Chapter 37: A Final Plan for Esteban
The Courier laid awake most of the night. With no partner to watch her back, even a trading post like the 188 wasn't a safe place to sleep. She'd have to reconsider where she stopped for the night from now on. After the sun rose, with her hat, duster and sunglasses in place she got some breakfast. She saw some NCR troopers talking to a merchant. The troopers seemed upset. The merchant was as well. The only part of the conversation Six could make out was that there were upset with the brass. When the troopers left, Six finished her breakfast and headed over to the merchant.
"You a merc? 'Cause you don't look like a prospector..." The woman said when Six got close.
"Something like that." Six tipped her hat to the trader. Between the question and the hat tip, Six found herself smiling. "What's wrong? Those troopers sounded upset."
"It's all bullshit!"
"What is?"
"Word is a bunch or troopers were out on patrol. Fiends attacked them and a ranger laid down cover fire while the others fell back. They tried to go back for him, but there were too many Fiends, and they had to pull out. Now the goddamn savages have laid the ranger's body out to rot and the brass won't do a thing to recover him. Leave no man behind, my ass!" The arms merchant was clearly upset.
"Damn." Six shook her head.
"That's not even the worst of it. The ranger left behind a widow at McCarran. She's been hounding the brass but they're just ignoring her.
"That ain't right."
"I hear ya."
"Where's the body?" Six asked.
"Troopers say it's to the west, near the old REPCONN building. There's an NCR outpost only a little ways to the north but that whole area is still a death trap."
"Alright, sounds doable." Six said looking off to the west.
"What?"
"Retrieving the body. If I get it to the NCR outpost, they'll take care of it right?"
"Well, yeah but…"
"Then I'm on it." Six offered a wide grin and headed off west.
"Hey!" The merchant called after her. "If you do bring his body back, go tell his widow at McCarran!"
"Will do!" Six called back with a wave.
It was around noon by the time Six was settled in her hide to the south of the REPCONN building. She'd carefully traversed the hills and found a good vantage point. Her duster blended in nicely with the sand and she almost giggled when she considered that she might actually look like a proper sniper now.
"Five Fiends staked out at different ranges from the ranger. Four on the roof." She whispered, then she remembered she was alone and grumbled. "Two in heavy armour." She didn't bother trying to stop herself from commenting out loud. She subtly removed a clip of armour piercing rounds from her pack. Ratslayer was only 5.56mm caliber. Boone had used his .308 caliber hunting rifle to deal with the heavies before. Now she had to be more prepared. She switched the clip in the rifle; she'd take the heavies first. She lined up the shot. The Fiends were completely oblivious to the silenced shots. When they noticed their comrades dying, they starting firing wildly and Six picked up the pace in order to prevent any lucky shots. She waited ten minutes to be sure it was clear then she headed toward the ranger.
The first mine was obvious. She knew to expect more. It took her over an hour to clear the area of traps but soon she found herself standing over the dead ranger.
"Now what?" She asked aloud. She hadn't considered how she would actually carry the body. Boone was stronger than her and had done most of the heavy lifting. She considered for several minutes before stowing her rifle and attempting to pick up the ranger. He was heavy. After some unseemly struggling she managed to get him on her back in a sort of piggy back and she headed north.
After what felt like forever, she saw the NCR Outpost and they saw her. They came running.
"I don't believe it. Who the hell are you, lady? How did you just walk right up and pull him out of there?" One of the soldiers asked as he helped her lower the ranger to the ground.
"It was the right thing to do." Six said, panting a little.
"That must be some kind of code of honour you hold yourself to. You're like a woman possessed."
"Hmm?" Six wondered. "I guess. I've never really thought about it. Anyway, you'll take it from here?"
"We'll make sure Ranger Morales' body gets sent back home. You don't have to, you know, pick him up on your shoulder and haul him to California. Even though I believe you would if you had to. You should go tell Private Morales the news. I know she'll be relieved."
Six waved goodbye and decided to head northwest. McCarran would get her to the Strip anyways.
Soon it was getting dark and Six was a long way from McCarran. She started looking for shelter for the night. There was a mostly collapsed building nearby. Not ideal, but other than the Fiends guarding the ranger she hadn't seen any all day. She approached the old rusty door and stowed her rifle. She drew her magnum as she read the sign beside the door.
"Allied Technologies: Offices." She read aloud. She shrugged. It meant nothing to her. She opened the door and immediately heard a sort of chittering. She carefully scanned the room. The ant was massive. She fired twice and the ant never knew what hit it. She quickly examined it and was immediately thankful for the high powered magnum she carried. There was still chittering in the distance though so she checked the whole building. Two ants later she was sure the building was empty.
Upon exploring the building, Six found a common room of sorts; still lit by the harsh glow of the computer terminals. She also found some Nuka-Cola machines.
"What the hell." She said aloud and headed over to open one of the still active machines. She unlocked the machine easily and found almost a dozen ice cold Nuka-Colas. "Jackpot!" She shouted as she grabbed two bottles and shut the machine. She found a relatively clean corner and dropped her pack and sat on the floor. She pulled out some dinner and dined by terminal light. When she was done she settled in the corner and tried to get some sleep.