Chapter 155: Bear with me

Karl looks through the binoculars at the situation and scowls as he inspects it. The Sergeant was clearly new to this and didn't have a clue about what was actually happening... One of the Rangers had already been shot dead while the other was laying on the floor covered in wounds.

He was still alive, not because he was lucky or durable, but because the Fiends were playing with him like prey. They were crazy, occasionally tossing rocks and other objects at the downed NCR ranger while laughing and cackling madly.

Karl had seen this many times before, the Fiends held a deep hatred for the NCR and basically brainwashed their members to despise them. They reinforce those feelings with addictive chems and an oppressive power scheme, as well as brutal leaders who'll rape, kill, and torture as they please.

Karl shoves the binoculars back into the Sergeants hands and shakes his head at him, "Son, you don't even know the mess you've been caught up in, do you?"

"Sorry?" the man asks, confused at was Karl might be inferring.

He points a finger towards the Fiends, "They've left the Ranger alive, do you know why?" the Sergeant shakes his head and Karl continues, "Because they know the NCR will do everything they can to take back their own soldiers. The Fiends are trying to lure NCR to them so to try and kill as many as possible before they themselves are taken down... A "Honeypot" they call it."

The Sergeant pales at how badly he'd misjudged the situation. He'd always considered the Fiends to just be mindless drug-addled freaks, not capable of any tactics or strategy. Clearly, he'd misjudged their intelligence. as well as their cruelty. "I... Can you help us? I'll make sure you're paid for your time. There'll be more if you manage to get Ranger Morales' outta there alive."

Karl nods at him, "We'll get on it... First let me talk with my partners, need to see what they make of this mess." he says before turning around to Boone and Afton.

"Think we can actually get the Ranger out alive? Situation's already looking a bit dicey." Afton says, his perception being high enough to see everything while using VATS. The Fiends seemed to be getting very bored, very quickly. Without more NCR to shoot they'd probably finish off the Ranger in half an hour or so.

Karl shrugs, "Compared to what you two did to that Legion camp this is nothing. We'll get the Sergeant to bring their attention to him, while he does that me and the kid will sneak around the side. Boone, there'll be a good position next to the REPCONN building... Just ignore the robots and start taking out the Fiends while we approach."

Boone nods, "Fine by me."

The group was currently north-west of the Fiends position, the REPCONN building was south of them and had a good amount of cover for the group to sneak into position. Karl had already given the Sergeant instructions to follow as the group got into position.

Obviously, they left Dirt-Bird with the NCR soldiers as they'd immediately be noticed if they tried to ride around on that. Not only was it a reflective metal, but the engine wasn't completely silent either.

Boone got into position behind one of the REPCONN pillars and could already see the many Fiends... Most had Hunting Rifles and seem proficient with them, making the group a lot more dangerous than your typical bandits. Hopefully the drugs they were taken would give them shakey hands... Though, if they all had a steady supply of, well, Steady. They might have trouble once they're discovered.

Karl and Afton continued sneaking towards the south of the Fiends position. Fortunately they wouldn't need to be all that stealthy as the Sergeant had finally started following the plan. The sound of discharging weapons could be heard as the Sergeant and his men shoot at the Fiends, drawing most of their attention towards that direction.

While the Fiends boredom was a threat to the Ranger's life, it was also a boon. The first sign of something 'interesting' happening meant that most of them turn their attention towards it. Allowing Karl and Afton to approach without being instantly spotted.

With the around twenty Fiends all firing madly at the NCR's position it wasn't difficult for Afton and Karl to reach the buildings the Fiends were at. All they needed to do now was make it to the rooftops and then they'd be able to eliminate the rest of 'em.

Karl signals Boone with a hand sign while Afton sneaks around the back of the building.

*BANG!*

Boone's first shot seems louder than all the other's as his bullet tears through the skull of one of the Fiends. The other's immediately take notice and duck behind cover, looking towards the west of the building at where the shot had come from.

While this was happening Afton had stepped into the dark alleyway between the buildings. They were pre-war and seemed to be entirely boarded up so he'd need to find a way to the roof without entering inside them.

He kept an eye on the roof as he slowly makes his way arou-*CLUNK*, a bear trap bites into his leg, causing him to release a pained grunt as he struggles to stifle his voice.

Fuck! He should've known that those freaks would've put down traps!... Fortunately his Endurance, Recon armour, and [Toughness] was enough to prevent his leg from being completely crippled. He'd have a huge bruise on it later though...

He struggled and fiddled around with it for a bit until he finally managed to wrench it open, quickly pulling his foot out as he allowed it to clamp down on nothing. He quickly checked his leg for damage but didn't see anything that needed any immediate medical attention.