Chapter 24: Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall
The morning sun woke Six early the next morning. She got up and found her clothes where she'd hung them the night before and quickly dressed. She checked her pack and made sure it was ready for a long hike. When she was ready she headed out to the kitchen to find some breakfast. When she reached the foyer she found Boone waiting for her sitting on the couch. She almost gave her customary 'good morning' until she noticed the angle of his head. Another step and she realized he was asleep. Poor guy, she thought. He probably didn't get any sleep last night. She quietly made her way to the kitchen and made some breakfast: a big bowl of Sugar Bombs.
When she was finished, she headed back to the foyer. She carefully approached the sleeping Boone. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder as she spoke softly. "Hey, Boone." A lightning fast hand came up and grabbed her wrist, hard, as his unfocused eyes snapped open. "Easy, it's just me." A second later Boone blinked and released his grip.
"Sorry." He muttered.
"Don't worry about it." Six said as she released his shoulder. "You ready to head out or do you need some breakfast?"
"Let's go." With that, the pair headed to the elevator and down to the Strip. As expected, the Strip was almost empty at this hour. They headed off the Strip and into Freeside, which was also quiet. Six smiled and waved at the Kings milling around outside the school. A few waved back. They were almost at the gate when thug with a pool cue blocked there way.
"Drop the gear. All of it!" He shouted.
"Really?" Six asked a little skeptical. "You have a stick. We have guns. Don't make me kill you." The thug seemed to get nervous. "Last chance." Six said as she shifted her hand to her hip. The thug turned and ran. Six sighed. "Let's hope the King and the NCR can do some good around here."
They made it to the gate without further incidents and were soon headed east through the desert. They walked on in silence until lunch when they climbed a large hill. From the top of the hill, Six could see an expanse of flat land with hulking creatures roaming aimlessly around. Six pulled out her rifle for a better look.
Through her scope she could see the beasts more clearly. They were huge with massive, terrifying claws. Six felt a flicker of recognition at the sight.
"They make me feel like I want to turn and run." Six whispered as she looked over at Boone. He was looking out over the plain. "Should we go around or through?" Six asked, trying to get his attention. "Boone?"
Boone shook his head. "Deathclaws. We wanna live, we go around, quietly." Six swallowed hard and nodded. She led the way around the quarry, wary of the hulking beasts in the distance. They moved slowly and carefully. They were just rounding a large rock formation when Six nearly walked right into the back of a deathclaw no bigger than her. She barely held in the scream at seeing the massive beast up close. She started to slowly backtrack when she saw its nose go up and sniff the air. That's when she got a look at its face and its eyes. Just as it dawned on her that this monster was blind the quiet afternoon was broken by the sharp crack of a hunting rifle and what had been a milky white deathclaw eye exploded.
"Run!" She heard Boone yell from behind her. She hesitated for barely a moment and then was hot on Boone's heels. They ran east at full speed until Six couldn't catch her breath and had to slow down. She immediately looked behind her to see if they were being followed. Way off in the distance there were a few shapes but none were following them. She turned back and caught up to Boone's faster than usual pace.
They made camp for the night high in the cliffs, on a plateau where wild animals would have trouble reaching them. They made a fire and cooked some freshly caught lizard for dinner. When they were finished, Six rummaged through her pack until she found her old journal. She sat close to the fire with the journal in her hands.
"When I was in Goodsprings I started a journal." She explained aloud; to Boone if he was listening, to the fire if he wasn't. "There was so much I didn't remember, I tried to record what I was learning to keep track. I also kept all the information I gathered about who I was. I felt I owed it to my previous self to finish what I started and get revenge for her. Now, I've done that. Package delivered and revenge achieved. Mission complete." Six sighed. "I guess it's time to move on. Whoever I was is gone and I don't think I'll ever remember her. It's a shame but I think I'm okay with it. I like who I am now." Six raised the journal high into the air with one hand. "So here's to you Courier Six! May you finally rest in peace." With that she threw the journal into the fire. She watched as the ancient paper caught fire and as the pages burned and curled. She watched until she could barely recognize the book anymore.
"Boone. Can I ask you a favour?" Six asked timidly.
"What?" Came grunted reply from across the fire.
"If something happens to me, not that I'm expecting something will but I probably wasn't expecting to be shot in the head so I might as well ask. If something happens, take the chip to the NCR and explain everything."
"You sure?"
"I think so. I don't know if it's the right decision, but if I'm dead I think it will be. Can you promise me that?" Six asked. The silence around the fire dragged on. He won't? Six wondered sadly. Why? He still thinks his punishment is coming. That he'll die soon. Shit Six! Maybe going to Bitter Springs was a bad idea.
"Boone?" She tried again after a few minutes.
"I got first watch." Was all he said. Six wanted to say more, wanted to argue with him but he'd dismissed her. She also didn't know what to say. She'd already tried to convince him, tried to show him things could be different but apparently he'd taken nothing she said to heart.
Six got up from her place by the fire and spread out their bedroll. She placed her weapons close by and snuggled in. "Goodnight Boone." She whispered as she started to doze off.
Boone let the fire die down after the Courier fell asleep. In the near darkness he looked out over the desert in the direction of Bitter Springs. Bitter Springs was only half-a-days walk away. He knew what would happen there. He'd been running long enough. It was time to face whatever punishment was coming for him head on. He looked over at the Courier. All she wanted to do was help people. She risked her life to help anyone and everyone who needed it. And here she was, about to risk her life to help him. Could he let her do that? She'd said she thought of him as a friend. What did he think? They had been traveling together for only a few weeks but the things they'd done in that time. Nipton, Nelson, McCarran. They'd helped a lot of people and the NCR at the same time. They were surely comrades-in-arms. He trusted her to watch his back and she trusted him the same. They'd even saved each other's lives.
When the first Legion assassination team had found them, she had been ready. He hadn't been. The Legion had rushed them from a gully at close range. Boone had barely had time to get a shot off to down the first Legionnary. The second one had gotten in too close for him to shoot. Swinging his machete wildly, the Legionary had easily gotten Boone off balance. It was a stroke of luck that the Legionary's machete had snagged on Boone's tactical vest; the sudden resistance pulling it from the Legionary's hand. But the Legionary had been fast and tackled Boone to the ground, knocking the wind out of him. It was there that he ended up with the Legionary on top of him, wrestling him for his rifle. He was strong, but the Legionary was skilled in close combat and Boone had known he wouldn't win that struggle. He'd been too preoccupied to know what the Courier was doing. He'd seen the Centurion close in on her. Close combat with a Centurion was basically a death sentence. He figured she was dead by now and he was on his own. He started losing the struggle; the Legionary pushing his rifle closer to his throat. Suddenly the pressure on the rifle let up and the Legionary was pulled up straight by a Pip-Boy dug under his chin. Then the combat knife had come down directly into his heart. The Courier had thrown the dead weight aside and after scanning the area she'd offered him a hand up.
He looked over at the sleeping Courier. She deserved a better partner. Someone who wasn't expecting a grisly death. Someone who could think clearly when faced with the Legion. Someone who wasn't so… broken. He wouldn't let her suffer whatever grisly fate was awaiting him. He wouldn't let her get caught up in his fate, like Carla. He decided; he'd go to Bitter Springs alone. She'd be angry and probably hurt. But it was for the best. Maybe she'd even forgive him if it saved her life. She'd just come to terms with her past. It was time he did the same.
The campsite they had picked was relatively safe. It was high enough that most creatures would have trouble getting up there. And the Courier was a light sleeper; she'd be fine if he left. But what if she followed him? She knew where he was headed. She'd want an explanation. No, if he wanted to go to Bitter Springs alone he'd have to tell her. He steeled his nerve; it was for her own good… right?
He tried to convince himself until it was time to wake the Courier. She was getting restless by now; she'd wake soon anyways. He went over and knelt beside her.
"Hey, time to wake up." He said gently. The Courier rolled over to face him with bleary eyes. She mumbled something he couldn't make out before she became alert.
"Right." She said and stood up. She then rummaged in her pack for her duster and put it on. She plopped down beside the fire. Boone made no move toward the bedroll. Six looked at him; the lack of fire making it even harder to make out his eyes behind his usual sunglasses. "What is it?" She asked warily.
Boone sat near the bedroll. He took a deep breath. "I want to go to Bitter Springs alone."
Six's sleep addled mind momentarily panicked. He wants to go alone?! Did I do something wrong? No. It's not me, it's him. What's his angle? What does her get by going alone? "No, you don't."
"What?" Boone wasn't expecting that.
"You think you're dragging me along, right? Like whatever danger you're going to face you might as well face it alone and not risk someone else's life, right?" Boone was silent. "Welcome to the club. I feel like that most days."
"It's my choice to follow you." Boone replied.
"Exactly!" Six smirked with satisfaction. "I'm here because I want to be." Six cocked her head to the side. "In fact, I can't think of anyplace I'd rather be right now." She offered him a big smile. "Now try and get some sleep." She said softly. Boone hesitated. "Unless there's something else?"
"No." Boone shook his head and laid his rifle beside the bedroll. He placed his beret and sunglasses beside it and crawled into the bedroll. It was quiet for a few minutes.
"Goodnight." Six was startled by the unexpected word. She smiled inwardly.