Adam left the office still not completely certain of his choice to keep Mr. Cantelli in the dark about his upcoming actions. He just couldn't be certain of his motives. Which is the same reason he didn't want to get too close either. It was a shame but he would have to do this one without his help. However, lost in his thoughts he did not notice as he walked down the path and then accidentally bumped into a man taller than him.
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry. I didn't look where I was going." Adam apologized as he slowly looked up at the man who was slightly taller and bigger than him. He was covered in what could be described as 'trophies'. He wore the pelt of a yao guai bear, had a deathclaw gauntlet on one hand and a shield made from the carapace of a mirelurk in the other. Around his neck he wore a necklace with a head laser ripped from an assaultron as well as the sharp teeth of something Adam didn't recognize, and his legs were covered in the metal of a sentry bot. However despite all this he was shirtless, showing off his well toned abs and numerous scars that covered his body.
"You are Adam Baxter, yes?" He asked with a cold methodical gaze at Adam.
"Uh… yeah… who are you?" Adam asked back, confused why this strange man was asking for him.
"I am Torusk the hunter. I have come to inform you that you are my next quarry." He said with a steely eyed look at Adam. His tone left no question that he was serious.
"What? What are you talking about?" Adam asked, indignantly, now defensive.
"Your renown has reached my ears. I have heard of your skill in battle. I have come to inform you that next we meet it shall be so I may mount your head on my wall." Once more spoken without a shred of doubt.
"Are you crazy? What the fuck are you talking about?" Adam said as he put his hands up for a fight.
"I am not here for a fight now, there would be no honor in hunting an unprepared prey, that is why I am giving you the warning now. Prepare yourself for my arrival. The hunt, as of now, has begun." He said ominously before he turned and began to walk away from Adam.
Adam's first thought was, if this crazy man was going to try to kill him, to kill this hunter guy first. Reaching for his sidearm he found it missing because he had not assumed he would need a weapon in the short time he was out of his room.
His second thought was if he could take him in hand to hand combat right here and now. However there were several things working against him on this front. First Adam was unarmed and unarmored, whereas this guy was carrying what was likely his entire kit with him. Weapons and all. Second, as Adam understood it, his clone body was basically in peak physical condition, however that did not make him super human. While he could overpower an average person easily enough this hunter was anything but average. Even if he was strong enough to overpower this man he likely couldn't kill him fast enough before Midway guards were called over and broke up the fight. And, knowing the Midway guards the man would likely just be kicked out of Midway at best. In theory, if Adam pulled some strings with Mr. Cantelli, he could get him executed for it, but that felt wrong on so many levels. Not least of which because he wanted to distance himself from Mr. Cantelli, not owe him a favor.
It pained him to let a man who openly declared his hostility to Adam and his intention to kill him just walk away, but at this juncture, unless Adam was willing to go all the way and risk his life in a brawl, there was no other choice. He would deal with him at another time.
Next time, there would be no conversation, it would be kill on sight. He was not going to be called prey and take it meekly.
However Adam was not ready to simply let the matter pass. He was a popular figure in Midway, he could leverage that a bit without pulling Mr. Cantelli into his trouble. So just to make Torusk's life just that little bit harder Adam went and told the nearest Midway Guard of his encounter with Torusk. Probably nothing would come of it, but at the very least the Midway guards would take Adam's words at face value and watch Torusk closely. That was the most he could do for now.
Annoyed by the entire occasion he went back to his room and grabbed his gun, putting it on his beltloop holster once more, resolved to never let his guard down like that again. Midway was still dangerous, even now. It was best to always be prepared.
Adam spent the remaining time in his room, reading.
Eventually the time came for dinner and Adam and Mira met up outside the room and then walked to the Food Court where they met up with Deccanus.
"So what do you think of the city so far?" Adam asked Mira, who had spent most of her free time exploring.
"It's larger than many settlements and comes with its share of problems endemic to this size but I've seen larger settlements with much less to offer. Still, compared to The Strip in New Vegas it's lacking. Then again, nothing can beat New Vegas."
"I still find it kinda funny that people saw the Las Vegas sign and then just said 'let's slap a New in front of that Vegas sign there'." Adam chuckled.
"Would you prefer it was called something else?" Mira asked back.
"Oh no, I'm glad it kept its name, easier for me to picture where it is. But I just find it funny." He smiled.
"But to answer your question, it's nice. I've seen large settlements with far worse living situations. Hell, I've seen smaller settlements with worse living situations. This place seems lively and safe, and the people live accordingly. That alone is a miracle." She smiled lightly.
"Its nice to know that, despite its strange form, so many people still call my home city their home too. I would have been lost if I woke up to a barren wasteland. I'm not even sure what I would have done." Adam said back.
"Depends when you woke up." Mira shrugged. "Besides, people are always fighting over resources and valuable land. Chicago is no different. I doubt there would be a world where there weren't people living here."
"Well I always doubted I'd live in a world that was bathed in nuclear hellfire but then here we are." He said back with a grin.
"Spoken like a true vault dweller." Mira chuckled a bit.