Whoa! I'm uploading! *faints*

No but really, this thing is almost done and I am astonished by how little I upload on this thing. Whateves. Almost done, and hopefully whoever is reading this will enjoy it. ^_^

Chapter 3

A bullet of lies

Two years later

My feet crunched against the irradiated ground of the Mojave Desert. My breath was short and shallow as I forced myself up the hill, and towards the house. This past package was all right, not too hard, but pretty boring, for the most part. It was up in Red Rock Canyon, where I delivered the a chemistry set to a bunch of Great Kahn junkies. They paid well, so the trip wasn't worth nothing. I clutched a dead gecko tightly, it's limp body draped over my shoulders nicely. I made sure the bullet wound was facing towards the ground, so it would bleed out away from me. Papa would be happy with this kill. We've been running out lately. A Big Horner would be more like it, but I found them hard to find. Plus it would be a pain in the ass to carry back home by myself, and Brad was busy. Papa always knew where to find them… but he hasn't been hunting lately. Ever since Mama got sick, he's just been sitting on his chair, smoking his pipe. He never leaves the house. Maybe occasionally to tend the crops while I was out, but other than that he usually just stayed inside. I smiled when I smelt the familiar smoke of Papa's pipe as I approached the door. As softly as I could, I pushed the door open, and was immediately welcomed by the smoky atmosphere of the house.

"Oh good, you're home." Papa said immediately, looking up from his book. He was reading now… all right, that's a bit of a change. A good one, though.

"Yup. Caught dinner, and earned five hundred caps, just for you, Papa." I grinned, winking at him before plopping the dead gecko on the skinning table.

"That's ma' girl." He replied, sighing as he closed his book, and setting his pipe on its stand. He stood up, clutching his walking stick as he did.

"Don't worry, Papa, I've got this." I explained, pulling the skinning knife from the drawer.

"No, I insist, darling. Lemme help with somethin'." His voice was old and gravely as he waddled towards me. I'd rather have him sit… what if he was getting sick, too? But once Papa puts his mind to something, there's no stopping him. I pursed my lips together, trying to think of something for him to do.

"Um, how about you clean off a cactus fruit from the fridge?" I asked. Papa nodded his head, and did what I asked.

"How's your Fiancé?" He asked as I began skinning the Gecko hide.

"Brad? He's good… I think. I haven't seen him today." I explained.

The ring around my finger became ten times heaver as I sliced into the Gecko's flesh. He asked me to marry him after one night in the shed. It was an odd sort of marriage proposal, but he was an odd guy himself. So it fit.

"You should check in on him." He said, making me smile. That would be nice… Then I thought of Mama, and shook my head.

"He can wait." I said simply.

For a few moments it was like old times, before Papa got old. Before his hair became grey and patchy. I smiled as the sizzling of Gecko meat on the pan filled the small cot, as well as the familiar smell. Gecko and Big Horner meat will always remind me of home. Finally Papa sat, complaining that his leg started bother him. I took care of dinner for that night. It's not like it was the first night that I've ever done it… but tonight felt different. In fact, the whole night felt different. But I just couldn't quite put my finger on what. When I brought the food in for Mama the place seemed like a layer of despair laid over it. It killed me to see Mama like that… cuddled in bed, clutching onto the life that she had left in her. I slowly made my way towards her, setting her food on the night table next to her. She didn't move. I sighed, sitting next to her on the bed. I ran my fingers through her soft, grey and black hair lovingly, hoping to wake her up softly. When she didn't move I resorted to whispering to her.

"Mama?" I asked delicately.

For a few pain staking seconds, she didn't move. Then finally she stirred, making me sigh in relief.

"Oh my god, Mama…" I said, looking into her opening eyes. She smiled softly, groaning in exhaustion.

"What is it, darling?" She asked lovingly.

I swallowed down tears roughly, picking up the plate of her dinner.

"Gecko and Cactus fruit. For you." I explained.

Mama smiled softly again, sitting up painfully. I set the plate on the bed quickly, and helped her up.

"Thank you darling." She groaned, and grabbed her dinner. "Oh, looks amazing."

"I'll just get some water." I said quickly, and rushed to the door. Once I was in the hall way I pushed my back on the wall, slapping a hand over my mouth in a desperate attempt to cover my sobs. My head lowered, and I forced my tears to stay quiet. I knew she didn't have much more time left. And neither did Papa.

The house was empty, and quiet. Brad said he would come around as soon as he could, and it was just about getting dark. I sat motionless on the couch, staring blankly at a small box in front of me. Mama passed away, and soon afterwards, Papa followed. We buried them under the large Broc Flower tree in our backyard…Just before Papa died, he pulled out this box for me from under his bed. It had collected dust from years of it being tucked away. I've been actively ignoring it for a few days now. It sat in the middle of the house, just burning me up with curiosity. Papa didn't explain much about it… only that it had some belongings from my true parents. It mustn't have been holding too much, since it was pretty small. I was too afraid to open it, thinking that the last remaining parts of Mama and Papa would be sucked into the vortex that was the box. The box of mysteries. I hadn't told Brad about it, either. Which was probably a bad idea. But I just couldn't bring it up… not with everything else that had happened. I fiddled frantically with a small, silver gambling chip in my hands. I had found it in the bottom of my ruck-sack after my last delivery. I had no clue how it had gotten in there, but to be honest, I didn't care. It was smooth, small, and nice to look at. It said 'The Lucky Thirty Eight' on it in flashy letters. I considered it my lucky charm… even though my luck was running short. The damn thing was so shiny I could see my own reflection in it. I saw my own eyes staring back at me, my long blonde hair loose at the side's of my face. I didn't have the energy to braid it, or do anything to it. My mind throbbed, and my fingers twitching as the agony of my curiosity burned too fierce. I stuffed the lucky chip into my pocket, and soon the box was clutched in my dirt caked hands. The possessions rattling as I did. I cursed myself as worry began to flood through me. Did I break anything? Taking a deep breath, I ripped off the lid. I just stared for a few seconds, not registering what it was at first. The first thing I saw was a stack of loose pictures, and one framed. The framed one held a picture of a young girl holding up a BB gun in triumph with a man next to her. I shuffled through the stack of photo's one by one, not recognising anybody in them. Then, finally, I uncovered a larger framed picture. This one was of a couple holding a child in their arms. They were both smiling ear to ear, obviously proud of their accomplishment. I looked closely at the woman, noticing half of her face was slightly darker, as well as her arm… then I noticed it was metal.

"Who are you?" I asked. I turned the frame around, and found some handwriting on the back.

'April 4, 2278. Jade-Diamond Almodovar's birth.'

…Me? Are those my… parents? Suddenly I remembered small hands brushing a metal arm curiously, a warm chuckle coming from behind me. I dropped the picture frame back into the box in shock. Blue eyes. Bright blue eyes piercing from the darkness, soft and comforting. My small hand reaching upwards and touching the metal cheek. My eyes squeezed shut, and my breathing became short and laboured. I remembered a mans face, gentle and inviting, a warm smile spread across his lips. His voice was tender, loving. When I opened my eyes again my hands cradled my throbbing head. But there was more. I pushed through the discomfort, and dug my hands through the box again. I found a leather bound journal, a small string wrapped around it. But before I could open it my eyes were focused on what was on the bottom of the box. A holotape, a little smaller than the ones I knew. On the cover was scrawled 'For Jade.' My breath stopped, and I had to remind myself to let air into my lungs. Papa had told me about these things. They were a more advanced version of a holotape. Instead of recording just voice, it also recorded video. My trembling fingers lifted it slowly, and my eyes caught sight of our television. We never really used it, it was more there for show than anything. I shoved the holotape into what I hoped was the right place, and switched on the knob. To my luck, it turned on immediately. First it showed a hand covering the screen, then as it pulled back it showed a woman with black hair, a metal face, and a metal arm. My mother. She sat down, and stared into the screen. Her eyes were strikingly blue. The same blue eyes… After a deep breath, she began to speak.

"Hello… Jade. I uh… I need to explain a few things." She began. Her voice was distant, as if her mind was elsewhere. Her accent made it clear that she was from Washington DC. She stopped as she pursed her lips together. "I don't know when you'll watch this… or if you'll watch this… but there's somethings I need to tell you. First of all, this…" She pointed to the metal part of her face. "… is nothing to worry about. I was young, arrogant, and I paid the price. I can only hope you haven't done the same." She breathed again. "Well, I was raised in a Vault. Vault 101. Your… grandmother died birthing me. When I was nineteen, your grandfather left, and I followed him. Which was the opposite of what he wanted for me. Well, he ran off to continue something called 'Project Purity.' Him and some other doctor's had wanted to cleanse the worlds water from radiation. It never worked… until he found the last bit of the puzzle." She shifted nervously in her seat. "He died protecting it… and soon, I think I'll follow in his footsteps. The Enclave have it now… in my present time. And, well, I can only hope they don't when you're watching this." She breathed out quickly from her nose, looking down at her hands. "Your father, Amato passed away… getting the final piece of the puzzle. It was a G.E.C.K, a Garden of Eden Creation Kit. He sacrificed himself for it. And I… I don't want you to think that I left you 'cause I didn't love you." Her voice broke, and she forced herself to look up again. "Because I do. Jade… I love you so much. And I just wish I could see you now. There's no doubt in my mind you're beautiful, and smart… You were always so much like your father…" She breathed again. "I'm leaving you in the hands of an organisation that will help protect you. Even if you don't like their rules, please Jade, please just listen to them. Cause they know how to keep you safe. And…if there's one thing I can say to you, it'd be this, Jade. Whatever the consequences, and whoever stands in your way of doing the right thing… just do it. No matter what." She stared into the screen for a long time now. She swallowed deep before speaking again.

"I love you. Keep well." And with that, the video ended, leaving me alone again. Alone in the stillness, in the quiet. She didn't leave me… she didn't walk out. Neither of them did. They both self sacrificed. I wasn't meant to be here. Anger flush through me, my fists clenching so tightly I was worried they had pierced my skin. They lied to me. Mama and Papa… Billy and Delilah. They lied. I wasn't supposed to be theres. My hands began to sting, and I looked down to see blood dripping to the floor. Liars. Did they even know my true parents? Did they kidnap me? Did they steal all these things from them? It was all too much. Everything was. And soon I was running out the door, and into the night.

The wind screamed in my ear as I ran as fast as I could, away from everything. I didn't know where. Down the road. Maybe find an abandoned trailer. Or even find that shed Brad had… But I just kept running. Farther and farther. Until eventually my legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground. I plunged my bloody hands into my hair, breathing heavy, my heart beating rapidly. There was no way of asking now. They were all dead. All of them. Questions burned me from the inside out. A deep rumbling began in my chest, which soon manifested into a blood curdling scream.

"You lied! Both of you!" I screeched, looking up into the sky. As if all of the ghosts could hear me. My forehead hit my leg as I began sobbing, tears dripping down into the dust.

"Everything they told me…" I muttered into the ground. "A lie."

I was alerted by heavy footsteps next to me, and I snapped my head up to see just the silhouette of a man.

"Not everything." His voice was airy, and thick with a New Vegas accent. Before I could say anything, something hit the back of my head forcefully. Darkness followed.

My eyes peeled open, revealing my tied hands out in front of me. They were still freshly bloody, but smudged and covered in dirt. I looked up to see two men, who I guessed were Great Kahns, and one man in between them. He sported a checkered suit, and had his back to me.

"Boss. She's awake." A voice came from behind me, followed by a harsh kick to the back. When I didn't respond I was pulled up painfully to my knees. The moon from the distance rested in between two branches of a small broc flower tree. I tried to figure out where I was… but it was too dark. And I was too terrified. The two Great Kahns looked around nervously, clutching their guns tightly. One had an orange mohawk, and the other's head was shaved. The man with the checkered suit turned around slowly, looking at me straight in the eyes.

"Hello, baby doll." He seemed to purr. Same voice. Same accent as before.

"Wh-what…" I stuttered.

"I wouldn't talk too loud. Don't want to get a bullet in the head." He said with a grin. The whole crowd around us shared a dark chuckle, making the hairs on my neck stand on end. I took a deep breath before trying to speak again, but the man spoke before I did.

"I'm sorry you had to be caught up in all this. Truly I am." He looked at me solemnly, digging into his coat pocket, and pulled out a small silver coin. Wait… no, a gambling chip. My lucky gambling chip! "You've made your last delivery, kid." He waved the chip in the air for emphasis, and then stuck it back into his pocket. In the same motion, he pulled out a silver pistol, carved with different swirls and flowers. My breath became short and shallow as I looked into his gaze.

"You… you said you weren't gonna shoot me." I almost whined. The man tsked, shaking his head almost sadly.

"I never said I wasn't. I just said you don't want a bullet in your head. Which you don't." He cocked the pistol slowly, sending chills down my spine.

"Is there a way outta this? S-somebody to apologize to…" I stuttered.

"Afraid not." The man said, lifting the pistol to me.

"Please… I don't even know what I did wrong…" Tears threatened as I said this, making me curse myself.

"You don't have to know."

The man with the orange mohawk shifted nervously, turning to the man with the pistol.

"Boss, would you get this over with…." He started, but the 'boss' lifted his hand in protest.

"Great Kahns may kill like savages. But I like to look my kill straight in the eyes." He explained, followed by another sigh. "Again, I'm sorry you had to get tied into this whole thing. But the truth is…" The man set his finger over the trigger. "The game was rigged from the start." Then in an instant, the sound of a gun filled my ears, and then nothing.