Hello! I'd like to start by saying thank you for clicking here. If you haven't been directed here by Fantasizer650's story Damian: The Man with the Eye of Steel then you might want to read that first. Our stories tie together. Ok that is all you may start reading now.
Chapter 1: Home sweet Home
Goodsprings. The small independent town far away from all the troubles of the Mojave, except, of course, for the unforgiving sun. That was how Vlad saw it. It was just ten years ago when he found Goodsprings and its welcoming inhabitants. They helped him get back on his feet and even gave him a home when he needed it. Goodsprings became the first place he could call home in a very long time.
Currently Vlad was walking away from the mouth of a cave just outside Goodsprings. Coyotes had been causing some trouble for some Prospectors who wanted to exchange their scavenged supplies for food, water, and caps. Unfortunately the Coyotes got to most of the Prospectors first, leaving Vlad to pick up where they left off. At least he would get a couple more caps in his pockets.
"I'll give you 500 for everything in that duffle bag." Chet said after examining the contents for an entire three minutes.
"You're breaking my balls, Chet…" Vlad answered. "That's worth at least 750 caps."
Chet rolled his eyes. "Don't know what to tell ya. I'm only going to pay 500."
"Can you at least trade me a few things on top of that?"
"No."
Vlad plucked the duffle bag from the ground. "Alright then I might as well go to Primm. They'll give me a much better deal."
"You're bluffing!" Chet scoffed.
"See you in a few hours." Vlad smiled as he turned to walk out the door.
Chet finally threw up his hands and sighed angrily. "Fine! 750 it is!"
"And a weapon repair kit." Vlad's eye twitched while he relived the moment when his 9mm pistol was gnawed by a Coyote.
"Fine then just take it and go!"
Vlad smiled at his small triumph while he took his caps and repair kit, then happily walked into the Prospector Saloon. "Trudy I would like a Sunset Sarsaparilla please!" he said gleefully while placing his pistol and repair kit in a booth.
"How many will you have?" she asked before drawing an ice cold bottle of the sarsaparilla from a refrigerator.
"We'll find out soon enough." He answered before setting to work on his pistol. Five bottles of Sunset Sarsaparilla later he managed to restore his pistol to top condition, he smiled as he set it on the table, admiring his handiwork. When he holstered his 9mm pistol the front door opened. Both Vlad and Trudy immediately knew who it was. Jacob Cobb walked in with an angry sneer on his face.
Jacob Cobb stopped and looked at Vlad, who glared at Cobb for a few moments. "Vladimir." Cobb nodded respectfully. Cobb turned his attention to Trudy. Then spoke again. "Where's Ringo?" he growled.
"This again?" Trudy rolled her eyes.
"I want to know where he is, we have some unfinished business."
"He's already gone. He flew out of here on a flying Deathclaw that shoots rainbows out of its ass." The door opened again, a man with an eye patch over his left eye walked inside.
Cobb growled at Trudy. "I've had enough screwing around! If you don't hand over Ringo, I'm going to come back with my friends with we'll burn this place to the ground!"
"Uh-huh that's nice but unless you're going to order something get out."
"You think I'm playing Trudy? I've got enough dynamite myself to blow this place to kingdom come!"
Vlad stood up and tapped Cobb on the shoulder. Once he turned around Vlad punched him in the jaw, Cobb fell. "Cobb, I've heard enough of your shit to last me three lifetimes and, since I don't plan on living that long, I suggest you get the hell out or I'll throw you out!"
Cobb's eyes became wide with fear; he scrambled up and ran out the front door. Trudy sighed in slight relief and when Vlad sat in a stool at the bar Trudy placed another bottle of Sunset Sarsaparilla in front of him. "This one is on the house."
Vlad grinned and opened the bottle, "Thank you very much Trudy." He glanced at the cap and his grin widened, a blue star was inside the cap. He placed the star bottle cap in his pocket. Thirty more to go, he thought. His mind began to wander about the treasure that the stars might unlock. It could be anything from money to weapons, maybe both. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a voice next to him.
"I'll have a scotch." said the one-eyed stranger.
"Coming right up," Trudy answered.
Once she placed it in front of him he nodded respectfully and took a long drink.
"Scotch? This early in the morning? It's not even eleven." Vlad said in slight confusion.
"I just woke up from a two day long dirt nap, I'm blind in one eye, and on top of that the Med-X that Doc Mitchel gave me wasn't powerful enough. I need something to dull the pain." he answered.
"So you're that courier the old bucket of bolts saved from the graveyard. Lucky bastard…" Vlad commented. The one eyed man was silent.
"So, what was that all about?" He asked nobody in particular.
"Cobb's been looking for a guy named Ringo. Ringo was part of a caravan that was passing by, turns out that the Powder Gangers killed his entire caravan and he was the only survivor. So we let him hide out in town until things cool down." Trudy said casually while she wiped the inside of a glass.
"We should at least take care of that asshole Cobb." Vlad said before drinking more Sunset Sarsaparilla.
"And that's when I say this again: I don't want the Powder Gangers killing everyone in the entire town because of this. Besides, even with you, Vlad, we just don't have enough firepower." Trudy answered.
"And that's when I say that if we just sit around with our thumbs in our asses, there won't be a town to defend anyway." Vlad retorted.
"And if I helped?" The stranger asked. Vlad and Trudy looked at him for a moment.
"We don't even know your name. However the extra help is appreciated." Trudy answered.
"Damian Winchester." the stranger answered. "My name is Damian Winchester."
"That's not dramatic at all." Vlad mumbled before drinking the rest of his Sunset Sarsaparilla.