Prologue
Megaton had never seemed emptier, in Nova's opinion. It had only been a month and a half since Norton left, but she missed him more every day. God she was stupid! Why hadn't she married him? Why hadn't she said she loved him every day? Now, it was too late and he was gone.
It was hot, dry afternoon and Nova stood in her little corner of Moriarty's Saloon, like she did every day. No one had bought her yet, so that was good. She definitely was not in the mood for some jerk to be feeling her up for the next hour.
"Hey!" yelled Moriarty from across the saloon. "Have you made me any money today?"
"No, sir." She said.
"Well I'm docking your pay!"
Moriarty was probably the biggest asshole to ever crawl out of the Wastes. Nova and Gob were slaves to him, mostly because whatever money they earned was heavily taxed by him or deducted for some unknown reason. Nova would complain, if there had been anyone to complain to. Over the years, she had come to terms with the fact that she would never earn enough to leave Megaton.
The door opened and three men came in. Nova had never seen them before. Even though she hated it, she flashed them her most seductive grin. One of the men, a tall fellow in a duster, tipped his hat to her before he went to the bar with his buddies.
"What can I get you?" asked Gob.
Nova wasn't surprised to see that unknown people had come to town. It had been happening a lot lately. Something about Raiders moving south. She was surprised that the Brotherhood didn't have control on it by now. Really, she didn't care. All the people who came in spent good money.
"Are you Gob?" One of the men, the one if the duster, asked.
"Yeah." Gob replied. "What's it to ya?"
The man in the duster pulled a silenced pistol out of his waistband and pointed it at Gob's chest.
"My boss wants you to know that you're dead because of Norton." The man said, pulling the trigger three times. Gob stepping back, blood covering his white shirt. He looked at Nova with sorrow, then fell to the floor, dead.
Moriarty stood where he was, in fear. For a second, Nova thought he might help. But, as expected, he ran out the door as fast as he could.
"And this pretty little thing must be Nova." One of the men said. "Zeke was right. She's cute. No wonder Norton likes her."
Norton? Zeke? What did they have to do with anything. Wasn't Zeke the guy who worked for Walter? She was so confused. The one of the men, this one wearing a baseball cap, grabbed her by the front of the shirt, pulling her close to him. She felt the muzzle of a gun on her stomach.
"That same goes for you." He said. "You're dead because of Norton. This is his fault."
Nova reached into her pocket and pulled out a switchblade. It had been Norton's idea. Protection. She quietly thanked him now. He plunged the knife into the man's throat and he let out a sick, gargling sound.
The two other men fired at her, but their partner's body blocked the bullets. The front suddenly opened and Jericho and Billy Creel entered, guns drawn. Jericho fired, killing one man. Billy missed the second, but Jericho hit him with the butt of his rifle, knocking him to the ground.
"Nova." Billy said. "You okay, darling?"
"I'm fine." She choked out. "They…they shot Gob. I think he's dead."
"Lucas is dead too." Said Billy.
"What?" Nova asked.
"And someone attacked Moira. Good thing she hired that guard. He took the bullet, not her."
"Good thing I was shopping or else they would have got her." Said Jericho, checking Gob for a pulse.
"How'd you know to come get me?" Nova asked.
"After Moira was attacked Moriarty ran out of here, saying that someone was shooting up his place. We got here as soon as possible."
Nova looked at Gob's body. What was going on? Such an average day had turned so terrible. And somehow, her beloved Norton was at the center of it. Nova swallowed and looked at Jericho and Billy.
"Something is going on." She said. "We need the Brotherhood."
The two men looked at her as if she was crazy. But, by looking in her eyes, they realized she was dead serious.