Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, guys. I'll try to keep up on the updating process, and I'll try to make each chapter a little bit longer.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fallout characters, nor the source material. The only character who came from my own imagination is the name and personality of the Courier, (and I don't own the "Courier" name, either). Oh, and I will probably make some references to Elvis Presley and his songs (and I don't own those either).
Chapter 4: Flaming Star
The moment Raven stepped into the theater, she felt a little out of place. There wasn't much to the room and quite frankly, she had expected the King's building interior to be overly extravagant. This was not the case. It looked more like a cafeteria than a theater, with the exception of the stage at one end of the room. Raven glanced briefly at the chairs and tables, finding few occupants. She took note that every single person, besides Boone and herself, were in the same clothes. Uniforms, obviously, but unless they had bullet proof vests they weren't the best selections of attire in Freeside. The courier also noticed how all the members had very distinct hair styles. One man passed in front of her and Raven wondered exactly what was in his hair. It looked slick; greasy, almost. Not the kind of grease that built up in hair after years of hygiene negligence and countless battles. Raven couldn't place what it was. Boone made a spot for himself over by the door as he watched Raven walk away. He had her back.
Soft whining took the girl out of her thoughts and she saw a cyber dog on the floor near the stage. She frowned a little as they made their way to a table. The King leaned down and scratched the dog under the chin, and the strange animal licked the hand of his master. After a few pats on the head and a scratch behind the ear, the King spoke.
"Look Rexie, someone new's come to see us," and Rex stared up at Raven with weary eyes and whimpered, and the King took a long, heavy sigh. "Poor boy. He hasn't been feeling well lately."
Almost instinctively, the courier knelt down next to Rex and let him sniff her hand. Rex inhaled through his nose a few times before licking her hand. Raven sat down and started petting the dog. She had a soft spot for dogs. Seeing the poor animal reminded the courier of her own pet dog from what seemed like a lifetime ago. Cybernetics excluded, Rex was the spitting image of her furry childhood playmate. They even had the same eyes. Before Raven could slip back into those memories that would more than likely lead her to pain and an urge to drown them in scotch, Rex scooted forward a little and rested his head into her lap.
The King was surprised at not only Rex's immediate ease with the girl, but the girl's affection for his loyal friend. Rex was a sweet dog but he usually didn't warm up to strangers that easily. The girl's face no longer held the ice and bitterness that was there not even five minutes ago. She wore an expression of pity, no...sadness. A sadness, he figured, that could only come from someone who already experienced what he was currently going through. The inevitable loss of a dear friend. The King had inquired several times to Julie Farkas up at the Old Mormon Fort about helping Rex, but there was nothing they could do.
"We just don't have the necessary supplies or know-how for any sort of treatment. I'm sorry but all we can do is make Rex comfortable until he-"
Several chairs and a couple of tables toppled over as the King stormed out of the tent. One of the doctors came rushing up behind him, obviously angry at the King's behavior. The doctor grabbed him by the shoulder as he forced him to turn around. "Hey, you got a lo-"
The King's balled fist smashed into the man's face, and the doctor stumbled over into a pile of sandbags. He had half a mind to kill the next person that tried to reason with him. There was no room left to "reason" with the King at this point. He turned and walked with a heavy heart to the large wooden doors.
The King snapped himself out of the memory, remembering where he was. "I'm sorry. I seem to have misplaced my manners." He held out a hand to offer a hand shake. "I'm the King, leader of The Kings...but you probably already knew that."
Raven hesitated for a moment, then gently lifted Rex's head from her lap before briefly shaking the man's hand. "Raven Wagner. Courier. You probably already knew that."
They both stood and the King motioned for her to sit at the table as he took his own seat. "A courier, huh?" he smiled as if a revelation had been revealed. "So you're the one who's been running around doing favors for everyone around here. I should have known."
Then again, he had no clue that the woman had a short-fused temper to go along with her good deeds. The King previously assumed she was some sort of goodie-two-shoes fresh no more than sixteen years old with a naïve view of the Mojave. Instead, he was staring into the eyes of a dangerous twenty-something woman with a fire in her soul and an outfit to match. Ain't that a kick in the head?
"So, Raven...what can I do for you?"
She rubbed the back of her neck, suddenly looking lost. "Actually, I was wondering what I could do for you."
The King quirked an eyebrow. "Pardon?"
The courier rested her arms on the table, crossing them as she leaned in a bit. "Well, I keep running into your Kings and they keep bringing me stuff. Things that you told them to give me for 'helping out around here'. I figured it was some sort of incentive to come see about a job."
The King shifted, highly amused. "Well, that's not how I 'recruit' people, Miss Wagner. Those gifts had no strings attached." He hadn't considered offering any jobs to her because of his previous assumptions, but now that he finally met the woman face to face... "You've earned it. More good has come out of your arrival a few days ago than my actions in a month. I know you have places to go and people to see but now that you're here, I could use your help with something. If you're interested."
Raven sheepishly smirked, realizing now the impact she was making on Freeside. "Well, I-...thank you, Mr. King." Raven thought for a moment. "By all means, lay it on me. What do you need done?"
The King smiled at her warmly. "Well, I'll start you off with something easy." He knew she was capable of more, but there was a point to this. "And it'd be more of a favor, really. You do this and I'll have some more work for you when it's done. Sound good?" He wanted to know how people talked her into doing favors for them.
Raven smirked, as if she knew what he was up to. She was dense at times, but a blind man could see the King's curiosity. "Absolutely," she replied. This was going to be interesting.