The House Always Wins
Chapter 1
Five Years After The Defeat of the Legion and the NCR at Hoover Dam.
The Presidential Suite of the Lucky 38 was quiet.
For the first time in months the Courier had a few moments to himself, and he choose to use them by indulging in a bit of reverie. Considering everything that had been accomplished in just five years, a short rest was a small, but enjoyable, reward.
Mr. House had entrusted more and more of the day to day operations of New Vegas to the Courier, and it seemed that there were always supplicants that needed to be heard, always workers that had to have a few moment to discuss the latest projects that were in the works.
Intending only to close his eyes for a moment, the Courier drifted to sleep, dreaming of the beginning...
1
The Day of the Defeat of the Legion and the NCR at Hoover Dam.
The road back to New Vegas was clogged with NCR soldiers retreating from the dam. Despite the centuries that separated him from the pre-War days, the Courier had an inkling of what life might have been had the bombs never fallen. Carts, pulled mostly by bighorners and civilians, filled with NCR equipment and wounded made their way slowly west. Soldiers, nearly all of them scowling when the Courier came into view, meandered between the carts trying to make their way past the slow moving vehicles.
The Securitrons cleared the way for the Courier.
Although many of the soldiers were happy to be going home, they were all, to a man, angry with the perceived betrayal of the Courier - a man that many in the NCR idolized prior to the crushing defeat at the dam. In spite of this anger, none dared to assault (or even approach) the man now guarded by dozens of Securitrons.
Finally clearing the long line of carts and soldiers, the Courier moved at a much faster pace. He was eager to return to New Vegas, to the Penthouse of the Lucky 38, to answer the summons of Mr. House. With his own ideas about the future of New Vegas, he was eager to discuss the next steps in the rebuilding of humanity.
After an uneventful and unusually peaceful journey, the Courier arrived at the gates of Freeside. Entering the normally tense atmosphere of the slum, he was surprised to be greeted by cheers. Obviously, the citizens of New Vegas had already been told of the victory, and were heady with the thrill. Being surrounded by Securitrons held the people at bay, but nothing could stop them from voicing their approval of the outcome of the battle.
He knew that many citizens of New Vegas resented the NCR and their heavy-handed ways, and nearly all of them were terrified of the Legion. Being acclaimed as the man that chased away two nightmares might have gone to his head, had he not known that there was still much work to be done, and, probably, more blood to be shed.
The Strip was packed with citizens, gamblers, and members of the two surviving "Three Families" and, of course, the ever present Securitrons. The applause and cheers as the Courier made his way to the Lucky 38 was deafening, and it was something of a blessing to shut most of it out as he closed the doors to the empty casino behind him. By the time he arrived at the Penthouse, the roar had subsided to a distant buzz.
Jane made an unprecedented first move towards him, her unchanging face smiling as always.
"Mr. House is just as pleased as punch with you! I don't think I've ever seen him so excited!"
The Courier merely nodded, walking past Jane to the stairs which led to the inner sanctum of the great Robert Edwin House.
. . .
Standing before the large monitor, the Courier waited as the connection was reset. Soon, the flickering image of Mr. House appeared, and his booming, slightly computerized voice addressed him.
"You've arrived at last. I've been eager to speak with you."
The Courier smiled, knowing full well that Mr. House could have spoken to him at any time through his Securitrons.
"The NCR retreat made the roads a bit busier than usual", he said. "Of course, the masses waiting to welcome me back didn't help matters. I suppose I have you to thank for that?"
The image on the screen didn't change, but the voice made it clear that Mr. House was smiling.
"Indeed. The instant you accepted the NCR surrender, I announced the news. Ambassador Crocker was none too pleased, and he actually demanded to speak to me, face to face! I refused to see him, of course. The official word must have come to him from McCarran, and the "evacuation" began shortly thereafter."
He could only imagine the look on Crocker's face as he heard the announcement. "Have you taken precautions to insure that the NCR doesn't damage the monorail?"
"Several Securitrons have been stationed at both stops, as well as within the cars themselves." A flicker in the screen. "I've begun the process of altering the power grid. The extra power from Hoover Dam, as well as from Helios One, will be a tremendous boon for New Vegas. I need you to re-open the switching stations at the outskirts of the city, to divert the extra power to various key areas."
"To the point as always, eh Mr. House?"
"Naturally."
2
One Year After the Defeat of the Legion and the NCR at Hoover Dam
New Vegas was booming.
Since the victory at Hoover Dam, the Courier had devoted much of his time to rebuilding the city. To compensate for the loss of the White Glove Society, the Kings had been, somewhat reluctantly, recruited to fill the empty spot. With the Silver Rush (re-established as a full-fledged casino) and the Atomic Wrangler now operating under the control of Mr. House -through the Kings- the predicted return of gamblers and pleasure seekers had risen to levels that surprised everyone.
Refugees were constantly pouring in, hoping to find safety. The Courier had convinced Mr. House to open Camp McCarran to them, with the eventual goal of resettling them in the soon to be rebuilt areas of Freeside, Westside, and the completely restructured South Vegas.
The Courier was not entirely satisfied with this arrangement, however. His new idea was a bold one, something that might prove impossible to fully realize, but he meant to do his best to convince Mr. House to allow him to put his plan into effect.
Arriving in the Penthouse, he brushed past Jane without stopping to acknowledge her customary greeting - knowing that she wouldn't take it personally.
He knew that he had to get the idea out before Mr. House could assign him some other task, and he began as soon as he stopped before the giant screen.
"Mr. House, I have an idea I want to discuss with you. Something that could change the face of the Mojave, and remain as a lasting tribute to you and your vision."
Flattery never hurt, though he wasn't sure if it was recognized as such, or taken as a simple statement of fact.
"Please, go on."
The slight tinge of parental indulgence made him feel a bit strange, but he proceeded in spite of flush he felt rising in his face.
"We have thousands of people doing nothing since the NCR left. We also have literally tons of NCR equipment that they left behind after their retreat. I want to put the equipment in the hands of those malleable people, to give them a purpose."
Silence from Mr. House was never a good sign, but he continued nevertheless.
"I want to see New Vegas become more than just the remnants of Las Vegas. I want to see New Vegas become, not just a tourist attraction, but a power that no one would dare attack."
Silence.
"What do you think of...the New Vegas Republic?"
. . .
"The New Vegas Republic? What a novel concept. Do you expect me to replace the bureaucratic red tape of the NCR with a brand new layer? Do you dream of pseudo-democratic reforms and commissions?"
The image on the screen didn't change, but his voice made it clear that he was somewhat displeased, or perhaps he was mocking the Courier- a possibility that was ever present. Though the anger of Mr. House was far more dangerous now than it had ever been, the Courier was certain he knew just how far he could push, and he intended to push the limit.
"Of course not. I'm not suggesting a democracy, or a legion. No red tape, no minor functionaries, no limits to your power. Just think of the possibilities. If you create a state, you'll give the people of the Mojave something to believe in - and fight for."
"Now why would I need them to fight for me? The Strip will never fall - you've seen to that. Or do you desire the power for yourself? You wouldn't be thinking of attempting to betray me, would you?"
A Securitron edged slightly closer, presumably preparing to attack in the event of a positive reply from the Courier.
"No. Some men are meant to lead. Others, like me, are meant to be trusted lieutenants. I never questioned your orders". The Securitron eased slowly away. He noticed that it was still facing him, however. "Do you really believe I would try something now, given the rise in your position?"
"Well, then, why this talk of republics?"
"Republic only in the generic sense. You would be "President" of this republic, and the real goal is not to civilise the wastes, but to profit from them. You have an army just waiting to be formed, a human army that would allow the Securitrons to be used elsewhere. A human army to occupy all the posts abandoned by the NCR and the Legion. The Boomers will ally with you, and perhaps even the Super-Mutants in Jacobstown could be brought into the fold."
"And?"
"And then we fortify your new republic. A republic that stretches from Ellis to Searchlight, and everywhere in between. We'll be on the very doorstep of the NCR and, if they attack us, we'll grind them into dust!"
Silence, again, from Mr. House. It was a waiting game, one with very high stakes. It was not unheard of for "trusted lieutenants" to meet with unfortunate accidents and, just like the Vegas of old, there were far too many secluded places where someone could disappear.
"What you are suggesting does seem to be a logical step. I suppose we can't allow the rabble to take possession of the weaponry left behind, out there in the Wastes."
The Courier had spun the wheel, and won.
"You're right, as always, Mr. House. They can't take the weapons, but we can give them to them. A new republic needs an army, and we can forge that army from the rubble. Your great victory over the NCR and the Legion, and your promise of protection and prosperity, will swell your ranks in a way unmatched by any patriotic drivel that others have relied on. You, Mr. House, have given the people of the Wastes hope - something most of them thought long gone."
"And will you take charge of training this new army?"
Mr. House had warmed to the idea, but it could still fall apart - it was all in the details now.
"No, Boone will do it. He won't leave New Vegas, and he needs to feel useful. You can trust him - I do. Give him a squadron of willing recruits, and he'll turn it into the beginnings of an army. From there, all we have to do is wait. In the meantime your Securitrons can hold the key areas of the Mojave and within a year there won't be an inhabited spot that is not flying your flag."
3
Three Months Later
The flag of the New Vegas Republic was officially raised over the Hoover Dam at 4:00 pm. The white flag, bright in the desert sun, was a marvel of simplicity. Instead of the stylized images used by the NCR and the Legion, the flag of New Vegas showed only an outline of the Lucky 38 surrounding an image of the Platinum Chip, that tiny piece of technology that was instrumental in the rise of Mr. House.
Boone, the First General of the NVR, stood at the Courier's side and together they saluted their new flag. Although the Courier had, at times over the past month, believed that Boone was on the verge of quitting New Vegas and returning to the NCR, it was now clear that he was in it for the long haul.
For only the second time since they'd met, the Courier saw Boone remove his beret.
Hundreds of people attended the ceremony. Nearly all of them, even at this early stage, were showing signs of the benefits that Mr. House had made available to those that pledged their loyalty to the NVR. Most of them would make the journey, along with the Courier, to Camp McCarran, where the first platoon of the NVR Army would officially graduate from Boone's "academy".
After a typically short remark to the crowd, Boone took his leave. His men would be expecting him to make a final inspection before the graduation. He said a quick goodbye to the Courier, and made his way back to McCarran - several of his NVR soldiers in tow.
"I'll have to find the time for us to get together. It's been too long." He said to no one in particular.
"Sir?" a young NVR recruit, his eyes wide with hero worship, asked. "Do you need something?"
"No." He smiled and patted the young man on the shoulder. "Just always remember that sometimes when you build something new, you have to be careful not to lose something old."
"Yes, sir."
The young man was obviously mystified, as if he had just heard some religious truth that was far beyond him. Youth, the Courier knew, had its advantages. Unfortunately it did not always have the understanding to go with it.
. . .
"How did you like the ceremony at McCarran? I must say I'm surprised to see how devoted the masses are to you as I was convinced this little plan of yours would collapse at your feet. I'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong, however. You've done excellent work, and I'm sorry I ever doubted you."
Hearing Mr. House admit he was wrong, hearing him apologize was nearly enough to make him lose his balance. It did, however, make him believe even more strongly that he had done the right thing in supporting him. No one understood Robert House the way he did, but it was nice to be surprised.
This, of course, lead to another issue. The people of the expanding NVR wanted to see their President. Thus far, only the Courier (and to a lesser extent, Boone) had presided over official functions, and no one (not even Boone) was aware of the true nature of Mr. House. To the masses he was as mysterious as ever, and it occurred to him that many people might believe that he was the real power behind the NVR.
The Courier intended to put an end to that idea, just as he had put an end to (at least in public) "not-at-home" the nickname that some used to refer to Mr. House.
"It was inspiring, Mr. House. Would you believe that some of your citizens actually had tears in their eyes?" To the Courier, it was inspiring. The Wastes had scoured most people of their tears, of their emotions, long ago. In his time, he had seen that most people were simply going through the motions - not actually living. They were little more than Securitrons. But now, with the forging of the NVR, hundreds of people had been given a glimpse of what life must have been like before the Great War changed the world.
"I saw the proceedings, of course. Would you believe that there was a time when such a display would have been commonplace? Before the War, people were much more expressive than they are now."
The Courier smiled. "I was just thinking something very much like that, Mr. House. I take it you approve?"
"Yes. You've exceeded my expectations once again."