Courier Six - a Fallout New Vegas story

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Welcome to the post-apocalyptic world of New Vegas. Click the thumbnails to see the full-size screenshots. Short-links will be provided to any 'sensitive' screenshots I cannot freely post on a free forum. Have fun.



Ursula was a young woman, barely twenty years old. She had been a courier for almost ten years, starting off as a young delivery girl and working her way up to more dangerous and profitable jobs. The mysterious Mr. House had hired a number of couriers to bring various items to the Strip. Each courier carried one of these items. Ursula, better known as Honey, carried a platinum chip. It didn't look like much, but the metal must've been expensive before the war. Now, though, it only had value to those who knew what it was used for.
The couriers were all ambushed and killed, Honey was no exception. She was tossed in a shallow grave the Great Khans had dug for him. Benny himself had pulled the trigger that fired the shot into Honey. She shouldn't have survived that, but Honey was blessed with an iron constitution. She woke up a few days later at Doc Mitchel's house in Goodsprings. After making sure his patient was doing well, the good doctor saw the courier off. But not before giving him something from the doc's past...
"They call it a Pip-Boy. I grew up in one of them vaults they made before the war. We all got one. Ain't much use to me now, but you might want such a thing, after what you been through. I know what it's like, having something taken from you. And put this on, too, so the locals don't pick on you for lacking modesty. Never was much my stule anyway." "Thanks for patching me up, Doc." "Don't mention it. It's what I'm here for. You should talk to Sunny Smiles before you leave town. She can help you learn to fend for yourself in the desert. She'll likely be at the saloon. I reckon some of the other folks at the saloon might be able to help you out, too. And the metal fella, Victor, who pulled you outta your grave. Anyway, you ever get hurt out there, you come right back. I'll fix you up. But try not to get killed anymore," Doc said.

Honey presents the heart from the kitchen in the Ultra-Luxe...
"Hmm, this looks and smells like burgundy pork, a deliscious meal. If you want the recioe, it would be my pleasure to give it to you!" Doc Mengele said. 



"I've been simply awesome. She's fine, except for a litle liver problem... but who needs a liver, hahaha? Oh, by the way, inside this bocal, you'll find a little part... I don't know exactly where it was... Anyway... she looks fine... But if she vomits some green liquid or has some spasms... send her back here," Doc Mengele said. "I'm like the drunk in the bar who want just one more for the road," Vanessa said. "Vanessa, are you okay? You just woke up. Keep calm, please..." Honey said. "Oh, my God..."



Vanessa regained her senses and composure fairly quickly. The women decided to explore more of their immediate surroundings...

 

"I'm no threat. I'm not feral." "Great. Can you answer some questions for me? Wow, you have unusual hair for a ghoul," Honey said. "I take great care of my appearance. I was a performer on The Strip for quite a long time before I came here to be with Jason and the Followers. Back then, my looks kept me employed... and busy... and near the bright lights and interesting people... but I shouldn't go on about that. I'll just say, thank you, as a lady should. I really think it's my best asset after my smile. Don't you agree?"
Honey laughed nervously. "Have you seen a tall ghoul in a cowboy hat?" she asked to change the subject. "Yes, he comes by every day to se me. Well, not me, he's looking for that Jefferson fellow. But I like to think he's looking for me. I have such a crush on him. He's so big and tall and handsome." "You mean Jefferson isn't here?" Honey said. "I told him that Jefferson had gone out into the Mojave, as other Followers have done before him, but he had never returned. We assumed he had died." "Do you know why he keeps coming back every day if Jefferson is dead?" "No, I don't know why he keeps coming back. But, I like seeing him so I haven't tried to make him stop," the ghoul said. "When do you expect him today?" "I really don't know. Some days I don't see him until three or four in the afternoon. I do know he stays at that camp by the gate. There's a bed. He sleeps there." "Ok, thanks. What is this place? Why are you here?" Honey said. "This is the home of the Bright Followers. Jason Bright is the leader. I'm tired of Jason, and this place, and the Followers and would love to run away with him. But, I don't know if he'll take me. I haven't the courage to ask him." "Would you like me to talk to him for you? I can ask him to take you with him when he leaves." "Yes, that would be wonderful," the ghoul said. "Oh, what's your name? I'll be sure to ask him when I speak to him." "It's Jessica, and thank you for helping me."
"The wasteland can be beautiful and horrible at the same time..." Willow said.
The women looked around shortly...



... Then they went back the way they had come. And they met The Big Guy - as Willow called him...



"Yeah, what is it?" he said. "Willow and I are traveling together and we've tracked you down to see if you have her teddy bear," Honey said. "Yeah." "Do you have it? Will you give it to me? You know that girl, Jessica, the Bright Follower? The one who aits to see you every day? She's madly in love with you and wants to run away with you." "Yeah, I know," he said. "So are you going to take her with you when you go?" "Yeah."

"I have Chester," Honey said. "Thank you for helping me. It means the world to me that you took the time to do this," Willow said.



"Some gamblers came in saying they'd seen you enter the Lucky 38. I have to say I'm impressed. I don't know of any other living person who's been in there," Francine Garret said.
"A beer, cheers! What do you want to eat?" Honey said.



While her companions were eating, Honey employed her skills at the card table...



It didn't take long for the young card shark to win enough to get banned from the table. Honey returned to Vanessa's table...
"You know, I like the Atomic Wrangler. For people looking for a little peace and quiet, this is an ideal place!" "Vanessa, tell me about yourself," Honey said. "Myself? Well, lemme see... I was born not far from here. My father left when I was a kid... I searched for him from coast to coast. I eventually found my way to Washington, DC... There I found friends, adventure, and money... But not my father. Or my sister. Then, a friend helped me with my research, and we were able to locate her. So, I came back here..." "So, you have a sister?" "Yeah, I have a half sister. Same father, different mothers," Vanessa said.



Honey rented a room...

https://ibb.co/Nskq4qS

"Well, that was... intense as fuck. It was awesome! I assume we're a bit more than friends now..." Vanessa said. "Yeah, I suppose. I'll... um... I'll find a present for you..." Honey said. "You'll do that for me? Thank you!"

"Hello. Lovely to meet you." "Who are you?" Honey said. "I haven't the time to speak to commoners such as yourself," Lady Jane said. "I was hired by the Garrets to track you down," "In that case, I suppose you're here to collect. I apoligize, but I simply do not have enough caps on me to cover the debt. If someone were to recover my caravan from that cave, I could easily pay in full, but who would bother with such a mess?" "Perhaps there is something else of value you could put toward the debt?" Honey said. "I'm short 90 caps or so, but I have a few cartons of cigarettes and some sensor modules I could put toward my debt. At this point I'll have to return to California and start anew. I haven't got a cap to my name."



There were still two people left on the list. While looking for them, Honey and her gang came across a store...



"If you're looking for guns, talk to Mick. Otherwise, I've got a nice selecton of general supplies," Ralph said. "What do you have in stock?" Honey said. "Take a gander." "Do you offer any other services?" "I only offer services if the King gives the okay. Impress him and we can talk," he said. "A resourceful fellow such as yourself must have something on the side." "All right. Yeah, I've got a little side business going, but what I'm about to share with you does not leave this room, eh? Over the years, I've gradually perfected my craft to the point of perfection. No one can distinguish between my work and the real thing. What I'm referring to is passports. If you've got the caps, I can whip up a Strip passport which will foll even the most well-trained eye." "Ah, now I see why you want to keep this low key," she said. "Hey, if you're interested and have the caps, they go for 500. Any less and it ain't worth the risk of getting caught. What do you say? You game?" "I've already got enough caps to pass the credit check." "No problem. If you need one later, just drop in," Ralph said.

"How are you today? Santiago is fabulous!" "You owe the Garrets a bunch of caps," Honey said. "Santiago does not owe anyone. Santiago is a Freeside VIP." "Santiago is dead if he doesn't cough up what he owes the Garrets." "Sir, Santiago does not know what he has done to offend, but he can explain everything," he said. "I'd rather not kil you, but Francine put a bounty of your head," she said. "I didn't think she was upset enough to have me killed... Here are the caps I owe. I do the Santiago act to get out of paying for services every once in a while. I didn't think it could possibly get me killed."



"Hey man, can you spare a few caps?" Grecks said. "Collecting money to pay back the Garrets?" Honey said. "Whoa, yeah. I guess the Garrets sent you after me? Look, I've got the caps right here, just don't hurt me." "You don't cheat the Garrets and walk away. Cough up the rest or you're rat bait." "Okay! Here. That's everything I've got except the clothes on my back. I'm sorry about this," he said. "That'll do. Mess with the Garrets again and you're dead," Honey said. "I won't. Thanks for not killing me."



The women returned to the Atomic Wrangler...
"I think I have all of the debts collected," Honey said. "I don't care how you handled those lumps of human refuse, but you got the job done. We need you to hunt down another person. That son of a bitch, McCaffery, stole a ton of caps and ran off to Vegas. I guess the fact that we farmed out his usual work to you pissed him off. No one steals from the Garret Twins! If you can kill that bastard and bring back as much as you can, you'll be paid very well," Francine said. "If I see McCaffery on the Strip, I'll be sure to take care of him." "Good. Just stop on back when he's dea and you'll be rewarded handsomely. Bring his hat as proof of the kill."



"Do you have a minute? I have something I want to talk to you about," Willow said. "Yeah. What's going on?" Honey said. "I told you when we first started traveling together that it wouldn't be for very long, but I'm having so much fun with you. And, you've become very special to me. I think of you as a friend, a best friend actually, and I don't want to leave you or the Mojave. So, what do you say? Should we make it official? Shall I stay and keep following you around?" "I very much want you to stay with me." "Great! We'll be best friends forever!" Willow said. "What's wrong with you leg?" "Would you look at it for me? I don't think it's healing right. It's still bothering me a lot." "Sure, I'll look at it for you," Honey said.
Willow took her pants off and Honey could take a look at the wound. She noticed it had not been cleaned properly. Honey removed the remaining pieces of debris, cleaned the wound and administred some antibiotics for the infection...
"That should do it," she said. "Thank you so much!" Willow said.

"Vanessa, I have a present for you. A dress," Honey said. "Holy shit! This is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen! Actually... that's the only one I have seen... But it's simply gorgeous! Thank you so much! You've been so nice to me! Let me give you something. It's my 8-ball! With it in your bag, you'll be the luckiest in the wasteland!" she said. "Hm... well, let's go eat somewhere, now that you've got that dress." "Eat somewhere, with you? What a perfect idea!"



"Here we are. Be my guest," Honey said. "The Gourmand? Thanks, mademoiselle! Follow me!" Vanessa said. 



"The meat is fabulous! I wonder what they used to season it..." Vanessa said.



On thei way back from the Ultra Luxe, the women ran into Caleb McCaffery...
"Heh, so the Garrets sent you to track me down? What a joke," he said. "Nah, just thought I'd say hi," Honey said. "Piss off." "Give me a share of the caps and your hat and you can go free." "Now why the hell should I do that? You're below me, kid. I've been killing scum twice your size since before your mother squeezed you out," he said. "All I need is your hat, and you're a free man. I'll tell Francine you're dead," Honey said. "Well, that sounds like a bit of a bargain. I get to walk free with the Garrets thinking I'm dead. Sure, you can have my hat. I can always buy another with the caps I've got left. It would have been more fun fighting it out, though. See you later, kid."

The women returned to the Atomic Wrangler...
"I took care of McCaffery," Honey said. "Yes! Where is his hat?!" Francine said. "Right here." "This is great news. No one screws with the Garret Twins and gets away with it. I need to find a place on the wall for this. And for your reward... Here's 150 caps. I trust there were also some valuables on McCaffery. Also, we would like to set you up with a room. You can have the corner room, rent free. It was McCaffery's.Now that he's dead, we're happy to let you use it. Thanks for helping us."
They returned to their suite at the Lucky 38...
"Now that we're best friends do we have some things to talk about?" Honey said. "Yes, absolutely!" Willow said. "Are we going to celebrate? Do I get a present or something special from you?" "Yes, you do. So the first present is I made you a sweetroll to celebrate. But I'd also like to do something for you from now on as your friend. I can cook for you, you know? Anything you want. You'll need to bring the ingredients, but I'll do the rest. What do you think?" "Thank you, Willow, that's very sweet," Honey said. "Oh, good. It'll be fun." "You've mentioned that you have a collection. What do you collect?" "When I scavenge stuff to sell I look for special little things that I might like to keep. I have a collection of those things. I haven't shown them to you because, well, a girl likes to have some privacy. And besides, not everyone I've traveled with has understood," Willow said. "What haven't they understood?" "That it's fun to find prett or interesting things and keep them, and a couple of the people I've traveled with have made fun of me for it." "I like to collect things too," Honey said. "I'm so exited you collect stuff too. What's tour favorite thing to collect?" "Things I think are special. If an item catches my eye and it interests me I'll keep it." "Those are my favorites too," Willow said.



It was time to get even. Smuggling a gun into the Tops was no problem. Now to find Benny...



"What in the goddamn...? Let's keep this in the groove, hey? Smooth moves. Smooth... Hello! That broad everyone saw go into the Lucky 38, that was you? Oh shit." "When you shot me, you ran off so fast I never got your name," Honey said. "You making a pass at me, sister? Because I'm out of your league." "It is wrong to want a guy who'd shoot me in the head?" "Did those bullets scramble your egg? Or have you always been a naughty broad...?" he said. "Girls like bad boys. And you've been downright awful." "You're one sick pussycat, baby. There's quins and then there's... I don't even know what to call you." "I'm saying I dig you, despite it all. What do you say?" Honey said. "I hear dig from you, babe, and all I can think of is a shovel. How can this be? This ain't forgiveness, it's something... wrong." "I'm a courier, remember? Don't you want me to handle your package?" "All right, honey baby, this is all kinds of wrong, but to my suite it is. Thirteenth floor. Don't keep me waiting," he said.



"Benny is gonna show you the Tops! I hope you're built sturdy, you crazy broa!" he said.
Benny was ready for some nooky, but Honey pulled her concealed gun and fire. He didn't stand a chance.

Deciding to look around, Honey discovered a secret room...



"Hey! Hi there, good to meet you! What can I do for you today?" "What are you doing here?" Honey wondered. "Good question! My function is to monitor Mr. House's data network and decode his encrypted transmissions! Allow me to introduce myself! I'm a PDQ-88b Secruritron, but you can call me Yr Man!" "Yes Man? What kind of a name is that?" "It's what Benny always called me. Probably because I'm programmed to be so helpful!" "Benny stole a Platinum Chip from me. Do you know what it's for?" Honey said. "Sure! Benny had me look at it a bunch of times! It's a data storage device, kind of like a holotape, but a lot more advanced! As for what's on it, well... Some of Mr. House's data transmissions made it sound like the Chip could upgrade his defenses somehow! That's just a guess, though! The Chip's a proprietary format! You'd need special hardware to read the data on it! There are two locations with non-standard hardware on the network - the Lucky 38 and an underground facility at Fortification Hill. I'd look there!" "Benny reprogrammed a Securitron? All by himself?" "Oh, he ha some help - a lady friend of his! She said something about living in a fort ove in Freeside... but that's all I remember," Yes Man said. "What was Benny planning to do with the Chip?" "Oh! He wanted to kill Mr. House and use the Platinum Chip to copy my neuro-computational matrix onto the Lucky 38's mainframe! That would give me control over all of Mr- House's defenses, most prominently his Securitrons. And then I gues I just do as I'm told!" "You're very... fotyhcoming with that information," Honey said. "I was programmed to be helpful and answer any questions I was asked. I guess nobody bothered to restrict who I answer questions for. That was probably pretty dumb, huh?" "Say I wanted to take over New Vegas myself. What then?" "Then I'd have to help you! I mean, it seems pretty obvious Benny wouldn't have wanted me to, but not my fault I can't say no!" Yes Man said. "What are the details of the plan?" "Again, goal number one is to eliminate Mr. House and install my neuro-computational matrix on the Lucky 38's mainframe! Given how you're a new arrival, I also recommend that you get to know some of the region's tribes, so you can decide how you feel about them! By the time you've finished up all of that, the Legion should be close to attacking Hoover Dam and we'll execute the last phase of the plan!" "Say Mr. House was going to suffer an accident. How would that happen?" Honey said. "It makes me feel really dumb to admit this, but I don't actually know! I've never been inside the Lucky 38. N one has! Mr. House is in there, though! It's the cenral node of his entire network!" "I've been inside the Lucky 38." "You have? That's amazing! You can murder Mr. House whenever you want! I mean, Benny was always scheming about how he was going to get into the Lucky 38, but you already took care of that. Wow! The other thing you're going to need is the Platinum Chip. You know, the one Benny killed a courier for, over near Goodsprings?" Yes Man said. "I don't have the Platinum Chip. Maybe it's on Benny's corpse." "Hmm. You should probably check on that, huh? I hope that didn't sound conscending. I didn't mean to be! The Platinum Chip is the key to overriding and exploting Mr. House's defenses! Did I just say exploting? That's not a very nice word!" Once I get the Platinum Chip, what then?" Honey said. "I'd take it straight to Mr. House if I were you! He'll think you're helping him out! Then when he's not looking - KER-POW! The big question is whether to give him the Chip before you do him in! He's the only one who'll know exactly what to do with it, after all! He might upgrade his defensive capabilities straight away! Or even unlock new ones! But then those defensive upgrades might make it harder for you to finish him off! Hard to say! It's up to you! Let me know when it's done and I'll roll over to the Lucky 38. If I'm right about the Chip, I should be able to install myself on House's mainframe! This is going to be great! I'm going to help you accomplish so much, whether I want to or not!" "So I should ask these tribes if they'll support an independent Vegas?" "Oh no, I didn't mean that! Who needs their support? The Securitrons wil be all the support you need! What I meant is, you should get to know these tribes and decide which ones you like and which ones you don't! You know - shape the future of Vegas! Choose your neighbors! If you like a tribe, leave it alone! Or if a tribe is nasty, or going to be a problem - go ahead and exterminate it! It's whatever you want to do!" Yes Man said. "Which tribes should I get to know?" "There's a bunch! Some of them you've already met - like the Chairmen for instance! I think you should visit the other families on the Strip, the Omertas and the White Glove Society, so you know what makes them tick! And there are some important groups farther from the Strip, too, like the Boomrs, the Great Khans, and the Brotherhood of Steel." "What is this place?" Honey asked. "This is Benny's workshop. When the Tops got renovated, he had this half of the floor blocked off for his own use. I guess you could say it's my entire world! I don't think I've ever left this room! But that's ok - I'm not complaining!" "You said something about a bunker at the Fort?" "Right, it's one of two locations on Mr. House's network with non-standard hardware. My guess is that it has a reader that can decode the chip, and who knows what else? Maybe a giant robot or something!" Yes Man said. "I'll go check it out," Honey said. "Neat. Let me know what you find out!" "Lucky you! I've never found a robot in a closet who offered to help me take over the world" Willow said.

The women left floor 13 and returned to the casino floor. Honey decided to do some gambling...



The courier quickly amassed chips and got banned from the tables...



They left the Tops...
"The eyes of the mighty Caesar are upon you. He admires your accomplishments, and bestows upon you the exeptional gift of his Mark. Your crimes against the Legio, including the death of the fearless Vulpes Inculta, are hereby forgiven. Caesar will not extend this mercy again. My Lord requires your presence at his camp, at Fortification Hill. His Mark will gurantee your safe-conduct through our lands," Alerio said. "You said Caesar has an offer for me. What kind of offer?" Honey said. "Caesar chose not to give me that information. I was only told to find you and bring you this message. Seek Caesar by Cottonwood Cove, south of Nelson. The Cursor Lucullos will be waiting."
"The Legion wants to see you? That's serious business. We need to be careful," Vanessa said.



The women went for a stroll...
"Hi! I'm Sarah, Sarah Weintraub. Welcome to the finest Vault hotel in the whole world!" "A Vault hotel? Was it like this before the war?" Honey wondered. "No, silly! Of course it wasn't always a hotel. I grew up in it - my favorite place in the world! Not that I know much of the world - I never left this place, come to think of it... but it is the most special vault, ever!" Sarah said. "What is so special about this vault?" "My vault is pure New Vegas. Everyone has a chance and Lady Luck smiles if you play your odds right!... Okay, it was like that before we had to leave. Vault 21 had very smart ways to help people get along. All arguments and fights got solved through gambling. I'll give you a quick tour of my home! Oh, yeah, if you like." "Sure. I would like that." "Righty-o, daddy-o. Let's do it!" Sarah said.



"All right! Please, follow me. We'll head into the vault right away," Sarah said.



"This bunker protects the entrance to the vault - solid stone outside and thick steel on the inside!" Sarah said.

"Above us there's the contol center for this level of the vault's life-support systems, electical grid, radioactive shields and all that jazz. Don't get lost! My vault has many corridors and rooms - although it is no longer symmetrical, after Mr. House threw us out," Sarah said.



"This is the main game-hall. Here we settled the big disputes among the vault's levels. Chosen reprsentatives gambled against each other here. The winner earned the right to settle the dispute as wished by the collective," she said.



"This hall leads to our geust rooms. You can use the first room on our left. But no snooping next door! That's my room, always was," Sarah said.



"Down there is the game room! Each side of the vault had one... but the other is filled with concrete now. Okay, that wraps it up. I'll see you soon!" she said.



The women followed Sarah back to the gift shop...
"What kinds of things do you seel in this gift shop?" Honey wondered. "I have all sorts of things. Vault souvenirs, vault wares, vault machines, vault mementos and vault suits! And, well, lots of other vault things, too. Okay - I got these great lunchboxes, they are super! What else? Oh! Look at these toasters! You like toasts, right? If they are crunchy even better! What about a vintage Vault-Tec toy car? Or-" "Sarah, stop right there. Do you actually have any vault gear?" "Okay, I do, but who wants a lame sensor module, or a nitrogen canister, anyway? All the popular stuff has been sold - especially the vault suits. I need to find more because people buy them like hot cakes. Leather suits are good times! Thinking about that just blows my top!" Sarah said. "I'll help you out." "You would? You really would? That would help me, a lot!" "All right. Consider it done," Honey said. "Thank you so much! You are an angel. I can't wait to see you again!" Sarah said.