The young, green-haired woman holds a large, smelly bag in front of an NCR man. Flies buzz around it and the bottom is soaked with blood.
The NCR man looks the bag up and down with disgust, then takes it reluctantly.
"This Driver Nephi's head?" He asks.
She nods.
He opens the bag, peeks in, then gags in disgust. "That's Driver Nephi alright. Didn't know he smelled so bad." He quickly shuts the bag, "Hey, thanks for killing those Fiends. Here's your pay." He places a small bag into the woman's hands, who smiles at the slight jingling of caps.
"Thank you." She says, then tucks the bag into her pack.
"Well, I can't think of any more bounties to give you...let's see...you got Violet's head, and Cook Cook's, and Driver Nephi's...can't think of any more. Congratulations! You've stumped me!"
The woman chuckles then holds out her hand, "I'm glad they're dead."
The NCR man accepts her hand and they shake on it.
"And I'm glad we got you serving us. Really, thank you."
"No problem."
"So what will you do now? I would offer you a position in the NCR, but I have a feeling you got other things to do."
She nods, "I'll be going back into the wasteland. But...I may make a stop in the Strip, wander through Freeside, that sort of thing. Haven't pampered myself in the casinos for a long while. Probably time I took a break. Got enough caps in my pocket."
The man chuckles. She sure looked like she needed a break. There're scratches all over her body, her face is bloody and dirty, and she smells of sweat; the typical condition of a weathered wastelander.
"Yea, you sure do. Ever been to The Tops casino? They've got a nice place. Good slots, good rooms, good bars. Guy named Benny runs the place. I hear he's an asshole, but he sure knows how to run a business. You should stay there, you would have a good time I think."
The woman nods and smiles, dimples imprinting her cheeks, "Thanks, I'll make sure to go there."
After a few last words of conversation, the woman walks away, towards the exit of Camp McCarran, a soft smile spread across her face.
Finally, after five grueling months in the Mojave, she gets her vacation! Soft, velvet couches, warm showers, feathery beds, gambling, fine alcohol, and those hot guys wandering Freeside—The Kings they call themselves—await her!
She eagerly quickens her pace and clicks the switch on her radio, and it buzzes on, playing a fine country song. Her wandering days are over, at least for now.
—
The woman stands giddily in front of The Tops front doors. The casino sure is a piece of work. Flashing neon lights dance around the building in her wondrous gaze.
As another wave of women in beautiful dresses and men in dapper tuxedos shuffle in, she decides it would be easier to move with traffic, so she shuffles along with the rest through the doors.
The interior is even more impressive. The joyful jingle of slot machines followed by the giddy cheers from gamblers ring in her ears. The massive casino is warmly lit, and there's that familiar scent of tobacco, alcohol and smoked Brahmin steak floating in the air.
The woman's about to continue forward before a man at the other end of the room calls out to her.
"Hey, doll! Mind if we store those weapons on ya?"
The woman looks up and sees the man over at the large, round desk. He's dressed in a formal gray suit, yet still takes pride in looking casual, since he kept the first four buttons of his blazer unbuttoned. He has a light Boston accent, which grows more prominent whenever he says the word 'doll.'
CHOICE
Follow Rules (Go to Chapter 2)
Refuse to Give up Weapons (Go to Chapter 3)