"Comic, you know how I feel about this. I don't think going after her is a good idea." Major Haytham MacTavish, call-sign 'Wardog', let out an exhausted sigh as he leaned back on his chair. His office, if you could even call it that, was a modest small room with only space for a single desk and 2 filing cabinets. He hated being stuck on desk duty. As a matter of fact, it was Comic's turn to have her boring-ass time filling out reports, requisition forms, and all the other forms of bullshit bureaucracy they were subjected to as of late. But instead of that, Comic, the co-leader of this fucking unit, was now wanting to go off on a wild goose chase trying to find a team member that'd 'disappeared' months back.

The ham radio on his desk once again cracked to life, and the annoying chirpy voice of Comic came through. "C'moooon Mac! I can't just get this intel and do nothing with it. She might need our help!"

"Comic, she's AWOL." He spat. The very notion of someone going AWOL, from his unit nonetheless, sickened him to the bone. How could she? Just drop everything and leave? But then again, he shouldn't be surprised. Rider was always one that couldn't stay put.

"You don't know that!" Comic responded almost instantly. Wardog massaged his temples. He knew the 2 were close, but this was just stepping on delusion.

The Major pinched the bridge of his nose and repeatedly tapped the table with his free index finger. The likelihood of him being able to convince Comic to not go was minuscule, he knew that. She was way too stubborn. The only way for her to accept the fact Rider had deserted was to see it with her own eyes. "Fine. I'll stall around here. Saying you're hunting down the stranglers from Faust's group. However, I'm calling the squad back. You can only take two."

"More than enough for me. I'll take Wraith and Silver."

"Silver? Are you sure? Don't get me wrong, she's good. I mean, we both green-lit her in. But she's–"

"A rookie with us. I know. That's exactly why I'm taking her. She could use the experience. Besides, I don't think she's even been to the Mojave."

"Have it your way." Wardog shrugged, even though Comic couldn't see it. "Listen, if this is because of L–"

"Don't. Just, don't."

"Alright." Wardog brought a cigarette to his lips, and grabbed the ace of spades and skull-engraved lighter and lit the tip. "You have a week Comic. That's all I can give you."

"That's all I need… Thanks Haytham. You're a huge dick, like, a really huge one. Plus, your sense of humor sucks, and don't know how to have fun and–"

"Is there a point to this?" His eyebrow twitched.

"...I'm glad to have you as my teammate."

"You too Comic." There was no response, Comic probably had already turned off her radio and was making her way to the Mojave as he sat there, or maybe she had already been making her way there whilst she talked to him. He thought it was the latter. Wardog buried his face on the desk. He hated how Comic had a way with words. She was the luckiest silver-tongued asshole he'd ever had the displeasure to meet. Still, she was good, really good. She was the youngest to ever graduate as a ranger after all. He just hoped she had the stomach to do what it was needed to if she came face to face with Rider and it turned out she was truly AWOL.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The knocks on his door snapped him from his train of thought. He straightened himself up, putting on his stoic, no-bullshit face everyone knew him for. "Come in." The door creaked open, and a familiar face showed himself inside his office. Wardog dropped his posture and slumped back in his chair. "Hey, Jack."

"Hey, Mac." The one-eyed ranger smirked, taking the seat in front the Major's desk. "You look like shit. Have you tried a thing called sleeping? Heard it's good for you."

MacTavish groaned, electing to take another drag from his cigarette before continuing the conversation. It was true though, he felt shit–probably looked like it too. "Please, not you too. I'm up to here already with snarky comments."

Jack let out a low chuckle. "Judging by your face, you had a conversation with Comic."

"That obvious?"

"'Fraid so. What was it this time?" Jack produced a small silver-plated rectangular box from his trench coat, a cigar box. Of bloody course, he had cigars on him. It always bewildered him how Jack always found a way to get his hands on cigars.

"She thinks she's found Rider, so she wants to go all the way to the Mojave to get her."

"She wants to, or has she gone to?"

"The latter."

"Eh, can't blame 'er. I don't doubt I wouldn't do the same for one of my own. Even if accused of being AWOL."

"Speaking of which, how's the Fox unit, 'Boss'?" Wardog's lips broke into a small grin. He'd always been happy for Jack to get his own unit. Even if it meant leaving a spot open in the Angels. At least someone got their good ending.

He frowned. "Don't call me that. It's such a stupid call-sign."

"All the more reason to use it." Jack rolled his eyes with a grunt. "Moving on. If you're here, it means you have some info for me." Wardog straightened his back and dropped his smile. "How are things going?"

"As well as you can expect." Jack rubbed his small beard and sighed. These were trying times for everyone. Especially after what happened in the east. "The Brass is talking with You-Know-Who and that's stirring up a lotta unrest. Lang's already speaking out against it, and I'm pretty sure we'll start seeing some desertions soon. The people here don't want to be sent to Baja to fight cartels or to Oregon and kill cannibals. They wanna go east and fight the Legion, directly across the river and shoot them up in Arizona. Instead, we're all stuck here playing politics." He took another drag from his cigar.

"What about you, Jack? What's the Boss' take in all this?"

Jack sighed. In truth, Mac didn't need an answer. He'd known the man in front of him for years now. They trained together, lived together, and fought together for years. Mac could tell just by looking at Jack's one good eye. "I'll be honest with you Mac, I don't like it. I don't like where this is leading all of us. Don't get me wrong, I'm not siding with Lang, but if things continue going like this, I'm not going to stick around either."

"What about the mission?"

"We can't complete the mission if we have obstacles barring us from fighting."

"I won't say I understand, but I know trying to stop you is useless." He shrugged. "Best I can do is wish you good luck."

Jack smiled and rose from the chair. "I knew I could count on you, old friend. We won't leave yet, so until then, you have my unbridled support." Jack "Boss" Fields, leader of the 5th Ranger Special Operations Team also known as "Foxhound", left Wardog in his office alone once more.

MacTavish looked at the clock that hung on the wall to his right, half past five. That meeting with the Chief would start in an hour or so. He could let his mind wander and kill time, but he'd rather just get there early. He took a last drag from his cigarette and rose from his seat. For a moment, his mind went back to Comic and her little quest to find their teammate. He wondered, even if just for a second, what Rider was up to that merited ditching everything here.

Six groggily opened her eyes. Shit, how long had she been out? Fuck, her head hurt. Her chest hurt. Everything hurt. Her blurry vision finally cleared, and she was met with the old familiar ceiling of her bedroom in the suite atop the Lucky 38. She lazily sat up, flinching at the sharp coming from her chest.

"You should go back to sleep." Arcade said from the couch in the corner of the room, not taking his eyes off the book he was reading.

"How long have I been out?"

"Around two days." He flipped a page.

"And you've been watching me sleep for two days? Talk about creepy Arcade Gannon."

"Actually, I came here to rid myself of the noise Veronica and Ruby are making. Also, y'know, the whole doctor-patient thing." He waved his hand dismissively at the last part.

"I thought you said you were a researcher." She deadpanned.

"And I said I wasn't a people person. Doesn't mean I can't heal people. I'm quite good at it too." He closed the book and adjusted his glasses before rising from his seat and walked up to Six's king size bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit."

"Understandable. You were in a pretty horrible state." He grabbed the clipboard sitting on top of the bedside table. "Three broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, several gunshot bullets, stabs, slashes, the list goes on. Not to mention, you were suffering from serious sleep deprivation. Honestly, Six, it's astonishing you're awake right now."

"Well ain't I lucky then?" She remarked sarcastically.

"Yes, yes you are." Arcade responded with a serious tone, earning an uninterested grunt from Six.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. I got shit to do, so–Ow!" Six rubbed her forehead. Did, did Arcade just fucking flick her forehead? "Wha-What the fuck dude?"

"Stay. In. Bed. I know you won't stay put for the full week I'd recommend you, but at least stay the rest of the day in bed." Six grumbled some incoherent mumbles but didn't get out of bed. Arcade put down the clipboard and made his way to the door.

Six wasn't left alone in the bedroom for long though, as quickly after Arcade stepped out of her bedroom, she could hear a high pitched squeal from behind the door and subsequently see a red blur all but fly to her side. "Six you're alive! How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? YoujustcollapsedandIdidn'tknowwhattodoandArcadesaid–"

"Ruby, please, my head."

"Oh, right. Sorry." The teen quieted down, clasping her hands together as she intently stared at the Courier, awaiting an answer.

"I'm fine."

"You were unconscious for two days. I wouldn't consider that 'fine'." She deadpanned.

"I've had worse." She pointed at the two circular scars in her face.

"I-...I don't think that's something to be proud of." Ruby winced slightly at Six's casual display over getting hurt. "Well, Cass is making food. She said it was a kebab -whatever that is- so Imma get some for you. Arcade said you needed to eat and relax, so no leaving the bed." Ruby said in the most serious face she could muster, which was kind of adorable to Six.

"Alright, alright." Six raised her hands in a mock surrender. "You win."

"Good!" Ruby smiled proudly. "I'm gonna get you your food, so stay put!" She said walking out of the room. "Oh by the way, you got some really cool tattoos!" She closed the door.

"Huh? Tattoos? But I'm wearing–" Six glanced down, noticing she was not wearing a particular set of old beaten-up armor, but just a sports bra. "...oh." Her tattoos on her arms were visible. Her skin was visible. It was visible. Her left wrist suddenly started itching, and her back hurt. She felt a lump forming in her throat. She couldn't breathe.

They could see it.

Did they see it?

Nonono. If they saw it they'd say something, right?

Right.

Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Repeat

Six steadied her breathing, her heart slowly stopped beating at the speed of a Highwayman doing 120 on the road, but still a bit agitated. She was fine, everything was fine. She needed a shirt. Six, somewhat painfully, got out of bed and waddled her way to the nearest wardrobe. Opening it up, she picked out the first thing Six could get her hands on. A baggy t-shirt, clearly a few sizes above her own. It would do. Six felt infinitely better after putting this simple piece of polyester on. Now she just had a final issue to deal with. She moved to her desk and opened one of its drawers, producing a small box with a red cross painted on it. Popping the lid open, she took out a roll of bandages and rolled it around her left wrist.

Six sighed with relief as her heart's beating finally normalized. Everything was fine. All problems were gone. She took another step, trying to make her way back to bed, but a sudden jolt of pain almost made her lose her balance, having to lean on the desk for support. Just how bad was she? Surely it wasn't that bad, right?

"Six I told you to stay in bed!"

Oh for fucks sake.

Ruby stomped her way to Six and pushed the middle-aged woman back to bed. "I just went to grab a shirt, the hell's wrong with you?" Six complained.

Ruby put both hands on her hips and looked at her with a scowl. "Six, you are hurt! Arcade told you to stay in bed. I'm just enforcing that."

"Enforcer? What are you, a gang member now?" Six mockingly raised an eyebrow as she adjusted her pillow. Hey, if she was being forced to stay in bed, the least she could do was get comfortable.

"Whaaaa? I don't get it."

Six rolled her eyes. "Never mind. And are you lot gonna stop snickering and staring' or a ya actually gonna come in and say somethin'?"

She glanced at the door, which now had Cass and Veronica both trying to suppress their laughs as they watched the whole thing unfold before their eyes. Veronica was the first to come in, carrying a small silver tray with food in it, most likely destined for Six. She was wearing her usual robes -which it was still surprising to Six how the hell she managed to plate them with combat armor- but notably her hood was down. That in itself was not an uncommon occurrence, the strange thing was her hair. It was…good. Don't get Six wrong, she knew Veronica took care of herself, almost to a frightening degree since she had gotten access to actual functional plumbing, but this was different. Recently washed, styled, she even had some makeup on. Like those pre-war ladies would do before going to parties.

Six narrowed her eyes.

Cass was, well, Cass. Wearing her regular outfit bar the hat and jacket.

"What can we say? It's funny seeing the all-mighty Courier Six being scolded by a teenager."

"Hardy-har-har. I'm laughing so hard right now. Also, you came up with that title, not me."

"Eh, I think it fits." The Scribe brought the food tray up to the bed and placed it on Six's lap. "I present to thee, your breakfast! Courtesy of our very own Chef Cassidy." She motioned to Cass who was still leaning on the door frame.

"You better eat all that shi-... food I made. I didn't spend half the morning making it for you to not even touch it."

Six stared dumbfounded at Cass. "Did…did you just stop yourself from swearing?"

Cass shrugged. "Ruby asked us not to swear as much near her."

Now Six was even more confused. "Wait wait wait. Since when do you do shit like that?" Cass had to be pulling her leg now. Out of everyone in this suite, Cass was the one that cursed the most.

"Did you know saying 'please' every now and then helps people do what you want them to?"

"Fuck you."

"Just eat the fucking food." Cass flipped Six the bird before walking off. Leaving only her, Ruby and Veronica in the room.

Six looked down at her breakfast. Huh, Gecko Kebab. A classic. She tentatively brought the roasted meat to her mouth and…wow. Six had to admit it, for all her bitchy attitude, Cass was a killer cook. It was cooked to near perfection, and the way it was so soft and melted in her mouth. Perfect. She ravenously ate it all, not leaving anything but the sticks behind.

"Someone was hungry." Veronica teased her.

"I literally haven't eaten for two days, Veronica." She deadpanned. "Anyhow, where are you going?" Her eyebrow rose, not that she was particularly interested in what the scribe did with her free time.

Veronica shifted slightly in her place, putting her hands behind her back. "I-uh, w-what do you mean?" She chuckled nervously, glancing at Ruby who seemed equally nervous. Just what are they up to now?

"So you just took a shower and put makeup on and shit just for shits and giggles?"

"Weeeeeeeelllll…I may, or may have not, thought it'd be a good idea to take Ruby around the Strip to get her used to the area…and I kinda used that as a chance to dress up." Veronica winced, bracing herself for the inevitable incoming shouts of disapproval from Six.

"Ah, okay." The Courier shrugged, bringing her arm up to fiddle with her pip-boy.

Veronica and Ruby looked at each other, then at Six. "That's it? No 'ARGH Veronica, that's so stupid, why would you do that?!'?" She lowered her tone, trying to mimic Six's angry voice.

"Or, or, 'Ruby I didn't say you could leave the Lucky 38 and what I say goes!'?" The teen chirped in, also mimicking Six's voice.

The Courier took her eyes off the pip-boy's screen, and by her look she was not amused by the Oscar-winning performances of Ruby and Veronica. She addressed the youngest in the room first. "Listen, kid, I ain't your mom. I won't be on top of you for everything you do. Besides, you do need to get to know the area. I was going to take you myself but–" she gestured at her (forcefully) bedridden self. "It's not exactly possible right now." She moved on to the Brotherhood scribe. "Veronica, you're an adult. You don't need my permission to do shit. However, I would appreciate it if both of you didn't go behind my back to do things. Just say."

"That's…oddly reasonable from you." Veronica brought a hand to her chin. "Are you sure you didn't hit your head? Perhaps endured even more brain damage?" Six frowned. "Right, right. Ruby, it appears Six fully endorses our little outing." She turned to the teen, with a wide smile.

"Yay! Attractions!"

"Attractions?" Six asked

"Oh, I promised Ruby we could look at those old attractions, like that big steel tower."

"Oh, that. I'm honestly surprised how it hasn't been scrapped yet." She shrugged. "Just stay out of trouble."

"Oh that's rich coming from you. Miss Imma-Shoot-Benny-In-His-Own-Casino-In-Front-Of-Everyone." It was now Veronica's turn to raise an eyebrow.

Six merely blew her off with an eye roll. "It's not like I actually did it. Don't you have to like go get dressed and stuff?"

"Right! Enough Dilly dallying! Ruby, you're gonna have a total makeover!" Ruby didn't even have a moment to protest as Veronica grabbed the collar and began dragging her away. Six thought it was kinda funny but suppressed the chuckle.

"She's really into all that girly stuff. Dresses, make-up, all that stuff."

"Hey, Veronica, wait a sec." Six called out to her as she and Ruby were about to leave the room.

"Yeah?" She looked over her shoulder, seeing how Six was once again getting out of bed. Both she and Ruby opened their mouths to protest, but Six shushed them up before any words could be spoken.

She waddled to the small pile of bags, pouches, and singular backpack Six had been carrying with her for a while now. Veronica and the others had to move everything after Six passed out, so she knew how heavy those things were. The group had decided to not look inside Six's stuff because it was an invasion of privacy, and totally not because some were afraid of what Six might do to them if she found out they'd touched her stuff. Six unzipped one of the duffle bags and rummaged through it. All Veronica and Ruby could hear were the clicking of something metallic and the muttered 'Nos' coming from Six. She clicked her tongue and her lips formed a small smile, finding what she was looking for. She shakily got up, walked up to Veronica, and gave…a plastic bag to her.

"Uhhhh…thanks Siiiiix." Veronica leaned closer to Ruby and whispered. "I think she's lost it."

"Inside the bag, Veronica." Six rolled her eyes, unamused.

"I was just joking, dude. Alright, what do we have her–" Veronica gasped very loudly as she pulled out the contents of the bag. A beautiful black evening dress with red trimmings on the end. The most eye drawing thing was the flower shaped finishings just above the left thigh. "For me? D-Do you mean it?" Six nodded. "No no, it's too much!" She looked back at the dress, then back at Six. "Well, okay. But it's too much! Oh, it's perfect. Thank you. Thank you, Six!" Veronica brought her arms around Six and pulled her into a tight hug, which totally wasn't making Six go through agonizing pain. No siree.

Six caught Ruby looking at her with a smug smile. What was up with that?

Veronica broke off the hug -much to Six's relief. "I..I wish I had something to give you. I-...Wait! What about punching? That's the gift that keeps on giving!" She declared with a smile.

"Veronica you don't need to–"

"No, I insist. I could work on your punching with you! Not that your punching is bad or anything! I know you have a mean right hook. But I could show you some extra moves, you know, show you how to counter like a scribe." Veronica beamed at the idea. She was all but saying she was going to do it either way.

Six sighed. But not a tired, or annoyed sigh. A…happy…content sigh? Were those a thing? If not, then they should definitely be a thing. "Sure, you can teach me, Veronica. But maybe later. I'd rather not have Arcade chew my head off again."

"R-Right! It's set then. After you get better, I'm showing you all these cool moves." She looked back at the dress, in a mix of pure awe and excitement. "I can't wait to put this on. C'mon Ruby, we're gonna look awesome!" She sang. Much to Ruby's dismay, she once again had no choice in the matter as she was forcefully dragged out of the bedroom, leaving a chuckling Six alone in the bedroom.

The Courier moved back to the bed, but instead of going back beneath its warm and comfortable covers, she chose to sit at the end of bed, staring at the pile of bags, pouches and the singular backpack.

"I'm going to wipe the slate clean. Make the Mojave what it was supposed to be. Undisturbed by Men."

She rose from the bed and walked back towards the pile.

"Heh…now, come on, you open up. Open the vault. I can make it worth your while, ranger. "

She crouched down next to the zipped duffle bag.

"I have other weapons, other technologies I can share with you. A-And the Big Empty! I know the way there. I-I know some of its secrets."

She unzipped the bag.

"T-The collars were a mistake. They were a mistake, I see it now. You could conquer the world with what's down here. I can show you how!"

She began rummaging through the bag.

"Are you listening to me?! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME HERE!"

She found the thing she was looking for and pulled it out.

"You. I know you can hear me. When you die, Courier, Ranger, Vagabond, whatever you are…I'll be waiting. Your grave is going to look just like this vault."

She stared at the bar of solid 24 carat gold that laid in her hands.

"When you die…I'll be waiting here…at the Sierra Madre…waiting…"

Courier Six smiled, she smiled ear to ear for the first time in what it felt like forever. Then, she snickered quietly…then it turned into a low chuckle, then a few suppressed laughs, until they became unsuppressable. She dropped the gold bar due to her laughing fit as she had to bring a hand to her face, landing back on the duffle bag and making a loud cling with the remaining 9 gold bars that sat there.

She won.

She survived that god-awful place.

She killed Elijah with his own, most prized desire.

She stole 10 bars of solid fucking gold.

And she got home with all of it.

Letting go, what a huge load of shit. It's because those 2 let go they didn't get anything!

Elijah was just too full of himself. He never believed someone 'inferior' could best him.

And Dean, oh Dean. That sly, lying, backstabbing, egocentric, narcissistic son of a bitch had it coming. Every bullet she put in that man was more than earned!

Six took a deep breath. Calming herself down from her laughing fit. She won and that's all that mattered. Even if this contract with House didn't end up well, she was rich, set for life. Hell, she could leave right now! She didn't need any more money. She could just rest for a few days, get all her shit, and high tail it out of this damned place once and for all!

"Veronica stop! I don't like dresses!" Six frowned. She could even hear Ruby whine all the way from the guest bedroom. She really hoped this was just Ruby being loud and not the walls being extremely thin. Maybe she'd bring the kid with her. Being away from this place would only do her good.

"Just… Look after her, will you?" M-Maybe Veronica too.

Raul could also repair anything.

And Boone's aim was great.

Plus, Cass was a great cook.

And she couldn't leave ED-E all alone.

Six sighed and zipped the duffle bag back up. She dragged it back to her bed and slid it under the bed. That would do for now. She walked up to her wall cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey before taking a good swig from it. She was just going to rest for a bit, then go see House.

She was still under contract, after all. Yeah, only because of that.

Screams into the pillow. Gotta love college. Anyhow, hope y'all enjoyed the chapter. It still ain't like the size of the bigger ones but that's whatcha getting. And before you say anything. Six is totally sane, and I dunno why you'd assume anything else.

Next chapter, Ruby and Veronica have a banquet sized adventure on the strip!

Hi, Locusrvb here again. I'm still being held hostage to fix this man's terrible grammar. Please send me burgers and fries. Thanks.