Pro Posterus 4

"Jessica… welcome to my penthouse." Robert Edwin House's voice was imbued with fatherly benevolence. His handsome face appeared on the monitors. Friendly sunlight shone through the enormous glass windows onto the bookshelves and furniture in the flamboyant suite. It was a refreshing change from the ground floor tomb in which Jessica had argued with Veronica.

Completely at ease, the Courier strode calmly towards the lacquered bar across the immaculately kept penthouse, and poured herself an extravagant cocktail. She had picked up many different skills from living and operating on the strip, one was an encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails. She knew it all, from Adam And Eve, to The Bee Stinger, to the Fallen Angel, all the way down the list to the Zombie. She had found it far easier to negotiate with the house heads and gangsters after impressing them with a perfectly prepared daiquiri -the trick was to pay close attention to the lime juice- and she was willing to pit her own skills against any bartender on the strip.

As she worked, her employer continued. "I'd like to thank you once again for helping restore New Vegas to its prewar glory."

Jessica's new creation finished, she sidled over to the nearest chair and settled in, one leg crossed over the other, one arm spread along the arm of her chair, her drink swinging easily form her other hand. It was a sultry pose, yet not obviously erotic. She'd used more than a few times over the course of her new career, and she'd found it helpful. It tended to at least partially shut down the minds of her targets, making it that much easier to slip in and plant and sow whatever seeds she wished. She took a sip and said, "Taking the Strip is one thing. Keeping it is quite another."

"Quite so." The handsome, middle-aged face stared down at her, his eyes somehow managing to meet her own, regardless of the fact that he was just a picture. She didn't mind. It gave him that much more personality. He said, "In order for any fledgling nation to succeed, one must have Resources, Commerce and Industry, Housing, a standing army, And a political infrastructure."

"You have the infrastructure and the army covered." Jessica observed. "Commerce and trade as well, obviously."

"The Procurement of food en mass is going to be problematic."

"We could expand the sharecropper farms." Jessica suggested. "And work out deals with the caravans. If they bring extra goods, we tax them less."

"And who will work the Sharecropper farms?"

The answer was waiting on the tip of her tongue: "The Kings."

"The street gang?" House said dismissively, "They only operate in the southern section of Freeside."

"They could expand…"

"And encroach on other gang's territory? I highly doubt the Westside would approve of all the activity…"

Jessica thought for a moment. "I can go around to Pretty Sarah's, and get her to chat the idea up."

"The Casa Madrid is a whorehouse, Jessica." House said somewhat testily.

"Exactly." Jessica took another sip of her drink, "When the woman you sleep with tells you something is a good idea, you're more inclined to listen. I can also talk to Klamath Bob, Etienne, and the other major players in the Westside. Perhaps we could get the Kings and the Militia to work together…"

House processed the statement, then said, "An excellent idea. Talk to the King first, and see if he is agreeable."

"He will be." Jessica promised. "ON a side note, push a few more caps towards the Followers of the Apocalypse. They'll keep the junkies off the streets, and everyone will be very impressed with you."

"Good suggestion. I will take care of it."

"Also while I'm headed to The King, send fifteen Securitrons down to The Van Graff's. have them wait outside. They aren't to do anything. If they're fired upon by any of the Van Graff's gang, something I highly doubt, have them retreat."

"Why?"

"If the Kings are going to expand, they're going to be spread thin." Jessica said, "At least for a little while. They run Freeside, but we need to remind the other gangs of just who's backing who. I want Gloria van Graff to be nervous when I talk to her. Having the bots waiting there will do the job. And it's Freeside. The Van Graffs are the second most powerful, and word spreads quickly. If we cow them into submission, then no one will mess with the Kings."

If House could smile, she knew he would have. "Jessica, impressive. That sounds like something I would do."

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Jessica observed, finishing her drink, "If you'll excuse me, Mister house, I've a King to consort with."


Jessica always liked talking to The King. His rural southern drawl was music to her ears, and she found him, contrary to her initial expectations, to be a reasonable, honorable, and level-headed leader. House had counted on him to keep Freeside, the poor district of the strip, a quiet and uneventful place. By and large, he had, and she respected him for it. Respected him enough to take his cyborg dog Rex on a trip across the Mojave in order to fix it's brain. It sat beside her even now as she discussed the future in his private chambers, a few of his top lieutenants were also gathered at the table, though they stayed silent. That was a problem. Silent people were usually silent because they were thinking, and she didn't want that. She prevented it by adopting The Pose, the same one she'd used in House's penthouse, and was rewarded with wandering eyes, and a quiet sigh. Now they were distracted. Even if they weren't aware of it.

The King himself didn't seem to notice. He had seen beautiful women before, and was distinctly unmoved. Just another thing she liked about him.

"So what brings you down to our quiet side'o town, baby?" he asked. "What does the Big Boss Man want?"

"He would like your assistance." She said.

The King leaned back and crossed his arms. "How so?"

Jessica smiled. Form any other gang leader, she'd have received a speech along the lines of: What right does he have to ask anything of me? Or they'd make an assumption such as: If he's asking for help, it must mean he's weak.

But The king knew better. He understood how the battle at Hoover Dam had gone. House had bested both the Legion and the NCR. The owner of the Lucky 38 was not to be trifled with. Nor was his right hand to be treated without respect.

"The Sharecropper Farms." Jessica said. "With the untimely… retreat of the NCR, we have no one managing the farms. Mister house's Securitrons have kept the looters at bay, but the land needs to be tended to. The food distributed… He'd like you to assist in the distribution if nothing else. You can muster up people to work the land. We can pay you, and them, handsomely."

"Mister house cares about the People?" one lieutenant demanded, quiet anger lingering on the edge of his voice. Jessica recognized him as Pacer. He had been trouble in the past, and was indisposed to any kind of authority aside from that of his immediate superior. He turned to The King, "We just got the NCR out of our hair, and now we're bowing to House instead. That's not cool, boss. Let's kick this broad and pull ourselves up. House can clean up his own backyard!"

Thankfully, most of the others seemed to be showing if not outright disagreement, then certain discomfort with the idea of ignoring Jessica. The King was among them. He turned to Pacer first. "We rise up, and he'll send his robots down here to cause us more trouble'n we can handle." He gave Jessica a sideways glance, "But I'm guessin' that's not what he wants…

"Mister house wants peace and stability more than anything else." Jessica promised, The Voice adding a tone of personal belief and conviction. Mister house wants the people fed, it told The King, he wants them sheltered. He wants to help them. He wants to help you. Work for him, and build the best future for The Kings, and for everyone else! Listen to me. I can give you what you want…

The King shook his head slowly, as if clearing it of cobwebs. He shot her a sly smile. "You got a slippery tongue, baby. Seein' you use it leaves me all shook up."

"Isn't what I say Almost Always True?" Jessica asked, having done her research. The title drop made the King smile. "Think of what Mister house is offering you. He's going to pay you to grow your own food and distribute it as you please. You'll be more than the ruling gang. You'll be a house of your own, just as powerful as the Omertas or the Chairmen. And you'll rule more territory than any of them, with Mister House's Securitrons backing you. All we're asking in return is a little bit of work on your part. You already take care of the People, Mister King. We just want you to expand and continue."

She could see the effect the idea had as it took hold of his mind, and knew that she had won. The other kings looked pleased with the idea, and even Pacer had no response. She said, "What do you say, King? We were allies before. How would you like to be partners?"

The King still got some credit. He went down swinging: "But House is still the big boss man."

"He commands the money, it's true." She admitted. "But he's planning to put it exactly where it's needed. And it's needed at the farms, to keep bellies full and beds warm. The Free Economic Zone is a nation in its own right now, run by Mister House, but owned by all within it. We can come together and rise, or fall apart and leave ourselves open." She addressed Pacer directly. "If we fall apart, the NCR comes right back in and retakes what they lost. They'll have learned this time, and rest assured, they'll be much less tolerant. They'll disperse your gang and absorb it. Then they'll see to it that House is dead. Freeside and the Strip will belong to them alone. Mister House wants the Kings to be the Kings. A vote for him is a vote for yourselves. In supporting him, you support yourselves. So tell me?" She gazed at each of their faces, "Do you like being Kings?"

A murmur passed through the group, and she watched as a silent democratic decision was made amongst the lieutenants. Eventually Pacer nodded, and they all looked to their leader. He was watching Jessica with nothing short of grudging admiration in his eyes. He knew which way the wind was blowing. To disagree with her now would be to turn his lieutenants against one another. Some would support his decision in the faith that he knew what was best. Others wouldn't. His gang was strong, but no gang could survive civil war. There were too many other factions waiting to fill the void. He had no choice. He smiled, "Alright, baby. We'll play ball. Send me the details, and we'll take care of it."

Jessica smiled and stood. He stood courteously and shook her hand. "It's always a pleasure, Jessica."

"And the same, Mister King." She turned on her heel and walked away. She halted by the door and turned, leaning on one hip slightly, just for the effect.

"By the way, " she said, "I asked Mister house, and that name you're looking for? It's Elvis Presley."


Finally have a plot for this fic: how House and the Courier solidfy things after the NCR disappears. For all those who were hoping for another chapter of Aqua Vitae, don't worry. it's coming. but those take a little while and i'm doing this in the meantime.