Chapter 142 - 142

Words : 969 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

"Let me start at the beginning." Adam began, seriously. "I once was a soldier serving under the command of the Alaskan headquarters of the US Army, 33rd Infantry Division. I volunteered when I got out of school to serve my country to help fight the invading reds- er… Chinese." He paused again. He then sighed. "I have memories of what it was like before the bombs fell, I used to have a job, a life, in the world before the world collapsed." He paused a second time considering how best to tell the story, deciding that chronologically was for the best. "I awoke in a vault." He pulled at his vault suit. "Vault 42." He confirmed. "With no memory of how I got there, my last memories being preparing for a probably boring work-mandated Halloween party." He looked off to the side at some of the other patrons who were eating casually and then sighed. "I was lost, confused, and this whole world was strange to me. It was only through the luck of strangers, Chuck and Salvatore that I found a safe haven. I began to build a new life for myself. But I always had one goal, something I knew I had to do… get to my old workplace, Second Life, and figure out what happened to me…" He paused again, not really sure if he wanted to share. "There I learned the truth… I was… a clone…" He led his elbows on the table and put his hands on his forehead while he looked at the table. Not in shame or fear, but because he was reliving the emotions of the day he found out the truth, it was quite frankly traumatic. Even if he had come to accept himself as a clone, it was a different story when he remembered the moment, after all he did have a panic attack. "My old workplace had been experimenting in cloning techniques, with the ultimate goal of achieving their own twisted version of immortality. I was an unwitting test subject. They scanned my brain… the other, real, Adam's brain, and then I woke up over 200 years later in a biochamber with no memory of how I got there because I was grown there." He said with a deep sigh and then looked up at Deccanus' face again. Deccanus' expression was complex, unsure how to process this information himself. "According to the logs I found at my old work, I am an Omega Type 2 Clone, basically a superior body with replicated memories. In essence I believe I am the original Adam but I am not the real him. His memories are mine, he is me, but I am not him." He finished, now waiting for Deccanus' response. There was a long pause, a tense one too, as Deccanus seemed to be thinking through Adam's words on his own. He then sighed himself, downed the entire glass of rum he was drinking with his meal and then stared into Adam's eyes with an intensity. "So you were manufactured by your people too." He said stoically after having a long time to process his thoughts. Adam tilted his head, not sure what he meant. "We are all the sum of our teachings." He said sagely. "I am legion because that is who I was molded to be, while I may not know what it means to be a clone, you are a victim of your circumstances." He looked off to the side now. "Perhaps in the past, the old me, might have found you reprehensible, a non human…" He paused and then looked at Adam again. "But I am changing, as you have said, the fall of the Legion has brought me new perspectives. I can not say what this means for me… or for you, but if you are afraid I will leave due to you being unlike me I will not." He said resolutely. "Deccanus…" Adam began, softly, before Deccanus spoke up again. "I am coming to realize that much of the way I feel about others from outside the Legion might be… misattributed." He paused. "I am trying not to prejudge people, I admit it is a failing of mine, but I am working on it." He then sighed and looked into Adam's eyes with intensity again. "What I do know is that I have fought by your side more than once now, you have saved my life, I have saved yours, I have seen you bleed." he said with emphasis. "Whatever you might be has no bearing on who you are. What I know is that this man before me is as much a good instructor in life as he is a soldier. A man worthy of following. Until that changes nothing you tell me will shake that belief." Adam stared back at him for a few moments unsure what to say in response. After a few moments of silence he sighed in relief. "I'll be honest, I expected the worst, and you gave me the best." Adam offered a soft smile. "No, you gave me your best." Deccanus corrected. "Perhaps it is ironic that it was someone other than the Legion who granted me a new lease on life but you not only saved my life literally but figuratively, you have given me a new purpose. I would not be standing here without you. I owe you at least this much." Adam let off another long sigh of relief. "Well I'm glad that's off my shoulders." Adam chuckled softly. "Frankly I had no idea how you'd react." "I do still have questions though." Deccanus said back. "Sure! " Adam said happily. "Go for it." "Well for one, you still never told me about your home."

Chapter 142 - 142

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