章 67: I came, for a fuckin' shootout!

It wasn't long before people learned to only come to Afton if you were dying or dead. Those that'd received his services swore to never return again. This was unexpectedly a boon as the Powder Gangers were now determined to stay healthy to avoid him.

Even the most unhygienic picked up a toothbrush every now and then, of course, showers were out of the question due to water being hard enough to come by as it is. Though, with the land being so dry the only thing that sullied their clothes was dust and blood.

Supplies were still a problem in the prison, there hadn't been another NCR caravan since the one that was heading for Sloan, and the group saw to it at they didn't make it to their destination. The lack of food and water had some people already jumping ship and trying to create their own gangs.

Eddie had already sent out a couple of people to deal with these troublemakers, but everyone who went either died or came back empty-handed. Seeing no other option, he turned to Karl for help.

This is where Afton found himself, sitting at the bar with Karl as the man looked around in irritation for Tommy and the rest of the guys. No one had seen them anywhere, and the duo was wondering if they'd left too.

Regardless, after a day of looking and not finding them, Karl had given up. Wherever they were, they better not show up in front of him otherwise they were getting a smack, or perhaps even a bullet.

In the end, Karl and Afton left without the others, the latter was wary of trying to apprehend the rogue gang members with just two people, but Karl shrugged him off while telling him it was fine.

"So, who're we going after anyway?" Afton asks as the tread over a sandy hill.

"Some guy named Chavez, just up and left with his posse and started raiding civilian caravans in our territory. We'll probably have to put him down." Karl says simply.

"Think we'll be able to take them? He's got a whole gang behind him and its just us two..."

Karl shrugs, "We'll manage, I've already got a plan brewin'."

The duo walk for a couple of hours between the places Chivez and his gang were last seen, eventually spotting the group making camp under some derailed train cargo. They hadn't noticed Karl or Afton yet as they were using a ridge for cover, Afton didn't really know how they were going to deal with the gang... There were five people, all with guns strapped to their sides and harsh looks on their faces.

"What now?" Afton asks, glancing at Karl while already fingering his Laser pistol.

Karl gives a sly smile and nods at them, "You go talk to 'em and keep them distracted, I'll circle round and flank 'em."

...

"Do you want me dead or something? How'd you know they won't just start shooting at me?" he asks in disbelief.

"I know these fellers, they ain't ones to fire first, 'specially if you're wearin' that jacket." Karl remarks, gesturing towards the Powder Ganger jacket Afton had tied around his waist.

"You'll be fine kid, if you think you're in trouble just spit at the floor, that'll be the signal for me to start shooting." he says.

Afton just shakes his head and sighs, "Fine, but I get first dibs on the loot." he says before beginning to walk over to the gang.

They don't notice him until he was halfway there, they all immediately stand and start fingering their weapons. Afton keeps his stride, posture, and expression relaxed as to not cause a firefight.

"Hold up there boy, what's a fellow Ganger want with us?" one of the men asks aggressively.

"Man, shut your mouth, don't you know who this is?" another who seems to have Mexican heritage cuts in and Afton's eyes widen at them.

"You?" he asks, having not expected one of his patients to turn up in this situation...

"Yeah Doc, you remember me? You must've, ripping out someone's teeth ain't somethin' you forget easily." the Mexican man with the almost stereo-typical moustache says. "So what you here for, boy?"

Afton glances at the men who seem to have relaxed slightly at the revalation, "I'm looking for a man named Chivez." he says, causing the Mexican man to tense up.

"I'm Chivez, don't tell me they sent you out here to die like the others? Killin' my saviour ain't something I'm partial to." he admits. with a frown.

Afton slowly shakes his head, "Eddie just wanted me to tell you all to rejoin the group, you're raiding in our territory after all." he explains.

"Yeah, I heard this song and dance before, the others who asked are all dead..." he says, tension in the air rising yet again at the veiled threat.

"I don't really care if you come back or not, I'll just tell Eddie what I heard and he'll do what needs to be done later... Just consider me the messenger boy." Afton says, cold sweat starting to form on the back of his neck.

Chivez scowls, "What if I don't want Eddie to hear from us?" he says, looking ready to draw on Afton at any moment.

"Then we'll be at an impasse." Afton says, spitting on the floor as naturally as he can manage, feeling like some kind of 1960's cowboy.

"I think its time for us to partways boy, cuz you ain't leavin' this-"

*BANG!*

Suddenly a gunshot echoed through the area, Chivez head exploding into red mist mid sentence. His body drops to the floor lifelessly as the others quickly look around for where the shot had come from.

Afton was in VATS as soon as he heard the gunshot, of the four surviving men, only one seemed to be drawing their gun while looking at him... He selected the man's chest and used all of his Action Points on it.

Afton's body moved on its own, drawing his Laser pistol so fast it seemed inhuman, two laser beams hit the man's chest causing him to stumble, the third just missing.