Ch. 16 Town Hall and Loo…Scavenging

Colton is the first to enter. And the smell of iron stings his nose. The kind of iron from blood has a very distinct scent.

There were bodies strewn about. Mostly female. Some still had clothes on.

Colton looked around the entrance and didn't see any enemies. He walked in and went to the desk to the right.

Cass walked in behind Colton but stopped when she saw the state of the women. They had their clothes torn off their bodies and were covered in bruises, cuts, and various liquids. Blood being the easiest to spot, but the amount of other liquids made it hard to ignore. It was a terrible sight and the smell was god awful.

Colton disarmed a mine behind the counter beneath a body of a woman who had been left bent over the counter. Two terminals were broken. But he found a worn key.

Colton went beside Cass and looked at the bodies. Some men had horrid looks on their faces even in death. Colton assumes they had to watch their wife's and daughters get defiled and taken before they were killed.

"Let's see if we can find any survivors" Colton pats Cass's shoulder, taking her out of her thoughts.

"If there are any" Cass says beneath her breath, she shrugs off her thoughts and follows Colton.

They got a few steps down the hall leading to the rest of the building when they heard chewing sounds and barking.

Colton draws his two pistols and motions for Cass to back up. She has her shotgun drawn and ready a few feet behind Colton.

Colton readies himself and is ready to finally shoot something. "Come and gets some you damn mutts!" He shouts.

[ [Rambo Style] in effect ]

Lots of red markers appear on his compass.

The chewing sound stops but the sound of the paws and nails against the wooden floor sound throughout the building. At first there were 5 dogs that were big and had spotches of fur missing. And Colton could assume that the Legion had left their dogs behind. He'd be glad to clean them up for them.

He shoots the dogs without a second thought but more come. Cass takes her 10mm pistol out and helps Colton take the dogs down. They both have to reload. Cass more so because she misses a shot every now and then. The dogs were fast and erratic. Even with them coming down the hall their speed was impressive. Colton didn't miss a shot, his bullets went through the mongrel's heads with ease and left their bodies to skid on the floor.

After some time there weren't any more mongrels to be seen or heard that are alive.

Colton and Cass make sure they are dead and begin their search for survivors….or anything valuable. But that was mostly Colton. He also wanted to know more about the town so he would keep an eye out for any terminals still intact or any papers worth note.

The first floor didn't have much, just more bodies of the unfortunate women and men who got violated and then murdered. Even some men had been violated. But those were in the minority. Mainly because the Legion never allowed women to be anything more than playthings or the mothers of the future soldiers.

They did find a use for the worn key Colton found. It led to a basement. And they found lottery tickets, a small mount of medical supplies, some guns and ammo, explosives, and Sunset Sarsaparilla. They bagged what they could and left it by the entrance.

They only found chewed bodies that had their guts spilled out and more corpses. Some seemed to have had the dogs violate them. But Colton kept that knowledge to himself. He doesn't think Cass could tell the difference between the knife cuts and the claw and teeth marks. She didn't look too hard at the bodies.

They moved to the second floor and continued their search. But their hopes were as low as they could be after seeing the first floor.

There weren't any more mongrels, but the bodies didn't disappear, nor did the number of them dwindle. But up on the second floor there were more bodies that didn't seem to be the towns people. Some still had weapons on them. They were female, no males. And the ones that had weapons seemed to have gotten beaten and abused worse. Arms broken, teeth bashed in, skin filleted. Colton was getting used to it. But after seeing this he went right back to the beginning. He tried to keep Cass from seeing the worst of it. But he knew she had already seen it.

Colton took the weapons and ammo. As cruel as it may seem, 'they' weren't going to need it anymore.

Colton found another couple mines, luckily he was able to stop Cass before she stepped on one. She was kinda out of it but after that she came back to her senses.

After not finding much else they went up another staircase. But this one led to a door that read:

'Steyn's Office'

Colton remembers that this name came up before. He thinks that Steyn was the Mayor that he read about in Harry's boobytrap house.

Inside the office looked nice. No more bodies at least. A counter with cups and coffee machines were to the right and 2 vending machines also had power. The fridge had alcohol in it. They bagged the alcohol, S.S, and Nukacola.

There were four doors.

The first led to a bathroom, it had some stimpacks and chems stocked in a first aid container.

The second led to an office space, some caps and broken terminals were inside.

The third room was locked. But Colton unlocked it in seconds.

Cass still found it curious why he spent the time to pick it when he could just kick the door in. He was strong enough to and it wasn't like they were trying to be quiet.

The locked door just led to another smaller office room. Broken terminals and desks flipped over. Some caps here and there. But nothing else worth picking up.

The last door. This was Steyn's office. There was a working terminal and a book with magazines around it on a desk at the back. Behind the desk was a locked door. Colton told Cass to check the walls and other things while he checked the computer.

He touched the book and it turned to ash.

[Science increased by +3]

He sat at the terminal and went through it.

While he was doing that Cass found a whole lot of nothing. Except when she checked the desk and cabinets around Colton. She found a laser pistol and some ammo for it, Bobby pins for Colton to lockpick with, caps, and magazines for Colton since he likes them. Although she would keep the fashion ones.

She looks at Colton who has his face mask down and goggles off. He reads the terminal intently with a neutral face, an occasional scowl of disgust appearing and disappearing as he reads. She sits on the desk the terminal is on and watches Colton for a few seconds before she looks to the locked door.

Cass takes out the 10mm pistol and shoots the handle off it.

*thud* *scuffling noises like someone scrambled to get up*

"What the hell Cass?! Some warning would be nice!" Colton shouts. He was reading the terminal when he hears a gunshot right next to his ear. It caused him to fall out of his chair and onto the ground, not so gracefully.

"Didnt know you were surprised so easily" Cass shrugs with a smirk on her face. "I'll be sure to warn you next time"

Colton could tell she was not going to do that. He watched her saunter into the now unlocked room. The view was at least enough for him to get over the embarrassment. Cass did have tight jeans on after all.

Colton shook his head and moved the chair upright. He felt his boxers get tight again. "Still the best decision I've made yet" he says to himself as he remembers the one thing he changed about his body from the character creation.

He begins reading the terminal once again.

It starts off with the Mayor talking about having Tony build and fix this terminal. Colton frowned at the payment Tony received. Even a second read through didn't help the hate he felt for the Mayor. Tony was paid 30 caps worth of a woman called Rosie. Meaning the Mayor did endorse pimping. Colton knew that it was a problem, but that didn't make him accept that it was ok to do.

The Mayor goes on to talk about how he is glad he set up shop here and not further East. How he made plenty of caps here. Even explaining that the NCR troops from the Mojave Outpost would come here. How the troops were desperate enough to hide their hotdogs in a molerat, or something that didn't smell better than one. The NCR troops were 'backed up' and willing to pay for services.

Colton didn't like it. But he knew that New Vegas would be worse. So much worse.

The Mayor explained that the local shops had given a percentage to him from their sales because he is the one with the girls attracting all their customers. He complains about a 15% cut instead of his requested 20%.

The Mayor talks about 'Hub' like it's a place, and that he would run for office there. That confused Colton a little.

Having caught up to where he had been interrupted he read on.

'Mayor Joseph B. Steyn'

Is signed at the end of this log.

Colton reads the next log, 'High Roller'

The Mayor explains how the NCR Correctional Facility was a promising development. The prisoners, Powder Gangers, were invited by the Mayor to trade in the town. He even offered a free round with 'the girls' as door prizes.

The Mayor's ego exploded when the Powder Gangers took the deal. After not having sex for as long as they did, and not having to fight for their next partner, they jumped at the offer. They enjoyed consensual sex, or as consensual as pimping is. Colton wasn't sure and didn't care. Not like any pimping was going to happen in Nipton for a while.

The Mayor had this plan. NCR comes to town during the night, and the Powder Gangers come during the day. That way they don't fight and everyone can come. Literally, cum. The Mayor didn't want the two groups shooting eachother in the middle of the streets so this worked out pretty well.

Colton reads the last log.

The Mayor is surprised with his own luck. Truly shocked. Mouth to the ground and caps for eyes. He was approached by a man calling himself 'Mr. Fox'. When the Mayor and Mr. Fox were alone in his office Fox told Mayor he was part of Caesar's Legion. They made a deal, because Mr. Fox told the Mayor that the Legion hates both groups and wishes to make an example out of them both.

The NCR for obvious reasons. And the Powder Gangers for harassing Legion raiding parties on this side of the river, the west.

That's not good news, but Colton already heard the NCR soldiers talking about reports of similar statements.

The Mayor didn't think for a moment about Mr. Fox's proposal before he accepted. He planned to have the Powder Gangers kidnap the NCR soldiers at night and have the Legion scoop them up together.

If he did this he would be receive 8,000 caps. Chump change for Colton, but enough to turn a shitty life into a rich one.

The Mayor talks about going back to the NCR if he gets paid that much. Colton wonders if this is the 'hub' he talked about before. But the Mayor gets greedy and considers how much more he could make off the Legion lackey.

Then it talks about a stockpile of supplies between Nipton and the Mojave Outpost. Just in case he decides to rush back home in a hurry.

Colton assumes the 'hub' to be the Outpost but doesn't really care. He wonders where the stash of supplies are.

He looks at his Pipboy and wonders. "Could the stash be at the Nipton Road Pit Stop. We didn't stop there, so maybe?"

Colton stands up and looks into the previously locked room. A bunch of cabinets, both upright and knocked over are along the left side. The right side was filled with metal shelves with various things on them. Although some are now empty thanks to Cass.

He joins her and catches her up on what happened to Nipton.

Lots of goodies were inside. Ammo galore, some pistols, caps, a few shotguns, explosives, armor, caps, a bladed gauntlet, and was caps already listed? Because more of those were found.

Hundreds of caps were inside. Colton was the one who gets to be the keeper of the Caps for now. They were having to carry everything out now and would divide the loot once they were safe back at the outpost.

They quickly make their way out of the Town Hall. No survivors were found. And grab their bags as they left.

Nothing stopped them as they left town with bags of loot over their shoulders. Colton was the pack mule, or the brahmin, and carried most of their things.

Colton considered leaving blowing up the enormous giant ant nest. He even had flamer fuel from the Mr. Gutsy he destroyed in one of the houses. That, along with all the explosives would definitely do the trick.

But before he could decide he remembered one place they hadn't been to in Nipton yet.

The Nipton Trading Post.

"We might as well stop in and see what's in there" Colton says as he drops his bags.

"Do we really need any more shit? We're breakin our backs as it is" Cass points out.

Colton walks to the door. "Are you going to complain about getting more whiskey money?"

Cass sets her bags next to Colton's, just outside the door. "No, but I ain't carrying much more"

Colton smiles. 'Not like I can fast travel anyway, it'll just be a pain in the ass to walk the rest of the day. At least we can blow up the ant nest and hopefully find the stash of supplies'

He walks in and sees the place a mess. And there's a dud just chilling on a chair in the middle of the shop as well. "You we're here the entire fuckin time?" Colton flatly asks. If they just talked to this guy they wouldn't have run into Vulpes.

"Who are you?" Colton asks the Powder Ganger that is sitting in the chair with bashed in knees.

The shirtless Powder Ganger that looked like he was about to fall asleep snaps awake and sits up. But relaxes when he sees Colton and Cass. But a scowl grows on his face. "Goddammit, I was nodding off until you barged in here! And I don't hurt when I sleep!" The man winces in pain. "Just give me some goddamn Med-X and fuck off, will ya?"

Colton crossed his arms over his chest. Cass looks around the front of the store, not caring what happens to the Powder Ganger but keeping her ears open to the conversation. Colton responds. "How did you of all lovely people survive?"

The P.G. Rolls his eyes and chuckles bitterly. "Luck, that's how! I'm just that fucking lucky!" He looks into Colton's eyes and continues in a disgusted tone. "You're looking at the second place winner of the Nipton lottery, Boxcars! That asshole Swanick took first place, so him they let walk!"

Colton remembers the ugly glasses guy that ran West. "So you got second. I'm guessing they let you live, but not walk?"

Boxcars emphasizes his legs that are mangled and bent the wrong way. "The fuck do you think?! You got any Med-X?"

Colton takes his pack off and digs out 2 Med-X. "They're yours if you cooperate and answer some more questions"

"Good enough, hand em over already" Boxcar holds out his hand.

Colton hands the painkillers in a syringe over and watches as Boxcars stabs one in either thigh and visibly relax into his chair.

Boxcars releases a sigh. "Fuck that's better"

Colton puts his pack back on. "Yeah, yeah. Now answer this, did you know a deal between the Mayor and the Powder Gangers?"

Boxcar looks at the roof. "Yeah. Me and my crew had it worked out to kidnap some NCR troopers who come to town to get laid. Had it all worked out with the scumbag Mayor. We were gonna ransom them off, keep their weapons for ourselves, a nice score. But shit hit the fan. And we saw the Legion moving crates off to someplace out of town" Boxcars looks at Colton. "We get in position and next thing we know, we're surrounded by those fucking Legion freaks"

Boxcars shudders at the memory. "They dragged us and everybody else into the center of town. And that asshole with a dog on his head, he starts talking about how we're bad people!" He gets pissed and knocks over empty bottles that were next to him. "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..."

Colton crouches down and looks at the mangled legs. Boxcars wouldn't be walking ever again. Unless he had them replaced with cybernetics. "How did the lottery go exactly?"

Boxcars looks at Colton with a hateful gaze. "He started drawing tickets, and that's how people got punished. First up was the 'lucky losers'. They got decapitated, guess that's 'lucky' cuz it's pretty quick"

"Then came the crucifixions. Goddamn but those went on and 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"

"All the whole they had their way with us. Some didn't even care if the bodies were already cold or not. They just kept going at it. It was…."

Boxcars drifts off into the memory.

"What happened to the Mayor?" Colton asks. He wanted to know if the bastard was somehow still alive. Even if there wasn't a chance in hell.

Boxcars answers in a lighter, almost happy, tone. "Him? When his ticket came up, they burned him alive on a pile of tires" He looks to Colton and Cass. "Now leave me the fuck alone… I just want it to be over already…"

Colton stands up and walks to Cass. "There's a door at the back. Might lead to the upper floor"

Cass looks at Colton with a neutral face. "What are you waiting for then?"

They both walk past Boxcars who seems to be nodding off.

Colton snags a magazine on the cashier counter and has Cass put it in his pack as he unlocks the door.

The second floor was a mess. And the safe was already cracked open. But he took the bottle caps, chems, and prewar money. Wasn't much else besides another magazine and a harmonica. Cass let him keep both.

After that they went back out the front and left Boxcars to his own devices. They had a long walk back.