Chapter 8 Wanted Dead or Alive

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Cass didn't say a word once they reached the caravan. Penny watched her as Cass' knees buckled and she fell to the ground. Penny rushed over to help her, but Cass pulled herself away, staring at the body before her.

"No. No, no no. He…he just started out with us. He ha-had a wife back home…I…goddamnit." Cass balled up her fists and her body shook. No tears, no cries, just complete silence. Penny turned away and lit up a cigarette.

Cass reached for his satchel, pulling out all the contents within. There were several letters, a coin purse filled with caps, a 10mm and a canteen. As she started to read on the letters, Penny quietly circled the area, taking note of everything. She had seen this scene many times before and despite it all, the feeling of sorrow and loss just never gets easier. Penny knows that one can't afford to feel sorrow and loss in the wastes. Sometimes, you just have to move on, and then later drown them with either chems, alcohol or both. All in the day's work, Penny mused.

Allowing Cass time, Penny quickly figured what had happened to the caravan. Confirming the Intel Graham received, the caravan was targeted and taken out, yet to someone who was just passing by this, they would think that a robbery happened. Clever, she thought, but they took off in a hurry, leaving breadcrumbs behind. You don't ever want to do that with me around.

Going through some of the bags and crates, Penny found her smoking gun: an empty microfusion cell. One glance at it and Penny pocketed it before Cass noticed. Penny had already had a clue to which the cell belonged to. She contemplated the decision to share the information to Cass. She knew Cass was strong-willed and smart, but she can fly off the handle. She was passionate, which was a good thing, but that also meant the she can charge into something without thinking it.

Cass tucked the man's things and walked over to the merc. No red eyes and the shaking stopped; Cass had gone over her grief easily. No more tears were to be shed, she thought. All she ever wanted was a chance to fight for her father and find out who killed her family off for it.

"So, did you find anything? Anything at all?" Cass looked over at Penny, who looked like she was deep in thought. Penny quickly made her mind: she will try to convince her to pursue the attackers not for revenge, but for justice. Not for vengeance, but for peace of mind. No killing, unless it was necessary. God, am I a hypocrite?

"Sorry. Yes. I was just thinking about it, trying to boggle my mind on where I had seen it before. Maybe you can figure it out." Penny responded, as she took out the cell she found. Cass snatched it from her and took a closer look at it. Penny watched her, already thinking about where it would have come from.

"That's a microfusion cell, ammo used for few types of energy weapons. It's common out here in the Mojave, so tracking it to specific weapons will be hard. However, I think we can track it down by investigating the other caravans hit. Now, my Intel has a list of suppliers in the area who use this type of ammo and I just to confirm which one it would be." Penny looked over at Cass, who handed back the cell. "I don't recognize it. I… I'm sorry I can't think right now. I can't wrap my head around this. There's almost nothing left. Whoever it was… was just in the mood for killing. Look, most of this is ash, looks like someone took whatever weapon you say it may be and it blew up. Disintegrated. When I read the reports, I assume someone took a blowtorch and burned everything into ash. Not this." She took out her bottle and took a swig out of it. Penny remained silent as Cass went through her thoughts.

"It's so close to New Vegas too. Damn it all. Must've happened during the day? Maybe they were ambushed? There has to something else here." She walked around Penny and started looking through the crates. Penny started to also look for any clues as well until she heard her friend gasp and ran over. "Look at this! It looks like some sort of map- got a route along the West of Vegas and they've marked spot. Right over here, along this stretch. The middle of nowhere, those bastards…that's fucked up."

Penny looked over the map, shaking her head, "Yeah, it looks like it circles around the city, but away from any sort-NCR, Strip, Freeside. So, what do you think?" Cass folds up the paper and looks straight at Penny. "Something's wrong. I can feel it. I know you helped me this far… and I am assuming that you have some other things to do…if you rather be gone, I'd understand."

Penny smirked at Cass and placed her hand on her shoulder, "I told you at the beginning that this was bigger than it seemed. I am here to help in any way you can. Sure, you lost your caravan, but you will deal with whoever did this. I am here to either be the shoulder you lean on or someone to cry to. Even then… if you don't want to go any further, I can work with that too. By the look of things, it will be getting more and more dangerous. Just a heads up." Giving her a light squeeze, Penny pulls away and started to gather her things. Cass took a quick glance at the map and smiled.

"You aren't keeping me out this fight. I am in. I'm ready when you are." Penny smiles and they started to make their way to the next spot on the map.

"Hope you got into town alright. I really don't like how things are turning up. The next thing you'll know, all of Primm will turn into a warzone. Anyways, here are the caps for the job. Thank you again." Johnson Nash passed over a bag filled of caps over to Logan.

Pocketing them, Logan leaned onto the counter and sipped on his canteen. "How is the situation so far? All I have seen were some NCR guys on the way in and heard explosives a few miles back." Johnson sighed as he handed Logan the next assignment, "It's been going on ever since the gangers blew up the prison and the NCR hasn't been able to stop them. It's not helping the other couriers who have to drop and pick up deliveries from here, which leads me to this…" Logan looked at paper that Johnson gave him, "So this is the last one I'll have you make. You are the last of them, since I already give the seventh away yesterday. This robot came on by a few days ago with seven packages. Each of them carrying something different, but I don't know what. I think one courier said that there was a pair of dice, maybe some prewar money, I don't know. So this is different from the other jobs I have you running. You will get paid after you deliver this to…a Mr. House, up in the Strip. "

Logan peeked into the package and saw something shiny in there. Johnson stopped talking and slapped Logan's hand. "Not in here boy, where the walls have ears and men shooting others in the name of caps. On the road. Well son, I hope that you succeed with this. The last courier I asked basically gave it to you. He seemed a strange sort. Oh well. I can't remember what else he said. I hope all the best for you."

Giving him a strong handshake, Logan stood up and tucked his instructions away. "Thanks Nash, I mean it. You have done so much for me already and I can't thank you enough. I'll send you some of those treats I keep telling you about. Well, which way should I take?" Johnson gave him a stern glance, "Oh no. Don't think of going north, not without the army and some. Gosh, I do hope that the girls I sent that way are ok…" Logan laughs, "Oh, so you sent you girls up that way? Johnson, what has gotten into you?" Johnson smiled, "Oh if you looked at them, you would say that one of them puts whiskey in her cereal and the other battles deathclaws for fun. You would like them kiddo."

Chuckling, Logan grabs his gear and patted the older man on the shoulder, "They sound like fun. Maybe I'll see them in New Vegas! Johnson thanks again! I'll see you before I head off the New Reno and tell the Missus that I love her pies!" As he walked out the door, Johnson smiled at the young man and whispered a silent prayer. He gathered all the mail from the morning and places them in their slots. It was his ritual, placing packages and letters into the slots for all of wasteland. It didn't take long, but this time around he was bothered by something else.

The only thing that he didn't tell the courier was about the one who declined taking this package. He wondered from that day till he handed the package over to Logan: what were in those boxes that made him pass up the package? Or maybe… was it Logan? No, Logan's a good kid. He's wouldn't hurt a bloatfly. God, I need some air…

He walked over to the door and as soon as he opened it, his wife ran past him, forcing him inside. "Ruby! What's going on? Are you ok?" She grabbed his arm, trying to regain her breathing. "They—they are shooting people out there! Oh Johnson! Grab what we can! We have to leave!" Johnson nodded and grabbed his pack and his gun. They both rushed out of the store, with Johnson locking the shop behind him. As he turned to see the scene in front of him, he knew that his luck just turned. There were already bodies on the ground, even one in the front of the shop. He let out a sigh of relief knowing it wasn't Logan. Running to the Saloon across the street, he saw several soldiers battling the Powder Gangers on the north side of town. There were explosions everywhere. Townsfolk were screaming, trying to make their way towards the Saloon, they only place in town that was safe.

When the fighting started getting closer to the center of town, Johnson helped closing the door, the last thing was the Sheriff of the town shot down. He couldn't see who took the shot, as both NCR troops and Powder Gangers were shooting up the street. He slid against the door, trying to get the image out of his mind, but also hoped that no one got caught up with that storm.

Logan turned around and saw smoke coming from several places in Primm. He heard explosions several minutes after he left town. Half of him wanted to go back to help out the town, but he knew that he wouldn't make it out alive. It wasn't that he didn't want to help: he just needed to get away from chaos.

Logan always felt that his luck was always low and would end up in situations that normally one would never get into. Yet, he manages to get into chaos whether intentional or not. He made a pact to an old friend that he wouldn't get into trouble or try to avoid it. If he was going to get into trouble however, he was ready to fight.

Rifle ready, Logan slowly trekked his way, away from the explosions and screaming and into the wild, wild wasteland.

As the smoke cleared, Benny pockets his gun and turned to face the men behind him, "And that is how you deal with a Harvey. But to be completely honest, I just…I just find it hard to believe that you let him just, slip by. Oh boys, endsville is here, and I am standing here with a bunch of finks and punks. Do you realize what we're dealing with here? I needed him alive. And now, he's dead, d-e-d."

His eyes bore into each and every Khan and they all felt his anger. They had all heard stories of the Chairmen, or rather stories of the tribe they were before they were taken into New Vegas. Benny had fought his way to the top and his ruthlessness was the thing that was known about him. Plus, they didn't want to feel the wrath of Papa Khan, who asked to cooperate with anything the Chairman wanted.

Benny brushed his stray hairs away and straightens his suit jacket, "No matter. I have an idea of what we should do. We are going to town south of here. Careful though, there are creeps and all sorts of creatures reserved for your worst nightmare. So, do all yourselves a favor and don't smash me up again. You can be like this fink here." Pulling out his handkerchief, he quickly wiped the blood from his hands and walked over to Tommy, one of the Khan Scout leads.

"So, you said he was heading over to Primm right?" Tommy nodded and whistled over one of his scouts, "Yes, we crossed paths with him a few miles from the outpost. I have to tell you boss, it was real close for the snipers to see us." Benny snorted, "Those crumbs wouldn't have any way to see you, dig? I'm sure you are fine. Otherwise, I think those Rangers would have found us by now." Tommy looked at the scout that came over, "Where is the courier headed?"

The scout took out a roughly drawn-out map and pointed on a spot north of Primm, "Here boss. Not too long ago. Also, we have some news from the town near there." Benny, who turned away to light up one of his smokes, turned to look at him. Tommy nodded at the scout, "Boss, looks like a warzone in Primm. You know the prisoners who escaped a few days ago? They had enough balls to go into the town and start blowing up the town. This is a great distraction for us: the NCR will not be able handle the prisoners and the Legion."

Benny let up a sigh, "This is just crapsville. I'll bet though that the NCR will shut the majority of the fighting by tomorrow or at least in the next few days. At least they won't notice us sly snakes moving around up here. Boy-oh-boy, let's go. We don't have much time. He'll come by here soon enough."

Benny flicked his cigarette away and put his hands into his pockets and started to walk away. Tommy and the rest of his man gathered the dead man's things and followed the man with the checkered-suit.

As he zoomed in, Boone was able to see what was going on in the town of Primm. He watched as a group of prisoners sprinted down the street with dynamite, running towards a platoon of soldiers, only to watch the inevitable outcome. Veronica was scouting the town below him and Boone was keeping track of her movement. Pressing onto his headset, Boone called out to his Companion.

"V, watch out. These guys are unpredictable. Watch your 6."

"Copy that. If I come into any contact with those guys, I am sure that the suit can handle the brunt of it. So, you're saying that he might be by the office, right? Ugh. Just missed that."

"Careful there V. That was just a C4 explosive thrown your way." Boone watched her run along the alleys and punches the prisoners away. Just behind her was a unit of 5 NCR soldiers and watched her make a path into town.

"Boone, I need to see where these guys are coming from. Maybe I can help the NCR turn the tide of this thing." Scoffing, Boone clutched the handset, "Negative V. The rangers will soon be here. That's their job to turn the tide." He watched as Veronica stopped around the corner and helped the unit behind move it with her.

"Boone, you know that's a bunch of horseshit. They have more to deal with out east so why don't help these guys out? Come on, that's our secret job. You snipe, I punch. It's what we do. Just follow my lead." Boone watched as she changed her weapon of choice and checked her corners. Sighing, Boone switched his scope and took his position. Pressing the handset three times, sending three squawks to V, he watched her giving the commands to the soldiers and started to storm the town.

"One at 9, another at 3. There's a group coming in. I'll take care of them." Boone reported in.

Veronica ran up the few prisoners and using her ballistic fist, crushing the prisoners into bits. She watched as several of the prisoners were quickly taken down by the NCR soldiers beside her. Far behind her, Boone was taking out the group ahead of Veronica. His shots were precise and abrupt, completely taking the group from nine to one. The one tried to flee once he saw all his companions fall to their deaths, but the sniper with the .308 rifle and a telescopic lens took him out before he had a chance to run.

When Veronica started to push deeper and deeper into the town, Boone locked up his rifle and started to make his way down.

Not too long after, there was finally some relief for the NCR: the gangers were pushed out of the town, trying their best to head back to the prison that had kept them so long. Boone and Veronica walked the soldiers, injured or not, back to their camp. The battle was over, for now.

The soldiers thanked the duo, passing by their commanding officers. One of them talked to a tall man with brown hair. He had sustained some minor cuts on his face, none severe. Boone overheard his name and straighten as he saw the man in charge walk over to them, hand outstretched.

"Hey there. I am Lieutenant Hayes, 5th Battalion, and 1st Company. I heard over the comms that you two helped our boys out there. I, on behalf of the NCR, thank you for helping." Veronica took his hand and shook it vigorously, "All in the days work soldier. We were on our way here so we figured that we would pave the way for ourselves." Hayes nodded and looked over at Boone. He stared at him for a moment, a moment too long for the sniper. He turned and started to walk away. Veronica sighed and saluted, "Don't take it personally. He's a lovable I swear. But, hopefully you guys soon take care of those prisoners. Bad for trading with dynamite going off every five minutes." The lieutenant ran over to her and stopped her, "We could use the help, if you can." She looked over at her partner and smirked, "Look, if you can convince my friend here, we can at least help take some of them out of the town. We are in a bit of a hurry." The soldier looked at the sniper and recognized his beret. Taken back, Lieutenant Hayes slowly made his way to the First Recon Sniper.

"Sir, I didn't recognize you until… well. Can you assist us with these prisoners?" Boone turned to look at him and even with sunglasses; Hayes felt his eyes bearing down on him. "I am no longer with the bear. This is your problem, not mine. You all were just in my way." Turning he started to walk away and Veronica patted the soldier on the head, "Like I said, lovable. Good luck!" She jogged to meet up with her partner and they both started to make their way into Primm, trying to find their target.

Logan was feeling mighty thirsty. He forgot to fill up his canteen in Primm and the sun was becoming increasingly unbearable. He stopped and looked around. He was looking for some agave plants until he could make it to a place with water. He knew that Goodsprings would be the closest since he didn't want to turn around and head back to Primm. After a few minutes, he decided that he could find fresh plants (since the coyotes and geckos eat them too), he decided to continue on the road until he hit the road towards Goodsprings. At least he can wait that long for water.

Benny and the group of Great Khans had finally arrived at Goodsprings, after dealing with one of their own. Benny hated to waste time, especially knowing that the Courier he had been waiting for would stop by here. He thought of everything, or close to everything. He was not going to let this get in the way of his goal. Not some courier who was lucky enough to come across that thing. On second thought, the courier is an unlucky bastard to deal with someone like him.

He stood on the hill and saw New Vegas in the distance. The water tower loomed over the graveyard and Benny knew that this was the perfect spot to start his journey. Lighting up one of his cigarettes, he turned around and looked at the Khans.

"Boys. Let's catch ourselves a courier. Bring him to me, alive."

The man was young, too young. Death to those in the wasteland was always early, unless Lady Luck was on their side. From where she was, his luck ran out before she had lunch. Veronica began to feel that her luck was starting to run out too. She checked his pockets and found nothing. She tried to knock the door to the Mojave Express but just like everything in town, it was empty. I think we were too late... she thought.

Behind her, the sniper came around the corner, putting his gun on his back as he made his way to her. He saw that she was distressed, which is unusual for her. He took one glance at the body slumped against the wall and shook his head.

"That's not the guy we're looking for... did you check the photo?" Veronica thought for a moment and smiled, "Ah. Crap. That's not..."

"Yeah, so we should get a move on. Let's go. He can't be that far ahead from here. We have to go!" Boone started down the street and Veronica ran after him, "WAIT UP. That was a honest mistake! I am never going to live this down..."

Sorry for the delay. I am working on the next chapter RIGHT NOW. This is so intense, for me anyway.

Thanks for reading! :D

-C