Red

"What the hell? You're that Courier Benny wasted back in Goodsprings! You're supposed to be dead!"

"I got better."

- Jessup and Red

Red is the playable character in Fallout: New Vegas. He is also known as "The Desert Avenger" or "The Messiah".

Name
No one knows Red's true name, as he forgot it following his near death in Goodsprings. As to why he chose the nickname "Red", people have guessed its due to the blood of his many enemies, the character "Texas Red" in the hit song Big Iron, or even from an old pre-war game about dueling animals.

History
Red truly became a wasteland-known name by destroying the Fiends by raiding Vault 3. For that, he became a champion of justice against the criminal elements of the Mojave, destroying numerous raider gangs. The Vipers, Scorpions, Cooking Boys, Techno Fiends, and others all fell to him. Red established a pretty sizeable gathering of like-minded individuals that wanted to support his quest. Other criminals were killed in bounty hunting missions, with Red working at first for Steve Randall of Randall and Associates, and later Larry Scull of the NCR. Randall was killed by his competitor, Judge Richter, leading to Red avenging his death and uncovering a trail of a massive human trafficking ring run by the Syndicate, the largest criminal gang in the Mojave and Red's toughest challenge. However, after Richter's death, Red was kidnapped by the crazed former elder of the Brotherhood of Steel, Father Elijah, who forced him to unlock the secrets of the Sierra Madre Casino on pain of death for refusal.

Companions
During his travels, Red has walked and fought with many people whom he considers his friends.
 * ED-E: Red's constant companion. ED-E is an eyebot with a mysterious past that Red found broken in Primm. Red fixed him, and now ED-E follows Red in his travels.
 * Boone: A former NCR sniper that left following his wife's enslavement by the Legion. Red met while he was a guard at Novac, and Red recruited him to join him in his travels.
 * Courier Two: His real name unknown, Courier Two fell into depression and drug dealing when he returned hom from the infamous delivery to find his family killed by the Slaver's Guild. Red helps him back to his feet and gain vengeance.
 * Desmond Harper: Desmond is a young man that came from the Core Region to New Vegas with his friends. He and his friends were robbed by Fiends, and when they attempted to get their money and supplies back, everyone but Desmond was killed. Red helps Desmond kill the Fiends, and to thank him, Desmond joins him.
 * Pierce Slater: A former NCR sniper that was kicked out for using alcohol and drugs to handle his depression. Red found him in the Prospector Saloon, and Red convinces him to join and improve his life by becoming an officer for the New Vegas Police Department.
 * Veronica Santangelo: A former member of the Brotherhood of Steel. Her wishes to open up the BoS to the world resulted in her excommunication. With nowhere to go, she joins Red in his travels. She is Red's official representative in Goodsprings and lives in his base in the Schoolhouse there.

Quotes about the Courier
"Wait. A courier?"

"Yes sir, a deliver of mail and packages."

- Honcho Biggs and Brian Mills