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Chapter 6: Something Just Like This

>Loud foot falls startle you awake, causing you to grab your LMG and Aim towards the noise

>Adrenaline courses through your veins as you look down the sights

>A few NCR troopers Stop what they are doing to look at you, fear painting their faces

>"Calm down Boomer, Standard drills" you Hear Major Dhatri's voice to your right

>You look towards it and see him walking towards you

>"Sorry, should have warned you last night, but I suppose we're lucky you don't have a missile launcher or a fat man with those reflexes"

>Gracie has woken up as well and cloaked, although you can still feel her weight on you as well as a few trembles

>You sigh and lower your LMG, setting it down carefully

>"Drills? against what?" you ask as you stretch

>"Anything really, just because we're near the strip doesn't mean we can get complacent"

>You set a hand on Gracie's cloaked head gently

>"Tell that to the gate guard who can't figure out how to clean his rifle" you say with a frown

>You had been sleeping so well, but there was no way you were going to fall back to sleep now

>Too much adrenaline, too much activity

>The weight of Gracie's head disappears from your lap and you watch a shimmer in the air appear before you

>Looks like she's getting dressed

>Your mind wanders to her wide hips and....Assets

>You shake you head of these thoughts and stand up

>your armor creaks a bit and so do a few of your joints

>This wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep

>Concrete on top of concrete with a bedroll doesn't make the best bed, but it was better that out in the wastes

>Gracie uncloaks next to you

>"Can we leave here Anon? These guys are too noisy and keep staring at my butt"

>You had noticed that too

>NCR Troopers staring at Gracie, not only because she was an anthro, but because she was "Extra thicc"

>You had heard that in passing at some point

>"Yea Gracie, Let's get out of here" you say as you begin packing up

>A quick rumble of your stomach reminds you to eat before hitting the road

>Were you above stealing food?

>Nope.jpg

>You beckon Gracie close with a finger

>"You think you can cloak and grab us some food Gracie?" you whisper into one of her long ears

>She smirks and disappears from view

>"One sec" you hear a quiet whisper in your ear

>The shimmer that is Gracie moves quickly, but eventually you lose sight of it

>How that man yesterday was able to track her so well is beyond you

>You continue packing up, no need to stare

>Gracie said she used to rip-off raiders before she met you so this wasn't too different

>The NCR weren't your friends by any means

>They were a means to an end, a stepping stone

>You finish packing up and lean against the wall, waiting calmly

>A tug on your sleeve and a short hiss surprises you

>"I got some food, Lets go, I'm gonna stay cloaked"

>You nod silently and head towards the gate

>So far so good, no one notices anything odd as you slip out the gates

>"HEY BOOMER!"

>You scowl and look around

>It's the inept gate guard who can't keep his gun clean

>"What?" you say annoyed

>"OH uh.. Where's your friend? The cute Anthro?" he asks looking around

>"She went ahead of me to scout out another bounty, I'm gonna meet her there" you lie through your teeth to him

>"Oh.. Well put in a good word for me to her, she's a cutie!"

>Why does that annoy you more than it should?

>"Uh huh yea, can do" you say as you leave

>You walk and follow the walls of the camp then east as soon as they let you

>"Come on out" you call to the sands

>Gracie appears before you with a pleased grin on her muzzle

>"I got some good stuff!" she touts, handing you 3 MRE's

>She holds an open one, eating the contents with her paws

>"It's good! it says meal on the bag!"

>You smile

>MRE's were great for food, high calorie count; perfect for travels

>You stash 2 and pull open the 3rd

>Pouches fill it plus a water activated heater

>Water is too much of a resource to use to heat the food so you use the plastic spork to eat the "tort-a-lee-ne" whatever that was

>Tastes good regardless

>"Good grab Gracie" you say in between mouthfuls

>You see her tail wag frantically

>"Thanks Anon! Where are you off to now?"

>You look at the screen of your pip-boy

>"The Gun Runners will has a silencer for your gun, I'm sure. We're headed there then to vault 11"

>She smiles and you both walk, eating your MREs

>Lucky this area is patrolled by the NCR after the battle of Hoover Dam

>It makes travel fast and easy, plus paved and maintained roads help a ton

>Before noon even hits your passing the Sharecropper fields, grabbing the occasional fruit or veggie

>They know you well enough to let you grab a few crops

>Gracie watches as you point out each crop and explain what they are used for

>Corn, Mutfruit, Barrel cactus, and Agave

>As you're explaining how to use honey mesquite pods when you hear loud sniffing

>"Anon! D-do you smell it!? It's.... It's her!"

>Her?

>Before you can ask Gracie runs off shouting back to you

>"She's Here Anon! She's really here!"

>You don't know what she's talking about but you know you're near the Gun Runners booth

>You run after Gracie, hoping for answers

>When you finally catch up to her you're out of breath and she's looking around, sniffing wildly

>"I-I smelled her! She was here! Sister was here, I KNOW she was! But where is she!? I was so sure!"

>You look around with your hands on your knees, panting slightly

>No one is around except the Gun runners Protectrion

>You swear you hear a "Order confirmed" from it over Gracie's Sobs

>"Payment accepted"

>No one is there though

>But that isn't what bothers you

>Gracie has fallen to her knees, tears pouring from her eyes

>"I-I thought I found her! I know that smell! W-w-w-here is sheeeeee?"

>She breaks down crying

>For the first time in a longer time than you remember, you feel your own heart ache

>Not since your Grandfather died, since you left Nellis

>You don't know what she's talking about, you smell nothing

>But seeing the usual happy-go-lucky, clingy Gracie reduced to tears

>That breaks your heart, more than you ever thought it would

>You Wrap your arms around the Crying Nightstalker, pulling her closer than you ever have before

>"It's ok Gracie, it's ok... I don't.. I'm here"

>How do you comfort someone when you don't even understand why she's crying?

>You try your best, you guess

>She sobs into your shoulder, hugging you tight

>"I-I-I Wanted to meet her Anon! I know her smell! But s-s-she's not here!"

>"I'm sorry Gracie, I'm here though, I'll always be here"

>Are you willing to make that promise now?

>Feeling her tears soak through your armor, tell you yes, you are

>You've felt this same sadness

>On those lonely nights when you realized you can't ever return home, when it hit you harder than normal

>Both of you are kneeling, in front of a booth and protectrion

>As you try so hard to console her, you feel something

>Wind? A dust devil? Sand?

>It gently wraps itself around you both

>You don't know or care though

>All you care about is her, making her feel better

>"I'll be watching"

>A voice you don't recognize, as faint as the wind blowing grains of sand

>So faint it might be the sand

>You feel Gracie's ears twitch against your cheek

>What was bothering her, you might never know, but you don't care

>All you know is the tears and the sadness

>"It's Ok Gracie, it's ok, we'll find her" you tell her, pushing her hood down and running your hands down the scales on her head

>The only audience you have for this spectacle is a robot, what do you care!?

>She needs you now

>You feel her cries slow and a few hiccups

>"I've got you, I've got you, it's ok" you coo, rubbing gently

>Before long you feel her pull you in closer, her tail wrapped around you as far as it can

>"Thanks Anon" you her her murmur

>You pull away slightly

>The tears fall slower from her eyes

>Slow enough for you to wipe away with your thumbs

>"I've got you, Gracie, I've got you"

>Her mismatched eyes look at you; blue and yellow, round and slitted, looking into your own boring normal eyes

>You manage a pained smile

>You might not know what she's talking about, but you know what she's going through

>And you can try to help make her feel better

>A few hiccups and sobs later, Gracie is still wrapped around you, albeit a little less tightly

>"T-thanks Anon, I thought I smelled one of my older sisters"

>Older sisters?

>You had enough trouble dealing with one Snekderp

>But that's not on your mind now

>You stand with her in your arms

>"We'll find her someday Gracie, I promise"

>It's a promise you aren't sure you'll be able to keep, but one you'll still make

>She runs her forked tongue across your cheek

>"Thanks Anon....I'll find you soon ZX-13"

>What does that mean?

>Doesn't matter

>You hold Gracie's paw and lead her to the Gun Runners booth

>"Lets see if we can find you a silencer or something"

>She holds your arm as you sell the Fiends weapons you picked up as well as unusable ammo for you

>As well you sell all the chems you found from the fiends that Gracie picked up

>Fuck Chems and fuck people who made them

>Finally you can start looking at their wares

>No silencers but there is a 10mm SMG that is silenced

>"Sleepytyme" it's called

>"Gracie want to trade your Gun for a silenced one? I'll cover the caps for the extra"

>She puts a pad to her chin and thinks a moment

>"It'll make bad guys not be able to hear my shots?" she asks, looking at the Gun

>You nod "yea that's the idea"

>"Ok! I'll keep it safe!"

>You give her the gun then buy some ammo for you and her to use

>"Alright Gracie, time to move on to Vault 11"

>Her sadness seems gone as she bounces along next to you

>"Ok! I can't wait to see what humans used to live like during the war"

>You check your pip-boy, luckily the brotherhood had told you where vault 11 was

>South from where you are now, but north of Helios 1

>There are roads there for the most part anyway

>The walk with Gracie is quick and peaceful, her telling you about the Big MT

>She wandered it for years, gathering food, learning how to hack computers

>She told you of plant men, weather control and a mini deathclaw

>You told her of your travels

>How you went to vault 34 where your people were from

>Told her your run ins with the Legion, how you decimated Cottonwood cove

>All the while she stayed right next to you, her paws occasionally gripping at your sleeve to point out various plants

>Some of them were edible, some were poisonous, a few were just tumbleweeds

>You point out a group of Bighorners, and she jumps for joy

>"OH! Lemme get one Anon! This'll be great!"

>Before you can say anything she disappears

>You watch her shimmer move around

>Gotta admit having a partner that can go nearly invisible is really handy

>You hear a few silenced shots and the bighorner bull collapses with a loud "MAHHHHH"

>Unfortunately the rest of the herd scampers

>Gracie uncloaks, leaning against the body with one paw and a huge smile on her muzzle

>"I got the biggest one!" she boasts

>You smile

>"You sure did, I can already taste the Steaks we'll have tonight!" you say

>After about 10 minute of carving you have enough steak to last for a while, plus a big pelt

>Could be useful

>You start walking again, and motion for Gracie to follow you

>"Why are we going to Vault 11, Anon?" Gracie asks as she reloads her gun

>She should have done that as soon as she was done shooting the bighorner but you let it slide

>"There is supposedly a Robobrain there, we need it's treads to build the Treadnaut"

>You still had you mind set on building that, it was a better goal than wandering aimlessly

>"Do you really think we can get it built? It would be nice not have to walk everywhere" Gracie says as she kicks up a bit of sand

>You nod, "I'm sure we can, together I'm sure of it"

>She grips your arm, a smile covering her Muzzle

>"I'm glad you found me in that Cave Anon"

>You put an arm around her waist as you walk

>"So am I Gracie"

>The sand beneath your boot crunches as you walk onto the dry lakebed in front of the Vault

>How were people supposed to get to this vault before the war?

>Its set on the edge of a lake, hidden in a cave

>High rollers only maybe?

>Leave the rest of the population scrambling and dead?

>You had no clue how the rest of the world fared

>Maybe the US was devastated and the rest of the world survived

>Leave a whole continent as a memorial to a war, believing everyone was dead

>Meanwhile they could be in space, traveling the stars

>The thought doesn't bring you any comfort as you walk through the vault door, left permanently open

>Close quarters

>Shotgun time

>You pull out your riot shotgun and begin walking through the vault

>"Be ready Gracie, no idea what's in here"

>The sound of fluttering wings tells you that you aren't alone

>A few flashes of green in your peripherals

>You turn and fire your gun, earning a loud squeak of surprise followed by a dull thud as Gracie hits the floor behind you

>She's playing dead, you could clearly see you hit a Giant mantis with your buckshot

>"Get up Gracie, its ok, we got more food now"

>Her blue eye peeks open at you

>"What is THAT Anon?!" she says as you pull the legs off the mantises body

>"Giant praying mantis, good with salt and butter" you say holding up the legs

>They were actually quite good to eat

>You help Gracie to her feet

>Paws? footpaws?

>It's hard to tell what to call them

>"Stay on your toes Gracie, those bugs might be small but they swarm and can overwhelm you if you aren't ready"

>Gracie draws her SMG and follows behind you

>The vault is like a maze, everything looks the same

>But there are bodies; skeletons holding guns and other makeshift weapons

>More than once you had to stop Gracie from walking under a grenade bouquet

>Jesus fuck, what happened here?

>Posters line the walls for elections, for a new overseer

>People; no not people anymore, barricaded into rooms

>Starved to death from the looks of it

>All the while you walk through, killing Giant mantises and giant rats

>What happened here? this was supposed to be a place where humanity survived

>Instead you find more bodies that you can believe

>Gracie holds your arm with one paw, her SMG with the other as you walk room to room

>Eventually you find the Overseer's office and a still working computer

>Cue Gracie, who forgets her fear for a moment

>"OH! I'm good at computers one sec!"

>She rushes to the desk and begins tapping away at the computer, muttering to herself while you stand with your shotgun ready

>Her tapping gets faster and faster while you grow more and more impatient

>Fuck this computer, you were ready to shoot it

>"Got it!"

>A tunnel opens as she hits a button on the computer

>You're actually impressed, you thought she was bluffing about the computer thing

>Shotgun raised, you go down the tunnel

>At the end is a room and a projector and a chair

>Gracie Immediately sits in the chair, much to your annoyance

>A slideshow starts, talking about life and one's role in it

>You frown as you watch an listen to the voice drone on

>This gives you a terrible feeling so you put away your shotgun and draw out your LMG

>Too much talk of life and death

>"Close your eyes now and imagine what joys await you in the next life - the afterlife. Can you see them? Good." the voice over says

>As it finishes you hear whirring behind the walls

>"GRACIE GET DOWN!" you call to her as walls lower revealing several RoboBrains

>You open fire while moving constantly, dodging lasers while Gracie disappears, adding more bullets to the walls of lead your firing

>In the end you stand panting, a laser shot has burned through your left arms armor, leaving a bad burn to the bone

>As well a bullet from an automated turret has hit your thigh, making it hard to maintain your balance

>Gracie uncloaks near you, looking at the robots

>"We got them! I knew we coul-"

>Her words are cut off when she turns to you and her eyes go wide

>"A-Anon are you ok?"

>You attempt to wave away your concern with your left hand but find it unresponsive

>"I could use a bit of help Gracie" you choke out through the pain

>She walks to you as you slump against one of the robobrains

>Your left arm falls uselessly as you attempt to use your pip-boy

>"Hold my left arm up, I need a few super stimpaks"

>She hesitantly grabs your hand and forearm

>Pain washes over you as she holds it up for you to see

>Put on a brave face, she doesn't need to see you in pain

>You ignore the searing pain and use your right arm to get a super stimpak and a regular one

>"Use this on my leg" you say handing her the normal stimpak

>Feels like the bullet fractured your bone

>A quick look at your status on the pip-boy confirms that

>She looks confused, looking at the wound and the stimpak

>"What do I do Anon?"

>"Stab it in the hole and inject it all"

>You grit your teeth as she stabs it in

>Almost instantly you feel whatever is in those things working

>With your good arm you stab the super stimpak into your arm and squeeze the liquid in, the burned flesh peels away quickly and new, scarred skin forms

>The scar would fade in time

>Maybe

>It takes a moment for the pain to subside and for you to stand back up on your own

>"Good job Gracie, we got them" you say with a smile

>She stares at your arm and leg; worry painting her muzzle

>"Is that normal Anon? Do you always get hurt?"

>You sigh

>"Gracie, you've seen my body, you know the answer to that"

>Your body is covered in bullet wounds and burns from lasers

>She looks at her own body

>"Will that happen to me too?"

>"If you use the Invisibility intelligently, no it won't"

>You've already begun working on grabbing the tread system off the nearest robobrain

>Gracie sniffing you intensely jerks you away from your work, you turn to her and see her flustered, paws covering her face

>"I-uh Anon, I-"

>You move closer to her, worried

>"Gracie, what's up? Were you hit?"

>You attempt to get closer to her only to have her back away from you

>I- uh- I need to go!"

>With that she runs out of the room, leaving you dumbfounded

>You can't run quite yet, so you follow her at a much slower pace

>"GRACIE?!" you call out after her

>As you emerge from the tunnel you hear bones rattling and then a door Shutting and locking

>"I need to be in here for a while Anon! Please don't try to come in!"

>"What's going on Gracie?!" you call through the door

>"I'll tell you later! Just please trust me!"

>You frown and lean against the wall nearby

>"Promise you're ok?"

>"I-I'll be fine Anon"

>You sigh and head back to the robobrains

>Guess you're gonna be here a while.