Redemption Calls

Chapter 3: Odd Encounters

The shot rang out as clear as day and his lifeless body fell with a heavy thump. Jackson opened his eyes slowly and saw the Legionary lying on the ground infront of him, blood leaking from a hole in the side of his head.
"Come on Jackson, I didn't save your ass just so you could freeze on me. We have to get out of here" David shouted as lowered his rifle.
"Uhhh yeah... just give me a few moments" Jackson replied as he began to search over the bodies. Finally he found a small note folded in the pocket of one man.

"Hunt down and kill the traitor known as Jackson Tahano for crimes he has committed against the Legion. Bring me back his head as proof of the deed. Your reward will be first pick of the next batch of slaves to come in.
If you do not find him or fail in your mission you will be executed."

With a sigh he screwed the note up and threw it away.
"You know these guys"
"In the past"
And off they walked towards their destination. A town known as Oasis.

The sandstorm struck the two men by surprise and Jackson was soon lost. He had lost sight of David moments ago and no matter how loud he called or how hard he listened he heard no reply. Wandering through the desert with the sand stinging any bare skin he eventually found his way to what seemed to be a large cave. Wanting to escape the storm he stumbled in without a second thought.

David:
"Damn it, where the hell did he go?" David thought as sand danced through the air around him. He squinted his eyes trying to see the shape of his friend somewhere but saw only the dirty yellow of the sand. Slowly walking forward he thought he heard his name and shouted back but there was no reply. "This is the end" he thought falling to his knees, the sand burrowing into his flesh. He saw a silhouette in the distance and tried to walk towards it but his knees buckled below his weight and he fell forward onto the sand. As the darkness enveloped him the silhouette was gone.

Jackson:
Pulling out his revolver he walked deeper into the cave. It appeared empty so he found a small cavern to the side and lay down. David was somewhere in that storm and he was sitting down in a cave. "Good work mate, first fella to not shoot at you on sight and you go and lose him". He tried to move but found he was too weak, not remembering the last time he ate. Searching his pack he eventually found an old can of beans and tore the thing open, scooping the innards into his mouth. A few minutes later and he was finished, throwing the can off to the side he sat back against the wall and shut his eyes. Sleep eventually found it's way to him.

David:
He awoke suddenly, reaching for a gun that wasn't there. He lay in a tent of some sort, animal hides hanging all around him. Slowly getting up he walked outside and saw that the storm had past. The sun lay overhead in the sky and he saw not sand underneath his feet but instead rocks.
"Ahh I see you are awake" a voice rang out causing him to jump. He noticed only then the frail old lady sitting in a chair a few feet away from him.
"You were a tough one to find, luckily they told me how to".
"I'm sorry, who told you, was it a man in an overcoat?"
"No no no, no man could give me that information. They did", she said while staring up at the sky.
"They talk about you a lot you know, you and your friend. You have quite the journey ahead of you".
"What do you mean?"
"Please if we are to talk you must take a seat" she said as a chair seemingly appeared out of thin air. He slowly lowered himself onto its wooden surface.
"Do you know anything about where I can find Jackson?" He asked with panic rising in his voice.
"Do not worry for him, he will soon awaken and make his way towards Oasis and you must do the same"
"What, why must I meet him there. Why don't I just go out and find him now".
"No, that is not what they said to do. Please listen and I will tell you what they speak of". As she spoke David saw her eyes go blank and she slowly drew a shaking breath.
"You must go to Oasis and meet your friend there. Do not meet him before or you will both die an unpleasant death. Your future is intertwined with his and we know who you are. You are the one who saved The Capital Wasteland, the one they call The Lone Wanderer".
"I left that place and title behind long ago. I am no longer that man".
"Ahh but you see your past is one you can't escape from. We know of how you have lied to him. Your path is one of betrayal David, be careful of how you walk it".
David sat there for a moment staring at this strange woman before him. "Betrayal, surely she doesn't mean Jackson?"

Jackson:
Awoken from his dreams by the sounds of something metal being dragged, Jackson instantly stood up hand by his revolver. He stood motionless as he watched something walk past his outcrop. A 10 foot tall mass of muscles lumbered past and Jackson cursed himself for being so stupid as to not check the cave. "Walked right into a bloody Deathclaw nest, good work". Pulling out his revolver he slowly walked around the beast and once there was a good distance between he speed up. Moving forward he felt his foot hit something and a loose rock goes flying across the ground and hits the wall. Freezing and slowly turning around he saw the Deathclaw slowly sniff the air and it turns to face him and let's out a roar that'll surely put hair on your chest. The mass of flesh, claws and rage then charged directly at him eyes gleaming maliciously. "Well shit"...