Character Creation Contest #42: Fallout Edition

In Front of The House:

"You ain't from around here are ya, smoothskin?" asked the ghoul.

"What gave it away?" I asked dryly.

"Well, that mostly," he answered, as he looked over my shoulder at the ship.

"I woke up to this godforsaken world in that ship. I thought it best to bring it with me," I said perhaps a little too annoyed.

"Woke up to it?" the ghoul asked. "Just how long were you 'sleep, exactly?"

"I'm not really sure," I admitted with some nervousness. "This might sound strange, but...what year is it?"

There was only slight hesitation before, "We don't rightly know, t'be honest," said the ghoul with what may have been confusion. It was hard to tell, as their faces generally looked annoyed or confused, or a combination of the two. "You'd really have t'ask a vault dweller, if y'c'n find one. They're the only ones who have kept any kind of track, other than the Enclave. But they've been gone for some years now."

"Yes, well-"

"It's 2289," came a voice from behind me, "although I may have slept a year or two myself, here-and-there. No later than 2295 though."

I spun to face the voice and was so overjoyed to see a familiar face- even his- that I blurted out, "Heiro-"

He clamped a hand over my mouth and cut me off with, "It's good to see you too, Roo." Looking over my head, he said, "Thanks, Wally, I'll take it from here."

"Y-yeah," stammered the ghoul. "Su-sure thing, Hiro. Y'take care now, hear? Nice chattin' with you, lady smoothskin," he added before shuffling off.

Waiting for the ghoul to get out of earshot before he took his hand off my mouth and started to lead me in the opposite direction, he said, "It's just 'Hiro' now. Legends abound in the Wastes, and unfortunately, I'm one of 'em. I was associated with the Enclave, so my legend is not especially favored by most," he said with a twitch of his handlebar mustache.

"This worries you, because...?"

"It doesn't," he said plainly. "It's just less hassle if folks don't know who I really am. That your ship back there?" he asked, clearly changing the subject.

I pulled my arm away from his hand at that point and stopped. "Yes! It is now! And why is everyone so interested in my ship?"

"You must not have met any Steel Knights yet," said Hiro. I shook my head. He continued, "The Brotherhood is gonna want to claim that as their own- it's clearly pre-war. Is that how you got here?" He stopped, did a quick count on his fingers, and as he started walking again, added, "You should be dead right about three hundred years at this point."

I couldn't hide my surprise, but answered, "I was trying to claim Gunn's body from cryogenic sleep aboard the ship when he was revived by an American. He recovered quickly, there was a struggle, and I got knocked into the cryo chamber. Next thing I know, I woke up in this...this wasteland."

"It's just called The Wastes these days," said Hiro as he pulled me into the mouth of an alley and stopped. "You said 'Gunn.' You mean..."

"Raymond Gunn," I clarified.

Hiro shook his head. "You wanna keep that name to yourself too. Folks blamed Ray's tech for all of this when it first happened. It wasn't him, but it's another legend that persists. You might want to ditch that ship too. Salvage whatever you can use off of it- especially weapons, survival gear, and if you have any kind of water purification system in it. Otherwise, you're gonna spend a lot of time defending it."

"It's actually pretty capable of defending itself- some kind of A.I.- but it's the closest I've got to a home at the moment, so I think I'll keep it."

Hiro shrugged. "Your choice. How long you been awake?"

"About six weeks. Is it...is it all like this?"

"Nah," balked Hiro. "Most of it's worse," he added with a chuckle. "Between what Mr. House started here and the influence of the NCR, this is downright civilized. 'Bout the only thing better are areas reclaimed with a GECK."

"A 'geck?' What's a geck?"

Hiro smirked. "You'll learn," he said with a wink.

"Are you with the NCR then?" I asked.

"Oh no," he huffed. "My alliance with governments ended with the Enclave. No, I'm with the Followers of the Apocalypse now."

"Doom-and-gloom? From you?" I said with more surprise.

"Humanitarian work, actually. And I need t'get back to it. It's good t'see you, Roulette. Find me if you need anything," he said as he headed out of the alley. "We can get a Nuka Cola and catch up."

"Hiro!" I called after him. He turned. "Russia? Is... is it like this too?"

He nodded. "Anythin' else?"

"Yes," I said hesitantly. "I remember you sounding...more proper, in the past?"

He winked, "Well, 'when in Rome,' lil lady. It helps t'throw off the legend. It wouldn't hurt for you t'try it either. Find a way t'get yourself some caps too." With that, he tipped his hat and walked away, calling over his shoulder, "Welcome to New Vegas!"

"Caps?" I said to myself.

Four Weeks Later:

The steel ball clicked and clacked as it bounced to a stop, and the croupier called out, "Twenty-seven! Red! Winner! You're on a roll tonight, Roulette!"

I laughed excitedly as I raked my chips in, and called back, "Wooo! Yes I am! Here's something for you, Arnie," I said with a smile as I tossed three chips his way.

The curly haired man with the thick mustache smiled as he said, "Thank you, Roulette!"

I smiled back, but before I could answer, a hand reached into the middle of my chips, and a man with a sneer said, "Well, well... seems like this is your game, huh? That's gonna turn into a lot of caps. Guess we know how you got your name," he said, looking at the five large-count chips he rolled in his hand.

I reached into my pocket and came out with a four-shot Derringer- a remarkably old relic in this era, but something from my personal equipment in my spy days. Pointing it at the man's head, I answered sternly, "Actually, I got it from a bit different game. One of these barrels is loaded- you want to guess which one, or give me back my chips?"

He let the chips drop on the table as he looked at my small gun with no small amount of fear. The sneer left his young face. One of the chips rolled onto a square, and the croupier called out, "Bets are in!" and spun the wheel.

I looked at the chip- it was sitting on zero. Looking at him furiously, I told him, "You danged well better hope that wins." I stood there looking at him while the ball spun around the wheel, and he looked back at me over my gun, sweat beading on his brow.

The ball made its final few revolutions around the wheel, clicked, clacked, and bounced over slots until it came to rest. "Eleven! Black!" called Arnie.

I clinched my jaw as I pulled the hammer back on one of the barrels. The man-boy's lip quivered, but before he could completely break down, a chip appeared in front of my gun site. "Perhaps this can settle accounts, ma'am? It would save our rugs too," he said seriously.

I glared at the whimpering fool on the other end of my gun for a few seconds before easing back the hammer and holding out my other hand for the chip. The stranger put it in my hand and introduced himself, "I'm Pennyworth, ma'am- the house manager's new butler. Thank you for your cooperation."

The man-boy sagged with relief as he backed away a few steps, then turned to go. "Hey!" I called after him. He turned back around with a start, and I re-cocked and shot him in the knee. Over his screams, I shouted, "From now on, y'keep your hands offa other peoples' danged money! Y'hear?" Looking to Pennyworth, I handed him his chip back with a demure smile, and said, "Sorry about your carpet."

He smiled back pleasantly and said, "The house manager would like to speak with you."

I gave a short, exasperated sigh. "Is it about my ship?"

He nodded once. "Yes, ma'am, it is," and motioned towards an elevator.

As we started that way, I grumbled, "It's always about my ship."

Penthouse:

"Ah, Miss Roulette," called the house manager as we stepped off the elevator into the expansive penthouse suite.

"Just Roulette," I corrected. "Pennyworth here says y'wanted t'see me about my ship?" I asked, practicing the local speech patterns.

"Uh, yes. Thank you, Pennyworth, that will be all," said the short, pear-shaped man.

"Yes, Mister Holmes," answered the butler, and he receded to the kitchen.

"Miss...uh...Roulette," he corrected himself with a smile.

I nodded.

"I was wondering if you'd be kind enough to remove your ship from my roof?" he said with a bit of a pained look.

I raised an eyebrow as if it were the most preposterous thing I'd ever heard.

"In exchange, The House will happily comp you a very luxurious suite," he said, wringing his hands.

I seemed to be considering.

"Please," he practically begged. "Surely you'd prefer a suite to living aboard your ship?" he added with a nervous laugh.

"Hm, no," I said. "It's the only place I feel safe, really. What's the problem, Holmes? I thought we had an arrangement? You don't use the roof, and I'm paying you for its use."

"Well, yes," he laughed nervously, "but that was before the Brotherhood of Steel scaled my hotel again, trying to get to it," he said, hopping in place with distress.

"Those yahoos again?" I grinned. Mostly, I grinned just because the word "yahoos" tickled me. I started using it in a mocking sense about a week ago, but it was growing on me. "The Gunnship fended them off, right?"

"Well, yes, but the Steel Knights disturbed many of the guests as they scaled past their balconies, and later as some of them dropped past them again... screaming...to their...deaths," he said with dismay, wringing his hands over-and-over again.

As a robot whirred by on the terrace, I pointed over my shoulder with my thumb and said, "And? Ain't the Mister Handy's cleanin' it up like they always do?"

"Well, yes-"

"And it is not getting tiresome at all," chirped one of the Mister Handy's as it rolled by the terrace door, carrying an arm and a leg.

Another whirred behind it with a head and another leg. "Nor is it repetitive!"

"Look, Mister Holmes, The Gunnship has a very sophisticated A.I. - maybe I can get it to come up with some kind of defenses for The House? Something that could stop any raids before they get to the roof? I mean, my ship's kind of made a landmark out of your casino, hasn't it?"

"Well, yes, but-"

I put an arm around the nervous man's shoulder and steered him to a couch, where we sat down. "Listen, Mister Holmes, what if instead of moving my ship, it made you some money, instead? Besides just the space rent, I mean."

Mister Holmes seemed only slightly less nervous, but tentatively intrigued.

"What if you made it a tourist attraction? Let people on the roof where they can get a close look at the ship? For a fee?" I smiled at him.

He looked horrified as he undoubtedly pictured screaming hotel guests falling to their deaths.

"I can talk to the ship- get it to differentiate between tourists and Brotherhood of Steel," I assured him. "But they can't go inside!"

Mister Holmes considered, stretching his chin so far upwards you could almost tell he had a neck. "How much of a fee?" he asked.

"You decide," I said with a smile, as I wrinkled my nose and pinched his cheek.

He laughed bashfully, then asked very seriously, "Fifty caps?"

"Why not?" I said approvingly, dabbing his nose playfully with my finger.

"And your percentage?" he asked shrewdly.

"Twenty percent," I said without hesitation.

"Fifteen," he countered.

"You drive a hard bargain, Mister Holmes. Done," I said with shrug and a smile.

He grinned, quite pleased with himself and the idea of this new venture.

I patted his arm and stood up. "Thank you, Mister Holmes. I have to be going now. Nice seeing you!"

"Well, yes," he said as I neared the elevator.

Pennyworth appeared at the elevator as if he stepped out of a hidden panel. Maybe he had. "Good evening, ma'am."

"Good meetin' ya, Pennyworth!" I said, slapping him on the shoulder as I stepped into the elevator.

Lobby:

I stepped out of the elevator and was heading for the street when a big man stepped in front of me, flanked by a couple of skinny protection bots. "You Roulette?"

"Yeah. An' who might you be?" I drawled for effect.

"You shot my brother," he said in answer.

"The twerp in the casino? He was bein' kinda handsy with my winnin's. I don't take very kindly to that. Didn't get his name though. Or yours."

"You are 'Roulette,' yes? It means 'little wheel?' So why don't you call me Big Wheel?" he said with an air.

"Ah, that sneer- I see the resemblance now. Anyway, not bloody likely that I'll call you anything but a doctor, if you don't get outta my way. I was in no mood for your brother, and I'm in even less mood for you." Trying to brush past him, I said, "Now if you'll excuse m-"

"I don't think so," he said as he shoved a firm hand against my shoulder. "You crippled my brother- Anthony is his name."

I brought the four shot Derringer out of my pocket and pointed it at his head, "And what's your name?"

He raised his chin defiantly and said, "I told you: Big Wheel."

I rolled my eyes in aggravation and said, "I mean your real na... Y'know what?"

CLICK!

"I don't really care what your real name is. Y'wanna guess if the next one is loaded, Big Willy?"

He glared.

CLICK!

"You wanna try again? Or y'wanna step out of my way and move them bots off?" I reached into my other pocket for a stun stick and pulled it out by my side, telescoping it out.

Anthony's bigger brother with the bigger attitude rolled his neck to one side, making it crack, then spat next to my foot. "You go to-"

BLAM!

He dropped to the ground and I swung the stun stick at one bot, shocking it into overload, then aimed the Derringer at the other bot.

BLAM!

"Never was very good at that game," I said. Looking to the registration desk, I flipped a chip to the ghoul at the counter as I headed to the door, and said, "Tell Pennyworth I'm sorry about his carpet."

"Yes... ma'am," she called back weakly.

Meandering into the street, I said to myself, "Think I'll go find Hiro- take him up on that Nuka Cola."

I have come to be employed by a new gentleman, and it seems that he is a gambling man. My time started as a missionary, for the Abbey of the Road, a quaint group of Christians who still believe in all that even after the bombs fell. I was tasked with making my way to New Vegas, which I promptly packed my things and set off. However, I had no reliable source of travel, so I bar hopped and hitchhiked my way along the road, the whole thing was arduous, but I eventually made it to a small bar in the middle of nowhere, it had a rustic charm to it but I did not intend to stay longer than I had to.

Sitting at the bar I was approached by my future employer and he said, “Hello good sir, word around here is you are looking for a ride to new Vegas.”

“Yes as a matter of fact I am.” I replied.

“Splendid! I am making my way there myself, and I am in need of some assistance. Tell you what, you help me along the road, and I’ll give you a job when I get there.” He offered. I wasn’t exactly looking for permanent residence in New Vegas, however I did come to the realization that caps could help me get back home easier, and this gentleman seemed nice enough, so I replied, “If you’re offering a ride to New Vegas, that’s a deal I will take.” The man’s face glowed,

“Excellent, once we finish our drinks we’ll be on our way.” He said. I helped him pack his things, and we started the final leg of my journey towards New Vegas.

“So what draws you towards New Vegas Mr…?”

“Oh how rude am I? I apologize for not remembering my actual name, however you can call me Phillip.” He told me, “And I am going to New Vegas because I just procured a small little establishment from its previous owner in a game of chance, how ironic! I won a small casino from a card game.” He told me. I admit I had a hard time believing him, but I needed to get to New Vegas, so I went along with it.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your story?” Phillip asked me.

“Well sir, I am a missionary from the Abbey, spreading the good news in this dark time. My name is Austin, and I want to thank you for helping me.” I responded.

“Ah, a religious man, very good! Holding on to an ideal in this world is a very rare thing to come by, especially an idea of the old world, it really shows true dedication in a man.” He told me, which I admit got a smile out of me. We arrived at New Vegas after a couple days of travel, and I helped Phillip find his new place of work. We rolled up to the front door, and a rather burly man was waiting outside.

“Good day sir!” Phillip shouted, “Care to let us in to my new building?” He asked the man, but it was soon clear that he had no intention of doing so.

“Yeah, you aren’t getting in here, boss’s orders.” The guard replied.

“That squirrely little runt, he lost fair and square! Now he intends to strong-arm me out of our deal! I demand to talk to your boss right now!” Phillip shouted rather angrily, and I started to get nervous. He started marching towards the door and of course the guard move to stop him, and to my surprise, Phillip knocked out the much larger man in one punch!

“Ha! Let that be a lesson to you Austin, it’s not about the size of your muscles, but the placement of your punches.” Phillip said, to which I had a snarky reply but I kept it to myself. Phillip then shoved the doors open and made his way to the door that was marked “Boss’s Lounge”, and I hurried to follow him, not wanting to be by myself in a building where we clearly weren’t wanted. Phillip marched right toward a small, plump, man behind a desk and grabbed him by the collar.

“So, you lost a bet and you can’t be man enough to accept the terms you came up with Mr. Zhao?” Phillip said sounding very agitated.

“H-h-hey Phillip, didn’t think you would a-actually show up.” Mr. Zhao stammered. I saw him looking away from Phillip, towards a door in the back. Now, I had seen many bar fights during my travels in the desert, and I knew this was a signal. I moved to block the reinforcements so that Phillip wouldn’t be harmed. As I got to the door though, it blasted open, and I was unable to keep the massive man from breaking through. Phillip backed off of Mr. Zhao and took to fighting the burly man, and in the middle of that, Mr. Zhao sneaked out the back, so obviously I followed him.

“You’re not going anywhere man, you owe Phillip your establishment, and I will not let you weasel out of this deal.” I said.

“It’s not fair! He conned me out of my establishment, he’s a thief!” He shouted back.

“It’s not my fault you bet your whole business on something and lost, you owe him and you’re gonna pay up.” I replied. He face turned red and I could sense him getting ready to fight.

“You two are crooks!” He shouted, and ran off, and to be honest I really didn’t feel like chasing him, and I went back inside to check on Phillip, who had pummeled that giant man into a pulp.

“Did he run off?” He asked me, to which I told him what happened in the alley.

“Well, I entrust that you will be staying here to help me run things correct?” He asked me.

“I suppose I can spare some time here, I am in dire need of caps anyway.” I replied.

“Excellent, let’s get to work fixing this place up shall we?” Phillip said. A few months passed and business was on the rise. Word started getting out about our new little casino and of course this attracted unwanted attention. Mr. Zhao had caught wind that his business was succeeding without him, so he called in a few favors to the factions of New Vegas, and before we ne it we were under siege.

“Mr. Phillip, come out with your hands up and you won’t be harmed.” A loud voice outside demanded.

“He really did it now, couldn’t he just let it go?” Phillip asked.

“People will do crazy things to get what they want.” I replied. Phillip decided that it would be best to go out, since we had not soldiers of our own. I watched the brave man from the balcony, waiting to see what would happen next. Mr. Zhao grabbed a gun from one of the soldiers quickly and shot Phillip in the chest. He then walked into the building and started to take it back over, kicking out all of the patrons. This infuriated me, and in my rage I acted on instinct, I set the top floor on fire and set up time bombs throughout the lower level while the soldiers moved to put out the fire. I snuck out and grabbed my friend and ran away as fast as I could, seeing the explosion from a distance. A few minutes later he died in my arms, as I had no supplies to treat his gaping chest wound. With no money and no friends in New Vegas, I abandoned my original mission of spreading the word and moved on, becoming an aimless wanderer, searching for a purpose. Maybe one day I’ll head back to the abbey, but for right now I seem to be back where I started, in a bar along the road, when a stranger taps me on the shoulder…