บท 70: The Line
Days trundle on and Afton was beginning to question why he was still with the Powder Gangers. Sure, they'd saved his ass when he was attacked by a deathclaw, but the way they operate and act just didn't sit right with him.
The only reason he was still here was due to Karl, he respected the man, not just for his morals, but his skill as well. Afton didn't doubt that he was one of the best fighters in the whole facility, even Scrambler seemed to be wary of him.
Not everything was sunshine and rainbows though, he and Karl hadn't seen hide nor hair of Tommy or the others for a while now. Previously they thought the guys had just left for some miscellaneous things, but now even Eddie was starting to ask questions.
Afton knew whatever they were doing couldn't be good... A few days later after Eddie's initial inquiry, he basically ordered him and Karl to bring them back to see what they were doing. Their efficiency when dealing with Chavez and relationship with the group meant that they were the most suited to dealing with them.
Afton couldn't help but feel this would only end in another shootout, though, he could see that Karl didn't care much if events went that way. Atleast he didn't come away empty-handed when he was called to speak with Eddie about the plan... He wondered if the chem'd up man would notice his Lying, Congressional Style skill book had gone missing.
The book had vanished into ash-like particles when he'd touched it, so it'd be almost impossible to pin its theft on him.
Just before he and Karl were about to leave to look for Tommy and the others, he checked his Pipboy to see if there were any quests on it. And, as it might happen, it does.
[Retrieve Tommy's Gang]
...
Tommy's gang? So he had ditched them and gone off to do his own thing... He glances at Karl with a pensive look, "Chances this'll be another firefight?" he questions.
Karl shrugs, "A coin toss, whether or not we fire first will depend on how Tommy's been conductin' himself." he states, getting a small nod from Afton.
The duo head out yet again, though this time they didn't have an accurate idea of where they'd be going... Instead just wandering around the general area where Tommy was thought to be in. They run across a pack or two of molerats, but they're easily dispatched by the duo. Neither wanted to try eating them so they just left the corpses for other creatures to feast on.
Two days after they'd left the NCRCF they noticed a small plume of black smoke over in the distance, the setting sun turning the sky orange and making it incredibly easy to spot... Whoever it was either wanted to be discovered or didn't know any better.
"Tommy?" Afton stated in slight exasperation.
"Tommy." Karl nodded in confirmation as if he had a sixth sense.
They started heading over, making sure not to get spotted by whoever was causing the smoke, Afton touched the two guns resting at his hip, the well-maintained Laser pistol and .357 Revolver were already loaded and ready for use.
Afton had done some practice with dual-wielding them with VATS activated, both were apparently treated as independent weapons, neither losing accuracy but both requiring action points to fire. This essentially doubled his fire rate at the cost of action points.
The sun had almost set when they came across the destroyed caravan, Tommy, Reggie, Louis, and Blank were standing around idly. The dead pack brahmin had already been looted and a few bodies could be seen strewn about the place. Though, they'd have to get closer to see the condition of them.
Afton sighs, "Well, hopefully it was an NCR caravan... Gotta plan?" he asks the old man.
Karl slowly nods, "I think we are owed an explanation, we'll approach from the south, see that boulder there? That'll be our cover is shit hits the fan... Let's try get through this in one piece, I doubt we'll all be leaving this alive." he says ominously as they circle around to approach the group from the south.
They pass the boulder Karl wanted to use as cover just as the others spot them.
"Hold up, Karl? Afton?" he shouts, grabbing the others attention.
The duo stop and Karl nods, "Yee-ep, didn't think to invite us along?" he questions.
Tommy, Louis, and Blank walk up, the former scowling at them, "What good are a couple of squares out here? You wouldn't like how I operate Karl, you best just be leavin'." he threatens.
Afton's nose twitches as the smell of blood, and he gets a glimpse of a small figure lying in the sand. It seems Karl noticed this as well... He walks past Tommy, pushing his shoulder away as he slowly walks towards the corpses.
Afton could see Karls hands gripped so tight that they were turning white, he walked over to see what the problem was and almost immediately started going red with indignant fury.
There, laying almost peacefully in the sand was the body of a child. It was difficult to see their gender due to the bullet holes littering their head, but judging by the long hair it'd been a young girl. Nearby was a male corpse, it had more bullet wounds than the child and was somehow still gripping their shotgun, even in death.
Lastly... Was the body of a woman, apparently, Tommy and the others had decided to have their fun with them before they shot her. There were no NCR uniforms in sight, and the presence of a child meant that his was definitely not an NCR caravan.
Afton was about to turn to see what Karl wanted to do when, *BANG!*.
Karl's .44 Magnum went off and struck Louis in the chest as he ran up and pistol-whipped Reggie in the face. His expression was almost scary, the rage he was displaying now almost had Afton take a step back, though, when he remembered that bullets would start flying he activated VATS.
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Niggross
Niggross Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
If you like my content or want to read ahead please go to https://www.p.atreon.com/Nagross, I'd appreciate it.
บท 71: I fought the law...
Time froze and Afton took a moment to collect himself, his mind was racing and he was flustered about what to do. He'd thought that Karl would at least give a warning before he started shooting, but perhaps not... The scene they'd be presented with had clearly struck a nerve on the man.
Louis was probably dead, getting hit in the chest at point-blank by a .44 Magnum would spell the end for most people. Afton could see Reggie falling to the ground after Karl had pistol-whipped him, his jaw moving at an awkward angle which meant it'd probably been broken.
Tommy had his hand on his revolver and was about to draw it on Karl, lastly Blank was about to throw the can of beans he'd been eating at Afton himself.
Without much else to do, he selected Tommy and put all his action points towards shooting the man in the chest, it was the biggest target with the highest chance of success, any hit would likely cause the man to miss any shot he made towards Karl.
Blank would be coming right for Afton afterwards, so he needed to refocus on the ape-like man once his VATS was done. Mentally nodding to himself, he confirmed his selection, Laser pistol and Revolver quickly being pulled from their make-shift holsters and pointing at Tommy.
*PEW*BANG!*PEW*BANG!*
They both fire simultaneously, six shots sound out but only three hit their mark. Two bullets and one laser beam, this was enough however, Tommy fumbled with his gun and managed to drop it before falling onto his back, the wounds he'd sustained would likely be fatal.
Afton ducked immediately after VATS had ended, a can of half-eaten beans flew over his head and Blank was drawing his gun to fire at him. Afton made a few poorly aimed shots towards the man, a laser beam hitting his gun and causing it to fly off behind him.
Blank gave an almost animalistic roar and sprinted towards him with fists bared, Afton's Revolver was empty, but his Laser pistol still had some ammo in it. He fired a couple times but the black scorch marks given by the beams didn't impede the man.
As they approached Afton threw a kick at their head, he'd had to jump to connect it and subsequently fell on the floor afterwards. Blank stumbled momentarily at the surprising attack, a few more laser beams hit him in the chest as Afton fired from the floor.
His clothing had already been destroyed, scorched black flesh was visible on Blank, it was clearly very, very painful. Afton fired a couple more shots which finally put the man down. He breathed a sigh of relief and slowly got up, looking towards Karl to see if he was alright.
The old man had a foot on Tommy's face as he pointed his .44 down at him. "I told you, you try this shit again, I'd blow your damn head off." he growls.
Tommy tries to spit at Karl from the floor, but only manages to cough up blood on the sand. "Fuck you Karl. Thinkin' you're better than us. I fuckin, heard about you, you were one of them soldier boys weren't you? How's it feel Karl? How's it feel to be the 'Mans' bitch?! Bet not even the damn NCR wanted-" *BANG!*
Tommy's brain matter was "expelled" into the sand below as Karl had apparently heard enough from the belligerent criminal. The man releases a slow breath, looking down with his eyes closed as if he were thinking deeply about something.
Afton walks up but thinks twice about trying to touch the man, if he was as tense as he looked Afton might just find himself with another orifice... "Karl, you alright?"
He opens his eyes and turns around to face Afton, "Just peachy. You hear 'im?"
Afton slowly nods, "About you being a former soldier? Yeah, even without that idiot blurting it out, it was kinda obvious." he says, getting a small smirk from the man.
"Yeah... Look, I'm not one of them sensitive sorts, my past is my own and shouldn't concern anyone else. Let's clean this place up and head-"
"BOTH OF YOU SCUM, FREEZE!" a voice shouts and causes both to turn towards them.
"Shit." is all Afton can say, they were currently surrounded by maybe fourteen NCR soldiers, all with their weapons trained on them. A black man who seemed to be the leader of them continued shouting orders, "Drop your weapons and put your hands up!"
Afton looks to Karl who was frowning up a storm, the man looked to him and nodded, "Not much choice kid, better prison then dead I say." he says as he drops his .44.
Afton follows suit and drops both his pistols, the NCR quickly advancing on them after seeing them unarmed. The black man steps in front of them and introduces himself, "I am Sergeant Emil Volkman of 5th Battalion, 1st Company. You are under arrest for piracy, murder, theft, and anything else we can pin on you." he glances at the bodies around the camp, "You've got a lot to answer for, and I'm looking forward to seeing you sing." he admits with an all-to-happy grin.
"We're not Powder Gangers, didn't you just see us execute these pieces of shit?" he says, gesturing his head towards Tommy and his dead gang.
Emil shrugs, "You're wearing their colours so by my books you're Powder Gangers, this ain't the first time I've seen you lot in-fighting either. If you're innocent we'll see during the interrogation, take 'em away." he says before walking over to the ruined caravan.
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Niggross
Niggross
Our boi's been arrested, let's make a petition to get him out of jail!... Sure, he killed a couple people but as long as we have numbers the government will give us what we want... That's how it works in America, isn't it? :P
As always, if I missed anything please let me know.
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