Chapter 375 - Miscommunication

As they get deeper into Freeside Josie notices something happening off the side of the road. An NCR soldier seems to be wrestling with a large fat man. The man himself seems to be on some sort of chem due to his weird and wild movements, but eventually, the soldier brings him to the ground and restrains him.

"Is that guys knee on his neck?" she asks, wondering if that was proper protocol.​​

Afton looks over and shakes his head, "Neck and shoulder."

"Kneeling on the neck will kill him right?" she mutters while opening the door slightly to air her grievances, however, once she does she can hear the large man wheezing.

"Let... me go... I can't breathe."

"Right, you and the other fifty people who've tried the same thing." the soldier remarks, staying put.

"Hey, he says he can't breath! Give him some room!" Josie says from the car, finally catching their attention.

"Just leave it alone, Josie." Afton sighs.

"Miss, I have to do this for the safety of myself and the public... This man just robbed a family at gunpoint..."

"Well you have disarmed him already, give him some space and wait for the others to arrive." she continues.

The soldier just gives a long sigh and does as she asks, he'd heard of a few soldiers getting thrown in prison on the public's emotion alone. He rearranges his restraint, but this was just what the criminal was looking for. He throws the man off of his back while grabbing the gun from the soldier's holster.

*BANG!*

The man shoots the soldier in the face, but doesn't stop there.

*BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!*

He unloads the revolver until it gives nothing but clicks... He looks around for anyone else and eventually spots Josie, running towards her to most likely take the vehicle.

Unfortunately for the man...

*DAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA!*

The K9000 had already designated them as an enemy and riddled them with bullets, causing them to fall down to the ground lifelessly.

Josie just watches on in horror, disgusted that her actions had not only killed the soldier, but the criminal as well...

"Alright, we've been here long enough, let's get moving before we're stuck being questioned." Afton urges, not wanting to get caught up in paperwork.

"H-how are you so calm about this?" she asks, a shudder in her voice.

Afton shrugs, "It's just the way things work."

"The Wasteland?" she guesses.

Afton shakes his head, "The world."

The group continue on driving until they reach the Strip North Gate. The Securitrons just stand stock still where they are, but their weapon are pointed directly at the vehicle as if waiting for them to try and breach into New Vegas.

Afton just gets Josie to drive into a vacant area on the right, they'd park the vehicle there and leave it while they're in the strip. They wouldn't have to worry about thieves as the K9000 would be designated to deal with anyone who tried to gain access to it.

The group get out of the truck and head to the gate as Afton looks them all over, "So, I'm guessing the people who have licences are everyone but Anja?"

The group nod and Anja looks sheepish, "Will that be a problem, sir?"

Afton shakes his head, "Not really, we just gotta show that you have enough caps for the strip, which isn't really a problem... Now that I think about it, we still have to collect our bounty from Dhatri, don't we?"

As they approach the gate, the Securitrons bar their entrance... "Display your identification or submit to a credit check... Trespassers will be shot."

The group do as their told, however, when it comes to Anja's turn the Securitron points its weapon at her, "Ghouls may not enter the Strip."

...

"What? Why?" Afton asks in confusion.

"Studies have shown that ghouls are more vicious, unstable, and more prone to violence than regular humans." the Securitron lists off.

...

Afton frowns, "I take it the tests didn't distinguish between regular ghouls and feral ghouls?" he asks with a dull expression, knowing that version of events is most likely to have occurred.

"Ghoul are prohibited, please step aside." the Securitron repeats, apparently not having the processing power or ability to debate Afton on this.

He sighs and glances at Anja, "My bad Anja-"

"No... It's ok, sir. I'll stay behind and protect Dirt-Hog while you're gone." she quietly mutters.

Afton nods but snaps his fingers at Dog-meat, "You stay behind with her boy, get rid of anyone who bothers her or the truck."

*Woof!* The dog barks and walks to Anja's side as she watches them a good distance from the gate.

Without further adieu, the group stroll past the Securitrons and walk into the strip. The gates shut behind them as they are greeted by the sight of the most populace, and well maintained prewar city left in the world.

The strip definitely belonged in Vegas, old and new. With dazzling lights everywhere you look and hundreds or thousands of drunken, dishevelled, or rich folk walking around. There were casino's lining each side of the long road, but most impressive of them all was the Lucky 38, the towering behemoth that almost everyone in the Mojave could see.

It was no wonder the lights from the place at night illuminated areas miles away. The tower itself produced enough light pollution to stop the stars from being visible... It's a shame no one had been allowed inside for centuries, Afton thought the view at the top would be both beautiful and despairing... He couldn't imagine what it could be like for Mr House to look down at the destroyed Wasteland and compare it with what he once knew... If he was indeed the same person that is.

Personally, Afton wasn't all that sure Mr House was still alive. For all they knew it, could be some sort of AI designed to mimic him...