Snowflake in the sand

Chapter 9

"Ouch!" a loud yell came from the Mormont fort, making some of the people stop their walk and look in concern, but to the people inside the yell was met with amusement and embarrassment by Winter who rubbed her forehead in frustration.

"I have seen you shrug off bullets and knife wounds, could you please stop embarrassing me" the specialist said as Six, looked away as a not so amused Doctor Ganon stitched some of the deeper cuts on his back and arms. "I have adrenaline running through my veins there, I just don't like to sit still and get needles in me" the courier replied and Winter gave him a harsh glare "You stab yourself with Stimpacks all the time, I will slap you if you give me that excuse again"

"Maybe I just don't like doctors… no offense bud" Six said as Arcade gave a small smile, he then purposely drove the needle deeper than needed earning a yelp from his patient. "None take, what where you even doing anyways?"

"New Vegas is more than I could chew I guess that's why I am heading back the long way around" Six said as Arcade arched an eyebrow and then looked at Winter putting two and two together with the recent rumors that where floating around, Vegas was stirring and the followers knew thanks to their many associates.

But for now Arcade was more than happy to just patch the weir courier up as he looked at his PipBoy as he muttered to himself "Hey doc, you know something about Helios One?" Six finally said as he tapped on the screen of his portable computer as he tried to device the best route to take.

Arcade gave him a passing glance "Sure, it used to be occupied by the brotherhood of steel but NCR took over, rumors say that its some sort of power generator no doubt they will use it for Vegas and the strip" Arcade said making Six raise an eyebrow.

"You make it sound like it's a bad thing" the courier said as Arcade shrugged his shoulders.

"Depends on your point of view, but I think that all those resources should go to the less fortunate like the people in Freeside and Outer Vegas, the strip and the NCR do not need all that extra power" Arcade finished, but from the corner of his eyes he saw the courier place a marker on his map.

Arcade almost snorted in amusement, but he would keep his mouth shut for now, he highly doubted that this bloodied mess of a man would do something but hope was something that he would always try to keep.

Arcade finished and let out a sigh "He should be fine by now, I managed to fix what the stimpaks couldn't, it's a miracle that he is walking with all the bullets he has taken to the head" the doctor said and then turned to Winter with a small smirk.

"Be sure to take him out for walks from time to time" Six snorted and stood up. Grabbing his new hat that he had… borrowed from Caleb McCaffery along with his bounty hunter duster. It was great to have a vault suit under the Duster; it really gave him a lot of protection.

"Sure thing, thank you for looking at him doctor" Winter said as she placed some caps on his palm.

The large gate of New Vegas closed behind them and the desert was once again in full view of the two travelers. Winter gazed longingly at the city gates and then shook her head "I'm going to miss sleeping on a bed" she said sadly. Six on the other hand was just happy to breathe in the air of freedom again.

Winter heard the radio come to live as the smooth voice of Mr. New Vegas started to give news on the Mojave. As the duo started to walk Six started to fiddle with the Radio control.

"We are looking for couriers, people with Pipboys and strong sense of adventure, if any of these sound like you then the Happy Trails caravan is looking for people just like you for a trip to Utah" a voice on the radio said making Six give a bright smile to Winter "They are literally talking about me!"

Winter smiled softly "Sounds like you have more work for you after all of this"

"A trip to Utah huh? If the caravan doesn't make many stops the trip could last only like two weeks… we will see later but for now he have a ridiculous long walk ahead of us and some stops along the way" Six said as he placed a couple of markers along the way.

"I am just glad that we don't have Viktor following us around this time" Winter commented as she checked on a small backpack that she had found on their room on the lucky 38, they had few water bottles and fewer stimpacks which concerned the specialist. In her little time on the wasteland she had started to realize just how important the prewar technology was for survival; it had saved her skin and Six's more than once and she wondered if with something like that on Remnant would turn the tide in favor of humanity.

But for now her daydreams would have to wait when she was home; so for now they walked in the heat of the desert, the merciless sun shining down upon them. Winter was thankful that her aura protected her from sunburn even if the heat was becoming slightly unbearable. She turned her gaze to her companion who was whistling a happy tune while he checked up on his wepons, he turned to her when he felt a stare and gave her a wink.

"Something caught your eye?" he asked with a smile, Winter gave him a snort and pointed at his spiked knuckles "Why are you keeping those? Don't tell me you're going to try to fistfight every enemy you find"

"Maybe I will, I think I would be frightened if I saw someone running at me shrugging off bullets with spiked knuckles" he said with a chuckle. Winter on the other hand did not find it so funny, because she knew that he would do it. It hadn't clicked on her before but most people on this world really did not care for cover or avoiding damage. Some confident hunter tanked damage but people from the wasteland didn't and they didn't even have auras.

A world not of bloody evolution but one of the survival of the fittest, as she wondered this she turned to her companion and cleared her throat "Six do you have a minute"

"Sure what's on your mind?"

"I have… some questions on my mind if you don't mind listening" the courier gave a nod as he stored his weapon and gave her his full attention.

"I… it might sound weird to you but, what would you say it's the biggest lesson to be learned here on the wasteland?" Winter asked making Six raise his eyebrow.

"Like… don't fight Deathclaws? Or are you looking for advice on survival?"

Winter shook her head "No, I am speaking in a more philosophical way, for example something that is very common to hear back home is that we are a world of bloody evolution, we change by our environment… at least that's how I see it"

Six scratched the back of his head "You're asking the wrong guy I really don't think much about that, I act and keep moving forward, I follow the objective is all I have ever known… I think" Six had a faraway look on his face making Winter nod in understanding. It made sense to her; Six had no recollection of how his life was before Benny unloaded a gun on his head so he followed what his PipBoy said and while not bad it left him always searching for something to do, always on the move. She could relate in a way, running all the time for a goal but she had something to anchor her to the world, her sister.

"You know, give me some time maybe I will have something to say but for now let's just buy some food I think I see a trading post ahead" Six said as he gave her a smile.

The trading shop was cozy little thing Winter noted as some NCR soldiers hung out around it and some traders rested around the place. Six gave some of the traders a wave and a joke salute to the NCR soldiers. Neither replied his greeting.

But it made sense, this happy go lucky persona made him seem none threatening and people ignored him most of the time. Therefore, now everyone's eyes were on something else and they could go about their business.

"Wow, no offence but you look like you came from some rough road, where did you come from?" Winter heard someone say to them, a girl no older than thirty said as she gave them a small grin, Six snorted.

"The grave"

"Oh wow, then I take it back you look good for what happened" she said, Six laughed and extended his hand "Courier Six, pleased to meet you"

A power fist tightly squeezed his hand making Winter almost gasp, that thing was huge!

"Getting any ideas? I could show you" the girl said as she wiggled her eyebrows, Winter snorted "Flattered, but no"

"Aw too bad, but I'm only joking. I'm Veronica I live in a hole in the ground" the now named Veronica said as she released Six's arm. The courier shook his hand surprised at the strength of her grip "A hole on the ground? A literal hole?" Winter asked making the girl shake her head.

"No nothing like that or maybe you never know, maybe it's a big hole I have a big family and all" Veronica said with a bright smile, the courier gave Winter a look and Winter simply shrugged.

"Say, do you mind if I ask you something? I had this run-in with this group called the brotherhood of steel, pretty strange bunch know anything about them?" Veronica asked to which Winter replied by shaking her head.

"Oh I heard of them, they like to collect prewar technology but if you don't have any they leave you alone that little nugget of information the bullets couldn't take, important thing to know as a courier around here" Six said as Veronica giggled. "Good thing I don't carry anything of importance, just this hood and this bad boy" Veronica said as she raised her power fist.

"Where are you headed anyways, taking the pretty lady to New Vegas?" Veronica said as Six bought some resources, Six chuckled "Oh I'm not a gambling man, we are traveling around the Mojave seeing places and meeting people" Winter wanted to roll her eyes at that one but refrained from doing so.

"Oh that's amazing! Say do you mind if someone tagged along with you" Veronica said. Six rubbed his chin "No offence, but why should we let you? We don't know your motives or what you bring to the table"

"Oh I'm just a girl that loves punching people and wants to finally come out of her hole in the ground and see the world, I promise"

"I mean… you could come with us, but you'll have to wait we are going to some places that it would be best if you don't set foot on" Six said making Veronica let out a cheer. "Oh sure that would make me very happy, sure I can wait some time I have to go gather more supplies for my family after all… but here's some information those brotherhood guys" Veronica leaned in to Six's ears making his eyes widen, Winter tried to hear but her ears didn't pick anything up.

"You are one bold lady to hang out around here, or you are just crazy. Sure when we get back from this little trip you can come with, see you around Veronica"

Their trip was really uneventful for the most part, they tried to reach Helios One but a patrol of NCR troopers told them that no civilians where allowed. So they kept walking towards Primm even if it really was far away from their target. Winter waned to complain but she saw how tense Six was, he needed to know about his past and he would get his answers no matter what; even if it postponed their meeting with the legion Winter wanted to give him this. She could see that he needed this, it was almost night when they arrived at Primm. It took Winter little time to find the graffiti that she remembered. It was above dumpster near the Vicky and Vance casino. "You can go home Courier" it read.

Six studied if for a moment and then moved the dumpster, there carved on the wall coordinates, Six quickly punched them in and looked at his map "Is so close, did I really live here so close to Primm?"

Winter wanted to say something but Six almost ran towards the direction, deep in her gut she knew something bad was happening. But he needed this answer, even if it was something that would hurt him. She was no sentimentalist, she was a soldier and sometimes harsh truths where needed for people to progress. But even so this was not like the lessons she gave to her sister, this was about identity and home.

"Six… are you alright" Winter asked as they started to climb a very steep hill, Six gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes "Sure, I just need to know… I don't really think I have home anymore but maybe seeing will bring back something from the past"

Winter gave a nod as something came into view, her whole body tensed, a mess of metal and trashed vehicles occupied the entrance to what looked to be a canyon. However, that was not what scared her, the graffiti was not just one message.

"You can go Home Courier" "It's all your fault" "Courier Six?" "Enter the lonesome road"

Winter felt her breath caught up in her throat. Six on the other hand placed a hand on the door and opened it without effort his eyes held a fire that she had not seen before.

Winter heard him gasp and made her way inside, but she was not prepared for what was inside. Hell was the only way she could describe it. Red clouds of dust and ash covered a land that glowed with unnatural fire, the air around her felt tainted and she swore she heard the Geiger counter on the pipboy start to tick. She could hear howls of pained souls scream out into the night and for a moment she wanted to run, the only thing keeping her there was her resolve.

Six on the other hand fell to his knees "HopeVille… I…" with a shake of his head he stood up. "We are leaving, there's nothing for me here, you first" Six said as he almost pushed Winter back out into the Wasteland. But before he left he saw a red dot trained on his head.

A sniper was watching him, letting him know just how easy it would be to kill him. Instead, the red dot moved towards one of the graffiti.

"You can't run forever"

A/N: Small chapter before we meet Caesar, I always found it very interesting how you just know you have to go to the Divide. There's no radio message no note, nothing. Really sets the mood for the final road before hoover damn. Anyways see you soon!