So, I managed to write something. Not sure how I feel about this chapter though. But it's finally time to say goodbye to Good Springs.

Thanks go to Tom-ato, of course. c:

Everyone was so cheery that I just… I couldn't handle it. There were no casualties on our side, somehow. But we had outright killed everyone of the other side. We had overpowered, outnumbered, and outgunned them. Of course we had won.

I angrily punched keys into my pipboy, recording my journal.

"Hey," Ringo called from the doorway. I had settled myself in a corner of the saloon. Everyone around me was getting drunk and just being happy about what had happened. "Are you going to join us? We're all celebrating. Why aren't you?"

I shrugged one shoulder, unsure if he even saw the gesture.

"Well?" Apparently he hadn't.

"Yeah," I grunted, pulling myself to my feet. "I'm coming." I was still in my armor. I felt a little cautious and I refused to take it off. Maybe I was being childish.

We walked into the open room of the saloon where a few people were dancing to the juke box. We stopped and leaned against the wall and shared an awkward silence. Finally, "Are you alright?"

I shrugged.

"You're an open book."

"Then read me. If you don't need to ask me…"

"You're clearly upset. Glum."

I shrugged. "Those men weren't even armed. They were people for crying out loud."

"You've never killed anyone before?"

"Fuck if I know." I was letting my temper taint my already sour attitude.

"Right. No memories. You know, sometimes it's hard to tell that you don't have any memories. You function so normally."

"Thanks," I mumbled, trying to calm myself down.

"Even though you've forgotten everything, you should still have the same attitudes, right? I mean, you're still the same person, right?"

I shrugged again.

"You don't seem like you've taken much damage from those bullets, you know. And I mean your head injury. Not the fight with the Powder Gangers."

I bit my lip.

Someone laughed loudly.

Trudy was holding a serving tray and upon seeing me smiled and held up a finger signaling that she wanted me to wait just a second. For what, I had no idea. Probably wanted to talk to me. She made her way back to the other room.

"You know," Ringo began in response to my uncertainties. "I don't think that it's just human nature. The Mojave does things to people. We're forced to defend ourselves and it's usually a fight to the death. People fight off monstrous beasts, overgrown bugs, and everything in between. All this fighting makes people desperate to survive. We are scarce on resources and so we do what comes naturally to us, we fight. We become greedy. It's always been human nature. Granted, when people were better off before the war, we didn't kill as much."

"You're wrong. There were plenty of minor wars back then." Where had I learned that?

"Maybe you're right. But a lot more people survived."

"I guess then we're getting onto a better track…" Trudy had returned and handed me a drink.

"First round's on me," She announced. Then someone at a table nearby broke a glass. "Hey! You gotta pay for that!" She made her way to the table hurriedly.

I sighed, thankful for the distraction. I didn't actually feel like making small talk or talking about the fight. But Ringo wasn't holding back.

"We are getting on a better track," Ringo continued. "There are still plenty of people dying, but look. We've got a whole town. In order to keep the good alive, the good have to kill. Those who aren't bettering themselves… Well, they fight, so we have to also. I know you're a good person. So, do me a favor. Keep fighting. And stay alive. Please." He reached over and grasped my hand in his own. His hands were rough and calloused. Mine were soft. Had I never done a hard day's work in my life? "There is a difference to killing and murdering however, and I know that you'll fight for all the right reasons. I don't need to worry about senseless killing. Not with you." He offered me a wide smile.

I held his eyes for a heartbeat.

Suddenly I was dripping wet and I felt a liquid seeping into my armor. I gasped. Someone had tripped and spilled their drink on me. I sat there in a few moments of shock, my heart pounding faster.

"What's the idea?" I spat finally.

The boy who'd spilled on me put his arms up, as if surrendering. "I'm sorry!"

I paused and suddenly stretched my features into a wicked grin.

The boy stared confused for a bit, then offered a few chuckles.

I met Ringo's eyes and he was grinning at me. I grinned back.

Then I darted after the boy, my own drink in hand. Pay back was a bitch.

That night I walked myself to the gas station after showering at Doc Mitchell's. The night was cool and a light breeze tossed my wet hair about. I entered the gas station to find it completely dark. I turned on the lamp and looked around for Ringo. He wasn't here.

He most likely was still at the saloon. Maybe he'd found a pretty girl and… I shuddered at the idea. I wasn't sure why.

My head was pounding already. Doc said it was because I was drinking and then suddenly stopped. It had turned my mood sour, too. I sucked in a breath and attempted to get comfortable behind the counter.

That's when I noticed a piece of paper placed carefully on my pillow. I tucked myself under the blankets and noted Ringo's messy handwriting.

I stared at the words scrawled in front of me. He was gone. He'd left only this note as a good bye. He didn't want me to get even more upset, so he left for the Crimson Caravan and hoped that I would find him there sometime.

"You didn't want to upset me?!" I spat. Oh, I was definitely going to find him. I'd hunt him down and…

Suddenly I thought of Benny.

I froze.

I could… I could find him. He was still alive, as far as I knew. I pictured his face: the way he angled his head downward when he laughed rather than upward as anyone else would. My heart pounded faster. Out of fear or anticipation, I couldn't tell. I clenched the note and then fished out the delivery order for the platinum chip. Delivery six out of six, given to Courier Six based out of Primm…

My breath sped up.

"Truth is, the game was rigged from the start."

Something so simple had turned so dangerous. This was bigger than just me. I laid down and sucked in a breath, turning on my side and curling my legs up to my chest.

I thought about Benny for a long time. My mind drifted from him to Ringo and my life in Good Springs before sleep finally took me.

I dreamt of Benny again, as I expected. He had that strange way of talking and a different attitude than most people I'd met. He was intriguing. He made me laugh.

I woke up the next morning with a light headache. My throat felt dry and my freshly washed yet wet hair had twisted around my face. It was hot under my blankets as the sun had risen to warm the Mojave.

I'd read somewhere that the Mojave was near the equator and that meant that it was summer all year 'round and it was naturally warmer than other places.

I pressed my lips together. Why was I thinking about these things?

I pulled myself up and stood in place, a little dazed at first. I wasn't sure what to do. Ringo was gone. There was only me alone in this gas station. I'd be herding the Bighorners all day, shooting geckos. It was simple, and it was easy. But I couldn't stay when I had so many questions. I would definitely be back, but right now…

I began packing my things. Time to go.