Meeting Sam Pritchard
We walked on for several more hours and I enjoyed talking to Mac. There were no more real incidents or potential threats encountered. Mac talked about growing up in New Reno, the different members of Sarah's crew, and about the different places he'd been due to his job. When the sky got darker, we got the signal to rejoin the group, and readied ourselves to settle in for the night. At another spot in the desert we made camp, but Sarah said not to start fires. We were in an unknown stretch of the road and fires could be seen from miles around. I was exhausted at this point, but this night I had first watch. I took that time to take a hit of diluted Jet and was able to stay awake for the entire shift (Even if I was slightly high). Cam took that shift with me that time and I asked about "Super Mutants" since my chat with Mac trailed on to talk of Idaho.
After the disbelief in my ignorance, he went on about a story he heard. The story was about a supposed "Vault Dweller" that left his Vault like 80 years ago or something. Apparently, this guy went around unheard-of communities down south helping people and looking for some "water device." Then the guy supposedly destroyed a military base that was creating "Super Mutants" and detonated a nuclear bomb under a religious institution or something. The whole story sounded like a load of crap and I had a hard time following it, but it gave an answer to my question. The "FEV" was some kind of virus that turned people into giant green humanoid monsters and some creature called, "The Master" was responsible. I hadn't seen a super mutant at that point, but the "Master" apparently made a shitload of them. Then when The Master was killed by the "Vault Dweller" all the remaining super mutants scattered throughout the wastes still armed with big guns and what not. Again, it all sounded like nonsense, but having grown up only really knowing two people; I figured anything was possible.
The shift was soon over, and I got to sleep again only for the sun to rise all too soon. The next two days were very similar to the other one, but I was permanently assigned to the forward guard with Mac. I walked at the front, scanning the area with Mac and chatting about whatever came to mind. I thought about mentioning the "Vertibird" I saw back in Klamath, but reflected on the time spent with Detective Paul. I had no allegiance to the "NCR", but the detective saved my life and his mission seemed really important to him. I knew it was best to keep his anonymity and instead asked different questions about New Reno. The detective said the place was nothing but trouble. However, the group of guys I was with seemed really nice. How bad could the town be if it created great guys like Mac, Drake, Cam, and Jonah (Even if they were linked to Crime Families)?
The 6th day on the road was where things changed again. It was mid-day and I was chatting with Mac as usual. He mentioned that New Reno was only like another two days away. The night before, Drake said we would reach his friend's rendezvous area and we did. The sun was directly above, and I saw the familiar dots of distant people ahead. Mac motioned for the caravan to stop and they did. I pulled up my scope to see an old highway rest stop and over a dozen people standing around. I handed the rifle to Mac and asked if he could identify them as raiders or not. He said he didn't and turned back towards the halted caravan. He gave a wave, and Jonah at the head waved back. Mac pumped his arm in the air three times and made an exaggerated motion across his chest. Drake approached in a near crouch and Mac bitched about not having radios or walkie talkies. Drake ran up to us and I handed him the rifle asking if those were the friends he mentioned a few days back.
Drake took a long look through the scope and then broke the desert calm with, "SAM! MY BOY!"
Drake walked on ahead and I gave the motion for the caravan to follow, but Mac and I hung back to approach as a group. We walked with Sarah and the Anderson Sisters towards the gaggle of "Explorers" Drake apparently knew. I gathered the plan was to link up with the explorers and head into New Reno in mass. From what I heard, the area around the city was pretty hostile, so us coupled with a team of armed explorers would be more than adequate protection for the middle-aged sisters.
We approached them and they looked at us with suspicion. All of them were dirty rugged wastelanders. Most of them looked like your average mercenary with lots of equipment or thick armor. Drake was talking with a distinct looking man clad in metal plates and a long rifle slung over his shoulder. The man had a graying beard and a backwards baseball cap that kept his long dirty hair in a knot behind his head. The guy was locked in familiar sounding conversation with Drake, so it was safe to assume that the 50 something man was, "Sam Pritchard." We all took the moment to fill up our water and grab a bite while I wondered how exactly our young comrade knew this rugged old explorer. I waited on the sidelines, watching Sarah join the conversation between Drake and Sam for a few minutes when Sarah called up her team.
We gathered around Sarah and she explained what was going to happen. Basically, Sam Pritchard said that the route into town was a warzone. Apparently, Super Mutants, mutants, and raiders were in a battle all along the route into town and we'd have to take a shortcut through a pass in the northern mountains. Sarah said she didn't want to go that way, but Sam insisted by swearing on the danger of the route into town. Also, the "Explorer" said that his expedition group had to chart the northern pass anyway. After some protest, Sarah agreed that she didn't want to risk walking into a warzone despite the alternative being an unknown northern route. Thirty minutes later, we were walking to the northern mountains with a band of armed "Explorers."