I already knew from the game that Jeanie May had been the one who made that deal. I also knew that she kept the receipt for it tucked away in the safe of the motel's office.
"You know who did it. Your actions are too sure for doubt." Adam pointed out as I wasted no time picking my way into the main office and then the safe behind the desk there.
"I told you. I know a LOT of things that I don't say." I said with a chuckle.
"No, this is different. It's almost as if you are prescient. You know things that don't make sense until facts come to light after the matter. Can you actually see the future?" Adam asked firmly.
"No. The future is just as unpredictable for me as anyone else. That said I have seen versions of this worlds future. Localized of course but a version all the same. I am merely using those versions knowledge to gains some advantages is all." I said with a shrug as I found the receipt right where I expected it.
"What is the difference?" Adam asked curiously.
"Well for starters I don't exist, or maybe I do but I never come to Vegas. I don't know. What I do know is that that set of futures all revolve around Jess, versions of her at least. Some male, some female. Some good, others evil. Point is it all revolved around her, a sort of focal point in the world that makes everything change. I know so much because I've seen countless version of her do them or see them." I paused to let it sink in.
"I knew Boone's story front to back before ever meeting him. I know everything about the guy Jess is after, about Caesars legion, the NCR, all the little factions in the Mohave. I know where various treasures from before the war are, I know where monsters lurk. I know so much that it's almost hard not to constantly say something about it." I explained since I thought it pointless to hide it from Adam.
"How many timelines have you witnessed exactly?" Adam asked quietly.
"Dozens at least. And that's not including the timelines I saw from other parts of the wasteland. Washington D.C and Boston also have timelines I have seen play out multiple times." I say with a shrug as I leave the main office.
"How are you not insane? My calculations all say that seeing so many possible futures would drive anyone crazy." Adam asked with concern.
"Oh, that's easy. There is two paths, roughly at least, that the futures follow. The first is what I like to call the main story route. In these ones the version of Jess I am watching ignores all distractions and only goes from one point to the next in absolute focus on tracking the guy who shot her and then the events eventually leading to the second battle of Hoover dam. These timelines tend to end quickly for one reason or another." I said letting Adam absorb that knowledge before continuing.
"Then we have the wandering timelines. These ones go on and on as this version of Jess basically puts off hunting the guy who shot her in favor of exploration, combat and side stories that make her dozens of times more skilled and better equipped than the main story timelines." I say casually as I head west through the road crossing towards where I knew Jeanie May's house was.
"We are in a main story timeline then." Adam said with an understanding tone.
"Yep, though that's kinda my fault. I've been sorta railroading us into it. Nothing wrong with those other timelines but I always loved seeing how Benny got handled. That's the guy who shot Jess by the way." I said with a chuckle.
"You are treating this as entertainment. Not reality." Adam pointed out.
"I mean kinda? Like I'm giving it all the proper thought but at the same time I've already more or less lived all of this so why not enjoy it?" I asked with a grin.
"I don't know how to feel about this matter." Adam said a little lost.
"Well if it helps in no timeline were you even a factor. As far as I know your vault is never rediscovered and opened. At least if it is it wasn't by Jess during any of the timelines I saw." I said casually.
"So you already changed the timeline Irreversibly?" Adam asked dumbfounded.
"Oh that ship sailed the moment I came to the Mohave. My mere existence here has changed things fundamentally. Quiet now, I have to focus on my acting to lure the prey to it's demise." I said with a chuckle as I stopped before the door to Jeanie May's house.
I reached up to the peeling white painted wooden door and rapped my suits knuckles against it's surface.
"THUMP THUMP THUMP!"
The loud firm sound echoed slightly in the wind and I listened as faint footsteps approach the door. It was pulled open slightly as Jeanie May peered out at me warily before relaxing when she saw it was me.
"A bit late for a visit isn't it?" she asked with a confused look.
"Ah, sorry about that I just thought as the leader of the fine town you might be the best person to ask. See I was taking a stroll to admire the place before bed and spotted something off in the distance and wanted to know if you could tell me what it is. It's hard to describe though so it might be easier if I can point it out in person." I said acting friendly and flattering.
"Well, you've come to the right person then. Let me get my shoes on and you can show me this thing you've found." she said with a proud look as she let go of the door and started getting her shoes on since they were right at the door.
Once she got those on I led the way to the front of the t-rex and slipped the Barret on over the top of my armors head.
"CRACK!"
"SPLURCH!"
Her head exploded as the sharp sound of a sniper rifle firing rang out.
I brushed off the bits that landed on me with a disgusted look before calmly walking back to the t-rex and up into the mouth where Boone was waiting.
"How'd you know she did it?" he asked as I returned his Barret to him.
I pulled out the receipt and handed to him.
"Found that in the main office safe. Doesn't get much more clear than that, besides that bitch had my spine tingling since I met her." I said no longer bothering to hide my disdain for the woman.