Chapter Text
“From where you're kneeling it must seem like you hit an 18-karat gold run of bad luck. But the truth is.” The man in the checkered suit aimed his gun at me. “The game was rigged from the start.” Then my world became black after the flash of a gunshot. In that brief moment I felt happy to finally die.
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Then I woke up. Slowly, but I unfortunately woke up. “Whoa, easy there. You’ve been out cold for a couple of days now.” I sat up on the bed I was in and looked at an old man and something I thought I would never see again. A U.A University gym uniform and a boy slightly younger than me with yellow hair and a black bolt of hair wearing it. “How about your name? Can you tell me your name?” The old man asked. “Kibō, Kibō Kusatta. Before you say anything. I’m aware it’s exotic.” I answered while trying to hold back my questions about the boy in the room with us. “Eh, not what I would have thought. But if that’s your name, that’s your name. I’m Doc Mitchell, welcome to Goodsprings.” He offered me his hand and I cautiously shook it.
“And, I’m Kaminari Denki. I helped get you here after, well.” The yellow haired boy, Kaminari, looked to the side with a look that was a mix of sadness ,disappointment, and failure. “After I was shot.” I rasped out then coughed. Doc Mitchell offered me some water that I took small sips of, careful to make sure none spilled out of my open cheek. “Now I had to go routin’ around in that head of yours to get the bullets out.” Doc Mitchell offered me a mirror. “How about you take a look. Make sure everything is where it should be.” He said as I took the mirror.
I was met with my torn up face, marred by my unfortunate case of leprosy. I was lucky to get sent to this cursed world when I did, only then was my leprosy cured. But not until it took its toll on me. My left cheek had rotted away and left my lower jaw and mouth exposed. The rotted away flesh spread up to my nose and took it away from me as well and left a long open wound under my left eye. My eyes were partially sunken in and my remaining cheek was left gaunt. My horrid face was framed in shoulder length white hair. Finally I looked at my dull yellow eyes and the gunshot scars in my left forehead. I then looked down at my arms that were covered in lesion scars from the leprosy and my small bust. My legs, thighs, and ass were, thankfully, left untouched by the leprosy and remained thick and full.
“Unfortunately, everything looks correct.” I say with a small frown. “I tried to do what I could for your face but unfortunately I could only make the gunshot scars smaller.” Doc Mitchell offered with a sympathetic look on his face. Kaminari also looks at me with pity. Which makes me slightly pissed. What did he care for, he probably just wants pity points for helping the Quirkless girl. “Now let’s get you out of that bed. See if the rest of your faculties are in check.” Doc Mitchell said as he tried to help me up. I only swat his hands away before I get myself up. “Try walkin’ to that Vigor Tester over there. Take it slow now, it ain’t a race.” Doc Mitchell said while gesturing to the Vigor Tester.
I take a few steps before staggering. But Kaminari catches me and I, begrudgingly, accept his help in making the rest of the journey. “Lookin’ good so far. Go ahead and give the Vigor Tester a try. We’ll learn real quick if you got the rest of your faculties workin’.” The doc said as I stabilized myself on the machine. “What’s this thing supposed to do anyway?” Kaminari asked the both of us. “It will help us see some more basic things like strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck.” The doc explained as I finally used the machine. It read ‘Strength:4, Perception:2, Endurance:1, Charisma:8, Intelligence:7, Agility:9, and Luck:9’. “I’m surprised the bullets didn’t turn around and climb back in the chamber.” The doc said as he read my results.
“Hey, let me try it out. Looks pretty cool.” Kaminari said before giving it a go. His stats came up and it read ‘Strength:4, Perception:6, Endurance:8, Charisma:3, Intelligence:5, Agility:7, Luck:5’. “Heh, wouldn’t recommend you bein’ the trader of the duo here” The doc said with a chuckle as Kaminari looked defeated. I chuckled a bit as well while ignoring the duo part. “Well your vitals look good. But that don’t mean them bullets didn’t leave you nuttier than a Bighorner dropping.” The doc said as he began walking towards his living room. “What do you say you take a seat on my couch and we go through a couple questions? See if your dogs are still barkin’.” The doc said as he sat down in a chair next to the couch.
I make my way over without any help and sit down. Kaminari sits at the other end of the couch. “Alright, I’m gonna say a word and I want you to say the first thing that comes to mind. Dog.” The doc said while looking at me. “Cat.” I replied. “House.” “Shelter” “Night” “Shroud” “Bandit” “Shoot” “Light” “Hope” “Mother” “Pain” We finish the back and forth, I don’t miss the look of shock on Kaminari’s face at my final answer. “Okay. Now I got a few statements. I want you to tell me how much you agree with them.” The doc said in his calm tone. I nod my head at him. “First one. Conflict just ain’t in my nature.”. “No opinion.”. “I ain’t given to relyin’ on others for support.”. “Strongly Agree.”. “I’m always fixin’ to be the center of attention.”. “Strongly disagree.”. “I’m slow to embrace new ideas.”. “Disagree.”. “I charge in to deal with my problems head on.”. “No opinion.”. We get into another back and forth before he starts showing me inkblots. I genuinely bullshit my answers for most of them, the only one I didn’t was for one that looked like two bears high fiveing.
“Looks good. But given I don’t got nothin’ else to compare it to, why don’t you take a look at it. Make sure everything looks right.” The doc then hands me his paper and I squint to read it. Without my glasses it’s hard to read but I don’t want to ask for help. I eventually hand it back to him. “Before I turn you loose, I need one more thing from you. I got a form for you to fill out, so I can get a sense of your medical history.” He starts chuckling before he continues. “Just a formality. Ain’t like I expect to find you got a family history of being shot in the head.” He finishes before handing me the form.
The form asks a bunch of questions but the only two I can properly answer are that my family is short sighted and that I have a quick trigger finger. I then hand it back to him. “All right. I guess that about does it. Come with me, I’ll see you out.” The doc said as he got up and started walking to the door. “Give us a moment doc. I have to talk to my… partner.” I said while looking at Kaminari, who’s blushing for some reason. “All right. Gives me time to get your stuff in order. Feel free to help yourself to the things around the house. Especially the cigarettes in my room, I’m tryin’ to quit.” The doc said before walking off.
“So, you look pretty smokin’ even with the well, obvious.” Kaminari tried to flirt with me but I wasn’t having it. “Cut the bullshit. It’s clear you are from Japan. Specifically a Japan with Quirks. So how the hell did you get here?” I asked him with a harsh tone, which made him look like a kicked puppy. “Ah, about that. I was at the U.A sports festival, about to enter the fight bracket, when some portals started to take people. I was taken in one and woke up outside the graveyard. I heard you get… shot and waited for the people to pass before I ran over and tried to help. Then a robot started helping too and we got you here. Guess I’m lucky my mom taught me English given the circumstances.” He said while avoiding eye contact.
But before I could say anything he continued. “I recognize you. Well I recognize your name and face. You were a missing persons case my dad worked on. I remember when I was thirteen and watching him come home each day with a look of disappointment on his face. He explained how he was working on a case with a missing Quirkless kid two years older than me who went missing and how no one was willing to take the case. Then one night I found him passed out with a bottle of whisky and your case file.” He looked disappointed in himself as he continued. “I read it and it was one of the reasons I wanted to become a hero. The fact that you didn’t have anyone to turn to because you were Quirkless and that you went untreated for a deadly disease as well made me want to become a hero who would always help the Quirkless.” He finished with a look of determination.
I was surprised by that. Someone looked for me and I inspired someone to want to be a hero. “Too little too late. Why didn’t anyone help before I went missing? Why didn’t anyone try to be nice? Why was I the one who had to be hurt? It doesn’t matter. At least I managed to get help here.” I muttered out loud without realising. “So, how old are you now? I’d assume eighteen but I don’t know if time works the same here as it would there.” I ask as I break out of my thoughts. “Yep, you’ve been missing for five years. Speaking of, what has a pretty lady like you been up to in these five years? Also, I got the base premise for this world over the three days you were asleep, but what is this world?” Kaminari asks while still avoiding eye contact.
“So, quick bullet points for this world. In 2077 a nuclear war broke out and devastated the world, only those in vaults, personal bunkers, or in areas lucky enough to not get hit lived. Then eighty-four years after that, in 2161, a mutant called the Master created his Supermutant army and was stopped by someone only remembered as the Vault Dweller. Then eighty years after that, in 2241, a group called the Enclave, which is what was left of the pre-war American government, made its return and tried to wipe out all irradiated life on the mainland United States. They were stopped by someone only referred to as the Chosen One. Then more recently, four years ago, 2277, the first battle of Hoover Dam happened. It involved the two big powers around here, the Mojave. Caesars Legion, a bunch of ancient Rome cosplayers, and the NCR, a democratic republic that has all the flaws of the old United States.” I explained in my raspy voice. Kaminari looked in shock and awe as I explained the world.
“As for me, I showed up five years ago in a settlement called New Canaan. The people there followed the Christian religion and were being helped by the Followers of the Apocalypse, a group of doctors and scientists trying to spread knowledge across the wastes. Both groups took me in and helped me. It’s funny, all I needed to cure my leprosy was a cocktail of antibiotics for eight months.” I let out a sad chuckle at that. “But still, they took me in and taught me their trades. The New Canaanites taught me gun smithing and proper gun care and the Followers helped me out with sciences and wasteland survival. But after the first battle of Hoover Dam and the involvement of the New Canaanite Joshua Graham in the battle, Caser started trying to wipe out New Canaan. I was sent out with the Followers in one of the calm months and from what I heard, New Canaan is gone.” I fight back tears as I say it, I keep holding out hope that a few people made it out but none have reached the Mojave. Kaminari noticed my despair and gently grabbed my hand, grounding me.
“I-I, thank you.” I say as I wipe my eyes. “Anyways, I took up a job as a courier about 3 years ago and that’s what I’ve been doing since. I was on a delivery job to take a platinum poker chip to New Vegas when that man in the checkered suit got me.” I finished with a frown. “Wow, sounds like you’ve been busy, but what now? I need to look for my classmates and others who were taken by the portals.” Kaminari said with a worried tone. “If you want, I’m going after the son of a bitch who shot me and that will eventually take me to Vegas. If your friends don’t die in the wastes then it’s a sure shot they will make it to Vegas.” I offered. I don’t know why I did, I prefer to travel alone. But maybe it’s the fact that I owe him for pulling me out of the cemetery. “Alright. That works. Besides, who would turn down the opportunity to travel with a babe like you.” Kaminari offers with a goofy grin.
We eventually get up and go to the doc. He hands me my gear, a spare vault suit, and a Pip-Boy. I thank him as I put on my backpack. “Before you head out, head down to the saloon and talk to Sunny Smiles. She can teach your friend about surviving in the desert.” The doc offered before I started taking some things from his house. Mainly the cigs he mentioned, a 9mm submachine gun I fixed, and some Stimpaks I made in a chemistry set. Then me and Kaminari left the doc’s house.
“Okay, according to the Pip-Boy it’s 10a.m. I’d like to hit the road before nightfall. Now let me see what I have left in my bag.” I say as I look into my pack. I found my brahmin jerky, canteen, skinning knife, and thankfully, my custom made Colt M1911. It has a quick slide, smooth grip, fast mags, and a suppressor. I made it in New Canaan and had given it engravings. It was black with gold skull engravings on the barrel and a gold scythe on each side of the grip. I called it ‘Retribution’. I still hope Daniel made it out, he helped me with the engravings and was the one that cared for me while I was in New Canaan.
I put Retribution in a pocket in the vault suit and then look at my ammo supply and caps. I still had five boxes of ammo and six spare mags. As for my caps, I was happy to see that I still had 950 caps. Finally I found my spare glasses and put them on. Unfortunately my mask is gone so I’ll have to deal with my face being out in the open for now. “Okay, we're gonna need holsters and get me a new mask. So the first stop before the saloon is the shop.” I say as I adjust my glasses. They always were ill fitting without a nose but that was why I had rope tied around it so I could secure it to my head. “You got it boss. Just, uh, maybe you should do the talking given what the vigor tester said.” Kaminari said with a chuckle before we started walking to the general store.
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“You must be the one Doc Mitchell was patching up. The way I hear it, I didn’t think you’d be walking out of that office.” The shopkeeper said to me while obviously looking at the left side of my face. “I’ve got plenty of supplies for sale. Even got some weapon mods and special ammo - well worth the caps, if you ask me. I even got some surplus amm-” He tried to start but I cut him off. “You couldn’t pay me to use that crap so don’t offer it.” I bite out in a harsh tone “Now I’m looking for three things, a canteen for my traveling acquaintance, two holsters, and any kind of mask you have. I don’t care if it’s a bandana, just so long as it covers my lower face then I’ll buy it.” I ask as he starts looking for the items. “Also throw in a shovel.” I bark out with a smirk as I watch him scramble.
“Soooo, why don’t you like surplus ammo?” Kaminari asked me while the shopkeeper got our stuff. “It’s crap ammo. Shittily made and chews up your guns internals like a motherfucker. I may have been taught proper gun maintenance but I’d prefer to not have to fix our guns after every fight.” I explain in a way that hopefully gets across why I hate it. He nods, showing that he at least somewhat did. “Why didn’t you get me any more 9mm ammo for the submachine gun you gave me?” He asked in a confused tone. “Because, from what the doc said, Sunny Smiles will provide us with an extra gun and ammo. Me and her will help prep you before we leave town.” I rasp out before taking a swig of my canteen.
“Say, do you know anything about the group who blew in three nights ago? Some Great Khans and a man in a white and black suit.” I asked the shopkeeper as he grabbed the holsters. “The guy in the suit was a New-Vegas-type, typical city boy. The Khans were probably hired guns for a job. Only reason I say that is because this is deep into NCR territory and I know the two groups hate each other.” He explained while setting everything onto the counter. “That will be 200 caps.” He said, making Kaminari gasp. “How about we make it 150 and I throw in 2 stims.” I haggle with him. “Deal.” He said as I got my cap purse and the 2 stims. After we grab everything, I fill Kaminari’s canteen with half of mine and show him how to put on the holster. Then we leave the general store and start making our way to the saloon.
“So why caps? Shouldn’t paper money still be used?” Kaminari asked as we walked out. “Well the NCR does paper money backed by gold, but for the most part caps are used because they don’t wear down easily and are hard to counterfeit. Plus no factories are around to make them so it helps curb inflation.” I explain as I finish tying the red and white bandana around my face, now hiding most of my leprosy scars. “So keep an eye out for them, trash cans especially have a decent amount left in them.” I tell him, looking right at him as we walk. “Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me that you've dug through 200 year old trash just for some caps. Here I thought you would have higher standards.” He teased with a chuckle. “That’s the way of the wasteland. Can’t be helped. At least I’m not the one who wanted to make a living helping poor leprosy victims.” I tease back with a hidden grin.
As we walk up to the saloon we pass by a tanned man sitting outside of it before entering. As we entered a grey and white dog started barking at us. “Cheyenne, stay. Don’t worry, she won’t bite unless I tell her to.” A woman in leather armor and red hair said to us. “Are you Sunny Smiles?” Kaminari asked from behind me, hiding from the dog. “That I would be. Who’s asking?” She asked while eyeing the two of us. “I’m Kibō, this is Kaminari. Doc Mitchell said you could teach us to survive in the desert. Well, teach him, I already know the basics.” I explained as she gained a look of understanding. “Yeah, I can show him a thing or two. Sounds like you two need all the help you can get after what happened to you.” She says as I hold my tongue. I’m not looking for handouts just because of what happened. “Meet me outside, behind the saloon.” She said before walking towards the back.
I noticed Kaminari looking at her ass as she walked off. “So, what do you think my chances are with her?” He asks with a sly look on his face. “You're better off flirting with me than her. At least I won’t kick your ass for saying the wrong thing.” I say with a chuckle as he begins to look disheartened. I feel weird, it’s been a long while since I had someone to banter with. But with him it feels so natural to joke and poke fun at each other. I could get used to it, someone to joke with. “Come on. We got to get you used to holding a gun. But with the way you talk, you might be used to holding one.” I teased with a chuckle before leading him out.
“Alright. See those sarsaparilla bottles on the fence over there? Take this and try to hit a couple of ‘em.” Sunny said while handing Kaminari a varmint rifle and some 5.56 ammo for it. “Alright, how hard could this be?” He joked as he shouldered the rifle. He was a pretty good shot, only missing 5 times. “Good shots. Try to remember that crouching can help with aim.” I say with a hidden smile. “Well, that’s a start. But I don’t reckon you came to me to only teach him how to shoot sarsaparilla bottles. Tell you what. I gotta go chase geckos away from our water supply anyway. Darn critters are attracted to it. Why don’t you two tag along?” Sunny asked while looking at me. “It wouldn’t hurt and he could stand to learn to shoot live targets.” I say before Sunny starts leading us towards a well.
The run there is about 10 minutes long and based on the sun, we’re still a long ways away from night. We soon reach a ridge where we can hear the geckos near the well. “Alright, we're close. Sunny, do you mind leaving this to me and Kaminari?” I ask in a whisper. She nods and gestures for us to go ahead. “Okay, see them up ahead. Just like the bottles, take aim at their heads and fire. Don’t worry if they start charging, I’ll deal with any that get too close.” I say in a whisper as I ready Retribution. He nods before readying the rifle and firing, instantly killing one of the three geckos. The other two start charging at us and Kaminari shoots and kills another one. The last one gets too close and I put one round in its head before it can leap at us. “Good shooting Kaminari. Now let me skin them real quick.” I say as I take out my skinning knife. It takes 5 minutes to skin all three but I end up with plenty of meat and some good hides.
“Good work you two. There’s two more wells that still need clearing. You want, you can come along. It’d be worth a few caps to me.” Sunny offered. I accepted and we started making our way to the next well, only after she gave Kaminari more ammo. As we started clearing the first well, I heard a call for help from the second. “You two keep clearing this one, I'm going to the next.” I shout before running to the ledge overlooking the second well. I see a woman getting attacked by three geckos and I swing into action. I slid down the ledge and immediately headshot one gecko. The lady kills a second one with her cleaver and I finish the last one off with three shots to the chest. “Thank you miss. I’d be a goner if it wasn’t for you. Here, I came here for some water but you can have it.” She then hands me three bottles of water before running past the now approaching Kaminari and Sunny.
“You were so badass sliding down like that. Then the way you saved that lady, grade A hero work.” Kaminari cheered as Sunny shook her head. “That was some good shooting. Hell, even I didn’t hear her shouting. Now if you want, I got one more thing I can teach him. Living off the land and making useful stuff, if you're interested that is.” Sunny offers with a thankful smile. “That won’t be necessary. I can teach him that stuff while we're on the road.” I say as I walk up to the two. “Suit yourself, just before you leave Goodsprings. Visit Trudy up in the saloon. I know she would be disappointed if I didn’t direct ya’ll to her.” Sunny said before running back to town with Cheyenne.
Before we head back I show Kaminari how to skin a gecko and we harvest our kills. I hang some of the meat and all of the skins on my pack so they can dry out. “Alright, three things before we leave. Looting the school house I saw, going back up to the cemetery to look at my grave, and then back to the saloon to meet Trudy. Then we hit the road towards Primm. That’s the only way they would go to get back to Vegas.” I say as I lead the way to the abandoned school house. “Man, I knew that being a hero would mean a lot of walking. But my feet are already killing me.” Kaminari says as we reach the door. “You’ll get used to it. Think of this as training for when you have to go on long patrols as a hero.” I offer as I open the door to find the place swarming with mantises.
“Leave it to me. My Quirk lets me cover my body in electricity or shoot it off. So I’ll just cover myself in it and let them come to me.” Kaminari said as he boldly walked in and acted as a walking bug zapper. “Good work shocker. Now let’s see what we got in here.” I joke at him before we start searching. We find a few magazines and comics, some cherry bombs, and a locked safe that I crack open. It yields us some Mentats, 10mm ammo, a Super Stimpak, and a Stealth Boy. “What’s with the weird wristwatch?” Kaminari asked while holding the Stealth Boy. “It lets you turn invisible for a short time. Keep a hold of it, you never know when we might need it.” I say as I stash the Mentats away. We then walked out and started making our way towards the cemetery, killing a bark scorpion along the way.
I look at my would be grave and suddenly the weight of everything hits me. I was almost dead and I was HAPPY because of it. Just how bad did I let it get that I was happy to die. If I died I wouldn’t have the chance to look for any remaining New Canaanites. I wouldn’t be able to kill the bastard who tried to kill me. I wouldn’t have met Kaminari and he would be alone in a world he doesn’t understand. The next thing I know I’m pulled into a hug while I’m on my knees. I hadn’t even realized that I started crying or hyperventilating. “It’s okay, it’s okay. You're here, you're alive.” I hear Kaminari whisper as he rubs my back. Eventually I calm down and stand back up. “Thank you. I-I’m glad you pulled me out of that grave.” I rasped out while looking at him. “You're welcome. I mean, what kind of hero in training would I be if I didn’t help someone in need.” Kaminari said with that same goofy grin.
Before we went back down to the saloon, we searched the area for anything we could find. Which included the cigarette butts from the guy who shot me, a snow globe of Goodsprings, and some Brock flowers. I also have to have a very… interesting conversation with Kaminari. “You can’t just steal from the graves! Those things belonged to people's loved ones!” Kaminari shouted in shock as I started digging up one of the graves. “It’s not like they need this ammo now. If anything I'm honoring the dead by using their items to prolong MY survival.” I call back as I keep digging. After that I explained to him how some people purposely get buried with supplies so that only the bravest or stupidest of people find it.
But now we were going back into the saloon just as we started hearing an argument from inside. “I’m done bein’ nice. If you don’t hand Ringo over soon, I’m going to get my friends and we’re burnin’ this town to the ground, got it?” A man dressed in some kind of police armor threatened to who I assumed was Trudy. “We’ll keep that in mind. Now, if you’re not goin’ to buy somethin’, get out.” Trudy said as the guy ran off, shoulder checking me on his way out. “Let me guess,” I start as I turn to Kaminari. “You’re not going to want to leave until we get this resolved, mister ‘hero in training’.” I finish as I look at him. “Nope. Now come on, miss ‘It’s not like they need it anymore’.”
“Well, you’ve been causin’ quite a stir. Glad I finally got to meet you. Welcome to the Prospector Saloon.” Trudy said with a smile from behind the counter. “We overheard that argument. What seems to be the problem?” I asked while holding back a sigh. Kaminari better hope this doesn't delay us too much. “It looks like our little town got itself dragged into the middle of somethin’ we don’t want anything to do with. About a week ago, this trader, Ringo, comes into town. Survivor of an attack, he says. Bad men after him, needs a place to hide. We figured he was just in shock. We didn’t expect anyone to actually come after him.” She explained.
I asked her where Ringo was and she told us he was in the abandoned gas station at the top of the hill. I also asked her about the people who shot me and she told me they went towards Primm, confirming my suspicions that they were on the way to Vegas. I also repaired her radio for 150 caps. Then me and Kaminari started making our way up to the gas station. We encountered a Sunset Sarsaparilla dispenser. “Sounds like it still has some in it.” I say as I break open the dispenser to find 3 bottles left. “What’s with it anyway? It didn’t exist in our world.” Kaminari asked as I handed him one. “Don’t know. All I do know is that it’s good and refreshing. It also doesn't have rads in it so that's a plus.” I say as I pop mine open and drink it. He does the same and I can see that he definitely enjoys it.
We enter the gas station to find Ringo aiming a gun at us. “Whoa, whoa ,whoa. We’re friendly, Trudy sent us.” Kaminari said as my hand went to Retribution. “Sorry about the gun. You just caught me off guard, that’s all.” Ringo says as he puts his gun away. “We got off to a bad start. What say we start over with a friendly game of Caravan? You know how to play?” He asks as I groan. “God no. I actually feel like not frying my brain trying to play it again. Besides, we came here to help you with your Powder Ganger problem.” I said while Kaminari chuckled at my attitude. “Fair enough. If you want to help with my problem, go talk to Sunny Smiles, she’ll help us fight the Powder Gangers.” Ringo said as I gave him a nod and left.
“So, we're not going to have to kill anybody, will we?” Kaminari asked as we made our way down to the saloon. “We will. There are no proper authorities to stop them and ,unless you feel like leaving this town to burn, we will have to kill these people. Just like back in our world, not all villains can be talked down.” I calmly explained to him. I know it will hurt him to do it, but it’s better that he learns sooner than later. This world requires you to know how to kill and how to live with yourself afterwards.
We make it back to the saloon and get Sunny’s help. She also suggests that we get the help of Trudy, Chet, the doc, and Easy Pete. We convince Trudy to help by telling her about an ambush spot between the store and saloon, she also helps recruit some townspeople for the fight. I convince Chet, the shopkeeper, by explaining that he won’t have people to sell to if all his customers die. He also gives me some leather armor that I put on while Kaminari asks the doc for some supplies to give to the town. We couldn’t convince Easy Pete to give us dynamite but he does say he’ll help in the fight. So we finally went back to Ringo and told him we were ready.
“Eyes up, Cobb is back with his posse.” Sunny ran into the gas station and told us. We went back to the alley between the saloon and store and waited. As soon as we saw the first Powder Ganger we opened fire. There were only five Powder Gangers, including Joe Cobb, and with everyone's help we cut them down quickly. I saw Kaminari shaking after the battle as he stood over one of the bodies, it had a 5.56 bullet hole in its head. “I-I killed him. I-I killed a man.” I saw Kaminari starting to spiral so I grabbed his hand and tried to ground him. “I know. But he wouldn’t have stopped nor would he listen to reason. It’s a sad thing but in this world, sometimes, it’s kill or be killed. At least we stopped them from killing the citizens of Goodsprings or hurting more caravanners like Ringo.” I say with a soft voice. I see him slowly stop shaking, but clearly not better yet.
“Thanks for the help. Now I can get back to the Crimson Caravan. But before I go here.” He hands me 100 caps and a Caravan deck. “Come see me at the Vegas branch of the Crimson Caravan and I’ll give you more after I get paid.” Ringo said before he ran off to Sunny. “Come on. Let’s get out of here now.” I say gently as I tug at Kaminari’s hand. He wordlessly starts following. We walk down the road and I keep watch to make sure we don’t get close to any animals or people. Kaminari has had enough fighting for today. And soon we reach a small trailer on a hill close to Primm, according to the Pip-Boy it’s called Lone Wolf Radio. The sun is setting so I start a fire and start cooking the two of us some gecko steaks. I also pull down my bandana allowing my full face to be seen.
“I know it will taste weird, but trust me, it’s good.” I handed him one on a metal plate I found in the trailer. “H-how. How have you survived here for five years? How have you been able to deal with the blood on your hands?” He asks as tears start to fall from his face. “I keep living. I just keep moving forward with it. This world can be cruel and heartless. You will have to adapt to it. I know it sounds harsh but, we can’t spare everyone because they might try to hurt more people later on. Good people like the doc and Sunny. But know that if it gets too much, that I’m here. You can lean on me if it becomes too much to bear.” I say to him as I sit down next to him and let him cry. After a while he stops but keeps his head on my shoulder as he eats. I tell him to sleep in the trailer and that I will take first watch for the night. He tries to argue but I shoot him down and tell him he needs it more than me. After he falls asleep, I keep watch as I read one of the comics we found. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but at least I’m not alone any more.