August 22nd, 2279

Zack and Kade had to walk for a ways downwards at a slant. The width between the sides of the small canyon was about nine feet in length. Every so often some boulders would protrude, but not enough to hinder movement from something as large as the wagon that had passed earlier. Zack watched as DeLeon and Pasley carry Calhoun a little ways ahead of them. Zack took off his canteen and drank some. He could feel the slight sting from the water as it passed his cracking lips. He handed the canteen to Kade. She drank from it as well and passed it back. She then reached down and zipped up her jumpsuit back to the top. Zack thought she probably did not want to give the wrong impression to the residents that she was offering something.

"Those hanging bodies we passed, the Ranger detachment ended the slave business that was taking place here." Zack said after placing his canteen back over his shoulder.

"Oh, that's what those were. I thought they were just criminals. You know like thieves or murderers."

"I'm sure they were guilty of those crimes as well." Zack said coldly.

"Yeah." She responded back slowly. "I'm glad that they are against slavery. I'd much rather enter a place run by them instead of Caesar's Legion."

Stillness filled the small canyon as they walked on.

"That Rad Hawk was something huh?" Zack said to break the silence.

"Yes, that thing was terrifying. I did feel some sympathy for that Jackal Rabbit though. It didn't deserve to be the decoy. I don't know why they all didn't just seek shelter inside when they spotted that thing."

"If they hid every time someone or something came knocking, they would never go outside, and possibly die in here with no supply lines available."

"I guess that makes sense. It sounds like a tough life though. I would never be able to do anything like that."

"Ah don't sell yourself short. You'd be amazed what you're capable of under certain circumstances."

"Well, I froze up when those slavers attacked my scavenging team and I." Kade said softly.

Zack smacked himself mentally. "The first time one is in combat is usually the worst. Your nerves are twitchy, your feelings are all over the board, and you think back afterwards of mistakes that could have been done differently. If you make it through your first time, you're doing ok. Sadly though, killing is one of those things that gets easier the more you do it."

They finally came to where everything opened up. They paused to look at the surrounding area. It was already very dark in Cherry Cliff, but there were many metal barrels set up all through the area, burning who knows what. They lit the place up decently, their yellow flames flickering off the sides of the walls. The stars were just starting to appear above them. Cherry Cliff formed out to a V, spreading out wide on each side. Along the sides of where they stopped they saw a lot of trash and junk that had not been moved outside yet. The path continued onwards ahead of them. Up ahead along each side of the walls had wooden stairways leading up the second level. It was about twelve feet higher from the ground they stood on. They could not see what was up there, but saw the same burning barrels as well as some buildings. That same reddish rock was conveyed everywhere here, which gave true to Cherry Cliff's name.

They both walked on the dirt path in front of them. It was the same width of the short canyon they walked through. They came across what looked like a small bazaar. There were blankets laid out, as well as standing booths. All sorts of things were being sold from weapons, armor and clothes, medical supplies, books, food, and an assortment of random junk. There were many people around this area looking at the goods available. Zack saw Calhoun's form and the others disappear in midst of the crowd. Voices filled the air of those trying to negotiate prices, or arguments about an unfair deal. As they passed by one seller tried to get Zack to come over and buy some strange object in his arms, but he waved the man off. As far as Zack could tell, most of the weapons here were badly degraded and had little hope of surviving long. The armor looked cheaply made. If anyone actually decided to buy any, it would just be a false sense of security for them. Kade seemed not to find anything of interest either and they made their way on.

Kade tried to get the attention of a woman passing by. "Excuse me. Do you know where we can get-"

The woman pushed Kade to the side. "Outta my way bitch!"

Zack looked over to Kade's face, it was almost the same color as the scenery, and it looked like she was about to pull out a wrench and beat that woman senseless. "What the fuck was her deal?"

"She even looks cute when she's angry."

Zack fought to stifle his laugh. "Just the same type you find in most of the wastes I suppose."

As they walked a bit further they saw a large building to their right. It had the words "Goods Store" painted on a sign on the roof. The building was the type one would see in the old west era. It was made of a dark brown wood with several glass windows. There was a small wooden planked sidewalk in front of it. All the buildings in Cherry Cliff seemed to be made in the same fashion. The Goods Store windows had some light showing through them so it must still be in business.

"I bet that's where they sell the higher quality items." Zack gestured with his head. "They get you on your way in with that horrible cheap stuff."

"Yeah. Hey Zack, look at this." Kade jogged a little ahead of him.

Zack made his over to where she stopped. The path forked here splitting off to the right and left. Before them was a long pole which must have been forty feet in length. It was tethered to the ground with thick wire in several places. Above their heads was a wooden bridge bound with rope extending from one side of the second level to the other.

"This must be their lightning rod. Check that out." Kade pointed to a small fenced off area next to another building that did not have distinct markings to what it was.

Zack could see a cable running from the lightning rod to some kind of blocky item inside the fenced off area.

"They must be able to store the electricity there. That means they have power!" She said happily.

"Not enough to light up the area outside though. But hopefully most of the buildings here can utilize it."

Zack looked to the building ahead. It looked like a large house, and he could see a Ranger patrolling back and forth on the porch in front, with military assault rifle in hand.

"Must be guarding something, or someone?"

Zack looked back to Kade, but she began walking along the path to the left. He followed her and saw an opening against the back part of tall cliff. The opening was being supported by large wooden beams. Emerging from it were rails which came out a ways and turned to the right and entered another building. This building was two stories, and had what looked like two smokestacks made of metal coming out of its roof. Zack did not see anything flowing through them at this time though. He then heard the sound of something that sounded like a flamer coming from the opening.

"Rex had said the mine was up and running now."

A Mister Handy model robot came out hovering from the mine. Behind it was pulling a large cart along the rails with two of its arms grasped on it. The cart was overflowing with ore. The robot pulled the cart along the rails in into the building next to the mine. After a moment people started to emerge from the mine as well. They were wearing coveralls and hard hats with lights attached on top. They carried picks, shovels, and one man carried a box of what looked like dynamite. All the people were covered with the red dust from the mountain. They placed their tools by the building next to the mine, which Zack now believed was a refinery which had made those rods that left earlier that day.

As the people passed by, Zack could see their faces clearer, which were badly disfigured, they were ghouls. He had no prejudice against ghouls but he figured right away that they were being used to mine at a lower wage than would be paid to a person. Kade seemed a little squeamish as they passed by and hid behind him. They trudged down the path and out of sight.

"I don't know what it is, but they just freak me out." Kade said and came alongside Zack.

"They are only different physically. Most of them don't mean any harm."

"I know that, I just- I can't put it into words, sorry."

"It's alright. I'm starving though. There's got to be a place up on the second level where we can eat. Come on."

They turned around walked down the path. Zack saw a building he did not see before now to his right. It was about the same size as that house he saw by the lightning rod. A NCR flag was hanging in one of the windows of this building. He supposed it was their barracks.

"I hope Calhoun is resting peacefully."

As they made their way to the stairs they passed near the bazaar. Zack saw a brown skinned couple walking ahead of them, the woman holding a blanket swaddled baby in her arms. Zack thought he would try his luck and approached them.

"Hello there, is there a place to eat up on the second level?"

They couple both looked confused and the man said something quickly that Zack didn't comprehend.

"I'm sorry, what?" Zack asked.

Kade laughed and pushed Zack lightly aside. She began speaking the same language that the couple had used. All Zack could do was stand there while they conversed. He had no idea that Kade spoke more than one language. The conversation went on for what seemed like five minutes before the couple walked away to the left. Kade turned to face Zack. He had a quizzical look on his face.

"What?" Kade asked.

"What just happened here? What were you speaking? Chinese?"

"No silly, that was Spanish. I figured you'd pick up on that. Take your town for instance."

"What do you mean?"

Kade covered her mouth and laughed a few times. "Sorry. Polvo, it means dust in Spanish. I'm guessing whoever founded it must have thought it a witty name."

"Oh, I didn't know that. And when do you speak multiple languages anyways?"

"Well, just my mother was Hispanic. My father understood some, but my mother mainly spoke Spanish. The rest of Dedge spoke English though, so I learned both."

"Interesting, I bet that comes in handy. So what did they have to say?"

"Come on, I'll tell you while we walk."

Zack followed Kade towards the stairs that lead up to second level from the left side from the entrance.

"Well I asked her about this place, where to eat, where to stay, and the history. She said there is a place up here where we can go to get food. She also said that Cherry Cliff has a spring nearby where they can channel in plenty of water."

As they reached the top of the stairs Kade pointed to the left. A pleasant breeze flowed by as she spoke. "There are outhouses there. With no real plumbing of any kind here the sewage just runs into some cavern somewhere." She walked to her right and Zack followed. "Here we go. J's Saloon and Grill."

Before them stood a large building with many glass windows with "J's" painted black above the entrance where music was flowing outward from. The doors were the classic double hinged batwing doors, which probably meant the place never closed, no way to lock up. Zack thought that this would probably the busiest place in the settlement. He could smell booze and food cooking. It made his mouth water, and his stomach growl. Zack walked up some stairs and went through the swinging doors first. The floorboards creaked underneath his feet and the door's hinges squeaked.

The place was packed, with people and ghouls alike. There were even a few off duty NCR Rangers. No one seemed to pay them any particular attention when they entered. The lighting was dim, but was run by electricity, small single bulb lamps hung from the ceiling. Against the back wall was a wooden bar, with many stools in front of it. Behind it against the wall were many filled bottles of different colors, cups and glasses of all shapes and sizes, and large rectangular mirror. The mirror was cracking slightly in its lower right corner. Above this near the ceiling were the skulls of different animals. Zack could see Brahmin, Jackal Rabbit, Mole Rat, and even what looked like a Deathclaw. Zack shuddered a little when he identified the last one.

On the left side of the saloon sat many old wooden circular tables, accompanied by wooden chairs, and a colorful looking jukebox, which was playing a fast beat song at the moment. There were double doors by the bar which must lead to a kitchen of some kind. On the right side of the place sat a pool table, a square table with several slot machines atop, and three hexagonal tables with green felt on them, for playing cards Zack thought joyfully.
The atmosphere was loud with conversations, pool balls clacking together, slot machines paying out, and the sounds of cards being shuffled. The place had a wide variety of people, but Zack felt that it was safe enough. He gestured to Kade a free table along the wall. They both placed their bags by their chairs and sat facing each other. Zack tried to get the attention of a middle aged waitress that was nearby.

"What a busy place." Zack said towards Kade.

"Yeah, I hope they can make the food quick, I'm afraid I might pass out soon."

"Heya kiddos, what can I get for you?" The waitress asked standing by the edge of their table. She wore a red apron over some pre-war clothes.

"Um, menus would be nice, please." Zack responded. The waitress left and returned a moment later with the menus.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." She walked away to tend to the other patrons.

Zack and Kade looked over the menus. They were in old plastic holders and were composed mainly of pictures of items, with small amounts of writing underneath.

"Wow, they have a wide selection to choose from, must help that the Rangers are here." Kade said over the top of her menu.

"Yeah, remember you can get whatever you'd like, Spoon Jacker is buying."

The reminder of the name seemed to cause Kade to frown. Zack saw this.

"I'm sorry Kade, I sometimes speak without thinking."

"No, it's alright. I'm going to enjoy this meal more knowing he's gone. It's funny too if you think about it, if he showed up with me here, he would have probably been shot on sight. I would probably be stranded here though, since I don't have any caps to my name."

Zack didn't know how to respond, but luckily the waitress came back over so he didn't have to.

"Alright, you ready to order now?"

"Yeah, go ahead first Kade."

"I'll take two of the Gila Monster bits grilled burritos, with a side of corn salad, and to drink, bring a bottle of red wine."

"Okay, and you?"

"I'll take a large Brahmin steak well done, with some squirrel stew, and a side of corn salad. Do you have any Nuka Cola?

"Yeah."

"Okay, I'll take two bottles, thanks." He took Kade's menu from her and gave both back to the waitress. She walked away to place the order.

"It's good to finally rest after traveling a bit. I might stay an extra day if it's okay with the Rangers. Come tomorrow are you going to see about any caravans coming through?"

"Yeah, that Hispanic couple said to check the Good's Store out. The owner usually knows when they're coming."

"Alright, sounds good."

A man with a clean shaven face wearing a black pin stripe suit accompanied with hat walked over to the table they both sat at. He looked towards Kade, completely ignoring Zack's presence. "Hello beautiful, why don't you come over to my table so I can buy you a drink and we can get to know each other better?"

Without looking up Kade answered. "Piss off!"

The man was taken aback. "Now, now. Is that anyway to talk to a gentleman?" He spoke with suaveness.

Kade turned her head slowly and looked up to the man. "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize who I was talking to." She said with sarcasm. "Fuck off, sir!"

The man frowned, mumbled something, turned, and walked away.

Zack sat staring ahead smiling. He was trying to keep from laughing at the conversation that just occurred in front of him.

"What?" She asked him.

"Hmm? Nothing."

"Guys can be so full of themselves. They think since just because they are male and have a pair hanging between their legs they can just go up to any woman, spit out a line, and expect the woman to just to bend over right there for them!"

"Well, not all of us at least." Zack responded.

"Yeah, present company excluded I guess."

Both of them broke out in laughter.

The waitress came back with a circular tray in hand and sat down two bottles of Nuka Cola, one bottle of wine, and a single glass. Zack opened up one of the bottles of Nuka Cola and drank half of it at once. It was thick and sweet, but sat well in his empty stomach. Since they had electricity here as well, the soda was surprisingly cool. Kade opened up the bottle of wine and pushed the glass off to the side. She drank straight from the bottle.

They passed the rest of the time waiting for their food in silence, both low on energy from lack of nutrition last couple of days.