It took two months for the preparation of the expedition to be completed. Rations, fuel, medicine, weaponry and brahmins had to be organised and thanks to Pappa, he managed to get all this done.

I also had to set the long-term goals of Frederik Chemicals. My Follower employees were very eager to start branching to pharmaceuticals, especially anti-addiction drugs to counter jet and other harmful drugs that seem to be flooding out from New Reno. Then, figuring out what stimpaks are made of and figuring out how to mass-produce them was also critical. But I had to stress that these were long-term goals and to not sweat it when they run into problems. I had a benevolent persona to uphold, and I’ve been told it was the most effective way of gaining loyalty.

In terms of short-term gains, my scientists were busy and productive during the past two months. They’ve come up of a way to mass produce anti-venom which I gave out to everyone going to the expedition for free. No clinical trials were necessary since this was a fairly well-known drug to produce; to be fair I’ll pray there are no side effects from upscaling!

Anyways, after distributing these out, many rangers who patrolled south of the Mojave, cried with relief saying it’ll help out fighting against the cazadors. From my studies these were massive poisonous mosquitos, that were apparently fast enough to dodge bullets! I dismissed it as fear-mongering rumours and even if they’re real, what’s the worst that can happen? I’ll get bit by a tiny fly that I can swat away? Pfft! Pathetic. Even if they’re remotely threatening, the high firing rate of service rifles should make quick work for them.

Other than that, Edward and I had to go on a gruelling training session for two whole months! Frank and Pappa worked us both to the bone. Daily five-mile runs to daily shootouts. Despite the torture, I felt I was getting fitter and fitter and I could definitely shoot.

I snickered to myself remembering the training. “Looks like you need glasses, Ed. You can barely hit the target!”

“Shut it, Leon! And when did I give you permission to use a nickname?!”

“Since I heard Miss Sally give you lunch!” I recalled the sweet lady that Edward was lucky to call a mother. What a gentle lady, always wanting to provide good food!

“So, what! I don’t parrot the names Mrs Frederik calls you!” That’s because he’s scared of Mamma. He’ll never admit it, but I’ve always known.

“Boys! Keep shooting! I’m not getting paid enough for you little shi-, little boys to gossip like grannies!” Frank yelled at us.

Edward slowly got better with Frank and my guidance. It was quite simple, have a posture to absorb the recoil and make the barrel of the gun straight. This guarantees the iron sight to aim at the right place.

“Leon! Earth to Leon!” Oh, not again. I need to stop dozing off like this.

“What do you want, Spitfire? Have you read the books I instructed you to review?”

“First of all, don’t call me that! Call me Julie! We’ve known each other for two years! At least do me that favour. And it’s thirty-six books! I couldn’t read that in under two months! You’re so silly sometimes,” she elbowed me making me wince in false pain. “Oh, I’m not falling for that!” She then elbowed me for real. Hmm. That’s going to bruise later.

“Ow! Before you hurt me more, what do you want?”

Julie looked to the ground and started to fidget. She busied herself parting the sand beneath her foot. This was getting quite irritating. What does she want? “I just want to see you off!” She ran to me and gave me a hug, “Try to come home alive! You’ve still got a lot to teach me!” And with that, the little hellion ran off and gave me the biggest smile, which was somehow enough to get rid of my annoyance and bad mood.

“Wait!” I remembered something. The girl double-backed and adorably tilted her head. “You still want to keep playing?”

Julie mischievously smirked. “You mean eavesdropping and spying on Pappa and top scientists in the campus? And noting them -,” She pulled out a notebook, “in these?”

“Yes, that! Could you be more louder?”

“Oh! You know Professor McLafferty has a daughter right around our age! Her name is Alice!” She made sure to shout and enunciate her words.

“I was being sarcastic. But how’s that possible? She’s clearly very old?”

“I’ll tell you when you come back! Until then - goodbye!” She waved and for some reason, I waved back. She was starting to grow on me, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.

After saying more farewells, we set off. We could’ve gone earlier but Mamma was adamant in giving me an hour-long lecture about the dangers of the Wasteland. Pappa just nodded along and encouraged me to shoot as many mutated lifeforms as possible.

And so, a host, with just over three hundred strong with four dozen brahmin pulled caravans set off from Shady Sands. Mechanised vehicles were deemed too unreliable due to the nature of the roads and possible maintenance along the way.

We were given a wide birth across the NCR countryside. No raiders and mutant lifeforms from a distance. If only this was the case after we crossed the Colorado River.

Great progress was made across the repaved Interstate 40 but as we neared Needles, the easternmost township of the NCR, the road became dilapidated as potholes became frequent. It wasn’t the most comfortable ride as evident by me nursing my arse after five days of the journey.

Needles was as I expected it to be. A settlement with bare infrastructure and buildings made of scrap metal instead of brick and concrete. I squinted and saw a grey edifice, slightly distorted by the heat haze, and spotted a flag showing the two-headed bear. It must be a fort of some kind and I paid no more attention to it until I realised, we were going towards it.

“Frank, are we finally going to have a nice bed to rest in? I’m not fond of sleeping in my cot. It was an experience for a few nights, but my back is killing me.”

“You’re too young for your back to kill you. Stop bein’ a baby and bear with it. But, yes, to your question. We’ll be heading to that fort for a night of rest, and I assume they have basic amenities like beds and showers,” He took the time to smell his armpits and grimaced. “God knows I need one.”

I mimicked him and I immediately regretted it. “Yeah, me too.”

From further ahead, I could see Edward being harangued by several troopers, likely asking for access. After a few minutes of waiting, I got too impatient and went towards them, with Frank in tow.

“Payment to lodge inside the fort is five dollars per person. Or one bottle cap,” one of the men wearing a brown stetson said. I frowned when I saw his badge indicating his role as a Marshal and a ranger.

“That’s outrageous! This is NCR property, funded by taxpayers' money and we’re soldiers of the Republic! We will not pay! Now let us in.” A man with a buzz cut shouted. His indignation resounded with his fellow troopers in the expedition.

“No can do, young man. Pay up or leave. There’s an inn that looks like a metal shack in the town across. I’ll even be generous, you and your friends can park up in the outskirts, and I wouldn’t levy a visitor’s tax.”

“A visitor’s tax? Don’t fuck with me! They didn’t just teach me tactics in the military academy but also laws and regulations, that we as soldiers, do our best to uphold and enforce! There’s no such thing! Not from the Central and Shady State governments!”

The Marshall quickly pulled out his ranger sequoia from his holster prompting three dozen troopers to raise their rifles in retaliation. Honestly, this was a bad move. We outnumber him and his sorry bunch of sheriffs stationed in the watch towers.

The tension around the gate got so tense that I had to yell as loudly as I can, damn my prepubescent tone. I clicked my tongue in satisfaction as I managed to redirect the attention of just over forty armed people.

The Marshall seemed to take this with a huge amount of amusement causing me to grit my teeth and frown. I definitely wasn’t annoyed. Definitely not. I’m too mature for that and I prevented a shootout. Yeah, I prevented a shootout. "A kid? You have a kid with you?!” His lackeys laughed from above.

I beckoned Edward over, “Deal with this. Or else there’ll be a blood bath.” I cocked the magazine of my rifle and switched the safety pin off.

The blonde man immediately pulled out a piece of paper from his breast pocket and ran in front of the host, just before the Marshall. “We have orders from President Tandi, that this host will be legally allowed to requisition any accommodation I see fit.”

The Marshall laughed and raised his face enough to be visible. I jolted when I noticed how his face showed visible cheekbones as the flesh around it receded and rotted. His nose was entirely gone. “So, what is it, boy? Do you think you can ‘requisition’ my fortress? Eh?!” He placed the sequoia on his shoulders and started to spin the revolving cylinder.

Edward stood still yet managed to croak, “Your fortress looks new.”

“What can I say. Needles is a rich town with many merchants passing through. Now, answer my question.”

My heart started to pound. I wanted to shoot him and everyone in the watch towers, and I could do it with ease, but it would cause unnecessary casualties from our side. I hope Ed chose well.

“We’ll camp along the outskirts. Many thanks for foregoing the visitor’s tax.” I gave him a thumbs up, but he was too distracted by Buzzcut to notice. We marched out in deafening silence.

When we formed a defensive perimeter just outside of the town, only then did the veil of tension explode in fits of shouting. “What were you doing, Sallows! We could have taken them! Their lives were forfeit from the obvious corruption and embezzlement!” Buzzcut with eyes bursting, passionately hollered.

“It wasn’t worth the trouble. We’d have suffered too many casualties if hostilities broke out from there,” Edward calmly replied.

“Then we camp out. Then what?”

“We continue down the I-40, towards Flagstaff. I can’t waste resources this early on in our journey. We haven’t even crossed the Colorado River!”

“That’s unacceptable, Sallows! I reckon we should storm that fort!”

“You want to take action without proof, Captain Kimball?! Thank goodness you’re not assigned as the leader. I am the leader. And I do not appreciate insubordination.”

“You would overlook this injustice! Haven’t you seen the impoverished people of Needles?! Or are you a coward?”

Impoverished? I must admit I didn’t see much inside the caravan. The two continued to trade uncouth barbs and were disappointed when no one broke them up. I side-eyed Frank, “Not me, kid. I’m only paid to protect you.”

I rolled my eyes. Looks like it’ll be my job to settle this. I clapped my hands and said, “Gentlemen.” When that wasn’t enough, I shouted, “Edward! Captain Kimboll!”

Both gave me their undivided attention. Good. “You're the genius, rich kid who tagged along.” He said and I guess he reminded himself of basic manners. “Thank you for saving us from a shootout back in the gate. Me and some of my boys definitely would have died, if it weren’t for you.”

That was surprising. I was sure he would dismiss me as a wealthy civilian, but his appreciation was nice. “You are more than welcome Captain Kimboll.”

“It’s Captain Kimball. Aaron Kimball, at your service, Mr Leon Frederik.”

“I see you know my name.”

“Of course! Who doesn’t? My family has been using your blue powder for more than a year. And what a miracle! We don’t own much land and it doesn’t have an aquifer below, but with your powder, we’re able to grow wheat and sell enough in the Hub to keep us afloat. But it still wasn’t enough,” He gestured to himself. “As you can see, I enrolled in the military so it’s one less mouth to feed.”

I got myself a fan. Sweet. I decided to flatter him some more by pointing at his rank insignia. “You’ve already got two silver bands? A captain at such a young age. Congratulations! It truly is an honour for this expedition to be protected by your capable hands.”

He smiled at that. “It’s no trouble, Mr Frederik.”

Hopefully, with this, he becomes more amenable to my suggestions. “Sorry for bothering you two, but it doesn’t spell well for our cohesion if the head civilian and military officials clash this early on.” The two were about to burst in pathetic excuses but I pre-empted them with a dismissive wave. “Edward is right and wrong. Right about choosing to withdraw from the gate. Wrong for looking the other way. Traders bringing ores and goods from our future outpost in Flagstaff will be heavily taxed by this corrupt ranger. So, it is imperative to nip this problem in the bud.

“And you, Captain Kimball, you’re also right and wrong. Right for wanting to take action, but your decision to shoot first and ask questions later is a problem.”

I thought I had their attention until they started to look up. I turned around and saw Frank, with his scar very visible and magnum out. His apathy and friendly grin were strangely absent. He didn’t say anything, so I forged on, “So, I’ve got a plan.”

The two turned their attention back to me, more alert than I expected. “I’m the least suspicious in our group, so Frank and I, disguised as father and son will question the locals and pay the fee to get inside the fortress. With the intention to gather enough evidence. Then I’ll present it to both of you.”

Edward hummed and said, “Then we’ll attack?”

“Not my decision to make, but I highly recommend doing so. This parasite must be rooted out.”

“If there’s even a lick of evidence, my boys will attack. We’re still under NCR territory, so I’m forced to uphold the law.”

Edward looked like he wanted to respond to that but thankfully remained silent and just nodded.

With that tension broken, many were quick to set up of fire and start to boil a broth that smelled like heaven. With my hunger quenched I rolled up my cot and frowned. Another day of sleeping in this cot! I may as well be sleeping on the floor.

I had enough and turned to my bodyguard, “Hey Frank, fancy a bed in that?” I pointed at a glowing sign that literally read ‘inn’, no capital letters. “It looks like a shabby shack, but it has electricity. Wanna sleep there and speak to the locals? We may as well be killing two birds with one stone!”

“Fine, kid. By the way, you did well out there.”

I blushed and smiled at that. “Thanks. It helps when you're standing right behind me.” One day I’ll be as cool as Frank.

“Anytime, kid.” He looked at his wristwatch and said, “Half-five. We still have a few hours of sun. Well, what are you waitin’ for? Let’s go.” I packed the essentials and strapped the rifle across my shoulders. I must’ve looked ridiculous, someone my height with a comically large gun will be ridiculed. There was no time to think, and we quickly exited the circle of caravans, careful not to spook the brahmins.

I didn’t get to see much of the town up close, preferring to stay in the shade of the caravan but looking from it closely was depressing. The little protection Needles had was a thin wall made with rusted metal, and I could see through it due to the gaping holes along the wall. It was a stark contrast from the fortress. This level of inequality and corruption wasn’t seen in Shady Sands. Seeing this with my own eyes shattered the pearly and clean image I had of the NCR.

“I know that look. That’s the look of an idealist’s world shatterin’ in front of ‘em. It’s not just this, I’m afraid. All throughout the NCR, this problem exists.” He took a swig of his canteen and carried on, “To your credit, this doesn’t happen in profitable cities and towns. Boneyard and Shady Sands are examples. The politicians wouldn’t tolerate having their golden goose being tampered with, you see.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“However, at the far-flung and impoverished areas like Needles, they couldn't care less.”

“It wouldn’t be impoverished for long! Ores from Flagstaff will flow through this place. Who knows maybe a few foundries in Necropolis will move here.”

Frank snickered and shook his head. “You’re puttin’ the horse before the cart. Don’t get too carried ahead. The prospectors haven’t even started surveying it. I don’t think there’s many minerals out there.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. The pre-war organisations: US National Parks and Forestry Service pledged to limit, and some entirely halt, mining operations to ‘protect the environment’. There’ll be a lot of mining shafts abandoned and ready to be fixed then mining can resume.” Books don’t lie.

“We’ll see.” Frank’s posture suddenly changed and reached for his holster which signalled me to ready my rifle.

A gaunt stick-like man dressed in a tattered boiler suit approached us with his hands up in the air. “Don’t shoot! I’m the innkeeper. I own the establishment down the street. My name is Desmond.”

That got our guard down and pleasantries were briefly exchanged. “So, Desmond, that’s a... An interesting inn,” I said.

“It’s a scrap heap. But thanks for being polite.”

“It has electricity, how’d you get it?”

Desmond shrugged his shoulders and gave a vague answer, “From the north.”

Excuse me what? North from here? That’s just the barren Mojave. Oh, and the Hoover Dam but that structure was likely heavily targeted and destroyed by Chinese ICBMs. He kind of looked uneducated so I dismissed what he said. “Is it expensive?”

“No, it’s free. Marshall Slough is a greedy bastard but he at least wants to attract visitors.”

“Attract it does,” Frank said with a noticeable droll as the sign flickered on and off. “It’s a shit sign if you ask me.”

Desmond’s mouth gaped and shushed him. “Don’t say it too loud! Or his sheriffs will hear you!”

“What’ll happen if they heard?”

“You’ll be imprisoned, and you’ll not see the light of day. You’ll be taken by Vortis’ slavers.” He whispered and it was a mystery how we managed to hear him.

This raised Frank’s eyebrows, “Vortis... I remember that name. The Chosen One and Chief Elise brought him to justice and destroyed his slave operations. Last I heard of him he was put behind bars.”

I cringed when I heard the Chosen One’s name. I hope he’s alright. He survived worse and he’ll certainly survive against the Brotherhood. I didn’t like it when two of my biggest heroes were fighting to the death.

“I heard that too. But Marshall Slough used to be a ranger and he’s good friends with Chief Elise.”

“Impossible! I’ve slept with her just recently! She’s not corrupt!” Frank covered his mouth when he saw me staring. “We’re good friends. Friends sleep with each other.”

I didn’t know what he was embarrassed about. It’s just sleeping. Nothing too much into it.

Desmond chuckled, “So yous father and son?” We said yes as he opened the door to his inn. “You must have a lot of stepmothers then?” He joked causing Frank to burst into laughter leaving me more confused.

The inside wasn’t much to look at, just a bar with some wooden tables spread out across the room. We ordered food, I asked for a glass of water whilst Frank wanted ale. “That’ll be twenty dollars for the food and drinks or five caps. Another five dollars for a night for both of you or one cap.”

Frank forked some bills, but I was growing curious about the alternate currency, so I asked. “Caps, what’s that?”

Desmond pulled up a cap with a stamp from the Hub water merchants, “This. It must be weird for inner folks like you but businesses in the border regions often trade with tribals... And raiders. And they don’t trust NCR dollars. Hence why there’s a need for this currency.”

“NCR dollars are backed by Redding gold!”

“Gold is just a metal those tribals don’t care about. It’s too soft to be made out of a weapon. And they don’t have the industrial base to make circuits and conductors out of the gold, unlike the NCR.”

He was suspiciously very learned from someone who came from a far-flung area. I shelved that piece of information in my mind as we retired to a two-bedroom room with a flushing en-suite which was an added luxury. “Do you trust him?” I asked Frank since he had a good gut for things like this.

“I don’t believe his assumption that Elise is in cahoots with this Slough guy. I think he must’ve deceived her. I think that fortress also serves as a ‘correctional facility’.”

“A what?”

“Ah right... A place where bad people go. There was a recent law that was passed in Congress that funded a few to be built. To reduce corruption, a committee was set up to allocate funds based on personal recommendations from ‘incorruptible’ people. I guess Elise was one of ‘em.”

“You’re very knowledgeable of politics. It’s surprising considering -” I gestured at him.

“Considering what?”

“You look very rough and spartan.” However, he did have his moments when his odd accent seemed to disappear, becoming more refined and eloquent.

“I’ll take that as a compliment. But the Stockmens often have to be involved in lobbyin’ and dealing with state senators and congressman.” He took off his boots, “I’m first to shower.”

After feeling very refreshed and clean, I swung back to my investigation. “So, you think this facility is a secret hub for slavery? No wonder they won’t let us in. Five dollars may not seem a lot but for three hundred people, it’ll beggar us.”

“That’s where your wrong, Leon. He was banking on Edward accepting a payment for a few people to lodge inside the fortress. Perhaps as hostages. You’re right that five dollars for lodging isn’t that expensive, especially for only a few dozen people. They’ll probably have to leave their weapons behind, making them very helpless.”

“But we’ll still outnumber them!”

“Not really. If our leaders get imprisoned this early on, our organisation will collapse when violence erupts. And, you don’t know if we outnumber them. They’re suspected slavers. They know how to hide and know when to strike.”

A pang of fear overcame me. Suddenly the mission I’d set for myself was becoming more and more dangerous. And that’s making me scared... And excited. My hands kept twitching and I smiled. “You didn’t fully answer my question. Can Desmond be trusted? I’m suspicious of him. He speaks with barely any accent and he’s very knowledgeable despite his outward appearance.”

“Just because he answered a question a little better than a moron, doesn’t mean he’s ‘knowledgeable’. I’ll think about it tomorrow to see if he’s trustworthy.” He stretched and yawned. “Right, it’s time for bedtime. Have a goodnight, Leon. It’ll be a long day tomorrow.” I hummed and slept. The adrenaline coursing through me settled down making me more tired than ever.

In the middle of the night, I heard a faint creak but paid no attention to it and came back to sleep. The dreams were getting rarer and rarer.

“Morning, kid. How was the night.” Frank woke me up.

I got up and noticed a stress crease running down his cheeks, along with drooping eyes. “Looks like you didn’t sleep much last night.”

“If only you knew. Now get up. Let’s have breakfast.”

Desmond shivered and struggled to stand straight as he saw me and Frank, “Breakfast is ready. Please help yourself. D-do you want bandages for that.” He pointed at my bodyguard’s fist which bled a bit. Frank shook his head.

“What did you do,” I demanded.

“I reckon you’re old enough. You promise you won’t vomit?” I nodded. “After breakfast.” I bit my lip and pouted because I didn’t like being held by the nose like this. My impatience was getting too hard to contain. “I wouldn’t be so eager if I were you. But, in the dead of night, I kinda roughhoused the innkeeper a bit. We can trust him.”

“He doesn’t look hurt though!”

“Follow me. Oh -,” Frank yelled for Desmond, “Can you close the inn, please?” And the man hurriedly carried out Frank’s orders.

Frank led me to a basement stinking of urine and something metallic. It took me a while to realise it was blood. I pinched my nose blocking the pungent smell. “Desmond and I kidnapped two of Slough’s sheriffs. It was kind of easy when they were so drunk. They didn’t even bother to pay him!”

I didn’t know how to process this. I tried to breathe in and out as deeply and long as I could, and it seemed to have helped. I went over and pointed at a balding man with dried blood caking his head. “Oh, that! The innkeeper bludgeoned him with a glass bottle. Don’t worry kid, he’s still alive.”

He lifted a bucket full of water and doused both of them awake.

“Wakey, wakey!” The two responded with a bunch of uncouth language.

“Go fuck yer self!”

“Let us go, you sick fuck!”

“This can end either way. You answer my question and I hand you over to the military police. Or you don’t and you get very hurt.” He picked a plier and waved it in front of them. I saw his deranged grin whilst doing so. “What’s inside the fortress?”

More obscene language was spat but it slid seamlessly off Frank’s back. He wasn’t bothered. “That’s a shame.” He took the plier and ripped one of the nails from the prisoner. I should’ve been disgusted but somehow, I’m not. No reaction, whatsoever.

Frank turned his attention to the man with a bleeding head. “Sorry about that. My son here,” He pointed at me, “Was a little too eager. Trust me. If you don’t answer my question this kid here will bash you again. You may die if it happens. At least you’ll still have all your nails.” I didn’t see the purpose of lying until the man saw me and wet himself.

“Slaves! They’re just tribals! No NCR citizens, I swear! Please let me go!”

“Very good. Now. Who’s Slough’s backer?”

The balding man breathed hard and struggled to form words until Frank shoved me in front of him, a glass bottle in hand. I deadpanned which made the man squirm even more.

“Please! Mercy! What kind of father are you?! Teaching your son to do this!” I knew what to do as I raised the bottle high up in the air, mentally pleading with the man to answer!

“Nobody! Vortis is a prisoner of his and he knows the law more than anyone! Vortis has helped him get fraudulent funds from the government. He helped him evade auditors and military police, too! I guess that pretty lass from the rangers -” He loudly gulped and paused; completely distracted by Frank’s intense gaze. “I-uh. But the lass doesn’t know about our operations. Slough sometimes invites her over to lower suspicion. I’ve even heard Slough mentioning making her a sex slave!”

“And why hasn’t she been taken?”

“It would’ve drawn too much attention. She’s a student of this ranger commander – Hanlon, I think his name was.”

Frank sighed and drooped down - looking like a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders. He got up and picked up something that looked like pre-war headphones. “This here is a muffler. It should block all sounds. Put this on him.” He pointed at the one missing a fingernail.

I was about to, but the rude slaver spat at me! How revolting! I hurriedly wiped it away with my handkerchief. Frank, in response, got the plier and plucked another nail eliciting another death-wrenching roar. That was enough to make him behave, as he meekly let me put the muffler to his ears.

“The final stage of the interrogation begins. If your answers are different from his, I swear to god, you’ll be both missing limbs by the end of this.” He grabbed a saw and threatened the soiled man. “Now, how many of you are there? And where?”

He answered the question that the man, with the muffler, parroted.

“Draw me the layout of the facility.” Again, this happened, and the muffled man corroborated the other’s drawing.

Looking satisfied Frank hummed in thought. “Now, you two stay here.” He gagged them and walked back up to the inn with me shakily trying to catch up. “Kid, you did good! Exceeded my expectations. Well done. Very good improv too.”

“D-did y-you get everything you asked for?” Desmond asked.

“Everything. Thank you for your help, Des! You’ll probably be promoted to mayor after this. I’ll make sure to give you a good word.”

Nice thinking Frank. With an ally just across the Colorado River, trade will flourish with Flagstaff! “You may want to keep the inn closed. Actually... No, keep it open so there’s a veneer of normalcy. We won’t be storming Needles, just the fortress. Right, off we go.”

I calmed my rapidly beating heart, walked outside and matched Frank’s swagger. When we came out of the township and headed to the encampment, I decided to bombard him with questions. “So... What was that? You were very experienced with doing whatever that was and I suspect it was back in your days as a member of the Stockmen’s Association. But what on earth do torture techniques have in common with fighting off cattle raiders?!”

“Good guess. It’s correct too. But those raids were often New Reno drug cartels disguised to rustle cattle. It became important to know when and where those raids happened. Hence the torture. Believe it or not, those two got very lucky. Only two fingernails were ripped off. He’ll grow them right back, once he’s inside prison.”

I could already surmise what would have happened if those two weren’t cooperative and it wasn’t pretty. I shook as I imagined limbs being sawed apart.

We were stopped by a pair of troopers and after confirming who we were, I asked them to take me to Edward and Captain Kimball. For some reason, Frank remained quiet allowing me to report our find. I didn’t mention the two witnesses being tortured.

“Pretty damning news. A slave operation plus embezzling and corruption. We’ve got all the evidence we need. Ready our troops, lieutenants!” Kimball commanded completely bypassing Edward.

“Yes, sir!”

Aaron Kimball scrutinised the map of the facility and the display of Slough’s troops.

“Shouldn’t we wait for reinforcements?” I asked.

Edward jumped on this, “Leon’s right. You’re making a rash decision, Captain.”

“If Leon’s intel is correct, we outnumber them eleven hundred to forty. We have snipers and heavy machine guns to provide cover fire. We can take them. There’s also a chance they’ll intercept our radio transmission and evacuate the slaves away. That’s unacceptable. Slough and his goons will be brought to justice and the slaves quickly emancipated.”

The camp woke up with a hive of activity. Rangers with anti-materiel rifles scurried about. Troopers inspecting and cleaning their service rifles. The civilians put out the fire and herded the brahmins inside the encampments away from potential stray bullets.

From Frank’s interrogations, I remembered there was a small outpost west of Needles that needed to be taken out. Then move up north to storm the fortress. Of course, the cracks of gunfire will alert the ones in the fort, so Kimball ordered two platoons of snipers to head out first. They’ll start to shoot the fort’s sentries once the rest engage and destroy the outpost, negating the need for radio transmission. It was a simple plan. And simple plans often work.

The sniper platoons did a good job blending in with the environment. I could barely see where they were.

“Troopers! Advance!” The lieutenants whistled and led a dozen columns snaking towards north-west.

I went to follow them but was stopped by the captain. “Where do you think you’re going, Mr Frederik?”

“Captain Kimball, I wish to join the fight. I’m a crack shot. And I listen to orders well.”

“You’re ten years old. Just stay with the civilians, we’ll get this sorted as soon as possible.”

“Respectfully, sir. I’ve helped gather the intelligence; I should see it through. I don’t want the guilt of providing false intel leading to a few deaths. I feel like I should be there to supervise and provide advice if something goes wrong.”

“So, you’re not confident with the intel you’ve given. Is that it?” Watch your tone Buzzcut.

“I am. Pappa tells me battles are often chaotic and messy. With my full grasp of intel, I should be an asset. An advisor.”

That seemed to have appeased Captain Buzzcut by the way he grunted. “Advise. Nothing else. Listen and heed,” He cleared his throat and took a deep breath, “Lieutenant Simmons! Mr Frederik and Frank here will accompany you. Remember, to treat Simmons' orders as commandments from God himself! Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal clear,” I said. Kimball grunted and brisked walked to one of the columns whilst adjusting his binoculars.

“So, what’s your name?” The lieutenant was very young. Perhaps just a few years older than me.

“Lieutenant Thomas Simmons. Just call me Tom.” I decided that I already liked him. Straightforward and polite and didn’t question my age and air out his prejudice like Kimball.

“Well, Tom, I’ll be in your care.” We shook hands. It was a little disappointing that he was periodically staring at Frank. You need to pay attention to me! I whispered to my bodyguard, “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

What an arse. “Intimidate new people.”

“Makes ‘em more pliable. Trust me. It works like wonders.” It does seem to make people listen to me more. I realised how advantageous it was, so I let Frank be Frank. A silent dumb brute that likes to torture criminals.

The dozen columns coalesced into a crescent line, engulfing the outpost from the south. With Kimball’s hand raised, several troopers pointed their rifles.

Jeff suddenly appeared right beside me and pointed my rifle down. “Not us. We’ve been ordered to advance to those wrecked cars and debris under covering fire.”

Kimball quickly lowered his hands causing a hail of gunfire to erupt, prompting us and three-dozen troopers to sprint to the debris. My eyes sharpened, the world turned silent, and I grinned. Goodness gracious. I actually enjoyed this!

With my short legs, I lagged behind, thankfully Frank, dutifully kept pace with me. Sometime later, we reached the debris and were glad none on our side was shot.

“Troopers! It’s our turn! Fill ‘em up with lead!” Lieutenant Simmons ordered. I spotted several slavers manning the watch towers and launched a burst of fire at them, causing three to drop dead. My first kills. I didn’t know what to feel about that. I’m lying. This is fun! Just don’t think of dead bodies! Continue shooting. Magazine running out? Simple, reload. Shoot, then reload. “Halt fire!” I heard Jeff Simmons shout.

The other half of our force took position and rattled gunfire at the outpost.

“Affix bayonets!” Simmons ordered.

I turned to Frank confused. “Whoops. Forgot that part of the training. I didn’t know we’d be doing melee this early on. My bad.” He took my rifle and placed a knife at the front of the rifle. It made it heavier to the point I wasn’t used to aiming it anymore. “Stay behind me!”

“Advance!”

All of us charged with some on Kimball’s side also joining us.

The outpost cracked a few shots here and there, but it wasn’t enough to deter our advance. Eventually, the huge mass of humanity quickly split into two as it reached the entrance and, surrounded both sides of the metal gate.

Two of the troopers kicked the gate open and simultaneously two others, threw something inside, “Grenade!” We waited for the thumps to sound out then we barged into the outpost.

“All clear main room!”

“All clear kitchen!”

“All clear rooftops!”

It was clear we’ve won before I noticed a trap door. I swallowed the anxiety down and beckoned Jeff, Frank and Kimball over and pointed at the trap door.

Kimball was quick to react, “Apply standard breaching manoeuvre.” He whispered and signalled two troopers to the trap door. One opened it and one threw a grenade.

It was going so well until a spray of gunfire wounded both of them in the arm but at least the grenade was primed and thrown down.

“Throw it back up, you idiots!” I heard the slavers shout.

The wounded troopers heroically closed the trapdoor, and just on time too by the sound of clink transiently coming from the wooden door.

Thump. Silence.

Three more troopers were ordered to go down. They quickly opened it and jumped. I gasped a little too loudly, completely forgetting to breathe.

“Al-l clear. This is not good!” One of them reported then sobbed. “There’s women and children here! They’re all dead!”

Impossible! Those sheriffs said there were no slaves in this outpost. What. Is. Going. On?? Why did they lie? What reason could they achieve by lying?

The cowboy sensing my horror clamped me in my shoulders, “It’s not your fault. Kid. Hey, listen! Not your fault. You got that! Corruption breeds more corruption. There’s a huge chance these slavers were skimming off from Vortis and Slough.”

That... That did make sense. Yes. Not my fault. Definitely not.

“He’s right, Mr Frederik. Not all intel is hundred percent accurate, no matter how good the intelligence gatherers are. At least you stood side by side next to my girls and boys. That makes you a hell of a lot better than many of the spooks, I work with.”

I appreciated that. I needed that. But I can’t believe I got innocents killed!

“Sir, should we retrieve the bodies?”

“No, it’ll be bad for morale. We’ll deal with it after we storm their base. Focus on our wounded. Those fit for battle, head north to the fortress!”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

I blocked the guilt from my mind and entirely focused on marching. Left step. Right step. Vice versa...

The battle of the fortress went by in a blur. Similar tactics were used. Covering fire whilst another squad running to cover. Rinse and repeat until you’re near the entrance.

I aimed at one of the watch towers and waited till a head would poke out. After a few seconds, I saw two heads served to me like a brahmin shank on a silver plate and I fired. From the way they slumped, I was successful.

I joined with storming the base, right behind Frank, and cleared room after room.

Just one more room left. The Marshall’s office. I was one of the dozen people that blitzed it open.

“Provide me safe passage and I won’t kill her! I swear!” The Marshall pathetically held a revolver next to the head of a young woman.

Bloody coward. “Please, surrender yourself. Ghouls can live for many years. A couple of decades will feel like nothing.” I may as well plead.

“You’re the kid that screamed yesterday! Since when did the NCR recruit child soldiers?! And absolutely not! I could turn feral tomorrow!”

I saw a glint in the distance, and I came up with a plan. I cleared my throat, “Marshall Slough, we have your lover, Elise, just outside. You can see her just outside of the window,” I said with the most childish voice I could muster.

“What?!” He nudged slowly to the window whilst keeping a sequoia revolver pointed at the young woman’s head. “Where is she?”

A crack thundered out and the ghoul’s head vanished in a spray of blood and bone. The hostage yelled in terror, and I couldn’t help but sympathise. I would scream too if my face was full of gore.

With his death came victory. Corruption was rooted out.