Original characters introduced in this chapter! Yay... And more on what's happening in the Capital Wasteland. Read & Review. And a special thanks to DesertStar87 for being my first review ever!
DesertStar87: Don't worry Cass will be introduced very, very soon. And I agree with you on Cass and Rosa, that'd give me an excuse for a drinking contest!
On the road to Primm...
"I'm really not feeling good, Jay," Rosa said, clutching her stomach.
"C'mon just a few more minutes then we'll be there," Jay apologized.
"No, I feel like I'm about to puke," she said sourly, "Go on ahead, I'll catch up."
"Ugh," he said disgusted but amused, "Alright." He continued along the road with Dogmeat, happily walking beside him. Dogmeat started to growl. "What is it boy?" Jay asked. A dark figure reached around him and covered Jay's mouth. Dogmeat began to bark, but the man tossed him a treat to get him to be silent. The man took both of them behind a large rock near a campfire. He was dressed in what looked like police armor, a large brown trench coat, and a helmet with a short snout and red lenses. Jay started to speak, but the man pressed his finger against where his mouth would be. Then he pointed to the road where a large Deathclaw stood menacingly, scanning the area for food, and stretching it's long clawed-fingers.
"AHHHH!" someone screamed, more out of rage then of fear. A large Caucasian figure jumped onto the Deathclaw armed with what looked like a shovel. He landed and was smacking the Deathclaw on the head repeatedly, while the Deathclaw groaned and lashed at him helplessly. Then the man took out a straight razor and shoved it into the center of the Deathclaw's skull. The Deathclaw fell to the ground with a thud, and the man walked away with nothing more then blood on his clothes. He came closer and Jay could see that he hardly wore any armor. His eyes were blue, and he wore a blank gray t-shirt that was torn on one of the shoulders and dark gray cargo pants.
"What the fuck!" Jay shouted, "What the Hell was that?" The man didn't answer, but simply turned to the armored man beside Jay and motioned for him to come closer. Jay turned to the left and saw Rosa walking up the road slowly, still holding her stomach, but looked relieved. After what felt like an hour she finally reached them, and sat down beside Jay.
"What'd I miss?" she asked happily.
In the ruins of D.C...
The members of Lyons' Pride gathered around the table in the Great Hall. Sarah smiled, as she was glad to see the familiar faces of the elite team, though they were covered by the helmets they always wore, with the exception of Paladin Vargas and Colvin. Paladin Colvin had lost an eye while retaking the Capital Building and thus removed his helmet. Elder Lyons sat at the far end of the table across from Sarah. Little had changed about Elder Lyons in the five years that came after Project Purity, he remained the same wise, caring man, but his hair had became whiter.
"Elder Lyons," Sarah said, "You wished to speak with us about the western Brotherhood chapters?"
Elder Lyons turned to see his daughter.
"That I did, Sarah," Elder Lyons replied, "We have not made contact with them since I made the decision to protect the people of the Capital Wasteland, precisely thirteen years after we arrived. We must inform them that we have found advanced technology, discovered how the super mutants were being created, and had found the missing Brotherhood airship in Chicago. A small team will be sent to the Mojave Desert, where a Brotherho-"
"Isn't that where Sentinel Jay is?" Captain Dusk interrupted abruptly. "You did send him there a few days ago for that, didn't you?"
"That we did, Captain Dusk," Elder Lyons replied, quietly, "Now, as I was saying the Mojave Desert is where a Brotherhood chapter is located, and we have sent Sentinel Jay to make contact with them. However, I fear his progress will be impeded by his good nature and willingness to help others. That is why we are sending a small team to make contact with the chapter."
"I'm sorry, but perhaps I misunderstand you," Captain Colvin said, "Did you just say that you were unsure of Jay's capabilities?"
"Of course not, Captain Colvin," Elder Lyons said patiently, "Jay's capabilites may be beyond that of several Behemoths, but he still only is human. Think of it as a small reinforcement."
"Okay, so now that we have that figured out," Sarah said quietly, "Who will we be sending, Elder?"
"Well, that is your decision, Sarah, as you suggested we send a team, I believe that it's only right if you choose the team," Elder Lyons finished, smiling at her. He left the room, shutting the door as quietly as possible.
"Alright, I'm gonna need at least two people to come with me," Sarah said, standing up from her chair, "Two people that are comfortable out of armor."
"Um, Sentinel Lyons," Dusk asked nervously, "why do you need people who are comfortable out of armor?"
"Because, Dawn, it's a desert and if we go there in armor we'll be cooked alive," she snapped, "Now who is? Stand up, now or I'll choose myself." Captain Colvin and Dusk stood up. Sarah was suprised that Dusk had stood up as she intended to discourage her. "Are you both sure? The path ahead isn't an easy one, and I can't promise you a ride back home."
"Sentinel," Colvin said, turning to Sarah, "we're our own ride back home."
"Be ready by morning," Sarah said quietly, "Dismissed." The rest of Lyons' Pride left the room, and she sunk back into her chair, relieved. She sighed and went back to the bedroom that she and Jay had shared the night before taking back the Jefferson Memorial. Sarah picked up her bag from the corner and started disassembling weapons and gathering her clothes, because she knew that they would be there longer than expected.
In the Mojave Desert...
"Well," Rosa said impressed, "You are one crazy ass motherfucker! I never met someone who had the balls to attack a fully-grown Deathclaw with a shovel! Or jump on it's back either, but it's pretty frickin' cool!"
The man simply nodded, with what Jay thought was supposed to be a smile, but more like a maniacal twitch. Jay looked at the sky and saw that the sun had begun to go down.
"Now," Jay interrupted, " Exactly who are you two?"
The man in the trench coat and police armor removed his helmet. He had normal facial features and a clean cut, but the scar on his right cheek that went downward stood out. His eyes were a piercing brown and looked as if they were scanning.
"I'm Jonathan Flores," the man said, his voice slightly deep, but he sounded young and a little naive, "he's Duke." He pointed at the other man who was cleaning his straight razor from the blood of it's victim.
"I ain't got a last name," the man named Duke stated. His voice was much deeper than Jonathan's and he sounded much older and wiser. "It's getting dark."
"He's right," Jonathan said, "It's better if we stay here there's a campfire and everything around these parts hunt better at night."
Jay agreed and laid down sleeping bags for him and Rosa. Jonathan took off his trench coat and laid it down next to their sleeping bags. Duke had gotten to work on a fire, and was successful within seconds of starting. The four of them sat around the campfire
"I'm gonna go get some food," Duke said.
"Alright, have fun," Jonathan replied.
"So what's with the trench coat?" Jay asked.
Jonathan looked at Jay as if he were stupid and done something a small child would do.
"I'm NCR," he said, "New California Republic, the closest thing to democracy this side of the U.S. The stuff I'm wearing isn't for normal soldiers. It's for Rangers, the best soldiers there are. The time I spent with First Recon proves that I'm one of 'em."
"Hey, I've heard of them!" Rosa interrupted.
"What's First Recon?" Jay asked again.
Jonathan gave him the same look as before and continued.
"First Recon is an elite sniper group handpicked by the superiors," he continued, "They normally choose you if you do well at the shooting range, and it pays a little better, but not as much as what the Rangers get. The slogan was "The last thing you'll ever see." Pretty accurate, and so were we."
"Sounds pretty cool," Rosa said, smiling.
"Sounds like Lyons' Pride of the Brotherhood of Steel," Jay replied, "They're pretty elite and they get handpicked also, and I'm a membe-!"
Jonathan had tackled Jay to the ground. He put Jay in a tough looking hold.
"What the Hell are you doing!" Rosa screamed.
Jonathan ignored her and pulled out a rope. He tied Jay's hands together and pulled him off the ground. He pulled out two black double-action revolvers that said "For Honorable Service" on the barrel and pointed one at Rosa and one at Jay.
"He just said he's Brotherhood!" Jonathan yelled, "They're enemies of NCR, tomorrow I'm taking him in for questioning!"
"What the fuck for?" Rosa demanded, "He hasn't done anything wrong! He barely arrived here the other night!"
"Whatever he's coming with me and I don't give a flying fu-!"
Jay had cut himself out with a small switchblade and punched Jonathan right in the jaw. Jonathan dropped both of his revolvers and punched back, but Jay dodged and dropped the switchblade. Jay punched again, but Jonathan blocked. Jonathan knocked Jay to the ground and attempted to punch him while he was down, but he rolled out of the way. Jay kicked him in the leg and got up. They were far from the campfire and were near a small trailer. Jonathan backed up onto the trailer, and Jay made an attempt to punch him. He dodged to the right and slammed Jay's head onto the trailer. Jay punched Jonathan in the gut and soon both of them were worn out. Rosa slowly walked over to them and kicked Jay in the scrotum and punched Jonathan in the throat.
"Ugh, men," Rosa said, sounding disgusted. She walked back to the campfire, proudly.
"I got the food," Duke said blankly, seeing Jay and Jonathan on the dirt in pain, "What happened to you two?"
"Duke," Jonathan said weakly, "Just make the damn food."
Jonathan and Jay got up and walked toward the campfire. Neither of them spoke the rest of the night.
The next morning...
Jay awoke to find himself tied up again. He saw that the fire was out and everything was gone.
"Are you kidding me?" he said.
"Yeah," Jonathan said, "Now if you don't wanna get shot I suggest you get up and start moving to Primm. We'll be heading to Mojave Outpost, that girl and Duke are already well on their way to the Mojave Express. Move it."
"Godammit," Jay thought. He slowly got up careful not to stumble and fall to the ground. "Shit, it's gonna be a long day."
"Where are they?" Rosa asked, worried, looking back to see if they were behind them.
Duke simply looked at her and continued walking.
"Why don't you ever talk?" she said, defiantly, "I mean you hardly ever spoke since we met, what are you hiding?"
"If there is a need for words, then I shall speak," Duke replied, coldly.
"God, why'd I have to get stuck with the douche?" Rosa thought.
After five or ten minutes the duo reached Primm. They were stopped by a soldier of some sort, his armor said NCR.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, "Don't you know the area is off-limits to civilians?"
"I have to find whoever's in charge of the Mojave Express," Rosa answered, showing the soldier her delivery orders.
"I hope you know what you're doing," he said quietly, "The town is filled with overrun with convicts, and your best bet to find anyone alive would be the casino." He pointed toward the large building to the left of them.
Rosa thanked the soldier and she and Duke continued on their way. Part of the bridge leading into Primm was collapsed on the left side and there were three frag mines on the remaining road. They moved quickly as to not detonate them, and had reached Primm.
Gosh, this chapter has been procrastinated on so much. Not much seems to be happening right now but I'm setting the stage for the next chapter. So yeah, more reviews please.
