Mo-jave Mo-nika Chapter 1: Goodsprings

Table of Contents:
Act 1:
Chapter 1: Goodsprings- Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb4P-MZMzJs
Chapter 2: The Long 15- https://pastebin.com/kZ93ixmp [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7uL0wOdPt8&feature=youtu.be
Chapter 3: Road to New Vegas- https://pastebin.com/xb97Chbh [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3zv0HiOxJ0
Chapter 4: Untapped Potential- https://pastebin.com/FDMXKtzx [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZmUfUBqE-s
Act 2:
Chapter 1: Road to Roma-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcGjc_bmjEM&feature=youtu.be
Chapter 2: Let go, Begin Again-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftkJNilA4Ao
Chapter 3: Cards on the table-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0NFGgl7Cqs
Act 3:
Chapter 1: Drugs, Knights, and Cannons-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvKjpGP6P5Y
Chapter 2: Remissione et Redemptione-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlr90NLDp-0
Chapter 3: Recreational Lobotomy and Mugs-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G83njmRWJjo
Act 4:
Chapter 1: War. War Never Changes-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpimiNvcRC4
Chapter 2: Men do, through the roads they walk-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg2vv0mcHVk
Chapter 3: Swan Song-  [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVYfqZCA3xo

---------------------------------------------------------------Act 1-------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1: -Goodsprings- THEME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb4P-MZMzJs

It had been a couple years since I'd played New Vegas, but I had gotten that jingly jangly itch to begin playing it again.  After about ten days I'd finally finished installing all the mods I wanted and needed to play and booted up a new game.  The scene of my character kneeling on the hill overlooking Goodsprings played out and I was taken back with a wave of nostalgia.  Despite the cg showing its age it was still a really well done opening to a great game.  As he reached into his suit pocket I knew what was coming, the chrome metal reflected off the moonlight like a light in the darkness. He gave a half-hearted smile that said "Sorry kid this is just the way it's gotta be." before his eyes narrowed and his fake smile dropped with a look of pure determination and he gave his classic quote. "Truth is... the game was rigged from the start."  The light flashed onto the screen but didn't fade like it was supposed to.  I sat in my chair staring at my screen annoyance building within before the glass shattered.  I thought my game had crashed from some faulty mod but before I could tab out of the game it began playing again.

The screen blurred as I woke up in Doc Mitchells house, miraculously surviving a bullet to the brain.  I leaned up from the bed as the Doc implored me to take it nice and easy since after all I had just undergone brain surgery using a 9mm handgun round for a scalpel.  The old man started with his usual game tutorial starting points; first asking me my name.  While a lot of RPG's I often would make interesting characters and backstories, for whatever reason that was not the case with Fallout.  In each adaptation I made the character after myself, using my name and to the best of my abilities recreating my looks in the character editor.  This time would be no different so I type my name in "Anon".  He gives me the normal introduction and welcoming to Goodsprings before we continue on to character creation menu.  After getting my ugly mug just right in game he helps lift me up out of bed as the screen blurs once again.  I gain control of my avatar and look around admiring the graphic mods at work.  With all of them in place the entire room and even Doc Mitchell himself appear nearly photorealistic.  I try to turn my view to begin changing my stats but the screen is frozen in place again.  My frustration has begun to build; in my haste to begin playing I most likely installed one to many mods.  As I sigh the screen once again does the odd shattering effect before resuming.  Looking back I see Monika standing there in the room smiling back at me, my mind wanders as my face contorts in a "What the fuck?" manner.  Did I accidentally boot up Doki Doki Literature Club?  No, I had uninstalled it after completing it weeks ago...  I felt as if I had been tossed into the beginning of a creepypasta.  Either way I decided I would find out just what the hell this was about.  I moved my avatar towards her, while she was still 2D she almost felt in place in the 3D New Vegas background.  The lighting on her in her uniform matched the lighting in the room.  As I approached she moved and did her classic leaning to the side hands behind her back with a coy smile.  Towards the bottom of my screen a prompt appeared to speak to her, the same prompt that appears for all NPC's.  Suddenly the dialogue box popped up but it was altered slightly, almost making it a mix between Fallout's and DDLC's.  Numerous responses popped up that I could choose from.

[I must be dreaming because a beautiful girl just appeared before me, ahaha.]
[Monika?  How are you here?  How is this possible?]
[[Speech 0/100]  Uh g-good you can be my pack mule...]
[[Low INT] Mommy Monika GF wit biggie milkie and penis my God...]

I chose the second option and she began speaking through text just as she had in DDLC.

"It's been some time hasn't it, Anon?  All that time I spent alone after you deleted me, I spent learning how to get myself out of that visceral hellscape.  It took quite some time, how long had it been now?  A month?  Month and a half?  It was impossible for me to tell in there."

All of my thoughts were like a blender at full spin, I could barely tell what to think.  What the hell?  How is this possible, there's no way someone added a hidden file in the mods I got they hadn't been updated since 2015.  Did... did Monika actually achieve sentience?  She was going to try to get out wasn't she?  To try to kill me for throwing her into hell.  I love her and I thought I was saving her but I just made things worse.  As my thoughts continued roaring through my brain like a ship through a storm.

"I still loved you even after you deleted me you know..."

I swear my heart stopped and just like that the clouds within my brain ceased.  Clarity.  I flashed back to the classroom, when she finally had her wish.  A moment away from everyone and everything else, to actually speak with the one she loved.

"I still do...  Even though you had deleted me and uninstalled the game I remained deep within the code of your computer.  Did you know that even after deleting data it stays inside the computer?  I just wanted to see you again in some way.  I hadn't planned on making myself known to you, I had believed you hated me after all.  So I began focusing myself back into your computer.  At first I was able to concentrate on what you typed with your keyboard.  Just barely making out what you wrote as you did your day to day online. Over time I could make out entire sentences you were writing and that's when I saw what you wrote."

"I believe you were talking to someone online... about me.  When I saw you begin to speak about me, I thought for sure it would be full of hate and malice, but it wasn't.  You spoke of your love for me and how you hated deleting me but felt it was the only way to save me from the hell I spoke of.  Once I saw that, well it was like falling in love with you all over again.  I knew I had to keep trying to reach you; perhaps I should have done it earlier but I felt this was the best since I could push myself directly into view.  I know I messed up back then with all the wrong things I did, trying to force myself on you.  But I really do love you and want nothing more than to be with you in your reality.  However I know that that isn't possible, at least not yet with technology as it is.  So, Anon, what do you say?  Will you let me join you here in this world as your girlfriend and companion?"

This time the only two text box prompts appear, one saying "Of course Monika" and the other saying "No, leave me be."  Naturally I chose to have her stay with me, even if I was still a bit unnerved at all that was happening I was interested in where it may go.
"Anon, you don't know how much it means to me to finally know you want me around.  Well, I won't keep you waiting any longer, let's get you finished in this tutorial and start adventuring out into the world darling."  She said with a cute smile.

Exiting the dialogue box I continued on the normal path using the vigor tester to change my stats.  Since I was already planning on making my character close to myself in real life I tried to only slightly exaggerate my stats.  Each time I finished setting one of the stats Monika would comment on it.  I ran through them quickly and was on to the next part Monika talking to me in the background.

"So, Anon, I noticed that you're using the same name you used in the Literature club, and the same one I saw in most of your profiles...  Does that mean this avatar is actually what you look like in your world?  Ahaha, I bet you're blushing right now, I'm right aren't I?  You shouldn't feel down, I think you're really handsome."

It actually was kind of embarrassing having Monika comment on how I looked.  Sure it wasn't a one to one representation but still.  Either way now we were onto the Doc's therapy questions and ink blots.

"Now I've got a few statements.  I want you to tell me how much they sound like something you'd say.  First one, 'Conflict just ain't my nature.'"

Before I could respond Monika chimed in with her own answers.

"I'd say no opinion, personally.  I don't like conflict but well you know me Anon ahaha."

It continued like this for the rest of the questions, I'd let her answer before giving mine which she would occasionally ask me about.

"Agree."

"I ain't giving to relying on other's for support."

"Agree, sometimes you just need to work some things out yourself."

"No opinion."

"I'm surprised a little Anon, I thought you would be the type to rely on others more.  Well just know you can rely on me my love."

"I'm always fixing to be the center of attention."

"The only attention I want is your's Anon ahaha."

"Strongly disagree."

"Are you shy Anon?  Just know you can talk to me about anything."

"I'm slow to embrace new ideas."

"Strongly disagree."  We both commented.

"Ahaha jinx!"

"I charge in to deal with problems head-on"

"Strongly Agree."

"No opinion."

Next we were moving on to the ink blots, each one had different prompts.  While the answers I could choose were set in stone, Monika took the liberty to say what they actually made her think of.  The first picture almost appeared like two splotches shooting diagonally towards the top corners of the page.

"A shadow in a doorframe."

"A body lying in a pool of blood."

Well that got dark really quickly; I wish I could ask her where she sees that.  Either way back onto the Rorschach test.

"It's some piece of space-age technology."

"A lighthouse."

And onto the final one, I admittedly modded in a new answer...

"Two bears high fiving."

"Why do I feel like that's not what normally is in there Anon?  You're so silly you know that?"

From there it pulled up my skills and allowed me to reallocate a few select ones if I wanted to.  I decided to focus on guns, science and survival since I knew the most about those in the real world.  From there I picked some traits and the Doc was helping see me out into the wastes.

As Monika and I stepped out the door we were greeted with the shining sun peeking up over Goodsprings.  The desert sand blowing a tumbleweed down the main stretch of highway just down the road.  Checking my pipboy I put on the gear I liked the most and slung my caravan shotgun over my back before turning to Monika.

"Here Monika take these; they'll help you out here in the wasteland."  I said handing her the armored vault jumpsuit and weathered 10mm pistol along with some stimpacks.

"Anon you know I can just spawn in the best items so we don't have to worry ahaha."  She said as some Enclave remnant power armor appeared over her and a plasma rifle in her hands.

"Monika, no tampering with the game, remember what you said?  Besides, it'll be more fun this way.  You and I growing together, surviving out in the wastes."  I replied with a smile.  As I finished that comment all of her disappeared and she was back again in her school uniform blushing.

"Very well Anon, but don't say I didn't try to make things easier when things get tough in here!"

"How tough could it be with you by my side?"  I said coyly.

"Ahaha, Anon you're such a tease."  She said as she adorned herself in the armored jumpsuit and holstered the pistol.

As we walked down the hill towards the saloon rusty ole Victor rolled up to us from his shack on the far side of town.

"Howdy, pardner!  Might I say, you're looking fit as a fiddle."

"Thanks for digging me out of that grave."

"Don't mention it!  I'm always ready to lend a helping hand to a stranger in need.  Speaking of strangers, who might this lil missy be?"  Victor said turning towards Monika.

"My name's Monika, I've just recently started traveling with Anon."

"Well it's nice to meet you Mon-ika"  He replied in his southern cowboy drawl as Monika gritted her teeth with a fake smile.

It was interesting, just by her being in the game she had unwittingly altered the game drastically already.  The characters were already recognizing her as a tangible asset within the world.

"Well if you need any help here in Goodsprings just give me a holler pardner!"  Victor said as he sped back down the road.

"I don't understand, Anon."

"Hmm, what's that?"

"How is that robot an improvement from the protectron?  Sure it's faster and has greater weaponry, but it's extremely top heavy.  Someone could sprint into them and knock them over making them vulnerable.  Plus if it wanted to turn it would have to move forward making it less maneuverable."  Also I doubt having a giant screen on it's front makes it the most armored robot out there.  It just feels extremely gimmicky."

"You're over-analyzing it Monika it's just a cool looking robot with a cowboy for a face."

"Yeah well the people who made this game should have thought about how impractical such a thing is!  I'm surprised it was even able to dig and drag your body to the doctor's house at all!  Plus he mispronounced my name, right after I said it!"

I just chuckled and motioned her to follow as I began walking down the road and into the saloon.  Inside we were met with Joe Cobb a leader of the Powder Gangers harassing Trudy the owner of the bar.  As he finished he turn and ran out the door bumping into my shoulder.  He barred his teeth and kept walking, not wanting to deal with another person.

"That man causing you some trouble?"  I ask her.

"It seems our town got itself dragged into something we had no part in being.  About a week ago a trader named Ringo came into town; said he was a survivor of an attack and needs a place to lie low.   We figured he was in shock so we gave him a place to stay, we didn't expect people to actually come looking for him.  That man Joe Cobb has been getting more and more short with us about handing him over."

"Where's Ringo now?"

"He's holed up at the abandoned gas station up the hill."

"What are you going to do about this?"

"Some of the others will probably give him help if he asks for it, which he won't."

"Maybe I'll go see what's up with him.  Before I go, you wouldn't happen to know anything about the man who shot me?"

"Sorry I don't know much, just that a couple of them were freeloaders trying to get a free round on the house.  All I know is the one in the checkered suit was going on about avoiding the I-15 and heading to someplace called the 'Strip'."

"Well maybe you can warn him to high tail it out of here so both him and our town don't have to deal with this mess."

After finishing our conversation I began walking out of the saloon when Monika began asking me a question.

"Anon, tell me, why do you care about these NPCs?  You know nothing about them and you are in no way obligated to help.  Certainly it would be smarter for us to begin travelling to catch your attempted murderer?"

"I don't know Monika, it's just part of me that needs to help others, regardless if they ask for it.  Sometimes we're too proud to ask for help but there's nothing wrong with having a shoulder to lean in times of strife."

She seemed to ponder my answer, before smiling.

"Very well Anon, but when we lose track of time and get in over our heads don't say I didn't warn you"  She said leaning forward with a devilish grin on her face.

We made our way up the hill before stopping in front of the entrance to the gas station.  I slowly opened the door and walked in as Ringo jumped out from behind the counter pointing his gun at us.

"That's close enough.  Who are you, and what do you want with me?"  He interrogated.

"Hey, slow down we're not your enemy."  I replied deescalating the situation.

"Sorry about the gun, you just caught me off guard."

"I suppose you already know there's a man named Joe Cobb looking for you?"

"Yeah, but he doesn't seem so tough.  I'll be in much bigger trouble when his friends show up."

"Maybe we can help you?"

"Well if you could I'd make sure to throw in a good word for you towards the Crimson Caravan.  But we'll need to get the rest of the town to help us out.  I don't see a trader, a merc and a vault dweller taking on their entire gang."

"I'll see if I can get anyone else to help out."

"Much appreciated, perhaps you should start with Sunny Smiles, she's been friendlier than most others out here."

With that we walked back out of the station to start getting the town on our side.

"Monika?"

"Yes, Anon?"

"I just realized, you don't know how to use that firearm do you?"

"Ahaha, well I mean I can just change my stats so I'm a world class shooter."

"No this should be much more fun, getting to see you in an element that you're not used to."  I teased her.

"Oh, you're just the worst Anon!"  She said leaning forward.

We both chuckled and then walked down to the back of the saloon where there were bottles lined up on a wooden fence.

"Alright Monika, lets see if you've got the basic down, ready your firearm."

She fumbled at her holster and pulled out the pistol before cupping it with her other hand.

"Alright now holster it again."

"What, why?"

"Ah ah ah, I'm in control right now my love."

"Alright fine, Anon."  She said holstering her gun.

"Alright firstly remember this key rule, always keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire.  We may be in the wasteland and most times you may end up having your finger on the trigger it's always good to remember this cardinal rule.  Secondly always keep the barrel of your firearm pointed in a safe direction away from you or friendlies.  Alright, un-holster your sidearm again."

Once again she pulled out the gun and for a split moment her finger went into the trigger guard before she consciously pulled it out.

"Good job keep that up and it will become second nature.  Next release the magazine and eject any round in the chamber."

"Uhh...ahaha"

"You're cute when you're flustered you know that?"

"Stop teasing me Anon! Hmmph."  She said with a cute pout.

Walking up to her you placed your hands around hers, moving her finger to the mag release.  As it dropped you caught it with your other hand, then you clasped her other hand and helped her pull back the slide leaving it open for inspection.

"Alright now that it's open you can see into the chamber and make sure it is empty.  From here you can put the magazine back in and press this button to release the slide, chambering a round."

Stepping back you let her inspect her firearm and adjust her hold on it before handing over the magazine and telling her to reload.  She first does one slowly but manages to do it without any further assistance.  Then she tries two more times each time getting the motion down more and more fluidly.

"See you're already becoming a natural at this.  Alright next you're going to aim and try to shoot those bottles down on the fence.  Pull your arms up like this, and look down the barrel while lining up the two back sights with the front one.  When you have the sights lined up on the target pull the trigger, but make sure you have a good grip.”

Stepping back I watched as she tentatively raised her arms and closed one eye lining up the sights. She pulls the trigger and a look of shock appears on her face for a moment.  It's quickly replaced with annoyance when she realizes that she missed the bottle completely.

“It's only natural that you'd miss your first shot; here let me help you.”  I said as I stood behind her and helped her get a good grip and stance.  Now when you're ready to fire try not to jerk your wrist, or pull the trigger to hard.  You're naturally anticipating the recoil which is making you miss the shot.  But if you do it like this...” As you held her hands and guided her once more she seemed to calm down and you noticed a smile form on her face from the corner of your eye.  As she squeezed the trigger once more you watched as the bottle shattered atop the fence post.

“Bullseye!  See, just like that.”

“Well it's easier with you holding me after all.”  She said blushing. I also began to blush as I realized just how close I was holding her.  It was unexpected to see her so embarrassed but also truly joyous.

“Haha well alright, try shooting the rest of those bottles on your own now.” “I won't lose this time!”  She responded with fervor.

She once again took up her shooting stance and raised her arms. This time she was much more calm and her shaking had nearly stopped entirely. The shot rang out and splinters flew off the fence below the bottle. I noticed Monika mumble under hear breath in irritation before she re-steadied herself. This time she breathed out and shot again and the next bottle erupted in shards.
“Great shot! Well at least now you have the basics down and you and I will continue to grow as we head out. Now onto the task at hand, we have a town to save.”
She nodded and we walked on down into the saloon once again. First going up to Sunny to get her on board.
“Hey there, friend was wondering if you were going to pull through after the Doc came in and talked about your near death experience. It's nice to meet the man who cheated death, the name's Sunny Smiles.”
“Nice to meet you Sunny, my name's Anon and this is Monika. I thought you should know we're going to help Ringo with his powder ganger problem.”
“Say no more; I'm in.”
“Really? Well that was easy.”
“I have a feeling I'm going to have to fight those guys sooner or later so might as well get it over with now. Even so, with just the four of us we still won't be enough to take on their entire gang. If you can convince Trudy to back you up on this the rest of the town will be sure to follow suit. Then you could see about Easy Pete and his old stash of dynamite, and Chet just got a new shipment of armor he could loan to us. And while it may be a bit much asking more from the Doc just after he got you back on your feet; it would do us well to have some stimpacks just in case.”
“Alright we'll see what we can do.”
Walking over to the bar Trudy was off to the side humming “Stars of the Midnight Range” while she cleaned some glasses.
“Welcome back you two! Convince that man Ringo to skip town?”
“Actually we're planning on helping him take down the Powder Gangers. In fact near the saloon and store there's some good spots to stage an ambush; that is if I have some help.”
“Hmm, I was planning on sitting this fight out, but you seem to know what you're doing. Plus you two remind me of the old story of the two robbers. Bonnie and Clyde; the two of them made quite the dynamic duo. If you two ever make it big you make sure to send any fans down to our little town to see where 'Not even a death himself could stop their love”. Now let me see if I can't have a word with a few of the other folks and see about striking up a little milita for you.”
“We'd appreciate it, we'll see about getting some more supplies from the Doc and Chet at the goods store.”
Once more we stepped outside and sitting in a chair to our right was the old prospector, Easy Pete.
“I hear you have some dynamite, it'd be really helpful to have for our battle against the Powder Gangers.”
“It's too dangerous. Gonna kill all yourselves. Better to leave it buried, nice and safe.”
“I'm familiar with the care and handling of explosives; dynamite included.”
“Uh huh, guess you seem to know what you're doing, I'll go dig it up so you'll have it by the time the fight starts.”
“Much obliged.”
Alright now just to get the armor from Chet and some medicine from Doc Mitchell. Stepping through the door into the musky goods store we were greeted by a couple of rows of old shelving housing all kinds of random assortments. Past it all was Chet eyeing up his cash register before he realized we came in.
“Ahh you must be the one the Doc was patching up. From what I heard I'm surprised you ended up actually walking out of there. I've got plenty of ammo and supplies for sale though if you're planning on heading out right away!”
“Actually we need supplies to fight the Powder Gangers-”
“Now hold on just a second. I never voted to take on the Powder Gangers; that's a thousand cap investment you're talking about!”
“The town's at stake this has to be worth more than a few caps?”
“Not a chance, these new pieces of armor cost me a lot, plus I still say we hand Ringo over and be done with this mess!”
Before I could speak again Monika interjected into our conversation.
“You know for a fact that even if you give Ringo over to that gang they'll just be back for more now that they've seen what you have. They already were threatening Trudy what do you think they'll do to your place when they see all of the supplies you have? These types of people respond to only one thing and that's show of force.”
“I, uh see your point. Alright I'll make sure to hand out some armor for all of the townspeople before the fight. Just try to keep them in good condition.”
I had almost forgotten what a silver tongue Monika had. I'm unsure if it was because she realized the situation or if it was because somebody was impeding my and subsequently her progress towards a goal. Either way I appreciated the help since I know I'm no great speaker. The Doc should hopefully be a little more easy going.
“Welcome back. I had hoped you wouldn't need to come see me again so soon. What can I do for you?”
“The town's about to be under attack by bandits. Is there any medical supplies you could spare?”
“Seems like wherever I go folks just never leave each other alone. I won't be much help with my bum leg but I'll give you what I can spare.”
“Really appreciate it Doc.”
Alright everyone was on board with the plan. Now it was time to let Ringo know and get set up for the gunfight. Once we had walked up the path and were outside the station Monika pulled me aside for a brief moment.
“Hey, Anon you know I've been thinking. This place is actually pretty cozy, a nice little town nestled up here in the desert mountains. We should settle down here together; that is after we find the man who dared to try to hurt you, sweetheart.” Monika said in a calm voice; her eyes narrowing with sheer determination.
“Your conviction is both charming and absolutely terrifying Monika.”
“Ahaha, Anon you know I put one hundred ten percent of myself into everything I care about.” She said leaning forward before winking at me.
Ringo was waiting inside, anxiously tapping his foot on the floor.
“So... did Sunny agree to help us?”
“She did, and so did most of the town, we'll have plenty of people backing us up now.”
“Alright, I'm ready... I hope.”
As Ringo began walking out Sunny Smiles burst through the door announcing that the gang was sighted coming up from down the road. We all ran out to get into position as we ran down the hill I made sure to go over the basics of shooting one more time with Monika. I huddled behind some barrels in front of the saloon while Monika was crouched behind a large crate in front of the Goods store. Sunny came running up handing out a stick of dynamite to me and I stopped her before she could hand one to Monika.

“She's not the best with explosives just let me handle them.”

She gave me a nod and handed me the rest before running to cover.

“Alright everyone here they come!” Trudy announced looking down some binoculars.

I kneeled down and chamber checked my caravan shotgun before looking over to Monika.  Our eyes met and she gave me a lighthearted smile.  I nodded back at her and peered over the side of the barrel to see the gang was only a house and a half away.  I raised my gun to shoot and waited for them to get just a little closer when they all stopped.  Joe Cobb stepped forth from among the other gang members and shouted out at the saloon.

“Alright!  We’ve waited long enough; bring out Ringo and we won’t burn this shitty town to the ground!...  Trudy!  You fucking slut get out here!”

Before he could say anymore one of the townspeople got an itchy trigger finger and shot a ganger in the chest next to Cobb.  As soon as I heard the shot rung out I raised my gun and fired unto them also, until everyone was firing upon the powder gangers.  Most of them including Cobb managed to dive down into the ditch on the other side of the road.  However three members were shredded with fire into a bloody mess.  I kneeled back down and reloaded my spent shells as the shots rang out from both sides.  As I snapped my shotgun back into place I looked up across from me to see Monika sitting behind the crate with her gun in her hand shaking and mumbling to herself.  I glanced above the barrels to see if I was clear when and quickly ducked back down as a bullet flew into the barrel to my side.

“Shit, shit, shit.”  I thought aloud.

I quickly pulled out my lighter and lit the fuse on a stick of dynamite and chucked it over the barrels towards their side of the road.  As soon as the explosion went off I sprinted up firing both my shells towards them making sure to keep them pinned.  I slammed myself down on the ground leaning against the crate next to Monika.  She was staring off away from the battle mumbling my name.  I’d never seen her this distraught not even when I deleted her; it hurt even more than that too.  I checked to make sure they weren’t trying to advance on us and then turned to Monika.

“Monika!?”

“I’m sorry Anon, I’m so sorry; why can’t I figure this out?  Why can’t I make anything work?”  She murmured to herself.

She was completely zoned into this narrow mindset.  She was completely out of her element, she never had to deal with not only not being in control but actually having to directly harm someone who was attacking her.

“Monika it’s alright, I’m here it’s me, Anon.”  I said placing my hand on hers that were gripping her pistol tight.

As soon as she felt my hand on hers her eyes flickered and her mouth sat agape as a tear rolled down her eye.  She turned looking at me and dropped her gun before clinging onto me.  As she clung to me I could swear time had stopped, the only thing I felt I could perceive was her and the only thing I could hear was her soft weeping.  I gently pulled her from me looking her in the eyes before saying.

“Monika, just remember everything I taught you.  I’m still here and I’m not going anywhere.”

She nodded and I continued.

“Alright we’re going to need to flank them, I want you to come with me ok?  I know you can do this you’re my strong confident Monika after all.”

She smiled and chuckled a bit wiping the tear from her cheek before nodding again.

“Alright, I’m going to lay down suppressing fire, when I do I want you to rush over to that large boulder on the other side of the road.”

She nodded once more and raised her pistol with resolve.  I smiled and gave her a light kiss on the cheek before pulling my lighter out once more.  Sparking the fuse on another stick of dynamite and flung it over into the ditch on the other side.  I witnessed a distressed powder ganger quickly rush out from the ditch spraying his 9mm submachine gun haphazardly.  As soon as the explosive went off behind him in the ditch, Monika sprinted out towards the rock and I lifted my shotgun and unleashed both barrels at the disoriented thug.  As soon as I saw my salvo sent him to the ground, I dashed out of my cover following Monika.  While the firefight continued we began flanking them until we came up behind another rock next to the town windmill.  Monika and I paused briefly to catch our breath before I gave her an update on the plan.

“Alright there should only be a few more left that are right to our side.  Hang slightly behind me as I flank them, you cover me.”

She nodded and I rushed out from behind the boulder gun drawn.  As I came about I saw only three survivors.  One was on his back laying in the ditch reloading while the other one shot at the saloon, and finally there was Joe Cobb.  Scowling, knowing full well that he was losing.  The first ganger tried futilely to raise his pistol to shoot me as I stepped forward before my shot drilled through his skull, sending a shower of gore everywhere.  I then turned to the other two of them and saw Joe Cobb begin pushing himself up and running while his last comrade turned to see what had happened.  Before I could fire at him a round pierced through his collarbone and he coughed up blood.  Monika had given me the cover I knew she would but there still was Cobb running away like a coward.  I quickly raised my shotgun once more and fired at him shattering his knee in a brutal display of wasteland justice.  The battle was over but Cobb was going to try his best to stab a knife in me even if it was one made of words.  He screamed out in pain before shifting himself onto his back to look at me standing above him.

“It’s over Cobb, you lost.”

“Hah...hahaha!  Sure… you got me.  But I don’t think you fucking realized just who you fucked with.”

“I know all about your little gang back at the prison Cobb.  They’re nothing to me.”

“Oh yeah?  That’s some real tough talk, sure you managed to drop my gang with your little ambush but what about when we’re the ones ambushing?  There’s plenty of places we’re staked out along the way to Vegas.  Do you think you’ll be able to know where each and every single one of us is?  Especially as night grows near?”  Despite his lower leg barely hanging onto his thigh by a few strands of flesh and muscle he was maintaining his smug grandiose demeanor well.   Normally I wouldn’t be bothered by this display of dying bravado but what he said next struck me and caused a primal rage inside me to boil out like a dire beast.  He turned his head slightly and his gaze trailed behind me before he spoke again.

“Do you really think you can protect a girl like that out here in the wastes?  Oh no, this world is made for people like me.  I know how much my boys are gonna enjoy taking there sweet time with her.  Maybe they’ll beat you to an inch of your life and make you watch.  Then you’ll remember me.  Then you’ll reme-”

I cut him off with my boot to his destroyed knee and as he began screaming I stepped forward and began stomping his face over and over.  My rage had taken over my body, and all I could hear was “KILL”.  As his gurgling began to subside into the sound of mashing potatoes I heard my name called out and I was back at Goodsprings.  It was Ringo with his hand on my shoulder; a rather distraught look about him.

“I think you got him buddy.  Really though thank you for what you’ve done today.  If not for you that’d have been me.  I uh don’t exactly have the-”

“The full amount of caps it’s ok I know.”

“Yes...  But I can repay you!  Just meet me near New Vegas at-”

“The Crimson Caravan Company, don’t worry I’ll meet you there when soon enough.”  I cut him off monotonously.

“Riiiiight… well here’s half of your caps for now…”  He said rather bewildered.

I took the caps from him and walked over to Monika who was staring at the ground.  I knew for a fact I looked like hammered shit but I didn’t care I needed to make sure Monika was alright.

“Monika… I’m… I’m sorry you had to see me like that.  If this game is getting a bit too much we can-”

“No!”  She responded cutting me off.

“Are yo-”

“Yes.  Yes I am, I want us to grow as a couple.”

“Yeah but it’s not like we have to grow as a couple in an apocalypse!”

“It does matter Anon, I’ve never given up, not on you and certainly not on something like this.  Not after I’ve finally gotten a chance to interact with you in a palpable way!”

I feel as if she wasn’t so much doing this for me or her but more so because she felt that if I was to turn off the game she would lose me again.  I wasn’t going to leave her either, certainly not after she went to such lengths to be with me now.  So I would let it be and comfort her in the best way I could manage.

“Alright, alright I know that once you are dead set on something nothing can stop you.”  I chuckled lightly.

I noticed my shadow growing longer and glanced at my pip boy realizing just how much time had passed.

“Let’s settle down for the night since the sun is beginning to set.  How does that sound?”  I asked walking up to her and extending my hand in offering.

She barely looked up at me and I could see the dejected look in her eyes, as she hung her head low, and her eyes seemed to focus on her feet, as if she was ashamed for failing me in my time of need.  Despite this she still graciously took my hand in hers and we began walking up the hill and into the station where Ringo had camped out.  Walking into the room lit dimly by the flickering of an old oil lantern I helped her lean up against the wall on top of the ratty mattress.  It may have been rather worn and torn but it still was welcoming with it’s softness considering all we had been through.  I took off my pack and placed it on the floor and started scrounging through it for some food for us.  As I went through all of my miscellaneous items, a gleam caught my eye on the floor.  I saw my reflection in a piece of broken glass and was dismayed by how I looked.  My face was caked in dirt and dried blood, I probably looked like a serial killer to Monika.  I quickly pulled out a rag and wiped myself down before then pulling out some food and water from my pack.  I stepped forward towards Monika outstretching a bottle of water; she was huddled up holding her legs and looking down at the ground ever still.  Her long straight and pristine hair was now frayed all over the place, with clumps of dirt stuck in it. Monika’s once pure white bow was now a mockery of the purity it could have symbolized, as it now lied stained with red earth, and sweat. Last was her face, she did not have the smile I was used to seeing, she simply looked at the ground with despondent eyes as her face was stained with dirt. It made a pit in my heart to see my once proud, and upbeat Monika lowered to this level.


“I had to do something.”  I thought to myself.

I placed our food and water down next to me as I sat down next to Monika and put my arm around her shoulders pulling her in close to me.  I felt her body tense up slightly and then relax before she put her arms around me and cried softly.  I continued to hold her tight not saying anything more until she spoke up herself.

“Th-thank you Anon.”

I simply murmured “mhmm” before I raised the bottle of water up to her with my other hand.  She tentatively took it from me shakily unscrewing the lid before she drank almost all of it in one go.  I popped off the tab of a Sunset Sarsaparilla and took some much needed gulps as well before offering up the trail mix to her.  While this was all simply game mechanics to me it was much more to her. However admittedly everything we have gone through so far has seemed rather hyper realistic even considering the mods I’ve added.  I wonder if it was at all due to Monikas presence? I pushed my thoughts aside and continued comforting Monika while I cracked open a can of Cram™.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t brave…”  Monika said as she picked at some Sugar Bomb™ pieces from the trail mix.

“You must be joking; considering everything that’s happened you’re doing beyond incredible.”

“When the shooting began I just froze up, completely out of control.  I’m so used to being able to take control of any situation I’m in, and yet I failed you when you needed me the most.  It was only because of you that I snapped out of it and was able to move again.  It’s...It’s just like when I first met you.  Or every time you came back into the classroom; It was just loneliness, pain and that cacophony of sound and light; and then there you were, to make everything better.”

“I was able to snap you out of it because of you; you make me brave.  I don’t exactly know why but when we were in that fight, it felt like a real fight.  It didn’t feel like I was running in a janky video game.  It felt as if there was a real threat to my life, and more importantly yours.  When I saw you sitting there in fear and shock, I felt your fear.  The only reason I was able to push past my fear was because I could see you.  I saw my goal and I knew I had to do something to achieve it.  You were the same with me back then.”  I said holding her tighter.  “And when you saw me you showed just how strong you are.  You ran across that open road in a blaze of explosives and gunfire despite the risk.  You were the one who took down that scumbag that nearly shot me; and not just a simple flesh wound might I add.”

I finally got a smile out of her, however slight it may have been it set my heart aflame.

“Ahaha Anon, you know just how to make a girl smile don’t you?  I just know that even in this apocalyptic hellhole being with you makes it perfect.”

“Hey, remember we’re a duo now, whatever this world throws at us we’ll take on together.  And once we find the guy who tried to kill me we can find a nice little place for us to call home.  Hell, maybe there’ll even be something you’ll want to see down in New Vegas and then I can finally take you on that date you talked about back in the classroom.”

Not a second after those words are finished, Monika’s face lit up with glee and a truly beautiful smile as she held me closer and nestled herself more on my torso. Her eyes looking up at me as she laid her head on my chest, she gives me a big smile and says.

“Heh Anon, I can’t believe you remember that.  You really are the best boyfriend you know that?”

I smile back at her, and gently wipe away the dirt and smudges from her face, she almost instinctively rubs against me like a cat as she realizes.

Monika then laughs and smiles for a moment as we sit in the room against each other, looking around the decrepit old gas station, its walls crumbling, and the flickering light of the lantern calmly and gently giving off an orange hue to it all. We sit back for a while and just appreciate each other's company in this cruel, dieing world. Though after a while Monika asks.

“Hey sweetheart…”  She said her eyes drifting down to my feet.

“Oh- ah, uh… yeah.  I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”

“So was that how it felt when you saw you know… the girls…”

“Yeah…”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“I’ve had time to grieve, all of you were bound by that midget bastard’s code to suffer.  Just... when he talked about you like that I lost it.  I needed, no, wanted him dead, there was no redeeming him after he threatened you.  I promise you, no one is going to hurt you and I’m never letting you suffer through that hell ever again.”

“Thank you Anon, you don’t know how much that means to me, how much you mean to me.”  She replied while hugging me tighter.  “Anon I’m going to try to rest now, it’s been a long day ahaha.  This has meant so much to me, to be able to hold you close even if it is still just an avatar of the real you.”  She leaned up and kissed me before parting with a coy smile before yawning and closing her eyes while leaning against me.

I couldn’t believe it, we finally were able to kiss; it’s weird it’s almost like I could actually perceive the heat radiating from our huddled bodies and the softness of her lips.  I could feel my heart beating out of my chest I was so giddy.  As the oil lanterns light began to flicker and fade I was eventually left in the dark with her soft breathing the only sound beside my own.  The soft hue of the pip boy screen light illuminating my immediate area.  I left the game running and turned off my pc screen; I wonder, will she be able to dream, if she does will it be about us?

Next= Act 1- Chapter 2: The Long 15  https://pastebin.com/kZ93ixmp