As I suddenly found myself back in my Cafe, with a confused and pale line of customers before me, I couldn't help but grimace.
'What the hell was that?! Why did it feel so...real?!' I questioned, still in a bit of shock as I felt the tidal wave of power that rushed my body with a mere tug at the stars and celestial bodies around me.
[Congratulations on passing the Tutorial!]
[Limiters unlocked]
[Multiversal Store completely unlocked]
[You can now hire staff]
[More options added to store expansion]
[Entrance limiters have been removed]
Tutorial...what?!
[Karma Balance: 46,420]
[US Dollar Balance: $8,750]
[Due to exceeding expectations and making a profit, the system has granted you your first staff summons for free; each following summons will increase in cost. The Multiversal Trading System Conglomorate wishes you a successful and profitable life and many profitable deals!]
[Commencing Summoning Now]
What?
In a moment, a blinding golden light came into existence at the center of the cafe, stunning everyone in line and even me due to just how sudden and blinding the light was.
Walking out from the light was a man wrapped in bandages, a bulletproof vest strapped over his collared white shirt that had its sleeves rolled up where his arms could be seen, also wrapped up in bandages while the man wore dark pants and walked out of the light with the clunk of old boots.
In his right hand was a seemingly modified .45 pistol, one that had words etched into both sides.
"καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει" was etched to the right side of the small firearm, while "καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν" was etched into the other side.
'And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not'
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost," A deep and soothing voice came from the man wrapped in bandages as he looked upon the room with indifference.
I recognized the man nearly instantly: Joshua Graham, the burned man. He was the former right-hand man and general to Caeser of Caeser's Legion in Fallout. He was a new Canaanite, a man of God, one who strayed from his path under Caeser's command and committed countless atrocities and acts of violence, a member of a tribe that taught all of its members in the use and maintenance of the Browning M1911 pistol. In a wasteland where countless things could and would kill you, this rite of passage made Joshua's tribe far more suited for the wasteland than most. They became traders, guarded caravans, and killed raiders and bandits. Cleared out pests and dangerous groups of creatures and mutants that thought about moving into their territory.
After Joshua's failure to take Hoover Damn from the NCR, New Californian Republic, Caeser had to make an example of the man. So, he covered Joshua in pitch, set him on fire, and kicked him into the Grand Canyon, where he was to die. However, Joshua's will was unlike any other. He dragged himself back to his home and family, where they welcomed the prodigal son back home as if nothing had ever happened.
While Joshua set forth to repent his wrongdoings and change his ways, his repentance was cut short by the White Legs, a tribe that wanted to please Ceaser, and so burned the home of the New Canaanites to the ground, killing many of the tribe, but not all. Joshua Graham was one of the few survivors of his tribe, and he found himself in Zion, a natural temple to God. A temple that was once again under threat by the White Legs.
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With the help of the local tribes, a fellow New Canaanites, and the Courier, Joshua would either chase the White Legs down and slaughter them all or assist the tribes in fleeing so that they may keep their innocence in a world that dearly wanted to tear it away. The question is, what version of the 'Burned Man' am I dealing with? The bloodthirsty shadow of a once tyrannical general under a man who deserved to be placed in the deepest parts of hell or a man of God who merely sought to protect the innocent from those who wished them harm?
Seeing everyone gawking at the man of god wrapped in copious amounts of bandages to cover the burns covering every inch of his body, I beckoned the man over, summoning a chair at the side of the counter.
"Joshua? Come, come, sit. Can I get you anything?" I respectfully asked the man who could be best described as Fallout's version of a man too angry to die.
Holstering his pistol but keeping an eye on everything around him, the man stoically walked over and took a seat.
Not getting an answer, I merely purchased a Sunset Sasparilla and Brahman steak with freshly fried fries from Stardew Valley.
"I know you may have questions, and I am willing to answer them, Joshua, but I do need to conduct some business first before I can talk with you if you do not mind?" I asked after informing him, ignoring the many stares that we were getting along with the flashing of pictures and likely customers who were recording the whole event.
Staying silent, he gave me a simple nod before examining the food on his plate.
"Taking a hesitant bite of the french fry, I noticed a brief hint of surprise in his eyes before they returned to warily watching everything in the room.
'What is the system doing here? I don't need a bodyguard, though someone like Joshua would certainly be pleasant company. What does it expect me to do with him? Did it kidnap him from his universe? Because he is gone, does that mean the White Legs in his world would kill the Dead Horses and the Sorrows? Shit...if that's the case, can I return him?'
Shaking my head, I focused my mind back on my growing line of customers.
...
Sitting in rocking chairs, two old men could be seen watching over a small, growing town hidden from the greater world. This town was filled with pure and innocent souls untainted by the flaws of the so-called 'Civilized Man' in the lands of the NCR and Mr. House's New Vegas. Both men were none other than Joshua and Nathaniel, two old New Canaanites who sought to protect the new tribe that came about from the intermixing of the Sarrows and the Dead Horses.
"Do you think what we did was right?" Nathaniel asked, eyes looking up to the sky, thinking back to that day.
"I do not know," Joshua answered, eyes not leaving the happy faces of the tribesmen and women dancing not far from them.
"Should...Should we have stood our ground? Taught them how to defend themselves and their home?" Nathaniel continued.
"Why do you ask?" Joshua asked, tearing his eyes away to look at his old friend.
"I just...I wish those who were lost that day could have lived to see this day," Nathaniel answered solemnly.
"Ah...I see. Do not forget, my dear friend, that they are up there, watching over us and their family. They are with God, and they are at peace."
"I know...but I am old, and I worry," Nathaniel joked with a sad smile.
Joshua returned the smile, "I do, too, but do not fret. We taught them all we could. When we pass, they shall live on, and if harm shall ever come to them, they shall be able to defend themself."
It was true that while Nathaniel taught them the intricacies of Agriculture, Art, and science, Joshua taught them of the art of violence; the only thing he knew, for that, was who Joshua was: a Warrior of God. He taught the tribe what he knew and learned, whether it be marksmanship, trapping, hunting, or fishing to close-quarters combat and how to make gunpowder. When the day would come, and the two shall pass, this tribe would live on under the all-seeing eyes of God, where they would be protected.
It wouldn't have been possible without the help of that lone Courier who stumbled upon the valley. The Courier shouldered the burden and fought off the White Legs before eradicating and destroying as many of their camps as possible. Joshua could see why the Courier pushed him back that day and sided with Nathaniel. Back then, he cared for one thing: vengeance. One that would have him become the monster he once was when under the command of Caeser.
Joshua does not know what happened to that Courier, but he heard rumors that the White Legs never stepped foot within Zion ever again for fear of angering a 'Demon.' Joshua could only pray that wherever this Courier may be, he lived a loving and fulfilling life and that He, Nathaniel, and all of the tribespeople were thankful for the burden he shouldered in order to allow them to escape.
Joshua was fully content on atoning for his sins, but on the fateful night of his death, he was met with the visage of an Angel of the Lord. This Angel promised him salvation and repentance and said that once he completed his task, he would be welcomed through the Gates of Heaven. Joshua thanked this Angel and God for this chance to repent and right his wrong, though he felt he was undeserving of such a chance due to the blood on his hands.
So, imagine his surprise when he found himself stepping into the light and finding himself standing in a strange place and time after having regained his youth.