AN: (Oops my bad.) Alright! Another chapter! I haven't been getting much free time lately but don't worry it just means I'll have to write more when I can! Enjoy!
"The Lone what-now?" Veronica asked a bit confused.
"The Lone Wanderer! He's the entire reason I'm here. I've been looking for him ever since he left the Capitol Wasteland." Amata explained.
"Well if you're going to follow him into New Vegas you're going to need some serious caps." Veronica informed Amata.
'Damn it! I'm so close.' Amata thought as her and Veronica returned to the King's hangout. Once inside Rex barked happily running into the auditorium, excited to reunite with his owner King.
"Well hey there boy, did you have fun out there?" King greeted his pet with a backrub.
"More than you know." Amata muttered as they join them.
"Well I hope he didn't give you too much trouble." King said as he scratched between Rex's ears and brain canister.
"Nothing I couldn't handle, but on a more important note. You said you had some information on the individual I was looking for." Amata said steering the conversation.
"Well don't you want to wait for your friend? I'm sure he'll be here any minute." King retorted.
As if on que the Courier came through the auditorium doors. Amata could see smidges of blood on him along with a bit of what she could only assume was someone's grey matter on his shoulder.
"Well speak of the devil." King noted.
"And here I am." The Courier finished.
"Looks like you had fun." Veronica grimaced.
"Still was a waste of time, but needless to say that they won't be giving anybody anymore trouble. Well except for the guy who has to clean that mess up." The Courier stated as he took off his/Amata's hat to give it a once over.
"You have a bit of… brain on your shoulder." Amata pointed out. The Courier looked at his shoulder and with a noted 'hmm' he flicked it off onto the auditorium floor.
"Well now that's everyone here, let's down to business shall we?" King motioned for one of his men to bring the sack of caps. The sack made a noticeable thump on the table.
"That sack looks a bit small." The Courier noted giving the King a suspicious look.
"That's because it's not for you." King corrected as he nudged the bag towards Amata. She gave it a look and nudged it back.
"I rather prefer the info you said you had on the man with the Pip-boy on his arm." She requested.
"And you will, but the King always pay for services rendered." King said as he pushed the bag back toward her.
"All part of keeping that 'reputation' shiny?" the Courier noted.
The King ignored the obvious ploy to get under his skin and motion another one of his men to go fetch the Courier's payment. He returned carrying a hefty bag of caps in his hand and tossed it to the Courier.
"That's more like it." He said weighing it in his hand.
"Now with that sorted let's get down to what you obviously want." King said as he kicked his feet up.
"The man you're looking for is staying at the Atomic Wrangler, which is right across the street." He informed them as he pointed in the general direction.
"…I think that info is a bit dated." Veronica noted.
"Yeah, I just saw him walk through the gates of New Vegas with my own two eyes." Amata informed him.
"Well I guess you know where's you next stop is then." The King stated.
"It would seem so, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm covered in blood." The Courier said pointing out the blotches of blood stains on him.
"Then I'll just go on ahead then." Amata figured.
"And you could but I doubt King paid you enough to get past the gates." The Courier noted as he headed for the exit.
"What?! How much do you need to make it past the gates?" Amata asked a bit outraged.
"Oh about 2000 caps." He answered.
"2,000! There's no way-" Amata began.
"But there is another way." The Courier led on as he walked out the door. Amata and Veronica exchanged looks before going after him.
The sun was beginning to set behind the buildings of New Vegas casting long shadows over Freeside as Amata ran to catch up to the Courier.
"What do you mean there is another way in?" Amata asked.
"I'll tell you… but first I need to get cleaned up." The Courier stated as he headed to the building with the glowing neon sign reading 'The Atomic Wrangler'. As he opened the door the stench of the place hit Amata full force almost making her reel. The Courier gave the place a once over taking in the scenery before him. A ghoul in a cowboy outfit was taking a client to a back room, gamblers were losing caps just as much as they were gaining them, and at the bar sat a red haired woman who took a look up from her drink to see who let the fresh air in and in an instant immediately recognized the Courier.
"SIX! Is that really you!?" she exclaimed as she leapt from her stool and ran towards him.
"Six? Is she talking to you?" Amata asked the Courier, for the first time she could see something resembling a cringe from the Courier but it quickly disappeared as the red haired woman took a flying leap to embrace him, he quickly side stepped and let Veronica catch her.
'Someone's actually happy to see him?' Amata thought a bit confused.
"Oh, hey V aren't you looking good." The woman flirted.
Amata could see Veronica blush slightly before averting her eyes.
"Oh hey Cass, how are you?" Veronica asked a bit shy.
"Better with you around." Cass winked before turning to face Amata.
"And who the hell are you?" she asked her mood swinging to the dark side.
"Who the hell gave you whiskey? You smell like you bathe in it all day." The Courier noted.
"And all night." Veronica added. Cass quickly lost interest in Amata and turned to face the Courier.
"A… Friend." She answered drunkenly defensive.
Amata saw a new side of the Courier as he pinched the bridge of his nose as if nursing a headache, "Where the hell is Arcade?" he asked in a tired tone.
"Hell if I know." Cass snorted as she took another bottle of alcohol off the bar counter but before she could take a swig the Courier snatched it from her and smashed it on the floor. The sound of broken glass didn't seem to bother the patrons but the one of the proprietors was about to object when the Courier drew his revolver and slammed it onto the bar counter.
"Ooh I just love it when you're forceful." Cass smiled.
"Cassidy." The Courier warned.
"Sigh, he's over at the Fort with the followers, don't worry the Silver rush is locked up." She told him.
"He's supposed to be keeping you sober." The Courier grumbled.
"Oh don't be mad at him, besides I was drinking to celebrate a friend getting entrance into New Vegas." She comforted.
Amata started putting two and two together. "Did your friend have a Pip-boy on his arm?" she asked trying to fit the last piece of the puzzle into place.
Cass completely ignored the question however as she turned her attention back to Amata. "Who's the wallflower?" she asked the Courier.
"Cass meet Amata, Amata meet Rose of Sharon Cassidy." The Courier reluctantly introduced.
"You know I hate it when you do that." Cass fussed.
"You didn't answer my question, did he have a Pip-boy on his arm?" she repeated.
"Yeah, I guess. Never paid it much mind though. Why do you care?" She asked in turn.
"Apparently she's a very good friend of his." The Courier pointed out.
Cass face suddenly lit up as if she had a bright idea come into her head. "Maybe you can help him!" she blurted out.
"What? What do you mean?" Amata asked but before she could get an answer the Courier took a bottle of beer out of another patron's hand and shoved it into Cass mouth.
"Put a pin in it, I would like to hear this, but I got to clean up." He said.
The wronged individual was about to protest the rude exchange but never got the chance as the Courier slammed his head into the bar counter knocking him out. He rummaged through the guy's pockets and came up with a room key.
"Be right back." He said as he headed for the rooms.
Amata could only shake her head in disapproval but she was more interested in what Cass was about to say.
"You said maybe I could help him, what did you mean?" she asked.
Cass held up her finger indicating to wait a second as she chugged the unconscious man's beer, afterwards she let out a less then ladylike belch before answering.
"He's in a bit of trouble, but that's all I'm going to say on the matter till he gets back." Cass slurred.
Amata could see that she wouldn't get any answers unless the Courier was there so she decided to change the subject.
"Earlier you called him Six, is that his name or just a replacement for asshole?" Amata asked.
"Ah hell I did call him that didn't I." Cass cursed under her breath.
"It is but also it isn't." Veronica remarked.
"So it's a nickname." Amata concluded.
"Not so much…" Cass paused as she shared an uncomfortable look with Veronica.
"What are you guys not telling me?" Amata inquired.
"It's not something we should talk about." Veronica warned.
"Alright now I really want to know." Amata demanded.
"Want to know what?" The Courier interrupted making Cass nearly jump out of her skin. He was dressed in reinforced leather armor which seemed a bit baggy for him.
"Well that was fast." Veronica remarked trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, turns out this guy has clothes just my size." He stated kicking the unconscious guy.
"Do you just take anybody's clothes?" Amata asked incredulously.
"Only when I like their style." He answered as he put Amata's former hat on top of his head.
"But really, what did you talk about while I was away." He inquired once more this time with a bit more serious tone.
"Oh, just girl stuff." Cass said as she flashed a smile hoping the Courier would drop the matter. There was a moment of tension as the Courier eyed each of them before suddenly shrugging his shoulders.
"Alright, now where were we?" he asked as he slapped Cass on her back. Amata let out a mental sigh of relief.
"Right, Well your friend… he can't remember his past." Cass finally told her.
"You mean amnesia?" Amata asked a bit confused.
"Yeah, but you know him well enough. Maybe you can jog his memory." Cass suggested.
"Maybe, but first we have to find a way into New Vegas." Amata sighed.
"Well lucky for us I already have that covered." The Courier smirked.
"Well tell us then." Veronica challenged.
"Simple we walk in." The Courier said.
"I already tried to do that. Those rolling bucket of bolts won't let us in without a cap check." Amata countered.
"That's for people who are visiting the New Vegas strip for the first time. For me however I've already met the requirements to get in." The Courier said in a proud manner.
"But there's a catch." He added.
Amata started to get a bad feeling in her stomach once she heard that, but she was so close! She had to get to the Lone Wanderer even more so now that she had some sort of explanation for his actions.
"What is it?" Amata dared to ask.
"I'm only allowed to bring one 'guess' with me." He answered.
"Looks like I'm going to be sitting this reunion out." Veronica concluded.
"It would seem so." Amata agreed.
"I know you must be in a hurry so shall we head out?" the Courier asked.
"One second, may I have a word with you?" Veronica said as she pulled Amata out of hearing range.
"He's up to something." Veronica told her.
"Yeah, kind of figured that one." Amata retorted.
"You be careful." Veronica warned.
"I will and don't worry, we'll come back for you." Amata promised.
"That means a lot." Veronica smiled as they returned to the group.
"Looks like I'm going to be sticking with Cass till Amata's done with her business." Veronica informed them.
"Nice, looks like I get to try my hand at charming you out of that armor of yours." Cass flirted. Amata could see Veronica's face turn bright red.
"N-Not happening!" she quickly shot back.
"Never say never." Cass winked.
"How about we leave these two lovebirds alone." The Courier said as he headed outside.
The sun had completed yet another day and allowed the moon to watch over the night. As Amata joined him outside she could see the neon lights behind the New Vegas gates shine again giving off a welcoming glow, giving promises of riches and a good time. As Amata and the Courier neared the gates the guarding securitron approached.
"Face identification accepted. Welcome Courier." It acknowledged.
"Plus one guess." The Courier told it.
"Plus one guess, red headed female. Recorded. Welcome." It said as it rolled aside allowing them entrance. The gears of the gates crawled to life pulling the chains to slowly open the gates. Amata was mesmerized by the lights the casinos gave off as their glow washed over her.
"Welcome to New Vegas. Enjoy your stay." The Securitron greeted.
AN: Alright! New Vegas finally!