The trenches outside the Vault that the Fiend's had taken control of were a sorry state to see. If anyone from the modern world were to see it, they'd think they had been transported through time to world war I. Karl, Boone, and Anja were all filthy, covered in dirt and grime from spending so much time here.

The pay was good, but the conditions were seriously substandard. The reason for this? The NCR was like a hedgehog after the Monorail was destroying, rolling into a ball and ignoring everything outside of it, including its troops and other allies. ​​

As such, they'd not yet been able to take over the Fiend headquarters... There was an attempt made a week or so ago but most of the force was easily dismantled by the numerous traps set through the hallways, and the defending Fiends.

They had thought that the Fiend's would be too weak to fight back as no supplies had reached the vault... It was only after this unsuccessful raid that everyone knew what was going on... The Fiend's had started cannibalising their forces... Literally.

And with the new NCR corpses supplied by the failed raid, the Fiends would likely be able to hold on for a couple more months at least.

Despair was slowly seeping through everyone in the trenches, most were hit hard enough by the Monorail, but now that they were forced to fight literal cannibals without support or reinforcements? Most were prepared to head home as it is, give another minor failure and the soldiers would head back to Camp McCarren, whether they be permitted or not.

Karl had basically been made the leader after Major Datri was forced to return to Camp McCarren. There were other higher rank officers than a mere bounty hunter, but his training and experience in the Rangers were highly regarded.

Of course, this was an unofficial position. But it didn't make it any less stressful. Currently, Karl, Boone, and Anja were all sitting side by side in the trench, each slowly scooping small amounts of food out of cans with their fingers.

The mood was solemn, not just because of their current position, but also because of how much time has passed... "It's been two months..." Karl mutters, a small frown on his face.

Boone slowly nods in response, his face thin and slightly dirty, with the exception of his sharp eyes that still flitted about looking for threats.

"He'll be back... He will." Anja mutters, less to the others and more for herself.

Karl stops chewing and suddenly throws the can against the opposite trench wall, "This is fuckin' hopeless! Let's just return the caps for the job and take some other job that doesn't include wading through mud and fighting organized fuckin' CANNIBALS!" he exclaims.

"Can't do that... If we leave, who will deal with the Fiends? They're on their last legs, but given enough time they'll be as numerous as last time, and twice as vicious." Boone says, and everyone knew it to be true... Now that all the remaining Fiends had partaken in human flesh, the line was gone.

Karl glowers, "Fuck them then! The NCR abandons us to deal with a problem of their own making, cowering in Camp McCarren because some asshole bombs a Monorail... What? They're too fuckin' lazy to walk for their supplies now?!... Unlike the rest of the men here, we aren't beholden to them, we are bounty hunters. We pick and choose the jobs we want, and this certainly isn't fuckin' one of them!"

"I wish Sir was here..." Anja mutters, scratching an itchier part of her necrotic skin.

Karl scowls at her, "Well, he's not here. He got himself infected like some dumb rookie and ain't coming back. I don't know why you're so obsessed with this, girl. But unless you have some information that we aren't privy too, he's fucked. Somehow even more fucked than we currently are." he states.

*country road*

Boone sighs, "Why did we let him go alone with the rookie again?"

*take me home*

"Because we were overconfident. Kid'd put on an almost invincible front, doing shit I wouldn't believe unless I personally witnessed it. Maybe-" He's cut off as Boone raises his hand in the familiar 'be quiet' signal.

"Do you hear something?" he quietly asks, and everyone else goes completely silent to listen for it.

*to the place, I belong!*

"I BELONG! WEST VIRGINIA! MOUNTAIN MAMA!" the sound of a madman shouting over the sound of the song playing from an unknown source could be heard, slowly approaching... Come to think of it, it sounded like two people singing, one a familiar male voice, and the other a strange-sounding female.

By now the rest of the soldiers had noticed, and started warily peeking their heads over the trench, spotting something approaching with a dust cloud behind it.

"TAKE ME HOME! COUNTRY ROADS!" Afton shouts, singing one of the most catchy choruses ever created, Nyx singing along with him. Dog-meat had joined in as well, his short howls attempting to emulate the song were rather cute...

Afton had reached Camp McCarren but been refused entry entirely... Some cunt had bombed the Monorail or something. But upon asking the whereabouts of his companions, had been sent in the direction of the new trenches nearby the Fiend hideout...

He was slightly afraid of getting shot by the defenders, so he decided to let them know he was approaching with an old American song.

He drives the bike right up to the trench before abruptly hitting the breaks and slowly getting off of the bike, followed by Dog-meat who continued to look around curiously.

Afton was greeted by the sight of around sixty service rifles all pointing directly at him, he gave a timid smile and raised his arms above his head, something that allowed a few of the soldiers to relax... They'd been fighting chem-fueled Fiends that refused to surrender and seemed to feel no pain as they charged the trench.

Afton just looks around the trench, trying to find his companions... After a minute or so of not spotting them, he gets fed up and tries a different approach. Taking a deep breath in, he shouts, "I'M BACK FUCKERS! YOU MISS ME!?"