Author's Note: Ok...I'd like to know how many words it takes for my chapters to be considered a good length. Seriously. :( please let me know. Also, apparently I'm keeping the connection between the King and Raven too light. It sure keeps you guys guessing, doesn't it? :) Anyway, this chapter is mostly a lot of letter exchanging and whatnot. Haha, kinda silly, I know, but I hope you enjoy it.
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 15: Thinking About You
The King was anxious. Raven and Rex left two days ago but they weren't back yet. He stood in his shower and let the water rush over his body hoping it would put his mind at ease about Rex, but it didn't. If only he knew that those two were safe and in Jacobstown, he'd be satisfied. The King knew Raven would get the job done, but he wondered if it was more than a job to her. He also wondered what would happen once she returned. He had no more jobs to give her, at least at the moment. The thoughts of a few nights before at the Atomic Wrangler captured his mind. Watching that girl sing was mesmerizing, to say the least. Her presence on that stage with his guitar, the way her voice captivated the audience, and the full lips that sang each word with precision and accuracy...he never saw it coming. The way her black hair fell framed Raven's face perfectly. The courier's brilliant green eyes were a testimony to her survival instinct and the big heart that the girl carried held inside her. That night, the man had a lot of scotch so perhaps her beauty was amplified. But why think of it now?
No, he was just shaken by Rex's absence. The King shut the shower off and stepped out, drying himself with a towel. Raven was full of pleasant and shocking surprises, but in the end, she was just trying to make the world a better place one step at a time. Admirable, but he knew once she was done with helping him, she'd go off and fix other people's problems. The thought of it caused a frown from him, but only because the courier was so damn reliable. Her services were top notch and rare to find. The King would miss having her around if only for her efficiency and ability to provide good, clean results. The King needed to give something back to her. Raven deserved to receive some sort of payment. He reached for his white rocker suit and began dressing himself. What could he possibly give to a woman who seemed to require nothing in return?
As he tied his shoes, the King started running through his options. Money? No. He found caps couldn't pay for this kind of work. A present, maybe? He wasn't sure what kind of gift he could give the woman. At least one she would really like. Maybe he'd swing by the Mormon Fort and ask her friend Boone about the things she liked. Or maybe he'd ask Major Kieran about it. The King went back into his bathroom and began applying hair gel to his hair with his hands, then he took a comb and began making a masterpiece of his hair. When that was done, he rinsed his hands in the sink and made his way out of the bedroom and downstairs. When the King reached the lobby he saw a stranger walk into the building. Caravan merchant, perhaps. He ignored the man until the King heard his own name called and he eyed the stranger. One of his members pointed to the King and the stranger walked to him.
"I have a letter for the King." he said as they confronted each other. "It's from Jacobstown."
The King reached for the note and opened the envelope with haste. He began reading it.
Dear Mr. King,
I have reached my destination and Rex will be fixed in no time. However, I'm afraid there has been a complication. The donor I found, well...it's complicated. I'll explain once I return Rex to you, but all I ask is that you trust my judgment on this. I know it's a lot to ask but I really feel this is the best for Rex. If I have your permission, Rex and I will return in about a week or so. He'll be good as new, I promise.
Sincerely,
Miss Wagner
P.S. If you agree to this, would you please let Major Kieran know I'll be gone for a bit? She'll understand why. If you haven't met her yet, she's the one in charge of the food relief over by the train station. I would really appreciate it.
The King sighed. What the hell did she have up her sleeve? He had no reason to doubt her, but still, this was suspicious. The King didn't like not knowing things. He gave the 'postman' a few caps from his pocket.
"If you come back in an hour, can you deliver a note to Jacobstown for me?"
"Sure. I was headed back there anyway. I'll be back in an hour."
The stranger left and the King made his way back to his bedroom to write a response.
One day later...
"Raven, would you please hand me that syringe?" asked Doctor Henry.
The courier did as she was asked and gave the doctor the syringe. Just in one day, Raven managed to find the cause of the Nightstalker's cloaking mutation as well as settle one of the Nightkin down into being a bit more patient with a cure for their schizophrenia, a byproduct of Stealthboy overuse. The courier was reminded how much fun being a scientist was. As a little girl, Raven's mother taught the child the importance of science and medical knowledge. Especially medical knowledge with animals. Mrs. Wagner's profession was a veterinarian, and Raven had been the veterinarian's assistant for most of her childhood. The joy of looking at samples through microscopes and coming up with mind blowing theories about how organisms worked, though, had always been Raven's favorite past time. And the work she was currently doing with Doctor Henry really took her back.
"Maybe I should have brought back a live specimen for this, Doc. I'm curious if Nightstalkers can ever be domesticated." she commented.
"I'm curious to know how a courier knows so much about science and medicine, to be honest," the doctor said. "It's not every day that I meet a 'jack of all trades' kind of person."
"I guess you could say that. Well," she explained, "my mom was a veterinarian, you see. And a scientist. She taught me everything she knew, and she was brilliant. My mother was also a fabulous cook."
"I see. What about your father? Did he teach you anything?"
Raven stopped for a moment before slicing a sample off the dead Nightstalker with a scalpel. "...I suppose he did. He was a..." she paused, "...very strict man, you could say. Didn't appreciate any weaknesses. 'Survival of the fittest' was his motto."
The doctor looked at her with a sympathetic expression. "You said your last name was Wagner, right? Your father...was his name Jack Wagner?"
Raven looked back at him, eyes widened. "Yeah, actually. How'd you know?"
The doctor smiled before sticking the needle in the Nightstalker and pumping the plunger a few times. "I do believe I knew both your parents," he said, pulling the needle out and aiming it toward a microscope slide. "back when I was at Shady Sands. Well, 'New California Republic' I should say. Your mother Martha was a very bright student, just like her brother."
Raven blinked a few times. "She had a brother? I didn't know that."
"Oh yeah," he said. "James left for Washington D.C. about, oh, twenty something years ago? He was very bright, just like your mother. Brains ran pretty high in the family, I guess." He pushed the plunger down and small bits of liquid splattered onto the slide. "So, how are your folks?"
Raven slipped her sample into a tube full of liquid and sealed it with a cap. "Mom died when I was about 12 years old, and I haven't seen Dad since I left home."
The doctor frowned again. "I'm sorry to hear about your mother."
Raven put the tube down and leaned her hands on the table. "Yeah," was all she mustered.
Just then, a man walked into the room with an envelope. "Raven Wagner?" She turned and nodded at the man. "You've got a letter," he said and brought it to her.
Raven thanked the man, handed him some caps, and opened the note.
Dear Miss Wagner,
I'm not sure what's going on, but I'll trust your word. For now, at least. You better have a damn good explanation when you come back. In the meantime, I've asked the man who gave you this letter to bring letters back and forth for us until you return. I want an update on Rex's condition. I deserve to know how my friend is doing. I still don't appreciate you keeping him longer without telling me why, but like I said, there better be a good reason for it. If I find any reason to believe you're up to something that's not in my best interest or Rex's, you'll regret it.
Signed,
Mr. King
P.S. I'll pass your word onto the Major.
Raven crumpled up the letter and threw it into the fireplace angrily. She narrowed her eyes at the delivery man. "Wait here. I'll be right back."
One day later...
The King was eating some gecko bits and drinking Nuka-Cola when the delivery man came through the door. He shivered as he handed the King an envelope. He opened the letter and as he read it, the King's eyes went dark.
Dear Mr. King,
Per your request, here's an update on Rex. His vitals are good and his brain activity is steady. Since being with him, he hasn't had any 'attacks'. His heart rate and blood pressure are both normal, and the donor's blood and Rex's blood are a match meaning his body will not kill off the replacement organ. His temperature is in the average range and while the organ in question is still causing him some confusion and walking difficulties, Rex has a very good prognosis. Rex is also suffering from degenerative myelopathy so he's going to need some spinal cord work as well. Fixing the problem will get his muscle mass back to normal and he will no longer suffer from ataxia. Overall, Rex seems quite happy and comfortable here in the mountains. He's eating and drinking well, and I'm encouraging plenty of exercise so that Rex will be in good shape by the time he has his surgery.
Signed,
Miss Wagner
The King shook his head before handing the delivery man a few caps and reached for a piece of paper. He started writing his reply.
The next day...
Raven was sitting at a desk with Rex and Violetta at her feet, resting. The courier was going over some lab results when both the animals lifted their heads. Violetta was a bit slower than Rex today, and Raven frowned. Her head shifted and she saw the delivery guy again. He handed her a note and she thanked him before opening it.
Dear Miss Wagner,
Thank you for the update, although some of it was gibberish. I hope your next letter contains a better description for us who are not doctors.
Signed,
Mr. King
She slammed her fist on the table before looking at the man. "How much is the King paying you, anyway?"
"'Bout a hundred caps per run, lady." He chuckled. "Though seeing the looks on both your faces whenever you get letters makes the job worth the walking."
Raven growled and began writing a very heated response letter.
And the next day...
An envelope landed in front of the King at his table and he sighed. He started to open it when he looked at the man who delivered it. "How is Miss Wagner, by the way? Is she doing ok?"
"You want the truth or do you want a 'sunshine and rainbows' answer, sir?" he bit back a laugh.
The King raised an eyebrow. "The truth, if you don't mind."
"Oh, she's madder than hell. I don't know exactly what you two are saying to each other but if I didn't know any better, I'd say you two were husband and wife with the way you both act after reading each letter," he explained.
"We're not a couple," The King commented. "She's just an acquaintance who's doing a job for me." He finished ripping open the envelope, unfolding the paper, and started reading.
Dear Mr. King,
If you're having a problem with understanding the medical terms, ask Julie Farkas to explain them to you. Every second that I have to spend updating you is taking away valuable time that I could spend preparing your dog and the donor for a brain and spinal cord transplant. After every god damn thing I've done for you and your precious Freeside, I never expected gratitude but I was hoping you'd have some faith in me to not screw you over. Rex is a wonderful dog and I am dedicated to his recovery. I cherish Rex just as much as I cherish...
The King noticed some eraser marks at that part in the letter.
...as much as I cherish your friendship with me, if you want to call it that. Perhaps I was wrong to think I'd earned some of your trust, even after our conversation at the Atomic Wrangler. So, I suppose I should explain the situation and apologize for not telling you before. You see, the donor is a dog I found with the Fiends named Violetta. And from what I've seen, Rex and Violetta were once familiar with each other. I don't think Rex would ever forgive me if I killed her, but she's not in the best shape. In fact, I don't expect her to live beyond the next few days. Once she passes on her own, then we can do the surgery. Those two are quite taken with each other and I just want those two to have a little more time together before Violetta dies. Call me crazy, call me weak, whatever. I just don't have the heart to shoot the poor girl.
Signed,
Miss Wagner
"Shit," the King murmured as he turned to the man. "Have you seen the cyberdog up there in Jacobstown?"
"Often, and he's either running around with your friend or cuddled up with some mutt named Violetta. It's cute the way Rex dotes on her, though." he replied.
The King immediately began a response. "That woman is going to be the death of me, I swear."
The next day...
Raven smiled at Rex and Violetta as they huddled up by the fireplace together. Rex was grooming her and it was an adorable sight even though she knew Violetta was not going to last much longer. Watching the two dogs together was bittersweet. As she went over the schematics of Rex's body on the computer, Doctor Henry came over with two cups of coffee. He handed Raven a cup and she thanked him kindly as he sat down. The courier took a sip of it and smiled gently. Even though it was very old coffee, it was still pretty damn good.
"Mail drop off!" a voice yelled and Raven sighed.
"Don't you ever sleep or rest or...something?" she asked.
"No, ma'am." the man said, cheerful as ever. "Not for the amount of money I'm getting from this."
He handed Raven an envelope and she hesitated before opening it.
Dear Miss Wagner,
Thank you for telling me about Rex and Violetta. Now that I know what's going on, I'd like to say something to you. I wish I could tell you in person but this can't wait. I value our friendship. I value everything you've done for this city, for me, and I especially value you. Making you feel unappreciated or degraded was not my intention at all. I am grateful for all the things you've done, and for having you around. I suppose that's part of the reason why I was a little cold in my letters. It's because...
Some words were scribbled out from the paper, but Raven could have sworn she saw the words 'I miss seeing you here' but it was hard to tell.
...It's because your presence here is missed. Rex's presence is missed. Not just by me, but by the people here in Freeside. The food relief is going well, Pacer's behavior has changed quite a bit, and Major Kieran is anxious to see you back. Something about having Mirelurk Casserole with you, but I'm not sure what the hell that means. Maybe you'll explain that one to me. Anyway, in light of everything you've done for all of us, I want to make it up to you. Name anything you want or need and I'll do my best to make it happen. Let me know.
Sincerely,
Mr. King
Raven didn't notice the smile creeping on her face as she read the letter until she looked at both the doctor and the 'postman'. She coughed uncomfortably and set her cup down before writing a reply.
The next day...
The King grasped the brand new letter he just received. He felt unsure about what he just read so he looked at the paper again to make sure.
Dear Mr. King,
Nothing really big comes to mind right now, but how do you feel about sharing dinner with me sometime?
Sincerely,
Miss Wagner
The King scratched his head. "A date, huh?" he asked himself, puzzled at the boldness of her invitation. He was even more puzzled why he didn't ask her first.
And that's the conclusion for chapter 15. There will be more to come unless my story is becoming too weird for you guys. :P please review.