Just outside of Junktown

When you were invited into weekly meetings with President Kimball, you couldn’t believe your luck. There were ideas of potential cabinet positions, maybe even a future run of your own…and that’s not considering donations that flooded in soon after the news leaked.

But how quick fortunes turn. The success on the Southern Front has turned for the worst, Caesar apparently realizing he’s fighting a war. Public opinion is slowly but surely pushing against Kimball no matter how he tries to spin the Mojave Malaise, as the press has called it. Fucking journalists.

The changing wind is the only reason you didn’t immediately report the messenger Hanlon sent to your favorite “safe house”. It’s a not so subtle message that Hanlon knows about your bad habits. At least some of them.

Now you’re alone next to an abandoned gas station long lost to the wasteland, nervously picking at the skin on the cuticle of your thumb. You cast a glance over at the brahmin cart you rented out. Surely he’s not going to kill you.

I didn’t think you’d show. Hell, I had almost assumed you would run and tell Aaron.

FUCK! You can’t help but let out a yell as you spin around to see Chief Ranger Michael Hanlon standing just a few feet from you, wearing his signature ranger outfit.

I’m not going to kill you if that’s what has gotten you so shaken. You wouldn’t have heard me coming.

[You could have made a noise at least. Whatever, what are we doing all the way out here? You’re supposed to be campaigning over in Maxson.]

Hanlon gives you a shit-eating grin.

Ah but isn’t it the first rule in Rangering that you’re never supposed to be where they expect you to be?

[I don’t know, does it?]

You genuinely don’t know if it does or not. Apparently he thinks you’re fucking with him and scowls in response.

We’re here because you know your political future is in danger, and like a rat, you want to leave the sinking ship.

Ouch.

[Flattery gets you everywhere, Hanlon. I’m not sure what amateurs you’ve hired but we’re leading in every poll. Plus with Mayor Allgood announcing next week, that just eats into your lead.]

Hanlon is pissed by the comment, it seems that’s not as tight of a secret as he thought.

He has the lead for now, but everything has been trending to low enthusiasm for him and a higher turnout for me. If you didn’t think he would win safely, you wouldn’t be here.

Well he has got you.

But you have a point, and Allgood is why we’re here. I couldn’t give much of a damn if I become President, it’s a means to an end for slaying the Bull. No, the more I think about it the more I know I don’t want that job.

Well now you really don’t know where this is going.

[So you’re here to tell me you’re dropping out and endorsing my boss, right? No chance, what’s the angle]