Chapter 5

The NCR Correctional Facility

I awoke feeling sore and dehydrated. I rolled off the bed and drank some water from a bottle in my backpack, I decided that it may be a good idea to eat while I had the chance so I took out a container of CRAM and devoured it. Upon inspecting the room, I realized Beagle had a First Aid box on his wall by the door. I went over to inspect the box and found two stimpacks, a bottle of Rad-X, and 2 bags of Rad-Away. I took everything and stuffed them into my backpack. Looking back at the table I noticed a note had been left on the table that wasn't there the night before. I walked over to the table and read the note.

Hey Stranger,

Meet me just outside of the south entrance of town when you wake up. I found something that might help you when you head towards the prison. May not be much, but it may help you get inside and out of there without too much hassle.

Beagle

I put the note down and asked myself, How the hell is he able to come up with a plan to take on a prison?

I walked outside and headed toward the edge of town and found Beagle waiting around a bunch of houses that seemed all but abandoned with the recent fight with escaped convicts from the prison. Beagle kept looking over his shoulder to make sure that no one saw him waiting for me. He apparently didn't see me coming, when he finally saw me he collapsed to the ground screaming.

"Take it easy! Its just me Beagle.", I said

"You scared me there stranger, thought I would show you this and tell you what I'm thinking."

He pulled out what looked to be a set of blue pants, a matching blue jacket and a white shirt. On the back of the shirt read, NCRCF, it was a basic prison uniform that is worn by the Powder Gangers.

"Here's what I'm thinking, you leave your gear with me except for one weapon and a few clips, and put this uniform on before heading to the prison. This way no one here will see you looking like a Powder Ganger and them Gangers' won't know the difference."

I looked at Beagle and smiled. "Not bad Beagle. Great plan since any Powder Ganger I've come across, hasn't lived long enough to tell his buddies about me."

I took off my backpack, varmint rifle and my leather armor. I handed each to Beagle and put the prison uniform on. I picked up dirt and started patting it all over the uniform. Once the uniform was dirty, I took my knife and made a few cuts into the pants, jacket and shirt.

"What the hell are you doing stranger?", asked Beagle, "I only have the one uniform."

"Making a cover story, where the hell did you get this anyway and what's the story with this sheriff locked up in the prison?"

"When the sheriff was killed, he took a Powder Ganger with him. This is his uniform that he was wearing. Lucky he shot him in the head, bullet hole with blood on the shirt may look fishy on account of you not being shot. The man you're looking for name's Meyers. He was a sheriff in a town back west. Rumor has it he took the law into his own hands one day and killed a man without evidence. NCR found out and arrested him."

After putting on the uniform, I grabbed my backpack from Beagle's feet reached into it and retrieved my 9mm pistol along with a few clips of ammunition. I also took the stimpacks I had lifted from Beagle's shack earlier and stuffed them into my pockets with the clips. I tucked my 9mm into the back of my pants and asked Beagle to store the rest of my gear back in his shack.

"Here goes nothing", I said, "Thanks Beagle"

I headed northeast from town. I made sure to avoid all contact with the NCR that was near the town entrance. The NCRCF is about a half day's walk from Primm. I had to keep things cool while I was with the Powder Gangers.

About a few hours into my walk, I came across a small camp of Powder Gangers. This one was about the size of the others that I had come across. This campsite consisted of three Powder Gangers camped out next to an overturned boxcar. There was a ramp connecting a hill to the top of the box car so that someone could keep watch. Off to the northeast I could make out the tops of the guard towers for the prison. I figured now was a good time to test my disguise. If things went bad, taking on three Powder Gangers had a greater chance of survival over dozens. To help my cover story, I threw some dirt in my face before walking over. I also began to limp while walking over to them. They were startled to see me at first but began to relax when they noticed my uniform.

"Hey buddy what happened to you?", asked the one of the Gangers as they lowered their weapons

In the most exhausted voice I could manage I said, "We…..were…..attacked….Goodsprings…..Joe….Cobb", breathing heavily as if I had been out of breath from traveling. At the mention of Joe Cobb they immediately got up and ran over.

One of them began to ask, "What happened to Joe and who are you?"

"I'm one of the guys that left with Joe to start our own camp. We attempted to set up along the road to Goodsprings to get supplies from travelers. A caravan came through and we took all its loot and killed its guards. The merchant's name was Ringo. He shot Tony and killed him, we chased him to Goodsprings, but he had managed to hide from us. Joe got tired of waiting so we started to takeover the town. We used all of our dynamite trying to smoke him out, but the whole town ended up getting involved. I saw Joe shot in the head by Ringo. I am the only one to make it. I've got a few clips left in my 9mm, but that is all I have on me."

They all seemed to looked at each other with wide eyes. None of them seemed to think that I was lying to them. Seeing how I was dressed and I seemed exhausted.

"What's your name?", asked another

"Levi Mathis.", I figured using my real name shouldn't be a problem. They bought my story so far, why stop now?

"Mathis? Aren't you the guy that got locked up for killing those NCR soldiers and nearly taking out the monorail at McCarran?"

"Yeah and I would have done it too had that damn NCR guy gone down with only one bullet.", I said

"Damn man, you had balls, lucky they threw you in prison instead of killing you."

"You guys got any supplies or food here? I haven't had anything in two days.", I said

"Nah we just left the prison. But I'll head down with you. By the way I'm Jack, this is Bill, and the guy over by the fire is Frank."

Frank nodded in my direction. Jack and I headed down the hill towards the prison. He asked me more about my story for Goodsprings. I continued to limp and Jack offered to help me down the hill. I refused.

"What were you in for?", I asked Jack while trying to sound as if each step I took on my right leg was excruciating.

"I robbed the pawn shop in Westside. The guy behind the counter lived, but stupid me didn't realize that a few soldiers from the NCR had gone into the Thorn to place bets on a Deathclaw fight. I knew Joe, he was a slick guy. Always looking out for himself more than his group. He always said that he was going to rise to the top and take over the Mojave." , said Jack

As we got to the entrance to the prison, there was a guard standing outside. When he saw Jack and myself, he ran over.

"What the hell happened to him?", he said looking at Jack

"He got messed up trying to help Joe Cobb take Goodsprings. He's the only one left from Joe's gang."

"Take him inside and get him cleaned up. Eddie's gonna want to hear about this."

The guard let us inside and I made my way over to a table in the visitor area and sat down. Jack told me that he was heading back to the camp and I should try to rest.

"Good luck talking to Eddie, if he decides to march on Goodsprings, come get me. Gonna teach those bastards a lesson hehe."

"You got it man."

As Jack left, I began to inspect the visitor area of the prison. Powder Gangers were sitting at the tables talking to each other. Others were standing around drinking Nuka-Cola and telling stories. Near the reception desk, there was a man seated by himself at a table. This man was wearing the same prison uniform but was wearing a black cowboy hat. I decided that I should start there. I limped over to the man's table and he stared at me with a hard look on his face.

"I'm not interested in working with any of you.", said the man as I sat down.

"Are you Meyers?"

"Who wants to know?"

"Levi Mathis, this is about Primm. Can we talk outside?"

He nodded his head and we got up and headed to the yard area. As we walked outside, I got a good look around. There was an administration building, two cell blocks, and the guard towers, along with the visitor's center that we just walked out from.

We found a vacant bench along the side of the visitor's center and sat down.

"So Mathis, what exactly do you have to do with Primm?"

"I'm not a Powder Ganger, I'm a courier with the Mojave Express in Primm. The town was overrun by Powder Gangers and killed the sheriff. Primm needs a new sheriff and I'm here to recruit you. Right now its either you or the NCR and I would rather not thin the NCR numbers and have someone qualified as a sheriff running things."

"You mean to tell me you snuck into a prison full of Powder Gangers to ask me to be a sheriff? You either have the biggest balls or you're just stupid. Listen kid I would do it but I need a pardon from the NCR before I can do it and if I do get the job, I'm doing things my way not how the NCR sees fit. Deal."

"Deal. Come back with me to Primm. Wait outside the town entrance and I'll talk things over with the NCR."

Just as we were getting up, the prison riot alarm sounded. Meyers and I looked to the guard tower and a Powder Ganger was pointing to the fence corner closest to us. We saw a small troop of NCR soldiers running towards the prison.

"Time to go Meyers!", I said

"Friends of yours?"

"Nope, but I'm not staying to see what they are here for."

We got up and ran towards the visitor's center when we heard a large explosion. The NCR had managed to punch a hole in the parameter fence and was now spilling into the prison. I looked at Meyer's and pointed to the cell blocks.

"We can hide there", I said

We ran towards the cell block with bullets soaring all around us while other Powder Gangers were firing back. As we ran into the cell block, a bullet struck the door.

"We don't have long. We need to find a place to hide quickly."

We hid inside one of the holding rooms. It had a few bunk beds. I found a hole in the wall that allowed me to see outside into the yard. The NCR was holding their ground at the Visitor's center. They were beginning to push their way into the administration office. As they edged closer the administration building, they broke up into two groups, four of the remaining six went into the administration building and the other two began to head our way. I pulled my 9mm from its resting spot in my pants and looked at Meyers.

"We've got two heading this way", I whispered, "Let's try not to kill them. For what its worth they are still the good guys. They don't know that we are not with the Powder Gangers."

"Fine but if they shoot us, I'll kill them and you.", said Meyers

We both got into spots closer to the door to take the soldiers by surprise. As we waited, we could hear the crunch of boots on dirt and rocks just outside the door. They preferred to enter the room quietly. The door to the cell block creeped open as I saw the barrel of a service rifle slowly appear into the room followed by the man holding it. Just behind him was the second soldier. Once they were both inside the room, I grabbed one of the soldiers' service rifles and pulled it from him. He didn't have time to react as I smashed him in the face with the butt of his rifle knocking him out immediately. Meyers was trying to do the same but was having difficulty wrestling with the soldier. I ran over and smashed the rifle into the back of the soldier's head rendering him unconscious. Meyers got up and looked at both soldiers and then at me.

"Okay Mathis now what do we do?"

I looked outside to see how the squad that went into the administration building was fairing. We could hear gunfire coming from the building but there was no way of knowing how many members were left of the NCR squadron. I looked back at Meyers.

"Strip them of their gear and put it on. Leave your prison uniform incase they wake up and the Powder Gangers still control the prison. Also take their service rifles but leave them their 9mm pistols to defend themselves."

As we put on the NCR uniforms, I was relieved to see that these soldiers had the face wraps in place as well as goggles with their helmets. Using both can help us blend in with the NCR troopers in order to get out of here. I put all my gear on and inspected the service rifle I had taken from the first soldier. There was some wear to the rifle and it needed some repair but it would still last a while. I checked the stock and was relieved that there were no cracks in the wood after smashing the rifle into the face of the NCR soldier. I checked the clip and found the magazine half full. My gear came with three magazines for my service rifle, two magazines for my 9mm and a hip holster for my 9mm. I removed the NCR soldier's pistol and left it next to my NCRCF uniform and placed my pistol into the holster. My 9mm was in better shape so I decided to keep the better one.

Meyers had just finished putting his gear on and grabbed his service rifle. He went to the room we had hidden in earlier to inspect the situation in the prison yard.

"Mathis! We have a bit of a situation. Powder Gangers seem to have taken out the other NCR soldiers. I can bet when they see us, they won't hesitate to shoot."

I looked back at the NCR soldiers sprawled out in the entryway of the cell block. I began to drag one of the soldiers into a room. Meyers saw what I was doing and ran over to grab the other soldier and began to drag him.

"They don't make it past us, got it? These men aren't able to defend themselves, sheriff.", I told Mathis.

"Alright. Get into position outside this door. I'll take the one across the hall. As soon as they open the door let them have it."

"I have a better idea, you wait here and get into position. I can't risk them throwing dynamite in here.", I said.

I ran to the entry door and busted out part of the glass in the door window. I readied my service rifle and saw one of the Powder Gangers lighting a stick of dynamite. I aimed for his left knee and fired. The bullet struck clean through his leg and the Powder Ganger fell before he could throw the already lit stick. The dynamite exploded and killed the Powder Ganger and two others. There were still three left and they were running for cover. I aimed for the head of one ducking down by a picnic table and fired. The bullet went through him and he hit the ground. Another lit a stick of dynamite and threw it at the cell block. I was too late to get the dynamite but I still got the ganger in the chest.

As the dynamite landed at the front door I jumped into the room with Meyers yelling "Fire in the hole!"

We took cover and shielded the NCR soldiers who were still unconscious. The explosion destroyed the door to the cell block and created a small window into our holding room. Meyers and I sat up and looked through the hole of our area. The remaining Powder Ganger was standing with his sub-machine gun raised in our direction. Meyers readied his service rifle and shot the smg out of the ganger's hands. As the Powder Ganger began to panic and run, Meyers fired his rifle again and shot the Powder Ganger in the back of the head.

"Not bad if I do say so myself. You sure you are a courier. I've never seen a package courier with that kind of skill before."

"I just got lucky Meyers. We need to check the visitor's center and make sure they are all gone. I don't want them shooting us in the backs if we head out of the hole the NCR made in the fence."

"Alright Mathis. What do you want to do about these NCR soldiers? They've seen our faces."

"Leave them. We will be long gone by the time they wake up."

As I began to walk to the entrance, I heard Meyers say something under his breath that sounded like not taking that chance. Before I knew it I heard two shots fired from his service rifle. I ran back into the room, saw a bullet hole in each's head and blood seeping out onto the floor.

Wide-eyed, I looked at Meyers and raised my rifle at him and said, "What the hell are you doing?"

"I wasn't taking the chance of them coming after us Mathis. We, well I am now technically a fugitive until you talk to the NCR about a pardon. I also told you I do things my own way."

I lowered my weapon remembering not to blow my cover. "Yeah I guess you're right. Just warn me next time before you start randomly killing unconscious people."

We walked out of the cell block and headed toward the visitor's center. There was no one left inside as if they all ran towards the battle when it started. We walked out of the front entrance and the gate guard had disappeared too. We started our journey back to Primm. I told Meyers about the Powder Ganger camp ahead and we decided to avoid it. As we snuck around the camp, I could see Jack standing guard on top of the boxcar. He began to point to the prison, and was talking to the other two gangers down below. They apparently decided to stay put as Jack never left the boxcar.

By the time we made it back to Primm, Beagle was waiting outside the south entrance for us. I took off my helmet and face wrap to show who I really was wearing the armor. He ran back to his shack and brought my leather armor, backpack, and varmint rifle. He even brought back some spare clothes for Meyers.

"Beagle," I said, "meet your new sheriff pending a pardon with the NCR."

"Meyers, this is your deputy, Beagle."

"Nice to meet you Beagle, we will be handling things my way, understand?"

"Yes sir, welcome to Primm Sheriff Meyers.", said Beagle

As I put my gear back on, I gave Beagle my NCR gear and rifle.

"Hide the armor, but you keep the rifle. It will be much better than that 9mm. I'll be back soon I need to head to the Mojave Outpost and talk with the guy in charge."

Beagle looked at me and said, "What if the Powder Gangers come looking for either one of you?"

"Beagle do what you do best, lock the door and hope they don't have dynamite."

I put my 9mm in my hip holster, put my backpack on, and picked up my varmint rifle. Looking southwest I could make out the statue of the Rangers, and I began walking.