Chapter Thirteen: The Aftermath Pt II

Ruby walked through the streets of The Strip, nodding and waving at citizens and customers alike. It had been several weeks since Yes Man's destruction, and almost everything was complete. The various factions within the Mojave, minus the Brotherhood of Steel, had agreed to vote for their preferred representatives.

It doesn't surprise me that McNamara wouldn't agree to something like this, she thought. He's cautious, but he also has more power here than he did before the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.

Ruby walked upstairs and into the New Vegas Radio Station Building. Her friends hadn't understood why she'd wanted to conduct this interview, except for Jaydon.

I never realized how much we had in common before now, thought Ruby.

However, ever since they'd gone to Hoover Dam together, Jaydon had been physically and emotionally distant. Ruby wasn't sure why, and she didn't want to press the issue. So, for now, she gave Jaydon her space.

Holding her head high as she climbed an additional set of stairs, Ruby entered a spacious mostly empty room with a desk, chair, monitor, and two speakers against the wall closest to the door. Above the desk hung a screen displaying a giant microphone. Peggy Lee crooned from the speakers hanging on either side of the monitor.

"Hey there, Courier, go ahead and take a seat. We'll get started once this song is over," came Mr. New Vegas's voice from the speakers.

Ruby smiled at the warm and friendly tone of New Vegas's preeminent radio host.

"Thanks," she said, taking a seat in the leader-padded armchair.

She drummed her fingers on the wooden surface of the desk as she listened to the closing notes of "Why Don't You Do Right." Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths as Mr. New Vegas's voice graced the airwaves.

"Aand, we're back folks. Mr. New Vegas and I'm here in the studio with a very special announcement from a very special guest, Courier Six. Welcome to the show, Ms. Courier. Or do you prefer Ms. Díaz?"

"Either is fine with me," Ruby replied as her heart pounded in her chest.

She knew this interview was a good idea, but she was still anxious about it.

I want to get my message directly to the people of the Mojave, thought Ruby. And this is the best way to do that.

"Very well, Ms. Díaz. Word on the street is, you're stepping down as the de facto leader of New Vegas. Can you tell us a bit more about that?"

"Yes, that's true. I am stepping down. However, I'm not just going to leave New Vegas and the Mojave without leadership. As some of you may have already heard, each significant faction within the Mojave is going to vote. For these elections, everyone will select two people within their group to represent them in a conjoined Mojave Provisional Government."

"That sounds very progressive, Ms. Díaz. How long will voting be open?"

"Voting will remain open for this entire week," Ruby replied. "So, if you're interested, please participate. These representatives will, at least in theory, speak and act for all citizens of the Mojave."

"And what's the goal of this Mojave Provisional Government, as you say?"

"Well, as we've all seen, it takes more than one person to guard the roads, secure towns, and feed people," Ruby replied. "However, with everyone in the Mojave participating in how things are run, I'm hoping this will help spread out the responsibilities."

"Well, I have the highest hopes for this Mojave Provisional Government."

"So do I," Ruby said.

"Just one more question Ms. Díaz. What are your plans after this Mojave Provisional Government has been established?"

What she really wanted to say was, 'No Comment.' She hoped to leave the Mojave behind and disappear into the sunset. However, Mr. New Vegas's radio station was a direct line to the people of the Mojave. She knew she had to give a definitive statement, but didn't want to reveal her true plans.

"Right now, I'd like to see this Mojave Provisional Government get up and running. I'll make plans once the voting is complete," Ruby responded.

"Keepin' your cards close to your chest, huh, Ms. Díaz? Regardless, we appreciate you sitting down to talk to us today."

"Happy to be here," Ruby said with a smile.

"Well folks, you heard it here first. For everyone in the Mojave, don't forget to vote this week for two representatives of your choice. Now this next song is dedicated to everyone in the Mojave, but especially to Ms. Ruby Díaz."

Ruby stood up from the desk and as she opened the door, "New Vegas Valley" drifted from the radio. A ghost of a smile appeared on her face as she left the room.

Ever since she'd left her hometown of Shady, she'd always considered herself a drifter. When she'd first come to the Mojave, she'd hoped to find a place to settle. Especially after the Second Battle of Hoover Dam. But given the events of the past two months, she now knew she would always be a wanderer.

That's just how it has to be, Ruby thought as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Because everything I touch turns to shit.

Early Friday morning, before even the sun had risen, Jaydon slipped out of her bed and quickly got dressed. Now that people in the Mojave had finished voting, Ruby decided she would leave today.

Voting didn't take nearly as long as I would've expected, Jaydon thought.

Once she had all her weapons, she walked as quickly and quietly as possible to the elevator.

"I almost didn't recognize you with your hair as short as it is," Ruby whispered. "Do you have everything you need?"

Jaydon nodded. "Did you leave them your note?"

Jaydon and Ruby had gone back and forth regarding how to inform Ruby's friends that she was leaving. Ruby hadn't wanted to tell them, while Jaydon had argued she was being a shitty friend if she didn't. In the end, Jaydon won.

"I did, it's on the table," Ruby murmured as she hit the button to close the door.

Jaydon stole a sideways glance at Ruby while the elevator descended. The Courier seemed lighter than she had in recent weeks, although there were still significant circles under her eyes.

I wonder how long she's planned on leaving, Jaydon thought.

When the elevator door opened, both women entered the lobby for the last time. While Jaydon hurried to the door, Ruby took her time. Jaydon stopped and turned to find tears in Ruby's eyes as she drank in the room.

"Sorry, it's just," Ruby sniffled, "Despite the past few weeks, I'm truly going to miss this place."

Jaydon gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "You don't have to apologize."

Ruby removed a key from her pocket as she stood beside Jaydon. Ruby bent down and placed the key beneath the doormat.

"Bit of a cliché, isn't it?" Jaydon asked.

"Maybe," Ruby replied with a shrug. "But I won't be needing it anymore, and I trust they'll know what to do with it."

The pair then left the Lucky 38 for the final time, with Ruby looking up at the glowing spire. Jaydon waited near the gates to Freeside, listening closely to The Courier.

"Thanks for the memories, old girl. Take care of them for me, will you?"

Jaydon quickly looked away as Ruby walked up to her and the duo stepped through the gates of Freeside, together.

Just like all those months ago, Jaydon thought.

The irony wasn't lost on her, but at the same time, she decided not to bring it up. Ruby was already emotional enough as it was and Jaydon didn't want to possibly make things worse.

"Oh, the irony," Ruby murmured as they walked the streets of Freeside.

"What's that?" Jaydon asked, partially looking at Ruby.

"The fact that we both just walked through the gates to Freeside together again," Ruby remarked.

"I thought about that, but I wasn't sure if I should say anything," Jaydon said.

"I'm not that fragile," Ruby said, before glancing over at a member of The Kings. She nodded once at them, "Hey, how's it going?"

"So far, so quiet," the dark-haired man replied in an Elvis accent. "Where are you two headed?"

Jaydon noticed the suspicious look the gang member gave her and chose to ignore it. She knew the people of the Mojave still saw her as Yes Man's operative.

All the better to leave this place behind, she thought. So, I can begin again somewhere else.

"We're just going out," Ruby replied. "Have a good day."

"You too," The Kings member said.

Ruby and Jaydon then resumed walking. Out of the corner of her eye, Jaydon noticed small tears appear in Ruby's eyes.

"Are you sure you want to leave this place?" Jaydon asked.

Ruby let out a shaky breath as she wiped her eyes. "Yes."

"Why?" Jaydon inquired with a raised brow.

Ruby and Jaydon stopped walking just before the gate leading to the next section of Freeside.

"Because I've royally fucked up the lives of everyone here. And now that I've got them going in a better direction, I should leave before I fuck things up again," Ruby replied.

Damn, I had no idea she felt this rueful about her actions here, thought Jaydon.

She wanted to say something reassuring, yet wasn't sure how or what to say. Instead, she nodded and remained silent as they stepped through the second set of gates. A cool morning breeze rustled as a few tumbleweeds ambled across the empty roads. Fortunately, they didn't encounter anyone else in Freeside.

Most people are still asleep, Jaydon thought.

Once she and Ruby reached Freeside's North Gate, both women stopped walking again. Jaydon waited while Ruby turned back toward the bright flashing lights of New Vegas.

"Thank you all for everything," Ruby murmured as her gaze moved across the city. "I'm so incredibly sorry, and I hope that one day, you can forgive me." Jaydon noticed Ruby's eyes growing moist once again. However, Ruby tamped down her emotions before turning back toward the gates. "All right, let's go."

"Right behind you," said Jaydon.

The couple stepped through the gates together and entered the Mojave for the last time.

Shortly after sunrise, Cass stumbled out of bed. She quickly dressed and brushed her hair, before placing her hat on her head. She trudged to the kitchen, hoping to fill her empty stomach before going out on the road again.

I wonder if Ruby made anything for breakfast, she thought as her stomach growled loudly.

As Cass entered the kitchen, the first thing she noticed was a holo tape sitting on the elongated table in the center of the room.

Huh, that's weird. I don't remember that being there before, she thought.

She picked it up and padded to Ruby's room.

"Hey Ruby-" she began, and stopped upon seeing that the bed was empty. "Ruby?" her heart raced as she quickly searched the room. When Cass didn't find her, she returned to the second bedroom where Veronica, Boone, and Raul were sleeping. "Guys, Ruby's gone!"

All three opened their eyes and looked up at Cass.

"What?" Veronica asked as she rubbed her tired eyes.

"What do you mean, gone?" Raul asked. "She may be a tiny chica, but she can't have just disappeared."

"What's that thing in your hand?" Boone asked, pointing to the tape.

"It's a holotape I found on the kitchen table," Cass replied.

"Let's listen to it," Veronica suggested.

Once she'd set up the tape player, Cass inserted the tape and pressed 'Play.'

"Hey, guys. If you're listening to this tape, it means I've already left. I wanted to start by saying that this is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make."

Cass noticed the way Ruby's voice cracked. She raised a brow as she glanced at the others. Tears began appearing in Veronica's eyes, while Boone and Raul listened intently.

"It killed me not to tell you guys about it, but in the end, I decided it was probably for the best. After we deleted Yes Man, I just didn't see any reason for me to stay in New Vegas."

The fuck you don't, thought Cass as anger rose inside her.

"I know I'll always have you guys, which I'm eternally grateful for, but I don't know if I can stay in a place where I've fucked up so badly. I know you guys are probably angry and hurt with me, and I don't blame you, but I hope you at least understand."

She left because she felt guilty, thought Cass as anger and hurt warred within her. What the actual hell?!

"I really do have the highest hopes for the Mojave Provisional Government, just as I hope you all will do everything you can to help it succeed. Because of this, I'm really hoping you'll all help out the MPG. My plan is, once elections are done, for the MPG to meet in the Lucky 38. Speaking of that, I've left the key beneath the doormat on the first floor. Please, feel free to stay here whenever you're in New Vegas." Ruby's voice cracked again at the next portion and Cass leaned back in her chair and folded her arms. "It hurts like hell to leave you all, but I need to go somewhere people don't know me as 'The Courier' or 'Courier Six.' I love you all so much, and I wish you all the best."

Once the tape ended, silence filled the room as each processed Ruby's message.

"She left us?" Veronica asked as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

Boone sighed as he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "As much as I hate to say it, I get it."

"Me too, but I wish she would've told us face-to-face," Raul added with a crestfallen expression.

All three looked at Cass as she leaned forward in her chair. She felt as if she'd just been punched in the gut and the desire to drink whiskey was strong.

I still don't know how to feel about Ruby's tape, she thought. I get it, but I don't like it.

"I get why she left, I really do. Sometimes, you have to leave and begin again," Cass said.

"But?" Veronica prompted.

"But I still wish she wouldn't have left in the first damn place," Cass finished.

"Me too," Boone and Raul said in unison.

"Me three," Veronica added.

Damn you, Ruby, Cass thought.

After hearing Ruby's tape and eating breakfast with the others, Veronica left the Lucky 38 and hurriedly made her way to Freeside. As usual, there were scores of homeless sitting in circles.

In some ways, this place hasn't changed much, Veronica thought as she entered Freeside.

She kept her Industrial Hands on as she made her way to the Old Mormon Fort. More than once, she had to stop or move out of the way as a group of children chased a Molerat.

Tears still trickled down her face. She kept having to stop walking, remove one of her Power fists, and wipe away the tears.

I still can't believe Ruby is gone, thought Veronica.

As she grew closer to the Old Mormon Fort, she spotted Arcade Gannon stepping through the gates. Pulling her Power fists off her hands, she ran up to the Followers doctor. When Arcade turned in her direction, his eyes widened.

"Please don't," he said, holding up his hands in surrender.

Veronica stopped just before running over to Arcade, who sighed in relief.

"I needed to talk to you," she said, before peering over his shoulder. "Do you have a moment?"

"Yes, I'm on a break right now," Arcade replied with a nod. He stepped back and thoroughly studied her face. "What's wrong?"

"Not here," Veronica said. "Is there any place private we can go?"

Arcade sighed. "Follow me."

He led her back inside the Old Mormon Fort, past the front desk with the dual guards, and into one of the towers. When he closed the door, Arcade fully turned to Veronica.

"All right, what's up?" he asked.

"Ruby's gone," Veronica said with a sniffle.

Arcade's eyes widened in surprise as his jaw dropped to the ground. Fresh tears appeared and flowed down Veronica's cheeks.

"She, she just left?" Arcade asked. He removed his glasses and cleaned them with his shirt, before putting them back on his nose. "What happened?"

"When Cass woke up this morning, she couldn't find Ruby," Veronica began, tumbling over her words. "However, Ruby left a holotape on the kitchen table this morning in the Lucky 38. Raul, Boone, Cass, and I listened to it this morning. On the tape, she said she felt like she'd screwed up too much, and that's why she left."

Veronica studied Arcade's face. She watched as he closed his mouth and his eyes fell to the ground. She could see that he was fighting back tears, and chose to look away in that moment.

"So, her plan was to what, set up the Mojave Provisional Government before she left?" Arcade asked.

"I guess," Veronica replied with a defeated shrug. She shifted her gaze back to Arcade, who focused his attention on her again. "Anyway, I figured you should know."

"Thanks," he replied, although she wasn't entirely sure he meant it. "For letting me know."

"You're welcome, such as it is," Veronica said and left the tower.

As she stepped into the Mojave morning, the sun shone brightly. However, she couldn't feel its warmth. A numbness settled over her as if she was a machine that was being turned off.

Dammit, Ruby, why did you have to go, Veronica thought. We're all going to miss you so much.

XXXXX

Several hours later, Jaydon and Ruby stopped at a small motel just outside of a podunk town labeled Desolation Springs.

As it turns out, the name fits, Jaydon thought.

The pair had decided to rent one motel room to conserve space. The room was tiny with a nightstand beside a twin-sized bed, and a couch in the far corner. There was a door to the right of the couch that led to the bathroom. Jaydon sat on the couch, while Ruby sat on the bed.

"Do you intend to contact your friends again?" Jaydon asked as she took off her boots.

Ruby shrugged. "To be honest, I don't know. I feel like they're probably all fuming or depressed that I left.

Given how she left, I can understand their point of view, thought Jaydon.

The dim light above them flickered as if they were in a Pre-War horror movie. Jaydon made a mental note to make sure the motel door locked properly before going to bed.

"True, but if they hear from you again they might be less depressed and irate," She countered.

"Yeah, you're right," Ruby agreed with a sigh as she removed a stray curl from her face. "So, Jaydon, sorry Elise, what are your plans?"

Over the past few weeks, Jaydon had decided that if she was going to a new place she was going to change her name. She'd chosen Elise because it was short and she liked the sound of it.

Elise shrugged as she leaned against the back of the couch. She felt it sag under her meager weight while dust moats floated into the air.

Lovely, she thought.

"Honestly, I don't know. A cabin in the middle of the woods sounds pretty damned good to me," Elise responded.

For the first time that day, a small smile appeared on Ruby's face. A warmth filled Elise, as if she'd received a gift she hadn't expected to earn. Which, in part, she had.

"Maybe we could be neighbors," Ruby joked.

"I'd like that," Elise said, trying and failing to stifle a yawn.

"Well, I'm going for a walk. Do you want the bed or the couch?" Ruby asked.

"I'll take the couch," Elise replied.

Ruby grabbed one of the pillows from the bed and handed it to Elise.

"Here," said Ruby, "Take it."

"Thanks," Elise replied, placing the pillow on the right side.

I feel like there's something Ruby isn't telling me, she thought as she watched her companion walk to the door. But what?

After they'd left New Vegas, the atmosphere between them had been silent and awkward. While Elise knew Ruby was overwhelmed with emotions about leaving New Vegas, she still felt there was more to Ruby's silence. However, she wasn't sure if she should ask or not.

Once Ruby reached the doorway, she turned around to face Elise. The women momentarily locked gazes, and just as she had that night at Hoover Dam, Elise felt a spark.

"I'm probably going to be gone a while, so don't feel like you have to wait up for me," Ruby said.

"Right, sounds good," Elise replied.

Ruby nodded. "Good night."

"You as well," Elise called as Ruby closed the door.

Elise sighed as she removed her socks and slid them into her boots. She placed her boots and weapons on the nearby coffee table, before laying down.

This is going to be an interesting trip, one way or another, she thought as she closed her eyes.

And for the first time in a long while, sleep claimed Elise.