Countdown continues for the Dead Money storyline. My nephew had already designed the cover and it's pretty fantastic. One chapter to go before we explore the Sierra Madre.

Enjoy.

Six began to stir. His eyes opened slowly and adjusted that much slower. He was face down in bed in his Novac motel room. Cass lay peacefully beside him. He sat up rubbing the back of his head – his beret toppled to the floor beside him. He was still in his duster and his boots were still on. He didn't remember going to bed. He closed his eyes for a long minute – checked his pipboy.

7:26 am

He took in a quick breath and let out an almost inaudible yelp as he exhaled. Cass began to stir beside him. He turned to her and a strange sensation crept over him. She opened one eye and looked at him.

"You don't always watch me sleep, do you?"

"Sometimes."

"That's not creepy at all," Cass sat up, covers falling loosely around her. She was in the leopard skin nightwear again. Six raised an eyebrow. "Shut up. It's comfy."

Six became suddenly aware; as if his brain had been turned on after having shut down for the night. He stood, fumbling in the dark. "Where's Boone?"

"Brought you in a little while ago. Said you lost consciousness just south of town. We put you in bed. Then he left. You looked exhausted, so I just let you sleep."

Six flipped a switch. The light came on. He briefly shielded his eyes, Cass retreated under the cover. His eyes adjusted. Neatly folded on the couch, he saw a blanket, a towel, and a pillow. "Those for me?"

Cass looked at the couch, still squinting. "I talked to Cliff. Figure there was no sense in you having to use your duster to cover up with."

Six half grinned. "Letting me sleep in the bed a night, and getting me my own blanket? Miss Cassidy, I do declare."

Cass cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowed and lips curled in some mixture of amusement and bewilderment. "Anyway. Vee wanted me to pass along thanks for the meal. You and Boone left in a hurry. I'm surprised you stopped to pay for the food. Thanks for getting mine by the way."

Six shrugged, "Figured I may as well. Only ran me an extra forty caps. I still have enough to do me."

Cass yawned, throwing her head back and bringing her hand up to her mouth. Six scooped up the towel and made his way to the lone dresser in the room; against the back wall neatly beside the fridge. Rummaging through the drawers, he turned to Cass, "Did you unpack that old vault suit I had?"

"In the cupboard."

Six made his way to the nearby decrepit cabinet. Opening one of the doors, he saw the jumpsuit hanging contently within. He retrieved it, shutting the cabinet door behind him. The already broken glass rattled but stayed in place. He flicked on the bathroom light then walked back across the room. Cass had settled back into bed, pulling the blanket far over her head. Six flipped the switch, enveloping her in darkness.

Inside the bathroom he made his way out of his duster, folding it neatly on the sink. He then began to – quite literally – peel the leather armor off of his body. The remnants of Jacklyn's blood made it stick to his skin with a suction cup like effect. It was unpleasant, to say the least.

Six turned to the tub, twisting the knobs. For a moment nothing happened – then, with a thick splat, a bit of mud shot out. The water was dark yellow for a while before finally clearing up. Six let the mud wash down the drain. Then began to remove his pipboy – the sound of the Geiger counter filled his ears. He stopped, looking at the screen. The water was irradiated? Six narrowed his eyes. "Practically every drop of water in the Mojave is radiation free, except this hotel. Great." With a light shrug, he climbed into the tub.

A light tap on the door. Cass opened her eyes and laid there. Silence again. Her eyes were growing heavy – she was drifting off to the ethereal plain of sleep when the tap returned. A little louder this time. Cass' eyes shot open again and she grunted in aggravation. "Who is it?"

The answer was soft spoken – calm. "Boone."

Cass begrudgingly made her way to her feet – making her way to the door at a snail's pace. She simultaneously flipped on the light and opened the door. Boone's hand was raised – knocking position. "Christ, Boone. Patience."

He just looked at her. She returned his vacant gaze for a long minute then stepped to the side. "Come on in, soldier boy."

Boone entered, returning to his seat on the couch. "He sleep alright?"

Cass blinked for a second, yawned, then nodded. "Like a log." She crawled back under the blankets. "He's in the bath. Feel free to wait. I'm going back to bed."

Boone didn't answer. He glanced at the bed side and saw the beret. He picked it up, dusted it off and laid it on a small night stand beside the bed. He sat there in silence for a while before the bathroom door clicked and swung open. Six emerged, duster covering his worn blue vault suit. He stopped briefly at the fridge, opening it and grabbing a bottle of water. "Hey."

Six wheeled around, his hand instinctively reaching for Lucky. "Jesus Christ. You scared the living piss out of me."

Boone didn't respond. Six turned back to the fridge and pulled out another bottled water. Turning back to Boone, he tossed it to him. Boone caught it and sat it down at his feet. "You feeling all right?"

Six popped the lid off his water and took a long drink. "Yeah, why?"

"Nothing wrong at all? No headaches? Blurry vision?"

Six shook his head. "Nope."

"Hearing problems?"

"No. I thought you were recon, I didn't know you were a medic."

"I was recon. I was just curious as to whether or not there was a reason you didn't take cover in Harper's shack, like I told you to." Boone's voice had an edge.

Six raised an eyebrow. "Well, gee, Boone. I don't know. Maybe because we were being stalked by legionnaires and fucking deathclaws. It didn't seem like a good idea."

"Running blindly through the country side, by a Legion hit ranger station did though…"

Six took a breath. "Yeah, at the time. Look. I panicked. Can you really blame me?"

"Yes. You do that on the field, you don't go home."

"But we did get home."

"We got lucky."

Six gave the magnum at his side a pat. "I carry this for a reason."

Boone shook his head. "Next time we might not be so lucky."

Six pressed his lips. "Whatever you say, Boone. Is that all?"

"Yeah." Boone stood, grabbing the beret off the table as he did. He tossed it to Six and made his way to the door. "I'm going to rest up for a bit. Give me a shout if you decide to take off."

"Will do."

Boone shut the door behind him as he left. Six plopped down on the couch and finished off his water. Cass peeked her head out from under the cover. "Got a stick up his ass, doesn't…" she stopped mid sentence and stifled a laugh.

Six gave her a puzzled look. She answered his gaze with a smile. "You're very blue," she told him, getting out of bed. She made her way to the bathroom, flashed him a smile, and shut the door.

"Greetings! Welcome to the Dino Bite Gift Shop. I'm Cliff Briscoe. If you're here for the T-Rex figurines, you're just in time! There's still a few left."

Six raised an eyebrow. "…T-Rex figurines?"

"Of course! That's our bread and butter."

"I'm more in the business for supplies. Guns, body armor. You sell those, right?"

"Well…yes. I guess, we might have what you're looking for," Cliff Briscoe rubbed his balding head. He turned away from Six and opened a nearby closet, mumbling under his breath, "No one ever buys those damned T-Rexes…"

Laughter. Six glanced up the stairs leading to the nest to see Ranger Andy and Manny chatting through the open door. Andy slowly inched his way out of it.

"No, Manny. I don't reckon I've heard that one before."

"I've got a ton of them, Andy."

Six turned his attention away from them. Cliff spoke. "Well, in lines of armor…I've got a few leather armors in stock. And I have a lightweight set of metal armor."

"Lightweight metal armor?"

"Yeah. Interested?"

"I guess that depends on the price." Andy began making his way down the stairs, cane clicking with every other step. Six threw him a nod.

"Oh, I couldn't let it go for anything less than 500 caps."

"Are you serious?" It was Andy.

Cliff looked at him. "It's a one of a kind item, Andy. I threw it together myself."

"So build yourself another one," Andy reached into his back pocket, retrieving an old brahmin hide wallet.

Six shook his head. "No, Andy. I can't let you do that."

Andy waved his wallet frivolously. "Least I can do. From what Boone tells me, you damn near got killed checking in at Charlie."

Six pressed his lips. "Still…"

"I won't have it," Andy turned to Cliff. "What about that old gun you keep tucked away in the closet. The pistol…uses 5.56. You still have it?"

Cliff nodded. "Sure do. But that gun's going to run about 1500 caps."

Andy shook his head. "Highway robbery I tell you. Give him that too."

Cliff vanished into the closet. After a beat he emerged – toting a black set of metal armor without all the decorative heavy bits. He sat it on the counter, along with a faded black revolver. Cliff smiled, "That'll be 2,000 caps."

Andy pulled out a hefty roll of NCR bills from his wallet and dropped it on the counter. "That should be enough."

"Andy, you know those aren't worth as much as caps."

Andy shot Cliff a stare. Cliff continued, "But, seeing as we're close friends and all, I think I can make an exception."

"I thought you would." Andy smiled at Six. "I didn't have a chance to thank you for checking in on that matter for me. I wish the news had been better…but nevertheless."

Six held up a hand. "I think this more than covers it, Andy."

Andy gave him a indignant smile. They began making their way out of the shop. "I'll pay you back, as soon as I can."

Andy shook his head. "Do you know how much the NCR gives me? Being injured in combat – by a frag no less. I get a monthly stipend. Far more than I need to get by, especially out here. Consider it payment."

They stopped at Andy's bungalow. Six extended his hand, "Well, that's very generous of you Andy."

Andy took Six's hand into his own. His grip was weak, but his smile was genuine. "Not a problem, young man. You just keep doing what you're doing."

Cass eyed Six's armor. "Nice. How much did that cost?"

"Didn't cost me a cap. The old ranger, Andy. He bought it for me, for checking out Ranger Station Charlie."

"Well that's charitable of him."

Six nodded. He slipped on his duster and holstered Lucky, then tossed on his beret. He turned to Cass, "Have you seen my lucky shades?"

"Lucky?" Cass nodded towards his old leather armor. "Found them in the bathroom."

Six slipped them on. "How do I look?"

"People will take you more seriously now, that's for sure. Metal armor, 1st recon beret…" her wandering eyes found the 5.56 pistol snugly tucked away under Six's duster. "Where'd you get that gun?"

Six withdrew it, turning it over for her to see more clearly. "Andy bought this too…I don't really need it, I have my .357." Six added. "Think you could use a pistol?"

Cass beamed for a minute, but the smile faded quickly. "No. You can't give that away. It was a gift."

Six shrugged, "Not really. It was payment. But now it's a gift." He extended his arm, pistol in hand. Cass' hesitance quickly turned into exuberance. She scooped it up and took aim. Six ducked out of the way. "Whoa. Just make sure you aim it at the bad guys, okay?"

She grinned, tucking her newfound toy into her belt.

"Vee."

Veronica waved at Six as he, Cass, and Boone made their way up the hill towards the 188 Trading Post. "Did you get everything taken care of?"

Boone cast Six a sidelong glance. "Yeah."

Six shifted awkwardly. "Wasn't anything we couldn't handle. I wanted to apologize for making off like I did."

"Oh, no worries. Cass and I finished eating and then watched the Psyker boy tell people their fortunes under the overpass."

Six paused. "There's a Psyker here?"

"Yeah. He's just down there," Veronica peeked over the overpass and pointed to the boy. "Fun stuff, if you're into that sort of thing…" Veronica turned and Six was gone.

"Hi, mister. How are you today?"

"I hear you're the go to guy around here for readings."

The boy look at Six with puzzled eyes. "I can take off my medicine and do some thinking…people say my thoughts are interesting."

"Your medicine?"

"This thing on my head is headache medicine. It works real good, except I can't think when it's on. Really think, I mean."

Six shuffled his feet. "I'd like to know my forecast."

The little boy tilted his head and abruptly removed his headwear. His face immediately changed, becoming contorted with paid. "…little of interest…things to buy, false hopes, and regrets watered down, washed down in dirty glasses. With regret comes a girl... smiling sad, brown robe, name Veronica, half here – her other half? A hunter captured by prey. Gone. Wraps her and her heart up like a pack, in the pack, a key, some say. A failing family. Suffocating, Mojave dust storms, blind leading the blind. A lost father. Red clouds and ghosts. She needs your help…to wipe the slate clean…begin again."

Six turned his gaze back up to the robed woman standing on the pass above him. Boone stood motionlessly beside her, and Cass sat with them – feet dangling over the edge.

Six made his way back up to them. Cass spoke first, "Well. What'd he say?"

"A lot," he turned to Veronica. "Care to accompany us back to Novac?"

Veronica smiled. "Absolutely!"

As the group neared Novac, they could see Ranger Andy arguing with one of the residents. It was an older gentleman, in a dirty set of overalls, a rattan cowboy hat, and a patched up white t-shirt. Boone turned to Six, "Dusty McBride. Local brahmin herder."

"Wonder what that's about?"

As they got nearer they could hear Dusty shouting at the ranger. He was going on about someone attacking his brahmin. "I've lost half of my herd, ranger! I don't think you're getting that! You're the law in town! Do something about it!"

Andy held up his hands passively. "Look, Dusty. I know someone's been attacking your herd. But twice I've had Manny set out there all night, and twice he's come back empty handed."

"Manny spends all day up in that damn dinosaur. Twice you've sent him, and twice I've found him sleeping up by the dumpster. These attacks happen around midnight every god damn night. Screaming and shooting. One animal each time…shot up full of holes. Someone's trying to sabotage my business!"

"I'll take a look at it," Six said, approaching the arguing pair.

Dusty turned to look at him, "That's mighty kind of you stranger, but I don't want you getting yourself killed. It's not your job to protect this town; it's the NCR's."

"No. It's no trouble at all, besides. I'll have backup." Six threw his head back towards the trio behind him.

Dusty pulled his hat off and ran his hands through his short silver hair. "Well, stranger. I can't say I wouldn't appreciate the help…Alice and I would definitely find a way to pay you back."

Six gave Dusty a light hearted nod, put a hand on Andy's shoulder and smiled. "Just, take it easy on the ranger here, okay?"

Six and Cass sat silently behind the makeshift tented kitchen. Six checked his pipboy – 11:37 pm. He yawned. "Jeannie May's house. You think Cliff would be opposed to you using it?"

"You trying to get rid of me?"

Six smiled. "Not at all. You wanted your own room…since Cliff and Andy haven't gotten around to cleaning one out for you, I figured you might check and see about Jeannie's house, it's not like she needs it."

Cass shrugged. "I guess."

Six took a short breath. "You know. On the other hand, Veronica is probably going to need somewhere to stay tonight. Maybe she should look into it instead. It'd be easier, we wouldn't have to pack up and move your stuff."

"It would be easier…"

Footsteps. Cass glanced over her shoulder to see Veronica making her way to them. "Boone wasn't in his room."

"Must've gone up to the nest tonight," Six guessed.

Veronica sat next to him, "What were you all talking about?"

Six motioned towards what was formerly Jeannie May's house. "That house…it's empty. We figured you could stay in it tonight."

Veronica beamed. "I get my own place? Cool."

Six wrinkled his brows. "Anyway, we'll have to talk to Cliff or Andy about it first…but I don't see any reason they'd be opposed to it." Six paused for a long moment, thinking back to what the kid at the trading post had said. "So, Veronica. Tell me about the Brotherhood."

"Not much to tell that you don't already know. Doesn't pay for shit, I'll tell you that."

Six laughed. "What brings them to the Mojave?"

"Well, the official story is the Dam. The Brotherhood had heard rumors that it was still running. We figured we could claim it…put it to use. But we got sidetracked at Helios One. Never made it to the Dam."

Cass raised a brow. "That's the official story…what's the real story?"

Veronica's smile dimmed. "Well…our Elder when we came east, Father Elijah, he was a wizard with technology. The man was a genius…his mind just worked in a way that he could break things down, see how they worked without ever really touching them. I learned a lot from him. Then he started having disagreements with the other Elders. See, the Brotherhood's interest is preserving Old World tech. We aim at keeping humanity from destroying itself again. It's a noble cause…and I agree with it. People need to be protected, even if it's from themselves. Elijah though…he wanted to explore developing new tech. Armors. Weapons. His ideas came with certain ethical implications. Rather than deal with him, they sent him east."

"You said he was your Elder when you came east. He's not your Elder now?" Six asked.

"No. When we got to the Mojave, he demanded we investigate Helios One. He was convinced there was some weapon project there. While we were there, the NCR swiped the Dam clean out from under us. Elijah was furious…said the NCR was nothing but a 'bunch of children playing with a bomb'. Then, the NCR came after Helios One. We held our own for a long time…but the NCR's numbers were just too great. We started taking casualties. Elder McNamara…well, he was a Paladin then…he begged Elijah to retreat so we could regroup. Elijah was resolute…refusing to give up what he called a super weapon. Eventually though…he vanished. Everyone thought he was dead."

"But he's not?"

Veronica shrugged. "I don't know about now. But he survived the battle at Helios One. He left me a message at a comm. station. That's how he liked to talk…he was a hermit. Didn't like face to face interactions."

Cass sat up straight. "What was in the note?"

"I don't know…the note was strange. Even for Elijah. Almost delusional. He said the Brotherhood was doomed…but told me not to worry. Said he'd be back with some Old World advanced technology. Said he'd save us. He'd save the Mojave. Wipe the slate clean…whatever that means."

The child's words resonated throughout Six again. "Have you thought about helping them?"

"I can't. Tried to help Elijah…he just wouldn't listen. The Brotherhood's the same way. They're obtuse. We just don't adapt like we need to…that used to work. Used to be that all you needed to survive was a suit of power armor and a laser rifle. It's not like that anymore. People out here are armed and organized…they're not afraid of us. And we don't take on new members. We're all descendants of the original members…it's a dying gene pool. We're running out of bodies to fill our power suits…something has to change, or the suits will be all that's left, collecting dust in an abandoned bunker. There's hardly enough members left to sustain ourselves as a chapter. They'll see the light eventually…I just hope that by the time they do, it's not too late."

Cass removed her hat and ran her smooth hands through her crimson hair. "Wow…"

Veronica's smile, which had long faded, reappeared. "Hey. I don't mean to trouble you with the Brotherhood's quandaries…"

Six cut her off. "Shh."

Cass cast him a glare. "Let the girl…"

"Quiet."

They sat in silence…waiting. Cass was getting ready to speak up again when she heard it. A soft thump. Then another. Footsteps. Whatever the source was, was big. Six strained his eyes…scanning the desert. He could hear it…but he couldn't see it. Then it dawned on him…

"No wonder they never catch this son of a bitch…he's using a stealth boy."

Cass widened her eyes. "Well don't you think that we should…I don't know…get the fuck out of here?"

"No, there's only one" Six laid flat on his stomach, taking out his carbine. He peered through the scope and waited. Then he heard it…the crackle of the pip boy deactivating. Just on the other side of the brahmin pen was a nightkin. "Oh fuck."

The nightkin's minigun began to whir. Six took aim and fired. Either he missed, or the nightkin didn't notice. One of the brahmin was pelted with rounds. Cass dove behind a nearby dumpster. Six fired again. Still nothing. He turned to Cass. "You might want to go get Boone." Cass gave him a brief nod and disappeared behind the tent. He then turned to Veronica…she was gone.

The nightkin continued pelting the dead brahmin with bullets…ignoring the others in the pin, which were flustered to the point of stampeding. Six fired again…this time the nightkin noticed. It held its face in pain, pulling its hands back Six could see a cherry red liquid spewing from its eye. "One for three..." It took aim at Six. "Oh fuck…" The minigun began to whir again…Six stood, firing rapidly at the nightkin. Then he saw more movement…from behind McBride's house. It was Veronica – she rolled forward towards the nightkin. The movement made it reposition its aim…but it wasn't quick enough. Veronica came up with the force of a launching warhead. Her gauntlet connecting firm with the nightkin's chin. It stumbled backwards and shook its head. Then it resumed aiming. Veronica didn't move. She just watched it. "What the fuck is…Veronica, get do…"

An explosion echoed throughout Novac. The nightkin's body collapsed, a bloody stump where the head once was. Veronica turned back to Six, smiling. "See, I told you. Two-Step!"

"Mister. I don't know how I can ever repay you…but this is a start," Dusty tossed Six an old pouch. "There's also some steaks in the fridge…more than Alice and I could eat in a year. You're welcome to take as many as you want."

Six smiled from ear to ear. "Dusty, that's kind of you."

"Make no mention of it. You've saved this ranch."

Six made his way back out into the wastes. He was greeted by his troupe. He held up a small brown paper bag. "We're going to eat well tonight." Cass snatched the bag from his hands and peered inside.

Boone looked at the bag a moment, then turned his gaze to Six. "I talked to Cliff. He says he doesn't see any reason why Veronica can't use Jeannie May's house until the next town meeting. Then they'll decide who it goes to."

Veronica lightly clapped her hands. "Well then…let's go to my new house and eat."

A light tap on the door. Six roused from his slumber to answer it. "Boone, you really need to stop waking me at…"

It was Veronica.

"Oh. Morning."

"Sorry."

"Que sera sera," Six yawned and raised his hand, gesturing her in. "What can I do for you?"

"Well," Veronica shifted her feet anxiously. "I thought about what you said. About helping the Brotherhood. I think you're right. Desperate times and all. I was wondering if you'd come with me, maybe?"

Six smiled. "Of course."

Next chapter - Six encounters the Brotherhood. Then, next Sunday - I officially begin Aces & Eights. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.