That's right, Layla's going to be stealing something. Will it be money, diamonds, or something equally as valuable? Well...not exactly.
The Heist
Veronica sat in the Lucky 38's recreation room, reading a pre war book and desperately wishing that Victor hadn't destroyed the TV. After House had been slain, all the securitons had gone offline, and the task of reprogramming them had fallen to Veronica. Using the computer in House's control room (And trying to avoid looking at House's corpse as she'd done so), she'd managed to bring the securitrons back online, and had made them loyal to Layla. The ones in the Lucky 38 anyway. She wasn't 100% sure that securitrons outside of the casino would obey.
At the moment, Veronica was bored. Layla had gone out to meet the Boomers again, asking her to repair ED-E as she left. That weekend in Jacobstown went by way too fast. Veronica thought as she continued to read the book, which was fast becoming boring. ED-E's shattered 'corpse' lay on the table, the repair work unfinished. The bot looked to be Enclave tech, and Veronica was quite unfamiliar with it.
At that moment, the ping of the elevator doors opening sounded throughout the suite, followed by Layla stomping into the suite. She walked into the recreation room and slammed her bag down on the pool table in the middle of the room, before taking a bottle of whiskey out of it and chugging said whiskey down her throat.
"So how was your day?" Veronica asked sweetly.
"Oh fine, I've been the Boomer's bloody errand girl all day!" Layla said in an annoyed tone, before taking off her leather jacket and draping it over her bag. "I don't mind the Boomers, they're nice and have no allegiance with the NCR, but doing shit for them all day is very annoying."
"Do they trust you yet?" Veronica closed her book as she spoke.
"Yeah, I managed to gain their trust, but only after killing a colony of ants that had infested their generator room, treating some of their medical patients, and giving this guy named Jack 20 pieces of scrap metal." Veronica looked at Layla dubiously.
"20?" She asked doubtfully. "Where did you find 20 pieces of scrap metal?"
"I gathered them throughout my travels. Never know when they might come in handy. Anyway, I got their trust and now they want me to raise some WW2 bomber from Lake Mead."
"WW2? You mean World War 2?" Layla nodded. "Wow." Veronica didn't think she'd ever heard of anything that old. "But how the hell are you supposed to raise a plane from underneath a lake?"
"Well Loyal, the guy Jack works for, gave me some ballasts. I'm supposed to attach them to the bomber, and use them to float it up to the surface of the lake. The only problem is that I can't hold my breath very long. Loyal said that Jack was working on something called a rebreather. All I know is that it'll let me breathe underwater. There's a problem with that too." Layla took a long swig from the bottle of whiskey before continuing. "Apparently I need to bring Jack a pressure cooker so he can use the parts to finish the rebreather." She slammed the pool table in frustration. "I don't think I've ever been near a fucking pressure cooker!" She sat on the table and lay back on it, looking up at the ceiling. "What the hell am I supposed to do now?" There was an uneasy silence, which Veronica eventually broke.
"I think I know where you can get a pressure cooker." She said slowly. Layla sat up as Veronica spoke, and looked at her with excitement in her eyes.
"Where?"
"Well..." Veronica said uncertainly. "I've never actually seen the pressure cooker in question. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's there. Just not 100% sure."
"Where?" Layla repeated.
"I think it's in the Ultra Luxe."
"The casino?"
"Like I said, I've never actually seen it. I sometimes go there to eat dinner though when you're out adventuring. They have this restaurant called the Gourmand and the food there is amazing. Usually there's a massive waiting list, but they know I'm one of your friends and they're scared shitless of you. You got a massive reputation on the strip after humping then killing Benny."
"The pressure cooker?" Veronica realised she'd gone off topic.
"Oh right! Sorry. Anyway, like I said, the food there is delicious, but I think some of it could only be cooked using a pressure cooker."
"You think?"
"I'm fairly certain. I'm standing on the line between certain and uncertain right now." Layla sat back on the pool table, taking a small swig of the whiskey bottle as she started to think.
"Okay, I'll just go in and take the pressure cooker, killing any of the posh bastards that get in my way."
"Yeah, because that won't attract attention will it? I told you that the securitrons on the strip won't obey you, so they'll probably blast you as you leave the casino. Even if they don't, a commotion like that is bound to attract NCR military police. They won't be lenient."
"Have you got a better idea?" Layla's right hand began to idly roll one of the pool balls across the table, as her other hand moved the whiskey bottle to her mouth so she could take another swig. Veronica was continuously impressed by her ability to drink so much whiskey and never get drunk.
"As a matter of fact, I do have a better idea." Veronica smiled. "Go in, and stealthily take the pressure cooker. You know, without killing everyone in the casino?" Layla took a second to think this over, putting the now empty whiskey bottle down on the table as she did so.
"Well I have been meaning to work on my stealth skills. Alright, we'll do this your way. I'll go to the Ultra Luxe tonight." Layla turned around to grab another bottle of whiskey, and noticed for the first time ED-E's wrecked body lying on the pool table. "Why isn't she fixed yet?"
*Later*
"I'm terribly sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to surrender all your weapons. I apologise for the inconvenience madam." The greeter said with immense politeness as Layla walked through the front doors, armed to the teeth as usual. She was wearing her business attire that she always wore on the strip: black suit jacket and skirt with white shirt and red tie. She was also wearing her aviator sunglasses. Normally Layla would've asked him to shove his apology where the sun don't shine, but she was supposed to be operating low key, so she put That Gun into her weapon filled bag before handing it to the greeter.
"Can I go?" Layla asked as politely as she was able, which was far less polite than the greeter.
"I'll also need your err...sword madam." The greeter replied nervously, motioning to the sword on Layla's back as he did so. He put the bag over his shoulder as Layla reluctantly handed over her sword, and barely managed to lift the hefty weapon as he took it.
"If I find even one scratch on that weapon, I'll shove it up your ass." Layla threatened. She was certain that the greeter was sweating underneath his creepy mask.
"You have nothing to worry about." The greeter said nervously as Layla walked past him. Layla wasn't usually impressed by the places she visited, but even she marvelled at just how amazing the Ultra Luxe's bar looked. It was completely circular, and the entire lobby in which it stood was dominated by a giant crystal sculpture of a rose, that almost touched the ceiling. Soothing classical music was poured into the lobby, and Layla found that even she felt relaxed by the music.
Remembering Veronica's directions to the Gourmand, Layla left the bar and casino and walked down a long corridor. She came to the Ultra Luxe's hotel and turned left, seeing a snobbish looking man wearing a top hat glaring at her in the corner of her eye as she did so. She was stopped at the entrance to the Gourmand by several members of the White Glove society, all wielding dress canes like they were lethal weapons. Layla bet they'd cry if they felt a real injury, and considered putting that theory to the test.
"Do you have an appointment?" A middle aged woman asked Layla. She looked to be in charge.
"No, but maybe you can make an exception." The woman raised an eyebrow at Layla, then her mouth slowly opened as she realised who she was talking to.
"Oh, you're the Courier! My sincerest apologies! You two, take the Courier to our finest table!" The two White Gloves quickly obeyed, and Layla followed them to a round table in the middle of the restaurant. Beautiful odours filled the Gourmand, making Layla's stomach rumble. She hadn't eaten in a few days, and most of what she had eaten had been crap. The pressure cooker isn't going anywhere I guess. Layla thought to herself as a waiter approached her and handed her a menu. She quickly selected the brahmin steak off the list. The waiter complimented her on her fantastic choice, then took the menu and left. She had a feeling he would've complimented her choice even if she'd asked him to bring her a steaming turd. Layla looked around the room as she waited for her food, and saw a door at the end of the room. Next to the door was an intercom, and all the waiters spoke customers orders into the intercom. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the Gourmand's kitchens – and the pressure cooker – were behind that door.
Layla's brahmin steak arrived a few minutes later, and she devoured it like a death row inmate. Less than five minutes later she leaned back in her seat, full and content, as an empty plate lay in front of her. Lay was awestruck by just how delicious the food was here. Screw cooking at home, I'm going to eat here every night! Then the bill came. Layla had never seen so many zeroes on a piece of paper in her life. Plan B.
She took a stick of dynamite that she'd smuggled past the greeter out of her jacket, making sure nobody in the restaurant saw it. This stick of dynamite had a long fuse, and she lit it with her lighter before carefully tossing it under her table. She then casually yawned and got to her feet, before walking over to the door that lead to the kitchens. The waiters looked at her suspiciously, but quickly found a bigger concern as the stick of dynamite under her table suddenly detonated. A deafening boom filled the Gourmand, and the table flew into the air. The guests began to panic and ran for the exit, as all nearby White Gloves, waiters included, ran over to the sight of the explosion to investigate. Nobody saw a smartly dressed girl with blood red hair slip into the Ultra Luxe's kitchens.
*Later*
It was obvious that the White Gloves had made absolutely no effort when decorating the basement. And why should they have? Nobody was ever going to see it other than a select few. Nobody in the White Glove society would ever have guessed that Layla would be among that select few.
Layla snuck down a dark corridor, and heard a familiar sound as she reached the corridor's end. Are those flamers? Her left arm twitched as she remembered when Cook-Cook had burnt it. She reached the end of the corridor and saw that they were indeed flamers, and were being fired by two particularly bored looking White Gloves. They were blasting jets of flame at two pieces of meat that hung from the ceiling, cooking them. The smell of cooked meat filled the corridor, and would've made Layla's stomach rumble if she hadn't just eaten.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to just cook the meat? Layla thought randomly before snapping back to reality. Not wanting to take on two flamer wielding snobs without most of her weapons, Layla snuck towards a nearby elevator, making no sound whatsoever as she reached it. She pressed the button to open the elevator's doors, and the ding as the doors opened went unheard by the White Gloves, who were so close to the roaring flamers that they were probably partially deaf. She entered the elevator, and rode it down further into the basement.
Unlike the elevators in the Lucky 38 that played cheesy elevator music, this elevator played relaxing classical music. Layla leaned back against the elevator and enjoyed the music, before darting out of the elevator as the doors opened about ten seconds later.
She found herself in a long corridor that stretched as far as the eye could see. The smell of fresh cooking filled the corridor. I've got to be close. She snuck down the corridor, making sure to check every room as she went. She found nothing of interest in any of the rooms, and was beginning to get annoyed when she reached the middle of the corridor and saw a White Glove walking towards her. She dived into a nearby storage room, unsure if the Glove had heard her. She listened closely as she crouched behind a box in the storage room, listening for the Glove's footsteps. Eventually they faded away, and she breathed a sigh of relief before exiting the storage room.
"What the deuce are you doing here?" The White Glove said to her in a British accent as she left the room. Crap. Layla thought as the Glove pointed a dress cane at the intruder threateningly. The Glove was a woman, and wore a pink dress with only one shoulder strap. She glared at Layla through her mask, trying to be as threatening as possible. "You're not allowed down here! You'll have to leave!" Layla tried to think of an excuse, but a more simple solution entered her mind. She obediently turned and began to walk down the corridor. The White Glove followed her, pressing the dress cane against her back as she did so. The Glove was so focused on where she pressed the cane, that she didn't see Layla pulling a throwing knife out of her jacket pocket. Layla suddenly stopped midway down the corridor, and before the Glove could question why she spun around and delivered a roundhouse kick. The Glove was knocked flying, her mask flying off as she hit the floor. Before she could begin to react, Layla threw the knife with deadly accuracy. It hit the Glove right between the eyes, killing her instantly.
Layla pulled the knife out of the Glove's head, and wiped the blade before putting it back in her pocket. She prepared to walk down the corridor, when she saw that the Glove had something interesting in her possession. Layla took the interesting item from the corpse and stuffed it into one of her jacket pockets, then continued to walk down the corridor. The search lasted a few more minutes, but eventually bore fruit. Layla came across a pressure cooker while searching one of the rooms, and was filled with relief. Finally. She thought as she put the cooker into the pocket on her skirt. Christ, I'm running out of pockets. Her mission complete, Layla quickly made her way back to the elevator.
*Later*
"I got it!" Layla yelled as she walked out of the elevators and into the Lucky 38 suite. Rex ran up to her as she approached, and she quickly stroked his belly before entering the dining room. Veronica was pouring a cup of tea using the pre war kettle. Layla had never understood Veronica's love of tea. She'd tried some once and it had tasted horrible. She placed the pressure cooker on the table in triumph, then draped her jacket over a nearby chair and sat on said chair.
"It took you three hours to get a pressure cooker?" Veronica asked as she sat down too.
"No, it took me about half an hour to get the pressure cooker. I spent the rest of my time drinking in the cocktail bar and enjoying the sauna." Layla sat back as she remembered the sauna. "That casino is a paradise."
"How was the food?"
"Amazing."
"Told you."
"I also got you something." Veronica's eyes widened in surprise.
"You got me something?" Layla took the item she'd stolen from the White Glove's corpse out of her pocket, and placed it on the desk. Veronica flushed with excitement and gasped loudly as Layla laid a beautiful pink dress on the table. "A dress?" She said with immense happiness.
"You're always going on about how much you want one." Layla said with a grin. Veronica quickly jumped to her feet and ran around the table towards Layla. Layla had just enough time to get up before Veronica enveloped her in a massive hug.
"Thank you! Thank you!" She began to say it over and over again as she hugged Layla with all her strength. When she finally stopped thanking Layla, she looked deep into her eyes, releasing the hug slightly. Before Layla could react, Veronica closed her eyes and kissed her on the lips. Layla's eyes widened as they kissed. She was taken aback by the kiss, but it wasn't exactly unpleasant and she didn't recoil away. Layla's heart beat like a drum as Veronica pressed her body against hers. After a few seconds Veronica's eyes opened, and her eyes widened too. "Shit." She said as she backed away from Layla. "I am so sorry." Before Layla could say anything, a securitron wheeled into the room.
"Miss Layla, a letter just arrived for you." The bot said. The last thing Layla felt like doing right now was reading a letter, but this was the first letter she'd ever gotten.
"Who's it from?" She asked curiously.
"The name at the bottom of the letter says Mum." For the second time that night, Layla's eyes widened in surprise.
Shocking developments galore! How does Layla react to the kiss, and is her mother really alive? You'll get your answers in the next chapter! As always, please feel inclined to review.