Captain Shovel
The Adventures of Captain Shovel
Intro
A shot rang out stirring only two creatures, a coyote den mother, preparing to defend her young, and a lonely wanderer propped up against a rock named Colton Meyers. Colton Grabbed his shotgun and went off to find the source of the sound that had disturbed his sleep.
“Benny, was that second shot re-”
“Shut it. Here's how its going to work. I'm going to pay you khans, we'll go our separate ways, you'll never mention my hand in any of this ever again, capiche?” Explained the man the Great Khan had called Benny.
“All right, first though, we need to stop in Novac.” said one of the Khans quietly
“No. we can't let anyone-”
“I have a man there, a trustworthy man, who is willing to put us up in his room for the day till we can get moving at night.”
“Fine. For once you savages actually have a half decent idea.” Benny told them sounding almost impressed. Rocks crunched behind them. “Hey! Who's there!” He shouted turning with his gun drawn.
Colton walked out from behind a rock to see this small group of men. “Hey, did you hear those gun-” Colton noticed who stood before him. “Oh shit, Khans!” Colton shouldered his shotgun and took aim at the men. Benny fired a single round into his head.
“Benny was that need-” The red headed khan started.
“I'll double your pay, now walk faster.”
A shot rang out stirring only one creature, a coyote den mother, preparing to defend her young.
1
The Mojave is Crying
Colton smelled booze. He opened his eyes to see an old, bearded face staring back at him.
“Hot damn, you're alive. Starting to think ya wouldn't ever open your eyes and we'd just feed ya to the Deathclaws.”
“Where? What? Who?” Colton's mind was trying to piece together any form of what could be called a memory.
“Son, my name is Chomps Lewis. You are at the small settlement we call Sloan. Now then, who are you and who did you piss off?” Chomps asked with a laugh and a swig of scotch.
Colton glanced around the room that was rather barren. All he noticed was a shovel in the far corner of the room, a tin can of beans sitting next to his bed, and a nearly destroyed baseball cap on the ground. “What did y-you ask again?”
“Your name son.”
“Oh, um, I'm pretty sure it started with a C. Calton? No, no. Ca. It definitely started with a Ca.” He cast his gaze around the room again. His mind started to put something together. “Captain-”
“Captain?! You're with the NCR?”
“No. Captain S something.” He looked around the room again, this time fixating on the shovel. Suddenly he sprung from his bed, startling Chomps, grabbed the shovel and shouted. “Citizen! I remember who I am. I must thank you. I am the fearless defender of the Mojave. I am C APTAIN SHOVEL!”” He raised the shovel overhead.
“Now sit down. You ain't right in the head. We-”
“Where are my clothes? I must go for I can hear the Mojave calling my name. She needs my help.” With a flurry, Captain Shovel grabbed a cowboy hat, biker goggles, and a roving traders outfit from underneath the bed he had slept on, threw them on, and left the building.
“Wait!” Chomps ran from the room behind Captain Shovel.
The Mojave sun was blinding. Captain Shovel stopped and Chomps ran into him. This area was so unknown to the Captain. “Where did you say I was again citizen?”
Chomps regained his composure “This here is Sloan. That way is the quarry but it's so full of Deathclaws, none of us even want to go near the damn place.”
“And where did you find me?”
“ You were at the fork leading to Primm and Goodsprings. You really need to come and sit down so we can get you to really remember who you are.”
“HA! Surely you jest my dear friend. I am Captain Shovel the true protector of the wasteland. Surely you have heard of me.”
“No, I haven't. Please come back into the room so we can-”
“I'm sorry but I just can't do that. I need to find out why I was going to one of these to places. For some reason I keep thinking about a black and white checkered suit. That must have something to do with my being out on the road like that.”
“Say, did you say something about a black and white suit?” A man in overalls and a yellow construction hat came over to Captain Shovel and Chomps. “A man like that, with two Great Khans, tried coming this way to get back to New Vegas but when I told him about the Deathclaws he suddenly made a face of someone who was very upset and one of the Khans told him that someplace else would be better to head to. I couldn't make out what place he said however.”
“Hey, get back to watching the road.” Chomps said to the man sternly.
“Wait, so he was coming from where?” Captain Shovel's interest grew.
“They were coming from Goodsprings he said. I knew something was off about that. He looked to well dressed to be from there.”
“Thank you citizen.” He started to walk the road in the way opposite of the quarry.
“Hey get back here!” Chomps shouted.
“What?” Captain Shovel shouted back.
“Obviously I can't keep you here but will you at least stay long enough to eat?” Captain Shovel walked back to Chomps.
“That is a noble offer. Also, would you mind giving me a map of the area?” Captain Shovel asked quite embarrassed.
Chomps lead Captain Shovel down into the mess hall where he was served a wasteland omelet. “Now then, we recently acquired this here pip-boy doohicky and since none of us quite understand how this works I feel that you should take it and use it for whatever it does.”
“Thank you citizen. But what of a map?”
“That's it, that pip-boy has one on it. We also learned that there is a radio so you may be able to tune in to some of the stations here in the Mojave.” Chomps explained. Captain Shovel examined his new piece of equipment. He was impressed by the radio. Quickly he pressed a button that caused a station to start playing.
“- and stay classy New Vegas!” The voice of the man known as Mr. New Vegas came from the device.
“Thank you again for the food ma'am and thank you for this pip-boy, Chomps.” Captain Shovel stood and walked from the mess hall.
“Hang on. Captain Shovel,” Chomps said humoring the clearly deranged man. “if you need anything at all, talk to me. I have some ties to very good people.”
“Thank you. Now then, which way is this Goodsprings?”
Another worker for the quarry stood and lead Captain Shovel to the road out of Sloan and pointed him in the direction of Goodsprings. As he started to walk away a Molerat crossed in front of him. “Look out!” He shouted at the quarry worker as he swung his shovel striking the Molerat in the leg.
“Hey watch it! That's our pet!” Yelled the quarry worker
“What? What kind of a pet is that?”
“A damn good one! Now get out of here before I get mad!” Captain Shovel left in disbelief.
Captain Shovel walked up the road as the sun was setting towards Goodsprings. As he was cresting the first hill he heard it. The howl of a Coyote which signaled an attack would be coming. He readied his shovel and swung just as a coyote den mother lunged at him from behind a rock. He made a solid strike with the coyote's head sending it sprawling. The coyote rose but Captain Shovel was on it before it could get up again. He brought the shovel down on it's back as he heard the bones break. As he was stowing his shovel a sense of displeasure came over him as three young pups walked in his path. He had just killed an innocent animal merely trying to protect her young. He turned off the road slightly and began to dig the coyote an unmarked grave. When he finished he stood and realized that the sun had set well below the horizon and the moon was high over the desert. He continued his walk to Goodsprings. As he walked into town the only place he saw that was open was the saloon. He went in and sat down.
Captain Shovel smelled booze.
2
Checkered Suits and Couriers
Captain Shovel woke with a start.
“I don't know who you are but you can't sleep here! Wake up I said! Don't make me get Sunny.” A woman on the other side of the bar was yelling at Captain Shovel. She clearly had no time to waste on what she thought was just another drunk. “I don't remember serving you anything or even seeing you come in here but now you've overstayed your welcome.”
“What?”
“You heard me you worthless piece of drunk bastard. Get up and get out.” The woman was clearly not impressed with Captain Shovel.
“I am no drunk. How dare you call me such a thing. Do you not recognize me? I am the fe-”
“You are leaving or I'm calling Sunny and having you shot.” Captain Shovel rose from his spot at the bar in which he had fallen asleep.
“Please, now if I can explain myself. I am hear looking for a man in a suit that, apparently, likes to shoot people in the head.”
“Yeah? Sounds like a story any drunk could come up with. Now get out.” And with a stern look the woman pointed to a door. Captain Shovel walked to the door and left. Outside an old man sat on a rocking chair hummed to himself quietly.
“Say would you happen to know of a man in a black and white checkered suit? That woman in there was no help.” Captain Shovel asked the man sitting.
The old man gave Captain Shovel a look and spoke up. “You mean Trudy? She's plenty helpful youngster. You just need to follow her rules, a big one being don't fall asleep drunk.”
Captain Shovel was taken back. “Why is it that everyone in this town seems to think I was drunk?”
“Welp, ya stumbled in like ya were already half boozed over and then sat down on a stool and just passed out.”
“Oh. Maybe I was still recuperating after having been shot in the head. I only stayed in-”
“You to huh? Got a kid in Doc Mitchel’s right now with two 9mm rounds in his noggin. Name's Easy Pete. You run up to Doc and talk to him, I'll settle Trudy down about you and then maybe she can help ya out.” The Old man said surprised
“Thank you citizen, you are about the most helpful person I have come across other than a young man in Sloan.”
“Word from the wise young'n: Don't call everyone you meet “citizen”. It'll just weird people out.” Easy Pete told Captain Shovel.
Captain Shovel walked up the hill to Doc Mitchel's clinic. On the way he passed a House made Securitron with a friendly cowboy's face. Captain Shovel reached the front door and realized one small issue. He didn't actually know what he would ask. He just figured it would come to him so he knocked on the door.
“I'm coming, I'm coming. You don't need to break the door down.” A balding man with a handlebar mustache answered the door. “Who are you and what do you want?”
“I heard you had another man with bullet's in his head?”
“What do you mean “another”?”
Captain Shovel moved his hat to show Doc Mitchel his scar. “I was shot by a man in a suit leaving here. I think it may be related.”
“Well, that's pretty bad needle work but I can tell that it was definitely tell that the bullet was the same caliber. Come on in. See if you can recognize this guy I got in here.” Captain Shovel followed Doc Mitchel in to the room with a man asleep on a bed. “He was found by that robot out there roaming around. He dug the guy out of his own grave. Brought him right to me.”
“I've never seen him before. You say he's the one who was shot a couple nights ago?”
“Yep. That's him. He seems to be getting better. If you want more information on this guy who shot the two of you I'd ask that robot.” Doc Mitchel said a little unsure.
“Thanks citizen. I will remember you.”
Outside Captain Shovel looked as much as he could but couldn't find the securitron. He walked up to the cemetery to see the spot of the shooting. As he was climbing the hill a bark scorpion attacked him. It stabbed him in the thigh and one of it's claws grabbed on to his shovel. Quickly he reached into his pocket and whipped out .357 magnum, fired once, and killed the bark scorpion. He caught his shovel before it even touched the ground. “Shovel power: .357 Deathblow.” Captain Shovel said to him quietly.
He reached the top of the hill to see a pile of dirt sitting next to a empty grave. “So you're fancy pants ain't ya?” Captain Shovel spun around grabbing his shovel, prepared to strike at anyone. “Ha ha. It's okay. The names Victor. You must be the guy looking for the shooter.”
“Yeah he shot me to.” Captain Shovel stowed his shovel on his back. “Doc Mitchel said you may be able to help me find him and his partners.”
“Well, if I recall right, they were heading down towards Primm, maybe someone there can help you more than me.” The robot, balancing on it's tire, said cheerfully.
“Well can you come with me? I could use a partner.”
“Nah. I need to wait for that other guy to wake up. Besides, you wouldn't want me along. I'm just a big, clunky, ole' robot. I wouldn't be of any help.”
“No, please, I really think you would be a great partner.”
“Nah.”
“Fine, but if you change your servos, or mind or whatever it is you machines have remember, Captain Shovel offered you a sidekick job.” And Captain Shovel walked off towards Primm.
On the road where he was shot, Captain Shovel was stopped by a man in NCRCF guard armor.
“Hey, do you know where a man named Rango is?”
“I don't but there's a chance someone up in Goodsprings does.” The man looked up the road where Captain Shovel pointed.
“Goodsprings. Goodsprings. That's where I heard that name before. Rango, I'm coming for you you rat.” And the man was gone. Running up to the town.
Captain Shovel stood in that place following the man in the NCRCF armor with his eyes. “Such an odd man. Perhaps Rango is a convict who escaped from the prison.” Captain Shovel said to himself. “Maybe I should see if-” At that moment more men wearing clothes labeled NCRCF ran past down the road to the town of Primm. Captain Shovel followed them ducking in and out from behind rocks to see what this group of men was intending to do.
“Yeah that place ought to be an easy place to take. Primm, everyone there is bound to be poor or drunk or both.
“Ha yeah. That place'll be an easy hit. Wait, will we be able to use this dynamite.”
“Of course without it they wouldn't know who we are. I mean you would expect a group named “The Powder Gangers” to use dynamite. After all, it's what we used to ecscape.”
“Yeah, but, I mean, we want to take the city not destroy the place. This stuff may be too powerful.” The group were nearing so near to the town now, all they had to do was cross the bridge and they be in. They stopped briefly.
“It's okay if we bring down some of the buildings. It shows we're serious.”
Captain Shovel had heard enough. He leapt from behind a pillar onto the bridge. “Alright, if you stop now and come back with me to the prison, I won't hurt any of you.” He shouted. At his appearance some of the men were startled, but the leader simply gave them an order.
“Arm the powder!” And with that most of the men grabbed sticks of dynamite, lit the fuse through them at Captain Shovel. Without realizing what he was doing Captain Shovel pulled a .357 magnum revolver from his hip, fired six rounds at the dynamite causing them to detonate mid-air,and holstered his gun.
“Shovel Power .357 Magnum.” He said calmly and only loud enough for the leader of the men to hear. The leader of these men ordered another volley to be thrown. The men, being very nervous of the man that stood before them threw their lit dynamite over the side of the bridge. “Ha, so you'll come quietly now, eh?” Captain Shovel laughed as the portion of bridge he stood on buckled. As he took one step forward a large portion of bridge fell bringing him with it.
“Ah shit. Boys, find some boards we can use to get across this bridge over here.” Captain Shovel blacked out for a second time.
“Yoo-hoo, smoothskin, wake up or I'm taking your gear and leaving you.”
Captain Shovel woke with a start.
A shot rang out stirring only two creatures, a coyote den mother, preparing to defend her young, and a lonely wanderer propped up against a rock named Colton Meyers. Colton Grabbed his shotgun and went off to find the source of the sound that had disturbed his sleep.
“Benny, was that second shot re-”
“Shut it. Here's how its going to work. I'm going to pay you khans, we'll go our separate ways, you'll never mention my hand in any of this ever again, capiche?” Explained the man the Great Khan had called Benny.
“All right, first though, we need to stop in Novac.” said one of the Khans quietly
“No. we can't let anyone-”
“I have a man there, a trustworthy man, who is willing to put us up in his room for the day till we can get moving at night.”
“Fine. For once you savages actually have a half decent idea.” Benny told them sounding almost impressed. Rocks crunched behind them. “Hey! Who's there!” He shouted turning with his gun drawn.
Colton walked out from behind a rock to see this small group of men. “Hey, did you hear those gun-” Colton noticed who stood before him. “Oh shit, Khans!” Colton shouldered his shotgun and took aim at the men. Benny fired a single round into his head.
“Benny was that need-” The red headed khan started.
“I'll double your pay, now walk faster.”
A shot rang out stirring only one creature, a coyote den mother, preparing to defend her young.
1
The Mojave is Crying
Colton smelled booze. He opened his eyes to see an old, bearded face staring back at him.
“Hot damn, you're alive. Starting to think ya wouldn't ever open your eyes and we'd just feed ya to the Deathclaws.”
“Where? What? Who?” Colton's mind was trying to piece together any form of what could be called a memory.
“Son, my name is Chomps Lewis. You are at the small settlement we call Sloan. Now then, who are you and who did you piss off?” Chomps asked with a laugh and a swig of scotch.
Colton glanced around the room that was rather barren. All he noticed was a shovel in the far corner of the room, a tin can of beans sitting next to his bed, and a nearly destroyed baseball cap on the ground. “What did y-you ask again?”
“Your name son.”
“Oh, um, I'm pretty sure it started with a C. Calton? No, no. Ca. It definitely started with a Ca.” He cast his gaze around the room again. His mind started to put something together. “Captain-”
“Captain?! You're with the NCR?”
“No. Captain S something.” He looked around the room again, this time fixating on the shovel. Suddenly he sprung from his bed, startling Chomps, grabbed the shovel and shouted. “Citizen! I remember who I am. I must thank you. I am the fearless defender of the Mojave. I am C APTAIN SHOVEL!”” He raised the shovel overhead.
“Now sit down. You ain't right in the head. We-”
“Where are my clothes? I must go for I can hear the Mojave calling my name. She needs my help.” With a flurry, Captain Shovel grabbed a cowboy hat, biker goggles, and a roving traders outfit from underneath the bed he had slept on, threw them on, and left the building.
“Wait!” Chomps ran from the room behind Captain Shovel.
The Mojave sun was blinding. Captain Shovel stopped and Chomps ran into him. This area was so unknown to the Captain. “Where did you say I was again citizen?”
Chomps regained his composure “This here is Sloan. That way is the quarry but it's so full of Deathclaws, none of us even want to go near the damn place.”
“And where did you find me?”
“ You were at the fork leading to Primm and Goodsprings. You really need to come and sit down so we can get you to really remember who you are.”
“HA! Surely you jest my dear friend. I am Captain Shovel the true protector of the wasteland. Surely you have heard of me.”
“No, I haven't. Please come back into the room so we can-”
“I'm sorry but I just can't do that. I need to find out why I was going to one of these to places. For some reason I keep thinking about a black and white checkered suit. That must have something to do with my being out on the road like that.”
“Say, did you say something about a black and white suit?” A man in overalls and a yellow construction hat came over to Captain Shovel and Chomps. “A man like that, with two Great Khans, tried coming this way to get back to New Vegas but when I told him about the Deathclaws he suddenly made a face of someone who was very upset and one of the Khans told him that someplace else would be better to head to. I couldn't make out what place he said however.”
“Hey, get back to watching the road.” Chomps said to the man sternly.
“Wait, so he was coming from where?” Captain Shovel's interest grew.
“They were coming from Goodsprings he said. I knew something was off about that. He looked to well dressed to be from there.”
“Thank you citizen.” He started to walk the road in the way opposite of the quarry.
“Hey get back here!” Chomps shouted.
“What?” Captain Shovel shouted back.
“Obviously I can't keep you here but will you at least stay long enough to eat?” Captain Shovel walked back to Chomps.
“That is a noble offer. Also, would you mind giving me a map of the area?” Captain Shovel asked quite embarrassed.
Chomps lead Captain Shovel down into the mess hall where he was served a wasteland omelet. “Now then, we recently acquired this here pip-boy doohicky and since none of us quite understand how this works I feel that you should take it and use it for whatever it does.”
“Thank you citizen. But what of a map?”
“That's it, that pip-boy has one on it. We also learned that there is a radio so you may be able to tune in to some of the stations here in the Mojave.” Chomps explained. Captain Shovel examined his new piece of equipment. He was impressed by the radio. Quickly he pressed a button that caused a station to start playing.
“- and stay classy New Vegas!” The voice of the man known as Mr. New Vegas came from the device.
“Thank you again for the food ma'am and thank you for this pip-boy, Chomps.” Captain Shovel stood and walked from the mess hall.
“Hang on. Captain Shovel,” Chomps said humoring the clearly deranged man. “if you need anything at all, talk to me. I have some ties to very good people.”
“Thank you. Now then, which way is this Goodsprings?”
Another worker for the quarry stood and lead Captain Shovel to the road out of Sloan and pointed him in the direction of Goodsprings. As he started to walk away a Molerat crossed in front of him. “Look out!” He shouted at the quarry worker as he swung his shovel striking the Molerat in the leg.
“Hey watch it! That's our pet!” Yelled the quarry worker
“What? What kind of a pet is that?”
“A damn good one! Now get out of here before I get mad!” Captain Shovel left in disbelief.
Captain Shovel walked up the road as the sun was setting towards Goodsprings. As he was cresting the first hill he heard it. The howl of a Coyote which signaled an attack would be coming. He readied his shovel and swung just as a coyote den mother lunged at him from behind a rock. He made a solid strike with the coyote's head sending it sprawling. The coyote rose but Captain Shovel was on it before it could get up again. He brought the shovel down on it's back as he heard the bones break. As he was stowing his shovel a sense of displeasure came over him as three young pups walked in his path. He had just killed an innocent animal merely trying to protect her young. He turned off the road slightly and began to dig the coyote an unmarked grave. When he finished he stood and realized that the sun had set well below the horizon and the moon was high over the desert. He continued his walk to Goodsprings. As he walked into town the only place he saw that was open was the saloon. He went in and sat down.
Captain Shovel smelled booze.
2
Checkered Suits and Couriers
Captain Shovel woke with a start.
“I don't know who you are but you can't sleep here! Wake up I said! Don't make me get Sunny.” A woman on the other side of the bar was yelling at Captain Shovel. She clearly had no time to waste on what she thought was just another drunk. “I don't remember serving you anything or even seeing you come in here but now you've overstayed your welcome.”
“What?”
“You heard me you worthless piece of drunk bastard. Get up and get out.” The woman was clearly not impressed with Captain Shovel.
“I am no drunk. How dare you call me such a thing. Do you not recognize me? I am the fe-”
“You are leaving or I'm calling Sunny and having you shot.” Captain Shovel rose from his spot at the bar in which he had fallen asleep.
“Please, now if I can explain myself. I am hear looking for a man in a suit that, apparently, likes to shoot people in the head.”
“Yeah? Sounds like a story any drunk could come up with. Now get out.” And with a stern look the woman pointed to a door. Captain Shovel walked to the door and left. Outside an old man sat on a rocking chair hummed to himself quietly.
“Say would you happen to know of a man in a black and white checkered suit? That woman in there was no help.” Captain Shovel asked the man sitting.
The old man gave Captain Shovel a look and spoke up. “You mean Trudy? She's plenty helpful youngster. You just need to follow her rules, a big one being don't fall asleep drunk.”
Captain Shovel was taken back. “Why is it that everyone in this town seems to think I was drunk?”
“Welp, ya stumbled in like ya were already half boozed over and then sat down on a stool and just passed out.”
“Oh. Maybe I was still recuperating after having been shot in the head. I only stayed in-”
“You to huh? Got a kid in Doc Mitchel’s right now with two 9mm rounds in his noggin. Name's Easy Pete. You run up to Doc and talk to him, I'll settle Trudy down about you and then maybe she can help ya out.” The Old man said surprised
“Thank you citizen, you are about the most helpful person I have come across other than a young man in Sloan.”
“Word from the wise young'n: Don't call everyone you meet “citizen”. It'll just weird people out.” Easy Pete told Captain Shovel.
Captain Shovel walked up the hill to Doc Mitchel's clinic. On the way he passed a House made Securitron with a friendly cowboy's face. Captain Shovel reached the front door and realized one small issue. He didn't actually know what he would ask. He just figured it would come to him so he knocked on the door.
“I'm coming, I'm coming. You don't need to break the door down.” A balding man with a handlebar mustache answered the door. “Who are you and what do you want?”
“I heard you had another man with bullet's in his head?”
“What do you mean “another”?”
Captain Shovel moved his hat to show Doc Mitchel his scar. “I was shot by a man in a suit leaving here. I think it may be related.”
“Well, that's pretty bad needle work but I can tell that it was definitely tell that the bullet was the same caliber. Come on in. See if you can recognize this guy I got in here.” Captain Shovel followed Doc Mitchel in to the room with a man asleep on a bed. “He was found by that robot out there roaming around. He dug the guy out of his own grave. Brought him right to me.”
“I've never seen him before. You say he's the one who was shot a couple nights ago?”
“Yep. That's him. He seems to be getting better. If you want more information on this guy who shot the two of you I'd ask that robot.” Doc Mitchel said a little unsure.
“Thanks citizen. I will remember you.”
Outside Captain Shovel looked as much as he could but couldn't find the securitron. He walked up to the cemetery to see the spot of the shooting. As he was climbing the hill a bark scorpion attacked him. It stabbed him in the thigh and one of it's claws grabbed on to his shovel. Quickly he reached into his pocket and whipped out .357 magnum, fired once, and killed the bark scorpion. He caught his shovel before it even touched the ground. “Shovel power: .357 Deathblow.” Captain Shovel said to him quietly.
He reached the top of the hill to see a pile of dirt sitting next to a empty grave. “So you're fancy pants ain't ya?” Captain Shovel spun around grabbing his shovel, prepared to strike at anyone. “Ha ha. It's okay. The names Victor. You must be the guy looking for the shooter.”
“Yeah he shot me to.” Captain Shovel stowed his shovel on his back. “Doc Mitchel said you may be able to help me find him and his partners.”
“Well, if I recall right, they were heading down towards Primm, maybe someone there can help you more than me.” The robot, balancing on it's tire, said cheerfully.
“Well can you come with me? I could use a partner.”
“Nah. I need to wait for that other guy to wake up. Besides, you wouldn't want me along. I'm just a big, clunky, ole' robot. I wouldn't be of any help.”
“No, please, I really think you would be a great partner.”
“Nah.”
“Fine, but if you change your servos, or mind or whatever it is you machines have remember, Captain Shovel offered you a sidekick job.” And Captain Shovel walked off towards Primm.
On the road where he was shot, Captain Shovel was stopped by a man in NCRCF guard armor.
“Hey, do you know where a man named Rango is?”
“I don't but there's a chance someone up in Goodsprings does.” The man looked up the road where Captain Shovel pointed.
“Goodsprings. Goodsprings. That's where I heard that name before. Rango, I'm coming for you you rat.” And the man was gone. Running up to the town.
Captain Shovel stood in that place following the man in the NCRCF armor with his eyes. “Such an odd man. Perhaps Rango is a convict who escaped from the prison.” Captain Shovel said to himself. “Maybe I should see if-” At that moment more men wearing clothes labeled NCRCF ran past down the road to the town of Primm. Captain Shovel followed them ducking in and out from behind rocks to see what this group of men was intending to do.
“Yeah that place ought to be an easy place to take. Primm, everyone there is bound to be poor or drunk or both.
“Ha yeah. That place'll be an easy hit. Wait, will we be able to use this dynamite.”
“Of course without it they wouldn't know who we are. I mean you would expect a group named “The Powder Gangers” to use dynamite. After all, it's what we used to ecscape.”
“Yeah, but, I mean, we want to take the city not destroy the place. This stuff may be too powerful.” The group were nearing so near to the town now, all they had to do was cross the bridge and they be in. They stopped briefly.
“It's okay if we bring down some of the buildings. It shows we're serious.”
Captain Shovel had heard enough. He leapt from behind a pillar onto the bridge. “Alright, if you stop now and come back with me to the prison, I won't hurt any of you.” He shouted. At his appearance some of the men were startled, but the leader simply gave them an order.
“Arm the powder!” And with that most of the men grabbed sticks of dynamite, lit the fuse through them at Captain Shovel. Without realizing what he was doing Captain Shovel pulled a .357 magnum revolver from his hip, fired six rounds at the dynamite causing them to detonate mid-air,and holstered his gun.
“Shovel Power .357 Magnum.” He said calmly and only loud enough for the leader of the men to hear. The leader of these men ordered another volley to be thrown. The men, being very nervous of the man that stood before them threw their lit dynamite over the side of the bridge. “Ha, so you'll come quietly now, eh?” Captain Shovel laughed as the portion of bridge he stood on buckled. As he took one step forward a large portion of bridge fell bringing him with it.
“Ah shit. Boys, find some boards we can use to get across this bridge over here.” Captain Shovel blacked out for a second time.
“Yoo-hoo, smoothskin, wake up or I'm taking your gear and leaving you.”
Captain Shovel woke with a start.