August 21st, 2279

The darkness from the night was starting to fade from the sky. Zack woke up. He sat up and twisted his neck to the side hearing a few pops. He looked over to where Kade lay. She was still sleeping on the bedroll lying face up. Some of her dark hair was covering part of her face. She looked peaceful and he thought it best to let her sleep for a little longer. Zack reached back and rubbed the back of neck.

"Man, I had forgotten how bad it is to sleep on the ground."

Zack made his way out from the open three sided shack wiping the dirt from his clothes as he walked. A light breeze flowed through the air. He stood there looking out at his surroundings in front of him and then he smelled the beginnings of decomposition coming from the dead slaver. Zack turned and walked towards the body. He crouched down by its side, while trying his best to breathe through his mouth to avoid the smell. There were many flies crawling on different parts of his exposed skin. Spoon Jacker lay there face up, his eyes were still wide open. Zack could see a few of the flies crawling near the edges of them, most likely trying to find the last bits of moisture before the desert dried him up completely.

Zack reached down to the ripper that was that was death clutched in his hand. Luckily, it was not gripped on the trigger, or that would have left a bad mess. It took a bit of force to pry it from his lifeless fingers, but eventually he was successful. He placed the ripper on the ground by his feet. He then went through his pockets, but came up empty of anything of use. There was however a pouch on his left side that Zack did not notice yesterday. He untied it from the belt, opened it, and peered inside. It was full of caps. It looked to be about a three hundred or so. Zack placed the bag on the ground by the ripper. He stared at the man, thinking he should bury the body.

"Even though he was a complete soulless fuck, he deserves a proper burial."

Zack heard a skittering sound coming from his right. Something was coming. He quickly turned his head to see a Rad Scorpion making its way towards him. Its empty black eyes reflected off the rising sun, its claws opened and closed rhythmically while its tail with its poisonous stinger atop swayed back and forth as it moved. Zack fell backwards from the crouched position he was in, and quickly kicked his legs along the ground to create distance between the creature and him. He lowered his arm to grab his revolver. His back made contact from the side of the shack. He was out of room to maneuver. The Rad Scorpion stopped just as Zack freed his weapon from its holster and aimed it outwards. Zack paused watching the beast. Almost as if it knew what he was holding, it reversed itself, clamped on with its claws to the legs of the deceased Spoon Jacker, and pulled his body off into the wastes to wherever its lair might be.

Zack let out a sigh of relief and put away his weapon. He watched the animal pull the body into the distance, there were small dust plumes rising as it went.

"I really need to be more on the offensive."

Zack stood up, and walked back to where the items were at on the ground. He brushed the backside of his clothes as he walked. He reached down and picked up the ripper and pouch and made his way back to the cover of the shack. Zack sat down by his pack and opened it up. He placed the ripper and caps in there and he looked grimly at his food supplies. All he had left in there was one can of pork n' beans, and a little bit of Brahmin jerky. They would have to use it sparingly. Zack took out his map and unfolded it in his lap. He looked around the area south of Phoenix to see if Dedge was anywhere there. He found it drawn there with a small red skull near the entrance, most likely warning for the mines. Kade stirred on the bed roll, opened her eyes, and sat up scratching her head.

"Morning, how is your head feeling?"

"My face is a little sore and I have a headache, but other than that I feel okay."

"I have some mentats if you want some relief for your head."

Kade shook her head. "I think I'll be ok. Got anything for breakfast?"

"Sadly, no. I'm a little short on food at the moment. That's why I was making my way to Cherry Cliff, to stock up."

"Alright." She said with a sad tone. She looked to the map in Zack's lap. "What do you have there?" She moved closer and peered at it.

"It's an old caravan map, Dedge is on here. By looking at this you could figure out how to make your way back there. The trek to Cherry Cliff wouldn't be necessary for you."

Kade shook her head quickly. "By the looks of it, it would take me more than two days. I wouldn't be able to make it without food or water. If I go to Cherry Cliff, I might be able to pay my way with an armed caravan. That way it would be safer."

"True. Well, are you ready to head out? When we stop for a rest we can have some lunch." Zack folded up his map and put it away.

"Yeah, let me just grab something first."

Zack closed his pack and reattached his bed roll to it. He took the time to fill his canteen up also. He glanced over as he was doing so and saw Kade looking through a messenger style side bag. She stood up and placed it crossed over her shoulder on her left side. Zack got up and placed his pack on.

"What do you have in there?" Zack gestured towards the bag.

"Well I have some tools, the two remaining sticks of dynamite, a lighter, a small notepad, and my journal."

"A journal?"

"Yes, I like to keep track of the events that happen in my life. You know, in case anyone cares to read it one day to see what life was like around here. I usually write in it two times a week. You think it's silly to keep one?"

"No, it's a good idea. I'm just surprised the slaver didn't throw the bag away when he caught you."

"Well, he didn't have a bag of his own, so he used mine. He looked at the journal a few times, but I could tell he couldn't read. I told him it was just a book I found while scavenging and he just left it in there. Maybe he thought he could sell it when he was going to sell me." A look of disgust appeared on her face.

"It's in the past now. You ready?" Zack raised his goggles to his eyes.

The temperature was not as hot as it had been the last few days as Zack and Kade traveled towards Cherry Cliff. Kade almost had to pace herself at a light jog to keep up with Zack's longer stride. They walked in silence as to save energy since food was low. Zack was able to spot a road which was only about a mile from the base of the mountain to the east. The road looked like it ran straight north. Zack thought hopefully it would lead to Cherry Cliff's entrance. After about five hours and their stomachs moaning at them, they finally stopped for a break. They rested in the shade behind an old billboard that advertised Nuka Cola. Some parts of the ad were peeling from the wood, and it was faded from the sun. It had a young blonde woman on it passing the soda out to soldiers as they were boarding a ship. On the bottom of the ad it read "Nuka Cola supports our troops, and you should too!" Zack made a small fire from the sticks of a nearby tree and warmed the can of beans by it. They each ate half of the can and drank some from the canteen. Then they continued onwards. Kade, now with more energy, decided to break the quiet atmosphere.

"So, last night when you said you didn't have a last name. What was that about?"

Zack gave a short laugh. "Well, about fourteen years ago I lived with my family just outside of New Vegas. I don't know exactly all the details, only word of mouth from one of his friends who helped my mother and I escape. My father was playing in the Wasteland Series of Poker tournament in New Vegas at the casino owned by his employer Daniel Tull. The game was hold'em. The tournament has been going on since 2255, but this was the first that my father was able to play in. Usually Mr. Tull wouldn't allow him to play, because he knew that if he were to win, with the prize money he could take my mother and I someplace better. Just by chance, and a few bribes, he was able to convince some of his co workers to be in charge of security during the tournament. Mr. Tull was furious. While the tournament continued, he threatened my father that if he won in any of top three positions, that he'd have my mother and me killed. He was told to make it look good though, so the others wouldn't know he was throwing the game. This was while he was already at the final table however. There were eight others still in it and all of them respected his skill. So he had to work quickly to get knocked out of the tournament." Zack paused and took a few deep breaths.

From behind Zack, Kade spoke. "Whoa, that's a lot of pressure to put on someone. Since you had to escape with your mother, I take it things didn't turn out too well."

Zack was starting at the ground as he walked and shook it head slightly. "No, they didn't. He tried to win the small pots and lose to the bigger ones. Two people were knocked out before he decided the time was right. He was in a hand with a pair of aces. He raised and everyone folded except the chip leader, who my father probably thought held two kings. The first three community cards came out, it was a king, a three, and an ace, all different suits. My father checked, the other guy bet big, and my father called. The turn card was a seven. It seemed to not help either of them, but my father bet half his chips and was called. The river card came up, it was another three. My father had the winning hand. He bet half of his remaining chips, he didn't have many left. Since it was a small bet it looked like he was trying to steal the pot. The other man reraised which would have put my father all in. My father stared at the other man for quite sometime, pretending like he was thinking hard. He threw in his hand folding. The other man was curious, of why my father would bet so much only to fold. Against poker etiquette he picked up my father's hand and turned it over. My father spoke in protest, but it was too late. Everyone at the table, as well as those in the crowds watching, saw that my father had folded the winning hand. The man he folded to was angry, and began asking questions."

"What the fuck is going on here? Is this game rigged somehow, why would he do this? He had the best hand and he folds. This man is a disgrace to poker!"

"Mr. Tull had no choice but to come over to the table. He announced that my father was kicked and banned from the tournament, and that our family name was shit and couldn't be spoken in New Vegas anymore. He leaned over, whispered something to my father. During all confusion my father was able to leave the casino. He found his friend who owned an old tuck, and made his way quickly to where we lived. I was sleeping when they got there. He threw all of his things in his footlocker, woke me up, and told me to gather anything I wanted to keep. He explained everything quickly to my mother. He gave her a kiss and me a big hug. He told me to take care of my mother and that he loved me very much. I was still half asleep and had no idea what was going on. He then put my mother and I in the back of the truck with our things, had us lay down and covered us with a blanket. I heard some other vehicles approach the front of our home. He told his friend to get us somewhere safe, and to never use our last name again. After driving for a bit I heard several gunshots. I peered outside the blanket and saw flames and smoke where our house had once been. My father's friend got us safe passage to the place where I have lived since then, the town of Polvo."

Zack waited to see what Kade would have to say. She was silent.

"I told you it was a long story." Zack said softly.

"I'm so sorry Zack." She said at last. "I had no idea it was a depressing one. I figured it would be a funny story, such as making a bet with a friend, and the loser loses their last name or something. I feel so bad for making you relive all that."

"Don't worry about it. I haven't told anyone except my friend Alex. We told everyone we didn't have a last name when we relocated."

Zack looked to the sky and noticed that many dark clouds were moving quickly overhead. They were starting to form together. The sky seemed to have a yellowish tint to it and a strong wind came rushing from behind.

"Kade? What's going on with the sky?"

He heard her footsteps cease, but she did not respond. Zack stopped and looked back to her. She was staring up at the sky, her face was in shock, and she seemed to be trembling a little.

"Kade, you alright?" Zack walked over to her, she continued to stare up. Zack placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her a little. "Kade, what's wrong?"

She shook her head a couple of times and finally spoke. "Sorry. We need to get closer to that mountain and find some kind of cover, and fast!"