"Ah, and there's our destination." I say changing the subject to point out the metal fence gate with a few guys wearing black and white outfits with greased back hair standing near it.
"What is it?" Jess asked curiously.
"Freeside, Grungy little armpit of Vegas. It's the community that sprang up around the Strip after the place became THE place to be. There are roughly four factions that run the place. The NCR who are NOT super welcomed by the locals, The Kings which those three greasers belong to, The Van Graffs who are mostly just arms dealers with extra pull and finally The followers of the apocalypse who just want to make the world a better place and work towards that end without pause." I explained casually.
"The NCR isn't welcomed here?" Jess asked surprised.
"Overall? No. Like I said humans enjoy freedom and the NCR wants to take over and impose their laws here. Since the Kings exist any benefit the NCR brings with them is heavily discounted as the gang is literally about as wholesome as you get for gangs. They are all about unity, community, respect and honor. Trouble is that they are still just a gang at the end of the day, the only rules they play by are their own." I said seriously.
"Couldn't the NCR just overrun the area to take it over?" Adam asked curiously.
"And that is where Mr. House comes into the picture. Smart bastard has an entire heavily armed security force that makes invading and overrunning New Vegas a fools errand. At least a couple hundred securitrons and the factions that run the casinos. Anyone stupid enough to run cock first into this place in an attempt at conquest will find that appendage blown off." I said with a chuckle.
"So he's made this place too big a prize to ignore but also too difficult to forcefully take over." Adam said in understanding.
"Bingo. Like I said before House might be a morally dubious individual but his capability is not something that can be questioned." I said as we approached the gate to Freeside.
We approached the gate and the three Kings members standing around it smoking all stood a little straighter as their hands rested near their guns.
"How's it hanging fellas? Keeping it fresh?" I said with a grin as we got near them.
"Keeping the fiends out and handling any troublemakers. You all wouldn't happen to be here to start trouble right?" one of the guys said with a particular accent that could only be described as Elvis Presley.
"Not at chance slick. Heading for the strip to gamble away our fortunes, same story different day." I said casually.
"Good, head on in. Maybe stop by Mick and Ralph's if you want to get past that checkpoint without spending an arm." the guy said as he relaxed and waved us to go through.
"Thanks for the tip. You keep up the good work yeah?" I say with a grin before pushing open the metal gate.
"I take it you are a fan of the Kings?" Adam asked curiously.
"Of course, they are imitators of the king of rock himself! Mister Presley, even if they don't understand he wasn't given that title because he wasn't actually a king." I said with a chuckle.
Freeside was dirty but was more intact than most places I'd seen in this world so far. Most of the buildings still stood though they were sealed shut with wood and metal. The red brick old Mormon fort right by the entrance had it's tall walls and large gate waiting for any who required aid. Right next to the entrance to Freeside was a guy with a plastic table hawking his wares. Radroach meat and other fun wasteland food options. There was a whore on the corner in basically nothing advertising the Atomic Wrangler bar and showroom. On a different corner a kid advertising Mick and Ralph's. And on the last corner a guy advertising the Van Graff's Silver Rush. -
"Are those kids chasing a rat?" Jess asked speechlessly as a pair of scrawny kids chased a mutated rat the size of a dog that was fleeing from them,.
I pulled out my pistol and put a round through the beasts head.
"Not everyone can afford food." I say calmly as I put my pistol back.
The kids didn't waste any time tearing into the now dead beast to devour it's flesh. A disgusting and definitely unsafe method of consumption but hunger doesn't exactly care about thinking when it genuinely strikes. I walked over to the two kids and took out a couple bottles of water that I set on the ground as they eyed me warily.
"Drink something too and don't let the blood dry on your faces." I say calmly before motioning for the others to follow me as I walked towards the further back area of the area.
"Got a soft spot huh?" Veronica teased.
"I've been in a similar position before. Not knowing when the next meal might come, not knowing if anyone could be trusted. I'm no saint but a little charity won't kill me when I have plenty." I said frankly.
"Wasteland can be a rough place for children. It's good you did something for them, even if it's not much." Boone said stoically.
I nodded and led the way to the old drug store that had been repurposed as Mick and Ralph's general goods store. One of the local gangers that weren't with the Kings took a few shots at us in hopes of a easy score but we put the fool down without any suspense. desperation and greed did not make a good combination to say the least. The inside of Mick and Ralph's was cleaner than outside but not by much. The shelves that once held junk food and toiletries now had wasteland staples like guns and chems.-
"Welcome to Mick and Ralph's, i'm Ralph. I handle the general sales while Mick takes care of weapons and more niche sales. What can I get you?" The Caucasian guy in a red plaid shirt said from by the counter.
"Need a pass for each of us. Two thousand caps right?" I ask smoothly.
"You've come to the right place. We are the best in the business when it comes to making passes. We take payment upfront." he said calmly but the message was clear.
I passed him the caps and a few stimpacks to cover the difference.
"Payment received. Give me a few hours. Don't normally get so many orders at once and only have one on hand." he said with an apologetic shrug.