The first thing that registered was pain. His head felt like a jagged spike had been hammered in and left to rot.
He tried to open his eyes but was blinded by the lights that were above him. He tried to roll off the bed, some unknown instinct telling him something was moving towards him.
" Easy easy. " A calming voice said from his left.
As his eyes adjusted he looked over and saw an aged man quickly moving over to him. He immediately wanted to move away from him. The man gently grabbed his arm and helped his patient sit up on the bed.
" Alright take it easy, your gonna be a little weak and dehydrated. " He moved over to a box sitting on the shelf near them and removed a bottle of water. " Here you go, drink it slow mind you or you'll just make yourself sick. "
The older man handed him the bottle and the man desperately wanted to ignore him and begin guzzling the precious liquid. But again something ingrained into him told him to follow the older mans advice.
Slowly shipping at the water he felt his throat begin to absorb the water and he managed to force out a few words.
" Wh-where am I ? " His voice was hoarse and rough.
" Your in my house . You took a bad hit, were shot in fact. " Said the older man as he took the now empty bottle and grabbed a syringe from the tray next to him as he tapped for a vein. " Names Michelle, but everyone just calls me Doc. You've been out of it for about three weeks now. Surprised your up this soon, or at all honestly. " Doc carefully went about making sure there were no immediate obvious problems caused by the younger mans injuries.
" Wh- who did th- " He coughed rather violently for a moment. " Who did this?" The unnamed man asked.
" Don't know his name but he was all dressed up fancy like, don't see cloths like that in these parts too often. " Doc carefully pulled back the bandages to check the freshly healed wound. " The folk he had with him though I recognized. Great Khans, they're a tribe, or gang depending on who ya ask. They used to be a lot more of em around but there was trouble between them and the NCR a few years back. " He put the bandages back in place and check a chart on the table next to him. " They stayed for a few hours, might ask some of the folks in town if they noticed anything. " He put down the chart and moved back to the side of the bed satisfied that his patient wasn't in any immediate danger.
" What happened to me ? " The wounded man asked.
" Well do you want the quick version or do you want all the details ? " Asked Doc.
" Tell me everything. " Was the awnser.
" Well you were shot twice in the head with a small caliber bullet, I believe a 9mm if I'm not mistaken. " He took a swig of the sunset sasparila he had next to him. " Then they buried you. The robot that hangs out around these parts, Victor, he brought you to me. And the day after I got the last of the fragments out he handed me a bag of caps that could pay your debt twice over, with change. " Doc sighed and leaned back in his seat. He had settled down in the town so that he didn't have to deal with this much excitement anymore.
Between Ringo and his latest patient he was up to his neck in worry for the town.
" Anyway you seem to be alright for the most part, let's try and figure out if those bullets did any permanent damage. Can you tell you name ? " Doc grabbed the chart and a pen.
" My name. " The man seemed to ask himself. He was in deep thought for a moment before something simply clicked. " Zane. My name is Zane. " The now named Zane said.
" Yup that checks out. You had a few things on ya when you were brought in. They mentioned your name. Sorry about poking through your things but I hoped it might tell me something useful about you, or at least a next of kin. "
" That's fine. " Zane's voice, while still rough, came much easier than before as he sipped at his second bottle of water and used it more.
" Alright, next I want you to check if I put your face back the way it should be. " He handed Zane a device the displayed his image on a 3D scale.
He took a good look at the face that was supposed to be his. He was caucasian with a slight tan. He had black hair cut short and a neat beard. Just from the feeling on his face he knew that it wasn't well kept at the moment but that could be fixed. He had deep green eyes and a scar across his right eye. He looked to be in his med to late twenties. And across the right side of his head, starting near his temple, was a scar leading to the back of his scalp.
" Well I got it mostly right anyway. The scar will definitely show and it won't be pretty. And your gonna need to build your body back up after so long with so little motion. " The Doc said as he stood up. " Alright let's see about getting you moving. " He helped the younger man sit on the side of the bed and stand up.
He carefully allowed Zane to take his first steps in weeks and he did stumble but quickly regained his footing and walked into the next room.
" I saw you stirring the last couple of days, had some of my equipment set up. " Across from the couch a projector was set up with a white sheet.
" Why don't you take a seat and will start this little test. " Doc sat in the seat to the side of the couch.
Zane made it to the couch and sat down, breathing a little harder than when he got up.
" Alright I'm gonna say some words, I just want you to respond with the first thing that pops into your head. I don't have much to go on as far as data goes but it'll get us started. "
Zane plopped on the couch and tried clenching a fist several times. His arm, especially his bicep, burned from the tensing muscles.
" Yeah ok Doc. " He said as he relaxed him arm.
" Alright then, let's get started. " Said Doc as he grabbed a clipboard.
Sunny downed the shot and found a certain comfort in the burn.
" Well I haven't seen you drink to forget since your last boyfriend. What's eating at you hon? " Trudy, ever the town mom, came to check on her.
" Just this Ringo thing. " She sighed as Trudy refilled her glass.
" Well we'll grit our teeth and bare it, just like always. " Said Trudy as she fiddled with the switches on her radio.
The jukebox provided the music for the bar but she liked to keep the radio tuned too radio new vegas for the news. But since a few weeks back that rough looking guy busted it she couldn't get it to work.
" Trudy you've lived your whole life in nice towns like this, these people don't just go away. We let them push us around and they'll never leave us be. " Sunny said as she drank her drink.
Trudy sighed and reached under the counter pulling up a revolver and a box of .357 ammo.
Sunny was surprised. She knew Trudy owned a gun, just like everyone else, but as far as she knew she had never loaded it before.
" Your right. But we ain't gonna chase anyone out of town, and if we start trouble with Cobb then him and his boys will just chuck dynamite at us till there ain't nothing left. " Trudy took a swig of liquor from the bottle. You'd never guess it by looking at her but she could out drink most of the big bad mercenaries that were their few non local customers.
" Well we need to do something, and we don't really have anything we could try and buy them off with. " Sunny let out another sigh as her glass was filled again. " Well I'm gonna get going, gotta check the wells for geckos. " As she stood and downed her last shot the door was all but slammed open and in walked a dark skinned man wearing a blue shirt and pants under a ballistic vest.
" On second thought mabye I'll check if the next song is any good first. " Sunny said as she stood up and walked to the other side of the room.
" Well that's everything you had on ya. " Said Doc as he opened the cabinet.
Inside was a large black messenger bag with a roll of some kind attached to it. A tan button up shit and faded blue jeans. A belt with several pouches attached. And a pair of brown leather gloves with no fingers. As well as a worn brown leather long coat that had clearly seen some travel. And finally a pair of brown boots that had walked a long ways from the looks of them.
" Did I have any weapons? " Asked Zane .
" Yeah, their in the other room locked up, why don't you get changed while I get them. " Said Doc as he left the room.
As he dressed he saw a small wooden box sitting off to the side. Opening it he found a cross made of some silver like metal with a chain of the same material. Also hanging off the chain was a pair of tags of some kind. Something about it called to him and he felt uncomfortable until he place it around his neck.
" Ah found that did ya? " Doc had walked back in carrying a footlocker. " It was around your neck when Victor brought you in. "
" You only had blades on you but had a holster and ammo so I had to assume those fellas took your weapon, I found a spare 9mm to take though. " He placed the crate infront of the courier and flipped it open. Inside was a black knife in a sheath. It had a a vase like handle that fit snugly in the hand, a double sided blade, and the third of the blade closest to the handle was serrated on both sides.
" Hadn't see one of those in awhile. The elite soilders of the old world used those apparently, lots of folks would like it. Keep it close. " Doc advised from his chair.
Laying next to it was a machete with the blade tilted forward from the handle and five holes going through the blade. It's handle was wrapped in a black cord and he attached the sheath to his back.
And a basic 9mm pistol with a handful of magazines and a holster he attached to his thigh. The pistol he was given fit but it it didn't feel right. Like he was missing a piece of himself.
" That should get you started. Come along, I got a few things for ya. " The Doc led him to the hallway where he had a metal box sitting on a shelf.
" Here, you had one but it had a hole in it. " Doc handed the courier a canteen. It was a basic military canteen filled with water.
He reached back in and pulled out a gauntlet of some kind.
" This here's a PIPBOY 3000. I grew up in one of them vaults, we all got one. But it hasn't been doing me any good since I settled down. And judging by that look in your eye you need it more than I do. " He slipped it onto Zane's arm.
" Thanks for all this Doc. I don't know how to thank you. " Zane said as he adjusted to his new accessorie.
" Well don't worry about it too much. Helping people has given me a purpose for the past few decades. And I still feel that way now. " Doc stepped out of the way and let Zane open the door. Doc had filled Zane in on a few of the people he should visit, starting with someone named Sunny.
He raised his arm to block the sun and saw one of the options on his new PIPBOY was a radio. Turning the knob he sees a list of available stations.
' New Vegas Radio huh, let's see what this is about. ' He thought and clicked to activate the speakers.
" - and that's it for the news. Now I'd like to share one of my very favorite song with all of you. "
' Too the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day- '
Zane walked down the hill Doc's home was built on as he listened to the song. As he was walking down he saw a large box like thing rolling down the road on a single wheel. Remembering what Doc said about a robot saving him he moved to intercept.
As he approached the bot it's screen, with had a smiling cartoonish cowboy displayed, flicked to another image so fast he wasn't able to see what it was then it was back to the winking cowboy.
" Well howdy partner. Nice to see you up and about. " Victor said with a cheerful voice.
" Thanks, Victor right? " Asked the courier.
" Sure as shooting that's my name. " Said the robot.
" Okay Victor, can you tell me anything about the guys who shot me? " Asked the courier.
" Well fancy pants was all dressed up. Reckon the only place round these parts your liable to find those kinda duds is on the strip. Didn't recognize his buddies though. " Said Victor as he raised one of his arms and pointed into the distance.
Turing and looking in the distance Zane could just barely make out the shape of a large tower of some kind.
" That's a long ways off. " Said Zane mostly to himself.
" Well every journey seems long till you take the first step. Well I got some errands to run, happy trails to ya. " The robot wheeled off down the road.
He watched the robot wheel off before starting off for the saloon. Parked out front was a truck that looked like it had been put together from fifty different vehicles, but seemed like it would still work. Sitting on the porch of the saloon was an old man who looked like he was entering his seventies.
Entering the saloon he arrived just in time to catch the end of an argument.
" We know you have him, hand him over and mabye we just take anything that isn't nailed down and let the rest of you live. " Said a man wearing a blue jumpsuit of some kind with a ballistic vest over it.
" I already told ya, he ain't in town. Now get the hell out of my bar. " The woman stood firm and didn't back down at all.
The man just snorted and spun around stomping out. Zane stepped out of the way and avoided interacting with the volatile man.
Stepping into the sitting area in a separate room he saw a young woman with brown hair and eyes wearing leather armor, and standing infront of a dog barking at him
" Cheyenne stay ! " The woman says and the dog immediately backs off. " Don't worry she won't bite, less I tell her to. " The woman smiled at him as she said this. " Name's Sunny. You must be the fella Victor pulled out of the shallow grave out in the cemetery. Nice to meet you. " She stuck out her hand. Zane shook it.
" Likewise. " Zane said. " Doc explained you may be able to help me get back a step or two. " He said.
" I suppose after the beating your noggin took it ain't too surprising to see you lost some stuff. Sure I can show you what I know, let's head out back. " She whistled and Cheyenne started following her again.
Walking back into the blazing Nevada sun she headed around the saloon where she had moved a few planks into a rudimentary target range where she proceeded to line up some empty bottles.
She grabbed a spare rifle from a box near some workbenches by the next building before heading back too him.
" Okay here you go. It's not the best or most powerful gun around, but it'll work for target practice. And should be fine against most ornery critters too. Show me what you got. " She crossed her arms and leaned back against a large rock with Cheyenne curled up in the shade of said rock.
Zane examined the rifle. It was a 5.56 caliber bolt action. Some of the pieces were rusted, and the bolt was a little sticky, like it was catching on something. But for being giving the weapon for free he couldn't complain. Without even thinking about it he quickly checked every moving part of the rifle short of field stripping it.
He raised it to his shoulder and let off three shots so fast you almost didn't see him work the bolt. The speed was impressive but what had Sunny gaping was that all three of those shots hit the bottles in the smallest target, the middle of the neck.
While neither the speed or accuracy of the shots were that surprising on their own, together they made her wonder who her temporary charge was.
Zane himself wondered that as well. It had been muscle memory to aim and shoot as he did. He hadn't even ment to hit the necks of the bottles, it was like as soon as he started the motion his body did the rest on it's own.
" Well that was impressive I must say. " Sunny said, still a little gobsmacked by the display of rapid marksmanship.
She realized he didn't need someone to show him the basics. But an extra gun was always valuable.
" If your interested I could use an extra set of eyes to check out the wells. " She said as she pulled out her own rifle.
" I got no problem helping out. " He said and they started off.
" So while we walk. What's the fastest way to The Strip from here? " Asked Zane.
" Well the safest and fastest would be to wait till the roads get cleared and try and catch a ride with Easy Pete next time he goes up that way. He usually makes a run every month or so to trade. " She said as she led him to their first stop.
" Easy Pete? " Asked Zane.
" The old timer out front of the saloon. That truck is his from his prospecting days. But the most stable road is out and the other option isn't worth the gas. He did pay me to walk with him and his cart down to Primm awhile ago, but with the breakout even there's not safe anymore. " She explained somethings that flew completely over his head but he made to try and remember it all.
" Primm? That sounds familiar. No clue what you mean by breakout though. " He said as they neared the well.
" Primms a decent sized settlement in an old town. It has the Mojave trading post so a good number of people make their way there, they get some good trading. " She explained as she claimed over a small boulder. " And by breakout I mean how those outlaws the NCR brought in on a chain gang escaped and have been making trouble all over. Last traveler passed through told us that they had completely taken over Primm. Okay shush up and get ready, we're here. " She kept close to the face of the rock she was hugging and pulled a pair of binoculars from a pouch on her hip.
She peered through them for a moment.
" Yup, we got geckos alright. Here take a look. " She passed him the binoculars and he looked.
Ahead of them around a water siphon of some kind was a small pack of bipedal lizards either walking around, drinking from a puddle under the spout, or eating the carcass of some animal.
" They don't need water as much as most other creatures, but they get drawn here either when they do need it or to kill the other critters that come around. " Sunny said as she drew her rifle. Unlike his hers was a black synthetic stock, had a suppressor on, a magazine twice as long as his, a scope, and had a carving of some kind of skull on the butt along with tally marks.
" Okay that rifle i gave you doesn't have a scope so you'll need to get in closer. I'll make sure none of them sneak up on you. " She chambered a round and steadied her gun against the rock.
He put the binoculars in his bag and readied his rifle. He crouched and tried to sneak up on them but stumbled several times and gave himself away. As the first turned to him he immediately let a shot off.
It took a chunk of skin and meat off the geckos chest but this just made it charge faster. His next shot he aimed carefully at it's head and the round hit it in the left eye. It stopped running and fell to the ground skidding and rolling to a stop.
However the other three immediately turned in his direction and charged. He tried to hit them as they ran but their constant movement ment he only hit one of them with a flesh wound.
One of them dropped from Sunny but that still left him with two. He quickly reloaded but was only able get get off a single rushed shot that missed before they got to him. He swung the butt of the rifle into the first and use it to block the bite of the second. The ferocious thing wrestling him to the ground and trying to eat through the gun to get too him. He raised his right led and held it back as his hand fell to his pistol.
He rolled all his weight too the side and had the reptile pinned under him. Three point blank shots killed it. He stood up and pulled the bolt of his rifle and shot the last one in the leg. It froze and that's when Sunny sent a bullet in one ear and out the other.
As he caught his breath from the strangely tiring encounter Sunny and Cheyenne made their way over.
" Well that was quick thinking. Usually I just need to take the bite. I swear I spend half of what I make on stimpacks. " As she mutters the last part she starts dragging the cadavers into a crack in the rocks and covering it.
" I'll come back for the hides later, right now we need to check the other wells. " They didn't talk on their way to the next stop, not seeing any reason to. Upon arriving there were only three geckos.
They took position on the ridge above and picked their shots. Sunny killed the first and when the other two investigated why it had fallen they dropped them both. Once again Sunny stuffed the dead geckos into a crevice that might have been made for that purpose.
As they approached the last site Zane stopped.
" Do you hear that? " He asked.
" Hear what? " Asked Sunny.
He didn't awnser just stayed quiet and listened. He heard a scream, a faint one you would have missed, but as soon as he heard it he shot off as fast as he could. His dead sprint took him to a ledge overlooking the last well and the group of geckos attacking a woman. She had a large kitchen knife she was swinging around with her left arm, as he right a large bite at the shoulder and another at her elbow.
She was bloody and surrounded, even as she swung around to keep them away one was teeth deep in her thigh, refusing to release.
In less a second he ran though a dozen ideas before landing on one. He chambered a round and jumped.
Although he had no way of knowing yet he had just activated a feature of the PIPBOY. Time seemed to slow as an artificial pool of adrenaline was released and a very specific electric current was sent through his body. As he thought of the best shots his body reacted, pulling off two head shots mid-air before landing on another gecko. As time returned to normal from his perspective he brought his boot down on the gecko he landed on and shot the last one with the remaining three rounds in his mag.
Sunny came running around the dune and scanned around for any stragglers. No finding any she swung her rifle onto her back and pulled out a stimpack she used on the woman. It stopped the bleeding but she still had bite and cuts all over her arm leg and side.
" I'll get her too Doc. Why don't you drop by the saloon and say hi to Trudy. I'll head over with your caps once she's squared away. " Sunny said as she put the women's uninjured arm over her shoulder and helped her hobbled towards town.
He stayed for a few minutes to wash his face and get a drink. After a moment he started off towards the saloon.
The walk back was uneventful. He was happy to get out of the sun into the slightly cooler bar. He hung his coat on a rack and placed his rifle against the wall by the door. As he walked to the bar proper he was almost immediately greeted by a woman placing a beer infront of him.
" Heard how you saved Agnis from those geckos. It's on the house. " She said as she went back to fiddling with her radio.
He took a sip of the chilled beverage.
" Something wrong with your radio?" He asked.
" Yeah. While back some thug knocked it off the shelf. Now I can't get it to work. " She sighed and gave up for the time being.
Something nagged at Zane, something about not doing anything.
" Mind if I give it a shot? " He asked. She shrugged and started wiping the bar.
" Sure you can give it a shot. Can't do any worse than I have. " She said.
As he stood and walked around the bar he unconsciously reached to one of the pouches at his hip and pulled out a rather thick roll of leather. Once he realized what he was holding he placed it on the counter and unrolled it and revealed it had numerous small pouches with multiple types of tools of various sizes.
He started taking the casing off without really thinking about it and decided to talk with Trudy.
" So anything interesting happening in the wasteland? " He asked as he removed the cover.
" Well we don't get much in the way of news out this way, cept the radio. But the biggest news is the the Legion and NCR are getting ready to duke it out over the dam again. " She said as she slid a bottle along the bar too another patron.
" NCR, Legion, dam? This is weird everything seems so familiar, like a memory you can't quite recall. " He said as he peered at the radio internals.
" Oh hon, I'm sorry to hear that. I guess them bullets messed with your memory. Well the basic is NCR is a big government from California. They have the largest, best supplied army anyone has ever seen. Cept mabye back in the brotherhoods heyday. The Legion are a buncha slaving, raping, killers. But credit where it's due, they don't have to deal with bandits and the like in their territory. Less they made a deal with each other. And the dam is just about the biggest sorce of power this side of New Reno. Uses water to make energy somehow, never really had a mind for that science mumbo-jumbo. " As she told him of the major players of New Vegas he saw something in the radio that just struck him as wrong. He used a small hook like tool to pull it and put the radio back together.
As he placed right side up he twisted the knobs to the correct station.
' - heartaches by the number -'
The radio cracked to life and the song began playing.
" Well how about that. Started right up didn't it. " She said with a smile, happy she wouldn't have to try and get a new radio. She reached under the bar and pulled out a pouch of caps. " Here, for the fix. "
As he sat down and finished his beer Sunny walked in and took the stool next to him.
" Well she won't be able to do any heavy work for awhile but she's alive. Thanks to you. " As she tapped the bar and Trudy placed a glass infront of her she placed a leather bag that rattled as she dropped it onto the bar. " Your cut for helping me with the geckos. " She drank her own drink.
" Hey what was up with that guy from earlier, yelling about handing someone over. " Zane asked the two, who both sighed and slumped down.
" That was Cobb. He showed up few days after this guy named Ringo. Ringo said he was with a caravan that got hit and someone was after him. We set him up in the old gas station, didn't think anyone would actually show up. Then he did and started demanding we hand over Ringo. And we ain't just gonna hand someone over to the Powder Gangsters. " Trudy said as she poured herself a shot.
" And why not just chase this Cobb out of town. And who are these Powder Gangansters? " He asked as he sipped his drink.
" Poweder Gangsters what that chain gang I told you about started calling themselves. Funny enough when you teach a bunch of convicts how to make and use explosives they decided to use them to escape. And we haven't chased his sorry ass off cause they would just bombard us with dynamite till we were all dead. " Sunny was clearly unhappy about it but didn't belive that anything could be done.
Something inside him, the same thing that urged him to look at Trudy's radio and push himself to save that woman, screamed at him now. To do something, show these people it wasn't hopeless.
" Where'd you say this Ringo was? " He asked Trudy as he stood up.
" The old gas station by Doc's place. If your gonna check on him be careful, he's been pretty skittish since Cobb showed up. " She told him as she started wiping down the bar.
" Thanks. " He said and moved over too his coat. Putting it on and hanging his rifle on his back. The walk was short and he was walking into the station and had another gun pointed at him before he knew it.
" No sudden moves now. Keep those hands up. " The man said.
" Calm down now. Friendly. " Zane explained.
" Whoo. Glad to hear that. Oh sorry about the gun. " The man placed his pistol on the counter. " Think we got off on the wrong foot. How about a game of caravan? " He asked as he pulled out a deck of cards.
" Caravan? Never heard of it." Zane said as he lowered his arms.
" Alot of traders play it. You won't find it in any casinos, no house advantage it's more skill based." He walked over to where a sachel was hanging from the wall. " Here take one my spare decks. And this here is a holotape with the rules and instructions. " He said as he handed over another pouches holding a deck of cards and the tape.
Zane hooked the pouch to his belt and put the tape in his pocket to listen to later.
" Thanks for the offer but that ain't why I'm here. There's a fella named Cobb looking for you. " He said as the merchant moved to a mattress laying near the wall and took a seat.
" Yeah Sunny told me. Haven't seen him yet, guess he's worried I'll shoot him if I see him through the window. He's right. " He pulled a can of beans from his bag and used a small knife to cut off the lid. He held it and a spoon out to Zane.
Taking it Ringo pulled another can and stoon from his bag.
" In all honesty my plans to wait another day or two and sneak out of town and take the trouble with me. But they'll almost definitely catch me on the road. If I could reach Primm I could get the garrison there to radio in an escort. " He brought out a tan canteen with the curved words ' CRIMSON CARAVAN ' written across it.
" Well mabye we can do something about him. " Zane said as he finished his can.
" The two of us would just get ourselves killed. " He chuckled at the thought. But then got a thoughtful look on his face. " But mabye it doesn't have to be just us. I know some of the townsfolk would love to send them running, Sunny in particular. You gather them up and we'd have ourselves a proper malita. " Ringo started getting excited.
" Haven't been there yet but the genral store probably has enough basic armor and ammo to take care of this gang. " Zane thought as he felt somthing in his pocket.
Pulling it out it was a flip lighter with a star inside a circle. Something about the symbol spoke to him, made him feel... he didn't have the words to describe the feeling, responsible mabye, but not quite.
" Here, looked like you could use one. " He reached back into his bag and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Taking one out and lightning it he took a puff and felt that familiar sensation again, but he just couldn't recall.
" Thanks.Well if we're gonna light a fire under these folks, I better get to work. " Zane said as he stood up.
" Start with Sunny, she seemed to be biting the bit for a shot a Cobb. " Said Ringo as he stood up and grabbed his gun.
" Good as place as any to start. I'll let you know what happens. " He walked out into the mid-day heat and jogged to the saloon.
Walking in he saw Sunny in the room.
" Sunny I'm rounding up some folks to take care of Cobb - " She cut him off.
" Say no more, I'm in. " She said.
" Just like that? " He asked.
" Just like that. I know his kind. If we let him push us down he'll never stop. And I ain't keen on having them raiding us on a schedule. " She crossed her arms and stated. " So what's the plan? " She asked.
" Well the plan is gather everyone who is willing. Once I see what we have to work with I'll make a proper plan. " He said as the dropped the bud of his cigarette in the trash.
" Well if your trying to rally folks might start with Trudy. Most folks listen to her and she may be able to gather a decent force together. " Sunny gestured towards the bar in the other room.
He nodded to her and went to speak with Trudy.
" I heard you two talking. " She said as he walked over. " I respect what your trying to do, but if you want me to tell these folks to risk their lives for this I'm gonna need to hear a solid plan from you. " She said. Zane was starting to wonder if she moonlights as town mayor.
" Well based on what I know they'll come down the main road just out front of the saloon. If we got those who would fight hiding behind the genral store and saloon then we could wait for them to get close and catch them by suprise. " He explained his quickly thought up plan.
" Well that would be better than just standing in the open, and would give us a chance to get them before they can use their dynamite. Alright, I'll talk to some folks. See who I can round up." She said as she cleaned a glass. " You should talk with Sunny again, the two of you might be able to scrounge up some more supplies for this malita your making. " She said.
Zane nodded and walked back to Sunny who was cleaning her rifle.
" Well Trudys on board, any other ideas on how we can prepare? " He asked.
" A few. Doc could pass out some stims, keep anyone from bleeding out. Chet just got a shipment of armor in. And I know Easy Pete has a stash of dynamite lying around. If even one of those things happen, our chances go way up. " She said as she put away her tools and loaded her gun.
" Alright while I'm doing that head aways out and keep an eye out. When he left earlier Cobb looked ready to pop, he may attack tonight. " Zane said as she stood up and hung the rifle across her back.
" Got it. " She said with a nod. " If I see anything I'll run back and find you. " She said as she walked out.
He followed and looked at the old man sitting in the rocking chair. He moved to sit down next to him as the man looked up at him.
" Howdy lad. Folks call me Easy Pete, and I hear your putting together a posse. " He said as he pulled out a pipe. Word sure moved fast in small towns.
" Yup. With Cobb looking at the town like a breadbasket he'll just keep coming back. Better to take care of the problem now. And that dynamite you got hidden away would go a long way to helping. " Zane said.
" Too dangerous. " The old man grumbled out. " You'll just blow yourselves up. Safer to keep it buried. " He nodded to himself at his decision.
Zane thought about how he could convince him when a memory flashed though his mind.
' He was sitting at a table, a pile of metal cylinders to his right and raw components to his left. He was making sure the one in his hands had the fuse secure. '
As the brief headache passed he realized he suddenly remembered years of practice making and using explosives.
" I'm familiar with the use of explosives, dynamite included. And if it helps this plan doesn't have you handing it out. I have a better plan. " He said to Easy Pete.
He regarded Zane for moment looking him in the eyes. He let out a sigh and dropped his chin to his chest.
" Well better get digging than. What you want me to do with it if you aint gonna pass it out? " He asked as he stood up.
" Well to start, well need to dig under..." He explained his plan to Easy Pete.
Talking with Chet was an experience. For such a small town merchant, he was incredibly greedy and wanted a 1000 caps for the supplies. It took three hours to convince the man to supply the town with ammo and basic armor. But he wasn't happy about it.
Last place he needed to visit was Doc's. The door was opened and Doc let out a sigh and moved to let him in.
" I hoped it might be awhile before I had to treat you again. What's the problem? " Doc Mitchell asked.
" Thankfully nothing. But Cobbs coming with friends and we may need medical supplies before the nights over. Anything you can spare would be appreciated. " Zane told Doc.
" Huh. It's always the same isn't it. I've got some stimpacks and other supplies. A few kits worth. Some med-x and other helpful drugs as well. " He said as ge led Zane into the room he kept his surgical supplies.
Sunny had managed to find a nice vantage point about a mile out from town with a clear line of sight down the road. It had been just over five hours since she had set up there when she saw them. About seven in all armed with cheap shotguns and pistols, with bandoliers of dynamite. They were heading straight for town.
' If I move fast and use a few shortcuts I can reach town before them and have everyone ready. ' She thought to herself as she took off.
Zane and Trudy were passing out stimpacks and med-x. Chet had already passed out the armor and had ammo boxes laying around with various caliber bullets.
" Well we've everything we can do to prepare. Oh Easy Pete wanted me to tell you he set it up. Whatever that means." Trudy said as she tried to get adjusted to wearing the armor.
" Good. This may go off without anyone needing to fire a shot. " Zane said as he lit a cigarette.
Trudy was about to ask something when they heard Sunny yelling.
" Their on the way! " She stopped infront of them a little short of breath. " They'll be here within the hour. " She said as she caught her breath.
" Alright get everyone in position, I'll get Ringo. Remember don't fire till we use the dynamite. " He said as he ran off.
He ran to the gas station where Ringo was wearing a set of armor and had a shotgun.
" Cobbs gonna be here soon. Ready to go? " He asked.
" Well as ready as I'll ever be. " He said as he picked up his gun.
They jogged back down to the ally between the saloon and the store. Easy Pete was sitting in a chair waiting with a plunger with a cord leading out.
" All set up? " Zane asked him as he walked up.
" Good as it gets. Just tell me when. " Pete said.
" Alright than. Everyone stay as quiet as you can and keep ready. " He told everyone.
The waiting was hell. It took another fifteen minutes for any of the gang to be spotted. Cobb led then past the water tower but stopped.
Cobb was carefully examining the road. Something felt wrong but also familiar. He sent one of the others out and had him start tapping the ground with the butt of his gun.
He turned back to them and shrugged. Cobb shrugged back and led them forward.
He was walking over the shattered road when it struck him like lightning. This was familiar because it was the same feeling they got working on clearing boulders and other obstacles for the railroad. Clearing with dynamite.
" Off the road now! " He shouted and jumped himself. Two were slow and his vision flashed white and he felt like he had been hit with a super sledge.
He crawled until he felt a rock and put his back to it and tried to regain his vision. Looking back at the road he saw bloodied bones, just about all that hadn't been vaporized of the two caught in the blast.
He snarled and pulled his revolver from it's holster and fired a few shots from where he guessed the ones who attacked them were.
As one of his boys moved to cover him he was hit with a perfect headshot. He was able to see the reflection of a scope. He knew his boys wouldn't survive. But he could still get out of this if he had the right leverage.
While the townsfolk were dealing with his boys he snuck around the water tower.
Zane reloaded. These guys must have been on some drugs because even with four of five bullets center mass they still kept coming.
The shotguns some of the others were using would have been more efficient in keeping down but they didn't come any closer.
They had exhausted most their ammo. The townsfolk didn't have training and alot of their shots went wide.
Sunny dropped three herself. That left one. But he seemed to suddenly lose it and charge them. Zane rushed him and smashed the butt of his rifle into his face, the wood splintered in his hands leaving him holding the barrel. Thinking fast he leaned back to dodge the cleaver slash and jammed the jagged edge of the barrel into the thugs neck, and pierced his brain.
He nearly completely relaxed when he heard the scream. He spun around to see Sunny being held at gun point with non-other than Cobb holding the gun.
" Alright, back the fuck off! I'm outta here and this bitch is coming with me. Anyone got a problem with that? " He cocked the hammer of his gun.
Zane whipped out his pistol, keeping it trained on Cobb.
" Let her go. Your done, you men are dead. Leave and never come back. " He gave his ultimatum.
" Na, I think I'll just walk out with her. She'll keep me warm till I meet the rest of the crew. Won't you sweetheart? " Cobb mockingly asked Sunny.
" Like hell you scum sucking, raping, piece of- " Cobb hit her in the head to shut her up.
" That's enough out of you bitch. Don't worry, you'll have a better use for that mouth soon. Now all of you out of my damn way. Now! " He said first to Sunny than everyone.
" No. " The Courier said as he cocked the hammer of his pistol. He once again unknowingly activated V.A.T.S. and aimed at Cobb's gun.
He squeezed the trigger and a single 9mm bullet flew and impacted the cylinder, rendering the pistol inoperable and tearing it from his hand. Sunny threw back her head, breaking both his nose and his hold on her.
As she dropped to her stomach Zane let off three more shots, dropping Cobb to his knees.
As blood poured from his mouth Zane walked behind the criminal and raised his gun to the fallen man's head, when he begins to speak words he doesn't remember, but feel so familiar.
" And shepherds we shall be. For thee my lord for thee. Power hath decended forth from thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be. " He raised his left hand and touched his forehead. " In nomine patris, " He brought his hand too the left side of his chest, " et filii, " He brought his hand to the right side of his chest and then let it drop. " et spiritus sancti. " He finished and cocked his pistol, firing the final shot. " Amen. "
As Cobb fell to the desert sand the town began celebrating. They had won, and no one had died.
Sunny jumped up and hugged Zane. He hugged her back and watched as the town cheered and Trudy offered everyone a free shot of the good stuff.
He smiled as he watched these people celebrate their victory. And it was their victory. Everything they did they could have done without him. He just helped give them a push.
Ringo walked over.
" Hehe gonna be quite a party. Here, technically these are caravan funds but I'm sure they'll understand once I explain everything. " Ringo said as he tossed a good sized bag of caps too Zane.
" Well I'm gonna go get a drink. How about you? " He asked the merchant.
" Na. I gonna hit the hay. Long walk tomorrow. Thanks for this, really. If your ever around Vegas head to the Crimson Caravan Company and look me up. " Ringo said as he started walking back to the gas station.
Inside the saloon was more of the same. Doc Mitchell had even come, mostly to check on the wounded but he did stay for the party.
" Hey Doc could I crash with you tonight? I plan on heading out tomorrow. " Zane asked the older man.
" Well I'd let you but Agnis is staying overnight, so I can keep an eye out for infection. " Michell explained.
" He can stay the night at my place. " Sunny offered taking the stool on his other side.
" If it's not to much of a bother. I want to check where they buried me tomorrow then, head out after them. " Zane told them his plan as he took out another cigarette.
" No trouble. Let's keep going and when the partys over I'll show you my place. " She said and downed her shot.
Another hour of partying and they were well into the next day when Zane and Sunny half stumbled out.
Upon entering the small home it took Zane's slightly inebriated mind a moment to realize something.
" There's only one bed and no couch. Hey Sunny where am I slee- " He stopped short when he turned and saw Sunny undressing.
" You saved me tonight, probably didn't even think anything about it. But the least I can do is give you a good memory of Goodsprings. Come here. " She pulled him into a kiss and led them to the bed.
He woke up to pain again. But rather than the indescribable pain he felt before this was a headache he could deal with.
He tried to sit up but was stopped by the weight on his chest. Looking down he saw brown haired varmint hunter. Knowing this was probably the last time he'd be this comfortable for some time he simply wrapped an arm around her and laid back.
Goodsprings cemetery was up on a hill with the water tower. Laying in the middle of all the gravestones was a shallow hole, his grave.
He stood at the edge, a handful of cigarette buds with checkered patterns on them in his pocket. Standing there was making his headache worse and he all but collapsed as a memory flashed before his eyes.
He flicked his bud away and continued walking. The small town was within sight. He could get some water and food before the next leg of his journey.He slowed and confirmed he wasn't imaging it, another crunch of sand underfoot. He was being followed. He continued to slightly adjust his walking speed to track the distance and waited till the last second.He heard the hum of electricity flowing and ducked under the swing of a shock baton.The attacker was a man with a mohawk wearing a leather vest and no sleeves.Around them more men wearing the same clothes came out of hiding.
They held pipes, bats, and one was holding a pool stick.
They began circling his as if wolves.
" Blessed be you, my God, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for fighting. May you forgive those who have sinned. And you may forgive me for my sins, and guard me along this path. Amen. " He said and drew his blade.
Three rushed him. One swung a pipe from behind him. He bent at the waist an let it fly over him, smacking one of the others attacking him. The third tried to jab the shock baton into his side.He quickly redirected by parrying and guiding the baton into his comrades back.
One down.
The two recovered and rushed him together. He slashed across the first one's back. The other he redirected his attack and knocked him out with an elbow to the head.
Three down.
He had stopped paying attention to the one with the baton and was hit in the back, the electric current flowing through him. He growled and spun around slashing as he did and missed.
The one who's back he slashed jumped and grabbed him, pulling him down.He threw his weight and went into a roll.
As he came onto a knee he pulled out his knife. His fingers were twitching, likely from the stun baton, making it difficult to keep ahold of his knife.
Another rushed him and he spun around from his crouch extending his leg and tripping his opponent. He punched the fallen thug in the nose, knocking him out.
But he was hit in the back with the stun baton again. The constant electrical attacks were making it difficult to move without spasms.
The one with the pool stick started choking him with it, and the one with the mohawk jammed the baton into his chest.
His legs finally gave out under him.
" The fuck was that. Guys suppose to be a fucking mailman. " Said one.
" Don't know, don't care. " Replied the one with the baton. " We off him we get paid, that simple. " He said and walked over to the downed man.
He raised his foot and tried to stomp on the man. He dodged and wrapped both arms, not being able to use his fingers properly, and twisted his upper body and popped his knee.
" Ahhh! Goddammit! " He yelled and fell.
Another stepped up and kicked at the couriers face and having used the last of his energy, it struck knocking him out.
When he woke up he saw a man digging a hole in the ground, the ones who had beaten him surrounding him and an unknown lightning a smoke.
" Let's get it over with, I want to do it for what that fuck did to my leg. " Said the one with the mohawk, favoring his uninjured leg.
The unkown man raised a finger and spoke over his shoulder.
" You Khans may kill people without look'em in the eye but I aint no fink, ya dig? " He said. He threw away his cigarette and turned back to the bound man. He reached into his checked jacket and pulled out- was that the chip he was supposed to deliver? After everything that he survived what finally did him in was a damn poker chip. If he wasn't so exhausted and dehydrated he may have laughed at it.
" You've made your last delivery. " He placed the chip back in his suit and pulled out an overly embellished handgun. " From where your standing, must look like an eighteenth karat run of back luck. But truth is, game was rigged from the start. " The still unknown man said as he took aim, and fired.
When Zane opened his eyes again he was laying on his back next to his grave. And he remembered. Remember Nash and Primm and the sudden need for another courier after the first drop out.
He needed awnsers, and Primm was his first stop.
He stood and took a last look at his grave before walking down the hill.
At the road out of town a few people had gathered.
Trudy walked up to him with an old tin lunchbox.
" It aint much but heat it over a fire and it'll taste like a fresh homemade meal." She handed it over.
Doc Mitchell was holding a leather pouch.
" We didn't use all the supplies from that dust up, didn't figure it worth the trouble of organizing them again. " Zane felt a handful of stims and a few rolls of badges. He shook the Doc's hand and looked to the last person there to see him off.
" You don't have to leave ya know. Could always use more eyes to check for geckos. " Sunny offered, a small sound of hope in her voice.
" I can't, I need awnsers. I'll find who shot me, and I'll figure out what the hell is going on. " He pulled Sunny in for one last hug and felt somthing in the pocket of his coat.
Reaching in he pulled out a badge of a star surrounded by a circle, the words ' DESERT RANGERS ' etched into the circle.
" Well that certainly explains a thing or two. " Sunny said as she saw the gleaming badge.
Looking at the silver metal he felt that same feeling again, this time he was able to put a name to it. Duty, he had a duty and this badge was his reminder.
He clipped it to the right side of his belt and pulled his coat over it to prevent a glare.
" Thanks, all of you. But I need to go and figure out who I am, and I can't do that here. Goodbye. " As he said his last goodbye the last Desert Ranger walked into the wastes again.
Wow, this was a treat to write. Unlike the last time I dabbled with Fallout I'm actually pretty proud of how this chapter turned out. Okay no long notes here, I will direct you to the Notice Board I've posted. Have a good one guy's!