"What do you mean?" asked Otto. He uncrossed his arms, and put them down on the counter, leaning closer in to Clan. He looked like someone had just told him his mother died, and Clan couldn't blame him. People needed fairy tales these days, but at the same time, Clan wasn't the kind of person to let someone believe a lie.

"When I started on my way here," began Clan, pausing to take another long swig of cold beer. It was even better than the first.

"I passed through an Enclave scout post. They were mighty thorough, so I asked if something had happened recently that had them on edge. They assured me that nothing had happened that they couldn't handle. Which meant of course, that something they never expected to happen had, and they had no way of knowing how to deal with it." Clan took another swig. Now, Maggie had walked over to the bar, and stood next to him. The three drinkers behind Clan also seemed to have quieted down.

"Now, me being the curious fellow I am, I decided to poke around a little to see what was going on. I found out, that another band of scouts had made contact with the Enclave's. They wore plastic, spiky armor and helmets. They were all covered from head to toe in blood red. A skirmish started, for who knows what reason, and a few Enclave men were killed. Long story short, the Enclave was scared to death that there were more than that just hiding, ready to pounce." Clan finished of the last of his drink, and Otto was quick to get him a new one. He placed it down next to the empty bottle and resumed his listening position. Maggie was almost breathing down his neck, and if Clan had turned around, he was sure he would have seen three very intent men with shocked looks that mirrored Otto's.

"And the Enclave is this new government? They said it was so smooth..." said Otto.

"Yeah. Not new though. They've been around since before... for a real long time now. And as long as I've been around, they had plenty of their own trouble. The Brotherhood for example," said Clan.

Maggie chimed in, "You mean the Brotherhood of Steel stretches all the way out there? I thought they just hung around south of the mountains these days."

"Ain't you heard? The NCR done pushed 'em way to the southeast. Say the hit an ocean before they stopped." It was the black man, who Clan turned to see contorted in his seat so that he could see the bar.

"Yeah well, when I left they were still going strong in the northeast. They've been resorting to guerrilla tactics sure, but they were in no need of troops and fission batteries," said Clan, looking into the foam of his beer. He chugged the whole thing down, set it back on the bar, and asked Otto, "You got any meat in this joint? I'm hungry as hell."

"Yeah, no problem," said Otto. He picked himself up off of the counter and went to the icebox. He rustled around for a minute and said, "You're in luck. I got two Brahmin steaks left from the last traders to come around. There ten caps a piece though."

Clan shook the pouch on his belt, letting Otto hear the jingling of caps inside. Otto looked back to him, nodded, and removed the two steaks from the icebox. He walked over to the grill, near the end of the bar, and started the flame. When it was lit, he laid the steaks out.

Otto came back to where Clan was standing, "We ain't got nothing to spice it up, so it'll be bland."

Clan waved his hand in dismissal. He was just happy to get something hot in his stomach. Then he remembered Bo, who was standing outside just as hungry and thirsty as he was. "I meant to ask you; I came with a Brahmin and I was wondering if you had any feed and some water for him."

"Sure," said Otto, "We got piles of dry grass we sell as kindling to traders who come through here. You can have it, it doesn't sell that well anyway. And I'm sure we can fill a bucket with water. Maggie!" he looked over toward Maggie, who seemed to snap out of a trance when her name was called, "Take the brahmin to where we keep the grass, and fill a bucket at the spigot for it. And do it quick."

Maggie did got off the counter and went outside to do what she was told. Shortly after she's gone out, a scream sounded. Clan spun around, then looked back to Otto who had already began making his way around the bar with his shotgun in hand. The three drinkers also got up, readying their weapons. They all rushed outside to see what was going on. Through the door, the looked around and saw Maggie leaning against the wall, staring at Bo, who still seemed to be asleep.

"W-w-what the h-hell is wrong with that thing!" cried Maggie. Otto and the drinkers looked over at Bo, and also seemed taken aback when they realized what it was. Clan was perplexed for a moment, then caught on. He walked over to Bo and patted him on the head. The one head he had.

"No no, Bo's only got one head because he's mutated. I found him like this a couple of years ago. I know it's kind of freaky but he's just as docile as any brahmin," said Clan. He started to scratch Bo's head, moving to his neck slowly. Bo let out a low groan.

"Well if'n that ain't the creepiest thang I ever saw..." said the scrawny blond man, in a weaselly sort of voice. The drinkers stood staring a while longer, but Otto was already chewing Maggie out about not getting her job done. She apologized, and got right to work untying Bo from the post. She lead him around back, doing her best not to get near enough to touch him. Clan grinned, finding it funny that anybody could be frightened by a big softy like Bo. When Maggie and Bo were out of site, the lot remaining headed inside. Everyone resumed their previous positions, except for Otto who busied himself turning over the steaks on the grill.

As Clan was opening a third beer, provided by Otto during a short break in the cooking process, one of the drinkers approached him from behind. Clan looked over his shoulder to see it was the heavy one with the wild hair. He extended a thick, dirty hand.

"I don't believe we were properly introduced," his voice was deep and gravelly. It also had the slightest hint of authority to it, almost as much as Otto's. Clan took his hand and shook twice, feeling a lot of strength in the hand. "Folks here call me Bush. The muscular fellow is Crow, and the little ratty looking one is Sticks. We're the work crew around town. We fix what's broken, from pipes to pumps. We can repair weapons a bit too, and Sticks is good with a needle and thread. If there's anything you need, we're happy to oblige."

Clan smiled and said, "Pleased to meet you. I doubt I'll be in long, but I'll think on it."

"Please do. Now if you'll excuse us," Sticks and Crow got up from their seats and dropped a few caps on the table, "We should be getting home. Gotta full day of work ahead," said Bush. With that, the three of them began to make their way out of the saloon.

"Night Otto," said Bush.

"Night Otto," said Crow.

"Night," said Sticks.

As they left, Maggie came back in, and they all exchanged 'goodnights'. Maggie walked back to the bar and leaned on it, bending over backwards slightly with her elbows on it. Otto finished cooking the steaks, and brought them over on a plate to Clan. He also brought out a fork and knife from under the bar, placing them on the sides of the plate. Clan picked up the utensils and was ready to dig in when he remembered something. He put them back down and looked to Otto, who was cleaning out a mug.

"What's been happening around here? Why have I been getting guns pointed at me all day?"

Otto stopped cleaning. He looked over to Maggie, who shrugged. Otto set the glass down, and threw the rag over his shoulder. Clan made a note never to use a mug in Otto's establishment. Maggie decided now was a good time to bus the table, and did so as Otto began to explain the story of the town to Clan.

TBC