Chapter 51 - Boomer B-29s & Brotherhood Blues
"Hello, Jaune." Pyrrha chirped, with more warmth than even she had anticipated, as she saw the boy step out of the lift, and into the Lucky 38's penthouse. "It's been a while."
"Hey, Pyrrha." Jaune smiled back. "Sorry I'm late."
"It's fine. I can't imagine the fucking Boomers were very welcoming." Pyrrha shook her head, before taking a second to eye him up and down.
And if anybody asked, she was not checking him out! She was just making sure he was okay. Really.
Before they'd left the Lucky 38 the last time, House had asked her (and by extension, him) to forge an alliance with the Boomers and break Caesar's alliance with the Great Khans after she'd brought the Securitron Vault online.
The problem was, the Boomers at Nellis lobbed artillery shells at anybody who gotten close (and a few that hadn't; the NCR had once tried to make them capitulate by cutting off their water. In response, the Boomers had simply begun shelling the NCR's water pipelines throughout Eastern New Vegas, until the NCR had turned it back on. That had been embarrassing for the NCR...), which was why she'd originally wanted to go and deal with the Boomers, while letting him deal with the Khans at Red Rock (who, as a martial culture, would have definitely been impressed by him and his ability to go toe-to-toe with Super Mutants).
Unfortunately, once he'd heard about how dangerous it was, he'd insisted that he be the one to get into Nellis, and had refused to back down.
She knew he was fast and talented, sure... but artillery shells were on a completely different level from bullets and sticks of dynamite.
"I don't know, they seemed pretty welcoming..." Jaune murmured. "Threw lots of gifts at me. Even rolled out a carpet, though I didn't have time to paint it red."
"Are you okay?" Pyrrha inquired worriedly. She couldn't see any wounds on him, but explosions did internal damage as well.
"Don't worry, Pyrrha." Jaune just waved a hand nonchalantly. "They all missed."
That was technically true; he'd learned the value of moving fast and unpredictably in Beacon, and the Boomers hadn't been able to nail him directly with their shells, which were slower than a Nevermore's feather-spears.
Of course, artillery shells didn't need direct hits to hurt, or send him flying, but between his Aura and his shield he'd ended up using the force of the explosions to help him fly towards the base.
Unfortunately, though, that particular move had landed him right in front of a guard with a rocket launcher.
Fortunately for him, Raquel had been so... impressed by his feat that she'd lowered the rocket launcher, and introduced herself as the "Master-At-Arms" for Nellis.
Then she'd told that the Boomers' Elder, Mother Pearl, had foretold of the day when a "savage" would reach the gates of Nellis, and that any "savage" who reached their gates should be brought to her.
He hadn't really had a chance to do more than just nod along, trying to pretend he had any idea what was going on, before she'd grabbed him by the arm and brought him in front of a kindly old woman with a grenade launcher, who'd promptly greeted him: "Welcome, child! Took your sweet time getting here, didn't you? I've been waiting a good five years for an outsider to come along and visit!"
He'd resisted the urge to cross him arms and pout, but it had been a close thing.
Pearl had then continued on, talking about how the Wasteland was changing, and while the younger Boomers, raised in the safety and isolation of Nellis, believed that the power of their guns would be more than enough to keep the Wasteland out... Pearl, who had been among the original settlers from Vault 34, had seen the Wasteland first hand.
She knew that they needed to let it in, even if it was just a little... or they'd become victims to it.
To his surprise, she'd then asked him for help, in convincing the younger generation that not every generation needed to be blown up.
The next four days had been... interesting, to say the least, from helping Raquel with an explosive ant problem in the generator room (and that had been a surprise, hearing that the ants fucking exploded. Fortunately, he hadn't need to channel Aura into his sword, and things had worked out just fine), healing the wounded for the local doctor with his Aura, finding a missing teddy bear for a sweet little girl, and sitting down in a museum, listening to the history of the Boomers, and exchanging insights about their ways (such as discussing crop rotation in a desert, or the nutritional value of plants to prevent protein and vitamin deficiency disorders. If Dr. Oobleck had taught him history in the same way that Pete did, Jaune could say for certain his grades would be much better).
The final thing he'd done for them before leaving had been the most interesting, though.
Apparently, they'd found out about a crashed "B-29" aircraft in a nearby lake, and wanted it. Badly.
Jaune had ended up diving to the bottom of the lake, using a rebreather they'd given him, attaching ballasts underneath the two wings, and detonating the releases to raise the "Lady in the Lake".
As the Boomers had towed it away (having distracted the rest of the Wasteland by shelling some uninhabited part of Outer Vegas), an old Boomer, Loyal, had tearfully hugged Jaune, thanking him for giving the Boomers the chance to fulfil their only dreams beyond the walls of Nellis, while Pearl had asked him what they could do for him.
"Anyway, I got the Boomers to agree to help House during the upcoming battle." Jaune informed Pyrrha, deciding that she didn't need to know the boring little details.
Pyrrha let loose a low whistle, impressed by Jaune once again. The boomers were notoriously xenophobic and paranoid, and somehow, while she'd been in the Fort and Red Rock, he'd just gotten them to agree to help him?
"Just like that?" Pyrrha asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I may have helped them with a little something in Lake Mead..." Jaune admitted sheepishly.
"Lake Mead..." Pyrrha repeated, wondering why that sounded familiar. Then her eyes widened: "Wait, is that why people have been reporting some huge creature surfacing in Lake Mead?"
"It wasn't that big..." Jaune murmured, looking away shiftily.
"Arc..."
"Anyway!" Jaune shouted, quickly changing the subject "How was the Fort?"
Pyrrha just rolled her eyes at the blatant attempt, but decided to play along, knowing that their meeting with House was coming up soon. There'd be time to catch up (and force answers out of him) later. "It was a shithole, Jaune."
"That bad?" Jaune asked sympathetically.
"It made Freeside look like the fucking Strip." Pyrrha snorted, before snapping her fingers. "Oh, right, Benny was there too."
"Benny? You mean the guy that shot you?" Now it was Jaune's turn to be surprised. "What in Oum's name was he doing there?"
"Apparently he wanted to get a new job working for Caesar, since his bridges were burned in Vegas." Pyrrha still found the story as stupid as she had when she'd heard it a week ago. "Instead of asking for a meeting, though, he stole a Legion boat and sneak into the Fort, before dressing up like a Legionary. Caesar's men caught him because he forgot to change his hairstyle, though."
"... you're joking, right?" Jaune asked in disbelief.
"I'm really not." Pyrrha shook her head, before continuing: "And speaking of jokes, did you know that Caesar thinks you're apparently the greatest weapon in the Wasteland?"
It took Jaune a few seconds to process Pyrrha's words, before he snorted with incredulous laughter.
"That was my response too." Pyrrha nodded sagely.
"How does he even know about me?" Jaune wondered between chuckles.
"Apparently there's some myths from the East about something called the "Crocea Mors"." Pyrrha answered. "Single-handedly broke the Enclave in the Capital Wasteland or something."
"And he thinks that's me?" Jaune's disbelief only grew. "That sounds more like Liberty Prime."
"Liberty Prime?" Pyrrha wasn't familiar with the name.
"A giant death robot the Brotherhood used, during their war with the Enclave." Jaune told her, unable to help the grin on his face as he remembered watching it in action. "Eye lasers that destroyed their aircraft in a single hit, and a backpack full of giant bombs that it tossed like balls. That thing single-handedly won a lot of battles for the Brotherhood, until the Enclave nuked it from orbit..."
"Huh..." Pyrrha found herself at a loss for words.
The idea that Caesar's ravings about the Crocea Mors might have actually had a basis in reality shocked her. But she could definitely see this "Liberty Prime" being an ultimate weapon, based on how Jaune was describing it. Definitely worth the caps he'd offered for Jaune.
"Well, anyway, he seems convinced that it was you." Pyrrha continued. "Even offered me fifty thousand caps if I handed you over."
"Fifty thousand?!" Jaune exclaimed. "That's... but... how would you even transport that?!"
Pyrrha snorted. Of course that would be what he focused on. "I assume he'd have probably given me a wheelbarrow. Or a cart and a brahmin to pull it..."
Then she blinked, as she realized something.
He'd seen Liberty Prime in action?
He'd seen the war between the Brotherhood and the Enclave?
"Wait a minu-"
"Mr. House will see you now." A Securitron interrupted her with a female voice, as it opened the door to House's main console.
"Thanks, Jane." Jaune greeted the Securitron amiably, while Pyrrha paid it little mind, instead walking in.
"No problem, sugar." The Securitron with a female neuro-computational matrix of one of House's favorite girls (from before the War) returned the greeting, privately pleased by the politeness the boy showed.
"The foundation is laid." House announced, as the pair entered the room. "My Securitrons on the Strip are upgraded, and those at the Fort, ready for action. Now, any progress on the Boomers and the Great Khans?"
"I managed to convince Papa Khan that the Legion had no intention of honoring their alliance." Pyrrha spoke first. "It was easy, when the Frumentarius assigned to the Great Khans left a fucking journal detailing his opinions about their, and I quote, "savage and barbarous customs". I especially liked the parts where he waxed philosophically about how much pleasure he'd derive from watching the Legion execute the lot of them. Final nail in the coffin was when that Great Khan from Boulder City vouched for me, both for being a tough bitch who walked off two bullets to the head, and for helping him get back to Red Rock. They'll be using the chaos of the Battle of Hoover Dam to leave the Mojave, looking for a new legacy."
"Excellent work, Miss Nikos." House replied appreciatively. "It seems Caesar has far lower hiring standards than I do, naturally. And the Boomers?"
This time, it was Jaune's turn to speak: "Well, they've agreed to help shoot at whatever you want at the Hoover Dam."
"Very good, Mr. Arc." House nodded at the boy, who had exceeded his (admittedly low) expectations just by surviving. "I must admit, I had my reservations when Miss Nikos brought you on into our little endeavor, but you've proven yourself so far."
"Uh, thanks?" Jaune wasn't sure how to respond that.
"Now, on to your next assignment." House changed the topic. "Locate and destroy remnants of the Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel."
Jaune blinked in surprise, and Pyrrha eyed Jaune nervously, remembering what he'd said about the Brotherhood in the Capital Wasteland.
"The NCR nearly did the job at Helios One a few years ago, but there seem to have been survivors, unfortunately." House continued on. "Please - put them out of my misery."
"There has to be another way." Jaune challenged, stepping forward. He didn't know what the Mojave chapter was like, having never met them, and he doubted they were the nicest of people, based on Veronica's descriptions of them... but they were still Brotherhood, right? Like Sarah and the rest of the Lyons' Pride?
"Given the Brotherhood's fanatical views on technology, they can be counted on to oppose my regime." House replied, audibly rolling his eyes. "Why are you so concerned with the fate of the Brotherhood?"
"Because I worked with the Brotherhood, back in the Capital Wasteland." Jaune answered back, ignoring Pyrrha's widening eyes. "And I think you're making a mistake, simply ordering them to be wiped out. They can be a force for good."
"Don't tell me that you've fallen for the stories of noble paladins on crusade, preserving mankind's technology in a benighted age?" House retorted. "Dross!"
"They protected the people from the Super Mutants and the Enclave." Jaune countered, remembering GNR Plaza and Project Purity.
"In the Capital Wasteland, perhaps." House conceded, having seen the reports about the Brotherhood-Enclave War. "But here? They're a terrorist group, basically. Militant, quasi-religious fanatics obsessed with hoarding Pre-War technology."
Jaune's jaw clenched, unable to answer. He remembered Veronica's complaints about the local chapter of the Brotherhood, and knew that House wasn't too far off the mark.
But at the same time... there were people like Veronica, who were trying to change things. And the Brotherhood had produced people like Elder Lyons and Sarah...
"And not all technology, mind you." House continued his rant, unaware of Jaune's thoughts. "You don't see them raiding hospitals to cart away Auto-Docs or armfuls of prosthetic organs. No, they greatly prefer the sort of technology that puts people in hospitals. Or graves, rather, since hospitals went the way of the Dodo."
"You seem to really hate the Brotherhood..." Pyrrha noted, more to break the awkward silence that followed than out of any genuine interest.
"Because they're ridiculous! Because they galavant around the Mojave pretending to be Knights of Yore!" House exclaimed, before taking a deep breath, calming down. "Or did, until the NCR showed them that ideological purity and shiny power armor don't count for much when you're outnumbered 15:1."
"Yes, but there are people trying to change that!" Jaune couldn't help but protest. "Please, just give me a chance to talk with them-"
"And what makes you think they'll listen to you, when the past 20 years of war with the NCR haven't taught them a thing?" House pointed out. Then he sighed, recollecting himself, and gently informed the boy: "In any case... this is an employer - employee relationship. I've given you an assignment-"
"I think Jaune has a point." Pyrrha spoke up in her friend's defense, albeit reluctantly.
She didn't really like the Brotherhood, based on what she knew, and the fact that Jaune had worked with the Brotherhood during their war against the Enclave had shocked her (what, did they send a 13 year old kid to fight the fucking Enclave?!). But she knew Jaune, or at least knew Jaune enough, to know he was nothing like what the Brotherhood generally were.
"The Brotherhood of Steel are militaristic, xenophobic, and reclusive isolationists who are paranoid about Outsiders..." Pyrrha began slowly.
"They're not that bad..."
"They truly are, Mr. Arc."
"Just like the Boomers, don't you think?" Pyrrha finished by pointing out.
The pair paused, chewing on that thought.
"You do have a point..." House conceded.
"Why not give Jaune a chance?" Pyrrha pressed the advantage. "And if it doesn't work out, I'll take responsibility for it and clean up the mess."
"Pyrrha..." Jaune muttered, touched by the gesture.
House and Pyrrha locked eyes (or at least, her eyes stared at his screen).
"Very well." House finally sighed. "I will give Mr. Arc one chance to prove himself."
"I'll do whatever it takes." Jaune answered firmly.
"I have reports of the son of a prominent NCR business man going missing in the Ultra-Luxe." House announced. "Investigate and deal with the situation."
"Got it." Jaune replied quickly.
"Quietly." House emphasized. "I don't want this blowing up and hurting the Strip's reputation."
"No problem." Jaune nodded, eager for the chance to try and at least help the Brotherhood. After what Elder Lyons had done for him and Ruby Ironwood, he felt that he owed the old man at least that much. "I won't let you down! Thanks Mr. House! And thanks, Pyrrha!"
As he rushed out of the room, and towards the lift, Pyrrha and House watched his retreating back as the doors closed.
"Like I told you, Mr. Arc is far too soft." House chastised, as soon as his sensors detected Jaune in the lift. "You know what the Brotherhood is really like, Miss Nikos."
"I do." Pyrrha nodded. "But, I also know that Jaune has a tendency of surprising people."
"You believe Mr. Arc can pull it off?" House inquired skeptically.
"I've seen him peacefully talk down crazy Nightkin and religious ghouls who were on the brink of war." Pyrrha confidently stated. "Trust me, the kid has a way with words."
"I trust in your ability to take responsibility, should the result be sub-optimal." House reminded her. "Now, while we await Mr. Arc's return, I have another assignment for you. Don't worry, it won't take you far. It concerns the Omertas and their den of vice, Gomorrah..."
-HIDDEN VALLEY BUNKER, MOJAVE WASTELAND-
Why had that voice sounded so familiar?
It'd been almost two weeks, and she still couldn't get it out of her head!
"... Ironwood..."
Where had she heard it last?
She knew she should've spent more time searching the Strip!
"Sentinel Ironwood..."
But even so...
Why did she want to hear that voice so much again?
"Ruby!" Sarah hissed, finally getting her attention.
"What is it, Elder Lyons?" Ruby Ironwood asked, turning to her long-time friend. "What's wrong?"
"I should be asking you that." Sarah retorted, the formality of the situation being the only thing stopping her from groaning into her temples. "You've been in your own world for the past five minutes."
"I was?" Ruby blinked.
"... yes, Sentinel Ironwood." Sarah growled, the urge to massage her temples growing. "Yes, you were."
"... sorry, Sarah." Ruby apologized sheepishly. "It's just... I heard something on the Strip. And it's stuck in my head..."
"Did it have something to do with your family?" Sarah inquired, concerned. Despite her cold exterior, she knew the value of family.
"No... there was just a voice. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but for some reason, I can't get it out of my head..."
"Well, I need you to focus right now, Sentinel." Sarah reminded her. "It took us a week to set up this meeting with the local Elder; if we want to try and change things, you're our best bet at convincing them that Wastelanders are good for the Brotherhood, Ms. Lone Wanderer."
"I still don't get why that name stuck." Ruby pouted. "Was it really so hard to call me the Wandering Knight?"
"At least it sounds better than a Knight-Errant..." Sarah conceded.
"Jaune thought it was cool..." Ruby retorted, before frowning. "He should be here, not me..."
"Mr. Dimensional Traveler wasn't technically a Wastelander, Ruby." Sarah rolled her eyes, before she her tone softened. Not unkindly, she added: "And don't sell yourself short. Jaune would be proud of everything you've accomplished while he's been gone."
"You really think so?" Ruby asked hopefully.
"I know he would be." Sarah nodded, before grimacing, as Ruby began emitting pure hope and positivity like a faulty nuclear reactor bled radiation. God, she could feel her teeth rotting just from the proximity, even through their T-60f power armor suits...
"Elder McNamara will see you two now." Head Paladin Hardin gruffly said, interrupting their conversation, as he unlocked the door to the Elder's command room. "But your guards stay outside."
"Go fu-" Paladin Reddin began, before being silenced by a look from Sarah.
"Very well." Sarah conceded, glaring around at the Pride, daring any of them to speak up. "But we will remain armed and armored, naturally."
"Fine." Hardin sighed, ushering them in. Honestly, as much as he hated to admit it, he knew it was a pointless gesture, based on what he'd heard.
If they really were veterans of a war against the Enclave, who'd fought their way here from the Capital Wasteland, there was no way his Paladins, most of whom hadn't even seen combat outside of training simulations, would be able to resist, even if their armors had been equal (which he doubted).
But still, a small part of him couldn't help but be excited for the arrival of these newcomers. They came from a place where the Brotherhood not only operated openly, but held significant power? And had been strong enough to fight off the Enclave? Their arrival promised change, at the very least, and it wasn't like it could get any worse than it already was for them.
"Greetings, fellow Elder." Elder Nolan McNamara nodded calmly. "I am Elder McNamara. I've been informed your chapter wished to initiate contact with mine?"
"Yes... I am Elder Sarah Lyons, leader of the East Coast Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel." Sarah began formally.
"The East Coast Chapter..." McNamara frowned. "Is it true that your chapter had a civil war, because an Elder went rogue?"
"My father did not go rogue." Sarah snarled, stepping forward. "He followed the spirit of the Brotherhood's original mission; to protect humanity!"
"So it is true..." McNamara breathed. "And you're here to plead for leniency on his part?"
"What? No!" Sarah exclaimed. "I'm here to ask the Western Elders why they've been refusing our attempts at contact for years!"
"Oh..." McNamara's eyes widened, as he realized he was talking to the group that had gone native, and not the traditionalists. "So... you're the ones that broke the Codex..."
"Like I said, we didn't break the Codex." Sarah snarled, remembering her father's doubts and worries, that he thought he'd managed to hide from her. "We followed it's spirit, it's intent!"
"I see..." McNamara found the conversation fascinating, if not a little disturbing. All this time, he'd never truly considered that path, the one that only Journeyman Scribe Santangelo had advocated for... the one that she'd been shunned for. And yet, their armor and weaponry far outclassed his chapters. He needed to know more. "And how has that worked out for you?"
"Well, thanks to the fact we actually recruit Wastelanders, we far outnumber and outgun the Outcasts." Sarah grinned grimly, ignoring the shocked gasps that came from around the room.
"But... the Codex..." Hardin murmured in outraged, echoed by the many scandalized whispers throughout the room.
The Codex was clear. They did not let them in.
"What about the Vault Dweller from Vault 13?" Sarah shot back. "What about the Chosen One from Arroyo?"
"Those were exceptions, after they'd performed a great service-"
"Bullshit." Sarah scoffed. "It was allowed because we were fighting for our fucking survival, in the Unity Crisis and against the Enclave in the 40s. So why act so surprised, when my father allowed it again when we were fighting the Super Mutants and the goddamn Enclave?!"
"His mission was not to fight the Super Mutants, and the authority was not his!" Hardin shouted.
"The mission of the Brotherhood has always been to protect humanity!" Sarah shouted, repeating herself. "And the Codex is clear on the authority of the Elder!"
"Hypocrite!"
"Enough!" McNamara shouted, banging his fist against his desk. "Are you coming to a point, Elder Lyons?"
"Look around you!" Sarah shouted back. "Look at how empty these halls are! Look at how far your chapter has fallen! I don't need to make my point, Elder McNamara; you can't blindly follow our traditions anymore, or you'll die out!"
"We've outlasted the end of the world. We'll outlast these upstarts." McNamara scoffed, more for show than anything else.
"We don't need Outsiders to win our war!" Hardin sniped. "We just need to stop hiding like cowards!"
Sarah wanted to rip her hair out in frustration.
Instead, though, she took a deep breath, though her anger still threatened to spill over as she remembered that Outsider, and began again: "And how much talent, how much skilled individuals, are you missing out, just because of your blind adherence to our outdated traditions?
"This is Sentinel Ruby Ironwood!" Sarah continued, gesturing to Ruby. "Author of the Wasteland Survival Guide, Hero of our war against the Enclave, Liberator of the Pitt! And a Wastelander! If we had refused contact with Outsiders, forget our current position in the Capital Wasteland; we would have been wiped out by the Enclave! Just like you've almost been by the NCR!"
"HELIOS ONE was a tactical and strategic blunder-"
"And how long will we be haunted by HELIOS ONE?!"
"Do you have a point, Edgar?"
"What are you doing, Sarah?" Ruby whispered, as the room devolved into chaos. "I thought we were trying to convince them, not anger them!"
"Change of plans." Sarah hissed back furiously. "These people are morons."
Ruby just sighed, knowing that Sarah had never suffered fools gladly.
Fortunately, before people could start coming to physical blows, the door slammed open.
-FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER-
"I'd like a large Atomic Shake and a double Brahmin burger. And easy on the agave sauce this time." Journeyman Scribe Veronica Santangelo spoke clearly into the intercom, struggling to press the button while balancing everything in her hands. Food, water, medical supplies, scrap metal...
"We gave you a password, Veronica." The intercom boomed back, exasperation audible even despite the distortions. "It's for your safety."
"I know where you live, Ramos." Veronica threatened, only semi-jokingly. "Open up!"
"Ugh, for Pete's sake..." Ramos grumbled. She would, too, wouldn't she... "Opening up! Welcome back, Veronica..."
The door to the bunker opened, and she hummed a tune as she began making her way down.
At the bottom of the stairs, she nodded to Senior Paladin Ramos cheerfully, who took the opportunity to chide her: "Behave yourself this time, Veronica."
"Lookin' sharp, Ramos." Veronica returned the greeting.
She would've made finger gun gestures at him as well, but her hands were too full.
"Hey yourself, kiddo." Ramos replied warmly, helping her unload her packs. "Did you manage to get me any Fancy Lads while you were up there?"
"Sorry, Ramos." Veronica answered apologetically. "Prices have been rising in the region, between the Legion's increasing presence and the Long 95 going down."
Ramos just sighed.
"Anyway, what's new in the bunker?" Veronica asked teasingly, knowing that nothing ever happened.
Ramos felt a smirk growing on his face. "Now that you mention it, kiddo, we've gotten some new visitors..."
"New visitors?" Veronica's head spun so quickly it almost gave her whiplash.
"Yeah." Ramos grinned. "New visitors."
"Any of them leggy brunettes?"
"I don't know... they were all in power armor."
"Power armor?" Veronica echoed. "So... they're Brotherhood, then?"
"Yes, but here's the kicker." Ramos paused for dramatic effect. "It's not any kind of power armor that we have. They're from one of the Eastern chapters. Specifically the Capital Wasteland."
Veronica spent half a second processing this information, before her brain froze.
Hadn't that boy she'd met at the 188 mentioned he'd been from the Capital Wasteland's Brotherhood?
He'd asked her to deliver a message, too, hadn't he.
Five simple words that made no sense. Probably a code of some kind...
"Can I see them?" Veronica begged. "Please?"
"They're meeting Elder McNamara right now." Ramos just jerked his thumb in their direction, before watching with amusement as Veronica all but sprinted down the corridor.
God, ever since Christine Royce had left, Veronica hadn't been able to find a proper date...
Veronica made her way deeper down the bunker, spewing out pleasantries to whoever she passed as she eagerly rushed to see the newcomers, wanting to know if what the kid had said was true.
She didn't even spare a snide comment for Watkins when she commented on her hood and hair.
Finally, as she reached the room before McNamara's command room, she laid her eyes on the Lyons' Pride.
Her jaw dropped.
It wasn't just their armor, which she didn't even recognize.
It wasn't just their weaponry.
It was the way they carried themselves.
She could read rank insignias.
Whereas even the Mojave Chapter's Paladins moved like haunted men, hunted relentlessly by NCR Rangers, the Initiate standing before carried herself with pride, honor, and confidence.
She hadn't seen a person in power armor carry themselves like that for a long time.
"Do you need something?" The Initiate asked her, as she belatedly realized she'd been staring for longer than was polite.
"Uh, it's just..." Veronica stuttered. "I heard there were visitors from the Capital Wasteland?"
"That's right." The Initiate nodded, before slapping a fist against her breast as she introduced herself: "Initiate Sydney, of the Lyons' Pride. We're here escorting our Elder to a meeting."
"Lyons' Pride..." Veronica murmured, the name sounding familiar.
Oh, right, the boy from the 188 had mentioned he'd worked with them, hadn't he?"
"That's right." A Paladin answered proudly. "We're the best outfit in the whole Brotherhood of Steel. Went toe-to-toe with Super Mutant behemoths, the Enclave, and the Raiders of the Pitt!"
Veronica could confidently say she didn't understand most of that, but the Paladin clearly took pride in her unit.
Shaking her head, she continued: "Do you happen to have a way to contact Ruby Ironwood?"
The Lyons' Pride exchanged confused looks.
Another, a Knight-Captain, spoke up: "And what business do you have with the Sentinel?"
"Ruby Ironwood's a Sentinel?" Veronica blinked.
"Right... most people don't know..." The Paladin murmured.
"Look, I was just asked to deliver a message from someone claiming to know Ms. Ironwood..." Veronica defended, before shouting suddenly became audible from the command room.
The Lyons' Pride exchanged a look, and with a nod they kicked the door open, before bursting into the room, ready to guard their members.
Veronica let loose a low whistle.
Even the Initiate moved better than Ramos.
As the room quietened down, in the face of the new firepower, and the Lyons' Pride cautiously lowered their weapons, belatedly realizing their Elder and Sentinel weren't about to be attacked, Veronica took the chance to slip into the room.
Unfortunately for her, McNamara spotted her, and called out to her: "Hello, Veronica. How goes your mission?"
Veronica winced, as she felt the harsh gazes of the hardline traditionalists turn to her.
God, she was getting a warmer reception from the fucking visitors than her own family...
"Hey, Elder McNamara..." Veronica answered sheepishly, like a child who'd been caught with her hand in the Fancy Lads Snack Cake box. "Uh, it's... it's going okay? Listen, I'm more here on... other business..."
"Veronica, tell me this isn't about-" McNamara sighed, as the glares tripled in intensity.
"It's really not this time!" Veronica defended herself. "I was just asked to deliver a message to the Brotherhood of Steel in the Capital Wasteland!"
The room began to be filled with murmurs, and the two visitors stepped forward, removing their helmets.
"You have a message from us?" Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her presence was a secret, and her assets were all accounted for. Who could have passed a message to her, and why would they have passed it to her via an unknown scribe?
Veronica's jaw dropped, as she realized the attractive young woman in front of her was an Elder.
"I... uh..." Veronica stuttered, wanting to dig a hole and jump into it, as she made a fool of herself in front of an Elder. Clearing her throat, she recollected herself, and tried again: "Do you have a way to pass a message on to Ruby Ironwood?"
"That's me." Ruby chirped, poking her head out from behind Elder Sarah Lyons.
Veronica's eyes widened. The young girl in front of her was the author of the Wasteland Survival Guide?!
"The message?" Sarah pressed, rolling her eyes at the scribe's star-struck behavior. She'd honestly seen more than enough of it back at the Citadel, whenever Ruby dropped by to run combat classes or say hello.
"Oh, right." Veronica coughed. "I ran into someone claiming to be from the East Coast Brotherhood of Steel. He, uh... said he was a survivor of Adams AFB?"
Ruby and Sarah exchanged a confused look. They'd accounted for their casualties on that bloody day already, hadn't they?
"Anyway, he specifically asked me to deliver a simple message to Ruby Ironwood..." Veronica explained. "Uh, listen... I'll be honest? I don't understand the message at all, and I forgot to get his name, so I'll just say it word-for-word, okay?"
"Alright." Ruby nodded, leaning forward. "What is it?"
"Aura is bullshit, Vomit Girl."
Author's Note: Behold! A timeskip! Where I finally inch closer and closer to the climax!
... holy fuck, just how much did I write in a single day? And it's all still mostly dialogue and set-up...
Just a reminder; it's never shown in Seasons 1 to 3 that Jaune knew the name of the family sword. And since that's the main material I'm working with... Jaune doesn't recognize the name of the Crocea Mors. He might have recognized the term "Yellow Death", since he heard the Enclave using it in Site R, but he didn't realize they were referring to him. He really has no idea just how badly he brutalized the Enclave, since he was in a coma for two weeks and only fought in a few battles against them (their initial encounter in the Jefferson Memorial, the Destruction of Site R, the March of Liberty Prime, and the Battle of Adams AFB).
As for House's stance on the Western Brotherhood... he does have reason to call them fools and hypocrites. Where House subtly manipulates the NCR, and controls the Strip, the Brotherhood openly went to war with the NCR, and are now reduced to isolated bunkers. Where House and the Brotherhood both believe in controlling technology, the Brotherhood seizes it and refuses to let others have their shiny toys, while House's long-term goals require the proliferation of technology among the masses so as to stimulate research and development. And he does have a point, that they don't seem to give a damn about medical technology, unlike the Followers of the Apocalypse.
Honestly, this compromise was already me stretching it. Jaune would not have wiped out the Brotherhood, while House does not tolerate the Brotherhood in their current state. Therefore, Pyrrha's compromise; Jaune has proven himself able to handle groups to an astonishing degree. His performance with the Boomers does give him enough reputation in House's eyes that he is willing to give Jaune a chance to prove himself with a seemingly-small and relatively-insignificant operation with the White Gloves. At worst, Jaune messes up, and the Securitrons come in, and the Ultra-Luxe's reputation drops... which doesn't really matter at the moment, since House is playing for the whole Mojave.
And at best? Jaune succeeds, resolves the situation quietly, and he lets him talk to the Brotherhood, where he'll probably be disillusioned by them, fail to convince them to turn from their techno-fetishism, and has absolutely no grounds to complain as Pyrrha wipes them out (or just activates the bunker's self-destruct sequence and force them out of the Mojave like the Great Khans).
And if he somehow succeeds even at that? Well, House never really made plans for that impossibility, but a force of power-armored soldiers will probably be useful somewhere...
Also god, fuck the Brotherhood section. That was a pain in the ass and a half to write. Sarah's loyalty to the Brotherhood warring with her loyalty to her father's Brotherhood, versus McNamara's sense of pragmatism warring with his adherence to the Codex, versus Hardin's aggressive nature and his stricter interpretation of the Codex. And yes, unlike the rest of the East Coast Brotherhood, Sarah does still have some loyalty to the original Brotherhood. She sees the Lyons' Doctrine as being in line with the spirit of the Codex, even if it goes against the word of the Codex. And, to be fair, the Western Elders also couldn't come to a consensus on it... hence why they never technically stripped Elder Lyons of his rank.
Thank god for Veronica ex machina.
