Heading down the ridge to Boulder city we passed a couple of NCR soldiers patrolling near the stone monument with the names of all the soldiers that died during the previous battle for the dam. This was also the only place with intact buildings since apparently they hadn't stuffed these ones with explosives. Too out of the way perhaps? Whatever the case We kept going down this edging road of the city to a scrap fashioned barricade blocking the way in. A single high level soldier stood outside the door and eyed us as we approached.-
"We have a situation with some Great Khans right now. The brass of McCarron has asked me to lock down the ruins until it's been resolved." The soldier said firmly.
"What's going on with the Khans?" I asked casually.
"One of my patrols was on it's way back from Novac when it came under fire by Great Khans. They radioed for reinforcements. But instead of waiting for us they chased the Khans into the ruins where they were caught in a crossfire. No deaths but not all of the squad got out. The Khans have Private Ackerman and Private Gilbert as hostages." he said with a tired sigh.
"Well ain't that just a lovely little coincidence. See my friend here just so happened to have woken up from a dirt nap that didn't quite stick and she wants some answers from the ones who put her there. Among which is a few Great Khans that we can suspect might be your guys in there. How's about you let us in there to have a wee chat with the chaps and get your folks back in the process?" I offered with a grin while thumbing at Jess over my shoulder.
The guy frowned "Normally I'd turn you down since I have no idea who you are. But considering that the hostages are as good as dead when we attack.... Alright. I'm going to give you a chance to talk to the Great Khans. Their leader is a man named Jessup. If we hear shooting we'll be coming in. But it'll probably be too late for you." he said seriously.
"Consider those hostages already rescued." I said confidently.
"Good luck" he said and probably actually meant it.
We walked past him and pushed open the scrap wooden gate that was on the barricade and into Boulder city proper.-
The place was rubble.
There was maybe like three things that maintained their structure in the ruins. The rest were all reduced to various states of exploded. Even after the years had bleached out the scorching on the stones it was still ridiculously easy to spot as it was way darker than the rest of the stone. The situation was tense to say the least as the NCR troops were all squatting with gazes locked on the position the Khans were glaring back warily from.-
Said position was the conjoined buildings that I mentioned having maintained their structure. Our arrival did not go unnoticed by either side. The soldiers trusted their guy outside the barricade but I could see the Khans hiding behind the ruined frame of a prewar car tense even more than before. Not that I could blame them since I'd also be pretty fucking nervous if a guy in armor like mine entered a standoff I was having on my enemies side. Jess was also not looking to friendly at the Khans either while Boone's resting bitch face did NOT help.-
We didn't sprint or even reach for weapons but walked past the crouching soldiers towards the Khan's position.
"Stay where you are! We'll fucking end the hostages if you get any closer!" One of the Khans, a woman with a red spiked mohawk yelled as we started to get close.
"We are negotiators here to talk with Jessup!" I called back making the three Khans watching us warily but gradually lower their weapons.
"He's inside! Don't try any funny business!" the Khan woman called back.
I nod and lead the way to the surprisingly intact door of the most preserved building they were guarding.-
I pushed the door open and we walked into the building the at was dark save for the light of a single oil lantern on the counter that made it obvious that this was a store before the war. The two Khans behind the counter stared at us with wide horrified eyes. Well to be specific they stared at Jess with them.
"What the hell!? You're that courier Benny wasted back in Goodsprings. You're supposed to be dead!" one of them with a bandana and thin mohawk and mustache exclaimed in shock seeing her.
"Yes, well as you can see she is very much not a rotting carcass in a shallow grave." I say with a grin.
"I gave death the finger. You have something of mine. I want it back." Jess said with a glare.
"So you survived and tracked us down. What now?" he asked cautiously.
"Platinum chip. Where is it?" Jess said firmly.
"Don't have it. Benny stole it, right before he stabbed us in the back. He's probably back at the strip by now, laughing at me." he said bitterly.
"You mean you actually took a job without taking at least half upfront? Oh that's just precious." I said with a snicker.
"Not my finest moment okay? When a chairman from the strip hires you to do a job the idea that they might stiff you doesn't spring to mind. Why would it? Those fuckers are loaded from running those casinos. The pay for this job should have been nothing to a guy like that." he said more angry at himself than anything clearly.
"Right. So lets summarize this whole thing to make sure we are on the same page. Benny hires you lot to tip over a courier, you jump at the opportunity since it's a good payday and chance to make an important connection. You go to Goodsprings, intercept Jess there and then bury her in a shallow grave after Benny puts a hole in her forehead. Benny takes the chip and somewhere between Novac and here reveals his real intentions of never paying you before you get into this fun rodeo with the NCR while he's probably already back on the Strip by now. That right?" I asked.
"Yeah, that about sums it up alright." he said with a nod.
I clap my hands together "So how do you want to handle this? Forgive and help negotiate a way for everyone to walk away alive or some other idea?" I asked Jess.
"As much as I am REALLY not your biggest fan. I also know that you were just doing a job. Benny's the real person I should be going to find. We'll try and get you and your people out of here alive." Jess said with a sigh.
"That's better than I could honestly expect given what we did to you. Here, take Benny's lighter. When you find that bastard make him choke on it will you?" he said as he put down an ornate zippo lighter on the counter.