Thanks to MoncheleFinchel, FelixKat and noro for the great reviews. Kudos to any other fans who have me on author or story alert. This chapter has mostly character and verbal action, just setting more plots up. We'll have more melee and firearm battles soon.

Mojave Outpost
Southwest of Goodsprings and Primm

The following morning

Shelby and Kurt sat at one of the outdoor splintered wooden tables that were situated behind the headquarters building. They ate some breakfast items purchased from the nearby outpost barracks structure which featured a general trader store inside the front door. They had a clear view of the chain link fence and the currently closed gate guarded by two NCR sentries. The brown haired woman noticed other guards posted on rooftops and walking routes around the compound. Even though they were close to the California border she believed it never hurt to keep your guard up. There were too many crazy factions roaming around and not to mention the dangerous wildlife. Shelby looked fondly at Kurt, who was enjoying his bag of trail mix.

"Easy there Kurt. Save some for me. Don't make me tell your dad about these dessert binges."

The boy looked at the woman with great concern but then gave her a big smile.

"Okay, easy on the blackmail guilt trip. Just blame it on your daughter getting me addicted to this stuff."

"Don't put this off on Rachel, you can show a little willpower. Wait, you're still a kid so that's impossible. I'm kidding, partly. I think you're going to buy your next tube of toothpaste."

"Deal. So isn't it time already?"

Shelby looked over at the gate again and noticed it was swinging open. She pointed it out to Kurt and both of them watched the arrivals. There were a few civilians among the latest trade caravan people, guards and pack Brahmin. Finally the boy grew excited as he spotted a determined woman holding hands with a little girl around Kurt's age. He reached for his older companion's hand and they got to their feet.

"C'mon Aunt Shell, there're here! I can't wait for you to meet them."

The Prospector's Den
Interior Common Area and Bedroom

Later that morning

Quinn looked around at the other five persons gathered for the meeting. Sam sat beside her on the main couch, Sugar was next to them in a functional chair, Rachel and Finn sat nearby in a two-seater, while Tina stood in front of the jukebox near the entrance to the hallway. Brittany was outside on guard duty. The blond haired girl cleared her throat to get the other's attention.

"Let's begin. I know we're all from different backgrounds, but if we want to show our parents and people in charge that everyone can coexist together we need to know everyone's strengths. What talents can you all bring to the group? I know a lot about farming crops and have a knack for numbers. I'll volunteer to keep the financial records. Sam?"

"I can tear down and put back together almost anything. If it's broke I can fix it, just give me the parts and I'm good. I can farm too but I'm not into it like Quinn is. She really has the passion and know-how that I lack. I'm just the muscle."

The blond girl smiled with much affection for her good friend and reached over to rub his shoulder lightly.

"Thanks for that Sam but you're being too modest. There's not that many independent farming plots left but our families try to do what they can. I couldn't get by every day without all your help. I rely on you a lot, don't forget that."

"You're my home girl, it's no problemo."

The two Goodsprings residents exchanged high fives and smiled warmly at each other. Rachel was very touched watching their carefree interplay and her eyes grew a little moist. She reached over to link hands with Finn, which caused her male partner to give her a little smirk then a real smile. He silently mouthed something.

I've got your back, always.

The dark haired and very sensitive girl replied back.

You've got me too, don't forget it.

I won't.

While Sugar watched Quinn and Sam while waiting to get in her say Tina noticed the sneaky glances Rachel and Finn were giving each other. The excited brown haired Followers girl opened her mouth to speak but Tina's voice make her stop.

"What about you two? Care to share with the group what you're talking about?"

The two partners from Novac looked around the room as they heard silence for a few seconds. Their faces blushed red somewhat but Rachel and Finn casually met Tina's intense glance. The Asian girl was dressed in worn boots, blue jean shorts with studded black leg guards down to her knees and a black leather vest with red lightening bolts on the front. On the back of the jacket featured the Khan symbol of a skull wearing a Viking hat. Tina crossed her arms in irritation and shook her head.

"Rachel, besides fighting rough and being a general nuisance on first impression what can you bring to the group? I'm trying to forget yesterday so help me out."

"Call me a problem solver. Give me something to do and I'll get it done. I want to prove myself and earn your trust. You'll find out that my being a so called nuisance is a big plus. I don't give up."

Tina nodded in thought as she considered some things.

"Okay, that sounds fair. I'm still holding you to our fight training but I want to ask you one question. Do you like to hunt?"

Rachel considered her answer for a few seconds while looking at the other people's expressions. Finn raised an eyebrow and looked somewhat worried. Rachel squeezed his hand and looked up at Tina.

"I don't like killing innocent animals but we all have to eat. I try to limit my meat eating by having lots of fruits and vegetables. I'll do my fair share if asked to or it's required."

The Asian girl smiled at Rachel's answer.

"Cool. We Great Khans pride ourselves on hunting. You'll have to join Britt and I on a safari soon. How about you Finn? You don't talk much."

"I'm still warming up to everyone. I enjoy some of that sometimes, but what I really like to hunt for is pre war tech. Just about any item has some value that can be fixed up or sold for bottle caps. Rachel and I are prospecting partners; we can help bring in some extra income for the group. I hope Sam could help me with the repair work."

The blond haired boy looked at the two new people with increased interest.

"That'd be cool, man. Could we all get first dibs on your stuff?"

Finn gave his female partner a big smile and squeezed Rachel's hand in response. He looked back over in Sam and Quinn's direction and nodded his head.

"Of course you can. Hey Sugar, what can you do?"

The brown haired girl let out a yell of happiness.

"It finally gets around to me. I'm so glad you're all still behaving well so let me spread some joy. I hope to use our group as a shining example to show people working together for the common good. One day my wish is for all factions to live in peace and harmony with their fellow man."

It was Quinn's turn to laugh at the hyper antics of her Followers friend, not at the girl personally.

"Their fellow woman too I hope. Thanks Sugar, I was going to cut you off around lunch time. I'm also going to continue the family business name; we relocated here from a place out west called The Hub. It's a derived version of my last name FaBray, hence we will be the first members of the Nevada Far Go Traders. The meeting is dismissed."

At the sound of food Rachel's stomach grumbled loudly, causing her to blush red in embarrassment. The other gathered kids laughed in reply and Finn did his eyebrow raise again. Rachel pulled her hand away then playfully punched her partner in the arm.

"Stop doing that Finn. A girl's gotta eat. Why don't you make me something?"

The others all looked at Finn to see what he would say. The boy rubbed his shoulder and smirked at Rachel, then became aware of the other kid's glances on him.

"Hey, I can cook too. Let me check my backpack. Who's hungry?"

A vocal chorus of "Me" and "I am" filled the room. Finn stood up and walked towards the outer hallway when Sugar got to her feet also.

"Group hug!"

Sugar started walking towards Tina, who held up a hand motioning her to stop.

"Sorry Sugar, I'm still banged up pretty good. Gotta pass on the hug."

The giddy Follower girl changed direction and started after the retreating form of the boy exiting the room.

"Finn!"

Rachel got to her feet and grabbed Sugar's arm in a firm but non lethal grip. She spun the girl around and leaned into the brown haired girl's personal space.

"Let him go and make lunch. I admire your positive attitude, but please don't go there; I mean he needs to cook. You can hug me instead."

Sugar's ecstatic facial expression changed to one of deep concern.

"Okay, just please don't hit me. I'll behave."

"That's good. Gently now, I'm still a little sore."

As Sugar carefully put her arms around Rachel's waist and slowly hugged the other girl for a few seconds the dark haired and hungry girl locked gazes with an amused Tina. The Asian girl was shaking her fist at Sugar as the Followers girl looked the other direction.

Let me hit her.

Rachel smiled back at her new tentative friend and silently mouthed back a reply.

Get in line.

Sugar glanced over at Quinn and Sam, who were watching with much amusement. The happy blond girl accepted Sam's arm around her shoulder as she silently sent Sugar an urgent message.

Be careful.

Prospector Saloon
Goodsprings

Later that afternoon

Santana and Puck paused on the covered outdoor porch and scanned the area for any possible people lurking around. They determined no eyes were upon them so they sat down on a nearby bench. Three rusted out motorcycles, various jumbled cracked rocks and a derelict pickup truck was their nearby scenery.

They decided to rest for a few minutes as the two finished another long walk from Wolfhorn Ranch after being at Novac and their BOS bunker the previous day. The Latina girl powered up her wrist mounted Pip Boy and turned on the tracking function. One red dot was way to the north of them nearing Red Rock Canyon and the other blip was a short distance to the south on the road near the Goodsprings Source water pump. The two BOS initiates looked at each other and nodded.

"Well sis, good thing this place is open 24 hours. Let's continue our mission after having some food. I'm getting sick of power bars."

Santana chuckled somewhat and turned off her Pip Boy. She unfastened her tech device from her left arm and stored it carefully into her backpack.

"It will be easy to pick up their trail for sure. Okay, that's secure; we don't want anyone to ask questions about our gear."

"That my sis, always thinking ahead. Are you ready to put on another acting performance?"

"Noah, are you saying I'm not charming enough as is? What you see is what you get. I can chill out and relax."

"That's what I'm worried about. All right, let's eat."

The first interior room consisted of a long brown table on the left that held a model globe of the earth and some old dusty magazines and books. There were five tables against the right wall with a pool table and jukebox in the rear. Santana and Puck turned left and continued down the hallway, passing a storeroom and office where a blond haired girl sat at the desk writing in a paper ledger. They entered the food and bar side of the building, where a L-shaped sloping bar counter dominated the room. They sat down at the rear most of the six eating booths near the back door. A worn down looking woman with short but messy red hair walked over to their table from behind the bar.

"Hey kids, I'm Emma, owner of the saloon. So what can I get you to eat? The special is a bloatfly slider with noodles and cactus water."

Santana made a disgusted face which made Puck grin at his sister. He looked up at their waitress.

"Give me a Bighorner steak, cazador egg, pork and beans and a Nuka Cola."

Santana rolled her eyes but attempted to hide her irritation at her brother's perceived horrible choice in food.

"I want a desert salad, an apple/banana yucca fruit mix and water. Oh what the heck, I'll have some potato chips too. Please tell me you've got trail mix?"

"Of course we do. Let me get your drinks."

Emma wrote down everything using her made up shorthand writing on her paper notebook and walked back to the counter. She looked towards the front office and raised her voice slightly.

"Quinn, customers! I need some help please!"

The blond girl walked over behind the counter after giving a quick look to see who had arrived. She smiled shyly at the two newcomers. Quinn grabbed two bottles from the back storage room located in the rear hallway next to the bathroom and returned to her customer's table.

"One Nuka Cola for you sir and a purified water for you mi lady. I'm Quinn, and you are?"

Puck watched as Santana's eyes glazed over while she stared intently up at the blond girl. She finally found her voice again.

"Hi beautiful. You can call me anything you want. Glad to meet you."

As Santana shook Quinn's outstretched hand she felt an electric shock pass through her body, but the exciting sensation passed as she noticed the blond calmly greeting her with no reaction besides polite interest. The Latina's brief thoughts of fancy were crushed as a blond boy came in the back door causing Quinn to hug him with much excitement. Santana looked over with Puck and shook her head.

Just my luck, no interest from her.

At the same time the front door opened and closed, then soon after two adult females with a boy and girl walked in.

Kurt took a few seconds to scan the room then he noticed some familiar faces. He grabbed his female girl companion's hand and they ran over to the last table. The two adults followed them after a short pause. Quinn and Sam were just pulling apart and starting to talk when the boy's excited voice cut through the air.

"Hey, it's Sierra and November. You never told me your real names, but I want to introduce you to some special people."

Kurt indicated the girl standing beside him and the females behind them.

This is my Aunt Shelby and step mom Carol. She's been in California getting ready to move back with this one."

The girl stepped forward to greet the seated duo. She had long dark black hair with some red streaks throughout. Besides being very dusty from traveling a long distance and wearing a faded demin work shirt, jeans and tennis shoes Santana's first thought was very pleasant. What Kurt told her was not processing through her mind yet. The Latina female held out her hand, which the other girl grabbed after a little hesitation.

"I'm Santana, welcome to the Mojave Wasteland. This is my brother Noah. What's your name sweetie?"

"You're pretty. I'm Claire Hudson, Finn's sister. Well, Kurt's sister too."

Santana's mouth hung open in shock. Not only was this girl not in her scouting files her elders had never mentioned that Finn had a sister. Rachel was the main interest in her mission but an operative did not want any unknown elements on the playing field. Not to mention the fact that this Claire was very good looking and seemed to be into the Latina in a good way the blond had not been. Santana's mind and emotions seemed to shift into overdrive.

Holy crap, I've got to get out more. What the hell is going on?

Shelby stepped forward and looked closely at Santana.

"Now I remember. You're the trail mix girl that told my daughter Rachel about them. I should bill you for her and Kurt's upcoming dentist appointments."

Quinn recovered her composure and reentered the conversation.

"Wait, you all know Rachel and Finn? It's a small world."

Santana and Puck exchanged another glance and they decided to play it cool but straight up. The Latina let go of Claire's hand reluctantly and looked back up at the surprised blond girl.

"Seems like it. Now where's our food?"

An original character to surprise you with. When I'm feeling AU I really go for it. Claire is dedicated to my awesme female BFF, who helps me with plot ideas, character motivations, and she is also an avid Gleek and gamer.