#ch: carla boone

[wiltf]

eve was not a liar.

at least not conventionally.

when she said she would get carla out of cottonwood cove, it was sworn in truth. metaphorical in blood that was yet to be spilt, but definitely represented in the way she was lead deeper into the barracks. or whatever they hadn’t boarded up just yet, although eve had to assess the posters that had been left up — not even for target practice.

as eve kicks at a loose syringe with the toe of her boot, doing little more than earning her a hard look, it gives her time to assess. passing it off with a snort, head turned away, in a way that suggested she was better. and she was, of course, because this was the fuckin’ legion, but the only standing building had little resistance in the way of a firefight, and there were one too many in a cage outside to risk too much.

well, if their takeaway was that she wanted to claim child and mother for whatever nefarious purposes they had concocted in their own minds, she wasn’t about to turn away now. centurion something of another gives her the look over, all cuckold glory, and if eve wanted to keep her fingers for later, she unfortunately knew better than to flip him off.

instead, she talks, fingers moving quicker than the translator can keep up — but that was all a part of it.

“centurion!” heels snap together, backs ramrod straight, no salute but they could’ve passed for ncr. “this stranger bears the mark of caesar!”

back teeth grind. that’s not at all what she said. head tilt, getting the translator’s attention. firm flat hand, moving again against the other. a throat clears, and they speak up again: “mighty caesar has allowed this stranger to claim one of the pregnant slaves as tri—er, payment, for their services.”

dark and judgemental eyes. on the strip, they’d manage to wrangle the last cap out of a luckless bastard. tear layers off them, while spinning that goddamn roulette wheel. that’s just what he wanted to do now, after all, yet eve motioned again for the translator to follow.

“the woman sold to us nearly a fortnight ago is what has been requested, centurion.”

with that, it seems there was a snap within such a man. leaning forward on the desk (still carrying old magazines, cigarettes. pencils). “i have the claim on that profligate, and the child.”

feign surprise. or no surprise? of course he would claim the damn woman. damn child. eve had sworn in the blood that still stuck to the bottom of her soles, but her fingers fly, hopefully cutting with the anger that filled her. what was she doing out here, again? why was she getting involved in this shit? her head hurt. the gun at her hip was heavy. eve needed a smoke and a hot lay and the strip was all that-a-way.

could she take them out? too bad she hadn’t run into that boone on her way. maybe ed-e did. maybe the roof would cave in. teeth grinding again, as the translator seems to have all but given up.

“where did you take that mark from, profligate? caesar would not have parted with such a blessing so easily.”

nothing. eve didn’t say a single damn thing. focus on your breathing now, she told herself, like her heart wasn’t pumping all up in her ears. don’t let the walls close in. the windows were open here, if patchwork and ugly. even if the man called centurion insisted on keeping his face close to hers (mask? check. goggles? check) it wasn’t like.

then.

in one swift movement, her bandanna is pulled down. exposing the way she sucked on her teeth, for sure.

“answer me, profligate. we have heard news of a spy, and you seem most likely at this very moment.”

eve should shoot. the metal is cool on her finger tips, but it. just. can’t. breathe. better than this. like a singular thought stuck in the middle, cold sweat down her back. it’s too hot. her feet are numb.

four shots ring in her ears.

and there is a sigh that leaves her, just like it once had, as eve comes back. back to cottonwood cove, with the legion and the profligates and the blood on her lips. was it hers? teeth had worn into her cheeks, but as she pulls a hand away from her cheek, it wasn’t just blood.

it was matter. sticky. slipping from between spread fingers. the centurion did not rise once again, like his name suggested. a dropped pile of murky bodily fluids, and the other three legionnaires finding their place alongside him on the floor.

four little holes in the window, where the glass insisted on holding on. this of course presented eve with two noticeable thoughts, conflating with the way she reaches for the desk, leaning on it for support. legs shaking. still cold. wasn’t manny’s friend a sniper?

who else heard the shots?

eve’s descent is not at all graceful, as the blood on her sole’s is not just hers, and whatever thought she meant to have, was left at that desk. the moment before.

back in a vault, tucked on the other side of the desert.

[sleepysailorghost]

There are a lot of reasons why it's better for Boone to walk behind the Courier.

Tactically, it doesn't hurt. He's trained as a sniper, and ED-E alerts them of any dangers ahead of them. The Courier can dispatch any enemies with their six guns, plasma rifle, or cowboy repeater. What they don't take down, he takes out with his rifle.

At least part of it is an attempt to assuage the guilt he feels. He had seen the Courier injured before, but he didn't think he would have to see them nearly die. In hindsight, he probably should have-he was cursed, after all.

The Courier had told him he wasn't cursed. That no one was punishing him. He didn't know if he believed that yet.

He didn't hear anything when the Courier had slipped down the cliff. He agonized over that day-wondering if he had heard something and just ignored it. A shuffling of rocks, a scream or shout. But there had been nothing.

He had just kept walking, the Courier's chirping little robot at his side. Even he didn't know when he had noticed the Courier's absence.

When he had finally found them, it had nearly been too late. All his field medical training seemed to go out the window when he saw the Courier laying broken in the ravine. He had used so many stimpacks on them, they nearly died of stim sickness.

But they didn't. Hard to kill, or something. He tried to pull away after that, tried to piss off the Courier so they'd hate him.

They didn't hate him.

Maybe they just didn't know how.

The Courier drags him all over the Mojave and he follows and watches their back.

He doesn't know how that became how he feels now. He's never been good with emotions anyway.

It isn't something he knows how to handle, so he decides to ignore it. He doesn't want it. The Courier is his friend, not Carla. And for him, it was only ever Carla.

Watching the Courier's back desn't keep them from being taken from him, not any more than it prevents them from getting into trouble. He was behind them when they were knocked out and taken away.

But he was there when they returned and he helped them put their peices back together. It would be easier to just let both of them fall apart. It would be easier to deprieve themselves simply because it's too much work to do anything else. Too much work to eat or drink.

Instead, he makes an effort. It isn't easy, but he isn't alone. In time, they grow to being two individuals who want to live. They always were a bunch of problem solvers.

Once, after he and Arcade had convinced the Courier it was safe to rest for a time, Arcade had said something to him.

"It's rotten work, taking care of them."

"Not if it's them. Not to me."

Arcade smirked at them like he had won something in this exchange. Boone ignored him. Whatever Arcade thought that admission-that he cared about the Courier-proved meant nothing.

He was just trying to keep his friend alive.

The Courier has gone to meet someone from their past. They've gone somewhere he can not follow, just as they had been kidnapped away to the Sierra Madre, abducted to the Big MT. Only, this time he's chosen not to follow.

Whatever the Courier finds-if it ends up being the home they had forgotten-he'd rather they didn't have to worry about him.

When the Courier does return, they run to him and grab him in a hug faster than he can react. They burrow into his chest in a way that would have been intrusive if it was anyone but them.

"I misssed you!" they mumble into his armor. "You won't believe-"

But before they can finish, their little robot is beeping so frantically to get their attention. The Courier's arms drop and they take a step back from him, seemingly embarrassed by their affections.

As the Courier and ED-E engage in a conversation Boone can only half understand, he looks out into the desert to compose himself. That's when he sees it first. A glint of something out in the sands.

Initially, he has no idea what it could be. His eyesight's sharp, but not that sharp. It doesn't look like Legion, so he doesn't shoot it.

The Courier is so proud of their new name. It's taken from an Old World battle, and someone had given it to them.

Boone thinks its a mouthful. It takes some time for him to adjust. He had been so used to refering to them as Six or just Courier. Eventually, he decides to just shorten it to Tie.

It's not because he's stupid, no matter what Arcade says. Antietam just takes too long to say.

The name wasn't the only thing Tie had brought back with them. Their bounty-hunter attire is retired in favor of a blue duster with an Old World flag on the back. It certainly makes them stand out against the Mojave.

The Glint he had sighted back in Novac didn't disappear. It followed them. Boone is fairly certain it's a person, but he can't gage their intent or why they are following them. He's fairly certain it's non-hostile-they had plenty of opportunities to kill both of them.

New Vegas looms large in front of them. There's business to be settled here, he knows, but it isn't his.

Instead of tracking down the man who stole their life and shot them in the head, Tie seems happy enough to serve as errand runner for Freeside.

Maybe that's why they had originally became a courier. The reason why doesn't matter much to them any more.

No matter how silly or monotonous a job seems, Tie is willing to complete it. They do a day's work for the Van Graff's and Boone can't help but stand a little closer to them after the attempted bombing.

The King certainly appreciates their work. He tells them as much, bringing Antietam to his room to discuss some task or another The King sent them out on.

He sits down on his stupid bed-what kind of a bed is that-and insists the Courier do the same. Boone stays standing, frowning a mile a minute.

"Darlin', could ya ask your soldier boy to wait outside a minute? I think we oughta have a discussion without an audience."

Boone has seen Antietam face hoards of Legion assassains without fear. He's seen them struggle to recover after whatever they saw in the Sierra Madre. Right now, he doesn't think that they want to be left alone with The King.

"Body guards work better if they're in the same room." Boone says, and leaves it at that.

"I guess, if the Courier trust ya that's enough for me." The King looks him sharply in the eye.

"Thank you." Tie says, but Boone knows that was for him. If his blood wasn't full of rage, he might be smilling right now.

When they return to their room at the Wrangler-not without Beautrice and Old Ben trying to offer their services to Antietam-the Courier says "You're not a body guard. You know that, right?"

"You didn't want to be alone with him." Boone says in response.

"T-That's not-I didn't want to be seperated from you."

"Huh."

And then they pretend that conversation didn't happen. They go to sleep, and their room at the Wrangler only has the one bed. It's not all that awkward, and Boone was just thankful that Tie wanted to sleep. in the morning, they get up and head off on some other grand adventure.

This time, it's investigating what's wrong with the water at the NCR Sharecropper farms. The Glint darts closer to them than it normally strays.

Close enough for Boone to get a decent look at it. It's a man. He moves a little like a Legion man, but he doesn't look like one of Caesar's. His duster is the same as the one Tie brought back back from the Divide.

Tie never had told him too much about the Divide. He sort of expected that. They didn't speak about the Sierra Madre or the Big MT, or even about their trip to Zion unless he asked.

Small talk has never been his strong suit. Arcade, the nosy guy, would be much better at getting this sort of stuff from them.

"Your duster's new." He says casually.

"Yeah. Ulysses gave it to me." They respond.

"Ulysses...What's that guy like?" He asks.

Antietam thought for a moment and then answered.

"He's the strongest man I've ever met. Eyes like a hawk, really skilled in hunting and tracking."

Boone hugged his riffle a little tighter. It was a massive weapon, one lovingly assembled by Tie. He puzzles over that, and then decides that was what he meant. Antietam had lovingly assembled the Anti-Material Rifle for him, handing over dozens of caps to the Gun Runners for peices and parts for it. Any time he started to run low on ammo, Tie handed him another box of .50. They didn't have to, but he always appreciated it.

"Huh." Strongest man they've ever met, huh? An incrediably stupid idea forms in his head. "Hey, Tie, do you think I can carry you?"

"W-What? Don't be stupid-I'm carrying a bunch of gear right now."

"I could do it. Who do you think carried you out of the ravine?" He answered defensively.

"I'm not saying you couldn't do it. I'm saying you shouldn't." Tie settled their beret, and then fixed their pin in their hair. It glinted a little in the sun. "Who are you trying to show off for? There's no one around."

They were heading into a vault. Boone hated vaults.

Dwellers themselves were alright, but if there was a vault where people worked together and Vault-Tec didn't shoot them in the foot by drugging them or something, it wasn't in the Mojave. Boone still thought about the spore-creatures.

This vault isn't any different from other vaults. It's partially flooded, and Tie's geiger counter keeps on beeping.

"Alrright, I'm going to dive down now." Tie says as they stand over a flooded section of the vault. They loved water, always seemed so transfixed and mystified by large bodies of water. Only, they didn't seem to like being in the water all that much. Boone had asked once, and the Courier had just said "Have you ever been buried alive?" and left it at that.

Antietam is not very good at swimming. It's not all that surprising-most bodies of water are too tainted for swimming.

They strip down to their underclothes, all lanky limbs and scars on show. Handing their beret and duster to Boone and removing their boots, they strap on their rebreather. The spurrs of their boots clack against the ground as they wade into the flooded chamber.

He hates waiting for the Courier to reemerge. Anything could go wrong and they would be unable to defend themselves. Eyes on the water, watching for any disturbance, he thinks about something else.

He hasn't seen The Glint since they entered the Vault. Maybe it didn't follow them down here. He'll bring it up when the Courier resurfaces. It should be any second now, but that doesn't stiffle the feeling that they've been down there too long.

Shit. Maybe they ran into an issue with their rebreather. He knew that was a peice of junk. He drops TIe's clothing and is frantically taking off his boots when the Courier rises from the water.

"Christ, Tie. Don't scare me like that."

Antietam drops a handful of ammo on the vault flooring.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to. I found a lock box at the bottom, but I knew I couldn't get it back up to the surface so I popped the lock. " The Courier wrings a little water out of their hair. "Should have done this part last, huh? I'm soaked through."

It's when they leave Vault 34, sick with rads, that he brings up The Glint. He's looking directly at The Glint.

"Do you see that? Do you ever feel like something is watching you?"

"Yeah? I got you, don't I?"

"That's not what I meant."

As Arcade treats their radiation sickness, Boone watches for The Glint.

It was better if he did this alone, he reasoned. He felt uneasy leaving the Courier, especially while they were sleeping, but he knew that there was little threat of anything getting into their room at the Wrangler.

He was facing the real threat: whoever was following them. That, and however sore Tie was going to be if they woke up and found him missing.

The Glint was on the roof of a building adjacent to the Wrangler. His focus on his quarry is stedfast. The Glint doesn't move.

The Glint turns out to be a man, as he had thought. The man isn't anyone he recognizes, but he recognizes the duster the man is shrouded in.

This must be Ulysses, he thinks, although his evidence is shallow at best. Ulysses-if this is him-is sleeping with a hunter's awareness. The Mojave night is warm, and Boone walks away from that roof.

He isn't sneaking. If the man wakes, he wakes. He's fairly sure that Ulysses is no enemy of the Courier, not with how fondly they had spoke of him.

A few days later, the Courier leaves without warning. Leaves of their own volition-not abducted-this time. Comes back in an Old World suit, eyes red from crying. Before he or Arcade could ask what's wrong or why they left, Antietam is pulling the researcher into a hug, muttering some story.

Arcade removes the Courier, holding them at arm's length.

"Hold on, I can't understand you when you're muttering like that. You did what?"

The Courier can't meet Arcade's eyes and is definitely avoiding Boone's gaze.

"I said, I went to go settle things with Benny."

"Ah, yes. The man who shot you in the head. Well, he doesn't appear to have finished the job. You aren't hurt, right?"

"No, it didn't come to that. I'm alright." They find something fascinating in the dirt of their nails. "Reputation might have taken a hit though."

"What did you do, Antietam?" Arcade was something like the Courier's brother, and he often had reason to be concerned for them.

"Tried to seduce Benny."

Arcade looks at Antietam for a second, like he's sure he's heard wrong.

"Sorry, run that by me again?"

"I tried to seduce Benny."

Arcade inhales deeply, and then sighs. He rakes a hand over his face.

"Why? Where did you even get that idea?"

"I thought it was the best way to get him alone! I wasn't going to do anything!" They still aren't looking Arcade in the eye-too afraid to see disappointment. "It didn't work anyway."

"What were you going to do? Talk to him? He tried to kill you!" Arcade says. And then he snaps. "It's your life anyway. Just don't come crying to me when you make a mess of it. Although it seems you already have."

Boone does not say anything. He just doesn't know what to say. This was not a situation he had ever anticipated. He's mainly just shocked by the Courier's actions, and by the blinding fury of his own jealousy. That's probably a thread, but he's doing his best to not pull at it.

"Arcade.." Antietam tries, but Arcade responds with a quick. "Just go to bed, Courier. We'll talk in the morning."

Dejectedly, the Courier climbs into the Wrangler's lone bed and tries to sleep.

"Trying to seduce the man who shot them in the head. What will they think of next?" Arcade mutters , more to himself than to Boone. "It's late. You can take the floor."

In the morning, Antietam wakes up in bed with their brother and their fight the prior evening seems less severe. They get up, get dressed and head over to Mick and Ralph's for odds and ends. New Vegas was a grand place, sure, but it wasn't somewhere Antietam could live. All the lights hurt their head, for one.

Another gift from Benny, packaged in lead wrapping paper. As the Courier steps out they are accosted by Vulpes Inculta. He isn't dressed as he was as a Nipton, but the Courier's reflexes take over and they draw their sixgun.

"Patience, Courier." He says, and then bestows the Mark of Caesar upon them. Antietam instantly feels worse for it, craving a bath if only to wash this man off of them.

The Wrangler doesn't have such amenities, but it does have Boone and Arcade. Two of their favorite people, and the support Antietam happens to need at the moment.

Already, a plan is forming in their head. Barely a step outside of the Wrangler, blood pooling at their feet, they turn and reenter the building.

James Garret tries to get their attention-maybe for work, maybe because he heard of Benny's rejection. It doesn't matter to them at the moment. With the mark burning a hole in their hand, they climb the stairs to their room.

"Antietam, your hands are looking rather empty. Did you forget your caps or something?" Arcade says, smiling at the Courier.

Antietam doesn't say anything, walking up to the table and dropping the medallion. Arcade examines it, eyes wide.

"I got the Mark of Caesar."

"How? Why?"

"They just gave it to me because they're impressed with my work."

"You have killed a fair number of their men."

"Yeah, we're a bunch of problem solvers."Boone chimes in.

"Yeah, we are. Anyway, that's not all. They invited me up there-to their fortress-so I can meet with Caesar." Antietam was smirking. Pointing a finger at Boone, they asked him. "Say, what do you think about wiping out the Legion's Fort, huh?"

"I'd say we're outnumbered." Boone responded, a grin growing on his face despite their very apparent outnumberedness.

"But we've got the element of surprise?"

"Sure, we'd have to be something awfully stupid to try and attack the fort with three men." Arcade added.

"We can probably stop by McCarran on the way, see if Col. Hsu can spare any men for the attack. First recon hasn't left for Forlorn Hope yet, yeah?"

"You head out to McCarran and they'll keep you there all day. "

"I can run errands for Hsu if it gets us men." Antietam responded. "I took care of their messenger, so we should be have some time."

The Courier stretched, and then got to work preparing for their trek across the Mojave and their upcoming battle with the Legion.

It was stupid, and he had a million other things to do, but Boone had an idea. He looked over at Antietam, who was currently comparing different side arms. They put Cram-Opener to the side. Really, they weren't much of a melee or unnarmed fighter, but Little Buster had been something like a friend to the Courier.

"Tie?" He asked, and they looked over at him, putting down their weapons. "Remember how I said I could pick you up?"

"Yeah, but I-"

"You aren't carrying any gear right now." He stepped forward, pulled his friend into a secure hold. It wasn't all that difficult, even if he and Antietam were about the same height. "Told you I could do it."

"Yes, you're looking exceptionally virile." Arcade said, narrowing his eyes at the duo. "Put Antietam down so they can get packed."

Boone rolled his eyes, but put Antietam down.

It was a fast enough walk to Camp McCarran. Hsu, for once, didn't have a grocer's list of errands for them. He was mostly surprised to see them.

Antietam explained their situation and their plan to attack the fort.

"The mark of Caesar? You never cease to surprise, Courier." Col. Hsu never referred to the Courier by name. For what reason, Boone didn't know and didn't really care. "Regardless, we can't spare the men. We just diverted some of our forces to Bittersprings, and the First Recon left for Camp Forlorn Hope this morning. Even if we could, we shouldn't place military troops in the hands of a civilian."

The Courier had fought and seized Nelson from the Legion. Had the NCR forgotten that? But the Courier bites their tongue.

"Yes, I suppose that would be the case. I guess we'll have to take care of Caesar ourselves, huh? Alright, I'll be back to collect the bounty on that-there is a bounty, right?"

"I'm sure we can rustle up something." Hsu said, although it was evident from his tone that he did not think he would see the Courier again. "Goodbye, Courier. Thank you for everything."

"So that was a bust." Arcade said as they exited McCarran.

"It was a long shot anyway. Couple of hours walk to the fort." Antietam said, settling their bag on their shoulder. They had dressed for a fight, assassain suit concealed by their duster, beret on their head, and Arcade's pin in their hair. "Yeah, I recon it's probably about several hundred men against the three of us. Uh, that's the thing. Y'all don't have to go with me. It's likely that we would die or worse and I-"

"And what, leave you to take on the Legion by yourself? I'm going with you, and if we go down, we'll take as many of them with us as we can." Boone said. In a quieter voice, he added "And if you get captured..."

His voice trailed off, but they both knew. Arcade was walking ahead of them a little. Antietam nodded, a consent to things that were too awful to say aloud.

"I'll do the same for you." Either that, or die fighting like hell to get him out. "It might not come to a direct confrontation. I've got a couple packs of C4. Could lay those around the camp, set 'em off. I have some stealth-boys too, if you wanna try that."

"How much?"

"A dozen packs of C4, and 4 stealthboys. Not exactly a surplus. Could stop and get mines too. Didn't think to bring any."

As they walked, he scanned the horizon, looking for any sign of trouble. He knew Ulysses was following them, but he didn't anticipate any fight with him.

All the confusion and jealousy of the prior night had been forgotten in the wake of the Courier's plan to attack the Fort. It certainly had been a wild day.

They reach the Fort via the Cottonwood Cove waterway. Arcade elects to stay behind at the Cove and to send reinforcements if they don't return in time.

But miraculously, they survive. Caesar is dead, and the Courier is victorious. It's almost certainly the heat of the battle getting to his head, but Boone wants to kiss Antietam. Badly.

He settles for picking the Courier up and spinning around. They're both laughing, a rich thing in the air between them, half drunk on victory.

Someone's voice cuts through their reverie.

"Say, wouldn't you let a guy loose, baby? At least before you start macking on each other?"

Shit, had they forgotten someone? He thought they had cleared the camp. Weapons drawn, they quickly find the speaker. It's a man in a checkered suit.

"Oh, if it isn't my baby! Come to rescue me, huh?" Despite the heavy bruising on his face, he smirks and it's almost half charming. "Told them you'd come for me. Just couldn't get enough of me?"

"I didn't know you had left Vegas." Tie says quickly, shutting him down. The man's face fell.

"So what was all that then? Business as usual?"

"Just about, yeah."

"Tie, you know this man?" Boone asked.

"Not really. This is Benny, y'know the one who shot me in the head. What are you doing here, actually?"'

"You gonna untie me if I tell you? What kind of a name is Tie anyway?"

"A good one." They said, feeling their energy level begin to wane as they spoke with Benny. They just didn't make guides on how to speak with your would-be murderer who you tried and failed to seduce. "I'll think about it. Why are you here?"

"Those bullets must have scrambled your egg pretty good." Benny said. "What's it look like? I got captured sneaking into the fort."

"You want me to take care of this guy for you?" Boone said.

"No?"

"Oh, come on, baby! You can't still be sore at me."

"Where's the platinum chip?"

"Caesar's got it. Or had it, considering he's probably worm food now. Baby, you don't know what-"

"Stop calling Tie your baby." Boone snapped.

"Bye, Benny." Antietam pulled a switchblade from their pocket and slashed his restraints.

"You're letting him go?"

"I don't care any more. Let's get the chip and loot and then head back to McCarran."

"What kind of bounty do you think Hsu rustled up?"

"None, probably. Still, we killed Caesar. Won't end the Legion, but it's a blow for sure."

"Sounds like what Ulysses would say. C'mon, let's get back to Arcade before he calls for the cavalry."

ED-E beeped cheerfully, and Boone smiled a little. Just a little.

As they walked through the river, Antietam stopped and then wrapped their arms around him.

"Thanks. For everything, y'know?"

"Yeah, sure, Tie."

Wounded and tired, they made their way back.

[lone-survivor-six-tales]

Ain’t That A Shot in The Head Ch.6

The walk to the strip was mostly uneventful other than the people that would stop and stare at the group that consisted of one courier, an ex NCR soldier, a follower of the apocalypse, a nightkin, a cybernetic dog and an eyebot. As they walked past the strip security and into the strip, a familiar securitron rolled up to greet Six.

"Howdy partner! Glad to see you finally made it!" Victor cheerfully greeted the group while Boone and Arcade eyed the robot suspiciously.

"What's with the robot?" Arcade whispered to Boone while Six chatted with Victor.

"I don't know, it's been following Six since I've met her. Apparently it's the one that dug her out of her grave." Bonne explained eyebrows furrowing when he saw Six. Boone was able to pick up enough of the conversation to put together what the securitron was asking her to do.

"I don't think it's a good idea to go in there alone." Boone told Six, eyeing the securitron before setting his sights on the Lucky 38.

"Sorry partner but Mr. House said only she can come in. You can wait outside for your friend to be done!" Victor's cheery voice made Boone wish he could use the bot for target practice.

"If he wants to see her so much then he should come down here himself." Arcade replied, huffing when Victor didn't even glance in his direction.

"It's alright guys." Six said, looking back at them with a small smile. Boone frowned and gently grabbed Six's arm, pulling her closer so he could speak to her without Victor hearing.

"You don't know what's in there, what if it's a trap?"

"Just give me half an hour. I promise I'll be fine Boone."

Boone wasn't reassured but he reluctantly let her go to walk into the building. Unfortunately the securitron stayed with them and seemed content to watch the group as they waited for Six to return.

"As much as I don't like the idea, we're just going to have to trust her that she'll be fine." Arcade attempted to reassure Boone before making his way back to the strip entrance. "I'll be back, I need to check with the caravans about a delivery."

Boone watched Arcade leave as he sat down on the steps of the Lucky 38. Lily had wandered off to look at the decorative plants with ED-E while Rex sat next to Boone, resting his head on Boone's knee. He gave Rex a scratch behind the ear as he watched the people walk by. He wondered if Rex was just as worried about Six as he was.

"It's ok, she said she'd be fine."

--------------------------------------

Six's nerves were running high as the elevator slowly climbed to the penthouse. While she told Boone she would be fine, she mostly said it to reassure herself. She didn't know why House would want to see her but the sooner she sees him then the sooner she can return to her friends.

Stepping out of the elevator into a large open area. After talking to the female securitron waiting by the elevator, Six walked through the curtain and was shocked to see a large screen with an image of a man staring right at her.

"At last, you've come a long way haven't you. Before we continue I have a question for you; what do you make of what you've seen?" A voice from the screen echoed through the room and Six quickly summarized that this must be the infamous Mr. House.

"Honestly, I've never seen anything like it but I think I prefer the Wasteland."

"Oh come now, don't start preaching to me about the virtues of life out in the wastes. You do realize there's nothing out there except for a radioactive desert." House scoffed, while the image was still on the screen, Six could almost feel House rolling his eyes at her statement.

"Not everything is a desert." Six replied, thinking about the few memories she has from the capital wasteland. "I'm sure you didn't call me here to discuss our preferences so what is it you want from me?"

"Ah straight to the point, I like that. One of my employees has stolen an item of extraordinary value from me, and I want it recovered. I believe you know this man well enough. After all, he's the one that attacked you and your companion and left you for dead."

"Wait, you know about Charon? Do you know where he is?" Six tried stepping closer to the screen and was blocked by the two securitrons flanking each side of the monitors.

"I'm afraid I don't know the location of your companion, Benny should know what happened to him since he organized the attack on you. I don't care what happens to Benny but when you bring the chip to me I will pay you four times the amount of your delivery bonus agreed in your contract."

"Why me? Why do you need this chip so badly?" Six had so many questions but was given nothing in return as one of the securitrons began pushing her out of the room.

"All will be explained when you return the platinum chip to me." Was all house said as she was pushed into the elevator and sent on her way.

--------------------------------------

"Anything yet?"

Boone tossed the tennis ball Rex found to the dog before looking up at Arcade who was approaching the building. ED-E beeped happily and floated around Arcade while Rex bounded over, hoping Arcade would toss the ball to him just like Boone.

"Did you get what you needed?" Boone asked as Arcade sat down next to Boone. He whistled for Rex who kept trying to push the saliva soaked ball into Arcade's hand, much to his displeasure.

"Unfortunately no, apparently the caravan I hired has been dealing with attacks recently." Arcade frowned as he gave ED-E a pat while he pondered his next course of action. Their convenience was interrupted by a sound coming from Victor behind them.

"Your friend is done with her meeting with Mr. House! You've now been invited to stay in the high roller suite during your stay at the strip. You can find her in the cocktail lounge near the top of the tower, " Victor explained before rolling away. Boone and Arcade looked at each other before getting up and calling Lily over. Boone was the first to enter the building, looking around for any sign of danger before approaching the elevator. The group entered the elevator and rode up to the level marked cocktail lounge. Boone relaxed when the doors opened and he saw the familiar beret of Six sitting at one of the couches by the windows. Boone walked over to Six and noticed she was staring off into space with a worried look on her face.

"Six"

Six jumped and looked up at Boone with wide eyes. Immediately he noticed the streaks of tears that cut across her dirt covered cheeks. He sat down next to her and while he didn't say anything, Six knew he was wondering what was wrong.

"I feel like I'm getting dragged into something big. It feels like I've been in the same situation before and I don't know what to do." She pulled her legs up onto the couch and buried her face in her knees. She heard Rex whine age felt his tongue licking her fingers in an attempt to comfort her. After a few moments of silence she felt Boone shift next to her and his voice sounded closer than before.

"You know, I used to have a dog."

Six looked up to see Boone had moved closer to her to let Rex on the head. His other arm was draped over the back of the couch and she could almost feel the heat radiating off him from how close he was.

"Found her in the fields behind our house when I was ten. I tried hiding her in my room but mom found her real quick. I think I spent three days begging mom to keep her. I still don't know if she gave in because she realized I really wanted a dog or because she wanted me to finally be quiet."

Six chuckled softly, tilting her head back and resting her head on Boone's arm. "You know, the more you talk about your past the more I can't see how that goofy kid turned into your brooding ass."

Boone was silent, looking out at the strip below them. He hadn't been to the strip since his marriage with Carla. He can still remember how he met her after stumbling out of Gomorrah with his first recon buddies and bumping into Carla. He wondered if she'd still be alive and happy if he never ran into her at all. Though if he had never met Carla, he probably never would have lived long enough to have met Six.

"Maybe I'll tell you another time." He finally said, looking down at Six who had fallen asleep curled up against him.

"I'm pretty sure she didn't sleep at all on the way back from Jacobstown." Arcade said, walking up and passing Boone a glass of whiskey. Arcade sat down on the open couch across from him and took a sip of his own drink. "House must have said something that got to her."

Boone nodded, taking a large mouthful of whiskey before placing the glass down on the table between them. "Do we have any idea how she's going to even get close to this Benny guy?"

"Actually Six and I planned that out on the way back. Unfortunately the thing we need for this to work was supposed to be delivered by that Cassidy Caravan service that was hit. We're going to have to find that package before we can do anything. But for now," Arcade gestured to Six who had unconsciously clung to Boone's shirt in her sleep. "We should let her get some rest. I think the robot said we can stay in the high roller suite."

Boone agreed as he carefully picked up Six. Carrying her reminded him when he was rushing to save her after her cazador attack. He could see the scar still visible peeking out from under the shorts Six wore as he placed her in the bed of the largest room on the floor. He had to gently pry her fingers off his shirt before he could leave as Rex who had followed them up jumped into the bed next to her.

"Watch her back for me, okay boy?" Boone asked, getting a soft yip from Rex in confirmation before he left the room to return to the longue. When he returned he poured himself another glass of whiskey, hoping to silence the voices in his head telling him if he wasn't around then Carla would be alive and Six wouldn't have almost died to a cazador.

--------------------------------------

Six was confused when she woke up in a soft bed instead of the couch. As she sat up she was attacked with kisses from Rex which caused Six to laugh while trying to push the dog away.

"Alright, alright. I love you too now let me go."

Walking out of the room, Six checked the other rooms to find Arcade and Lily asleep in beds in another room. When she didn't find Boone she headed up to the longue to look for Boone. She found him asleep on one of the couches. An empty bottle of whiskey sat on the table next to him. As she moved closer she could hear him groaning and wincing in his sleep. Thinking he was having a nightmare she reached out to shake his shoulder.

"Boone, wake up."

She tried shaking him harder when suddenly her wrist was grabbed in a tight grip. Six winced and tried to pull her hand back which only made his grip tighten.

"Boone wake up, your hurting me." Six called out to him, raising her voice. She tried to tug her wrist back and cried out in pain when she felt a sharp pain shoot through her wrist.

"Boone!"

Rex growled and kept up and bit down on Boone's ankle, making him let out a pained shout as he shot up awake. Six stumbled back, tripping over the corner of the table and falling to the floor.

"Rex what the hell? Six? What happened?" Boone's gaze moved from Rex to Six and finally to the hand she was clutching against her chest. Boone felt sick as he stood up and walked over to kneel next to Six.

"Did I do that?"

Boone knew the answer when he saw Six flinch when he tried reaching out to her. Boone was silent as he looked away from Six and stood up, walking to the elevator. When Arcade woke not too long after, he found Six in the lounge trying to wrap her sprained wrist. There was no sign of Boone except for his beret and sunglass that were left forgotten on the table.

[thecouriersix99]

A Courier’s Journey

Ch.8

Six met up with Boone outside of Novac early that morning and the two headed off to the Repconn Test Site. She let her radio sing as they walked silently. The wind was slightly chilly as the sun was beginning to rise. She made sure all of her guns were loaded and her armor was in top shape. Boone wasn’t too sure about what to think about her. She was strange, small, but feisty, he saw the way Manny’s nose looked after she had left the dinosaur the other day. She had broken his nose for probably being an asshole like he usually was when Carla was brought up, he respected that. “What do you think of Manny?” She napped him out of his thoughts “He was a good spotter.” He wasn’t going to get into that whole mess right now and especially with someone who he just met, even if she helped him they weren’t exactly friends. “Weren’t the two of you friends once?” She looked at him obviously knowing the answer “Yeah we were.” Why is she asking if she knows? “Not anymore?” He sighed “No.” She shook her head and kept walking.

As they got closer he took out a couple of ghouls from up headed. “They wandered out of that place like the others, but why are they coming out now and not before?” She bent down and searched the bodies “Seriously?” He asked in a somewhat grossed out tone “Hey these guys probably have good stuff on them. I’m not passing on the chance for free ammo and medical supplies.” Boone scoffed and reloaded his rifle. “Alrighty let’s move on.” They made their way to go the large building hidden by mountains. They took out the first few ghouls near the entrance and then heading up the said and into the building when a giant blue body laying dead on the floor got in their way “What in the ass?” Six said as she accidentally tripped over it, Boone quickly grabbing her arm and pulling her back preventing her from falling “Watch it.” He said in a stern voice. She steadied herself “Sorry I cant see anything in here. My right eye is...” She stopped herself right there frozen in place Don’t tell him! Don’t tell him! Warning signals went off in her head “Is what?” He was waiting for her to answer when a loud voice snapped them into focus “Hey! Over here! Are you listening? Go to the big room on the east side of this building and take the metal staircase all the way up. And hurry.” Six walked up to the intercom and pushed the button to speak “Who are you exactly?” She heard some shuffle “Who I am doesn’t matter, smoothskin. Stop wasting time and get up here.” Six shrugged at Boone “Are we seriously going up there?” He asked in an annoyed tone “Hey someone might need help.”

I can’t believe I almost told him! I barely know the guy!! She mentally shook her head and headed up the metal stair case as Boone cleared the room “This is reckless.” He stated as he caught up behind her “Im not gonna stop you from leaving but if someone needs help I’m not going to leave until I’ve helped all I can. I know we just started traveling together but can’t you trust me just a little?” He sighed and nodded in response which made her smile a little. All the way up the stair case was another intercom “We’re here.” They heard a little more shuffle and then the voice again “Alright right, Smoothskin, I’m letting you in. You better watch yourself. I’ll sure as hell be watching you.” A click sound came from behind the door and they went in. It was dark and it smelt like dust, and burning plastic. As she turned on her pip-boy light Boone took out his rifle getting ready for really anything. A voice in the darkness suddenly got their attention as they got closer “God, but are you ugly! Get upstairs and talk to Jason before I throw up from just looking at you!” She stood frozen for a second Ugly? Thinking back she knew her face was scared badly but you didn’t have to say it out loud. “Hey watch your mouth!” Was all Boone said, He’s defending me? “Uh Boone isn’t okay...let’s just go...talk to Jason?” She didn’t know why but those words hurt. As the guy with the weirdly raspy voice left she stopped Boone before he walked off “Hey thanks...you uh...didn’t have to do that.” She couldn’t really read his expression in the dark but she saw his head nod so they walked on.

As they walked up the stairs they ended up in a room filled with ghouls all working on something, weather it was a terminal or paperwork they were all busy. In the darkness there was one man that stood out. He seemed to be a glowing ghoul, he was wearing a nice ripped suit. “Hello wanderer. Please forgive of our humble surroundings. Our true home awaits us in the Far Beyond. Have you come to help us complete the Great Journey?” His voice sounded inhuman, like 3 voices talking at once. It was hard for her not to stare “Who are you?” She asked confused as Boone stood by slightly hovering “I am Jason Bright, the prophet of the Great Journey. All the ghouls you see here are members of my flock.” She rose an eyebrow and looked at Boone who looked unamused. “Wait so your last name is Bright?” She couldn’t hold in her giggle this time, Jason held up a hand and nodded “An auspicious name don’t you think? It was mine before I became as I am now. Before the Great War, even. Truly does the creator author a destiny for each and every one of us.” Boone scoffed and folded his arm she gave him a look telling him not to be rude. “So what is the Great Journey?” Jason smiled and he reached out to touch her shoulder only for her to flitch back and Boone stand in-front of her in one fast movement “S-sorry I...it’s okay Boone.” She made him stand down “Let’s just keep our hands to ourselves alright?” Jason nodded apologetically “Anyways as I was going to say, We wish to escape the barbarity of the wasteland, especially the violence and bigotry of its human inhabitants. The creator has promised to my flock a new land: a place of safety and healing... a paradise in the Far Beyond. Preparations for the Great Journey were nearly complete when the demons appeared.” Well that was a lot of information at once. Sure she wanted to help but this guy just kept on talking. After finally getting down to what it was Jason needed from them they set out to kill the demons.

As they walked down the staircase Boone stopped “This is stupid. Why should we be the ones to help them because they believe in bullshit?” Six sighed “To them it isn’t bullshit, its hope. Maybe this is all made up but who are we to tell them it isn’t real?” Boone sighed and took his rifle out as they got to the basement entrance “Okay you cover the back and I got the front, let’s do this quickly and quietly.” Both nodding to each other and crept in. As they made their way through the facility everything seemed to be quiet, only the sounds of feet could be heard as they made their way through the halls. Suddenly as they were sneaking into a room a giant blue mutant that was rummaging around growled and turned around “What’s that Antler? We have a visitor? An assassin, more like! I say kill it Antler. For safe’s sake! Huh? ....Okay, Antler. I’ll ask. Hi, human. Why you come here?” The hair stood on the back of her neck as she froze in front of this giant mutant.

Boone who looked just as surprised as she did nudged her arm as they stood there shocked at this beasts question “Uh- Are you alright? You sound kind of strange.” What the hell am I saying? This thing could literally kill them at any second and there they stood having a conversation. Boone’s jaw hung open as she literally just asked if this was alright. “I am in command of my faculties! In command of my troops! Antler guides me in all things! As I am in turn guide my kin!” Boone was slowly raising his rifle as he felt a small cold hand grab onto his arm to stop him, she slowly shook her head no. He grumbled as he retracted his arm back down “I came here on behalf of the ghouls upstairs.” The mutant came a little closer and stared down at her face “A human who is friend to ghouls? Suspicious. You mean the ones upstairs. Antler used intercom, told them to stay put. But they want to come down in basement anyways? I cannot allow. My kin are... not right in the head like I am. They attack you on sight. Ghouls too. They crazy. Your ghoul friends have to wait until you find what Antler brought us to get.” She looked at Boone and shrugged “Well maybe I can help you.” The mutant gave what looked like a wide smile “Good. Antler brought us here for a reason... Why was that Antler? Right! A piece of paper. Shipment invoice. Hundreds of Stealth Boys, sent here a long time ago... But Stealth Boys must be in one room one we don’t search yet- the one we can’t search.” She nodded “Why can’t you search the last room?” The mutant grumbled a little “A ghoul. But not squishy like others. This ghoul is tough. I thought Antler send my kin into that room, but three died. Ghouls is crack shot and set traps too.” Six nodded trying to keep up and not to upset him “Antler, I realize I heard wrong. So I lock the door to keep kin out and wait for Antler to tell me what to do. Then you come along. Antler says you are solution.” She sighed a little “Alright well I’ll get the Stealth Boy stockpile for you if you and your kin leave this place.” The mutant nodded “Yes, Antler says we leave here as soon as we get Stealth Boys. Let me give you key. Antler has me lock the door. Ghoul inside not expecting human. Maybe he don’t shoot you. Maybe he will.”

As soon as they made there way out of the room Six’s legs couldn’t stop shaking “Was that real?” Boone nodded and she let out a sigh of relief “I couldn’t breath that whole time!” She leaned against the wall and Boone rubbed the back of his neck “Come on let’s hurry this up.” He said and she nodded as she dragged her feet to the room where the mutant had said the ghoul would be. “Hopefully he looks before he shoots.” She unlocked the door and peeked in “Come and get it, you big dumb- Hey! You’re not one of those things out there. Who the hell are you?” She put her hands up and did her best to give a friendly smile. Boy do people sure love to point guns at me! “Jason sent me down here to get rid of the “demons.”” He chuckled a little bit still kept his gun aimed “And I bet he told you it’s the creator’s will for you to risk your ass, instead of him, right? Well good luck with that! I’d give you a hand, but no thanks. I may look like a corpse but I’m partial to living!” She groaned a little at his rudeness “You don’t look or act like the other ghouls from Bright’s group.” He shook his head and chuckled again “Guess the outfit gives it away, huh? I never did but into that religious mumbo-jumbo with the robes and all that shit. It gets lonely out in the wastes, okay? And I don’t have to tell you that Bright’s group has some fine-looking ghoulettes in it! Eh... or maybe I would have to tell you...” she looked at Boone and grumbled “Well how can I help you get out of this room?” The ghoul thought for a moment “Ha! Well your polite I’ll give you that. If this was just between me and you I’d do what you ask. But it’s not. I had a friend with me when those mutant bastards came out of nowheres. She panicked and ran the wrong direction- further into the basement. She’s probably dead but I ain’t leaving until I know for sure. I’d have gone looking myself, except I wouldn’t last a minute out there. You on the other hand, seem pretty resourceful. Find my friend, and I’ll get out of your way.” Six nodded “I’ll find your friend.” He showed a small smile “Thanks. Let me know what you find out. Here’s hoping she’s okay.” And with that they set to search deeper into the basement.

[oneoftwohearts-blog]

              I’M  NOT  RUNNING,               NO, NOT RUNNING,               NO  —

Following the decisions made by the courier, Boone’s fate shifts. Whether he decides to take off into the Mojave wastes on a campaign left unfulfilled or re-join the NCR’s First Recon sniper unit, his time within the New Vegas area is short-lived. Incapable of remaining idle in a place so steeped in treachery, Boone left without so much as a word to those who were once in good standing. If the courier did not actively take it upon themselves to stay in touch, he drifted and became consumed by his own regrets and misdeeds.

Shedding the iconic items that made him who he was, Boone donned a traditional set of gear worn by NCR rangers and departed the dusty wastes. Although the familiar red beret was no longer worn, it was kept for the sheer purpose of reminding him why he fought and where he came from. New Vegas held nothing but pain and misery, he sought a place not to restart, but to continue. He would never move on, not entirely, but he was capable of pressing forward adamantly in Carla’s memory.

      8ST, 9 PE, 7 EN, 1 CH, 3 IN, 8 AG, 6 LK       PERK: SPOTTER       AFFILIATION: NONE       LOCATION: THE COMMONWEALTH       RESIDENCE: an abandoned military bunker

[wiltf]

once upon a time, all the days bled into each other.

carla was never very good at remembering individual ones, just the long stumble home as the sun broke over the walls around the strip. her mother complaining as she walked in for breakfast and her father looking over those few saved books he’d only read a hundred times. and carla would sit, eat, and all would be well.

truly, she didn’t think she had any tears left in her. but they come in slow rivets, over her cheeks and falling to her ears. awkward and messy and her hands twitch to move. she can’t. they’re still bound, either side of the railing, as she waits.

not that the slavers had much to say, pulling her out of the cage with the only two other pregnant women. even as they had all screamed and cried, dragging her inside the building — well. maybe this was it. divine punishment came in the form of a drifter standing over her bed, hands moving to the legion guard, saying something she didn’t understand.

quite frankly, carla wasn’t sure she really wanted to know what they were asking. for the guard was translating quickly and shortly, perhaps even a sign that they didn’t know the full extent of what was being asked. her last assessment had said the baby was growing well, but that was said by one of the only other women at the cove, tired and old, with fingers bent the wrong way and apologies as she delivered the news to the floor.

carla stared at the person by the foot of the bed, as they picked up a long forgotten clipboard, seeming to take notes. all heavy armour and hidden features. doubtless indicating something of rank, that much carla had learned in her time here. such a thought was cold, spreading through her veins. they didn’t want to move on to colorado so soon, she had caught from slavers sitting too close to the cages. something about the dam, wanting glory. wanting to keep the women alive.

the little half-moons in her palms were starting to bleed now, with how tight she was holding herself. but just another point that got her a look from the guard. carla was willing to play these games. holding out half a hope that maybe, just maybe, craig would arrive over the hill. that she would be swept away, and this time would be some horrible nightmare.

or that she was dreaming all the same, and with enough pain in her wrists and ankles, she would wake up. craig would be snoring, but that arm of his would be around her middle all the same. and sure, novac wasn’t worth it, not really. but those mornings were.

and as those guards moved towards her again, there was always that terrible thought. the one that she kept close to her chest. that she’d wake in her bed, back home, and she’d be nursing one helluva hangover. she’d catch her friends outside, talking of how this time they were going to avoid the nuka-cola cocktails that the atomic wrangler were trying out. no amount of radiated alcohol fuelled hallucinations was worth this.

“she belongs to the centurion! he has claimed profligate and child with caesar’s blessing. you may not touch her.”

clearly that was not the answer wanted, as the mysterious stranger pointed to several individual things. her stomach, for one, barely pronounced. the clipboard. the water in a stained glass beside her. whatever was being argued, the slavers bristled under, as the one assigned to translate worked through as quickly as possible. perhaps even removing select words, with the odd pause. summarising quite a thorough argument that, steadily, was working in favour of providing care.

carla didn’t trust that idea as far as she could throw it. which right now, was nowhere. another attempt at getting the bindings on herself loosened, and one of the slavers looks at her, in that way many had done. like it would make her resist, and for good measure, she tried pulling at her wrists once more.

“what is she to you? if you are after a child, there are others here who are closer to giving birth.” snappy. pointed. “but this slave is not to be claimed.”

faster hands, and what almost sounded like furious whispers under all that material. carla’s struggles pause, only for a moment, as she hears the words formed. legion fuckers.

there was a storm outside. one that meant the stranger would need to linger for perhaps a day longer than the slavers wanted. as their arguments led them into another room, adjacent, still within earshot. the stranger, perhaps her stranger, lingered by her bed. one last check over the clipboard, as if interested before following.

carla didn’t always know much, and her parents could attest to that. she had been called all manner of words like ditzy, dumb. stupid. but what those people didn’t know is that she was a goddamned liar, and so was this stranger. the one who pulled their mask down, just enough, to give a small smile, and the whisper of,

“i’ll get you out of here.”

[lone-survivor-six-tales]

Ain’t That A Shot in The Head Ch.7

Boone didn't know where he was heading, all he knew was he wanted to get as far away from the strip as he could. Seeing Six flinch away from him hurt worse than any bullet. The best thing he could do was leave and protect Six from the bad luck that followed him around. He had been traveling for a few hours and had reached 188 trading post. He remembered passing through here with Six on the way to New Vegas and was tempted to just continue walking until his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten anything since he left so abruptly. After buying some food from one of the traders, he took a seat at an empty bench until a young woman approached him with a smile.

"Hey there, mind if I take a seat?" She asked, gesturing to the other side of the bench. Boone didn't answer but nodded his head which the woman took as a yes and took a seat across from him.

"Thanks, by the way my name is Veronica. I couldn't help but remember you passed here not too long ago with a woman right? She was looking for someone and asked me about it."

Boone didn't understand why she was talking to him but let her ramble as he ate. He was thinking about stopping by Novac to collect the few things he left behind when he heard Veronica say something that caught his attention.

"So I thought I'd listen to the radio station just for a few laughs and that radio host mentioned a guy named Charon and I started thinking about if that was the guy your friend is looking for. I mean, not many people are wandering the wastes with a name like that."

"Did you say Charon?"

Veronica perked up when he spoke up and she was all too glad to repeat herself. "Yeah, your friend said he was a ghoul right? He didn't say too much when on the radio but his voice sounded similar to a ghoul's voice."

"Do you know where this radio broadcast is coming from?" Boone asked, leaving the rest of his food untouched as he stood up and collected his pack and rifle. Veronica followed suit while pointing in the direction of black mountain.

"Yeah it's coming from black mountain but that place is full of super mutants and nightkin. You'd probably have to send an army to get through them to get to the top."

Boone looked at the mountain in the distance and then back to Veronica. After a moment he dug into his bag and pulled out his bag of caps and passed them to Veronica.

"I need you to do me a favor. Do you know the way to get to New Vegas?"

-----------------------------------------

Six stepped out of the Atomic Wrangler with a frown. While Arcade was out with Rex and Lily trying to find out what happened to Cassidy Caravans, Six and ED-E had visited almost every casino and shop in both the strip and Freeside looking for Boone. She was starting to regret listening to Arcade and waiting a while for Boone to return for his beret and sunglasses. Six was on her way to camp McCarran to see if Boone was there when she saw a woman running up the road heading in her direction.

"Oh thank goodness I was right! It's a good thing your hair is so unique or I'd probably have the hardest time looking for you." Veronica panted, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Six looked at the woman confused until she noticed the power fist on her hand.

"Hold on, you're that woman I talked to at that trading post."

Veronica nodded with a grin. "Yeah, Veronica. I ran into your friend, you know, the one with the constant frown," before she could continue Six interrupted her.

"Boone? You saw him? Where is he?" She started looking around, wondering if he had followed Veronica back.

"He's not with me, he's heading to black mountain," she pulled out a letter from her pocket and handed it to Six. "He wanted me to find you and give you this."

Six took the letter and opened it, reading through the letter. Her heart sank as she read the contents.

Six,

You know better than anyone that I'm not the best at talking about feelings but the least I can do is explain some things to you. When I was in the NCR I did things I'm not proud of. I know my hands are stained by blood that should never have been spilled. I've known for a long time now that I have bad things coming for me, for a while I forgot about it thanks to Carla. I had a similar feeling while traveling with you.

The cazador sting and what happened this morning reminded me that the longer I stay with you, the more likely you'll continue to get hurt because of me. If you're reading this then Veronica probably told you that I'm heading for black mountain. Veronica told me she heard that Charon is being held there. It's not likely I'll be able to free him but I can at least thin out the amount of super mutants there to make your job easier.

I'm sorry, I won't be able to watch your back anymore.

-Craig

"ED-E, I need you to take Veronica and find Arcade, tell him to head to black mountain and have his doctor's bag with him, we might need it.." Six checked her bag to count how many bullets she had. Luckily she bought some more ammo when she checked the gun runners shop for Boone.

"Wait, where are you going if I'm going with your eyebot?" Veronica asked as Six checked her map for the quickest route to black mountain.

"I'm going to head there now. If the super mutants haven't killed him then I'm gonna."

-----------------------------------------

Charon rolled his eyes as he heard Tabitha walking over to the room he was locked in with Raul. As he expected, Tabitha walked in with her radio microphone, pointing the microphone at Raul who was in the middle of repairing another broken radio.

"So Raul, how does it feel that by tomorrow you will be COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY EXECUTED?!" She asked, making Charon wince when she shouted the end of her question.

"Well, it's a shame since I haven't finished repairing Dave's radio. He won't be able to listen to your show if I'm gone." Raul replied, not looking up from his work as he continued to fix the radio.

"Dave is a loyal viewer." Tabitha mumbled to herself thinking over Raul's words. "Ok, you can stay alive until Dave's radio is fixed." Tabitha announced before closing and locking the door again.

"So does this happen everyday?" Charon asked, sitting back in his chair as he watched Raul set aside the half finished radio. He knew the answer already, having been locked in the same room for long enough that Charon stopped counting.

"Yup, someone needs something repaired, I work on it, Tabitha says I can live another day and then someone else needs something repaired."

"Why haven't you tried escaping?"

"Why haven't you?"

Charon fell silent at Raul's question. He could hear Raul chuckle next to him before a bottle of alcohol was passed to him.

"I get it, it sounds easy. Pick the lock and sneak out while Tabitha is asleep. The only problem is that we'd have to climb down a mountain filled with super mutants and nightkin. I'm guessing when you were caught you ran out of bullets."

Charon shook his head, accepting the bottle and taking a sip before passing it back to Raul. "Someone got the jump on me and knocked me out. When I woke up my weapons were taken and my partner was missing."

"Ah, Alice right? The one that can shoot out a deathclaw's eye from a mile away." Raul chuckled, taking a sip before placing the bottle between them. "You sounded pretty confident that she'd find you. How can you be sure the Mojave hasn't chewed her up and spit her out?"

"It'll take more than a mountain of super mutants to stop her." Charon said with a slight smirk. There was a growl from Tabitha and Charon listened intently as a super mutant called Tabitha over the radios.

"Something's shooting us! Super mutants are being hot but we can't find who did it!"

"Well, find them and crush them!" Tabitha growled. There was a crash and Charon assumed she either hit or threw something.

"Speak of the devil and she'll appear."

-----------------------------------------

"Where are you little human?!"

"I'll crush you like a bug."

Boone cursed, slipping between rocks as he looked for a hiding spot to reload his rifle and check the wound to his arm. While sniping a few super mutants, a nightkin had snuck over to him and almost crushed him with a rebar. He was lucky to roll away fast enough to only get hit in the arm. Unfortunately if it turned out his arm was broken, he wouldn't be able to aim his rifle.

"Found you!"

Boone ducked just as a nightkin appeared and took a swing at him, crushing the boulder that he was previously hiding behind. Boone ran as fast as he could to get some distance from the super mutants. As he slid down a slope to quickly escape another nightkin, pain shot through his foot after stepping on a bear trap which clamped down on his foot. He could hear the super mutants laughing while he cut his fingers while trying to pry open the trap.

"Nowhere to run now human." A super mutant laughed, approaching Boone with a gun pointed at him. Boone glared at the mutant as he stared down the barrel of the gun. If it was finally his time to die, he was going to die facing death head on.

What Boone wasn't expecting was the super mutant's head to explode and body collapse at his feet. The remaining super mutants scrambled to find the shooter and we're quickly dispatched one by one. Boone stood still, waiting for a gunshot to end him when he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

"Boone."

Boone looked behind him to see a familiar beret as Six crouched down to open the bear trap. Once his foot was free, luckily only bruised due to the thick leather of his boots, Boone turned to face her.

"Six."

"Don't talk to me."

Boone was surprised at how cold her voice sounded as she passed Boone a stimpak before reloading her rifle.

"We're almost to the summit, watch my back and keep an eye out for the nightkin." Six said as she started climbing up the slope Boone slid down to escape. Before he could follow her, Six tossed him his beret and sunglasses which he quickly put on before following her.

Six was silent as she quickly fought through the gangs of super mutants. Whenever a super mutant got too close to her it was quickly shot down by Boone. Once they reached the summit, Six searched through each building until she came upon a powered down Mr. Handy. Thinking it could help them take out the remaining super mutants, Six quickly fixed the programming error and rebooted the robot.

"Good afternoon ma'am! Have you seen my companion Tabitha?" The Handy asked.

"Uh, would she happen to be the one talking over the radio right now?" Six asked, gesturing to the nearby radio where Tabitha could be heard shouting.

"Oh indeed that is her! She must have been so worried when I went into standby mode. Please excuse me." The Handy quickly left the building while Six and Boone followed behind. From the last building came Tabitha who clapped her hands in joy at the sight of the robot.

"Rhonda is all better!" She cried happily as Rhonda flew over to her.

"Hello again Miss Tabitha, shall we be on our way?"

Six watched the nightkin leave with the robot before entering the building. Six made quick work of the lock on the door and opened it to find Charon and Raul sitting down and looking at the entrance. Raul looked impressed while Charon had a smirk on his face.

"Charon."

Boone was surprised when he saw Six burst into tears and drop her rifle as she ran into Charon's arms.

[lone-survivor-six-tales]

Ain't That A Shot in The Head Ch 8

"Here you go dearie, I hope Tabitha wasn't too mean to you. She can be such a naughty girl sometimes." Lily said as she set down a plate of bighorner steak and maize in front of Charon. While he was still suspicious of the super mutant, the others' casual reaction to her serving them food was enough reassurance to begin digging into the steak.

"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat sweetie? There's plenty to go around." Lily asked Cass who sat at the bar with a bottle of whiskey next to her. After Arcade had helped her figure out what happened to her caravans, Cass had decided to follow the group back to the Lucky 38 along with Veronica.

"I got everything I need right here ma'am." Cass said, holding up her glass before taking a large swig.

"Should we call Six and Boone up? Their food will get cold." Veronica asked, looking at the two plates set in front of two empty seats.

Six, Charon was still having a difficult time referring to Alice with that name. After Six had broken down when they reunited, she had explained what happened after he was knocked unconscious. It was hard to hear that she had lost almost all of her memories but they had a long talk on the walk back to the strip where he worked on trying to help her recall some simpler memories like people and places they visited.

"I think they need some time alone." Arcade said, picking at the maize on his plate. "I think they have some things they need to discuss in private."

Six had shown Arcade the note Boone left her hoping he would have some advice on how to talk to Boone. Unfortunately he didn't have any advice for her except that she should be the one to talk to him since she seemed to be the one closest to him. Veronica frowned before shaking her head, she was one of the newest people to this group, if Arcade said it was alright then she'd have to believe them. She quickly perked up and turned her attention to Charon.

"So, you and Six are from the Capital Wasteland? What's it like over there?"

Charon shrugged, finishing his steak before looking at Veronica. "The Mojave isn't too different from the Capital Wasteland, except Six and I had to deal with more Enclave members than pissed off bugs."

Arcade choked on a piece of maize and needed Veronica to slap his back to clear his airway.

"Sorry," he apologized as he stood up. "I just remembered I needed to see Julie about restocking our medical supplies. I don't know how Six is with you but she seems to be an injury magnet with us," Arcade commented to Charon as he headed to the elevator. Once he was safely in the elevator he leaned against the wall and ran a hand through his hair.

"This isn't good. If they fought against the Enclave then it's probably not safe here anymore."

----------------------------------------------

Six watched the sun disappear behind the horizon and the lights of New Vegas light up. While she had become used to the darkness and silence of the Mojave, she could appreciate how the strip seemed to come alive at night. She could hear Boone shift uncomfortably in his seat behind her. She had purposefully avoided talking to Boone on the way back to the strip to give herself time to clear her head and think of want to say to him. When she first found Boone, her first instinct was to punch him in his jaw or cry. Instead, she kept her feelings bottled up until she found Charon and all her fear and worry towards both men spilled over and she ended up breaking down.

"Six"

She was pulled from her thoughts and turned to face Boone who was sitting with his elbows resting on his knees as he kept his focus on the ground in front of him. Six crossed her arms and sat down next to him, keeping her gaze focused on him.

"What were you thinking?"

Boone looked up for a moment before looking away, unable to look Six in the eye. "I don't know what you mean."

"Bullshit," Six said, nails digging into the flesh of her arm. "You and I both know what you were insinuating at the end of that letter."

The silence between them was almost stifling before Boone broke the silence with a sigh.

"I've suffered from night terrors for a long time. It's usually only bad when I drink but one time I had a bad episode and ended up breaking Carla's wrist." Boone sighed again, taking off his beret and running a hand over his shaved head.

"When I woke up and saw you in the same position Carla was I… I just spiraled out of control. Like I said in the letter, I have bad things coming my way. I didn't want to drag you down with me."

Six bit her lip and looked down. Like Boone she was silent for a moment until she let out a shaky breath.

"You're such an idiot Craig Boone."

Boone was surprised when he felt a weight on his side and looked over to see Six leaning against him, her hand holding tightly to his.

"When I first asked you to join I had a feeling that if I didn't ask you to come then it would have been the last time I saw you. I had the same feeling reading your letter. I've faced deathclaws and cazadores and almost died so many times and yet nothing scared me more than the thought I'd find you dead after reading your letter."

Six squeezed his hand, holding him as if she let go then he'd disappear again. She smiled lightly when she felt him squeeze back.

"Talking to Charon helped me remember about my dad's death. I know it's not the same as losing a wife but I remember wanting to die after I lost him."

She tightened her hold on his arm when she felt him shift but relaxed when he reassured her he was just moving his arm to wrap around her shoulders. She let out a sigh as she leaned against him with her head pillowed against his arm.

"My dad wanted to purify the nearby river to make safe drinking water. Unfortunately he died before he could finish it. When I was able to finish the project, I had planned on taking my life. I thought with my dad gone, I was alone and had nothing left to live for. It was Charon that stopped me. He kept an eye on me whenever I was feeling low and reminded me my dad wouldn't have wanted me to do this."

When Six looked up she saw Boone was looking at her. From her position, she could see through the tint of his sunglasses and see he was looking into her eyes.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think Carla would have wanted to throw your life away." She said, sitting up and moving away when she realized how close she was to him. She felt Boone's arm move off her shoulders but paused when she felt him take her hand and give it a squeeze.

"I can't promise anything, but I can at least promise I won't run away again."

Six smiled, giving his hand a squeeze in return. When Veronica finally decided to search for Boone and Six, she found them asleep on the couch hands intertwined as they slept.

[lone-survivor-six-tales]

Ain’t That A Shot in The Head Ch.3

"This is Mr. New Vegas wishing you all lady-like luck tonight" Mr. New Vegas' voice crooned over Six's pip-boy radio as she tended to the small fire at their makeshift camp. They had set up camp on the top of a small ledge to give them the perfect view of anything attempting to approach their camp.

"I swear, I think I've heard someone like him before," She mumbled to herself as she looked out at the sky slowly changing colors as the last of the sun's rays disappeared beyond the horizon. A quick zip of movement on the ground below caught her eye and she grabbed her binoculars to get a better look.

"What the hell are those?" She asked out loud to no one as she spotted a large bug creature flitting around back and forth. It was too large and fast to be a bloatfly and she couldn't recall seeing anything like it in her limited memories.

"It's probably a cazador, spotted a hive not too far away."

Six jumped and turned with her pistol out to face Boone who had just returned to camp with a dead gecko slung over his shoulder. Six relaxed and took the gecko from him to begin preparing it for cooking while Boone sat across from her to take over tending to the fire.

"What's a cazador?" Six asked, skewering some meat and holding it over the fire. While she couldn't see his eyes, she could see Boone raise an eyebrow at her question.

"They're a quick and dangerous insect. Getting stung by one of the adults is an almost guaranteed death sentence. There was a guy in first recon called Sting that survived getting stung by one of the younger cazadores and he had a permanent scar from the stinger."

Six could hear it in his voice that he was confused how she didn't know about them. Passing him the cooked gecko meat, she began adding more to another skewer before answering his silent question.

"I don't remember where I came from but wherever it was, there weren't any cazadores there." She gently touched the scar on her head as she tried to recall anything about her life before getting shot in the head. "I've tried remembering but all I know is there were a lot of buildings and rubble." She gave a tug on the collar of the vault suit Doc Mitchell gave her with a frown. "Wearing this feels familiar too, like I've worn it before."

Boone frowned, tossing his empty skewer stick into the fire as he rested his arms on his knees. "Are you sure you really don't know? How do I know this isn't just an act for pity?"

Six's skewer slipped out of her hand and into the fire as she looked at Boone. "Why would I lie about something like that? We've been traveling for a week now and this is the first time I even mentioned it to you. If I wanted you to pity me, I would have told you about it sooner."

Boone shrugged as he looked away. "If you're really from a vault then how are you so skilled with a gun? I've heard many stories of vault dwellers leaving and dying in the wastes because no one taught them to fight in the vault."

"I don't know, maybe someone taught me." She replied, looking down and watching the meat burn in the fire.

"Maybe someone like Charon," she thought but kept to herself. She had told Boone she was looking for two people but she didn't mention one was a ghoul who she had a contract with. At this point she's not sure if he'd even believe her if she tried explaining it to her.

"How do I know you're not working with the Legion?"

Six's head snapped up and she couldn't stop her jaw from dropping in shock at his insinuation. "How could you think that?"

Boone looked at her with furrowed brows and a frown. "I've heard stories about the Legion using kids to attack NCR troops. I wouldn't put it past them to use a woman to trick a first recon soldier into letting their guard down."

Before Boone could react Six was on her feet and his cheek was stinging where she slapped him.

"How dare you say something like that Craig Boone. Did you think I'd try coming onto you or something after reading that bill of sale. I don't know what made you think I would do something like that but you should know not everyone has an ulterior motive."

Boone sat still as she grabbed her pack and her pistol. Behind her ED-E made a confused beep as she stormed past Boone and started making her way down the hill.

"You should go with her." Boone mumbled to the eyebot who floated silently for a moment before beeping and quickly flying to catch up with her. Boone listened to her footsteps slowly fade away and when he couldn't hear her footsteps anymore he sighed, taking his sunglasses off to rub his eyes as the fire slowly faded until all that was left were dying embers.

------------------------------------------------

Six kicked a rock as she shone the light of the pip-boy in front of her. She was starting to regret storming off while it was still dark. She froze when she heard the sound of rocks falling a few feet ahead of her. Slowly she raised her pip-boy and cursed when the light ahead of her shone on the thick leathery back of a deathclaw that turned to face her.

Six had turned and began sprinting away as the deathclaw roared behind her. She could feel the earth tremble as it began chasing after her. She took out her pistol and fired a few shots behind her, hoping to hit the beast even just once.

Six let out a scream as the ground gave way under her feet and she fell into a deep hole she didn't see. She let out a pained shout when she hit the ground and pain shot up her left leg. Above her she could hear the deathclaw growl and huff as it paced around the hole. ED-E nudged her shoulder and gave a concerned beep as he hovered above her.

"ED-E, go find Boone, tell him there's a deathclaw and I need help," she told ED-E who beeped in confirmation before flying up quickly to avoid the deathclaw swiping at him. She listened to the deathclaw give another growl as it continued it's pacing. Using her pip-boy light she checked her leg to see her ankle was beginning to swell from a sprain. She dug through her bag looking for the roll of gauze she kept in her pack until she heard a pained roar from the deathclaw followed by the sound of a loud buzzing noise.

-----------------------------------------

Boone was just starting to fall asleep when the alert beeping of ED-E jolted him awake and reached for a flashlight in his pack. By the time he had the flashlight on, ED-E was circling around him continuing his beeping.

"ED-E? Why are you back? Where's Six?" He asked. ED-E halted and played back the panicked recording of Six.

"ED-E go find Boone, tell him there's a deathclaw and I need help."

Boone cursed and jumped up, grabbing his rifle as ED-E started flying back the way he came. It was difficult to keep up with the eyebot but Boone kept running until instead of the roar of a deathclaw, Boone could hear nothing except for his own footsteps.

As they approached Boone could see in the light multiple cazadores scattered across the ground dead. Finally the large body of a dead deathclaw came into view. It's body was riddled with sting marks from the cazadores. Boone quickly readied his rifle in case more cazadores flew out from the darkness.

"Six! Can you hear me?" Boone called out as he looked around for a trace of her. He heard a faint cough and a voice almost too soft for him to hear.

"Boone."

Boone turned and pointed his light in the direction of the voice. He could see a hole in the light beam and carefully walked over and looked over the edge. What he saw made his blood run cold.

In the bottom of the pit was Six, skin a sickly pale with scratches covering her face and vault suit torn. On top of her laid a dead cazador with Six's knife embedded in it's head. The from his position Boone could see the cazador's stinger was still stuck in Six's leg.

"Six!" Boone quickly but carefully climbed down and shoved the dead insect off her. Six groaned in pain as the stinger was pulled out of her leg as Boone sat her up and dug through her bag for a vial of antivenom.

"Do you think you can hold onto me? We need to get you out of here and to a doctor." Boone said as he passed her the antivenom. Six drank the vial and climbed onto Boone's back. Her arms were draped over his shoulders as he climbed back up the pit. Her blood felt like it was boiling and it took everything she could not to cry out in pain. She could feel her eyes drooping and she was about to close them until she felt one of Boone's hands squeeze her thigh hard.

"I need you to stay awake Six. That antivenom won't work for long. Just stay awake until we get into Freeside." Boone explained as he started running. While he wanted to take her to camp McCarran he knew the Followers of The Apocalypse have a better chance of having cazador antivenom.

"I'll try but I feel so tired. It hurts so much." Six said, voice begining to slur.

"Just keep talking Six." Boone encouraged her as he reached a nearby road and ran down it. He was thinking of the quickest way to get to the north gate without running through fiend territory

"I don't know what to say. You won't believe what I say anyway." She said, groaning in pain when Boone had to jump over rubble and it jostled her sprain.

"I'm sorry for what I said. Loosing Carla made me cautious about trusting anyone. Tell me about what you remember." Boone replied before cursing when he saw a group of fiends ahead of them. He quickly took a sharp turn around a building as the fiends opened fire on them. With the plan to avoid the fiends failed, Boone changed directions and charged straight through the fiend territory. He could hear fiends shouting as he ran past them and bullets whizzing by him as he ran between buildings.

"Boone, just leave me. You're going to get shot at this rate." Six could barely get her words out. Her lips and tongue felt numb and her vision was starting to blur as she tried to focus on his face over his shoulder.

"I take back what I said Six, be quiet if you're going to talk like that." Boone growled, picking up speed as the north gate came into sight. Suddenly a bullet ripped through his right leg and Boone stumbled, falling to the ground and Six falling off his back and onto the street. Boone cursed as he pushed himself back on his feet, wincing when he put weight on his leg. Looking at Six he knew she wasn't going to be able to climb back on his back so he carefully picked her up and held her tightly against his chest as he started limping to the gate.

-------------------------------------------------

Arcade yawned as he walked around the tents trying to wake up. He'd give anything for a cup of coffee right now but unfortunately the last caravan didn't have any so he was screwed until the next caravan. His thoughts were interrupted when an eyebot flew over the fort walls and began beeping frantically at anyone that it flew near. Most ignored or tried pushing the eyebot away but this was too unusual for Arcade to ignore.

"Hey there buddy, what has your circuits going haywire?" He asked the eyebot as he walked up to it. The eyebot immediately perked up and began repeating a woman's voice saying help and flew over to the fort entrance. Taking it as a sign to follow it, Arcade walked over to the doors and pushed one open on the other side, collapsed about a foot away from the doors was a man, his back coated in blood and a woman with a bloody leg.

"Shit. Julie get a stretcher! We got two people that need help!"

[thecouriersix99]

A Courier’s Journey

Ch.7

The sunset that night was lovely Six thought as she watched it from the view she got from her room. She hadn’t been able to rest fully since Nipton and things seemed calmer here if not a little eerie. Walking down the stairs she headed to the dinosaur to buy some supplies from Cliff before she made her way to the Repconn Test Site tomorrow. As she walked in she noticed Manny coming downstairs “Done for the day?” He looked up at her with a slight smile “Uh yeah, my shift is over. Boone is up there now.” She nodded and paid Cliff. “Is Boone a good Sniper?” Manny snorted “Good? We were first Recon.” She nodded pretending she knew what that meant “Uhh First Recon yeah.” Manny nodded “He’s up in the mouth right now. I’m heading out. Make sure to check in with me once you’ve cleared out the Repconn Site.” She waved him off and sighed I can’t get one day off can I? Sure she loved helping people and it get her such warmth to see people truly feel safe but the road out there was lonely. Silent. Just like the grave she was buried in.

Curiosity getting the better of her she wondered what the sniper up in the dinosaur mouth was like. Is he really that good of a shot as Manny said he is? Adjusting her vault suit a bit she headed up to the mouth. The night was cold and dark as usual which made her feel lucky that she had a place stay. The man that had his built back to her stood tall and focused. She remembered that Manny was focused as well so this guy probably didn’t hear her come out. “Hello?” The guy jumped into action and aimed his gun at her. Without hesitation she put one and in the air and the other by her gun holster “Goddamn it! Don’t sneak up on me like that. What do you want?” His voice was rough and serious which matched the even more serious look on his face. He lowered his rifle slightly and she relaxed “Expecting visitors?” She lowered her hand and the one near her holster. “Yeah. I guess maybe I am. But not like you.” He looked at her suspiciously “Huh. Maybe it should’ve been you I was expecting all along.”

She sighed and dusted off her vault suit “Why are you here?” She shrugged a little “I just wanted to look at the view.” “I think you better leave.” Slightly shocked and a little disappointed she shrugged in response “Just making friendly conversation.” She looked down at her shoes with slight embarrassment “I don’t have friends here.” His voice sounds kinda sad. She lifted her head with an optimistic look in her eye “Well lucky for you I’m not from here.” He eyed her intently “No. No you’re not, are you? Maybe you shouldn’t go. Not just yet.” A smile crept on her face as he stood there for a moment thinking. “What do you need?” He stopped thinking and stared her straight in the eyes, or what she assumed was her eyes. His glasses made it hard for her to read him. “I need someone I can trust. You’re a stranger. That’s a start.” She tilted her head in confusion “You only trust strangers?” He groaned a little “I said it was a start. This town....nobody looks me straight in the eye anymore.” She sensed she hit a sour spot so she quickly changed the subject “Exactly what would you need me to do?”

He holstered is rifle and crossed his arms “I want you to find something out for me. I don’t know if there’s anything to find, but I need someone to try. My wife was taken from our home by Legion slavers one night while I was in watch.” Six suddenly realized that this was not just some random task, he was asking for serious help. “They knew when to come and what route to take,and they only took Carla. Someone set it up. I don’t know who.” A sickening feeling in her stomach flared as she heard the name of the Legion come up. “So you’re trying to track down your wife?” His fist clenched and his whole body tensed “My wife is dead. I want the son of a bitch that sold her.” She flinched a little at his words. “What do I do once I find this person?” Six knew she made a promise to Manny about clearing the Repconn Test Site tomorrow but this man in front of her was suffering way more then anyone in this town. The ghouls can wait. This takes top priority. “Bring him out in front of the nest here while I’m on duty. I work nights. I’ll give you my NCR beret to put on. It’ll be our signal, so I know your standing with him. And I’ll take care of the rest. I need to do this myself.” Six nodded “Alright. I’ll see what I can find, give me til tomorrow night and I’ll have them with me.” Boone unfolded his arms and took of his beret handing it to her “Good. I’ll make it worth your while. And one more thing. We shouldn’t speak again. Not until it’s over. No one in town knows I know what happens to my wife. Best they never know. Or the Legion will be after me next.” Stuffing the beret in her pack she headed out. “See ya.” “Yeah.”

Look for evidence,find who’s responsible, put on beret, and take them in front of the nest tomorrow night. Simple enough yes but it’s easier said then done. “Where do I even start?” She laid in bed feeling slightly overwhelmed. With all these thoughts running thought her mind she was surprised she had even fell asleep. Waking up at around early noon she changed her clothes with some stuff she he bought from Cliff. The vault suit was starting to wear out its welcome and began to smell, she decided it would be best to wash and put it away until further notice. Putting on her knew clothes which consisted of leather armor, a faded red bandanna around her neck, and a nice old hat to keep the sun out of her eyes. All in all she was ready for her investigation. Assuming she wouldn’t be fighting much today she put secret knife into her boot and headed out the door.

The sun already starting today’s heat was relentless “Good thing I got this hat.” She flicked it up and headed down the stairs. Maybe Manny will know something about her. Heading back to the mouth she knocked on the door and headed in “Hey Manny, mind if I ask you something?” He put his rifle down an waved as a signal that she could talk. She liked Manny for the most part, he was honest and he didn’t look at her the way most men do. He was respectful. “Can you tell me anything about Boone’s wife?” He raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. She’d never seen someone go so quick from being nice to sour “Me and his wife, we didn’t see eye-to-eye on something’s. We had some pretty bad arguments. One day she turns up missing and he hasn’t said a word to me since.” Okay so maybe he wasn’t as respectful as I thought. “What did you argue about?” He sighed and shook his head “Man, you name it. See I grew up in North Vegas. Me and my cousins. We were some bad seeds. Got in with a gang. I loved it! Then something happened, and I couldn’t handle it anymore.” Six was trying hard to see what this had to do with Carla. Right now it sounded like he was having a pity party “So, I enlisted. Earned my future. Brought down my best friend to share that future with me. And here is this women who is too good for it, trying to take him away. So yeah. I didn’t see eye-to-eye with the bitch.” Six’s eyes widened. Is this really the same person I was just talking to? This is more then anger, this is jealousy. “Do you know anything about her disappearance?” He snorted a little “Believe me. When I heard the news, my first thought was the I owed somebody. Big. I figured Boone would come around after a while. But he hasn’t. I’m starting to think that if he doesn’t find her things will never go back to the way they were.”

Six couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Manny was supposedly Boone’s best friend but this wasn’t a friendship at all. Of course Boone couldn’t trust anyone anymore. His wife gets taken by slavers and his “best friend” just expects him to forge her? What the hell is wrong with him? She didn’t want to hear anymore but if she was going to find who did this she needed to know everything “So who didn’t like Carla?” Manny actually chuckled this time “Man, everybody. That girl didn’t have one friend in this whole town. She didn’t want any. She wanted to sit in her room all day and make herself miserable. And she went out of her way to be rude. She upset a lot of people. You wouldn’t have liked her either.” Something in Six snapped and suddenly her fist made contact with his nose. “Don’t stand there and shit talk a women who isn’t here to defined herself. And don’t you dare assume to know anything about me!” He shrieked and put his hands over his nose as it began to bleed “Y-you broke my nose!” She let out a heavy sigh and walked out slamming the door behind her.

If anyone had a motive it could have been Manny. He doesn’t seem like the type to get involved with the Legion though. Even if he did hate Carla, the Legion would have killed him too. Shaking her hand a little as it throbbed from making contact with Manny’s nose, she headed to the front office. “I hope your finding everything to your liking!” Jeannie May said happily. “Hello ma’am I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about Carla Boone?” Jeannie May’s hands got a little fidgety “Oh how should I put it? I guess you could say she was like a cactus flower. Real pretty to look at, but there was no getting close to her.” The sound of her voice sounded solemn but also suspicious “She never did take to living here. She liked the big lights and fast living of New Vegas. I got the feeling she was trying to get Boone to leave with her, but I guess she got tired of waiting. I know he thinks she was kidnapped, but I’m not sure she didn’t just run off in her own. You could tell she was thinking about it the day they arrived.” That doesn’t sound right. I’m getting a hunch that she knows more then she is letting on. Boone said he didn’t tell anyone he knew about Carla getting taken, only that she was missing....so why would Jeannie May say that? Things weren’t adding up. Six was running out of time and with barely any information she quickly talked to Cliff and Ranger Andy but still came up short. The only lead that was coming up loose was Jeannie May. Guess I can do some snooping. Later that night she snuck into the office. She looked through file cabinets, the old desk and still nothing. Stomping her foot in frustration it hit something the sounds hallow. She lifted up the floor boards and found a safe “Bingo!” Unlocking was kinda tricky but once inside she had found it. A recite of sale. Reading it over was hard even for her, and not only was it a recite for Carla but for their unborn child as well. “Damn it.” Finding that out just made the act far more cruel. Boone lost his family. The love of his life and his child. Jeannie May is a goddamn monster! She banged her bruised hand on lid of the safe. “I don’t have time for this. Boone needs this done now.” By the time she left the office the sun was gone and the stars were out. Alright all I need to do is to lure Jeannie May in front of the nest. She sprinted to Jeannie Mays house and knocked in the door hurriedly, Jeannie May answered with tired eyes “What is it dear?” Out of breath six shook her hands in the air “Someone is hurt in front of the Dinky! Please follow me!” Jeannie May let out an “Oh Dear!” And quickly followed Six. Without hesitation Six pulled out Boone’s beret and placed it on her head. With Jeannie May close behind she sent a wave to get Boone’s attention and as soon she Jeannie May reached the front of the nest facing Six, her heard splattered.

The force from the bullet caused her brain to explode as blood splattered on Six’s face. “Fuck!” Six fell over and landed on her butt. Looking at Jeannie Mays body in the floor made Six feel something she’s never felt before, or at least not in this life. She felt righteous. She got exactly what she deserved. Although having her blood all over Six’s own face she could do without. Six then made her way up to the nest go meet Boone again “That’s it then. How did you know?” Six pulled the bill of sale hot of her pack “Her story didn’t add up and I found the Bill Of Sale.” She handed it to him along with his beret and he took it. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. It’d be like them to keep paperwork. Here this is all I can give. I think our dealings are done.” She shook her head and pushed them away. He looked slightly confused but understood what she meant. “I don’t need those. But what are you going to do after this?” He sighed and put his caps away “I don’t know. I won’t be staying. I know that. Don’t see much point in anything right now, except hunting Legionaries. Maybe I’ll wander, like you.” She perked up a little “In that case why not come with me? We can hunt down the Legion!” She looked brightly at him “You don’t want to do that.” She was taken aback “We can kill more with the two of us.” He thought for a long moment and sighed “Yeah. That might be true. And that’s reason enough for me to take you up on it, I suppose. But this isn’t going to end well.” She smiled her first genuine since she essentially came back from the dead. “I promise that together we will make them pay.” Her tine was now serious. She wanted him to know she meant it. That she knew how he felt. Even if he didn’t know how she knew how it felt she was glad he was going to travel with her. “Tomorrow we are going to empty out the Repconn Test Site so be prepared I don’t know exactly what we are up against.” He nodded. Not much of a talker I guess. Then again I can’t blame him. She smiled and patted his back “Alrighty then partner!”