Chapter 9
Novac
I woke in a few hours and readied my gear. I walked out into the entrance of the barracks to find Cass passed out at the bar. She had managed to empty three bottles of whiskey as one was still on the bar and the other two were on the floor along with the shot glass I had used. I nudged her gently and didn't get a response. She was beginning to snore. I nudged her a little more and tried to get her attention, "Cass c'mon we gotta get out of here and get on the move."
Still no movement from Cass so I nudged even harder. This time I was met with a 10mm pistol in my side.
"Nudge me again and you won't be worried about leaving, Mathis." Cass said with a slur in her voice as she was beginning to come around, "Besides you should know that you don't survive out there in the wastes without learning to sleep with one eye open. I was awake but hoping you'd give up and give you the chance to go on without me, I can see you are going to be a persistent little bastard so let's get on with it."
She holstered her pistol and reached behind the bar and grabbed her backpack as well as an over-under double-barrel caravan shotgun.
"Let's get moving.", she said
We headed out the door and towards Nipton. As we approached, I recalled what happened the day before with Vulpes to Cass. She didn't show any emotion in her face to the story. I could tell she had seen and heard about enough death and carnage in her day that anything the Legion was capable of doing probably wouldn't phase her. As we walked out of Nipton, we found an overturned truck with metal boxes spilling out into the road. The road was next to a mountain side and was blinded further down by a hilltop protruding from the base of the mountain. I didn't like it. It seemed all too easy for an ambush from raiders.
As we made it to the truck, we met with gunfire from multiple directions. Someone from a high position was firing directly on us and another from the ground off to our right. I looked at Cass as she had calmly readied her shotgun. I had my hunting rifle ready and told her to stay here in case one got close to the truck. I edged my way around towards the front of the truck. As I peeked around the corner a bullet grazed off the front bumper of the vehicle.
I heard a shotgun blast behind me. I looked back to see Cass had shot one of the attackers; his head now completely separated from his body. Cass dragged the body over behind the truck. The attacker had a 40mm grenade rifle. Cass dropped her shotgun and picked up the grenade rifle and checked if it was loaded. She tossed me the rifle and picked her shotgun back up. Catching the grenade rifle with one hand, I placed the hunting rifle on the ground and aimed the grenade rifle around the truck and squeezed the trigger. The grenade shell arced into the air and landed causing an explosion. As the explosion rocked the hillside, Cass pulled her 10mm pistol from its hip holster and popped around the corner. She fired twice and I heard two different screams of pain. After the smoke had settled and the dust cleared, there was only silence around us. We slowly moved out from the back of the truck. We saw the bodies of two dead raiders.
"Just a caravan merchant?", I asked Cass
"I know how to take care of myself. You handled yourself pretty well for a courier.", said Cass
"I know how to take care of myself as well."
I picked up my hunting rifle and checked the quality of the grenade rifle. My hunting rifle was still in excellent shape but the grenade rifle was in such horrible shape that I was lucky to not have it explode in my arms while using the weapon. Cass holstered her pistol and returned to the truck to retrieve her shotgun. We then continued our journey to Novac. Along the way, the road began to enter what looked like a small canyon. I saw movement near the top to our right. Trying not to call attention to our stalkers or ourselves, I whispered to Cass that I had seen thought I had seen movement and to be watchful. As we continued down the road I could see a ranger station in the distance. I checked my Pip-Boy map and found that it was indeed Ranger Station Charlie. Cass and I agreed that we should stop in and rest at the station. Upon arriving at its gates I felt a chill go down my spine with the feeling of someone staring holes in the back of my skull. I turned and saw my stalkers. Standing on the edge of the cliff was a small group of Legionnaires. One was wearing the head of a fox. Vulpes Inculta.
He was standing just below the top of the canyon on a small edge that overlooked the ranger station. I could feel his eyes following my every move. I stared back daring him to face me.
I turned to walk into the ranger station and thought I heard something whisper Ghost. When I turned to look back at where I saw Vulpes, he was gone as well as the other Legionnaires I had seen on the edge of the cliff.
I shook my head thinking that I was beginning to see things and continued on into the ranger station. Cass was speaking to one of the rangers posted outside the barracks about resting here. The station itself is an odd place. Its exterior camp is made up of stacks of old highwaymen and camper r/v's. The beds for guards and patrols were located inside the R/V campers.
The ranger agreed to let us stay for a few hours before we finished our journey to Novac. As we entered into the campers, I noticed Cass looking at me puzzled.
"What's got you so worked up Mathis? See a ghost?", she asked
"Something like that. Only I saw the same Legionnaire that caught me back in Nipton. I think we are being followed. Keep your guard up."
"If we're being followed, at least we are in a good position to get some rest. The rangers can watch the fence for a while." , said Cass as she was laying back on a mattress in the camper we were using, "So what is it exactly that we are looking for in Novac?"
"A few days ago I was making a delivery to the Strip. I was ambushed by three men, one of them was wearing a checkered suit, while the other two were were leather vests. The man in the checkered suit stole my package I had been carrying and shot me me in the head while the other two buried me alive. They were seen traveling together through Primm and mentioned traveling to Novac. I'm either looking for them or information of their whereabouts. I want to know why they shot me and get my revenge."
"So you were shot in the head and buried alive? How did you make it out?", asked Cass
"A Securitron that is stationed in Goodsprings happened to see what was happening and dragged me from the grave I had been placed into. It brought me over to Doc Mitchell's, where I spent three days recovering."
"So how far are you planning to go with this?"
"As far as I need to. I need to find out what was so important about that package that make them want to kill me for it."
"What was the package?"
"That's the thing, it was a platinum chip from the Lucky 38 casino. It shouldn't be worth anything to anyone other than sentimental value as that casino has been closed for years. But back when I was in Goodsprings, the Securitron that rescued me asked me to travel to the Strip and visit with a Mr. House at the Lucky 38. None of this makes any sense."
"THE Mr. House? The guy that supposedly controls the Strip?", Cass asked
"I guess. But I need to find out more about this chip or this guy in the checkered suit before I head over to the Strip."
"Alright well let's head out to Novac.", said Cass
We got up from our mattresses and headed out from the ranger station. After a couple of miles, we saw what looked to be a giant dinosaur over-looking the east. As we got closer we began to see the town of Novac. As we passed a few houses and got closer to the dinosaur, I noticed an old garage that housed a workbench, as well as a reloading bench. We came to what looked like a hotel with a gated community. We walked through the gate and looked around. It was getting dark outside. I checked my Pip-Boy clock and saw that it was well after 8pm. I looked at Cass.
"We will probably need to see about getting a hotel room and get some rest for the night."
"Rest is all we will be getting if we are sharing a hotel room, got it Courier?" ,she said with serious yet playful tone. "I wonder if there is anywhere to get a drink in this place. I could definitely use one after that long walk."
"Well lets go inside the hotel and see if they have a room available and go from there."
We walked inside the hotel lobby and saw a woman leaving the front desk. She stopped when she saw us and a smile came to her face. She appeared to be a nicer lady. She wore a green dress and a pair of glasses. Her hair was beginning to gray but there was still a hint of brown to it. Cass took one look at her and stepped back, letting me handle the talking.
"Welcome to Novac and the Dino Dee-Lite Hotel! Forgive me I was just about to call it a night, my name is Jeannie May Crawford. What can I do for you sweetie?" ,asked Jeannie
"We'd like a room if thats not too much trouble to ask."
"Why sugar you're in luck, its not busy season at the moment and I happen to have a room available. Only 100 caps and you can stay as long as you like until the season starts back up! What do you say?"
"Thank you we'll take it. Also is there anywhere to get a drink or acquire supplies while we stay here?"
"Well there is the Dino Bite Gift Shop located inside Dinky the T-Rex that is run by Cliff Briscoe. Mention that I let you stay here and he may give you a discount. You may have seen Dinky the T-Rex on the way in, its our crown jewel. Just be careful not to walk in front waving them weapons around, our guards posted in Dinky's mouth tend to be good shots. Oh and here's your key your room is the first room at the top of the stairs. Enjoy your stay!" , she said while handing our room key over while collecting caps from me.
"Thank you Jeannie." , I said while we were leaving the front desk.
After we got outside, I looked at Cass, "By the way you owe me 50 caps. So should we go rest first or check out the dinosaur?"
"I'll pay you later. Right now I need a drink."
We headed into the dinosaur. The main room was small and lined with shelves that had small items placed on them such as books, bobby pins, screwdrivers, coffee mugs, nuka colas, and alcohol. Cass walked up to the man who introduced himself as Cliff Briscoe, and bought 4 bottles of whiskey at the discounted price that Jeannie May had told us about. I bought parts for my 10mm pistol and traded in my 9mm pistol along with all the ammunition I had for it. I also bought more rounds for my hunting rifle and 10mm pistol. Cliff showed me a scope for my hunting rifle which I decided to go ahead and purchase as well, along with a box of 10 bobby pins and a screwdriver for picking locks.
Cass left to go to our hotel room to drink herself into a slumber while I stayed to talk to Cliff about the men I have been chasing.
"I saw them come through here. They talked to one of the guards working at the top of the dinosaur while he was off duty. I don't remember if it was Boone or Manny. But you are welcome to go talk to one of them. You can access it through the stairs behind you. Just be careful. Its dark outside so Boone should be the one on duty."
"Thanks Cliff."
I made my way up the stairs on knocked on the door before walking through. As I stepped through I saw a man wearing a military style outfit, a red NCR 1st Recon beret and holding a modified hunting rifle with a scope.
"Man...Damnit who are you and what are you doing up here?" , asked the sniper
"Looking for information. I'm Levi Mathis, a courier with the Mojave Express. A package I was carrying a couple of days ago and the men who took it stopped through here. One was wearing a checkered suit and the other two were wearing leather vests. Have you seen them?"
"I saw Manny, the other guard during the day, talking to them. They seemed like friends. Wouldn't know much else about that. While you're here I need to ask you to do something for me. I need the help of someone I can trust."
"How do you know you can trust me?"
"I don't know that I can really trust you but you are an outsider, someone not from here, which is what I need. You see a while ago my wife was killed, she was taken away by the Legion and I think someone here had something to do with it. I need you to find out who and bring them out in front of the dinosaur for me to deal with. Here take this," Boone said while removing his beret and handing it to me, "when you find out who is responsible, wear it and bring them out in front of the dinosaur here. It will be your signal. Best that we not speak again until after this matter is done."
With that I turned and opened the door to head back downstairs. I don't know any of these people. I need to ask around about Boone's wife. I need to ask how she was around the people of Novac. I also needed to find out about the man in the checkered suit from the other sniper named Manny. I have a lot of questions that needed answers but I won't get any until the morning.
With that thought in mind, I began to head back to my room when I saw Jeannie May leaving the hotel's front desk and heading home. I figured I would check the hotel records for anyone staying in the hotel that might seem out of the ordinary. I walked over to the front desk door and crouched down. I made sure no one was looking. I pulled a bobby pin and my screwdriver out of my backpack. Quietly I put the bobby pin into the lock and began to work the pins inside the handle. As I felt them, I used the screwdriver to turn the lock over. As I picked the lock and opened the door, I looked around to ensure that no one was looking. I made my way inside and locked the door. Moving quickly, I went to the filing cabinets looking for any known legion operatives. After an hour of searching, I found nothing. I finished looking through the cabinets and was about to leave to get some rest when I turned and saw a safe imbedded into the floor right behind the desk.
I carefully picked the lock on the safe and opened the door. I found the deed for the hotel, a large sum of bottle caps, and one bill of sale. Pulling the bill of sale, I read through the document. Jeannie May had sold both Carla Boone and her unborn child to the Legion as slaves for the price of 1,500 caps. She was also granted an additional 500 caps pending the maturation of the baby. With rage I folded the note and placed it inside a pocket on my leather armor and reached into my backpack. I pulled out Boone's beret and put it on. I left the hotel's front office and turned right, heading down to the resident homes of Novac. As I passed a couple of homes, I noticed the name "Crawford" scribbled into a mailbox. I made my way around the back of the house, and snuck into an open window. Inside I found Jeannie May resting on her bed. Thinking of a good cover story, I ran over to her and began to quickly shake her awake.
"Jeannie! Jeannie! Quickly get up! Someone has tried to break into the hotel's front office! They are hiding just on the outskirts of town c'mon!", I exclaimed
She quickly got up and said, "Oh my! We better go stop them!", she said grabbing a rolling pin out from next to her bed.
We both ran out the door and she followed me over by the dinosaur. I ran to the top of the small hill in front of the dinosaur and crouched down. I silently waved her over and began to point towards the other side. As she got closer, I thought to myself, just a little further you monsterous bitch. She got ten feet from my position before her head exploded and separated from her body.