A/N: If you have read any of my prior writings I am sure you are confused or outraged at my lack of an update to my current stories, as well as my starting of a new one. But, allow me to explain. Before Homeward Bound, I was writing this story, but it never got off the ground because I wasnt happy with it. So this story does in fact pre-date most my other stories. I am still working on the updates for my two other stories and assure you that they are coming. However, thanks to my new job my timetable is pretty all over the place. So I am sure you will forgive me. (Hopefully)
Now, if you havent read anything by me, then please enjoy. And Remember to R & R.
In the years that followed the second battle of Hoover Dam, change came to the Mojave. This new form of law enforcement was stricter then the kind the people of the Mojave were used to, but it had been effective in the past. Nearly wiping out the raider problem that plagued the NCR's finest soldiers, and completely incinerating the group known as the Vipers, whom the legion found no more than a bother. However, down the line, the new order became more and stricter on their laws and soon there was very little freedom left in the Mojave Wasteland and New Vegas. The once promised land of sin and gambling, had become a land of order and strict law. Dangerous elements had been tied up rather quickly under the new management, but the constant danger remained. The danger of the management itself.
The Securitron rolled up the familiar dirt road towards the small settlement. Since Vegas had become independent years prior, the only form of law that remained was the law upheld by the robot guardsmen known as the securitron's.
This particular securitron had been to this settlement before. In fact, he had been all over the wasteland. There was a time where he was the only securitron that was capable of traveling outside of the Vegas gates, but now he was one of many that ventured out into the wastes on patrol. Not that he was complaining or anything like that, it was just kind of nice when he was out here by himself.
The settlements community began to gather outside of their shacks and homes to greet the securitron, whether they wanted to or not. This was not out of kindness, but out of fear. Securitron's rarely pulled into towns, as they didn't need to eat or sleep, so the concept of rest was foreign to them. But they did pull up, when they wanted someone from the town. And who better to send then the smiling cowboy, Victor, to bring the target back.
"Howdy partners!" Victor said, as the crowd glared at him in contempt.
"I am looking for the doctor of this here parts, any idea where he is?"
"What do you want the doctor for?" One resident asked, causing Victor to turn to face him slowly.
"Well, I don't believe that's any of your business there, partner." Victor responded, the same tone of cheer and anger in his tone.
"Well it's all our business. He's a good man. What do you want him for?" Another resident explained, as Victor turned to face another argumentative citizen.
"Listen up folks. I realise that ya all are hooting and a howling because ya think I'm gonna hurt the doc, but see all I wanna do is talk to the fellow." Victor explained, impatience in his tone.
"Yeah that's what the securitron at Novac said…before he dragged Manny Vargas out of the motel and executed him." Another resident shouted.
"And poor Sheriff Myers! He was a lawman too, and you securitrons just barged into town and killed him like he was a raider." Another resident continued, as the people began to ban together.
"Now Mr. Myers was a former criminal, and he wasn't too keen on playing by the new honchos rules. And Mr. Vargas…well he was one of them Khans…can't have that kind of folk around can we?" Victor explained, as his circuits informed his body to load the riot control programme.
"We'll die before we let you take the doctor from us." A child from the crowd announced, as Victor began uploading the file.
"No…Damn it Billy…if you all die, I am going to have such a hard time cleaning up the mess." The man holding a walking stick said, as he hobbled through the crowd.
"Now…someone called for me?" He asked, looking around at the crowd for a sign of recognition.
"Howdy!" The robotic voice of Victor announced catching the old man's attention.
"Victor….Sorry I'm a bit slow…not at the best right now. Old age and all that…" He stated, as he approached the robotic enforcer.
"Been a while partner!" the robot responded in a cheery demeanour.
"That it has…now what can I do for you today? Another courier shot in the head perhaps? You know you need an appointment." The man asked, smiling as if he was talking to an old friend.
"Ho-Ho-Ho that's a funny one Doc." The securitron faked, as he kept his tone cheerful.
"I thought so." The old doctor stated, as he looked back to the crowd.
"No…I am here because the head Honcho wants you to come on down to the strip, to have a word with you." Victor explained, much to the disbelief of the crowd and his conversation partner.
"Now…Victor…You know as well as I do…You aren't going to take me to your boss. You're here to kill me." The old friend accused, as he approached Victors screen.
"Nothing gets around you does it?" Victor said coldly, in a voice not of his own.
"You're watching…aren't you?" the man stated, as he waved his hand in front of victors screen.
"Through Victors monitor…You watching me…watching my next move." The man smirked, as he turned away and began walking back towards the crowd.
"Couldn't do it yourself, could you?" he asked, a smirk of condescension on his face.
"You're still scared, I got something up my sleeve." He continued, as he turned back to face the machine.
"You have 48 hrs to get out of dodge partner…or I'm going to have to put ya down." Victor warned, as the old face grew serious. He wondered if Mitchell were here, what he would do.
"I'll be here…will you?"
"We're leaving town!" Sunny said to her husband, aggression in her tone that filled their house.
"You think I am just going to lay down and let this happen? After everything Good springs has done for us?" John asked, as he poured himself a glass of whiskey.
"Why not? You have helped these people for the last 30 years…isn't it time someone else took over?" Sunny asked, as she pulled her hunting rifle from its place on the wall.
"There is none else." John explained, as he downed the glass of irradiated whiskey.
"You and I both know, the chances of a man who needs a walking stick has against an army of securitrons." Sunny explained, ready to hit the glass of whiskey from her husband's hand.
"Yup… Pretty bad." John admitted, limping over to the couch.
It was on this couch, that he and his wife first made love. It was in this town, that their first born daughter killed her first bloatfly. And it was here that they had planned to be buried. Despite his dark blonde hair going grey and his limp, he was still one of the most handsome men Sunny had ever laid eyes on. Which is why it hurt even more, that he wanted to go through with this crusade of his.
"And what about your life here? Your kids? Me?" Sunny asked, anger and sadness in her voice.
"Don't do that…" John warned, anger now in his voice.
"Do what? Talk some sense into my dummy of a husband?" Sunny asked, an increased sense of aggression flooding her voice.
"Use the things that mean the most to me, to Try and stop me…" John said, as tears flooded his wife's eyes.
"Just for once…after all this time…do you not have the right to think of your own happiness?" Sunny sobbed, as she gripped her husband's hand tightly.
30 years, they had been married. Some of the happiest years of her life had been spent by this mans side. She loved him with all her heart, and he loved her with all his. But this, was by far the most selfish move he had ever made, in her mind.
"I started this Sunny….I need to finish it." John admitted, pulling his wife close to his body and embracing her.
"If you wanted to kill yourself so bad….I could have fixed you up something. An old family recipe. Very slow and painful. You would love it." Sunny chuckled in sadness, as John shared her amusement.
"That's called marriage. And I love every second of it." John responded, gaining a slap on his chest from his wife along with a chuckle.
"I am coming with you then!" Sunny argued, as she pulled her rifle up to her chest.
"No…Sunny…I have to do this alone… You will be safer here." John stated, struggling to get to his feet.
"Just…please….after all these years of losing arguments to you…Give me one win. Please" John pleaded, as he held his wife close to his body once more.
"…" Sunny remained speechless.
"Thank you….and goodbye. I love you." John admitted, kissing his wife softly before
"You're not the courier anymore John!" Sunny shouted, after her husband causing him to stop.
"…..I know…." John admitted as he limped out of the bedroom.
A/N: Yup...Courier Six took over for Doc Mitchell after the second battle of Hoover dam. Kinda fitting I believe. For the record. This is not my canon courier, its just a courier I wanted to do for so long. John Marlowe was one of my first characters in NV and this story kinda fitted him and his personality.