Chapter 11

Exhaustion

Cass and I walked out of the General Store untouched and relieved. We had made it without any problems. As we pass the side of the store heading back to the entrance, I saw a small room connected to the store that had no light coming out of it. I could barely make out three distinct shapes. Two were on their knees. They had to be the NCR hostages and the other one was facing them. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a small red beret perched in the second floor window of the building across the street. Boone was ready to kill anyone that made a move for me or Cass. The tensions were still high with the Khans, but I am feeling better about the whole thing knowing that it could end peacefully without any more bloodshed between the Khans and the NCR.

My adrenaline began to level off and I felt my stomach growling. I realized that I hadn't eaten or had anything to drink in the last couple of days. The anxiety of everything happening had made me forget about any kind of nourishment. I could feel the dehydration setting in. Quickly I pulled out a bottle of water from my bag and slowly began to drink it. Not wanting to overload my system, the slowly sipping the water felt amazing.

"Are you all right? You look like you are getting sick.", said Cass

"I'll be ok. My adrenaline has been high the past couple of days so I forgot to eat or drink. Just feeling exhausted, hungry, and dehydrated. I'll be fine.", I said

"After all this is settled you need to rest a bit. I know of a trading post not too far from here. It's the 188 and is guarded by the NCR. It has a bar with food there as well. You can also stock up on supplies too."

"Alright that sounds like a good idea. Nice little place to rest before going after Benny on the Strip."

Boone suddenly appeared behind us not saying a word. I could tell he was coming off his adrenaline high as well and would need to rest soon. We made our way to the entrance of the ruins where Lieutenant Monroe was waiting for us. It looked like they were ready to charge in, if we fail.

"So have you reached an agreement with the Khans? Are our soldiers free to go? Are they safe?", asked the Lieutenant.

"Sort of, the soldiers are alive and will be let go if you let the Khans walk out of here. I think it may be a good idea. Less NCR blood spilled and in return your soldiers are returned unharmed."

"Let them go? They kidnapped my own people! I can't stand for that. I do see your point though. But I can't just let them walk. I would need some kind of compensation on their part. Say for 500 caps and they can walk."

Are all NCR soldiers starting to get this corrupt? First there was Major Knight at the Mojave Outpost, now this guy? No wonder the NCR is falling apart its own people are the fuel to the fire. How much longer can the NCR stand before it is no more?

"500 caps? I just walked in there and guaranteed the safe return of two of your soldiers without firing a shot. Not to mention they are offering not to shoot at you. Lieutenant, I recommend you come down on that price if you want this deal to go through.", I said

"Last I checked you weren't in charge here kid, I am. But you do have a point and you and your friends did risk you necks on behalf of the NCR. Fine 200 caps and the Khans can walk IF they release my people first."

"Deal. I will let them know.", I said and returned back to the store Jessup and his crew were staying in while leaving my companions back at the entrance.

"Jessup, you are free to go pending you give me 200 caps to give to the NCR and you let the hostages go first. That is the best I can do for you."

"Damn man that's almost every bit I have. Ok here you go...uh, never caught your name just know that you are a courier. Guess that's good enough. Hand them the caps and bring the hostages over. We will be right behind you."

We all left the building and Jessup told the guard in the room next door to let the hostages go. I escorted the hostages back to the entrance of the ruins and reported to the Lieutenant. Once I gave him the money and he saw that the hostages were returned, the NCR troopers were ordered to pull out of the ruins.

"I didn't expect the Khans to release my men so easily. Thank you… I never got your name." , said the Lieutenant

"Levi Mathis, I'm a courier with the Mojave Express." Pointing to my companions, "This is Cass and the guy in the Recon Beret is Boone."

"Thanks Mathis. Good luck out there. Wish I had a 1st Recon guy watching my back. Safe travels."

The NCR quickly departed and shortly behind them was the Great Khans. Jessup stopped and talked to us before he left.

"Listen, uh thanks for helping us out back there. I know I didn't deserve it and all since I played a part in trying to kill you. Here take this, it's Benny's lighter." , said Jessup handing me a small classic flip-open, silver lighter with a checkered pattern on the face. "Shove this up his ass before you kill him. Oh and if you are ever near Red Rock Canyon, come find me. I owe you a drink."

"Thanks Jessup. Take care."

We left and made our way north west to the trading post. I found the location of the trading post on my Pip-Boy. What seemed like a short trip was turning into a long nightmare. It was easy to see that we were all exhausted and nearly dead on our feet. Luckily most of our traveling had been done at night so the heat of the sun was not bearing down on us. After a few hours of travel, we eventually reached the trading post. Once we passed the first NCR guard, we immediately began to look for a place to rest. Exhaustion was set in completely. I was beginning to fade in and out of consciousness. We found an old camper towards the back of the trading post that had two mattresses inside and one outside on the ground. I volunteered to sleep outside so that my companions could sleep sheltered. Stumbling to my mattress I could no longer feel my legs. My rifle hit the ground as well as my backpack. By willpower alone I made it to my mattress. Sleep however did not come without a price…

The thunderstorm had picked up drastically. We had received intel that Caesar Legion was smuggling weapons through the Mojave via Great Khans disguised as merchants. It was hard to believe that it wasn't too long ago that the Battle for Hoover Dam was victorious for the NCR as we now lay in a wounded state. The relationship between the Khans and the NCR had been unstable especially after what had happened at Bitter Springs. I hadn't been there for the battle. I had been chasing Joshua Graham.

Laying prone and watching an area over Cottonwood Cove through my scope of my Gobi sniper rifle, the world had become almost impossible to see between the pouring rain, lightning and thunder. What was supposed to be a simple stakeout mission would turn into one of the most horrifying memories as a Ghost. I couldn't complain too much about the storm as it kept cover over my position as well. I saw a boat arrive along the river. Switching to night vision on my scope I could make out the Khans eagerly awaiting their shipment. As the boat arrived, I saw through the scope three Legion soldiers stepping onto the docks, but the boat was empty. They were clad in various types of armor. The easiest to recognize was the man in charge. This soldier was wearing Praetorian armor. This signified that he was a member of Caesar's trusted guard. Caesar must have something important coming to him on this run.

As I watched the Legion Praetorian speaking with a member of the Great Khans, I noticed three large bags behind the Khans, they were moving. One of the Khans turned to open the first bag, and inside was a boy that couldn't be any older than ten years of age. The next bag contained a woman, she looked to be about 35-40 years of age. The final bag contained a man in NCR trooper clothing. All three captives had been bound, gagged, and were sitting on their knees. I could not tell from their faces if they had been beaten, as all three were facing away from me. The Praetorian had a large smile on his face when the final bag had opened. He walked over to the NCR trooper and began speaking to him. Smiling while talking, the Praetorian pulled a large machete from its sheath and pointed it toward the boy, the woman, and then at the neck of the trooper. The trooper mumbled something at the Praetorian in defiance as he perked up his shoulders and stuck his neck out towards the arrogant Legion soldier.

Feeling empowered, the Legionnaire smacked the trooper with the back of his hand and the soldier fell over into the mud. Struggling to make his way back to his knees. The Praetorian yelled something through the storm at one of his companions, and one of the Legionnaires came over to help the trooper sit upright. I couldn't watch this anymore. The thought of blowing my cover was becoming more of a reality. I knew that I probably couldn't save them all but if I could save at least the boy and the woman, I knew the trooper would at least feel better before his death. The Praetorian leveled his machete at the trooper's neck then walked over to the woman. The other Legionnaire's now seemed too occupied with something else to watch. The Praetorian was speaking to the woman. He removed the gag from her mouth as most Legion do to women. They get some kind of sick thrill hearing their screams. I aimed my rifle at the Praetorian's head, and just before I squeezed the trigger, I heard the most bone-chilling roar anyone in the wasteland can hear. The roar that shakes you down to your bones and freezes you completely in fear. The roar of a Deathclaw.

The Great Khans fled from Cottonwood Cove at the sight of the monster. It stalked onto the land from the other side of the cove. Standing large, this was no ordinary Deathclaw. It had grown to legendary class. I had to act fast or the hostages would quickly be dead after it finished with its attackers. The other two Legionnaires were busy shooting at the Deathclaw while the Praetorian was barking orders at his subordinates. Timing the thunderclaps in the pouring rain, I aimed at the head of the commanding Legionnaire and pulled the trigger. The other Legionnaires never heard the shot fired as the Praetoriate collapsed onto the ground. Acting on instinct, the trooper slid over to the body of the dead Praetoriate and was able to maneuver his hands in front of his body to grab the machete. As the trooper cut himself free, he ran to cut the woman free. Just as he unbound her hands, the Deathclaw began making its way over to them. Wanting to buy them time or possibly save them, I fired on the Deathclaw. The beast cowered as the bullets impacted its hardened skin but still kept coming. The woman was now free and the trooper began working on the boy. The Deathclaw was closing in on the trooper. I fired three more shots. One landing in the eye of the Deathclaw. It screamed in pain and made me wince at the sheer sound of its scream. The trooper managed to free the boy and was now trying to corral the woman and the boy to escape together. Just as he managed to get the words out of his mouth, the monster batted the soldier to the side making his body fly like a ragdoll into a jagged rock head. The trooper was now impaled by the large rock and could not move but was still alive. I aimed and fired again at the Deathclaw trying to get its attention. It saw the boy and the woman close by and wanted them. Another bullet struck the Deathclaw. It cowered once more only to start itself into a run, and shortly after caught the woman by biting a chunk out of her right shoulder. Taking a few seconds to chew on her flesh and bones, the beast turned his sights onto the boy.

I aimed at the other eye for the Deathclaw and fired. The bullet struck clean into the beast but didn't kill it as it shrieked in pain once more. It could no longer see the boy, but could smell his fear, taste his sweat and tears, and it could hear his panting and movements. I screamed at the boy, "RUN IT CAN'T SEE YOU BUT I ONLY HAVE THREE SHOTS LEFT!"

The boy didn't seem to hear me through the storm. Firing once more and the Deathclaw, it began to slow but still ever searching for its would-be dinner. I fired again this time hitting the monster in the head, but the beast kept moving. Fearing the worst for the boy's fate and only having one bullet left I had to consider my options. I knew I was not fast enough to make it to the boy. The Deathclaw was ever getting closer to the young man. It wouldn't be much longer until it was right on top of him. Feeling for the boy, I had to do something that would keep him from the pain of being eaten alive by the monster. Staring into my scope I could see the boy crying and could tell he was deathly afraid. The wasteland is not biased on age to anyone that it claims. But not today. The beast was almost on top of the boy. Having no choices, I aimed my rifle and fired my last shot…