Chapter Two
The Standoff
Julie was wondering why they where heading to a trading post, and when Omega and Boone where in a deep discussion, she quietly asked Veronica what the deal was. "Omega was expecting a good weapon shipment from some Gun Runners. Once we cracked the case opened, the guys who delivered it where already a mile down the road, and we found junk. Literally, scrap metal and some conductors. Omega flew into such a rage. It had cost him over 8000 caps." Julie looked at her in shock. She had always heard that the Gun Runners where good at keeping things secure and never tried to mess with a shipment or any weapon for that matter. "What happened next?" Julie asked. "Well, Boone pulled out his rifle, aimed and fired, taking one of them right in the leg. I ran over, grabbed the bastard by said leg, and dragged him done the road back to us. He said that the shipment came from this trading post. Omega left him one dosage of med-x and we left." Veronica said, briefly staring off into space. Julie looked closer at the ground. Omega had appeared to be a caring person that would never harm someone. Yet, he just left someone to bleed out. Maybe people converted to this with time in the wasteland. "Still, I should give it time. Maybe I will get used to the wasteland and all that goes along with it." She thought.
Before long, the group arrived at the trading post. The top of the bridge had an NCR tent and a small hut that she presumed contained the trading post. However, the Gun Runners where under the bridge and that is where the group headed. Julie could see he was picking up speed, the joints of his riot armor moving a more and more erratically. He went up, grabbed one of the Runners, presumably the leader if the group, and spun him around until he was a mere two inches from Omega's face. Veronica had put her hand in front of Julie, who had no combat experience, the second she noticed both man had pulled out guns and where pointing them at each other's head. Boone had his rifle drawn and was slowly swinging it from Gun Runner to Gun Runner, ED-E was trailing another, and all the runners had their respective gun out and pointed at someone. An eerie silence washed over everyone, broken only by Omega and the lead Gun Runner's breathing. "I spent a fortune for 2 Anti-Material Rifles, and about a hundred rounds for each and all I got was piles of worthless scrap. I know the shipment came right through you, so where are my guns?" Omega asked, barely above a whisper, but still audible for everyone. "I swear that the shipment was correct when it came through, and the caravan brought it to the drop off. Then two men took it to your camp. Is that what happened?" The Runner asked, tightening his hand on the pistol grip. "Yes and when it did, they went running, we shot one, and left him." Omega replied, jamming his pistol barrel harder into the Runner's head. The both stood glaring, and then the Runner put his weapon to his side. The others on both sides did the same with some hesitation. "We will clear things up, but here is some papers you need to show the vender at the factory. He will give everything you ordered." The runner said, handing Omega a paper. "Good. Julie, get this." Omega said, turning around. Julie came forward, grabbed the paper, and put it in her lab coat pocket. The group then left walking in the direction of New Vegas.
The next part will go a few months forward, but here are some journal entries Julie wrote for about three months. It should describe the important parts.
(And because I don't want to look at exact dates, they will not be dated)
'Well, I got my first gun. .357 magnum revolver. It's pretty nice, we got it off a dead scavenger. When Omega gave me the gun, our hands touched and they stayed like that for a moment, a silence overtaking us. H coughed a little and stuttered, and then we carried on.'
'My hair has gotten longer, and I can't keep it spiky like I used to. Now, it's just kind of everywhere. I also have gotten a style change. I still wear my Followers coat, but now it's reinforced with scavenged leather and metal. I also have got a six inch strait combat knife that I keep in by boot. Oh, and I now wear Omega's cowboy hat.'
'Omega took the combat armor he had, painted a symbol on it: a red dove. When I asked him about it, he just said it was a family thing. He now wears the fully black duster over that, mimicking the NCR ranger armor. Boots and gloves that reach up to his elbows finish off the attire. Oh, and he has another cowboy hat.'
'I don't know what overtook him, but Omega has now changed the entire way he wears his gear. He has disassembled his Anti-material rifle, the other given to Boone, and put it on his backpack side. A hunting rifle now hangs on a quick draw sling over his right shoulder, two combat knives in each of his boots, a .357 in a holster on his left side in the duster, and a silenced 10mm on the inside of the duster in a quick draw holster painted black. He found a damaged ranger combat helmet, and, after some tinkering, got it to work again. Now, instead of the eyes being red, he has changed them to a dark green color.'
'Omega and I have been getting more…intimate…lately. Now, during the nights by the fire, I'm sitting in between his legs while he strokes my now long hair. I wouldn't change it at all.'
'Today, I saw Omega performing a mercy kill. It was not uncommon, if an enemy fought bravely, as he said, but was too wounded, Omega would kneel next to them, grab their hand, and fire his magnum. But today, he did it on an old man who was dying very slowly after being attacked by the Legion. The Legion had attacked this farm and thought they killed everyone. The old man, though, was still alive after being shot more than five times. Blood was splattered all over the room, two other bodies sat, dismembered, and the man lay there, covered in his family's blood. Omega, went to him, cradled the man, and listened to the man's dying words. The old man then reached to the hand Omega held the magnum in, brought it over his heart, and whispered 'fire'. It was the loudest shot I have ever heard.'
'Omega seemed sick for the next few days, prompting us to set up a semi-permanent camp in the surrounding mountains. I treated him for those three days, during which he never spoke, barely ate or drank, and kept staring in the same direction. When he finally came around, he announced, much to the relief of everyone, that they where going to be moving out.'
'During dinner, Omega and Veronica where kept in a very deep discussion. It wasn't until ten at night did they finally tell Boone and I what they where planning. ED-E didn't inject into the conversation. They where planning on building a shack out in the wastes. It would be in the ruins near New Vegas, and they could plan excursions while still be near the Gun Runners factory and a medical clinic.