Chapter Fourteen:
The Boomers
The road to Nellis Air Force Base was not far from New Vegas. Boone suggested that they travel light for their attempt to make contact with the Boomers. Before they could reach the clearing to the base, Boone threw his arm out in front of Jacqueline to make her stop. A fiend was walking among the rubble in the clearing.
"Damn," Jacqueline raised her hand gun.
"Wait," Boone grabbed her wrist, forcing her to lower the weapon, "This is important."
The fiend spotted the two. He began walking towards them while firing. Boone was already standing in front of Jacqueline. Though the bullets missed the Boomers did not miss the fiend. It sounded like the sky was screaming. Jacqueline covered her ears. The screams soon turned into an unforgiving explosion on the fiend. There was nothing left but a blackened ground.
"We can't do this…" Jacqueline lowered her hands.
"We can," Boone encouraged. He lifted his rifle to scan the area, "If we can get to the fence," Boone allowed Jacqueline to look, "We'll be home free."
Later, Jacqueline pressed herself against the wall of boulders. Boone was right behind her. The spotter grabbed her arm and felt Jacqueline shaking hard.
"I'm right behind you," he assured.
Jacqueline inhaled deeply. With that they were on to a fast start. They could hear artillery being released.
"Don't slow down!" yelled Boone.
The sky was screaming. Boone grabbed Jacqueline's wrist to help her not lose focus. The crashing of the artillery were only feet behind them. Boone had run ahead a little, his grip never loosening from the courier's wrist. He pulled her forward and they both hit the fence in front of them. The bombardment was slowing. Jacqueline was leaning on to the fence and she was panting hard.
"We're ok," said Boone through his panting. He was rubbing Jacqueline's back in attempt to calm her. Jacqueline crouched to the ground. Boone quickly looked away when she started purging. The coughing she was letting out worried the spotter. He reached into his coat and took out a bottle of water.
"Here," Boone held it down to her, "It's purified. Keep it down."
Jacqueline opened the water and started taking small sips. Boone could hear her breathing returning to a normal pace. He gazed down at her. Jacqueline's palm was in her face and the shaking had almost stopped. Boone reached down, grabbed her arm and helped her stand to her feet.
"How did you survive all of the artillery?"
Behind them was a squad of Boomers accompanied by their security commander. The guarding Boomers were in disbelief from the act of what seemed like suicide. Boone was now holding up Jacqueline from under her arm.
"You treat everyone like this?" scowled Boone.
"Let them pass," said the security commander. The squad began to open the gate. Boone helped Jacqueline through, "My name is Raquel," the commander continued, "Pearl wishes to see the both of you."
Nellis Air Force Base seemed innocent enough once one over looked the pre-war weapons and machinery. There was a school, a medical bay and a repair shop. The locals were whispering about the outsiders. Savages were repeated words among the Boomers. Boone learned to ignore the insults. Though Jacqueline got over her right, Boone was still concerned.
Pearl greeted the two and was most impressed by their act of bravery. Jacqueline and Pearl carried on. Boone listened and mostly acted as a guard. Pearl noted that she had been expecting outsiders for some time. The Boomers needed someone to trust to help with their dream and a major step that could help their tribe and possibly others outside of Nellis. Though Loyal was skeptical, he told the outsiders that there was a crashed B-29 in the Callville Bay. This was the perfect opportunity to gain trust of the Boomers.
Boone and Jacqueline later stepped out of Loyal's repair shop. The spotter grabbed Jacqueline by her shoulder before she had gotten too far away, "Are you gonna make it?"
Jacqueline could feel his concern, "Yeah," she didn't look at Boone.