I'm back, I've got free time today since I can't go to school with my head in a bucket emptying what ever I have in my stomach into it, so heres the next chapter:

Stella was breathing heavily, running for her life as she was pulled along by the stranger, and whipped her head around as she heard shouting. "C'mon boys, let's find these fuckers"! She turned back around as she heard him tell her, "Don't turn back; focus on where you're going. Be perceptive of you surroundings". She looked into those strange eyes of his; thinking that he almost sounded like he was talking from experience. She shook it of as nothing and continued to run, instinctively ducking her head as she heard gunshots.

She was about to ask where they were going until she felt the stranger throw her to the side, grunting as she landed in a shallow ditch. She looked up, expecting him to abandon her, but then saw him raise a finger to his mouth and tell her, "Stay put, I'll be back". And then he turned to face two raiders who came through the trees. One wore nothing but a work harness and welding goggles, while the other was decked out with a set of helmeted cage armour, instantly recognizable by the custom hooded gasmask.

The armoured one shouted, "I don't who or what the fuck you are, but were pissed an-" he was interrupted when the stranger pulled a hunting rifle out and took a shot, the bullet streaming through the air and planting itself into the raiders' brain as it went through his left eye. Before the other one could react, he pulled out his pistol and fired of three rounds; the first two took out his legs while the last one was place right between the eyes.

He then lowered the pistol, breathing heavily as he listened for more, and as he heard someone shout, "This way!" he growled under his breath. He jogged over to her sliding down the side of the ditch, and said, "We need to get to my place, it's about two miles that way, c'mon". She got up, not bothering to dust herself of, and ran behind him. They continued to weave between trees and rocks until the shouting was no longer audible. The stranger hunched over, panting heavily as he held onto a tree to steady himself, and Stella collapsed to her knees, hands held behind her head to open the air ways as she was on the verge of passing out.

When she was finished choking on air, she asked, "W-who are you a-anyway"? He turned around, and told her, "My name is Carson, I saw you get captured when I was out hunting". He walked over and offered a hand to help her up, which she took as she felt too weak to do it herself, and he finished, "I wasn't going to let a defenseless woman get captured by a band of murderers and perverts". She smiled, "Thanks, but why did you really do it? People don't risk their lives for others unless they want something". He chuckled, "Yeah, I do want something, but let's wait until we get somewhere safe before we talk about that".

They continued to walk through the woods for about an hour until Carson pulled aside some bushes and said, "Here we are, home sweet home". She walked towards a small cabin that he must've put together himself, getting startled by the Brahmin that mooed at her as she walked past it's pen. He told her, "Make yourself comfortable; you've been through quiet the ordeal. She opened the red door to see an old couch and circle carpet next to a metal fireplace. As she walked inside, she saw a dirty mattress on top of a metal bed frame in the corner with a stove in the adjacent corner and a table opposite of it.

She sat on the couch, resting her head back against the wall, and taking a moment to collect her thoughts, 'Okay, so I've just been rescued by a lizard man named Carson from slavers, and now I'm in a cabin in the woods waiting for him to begin ordering me around as payment? Just another day in the Commonwealth, right'? She heard the door slam closed as Carson came in with a few logs of wood in his hands, and said, "I see you found the couch". She sat up, and said, "Thank you for everything you've done for me". He walked over to the kitchen and placed the logs inside the stove, "You can thank me by passing me the matches under the cushion".

She reached beneath the cushion she was sitting on and pulled out a small matchbox, and walked over to give it to him. He took it and said, "It'll be a while until dinner is ready; so make yourself comfortable while you wait". She walked over to the lounging area as he lit a match, and told her, "In case you're worried that one of those men raped you, there are tablets I found in the first aid kit over there". She walked over to it, opening the case to find the tablets inside and proceeded to take a couple. She sat down and turned to see him take the hat and coat off and place it on the table, now in his jeans and shirt. She was hypnotized by the colourful set of blue, violet and orange feathers he had for hair, but then snapped out of it and proceeded to read a magazine she had in her pack.

Stella sat cross-legged on the carpet in front of the fireplace; silently listening to the radio that Carson had playing. She turned to see him preparing a meal over the stove, swaying side to side to the tune on the radio, giving the impression that he enjoys cooking to classical music. She turned back to look into the fireplace again, fiddling with the locket in her hands under the blanket, until Carson came over with the cast iron saucepan, a ladle, two bowls and some cutlery.

He transferred some soup to the bowl with the ladle and handed it to her, who reluctantly took it. As he poured himself a bowl, he told her, "You should eat; you look like you haven't eaten in a while". She took a spoon and sipped a small spoonful, making sure it didn't taste odd, but then realized how hungry she was and began to devour the soup like a starved mongrel. Halfway through eating, she turned to see Carson sit on the lounge and eat his meal, and couldn't help but stare at him.

When he caught her staring at him, he asked, "Is there something you need"? She put down the bowl and asked, "Sorry if this is rude, but what are you"? He chuckled, "Yeah, should've expected you to ask sooner or later… well Ms. Johansen, I'm what you call an Argon". He reached into his coat to pull out a map, pointing to one place in particular and told her, "We're mutant's that come from the Capital Wasteland; I'm probably the only Argon in the Commonwealth". She looked up at him with awe, "You're from the Capital Wasteland? What was it like"? He shook his head, "Same as any place in this world, I much rather living in the New Vegas Business Strip then there".

She asked, "You've been to New Vegas too? How old are you, exactly"? He went back to his soup, answering, "36" before taking a spoonful. She went to pick up the bowl again, but then stopped to ask, "What are you doing in the Commonwealth then"? He stopped eating, and said, "Didn't have anything holding me back, thought I needed a change of scenery, and it was just the closest place to where I was before". They both continued to eat in silence, until Stella asked, "What is it you need from me, exactly"? He looked up from his soup and smiled, "I'll tell you in the morning, just relax and enjoy the meal".

After dinner, Carson was going through a trunk for things for tonight, and tossed Stella a pair of male cream blue winter pajamas. He told her, "You can sleep in my bed tonight, and I'll set up on the couch". She looked at the pajamas and then at him, and said, "Um, where should I…" he waved it off, "Don't worry, I won't look". As he continued to look through the chest, she took off her boots and pants and changed into the pajamas, when she was done she saw Carson already asleep on the couch with his hat placed over his face. She smiled; glad to see he kept his word and wasn't watching her strip. She then got under the covers, blowing out the last candles and going to sleep, enjoying the feeling of a soft bed and a roof over her head.

So, Carson is an Argon from the Capital Wasteland and has been traveling across the land, and is kind enough to provide Stella with food and a bed; what a nice guy...

Next time:

Stella woke up to the sound of the radio in the morning, groggily opening her eyes only to close them when a ray of sunlight entered through a hole in the wall. She turned around; moaning in annoyance, to see the couch was no longer occupied. She looked around, still squinting her eyes, as it was still pretty bright, looking for her absent guardian in the room. She threw the sheets of, swinging her legs over the side as she got up and walked over to the kitchen table, where there was a set of clothes and a note.

She picked it up, reading, "Stella – found these the other day, was going to sell them but decided to let you have them, get dressed and meet me outside, Carson". She looked at the clothes, thinking they looked nice, and decided to get dressed. When she was finished, she was now wearing a yellow vest over an old white shirt and blue cargo jeans, and a pre-war press beret, deciding to remove the note that says 'press' on it. She walked outside, greeted by the intense light of the sun, but as her eyes adjusted she saw Carson harvesting corn in the garden.

Well, we're going to find out his motives in the next time which I might post tonight if I finish writing it. Until then, have a good one!