Author's Note: Soooooo...heh. Onto Chapter 16! And the first part has a...vague description of how I think the surgery would go. Possibly. Probably not accurate but meh, what the hell.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fallout characters, nor do I own any of the source material. The only thing that came from my imagination is the name and personality of Raven Wagner, who is the Courier (and I don't own the Courier name either). And each chapter name is a song title from Elvis Presley, so I don't own those either.

Chapter 16: Steadfast, Loyal and True

Raven held her head in her hands and she took a deep breath. Raven lifted her head and stared at the lump underneath a sheet on the operating table. While she'd only known Violetta for a short time, her death this morning had been heart breaking for the courier as well as for Rex. She'd tried not to get too attached to the animal, but despite the dog's previous environment, she was rather sweet and gentle. Whatever strength the female canine possessed went into affection with Rex or walking to Raven for a quick dog kiss on the hand or to receive a good scratch behind the ear. Raven stood and walked to the table. As she lifted the sheet, tears threatened to overflow again. The lifeless form of Violetta was cold, unmoving, and...empty. The top of Viioletta's head was sewn back on as well as the incisions into her back to gain access to the spinal cord. She put the sheet down and turned away, staring over at Rex's unconscious form on another operating table. Raven wiped her face and smoothed herself out, confidence and cool once more, before moving over to Rex, Calamity, and Doctor Henry.

"I'm ready, Doctor Henry."

The doctor and Calamity nodded at Raven. "Are you sure you'll be fine?" asked the doctor.

"Yes," she answered calmly. "I just needed a few minutes to collect myself."

"Good. Now, Calamity," Doctor Henry turned to the ghoul, "let me know if any of the readouts become abnormal. Raven, put on some gloves. You're going to put the new brain once I get the old one out."

Raven nodded and began prepping her hands for sanitation before inserting her hands into each latex glove. "All done." she said as her fingers wiggled.

The doctor started working with Rex's head case, unscrewing a few nuts and bolts before he began draining out the gel encased in Rex's head. Soon after, he asked Calamity to start cleaning the gel. As she did so, the hydraulics's activated and the casing opened itself. Electricity sparked mildly before the casing began buzzing and the lights died out completely. Raven released the breath that she'd been holding onto. Doctor Henry unplugged a few things from the brain before lifting it from the case and Raven grasped Violetta's brain. She placed it into the hole of Rex's head and the doctor complimented the courier's replication of the plug-ins before she herself plugged in a few wires into the new brain. The girl shut the casing slowly and he good doctor began twisting a tiny valve on the side. The now clean gel was placed under it with a tube and the gel began getting sucked back into the casing. Soon, the brain and the inner works of Rex's head began sparking to life once more as the gel filled the gap once more. Raven sighed victoriously.

"Excellent work," said Doctor Henry. "Now, let's get working on that spinal cord, shall we?"

Hours passed as the three worked on Rex, taking every precaution to not destroy the new spinal cord portion from Violetta's body. Luckily the only problem in Rex's spine was isolated to the thoracic region of his spine which was connected to many cybernetic wires to the hind limb robotics and machinery of Rex's body. Theoretically, they only needed a small portion of Violetta's spine for the procedure. Flesh became melded and new wires were inputted and before long, the last bit of metal and steel was set into place. Raven cracked her neck and grunted, The surgery went well and no complications had occurred. Calamity began typing in some information into the computer before removing the needles in Rex's skin. After a few moments, Rex's eyes began fluttering open and Raven smiled down at him.

"Hey buddy. We're all done," she said. "Now you just stay there until you're ready to move." Raven began listening to Rex's heart beat her a stethoscope and timed each beat. "Heart sounds good, no irregularities, bpm is 186...a little fast, but that should clear up when all the anesthesia leaves his system," she mentioned before directing her ears to Rex's lungs. "Respiration is clear and his rpm is 25 rpm," Raven stated to Doctor Henry. "Rexie, you are such a good patient."

Rex yawned loudly after lifting his head a little. Raven, Calamity, and Doctor Henry spent some time clearing the supplies and tools away, sterilizing the equipment and cleaning themselves up. Rex laid on the table patiently, waiting for them to finish. After about 30 minutes of post-surgery cleanup, the doctor was satisfied.

"Ok, let's get him down off the table and check out his mobility," he said..

Raven and Calamity both lifted the heavy dog off the table slowly and set him down on the ground. His paws were placed appropriately and he looked up at Raven.

"How do you feel, boy?" she asked.

Rex began walking around. Unsteadily at first, but as the drugs wore off he began pacing around happily. Faster than normal, even. Raven smiled and crossed her arms, confident that the Turbo injections Violetta had gotten would be a benefit to Rex's speed. Raven's green eyes rested back on the lumpy form of Violetta and she frowned a little. Rex spotted that and ran over to her body and sniffed the sheet. He whimpered and whined, and Raven bowed her head shamefully. Why did life have to be so cruel?

Raven placed the covered body into a hole in the ground gently, tears threatening to spill from her sad green eyes. Rex, Calamity, Doctor Henry, and even some of the Nightkin and Super Mutants stood at the grave as Raven began covering the form with dirt and a shovel. Sweat was beading off her brow as the sunshine beat down on them all, and as Raven piled each amount of dirt on Violetta's dead body, her heart pounded with anxiety and her head filled with bad memories. The courier wondered what she looked like to Benny and his group of thugs as they piled dirt on her almost lifeless form in Goodsprings. When she finished, she wiped her forehead with her arm and Raven set the shovel down on the ground. Rex stared down at the fresh soil with a bowed head and melancholy eyes and someone began saying a prayer for the dead dog in the hole. Raven wondered if the men that buried her ever said a prayer for her before leaving, or if they even bothered placing a cross at her grave. Her eyes shut tightly as that fateful night played in her head, turning her head away and holding back a sob. Raven felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to the person who belonged to it.

"Rex has Violetta's brain. That means he'll have her memories as well. That way, she'll always be part of Rex." said Doctor Henry.

Raven nodded in agreement as people began leaving the cemetery. Raven looked back at Rex who laid down on the ground next to the grave. Doctor Henry began walking away as well, and the courier knelt down by Rex. She glanced a look at his brain which now looked clean and healthy. Raven brushed her fingernails by Rex's ear.

"You need some time alone, Rex?" she asked. The only response she got was a small lick on the face from Rex's tongue, and she nodded before getting up and walking away. "Just come back to the Lodge when you're ready."

Just as she descended down the hill back to Jacobstown, the delivery man was approaching the gates. The woman sighed and walked toward him. Instinctively, he handed the courier an envelope when she reached him. Raven opened it slowly.

Dear Miss Wagner,

I gladly accept your invitation. Now, about that favor I owe you...just think about it for a bit.

Sincerely,

Mr. King

Raven felt her cheeks turn bright red. She'd thought asking him to dinner was the favor, but apparently he misread the letter. The courier looked at the delivery man sheepishly.

"Um, what was his reaction to my letter?"

"He looked like a, hmm...what's the phrase? Like a cat who caught the canary?" he replied. "I recall him saying, 'a date, huh?'."

"Oh shit," she said and Raven felt her face flush even more. "I wasn't asking for a date! I-I just...I...crap!"

The man laughed. "Honey, there's no point in hiding it. You're infatuated with the guy."

Raven stuttered then stopped herself and placed a hand on her forehead. "I am not infatuated with him. I'm...alright, look. He's handsome but he's just a friend."

"Bullshit, lady. I don't even know you but I recognize that look," he explained. "That 'got caught with your hand in the cookie jar' look. You have it."

"I asked him to dinner as a favor, not a date!"

"Who the hell asks for a favor like that?" he asked smugly. "Besides, he had me read it the letter for justification. It sure looked like you were asking him out."

Raven stopped breathing. The guy had a point. The woman swallowed hard as she realized the trap she put herself in. "...Fuck."

"Ah, there's my favorite postman!" said the King, standing up from his normal chair in the theater.

The man shook the King's hand before giving the King an envelope. "She said she'd be back later today or early tomorrow, sir."

"That's fantastic!" replied the King. "That's great." He sat down and motioned for the delivery man to sit as well. "But why did she send me another letter?"

"You'll see," he smirked as the King opened the envelope.

Dear Mr. King,

Originally, I didn't think of my offer to dinner as me asking you out. Not really. But seeing as how the postman is quite nosy and he'll probably tell you everything anyway, I might as well stop denying the truth. The truth is simply this: the postman is a nosy man and will probably tell you everything that happened when he came by with your letter. He's a sneaky bastard and quite frankly, I think you overpaid him. Anyway, Rex is all better. The surgery was successful and he's as good as new! I deem Rex as a very healthy cyberdog and all his health problems are officially gone.

Sincerely,

Miss Wagner

The King's lip quivered to hold back his amusement, but he couldn't help himself. The urge overtook him and he started laughing uncontrollably.

It was well past 3 am when Raven finally arrived at the King's school with Rex. In fact, she timed it that way. The courier was quite flustered ever since she sent off that letter and she didn't want to explain to the King to his face that she was...she didn't know what she was. Cowardly, for sure. Humiliation was at the core of her fear right now. She wasn't willing to let the King see her that way. A whole day of walking and running wore her out but she was only going to drop Rex off. She crept through the lobby slowly to reach the hallways, and after minutes of creeping and being as stealthy as possible, they reached the King's bedroom. Raven opened his door slowly and peeked in. The only lights on were from the jukebox and from the Sarsaparilla machine. They both entered the room and Rex padded confidently to the King's bed. Raven's eyes adjusted to the darkness and she saw the King's form in the bed. Raven was about to leave when she heard the King stir.

"Well I'll be a monkey's uncle!" The King exclaimed as Rex panted and barked. "You look good as new! Did my Rexie get a new brain?"

As Rex frantically covered his master's face with dog kisses, Raven chuckled before walking toward the door. Her previous mind set was still fresh in her mind but she stopped at the door when she heard the King call her name. The courier froze in her place, not sure if she should leave or stay. Ultimately, Raven found herself getting closer to the King with a shy smile. The King was now sitting up in his bed, the bed sheets splayed lazily over his lower regions. This was the second time the woman had seen the King practically naked, though the emotions she felt were very different. She kept her eyes averted to the floor, not daring to stare at the man. Vaguely out of her vision, Raven noticed Rex curling up on the bed to get some much needed rest.

"Miss Wagner, are you alright?"

"Oh, just peachy. Just wanted to bring Rex as soon as I got back." she replied. "Please just let me get out of here now. Dammit, why does the King have to sleep naked?" she thought.

"Thank you, Miss Wagner," he responded. "I truly can't thank you enough. You have my eternal gratitude." As she concentrated on a specific part of the carpet, Raven heard rustling and movement. "Have you ever played Pool, Miss Wagner?" asked the King.

She lifted her gaze in confusion. "A little. Wh-" and cut herself off when she realized the King was zipping up his pants. He had nothing but pants on. "Raven, snap out of it. Stop staring!" she yelled at herself in her head. "U-u-um," she stammered and looked away, "yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Let's play a game," he sauntered over to her calmly. "Won't be able to sleep now that you're back."

"Oh, ok." she replied, then caught his gaze and frowned. "I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry. I-"

He cut her off by placing a finger on Raven's lips. "I'm not angry with you. It's perfectly fine" he said. "No need to apologize. Besides," he continued as he removed his finger, "I was already awake."

Raven's heartbeat thundered in her ears and she felt her body heat rise. Being that physically close to an under dressed King, the lingering touch on her mouth from his finger, and the subtle scent of his skin was both petrifying and enticing. Raven was tired. Just tired, and the woman wasn't used to anyone being inside her personal bubble. When the King moved away, though, Raven pouted a little before realizing it.

"You're in denial," the thought invaded her mind. "You want him and you know it."

"Shut up. I'll admit he's got a some sort of weird hold on my hormones, but I'm not interested."

"You're only hurting yourself in the long run," her alter ego commented. "There's nothing wrong with lusting after a man."

"I'm not some harlot! I barely know him! Besides, I doubt he's interested in me...that way."

"Honey, he's a man."

"He's a gentleman. Besides, I-"

"Want more than just a shag in the bed?"

"..."

"Face it. You want a reason to not kill yourself and you think the King might be that reason, but you're worried that he only wants a sexual relationship. So, ask him what he wants."

"Miss Wagner," the King got Raven's attention. "Are you ready to play?" he asked, holding out a pool cue to her.

Raven bit her lower lip, then she nodded confidently and took the wooden stick.