Adam told those who didn't know, namely the recently arrived mercenaries, what they were fighting, why, and the plan. Some of the mercenaries who gathered up from Midway looked nervous, one even backed out and left. It seemed that fighting Pestilence was a bigger deal than he thought. He understood. Sure, Famine had a massive number of feral ghouls. But feral ghouls don't shoot back. The cultists will. This will be a warzone, no two ways about that. Only a few seemed to have picked that up already though.
Adam was approached by one of the Warshippers, now in combat gear that looked to be a modified version of his combat armor but with extra padding, some metal coverings, and painted a dark red.
"We have talked it over amongst ourselves." He began politely as he walked over. "Our group is bound to attract a massive amount of attention as we march, such is the way with armies. However we can divert more forces from our attack if we were to send smaller detachments to cause trouble elsewhere. So we will be having some of our warfighters break off and draw attention while we march, hopefully, unimpeded." Adam took it in and then nodded in agreement,
"That sounds like a splendid idea, actually. I plotted our course as best I could but there was no way an army could move without being noticed. But if we can draw their attention away…" Adam nodded again. "Wonderful, I'll leave that to you then."
"We march then." War said from his group, standing up now and starting to head out of the parking garage, leading a sizable number of men behind him.
"Well I… alright, whatever, let's go." Adam said, not feeling ready to go this second but not seeing a reason to delay.
As the large army left the parking garage, as promised, about 10 groups of 5 to 7 warfighters broke off from the group to head elsewhere, deeper into Pestilence's territory. They set a faster pace than Adam's group to gain some distance, meanwhile Adam's group was mostly stuck at the pace of their slowest members, which was to say Buddy and Hades.
"So~" Baxter said as he sallied up to Adam, a smile on his face that only made Adam roll his eyes. Though he did so looking away, to hide his annoyance. "Nice little army you put together. I can't say I would do better myself, which, I would know, because you are me." He grinned widely. Adam let off a long and heavy sigh.
"Is there something you need, Baxter?' Adam said to him a bit annoyed. There was something that just irked Adam about Baxter. It was like talking to the most annoying version of himself. Was this how he seemed to others? Baxter's confidence came off to Adam as bravado and cheesy. Both of which irked him. Of course having survived for over 200 years the original Adam must have some skill to earn this confidence, but still he could see it in his eyes. He was much less confident than he was letting on. Adam recognized that too. He did the same. A trick that he learned in the Army. Convey confidence, even when you don't have any, for those under you need to know their leader has it all in hand. Even when they don't. Especially when they don't. Maybe he would need to bring back this old trick? Adam used it from time to time, but not nearly as much as he probably should. Just adapting to this world has taken all his mental strength.
"Yeah, I do." Baxter said, dropping the smile and getting more serious. "I want to know why you are going this far for a bunch of people you don't even know."
"Do I need a reason?" Adam shot back. "People are suffering, I have the skills to help. The reasons I… you joined the army 200 years ago are the same reasons I am stepping up to help now. What kind of person would I be if I just stood on the side and watched?"
"A living one, that's what." Baxter said back. "I was naive 200 years ago. Swayed by patriotism and politicians who never held a gun in their lives. Fighting for a cause greater than me? Bah. The world still ended anyway. What do I have to prove? The world I fought for is gone, what remains… is nothing but an empty shell. If you want to live longer you should stop being an idealist and be a realist."
"I don't need advice from someone who kidnapped me for sharing a name." Adam frowned. Baxter just shrugged.
"I wouldn't take it too personally. I've done plenty more fucked up things to make a life for myself out here. If anything you got the lucky draw. Heard you got a vault and everything? Damn, I might've kept my handsome mug if I got into one of those fancy rich people's metal graves in the ground."
"All I'm saying is, I think we are two very different people now, Baxter."
"You are damn right." Baxter said with a frown and then leaned in. "That's why I'm trying to help you. You are going down the wrong path. Kindness doesn't pay the bills. Generosity doesn't fill your stomach. Altruism doesn't get you laid." He smiled a bit. "The worlds fucked, and so are people, you either fuck them first or they fuck you." Adam slowly looked over at Baxter.
"What happened to you? To turn you out like this?" Adam said, slowly. There was a moment of silence as all the grandstanding and acting Baxter was putting on slowly fades a bit.
"A lot. I told you before."
"No, you dodged the question, you gave me generalizations, not answers. And it seems like you know Salvatore too? Even Mr. Cantelli?"
"Yeah I know them…" He sighed softly. "You stick around long enough you meet all types. But your question, about what happened to me?" He looked Adam in the eyes, pausing for a long time as he seemed to be deciding for himself if he even wanted to share his story. However after a few minutes to think it over he continued. "I used to be like you. After the bombs fell I rejoined a reservist unit after a month, helped keep people safe, fed them, gave them a warm bed. However it didn't take long for shit to go sideways. The Major was selling the woman off to the men on the down low and was withholding medical supplies from the refugees to trade with raiders for a free pass."
"Oh my god, that's awful."
"Yeah well, that's just the start. I tried to stop the shit going on but was beaten to an inch of my life, tied to a pole and left outside for 2 weeks straight, in a radstorm. Eventually I got free and got away from that camp, but things only continued to get worse. From my dog, dogmeat, dying to brotherhood assholes for the kicks, my wife dying because some sheriff who had a stick up his ass wouldn't take no for an answer, to even my…" He paused, seemed to second guess himself and then continued on as if he didn't cut himself off. "I learned real fast that no one was going to take care of me but me. So, I became the taker. I didn't take shit from anyone. And you know what? It worked. I've lived that way ever since. So, when I tell you that you are gonna get yourself killed by acting a fool you should listen to me. I am taking the time out of my day to tell you this shit."
Adam remained silent for a long time as he internalized what Baxter was telling him. But after a bit of time he then gently shook his head.
"I can't become like you. I simply can't throw away the life I've lived up until now just to keep myself safe. I'd rather die trying to save a life than live looking the other way."
"Trust me, that death isn't worth it. I've seen it too many times. You die, no matter how heroic you are, no matter how selfless, no matter how great a person, once you die that's it. It's over. And no one will remember you."
"Then I will have died for what I believe in. And that alone is worth something. Even if I am forgotten I will have tried, for me that's enough." Adam said with a stern tone, standing his ground.
"God you are maddening to talk to." Baxter let off an annoyed sigh. "Am I that stubborn? Shit." He then looked back at the Baxter Brigade and then shook his head looking back at Adam one more time. "Whatever, do what you want. If you gotta suffer to learn then so be it. I got other shit I can do that talk to a wall." He then slowed down to rejoin the rest of the Baxter Brigade. However Adam stopped walking too and turned to look at him.
"Baxter…" Adam began, a bit softer now. "Why are you trying to help me?" He asked. Despite his harsh words, actions, and everything else he did not like about this man, Adam could tell he was going out of his way to try to help him. The advice was cruel but it was clearly from the bottom of his heart. What he couldn't understand was why. He was just his clone.
"I… don't know…" Baxter said, turning away now. Adam could see it since he was the same man, that he was lying, but pushing him seemed like the wrong thing to do right now so he let the matter drop.
"Alright, well… Thank you for the advice." Adam said, politely now.
"Yeah yeah, whatever…" He said as he turned around fully to rejoin his group leaving Adam alone again to contemplate the interaction he just had. One thing was certain, now that Baxter came to Chicago, his secret about being a clone? It was no longer a secret. Whether by Baxter, Mr. Cantelli, or rumors. It was now out of his hands.