Plans in Motion

Dark Shady Room, Somewhere in California.

Unknown time, April 2, 2282.

Craig Boone

I had no idea where I was, only that I was alive.

Roughly a day had passed, of that much I was aware. I was not blindfolded, though wherever I was must've been underground, because there was absolutely zero light whatsoever. This room, or whatever it was, couldn't have been very large. I'd coughed intentionally to test the echo, but there wasn't one. I was pretty sure I was tied to a post, but I guess it could've been a pillar or something. I spent my time thinking of ways to break out of wherever I was, what happened to the rest of my team, Garven's betrayal, Benny's survival, and most of all, why Benny wanted anything to do with me. I'd heard him say something about "The Big Ka-Ching coming our way", or however Benny worded it. At first, I thought he meant some payout for my capture, probably from Legion spies. But then I remembered what Garven had said in response: "You better hope he doesn't." So Ka-Ching was a man, not a sum of money.

Then I thought of that idea, "money." Everyone knew that Ka-Ching was the sound an Old World cash register made, and since it'd been associated with money. Yet I'd ruled out the idea of ransom. So, I played it out as a riddle. Ka-Ching meant money, which was also called caps, Legion coins, NCR dollars, and in slang terms, cash.

Cash.

It'd taken me about five seconds to figure out that he meant Johnny Cash. Benny had shot Johnny over the platinum chip, but he survived. One revenge fueled bullet-backed campaign across the Mojave later, and Cash had shot Benny in the chest three times in Caesar's Fort, and thrown his body into the Colorado River. Obviously, he hadn't done the trick. Yet, I also couldn't help but wonder how Benny managed to get Garven over to his side. It was nearly impossible to convert an Veteran Ranger, as they went through very strenuous mental training when applying for the position, to ensure loyalty. Garven had said "I've done what I was told to do," but that didn't make sense. Garven made enough NCR money to ignore a bribe, especially from Benny. So what had Benny used as leverage over him? Blackmail? Chems? It didn't make sense. All Benny knew was manipulation, and how to absorb power. Neither would have worked on a trained mind like Garven's.

Yet something had, that was obvious.

A door slammed shut somewhere behind me, causing me to jump, shaking my thoughts.

"Ah, so this is Craig Boone," said a voice from the darkness, cool as ice and reminiscent of a serpent, "You've got quite a reputation."

Whoever he was, he was NOT breaking me. "So does your wife."

Footsteps slowly made their way around my left side, stopping in front of me. I wished I could see whoever this was, maybe I could mind fuck him into setting me free. Yet, at the same time, my training told me that I was about to be interrogated, and perhaps insulting the man who wasn't chained to a pole might be a dumb idea. But I could not, and would not, allow any secrets of the NCR or of Johnny Cash to fall into the wrong hands. I'd die first.

"We've got a comedian, so it seems."

A crushing blow rocked my head to the side with such force, I thought it would remove it from my neck. Before I could straighten myself, a second obvious punch struck the other side of my face, splitting my eyebrow. I groaned, infuriated that I couldn't fight back. A rough hand seized my throat, slamming my skull back against the metal pole.

"I never liked comedians, Boone," the hand tightened its grip, "Now, tell me where it is, and we'll only beat you senseless and leave you naked in the Mojave. Otherwise, we'll be forced to torture you until you talk, or until you die."

I spat blood on the ground. "Where what is? I have no fucking clue what you're talking about."

The hand withdrew from my throat, and a sharp pain erupted across my right side, splattering my vision with white spots that stood out in the darkness. The bastard slapped me, like a woman... I clenched my teeth, ready to sit silent the entire while. But then a thought occurred to me, What would Johnny do?

He'd make jokes until the guy was too pissed to think straight.

"Your daughter slaps harder than that when I'm plowing her."

A second, third, and fourth vicious punch followed that comment, opening a new pair of flesh wounds.

"You're hilarious, Ranger. But my daughter is but a child, and you know exactly what we're talking about. The weapon, Boone. The one that was at Helios One. The Brotherhood of Steel thought they could just hide it without anyone knowing. But then the NCR took Helios One and for a while it was lost. But House found out, didn't he? And Cash hid it somewhere. Your beloved President knows of the weapon's existence, and that's why he's afraid of House. But us...we've got a plan. And you're going to help us."

I shook my head, knowing he couldn't see me. He was talking about ARCHIMEDES, a nuclear death ray fired by a sattelite in orbit with enough power to level the entire Strip, the access terminal hidden in Helios One before the war. It was later discovered by the Brotherhood of Steel, and after that, the Followers of the Apocalypse, and then finally Cash and I stumbled across it. After Hoover Dam, a small team of us removed the relay's primary operational panel, though none knew where Cash took it. The team consisted of me, Raul Trejada (a ghoul mechanic), Veronica (Brotherhood of Steel Scribe), Cass the whiskey lady, Arcade Gannon (former Enclave member), and Johnny. After we'd smuggled the control panel of Helios, we were forced by House to part ways while Johnny hid it somewhere. Not even I, Cash's closest friend, knew of its whereabouts.

"Well, you're shit out of luck, I wasn't allowed to go with him when he hid it. And as for your daughter," I allowed myself a grin through my swollen lips, "She may be a child, but she rocks it like a big girl-"

My interrogator roared, striking my face and stomach with a seven-punch burst. I felt my nose and two ribs break, blood and air both rushing from my body with a quickness rarely seen. I gasped, choked, and would have fallen on my side had my hands not been fastened above my head.

"You fucking NCR puke," the man spat, his breath hot on my face, "You're a pervert and a liar. But either way, we'll know soon enough. My boss has plans for you, Ranger."

After a departing soccer kick to my balls, the man's footsteps faded away behind me, and I heard the door slam again, leaving me bleeding in the dark, and the silence.

Johnny hides a nuke, for the greater of mankind, and now I'm paying for it with my face.

No, I scolded myself, don't be a pussy. I agreed to help him, knowing that this was a possibility. Soon enough, my men will report me missing, and then House will find out, he always does. That means that Johnny is, at most, a week away from barging in here and saving my ass.

Assuming Benny doesn't do him in first.

..

...

..

Somewhere between Airzona and Nevada.

3:19 pm, April 2, 2282.

Johnny Cash.

I had the accelerator floored, kicking up a cloud of dust behind the buggy.

Cass sat silent, probably still pissed that I said she was my wife, and what the guard had said to her. One would have thought that she would've gotten over it already, having jacked my jaw the second we made it back up to the ridge and loaded the car. Yet, apparently she hadn't. She was content with staring at the vast, ruined nothingness that was the Wasteland which dominated this shithole planet. Dust, Brahmin, raiders, and scattered skeletons of civilization were all that remained of the former glory of humanity. And yet, true society had only been back for thirty, maybe forty years, and yet we already had political corruption, assassinations, factions, and a war to rival those of old.

Humans, so it seemed, never learned.

I snorted in disappointment, swerving to avoid a molerat. House will put an end to all the bullshit that comes with democracies.

My Pip-Boy vibrated against my wrist, my sign that House was trying to contact me.

I slowed to a stop behind a large boulder, drawing a look of annoyance from Cass. Ignoring her, I held my Pip-Boy up to eye level, preparing for House's face to appear.

It did, though I couldn't help but notice that he appeared quite stressed. "Cash, your GPS says you're almost in Nevada. What happened with Graham?"

I gave him the lengthy rundown, pausing only once for a breath. "I see," he replied, appearing stern, "We cannot allow him to attack the Legion, or the NCR. If he believes the NCR sold out Happy Trails Caravans, then we must convince him otherwise. Happy Trails belongs to me, and the NCR would not attack me. Nor, do I think, would the Legion, not for such a petty gain. I believe that both parties were framed. And besides, they've never worked together before."

I nodded, glad he was repeating what I'd said and thought, "I agree, and that's what I told Joshua. So, somebody's impersonating both the NCR and the Legion. But who could have that sort of power? You can't just pay someone to get shot, and frame the NCR. Finding common raiders and bandits to dress up like NCR or Legion and shoot someone isn't all that hard, but to command their respect in such a manner is difficult. Most raiders would have taken the medicine from the saddlebags, instead of just shooting it up."

House nodded, "There seems to be a new face in the Wasteland, and whoever they are have no love for the NCR, the Legion, or me."

I frowned, "What evidence says they're after you?"

House seemed irritated and answered bitterly, "They attacked my caravans, in my territory. Everyone who's anyone knows that I control that part of Utah. They framed my enemies to ensure that I would attack in kind, which I did not, so they went after you. Soon enough they'll be after the St. Eleanor, which I'll have you know just launched its second voyage, which is being protected by some of the Kings members."

I held up a hand, not caring about his fucking cruise ship, "What the hell do you mean, 'they came after me'?"

House hesitated, as if he couldn't find the right words. Completely unlike him. "John," he surprised me by using my first name, something too personal for the businessman, "Last night, there was an incident in California, near the Arizona border," he paused, looking uncharacteristically nervous, "It seems that two Veteran Rangers, Jason Garven and Craig Boone, were taken from the east tower. Two bullet holes were found in the wall, and blood around them. I believe that whoever attacked the caravan may well have realized they couldn't get to me, so they went after you."

I forced my eyes away from the small screen, trying to hide my emotion. Boone was my brother, and he'd been taken, possibly killed, to piss off me and House. It wasn't fair, Craig was a good man.

"Any leads on where he went?" I asked, my voice tight.

House shook his head. "No, the Rangers were ordered not to leave the bunker, for fear that they were being spied on by Legion assassins. The NCR can't risk losing the entire Bravo team. I, under the belief that finding Boone will find the answer to the Zion predicament, am asking you to find him. It is very likely that whoever attacked Boone may have attacked the caravan. You can save your friend, and bring this to light all in one sweep. Though, we do not know the extent of this mysterious group's power, so I would wish you do not go alone. Will you allow some Brotherhood Paladins to accompany you? Or maybe some Great Khans? I'm sure even the Kings would go with you."

I shook my head. "No. I understand this is an order, finding Boone, but I'm doing this my way. Contact all my allies, and have them meet me at the Mojave Outpost. From there, we'll move out to the bunker Boone was at. We'll track him across the entire fucking desert, I don't care."

House's eyes softened, something I'd never seen before, nor had I thought it was possible. "Cash...be careful. You're a valuable agent, and a key player in the protection of mankind. I cannot afford to lose you."

I didn't respond, instead raising my eyebrows as a thought came to mind. "Relocate the teleporter from Big Mountain, to the Mojave Outpost. I don't care how it's done, but make sure Cass and I can do it. We'll teleport out tomorrow morning, and you can have some Securitrons come get this buggy, and my gear."

House opened his mouth to speak, probably to chastise me for giving him an order, but then shut it and nodded. "I'll have it done. I'm sure you'll need your rest. I'm also sending the Great Khans and some Securitrons to the Nevada-California border, to the areas not sealed off by the Divide, to make sure the NCR cannot blame us for Boone's disappearance. I've dispatched a message to their president, informing him that I know of Boone's abduction, and that I had no business in it. Oh, and Caesar responded to my treaty regarding the river. It seems that he's in favor of it. Probably knows that he cannot prevent it anyways."

I nodded, truly glad to hear it. The last thing we needed was a conflict with the Legion.

"When you find this renegade," House said sternly, "Please be so kind as to send me the location. I shall personally order the White Hand to crush them in its iron fist."

After a departing banter, the two of us closed off the communication. I unbuckled myself, leaping out of the driver's seat onto the hot, cracked ground.

"Johnny," Cass said gently, as if afraid of making me angry.

"Save it, Cass," I hissed, opening my footlocker, "I'm going after him. I don't care how many people are holding him. I'll kill them all."

She avoided my eyes, absentmindedly tapping the wood stock of her shotgun. "That's not what I mean...John, what if he's already dead. Going after him won't change that."

I pushed my Power Armor aside (now wearing my Chinese Stealth Armor), it would be too bulky for what I'd need. Plunging my hand inside the spacious crate, I fumbled for my Hunting Rifle and suppresor, a gift from Boone and First Recon. Slinging it across my back, I then strapped on A Light Shining in Darkness, my Plasma Defender, All American, and my katana, which would be at my hip.

"If he's dead, then whoever killed him is going to pay," I pushed my Gauss Rifle aside (it was unpractical for sniper warfare, as the bodies always soared twenty feet or better) and grabbed a box of .308 shells, "Nobody fucks with one of my group and lives."

I felt her hand on my arm, and made no move to shake it. "I'm going with you, then."

I nodded, thankful that she'd have my back.

"We should crash here for the night. I'll get a fire going."

She nodded and began to brush dead plants and rocks away from the cart, setting up camp.

I set about searching for shrubs to burn, donning my helmet to avoid having Cass see the emotion in my face.

..

...

..

Caesar's Palace, Throne Room, Texas.

8:22 pm, April 2, 2282.

Caesar.

This was why I was in charge. I hated politics.

The Legion could never survive if it was a democracy like the NCR. House understood this, which was why I agreed to his plan. It didn't harm me any, and besides, if he thought I was on board, when I decided to turn on him it would be all the easier.

Gathered around me were my six Centurions, and my Legate, Lanius.

"So," I concluded, tired of speech after an entire day on the throne, "Centurion Aurelius will begin construction of our new transport ships. We'll control the entire northern Colorado. Let House have his little spit. Legate, you will assemble Maximus's men, and the pair of you will lead the assault on the Viper gangs that escaped House's wrath into our territory in Arizona. Centurion Desidirious, you will be the one to murder this, "Predator" who has attacked two of my towns now. Murder this army of slaves and crucify its leaders."

A round of, "Ave, true to Caesar," pleased my ears.

The Legate, however, seemed troubled. "What is it, Legate?"

He met my eyes, showing the respect I deserved. "What of the issue we discussed earlier?"

Ah, I thought, The issue with the Burned Man. Yes, the Frumentarii are on their way to deal with that. Vulpes Incata in particular will assassinate him long before the Centurion gets to him.

"It goes as planned."

Lanius nodded.

I rose, my generals and my Praetorian Guard placing a fist across their chests as one, "My men, go and do your duties. This Legion will strike fear into those who oppose us, as we are the true heirs of Rome's-"

The doors to the throne room burst open, cutting me off. Someone was going to lose their face for that.

Stumbling across my hall, bleeding and barely alive, was Vulpes Incata. His left eye was gone, and his jaw looked broken. One of his hands was crushed flat, and there were at least six poorly healed bullet holes in his bare chest. The usual wolf cowl he wore was gone, replaced by a head adorned with sparse patches of hair, as if someone had branded his skull with hot iron.

"My Caesar," he shouted, "Why didn't you tell me?" His voice echoed across the marble chamber.

Lanius met my eyes, and I nodded. The Legate strode over, seized Incata by the throat, and marched him into a room off to the left of the throne room.

"Go!" I barked, my Centurions making for the door.

I waited until they'd all gone, and charged off after Lanius. I nearly blew the door off the hinges, slamming it behind me. Before it closed, I saw my Praetorian Guard close ranks around the door.

Vulpes Incata was pinned to a chair, held in place by Lanius's massive sword.

"Milord," he squawked, his standard cool voice now frantic, "It is him leading this rebellion, the Burned Man!"

I stared at him, my eyes boring into his. "I know. You were supposed to kill him."

Incata nodded rapidly, "I tried, mighty Caesar. Though Graham is a fierce, intelligent warrior. He took my by surprise, disarming me."

"Tell me how this happened."

The Frumentarii winced, shooting a glance at his flattened left hand. "I crept into his tent, prepared to shoot him while he slept. He landed behind me, apparently hiding above me somewhere. He knocked my gun away, and gored me in the eye with a hot knife. The pain...it was insanity. I stumbled and he was on me, beating my face in. I fought back, worthy of legend our fight was. We tore apart the entire tent, eventually landing outside. He knocked me to the ground, and tried to smash my head in with a sledge hammer. He missed," Incata held up his right hand, "But he caught my hand. After, I stabbed him in the thigh with my ceremonial dagger, but he just...laughed. Then he and I went back at it, waking the entire camp as we tore each other apart. He's a great warrior, milord, and he bested me. When I awoke, he had me tied to a chair, questioning me about some attack on his caravan. He didn't say where the attack took place, only that he knew we'd done it. He also said that he found a note, indicating we were informed of the location by the NCR. I told him that wasn't possible, that I would know, but he didn't believe me. He...pressed a hot iron against my head, four times. But I told him nothing. I would not betray you, Caesar."

I stared at him, both furious and...a little frightened that Graham was healthy enough to best Incata, who was better than most of my Praetorians.

"You told him nothing because you knew nothing. I never ordered such an attack, which means that someone had the audacity to setup the Legion. However, you ran from him instead of dying like a man. You are a coward. And, you never discovered who framed my Legion."

Incata stiffened, his eyes cold and leaden with fear. "Milord, I-"

"Legate."

Lanius whipped his vertibird-propeller sword through the air, beheading the Frumentarii with ease.

Lanius mopped the blood off his blade on Incata's pants.

"It would seem," I said slowly, staring at Incata, "That someone, somewhere, has a grudge against my Legion."

Lanius nodded, "And the NCR, and House."

"Agreed. Legate, summon the rest of the Frumentarii, and get some assassins together to figure this out. I don't care who dies, so long as Joshua Graham is one of them, and whoever's responsible for setting us up."

"Milord, what if Graham did this only to have a reason to attack us?"

I snorted, "He wouldn't, he was never one to do something so foolish."

The Legate nodded, bowing and leaving.

I spat on Vulpes Incata's body, pissed at him. Nobody fails me and lives. When I learn who framed me, tarnished my name, I'll have him crucified while the crows slowly peck out his eyes. But before that, I'll have a worse fate bestowed on Joshua Graham for surviving his first execution.

..

...

..

Mojave Outpost, Nevada.

4:41 am, April 3, 2282.

Johnny Cash.

Mojave Outpost of the New California Republic.

The most prominent of the two remaining NCR chapters in Nevada. Aside from the Embassy on the Strip, House had taken over all the other bases, replacing the California troops with his own, the White Hand (Great Khans, Securitrons, Boomers, Enclave, Brotherhood of Steel, the town militias), while the Kings, Westside Militia, and Three Families protected the Strip, Westside and Freeside (Now just called "New Vegas" in general) , territories previously patrolled by the NCR.

From where we had landed, about a thousand yards outside the fences, we could see soldiers moving about under streetlights, unawares of our presence.

"I'm following you," I said to Cass, "You're the NCR citizen."

She grunted, and set off in front of me.

Since Cass had her revenge on the ones who attacked her caravans, she'd gone back on her decision to sell Cassidy Caravans. I'd personally footed the bill to purchase the company, then given the deed to Cass, who'd been the main supply line between House and the NCR, with whom we traded various goods. She had a government ID, and I doubted she'd be stopped. I would be in my Chinese Stealth Armor, and I refused to remove my helmet. If the NCR knew that Cass was close to me, they might try to force her to spy on me, and she'd die first. Cass was a good friend, I refused to allow her to be put in that position. I'd gun down as many of the NCR as I had to to get to Boone.

We made our way up the hill, past the wreckage of several ancient buses that had been pulled by Brahmin into makeshift barricades. The fences drew nearer, and for a brief moment, I noticed the distinct lack of noise. Someone, somewhere should at least be making some sound. I focused intently on my surroundings, listening to every feature.

There was a Brahmin up in the Outpost...No, two.

I could hear a light breeze pressing against the shrubs that grew by a barrel cactus a hundred yards to my right.

Some giant soldier ants were fighting one another down at the Ivanpah Dry Lake.

A scuff of stone on metal.

Wait...there's someone hiding by the buses.

"Cass," I whispered, "There are soldiers by the buses. We're going to be ambushed."

She nodded, drawing her shotgun from her back.

I let a hand drop down to my left thigh, where my Plasma Defender was holstered, unfastening the clasp. The next hundred yards were crossed in silence, each step unnaturally loud in the early morning. The bus was thirty feet from us, and by now I could actually see a combat boot from behind the bus. At least we know they aren't Rangers, I thought with a grim smile, They'd never be so careless, and besides, I don't want to shoot a Ranger.

I saw Cass stiffen in the darkness, and she broke open her shotgun, checking the ammo. I had no need, as I had done so before we teleported.

The buses were within spitting distance. I could actually hear the men breathing...

"Hold it right there, Cassidy."

I rolled my eyes under my helmet.

Cass, however, did not have a helmet, and openly rolled her eyes. "Day late and a dollar short, son. Saw one of your boots about three hundred yards out."

I chuckled, completely relaxed despite the twenty NCR troops that now encircled us, Service Rifles poised and ready.

A deeper voice, one that had an air of authority, cut in through my laugh. "You'll find that we aren't, Rose Cassidy and Johnny Cash."

I stopped laughing immediately. I knew that voice. A brief memory came to me.

"-and so I want to thank you, on behalf of the NCR, for your actions today."

I shook my head, extending a hand.

"I may be House's agent, but the thought of the Legion taking over is one I cannot bear. I must be going. It was an honor to meet you, and I hope your flight back is safe, Mr. President.

Aaron Kimball stepped from the ring of infantry, flanked by two Elite Rangers and a First Recon sniper. Beside me, Cass's jaw dropped. I slowly reached up, and removed my helmet, knowing a gunfight was not likely to break out with the leader of the country present. The president and I locked eyes, and I dipped my head in respect.

"President Kimball," I said, my voice smooth as to avoid any more tension than there was, "Again, an honor to meet you."

Kimball nodded. "An honor to meet you as well, though I admit that this meeting is far different than our first, isn't it?"

I nodded tightly, catching on to exactly what he meant.

The first time we'd met, I saved his life from a Legion sniper, and a suicide bomber. I'd been working with the NCR, or so he thought, on House's behalf. My guess was that he, along with the generals under him, believed that House merely wanted to protect their original treaty, and he wouldn't ever take Hoover Dam for himself. When me, the Boomers, and the Enclave rolled up into the Dam on their side, I heard tell that Kimball had prepared to introduce me into the Elite Rangers, a favor for giving him control over the two factions allied with me. But when House's Securitrons arrived, and my allies and I took their side, Kimball must've felt as if I'd personally slapped him in the face.

"You've done a lot for House," he said, though his voice did not seem hostile, "I can understand, John. There aren't any hard feelings. You did what you had to do, what you thought was right. Correct?"

"Yes, sir."

He smiled slightly, "Sir? We're on different teams, Cash. It's not like my enemies to display courtesy."

I had to say something quickly, or he'd think we truly were enemies. It was a test. "Enemies? Do you mean to say that the NCR is now openly against House?"

Kimball flushed, caught off guard. "No, that is not what I mean to say. Forget it. I'm here to help you find Craig Boone. However, you have some questions to answer regarding why a scientist, a hooded woman with a power fist, a mechanical dog, a ghoul, a super mutant, an eyebot, a tribal, and an ex First Recon sniper were apprehended by Elite Rangers just outside the Outpost. They all claim to be here to, and I quote, 'assist Johnny Cash in finding Craig Boone'. Now, I was making a private visit to Mojave Outpost today, to meet with House's emissary, one that goes by the title, the King. So, please tell me why it is that eight potential assassins should keep their lives today."

I couldn't believe what I heard, nor had I any doubt who the people were that he listed. House must've called Arcade Gannon, Veronica, Rex, Raul Trejada, Lily, ED-E, Follows-Chalk, and Manny Vargas to help me get Boone. Without care that there was over a dozen guns on me, I burst out laughing, causing the soldiers to flinch. Roaring with mirth, I placed a hand on Cass's shoulder, barely able to stay upright.

Those asses got busted. Boone's going to find this very funny, assuming he's not dead. Lily probably tripped and rolled down the hill, or Rex started barking.

"Apparently something's hilarious." The president apparently did not share my humor.

"President Kimball," I choked, wiping tears from my eyes, "If you'll take me somewhere private, I'll explain everything."

He hesitated. "My Rangers go with us."

I nodded, still chuckling. "Sure."

..

...

..

"So," Aaron Kimball said, sipping his cup of coffee, "You're saying that House has a cruise ship on the Nevada stretch of the Colorado River, which is now his, and that he is going to disarm and tax any of my men who try to travel it? And," he threw on a face of mock surprise, "That some faction framed the NCR and the Legion on an attack on a very important caravan, in a location you won't give away, and those same people took Boone to get at you? And at the same time," he held up a hand, "You're taking this group of yours across my country to get him back, without asking me first, and you have no remorse for anyone who gets in your way, be it NCR or Legion? And to finish it all off, you want me to agree to all this, on paper? The ship, the river, the taxation, your invading my country and not declaring war on you?"

I kept my face as stone. "Yeah, that's about it," I help up my cup, "And a refill would be just awesome."

Kimball's mouth twitched, as if he was about to smile. He turned to one of his Rangers, and nodded.

"Okay, I agree to your terms."

I coughed, spitting my coffee on the table, barely missing Kimball's hand. "Well, that's...badass, Mr. President."

He couldn't fight the smile. "You're the only one who can get Craig Boone alive, without starting a war with whatever faction this is, which I have no doubt is powerful if it can silently kill and-or abduct two NCR Elite Rangers, frame both the NCR and Legion enough that some ex Legion gets mad, and to put House on edge. You have the full of the NCR at your back, John Cash, tell me what you need."

I thought for a moment, considering all my options. Lily and Rex have no part in this, but they have to seem important... Yet I'll need the others for support once this thing gets crazy.

"Allow the Super Mutant and the Cyberdog to stay here, give them an 'important' job to do," I made quotations with my fingers, "They need to feel wanted. As for anything else, I can handle it. Me and my men are about to teleport out of here, then return armed to the teeth. Please don't shoot us."

Kimball frowned, "Teleport?"

"It's a long story."

Kimball shrugged, and then told the Ranger to give me what I wanted. I stood, shaking the President's hand. "Do what you must, Cash, but do not forget that the NCR is giving you one shot to redeem Hoover Dam, and this is it."

"I understand."

After departing, I brought House up on my Pip-Boy and told him everything. When I had finished, he was actually grinning.

"I must admit, I'm impressed, Cash," his grin faded immediately, "Both the Legion and the NCR agree to my ship idea, and neither are invading. Caesar is busy with Joshua Graham, and the NCR is aware of the fraudulent attack on my caravan. The only thing that is left, is to find out who is behind this," I felt my own face get serious, remembering that Boone might already be dead, "And you can attend to your own emotional duties. When you return, we will be set for some weeks. The NCR will be unable to attack Nevada without suffering serious losses, now that my Securitrons and Great Khans are patrolling the border, and my army, the White Hand, is properly armed. What's left, is to start mass producing my Securitrons, so these ragged ex drug users and technology sycophants are not my only sources of defense. When you return, head to Big Mountain, and relax. While you're there, oversee the production, and I will be content. The Kings have New Vegas under control, and the Boomers have nothing to report out of the ordinary. All is well at the moment, Cash, the White Hand has full control over the Mojave. Please see to it that this new faction does not change that."

I nodded. "I understand. Whoever they are, I'm going to kill them all."

House's face seemed as if he was grimacing slightly, as if picturing something in his brilliant mind.

"I would not want to be in their shoes when you get there."