She rested the rifle on her shoulder, took aim, and shot the hind of a green gecko. It squawked, and took off. Ketchup barked, running in circles and she laughed.
"That's a nice shot. Now, I don't recall ever teachin' you how to shoot like that."
She turned around, and smiled at her old man. "I've been practicing. I wanna be like one of those snipers in the army."
"The army?" He chuckled, sitting himself next to her on the wooden fence. "If your mama were here, she would've given you a big talkin'."
"Why? Thought mama liked the army."
Her old man adjusted his dusty cowboy hat, squinting out at the expanse of crops. "She does. But she wouldn't let you go."
She snorted, "I would be fine. I heard the snipers aren't in the front. They gotta be waaay in the back, up on a hill or something so they can shoot down the enemies." She raised her rifle, squinted, and shot another gecko in the distance. "Like that."
Her pa whistled and she grinned, "You know they got this motto, 'The last thing you never see.'"
"That'll be you?"
She nodded her head, "Yeup. They won't know what hit 'em till they're dead."
Her pa laughed, shaking his head. They sat in comfortable silence, watching the sun rise from behind the mountains.
"You been feeling alright?"
She frowned, her good mood dissipating. "I'm fine." She bit out, shooting again, but at a molerat this time.
Her old man pursed his chapped lips, "You know I don't mean no harm. But I gotta know."
"I said I'm alright. I don't feel bad no more."
He sighed tiredly, scratching his prickly chin. "You tellin' the truth?"
"Yes." she said sharply.
"You ain't seein' things, hearin' things-"
She dropped her aim, "I said I'm alright Papa!" She hated talking about it. "I'm fine! I'm not like her."
Right after the words left her lips she instantly regretted them. "No, I didn't mean that."
Her pa held up a hand, "No. No you're right. Your not like your mama." He took of his hat, smoothing his balding head and placed it back. "Your mama was ill. Very ill. A kind of illness in the head." He turned to her, his soft blue eyes sad, "I don't want you gettin' that too."
She clutched her rifle, "I won't."
"I promise."
"Papa I'll come with you-"
"No, stay here. Don't worry 'bout me. I'll be alright."
Her old man crouched, brushing her hair out of her face, giving her a reassuring smile. "I'll be back. And you better have dinner cookin'."
She didn't like this. She didn't want him to go. "No Papa, just stay here. It's only Brahmin. We can get some new ones."
He shook his head, his old face tired. "Your Mama loved those Brahmin."
Don't you love me?
He got up, and grabbed his gun.
Her chest tightened, "Papa stop!"
Don't go.
He opened the loose wooden door, and turned back to her. "I gotta do this."
No you don't. It's just Brahmin.
"It's just Brahmin."
He smiled sadly at her, "It ain't just Brahmin."
He left. He left he left he left he left.
Don't leave me.
She squeezed her eyes shut and fell to her knees, clutching the sides of her head.
He left he left you he left killhim nononononodontleaveme
Something wet licked her thigh. She opened her eyes to see Ketchup wagging his tail. With shaky fingers, she pet his soft fur and got up, wiping her cheeks. She went and got her trusty rusty rifle. Slinging it over her back, she slipped on her boots and opened the front door.
"Stay put Ketchup." She ordered the dog. Ketchup whined but did as she said.
Stepping out of the house and into the cold night Mojave air, she started after her pa.
0000000000
She opened her eyes, reaching for her gun. Another sound and a molerat appeared from behind a dry bush, sniffing the air. She instantly relaxed. Just a molerat. She grabbed a rock close to her and chucked it at the animal. It hissed at her and scampered off.
Man, had she dozed off? She rubbed her tired eyes, yawning. It was still dark, but she could see tip of the sun rising. She brushed her fingers through her short hair and glanced at her sleeping partner. From the town, they walked a good few miles and they would've made it to the 188 Trading Post had it not been for Boone yawning so much.
That was then she realized that he hadn't slept all day- or night. So when they reached the Sunset Sarsaparilla billboard, she went straight to the small, makeshift campfire.
"What are you doing?" Boone asked as she set her pack down on one of the yellow cots.
"You're tired. You need to sleep." It wasn't safe to go through the desert sleep-deprived.
He frowned, "I'm fine. Let's keep going."
But she didn't budge. "You'll only slow me down."
His lips pulled down, and she thinks he was going to keep walking anyways but he walked over to the other empty cot and set his heavy rifle down. He laid down in silence and didn't move for the rest of the day. She stayed up throughout the day and night. She didn't mind. Because of her job, she traveled alone and only slept when necessary. Other than that, she would wait until she reached a town. Sleeping alone without no one to keep a look out was stupid.
She took a sip from her water bottle, soothing her parched throat. Waiting for the sun to rise up, her mind drifted off. She remembers the other time she's rested at the billboard. She was requested by Tommy Torino to search for talented individuals for the Tops performances. She'd convinced a guy named Bruce Isaac to come with her back to New Vegas to sing at the Tops and they rested at this very spot.
That was where she met The Lonesome Drifter. The asian man was playing an instrument she's never seen before. Said it was a guitar. Whatever it was, it played beautifully. Bruce joined in singing songs while the Drifter played his guitar. It was actually a nice experience.. and she got the Drifter to join her back to Vegas. Coming back with not only a singer, but with the only guy who owned a guitar she got paid extra.
For their first show, she dragged Benny down to see it with her. She liked that night. Of course Benny being the chairman, they got front row seats and free drinks. Seeing them perform, and Benny next to her, she could almost pretend they were on a date. Just the two of them.
She shook the thought away. She really had to stop thinking about him. It only made her feel sick.
Boone shifted in his cot, startling her. The man moved again, and got up, cracking his neck.
She too got up, "Here." she said, handing him her water bottle. He took it wordlessly and drank it. He handed it back to her and she stuffed it back into her bag.
"Ready?"
"Yeah." He said, slinging his rifle back over his shoulder.
They left the small campfire, and continued down the highway. She was glad Boone was up before the sun could be in the sky. It was better traveling while the air was still cool. It wasn't long before they reached the trading post. The familiar sight of an NCR flag waved on a pole, and she walked past it to a wrecked, looking trading shop made out of blue scrap metal.
A woman was behind the bar, cleaning glasses and looked up as they approached her. The woman smiled at the Courier, "Knew you were coming back this way. You want the usual?"
The Courier nodded, taking a seat on one of the stools at the bar. The woman blinked in surprise as Boone sat down next to her.
"Oh! I didn't know you had company." She turned to Boone, "Welcome to the 188 Slop and Shop. My name's Michelle, how can I help you?"
"I'll have what she's having." Boone replied coolly.
"Two iguana on a stick coming right up." She left them to cook the iguana meat. While there food was being prepared, the Courier inputted the location of where they currently were at. So far, she's got the map half full with all the locations she's discovered. As she added Boulder City to the map Boone spoke up.
"What is that thing?"
She blinked, "This?" She raised her right wrist, "It's.. a Pip-Boy."
Boone frowned, staring at the machine, "I've never seen anything like that before."
"Yeah, me too. The guy who gave it to me came from a vault." She looked at the machine attached to her wrist, "It's actually kind of handy."
Boone opened his mouth to say something but their food arrived, ending the conversation.
Michelle leaned on the counter, "Oh, and when your done the kid wants to see you." She said to the Courier.
The girl chewed on the crunchy vegetable and swallowed. "What does he want?"
Michelle smiled shrugging her shoulders, "I don't know. He just says he wants to see you. Wouldn't tell me why."
She finished her light breakfast, paid and got up. She turned to Boone awkwardly. Man, she wasn't used to having another person traveling with her. "I'll be back. I just gotta check up on something."
Boone nodded silently and she left. Walking down and under the twin bridges, she passed several make-shift homes and a burning barrel to where the Forecaster lived. The Forecaster was a kid, a year or two younger than her, and was the trading post's resident fortune teller (when he's off his meds). He was sitting down on his blanket, and perked up when he saw her.
He smiled giddily, "Courier! I knew you'd come."
She gave the eccentric boy half a smile and sat down across from him. "Michelle said you wanted to see me?"
He nodded excitedly and reached up into a light green baby carriage and pulled out a stuffed teddy bear. "One of the merchants came through, and he had this on him and it- uh reminded me of you and I thought you would like it so I bought and, and so here." He stuttered, handing her the teddy.
She blinked, "Thanks.. Forecaster." She took the bear and placed it carefully in her bag. She got up to head back to Boone but the kid raised a hand.
"Wait! Um, do you wanna hear anything? It's been a while since you've been here and lots of new thoughts have been coming through."
She pursed her lips. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to hear a few things. She sat back down, taking out caps but the kid shook his head.
"Just for you, it's free this time. So, what do you want to hear?"
She bit her lip, "... New Vegas."
The Forecaster groaned, "Aw man I hate doing that one. It leaves me feeling dirty.. but ok." He took off his weird, metal contraption on his head and closed his eyes.
".. Lies and regrets. Pride and greed. Lust and murder. Three knights in a lucky king's kingdom, but one is a snake. A light shines in Vegas, but a darkness covers the tower. A chip dipped in blood..." His face scrunched up, "Forecast: New Vegas is still the same." He opened his eyes and placed the red contraption back on his head, sighing in relief.
He rubbed his head, "Can you maybe next time not think so loud? It really hurts."
"Oh, sorry." She mumbled.
The Forecaster suddenly looked uncomfortable, "Courier? Is.. something wrong? I heard your thoughts but they were all jumbled up. I couldn't make sense of it."
She looked away, "It's nothing." She got up and he got up too.
"Are you leaving now?" He said, looking crestfallen. She nodded. "When do you think you'll come back?"
She shrugged, "I don't know. When I need to pass by here again."
He lightened up at that and smiled at her. "Ok! I'll see you then!"
He waved at her as she went up back to Boone. Going back to the Slop n shop, she stopped, confused. Boone wasn't there.
"Your friend's at the arms merchant." Michelle informed, noticing the girl's confusion. The woman leaned on the counter with a concern look on her pale face, "I know it's none of my business but you usually travel alone. What's with the 1st Recon guy? He your older brother or something?"
"Something like that." she mumbled, walking to the merchant's bus. She didn't feel like explaining who Boone was. She really didn't even know herself. They're just, sort of travelling together. She wouldn't call him a companion, or a follower. They're just.. going in the same direction. She didn't expect him to stay for that long. Their paths go different ways.
She spotted Boone by the bus. A ragged looking girl was talking to him, but it wasn't the merchant she knew. When she came closer, she picked up on what she was saying to Boone.
"-that'd be too dangerous for just me. What do you think? Maybe we could travel together, help each other out."
The Courier stopped next to Boone, inspecting the woman. She looked dusty, and had on clothes she's never seen before. It covered her whole body, and a weird metal fist contraption was on her right hand, making it look huge and bulky.
The woman blinked in surprise, "Oh. Looks like you got a naïve young girl already."
The girl frowned at that.
"I'm not the one to decide. Take it up with her." He said, jamming a thumb at the Courier.
The strange woman dismissed Boone and focused her attention on the girl. "Hi, I'm Veronica. I was just asking your dad if I could travel with you guys. You two seem like a pretty tough pair, what with your dad being a 1st Recon an all."
"He's not my dad."
"Uncle?"
"No."
Veronica looked lost, "Oh.. then who is he?"
The girl looked at Boone, who was buying some ammo from the military merchant. "We're just traveling together."
"Well, okay. You don't mind if I tag along? Like I told your friend, it's pretty dangerous out there, for me."
She bit her lip, "I don't know. I'm heading to The Strip and he's going.. We're not planning on staying together."
Veronica shrugged, smiling, "No problem. I'll go where ever. And when you guys split I'll go my own way. No hard feelings."
The girl looked at Boone. She guessed it wouldn't hurt bringing someone else along. And they were heading to Boulder City where the Khans were at. They might need the extra man-power. The Great Khans were a ruthless clan, they would need all the help they could get. And she was pretty sure they wouldn't just let them stroll right in and ask about Benny.
"Ok." She said and Veronica broke out in a grin.
"Now you're talking." The woman's grin faded and she looked nervous, "One thing you should know first, though... I'm part of this group, you might've heard of them. The Brotherhood of Steel."
"You're part of the Brotherhood?" She didn't see that coming. The woman didn't even look like a them. Being a courier, she's run into them once or twice out in the Mojave and usually they wore this heavy, power armor. They were scarier than some of the Rangers. Not to mention they confiscated her energy pistol Arcade gave to her as a gift for helping the Followers of the Apocalypse out.
Veronica nodded, "Yeah. And I know you know they aren't a.. friendly bunch. We've made a lot of enemies. You still okay with bringing me along?" She gave the girl a hopeful look.
She thought it over in her head. Veronica was a Brotherhood, but she didn't seem stuck up like them. And plus, she's a Brotherhood willing to team up with her. With a sniper and a brotherhood, she would have a fair fight with the Khans.
"Ok."
Veronica grinned, "Yes! And um, can we not mention this to your friend? The Brotherhood and the NCR aren't on good terms.."
She looked at Boone, "No problem."
"Ok! So when are we leaving."
Boone finished his purchases and walked back to them. "Now actually." the Courier said. No point in hanging around. Boone didn't acknowledge the new addition to their traveling group, staying silent and uninterested. They walked out of the trading post, Michelle waving goodbye to the three. She checked her map again, marking Boulder City as a destination.
"Oh my god. Is that a Pip-Boy!" Veronica exclaimed, catching sight of the machine on her wrist.
"Yea-" Veronica grabbed her wrist, examining the machine in fascination.
"How on earth did you get this? Are you a vaultie?"
The Courier frowned and pulled her wrist back, "No. I just got it from someone."
Veronica shook her head, "You know those things are priceless? The Brotherhood doesn't, but that's because they don't see it's full potential. They're all interested in energy guns and missiles in the sky."
She pointed to the machine, "But that thing is what humanity really needs. I've never used one before, but I heard that it's like a life support system. Really advanced."
The Courier glanced at her wrist, "..It's alright. I just like the radio really."
Veronica laughed, "Aw man I didn't know they had a radio system. Hey, put something on."
"Ok." She clicked on DATA and then on RADIO. It crackled at first but a song started playing.
"...No one dared to ask his business... No one dared to make a slip... The stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip..~"
They walked on, listening to the radio. The sun was now, unfortunately, up in the sky, heating down on their backs making them sweat profusely. Veronica seemed to be having it the worst.
She wiped her head with her none pneumatic hand, "Ah.. man how do you guys live out here. It's scorching hot!"
The Courier also wiped some sweat trickling down her neck, "You get used to it." She handed the woman her water bottle ad she took it gratefully.
"Thanks.." She chugged it down, finishing with a refreshed sigh. She gave it back to her, "So, where are we heading anyways?"
The Courier frowned at the half-empty bottle, "Boulder City. There's some Khans I want to talk to."
Veronica laughed, "Khans? You want to talk to Khans? That's suicide."
"I know. But they have answers to some of my questions."
"And that would be..?"
The Courier gave Veronica a look.
She nodded her head, "Ok. Sorry, none of my business... Hey, you ever been in love?" Veronica said, changing the subject.
Loveme
"No."
Veronica smiled cheekily, "What am I saying. You're still so young.." A far away look came upon the woman's face. "I was, once. We were pretty young, maybe a little bit older than you, but I like to think it was love... And then she left." The woman shook her head, "You know it sucks when you really care about someone, and they just leave you."
Don'tleaveme
"Take my advice. Don't ever, ever fall in love. Love sucks. I'm pretty sure she's moved on.. but I still think about her. Once in a while."
They both jumped in fright as a loud unexpected bang pierced the air. Somewhere in the distance, a Radscorpion fell down dead, and Boone lowered his rifle.
Veronica had her hand on her chest breathing hard, "Holy crap, that almost gave me a heart attack."
Boone didn't say anything and swung his rifle back over his shoulder. He had been silent the whole time, and they had forgotten he was even there. Veronica leaned down to the girl and whispered, "He's not very friendly is he?"
She shrugged. If she was honest, she didn't mind Boone's silent personality. It fit well with her, since she too didn't like to talk much. Only when necessary.
Eventually, they arrived at their destination. Walking past an abandoned train station, they stopped in front of a billboard that read: Don't Wait Another DAM Minute! Visit Hoover Dam TODAY! It showed a painting of the dam, though the paint and paper were peeling off. The sign had graffiti on it, some saying RANGERS GIVE EM' HELL, and between Hoover and Dam someone graffiti NCR so it read, Hoover NCR Dam.
Veronica snorted, "Ugh, the Legion. Silliest dressed band of raping, slaving marauders you'll see east of California, I'll say that. Where's that touch of Old World class? Although I hear the soldiers mount each other as much as they mount their women, so maybe they did keep a little something from the Empire."
Boone snickered at that.
Veronica continued with a sour look, "No such privilege for the women, though. Figures. They're all just a bunch of hypocritical jerkwads."
The Courier raised a brow at the insult and Veronica shrugged, "What, it's a word."
They continued down the road leading into the city, until they halted by the Big Horn Saloon. In front of the saloon, was a big, chunk of stone with a bear carved into it, candles laid on the ground next to it. An NCR soldier stood in front the stone, and turned around hearing their approach.
He looked solemn, sad even. "You here to pay your respects, too?"
"Is that some kind of memorial?" Veronica spoke up, staring at the stone curiously.
The stone had words carved into it which read:
ON THIS SPOT IN THE YEAR 2277,
RANGERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE
NEW CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC TURNED BACK
THE FORCES OF CAESAR'S LEGION DURING THE
BATTLE OF HOOVER DAM.
OVER ONE HUNDRED MEN AND WOMEN
GAVE THEIR LIVES ON NEVADA SOIL
TO DEFEND LOCAL CIVILIANS AND THE
PRINCIPLES OF THE REPUBLIC.
MAY THIS HUMBLE STONE BE AN ENDURING
MEMORIAL TO THEIR VALOR AND SACRIFICE.
"It commemorates the Battle of Hoover Dam." Boone said, looking downcast himself.
The soldier nodded, "The Ranger's lured the best of Caesar's Legion into Boulder City, then blew up the whole town. The NCR still lost a whole bunch of troops in the fighting, though." The man turned back to the memorial and placed a hand on it. "My older brother sacrificed himself so they could evacuate some of the wounded."
"I'm sorry to hear that." The Courier said, "I'm looking for some Khans around the area. You know where they are?"
"Great Khans? How do you know about that?" The soldier asked.
"Know about what?" Veronica piped up.
"About some Khans holed up in the wreckage. We got them pinned down, but it's a stalemate out there."
The Courier stepped up, "We can help."
The soldier bit his lip, "Alright, normally I don't let civilians in on NCR business but it's bad and we could use the help. Go down the road, past over there. Lieutenant Monroe will be at the front. Tell him Private Kowalski sent you guys, he'll listen then."
The Courier nodded, and the group walked down to where Kowalski pointed to.
"Weird, you'd think there would be gunshots." Veronica noted, disturbed by the silence.
"They're at a stalemate. Means neither side can shoot the other without consequences." Boone said.
They walked behind a fenced, scrap metal gate that separated them from the destruction of the city. Following the sloppy, barricade, they made a right, down past a burning barrel to a heavily armored man.
"Stop. We got a situation with some Great Khans right now. The brass at McCarran has ordered me to lock down the ruins until it's been resolved." Lieutenant Monroe said when he caught sight of them.
The Courier spoke up, "Your Private out front said you guys needed some help. We're here to help."
Monroe squinted at her, and then to the ragged looking woman, and the neutral faced sniper. "We can use the sniper, but you two have to stay out here."
Veronica guffawed, and the girl's brow knitted together. "No. It's either all of us or not."
Monroe rubbed his face, "Aw what the hell. Anything to end this quick."
"What's the situation right now." she asked, glancing at the barricade.
"One of my patrols was on it's way back from Novac when it came under fire from the Great Khans. They radioed for reinforcements, but instead of waiting for us, they chased the Khans into the ruins where they were caught in a crossfire. No deaths, but not all of the squad got out. The Khans have Private Ackerman and Private Gilbert as hostages."
The Courier frowned. She needed to get in there somehow, but the two sides were tense and any wrong move would sent them shooting at each other. Going in fighting wouldn't be smart. If they shoot, then the two privates will die. But maybe they didn't have to go in fighting.
"I may be able to negotiate a deal with the Great Khans." she said, the gears in her brain working. "And if I succeed, then nobody will have to die."
"Uh.. what are you doing?" Veronica whispered, alarmed.
Monroe shook his head, "No. I won't let you go in there alone. Too many ways that plan could go wrong, and you could get seriously hurt."
"I'm not going in alone." She nodded her head to Veronica, "She'll be coming with me. Boone will be up in those hills over there. If anything happens, he'll make sure we get out alive."
Monroe looked torn, looking at the girl and then to Boone. Finally he relented, "All right, I'm going to give you a chance to talk to the Great Khans. Their leader is a man named Jessup."
She nodded and looked at Boone, who walked off to get into a higher position. The two girls started to the door that lead inside the ruins but Monroe placed a hand on the Courier's shoulder. "If we hear shooting, we'll be coming in, but it'll probably be too late for you."
She looked him straight in the eye and nodded, "I understand."
He let go, "Good luck."
Taking a deep breath, she opened the fenced door and entered the ruins.
"You do know what you're doing right?" Veronica said beside her nervously. "Cause I don't know, I never imagined me dying like this."
"We won't die." The girl said firmly.
They went through crumbling building and past wrecked cars stacked on each other. Passing some NCR soldiers hiding behind large fallen cements, they entered a clearing of sorts. Another step and a bullet bounced off the ground in front of them.
"That's close enough!" A man hollered from behind a car and they halted, raising their hands slightly. "You don't look like one of them! What do you want?"
"We're here to negotiate!" Veronica yelled back. It was silent, and she assumed the man had someone else beside him he was talking to. The man peeked his head over the car and aimed at them.
"No deal! Now get lost before I shoot the both of you!"
The girl frowned, annoyed. "You shoot us and our sniper blows your head off!"
The man cursed, "Fuck you! If your sniper shoots me we shoot the hostages!"
Veronica clicked her tongue, "Well this is getting us nowhere."
The Courier pursed her lips, "Hold on. Hey! Go tell your leader courier number six is here to talk to him."
The man didn't move.
"Tell him!" she yelled again and this time a woman appeared from behind the car aiming at them while the man, still crouching, made his way to a door and entered a building. They waited in tense silence before the door opened again and the man stepped out, pointing his gun at them.
"Ok! But only the Courier!" He yelled.
"No way!" Veronica yelled back and turned to the girl. "I'm not letting you go in there alone."
She shook her head, "I gotta go. I know what I'm doing. If you hear shooting, get out and tell Boone to shoot Jessup no matter what. Got it?"
Veronica bit her lip, looking worried. "I can't. This is stupid, we'll find another way-"
"Veronica. There is no other way. You don't understand. I am going in." she said. This was probably stupid, but she'll be damned if she doesn't go in there and get some answers. And she won't let anybody stop her. Veronica stood speechless as the girl started forward slowly, the gun still aimed at her. She passed over the invisible line between semi-safety to you're gonna die side and stepped into the Khans secret hideout.
0000000000
"Holy shit. It really is you."
Inside the hideout, Jessup and another Khan waited for her behind the counter.
Jessup blinked, shaking his head. "You're supposed to be dead."
She glared at him. Yup, it was him alright. She remembered seeing him back at the graveyard.
"I got better." She said bitterly, restraining herself from just shooting the fucker in the head.
He blinked again, looking bewildered. "And here I thought us Great Khans were tough to kill." The tension in the room was almost unbearable, and with her unrelenting stare, he grew nervous. "So, what happens now?"
"Tell me about the checkered man. What happened to him." She hissed.
Jessup glowered at the mention of the man. "Benny? That son of a bitch, he stabbed us in the back. He stole that chip we got from you." He looked disgusted and spat on the ground, "He's probably back at the Strip by now, laughing at me."
She wasn't surprised. "What do you know about the chip?"
Jessup shrugged, "It's just a big, fancy poker chip as far as I know. Don't know why anyone would make one out of platinum, though."
She pursed her lips frustrated, "Well, do you know why he wanted it? He paid you guys didn't he? He must've told you why."
"Sorry kid but that's about it. He paid us to go with him through the desert to get a package from a courier. Not much else to it."
She looked away, shaking her head in disbelief. No. That couldn't be it.
No nonono it can't beitcantbe-
"That can't be just it!" she yelled, "There has to be something!" Anything.
Jessup raised his hands in alarm, "Hey whoa calm down kid. Sorry if that ain't what you wanted to hear but that's all I got."
Her mind buzzed, and she felt a headache coming on but she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
"Fine. Fine." She forcefully calmed herself down. Her mind still buzzed, and it felt itchy but she ignored it, pushing the screaming thoughts away.
"Is that all you came here for?" Jessup asked.
"No, I'm also here about your situation. I came to negotiate."
Jessup snickered, "What's to negotiate? The NCR backs off, we walk out of here, nobody gets hurt."
Well that's one way to look at it. But it wouldn't work. "If you let the hostages free now, maybe the NCR will just let you go."
The Khan rolled his eyes, "Right, and they'd probably give us all medals, too. Maybe I should kill a hostage because you wasted my time with this shit."
She glared at him, her hand twitching over her gun. "I'm willing to hear other suggestions."
"We'd try to bribe our way out, but seeing as how Benny didn't pay us yet, that won't happen."
She pursed her lips. Well shit. Nothing was going to work. She couldn't convince the Khans to let the hostages go without the NCR taking them in or shooting them. But she also didn't want a blood bath.
"Wait. If I give you the Lieutenants word that if you let the hostages go, you and your clan will get to walk out of here, would you be willing to?"
Jessup scratched his bearded chin, "Maybe. That is, if you convince the guy."
She nodded. All right, not she got a plan. "Ok, stay put. And don't shoot anyone."
Jessup gave her a mock salute. She glared at him again and left the hideout. Back outside, Veronica sighed in relief as she spotted the Courier coming out unharmed.
"So?" She asked when the girl approached her.
"They're willing to let the hostages go. But they need Monroe's word that he won't flush them out once they let go of their leverage." They walked back to the gate.
Veronica shook her head, "I don't like that. This is tricky business we're dealing with here."
"I know." They exited the ruins. Monroe looked surprised to see them without bullets in their faces.
"You're back. How did it go?"
"Well, they're willing to let the hostages go. Only if they have your word that you'll let them go peacefully."
Monroe sighed, "That's great to hear but I just got orders to take out the Great Khans, hostages or not."
"What?!" Veronica exclaimed angrily, "That's bullshit!"
The Courier shook her head, "Lieutenant. They are willing to let the hostages go. Attacking them now will result not only in their death, but the deaths of your troop."
Monroe looked uncertain, "My hands are tied. I can't go against orders... can I?"
"If you want to avoid unnecessary deaths, than you can." She said firmly.
Monroe looked at her and chuckled, "God, we should have more people like you in the army. Tell them they are free to go."
She nodded and they went back inside. This time, Jessup and the rest of his clan were waiting for her outside the hideout with the two hostages.
"So we have a deal?" Jessup said, glancing at the ruins nervously.
"Let them go first, and then you guys can go." She said.
Jessup looked leery, but ordered the two to be released. The two NCR soldiers got up hesitantly, and jogged back to their side. Once the two rejoined their troop, all the hiding NCR soldiers stood up and holstered their weapons. The two sides looked extremely wary of each other, but the Courier cleared her throat and started down the path to the exit.
It was a tense, and awkward situation to see Great Khans strolling past NCR soldiers, but eventually they all exited the ruins without shooting at each other. Once the last Great Khan exited the ruins, Jessup let out a breath he'd been holding.
She walked with them a few feet away from town, and turned back.
"Hey."
She turned around in time to catch something flying at her.
"A souvenir for you. It's Benny's lighter. Shove it up his ass when you catch up with him." Jessup said, and with that walked off with his clan into the desert.
She uncurled her fingers to see a familiar lighter resting on her palm. She stared at the blonde pin-up girl, and flicked the lighter open, a small flame flaring to life.
Despite the heat of the sun, she felt cold inside.