The townsfolk began to disperse and simmer down, even leaving by the dozens that night. David left the bar to use the faculties briefly, leaving Trudy Sunny and Cheyenne. A wide modern robot rolled into the saloon on its single wheel. It had the height of seven or eight feet and had a monitor for a face displaying a typical cowboy stereotype; it went to the bar to talk to Trudy, while she was cleaning.

"We don't get many Securitrons here. What can I do for you?"

With a cliché-like tone of voice, it spoke as a generic Texan cowboy. "Howdy partners," it said. "I'm just popping in for a second to see if any of you cowpokes seen this greenhorn." It had shown Trudy a weathered photo, presenting it to her face.

The photo was of David from the early 21st century, the beginning of the 2020s. It was more of a photo ID of David; it was grey scale with a strip of tape across his chest displaying his full name. David Alphonso Wesker, it said, with a large blue and gold emblem behind him. The photo was also in near-mint condition and taken recently.

"David huh? What do you want with him?"

"That's on a need-to-know business, partner," it put away the photo quickly. "I apologise."

"Right… He stepped out, for now, he'll be back soon."

"Yeehaw! No worries pilgrim. Please do this old dog a favour and hand him this note." It passed Trudy a typed note before leaving silently, without a trace.

Trudy respected David too much to read the note without him. "I'll be sure to pass it…" She noticed the Securitron was gone and sighed. "I don't trust that thing."

"What was that all about?" Sunny asked.

"A note for David."

"What's the note?"

"I don't go poking my nose into people's business, but David and now a Securitron… Can't be a coincidence."

"I'm sure he can clear all this up. When he gets here, we can hear his side of the story…"

David approached the bar in the heat of the girls' convocation with a questioning glare. "Who's side of the story?"

"Yours," Sunny said.

"My what?" David sat down at the bar next to Sunny; they stared at with a curious glare; very uncomfortable. "What?"

Trudy handed David the note. The writing wasn't by hand. "A letter arrived for you, Mr Wesker…"

"Wesker?" David hardened in surprise. The name Wesker brings horrible images of a particular man known for his selfishness, cruelness and sunglasses at night. The grandfather he never asked for. "How did you guess my name?"

"A Securitron came in looking for you, wanted to make sure you get this note." Trudy showed David the letter. "Are you hiding something?"

"I have nothing to hide. Honest."

Sunny took for bottled water from the bar. "Wesker? Never heard of a name like that before..."

"Because they're all gone." David snatched the bottled water from Sunny's hand and took a sip; she didn't mind. "I was born in 1998, Imagined the family died out over a hundred years ago." He placed his firm hand over his empty tumbler.

Trudy felt guilty and sat on the bar in front of David, to hear him better. "Really? I can't begin to understand what you're going through."

"No, no. It's not you." David took out a cigarette from his pocket and sighed. "My granddad was an asshole and I grew up without a dad for as long as I can remember." With a silver flip lighter, he ignited his cigarette. "All I wanted was to live in peace without freaky shit happening… to just be normal. Being constantly reminded that I was… related is all I get. College, Uni, even work wasn't safe knowing I was under the thumb of some evil corporation." From his sudden rage, he accidentally crushed his glass tumbler, spitting glass shards all over his right hand. "Dammit!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry about that."

"Holy shit, that looked like it hurt. Are you alright?"

"Doesn't hurt that much. Sorry about the tumbler, Trudy."

"Don't worry about it champ. As long as you're okay." Trudy wiped down the mess and poured David another tumbler of whiskey." That looked like it hurt."

David stared at his hand, shards of glass were digging and grinding into his palm. He didn't care. The blood seeping through the wounds was the worst part. "I've seen worse." He clenched his hand into a fist, stopping the blood droplets. "I'm sorry, when I talk about my family I get a bit carried away. Emotional stuff. I just want to be normal. It was obviously too much to ask for."

"You're not normal, isn't that a bit of a stretch?"

"Not when you're a carrier of a virus..." David took a long puff of his cigarette and reminisced sourly. "I can thank my homicidal granddad for that. Guess that's why I'm touchy about hearing the name 'Wesker' now and then too. Now let's take a look at this note."

Dear Mr David Wesker.

You do not know me, but I know you… too well in fact. I know all about you and your estranged family ties, including how you intercepted our time zone. You should understand that you were not the first. I have all the answers you seek, and all I require is your company as soon as possible. Meet me in the Lucky 38's skyscraper in New Vegas, past the Strip, beyond Freeside, the topside of the Mojave.

I warn you; the journey will not be easy, you will find challenges along the way from the likes you may never have known was possible. If you really are the acclaimed David Wesker from the 21st century, then you will have no problem adapting to the competition you will face. Should anything happen to you then you are not the man I seek, and I will have no further desire to exchange words with you.

Yours sincerely: Mr Robert Edwin House.

David shook his head in confusion. "I don't even know where to begin. Who the hell is Mr House?"

Trudy quickly turned to David in surprise. "Mr House? He's the ruler of New Vegas. What on Earth does the Founder of RobCo want with you?"

David finished a cigarette and dabbed it out on his chestplate. "You know him?"

"Not in person..."

"No human ever saw him in person since before the War. He lies in the Lucky 38 Casino, in which no person has ever stepped into for two hundred years."

"That sounds boring, doing nothing up there all these years. Living that near to Vegas would be a dream worth fighting for. What does he do up there?"

"He's the founder of the three families, each of them owns a third of Vegas thus giving him complete control. With that rumoured Securitron army he apparently has. Let's say I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to take over the Mojave."

"I don't like him," Sunny admitted.

David felt disgusted. "Another corporate big shot… like all the others," he said sarcastically. "I find it strange he knows me in a little too much, considering what he typed in this note. I might have to pay him a visit and see why."

"Not right now you're not. You should probably get some rest and leave first thing tomorrow. The land is way too dangerous at night."

"That's fine with me, but I have no place to stay here."

"I can fix that. Sunny, take David home, will you? Someone needs to close tonight."

"Okay. Come with me, David."

Outside was dark and windy, the blistering sun called it in. David followed Sunny and Cheyenne to her home, he hoped. Along the path was Joe Cobb and the power ganger's untouched corpses, Sunny went to scavenge their personal belongings, starting with Cobb.

David felt weird about Sunny looting the recently deceased; he found it disrespectful. "Sunny… What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm looting the bodies."

"You steal from the dead? Disrespectful much…"

Sunny didn't even spare a look at David's general direction; her interest was of the things Cobb had on his person. Weapons and ammo. "Everybody does it," she said. "Another rule of thumb, remember? Scavenging everything that proves useful plays a big part in overall day-to-day survival. Dead or alive. That's when it's called looting."

"I believe after death a body should be respectfully laid to rest… but looting them?"

Sunny sighed and walked to David with a weapon she stole from Cobb. It was a two-handed weapon like a short rifle. "You see that right there? That's the feel of honour respect and even a bit of modesty educated people like yourself to maintain to some degree. That's more civility than the common rabble we got here. It's a harsh world out here now." She handed David a 20 gauge shotgun. "Those three words mean squat." She muttered, bitterly, "I know that better than anyone... I still have the nightmares." The day she lost her innocence, still, haunts her.

David examined the 20 gauge shotgun. It was a sawn-off, small bore, five round lever-action. "Guess some things don't change." Model 1887. Nice.

Sunny handed David a box of 20 gauge shells. "Do what comes natural." She carried of walking with Cheyenne, leaving David with his perplexed thoughts.

"Dad used to say that…" he whispered. "Who'd she hear that from?"

David followed Sunny and Cheyenne to an intact single floor bungalow; it's what you get when poverty strikes. Small and ordinary with nothing to call its own outside. The critters and foliage along the way were otherworldly but docile and maybe harmless, plants looked carnivorous, and the Bighorners were ugly as fuck, mutated cattle ugly.

If a cow were to have sex with a pig and take a copious amount of crack and crystal meth at the time of breeding, that monstrous offspring would probably be the best result. Gene splicing has hit an all time low. The night was still frigid outside, David couldn't wait to get out of it and into a nice warm bed, which put the horrible imagery to sleep.

Sunny's home was a small interior old fashioned 70's style décor, but everything was damaged over time like the walls and floor. David sat down and got comfortable on the couch in the living room with Cheyenne. Sunny went into the kitchen and came back to sit down next to him, handing a bottled water.

"Here you go, David."

"Thanks, Sunny. I needed one of these."

"After everything you've been through you deserve it. You feeling well?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"You took a nasty hit earlier today, David. Dynamite is dangerous."

"I feel like a million bucks. I've taken hits from grenades and explosives before."

"Uh... okay? Let's try and keep that to a minimum yeah? You're a kind man, and that's no way to go." She sighed. "We got an hour at best before bed."

"What's there to do in here?"

"In Goodsprings not much. Learning and getting to know each other pretty much the best way to pass the time."

Trudy entered the home and gave a wink to David and Sunny, before going straight to her room. She closed the door with complete silence. "Trudy lives here?"

"We both live here."

David had a dirty thought and raised his provocative eyebrow. "You and her you know…" He clicked his tongue.

Sunny didn't understand David at first, as the penny dropped though she blushed awkwardly. "Oh no! It's not like that. I have nowhere to live. The youngest one in town in fact. Trudy cares for me like an older sister."

"Cute. Didn't take you to be the old type anyway."

"Twenty-three this August. You?"

"The same, but let's not get too attached. Considering I'm leaving tomorrow, I don't see the point."

"We got time. Let's make it work."

"My story is long and depressing," David moaned.

"Like mine then. Come on; we can compare notes."

David groaned, loudly. "Why?"

"I saved you days ago, I feel like it's my responsibility to get you ready to face the world," she suddenly blushed again. "And… I like you."

"For the record, I'm only opening up to you because I like you too. What's today's date?"

"Saturday, March third, 2281."

David put away his water and reached for his whiskey flask within his armour; it was empty. He was annoyed, and put it back and took a sip from the bottled water Sunny gave him instead. He forgot to ask Trudy to top it up before closing time; it was free so why not.

"If it helps me move on I'll tell you my story." David cleared his throat. "It was Saturday, twentieth of April, 2021 – I'll never forget that day." He sighed. Never liked telling stories, like it was an intervention. "I was born in Raccoon City and grew up in Beverly Hills, In Los Angeles my whole life. I was the point man of the L.A.P.D.'s STARS Alpha Team Division, the town's new special forces; my job was to protect the team and all civilians. We were fighting against our enemy the Neo-Umbrella Corporation – A terrorist group seeking world domination, at the time. With their B.O.W. superiority that we were struggling against, they were just too powerful and wouldn't quit."

"What's a B.O.W.?"

"Bio-Organic Weapon. They're creatures that are intentionally modified into a living weapon. They were supposed to be supersoldiers in the field of warfare, but things naturally got complicated, and before you knew it, they were everywhere. Neo-Umbrella got too greedy than their predecessors and used them as manual labour to replace human workers, and the more complex models served as their military force." David lit a cigarette and took a single puff on it. "I died in one of their factories where they pump out their supersoldiers. My dad there on the same day... "His voice deepened as he smoked slowly. "As a superhuman, he could generate massive amounts of power, but... "He cleared his throat and spoke as normal, "The Nexus was more than capable enough to steal the power he generated in the most incrustation way possible, literally juicing it from his body like an orange. No doubt the power Neo-Umbrella steals would be used to fuel their greed. When I accidentally destroyed the Nexus in motion, it imploded 'killing' me and the bastard behind the attack on our city…"

At this point Sunny was gripped in surprise; even felt a shocked expression coming along. "They attacked your town?!" She held David's hand for some reason other than fondness. It was sheer interest.

"My dad was launching a counterattack, unluckily they were expecting him into a trap, and we both fell for it. I died once, but that time I thought it was all over…" David's facial expression dropped lower into bitter regret. "Had a family, wife and two sons. I shouldn't be alive this time."

Sunny started to shed some tears, didn't feel any upset but the tears were there. "I-I'm sorry…"

"I'll manage. At least it wasn't all for nothing, finally killed Savage."

"What Savage?"

"Executive Dorian Savage, where do I begin with this corporate tyrant? This psychopath was the worst thing to walk the earth since the T-bloody-Rex. He has no compassion, remorse, honour, dignity, mercy, integrity; the list goes on 'n' on... He was one of the bastards that wanted to rule the world under a Neo-Umbrella banner; was the one that killed me the year before. Didn't think that incident was gonna be our final encounter."

"You actually... died before? I must've misheard you there."

"Worst experience of my life. Can remember it like it was yesterday, and NO, you didn't mishear me. Died of cardiac arrest, by his hand."

He died and came back like I did… "Killed people before haven't you?"

"Without a doubt. Mostly the ones I kill weren't so human. What's your story?"

"I lived in a vault back in the Capital since I was eighteen, then I left because of family issues. Been here at Goodsprings for nearly a year now. Many bad things happened to me along the way from my journey to the Mojave, the stuff of nightmares. I don't want to relive any of the events that conspired back there."

David smiled. "We both have something to relate to then."

"We're more alike than I thought." Sunny's eyes strayed away from David's face to his chest. "I like your armour. What's the brand?"

"This is a STARS prototype stealth combat armour, I testing it out before I died. It has a built-in cloaking field generator. My dad made the first brands of battle armour sometime in 2006, to be used by STARS members." David's cigarette had burnt out to a nub, scorching his fingertips; discarded it onto the floor. Again he forgot to smoke it. Such a waste.

"Didn't think combat armours were around that long ago… If your father were alive today, he'd be bloody rich. There's a lot of people out there paying thousands each day for them. It's an outstanding armour."

"They're mass produced? Guess that works. He'd take that as a compliment anyway, wherever he is." Any cheerfulness David had was swept away when he took out his wallet to reminisce on his old photo inside. "That's all in the past now, either you move on or get left behind."

Sunny tried to arrange her body to peek at the photo that was bumming out David. "What's the photo?"

David handed Sunny his weathered photo to look at with her eager eyes. "It's a family photo, on our wedding day a few months before I died - wife was pregnant with our second son at the time."

"My condolences." Sunny handed David's photo back to him, reluctantly. The photo was too beautiful in an otherwise bleak universe. Husband and wife are holding a young baby with another coming soon. He hidden it back in his wallet, slowly.

"Don't be. It's not your problem nor your regrets. Have you got any family?"

"I used to have a family. Mom died at birth and dad died five years ago back in the Capital. Since I found Cheyenne, we've been inseparable since." She petted Cheyenne, who was brushing against her leg, panting happily. "Did have a daughter back then but I gave her up for a better life."

"Really now? What did you do with her?"

"I gave her back to the vault I grew up. When I left the vault four years ago, things went to hell pretty fast… The time I came back, later on, I was banished… but I was able to give my daughter to them to live a better life; safer one, within the vault. I didn't want her to experience the same hell I did when I left."

"To give her a better future… that's so sweet. The sacrifices we're willing to make for our children makes us real parents."

"Now Cheyenne is my daughter. Isn't that right, girl?" Cheyenne barked, in response. "Tell you what, I can see why they're man's best friend. She saved me more times I saved her."

"That was a lovely chat, but I guess it's bedtime now."

"Cheyenne bunks with me, you can have the couch for today, but that's what I would say to a guest; you're not a regular guest. You can bunk with me in my bed."

This was the time David was five hundred per cent sure Sunny was inviting him to something besides sleeping. "You don't have to."

"You're the guest of honour. Please join me in my bed. The nights can be very unforgiving at night."

"Sure… If you don't mind." David said lamely. That was a strange invitation she offered.

David was pretty sure that the second he removes his armour Sunny would pounce on him; she was clearly attracted to him, not that she wasn't attractive herself. What was odd was David felt no desire to sleep with her, the feeling just wasn't there. Just couldn't think of it. Sunny lead Cheyenne to sleep on the couch outside and for him to join her under the covers.

Sunny's bed wasn't anything spectacular, but it was fit for two and durable; didn't help to ease the mood. There was a cold draft of air breezing through the gaps in the walls, and the bed was warm, though. David didn't need the armour tonight anyway.

Awkward stares exchanged between David and Sunny while they shed their armour, down to their civilian clothing and skivvies. David expected a move at some point in the night. Two single adults unveiling almost everything in bed is just flirting with disaster, in David's eyes at least; far too soon for him.

Then suddenly the night went as cold as the grave. David could handle the cold like a polar bear, though Sunny was quick to hold him tightly and combined their body heat to battle the cold. She ground her petite figure against David's own; she was purposely trying to stimulate him. When it seemed like she was failing, she climbed on top of him and started kissing him on the lips, far and beyond.

David's body wasn't convinced, surprisingly. He could tell when a woman was trying to get intimate with him his body just wasn't interested in her for some reason. It was strange, to say the least. David did kiss her several times just to find the will to meet her halfway, but he had to force himself to do so, and David loves a woman's affection deep down. Kissing was tasteful. Where was the mojo when you wanted it?

Under the sheets, Sunny basked in the warmth generated by David's body, trying to get him hard. Suddenly, any thoughts of desire were quickly washed away, David felt Sunny's advances halt and then diminish. As if she didn't feel the chemistry anymore, in a sudden realisation she rolled off him without a word and went to sleep. Now that was out of the way, all that there was to do is to sleep the damned cock-tease night away.

Sunny was the first to wake up; she left David to sleep in bed to get his belongings in order. Trudy wasn't around, and Cheyenne was still asleep on the couch. With the fumbling around in the lounge, David soon woke up and went on to prepare himself with Sunny to face the outside world. Like the gentleman he was, he got fixed and waited for Sunny to make herself decent before saying his goodbyes.

David, Sunny and Cheyenne were ready for anything, David had already made plans to leave Goodsprings prior before going to bed last night and was anxious to go, but it was hard to forget what Sunny truly did for him - in her ways. Offering a hand to understand the ways of the Wasteland and showing him some excitement was just two of the few things he could specify.

"Guess I'll be leaving now?"

"I can't believe you're going. After everything you did…" She sighed. "I wish you could stay longer."

"I'd love to, but this isn't my time. I gotta go out there and make the most of it… based on what I got left I need to leave now to find a reason."

Sunny saddened but humbly accepted David's choice. "Then I won't stop you." She took off a device she had on her left wrist. It was a large metal bracelet with a small screen fixed over. "Listen, this is what people call a Pip-Boy 3000. It contains the user's personal information along with their vital signs, a rad counter, radio and even an area map. Easy to use, I'll just input the safest route to Vegas traders take so you don't get lost." With the map interface up, she imputed a breadcrumb trail leading to Vegas, based on the safest and shortest route. She strapped the Pip-Boy tightly over David's left wrist and shown him how to use the interface.

"Thanks, Sunny, you're the best."

"I know. It's not as good as it used to be in the Capital but you'll find some use out of it."

"That's a good map interface. South, east, and then north. Easy enough to follow."

"When you discover new locations the Pip-Boy will jot it down."

"That's great; I can use something like this a lot. That's it for me then."

"Must you go alone?"

"Don't tell me you want to come with?"

She sighed. "I can't… I have too many enemies out there. Been roaming the wastes for too many years I begin to forget how many people I wronged out there, and that's no life for me… not anymore. When I came here, I wanted to begin a new honest life, and I finally have one."

"I understand. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"Come now; I'm not exactly a naive girlie-girl, I can protect myself here. If there's any chance in hell I need help; I'll broadcast over your Pip-Boy's radio."

"Okay then." David walked to the front door, ready to leave but stopped. "You know… you helped me figure something out. Life gets you down you can only move up, that's something you help me realise," he said grimly. "If you weren't here to convince me otherwise, I'd lose myself to regret, and you know… end it. Not like shooting myself in the head or anything but just by, not caring anymore. And what's the difference between that and dying?"

Sunny was distraught with David's intention; he was deadly serious. "David…?"

"I'm fine, really I am," he turned around and smiled, badly. "You helped me open my eyes, see the world for what it really is, saving me from my false fantasy world I trapped myself in. I do that sometimes... to avoid reality."

"Which is why I feel you should stay longer…"

David faced Sunny and approached her. "You're a strong independent woman… you don't need me anymore, and neither does Goodsprings…"

"But David I…" David placed his index finger over her mouth, shushing her.

"Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. This path is my journey. My life. My future."

David ripped off his S.T.A.R.S. badge from his left tricep to place into Sunny's hand, before brushing her hair and stroking her cheeks slowly on the way down to her swan-like neck. After an intense brief hug the two locked eyes and kissed, tears aplenty from her eyes the entire time of the sudden goodbye. That was a kiss he yearned for a long time.

"You have wonderful eyes by the way. Were they always gold?"

"Yes… Let's not do this."

"You're right. It's too hard as it is. Well then, goodbye, Sunny. I'll never forget you." David backed away and walked to the door.

David faded from Sunny's sights. A glance at the badge he gave her was black blue and white with gold stars in the rings, under the S.T.A.R.S. abbreviation. Before she knew it, David was nowhere to be seen outside when she came out to see him off. David had left Goodsprings on the lonely road to the first destination on the map Primm.