48 Sacrifices

"Come on, we're almost there!" McNamara shouts from the front, occasionally firing off his Gauss Rifle.

*BANG!BANG!BANG!*

The sound of more Anti-Material rifles go off, the NCR had finally repositioned them from the other entrances apparently, none of the bullets were fatal, but a few Knights were knocked unconscious when struck in the head.

A couple people wanted to assist them but were put down with the rest, the Brotherhoods numbers were dropping quicker and quicker, the more time they spent outside the facility. Afton winced at the bullet in his shoulder as he pushed himself to keep moving.

Dust was kicked up around them as more bullets littered the ground. Many of the NCR soldiers had been killed, but their numbers seemed to just keep coming.

Once the group had finally reached the sand-bags they started killing the NCR soldiers who'd survived the Plasma grande, all the while using their bodies as sheilds for the others to file through.

An NCR soldier with a crazed look in his eye jumped onto one of the Knights with a combat knife in hand, attempting to lift the helmet to stab them in the neck or face. The Knight was about to drop their weapon and beat the man into pulp with their Power armour-enhanced strength, but a Paladin swiped some kind of metal spear at them.

The metal spear's tip glowed as it passed the NCR soldier, it hadn't seemed to have done anything, but Afton's eyes widened when the soldiers lower half dropped to the floor, their intestines trailing after it like a slinky.

The NCR soldier had finally noticed his injury and let go of the Knight, screaming in agony as they attempted to stuff their intestines back inside their body. They were dead regardless though, no amount of stimpacks could help with that kind of injury.

The NCR rangers released another barrage of 50.cal bullets, bright sparks flew off th armour they'd hit, some Brotherhood soldiers grunting in pain as the forced heavily bruised flesh or even sometimes broke their bones.

*BOOM!*

Another mine exploded at the front of the group, causing any near it to stumble backwards, impeding their progress. Due to this they were sitting ducks, Afton glanced behind him to see if everyone was still alright, Melissa, Miles, and Sandra were all covered in dirt and some blood, but looked relatively uninjured.

His mother and Adah were-

*Bang!*

Sparks danced off of his mothers helmet as her head was violently knocked to the side, she immediately fell unconscious and Afton's feet were moving before he'd even thought about it. "MOM!" he shouted, trying to lift her but finding her Power armour was too heavy for him to lift.

Adah began trying to lift her instead, as he wasn't able to help in that regard he looked up at the top of the canyon and spotted the dim flash of a suppressed muzzle, instantly firing his Tri-Beam laser rifle at them.

It was incredibly inaccurate to use this weapon at such a distance, but he more hoping that illuminating the sniper again would get them off of their backs momentarily. That wasn't the case though as the illuminated sniper just shifted their rifle towards them.

"UP THERE!" Afton shouted, continually firing at the sniper, his friends began trying to hit them to, but none could land a good shot.

*BANG!*

The sound of shattering reinforced glass caused Afton to turn, he saw his mothers visor implode as blood sprayed out... She'd been shot!

"YOU FUCKING NCR BASTARDS!" he roared, firing his rifle at the sniper as they retreated. Afton was enraged, they'd just killed his mother and gotten away with their lives. He quickly looked around for anything that could hit them, eventually spotting his mother's Gauss Rifle on the ground.

He jumped for it, picking it up and firing at the sniper of in the distance, he aimed for their back, but wasn't entirely sure where he'd hit... Their rapid movements, lack of light, and his unfamiliarity with the weapon made it unlikely he'd hit. His blood was still boiling though, and he made the shot.

*PACHINK!*

Afton watched intensely as the blue streak travelled through the air, lighting up everything it passed. It looked as if it would miss its mark, but the ranger turned as they were running, inadvertently placing their right hand in the shots path.

*Splatter!*

Their right hand and upper arm exploded into blood and gore, they dropped to the floor out of Afton's vision. He was still enraged and wanted to climb up there to finish the bastard off, but his friends and Adah dragged him away.

*BOOM!**BOOM!*

More mines went off at the front as the group finally reached the passage way, Afton would be happy were it not for his mothers death. Just as the group was about to enter the passage though, he spotted something lying in a crater created by a mine.

"Dad!?" he shouts, going off to the man who's still firing his Gatling Laser at the incoming NCR.

Zachary didn't turn away from the enemies as he addressed his son, "FOLLOW THE OTHERS, I'LL BUY YOU TIME! GO!"

"NO! They killed mom! They'll kill you too!" he shouts.

"DAMN IT AFTON! LISTEN TO ME! I'M DEAD ANYWAY, JUST GET OUT OF HERE! I WON'T LET MY FAMILY BE WIPED OUT BY THESE FUCKERS... NOW!" he roars, the Gatling Laser expelling the hot empty Electron charge pack as he shoves another inside.

Adah and a few other Knights run back and grab Afton as he tries to squirm out of their grips, he tries to escape to help his father, but goes limp when they eventually lose sight of him. The sound of his Gatling Laser could still be heard as they ventured further into the canyon.