Game Changer

Summary – The Ranger's thoughts during Larry's first kidnapping attempt.

Notes - Season 1 Episode 4 & 5

Disclaimer – I do not own or pretend to own anything from either the Fallout games or from Nuka Break, the web-series (but I'm very happy to be a huge fan!)

Twig had nothing in his hands, his weapon holstered by his side. How had he survived the Wasteland for this long? Scarlett at least cradled her energy gun. The ghoul though, the object of his damn quest, was doing neither - blending in by simply standing still with his gun at his side, letting everyone else focus on Scarlett and Twig. Around them various weapons, melee and ranger, were pointed at their heads.

8 against 3. And James felt he couldn't act without at least one of the hostages dying or coming to harm. Waiting would have to be the game...but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It would at least force the ghoul to act. Do something. Anything. Hopefully.

There was something big with pinprick claws scratching around in his chest, but it certainly wasn't nerves. It wasn't the depressing thought that this would be yet another dead end, filled with stories about rings lost while traveling the desert, names changed for protection, and false claims of forgotten memories. Of reading whatever tells he gave away. It was impressive, the lengths some ghouls would go to to claim a family again. Impressive and sad.

A nod of approval as Scar took one out on her own - whether someone had taught her some very nice skills or she had picked them up on her own, those had been executed well. Sweat trickled down neck, and James removed his helmet to gulp down lukewarm water.

She had a gun now, replacing the laser pistol, and was pointing it at Larry's face. Which...didn't help in the long run.

"Damn." The hiss slipped out from between gritted teeth. "I really thought they'd be able to get away."

His eyes narrowed in both empathy for the pain of being shot and disbelief that the ghoul hadn't done anything yet. If this was really Benjamin, shouldn't he be protecting her? At least protesting or something? He was just standing there! Doing absolutely nothing! His teeth sunk down into his lips so his frustration didn't echo through the caverns.

He heard Larry screaming about Smoothskins and had to stifle a snort. Mutant, ghoul, human - you get what you pay for. And when you're a money grabbing skinflint, well, the results speak for themselves.

"What are you waiting for?" James urged quietly, his fists clenched. Was him information wrong again? "Come on! Go! Help your friends!"

Cliff whispered words had no affect. Nothing happened. The drama below him kept playing on and he gave a long, frustrated, drawn out sigh. Another fruitless dead end; this ghoul couldn't be Benjamin. Itchy fingers reached out to caress the rifle at his side; he could certainly help two, possibly all of them escape.

Scar choose that moment to take out the man who had shot her.

He sighted down the scope at the action, clucking his tongue in disappointment.

"Basic tactics. Take out the leader first, then go for revenge."

Now Twig had his arms raised, a show of harmlessness he didn't need. Scar had a gun on Larry and Larry had one on her. The ghoul was still standing there, acting like this was one of Three Dog's radio scripts.

"Dammit." Twig was lowering his weapon, urging Scar to do the same. That lowered the odds...maybe only the girl would get out alive. She seemed to have both the skills and spirit.

James blinked. And missed it, even though he'd be hoping for it. In the seconds after it had taken for Twig and Scar to drop their weapons to the ground, the ghoul had reacted, and he now had a shotgun point blank at the back of Larry's head.

A soft whistle settled the situation. James knew his strengths, but for someone to be that stealthy...that took years of practice. Decades or maybe even centuries.

"Maybe..." He muttered, giving the ghoul an reappraising look. It was possible...this might actually be the man he was looking for. It was a standoff, Benjamin against Larry, Larry's goons against his friends.

The ghouls exchanged a few words, and then suddenly Larry screamed out, demanding to know who had been covering Benjamin. A woman in the back raised her hand hesitantly, after being pointed at by the guy behind her. A few more words, then a blast as Larry killed her, quickly training his gun back on Ben's companions.

Mouths moved, but words went unheard; Larry turning his gun on an old friend took him by surprise. And he certainly wasn't expecting Benjamin to knock the shotgun back with the butt of his rifle, before Larry could pull the trigger.

"Heh." James couldn't help but chuckle. "5 against 3 now, and the game has changed. Let's see how this one plays out."

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