Entry 22: The Fate of Zion

Hello mommy. Hello daddy.

So as you know, me and Joshua were together going to war. Well, I like to think so at least. It's hard to think that way when Joshua does all the killing from the distance with his badass .45 pistol. But hey, who's complaining!

His presence was actually good. He didn't talk much, like me. He just wanted to get the job done. He even inspired me. I was quicker, stronger. Felt like a slayer, swinging around my axe, sledge and fists.

On our way to the White Legs base camp we passed by the Red Gate - Randall's resting place. I told you, remember? The skeleton, near the dufflebag where I found the entries that supposely were the last ones. Joshua didn't feel confortable with the idea, since we could get hurt, but... I had to say good bye, you know? I kneeled by him and promised I'd rid Zion of the White Legs and that his Sorrows would be able to remain in their home. The home Randall made possible for them. He had a rifle by him, his rifle. I took it. I wasn't much good with any gun, but I'd train. It would be my tribute. Justice would be made, lives would be saved with that gun, as he did.

We quickly got to Three Marys, the home to White Legs. Obviously it'd only get tougher from here. Fortunatly, we had back-ups now. Two Sorrows and one Dead Horse joined us. May not seem much, but believe me, they were all fierce warriors. The air got heavy and my vision seemed to get a little red, proably an illusion from the rocks that surrounded Three Marys and formed the valley. It was show down time.

When we got to a narrow part of the camp an explosion detonated and blocked our path. Joshua had enough. He told me he'd go find a way around and I was to go through the caves. Also reassured me that we'd end the White Legs together. That means a lot you know, coming from a badass guy that once had no heart.

The poor tribals didn't stand a chance. Of course, I say "poor" in the same way I could say "murderer savages", but, well... I hit them with all that I had. It even got me thinking of how painful it may be to get hit with an axe. Thank God it was me doing the hitting. On a lot of them.

Then I caught up with Joshua. He was at the end of the camp, with three White Legs on their knees. On of them seemed different. I assume he was the leader, Salt-Upon-Wounds. When I arrived Joshua looked at me and then executed the two White Legs by Salt-Upon-Wounds. And then started talking to him. Told him he was warned when they first met and warned again when he destroyed New Canaan. But still he wanted to follow Caesar's ways and followed them to Zion. And then, you may or may not believe this - I know I wouldn't - the God damned tribal asked me for mercy. Told me to talk to Joshua. Shit, the nerve on this guy heh. I told Joshua to cap him. He did not deserve mercy. Not after all he had done, after he had planned to do. And Joshua capped him. Capped the shit out of him actually. I wasn't disturbed or anything, if you're asking yourselves that. I told you, he deserved every bullet.

Joshua then told me it was time for him to return to Daniel. Boy I wouldn't want to face that hippie after decimating an entire tribe. He said good bye to me. Thanked me deeply for my help. Then we parted ways.

As I got to the place from where I arrived with Happy Trails, now alone, it was easy for me to climb back to the steep path we came from. But, surprise for me, there was a box by the path. I carefully opened it and... I swear to you, tears filled my eyes. Joshua left me his gun. It was a .45, but more special. I named it after one of the sentences he once told me. "A Light Shining in the Darkness". And even more, he also left me Salt-Upon-Wounds' Power Fist. Heh. Bringing souvenirs to the Mojave.

I'm begining my trip to the Mojave now. I'm sorry the letter was short. I'm also sorry that I won't be writting until I get there. I'm going to focus on getting back as fast as I can and, when able to, practice on my shooting.

Love you,
Bill.

Entry 21: The Fire

Hello mommy. Hello daddy.

Yeaaaahh, She's Embrance! What can be more badass than a weapon made out of a giant beast's paw that I personally killed and chopped?!

Cloud calrified to me what we were supposed to do. We had the map to retrieve, White Legs to kill, prevent White Legs from laying traps (or more White Legs to kill) and clear a path from Yao Guai. We started by the map first.

The map was in a cave that I had already been to before. Was where I found one of Randall's terminal's. Too bad I didn't find it by then. I was stung by a giant cazador at the entrance of the cave. I cut it's head off with my flaming sword and then took an antivenom, but was still hurt pretty bad.

Once we entered, Cloud got very unconfortable. She grabbed me and told me we should not be there, because the cave belonged to the Father in the Caves, founder of the New Canaanites and if we entered we would be punished by the Holy Wrath. Oh Randall... Now I see what you were up too. Spreading the message from generation to generation, telling spooky stories about what happens if someone goes in the caves, just so they won't find out who "The Father" is. Well played, friend. I told her I understood her beliefs, but we still needed to search the cave. She asked me to be quick, but I still needed to rest. If you see Randall up there, tell him not to worry, I didn't show her the terminal nor told her the Father was "just" a man.

Stupid, stupid. The map was in an holotape in Randall's dufflebag, how could I have missed it the first time?! Still I got it, layed down on his bedroll and rested for an hour, because the sting was killing me (almost literally).

Next up was to kill the White Legs that were preparing an attack on the Sorrows. Would be tricky, the bastards grew stronger by the minute.

We cleared out the first camp. We were outnumbered and even a Yao Guai joined the party. We got it pretty rough. After they were all dead I destroyed their war totem, so that they'd be both without men and without the help of their beliefs.

The second camp was... Easier? to clear. Mostly because two giant cazadores stung raped all the White Legs to death. And the White Legs must have made a number on the bugs too, because they were easy kills.

Only two chores left. Trap preventing was the next one. It was fairly easy. Just stuck to the road Daniel was planning on following and there were beartraps everywhere. We searched thoroughly, so I'm sure we got them all. And didn't even find White Legs. Only the Yao Guais left now...

They gave me the option of getting rid of them or blowing up their cave, preventing them to return to it and making them find a new place to live in. I did that, because I came across the cave first than I came across them. Cloud told me the strategic places to put the C4 and I did it, all around the cave. There were some Yao Guai inside, too, but I decided to leave them alone. They'd be buried in not too long, so no sense in risking my life.

We left the cave, detonator in hand, got a little distance aaand KA-BLAM! And so everything was done. Cloud told me we had to get back to Daniel, but I asked her to go to the Eastern Virgin. You know, I had to check with Joshua. I still thought we should kill the White Legs instead of running away from them, so I was going to meet him before I proceeded with Daniel's plan.

We went by the river stream, to avoid White Legs contact. And we arrived without any problems. So we went in the Angel Cave and looked for Joshua, but he wasn't there. We looked around the rest of the camp, too. While looking around the Dead Horses camp we found a dufflebag marked as a Taboo. That meant it was there before the Dead Horses had arrived. And it looked just like Randall's dufflebags... Had the same ammount of supplies the other bags used to have too. Another gift of him to me. Thanks.

So we headed back north, to the Narrows. Odds were Joshua was there with Daniel, since he wasn't at his own camp.

I was growing sick of those fucking cazadores. They even swarmed the river. There was no escape from those bastards!

Heh, on my way north I found the place where the Coughers/Vaulters used to be encamped. There were skeletons and Vault 22 jumpsuits lying around. There was also a note that made me smile. It was from the Vault's overseer, warning everyone who saw that note to beware of the evil vengeful spirit, haha. It gave me more detail on Randall's story. The Vaulters were originaly 118 and were reduced by 34 by the time they decided to leave, flee from Randall - the evil vengeful spirit. After what I read from Randall I could not pity those skeletons. Couldn't, wouldn't.

We arrived at night, so we were to sleep in the makeshift beds at the entrance of the camp. When I woke up, both Joshua and Daniel were sitting by the fire camp next to me, reading the Bible.

I talked to Joshua. We didn't talk about Zion right away, I brought up a topic that he talked about when we met. A courier doing Caesar's bidding. He said that that courier had spyed on him once and was the only agent sent by Caesar that Joshua hadn't killed. Another courier heh... Johnson Nash, my boss from when I was a courier with the Mojave Express, also mentioned a courier in a very strange way... I mean, it can be unrelated, at all, but couriers are usually low profile, two stories of a relevant courier... Hm.

He also told me about what he had been through. How he met Caesar, knew him as Edward at first. Only then did Edward ordered the slaughter and conquer of a tribe that had made them - Joshua, Edward and Bill, a friend - prisioners. And thus Caesar was born. Joshua told me about when he was burnt alive but survived from pure will power, which he attributed to love. He was loved by his tribe, the New Canaanites and God.

Then I talked to Daniel. I told him I got everything but... I was going to side with Joshua. In Daniel's eyes it may seem that I had been consumed by the "fire", but if they leave, the White Legs can only spread more. Eventually they'd join the Legion and then a whole educated and trained army would be trying to track them down and kill them all. Daniel didn't like it. Not one bit.

I told Cloud to stay with him, to stay with the Sorrows. They'd need support.

Then I met Joshua outside the Narrows. He told me what our mission was, plain and simple. Extermination.

I asked for some time to prepare to write you this. I'll let you know how this went mom, dad.

Love you,
Bill

Entry 20: Loving Zion

Hello mommy. Hello daddy.

Rain woke me up, so I screamed at the heavens. Everyone of the Sorrows that were in the area looked at me. Not a good first impression. Follows laughed, though.

We followed the water stream until a point where Follows told me to turn. And there was Daniel, the only non-tribal-looking guy. He had a shirt and a cowboy hat. Classy. Like Joshua, he too offered sympathy for the Happy Trails Caravan. I gave him the supplies and he was actually surprised. Well, he clearley didn't know who he was dealing with yet, am I right? Huh? Huh?

Anyway, he needed more things done. And, since getting shot in the head seems to have turned me into a bitc-- good samaritan, I told him I'd help, of course. He needed locations scouted and a map for the... "Great Staircase", apparently a way out of Zion. He wanted to leave with the Sorrows, flee from the White Legs. Well, that's not how I'd do it, but hey, I'm a tourist.

After I accepted Follows said good-bye to me, because he was needed back at the Dead Horses camp. I asked him if he was sure, because I actually liked the guy. He said it was so Joshua's orders, so I told him to give him my regards and that I'd stop by.

Daniel told me that the tribal that received me, Waking-Cloud, had volunteered to help me if needed. So I had a new companion right away. Hoped she was as cool as Follows!

The Narrows had all sorts of cave systems, so I had to explore. You know, because of  Randall. While we were on our way I talked to Cloud (I don't like writting her full name) to know her better. She had three children and a husband, who led the group of refugees out of Zion. She was worried about them, though, because there were no news and Daniel wouldn't talk to her. I'd see what I could do.

I talked with Daniel and... Shit. Cloud's children made it, but her husband had died protecting the group against the White Legs. Those savages... Daniel asked me not to tell Cloud... But... It was her husband, y'know... She'd be building up hope and when she got reunited with the refugees she would be devastated... I told him I'd tell her. He reacted better than I expected. If anything happened, I would take full responsability. I also asked him about the "Father in the Caves" that Cloud had mentioned and that I thought to be Randall. He didn't know anything about a Randall, though.

I talked to Cloud... It's tough, breaking the news. Really. She almost immediatly turned on Daniel. I told her that he only did what thought was best and it certainly wasn't an easy choice... Fortunatly, she'd be following me for a while, so she wouldn't be distracted or even betray the Sorrows.

So we went back to the cave-exploring. I picked one she called the Crossroad Cavern. Also, she reminded me by then that I could do the rite of passage of the Sorrows, to get that badass Yao Guai glove they wear. I'd think about it.

Inside the cave we found motherfucking White Legs. The bastards must have set up camp to spy on the Sorrows. Well they can thank my obsession with caves! Also, I got to know that Cloud is pretty good in a fight. We found them in more caves. They were tougher than before, too.

The third cave we entered had a camp. Randall... It was him already. Dufflebag, workbenches, bedroll, terminal, it was all there. Best than all that - even the terminal entry - was the armor I found. A desert Ranger armor, like the NCR's, but not NCR's. That means I wouldn't be mistaken by those asswhipes while I wore it! I took it and loved it like it had boobies.

Then I started reading the entries. Cloud started praying while I read. The entries were both from 2096. They told how the Coughers or Vaulters or whatever arrived and killed all the mexicans that had already installed in Zion. He picked 'em, killing them in small groups. Initially there were more than 100. The last entry was about he being found out by a 3-man patrol and barelly killing them, then having to leave the Narrows.

I think the story is now complete... I can never know for sure, though, all the stories have a long distance from one another. So, Randall... I really do respect him, mom, dad. He made a difference, but never asked for recognition. A ghost. A spirit. Founded the Sorrows, even. All without wanting any kind of thanks. A hero with no praise or glory.

Thank you, Randall. You inspired me. No thank you's for all that you do. That's it. I'll be helping Mr. House. I don't need anyone to know I did the work. Mr. House can have the credits for all I care. He came up with the plan anyway. If I can help and make the difference, it doesn't matter if I don't get recognized for it. It will only matter for me. Knowing that I saved the Mojave. And probably even more than the Mojave.

And also, thanks for the badass armor.

I decided to go through with the Rite of Passage thingy. Cloud directed me to the White Bird's cave, their shaman. He talked funny and Cloud had to translate what he said, while laughing at my reaction. I ad to pick some sacred roots around the camp for him to make something. I picked 'em all up and returned to the man. He was sleeping though, so I layed down too.

When I woke up the dude already tea made from those roots I gathered. He said I'd see the "path" before me once I drank. But shit, when I did drink all I saw was purple. I was stunned for a second. He told me to find the Ghost of She and bring him her paw, then shoved me off his cave.

The rain helped me for the first time. The cold drops of water on my face made me more aware. I couldn't see really well yet, but was more aware of my surroundings.

Once I exited the Narrows Joshua appeared. I couldn't see him very well, but I saw enough to know it was him. And his voice, too, was unmistakable. He recited a passage from the Bible. He didn't want to leave Zion, like Daniel. He wanted the White Legs dead. I asked why was he talking to me, instead of Daniel, since it was their plan to solve Zion's situation. I told him I'd talk to him. No way I'd let all that Randall had worked for be abandoned because of some asshole tribals.

I went into the Ghost's Den, guided by Cloud. We took out some Yao Guai cubs. Obviously the Ghost of She was a Yao Guai. It was a big one, like I had found before. I took out my SuperSledge, got slapped around a little bit, but then found my ballance and then smashed the Ghost's brains out. Then used the axe to chop her paw out and returned to the Narrows.

I talked with Daniel before going to the White Bird's cave. He... Had a different opinion of Joshua than I'd expect. He said he killed because he needed to redeem himself, he was what God had sent to Earth to represent evil, God's evil doings. He said he prayed that I would not be consumed by the Burned Man's flame of destruction. But... I still agreed with Joshua. Even after all that. The White Legs are savages, feral, almost.

I went to the shaman's cave to complete the rite. I was almost passing out. He said my visions were complete and that he'd do me a Yao Guai glove. I'd call it She's Embrace. Yeah, I'm awesome.

I'm about to pass out. Only you to make me go through writting a whole damn letter while on a tea transe.

Love you,
Bill

Entry 19: Men I respect

Hello mommy. Hello daddy.

It was time to leave Randall's shelter cave. There was one electrified door and the generator was on my side. I smashed it, that was enough to make the door safe. And then I left the cave with Follows.

We continued to roam through Zion, me knowing full-well we had to go to the Ranger Station and the General Store. It's just that I liked to explore the place, it was all so new to me! And besides, there were more of those Randall's stories, I just knew it.

When I was approaching the general store I saw a crashed plane. I had to go to the place, obviously.

Unfortunatly, the plane was unreachable... But I did find a cave. And thus far, caves haven't disappointed me.

Inside there were three giant plants, who liked to eat. People. And shoot green stuff. That burned. Like hell. Follows shot them from afar and I injured them with the tomahawks. Then searched the cave. Found traps, like with the other caves, supplies, a duffle bag... All signs of Randall. The dufflebag only had a key though... So I searched the cave further. I wouldn't give up.

I did find a door. But, careless Bill, so careless. I got shot from one of the traps. Hit my leg pretty bad. Had to rest. Through the door was a camp. Randall. Damn you, shooting me like that. Found a bedroll and passed out. I woke up one hour later and Follows had tended to me. Thank God. I thanked him and then got up. Still a little limpy. There was the computer. I smiled. Don't even know if I did it on purpose. This time the entries were from 2108, 2113 and 2123. He had found tracks of barefooted people. When he found them he saw "corpses that didn't smell rotted". Ghouls gone feral... Funny how we now have names for them.  He put them out of their misery. Judging from his speech, I assumed the ghouls were the mexicans he had found before. But I could only assume...  In the 2113's entry he talked about his birthday, on Frebruary 5th. He said the only gift he could give himself was whiskey and suicide. But he... He couldn't... Then on the last entries he talked about 24 kids arriving at the same spots as the mexicans did, 30 years ago from his time. He didn't say much about them, but those were the kids on the last entry. The ones that called him "The Father" and were thought to feel sorrow and to cause sorrow if needed. I was so immersed in the entries that I didn't even feel pain anymore. So we left. Finally we were going to the General Store.

God damn, the rain thingy was annoying. Sheesh. Inside the general store we had to find lunchboxes. And we did, after leading with mantises that were almost my size and could slice me in half with one blow...! And YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE what I found HA! A snowglobe for Mr. House! Hahaha, I laughed, swear to God! Also, I thought about Mr. House for the first time since I arrived at Zion. I may side with him, you know. The man is smart. The smartest. He is the best hope for mankind. Almost definetly. The better around the Mojave at least.

Inside the Ranger Station I found the medical supply Joshua talked about. But it was contaminated. Even I could see that. I also knew that alcohol could decontaminate the kit. And those rangers had a fridge full of booze. And so it was done. Follows told me the way to the other tribe's camp, Daniel's tribe. He told me the tribe's name was Sorrows. Hum. Reminded me of Randall, because of his last entry. Heh.

Surprise surprise, it was raining. Follows saw that I didn't like the rain, so he suggested a cave near-by. Me likey caves. At least ever since I found precious entries from a man I could respect. And I do so for few men.

The place was booby trapped. That meant Randall was there. I found a locked door that seemed to lead to the camp. I couldn't open it so I had to hope to find a key, like in the previous cave.

Remember those green dudes that were fused with plants in Vault 22? Yeah those bastards were in the cave and they were tough motherfuckers. I mean it. Knocked Follows unconscious and did a number on me, too. And those plants, God damn! I only had one tomahawk and there were three of those bastards left. And my armor was a mess. Just a normal day in Zion. But then I remembered... Grenades. Left to me by Randall. Awesome. I also found out that I am not a bad thrower. At all!

And then I finally found it. Another one of Randall's camps. This one was older than the last ones I had found. It dated 2097, 2100 and 2101. He started by talking about some "Coughers". Said there were only 34 of them and were leaving. He had killed the rest and they "deserved it".  There were no mentions of any group of AT LEAST 34 people on previous years' entries. I must be missing one of them. Or even more. I didn't tell you, he metioned a lot of times a "Sylvie". I didn't tell you because I didn't know who she was. Apparently she was a "Vaulter" (same as Cougher, meaning the Coughers came from a Vault) that deserted the group because they were evil. and got stuck on a bear-trap. And holy crap did she play a great roll in the story. She became pregnant of Randall, even though he never forgot his lost wife Char and son Alex. He apologised to Char. Well, I get him. Even though you know as a fact that I can't betray the love of my life. But I get him. God... In 2101 he delivered the baby himself but... He did it wrong somehow... The baby never took a breath and Sylvie never woke up from the anestetics. Losing a wife and son two times in the same life...

I had to change my outfit for one less protective... But between a heavy piece of junk that breaks with the wind and a light, confortable (as it can get) clothing, you know the obvious choice right?

Didn't check the time before leaving the camp. It was night when we got out. Didn't want to go back in, either. Those green men creeped me out, alive or dead.

Apparently we had stood up all night, because the sun was already saying hello. Surprisingly, Follows didn't mind my exploring. He actually liked how I was so interested. Especially in Randall's story. He actually told me that there was a duffle-bag in Eastern Virgin that none of the Dead Horses had ever touched. Worth a shot for sure. Once I get near there, anyway.

We had finally arrived to The Narrows, place to Daniel's tribe. We were greated by rain, because God just likes it when I'm all wet (that may come out wrong) and by a bald tribal woman - named Waking Cloud - with a glove that resembled a Yao Guai paw.  She greeted me and while doing so talked about a Father of the Cave, like it's their spiritual guide or something. She told me he was the God of New Canaanites. I had to ask Daniel about this... "Father"... When I meet him.

I couldn't even listen to her straight, because I was so sleepy. I am in dire need of going to sleep and still have to write this for you God damned it. At least it's over.

Love you,
Bill

Entry 18: The survivalist story

Hello mommy. Hello daddy.

First order of business was to find a compass. Follows had a small idea where it could be, so we went straight for it. We followed the river to one of the ther paths it led to. As soon as we got off the water we heard shots and saw a Dead Horse - one of Joshua's tribals - being attacked by three White Legs. One of them saw us and came right at us with a gauntlet made from a giant mantis' claw. Damn. I did chop his leg off with the fire axe though.

Then we arrived at the place that Follows thought would have the compass. I saw a crashed bus, broken in half. Then we approached and I saw skeletons... Little skeletons. It... wasn't pretty. At all. I had to search for a compass through children's bones. Finally I had found it. It was being held by one of the kids. It was broken, too. I was able to repair it, though. No biggie. Just had to get out of there fast.

Next up, walkie.talkies from the fishing shack. On our way there I started talking to Follows, to get to know him better. While talking about Zion he mentioned the Bighorners were going berserk because one of the calfs was missing. I said I could help. So we went back to Eastern Virgin, where the Dead Horses' camp was and looked into the matter. Fortunatly, I was pretty liked by animals. I can't remember they ever attacking me, even when I was a frail boy after you died, so it was going to be an easy job.

I found the calf high on the cliffs. I pulled out a banana yucca and teased him with it. He started following me around for the fruit, so I ran back where the big ass bighorner was, because Follows said that was the mother. I reunited them, fed the calf the fruit, petted him and Follows was all happy. He even gave me some Dead Horses' weapons. Ain't that something!

Then I went in a cave I saw from above the cliffs, still in the Eastern Virgin. Follows said it was called the Fallen Rock Cave. It was full of booby-traps. I went into one section that seemed to have been habitated, a long time ago. I scavenged the place a little before looking into the computer that was still there and with the power on. I found a weird gun that I assumed it was a taser gun. Interesting, I had never seen anything like that on the Mojave. I didn't take though, you know I don't like guns very much.

The computer apparently belong to a Great War survivor. It was a journal of what he did on the 28th, 29th  31st October, 2nd November 2077 and 1st, 10th, 15th, 28th and 30th January of 2078. It described what he, an army dude, went through during that time. Lost his wife and kid in Zion, while away. Was looking the other way when the bombs fell, or else he would have gone blind. Got trapped by radiation in that cave for three months, surviving on military ration and water that he mopped off the cave walls. Fucked up. It was time to go back to beautiful Zion. Time to leave the Eastern Virgin too and get to those walkie-talkies.

On our way we were once again attacked by White Legs - I could see that would become an habit. One of them had one of the most badass things I had ever seen: A sword that caught on fire with a mounted gas deposit. I took it from his dead corpse and called it Shishkebab. Had to wear an oven mitt to handle it though. No problemo, the guy had one. Boy am I badass.

By the time we got to the Fishing Lodge to get the walkie-talkies it was already night. The place had a couple of couches, so after we found the walkie-talkies we slept there.

When we got out in at dawn water started falling from the sky. What the hell? I had never seen such a thing. And God, was it awful! I got all soaked and the sky was all cloudy so the whole valley was dark! To make matters better a cazador appeared. But was it a normal cazador? No! A younger one, then. Nope! A freakin' giant one, that's what! God damn! Also, the "rain" - as Follows told me the water was called - was preventing me to use the Shishkebab. What a party blower.

We had to go to a Ranger station and a General store next, to find lunchboxes and medical supplies. On the way I kept talking with Follows. He told me about the White Legs, that they came from the Great Salt Lake and that their leader was Salt-Upon-Wounds (pahahahahah) and that he had ordered the survivors of New Canaan to be nailed to the cliffs (oh shit...). He also told me about himself. His name was Follows-Chalk because he followed the chalk lines left by real scouts and he - and the rest of the tribe - had tatoos because it was a sign of great hunts. Then he told me the story of his tribe, the Dead Horses. They were a weak tribe, found by the Legion when it was led by Caesar and Joshua. They were ready to follow them to war. But then the Legion lost to the NCR and Joshua, by then broken and burnt, led them to Zion and taught them how to fend for themselves. Told me that before that Joshua was ruthless, a cruel man. When he came back the Dead Horses were scared, but soon found out he ment only to protect.

As we neared the location we had to go we were attacked by two Yao Guais, a normal one and a cub. We killed them (not easily) and then took a deep breath. We didn't even finished said breath, the fucking chief of all Yao Guais came along! The God damned thing was freaking giant, really!

While doing some exploring, since I have never been there, we found another survivalist, this time there was a skeleton near a duffle bag. Well, that's what I thought, at least. I read the note inside the duffle bag and it was about an old, dying man who had tend been tending to children. It dated 2nd, 18th and 23rd January 2124 and it seemed to be on-going, because started by "I brought them books". He said he taught them to fend for themselves but to be nice to each others, to pray, to mourn, to care. The children called him "The Father". He was dying from what he thought was cancer, so he left on the 23rd, without saying goodbye to the children so that they did not see how frail he was and headed to where I was standing right then. Then he made his final goodbyes from the holotape. By reading the names he mentioned, I realised that the skeleton standing by me was also the one who had survived the Great War, that I read about inside the cave in Eastern Virgin. He signed on the end of that entry. Randal Dean Clark. Respect. Honest.

Even more ahead I found another skeleton with a dufflebag near. Not anything like Randal though. This one was mutilated, careless. Didn't have a journal. Had two Vault 22 jumpsuits though... Weird! We also found a cave in the river, as we were knee deep in the water. Follows told me it was the Two Skies cave. It was flooded for most part, so I put on my rebreather and told Follows I would explore. He followed me, though. He had great lungs. Inside were traps and mines. I disarmed them. The last time I found mines and traps it led to the story of one heck of a guy. There was a locked door in one of the higher levels. I opened it and got inside. Seemed like a campsite, like the first cave. Like the first cave, I scavenged the place before reading the computer's entries. I found a metal armor like the one I had once used and took it, because  the NCR Ranger armor was pretty much destroyed.

This computer had entries from May 2083 to September 2095. Randall talked about how he saw the animals mutating, like the geckos. About how he went back to Salt Lake City to try and find his wife's and son's remains, only to come back to Zion disappointed, wishing that they had a quick death, like they were vaporized by the explosion, instead of burnt by them. Said he was a coward for NOT taking his life right there in Salt Lake City. About how he spotted people. 28 of them, 11 males, 8 females and 9 children, armed and from Mexico. He followed them for months, without getting to know them. He helped them as he could, without being seen. Like a ghost. Ended there.

I'm going to sleep now, in Randall's camp. Can't help but wonder if there are more of his stories spread around Zion. Must be, I'm assuming the children he spoke of in the last entry are the same children he saw now. But I prefer to discover the entries than to assume. Me and Follows say goodnight. I'm off.

Love you,
Bill

Entry 17: Welcome to Zion.

Hello mommy. Hello daddy.

I decided to leave the Lucky 38, without saying anyone. I grabbed the NCR trenchcoat, some stuff I might need for the trip and left. When I walked out the Lucky 38 I looked into one of the Securitrons. I knew Mr. House was watching me right then. I could sense my own confused expression. I hoped he'd understand.

Then just before leaving The Strip I was approached by a woman, dressed as a doctor. She was with the Followers of the Apocalypse. Wanted me to bug Mr. House's system so that they'd get information on how did Mr. House stay alive. I said no. I had enough on my mind already, betraying Mr. House, even if I didn't know if I'd be with him in the long term, didn't sound good for me. I told her I didn't want to abuse Mr. House's trust and, surprisingly enough, she understood. So I left The Strip, looking to leave the Mojave for a while as well.

I got to a cave to the North, where the advertisement told me to go. Inside there was a group of people. Jed Masterson, the mister talking on the ad, immediatly spoke to me. He have me the details on the job and on the location. While he was explaining me what was up he told me not to mention the name Joshua Graham. Naturally, I asked why. He said it made tribals and New Canaanites - the men we were supposed to make business with -, unconfortable. I wasn't suppose tot alk about the "Burned Man", either. He told me the place was filled with tribals who didn't even know hot to speak anymore. It seemed like it was gonna be a fun ride, hum.

I got to know the other members of the Happy Trails Caravan too. One of them, Stella, was from New Reno. Oh, New Reno... Then there were two guards who didn't talk much and a stupid asshole named Ricky. When I talked to him he immediatly asked me if I was looking for trouble and said he could kick my ass. He went on and on about how he would kill anything and even made up a nickname - I swear to you - in the middle of the conversation. Then the fucking asshole tells me he once got surrounded by four "deathjaws". Seriously? Didn't even know the proper names of the monsters in his story? Then told me he killed a "Steel Brotherhood asshole". Oh God. Said he'd shot the bastard right through his eyeslits. HA! I shoved my Power Armor training right in his face. The eyeslits are bullet-proof! He stopped making up stories there. I asked about his Vault 22 suit and Pip-Boy. Guess what, more lies. He said he had grown up there. You remember when I went there right? No way someone had been there living for *at least* 150 years. Then started going on and on about hsi Pip-Boy, all it could do. Said so much, without saying anything really. He didn't even notice that I had a Pip-Boy too. Then I looked better at it and saw it WASN'T EVEN WORKING. I facepalmed, swear to God, right in front of everyone. I told him to go away, he'd only get us killed for sure. He screamed from the bottom of his heart that he hoped we'd all die and then ran off. Then I apologized to Jed and said I was ready to leave. And so we left.

Keep in mind, all that I've written before on this letter has been put on hold in my travels. Nothing happened for us to talk about really. Only Jed telling me the story of Joshua Graham, the New Canaanite that joined The Legion and ended up being the toughest of them all. But then, losing against the NCR at the Hoover Dam, he got lit on fire and thrown out to the Grand Canyon bt Casar, to make an example. Sheesh. But then tribal folk started talking. Saying Joshua still lived. Thus begining the legend of the Burned Man. In my free time I thought about the Mojave's fate. Mr. House... I respect him so much. Could I do the same he can if I used Yes Man? Or would the Wasteland be better off with Mr. House?

We got to the place and it was beautiful! Zion... Gosh, it was eye candy, really.

I didn't even have time to stop looking at all the mountains, grass and trees to hear Jed screaming "ambush". I looked at them and saw one of the guards being shot in the head. Explosions went on, two more guards dead... I was powerless, I only had cloe-range weapons! Then Jed killed one of the tribals on the cliff and I was able to take from him an axe and four tomahawks... Jesus they weren't kidding, they sure were tribals! I used the tomahawks to do the best I could. I heard Jed screaming for Stella when I was throwing a tomahawk that hit one of the tribals right in his head. Then I looked back and Jed was already gone too. All of them, dead. The people I have been talking to, linking for these past days, gone. I was really pissed. I smashed the remaining tribals with the axe I had found. Then grabbed a grenade launcher from one the Caravan's guards and made my way into Zion, since I could not go back the way I came from because of what Stella had warned us all about: it was too steep to climb back.

I had to cross an old bridge that stood high up on the river. While I was crossing I began being shot at by another of those tribals. I ran for cover, then heard two different gun noises and looked up to the place I was being shot from. I guy waved and came talk to me. He only had underwear and was all painted, but different from the others. He said those were the White Legs and that he was from a different tribe. Apparently, I was lucky to survive their ambush. No kidding, tell that to Jed... He also told me that Joshua would like to speak to me. I immediatly thought about the Burned Man Jed had told me about. I asked who Joshua was and he said it was indeed Joshua Graham. Woah. So he took me to him, while showing Zion around.

On out way we saw a big ass roarin' monster he called Yao Guai. Shit, I saw him claw off a giant gecko's face right in front of me! Follows-Chalk - my newly acquired companion (what the hell kind of name is that) - told me to freeze and the beast ebventually ran off. Wew. But it wouldn't be the last I'd see them.

After more walking I saw heads on spikes. Like with The Legion. Follows told me it was Joshua Graham who ordered it, to show the White Legs that their tribe, the Dead Horses, were serious about fighting them. Some of the tribals, though, believed it was in order to trap their spirits to that world, not letting them have their eternal rest. Don't know what line of thinking is worst really.

Right when we were looking at those brilliant master pieces one of those monsters we saw attacked. He was mean, but we held him off. He was nearly my heigh. Then Follows told it was only a cub. Shit, for real? Oh baby, my time in Zion was going to be sick.

We passed by a shack with handprints all over it. When I asked Follows what that was all about he said the buildings from before the War were marked as taboo by the tribals and they wouldn't go in them. Except Follows. Lucky me.

Then we arrived. The entrance to the Angel Cave, the residence of the Dead Horses, was filled with tribals training against each other. I entered the cave and Follows led me to Joshua. When I entered the part of the cave in which he was my heart skipped a beat. The Burned Man, the legend, right in front of me cleaning pistols. Bandages all over his body, covered a little by his vests and body armor.

He offered his sympathy for my friends from the Caravan. When I told them I wanted to fulfill the Caravan's mission he told me I was out of luck. New Canaan had been destroyed because of the White Legs, who are attempting to join Caesar's Legion and destroyed them by his command. Then he told me he knew how I could get out, but had to have my help first, because of all the problems they were having there at Zion. I said I didn't plan on going away without helping them anyway. They wanted me to find Pre-War objects to help them navigate the land if they ever had to leave Zion.

So that's what I gotta do! I'm now planning on sleeping for half a day. Got a lot on my mind, hope I can actually do it.

Love you,
Bill

Entry 16: With a Vengeance

Hello mommy. Hello daddy.

I went in The Tops and the door man asked me to hand over ll the weapons. I didn't want to cause any comotion so I gave him all the weapons and then looked for Swank, the man Mr. House told me that could help me get to Benny. I found him at the reception. He was provocative at first, when I told him he should know something about his boss he told me to go "yap it at his own face". But then I told him Benny was trying to make his own play. I told him he shot me and stole the Platinum Chip. Then I gave him the evidence I had found along my long way to The Strip, the cigarette butts and his lighter. He recognized the problem and was troubled by the thoughts of his boss playing a con on Mr. House. He suggested that he kept Benny out of his suite so that I'd look around and see what I could found and if I'd find anything to arrest him. But no. I didn't want that. I wanted him out. I wanted to get him for killing me. I told Swank we had to take him out for good. He was surprised but told me he'd send Benny to his room so I could ambush him. Gave me my stuff back and pointed me the way.

I went up the elevator to the 13th floor, where Benny's suite was. Then I stopped by the front of his double-doored room and took a deep breath.

I entered and he was very surprised to see me, as you may imagine. He DID shot and buried me. Benny is a funny guy. You know, that kind of funny that makes you want to punch the funny out of a guy? Yes, that kind of funny. After a load of swear words from the surprise and by realising he had been betrayed by Swank he told me I shouldn't kill me because we could work together. I mean, seriously? "No deal fucker, time to die."

Ever decapitated your nemesis with a punch? Pretty satisfying.

I searched the bastard for the Platinum Chip. While at it I stole his suit and gun too, as trophies. That and because I looked like a gramps with the outfit I was with. I searched Benny's room for something else I could show to Mr. House. And God damn did I find something. A smiley Securitron, like the ones Mr. House controlled but with a smiley face on the screen. He called himself the Yes Man.

He told me everything. He was a Securitron reprogrammed by Benny. During his reprogramming Yes Man got his name because Benny reprogrammed him never to say no to anything. His job was to monitor and decrypt the data transmitions sent by Mr. House and report to Benny. He told me that the Chip was a data storage device and that from what he knew so far it would upgrade Mr. House's defenses. When I asked what Benny's plan was he told me he wanted to kill Mr. House and copy Yes Man's system to his, giving him control of all the Securitrons and, consequentialy, New Vegas. That all meant that I also could take New Vegas for myself. But I'm not sure that I wanted to. Mr. House seemed to have all figured out. And nicely figured out too. I'd have to think about it, very much. At that time, I just wanted to report back to Mr. House. Before I exited The Tops I congratulated Swank on his new boss position.

Once I exited a man from The Legion approached me. He was so... Dark... Like the one that spoke to me at Nipton. I soon figured it was the same person, by his cold, cold voice. He had a suit and a hat though, instead of a wolf on his head. He told me Caesar required my presence at Fortification Hill, or The Fort. He gave the Mark of Caesar, which granted me safe passage through Legion's territory. I warned him right there straight, if that was a trap, a lot of them would go out with me. He told me to go to Cottonwood Cove, to the South. There I'd be taken to The Fort. Then he left.

I got in the Lucky 38 and, before talking to Mr. House, I asked Jane about the snowglobe stand. She said Mr. House was a collector and that she'd reward me for each snowglobe I brought. Wasn't that something? I had so many already! When I gave her the snowglobes I had I almost shit myself. 12 THOUSAND CAPS FOR THOSE THINGS! Holy crap...

Mr. House sounded a bit... disappointed, by me killing Benny. Anyways, he quickly forgot about it and asked me for the Platinum Chip. He seemed to love the thing. He told me it's story, that it was made in Sunnyvale and finished in October 22nd 2077, ment to be delivered the next day. The bombs fell first though. And so the delivery was never made. But he had it now though. He instructed me to go to the basement of the Lucky 38.

In the basement he showed me what the Chip did. It was, like Yes Man said, a defense upgrade. First he showed me what the Securitrons did for all that time. Their weapons and armor. Machine guns and gatling lasers. Then the Securitron's faces swapped to angry soldiers instead of the normal policemen. Then shit got serious. Mr. House called 'em Mark II OS. Missile Launchers, rapid fire grenade launchers and enhanced auto-repair systems, the Mark II Securitrons improved 235% per unit.

When we got back to the Penthouse I asked what happened next. He said New Vegas would change and I would play a big part in it. I had to help Mr. House. He said the work was dangerous, but I wanted to know more. Mr. House had the greatest plan for New Vegas. Mr. House needed me to go to The Fort. I said I had been invited there. I told I'd go. I was still a bit troubled to be sure who I stood with, but I told I'd go. He gave me Platinum Chip and I left the Penthouse.

I went to my suite for a while, to organize my thoughts. I turned on the radio and caught a weird signal. It was a job offering looking for couriers, prospectors and mercs to go North, to Zion Valley and back. I needed the time to think and caps are never enough, so I decided to rest here now and in the morning I'll head to where the ad told me to go.

Love you,
Bill.