AN: Surprise! Another chapter! Yay. Enjoy.
2nd Lieutenant Collins of the 21st Ranger Regiment was a bit skeptical of the Courier's Intel for two reasons. One the Legion hadn't been seen around these parts in months, sure there were pockets of resistance. Nothing a small squad of rangers couldn't handle and here was three veterans including himself going to Nipton to see if the Legate had come to pay the Mojave a visit. The second reason was that the Courier was a grade 'A' asshole and he didn't put giving false info past him. The sun had set beneath the horizon handing the job of lighting up the night sky to the moon and the stars and so far it was doing a pretty crappy job, but that was perfect for the rangers the shadows cast from nearby boulders provided perfect cover as they closed in on the town of Nipton from the north.
"You see anything, Major?" Collins asked.
Major Wright the squad leader clicked on the night vision goggles built into his helmet. The Mojave Wasteland lit up as if it was daytime again with the only difference being everything was red. After a quick scan it was obvious the Legion had been there. The burnt out husk that was the town hall was a clear signal. The Major cursed under his breath.
"I think that's Major's way of say this is bad." 1st Lieutenant Williams told Collins.
"Quiet you two. Knowing them they probably left some men behind just in case someone did come investigating." Wright informed them.
"Well if they did they're hella good at hiding." Collins muttered.
"Sir, I think someone's down there." Williams stated. She had caught a glimpse of a shadow moving but it didn't seem quick like a legionnaire and it was too big to be a critter. The rangers flicked on their night vision and scanned the town again, Collins was the first to spot the individual stumbling through the town of Nipton, Williams quickly recognized that she was a ranger from the NCR from the uniform she was wearing.
"It's one of ours." She quickly said standing up getting ready to help.
"Stand down Williams!" Major Wright quickly ordered.
"We can't just her out there." Williams countered.
"And we can't just rush out there, could be snipers waiting to pick us off." Wright countered.
Williams gritted her teeth as she followed the Major's orders. They could only watch in silence as the lone ranger stumbled through the ghost town. She had just made it to the railroad tracks that marked the edge of town before collapsing.
"So now what?" Collins asked.
After another moment of silence the Major let out another curse under his breath.
"Alright, let's go get her. Collins get out your rifle and keep it trained on those houses. You see anything that even remotely resembles a Legionnaire you snipe his ass. Got it!" he ordered.
Collins nodded as he took out his sniper rifle and readied himself.
"Williams you with me. Keep an eye on those hills to the east." Wright told her as they moved.
"Understood, Sir." Williams agreed.
It didn't take them long to make their way towards the fallen ranger. At first sight Major Wright thought the Legion might have exsanguinated her from the way her body was pale and she was slightly cold to the touch. Williams nearly jumped when the body moved and grabbed her arm.
"You have to warn them! They're- the Legion… they're back." The woman managed to cough out.
"She's dehydrated sir." Williams informed Wright as she grabbed her canteen.
"Come on, you're safe now." she reassured the woman as she tried to give her water.
The woman coughed the water back up.
"What the hell did they do to you?" Wright asked knowing he'd regret it later.
"They wanted me to tell all those who came… oh god the outpost don't go there! They've set up traps strapped bodies to the damn monument so they can bake in the sun. They made me watch." She cried.
Williams noticed she had shades on and moved to take them off when the ranger stopped her.
"It's… not pretty." She told her.
"It never is." Williams retorted as she continued to remove the woman's sunglasses. It was at that moment she was glade she had a helmet to mask the look of horror on her face. Wright slightly turn his head to avert his eyes.
"It's that bad huh." The woman smirked as she put the sunglasses back on.
"Think you can make it to Ranger Camp Charlie?" Wright asked.
"What are you talking about she can make it. We'll just have to help her get there." Williams answered.
"No time, if the Legate has led the Legion to this side of the river we'll need all the speed we can muster to get ahead of this.
"But-"
"Don't worry about me, I'll make it. Just make sure the NCR is ready to greet the Legate." The ranger told Williams.
"Let's go, get Collins we're heading straight for Camp McCarren." Major Wright ordered.
"…Alright, Listen ranger you make it to Charlie. You can do it." Williams encouraged as she laid the woman back down.
"Of course I can, wouldn't be a ranger otherwise." She said.
After Williams left Wright stayed behind. He took out a pistol and took out the clip before handing it to her.
"There's one in the chamber." He told her.
"Just in case." She said feeling it in her hand.
"Just in case." He told her. He turned to leave but before he did he asked one more question.
"What's your name ranger?"
"They called me Ghost." She answered.
"The name suites you." Wright complimented as he left.
Back on the ridge Collins nearly jumped when Williams walked up behind him.
"Damn it don't do that… wait, what happened to the ranger?' he asked.
"Those Legion bastards cut her damn eyelids off." Williams told him. She knew those images will stay with her for as long as she lived.
"Why the hell would they do that?" Collins asked.
"So she could watched as they strapped everyone she knew to that god damn monument the NCR built. And after they were done with her they strapped her to something so she could watch the sun go by." Wright answered as he rejoined his unit.
"We need to get a move on, get ahead of this as fast as we can." The Major ordered.
As they started their way making a B-line for Camp McCarren Williams still worried about the ranger they left behind and every now and then would turn hoping to see her right behind them.
"Don't worry Williams, she'll make it." Wright assured her, but deep down he knew. Blinded, dehydrated, and in the middle of the Mojave at night didn't exactly put odds in the ranger's favor and even if she did manage the memories will haunt her for the rest of her life. Who'd want to live after that?
"But, sir." Collins started.
"She'll make it. Rangers never die." He told him.
AN: Yes another chapter down! (yeah I know that this one didn't have either Amata, the Courier, or even the Lone Wanderer in it, but I needed to set up the next set events!) some maybe wondering what the other story would be about, well I will say it will have a profound effect on some of our major characters. I will also say that it doesn't take place in the Mojave. Until next time ;)