THE NCR RANGER AND THE FOLLOWERS

A story of the dealing of a NCR Ranger and the Followers of the Apocalypse. All characters belong to Bethesda Softworks and zenimax except my OC Ranger.

Chapter 1: Intro

NCR Ranger Jeremy Ross lays prone on a rock formation high above the Mojave. The rock is comfortably warm in the early morning sun; the dry heat from the desert could very well be too much for normal folks to handle. Luckily for Ross, he was born for this weather, and actually couldn't imagine being anywhere else. He scans the surrounding areas for anything interesting, he sees packs of feral Bighorner, Radscorpions scurrying about and a couple coyote cubs playing as their mother looks on cautiously. On any other day those animal sighting would have been a reason for him to whip out his trusty battle rifle and eliminate those threats, each of those things could end a careless wastelander's life. Luckily for them he is out here for a different reason. He looks back on the wolf cubs, watching them made him remember his own family fondly.

His father had been some scientist and his mother was a doctor somewhere in the Capital Wasteland. He thought they said something about living on a giant ship.

"That can't right." Ross thought.

Every time he tries to recall the story a little bit of it gets blurry, eventually he may even forget the story entirely, that thought sends shivers down his spine.

"I think they met when my dad had a slight 'accident', those tend to happen when you're working around volatile chemicals and get distracted by a good looking girl, luckily for me that girl was my mother, god rest her soul."

They had Ross, and came to the conclusion that there wasn't a future in the capital, with the Super Mutants fighting the Brotherhood for control, the Talons Mercs killing pretty much anyone for the right price and the Enclave trying to take over everything.

His dad heard from word of mouth that just like in the 1800's Pre War America, the future was in the west. His mother and father decided they would move cross country to the Mojave Wasteland to start anew. By the time we left He was old enough to learn the lessons my parents told Ross would "save his life" someday, they don't know how many times those lessons have saved him life over the years but somehow he knows that they do. His dad taught him science and his mom taught him everything she knew about field medicine, both knowledges were extensive. They both taught him right and wrong, and if you see someone being oppressed or put down you step up no matter what, He was glad he listened when most kids that age would have just listened but not learn. His dad didn't survive the trip, he died of a horrible sickness, even with Ross' mom's extensive medical knowledge all she could do was end his suffering. The loss was more than they could have handled but we carried on to the Mojave like his father wanted. He learned a lesson that would stay with him always, "you gotta be ready to pick up the weight of life and carry it as far as you can."

We got here and settled in some nameless town. His mother set up a pharmacy and clinic in the town. Things were great, He learned to shoot, and turns out he had a knack at it. Turns out He had a knack for anything combat related, so when the town announced the formation of a local militia, who do you think was the first in line? Even though He was only about fifteen or sixteen they made an exception and gave him a nice uniform, a Varmint Rifle and a nice pistol.

Patrols mostly started and ended with killing various wildlife that were getting to close to town. He hoped for some action, that wish is probably gonna haunt him to the grave. On that day, He woke up and something wasn't right, everything felt wrong. He had a weird feeling in his gut but he just tossed it away and thought it was just the alcohol he had drunk the night before. He was trying to impress his fellow militia men, who were all under drinking age. He told them to wait. He snuck into the kitchen and lockpicked the lock on his mom's liquor cabinet and after grabbing the goods locked the lock the same way he unlocked it, a good ole trusty bobby pin. He and his friends had a grand ole time that night. He thought his mom had an idea, being a doctor and all, he was sure that she could see the symptoms of a small hangover. If she did, she didn't say anything, so neither did he.

He thanked his mom for breakfast and told her he loved her and he would be home for lunch after the morning patrol. He went going to the militia office and got ready for patrol with the group. They went out and found some animals, killed them and collected their pelts and were on their way back into town when they heard a blood curtailing battle cry. We had heard some horror stories of other towns being attacked the same way. Guys come in dressed like Romans and kill and pillage just because. Thought of it made his blood curtail even more. They went up to a high perch and set up a sniper nest, they looked down and saw the town ablaze and everyone surrounded in the town square. The guys were ready to rush headlong into battle. He told warned them,

"You do that you are going to die, we can survive if we stay up here and keep quiet, they may not know we are here and leave." The leader looked at Ross with a disgusted look on his face he came up to Ross and grabbed him by the collar and threw him to the ground.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? You little chicken shit mother fucker, you want us to watch everyone die while we just wait up here, well I for one am not going to do that, I am going to try to save my folks or die trying."

Ross' guesses it was just his survival nature talking, He loved his mother, but knew his mom would want him to live, not throw his life away saving her, or at least he hope she thought that. The guys left him up there and ran into town. It was the last time he saw them, his mom or the people from his town. He learned that a lesson that he thought he may never unlearn, "don't ever rely on others, you can only rely in yourself". He couldn't watch the scene in the town any longer. The smell of burning flesh was wafting up the ridge to Ross and it made him puke up the breakfast his loving mother had made him. He looked again and almost everyone was dead or hung up on crosses like Jesus, these people were fanatical fucks.

The tears he had were dried up by then, He was giving up hope that he would get out of here, He knew they would find him, but if he started running, he knew they were going to hear him and kill him the same way the town got slaughtered. Then he saw something that he would never forget. He had heard of people called the NCR, but never saw one with his eyes. Lucky for him the first time he saw the best of the best, The NCR Rangers, with their signature Ranger Combat Armor and Ranger Duster, Ranger helmet, Ranger Sequoia revolver and Anti-Material Rifle. The lead Ranger sent his forces in all directions and to flank the enemy from all sides. He then pointed at Ross and signaled him, he pointed at one of the lowest ranked Legionaire, and signaled for him to open fire, he crouched, took off his rifle from his back and held his breath and squeezed the trigger. The bullet ripped forth and exploded the head of his enemy; the ranger stared at Ross then held his thumb up in silent appreciation. The Rangers then also opened fire and killed the Legion troops before they could even react.

After the battle was over and it was made certain that all the enemy was eliminated the rangers came over to Ross and asked for his name

"Jeremy Ross, militia." He said, with as much authority as he could muster. The lead ranger looked down on him and crouched down to his level, he removed his Ranger helmet, which was of note because he had heard they almost never do, he had heard tall tales that some members of a ranger team had never seen each other's faces because of it. Ross could tell looking into his eyes that he was sympathetic to his plight.

"Well hello Serviceman Jeremy Ross, names Ranger Jackson. You got any family out here?"

"Not anymore sir." He put his hand to his eyes and rubbed them, probably thinking about his next words carefully.

"Look son, I can't in good conscious leave you out here so I was wondering you want to come with us, I can take you in until you come of age, then you can go your own way or you can stay with me. What do you say son?"

"It's the best option I got for me, I appreciate it sir."

His town became just another failed colony in the waste, just a black mark on someone's map, a cursed town that no one spoke of. Ross left with Ranger Jackson and he was hard but fair and he honestly had a better childhood than Ross thought he would have had after losing his world when he lost his mom and his town. Wouldn't be where he was today without him.

He taught him everything that a NCR Ranger needed to know, from survivability, marksmanship, and how to repair any gear in the field. When Ross became of age he enlisted in the NCR. Got his gear, NCR issue troop uniform, Goggle Helmet and Service Rifle and was sent to boot camp and Camp Golf. On the way there he met two guys a little older than him. Recruit Boone and Recruit Vargas, two guys that would become friends in the coming months. Vargas, guy was a boastful, cocky son of a bitch, but unlike a lot of people like him, he could back it up. Was an ex Khan, as in the Great Khans. The stories he told of running the wastes with a gang peaked Ross' interest. Boone on the other hand was quiet, but you got that he was wise beyond his years. Where Vargas was loud about his skills with a rifle, Boone let his skills do that talking and they talked louder than Vargas' boasting.

Boot camp was tough, but exactly what Ross needed. When it came to team exercises, Boone and Vargas relied on each other and the team to complete objectives or capture a target. Ross relied on himself and got the objectives done sooner. The top brass noticed his style of work and when came to send us to further training, Boone and Vargas got sent to First Recon training at Camp Forlorn Hope. Instead of being told his next station Ross was told to report to the CO of the boot camp, Ross gulped say "Sir, yes sir!" and made his way to the command tent.

Ross walked up to the Captain and popped to attention, gave him a salute and said

"Good morning sir." He looked at Ross, returned the salute so Ross dropped hiss and he motioned toward the empty seat. So Ross sat down.

"Good morning recruit, I have here your training record, I thought I would go over it with you." Ross gulped and thought 'shit, I'm fucked." Ross was thinking of everything that he could have possibly done wrong.

"At ease soldier, I just wanted to go over your training record with you." The captain then proceeded to read off Ross' training record.

"Strength: Slightly above average

Perception: Above average

Endurance: Above average

Charisma: Slightly below average

Intelligence: Above average

Agility: Above average

Luck: Below average

Target skills:

Guns: Very high

Explosives: High

Lockpick: High

Sneak: High

Survival: Very high

Repair: Very High

Medicine: High

Science: Very High

Assessment:

Recruit Jeremy Ross shows skills that would see him thrive in almost any available profession in the NCR. He is targeted as a great candidate for: First Recon, Medic, Trooper, or Ranger. However he is a lone wolf when it comes to team situations so it would best serve the NCR for Recruit Jeremy Ross to be initiated into the NCR Rangers" After the Captain had finished he was still sitting at attention but the shock of the news was almost too much him to take. He felt someone behind him. He turned around and there was ranger Jackson with a satisfied smile on his face, which was strange because Ross couldn't remember him ever smiling.

"You better make me proud boy, or you'll regret it."

"I promise I will be the best ranger I can be."

"I know you will son, but if you thought the training I put you through as a boy was hard, this is gonna be even harder. You sure you're ready for it."

"I have been training my whole life for this, I wouldn't want anyone else as my training officer."

With the news in hand, he saluted the Captain and was told to pack up and be ready to move within the hour, he was to report to the Mojave Outpost for Ranger School. He got back to the barracks and could hear chatter, most likely scuttlebutt about why he was summoned to the Captain's tent. Boone and Vargas came over and asked what was up. He told them the news, needless to say neither of them were surprised. Surprisingly, Boone spoke.

"Knew the first time I saw you fire that you would either be First Recon or a Ranger, it would be a waste of that talent to put you on the frontlines. Hope to see you again someday."

"You too Boone. good luck man."

Ross did see Boone after this, three times to be exact. The first was after on the strip with a girl on his arm. Never saw Boone happier then when he was with Carla, the second time was when he was his best man at his wedding; Vargas should have been the one but he didn't exactly like Carla. Wasn't Carla's fault, she just wanted the best for Boone, Vargas wasn't always the best for him and Carla knew that. The last time was one he will never forget, at Carla's funeral. Never seen a man as crushed and destroyed as Boone; Carla had been his shelter, his light in the darkness. The words he spoke to Boone afterwards didn't do anything, but Jeremy couldn't leave the man in the state he was in.

"If you need anything Craig, just call. I'll be here."

"I appreciate it Ross. Just kill some of those Legion bastards for me, promise me?"

"Of course man, those bastards took my town and my mother from me, now I have another reason to kill those sick bastards."

"Ranger Ross, Mojave Outpost. Ranger Ross, Mojave Outpost."

The radio in his helmet brought him back to the present. He shook his head and thought

"Damn, gotta stop drifting off into space while on patrol, that will get me killed one day."

"Mojave Outpost, this is Ranger Ross go ahead."

"Ranger Ross, Mojave Outpost. What is your present location?"

"Mojave Outpost, Ranger Ross. I am currently in a Sniper's Nest overlooking Cottonwood Cove. Legion presence detected. I tracked a squad of Legionnaires here, they captured three civilians, a mom and her two children, currently they awaiting sale into slavery."

"Roger that Ranger, orders are to keep distance and avoid contact with Legion." Ross was unsure of what was said.

"Mojave Outpost, Ranger Ross. Can you repeat your last? I can save those people, they are being fitted with explosive slave collars. I can wait until dark, sneak into the camp and diffuse those collars and get them out."

"Roger that ranger if you feel like you can get it done with minimum casualties and without alerting them to your presence go ahead. I repeat, go ahead with Operation Freedom."

"Roger that Outpost, Ranger out."

Ranger Ross waited until dark. He went through his pack to select the best weapons for the job. He took out his trusty Battle Rifle and fitted a silencer to the barrel and a scope and slung it across his back and took out a 10mm pistol and attached a silencer to that as well and holstered it. He left all the rest of his gear in the Sniper's Nest because he didn't want excess baggage in case things go south, which he was expecting. He saw a couple Legion Explorers which are the Legion's Advanced Scout troopers, he figured that there wasn't any way around them and if they happened to find his nest they will know someone is nearby and alert the camp. He took his battle rifle from his back and popped off a couple silent rounds, each hitting their targets and causing massive damage. He shouldered his rifle and again and snuck into the camp, he snuck past a couple groups of legionnaires until he came to the slave pin. The family noticed him and he put his finger up to his mouth in a gesture that said "shut the fuck up if you want to live." He was about to lockpick the door to the cage open when a legion trooper started to walk by. He went prone and called into the darkness, being in the dark so long had made his eyes become better adjusted to low light environments. He readied his pistol and waited for the trooper to stop at the cage right in front of him and he put the pistol to the back of the trooper and pulled the trigger. It was a good thing he had his Ranger Helmet on, or he would have gotten a shower of Legion blood and brain on him.

"This stink may never come off." He thought, he searched what was left of the body and found the key to the cage and a page that had the name of the slaves that also said who has this page owns the following slaves:

THE WEATHERS

MRS. WEATHERS

KENNY WEATHERS

SAMMY WEATHERS

He approached Mrs. Weathers and asked her what happened she told him that her family was from Junktown in the East and had moved her to start a new life. Her husband was a farmer and the trip took its toll on him and he started to beat them and then when the Legion found them he left them to their fate. Their story touch Ross, he didn't think he could feel compassion anymore, he thought he cut that feeling out when his own mother was slain, but he felt that this, this right here was why he joined the NCR. To make sure that what happened to him never happens to anyone that he has the power to help.

He diffused their collars and told them follow him out of the camp he stopped and told them

"If anyone stops us, play along, I'm your new owner remember? If we play our cards right we will get out of here safe."

After sneaking out of camp he took them to his Sniper Nest and gave the man of the family, Kenny his pistol. And told them wait here and don't move.

"Mojave Outpost, this is Ranger Jeremy Ross, the family is safe. I repeat, the family is safe. What was it you wanted to tell me earlier?"

"Roger that Ranger, good work. We read you loud and clear family is safe. We just received a message from the NCR Embassy on the strip. Ambassador Crocker would like to speak to you personally, don't know what it's about but don't worry it probably isn't anything important."

"Roger that outpost. I'll head to the strip immediately." With the new orders he walked over to Mrs. Weather.

"You got any family here?"

"No, these two are the only family I have."

"Okay, my orders are to go to the Strip. You can travel with me to Freeside, I'll drop you off at the Followers of the Apocalypse compound there. They'll feed you and care for you. You have been through a lot, but I'll make sure you get taken care of."

"Bless you Ranger. I didn't think the NCR cared for people that aren't NCR civilians."

"Ma'am, I don't care if you bleed different colors than us, no one deserves what these bastards do to people, these people aren't even animals, calling them animals gives animals a bad name. These people are a plague, and the NCR is the cure."

The trip to Freeside was actually enjoyable, Ross actually grew to care about the Weathers, and it was weird for him. He was used to traveling the wastes alone, so having people to talk to around the campfire or while traveling was a new experience for the veteran ranger. He saw a little of his own mother in Mrs. Weather, the way she treated her kids was exactly how the Coyote mother he saw earlier had been watching her cubs. When her husband had ran off she stayed with her kids, protected them, Jeremy was going to make sure that she had the chance to live through this darkness and have another chance at a life.

He entered Freeside and entered the Old Mormon Fort the Followers were occupying. He walked in and one of their guards stopped him.

"What brings you here, ranger?"

"Just rescued these folks from the Legion, they look fine to me but I wanted to bring them here to get a second opinion, no telling how long they spent in that camp. Any doctors around that I can talk to?"

"We can take them from you ranger. We thank you for your service to these people."

"No problem, I do appreciate what you do, even if the rest of the NCR doesn't."

With that, Ross made his way past the Securitrons guarding the entrance to the Strip. House had given all NCR military personnel free passes into the heavily guarded strip, he showed them his pass.

"Enjoy your visit to New Vegas."

Jeremy Ross walked past the casinos, hookers, gamblers and drunkards to the embassy. He had questions about the purpose of his visit here, he was sure that the answers to his questions would probably leave him with more questions, such was the way of the military. He walked in and stopped to talk to the receptionist.

"Ranger Jeremy Ross, I was summoned to speak to Ambassador Crocker."

"We were expecting you Ranger, take the doorway to my right, last office down the hallway."

With that Ross made his way to the ambassador's office.

That is what I have so far, should I continue or was that too horrible to read?