As I scanned my eyes around Goodsprings, there's this odd-shaped object that seemed out of place.
This must be Victor.
I had to suppress a chuckle a bit at this robot appearance. A metal box with a single wheel as method of movement and a TV monitor displaying a cartoon drawing of a cowboy. But hey, he saved my life.
Thanks for digging me out of that grave.
Don't mention it! I'm always ready to lend a helping hand to a stranger in need.
How did you happen to find me?
I was out for a stroll that night when I heard the commotion up at the old bone orchard. Saw what looked like like a bunch of bad eggs so I laid low. Once they'd run off, I dug you up to see if you were still kicking. Turns out, you were, so I hauled you off to the Doc right quick.
The raiders could not spot this walking TV? I'm really thankful, but something just does not add up.
Do you know who those men who attacked me?
Can't say that I'm familiar with the rascals. Some of the fine folks in town might be able to help you out with that.
I've never seen a robot like you before.
Maybe he's a Robco's Mojave type. Never been here much.
I'm a Securitron, Robco security model 2060-B. If you ever see any of my brothers, tell them Victor says howdy.
I guess that's all he can give me. Not much useful info. It's time to make a stop at the Prospector Saloon.
An old geezer sat in front, enjoying a tobacco chew as the afternoon passes.
Hi.
Howdy. What can Easy Pete do for you?
Know anything about the people who attacked me?
The one in fancy suit seemed to be calling the shots, that's as much as I know. Other folks in town might know more. Word of advice, though: if you ever catch up with him, watch out. The man's got cold eyes like a snake. Can't be trusted, I'd say.
Thanks for the info, old man.
I stepped into the saloon and was confronted with a barking dog.
Cheyenne, stay. Don't worry, she won't bite unless I tell her to.
Doc Mitchell said you could teach me how to survive in the desert.
Yeah, I guess there's a thing or two I could show you. Sounds like you need all the help you can get after what they done to you. Meet me outside, behind the saloon.
She's a sweet girl, but tough. Just like any wastelander has to be, if they want to survive out there. I checked the bar, but Trudy wasn't there.
I stepped out through the back door and met Sunny again. She handed me an old rifle. Varmint rifle, she called it.
Now, see those sarsaparilla bottles on that fence there? Take this and try to hit a couple of 'em.
I knocked off the bottles with ease. I got the skills after all. 5.56 ammo rifle. Not bad for long range snipes.
Well, that's a start. But I don't reckon you came to me to learn to fight empty 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 come along?
That's nice. But I gotta chase a lead. Sorry, Sunny.
I think I've learned enough.
Suit yourself. Hope this helped you some. I'm heading back now. Hey, do me a favor. Trudy - she's the bartender up at the Prospector, kind of the town mom - she likes to meet newcomers. She'd be cross with me if I didn't ask you to poke your head in and say hi.
Coming and poking my head in...that sounds...huh. I need to talk to Trudy anyway. I stepped into the saloon again and caught an argument.
We'll keep that in mind. Now if you're not going to buy something, get out.
Sounds serious. That man's not the nice guy type. I approached Trudy.
Well, you've been causing a stir. Glad I finally got to meet you. Welcome to the Prospector Saloon.
I overheard your argument. What was that all about?
It looks like our town got itself dragged into the middle of something we don't want anything to do with.
At least it wasn't me. Would feel bad if the town's threatened by Raider's cause someone saved my ass.
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, so we gave him a place to lie low. We didn't actually expect anyone to come after him.
Yeah, maybe the attackers didn't get what they wanted. Like they did with me.
It's odd that Cobb wasn't able to find Ringo. The town's not that big.
Cobb hasn't exactly been looking for Ringo too hard - I think he's afraid that Ringo will ambush him, which is probably true.
What are you going to do?
Some of the others, like Sunny, will probably stand up for Ringo if he asks for help, which he hasn't. Personally, I hope he sneaks out of town one night and takes the Powder Gangers with him.
Powder Gangers?
Chain gangs, really. The NCR brought them in from California to work on the rail lines. Problem is, it turns out that giving convicts a bunch of dynamite and blasting powder isn't the best idea. Was a big escape not too long ago. Some of them stuck together so they could make trouble. That's what we're dealing with now.
Looks like NCR's not as strong as they are in the west.
Where's Ringo now?
He's holed up at the abandoned gas station up the hill.
I'll chat with him later, now to pursue my lead.
I'm trying to track down the people who attacked me. Know anything about them?
Not much, other than they're a bunch of freeloaders who expected a few rounds on the house. I was able to get them to pay up, though. Of course, one of the Great Khans did knock my radio to the floor by accident, and it hasn't been working since.
Did they say where they are going?
Sounded like they came in from the north through the Quarry Junction. If that's the case I can't say I blame them for not wanting to go back.
Why's that?
Whole area's overrun with the kind of critters that just get mad if you shoot' em.
Critters? Just get mad would imply they don't 'get killed' easily.
Merchants avoid that whole stretch of I-15 like it's radioactive. Which it could be for all I know.
So where were they headed?
I didn't hear exactly, but the leader was talking about the Strip. Fella wants to get there and avoid the 15, he'd have to go east. Take Highway 93 up.
I checked my Pip-boy's map.
Looks like I have to head south to Primm, then circle east down to north to hit Vegas Strip. Following my killer's path.
Want me to take a look at your broken radio?
Sure. The outside looks okay, but I think something broke on the inside.
Thankfully, it wasn't that hard. Trudy gave me 50 caps for my trouble. I could just leave the town right now and get to Primm, but I wanted to help out Goodsprings on this Ringo trouble. Something to pay them back. I stopped at the store next door to buy some ammo.
Chet the owner of the store, didn't really have much to offer. I picked a box of 9mm bullets and continued to browse when something else caught my eye...
I traded what I could for it.
It's beautiful.
I made a stop at the gas station.
I'm not an enemy, if that's what you're asking.
Sorry about the gun. You just caught me off guard, that's all.
Did you know there's a man named Joe Cobb looking for you?
Yeah. He doesn't look very tough, though. I hear he's afraid. I'll shoot him down from one of the windows when I see him, and he's right. I'll have much bigger problem once his friends show up. There's no way I could handle them all in a gunfight.
So what are you going to do?
I'm going to lay low as long as I can, assuming the town doesn't throw me to the wolves. I've got no chance against the gang on my own.
Maybe I can help.
We'd just end up sharing the same grave if it's just the two of us. Now, if some of the other people in town were also on board...
You don't think I can handle myself in a fight?
I was thinking of myself, actually. Who's going to watch my back while I'm watching yours?
Hah, pussy.
Start with Sunny Smiles. She's been friendlier than most around here.
Fine. I looted the petrol station for bits of food. Ringo didn't mind. A nearby locked safe was no match to my lockpicks. I found some 9mm ammo and another 9mm pistol which I could scrap for parts to repair my current gun.
I stepped out and spotted Joe Cobb leaning on a house near the outskirts of the town. Maybe I could reason with him.
What was that you said about Ringo?
He's some trader who decided he's rather shoot than pay the toll for being in our territory. He's hiding somewhere in town. Would serve these idiots right if me and my guys shot the place up after we got payback on Ringo.
Can't have that happen to Goodsprings.
This area is your territory?
It is now. Me and the rest of the guys busted out of the NCR prison east of here and took over. Now we're calling the shots.
What were you in prison for?
None of your damn business.
I was just curious.
Like I said, mind your own business.
There's no reasoning with this guy. I whipped out my 9mm and aimed it at his head.
He's heavily armored and I'm wearing a park stroller outfit. I might need an equalizer. I holstered my pistol and noticed his smug expression.
It shall be corrected shortly.
See you later, Cobb.
The 5.56 bullet hit him straight on the head. His lifeless body slumped against the wall and slid to the ground. I looted his stuff. A .357 revolver, his armored vest and a Stealthboy unit! Awesome. But I wasn't finished.
Not so smug now are you, Cobb?
I held his body up with my left hand and sliced his head off with the knife on my right.