It doesn't take us long to get where Max is headed. The place is called Camp Forlorn Hope. It's part of the NCR from what Max explained. Rangers are the elite recon groups for the NCR, a lot like Marine Raiders or Navy Seals.

It isn't very big. A few tents and buildings make up the camp, but apparently it isn't as bad as it once was. It's gotten bigger from what he says.

We sit in the mess hall eating blamco mac and cheese. Doesn't taste very good, I liked it better two hundred years ago.

"So, going back south to get back probably isn't a good idea huh?" Max asks.

"Probably not Max." I say.

"Yea, well I been thinking about that. I have an idea." He says.

"And that is?" I say.

"Well we obviously can't go west or south. The Legion are keeping an eye out for us and I'm not trying to run into that ghoul clan again." He explains.

"Okay, so where we going then?" I ask.

"Well, we're gonna have to cut up north and then back down. Through a town called Boulder City and then I was thinking possibly New Vegas?" He says nervously.

"Max." I say looking at him annoyed, "we can't take any detours. We have a mission." I say seriously.

"Yea yea I know, but we were supposed to be in Needles anyways, so they won't be expecting us for a while. Plus, It'll be safer to go north through Vegas. Besides, I got business there." He says.

I roll my eyes and shake my head, "Max, we have to get back to the Brotherhood."

"I know I know but just trust me. We'll get to Vegas, take care of some business and then head to hidden valley before you know it." He says.

I sigh and roll my eyes, "fine, but if this is another one of your 'shortcuts' then I'm leaving you behind." I say.

"I promise, we'll be fine." He says.

We finish eating and get up to head to Boulder City.

————

It took us until nightfall to get to Boulder City. Max tells me that this too has come a long way. Apparently, the city was purposefully bombed to shut down the Legion in an attack in the first battle of Hover Dam.

"So they destroyed the city on purpose?" I ask.

"Yea," Max confirms as we sit at the bar in the Big Horn Saloon, "the NCR knew this was the best defensive strategy they could take, so they did. Course, they evacuated all it's citizens, so luckily everyone got out in time." He says as he takes a drink of his beer.

I sip on my bourbon and shake my head, "that's tough. But at least it worked. It pushed them back right?" I ask.

"Yes, back through the Colorado River. It was a major turning point in the war, or so I'm told." He explains.

I look around the Saloon and see it bustling with life. Music dominates the space, the old western type I'm not used to, and people laugh, dance, drink, and sing just like any other night. This place really looks like it made a come back.

"Well, looks like they're doing better now." I say taking another sip.

"Yea, luckily for them I cleared out a quarry a few years ago and their concrete operation was able to make a recovery. They cleared the town soon after the second battle and began rebuilding efforts, which didn't take long. Now it's a huge hub for people to stop at on the way to Vegas." He says taking a drink.

I nod my head, "seems like the NCR has really been good for this area." I say.

He chuckles, "yea, somewhat."

"What's that mean?" I ask.

"Well the NCR got some help from some major players in the region. My boss being one of them." He says.

"Your boss? Aren't you working for the NCR or the Brotherhood?" I ask confused.

He smiles and looks down at the counter, "nah, I got a boss much more powerful than them both combined. You'll know of him soon enough. We'll need him on our side if we want to even think about winning the war against the Enclave." He says.

"Wait, is that why you wanted to go to Vegas? You're trying to recruit your boss into this? Why didn't you just tell me?" I ask.

"Well, I try not to talk much about him. He doesn't talk about his ambitions with anyone but me, but his presence is very much known around here. Not saying you're not cool enough for us or anything, but you won't be able to speak with him anyways. Best if you just let me take care of it." He says.

"I don't like that so much Max." I say.

"Chill man, it'll be fine. I got this all handled. I'll handle the big man, and you prop your feet up, take a nap, spend some caps at the casino's, fuck a broad in the alley for all I care. Just relax while I handle business. What do you say, you trust me with this?" He says tipping his beer towards me and his eyebrow raised.

I sigh, "I guess you haven't given me a reason not to trust you yet. Alright, I trust you." I say tapping my glass to his beer.

"That's what I'm talkin' about! Have some fun for once! Ike!" He yells across the bar.

A man with a well groomed mustache walks over to us with a smirk, "what's up max?" He asks.

"Another round on me please." He says to the man.

"You got it fella." Ike says.

"Let the fun begin." Max says looking to me with a mischievous smile.

I chuckle and sip on my drink.

————

The next morning doesn't come so easy. The light pierces through a window waking me up with a splitting headache. I guess it's been a minute since I've drank. I don't remember how I even got here. I remember drinking and joking with Max. But that's about it.

I look around an see that we're in some hotel. Max is passed out on the bed and I'm in the floor. I get up and head to the bathroom. I turn the handle to the sink to wash my face, but the water turns out brown. Guess I'll just stick to bottled water. I go through my pip-boy and select a bottle of purified water and it auto-generates in my hand. I drink about half of it and splash some on my face. Hangovers suck when you don't have ibuprofen at your nearest store.

I hear Max stirring and go in the room to meet him. He is sitting on the edge of the bed with one hand on his head yawning.

"How'd you sleep?" He asks.

"Like shit. You?" I ask.

"Not bad."

"How much did we drink last night?" I ask him.

"Not a lot surprisingly. Maybe 4 rounds of bourbon and about five shots?" He says unsure.

"That's not a lot?" I say surprised.

"Yea, I never really pegged you as a lightweight, but you were." He says.

"Oh shut up. When we headed out?" I ask leaning on the door.

"Now is good with me. Won't take long to get there. Maybe an hour." He says.

"Alright, let's hit the road then." I say.

We walk outside and the heat slaps me in the face. I look at my pip-boy and it's eleven in the morning. My head pounds as the light attacks my eyes. The sand doesn't help protect your eyes from the brightness of the sun whatsoever.

"This is going to be a long day." I say.