10 - Clearing the Junk
The PipBoy Alarm rang, signalling us to wake.
Sonuvabitch. Less than four months left.
I get up from my bed and walk out of the room. The hotel owner waved a greeting, I spy the lone fridge at one corner.
Mind if I grab a bottle?
Sure. Help yourself.
Oh, darn. It ain't cold.
What do you expect? There's no power in this town.
I grab a bottle of the warm cola, pop it open and take a sip.
I should bring some of these back to the Vault. Some cooling will do wonders to this stuff.
Are we going to bring down Gizmo tonight?
You bet. Let's pay that tub of lard a visit.
I check my ammo count and realized my 10mm rounds are starting to get low, I switch to the shotgun instead.
Gizmo has the face of a bulldog and a body of an oversized gorilla. His eyes darkens as I enter his office. I checked that the recorder is working and stuff it into my pocket.
I'm here to tell you your assassin failed.
I don't know who you are, but I don't take kindly to strangers walking into my office and accusing me of things they know nothing about.
Ah, but there's where you miss the point, Gizmo. I'm not accusing. I'm here to help.
Really? He's gonna help me? What kinda help are we talking about?
Easy. You sent someone to kill Killian. He failed. You need someone who can do the job...better.
And let me guess. You're that someone.
Very good...for a price, of course.
Well, how can I trust you?
Because I've been around. I've killed before. Notice that Doc Morbid's closed down recently? That was me.
Hmm...all right. We can do this. But you work for me, you better know that nobody ever double-crosses Gizmo and lives to talk about it. You got me?
Of course.
I got him now. Time to reel him in. I lean closer to his desk to make sure the recorder gets the next conversation.
But first, I need to know why you want him dead.
Huh. That's easy. I want him dead because he cramps my business. So, will you do him for me?
That's why I'm here. He'll be dead before sundown.
Good. Return with the dog tags he wears around his neck as proof. And we never had this conversation, you don't mention this to anyone. No one double crosses me. No one.
I could hear a growling from behind me. I turn at Dogmeat, seeing him bare his teeth at the fat bastard. His paws are getting ready to pounce.
Nice dog. Where'd you get it?
No. You can't eat him. Down, boy.
I pat Dogmeat on the head to calm him down.
Not yet.
We return to Killian's shop
I sure did. Here's the tape.
Let's hear it.
*crackle* That's easy. I want him dead because he cramps my business. So, will you do him for me? *crackle*
That's the first time I've been happy to hear his voice. Thanks, friend. Now, time for you and me to take care of the other business.
I'll take all the stims you can spare.
Well, thanks again. Oh, listen, I'm gonna take the guards and run Gizmo and his cronies out of town. I could use another gun. You up for it? Might be good for a laugh.
Sure. It'll be worth it just to see him try to walk more than ten feet.
Go to Lars at the guard station. He'll fill you in. And listen, this town owes you...a lot.
Feeling rich, I trade away some surplus gear for the desert eagle.
You bet. Let's nail that tub.
Gizmo pulls out a pistol under his desk and fired a shot at Killian, wounding him.
Killian replied with a shot from his desert eagle.
Sensing that Gizmo's bodyguard is probably easier to dispatch, I let loose a shotgun blast at him.
He rushes forward to give me a hard kick to my face.
Lars got the message and fired his shotgun at the bodyguard's sides, wounding him. Dogmeat rushes the guard and knocks him down. He then tears the windpipe off the floored guard, killing him.
Gizmo fired another shot at Killian, hoping to take him down before giving up the ghost.
Wishing to end it quick, I aim my shotgun at the kingpin's head before squeezing the trigger, it missed.
Ian fired a shot, hitting Gizmo on his chest. Lars hit the same point with his shotgun, Gizmo's body was thrown back violently against his chair, before slumping on the table, desperately trying to breathe a little longer.
Finally, Dogmeat jumps on the table and had Gizmo's flabby neck for a snack. The gunshots over, Junktown's crime lord is taken down for good.
With Gizmo dead, his casino closes down, but Killian gave me permission to clean it out before he reclaim the building. I helped myself to Gizmo's pistol and looted his bedroom.
A small firearms magazine by his bedside piqued my interest.
You should read 'em. They give some good pointers for beginners like you.
Fine. I guess, we're done here in Junktown. How about we stop over the Skum Pitt before leaving?
You buying?
Sure.
Its six in the evening, Neal's patrons are back as usual. I scan a crowd and found a new face.
Sure.
Delightful. I hope you don't mind your drink well-watered - they treat beer here like it's a potted plant.
So, what's your story?
I could ask the same of you. In the interest of amity, I suppose I'll tell first. Name's Tycho. Came from out east, what used to be called Nevada.
Wow, that's quite a distance isn't it? How did you survive the trip?
Had some pretty good training, and some good weapons, too. My grandfather was a Ranger way back then, and he taught my father everything he knew. Dad passed it on to me. So I know enough not to drink glowing water, so to speak.
Really? Survival's tough these days. You must be pretty knowledgeable.
Yeah, well, my family taught me everything there is to know about survival. Don't drink water that's totally clear and free of insects and moss, for instance. Only poisonous and radioactive water would be that clean in the wilderness. Lots of other little things to look out for, too.
Like what?
Well, if you've got some time, I could go over some pointers.
Sure, that would be great.
We spent a few minutes discussing on the finer points of travelling in the wilderness and how I could make the trip go faster to avoid dangers. Very useful shit they don't teach at the Vault.
I hope that my little instruction course helped a lot.
Thanks, Tycho. Hey, I could use an experienced help like you. Would you like to follow me?
Whoa, not so fast. We never finished introductions, remember? What's your name, stranger?
Call me Brian.
Oh, it's you. The guy who helped Killian clean up Junktown, eh?
Yeah, that was me.
Well, it's about time. Lead on, my friend, and let's do some good. Them bastards like Gizmo deserve it. You got anywhere in particular to go?
Not really, but I'm heading south to the Hub.
Nice place for trade. Much much bigger than Junktown. Let's go. I see you got a friend with you, hello.
Name's Ian. Let's get along, Tycho.
I'm sure we will. I got your back.
