Chapter 335 - Doctor's Doctored Fate

Dr. Hildern was not having a good time of it... His recent attempt on a certain bounty hunter's life had proved disastrous the more time goes on. At first, it wasn't all that bad, but when the inquiries on certain NCR soldiers that should have been under his indirect control came in, he knew he was in trouble.

He was only able to gather the men needed for the capture or assassination of Afton Parker due to the people in the Office of science and industry taking an interest in his findings... However, now that he has nothing to show for their efforts and the lives lost, the blame would be squarely on him.​​

And that is exactly what'd happened. Of course, he had plans to escape before anyone could get a hold on him, but when the pet ghoul of the bounty hunter returned and reported that they'd been attacked by NCR soldiers, the higher management immediately awoke from their slumber.

He was restricted to his lab and occasionally the outer terminal while everything was made known. And before he knew it, his 'friends' and colleagues had given him up like a sacrificial lamb. His crimes were as such; conspiracy to commit murder, misappropriating military resources, attempted unauthorized human experimentation, breach of patient confidentiality, and manslaughter.

Yeah, he was pretty fucked. His career was over, his friends abandoned him, the NCR hates him... He'd thought it was all over when a sudden explosion shook Camp McCarren... By the shouts of the soldiers outside of his office, he could tell that someone had somehow planted a bomb on the Monorail.

This was bad news... For the NCR at least. Without the Monorail, getting supplies, troops, and other vital resources would be an even larger task than before. Most NCR men returned from their New Vegas spending sprees via the Monorail, but now with it gone they'd be forced to circle around via the Freeside exits...

That might not have been that bad a few months ago when the Kings finally allied with the NCR, but after a terrorist attack that killed the commander responsible for such a relationship, along with a huge swath of NCR refugee's. Tensions had risen again.

Hildern was shaken from his thoughts as a heavy figure barreled through his office's door. They wore the typical NCR armour, but judging by the accents and baret he wore, their rank was a Commander of some sort. Regardless, the look in the man's eyes made him realise just how much danger he was in, "Please don't hurt me! I didn't do it! I was in here the entire time!"

...

Hildern looks up and stops shielding his eyes after not dying, immediately spotting the sadistic grin on the man's face.

"I know you didn't do it, here, take this. Try to escape while shit's going down, it's the only chance you got... I heard they were planning on executing you via firing squad." the man says, handing over a standard-issue service rifle that seemed to have a blood spatter on it already?

Hildern quickly nods though, by the sound of it, he was going to die if he stayed here any longer. Especially if they think he bombed the Monorail. He quickly got to his feet and charges outside the office, not noticing the Commander behind him drawing his revolver.

As Hildern was running for the terminal doors, he was noticed by many other NCR soldiers who were attempting to reinforce the area to find the person responsible for the disaster before them

"HALT! GET HIM!" they all roar, pointing their weapons at Hildern, who in response, turns and starts randomly firing around him.

Obviously, his untrained and haphazard aim doesn't hit anyone, but does attract everyone else's attention.

Commander Curtis sprints towards him with his revolver, shooting Hildern in the chest and causing him to collapse to the floor in a whimper.

Hildern looks over to the man who'd shot him and his eyes widen, "W-why?" he asks the man who he thought had wanted to help him escape.

Curtis stands over him, examining his wound to see if it was fatal or not. Upon seeing it was just a punctured lung he kicked the man from his side onto his back, pressing down on him with his foot. "Damn traitor! HOW DARE YOU BOMB THE MONORAIL!" he roars.

"WHAT!?-" *BANG!*

Hildern isn't able to question what was happening any further as a bullet buries itself into his cranium. The surrounding NCR soldiers look at this with glee, regret, and anger.

Captain Curtis had just executed an injured man... Sure, he was still wielding a service rifle, but was it really justified? Especially when they could have interrogated the prisoner. Unfortunately, despite it all, Captain Curtis was let off with a slap on the wrist.

Those who needed to know were told that it was a highly emotional situation, and the threat wasn't yet dealt with. Curtis doesn't even see a drop in his rank, in fact, he was closer than ever to a promotion.

The camp held a small ceremony for the one man who'd apparently been murdered by Hildern. The scientist having stolen his Service Rifle and beaten them to death with it. Something none could imagine the frail doctor doing, but knew in their hearts he was the perpetrator.

Of course, there were those who still wished to ask questions. But they were either too low a rank to have any pull, or were unable to sway everyone from the apparent scapegoat they'd found. Hildern was just such a hated figure, that persuading someone that something else might be going on was impossible.

These people found solace in airing their suspicions to the various bounty hunters stationed near the Fiend encampment however, but it wasn't like they could do anything... Right?