Chapter Twelve

A Path Less Travelled By

The next morning after the battle, Boone, Jacqueline and Rex departed from Bitter Springs and headed to New Vegas. Jacqueline could see the slight change in Boone. He seemed more at peace with himself.

"Last night," Boone spoke, "I thought that it would have been my last," he looked at Jacqueline with caring eyes, "Thank you, courier."

Jacqueline didn't respond to him.

The three reached New Vegas. Jacqueline informed Boone that he could come into the Lucky 38 and he could go anywhere inside except for the Penthouse. Jacqueline waved at Boone as he stepped off the elevator with Rex. The door closed and a few minutes later, Jacqueline stepped on to the penthouse floor for her next mission with Mr. House.

Days later, Jacqueline completed her task for Mr. House about the Omerta's. It was simple and not worth taking Boone or Rex across the street for it. The days in between Mr. House's requests, Boone and Jacqueline often spent their time together in the lounge. Today, Boone was waiting for Jacqueline at the bar in the lounge. Rex resembled a rocket from running in a constant circle in the lounge. The elevator opened and Jacqueline stepped in.

"I found something for you," Boone tossed her an item.

Jacqueline caught it, "Hah! The Lucky 38 snow-globe," she walked over to Boone.

"Two thousand caps for all that," Boone rolled his eyes, "What's next?"

"Brotherhood of Steel," Jacqueline twisted her mouth.

"Let's get going then," Boone pushed himself off the bar stool he was sitting on.

Jacqueline and Boone cut through Sloan to get to the bunkers of the Brotherhood. Boone was scanning the area.

"I don't see anything…" he sounded frustrated.

"Let's go down," Jacqueline opened the door. Boone agreed and followed her in. It was damp. There was a door ahead of them.

Boone walked over and held the intercom button down, "Hello?"

There was no response.

Boone pressed the button again, "Anyone there?"

Nothing.

Boone gazed up at the door way, "Now what…" Boone rubbed his fingertips along the door. Jacqueline was looking around for another way in. Boone found a tiny hole in the door, "Jacqueline… maybe you can pick this?"

Jacqueline was instantly beside Boone, "My specialty!" she kneeled down and dug out a flathead and bobby pins. She began working carefully at the lock, "This one doesn't seem too bad…" she mumbled and the pin suddenly snapped, "Shit…"

Boone chuckled. Hearing Jacqueline talk to herself amused him when she was trying to pick locks.

Another snap.

"Fuck! C'mon!" Jacqueline slipped another pin in, "Don't rush yourself… Craig's not picking a lock," she turned the lock a little, "He couldn't open one if he tried anyway."

Boone glared at her, "I'm standing right here."

Jacqueline ignored his comment, "An-nd…" the lock clicked. She turned to Boone, "Ta-da." Jacqueline opened the metal door. Boone and Jacqueline stared quietly at the wall of rocks in front of them.

"Odd…" commented Boone.

"Odd?" Jacqueline snapped, "I'm going to punch someone in the face," she stormed out of the damp area.

They ended up in the next bunker. Jacqueline was working on another lock. Boone pressed the intercom button every so often trying to get contact. Rex trotted over to Boone, there was something square in his mouth.

Boone gently took the item from the cyber dog's mouth, "A journal?" he flipped through the pages. Jacqueline gave Boone a glance then went back to the lock, "All short hand," he tossed the book on the ground, "I can't read it." The door opened and there was another wall of rocks.

Jacqueline ran a hand through her hair, "I'm beginning to think that the Brotherhood does not exist, Boone."

They entered into the last bunker.

"How many more pins do you have?" asked Boone.

"Six," before Jacqueline could kneel, the door opened. She felt a force hit her hard on the head. Her mind was swimming. Although her vision was blurry she watched Boone fall on the floor next and Rex was being restrained. It all went black.

Hours later, Jacqueline slowly began to come to. It seemed like her vision took forever to focus. She was in her under clothes. Jacqueline gazed around the room once her eyes had cleared. It was a cell. She hoped that Boone and Rex were alright. The silence was deafening. Jacqueline knew that screaming would possibly make things worse. Footsteps echoed in the cell. They soon stopped. Jacqueline heard a door open but it wasn't her door.

"Are you ready to tell me why you are here?" the voice echoed in her cell.

There was no response.

"The next room. Check on the girl."

"Don't you touch her…" growled Boone.

The door closed. The steps stopped in front of Jacqueline's door. She stared at the door and watched it open. Two paladins entered the room and then an older man stepped in the room. The man had a disapproving look on him.

"I'll get to the main point," he said, "Why are you here?"

Jacqueline shivered, "I… um…"

"At ease," said the man. The Paladins lowered their weapons, "They will not attack unless I tell them," he assured her.

Jacqueline rubbed her hands together from nervousness, "I'm just a wanderer, sir," she said.

The man stared at her, "Very well…" he said, "I could use a couple of outsiders… However, I need to know that I can trust you," the man waved his hand. A paladin walked over to Jacqueline, he was holding something in his hands. A collar? Jacqueline quickly backed away.

"Good lady," the man frowned, "If you insist on resisting, my men will kill you. And then kill your friend."

Jacqueline settled. The paladin strapped the collar around her neck.

"Around your neck is an explosive device-"

There was a sudden slam coming from the other room, "What is wrong with you?" yelled Boone.

The man rolled his eyes, "As I said… I need outsiders I can trust," he continued, "There is an NCR ranger right outside of my bunker. Get rid of him."

The two paladins carried in an armor case, "Everything that was on you is in that trunk," the man started to walk away, "Ah," he turned back to Jacqueline a little, "The collar has a range detector on it. If you attempt to leave the premises the collar will explode. You are free to leave the room when you are ready," the man and the paladins left.

Jacqueline slowly opened the case and began to dig out her items.

"Don't do anything foolish," said Boone. Jacqueline could tell that he was not adjusting well to being a hostage, "I'm seriously, Jacqueline." He growled.

"I know," she responded.

Boone felt like he was waiting for an eternity. He had sat in a corner. Everything was also taken from him. Praying for Jacqueline's safety was not far from his mind. The spotter's door opened. He looked up as two Paladins slid his trunk in the room.

"Outsider," called one of the paladins, "The woman is now with Elder McNamara. Get dress and we will take you," a paladin tossed a duffle bag beside the trunk and both paladins stepped outside of the cell.

Soon afterwards, Boone was taken to the Elder's living quarters. The spotter had found a brown first recon uniform in the duffle bag. As Boone entered the quarters, he spotted Jacqueline and Rex at the left side of the room.

"You are free to move about the bunker," announced Elder McNamara, "My Brotherhood will be watching you closely."

Boone and Jacqueline walked off quickly, "Thanks for the jacket," Boone said shyly.

"The hell are you talking about?" Jacqueline looked at Boone, "Looks nice on you."

"What's the plan?" questioned Boone.

"Need to get to the self destruct computer," whispered Jacqueline.

So far the Brotherhood was mildly friendly to the two. A scribe had bumped into Boone.

"Apologizes," said the scribe. She suddenly looked surprised at Boone, "You… the paladins talked that the two of you had some flesh wounds."

Boone shrugged, "Why does that matter?"

The Scribe side stepped. The room behind her was a medical bay, "The assistants and myself had invented a gel for wounds," she continued, "It helps heal faster." An assistant over heard the Scribe and had brought her a small tube of the gel, "Please try it. Let use know if you are pleased with the results," she handed the tube to Boone.

Boone gently took the tube from the Scribe, "Thank you…"

Boone and Jacqueline continued on. They soon found themselves in a chamber. Boone pointed over to a panel, "Look there."

"Finally," Jacqueline ran over to the computer. The screen was nothing like either have ever seen before, "Uh…" Jacqueline stared at the screen and she looked at Boone from the corner of her eye, "Know anything about computers?"

"I'm a spotter…" he reminded.

Jacqueline drew three cards out of her pocket, "Good thing I got these, huh?" she winked at started working at the computer.

"How did you get those?"

"Pick pocketing."

Boone's face fell into his palm.