Finally settled on on a format and structure. Chapter 1 and 2 were merged to make it a better length, as of March 13/19.
Chapter 2: Invincible – Pat Benatar
The sun was sitting high in the sky when she walked back into Goodsprings. She headed to the general store again.
"You're back. And in one piece. Find anything?" Chet asked when she entered.
"Two dead people." Ash sighed.
"Shame." Chet said with no sadness. "They have anything good?"
"Maybe." Ash was starting to realize life wasn't worth much out here. She walked toward the counter and started emptying her acquired bag.
"Let's see. Some 10mm ammo, some food-"
"I'll keep that." Ash said snatching the food away from him and putting it in her bag.
Chet just kept inspecting the bag's contents. "Ah, grenades! Nice!"
"Well?" Ash asked with eyes on the weapons.
"Which gun were you looking at?" Chet asked as he stepped aside to give her a better view.
Ash knew guns. She'd been shooting since she was big enough to handle the recoil. During the food shortages when she was growing up, hunting the vast forests in Michigan had helped provide meat to desperate folks, including her family. Military training had just introduce her to more guns and taught her how to shoot even better. Looking over the guns, she could tell many were in shoddy condition. Some even looked like they wouldn't fire or would break when fired. But there was a diamond in the rough. The hunting rifle was very well worn but it was obvious to Ash it had been a much cherished possession. It was elegant in its simplicity.
"That one." Ash indicated the rifle and Chet looked it over before passing it to her.
"Good eye." He said.
Upon close inspection, Ash found that the word Paciencia, was roughly carved along the stock under the barrel. The gun was in remarkable condition. The flaws she could find were things she could easily fix. The only downside was the lack of scope. Her eyes lingered on the rifle and she felt a sudden surge of homesickness. "How much?" She asked, knowing she couldn't afford it.
"Hmm. It's a nice gun but it's only got a three shot capacity. Most hunting rifles have five. With what you got here…" Chet hummed and Ash held her breath. "I think you'd need double what you have."
Ash sighed and thought quickly. "I got an idea. You trade me this gun for those supplies and I'll deal with the Powder Gangers that are threatening the town."
"I don't care about the Powder Gangers." Chet said dismissively.
"What do you care about?" Ash asked forcefully.
"Caps." Chet answered as he held out his hand to take back the rifle.
Ash reluctantly handed it back. "I'll be back for it." She said as she headed out. She needed caps or influence. There was one sure fire way to get both. Goodsprings' problems just became her problems.
After getting more information from Trudy on the situation with the ex-cons, Ash headed up the hill toward the old gas station. As she walked she sang under her breath.
"We can't afford to be innocent,
Stand up and face the enemy,
It's a do or die situation,
We will be invincible."
She got to the station and went inside. Inside the door, she was met by a man aiming a gun at her. "That's close enough. Who are you, and what do you want with me?" The man demanded.
"You better hope you kill me on the first shot." Ash ground out through gritted teeth.
"What? Sorry about the gun. You just caught me off guard, that's all." Ringo said, lowering his gun.
"I heard about what's going on. Why are the Powder Gangers out to get you?" Ash asked, still angry about the gun pulled on her.
"My caravan was on the return trip from California and heading back up to the company branch in New Vegas when we got jumped. Not even a 'drop your weapons and hands up' before the bullets started flying. We put up a good fight, but there was too many of them. I took a few of the bandits down before I ran, so I figure their friends are out for revenge." Ringo explained.
"Ex-cons and thugs. You need a hired gun. I'm available." Ash said.
"All I've got left on me are a handful of caps, but you get me out of this, and I'll make sure the Crimson Caravan pays you back. You've got my word."
"It'll have to do. Come on." With Ringo in tow, Ash headed back to the Saloon.
"Hey, girl! Nice duds!" Sunny greeted then saw Ringo behind Ash. "Ringo?"
"Ringo tells me these Powder Gangers ambushed his caravan. They'll probably do the same to Goodsprings."
"Say no more. I'm in." Sunny said quickly.
"Just like that?" Ash asked surprised.
"Just like that. I have a feeling that I'm going to end up fighting those guys one way or another, so I might as well get it over with. Joe Cobb talks about leaving us alone if we hand over Ringo, but I know his type. He and his friends will come after the town eventually. However, between you, me, and Ringo, we aren't exactly a force to be reckoned with. A lot of people around here look up to Trudy. If you could convince Trudy to join us, some of the folks in town might decide to help out as well. I know Easy Pete's got a stock of dynamite somewhere, and Chet just got a shipment of leather armor we could borrow. Talk to them as well. Finally, there's a good chance we'll all end up with extra holes in us, so if Doc Mitchell could cough up some extra Stimpaks, that'd be great."
"You've been planning this for a while, haven't you?" Ash asked with a smile behind her scarf. "Hey Trudy!" Ash called and poked her head around the corner to look into the bar. "You should help me take down the powder gang. Bullets, explosions, lots of fun!" Ash laughed.
"I was planning on sitting this one out, but for some reason I can't help but like you. I'm with you. Let me have a word with a few other folks and I'll see if I can't round up some more members for this militia you're creating. While everyone does own a gun, we could stand to be a little better equipped. The general store probably has what we need in stock."
"Next on my list!" Ash laughed and headed out. Ringo waited with Sunny and Trudy left to gather the town.
"Hear you're starting a militia." Easy Pete drawled. "Don't you even be thinking about asking for my dynamite. Too dangerous. Gonna kill all yourselves if I let you touch it. Better to leave it buried - safer that way."
"Dynamite: a nitroglycerin based explosive that can be extremely shock-sensitive. As long as your dynamite is properly mixed with stabilizers and absorbents, it should be safe to handle. I'm familiar with the care and handling of explosives, dynamite included."
"Uh huh. Guess you know what you're doing. I'll go dig it up and get it ready. You'll have it by the time the fighting starts."
"Thanks!" Ash said and headed to the general store. She strode inside. "The Powder Gangers are coming. Pick a side."
"What?!" Chet said in shock.
"The whole towns fighting and we need to borrow that leather armour."
"No way!"
"You think life will be better if the Powder Gangers take over?!" Ash shouted.
"I… uh… well…" Chet stuttered. "You made your point. I can provide people with some leather armor and extra ammo. I sure hope it's worth it. And, uh, I'll be guarding the store while all this is going on. I have to put my business first, you understand."
"Yeah, su-u-ure." Ash agreed. "Get that armour to the Saloon." Ash left the store and the grumbling Chet behind and headed to see Doc Mitchell.
"Welcome back. I had hoped you wouldn't need to come see me again so soon. What can I do for you?" Mitchell greeted happily when Ash walked in.
"The town is going to be attacked by bandits. Anything you can do to help?" Ash asked.
"Seems like wherever I go it's always the same. Folks just never leave each other alone." Mitchell sighed.
"Hey! You're preaching to the choir here, doc. But as long as you got something, someone else will always want it."
"Well, I'm not much good in a fight, with my bum leg. And my supplies are scarce. But I'll give you what I can spare." The doctor handed over a few stimpaks.
"Thanks, I'll bring back what we don't use." Ash left the house and scanned the horizon through tinted lenses. In the distance she saw the group approaching.
Ash hustled down the hill toward the saloon and found the whole town ready and waiting. She found some cover and shouted. "This town will protect itself. Take another step and we open fire!"
The Powder Gangers ignored the warning and started lighting their dynamite. Ash flicked off the safety on her pistol and took careful aim. Her first shot was dead on and hit the leader in the chest. Her shot spurred the rest of Goodsprings to start shooting. The Powder Gangers gave up on the dynamite and started shooting back.
When the dust settled, Ash's medical side kicked in and she did a quick sweep for injured townsfolk. There was only one injury, a superficial graze that didn't even need a stimpak.
"That'll teach the Powder Gangs to avoid Goodsprings in the future!" Sunny shouted happily as she approached Ash who had just finished tending the injured person.
"Hopefully." Ash headed over to the Powder Ganger bodies. They didn't have much on them and upon closer inspection, it was clear the armoured vests they wore were more for show then actual protection.
"That was crazy!" Ringo shouted as he ran over to where Ash was searching the bodies. "I owe you a huge favor for this! Here - these are technically Crimson Caravan funds, but I know they'll understand once I explain things."
"Thanks." Ash took the caps and put them in her bag. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think I hear a certain gun calling my name." Sunny and Ringo looked at her oddly as she headed off to the general store.
"Chet!" She yelled as she threw the door open.
"Is it over?" Chet asked as he peeked up from behind the counter.
"Yes. Now I want that gun!" Ash dropped the few sticks of dynamite, improvised weapons and caps on the counter.
"Alright. I guess this is enough." He said as he stood up and passed over the rifle.
"And 10 rounds for it, a canteen and a knife."
"No deal." He said and pulled the gun back before she could take it. "Toss in that pistol and the ammo and it's a deal." Chet said as he eyed the pistol tucked into her belt.
"Make it 15 rounds and we're set."
"Deal." Chet finally agreed and gathered the supplies for her. Ash shouldered her new rifle, slipped the combat knife into her boot and stowed the empty canteen. "Pleasure doing business with you." Chet said with a smile. Ash grumbled and headed out. Outside the five powder gangers had been dragged off to be buried. It was getting late and the sun was setting. Ash gauged she had just enough time to visit the Goodsprings Source to collect some water. Sunny had told her about the creatures causing a problem in that area and Ash thought it'd be a good way to test her rifle.
Ash headed to the source in the dying light. She spotted the creatures roaming around the water pump from quite a distance away but only after it was dark enough to remove her goggles. Carefully she crept up to a decent hill and went prone. Looking down the iron sights of her new gun she saw three big lizards. She quietly loaded three rounds and took aim. The first shot was easy; the gecko was standing still and the rifle round killed it quick, the loud crack echoing off the nearby hills. Ash worked the bolt with practiced ease and killed the second one before it could move but the third one was tricky and charged toward her at a ridiculous speed. The sudden speed was unexpected and Ash missed the shot. Years of practice had her reloaded in a matter of heart beats but the gecko was too close. Ash grabbed her rifle and got to her knees just in time to slam the butt of the rifle into the geckos face, breaking some teeth. The gecko was resilient and charged passed the rifle. Ash had to fall back on her back to avoid the teeth and claws. She kicked at the gecko but missed and it chomped down on her boot. Ash took aim with her other boot and drove her heel into the gecko's head. The second strike caved in its skull and the gecko when limp and fell off her ankle.
"Fuck me!" Ash yelled as she relaxed in the dirt. "Oh I am so going to eat you!" Ash lay in the dirt for another moment before she sat up and checked her foot. Luckily the teeth hadn't punched through the thick leather. The pressure had been enough to hurt though. Ash got up and limped over to the water pump where she filled her canteen and slaked her thirst. Once she was done and her ankle didn't hurt as badly she got up and headed toward the gecko.
Using her combat knife she worked at filleting the gecko. Carving up an animal for dinner was nothing new to her. Her father had taught her how to carve animals to get the most meat possible during the food shortages. Ash sighed as she compared the world she came from to the world she was in now.
All her life had been a struggle. She was born during the energy crisis. Access to petroleum was strictly regulated and almost every home had a decaying car in its driveway. The only source of oil available to the US was in Alaska and, in a very heated global climate, the United States established the Anchorage Front Line not long after she was born. The world was falling apart. Nations collapsed into anarchy as food and resources became scare. A New Plague, the Blue Flu, ravaged the world killing millions and sterilizing any who survived. By the time she was fifteen, electricity rationing had gone into effect and China had invaded Alaska in an attempt to seize the oil produced there. With her parents dead, jobs scare and food even scarcer, Ash volunteered for the army before she was sixteen. She was young but the army was desperate by then. Her hunting background and basic survival training gave her an edge in basic training. Someone must have seen some potential in her because instead of shipping out with the others, she was sent to Ranger training. After another year and a half of grueling training, she was deployed to Alaska. She served as a front line combat medic for seven years. After the red Chinese were finally pushed out of Alaska, she stayed with the army for one more year. She was there when the newest iteration of power armour, the T-51b, was deployed in China with sickeningly effective results. She knew the world was going to hell. She could only hope she was on the winning side.
"This bloody road remains a mystery,
This sudden darkness fills the air,
What are we waiting for?
Won't anybody help us?
What are we waiting for?
When there's nowhere, no where we can run to anymore." Ash sung quietly to herself in the quiet night.
Ash finished preparing the gecko with a loud sigh. But life wasn't all bad. You learn to make the most of what you have. Ash smiled to herself when she remembered the time one of her squad mates had managed to kill a moose while on patrol. The problem was he had no idea how to turn a moose into food. Ash had volunteered and a short while later she was elbow deep in moose. She remembered making her squad mate nearly puke when she tried to hand him the heart. It had taken hours to carve up that moose but after word got around, her CO gave her the time as long as he got a moose steak out of it. With meat scarce and fresh meat even scarcer, the whole company had celebrated that night.
With a full canteen, her rifle over her shoulder and an armload of gecko meat, Ash headed back to Goodsprings in the dark. She headed to the school house and built a fire, using her knife and a chunk of flint she found, between it and the rocky cliff. She then proceeded to cook all the gecko meat. She ate her fill, and then dried out the rest to make some makeshift jerky.
Even though she wasn't tired, Ash decided to retire to the school house and out of the cold Mojave night. Inside she found a relatively clear corner and curled up to sleep.
