The Courier died on Tuesday the twenty third of March 2184. He died with his arms ripped from his flesh, and a grimace of pain trapped on his face. Like most moments of rest in his life this didn't last long. Approximately 38 seconds in fact.
His world erupted in pain and light as he opened his eyes feeling blood coughs out of his throat. Strong hands pushed him back down and Rex barely registered a needle entering his neck as fresh pain washed over him. Shadows stood all around him stabbing him with steely fingers and holding him down; Pain surged through every synapse as they cut into him.
Rex tried to scream out, to call for help, to do anything, but something had been driven down his throat. Panic hit his veins like battery acid and he began to thrash trying to flail his nonexistent arms, and was rewarded with more shadowy arms pushing him down. More pinpricks and slivers of cold pierced into his muscles.
The shadows held him down against the table and he writhed under their grip; fighting back against the cold. He wouldn't let them make him sleep. Sleep was the void, and that was where his ghosts waited for him. Then relief came to him, her fingers on his brow quieted his rage and he looked up into her eyes.
"It's okay Rex. You're safe. I'm here."
An angel? Or was she a demon? Rex didn't know, but her words sank into his brain and his muscles released their tension. The cold invaded his heart and sent him sinking down into the void of his subconscious. As the light faded she stroked his forehead, and when the cool darkness claimed him Rex let it wrap around him.
/
Jack withdrew her hand from Rex's forehead and watched as they wheeled his gurney into the operating room. She tried to hold back a shiver as tears welled up in her eyes, but the shiver came and she started to tremble. With a stifled sob, she punched the wall burying her fist in the drywall. When she withdrew her fist, it was bleeding and coated in drywall.
This was why she should never have cared. Why did she let him in? He should have just been a quick angry fuck, but no she just had to start falling in love with the bastard. Pain and worry gripped Jack's chest as she looked towards the doors to the operating room. A part of her almost longed for the emptiness of solitude, at least then she wouldn't feel like a grenade had gone off in her chest.
"You don't mean that" she told the empty hall "You were nothing when you were alone, just an animal."
Her hand began to throb and Jack sighed. She rose and went off to find a nurse. When her hand was wrapped, she saw some of the others were arriving. Veronica entered the hospital with an entourage of techs, couriers, soldiers, and floating robots. As they entered Veronica spotted Jack and waved as she addressed the mob around her.
"Wilkens, I want the attacker's bodies moved to black site Sigma along with the creature's corpse" Veronica ordered a soldier before turning to the rest of the mob "Alright you all have your assignments and orders, if anything else comes up you know where I'll be"
The collected personnel saluted and dispersed out the doors to the waiting room. Veronica turned to Jack and wrapped her in a hug. Jack blinked and tensed up as Veronica locked her in a hug.
"I Know you're not a hugger Jack but I think you need one" Veronica said as she released Jack from her vice grip.
Reluctantly Jack relaxed and sighed before asking "What the fuck happened?"
"Honestly we don't know" Veronica said rubbing her temple "The weaponry was definitely NCR equipment and the attackers all had NCR dog tags."
"Than those fuckers are declaring war" Jack said with a growl.
"No, almost immediately after the attack we received word from the NCR embassy past the mountains" Veronica explained "Giving us a warning of some rogue soldiers who may have come to the Mojave after dishonorable discharge."
"Cocky mother fuckers, aren't they?"
"Yes, they know we know that those men couldn't have acted without support from someone, but if they're officially disavowed there's not much we can do" Veronica said scowling "Officially anyway, if they Wanna go the cloak and dagger route then that's a game we can both play".
"If you need a gun let me know" Jack said, "I wouldn't mind ripping these fuckers a few new assholes."
"Thanks, but if Rex was good at anything it was overkill; we have something planned" Veronica said "How is he?"
"Bad, both of his arms were ripped off and he was raving like a lunatic when they rolled him in" Jack said wrapping her arms around her shoulders "He died for a few seconds. I thought he was gone, and then he comes back screaming like a fucking demon. If I hadn't calmed him down, he might've killed himself."
"This is bad. How'd you manage to get here so fast?"
"Apparently, he managed to ask for me when they tried to move him." Jack explained.
"Oh" Veronica said before putting a hand on Jack's arm "He'll be okay"
"He damn well better be or I'm gonna kill him myself." Jack said.
They spent the next few hours in the waiting room. As the hours ticked by more of Rex's companions appeared. The room was soon stuffed with super mutants, ghouls, humans, and robots. When ED-E arrived the eye droid darted towards Veronica and immediately began beeping frantically.
"E slow down, you know I can't understand you like Rex does" Veronica said to the floating eyebot.
The robot spun around a few times before he began beeping again at a much slower speed.
"He's alive but he lost both of his arms and probably has internal bleeding" Veronica explained after listening to ED-E.
ED-E let out several flat and whiny beeps. They almost sounded sad to Jack.
"I know buddy I'm worried too" Veronica said patting the eye droid.
ED-E turned to Jack and began beeping at her.
"What's he saying?" Jack asked.
"I think he's offering you his condolences" Veronica said with a smile "He says Rex told him to make sure you're all right if anything happened to him."
"Thanks, I'm okay" Jack said suppressing a scowl at the floating robot. She still found it a little annoying when Rex thought she needed to be taken care of. Though a part of her liked it as well.
Mordin and Chakwas suddenly entered the room in surgical gear and were followed by a nurse pushing a hermetically sealed cart. The cart was marked Big Mt. symbols and scribbles in broken Salarian. Mordin nodded to her as he muttered to himself before continuing into the surgical wing, but Chakwas stopped and patted Jack on the arm before continuing after Mordin.
Another few hours passed and the day turned to night as Jack dozed off into a fitful sleep. When Veronica woke her, sun light streamed through the windows of the waiting room. Jack looked at Veronica expectantly and she nodded and gestured for Jack to follow. They entered the hospital proper and navigated the halls to a private room behind three layers of armed guards.
They entered the room and she saw him. Rex was lying on the hospital bed his eyes closed and his new silvery metal arms folded over his chest. He was hooked into a small army of machines monitoring his vitals; some were obviously local tech but some had holographic displays. His chest rose and fell as he breathed and his faced was locked in a grimace.
Jack heard his mumbling from across the room, and took a seat beside his bed and took one of his hands in hers. The metal fingers tightened around her hand and squeezed. His grip was strong and firm and Rex's face softened as she returned the squeeze. As he relaxed, Rex stopped mumbling and seemed to fall into sleep. Jack held his hand in hers and sat with him as the sun came up over New Vegas.
/
Veronica left Rex in Jack's care and returned to the Lucky 38. When she arrived in Rex's office she activated the false wall and entered the secret room behind it. The room doubled as storage and a lab space, and Veronica found eight vials under an array of sun lamps. Three contained a glowing green liquid and the other five contained clippings of leaves and vines.
When she picked up one of the vials containing the plant clippings the contents began to wriggle and shake. On the side of each vial, in small neat handwriting were the names of different plant species. The vials containing the green liquid were labeled with the names of several livestock species.
Veronica placed the vials in a hermetically sealed container and placed it in her pack. As she placed the container in her pack Veronica's hand brushed the holotape the doppelganger gave her. The holotape was pitch black and was heavier than any other tape Veronica had ever handled.
She took it out and inserted it into her pip-boy and a small image appeared on screen. Realizing it was a schematic of some kind Veronica ejected the holotape and inserted it into the office's main computer. It booted slowly at first, but after a few seconds the screen exploded with data.
"Holy shit" Veronica muttered as the schematic loaded. The computer processed the data and the schematic expanded to represent miles of metal and circuitry with mother ship zeta at the core. Veronica tapped commands and the schematics zoomed out to show the completed structure of the ship.
Even skimming through the data Veronica recognized that the ship's desighn was a hybrid of both her universe's and the Normandyverse's tech. Lost in the treasure trove of data, Veronica almost didn't hear the knock at the door. She turned to see Christine enter the room.
"Christine, you won't believe this…" Veronica began before seeing Allena behind her "Oh, did you settle in okay Allena?"
"Yes, thank you for letting me and Walta sleep here" the girl said running a hand through her copper hair nervously "Is my father dead?"
"No, sweetie he got out of surgery a few hours ago and he should be awake in the next few days" Veronica said smiling at the girl "Trust your father is very hard to kill."
The girl nodded timidly and adjusted her goggles. Allena hadn't taken the goggles off since she arrived; not even at night or indoors. Veronica didn't want to pry but the girl's obvious reluctance worried her. Taking Christine aside Veronica asked:
"Did we get the test results back?"
"Yeah they came in last night thanks to the Normandy's medical lab; She's Rex's daughter" Christine said.
"Well that was obvious, but it's nice to double check" Veronica said.
"So, what are we going to about her?"
"We figure out why she's looking for Rex, and then go from their" Veronica said, "Of course we also have to consult Rex about this."
"How do you think he'll react?" Christine asked.
"I don't know. For now, can you keep an eye on her?
"I'd be happy to, but the problem is with her cousin"
"What do you mean?"
"He seems to be a little too happy to leave her here with strangers" Christine explained "I don't know about you, but if I was responsible for a young girl I'd be a little reluctant to leave her alone."
"I'll talk to him" Veronica said turning back to Allena "Allena, can I ask you something?"
"Okay" the girl snapping back to reality.
"Your Mom's name is Kella right?" Veronica asked.
Allena's face drooped and she stared at the ground for a few moments before responding:
"My Mom's name was Kella, but the creeping sickness got her"
"Oh, I'm so sorry" Veronica said, "Is that why you were looking for Rex?"
"No, it isn't"
Veronica looked up to see Walta in the doorway leaning against the door jam. His weapon strapped to his back and a look of minor annoyance on his face. From his belt, he withdrew a letter and tossed it across the room. Veronica caught it and saw written in neat handwriting:
Rex
"My father would have taken Allena in, but her mutation excludes her from courtship with the other teenagers. She's a waste of resources if she can't make more hunters." Walta said turning his back "My duty is finished, thank you for the lodging Miss Santangelo, and Allena…"
Allena looked at her cousin from beneath the smoky black lenses of her goggles.
"If you ever return to the tribe I will personally cleanse you."
"What the hell does that mean? What mutation?" Veronica asked as Walta made to leave the room.
Before Veronica could go after him she felt Allena grab her sleeve. She looked down to Allena and had to stifle a gasp when she saw Allena's eyes. Instead of a single pupil Allena's seemed in the process of splitting into three, and her eyes themselves were much larger than a normal human's.
"Oh my…." Christine said under her breath before saying louder "That's all."
Allena turned to her and balked "You don't think I'm a freak?"
"No friggin way" Veronica said, "Honey some of my best friends are mutants and you're no mutant."
"Then what am I?"
"A young girl who lost her mother" Veronica said, "Now tell me everything and we'll see about a more permanent living space for you."
/
Shepard sat in her suite drinking her third cup of coffee as she looked over the news reports. The Mojave Chronicle was reporting the attack and that the Courier himself was injured. Though the story asserted that the Courier only suffered minor wounds instead the critical condition he was in.
Thane sat in the suite's living room in the lotus position saying his morning prayers. She found the prayers comforting even as the news in front of her weighed on her. Shepard had already led her squad against the Legion, but if Miranda's intelligence was correct the Mojave was gearing up for a conflict with the NCR.
She had justified the attack on the Legion as removing a trans-dimensional dictator. The NCR was a democratic state with a sitting president, and all the evidence pointed towards an influential faction within the NCR's military being responsible for the attacks. Miranda was against further involvement in the conflict, but several of her squad mates and crew wanted to help the people of the Mojave.
"What troubles you, Siha?"
Shepard looked up to see Thane standing in front of the table.
"Just thinking about what we're doing here" Shepard said, "I'm worried about the ramifications of our actions."
"The people of the Mojave have proven to be valuable allies" Thane said moving behind her and wrapping his arms around her "You made the right decision in allying with them."
"But now we're facing an all-out war with the NCR, and I don't know if I can justify fighting against another sovereign power." Shepard said wrapping her fingers around his arms "No matter what happens my crew is going to be dragged into it in one way or another. Can I order them to fight a war between two nation in a universe that's not their own?"
"We fought the legion for you Siha, the rest of the Normandy's crew has committed to you" Thane said "It won't be the first time or the last time they'll face war. The Mojave is a flame burning against the darkness of this world, and I believe it is the right choice to help them."
"Do you always have to wax poetic?" Shepard said looking up to him.
"complaining?"
She kissed him then and rose wrap her arms around his neck.
"It's one of the things I love about you" She said when their lips parted before she kissed him again.
Then her Omni-tool decided to beep. Sighing Shepard opened the omni-tool, and its holographic display activated. She was greeted with an image of Mordin's face as he adjusted something.
"Shepard need to see you immediately. Found something interesting" Mordin said before cutting the feed.
"I guess I better go see what he found" Shepard said stealing another kiss from Thane "But we're going to continue this conversation later."
"Until then Siha" Thane said kissing her forehead.
When she arrived at Mordin's testing building Shepard noticed that most of the Normandy's medical and lab equipment had been moved into the space. Holographic displays covered most of the tables and the walls were scrawled with equations and schematics. She found Mordin at the center of the building hunched over a display.
"I love what you've done with the place Mordin" She said.
"Shepard good to see you" Mordin said ignoring her comment "Found something interesting."
Mordin brought up a display of a strand of DNA.
"This is Normal Mojave human DNA" Mordin explained "Slight difference in genetic make up. Likely from exposure to FEV."
Mordin tapped another command and four different strands of DNA appeared in front of her. Three of the four barely looked different save for what seemed to be growths attached to assorted rungs. The fourth was almost a different structure entirely with a structure like a triple helix.
"What am I looking at?" Shepard asked.
"DNA samples taken from Rex and his relatives." Mordin said.
"What?"
"Two from his daughters and one from his sister" Mordin highlighted the three simpler DNA strands "Genes manipulated to increase strength, vitality, stamina, intelligence, balance, and reflexes inherited from Rex. Several more worrying genes are unexpressed. Rose possesses a set of lesser modifications"
"What do you mean?"
"Complex shifts in nervous system, restructuring of eye structure, changes in bone density and structure, and mutation in other sensory organs" Mordin said "Eye modification already expressed in Allena."
"But Rex doesn't show any of those physical modifications, right?" Shepard asked.
"No but if exposed to genomorphic activator could spur expression of repressed genes." Mordin explained tapping his console "Existing boosts in Intelligence and stamina a result of modification."
"This is incredibly advanced modification" Shepard said, "How the hell does a civilization still in recovery from nuclear war come up with something like this?"
"Prewar civilization more advanced than previously thought. FEV alone proves that. Possible to modify FEV to safely manipulate genetics." Mordin explained scratching his chin "Possible candidate for Genophage cure medium."
"Have you told anyone about this yet?" Shepard asked.
"No. Completed analysis a few minutes ago."
"Good. Compile a report and send it to my data pad." Shepard ordered "I'll tell Rex when he wakes…"
Shepard was interrupted by a loud clanking echoing from the entrance to the lab. A metal android frame walked into the lab, and regarded them with red eyes. The top of its skull was clear glass exposing a human brain.
"You'll tell Rex what exactly miss?" the android said with Tyrone's voice from between metal lips.
"Aren't you usually confined to a tank?" Shepard asked as Tyrone walked over to them.
"Yes, but with the recent developments I found it necessary to develop an ambulatory unit" Tyrone said, "Now what were you speaking about?"
Mordin explained his findings to Tyrone and when he was done the android was silent for several minutes. Shepard wondered what was going through his head; from what she understood about Rex and Tyrone they weren't two people, but two sides of the same person. Rex represented the "Human" drives and instincts while Tyrone was almost pure logic.
"This is certainly a development" He said "Dr. Mordin is this type of modification possible after birth?"
"No. Only in vitro. Possibly at the embryonic stage." Mordin said.
"We were altered" Tyrone said his voice cracking with interference "We're not human."
Another voice, Rex's voice crackled out "We never were."
"Is Rex in there with you?" Shepard asked.
"Yes, but he's mostly inactive." Tyrone said, "Right now he's buried deep inside our sub-consciousness while our biological body recovers."
"Do you have any idea who could have altered you?" Shepard asked.
"No, but our father was involved with the NCR's special project division" Tyrone explained "That's where he met our mother supposedly before they left the NCR."
"Possible you were the reason they left" Mordin said tapping his chin.
"That seems to be the case" Tyrone said, "The thick plottens as our mother would say. Once Rex wakes we should open a line of inquiry. Another pressing issue to add to the list."
Tyrone made a sighing noise and turned to leave.
"If you'll excuse me I have pressing matters to attend to regarding the possible alien fleet heading towards us" Tyrone said, "I'll leave the terrestrial issues to Rex."
"What are you planning?" Shepard asked raising an eyebrow.
"If they come in peace, diplomacy; but if not then I'll blow them out of the sky." Tyrone said, his voice crackling with distortion as he finished the sentence.
/
Brent Buxton sat behind his desk reading over Serenity's latest production reports. The first batch of their whiskey was being opened in the next few days and Buxton wanted to make sure that the buyers would be getting all they ordered. He heard a buzzing sound and his office door opened.
Sylas Reger stepped into his office. What could he possibly want? Buxton thought as the older man entered the office. Buxton gestured for him to sit down and asked:
"What can I do for ya Sylas?"
"Brent, I'd like to discuss some business with you" Sylas said taking a seat "Regarding our council meeting yesterday."
"Listen Sylas, I get it I'll go along with the rest of the council" Buxton said standing up and pouring himself a drink "but if Rex costs Serenity costs me my distribution contracts with the NCR they'll be hell to pay."
"Brent I'm here to do the opposite" Sylas said, "A few of the other council members and I want good relations with the NCR, but Rex's constant war mongering is making that impossible."
"But I thought you're in support of Rex's plans" Buxton said his eyebrows raised.
"Publicly yes, gotta keep him thinking I'm an ally" Sylas said winking "Listen, Brent we have an opportunity here in the Mojave. If we collaborated with the NCR and used all of those fancy doo dads Rex's been hoarding human civilization can get back on track."
"But not as long as Rex is standing in the way" Buxton said realization dawning on his face "you're talkin about a coup."
"Yes, I am Brent" Sylas said "I promise we'll minimize the bloodshed, and cause no undue suffering. My partners in the NCR will annex us and humanity can get back to working together again."
After a few seconds of thought Buxton asked:
"What do you need from me?"
/
Roxanne waited until night fell. When the sun dipped below the horizon and the Mojave was bathed in the neon lights of New Vegas Roxanne made her move. The guards guarding the entrance to the hospital were easy enough to bypass. A forged I.D, some nurses scrubs and some doe eyes were only things Roxanne needed.
The guards within the hospital barely registered her as Roxanne slipped into the sterile hallways. Who would notice a single nurse amongst the dozens running around the hospital? When she arrived at his room three guards stood watch at the door.
"I need in the room; it's time to change Mr. Craster's bandages" Roxanne said to the guard closest to the door.
"I.D" he said.
She handed him the forgery and he scanned it into his Pipboy.
"Alright, make it quick" the guard said, "The courier's lady doesn't like leaving him alone."
Roxanne took her I.D back and entered the room. When she saw him she had to stifle a gasp; He lay in the bed covered in bandages and bruises. A fire lit in her stomach and anger flooded her blood at the sight of him. Her gaze fell to Jack who sat beside him reading a newspaper, and a smile formed on her lips.
"You made a good choice little brother" Roxanne thought to herself before walking over to her.
"I need to change Mr. Craster's bandages" Roxanne explained "If you'd like to stretch your legs now's the time Mrs. Craster"
"What! I am not Mrs. Anything" Jack yelled.
"Oh, my mistake ma'am" of course she couldn't resist toying with Jack a little "But I do need to change his bandages."
"Of course," Jack said walking out of the room with a backward glance at Rex.
When Jack left the room, Roxanne sat on the bed and ran a hand down Rex's chin. His was a face defined by years of pain; pain she had caused.
"Look what they've done to you" Roxanne said, "but you always were a glutton for punishment weren't you Rex?"
She waited for a reply but knew he was deep asleep.
"You remember when that engine almost fell on me and Rose? I thought we were dead, but you knocked us out of the way and crushed your leg." Roxanne said withdrawing her hand "That's the story of our life, right? Ever since we were born you've suffered my mistakes. Though I think this takes the cake."
She gestured to the room.
"You know when I heard you'd become the Courier I couldn't believe it" Roxanne said with a chuckle "My gearhead brother taking on House, the Legion, and the NCR. I thought it was funny until I understood why. You didn't walk the road I did; so much pain and suffering. All my fault."
"Don't tear yourself up" she heard a raspy voice say.
Roxanne looked down and saw two blood shot eyes staring at her.
"So, you just gonna continue to ramble on mysteriously or are you gonna explain" Rex said sitting up "Cause last time I checked I didn't have an older sister."
"First, we're twins asshole" Roxanne said with a smile "and second I don't have time."
"What do you mean?" Rex began as Jack entered the room.
"Goodbye Rex, expect to see me again" Roxanne said rising before taking a small black pellet and throwing it to ground.
When their vision returned, Roxanne was gone and the carpet where she stood was singed. An equally bright flash of white light erupted a mile outside the city. Appearing from the corona Roxanne stepped out onto the parched earth as she released her dark red hair from its tie.
The lights of New Vegas burned behind her and as she changed out of her nurse scrubs a smile crept across her lips. Rex was all right, and the weight of his injuries was lifted from her shoulders.
"Of course, you know it's not over." She heard her father's voice say.
Roxanne turned and saw the ghostly image of her father standing behind her. His sharp features locked in their usual expression of mild boredom. Of course, he'd show up.
"Don't you think I know that?" Roxanne said glaring at the specter.
"None of this would have happened if you hadn't abandoned this world" Her father said with venom in his voice "Rose would be alive and Rex would be living happily with Kella. Because of your weakness, you've destroyed both your brother and sister."
"I know that" Roxanne said "But I'm here and this time no one will die. She won't die."
"No maybe not, but who will take her place this time around, eh?" Her father said as he faded into the night.
"Fuck you too, Dad" Roxanne said crushing another pellet in her hand relishing the feeling of the white fire consuming her.