August 23rd, 2279

Zack had nodded off for just about five hours when Kade finally stirred in the bed. There was sunlight coming through the window at an angle, its light was bouncing off the wall. She made a small moaning sound and stretched out her body. Her arm knocked against the headboard some. Zack shook his head a little and opened his eyes. He was sitting down with his back against the wall facing the side of the bed. He had his revolver in his hand sitting on his lap with his finger resting on the trigger guard. Kade turned her body to face Zack. She only opened one of her eyes and had her hand in a closed fist rubbing the side of her head.

"Wha, where am I?" She asked with raspy breath.

Zack took a moment to wake up fully. His body was still sore from the past couple days of travel. He thought back to last night when he entered the hotel and how the man behind the counter had reacted. It was difficult to open the entry door while having Kade in his arms, but he finally managed. The conversation played back through his mind.

"What can I do for you?" The man had asked. His eyes never swayed from the book in his hands.

"I'm good, thanks." Zack had responded.

The man looked up from his book with shock on his face. He tried to force himself to make a straight face, but had some trouble keeping it. "Um, will that young lady be in need of a room to sleep off whatever she decided to take part in this evening?"

"No, she'll stay with me."

"Alright, uh…very good sir." He then went back to his book as Zack walked up the stairs with Kade.

Zack looked over into her one open eye. "Well good morning. You're in my hotel room currently."

"What happened last night?"

"It seems like you decided to have a few more drinks after I left the saloon."

"Oh no. I don't remember much of anything after I finished that wine. I usually only stick with wine, other stuff tends to make me to do weird things. I didn't do anything like did I?"

Zack gave a small laugh and smiled. "Let's just say that it was fortunate that I went back to the saloon when I did."

"Ugh." Kade turned her body to sit on the bed. Zack had taken the time to zip her jumpsuit back to the top. She had her head facing down with her hands over her eyes. She brought her head up and brushed her hair backwards.

"My head is pounding, and my mouth tastes like shit."

"My canteen and some mentats are on the night stand for you there." Zack pointed next to the bed.

"Thanks." Kade reached over and put some of the mentats in her mouth and chewed. She grabbed the canteen and took a long drink from it before setting it back down. "What did I end up doing?"

"Well, at first you were just dancing to some music. Nothing too bad. A crowd had gathered around you to watch, so you decided to try and take off your jumpsuit next. Luckily your belt prevented it from coming off completely. But there was this real nice man willing to help you out. Kade had the look of disgust when he said the last part. "Oh, did I mention you were up a wooden table the whole time."

"I can't believe I did all that. I'm so embarrassed. Now everyone in town has seen me."

"Relax Kade. Like I said, it was good I was there. I stopped that man before he could finish getting your belt off. I then took you back here to sleep it off."

She exhaled. "That's a relief. Thanks Zack. I'm sorry you always have to rescue me from situations."

Zack shrugged. "It's alright Kade."

"I feel horrible for making you sleep on the floor there. How come you didn't use your bedroll?"

"Well, it seems like some people either saw where I went with you, or asked around. But I had quite a view visitors knocking last night. They asked how much it would be to spend some time alone with you. They thought I was your pimp or something. I had to stay awake for most of the night telling them off." Zack lifted his arm gesturing his revolver.

"What animals." She looked around the room fully. "Is there a bathroom here somewhere?"

"Yeah, it's down at the end of the hall, you okay to walk?"

"I think I'll be ok, thanks." Kade got up walked over to the door, unlocked it with difficulty, and left the room.

Zack stood up and put his revolver away. He stretched his arms outward and heard his back crack a few times. Kade had left the door open when she left. He didn't close it so she could find her way back. He got his belongings together, filled his canteen, and took his map out. He placed his duster back on, attached the pauldron, and sat on the bed waiting for the return of Kade while he looked at his map. It seemed like the next settlement to get water and supplies was called Aguila, about three days travel from Cherry Cliff by the distance.

What seemed like ten minutes, Kade finally returned. She had taken the time to clean her face, and untangle the mess of her hair. She stood by the doorway of the room.

"Well, I should probably check out of here before I get charged for another night." Zack said as he got up and placed his map back in his pack.

"Did you happen to get my bag?"

"Yeah, it's by the end of the bed."

She walked over and picked up her side bag. "Oh good. I'd feel horrible if I lost my journal. I've had it for a long time."

Zack got up and grabbed his pack and put it on his shoulders along with his now full canteen. "Come on, we'll go see about that caravan at the Good's Store. I need to restock anyhow."

They both made their way to the lobby of the hotel. There was a different person behind the counter this time when Zack walked down the stairs, an older woman. He turned in his key and left the hotel with Kade.

"Should we get something to eat at the J's first before we check the store out?"

"Actually, we both kind of got banned from that place last night. I fought with that man that tried to undo your belt, and I also withdrew my gun. The bartender didn't like that too much."

"Oh." She responded softly.

"I'm sure they have some food at that store though. Don't worry."

They made their way down the wooden steps to the first level. The small bazaar was bustling with activity this morning. Zack also could see smoke rising from the refinery near the end of Cherry Cliff.

"Must be making more of those copper rods."

They both passed the merchants selling various things, and headed towards the Good's Store. They walked on to the wooden planked sidewalk and Zack opened the door. It creaked as it extended fully. The lighting was dim and it smelled of turpentine. The store seemed void of customers as far as Zack could tell. He didn't even see anyone behind the counter at the other end of the store. There were three aisles present, with shelves holding a variety of goods. There seemed to be no organization to how things were arranged. There was food items mixed with ammunition. Weapons were sitting by cooking ware. Zack walked down the middle aisle towards the counter. Kade looked around with excitement and went down the left aisle, picked up and seemed to be inspecting some kind of wired contraption.

As Zack neared the counter he heard faint music coming from a doorway behind the counter, most likely some kind of backroom.

"Maybe they're not open." Zack called back to Kade.

"I'm right here mother [censored]! You are so loud." A voice said from behind the counter.

Zack leaned over the counter and saw a stocky Asian man sitting down on a chair eating something. He was wearing gray pants, a long sleeved white shirt, and had large glasses upon his face. Upon his shoulder sat some kind of yellowish lizard of some sort.

"Sorry I didn't see you back there. You're open for business?"

"What! Of course, I'm here aren't I?"

"Sorry if upset you. I'll just go take a look at your wares. Zack turned and walked towards Kade. He moved close to her and whispered. "That guy is a little strange."

Kade giggled some and put the object she was holding back on the shelf. Zack still had no idea what it was she was looking at. "Zack?" She said slowly. "I need to ask you something."

"Sure, what's up?"

"I- I decided I don't wanted to return to Dedge right away. I've thought about it for quite some time since you told me you were going to New Vegas. I want to get out there and see different parts of the wastes. All I've seen for most of my life are just the areas in and around the Phoenix ruins. I would really like to go with you to see New Vegas. With my expertise with fixing things, I'm sure I could get a job somewhere that pays well. If not, I can always come make my way back."

Zack was taken aback by what she had said. It took sometime for him to think of a polite way to answer. "I really don't think that is a very good idea. It's dangerous out there as you know and if anything were to happen to you, I would never be able to forgive myself for allowing you to come."

Kade's face turned a little red and she spoke with a raised voice. "This is just because I'm a woman huh? You think I won't be able to handle myself out there, or that I won't be productive at all?" She turned her body away from Zack and spoke quietly. Look, I'd feel safer if I was to travel with you, but if you don't want my company, I'll go it alone."

Zack stood there looking at the back of her head for a few moments thinking. There appeared to be no other alternatives, her mind seemed made up. "Alright Kade, if those are the choices. We'll travel together.

Kade turned around quickly and looked up to him. "Really?"

"Yes, there are some rules that you are to follow if you are to come with me."

"Such as?" She asked with a little sadness.

"First, as long as we are not in a town or settlement, you'll do exactly as I say. If I tell you to stop, you stop. If I tell you to get down, you get down. Or if I tell you run and leave me to take on some horrible thing, you run. Got it?"

Kade nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Next, we are going to have to ration our supplies and try and conserve energy. So, we rest when I decide, eat how much I say, and we will keep conversation low as we travel, we can converse more at night when camp is set up, unless it is really necessary to speak. Can you handle this one?"

"Yes, it's not too bad."

"Alright, lastly, you need to send word to Dedge to let them know that you're ok, and where you're heading. I'm sure that they are worried about you. Also, we need to buy you some supplies and gear. I won't be carrying everything for us. For now that's all I can think of, but others might arise if need be."

Kade smiled big. "Great! Just let me know what I need to get."

Zack walked up and down the shelves looking at the assortment of treasures. He came one that had some weapons. "Hey Kade, you are going to need some protection out there. What do you feel comfortable with?"

Kade came over to where Zack stood. She looked over the array of weapons. She picked up a long knife. She looked it over on each side before placing it back down. She then picked up a 10mm submachine gun. She had to use both her hands to lift it and could barely keep it aimed out in front of her. Zack took notice of this and took it from her hands and placed it back on the shelf.

"I've never really used a gun before, all I've ever handled is dynamite and the mines back at Dedge."

Zack saw something silver sticking out from under some combat shotgun ammo drums. He pulled it by the part that stuck out. "Here you go Kade, how about this. It seems more suited to your style." He passed it over to her.

"Wow, a laser pistol out here. I think I only came across just one of them scavenging one time. But we traded it to a caravan. You think I'd be able to use this thing?"

"Sure, why not? There isn't much recoil and the accuracy is pretty good. You will have to tell me of its condition though. I have no expertise in the quality of laser weapons."

Kade looked it over in her hands, checking the wires and connecters. "Yeah, it seems like it's in pretty good shape. Do you think they have energy cells for it?"

"If not, it's still a good find." Zack looked down to her feet. "You okay with those shoes of yours? They seem like they would be painful after awhile."

"These things." She raised a foot and looked at them. "They are quite comfortable, I'd rather not get rid of them just yet."

Zack made his way through the store, bringing items to the counter to buy. He found a decent sized one compartment leather pack with attachments on the left side of it. He found a red colored padded blanket that would work perfectly as a sleeping pad for her. Zack also placed some sticks of dynamite, two one liter plastic bottles filled with water, and many containers of pre-war food. He also found some medical supplies, took two syringes of med-x and one stimpak. He set his own pack down and pulled out the ripper and the boxes of .32 caliber ammo.

He looked to the man still sitting down behind the counter. "I want all these items that are up here and any energy cells that you might have for the laser pistol. I have these to place up for trade as well."

The man hopped out of his chair and got up on an overturned wooden crate. His head barely rose above the counter. He looked at the ripper and opened the boxes of ammo to inspect the rounds. He then looked over all the things that Zack had placed on the counter. He made his way to the back room for a moment, and returned with five energy cells for the laser pistol. Kade was nearby looking at some bluish papers off to the side of the counter.

"Okay, I will deduct the price from what you brought." The owner looked like he was doing some math in his head. "Alright, twelve hundred caps for everything."

From his left Kade spoke. "That's a lot to spend on me Zack."

"It's fine. Oh yeah, are you able to send messages out through caravans? I'm looking to send one to Dedge. Do any caravans go through there?"

"Yes I can do that. It will be extra eighty caps, so twelve eighty then." The shop owner brought out some yellow paper and a pen upon the counter.

Kade made her way over. She took the paper and pen, and began writing a message to be delivered to Dedge.

Zack reached down to his pack and opened his hidden compartment. Kade happen to look down and could see all the caps that he had stored there. She kept silent about it though. Zack paid the man the amount agreed upon and starting to pack his and Kade's new bag with the supplies. Her new bedroll attached quite well to the pack. She placed it on her shoulders. He thanked the shop owner and they made their way to the entrance.

Kade leaned over and whispered. "Why are you traveling with so many caps, it seems dangerous to do so."

"The entry fee for the poker tournament is ten thousand caps. I have been saving for quite sometime."

"You have that many caps in there?"

"Well, not exactly. It's only little under six now. I have some ideas to make up the rest though."

Zack was the first to exit the store. As he did, he was hit in the gut by the butt of an assault rifle. The wind was knocked from him and his arms were restrained on each side by different people. He could hear Kade behind him yelling in protest.