Vito and I left our base early in the morning, leaving Beagle and Mike as the ones in charge. Our journey to the Outpost was strangely uneventful as if something was scaring away all of the critters and raiders, but I for one wasn't going to cry about it, after all, it was a nice change of pace.
As soon as we reached the outpost, we saw Ghost on high alert for the first time since we started coming here. This was unusual even for the female ranger that rarely speaks, then again, Nipton is just around the corner and with the legion getting braver, it was only a matter of time until they start poking the bear.
Nevertheless, for now, this wasn't a problem for us, after all, Vito and I weren't citizens of the NCR and don't have a need to respond to the call of duty. Once we walked inside the barracks, Vito went to drink with some of the troopers that he got acquainted with while I was inside NCRCF, leaving me alone to wait for Knight and Jackson to finish their reports. Since I had nothing else to do, I simply choose a seat that was empty and took one of the books that Beagle had on him to read.
Fifteen minutes pass by when a woman sits beside me. She then glances at me curiously for a few minutes before she finally had enough.
"You are back!"
Being brought out of my thoughts by her in such a manner also gave me a heart attack, but at the same time, It was also my fault for losing myself in the reading, ignoring my surroundings.
"Sorry, miss, but I think you mistook me for someone else."
"No, no you are that mechanic teenager, right? Dante something. The one who repaired that beautiful eyebot aren't you?"
Now I remember Vito saying that some new girl was going ballistic after ED-E, the poor little guy had to stay behind just so that this girl would not try to dismantle him. Moreover, not that she had found me, I doubt I will be able to relax unless I use my authority as an ally of the NCR to force her away from me. Which was something I would rather not do, since it's bad for my reputation, besides she's one of the few good-looking girls around this part and I'd rather not obliterate my chances of getting at least a girlfriend in my life.
"Busted."
"I knew it! Cassie! I told you he's the one!"
A few tables away from where I was standing another woman, a little bit older than this girl, and I facepalmed before she reluctantly dragged her body towards us, sitting next to the girl.
"That's not what I mean when I told you that he and his friend are back… Forget about it, I should have known that you can't be trusted."
"That's mean, Cassie."
"Anyways, I can finally meet the rumored mechanic. Name's Cassie, a pleasure meeting you."
"Nice to meet you too. As you already may know, my name is Dante Castillo. What can I do for you two?"
"For me nothing, since you aren't in charge of this outpost, but sadly for both of us, you can help this girl with whatever crazy thoughts she might have in her head."
I turned my head towards the other and I could literally see her eyes shining in expectation. Though it seemed strange that such a young girl like her would join the mechanics rather than any other division.
"As I said before what can I do for you, miss…?"
"Violet Rogers. Can you call your robot, pretty please?"
"Sorry to disappoint, but ED-E ain't a pet. He's free to do what he wants and right now he's far away from this place with zero chances for his return thanks to a certain redhead."
"Bummer, then can you help me with a project of mine? I promise you that it would be worth your time!"
We left Cassie at the bar while Violet dragged me outside next to a large box that was, let's say strategically placed in such a manner that you couldn't see what was on the other side, practically making a small outside room right next to the barracks. As soon as I walk past the sheet that acted as the door, I was shocked to see a motorcycle laying there in pieces with at least ten drawings hung all over.
"Is that…"
"This is my project, something that I'm hiding from the troopers and especially from Jackson and Knight."
"How did you even manage to get your hands on those schematics?"
"Ah, those? Those aren't schematics. I don't think there are any intact ones, because of that I dismantle dozens of those beauties, writing down and drawing each part and where it was until I've got these drawings."
I could only stare at her in disbelief, after all, she wasn't someone like me that the ability to learn the ins and outs of an object and even control the said object using my power that I'm ashamed to admit, I rarely use. No, she was a normal girl that had a passion for such things and because of that she thought of something, I would see as a fantasy.
Just as I was about to ask Violet more about her project, we heard Ranger Jackson's voice calling my name. Thanks to him, I was forced to leave, but not before promising Violet that I will came and visit her as soon as I'm done with whatever Jackson needed from me and most likely Vito.
Once I found the ranger, he alongside Ghost and a dozen of newly arrived troopers was gathered at the entrance of the outpost, seemly preparing for war. As soon as he saw me, Jackson signaled me to follow.
"Sorry for calling you out of the blue, but I kind of need your help with something. I know that you and that super mutant of yours are mercenaries and that you don't exactly take sides, but as I said I need your help."
"Depending on the job, we may accept."
"That works for me. We are going to retake Nipton and take Inculta out at the same time, but we need some scouts. While Ghost and I can do that, I fear that those greenhorns are going to run away as soon as we leave them alone. So what do you say, would you and your friend take a trip to Nipton and see if that son of a bitch is still there with his dogs?"
< Just change "3" with "e" Patr3on Link : https://patr3on.com/meatbunkun>