War... war never changes...
Throughout history, man waged war against fellow man. First with sticks and stone, later with steel and atomic fire. The Roman Empire amassed an army of slaves to satiate it's lust for conquest. The free nation of America's north and south fought a bloody civil war over disputes over centralized power. Adolf Hitler brought Germany, a country on the brink of collapse, into the spotlight as an economic superpower... but war, war never changes.
By the late twenty-first century, the earth's resources, specifically gasoline and uranium, were dwindling until finally the peace had been broken. The United Nation dissolved and soon after, the world was consumed by turmoil. The United States and China declared war upon each other, eventually leading to the "Great War" ending in atomic fire. With the end of modern civilization, a new, more brutal society would struggle to follow.
Before the bombs dropped, few managed to reach the safety of underground vaults designed by Vault-Tec. The remainder of society on the surface either succumbed to the radiation or regressed towards tribalism.
When the vaults opened, their inhabitants began rebuilding. Vault 15 residents formed Shady Sands and thereafter the "New California Republic" or Vault 8 and it's use of the "Garden of Eden Creation Kit" or "G.E.C.K." becoming the oasis known as "Vault City."
Our story begins in August 2281. Darling, our young courier, after trekking miles across the open desert had finally arrived at her destination of Modoc. Headed straight for the town's famous "Rose's Bed and Breakfast" to deliver a package. It's not what IS in the package that starts our adventure, but what isn't...
Welcome to, DARLING VS. THE WASTELAND!
Episode 1: "Modoc Lovin'"
*RING* the sound of the bell on the door rang as a short curly-blonde haired girl, covered in the dust of the desert trail, entered the esteemed "Rose's Bed and Breakfast." It was a quaint restaurant for such a major farming community. Though this was her first time coming to Modoc, she had heard about how within the last thirty-something years, this town transformed from a dreary and sleepy mountain community to a bustling farming town. She was glad she could finally visit. After gawking at the surroundings, a voice called out to Darling. A woman in her late twenties of average build walked out of the kitchen with piping hot food for eager customers.
"Well howdy to you, little missy! Welcome to my restaurant!" She shouted over before noticing the package and nodding, "Ah! It's finally here! I'll be wit'chu in a sec, hon! Why don't you take a seat over there, I'm sure you're tired." She gave a rushed smile Darling's way and headed her way after delivering the food.
Darling smiled, gave an informal salute and took a seat, "Thank you kindly, lady." She then took a seat a nearby booth.
After a minute or two of waiting, the woman joined Darling at the table. "Patient girl, aren't ya. Here..." she put down a tall glass of purified water in front of Darling to her surprise. "It's on me, cutie. I've heard rumors. The "Kid Courier" is what they call you. Didn't think it was true, but seeing as how you trekked the desert from Shady Sands to get here, seeing IS believing."
"Wow lady! You're seriously the nicest person ever!" She grasped the glass and began chugging the water which caused the woman across the table to giggle. She put down the glass and wiped her mouth, "Alright..." She took her bag out, got a folder full of mail out, and set it down. "This should be it. Ms. Daisy I presume? I thought your name would be Rose since this is your diner after all."
She smiled "This place was my Momma's place. Her boyfriend built this place just for her when they were young, and stupid." A glimpse of regret washed over her face before returning to delight. "But, yes, I'm Daisy. I never got your name, darling?"
Darling grinned as she continued to pour through the papers in her bag, "I'll give you a hint! You just said it."
"Ah! Well then Darling, nice to meet you." she extended her hand to which they shook, extending their greetings.
"Ah ha!" Darling proceeded to pull out some papers from her bag, "Now, this wouldn't be an NCR commissioned courier job without a SHIT ton of paper work, so before I can allow you to take the package, I'm gonna need you to sign here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, initials there, a full print signature here, and a final signature here."
"Done and done!" Daisy said as she signed off the last of many signatures, "Damn NCR and their bureaucracy..." Her face shifted as if recollecting something "Where are my manners! I bet you're wondering about your pay. Here you go." she then handed Darling a tied up sack of 125 bottle caps, "Now, I'm supposed to pay you with NCR dollars, but I don't think you mind, do you?" She gave a wink.
"No ma'am!" The two shared a laugh. Darling finished the water, "If that's all, I need to head to the Modoc Crimson Caravan branch to deliver some invoices."
"Okay deerie, just don't forget to stop by before you leave town. You haven't had any of my special Wasteland Curry yet!" Daisy grinned widely.
Darling exited the diner, smiling to herself. It was people like Daisy that made her job worthwhile. After making another 125 bottle caps off of the Crimson Caravan, she headed back towards Rose's Bed and Breakfast, ready to spend some caps on a hot meal.
As Darling walked in, she noticed Daisy at a booth with her head in her hands looking distraught. "Ms. Daisy, are you alright? Something's bothering you, isn't it?" She looks concerned.
Daisy looked down, avoiding eye contact, "I appreciate you delivering me my mail, but it seems like what I wanted wasn't in the package..." She looked up to see Darling's concerned face, "Oh no! It ain't your fault! It's... you see... I was hoping to get a letter from someone. A man, more specifically..." Daisy blushed fiercely.
Darling smiled deviously, "Oooohhh. Are you two close?"
Daisy was flustered, "Anyways! His name is Victor Barros. He use to live here in Modoc before moving off to a settlement far southwest of here called Oak Creek for work. We've been sending letters to each other for 2 years now, but all of the sudden, they stopped. And no! He's a good man, he wouldn't just stop all of the sudden. Something must be wrong." Daisy started to tear up. "What if raiders killed him or maybe radscorpions!" She began crying in a panic.
Darling put a hand on her shoulder, "Earth to Ms. Daisy! There's no proof of that. He could be fine!" She smiled, "Maybe there's just a lack of couriers in that area. If it's a small settlement, it probably doesn't have much traffic going through."
*sniffle* Daisy wiped her eyes, "You really think so?"
Darling stood confident, "I know so. If it'll make you feel better, I'll travel to Oak Creek myself and check up on him, how about that?" Darling smiled a toothy grin.
Daisy lit up, "YOU'D DO THAT FOR ME? THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" She jumped out of her seat to squeeze Darling.
Darling wheezed, "Sure... no problem!" *cough* After Daisy let go of her, she brushed herself off, "Go ahead and write him a letter for when I find him."
Daisy then jumped and scurried off to find a pen and paper. She handed Darling a letter, "Now, I'm trusting you not to read this... it's personal." she blushed.
"Oh, don't you worry. I'm a courier, remember? Confidentiality is part of the job!" Darling gave a thumbs up nonchalantly.
"What about pay? Don't tell me you're doing this for free, are you?"
"Well," Darling scratched the back of her head "This is off the books so anything you could throw my way would be appreciated, but I'm not going to ask for anything since I offered."
"I know just the thing!"
After purchasing ammo and supplies at local vendors and having a bowl of Wasteland Curry on the house, Darling retired for the night in a room at the bed and breakfast. She woke up early and headed out towards Oak Creek, which Daisy marked for her on her makeshift Pip-Boy 2000 personal handheld terminal. She checked her bag, noticing the packed food Daisy prepared for her and smiled. "It was nice meeting a worthwhile person for once" she said as she marched onward into the desert.
While traversing the blistering heat of the California desert, Darling kept a careful eye over her surroundings. At any moment, any and all manner of raiders or slaver scum could pounce and take away her life or free will. Being both young and female didn't make things easier. If the enemy was stronger, she'd be faster, and if they were smarter, well... she'd out-laser blast them with her signature weapons.
After a fortunate couple of days on the road and only around a klick away from Oak Creek, she noticed something troubling with her one good eye.
"What the hell?" A pillar of black smoke billowed out from the center of town and gunshots echoed throughout the area. Darling detached her modified pre-war riot helmet from her backpack and adorned it. It was your typical riot helm that the former Nevada desert rangers wore, but this one had a port for a micro-fusion cell on the back and a bandanna wrapped diagonally across the right eye, covering it completely. It also sported a couple of tribal like decorations such as a few beads and feathers.
After pressing a series of switches on the back, the left eye lit up in a shade of crimson, opening and closing the shutters as if it was following Darling's own eye movements. The eye squinted and zoomed her vision like scope.
Darling's fists tightened in anger, "Raiders!" She zoomed in further only to see the town not faring well against the onslaught. "and they don't look like they can hold out much longer! Damn!"
Without a moments delay, she drew her laser pistols and darted off at a break-neck pace towards Oak Creek. Worried that Victor Barros, the man she'd been sent after, could possibly be a victim in the conflict she was about to jump head-first into.
See you next time for episode 2 of DARLING VS. THE WASTELAND: "Where the HELL is Victor Barros?!"