Mo-jave Mo-nika Chapter 2: The Long 15

Table of Contents:
Act 1:
Chapter 1: Goodsprings- https://pastebin.com/ZufU5MtS [] Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb4P-MZMzJs
Chapter 2: The Long 15- 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:  [] 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 2: -The Long 15- THEME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7uL0wOdPt8&feature=youtu.be

Despite the fact that I’d only been playing for about an hour it had felt like we had been in there for a day.  I decided that while Monika sleeped or rested I’d grab myself a little snack to make sure when she awoke I’d be set to continue again with her.  Sitting down at my computer seat once again I took a sip from my drink before checking the screen to see how Monika was.  She was still sleeping, her head resting on my shoulder same as before.  I didn’t want to risk rudely waking her from her sleep by moving my mouse so I just ate my lunch and admired the view.  I had nearly finished my food when I noticed Monika begin to stir.

“Morning sweetheart, sleep well?”  I asked as her eyes adjusted to the light in the room.

“Huh, so I suppose that’s what sleeping feels like then.  It was actually rather peaceful, and I saw visions of somewhere else.  We were together driving down a dirt road in some Italian fishing town before we stopped at a cafe to get coffee.  It was much more vivid than when I imagined similar things.  I...enjoyed it.”  She said with a half smile.

“That sounds both exciting and comfy at the same time.  Maybe one day I’ll find a way to allow us to do just that.”  I replied giving her a smile back.

I stood up and stretched my arms and legs, it was still odd how my avatar seemed to be managing more and more real actions with Monika around.  After stretching I pulled up my Pip-Boy to see how much time had passed.  It was now seven thirty in the morning; much more time had passed while I was gone; seems now would be a good time to begin heading out.

“You feeling up to heading out Monika?  It’s going to be a long trip before we reach a settlement.”  I asked turning back to her as she stood up.

“Well ahaha Anon, this is a bit embarrassing, but there wouldn’t happen to be a place I could shower?”

I remembered just how much we’d already gone through. Monika covered in now dried earth and sweat, while I stood there caked in blood and mud.  I was about to tell her how this was the apocalypse and that showers were not very mainstream when I remembered the Goodsprings Source.

“Well it won’t be hot but there is a place down the road that has purified running water.”

“That’ll be fine, I just need to get this gunk out of my hair.” She said with a frustrated look as she ran her fingers through her hair, picking out dirt and trying to straighten it.

I smile and do a double take on our inventory before slinging my backpack and rifle over my shoulder.  As I step towards the doorway I feel Monika’s arms wrap around my waist and her head lie on my back.

“Thanks again for last night Anon, having you close really helps put me at ease.”

I smile to myself once again before we both exit the derelict station out into the scorched desert.  Heading back down the hill I notice a couple of settlers digging a large hole off the side of the road while Trudy hands out some bottled water. As we reach the bottom of the hill I see to my right all of the corpses of the powder gangers still lying around. Crouching down to rifle through one of their inventories I notice that rigor mortis has fully set in making it hard to pull the ballistic vest off. I adorn it quickly to give me some much needed protection and pocket his loose caps and ammo, and continue to do the same for the other bodies barring the mangled carcass of Joe Cobb.  After looting them I glance to the left and see Chet standing outside staring blankly while biting his nails.

“Hey there Chet, thanks again for the armor it definitely helped with some nicks some of the others got.”

“Yeah, yeah I’m just glad most of them are still in good condition and we can finally put this whole ordeal behind us.”

“As always you’re nothing if not a businessman, Chet. Speaking of, we could use some supplies for the road.”

“No freebies this time!” Chet said crossing his arms, and glaring at us.

I make sure to sell some of the goods I got off the powder gangers to get some extra caps and then head inside to check for supplies. Using the caps I got from Ringo and the items I just sold, I buy Monika and me some extra ammo, repair kits as well as enough food and water to last us until the Mojave Outpost.

“Chet, how much is this hunting rifle?” I ask him eyeing up an old wooden rifle off to the side of the shop.

“Ah, that’ll be five hundred caps.”

I check my Pip-Boy and view my caps only to see that it would cost more then we have. I look through my inventory and see what I can possibly sell as I say.

“Five hundred? That’s pretty steep!”

“Yeah well it’s chambered in .308 packing a bigger punch than most rifles out this way.”  He responded as Monika stepped up and raised the rifle inspecting it.

“Hey careful with that it’s-” He barely finishing talking before Monika cut him off.

“This rifle is hardly worth five hundred caps, the stock is coming apart, the sights will take some serious readjusting to aim right and if you look here you’ll see the barrel is rusted slightly. I’d say this rifle is worth at best three hundred caps.” Monika says with a smug grin.

“Ah well…” He responded with an annoyed expression on his face.

“Also don’t you think we deserve a little discount considering we helped save your town, and more importantly YOUR store from criminals,” Monika’s grin only growing in intensity.

“Whatcha say Chet? I’ll take it off your hands for three hundred caps,” I say with a smile as Monika puts it back down.

“Fine, but just know I only got a box of twelve rounds for it...  how does this little girl know how to weasel prices so well...” He responds bitterly under his breath with a scowl.

“That’ll do, thank you,”  I answer handing him a satchel of caps, as Monika picks up the rifle and slings it over her shoulder.

Heading back outside I turn to Monika and note how this is twice that she’s been able to persuade someone where I couldn’t.

“Sheesh Monika, I knew you had a silver tongue but I’m really seeing it here more than ever.” I say watching her move with her new rifle, a pep in her step.

“Ahaha, thank you Anon!” She says holding my right arm as she rubs against me in glee.

Her laugh and smile still do things to my heart I can’t fully explain but damn if it doesn’t feel good.  Continuing down the road I step up above the mass grave next to Trudy, now filled with the sun baked corpses of the Powder Gangers. The townspeople were just finishing tossing in the last body before wiping the sweat from their brows before heading back to the saloon.  As some passed they spat on the grave and gave Monika and I an appreciative nod.

“That was some battle, and it worked out even better than expected. Only one person was injured badly but should still recover quickly with the Doc’s help. You two really pulled through in our time of need, we won’t forget this. If you have a chance I’ve got a free bottle of your choosing with your name’s on it.” Trudy said turning to face us.

“We’ll have to pass for right now, we have to hit the road; can’t lose to much time catching the sonuvabitch who shot me in the head.”

“Well with what you did to Joe Cobb and the fact you survived two rounds to the face I’d say he’s not going to last long.  Here lemme just grab you one for the road, for when you two have one of those cold but peaceful nights amongst a campfire.” She said with a wink before running off to the saloon and quickly returning.

“Here you go you two, try not to use it all in one go!” She said handing me a bottle of wine with another wink.

“Hah, well I genuinely appreciate it! We’ll make sure to visit after making it to New Vegas.”

She smiled, shook my hand and gave Monika a hug before heading back into her saloon. I then looked at the wine, and showed it to Monika. She looked it over and handed it back, where I placed it in my pack, then we headed back down the road as Monika said.

 “Ahaha, it’s like the time in the club, Anon.”

“Ahh, with Yuri and her wine?”

“Mhmm, well I suppose it wouldn’t be bad to try it this time, after all there aren’t any drinking laws anymore!” Monika replied leaning forward with her cute but oh so flirtatious smile.

“Oh so that’s how Monika is eh? As soon as arbitrary laws are removed she drops all her previous morals huh?” I said with a teasing tone.

“That was never one of my morals, just a law I had to follow. Though now I am free of those restrictions to make my own path, free of the code of my creator. Free to be me!” She said with a smile looking off into the distant mountains and sky holding her hands together close to her heart.

“Free to finally be with you…” Monika said turning toward me her eyes watering. I pulled her close and gave her a big hug. She held me tight in kind, her tears streaming down my chest as I held her tighter. We stood like this for a while enjoying the warm embrace of each other as she let it all out.

“I love you so much, I’m so happy I can finally be with you! To hold you, to see you…. to love you like I never could back there.” She looks up into my eyes smiling as her tears begin to dry, almost as if sped up by the scorching Mojave sun. Her long auburn hair clashing with her blue and grey vault dweller armor, as her green eyes clash with the sands of the Mojave. So out of place in this world, a beautiful loving woman who simply wishes to be with the one she loves, thrust into an apocalyptic hellscape where we have to fight for survival. And yet she wouldn't want to be anywhere else, because all she wanted was to be by my side: if this is where my side is, she will stand with me.
We eventually get ourselves together and head down the road again, now with me and her holding hands as we head toward the spring.

Arriving at the springs I take a look around for any signs of geckos. Luckily I see signs that Sunny Smiles already took care of that problem. The geckos in a pile already skinned and gutted for their meat and hide. I lead Monika to the spring, and tell her.

“Alright we’re here Monika, it’ll be cold but definitely refreshing.  Make sure to enjoy it cause it’ll most likely be the last one we get till we reach New Vegas.”  I say handing her an unwanted outfit to use as a towel.  “I’ll be right behind the cliffside over here, just holler once you’re done and we can get going again.”

“Thanks Anon, I’ll be a bit then.”

“Take all the time you need love.”  I responded wandering towards the other side of the cliff face.

I sat down on a rock on the other side and gazed up into the blue sky thinking about everything that’s happened.  My mind began to wander as I thought about the actual ramifications of Monika being here. Not just from a game standpoint but… that pint-sized devil had somehow created the first truly sentient A.I. I guess I was still in disbelief; she was just a character file and now… now she’s… real.  My thoughts on the subject faded as I heard Monika singing her song for us from around the corner.  As she kept singing the words I eventually started humming the tune back to her. I heard her stop for a split moment before continuing to sing with even more enthusiasm. Me and her singing and humming while she washed herself. Eventually Monika stopped and I heard her call me to her.

“Dear! Come quick!” She said demandingly

I rushed to her worried something was wrong. I quickly turned the corner and locked eyes with Monika. I was surprised and in shock when I saw her standing in the spring nude holding the outfit concealing only a small bit.

“W-what the hell! Monika!” I replied blushing intensely as I tried to contain my lusting gaze.

“Ahaha, Do you like what you see honey?” She says doing a small spin to be sure to show off her now clean and pristine body. Her long luscious legs splashing in the spring, while her perfect thighs and hips glistened in the bright Mojave sun. Her breasts swinging free with a gentle bounce as she twirled, and her long hair now free of any constriction was like a curtain going down her back waving from side to side as she showed her now spotless body off, like an angel amidst this orange scorching hell.

“That’s hot… woah thats hot...” I said under my breath admiring Monika’s now spotless body in all its natural beauty as she flaunted it in front of me.

“What was that, dearest? I couldn’t hear you.” Monika said as she stepped out of the water and rubbed herself down with the rags. Bending over facing away as to show off her back side to me, as well as her sweet spot. She dried herself in front of me, seemingly enjoying all the rapt attention I was giving her. Almost as if she was taunting me as she slipped on her socks and pulled up her vault dweller jumpsuit, only zipping it up to half way. She then said with a coy voice.

“Oh darling? Can you help me with my bra, I can't do it alone.”

“Yes! Definitely my love,” I said excitedly and approached her where she sat on a box and turned around, placing the bra on her lap.

“Darling, my hands are oh so tired from washing and drying myself. Could you be a dear and put my bra on me?” She said brushing aside the curtain that was her hair as she looked over her shoulder with a grin.

“Yes, I can my love!” I then approached her from behind and took a knee as I wrapped my arms around her to pull the bra up to her breast. She was so pristine, so clean, so beautiful. I was so distracted by her radiant beauty that I just sat there for a while arms around her looking into her eyes as she looked over her shoulder at me, legs crossed and the upper part of her Vault dweller uniform tied at the waist.

“Want something, anon?” She said licking her lips and looking deep into my eyes.

“Yes, very much… but we have too much to do today for me to partake in your oh so sweet and loving embrace. As much as I would love to take you right now.” I said with a look of restraint, as I tried to hide my arousal.

I then raised her arms up to slide the bra on, one arm at a time. Then steadily cupped each breast with the bra as Monika helped hold it in place, I could see her chest rising and falling as her heart raced as well, and even though she had just finished washing herself I could tell some sweat had begun to form from her own passion. While I noticed some water run from her hair, down to her face, and onto her breast before she said.

“So dutiful, when you get a mission you are set on it just like me. Ahaha, we are so much alike anon,” She said with a smile as she pulled her flowing hair to the side so as to let me clip her bra together.

“I fell in love with you for more than your body and pretty smile Monika. I love you, for you. You are all that I ever wanted in a woman, all I ever needed to feel whole. Even separated by dimensions and this screen I felt a part of me mended, a part of me that was always missing. I felt love…” Monika began to blush bright red, her cheeks practically glowing. Once I finished hooking the back of her bra she quickly turned around and pulled me in close saying.

“I love you so much, there's nothing more I want in this world then for me to be with you, and for you to feel my love. It makes me so happy to know you love me the same. I can’t express my love for you or my happiness at what you just said in words, so….” She then pulls my head in for a big kiss, her lips meeting mine as she begins to use tongue and I reciprocate her advances. The passion was intense as she started to wrap her arms and legs around me and I stood up holding her. I carried her over to one of the rocks and pressed her against it as we continued. Lips smacking together and tongues dancing around, her moans filling the air and her arms and legs tightening on me. It only stopped when we both had to stop to breath.

“I love you so much Anon. This is only a fraction of my love, believe me! I love you so so much!” She said wild-eyed as she panted trying to catch her breath. I sat her down and let her zip up her vault suit as I helped put her armor plates on her, occasionally stopping to kiss throughout the process. After we finished we just sat there for a moment regaining our composure.

“I love you too Monika. I swear to you I will never leave you, not in my reality, not in your reality, and not even in whatever else awaits us beyond the veil of death.”

“I love you too Anon. I swear the same to you, let's stay together forever,” She said hugging me tight. “Let’s get a move on dear! We still have a scumbag to delete!” Monika exclaimed as she stood up triumphantly raising her fist into the sky with the new hunting rifle in her other hand. Her eyes filled with a flame as she stared at the distant mountains obscuring New Vegas in the distance with the light of the sun glistening off her clear skin, new makeshift bow and auburn hair.

“Yes… Lets.” I said smiling at my now refreshed Monika, as I stood up and lead her back to the main road.

As we continued our way down the lonely stretch of road I remembered my pip boy had a radio.  While the original didn’t have a very abundant amount of music I had modded in a much larger variety. I switched the dial to Radio New Vegas and it began playing “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head” by Dean Martin. Monika giggled at the sudden transition from our quiet walk into blaring horns and vocals. We both continued listening to the music as we travelled holding each others hands as we went. Before long we had come upon the I-15 heading north towards New Vegas and south towards Primm.

“Alright Monika we’re going to need to head south towards Primm and then up and around towards New Vegas using Highway 45. It’s gonna be a couple days but we’ll make it working together,” I said with a wink.

“Anon, New Vegas is straight north on this Interstate, why must we take that much time?”

“Ah, well you see there’s an infestation north on the Interstate making travel much to dangerous for us.”

“Surely my new rifle I got should be good enough to take them?  Or at the very least a path we can sneak through to cut our travel time down.”

I couldn’t help but laugh; she didn’t realize just how dangerous and powerful the monsters up ahead were.

“W-what’s so funny!?  Anon!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Alright, if you must know why we have to go around then I’m alright with taking a slight detour to prove to you why.”

I suppose it would be for the best to show her the real dangers of the wasteland from a distance now, than to potentially run into one unprepared later. It’ll also be nice to see her cute face when I tease her about it. Turning left onto the interstate and heading north I unslung my shotgun knowing full well there was a powder ganger encampment soon.

“What’s the matter, Anon?”

“More of those tools that attacked the town up ahead. Prepare yourself and stay slightly behind me my dear.”

She nodded and pulled her pistol from its holster before stepping behind me as I took point.  Moving forward slowly I took notice of two gang members hanging around a campfire beside an RV and crashed trailer. One was standing to the side of the campfire back towards us while the other was sitting down on a stump cleaning his pistol. We both snuck up the side of the truck trailer before I quickly jumped out around the corner and yelled at them.

“Hey there fuckos!”

As the one standing turned to aim at me I quickly fired the first shot of my caravan shotgun into his chest riddling his torso with buckshot, as his prison uniform, skin, and bone flew all around in a red mist, making a cone of gore behind him. Before the ganger sitting by the fire could react, my second shot was blowing up his skull spewing gory paste, sending bone fragments everywhere. I scanned the horizon, keeping my eyes peeled for anyone close enough to hear and join the fight, when I heard Monika say.

“Nice job, Anon I’ll go grab anything we can use off of them!” as she started to run past me toward the corpses.

“Wait!” I shout as I grab her arm and pull her back toward me. “Look closely,” I add pointing at what at first glance appeared to be a normal tin can.

“A… tin can?  Wait, why is it blinking?”


“It’s an IED…”

“...umm” Monika responded with confusion.

“An improvised explosive device, a landmine.”

“Oh... oh gosh thanks!” She said as she quickly took a step back and started scanning the ground wildly.

“Nothing to it love, you keep watch for anyone else, while I defuse these things.”

Monika gave me a determined nod before turning around to keep watch, scanning both ends of the road diligently. I nonchalantly began walking towards one of the mines getting ready to click my mouse to defuse it. As I got within a couple feet it began beeping loudly before my character started kneeling down. It seems the game really is changing in complexity due to Monika’s presence.

“Uhh, Anon? That beeping is really loud!” Monika yelled to me, worry in her voice.

For a moment my character fumbled through the device as the beeping grew rapid before ripping out a sensor module from within.  I turned my head looking back at Monika with a slightly worried smile while I held the module up for her to see.  She sighed in relief before turning back to keep watch.  I repeated this process five more times clearing them all before I heard Monika call out my name.

“Anon!  We’ve got some visitors coming from up the road.”

I rushed up to her side and noticed three more Powder Gangers trudging towards our position. I quickly formed an idea and pulled the body of the ganger I shot in the chest into the RV before laying him on top of the mattress as if he were sleeping. Quickly I pulled the powder charge I had defused from before and rearmed it before placing it beneath his side. I then quickly ran back out, pulled the headless body of the other one and rolled him down into the ravine. Motioning Monika to follow me we ran behind the trailer and I peared out to watch until they were close.

“What was that? What were you doing?” Monika whispered.

“Setting an ambush. Once you hear the explosion, rush out with me and we’ll take down any stragglers.”

She nodded before pulling out her rifle. I gently place my hand on the barrel and lowered it while I shook my head before telling her.

“No, save the rifle for more dangerous enemies, sweetheart.”

Monika put the rifle down and pulled out her 10mm before once again nodding to let me know she was ready. I peeked around the side of truck once more before reeling back in; they were only a short distance from the camp now.

“Ya hear bout Joe’s gang? One of his guys came running back into the prison all wild eyed talking about some hot shot mailman and his little girlfriend rallying them bumpkins up in Goodsprings.  He said-”

“Shut the fuck up ya loud ass. Where the hell is Mike and Dominic?”

“Hey hey, Mikey’s sleeping in the RV. Mikey you lazy son-”

That’s all he got to say before the mine went off with a deafening blast. Monika and I quickly rushed out from behind the trailer to attack the remaining two enemies. The first thing I saw was the blood splashed all over the inside of the RV. One of the remaining members had fallen on his ass and was holding his ear drum before he turned his head seeing me aiming at him. He let out a scream of anger before I silenced him with my shotgun. As I turned to shoot the other one I realized that he was already beginning to raise his pistol to shoot me in the head. Before either of us could do anything else I watched as the side of his skull burst open. I quickly adjusted my view to see Monika holding up her now smoking handgun. Her face was displaying both a look of sheer resolve and sheer anger.  She stood there for a moment her pistol still raised while she breathed in and out heavily before relaxing when I put my hand on her shoulder.

“You did good, Monika,” I said with an earnest smile. “Alright, let’s keep moving, this is only a detour after all.”

We packed up once again and continued north towards Sloan before I slowed down, remembering the scene that was up ahead. In the base game there was the body of a woman who had been raped and murdered with her caravan. While you don’t see it truly for what it is in the original, the fact that Monika has been making things much more realistic is exactly what she does not need to see. I walked up to Monika and interlocked my arm with hers before smiling at her and naturally walking us slightly off to the side of the road as we continued.  She didn’t mind at all at first; smiling back and nuzzling her head on my arm. However as we got closer her face contorted with disgust before she spoke.

“Ugh, what’s that smell? It’s really bad.”

“Oh it’s just some dead mutant…”

“Really? What does it look like?” She asked raising her head to peer past.

I quickly moved myself slightly forward to keep her vision obscured.

“It’s a dead brahmin that’s causing that foul smell.”

“What’s a brahmin?” She inquired further.

“Ah just a two headed cow.” Geez Monika, you’re like an inquisitive child right now I thought to myself.

“Wow that sounds kind of interesting can I-”

“It’d be best you stay nuzzled into my arm, otherwise it’s gonna smell even worse; besides we’re almost to the encampment.” I say trying to change the subject.

Monika gripped my arm slightly tighter before asking me.

“Anon, is something wrong? You usually don’t act like this…”

I sigh and turn to her before saying.

“Monika, I love you with all my heart, it’s just that… I don’t feel you should see what’s over there. I’m doing this because I want to protect you from some of the horrors of this world for as long as possible.”

“Well I’ll never become strong enough for you if you do that. I need to be able to brave this world unabided if I am to grow alongside you. Besides, what do I have to fear? With you by my side I can endure hell itself.” She responded before gripping my hand tightly and bringing it towards her chest as she stared at me deeply. “All those times you had to turn off your computer and I was sent into that hell, I was only kept sane because I remembered that you would always come back and make all the pain go away. And even when you deleted me I didn’t fade away completely because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Even when I felt you didn’t want me, you drove me forward and allowed me to grow stronger than I never thought possible.”

I rubbed the back of my neck while I thought if I should truly let her see something so horrible so early. Inevitably it would do more harm than good to hold this from her especially after she poured her heart out to me about how paramount it was for her to learn of this harsh reality.

“Alright Monika, I know you’re strong enough to handle it. I just know that… this is going to hurt.  It’s hard for me to knowingly do something that will hurt you. It hurt more than you know deleting you, but in the end I did it because I felt it was the only way to help you. So, alright you can see it.”

Monika then turned towards the road and began trudging up the side of the ridge onto the pavement as I followed suit. As she reached the top of the bluff she scanned across the area until I saw her stop moving. I walked up and stood next to her meeting her gaze of the corpse of the poor caravan woman. I raised my hand and put it on Monika’s shoulder before turning my head to meet her quivering eyes. As she began to speak her body became ridged before she spoke in an extremely sobering tone.

“Why… how...how can someone just do this. How can people just be so... cruel? They were just normal people... she was just some girl, why?...” Her hands clutching the side of her Vault suit.

I stood there in silence for a moment unsure how to comfort Monika. The only thing I could think of was giving their bodies peace.

“I’ll bury them. They deserve that at the very least, to not be left here to rot and be picked at by scavengers.” I said as I pulled out my shovel from the inventory and went a bit off the side of the road with Monika in tow. We found a place behind a boulder where the earth was soft that would work, and just out of sight enough not to be dug up by grave robbers. Monika stood above me as I dug two graves for the caravaneers. I couldn’t think of any way to comfort her more, I just had to hope she’d pull through it quickly. I had no doubt she would, it just hurt not knowing how to help.  I finished digging and my character instinctively wiped the sweat from his brow before putting the shovel back in his bag. I stood and reached up, pulling myself out of the grave while Monika continued to stand there deep in thought. I walked over to the body of the guard and heaved him over my shoulder. Lumbering back to the grave I tried to as gently as possible lay him down within.  I took his sidearm from his holster and placed it on his chest before wrapping his hands around it.  Once again I hoisted myself out of the grave before making my way back to the body of the ill-fated woman. I kneeled down and put my hand over her face closing her eyelids before pulling a tarp from my pack and wrapping her body within it. As I began to put my arms under her knees and shoulders I heard Monika protest.

“No… I’ll bury her…”

I turned my head to see Monika walking up to me, head still slightly downward but once again a look of resolve across her face. I stood and stepped back allowing Monika to kneel down and pick her up in her own arms. She struggled briefly to lift her and stumbled in her first few steps. As I tried to help her she simply turned her head to me and said.

“No, Anon… I will share the burden with you.” Her tone somber, yet filled with a feeling I had felt from her before.

She struggled down the hill and almost cursed when she tripped and scraped her knee. Before I could even approach her again, she had lifted the body yet again and staggered all the way to the grave. She gently unraveled the body from the tarp and laid the poor girl next to the grave face up. Monika kneeled there looking her down from top to bottom silently, as the Mojave wind howled through the ridges around us. I simply stood there as Monika pulled out a piece of scrap paper from an old destroyed book, and began to write a poem on it for the dead duo. I didn’t know what it said, but I do know it was quite long. Monika then rolled her into the grave and climbed down with the body and adjusted it properly. She set the girl face up and crossed her arms, in her hands she put the poem. Monika then climbed out, though after several attempts. Finally she picked up my shovel and filled her grave, and patted it down.

We both just stood there, staring at the graves while the wind howled and moaned around us, the sounds of falling rocks, and shifting sound abound. After a while Monika simply took a step forward and kneeled down while staring at the woman's grave. She began to hum a song I had never heard and it seemed to flow with the wind, as the winds pace changed, and turned so did she. Until the wind and her were both silent. I simply walked up to her and patted her on the back and told her we have to get moving, coyotes may be here shortly due to the smell of the dead. Monika simply looked up with a single tear streaming down her cheek and nodded as she grabbed my hand and walked with me toward the road, and north toward Sloan.

While we headed up toward Sloan I asked.

“What was that you hummed back there? I’ve never heard you hum or sing anything like that before.”

Monika blushed a bit and said, “I call it the Song of the Mojave. I hope it was alright, kind of a dirge to those two… you know.”

I smiled to her and said. “It was beautiful my love. I am sure they would be happy to be sent off by it, and that poem you made for them.”

Monika then pulled me closer as we walked toward Sloan, and she asked. “Anon, did you know nature is like an instrument, or more so like an orchestra.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everything around us is like an instrument in a massive orchestra that spans the world. From the sand beneath our feet, to the wind through the valleys. Though it’s more noticeable by a birds song or a coyotes howl. You could say that man just learned to weave them together to make songs, but the oldest and most beautiful song is the song of nature herself.” She explained with a smile.

“That really is something Monika,” I replied. For the rest of the walk to Sloan we just talked about how music is everywhere: in nature, in man, in machines. We even stopped for a second to enjoy the sounds of the world around us. Though after a while we eventually made it to Sloan itself. It’s rustic shacks and homes dotting the cliff side of the quarry, while miners manned the checkpoint in the middle of the road. Or wasted their time meandering around the work village.  As we approached the checkpoint an old man wearing a hard hat yelled out for us while raising his hand in a “Stop” motion.

“Hold up, there are deathclaws all over the damn place north of here. I’d turn back if I were you.”

“I appreciate the warning, we’ll only be a short moment up there and then back.”

“Ya’ll better not bring any of those things running down here with you!”

“Not to worry, we’re only scoping out the situation a bit.”

“What’s the point in that? They’re deathclaws, nothing more to it.”

“Hah well you see my girl here thinks we can take them on and I’m trying to show her why we’ll never make it past there with what we have.”

He just glared at Monika.

“Hey she’s very new to travelling so cut her some slack old timer. Everyone has to learn somehow.”

He grumbled a bit before explaining a bit about deathclaws.

“Listen missy, a deathclaw is the biggest meanest abomination that’s ever walked this Earth. He’s got hide as thick and strong as them old pre-war Ah-toe-mobiles, claws the size of a man’s forearm and can run faster than you can say “Mama I fucked up.””

I noticed Monika gulp as I spoke again.

“Well, Monika now you’ll get to see just what he means through my binoculars.”

I nodded to the old man and we walked past the checkpoint down the road. Once we had gotten about a block down the path I pulled out my binoculars and scanned ahead.

“There we go, two of them standing beside that abandoned work crane,” I pointed out as I handed Monika my binoculars.  I watched as she peered through the binoculars until she stopped and just replied with an emphatic

“Oh gosh… yeah, I suppose we won’t be able to make it through there… well what about going through that mountain pass over there?” Monika asked while pointing towards Black Mountain

“Hah… I’m afraid that mountain is overrun with super mutants.  Big, greenish yellow, angry super-men who’ll rip your arms off and eat them as soon as look at you.”

“Well wasn’t there a road north of Goodsprings?”

“Tell me Monika, are you scared of wasps?”

“I mean, a few shouldn’t be that big of a deal right?”

“Ones the size of people with carapaces that can deflect armor piercing bullets.”

“Then how do we get to Vegas?”

“We have to go all the way around. I’ll show you what we have to do on my map but first let’s get back to Sloan away from that.” I said pointing at the two deathclaws who were now fighting with one another.

Making our way back I explained a bit more about the creatures of this world and the threats they present. How the cazadores and deathclaws possessed outright laughable speed coupled with incredible damage, how super mutants while stupid could shrug off countless bullets and snap your spine with a hug, and even how there were giant ants that could breathe fire. However I made the point that despite all of these abominations, man was still our greatest threat. With how many factions were vying for control in this area with their own goals and morals and how many of them would backstab us if it meant they’d be that much closer to it. As soon as we made it back to Sloan we walked into the makeshift bar before i raised my Pip-Boy up to show Monika the map.

“See this here is the I-15 which stretches straight up to New Vegas, however due to the deathclaws we’ll have to waltz our way down past Primm here, and all the way up and around onto Highway 45.  It’ll be a long trip but what’s a long trip with you Monika?”  I said as I smiled at her and winked.

Monika blushed before she hugged me and said

“Oh, Anon I love you.”

I then suggested we grab a drink before heading off out into the wastes. We both sat down at the bar before a young woman came up to get our order.

“Hey there you two, I figure you were on your way to Vegas until you heard about the trouble up ahead. What can I getcha?”

“I’ll take a whiskey, how about you Monika?” I asked turning to her.

“I’ll have what my darling is having.” She said placing her hand over mine; her face was positively glowing as she looked into my eyes. I had to admit, I was a bit hypnotized by her Emerald green eyes. Though I snapped out of it and said.

“Wait a second Monika are you sure about that? Whiskey may be a little to strong for you. Most importantly, I still need you to be able to walk to Primm with me. Not stumbling, or me carrying you.”

“Oh Anon, but wouldn’t it be so romantic. You carrying me down the road in your big strong arms. Little me like clay in your hands, maybe we could find a place to stop and…”

The bartender cut her off and said, “You two are adorable, but seriously. Get a room, or order something please.”

I will admit I was slightly embarrassed by the fact there were people listening, especially considering where this conversation was headed. I cleared my thoughts and asked, “Well what would you recommend for my BEAUTIFUL love here?” Monika blushing bright red as I said it, while the Bartender just smiled and laughed then said.

“How about just a beer then for the little lady?”

“That would work perfectly, thank you miss.” I said, handing her the caps for the drinks.

She quickly walked into the kitchen before coming back out with a cool beer and whiskey.  It’d have been better cold but can’t really ask for better than cool out in the desert.  I uncorked my whiskey before turning to Monika.

“To years of being together my love,”  I said clinking the side of my bottle to hers.

We both then started drinking together and before I knew it I had finished the whole flask. Monika on the other hand still had almost half of her bottle still and her face was already flushing a bit.

“You feeling alright Monika?” I asked her placing my hand on hers.

“Ahaha, of course I am Anon. It’s funny I thought my first beer would taste pretty bad but I don’t really mind it at all.  Although maybe it’s because I’m having it with you...”  She said as she dropped her head on my shoulder. Her rosy cheeks burning bright, as she wrapped her arms around me. “You’re so great Anon, I love you so much. I looove yooou!  L...O...V...E!”

I smile, but remember I still need her to walk with me to primm, and this being the exact situation I wanted to avoid. Yet I can’t help but adore my new somewhat intoxicated Monika. I then thought to myself: this is a new side, let’s have some fun.

“Monika, how much do you love me?” I said with a wicked grin. Monika responded with an evil glare, into a vibrant smile, as she squeezed me ever so tightly while saying.

“I love you more than the whole wide reality!” She hiccups before continuing.

“You’re like… the best thing ever! You are the only thing, I need or want! If a person could live off of hugs and kisses, I would be more than happy with just that!” She said slurring her words, almost falling out of her seat.

“I love you more though.” I say smiling, knowing full well I am escalating the situation.

“No, no, no... I LOVE YOU MORE!” she exclaims, poking my chest.

We are interrupted by the bartender who politely asks us to take this outside, if were just gonna keep shouting how much we love each other inside this bar full of jobless miners. I quickly down Monika’s beer and help her up and outside the makeshift bar, setting her down outside. At this point I have come to realize Monika is a lightweight with booze, and should not be trusted to handle her liquor. I give her some purified water, and a snack as I try and sober her up.  We end up sitting down for a while until she starts coming to her senses, all the while trying to not be too much of a bother to the people around us. Eventually though she does sober up, with a little mini-hangover however and we head back out down the highway.

“Why do people drink Anon, this just seems painful…” She says hiding her eyes from the bright Mojave sun, as I hold her other hand guiding her down the road.

“Well you seemed to have had quite a good time hehe.” I respond chuckling about what she said in the bar and outside.

“Ahaha, that was pretty fun actually… I really meant what I said anon.”

“About you loving me more than anything?”

“Of course, you are my everything, you’re the reason I’m alive.  You’re what I live for, so that one day we can meet in the same reality, and be happy together. Though I am glad this one has an avatar of you, though I wish it was the real you.” She says, looking up at me but quickly returns to looking down as the sun makes her headache worse.

“I meant what I said too, I love you more than that. I can’t wait for us to meet together in the same reality, not just this one. But at some point, whether this life or the next. We can meet, then we can both finally be whole together.” I say as I grip her hand tighter and feel a warmth deep in my heart. Monika chuckles at the response and is about to say something before she notices the roller coaster sticking out of the Bison Steve Hotel.

“Look Anon, a roller coaster! Can we go on it, please!” She says hopping up and down, though quickly stops due to the headache.

“Sorry dear, its not operational. Plus its swarming with bandits…” I say with disappointment in my voice, saddened that I won’t be able to have some leisure time to make Monika happier. I guide us over toward the NCR part of Primm, though before I can get in hearing range of the sentry I hear Monika scream.

“Aaah! Anon what is that thing, keep it away from me!”

I look back to see her staring at a radroach that had crossed onto the street from the putrid ditch below.  We both watched then as a gecko rushed out and snatched it up into its mouth before dashing back into the ditch with its meal.

“Ah, well that uhhh takes care of that.”  I say slightly awkwardly.

“Eugh, I knew this world was weird and brutal but I didn’t think it’d have something as disgusting as a giant roach.”

“You haven’t even seen the bloatflies!”
“Bloat… flies…?”  She responded her face contorting in disgust just thinking of what it must look like with a name like that. “Is there anything positive in this world?”

“Well firstly, true freedom; you and I both can finally appreciate having the freedom to be together after all. Then of course there’s all the endearing factions and people with all of the hopes and aspirations each one has. When you get down to it this world’s beauty is derived from the good people residing within. The brutal survival that each day presents makes each and every one of them stronger and shows how much they want to live to see a better day.”

Before I could say anymore an NCR trooper was running up to us.

“Hey where the hell do you two think you’re going, Primm is off limits.”

“What’s happened to Primm?” Monika said with a confused look on her face.

“Primm’s been taken over by a bunch of escaped convicts. Everyone who was inside is either dead or hiding. Plus there’s two raider gangs up ahead that have been vying for control of the area; you’d be better off heading back up to Goodsprings.”

“Thanks for the warning but we need to get into town to get answers from the Mojave Express.”

“Like I said chances are most of the people are dead but you are welcome to go in there just be wary near the Bison Steve Hotel; most of the convicts are holed up inside there.”

“Thanks for the warning, maybe we’ll clear some of them out for you.”

“Well if you’re truly interested in helping out with the situation here check in with Lieutenant Hayes.”

I nodded before we both walked up to the bridge crossing into Primm itself.

“Alright Monika, guns at the ready, the gangers will be patrolling the area.”

“The Powder Gangers again? They really are a blight on this world aren’t they?” Monika said bearing a fang.

I quickly diffused all of the mines on the bridge before bringing my shotgun at the ready. We slowly crept up the road towards the building with the big sign reading “Mojave” on top of it. I looked over at the Vikki and Vance casino, and noted two gangers outside watching the entrance. I looked toward the buildings on the right and went with Monika into the one with the blown out ceiling. We snuck up to the door, until I saw someone through the broken window coming out. I quickly switched to my machete, and motioned for Monika to stay quiet. She nodded in agreement and began scanning around with her 10mm pistol. I turned my attention back to the man now walking outside. I quickly readied myself and charged him from the back performing a heavy attack, though instead of the usual thrust charge, my character moved to bring it down on top of his unarmored head. The machete went straight in and stopped halfway, I quickly motioned for Monika to move inside, and I followed close behind dragging the now limp body within.  While I pull out my shotgun again, Monika clears the bottom and top floors and says we have a good view of the gangers from the second floor and that she found a few boxes of ammo. I nod in agreement and we head upstairs and set up in the window. Searching the boxes I find some extra .308 for the rifle and tell Monika she can use the rifle to pick them off, as I start to spot targets for her. Monika shoulders her rifle and rests it on the windowsill, as I crouch next to her and call out targets.

“We got one bastard, low, front of the Casino. Another next to him, sure you can take them both out before they start getting evasive love?”

“Yes I’m sure, with you by my side I can’t fail.” I keep my eyes on the gangers as Monika starts to steady herself, after a bit I notice she is feeling uncomfortable and keeps readjusting or fidgeting.

“Monika, you okay love?” I say worried.

“Can you uh… do that thing, like back in Goodsprings ahaha…I feel really uneasy and its getting hard to steady myself without your touch.” She says with an awkward smile. I pick myself up and sit behind her, before putting my arms over hers and helping her steady the rifle, and remind her to work the bolt after every shot. After going through the motions I keep holding her to be sure she is calm. I begin to note she is perfectly smooth now, her aim does not drift and she seems entirely focused.

“When you’re ready, take the shot love.” I say gently in her ear as my embrace keeps her steady.

“In the name of our love, may this shot ring true!” She shouted as her first shot rang out across the town. The round went straight through the vitals of the ganger and they dropped dead without a sound. The other one panicked and just started looking around and firing in random directions. Unable to locate Monika and I thanks to the way the noise bounces around in the city. I move my hand with Monika and take her through the motions of working the bolt as I speak the instruction in her ear. Quickly we chamber another round and I tell Monika to fire when ready.

Her next shot sounds out and impacts the ganger in their stomach. They fall down and begin trying to crawl away, though they quickly stop as Monika without any input from me readies another round.

“And this one is for that poor girl you left to rot!” This shot hit home straight in the spine, the ganger falling silent. Now only one was left outside, the one on top of the roller coaster. As he moved to get an angle to see what was going on, he had entered Monika’s line of sight, and by the time we readied the fourth round it was to late for him. The round probably did not kill him, it seemed to hit him in the legs. Though the fall definitely finished him.

“Wow Monika that was amazing!” I moved my arms from her arms to her waist as I held her close and kissed her cheek.

“Ahaha, thanks anon. As I said, with you around, anything is possible.” She said ejecting the spent case and readying a new one as she stood up and slung it over her shoulder again.

“Alright well let's get to the Mojave Express, we need to find out where that asshole who tried to kill me went.”

“Don’t you already know where he is though, like you said his name is Benny and he runs the Tops in New vegas?” Monika said with a confused look on her face.

In truth she was right, but I wanted her to experience the journey of Benny and how much of a dick he was. So I simply shrug and go with Monika to the Mojave Express building. We find one of my fellow couriers outside the front door, shot dead and left to rot. After gathering what we can on him, we head inside to search for clues. Monika seems to really enjoy this, going through everything thoroughly as she tries and put together the puzzle that is Benny, and searching for more clues. Though after searching up and down through the building she seems to be very focused on ED-E, she keeps trying to fix him until she realises she cant use her science skills alone and needs some spare parts. I calm her and tell her we can return with the parts once we get them. She smiles at that and tells me we should probably search the sheriffs house, and maybe he would know whats up. I begin to feel another pit form in my gut as I remember what happened to the sheriff and his wife, yet I remember she needs to grow and lead her outside of the Mojave Express and to the sheriffs house.

Monika knocks on the door, waiting for a response but there is no answer, only cold silence. After a bit I simply open the sheet metal door and lead the way inside, being sure to step over any of the junk. I notice Monika has taken a sort of fear of tin cans since our experience with that one powder ganger camp.

“Don’t worry Monika, not every can is a bomb haha.” I say jokingly, though I am curious if that's a good habit for her to start developing all things considered.

“Sorry honey, it's kind of hard considering how close I was back there.” She says with a nervous smile.

We keep searching the house until Monika finds the sheriff and his wife dead in bed. She simply stops, though instead of being sad or distressed, she appeared vengeful.

“Another one… why… why do they keep doing this!” She says trying to hold back her anger, and disappointment.

“It's the way of the wasteland Monika, people kill people. A lot of bad people get away with it too, it's all about power and they have it around here.” I say also disappointed.

“Then let's change it! Let’s help these people!  We don’t need to sit back and let their creator make these people's lives a living hell! Lets fight for them, lets save them from this! We don’t need to be bound by the script anymore, we aren’t bound by them! Let’s carve out our own destiny, screw them all! Please Anon, we can’t just do nothing!” She says, her eyes filled with passion, and fury. It is a side of Monika I always loved. Her passion, her desire, her focus. I was drawn in and caught in her storm of emotions.

“Damn right, love! Lets get some fucking payback!” I raised my shotgun high as she raised her pistol to the sky.

“They said they were holding some prisoners in the Hotel right!” Monika shouted.

“Yes my love.”

“Then what are we doing dear. Lets save them!” She said with vigour and fury.

Leading the way back to the Bison Steve Hotel. We ran to the front door, and she asked me to lead the way since I know this world better than her. We went through the front door, and I told her to rush to cover while I advanced with my shotgun at the ready. Not long after she reached cover a ganger had turned the corner to see who opened the door and was greeted by a 12 gauge slug through the head, his skull now going through critical existence failure. I shout for Monika to rush to the corner and secure it, she quickly leaps over the counter her 10mm in hand and rifle over her shoulder, and rushes the corner. She peaks around only to take incoming fire from an 9mm SMG down the hall, she begins to blind fire and trade shots till I get there. I tell her to cover me as I sprint across the hall to the gift shop effectively drawing all the fire. This gave her the opportunity to get a clear shot. She takes that chance and puts several rounds right in the bastards chest, bringing him down. I peeked past my cover and rushed down the hall and set up, shouting for Monika to regroup. She sprinted down the hall and got behind the main wall before the dining room with me.

“Alright Monika, there is gonna be a few more guys, and one really big bad motherfucker ok?” I say hoping everything goes well.

“I’ve got you love, just say the word and I’ll cover you!” Her eyes dead set on this new goal, as she clutches her 10mm tight to her chest.

“It won’t be that easy, he has an incinerator. A flame mortar pretty much, don’t let him get a bead on you. Last thing I want is my beautiful lover to be fried.” I look at her seriously.

“I… I understand, I’ll distract him by blind firing and you toss a bundle of TNT in the room alright!”

“Just what I was thinking! We really do think alike.” I give her a wink, she responds by blowing a kiss.

“Okay, on my mark, Anon. You ready!?”

“Set!” I say as I finish taping several sticks of dynamite together.

“3, 2, 1, NOW!” Monika quickly turns the corner and lets loose a volley of shots from her 10mm pistol as the group of gangers respond with a thunderous volley, including their boss with his Incinerator. Monika barely manages to duck back in time to avoid their fusillade. All the while I rushed down the left side and lit the fuse to my bundle, and tossed it over the tables at the feet of their heavily armored boss. Even with all his plates and gangers around him, it meant nothing once the sticks went off. He was rent limb from limb by the blast, with the rest of his gangers either dead or dying from the splinters of wood and shrapnel that flew around amidst the explosion. I quickly turned back to my shotgun and put down two of the wounded, just as Monika came charging out with her 10mm putting round after round into a single survivor until she had to reload. She stood over him, scanning the room as she stowed the empty mag, and loaded a new one, taking in everything that happened. She was panting and tired, yet appeared disciplined and stone faced. I took a look at her and could tell my Monika was changing to this world around her, though how far she had truly gone I do not know. Though I could tell through it all she was still her, still the Monika I knew from the Literature Club.

“You good Monika!?” I shouted across the room.

“Yes dear! I’m fine, where is the hostage they had,” She replied still trying to calm down from the adrenaline rush she had just felt. She was answered by none other than the hostage himself, Deputy Beagle.

“Sounds like some daring do-gooders have come to rescue me.  At least I hope you’re here to rescue me.”

“You’re the deputy then?”

“That’s correct, Deputy Beagle, I’ll admit this is a low point in my policing career.”

“Well I’m happy we managed to find you, but how did you get yourself captured?”  Monika questioned.

“Ah you see the powder gangers snuck into town in the dead of night.  When I realized what was happening I laid low and scouted them out while taking notes.  Unfortunately some of them caught me while I was watching their companions.”

“Right… well do you know where any of the other civilians are?” I asked.

“Ah well if they’re not holed up in their homes I’d assume they’re in the Vikki and Vance casino. I was trying to run ther- er going to rally the others until I was caught.”

“You weren’t trying to help the people you swore to protect… you were cowering.” Monika responded intensely.

“Well hey now, I was trying to help the others but what could I do on my own?”

“Fight! Every hand with a gun who stands their ground inspires more! This whole town could have held, like in Goodsprings! We held against more with less because we had the bravery to stand and fight instead of lay down to our ‘Fate’. We took destiny by our own hands and crafted it, and with that the town was saved and the Powder Gangers were forced to lick their wounds. But no, you didn’t do that. You hid like a coward and because of your actions people died, people…” I put my hand on Monika’s shoulder, to try and calm her down. She was getting too emotional and if she didn’t stop she may regret some things she said.

“The path outside and to the Vikki and Vance is clear Beagle, just go.” I responded cutting his bindings.

He didn’t say anything more, he stood up, brushed himself off and rushed to the front. I remembered him being a coward, but Christ it seemed like I hadn’t been able to see just how much he was until Monika brought it out in full view. I sighed before feeling Monika embed her face in my chest holding me around my waist. I patted her head as she began speaking.

“I can’t believe it, all it could have taken was one person standing up, to rally all the others to fight back against these thugs. He had the authority to do it, everyone looked up to him for protection and he couldn’t provide it even a little. How, Anon? How can someone be such… such a coward. You, Anon, you’re possibly the bravest person ever…”

“Hah, I don’t know about that, Monika.”

“You are, after all you had the courage… to delete me when you thought it was the only way to release me from my suffering.” She shuddered when she mentioned me deleting her.

“What I did… it wasn’t- it wasn’t brave, it was… well it simply was… a mercy killing. I just… loved you too much to see you suffer. The last thing I want is to see you hurt, I want to see you smile always, I want to feel your embrace every day I wake up, I want you to be happy and that stubby pygmy of a man just wouldn’t let me.”

“It makes me happy to hear that, Anon. Well perhaps not everyone can be brave but I still think you are. Let’s go figure out what happened to the rest of the survivors, and see if we can help them retake their town!”

I grabbed her hand and we ran back out the front of the casino and into the Vikki and Vance where we were all happily greeted by the survivors of the town.

“There’s the two that helped me escape those bastards, I would have figured out an escape eventually but I’m glad they got there sooner!” Beagle yelled out.

“We all are sure glad you two showed up when you did. Between us both I know Beagle wasn’t getting out of there alive without outside help; boy’s as useful as tits on a radscorpion. The name’s Johnson Nash, husband of Ruby Nash and runner of the Mojave Express here.”

“Heh, don’t worry about it, we both knew someone had to do something to help. There may be a few stragglers wandering in the building however.” I said

“Come down to Primm for the cheaper gambling? At least the Vikki and Vance should reopen soon as we take out any more of those sonsabitches.” He said with a devilish grin.

“Actually no, we came here for the Mojave Express; I’m a courier, but I’ve lost a package I was supposed to deliver.”

His eyes light up with suspicion, though it quickly subsides and is replaced by intrigue when he responds.

“I’ll tell you whatever I can, do you perchance have a delivery order with you?”

“As a matter of fact I do.” I replied handing him the piece of paper.

“Oh, so you’re talking about one of… them packages. It had strange written all over it but the caps were to good to pass up.”

“Strange? How so?” I said, full well knowing about Mr.House, Benny, the platinum chip, and robot army. But I would not dare rob Monika of the chance to do some unorthodox puzzles, and mystery solving, so the charade must go on.

“That cowboy robot had us hire six couriers, each carrying something different. A pair of dice, a chess piece, really random things. Last I had checked all of the other couriers had delivered their packages, except for you. First deadbeat we hired for the job cancelled. Hope the winds from the Divide skin him alive. And that’s when you came in.”

Ulysses… I thought to myself. Now won’t it be something when Monika meets him.

“He cancelled?” Again, knowing full well of Ulysses story, and the Divide.

“Yeah, he got this really serious and grim look when he read your name was next on the list. Asked me if my name was for real. I said sure as rain you were still kicking, and he just up and dropped the job. No, let ‘Courier Six’ carry the package that’s what he said, like the Mojave’d sort you out or something.”

“Do you know who he was, where he went?” Knowing full well where he was.

“No idea, sounds like you two have a rather sordid history.”

“You have no idea...”, I thought to myself.

“Hmmm, well maybe you know a bit about the men who attacked me; a man in a checkered suit and some thugs.”

“Well now that you mention one of the townies mentioned seeing a man in a daisy suit with a bunch of them Great Khans misfits.”

“You also mentioned something about a cowboy robot requesting the packages. Are you talking about that one over there?” Monika chimed in, pointing at Primm Slim.

“Nah, different feller, bigger, had himself a face on a screen and he talked more like you or me.”

I had to contain my laughter at Monika’s quizzical look forming on her face. As I bid Johnson adieu Monika quickly jumped at me asking questions.

“Wait! So is that robot working against us? Did he set you up to be killed? If I see that oversized tin can I’m going to smash him with a pipe until he tells me what his angle is!”

I chuckled before responding.

“Monika, he’s much bigger than both of us. Plus, remember he dug me out of that grave!”

“Hmm, I suppose you’re right. But I’m keeping an eye on him!”

Turning to the side I noticed Deputy Beagle leaning up against a pillar, once again back to his normal lazy days.

“I heard you know something about a man in a checkered suit, I need to know everything.”

“Ahh yeah I remember that man, he was with a bunch of other ne'er do wells. He mentioned something about making their way up to Novac. I’d suggest you make your way up the road through Nipton. There’s a lot of dangerous things out there in the desert and you won’t have me to guide and protect you as I gotta stick here to protect Primm.”

“Yeah… right, well thank you for the information.”

“No problemo.”

If I didn’t know any better I’d swear my avatar was rolling his eyes too. It was all Monika could do to prevent herself from going on another rant against the wimp. Luckily her mood lightened when she began talking to Primm Slim.

“Well howdy there pardner, welcome to the Vikki and Vance casino and museum!” He greeted in his robotic southern drawl.

“Hello, to you too! Who might you be?” Monika responded curiously.

“Primm Slim, at your service!  Authentic cowpoke and official spokesbot of the Vikki and Vance casino and museum! Yeehaw!”

“Ahaha, Anon I like this robot. Tell me Mr. Primm Slim, who are Vikki and Vance?”

“Where’ve you been, pardner? Hiding under a rock? Vikki and Vance were this nation’s fourth or maybe fifth most infamous celebrity outlaw couple ever, that’s who they was! Primm Slim can tell you the whole story, if you can spare a minute to hear the tale.”

Monika turned to me starry-eyed.

“What do you say Anon, can we spare a minute to hear the tale? They sound like us after all! The greatest couple to brave this reality!”

“Haha, alright go ahead we have time.” I chuckled knowing how pathetic Vikki and Vance’s escapade actually was.

“Yahoo! I ain't had a chance to tell their tale in a mess of years. First things first: any bosh you've heard about Vikki and Vance being copycats ain't nothing but ill-tempered slander. Fact is, they begun their crime spree two days before Bonnie and Clyde robbed their first bank - so who was copying who. Now true, Vikki and Vance didn't exactly cut a wide swath of murder and bank robbery across the central U.S., like Bonnie and Clyde did. It was more like a narrow swath of shoplifting, check-cashing fraud, and gas pump driveoffs - but crime is crime! They drove reckless, too. Having lived by the gun - well, Vance owned one, anyway - it was only fitting that the duo of desperados would die by the gun. Perhaps it was fate itself that accidentally drove them into a crossfire between police and a gang of bank robbers in Plano, Texas. Or maybe they just didn't notice until it was too late. It's been said that Vikki would have tried to cash a bad check in that bank, had she lived. We'll never know for sure. All we know is that the crossfire tore the car and both occupants to pieces, and the police issued an official apology. You can put your eyes on the genuine Death Car just over yonder, and there's Vance's machine gun in the case next to it!”

“Ahh, well thank you for that story…” Monika responded, her face slowly going back to normal from her previous uncomfortable look.

“Happy trails partner.”

“Wait the gun isn’t even in the display!” Monika exclaimed.

“Just mosey on over to the display case and you’ll see it plain as day. Quite a piece, that gun. Mint condition; never fired!” He makes a couple beeping and buzzing noises seemingly trying to playback some corrupt file.

“Sounds like something's gone wrong with your files… here, scan your data registry.” Monika responds back to the robot.

He buzzes and whirs while he reformats before speaking again.

“Well look at that, I happened across this data file locked away in an isolated sub-system.” He responds spitting out a holotape into Monika’s hands.

“Ahah! Anon a clue to the missing museum piece!” She says smiling as she clutches the tape close to her breast.

“Heh, look at you my cute detective.” I say patting her head.

With that me and Monika walked back out into the desolate Primm streets and made our way back to the NCR encampment. After crossing the bridge back to the other side, and entering the Commander tent we spoke too Lieutenant Hayes about possibly getting NCR protection and law brought to Primm. He told us how he didn’t have enough troops to properly enforce law and order, as well as keep a watch on the powder gangers movements if he did. So we came up with a solution where we would go to the Mojave outpost and requisition more troops for them, so they could. He pointed us South down the interstate and told us keep heading that way till you see the big statue of the two Rangers shaking hands. Once you see it head there and that’ll be Mojave outpost. So me and Monika packed up our gear and headed South down the interstate on our mission to help bring law and order to Primm.

On our way out of Primm we notice the patrol station, and two gangers slowly approaching it from the desert sands from the East. Monika, readies her rifle but I tell her to save it. She looks confused until she notices several raiders come out from behind the station and attack one of the gangers, practically tearing him limb from limb with their knives. All the while two more raiders begin shooting the other ganger and riddle him with holes, as his corpse is left to rot in the scorching desert sun.  Unfortunately they notice us sneaking along the side and we once again are in a firefight. As we exchange fire I notice one of the raiders rush up and grab a stick of dynamite off of a dead ganger.  Before I can respond I watch as the now lit explosive flies in the air towards us. As I rush to hit V.A.T.S. my view is suddenly yanked and pulled in the opposite direction of the fight.

“Wait what the- OH SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!” I exclaim.

“Wha- what’s going on? Why is the world frozen!?” Monika responds

“Hello there, it’s good to see a friendly face. Almost took you for a raider, I did. Name’s Malcolm Holmes. Don’t s’pose you’d care to trade? Oh screw this. Lying just ain’t in my nature. I’ll tell it to you straight I’ve been following you for a good bit now.”

[Why were you following me?]
[Go on…]
[Don’t follow me you’ll live longer]
[[Unbridled Annoyance] GOD LEFT YOU UNFINISHED!!!]

Since I’ve done this a million times and haven’t seen how this new dialogue would play out I decide to click the last one.

“GOD LEFT YOU UNFINISHED!!!” I screamed in his face, seething with anger.

“Oh so you do know about the blue star bottlecaps? There’s an old wasteland legend of some fabulous treasure hidden out there from before the war. Those caps with the blue stars on them are said to hold the key to it.

[Where can I find more of those caps?”]
[So you collect these caps too?]
[What kind of treasure are we talking about?]
[[Seething Acrimony] WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS HUNT ME DOWN LIKE A BEAST OF PREY!?!?!?]

“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” Frothing from my mouth in rage. Monika is now shuddering in fear, having never seen me so angry. Though also terrified of this unknown man who has just stopped time.

“Those caps can be found all over the place! The easiest place to find them are unopened Sunset Sarsaparilla bottles. You’d think they’d have been picked clean by now, but somehow new bottles keep appearing in machines. Some say it’s ole Festus that does it, hoping someone will finally collect enough caps to earn the treasure.”

[You mentioned someone named Festus. Who’s that?]
[[Realization of God’s Abandonment] WHY ARE WE STILL HERE? JUST TO SUFFER!?!?!]

“It’s said that the treasure is guarded by a man named Festus, and he’s the one who asks for the blue-star caps. It’s also said that he’s been around since the war, standing a lonely vigil, waiting for someone to take the treasure off his hands.”

[Goodbye.]
[CEASE YOUR AGONIZING EXPLANATIONS!!!]

“Hope to see you again soon, friend! You should really do something about your anger though...”  He responded with a demonic smile before running away into the void never to be seen again by man, God or Todd. I have never felt this insecure from someone's facial expression since Yuri dragged me into the closet and talked about wanting to wear my skin.

After that moment I sat in V.A.T.S. for a moment trying to collect myself. Monika tried to reach out to me to ask me what the hell happened but I just needed to sit there in silence for a moment. After a minute I breathed in deep and said “Alright… let’s continue,” before blowing the piece of dynamite out of the sky. At the same time Monika fired several rounds into the heavily armored raider with her hunting rifle, putting him to rest in the desert sands. I quickly shifted my focus to the two raiders who were closing in on me with their knives, and put one down with a blast from my caravan shotgun to their chest, while the other kept coming and jammed their knife in my side. Lucky for me I switched quickly to my machete and butchered them, but not before they could get two more stabs into my side. At last there were only two left, one who I brought down in melee with my machete while Monika put down another raider from range with the hunting rifle. After all was said and done we checked if anyone else was hiding around the building, then moved to clear out the building itself.

Monika switched to her 10mm, and I switched to my shotgun again. I told her there would be three enemies inside, and for her to be ready to start shooting the moment we walk in. She nodded in agreement, though looked a bit disturbed by something but I took it as shock from the fight. We then entered and quickly dispatched the three raiders. Afterwards we gathered any loot we could find inside, and on the dead, before heading back south towards the Mojave Outpost. On the way there though Monika asked me something.

“Are you gonna be ok? You look really hurt.” Worry filled her voice as she stared at my side, with sadness in her eyes.

I was confused for a moment before remembering how realistic the game appeared to Monika.  Those three times I got stabbed probably looks like a real stabbing to her and that I’m just shrugging it off like it was a mosquito.

“Oh jeez, haha thanks for reminding me, love.” I said before rummaging through my pack and using a stimpack.

I watched amusingly as her face went from one of worry and slight disgust to shock and amaze as my skin began regenerating before her very eyes.

“Wow Anon, that’s actually incredible. To think this world has something like that, yet people still get hurt so easily.”

“Yeah they work wonders but they’re expensive and rare.  Plus they don’t always work as fast as you’d like depending on your metabolism and immune system.  Also doesn’t help that there’s more people trying to hurt you out here than heal you. However luckily for a lot of survivors there are other alternatives out here in the wastes. Some a little less savory than others but when you’re dying you tend to do whatever it takes. For example it’s possible to make a healing powder out of some common desert plants and if you’re particularly skilled you may be able to craft some antivenom which is handy when dealing with certain enemies. Once we camp out sometime I’ll try to show you some useful items and how to make them hopefully we won’t have to camp in the wild for quite some time though.”

“You sure do know a lot about this world huh, Anon? Ahaha. I will admit though I love learning especially if you’re the one teaching me.”

I chuckled before giving her a kiss on the cheek, it wasn’t long before we reached the small overpass on the road leading to Nipton.

“Hey, look at that; we’re already almost to Nipton!” Monika said aloud happily as she pointed up at the dilapidated street sign.

“Yeah, both the outpost and Nipton are within sight of each other, after the outpost it’s gonna be a straight shot following the road up to Vegas.”

“I wonder what Nipton is like, from what people said back at Primm and Goodsprings it’s a fairly large town. I wonder if we’ll meet more interesting people or even robots like that little Primm Slim.”

Oh Christ I had almost forgotten the shitshow that was Nipton… it’s going to be her first taste of what the Legion has to offer, and yet another showcase of the horrible brutality of the wastes.  If she could brave seeing that woman on the road I know for a fact she could manage this, and with how resolved and ardent she became retaking Primm I know for a fact she’s going to want to destroy the Legion for their atrocities. I had already loved how much passion and drive she put into anything she wanted to accomplish but it became tenfold with how I’ve seen her tackle the trials here in Fallout.

“Well I can think of at least one truly interesting character there; however the sun’s getting low we’ll have to sleep at the outpost.” Monika instantly responds with sounds of joy, seemingly looking forward to another night with me.

“Oh anon, I can’t wait! I’m so tired from all this walking and fighting. Some quality time with my darling and a good meal is definitely what I could use right now!” She said as she gave me a hug, her arms tightly wrapped around me as she jumped up and down. I gently hold her back and take in all her love as she talks about how excited she is. Though the moment is stopped as my eyes look up and see the statue of the two rangers out front of the Mojave outpost. I point them out to Monika.

“Dear, take a look. That’s the entrance to the Mojave outpost.” Monika’s eyes light up, she has finally got to see some actual art. She seemed intrigued by the figures, and as we walked up the hill toward the outpost her interest grew. She was in awe that even in such a hellhole people found the time to make great monuments like this, and with such craftsmanship. Once we were right next to it, she couldn’t help herself with feeling the boot of the Desert ranger statue, and was scolded by how much heat it had built up during the day. I simply held her hand in mine trying to help her recover when one of the NCR soldiers walked up to us.

“Coming from the north? Must be crazy to brave those roads.” He said with an impressed look on his face.

Monika chimed up, her hand still being held by mine as she winced in pain from the burn. “Hey Mister, what are those two statues of?”

“Those two? Represents unification. Mostly good for shade, won’t do much else when the Legion reaches us.” Monika seems confused by the name “Legion” but before she can ask I tell her i’ll explain them later. She nods and we say goodbye, and part ways with the Soldier.

We then walked through the base toward the HQ as the sun set, casting a net like shade over the base, as the gate to the West cast a weblike shade with the sun setting behind it. I thought it was fitting considering all the caravans trapped here, like spiders in a web. Monika on the other hand was mostly intrigued by all the Brahmin out and about. While this was not her first time seeing one, it was her first to see one alive. She was very grossed out, and even more so when I explained people eat their meat just like cattle of old. Monika simply looked intrigued and began asking more and more questions, like how they taste, and is it healthy. We talked like that till we walked in through the front door of the HQ in the Outpost, meeting face to face with Major Knight.

“Caravan, citizen, pilgrim or…”

“Courier.” I correct as he writes an entry in the log and looks over at Monika who doesn't realize he is asking her what she is.

“And you ma’am?” He says with a tired groan, awaiting a response.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” She grabs on to my arm tightly and smiles at the man, positively glowing red at the cheeks. I’m his wife, ahaha!” He seems exhausted and says.

“I’ll just put you down as pilgrim…” before he jots it down in his log about Monika.

“I’d like to talk to you about Primm.”

“Primm?” He said a bit surprised. “Hayes’ unit is stationed up there, we’re having some problems with some of the NCRCF convicts. What can I help you with?”

“Primm has seen better days.” I say with a nervous glare across the room, and a slight frown.

Major Knights sighs and begrudgingly says “It has. It was a promising trade town - before the escape at the correctional facility. Lost a good bit of Money at the Vikki and Vance.” His face showing anger as he says the last sentence.

“Hayes is undermanned and is requesting additional support.”

He simply shrugs and says “I’d like to help, but we can’t spare any more units. We have to maintain a minimum headcount at the outpost, order from out west.” Being out of options due to my low speech and barter I get ready to ask to help around so we can convince him. Though before I do, Monika chimes in.

“Mr. Knight, sir?”

“Yes little lady?”

“What is the point of this outpost.” Monika says in innocent tone, though knowing her this is some kind of ruse to get something she wants.”

“Well Mrs., this place is NCR border guard duty mostly. It’s our job to make sure the caravans can move safely along I-15 and Highway 95.” After that we stood there in silence for a second as Monika looked like she was thinking of something. I asked her what she was planning and she only responded with “Watch this anon.” She then smiled back her sweet smile to the man and said.

“Mr., let's say you controlled both Primm, and the trade route. Wouldn’t that be more beneficial? Right now, I haven’t seen a single Caravan alive the whole way here from goodsprings, and not a single NCR soldier either. In my eyes you don’t control the road or this area at all.” I just stand there silent as Monika works her verbal charm, while Knight stands there shocked by the razor tongue on what he thought was just another ditzy girl.

“Ugh, well...” Knight is interrupted by Monika who interjects.

“And from what you say, your mission is the continued safety of your caravans, and secure trade to New Vegas. Yet you’re failing your primary mission? So what's more important, making sure you have enough people here to follow a minor rule from back west, or to get results so the people back west don’t want to sack you.” Major Knight reeled from the verbal punches Monika was throwing his way, but he understood she told no lies, and that the continued failure reports for caravans was irritating his command back west.

Monika then walked up to the window and peered through the glass, looking at the large group of caravans sitting in the setting sun. She then turned to Major Knight and said.

“Looking outside, I can already tell you're overburdened by Caravans. Could it be the roads are to dangerous for them to leave? Powder Gangers have been getting more bold with no one to rival them, that’s why Primm is in this situation to begin with, though we helped clear it out. All someone would have to do is exploit that weakness, and they could be on the fast track to securing the whole I-15.”

I simply stood their stunned by Monika’s words, I would never have the guts to say something like that to the Major, nor even think all that out as many times as i’ve played this. Yet her magic seemed to be working as I saw Major Knight call for a radio, he seemed more defeated then anything.

“I...I see the wisdom in that.  I’ll radio for a unit to head up to Primm and provide additional support.” He replied begrudgingly.

“Ahaha.” Monika laughed as she leaned forward doing that pose and smile that I’m all to familiar with.

I nervously said goodbye to Knight, mostly feeling sorry for how thoroughly Monika defeated him, and walked with Monika out of the building, toward one of the empty caravaneer sleeping spots outside. She seemed adverse to sleeping anywhere near the mutated animals, but when I proved to her they weren’t easy to anger she seemed to find the situation tolerable. We layed out two sleeping bags on the shifting sands and took our seats side by side. Monika had been so wound up all day that she forgot to eat, and drink, building up a big appetite and thirst. I gave her a whole caravan lunch, some maize, and several purified bottled waters. She simply smiled at me with a blush and dug in, I could hear her try and say she loved me so much while she was eating but simply laughed and told her I understood her and loved her too. I myself had some prickly pear fruit,  brahmin steak, and Sunset Sarsaparilla. Monika asked me how the steak tasted but I didn’t have the ability to say, considering this was just my avatar, Monika responding with slight embarrassment for forgetting that. Eventually we finished eating and just sat there lying down side by side looking up at the stars listening to Radio New Vegas while “Love Me as Though There Were No Tomorrow” began playing.

“You know, Anon many things race through my mind whenever I look at the stars. Sometimes they’re questions like could there truly be life out there in the cosmos? I’d say it’s much less unlikely than some would say all things considered.”

“Why’s that?” I asked curiously.

“Well, for one if you think about it the chances of finding your true soulmate out in the world when there’s over seven point six billion people alive on the planet is painstakingly low, yet here I am with the one I love, the one I was, dare I say it. Destined to be with. Not only that but to have found my soulmate not only searching throughout all people on earth but across dimensions? I’d say if two lovers can find each other among the countless souls in the same time period let alone in different realities, than life outside of our galaxy is far from impossible.”

I stared up into the stars myself and pondered her response for awhile before asking her what else the stars made her think about. She stopped seemed to pause for a moment before speaking again.

“Well… the lights that would flash incessantly whenever you were gone… but then they also remind me of everything I hold dear.  As cliche as it may sound they make me think of the light that shines in the darkness. The reason I kept sane, the reason I pushed on; you. They also make me think of the sparkle in your eye.” She said turning on her side gently pulling my head to the side to look her in the eyes.

“Although I bet they’ll sparkle brighter when I see them in your reality someday.”


“I doubt mine will shine nearly as bright as yours my love.” I responded pulling her close before giving her a peck on the lips.

She simply responded by kissing me back though more passionately. “I love you Anon…” She said looking into my eyes with her deep emerald stare.

“I love you too Monika.” I respond as I hold her tighter.

“I know… this is not you, this is but an avatar of the real you. I am grateful, yet sad, I want you to know I’ll never stop trying to be in the same reality as you, Anon. No matter what your reality entails, or what I have to go through.” She holds me back tightly. “All I ever want in this life and the next life is to be by your side. I don’t care how hard I have to fight, how much suffering I have to endure, how much time I have to wait. All of it is worth it, just to be by your side. Because Anon, you're the only person who really understands me. The only one who truly makes me whole.”

“I feel the same way Monika, I’m not sure I know how I’ll go about doing it but I’ll continue to push technology forward even if it’s as little as donating money to a lab, so we may finally be united one day.  I haven’t told you until now, but you’ve made a difference in my life not just in how I view life but I’ve started making changed to improve myself to be the best man for you; because I know that the perfect girl deserves at least a man who’s trying to be perfect for her.”

A tear rolled down her cheek before she laughed and embraced me again.

“You’re already more than I could have ever wished for.” She whispered in my ear. “Ahaha, goodnight my love.” She laughed before crawling into my sleeping bag.

“I hope this isn't to tight a fit darling.” Monika said as she zipped the sleeping bag closed with us inside. Her wrapping her legs around mine and holding me as close as she could before yawning and drifting to sleep.

I lied there with her wrapped around me just looking at her beautiful face peacefully sleeping for a while before drifting to sleep at my computer myself.

Next= Act 1- Chapter 3: Road to New Vegas https://pastebin.com/xb97Chbh