We Were Strangers Once Too.
Foreword.
I'd like to thank you for at least attempting to read. I've always written in secret, afraid of all the what if's, but I feel as though I should work out of that. If writing a one page outline counts, then I've never done something so planned before, outside of school at least. Usually I just write what I feel. I'll be doing that, of course, but with a little more organization and forethought hopefully. I'll stop being mushy now. Thanks again.
Haley (corn4corn)
28 November, 2014
Part 1
She sat on the side of the bed. 3:00 am ticks by on her pip-boy, and she realizes how long she's been sitting, staring, eyes like pilot lights.
The second battle of hoover dam went off without a hitch. She remembers the smile on Boone's face as he saw Legion scatter like fire ants over Fortification Hill in retreat.
So many emotions. Liberation, bliss, pride, but still, apprehension remained in the back of her mind. All of those Legionaries had to be heading somewhere. She would have preferred to take them out, save others trouble, but she had a good feeling that this was enough.
She did not jump as the door to her room in the Lucky 38 squeaked open slightly, dim light leaking in from the hall as it opened more and a figure entered. She already knew who it was. He flipped the light switch and a nearby floor lamp flickered on.
"Why are you up?" Boone's voice eased into the room.
"I don't know. I guess I can't sleep." She put down her arm and stared at her feet. Unusual behavior, something Boone had only saw once before. Ordinarily, she is confident and unfaltering. She is not right now.
He hummed and walked from the doorway to sit by her. Her eyes remained glued to her feet. She felt strangely as if something were still very wrong. Not Legion. Not NCR. Something far away, something impossible.
She is not a dumb woman, she knows it will come to her soon, and does not feel worry. However it still tugs at her mind, not letting her forget.
"Yeonmi."
She looks up slowly, not at him, and takes a shallow, deep breath. She understands his concern, but won't attempt to reassure him. He would worry regardless. He knows she's good at hiding things like that.
Everything is fine, she thinks. If not, everything will be fine eventually.
"Maybe you should take a bath. Wake you up a little, give you time to think."
She appreciates the idea and nods. Yeonmi rises and crosses her arm before setting off to the bathroom.
He thinks about his tour with the NCR, how many times Manny caught him the exact same way at all hours of the morning. He knows she is a strong woman, mentally capable of handling much worse than Hoover Dam. So he figures something else may be bothering her, but doesn't dwell on it.
Yeonmi starts the bath as quietly as she can. Then she remembers it is just her and Boone living here, no longer her whole gang of companions.
She disengages her pip-boy, removes her pajamas and waits for the water to fill.
Water in the Lucky 38 is actually warm. A miracle and a blessing all wrapped in a clean porcelain bath. She enters the warm bath and almost fears she might fall asleep and drown. She submerges herself up to her eyes, then completely, and thinks this is the best anyone can feel. Aside from old memories keeping her up at 3AM, staring at nothing like a lunatic. But she doesn't linger on it or let it ruin the moment, and decides on being content.
Boone and her are similar in that respect.
After the water turns cold, she decides time is up and she gets out, dresses and checks the time.
She is not surprised when the clock reads 5:20 AM. She is not surprised when she comes across Boone cleaning his rifle on the dining room table. She is not upset at the mess.
"I made coffee." He offers. She accepts, and makes herself a cup, then sits across from him.
He wants to ask, but doesn't feel it is in his place. He's been there. Old ghosts of the past haunting you when you least expect it. When you finally find contentment, they slither from the seams and cloud your brain at 3AM.
He has been here.
She is getting an idea of what may be bothering her, but won't say anything just yet. Not until she is sure. Neither of them speak. Yeonmi finishes her coffee, and places the cup in the sink. Boone has almost finished with her rife, dubbed 'Courier's Patience'by Veronica.
Yeonmi is unsure what to do. She usually has some sort of mission to complete. Something to receive. Something to fix. Someone to help.
She thinks of Arcade, but imagines he's busy enough helping at the Fort. And trying to teach Veronica at the same time must be exhausting enough.
She goes back to her room and beelines for her desk unconsciously. She unlocks the bottommost drawer and takes out an envelope, opens it with care and takes out the first paper.
The beginning. Order 6 of 6. She hasn't carried a package since. Nothing that was just mail. There was always some sort of known objective, more complicated than just carrying postal. An anonymous package. No personal involvement.
"You are an authorized agent of the Mojave Express Package until delivery is complete and payment has been processed, contractually obligated to complete this transaction and materially responsible for any malfeasance or loss. Failure to deliver the proper recipient may result in forfeiture of your advance and bonus, criminal charges, and/or pursuit by mercenary reclamation teams."
'An authorized agent' sounds so serious for a mere 250 caps.
The second paper is something much more personal. A simple note that reads "Courier Six. –Ulysses".
She remembers spending almost every free moment she can reading this order, then this note. Order, note, order, note. A never-ending series of the same questions that have the same empty answer. Something along the lines of, sometimes things simply happen for a reason that we can't ever understand.
She remembers too much.
Though she feels as if this is the last thing that is bothering her.
An answer.
She will not, cannot, be content until she has one.
She runs her fingers over the name Ulysses. Remembers her tour through the Divide. Every second etched into her brain for later review. Looking for more answers.
A knot forms in her stomach, weighing her down.
Rex jumps from her bed and sits at her feet.
She lowers the letter and smiles at him.
"Good morning buddy. I hope I didn't wake you up."
Her motherly side comes out, even when talking to a dog. She sits on her legs in front of him and refolds her letter. Turns it upside down in her hands, then back again.
"I think I have to go buddy. I don't know where. Maybe someone can help me."
She finds herself more able to confide in a dog than a person. Even if he wanted to say something, he was unable. He is the perfect person to hold a conversation with to her.
Both the letter and the note return to the envelope. The drawer is locked again, but she keeps the envelope with her.
She dresses quietly in her traveling clothes and begins packing her bag.
Of course Boone hears her. He finishes cleaning her rifle and brings it to her.
He enters the room and her eyes immediately meet his. An apology develops in her eyes.
"Do what you need to." Is all he says.
And it is more than enough.