|Chapter Two: Anybody and No-one|
Indeed, there were many solar panels. Some of which broken and shattered and torn up by the years and some of which still stood proudly, but cold, from the lack of the sun beating on them. And it was beyond Boone on how 'solar energy' worked- he'd barely heard of such a thing but Catherine seemed determined. Almost in the way so that she knew everything there was to know about it, but in reality there was nothing she knew about Helios One at all. The two approached the facility, NCR tirelessley guarding it with their lives as if the Brotherhood of Steel were to attack again. What a waste of resources, if anything. And then again, who wanted to be put out on the front lines in combat in a war they could barely win if the Gods permitted? What gods, though?
This endless train of thought perplexed the man as he adjusted his shades and beret, wiping sweat from his brow as Catherine led him through the dank complexes of the Power Plant, eventually finding that idiot in the glasses one of the soldiers outside had pointed her to. And Catherine, well, didn't seem to enjoy the present of someone so ludicrous. If only she had met some of the chem fiends he had personally blown the life out of with his hunting rifle. This man was a bit too egocentric for Catherine and she ended up talking to another man who wasn't cracked but was a Follower. Boone didn't mind them, but didn't care for their ways. Ignacio Rivas was his name- Damn, it sounded something like a Legion name. And here was Catherine, talking solidly to a man who claimed to be of peace and unity but who worked for the NCR like a toiling slave.
Or probably was slaving to get rid of that 'Fantastic' character in the other room.
Either way, Boone didn't blame him entirely. But still- tabs would be kept on 'Ignacio'. Seemed a little fishy, and just because he was a Legion hating son of a bitch didn't mean he couldn't be suspicious too. Catherine in her usual stark ways moved out of the shade of the plant. Only if the coolness would last longer as they braved the heat, scrutinizing the barren land as they looked for each terminal to activate. Barren was almost and understatement- and hellhole didn't define it. The two swept the perimiter before finding the metal shack, not a few yards off from their original position. And, of course, it was trapped. Luckily, the sniper had noticed beforehand, and motioned for her to stop at he aimed and fired one swift round into the tripwire, a ding of metal and small plumes of dirt casacading from the entry point into the ground, and a casing lay near the man's feet. Catherine moved in, seeing the mines. Knowing she couldn't deactivate them all at once she moved back out, and let Boone do the work for her. Shooting was his talent and current occupation, anyways.
And for her, it was technology. Energy weapons, and talking to people. However, the lattermost was her leased used skill and the two former ones were predominant. Highly sufficient in her line of work, it was easy to re-link the terminal back to the solar collection tower- wondering what to do about the upcoming battle with the automated defense systems- and thinking about the priority at hand.
Boone's tinted glasses reflected into the Mojave sun as he looked into the sky, the nude, cloudless light bue azure making him think. It made him think about a lot of things, while he awaited Catherine's conformation on finding the second terminal. Boone never admitted to himself that he was filled with angst- especially after 'She' died- and the sky reminded him every day of her eyes that weren't dull or lackluster. He couldn't bring himself to say her name as he felt he didn't deserve it, and what they were now were just anybody and no-one. Ethereal and reality.
At times, he'd think of her and the things she would do, every little thing that drove him crazy about her. But in the morning's creeping light through his dusty blinds that spilled onto the old, red carpet and into his bed he only wished that light belonged to Carla as it did in the past.
And now, the morning's light was blocked by Catherine's dull shadow, which stretched across the walls like an eternal and abyssal eclipse. Catherine, who was usually cleaning and repairing weapons. But now, in the present, they were hard at work. Work for the government they had both come to respect truthfully. Therefore, at times, they did what others didn't. No matter the assignment it got finished by the duo aquaintances, but there were times that they both rebelled like an angry teenager towards mother or father.
He could almost hear his name being called over and over, a chorus of "Boone! Wake up!" and light-fingered snaps to match. The voice didn't belong to Carla, much to his dismay. And disappointment.
Gently putting her hand out of his face, he followed Catherine to the tin-can shack where she had disposed of the NCR guard dogs the resided there previously. It was humane enough for him, but frankly, he didn't give a damn, as long as the job was finished. Catherine, however, had pity but quickly got to her work on resetting the connection between the collection tower and terminal once again, and at times due to her lonesome self, she thought it was like setting up a couple. All fine and dandy, right up until the other refuses their connection like fickle kids refusing 'healthy' foods. She didn't blame the kids. Boone peered over her shoulder from a small distance and left to lead the way towards the collection tower, a rusted old, barely functioning pre-war tower used for energy. Back then, they had lots of energy, plentiful supplies. But now, you could barely use a hotplate.
She followed closely and flanked to his right side as they entered, weary of not to rush ahead. There was a pre-war defense system and it wasn't looking for friends at the moment.
She took quick cover by a corner and squeezed a few shots off her laser rifle, hot and empty microfusion cells clattering against the rusted metallic flooring. One turret down, two to go and a Sentry bot included- just her luck. Boone didn't seem to have problems, though. He was even running into fire like an idiot as he assaulted to Sentry bot with his rifle repeatedly. Effective but not the brightest tool in the shed, she dryly chuckled. Peering through a scope she had added and making sure the area was clear (Boone also made sure of that by blatantly walking around), Catherine got up from her hiding spot and moved to the stairwell which shared the same amount of aging as everything around them did. They watched eachother's backs, cautious of the other but worried about theirselves. Just like Anybody and No-one.