My legs were hanging over the side of the Nuka-rocket as I stared up at the glowing planets hanging from the ceiling. The credits of the last movie rolled across the screen as I lay on my back, thinking. I didn't get much sleep as usual. I heard Gage shift throughout the night. I would pretend I was sleeping when he sat up to survey the area and make sure nothing was around.

I have been thinking about the Common Wealth lately. I wondered how the settlements were doing or what my companions must've thought when they couldn't find me in the morning. Were any of them searching for me? I keep telling myself it doesn't matter anymore but it's hard. As much as I wanted to think like a raider I couldn't bring myself to be so malicious. I had to try. I couldn't let the raider gangs and more importantly, Gage, find out the kind of person I really was.

The credits ended and the screen cut to black so I figured it was time to get up. As soon as I got out of my rocket I saw Gages body lift as well, I wondered if he had been up thinking too and didn't want to move in case he woke me.

"Morn'n, Boss." He said as he adjusted his armor.

"Morning, Gage." I said absently.

"Everything all right?" He questioned.

"Yeah, just didn't get much sleep" I answered as I unfolded the Nuka-World map. "Dry Rock Gulch is next."

"You got it." He continued to study me as I pushed past him.

I wanted to share my feelings with him but I knew I couldn't. Which made me feel horrible for not being completely honest with him, like he was with me. I swallowed the guilt as we went to the flag pole.

"So...I just pick a gang?" I asked timidly, trying to figure out which gang I disliked the least.

"Yup. We put up the flag and they move in. This will keep them from being at each other's throats." He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

I tried to think. The operators were the first to come to my mind. Level headed, seemed to be looking toward the future of the park, so I figured they would handle all the tech in Galactic zone the best. I raised the flag with no comment from Gage and we were on to the next park.

When we approached the gates we were greeted with a large sign that said "Beware if blood worms!" I squinted at it and turned to Gage "what's a blood worm?" As soon as I finished my question a large worm shot from the ground between me and Gage. I drew my pistol and shot it twice, midair.

It landed dead in front of us. "That's a blood worm." He responded as we both examined it.

Before we had a chance to move forward the ground shook underneath us. I quickly looked up at Gage a shocked express on my face "I don't think we're done yet!"

They dug up from the ground like sprouting plants. We were battling off 3 or 4 of them. One jumped at me and I shot directly down its open mouth. When we finally cleared the front entrance we stayed alert as we entered the park.

We walked a few feet before being greeted by a protectron. "Hello…?" I approached it slowly not sure if it would attack us like all the robots in Galactic Zone.

"Hello, partner, Welcome to Dry Rock Gulch." it still had a robotic tone as it tried to sound like a cowboy.

We shared a short conversation about the blood worm infestation, then I was assigned the Sheriff and sent on a mission to help the other protectrons around the fake old western town. It handed me a cowboy uniform and I quickly turned on my heels to face Gage. My mouth was hanging open in a huge smile.

He looked at me and before he could say anything I ran to a building and got changed.

When I was done I kicked the door open, walking out wide legged and resting my hands on my belt buckle. Gage was shaking his head "Come on, Boss."

I looked at him and squinted my eyes "I don't know nothing about this 'boss' busy." I spoke in a horrible western accent "I am the Sheriff of this here town and we have a varmint problem. I'm going to need my Deputy to have a clear mind for this."

Gage stared at me for a second and then shook his head "Alright, Boss, that's funny. Now, let's get that silly costume off and let's keep moving."

"I think you look good, part-ner." The protectron complemented me.

Gage swatted him away "Don't encourage this."

"Sorry." He responded as he turned and walked back his spot by the entrance.

"Come on, Deputy, where is your uniform?" I walked closer to him, the spurs on my cowboy boots jingling as I walked, and gave him a once over.

"I ain't no, Deputy, now stop playing around."

I broke character when I saw how stubborn he was being. I looked up at him doe eyed "Oh, Gage, please! This will be way more fun if you play along. You have the accent and everything!"

Gage's eyebrows were slanted, his face toward the sky "I'm not playing any games."

"Pretty please?" I grabbed his hands. My touch made him flush and look down at my grip around his large hands "I'm the only one who will see you being silly and I promise I won't tell a single soul!" we made eye contact, my eyes pleading "Please…" I never broke our stare.

"Fine…" he huffed "but I'm only wearing the hat" I cheered as he dipped his head and placed a black cowboy hat on his head "Alright, Sheriff, who needs our help first?"

I smiled and quickly jumping back into character "A local rancher needs help collecting his horse. Be on the lookout for those nasty blood worms too!" I yee-hawed as we moved forward.

We went from robot to robot completing the silly missions and killing any blood worms in sight. I was having so much fun I almost forgot what/where I was. Besides the giant killer worms and serving skeletons Nuka- wild, it felt like there was no apocalypse. It was just Gage and I at the park enjoying the attractions. I would watch Gage when he didn't think I was looking and seeing him smile, really smile and have fun, made my heart pound. It happened a lot when I looked at him. The feeling of my limbs going numb for a second, my breath catching in my chest as I felt so happy to have him happy and near me.

Once we finished clearing out the park, including Mad Mulligan's Mine, we went back to the Saloon and had Dr. Phosphate serve us some drinks. I had picked up some tables and chairs, trying to clean up the place. When I was done I joined Gage on the bar stool next to him as Doc slid a Nuka-Wild my way.

"Well, you done good today, Deputy." I joked, he smiled but continued to look down at his drink. I watched him for a second, he looked lost in his thoughts. I leaned in to him nudging him with my shoulder "You alright?"

"Yeah…Yeah I'm good." He hesitated "I'm just…thinking, is all."

"About what?" I tried to act casual as I took a sip of my drink.

"About you…" I held my breath "You aren't afraid to take what you want, and do what you want. I just wonder why ya do it. What do you get out of this?"

I thought for a second. That was a good questions really. Why? I lost my son, my family and left the new life I had made for myself and here I was. Sitting in an old beat up amusement park bar, with my right hand that helped me control a whole raider gang. My life seemed to always take these turns that I never expect. So, honestly, I didn't know why. "Do I need a reason?"

"I suppose not." He continued to tell me how he felt about this world we inhabited. How he thought raiders were dumb and how they just "take, take, take" and abuse everything.

I saw this inner conflict in him. A Raider calling other raiders idiots. It was really ironic. Then he told me about his family and it made sense. He seemed to be a lot like me. The inner struggle of what's right and what you have to do. It broke my heart to hear that he ran away from home and left his parents to fend for themselves. I saw the pain in his eyes when I asked them where they were, and he responded with an insincere comment. He didn't mean it, but what else was he supposed to say? He was tough. He had been through a lot and that was the only way he could explain his feelings, by pushing down the pain and pretending nothing hurt him.

"I'm sorry, Gage," I touched his shoulder. As I signaled Doc so get him another drink.

"It's fine. The point of this story was that I feel like you… get it. Whatever you went through, however you got here, you can relate. I'm grateful for that… for you."

I let that comment sink in. My hand froze on his shoulder. I was feeling a mixture of happiness and pain. The fact that he appreciated having me around sent my heart thudding, again. Then the sting from the fact that I have told him nothing about myself and my past. He trusted me, he felt comfortable sharing his opinions and story with me and all he knew was my name. He never asked either. Knowing that it wasn't his place and that I would hopefully…tell him in time. My heart sunk into my boots knowing that I would probably never tell him my true story and identity.

Gage saw that I was lost in thought. He lurched forward trying to bury his face in his bottle. "I'm sorry to make it weird, or whatever." He chugged the rest of his drink and got off the bar stool. "We should find a place to stay the night."

I watched him standing in the door frame looking out at the town. I walked up behind him. "Thank you, Gage." I said as I looked up at him. He looked down at me and then away as a small smile spread across his face.

"No problem, Boss."