The Diary of Courier Six
Chapter 1: It was never the end
'It was supposed to be my last job, my last time out on that road. I was going to retire after all of this. I was going to find a home, settle down. Start living a life that didn't involve any more danger. Yet it had seemed fate had changed my path, my destiny. I was shot in the head, a bullet lodged deep into my brain changed that all. I woke up with a part of memories gone. I woke up to my hopes, my dreams, my plans all gone. That woman who was shot in the head that night had died. All over what? What did I do to deserve a bullet lodged into my skull? That I am still trying to figure out. All I remember was this man in a checkered suit.. Taking that very package I was supposed to deliver to the New Vegas strip. A platinum chip. I don't know how important this package was but I do know that I need to get it back. I know that I need to hunt this man down. He needs to pay for what he did. The woman that woke up in Goodsprings after that fateful night. She no longer has dreams of settling down, she no longer has dreams of living that safe life on a quiet farm with a lover. Her plans have changed. Fate had woke up that fire in her. That's how she was born.'
"Hey boss, whatchya got there?" A raspy voice called out from the other side of the camp fire.
The woman slowly settled her pen down by her side and sighed deeply. Running her fingers over the leather covered journal. She closed it tightly, wrapping the bindings around it and sneaking it into her pack. Closing her eyes and giving a weak smile, the woman looked up at her companion. He was an old Ghoul, Prewar. The woman had picked him up along in her travels out investigating a mysterious radio signal coming from Black Mountain. She rescued the Ghoul from a group of crazed Super Mutants and offered a place by her side. The Ghoul didn't hesitate to take her offer. He hadn't really told her much of his past. Only the fact he came from an old ranch in Mexico. His name was Raul Tejada, the last surviving member of his family. The old Ghoul, despite always complaining when they had to sneak around had proved to be invaluable in a fire fight. The woman was always glad to have an extra pair of eyes and ears around to help out. Running her hands up and down her legs quickly, she moved her dark eyes up to the night sky, the pops from the camp fire echoing in her ears. She took in a long breath and looked back down at her companion.
"I.. ah.. I suppose you've never seen me writing in.. it… before." The woman hesitated.
"Look boss you don't need to be shy." Raul cackled.
"Ever since.. I got..shot in the head. I get lapses in memory. So I tend to write a lot down. Try to keep my thoughts together." She sighed.
"Good idea boss." Raul's gaze moved over the woman's frame. Jenny was an odd sort. He couldn't quite figure out what was going on in that woman's head. She was quick on her feet. Eyes sharper then an eagle and a resolve so strong it could crack the Hoover dam. Yet she remained quite reclusive even in their travels. Raul was more observant then he liked to be. He always tried to figure out what made everyone tick. Yet despite being pulled along a path of revenge he couldn't quite figure out what drove Jenny so hard. He knew of her past, he knew what she had to go through. Yet he still couldn't figure out why she kept stepping forward, foot after foot, step after step, ever forward. Seeing the woman reach up and adjust the bandana that had always adorned her forehead, Raul frowned. Since the first time they met. Jenny had always worn that dusty colored bandana. It was like she was trying to hide something behind it. Yet the Ghoul never pried. The woman's blonde wavy hair draped over her dark brown hues. Her head sank down on her chest. It was obvious she was struggling to stay awake. Raising up to his feet, the old Ghoul and kneeled down by the woman's side gently nudging her shoulder. Jenny snapped up straight, her hues looking Raul dead in the eye. Her head tipped a bit over to the side and a weak smile spread acrossed her face.
"Yes?" She inquired.
"Get some sleep boss. I'll keep an eye out.. Granted my vision isn't so good with these cataracts and all." Raul backed away from her.
Jenny didn't say anything. Yet the woman had simply bared her teeth a bit at her companion. He was right. She had pushed herself to hard sometimes. Simply forgetting to sleep and even eat. Raul had always been on her toes about taking better care of herself. Not like it mattered. She already died once. A missing meal wasn't going to kill her, a bullet certainly couldn't. Groaning in frustration, Jenny dug into her pack and pulled out a makeshift sleeping bag. Raising up to her feet, she whipped out the bag and laid it down flat on the hard ground. To many times Jenny had claimed the hard ground to sleep on. She had grown so used to it, sleeping in a soft bed had proved to be more difficult.
"Shouldn't you rest Raul?" Jenny gazed over at her shoulder. The Ghoul was back up against a blown over stump. He looked tired but never complained about it.
"No boss, like I said, I'll keep an eye out while you rest." He gave her a weak smile.
The corner of Jenny's mouth sank down a bit disappointed. Raul had been stubborn at times. She supposed it probably was for the better though. Hopefully by the next time they settled in for the night, the stubborn Ghoul would finally sleep. He didn't do it much, it concerned her but he had yet to trip up because of it. Jenny relied on him a lot more then she led him on to believe. After her years of traveling alone on the road delivering packages, her job felt easier now she was no longer by herself.
"You shouldn't worry about me all the time Raul. Take care of yourself too." Jenny sank down on top of her sleeping bag and tucked her arm under her head. Those tired hues gazing over at her companion.
"No worries Boss, its fine. You need to sleep." Raul gave her a bright smile.
"Yeah.. Yeah.." Jenny muttered. The woman turned over and sighed in feeling her body relax as she began to drift off asleep.
#
'I got those memories again, or dreams. It's hard to tell the difference so much anymore between the long days of wondering the road or fighting off the occasional cazadores. I wake up alone, on top of large building. Alone. I am always alone. I've never been able to shake that feeling regardless of who I travel with. I always end up alone in the end. That's not the matter though. I always wake up on top of this large domed building alone. My head feeling like it was split open. Hard to say.. I don't know anymore.'
Jenny closed her journal and sighed. Slipping the journal quickly back into her pack. She straightened herself up from her makeshift sleeping bag and rose up to her feet. Reaching down, she rolled up her sleeping bag tightly and slipped it into her pack as well. The longer her travels on this never ending road, the stronger she felt. Ever since she first woke up in Goodsprings, she felt so weak. Her muscles always screamed at her. Her brains felt scrambled so much she needed to be taught how to shoot a gun again before she even dared to begin wondering off into the Mojave.
"You alright Boss? You couldn't stop tossing and turning all night." Raul called out from his post.
Jenny only sighed. This had seemingly become a regular occurrence. Her companion had kept an eye on her while she slept for her to only wake up more exhausted then before and Raul complaining about how she was constantly tossing and turning. It was always the same dream. Waking up alone on that tall building, alone. She couldn't toss the feeling though. Was it just a dream or a forgotten memory? Perhaps Jenny would never know. Maybe she just needed to get laid or perhaps drown her sorrows with a bottle of whisky. Leaning down and throwing her pack over her shoulder, she walked over to Raul's side and gave him half a smile.
"Just the same old dream." The woman's voice sounded sad.
"You know boss, for as long as I've known you, your dreams have only been getting worse." Raul sighed.
"It's not like I can do anything about it Raul… you know? What am I going to do.. See a doctor? It's not like the Mojave has a lot of options for doctors." Jenny walked away from her companion, gazing briefly back at him over her shoulder.
"Alright alright, I hear you." Raul grumbled.
Stopping in her tracks, focused down the road. Those dark hues squinting from the harsh sun. Reaching up to block out the sunlight with her hand, she turned herself once again, focusing those hues back at her companion.
"I'm sorry.. I shouldn't of lashed out." Jenny gave Raul another weak smile.
"I haven't felt like.. Myself.. I-"
"Look boss, I get it. Don't apologize. Just focus on where we need to go. I am here for your support." Raul interrupted.
Closing her mouth tightly, Jenny looked at the Ghoul sideways and nodded. She understood what he was saying. She needed to stop apologizing and needed to start focusing on the task at hand. Jenny had been a complete mess since leaving Goodsprings. Her mind was all over the place, but since stumbling acrossed Black Mountain and offering the Ghoul a spot by her side, Raul had remained on top of Jenny's scrambled mind. Each day that passed though the stronger her thoughts have gotten and the less foggy things grew. She was still recovering, still trying to figure it all out. It had been a tough road so far but she was thankful for her companion's help.
"Alright, it's off to Novac to gather some supplies then I think we should head on off to Freeside." Jenny gave Raul a brief warm smile. Something that surprised her Ghoul companion.
"Sounds good Boss." Raul gave her a curt nod.
#
"God dammit I can't find it.." Jenny hissed. The woman scrambled around the weapons chest at the foot of her bed.
Standing up, the woman ran her hands down her face, almost clawing against it. Lowering her arms she took in a deep breath and sighed slowly, calming her annoyances. The residents at Novac had come to embrace the courier for the help she gave them. Their concern with the Ghouls spilling out from the Repconn test sight was really no issue. In turn she was given a room free of charge after learning one of their own had sold Boone's wife to slavers. Jenny had just seen all of that as another day's work but she had appreciated the room. It was a place to get off the road and kick off her shoes. A place where she knew the Deathclaws couldn't reach her and the Legion's assassins had no chance of finding her. She could rest easy here and ease her busy mind, even if it was for a little bit. The woman was surprised to find her room was so clean when she aquired it. Compared to the other places she normally called a nights sleep in, her room in Novac had been a heaven sent.
"What are you looking for Boss?" Her companion called out from the other side of the room.
"I had a Proton axe here some where…. I don't remember where I found this piciluar weapon but it really came in handy. Was hoping I didn't misplace it." Jenny sighed.
"Hmm.. Could it be here?" Raul was pointing at the side of her dresser.
Jenny frowned, not saying a word. Her hues gazed over to the side of her dresser and low and behold there was the Proton axe. The weapon was giving off a soft blue glow. Almost felt comforting to the woman.
"What would I do without you Raul." Jenny gave him a bright smile.
"Don't go soft on me Boss." Raul laughed softly.
The smile didn't last long on the woman's face. Leaving her spot from the other side of the bed. Jenny took a step over to the side of the dresser, her fingers wrapping around the handle of the axe. This weapon was special to her, it could take down waves of enemies without an issue. It was also surprisingly light in weight as well. Taking the strap of the weapon, Jenny immediately flung it over her shoulder, letting it hang in its once familiar spot on her back.
"That's more like it." The woman beamed.
"Off to Freeside then?" Raul inquired.
"Off we go.." Jenny gave him a brief smile.
Authors Note:
This is actually a bit of an experimental fic. I wanted to change some things around in the New Vegas story as well. I wanted to give my courier some memory issues due to past events. So apart of her journey isn't just taking down Benny but also slowly finding out what previously happened to her. This is more of a story of self discovery and acceptance. She's a fairly closed off girl so as the story progresses perhaps we will see her open up more. An yes there will be a romance involved! Just not with Raul as many people might expect. The character will get introduced a bit later ;). If you've been reading my other Fallout Story 'On Thin Ice'. Jenny is NOTHING like Ruby. She's a lot more serious and a lot more sassy. Until then Happy Reading!