpacks and Psycho is what you are using the needle for." Salvatore shrugged.
"Think we are going to be able to make it home to the Vault before it gets too late?" Salvatore then leaned forward and looked through the window, checking the sky.
"Yeah I think we got enough daylight. Though we are gonna need to put in the effort, probably will be hitting night as we roll up at the door."
"That's good enough for me. So long as we can make it back and not have to sleep in the factory or something again I think it's worth it. Though most everyone is going to need to walk alongside the APC since we have too many people and too much stuff."
"Yeah, the APC ain't as roomy as it once was." Salvatore joked.
"I have a plan to fix that, though it might not work out for a while."
"I'm sure whatever it is will be fine. You got a knack for this shit, I'll tell you that."
"It's like I was born to be a scaver." Adam laughed.
"Doubt that's what those eggheads living in the vault had in mind when they grew you in the test tube but then again, here you are."
"Yeah but they were also immoral fuckers so… fuck em." Adam grinned.
"Damn straight, kid." The two bumped fists and then Adam turned on Ray's Radio to listen to as they rode back to the factory to meet up with the others.
Once they got back to the factory Adam saw everyone hanging around with everything properly looted from the factory and the dead cultists. The bags were stacked on top of each other and everyone seemed ready to go.
"Was the mission successful?" Deccanus asked as Adam hoped out.
"Yes." He then held up the large medical bag he was given by Madame Aquamarine. "And I got party favors." He grinned.
"Took your time about it, though." Percy joked.
"Madame Aquamarine asked to see me." Adam said as he turned to look at him.
"What did she want?" Mira asked, skeptically.
"She wanted to get on my good side." Adam laughed. "She bent over backwards to tell me she was my ally. I'm positive it was political maneuvering considering Mr. Cantelli is trying to discredit me in Midway. I'm inclined to let her butter me up. I mean we got free medical supplies and promises of caravans out of it."
"Depends what she is asking for it." Mira continued, still skeptical.
"Nothing. For now anyway."
"I doubt it will stay that way. Give a woman like that an inch she will take a mile." Mira said as she crossed her arms.
"I still do not like that woman." Deccanus spoke up again, flatly.
"Well for now she is just another leader, helping us get set up. We owe her nothing, and I'd rather have friends in leadership than not."
"As long as you are keeping yourself safe, handsome, I don't mind~" Eve said, hand on her hip. Adam chuckled and shook his head.
"Alright let's get the APC loaded up, we got a trek back and it will probably be dark by the time we get home, so let's get moving." Adam said to the group before he turned to Mira. "Are you good to walk?"
"Yeah, I'm good." She said back, patting her thigh. "Don't worry about me, I got enough rest." Adam nodded.
"Alright then, let's get this moving."
The APC was loaded up with everything of value in short order. A number of things that Adam would not normally take with him either due to space limitations or knowing it would not sell for much were taken as well. Things like plates, blenders, coffee mugs, desk fans, utensils, baskets, and more random things that could be found around the factory. Whether it was here from Pre-bombs or otherwise. These were all things that were necessary for living. Maybe a person doesn't need new plates often, maybe only once every few years, but these things are needed and he had a perfect distribution system, the general shop. It was a good way for Gracie to increase her stock for people living in the vault without having only exclusively valuable things that Adam normally brought along.
In addition, he certainly did not have enough room for all the loot they were taking and having his entire crew sit in the back. However that being said, this was not his most lucrative run he had ever gone on. Of course there was enough to make it worthwhile, it was practically a cultist settlement after all. Even if it was newly formed. But everything together did not add up to a full troop transport, especially not when everyone was carrying one or two bags too. Some people could certainly ride in the back but there was no real point when they would still be forced to drive at the speed of the slowest walkers.
It was fine though, as it turned out, despite the slow speed nothing impeded their march and numerous conversations broke out among the various individuals gathered, it was good seeing them all get along. Not that this was in doubt, of course, but they were all Adam's friends. That didn't necessarily mean they were friends with each other.
Regardless, as predicted, by the time they arrived back at the Vault the sun had already set and they were traveling using what little moonlight was available and the headlights of the APC. Adam was just glad to be back. A danger filled day made coming home to his little hole in the ground he had built with everyone just that much sweeter.