RK47
collides like two planets pulled by gravity
Hours later....
I felt troubled. The guy looks like Powder Gangers uniform, but the banner with that golden ox is out of place. Nipton's on fire. I didn't take the shot. He doesn't look hostile and seemed very happy for some reason.
: Smell that air! Couldn't ya just drink it like booze!
This guy sounds like he's on drugs or something. Too damn happy.
Are you feeling all right?
: Are you kidding me? Never felt better!
: What sort of lottery did you win?
: What lottery? THE lottery, that's what lottery! Are you stupid? Only lottery that matters! Oh my god smell that air!
Unnaturally ecstatic...with a visible town burning behind him. Could he be behind all this?
: Are you a Powder Ganger?
: What? I mean, yeah, used to be, sure! But no more! Powder Gang i small-time, man! I'm a winner! I won the motherfucking lottery!
He ran off like a bolt. Out of Nipton, leaving me very confused.
Something just don't add up.
And that banner disturbs me. I don't recognize it all. Maybe there's some answers inside the general store.
I entered the shop and found a seated Powder Ganger, his eyes grew wide upon seeing me.
First I get my legs smashed, and then in walks the Powder Gangers' Grim fucking Reaper? What the fuck have you got against us, man?
Looks like I'm famous.
Jesus fucking christ, if you want me dead just gimme 15 Med-X and I'll fucking O.D for yo, okay? Fuck!
What happened to this town?
The legion happened. What the fuck's it look like?
How did you survive?
Luck, that's how! I'm just that fucking lucky! You're looking at the second place winner of the Nipton lottery! That asshole Swanick took first place, so him they let walk!
Ahhh, now I understand.
Tell me more.
It ain't like we came to Nipton to play it! Me and my crew had it worked out to kidnap some NCR troopers who came to town to get laid.
What the hell is this? A kidnapping plot?
had it all worked out with the scumbag mayor. We were gonna ransom them off, keep their weapons for ourselves, a nice score.
How'd it go wrong?
We get in position and next thing we know, we're surrounded by those fucking Legion freaks. They dragged us and everybody else into the center of the town. And that asshole with a dog on his head, he starts talking about how we're bad people!
Coincidence? A legion raid with Powder Gangers kidnapping plot masterminded by Nipton's own mayor? This shit is whacked.
He said we needed to be punished for what we did, not all of us, but some of us. And then he gives everyone a fucking lottery ticket...
What happened after that?
What do you think? He started drawing tickets, and that's how people got punished. First up was the lucky losers. They got decapitated - guess that's lucky because it's pretty quick. Then came the crucifixions. Goddamn those went on and on. Third place runners-up got enslaved. I got the fuck beat out of my legs, and the winner they let go free.
What about the mayor?
Him? When his ticket came up, they burned him alive on a pile of tires.
You said some of the people were enslaved?
Yeah, a bunch of those Legion fucks dragged them off right away. They was headed east, if you're feeling heroic.
I'll do what I can to save them.
Don't act like you'd be doing me a favor. I don't give a fuck.
Prick.
Why are you still here anyway?
I dunno, I just love it here. What the fuck do you think, asshole? I'm fucking crippled, get it?
I can spare some Med-X.
Then you're a fucking dream come true, ain't ya? How much you gonna give me?
I gave him two doses.
Good enough. Hand it over.
He wasn't going to be much help. The Med-X will dull the pain, but I doubt he'll help me out in fighting the Legion. I better check the Town Hall for any survivors.
The crucified ones are still alive!
Damn it.
The man with a dog pelt on his head beckoned me to move closer. I made no attempt to flee nor reach for my gun.
He began to speak.
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 teach everyone you meet the lesson that Caesar's Legion taught here, especially any NCR troops you run across.
What lessons did you teach here?
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.
He's referring to the kidnapping plot instigated by the mayor? Then this whole raid wasn't a coincidence? Raid seems like the wrong word to use, more like slaughter.
What exactly happened here?
Nipton was a wicked place, debased and corrupt. It served all comers, so 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 too.
They used the mayor and in the end, killed him too.
You captured everyone?
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.
And the sick games begin.
Each clutched his ticket, hoping it would set him free. Each did nothing, even when loved ones were dragged away to be killed.
You slaughtered innocent civilians?
Innocent? Hardly. Cowardly, though. They outnumbered us, yet not once did they try to resist. They stood and watched as their fellows were butchered, crucified, and burned, one by one. They stood and hoped their turn would not come. Each cared only for himself.
I tightened my arms into fist as I heard his condescending tone mocking the dead and suffering. Savages.
Your crimes are unforgivable.
As are all crimes. If you feel strongly about it, attack us, and soon you won't feel a thing.
I counted five of them plus a few mongrels. My nerve at its breaking point. I CAN do this. They turned to leave without a care, confident I was too terrified to do anything.
How wrong they were.
I clutched the syringe and jammed into my arm, injecting the chems into my system. My heartbeat increased, senses sharp. I could sense their vital points with a glance. I was ready, I grabbed the scoped rifle off my back and took aim.
Without a shred of doubt, I shot the nearest Legion on the head, dropping him immediately. I switched to the mongrels next, dispatching them with precision. The dog headed one noticed and the rest charged in with their machetes.
I stepped back as the closest one slashed his machete and switched to my Cowboy Repeater and opened fire at his head.
He died instantly.
I unloaded the rifle on another, scoring a quick kill. The dog headed one looked stunned with the quick turn of events.
I wasn't finished, I backpedalled and dropped a frag mine before switching back to my repeater and taking aim.
The frag mine exploded as I fired at him. He is no longer amongst the living. I shook off the ringing sound in my ear as I stepped up and took aim at the last Legion who is taking potshot at me with a rifle. He looked terrified.
He should be. It was his last moment on earth.
I took out my pistol and walked slowly to the dog headed man's body.
I had to make sure this one's dead.
At last, it was all over.
I felt troubled. The guy looks like Powder Gangers uniform, but the banner with that golden ox is out of place. Nipton's on fire. I didn't take the shot. He doesn't look hostile and seemed very happy for some reason.
This guy sounds like he's on drugs or something. Too damn happy.
Unnaturally ecstatic...with a visible town burning behind him. Could he be behind all this?
He ran off like a bolt. Out of Nipton, leaving me very confused.
Something just don't add up.
And that banner disturbs me. I don't recognize it all. Maybe there's some answers inside the general store.
I entered the shop and found a seated Powder Ganger, his eyes grew wide upon seeing me.
Looks like I'm famous.
Ahhh, now I understand.
What the hell is this? A kidnapping plot?
Coincidence? A legion raid with Powder Gangers kidnapping plot masterminded by Nipton's own mayor? This shit is whacked.
Prick.
I gave him two doses.
He wasn't going to be much help. The Med-X will dull the pain, but I doubt he'll help me out in fighting the Legion. I better check the Town Hall for any survivors.
The crucified ones are still alive!
Damn it.
The man with a dog pelt on his head beckoned me to move closer. I made no attempt to flee nor reach for my gun.
He began to speak.
He's referring to the kidnapping plot instigated by the mayor? Then this whole raid wasn't a coincidence? Raid seems like the wrong word to use, more like slaughter.
They used the mayor and in the end, killed him too.
And the sick games begin.
I tightened my arms into fist as I heard his condescending tone mocking the dead and suffering. Savages.
I counted five of them plus a few mongrels. My nerve at its breaking point. I CAN do this. They turned to leave without a care, confident I was too terrified to do anything.
How wrong they were.
I clutched the syringe and jammed into my arm, injecting the chems into my system. My heartbeat increased, senses sharp. I could sense their vital points with a glance. I was ready, I grabbed the scoped rifle off my back and took aim.
Without a shred of doubt, I shot the nearest Legion on the head, dropping him immediately. I switched to the mongrels next, dispatching them with precision. The dog headed one noticed and the rest charged in with their machetes.
I stepped back as the closest one slashed his machete and switched to my Cowboy Repeater and opened fire at his head.
He died instantly.
I unloaded the rifle on another, scoring a quick kill. The dog headed one looked stunned with the quick turn of events.
I wasn't finished, I backpedalled and dropped a frag mine before switching back to my repeater and taking aim.
The frag mine exploded as I fired at him. He is no longer amongst the living. I shook off the ringing sound in my ear as I stepped up and took aim at the last Legion who is taking potshot at me with a rifle. He looked terrified.
He should be. It was his last moment on earth.
I took out my pistol and walked slowly to the dog headed man's body.
I had to make sure this one's dead.
At last, it was all over.