Towards HELIOS One

Clarissa spoke to the old lady, with all the dogs jumping up and yipping at her excitedly as they talked, but no luck. Gibson hadn't seen Cass at all that morning. Clarissa had rather hoped she'd run across Cass as she'd walked through the town, but again, no luck. What was going on? Why would Cass just disappear like that?

Clarissa felt a bead of cold sweat run down her back at the thought that things weren't as innocent as they seemed. It was possible Cass had just stumbled around drunk and fallen asleep somewhere, but if that was the case then surely she'd have found her by now? Either by the road or by the scrapyard? Clarissa looked out across the wastes, gazing at the huge solar complex of HELIOS One, the blue panels brimming with energy in the midday sun. Cass couldn't have gone there could she? A drunken escapade to an energy plant? It didn't seem likely but she sighed and figured, might as well check. The walk was helping with the hangover at least.

Soldiers were stationed at station's entrance, surrounded by waist-high walls of sandbag. They were dressed in light brown khakis and bullet proof vests. A flag with a two-headed bear fluttered lightly in the wind.

NCR. Figures, Clarissa grumbled.

The New California Republic. That was where Cass was from and had been a minor source of contention between the two. Despite all its faults, Cass still believed in its values, but Clarissa needed some convincing. She'd travelled everywhere as a courier and no place had caused her more grief than the NCR. Sure, other places were more dangerous with raiders and untamed, mutated wildlife, but NCR? Ugh, NCR loved to talk big about its constitution and laws and ethics, but she just saw another group of thugs pushing people around. If nothing else, she knew about what happened at Bitter Springs Massacre, so seeing NCR soldiers was not something she was keen on. Still, Cass was missing, and this was her only lead.

Approaching the entrance, she could already see guns pointing her way. She waved her hands around a little, showing she wasn't armed. Okay, she was armed, but she wasn't pointing her gun back at them. A tall, jaded-looking woman in a beret watched her closely,

"This is a restricted area, state your business." Straight to the point, Clarissa noted. Classic NCR,

"I'm looking for my friend. I was told she may have gone in this direction?"

"I've been here since 0600 hours and I haven't seen anyone else come this way. Not towards the plant at least."

Clarissa kept trying, "No one with red hair? Female, about my height, in a cowboy hat and a brown leather jacket?"

"No, sorry." Clarissa noticed the soldiers seemed on edge, pointing their guns directly at her. They were very suspicious,

"You guys alright? Look if I was trying to get in I'd have tried the chainlink fence."

The female soldier seemed to ease up a little, "Stand down, guys, she's fine." The other soldiers lowered their weapons,

"Why all the hostility?"

"Sorry. We've had reports of Legion activity near Novac. We're worried they might try an **** on the plant."

Legion. The word sent a shiver down Clarissa's spine. She'd never travelled through Legion territory, for obvious reasons. She had her misgivings about the NCR's methods, but they paled in comparison to Caesar's Legion's brand of violent empire-building. NCR would shoot you and call it collateral damage. Legion would burn, **** and butcher you before sticking your head on a spike. Same outcome but with some noticeable differences.

"Legion?" was all she could say,

"Yeah, they took the town of Nelson by the Colorado River a few days ago, and have been fortifying it since."

"Why not just kick them out?" Clarissa questioned. It wasn't like there weren't A LOT of NCR soldiers around.

"We're stretched too thin as it is. We're already struggling to hold the territory we do have with raiders still operating down south and chem fiends causing trouble near Camp McCarran. So far all brass has been able to spare is an outpost outside the town warning travellers to stay away."

NCR really was in a sorry state, Clarissa thought. She needed to get back on topic,

"So you've seen Legion near Novac?"

"Not exactly. There are two snipers stationed in that big dinosaur statue. One of them reported taking out a few Legionnaires coming towards the town during the night."

"One of your guys?"

"No. Novac is independent. We're just lucky to have a retired Ranger living there who keeps us up to date on the radio."

Clarissa shuddered. She hated the thought that something could have happened to Cass involving the Legion, but right now it was her only lead,

"Okay. Thanks for the help I guess."

"I hope you find your friend."

Ugh, Clarissa grimaced. That was the second person to say that to her today.

Back in Novac, she headed into the big green dinosaur statue. Turned out the statue actually contained a little gift shop. If Clarissa hadn't been so worried she may well have been tempted to buy one of the rocket souvenirs, but as it stood she just enquired the shopkeeper about the snipers.

He explained that they were ex-military and worked shifts, stationed inside the dinosaur mouth; one during the day and the other at night. Was the night sniper on duty, she asked. No, he'll be in his motel room, he replied.

"I'd be wary talking to him though," the shopkeeper warned,

"Why's that?"

"He's not a very approachable type, especially ever since his wife up and disappeared."

"His wife left him?" she asked, curious,

"I didn't say that. All I know is that she vanished one night and both him and the day sniper had a big fight about it."

"What would they be fighting about?"

"Ehhhh that's really not my place to say. I think it'd be best if you talked to him. His name's Boone, and you can find him in room 005 at the motel."

"Okay. You've been very helpful thanks."

On her way to the motel room, Clarissa checked her Pip-Boy. Geez 12:30 already? And still no sign of Cass? She really was worried now. While she hated hoofing around from one lead to the next, she couldn't assume anything. Another woman had vanished so something very wrong was going on here.

Clarissa knocked on the motel room door. No response.

"Hello?"

Still no response. Ugh, maybe he was deep sleeper.

"Hello?" She tried again, knocking the door louder. A fly buzzed past her ear, but otherwise she still heard nothing. She went for broke,

"Hey, listen! I'm here about your wife!"

There was a pause, like an intake of breath, but she thought she heard movement from within.

Suddenly the door sprang open, with a tall man standing behind it.

The man was built, wearing a grey T-shirt that struggled to contain his muscles. He clearly kept himself fit despite his seclusion. His head was shaved completely, but it was hard to tell because he wearing a red beret with a gold badge. It also had a two-headed bear on it. He looked at her with cold suspicion,

"Yeah?" His voice was low, but still youthful. He wasn't as old as he looked.

"You're Boone right?"

"What is this about?" Clarissa noticed he kept one hand firmly behind the door. Perceptive as she was, she knew he was hiding either a knife or a gun behind there. She needed to get straight to the point before he slammed the door.

"My friend is missing, and you're the only lead I have." He raised an eyebrow,

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

"No, I mean, look," she said, realising that this was not a good start, "My friend disappeared early this morning, from right out of the motel. I've spoken to people in town but nobody's seen her, but the guy in the dinosaur mentioned your wife had gone missing too."

Boone bristled at this, "Ugh, fucking Manny mouthing off."

"Sorry?"

"Look, my wife is dead, and Manny needs to keep her fucking name out of his mouth."

"Wait, who's Manny? I just talked to the guy in the gift shop!" he seemed to relax a little upon hearing this. She breathed a sigh of relief, that door looked real close to slamming,

"Oh, Cliff." he said bluntly,

"I'm sorry to hear about your wife, but look. I'm scared to think that her **** and my friend's disappearance might be connected!" Boone seemed to mull over this for a second, then he seemed to reach a decision,

"Get in here."

"What?"

"Just get inside now."

Clarissa did as he asked. While he was threatening, she didn't feel any malevolence from him. Despite his grim exterior he seemed genuinely concerned.

His room was similar to her motel room upstairs, but somehow more disordered. The curtains were shut, leaving the place in an unhealthy gloom, and the shards of a smashed bottle glass lay opposite the bed, with a light stain on the wallpaper. She shivered. This guy was seriously fucked up.

Once the door was shut, he turned to look at her and said,

"Alright. I don't know who you are but you're not from this town and that's a start."

"What do you mean?"

"Someone in this town is responsible for all this, and I need you to find out who."

"Responsible for both your wife and my friend?"

"Yeah. Maybe they are related maybe not, but if they are then we have a common enemy in this town. People here know me, so I can't go around asking questions, but you can."

"What should I ask?" Great, even more detective work she thought,

"Ask about any strange activity. Especially anything that's been happening at night. Look around for documents maybe, records. Whoever did this knew where to go and how to get in undetected, so we know they're a local. There's gotta be something that links them with Carla," Carla, she noted, so that was his wife's name, "and your friend." he added.

"Okay. I'll see what I can find."

"When you find whoever did this, bring them in front of the Dinosaur during the night. Wear this." He took off his beret and handed it to her, revealing that his scalp was indeed completely shaved bare,

"Wait, what?" She looked at him puzzled,

"Look. This isn't just about finding your friend. This is about getting even. You help me find this guy, I'll help you find your friend. Okay?"

"Okay. Got it." Clarissa wasn't averse to extra-judicial justice, but the whole thing made her anxious. She suddenly realised whoever they were dealing with wasn't someone to be trifled with. If they'd killed Carla, they could kill Cass too.

She took the beret and thanked him for the offer. She opened the door but the horrible thought was still on her mind. Standing at the doorway, she turned back to look at him,

"Hey Boone?"

"Yeah?"

"Is my friend in danger?"

Boone paused, looking at her with an expression she realised tried to hide insurmountable pain,

"She will be if we don't find her soon."