Part 2: The turn

Looking back, getting shot in the head hurts. Seriously, it does. Of course, most don't survive by the bullet miraculously only barely penetrating their skull, and patching the hole it left, therefore only being knocked unconscious by the blow to the head. Lucky me. When I woke up again, a muted gold of sunrise shone through a shuttered window. I was lying on what could loosely be defined as a bed. Rusted medical stuffs were everywhere, probably Pre-War vintage.

"You're awake. How about that." A low husky voice said from my left. I slowly sat up, wincing as I held my head for a second. As I sat up all the way, everything seemed to become fuzzy for a second. "Whoah, easy there, easy." An old man was sitting in a chair besides the bed. "You've been out cold for a couplea days now. Why don't you relax a second. Get yer bearings." He had a southwesterly accent, native probably. "Let's see what the damage is. How about your name? Can you tell me your name?"

"Ow…. My name?" I spoke. My voice was awful, have to drink water later. "All you need to call me is The Courier, or just Courier."

"Huh. Can't say that's normal, but, that's your name, I guess. And under your circumstances, I won't pry." He said. "I'm Doc Mitchell. Welcome to Goodsprings. Now, I hope you don't mind, but I had to go rootin' around there in your noggin to pull all the bits of lead out. I take pride in my needlework, but you'd better tell me if I left anything out of place. How'd I do?" He handed me an old Reflectron, still working after all these years. I sorted it out, female, yes, Caucasian, yes, face was like that, yes, my hair was actually aqua.

"Well, I got most of it right anyway, stuff that mattered." Doc said, getting up out of his chair. "No sense keeping you in bed anymore. Let's see if we can get you on your feet." He helped me up, everything went fuzzy again for a second. "Good. Why don't you walk down to the end of the room, over by that Vigor Tester machine there. Take it slow now. It ain't a race." I slowly walked over. "Looking good so far. Go ahead and give the Vigor Tester a try. We'll learn right quick whether you've recovered your facilities." I went ahead and activated it.

It gave me my Strength, 6, first, then another 5 for Perception, a 7 for Endurance as well, a 4 for Charisma, a 7 in Intelligence, another 7 for Agility, and 5 for Luck. No gambling for me, it seems.

"Yep, that's a pretty standard score there. But after what you've been through, I can say that's great news." Doc said. He'd been off to the side while I'd been fiddling with the machine. "Well, we know your vitals are good. But that don't mean nothin if we can't tell what you're thinkin. Take a seat on my couch here and I'll ask ya a few questions." We went into another room, me sitting on the couch, and him in a chair.

"All right. I'm going to say a word. I want you to say the first thing that comes to mind." Doc said, than began with "Dog."

"Feed." I said.

"House."

"Shelter."

"Night."

"Silencer."

"Bandit."

"Swiss Cheese."

"Light."

"Dark."

"Mother."

"Caretaker."

"Okay, Now, I got a few statements. I want you to tell me how much they sound like something you'd say." Doc said. "First one; 'Conflict just isn't in my nature.'"

"I agree. If i have to resort to violence, I will, but I'd rather talk it out."

"I ain't given to relying on others for support."

"Agree. I prefer to go alone, but if I have to, I'll work with someone."

"I'm always fixin' to be the center of attention."

"Disagree. I'm a courier, not a magnet."

"I'm slow to embrace new ideas."

"Disagree."

"I charge in to deal with my problems head-on."

"Agree."

"Almost done here. What do you say you have a look at this? Tell me what you see?"

"A broken chain."

"Okay. How about this one?"

"A priceless work of art?"

"Last one."

"A light in the darkness."

"Well, that's all she wrote." Doc said. My eyes burned slightly. "I don't have nothing to compare it to, so maybe you'd better just have a look at the results." He handed me a sheet. Strengths were Science, Sneak, and Energy Weapons, fine.

"Before I turn you loose, I need one more thing from you. I got a form for you to fill out so I can get a sense of your medical history. Just a formality. Ain't like I expect to find you got a family history of gettin shot in the head." He handed me the form, and I checked the 'Traits' boxes of Good Natured and Skilled.

"All right. I guess that about does it." Doc said. "Come with me. I'll see you out." We stood, walking around the furniture into a hallway that lead to the front door.

"Here. These are yours. Was all you had on you when you was brought in." He said, handing me my Express delivery notes, a 9mm, some ammo, and some Stimpaks. "I hope you don't mind, but I gave the note a look. I thought it might help me find an next of kin. But it was just something about a platinum chip. Well, if you're heading out there, you ought to have this. They call it a Pip-Boy. I grew up in one of them vaults they made before the war. We all got one. Ain't much use to me now, but you might want such a thing after what you been through. I know what it's like, having something taken from you. And put this one, so the locals don't pick on you for lacking modesty. Was my wife's. I think she was about your size, and she hardly wore it after we left the vault. Felt it was too brazen."

"Thanks for patching me up, Doc." I said, glad I got my stuff back. All my weapons were still on me, useless since Suit Guy had gotten the drop on me. My armor was also off, since I'd been in New Vegas at the time, and wasn't expecting him to jump me.

"Don't mention it. It's what I'm here for. You should talk to Sunny Smiles before you leave town. She can help you learn to fend for yourself in the desert. She'll likely be at the saloon. I reckon some of the other folks at the saloon might be able to help you out too. And the metal fella, Victor, who pulled you outta your grave. Anyway, you ever get hurt out there, you come right back. I'll fix you up. But try not to get killed anymore, hear?"

"Hey Doc, thanks. Really, see you around." I said. He'd also given me a Laser Pistol, with some cells, and I turned and walked out the door, ready to face the desert and find that chip.