You've heard of the Sierra Madre Casino. We all have, the legends, the curses. Foolishness about it lying in the City of the Dead, buried underneath a blood-red cloud. A bright, shining monument luring treasure hunters to their doom. The world's most famous stars and entertainers were invited to its Grand Opening. An invitation was a sign of… exclusiveness. The opening was supposed to symbolize a road to a brighter future, not just for the world… but for all who came to its doors. A chance for anyone to begin again. Except - the Sierra Madre never opened. The war froze it in time, like a big flashbulb going off. The Grand Opening - one big ending for humanity. It's still out there, in the wastes, preserved, Just waiting for someone to crack it open. That's not the hard part. It's letting go.

Artyom had lost track of time ever since he and Pavel departed from that bunker. Under the secret guidance of the Dark Ones, he led the way while keeping his companion in the dark about how he truly knew the way. If he did tell Pavel, there was a chance that the communist soldier wouldn't be so merciful. There was a possibility he might see reason, but the stalker knew better than to take such chances. As he once read in a book a long time ago, what could go wrong will go wrong.

On their long trek to find their missing friends, Pavel had raised concerns that they could abandoned this quest to save them, but Artyom staunchly remembered how much knowledge Angelique had. If she was willing to tell him about such wealth, she deserved to be rescued. Even in another land, trust was a commodity rare to come in the Metro and the Mojave.

The Russians breathed hard as they walked on the road up to the mountain. The weight of carrying the belongings of their friends was a burden, but should they find them the burden wouldn't be much of an issue. With each step, the young man felt a burning sensation in his feet as his legs struggled to continue up the road. Most would have given up, but he recalled the memories of escaping nosalises with Bourbon on their way to Prospekt Mira.

A familiar voice of the Dark One's consciousness whispered into his mind. 'You're here… be ready…'

Artyom looked ahead, only to see buildings at the top of a mountain. The Metro had prepared him for climbing through buildings of a city, but to climb a mountain was entirely different. It was strange that once upon a time climbing mountains was once an activity to enjoy before the war. Those times had to be strange if that was normal. "Pavel, let's take some rest. We're almost there."

Glancing over his shoulder, the Red Line soldier planted his hands on his knees, breathing hard after the long travel. "I know a good communist doesn't believe in anything, but god-damn this is agonizing!" Pavel moaned. "Give me an hour, chuvak. I need to get my breath."

Then the voice of the Dark Ones returned. 'That place… there are those who do not realize that they are dead… stay vigilant… they will hunt you…'

It almost reminded the stalker about his first journey into the Dead City after he and Bourbon were cut off. That one apartment where he once saw the gazes of children staring back at him when he disturbed their rooms. If he was given a thousand years, nothing will ever make him forget that moment in his life. Now he was given a warning by the Dark Ones about this place, Artyom mentally prepared himself for the worst. If what it said was true then he had to be ready.

If he walked through those gates, there might be a chance he wouldn't leave them.

"Wake up! Cass, wake up!" The caravanner opened her eyes. Ever since she had been knocked out in that bunker the woman knew better that it wasn't whiskey that put her to sleep.

After sitting up from the dry and dirty ground, she took a look at her surroundings to find herself in a strange town with a strange shade of red covering the scenery. Then she took a glance at her person, none of her belongings were there, including Artyom's shotgun. Yet, she felt her chest lighter than before. Cass placed a hand on her chest, only to learn that her pendant was gone. She froze with fear, it was the closest thing she had to a heirloom. She began to see if the pendant necklace was still there around her neck, but her fingers were met with a steel feeling.

There was a collar around her neck.

A familiar and relieving sight came to her, but she also had a collar around her neck as well. "Thank god, I thought you were a goner." It was strange to find herself in the same company of the thief who stole her belongings, but now that they were both in bondage they were now in the shit together.

"Angelique, I didn't think I would ever be this happy to see you."

The Courier rolled her eyes. "You still holding that against me?"

"Yeah, cause how can I forget how you ran off with my things." Strange, where was that girl in the robes? "Hey, where is that other girl. I thought she was with us?"

A voice spoke up from behind their backs. "I know where Veronica is, but first we must… introduce ourselves." It was that of an old man.

Cass and Angelique rose from the ground as they found themselves beside a fountain. However, a hologram image of an old weary man was staring back at them. "You've finally regained consciousness, good. It would have been problematic if they got to you first before both of you woke up. Now listen and follow. Play stupid or say no, I'll make sure those collars will remove any doubts you have." He said.

"Who the hell are you?" The Courier demanded. "Where did you take Veronica?"

"You are in no position to demand, but I suppose an introduction is required for… further cooperation." The hologram of the old man simply looked down on them. "I am Father Elijah and that is all you will know about me. As for the Brotherhood Scribe, she is currently safe and far from where you are."

"You're from the Brotherhood of Steel?" Cass wondered. "I thought the NCR destroyed your entire group back at Helios One." She said.

The duo could hear the growl from Elijah's mouth. "The NCR - children who don't realize they will cleaned off the Earth. They think I'm dead, good, they won't know when it will come. However, I am no longer part of the Brotherhood of Steel." He added. "Those fools don't realize how much potential was lost with the technology I had discovered. Even though they are my brothers, they must be cleaned as well."

"I take that you're not with the Brotherhood anymore?"

"Yes, I'm no longer one of them, but enough talking about me and more about the building looking down on you." They both looked up and saw the menacing shadow cast in the clouds of red clouds. "That is the Sierra Madre and I know that all three of you came here in search of its treasure."

"Why did you put collars on us? So we don't get the treasure before you do?"

The old man scoffed at the caravaneer's response. "Yes… and no. The Sierra Madre Casino is very complicated at getting into. Did you simply think I wanted to put collars on both of you? No. However, those who were here before didn't comply and they killed one-another because of their greed. The collars help alleviate that issue to form a team and force them to… cooperate."

Angelique took the lead in asking questions. "Forming a team to do what? Break into the casino?"

"Yes. That is just what you are about to do." Elijah replied. "Follow my instructions carefully and your necks might be released from their grip. Ignore me-"

"Our heads blow up. You don't have to describe that part to us."

For some strange reason, Cass felt that the man was smiling despite the still hologram image presented. "Good, find the other collars and bring them to the fountain. Once they're here, we'll proceed to the next tasks at hand. However, do be careful. The inhabitants will do everything they can to kill you."

"The inhabitants? You mean there are people living in this hell-hole."

"The 'living' part is up for debate, but everyone calls them ghost people. It appears they were once construction workers of the casino and are now lurking around every corner looking for a victim."

"Damn." Cass swore. "We are literally in a haunted place."

"Indeed. I should also warn both of you that there are radio devices around the surrounding areas that might trigger your collars."

"What do you want us to do? Didn't you think of this before you put the collars on us."

"Yes, it's an issue I think both of you can contend. Avoid them if you must, but if you could see the opportunity to find the source, destroy it. One less thing for you to worry about."

Then Angelique pointed to a blue holographic image of a woman standing atop the fountain. "Who is she?"

"Ah, the woman on the fountain. She was once a famous person back during her time. Don't fret about it, she's dead. Remember, find the others and bring them to the fountain. You're Pip-Boy should be able to locate them." Soon the hologram disappeared as the two women found themselves alone with one-another.

"Alright, let's go." The Courier began as she walked up to the fountain and found a strange rifle there. "What the hell is this thing?" She pondered.

"Angelique, are you really going with this?" The caravanner questioned.

"Yeah, I'm not going to get my head blown off by that maniac." She answered.

"Don't you think that he'll kill us anyway once he finds a way into the casino?"

The woman in the Vault 13 jumpsuit lowered her head. "I've survived taking a bullet to the head. I think we'll get through this, one step at a time. Besides, I think I still need to live so that the guy who shot gets a piece of my mind." Then she chuckled. "I don't mean that literally."

Once the worry was over, the first thing on Cass's mind was the girl who accompanied them. "Veronica, that girl was part of the Brotherhood of Steel."

"Maybe, if this Elijah guy is anything to goby." Angelique commented as she loaded her weapon with whatever ammo was available. "Once this is over, we can start asking questions why she never told us in the first place."

Ever since she woke up, Veronica found herself stuck in an isolated room with a simple bed and a desk lamp. The only entrance to the outside was a steel door, but it appeared that it could only be opened from the outside. She looked around for her powerfist, but with a room stripped down to the bones it was best to simply think she lost it.

The scribe walked up to the door, only to see a small vision slit of a dark-lit hallway with another steel door on the other side. Where was she?

She was quickly greeted by a strange green light that appeared behind her back. Turning around, the scribe saw a hologram of someone she hadn't seen in a very long time. Yet, it was not the image that caught her off-guard, but the voice. "It has been a long time, Veronica. I would have thought you would be swept away by the NCR, but I've taught you enough for you to succeed this far."

The girl froze up in her room. Was this truly Father Elijah, the man that took her in and taught her, the one who separated her from her love? It seemed impossible that he could have survived Helios One. "Father Elijah, is that really you?"

Veronica heard a slight chuckle from the old man. "The one and only."

"Why am I here? Where am I?" She wondered.

"You are close… close the the Sierra Madre. I know I couldn't meet you in person, but I'm trying to find a way to get inside."

"You're getting into the casino as well? What a coincidence. I was with a group of people who were searching for it as well. I wouldn't call them friends, but they're better company than a squad of NCR troopers."

"Funny, I am seeing to it that you don't have to worry about them. We're… helping one-another getting into the lobby." He added.

"Father Elijah, this is great news that you're alive and doing well. Maybe we should get the Brotherhood and break the Sierra Madre Casino?"

An angry rant from the old man occurred. "No! Those fools would squander the technology like children, just like the NCR. I intend to clean the slate, but they would interfere."

She had heard of clean the slate before, but hearing it again did little to comfort the scribe. "What do you mean by that?"

"Clean the Mojave of any human interference. Begin again and bring the potential of any lost technology to light."

His intent was clear and there was no point in denying it. "What you are considering is murder?"

"Murder? My dear Veronica, this is changing the world once more. If you had listened to my lessons instead of going off with that girl, you would understand. The Brotherhood needs to be saved and finding a way to rid of those ants - the NCR." He explained. "Their citizens have the Mojave to themselves because of our blood, but should we rid them to the way it was before."

"That's wrong. You're throwing away people's lives for us to prosper. How can you consider that an option?" She demanded.

"Morality, one of humanity's base instincts. Perhaps I should remove it to make you understand."

"Why are you like this?"

"The NCR have technology that shouldn't be theirs, it was ours for the taking. If I had more time they would fear us. Breaking into the Sierra Madre Casino would see to that."

Veronica knew he was unstable, but this was far worse than she last met him. "Father Elijah, I want to leave."

She could hear him sigh. "I'm afraid that won't happen. You'll be safe here, but away from interfering with your company." Then she heard his surprise. "Ah, more people to help me."

The Russians walked past the gate with his Bastard Gun ready. The eerie silence didn't comfort them as they checked the surroundings around the fountain. Many roads led deep towards this fountain. Was this the center of it all?

Contrast to the surrounding red setting, Artyom grew fascinated when he saw a blue woman standing atop of the fountain with her hand on her hip. Whoever she was, its presence irked him as it almost reminded him of seeing a ghost for the first time. Then Pavel caught his attention. "Alright chuvak, let's go find our friends and get the fuck out of here."

However, there was a problem that came to Artyom's mind. "Where do you think they are?" Then he glanced over to the communist.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, but what do you think Artyom?"

"How about you stay here with our luggage while I look for the others? Does that sound fair?"

"I don't appreciate being left out on my own in a city that's looks all creepy."

"There are weapons in that luggage, Pavel. Here, have my plasma gun if you're so afraid." The stalker slung his weapon off his shoulder and gave to him.

"I'm not afraid, I'm just thinking we wouldn't be effective if we split up." The Red Line soldier replied.

Then a thought occurred to him. There was one currency that had value in the Metro and Artyom didn't like the thought of bribing a soldier. From his pockets, he held a cartridge in his hand and handed it to the communist. "Have a cartridge. Maybe this will convince you to stay."

"You're giving me your military grade rounds?" He wondered. "Why? There isn't even a bullet merchant nearby and these don't have any value here."

"Well, I thought I could… you know, bribe you to stay."

Pavel bursted out laughing with a hand on his chest. "You really think you could bribe a good soldier of the Red Line? You have to be really low to even consider that."

"I might not return, that's why."

The smile on his face disappeared, taking the stalker's reasoning into account. "I understand. Find our companions and stay safe, comrade."

The Russians gave a respectful nod to one-another as the Artyom left the belongings from the others at the fountain before he walked into one of the streets. He turned on his flashlight as he crept into this strange place. The young man knew he was scared that he was going into the unknown, but it was just too similar when he set out on his journey to go to Polis. His boots cracked on the broken glass and crushed this strange red powder that seemed to be everywhere, nevertheless he pressed on.

Then he felt a strange feeling he wasn't alone. Three pairs of green eyes appeared from a red cloud, moving towards him. These dark menacing figures walked forth with spears in their hands. Then they screamed within their suits before charging after him.

Artyom's finger fell into place before he squeezed the trigger.