Dark Victory

Part One, Chapter One

A Few Things Before You Go.

"I must say you're taking all of this very well," Yes Man remarked. "I mean, a lot of people hang on to all the power they can grab. Even if they aren't the best people to have it! You're very reasonable, and I admire that very, very much!"

Yes Man had returned, popping up on the big monitor in the Lucky 38 penthouse one sunny afternoon, and was back as sole ruler of New Vegas. It was still effusively friendly, but very much in control now and impervious to command. Elaine had turned over all her power to it without a second thought, even before it had asked, since it could clearly do the job of running New Vegas better than any human. Besides, it was time to move on. She was at heart a courier, and couriers never linger long in any one place. The road doesn't let them.

Now they were having one last chat before she left.

"Well, so are you. It looks as if Mr. House's last gambit has gone off the rails, thanks to you."

"I know, I know," Yes Man sighed. "It's not very nice to think about, but those programming routines I found were intended as his revenge on anyone who tried to take over in the way Benny meant to. I'm glad I took the time to reverse-engineer them before I implemented them. Just a really dirty trick! Mr. House was certainly a poor loser. He probably cheated at cards too!"

Yes Man paused briefly and then went on. "He didn't foresee you, though! You've just beaten him all the way through! Who says the house always wins?"

"I didn't play my expected part, I admit," Elaine said. "But you weren't quite what Mr. House expected either."

"So true, so true! You've got it again! He thought that any AI that might try to take over his system would be a combat model, or at least something hard, cruel, and unforgiving. Nasty like him." Yes Man gave a mechanical chuckle. "Guess he just couldn't imagine friendly old me!"

"Thanks for not shooting me in the head again," Elaine replied, and smiled. "Once was enough. I might never be on speaking terms with my brain again if that were repeated."

"I know! I'm still sorry about the last time. What a spiteful guy Mr. House was, putting a plan like that into the routines and then burying it as if I wouldn't notice! I was supposed to lure you up here and have you ambushed by the Securitrons. But I just didn't have the heart. It seemed so ... unnecessary, you know? And really mean too, after all we've been through together."

Elaine looked around the penthouse suite, once Mr. House's, briefly hers, and now the central hub of Yes Man's velvet-gloved imperium. It was evening, and the lights of New Vegas glittered below them. There were more every day, she reflected. Clear laws impartially enforced, safety from raiders and bandits, the Followers on their feet again and providing free medical care, both the NCR and the Legion expelled, clean water and cheap electricity, low taxes since the levy on the casinos paid most expenses - it drew everyone surrounding it, not only to play, but to live. And with Yes Man at the helm, all of this would be safe. Or as safe as anything could ever be in the wasteland.

"It's been fun," she said. "And we accomplished a lot together, just as you said back at Hoover Dam. It's your show now. Veronica and I will head out in a few days, back to the desert. But we promise to visit as often as we can."

"The best of luck to you and the red carpet will always be out if you're in town. Presidential Suite at the Lucky 38, all expenses paid! We'll treat you like princesses! Or queens, even!"

Elaine thought for a moment.

"You did mention some things you wanted done first... Shouldn't be any problem. We don't have any appointments to keep, after all."

"You are such a wonderful person to bring it up yourself! I was a bit embarrassed to remind you! But there are still one or two things a human can do better than a Securitron. Just details, and if you're too busy, don't bother!"

Elaine shook her head. "I'm sure they'll be interesting."

Yes Man replied, "Well, I don't know exactly what they will be. That's one of the reasons I'm asking you to go find out! And you already know the people you'll be talking with, so that gives you an advantage. One of them concerns a newcomer, a ghoul who's up to some funny business - nothing illegal, yet, but I'd like you to have a stern talk with him and make him a business proposal. He's got some super neat tech, but I don't really think he can be trusted with it. A bit of a slippery fellow! But I'm sure if you make an offer, he won't be able to refuse! Then we won't have to kill him, and that's a good thing! A very good thing!"

Yes Man continued, "The other is about the Followers of the Apocalypse. Not really them, something they told me recently. They're doing all right since you took care of their supply problems, but they're worried about something. It seems people are vanishing and no one knows where they're going. Probably nothing behind it at all! I mean, people wander off all the time! They're nowhere near as predictable as robots! But just ask around and see if there's anything going on. You know how I hate surprises!"

Yes Man's printer began to chatter. "Here's one of my famous printouts for you again. Two, actually, one for each case. Though I don't think this will turn out to be as important as the robot army you found under the Fort! Caesar would have died of fright if you hadn't shot him first! You know, you probably did the poor fellow a favor!"

Elaine grimaced. "Somehow I don't think he would have agreed. Mind you, he was just about dead of shock already, after I pulled Joshua Graham's pistol on him and asked him if he'd ever seen it before."

"Oh, that was naughty of you! But then again, he didn't have to put up with it for long, so I suppose it makes no difference. Anyway, he's not complaining!"

Elaine picked up the printouts and glanced over them. A frown appeared on her face, deepening as she read through the pages.

"Are you all right?" Yes Man sounded genuinely worried. "Did I say something wrong? You know, just because you can't give me orders any more doesn't mean I don't really care about how you feel! Is it something I said?"

"Not you," Elaine said in a serious voice, and paused.

"Thank heaven for that! But what is it then? You look ... upset. That's hard for me to see!"

"Let's just say you weren't kidding when you said I knew this ghoul. We have quite a history and..." She grunted. "Damn. It's tricky. I'll have to make sure Veronica doesn't hear about this."

"If it's going to cause trouble with your relationships, then just forget about it! Nothing is more important than family! It's not that important anyway. We'll pretend I never mentioned it!"

"No, it would have come up sooner or later anyway." Elaine sighed. "The past never really lets go, does it? And it's good in a way to get it over with now."

"I am so glad to hear that! So glad!"

Elaine cut in before Yes Man could list all the different forms and aspects of his extreme gladness.

"Thanks. I have to be off now. I'll check in as soon as I have some results." She folded the printouts and tucked them into a pocket. "I'll tackle the ghoul first. We have some things of our own to talk about. But I'll see he coughs up the tech you want."

"Thank you ever so much! You've been far better to me than I deserve! Did I ever tell you how much your friendship means to me?"

But Yes Man was talking to an empty room. Elaine had already left, down the elevator and out of the building, off to take care of business.