This was Remnant. Not Earth, or some different timeline. A whole new world. If she didn't believe it now, the shattered moon did. Inside the infirmary, Six sat across the town's doctor: Usanagi. For her own sanity, Six chose to ignore the coincidences. Dr Usanagi. Even down to her tired look and her messy ponytail.

"It looks like a regular sprain, it'll take about a week or two to heal."

Dr Usanagi gently traced her finger on Six's ankle with a critical gaze. It reminded her when she got her first implant. A young girl with enough caps to buy out a store demanding every implants with a crazy look must've been a highlight of her day.

"You'll be able to walk but I suggest light activity, young lady." Dr Usanagi eyed your weapons. "And I hope you have some license to have them?"

Six fished out her license, both Taiyang and Dr Usanagi stare at it in disbelief.

"I think this covers it." Six said.

"A bondsman license? You're a bounty hunter." Taiyang said. "How… How are you a bounty hunter, you look old as I am!"

"Taiyang. That is her business and hers alone." Dr Usanagi chastised. "Unless you have anything else important, sit over there and wait."

"Oh right, sorry Six."

"Don't worry about it."

With slumped shoulders, Taiyang sat on a stool nearby. Six almost felt bad, she knew the role of a bondsman from her readings, they were the bounty hunters of the pre-war world. Except, they were these to find people who did not paid their bond. It seems that bounty hunters and bondsmen were about the same.

"Sorry about him, he's a good kid but easily excitable." Dr Usanagi whispered, she smiled apologetically.

"Hey I'm not that bad."

"Tai." Dr Usanagi said sharply.

"Shutting up now."

Six shrugged. "It's alright. So, do you know a place I can hunker down for a week or two?"

"Since you're a bondsman, the Sivertail Inn will give you a discount. If you're looking for work I'm sure the town could use more hand in manual labor. You're a bounty hunter, they won't doubt your stamina or strength, that's for sure. Anyways, get some rest and you'll be fine. Tai, can you escort her to the inn please?"

"Sure thing, doc. Thanks."

Dr Usanagi watched the young bounty hunter and Taiyang leave. For a young woman like Six, Usanagi couldn't help but realize she talked to her like an adult, an actual adult that is. Usanagi was certain Six was just as old as Tai, maybe even younger. Though she knew that look anywhere and an exuding energy that only survivors have. That girl— That young woman, was a killer.

The next morning, Six found herself at the back of the inn with two buckets of water. Doc Mitchell, bless his heart, without the tracksuit she would not have better clothes to clean. While she usually did pack a few spare clothes and have some, wearing them was either she bled too much or other materials that seeped through her armor.

"Hey Six."

"Howdy Tai."

On a clear sky, Six dumped her clothes in a wide bucket save for her tracksuit from Goodsprings. The detergent was from the inn's owner who she had to pay for along with a laundry paddle and other assortments. Six squatted over the bucket and continued to scrub her clothes with vigorous movements. A few seconds later, Six looked back up to Taiyang.

"Something I can help you with?"

"Just checking up on you." Tai said with a shrug.

"That's kind of you." Six said.

Taiyang leaned on the inn's wall. Six continued to scrub her clothes away. A light breeze flowed through the town, the rustling trees quietly sang. Nature, true nature, Six closed her eyes and listened to the sound of the world as if it sang to her and her alone. Even the laborious task was enjoyable with the lively trees surrounding the town.

"So… how did you end up in that situation?"

"Through unfortunate circumstances. One that I'm not keen to share." Six said briskly.

"Oh. Sorry." Taiyang said. "Where did you get that armor? It doesn't look like anything I'm familiar with."

"I scavenged it." Six said. "The armor was in good condition when I found it. My previous armor was torn to shreds you see."

Taiyang frowned. "There weren't any huntsmen to save you?"

"No, I was looking for someone back then in a place far too desolate." Six wrung her clothes and clipped it on the clothes hanger rack. "Before you ask why, I had my reasons."

"What reasons?"

Six pulled the side of her hair back to reveal a scar. "I lost my memories after I got shot in the head making a delivery as a courier. I thought he had answers. But he ended up being a lunatic."

After all, she was too young for her and Ulysses to have a history. Taiyang stared at the scar with a pitiful look Six was all too familiar with. Annoyance began to growl in her gut, urging her brain to just yell at him. Six wrung her second shirt with a soft grunt. Taiyang squatted next to her and took the clothes.

"Let me help you with that."

One twist was all it took to wring out the water that would take three times for Six. Her eyes fixated on Taiyang's forearm muscles rippling, with no signs of chems either, all natural. Now that she realized it, the people of Remnant were cleaner than any wastelanders outside of good settlements. Taiyang was certainly clean, perhaps a little—

"Remnant to Six, hello?"

Six blinked. "Oh right, what were you saying?"

"I said how did you get shot and why are you so casual about it?"

"It was a long time ago and the guy paid for it. The past is the past." Six stared at her hand. "Caring about it won't do anything good anyways."

"But he shot you!"

"And he's dead." Six slammed her wrung clothes into the bucket. "Look, I've been taking care of myself so I don't need someone to fuss me over like I'm made of glass. I don't need a handsome prince in shining armor to whisk me off either. So mind your own damn business!"

Taiyang first had a frown, after all he was just making sure she was fine. Then, he realized… 'handsome prince'. Taiyang's frown curved upward in a hopeful smile. The word bounced inside his now overinflated head.

"You think I'm handsome." Taiyang stated.

"I—" Six bit her lips and avoided his gaze. "It's a figure of speech!"

"Heh, don't worry, I know the ladies can't resist me. You're pretty cute too."

Something in her stirred, a small splash that twisted her guts like a bundle of wires. Profligate, House's Lapdog, boss (only from Raul), and once in a while 'that fucking mailman', those were labels she was used to. Six stared at Taiyang, mouth slightly agape.

"Really? You think I'm cute?"

Taiyang nodded, unsure of the new reaction. Most girl would simply laugh it off, not be stunned by a simple compliment.

"Sure. I think you're cute."

"T—Thanks… you too?"

"Thank you?"

"I need to go."

Six grabbed her bucketful of clothes and search for another water pump or a well to wash her clothes. Stomping in her boots, her head swirled with thoughts she never had before. Why did a simple compliment knock her into a stuttering mess? Six scrubbed her clothes in a furious motion, hoping that the manual labor would cloud her wandering mind.

[][][][][]

Six avoided Taiyang ever since. The less she endured these odious emotions, the better. Emotions were a luxury for her, an indulgence to whatever goal she had. Six looked up toward the blue sky, she focused on the dirt under her boots, and the reason why she was here. Six continued through the dirt road, arriving at the town closest to Vale: Ansel. Unlike Ludlow and Goodsprings, civilization rooted itself in this city like town.

There were no inns, but hotels. City halls instead of town halls. Vehicles of various sizes roamed and she saw only a few power generators. Everything else came from Vale. Six purchased a ticket toward Vale, and with an hour to spare she entered a small diner.

"Welcome to Genaro's, take a seat and we'll be right with you!"

A blonde waitress cheerfully said, she returned to another customer after. Six took the corner seat near the exit. The menu had limited options. Pancakes, burgers, omelet, steak, a lunch set that came with a milkshake caught her attention, whatever that was, it sounded interesting and appealing. It couldn't be as bad as Mojave food.

"Excuse me."

The server arrived. "What can I get you?"

"I'll take the B Lunch Set."

"Sure thing, what flavor of milkshake would you like? There's vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry."

What the hell are those?

"Uh… I'll take vanilla?"

"You got it."

Six read the girl's name tag, Acacia, quite the fancy name. Six watched outside through the window. Everyone was so peaceful. Goodsprings, Ludlow, and Ansel. People going through their daily lives with a smile or at least, without the apparent gloom in their eyes. Six sighed, polishing Lucky always made her feel a bit better with a bit of humming.

"Here you go, lunch set B and vanilla milkshake."

If there was one thing Six was certain about Remnant, was the food.

"Thank you."

Remnant's food was leagues above the Mojave. Six savored the crispy fries and the juicy burgers. Not to mention the milkshake. While she wasn't sure why it was called milkshake, it was better than any drinks she ever had in Mojave.

"She sure is digging in." Acacia said.

"Maybe she's been traveling for a while. We get plenty of folks like that, I'd be eating like that if I had to live off of hardtacks and beef jerky."

"Ugh, I wouldn't survive three days of that stuff. But doesn't she look a bit too young to travel on her own?" Acacia said.

Violet shrugged. "Ask her if you're so curious."

The said young girl grabbed a handful of fries and shoved into the gaping hole that was her mouth. Acacia noticed the revolver on the side and the elegant engravings. From the look of how she cleaned her weapons the girl's knowledge of firearms was intimate.

"Hey Acacia!"

A tall blonde boy entered, one with a booming voice and a presence of an ursa. Samuel Arc, a huntsman in training.

"Hey Acacia, you're looking stunning today."

And a terrible flirt. Samuel took the seat at the counters.

"Hey Samuel, what can I get you?"

"You, beautiful."

Acacia giggled. "On the menu, casanova."

"I'll take a chocolate milkshake."

"Coming right up!"

Six watched the scene unfold. How could that girl act so nonchalantly at being complimented like that? Was this Remnant's norm? Six continued to observe the interaction. Sure, New Vegas had those hookers but that's what they were. Six wondered the last time she saw a genuine romance, how could she not get so embarrassed? Six thought about Taiyang. Cute he called her, and that very word struck at her heart.

I don't need it, remember what you're here for.

Six placed the owed lien and went on her way.

At the Vale's gate, her Bondsman License allowed her passage through. Now this, this was a city. Six craned her neck up as she walked through the streets. New Vegas had nothing (with respect to Mr House), compared to Vale. This was what the Pre-War world would have looked like. A building's plaque snagged Six's eyes.

Bondsman Union

Vale Branch

"Huntsmen fight grimms. Bounty hunters fight monsters."

-Django, First President of Bondsman Union

Six first looked up the definition of union then entered the building. Men and women armed to the teeth roamed the building. Some in front of a wall of bounties, others chatting in the lounge. Six approached the reception.

"Hello and welcome to the Bondsman Union, your identification please." The receptionist typed away on the console. "Welcome back Ms Six, what can I help you with today."

Six handed over her license. "I need to look for someone who has information. I also want some privacy. Can that be arranged?"

"Certainly, please enter the conference room. It's the third door on your right."

Inside the room a black haired man entered. Dressed in black suit, Six sat across in a comfortable cushioned chair. The man had an average build with an unremarkable face.

"Good afternoon, Ms Six. My name is John Craig I believe you need information. May I ask the nature of your bounty?"

"It's someone with silver eyes. That is all I have."

"Do you have the bounty number?"

"This is outside the union." Six said.

Craig frowned in annoyance. "Ms Six, as someone that's a B seniority you should know non-union bounties are not authorized. Of course, if you pay for my service then it will be a different story."

"Name your price then."

Craig rubbed his chin in ponderance. "That depends on your description. Silver eyes, that alone is not enough."

"That's all I got. I need anyone with silver eyes, I can filter out the information on my own."

Craig nodded. "Very well then, regarding payment. I want you to bring Father Viper either dead or alive. You can find more information about him on the board."

"I can just pay you."

"Lien is not the issue, you're asking me to find someone with a singular trait with no other information. Not to mention, business outside the union is frowned upon. No lien exchange is better."

Six sighed. "We have a deal."

Six downloaded the data of her new bounty. Once Father Viper's face showed, her eyes widened. Dressed in bone armor and wielding a bow, they resembled the Vipers of the Mojave, more so when the date stated they wielded poisonous weapons with bows and blades. Hidden away form Six's sight, John Craig smiled.