Prologue: All the same.
They said that the world plunged into a pool of darkness after the War. They are wrong. The world was just as dark before, as it is now; murder, sixual assault, prostitution, drugs, gambling, theft, hypocrisy and war. All sins were openly laid out in New Vegas, for all eyes to see. Did anyone care? No, they cared only for their own needs; money and pleasure. Little did they know that one man would change the world forever.
***
Asaph was fascinated. He flipped through the tatty book, each page a wonder, vibrant with colours. A picture book, his father called it. But it was more than a picture book. It was art. It was book of paintings. Then he came across one that caught his eye. The picture had a dark green contrast to it, thick dollops of paint was to be seen. A family surrounded a table, the mother pouring in coffee and potatoes being served. It showed poverty-no, it shouted poverty. Life was the same then it is now.
He leaned back on the ruined couch, his head resting, looking up towards the ceiling. Pushing his cropped brown hair back, he reflected, What needs to be done? Why does all this bad happen? He closed his kind brown eyes, hoping to catch some rest.
“Hey!” A voice cried out, “Asaph, dad wants you.”
“What does he want, Alex?” Asaph mumbled.
“You”, he replied, unable to keep the bluntness from his voice.
Asaph groaned, and pulled himself up off the couch. His feet hit the dusty ground with a thud. Alex had already gone away, not telling his younger brother at least where their father was. Asaph assumed he would be out in the shed, working and playing with his guns, as usual. Asaph walked up the small hill to a rusty tin shed. Inside, was a wooden table, his father bent over it tinkering with weapons. On the furthest wall, hung a rack holding bullets, metal work and cords.
“Dad? Did’ya need me?” The boy knocked the table with the back of his hand to catch his father’s attention.
“What’s that? Oh, yes. “He gestured his son to come closer, “Here, take this. It’s a Sig Sauer. For you. On your birthday.”
Asaph eye’s widened, “Dad. A gun?” He was thankful his father remembered his birthday, but a gun? “Listen, dad, I appreciate it, but I can’t change the world with a gun.”
His father laughed loudly, “Already fifteen and out to change the world!” He stroked his beard, “Just take it, Asa.”
Asaph did as told and took the pistol and smiled sheepishly, “Thanks, anyways.” He hugged his father and went out in search of cans to practise his aim. At least it will please his father.