Nipton was never some beacon on moral uprightness, frankly they were predators but not everyone qualified as such. Certainly not the children here. Yet the legion killed them all without batting an eye. That sort of evil you couldn't negotiate with, you just had to stomp it out and hope it didn't come back. As much as I'd like to say killing everyone who believed in the legion would solve the problem it honestly might not. You can only kill an idea by removing all memory of it and far too many people will remember the legion. -
"We should have taken my path and just let me kill them all." I said with an edge as I stared at the dead burnt corpse of another child.
"I didn't know about this. I just hoped to avoid a fight." Jess said with a dark expression.
"Is this what raiders are like?" Adam asked with a chilling calmness.
"Depends on the group but more or less yeah." I said as I forced my gaze away from the haunting sight.
"You believe in slaying these people at first sight yes?" Adam asked with a slight edge.
"Yes. God may grant them mercy, I have none." I said firmly.
"Good." Adam answered with a word that said everything it needed to.
We remained quiet the entire way out of the town and up the highway to the NCR checkpoint. The soldiers there, barely more than new recruits mostly, gave us a wide berth as we walked into one of the buildings. It was cooler inside and a reception desk had been set up with a young, twenty something, Caucasian guy with short black hair standing behind it.
"You must be that guy I heard about a few days ago who came by on a motorbike with a horse and crazy looking armor. What can I do for you?" he said a little taken back but surprisingly professional.
"Ranger Jackson. We need to talk with him, it's important." I said gravely.
"I'd hope so. He's been in a foul mood for a while now and might take it out on you if you bother him over something that wasn't actually important. He's in the back, like usual." the soldier said casually.
I nodded and led the way towards the hallway that led to the barracks and offices. Ranger Jackson walked out of one of the offices with a face that didn't look happy at all.
"Well, if it isn't the source of some of my problems in the chromed up flesh. What? Did you realize you went the wrong way to Vegas and come back?" the man snapped in annoyance when he saw me.
"We should go somewhere with less ears. You don't want what we have to say getting out to the soldiers." I said gravely letting his tone roll over me without effect.
The annoyance faded from his mustached face and his posture straightened as he turned professional.
"I hope whatever you have to say is as important as it sounds or i'm going to have some less than choice words for you." he said firmly before motioning us to follow him.
He brought us into and office and leaned against a slightly rusted metal desk impatiently.
I shut the door before I started.
"We were heading for Vegas and found Nipton smoking. Legion hit it, HARD. Killed all but a few, crucified, enslaved or crippled all but one via some fucked up lottery. I gave the ones on the crosses mercy myself since they were too far gone. Came straight to you to keep the panic down as much as we could." I said seriously.
"FUCK! Nipton's only a stones throw from here." Jackson swore and hit the desk angrily.
I nodded "I know. That's why we came. Didn't want you getting caught unawares." I said frankly.
"I appreciate it. This might just be what we need to get McCarran moving. I just wish it were under better circumstances." he said after a moment with a tone of resignation.
"Nobody likes bad news. On a different note what was that about me being the source of some of your problems?" I asked curiously.
"Oh that? The higher ups sorta jumped down my throat about not keeping you here. Something about introducing unknown variables to the region." he said tiredly.
"What exact did you tell them anyways?" I asked not surprised.
He shrugged "The truth. You came through on a bike with a horse, crazy high tech armor and a large tamed bug and left without even getting off your bike." he said casually.
"Pfft, they must have thought you insane." I said with a chuckle.
"It was heavily implied a few times. That changed when the encampment at Primm also sent a report matching your description up the flagpole. From what i've been told there's some talks about getting you to see the science boys in McCarran so they can try and reverse engineer your tech." he said honestly.
"Yeah, not happening. No offense but I'm not about to trust a bunch of bloodsucking bureaucrats with stuff like this." I said flatly.
"None taken despite technically being one of said bloodsucking bureaucrats in question. If it were up to me I'd leave you be since I'd say you earned it by warning us like this. You didn't have to but you did and that means something. Now get out of here already before the higher ups get word and make things uncomfortable for us both." he said shooing us away.
"He's a decent sort." Jess said as we mounted up.
"He is. A bit stressed and frustrated with his orders but a good man all the same." I said in agreement.
We left the checkpoint and headed north for a bit across the ruined highway before hanging a right through Nipton. I tried not to let the sight bother me as I drove the bike through it and into the stretch of road that ran between the canyon walls. The Viper gang members posted up along the path could only watch in stupefaction as I drove right by their landmines and out of their range to shoot at us. Honestly against anyone else of normal means this little set up would be rather troublesome but I was literally too fast to get caught in the trap.