Where is the start for this quest, anyway? I can't seem to find it after nearly five hours running around the base talking to everyone.. oh, and that shop girl's laser pistol is still missing, ".. by a rock with a body near it..." if anyone could shed some light on its location, too. xD.

Thanks in advance,
~Kusumura.

Not sure on the first question, but the missing laser pistol is in Scorpion Gulch on the ground near a rock.

Here's an image:
http://oi51.tinypic.com/2qs9jqc.jpg

Good grief! I went RIGHT BY THE STUPID THING SCANNING WITH erm.. the new Dogmeat! Thank you greatly. I didn't think it would be there since the kid mentioned cliffs and what not. =_=.