Joshua Graham's Trip to the City of Sin

Part 7: Daybreak

The elevator opened to the casino floor of the 38, now opened for business. Anyone with enough caps could now enter the Lucky 38 and either lose it all or win big.

Instead of a human, Carrie decided to employ someone else as floor manager; a Securitron with a friendly cowboy face and a western voice. Graham had heard stories about this Securitron before from Carrie. Apparently, this unassuming TV on wheels had rescued her from certain death by digging her out of her own shallow grave.

"Howdy Carrie! Who's this fella you got with you? He another...'acquaintance' of yours?

"Nah Victor, just a... friend." She glanced at Graham. "How's the casino going?"

"Working at optimum levels ma'am. One no-good bandit tried to run outta here without paying off his debt. He was arrested and processed by the authorities."

"Nice work Vik! You enjoying your new upgrades?"

"Sure am! Always felt somethin' was missing from that Platinum Chip of yours! Just a shame old man Mr. House had to go...he was a good one."

Carrie avoided his screen awkwardly at the mention of House. Ever since she brought him back from Digi-hell 8 months back, he seemed to have no recollection of Carrie killing the boss.
He assumed that he finally died after over 200 years of existence eventually caught up with him while Vik was away.

"Miss Blake? Somethin' eatin' at ya?"

"Uh...nope. I'm fine Vik. Should really be going now, gotta take my...friend Joshua for a tour."

"Alrighty then, all the best now ma'am!"

Victor shouted as Carrie dragged Joshua outside the Lucky 38. The sunlight instantly blinded them, bright white light slowly fading until their eyes adjusted to the light.

The Strip was completely different in the daytime compared to night. Instead of giant neon signs glowing in the dark there were depressing, static structures that seemed to breathe shakily as the western wind swept through the place.

Carrie bounded down the steps of the Lucky 38 and headed towards the second third of the Strip, expecting Joshua to follow.

"It seems like you have cleaned this place up well. I thought the riots would have kept you busy."

"Oh they did, but that Diamond Chip's worked wonders in keeping the peace. Non-lethal, of course."

Joshua had to admit...he was impressed. Carrie, the unassuming, bumbling fool that she was, had managed to do what most leaders have died trying to do; bring peace to their domain. He was so busy dwelling on this subject that he hadn't realised himself staring right at her.

"Yo Joshie? You ok? You're looking at me weird..."

He snapped out of his trance and reassured her it was nothing. With a shrug, she continued on her way.

His thoughts flashed back to what Carrie said last night

"Seen the way you look at me...."

What way? Had he been looking at her the whole time without realising? Had she noticed it but hadn't said anything? Did she know something he didn't?

Worrying thoughts raced through his mind, he was feeling like some teenager with a crush. This hadn't happened to him since his teen years, this feeling of....anxiety. He had a few so-called 'crushes' in New Canaan, none of which he acted upon, but he knew the feeling that came with it. He hated it.

After a slow, sluggish walk down The Strip, the gate to the second section of it was in front of them. Carrie casually pushed it open, a giant creak echoed throughout the concrete valley. Joshua was surprised at how easy she opened it, its size was almost triple her size.

This seemingly mundane thought stuck with Graham for some odd reason, and he thought back to her struggling to open that gate back in Freeside which was the size of her and easy to open. Now that he thought about it, she looked almost...smug when Joshua opened it for her. Was this her way of toying with him? If she was faking it, how strong was she actually?

Joshua tried to quell these rumbling thoughts in his mind and looked ahead to the newly opened section of The Strip...