Sunny's plan instructed to follow the south road out of Goodsprings; the way was apparently in turmoil under the Powder Ganger's influence. Their reign was contested by the NCR and hostile wildlife, like the geckos and radscorpions that were common in the surrounding area.

Geckos were aggressive lizards with sharp claws and fangs, while radscorpions were armoured, venomous scorpions. David wondered if it was just radiation from nuclear fallout that made them mutate and grow larger... He didn't see many of them during the trip; he preferred to keep it that way.

Nearing an hour or so later, down the path that felt like forever, a sign overhead of a chipped pre-war road said Primm was dead ahead with Nipton northwest. But, when David thought about it, a settlement was seen far north, despite being surrounded by a hostile environment. Why anyone would be there is a mystery.

David was tired of walking the long road; it wasn't for nothing. Tied to a single lamp post was a flag with a two-headed bear; it said New California Republic. Nearby was a man in armour; he called David over from behind some sandbags.

The man warned David about Primm's Powder Ganger problem, then walked away towards a nearby campsite opposite the town. David climbed over Primm's rusted fence to see the place deserted. But, unfortunately, the soldier wasn't wrong; the town was a mess.

Primm was having a bad day. Wrecked vehicles, damaged pavements and the remains of tattered buildings accompanied the ruined town. In sights was a post office to the right, a large casino to the left, and the worn-out gas station that held no interest. Primm was tame, but with it being empty and having no real reason to stay any longer than necessary, David left. He followed the remains of a fractured highway south to the Mojave Outpost.

Minutes later, up a steep road was the settlement he was looking for; a man-made statue of two men shaking hands welcomed David. The statue loomed over him, making it easy to see from a distance.

The thriving outpost was more so than Goodsprings at half the size; the friendly community allowed David to take in the safe sensation. All the personnel were in tan military fatigues, like the man under the NCR flag at Primm; only some were armoured while some weren't. There were civilians and everyday citizens; this was a safe location to settle for a minute.

Or a day, David didn't mind.

The long journey took its toll as David was tired from walking out in the sun for the last few hours. He wandered into the barracks where he saw men come and go; most glared at him. David questioned the people's affiliation as they seemed friendly, but they pushed him away; the so-called caravan traders' guards were much likeable.

The traders were with large cows, only they had two heads and were mutated, unlike the ones from his time. Unnaturally pink, lumpy and sunburnt. To the barracks he went. It was active with people around sitting at the bar, and there was an excellent selection of alcohol and food behind the barmaid. David pulled up a seat at the bar. After a long trip, he needed another drink.

The barmaid was in her early-thirties and had a dark complexion. She seemed to be a rough no-nonsense woman but still approachable. The sound of a calming acoustic guitar on the jukebox made it good timing for the barmaid to serve David. Some things didn't change here, almost like a pub.

"A fresh face is rare nowadays." She smiled. "What will you have, handsome?"

David stared at the counter, not seeing any drinks advertised. Just a flat bar surface. "Don't suppose you got any pints on tap?"

"A pint? What's a pint?"

"Lagers? Ciders?"

She scratched her head, not knowing what alcohol David was referring to. "I don't sell them around here; not sure if anyone does. Is beer okay?"

"Do you have a menu or something I can look at, please?"

"Sure."

The woman wasn't a typical barmaid like the ones he usually liked back in his time at J's Bar; she sold guns, ammunition and weapon attachments. Not the person you'd hire to work at your pub anytime soon; that encourages drunk violence. David wanted to use his caps primarily on essentials, so he had to make the most of them. Sure, a dirty pint or an ale would've been delicious right now, but they just weren't there.

"I'll have a whiskey and vodka, please."

"Yes, sir." The woman sold the drinks to David and went away to serve other patrons.

"Thank you, ma'am. At least there's whiskey."

David did remember he had some whiskies in the bag he found at the garage earlier; there wasn't a better time to have a drink than now. The few pre-war cigarettes he had left made his time almost enjoyable. Only the alcohol brands were all the same, no competing brands; they were all just bulked the same. None were unique. Individuality must've been frowned upon in the future.

Hours of drinking did wonders until the evening, but he kept drinking once he started thinking of more misery. Eventually, all those depressing thoughts began to feel numb, which meant whatever he was doing was working.

He noticed the fiery redhead in the straw hat was still at the bar, and she was a real cutie. At first, it was just innocent googly eyes while he drank his afternoon away, then the staring began shortly in the evening; he only noticed that when he set the bottles down.

David was hesitant to make a move; it took years to realise his exact feelings for Sam back during high school. She was a stranger. Too much of a challenge compared to a fellow student you interacted with almost every day.

Even though this woman was something else, finding the words to use was hard. She was different. She seemed to be ten or so years older than him, her body was sturdy yet slim, and he noticed her hat was hiding a cute ponytail. Her fashion was post-modern; tan cardigan, straw hat and tight blue jeans.

Is she a rancher?

Fortunately, David's interest paid off; he piqued her interest enough for her to make the first move and pull up a seat by him. With a seductive chuckle, she wasn't the least offended by David's wandering eyes, as she was guilty as charged herself. There was a fine line between being nosey and interested, after all.

"What's a nice piece of ass like you doing in a shitty place like this, huh?" she said with a wink.

David double-checked to ensure she was talking to him and not another person; otherwise, the conversation would've seemed awkward. He wasn't one to invade a conversation like a jerk.

"Talking to me, right?"

"Who else would I be fucking talking to?" The woman smiled. "What's your story, handsome?"

"Oh." David's hand's wandered the bar, lazily looking for his next bottle of whiskey. He popped it open. "I'm not brave enough to tell a story with beer goggles on; I'm too depressed."

"Aw, I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything at all, or would that be too much to ask?"

"Well, there's no harm in asking. It's just... I've been shot at a lot the last few days, and I'm just not used to it. Kinda bums me out."

"Such as life in the Mojave. What you need is a warm bed and some company, so how about it? It might make you feel better."

"Maybe. At some point, I have to leave to meet some people in Vegas."

"Sin City, my favourite. Must be boring hoofing your way up there all alone."

"Are you implying I need an escort?" David drank and smiled. "I didn't even get your name."

"The name's Cass, handsome. Don't forget it."

"It was very nice talking with you, Cass. I don't suppose there's any work around here; I might need some caps to pay my way down the road."

"This place is running low on jobs. Jobs for the Crimson Caravan and Gun Runners sell like snack cakes here. Got a gun and guts, you could run some patrols for the rangers. That sniper on the roof said she needs a quick scout; thinks there's trouble to the northeast."

"Sniper?"

"Calls herself Ghost, or something like that." She chuckled. "Probably because you never see her 'till you're dead. Nicknames are so cute."

David smiled. "Hmmm. Mate. Dude. Champ. I don't really have one. What about you?"

"Better to call me Cass than Whiskey Rose or Sharon, but don't call me any of that, 'kay? No, no, no. Anyway, Ghost is on the roof if you want some quick work. Jackson might have a patrol too, but I didn't pry for details."

"I'll go see Ghost then. You've been helpful, ma'am; thank you."

"How polite. Will I see you again?"

"Yeah, I'll probably come back to sleep. Not before I buy another round; the least I can do for your help." David stood up and placed his hand on Cass' shoulder. "It's been a pleasure. I'll see you around."

"I sure hope so, handsome."

"Safe." David let go of Cass and left the barracks.

"Oh yeah! He's a stud, alright. One drink is all I'm gonna need for him."

David left the barracks and went up a makeshift sheet metal ramp to the barracks rooftop not far outside the door; Ranger Ghost was up there staring out into the distance. Ghost was albino; behind her deep dark sunglasses, she looked cold and decisive.

"Is someone up here?" Ghost turned around to see David coming towards her; his footsteps were silent as the night. "You didn't even make a sound coming up here. I like that."

[Sneak 60] "I'm known to be very stealthy."

[Success] "Guess you're not a courier type then. You interested in a little scouting?"

"I could use some caps, sure."

"I think there's trouble in a town to the east called Nipton; there's no traffic over there, which doesn't seem right. I bet it's the Powder Ganger's handiwork from all the smoke."

"I can check it out. Anything else I should know?"

"If anyone's alive, they'll most likely be at the town hall, go there and check it out."

"I'm good with covert ops."

Ghost smiled. "Wish there were more men like you around here than these part-timers. Seriously, though, I don't want you to kill yourself over this. Just a good pair of eyes and legs is all I'm asking for."

"I can take care of myself. I'll catch you later, ma'am."

"Mind yourself now."

David walked down the single road out of the outpost under the two statues; for some reason going the other way wasn't allowed. A signpost beneath the monument said that Vegas and Primm were north while Nipton and Searchlight were to the east, two paths connecting to the road with one north and the other east, simple enough.

Heading straight to the Lucky 38 in one trip wasn't easy; earning some caps and sleeping at the Mojave Outpost was much better for his health.

Night fell upon David shortly after; the temperature plummeted below zero by three or more degrees; it was too cold for a dusty environment such as the Mojave. David encountered resistance in the form of raiders along the way, but they proved no match for his pre-war police experience. So the trip to Nipton wasn't that challenging; it only gave him a few more dents in his armour.

A wagon outside the town confirmed the name as Nipton, and strangely it was empty for a small town. However, some devilishly looking red flags around town were around David and a tyre fire, with a golden bull presented on them, unlike the NCR's bear.

The tyre fire produced an uncontrollable thick smoke that clouded the whole town, almost hiding the scattered charred bodies. As Ghost said, David investigated the town hall with high discretion. But, in David's mind, he settled for peeping around corners.

David could hardly understand what was happening outside the town hall from the safety around the general store's corner. He spied upon some people killing and crucifying Powder Gangers; no one deserved that, not even them.

The savages were all male in Roman attire, like legionaries of Rome many centuries ago, with prestige and honourable markings on their armours. Hides and flags were flowing from their pauldrons.

Mostly armed with powerful rifles, they were not pushovers like the Vipers; they meant business. David knew his odds weren't too great to cause a scene and backed away quickly and safely. However, being outnumbered and outgunned was not appealing in the slightest.

Perfect timing to report to Ghost; the night felt cold enough to sit outside and stare into the night sky without freezing one's nuts off. A warm bed would be better, though. Ghost was still present on the barracks' roof just as he left her, watching out for anything of importance.

"I wasn't expecting you so soon. Did you check on Nipton?"

"The town was attacked."

"You're kidding... By who?"

"I thought it was Powder Gangers at first, but when I got there, they were being killed off by some other people."

"What did they look like?"

"They were dressed like Romans or some shit."

"Where there crucified people there?"

"Yeah… that would come to mind."

"You're kidding me? The freakin' Legion has Nipton too?!"

David's heart skipped a beat. "Legion?"

"Yup. When you see those red flags, you bet it's Legion territory."

"Whoever they are, they burned Nipton down."

Ghost raged. "Damn it! Those bastards are on the move again. It'll only be a matter of time before they strike." She calmed slightly to a softer tone, "Not like anyone cares about Nipton though, but… I could sleep better knowing someone was on the case, which we all are thankful for."

"Known anyone there?"

"Nipton? Hell no. The town was a shithole asking to be burned, just not by the Legion. I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone." Ghost sighed. "Thanks for the help; we appreciate it, even if it was bad news. Unfortunately, we don't have the troops to head out there right now; orders are to stay put. What's your name?"

"David Wesker." He saluted to Ghost. "At your service."

Ghost saluted David back. "Pleasure doing business, David. Guess that only leaves your pay." She handed David a small footlocker; it had some weight as if it was full of contents. "This is my equipment I'm handing you here; it's just that Jackson's too busy right now to give me your pay. Sorry, I couldn't pay you myself in caps, though the stuff inside will keep you going for a day or two."

"Thank you, ma'am. Is there any more work for me?"

"While you were gone, I talked to Jackson about other odd jobs that need doing, but another guy was looking for work too. A courier, believe it or not, Jackson sent him to fix a bug problem he had. No worries."

A courier? "Thanks anyway."

"No problem. See you around, David."

Back inside David's favourite place to see his new favourite bar patron, David was back in the barracks. The bar was empty; the NCR personnel that weren't on the night shift were resting. Cass sat alone at the bar without anyone to talk to. Honouring the deal, David sat by her and ordered a bottle of whiskey for each of them to enjoy.

More empty whiskey bottles surrounded her; Cass seemed much happier to see him, albeit with a drunken look across her cheeky smile. "Hey, stud. Welcome back. Miss me already?"

"What can I say? I'm terrible; always coming back." David bought him and Cass a bottle of whiskey from the barmaid, having one each. "I said I'd buy a round, so here you go."

Cass blushed. "Aw, thanks. The only thing better than whiskey is free whiskey."

"I'm feeling better; I don't mind sharing a little."

Cass and David both took a quick drink from their drinks. "So, how was your trip to Nipton? Boring, I bet."

David smiled and scratched his head, thinking of the best answer he could. "Yeah... Boring. Not like there was anything to kill up there. "He laughed and took another sip from his drink.

"Oh, right, I forgot. You do get Vipers and Jackals around these parts." She smiled. "Still better them than Fiends or the Legion." Her voice darkened from a slight slur to a tinge of bitterness, "Roman pussy-ass bitches."

"There were a few Vipers on the way there, though they were no trouble. But, hey, life goes on, right?" David took another sip from his drink and coughed. The whiskey was straight grain, only watered down to half the strength. Good old Jack Daniels will sorely be missed.

"Unfortunately, you're not wrong about that." Cass frowned and took a long chug, leaving a few drops in her whiskey bottle. "Are you a mercenary?" she slurred.

"Sadly, no." David drank and spoke gruffly, "I used to be in law enforcement." He cleared his throat and coughed. "I do have a particular set of skills, though."

"Hallelujah! Good for you; we women have a soft spot for tough mercs. Especially young studs with fire in their eyes like you." Despite Cass' forced cheerfulness, she was still frowning and staring at her near-empty whiskey bottle.

Has she been cut off? "You alright, Cass?"

Cass perked up and smiled. "I'm fine. Life can be a bitch sometimes, eh?" Cass started to play around with her near-empty whiskey bottle, fondling it until it began to roll away.

"Yeah… yeah." David finished his whiskey off with one large gulp. "I've been dealt a bad hand; recently had to start over and begin again."

"Then how about another drink to celebrate?" Cass knocked on the bar.

"Yeah, fuck it." David took out some caps and laid them on the bar. "Another two whiskies and vodkas on me."

"Now we're talking!" Cass called, "Oh, Lacey!"

Lacey leant to Cass to take her order; from what they were discussing, they were friends. With a smile and a laugh, Lacey served her and David a bottle of whiskey and vodka each, then went to clean the bar. Either Cass had a silver tongue, or Lacey was just kind enough to leave the sixty caps on the bar.

Did she haggle?

Cass handed David a bottle of whiskey and vodka. "Here you go, cowboy." She slid the caps back over to him. "Plus, a bit extra."

"What did you say to her?"

"Just girly banter. I'm a regular here at the outpost, Lacey gives me great deals, so it's only fair.

"You always drink here?"

"For the moment." She grinned. "It's hard to deny a good deal on booze when everyone appreciates my business."

David opened his fresh bottle of whiskey and took a sip. "I like that."

"How come I have never seen you here before, cowboy? Can't believe I met you today, and frankly… you're sexy and awesome, like yours truly, only not as much." She took her first fresh sip from her whiskey and coughed.

"I'm not from the Mojave; this place is new to me."

"From the Capital? Or Reno, maybe?"

David shook his head. "Never heard of them. Perhaps we could get to know each other over dinner or another drink, perhaps?"

"Are you flirting with me?" Cass blushed rosy red. "A sober woman would see it as clear as day; I am anything but sober." She took a heavy chug from her whiskey and placed her hand on David's. "Would be a shame if I was feeling a bit too naughty to consider your generous offer."

"Is that the whiskey in you talking?"

"I think of it as a second language… sounds more polite that way."

"I know what you're getting at..." David went to drink some of his whiskey but decided not to. "I, uh, haven't been single for a long time; I don't know what to do."

Cass slid David's vodka closer to him. "Drink this."

He stared at the vodka; it was pure, which is why it was twice the caps. David decided to take a shot at it. He grumbled. "Better."

"I like you, cowboy. A no-nonsense challenger that takes risky shots, quite dangerous, and I like it..."

"You're one to talk. I never felt like this around anyone before, not in years at least." Cass massaged David's hand with hers, deflating his speech, "Cass, I…" He hesitated and caught his breath. "There's something about you…"

"That's just the feel of brash and whimsical coming together."

"And... loss... I missed this..."

"A real woman's touch?" Cass snickered. "Or someone who understands? That's all over now; Cass is here to lift some of your stress..."

David took a brief minute to understand Cass' words, they sounded like they came out of her mouth in a jumble, and it wasn't making much sense. She had a little too much to drink, then he looked at himself, and he wasn't any different.

"I think I misheard you there."

"No, you didn't," Cass said, licking her lips with delight. "I was missing something too, did you know that? Someone real. I've been surrounded by thick grunts and dodgy traders for far too long, cowboy."

"And that was all me? Come on…" Oh, God. David forced a smile. Why do all the drunks flirt with me this hard?

"You turned some heads in this bar, and I want the full package. You're not a flake, are you? No… I bet you're one tough son of a bitch holding back a mighty beast."

"I don't brag, but I try." David held up Cass' hand and kissed it seductively.

Cass chuckled.