Chapter 143 - 143

Words : 1074 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Adam chuckled softly at the instance of Deccanus' question but decided to oblige. "Green grass as far as the eye could see. 3 square meals a day. The greatest threat to someone was boredom." He sighed softly thinking about the past. "Cars were everywhere, robots could be purchased at an 'affordable' price, most things were automated, you could drive to a grocery store and grab food from the other side of the world, there were no monsters, no raiders, no super mutants, deathclaws, or anything else that would rip a human in half. Children went to school, without fear of what may lay outside the walls of your settlement because… there were no walls… no settlements. One could drive from one side of the country to the other without stopping for anything but fuel." He paused looking at Deccanus' expression which seemed to be a mix of bewilderment and awe. "But it was not all perfect." Adam continued. "The world was teetering on the brink of collapse, the worst of people began to emerge, occupations and wars became commonplace throughout the world, not just in America. We lost a lot of allies when the resource began to run dry, then the resource wars began and… well." He sighed. "This is how that turned out." He broadly gestured around him. "It sounds as if… the world before the one now was a paradise." Deccanus mused. "No." Adam corrected him. "It has its severe drawbacks. The threat of nuclear annihilation was always hanging over our heads, you just… learned to live with it, after all there was nothing we could do to change the situation. Besides, the war with China was a good… distraction…" Adam muttered softly, petering off in the end. Deccanus stared at him for a moment before changing tacts. "And now? How does the world that we, the survivors, have built look through your eyes?" "It's…" Adam paused as he looked down the length of the pier, taking in the sights of the lights slowly beginning to turn on in the boats and in the buildings as people continued to walk up and down the length of the pier going about their lives. "Different." He said after a few moments to think. "To be honest, it's a far cry from the world I left, it's in shambles, there are monsters roaming the streets, society is fractured, and people still find reasons to fight but…" He looked a bit brighter with a small smile as he finished. "It brings me hope." "I was always under the impression that when the bombs fell that would be it, it would be all over. I mean there were fallout shelters, pulowski preservation shelters, vaults, and other things. But we were taught nuclear armageddon was the end. But now… I see people living on still, in spite of it all. It honestly… is pretty impressive to see people continuing to survive, and in many cases thrive, despite the world we left behind." Deccanus nodded slowly as he took it in. "I wonder, if you had seen the Legion at its height, what your thoughts of that would be." Deccanus mused aloud, mostly to himself. "Well considering you guys had slaves probably not too fond of it, I imagine." Deccanus took that comment in stride and nodded. "Still we had created perfect safety within our borders, I like to think that we had created a small piece of the world you once knew while our leader lived." It was Adam's turn to nod. "Perhaps." He admitted. "But it's only speculation. There are still so many things I don't know about this future I woke up in. It's basically another world to me. I've heard there are countries out there, rebuilding society, I just hope that one day my city, Chicago, can too." "A noble goal." Deccanus said back. "I'm sure you will live to see it. People seek society." "Yeah but it seems like there is a war on the horizon, it's never that simple." "No, but there is always war on the horizon. That is life." Deccanus returned. Adam shrugged. "War never changes, is that it?" Adam said with a small sigh and smile. "Indeed. It is the universal truth. Whether it be your past, or our future, we all share that fact." Adam nodded and then looked as the waiter arrived with their food. "Well in either case thank you for listening to my story, Deccanus." Adam said with a smile as the food was placed down in front of him. "Think nothing of it. I have shared many stories with you, it was only fair to return the favor." The two then stopped talking and ate their food. The lakelurk meat was very similar to crab. The chef had prepared it in such a way that it practically melted in his mouth. In addition the sauce it was served with had a pungent smell to it that paired very well with the meat, overall it was a thoroughly enjoyable dish, well worth the 52 caps he paid for the meal. The two then headed back to their hotel, splitting up for the night. However, before Adam turned in for the night he decided to head back outside and sit by the lake and enjoy the cool night air for a bit. He was careful to keep some distance from the water, as per the guard's advice, but he was close enough to enjoy himself. Talking with Deccanus tonight reminded him how many things had happened in only this short time he had been awake. It wasn't that long ago when he was just emerging from the vault. Now here he was, on the other side of Chicago, working for the effective head of Midway investigating disappearances. And to think, in the pre-war world he was just an IT guy. Now he was being entrusted with important work. His life now was certainly more fulfilling than his old one. More exciting too. He turned on his radio and began to listen to Ray's station. It seemed he had turned in for the night, he was not speaking but the music was auto playing. It was fine, it was perfect to end the day. After about an hour of enjoying the night air Adam returned to his room, ready to begin the investigations tomorrow.

Chapter 143 - 143

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