Chapter 68: The Screams of Brahmin

Chapter 68 - The Screams of Brahmin

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As the War Bus rolled closer, the faded green letters spelling "Novac" loomed overhead, a stark reminder of how far this world had fallen. The old"No Vacancies"sign now seemed like both a tragic joke and a symbol of resilience. What was once a cheap roadside motel had become a community—a place where people found a way to survive despite everything.

"Guess, now if you think about it, they made something out of nothing, huh?"

Raul said, his tone carrying a hint of respect.

"Not bad for a place with a big plastic dinosaur as a landmark. Guess I'm probably going have to make one for Rebecca."

Six nodded, taking in the sights. The lookout in the dinosaur's mouth, while absurd, was actually a clever touch. It provided a solid vantage point over the surrounding desert and highway—a good place to spot trouble long before it arrived.

The town's layout was simple but functional. A wall protected the perimeter, and there were clear signs of farming along the edges of the residential homes. Crops like corn, mutfruit, and even some brahmin grazed in makeshift pens. In front of the town entrance, a few locals were tending to wounded travelers beneath makeshift tents.

"Looks like they've got a medic on hand."

Boone observed from the back. His gaze shifted toward the woman bandaging a settler's arm.

"That's better than most towns I've seen."

"Yeah."

Six agreed, swallowing back some unexpected emotion. For all the ruins and hardship, this little community had found a way to thrive.

"They're holding their own."

Rebecca leaned over the dashboard, taking it all in.

"You know, I kinda like it here. Doesn't feel... hopeless."

Six parked the bus just outside the motel.

"Yeah, it's nice. Let's hope it stays that way."

As the crew stepped out of the War Bus, they stretched their legs, letting the cold air nip at them. Six's armor whirred softly as he moved toward the entrance, feeling the weight of the wasteland lift off his shoulders just a bit. It was strange—he'd faced down deathclaws, ghouls, and robots, yet this humble little town was the first place in a while that felt...normal.

Boone, rifle slung over his shoulder, glanced toward the giant dinosaur, his expression unreadable.

"That's Dinky. Manny's up there, watching the highway."

Six raised an eyebrow.

"You still cool with seeing him again?"

Boone shrugged.

"I'll keep it civil. Just need to know if he's got any intel on the Legion."

Rebecca rolled her eyes, already getting impatient.

"Okay, boys. Less brooding, more moving. Let's check in and get what we came for. Some quests."

As they walked into town, the sound of barter and idle conversation filled the air. The townspeople gave them curious glances but didn't seem hostile. A few traders waved, offering a variety of junk and scrap, though one elderly woman was selling fresh vegetables, something almost unheard of in the Mojave.

Six took note of it—fertile farms meant stability, which in turn meant the people of Novac might actually be able to build a future for themselves.

Near the medical tent, the woman with bloodstained hands finished wrapping a settler's wound and glanced up at Six and the others. She had sharp eyes but wore a tired smile.

"Need any patching up, travelers? Name's Ranger Andy's wife—Clara."

Six shook his head.

"Thanks, but we're good for now. Just stopping by to chat with some folks."

She nodded.

"You'll want to speak with Manny. He's up in Dinky. Just head through the motel and climb the stairs."

Six gave a polite nod and continued toward the motel, Rebecca and Boone following close behind.

Inside the motel's lot, Six noticed that the structure was still in decent shape. A few residents peeked from open doors, keeping to themselves but not seeming afraid. A weatheredWelcomesign hung crookedly over the lobby door, and a nearby brahmin snorted lazily in its pen.

They stopped briefly by the lobby to check in with the owner, a wiry man with gray hair named Cliff Briscoe. He greeted them warmly from behind a counter stocked with pre-war souvenirs.

"You folks looking to stay the night? We got plenty of room."

Cliff said with a grin, gesturing to a rack of dinosaur toys and keychains.

"And if you like, you can take home a little piece of Dinky the T-Rex!"

Rebecca smirked.

"What? Still, no snow globes?"

Cliff chuckled.

"Sorry ma'am, all sold out. Those things go like hotcakes."

Six grinned.

"We might take you up on that room offer later. For now, just heading up to talk to Manny."

Cliff nodded knowingly.

"Right on. He's up in Dinky's mouth, as usual. Just don't mention any ghoul trouble—he's sick of hearing about it."

Six raised an eyebrow.

"Noted."

The crew made their way through the motel lot and toward the giant dinosaur statue. Climbing the stairs built into Dinky's belly, they emerged inside the creature's mouth, where Manny Vargas stood with a hunting rifle slung over his shoulder. He turned toward them, squinting through the harsh daylight.

"Well, well. Look who rolled back into town."

Manny said, offering a tired smile.

"You need something, Six?"

Six crossed his arms, the cold metal of his power armor glinting in the sun.

"Yeah, just checking in. Heard you might have some jobs."

Manny nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.

"Depends. You helping Novac, or just passing through?"

Rebecca leaned on the railing with a mischievous smirk.

"Depends—what's in it for us?"

Boone shot her a warning glance, but Manny only chuckled.

"Fair enough. Tell you what—there's a bit of a ghoul problem over at the Repconn Test Site. If you clear that out, I might remember some things you'd find useful on the Legion."

Six nodded, already expecting the favor-for-info routine.

"We'll take care of it."

Manny grinned, patting Six on the shoulder.

"Good to hear. Be careful, though—those ghouls aren't like the ones around here. Something's different about 'em."

Six glanced at Boone, who gave a curt nod.

"We'll handle it."

With their next objective in sight, the crew descended from Dinky's mouth, ready to head toward the Repconn Test Site. But before they left, Six paused to take one last look at Novac.

For a town built out of ruins, it was alive—people working, laughing, building a future from the ashes.

It made him hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to build something better in the Mojave.

Rebecca nudged his side.

"You good, Sir Knight? You look kinda lost."

Six smirked under his helmet.

"Yeah. Just... thinking."

"Dangerous pastime."

Raul teased from the bottom of the stairs.

Six chuckled, leading the way back to the War Bus.

"Let's get moving. We've got other quests to find, ghouls to clear, and a dinosaur town to keep safe."

Six listened carefully to Dusty McBride and his wife Alice as they recounted their troubles over dinner at their cozy home in Novac. The scent of stew filled the room, but neither Dusty nor Alice seemed in the mood to enjoy it, clearly stressed about their dwindling livestock.

"We've been losin' brahmin for over a week now."

Dusty said, wringing his hands.

"It always comes at night. Never makes a sound, and by the time we get out there with our guns... it's gone. Just one or two more brahmin every night, butchered clean. It don't even leave the meat—just slaughters them."

Alice nodded, her face pale and worried.

"We're down to just a few now. If it keeps up, we'll lose our herd—and without them, we don't have much of a future."

Six leaned back in his chair, glancing briefly at Rebecca, Boone, and Raul, who had followed him into town. ED-E hovered silently nearby, its sensors active.

"And you've never seen what's doing it?"

He asked.

"Nope."

Dusty replied.

"It's like the devil himself comes down outta nowhere. One second the brahmin are calm, the next one's got its head on the ground."

"Could be a Nightkin."

Boone said, his tone flat but certain.

"I've seen them do this. They go invisible, sneak up on their target, and strike fast."

"Great."

Rebecca muttered under her breath.

"Just what we needed—more psycho mutants."

Alice wrung her hands, clearly distressed.

"We tried everything—staying up, setting traps... but we're too slow. Every time we hear the commotion, it's too late."

Six nodded slowly, calculating the situation. It wasn't just about killing some creature; this was a smart predator, one that could use stealth.

"Alright, we'll handle it. We'll camp inside tonight, and when it shows up, we'll be ready."

Dusty and Alice exchanged a hopeful glance.

"Thank you."

Dusty said earnestly.

"If you can stop whatever's killin' our brahmin, you'll be doin' us and the whole town a big favor."

That night, Six and his crew set up inside the McBride house. They kept the lights off and positioned themselves near windows and doors, their weapons at the ready. Boone stationed himself near a front window with his anti-materiel rifle, while Raul leaned against a wall, casually inspecting his revolver. Rebecca sat cross-legged on the floor, her beloved Punisher in front of her.

Outside, the last few brahmin shuffled nervously in their pen, their heavy breathing audible through the night air. ED-E hovered quietly above the pen, scanning for any movement.

Six checked his weapon one more time, then glanced at the others.

"Stay sharp. Whatever this thing is, it knows what it's doing. We wait for it to show itself."

Level: 18

NAME: Six XI

GENDER: MALE

STRENGTH: 10

PERCEPTION: 10

ENDURANCE: 10

CHARISMA: 10

INTELLIGENCE: 10

AGILITY: 10

LUCK: 10

BARTER: 100

ENERGY WEAPONS: 36

EXPLOSIVES: 36

GUNS: 100

LOCKPICK: 39

MEDICINE: 100

MELEE WEAPONS: 39

REPAIR: 100

SCIENCE: 100

SNEAK: 39

SPEECH: 68

SURVIVAL: 39

UNARMED: 39