"That's not a problem. Take your time, don't want to get tagged for false passes by the guards." I said with a nod.
With that done I led our merry murder squad out of the shop.
"So what are we supposed to do for the next few hours?" Veronica asked curiously.
"We could go get an experimental weapon." I offered casually.
"You know where an experimental weapon is? That we could get in only a few hours?" Jess asked with a flat stare.
"Well, yes. That is what I said. Technically the weapon is more limited availability than experimental in nature but had been further modified so it does a lot more damage." I said with a shrug.
"What kind of weapon is it?" Veronica asked eagerly.
"An Aep7 laser pistol. The much more powerful successor of the Aep5 that the Brotherhood and everyone else typically uses." I say with a grin.
"Oh, I think we had some records about something like that but never found any actual pistols. Why would one be here though?" Veronica asked confused.
"No idea. All I know is that the guy who had it is currently lying dead in the old Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters with his pistol right next to him available for the taking. As for where he got it? Not a clue." I say with a shrug.
"That's awfully specific information." Jess pointed out with a prodding stare.
I wiggled my fingers at her face "Magic." I said with a chuckle.
"Right, ignoring the seriously creepy level of knowledge he has with no discernable source we do have something we could be doing for the next few hours now so you know, lets." Veronica said impatiently.
"Right come along now. We can even stop by the Crimson caravan branch to get some extra caps from Ringo." I say with a grin.
"Ringo? Who's Ringo?" Veronica asked confused.
"He's a Crimson caravanner that pissed off the Powder gangers back near Goodsprings. Jess here stuck up for him and put down the group of them that came to collect his head. He promised that if she stopped by the branch while he was there he'd see her paid proper for the help." I explained with grand mimery.
"It's really not a big deal." Jess said downplaying it.
"Not a... oh absolutely fucking not! You don't get to make that shit sound anything but damned impressive. Let me paint the picture for you. This one wakes up from a who knows how long coma after getting literally shot in the fucking head and buried alive and within maybe four hours is rallying the town to murder some gangers to help someone she had only just met. Straight up the kind of shit legends are told about." I say grandly.
"That's badass as hell! Just getting shot in the head and immediately going ham on the bad guys? You could make serious caps selling that story." Veronica said pumped.
"Right? Not a big deal my foot." I said with a chuckle.
"It was just what should be done." Jess said still denying it.
"Bah, tell yourself that all you want. For now lets go see Ringo and then get that weapon." I said before leading the way.
We left Freeside the same way we entered it. The Kings members there looked at us oddly until I explained about needing to pass a few hours to get the passes. From that gate we followed the road to the east for a ways until we reached the metal gate covered in Crimson caravan livery. We walked in and just like in the game the place was a mix of a few things.-
To the right was the small crop fields being carefully tended. In the middle sat a couple of rough wooden stalls for buying and selling goods and services. One sold food and drink, one sold medicine and treatment and the last weapons and armor. Behind those were a set of four large but clearly cheap trailers buildings that served as the storage, living and office space for this branch of the caravan company.-
There just like in the game Ringo stood relaxed near the general stall chatting with the woman manning it when we walked into the compound. We(read I) drew a lot of attention so Ringo spotted us almost immediately. His face split in a grin when he saw Jess in accompaniment and strolled right over and handed her a small bag that clinked.
"I said i'd pay you back properly once I got back here and I mean to honor that. Got this prepared for you if you ever showed up. Got here at a good time too, going to be heading west back to Californina in a few days. Things are starting to get tense here and I don't want to be anywhere close by when it finally comes to a head." he said casually.
"A pretty wise choice. The next battle for Hoover dam is rapidly approaching and it's bound to be a doozy for the region regardless of who wins." I say with a nod.
"You were at Goodsprings too right? Didn't see you help out with the fighting." he said testingly.
"I was shooting them from the flank while everyone else hit them from the front." I said with a shrug.
"Is that why they kept looking over that way? Well all the same I appreciated the help." he said surprised but grateful all the same.
I shrugged "To be honest I wasn't even needed. That posse formed by the town outnumbered the Gangers three to one. Unless everyone missed all the time there wasn't a chance of losing. Mighta been a bit more bloody without me but that was it." I said calmly.
"True. Still nice to know folk are willing to stand up when things look hairy." he said sincerely. "Now then what brings you all out this way?" he asked curiously.
"Heading for the old Sunset sarsaparilla headquarters and thought to drop by here first since it was nearby." I said honestly.
"Ah, chasing that blue star cap legend are you? Think it's a load of nonsense myself but I wish you luck." he said in understanding.
"It is nonsense. The blue stars were just to show a batch of the drinks were quality tested before being shipped out. The rumor mill just hyped it up enough that the company began to consider actually giving a reward for collecting fifty of them. The actually reward was just a tour of the factory and a whole case of the soda for free." I said with a chuckle.