Author's Note: Sorry for the massive delay! Unfortunately, the computer I'm writing this on no longer gets internet access, so I haven't been able to update. Also, I was starting to lose inspiration. I was starting to get bored with Alessa. But I think my creative juices have started flowing again. My updates will be a little slow, but I assure you, they'll come along in time. Once again, I'm sorry for the wait.

* . * . * . * . * . *

As soon as Alessa stepped out of the Mojave Express headquarters, she was assaulted by gunfire. She ran behind the building and ducked down, assessing the situation. Two convicts had been waiting for her, probably attempting to ambush her. ED-E let out a loud tune from its horn, presumably to warn Alessa of the threat.

"ED-E!" She shouted. "Initiate combat protocols, stat!" The robot surged towards the convicts, firing off lasers at them. They were down in an instant. Alessa was thoroughly impressed, moving out from her hiding place to survey the scene. She moved over to the bodies of the convicts, looting them of their ammo and weapons, and even picking up some caps. She noted that they were standing between two large buildings, presumably casinos, or perhaps hotels. The one to the right was called the "Bison Steve," and had a large Bison on its sign. The other, which was a little less glitzy, was called "Vikki and Vance." She decided to take her chances, and entered the Vikki and Vance casino, her gun drawn and ED-E following close behind.

"Didn't think anybody'd be stupid enough to waltz in here." Alessa was greeted by an older gentleman with dark skin, black hair, and clad in a dirty white shirt and denim overalls. The man looked very tired, as if he hadn't slept in days. "Dunno what it was brought you to Primm, Youngster, but you'd do better gettin' out quick as y'can. Town's gone to hell." He lit up a cigarette, placing it in his mouth.

"Who are you?" Alessa asked.

"Johnson Nash's my name. Husband of Ruby Nash. Lived here goin' on eight years, now. I also run the Mojave Express." Alessa's eyes brightened at that news.

"I'm a Courier with the Mojave Express." Nash looked her over, nodding.

"Oh, yeah, I remember you. Grant, right? Alicia Grant?" Alessa's brow furrowed slightly.

"Er...It's Alessa, sir." She shook her head, removing her delivery order. "Can you tell me anything about this job?" Nash took the slip, reading it over.

"Oh, it's one of these jobs." He sighed. "These things had strange written all over, but couldn't turn down the caps." Alessa raised an eyebrow.

"What was so strange about it?" She asked.

"Well, some cowboy robot comes waltzin' in and orders six deliveries, one of 'em bein' yours." Alessa frowned at the mention of a cowboy robot, looking behind Nash, and seeing a Protectron with a cowboy hat.

"You mean that robot, there?" She asked, pointing to the robot. Nash shook his head.

"Naw, Primm Slimm's been here for years. This robot was bigger, had a face on a monitor and talked more like you or me." Alessa thought for a moment. The only other robots she'd seen so far were ED-E and Victor.

"I see...Well...What can you tell me about the deliveries?"

"Well, that robot had us hire six couriers, each carryin' somethin' different. Most of it was ol' pre-War novelty stuff. Fuzzy dice, that sorta thing. Yours was the only thing that looked valuable. Dunno why anybody'd fashion a poker chip outta platinum, but I seen stranger things in the Wastes." He scuffed his cigarette out on a table, dropping the butt. "Last I heard, payment had been received for all the jobs, except for yours. Mind tellin' me what happened?"

"I don't know too much, myself, sir." Alessa replied. "You see, on my way through Goodsprings, three men ambushed me, and one of them shot me. I have reason to believe they stole the package I was carrying. Because I was shot in the head," She gestured to the still-healing wounds behind bandages on her head. "I can't remember anything from before that night. All I could remember was my name, and the moments right before I was shot." Nash's brow furrowed as he heard the story.

"Sorry to hear it. Dunno why anybody'd do that to a nice young lady like you, but you got scumbags all over these days. Shouldn'tve been you who got shot up, though." Nash said irritably. Alessa raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, the first deadbeat we hired for your job cancelled on us." He spat at the floor angrily. "Hope a storm from the Divide skins him alive." He shook his head, and sighed. "Anyway, that's where you came in."

"Why did he cancel?" She asked.

"No idea. He saw your name on the list, and asked if you were for real. I said, well, sure as rain, you were still kickin'. He got this weird look in his eye, though, and he dropped the job. I asked if he was sure. It was good money. I didn't think anybody'd turn it down. But he insisted. "Let Courier Six carry the package." That's what he said, like the Mojave'd sort you out, or something." This news unsettled her. Could the man in the suit have been the other courier? She doubted it. He was too sophisticated.

"Do you know who he was?" She asked quickly. "Or where he went?" Nash shook his head.

"Not a clue. But it sounds like you two must've had some history for him to turn down the job." He shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he thought your name was bad luck, or somethin'." Alessa sighed.

"Well...I need to find the men who stole my package." She looked up at him, determination in her eyes. "Have you seen any suspicious characters, specifically a man in a checkered suit?" Nash scratched at his chin, thinking.

"Hmm...Come to think of it, one of the Townies was scavenging for supplies. Said he saw a fella with a daisy suit pass by. Said he was talkin' about some kinda chip. As for finding out where he went, your best bet would be to talk to Deputy Beagle. But he's turned up missing."

"Where was he last seen?" She asked.

"Well...Last I knew he was skulkin' around the Bison Steve, gatherin' information on the convicts that came through here. Best bet would be to check there, make sure he's still alive."

"Alright, I'll do that." Alessa nodded to Nash. "Thank you for your help, sir."

"Thank you for riskin' your neck. Maybe you're what this town needs to get back up and runnin'." She smiled faintly.

"I'll find your deputy, then we can discuss the state of your town." Nash nodded in agreement.

"You'd best hurry. If Beagle is still alive, he won't be for long." Alessa nodded, and left the building, crossing the street to the Bison Steve Hotel.

* . * . * . * . * . *

The Bison Steve Hotel, as Alessa predicted, was swarming with convicts. She and ED-E had already taken down three men in the lobby before they even knew what was going on. Alessa crouched down behind a counter, ED-E's sensors picking up at least six more enemies in a room down the hall a ways, and one civilian. The civilian, Alessa figured, must have been Deputy Beagle. She carefully moved out into the hall, and hid in another room.

Looking around, Alessa reasoned it must have been some sort of gift shop before the war, when the hotel was in its prime. She moved behind the register counter, picking up stacks of Pre-War money, and a few caps, before spying a safe. It was barely hidden under some yellowed papers and a book, which she pocketed. She only had about seven bobby pins, and testing the lock with one, it snapped almost instantaneously. But Alessa was nothing if not determined, so she kept trying. After the fourth pin, she'd gotten about halfway to unlocking it before the fifth snapped. She whispered a swear, and kept going. She was soon on her last pin, and wondered if she should give up. But, her determination (and curiosity) won out. As luck would have it, the last pin was the one to open the safe. She stifled her excited yell as best she could, and looked at the treasure she'd uncovered.

She found a few stacks of Pre-War money, which she put in her sack, and also noticed something unusual. Six full clips of .357 Magnum ammunition, and a .357 Magnum revolver. But this revolver was unique. It had a white grip with a black four-leaf clover on it, and it looked as though it had hardly been used. Alessa studied it closely, amazed at her find. She removed the .357 she'd looted from Joe Cobb's body, comparing it to the beautiful weapon she'd just found. She decided to keep the old one, to use it for parts, and placed the "new" weapon, which she christened "Lucky" in her head, into the old weapon's holster. Now she was pretty well-equipped, her 10mm holstered on her left side, Lucky on her right, and a Laser Pistol holstered on her right thigh. Her pack was getting pretty heavy, though. She needed to unload it soon, or she'd never be able to lug it all the way to wherever she'd need to go. She discovered that ED-E had a storage compartment, but it was tiny, and probably would only be good for holding small things, like caps or ammunition.

She stepped out of the room, and glanced down the hall. No enemies in sight, but she knew she'd have to keep quiet, or someone was bound to spot her. She crouched again, sneaking down into what appeared to be some sort of lounge. On an endtable, she spotted an empty bottle of Sunset Sarsaparilla, and a cap. She moved closer, and inspected the cap. It was different from the others, having a big blue star painted on the underside. She shrugged, and placed it in her money-satchel, thinking nothing of it. She spotted a blue door, and upon inspecting it, found it to be locked. She cursed, having run out of bobby pins trying to get into that damned safe. She'd have to find another way around. She opened up a map of the building on her PipBoy, seeing a large room, which she thought might have been a cafeteria of sorts. However, ED-E's sensors told her that the remaining enemies on this floor were in that room.

"Shit," She cursed. "How the hell am I supposed to get by them? Unless..." She remembered the Stealth Boy she'd picked up from Cobb's body, and a second one she'd looted from the old Goodsprings Schoolhouse before leaving town. She looked up at ED-E.

"Companion Protocol - Wait Here." ED-E replied with a series of small beeps, and floated in one spot, stationary. Alessa sighed, attempting to calm her nerves as she carefully placed her pack behind a chair, removed her two Stealth Boys, and fastened a Stealth Boy to her free arm, pressing the button to activate it. It worked, and she made her way to the cafeteria.

The room was swarming with convicts, one of them having a massive flamethrower strapped to his back. She cursed in her head, carefully maneuvering past the men, into an open door leading to the kitchen. There, bound in ropes, was a man who appeared to be in his late twenties, with messy blonde hair and blue eyes. She moved closer to him.

"Deputy Beagle, I presume?" She whispered, and he jumped.

"Wha? Who?" He asked, and she shushed him.

"Keep your voice down!" She hissed. "Do you want them to hear you? Anyway...Johnson Nash said you'd need a little help. Here." She began to untie him.

"I'm quite grateful for this," he said as she untied him, and she grabbed his hand as he tried to stand up.

"Don't. They'll see you. Here." She handed him the second Stealth Boy she'd been carrying. "Put this on, and press the button. It'll-"

"Make you invisible." Beagle cut her off. "I've seen one of these before." He did as he was told, soon invisible.

"Okay," Alessa said. "Now, hold onto my hand, and I'll lead you out of here. Stay close, and whatever you do, try not to bump into anyone." Beagle nodded, feeling around for Alessa, accidentally groping her chest. She lightly smacked him in return.

"Th-That's not my hand!" She hissed, blushing, although he couldn't see it.

"S-Sorry!" He yelped, finding her hand, and taking hold of it. Alessa soon moved into the main dining hall, and Beagle followed closely. The two carefully and quietly maneuvered around the thugs in the room, careful not to bump into them. Things were going well, and it seemed like they might get out unscathed...That is, until Beagle accidentally kicked an empty soda bottle. The bottle slid across the floor, lightly bumping into the foot of one of the convicts. Suddenly, every eye in the room was locked in their direction.

"The fuck was that?" The Convict carrying the flamethrower, which Alessa assumed was the leader of the gang, asked irritably.

"Hey, that nosy fuckin' Deputy's gone!" One of the others shouted. The Leader growled.

"Open fire in that direction!" The Leader shouted. Suddenly, a shower of bullets came at them, and the two quickly scurried behind an overturned table for cover.

"Nice going!" Alessa shouted.

"I didn't see it, I swear!" Beagle retorted.

"Whatever, pull out your gun!" Alessa removed Lucky from its holster, turning around and opening fire on the convicts, hitting one in the shoulder.

"W-What? Are you nuts? You can't take on that many guys by yourself!" Beagle shouted.

"That's why you're going to help me, unless you want me to shoot you myself!" Alessa sounded deadly serious, and Beagle gulped.

"Y-You've made your point. Alright!" He pulled out his gun, and opened fire as well. Within moments, the Convicts were down, except for the Leader. He was loading his flamethrower.

"Aim for the flamethrower!" Alessa shouted, beginning to shoot at it.

"B-But that'll..." Beagle started.

"Cause an explosion, and kill that Convict along with it!" Alessa interrupted, and after a few more shots, the flamethrower exploded, igniting the Convict Leader. He screamed in pain, flailing around for a few moments, before falling to the ground. Alessa sighed heavily. Just as the Convict fell, her Stealth Boy wore off. Beagle was surprised by her appearance. He wondered how a girl who looked like she lived her whole life in a Vault could've possibly been able to defend herself, and him, in such a manner. She smiled at him, relieved that they'd both survived to fight another day.

"Well...Now that that's over...I'm Alessa. Alessa Grant." She held out a hand, and he took it, shaking it.

"Beagle. Deputy Christopher Beagle. But...Everybody just calls me Beagle." Alessa nodded.

"I sort of gathered that when I talked to Nash." She stood, and Beagle flushed, standing as well.

"R-Right."

"Now," Alessa started, reloading Lucky. "I was told you'd have information that I need. I'm looking for two Great Khans and a man wearing a checkered suit. Nash told me you could tell me where they were." Alessa looked to him again, and he nodded, his Stealth Boy fading.

"Sure, since you saved my life, and all." He stood, rubbing his wrists. They were still sore from being bound. "Well, I was hidi-" He paused, clearing his throat, stopping himself from making himself look worse than he already did. "Er, doing some recon on the Powder Gangers, when I saw your friend and his lackeys."

"I assure you," Alessa said bitterly. "That man is not my friend. But, please continue." Beagle nodded.

"Well, they were talkin' about heading to Vegas through Novac, but didn't wanna go through Primm Pass, due to rumors of unsavory creatures lurkin' about there. It's the quickest way to Novac, but dangerous. Last I heard, they were gonna go south to Nipton, then head up to Novac from there." Alessa pondered the information.

"Alright. You said Primm Pass was the quickest way to Novac?" She asked, and Beagle nodded.

"But like I said, I hear there's a fearsome creature lurkin' there...A Deathclaw." Alessa gulped at that news. She'd heard of Deathclaws, but had never seen one in person. Not to her memory, anyway.

"Hmm. I guess it would be pretty dangerous." Alessa sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Not risking my neck like that just to get to that...I don't even know what to call him."

"You must have some agenda," Beagle said. "For you to chase him that far."

"He stole a package I was carrying." Alessa said flatly, moving her bangs aside to show the bullet wound on her forehead. Beagle's eyes widened at the sight. "And, he shot me. Twice. First was just for show, I guess."

"L-Let me get this straight." Beagle said, clearing his throat. "He shot you twice in the head, and you're still going after him?" He looked at Alessa like she was crazy, and maybe she was. She merely shrugged.

"One, I want revenge. Two, he stole a package from me that needs to be delivered to its rightful owner. I can't just let him get away with what he's done." She holstered Lucky. "Anyway...Thanks for the information. Let's get the hell out of here."

"Agreed." Beagle followed her, the two picking up ED-E and Alessa's things on the way out. Beagle wondered where this girl had come from, but wherever she'd come from, he was certainly glad she made it this far. Without her, he would've been dead, no question about it. The two exited the building, and made their way back to the Vikki and Vance Casino, walking in silence.