Chap. 4 Powder versus The Springs
I still have no idea where this story is headed, but I hope you will still be around as I try and figure that out.
-C
She collapsed on the road, tired from all the walking in the past few hours. She heard her heart pounding and took some deep breaths to settle herself. She felt her hand on her shoulder and Cass turned to see a concerned Penny staring down at her.
"Are you alright? You're pale."
Cass shook her head and patted her hand, "I'm fine. Don't worry about. Sometimes my heart gives me trouble, that's all." Penny, still concerned, watched as Cass stood up and walked over to her wagon. The woman took out something from her pack and palmed them. Cass took her pills and once she felt herself get back to normal, she sighed and gave a smile to Penny.
"No chems but these pills always seemed to work. Old world medicine. Aspirin, I think. The Followers know their stuff." Penny returned her smile and they both started to make their way into Primm.
Penny heard several stories that went around that centered on the prison north of town. The once locked up prisoners got free and drove the NCR from the area. Now, Primm is the center of the battlefield between the Powder Gangers and the NCR. Penny gripped onto her gun and followed Cass as she stopped in front of a building. Cass knocked at the door, yelling the name, "Johnson!"
Penny cringed and looked around, hoping no powder gangers were in sight. Cass still hollered when someone finally came to the door and an elderly man opened the door and stared angrily at the woman. She beamed at him and waved. "Johnson. Hi. Have room for two?"
Johnson shook his head and pointed a finger at her, "Now you listen here missy, you don wake up someone in the morn and expect a place. All hollarin' and yellin'. Want em gangers to come and blow us up?! Lord, I swear you would be the death of me."
"Ah, Nathan, come on. Just to sleep. My friend and I are tired and we have some ways to go. Please? I still have that stock… I'll give you some."
The man was about to speak when he was interrupted but someone behind him, "Come on in Cassidy. Johnson is being unbrotherly. You can stay in the spare upstairs. And you…"
Penny saw an elderly woman stand next to Johnson, her shawl draped across her shoulders. Nathan rolled his eyes and walked away. Ruby smiled warmed at Cass and started to take her inside. Cass gave a sideways glance and Penny followed the two women in. Ruby led them to the room upstairs and told them if they needed anything, to holler at her.
Penny couldn't sleep. She was used to being awake for hours. Her ranger training came in handy some days, especially when she rather stay up than sleep. She pretended to sleep when Cass drifted off and took post on one of the windows. She also made sure that the doors were locked and the windows were bolted in. When she was downstairs, she saw something interesting on the counter of the office. She reminded herself that she would check that out before they left.
Her thoughts drifted about in her mind. She remembered her days with the NCR, with her unit. The long summer nights where they would sit around the campfire and talked about anything and see the desert come alive. There was Buck, Tommy, Buns, and Sands. They were all Rangers from California who became a family to her. She remembered one night Buck ran buttnaked to a nearby lake, only to hear a yell about how cold the water was. Soon, the rest of the unit joined in, drunk, enjoying their night post.
She loved being with the NCR. After years of being of slave, she felt she had a purpose. She traveled around, meeting a sorts of people and really seeing the good they were doing. It was until she reached the Mojave wasteland she began to doubt the strength of the bear. That and losing her friends to the Legion in the process. She decided to take a different approach after her leave and decided to go back to an old friend, who had shared similar ideas on how to make the wasteland a better place.
After watching the moon drift across the sky, Penny knew she wouldn't sleep. She tried not to make noise as she rose from her chair and made her way downstairs. The robot downstairs piqued her curiosity and she was determined to see what it was.
Cass rolled off the bed half-expecting a second body to be there. Instead, she was greeted by a floor covered in dust. After sneezing for a few moments, Cass sat up and looked around the room. Seeing no sign of Penny, Cass sighed and went to grab her boots. As she made her way downstairs, she heard laughter coming from Johnson and Penny. Cass smirked and made her way through the kitchen and into the front. She saw Penny standing near the counter, working on a spider-robot looking thing on the counter. Johnson looked over at Cass and beamed at her.
"Ah Cass! Your friend here is quite an adventurer! Wait, then what happened?"
As she drank from her cup, Penny grabbed the wrench and started working on the robot. "Oh he goes, 'Penn, where's my pants?' and I literally lost it. He didn't remember that he threw his pants over the cliff, along with his ranger hat. Here he was, yelling over me, in Buns' underwear, and I was wearing his old world suit, smoking a cigar. Tommy was wearing a dress, and the two lovebirds were somewhere in the forest. That day for us was… well it was strange for us. All we needed was some moonshine and cigars from that farmer and we were golden." Johnson couldn't stop laughing and Cass, who didn't know what happened, giggled at Penny's facial expressions as she told the story.
"Do you talk to your unit? Where are they now?" Johnson asked. Penny stopped working on the robot and looked away. "We were captured by one of Caesar's units while we were scouting in Zion. I… managed to escape. They… they met their ends at the canyon." Johnson looked down at the pile of papers he was organizing and whispered an apology. Cass continued to watch Penny. She could see the woman's eyes turn like day into night. After a couple of minutes, Penny, perked up and asked for more coffee. Johnson rushed over to the kitchen and grabbed another cup. Cass walked around the counter and tried to figure out what Penny was trying to fix.
"Is this what you were doing all night?" Cass teases. Penny tried to hide her sly smile but failed, "After I couldn't tend to my post anymore, I remembered seeing this and I had been wondering about it ever since. I've been trying to figure out what it could be but… Not a clue." Penny put down her tools and let out a sigh, "Well, if I can't figure out what it could be, I know someone who probably has a good idea. I might take this with me." Cass poked at the robot, "Are you sure that this robot won't reactivate or something and kill us?" She stifled a laugh but couldn't, "Uh, Cass, I'm pretty sure that this robot has be 'dead' for quite a long time now. Johnson told me that he had it working for a bit, yet I can't seem to get it working," Penny responded. The women continued to look at it while Penny began to wonder where she had seen this robot before.
After breakfast and a few cautionary tales from Ruby, the two set off. Penny had left something for Johnson to deliver. "Make sure this gets to them. It's important," she urged Johnson. He gave her his word and the girls were off.
Penny placed the robot on the wagon and they started going down the street. The Nash's informed them that the gangers usually weren't around this early so they would be able to get through safely. Plus, NCR were making several patrols along the highway which allowed Penny to relax a little.
Penny took off her helmet after several miles out of town. The sun was not high up in the sky, but soon found herself sweating in her helmet. Taking a few swig from her canteen, she handed it over to Cass. Cass smiled as she took it from Penny and took a few sips of her own. After a few moments, Penny looked at her wrist and clicked on her Pipboy's radio. Curious, Cass looked over at her before speaking.
"So, were you some vault dweller? I always heard that those folks always had a Pipboy on them."
Penny shook her head, "No, I wasn't. My family wasn't either or at least, I don't think so. I took it from someone. Someone I fought probably about 10 years ago, during a routine scouting mission."
Cass choked on her water and stared at Penny, "You mean to say that you killed him? For the Pipboy?" Penny chuckled, "No. no. We just got into a scuffle, that's all. I just saw it and I said to myself, 'I think that would look good with this shirt I have. I had it ever since. It comes in handy. I could claim that I know this desert as much as any coyote, but this Pipboy has its uses, such as a radio for those long nights when you're alone, and Mr. New Vegas makes it all better."
Cass laughed, "Nah, if you were really lonely, you can seek any poor old soul out here. Love is not that hard to find."
Placing her sunglasses on, Penny scoffed, "Not unless you were dressed up in uniform, all the soldiers think of you as a man, and you can't do it with all the fire geckos about. Trust me, I have tried."
Cass lit up a cigarette and gave Penny an inquisitive look, "Wait, do you mean to say you haven't done the nasty out here? Really? A gal like you? And I don't mean to offend but… you got the looks."
"No offense taken. And no, not really. I… have my reasons. Let's just say that being NCR or someone who looks like they might kill you, people won't treat you kindly. Plus, if there was anyone, it would be the King." Cass hollered and winked at her, "Hell yeah! I have only seen him a couple of times but, wooo, that is a fine man. Most of his crew don't look that bad either. And the Chairmen? At least there's a good reason to go to the Strip."
The two continued to banter back before until Penny's Pipboy started to beep. Looking at the device, she went through to reach the map and saw something she never noticed before. Her eyes shot up and looked around. Cass, who then stopped, also looked around. She held her shotgun in her hands, her eyes scanning the road ahead. Penny looked up from her Pipboy and looked at Cass. "I will scout ahead. Lay low. I'll let you know if we're ok to go through." Cass nodded and saw Penny make her way off the road. She turned to her Brahmin and led them away.
Penny laid low and looked around. She saw several smoke stacks north of their location. There was something in the air. Smelled like… dynamite. Taking out her binoculars, she saw that there were several camps near the road. The one near her location had about eight men in blue jumpsuits that had NCRCF printed on them. Cursing, she looked at how far off the road the camp was. The last thing Penny wanted was to alarm some guys with explosives. She didn't feel like losing a leg today.
Cass stood by her caravan, looking around for Penny. She hardly met the women just hours ago, but Cass could see that Penny was different from all the wanderers she met on the road. Something about her made her interesting.
Grabbing her whiskey, she was about to take a sip until she saw something running towards her. Fumbling with her shotgun and the whiskey bottle, she jumps beside her Brahmin and aimed at the animal. Then suddenly, a woman appeared and started to run after the dog, waving her hands .
Lowering her weapon, Cass watched as the animal turned out to be a dog, who ran to Cass and hopped around her, barking. Perturbed by the dog, she didn't notice the woman approach them, yelling at the animal.
"Cheyenne! Bad girl! Don't ever do that again! You probably scared the wits out of this woman!"
Wagging her tail, Cheyenne looked at Cass before sitting beside the woman. Cass, realizing she dropped her gun and whiskey , stared at the woman. "Yeah, your dog just made me drop my whiskey. I hope she's happy."
The woman smiled and stuck out her hand, "Hi there! Sorry about that. I'll make it up to you somehow. My name is Sunny, Sunny Smiles. And this here is my girl, Cheyenne."
Cheyenne barked and wagged her tail. Cass was far from amused.
"So, are you a caravan? If you are, do you have any weapons? Ammo? I sure could use some." Sunny asked. Cass looked behind at her wagon and looked back at the woman. "My cargo is a bit tight, but for the right caps, I might be able to get you something."
Sunny nodded as she took out a small bag out of her pack. Sheepishly, she gives the bag to Cass, "I hope this is enough. It's all I have."
Cass took the bag, and felt how light it was. She turned to look into her wagon and rummaged around her cargo, pushing around bits of trash and bottles. She knew that she didn't have a lot with her, given the situation. After a few moments, she found an old rifle that she used many times while traveling. Knowing it would benefit Sunny than herself now that she had her trusty shotgun, Cass grabbed some of the bullets and turned to give her the rifle.
Sunny smiled as she took the gun from her, "Oh thank you! My old gun got ransacked a few weeks back and I haven't been able to get one since. Chet charges way too much for decent weapons. Now, I can take those geckos out with ease."
Cass shrugged as she pocketed the caps and went to find her canteen as she watched Sunny check out the rifle. As she was inspecting it, Sunny started with small talk.
"So what brings you this way? Why are you traveling alone? Are you part of Crimson Caravan?" Cass choked on her water and stared down the woman. "No, I am not part of that back-stabbing, two-timing, part of deathclaw's dung of the company. I am heading up north towards the strip and no I am not traveling alone. Actually, now that you mention it, I wonder where she went."
Sunny looked around and gave Cass a questioning look, "I do hope your friend's ok. I wouldn't recommend heading up north. Apart from all the powder gangers in the area, you also have to watch for death claws and fiends. I would not head up on this road north."
Cass sighed, "Well, it all depends with my merc friend. She knows these roads better than I do, and she can handle anything. I hope."
Cheyenne barked and the two women looked to see Penny walking towards them, hauling a pack on her back. As she approached them, Cass smiled at Penny, who put the pack in the wagon, dusted her hands off and nodded at Sunny.
"Ah, so this is your merc friend? Hi, I am Sunny and this is Cheyenne. I heard you girls are heading up north. Though, I recommended to your friend her that this road may not be the best shot."
Penny (who went ahead a couple of miles while looting some of the empty camps), was thinking the same thing. She saw more than a dozen of the escaped prisoners, which normally wouldn't be a problem for her. But she thought about Sloan and the deathclaws, and if she had to fight both Powder Gangers and deathclaws, she needed more supplies. And she did not want to take the long way around… if she could avoid it.
"Thank you Sunny. If you don't mind me asking, where do you hail from?" Sunny pointed behind her, "I live in Goodsprings. It's just over this ridge. I can take you guys there, but I usually follow a trail that leads into town. Yet, I don't know if your wagon can handle it."
Cass patted one of Brahmin and gave Penny a look, "Alright, so it's always the hard way. Stick to the road until will hit Jean's Skydiving shack. How about you, Sunny, lead us. Cass, you walk with your wagon while I'll take the rear. I am not so sure if we'll see anyone, but I am positive we're safe for now."
The women quickly made their way towards Goodsprings and made it without interruption. Letting out a long-drawn out sigh, Penny looked around at the little town. She remembered her first time coming through here. She was with her unit on their way to the Mojave Outpost. They decided to stay the night at the little town.
Penny remembered how they went into the saloon and drank their hearts out until Trudy had passed out on the counter. They pitched a tent out back and fell asleep. That next morning, they all awoke to find Buns crying. He had found a snake in his pack and he was deadly afraid of snakes. While everyone was trying hard not to laugh, the snake came behind them and slithered around them, ensuring their departure from the back of the saloon.
They parked the wagon in front of the saloon and Sunny led the girls inside. Penny looked around and saw that there were new additions to the place. She was happy to see that the pool tables were still there, a memory stirred about the games she and Tommy played. He was interested in sleeping with her… and she challenged him to several pool games. When he lost, Tommy ended up passing out in the men's bathroom.
As they made their way to the bar, the three women saw Trudy having a heated discussion with a gentleman. Penny noticed he was wearing the prisoner uniform and a bulletproof chest. She kept her hand on her gun, hoping not to use it.
"I am done playing nice. If you do not hand Ringo over soon, I'm going to get my friends and we're burning this town to the ground. You got that?" The man said. Trudy crossed her arms and calmly responded, "We'll keep that in mind. Now, if you're not going to buy something, get out."
The man and Trudy exchanged some stares while Penny and Sunny wondered if they should interject until he stood back and walked out. He bumped his shoulder on Penny and gave her a cold stare. Penny shook it off as it was nothing and turned to see Trudy watching the man leave.
"That is the third time day. I don't understand why he would even want to deal with that poor man. Ah, Sunny, I am glad you weren't here to see that. That Cobb has been harassing me to give him Ringo! But as you know, that poor man has been through enough. Oh well. Folks, excuse my manners… Welcome to the Prospector Saloon. My name is Trudy. How can I help you?"
Penny pointed towards the front door, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear your argument. Is everything ok?" Trudy made her way behind the counter and brought up two beers.
"It looks like our town got itself dragged into the middle of something we don't want anything to do with. It should be something you should take care of. It was your prison, if I recall, that let all those prisoners loose?"
Sunny took a long look a Penny. Cass was shaking her head as she drank her beer. Penny shrugged, "Actually ma'am, I am ex-NCR and I am more concerned with this town than they would be. I would like to extend my hand to any help you and your citizens. Name's Penny and I am a merc for hire."
Trudy passed her a beer and Penny sat down on a bar stool, taking off her helmet. Trudy took a good long look at her and smiled. "Well then, if you would like to help us out, I would appreciate it. And I can pay you for your time."
Penny held up her hand, "No payment. I would however like to gather some supplies before we head up north."
Trudy gave her a long look, "Up towards Sloan? And Black Mountain? Are you crazy? Not only will you worry about raiders and Fiends, but Deathclaws and the Super Mutants roam the area too. Are you sure you just don't want to go around?" Penny smiled, "Thank you for the advice. I will assure you that I have dealt with far worse than that. I think we'll be fine." Everyone at the bar stared at the woman, especially Cass. They were all wondering the same thing: was this woman crazy?
Trudy cleared her throat, " So about them Powder Gangers… the man they are seeking, Ringo, came into this town about a week ago. He said he was a survivor from an attack and he needed a place to hide from the men after him. We actually just gave him a place to stay, we didn't believe someone was coming after him, until a few days ago."
Penny drank some beer, "Where is Ringo now?"
"He is holed up in the old gas station up the hill. He has food and water up there. He was patched up with Doc Mitchell but after a few days, he ran into the building and locked himself up," Trudy answered.
"Did he say why they are coming after him?" Penny asked.
"Not really. I would go talk to him if you are interested in helping him out. And it would give us here in Goodsprings peace in mind that the Gangers won't come by anymore."
Penny drank her beer and looked at Cass, "Well then, are you interested in helping them out?"
Cass sighed, "Well, if it helps getting up closer to my caravan, so be it."
Penny put some caps on the counter and grabbed her helmet, "Fantastic. This shouldn't take too long."
Trudy watched as the two women got up and made their way to the door. Penny looked around and saw the abandoned gas station that trudy mentioned. Making their way there, Penny got a good look around the town. It grew from the last time she was there. She saw more houses, trailers and shacks that showed the population was growing in the little town.
Arriving at the gas station, Penny knocked on the door. "Hello? Ringo? Can I come in?" Penny asked.
She heard rustling inside and when the door opened, she saw a man peering at her.
"Who are you?" Ringo asked. Penny smiled and held her hand out, "Penny's the name. This here is Cass. May we come in to talk?" Ringo stared at them for a few moments and nodded. Opening the door, he let the women inside. Penny took a good look around after he shut the door. When she turned to face him, she saw the barrel of his gun pointed squarely on her.
"If you are with those prisoners, you made a mistake coming in."
Defensively, Penny held her hands up, "I'm sorry. We are not affliated with them. We are just passing through the town and heard you had some trouble. I wondered if you needed any help."
Ringo sneered at her, not lowering his gun down, "What makes you think you are in any position to help me?"
"Hey, I just wanted to see if you wanted a hand. If not, then I will be on my way." Penny spat out.
The room was tense as Cass looked at Ringo and Penny. Just as she thought that Ringo would shoot Penny, he lowered his gun and walked over to sit on a crate.
"I'm sorry. Those gangers have been giving me trouble and I haven't figured out a way to get out of town. I need to get to New Vegas for a job. I don't want to put this town in danger. I can handle Joe Cobb on my own, but if he brings his friends, there is no way I can stand up to them in a gunfight. So what I am saying is yeah, I could use some help."
Penny smiled and pointed to herself and Cass, "Well, you have two of us. That's a start."
Ringo smiled at her, "Well, I am not sure if the three of us can handle a whole group of them. I think we need some more help. Or we'll end up sharing a grave together."
Cass rolled her eyes at him, "Uh, I'll take my chances at not dying, thank you very much."
Penny thought for a few moments before she spoke," Perhaps the town can help out. It would mean that the Gangers don't bother Goodspings anymore and you get what you want."
"If you can convince them to help out, I would really appreciate it."
Penny grinned. "Hey, I have been told I can sweet talk my way out of things. Alright, I'll see what I can do."
Ringo smiled, "Alright let me know how it goes. I would talk to Sunny first. She's been very nice to me."
Penny nodded and the women walked out of the gas station. Once outside, Cass turned to look at Penny. "I'm curious. Why do you want to help Goodsprings and this Ringo? You're not even getting paid for it."
Penny beamed, "It's my job to help. It's what I do. It's a hard life out here. And those Powder Gangers seem like troublemakers to me. Yes, it isn't my fight, but I like to help those in need."
"I don't understand why you would put yourself out there for people who really don't care." Cass responded.
"Well, here's my best answer: be the beacon of light in someone's darkness." With that, Penny started to make her way to the saloon. Cass watched the woman walk and shook her head. "Yup, she's crazy."
Cass jogged to catch up with Penny as the ex-NCR ranger thought about the plan to save Goodsprings.
I have the next chapter up in running sometime this weekend! as well as some other chapters and stories!