A meeting was taking place in order to defeat the Legion at Hoover Dam and potentially remove the threat from the Metro. The officers of the NCR had explained to him that the situation with their current commander - General Oliver. He'd went around to find the opinion of many officers who saw his lack of action as demoralizing while the Legion took massive opportunities to probe the lines and even break through. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have a general infamous for sitting around deserved a fist to the face as he was escorted to the man's office.

The officers and personnel who resided in this part of the dam had taken notice of the Russian commander strolling past the cubicles alongside two of his bodyguards. Some even stopped in their tracks to simply watch them walk by like this was not a normal thing to see. "These people need to get outside more often." He commented. The directions to the war room was quite easy as he was stopped by two MPs standing at the doorway. "Your general is waiting, let me in."

The two men glanced towards one-another before they reached for the handles and unlocked the two doors. Past them was several NCR staff members who discussed various situations throughout the Mojave while a olive-dressed man sat in his seat with his eyes looking around. "Whoever controls Hoover Dam also controls the Colorado. We can't spend troops for these trivial fuck ups some officers can't handle themselves." Then he raised his head and notice Colonel Miller's presence in the way. "Ah, you must be Colonel Miller." General Oliver stood up and grabbed a bottle behind him and several glasses. "Do you want to have a drink over this discussion of mine?"

He shook his head. "No, I just want to see the whole entire situation that is going on throughout the Mojave." Miller replied approaching the large map of the Mojave with planners stopping their suggestions. "We need to allocate forces to the south."

"South?" Oliver said in surprise. "There is nothing of value in the South beyond that radioactive town that is Camp Lamplight."

The colonel walked up to the map to point to a particular spot on the map. "You have a ranger station that has been reporting a camp that has a foothold on this side of the Colorado River. This needs to be destroyed and prevent the Legion from having a chance at harassing the logistics."

"Come now, the logistics guys have all the guns. They should be fine fighting off a few slavers."

"General Oliver, take this seriously. This is not a joke."

"Okay, the Legion has troops there - so what?" He said. "The Hoover Dam has the most strategic value in the Mojave right beside New Vegas. There is hardly anything going on in the south that is worth our attention. Yes, they have a camp there, but whatever patrols are there usually skirmish against ours."

Colonel Miller rolled his eyes. "The ranger station overlooking the camp just told me that there is a massive build up of Legion forces. This is no group of slavers or a raiding party, there is too many troops there. I don't know who this guy is, but that station keeps mentioning their commander who goes by the name of Legate Lanius."

It was at this moment that everyone in the room had fallen silent as General Oliver dropped his glass of wine onto the floor. "Shit."

"I take he's important?"

"Yes, he's the commander on the other side of the dam." Came his answer while he approached the map. "If he's involved then the Legion has something we didn't expect. Okay, I'll allocate some men from the Dam and bring them south to a town called Novac. It should be enough to hold those bastards back." Then he stared at the Russian commander. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to convince the Reds and the Nazis to pitch in, but it is going to take some time."

Gloria Van Graff stood behind a table which held an assortment of energy weapons of all types throughout that could be found throughout the wasteland. A man in a clean grey tuxedo was looking at his selection as he found himself curious about the plasma pistol placed before him. Although he was taking his time, Gloria preferred that he left the building satisfied and happy just to brag to his friends about the quality of her family's products.

A guard that was stationed outside had burst into the room - earning her full attention. "Gloria, House is back! He says he got a message for you."

This was a surprise. Ever since he threatened that Russian out of her custody, he had not pestered her family's business until now. What brought the enigmatic ruler of New Vegas back into the chaotic place of Freeside? Then she glanced at her customer. "Are you going to buy the plasma gun or not?"

The customer nodded as he pulled out his pouch of bottle caps. "I'm buying. Here, you can take this."

She quickly grabbed the pouch and tossed it to one of the guards protecting this store of weapons. "Put this in the safe." Gloria ordered as she walked away from her station and made her way outside.

A single securitron was waiting outside of the store, but unlike the other versions that had the police face to stare at her - this one was different. A smiling cowboy was looking at her before his distinct voice had captured her attention. "Hello darling, I know you and Mr. House have left on a bad note since you kidnapped his former employee. However, he has a proposition for you."

"A proposition?" She pondered. "What kind of proposition? He is the one who removed any chances to find that damn bitch."

"Not the way I would put it, but my boss has found a way where we can both benefit from this proposal." The cowboy securitron replied. "Artyom is making his way to Camp Golf - which just so happens to be the owner of Cassidy Caravans."

Gloria crossed her arms. "I am listening. What is your proposal?"

"Mr. House wants him dead, but he also wants anybody that is associated with Artyom and Ms. Cassidy as well."

"That's not so easy. The camp is full of NCR troops and their allies. Why are you willing to go so far as to kill him?"

"There is no time limit or designated date to kill Artyom. He'll leave you to dispatch his former employee at your own discretion." The securitron answered. "Would you be fine with such a deal?"

She smiled at this equal exchange. Although it came with risks, she would be able to remove her thorn in the side and earn good favors from the Crimson Caravan. What more could she ask for? "I accept."

When Artyom and Arcade arrived at Camp Golf, they saw the military camp filled with NCR soldiers and personnel, but the people of the Metro were also there in their various uniforms. Artyom could not help and let out a small breath from inside his helmet. "It's strange."

The doctor standing beside him had turned his head. "How so? You are the one who wanted to come here."

"I know," He replied. "But I find it odd to see my people in this place. It's just so strange that I arrived in the Mojave with little and now I'm about to overthrow the ruler of New Vegas. How things change so fast."

"If it gives you any comfort, you'll be doing everyone a big favor for getting rid of Mr. House. The man hasn't done much for the people of the Mojave. Though there is a question worth asking, who is going to replace him?"

"One problem at a time," Artyom stated. "Let's go. This meeting should have started a long time ago."

Few took note of their arrival, but that was a good thing. The young man wanted to use this ample opportunity to find the people he was looking for - including Cass. Unlike the streets of New Vegas, the camp was far more organized in comparison. The space in which the people idled made it easier on the stalker to observe the surrounding area.

At the center of the camp, his head kept turning to find his friends, but he froze when he recognized the person who initiated the conversation. "Excuse me, but are you two lost or something?"

Artyom turned around to see his familiar childhood friend standing before him. "Eugene? What are you doing here?"

There was a moment of silence between the two Russians as Eugene's eyes shot up like plates. "By god, you are actually alive! I thought for a moment that the Dark Ones killed you back at Exhibition." Then he lunged in for a hug before he released his grip on Artyom. "What have you been doing when you disappeared?!"

His hands reached for his helmet and took it off. "The best I can say is that I've had one hell of an adventure and seen my assortment of weird. It's good to see a fellow citizen from Exhibition alive and well. I heard our station was closed off to the rest of the Metro."

A somber smile was all he could give. "I'm sad to say that our home is gone, but we've survived all thanks to your step-father." Then he glanced at the doctor. "Who is yoru friend?"

"He's my doctor." He replied. "Eugene, meet Dr. Arcade Gannon. He's a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse."

The Russian and the doctor shook hands in their introduction. "Nice to meet you. It's honestly relieving to see someone of great intelligence around these parts. Most of the average civilian I have met apparently cannot read a serial number off their gun. So this is a pleasant sight for sore eyes."

The American was surprised by this information. "You don't have literacy problems?"

"Oh, we do, but it's so often rare that people with illiteracy are running around unless they hail from the outer stations."

"This is quite an intriguing conversation, but I hope that we do not take up Artyom's time when he needs to meet with someone."

Eugene whipped his head around. "Who do you need to meet?"

Artyom slipped his helmet underneath his arm. "Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Rose of Sharon Cassidy or Cass for short?"

"You know her - the cowgirl babe?"

He made a small punch in the man's arm. "Careful, you're talking about my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend? Chyort, I think you hit the jackpot on that one. Almost every guy I know from Exhibition is trying to talk her up. They're going to be jealous of you from now on." Eugene laughed. "Well, I think I've held you up enough. Follow me, she's talking with Sukhoi."

"It's been a while since I've talked with my step-father. So I am a bit reluctant to see him as well."

"You would be surprised."

Strolling through the camp, it appeared that it was separated between the Russians and the NCR soldiers, but there was no fence to keep people interacting with one another. As Artyom looked around, he recognized his people from Exhibition station and they were just as shocked when Eugene saw him. He couldn't blame them since they had every right to accept that missing resulted with death.

Once they were brought up to the large tent on a hill, Eugene spoke. "Here he is. I'll leave you be until then."

Arcade was quick to agree. "Yeah, I'm going to leave as well since this seems personal. If you need me, I'm going to be walking around in the camp."

As they departed, Artyom breathed out a sigh before he took his first step to open the flaps. When the outside light had faded and his eyes had adjusted, the sweet taste of whiskey passed on his lips alongside the hair of fire. "Cass, it's good to see you again."

Her embraced ended as she took a few steps back. "Likewise, but I almost didn't recognize you with the armor on. Why didn't you tell me your step-father was here?"

"Because I didn't know to be truly honest."

Their moment was cut shortly when Artyom looked past his girlfriend to see the old man who carried for him since he was a boy. As his assault carbine was hanging from his neck, he walked past Cass with a fatherly hug incoming. "My boy, I'm glad you are alive!" His arms wrapped around him. "For a moment, I had thought the Dark Ones had killed you when you were on guard duty, but I was mistaken. She has told me about how you got here and your relations with the creatures while you were coming here. I must say, the implications are difficult to take in, but so is going into another world with lasers and power armor. So now that you're here, I hope you won't go so far as to leave us."

Artyom shook his head. "Sadly, I don't have that luxury. Cass and I have to meet up with some people and take care of a particular matter. I can't stay."

"Just how much did you get yourself stuck into? I could send someone else in your stead, would that work."

"No. I'm too essential in the plan to be replaced by someone else."

"I see." He noted. "Hopefully, this does not get you killed in the process. If you need anything, Cass has access to some Hansa equipment that you wouldn't normally get in the Metro."

"Thank you, dad, I appreciate that." He replied with a smile.

Waiting at the NCR camp had taken its toll on the communist officer, but the things to do in the meantime happened to be productive. Apparently, the NCR sent its poor excuse for troops to this place to waste away in nothingness. The horrors of administration had gotten enough that he had to personally become a squad's drill sergeant. Not a highly respectable position, but it was better than boredom and he knew what would happen when soldiers were bored. "Fire!" Pavel shouted to the top of his lungs as gunfire echoed across the firing range.

Shots from the service rifles made their mark on the targets, hitting the teddy bears and glass bottles with improved accuracy. When the four NCR soldiers were finished, they lowered their rifles as their only female member grabbed his attention. "Thank you, Major Pavel. I didn't think your advice would work on the firing range. Why did you help us out in this situation?"

"There is a simple reason, Mags, I'm bored and that probably includes all of you. If there is anything I know about bored soldiers, it is a disaster waiting to happen." He answered. "Besides, if my people are going to be allies at the very least you all should hit something. How did any of you pass basic training?"

All of the soldiers lowered their heads or turned away in shame.

"Chyort, your republic must be desperate to win this war with such standards. Thankfully, you lot seem to be more open to getting something done."

Before the next instruction could begin, an explosion erupted at the camp. "What the hell is going on?!" Mags commented.

"Ladna, training is over! Remember what I told you about how to shoot, it will keep you alive!" The major screamed at them before he reached for his automatic carbine. "Stay behind me and keep your comrades alive as well." Then he led way with his weapon at the ready.

Upon bypassing the dozens of tents along the way, he noticed NCR and Russian soldiers alike were flocking to the possible attack on Camp Golf. As he got closer, he heard the blasts of buckshot throughout the firefight while hot energy weapons flashed. When he arrived on the scene, he saw Cass back to back with a stranger while firing off as armored men with energy weapons seemed to succumb to their quick responses. The odd thing about the stranger was that he looked similar to the NCR rangers, but he seemed familiar with the usage of the Shambler shotgun. "Pavel, it's good to see you again."

"Artyom?!" The communist officer replied. "Damn, I didn't think you'd survive your encounter with the deathclaw. You should consider yourself lucky that half of the camp is coming to your rescue. What the hell is going on?"

"The Van Graffs ambushed us," Artyom answered. "Luckily enough, they messed up their timing." He and Cass ducked when laser and plasma fire flew overhead. "Down!"

On the ground, the defenders fell to the ground and returned fire upon their assailants. For a moment, the fighting stopped with a man's voice crying out. "Russians, NCR, this is none of your business. We just want a guy named Artyom and a bitch named the Rose of Sharon Cassidy. You all good with that?"

"What the hell is he talking about?" Mags wondered.

Pavel glanced towards the NCR trooper. "I don't know, but whatever happens you do not get up. Wait for the others to help out. Tell your squad to scan the area, they're probably going to flank us on open ground."

One large green explosion echoed behind a hill in front of them as the men who attacked had revealed themselves. In front of them, they could see men in dark combat armor flee from their positions as they turned around to shoot back at their assailants. However, Pavel saw Veronica and Christine jump them with blade and power fist in hand. Despite their armor, it was not enough to simply hold back the two melee combatants from thinning their numbers.

Another figure rose up from the hill they fled with a plasma gun in hand. Streams of plasma made their mark on those who attempted to attack the Brotherhood scribe and assassin - all except one. When the sunlight fell upon her, Pavel recognized the face of the courier who saved them. "Angelique? Shit, this is one way to meet." Then he turned to the NCR squad. "Stand down people, I think our friends got this."

When Pavel, Artyom, and Cass approached their rescuers and their last prisoner, Angelique rested her energy weapon upon her shoulder. "Finally, we're all together again. Before we proceed, let's ask our asshole a few questions on why he was attacking an NCR military camp of all things and why a Van Graff of all people."

The black man spat at her. "Fuck you, bitch!"

Artyom stepped forward and slammed the butt of his shotgun into his back. "That's for ambushing me."

"Yeah, I would have gotten away with it if one of my boys didn't start prematurely."

Angelique approached him with a laser pistol drawn on his crotch. "We are reasonable people. The moment you start talking, the less likely I am to ruin your future chances at a family."

"I am not telling you shit! My loyalty to the Van Graffs comes first and you can kiss your NCR ass goodbye since I won't betray them."

The courier glanced at the Brotherhood assassin with the scars. "Could you have your way with him?"

Christine approached the armored man with her blade, but a man stopped them. "So this is the man who tried to kill my son?"

Everyone turned around to see an old man surrounded by a contingent of soldiers. It appeared that some of them were from Hanza while others possibly came from independent stations. "Who the hell are you?!" The black man demanded.

"You can call me Sukhoi. What right did you have to attack my boy?"

A smirk was all he could give. "Your son betrayed the ruler of New Vegas - Mr. House. He wants your son's head and there is nothing you can do about it."

Artyom's father pulled out a revolver from his holster and shot him in the head. "So this is the sort of business you got yourself into." He said while turning his head towards his son. "You should have told me and I would have helped."

"Dad, it's too dangerous." He replied.

"Perhaps, but given that I have an alliance with Hanza this Mr. House should have known better."

"So much for the stealthy approach," Veronica commented. "People are going to notice about an army marching through the streets of New Vegas."

Sukhoi turned his head towards the scribe. "That's the message I intend to give. Artyom and I have survived an ocean of rats eating stations alive and I'm not going to let this so-called ruler kill him." Then he looked over his shoulder to see the others. "Pyotr, get the marines and get several of the Hanza platoons, we're going to war."

House looked at the world through computer screens - it was the only thing he could do while his true form remained in a place he so carefully created for himself. Once the conflict surrounding the Hoover Dam was over, he would have to stomp out the NCR and their Russian allies as soon as the Legion fled. However, the lack of physical assistance made his situation even dire to his plans.

Artyom and Angelique were employed to ensure that New Vegas remained an independent city meant for him and him only. It was one of the last pre-war reminders of the lengths he took just to take back his inheritance. With them gone, he had to look for another willing participant in his grand scheme of things. Yet, there was little he could do without exposing the power his Platinum Chip contained since those two had it among themselves. That Van Graff woman seemed promising, but he knew about the agendas of some thug-like family that intimidated anyone who dealt in their business.

His cybernetics had warned him something was happening in the streets of Freeside. Although he normally would disclose it as some criminal incident, people were flocking away from the other side of the checkpoint. A squad of securitrons was sent to investigate as people from all walks of life were fleeing from the gunfire in the streets - even the Kings seemed to be avoiding it by going inside the former building that belonged to Elvis Presley.

When the seat of people was out of the way, his securitrons displayed live images of Russian soldiers storming into Freeside as Van Graff employees were gunned down. Although some had succumbed to the powerful energy weapons, their numbers alone had cut them down as the remaining defenders took shelter in their building. However, they pressed their attacks by shattering windows and tossing grenades within. Their methods were simple, but this kind of harsh violence made any law enforcement by the Kings impossible as those boys simply didn't have the kind of firepower to contest with these men.

This kind of chaos needed to end unless it stirs out of the control. So he ordered his machines to approach the people committed to this attack. As the screens came closer, House recognized Artyom's face among the crowd - wearing desert ranger armor. Then he personally took control of one of the securitrons. "Whatever you are doing, you are to cease and desist from continuing the fighting. I will not have my city in chaos from all of this nonsense."

The next thing he learned was the unit he personally controlled was eliminated. Did they just attack his machines? Hoping he could retain some semblance of order, he took control of the next securitron in the patrol. "I will forget your transgressions if you please tell me what is going on right now!"

An old man stepped out from the crowd of soldiers as he spoke. "You tried to kill my son, I'm not going to let you get away with that."

House directed his securitrons to begin with automatic and laser fire, but the small patrol was not enough to stop these large rifles they appeared to be carrying. Were those anti-material rifles? His machines were not ready to take on such firepower as their bullets seemed to penetrate through the frames and tear apart his units' interior electronics. Just like the Van Graffs, the number of people who were present had torn apart his forces.

This agitated him greatly. Artyom had not simply escaped from his punishment, but he had returned with a force to deal with him. This could not stand and he had to redirect the stationary units throughout the strip to join with the main Strip gate entrance. Although their numbers worked well in such close encounters, the forces he gathered were enough to deter any entrance without massive casualties and they would be funneling into the gunfire.

The civilians quickly scattered and fled from the main street into the strip for it would become a warzone from their perspective. Some peeked out to observe the fighting, but others were quick to convince them to leave the situation before they became casualties as well. Then he noted the several casualties from his units standing on guard at the Strip entrance. Apparently, their anti-material rifles also served as snipers.

Of course, he could retreat into the Strip and fight the enemy there, but the problem remained with those snipers. They needed to be dealt with swiftly or the attrition alone would reduce the fighting effectiveness. However, none of them had any long-range capabilities and without his Platinum Chip in effect, they were sitting ducks against the Russians. There was one solution he was willing to deal with. It would take casualties, but better to take casualties to take out a target than receive and do nothing.

The securitrons slowly advanced up the road with machine guns firing upon the Russians taking cover in the streets. Many were suppressed by the 9mm ammo, but others found themselves stuck by the bullet for being too brave. Now they would have to learn the lesson of fighting machines who knew nothing about fear or morale. The House always wins and no one could stop him.

Small and explosive blasts had damaged the units at the front of the lines, but it was not a total loss. The damaged units could still fight, not as effectively, but neither were they out of the fight. Some of the enemies were still persistent about killing the soldiers when the machines simply did not have the caution that humans had - resulting with situations where men were overwhelmed by a slow advancing force that human spirit could not stand up against. They were retreating and rightfully so, there was little they could do against such organized forces. Was this the ally that aligned themselves with the NCR? If this was their best then they are a poor excuse of allies.

House would have to push them out of New Vegas and regain order in Freeside, but he noticed a detail about the sensors of his units. After his units were away from the entrance to the Strip, he noticed several blinks coming out from one of the alleys and storming the doors. They had played him! He detached a small group of securitrons to return to the Lucky 38 and terminate these trespassers until none of them lived. Yet, they had already penetrated into the strip and were making their way inside.

It was a good trade to sell his Kalashnikov and Tihar for a Shambler with a box magazine and some American weapon nicknamed the 'All-American' rifle. For what reason the merchants named it, he would never know, but these weapons made his life easier as the securitrons received the wrath of a belt-fed assault shotgun.

When the fighting was over, Artyom had reloaded his box magazine by slipping another belt inside. Meanwhile, Sukhoi took control of his men. "Okay, some of us will have to stay behind and hold off any reinforcements from outside," He glanced towards his son, whose head was hidden behind a helmet. "Whatever you are going to do, finish this."

The courier had nudged Artyom as their companions paid attention to the noise of the elevator. Many readied their weapons to deal with what lies inside. After it had arrived, the elevator opened, revealing three securitrons as they rolled out. One of the machines had a cowboy for a face as he spoke up. "You two should have died at Goodsprings if this is was going to happen, but that's enough talk. Let's draw."

Angelique blasted plasma shots into their systems while Veronica stepped in to shatter an approaching securitron through the screens by a single punch alone. However, the cowboy one was swift to move aside as the Russians unleashed their firepower on the lone machine. After the machine was destroyed, Veronica let out a relieving laugh. "If the Brotherhood found out I was helping a man and a courier overthrow the leader of New Vegas, they wouldn't believe me."

Pavel revealed the situation becoming ever more dangerous as everyone saw him shut the doors to the Lucky 38. "Hate to break the moment, but they're coming through!"

Artyom and Angelique stepped into the elevator before Cass and Veronica joined them. "House is going to be expecting us soon. We might not step out alive." He said.

Cass walked up to him as she loaded her shotgun shells. "It's okay, we'll get through this. That is something you taught me when we were at the Sierra Madre."

Time passed as they waited for the elevator to reach the penthouse, but Angelique spoke. "Artyom, do you still remember that terminal under the stairs?"

The stalker nodded his head. "Yes, it should still be there."

"Good, I'm going to try and hack through the system. I just need everyone else to cover me. Is that clear?"

"Da."

"Why of course." Replied Veronica.

"If we somehow survive this, we are raiding the bar tonight," Cass commented. As the elevator arrived in place, she took the lead. "Someone is going to be waiting for us, I got this."

When the doors opened for the party, the Rose of Sharon Cassidy let off a loud shotgun blast that forced the securitron to flip over a railing and land on the ground. "You're getting used to the Duplet." Artyom admitted.

"Thanks to you, honey." She said with a smirk on her face.

Then they walked out as Veronica lead the way to smash apart securitrons responding to their assault. However, it was not enough to stop a bullet from striking the Brotherhood Scribe. "Ah, I'm hit!" She fell to the base of the stairs as Cass grabbed her from the shoulder and pulled her towards the terminal on the other side of the room. "Christine is totally going to kill me."

Artyom switched for his American assault rifle as slipped his backpack beside the wounded friend. "There are some medical supplies in there. Use it and get to it. Angelique, get to work!"

"You don't have to tell me." The courier replied before unlocking the keyboard and tapping her fingers into the system. "It should be quite simple from my perspective. Just give me time."

A microphone voice echoed into the room, causing the stalker to look around, only to find House's computer to life. "Did you really think you would win in all of this? The inevitable will come and my securitrons will have to sweep away the mess you have created. All of your efforts swept away under the rug while I have to deal with the political fallout you have created."

"Don't listen to him," Cass commented. "He's just sour that we just tricked him."

"Quite a ruse, but it was not enough to go unnoticed by my machines. That being said, more reinforcements are coming and not even your father would be able to handle the force coming to end this poor excuse of a coup-de-ta."

Angelique cried out in joy. "I got it. I'm opening the door to whatever House is sitting in!"

After she had entered the system, Artyom looked over his shoulder to see a wall opening in response to the courier's efforts. When she turned around the corner, she ducked as gunfire poured out in their general direction. "What are we facing? More of them?"

She shook her head. "Just a couple of securitrons and a turret. Don't worry, I got this." Angelique reached into her pocket, only to pull out a grenade of some sort in her hand. "Pulse grenade, this will fry their systems."

When she activated the weapon, her hand tossed it into the room inside as she returned back to the relative safety of the wall. A moment later, an explosion erupted before she jumped out to fire her plasma gun at the enemy inside.

"Clear! Artyom, come over here!"

He did what she said as he entered the room to see broken electronics and machinery lying across the floor. As he walked past their corpses, Angelique finished her us on the terminal beside an elevator. "The computer says that House is inside. Go and finish it, I'm going to see if there are more securitrons lying about in the penthouse and elsewhere."

She departed, leaving Artyom the only one to deal with the ruler of New Vegas, personally.

When the doors slid open, the stalker's assault rifle was raised while he observed the place he found himself in. The catwalk only leads one way towards the other side of the room, which had a console and an enclosed pod waiting for him. Yet, his presence seemed to inspire fear into the man who taunted him and his companions earlier. "Young man, stop where you are. Do not approach the pod and the console, I'll let you go and never attack you ever again."

It was the complete one-hundred and eighty degrees of what House once showed to Artyom with his complete superiority gone. As he stepped forward, the ruler was beginning to beg more.

"Please, let us reconsider our options. You don't necessarily need to kill me. I can give you the wealth you couldn't dream of. I can give you ownership of the Lucky 38, but do not open that console!"

Artyom stopped at the console just to see the various buttons related to cleaning or termination, but the one he was looking for was the button to open the pod. He needed to see the face of New Vegas himself and confront the man who wanted to hurt the people he adored. The worst offender was that the man who rescued him from the Van Graffs also hired them to not only kill him, but his rose. His hand reached out for the button and pressed it hard.

In light of his decision, the pod released a loud hiss from inside. Mechanical arms began to rise out alongside a body strapped to the table that preserved him. "What have you done?!" The drained corpse demanded. "All of my life's work was in vain and even if you put me back into the pod, my exposure to bacteria will lessen my lifespan to less than a year. Do you realize the future for humanity is gone all because of your short-sightedness."

The young man held the urge to turn him into a corpse. "You tried to kill me, my Cassidy, and turn my loyalty against the Spartan Order." He replied. "What did you think was going to happen?"

He croaked. "Your death. I had plans for humanity, plans to get them out of this poor excuse for a phoenix of civilizations. My plans for the future-"

"Your future." Artyom cut him off. "Are you so out of place of reality that you don't know what motivations people have and what they think of your plans? Do you really think all of humanity would agree with you?"

"Yes," House answered. "The world would have been a better place with me as its autocratic leader, I would have gotten humanity into the stars and we would have regained the legacy of the past."

"That's not going to work. You fail to recognize that this is a reality that can only exist under you and only you. Once you are gone, it won't last. Not even you could outlast time." He countered.

"What would you know? You're an outsider, a scavenger. You cannot comprehend the future that humanity would have gotten."

The Russian reached for the kill switch. "You would be surprised, I've read enough history books to know. Now it is time to stop delaying the inevitable." After flicking the switch, House started screaming to the top of his lungs with bursts of electrical energy springing forth and wrapping around the ruler of New Vegas.

Author's Note: With House out of the way, I can now focus on the other sets of the story… especially with Lonesome Road.

Aren serathy: I'm just describing how much of a slug it was to get through the chapter.

Paladin Bailey: Thanks for the review, I appreciate it.