Chapter Six

About 20 minutes into the drive, we were passing two decrepit buildings when ED-E let out a shrill whistle a second before shots pinged against the side of the door. Slamming on the breaks and spinning the truck around with me away from the threat, I leapt out with rifle in hand as ED-E sped towards me. I saw a gang of raiders spilling out of the building on the right, firing as they came. As I leaned over the hood and took aim, bullets impacted around me. These guys were probably high on chems so their aim was shit. I started dropping targets while ED-E opened fire with a mounted laser and kept them from flanking me.

When there were five left, I called ED-E and nodded towards the larger building. "Scout out that building and see if there are any more."

Beeping in acknowledgment, ED-E floated away. I finished off the remaining raiders, and began to stalk my way to the building. ED-E met my half way, beeping frantically.

*a large human is holding a small human at gunpoint!*

I immediately began sprinting towards the building, slinging my rifle and pulling out my pistol. Reaching the building I stacked up near a large opening in the wall. I could hear voices inside, a man and a young girl. With ED-E behind me I swiftly moved into the room, pistol aimed, and surprised the raider. He pointed his gun at me instead of the girl and we both fired. Proving that Lady Luck could be on anybody's side, both our guns were shot from our hands. Enraged, the raider charged me, shoving the girl out of his way.

"ED-E, protect her, get her out of here," I yelled, before pulling my knife and bracing myself. But instead of barreling into me and knocking me down, the raider pulled a knife of his own and attacked. I dodged left and right, the blade missing me by inches. I switched into attack mode, holding my knife in a reverse grip. I began to swing the blade across the raiders chest, but he stepped back before bringing his knife down high. I instinctively threw up my left arm to block the blade and when the blade impacted it cut into my arm and stuck. Shocked and defenseless, the man fumbled for the leverage to get his knife free. With my right arm, I swung my blade again, slicing it across his throat. The raider grasped at his neck, trying to stem the tide of blood, but it was useless.

Wiping the blood off my blade on his clothes, I retrieved my gun and left the building. I saw ED-E floating low near the truck, his bulk providing protection to the child. As I approached, I yanked the blade out of my arm and dropped it to the ground. The sound startled the little girl, as she peered out around ED-E to see who was approaching. When she saw me, she sprinted towards me. She hit me at full speed and latched on to me, beginning to cry. I crouched down to hug her back and to comfort her. I didn't know what she'd been through, but the fact she hugged a complete stranger spoke volumes.

"Shh, shh, it's alright sweetie, they can't hurt you anymore," I spoke gently, patting her back. I never had much experience with kids, but she needed to know she was safe.

"Where are your parents?" I asked and pulled her back so I could look into her face. She had dark black hair and sky blue eyes.

She began crying even harder. Pulling her back into a hug, I gestured to get ED-E's attention, then pointed up and twirled my finger in a wide circle. ED-E beeped and "nodded" before gaining altitude to keep an ey-uh sensor out for threats.

"Men in red skirts attacking my town. My parents told me to hide just before they came into the house. I came out when it was dark and all I saw was fire. I ran as fast as I could to the NCR base, but those mean people caught me." She was speaking and crying into my shoulder. I already knew the answer, but I had to make sure. Rage began filling me, and I felt the dangerous part of my psychosis pushing its way forward. I fought to keep my face straight.

"You're from Nipton aren't you?"

"Yes how'd you know?" She stepped back, wiping her face, tilting her head in curiosity.

"I was sent by the NCR to find out what happened. The men that attacked your home are part of Caesar's Legion." I grabbed her shoulders gently. "I promise you they won't ever hurt you again."

She nodded. "I want to come with you." She said, sorrow gone and determination in her face.

I thought for a moment, before relenting. "Alright, but you have to listen to exactly what I say, ok? I'll leave ED-E, the robot, to protect you while I'm gone. Deal?" I stood, looking down at her.

She nodded and held out her hand, "Deal."

Feeling a flutter of pride, I walked with her over to my truck. "What's your name?" She asked.

"I'm James. I'm a courier, but I used to be a Ranger."

"I'm Jenny," she replied simply.

I heard ED-E come up behind us just as we reached the truck. I opened the passenger door and helped her inside, the size of the tires and suspension making it a little too tall for her to climb herself, and buckled her up. I closed the door and turned to ED-E.

"ED-E, we're continuing to Nipton. When we get there, I'll investigate the town. No matter what happens to me, you protect her. even if that means escorting her back to the NCR. You do not leave her side. Understood?"

*yes James* ED-E replied.

"Alright, let's get going. You've got overwatch as we approach the town." ED-E beeped and flew higher as I climbed into the truck.

Jenny looked over at me and said, "I've never been in a real working car before. Where'd you get it?"

"My father built it before I was born." I said simply

"Where's your daddy now?" She asked.

I took a deep breath, not wanting to think about it again. "He's dead." I said quietly.

Jenny looked down and seemed to be fighting back tears. "I think my dad is dead too."

"It's alright sweetheart, I'll make sure the Legion pays for what happened," I said, squeezing her shoulder in reassurance.

She looked up, scared. "But what if there's too many for you to fight?"

I shook my head, "I fought many Legionaries when I was a Ranger, and most times they outnumbered me. But somehow I still survived. I'll be fine. But if anything happens, ED-E will take you to the Mojave Outpost, alright?"

She nodded but didn't say anything. "Hey, I promise, nothing will happen to me. And when I make a promise, I keep it." She looked over towards me, and began smiling before nodding again, this time with more confidence.

I nodded myself, and started up the engine. It startled Jenny for a moment before she relaxed. For a young girl, she had amazing control of her emotions. I turned the truck around and drove toward Nipton, going over how I was going to approach this. If the Legion was still there, I wanted to make sure I could kill them quickly. My M4 was good, but it took more than a few shots to penetrate most Legion armor, and when it did it only did a moderate amount of damage. I settled on using my father's rifle. If I used AP rounds, I'd essentially get the same penetration as the lighter 5.56mm rounds but still have the same force and damage of the .308 rounds. Speed defeats armor, but sometimes it's not the best for the squishy guts underneath the armor.

Twenty minutes later, we crested a small hill and stopped just before the entrance to Nipton. I shut off the engine and saw a Powder Ganger approaching. He was yelling something about winning the lottery, and took off into the desert. I stepped out of the truck as ED-E approached and floated near Jenny's door.

I left my M4 on the back seat, and circled to the back of the pickup. I opened the gate and removed my father's rifle. The vehicle shook for a moment, and I looked up to see Jenny had climbed into the back, watching me through the sliding glass window

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Changing weapons. This is my father's rifle. It shoots much larger bullets than my other rifle," I said as I began quickly filling a handful of mags with .308 black tip armor piercing rounds. I only had thirty rounds, so I loaded a second mag halfway with standard ball ammunition before filling the other half with the remaining black tips. I looked up at Jenny as I loaded the rifle and chambered a round. "I'm going to lock the doors so no one can get in, and the glass and doors are bullet proof, so you'll be safe. Don't leave until I come back." I turned to ED-E. "If I'm not back in an hour, take her to the outpost." ED-E beeped one, and seemed to nod.

"Be safe," Jenny said as I closed and locked the tailgate. I nodded at her, giving her a thumbs up and a big grin, and made my way into town, rifle hanging across my chest.

I made my way to the first street corner, and peered around the building. Massive bonfires flanked either side of the steps leading to a large building. I saw bodies in the fire, blackened and burnt. Lining the road leading to the build were crosses, with Powder Ganger strapped to them. When I was finished with the Legion, I'd do what I could for them. Looking back toward the large building, I saw four legionaries, and two dogs. I figured my chances were pretty good, so I boldly stepped around the corner and began walking calmly down the street. The legionaries saw me approach and began reaching for weapons. I gripped my rifle but didn't bring it up just yet. Then, when I was ten yards away, another legionnaire stepped out of the building, wearing a coyote skin on his head. I recognized him immediately and rage filled me. I raised my rifle up, taking aim on the closest legionnaire. I shouted with rage, "VULPES! YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"

I immediately opened fire on the legionaries, killing all four in seconds. Vulpes walked calmly down the steps, weapon drawn, as the dogs charged me. I put them down easily, then dropped the mag out of the rifle, inserted a new one, and turned my aim to Vulpes. The son of a bitch just looked calmly at me.

"My, you're a quick one. You're the man who wiped out my frumentarii at the Hoover Dam, aren't you, Ranger?" He spat the last word in disgust.

"Yeah, and I must say, you trained them poorly. They never even touched me." I grinned savagely.

Vulpes grew angrier, and raised his weapon. Before he could take a step forward, I heard loud, rapid beeping and a burst of rifle fire flew past my shoulder and hit Vulpes in the chest and neck, messily killing him. I whipped around and saw Jenny standing there, awkwardly holding my M4 and shaking. ED-E was beeping frantically behind her. Slinging the rifle in my hands I slowly approached her, crouching down to her height. I gently put my hand on the rifle and lowered it. She let go of it and jumped into my arms. I held on to her, standing and making my way back to the truck. I set her back in the passenger seat, before putting my father's rifle back in the strongbox.

I returned to her door, and paused for a moment, thinking of what to say.

Jenny spoke first. "He's the one who took my parents. I was scared you would get hurt, so I followed you." She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them.

"Jenny, I know you wanted to help but you could have been hurt. That's why I told you to stay here. You were lucky you got him. Your shooting distracted me enough that he could have killed me, and then you." I sighed, before continuing. "You're too young to be killing someone," I smiled and she looked at me, "but still, you did good. Now, I need to go back to the Outpost and deliver my report. Do you have any family you can stay with, some aunts or uncles? Grandparents?"

"My parents were the only family I had, and I don't wanna go to the NCR. Can -can I come with you?" she asked hesitantly.

I thought for a moment, and said "Only if you promise to listen to me when I tell you something."

She nodded vigorously, and smiled. "Will you teach me how to shoot?"

"When we get somewhere safe, sure. Now stay here. I have to take care of something." Jenny nodded again and I closed the door. I slowly walked back to the crosses, and the people on them, drawing my pistol. To my surprise some were still alive, begging for help.

"I am," I said sadly to each of them, before aiming my pistol and firing. I spent the next ten minutes cutting the bodies down and throwing them into the fire for cremation. I glanced at Vulpes' corpse and got an idea. Pulling out my knife, I began my work.

Another ten minutes and I was climbing into the driver's seat, after placing the bloody bag I'd made from Vulpes' uniform in the bed of the truck. I turned around and headed back to the Outpost to report to Ghost.