14 - Brian and the Missing Caravans
I need to ask you a few questions.
Time is money. Chit-chat is not money. You here about the job or what?
Yes.
Hot damn, someone with guts! Done and done. Go talk with my second, Rutger, and get the details.
Wait! I have some questions about this job first!
Ahh, don't spoil it! Make 'em quick.
Just what is the job we're talking about here?
Well, some caravans have been disappearing on us lately. Damn if anyone can figure out what happened to 'em.
So what do you want me to do?
Simple. Find out who's doing it, and tell me. Or take 'em out. It makes no damn difference to me. Just get that job done!
Any clues on who's doing this?
Well there's uh...something, but I never listen to those rumors.
Well, I do. What is it?
You uh...you really want to hear it, huh? Well, some say it's the Death Claw, but...but I don't know nothin' about that.
How do I find out about the Death Claw?
How do ya...Go talk to Beth, she knows more about that crap.
I'll go check it out.
Done and done. Now get on outta here, but come back and talk to me when you've found something.
Or those gun freaks at the Brotherhood of Steel. Butch thinks it's some Claw of Death or something. Check with Beth, she would know more about that.
What's the Brotherhood of Steel?
They are really strange. They worship technology or something like that. They have a hell of a lot of fire power. They could easily take out a cravan. They're to the northwest.
I doubt they're behind this. Caravans travel regularly to their bunker, and they've returned unharmed. They won't survive for long if no one trades with them.
What about the Deathclaw?
Oh, yeah, Deathclaw, whatever. They're all crazy. It's just people's imagination getting carried away. There's no ghost or monster or whatever it's supposed to be. Just stick with reality and you'll be fine.
I'll go talk to Beth.
Tell her you're working for us, and you'll get a 15% discount.
Good to hear. Thanks.
Taking down a whole caravan is a hard thing to do..I mean...people could flee, it's not just a small band. But for no one to return alive, that's going to take some organization.
Maybe they're kidnapped?
Hmm. Slavers. Could be.
Hello Beth, can I ask you some questions?
Of course you can, don't be silly.
What's the word out on the street about the missing caravans?
Some people think the Water Merchants are responsible, but I don't think so. I think it was that darn Deathclaw, or maybe the people over at the Brotherhood of Steel.
What exactly, is a deathclaw?
The deathclaw is the most evil thing to rise out of the ashes after the War. Some say it's a powerful ghost from the war that haunts the land. It's no ghost, it's as real as you and me. It's 20 feet tall with teeth as big as your arm.
Does it breathe fire too?
It's some kind of demon that found its way here when the world was engulfed in fire.
Right. Do you know anything else about the Deathclaw?
Well, I know this old mutant in Old Town named Harold. He's seen it. He's the 'only' one that's seen it and lived.
The only one that's seen it and lived?
Uncle Slappy over in Old Town talks about it sometimes, but he's just a crazy old fool.
Thanks, I'll check it out, bye.
We start our search for Harold in Old Town
They carry all sorts of weapons here, from a Super Sledge Hammer, to Rocket Launchers and even one of those advanced combat armor those Hub Police wears. Too bad it's too expensive.
Looks like we got the wrong house.
Good to meet you, Vance. What do you have for sale?
If you don't already know, you wouldn't be here. Now leave.
OK, I'll leave.
This looks like the right place.
Hey, are you uh...Slappy?
Ooooh, pretty, pretty stuff. Why is the moon?
Beth told me to talk to you about the Deathclaw.
Beth, beth, shoo sha Beth. Like Harold, you talk Harold. Harold tell you story. Slappy help then.
Ok, I'll go talk to Harold first. Gods, I hope Harold isn't like this guy.
I smelled something bad as soon as I stepped into Harold's room. His skin's almost gone. Only a small patch of scalp remain attached to his head, with some white hair clinging to it. Just barely. His right eye is completely covered in the green pasty flesh. My stomach churns as I greeted him.
Yeah...here's 25 caps. Good luck to you.
Oh, kind of ya, friend.. Very kind. You know, if I could clear the gunk out of there, you just might find a tear in Old Harold's eye.
Harold, I need info on the Deathclaw, and I hear you're the man.
Oooh, that thing. Friend, that is nightmare city. Why the hell are you asking about that?
If it catches up to me, I want to know what to do.
Okay. Well, it's like a damn big man, is what it is. Got spikes and claws that can cut through the heaviest armor. But don't let the size fool ya, it's quick.
Any weaknesses?
Well, from what I've heard, maybe whack it in the head? I'd try the eyes. 'Course, there's a problem there.
What kind of problem?
You can't look at 'em! It is said the Death Claw can hypnotize just by lookin'. Then it walks up and 'boom' you're et!
Great...thanks.
Good luck to you, you're gonna need it.
Could be. So, Harold...what's your story? If you don't mind me asking, of course.
The whole thing?
I nod. I'm really curious, it's the first mutant I encountered in the wastes, and he's pretty civil. Maybe not harmless, he could be radiated for all I know, but he's fine to talk to.
Well, after the Great War, my Vault was one of the first to open. Whew....Long time.
A Vault?! Tell more about those days.
Could it be? Could Harold actually be from Vault 12?
All started with the sirens. I was young, but ohh, I do remember that. Lotta terrible years followed. And I remember walking outta the Vault late one morning.
Where was your Vault located?
Harold gently rubs what's left of his chin..his yellow eyeball gazing at the ceiling for a moment. The he sighed.
You know, I'm not real sure anymore. West, I think. Uh wait - east? Oooh...I don't know.
He starts coughing badly.
What did you do then?
Well, I was a trader. Did pretty good making a circuit between survivors. Lost a lotta good people, though.
He coughs again.
How?
Gangers got'em. Scavengers attacking the caravans. And mutants, son of a dog, if they weren't springing up like rabbits with a mission. Had to have an army of guards with, just to do a deal.
Where were the mutants come from?
Everywhere! Hell, seemed like you couldn't fart without hitting one. But mostly in the northwest.
Why didn't you just avoid the area?
Needed to see what was there. Maybe stop whatever was churning them boogers out. We thought we were prepared. Were we wrong.
What did you do?
We mounted an expedition. God, Richard. Richard Grey. Led a small group of us up there.
Richard Grey?
Richard Grey was a doctor. Little older than me, and a friend, was he smart. He found the source.
And what was that?
Some sort of old military base. We lost a lotta folks getting in there.
How did you know this base was the cause?
Because it was like someone went bargain shopping at mutantland. Geez! Cheaper by the dozens! Can't figure any other reason except that being the factory.
Did you get to examine the base closely?
We got pretty far inside. Wasn't a lot of us left by then. Grey, me and a couple of others.
And then?
One of them robots got Francine. Mark was wounded, got him back to the surface. Then it was just me and Grey.
Whatever happened to Mark?
To this day, I don't know. He never made it back here, and..well I...couldn't face the wasteland again, so I..I never looked.
What about you and Grey?
We made it to some sort of central core, like a plant of some sort. That's when it happened.
What?
A robot crane crashed into us. Last I saw of Grey, he was flying through the air in-into some sort of acid bath. I was in a bad shape and...well...I passed out.
How did you survive?
Didn't. Got killed.
He laughs then coughs.
God, I love that joke.
Yeah, I can tell.
Well, I have no idea. Woke up in the wastelands, barely hanging on. Got lucky and some traders I knew found me days later. Good thing, since I was already changing. They brought me here, and here I've been since.
How did you mutate?
All I know, is it was something inside that base.
Do you think it could have been radiation?
How the hell should I know? Grey would've known if anybody could. Anyway, that's how the deal went down.
Thanks for the story, Harold.
Well, thanks for letting me tell it.
What now, Brian?
His story's pretty intriguing, I'm starting to forget that we're looking into the missing caravans.
Look if you're still insisting on this..deathclaw being responsible..I call bullshit. A lone animal may kill a few unsuspecting travellers and some brahmins, but not wipe out a whole caravan.
You're probably right. Harold's story of mutant army...that's what worries me.
I really can't see what we should be worried about. Look at Harold, he's falling apart and most likely those mutants are, too.
Yeah, maybe they just got numbers on their side.
We step out of Harold's house and Slappy greeted us.
Uh, I talked with Harold. The deathclaw sounds pretty nasty. What can you tell me about it?
Deathclaw, deathclaw, Dah Dah Deathclaw.
Come on, what do you know about the deathclaw?
Scary, reeally scary. Looks neat though. Wanna' see it?
You can take us to the Deathclaw?
Yeah, Deathclaw, deathclaw, going to see the deathclaw.
Uh...I say this is a bad idea, but hell, let's humour him.
Yeah, Slappy, just shut up and take me there.
The retard guided us to a cave, just on the outskirts of the Hub. The moment we stepped into the cave, he bolted away, out of the cavern, back to the Hub.
Good riddance, his teeth started chattering the moment we got close to the opening.
His fear is genuine, we should be cautious.
These are...egg shells?
I haven't seen chickens post-War. Man, I miss those fried chickens...
This could be a nest...of something.
Deathclaws?
We take a few steps deeper into the cave and heard the sound of heavy breathing, followed by a deep growl. Tycho readies his shotgun and raised a finger to his lips. Ian nods in acknowledgement as I take a step forward to peek at the corner.
What...what is that?
A large man-like creature lies on the floor, he is having difficulty breathing, but what's more alarming is the brown-furred shape. Thrice larger than man. It sniffs the air...and raised its claw as it charges forth!
DEATHCLAW!
I try to take aim, but the dark cave is not helping. I settled for its leg, hoping to slow it down.
Missed. Ian follows up with some shots, barely slowing down the beast.
Dogmeat leads the charge and meets the Deathclaw head on.
Tycho loads his shotgun and fired. Hitting the creature for decent damage.
It's in our faces. Time to take the shot.
Fucking missed again. Not my finest hour.
Tycho fires the second shell, the deathclaw shudders slightly.
Dogmeat proves to be very persistent and pounced on the Deathclaw's sides, pushing it off balance.
Ian takes advantage of the grounded creature and placed a few shots on its back. It doesn't seem to do much other than angering the creature.
The deathclaw rises and buries its claw at Tycho's leather armor. Tycho's not seriously hurt, and loads a pair of shell before unloading it on the clawed bastard.
Looks like he hit a soft spot.
Not to be outdone, Ian holds down the trigger on his SMG, regardless of Tycho and Dogmeat's presence near the target.
Son of a bitch!
Oh fuck! I'm sorry!
TYCHO! BEHIND YOU!
Too late. The Deathclaw slams its left claw at the Ranger's torso. Knocking him off balance.
A second claw strike grasp at his head, pushing it with enough force to send him flying backwards.
He landed head first with a loud crack.
The white of his eyes showed. And we knew he was gone.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!