Ahh, Its good to be back!

My body is fresh and new. My Health is 100% definitely.

I couldn't stop thinking about the raiders, it felt real.... it WAS real...

This isn't a game at all.

Yesterday I was so tired that I slept like a log.

The bedroll I am sleeping sure helped me out, sleeping on the ground is horrible after all.

Dunn isn't here.

I am not wearing my clothes, only my boxers.

My body feels different, there are irregularities, moles and small scars from scratches are gone. Did I always have this much body hair?

My messenger bag is at my side, along with the 10-mm pistol, with no ammo.

This pistol, also called N99, is one of the most common weapons found in the wasteland.

The N99 is able to be easily restored to working order by anyone with even the most basic knowledge of firearm mechanics. One of the most durable weapons that survived the war.

I better put the pistol in the bag.

Hmm, my pocket mirror. I wonder if it's broken.

I open it to see if it was broken and saw my reflection.

Huh!?

My face!!!

This face... my face... This is...

The face I have right now, is different from my own... is the one I had in the game!

My hair is now messy and blasted back, mid-long and black.

A dark 8 o clock shadow across, my now more sharp and defined, jaw.

This eyes... mine used to be brown but now they were green.

My resting face now looks more serious.

I wanted to make the appearance of my character someone badass yet smooth, I've always preferred more "grizzled" look to the generic ones we see in the game.

I installed mods to change the textures with the goal of creating a more rugged, rough cut, and aged character that would stand apart from all others without just a clever hand in the character generation menu.

"Oh you woke up, come here I have some food"

A voice came from behind me while inspecting my new face.

It's Dunn

Now that I get a closer look at him, he wears a dark brown shirt with orange and mustard-yellow stripes with a white satchel over the shoulder. A typical caravan outfit.

Well.... I guess It not all bad, is what I wanted to be in the game right? I'll save the deal with this face for later, for now, let's ask some questions.

"I have to tell ya, you put up quite the fight! I found you near some bodies, you were in some trouble huh?" his voice is rasp , with an accent only ranchers from West have.

"Oh... right, sorry my memories are just fuzzy, what happened to them?"

"You managed to shot them down except two raiders, those assholes actually shot at us!" He spits on the ground "Bastards, heh, but now they joined their friends on the ground, me and Whiskey took care of them alright"

"Whiskey?"

"Oh yah, Whiskey is my guard and associate"

"Oh, where is she?"

"She went ahead of us this morning to scout the road, we don't have time for an ambush, she'll be back in a bit" Dunn took a lunch box from his back "For now let's get some grub on our ourselves"

****

I got dressed and had caravan lunch for breakfast.

Caravan lunch is a collection of food items with the harmful radiation removed. Mostly all the consumable items in the game are contaminated by it.

This meal is eaten by caravan merchants and construction workers mostly, due to the filling nature of the food and preparation simplicity.

Dunn told me he is a caravaneer from the West planning to do business at the Mojave Wasteland, he wants to set up an independent caravan company.

Caravaneers go on caravan trips in order to deliver supplies that include food, liquor and the most important resource in the whole Mojave, water.

He even owns a brahmin called Betsy.

Betsy's skin is a toasty, dusty orange-red color with dirty brown horns. Her udders have also are abnormally large, on her back, there is a huge load covered with tarps.

Yesterday Dunn made an early rest stop at night because Betsy wasn't feeling too well. That's when he found me.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The year is 2278, March, the game official date is 2281, this is another tremendous advantage.

Many important events take place this year, they will definitely shape the Mojave for the worst.

We discussed the future, he was heading to the Mojave Outpost, a checkpoint between California and Nevada. After the war, it stood empty and vacant for well over a century.

That's my chance to get back on the official game map. I needed answers.

I asked him if it was ok for me to tag along since our path is the same, thankfully he agreed.

Dunn put out the fire and packed the bedrolls on Betsy's back and continued our walk.

We reached the road and continued going south.

****

"There it is, The Long 15"

The I-15 or Interstate 15, The Long 15, is a freeway in the Mojave Wasteland.

As a whole, the freeway travels northeast, beginning at Dayglow in California, through the Mojave Wasteland and New Vegas, before heading into Arizona and Utah.

I-15 is a four-lane freeway for its entire length within the Mojave Wasteland. It connects New Vegas to the territories of the NCR and is a major trade route for caravans.

We encountered a big military camp ahead of us.

On our sides are several caravans.

Water traders, wandering merchants, guns for hire, people looking score big one a the New Vegas all going the same direction.

People going and leaving all trying to make a life.

This is progress. Surviving on a devastated world like this....

A two-headed bear flag on the side of the road lets us know who is our dealer for tonight. The NCR, New California Republic.

Is somewhat of a "government" established years ago. It's one three major groups that are strongly present at the Mojave and seeks to control it.

They can be called a "government" because the NCR is a democratic federation, modeling itself on the government of pre-War United States.

This government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. So yeah, plenty of corruption.

Along the several caravans and the multitude of people, there are platoons of uniformed men either patrolling or heading to the outpost. Recruits ready to be put to use

They are the foundation of the NCR Army, men and women who have either volunteered or have been conscripted to serve in the military.

Their backgrounds, level of training, equipment, and even loyalty differ amongst the thousands of troopers. However, the fact that the NCR fields a substantial army all equipped with firearms has given the NCR the edge in numerous wars. They have the numbers, there is no doubt about it.

"Oi Whiskey!" Dunn yells ahead to a caravan surrounded by people.

Laugh can be heard from that big group. Looks like someone just got knocked out cold by a punch.

A woman with a long smile comes out from the multitude. Brown hair covered by a straw hat, blue eyes and few freckles at the nose bridge.

She cleans one hand on her jeans. And walks our way.

"What the hell you doing, you were supposed to check back on us hours ago!"

"Hey! I was gathering information! Now, all we need to do is get our info check up so we can pass" She stretches her arms "Honestly, this is really tirin- "She stops mid-sentence looking at me with a blank expression.

Hm... I know her... Her face is familiar

"Y-you... Holy shi..." Her eyes wide as he gets closer and closer to my face. It's a little embarrassing honestly.

"Huh? What? Oh, this is the guy? We picked yesterday, dont you remember?"

"It was dark, I couldn't see shit" She inspects my faces very careful "Hmm.... this guy... looks exactly to the guy I was talking you about"

"I dunno what you are talking bout, C" Dunn walks her side and pat her shoulder "Come on, we are almost there, let's get going"

Hmm... from where do I know her...

........

OH! She is Cassi-

"Courier Six!!!" She yells loudly making several people turn heads our way.

"!!!"

She proceeds to launch her massive fist to my face, sending me to the ground.