Night was drawing to a close. The skies to the East glowed, signaling the sun’s approach. However, it was still dark enough for New Vegas’ multitude of colorful lights to shine forth into the sky. The sounds of parties and crowds could be heard in a chaotic chorus.
Jacks and his two companions trod along the outside of a large, cobbled together wall that surrounded the Strip. The structure consisted of huge plates of steel and the roofs of train cars, all of which were lined with multiple layers of barbed wire to keep out the riff-raff. Pinkie ogled at the numerous buildings and signs jutting up from the hidden city as she followed Jacks. Each flashy, neon sign caught her curiosity and excitement. Even so, one object was the focus point of her fascination. The massive tower that stretched into the sky above them.
She had seen it from a distance, of course, but from here it seemed to be reaching up to the moon as if it wanted to grab it. Its slender neck was as close to alabaster as one could expect, given the apocalyptic nature of the world. The tower was topped with a large saucer, from which 4 ‘arms’ outstretched. They pointed to the North, South, East, and West. Pinkie's mouth hung agape as she tried to imagine things such as ‘how many streamers could she hand from the top floor’ and other party-related whimsies.
“That’s the Lucky 38,” Jacks said casually, taking note of the pony’s interest. He was leading them along the East wall, through the NCR Sharecroppers. He’d found that it was the quickest and safest way to the Gun Runners from McCarran.
“Can we go there? Pretty pretty PRETTY please!?” Pinkie asked jubilantly.
Jacks grinned as the party pony began bouncing circles around him. “Not right now, I’m afraid. We have some more business to take care of before we head in there.”
Pinkie stopped in front of him and began walking backwards. She looked up to him, pouting her lips as she gave him huge puppy-dog eyes. His gaze locked with hers, though he did not slow his pace. He hated to disappoint Pinkie, he really did, but what choice did he have?
“I’m gonna’ be straight with you, Pinkie. You and I both know that when you get in there we won’t be leaving for a long time. I just need to make sure things are taken care of out here before I unleash you upon the hapless citizens of the Strip.” He let out a chuckle at the thought of her going nuts and throwing a colossal party in the streets of Vegas. “Besides, I don’t know if I’m ready to… shall we say, take care of some business.”
“ooOOoo~ intriguing!” Pinkie replied, her expression returning to that of joy and curiosity. “What kind of business would that be, if’n ya’ don’t mind my askin’?”
“Oh, nothing out of the ordinary. Loose some caps, make sure Gomorrah is staying out of trouble, watch some drunk NCR troopers dance naked in the Ultra Luxe fountain…” The smile faded from his face as his tone became cold and serious. “Find the man who shot me in the head and stole a valuable package I was supposed to deliver.”
“Oh.” Pinkie’s bouncing became less energetic. “What uh… what are you going to do when you find him?”
“Don’t really know,” he said solemnly. “Haven’t really figured out how I’m gonna’ cross that bridge when I come to it. I might want to talk with him. I might shoot him then and there.” The corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he looked Pinkie in the eye. “Hell, I may just throw him a party.”
“If that’s the case, then I’m the best party pony you could ever hope to ask for!” she exclaimed joyously as she faced forward.
“My point is,” Jacks continued, “I’m just not ready to go back to the strip. I’ve been there before, and taken care of some things, but even then I couldn’t work up the nerve to face Benny. I mean, as a Christian I’m called to forgive those who sin against me… but frankly, I don’t know if I’m ready to forgive the man that murdered me. I’m not exaggerating, either. I died in those days, multiple times in fact. It took everything Doc Michel had to barely keep me alive.” He let out a heavy sigh.
“Yet here I am, still kicking. Don’t know why God has decided that I live, but who am I to judge. I suppose all I can do is try to do right by him and see where he leads me. After all, he’s got a plan. He’s always got a plan. I just don’t know what it is yet…” Jacks looked up to the dark-purple sky, lost in thought.
The trio continued along the wall in relative silence. A few minutes passed before they walked around an abandoned building, turning the corner to see their destination. A fortified building adjacent to the New Vegas wall was surrounded by fences and walls made from the roofs of train cars. The only entrance to the small compound was a large chain-link gate. The fortification wasn’t as massive or imposing as the Strip’s wall, but it was still significant. A cobbled-together kiosk inhabited by a protectron stood next to the compound's gate. Large metal letters were mounted above the kiosk, spelling out ‘GUN RUNNERS’.
The group walked down the empty road casually as they approached the kiosk. As they neared it, the protectron stood to attention from the approaching sensor blips. “Welcome, sir or madam. Do you wish to purchase something?” is asked in a suave, autonomous voice.
“Hi there!” Pinkie said giddily, poping up behind the robot. “Say, how’d you get in here?”
Jacks shook his head slowly, despite the smile on his face. “I could ask you the same, Pinkie.”
“This kiosk was specially constructed around me to deter theft and assault,” it replied, seeming to ignore the breach in logic.
“Oh, my bad.” Pinkie walked to one of the walls and opened a section of boards as if they were a door.
“--Is anyone else growing concerned about the seemingly limitless abilities of this being?--“ ED-E beeped inquiringly.
Jacks gingerly patted the top of ED-E’s chassis. “I think asking questions is a lost cause, friend. Quite frankly, as long as she’s on our side I don’t care what she can do.” A tug on his cloak brought his attention to the pony standing by his side, looking up to him expectantly.
“Can I get something? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?”
“Okay Pinkie, but I’m not buying you more than 1 weapon. Also, hand over any weapons or other things you don’t want to keep. They can help pay for your purchase.”
Pinkie bounced so rapidly that it looked like she was standing on pink blurs rather than hopping. “THANK YOU! This is gonna’ be so awesome!” She turned to the kiosk and propped her fore hooves on the counter. “I wanna’ buy something that goes BOOM!”
The protectron leaned forward slightly to imply eye-contact. “I am ready to process our transaction.”
“--This may be the single most terrible decision you have ever made,--“ ED-E beeped quietly so only Jacks could hear.
“Or the greatest,” he replied, sharing the eye-bot’s hushed tone. After a second to think, he leaned back over to ED-E. “…Okay, maybe you’re right.”
-
Pinkie browsed the arsenal’s wares for almost an hour before she found something she was interested in. However, she hid the weapon before Jacks could see what it was. She explained she wanted to surprise him with it after she had time to ‘customize’ it. Jacks, despite the nervous knot in his gut, allowed her to keep whatever it was she had selected. Considering it cost almost 20,000 caps, he could only assume that whatever it was would blow his socks off. Though, he hoped not literally.
Jacks spent a few more minutes topping off his ammo supplies and offering guns and other items to sell before concluding the transaction. Once their business was concluded, the trio about-faced and started heading back the way they came. They went back through the sharecroppers and passed by Camp McCarran’s main gate, waving to the guards as they passed. Halford gave them a thumbs-up while the other guard shot them the bird.
The trio continued south along McCarran’s wall, effortlessly gunning down any Fiends foolish enough to attack them. Eventually they passed the wall and the surrounding buildings. Before them lay acres of desolate, abandoned farmlands, dotted with the occasional house. Jacks pointed out a large billboard in the distance, informing Pinkie that their destination was near there.
Honestly, Jacks couldn’t figure out why nobody was farming this land. There were plenty of shrubs and other plants growing here and there. The ground was even lined with ridges and furrows. Maybe one day, if people cared enough, this land could be developed to feed Vegas independent of merchants. His daydreaming faded as they approached the billboard. He pointed out an old house almost a kilometer the east.
“That farmhouse should be a good staging area for our deathclaw hunt. It’s got a bed, a kitchen, and there’s a car parked close enough to it to let you climb up to the roof. We’ll have a good view of the road to Quarry Junction from up there. That should allow us to pick off a few of those beasties before we head that way.” Jacks looked down to Pinkie. “Any questions?”
“Can we have a lunchtime picnic? Those cupcakes I had for breakfast have about run their course.”
“Jeez, its noon already?” he asked, looking down to his pipboy for confirmation. “Damn, time sure flies by when you’re around. But sure, I’ll fix us some lunch when we get there. Gecko steak for me, and a desert salad for you?” He leaned down to ruffle Pinkie’s fluffy, almost gelatinous mane.
“Don’t forget dessert!”
“You’re damn right I won’t.”