One For My Baby

"Well, that sure was, uh, fascinating." Cass remarked after witnessing three Repconn rockets shoot off into the sunset. It took several hours of backtracking to find the materials needed to send Jason Bright and his followers off to the "Great Beyond." Lucas even managed to adjust the trajectory of the rockets to land them closer to their destination.

By the time the three compatriots returned to the humble town of Novac, the sun had completely vanished. They unloaded their gear and took a minute to themselves to unwind.

"Y'know, for someone on a mission of revenge, you seem eager to delay your journey to help others.," an exhausted Cass began, "If I were in your shoes I'd have handled my business the moment I could stand. But you are making a point to help everyone you come across. And for what?"

Lucas finished tucking his belongings into his rucksack and let out a chuckle.

"In all honesty, I just want to make the waste a better place, ya know? I've done it once before, and I guarantee I can do it again."

Just then, Cass recalled a conversation she had en route to clear the ghouls up at the Repconn test site. The story of Lucas aiding in fulfilling the vision his parents had of bringing pure, clean water to the Capital Wasteland. She hanged on every minute detail of how he nearly died of extreme radiation poisoning from activating the water purifier, defeating the Enclave for good, and essentially carving a new nation from rubble. "Maybe," she'd thought, "maybe the Mojave actually has a glimmer of hope."

"I s'pose I understand whatcha mean. Anyway, did ya want to go let Manny know the job's done?"

"I might as well before I forgot. I'll be back momentarily!"

The courier leaped up and made his way up into the dinosaur. Right as he walked out onto the sniper's nest, he was greeted by an unfamiliar face.

"Goddamnit! Don't sneak up on me like that!" scolded the sniper.

"I apologize. I was simply looking for Manny. You must be Boone, I take it?"

"If you're looking for Manny, he lives on the bottom floor. Third door from the left. Now beat it, I gotta watch for threats." Boone coldly put.

As the courier turned to walk back inside the gift shop, he stopped in his tracks.

"I heard about your wife."

Silence.

"I know you think someone in town sold her into slavery. Perhaps your intuition is right." Lucas didn't need to turn around to know Boone no longer was aiming down the sights of his rifle., "Someone had to have. The exchange had to have occurred while you were relieving Manny from his post. The culprit had to have known your guy's schedules, if you want the help, then say the word. Otherwise, I probably won't see you again." Matthews reached to turn the door handle when Boone called out.

"Wait.," Boone paused, "perhaps I had made a bad judgement call. Look, if you're serious about finding the person who sold my wife I'll accept your help. I can't trust a single person in town, so you're the best I've got."

Lucas turned to meet Boone's gaze.

"I am serious. I don't take kindly to slavers, as a matter-of-fact, I wiped out a slaver sanctuary back where I'm from. If you need someone you can trust on this, then I'm your guy."

Without another word, Boone slipped the courier a note which detailed Boone's plan. Lucas nodded and went on his way. He knew who the culprit was. There was something off about this person, as if they had a dark secret withheld. Lucas knew people thanks to his travels and he knew just where to look.

Once he was sure no one was around he picked the lock to Dino-Dee-Lite lobby. Inside, he waltzed behind the counter and broke into the safe which was embedded into the floor. The contents of which confirmed his suspicion; a bill of sale and obvious Legion currency, the courier, made a mad dash to Jeannie May's house. Upon reaching the front door he pounded on it assuming she needed to be woken up.

Creaking, the door slowly opened to reveal an exhausted motel owner.

"What brings you by so late?," croaked the older woman.

"I noticed something strange in front of the dinosaur, Cliff asked if you'd come check it out with me?" Lucas lied through nearly gritted teeth.

Jeannie sighed, "if ya say so."

Although a short walk to the front of Dinky the dinosaur, the palpable tension made it feel like a marathon. Before he could forget, Lucas donned the beret Boone gave him.

Upon reaching Jeannie's final destination a sudden single shot rang out and Jeannie's head was reduced to complete mush.

"I can't fucking believe it!!!!," an incensed Cass screamed, "Who is such a cruel, cold-hearted cunt, that they'd sell a pregnant woman to the Legion?!"

By now, it was the next morning, and the group of three grew to four. Boone decided he couldn't stay in Novac any longer. Ranger Andy took over Boone's nightwatch duties, Manny went out of his way to make amends with his friend and former squadmate, and Cliff Briscoe comped Lucas his room. Cass was shaken up by the news of Jeannie being a Legion sympathiser.

Lucas was eager to investigate the nearby power plant, but decided to pay Camp Forlorn Hope a visit first. Boone proved to be a blessing, as any hostile person or creature was blown away before anyone else drew their weapon. So the trip was therefore uneventful.

"I'm afraid I can't let you go into Nelson." the African-American NCR ranger said firmly.

"Why not?" a curious couried inquired.

Before the ranger, named Milo, could respond, Boone interjected.

"The place is crawling with Legion scum. They took it over about a week back and the NCR hasn't had the wherewithal to reclaim it."

Everyone fell quiet until Milo spoke back up.

"Exactly, and I don't want to risk you folk getting caught up in the mess. Plus, three of my men got caught and are hanging up in the center of town. I also don't want them to assume we're on the attack and kill my men."

"What needs to be done?" Lucas asked, That Gun at the ready.

Cass and Boone nodded at their friend and ED-E beeped affirmatively.

The battle raged for a solid thirty minutes until it was clear that the ramshackle town of Nelson was once again an NCR stronghold by noon. Milo slipped the three human companions an IOU slip to present to Colonel Hsu at McCarran to receive payment. Boone was glad that his allies were sensible enough to spare the crucified troopers. Additionally, he was proud to have dealt the killing blow to Dead Sea, the Legion Decanus in charge, with his own machete.

A/N:

I decided that to spare my poor thumbs and my overworked brain, that I wouldn't write out each quest. I hope that decision doesn't prove detrimental to anyone's enjoyment.

I hope y'all liked this chapter! Do leave a review!