Chapter 51: Nothin' But a Hound Dog
Six and Boone left the Strip at the crack of dawn with Rex on their heels. They took the early Monorail to McCarran and headed northwest. The pair agreed that Vault 22 was likely the best place to stop for the first night, so they headed back there. While they had made it through the first day without encountering any hostiles, the second day had them killing all sorts of critters that sought them out. By midday they started climbing the mountains and it started getting cold. Six pulled out her duster and marveled at the massive bighorners that called the region home.
"I know this probably sounds weird but I bet those are tasty!" Six said after they stopped to let a small heard cross the worn out road.
Night was falling when they saw the town in the distance. Boone scanned it with his scope then pulled Six behind cover.
"Super mutants."
Six looked at him. "Did they see us?" She asked.
"Don't think so."
Six peaked over the boulder at the super mutant standing guard in the distance. "He doesn't look very aggressive. Six stepped out from behind the boulder. Boone tried to pull her back into cover but she shook off his hand. She lit up her Pip-Boy and waved at the super mutant with her left hand.
"Are you crazy?!" Boone shouted as he pulled her behind the boulder.
"You know I probably am!" Six answered lightheartedly. "They definitely saw me and didn't shoot. I'm going closer."
"But-" Six slipped out of Boone's grasp and walked toward the town waving. Boone followed reluctantly, with a tight grip on his rifle. Eventually the sentry waved back.
"Hi!" Six called when she was close enough.
"Welcome to Jacobstown, human. You're free to walk around, just don't stare at the Nightkin. They don't like people looking at them." The super mutant greeted. "And if you're NCR, keep it to yourself. They're not popular around here." He looked toward Boone.
"Why do some of the super mutants here dislike the NCR?" Six asked innocently.
"Lot of bad blood between super mutants and humans. Goes back years. Some here still got the scars and memories. Me, I don't really have a problem with the NCR. Set their sights a little too high sometimes, but they try. Legion, that's another story."
"What do you know about the Legion?"
"Caesar thinks he can change human nature." Boone stiffened at the pronunciation of Caesar. "Most of the Legion is following Caesar, not Caesar's ideals. When he's gone, it'll crumble."
"I hope so." Six smile fiercely. "What makes the NCR too ambitious?"
"They expand, fast. If you've got land they want, they'll take it, eventually. Did it out West, they'll do it here. They keep rolling over people, they'll regret it. That's how revolutions start."
"Anything else can you tell me about the NCR?" Six asked, as she gave Boone a sidelong glance.
"Seen them grow from a single town - Shady Sands - into the republic. They've done good for the most part."
"Wait a minute. That'd make you…" Six started doing the math.
"Very old." The mutant answered.
"Woah." Six looked at him intently.
The mutant laughed. "You remind me of an old friend of mine."
Six smiled. "Long shot, but we're looking for a Doctor Henry."
"Not so long. Doc's inside the Lodge."
"Oh, nice!" Six hesitated. "Can we come in?"
"Sure, don't start any fights or steal anything and we'll treat you fair. Not a lot to ask."
"Thanks!" Six said as she walked into town and headed for the lodge. She tried not to look at the Nightkin. They got to the lodge and Six opened the door.
"Another human. One was enough!" Came an angry voice from inside.
"Whoa, there, big fella." Six said as she looked at the Nightkin's feet. "Just here for a quick visit." The Nightkin grumbled and walked off. Six didn't watch him go. Instead, she headed toward the computers in the side room.
"Doctor Henry?" Six asked.
The old man in the room turned to glance at her then went back to his work. "I assume this is about something important? You're interrupting my research."
"Uh, yessir. Something's wrong with my cyberdog. I was told to come to you." Six indicated the sickly looking Rex. The doctor came over and checked the dog. He then shook his head.
"It's neural degradation. Bio med gel can only preserve a living brain for so long, so you'll need to find a replacement."
"A replacement?" Six asked surprised.
"I haven't left Jacobstown in years, but there was one woman in Novac... Gibson? I remember her living with a pack of hounds. Aside from her, I know that the Fiends and Caesar's Legion fight alongside dogs. There could be viable specimens among them, if you can get to them." Henry said then headed back to his work table.
"Uh… once I get a brain, how do I keep it…. Uh… fresh?" Six asked. Henry pointed to a jar on the table filled with a murky liquid. "Ok, thanks. We'll be back with a brain I guess." Six took the jar. Then she headed back out to the sentry; he was the friendliest person she'd met here.
"Howdy, stranger. Get what you needed?" The sentry asked.
"I think so. It's late, is there a place we could spend the night?" Six asked as she looked around.
"Sure." He pointed toward a row of cabins. "Any of those are far enough from town to not bother the mutants here."
"Thanks!" Six said and she and Boone headed towards the cabins.
"We're staying here?" Boone asked once inside.
"What's wrong with here? You got something against mutants?" Six asked as she went over to the bed.
"They're dangerous."
"So are we." Six said with a shrug. "If it bothers you that much; we can keep watch."
