Note from the author:
There was an issue with scene separation. It was resolved. I would've notified sooner if someone had posted a review mentioning it. What I'm trying to say here is simple. Review the damned story!... Please...
-the increasingly angsty author
Chapter 9
"Everything is prepared, bring the Elders in as soon as possible," Sentinel Storm announced as he entered the Penthouse of Steel Tower."
"Perfect," McNamara said. "I don't know how you've accomplished so much is such little time, but you did it."
"Have you heard what caravans from the NCR are saying?" Hardin interrupted. "They're calling the Dam the gravestone of the Bear. General Oliver lost his job to Moore. The war here caused a strain on troops and rations that devastated their internal security. The economic backlash of the failed war is about to kick them into a recession. And the political backlash is going to cost Kimball his reelection as well as his attempt to annex Arroyo in Oregon."
"Don't they already have Arroyo?" Storm asked.
"Kind of but not really," Hardin explained. "It's a commonwealth, which basically means they get the rights and security of the Republic, but can still make their own laws and are tax exempt. Kimball wanted to annex them entirely but he lost support after the failure of the Vegas annexation."
"Maybe we should send an emissary to Oregon. See if we can make an ally out of them," Storm suggested.
"I doubt it," McNamara interjected. "Although I would love to have an alliance with them, we lack the manpower to send an ambassador. Maybe after we finish up here."
"Hey, guys!" Yes Man exclaimed. "There's someone here to see Leo. He says his name is Boone!"
"Thanks, Yes Man," Leo replied. "I'll go see what he wants." He excused himself and entered the elevator.
Boone got paid by the caravan and headed for the Strip, or what was left of it. There were no civilians anymore, just robots and soldiers patrolling and scribes running back and forth among buildings.
"What's with the fedora?" a familiar voice asked.
"Well I can't very well wear my 1st Recon hat here," Boone said, stoned faced as usual. "So what purpose does the Brotherhood have for casinos?"
"None. Now they're bases. Some are barracks, some are labs, some are both," Leo explained. "What brings you here?"
"Hsu sent me. He's freaking out and wants me to find out in the Empire is getting ready to attack us."
"Are you kidding me? You've gotta be kidding me. No we're not going to attack. We remember what happened last time. We seek peace. Make that clear to Hsu."
"Alright. Thanks," Boone said.
"So why work for the NCR? I thought you didn't want anything to do with them after Bitter Springs."
"I got an offer from them. I do this 'spy work' and I get a free ride to Oregon," he explained. "I get a free ride to a new beginning.
"I heard Oregon is great. I wish you the best of luck," Leo said as he shook the hand of his former spotter.
Arcade looked out over the Boneyard. He'd left the Followers and gotten a cheap apartment. The catch: he was the on-hand doctor of the building. Someone got sick, he cured them. Someone broke an arm, he set it. Someone wanted medicine, he supplied it. Often into all hours of the night. But the apartment had a view of the entire LA Boneyard. He could see all the buildings, people, and a billion stars on a clear night.
A knock at the door interrupted the doctor's thoughts. "Coming," he mumbled as he put his glasses back on."
He opened the door, and to his shock, stood three NCR heavy troopers. "Arcade Gannon?" one asked.
"Yes," he replied suspiciously. His suspicions were confirmed when he took a power fist to the jaw.
He woke up tied to a chair somewhere dark, damp, and underground. The room was empty, save the chair he was tied to a several chains hanging from the ceiling. He shuddered at the thought of what this room was used for. The troopers were gone however, leaving Gannon alone.
The heavy steel door opened to reveal a man dressed in fully functioning power armor with a purple hue and a bear head on the shoulder. The beret on his head indicated he was an officer.
"Arcade Gannon, do you know who I am?" the officer asked as the door closed behind him. "My name is Colonel Royez. I'm supposed to be guarding the Long 15 into the Mojave. It takes a very special person to get a Colonel to interogate them."
"I feel so unique," Gannon spat back.
"Do you know why you're here?"
"Based on the chains and my lack of a shirt, I'd say for some really kinky sex."
"Oh a funny guy. I knew a guy once who was really funny. Wanna know what happened to him? Your courier friend killed him."
"Oh please, you and I both know that he never killed any of your soldiers," Gannon retorted. "We also both know that you're trying to scare me. But what you don't know is that you could get much more out of me by just asking."
"Fine," Royez submitted, thinking to himself how easy this was. "We need to know how to get to Storm."
With a laugh, Arcade replied, "You and what army? That guy wiped the floor with Caesar's best man. You think you have a chance? Now please, ask me a serious question."
"How do we breach the Empire's security?"
"You do understand that I'm not actually one of them? I know as much about their security as you do."
"What are his exploitable weaknesses?" Royez asked, looking more frustrated than amused.
"Same as every human. Poison, fire, bullets, machetes, radiation, bombs, lasers, et cetera."
"Do you have anything useful you can tell me?" the Colonel asked, visibly exhausted after less that five minutes of talking.
"Not at all."
After a moment of consideration, Royez replied. "Does he still love you?"
This caught Arcade off guard. He fidgeted in his chair for a moment before answering. "He said he does."
"Oh well I have quite the job opportunity for you, doctor," Royez replied with a malicious grin.
