Chapter 1: The Heist Of The Centuries

Hey everyone, welcome to my re-write of New Beginnings. I'm planning on re-writing the entirety of the Charlotte Austen series, changing it into my new Lyra Redcloud. I'm doing this because I feel like she needs to be updated, to reflect how much I've grown as a writer. Anyway, I hope you wonderful folks enjoy it!

I do not own Fallout: New Vegas, that belongs to Obsidian and Bethesda.

The sound of bubbling pots and rustling wind filled the small hut, as a young girl with short black hair sat on the floor. An inquisitive look was evident on her face, as she looked at the only other person inside of the hut.

"Nannu, can I ask you a question?" Lyra Redcloud inquired, her head cocked to one side.

The old man called Nannu looked up, his bones creaking and cracking. The very act of lifting up his head seemed to have exhausted Nannu of every bit of his energy, as a weary sigh escaped from his tired lungs. But by the twinkle in his light blue eyes and the small smile that appeared on his weathered face, Nannu seemed excited by his young visitor.

"What is it, my child?" Nannu

"Why did you choose my name?" Lyra asked. "Lyra, I understand. But why 'Redcloud'? No-one else in our tribe has that name…"

"Because you are my special little Lyra." Nannu explained, his tired smile growing even wider. "And you deserve a special name."

"Nannu, be honest." Lyra demanded with a frown. "I'm not a little girl anymore; I'm nearly old enough to go out on expeditions with the hunters."

"Hmmm...it is true, you are no longer the little girl I once held in both my hands. I think you are old enough to know." Nannu muttered. "You know about the...head pains I get?"

"Momma says they get very bad." Lyra responded. "And that…"

"Yes?"

"She says you can see into the future." Lyra continued.

"Your Momma is right...but also wrong." Nannu explained. "I can see into the future… it is a gift granted to me by our ancestors in the night sky, to allow them to communicate with us. It can be…painful, very painful. But I don't see into the future, not really. I see more...possibilities."

"Possibilities?"

"I just see colors, animals, vases….things that will take place in the future, but not proper looks. When you were born, the ancestors gave me a vision, one of your future."

"What did you see, Nannu?"

"I saw red, so much red. Whatever your future holds, it is tied to that color." Nannu answered. "I saw a red cloth. Then...a one-headed Brahmin, coloured red. Then red hair filled my vision. And lastly….I saw red clouds."

"Red clouds?"

"Red clouds, but not a bright red. No...this red was dark and dull, almost the color of blood. It...it felt like a warning. As if the ancestors were warning you to stay away from these red clouds, that they'd only bring you pain and sorrow."

"So my name, Redcloud…"

"I gave you, as a reminder and a warning. To avoid the red clouds, to stay away from any you see. Lyra, my little Lyra...I do not want to see any harm come to you. I know you are an explorer, a hunter, a woman who loves adventure and fight. So much like your Momma, so much like your Nanna. But please...avoid the red clouds. Avoid them at all costs. I...I don't want to lose you, like...like I lost Nanna."

The Courier leant against the side of the ruined wall, weariness coursing through her veins. The foul stench of the Cloud clogged her nostrils, and she could feel her heart smashing against her chest and her back screamed in pain from the pounds of gold she was carrying. But despite all of this, despite all the aches and pains and fears, she couldn't have been more relieved. It was over, finally fucking over.

All the insanity, the worry, the threat of having her head exploded by a crazed Brotherhood elder, was finally over. She had managed to escape the Vault and had left that bastard Elijah trapped down there, stuck inside that metal cage with no hopes of escape.

A weary smile soon graced Lyra's face, as she wiped the sweat from her face and took a deep breath. She could go home now, finally. She could get back to the Lucky 38, rest in a comfy bed and be back with her beautiful red-headed lass Cassidy. Looking down at her scratched Pipboy, a frown appeared on Lyra's face as she saw she was still on the same frequency as Father Elijah's broadcast. As she went to change the frequency, the frequency kicked in.

"Heh... now, come on, you open up. Open up, damn you. Open the vault... I can make it worth your while, think about what you're throwing away. I have other weapons, other technology I can share with you. And the Big Empty... I know the way there. I know some of its secrets... if... The collars... the collars were a mistake, I see that now. Why would I kill you? After all you've done... after all we've done together. Are you listening to me?!"

The relief that Lyra had previously felt quickly disappeared, as the temperature dropped several degrees. Fear started coursing through her veins, as she continued to hear from Father Elijah.

"Everything down here... I swear... so much you could use, you could rule the wastes with what's down here... ...make your own army, re-shape the world, and if others disagree... put collars on them, I can show you how. Don't you leave me here. You can't do this to me. Eh? Getting dark in here. Machine... machine's losing power, no. I still have Pip-Boy light... maybe... maybe... no, no, that doesn't work. Where... where is the door. Can't find the door. Calm, been in worse situations... find a way out... somehow, then find that Courier..."

The Courier didn't know why she didn't just turn off her Pipboy, just shut it off and ignore the wild ramblings of this old man. But she couldn't find that strength to do it; her limbs had snapped into place, as if Father Elijah's words had placed a spell upon her, forcing her to listen to what he said.

"Maybe Veronica... no... no, she thinks I'm dead. Must be someone... maybe that other courier, one with the flag on his back... maybe... no... no, said he'd never come to the Sierra Madre... No way out. Can't….can't end like this. You. I know you can hear me. When you die, Courier…I'll be waiting. Your grave's going look just like this vault. When you die…I'll be waiting here…at the Sierra Madre. Waiting…"

Static then filled the air, before the broadcast finally fell silent. Lyra took a deep breath and shook her head slightly, as the feeling finally returned to her limbs. She shouldn't have been this scared; Father Elijah couldn't escape. The vault was locked tight and even if Elijah could figure out how to escape the inescapable vault, he'd have to figure out how to get past all the holograms and turrets and then figure out how to rework the elevator that she'd blown up. Letting out a relieved sigh, Lyra got up and making her way towards the fountain, her bag of gold in hand.

"Enjoy your stay, Elijah." Lyra muttered. "Cause you're gonna be there a while."

And Chapter 1 of my re-write of New Beginnings is done and dusted! I've got a few more Chapters left, but I hope all you wonderful and awesome readers stick around for the remainder of this story! See you nice readers soon!

Love,

The Desert Dancer