Showdown in Goodsprings

Marcus and his companions followed Sunny Smiles to the abandoned Goodsprings gas station, and she knocked on the door three times. "Ringo, it's Sunny."

A few moments later they could hear something beginning dragged away from the door and it opened about an inch. The barrel of a six shooter and a pair of frightened eyes greeted them. "Who are they?"

Sunny turned to the four new companions. "It's okay - they're friends. They're here to help."

The frightened man's eyes scanned the strange looking group before opening the door the rest of the way, and he quickly shut it once everyone was inside. "Sorry about the gun, you just caught me off guard," he holstered his pistol, "but if Sunny says you're alright that's good enough for me. Name's Ringo."

Marcus was the first to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Six. This is Sarah, Follows-Chalk, and Lily."

Though he seemed intimidated by Lily, Ringo shook everyone's hand and thanked them.

"So why is Joe Cobb and his Powder Gangers after you?" Marcus asked.

Ringo took a deep breath. "I'm a trader with the Crimson Caravan Company. My caravan was on a return trip from California to the company branch in New Vegas when they jumped us. Not even a 'drop your weapons and hands up' before the bullets started flying. We put up a good fight….but there were too many of them." He stopped for a minute and swallowed hard. "Anyway, I managed to take down a few of the bandits before I ran. So I guess Cobb and his boys are out for revenge."

"How many of these Powder Gangers are we talking about?" Sarah asked.

Ringo shook his head. "Not sure. There are hundreds of them all over the Mojave. Some of them are in groups of ten or less, others are in the dozens. The group that attacked my caravan had to be between twenty and thirty of them."

Marcus turned to Sunny. "How many of the town's people can we count on to fight?"

She responded with a shrug. "That depends on who you can convince to fight. The folks here won't follow just anybody, but there are a few important people in town that the rest of them look up to. If you can convince them, I'm sure most if not all of the town's people will rise up and fight back. I would start with Trudy - she's the de-facto mayor and her words carry a lot of weight."

Marcus took a moment to consider their options. "Okay, we'll try to convince as many people as we can to fight Cobb and his men….but I'd like to know exactly what we're up against."

"If we knew where these Powder Gangers were gathering we could scout the camp and determine their strength." Follows-Chalk said.

Sunny pointed her thumb towards the south. "There's a small camp a couple of miles outside of town. That would be a good place for me and Cheyanne to start."

Follows-Chalk eagerly stepped up. "I and Dogmeat will come with you. We can cover more ground, and the four of us might be able to slow them down before they attack."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Okay, do what you can….but don't push your luck. Only engage if you're certain you won't get caught."

Sunny smirked. "Relax….this isn't my first rodeo. Remember, talk to Trudy first - she's the key. Without her, well…..our odds will not be great."

Ringo cleared his throat. "And ah, what do you need me to do?"

Marcus turned to him. "Stay here and lay low. When the time comes to fight, be ready."

Sunny decided that they should stay off the main road while heading towards the Powder Gangers' camp. This not only allowed them to avoid detection, but it gave them the opportunity to clear out the Goodsprings water source from fire geckos. It was a good thing too, because they arrived just as a female resident of the town was about to be ripped to shreds by the nasty mutations. Sunny was impressed at how efficient the young tribal was with a repeating rifle, and he was equally impressed at her skills with her varmint rifle.

Dogmeat would've been burned by the creatures if it hadn't been for Cheyenne. The K-9 obviously knew from experience what the geckos were capable of, so when she saw Dogmeat charge head-on into them she quickly jumped in front of him - stopping his advance and keeping the cattle dog out of the fire's reach.

With the resident safe and the geckos cleared out, they continued to make their way towards the camp; being ever watchful for more of the local wildlife.

"So how did you and this Courier meet?" Sunny asked as her eyes scanned the area.

Follows-Chalk had to think fast. "Well um….you see Mar….I mean Six, was making a delivery in Zion Valley where my tribe lives. He and Sarah agreed to take me to the civilized lands."

Sunny stared at the young tribal. She had a feeling there was more to the story but decided to let it go for now. "And what do you think of the 'civilized' lands so far?"

Follows-Chalk thought for a moment. "Different in many ways….but also, same in others. We don't have Super Mutants, or live in houses, or wear" he tapped his chest, "cloths like this. But the people seem….same."

"How so?"

"Well….the people in your town remind me of the Sorrows tribe. Sorrows just want to live in peace. Powder Gangers are like the White Legs. All they know is war, and they take what they want. At first Sorrows didn't want to fight….like most in your tribe, but they realized they had no choice and they drove the White Legs out."

"So do I remind you of one of these….Sorrows?"

Follows-Chalk shook his head. "No. You are more like my tribe, the Dead Horses. We don't attack and raid other tribes like the White Legs, but we are always ready to fight to protect our land and our friends."

Sunny found her cheeks getting slightly flushed at the complement. "Well, I know the type of person Cobb is. He's not going to stop with Ringo. If we don't stand up to them now, we're going to have to sooner or later."

Their conversation was interrupted by both Cheyanne and Dogmeat growling.

"Quick, get down!" Sunny commanded and both she and Follows-Chalk dropped to their bellies. Cautiously they crawled through the thicket until finally the source of the dogs' distress came into view.

The camp was indeed small, consisting of only one run down trailer and a wrecked big rig; which is why Sunny's mouth dropped open at the large gathering of Powder Gangers milling around it. The young woman took out a pair of binoculars and began scanning the area, and it didn't take her long to spot the source of their problem. "There's Cobb. This is bad. The most I've ever seen at this camp were ten Powder Gangers….now there's at least three dozen of these assholes!"

She handed the binoculars to Follows-Calk. He observed the Powder Gangers cleaning their guns, reading melee weapons and carrying large boxes with the letters TNT written on them. He also counted fifteen strange looking machines with two wheels, a seat and some kind of bar on the front. "What are those….machines?"

Sunny let out a low sigh. "Trouble. Cobb wasn't kidding when he said he was going to burn down the whole town. We've got to get back and warn them…."

She was interrupted by the sound of gunfire off in the distance. Follows-Chalk watched as the color drained from Sunny's face.

"Oh no! They're attacking Lone wolf radio. Come on! If we go around the hills they won't see us!"

Trudy's Saloon….

Trudy was still cleaning up the mess from the bar fight with the Powder Gangers when Marcus arrived to talk with her. "Trudy, do you have a moment?"

Trudy grunted as she uprighted a table. "No, but we can talk while you help me."

Marcus shrugged. "Fair enough." He made his way over to the radio lying on the floor. "Looks like we broke your radio. I could probably fix it for ya."

"Knock yourself out."

Marcus placed the radio on the bar and began taking it apart. "Sunny has agreed to help us fight the Powder Gangers. I don't think I have to tell you what our chances are if we don't get more help."

Trudy sighed as she began wiping down a table. "Frankly, I was hoping Ringo would sneak out of town and take the Powder Gangers with him. But, I guess it's too late for that."

"Sunny told us people in this town look up to you. If you can convince them to join us we can beat Cobb and his gang."

Trudy stopped working and approached him. "Why are you getting involved in all of this? I mean if you feel like you owe us because Doc Mitchell saved you it's not necessary. It's what we do here."

"Well," he made a few adjustments to the radio, "that's what I do too." A moment later the radio lite up, and music began playing from it. Marcus presented her with a grin. "See, good as new." He walked over to her. "What do you say, Trudy?"

Trudy crossed her arms and presented him with a grin of her own. "You know what, I think this whole thing is crazy….but I can't help but like you. I'll start gathering the people together for this militia of yours, but it would help if we had armor, weapons and ammo. Talk to Chet at the general store….though he's going to need some convincing. We could also use some explosives from Easy Pete, and as many medical supplies as the Doc can spare."

Marcus shook her hand. "Thank you. I'll talk to Easy Pete and Mitchell….I'll send Sarah and Lily to talk to Chet. They can be very persuasive."

The Powder Ganger put a bullet into the dying wastelander's head for good measure; his pathetic cries for mercy ignored. "I got dibs on this fucker's boots!" he declared to the nine other gang members who were dividing up the loot from the other dead wastelander. There wasn't much to what was known as Lone Wolf Radio. A dilapidated trailer filled with radio equipment, surrounded by makeshift antennas tucked away in a small nook in the hills above the road south of Goodsprings. What started out as a one man operation grew into several wastelanders who had traveled from the east, providing a very valuable commodity: knowledge. Specifically, knowledge from the wasteland survival guide that had been published in the Capital Union by none other than Moira Brown.

Twice a day the operators of this station would read from the pages of this novel, giving life saving advice to anyone listening. Now, two of its operators were dead and their equipment destroyed at the hands of the convicts looting what they could. One of them yelled from inside the trailer, and a moment later he was standing in the doorway holding a woman at knife point. "Look at what I found, fellas!"

The other nine sets of eyes were on her. She was young, probably sixteen or seventeen, long black hair and a brown completion. Her brown eyes were filled with terror….just as the convicts like it.

The one who had executed the wastelander dropped his gear and rushed towards them; a menacing hunger in his eyes. "Now that's what I'm talkin about. I'm first!"

"Fuck you!" Said the gang member holding the young girl. "I found her - I'm going first!"

Three more of the Powder Gangers ran over to the trailer, and the girl let out a cry of terror as she was pushed back inside. The remaining five chuckled and continued their looting; they knew their turn would come soon enough.

One of the convicts was looting a metal crate near a patch of tall weeds when a hand was placed over his mouth, immediately followed up by a knife being plunged into his throat. His cries were muffled as Sunny Smiles dragged him into the thicket. This was unnoticed by the lone Powder Ganger standing on top of the trailer tasked with keeping watch. His attention was instead on a hole in the trailer's ceiling which allowed him to watch the horrific 'show' going on inside. It was the last thing he would ever see before one of Follows-Chalk arrows pierced his heart from the back.

The two Powder Gangers that were in the process of stripping one of the dead wastelanders bare heard the thud caused by the falling body and looked up. A second later one of them was struck in the neck by a throwing knife, killing him instantly. His companion didn't have time to cry out as he was dispatched by an arrow to the throat. The last Powder Ganger outside of the trailer realized what was happening and went for his pistol. "What the fuck…."

Dogmeat leaped onto the man's back, knocking him to the ground. As he screamed in pain and terror he managed to fire a single shot, alerting the other five gang members inside of the trailer. The first one to step outside received a 5.56mm slug from Sunny's varmint rifle between his eyes. The next gang member, whom apparently had not learned the fatal lesson from his comrade, ran outside and was immediately tackled and mauled by Cheyanne.

Two more Powder Gangers jumped out the trailer's front window trying to escape, but were shot in the back by Sunny. The last of the convicts appeared in the trailer's doorway, holding the now half naked woman at gunpoint. "I'll kill her! Do you hear me! I'll fucking kill…."

The tomahawk flew through the air and struck the Powder Ganger and became embedded in his forehead. The young woman let out a yelp as her captor's corps fell backwards into the trailer.

With the last Powder Ganger dispatched, Sunny shouldered her rifle and cautiously approached the terrified girl. "It's okay." She said with both hands raised. "We're not here to hurt you."

At first the young woman began to back away, but then she recognized her rescuer. "I know you. You're….Sunny, right?"

She presented a warm smile. "That's right….I've come here to trade once or twice. You're….Melissa, right?"

The young woman nodded. Follows-Chalk and both canines walked up behind Sunny. "We should go. The others may have heard the gunshots."

Sunny quickly grabbed a thin blanket from inside the trailer and wrapped Melissa in it. "Take her back to Goodsprings and have Doc Mitchell take care of her."

Follows-Chalk looked at her dumb founded. "What are you going to do?"

Sunny looked at the tribal, and he could see the hatred in her eyes. "I'm going to scavenge what I can, and leave Cobb and his friends a little surprise."

Follows-Chalk looked at the state Melissa was in, and he too wanted revenge. "Then I will stay and help you."

Sunny placed her hand on Melissa's shoulder. "She needs medical attention. One of us is going to have to take her back…."

"I'm okay." Melissa blurted out. "I'll be fine. Really. Do what you have to do….just make sure you kill as many as you can."

"Now hold on just a minute! I never voted on takin on the Powder Gangers, and I'm damn sure not getting involved in this!"

Chet, the owner of the Goodsprings general store was adamant in his declaration to Sarah as he stood behind his counter with his arms crossed. Marcus had warned her that he would take some convincing, and unfortunately he was right.

"Well like it or not, they're coming. So unless you want them to take over this town and your store…."

"Do you realize what you're asking me? Armor, guns, ammo….that's at least a thousand cap investment. Are you and your Courier friend going to reimburse me?"

Sarah had to bit her lower lip. Guys like this always made her blood boil - men who would put profit over the safety of their community. She calmly leaned onto the counter and lowered her voice. "Tell you what, I'll make a deal with you. You agree to handing over the supplies we've asked for, and I'll stop my friend here from ripping out your spine."

In that moment a large shadow fell on Chet, and he looked up to see the massive Nightkin, showing her teeth and letting out a low growl. As the merchant tried to control his bodily functions, he wiped his brow and cleared his throat. "Um….you know what….I guess I can spare a few supplies to help out. Just send everyone over and I'll hand them out. I'll a….be guarding the store while all of this is going on. You understand."

Sarah stood up straight and left without saying a word.

Powder Ganger Camp West….

Joe Cobb had assembled quite the force to take on Goodsprings. Over three dozen of his boys had shown up, bringing with them enough firepower to level three settlements. The fifteen dirt bikes they had salvaged were an added bonus. Hell, those shit-kickers probably had never even seen a bike, and the site of fifteen of them speeding through their town with guns blazing would send most of them running for the hills. He was knocked out of his train of thought by Chavez, the leader of a small group of Powder Gangers in the south who had decided to join 'the fun'. "The boys are getting restless, Cobb. When are we gonna do this?"

Cobb sighed in mild annoyance. "We'll go when I say we go. Don't worry, you'll all get a taste."

"It better be worth it, that's all I'm sayin. A few of the guys got tired of sit'n around and hit that Lone Wolf radio station. Low key, but it'll keep'em busy for a while."

"I don't care what they do, as long as they're ready to go when I say…."

He was interrupted by one of his men running up to him. "Cobb! Cobb! I just picked up a signal from that group that hit the radio station. They said their pinned down and need help."

"You gotta be shit'n me!" Cobb snapped. "Those fools can't handle a couple of hillbillys in a beat up trailer!" He turned to Chavez. "Take a few guys and get those idiots back here!"

Chavez clenched his fists. He never liked taking orders. "Fine! But those wastelanders better be armed to the teeth, or I'll shoot those fuck ups myself!" After rounding up eleven more men, Chavez headed over to Lone Wolf radio to 'rescue' the Powder Gangers who apparently couldn't handle a couple of rednecks. Chavez wondered if they would be any help in attacking Goodsprings, and he seriously considered writing them off. He wasn't prepared for what he saw when they arrived.

The bodies of five Powder Gangers were scattered around the area, and a few were already being fed on by fire geckos. A few well placed gunshots drove the abominations away, and Chavez ordered his men to spread out and search for the others. He, along with four of his men, made their way over to the trailer, their weapons at the ready.

Chavez was the first inside, and what he saw made his blood turn cold. The remaining five Powder Gangers were laid out inside the trailer. Four of them were on the floor, and the fifth was sitting at the radio, slumped over the controls.

"Motherfucker!" Chavez growled. He lowered his rifle and began looking the bodies over. 'Whoever did this is dead!', his mind screamed. He grabbed the Powder Ganger slumped over the radio and pulled his body back - causing the grenade it was resting on to roll onto the floor and explode. This set off the other hand grenades and sticks of dynamite that Sunny and Follows-Chalk had scavenged from the dead convicts, and the trailer was blown apart in a fireball. Chavez and the four Powder Gangers were incinerated, two more were killed by shrapnel and the rest were sent running off into the night.

Note: I know, it's been way too long and I am sorry. I've decided to put my other story "Fallout Rise of Nuka Girl" on hold until I finish this one. Working on two stories is at once is not working out. I hope you liked this chapter, I wanted to establish Sunny Smiles as the badass she should've been in the game. I can't take credit for the back story of Lone Wolf radio, it's one of many theories on the internet, and I felt the fact that you do find a copy of the Wasteland Survival Guide in the game made this theory the most likely. Anyway, this story had already passed 50,000 views and I am grateful. Thank you all for your support.