Wasteland Tales

Wasteland Tales Ch. 5: Impending Doom

Standing there, everyone was in shock and confusion over the sight they saw. Everyone muttering amongst themselves, Will blanked, unsure how to comprehend the situation.  In this state, Will was trying to figure what was happening, he barely heard Jamie saying his name.
"Will," yelled Jamie.
Broken out of his trance, Will responded with, "What? What's happening?"
"Will, let's get back inside, we don't know what's happening here."
"We don't, but we have to figure out something don't we?
"No we don't. It's obvious shit hit the fan, and we need to get back inside in case something happened."
"What would happen that would affect us?"
"Come in and I'll tell you. Please."
"Okay."
Heading back inside, they went back up to their room, shutting the door behind them.
"What is it?" asked Will.
"Kyle told me something before last time we met."
"What?"
"It was the possible attack of a force from across the river. Some group called Caesar's Legion. I'm guessing this has to do with it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, it was only two maybe three weeks ago. I'm not entirely sure, but he seemed worried about it enough to tell me to leave as soon as possible."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't think it would be that bad."
"An imminent force to be building itself across the Hoover Dam wasn't that bad."
"No one expected this, so don't blame me for not telling you."
"Alright, I guess truly no one expected an attack so abruptly. But what now?"
"What do you mean?"
"How are we going to get out? You know leave?"
"Leave, why?"
"After your father, I guess coming here is over, and we can leave."
"Why would I leave? Kyle could be in danger!"
"I understand, but I'm wondering, if this is it, shouldn't we get a move on."
"We don't know who won from this."
"But we can't stick around to see who did."
"Actually we can."
"How?"
"We're going to Hoover Dam," grabbing her stuff.
"Woah, no we're not, if whoever this opponent won, we don't know how their react to us."
"Don't worry, we've done better."
"Shit. Alright, let's do this, but be careful."
"Whatever you say."
Heading out, they leave the Freeside area, going towards the pillar of smoke in the sky. After a few hours of hiking, they make it to the edge of Boulder City. Stopping in their tracks, they see the once active city, destroyed, crumbled, and in ruins.
"Shit, this is worse than I thought," said Will.
"Way worse, but we can't find out what happened here," said Jamie, who started walking.
"Hey!" Will shouted.
Jamie turned around responding, "What?"
"We don't what or who's down there."
"And we won't standing up here. So stop being a little bitch and come with me."
Hesitantly, Will followed close behind Jamie as they approached the smoked filled city. Getting closer, they see the large amount of NCR soldiers in the area. Some dead, wounded, and perfectly fine, as well as bodies of soldiers with uniforms unknown to both Jamie and Will.
Seeing a uniformed soldier approach, he yells, "No civies allowed."
"My husband lived here," Jamie yelled.
Will gave her a weird look, and she whispered, "Just wait."
As he got closer, "I'm sorry miss, I can't let either of you in. What is your husband's name."
"Kyle Harrison, he's a Ranger."
"I will let you know as soon as possible, but I have to ask you go to Novac."
"We can't do that," said Will.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but I'm unable to let any civies in here."
"That'll be alright sergeant," said a familiar voice.
"Kyle?" asked Jamie.
"Hey," as he said, hugging him.
"Sir, we can't have these people come into here."
"Don't worry, I'll talk to them out here."
"But sir-"
"Do you want me to tell your C.O., that you're disobeying my orders."
"No sir."
"Then watch for others, I'll talk to these two people."
"Yessir." said the sergeant as he went back to his post.
"Now that we have some privacy, I know this looks bad."
"That's a polite way to say it," said Will.
"I know, it's worse than we thought."
"What exactly happened," asked Jamie.
"We didn't expect it, but those who attacked us, it was Caesar's Legion. Got us good, until this."
"No shit. Fucking blew this town to hell."
"Yeah, that's how we could eliminate them."
"Why were they so far back?" Jamie asked.
"We didn't expect them, so they got the jump on us. Overwhelmed, we drew them back here, killing their centurions. We drew the rest into the city, blowing it back to the stone ages."
"What about your men?"
"I don't know but they did a number on us before we had this plan."
"What's the next course of action then."
"I don't know, but I think you guys should head out of here."
"We can't just leave," said Jamie.
"You have to. Both of you, if you don't, I don't know what's going to happen."
"Why don't you follow them then?"
"We don't numbers. We we're attacked on multiple fronts."
"Multiple?" asked Will.
"Yeah, Camp Golf was attacked as well."
"Then I agree, both of us should get out of here then."
"What why?" asked Jamie.
"It's too dangerous, the NCR are too spread out, and can be attacked from multiple places. It's not safe."
"It's true Jamie," said Kyle, "You guys have to get back to California."
"No we can't get to California."
"What," both Jamie and Kyle said simultaneously.
"It'd be too dangerous. What if the Legion rebounds within the next year, and invades while the NCR is in the midst of defending and is successful this time. Then California is in danger as well."
"That's true, but where would you go?" asks Kyle.
"It's ballsy but it has to be through the Legion."
"Are you fucking crazy!" screams Jamie.
"That's insane Will," says Kyle.
"Think about it. While they're weak, we can get through them easily."
"We don't know how many there are in the Legion, how the hell do you think you can make it through?"
"Easy, follow where they are the least, and follow it past their region of control."
"Let's say you make it through, how would you know you would be out of their control."
"Easy enough again, we don't see them."
"I call bullshit."
"That's why I called it insane."
"Hell's bells Will, that's suicide," said Jamie.
"Suicide, maybe, the most likely way to survive another possible attack, probably."
"Insanity, Will just go back to California."
"No, California can be as dead as those men over there, and who can say if they are able to survive another attack. You even said you didn't know the body count due to the numbers of people dead or dying. What makes you think we can be protected."
"Because they survived," said Jamie.
"But now they know you have the possibility to trap them. What will make them stop and try again with a new strategy."
"We got this under control Will," said Kyle.
"You're awfully sure about that."
"That doesn't mean you can always stop them a second time."
"Will do you even hear yourself," said Jamie.
"Yeah and that's why I say we go through Caesar's Legion instead of going back to California."
"It's that or I'm doing it myself," he concludes, walking away.
"Will wait," yells Jamie.
"I'll meet you back at the Atomic Wrangler," he says finally before heading away.
"Will," Jamie yells again.
"Don't worry, he'll come to his senses," says Kyle.
"I'm worried he won't," she responds.
"He makes dumb decisions, remember."
"Yeah."
"Just wait it out."
"And what if he sticks to this."
"Let him go with it then. He could kill himself over this," he said, grabbing Jamie shoulders.
"Kyle, you sick bastard, God," Jamie exclaims, walking away.
"Jamie," he yells.
"Fuck off," she yells back.
Another few hours go by, and Jamie finally gets back to the Atomic Wrangler. Will sat there on the couch.
"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier, it was stupid for me to walk out like that."
"Will you are stupid for making such an idiotic call like that. Going through the Legion? That's a terrible idea."
"I know. But it seems like our best option."
"No, No it doesn't, and even if we get through, where would we go?"
"To the east coast."
"The east coast? How do you know anything is over there anyways."
"Because I've talked a little with Paladin Budi about other settlements in the wasteland."
"He knows there's other settlements in the wasteland."
"Yeah, there's huge areas of Brotherhood of Steel territory, primarily in the midwest, and some parts of the east coast."
"What's your plan then, get over to the midwest? You know how long it would take?"
"Yes, several months."
"And you know how much planning that it would take to do this! Especially if part of the time, it was going to be through Legion territory!"
"I perfectly understand what I'm doing, but as you said, it will take planning, especially since I'm certain we will have to go through Legion territory."
"My question is why not go around? Why go through it?"
"As Kyle said earlier, we don't know how big the Legion is. So no matter what route we take, we might go through Legion territory."
"So what? You're going to take advice from a Brotherhood of Steel member."
"Yes I am."
"How can you trust him? You know what they did to the NCR?"
"Yes and I know what they did to them. So it's either that or we don't go, and wait for imminent demise from the Legion."
"God Will, you're honestly being really stupid."
"I don't care."
"Will even if we make it through the Legion, what makes it that the Brotherhood won't try to kill us as well."
"We can see if Budi can come along with us."
"What makes you think he'll come with us?"
"I don't think he will, but it's worth a shot, I'm going to find out, they're going to be out and about in a few hours."
"Will don't leave me. Stay here, I can't risk you dying,"
"Dying, Will, I'm coming with you, if you like it or not."
"Alright, but expect anything."
"I don't expect anything to come out of this."
They both head towards the gulch in which they came, heading past the grave they buried Timothy in. Going to the other side of the gulch, they find a cloudy area covering the gated area they once passed through.
"Where did this wind come from?" yelled Jamie over the wind.
"I don't know, but it isn't natural, that's for sure," Will yelled back.
After aimless wandering, they both saw the sight of a few figures coming towards them.
"Get down, there are people heading our way, and be prepared for anything," Will said to Jamie.
As they got down, the figures still headed for a straight path to both Jamie and Will. Will held to his gun, ready to use it in case of the worst scenario.
"This doesn't seem right," said Jamie, "It seems like they know where we are."
"I think they might."
"Then be prepared for anything."
In crouch position, they say weapons out of the holster, ready to fight. Noticing their bulky outfits, Will realized who they were, holstering his weapon.
"It's them, holster your weapon."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, put it away."
As they got into yelling distance, the main figure stood there weapon drawn.
"Who are you wastelander, and how did you know where to find us?" said the BoS Paladin.
"I'm looking for a Paladin named Budi," responded Will.
"How do you know him?"
"He saved my life."
"Why?"
"He knows important information that'll help us."
"What's your name wastelander?"
"It's Will."
"And what about you ma'am?"
"My name is Jamie," she yelled.
"I'm Budi. I am making sure that is you Will."
"No problem, I only have one question."
"That is?"
"How far until we get to the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel."
"You'll have to get to the Mississippi River. It's past Colorado and Kansas."
"And how far is that?"
"A few hundred miles and may take a couple months to get there."
"A couple months?!" yells Jamie, "You see what I mean, it would be stupid as hell to go!"
"No it isn't," responded Will. "Thanks Budi, that's what we needed. And don't worry, we won't tell anyone how we found you."
"Understood. Also, good luck."
"Let's get out of here Jamie."
"Alright, I'm right behind you," angrily responding.
As they left, dawn was setting back in and returned by mid day. Francine stood there, staring at them intently, as they entered.
"Where were you all morning?" Francine frustratedly asked.
"We we're out trading," Will responded hastily.
"Sure," she said. "As you do that, you can see your jobs go with whatever your trading out there if it's more important than this."
"No, don't worry, we will be right back to it."
"Good, others have been picking up your shifts. Come early tomorrow, I have something for you tomorrow Will. And you Jamie, I expect you doing prep work at the same time."
"Alright," said Jamie.
They went back up to their room, and Will sits down, looking up to Jamie.
"Will, what was the whole purpose of that? We were up all night, and might be in a possible shitstorm with Francine."
"I know, the purpose of that was to show you that the time we get to the Mississippi, we will be able to get halfway there in a couple months."
"Okay but now what? We have to plan what we have to do because we have to go through the Legion before getting there."
"I understand that, and as we were out there, I was thinking of a plan."
"That plan being?"
"The plan being that we make a small team who want to come with or are wanting to leave as well to come with."
"A team of people. Why?"
"So that we can have a group to help defend as well as want to get out of here. There might be some people not willing to stay here while the Legion is at the doorstep of New Vegas."
"How would we find them if Francine is going to have us work our asses off."
"I understand that she will, but I want to see this turns out since she said she has a 'special' job for me."
"Well..."
"Let's see then. C'mon let's give it a shot."
"Okay, but if this screws us over then I'm out. I'm content where I'm at, Legion or not."
"Hey I don't blame you, but I'm saying if this place goes to hell, it's worth saying that you got out then stayed."
"Will think of the big picture here. Think of the possibilities. And what you're saying is a huge what if."
"How?" Look how far they got in, and the extremes the NCR took. Blowing up a city to defeat your enemy!"
"I know but they still were able to do it, didn't you hear what Kyle said. They shot those who were in charge and let the others into a trap."
"God Jamie, I know what we're not going to see eye to eye on this, but give this thought and let's discuss this later. This isn't the only thing we have to worry about."
"Okay, but only since Francene is on our asses about work."
"Exactly. I'm going to sleep, I'm not liking what she has in store for me."
As their situation diffused, Will didn't initially go to sleep, but waited until dusk to do so. As he got prepared to sleep, he was getting situated onto the couch, closing his eyes.
"Hey Will," Jamie said abruptly.
Opening his eyes, he shot a glance at Jamie saying, "Yes?"
"You want to come sleep over here."
"Over where?"
"On the bed."
"Didn't you want me to be over here?"
"Don't ask, just answer the question, are you coming over here or not."
Sighing, Will responded, "Okay."
He got up, with the full force of tiredness from not sleeping for more than a day. Heading over, he almost collapsed into the bed, and fell asleep on the bed. As he woke up, he noticed himself alone on the bed. Looking around he didn't see Jamie in the room, but heard the shower going. He looked at his pipboy, and when noticing the time, he quickly got up, knocking on the bathroom door. The door opened as he did this, and he peaked in slightly, see Jamie in the shower.
"Come on in," she yelled over at him.
With a smile on his face, he responded, "One sec. I just have to come in."
As he got into the bathroom, he noticed a more warped room than before. Confused Will got closer to the shower curtain as he heard Jamie calling his name. He did the same back to Jamie, only to feeling his body shake as he woke up for real this time.
"Will get up, it's dawn," Jamie was saying, shaking Will.
"What, what happened?" Will asked.
"You were asleep, and it's time for you to get up. C'mon."
Noticing he was still on the couch, he got up, did his morning routine, and went downstairs to Francene, who was waiting for him by the door.
"Alright Will, I need you to go across the street to the Silver Rush. They need some help with guarding, and I already told them you were on the way."
"Okay, I'll head right over."
He did, meeting the guard outside the Silver Rush, who looked at Will with an eyebrow raised.
"Are you Will?" asked the guard out front.
"Yeah, I was told to help guard," Will responded.
"You did? And where'd you hear that," in a threatening voice.
"From Francene over at the Atomic Wrangler," Will said nervously.
The guard chuckling, "Don't worry, I'm pulling your leg. Yeah, you're helping me out here."
"So, just guard here?" Will asked nervously.
"I'll have to go over the basics with you. It'll just take a second."
The guard ran Will down with the basics on dealing with honest customers, and people who possibly were dishonest. Running through everything, Will dressed the part, and was given a laser rifle instead of his normal rifle.
"You look the part now," said the guard. "And my name is Simon just to let you know. You'll be working here a bit before I assign you with another person to guard the door. Alright?"
"Yeah, sure," Will responded.
After a few hours of dealing with potential customers, it was getting close to dusk.
"It's nearing closing time newbie. So it's time for you to hand over your equipment," said Simon.
"Okay. I had a question though."
"Shoot."
"Do you know how long I have to be working here with you?"
"A week. And only a week for now."
"For now?"
"That's if Francene isn't angry at your ass again."
"Alright, thanks for that. I'm going to head off."
"Oh one last thing. I changed my mind on waiting a few days on that other new guy. You seemed to handle yourself pretty well today. Even if it was quiet, but this new guy is coming by tomorrow. Just to let you know."
"Well thanks for the heads up. I'll see you around."
"You bet."
Will headed back over to the Atomic Wrangler, going in he heads over to the counter where Francene was at.
"Francene, you never told me this was for a week!?" said Will.
"Yeah, and you quit twice and applied for three times in the past few months, so don't tell me about surprises."
Sighing, Will headed off to his room upstairs, getting in he noticed Jamie sorting through one of Will's old books on the couch.
"Oh," she said abruptly, "How was it?"
"Fine, what's up with you?" Will responded, putting his gun down.
"Nothing, just thinking over what you were saying."
"Yeah, did you change your mind?"
"Not yet, but I was thinking, well, after what I did, I'd become pregnant."
"Pregnant? That happened a few days ago, and plus you wouldn't even know if you were going to have a child."
"Well, Will, since you don't believe me, and you seem so adamant about it. What if I said, I missed my period by only a couple days now."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"Oh really," she said, putting the book down. "While staying at the Old Mormon Fort, I did read some books about pregnancy, and it does seem that early signs are by pregnancy."
"Don't be so quick to draw conclusions."
"But what if I'm right?"
"Then I don't know what to say to you."
"You have to come to terms that if it is true, it'll bring some questions along with it. Especially by a certain Ranger of the NCR. Just saying," she said staring at him before walking off to the bathroom. Contemplating, Will plans out the possibilities of finding a group willing to go with him out on this venture, as well as Jamie possibly being pregnant. Figuring the possible repercussions, Will stands up as Jamie comes out, looking at her with deep thought.
"Are you alright Will?"
"Yeah, I am. I was thinking over what you were saying about possibly being pregnant. If you are, I want to be by your side to take care of this child, no matter what."
"Really? That was quick."
"I know, I just don't want to leave you when I know I'm the father of this child. If that's the case."
"Thank you for making that choice then but please tell me this. What would you do if anything happened to me or the child?"
"Um... I don't know how, but I would try to protect you and the child as much as possible."
"Well shit, I thought you wouldn't have the balls since the last couple of times we had a good conversation like this, you left."
"This isn't like the last two times Jamie. It's different."
"'Different.' Will you won't change. Just keep that in mind, since I have made up my mind about if I'm staying or leaving."
"Really. And just five minutes ago you said you weren't."
"I'm coming with you on this venture."
"Shit. I thought you wouldn't. What changed your mind," with excited tone.
"If you're truly the father, I don't want him to be fatherless."
"What about Kyle?"
"He won't stay in this place. Not for a thousand years, look at this place. It's a literal shithole. And once he finds out I'm pregnant, I don't know how he'll react."
"That's a huge 'if' though."
"Still, either way, he won't like that we're getting intimate."
"Sure. So let's just be safe, and keep this quiet for now."
"Definitely. Also, how was working over at Silver Rush?"
"I don't know. I have to work there for the next week though."
"It'll be alright, plus what's the worse can happen?"
"I guess."
"I'm going to try to get shut eye. You should too as well."
"Speaking about shut eye, I had this weird dream last night."
"What?"
"Some weird thing about sleeping in bed with you. And then something else, but I don't remember exactly."
"That's interesting," she replied. "I'm not going to allow you to sleep in this bed until I do figure I'm pregnant or not."
"What do you mean?"
"That if I am, I wll let you sleep in the bed to show a potential child that we are the parents."
"Alright?"
"With that I say goodnight then."
Jamie turned the off the lamp next to her, and Will lied there in the dark staring at the ceiling. Pondering the idea of the plan, Will thought of the possibilities of what may come. Growing tired, he fell asleep, with the thought of the possibilities of failure going through his mind. Waking abruptly, Will glance around him to notice that he was alone in the room. Noticing that there was no light shining through the curtains, he stood up, scanning the room. He immediately noticed that the bed that recently held Jamie was now empty, and no lights were visible from the bathroom. Standing, he went over to the bathroom, and knocked on the door. Slowly opening, he peeked into the bathroom to see no one. He went back, heading to the window, and peeking out of the window, he saw that it was still dark outside. He went back to the bed, sitting, then lying down on the bed. He felt like something was amiss, then loudly a knock at the door sounded, startling Will.  Grabbing his weapon, he approached the door cautiously, peeking through the peephole, he noticed Francine. He opened the door whilst lowering his weapon, placing it besides the door.
"Hey Will," Francine said worryingly.
"What's wrong?" responded Will.
"She left late last night, and she hasn't come back yet."
"At this time in the morning?"
"What do you mean? It's almost time for your shift?"
"What, how? It's dark outside, there isn't any smoke?"
"Yeah, I needed both of your in an hour or so, but Jamie hasn't come back yet."
"Wait. first tell me this job."
"I know you are planning to leave. Simon, the man that was working with you at the Silver Rush, he told me."
"Fucking hell, alright. But how does this work with the job"
"Well I know how you feel about everything. I know you want to leave, and your plans to. I'll let you stay until you do, but you do need the help Will. Just go find Jamie first."
"Understood, I will."
"Thanks, I'll see you when you come back then."
Will gets his stuff ready, looks in the mirror, and heads outside to the brisk coldness of the morning cold of the winter. Heading to the only place he thought Jamie would go, he heads to outside Freeside. Walking north, he feels the chill of the air nip at him as he trudged along. He heads to the gravesite of Jamie's dad, only to find no one at the grave besides a bouquet of flowers. He kneels before the gravestone, looking at the description; 'Here lies Richard King.'
"Where are you Jamie," Will said with a shivering voice.
Staring at the gravestone, he barely noticed movement out of his peripheral vision. Seeing Jamie's red, freckled face, gave him hope as he stood where he was standing.
"Jamie," Will sympathetically said. "Where've you've been all night?"
"Crying," she said on the verge of tears.
"Hey, come here," Will said, holding her in his arms. "No need, tell me what's wrong."
"I'm scared."
"Why?"
"I'm in the midst of loving two men, you and Kyle."
Solemnly gazing at the ground, Will finally spoke, "Don't worry, I'll never leave your side again. I also have news for you."
"What is that?" Jamie asked as her face, more red than before, looked at Will.
"Francine has found someone who could possibly come with us."
"Really? Who?"
"Someone from the Silver Rush."
"That's good, but I want to ask you one thing."
"And what's that?"
"What will you do about Kyle when he finds out that I'm pregnant."
"I don't know. I'll cross that bridge when I get there."
They walk back, discussing plans on leaving, routes of possibility, and how to get people to get going with them. As they get back, they sit down at the bar, as Francine came up to them.
"There she is, I was wondering where you went," Francine initiated.
"Just thinking about life."
"Well don't get too caught up, okay kid. Also, Will, I need your help."
"Yeah, sure, what's going on?"
"There's some thugs that fled to Westside, I need you to get me back that caps they didn't pay."
"Sure, consider it done."
"Good, I expect those caps as soon as possible. And Jamie, I'd like you to get prepped. I have something a little something for you to do as well."
"Okay Francine, I'll be ready."
"Good. Will, just to let you know as well, this thug is name is Rodger."
"Gotcha."
"Will, before you leave, I'd like to tell you something," Jamie said, as Will checked his stuff."
"Yeah, what's on your mind?"
"I love you," she said, kissing him on the lips.
"I love you too," Will said afterwards, blushing a bit, and giving Jamie a hug."
"Come back safe," she said, holding him tightly, "I think I know who I'm going to decide to be with."
"Let's just hope it's for the better."
Will, letting go, heads off to Westside, getting there in a couple hours time. As he entered, he walked around asking people where Rodger was. Finally, he got an answer from someone, saying that Rodger went to the local brothel. There he found one prostitute telling him that this Rodger was upstairs with one of the clients, and Will would have to wait for them. Pushing past her, he went up anyways, and looked around. Behind him was the closing of a door, he looked back, to see a disgruntled man walk out of a room.
"Hey, are you Rodger?" Will says.
"Who's asking," said the man.
"Francine, You need to pay up."
"I don't need to pay shit, and tell her exactly what I told you," as Rodger walked down the stairs.
Will following, unholstered his weapon, pointing it at Rodger's head.
"You give me the caps, or I'll take your head back," said Will threateningly.
"I see, but as you can tell, I don't have any."
"Hey you two, take this outside," yelled the prostitute that yelled at Will earlier.
As they both walked outside the building, Will still had the gun pointed at Rodger's head.
"Can you put that gun down boy."
"No," said Will sharply.
"We have to do this the hard way then don't we."
"No we don't, all you need to do is give me the caps."
"I don't have to give you shit, remember."
"Oh yeah, is that so?" Will says as shooting Rodger in the leg.
As he fell and screamed, Rodger in a breath of anguish yelled, "What the hell was that for!"
"Give me the caps, or the next bullet goes in your head," Will said as a crowd of people formed around them.
At that moment, guards came up, and escorted both men out of the town parameter. There Will, pointed his rifle back at Rodger's head yet again, and pressing down on the wound in Rodger's leg.
"You want to give me the caps now?" Will said yet again with anger in his voice.
Rodger started chuckling, stating, "You don't expect anything, do you?"
Two other men with guns approached Will, one with a shotgun, the other with an automatic rifle.
Will scoffing, "You never met me, haven't you, this is easy," taking his foot off of Rodger. Holstering his weapon, Will said, "Let's be civil about this."
"Civil?" one of the men scoffed.
Grabbing the shotgun out of the man's hands, he shoots the man with the automatic rifle dead. The now unarmed man, grabs hold of the shotgun, fighting for the weapon. Will, pumps the rest of the bullets out of the gun during the struggle, with the man not noticing Will doing it. As Will lets go, the man tries shooting Will and it failing. The man drops the gun, and tries to go for the other one. Will pushes him down to the ground, taking a knife out of it's holster, stabbing the man in the neck, several times. Pulling it out, he stands up, wipes the knife off, and puts it back in it's holster. Looking back, Rodger is limping away, and Will picks up the automatic rifle. He shoots it up in the air first, to scare him, then he shoots the legs of Rodger. He falls and Will heads over, stepping on his back, and pointing the gun at his head.
"Ready to give me the caps?" Will says.
"Yes, it's in my pocket!" Rodger screams.
"Oh, wasn't that easy," Will says, shooting the rest of the ammo into Rodger's back.
Grabbing the caps off of Rodger's, now dead, body, he picks up the shotgun. He notices the people who gathered outside of the Thorn, including some children.
"Shit," Will said under his breath.
The crowd of people was in shock at the spectacle they have just witnessed, but out of the crowd, a woman approached him.
"That was thrilling," said the woman. "My name is Kelly. Who are you?"
"I'm Will. And this, this was just a job gone wrong."
"Well, I'm wondering where you got that skill."
"A lot of bar fights, and being a part of the NCR."
"Really?"
"Yes, ma'am, what about you?"
"I fight in the Thorn,"
"Nice, well I have to go, I'm planning something, and need to get back to Freeside."
"What's the plan?"
"Uh, it's about leaving New Vegas."
"Leaving New Vegas. Count me in."
"What?"
"Yeah, I really want to get out of the Thorn. Where are you planning to go?"
"East."
"Then I'll follow. So do a couple of my friends."
"Okay. Meet me at the Atomic Wrangler in Freeside."
"I'll see you there."
"Alright," Will replied.
Will headed back towards Freeside, covered in blood. He stops by Gun Runners, and sells the automatic rifle and shotgun he picke up for three hundred and seventy five caps. He walks back to Freeside, entering, he heads back over to the Atomic Wrangler. On the way there people give him strange looks with the amount of blood covering his hands. Aware of the fact, he puts his dried, bloody hands in his duster pockets as he enters the Atomic Wrangler.
"Did you get me my two hundred fifty caps?" asked Francine.
Throwing the bag of caps on the counter, Will said, "There you go ma'am."
Glancing at Will's hands, Francine stated, "It went down that way? Well get cleaned up before anyone notices."
"Okay ma'am. If you need anything else, you know where I am," Will said as he left.
Heading upstairs, he enters his room, as so Jamie is standing in front of the mirror with a nice outfit on.
"Hey Jamie," Will exclaimed, "What's with the dress."
Jumping a little, Jamie responded, "Francine needs me to fill in for a performance today. How was dealing with that 'transaction' Francine wanted you to deal with?"
"Fine," Will responded, keeping his hands in his pockets.
"What's wrong? You look scared."
"Actually, I am, a bit. You see..." Will said with slight pause. "It's that, well, it didn't go as expected."
"How? What happened," Jamie said with some fright in her voice.
"Really, it didn't end well," Will said pitiful, as he sat on the end of the bed.
"So that's how it went down."
"Yeah, and my hands," as he pulls them out.
"Oh my God! Your hands, they're covered in..." as she gasped.
"Exactly, I didn't want it to end that way, but he gave me no choice. Even threatened me."
"Will, are you alright?"
"Fine, but I hate killing, I thought I was better than it. This."
"This is the wasteland. Killing is the new part of order."
"I guess, but I don't want our child to come into a world, seeing death constantly." he said while Jamie rubbed her belly.
"We don't have to worry about that. If Budi is correct, we can find a safe settlement. Out in the east, away from this."
"True, but what about our family back in California?"
"We'll send them letters before we depart."
"Sounds good. I'll prep myself before I go back down."
"That sounds great."
"Oh, also, I found some people willing to go with us on our way east. I think we have enough to get there safely."
"That's amazing," Jamie exclaimed joyfully.
Will smiling, he said, "Good luck tonight"
"Thanks, I hope you get ready fast enough to see it."
"I'll make it quick.'
Will stepped into the bathroom, taking a shower. Seeing the red fall down the drain made him think of how much literal and figurative blood on his hands. As he prepped, he holstered his weapon, and went back downstairs, sitting in one of the chairs. As he watched Jamie singing beautifully, he was entranced by her voice. So much that, he barely registered the tapping on his shoulder. He looked up to see Kelly and two of her friends besides her. Will gestured them to sit at the table, and they did such.
"You made it safely, I suppose?" Will said.
"No encounters thankfully," Kelly responded.
"Good, and who are these two?"
"Mark and George."
"You guys along for the ride."
Both nodded and agreed with not much to say on their parts.
"So what's your plan?" says George.
"The girl on the stage and I with one other person are planning to head east, avoiding the Legion."
"How so?" asked Mark.
"We have to figure routes, that means we have to get a better map. My pipboy doesn't have a far enough range to see how the terrain is going to be."
"Any ideas on where to find maps?" asked Kelly.
"Not yet, but if you do happen to hear or come across any, especially ones of the country, come to me. Otherwise, we have to wait to find some, and prep equipment, food, and other essentials."
"Okay good, and who's this other guy that you're talking about?" asked George.
"He's going to be quitting the Silver Rush once we're set to go."
"Alright," said Mark.
"What's going to happen in the meantime?" asked Kelly.
"Earn caps, do work, get some items, buy stuff, I don't know," responded Will.
"So for all you know, we can not even do that. That's what I'm getting at," said George.
"Not exactly. For all we know, is that the sooner we get this done, the better."
"So where do we find jobs?" asked Kelly. "We quit ours in Westside."
"There is some jobs here for some of the 'dirty' work for the Garret twins. As well as, doing some work as guards for people here in Freeside, wanting protection from the local thugs."
"So how long is this going to take us to get all of our supplies together until we know it's time to go?" asked Mark.
"You'll know. Once we get enough information about routes, and other items necessary for the trip. Then we'll go."
"But how long though."
"Clearly, I can't give you an answer. Just lay low, and wait for everything to get into place."
"What about rooms?" asked George.
"They have vacant rooms here for the time being. Just remember though that this may take longer than you all initially thought. But once this plan is on the move, and we leave, there is no turning back. Okay?"
They all nodded and agreed amongst themselves, and Will looked at all of them, saying, "Good, now let's get this going."
The three of them the next morning, found jobs around Freeside, Kelly as a guard for the Old Mormon Fort, Mark as a guard for hire, and George doing dirty work for the Garret Twins. For the first couple of months, they ran into some doubtful waiting as it was hard to find eligible maps to find, east of the river. At the same time, it turned out that Jamie was truly pregnant, and a small protrusion started to appear. After some time, Kyle came around to see Jamie.
"Hey Will and Jamie," Kyle said surprisingly to both Jamie and Will.
"Hi Kyle," Will said surprised.
"Hi," said Jamie, blushing.
"Sorry for not being here so much," Kyle said with his arms wide open towards Jamie.
Giving him a slight hug, Jamie said, "Can we talk in private please." Pushing along away from Will.
"Sure what's wrong?" he asked.
"I'd like to ask you something important."
"Yeah, anything."
"Do you have any maps, east of the river?"
"Um. Not much for all we know, but we have found some prewar holotapes of maps, east of the river. Why?"
"Just want to know something, since I'm planning some locations to go once you defeat the Legion," Jamie said seductively.
"Okay, sure, but I want to ask you something first, before I do anything else."
"And what's that?"
"Has Will stopped talking about his crazy plan to you, and this isn't some ploy to give you something."
"No. Not at all, I actually talked him out of it," whispering the last part.
"Good, well I wanted to check in, and see if you want to go on a date, since we haven't seen each other for awhile."
"Sure, one second though, I was in a conversation with Will, and I want to just quickly tell him I'm going with you, okay?"
"Yeah, definitely."
Jamie walks over back to Will, saying, "Hey, we'll talk about this later okay? Gotta go talk to Kyle."
"Sure but one last thing."
"What?"
"Be safe alright?"
"Yeah, I will."
"Thank you. Now just have a good time. I'll him eventually, okay?"
"Okay, I'll try to be back as quickly as possible."
Grabbing his stuff, Will headed back upstairs where he opened up to an empty room. Putting his stuff down, he glanced outside the window. Jamie, looked up at him as they walked along. Turning away, Jamie looked back at Kyle who was ignorant to what was happening. Will from there, moved on towards the bathroom, looking in the mirror at himself.
"What the hell did I do," he said to himself softly, as not to sound crazy.
"Tell me what you didn't," a oddly, familiar voice said to him.
Looking in the mirror, Will sees Jamie's father, Richard, sitting on the toilet seat.
"I thought you died," said Will.
"That's where you're wrong, remember I'm just a figment of your mind, I'm your guilt remember."
Will quickly spins around, seeing an empty seat, confused. He walks out of the bathroom, and out of the bedroom itself, heading downstairs. He waved Kelly, George, and Mark over from the bar.
Sitting all at a table, Will spoke, saying, "Okay, so that guy Jamie went with might help us if we can get him to."
"With what?" asked Kelly.
"Maps."
"How is she going to get maps from that guy?"
"He's part of the NCR, and he has a certain soft spot for her."
"Aren't you two expecting a kid though?" asked Mark.
"Yes, indeed, but the fact of the matter is, that he won't notice, and she can get those maps."
"Why can't you use that pipboy of yours?" asked George.
"I won't know what we will be dealing with until we get across the river, and the maps that he has can show us possible Legion outposts."
"He could catch onto what we're doing and not give those maps."
"True, George but we'll have to see."
"Is that all you wanted to tell us?" asked Kelly.
"Yeah, that's it. Jamie shouldn't be out for too long, so expect her to be back."
"Okay, we'll see you in the morning then. Tell us anything that she says to you."
"Copy that Kelly. See you all in the morning."
Will, sat at the table for the next couple of hours, looking at the front door, only seeing guests entering and leaving. After awhile of sitting, Will frustratingly got up, and he went upstairs back to his room. He sighed, took a deep breath, and went to the bathroom. In the midst of showering, he heard the door close from the door to the room. He stopped, dried off, got dressed, and went out of the room to see both Jamie and Kyle standing there.
"Hey," said Will surprised.
"Hey Will," replied Kyle.
Jamie walked over to Will, pushing him back into the bathroom, closing, and locking it behind her.
"Will, I know, I didn't mean to bring him over. He insisted, so I gave in, and he plans to stay the night," Jamie quickly said.
"Well shit," Will said under his breath. "What do you reckon we do then?"
"I don't know, I wanted to talk to you, but now it seems that I can't, sorry."
"No problem. Any update though?"
"Sadly, no, he laughed it off."
"Okay, let's go back out there, and talk to him, alright?"
"Yeah, okay, let's do this," Jamie said whilst opening the door back to the room.
There, Kyle was sitting in the chair by the window, staring at the bathroom door itself.
"What was so important to talk about in private?" asked Kyle pressuringly.
"Just about the night itself," Will responded calmly.
"Really? Planning anything."
"No, just didn't expect you to be a part of it."
"Is that the case?"
"Yes, if you wish to defer, go ahead, it doesn't change the fact."
"Does it now? From sitting here, it seemed awfully important to lock the bathroom door as well."
"Look here, Kyle. You haven't shown up for the past two months. Don't expect us to not to be surprised when you show up out of the blue. Okay?"
"Okay, jeez, just wondering. Don't need to be an ass about it."
Jamie stood there stunned at Will's angry demeanor at Kyle, unusual from his previous actions with Kyle. Both men sat while Jamie stood there shocked, staring at Will for an outbreak such as that.
"Will," she sternly said.
"Yeah, what's wrong?" asked Will, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't you understand how rude you're being?"
"Rude, no, it never occurred."
"Well, I guess we'll have a discussion about this later. Kyle, what are you planning to do?"
"It seems like where I broke you two off earlier was a bad time. I'll head off, okay, we'll do this again?"
"Yeah, okay, sorry about that."
"No problem, some of us need to just cool down," he said, looking over to Will.
Will giving a stern look back over, said, "I guess some of us has to."
Kyle departed out of the room with haste. Closing the door behind him, Jamie, slapped Will as hard as she could. His tan face, turned red instantly after it contact was made. He looked back surprised at Jamie's instant of outburst.
"What has gotten into you?" Will asked.
"What has gotten into you Will?" she said angrily. "This could've been the chance to possibly get those maps, and look what you've done. Gone fucked it up due to your own personal vendetta. What the hell."
"Hey it's not my fucking fault. You're the one that let him in!"
"Yeah, what if we were able to get a chance at those maps. Maybe we could just gotten out of this god forsaken wasteland. Look outside, it's almost a nuclear winter out there!"
There, slinking in shame, Will sat back into the couch, his face still a little stung from the slap he received.
"Now we have wait for however long until he comes back Will!"
"I understand that now."
"Now you do? God. You really should think before you act so stupidly."
Looking back down to the ground, Will sighs with no response to give to what she was saying, as she went to the window.
After a few moments of silence, Will said, "If I'm so dumb, why should you listen to me?"
"I shouldn't. I don't know why I do."
"Then you shouldn't come with me when I head east."
"I am Will for one reason."
"What's that?"
"I don't have anything left over here anymore."
"What do you mean? Yes your father and mother passed, but your uncle and aunt are still alive."
"Yes I know but have they come looking for me? No, they didn't. So why should I give them the time of day?"
"I'd thought after everything they've done for you-"
"Everything they've done for me? They let me go back to them!"
"I'm sorry, but I thought that it would be a viable option."
"It's not that viable Will. Don't you understand how painful it was. Do you know why I ran off?"
"Not entirely."
"My dad wanted to sell me off. My mother died in the process because of him. I ran that night because of that. I went to my uncle and aunt asking how I could get out of the town. The only time they've helped me in those sixteen years. I got away to my grandparents a town over, and was there until you came along."
"You're not the only one who lost a mother. I told you that my mother died but not how. She died for me when I was young, but it was by a raider who was high on chems. She died when I was six. Now it's been twenty years later, and that's why I'm so overprotective with you."
"So you overprotect me because of your dead mother?"
"I did it because I had a younger sister. She was three years old. Also, my dad was hardly around because of work."
"Since we for that off our chests. What should we do?"
"Wait, see if he comes back, or when he does."
"We don't know how long that'll take."
"Hopefully not that long, if we need to, we'll go to him."
"Okay. Let's continue to build up more caps because we'll need them."
"Sure, we need all we can bring."
After some time, the two settled down, and started prepping for the night. Will setting up his spot on the couch, sat, looking at Jamie.
"So what's going to happen now?" asked Will.
"I don't know," responded Jamie.
"If he's going to take these long breaks between each visit, he'll figure out that you're pregnant sooner than later."
"I know, I should've told him when I had a chance."
"I'm sorry for pressuring you do these things."
"Don't be, I agreed to them."
"It doesn't matter what you say, I'm putting a pregnant woman in the frontline of things."
"Hey, I'm not the one on the frontline, you're the one that has to kill people to keep us here."
"Sadly, but it doesn't mean I truly want to."
"I feel like this isn't going to be the safest thing we're going to do."
"Who said it would be?"
Chuckling, Jamie responded, "Even though we do get heated in these conversations, I just want to let you know that I do love you."
"I feel the same way. I have immediate guilt afterwards, and I absolutely hate it."
"Then come over here then."
Standing, Will walks over to the side of the bed, next to Jaime, asking, "Yes Jame?"
"First off, Jame? What the hell is that?"
"I'd thought it would be cute."
"Then keep it, but for my second question, what'll happen when Kyle does find out that I'm pregnant?"
"That's a bridge that we would cross when it comes."
"Will, can I ask you something personally?"
"Yeah, definitely."
"Where's your sister?"
"My sister? I don't know, since I travelled a lot as a soldier, she could be anywhere from my hometown to one of the cities."
"So you never said goodbye to her?"
"I never got a chance to."
"Do you regret it?"
"Yeah, she looked up to me, and I left her without a single goodbye in the past two years."
"Will. I know this'll sound rude, but you should always say goodbye to those you love."
"It's not. I know," Will sighed, "I want you to know something."
"What?"
"I want you to know that no matter what happens, I'll always love you."
"I love you too," Jamie said, getting closer to Will.
"Goodnight," says Will abruptly.
Jamie slightly pulling back, moves the hair from her face back, looking at Will, starting with some sorrow in her voice, "goodnight."
Will preps the bed on the couch for him to sleep on, and Jamie slinks onto the bed itself.
"Will," she states calmly.
"Yes Jamie."
"I don't want to feel lonely. Can you sleep here tonight?"
"Sure. Definitely."
"Thanks. After everything recently, I feel as if I need someone I can really trust," she says as Will sits besides her.
"Who wouldn't you trust?"
"You already know. But to put clearly. These people coming along with us. Kyle. And to be clearly honest, I was with you."
"I don't blame you. You should. I did wrong to you."
"Well, I regret that situation."
"Then you shouldn't fear."
"That's exactly why I trust you. You're confident, unfearful."
"If you want to say that, but I wouldn't admit that."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. It is."
They both sat silently before heading to sleep for that night. In the morning, they woke to knocking to the door.
"Open the fucking door," said the voice from the other side of the door.
In confusion, Will took Jamie's pistol, and went to the door, looking through the peephole to see an unfamiliar man standing there.
"Who are you?" Will said from his side of the door.
"Oh don't pretend you don't recognize me Will. You remember me right?"
"I said, who are you?!"
"You don't remember your old friend, guilt," he hissed at Will through the door.
In realization, Will steps back, looking over to see Jamie isn't in the bed, realizing it's a dream, he becone curious.
"What do you want?"
"Just to talk to you about what you're doing. Like usual."
"So tell me from there."
"What's the fun in that, but alright. You know as well as she does that this is suicide, and you don't want her to die, nor the baby."
"True, but why come?"
"Just for that," as he walks away.
Confused, Will opens the door only see the dead body of Jamie laying there on the ground with the gruesome remains of their child. Will suddenly bolts up from his sleep, to see that he was back in the bed.
Jamie wakes up, asking, "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. It's fine. Just a nightmare."
"It's okay. You're here. I couldn't sleep either."
"Really?"
"Yeah. the baby is kicking pretty hard."
"The child must be strong then."
Chuckling, Jamie asked, "what was your dream about?"
"I've been having these weird dreams of guilt and shame."
"About what?"
"About you."
"Don't worry. I'm here."
"Yeah," Will responded looking down at his hands. Thinking, that he was the one to do it.
He tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't that night. As for Jamie, she fell asleep quickly with no upsets for the rest of the night.
The next couple of months were uneventful of waiting for any open routes when looking for possible routes through Legion territory. Jamie's pregnancy has become more noticeable as a vertical line is now going up her stomach along her pale skin.
"You stand in front of the mirror for longer times, more and more," says Will in a sarcastic tone.
"Yes Will because you're the one that got me pregnant," Jamie responds with a similar tone.
"Well-" getting cut off by a knock at the door.
Will stands, walking over to the door, and peeking through the peephole on the door. Seeing the NCR armor of a ranger, he opens it.
Holding a package, Kyle greets Will saying, "hey Will, where's Jamie?"
"In the bathroom, but come in."
Kyle walks in, and looks over to the bathroom to see the pregnant Jamie.
"Jamie," he initially stutters, "You're... You're pregnant!" He exclaims.
"Yes. I've been for a few months now," she responds, looking at him directly.
"But I'd thought you were waiting."
"I was then I did."
"Who- Who's the father?"
"It's Will."
Kyle quickly turns around, looking at Will with confusion and rage, asking, "is this true?"
"Yes it is," responds Will calmly.
Holding back his fury, he calms himself to say, "well I wanted to let you two know something. I think it would help."
"What is it?" asks Will.
"It's a map," Kyle said with annoyance in his voice.
"A map of what?" Jamie comes asking.
"I was about to get to that. It's pre-war maps of America."
"America?" asks Jamie.
"Yeah it's the old country that used to be here before the war."
"Yeah but getting on with what I was saying," he said looking at Will. "It's a map of America. I've marked the roads and rivers along the map for the best route straight through the Legion."
Looking at the map the three see the red marked roads and routes along the map going east, but not completely finished as it stops through Arizona.
"It's incomplete," says Jamie.
"I know, that's how much we know that the Legion controls, other than that we- I mean you are going to fill out on your pipboy there Will."
"I need a terminal with a complete map to map this out on my pipboy."
"I think we may have a terminal with the full map, but the problem is I can't guarantee anything right now."
"That's fine. We just need it as soon as you can."
"I'll see, but for now take a look at this map, and I will try to get that pipboy of yours a map of the country."
"Thanks."
"Yeah. For now though, we must check here on how you will get through, and where your destination will be."
"We're looking to go to this city here on the east side of the map."
"Washington D.C.? Are you sure?"
"Yes, that's where a friend of mine told me that we should head to."
"Why?"
"He said that he knew someone from that area."
"Really? Well if that's the location, then plan how this route will go."
"We will, but I have a group of people downstairs going with me, and they have to know the plan as well. Let me get them."
"You do that."
Will heads downstairs to get the others, and Kyle turns to Jamie, sighing.
"How long were you pregnant for?" Kyle asks angrily.
"From what I can guess, it's been about four months," Jamie responded, holding her ground.
"I was only gone for two months, trying to get these fucking maps for you, and you've been pregnant for two months prior to that!"
"Yes, and I don't love you anymore. I love Will now."
"What? You've always told me he never treated you well."
"He did after my father died, and you left me alone!"
"I never intentionally left you alone! I work for the NCR! Me coming here every weekend was becoming suspicious to my CO's."
"So disappearing for months at a time without you ever telling me where you were or when you were going to come back is 'alright' with you."
"No, I'm not saying that, I'm saying-" tries to say Kyle, but is cut off by Will entering with the rest of the crew.
"What are you trying to say?" asked Will.
"I'm just telling her that it wasn't too great of an idea to just cut through Arizona, but to cut at least a north like in Utah."
"Alright, that sounds like an idea."
"Okay, so now that everyone is here. Let's get to planning."
The plans that they chose ran north until they reached Salt Lake City, where they planned to cut east until the hit the Mississippi River. In which, they planned to follow the Missouri River to St. Louis where they followed the highways until they reached D.C. A month of planning went into finalizing and preparing for the route they were going to take. Everyone stocked on the necessities and supplies they were going to take on the road. Kyle prepped the map onto Will's pipboy with the route in place for them to view. This moment on was their last time to say goodbye to anyone because once they hit the road, there was no turning back.