*Seven Years Ago*

"What are you doing Hassel," Alex asked from his cot. It was late, and our barracks were pretty quiet, I was shocked he was even up. Even for a Rookie, it was late.

"Something I'll thank myself for later." I sat on my cot, my rifle in my lap and my knife in hand. I must of looked pretty stupid with my knife pressed into the stock of my gun.

"There," I put my knife next to me and held my rifle up to enjoy my work. "What do ya think," I turned my gun to face Alex. The insignia of the 1st Recon and their motto freshly carved into my rifle. The scars on his face collected as his smile widened.

"Nice! You should do the other side too," Alex exclaimed. He was a Rookie, which was obvious and obnoxious. He was so excited to be in 1st Recon that he could barely sleep. All Rookies did it; we called it the Rookie Six. The next six months would all be great for him, new team, new customized gun, new location, new Major, and everyone's favorite, the 1st Recon Beret.

We all did that too. Anyone who was semi-good with a sniper rifle strived for a red beret. They showed everyone who you were. The best of the best. We could be anywhere, and you wouldn't know until your head was rolling next to your body. They were our pride and joy, next to our guns of course.

Yes the next six months would be great. Hell, maybe even one or two after. But after that you start to realize it's not all fun and games. We are constantly moving from place to place, wherever the NCR needs us. We wait, and wait, and wait. Then finally we have a chance to take a shot, and usually only one chance. And "cleaning up" the Mojave usually doesn't appeal too many. Killing raiders and Caesar's Legion isn't for everyone.

I glanced at my beret on top of the duffle bag that was next to my bed. "This is where I'm meant to be," I thought. I placed my knife in its sheath, and laid it and my rifle next to my bag. I lay down on my cot facing Alex; he sat on his cot looking at his beret, a huge smile planted on his face.

"Good two months huh Alex?"

"It's great, I love you guys! My parents would be so proud."

"I'll bet," I let out a small chuckle. "So, where are they?"

"In a charred building, rotting."

"Excuse me?"

"Vipers. Burned our home," the web of markings on his face all made sense now. "They waited outside for us when we ran. Tied my dad and me up and made us watch as they raped her, slit her throat and toss her in to the burning rubble. They tortured my dad and myself, I'm pretty sure they would have raped us too had my father not bit one of the Raider's fingers off."

"Off?"

"Off. Took that second to run and never looked back. I have rope scars from the binding," he showed me his arms, scars ran around his wrists.

"Wow….man, I'm sorry. That's horrible."

"That's why I joined the NCR. I won't be satisfied till I see all of their heads explode through my scope, or beat them until their own mother wouldn't recognize their face," he was fuming.

"You know, we aren't about killing Raiders. We're army, we usually do 'clean up' to kill time."

"Then I'll make every second worth it."

I'm pretty sure his eyes flared red as he glared through me. I gave him a second to cool down; He focused on the present and gave me a small smile.

"But now I suppose it's time to sleep, G'night Ku—," He was cut off by the alarm. The entire bunk sprang from their beds and to the floor. Armor flew from bags into the air and onto bodies. The clang on belt buckles rang out as men and women scrambled to get dressed. The clicks of ammo magazines into rifles, and the sound of their bolts locking rounds into place were soon after. We were ready in seconds, storming out of the barracks. The base had an unmistakable light show glowing from the other side of the south wall; shots were being fired back onto us. The men guarding the walls we franticly firing rounds into the sea of light, a young soldier tossed a grenade into the group of attackers.

"Grenade," a man shouted followed shortly by a boom. NCR troops rushed to the top of the wall and to the reinforced garage doors making the makeshift gate. 1st Recon moved in all directions, our teams of two didn't matter in the small space. Red berets dotted the groups of people on the walls, taking shots into the light show.

"Clear the wall," a NCR trooper shouted, a boom and a flash of light soon followed. "They've breeched the south wall!"

"Shit," I cursed from clenched teeth. I ran behind a sandbag barricade and took position, peeking out from the top. Legion forces poured from the gates, shooting at everything in sight. I knew I was at a disadvantage from where I was, but the nearest stairs to the top of the wall was behind a group of Legion. I brought the scope of my rifle to my eye and focused on the head of the leader of said group. He looked over just in time to see the bullet enter his left eye. His blood splattered outward, covering the goggles of one of the Legionaries, he stumbled in shock for a second. I cocked the bolt of my rifle and focused on the shocked recruit. A squeeze of my trigger and he was down too. Two left, and by now, they knew where I was. I pulled the bolt back again, pushing it back into place quickly. The two Legionaries opened fire, their sub-machine-guns spraying bullets everywhere. I ducked behind the bags; bullets hit the wall with thuds and fizzes. A small break in the firing to reload, I jumped up quickly and focused on the advancing men. I shot one in his knee, relocked and took out the other one with a bullet to the head. I jumped over the barricade and ran to the kneeling man, with a yell I brought the stock of my gun to the back of his head, killing him. As I turned to run the stairs a Decanus ran towards me with a machete in his hand. As I went to cock the bolt of my rifle, it jammed. I fumbled to fix it, but the Decanus was gaining ground fast. I looked up from my rifle, prepared to fight the man hand-to-hand but a shot rang out over the rest. A spray of red flew from the man's head; I turned to where the shot came from. At the top of the wall stood my partner, Brian Reed, with a cocky smirk on his face.

Author's note: Just to clear some air, when I post "Present Day" in the next chapter and any chapters afterwards, I am referring to Fallout's "Present Day" not any modern times. Thanks for reading!

~Spidey