As they get deeper into Freeside Josie notices something happening off the side of the road. An NCR soldier seems to be wrestling with a large fat man. The man himself seems to be on some sort of chem due to his weird and wild movements, but eventually, the soldier brings him to the ground and restrains him.
"Is that guys knee on his neck?" she asks, wondering if that was proper protocol.
Afton looks over and shakes his head, "Neck and shoulder."
"Kneeling on the neck will kill him right?" she mutters while opening the door slightly to air her grievances, however, once she does she can hear the large man wheezing.
"Let... me go... I can't breathe."
"Right, you and the other fifty people who've tried the same thing." the soldier remarks, staying put.
"Hey, he says he can't breath! Give him some room!" Josie says from the car, finally catching their attention.
"Just leave it alone, Josie." Afton sighs.
"Miss, I have to do this for the safety of myself and the public... This man just robbed a family at gunpoint..."
"Well you have disarmed him already, give him some space and wait for the others to arrive." she continues.
The soldier just gives a long sigh and does as she asks, he'd heard of a few soldiers getting thrown in prison on the public's emotion alone. He rearranges his restraint, but this was just what the criminal was looking for. He throws the man off of his back while grabbing the gun from the soldier's holster.
*BANG!*
The man shoots the soldier in the face, but doesn't stop there.
*BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!*
He unloads the revolver until it gives nothing but clicks... He looks around for anyone else and eventually spots Josie, running towards her to most likely take the vehicle.
Unfortunately for the man...
*DAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA!*
The K9000 had already designated them as an enemy and riddled them with bullets, causing them to fall down to the ground lifelessly.
Josie just watches on in horror, disgusted that her actions had not only killed the soldier, but the criminal as well...
"Alright, we've been here long enough, let's get moving before we're stuck being questioned." Afton urges, not wanting to get caught up in paperwork.
"H-how are you so calm about this?" she asks, a shudder in her voice.
Afton shrugs, "It's just the way things work."
"The Wasteland?" she guesses.
Afton shakes his head, "The world."
The group continue on driving until they reach the Strip North Gate. The Securitrons just stand stock still where they are, but their weapon are pointed directly at the vehicle as if waiting for them to try and breach into New Vegas.
Afton just gets Josie to drive into a vacant area on the right, they'd park the vehicle there and leave it while they're in the strip. They wouldn't have to worry about thieves as the K9000 would be designated to deal with anyone who tried to gain access to it.
The group get out of the truck and head to the gate as Afton looks them all over, "So, I'm guessing the people who have licences are everyone but Anja?"
The group nod and Anja looks sheepish, "Will that be a problem, sir?"
Afton shakes his head, "Not really, we just gotta show that you have enough caps for the strip, which isn't really a problem... Now that I think about it, we still have to collect our bounty from Dhatri, don't we?"
As they approach the gate, the Securitrons bar their entrance... "Display your identification or submit to a credit check... Trespassers will be shot."
The group do as their told, however, when it comes to Anja's turn the Securitron points its weapon at her, "Ghouls may not enter the Strip."
...
"What? Why?" Afton asks in confusion.
"Studies have shown that ghouls are more vicious, unstable, and more prone to violence than regular humans." the Securitron lists off.
...
Afton frowns, "I take it the tests didn't distinguish between regular ghouls and feral ghouls?" he asks with a dull expression, knowing that version of events is most likely to have occurred.
"Ghoul are prohibited, please step aside." the Securitron repeats, apparently not having the processing power or ability to debate Afton on this.
He sighs and glances at Anja, "My bad Anja-"
"No... It's ok, sir. I'll stay behind and protect Dirt-Hog while you're gone." she quietly mutters.
Afton nods but snaps his fingers at Dog-meat, "You stay behind with her boy, get rid of anyone who bothers her or the truck."
*Woof!* The dog barks and walks to Anja's side as she watches them a good distance from the gate.
Without further adieu, the group stroll past the Securitrons and walk into the strip. The gates shut behind them as they are greeted by the sight of the most populace, and well maintained prewar city left in the world.
The strip definitely belonged in Vegas, old and new. With dazzling lights everywhere you look and hundreds or thousands of drunken, dishevelled, or rich folk walking around. There were casino's lining each side of the long road, but most impressive of them all was the Lucky 38, the towering behemoth that almost everyone in the Mojave could see.
It was no wonder the lights from the place at night illuminated areas miles away. The tower itself produced enough light pollution to stop the stars from being visible... It's a shame no one had been allowed inside for centuries, Afton thought the view at the top would be both beautiful and despairing... He couldn't imagine what it could be like for Mr House to look down at the destroyed Wasteland and compare it with what he once knew... If he was indeed the same person that is.
Personally, Afton wasn't all that sure Mr House was still alive. For all they knew it, could be some sort of AI designed to mimic him...
Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
Afton changes focus from the almost blinding strip to his companions, "Alright, where to first?"
Boone just shrugs, "No idea."
"If you're looking for someone, wouldn't it be best if we split up?" Josie asks with the other nodding.
"Yeah, that seems like the easiest way forward... But you guys won't go alone, I've heard too many horror stories about this place to trust it... Kidnapping, cannibalism, slavery. I trust you guys' skill, but in enemy territory, it won't mean all that much."
Karl sighs at where this is going, "Alright, but I-"
Afton cuts him off , "-And since you and Josie were such a good team last time, I think putting you to together would be for the best." he says with a small grin.
"Damned traitor." Karl mutters under his breath.
"Boone, you'll go with ED-E. Sure, he might not be the best at combat, but the rest of us will definitely hear about it if you and a 'flying robot' start shooting up a casino."
Boone just nods, "Fine by me."
*Beeep Beep!*
Afton nods, "Alright... Just incase you guys need a reminder, I'm looking for some very close friends. A female with messy dark brown hair, pale skin, and dark brown eyes... Like's power fists, punching people, and... Dresses."
"Huh... Something doesn't match up there." Karl mutters, with the other giving similar sentiments.
Afton shrugs, "She likes what she likes... The other person is female, 6ft, tan skin, long dark brown hair, brown eyes, with scarring on her face... Specifically, look for a bullet wound on her forehead. Last time I saw her she was wearing a Vault suit, but I doubt she'd still be wearing it...
Currently, she's hunting some guy in a checkered suit, so if you get word of him find me and let me know. That'll be their target."
"A bullet wound on her forehead?... Shouldn't she be like, dead?" Josie asks.
"Yeah, but apparently she's too stubborn to die... I personally wouldn't want to fuck with her, Karl can attest to that." Afton says and Karl gives a stern nod in response.
Afton also needed to find Major Lowell Thompson Jr, but he wasn't about to tell them that. Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, he'd assassinate the fat fuck and be out before his body hit the floor.
"Is everyone okay with the plan?" he asks and the group nods, "Right, well take some caps with you as well, not gambling would make you look out of place... Just try not to lose it all in one go." he says, handing-off a couple pouches of caps.
Afterwards, he looks to the casino's and gestures to the first, "I'll hit up that one while you guys do the rest. Good luck, and try to have some fun... I can guarantee you won't be getting another opportunity here for a while." he says before walking to Gomorrah.
As he leaves Karl looks at the others and chuckles, "Kid doesn't know that's the biggest whore house in the whole Mojave... Wish I could see his face when he realises it."
Boone smirks slightly but manages to hide it, "I'll check out the Ultra-Lux... Heard some bad rumours about it a while back."
Karl nods and looks to Josie, "Guess that means we're at the Top..." he says with a chuckle while gesturing to the Tops Casino.
"Wow... You look like an old man, sound like an old man, and now you're telling jokes like an old man... You'll be retiring soon, right?" Josie says.
Karl scoffs and grumbles, "Let's just get to work, youngster." he retorts while walking to the Tops.
Elsewhere :
Afton had just entered Gomorrah after passing by the numerous prostitutes that were dancing just outside on the strip. Once inside he's accosted by someone wearing pre-war gangster attire... A nice-looking suit with a black trilby hat.
"Ey, you can't come in here lookin' like that." the man growls out as he approaches.
Afton raises a brow, wondering if his mutations would prevent him from entering any casino, "What do you mean?"
The gangster gestures at him, "Kid, you literally have more weapons than you have limbs. I don't know what kinda freaky bull-shit freakshow you came outta, but that's not how we do on the Strip, you dig?"
...
"Err, yeah, I 'dig'..."
"Then hand over them irons and you can gamble your life away like the rest'o them." he says, gesturing towards the front desk.
Afton follows the man to the reception area but stops just before he's forced to give his weapons, "These won't be touched while I'm gone, right? They hold tremendous sentimental value, and are quite dangerous to those unfamiliar with them..." he says, warning them of the danger they'd be in should they touch his guns.
The man shrugs, "They'll be kept locked up, safe and outta anyone's hands until you come back. You have my word on that." the man says and Afton nods.
Still, there's no honour among thieves, so Afton slips his Fallen Ranger Sequoia into one of the pockets in the Stealthsuit, using his Stealth skill to the max to makesure the Gangster doesn't notice.
"What's this thing?" the man asks while examining his two Proton axes.
"Ah, those?... Er, backscratchers... Yeah, I know a couple massages that I was hoping to use on the..." he looks around and spots a prostitute dancing in a cage that's hanging from the ceiling. "On the girls here... You know, can't enjoy myself unless the other party is at least having fun."
...
The gangster shrugs and hands them back, "Whatever, personally I wouldn't be able to tell if the broads here are happy, sad, or suicidal. Best just to get your money's worth, you know what I'm sayin'?"
Afton nods with the best 'empathising' look he can give, "Yeah, but who else am I gonna practise my technique on? The misses isn't all that receptive to 'toys', so I might as well use my talents elsewhere."
"Hahaha! You're my kinda guy, what's you're name? Wouldn't think someone as young as you would even have a misses."
Afton chuckles jovially, "Harvey Weinstein."
The man nods, "Name, Joey Juliano." he leans in, "But that's just my club name, in private, call me Bill."
Afton nods and shakes his hand, sliding a few caps into his palm, "Pleasure meeting you, 'Joey'." he says before walking further into the casino.
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