Snowflake in the Sand

Chapter 25

Heartache by the number

Rain poured down from the heavens as desperate travelers ran to the bar trying to hide from the unexpected storm, the pioneer saloon lights barely worked as the lightning had messed with Goodspring's electricity. Trudy for her part was happy at the amount of orders she was receiving, as she placed down another beer for a young man she turned off the radio, afraid that it would get ruined again. The young man finished the beer in one swing and let out a heavy sigh "Woah there youngster, seems like you're trying to drown something" an old man said as he looked at the youngster.

"My sorrows old man, I am just tired" the old man simply laughed as he motioned to his drink "Well I got time and the drink is running nowhere son, so what is troubling you?"

"War old man, is always war in this life. My old man served in the Brotherhood wars. Saw his family turned to dust by a tall armored monster, so he signs up in the army and won the war, lost his leg but my old man never gave up… I wish I could have seen what he was like back in his day"

The old man looked sad for a moment "A hero, that's what he looked like kid. We all did, I fought the tin cans back in California. I left after the war, became a prospector. I wanted nothing to do with a gun, so I ran like a coward so far away to where I thought the NCR would never come, but now… I think is time I go back, a deserter like me deserves to be judged"

The young man turned to him in surprise "No shit… I am planning to do the same thing, I signed up to help my country. I fought the same metal monsters that my father fought in Helios One, watched as my friends all got slaughtered like nothing. But we won and then the Legion came. We won against the brotherhood because we had numbers, we swarmed them and every single loss they had was a massive blow to them but Legion, they are monsters. All of them hate you and a bullet wont stop them"

There was a quiet moment before the young soldier continued his tale "But hell, that's not why I am leaving. The NCR was going to lose the war, everything seemed like it was going to shit, our strategies against the Brotherhood where being used against us. We could not match their numbers. I chose to leave to the north, the Frontier, when I saw what had become of us relying on a courier and a witch"

The old man raised an eyebrow "A courier, how can he help more than trooper?"

The soldier tightened his fist "That's the thing, we don't know. Random walk the wasteland fuck waltzed into Boulder city saves prisoners and now he have to roll out the red carpet to him on the strip, he is a talker I don't get it, we are putting all our eggs in one basket and the basket might not even be ours…"

The old man looked at his drink sadly "Isn't it like that always, there was a story I heard when I was young, the NCR always has needed a chosen one or a vault dweller to help us. We are biting to much, we always are… but I still love my country, we will win this war and if we don't then the world will be ruled by slavers" the young man nodded as he stood up "Maybe, but I wont be around to see it. I have long walk ahead of me, see you old man and thank you for listening"

The old man waved at him as he exited the saloon, the rain calming down. The young soldier took one last look at Goodsprings and then patted his stolen equipment, desertion would not matter when the Legion bulldozed them and the Mojave was lost. As he prepared to leave a loud cough made him turn around, he frowned as he saw the figure. It was the creepy homeless guy that had tagged along with the NCR and asked to be dropped off at Goodsprings, it had been such a pain in the ass to escape his CO with another suspicious man walking in the same direction as him.

He would let him be, after all he was just like him now. A waste lander with no army. But unknowns to him the homeless man had fallen to his knees and gasped for air, Courier Six felt his disguise start to slip as he cursed the rain. It had been his fault of course but looking at his grave had made him realize, that soon enough he would be buried yet again, fooling death twice was not a possibility. Six walked with difficulty towards Primm, his dying wish was to retrace his steps and then rest at the Lucky thirty eight but he had miscalculated just how severe his injuries where.

"All of this could have been avoided. I could have cured you, saved you from the clutches of death but now I get to savor your last moments" a voice from the PipBoy made Six grit his teeth in anger, Elijah and him where on the same boat, slowly dying. "If I don't outlast you, oxygen slowly running out… at least you will die a painless death, so now do us all a favor and close your eyes so death can take you"

Elijah chuckled "I will make your last moments on earth as painful as possible, you took everything from me so it's only fair that I make your last moments torment. Your little lady wont be here stop me"

Six let out a sigh as he spotted the roller coaster in the distance, the rain had cleared up but darkness was beginning to consume the dessert, a week had passed since he last saw Winter, he hoped that she had already reached the answers she sought. And so he walked without a plan, relieving memories from long ago and from months past, everything seemed to blend together in a single dying brain.

A week ago:

Winter snorted as she spotted Six sneaking some alcohol into her backpack "For the last time, I won't need that. I still get headaches from the Buffout and Jet"

Cass snorted as she downed another bottle of Whiskey "Six is right you know, alcohol can really help to disinfect wounds or to help you warm up, always good to have some on ya" Arcade from the other side of the room snorted, something Cass noted but responded maturely by flipping him off. Sarah and Veronica on the other hand was busy finishing some of the more delicate matter.

Winter's energy weapons had been cleaned and repaired, plenty of ammo at her disposal and courtesy of Veronica her sword was polished. All that was left was to walk towards the unknown, Winter put the backpack on and looked at the route that Christine had marked, the big empty could be accessed by many ways but some of them had been blocked, so now her best bet was to enter from the side near a ruined train station. Train tracks near the road they once took to Zion should take her there.

Six gave Winter smile "Seems like you're all set to go, want me to accompany you to the border?" Winter looked at the man she had grown feeling for and gave him a small nod. "Sure, I wanted to speak in prvate about a few things" Cass laughe and elbowed a approaching Sarah "Heard that, they didn't want to ruin your innocence" Winter gave the read head glare, Sarah not quite understanding simply placed more ammo on Winter's hand.

"Thanks Mandy you're a Star, but if you're all set Winter we should go. Best if we try to get you out of Vegas before night time, Legion is moving scouts in the middle of the night or so says the rumors" Winter nodded but to her surprise Six coughed into his fist as Sarah gave him a look of disbelief "Wait… right now?"

"Yes, now"

"… I will get my things then" Sarah said as she paled even more, Winter raised an eyebrow but Six merely shrugged and merely mentioned of pushing her forward. Chatter died down when Boone walked in the scene, Six cheerily waved at him while the sniper merely gave him a nod "Tell me when it's time to begin the operation"

Arcade gave Winter a look while she shrugged Six and Boone seemed to be up to something, no one knew but on their walk back to base the sniper had asked Six to speak alone. Winter had tried to eavesdrop on their conversation but got nothing, Boone spoke in hushed tone while Six simply nodded or hummed as if considering something. So for now everything that the duo where up to was a mystery.

Six pondered for a moment but he snapped his fingers "Wait for me near the grub and gulp I have a plan" Boone nodded and picked up his sniper riffle as he left. Sarah returned just in time and with that Six stared at all his friends before waving "See you later" Winter found it odd but for now she needed to get going, it would be better if she could walk the wasteland with no Legion assassins on her back. The walk to the canyon pass was uneventful save for Sarah's grumbling when Six placed his hat on her head and laughed at her. For her part, Winter was just happy on how familiar it all felt; a home away from home.

In no time they had reached the pass and Winter stared at the road ahead, Six looked behind at Vegas and smiled sadly "It has been long walk huh?" he commented making Winter chuckle "Are you sure that the clinic cleared you, I can't believe that you're tired from that walk" Six smiled. He took a step forward and held her waist "Maybe I just didn't want to part ways"

Winter smiled back and placed a hand on his cheek "Don't worry I'll be back before you know it" Six nodded and took a step back, inside a part of him wanted to held her longer while he told her that his days where numbered and he wanted to spend them with her, a selfish thing really. But the alternative was not much better, lettig her go meant that probably this would be the last time he would see her.

Was it better this way?

On one hand she would not have to see him slowly wither away, her last memory of him would be this one and when he looked at it like that the answer was obvious to him. Six placed a soft kiss on her lips and gave her wave "Come back in one piece… I love you"

Winter's eyes widened as she saw no lie on his face, it was slightly sudden but it pleased her. He had a good heart "I think I do too, but if this is your way of making me hurry in this trip Six I promise to God I will kick you when I get back. Take care of him for me ok Sarah?"

The small teen nodded and with that Winter started to walk towards the unknown, a week to get there and another to get back. Six watched her until she faded from view, smart and an amazing person. She would make it just fine without him but for now he had pressing matters to attend to, everything must be prepared so that his absence would not be missed. The doctors at the clinic had told him that he had two days, but Six knew in his bones he had a week. So he turned to Sarah with a smile and ruffled her hair "Lets go, I have a lot of things I want to teach you"

A replacement, a tiny Courier Six that would see his vision through. Sarah's eyes sparkled, happy to spend time with her hero and the closest thing she had to family making it even more painful for Six. But like always it was better if she stayed in the dark like everyone else. So now he needed to get an idea on where to start, Boone was waiting at the Grub and Gulp but there was also the fact that Cass wanted to see the las know location of her Caravan. But returning to Vegas was slightly undesirable, Arcade on the other hand said that he wanted to speak to Winter when she returned giving Six the cold shoulder when asked.

Seems like the good doctor was not a fan of him, or House. Now that hardly mattered, the followers of the apocalypse where inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Winter would have to deal with that on her own, so now Six had a plan laid out. He would return to Vegas and help Cass, then it was off to meet with Boone, Freeside was also a great place for Sarah to start the trade. The Kings where not on his side just yet, helping out around Freeside had made them warm up to the idea of actually working with Vegas but right now they needed to actually work with them. Problem was that Six was now easily recognizable to do the work that the Kings wanted.

But Sarah was an unknown and he could help from the shadows, so with that in mind the courier walked back to Vegas content with what had transpired.

"You're smiling a lot" Sarah pointed out to which Six simply shrugged "I got a lot planned for today, for starters put my PipBoy on" the devie on her hands she put it on wondering what the courier had in mind. It took some time for the data to show up on screen but soon enough Six had acces to almost everything about her. With a hum he looked at her skills and something that she did not quite get "Six what are… perks"

Educated, living anatomy and Retention appeared underneath her name, Six simply gave a wave "Oh it's just a way to catalogue how good you are at a certain thing, if you go into history you'll see that I have bloody mess, cowboy, supper slam and many other nonsense. Winter I think has the computer whiz, sneering imperialist and finesse, she probably has more but I can't remember"

Sarah looked at the history and raised an eyebrow at him "Lady Killer"

"Hey I know a fun game, it's called we don't talk about that never. And besides, I think I already see your first mission on the horizon" he commented as two Kings angrily beating the absolute crap out of a man "Dammit he passed out, what am I going to tell the King?"

Six waved at them as he approached the bloody mess "Sheesh hope you have a stimpack on you or he's going to die from that beating" the young man rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah don't worry we got that covered Mr. Six but the king needs the info this piece of shit has, but I guess he's just in the dark as we are… fuck what am I going to tell King?"

Sarah tilted her head "Is there problems in Freeside?"

The young man laughed "There's always something wrong with Freeside lady, but man it feels like nowadays everything is going south. We got squatters and money issues and worst of all we're stuck" Sarah frowned and brought a hand to her chin she looked at Six who was staring at her expectantly. She swallowed nervously as she tried to pick the right words "Do you… would the kings like our help? We're all Vegas after all hehe"

The king shrugged "Sure, but you should talk to the King about it not me. He runs the show around here, so while I take this looser to the followers you can head to our base. See you around gorgeous" Sarah blushed as the king dragged away the body. Six for his part rolled his eyes "He really just ignored me didn't he, but good job now we got a lead. What do we do with a lead?"

Sarah looked inside Freeside and back at Six "We follow it?"

"Correct, now you go on ahead and say you want to talk to the King. Here's some caps in case you need to bribe anyone and the most important part of all" Six presented her three weapons, a revolver, a silenced pistol and spiked knuckles. There was little hesitation from the part of Sarah as she picked up the silenced pistol, Six smiled as he had no longer had to explain weapon compatibility with ones skills. It was kind of sad that she was so good at sneaking, abusive parents and an empty bunker gave Six an idea of why, but for now he did not need to worry. He silently escorted her to the Kings place and with that he waved as she entered the building.

She had this, now he could take that small trip with Cass.

Sarah watched in awe as the weather started to change around the, it had been two days since she helped the kings with the bodyguard at the gate, Six had returned shortly after disguise on hand. He looked old and with a cane and gloved hands, coupled by the constant coughing Sarah almost asked if he was all right, but it was silly when she thought about it. Six was almost immortal she was sure about it and she had no doubt that he was just a great actor, but there was something that she did no understand completely about him. The King had cyber dg named Rex, the poor creature was going to die, everyone was sure of it except for The King himself and Julie from the Followers.

When he learned of the tale, Six had dropped everything he had going on and said that he wanted to help the dog, problem was that only doctor on the wasteland that could help was all the way in Jacobstown. It was the longest walk of her live, Rex seemed like he was going to fall over and die at any moment but Six pressed on, determination to save the dog.

"Six, look!" Sarah as she ran towards the snow covered frontier, Six chuckled as he picked up the pace as his bones ached in protest. Sarah made a small snowball and tossed towards the Courier who to her surprise did not dodge it and took the snowball square to the face. "You didn't doge"

"Why would I is not like you want to hurt me" the courier lied as he realized that his reflexes had gone to shit, but it hardly mattered now. He knelt down and made a small snowball tossing it as far as he could Sarah took it as competition and started to throw one too.

Six snorted and made a bigger snowball and made the motion of throwing it far, but when Sarah's gaze looked to the horizon, Six dumped the snow on her head. Things quickly escalated into a snow fight. Rex jumped in to help , the cold helping him soothe some of the pain he felt, both of them managed to throw Six to the ground who laughed and raised his arms in mock surrender as Rex licked his face and Sarah laughed, a sharp pain made him bite his lip as he looked to the horizon, it was beautiful. Nuclear winter or not he was glad to be able to see it "I wish Winter was here to see this"

Sarah scooted closer to him and asked for his PipBoy, she marked the location again and smiled "We can all come together again, when the war ends" Six stood up and walked towards their destination "Yup, sure. Come on, I think I see where we need to go"

Sarah wondered why the sudden change in mood but before she could ask him, she saw something glimmer on the snow, it looked like a frozen water drop. She looked at the sky and wondered if it was going to rain. But it didn't matter Six and Rex where already a little far away so she quickly followed, the more they approached the lodge the more nervous she got.

"Six… those are…"

"Humans at the gate, someone get Markus!" the supermutant witht the hunting rifle yelled as he aimed at the head of Six who holstered his weapon and raised his hands "Easy there, I am not here to fight". Sarah hid behind the courier as they waited for the Markus fellow to show up, a taller Super Mutant finally showed up and made the others lower their weapons "Sorry about that human, we are a little jumpy lately had to many problems with travelers but never mind that, welcome to Jacobstown. Feel free to look around, trade and explore but please don't stare at the Nightkin"

Six extended his hand making the old Super mutant smile, shking lightly "You must be Markus, so what's your story?"

Markus shrugged "It's a long one, so I wont bore you with the details, was part of a super mutant army, left made some friends, became sheriff for a time and the walked the wasteland with a tribal… we nuked an oil rig in the process, but now I just run this small town here. Shame that it cannot be as quiet as it is today"

Sarah peeked from behind Six "You said that you were having problems with travelers" this made Markus frown as he motioned them to follow him deeper into the town, the mutants ignored them for the most part but some stared at Six as if trying to recall the memory of a ghost. Markus stopped once they where near the big horners to speak again "Yeah, we are being harassed by NCR thugs. They shoot or livestock and to make it worse they are trying to provoke a fight with the guards at the gate. They want an excuse to kill us, I don't know why the NCR while not all good is also not all bad either, they set their sights a little bit too high and their need for land is going to be their downfall but I just don't understand what they want from us"

Six let out a sigh "Sometimes, there's not a reason. I bet that they are paid by one of the senators that hold a grudge against super mutants. Or hell maybe its just Brahmin baron with too much money, that's how it works in the NCR sadly"

Markus nodded but when he spotted a familiar Nightkin he smiled, "I suppose you're here for the dog, Doctor Henry sometimes talks about that stuff, or well mutters loud enough for us to hear. He is inside the lodge, good luck with Lily"

"Good luck with…?"

Six was crushed in a tight hug as a massive Super Mutant appeared from out of nowhere and laughe happily "Oh if it isn't my darling grandson, my little pumpkin. Where have you been? Grandma has been so worried!"

Six gasped as air finally returned to his lungs, when he was let go he looked at the super mutant staring at him expectantly as if disappointed that he was not answering. "… I errm. Got stuck in traffic?"

Sarah heard a bizarre jingle, but to her surprise the super mutant shook her head "Never mind that, who is the little baby behind you" Six clammed up as he tried to think of a response but to his surprise Sarah came to his help "I am his daughter, your great-granddaughter"

"… you're too young to have children pumpkin, you're being naughty and deserve a spanking" Lily picked up the Courier and landed two powerful slaps, Six was them promptly dropped like a sack of potatoes to the floor as Lily moved on to hug the scared out of her mind Sarah. "Not to worry doll, grandma punished the pumpkin if he's ever mean to you just let grandma know" Sarah gave a nervous nod and smile as Six stayed still on the floor "… my ass…"

"Say great-grandma, would you happen to know a Doctor Henry? We're looking for him, he can help our puppy here" Lily looked down at Rex who barked happily at her, the nightkin nodded "Of course dear, let me show you where he is. Follow grandma too pumpkin I forgive you for being naughty" Lily said as she picked up the courier as if he was a purse. Sarah looked at him as she tried to stifle her giggles "You tell any of this to Winter and I will…"

Not being able to take it anymore, Sarah laughed at him.

As they made their way inside the lodge many nightkin and super mutant glared at Six, muttering amongst themselves. They knew him, some feared him but all those who remembered hated him. Sarah gulped but thankfully they did not have to stay there for long as Lily took a right turn and placed Six down, saying that she had to take care of the big horners and left.

"Poor woman, got turned into a super mutant at her age, no wonder she went insane" Six muttered as a the doctor they came looking for made his presence known by letting out a long sigh "Why are interrupting my work, can't you tell that I am a busy man just by looking at me?"

Sarah extended her hand trying to copy Six "Doctor Henry right?"

"Yes, who wants to know?" he said as he ignored the hand, making Sarah awkwardly put it back in her pocket. "Just two people trying to save their dog, I was told that you're the one man on this wasteland that can help" Six said as he motioned towards Rex, who patiently sat next to the courier. Henry raised an eyebrow as he stared at the robo-dog "Hmm bio-gel degradation, he's probably very old… you will have to replace his brain but right now I cant deal with that my research is stuck I thought I was close to developing a cure for the nightkins schizophrenia but I am stuck… and the cave is so close too"

Six looked at Rex who whined a little as he scratched the back of his head "You need a brain right, I will get one for you. Sarah meanwhile can help with your research; you said something about a cave?"

"Yes, filled to the brim with nightstalkers. But I need someone to check it out" the doctor said as Six tried to map out a plan, but an idea hit him as he felt pain on his ribs "Don't worry, she's got this. Sarah come along, we got stuff to do"

As he left Six was stopped by a rather large Nightkin, a leader of sorts from the way others of his kind stood behind him "One human here was enough, but it gets even better. Some of my people say you murdered many of us, took their home and all that under the flag of the NCR" Six barely flinched as pressure was put on his shoulder. "Care to comment?"

Slapping the hand away surprising Keane and the other Six shrugged "I don't know what you are talking about, literally. I was shot in the head, so whatever man your boys hated has already died, I am Courier Six pleased to meet you"

Keane shook his head "Next time, just be sure to die. Now leave me alone" and with that he left followed by the other mutants, Sarah walked next to him and muttered "Is it true that you don't remember?"

"No, but don't worry it doesn't matter now" Six said as he waved at Lily at the distance, the grandma super mutant ran to them with a large smile on her face. Or ateleadt Six assumed it was a smile "How did the visit go dear?"

Six looked at the dog and then back at the super mutant "Not that good Lily, the doctor needs our help to save him and I was wondering if you could help me with something"

Lily quickly nodded "Of course dear, anything for my family"

"Thank you, I really appreciate it. Sarah is going to need your help; there is a cave near here that has something that the doctor needs but there's some things there that might attack her, Rex cant help her on his own" Lily looked at him in suspicion "And what are you going to be doing that you can't help your own daughter?"

"Me? I need to get a brain for Rex so I have to run all the way back to Vegas" Lily nodded and patted him on the back "Ah always a good runner my dear, be careful Markus was having trouble dealing with people at the gate. They killed one of my poor big horners" Six turned towards the gate and sure enough there was a small gathering of the mutants, seems like he had work to do. "I'll be back Sarah, be sure to stick to the shadows, Rex and Lily should be able to hold them off while you shoot at them" the courier commented as he left towards the gate. Markus seemed to have his hands as many of the super mutants, Keane and his gang included demanded that something needed to be done.

One of the bravest among them made his voice heard "We should kill them! They cant keep doing this!" a chorus of yells agreed, Markus shook his head "If we do that, we give them what they want. An excuse to wipe out the community that we worked so hard to create"

"Then what do we do, just let them kill everything?" it was a desperate situation indeed, Markus looked at Keane asking for his support but the nightkin was having none of that. He grabbed his weapon and was about to declare a fight, but it was shot out of hand. "Went back to the Bison Hotel after I cleared the raiders, in the safe there was this revolver. Her name is Lucky and it goes super well with my other revolver, the mysterious magnum. With these two babies I can turn anything on the wasteland into nothing more than red mist" Courier Six said as he stood in his full outfit. The repaired Dessert Ranger outfit and the two revolvers on each hand, Keane was going to lunge at him but Six shook his head and pointed with his head towards the road "I will deal with them, no problem. That way you won't have to do it ever again"

Markus shook his head "Don't, you would still be giving them an excuse to attack us. I appreciate it but…" there was a pause as Six smirked and the gears on Markus head started to turn. "Ah, I see. Go ahead then, lets hope this does not backfire"

Six nodded as he walked towards the wasteland and soon enough a bullet was fired close to his feet, mercenaries. The combat armor gave it away, seems like someone had deep pockets to hire the thugs in front of him "Our bussines is with the muties not you"

Six took out his pistols again and started to twirl them "Go ahead and shoot, I am sure that you're going to have fun explaining to whatever lowlife that hired you that you just cost the NCR a valuable asset" his name was whispered among the mercenaries as the man lowered his weapon. "And what, I was hired Mr. Six and you know how this goes, no money no food. And no one hires a mercenary that can't pull the trigger"

Six stopped and holstered his weapons, a large stash of caps was thrown at the mercenaries feet "I think that about covers it, you got hired to leave them alone. Sounds like a fair deal wouldn't you say?" The mercenary picked it up and smirked back at his goons "That's what I like about you New Vegas folk, caps and business always on your mind, if you ever need a hand just let us know… as long as you got the caps of course" Six nodded as the small platoon left quickly disappearing into the horizon. Markus joined him as they watched how the sun had reached its peak "Thank you human, maybe things like this can show the world that we are not just some bloodthirsty monsters. We just want a place to call home like anyone else, but I got to say many mutants have approached me and asked why I am letting someone who massacred mutants into our home. I see now that is more complicated than that"

Six waved as he started to walk away "Things of the past I think should stay in the past" the walk down the mountain was bothersome for Six, his vision was blurring slightly and he had no idea where the fuck he would pick a brain. Maybe someone could sell it to him, like Mick but there was not much he could do. As he moved alongside the quiet road he spotted red on the horizon, cursing he quickly went into his backpack and changed outfit, Six put on a fake beard and cane. Now looking like an elderly trader he resumed his walk down the mountain, his fears where reaffirmed as a strong hand stopped him.

"Don't move a muscle if you want to live wastrel" a scout of the legion, along with mongrels and what seemed to be an important member of the Legion. Six spoke in a raspy voice "Oh my, I never thought I would see you people so far from the usual spot. Care to trade"

The scout turned to Anthony who waved dismissively "Just another trader, are you not going to beg for your life?"

Six chuckled as he went into pouch and pulled out healing powder "Here, as a token of good fate. This one is one the house"

Anthony snapped his fingers and the legionaries grabbed the powder. Snorting some Anthony let out a satisfied sigh "Yes, this is the good stuff I can already feel my nose clearing, you live for now old man. But you can still be of use to the Legion what do you say?"

Six simply chuckled "Of course, tell me what you need"

"We're searching with my hounds for healing supplies… Caesar has commanded us to seek this items, I don't suppose you carry on your person" Six was handed a list, seems like Caesar was preparing for an operation, it would be quite the delicate thing. "What you seek, is only found in vaults and medicine clinics, I am a man that lives of the land. Healing powder and soup is the best I can offer" Anthiny let out a disappointed sigh and brought out his machete, ready to kill the courier for failing the Legion but Six was not paying attention to him, his eyes landed on an old mongrel. One that carried itself proudly but it was clear that there was something wrong with her.

"That dog, what is wrong with her?" he asked stopping Anthony as his eyes turned to Lupa, the master of hounds sheeted his weapon as his men did the same "Lupa is an old dog, she was the mother of the finest of our dogs. But age has finally caught up to her, I brought her along so that she could die an honorable death. But we have found nothing to fight us"

Six hummed as he reached into his bag and pulled out a butcher's knife "Would you allow then, this dying man, to be her final opponent" Anthony raised an eyebrow as he watched the old man. He was no deceiving him, in his eye he saw that the man was going to die; Lupa would taste blood once more it seemed. Anthony nodded and whistled, the old Dog quickly jumping towards his location. Six heard the legionaries snicker amongst themselves as they saw him stumble towards the dog, but Lupa never took her eyes off him. She too was a proud warrior and so Six respected the old dog, at first neither of them moved but both where studying one another but the moment finally came.

She jumped at him and Six fell forward, faster that anyone could tell the fight was over. Lupa fell death Six clutching her decapitated head "It was… a good fight old girl" he muttered attaching the head to his hip and standing up with trouble a legionnaire raised his weapon but Anthony stopped him "Lupa was giving death in battle, it was a good fight. Let the old man go he is already dead anyways"

"There's a vault near here, that might have what you seek" Six said as he walked back towards Jacobstown, with his gloved hand he pointed towards the only green part on that side of the wasteland. Six moved away from the legion, knowing that he would never see them again after all the stories of Vault 22 always met expectations. The walk back to the lodge was quiet as the afternoon sun hit him on the back and he could feel some of his sanity slipping. He was tired, oh so tired. But he hardly had the time to rest, if he did he would never get back up.

"You look like shit Star Player" a voice from his side said making him jump in fright but when he turned there was nothing there, this was bad. Hallucinations where the last thing he needed, he had to save Rex and get Sarah back home, he thought he had more time. Cass was free from her demons, content with watching the enemies that burned down her caravan get metaphorically fucked by the NCR government. Boone was given purpose once again, while he would never get peace about what happened to his wife Six hoped that some of his words had managed to help him with what happened on Bitter Springs.

He was working for him now, but Six as sure that it would not last. He was going to join the NCR sooner or later, the fire to serve his country still there. Veronica on the other hand he could not help, he got her a dress but his time had run out before he could help her with the Brotherhood. He was sad about it but he hoped Winter could help her.

And finally a silly little part of him wanted to see if he could live long enough to see Winter again, snow started to fall from the heavens, her face reflecting on every single one of the snowflakes, Six almost felt like crying. He was only human after all, he wanted to go on and to be happy but when life gave him shit lemons, a bitter lemonade is all he could make.

"Doctor Rossman, you lied… I don't think I can do this" Six muttered as the delirium started to set in, desperate he looked into his bag again and found the last bit of drugs he had. Was it enough to keep him together he wondered, but it didn't matter now, mentats, buffout, psycho, stimpack and cateye just for the hell of it went inside his body and Six could stand up once again. The end would not claim him now but it would claim him today, the lodge came into view and he composed himself enough, Sarah would cry if she told her now. She would beg to come with him, but this trip he wanted to take alone, if he even got the chance that is, Sarah ran to him a large smile on her face "We found it! The stealth boy is a little chewed up but we think that it's even better, with the schematics of the nighstalker brain I think that…" Six pulled her into a half hug, as he walked towards the lodge.

"I knew you could do it, I am proud of you" Six said, as his little sister smiled at him. It wasn't her, he knew it and it was cruel of him to this to himself but it hardly mattered now. He could pretend for a moment, to live happily for a little longer. The new stealth-boy was used on Lily and the doctor got the information he needed, Keane tried to cause a scene but Six simply reminded him that it was not just his actions but the entire nightkin clan. As he backed down for now, Sarah happily shared her ideas with him and the doctor's eyes widened, the cure for the nightkin closer than ever before. The Courier on the other hand was just happy to stand on the back with Rex, the dog waiting to be operated "Buddy, I am going to go back to Vegas while you get operated. Sarah is going back with me, but she will come back for you… between you and me I found myself a fine replacement wouldn't you say"

Rex tilted his confused and whined as Six petted his head and left, Sarah followed him and the peaceful quietness reigned on their walk back to Vegas, night was about to fall but luck handed one last win to Courier Six. "An NCR truck, so close to vegas, what is going on?" Sarah wondered outloud, when she didn't get an answer she was surprised to see Six in his old man disguise again "Sarah, head to the lucky thirty eight. I need to check something on Goodsprings, Cass is around drinking all my booze look after her… look after everyone…"

Sarah wondered what he meant as Six waved at the truck and showed them NCR dollar, he was paying to be brought along it seemed. As she walked to the city of lights, Sarah looked at a small note that Six had dropped "The Divide is the last thing Winter, something is there"

The present:

Blood ran down his mouth as the drugs started to fade, Primm was a short walk but Nipton had been a pain in the ass. Elijah also had managed to link their devices; they would share their last moments it would seem. The old man had talked a lot but his breathing became more erratic as the night continued, he was running out of oxygene it would seem, but Six was not fairing any better "Help this man is trying to…" Six exploded the head of the girl with Lucky and with another shot he fired at the man, Nipton was long death if these two people where good they wouldn't be here.

"Violence always seems to be the way of the wasteland… I tried to save it, preserve it like a snow globe but it would devolve into savage fighting all thanks to you" Elijah said gasping for breaths. His time was almost up, but Six was being stubborn he wanted to outlast Elijah and so he pressed on, reaching Novac an impossibility but he did not want to die in Nipton. Six felt his vison begin to blur again, but before it fully faded, he saw a glimmer of light in the horizon and so he walked. His organs gave up and blood began to pour from his mouth, the coughing began to increase and his legs gave out, Six laid on the ground gasping for air the sand on his mouth. "When you die Courier… I will be waiting for you… in hell… in the Sierra Madre…" Elijah had died, he knew it and with his death static filled the air.

The light seemed to be long gone, but Six heard something close to him. So he mustered all his strength and began to crawl forward, metal sank deep into his palms mut he could not feel pain anymore. All he wanted was to reach the light, his brain was fried but it remembered that white meant good. White was like Winter, a snowflake in the sand.

Six collapsed on the crashed satellite, barely being able to crawl on top of it, his breathing began to fade and his heart gave its last beat.