#overheard someone say 'did you shoot your shot with Rex yet' and when I looked it was him and his roomates surrounded by a few other people

[rextheravenous]

Hi tumblr. I'm having thoughts

[askfreddiemercury]

I walk southeast out of Goodsprings then take another road heading south to Primm. I need to figure out if Johnson Nash can help me find the men (or the one guy) who shot me. The trail is long but luckily I'm used to how hot the day can get, even in the summertime. It makes me wish for nuclear winter.

~~~~~

Soon enough I finally make it to the famous gambling town of Primm, but I’m not allowed to survey the area just yet as I’m attacked by two people who don’t last very long against me.

Freddie: What a welcome party that was.

I reload my shotgun and take a look around. I see the Mojave Express first, the very place that hired me to be a courier, there’s also a man in front of the office, dead. Those people must’ve killed him some time ago. I rush over to him.

Freddie: Daniel Wyand huh. What’s this?

I pick up a note from his body. “Mojave Express Delivery Order (4 of 6)?” Guess this guy was a courier like me, looks like he made his delivery but must’ve been shot up by those people. His order is very similar to mine but he had to make a delivery of “Two (2) Oversized Dice, composed of fuzzy material.”

Freddie: Odd.

Leaving the note with the man, I turn to see “Vikki & Vance,” a pretty popular casino in Primm. Obviously. If people would hide anywhere from whoever is attacking the town it’s got to be in there.

~~~~~

As soon as I walk in an older man takes me aside.

Johnson: I don’t know what it was brought you to Primm, youngster, but you might want to rethink your plans. Town’s gone to hell.

Freddie: Uh, do you know where I can find the courier office?

Johnson: Sure do. I run the courier office out of my shop. Leastaways I did before things went to hell around here.

Freddie: I’m a courier with the Mojave Express.

Johnson: Well, I don’t got any work right now, sorry to say.

Freddie: I’d hate to say this, but I lost a package I was supposed to deliver.

Johnson: I’ll tell you whatever I can. Do you have a delivery order you can show me?

I pull out my order and hand it to him, he takes a look in which his expression changes.

Johnson: Oh, so you’re talking about one of them packages. That job had strange written all over it. But we couldn’t turn down the caps.

He hands the paper back to me.

Freddie: What was strange about it?

He places a finger over his chin.

Johnson: That cowboy robot had us hire six couriers. Each was carrying something a little different. A pair of dice, a chess piece, that kind of stuff. Last word I had from the office, it looked like payment had been received for the other five jobs. Guess it was just your chip that didn’t make it. First deadbeat we hired to do the job canceled. Hope a storm from the Divide skins him alive. Well, that’s where you came in.

A cowboy robot?! Could he mean Victor? If so, just what the hell is Victor up to? I also find it strange that my package was the only one to gone astray, even Daniel managed to deliver his before coming back to Primm and getting shot up while going to collect his bonus.

Freddie: You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the people who stole my package, would you?

Johnson: Well, now that you mention it, a few nights back one of the townies was out scavenging for supplies. He said he saw a fella with a daisy suit come through with some of them Great Khan misfits. They was talking about a chip.

Freddie: One of those men shot me. I need to know the best way to get to them.

Johnson: Well for that your best bet is going to be talking to Deputy Beagle. Since they came to town he was keeping a good bit of notes on them, and he was slinking around Bison Steve when your pretty-boy friend came through. He may have heard where they were going.

Freddie: Where might I find him?

Johnson: Last I heard he was locked up inside the Bison Steve. Those escaped convicts must’ve done so.

Freddie: Thank you. I’ll take care of any other convicts I see.

Johnson: Don’t go getting yourself shot now.

Nice joke, Nash, a bit too late for that now.

~~~~~

I head on over to the other casino, taking out other convicts I see along the way. Once I’m inside and I move around a counter, I see a man with his hands tied, kneeling on the floor.

Deputy Beagle: I don’t suppose you came here to recuse me? I’d cross my fingers but my hands are numb.

Freddie: You must be Deputy Beagle.

Deputy Beagle: Why, yes I am. It’s pleasure to meet you.

I’m in a bit of a predicament here. I’d be most appreciative if you’d set me free.

Freddie: I hear you may have information on some khans that came through here with a guy in a checkered suit.

He nods.

Deputy Beagle: My good sir, I believe I may have some information that would prove useful. If you would just untie my hands I’d be more than happy to share that information I have with you.

I untie the man and he stands up to stretch his hand around. What a relief that must be.

Freddie: So, what can you tell me about those guys?

Deputy Beagle: I overheard them saying that they are on their way to Novac. If you want to follow them I strongly suggest that you follow the road through Nipton. There are a lot of dangerous things out in the desert, and you won’t have me with you to protect you, as I need to stay here and keep Primm safe.

Freddie: Don’t you worry, Deputy, I can handle myself just fine. It’s going to take a lot more bullets to put me down.

I say proudly and with much confidence like I can definitely hold my own out there. I’m a simple mailman. I might as well not set my standards too high.

~~~~~

After helping around Primm for awhile and even getting my first companion, a friendly little eyebot named ‘ED-E’ like the rusted license plate on the side of its body says, ED-E and I head east towards Nipton. But as soon as I see the town, I see smoke rising from many buildings! What’s going on?! I rush forward and see a man running towards me, but he seems, happy?

Oliver: Yeah! Who won the lottery? I did! Smell that air! Couldn’t ya just drink it like booze!

Freddie: What sort of lottery did you win?

Oliver: What lottery? The lottery, that’s what lottery! Are you stupid? Only lottery that matters! Oh my god smell that air!

Freddie: Alright, time for me to go.

Oliver: Later.

I get hit with whiplash on how calmly he said that but what lottery? Does it have something to do with why the town is burning? I look over a flag, it has a bull on it. I walk carefully into town and see a big pile of tires in middle burning away with a bunch of burned skeletons too. What is happening?

Walking towards the town hall I spot people that have been crucified on crosses, who would do such a thing?! I walk closer and these people in crimson armor walk towards me. One has the head of a wolf around his head, he must be the leader here. We stop a good distance from each other, he smiles.

Vulpes Inculta: Don’t worry, I won’t have you lashed to a cross like the rest of these degenerates. It’s useful that you happened by. I want you to witness the fate of the town of Nipton, to memorize every detail. And then, when you move on? I want you to teach everyone you meet the lesson that Caesar’s Legion taught here, especially any NCR troops you run across.

Why did he say Caesar like that? It sounded more like ‘Kai-sar.’ Also, who the hell does this guy think he is? Telling me what to do.

Freddie: What ‘lessons’ did you teach here?

Because putting someone on a cross to die sure is a lesson.

Vulpes Inculta: Where to begin? That they are weak, and we are strong? This much was known already. But the depths of their moral sickness, their dissolution? Nipton serves as the perfect object lesson.

Huh? The hell is he talking about?

Freddie: What exactly happened here?

While I can’t see his eyes I know he’s looking at me like I’m stupid by the way his mouth turned into a frown.

Vulpes Inculta: Nipton was a wicked place, debased and corrupt. It served all comers, as long as they paid. Profligate troops, Powder Gangers, men of the Legion such as myself - the people here didn’t care. It was a town of whores. For a pittance, the town agreed to lead those it had sheltered into a trap. Only when I sprang it did they realize they were caught inside it, too.

Is this guy even speaking English? What is this very old world tone?

Freddie: You captured everyone?

Vulpes Inculta: Yes, and herded them to the center of town. I told them their sins, the foremost being disloyalty. I told them that when Legionaries are disloyal, some are punished, the others made to watch. And I announced the lottery. Each clutched his ticket, hoping it would set him free. Each did nothing, even when “loved ones” were dragged away to be killed. We must go now, but be reminded that there will be more lessons to learn. Head the warning.

Vulpes and his men turn east and start walking. I have the choice to put an end to these guys but something is stopping me from pulling out my shotgun. These are bad people with bad intentions, what’s going on?! Maybe it’s fear, but of what I don’t know. Could be that there’s too many of them or maybe I’m just scared of Vulpes himself. Whatever the reason I must continue on my journey by heading northeast to find Novac.

Freddie: Let’s hurry, ED-E, before these guys decide to shoot us when we’re not looking.

He makes some beeps and boops conforming that we should go.

~~~~~

As I headed northbound, killing any wild creature that dares to attack me, I see what seems to be a large T-Rex statue. You don’t see that every day. This must be Novac. I get closer and see that it is, the sign out in front has gone from ‘No Vacancy’ to ‘Novac.’ I love that. I walk a little closer to admire that statue I see.. Victor?! I see him from the corner of my eyes and I can’t believe it! What’s he doing here?!

Victor: Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit, if it ain’t my old friend from Goodsprings!

Charming.

Freddie: What are you doing in Novac?

Victor: Don’t rightly know - I just got the notion to make my way to New Vegas. Reckon I’ll find out when I get there.

Freddie: Quite a coincidence us meeting like this.

I laugh nervously.

Victor: Seeing how this is the only road around, I’d be a sight more surprised if we didn’t run into each other from time to time.

Freddie: Just stay out of my way, robot.

Victor: I’ll let that slide seeing how you gotta mind full of vengeance for that no-good polecat and all.

He then carries on like normal, I better watch out for him in the future. ED-E and I walk into the main office of Novac.

Jeannie: Well. Welcome to you. You look tired from the road. Why don’t you relax a spell, let this fine town take care of you?

Freddie: I’m looking for a man in a checkered coat. Have you seen anyone like that?

Jeannie: Well he might’ve been wearing a fancy outfit, but he wasn’t any kind of a gentleman to me. Had his nose stuck so high in the air, you couldn’t see it above the clouds. City folk, they always think they deserve better than what they got. Those hoodlums he was with seemed to know Manny for some reason. He’s our daytime sniper, up in the dinosaur’s mouth.

So, those Great Khans know this Manny fellow, best have a talk with him.

Freddie: Thanks for the information, and yes I’ll be renting a room for tonight.

~~~~~

I tell ED-E to wait for me in the motel room, he beeps and floats off while I make my way into the dinosaur to talk with Manny, I walk into what seems to be a shop then walk some stairs to the sniper’s nest. As soon as I open the door, Manny turns around.

Manny: What’s going on, man?

Freddie: I’m looking for a man in a checkered coat.

Manny: Sure I know him. What do you want with him?

Freddie: I have a score to settle with him.

Manny: Doesn’t surprise me. Guy seemed like he’d do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Probably makes a lot of enemies. Well listen, I can definitely help you find him, but I’ve got problems of my own. Maybe we can do a trade. You need my help. There’s something I need, too.

Freddie: What do you need?

Manny then goes on to tell me a story about scavengers and ghouls, he goes on to ask me if I can go and clear out the nearby REPCONN test site from all the ghouls that sometimes like to wander a little too far from the test site. Alrighty, if I’m gonna get information out of him I need to do this job. I agree to help, so I go on and get ED-E to help me take these ghouls out.