Adam arrived at the location for the CheckInn after breakfast, finding it with some help from a random passerby. It was one of the most heavily transformed spaces he had seen up to this point, perhaps even more so than The Guild's area. The entrance was the check in desk where one would have their bags weighed by the steward right as soon as they got into the airport, however the actual Inn was behind the door, in the back, where the bags were usually transported to.
The back space clearly used to be a mess of conveyor belts, heavy industrial stairs, steel beams, and exposed piping. Built for utility rather than aesthetics. However very little trace of this remained, the stairs did, and some of the conveyors did too, but pretty much everything else was either removed entirely or recycled for the purpose of construction something entirely different. A housing district. Adam was confused. He had assumed this was an Inn, but much like the front entrance of Midway that had been converted to numerous shops and small homes this too had been completely overhauled into housing. Though the houses here seemed to be closer to the size he would see in Naper. Some even being 2 stories high and multiple rooms wide. This was not an Inn at all, but a district.
Everytime he explored more of Midway he found something new, the city was huge. They truly didn't waste any space at all here. One could only guess how many lived in Midway, not even counting guests like himself.
Regardless, after exploring this new, unexpected part of the city he found 'The CheckInn' which was a 2 story motel looking structure that simply existed within this residential neighborhood. Not only did he find the motel, but he also found a ramen bar, a regular bar, a small food market, and a tennis court. It truly was like an isolated community within the settlement. Of course all the buildings were made of scrap materials and recycled parts, but it was definitely a step up from the housing in the main thoroughfare. If this was just a normal neighborhood, then how nice must the third floor be? Maybe one day he would need to explore that too. For now he headed into the inn and headed to the reception.
"Hello, excuse me, do you have a moment?" Adam said as he approached the man sitting at the front desk.
"Hm? Oh yes, how can I help you?" He said as he looked up from a newspaper he was reading, a monthly Midway newspaper by the looks of the title on the front, everyday was something new with this town.
"I am looking for a friend of mine, Deccanus, he told me I would find him here?" Adam said politely.
"Ah, the guy in 205? I'll go up and get him for you, wait a moment here." He said as he put the newspaper down and walked out of the space towards the exterior stairs that would lead him to Deccanus' room.
While he waited Adam looked around the exterior of the building and the room where he was just in. It was set up almost like apartments, 7 doors on the first floor, 7 on the second, and a mirrored exterior on the other side. At the end of the exterior walkway there was a door labeled 'Bathroom' for each floor, meaning 6 people at least on one floor were expected to share a bathroom. Other than the bathroom it looked pretty nice. Though it did make Adam wonder how much more he was paying to have a private bathroom. Perhaps he truly did ask for luxury when he was asking Derek for a place to stay. However, Adam had lived enough of his life with shared bathrooms in the army, if he could have a private bathroom, even if it took a bit more caps to obtain, it was worth it. Just the same he couldn't help but be curious.
After a little bit the man returned to the desk with Deccanus in tow.
"Adam." Deccanus said as he arrived into the room. "I was told you wished to see me." Adam nodded.
"That's right, we have a job."
"I see." Deccanus said flatly, saying nothing more. Adam looked at him confused.
"Aren't you curious what sort of job it is?"
"It does not matter. I have sworn to follow you to help myself find a path, it does not matter whether we are assassinating a raider boss, or babysitting puppies." He said without an ounce of sarcasm. Adam chuckled and smiled softly.
"Well if it's all the same I would like to explain what we will be doing so that way you can prepare yourself."
"Understood." Deccanus said, still as rigid as ever. Adam motioned with his head for Deccanus to follow so they wouldn't be overheard by the innkeeper and led him to a sitting area nearby that had no one around to listen in on them. Once they sat down Adam explained.
"We were hired by The Guild to head to an old Vault-Tec Vault, explore the inside, and retrieve a vial of some sort of super-soldier serum? I'm not positive, but the man I talked to, the head of the The Guild, seemed certain that at least one vial remained. For our efforts we will be paid 250 caps for information and upon retrieval 500 more, and that's for us each." Deccanus frowned upon hearing that a vault was involved.
"Is something wrong?" Adam asked, noticing the expression change on the normally stoic Deccanus.
"No." Deccanus replied seriously.
"You definitely reacted when I said we were going into a Vault. Do you not like enclosed spaces or something?" Adam probed.
"No. That is not it." Deccanus said, still dodging the question. Adam sighed.
"Look, I don't mean to pry but it helps to know your mental state if we are going to be working together. If there is something you don't like about the mission, say something, we are going to be partners, you have a say in every action and task we take. If you feel something is too dangerous, speak up." Deccanus stared at him for a moment and then looked at the Inn he was staying at as he began to speak.
"In the Legion one's own concerns were unnecessary when faced with the greater goals of the Legion and Caesar. A legionnaire's duty was to follow his centurion." He said, as if he was repeating a mantra at the end.
"Perhaps…" Adam began, slowly. "But you are not in the Legion anymore, I am not a centurion, and I'm asking for your thoughts. The first step to ensuring you can find a new path is to stop thinking exclusively like a legionnaire, you have to spread your wings a little." Adam coaxed him. Deccanus turned to look at Adam again and then looked down for a moment, when his eyes next met Adam's again a moment later he resumed speaking.
"In my tribe, before we were assimilated into the Legion, I heard stories as a child. There were many horrid tales of such places. The Vaults were where the monsters emerged, where creatures wearing the flesh of men and the soul of demons dwelled. Vault's were naught but tombs for ancient memories…" Adam took a deep breath and then sighed, he nodded.
"So… you are worried those tales are true." Adam said, understanding his fears.
"It shall not impede my work." He said back resolutely.
"Well that's all well and good, but if you don't feel up to this-" Adam began before being cut off by Deccanus.
"No." He said sternly. "I shall not back down due to old folklore of a long dead tribe." He said, standing up. "I will follow you into the gates of Pluto if you command it."
"I'm not commanding anything of you." Adam sighed softly. "But if you are feeling up to joining me, then we will be leaving tomorrow morning, bright and early."
"That is fine with me." Deccanus said back resolutely.
"Alright." Adam stood up now himself. "Meet me at the front gate tomorrow, bring whatever supplies you need." He said as he turned to walk away but stopped short before he did. "Oh, and this mission isn't exactly a secret, but the client would appreciate discretion." Adam said with a smile.
"Understood. I shall speak of it to no one." Deccanus said, rigid as ever. Adam nodded.
"Tomorrow then."