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Seeing Red

Fallout New Vegas Fan Fiction Ch. 1

By Diana CrossPublished 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago 10 min read
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Novac, huh?  Looks nicer than the last couple of towns.  Then again, the previous town was a massive bonfire, the one before that was shot up and overthrown by criminals, and the one before that was attacked by Powder Gangers and got a little blown up here and there.  So much hell in just a week.  

The first thing I remember was waking up in Goodsprings in a doctor's house.  There, I was told that I had been shot in the head by some fancy guy in a checkered suit and pulled out of a grave by a robot.  According to my belongings, I was a courier for Movaje Express, and I was delivering something to the Strip.  A platinum chip.  I don't remember much of anything before waking up in Goodsprings. 

All I remember is my name, or rather what I think my name is.  River.  I don't know why, but it sounded right in my mind.  When I was given a gun, my hands moved on their own.  Hell, my aim and handling with dynamite weren't half bad either.  I was told that it could have been some muscle memory.  When I helped rally the town of Goodsprings, some of my words just flowed out of my mouth.  After doing all I could, I moved on to try to track down the man who "killed" me.

The next town, Primm, gave me a clue.  I, of course, had to take out the criminals that took over the town and hire a new sheriff to get the hint.  I'm glad I did, but it felt like no one else had the guts to do anything.  Maybe "guts" isn't the right word.  Maybe more like they were all too lazy to do anything.  I even fixed up a robot because the man in charge of Mojave Express thought it was too much effort to fix it up, and he was too busy hiding in a casino where someone had stolen a pre-war gun.  Unbelievable, stupid assholes!

Anyways, after fixing up that mess, I pass by a few places, killed a few animals that would kill me, kill more Powder Gangers and scavengers; I come across an NCR post.  I thought it'd be an excellent place to rest, plus my curiosity got the better of me.  I sold what I didn't need and asked around.  That led to investigating the next town and shooting up a bunch of overgrown ants.  Strangely enough, the ants were easy, but getting to the next town was a nightmare.  Powder Gangers were waiting for people to ambush, people were fighting over blue-starred caps, and the Legion had taken over Nipton.  Gangers were strung up, and the fire was everywhere.  They only let me go because they wanted someone to "spread the word" for them.

I felt anger rising inside me and wanted to kill all of them, but it was just me and a hovering robot and very little ammo left.  I reluctantly let them go and reported to the NCR operative, Ghost, that Nipton had fallen.  I moved on after that and set a course for here.  Novac.

It's nighttime, but I bet that people will be asking me to do favors for them in the morning.  Aw, who am I kidding?  As much as it annoys me, I would still help.  I don't recall my past life, but every time I even think about turning down a cry for help, I feel sick.  It may or may not have something to do with the knife scar on my stomach, but I feel better when I help someone.

"Howdy, Partner!" How does that robot get ahead of me without becoming scrap metal?

"Hey, Victor."  I greet him.

He's the centurion that saved my life.  He's a little odd, with his cowboy programming and all, but he's easy to get along with.  I guess that's why this "Mr. House" programed Victor the way he did.

I may like Victor, but from what I hear about New Vegas and Mr. House,  I don't trust him just yet.  In fact, I'm even more suspicious.  What does this "Mr. House" want with me?  Does he have something to do with the package, or platinum chip, that I was supposed to deliver?   Of course, Victor has told me everything close to nothing.

I'm exhausted and need some sleep.  It looks like there's a motel behind the... dinosaur?  O.k.  Now I think I've seen everything: giant bugs, giant lizards, giant scorpions, and a dino statue.  Wait, did I see something moving in the mouth?  No, no.  I must be going crazy.  A definite sign that I need to sleep.

"And the front office is empty.  Of course."  I say as I check the office and exit the building.  "Well, River, what did you expect?  It's nearly midnight, and the owner must be in bed.  I don't want to steal from the inn for a room key, so I'll improvise.  Ground, we meet again."

I decide to sleep under the stairs leading to the inside of the dinosaur.  I guess it's a building.  A store, maybe?  I'll see in the morning.

"ED-E, alert me if anything happens,"  I tell my robot, receiving beeps.

I smile and lay in the dirt with my jacket over me like a blanket.  I close my eyes for a minute, and ED-E beeps again, like an alarm.  I groan as I open my eyes.  As my vision clears, I see a tall man with a white t-shirt, sunglasses, a red beret, and a sniper rifle.  I grab my 9mm pistol and point it at him as a reflex.

He points his gun at me as ED-E hums violently, but none of us pull the trigger.  After a minute of intense silence, I decided to talk first.

"Ok, obviously not getting off on the right foot.  ED-E, disengage.  I'm putting my gun down."  I slowly put down my pistol, and the man lowers his rifle but doesn't put it away.  "I'm sorry.  I get a little jumpy when I'm tired."

The man huffs.  Not even an apology back?  What is with this guy?  Before I can say anything else, ED-E beeps again.  Moaning comes from behind the guy.  Ghouls.  Shit!

"ED-E, engage the ghouls!"  I order as I pick up my pistol and start shooting, saving the guy with the rifle.

More ghouls come from a road behind the hotel.  As ED-E and I fight, I couldn't help but notice the guy fighting with us.  His form is professional.  Military maybe?  That would explain the beret.  He's NCR now that I have a better look, and he's really good with that sniper rifle.  However, he's not so good at watching his own back.

"Hey!"  I yell at him, catching his attention.  "Duck!"

I point my gun at him, he gets down, and I blow off the head of a ghoul that was behind him.  The man sees the ghoul, then nods to me in thanks.  I nod back and continue to shoot.  

I spot a glowing one.  I hate those things.  Plus, I'm running out of ammo.  Meaning, I'm going to have to fight these things one on one.  And fighting closely with a glowing one is good for no one's health.  I feel a bit overrun.  ED-E has been taken down, and the guy is shooting at the ghouls coming from the roads.  

I start punching, kicking, and hitting with my gun.  Suddenly, I feel something grab me and bite my shoulder.  The glowing one!  I feel the radiation as its teeth sink into my bone.  I scream out in pain as I reach for my knife.  I thrust the blade in the ghoul's eye, forcing it to let me go.  I take a few steps away before giving the creature a 180-degree kick. 

It falls back and gets on all fours, ready to attack.  I grip my shoulder.  I'm losing blood.  I can barely focus.  It launches at me.  I brace, and a shot rings out.  The glowing one lays on the ground.  Dead.  I look to the sniper.  He saved me.

"Guess this makes us even."  I laugh a little.

Exhaustion washes over me.  I feel hot and cold at the same time.  My legs are shaking.  The sniper sees this and tries to catch me as I blackout.

........................................................................................................................

My eyes open.  My head is pounding.  My hands are tied.  What is going on?  "Guess who's waking up over here?" I hear a man say in front of me.

The man in a checkered suit is before me, along with a few Khans. I'm afraid. The man has a poker chip. Platinum. I was delivering it somewhere.

The man smokes for a bit, drops it, and pats it out with his foot.  "Time to cash out."

"Would you get it over with?" One of the Khans asks the guy in the suit.

"Maybe Khans kill people without looking them in the face, but I ain't a fink, dig?" The man proceeds to remove the platinum chip from his coat pocket and flash it in front of me.  "You've made your last delivery, kid."  He conceals the platinum chip back inside his coat, removing another item in its place.  "Sorry, you got twisted up in this scene."

He draws his 9mm pistol from his coat.  I can feel what's happening.  I don't want it to happen again!  I want to fight, but I'm not moving. 

"From where you're kneeling, it must seem like an 18-carat run of bad luck."  He points his gun at my head. "Truth is...the game was rigged from the start."

No!

I wake up before he pulls the trigger, only to find myself in an unfamiliar bed and a man leaning over me.  Only this time, it's not the doctor.  He's tall, has a beret like the guy from last night, and I don't like the way he's looking at me or how close he is.  With one swift kick, he's across the room, groaning on the floor.

"Ah!  Boone, Sleeping Beauty is awake.  Ow."  The man on the floor says.

I sit up and wince from the pain of my left shoulder.  I see the man from last night enter the room.  So, his name is Boone, huh?  I try to get up, but I realize that I'm a bit cold.

"Ah!  Get out!"  I scream as I painfully dive into the covers of the bed.  "Where are my clothes?"

"Calm down."  Boone's voice is calm and strict, and I immediately stop panicking.  "I can't say the same him, but all I did was wrap your wound.  It's morning.  You should see the local doctor.  She already knows that you're coming."

I'm in awe, honestly.  I thought he couldn't talk until now.  I catch myself staring when I hear the man on the floor groaning.

"Sorry, a force of habit, I guess."  I apologize.

"God knows that he deserved worse."  I think that was a smile, or at least his version of a smile.

"Ah, man.  You're a tough one.  We could actually use your help if you're interested."  The other guy gets up.

"Don't even think about it, Manny,"  Boone growls at him.

Manny lifts his hands.  "She can handle herself.  I saw her fight last night, and she still managed to kick me across the room.  I say she'll be good."

"I would love to help, but I'm trying to find someone."  I try to break the tension with the truth.

"Oh, who?"  Manny asks as Boone broods against a wall.

"A man in a black and white checkered suit.  Know anything?"  I ask both men.

Boone shakes his head, but Manny says.  "Benny?  Why are you looking for him?"

"He..."  I want to say that he killed me, and I want to know why before I kill him, but I decide to go with "is such a tease.  Honestly, who makes a woman travel all over the Mojave without any reward.  One night and he gambles on a game of cat and mouse."

"Oh.  Yeah, Benny's like that.  How about this.  You do me and this town a favor, and I'll tell you where I saw Benny heading."

Boone storms out the door.

"Give me some clothes, and I'm all ears."  I smile, flirty at Manny.

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About the Creator

Diana Cross

I am just a person who trying to get her stories out into the world.

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