Chapter Eight
The Truth


The Lucky 38 Penthouse

Gallows stood looking out at the Mojave. This section of the penthouse was a meeting room- it used to be a normal lounge until Emma changed it around near the end of the war. He waited for hours before Emma returned. She had left to gather some allies that would help them. Meanwhile he was stuck with nothing but the penthouse bar to keep him company. That and Yes Man, an over joy-full and happy robot that had, apparently, helped her overthrow the previous owner of the Strip, Mr. House. Gallows doubted that part, however.

Soon, after five hours and the sun starting to rise, Gallows heard the elevator door open and the sound of footsteps approaching. Turning to face the long meeting room table, he stood hovering over his seat. Emma, along with several others, all different sexes and even a few non-humans, walked in and filled the chairs. Gallows sat down too. As he sat he removed his helmet and placed it beside his chair. His old grizzled face now had a large scar just above the right eye, from the gunshot wound he received not long before.

Emma didn't sit, she hovered over her chair, which was at the end of the table. Once everyone else was seated she cleared her throat. "Ehm... Hello everyone, you were all called here because there is a serious issue that must be discussed." Emma sat down, now that she had everyone's attention. "As you all know there was once a place called 'The Divide'. This place was home to a man known as Ulysses. He is a ruthless individual who will do anything and everything to accomplish his goals..."

"What are his goals?" a man interjected. This man was, in fact a ghoul. Gallows found it odd, however, that he didn't have the normal raspy voice most ghouls had. Instead he had a strong Hispanic accent.

"To overthrow me," Emma put simply. Everyone exchanged uneasy looks. Boone, who was sitting at the other end of the table, didn't blink. He stared straight at Emma, never taking his sights off of her. "Ulysses wants me dead but more importantly; he wants the Mojave dead."

"Why?" Boone asked firmly.

Emma looked up at him. She never told anyone about what happened at the Divide- nothing. Not even her part in its ultimate fate. They only knew the bare minimum, that a mad man tried to use nukes on the Mojave and that she, and she alone, stopped him. She knew people wouldn't trust her, wouldn't follow her if they knew she was the one to destroy it. However Boone knew. He found out...


The Lucky 38 Lobby...
Three Years Ago...
Four Hours Before Second Battle of Hoover Dam...

Emma moved slowly and quietly through the empty casino of the Lucky 38. She knew it was empty but she also knew many of her close friends and allies had moved in here with her. She didn't want any of them to find her, not after what she went through...

For three days she was missing, no one knew where she went or what she was doing. She was, in truth, at a place long forgotten known as 'The Divide'. She received a strange transmission, one from a man who referred to her as 'Courier Six'. She remembered Nash back in Primm saying there was another Courier that was suppose to deliver the package, The Platinum Chip, to the strip. However he left when he saw her name on the list of couriers. She thought it was him.

It was. This other courier, Ulysses, was out for revenge. She didn't know why though. However she soon discovered a horrifying truth... As she walked that lonesome road through the Divide, Ulysses spoke to her and explained the story of the Divide- explained his story. She was the reason for it's destruction... Years before she was shot and lost her memory, she had delivered a package here. That package activated the thousands of warheads that slept beneath the surface.

Because of her arrogance and quest for caps, she destroyed what could have been the last hope for humanity beating the harsh radiation that polluted the world. After discovering this truth she sought to end him, to bury her past and move on...

As she reached the elevator a familiar voice shot at her. "Going somewhere?"

Emma stopped dead in her tracks. "Boone." She greeted, never turning to face the man. She could hear his steps approach. "How are you?"

Boone stopped behind her, "How am I?" Boone repeated angrily. "You go missing for three days and that's what you say?!"

Emma sighed. "I'm sorry..."

"Where the hell were you?" Boone asked, almost yelling. Emma opened her mouth to speak but Boone cut her off, "We are preparing for the final assault to end this war and you go running off without warning? What the hell!"

Emma turned and looked up at him; Boone was a few inches taller. "I have my reasons!"

Boone shook his head. "No you don't."

"You are my best friend Boone! You couldn't manage for a few days?"

"A few days!" Boone yelled back in anger. "This is a war!" Emma shook her head, lowering it in shame. "Tell me why you left!" Emma didn't answer. Instead she stared at the floor, trying to find some words to say. "WHY!" Boone yelled.

However before he could say anything else he felt his lips come in contact with hers. Emma had looked up and kissed him. Before he knew it he was lost in it, bringing his hands down to her waist and pulling her closer. Emma, too, brought her hands down and brought him closer. Fore several seconds the two were engaged. Finally they broke apart and stared into each others eyes. Emma sighed as she looked down in shame, her eyes locking on Boone's chest. "I'm sorry..."

It wasn't long after that kiss, although it still took some convincing, for Boone to find out what happened. From that day and on he was protective over her and tried to ensure that she wouldn't need to put herself in those kind of situations ever again.


Present Day...

The memory flashed before Emma as she tried to find words to explain why Ulysses was so bent on the destruction of the Mojave. She didn't know how to say it. She looked at everyone, locking eyes at least once with everyone. Her eyes glimmered, tears beginning to form from the dark corners of her mind. Boone still sat there, his eyes still fixed on her and her alone. He wanted her to tell everyone.

Suddenly you could hear a faint sound coming from Emma, who was struggling to speak. Boone grew angry. His face began to turn red in rage. Suddenly he threw his fist on the table and shot up. "TELL THEM DAMN IT!"

"ALRIGHT!" Emma yelled back. Everyone was slightly shaken and scared from the sudden exchange. They returned their gaze to Emma who was breathing heavily. "I... The Divide is in ruin, destroyed by the nuclear warheads that sat beneath them, waiting to be activated and used..." Collectively, everyone started breathing heavily at those words. "And I was the one to activate them..." Emma lowered her head in shame. Everyone looked at each other, some confused while others were ready to get up and leave her. "I didn't know though!"

Boone shook his head, mainly in disappointment. Emma let out sigh. "Now you know," Emma said, her voice lowered, trying to hide it from everyone.

Boone looked at everyone. They seemed shaken up a bit from the recent news. Raul was disappointed, like Boone, in Emma for not saying this earlier. Lily seemed angered, although it seemed hard to tell since she was a mutant. However it was obvious, based on her leaning towards the door, she was ready to leave Emma's side for good. Arcade was torn, standing and not knowing whether to trust her or not. Of course ED-D floated by Emma's side, loyal no matter what, as was Rex. Cass wasn't present, as she was busy with the Crimson Caravan just outside the Strip. Veronica, who went missing after the Hidden Valley attack, wasn't there either. Although everyone assumed she was dead.

Emma just stood there, head lowered. They could all see some tears falling onto the table she leaned over. Boone cleared his throat. Everyone looked over to him. "Listen up," Boone yelled out to get everyone's full attention. "Due to conflicts of interest," Boone was referring to Emma and her very close relationship with Ulysses and the Divide, "I will be taking command until the situation is over."

Everyone then shifted back to Emma, wanting her to confirm this. She took her hands off the table. Standing up, she turned her head away from everyone and walked out the door. She left them...

"So... now what?" Arcade thought out loud.

Raul stood, "I say we post rangers at every town, ensure that Ulysses doesn't try anymore attacks."

"Just what I was thinking," Boone said with a nod. "Raul, Lily- I want the two of you to start gathering men and going to the towns. Investigate everyone, find all of Ulysses contacts and eliminate them." Boone felt a lick and looked down to see Rex. His curious eyes locked with Boone's. Boone looked up, "Take Rex with you." The dog barked with joy.

"What about you, deary?" Asked Lily in her light, raspy voice.

"ED-D and I will stay here and start coordinating our forces," Boone explained, "If there's one thing Ulysses doesn't do, it's show mercy. We can only assume he will attack Freeside or the Strip soon."

Everyone nodded and exchanged their good-byes and good lucks. As the room finally cleared, including ED-D, who went to recharge his energy cells before leaving, Boone sighed. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he still had feelings for Emma. But he didn't like the fact that she lied to her closest friends for those years. It drove him crazy. Sighing one last time, as he looked out at the Mojave.

Gallows stood up. Boone didn't notice him, since he was silently watching everything unfold. "I'll take my leave."

Boone shot a look at him. "What?"

"This isn't my fight," Gallows said sadly. "Darren is gone and my team is dead..." Gallows shook his head. "I have to go."

Boone nodded with a frown. "I understand you not wanting to stay, this isn't your fight."

Gallows extended a hand forward. "You are a good man, Boone. Lead your people to freedom."

Boone shook his hand firmly. As they let go he smiled. "I will. Travel safe."

Gallows gave one last nod and smile before turning to leave. Boone was alone now. And now, with Emma gone, it was up to him to lead this war.


End of chapter...