Chapter 6: Jane

The elevator bings as it opens and The Courier steps out. The penthouse of the Lucky 38 has become something of her home in the past few months. Working for the man who owns Vegas does have its perks. She assumes that Boone is here. The two of them split up in Freeside. He wanted to report in, she wanted to have a smoke break. Lilly and Raul are probably here as well. The super mutant grandma always tracks down the old gunslinger and annoys him about his smoking habit. Her overbearing, yet sweet, affection is the major reason Courier always take smoke breaks away from the 38.

She looks around quickly before motioning for the psycho she met in Feeside to enter. When he first said he may have some info on her past, she laughed in his face, stood up, and walked away. She didn't make it one block before turning around and demanding that he spill the beans. The man refused to tell her a single thing until he got a fix of some sort. She had already spent most of the caps she had on her at Mick and Ralphs, meaning she would have to return to Vegas to get some money. The guy obviously doesn't trust her because he demanded to come along. At first she was wary about bringing a stranger into her home, but then she remembered that her friends where there and would probably help her if she needed it. probably...

Guiding him to a lounge she all but shoves him into a seat. He grunts and she isn't sure if it is from the impact of sitting down or in anger. Moving over to the liquor cabinet, a strong whiskey is selected and tossed to the man. She watches as he pops the cork out of the bottle with his teeth. He tilts the bottle up and starts to swallow huge gulps. Courier has seen plenty of drunkards in her day, the most notable being Rose, but man can this guy ever throw it back. His throat must have nerves of steel. Just as she thinks that the man lowers the bottle with a gasp and grabs his neck. "Damn," he croaks, "that is considerably better."

Courier grabs a chair and drags it over to the man. She sits down and leans forward expectantly. "So, gonna tell me what you know or what?"

He lowers his drink and looks her over. "My name is Luther by the way."

"I don't recall caring or asking."

The man gives her a level look and takes one more drink from the bottle. "Okay, before we get started I want you to realize that there are a lot of background details we are going to have to go over first." She nods her head and motions for him to continue. "All right," he leans back into his seat, adopting a comfortable position. "I first ever saw you in an area known as the Capital Wasteland. It is far to the east of here along the Atlantic coast line. The area is so named because it is near the former capital of this county, Washington D.C., I don't know what the D.C. stands for."

"At the time I was working with a young man Named Nick. He was formerly a vault dweller and needed a guide through the wastes. At first he was a burden, always getting into trouble and never able to handle a fight. After a few traumatizing experiences though, he turned into a cold killer, even colder than me at times. Nick started loosing sight of his mission, which was to find his missing father. Instead he became more and more like a wastelander instead of a vault dweller."

"Now, in the Capital Wasteland there are super mutants, as I am sure there are some around here. These uglies came from a vault that experimented with the FEV virus. They were completely feral and killed everything, nothing like other super mutants you can find around the wastes. There was a war being fought between the Brotherhood of Steel and the muties, and the muties were winning due to sheer numbers. They regularly took people hostage and dragged them off to who knows where for who knows what."

Courier gives a shiver. She has meet Super mutants before, and they are scary. The ones up in Jacobstown are all right and she has worked with them many times, yet they still give her the hibbyjibbys. Then there are the Nightkin, like lily. The Super mutants who are so used to using stealth boys that they hate actually being visible. The prolonged use of the stealth technology has altered their minds in strange ways, making them erratic in both thought and action.

"When we found you," Luther continues, "you were a captive of the mutants. We came across them while escorting a young man to a nearby town. Their camp was built across the road and completely blocked our path. We had no choice but to fight. After we dispatched them, I found you and Nick fighting. Seems you were so wound up by your capture that you were not thinking straight." Courier nods her head, that does sound like her. "You were attacking Nick with your nails, teeth, and feet, and he was ready to just kill you."

"We talked him down and managed to get you to that town I mentioned. You went your way and we went ours. While we were laid up in that town Nick and the rest of us had a falling out. He left in anger and I had to keep one of my people from killing everyone in the town from anger. Tyler has always been a loose cannon. I didn't see this, but you and Nick apparently met up again by chance a the local bar. You talked, had a few drinks, and both managed to calm the other down considerably. Nick came back to us and we continued on with the search for his Father."

"We didn't see you again for a long time. When we did, a lot of things had gone down. We found his dad, but he was killed by a military group known as the Enclave, a group I was once a part of. I was captured and interrogated by them and he somehow made it back into his vault. When we all were brought back together it was to kill off the last of the Enclave soldiers and finish his father's work on a project that would clean all the water in the D.C. basin. I'm sure you can imagine that with those memories of a place he had no desire to stick around."

"You showed back up looking for him, and you offered him a job. You were a courier. You delivered messages all across the wasteland. He took up with you to get out of the Capital. That was nearly five years ago. I haven't seen him or you since. I didn't recognize you in Feeside until you mentioned that you were a Courier."

For a ling time silence stretches between them. Courier is deep in thought. So much of what he said could easily be lies, but why would he lie to here? The parts that are true begin to filter out. There is a place known as the Capital Wasteland, she has heard of that before. There are some messed up Super mutants out there, and not just the Nightkin. She is a Courier, and it is completely possible that someone contracted her to cross the wastes to the Capital area. She has never heard of the Enclave, a machine that purifies all the water, or a war being fought by the Brotherhood of Steel. The war part really gets to her. From what she has heard, the Brotherhood isn't the type to just start a war without the chance of gaining some sort of technology.

Luther has started drinking again. When he first saw her in Freeside, he was totally bonkers. He was stark raving mad as far as she was able to tell. Strange that it takes a drink for him to calm down. Usually getting a fix works the other way around. There is no reason that she knows of for him to be lying to her, and his story seems far too complicated for it to be made up. "Okay," she starts slowly, "lets say I believe you. You said you met me, and that your friend, Nick, traveled with me. So what is my name?"

In truth, she isn't sure she wants to hear it. She has lived so long as the Courier now, she really can't imagine living any other way. Is she the same person she was before? Does she have a different personality? Will she be able to remember anything? Does she need some of that whiskey Luther is drinking?

Luther's brow lowers and he rubs his temple. "It has been a while. I only ever saw you once or twice, three times at the most. I think your name started with a J or something. Janice? Joy? Jane? Jesse? Something along those lines." Courier hangs on to each name he lists off. None of them sound familiar, none strike any cords in her mind. Hell, none of this is suddenly making sense like it does in the books! Isn't she supposed to hear some of her past and then the memories com rushing back? That is how it works right?

"Jane." She snaps her attention to him. He is nodding his head. "Your name was diffidently Jane. I remember now. Nick called you by it the last time I saw either of you."

Jane. She tests the word out. It sounds strange. Odd. Like it doesn't fit her perfectly. It is so simple. She always imagined her name to be something beautiful and elegant. Jane is so short. To the point. Huh, maybe it fits her better than she thought. She tends to not wait around, to jump right in. She can be hard headed and edgy. Not to mention all the sarcasm and improper jokes. Jane. Jane sounds like a good sturdy name. Yeah, she likes it. Jane. "Jane."

"Who the hell is Jane?" She starts as Raul walks in. "And who the hell is that Boss?" He jerks a thumb at Luther.

"Raul, this is Luther, a psycho I found in Feeside and who followed me home for some booze. Can I keep him? Please? I'll feed him and walk him and everything!" Raul gives her a look. "Oh come on! You never let me have any pets here. Aren't I supposed to be in charge?"

"Hey chica," Raul says with a shrug of his shoulders as he pulls a cig from his pocket, "You can keep all the crazies you want to. Long as they don't sleep in my room. Unless that is what you want. You know, whatever you say is law round here. You are the Boss." The ghoul blows the smoke from his cig into Luther's face.

Courier rolls her eyes, or, Jane does. Damn, it is going to take some getting used to. "He knows me." Raul gives her a blank stare. "He knows me from before I can remember. You know, the amnesia and loss of memory? The whole getting shot in the head and waking up in a shallow and frankly poorly dug grave?" Raul looks at Luther with a new expression.

"That true hermano?"

Luther lifts an eyebrow theatrically. He rattles something off in Spanish that Courier, damn, Jane can't understand. Raul looks taken aback and abruptly sits down in a chair. "What," Courier demands, "what did he say?"

As Raul speaks he keeps glancing between her and Luther. "He said that what you were saying is true and that I should learn to bath better. He claims that only the garbage smells this bad and that if I continue to speak down to him he will put me where I belong. In the garbage. Thing is that I totally believe he means every word of it. No trouble hermano, I swear it. If the Boss is good with you, than so am I. Didn't mean to come off as disrespectful in any way. I am just a tired old man is all."

Luther nods his head, seemingly satisfied with Raul's answer. "Back to the topic on hand." He turns his head towards Courier, Jane, and fixes her with a rather intimidating stare. "Is there anything else you want to know? Any questions you want to get off your chest?"

Jane things. "Tel me about this Nick character. If I trusted him enough to drag his ass across the wasteland, then he must be worth his salt."

A strange expression passes over Luther's face and Jane, ha got it that time, immediately notices it. Thus far Luther's feelings have been very well guarded behind an unreadable mask. Mentioning Nick seems to tug at him in some way. She can't tell if the look on the man's face is regret, or anger. "Nick," Luther starts slowly, "Nick was a good kid."

"We met in the bar of a place called Megaton. He was fresh out of the vault and had a strange look in his eyes. At the time I didn't know why I felt for him, later I realized he had a lot in common with me and my partner, Tyler. He was homeless, and searching. Searching for something that he knew probably no longer existed. Tyler and I helped him out on his first job and after he just stuck with us. We worked together to make enough caps to go after his missing Father, after all you don't just decided to go crawling around in the ruins of the capital."

"The kid went through a lot. He has been captured by slavers, made into a pit fighter, led a revolution, saved children, slaughtered slavers, been tortured numerous times, and had to witness his Father die to save him. By the time he left with you, he was a completely different person. He had transformed into the type of mercenary scum you avoid at all costs unless you have a job that no one else can do." Luther trails off and seems to be listening to something, even nodding his head once or twice. "Yeah, he was fucked up, and here I am the crazy one. Damn, I need another drink."

Luther leans forward to pick up the bottle again. Before he can even touch it Jane has swiped it out of his reach. "First," she insists, "tell me why you were so desperate for a fix. You don't strike me as an addict."

"I don't know boss," Raul sighs, "looks like an addict to me. Got the right look in his eyes. I say let him have his drink before he switches personalities and kills us both."

Jane does not respond to Raul, instead watching Luther carefully. "Your man is right," He sighs, "I may very well have a violent swing of mood and decide to kill you. Your best be is to just hand over that drink."

"So, what, you have split personalities and you drink to keep them in check?"

Luther actually looks surprised, "Hell, is it that easy to tell?"

Kc in hails the jet and lets the high rush through her. Damn it feels good. The way the world seems to slow down, the way everything is so much weaker! She is a goddess when she is riding the chems. Tyler disappeared a few hours ago in search of Luther. He gave her strict orders to remain in their little squatters hole and to leave his stash alone. She ignored his second order, naturally, and is now thinking of disobeying his first.

Honestly, why the hell does he think he has the right to order her around? It isn't as if he is from her clan, or even responsible for her in any way shape or form. Anything she does or doesn't do is her business, now his. Sure, she decided to follow them after Luther patched her up, but that was done out of guilt. She owes Luther, and she needs to stick around until she can pay off her debt.

Hey, maybe that is what she can do! Go off and help Tyler to find Luther! She looks around quickly and grabs all her scattered things. Briefly she considers leaving Tyler's stuff where it is so he can't claim she was attempting to steal from him, but she figures he will be more upset if she leaves it and it does actually get stolen. Laden down with all the supplies, she sets off through Freeside. Not surprisingly she fits in very well with the rest of the rabble around here. Junkies, psychos, mercs, looters, scavers, and all sorts of other lowlifes.

With her spiky hair, dirty skin, and ragged clothing, she looks like just another squatter. So long as nobody takes a closer look at her stuff and notices all the weapons that is. Just keep your head low, your eyes from lingering, and everything will be fine.

Some asshole, drunk on something, makes a grab for her, but she sidesteps him and keeps going. Seriously? She is only fourteen! No one is going to be touching her like that. Pervert! The man she avoided shouts some profanity at her, mostly calling her a whore, but she lets it pass and keeps moving. That is the key in places like this. Constant movement. Stop to breath for more than a few seconds and your ass is either dead or hauled off to some forsaken place. Despite all the drawbacks and bad people, she actually likes Freeside. Well, truthfully she likes the Kings.

Those guys. With their leather jackets and fancy hair. They really know the meaning of style and chivalry. Not one of them has come on to her after the first time she rejects them. Most assholes keeping going, unaware of how bad for their health it is to get her mad. Not the Kings. They understand that no means no. They are all so good! With their smiling faces, smooth voices, and ripped bodies. She curses under her breath as she realizes she is drooling. Nasty! Nasty, nasty men! That is what the Kings are! That is what all humans of the male persuasion are! Nasty! Every single one of them! But the Kings are just so classy with the leather...

Her thoughts trail off as a squatter up ahead catches her attention. He is waving frantically at her and indicating something down an alley. He shouts something at her, but she can't make it out. "What?" she shouts back at him. Again he shouts and again she can't hear him. The man waves her over and runs down the alley. Kc may be just a kid, but all her instincts are telling her that this is a trap. Instead of following the guy, she looks for another option. A half destroyed fire escape catches her eye and she moves over to it.

Jumping up and grabbing the lowest rung, she easily pulls herself up the twisted metal. Like some sort of animal she ascends the side of the building, leaping from spot to spot with no fear. Climbing has always been a skill of hers. Once up on the roof she walks over to the side and looks down into the alley below.

The squatter she spotted before is standing near the entrance, looking out with what she assumes is a confused expression. Hidden behind him are two other squatters armed with makeshift weapons. Even further down the alley is a collection of at least three dead people. So that is it huh? Lure people into the alley and jump them? Not a bad scam, for trapping idiots. Good thing she is smarter than that. "Hey," One of the hidden squatters shouts to their friend at the entrance, "where is she?"

The guy shrugs his shoulders and turns to them. "I dunno. She just vanished man. Maybe she went back the way she came." He takes one more look at where Kc was. "Damn shame, she looked to have a lot of stuff on her. Wait, someone else is coming!" Kc looks in the same direction as the mugger. Walking down the street is a man. As he approaches Kc manages to make out a set of iconic metal armor.

"Oh, you sumbags are in for it now." she mutters under her breath.

The man in the street spots the mugger, doing his waving trick again, and follows the guy down the alley without a word. Kc watches as they pass the two concealed muggers and walk to the pile of bodies. She hears the man from the street make a smart remark, "Friends of yours. Guess you want to join them in the beyond."

The other two muggers jump out and rush the man. Before they can even really get up any momentum the man whirls around and fires two rounds from a sawed of shotgun. Both men are shredded into meat chunks by the spread of the weapon. The last mugger attempts to jump the metal clad fighter, but the man just smashes the muggers face in with the empty shotgun. Kc cant help but let out a whoop of excitement as the fight finishes before it even began. She climbs down into the alley and runs up the man. "Tyler! That was fucking badass!"

The ghoul has light a cigarette and it gives his face an eerie shadow. "Thought you were supposed to be guarding my things." He notices that she has his stuff with her. "Scratch that, why are you trying to steal my shit?"

Kc rolls her eyes, "I wasn't. Got high, got bored, got smart and decided not to leave your stuff in that hole so it could be taken by some idiot who stumbles upon it. Found Luther yet?"

Tyler shakes his head. "No, but he can take care of himself. None of the people around here could have killed him, even when he is drunk. He must have decided to head out on his own for a bit. He will show back up whenever he decides to. In the meantime, I managed to find us some work. Should be relatively simple. Got head out and deliver some package to a man who will be waiting for us."

Kc scrunches up her face. "What if Luther comes looking for us?"

Tyler chuckles. "That man is a natural born tracker. If he comes looking for us, then he will find us.