Chapter 2 - The House Goes Bust

"Gabriela, what is the meaning of this? Why is their a captive freeside junkie in front of my main computer monitor? And why do you have four reprogrammed securitrons surrounding you?"

She viciously grinned.

"Robert, I'm in charge now."

"Excuse me?" He was not amused.

"Just watch."

She abruptly punched the freeside junkie. "What's your name, shithead?"

"I'm Andrew! Please just let me-"

"Shut up. Last name too."

"...Duran," he said after a moment.

Taking out a pen, she quickly wrote the following into the Death Note:

Andrew Duran

She turned the open Death Note towards Mr. House's computer monitor and was silent for the next 40 seconds until Andrew Duran abruptly died of a brain aneurysm.

Mr. House was stunned into silence. "...how did you do that?"

"That doesn't matter," she replied. "What matters is I can kill anyone I want if I have their face and name." She viciously grinned. "And guess whose picture is all over the Mojave Wasteland?"

Mr. House said nothing.

"Here's the deal: from now on, I'm in charge. I've got my uses for you, so you don't have to worry about me writing your name in this if you do what I say. And don't try anything, either; I had the best mechanic in the entire Mojave program these things and they will NEVER leave my side."

Mr. House still said nothing.

"I've got plans, Mr. House. Big plans to put humanity back on track. And I need your wisdom and experience to help me do that. Are you in?"

Mr. House was silent for a moment before simply replying "I'm in."

"...really? That was fast," Gabriela remarked, surprised.

"It should not surprise you," he responded. "Our goals are essentially the same: we both want to return humanity to its rightful place. If the price I must pay for that is to be a subordinate rather than a superior, it would be stupid and selfish of me to decline."

Gabriela was impressed. House really was very smart. "Fantastic!"

Her vicious grin returned. "Now, how about we start with clearing out and rebuilding the Mojave?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." Mr. House was now in a very good mood.

-tcg-

"That was impressive," Rem remarked after Gabriela had returned to her penthouse suite.

"I'm just glad he got in line quickly."

"It is unsurprising. You are fulfilling all of his goals. He would be foolish not to follow you."

Gabriela stared at the ceiling for a moment before pulling a joint out of her dresser drawer and triumphantly lighting it.

"Rem, today is the first day of humanity's rebirth!"

-tcg-

Andrew Duran will be a recurring first victim in all of my Death Note crossovers.

Review please!