Part 4: Ghost Town Showdown

I wandered back into Goodsprings about noon, according to my Pip-Boy, and went into the Prospector to talk with Trudy, like Sunny had said. As I walked in, I overheard a conversation between a guy in armor with NCRCF emblazoned on it, and someone, probably Trudy.

"- better hand him over!"

"What are you talking about?" Trudy asked. "Never seen a Ringo around here."

"There will be consequences." Armor guy threatened, then left.

"Watch it, fuckface!" Fucker brushed right up against me as he left, ignoring the wide space to my side.

"What's your problem?" I resisted the urge to whip out my 10mm and bust a cap in his skull. Asshole.

"Who was that dickwad you were talking to?" I asked Trudy.

"Oh, him? That was Joe Cobb. He's a Powder Ganger." Powder Ganger? The fuck's a Powder Ganger? Sound like a weird ass drink.

"So what- or who- did he want?" I muttered, running a finger over my machete blade. It came away with a bit of rust. Shit. I need to clean it.

"He wanted a caravanner, Ringo, who's been hiding here in town." Trudy replied.

"In that gas station over by the doc's house?" I asked. It seemed obvious to me.

"Yep. Go see him if you want to help him. Anything else?" She asked.

"Sunny did want me to talk to you, maybe you can tell me about the guy who shot me. He wearing a gaudy suit."

"Yup. Acted like a big shot the whole time he was here. One of his guys broke my radio by 'accident'." Hmmmm…

"I could look at your radio for you." I offered.

"That would be appreciated, thanks." I wandered over to it behind the bar. I disassembled it, noting the receiver, which seemed to have the brunt of the damage. A quick fix and it started blaring Radio New Vegas in my face.

"I fixed your radio." I called to Trudy.

"I heard it turn on. Here's some payment for a job well done." She handed me 250 caps. Well, better than nothing. I headed out to see about this Ringo guy.

A quick jog across the town and I was at the old gas station. A Sunset Sarsaparilla machine stood there, with a few bottles left in there. I took em, hoping they weren't like Nuka-Cola and slightly irradiated. I hated that. I walked into the building to be met with a 9mm to the face. Warm welcome.

"That's far enough." Ringo said. His grip on the pistol was firm. Little waver. "What do want?"

"Not here to kill you." I responded. He thankfully lowered the 9mm, though he still kept it ready. "Trudy said I could help you out?"

"Hmmm. Maybe you can help me with the Powder Gangers." He mused. "Go ask Sunny for help. We'll work from there." Fine. I let myself out as he started muttering and checking his pistol. I had to walk around Goodsprings a little, but I found Sunny soon enough.

"Oh, hey. You go talk with Trudy yet?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow at me.

"Yeah. Fixed her radio. Actually, I wanna talk about the Ringo situation." I replied, returning her look with a deadpan stare. Really, I'd been gone long enough the sun was starting to set.

"Oh, great. And, I'm in." Wait….

"What?"

"You want help driving those Powder Gangers off, right?" Sunny asked, absently scratching Cheyenne behind her ears. "Well, you could convince Trudy, Chet, and Easy Pete to help. Trudy'd take a silver tongue, or proof you weren't running around like a headless Brahmin. Chet'd take bartering skills, and Easy Pete's protective of his dynamite." Sunny rattled off. Hmmm…. People say I could make a deal with the devil and then rules lawer my way out if I had what I wanted and he didn't. I'm a courier, of course I can barter. And do you really think the 'nade launcher on my back is for decoration?

"Yeah, shouldn't be a problem." I may have said that a little dryly, but Sunny understood, laughing at my obvious irritance at her doubts. Wandering toughens a girl up.

I quickly hashed a plan with Trudy, convinced Chet to open the supply room, and bummed some dynamite off Easy Pete, with the promise to return what went un-blown up. Night was falling as I reentered the gas station, finding Ringo polishing his pistol.

"Sunny and the town are in. Let's roll." I said. He nodded, staring to grab some other stuff as I turned to leave. I ran into Sunny on the way out.

"Alright, we're ready. They're coming, fire when you'r ready." She said as we walked down to the main road, in front of the Prospector. I rolled my eyes, grabbing my grenade launcher from the small of my back. I only had 20 40mm grenades. I was sure I had more, but oh well. Vegas, you know? I noticed that Cobb guy coming up the road, some other guys with him. I did notice a theme. Dynamite. Carefully, I leaned out enough from behind the crate I was hiding behind to aim my launcher at the group. When I worked west, they called me 'In Plain Sight', because I could damn near disappear right next to someone, even without a Stealth Boy. On that subject, I'd found one in the safe I'd hacked, not picked open. I prefered a healthy glow to tumblers. The trigger felt like it was weighted under my finger, but they weren't quite in boom range yet. A little more…. Perfect. I smirked as I fired, the low 'thwump' of my launcher discharging it's grenade music to my ears. The explosion was better, crippling most of them, and killing Cobb and another guy. I reloaded the launcher before sliding it back and drawing my 10mm. I quickly ducked out from behind the crate, quickly sighting and shooting the crippled Powder Gangers, dropping them in less than a clip. Easy…. I guess a headshot doesn't affect efficiency.

"Hey, thanks." Ringo said from behind me. "Not many people would help me like you did, but you went above and beyond. These are technically Crimson Caravan funds, but I think once I explain, they'll understand." He handed me some caps. Well….

"You know, I was doing this out of the kindness of my heart, but I'll keep the money." I drawled, slipping my best sarcastic in there as I deposited the caps in my slightly heavier money pouch.

"Well, that was a heck of a show! Almost like you didn't need us!" Sunny and Trudy walked up from the Prospector, Sunny clapping me on the shoulder.

"Well, I am a professional. I have standards." I shot back. Sunny grinned wide.

"Townsfolk don't even have a scratch on them. You just earned some respect." Trudy commented.

"Well, I think it's my time to leave then." I said, stretching. "Oh, give this dynamite back to Easy Pete. He wanted the ones I didn't use back. He'll get em all." I laughed as I handed the sticks over to Sunny, who carefully put them through a belt loop. "Maybe I'll come back through, maybe not. Primm's where I gotta go next."

"Primm? Just take the road south. Stray off and you deal with wildlife." Sunny advised as I ejected my 10mm's current clip and reloaded it, before reloading the pistol and chambering a round.

"Thanks." I said, waving as I started walking south. It was a long road ahead, but it was one I'd walk. I like challenges anyway.

The Rant

Hmmm hmm hmm hmhm hm hmm hm hm hm hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…

Oh, right, chapter.