THE OLD MORMON FORT
AUGUST 18
13:58
The world stood still. It held its breath and watched Veronica Santangelo break down beneath its weight, cursing her family and her failures and everything she knew. There was nothing left for her. They all knew it. Her past was bound to chase her down wherever she went, no matter how far she decided to run. This was the final assurance of everything she'd feared - that there was nowhere else she could turn, that there was no hope for the family she'd left behind.
The world stood still but they would not do the same, raging ceaselessly against the deathly hush. Brianna turned over tables and smashed bottles against walls. She screamed and cursed and destroyed while Sunny did the opposite, cleaning up the mess she left behind. With Cass' help, she did all she could to honour the dead. They turned the bodies face-up to the sun and slid their eyelids shut, knowing that the effort was futile, knowing that cleaning up the fallout was the only thing left to them. There was nothing more they could do.
Three doctors survived the attack. When the doors of the Old Mormon Fort swung open, Brianna drew her pistol and prepared for the worst. But it was Julie Farkas who stumbled in, stormy grey eyes swimming with tears. Word must have spread all throughout the slums, stories of metal men marching through Freeside with an arsenal of pulsing weapons. The doctor pulled Veronica to her feet, searching her face for answers. Brianna tossed down a broken chair and moved closer, catching fragments of conversation as Sunny reached for her hand.
"This is all my fault," was Veronica's answer to every question. "I led them here, I- they followed me. God, I never thought they'd go this far, I-"
"Slow down," Farkas said, keeping her voice steady. "Explain yourself. What happened? Who did this? Who are you?"
"I'm a scribe from the Brotherhood of Steel. Or I was," she corrected bitterly. "I left to join the Followers, to see if I could help you clean up Freeside, offer some help while the war plays out. I just wanted to do some good in this place. But they followed me, those spineless pricks, they knew exactly where I'd go. I was just trying to put it all behind me, find some place where I would actually have some influence. I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I- I'm sorry those people had to die for me to figure out that there's nowhere left for me to go. I should never have come within a mile of this place."
She shook her head, grasping for words. "We're done. We're nothing. God, I knew we couldn't keep this up forever. I knew we had to do more, find someone who would defend us before the NCR moved in. I should have done something sooner. With those armies rolling right over the top of us, there was never any chance of us lasting much longer. This was our strongest branch, the place where we could do the most good."
"You still have your supplies, don't you? All your research?" Cass asked. "Gotta be something left."
"Our supplies are low enough as it is," the other doctor - Emily Ortal, going by her nametag - replied. "And regardless, there isn't much we can do with only two doctors and a field researcher. This is a devastating blow regardless of how optimistic we try to be. This is something the Followers can't recover from, not now."
"Forsan miseros meliora sequentur," assured the researcher, Arcade Gannon. He'd offered them extra medical supplies once. "There has to be something we can gain from this. We can bring in other doctors, pay for someone to go out and-"
"Pay them with what?" Emily snapped. "All the spare medicine we don't have? A roll of stickers? There's nothing left for us, Arcade! What we have on our hands is a hopeless cause. The Battle of Hoover Dam is coming. Even if those armies stay out of our way, we're going to be flooded with injured soldiers and squatters. Our hands were already full of alcoholics and chemheads, what are they going to do when they realise that no one is looking out for them anymore?"
"That isn't true," Brianna interjected. "Those people are rooting for the woman who killed Mr House, right?"
"That woman can promise us nothing but more riots and more war. Isn't she the one who turned the Silver Rush into a mass grave? Not that it was a huge loss, but regardless, all she wants is to get her hands on New Vegas, and now she's done it. What can she do for us when her army is made of scrap metal? How useful are soldiers with OFF switches? I can't see an army of Securitrons cleaning up the streets any more than I can see them tending our patients."
"Where were you bleedin' hearts hiding when Courier Six stormed Vegas?" Cass asked. "Take a closer look, doc. You're talkin' to the woman herself."
The doctor frowned, clearly confused as she looked Brianna up and down. "You're that courier, then. Are you here to use the death of our doctors to spout propaganda? Is that was this is about?"
"Hold on, Emily," Julie Farkas scolded gently. "We'll hear her out. Arcade is right, there has to be something we can gain from this. Giving up hope isn't going to benefit anyone, least of all those out there who never had hope to begin with. We're the beacon they look to for guidance, remember? We have to be willing to hear her proposition, to keep that fire from burning out."
The doctor chewed on her lip but remained silent.
"What happened here was an accident," Brianna continued. "But you're right. The Legion and the NCR are driving you to the ground. Even without the Brotherhood getting involved, this would have happened eventually. The reason the Followers are in such bad shape down here is because Freeside has no stability, no rule. Both of those armies are fighting for control so the other can't get it, not because they're desperate to clean up the streets. I'm trying to find supporters across the Mojave, appeal to some of the more influential factions to get them on my side. Do you know of anyone who might be willing to spare some men, to come down here and guard the Fort while you look for new members?"
"You could talk to the Kings, I suppose. They're already patrolling the streets, dealing with the thugs and raiders who manage to get in. If you could ask them to spare a few guards, maybe-"
"Hold on a second," Arcade said. "Are you sure you know what you're doing? I've heard of you getting the Boomers on your side, playing nice with the Legion so you could activate those robots, but I'm not entirely convinced you're on the right track. The only way to ensure safety for the people of Freeside it to prevent others from taking control of the region, I understand that. But it seems to me that your strategy is to try and convince the tribal factions out there to support you. How exactly do you think that's going to play out. Now, don't get me wrong, I very much support your cause. I just want to make sure you know what you're doing."
"Of course I know what I'm doing," she snapped. "I'm wrenching power from the Legion and the NCR. I've installed an A.I to the Lucky 38 that manages everything in New Vegas. Maybe I'm not a legendary war hero or a military general, but the thought of an independent New Vegas is enough to keep me going. And I certainly knew enough to get rid of one third of the opposition. I know exactly what I'm doing, I'm just keeping quiet about it. The NCR continue to underestimate me, so I continue to live another day."
"Maybe you could help us, then. This could be our first step to recovery. The NCR won't let us live long if they take Hoover Dam, the Legion isn't an option, and Mr House literally isn't an option, so I suppose you're the best shot we have regardless of how capable you are. Alright, I think I know how we're going to get along. Talk to the Kings, convince them that you're on the winning side, get them to support you and guard the Fort from anyone else who wants to see us gone. If you can do that, you'll have us sold. How does that sound, Julie? She gathers up supporters while we gather up more doctors, and in return for her help we offer her aid in the upcoming battle if we can. How does that sound?"
"I think that could work," Farkas agreed. "What do you say, Courier?"
"I say give me five minutes and I'll have the Kings in my back pocket."
A lot happened in five minutes. Veronica broke a chair in half and went with Christine back to the Lucky 38. Cass finished another bottle of whiskey, grumbled something about the NCR and stayed back with the Followers to help them clean up the mess at the Fort. Within five minutes, Sunny and Brianna found the King's School of Impersonation and were greeted warmly by a large gang of Elvis impersonators. Brianna got punched in the mouth by a man called Pacer after she compared the size of a certain part of his anatomy to a Mentat, and after that ordeal was over, she was making idle conversation with the King himself - who turned out to be the man who had tried to marry Sunny and Brianna back in Gomorrah - while Sunny cooed over a cybernetic dog with brain cancer.
"Hope you haven't lost that lovin' feelin' for this golden gal," said the King with a smile. "Otherwise I'd be indescribably blue."
"We're talking about a war, Elvis, not my love life," Brianna replied, taking a deep swig from her beer and swinging her feet up onto the table. "You know I can't offer you people much, but peace in Freeside is going to make all the difference to your gang. You'll be able to patrol the streets easier with less NCR squatters causing trouble for you. And can you imagine an army of Elvises storming Hoover Dam?"
"I don't know, baby doll. I already said yes to helpin' out those doctors. Only the strong survive out there and us Kings have trouble enough with the damn thugs roamin' around. I know you're promisin' peace in the valley, but that Caesar's the devil in disguise. I don't know how well we'd fare up against him and his friends."
"You wouldn't be alone out there. I have Securitrons enough to defend you against the NCR and the Legion."
"Then what's the need to drag us into the fight if you've got all those tin men standing behind you?"
"I have five hundred Securitrons. A hundred are staying here. They're gonna be locked tight around the outer walls of Freeside and Vegas in case either army decides on a surprise attack while I'm gone. I need to spare a few more to patrol the streets inside. I'll have a hundred more divided between Goodsprings and Primm and more to patrol the busier streets around the Mojave. Let's just say I'm flaunting my power a little bit, showing off for the NCR. There'll be plenty entering the Dam with us while the NCR and Legion fight, but I'll need the rest of them spread out around the entire area and for the Legion base nearby. Regardless of how many robots I have to spare, I'll still be vulnerable."
"Angel, anyone could fall in love with you when you talk strategy like that. Keep on goin'."
"The NCR are in Vegas already- they've been patrolling the streets while I march around getting things organized. If they thought I'd be a threat to them at Hoover Dam, they'd have me dragged straight to the firing squad. And because the general wants to meet me, I'm thinking that maybe he's looking to form some kind of alliance. They don't expect me to take Hoover Dam. Caesar knows I'll be there, he knows I activated the Securitrons outside the Fort, so he'll be ready for me. But all the NCR expect is a nuisance to deal with after the battle's over. They expect resistance from me and my robots when they come back to take Vegas. That's even more of an advantage for us. Plus, the Boomers are on our side. They'll be ready to shake things up if things go bad, if you get what I mean."
"Baby, you're catchin' on fast. First time I ever saw your face I didn't think you were nothin' special. Think I might be havin' a change of heart."
"So you'll fight with me?"
"You keep doin' what you're doin' and honey, you'll never walk alone."
"So it's settled, then."
"It certainly is. On one condition."
"What?"
"My hound dog here, Rex, he's not been doin' to well. Poor baby's practically indestructible, but he's got a bad brain. I know a doctor down in Jacobstown who can fix him up, but I can't leave the Kings, you dig?"
"Never heard of Jacobstown. Where is it?"
"West, up in the mountains. Close to where those Khans are holed up, I think."
"Red Rock Canyon? Sure, I'm headed there anyway to make contact with the Khans."
"So you'll do it? You'll help my brave boy get better? I'll send you down with some caps to pay the doctor and everythin'."
"Sounds like a deal."
"Excellent! Oh, uh, word of warnin' before you get goin'. Place is full of Super Mutants and their blue friends."
Sunny turned her attention from the dog to the King. "Sorry, what was that?"
"You know, the big yellow guys? Only they're nicer than the normal muties, civilised. Thought you might want them at your side for this big battle. NCR's been givin' 'em trouble, so they'll hear you out if you ask them for help. You fix up my dog and you'll have an army of Kings and muties at your side. Sounds good, doesn't it?"
"Sound insane." She looked to Sunny, still crouching on the floor and rubbing the dog's belly. "What do you think?"
Sunny glanced at the King hopefully. "Can we keep him for a while after he's fixed? I had to leave my baby, Cheyenne back home so she doesn't get hurt. Think I'm already starting to miss her."
"Sure can, baby. Whatever you want."
"Then I think it sounds like a great idea."
"You actually did it," Julie Farkas said. "The Kings are going to defend us?"
"Along with my Securitrons during the Battle of Hoover Dam," Brianna replied. "You'll be safe."
"Oh, wow, that's- wow. That's incredible. Thank you. Thank you so, so much. If there's any chance of us recovering, you've just ensured it."
"It was our pleasure to help," Sunny smiled. "And if you need any help, you know, cleaning up the bodies-"
"No, it's fine. We can handle ourselves from here. But thank you. You're angels, all three of you. God, I'm just happy that you're the ones who are fighting for Vegas. Things could have been so different if you hadn't killed that Chairman, Benny." She pursed her lips, looking troubled for a moment, but the expression quickly faded. "Well, thank you. If we can gather up some more doctors, I'll try my hardest to get the Followers over to Hoover Dam."
Before Brianna could reply, Dr Gannon moved towards her. "Mind if I have a word?"
"Yeah, sure."
"I'm gonna go back and check on Veronica," Sunny said. "Maybe gather up some more supplies before we head west."
"Sounds like a good idea," Cass agreed. "Khans lost their strength after Bitter Springs, but I'd stock up on ammo just in case. They're still a tough bunch; I wouldn't wanna head down unprepared 'case somethin' goes wrong. I'll see ya later, Bree."
"Two ex-scribes, a cowgirl, a courier and her sidekick, and a cybernetic dog," Gannon mused. "After Hoover Dam, we should open an act at The Tops."
"We?"
"Well, that's up to you. I was thinking about tagging along, if you'll have me. I get that you're already travelling with a small army - figuratively and literally - but none of your friends look like doctors. And, I'll admit, I'm nervous about how exactly you're going to go about this battle. The Followers don't need me right now, not while they're trying to rebuild, but you could certainly use some of my sharp intellect and wisdom, right?"
She narrowed her eyes. "No ulterior motive?"
"All I ask in return for my assistance is that you turn a blind eye at Hoover Dam when I start slaying Legion left and right. Sound fair?"
"Sounds perfect," she agreed. "Welcome aboard."
