Soul Eater: New Vegas

By Vivalarapture

Authors note- My roommate/beta and I are re-playing New Vegas with our "Maka" character, all stats, perks, and actions accurate to Maka's personality. I'll post all of her stats on my bio if anyone's interested.

Chapter Two. Goodsprings.

Is waking up always going to be this painful? I let out an angry groan as I attempt to sit up, my head once again buzzing and making everything fuzzy. When the light finally subsides, I look around, trying to figure out where I am.

I glare at my surroundings, the chemistry set on the desk in front of me all too familiar.

I sit up and place my feet on the ground. The pivot is apparently too quick for my brain to comprehend, and the ringing in my ears starts right back up again.

I curse rather loudly and hear a chuckle from the next room. I raise an eyebrow, not recognizing the feminine pitch. I peer through the doorway, and a girl with dark hair and dark eyes appears. There's a chocolate colored dog following behind her, its tail wagging fiercely and its amber eyes bright.

The young woman smiles softly and puts her hands on her hips, "You're finally awake. Doc Stein wasn't very happy when we dragged you in here for the second time."

Her voice has the same twang as Stein, but it was surprisingly more comforting than his thick accent. "The name is Jacqueline, you can call me Jackie if you'd like. This is my girl Lantern."

She pats the dog's head affectionately and Lantern wags her tail, panting happily. I smile faintly, and stand up, swaying a little on my feet.

"I wish I could introduce myself, but I don't exactly know my name."

Jackie frowns, scratching her head, "Yeah, Doc Stein told me you're still out of it from the bullet. You'll get your memories back, you just need to get moving. Just.. Not by yourself this time. You can't be too careful with all the critters roaming around here. That mole rat almost ended you."

I wince at the memory, "Mole rat? Is that what that ugly thing was?"

Jackie swings a leg over the chair by the desk and sits down, "Yes, and although they're not the toughest things around, they can be dangerous. I shot it just in time. That thing was making a snack out of you."

I nod, my eyes wide, "You were the one that saved me?"

Jackie pushes a lock of hair out of her face, seemingly a little embarrassed about it, "Yes ma'am."

I grin as Lantern nudges her nose into her owners side, "Well.. Thanks, Jackie."

She waves her hand, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, "No problem. We have to take care of each other out here."

I drop the subject, not wanting to make her more uncomfortable, "Where is Dr. Stein, by the way?"

Jackie nods her head towards the hallway as she turns around, picking up a couple of needle-looking devices from the desk. "He's reading in the living room. He's been searching through all of his medical books to find something to hopefully help your amnesia."

It was my turn to be embarrassed now. Everyone here had helped me so much already, and they don't even know me. I struggle to find a way to change the subject, and I point towards the needles she is stuffing in her pack. "What are those?"

She puts her pack on her shoulder, and motions for me to follow her, "These are Stimpacks. I want teach you how to shoot, and Stein wants us to be prepared for anything."

"What's a Stimpack?" I question, and Jackie looks shell shocked for a moment before she must have remembered my amnesia, "Well I don't exactly know the specifics, you'll have to ask Doc Stein about that. But from what he's told me, they're a mix of steroids, antibiotics and pain killers. They're the lifeblood of people out here."

I follow her out the door, the bright light temporarily blinding me. I put a hand up to shield my eyes, and trip over a rock in the pathway, probably the same one I tripped over before, to my disappointment. Jackie chuckles and puts a hand on my shoulder to help me from falling. "Whoah there, girl."

I smile up at her, laughing at my clumsiness, "I'll get used to my legs eventually.."

As we started walking through town, we pass the same buildings I ran by when I had an anxiety attack. I tip my head, following Jackie as we walk, Lantern trailing behind us. How long was I out the second time?

I look down, both my calf and my arm are wrapped in gauze. I clench my fingers into a fist, and don't feel any pain. I lift my leg a little higher as I walk, testing to see if it pulled on any muscles to cause pain. Nothing. I raise an eyebrow, letting my hand fall to my side as we walk.

If I keep getting knocked out like this, my whole life is going to pass me by.

Jackie stops in front of a building labeled "Prospectors Saloon," and turns around to face me. "I'm going to go inside for a bit, I've got to pick up some ammunition for our training. Stay outside and have a look around, I'll be right back." I nod and glance around at the town, finally able to inspect everything now that I'm not running as fast as my legs can take me.

Jackie turns around as she enters the bar and says sternly, "But don't wander too far!"

I dip my head sheepishly as I agree and wave.

The saloon is as dingy as all the other buildings in the town, but it has a mismatched neon sign lighting up the word, "Saloon". It looks patchwork, as if they had taken pieces from different signs and glued it together.

I turn around and try to avoid the curious stares of the bearded man on the patio of the saloon. I stick my hands in my pockets and startle a bit when I realize I have pockets to stuff my hands into. Someone must have exchanged my black under shorts for dusty jean shorts, a little too big for me, but I'm not in a position to complain.

The man on the patio, swaying in his rocking chair, tilts his chin towards me sharply, motioning for me to come closer. I point a finger at myself, mouthing, "Me?"

He nods, rubbing his beard between his fingers. I cautiously walk towards him, gingerly walking up the stairs towards the man.

"Yew. Yer that girl the pile of metal found an' Doc Stein fixed up." I stop in front of him, itching at the bandages on my arm, "Yeah, Dr. Stein fixed my head. What do you mean 'pile of metal'?"

The old man jerks his head towards a shack to the South. "That pile o' junk robot gal, Patty. She dug ya outta that hole an' brought ya back to Doc Stein."

I look towards the shack, wondering what in the world the old man is talking about. Robot gal? I shrug, looking towards the door as Jackie and Lantern walk out.

"Easy Pete, are you harassing the new girl?"

'Easy Pete', as Jackie called him, sticks his nose in the air, guffawing at Jackie, "Nah, jus' try'na make small talk."

Jackie has a scowl on her face, but it seems in good nature, "Yeah, yeah, I bet. Let's go, girl. I have to teach you how to defend yourself."

I nod, waving awkwardly to Easy Pete as I trot after Jackie. She walks around the saloon, and trudges up a hill behind the building. She pulls a rifle off of her shoulder and hands it to me. I eye it suspiciously, and Jackie chuckles, "It's not going to bite you, girl."

I turn it over, inspecting it thoroughly, "I'm not sure about that.." Jackie laughs outright and pats me on the back, "Here, I'll show you."

She takes the gun from me, and presses the back of it against her shoulder. "This is the bolt handle." She says, cocking the handle on the side of the gun and looking down the barrel. "Just look through the sight and make sure what you're trying to hit is in that area."

She squeezes the trigger and one of the bottles in front of her pops and shatters. She grins and presses the gun into my hands. "That's how you do it."

I purse my lips, trying to hold the gun like she had. To both of our surprise, the gun feels comfortable in my hands. I look down into the sight, and pull the trigger, hitting right below one of the bottles on the fence.

Jackie puts a supportive hand on my shoulder, "You'll get it! Try again."

I sigh, holding the gun back again, steadying myself. I glare down the sight, determined to get it this time. If this feels so comfortable in my hands, I have to prove it.

I inhale slowly, aiming the gun and exhaling as I press the trigger. One of the bottles on the fence shatters, and I turn to the side, cocking the gun and squeezing the trigger in half a second. The second bottle pops. I grin as I pull the bolt handle, hitting the third bottle. Then a forth and then a fifth.

I turn back towards Jackie, a grin plastered on my face. She looks wide eyed at me before bursting out laughing.

"Holy Brahmin! Maybe I should be taking lessons from you!"

I feel my face heat up, and I lean over to pet Lantern, trying to hide my blush.

"Nah, I just got lucky.."

I try to hand the gun back to Jackie, but she puts her hands up, "That's yours now, girl. You must have had some kind of gun training before you got shot. You're going to be needing that."

I shake my head, "No way! This is your gun!" Jackie smiles, and takes the gun from my hands, only to slide the strap over my shoulder, "I have plenty. This one is yours."

I exhale, shaking my head, "Alright, alright. Thank you, Jackie."

Jackie nods and turns back around, heading towards the saloon, "Come on, girl. I'll introduce you to Kim, the owner of the Prospector Saloon." A silly grin slides onto her face, and her eyes light up, "She's kind of my partner."

I follow behind her again, trying and failing to avoid Easy Pete's stare. I chuckle nervously and wave, still not sure how I should greet the new people in my life. He grunts in my directions, continuing his rocking.

Walking into the saloon is a little jarring. Compared to the incredibly bright desert outside, the saloon is dimly lit and somber. There are a few people seated at the bar, and no one looks up when the door slams behind me.

Jackie sits down on a barstool and I follow suit, Lantern lying silently at her feet.

A woman appears in front of us, pale pink hair chopped short above her shoulders. She leans against the wooden bar top, setting down the rag she was using to wipe the bar. "Ay, Jackie. Is this the girl Doc Stein patched up?"

Jackie nods as the woman passes her a beer, "Yes. She doesn't know her name, some sort of amnesia." At the sly glint in the woman's eyes, Jackie shakes her finger in her face, "Don't even think about it, Kim. She doesn't have a cap to her name, so don't think about trying to con her out of her money."

Kim puts a hand to her heart, feigning horror, "Little old me? I would never, Jackie!"

Jackie snorts and takes a sip on her beer, ignoring Kim's attempt at humor, "Yeah right, you can't fool me. Caps are all that matter to you."

I watch the interaction with amusement, both girls trading good natured barbs with each other before they turn to me again. Kim sticks her hand over the bar for me to shake,

"Sorry about your amnesia, girl. My name is Kim."

I shake her hand and smile, "Nice to meet you, Kim."

Kim presses her other hand over mine, patting it, "Nice to meet you too. Glad you're okay." I smile, and take the beer she hands me, even though I have an inkling I wasn't ever a drinker.

I take a sip of the fizzy liquid and find out I was right. I was not a drinker.

Jackie and Kim laugh at me as I try to cover up the foam that had gotten up my nose. I glare at the bottle, and Kim takes back the beer, handing me another glass bottle. "Here, have a Sunset Sarsaparilla." I take the bottle and sip it experimentally. I nod my head thankfully, "Much better."

Kim chuckles, and walks over to another patron calling for alcohol. Jackie chugs back her beer, sighing happily as she slams it down on the bar top. "So, Stein wants you back at his place for some testing, but I don't think you want be staying with him anymore than you have to. You can stay with me if you want."

I grin, my fingers tightening around the bottle in my hands. "That'd be great. Thanks Jackie."

Jackie digs around in her pockets before pulling out a few bottle caps and setting them on the counter. "Come on. Let's go back to the Docs." She waves over at Kim, "Bye Kim! We'll see you tomorrow!"

Kim waves back as she pours a shot of alcohol for another patron.

We head out of the saloon and down the road towards Dr. Steins house. As we walk, I notice a large metal-like figure rolling along the dirt at the edge of town.

I stop in my tracks, flinging my head towards Jackie, "What is that?!" I yelp, grabbing onto her arm. She pats my shoulder gently, "That? That's Patty. She's a robot. She's been here for.. Seven years or so. She's the one who saved you."

I let go of her arm and nod as the figure rolls off into a shack to the south. Jackie continues walking, pulling me along with her, "You can meet her soon and thank her. She's always out and about."

We walk up the hill to Dr. Steins house, and Jackie knocks on the door before entering, "Hey, Doc. I brought the girl back."

A disheveled looking Dr. Stein sitting in a rolling chair greets us. "Howdy, girls. I've been researching some way to help you all day." I smile and close the door behind us,

"That's really nice of you. Thanks."

He pushes off the floor with his feet to scoot the chair closer to us. The chair bumps on a crack in the floor, flinging the doctor onto the ground. He adjusts his glasses and sits back up on the chair like nothing had happened, ignoring my bewildered stare. Jackie didn't seem to be confused by the doctors odd behavior, and I guessed it was a normality for him.

"Yes, yes. I found a few books to help me."

He points at the couch and turns to Jackie, "You and Lantern can wait in here. I'll be done soon and you can take the girl to your house."

Jackie nods, busying herself with cleaning her gun and Lantern lies down at her feet again.

I follow Stein into his office, and he tells me to sit on the bed as he sits in his chair. "I found this book lying around, and I think it'll help. It's all about amnesia and ways to determine how you're healing. This is called the GOAT, The Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test. I'm going ask you a few questions. I know you don't remember much, if any at all, so just bear with me, okay?"

I nod again, settling myself comfortably on the bed. "Shoot."

"Alright. What's your name?"

I bite the inside of my cheek, this already isn't going well, "I don't know."

"Where were you born?"

I furrow my eyebrows, twisting my hands around in my lap. I dig around in my brain, trying to find some piece of information. Where was I born? I clench my hands together, and I have a faint image of mountains. Mountains? My eyes shoot open, and I'm surprised my mind is allowing me some sort of memory.

"Somewhere by the mountains."

Stein looks up, shocked, "Do you know that for sure?"

I shrug, "I think so. I can remember something about growing up around mountains."

Stein hums quietly, staring at the book, "That's something at least. Next question. Where do you live?"

I smile, glancing towards the living room. "In Goodsprings with Jackie."

Stein nods, "Alright. Where are you right now?"

"Goodsprings. Mojave Wasteland I think you call it? Dr. Steins house."

"When did you get here?"

My facial features began to skew with concentration. "I'm guessing.. Three weeks ago?"

"What's the first thing you remember after the shooting?

"Uhm.." I tilt my head, remembering something about a light and tar sucking at my legs. "I remember it being extremely fuzzy when I woke up, and sitting on this bed in your house."

"Alright, what's the last thing you remember before the shooting?"

I sigh, putting my face in my hands, "Nothing solid. I remember.." I grasp my hair, almost at the point of physically attempting to rip the memories from my brain. A dim flash flies through my mind, an image of getting a face full of dirt. I growl, knowing full well what it probably was, "Getting buried. Sort of. I remember dirt."

Stein chuckles and immediately tries to cover it with a cough at my scowl, "We're almost done, girl. Last question, what year is this?"

"2281. You told me that yesterday."

Stein adjusts his glasses, "You're right. So according to this, you're doing okay. Not perfect, but could be worse. At least you're able to make new memories."

He takes off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "You can go with Jackie now." He nearly pushes me out of his office, and I hurry into the living room, grabbing Jackie and pulling her towards the door. "Thanks, Doc!" She calls over our shoulders as we walk towards the door.

"Come on, girl. Let's get home before the sun sets."

I smile softly, my heart warming. That word feels nice. Home.

Authors Note- OMG IT'S CALLED THE GOAT. You have no idea how happy I was when I was researching and found out there was a real test called the GOAT that fit perfectly in the story. Fallout 3? The GOAT test in the beginning? Vault 101? Anyone? Yeah. Happy rant over.