Karl continues disarming mines and passing them to Afton who stuffs them into his satchel. They'd collected ten of them already and it didn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

"Where did they find so many mines?" Afton mutters in disbelief. ​​

"No idea, must've stumbled across a cache of them somewhere... Maybe a pre-war building that somehow hadn't been looted until now." Karl guesses while dashing to yet another mine.

Afton didn't know how the old man was doing it, he could barely see a meter ahead through the darkness yet Karl seemed at home in these conditions...

Eventually, though the mines thinned out and the duo found themselves in the middle of the street, Vikki and Vance casino on their left, Bison Steve Hotel in front, and residential building on their right.

Ahead they could see a lampost that's getting power from somewhere, the dim bulb illuminating a couple men who were presumably keeping watch... The townsfolk were apparently holding out in the casino, which meant these guys were waiting for people to try to leave before catching them... What they did to them afterwards was anyone's guess.

"Kid, you know how to knock someone out properly?" Karl whispers from the side.

Afton shrugged, "Kinda? I know what to do, but I'm not all that confident in pulling it off... Though... You got a knife I can borrow?"

Karl nods and hands him some sort of combat knife, a part of the blade close to the handle was serrated, presumably for cutting material. It was remarkably sharp though, Karl obviously took care of it. He noted that on its handle was some sort of mark... Three stripes behind a star, was this from his time in the rangers? How did he manage to keep it after being imprisoned?...

Shaking his head, Afton focussed on the two men guarding the casino entrance. He asks Karl how he wants to go about this and the man has them circle around the casino so they are able to come in behind them.

They're now hugging the casino wall a few meters away from the two men, both had tanned skin and ugly scars covering their bodies. Afton was pretty sure he could smell them from where he was standing, clearly hygiene wasn't a concern for them.

Both were sitting on a box, one with a shotgun resting on his lap and the other with a pistol in his holster. Karl tapped him on the shoulder and gestured towards the one sitting on the left with the shotgun.

The both kept as quiet as possible as they slowly got closer to the men, idly picking up their conversation.

"What does Carlos even want to do with these guys anyway?"

"You didn't hear 'im? Wanted to starve the townies out before robbin' 'em... A lot easier than fightin' em I'll say."

"Wonder if there're any pretty lasses in there?" one says with a lecherous grin.

"Probably, wouldn't mind gettin' me' dick wet, ey? Hehehe."

By this time Karl and Afton had reached their targets, without hesitation Karl grabbed the rightmost one, pulling their pistol out of their holster and tossing it away while grabbing them in a tight chokehold.

As that was happening Afton had jammed the combat knife through the criminal's neck, severing the carotid artery. They tried to make a grab for their shotgun but Afton wrenched them backwards, causing them to drop it.

The shock of being stabbed in the neck, and spotting their friends being choked out had the man unable to do anything but choke on their own blood. Afton held the man there until his eyes shut and he finally passed on.

His arms were completely covered in blood from holding him in place, it didn't smell yet but he had to get cleaned up soon before it starts coagulating... Blood is notoriously difficult to get off.

Afton grabbed the shotgun and rested it on his shoulder as Karl examined the unconscious con he'd just knocked out. "Wanna question him?"

Karl nods, "Yeah, let's take them inside the casino, can't have the cons finding their bodies just yet. Not while we still have the element of surprise.

Afton knocks on the casino doors a couple times before slowly opening it, he pops his head through the crack and is greeted by a revolver pressing against his cheek.

"Now, you hold still stranger. I'd rather not get blood on the carpet." he says, gesturing towards the already dirty rug that led further inside the casino.

...

"Err, I'm Afton Parker... We're here on behalf of Lieutenant Hayes to deal with your con-problem." he says with a sheepish look, trying not to focus on the gun pressed against his face. The man before him was an old man with tanned, wrinkled skin wearing overalls over a dirty shirt and jeans, some goggles hanging from around his neck.

...

"Hm, thought those soldier-boys would just leave us here to suffer. Been watching us from their camp for damn well two weeks now."

"Well, the NCR would have, its Hayes that's paying us outta his own pocket to help you guys... Could you get that gun out of my face?"

The old man nods, "Names Johnson Nash youngster, forgive me for the lead-lined welcome but we've been waiting for that lot to bust in here any moment... Could darn well hear 'em talking on the other side of the door."

Afton nods and opens the door further, "Sorry about the blood..." he mutters as they drag one corpse and one unconscious man into the casino, blood thoroughly covering the rug much to Johnson's chagrin.

Karl tips his Stenton towards the man, "Howdy." he says dully as he props the unconscious man next to a slot machine.

Johnson's shock at seeing two peoples sudden pulled into the casino eventually wears off though. "Now just you two hang on there. What is this!?" he exclaims, quickly gesturing at the bodies with his revolver.

"One prisoner and one dog-food." Karl states, walking over and shutting the doors behind them.